Chapter 11

That Night

" What about 'No Charm makes my Choice,'" Ginny and Hermione were spread out on the burrow's living room floor in front of the poster boards, coming up with slogans.

" Good one," Hermione began to letter in 'NO' with a big fat marker.

" I'll never get used to these muggle dealies," Ginny said thoughtfully as she rounded out the last letter on a sign which read 'Soulmate is Not My Sole Choice'. That had been Ron's contribution, and he refused to carry a sign that said anything else, even though the pun was idiotic.

" That's what I used to say about quills," Hermione chirped back. They fell silent for a moment, just writing next to the crackling fire with a plate of Molly Weasley's famous snickerdoodle cookies. This should have been a perfect evening for her: back in the rush of planning and scheming. The whole group finally back together again, and the spirit in the room was equal to the cheer and planning came before the house cup at school, before the war and all its ugliness. Harry was upstairs sending notes to people inviting them to join the protest, and Ron was, typically, in the kitchen eating.

But Hermione kept thinking about the argument she'd had with Malfoy the day before. Every time she remembered his fucking ferret face she wanted to march on the ministry, just to show him what true conviction looked like. Every time she remembered how he'd almost tricked her into thinking that he was going to work through the law with her, she wanted to throw the appeal for the law that they were surely going to get right in his face. How dare he make her laugh and carry on when their very livelihoods were being threatened? How dare he not read the law that was pushing for them of all people to be married?

" 'Mione, you're stabbing through the paper, honey," Ginny laid a hand gently on hers and pulled the marker away, " I don't think I'm out of line if I ask- is something wrong?"

" I'm fine, really," Hermione waved her off, " You know how I'm having trouble sleeping."

" 'Mione…" Ginny fixed her with the look that was usually reserved for when Harry made a huge mistake.

" I… I got into it with Malfoy at the Ministry Library yesterday and it's still plaguing me," She admitted.

" Oh, no, why?" Ginny cried.

" Shh- Gin keep your voice down, Ron's only in the kitchen."

" Why were you guys fighting? I thought he didn't want to go through with it anyway?" Ginny, much like her brothers, was nearly incapable of whispering, but she put in a valiant effort.

" He sent me a note saying we'd go through the law together and try to find anything to get out of this awful business," Hermione smirked.

" Well that's… unexpected?"

" Yes, well he hadn't bothered reading the law at all."

Ginny frowned sympathetically, " And he'd promised to? Typical Malfoy."

Hermione hesitated, " Well… no, I guess he didn't really promise to."

" What do you mean?"

" He said 'two heads are better than one,'" Hermione admitted, " But he implied that he knew more about it than he did."

" So you guys discussed what you'd found and you got fed up with him?" Ginny's eyebrows lowered.

" We sort of did…"

" But you got in a fight before you really did, huh?"

Hermione looked at her hands.

" Why even waste your time with him? He just gets you all wound up," Ginny laid a hand on Hermione's shoulder.

" He's not being proactive! If he wants to get this law repealed, he should do something about it," Hermione grumbled, " He's not even considering coming to the protest!"

" So? What do you care what he does at all?" Ginny rubbed Hermione's shoulder, " It's just Malfoy, you don't have to see him if you don't want to."

Hermione stuttered, " Well that's true but… I just think it will be easier to get this charm business straightened out with his help."

" Hermione, I know you may not want to hear this, but I don't think you can straighten anything out. The Maritare charm is magically binding. I was reading an article about it in this morning's prophet. It can only be changed if your soul mate dies."

" There was an article about that?"

" Yes, because Hannah Abbott got a prisoner at azkaban, and there's been a huge uproar."

" As there should be! How dare the ministry-"

" The ministry can't help who your soulmate is, Hermione, and neither can Malfoy," Ginny shook her head, " All you can do is move forward."

" All I can think is that I must have made a mistake eight years ago," Hermione complained.

" Hermione, you were top of our class, you didn't mess up," Ginny put on her best mom-voice, " Sometimes, you just can't control everything."

" I know that," Hermione responded.

" Well you alternate between refusing to talk about it, and getting all huffy over Malfoy. You haven't even told me how you feel about it," Ginny said softly, " What if the marriage law isn't repealed? What then?"

" It has to be repealed. The Ministry can't put through a law that violates the freedoms of it's people!"

" Yes, 'Mione, but what if it isn't repealed?"

" Well… then I guess I go find someone whose soul mate is a prisoner is in Azkaban."

Ginny laughed, " Well if it he hadn't slithered out of it, your soulmate could be in Azkaban."

" Oh, what a relief that would be," Hermione sighed, " I'd better go, Gin."

Ginny stood up with Hermione and they started to gather up the supplies, " Want to check on Jamie with me before you go?"

" You know I do," Hermione smiled, pulling her jacket on over her sweater.

They walked up the winding stairs in silence, but Ginny's words echoed in Hermione's mind. Can't control everything. What if they couldn't get the Ministry to repeal the law? Most people were still processing the law's announcement, but within a few months people would start marrying. Hermione hadn't been on a second date since she and Ron had split. Most men she met were too intimidated by her reputation and fame, or treated her like a trophy to be won. Flirting was not her forte, and she'd never been much of a party girl. But if the alternative was to be ousted by the wizarding world, she'd happily get out of her comfort zone.

They entered James's room in silence and crept over to him where he lay in the green painted crib that had held every Weasley child for three generations. He slumbered peacefully, thumb in mouth, his dark hair lying in a mess on his pale forehead. Ginny looked down at him as though he'd hung the moon.

" You ever want one of these, 'Mione?" Ginny whispered.

Hermione looked down at the perfect sleeping baby as he sniffled into his thumb, " I don't know about the second part, but you know I do."

" I worry about you, all alone in that apartment."

" I have crookshanks," Hermione defended, " And I'm perfectly happy on my own."

" I know, it just gets me thinking, you know?"

" You married your soulmate, Ginny," Hermione answered with an eye roll, " I'm sorry it's proving a little harder for me. But I'm fine."

" What about that guy, Peter, from your office?"

Hermione shrugged miserably, " Just sort of fizzled."

" So there's no one?"

Unbidden came the memory of Malfoy looking up through his bangs at her in the library.

" No one," Hermione responded firmly.