The next day, everything was packed and ready to go. The family sat around the large table at the Burrow. Draco had insisted Narcissa be there, as this was the final time they would see their family before they left for the honeymoon, and Molly had insisted on a brunch. To everyone's surprise, including Draco's, she came. And while she was stiff-necked and cold, she was polite. The morning was full of laughter and stories, and Ginny did not even realize that she didn't think of Harry a single time. The meal was finished. Ron sat with his hands patting his stomach happily. George showed Teddy a new toy he had made for the shop. Hermione was engaged in an animated discussion with Draco, and Molly and Narcissa were talking with satisfaction about how the wedding had gone off without a hitch. As Ginny looked around the table, she felt contentment steal over her, rising up in her chest as a balloon might. Over the ruckus, she let her glance slid past the kitchen window, and saw an owl. She was sure it must have been tapping for some time, seeing as it looked rather annoyed, but no one had heard it over the din. She reached across and opened it, and the owl, very disgruntledly, landed on the table, knocking over the pumpkin juice onto Ron's half eaten toast.
"Aww… I was gonna eat that!" he murmured as Hermione rolled her eyes. The bird at this point was upset, and shook its leg impatiently at Ginny. She untied the letter and without waiting it ruffled its feathers in a dignified, harried way and took off.
The letter was Ministry stamped. She opened it up, acutely aware that her family was watching. She quickly scanned it and quietly cried a single "Oh!". She looked like the wind had been knocked out of her.
"What's the matter?" George joked. "Found out you have to get married?"
Ginny did not look up. She simply began to read the letter in reply.
"Dear Mrs. Malfoy,
We here at the ministry would like to congratulate you on your recent nuptials. This letter is to serve as an official reminder that in order for the marriage to qualify under…" at this point she skimmed until she got to the point of the letter- "an heir must be produced no later than the end of the first year of your marriage. If you are unable to do so, your marriage will be nullified and another one shall be arragned for you at the earliest convience of the Ministry of Magic. If you find you are having trouble producing an heir, treatment at Saint Mungo's will be provided at a reduced fee…" she trailed off. Everyone looked around uncomfortably. Then the noise broke out. Here and there, people were exclaiming, voices raised, Hermione blushing, Ron red in the face, mothers offering delicate advice, and above it all, Teddy's whining voice, ignored by the adults, asking what it meant. Ginny looked across the table and locked eyes with Draco.