Later that Month
"Ann, would you sit down?! You've been pacing for hours. You can't see your parents in a state like that." Hermione firmly guided her into a chair.
"Oh, Hermione, I can't just sit here. I feel like something terrible is going to happen. I don't understand why my parents have to trot out this horrid old tradition; no one on either side of our family has had an arranged marriage for generations."
"Your taking this amazingly calmly," Hermione stated. "Aren't you more angry that they're trying to marry you off, period? I would be up a tree by now."
"Of course I'm angry. I'm furious. I don't want to think about getting married right now. And I'm terrified to see who they've chosen. Whoever it is, it won't be the person I love. I just-"
She was interrupted by Professor McGonagall entering the common room. "Miss Llewellyn-Pale? Your parents are here. They're in my office; you may close the door if you want privacy."
Ann paled, and hurried out of the room. Hermione stared after her, turning Ann's last sentence over in her mind, then turned to McGonagall. "Professor, they can't force her to marry someone, can they?"
"I don't know, Hermione. These Great Families have traditions and customs that are unknown to me. Certainly, she can't marry now, simply because of her age."
"But what will happen if they arrange a marriage for her?"
"I don't know, dear. We'll have to wait, and be patient."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"She still hasn't come out. What are they doing in there?" Hermione paced around the common room, ranting at Ron, who lay on the sofa before the fire.
"Dunno. But it can't be good. Nothing good ever takes this long to talk about. Harry's going to be crazy, though. He's playing today, and it's almost time for the post-game meal. If she's not there, he's going to flip out." Ron nibbled on a Chocolate Frog and watched Hermione pace. "C'mon, then. Let's go to dinner. Sitting here worrying won't hurry them up any."
They hurried to the Great Hall to find their usual seats at the House table. The couple quietly avoided their normal positions across the table from one another, and sat side by side. Hermione winked at Ron. "At least now they'll have to sit together."
Ron rolled his eyes at her. "What? A little extra nudge can't hurt. Maybe we can nudge them until they figure it out for themselves."
Harry arrived late, still in his Quidditch robes. "Well, another game lost. We're almost out of the running for the Cup this year." He settled heavily on a bench. "I just couldn't concentrate today. I had this feeling that something was wrong, something bad was about to happen. My scar kept twinging. Then I ran into the Malfoys, father, son and uncle." He shook his head. He hadn't told Ron and Hermione about Ann's problems with Draco's uncle; they would think little of it, other than that the uncle was probably as bad as the rest of the family.
He took a few bites of his potatoes, then stopped. "Where's Ann?" His brow creased with worry.
Hermione braced herself for his reaction. "She's still talking to her parents. They haven't come out all day and-"
She was cut off by a sneering voice. "Looking for Ann, are you Potter?"
"Malfoy, you need to leave him alone." Ron stood threateningly. "Just go back to your own table, sit down, and leave him alone."
"Fine, Weasley. I just thought, since Ann's your friend and all, that congratulations from you might be in order."
"And why is that, Draco? You know something- spill it." Harry fought to keep his anger under control.
"My father and uncle just left. Everything's all set. I guess that sweet, protective routine just can't make up for money, power, and a name, can it Potter? Not when it comes down to matters like this. You should have known you couldn't compete with a pure wizard, Muggle-bred."
"What the hell are you talking about, Malfoy?"
"We're engaged, Potter. Ann and I are getting married."