Author's Note: Hello everyone! My results came out today, and I've done quite well. So I'm in a good mood and hence the longer chapter. :) I hope you enjoy it, I had loads of fun writing the Daily Prophet article. I'm still not revealing who the "other person" is; no one has guessed yet, so I'll give you some more time. xxx
Chapter Four:
"Good morning, Mrs Weasley."
"Morning, dear. Come over, have your breakfast before these boys finish it all." Mrs Weasley smiled brightly.
Hermione walked over to Harry, smacked him over his head and sat down beside him. He bashfully disentangled himself from Ginny's embrace and glared at his friend. Ginny, though, seemed unaffected. "So, Hermione, did you have any… ahem, dreams, last night?" Hermione looked up quizzically at the girl, who wriggled her eyebrows suggestively.
She couldn't have read it, could she….? But she wasn't even in the room back then.
Her mind wandered to the letter she had received that morning, soon after she'd woken up.
Dear Hemione,
How are you? It's been a while since you wrote. I completely understand, of course; you must have a lot on your mind.
Which is why I'm writing to you. I'd like to meet you and have a chat, if that's alright with you. I have some work this afternoon at Broomstix (they YET haven't delivered the broom I ordered a month ago), after which we could meet up at Whimsic Alley for a cup of tea (I'm still sticking to my coffee, though). What time would suit you?
Looking forward to meeting you.
Viktor
She'd grabbed a quill and scribbled a hasty response so the owl would stop pestering her.
I'd love you meet you, but I have too many things on my plate right now. Nevertheless, I shall try to make it. Let's meet outside Broomstix at noon, though if I don't show up by quarter past, we'll have to reschedule. I'm so sorry about this.
Hermione
Hermione shook her head. No, she couldn't have seen it. As if in response to her internal musings, Ginny handed her a copy of The Quibbler. "Go on, read it. Page 3. Luna seems to have some interesting ideas," she giggled, before turning back to her breakfast.
Bring Out Your Wedding Robes
-Luna Lovegood
The Ministry of Magic has made an unprecedented move in the history of wizardkind. Unlike after the First Wizarding War, when the primary concerns were the trials and subsequent imprisonment of the dark witches and wizards, the Ministry has now adopted an altogether different approach to gain back the trust of the population.
Most of my readers would have devoured the official Ministry announcement from the Daily Prophet (Merlin save Rita Skeeter from nargles) or their more informative Ministry letters, so I shall proceed to enlighten you with my thoughts on the same. Personally, I think it's quite ridiculous, although I must admit that it cinched my decision to marry a rather lovely lad I know. I suppose some of my Hogwarts friends have managed to see the good in it too, especially a few of my Gryffindor seniors - who displayed their bravery by going down on one knee.
Hearty congratulations to all the happy couples from the entire staff of the Quibbler and my deepest condolences to those who don't see eye to eye with the Ministry and it's laws. I would advise such disheartened souls to take a Sleeping Draught and mull over their predicaments overnight. From personal experience, I can tell you that many of my brilliant ideas have popped up while dreaming, and who knows, you might just identify your soul mate while in the confines of a dreamless sleep.
"The official Ministry announcement has been made?" Hermione asked.
Ginny smiled, "Merlin, Hermione! That article had a Skeeter-bashing and a potential wedding invite in it, and all you picked up was the Ministry announcement? Oh well, here they come." She pointed to the window, as a flurry of owls barged in and settled over any empty surface they could find. A screech owl stuck out it's leg imperiously, while a barn owl flew over Hermione's head, hooting between rounds. She untied a rather official-looking letter before turning to the noisy newspaper-bearer, grabbing her copy of the Daily Prophet and dropping a Knut into the leather pouch on its leg.
She broke the Ministry seal, as did the rest of the people around her, eager, yet apprehensive to find out what lay in store for them. Fingers trembling slightly, Hermione smoothed the parchment and took a deep breath.
Dear Miss Granger,
Since you fulfill all the criteria of the Marriage Law, the Ministry of Magic hereby informs you of the rules and regulations you are required to follow.
You must have completed and sealed your marriage (refer to Appendix 1) by 15th June, failing which, your name shall be added to the pool of unmarried candidates and the Ministry shall assign pairs at it's own discretion (refer to Appendix 2). In case the aforementioned marriage fails to produce any offspring within three years of the date of the union, the couple shall be required to undergo medical procedures at St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries (refer to Appendix 3) and further action will be decided by the Ministry on a case-to-case basis.
Kindly visit the Ministry to book your appointment when you decide upon a date in order to ensure that you have a Ministry-approved ceremony official present on the day.
Witches or wizards affiliated to the Ministry of Magic may apply for certain exemptions which will be handled by the Department as it sees fit.
Hoping you are well.
Dempster Wiggleswade
Department of Magical Law Enforcement
She flipped over to find multiple appendices attached. Appendix 1 told her, among other things, what exactly would be considered as "proper and complete consummation" and she felt too sick to read the rest. "Good Godric, they can't be serious?!" Harry pointed at something and George snickered.
"Do I want to know?" Hermione asked warily.
"Err… not really. Yours probably has it too. Appendix 1?" He quickly added, "Although maybe you should save that for a time when you haven't just had half a meal…. Hey, is that the Prophet?" He groaned. "Not again. Did you see what she'd written yesterday? That vile cow, how dare she-"
"Read it, Hermione." Ginny cut in.
"Here goes nothing," she muttered as she read aloud the large article which occupied most of the front page, the rest of it covered with pictures of Harry, Malfoy and… was that Neville?
Matrimonial Bliss: Ministry's Gift to War Survivors
-Rita Skeeter
This morning, the Ministry of Magic released their newly evoked law, the Marriage Law, to mixed responses. According to this law, unmarried witches and wizards between 17 and 40 years of age must marry outside of their blood status by the end of this month. Failure to do so would allow the Ministry to step in and play matchmaker. The new Minister for Magic, Kingsley Shacklebolt has made good on his pledge to ensure the growth and progress of wizardkind. We at the Daily Prophet feel that this is a brilliant endeavour undertaken by the Ministry, though it seems like many of the younger witches and wizards are rather offended by it, judging by the clamorous throng of people gathered outside the Ministry, demanding answers to their questions.
If you fall under this law, we hope you have received your Ministry letters. Do peruse through the same thoroughly; some of the punishments are quite nasty. Speaking of, where is our much-sought-after wizard, Severus Snape, these days? A reporter saw someone who looked suspiciously like the potions master at Hog's Head last night, though we wonder what it was that made him resort to Firewhiskey, instead of his usual bubbling potions. Perhaps he is fretting over his upcoming nuptials.
We must say, the churling rumour mills that have erupted as a result of this new law have us quite thrilled. Neville Longbottom, war hero and ex-student of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, is said to have asked his Hufflepuff school mate, Hannah Abbott, to marry him. We hope she isn't averse to the idea of staying in Hogwarts for the rest of her life, because Neville Longbottom will be taking up the position of Herbology professor next term.
Galleon God and Slytherin Seducer Draco Malfoy was spotted with fellow-Slytherin Pansy Parkinson last week, and we wonder if they will take their rumoured relationship one step further, now that the Marriage Law has come into effect. The heir of one of the wealthiest families among the Sacred Twenty-Eight and Witch Weekly's Most Eligible Bachelor would surely have no trouble finding himself a bride.
Our Golden Boy, Harry Potter, is expected to propose to his lady love, Ginevra Weasley, though we can only speculate where that leaves the other third of the Golden Trio - Hermione Granger. Will Harry Potter sacrifice his long time sweetheart for the sake of his deceased best friend's sister or will true love and companionship win out in the long run? Eagerly following this blazing trail of questions, is Rita Skeeter, signing off.
Hermione clenched her fists and stood up, almost knocking her chair back. Harry tried to call after her, but she ignored him, knowing fully well that she'd regret it later, and marched upstairs to grab a clean set of robes. "I'm going out for a while," she announced to no one in particular before striding out of the house.