The Subject of Marriage Chapter 2, a harry potter fanfic

Sorting

At nine fifteen the following morning all of the top three years at school were seated around the Great Hall. The long tables had disappeared and chairs were arranged in neat rows along one edge. The students were all sitting on the floor on the opposite side. Several of the teachers were standing on the platform next to Dumbledore who had been explaining more about the new addition to their academic programme.

'-so married pairs are not permitted to enter the others common room if they are in different houses. Also no one is allowed in their other halves dormitory for any reason what-so-ever. It is your responsibility to arrange times and places to meet your partner. Empty classrooms will be available for your use outside of lessons. And now for the sorting of the couples.

'We have decided to use the sorting hat to create couples. Some of the pairs may be chosen to complement each other, whereas some may be because of conflicting personalities. I and the rest of the staff have had no part in electing the partnerships. For all I know the sorting hat may pair you based on length of your fingernails.' There was a smattering of giggles. Dumbledore smiled. 'And so we proceed.' He stepped back. Professor Sprout strode out.

'When your name is read out by me you may go into the centre of the room and place the hat on your head. If the hat calls your name you stand and go with your partner to sit on the chairs. Right, Hannah Abbott.' And so it began. There were cries of joy as couples were kept together and wails of dismay as others were separated. Padma Patil burst into floods of tears when she and Ernie McMillan of Hufflepuff were parted.

Harry didn't have to wait long for his name to be called. Katie Bell was sitting with the hat over her eyes. He hadn't even been listening when the hat called his name. A sharp poke in the ribs from Hermione brought him to his senses. Harry, blushing slightly jumped to his feet and joined Katie. Together they made their way over to the chairs. Although disappointed Harry had to admit it could have been worse. He and Katie got on well and he knew their partnership would work. Harry was relieved though that his name had been called quite quickly. It meant he didn't have to sit on the other side of the hall, nervous. Ron's name was called shortly after his own. However it was the girl in the centre who was the embarrassed party. Cho Chang looked disgusted as Ron came to join her. They sat next to each other, avoiding all eye contact looking mutinous. The whole process was going reasonably well in Harry's opinion. Hermione had been placed with Ernie McMillan. Both parties seemed happy with this. Both liked working and both would work whole-heartedly at the task. Padma looked horrified however. Then it all went wrong.

Malfoy swaggered over to the stool and sunk onto it. The hat sat on his head for a time, considering. Then it spoke in a loud and clear voice

'Ginny Weasley'.

The entire hall was still.

'What!' cried Malfoy tearing the hat off and shaking it. 'You take that back. Choose someone else.' Even Dumbledore looked slightly surprised. Snape looked furious and Sprout looked flustered. Nothing however, matched Ginny's expression. It combined pure loathing and hatred with frustration, disbelief and disappointment. She didn't move. Professor Sprout seemed to come to herself again and coughed.

'Ginny, you and Draco need to sit on the chairs now please.' Stomping Ginny went to the chairs but she wasn't joined by Malfoy. He went and sat at the opposite end of the row. Professor Sprout looked like she was about to object but, seeing as she hadn't specified that the couples had to sit next to each other she decided against it. Sighing, she continued down her list.

Once everyone had been paired off there was a pause. Dumbledore stood forward again. 'And now' he said 'it is time for the ceremony. Would each male please put the palm of his left hand in the palm of his girl's right hand. Harry shrugged and complied as Katie obediently held out her hand. Hermione and Ernie were stood palm to palm. Ron seemed to be having trouble pinning Cho's palm down as did Neville who had been put with Pansy Parkinson. She was looking like she would be sick at any moment. Ginny and Malfoy though were still on opposite sides of the room. Neither looked they were planning on making the first move. Seeing this Dumbledore flicked his wand and, with a shout both Ginny and Malfoy found themselves in the air above everyone's heads. Their palms were touching despite the fact that each was desperately trying to pull away from the other.

'Now repeat what I say' continued Dumbledore as though he was completely unaware of the two exasperated people hovering over his head. 'I vow to you my partner,'

The pupils began to chant 'I vow to you my partner'. Ginny and Malfoy had both intended to keep their mouths firmly shut, yet they found themselves saying the words. Looking down Ginny saw Dumbledore's wand waving gently as the two of the spoke.

'To be loyal and faithful'

'Through this year in which we will be married.'

'I vow that I will try my hardest'

'In all matters arising'

'In all matter arising'

'And I will never break this commitment'

'For the entirety of our union'

'Amen'

The pupils stared at Dumbledore. He smiled 'I thought it gave an effective and meaningful end to the words.' Several people including Harry and Katie laughed. Hermione and Ernie shot them an irritated look. 'And now' continued Dumbledore 'you may proceed to your lessons.'

'Damm, damm, damm' yelled Ginny several hours later. She had hurried off as soon as her feet had touched the ground and hadn't been seen since. Harry, Ron and Hermione looked up.

'Where you been?' enquired Hermione, 'I haven't seen you all day.'

'I've been in the bliddy library looking for a bliddy loophole to this whole bliddy thing' cried Ginny throwing herself into a chair. And there isn't one not one. I can't divorce him, we can't have an annulment, there isn't a bliddy way out of this.

'No' agreed Ron 'but it never said you had to be nice.'

Ginny looked up. 'What?'

'I've been doing the same, thinking of ways round the process and we never vowed to be friendly or courteous or even to listen to each other.'

'Ron! That's what marriage itself is all about' gasped Hermione. 'It's so well understood it's unspoken.'

'Hey if I didn't vow then I ain't gunna fret' said Ron sitting back. I wouldn't have worried about the vow either but I saw Padma when she tried to hug Ernie. I'll be surprised if her nose is ever quite the same again.