Jay Morris

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, just the gremlins in my head.

"Chapter 5: Devine's Promise"

Draco was late, and was running for Magical Finishing as fast as he could. Pansy had decided to try to finesse him again, and wouldn't leave until he kissed her. The taste of her lips was still there, even though he had wiped his mouth three times. He got to Magical Finishing only to find a note on the door:

"Magical Finishing will meet in the Great Hall all this week."

-Professor James Devine

This meant Draco had to run from Devine's classroom to the Great Hall in half a minute, and his side was already heaving from running so far. Just as Draco started to walk the door opened and Professor Devine stepped out.

"Running late Draco?" Devine's voice was very playful.

"Yes Professor."

"By coincidence I am too, so we'll show up together."

"Thank you, thank you Professor."

Draco and Professor Devine walked into the Great Hall to find Lavender Brown fighting with Pansy Parkinson. Draco reached for his wand, when Professor Devine's wand fired cords and tied the two to opposite walls of the Great Hall.

"Never have I seen such disrespect. Fifty points from each house for fighting, and another ten more for disrespecting me as a teacher and each other. And so this does not happen again in any way, shape, or form; the both of you have detention, and an extra assignment that you will see me after class about. Now, are you two quite finished?" After two nods he told the students to sit on the floor.

"Now, on to today's lesson. The Ministry of Magic has granted me permission to start a 'Crash Course in Life.' Each of you will be paired with a classmate of the opposite sex, given an occupation and wage, (not in real money), given a house to pay for, food to pay for, and other such necessities. Your partner will be your spouse. While you are paired all house responsibilities will be yours, including laundry, and diaper changing. Yes, diaper changing. A few weeks after your pairing, each of you will receive a child to care for. Should your child die, or be seriously hurt, you will fail. And each couple will be given a nice home in the mountains not far from here. All of your houses will be in a collective 'village' and that will be where are all of you will spend the next four months. And during this time, I will be living in the same vicinity and will be grading how well you use all of your knowledge. Now everyone will write your name on a piece of provided parchment, gentlemen on the pink and the ladies on blue. No, I didn't mix the colors on accident. I bewitched the parchment for a specific reason. Yes Miss Granger?"

"What about our school work?"

"I thought you might ask Miss Granger. I talked this over with Dumbledore and Minister Fudge and they agree with me that this will be a good enough test on you all that you won't need school exactly. Owls will be sent daily to your house with homework assignments, notes, and all needed 'school' work. You will send your answers out by owl and such. And this is how you will receive all such school-realated things. Yes Mr. Potter?"

"What about Quidditch?"

"You can play there. Oh! You meant on house teams. Well, I don't know about that. I'm sorry I didn't anticipate that. But that does remind me; just because all of you are away from Hogwarts doesn't mean you get out of having training meetings with me. Now, I will organize your pairs. You have ten minutes to say good-bye to everyone else that you wish to. Be back here at noon, the Floo Powder network has given us a small window to use four ports for departure."

Devine left the classroom with the names on the parchment. Everyone was in shock. Being their own guardians was exciting. Ron was looking forward to being paired with a girl and stuck in a house with her for four months. Hermione and Harry looked at each other and shrugged, neither one of them anxious for this. Draco had to hurry out to not be seen with his grin.

Ten minutes later... all of them were back in the Great Hall. Professor Devine was standing near a fireplace, with a long list in his hand.

"Come on now, hurry up. As I call your names come forward and stand in the fireplace. From there you will be sent to your house. First pair, Ronald Weasley and Tanya Raven."

Ron and Tanya were in the fireplace and then disappeared in a flash of green flames.

"Scott Defruell and Emma Kelton. Seamus Finnigan and Pansy Parkinson. Neville Longbottom and Luna Lovegood. Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger."

A unanimous murmur went through the class at these names. But just like the other pairs in a flash of green flames they were gone to their new home. Soon all of the students were gone but one, Harry Potter.

"I just didn't understand it Harry. Somehow everyone but you got paired instantly, I was sure I had an even number of genders. But, you must have a wife so I did a little scouting. I found a girl who agreed to the terms I set, and she should be here shortly." The doors swung and Harry turned to see a girl running with the Gryffindor patch on her shoulder and flowing red hair, Ginny Weasley.

N/A: I did this so I could show my opinion about hidden relationships and ones that could be. I also wanted to have a little more fun with growing up teens. Demonic grin