I wrote this entire chapter in one sitting, I'm proud. This chapter is
basically one big explanation at the core of the plot. There's not as much
humor, but hopefully it will keep you all interested. Either way, it calmed
my nervous before my audition (I'm a high school student and this is my
first professional theater audition.) I hope you all like it!
Solin- Yeah, they're getting married. Hence the whole 'wedlock' thing. ;) You've also caught on to my biggest weakness, which is I'm usually unable to beef up the chapter. This one is the little longer than the others though.
Marie Lexis- I'm glad you're reviewing again! Thank you for the support! I figured that Hermione likes to torture Ron a bit (as do I), and someone had to have a fun reaction to Ginny's pregnancy!
Lucidity- Yeah, I know. That's Harry's nature though, to making all the wrong things he did right. It's part of the whole hero deal. I'm getting into the Ron and Hermione thing slowly because I gotta save the good stuff for the end! However, I added a little fluff in this chapter that you'll like.
Wind-demoness- Haha, Thank you! I hope you like this chapter too!
Sgtpepper- I'll get into the ship, I promise! These things take time and careful planning! Thanks for the support and I hope you like the chapter!
Jaime- Thanks! I'll keep the updates coming!
Asia Cwiakala- Yeah, I'm a big fan of using cliffhangers. It keeps readers on their toes!
Cursed Wedlock by MyKonstantine.
Chapter 3: Curses and Loopholes
"Complicated?" Ginny replied hotly. Her face showed anger but a bit of confusion. Why would they say that Ginny's marriage to the man she loved would be complicated?
"There's much more to this family than we've ever told you, dear." Mrs. Weasley stared down at the table, unable to look her daughter and future son-in-law in the eye. "Weasley marriage is complicated."
"Again with the damn 'complicated'" Ginny growled, but before she said anything else, it was Ron's turn to be confused.
"Mum, this wouldn't be the first marriage in our family. Bill's wedding went off without a hitch, and so did Charlie's!"
There was just as much worry in Ron's eyes as in Ginny's. He gripped the edge of the table, as if he were trying to snap the wood like a pencil. Hermione's hand pried his hand off the table. She ran a thumb across his rough skin and murmured "It's okay," before letting go again.
"You're right, Ron." Mr. Weasley said slowly. "They both had beautiful weddings, but they only went so well because the Weasley involved wasn't the bride."
"Oh, so this is a SEXIST curse now?" Ginny stood up, pushing her chair in with a slam. "Yes, because women don't have enough trouble planning the wedding and baring the children and taking care of the slobbering mangy men! Let's curse them!"
"Slobbering and mangy?" Fred repeated, looking a bit appalled.
"Hormones." Harry mumbled under his breath. He put his hand over his mouth to muffle it. Maybe Ginny wouldn't notice that way. Fred smiled appreciatively at the green-eyed man to his left.
"HORMONES?" Ginny's wand whipped out of her back pocket, but didn't point it at anyone in particular. "I've just been told that I'm cursed, and you're trying to blame hormones!"
Hermione giggled inwardly. Ginny was exactly like Molly Weasley. She was sweet as a dream, but had a temper like a fire-breathing dragon when given the reason. Only these two women could have made Ron the amazing man he was.
Wait! Did she just think that? ..It must've been all the unfolding drama.
Fred and George put on fake smiles and stood up from their chairs. "Well, this visit has been pleasant, but I think it's best we go home before our little sister has kittens."
"She's not having kittens. She's having a baby." Ron said stupidly, earning strange looks from the entire family. George opened his mouth to make a smart-ass to Ron, but shut it again when he found Ginny's wand in his face.
"Sit down! Nobody moves until I figure this out!" Fred and George plunked back into their chairs.
Hermione cleared her throat. If they were going to figure it out, she wanted to do it quickly. "So, what is this curse exactly? Where did it come from?"
"Leave it to my Hermione to get right down to business." Ron laughed. Did he just call her his Hermione? Oh well, that wasn't important right now.
"Well, the curse begins in medieval times, when Lord Robertus Weasley ruled over the Kingdom of Elytoe." Mr. Weasley explained. "He had one sibling. A sister named Gweneveire."
"Gweneveire was Robertus' only companion after his true love rejected him. He was a bitter and often harsh ruler who had no love or sympathy in his heart. So, when Gweneveire fell in love with Henry, Duke of Chershire, Robertus immediately forbid their marriage. He didn't want his sister to have happiness is he couldn't have it himself."
"What did she do?" Ginny asked in a breathy voice. Her eyes were wide and she looked completely captivated by the words leaving her father's mouth. It was as if she was still a mere child being told a fairy tale.
"She married Henry anyway." Mr. Weasley said quickly. "This only served to infuriate Robertus, and so he killed Henry months later and cast a curse on his sister." The tension was thick, like smoke in a burning building. Everyone sat with his or her breath hitched, trying to figure out the extremity of the Weasley curse.
"The curse said that unless her brother was married first, no Weasley woman could marry, or else she would die a gruesome death just as Henry had."
There was a general uproar at this point, but Mrs. Weasley managed to silence them all. "There's more."
Mr. Weasley took a deep breath. "Before Henry died, Gweneveire had conceived a child. She later gave birth to a baby boy, which she named Harold. She loved her son with all her heart. However, he was a great source of her depression, as she longed for her husband."
"Gweneveire gave her son to one of her ladies-in-waiting, who became the child's guardian. It is said that the guardian had special powers that gave her insight into the mind of Gweneveire and helped keep her safe from suicide. However, Gweneveire didn't need suicide. She grew weak and ill and soon died, but not before cursing her brother."
"Somebody should have told these two that long-term curses are no way to solve sibling rivalry." Harry injected.
"The curse was made so that if any Weasley woman gave birth out of wedlock, it would kill the woman's brother. This was, of course, because Robertus was the only thing that ruined Gweneveire and Henry's marriage, and thus she blamed all brothers."
"Of course, Gweneveire didn't know about the course Robertus had cast, and how much the two contradicted each other. The two curses became one, and so formed the Weasley curse."
The shock in the room was evident. Looks of curiosity turned into looks of deep depression. Heads feel into hands, and slowly tears trickled down soft white cheeks.
"Let's summarize this." Ron said, sounding rather aggravated. "If Ginny gets married, she'll die. If Ginny has a baby when she's no married, all her brothers will die."
"Technically, no." Mrs. Weasley said to Ron. "Gweneveire only had one brother, so the curse only effects the first brother closest in age."
"Well that's bloody great!" Ron said, gripping the table once again. "At least I'll be the only one kicking the bucket!"
"There's got to be a loophole." Harry said desperately. He held Ginny tight in his arms. "There's always a loophole."
"The only way to curse has no effect is if the family is all boys or all girls, and obviously that won't work." Mr. Weasley said plainly. He was the calmest out of all of them, having had known the cruse almost his entire life.
"It is said that just as Gweneveire had a guardian who helped her with Harold, there is a guardian for each Weasley woman who can help them counteract the curse. However, neither the woman or the guardian herself knows their position or the power it holds."
By this time, Ginny was sobbing uncontrollably. She let out a loud yelp that caused everyone else to turn the concerned faces to her.
"Hormones!" She squeaked, before jumping out of his chair and rushing upstairs.
In the wee hours of the morning, Ron and Hermione stayed up playing chess. She lost game after game, but that wasn't the point. She was going to get him to talk, to tell her what he was thinking.
The fifth game was silent until they heard someone clunk down the stairs. Harry walked into the room looking particularly disheartened.
He held up the small diamond ring in his hand. "I didn't even get to put this on her." He sighed, "But she's finally fallen asleep."
"At least she'll get some rest tonight." Hermione tried to keep her voice calm and nonchalant. There was enough emotion running around already, and she needed to be strong for Harry and the Weasleys.
"I think she'll be the only one." Harry said, placing the ring on the side table.
Ron looked at Harry quickly, then back down at the chalkboard. "Why aren't you still up there with her?"
"I'm her to convey a message." Harry stated. "Ginny wants to meet tomorrow in Diagon Alley at two o'clock. She's leaving early in the morning to do research, but she'll meet you after that."
"Yeah, cool. I'll meet her." Ron said, never taking his eyes off the chessboard.
Harry stood there for another moment, as if waiting for something else to be said before dismissing himself back to bed.
Hermione couldn't take the tactful silence anymore. "Hey Ron, what's going on in your head?"
Ron groaned for a moment. Without warning, he swiped the chessboard and the pieces flew into the wall.
"It's too much, Hermione! It's too damn much!" His head fell into his hands. He wasn't crying, but Hermione had never seen Ron cry at all. "There's no way around this!"
"There is." Hermione said. She's thought about this certain loophole since right after Mr. Weasley had explained the situation. "It's not quite fair to you."
"What? Letting them have the baby and killing myself?" Ron cried, trying to figure out with the bushy-haired girl meant.
Hermione gasped. "Ron! Never! The last thing I want to do is see anyone die!"
Ron began to feel terribly guilty for his outburst and accusations. Hermione stared at the floor, her heart sinking. Ron walked around the table, leaned down, and pulled her into a tight embrace.
"I'm sorry, 'Mione. I'm sorry." After she seemed to relax a bit, he whispered "What's this loophole, then?"
"Robertus' curse only works if the brother isn't married." Hermione stated quietly. "So, if you were married, Ginny and Harry would be able to marry safely, and their baby would be legitimate. Everyone's safe."
Ron thought about it for a moment. "That would work, but that's not the best way."
Now it was Hermione's turn to be confused. "Why not?" She asked.
"What if me or one of the others had a boy and then a little girl someday?" He sighed. "The curse would just start all over again. I need a way to break this bloody curse for good."
Hermione just nodded. It was a noble cause that she understood. It wasn't about Ron. It was about the future family he'd need to protect.
"Then I'd be able to marry on my own terms." Ron added. "I want her to know it's because I love her."
Hermione giggled. "You say that like you've already picked out your future wife."
He just blushed and laughed uncertainly. Something caught Hermione's eye. Ginny's engagement ring still lay on the table next to them.
"Oh, Harry left this down here." She stood up and scooped the ring into her hand.
Suddenly, she fell to her knees. Her veins felt like they had ice ruining though them, but at the same time she was burning up.
A vivid image etched itself into her head. The ring was on a petite hand, but there was something very wrong with it.
The hand was bleeding, and not from a cut. Blood slowly seeped through the pores of the hand, dying it crimson from the inside outside.
There was a loud scream as another bleeding hand tried to take off the ring and the skin peeled off around it, leaving nothing but blood and bone on that part of the finger.
Hermione felt hands grasp her shoulders and she snapped back into reality, dropping the ring on the floor.
"Hermione! Are you okay?" Ron knelt on the floor next to her. It took her a few seconds to regain her composure, but she slowly nodded to him.
"I just had a bit of a dizzy spell." Hermione said rapidly, deciding it best not to tell Ron about what had just happened. After all, it was just some hand. "I think it's best if I go to bed."
She pointed to the ring on the floor. "You might want to give that back to Harry tomorrow." Ron picked the ring up off the floor. Nothing happened.
Without another word, Hermione began to ascend the staircase.
"Hey 'Mione?" Ron called from downstairs. She stopped and turned around.
"Would you ever marry someone if it meant saving their life?" He asked, adding in quickly, "That's hypothetical, of course."
A small smile graced her lips. "Yes."
Woo! One more chapter down! I hope that it lived up to everyone's expectations. Hopefully ff.net doesn't take out my page breaks now like it did before! I've lovin' all the input I've gotten, so please continue with it! REVIEW!
Solin- Yeah, they're getting married. Hence the whole 'wedlock' thing. ;) You've also caught on to my biggest weakness, which is I'm usually unable to beef up the chapter. This one is the little longer than the others though.
Marie Lexis- I'm glad you're reviewing again! Thank you for the support! I figured that Hermione likes to torture Ron a bit (as do I), and someone had to have a fun reaction to Ginny's pregnancy!
Lucidity- Yeah, I know. That's Harry's nature though, to making all the wrong things he did right. It's part of the whole hero deal. I'm getting into the Ron and Hermione thing slowly because I gotta save the good stuff for the end! However, I added a little fluff in this chapter that you'll like.
Wind-demoness- Haha, Thank you! I hope you like this chapter too!
Sgtpepper- I'll get into the ship, I promise! These things take time and careful planning! Thanks for the support and I hope you like the chapter!
Jaime- Thanks! I'll keep the updates coming!
Asia Cwiakala- Yeah, I'm a big fan of using cliffhangers. It keeps readers on their toes!
Cursed Wedlock by MyKonstantine.
Chapter 3: Curses and Loopholes
"Complicated?" Ginny replied hotly. Her face showed anger but a bit of confusion. Why would they say that Ginny's marriage to the man she loved would be complicated?
"There's much more to this family than we've ever told you, dear." Mrs. Weasley stared down at the table, unable to look her daughter and future son-in-law in the eye. "Weasley marriage is complicated."
"Again with the damn 'complicated'" Ginny growled, but before she said anything else, it was Ron's turn to be confused.
"Mum, this wouldn't be the first marriage in our family. Bill's wedding went off without a hitch, and so did Charlie's!"
There was just as much worry in Ron's eyes as in Ginny's. He gripped the edge of the table, as if he were trying to snap the wood like a pencil. Hermione's hand pried his hand off the table. She ran a thumb across his rough skin and murmured "It's okay," before letting go again.
"You're right, Ron." Mr. Weasley said slowly. "They both had beautiful weddings, but they only went so well because the Weasley involved wasn't the bride."
"Oh, so this is a SEXIST curse now?" Ginny stood up, pushing her chair in with a slam. "Yes, because women don't have enough trouble planning the wedding and baring the children and taking care of the slobbering mangy men! Let's curse them!"
"Slobbering and mangy?" Fred repeated, looking a bit appalled.
"Hormones." Harry mumbled under his breath. He put his hand over his mouth to muffle it. Maybe Ginny wouldn't notice that way. Fred smiled appreciatively at the green-eyed man to his left.
"HORMONES?" Ginny's wand whipped out of her back pocket, but didn't point it at anyone in particular. "I've just been told that I'm cursed, and you're trying to blame hormones!"
Hermione giggled inwardly. Ginny was exactly like Molly Weasley. She was sweet as a dream, but had a temper like a fire-breathing dragon when given the reason. Only these two women could have made Ron the amazing man he was.
Wait! Did she just think that? ..It must've been all the unfolding drama.
Fred and George put on fake smiles and stood up from their chairs. "Well, this visit has been pleasant, but I think it's best we go home before our little sister has kittens."
"She's not having kittens. She's having a baby." Ron said stupidly, earning strange looks from the entire family. George opened his mouth to make a smart-ass to Ron, but shut it again when he found Ginny's wand in his face.
"Sit down! Nobody moves until I figure this out!" Fred and George plunked back into their chairs.
Hermione cleared her throat. If they were going to figure it out, she wanted to do it quickly. "So, what is this curse exactly? Where did it come from?"
"Leave it to my Hermione to get right down to business." Ron laughed. Did he just call her his Hermione? Oh well, that wasn't important right now.
"Well, the curse begins in medieval times, when Lord Robertus Weasley ruled over the Kingdom of Elytoe." Mr. Weasley explained. "He had one sibling. A sister named Gweneveire."
"Gweneveire was Robertus' only companion after his true love rejected him. He was a bitter and often harsh ruler who had no love or sympathy in his heart. So, when Gweneveire fell in love with Henry, Duke of Chershire, Robertus immediately forbid their marriage. He didn't want his sister to have happiness is he couldn't have it himself."
"What did she do?" Ginny asked in a breathy voice. Her eyes were wide and she looked completely captivated by the words leaving her father's mouth. It was as if she was still a mere child being told a fairy tale.
"She married Henry anyway." Mr. Weasley said quickly. "This only served to infuriate Robertus, and so he killed Henry months later and cast a curse on his sister." The tension was thick, like smoke in a burning building. Everyone sat with his or her breath hitched, trying to figure out the extremity of the Weasley curse.
"The curse said that unless her brother was married first, no Weasley woman could marry, or else she would die a gruesome death just as Henry had."
There was a general uproar at this point, but Mrs. Weasley managed to silence them all. "There's more."
Mr. Weasley took a deep breath. "Before Henry died, Gweneveire had conceived a child. She later gave birth to a baby boy, which she named Harold. She loved her son with all her heart. However, he was a great source of her depression, as she longed for her husband."
"Gweneveire gave her son to one of her ladies-in-waiting, who became the child's guardian. It is said that the guardian had special powers that gave her insight into the mind of Gweneveire and helped keep her safe from suicide. However, Gweneveire didn't need suicide. She grew weak and ill and soon died, but not before cursing her brother."
"Somebody should have told these two that long-term curses are no way to solve sibling rivalry." Harry injected.
"The curse was made so that if any Weasley woman gave birth out of wedlock, it would kill the woman's brother. This was, of course, because Robertus was the only thing that ruined Gweneveire and Henry's marriage, and thus she blamed all brothers."
"Of course, Gweneveire didn't know about the course Robertus had cast, and how much the two contradicted each other. The two curses became one, and so formed the Weasley curse."
The shock in the room was evident. Looks of curiosity turned into looks of deep depression. Heads feel into hands, and slowly tears trickled down soft white cheeks.
"Let's summarize this." Ron said, sounding rather aggravated. "If Ginny gets married, she'll die. If Ginny has a baby when she's no married, all her brothers will die."
"Technically, no." Mrs. Weasley said to Ron. "Gweneveire only had one brother, so the curse only effects the first brother closest in age."
"Well that's bloody great!" Ron said, gripping the table once again. "At least I'll be the only one kicking the bucket!"
"There's got to be a loophole." Harry said desperately. He held Ginny tight in his arms. "There's always a loophole."
"The only way to curse has no effect is if the family is all boys or all girls, and obviously that won't work." Mr. Weasley said plainly. He was the calmest out of all of them, having had known the cruse almost his entire life.
"It is said that just as Gweneveire had a guardian who helped her with Harold, there is a guardian for each Weasley woman who can help them counteract the curse. However, neither the woman or the guardian herself knows their position or the power it holds."
By this time, Ginny was sobbing uncontrollably. She let out a loud yelp that caused everyone else to turn the concerned faces to her.
"Hormones!" She squeaked, before jumping out of his chair and rushing upstairs.
In the wee hours of the morning, Ron and Hermione stayed up playing chess. She lost game after game, but that wasn't the point. She was going to get him to talk, to tell her what he was thinking.
The fifth game was silent until they heard someone clunk down the stairs. Harry walked into the room looking particularly disheartened.
He held up the small diamond ring in his hand. "I didn't even get to put this on her." He sighed, "But she's finally fallen asleep."
"At least she'll get some rest tonight." Hermione tried to keep her voice calm and nonchalant. There was enough emotion running around already, and she needed to be strong for Harry and the Weasleys.
"I think she'll be the only one." Harry said, placing the ring on the side table.
Ron looked at Harry quickly, then back down at the chalkboard. "Why aren't you still up there with her?"
"I'm her to convey a message." Harry stated. "Ginny wants to meet tomorrow in Diagon Alley at two o'clock. She's leaving early in the morning to do research, but she'll meet you after that."
"Yeah, cool. I'll meet her." Ron said, never taking his eyes off the chessboard.
Harry stood there for another moment, as if waiting for something else to be said before dismissing himself back to bed.
Hermione couldn't take the tactful silence anymore. "Hey Ron, what's going on in your head?"
Ron groaned for a moment. Without warning, he swiped the chessboard and the pieces flew into the wall.
"It's too much, Hermione! It's too damn much!" His head fell into his hands. He wasn't crying, but Hermione had never seen Ron cry at all. "There's no way around this!"
"There is." Hermione said. She's thought about this certain loophole since right after Mr. Weasley had explained the situation. "It's not quite fair to you."
"What? Letting them have the baby and killing myself?" Ron cried, trying to figure out with the bushy-haired girl meant.
Hermione gasped. "Ron! Never! The last thing I want to do is see anyone die!"
Ron began to feel terribly guilty for his outburst and accusations. Hermione stared at the floor, her heart sinking. Ron walked around the table, leaned down, and pulled her into a tight embrace.
"I'm sorry, 'Mione. I'm sorry." After she seemed to relax a bit, he whispered "What's this loophole, then?"
"Robertus' curse only works if the brother isn't married." Hermione stated quietly. "So, if you were married, Ginny and Harry would be able to marry safely, and their baby would be legitimate. Everyone's safe."
Ron thought about it for a moment. "That would work, but that's not the best way."
Now it was Hermione's turn to be confused. "Why not?" She asked.
"What if me or one of the others had a boy and then a little girl someday?" He sighed. "The curse would just start all over again. I need a way to break this bloody curse for good."
Hermione just nodded. It was a noble cause that she understood. It wasn't about Ron. It was about the future family he'd need to protect.
"Then I'd be able to marry on my own terms." Ron added. "I want her to know it's because I love her."
Hermione giggled. "You say that like you've already picked out your future wife."
He just blushed and laughed uncertainly. Something caught Hermione's eye. Ginny's engagement ring still lay on the table next to them.
"Oh, Harry left this down here." She stood up and scooped the ring into her hand.
Suddenly, she fell to her knees. Her veins felt like they had ice ruining though them, but at the same time she was burning up.
A vivid image etched itself into her head. The ring was on a petite hand, but there was something very wrong with it.
The hand was bleeding, and not from a cut. Blood slowly seeped through the pores of the hand, dying it crimson from the inside outside.
There was a loud scream as another bleeding hand tried to take off the ring and the skin peeled off around it, leaving nothing but blood and bone on that part of the finger.
Hermione felt hands grasp her shoulders and she snapped back into reality, dropping the ring on the floor.
"Hermione! Are you okay?" Ron knelt on the floor next to her. It took her a few seconds to regain her composure, but she slowly nodded to him.
"I just had a bit of a dizzy spell." Hermione said rapidly, deciding it best not to tell Ron about what had just happened. After all, it was just some hand. "I think it's best if I go to bed."
She pointed to the ring on the floor. "You might want to give that back to Harry tomorrow." Ron picked the ring up off the floor. Nothing happened.
Without another word, Hermione began to ascend the staircase.
"Hey 'Mione?" Ron called from downstairs. She stopped and turned around.
"Would you ever marry someone if it meant saving their life?" He asked, adding in quickly, "That's hypothetical, of course."
A small smile graced her lips. "Yes."
Woo! One more chapter down! I hope that it lived up to everyone's expectations. Hopefully ff.net doesn't take out my page breaks now like it did before! I've lovin' all the input I've gotten, so please continue with it! REVIEW!