A Fated Marriage Chapter 25: Startling News, a harry potter fanfic

A/N: Wow…here it is. Thanks Auntie L for being my beta. Now on with the story.

Startling News

Two months had passed since the day at the Ministry. Hermione was almost three months along in her pregnancy and it was now almost impossible to hide the swell of her stomach even with charms and loose baggy clothing. She knew that Molly and Mari were catching on, but they had yet to say anything out loud. The morning sickness was the hardest to hide. She had almost run out of excuses when it finally began to resolve. The only people the couple had told about the baby outside the Ministry were Asen, Harry, Ron, Christy, and Lev.

She looked at herself in the mirror and smiled. It was rather amazing that she and Viktor had created life together. It was a far greater magic than any spell or potion she had ever learned. The door to the master bedroom opened and her husband entered looking tired, confused, and very angry. This startled the young woman. It was rare for him to lose his temper. The only time she could really remember him ever getting mad was at the lunch where she first met Kamen, but that was all water under the bridge now. Kamen had grown to respect and even like her a little.

Viktor didn't say anything as he walked up to her. She didn't question him as his arms engulfed her in a firm yet careful embrace. She returned the hug, and they stood in their embrace for a little a while without saying a word. Finally, he loosened his grip around her and walked to the bed where he sat just as silently as he had been when he walked into the room. He buried his head in his hands as his wife came to sit beside him. She softly put her hand on his arm, "Viktor, what's the matter? Did you lose the game?" The season was winding down and Bulgaria had a strong lead in the finals. Viktor and Asen didn't allow her to sit in the stands and watch from the Family Box anymore since the temperature had been dropping with the onset of winter and they didn't want any of the other wives' pranks to get out of hand and risk injury. Both insisted she didn't need to risk her or the baby's health for the sake of watching the games.

"No. Ve von the game. Aftervards, the press asked me questions about the Law that I did not understand. Dorian recused me quickly and showed me this." He pulled out a folded piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to her. Hermione opened it up and noticed it was a newspaper article.

"I don't get it."

"Read it."

Marriage Law Mayhem

Arnold Penwick

The current International Marriage Law has created a lot of controversy. Many are upset that such beloved members of magical society have been forced to give up, what most believe, is the freedom to make the greatest decision of their lives. After a great debate and many long hours it has been decided that all the marriages created by the International Marriage Law will be annulled and all obligations pertaining to the law will be voided. Nobody knows just how this will affect the couples. The St. Pauls are famous for their dislike of one another while the Krums are something akin to a fairy tale romance. Little else is known about the now dissolved law, but you can rest assured that we will keep you updated as details appear.

Hermione read and reread the little scrap of paper in total disbelief. It was almost laughable that once again the Ministry was making her life choices for her without consulting or even informing her first. "I don't understand. This is the first time I've heard of it. When we were going to be engaged, it was all I heard about for weeks." She said, trying to wrap her mind around what was happening.

Viktor stood and walked over to the master bathroom so he could strip out of his practice clothes. "I doubt the Ministries vanted to openly admit that the law vas stupid and they made a mistake."

"I suppose." She said walking to the window. "What should we do now?" She looked out the window trying to find her star. Strong bare arms came around her waist and held her close.

"Ve vait. I vill not let us be torn apart so easily." The couple stood there for a long while and simply stared at the stars. Hermione finally broke away from her husband and did her nightly routine and Viktor followed suit, and they went to bed with a lot on their minds. The next few days were tense. Hermione did her best to get through the days as cheerfully as possible. The holidays were coming up and she decided to have a family Christmas party at Crystal Air. It was still a month away, but between the Krums, the Weasleys, some Order members, and most of the Bulgarian Qudditch team, there was a lot to plan for.

She was looking at the menu when the Ministry owl flew to the window in the living window. Hermione walked over to the window and let the creature in. She took her time accepting the letter, giving the owl a treat. When it flew off, she stood and stared at the envelope that she knew would change her life yet again. With trembling hands, she picked opened it.

Dear Mrs. Hermione Krum,

As you may know the recent International Marriage Law is being dissolved. The marriage between you and Mr. Krum will be null and void. You are to report to the Ministry so that the Binding spell can be undone. For the next year, you are to have no contact with Viktor Krum. After the year is done you may remarry once again if you wish. The year is to allow the public to see that the Ministries have given the Chosen time to think about their futures and choose their own destinies. More details will be shared when you arrive at the Ministry. We will be seeing you in a few days and apologise for any inconvenience this law has caused you and your family.

The Ministry of Magic

A short letter-a single paragraph- was all it took to end her happy marriage? "They can't do this!" She yelled slamming the letter on the table. What about the baby? Would Viktor be allowed contact with his child, since it would be born within the year they weren't allowed to see one another? Her hand went to her stomach as she started to pace around the room. Did the Ministry even understand that they were playing with the lives of real people, not just some pieces on a chess board? For once in her life, Hermione was not thinking rationally. She was only thinking about how she would be forcibly separated from the love of her life for a whole year and how he wouldn't be there for the birth of their child. She thought of how a few dozen of witches and wizards who didn't know anything about her were once again trying to take control of her life.

With no rational plan in mind, she threw on a warm winter cloak and went to the fireplace. "The Ministry of Magic" she yelled. She paid no mind to the dizzy feeling she got whenever she traveled by Floo. In the state she was in, she knew she couldn't properly concentrate enough to Apparate. She landed rather gracefully for someone enraged. Maybe if she had been a little more level-headed, she would have seen the man behind her. Maybe if she remembered all the warnings her mystery dream man gave her, she would have had her wand in hand. Maybe if she went straight to Viktor instead of the Ministry, she wouldn't have been hit a stunning spell. All those things went through her mind as her world went black.

The sound of cars, people, music, and overall noise were what woke her. Hermione sat up and looked around, trying to figure out where she was. The whole room was plainly decorated and there were no personal items anywhere to give clue to whose room she was in. When she tried to get out of bed, she found that she couldn't move her legs. Her heart raced in sudden panic and she tried to yell, but the walls seemed to eat the sound. Silencing spell. The door opened, "You're awake." The voice of her dreams said. In walked was the person who had been haunting her dreams for so long.

"Blaise Zabini?"

"Surprised?" He walked over casually and sat on the bed to be eye level with her.

"You hate Muggle borns. You hate those who associate with them." Hermione wanted to move as far as possible away from him, but she still couldn't move. There was something both calm and crazed about the look in his eyes that made her feel like something very bad was going to happen.

"There is an exception to every rule." He said quietly as he ran his hand through her hair while looking over her carefully.

"Why am I here?"

He chuckled a little and placed a finger on her lips. "Shhh. You'll find out when the time is right. I don't want to hurt you. Just HIM." Hermione didn't have to be psychic to know Blaise meant Viktor.

"He'll come and find me." She said, wishing the spells and wards on her and inside the room weren't so powerful.

"Oh, I'm counting on it."

Meanwhile, in the Bulgarian Quiddtich locker room, the team were going over the plays for the next matching when the doors burst open to produce Harry, Ron, Dorian, Kamen, Valko, and the Ministry Official who had pulled the names for the Matches. "Viktor, is Hermione here?" Harry asked, running over to the bewildered Seeker.

"No. She is at home. At least she should be." Viktor and Lev stood and walked over to the group. The whole team was silently watching the interaction. "Vhy? Vhat happened?"

"Mr. Krum we have reason to believe someone sent your wife a false Ministry letter."

"Vhy vould anyone do that?" Lev asked as Viktor tried process what was being said.

"Professor Flitwick figured out who used the spell. Dorian showed him all the wedding photos and they isolated all the people who were students at Hogwarts. With help, they determined that the one who shot the spell was Blaise Zabini. Professor Snape found a number of photos and articles with Hermione in them locked in his trunk. We think he's been planning something big for some time. Now we can't find him or Hermione."

Viktor felt his heart race harder than it ever had in any game. He looked frantically around at everyone and no one as if he would suddenly spot his love. He had to force himself to take deep breaths and calm down. "My pocket vatch that Dorian had for me. It has a tracking spell ve can use to find her." Without another word he raced to the locker room with a number of people following close behind. In a matter of seconds, the watch was in his hands and he muttered the words to activate the spell. Hermione's image appeared on the face of the clock as well as the address of the flat where she was being held captive in. All those around him took note of the address and in rapid succession Apparated.

Minutes had passed in silence as the dark wizard just kept staring at Hermione. She desperately wanted to get away from his gaze, but she was unable to move. As much as she hated being a damsel in distress, the young woman knew this was one of those times she would need rescuing.

"Tell me, what is the opposite of love?" Balise asked out of the blue. Hermione was startled by the sudden question, but figured it would be best to answer.

"It's hate."

"Wrong." He chuckled and played with one of her curls. "How odd to hear you get something wrong. No, my love, the true opposite is apathy." Hermione looked perplexed at such an answer, but said nothing. "When someone hates you, they remember everything about you. If you asked Potter about Voldemort, I'm sure he could paint you a detailed portrait of the man. If you hate someone, you know every way to make them tick. Draco knew all your pet peeves. He was probably the only Slytherin who knew almost as much about you as I do." The young man stood and began to pacing the room. There was obvious frustration in is voice and in glint in his eye she could only describe as manic. "But apathy is different; not caring if you're dead or alive…having no desire to learn more about another even if they know everything about you."

Blaise threw himself on the bed and gripped her shoulders hard. "I bet I've never entered your mind. You always seemed to look through me at school. But I was always watching you. I know everything about you!" There was a loud crash and many voices screaming her name outside the bedroom door.

"Hermione are you in there?" Viktor yelled as others shouted spells at the heavily warded door trying to get it open. She couldn't answer him back because Blaise's hand was now clamped over her mouth. His lips came to her ear, brushing it softly as he spoke.

"You didn't have to marry him. I was going to protect you. I was going to be the one to give you the world on a silver platter." He whispered as his free hand reached inside the drawer of the small side table and pulled out his wand. As soon as she saw it, she started screaming into his hand. She shook her head, trying to free her mouth from his strong grip. Tears were streaming down her face freely. She wasn't feeling brave right now. All she felt was helpless and afraid…so afraid that Viktor wasn't going to save her in time from whatever her captor was planning. "He stole you from me. Now it's my turn to return the favor." He kissed her temple almost reverently and smiled softly down at her. He turned to face the door with the tip of his wand on the same place his lips had just touched while his other hand held firmly against her mouth .

Everything happened in just a few quick seconds, but to Hermione to whole world around her moved in slow motion. The loudest sound in the room seemed to be her heart beating rapidly in her chest.