Disclaimer: Harry Potter, all characters from the franchise and background stories belong to JKR.
Chapter One
July 23, 2000
Soring high in the afternoon sky with the wind in my hair and nothing but the broom between my legs and the snitch in my grasped was a feeling I relished of late. The freedom of knowing the only thing of importance was to catch the snitch and ending the game. No doom on the horizon, no horcrux's to search for, no Voldemort, no one after my head... as if on cue a bludger flew pass my head.
"Oi, Harry, you need to catch the snitch" my best friend, Ron scream across the pitch. "We losing mate, bloody hell Ginny can't you give be breather".
I chuckled as I search for the golden snitch again. For the past year and half Sunday afternoon's was spend playing quidditch with everyone, somedays Mr. Weasley and Mr. Lovegood would join in, Percy has join a game or five, even Hermione started playing. It has been a good way to try and pick up the pieces after the war.
My eyes landed on Ginny, Ginevra Molly Weasley the girl of my dreams. I still remember that day, a summer's day just like this one; however we were all sitting somberly around inside the Burrow, when Ginny came in with a broomstick thrusting it in my hand.
"We did not fight a war, to spend the rest of our days like this".
Turned and walked out the kitchen door, in exchanged seven brooms flew in and hovered in front of Ron, Hermione, George, Billy, Angelina, Neville and Luna. That was the day we started playing again. However George has only joined us for a few games. Still can't believe how close we all came to losing this, how a single moment made all the difference in the war.
As my hand closed around the snitch Mr. Weasley beckoned us to come inside. Still feeling very much alive from the game I did not take notice of the sober mood of Mr. Weasley and Percy, nor did I notice the Minister of Magic, Mr. Kingsley Shacklebolt, sitting in the on the couch until we were all called to silence by a very worried looking Mrs. Weasley.
"Children, please. Kingsley needs to talk to us" Mrs. Weasley muttered. Since Fred's death Mrs. Weasley has become so timid, she seems to only smile when Teddy or Victoire were around yet it seemed so forced. Her welcoming, motherly enthusiasm has become a distant memory. Like Mrs. Weasley. Georges zest for life has disappeared.
Hermione elbowing me in my side brought my attention back to the present just in time to hear Kingsley ask "…. Do you agree, Harry?"
"Yes, of course, Kingsley"
That's when I noticed Ron shaking his head, unfortunately it was too late. For what Kingsley said next I doubt anyone would have guessed.
"Due to the decrease in the entire world population since Voldermort and the uncertainty of the new millennium, the birth rate in the wizarding community internationally has almost dismal. What I'm trying to say and I am sure none of you are going to like the news for I certainly do not. The International Wizengamot are a bunch of old geysers who think it's better to interfere than let people make they own decisions. I mean this is absurd, forcing people…. But when I objected they threatened me the Minister for Magic… if we want to change the way the magical world operates and prevent another maniac from trying to rule our world I need to be there."
Somewhere in his speech he started pacing the living room. Right now it seemed like he was talking more to himself than to anyone in the room, I was sure whatever the Wizengamot has decided Kingsley has been trying to fight it.
Mr. Weasley had managed to convince him to sit down and explain what is going on calmly. However, Kingsley was so worked up that the minute Mr. Weasley finish he's sentence. The Minster of Magic scream loud enough for everyone to hear.
"Marriage law"
Time felt like it slowed down and then everything speed up thousand folds. I heard everyone's voices at once.
"Are they crazy?"
"They can't do this!"
"This is absurd!"
"Bloody ridicules!"
"Who do they think they are?"
"You have to do something Kingsley!"
And there was crying too. All I could think of was we fought a war to be puppets to the Wizengamot.
"Quiet!!" Mr. Weasely shouted, "Kingsley they must be a way something we can do to stop this?"
"I've tried Arthur, I've tried for the past several months, and they refuse to budge. At first I thought the International Wizengamot wanted individuals to marry and start a family as soon as possible. This morning…. This morning I learnt that they are finding every persons 'Soulmate' and will force a marriage between the two" Kingsley sighed out in exhaustion. "It gets worse; they have instilled preventative mechanisms to stop any non – Wizengamot – matched marriages"
"Bloody hell, they completely lost their minds. No one is going to listen to them" Ron stated as he reached for Hermione's hand, when suddenly sparks flew between they hand flinging them apart.
"What was that?" they both yelled
"Preventative mechanism's, I'm guessing" Kingsley said bitterly as he reached into his robe and removed a couple of red envelops and handed them over. "They feel the rest of the population will be most inclined follow suit if they saviors are the first to commit"
I held the red envelop in my hand, completely numb. This whole concept is completely ridicules, this is not what we risked our lives for, this is not what we lost good people for. To be forced into marriages with people we don't know or love. People who are considered our soulmates due to some stupid spell.
"Harry, Harry, Harry, are you okay, you've been quiet through the entire meeting" Mr. Weasley asked.
I glanced around the room, stopping on Ginny's face as my eyes travelled down to her empty hands; I realized she did not have an envelope.
"I need some air" I muttered before flinging the accursed red envelope on the coffee table and practically running out the back door.
This can't be happening I was going to propose to Ginny in just over two weeks' time. Now I have to marry a stranger.
I am so angry at everything, how could this be happening. I felt like a pawn all over again.
"Harry… Harry" I was so lost in thought I did not even notice Ron and Hermione come out nor did I notice the sun low on the horizon.
"Mums worried about you, we all worried about you" Ron spoke first.
"We all not happy about this, we've been looking at various ways to put an end to this law, Harry. We have been read through so books and parchments for hours, Kingsley brought as much as he could. Harry there is no way out. Ron and I believe that they started this outrageous law long before they even mentioned it to the various ministers." Hermione continue without a break, "Harry the only way out is death. The wizard population is less than 10000 internationally. Harry this is not right but we are dying out"
As I looked closer at Hermione, my brilliant friend looked like she was about to break down she was clenching the envelop in her hand, so tight it was extremely uncharacteristic of her. I turned to look over at Ron I could see how badly he wanted to comfort her. He loved her for so long; they finally got together now this. I could feel my anger starting to boil again.
"Hermione, Ron there must be away to put a stop to this. How are you both accepting of this? How can force us to do this? We fought for equality, for freedom, we fought for a better life for all of us. Forcing us to marry someone we don't know, we don't love, while we pine over another and the life we might have had together. How is that fair on anyone?" Why were they so calm over it, while I was furious.
"Harry, the spells have been cast. We can't touch anyone else with any romantic or sensual intentions. It leaves a mark" She said as she lowers the neckline on her shoulder showing a burnt mark the size of a man's palm. "These are ancient spells Harry they can't be broken except by death, which will kill both people. Kingsley worried they might start casting them on all underage wizards as well, if we don't agree to this."
"We are not happy about this Harry." Ron muttered as reassurance to me "We seem to always be pawns in the survival of the wizarding world, the stacks are as high as before yet the only way for survival is to cooperate with this strategy. I am not saying this is right but imaging Victorie or Teddy having these spells cast on them from babies, they whole lives will be dictated to them." Ron has matured so much these last few years; I just started at him in awe.
"Hey, can I speak to Harry alone?" Ginny whispered, I did not even hear her approach us.
Hermione and Ron both nodded they head and left us alone.
"It was meant to be us who got married, you have always been my snitch my forever" I told her.
"I know and you have been minds. We don't know what the letters say, Harry, we could still be together" I love how optimist she was about this situation. "Harry, I know what you thinking but you have to remember that our way of life will end soon if the wizengamot doesn't take action. I do think they scared that another wizard or witch will rise up again to try and over throw the world. We cannot survive another war."
"What I don't understand is why we can't just marry who we want. Make a law that everyone has to be married within a year but to who they want. That would work and it will have less backlash don't you agree" I urged her on.
"And what of all the wizards and witches who do not have anyone. They might end up getting married to someone just to get married and then what Harry? Think about the couple; think about the children from that union. How many individual would end up being abused in these situations? How many people would end up using love potions to achieve this goal, Harry? We all saw what happened when a child was conceived under love potion."
"So we just go along with everything they say without questioning it? How is this different?" I thought Ginny would understand me.
"Let's at least go inside and hear what Kingsley as to say." She said as she extended her hand to me. I do not want to burn her by touching her hand like Hermione's shoulder, but I needed to feel her hand in minds at least for one last time.