Chapter 13 To faint or not to faint

Hermione stays in the garden for a little while, thinking about what just happened. She's trying to deal with the fact the Ginny fits the five word description she gave of her partner in her aptitude test. Smart, loving, friend, energetic, romantic, clearly Ginny is it all. Well maybe this means she will be able to find true love in an arranged marriage. She shrugs it off and returns back to the Burrow.

When Hermione arrives lunch is ready and she tucks in. After lunch she takes a walk with her parents. She has come out to them back in Australia and they have taken the information well. They chat a little about this and that before her mother brings up Ginny.

"I'm glad you got paired with Ginny. She obviously loves you a lot and love is something rare in arranged marriages."

"She doesn't love me, at least not like that."

"Honey, she does. She look at you the same way your dad looks at me."

"Well she did say she fancies me, that's probably what you are seeing."

"No honey, it's more than a fancy. You might not be able to see it yet but Ginny loves you.I am so happy you two got paired. When you first told us about that ridiculous law your dad and I were worried you might get paired with somebody who would not treat you the way you deserve to be treated. With Ginny however I have no such worries. Mark my words, she will treat you like a princess!"

After Hermione's walk with her parents, which has given her a lot to think about it is time to return to Hogwarts. The four Hogwarts students and Fred gather in the kitchen to say goodbye to everyone.

"We'll see you Christmas eve. We made arrangements to celebrate here with the Weasleys." Hermione's dad tells her when she hugs him goodbye. The five take the floo back to Minerva's office at Hogwarts, Fred going last.

When they arrive Minerva is sitting at her desk, reading a piece of parchment. Minerva looks up when Fred steps out of the fireplace.

"Hello everyone. I trust you enjoyed your weekend. Dinner will start in 5 minutes so you best get to the Great Hall. Mr. Weasley if you would be so kind to stay behind."

Hermione and Ginny walk out of Minerva's office holding back their giggles while Harry and Ron are less successful. All four of them aware of the fact Minerva fainted when she read who her match was.

When they have left Fred turns to Minerva. "We will be married in less than 9 months. You really need to start calling me Fred Minerva." He tells his match while walking towards her with the bush of tulips and can of ginger newts he has gotten her. Minerva slowly walks backwards until she is up against the wall. "You've been my student for years, both your brother and sister are still under my care. It will take me some time to get used to calling you F-Fred."

"That's okay Minerva." Fred tells her while holding out the flowers and candy. "I got you this. As I get to know you better I will make sure to give you better suited gifts." Minerva looks at the gifts and than Fred in surprise before fainting.

Meanwhile Harry, Ron, Ginny and Hermione have reached the Great Hall where Neville calls out to them.

"Hi you guys are back. You can sit here." He motions at the seats he's saved around him.

When they have all settled down he speaks up again.

"Please tell me you have less weird matches than I? I mean I got matched with Sprout, that's probably as weird as it gets right? Although Mcgonagall may have a weird match as well. She fainted when she read her match letter. Have you guys got an idea what kind of match would make her faint?" Neville rambles without giving them a chance to answer any of his questions.

"Calm down Neville. Give us a chance to answer mate." Harry stops him.

"Right sorry."

"No problem. I got paired with Luna Lovegood. It did surprise me a little but now that I've had some time to think about it isn't as odd. We have had some similar experiences in the past and we are somewhat friends so there is some sort of base to build a relationship on I guess." Harry shares.

"Ginny and I got paired together." Hermione says without any explanation.

"That's not bad. You girls have a solid friendship to build on." Neville gives his opinion before turning to Ron.

"Who did you get…. What is your brother doing hovering over Mcgonagall?" Neville changes his question in the middle of the sentence when he spots Minerva walking into the Great Hall from the teachers entrance with Fred hovering just behind her looking concerned. Minerva sits down at the head table in her regular place while Fred finds a unoccupied seat a few places to the side.

"Mcgonagall is going to be our sister-in-law." Ginny giggles. Neville turns to Ginny in shock.

"You mean Mcgonagall got paired with Fred, or is it George? No wonder she fainted."

"It's Fred and unlike Mcgonagall he seems to be taking it rather well." Hermione answers giggling again.

Draco comes over and sits down next to Ron. "Hi R-Ron. Did you get my letter?"

"Yes Malfoy I got your letter." They are silent for a few moments before Draco presses.

"And?"

"And what?"

"Will you meet me saturday for lunch?"

"No Malfoy, I won't meet you for lunch saturday or any other day for that matter. Hell I'm not even going to marry you if I can help it." Ron tells Draco angrily.

"Did Ron and Malfoy get paired?" Neville whispers to Hermione who nods in answer.

"Listen Weasley you can whine about it all you want but the ministry matches are final. Whether you like it or not we'll have to marry. Getting to know each other would probably help us a great deal in achieving a marriage where there is some kind of love present."

"Just because the ministry pairings are final does not mean I have to get married."

"What does that even mean?"

"It means I'd rather have my magic bound than marry you Malfoy!"

"If we don't marry my magic will be bound as well. And I for one have no intention to live like a muggle Weasley."

"I know this is a foreign concept for you, but sometimes things don't go the way you want them too Malfoy. We've all had to learn that during the war and it's time you learned your lesson as well." Ron yells before storming out of the Great Hall. When Draco moves to follow him Hermione stops him. "It's best to let him cool off when he gets like this. Maybe you should wait a few days before trying to talk to him again." She advises him.


When Hermione sits down for breakfast the next morning an envelope with her name and a red rose appears on her plate. A small smile creeps on Hermione's face when she recognizes the handwriting. She opens the envelope to find a small letter from Ginny.

Dear Hermione,

Would you do me the honor of going on a date with me?

If your answer is yes, meet me at the portrait of the fat lady wednesday at six pm.

Enjoy your day, I'll see you at Minerva's for tea tonight.

Love,

Ginny

Hermione walks on clouds the rest of the day.


Minerva is sitting in her private chambers reading a book when there is a knock on her door. She wonders if time has gotten away from her and it's already time for her weekly tea with Ginny and Hermione. A look at the clock reveals it is too early for the girls to be there. She moves to open the door and finds Ginny standing there.

"Come in Ginny, what brings you here this early?"

"I need to ask you a favour and I need Hermione to not be here when I do so."

"And what kind of favour do you have to ask for that Hermione can not hear?"

"So as you know yesterday the ministry send out all matches. I'm not sure if you've heard, but Hermione and I got paired together."

"As headmistress of Hogwarts the minister saw it fit to send me all matches of Hogwarts students. That way I can make sure entrance and housing will can be arranged for the spouses of students who do not attend Hogwarts. I believe congratulations are in order."

"Yes well it turns out Hermione is gay as well and the both of us were scared of coming out for nothing. We talked a little yesterday and Hermione apologized to me for being my match. The crazy women thought I deserved better than her. I mean like there is even anybody better out there. Anyway I ended up confessing I fancy her and I promised to properly woo her. With a little help from the elves Hermione received an invitation for a date on wednesday, which brings me here. I was hoping to have dinner with her on the Astronomy tower. Unfortunately as helpful as the elves are they told me they could not serve dinner to the Astronomy tower without your permission. So can I have permission to have dinner on the Astronomy tower with Hermione wednesday?"

"Why do you want to have dinner there?"

"Well there is supposed to be a small meteorite shower between seven and eight and weather forecast told me the skies will be clear. So I thought it would be nice to have dinner under the stars."

"It certainly is romantic. I will let the elves know it's okay. I will also ask Professor Flitwick to cast some charms on the tower to assure you won't be disturbed."

"Thank you Minerva."

Before either of them can say more there is a knock on the door. Minerva moves to open the door to let Hermione in.

"Good evening Hermione come on in. Ginny has just arrived."

"Good evening Minerva, Ginny."

The three settle down with tea.

"So girls, tell me how are feeling about being paired together." Minerva asks looking at the girls intently. To her surprise Hermione appears to be blushing a little.

"I feel very lucky to be paired with Hermione. I know she is not yet as thrilled about it as I am, but I'm sure I can change her mind."

Ginny answers.

"And how do you feel Hermione? Indeed not as thrilled?"

"I'm still processing the fact Ginny likes girls. Ginny and I at least have a friendship as a basis unlike Draco and Ron for example. And if I'm being really honest with myself Ginny does fit the five word description of a partner I gave in the aptitude test perfectly. From the moment I learned of the marriage law I have always been sure I would never find true love in an arranged marriage. Now I'm not so sure anymore." Hermione is not able to look at either Ginny or Minerva when she shares the last bit. GInny looks in surprise at Hermione feeling the hope in her heart grow, while Minerva has to hold back a giggle. Hermione and Ginny might not see it yet, but Minerva does. Hermione is slowly falling for Ginny.

Hermione quickly changes the subject not wanting to be the centre of attention any more.

"How do you feel about your match, other than faint." She asks Minerva.

"Ahh I was afraid you'd hear that. I probably shouldn't have read my match letter in the Great Hall, but then again I didn't imagine getting this match."

"Quit an unexpected match. I am a little confused though." Hermione tells Minerva.

"Confused about what?"

"Well Fred told us he would be having dinner with you in your quarters but you ended up eating in the Great Hall. Why was that?" Hermione asks. Before Minerva can answer Ginny speaks up. "Do I need to have a conversation with my brother about how to treat a woman?"

"Calm down Ginny. Your brother did nothing wrong, I just got overwhelmed and fainted." Minerva tells them.

"You fainted again?" Hermione exclaims.

"Yes."

"What happened to make you faint?" Ginny asks.

"He was actually really sweet. It started with him being really understanding about me having trouble to address him by his first name. And then he presented me with flowers and ginger newts, which are my favorite as you girls now. As if that wasn't sweet enough he told me he would make sure to have better suited gifts when he knows me better. It was so sweet and overwhelming and so different from the boy I used to give detention at least once a week that I fainted."

"You know most people only see the jokes when they see Fred and George, but they do have a soft and caring site. I admit they keep it well hidden but they do have it. The summer after first year I had a lot of nightmares because of what happened with Riddle's diary. I didn't want to worry my parents so I put on a sound shield every night before I went to sleep. Somehow the twins figured that out. When they learned I was having nightmares they took turns spending the night with me. Waking me and holding me every time I had a bad dream. On top of that they worked on developing a less addictive version of the Dreamless Sleep potion"

"They made a less addictive version of the Dreamless Sleep potion in the summer between their fourth and fifth year? That is some really advanced potion work!" Hermione exclaims.

"Did they succeed?" Minerva asks curious.

"I'm not sure. By the time they came up with something they were willing to let me try I was no longer having nightmares. They didn't want to use me as a guinea pig when I wasn't having trouble sleeping so I never tried it."

"I have to admit that is not something I would have expected from your brother." Minerva says.

"Well he doesn't flaunt his serious and caring site, but I think he wants to let you see it." Ginny tells MInerva seriously.

"What makes you think that?" Minerva asks curiously.

"He reacted very mature to the match. He actually said that with you he got an intelligent and interesting witch." Ginny explains.

"He also got a much older witch." Minerva points out.

"That's what Harry said." Hermione giggles.

"He put him in place though. He said he prefered the term more experienced and that there is nothing wrong with that. Then he proceeded to explain how by choosing a ministry pairing he chose to be with somebody who would be a great match and even though he might not be able to see yet how the two of you are a good match he is going to find out. And enjoy doing so." Ginny elaborates.

"That is indeed a mature attitude." Minerva says.

"Maybe you should give him another chance at dinner? If you're able to not faint." Hermione proposes with a smirk.

"I think I will. Thank you very much for the insights girls." Minerva tells them.

The three women finish their tea in a comfortable silence before Hermione and Ginny leave for Gryffindor tower.