One Month Later
"Harry, I just got the strangest owl from my parents." Ann dropped the letter on the dinner table in front of him. "What do you think this means?" She dropped into the chair next to his and helped herself to a piece of his bread. "Eat more than that tonight, please," he said, firmly. He held out his pear to her, waving it at her until she took it and bit into it, smiling.
Harry scanned the letter, reading aloud in a hushed voice. "Dearest Ann. We are so pleased to hear that you are doing well at Hogwarts. Your mother and I are pleased that your difficulties did not continue there. We were thinking of visiting you at school when we are in Britain later this month. We have serious matters to discuss with you concerning a proposal tendered on behalf of one of your classmates. I believe that you are acquainted with the young man already; he comes from an excellent, if somewhat upstart wizarding family. We believe you would be well-advised to give this proposal the utmost consideration. Your loving parents." He dropped the letter and sought out her eyes.
"I don't understand. What do they mean, 'a proposal tendered on behalf of a classmate'? A proposal for what?" Harry felt a nervous flutter rising in his stomach, a slow creeping feeling of dread.
"It means they've found someone for me to marry."