Why would Kingsley want to see me? I thanked the witch, who shook my hand excitedly before she finally let me go. I turned around and headed down the hallways to the minister's office. I kept trying to calm myself as I walked down the hallways, but I failed miserably. By the time I reached his office I was a nervous wreck. My palms were sweaty, my heart was racing, and I was breathing in quick gasps.
I was so scared, not because I was going to a meeting that could potentially land me in Azkaban, but it was because this meeting could end with Fred getting hurt.
And it would be my fault.
For the last 17 days I had been trying to keep Fred alive, and safe, by each and every means I had. Now, because I skipped out on the ministry in a desperate attempt to complete a forbidden spell, I could potentially have ended up causing him to be hurt any way.
I stood in front of his door for a heart beat before I finally raised a shaking hand to the door. I knocked on it gently and waited for a minute.
"Come in Mrs. Weasley." A faint, warm glow filled my stomach and I felt myself relax a small bit at the sound of his voice. Mrs. Weasley, I was Mrs. Weasley. I was married to the man I loved, and I was going to save him, and damned if anyone thought they could stop me. A small thrill filled me as I took a bold step forward and into his office.
He was sitting behind a large desk, paper strewn all over it. He looked up at me with his large, reassuring eyes and I calmed down even more. Kingsley was my friend, he would help me, he would help Fred.
"Sit down Hermione." His deep, slow voice washed over me and I did as he asked, sitting in front of his desk. I fiddled with my hands in my lap as I waited for him to continue.
He set his papers down on his desk and laid his arm on top of them, touching his fingertips together as he did so.
"First off, I want to tell you that you will not be in trouble for the spell. I did not authorize the letter that was sent to you. A woman in the department received a letter from Rita Skeeter, stating that she had received information that you had used an illegal spell. However, you used the spell while the ministry was under Thicknesse's control. Under his regime all illegal spells were allowed to be used, so you broke no laws at the time." My heart had started beating faster while he spoke, and I felt a wonderful elation.
Could I really not be in any trouble? Could I really not be headed towards Azkaban?
"However," He continued, and I felt my bubble of relief pop. "We still have the problem that you used an illegal spell. Do you know why that spell is illegal?"
I shook my head, feeling distinctly out of place. I always knew the answer to questions, I couldn't seriously recall ever having not known the answer to a question.
"It is illegal, because it can be used to make a person nearly immortal. You can do it on more than one person, meaning, you can have far more life than a normal person. It is able to be used by people who are extremely old on children. They then get the youth of the child, and they cannot die as long as the child is kept safe. It is an extremely evil thing to do, and a way to pervert a spell that was intended to enhance marriages." His voice was passionate as he spoke, and I felt horrified to think of what kind of person would do that to a child.
"However, I have already informed you that you will not be prosecuted for using the spell. Our problem results from the inaccuracy of the information you received. The book you 'borrowed' from the ministry told you that you have fourteen days to marry and 'consummate.' Correct?"
I was blushing furiously by this point as I barely nodded my head yes. I lowered my eyes and started fidgeting in my chair again. I so did not want to be having this conversation right now.
"That information, while correct, was incomplete. You have fourteen days in which to get married, however, if you choose to marry earlier, you must complete the spell within 24 hours of the marriage."
Great Merlin's beard! I only had hours to complete this spell! My eyes whipped to the clock, it was Nine O' Clock. We had gotten married at ten this morning. I had thirteen hours. Thirteen hours to find Fred, explain that I really loved him, tell him about what happened, and explain just why we had no time to get comfortable with the idea of, 'consummating.'
Oh my God.
I left Kingsley's office minutes later, red as a beet. I was far more panicked now than I had been when I'd left. How was I going to explain all this? I needed to talk to someone, someone other than Fred. I love him, but I needed some outside advice before I went back to him.
I opened our bond momentarily, just to see if he was alright. A feeling of utter anguish washed over me and I nearly fell to the ground at the weight of it. I quickly blocked it back out.
Ginny, I needed to find Ginny.
I twisted in the air and reappeared in Ginny's room. Ginny was sitting on her bed, her head buried in her hands. Harry sat beside her, his arm wrapped around her in comfort. They both jumped up and ran for me when I appeared.
"Hermione!" They gasped, grabbing me in a hug. I grabbed them both back, filling a wave of fear crash over me. Tears welled up in my eyes as I hugged them. I had no idea what to do, I didn't know the first thing about Sex. I mean, I know the science of it, but that would be very little help. I love Fred desperately, but what if he ended up not liking me, what if I disappointed him?
Harry helped me sit down while Ginny sat next to me. Harry kneeled in front of us and looked at me worriedly.
"What's going on 'Mione?" He asked. "What did Kingsley want, is something wrong with Fred?" I shook my head, willing myself to speak beyond the lump in my throat.
"He'll be fine. Kingsley wanted to let me know that I was off the hook for the spell." Harry grinned widely and looked from Ginny to me.
"That's great news Hermione!" he said sounding exuberant.
"He wanted to tell me the spells dead line had moved up." My cheeks warmed and I knew I was blushing again. Harry looked at me blankly for a moment and then his cheeks heated up as he realized just what I meant.
"oh, Oh!" he blushed furiously and dropped his eyes from mine. He stood up hastily and looked at Ginny, who was trying not to laugh.
"I'll just leave you two to yourselves then!" He hastily left the room, and his embarrassment helped to calm me a lot.
I turned to Ginny instantly, who was looking at me with sympathetic eyes.
"What am I going to do? I don't know anything about, that." My eyes grew watery again and she smiled consolingly at me.
"Hermione, do you love him?" she asked softly, laying a concerned hand on my shoulder. I nodded my head.
"Yes, I do." My voice was soft as I spoke, but it was confident. I loved Fred, of that I had no doubt.
"Then nothing's wrong. Just let things take their natural course. Fred's very patient when it comes to anything but Quidditch, he'll be kind. Like I said, I'm pretty sure he loves you too."
I gave her a grateful hug, and then I heard a thunder of footsteps coming up the stairs. The door burst open and I jumped back from Ginny, frightened by the noise.
Fred stormed in the room, looking worried, terrified, and royally mad.
"Hermione." He said in a strangled voice. Ginny shot me a glance and stood up.
"I think I heard mum call me." She left the room, leaving me with a very ticked Fred.
Fred stared at the door after she left, his jaw clenched and his hands in fist. For the first time since I came home I opened our bond, only to be greeted with nothing.
"Fred?" I asked worriedly after I discovered he was blocking me. He turned his head slowly and stared at me with angry eyes. There was a long, uncomfortable silence, and then he shook his head, and sat down on Ginny's bed across from me.
"What's going on?" I asked after he didn't answer my other question. I was beginning to grow worried, he looked really mad and I couldn't figure out why. Fred shook his head at me and looked like I was crazy to even have to ask.
"Mione, you just jumped off my broom while we were hundreds of feet in the air!" he said, his voice rising so that he was nearly yelling by the end.
"I had too, I couldn't apparate while I was on it, or you would have come with me." I said, lowering my voice, forcing it to remain calm. I had to remember, I had jumped with out explaining, I'd probably frightened him.
His eyes narrowed as I spoke and he glared at me. "Of course I would have come with you, I'm your husband." He hissed the last words, the anger he felt evident in his eyes. My pulse quickened as I began to grow annoyed with him.
"I know you…" I started, but stopped short as he jumped off the bed and walked towards me, eyes blazing as he grabbed me by my arms and hauled me up. I yelped in fright, my body suddenly tense. He was exceedingly gentle, not harming me at all, but he still looked furious and I was worried. He stared down at me for a moment, breathing hard and glaring at me. I opened my mouth to speak and he pulled me too him, squeezing me in what would have been a suffocating hug if I hadn't felt so relived.
"Why on earth did you do that to me 'Mione? Do you know how much you scared me? You tell me that Harry sent you some message about the ministry and then you jumped off my broom, in to the air. Then you disappear, and a moment later you block your emotions off so that I don't know whether you're alive or dead, or hurt…" His voice trailed off as he squeezed me. My heart broke at his words and I realized just how badly I must have scared him.
I pulled back from him and raised my hands to his neck, pulling him down to claim his lips in a searing kiss.
A/N: Okay, there will be one more chapter after this, and then an epilogue. After the epilogue I'm going to post three additional chapters about George, Harry, and Ron's weddings. I also am going to post a sequel to this story. Hope that makes everyone happy, please, please leave reviews! You all are great readers and I have had a ball writing this!