Posted on: 23/05/2014 at 13:09 GMT/UTC/Zulu.

AN: Thank you to my reviewers krista04, angel897, KEZZ 1, Lamia of the Dark, Lady Bokkworm80, Buffalochip and OCD ADD Goldfish and all those who have favourited or followed this story.

Next chapter should be up on or by 30/05/2014.

The Marriage Curse

Complications

The three friends sat quietly on the top floor of the library hidden behind the last stack away from anyone who might overhear them. Harry had just told them about his afternoon at Privet Drive.

"Harry I'm so sorry that happened." Hermione said.

Ron shrugged. "Yeah. So am I but it wasn't your fault. If you think about it he killed himself."

Harry looked up at Ron. "What do you mean?"

"Well if he really wanted to kill or maim you then he should have used a curse that would have gone through your shield like it wasn't there." Ron said.

"Are there curses that do that?" Harry asked turning to Hermione.

"Yes there are." She said then noticed the look of worry on Harry's face. "They're rare though and there are shield spells that will block them."

"Good. I think we should start learning them in the DA." Harry said.

"They're really advanced though Harry. Far more advanced than the Patronus Charm." Hermione said.

"Oh." Harry's face fell.

"Well if we can't practise shielding against them maybe we can practice dodging them." Ron said.

They were silent for a while. Harry was thinking. Hermione could almost see the wheels turning. Then his face lit up.

"We could have mock battles in teams with obstacles to hide behind and everything!" Harry said.

"Sounds like a great idea." Ron said.

"Yes. It'll give us a chance to revise everything we've learnt so far and then maybe next lesson we can go over the things we're not so good at." Hermione said.

Harry nodded and pulled his DA Galleon out of his pocket.

"I think everyone is free on Thursday." He said.

"Yes I think so." Hermione concurred.

Harry nodded and tapped his wand on the Galleon. The numbers changed and Hermione and Ron felt their Galleons warm in their pockets and took them out and tapped them with their wands. They cooled and they put them away.

"So Hermione-" Ron started.

But he didn't finish because a door slammed nearby. They started. Someone ran into the library followed by someone else and stopped a few shelves away trapping the three of them in their corner.

Harry was beginning to stand when they heard the sound of voices a few aisles over. He sat back down quietly and grimaced at the others.

One person was sobbing. They heard them moving but instead of going away they were getting closer.

"Ginny wait please." Luna said from the aisle ahead of them. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you."

"Just leave me alone!" Ginny answered.

Luna sighed and there was silence for a moment except for the sound of Ginny crying.

"I won't tell anyone and I don't think you're a horrible person." Luna said a couple of minutes later.

The trio froze. This sounded like it was going to be an intensely personal conversation but if they tried to get away now they might be caught.

A moment later Ginny sniffled. "You don't?" She asked.

"No I don't. I think jealousy is a perfectly natural reaction." Luna said.

"But she's my friend and so are you. I shouldn't be jealous of you." Ginny said. "I feel so wrong. I want to hate you both but I can't because you're my friends and then I feel guilty for feeling like that and…" She stopped to breath and sniffed.

"I understand but I'm not after Harry although I'll be marrying him too. I think everyone will automatically pair up. After all we're used to people being in couples and if it wasn't for the curse we wouldn't be in this situation." Luna said.

There was another lull in the conversation and Ron and Hermione looked at Harry who had gone red. He shrugged.

"What if he likes her more though and wants to be with her. He's known Hermione longer after all and they've been friends for years." Ginny said.

It was Hermione's turn to blush. She felt herself smile in embarrassment unable to stop herself. Ron was looking at them both in amusement.

"Oh I don't think they see each other that way." Luna said. "In fact I think they find this rather awkward."

"Really?" Ginny asked a note of hope creeping into her voice.

"Really." Luna said.

They heard them both sit down and Hermione grimaced. She pressed the otter on her wrist and then the Stag.

"Try and sneak out?" Her message read.

Harry showed his palm to Ron and they both looked up and shook their heads.

Harry sent a message back.

"We'd be caught. Wait." Hermione read before she closed her hand. She nodded.

"I've fancied him for years you know." Ginny said.

Harry went as red as a beetroot and his blush began to creep down his neck. Hermione grinned. Ron laughed silently. Harry pinched him. Ron winced.

"I didn't know." Luna said. "Does Harry?"

"No. Well I sent him a valentine in our first year but I don't think he thought much about it." Ginny said.

"His eyes are as green as a fresh pickled toad…" Ron whispered.

Hermione poked him in the ribs and put her finger to her lips.

"I don't know though. It's different now. It has been since the summer. It's not just a crush any more. I think I love him." Ginny said.

The trio sobered. "Did you know that?" Ron mouthed at Harry.

He shook his head his eyes wide with surprise.

"Which is why you're so upset about this." Luna said.

"Yes." Ginny said.

"I think we could both use some hot chocolate. Shall we go to the kitchens?" Luna asked.

"Good idea." Ginny said.

The pair stood up and left. Once they were gone the trio breathed more easily.

"We pretend we never heard that." Ron said.

"Yeah. Absolutely." Harry said.

"Of course." Hermione said. "Now shall we get out of here before someone else decides this is the perfect place for a private conversation?"

"Yeah." Harry and Ron agreed.

The three of them left the library. None of them saw the black clad shadow that slipped silently into the corridor behind them.

Severus hadn't meant to eavesdrop either. There was nothing more boring than adolescent angst. He'd been reading a rather interesting old potions theory text and got trapped when the trio came in. He'd gathered some useful information though. He and Albus had suspected that there was an illicit group practising defence this year and Potter and his friends had just confirmed their suspicions.

Now the question was whether he and Albus ought to help the group out or let them go it alone. He was curious to know what Potter was teaching them as he was a mediocre student at best. Yes he would tell Albus. It would be better to have someone keep an eye on them so that no one got hurt due to Potter's idiocy. He went to find Albus and inform him of Potter's little gang.

The trio reconvened in one of the Manor's many lounges. They hadn't been there long when house elves appeared and set a tray containing scones, a bowl of cut strawberries, strawberry jam, cream, butter and a teapot on the table. There were plates cups and cutlery for three.

They vanished before Hermione could thank them. Ron grabbed a plate immediately.

"This is great I'm starving." He said as he slathered a scone with jam and cream.

Hermione looked at her watch. It was four in the afternoon and she hadn't eaten anything except breakfast and a few Ginger Newts. She took a plate and knife.

"I can't remember the last time I had a cream tea." She said.

"I've never had one." Harry said.

Hermione and Ron looked at him in amazement. He shrugged.

"I know the Dursleys had them. I was normally shunted off somewhere else so I wouldn't ruin it for them." Harry said.

"That's awful Harry." Hermione said.

"Yeah." Ron agreed around a mouthful of scone.

Hermione wrinkled her nose at him.

"Honestly Ron if I didn't know better I'd have thought no one ever taught you manners." She said.

Ron shrugged and took another bite. Hermione poured herself a cup of tea and decided to show him how to eat a scone properly. Harry watched them both with amusement as he ate his first scone.

Ron put his plate down when he finished his scones and turned to Hermione.

"I was going to ask you earlier 'Mione, but Ginny and Luna interrupted, what's going on with you and Malfoy?"

Hermione looked at him for a moment and put her plate on the small table as well.

"What do you mean by that Ron?" She asked.

"Well he's acting really strange with you. The Malfoys are all about blood status and hating muggles and muggleborns but instead of pitching a fit about having to marry you he's being really friendly and trying to get into your good books." Ron said.

"I don't know." Hermione said. "I have a theory but it's really off the wall."

"Off the wall?" Ron said confused.

"Far fetched. A bit of a stretch." Harry clarified.

"Okay, well let's hear it anyway." Ron said.

"Well first of all I don't think he really believes all that pureblood nonsense or he would be having a fit." Hermione said.

"He's a damn good actor then." Ron said. "You remember what happened in Flourish and Blotts when Lockhart was there."

"Yes I remember that." Hermione said. "We know Slytherins are good actors though or Professor Snape would have been murdered by You-Know-Who years ago."

"I wish you'd say the name." Harry said. "It's not like he's going to jump out and get you if you say Voldemort."

Hermione shivered. "Anyway. He rescued me from the battlefield. He didn't have to go he could have stayed behind while the other's rescued me."

"Okay those are good points but what's your theory?" Harry asked.

"If you'd just be quiet and listen I'd get to it." Hermione said.

"Sorry." Harry said sheepishly. "Carry on."

"Well when we were having the meeting to decide who we were going to marry first he told me that I should marry him first and he couldn't tell me why. He seemed really worried that I might refuse and when I agreed he seemed really relieved. Then I asked him why and he said that he knew something that I didn't but I'd find out soon enough and it was nothing bad." Hermione said.

"That's very arrogant and more like the Malfoys we know." Harry said. "Sorry, I won't interrupt again."

"I think it has something to do with time travel." Hermione said.

The boys were silent for a moment. They looked at each other.

"I'm sorry. I don't get how you get from there to time travel." Ron said. "You said far fetched but this is crazy."

"I know it sounds weird but he said knew something that I'd find out later and he seemed genuinely worried about me that morning in the hospital wing when I woke up. Why else would he care unless something happened and he knew me somehow but I didn't know him." Hermione said.

"I don't know. I think he might just have been worried that he would lose his magic if you died because of the curse." Ron said.

Harry shrugged. "It might be possible but as you said it's a bit far out."

Hermione shrugged. "So what are your theories then?" She asked them.

"I don't know but I intend to keep an eye on him. He is a snake after all." Ron said.

Hermione rolled her eyes. Harry nodded.

"Yeah. If it turns out he's up to something or he hurts you he'll have us to deal with." Harry said.

Hermione sighed. "Are you both up to date on your homework?" She asked determined to changed the subject.

Harry groaned. Ron chucked a cushion at her.

Down in the department of mysteries several frustrated unspeakables gathered around a mysterious golden orb. They had run every test they could think of and tried everything they knew. The curse would not lift.

This orb was determined to defeat them. Unspeakable Bole sighed and ran his hands through his hair. Why Salazar Slytherin had thought this was a good idea was beyond him. Although maybe he'd stolen it from one of the other founders and hidden it in his chamber to keep it from being found again.

After all a marriage curse didn't really seem to be Slytherin's style. More Gryffindor or Hufflepuffs. Regardless unless they found someone of the calibre of one of the founding witches or wizards of Hogwarts he very much doubted they'd lift this curse. Even Albus Dumbledore had failed to break it.

"Well I think we should call it a day." Unspeakable Barnes said. "The Gringotts curse breakers will be here tomorrow. If they can't break it we'll have to release a statement to the Prophet. We've managed remarkably well so far but we can't keep this under wraps forever and I'd rather they got our spin on it."

There were nods from around the room and the unspeakables began to file out of the room. As they did a young aide from the ministers rushed in. The young man looked around and paused.

"i'm looking for Unspeakable Croaker." He said.

"Which one?" Bole asked indicating old Algie and his son Saul.

"Saul Croaker." The youth said.

"Well I'm here. What's the message?" He said. He looked rather nervous and expectant.

"Mrs Croaker has gone into labour." The young man said.

Saul turned pale and rushed out of the room. As he did he knocked into the table that the orb sat on. No one noticed until there was a sudden crash. Several unspeakables looked down and went pale. The golden orb lay broken on the ground and the colour was leaching out of it and spreading into the air looking like pale gold smoke as it went.

It only took a few minutes to disperse leaving a shattered heap of ordinary looking glass fragments on the floor. No one said anything. There was absolutely no doubt in anyone's mind that the situation had just become ten times worse.

Please Review. Constructive crit is welcomed. Flames will be used on the grill at the next Death Eater cook out. :P