Disclaimer: I own nada, nothing, zip, and zilch.
Author's Note: I love all of you that reviewed. Yes, I know you've been begging for longer chapters, but then I get tired of it and I don't want to rush anything. Sorry! And I would like to thank MuggleNet for all the research information, which plays a large part in this chapter. I love Harry Potter, and would willingly marry Daniel Radcliffe if I could, but unfortunately, I do not have all the books memorized.
Chapter Ten- The Marriage Test
Three days later, Hermione and Charlie were walking towards the marriage department of the Ministry. Charlie looked about ready for a picnic, while his wife was obviously panicking. She asked, "Charlie, what will happen if they don't think that we've been following the law?"
"Most likely they'll order for a divorce, then try and make us remarry," the wizard replied with a shrug.
"Charlie!"
"What is it dear?" he asked kindly.
"How can you be so calm? This is our future we're talking about."
Charlie wrapped an arm about the young woman and rubbed her arm, trying to soothe her. "Love, don't worry. They aren't going to try and separate us, if anything they'll use us as an example of how good the law is doing. So just try and breathe, we don't need to be getting sick all over the examiner."
Hermione nodded and breathed deeply. She allowed Charlie to lead her through the building and to the correct room, not trusting herself not to run. Once in the room, a gentle looking old woman wearing black robes greeted them. She smiled and said, "Hello there, you must be Mr. Weasley and his wife, here for the test. I'm Martina Croffman. Please sit."
The young couple took their places in the seats across from the woman with Hermione holding onto Charlie desperately. Charlie nodded and replied, "Hello, I'm Charles Weasley, but call me Charlie, and this is my wife, Hermione."
"It's a pleasure to meet you. Now, if we may begin. When were you married, Mrs. Weasley?"
Hermione swallowed and answered, "Three days ago. In a little church by a Mr. Wickle."
The woman nodded and made note of the information on her clipboard, then continued, "How long had you two been dating?"
This time it was Charlie that spoke up, "I've been in love with her for the last two years."
"Mrs. Weasley, how old are you?"
That dreaded question, but we can't lie, she'll know if we lie about anything. "I'm seventeen currently."
"So if what Mr. Weasley says is true, then he's loved you since you were fifteen. How long have you been in love with your husband, Mrs. Weasley?"
"Three years, since I was fourteen."
Mrs. Croffman nodded. "So that would mean that you have shared feelings for the past two years. Did anything happen between you during these two years?"
Hermione knew what she was getting at and answered immediately, "No, of course not. Charlie wouldn't do anything like that to me, and I wouldn't have allowed him if he tried."
"I didn't think so, dear, but I had to ask it. It's a regulation question in a case such as this. Now, Mrs. Weasley, when is your husband's birthday and what is his full name?" the woman asked with a kind smile.
Hermione thought these questions pointless but answered, "Charles Lawrence Weasley was born December 12th, 1972."
"Very good. And state the full names and birthdays of all of Mr. Weasley's brothers."
"First there is William Michael Weasley, who was born on November 29th, 1970. Percy Ignatius Weasley was born on August 22nd, 1976. The twins, Fredrick Marcus Weasley and George Thomas Weasley were born on April 1st, 1978, George being the older one. Ronald Bilius Weasley was born on March 1st, 1980. Finally there is his youngest sibling and sister, Ginerva Molly Weasley, who was born on August 11th, 1981."
Mrs. Croffman smiled, finding the information the same as what she'd been given. "Excellent. Now, Mr. Weasley, if you could do the same."
"Well, before it was Hermione Jane Granger, but since she's married now it's Hermione Granger Weasley. Her middle name having been changed since Granger is on all her papers from before. Hermione doesn't have any siblings though her parents' names are Emma and Robert Granger. My wife was then born on September 12th, 1979," Charlie replied easily.
"You are correct, Mr. Weasley. Who was your witness at the ceremony?"
"My brother, Bill. He was the only one though."
"And when did you two meet?"
"Three years ago, during the TriWizard Tournament at Hogswarts. Hermione was one of the students while I was the one to supply the dragons for the first task. She is also a dear friend to my younger brother, Ronald Weasley."
"You seem to know your stuff, Mr. Weasley, but how about your wife? Mrs. Weasley, who is your husbands best mate?"
"His brother, Bill. Though he is also quite close with the Michaelsons and Mr. Cooper MacCarren, a Muggle."
"Now, what was your husband's life at Hogwarts like?"
Hermione thought for a moment, trying to remember everything she'd heard his siblings say about Charlie. Choosing her words carefully, she replied, "Charlie loved Quidditch, and could have gone pro but instead chose to deal with dragons. He received good marks, but did not do as well academically as Bill did."
"Very good, Mrs. Weasley. Now, Mr. Weasley, it is your turn. Who is your wife's best mate and how was her life at Hogwarts?"
Charlie grinned and ruffled Hermione's hair as he replied, "Well, her best mate is Harry Potter, of course. Ron is a close second, but a bit too argumentive to be considered for the position. Then her life at Hogwarts, my Mione was always the top of her class, and even became prefect in her fifth year. She had a trouble streak though, in her first year, she was trapped in a bathroom with a troll from which Ron and Harry were able to save her."
Mrs. Croffman quickly checked the information with her own before smiling and saying, "Very good. Now there is the second aspect of the law. Which we will be able to find out with a simple potion." She then passed Charlie a vile and continued, "Mr. Weasley, if you would be so kind as to spit into the potion and then Mrs. Weasley, if you would then drink it."
Charlie and Hermione followed the woman's orders, Charlie spitting heartily into the concoction, and Hermione then swallowing it. Everyone waited a few minutes without anything happening when suddenly Hermione began to glow a vibrant blue. Mrs. Croffman grinned, "Very good, very good. Everything seems to be in order here, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, and I am more than happy to find your marriage both legal and in accordance with the marriage law. I hope to see you within two years with a child."
The pair stood up and uttered their greetings before leaving the room, with Hermione still blue. Once they had walked a good distance away from the room, Charlie said, "See? That wasn't too bad, and she passed us. We are now a law abiding married couple."
Hermione smiled in spite of the situation. "Yes, though I have to admit, I wish that this blue would fade away. It makes me think that I just took a pregnancy test."
Charlie kissed the top of her head. "Well, if you were pregnant, I would be very extremely happy. I love you and would love any child of ours."
It was too bad the couple wasn't paying attention to where they were going for they suddenly ran into Pansy Parkinson and her father. The large, hateful girl smirked and asked, "Finally found a way to get someone to marry you, mudblood whore? I'm not surprised that a baby was the only way, who would willing marry you, after all. I'm just shocked that it wasn't that little blood traitor, Weasel." Then noticing Charlie, she added, "Or did he finally realize that even he was too good for you? You have to settle for his brother?"
Hermione was about to strike out, when Charlie's cool voice rang out, "Why don't you just leave my wife and I alone, Ms. Parkinson? This sure is an awful place for a duel, after all. Wouldn't want any Ministry officials seeing."
Pansy's father snapped, "Don't threaten my daughter, you mudblood lover."
"Yes, I am a mudblood lover, and I'm sure one of your ancestors was as well, seeing as no family can remain pureblood without some effects, and I'm sure your daughter's deformation and your insanity have nothing to do with that."
"I ought to kill you where you stand," Mr. Parkinson snarled as he reached for his wand.
"Correction, you ought to find yourself a mind to fill all that vacant space in your head. But until you can do so, we are going to leave and celebrate happiness and love. Two things you are incapable of ever knowing." Charlie answered with a smile as he pulled Hermione away.
"Thank you, Charlie?"
"For what? You're my wife, and any person that insults my wife insults me. I don't settle well with insults."
"Charlie, what are we going to do once we get back to the Burrow? I mean, we can't just let your mother go on planning our wedding when we're already married," Hermione said.
Charlie shrugged again, "Easy, we'll wait a few days, then when she really starts getting persistent, we'll make the announcement. Hopefully, she'll be so happy that we actually got married that she'll forget that she wasn't there."
Hermione shook her head and grinned, "Charlie, that has got to be the stupidest plan I have ever heard of. Your mother is not going to forget about not being there."
"Ah, I suppose you haven't yet realized that sometimes the most stupid plans are the ones that work."
"Charlie, the only reason that those plans work is because of dumb luck, and trust me, no amount of luck is going to save us from your mother."
"Our."
"What?"
Charlie smiled as he explained, "She's your mum now too, don't forget, and I would appreciate it if you started to call her Mum and my father Dad. You're stuck with the lot of us now."
Hermione's mind flashed back to what Ginny said about being trapped in a miserable marriage, and she suddenly kissed Charlie. "I'm not stuck with you, I'm here by choice," she replied when they pulled apart.
"So am I, love. So am I," Charlie stated. Then he grinned and picked Hermione up in his arms. "Now come on, sweet, we still have four days before we have to be getting back home. That means that we still have four days before we have to start worrying about what to do with my family. I suggest we use that time for better things than worrying."
"Well, lead away my good knight," Hermione answered before Charlie disapparated back to the inn with Hermione still in his arms.