Hermione walked up to the Burrow and sighed. She had not told her adopted family who she had been matched with, and had ignored all her mail apart from the official Ministry letters. In fact, she had been so shocked by the results that she didn't want anyone to know she had been paired with the Lestrange brothers. Her first thought was that it was a terrible joke and the real letter would come soon, and the second was how the hell was she going to tell her family and friends?

Hermione walked through the front door and could hear the chatter coming from the living room. She followed the sound and could hear them laughing and joking. At that moment Mrs Weasley came out of the kitchen.

"Hello Hermione dear. We have been worried about you as you never replied to any of our letters, and you weren't there when Harry and Ron called around to see you this morning." She said concerned.

"I'm sorry for worrying you Molly. I went into shock when I saw who I had been matched with, and I really needed some time on my own. I had an appointment at the Ministry this morning which is why I wasn't there when Harry and Ron called."

"The Ministry? But surely you weren't paired with a prisoner?" Molly asked even more concerned.

Hermione sighed again. "I was paired with two Molly." Hermione replied.

"Two?" Molly asked weakly feeling sorry for the woman whom she thought of as a daughter.

"Yes. The letter said that I had over a ninety percent compatibility rate with the two of them and that they were the highest rates out of everyone." Hermione told the witch who was so much like a mother to her.

"Who are they dear?" Molly asked regaining her sense of speech.

"I want to tell everyone at the same time if you don't mind Molly. I really don't want to have to say it twice."

Molly nodded in understanding and pulled Hermione into a tight hug.

The living room door opened and George walked out.

"Oh sorry, I'll just go back in." He said knowing that he had interrupted a private moment.

"It's okay George. How are you?" Hermione asked.

"I'm alright Hermione. Glad I married Angie six months ago."

The door opened again and revealed Ginny.

"Hi Ginny." Hermione said.

"Hermione! How are you? We've been so worried after you didn't write back to us."

"I was in a little shock. How are you?" Hermione asked knowing that the other girl would not be entirely honest in front of her mother.

"Dreadful. I can't think of a worse match ever. Whoever thought me and Malfoy would make a good couple is completely off their rocker."

Hermione gaped at the girl in front of her. "Malfoy? As in Draco Malfoy?" She asked.

"Yeah, didn't you read my letter?" Ginny asked.

Hermione shook her head. "I couldn't even think about anybody else at the time. I just needed to go for a meeting at the Ministry to make sure my match was for real."

"You're...you're matched to someone from Azkaban?" Ginny asked in horror.

Hermione nodded not able to find her voice. Although she had told Rodolphus and Rabastan that she was coping, she really wasn't. She had been completely devastated when she found out that she was going to be bound to them. Out of everybody she could list they were at the bottom next to Greyback and Dolohov.

"I'm so sorry." Ginny said and pulled Hermione into a hug.

"I'm sorry too Hermione." George said laying a hand on her shoulder.

The door opened once again and Harry stood there taking in the scene. It didn't take a genius to figure out that Hermione was upset and what the cause was. He stepped closer to her and Ginny let go so he could hug her too.

As Harry held her she sobbed into his shirt. The sounds coming from her sounded less human and more like a wounded animal.

George, Ginny, and Molly said that they would leave them alone and that they would send Ron out.

It wasn't long before Hermione felt another set of hands on her back trying to soothe her. It was a testament of their friendship that they felt comfortable enough to do this.

After a short while she stopped crying.

"I'm sorry Harry." She mumbled.

"There's no reason to be sorry Hermione." Harry said gently.

"I ruined your shirt."

"No you haven't. I can put it in the wash and it will be as good as new."

"Hermione." Ron said uncertainly. "Will you tell us who? Only if you're ready... but we will find out eventually if you have to go to the Ministry."

Pulling away from Harry slightly, she looked at her friends faces and said, "I've been matched with both of the Lestrange brothers. They said that I had over a ninety percent compatibility rate with them."

"Those bastards!" Ron swore.

Hermione was still feeling upset that she didn't even reprimand Ron.

"Have you been to the Ministry yet?" Harry asked.

"I went this morning. They weren't too bad, and we even went for a drink after to talk about a few things." Hermione replied.

After another few minutes of calming down the trio were about to go into the living room when Hermione asked, "Who are you two matched with?"

"I'm matched with Leanne Ross, you know Katie Bell's friend?" Ron said.

"She's nice." Hermione said sniffling slightly. "And you Harry?" she said turning to her other friend.

"I'm matched to Susan Bones. We have arranged to meet tomorrow so we can start getting to know each other." Harry informed her.

"She's nice too. I'm happy that you have good matches."

"We better go in. I'm sure they will be anxious waiting in there."

With a deep breath, Hermione opened the door. She walked in and everyone stopped talking. She knew she had to do this otherwise they would find out from someone else and it wouldn't be fair.

"Hello Hermione." Arthur said kindly.

"Hi everyone." Hermione said smiling slightly. She had to do this now to get it over with, to get it out in the open. They wouldn't shun her, they would be as supportive as they could be, and as soon as she had that support the better.

"I know that you now know why I've kept my distance over the past couple of days and that I have been paired with two Azkaban prisoners-"

"You don't have to do this Hermione." Bill said cutting her off.

"I want to...I need to tell you. I have already been to the Ministry to meet them, and talked with them in a public place, and no doubt most of the wizarding world will know by tomorrow. I want to tell you myself so you're prepared for the outcry from all sides." Hermione replied and took a deep breath.

"I am paired with Rodolphus and Rabastan Lestrange. My letter stated that I had over a ninety percent compatibility rate with them. When I met them this afternoon they told me that although they were struggling with the idea of being married to me they would do everything they could to make it work. They also told me that they had been put under the imperious curse by Bellatrix and that's the only reason they became Death Eater's. They were trying to make sure I knew that it wasn't their will to torture me at Malfoy Manor." Hermione explained.

"Do you believe them Hermione?"

"They seemed sincere so I think they could be, but I am still wary of them."

Many of them nodded their heads.

The rest of the night they caught up on news and swapped information on who had been paired with whom.

The night ended on high spirits and as they all said goodbye Hermione held back so she could talk to Molly about traditional pureblood marriages.

"Molly."

"Yes dear?"

"Is it possible you could teach me about traditional pureblood marriages? It's just that I want to be prepared for when we will discuss it, and then I will know what they would roughly expect."

Molly looked thoughtful for a second.

"I don't think that I am the right person to teach you about traditional pureblood marriages. Arthur and I have never exactly lived by the traditional expectations although we were both raised with the information. I would suggest talking to Mrs Malfoy."

"Perhaps I will send her an owl tomorrow then. Thank you Molly." Hermione said hugging her.

"Take care Hermione and owl us if you need anything."

"I will do." She said walking to the boundary and apparated back home.