Hello,
Welcome to my potato chip, marriage law drama Charmione. Very exciting and unique... I know. This is short, about 15k.
I started this because I question how in all Marriage law fics no one sees the law coming or it's all done under the cover of night and everyone is surprise. I totally get why (we want to get to the good stuff) and it's in no way bad; I just wanted to do a take on it where the law is a bit slower rolling and people still end up thrown together.
I also loved the idea of posting the banns. This is a (notedably) old tradition in the Christian church where a local parish will announce an impending marriage. The community then has two weeks to make any counter claims or oppositions to the marriage, legal or civil. This could include; lack of consent, existing marriage, vows of celibacys, or *shutters* "prohibited degrees of kinship" (aka incest but only major, minor is still A-OK!).
Hermione was frowning deeply at the newspaper in front of her. The owl that had dropped it by had left mere minutes ago and her cup of tea laid abandoned.
"I can't believe it passed," Harry mumbled watching Molly fuss over an annoyed Ginny with tears of happiness rolling down her face. Ginny had scratched her name on the parchment and he was blowing on the ink to dry it.
"Oh, it was going to happen anyway," Hermione chided. "At least you know who you want. I have six months to get this sorted."
Hermione glanced at the paper on the table.
Marriage Law Passes: An Answer to Blood Purity Problems?
The law had been working its way through the Wizenmagot for the past few months. It was continuously being brought up after being shot down with only the most minute of changes in each new iteration. Hermione had known it was only a matter of time before enough adjustments were made before it passed. The war had decimated the wizarding population and unlike the last time, the young people who fought had taken precautions not to bring a child into the world while it was still on shaky ground.
The result was a bunch of tittering old men in their ivory towers trying to fix a problem they made by pushing it off on the younger generation.
Still Hermione could see the logic that Kingsley had been advocating for. He had been trying to draw as much flexibility out of the law as he could as it dragged its way steadily forward. He did have some results to show for it.
Purebloods would not be allowed to marry other purebloods if they weren't already registered as engaged within the ministry or with child. As there were many fewer purebloods than half-bloods or muggle-borns the purebloods got to pick from the pool. They had six months to secure a spouse and consummate the marriage or they would be paired randomly with whoever was left.
Hermione sighed, signing as witness to Harry Potter's banns. The magical contract that had arrived by owl this morning snapped shut and glowed gold. A booming voice filled the kitchen.
"This serves as the official posted ban of Harry Potter to Ginerva Weasley, there is a contested period of twenty four hours before the marriage must be completed or nullified. If there are any outstanding claims against this match, they shall speak before the end period of the banns or forever hold their peace."
The scroll disappeared, porting back to the ministry and leaving a glowing gold orb floating in its place. Hermione blinked when the orb shook not seconds later.
"OBJECTION! Raised by the families Greengrass, Bulstrode, Bones, Longbottom, Parkinson, Slywen, Fawley, Olivander, Nott-" The list of names when on and on. Even Molly had stopped crying to stare at the orb listing all those rejecting the marriage. The names just kept coming, seemingly from every pureblooded family in England.
"Enough!" Molly shouted, encasing the orb in a wooden chest floating in the air. It was still speaking but the sounds were muffled. The four people in the room continued to stare at the shouting box.
"Well that was rude," Ginny said, shaking her mother loose to wrap her hands possessively around the Harry. "Why would they ever think you would accept any of them? You haven't even met someone from half of those families."
"Can we make it stop?" Hermione asked, eyeing the wood distastefully. It was not unexpected that there was such aggressive competition for Harry Potter's banns but the list was still going until Hermione was sure that every family with an available female— no matter how distant— had wanted to offer for him. She didn't even know Neville had any female cousins. How old were they?
"Erm… no thank you," Harry told the box. "I'm marrying Ginny."
The muffled sounds still continued so they just shrugged and continued their breakfast waiting for the owls to come flying in. Ginny had gotten hers early, courtesy of Kingsley, hoping to avoid this exact situation.
Molly was of course fluttering over her sons' futures, caught in this as they all were. Ron got out of it due to his recent impregnation of Lavender. Before all this had been announced, they had been planning a wedding for later in the year. The rest of them only had six months to find someone they want to marry, fall in love, and then post banns for them. Thankfully Bill was already married and Percy engaged. Fred and George were already dating half-bloods, so it was only a matter of time before-
Two golden balls appeared in unison, floating above the kitchen table, (Harry's still grumbling below.)
"This serves as the official posted ban of-"
"Katie Bell to George Weasley-
"Angelina Johnson to Fred Weasley-"
"-there is a contested period of twenty four hours before the marriage must be completed or nullified. If there are any outstanding claims against match, they shall speak before the end period of the banns or forever hold their peace."
These orbs just glowed silently while the four wizards in the kitchen just watched on in confusion.
"Isn't that backwards?" Harry finally asked, staring at Molly as she buried her hands in her face.
"Yeah, I thought George was dating Angelina," Hermione added.
"He was… is... oh no!" Ginny groaned.
The floo burst to life and the twins came rolling out of the fireplace in their pajamas.
"Joke! It was a joke!" George coughed. "We didn't know-"
"That the banns-"Fred continued, "were 24 hours!"
"Reverse it!" They both said in unison, pleading to their mother.
The floo flared again revealing an incensed Angelina and teary-eyed Katie.
"Oh, you think this is funny do you?" Angelina hissed in a fair imitation of a cobra. George flinched back immediately. Still, Hermione thought he was faring better that Fred who was watching a crying Katie in sheer panic.
"Oh my," Molly gasped, casting a patronus to send off her to her husband while Hermione watched the drama unfold and sipping her tea. To the twins credit... it was a stupid thing to do. The banns had originally had a date of two weeks but it was whittled down to speed up the process. This stunt has just served to upset their future wives.
"Mollywobbles-"Arthur asked, stepping out of the floo and nearly crashing into a distraught Fred. "Oh, hello boys. Katie dear, what ever the matter?"
"What's the matter is that your son's are idiots!" Angelina growled, pausing her attack on George who had gone concernedly pale. "The idiots switched their banns!"
"We thought it would be funny!" Fred offered, only to have Katie burst fully into sobs, drawing a stricken look from Fred.
"Oh dear," Arthur murmured, shuffling around the incorrectly engaged couples and heading to the table. He kissed Molly on the cheek and caught notice of the floating box. "What's this then?"
Molly flicked her wand at the box which had finally fallen silent.
"This is the posted banns of Harry Potter to Ginerva Weasley. There are seventy-six objections would you like to hear the listed names-"
"NO!" The four at the table shouted just as Katie squeaked an affirmative.
"OBJECTION! Raised by the-" The box was back up and everyone who had already heard it was already groaning.
"Sorry," Katie hiccupped before turning to Arthur with tearful brown eyes. "Can you fix this?"
"I think you can," Arthur responded. "You ladies have the right to refusal so you should just be able to reject them and my sons may reapply correctly ."
"Not that you should take them," Ginny muttered from her chair.
"Fine," Angelina spat tearing away from a thoroughly chastised George. "Which one is mine?"
""This serves as the official posted ban of Angelina Johnson to-"
"Shut up," Angelina snapped, her temper fraying dangerously. Apparently sensing this the magic did as told and continued to float there. "I reject the banns."
"On what grounds are these banns rejected."
"I'm bloody well shagging his brother," Angelina hissed, making George flush bright red and Molly squeak indignantly.
"...There are no other suitors available. The banns shall stand."
"What!?" The room shouted.
Hermione stared on in horror. The non-pureblood was supposed to be able to reject the banns if they were unsuitable. It was the only thing that had been consistent across all iterations of a law… until last night apparently.
"Why was… this wasn't… they aren't just stuck like this are they?" Hermione asked.
Hermione wasn't the only one panicking. Katie's tears were now falling in earnest and Angelina looked like she was going to solve the problem by killing her soon to be ex-boyfriend.
"Stop!" Percy shouted. Hermione hadn't even seen him, Ron and Lavender come in. "Calm down. This is fixable."
"That's not how it's supposed to work Percy," Arthur said. "The girls should be able to reject it. Why… why can't they say no?"
"It was the newest change that finally pushed the law through," Percy held up a stack of paper. The print was too small to read even if Hermione could see past the horror blurring her vision. "The banns can't be rejected by the subject without probable cause," he turned to a relieved looking Ron and Lavender. "Like a pregnancy or outstanding engagement."
"So they are just stuck with whoever claims them first!" Hermione shouted. "Like cattle?!"
"No," Percy responded shuffling through the stack in front of him. "But once a set of banns are posted they must select from the list of suitors within the twenty-four hour time limit or the posted claim stands."
"Merlin," Ron groaned his hand wrapped protectively around Lavender's belly.
"I, Fred Weasley, oppose the banns of Katie Bell and George Weasley!" Fred shouted at the ball of light. The orb pulsed slightly.
"On what grounds?" The orb asked.
"Er… She's shagging me, not my brother."
Molly was still grumbling under her breath and now both Fred and Katie were flushed red as well.
"Objection! Raised by the house of Weasley under claims of… inter-familial strife."
"Well that's fair," Percy commented. They stared at the orb silently.
"Well go on then," Angelina growled. The orb didn't move. Katie untangled herself from Fred and shuffled forward.
"I'd like to reject my banns... please."
"On what grounds?" The orb asked.
"Er… On Fred Weasley's objection?" Katie asked.
The orb grew brighter.
"Banns have been rejected pending marriage and consummation between Katie Bell and Fred Weasley. This must be completed by the end of the twenty-four hour period."
The room watched eagerly but nothing else happened. It was George who leapt forward next.
"I George Weasley oppose-"
The same scene played out even as Percy cast a patronus, his egret shooting out from the Burrow's kitchen window. The room was shell shocked, they weren't ready for a wedding. They were supposed to have months to figure this out.
"Everyone to the garden; we have to move quickly! Put on your wedding robes if you've got them," Kingsley boomed as he exited the floo. He swore as a vulture patronus flew in through the window, blinking silently at him. "And Abbot has gone to the Lestranges. Salazar's Might what a mess."
"Well you heard the man!" Percy shouted. "Move!"
Everyone from the kitchen shuffled out into the garden, Hermione still carrying her cup of tea.
"Percy, head to Longbottom manor and see if you can't get Mister Longbottom over to the Abbot's. Afterward head to the Bone's, Merlin knows who has claimed her ." He swept out into the garden where Molly was transfiguring an archway of flowers, Ginny was trying to turn the twin's pajamas into something more respectable and Lavender was helping Katie and Angelina turn their robes white. Ron reappeared with Bill, Fleur and little Victorie.
"Alright boys, let's hurry this up. I have at least ten more weddings to do in the next hour. Harry you too!" Harry jumped, having forgotten about his banns and subsequent engagement from this morning and scurried up to join the twins in the quickest triple wedding England has ever seen. Less than five minutes later the group were all married to their respect partner and Kingsley had lowered his wand. "Well… Go!"
"Right!" The twins pulled their corrected girlfriends off to the ward line. From the look on Angelina's face she would rather be hexing George than consummating anything. Still they all disappeared with a crack barring Ginny and Harry who were following behind much more awkwardly.
"Miss Granger," Kingsley approached Hermione, still holding her tea in shock, even though it had cooled ages ago. "Where is your husband? I need to move to the next house."
"I… I don't have any posted banns," she stuttered, the wet ground leaking through her socks.
"Yet," Kingsley replied while rubbing his head. "I suggest you go inside and start making a list of any pureblood you would consider acceptable. They are disappearing fast and it is only a matter of time before someone claims you as well."
"Sir this is-"
"I know Miss Granger. But I don't have time to argue with you right now. I need to save as many children as I can. Who else should I visit from your year?"
She rattled off a list of names, Thomas, Finnigan, Corner... by the time she had finished nearly everyone in the family had sent off a patronus to one of the names, warning them of the banns and how to prepare.
When they finally headed inside Hermione was all but shaking. The orbs of light had disappeared from the kitchen table, settled in with their new couples. Hermione watched in horror as another ball of light came sailing in through the window, coming to rest directly in front of her.
"This serves as the official posted banns of Hermione Granger to Antonin Dolohov-"
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Hermione barely heard the rest. She just stared in horror at the innocuous floating ball of yellow.
"How!?" Arthur roared, shocking his family almost as much as the announcement. "He's in Azkaban!"
There was a shuffling of papers next to her and Bill cleared his throat.
"Apparently there will be enforced visitation for…"His throat cleared. "-procreation purposes. If they prove successful he will be put on house arrest pending the birth of his child."
"I would like to hear any objections please," Hermione managed with a weak voice.
"There are no objections to the union of Hermione Granger and Antonin Dolohov."
There was a collective gasp.
"Hermione dear, the list." Molly shook as she rested her hand on Hermione's shoulder. The woman had wanted to see all her children off and married, but not like this.
"I… I… What?" Hermione dumbly questioned, unable to get her brain to function.
"Ron. I need you to list the purebloods from your year... Now!"
"Merlin Mum I don't-"
"Your boys, Neville, Ernie, Zabini, Nott-" Lavender spoke with shaky breaths.
"Those are Slytherins!" Ron growled.
"There aren't a lot of us!" Lavender snapped and continued her very short list extending to the years above as well as she could remember them. She paused, drawing Hermione's attention before she winced. "McLaggen."
Hermione groaned deeply, hiding her head in her hands.
"Sorry," Lavender apologized.
"Call him," Hermione sighed. Lavender disappeared, shoving her head into the floo in the living room.
"Ron go get your brothers," Molly said, swapping Hermione's tea for fresh while she shot off another patronus to Percy. "We need their year too. Bill?"
"Cor mum, all my mates are ten years older than her," Bill groaned.
"We don't 'ave much of an option anymore," Fleur responded.
Bill groaned and head out to the garden to apparate home and make the calls.
"Don't worry dear." Molly said, wrapping Hermione in a tight hug. "We'll sort this out. The very Prince of England would be tripping over himself to post banns for you."
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Sixteen hours later Hermione's prospects were looking bleak. She had gotten additional claims but none of them were good. Goyle, Flint, Montague all claimed right to her and she was feeling thoroughly sick. When McLaggen stepped out of the floo she was ready to throw herself at him.
"Sorry Hermione." He held up his hand at the relieved looks in the cramped kitchen. "I have already been snapped up. But the banns don't require monogamy, if you ever get bored of your husband we could-"
He was cut off by Ginny knocking him back into the flames with a curse. She and Harry had arrived back with a red faced Ron and instantly set about recruiting any pureblood over the age of seventeen. Hermione may have felt worse about interrupting her honeymoon if it weren't for the dire circumstances.
Unfortunately, the last rejection from Oliver Wood had cleared them out of options. Dean Thomas patted her on the back softly, walking in from the impromptu chapel set up in the Weasley's garden. He had a pleased-looking Luna tucked tightly under his arm and they headed to the floo without another word. Hermione was glad they found a suitable match… considering that there was no divorce in a magical marriage.
"Krum!" Ron shouted, jumping from his seat in excitement. "Victor Krum is a pureblood!"
Hermione felt her heart flutter in hope. Victor was a good choice. He was kind, thought she was pretty, smart. She still wrote to him at least once a month and he-
"Not a British Citizen. Doesn't count," Percy groaned his usual perfectly coiffed hair disheveled and greasy from running his hands through it.
"Did anyone tell Fleur that?" Bill asked. They had all switched to firewhiskey after noon and had not gone back. "She's been gone all afternoon."
As if summoned there was a dramatic crack that shook the burrow. They all blinked at the back door when it snapped open, a proud veela blocking the way with her chest puffed out.
"'Ave we found anyone?"
"No," Hermione responded sullenly. She wondered briefly what sort of schedule she would be required to follow for visiting her husband in Azkaban. Maybe they would let her bring some tea cosys to liven up the place. Grey was such a dour color after all.
"I 'ave found ze answer!" Fleur stepped forward revealing a cloaked figure behind her. She pulled his hood back and Hermione was flummoxed to find herself looking at Charlie Weasley.
"Would anyone like to explain what I am doing here?" Charlie asked.