Chapter six- Getting over with you

Life really isn't about anybody. This realization came to Hermione Anne Granger and Draco Marconi Malfoy both at around 8:44 in the morning. Perhaps it was caused by the stress of a big life change. Perhaps it was the death of the dream meeting that special someone and having the perfect white wedding. Perhaps it was just the way these things work.

At any rate they both realized that they weren't the main characters in some great story. They realized they probably would never dream of that special someone again. Or if they did dream it would only ever be in sleep. The thought caused them pause but still they had the courage to continue on.

With their new world view they apperated into room 143 of the Department of Reproductive Affairs.

"…know bloody well that you could find someone else…" Moody was shouting at the fire.

"They're here," it said back calmly. "Do your job."

"Right on time as usual," commented Moody. "I wouldn't have expected any less from your year's top witch and wizard."

"She…" said Draco.

"He…" said Hermione.

"Sort of," he said, "as is expected the Ministry has gone and screwed things up again. You see we had some 'unpredicted factors' and I have been assigned to explain them to you. Firstly, congratulations you were the best match we had!"

They looked at him incredulously.

"Secondly, you were also the only match we had," he explained.

"That's ridiculous," said Hermione. "The daily prophet said there were hundreds of people coming in. There must be some kind of mix-up."

"It's no mix-up," said Moody sullenly. "All over the wizerding world laws similar to this have been placed into effect. Our ministry was one of the last to impose it. You two are something of an anomaly. In no other community worldwide has a single other person failed to find a partner in time for the sorting. You two are just the only unmarried wizards in England; you're the only ones in the world."

"So we're screwed," said Draco.

"Not exactly," said Moody. "Technically you two can still work as a pair. You are 100-50 pair."

"What does that mean?" asked Hermione.

"Well both numbers are on a one to a hundred scale," began Moody while watching Draco carefully. "The first describes the weight of the terminal relationship. A zero pair would fail to notice the other person exists. A hundred pair, such as your selves, wouldn't be able to think of anything else once the relationship begins."

Draco snorted.

"It will never change." Moody continued, "The second number will change as the relationship progresses. It explains the likelihood that a couple will like each other. Zero being hate and a hundred being love."

"So a 100-50 pair," Hermione concluded, "will either end up totally hating each other…"

"Or fall totally in love," finished Draco.