It's angsty chapter.

II

This morning was very quiet at the Burrow. Charlie opened his eyes and noticed that Pansy's side of the bed was empty.

He furrowed his brows and sat, touching her pillow. It was still warm.

"Pansy?" Her name on his lips tasted odd, even after those six months they were married.

Charlie was one of the first Wizards forced to marry. The Law wasn't even passed then, as the reason for their marriage was quite different.

Pansy lost her whole family and in the eyes of new Wizengamot, she could no longer be on her own. And at the end of May she confessed she was pregnant, but she didn't say who the father was.

Wizengamot tried to use the Veritaserum on her, but it was blocked due to being unethical. They clearly didn't know what to do with her and she, actually, sparked this discussion about bringing marriage law into life.

If she would be aware, she would… Do everything to stop that.

But when she found out, it was obviously too late.

Charlie wasn't even an option to the moment she realized he was the perfect choice. Being permanently away, working in Romania, visiting Britain rarely.

She offered him a deal and he… declined, initially, saying she is a silly Slytherin girl.

When she revealed the truth about the baby and Wizengamot's sick attempts, he gave this idea a second thought. Only because she had a point - she would be able to live on her own, being independent. And he would live separately, living his old life in Romania.

That was a plan, they didn't even bother to inform Charlie's siblings. There wasn't any need to do that.

Charlie and Pansy signed their marriage papers at the beginning of June, just one month after the war. After that, he left and she was finally free.

He also agreed to consider the child as his once she would give birth.

But Wizengamot wasn't pleased and Pansy was attacked one night, by accident, by an unknown person.. Beaten and unconscious, she landed in St Mungos' Hospital and unfortunately, they hadn't been able to help her child.

Charlie immediately appeared by her side, silent. He had no idea what he could say – do in this situation. They couldn't split and moreover, Charlie received an offer he couldn't refuse from the Ministry of Magic. He was forced to stay in Britain and work for the Ministry.

So once Pansy was released from the hospital, they both appeared in the front of the Burrow. Charlie with knowledge Molly and Arthur were gone and no one would welcome them; Pansy heavily wounded, mentally and physically, beaten and resigned.

And a bit later the Marriage Law passed, with the new set of rules in place. And everyone's life was changed, once and for all.

No one could have foreseen this, even in the worst nightmares.

"Pansy?" Charlie's voice was thick, a bit tense. He got up from bed and put his jeans on. He didn't hear shower running in the bathroom, it was silent. That was worrying him, Pansy was loud in the morning. She was chattering, singing and making a huge noise everyday.

He knocked and opened the door hesitantly to find Pansy sitting on the floor. Her eyes were red and puffy, she looked numb. Scared, terrified, frozen.

"Pansy?" Charlie took a step and he knelt beside her. He noticed that she had something in her hand. "What happened?" His low, husky voice made her sober a little bit.

She passed him this plastic stick and said, dully, "I'm pregnant."

He felt a chill in his spine that had started to freeze his blood. It wasn't exactly the information he wanted to hear on his birthday. How cruel it sounded - he wasn't prepared.

"It's a Muggle test. Hermione bought a couple of them for me in London in September. Just in case." Her weak voice broke, because he knew the reason.

"Did you cast a charm already?" His clear question sounded harsh, he knew that, but being subtle this time wasn't easy. She shook her head, which made him add, "So the Ministry doesn't know."

Not yet .

"We have two weeks before anyone can find out."

He swallowed and she started to cry, "I don't want to go through this once again." She hid her face in her hands.

"I know Pansy, but I'm afraid…" His voice cracked, "I'm afraid I won't be able to protect you, not the way I want to."

She was sobbing and he couldn't take it.

Luna was standing next to the window in the kitchen, in her hands she was holding a bowl of pancake dough. She wanted to make pancakes for Charlie, it was his birthday after all.

She really liked Charlie, although he was harsh lately. Everyone was embittered lately and she was a bit worried.

It's not like Luna didn't know what was happening - she knew, she was perfectly aware. But the problem was it wasn't fighting with Voldemort anymore.

And that was causing the difficulty with judgment. This change of perception, where the bad side was not a long ago a good one.

She took her wand and started to fry the pancakes. Charlie and Pansy should be downstairs soon as per usual routine.

Fred and George were already gone to the Shop, so she was surrounded by silence.

After two weeks in the Burrow she had enough, the tension here was overwhelming. At first she thought Pansy was the lady of this house, but it wasn't true.

Pansy hated the Burrow, saying Molly was haunting everyone from her grave. And she was actually right, Luna thought.

Luna as an overly sensitive personality was able to see more, hear more. And she definitely felt Molly.

Like today, on Charlie's birthday.

She sighed as the first part of pancakes landed on a plate.

She was cooking all her life for her Father, and now - she was cooking for her husband and sometimes for brothers-in-law.

It was all fine, it was all normal.

When she finished preparing breakfast, she heard an owl squeaking, she felt chills go down her spine.

The Ministry owl, Luna thought and took the letter the owl left.

She broke the seal and her face went blank.

How they knew?

That was obviously a stupid question, they knew, because before wedding she had medical examination. And they placed some extensive charms on her.

Dear Mrs. Luna Weasley,

Please be informed that during the next 48 hours you should have coitus two times according to rules passed by Wizengamot. Failure to obey will be punished accordingly.

Yours sincerely,

Amanda Culkin