Chapter 02:

The Daily Prophet

The Marriage Law, 1998

Yesterday, the Wizengamot passed the age old Marriage Law citing the quickly decreasing wizarding population as the main cause behind this new law. Every unmarried individual from the age of 17 – 45 comes under this law. They expect the couples to be chosen by the end of the next week. A letter along with the laws, the expectations, the punishments and the name of the match will be sent to every individual that remained unmarried or unengaged as of last evening. The couples shall have 2 months to wed and 2 years to conceive a child from this wedlock. While a petition of separation may be filed on the basis of abuse or infertility, every other reason for separation will be overlooked for the next 5 years at least. The Minister of Magic however proposes to rule the separation out for the sake of the child the couples are to have.

The Boy who lived and then lived again, was seen at the conference sharing his faith in the ministry under Shacklebolt. When asked if he would be okay with separating from his long-time girlfriend Ginerva Weasley, he just gave a rueful smile saying whatever shall be, shall be for the best. "If we are meant to be together, we will be placed together. If not, I promise to care, provide and protect for my ministry chosen wife. And who knows, may be in time we could even forge a friendship, may be even get to love each other?" Saying that he apparated out.

Ronald Weasley, another member of our Golden Trio was also present at the conference. He expressed his desire to acquaint himself with his wife-to-be soon. "I can't wait to know who she is. I am very sure that she is going to be the best thing for me. In fact, I am even thankful towards the ministry for taking this decision for me. It at least spares me from going through unnecessary heart ache and rejection," he joked. Winking at the camera, he too apparated out.

Hermione Granger, the true brain behind the Golden Trio, was absent from this conference. When asked about her, the Minister replied saying that she was out on a mission, trying to round off a few rouge Death Eaters gone loose. However, he was very sure that she too would wholeheartedly accept and support this ministry decision. Now, was her absence really because she was 'out on a mission' or was it her way of expressing her blatant disregard for the new law is anybody's guess.

Come the Monday after, and we shall all be clued in.

-Debra Simpson, Senior Reporter, Daily Prophet

"Oh how I hate these reporters!" screamed Ginny. Her flaming ginger hair tied back in a neat pony tail, she scanned over the article and felt frustrated enough to toss out her scrunchie and pull at her hair. The Law was shit to say the least. But having them paint Hermione's absence as 'a blatant disregard towards the ministry' was just crap! Especially because (ironically enough) she was out on the minister's bidding, helping the new aurors round up a few rouge Death Eaters. Harry and Ron had just come back from their missions last afternoon and then attended the press conference in the evening. They were to start their auror training next week and hence were given a shorter assignment. Hermione, however, wanted to give her NEWTs (big surprise there! Ginny thought with a mental eye roll) and then make an informed career choice. Therefore, they had given her a slightly longer mission and sent her out of the country as she had time for her exams till November. "Sometimes, people really overlook the simplest of things" she muttered and started fidgeting with the newspaper, her nails, her fingers and tapping her legs all at once.

!

The dreaded day was soon upon them and all the Weasleys along with Harry waited at the dining table for the letters that were to seal their fates. Mr. Weasley was sitting at the head of table spot, with Molly on his right and Bill on his left. A pregnant Fleur sat on Bill's right. The couple having come that morning to offer their moral support to Bill's siblings. On Fleur's right was Ginny with George on her other side. Percy sat opposite his father. With Charlie on his right, followed by Ron and lastly Harry. Hermione still hadn't returned from her mission, so the seat next to him was, for the time being, vacant. Harry kept throwing fugitive glances at Ginny whenever he thought no one was looking. Ginny however did notice that and those small looks were breaking her heart.

The ministry owl soon swept in with numerous letters. Percy quickly collected them all, fed the owl a treat and passed them all on to his siblings. Everyone had their letters in hand and were anxiously staring at them when Mr. Weasley asked them to go age-wise.

"I can't wait that long with this tension" snapped Ginny and ripped open her letter. Her tensed shoulders sagged with relief and her eyes lit with sheer joy and she looked up straight into Harry's eyes screaming, "No one can separate us now!" Harry's entire demeanour changed and he quickly ripped open his letter to see Ginerva Molly Weasley written in there somewhere. He did not even bother reading the whole damn thing. As long as he was with Ginny, he didn't care if they wanted him to waltz a Hungarian Horntail into submission. She was his. Fated. He slugged down in pure relief, looked up at her with love shinning in his eyes and apparated out. Before anyone could react to that. He came back, knelt beside Ginny and opened a small box with a beautiful ring at the centre.

"Yes! Yes! Yes! A thousand times yes!" hollered Ginny. Everyone laughed at that. Harry hadn't even proposed to her yet. "I've been lugging it around for days waiting for the perfect moment and then the blasted law came in. I thought I'd never be able to give this you and it broke my heart. Ginerva Molly Weasley" he said with small tears in his eyes, "will you do me the honour of being my wife? I promise to love and cherish for the rest of my life. I…" and Ginny kissed him passionately on his lips in front of her entire family drowning out his proposal speech, not that he was complaining. He returned the kiss with much fervour, forgetting where he was for a second. But just for a second. Immediately after that, there were gaging noises and threats from her brothers and he sheepishly pulled apart from her. "I'm yours Harry. I want you marry you immediately!" He grinned like a fool at that. "I'd marry you tonight" he said. "Tonight it is. Just us. We're getting married." Ginny screamed way too excitedly. A cacophony erupted after that but Ginny would not relent and so they were married later that evening. Harry couldn't stop smiling and looking at Ginny - Later their eyes said to one another. They sat back down together with huge smiles plastered on their face. They eyed the others. Mr. Weasley cleared his throat and tried again. "Well now that that's over would you all like to just open your letters and tell us who our new daughters-in-law are going to be?"

There was a loud ripping noise as all of them ripped off their envelopes at the same time.

"Hey! I've got Audrey Haymond" sighed Percy happily. He was dating her anyway and thought that they could make it work.

"Hey, look! I'm with Angelina Fre…." George stopped mid-way. His smile froze and Mrs. Weasley's eyes misted over. They were still coping with Fred's loss but Mrs. Weasley knew that George liked Angelina, a lot. She shared his passion for pranks and the shop and knew that this was a good match. She would help him cope better with his loss.

"As long as I'm not stuck with Lavender Brown" muttered Ron making everyone laugh and lightening the mood. "Uhm…..okay….so…alright then….. Looks like I'm with a Alicia Harrington," he shuddered at that. "Hey be nice! She is a dear friend of mine!" said Ginny tossing a toast at Ron which he promptly caught in his mouth. "Looks like I'll be doing with your friend what you do with mine" muttered Ron under his breath. Mrs. Weasley let out a screech at that. "How dare you Ronald Bili….." The fire roared green at that point with a floo call. Charlie answered it and invited the caller over.

Within a second, out stepped a handsome young man. He faltered looking at the big group in front of him, sucked in a quick breath and put on a big bright smile that the Prophet and the Witch Weekly had quoted to make women weak in their knees. "Hello everyone!"

"What a surprise! To what do we owe such a pleasure" asked Charlie, going to shake hands with his old team member. "Oh! It's been so long" said Percy with a friendly wave and smile. "Fancy seeing you here" smiled George. The new comer looked around smiling, passing hellos and extending greetings to the elder Weasleys before saying, "Uhm… I actually came looking for Hermione Granger. She is apparently my ministry match" he said holding out his letter in his hands.

Everyone was shocked for a second and probably for the first time at the Burrow with all the children present, you could hear a pin drop. But just for a second, mind you. A flurry of explicit words flew from every mouth thereon. "I can't believe it!" exclaimed Ron. "On my word" said Mrs. Weasley none too softly. "Lucky dame" whistled Fleur which got a few more chosen exclamations out from Bill. It took a good five minutes for everyone to settle down again. Harry seemed to be the best at it and stood up, formally shook his old captain's hand and invited him at the table.

"Oh yes dear! Please do come. Hermione is just like a daughter to me and that makes you family. Let me quickly grab you a plate and a cup of tea." Saying this, Mrs. Weasley dashed to the kitchen.

Sitting down, he looked around the table at everyone, smiling politely. He had of course been to the Burrow in his Hogwarts days, what with most of team being in residence here. But it had been long since his last visit. Not that much had changed, he mused looking around. They all still looked content and happy and were chatting away all at once. Bill was dotting on his wife. Charlie was smiling secretively (why? he wondered). George looked a little lonely, though that was no surprise. He had of course attended Fred's funeral and had seen the devastated look on George's face as they had buried his twin. He had looked as if he wanted to jump in himself. Percy on the other hand, was looking quite smug (as always, he mused). Ginny looked serenely beautiful and at peace though there was mirth shinning in her eyes and it was that light that told him that he was going to be getting a few answers soon.

"So….." she started.

"So" he looked at her warily.

"She is not here, you know"

"I had figured that by now. Honestly, I had half expected it. She probably lives elsewhere, doesn't she?"

"No" replied Ginny. "She lives here. She is just out on mission for the ministry. Though we don't know when she'll be back."

"Oh"

"Yes, oh! But don't worry, we," she said pointing at herself, Harry and Ron, "know her very well. So just pretend we are her and ask away whatever you need to."

He felt heat creeping up his neck and gulped. Charlie, from the other side of the table saw the exchange and burst out laughing, thankfully drawing attention to himself.

"Hey! You never did tell us who your match is" piped in Ron.

"That's cause there is no one" said Charlie smugly.

"How's that again?" that was Percy.

"You see little brothers, I am not a resident of Britain anymore so the ministry has no control over my actions and can't dictate laws to me. They've only requested me to consider Britain as a place to birth my child if and when I shall have one. Ha!" sang Charlie, looking a little too pleased with himself.

"Blimey! You lucky sod!" replied Ron.

"Language, Ronald" quipped his mother, returning from the kitchen with a plate laden with enough food to feed half his team, mused Oliver silently, along with a cup of steaming hot tea. Harry smirked at his expression while he was eyeing the plate, saying he'd get used to it soon.

The breakfast was a boisterous affair. After which everyone started gearing up for the day ahead. He too was just about to take his leave when Ginny suggested he write a letter to Hermione. Seeing nothing to lose, he did just that, handed it over to Ginny who promised to pass it on to Hermione, took everyone's leave with a promise to come back soon for a Sunday lunch to Mrs. Weasley and flooed back to his place for a quick change before running for his practise sessions at the Puddlemere United Stadium.