A/N: I'm not sure exactly how often this will be updated, but it's something that's been rattling around in my head for the past few weeks. Ultimately, I'm expecting this to be fairly short, at around 9-10 chapters. Mostly EWE, but has a few carryovers from the future shown.
Also, I promise that Into the Fade will be updated again. I just haven't really been feeling Dragon Age lately, so it's on a back burner for the time being.
Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling. I just play with the characters for my own amusement and the non-profitable amusement of others.
~**~
'Dear Magical Resident,
Pursuant to Article 394B, Section 13R, Lines 19-42, the Assigned Marriage Law is now in effect for all unmarried witches and wizards. You shall receive further personalized correspondence with your partner's information and your wedding date once your partner has been selected.
Please note, effective as of today,Tuesday, January 24th, 2006, no marriage licenses will be issued to those wishing to avoid their match.
Sincerely,
Griselda Hornbeck
Department of Wizarding Affairs
Ministry of Magic'
Hermione groaned. Her fiance, Ron Weasley, was still gawping at the letter as he read over her shoulder.
"Bloody hell!" he exclaimed, before turning his attention to her, "I mean, though, we're already together. That has to count for something, right?"
Hermione shrugged in response, "I certainly hope so."
"I'll tell you one thing, though. Mum's going to be hopping mad if we aren't matched. She's been planning our wedding since third year, and Dad's really been looking forward to having muggle in-laws that he can ask all his questions," Ron paused, "Speaking of, your parents do remember that we were together, right?"
It had been eight years since the end of the war, and Hermione had slowly but surely restored her mother and father's memories, though there were a few things - such as Hermione's relationship - that they were still a bit fuzzy on.
"Oh, dear, when did you and Roland start dating? I thought you were with that nice boy...oh, what was his name? Vincent?"
"Viktor, mum. He and I broke up after my fourth year. And it's not Roland, it's Ron. We've been together since graduation"
"Oh, yes, Ron. I'm sorry, dear, I just haven't been thinking straight since your father and I came home from our vacation in Queensland. I think we may be due for another quite soon!"
"Mum's still a little iffy. I don't know if you want my dad to remember."
Ron shuddered. He recalled Hermione's father's menacing advance the first time Hermione had introduced him as her boyfriend. They'd met a few times before Hermione had altered their memories, and Dr. Granger had been cordial, if not overly friendly, but once their memories were restored he had taken up an overprotective nature of his "little girl." No, if he was being honest with himself, the idea of Hermione's father remembering their involvement did not strike him as a positive situation.
"No, no. You're probably right."
Laughing, Hermione took his hand, dropping the parchment from the Ministry on the table. Neither of them wanted to think about it as she placed a gentle kiss on Ron's lips. They were a good pair. There was no reason that the Ministry would separate them. No reason at all.
~**~
"I've got to say, mate, you did the right thing marrying Ginny when you did," Ron said to Harry through a mouthful of shepherd's pie. He and Hermione had gone to the Burrow a week after receiving the news that the Marriage Law had come into effect to celebrate Arthur Weasley's birthday. Molly had fussed over the two of them, chiding them both for not marrying "while you still had the chance! Who knows who you two will end up with now!"
Harry grinned, rubbing his thumb over Ginny's hand. Their son, James, laughed riotously as Teddy changed his face to resemble a pig's, and then changed into a near-perfect clone of Ron at 7 that Molly had to do a double-take before she also chuckled, ruffling the mop of flaming red hair on Teddy's head before it changed back to its usual bright blue.
"I'm still rooting for you two to be assigned to each other," he responded, "There really isn't any reason you shouldn't be."
"Plus you're practically married already!" Ginny piped in, "You've been living together since before Harry and I married, and everyone in Gryffindor was betting on when you two would end up together."
"Really?" Hermione was a little shocked. She didn't realize how obvious the attraction between them had been at school.
"Oh yes. Tansy - you remember Tansy Barnes, right? - tried to bet me fifty galleons that you two would be snogging in corners by the end of third year. Neither of us even had fifty galleons between us, so we ignored that bet once you two just kept dancing around each other," Ginny grinned mischievously over at the pair, "She also convinced herself that you liked someone else anyway."
Hermione looked quizzically across the table at Ginny, "Who am I supposed to have liked?"
Ginny suddenly got very quiet, and became interested in swirling her peas and potatoes together.
"Ginny?"
The redhead was saved from having to answer by Molly coming out into the dining room again with a large cake that read "HAPPY BIRTHDAY ARTHUR!" in a vivid maroon script.
"Mum's obsessed with maroon," Ron muttered to Hermione, who had to stifle a snort of laughter.
Once the cake had been eaten and gifts exchanged (Mr. Weasley had been delighted with Hermione and Ron's gifts of a drinking bird and a lucky cat), everyone said their goodnights. Harry and Ginny, with James and Teddy in tow, took the floo back to their home in Godric's Hollow. Ron and Hermione hugged Mr. and Mrs. Weasley before apparating back to their flat on the outskirts of Diagon Alley. The two had barely settled in to watch a movie (a pastime that Hermione loved and Ron was coming around to) when several sharp raps echoed from the bay window in their dining room. Ron's face went a pasty white, making his freckles show in sharp relief.
"I don't want to get that."
Hermione sighed, understanding how nervous he was. It had been a week since the first letter had come - this was likely the follow-up that would dictate their futures.
"Together?" She asked, hoping that this would be what the letter revealed for them as well. Ron gulped, then nodded briskly. Hand in hand, they crossed into the dining room and opened the window, the panes swinging out and nearly hitting the two owls as they flew in and deposited two official-looking envelopes. Gingerly, she and Ron each picked up the letters addressed to them.
"Together?" Ron echoed her earlier question. Hermione could only nod, not trusting herself to speak. They each slid open their respective letter, and looked down at their future.
'Dear Miss Granger,
After much deliberation, we have determined your life partner will be the following wizard:
DRACO MALFOY
Your wedding will take place in Minister for Magic Kingsley Shacklebolt's office on Tuesday, February 28th, 2006. Please arrive promptly at 8:30 A.M. with your wand ready for identification purposes.
Please note that no substitutions are allowed. This decision is final and is not able to be appealed. Please also note that a trace has been placed on your magic, and attempting to run from this arrangement will be punishable by up to ten years in Azkaban as well as a fine of 5,000 galleons.
Sincerely yours,
Griselda Hornbeck
Department of Wizarding Affairs
Ministry of Magic'
"Hermione," Ron croaked. She felt tears welling up in her eyes. It wasn't fair! They'd been together for so long - for the full eight years since the end of the war! She clutched the letter, reading and rereading, willing that name to change, willing it to morph into RONALD WEASLEY. The more she looked, however, the more the words DRACO MALFOY burned into her mind. Out of everyone they could have chosen, why did it have to be him?
"Hermione," Ron's voice was cracking, and he sounded like he was also on the brink of tears, "We...we didn't get each other."
Hermione pulled him into a tight embrace, kissing him fiercely as she crumpled the parchment in her hand. She felt Ron begin to shake as she held him.
"Hermione...I...I can't," he breathed, pulling away from her kiss, "My wedding is...it's tomorrow. February 1st. To Lavender."
He disentangled himself, "I think I'm going to go back to the Burrow. I don't think I can risk staying here, or I really will try to get out of this marriage."
Ron strode to the fireplace, before turning swiftly back around and placing a passionate kiss on Hermione's lips.
"I love you. Please remember that, always," he whispered, then walked back over to the fireplace and tossed in a handful of floo powder, "The Burrow!"
With a flash of green fire and a billowing curtain of smoke, Ron Weasley vanished from Hermione's life.