Hey everyone! This story was brought to you by Insane Prompt List, Days of the Year, Spring Themed Prompts, Flower Prompts, Tarot Cards, Hufflepuff Challenge - Hufflepuff themed Prompts, History of Spring, Afternoon Tea, Bunny Racing, Spring Cleaning, Flower Arranging Station, FarmVille, Sand Art Stall, Planting Flowers, How Many Eggs in the Jar?, Say it With Flowers, and Foolish Fish Tanks on Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Also for Link Maker on Monthly Challenges for All. Also for Reserve League 2.0 on The Quidditch League Fanfiction Competition.
Insane Prompt List: 314. (character) Kingsley Shacklebolt
Days of the Year: March 21st National Quilting Day - Write about piecing something to figuratively or literally.
Spring Themed Prompts: (word) happy
Flower Prompts: Forsythia (plot) reading some interesting/juicy information.
Tarot Cards: The Lovers (theme) lifestyle change
Hufflepuff Challenge - Hufflepuff Themed Prompts: (trait) Committed
History of Spring: Ancient Beliefs (prompt) Write about a major obstacle being overcome by a character or group of characters.
Afternoon Tea: Peach Iced Tea (trope) Arranged Marriage
Bunny Racing: (Trope) Marriage Law
Spring Cleaning: Scrub the Owlery the Muggle way (prompt) Write about someone sending or receiving an important letter.
Flower Arranging Station: Rose (character) Kingsley Shacklebolt
FarmVille: (trope) Marriage Law
Sand Art Stall: Red (character) Kingsley Shacklebolt, Blue (settings) a restaurant, Purple (emotions) anxiety, and Yellow (tropes) arranged marriage
Planting Flowers: Watering Prompt (slash pairing) Harry/Kinsley
How Many Eggs in the Jar?: (pairing) Harry/Kingsley
Say it With Flowers: Bird of Paradise: joyfulness (pairing) Harry/Kingsley
Foolish Fish Tanks: Goldfish (Pairing) Ron/Hermione
Link Maker: Harry Potter characters used, 3,554 words
Reserve League 2.0: Season 1 Round 7 Keeper - breaking Harry/Ginny apart with Ginny/Luna
Warning for slight be out of character. Also, I would like to warn for Marriage Law trope and all the liberties that I am going to take with it, and a slight bit of fade to black. I would also like warn for mentions of male pregnancy in later chapters of this story. Word count is 3,554 words. I hope you all enjoy True Love's Price.
It all started with a letter from the Ministry of Magic and a name on a piece of paper. That is all that it took to bring Harry Potter's perfect world crumbling down around his ears.
Not that he hadn't at one point cared for Ginny Weasley. They'd since around Christmas time his sixth year and everything had felt right. That is until Kingsley kissed him and Harry felt the undeniable desire spark along his spine and every nerve ending that Kingsley had touched. He'd never felt the way he did when Kingsley kissed him with Ginny.
So, of course, Harry and Kingsley had started dating each other on the down-low. He didn't want to hurt Ginny but he also wanted to be with Kingsley more than ever. He felt the bed shift behind and felt a strong arm wrap around him.
"What are you thinking about, babe?" Kingsley asked, peppering Harry's shoulders with gentle kisses and nips. "You're not thinking about that letter again, are you? I told you that I'd deal with that when the time came. After all, what use it to date the Minister of Magic and not have any of the perks?"
"I can't help but think about it, Kingsley," Harry sighed, allowing himself to be lowered on the bed as Kingsley started to trail kisses up and down his neck. "It says that I have to marry Ginny by the end of the year or…"
"It also says that if you have a reason you don't have to marry the person you were assigned," Kingsley said, rolling over to grab the dreaded letter and point to the text he was quoting from. He'd made the law with people in the same situation that he and Harry were in mind. He'd written in a loophole for Harry to get through thinking that the man he loved would figure it out before he had to go through with the wedding. Before he made Kingsley the other person in his marriage.
"I know what the letter says Kingsley," Harry gritted out, taking the letter from Kingsley's hand throwing it across the room. "I don't need to see it again. I keep seeing the words written in it floating in front of my eyes every possible minute of every day. I don't need to see them again to know what they say."
"Harry…"
"What? Why do you want me to read the thing again? Why can't we just enjoy the rest of our time together and each other in peace without having to think about…."
"You didn't read between the lines, did you?"
"Read between the lines?" Harry asked, raising himself on his elbow so that he could look at Kingsley who was now lying on his back looking at the ceiling. "What are you talking about reading between the lines?"
"I'm just saying that if anyone was to read between the lines they'd find the loophole that was written in for pre-existing couples," Kingsley hinted.
"You are talking in riddles again and I don't appreciate it, King," Harry chided, lowering himself to capture Kingsley's lips with his own. Pulling back he stared into the chocolate pools he'd fallen in love with. "What are you saying?"
"Think about the events that have gone on in the past few months since the letters started arriving," Kingsley said, still being cryptic as ever. "Think about the people who have gotten married before their due dates to marry their chosen person had ended."
Harry's eyes widened in shock as he realized what Kingsley was hinting at. How many same-sex weddings Harry himself had to witness for, including the wedding of his soon to be brother-in-law Percy Weasley and Percy's lover Oliver Wood. He looked at Kingsley before it finally began to add up.
"Are you saying that if anyone wanted to find a way around this marriage law that they'd have to be previously married?" Harry asked, raising an eyebrow. "Or for people in relationship with a partner of the same sex they would have to have an official ceremony witnessed by…"
"At least one or two other people and performed by a Ministry official," Kingsley finished for Harry with a bright smile stretching across his face.
"You wrote that in there for us, didn't you?" Harry watched as Kingsley nodded and the dark-skinned man's smile turned hungry.
"So…" Harry stuttered nervously.
Kingsley pulled out a velvet box that was from a jewelry store that was famous for selling engagement rings to same-sex couples. "I guess we'd better make it official before we start looking for someone to perform the ceremony, huh?" Kingsley asked, making Harry blush at the question. "Will you Harry James Potter make me the happiest man on earth and marry me?"
"I will," Harry said, losing his ability to speak properly as Kingsley's mouth attached hungrily to his own.
Harry had never thought that his engagement would be on the down-low or for that matter to another man. But he couldn't help but feel exhilarated and joyous about the upcoming wedding that he and Kingsley were planning. He couldn't believe he was going to marry the man that he loved. He only wished that others could be as lucky as he was at this very moment.
Ginny had paled when she'd first read the letter. The words still swimming across her vision every second of the day. She'd almost fainted and she would have been happy about doing so too. Not that she was a girly girl or anything like that. She wanted to take every opportunity to feel Luna's arms around her. That would have gotten Luna's arms around her if she so happened to faint to the wooden floor of Luna's room.
She opened the letter again looking for some sign of hope. That she wouldn't have to separate from Luna. She could see Luna's questioning look from the bed.
"I'm trying to look for a way out of this," she said holding up the letter. "I just don't know what I should be looking for."
"Let me help," Luna said, walking over and putting her head on Ginny's shoulder so they could both read the letter. "Two heads are most often better than one."
That was what Ginny loved the most about Luna. She had the uncanny ability to stay calm under even the most dreadful of situations. Especially a situation like this one. Ginny was desperate for a way out and Luna was taking everything in stride. Looking down at the vicious black letters on the page Ginny began to read.
Dear Miss Weasley,
We are sorry to inform you that the Ministry of Magic has enacted an old rule from centuries ago called the Marriage Law. The Marriage Law was first enacted in the twelve century after one of the many goblin wars. When the wizarding community was suffering from lack of witches and wizards due to the large death toll.
The law states that Miss Ginerva Molly Weasley must marry Harry James Potter before the end of the year. By the end of the next year, you must have produced a child or two so that the magical world can continue.
However, if there is a pre-existing relationship (ie. an engagement, a marriage, or a same-sex wedding ceremony) you will be exempt from having to wed your chosen spouse. Although we hope that this clause will not be enacted.
The wizarding world depends on you and your chosen partner to continue on your magical bloodlines. We hope to see your wedding on the front page soon,
Yours Sincerely,
Kingsley Shacklebolt
Minister of Magic
Ginny's eyes widened to the size of saucers as she re-read the second to the last paragraph of the letter over and over again. This clause would be the way she would escape having to marry Harry.
Not that she hadn't loved Harry once upon a time. She had. They'd even dated for a few months before she found him in bed with Kingsley Shacklebolt. Not that she was angry with Harry for doing it. After all, she was seeing Luna on the side too.
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Luna asked, breaking Ginny from her thoughts about the past and turning them towards their future.
"I think I am thinking what you are thinking. That is if what you are thinking is we need to get married before the end of the year so we can stay together?"
"That's exactly what I was thinking."
"I guess I should take you out and buy you an engagement ring, huh?" Ginny asked, turning around putting her arms around Luna. "Something nice and shiny for my one true love?"
Luna giggled and nodded as she leaned in and captured Ginny's lips in a passion-filled kiss that took the redhead's breathe away.
Harry awoke the next day sore but satisfied. Stifling a yawn he threw his legs over the side of the bed and strutted over to the bathroom. He had a busy day ahead of him today. He had to find a higher up to perform his and Kingsley's ceremony. He had to buy dress robes without anyone finding out what they were for. He also had to prepare the perfect honeymoon. One where he'd wake up like this every morning of the trip.
"Come back to bed," Kingsley groaned, "where I can ravish you and have my way with you for as long as I want."
Harry chuckled. "Kingsley," he sighed as he began to brush his hair while standing in front of the mirror, "we've got to start planning things for the wedding, don't we?"
Kingsley nodded. "Can't blame a man for trying though, right?"
Harry shook his head and then began brushing his teeth. He hadn't realized that Kingsley had slunk over to him until the older man put his arms around Harry's middle. Harry felt a tingle go his spine as Kingsley started kissing his neck. Kingsley knew very well that this one of Harry's weaknesses.
"Kingsley," Harry chided him. "I have things to do today. Didn't you say we needed to find a higher up at the Ministry of Magic that would be willing to perform the ceremony for us?"
"I can perform the ceremony," Kingsley moaned against Harry's neck. "Is it so wrong that I just want to be with now that we've found a way to do so?"
"You've known the way all along," Harry pointed out. "Now, I've set up a breakfast appointment with Hermione and Ron to see if either Hermione would be willing to perform the ceremony, or see if Hermione and Ron would be willing to witness for us."
"You're worrying too much about this, babe," Kingsley said, trailing after Harry as he trudged towards his chest of drawers to dress for the day. "I'm sure that Hermione would be happy to do both for us. As sure as I am that Ron would be more than a little happy witness for us."
"Well, I am going to make perfectly sure that they are both up for what I'm...we're asking them to do," Harry said, throwing on a pair of jeans and a tee-shirt. "I'll see you later, handsome." He said pressing a kiss to Kingsley's lips and walking towards their bedroom door.
It soon truly would be their bedroom was the only thought going through Harry's head as skipped down the stairs in a dreamlike state. He hadn't given up hope of being with Kingsley through this whole ordeal. He'd always been looking for a way and was happy that it was Kingsley to be the one to come up with their way.
Walking through the kitchen to get to the front door, Harry pressed the button on the coffee maker that he and Kingsley had bought together when Kingsley had purchased the house. The smell of brewing coffee was the scent that filled his nostrils as he left their house for the day. He smiled at the thought. Their house. Their bedroom.
Meanwhile, across town in a little cafe in Muggle London, Hermione and Ron sat waiting for Harry to show up. It was surprising when Harry'd cornered Hermione and asked her if she and Ron would be willing to meet him in Muggle London. They usually had their breakfast or lunch get-togethers somewhere away from London. London was too close to the Ministry where both Hermione and Harry worked. It was also close to where Ron worked with his brother George in Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. So they usually met at a cafe or lunch spot near Godric's Hollow.
"I wonder what was so important that Harry would throw out our keep the get-togethers out of London rule out the window?" Ron asked, looking at his watch.
"I don't know," Hermione said, trying to puzzle it out in her brain. "But it seemed pretty important that I couldn't just tell him no."
"Couldn't you have suggested a different setting then?" Ron asked, seeing one of his and George's customers. The man didn't look too happy about seeing Ron sitting her. Then again he had been warned about the products so if he was unhappy with what he'd bought it was his own fault.
"I tried. Harry was rather insistent that we meet here."
"Didn't happen to give you a hint as to why he was rather insistent? Or for that fact why he wanted to meet up in the first place?"
Harry pulled his chair out sharply and sat down looking between Ron and Hermione. He smiled not letting the talk he'd just heard get him down. He'd found a way to be with Kingsley and nothing short of Ron and Hermione saying no would get him down today. He took a sip of the water that the waitress brought over for him and looked at the menu.
"Well?" Ron asked, watching Harry read over the menu items deep in thought.
"You know I'm a sucker for the pancake of the day here," Harry said nonchalantly, handing his menu back to the waitress. "Could I get extra syrup and butter with that, please?"
"Of course," the girl said with a flirty smile that Harry didn't find attractive at all. The waitress turned to Hermione and Ron still smiling but not as flirtily as with Harry. "What can I get for the two of you?"
"I'll take what he's having," Ron said, eyeing Harry suspiciously. Harry was far too happy today. Far happier than Ron had seen him in long while. Something was either seriously wrong or Harry'd been replaced by a pod person.
"I'll have Eggs Benedict with bacon and sausage, please," Hermione said, handing the woman her and Ron's menus as well.
"That'll be out in a few minutes. Please let me know if I can get you anything else."
"Coffee too," Hermione called after the woman, who motioned that she'd heard the order and would be right back with the coffee.
"So what gives?" Ron asked, earning a slap upside the head from Hermione.
Harry blinked in confusion. "What do you mean?"
"The few months you've looked like you've had a black cloud hanging over your head and now you turn up here all chipper and like nothing strange was going on, to begin with. What gives?"
"Something wonderful," Harry exclaimed as the waitress filled their coffee cups with coffee. "I'll tell you in a minute."
Ron raised an eyebrow. This was more strange than anything he'd ever seen. Maybe something had happened and Harry was replaced with a pod person? Maybe the pod person was going to capture them too and insert its pod person friends into him and Hermione? As Ron's mind reeled he watched Harry suspiciously. He'd get to the bottom of what was going and get his best mate back.
A few minutes later the waitress again with another flirty smile for Harry. Harry, however, seemed to be in his own little pod person world. The smile never leaving his face. He hadn't seen Harry smile that much since he'd taken the Felix Felicious in their sixth year. That had been more annoying than anything.
"What gives?" Ron asked again, receiving another whack upside the head from Hermione. "Ow, Hermione, that hurt!"
"What Ron means to say is there something wrong Harry?" Hermione asked, concern coloring her voice as she reached across the table and put her hand over the top of Harry's own. "All you have to do is tell us and we'll be try and help you."
"That's what I was hoping that you'd say, Hermione," Harry said, looking between Ron and Hermione as though someone else would try and listen in to the conversation. "I need your help with something very important."
"What's so important that you had to drag us into Muggle London on our days off just so we could meet up and have breakfast together?" Ron asked, receiving yet another whack upside the head from Hermione. "Hermione, could you please stop doing that?"
"Could you please stop being insensitive and let Harry talk?" Hermione asked, folding her arms across her chest.
"Thank you, Hermione," Harry said, It had been no surprise to Harry that Ron and Hermione had been paired together. It seemed even the wizarding world wanted the two of them together. May the wizarding world wanted Harry to be with Kingsley just as much? "I need to ask you both something very important and I need you to answer me truthfully with how you feel. Alright?" He looked between Ron and Hermione.
Ron nodded mutely, afraid that if he spoke he'd get whacked upside the head yet again. He'd never seen this violent side of Hermione before. Strangely enough, he found himself liking it.
"You can ask us anything, Harry," Hermione said soothingly. "We're your friends, aren't we?"
Harry nodded. His smile widening by the minute. "I'm not sure if you know this or not, but Kingsley Shacklebolt and I are…"
"You're seeing each other," Hermione interrupted.
"Doing a lot more than seeing each other Hermione," Ron said, elbowing Hermione gently and giving her a wink and nudge.
"You guys knew?"
"It's not like you did a very good job of hiding things," Ron spoke up, getting Hermione's elbow in the ribs for his trouble.
"Then you know why the past few months I've been rather upset."
Ron and Hermione nodded waiting for whatever Harry was trying to tell them to come spilling out of his mouth. But before Harry could speak further, the waitress returned with their meals and to freshen up their coffee.
Harry's heart thundered in his ears as he waited to ask Hermione and Ron for their help with his wedding. It seemed like this waitress was taking her time for some reason. He, however, wished she'd just go away. After a few minutes of silence, the waitress sighed and walked off.
"Well, last night Kingsley told me about a loophole in the marriage law," Harry said, smiling widely again. "The loophole states that if you have a pre-existing relationship, like an engagement or a same-sex marriage you are exempt from having to marry the person the Ministry chose for you."
"He told you that?" Ron asked, eyes going wide. He'd have to make sure that Ginny and Luna heard about this. He just wasn't about ready to say that in front of Harry. He didn't know if Harry knew that Ginny and Luna had been together as long as Harry and Kingsley were.
"Are you sure?" Hermione asked. "These older wizarding law usually come with some sort of consequences for those that are exempt from them."
"Hermione, I'm sure." He smiled and reached out taking both Ron and Hermione's hands and looking between the two. "We've been best friends since our first year of Hogwarts, right?"
"Right, mate. Why do you ask?"
"Because I was wondering if you would be willing to witness Kingsley's and my wedding, Ron? I was also hoping that you would perform the ceremony, Hermione. If you don't want to we can always find someone else and you can be a witness with Ron."
"I would love to marry you and Kingsley, Harry," Hermione said, grinning from ear to ear. All the talk of consequences seemed to be forgotten. She got up and walked over to Harry, throwing her arms around him and bringing into a bone bruising hug.
"It's not every day your best mate gets married," Ron said, joining the hug. "Of course, I'll be your witness."
Harry dove into his pancakes with his fork. "I was hoping you'd say that mate," he said with a grin. "After breakfast, we have an appointment at Madame Malkin's robe shop to get fit for our dress robes."
As Harry and his friends went about eating their breakfast, the universe set other plans into motion. What no one besides Hermione had thought of was the consequence of messing with ancient wizarding laws.
The ancient law that had been enacted to beget more wizarding blood into the community. Two wizards or two witches could produce children. Thus they shouldn't be together. The universe, however, always seemed to get what it wanted and needed. As both Harry and Ginny were soon to find out in ways they least expected.
I hope you all enjoyed True Love's Price as much as I enjoyed writing it.