Disclaimer: Not my characters.
A/N: Hope you enjoy chapter 2!
Chapter 2
Hermione and Ron broke out in huge grins when their rings didn't react. Despite their close friendship and their romantic past, they both felt it would be better to be married to a stranger than to each other.
"Not married!" Ron shouted as he pulled Hermione into a big hug. "That's bloody fantastic!"
He continued to whoop around the room before Molly smacked him with a spoon to get him to calm down. "Act your age, Ronald!" Molly scolded.
"So, are you two matched up?" Ron asked Harry and Ginny, finally thinking about someone else.
"Yes, we are," grinned Harry.
"How'd you get so lucky?" Ron asked.
"We got married last week Ron. We eloped," Ginny explained. "We knew there was a chance that the law would pass and we couldn't imagine not being with each other." Ginny moved into Harry's arms and sighed happily.
Hermione watched the happy couple and knew that something was right in the world. She didn't think Harry would survive if he didn't have Ginny in his life.
The rest of the family started appearing around that point, and the explanation about the marriages was given again and again. Hermione had retreated to a corner of the family room, where she watched each of the Weasley boys learn of their fate. Bill and Fleur were quite smug about the whole thing, reminding Charlie over and over that he could have married a cute dragon handler he'd had his eye on, if he hadn't been so shy about asking her out. Fleur walked over to Hermione and handed her little Victoire.
"Can you please hold her while I get some coffee?" Fleur asked, already walking away.
Hermione looked down at the stunning little girl and sighed. Victoire was beyond beautiful. Her hair was a very light blond with just hints of strawberry, her features fine and delicate, and her skin color was that of her mother. She didn't have much Veela blood in her at all, but she had all the physical traits. Hermione only dreamed of having a baby so beautiful. She wondered who she'd be having that baby with.
"So Hermione, who do you think your husband is?" Fleur asked as she joined Hermione on the sofa, making no move to take back her baby.
"I have no idea."
"Who do you want it to be? Anyone special?"
"Who do I want it to be? I've not thought about it at all. I haven't been dating. I don't have my eye on anyone. I've been so busy with work and friends that I haven't given much thought to who I wanted to marry. Now that I'm married, I guess I don't have to think about it."
"I hope you have a wonderful husband," Fleur said, patting Hermione on the knee.
"Thank you, Fleur." She was just passing the baby back to Fleur when there was a pounding on the door. Harry moved to open it as he was closest.
"Malfoy! What are you doing here?" Harry immediately grabbed his wand as he saw his former enemy.
"Is Granger here?" he asked, stepping inside and leaving puddles of melted snow inside the kitchen.
"What do you want, Malfoy?" Hermione asked as she walked toward him.
"I just want to get this out of the way. Give me your hand." Draco reached out to grab Hermione's hand, but she pulled it away.
"What are you doing? What do you want with my hand?"
"I understand that our spouses were picked based on age and intelligence. You're the only girl smart enough to match me. Give me your hand and let me see if we're hitched," he said, reaching out his hand once more.
"Oh Malfoy, if I'm married to you, it's going to be a cold day in hell," Hermione groaned. "I never even thought of the possibility of being married to someone like you." She looked around at all the horrified faces and bravely stuck out her hand. Their fingers pressed together and finally, both sighed. Nothing.
"Oh thank Merlin," Draco laughed. "I was going to throw up if we connected."
"Thanks so much," she said dryly.
"Okay Weaslette, let's check you since you're here," Draco said as he stuck his hand toward Ginny.
"Don't touch my wife," Harry growled, moving closer.
"Your wife? They matched you two?"
"We got married last week. The law didn't effect us," Ginny told him.
"Lucky bastards," Draco said as he headed out the door. "Doesn't that Lovegood girl live around here? She's not matched to me intelligence-wise, but since I'm in the area. . . " His voice trailed off as Harry shut the door behind him.
"You dodged a bullet, Hermione!" Harry let out a shaky laugh.
"Yeah. A Christmas miracle," Hermione started laughing. "Can you imagine Draco being married to Luna? I should say poor Luna, but really, poor Draco!"
"Draco had a point though," Molly said as she came into the center of the room. "You boys should all see if Hermione is a match. Ron's already checked, but there are four more ways for you to become a Weasley, Hermione. You know you were meant to be a Weasley!"
"Molly, I don't think you should pressure the girl," Arthur said, laying a comforting hand on Molly's shoulder. "Most of the kids are going through the same thing. I'm sure that they want to find out who they are married to as quickly as they can. Hermione may not be a Weasley, and you can't be disappointed if she's not. She could be married to any one of hundreds of different men."
"It's all right Arthur," Hermione said. "Molly, I would be the luckiest girl in the world if I were to be an official part of your family. I love all your sons and I'd rather be married to one of them than a stranger."
Molly grabbed Hermione into a fierce hug and tried not to cry, Hermione holding on just as tight. It was Christmas day and nothing had started as planned.
"It's Christmas! We need to get back to the task at hand! There will be time for all of this later. It's Victoire's first Christmas so we'd best make it a good one," Hermione said as she wiped her eyes. "Let's get the food on the table so we can open our gifts."
"Right, of course. Okay, everyone in the kitchen, let's load the table and load our plates. George, go get your brother," Molly ordered, as she went back into drill sergeant mode. George stepped into the Floo to find Fred, and everyone else gathered bowls and plates.
"Hermione? Can I please talk to you?" Percy asked, as he pulled Hermione aside. "I'm not sure I can stomach eating knowing that my wife might be in the room and not know it. Can we get this over with?"
Hermione laughed and held out her left hand. "Ok Percy, let's see if we are married."
Percy held his hand out and they touched rings. Nothing. Hermione tried not to let him see, but she sighed in relief. She loved Percy like a brother but that was where it ended. She couldn't imagine being married to him.
"Oh, well that's a disappointment," Percy said as he pulled his hand away. "You are nearly equal to me in intelligence and we aren't that far apart in age. You are not that unattractive, either. It will be hard to find someone else suitable for me." He walked off to the kitchen and Hermione started laughing. She couldn't help it. Percy was such a prat. He didn't even realize it.
"What are you laughing about?" asked a deep voice from behind her. "I assume you are laughing, either that, or crying."
Hermione turned to see Charlie grinning at her. "Oh, I suppose I'm laughing in relief and laughing at your brother."
"Which one?" Charlie peered around the corner.
"Percy. He told me I was 'not that unattractive' and I was suitable for him." Hermione couldn't stop the laughter then. The stress of the morning had caught up with her and she was overcome with emotions. Laughter was the easiest to express it. "I'm sorry, it's not that funny, it's just that it was Percy and he wanted to check our rings, and I'm so very tired all of a sudden."
Charlie smiled at her and watched as she got herself back under control. "Percy's a big git. Nobody is suitable for him except himself. He's wrong about everything though. You are extremely attractive! Look, I know that I'm not around much, but I've always admired your intelligence and thought that Ron was a very lucky man when he was dating you. It's a long shot, but if you are my wife, I'll make you as happy as I possibly can."
"Oh Charlie, that's so sweet. I'd be a very lucky woman to be married to you." Hermione held up her hand. "Shall we find out?"
"Why not," Charlie said, and linked his fingers with hers.
"Damn. Nothing. That's the first time I've actually been disappointed," Hermione muttered.
"Really? You crushing on me Hermione?" Charlie cocked his head and looked at her.
"Not in the sense that I think about you on a daily basis, but I'm a normal girl and you're a pretty amazing looking guy. I'd be blind if I didn't notice you now and then."
"You're killing me here. You don't have a shrine to me?" Charlie laughed.
"Well, of course I have a shrine; it's just very small and well hidden."
"Come on Hermione, who's not my wife, let's go eat." Charlie threw his arm around her shoulders and led her to the dining room.
The feeding frenzy began soon after George arrived with Fred. The meal was typical, and the good-natured Weasleys appeared to forget the dilemma most were in as they celebrated the holiday together. Teddy arrived with his grandmother and practically pounced on his large pile of gifts. It was good to have a small child to entertain them all and distract them. Hermione couldn't help but stare at the ring on her finger. It felt unfamiliar, and a bit heavy on her small hand. It was a fairly delicate band but there wasn't anything special about it. It was solid gold but there weren't any marks, no scrolling, no stones, nothing to make it unique in any way. She had to admit a disappointment over that. If she was going to wear a ring for the rest of her life, she would have liked one with a little character. Maybe eventually she could get a ring to sit next to it.
She was brought out of her thoughts when Fred announced he was leaving.
"You can't leave yet! It's only two in the afternoon!" Molly insisted.
"I've got some potions brewing and I've got to get back to them," Fred said, as he pulled on his jacket.
"Happy Christmas Fred," a chorus of voices called out. Fred just waved them off and stepped into the fireplace. The room grew silent in his absence, not that he had contributed to the noise. Everyone was remembering the old Fred, before the final battle. He wouldn't have left a party for potions. He hadn't even reacted to the news of his marriage, although Hermione had caught him playing with his ring.
"Do you think our owls will come tomorrow, Father?" Percy asked, breaking through the silence. "I'm anxious to find out who I'm married to."
"I hope so Percy. It seems reasonable that they not keep you all waiting too long," Arthur answered.
"Hermione? Have you checked your rings with all my boys?" Molly asked.
"She hasn't checked me out yet!" George interrupted. He leered at her, playfully raising his eyebrows. "We could go have our wedding night in style."
"You're such a jerk George Weasley," Ginny scolded, glaring at her brother.
"You're such a . . . wonderful little sister, Ginny Weasley." George had an insult at the ready but one look from his mother sent him backtracking.
"It's Ginny Potter now," Ginny grinned as she smiled at her husband. "I like my new name."
George made the appropriate gagging sounds and reached for Hermione's hand. "Want to get this over with?"
"Sure," she smiled placing her hand in his. As their fingers linked, the room held its collective breath.
"Nope, she's not my wife," George said pulling his hand away. "Fred's the only Weasley option left. You know, I think I might follow Malfoy's lead and go visit Luna. She's got that amazing body under all those clothes she wears." He stood up to leave. "Happy Christmas!"
"How does he know what her body looks like?" Molly asked nobody in particular. It was fairly common knowledge that George and Luna had a bit of a "friends with benefits" situation going on. Common knowledge to everyone except Molly and Arthur apparently. Molly waited for an answer and got one with everyone's silence. "Oh."
"Well I hope he realizes that there's a Fidelity Charm on those rings. If they aren't matched up, he's going to be in a world of hurt," Arthur muttered causing all the boys to snicker.