But What If

by Yavanna and SunStar

It's the summer of 2002 when Non Llewellyn, an anxiety riddled PTSD suffering auror, is just struggling to get through the days. Hot on the case of dark wizards who evaded capture after the war, she doesn't have time for any additional stress but when a new Ministry of Magic law gets put into place her world will never be the same again. *AU as FW lives*

3. Chapter 3

Disclaimer: I own nothing from the Harry Potter universe, that all belongs to J.K. Rowling. Non Llewellyn however is mine.

A/N: *waves* hello. Thank you to my new followers and especially thank you if you have reviewed. Getting a notification I've a new follower or reviewer makes me ridiculously happy. I hope you all enjoy this latest instalment. If you want, let me know what you think.

Chapter 3

I gripped the thick pad of parchment in my hand tightly to stop my fingers trembling. Saturday morning had finally arrived with a Ministry owl making an early appearance, said packet to deliver, stamped as official Ministry of Magic documentation.

I frowned lightly as I considered it. Percy Weasley had mentioned that the new law they were working on was to be enacted today but I had assumed there would just be an announcement in the Daily Prophet. That the Ministry was sending bulky correspondence on the same day could, I supposed, just be a coincidence but I doubted it.

There was a curling feeling of dread in the pit of my stomach and I smoothed the envelope down on my kitchen table before I turned my back on it to make a cup of tea. I wasn't ready to open it just yet. What if it held devastating news? What if the law was catastrophic? What if it was nothing to do with the law at all? What if it was good news?

The last one gave me pause as I warmed my hands on my fresh cup of tea, blowing softly at the steam rising from it before I snorted softly. As if it would be. Intent on enjoying my morning cuppa I kept my back to the table but it was as though the package had eyes, and I could feel my back tensing. Five very slow minutes passed before I succumbed. Bad or good news, perhaps it was better to get it over with, like ripping a band aid off as muggles would say.

My hands shook slightly as I broke the deep red Ministry seal and opened the envelope.

Dear Ms Llewellyn,

As you will be aware, due to the Wizarding War in 1998, despite the magical community's best efforts to limit our hurts, the number of casualties resulting from the War was severe. Our numbers are depleted. In all facets of our life you will no doubt have noticed this.

It is with this serious issue in mind that we have taken the unprecedented step of creating a new law in order to secure and promote our population so as to safe guard the future for all magical beings. We trust you will whole heartedly support the Ministry of Magic in this endeavour and take to your vital role in securing our future survival with full commitment.

We inform you that you will be paired with a wizard between the age of 18-45. We have taken careful measures to ensure you will be well matched. Upon receiving knowledge of your selected wizard you will be required to wed within one year and start a family no longer than one year into your marriage.

Please accept the gratitude of the Ministry and the magical community as a whole for your sacrifice. We know it is done with the desire to see our people flourish far into the future.

Kingsley Shaklebolt

Minister of Magic

I sat stunned for long moments. Surely this was a joke? I re-read the letter numerous times but struggled to take in the words. I rifled through the other papers, they were a very brief over view of what the law entailed with a brief page on how everyone was to be matched. My hands started to tremble slightly and I crushed the parchment in my fists. I couldn't tell if it was fear or rage, perhaps it was both. What the actual fuck were the Ministry playing at?

I mean they couldn't possibly be saying that they were forcing witches and wizards to marry and then forcing them to have children? Surely they weren't that insane?

I smoothed the parchment out again but no, that was what it said.

How fucking dare they.

My body had finally caught up with my mind and what simmering fear I had was swept away with white hot anger.

"Bastards! You utter FUCKING bastards!"

It felt good to shout.

How could they possibly do this to us? They were taking away our whole futures. Our right to choose who we fell in love with. Our right to decide to marry at all. Our right to choose whether or not we even wanted children. This was a law that curtailed our free will, by parading it under the guise that it would be a good thing for our community. If this was happening in the muggle world it would be a breach of human rights. The fact that we didn't have those protections in the magical community made me feel sick. I'd always thought it was those like house elves or centaurs that had infringed rights, and I supported Hermione in her work in righting that wrong, but it had never crossed my mind that any rational Ministry would do this to its own people.

If the war had taught me anything it was how important a person's free will was. The war door in my mind gave a shudder but I forced it back closed. I couldn't face those memories, not today, not after this news.

I jerked to my feet. I'd walked around my kitchen three times in a daze before I found myself back at the table and I shook my head to try and clear it. This couldn't be real. Surely, it couldn't be. Feeling numb I headed out to the garden. They couldn't do this to us. Hadn't so many of us suffered enough during the war? Surely we'd get a letter later on today or tomorrow explaining it was an elaborate hoax. We had to.

I can't actually recall what happened to the rest of my day but I inexplicably found myself at 12 noon on Sunday apparating to outside Ginny and Harry's flat in London. I was amazed I even remembered that we'd set up lunch.

I lifted a heavy arm to knock on the door and it opened almost immediately, showing Ginny's kind face scrunched up slightly in worry, her brown eyes shining with concern.

"Oh Non, thank goodness you came."

She reached out and took hold of my arm and pulled me in. I followed unresisting.

"Are you – are you alright?"

I didn't have to ask what she was talking about.

"It's a joke right?" My lips felt numb. "They can't actually be doing this to us?"

A grimace passed over Ginny's face and she sighed heavily.

"Hermione thought that too, she even went in to the office yesterday but the legal department was prepared and she got turned away, they wouldn't even let her into her office. I – I think this is really happening."

"Bastards."

Ginny didn't have an answer for that. She led me into the living room where Harry, Ron, Hermione and Luna already were. We all greeted each other but it was muted. It was as though we were all stunned. Hermione looked as nervous as I felt as she chewed nervously on her thumb nail whereas Ron just kept shaking his head in bafflement.

Luna walked over and wordlessly gave me a hug and my own arms automatically sprung up to hug her tightly in return.

"You're shaking."

Luna's soft voice washed over me. I tried to laugh her comment off but it wobbled dramatically and I was alarmed to feel the threat of tears.

"They can't do this to us Luna."

"But they are."

I looked at her then, her wide silver eyes gazing directly at me. She seemed so sad yet resolute.

"Don't you want to fight this?"

"I don't think we can Non. The legal document they referred to in the letter seems to show it's all locked in."

"Not that we could even check!" Hermione's shrill voice interjected. "They wouldn't let me in to the department to read it." She sounded as angry as I was.

It was like her outburst broke the ice and all of a sudden we were each clamouring to be heard as we tore in to the Ministry and their decision.

"What I don't get is how the hell have they figured out how to match people," Ron seemed completely baffled.

"Oh Ron, they explained it in the letter. It's from a review from our Ministry files together with interviewing of our superiors in our jobs and even reviewing family history." Hermione scolded him and he scowled heavily.

"Yeah alright Hermione, not all of us have memorised the paperwork yet."

"Besides" Harry interjected quickly "At least the process will be simplified as there are those of us who are already in relationships."

"We don't know they'll do that though Harry."

Hermione sounded exasperated and it was clearly a point they had already argued over.

"C'mon Hermione, they'd be mad to not just pair up those who are already in relationships." Ron scoffed. "I mean I think we're too young to marry but at least we know who we'll be stuck with."

"Stuck with?"

Hermione's eyes were glinting dangerously.

"Ah c'mon, you know what I mean."

I knew what Ron meant however indelicately he put it, but I could see Hermione recoil from him slightly, trying to hide her hurt. Honestly Ron was a brilliant colleague but he was so emotionally dense sometimes. I also shared Hermione's concern that they wouldn't automatically pair up those in a relationship. Ron was right that they would be mad not to, but then again it was sheer madness they were implementing this law in the first place.

Ginny called us all then to say food was ready.

It was strange, I'd been a bit nervous in the days leading up to this, getting anxious over a Sunday lunch as it had been months since I'd last been to one but since opening the Ministry package the day before I had been in such a state of shock that my normal irrational anxiety seemed to have momentarily disappeared.

A delightful roast dinner was on the table and I managed to smile at Ginny, breaking out momentarily from my inner gloom.

"Well now this is some turn around Ginevra."

She narrowed her eyes at me before letting a small smile cross her face.

"Took me bloody ages. Mum's been giving me lessons for months. I've tried teaching Harry too but for some reason he's always busy."

I rolled my eyes at that as Harry grinned cheekily.

"Hey it's not my fault work is so busy."

Ginny just ruffled his hair in response and I let out a small sigh. At least those two would be happy.

Our lunch was really nice. Ron and Harry bantered over an arrest they had made while Ginny, Hermione and I tried to follow Luna's latest adventure. She'd been over in Sweden for her latest research but she was maddeningly vague on the details of what would be in her next edition of the Quibbler.

"You'll just have to buy it I suppose."

She said it with such a serene smile you had to look carefully for mischievous barb hidden in her words but we all laughed in response and her smile widened. For all her oddities Luna was surprisingly subtle but she could have a wicked sense of humour when she put her mind to it. It wasn't until desert that things turned sour.

"I hope I get someone that's nice."

Luna's voice was gentle but it was followed by a strained silence. My stomach dropped at her words and I felt the food I'd just eaten fighting to make a reappearance as I sat frozen in my seat. She'd just voiced one of my main concerns that I had been desperately trying to ignore. What if whoever I was paired with was absolutely awful? What if I hated them? What if they hated me? What if he was really old? What if I liked them but they didn't like me? What if I'm not good enough? And the worst one of all for me, what if I never know if the person I marry would have ever willingly chosen me? Because there was no way I would ever know that one. A wizard would be forced to accept me and I'd have to live a life with them knowing I was not their free choice.

"Of course you will Luna. If you don't well, they'll have us to answer to right Harry?"

Ron of all the bloody people was seeking to reassure her. I let out a strangled surprised laugh that to my horror somehow turned into a sob. I covered my mouth in shock as I shot to my feet, my chair tumbling behind me as I fought to breathe.

"I-I've got to go."

My voice was high and thin and I couldn't bear to look at my friends faces as I fled Ginny and Harry's flat.

How I managed to apparate home without splinching myself I don't know. The front door to my cottage slammed over, ricocheting off the wall as I stumbled towards my living room. I didn't make the sofa before my legs gave out. I sat on the floor, chest heaving as I struggled to pull myself together, painfully aware that the building panic attack was threatening to overcome me.

I pressed my hands into the carpet, desperate to distract myself with a sensation other than the crushing weight on my chest as I fought to draw a breath. It took long moments of my gulping at the air before I managed to start pulling the threads of myself back together. I had just managed to haul myself up on to the sofa when I heard the resounding cracks of people apparating outside. Only a handful of people had access to my property so I wasn't surprised to see Hermione, Ginny and Luna walk in. I was just extremely thankful Ron and Harry weren't with them.

I attempted to smile at them, but their shared look of commiseration and concern had me bursting into a fresh set of tears. Ginny rushed forward to hug me and I clung to her, unable for once to keep from my closest friends just what I was feeling. Luna came to sit by me as Hermione murmured she would go and make us all cups of tea.

There were four steaming cups of tea sat waiting on the coffee table by the time my tears subsided. I pulled back from Ginny, wiping at my face in embarrassment.

"S-sorry."

"Don't you dare apologise." Hermione warned.

"I know how you're feeling."

I squeezed Luna's hand in thanks.

"I'll invoice you later."

I snorted a laugh at Ginny, which given how much I'd just cried was a bad idea resulting in rather a lot of snot.

"You see," I sighed, "this is why I don't usually cry."

The others laughed as Hermione handed me a handkerchief so I could blow my nose.

"Maybe you should cry more."

"Luna's right, isn't it supposed to be good for you?"

Ginny turned her question to Hermione who was also nodding in agreement and I had to fight to roll my eyes.

"I do cry. Just you know, not normally so explosively or in front of people."

"We aren't people Non, we're your friends."

I ducked my head at Ginny's gentle chiding.

"Is this just about the law?"

The silence that followed Hermione's question alerted me to the fact that all three of my friends were interested in the answer. I pointedly ignored their gazes, choosing instead to turn my eyes downwards at my feet. My sandals were looking rather worn really now that I thought about it, I should look at getting a new pair.

"Non."

Ginny's gentle prompt brought my back into focus and I let out a shaky breath.

"Yes and no. I'm just…it just really scares me. The thought of n-not having control over such an important thing."

The whole of my body shuddered at that thought and I could feel Luna and Ginny both wrap an arm around me. I took comfort in their solidity as I thought furiously about what more I should say. I hadn't let my friends know about my PTSD. I was thoroughly ashamed of it, that it had so weakened me, and even though I was so much better than I had been the way I was feeling now terrified me that it would claw me back to where I started from. I bit my lip before taking a deep, shuddering breath and then I told them.

I told my friends about my first catastrophic panic attack, about how I'd had to attend a six month course of therapy at St Mungos, how only Beckett knew the true extent of my problems, that Harry had been told as part of work protocol but that no one else knew. I explained how the anxiety had then manifested itself and I'd taken the healers instructions to limit my stressors to such an extreme that I'd stopped seeing people outside of work.

"So you see Beckett was right the other day, I have stopped everything bar work. I was just starting to make progress and I'm due to start going on field duty again next week, but now this disaster has happened."

"Oh Non, I wish you'd told us."

"I couldn't Hermione, it's just so stupid. The war was years ago now and everyone else is just getting on with it. I'm just pathetic."

"Don't you dare say that."

Ginny's brown eyes flashed indignantly and I ducked my head down to avoid her gaze.

"If this happened to one of us, would you say that we were pathetic?"

I blinked stupidly at Luna's question.

"Of course I wouldn't!"

"Then why do you say that about yourself?"

I didn't know how to answer Luna's question. It was honestly what I thought about myself, but I would never have called any of my friends pathetic if they were going through something similar. I chewed hard on my lip as I shrugged helplessly.

"You know that I've experienced something similar?"

I gaped at Hermione and she just shook her head ruefully at my shock.

"It's true. The first few months back in school I felt like I was falling apart. I didn't have Harry or Ron with me, I'd just discovered the memory spell I put on my parents couldn't be reversed…." Hermione took a few deep breaths to compose herself, her eyes wet with unshed tears. "We all hit a wall eventually Non. We can't be strong all the time. Maybe this past year has been for you to give your mind a chance to catch up."

I fidgeted trying to hide my guilt. The healer had mentioned the same thing to me yet I hadn't done a very good job at processing everything. I'd just locked things away again in the hope that if I ignored them enough they'd disappear.

"I've been through it too. After my first year I…well let's just say that it took me a while to recover." Ginny smiled tightly before giving me a reassuring squeeze. "What I can say Non is that I am stronger for it. Anyone who goes through something like this…they get stronger."

The silence this time was comfortable and I took strength from my friends. I felt like a huge weight had been lifted from me but self-doubt still grasped at me.

"I can't even date a man, how on earth as I supposed to marry one?"

Ginny did not successfully disguise her snort of laughter into a cough at my question.

Hermione passed a hand over her mouth no doubt to hide a smile.

"We'll have a whole year to get to know them. I think I'd like someone older than me."

Ginny didn't even try and hide her laugh at Luna's words.

"You've a preference for a more experienced wizard Luna?"

I gave a startled laugh as Ginny waggled her eyebrows and a light pink appeared on Luna's cheeks.

"I'm sure I don't know what you mean."

We all laughed at that and the conversation turned to the more petty and idle curiosity as to who mine and Luna's matches could possibly be. It was the way we always coped with things I suppose, to laugh and joke about them to make them more bearable. By the times my friends left me I felt slightly better. I could feel the panic bubbling below the surface but for once I felt like I had a firm grip on it. I was even looking forward to tomorrow and heading back out on an assignment. What would have terrified me just a week ago now seemed like a welcome distraction, I just hoped it wouldn't be too much for me to process.

I crawled into bed that night emotionally exhausted and prayed I'd have a dreamless sleep. It wasn't to be.

I was huddled amongst of a group of witches, shivering in terror as the sporadic candles lining the cold stone walls around us guttered slightly in a draft. That meant someone was coming. I was in some sort of cell below ground with other witches that had been captured by Snatchers. They hadn't taken us to the Ministry to report on our blood status but rather we had been kept penned down in this room for days. We had learnt already that any visitors were bad news.

A group of fifteen people entered the cell, all of them were robed and they were masks over their faces. I knew they were death eater masks having caught sight of them before when my family home had been attacked. A whimper of fear was trying to escape me bit I bit it back, I wouldn't give them the satisfaction of knowing just how terrified I was, I was determined on that.

"Fuck the smell on them. Stinking mudbloods."

One of the shorter robed individuals had spoken. It was a boy, or certainly his voice sounded young enough for him to still fall in that category.

"Indeed. They need to be cleaned, well as much as it is possible for a mudblood to be cleaned."

One of the taller robed figures had stepped forward and he addressed us.

"Take off your clothes."

I froze, not wanting to process what I was hearing. The other witches seemed similarly frozen, and not one of us dared to look at each other.

"Well I suppose now is as good a time as any to practice."

The masked leader sounded amused and he gestured to the rest of his companions and they came forward to force us to stand in a row, their hands bruising and heedless if they hurt us.

I kept my gaze on my feet trying to melt away. If only I could hide. Booted feet came to a stop in front of me.

"Imperio."

I felt as though a heavy fog settled on my mind, but my body felt weirdly weightless.

Look at me.

I heard the whispered instruction in my head as though it was said directly into my ear and my eyes snapped up of their own accord. I could see glittering eyes behind the masked figure in front of me but I could discern nothing further.

Take your clothes off.

My arms jerked to obey before my struggling mind could slog through the fog in my head to make them stop. I didn't want to. What on earth was I doing?

Take them off.

The voice was more insistent this time and I felt the pressure to obey press all around me. To my horror my hands moved to comply and my clothes were soon on the floor and I stood completely naked, unable to take my eyes from the masked face in front of me.

"Search them."

The instruction rang out and I stood there naked, frozen and utterly at my captors' mercy as sweaty hands crept over me. They grabbed at my breasts, down my stomach before forcing my legs apart as sharp fingers stabbed at me, violating me as my body stood there compliant and unyielding. In my mind I struggled but the Imperius curse was too strong, I was crushed. My shame continued while in one corner of my mind where I desperately tried to hold on to the last scrap of my will, I was screaming.

Monday morning greeted me with the gentleness of a sledgehammer to the head. I was bleary eyed and sporting a splitting headache when I arrived at work. It had been months since that memory had visited me and my stomach was still churning so badly I hadn't as yet been able to face breakfast. I stood at the drinks counter waiting for my tea to brew, blinking stupidly.

"Llewellyn!"

I startled badly and almost knocked my mug of tea over before recovering and turning to see who had bellowed my name.

Shit. It was Beckett. He was waiting expectantly by his office door, he crooked one finger at me before he disappeared back into his office.

I took a deep breath to steady myself before I trudged my way in to see him.

"Close the door."

I did as I was bid before I sat down in front of him, clutching my mug in front of me defensively.

"You look like shit."

I blinked. What on earth did he expect me to say to that?

"You'll be assigned to work with me this week. We'll run over the basics again but I signed you back on last month to do field work. Next week you're back on normal rota. Understood?"

I nodded numbly while inwardly my stomach twisted with nerves. How on earth could he possibly think I'd be okay?

"I've reviewed your file. The Healer has passed you fit, you are having no problems whatsoever in training and your investigating work is top notch. You're a good auror Llewellyn, it's time you remembered it."

I narrowed my eyes at him, taking in his scarred face.

"Why are you being nice?"

I got a scowl in response to my question as he jabbed one of his fingers at me.

"I'd rather not make a habit out of it. Don't you give me cause to, do you understand?"

I had to bite back a grin. Typical Beckett. He'd always much rather be shouting out orders as we all cowered in fear.

"I'll do my best not to."

It was as much as I could promise. As Beckett launched into our daily tasks I inwardly cringed, but one thing for sure was that I would be exhausted by the time I got home.

I'd had three days of patrolling, interviewing, doing re-cons and even carried out my first arrest in over a year and by Wednesday evening I was sat in my kitchen trembling as I fought to keep myself calm. I'd had a complete sensory overload and my body just simply wasn't used to it anymore. Being in a hyper alert state took a lot out of you and I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, trying to steady my breathing as I'd been taught to. I had to learn how to relax properly if I wasn't going to be able to last being an auror, and I wanted that more than anything.

Beckett hadn't been nice to me since Monday morning so I assumed I was going well enough for him. Beneath everything though I knew the lurches of fear and anxiety I kept feeling were only minimally to do with my job. The marriage law was eating away at me and with just four days left until I found out who I was doomed to wed the panic was trying to claw its way out. My sleep was still disrupted where memories from my captivity during the war fighting with my subconscious although they thankfully hadn't been as vivid as the recollection from Sunday night.

I tried to distract myself by having a bath but even then I couldn't settle. I couldn't understand why we weren't being allowed to read the new law. There was something very, very wrong about that. If it has been enacted it should have been available for public perusal but it wasn't. Letting the water out of my bath I huffed as I wrapped myself in a towel and stomped to my bedroom. It was just coming up eight o'clock in the evening and I felt a surge of panic again. This was absurd. I needed to see that law. What if there was a loophole? It was my last hope. Before I could question myself further I quickly dressed, magically dried my hair and with a crack apparated back to the Ministry of Magic.

The atrium was eerily silent as I cast a deflecting charm on myself to encourage people to overlook me and I hurried as much as I could while stepping softly so my shoes didn't make much noise. I headed to the auror department first so I could put on my spare robes before I made my way to the lift. I held my breath while the doors opened and exhaled loudly to see it was empty. Good. My nerves were on edge and it felt like I had only blinked before I had arrived at my destination at the legal department. The snooty witch was not at the reception desk and in fact it didn't sound as though anyone was here. That was unusual as there was nearly always people working late in this department but it seemed the overtime they had all put in to pass this law meant that the ministry workers were reverting back to more normal hours.

I thought for a moment and pondered where to search before I settled on the records office. There must surely be a copy in there and I recalled from Hermione's law that had recently passed how pleased she'd been that she now had her own file in there. Before I reached out for the handle I took out my wand and muttered a quick reveleo spell. There was no charm or lock on the door and I silently thanked my luck. Once in the room I cast the same spell on the cabinets and again nothing. The auror part of me was annoyed that the legal department were being so lax in its security but I was happy enough in the most part as it was working in my favour.

The filing system was simple, all in date order and I opened the correct draw but as my hand reached out for the file I froze. I was about to break the law. I was about to illegally obtain a copy of a Ministry law that they were refusing to make public. If I was caught I could easily lose my job. Beckett would surely kill me. My heart was thundering in my chest and in my ears and I quickly glanced around the room to make sure I was alone and another surge of panic made my mind up for me. I had to read this law, no matter the risks.

With my hand slightly trembling I took the paper out of the folder, it was a thick bundle and it took me some time to duplicate the pages. Once done I returned the original back into its file before placing it carefully back into its proper place and shut the draw. It wouldn't do to make it seem like it had been tampered with. I thought furiously for a moment before I transfigured the duplicate copy into a handbag. It wasn't typical for me to carry a bag but it was a legitimate enough an item that I hopefully wouldn't be stopped and questioned should anyone see me.

I held my breath as I made my way back to the lift. My heart lurched as it opened to reveal two watch wizards but they merely stepped past me to continue on their nightly patrols. I waited until the lift doors shut behind me before I released a huge sigh of relief. My deflection charm had worked. This time around the lift ride felt agonisingly long but I fought to keep myself to a brisk walk as I arrived back at the atrium. My heart still thundering I took out my wand and as I reached the apparition point I for once enjoyed the tight sensation of being squeezed as I apparated back home.

My t-shirt was clinging to my skin uncomfortably with the amount I had sweated with nerves and I flicked my wand at my kettle to set it to boiling. I muttered another spell to return the papers back to their original form and once I had a trusted cup of tea in hand I set about reading it.

It was very, very dull reading. From my untrained legal eye I couldn't see anything that would invalidate it. It looked like the Ministry had been pedantic to the extreme to prevent any legal challenge being brought. My eyes froze as I re-read a clause and I choked on my tea.

Fuck.

I read it again.

FUCK.

This was why they hadn't want it made public before it was announced who we would all be matched with. The wording was a bit confusing and they had hidden it deep into the text but I felt a sick dread seep through me as I furiously read and re-read it. I couldn't see how it could be interpreted any other way.

'Clause 87.4 – In so far as those witches or wizards that are in established relationships it shall follow that should the formula allow for those said relationships to continue then those relationships shall stand and will be made binding as per this said Act but should the said formula not allow the said continuation then a relationship will be established as set out as per clause 34.5 and that establishment shall be legally binding and indefinite.

In other words if you were in a relationship and your pairing matched in the way this law worked out the relationships then you were fine to stay with your already chosen partner. If however your current relationship did not comply with how this stupid abysmal law worked out who you should be matched with then your current relationship would be terminated and you would be paired with someone new.

I flipped back to re-read clause 34.5 but it was a bit beyond me. There seemed to be a magical formula being used to set up the relationship matches but it was far too complex and sophisticated for me to follow.

The panic I had been feeling for myself had disappeared and it was replaced with dread for my friends. What if Ginny didn't get Harry? What if Hermione didn't get Ron?

I didn't sleep well that night for understandable reasons; guilt at my own law breaking and worry for my friends.

Harry and Ron kept throwing me strange looks in the office. I kept making an attempt to say something to them, to warn them before I would stop myself. I couldn't admit to them that I had stolen the papers and I wasn't sure they'd even want to be warned. Or would they? If it was me I would want to know but I was a serial worrier. What if they did get paired with their chosen girlfriends and I worried them for nothing? But then again, what if they didn't?

My day passed in agony and they had both scooted off to a dinner at The Burrow before I had screwed up my courage to tell them. I went through the scenarios again before I made up my mind. Ginny and Ron were likely to not want to know, Harry as well didn't like to worry but Hermione loved being prepared. Hermione I was certain would want to know. I bit my lip as I vacantly stared ahead of me, heedless to the fact I was the only one left in work. My hands were trembling slightly as I felt like my whole body was thrumming with nerves when I made up my mind.

I had to see Hermione and that meant making a trip to The Burrow. I only hoped that I hadn't wasted too much time and they hadn't sat down to eat yet.

I had only been to The Burrow once before but it was easy enough a place for me to apparate to. I arrived at the bottom of the drive and I took in the sight of the roundhouse with its numerous extra floors. It was a wonder they didn't all fall down but it was a delightful quirk and it was a lovely home. A few chickens scratched at the ground as I walked up to the front door. I placed my wand back in its holster on my hip and I smoothed my sweaty hands on my jeans. I wished it was impossible to get this nervous.

I almost turned tale when I worried what I would do if Percy answered the door, what if he somehow guessed that I'd stolen a copy of the law? I bit my lip again, worrying it between my teeth before I took a deep breath and tried to think rationally. There was no way he could know, surely. Before I could talk myself out of it further I raised my right hand and knocked on the door.

I could hear the faint sounds of a scuffle and muffled voices before the door jerked half way open to reveal a Weasley twin that happened to have two ears. Fred.

"You!"

I blinked. What on earth happened to the timeless greeting of hello.

"Who is it Fred?"

The door momentarily closed again and I could hear another scuffle before it opened fully this time to reveal both twins.

"Aaaaah it's Non Non."

I blushed. George looked delighted.

"You know we were just talking about you."

Because that wasn't disconcerting at all.

They both looked at me expectantly. What on earth was I supposed to say? I felt queasy just thinking I'd been spoken about. I bet Ron had been blabbing about what a mess I'd been all day.

I tucked my hair behind my ear, my eyes struggling to meet their gazes.

"Um, is Hermione here?"

"Um, whose um? I'm not um."

"No, nor me. Do we know an Um?

"I don't think so George. You got the right house Non?"

I was just deciding that I really truly didn't like the Weasley twins when they decided to relent in their teasing.

"You're finding it that bad huh?"

I glanced up startled to see that Fred's grin had disappeared and his jaw was set in a firm line. His brown eyes were sympathetic though. I risked a glance at George to see he wore an identical expression and realisation hit me. Of course, they were both unattached too. They would be just as impacted by this stupid marriage law as me.

I grimaced and waived a hand vaguely, finding it hard to articulate what I was feeling.

"Well, it's a bit shit."

"I think that's a tad understated there Non Non. I'd go more for; it's a fucking disaster."

"A veritable clusterfuck." Fred agreed before a slightly sly grin appeared on his face and he took a step closer to me. "But I'm open to being consoled. We've only a few nights of freedom left to us, what do you say?"

He winked outrageously at me and I snorted out a laugh before blushing lightly.

"I think, that it would be wisest that I really see Hermione."

"Blimey like that is it! Does Ron know? He'll be awfully disappointed."

I groaned in embarrassment as Fred simply laughed at me.

"Alright I'll be nice, I'll go and get her for you."

I hummed my thanks, scuffing my left shoe on the floor as I passed a weary hand over my face. Merlin I was tired.

"Non Non?"

Oh piss.

I'd forgotten about George. I scrambled with what to say knowing I'd have to make some pretence at a conversation while I waited for Hermione.

"Um, you do know it's only Teddy that's allowed to call me that right?"

"Firstly Non Non, I'm not Um" George grinned at me before holding up a second finger. "Secondly I know that statement to be untrue."

I narrowed my eyes at him.

"Well, Um, it really isn't."

His grin widened.

"Ah but you forget Non Non I heard my dearest sister call you it just the other day."

Bugger.

"I think you'll find your dearest sister broke friendship protocol in the interest of excessive teasing. An anomaly not the norm."

"Non Non you disappoint me, excessive teasing is the norm."

"I beg to differ."

"I thought you might."

I smirked softly at his bantering before I stepped back rubbing a hand over my face again as another wave of weariness hit me.

"You alright?"

I kept my eyes closed trying to wait for the feeling to pass.

"Non?"

"Fuck, I'm such a mess." I muttered before shaking my head and opening my eyes to answer George. I toyed with the idea of a generic 'I'm fine' but seeing a serious expression on his face for a change I didn't see the point. He would surely know something of what I'm feeling.

"I'm not okay no."

"Worrying about Sunday?"

"Yup. Getting ready to pity the wizard who gets me."

I tried to say that with a laugh, to make light of it just so I could batten down the panic inside of me but it came out all wrong and I grimaced.

"Fuck, sorry. Just ignore me."

"You know you don't look like you are the type of person who swears."

I blinked. What?

"What?"

George flashed a grin at me and took a step closer.

"It's a very nice surprise. You can give tips to whatever poor witch ends up with me."

"Oh pfft," I scoffed "any witch would be lucky to get you."

The words had issued automatically and I blushed furiously as I realised what I'd said. I don't know where they'd come from but when I thought about it I decided I was right. He was a successful business man, a war hero and most importantly he was kind.

George Weasley beamed at me and I groaned in embarrassment and turned away.

"You aren't going to look at me now are you?"

No I bloody wasn't. Merlin, why couldn't the earth just swallow me whole?

"I just wanted to see Hermione."

He laughed at my pitiful tone.

"Well Fred is going to have to do some persuading. He tried out one of our new products on her earlier and she vowed to curse him if he came near her again this evening. Give him a chance."

I nodded my understanding as I bopped on my feet impatiently, still determinedly looking anywhere than at George. You see this is why I didn't socialise much. I always, always made a fool of myself or said something stupid.

"You know I think Fred was on the right path earlier."

I mean really, I'd explained to Ginny so often and listed my plethora of embarrassing scenarios which were too many to number but she only ever laughed at me. I mean it was fine for her she never embarrassed herself this much.

"You just need to promise not to hex me."

Okay, I did learn from Hermione that Ginny had a good two years of embarrassing herself in front of Harry but that was years ago and she had the excuse of being so young. Me? I was twenty one and I still couldn't even talk to people without blushing for Merlin's sake.

"Non Non?"

"Huh?"

I looked up automatically at the sound of my name, completely distracted by my inner musings and only had a split second to be alarmed at how close George was when he kissed me.

My whole body froze. It was a short kiss, his lips soft and light but with the promise of more.

As he stepped back from me my mind started to work again as I finally caught up with this words. Why would I hex him? I looked at him suspiciously trying to ignore what felt like a now permanent blush on my face.

"That wasn't a pity kiss was it?"

I mean I was a complete mess, feeling utterly sorry for myself but I didn't like pity. I'd have preferred no kiss at all.

George looked at me like I was mad.

"Pity? Blimey I was going for thank you. Well this won't do. Come back here you, I clearly need to do better."

My eyes widened in alarm and I tried to back pedal away but George grabbed on to my hand.

"Wait you don't mmph-"

George's lips silenced me, this time pressing far more firmly as his right hand came up to hold my neck. I let out a squeak of alarm as I felt his tongue flick out against my lips and both felt and heard him chuckle deep in his chest before he pulled back looking ridiculously pleased with himself.

"Hey, better we have something to remember that we were free to do while we still could, right?"

The change in George's tone threw me slightly and I somehow managed to bring myself to look at him. His smile was less and there was a concern in his eyes that reflected all too well what I'd been feeling all week. I managed a tiny smile in return.

"Thank you."

"You know you could just thank me the same way I thanked you."

George's grin was back and I just shook my head, furiously blushing again. I swear I was never going to return to a normal colour. Before things could get awkward I thankfully heard Hermione's voice approaching.

"Honestly Fred if you don't find a way to get rid of this before tomorrow I will hex you into next week!"

I looked in her direction startled at her ire, to see that she had what looked like a paintball splatter on her forehead in bright blue. My lips twitched but I dared not laugh as I saw the anger in her face. Seeing Hermione also brought back the churning panic I'd been feeling before George had so distracted me.

"Hermione, oh thank goodness!"

I rushed towards her to grab her hand and her anger swiftly turned to concern.

"Non what – what is it?"

"I need to show you something, please Hermione it's important."

"Alright."

I bloody loved Hermione. She was always good at knowing when and when not to ask questions.

"Could you let your mum know not to wait for me to start eating?"

Hermione addressed her question to George while pointedly keeping her back to Fred, even as he started to follow her around to try and get her to meet his gaze. She quickly got fed up of trying to avoid him and levelled him with a glare.

"Oh do piss off Fred."

My eyebrows shot up. Firstly Hermione hardly ever swore. Secondly she was very rarely that snappy unless Ron had seriously annoyed her. Fred scowled in response and took a deep breath no doubt ready with a fitting retort before George thankfully intervened.

"We'll let her know Hermione."

"Thank you."

George looked in my direction and winked setting my blush off again.

Hermione Granger deflated somewhat before she grabbed my arm and marched me down the driveway away from The Burrow. Thank Merlin I could now escape. When we were far enough away she started to rant.

"They have been utterly unbearable. Both of them have been awful all week, in a stinking mood thanks to the Ministry and to cap it all off Fred got me with this stupid, stupid joke product and now he can't remove the mark. I have a meeting with my boss tomorrow, I can't go looking like this."

"I'm sure he'll have figured something out by the time you get back?"

I offered it tentatively but Hermione smiled gratefully none the less.

"Well, I hope so. Where do we need to go, yours? Okay good, I'll meet you there."

As she saw my nod of confirmation she let go of me and disapparated with a crack. I followed straight after. I hurried forward to let Hermione into my house, wondering just how I was going to broach the subject with her. I opted for wordlessly pointing her in the direction of the Ministry papers. She blanched when she saw it.

"Non. Where did you get this from?"

"Best not to ask questions Mione."

She nodded absentmindedly, her eyes already reading over the first page when I stepped forward to flip through to the relevant clause.

I swallowed nervously as I saw at first the colour drain from her face and then two bright red spots appear on her cheeks as she realised she may not be paired with Ron after all. Her dark brown eyes shot up to meet mine, her alarm and distress quite clear.

"Fuck."

And really when it came down to it, there was nothing else anyone could say.