The Ancient Proliferation Covenant

by WolfgangNH

Voldemort is defeated and his Death Eaters dead. With the spilling of so much magical blood, Ancient Proliferation Covenants activate. This is the story of how the Covenant is implemented and how Harry and those around him deal with the marriage laws. Will they find love? Or will they be paired off? This is meant to be romantic and angsty as the teens learn to become adults.

7. Chapter 7 - The First Betrothal

A/N: Harry Potter and his world belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Brothers and anyone that has received licensing rights. I am grateful she gives us the privilege of playing in her world.

-oOo-

Chapter 7

-oOo-

September 26, 1996

London, England

Kingsley Shacklebolt looked at the reports from Hogwarts yesterday. Four students had been arrested for rape, extortion and bribery. A fifth was looking at a fine, maybe a trial, for interfering in a courtship that had been sanctioned under the Proliferation Covenant.

The only surprise he had was that it had taken nearly two months for something like this to happen.

There were other cases similar to this between some adults, but Amelia and him had been worried what the stress of everything would do to the younger population, and with all the students having been back for almost a month, the strain was starting to show.

A knock came at his door. Looking up, he nodded to his Boss's boss. "Minister Bones," he greeted.

She nodded back and shut his door. "What is the damage, Lead Auror Kingsley?"

Kingsley kept from handing her the folders. Everything was still under investigation and the woman wasn't head of the DMLE anymore. She couldn't see the files until the investigation was released to the Wizengamot. He could give some details.

"Four heirs of Wizengamot seats rapes a fourteen-year-old girl. There is evidence they did it. Two of them kept her under clothes covered in their secretions, and hers. From what we can piece together, it was a reprisal because her sister had been refusing one of them to go into a betrothal under the laws," Kingsley told her.

Amelia's eyes flared with anger. "They were trying to make her unsuitable for anyone else?"

Kingsley nodded, knowing the way Purebloods viewed virginity, loose women and illegitimate children. "It's worse. The assault happened just after school started. She is more than three weeks along and I can't tell you who is the father. Their mother withdrew them from Hogwarts and has informed us they will be moving to another family property in France."

"Merlin. Has the Daily Prophet gotten wind of this yet?" She had to know. A statement would have to go out soon, but if she could buy them a few days to investigate then that would be better.

"I honestly don't know."

"Who?"

"You know I can't release the names before we file charges. I expect to file the rape charges this afternoon. We are still questioning the boys to see what other charges we need to investigate. Two of them turned seventeen this month, but they were all sixteen when it happened," he replied.

Amelia let out a breath. "We have to make sure that this is not a common occurrence. I will talk with Natalie to make sure you have all the backing you need."

Natalie Porter had been confirmed as the new Head of the DMLE about two weeks ago. She was coming out of the law offices and Kingsley had liked working with the woman for years now. "Sure, Minister."

"So, that was one of the cases I heard about. What is the other?"

"A minor case of love potion poisoning. The potion was bought legally and is not banned by the DMLE or Hogwarts. It's a rather mild one. The issue was, someone stole it from the girl who bought it and two girls tried to key themselves to it," Kingsley informed her.

She shook her head. "I feared this might happen. Is Minerva asking for any aid?"

"Not yet. I was going to offer her a small detail if she wants to run any searches or to have Aurors there if anything else happens," he answered.

"I want it done anyways. Four Aurors at all times. Cycle them out on eight-hour shifts," she told him, falling back to her roots.

Kingsley gave her an indulgent smile. "Sure, boss," he said

"Oh, hush. This Minister thing isn't all it's cracked up to be," she told him.

Kingsley figured she was missing her old department. Amelia had pretty much been steamrolled into the position in early July. Everyone needed a stable person in the lead right now. "Maybe not, but you seem to be doing a good job. I hear it in Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade. They trust you. More importantly, there is a sense they are trusting the Ministry again. Fudge and the others had seriously harmed our image in the last few years."

"I know. It's been a battle," she replied.

Kingsley nodded.

"Let me know if anything else comes up. I am going to talk with your boss now," she told him.

"I filled in Porter with what we know about twenty minutes before you showed," Kingsley informed her.

She nodded. "Good. Head Porter should know before I do. Oh, and Kingsley," she said, getting up. He met her eyes. "Whomever you place at Hogwarts, I want them to keep issues down, but they are not to interfere with the normal operations of the school."

"Understood, Minister Bones."

-oOo-

Same day...

Hogwarts, Scotland

Neville was holding Hannah's hand as they left Transfiguration. Lavender and Parvati were talking in hushed whispers before them as Ron pulled up with Susan next to them, followed by Hermione, Susan and Dean.

"I was going to go up and give Harry the notes from today, if anyone wants to come," Hermione told them.

"I'll go with you. The berk is just playing it up to get out of class," Dean said sounding jealous, though Neville could hear the hint of laughter in his voice. It was hard to be in the same dorm with the same people for five years and not pick on things like that.

Ron chuckled. "I know. The nerve of some people," Ron commented.

"I highly doubt Harry wants to be in the infirmary again," Hermione huffed.

"Usually, it's the first quidditch game of the year that puts him in there," Dean replied.

Neville shook his head. "I agree with Hermione on this one. It's not really funny what happened to him."

"Talking about that, has anyone seen Romilda Vane, Malfoy or the others that the Aurors pulled out of here yesterday?" Hannah put to the group.

Lavender and Parvati looked over their shoulders. "I don't think Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle or Nott will be returning. When was Romilda Vane taken?" Lavender asked. Neville heard an odd tenor to Lavender's voice.

"Just before dinner. Sally-Anne and Meaghan said they saw her leaving with her parents and an Auror," Hannah answered.

Ron and Susan shared a look that even brought some suspicion in Neville. The narrowing of eyes from Lavender wasn't missed either.

Hermione pursed her lips. "You don't think..."

"I think we should leave it up to the Aurors and Headmistress," Ron spoke over her.

"I swear if I find out it was Romilda Vane, she will wish she never thought of it," Lavender said in a low voice. It sent a shiver up his spine.

"Lav, if you go to Azkaban, you won't be eligible until you get out," Susan told her. "Think about Harry."

"I am," Lavender replied.

Parvati took her friend's hand. "Leave it be for now, Lav," Parvati told her friend. A look was shared between them.

When they made it to the next intersection, they all stopped. "Are any of you coming to see Harry," Hermione asked.

"I'll see him later today. I went up this morning," Ron told her.

"He's your best mate," Susan reminded him.

"He is fine. Madam Pomfrey said he should be out for lunch. Besides, mum and dad were supposed to be here some point this morning. I think he'll like not to be crowded," Ron told them.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Mrs. Weasley means well. Hold up, Lav," she called to Lavender and Parvati, who had continued on toward the Hospital wing. Hermione took off to catch up with them.

"I better keep an eye on her," Dean said with an easy smile as he followed Hermione.

Hannah tightened her grip and looked to Susan. "Hermione?"

"Must be," Susan replied with a shrug. "She could do worse."

Ron chuckled again. "Dean's not a bad guy. They have gone into Hogsmeade twice now."

"I never said he was. Twice you say?" Hannah looked very interestedly after the other group.

"Leave them alone, Hannah. I think Hermione has been having a rough time," Neville told her. They may not be great friends, but Hermione had always been nice to him, and last year she had helped him as much as Harry.

Hannah looked at him, and after a moment looked satisfied at what she saw. "We have a bit before lunch. Should we go check on our projects in the greenhouses?" Hannah asked, an innocent look on her face. Neville had a smile come to his. The last few times they had 'checked' on their projects when they didn't need to had turned into some nice snogging sessions.

Susan laughed. "Go check on your projects. Ron, let's go exploring," Susan said. The smile on his face was probably the same one Neville was sporting at the moment.

As they walked away, Hannah moved in a little closer. Neville leaned over and kissed her temple. "Do you really want to go check on our projects?"

"It's more private than a broom closet and that bed someone put in the back room is rather nice," Hannah said with a smirk. Neville had seen her without her shirt twice now on that bed in the last week. It was meant for those that needed to spend a night while taking care of plants, but the upper years that had special projects in Greenhouse Eight knew what it was usually used for.

They rushed down towards the greenhouse. Once inside Greenhouse Eight, they made sure no one was inside, and he put his tie on the outside of the door. It was the sign not to disturb them for a while.

Once the door closed, Hannah threw herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck and pushing him against the wall. A little more than a month ago he would have been surprised. Now, his tongue invaded her mouth, and his hands quickly went to soft parts of her that had her moaning.

She discarded her coat and Neville threw his onto the side of the bed. She groaned and squeezed his arse as he kissed down her neck. "Father sent... me a... letter," she panted as he undid the buttons on her shirt.

He kissed the exposed flesh as he did. Hannah had been very forward in letting him know what she liked, and he found himself to be a quick learner. Confidence from last year had done wonders for him. "What did he say?"

Neville liked the squeeze she gave to his arse as he pulled in a nipple into his mouth through her bra. "Oh, Merlin, Neville," she said, her hands going to his belt buckle. She hadn't done that yet, but he wasn't complaining.

He chuckled before he did the same with her other nipple. When he pulled his mouth away from the now damp material, he said, "I doubt that is what your father said."

She giggled and whacked his head. "Keep that up and we are done for today," she warned.

He slipped his hand low as he crouched down to pull her nipple into his mouth again. He would have to take her bra off. She groaned and held his head to her breast. His hands moved to the hem of her skirt, and he moved it up the back of her legs. He had allowed him to do that just the other day and she put much of her weight onto his hands as he found her arse.

She fumbled with his belt with the hand not holding his head to her chest, finally loosening it and then going for his button. "He got the... results of the test," she said. Neville groaned as her hand slipped up his shaft as she searched for his zipper. He wasn't sure if this was too fast or much, but if she wanted to do whatever she was about to, he didn't want her to stop. Not when his hands were kneading her bottom over her knickers, and he kissed any exposed flesh her bra didn't cover. He was really going to have to take it off soon.

"And?" he asked.

"Betrothal contract..." she started to say as he slipped one hand from her nice arse to her front. She groaned as he found a mound at the split of her legs and rubbed it. He didn't really know what he was doing, but she seemed to like it. He might have to thank Seamus and Dean with some fire whiskey for at least giving him a crash course when they had come back this year.

She had undone his pants now and shoved them down. Neville stopped just long enough to stand up and look at her. Her large chest was heaving as she took in long breaths. Her blue eyes were needy, and he felt the want from her, if the heat by his hand was any indication. "Do you want to?" he asked.

He wasn't sure if it was his hormones or not making him ask.

"I've liked you for a while," she told him. He took in a sharp breath as her hands found his shaft still in his shorts.

"I've liked you too. Since the D.A. last year. Hannah," he said as she started to stroke him. She took on a coy smile.

"Having issues, Neville?" she asked in a sensual way that had him stiffen in her hands. She closed her eyes, her face looking like she was enjoying his hand rubbing her mound and his fingertips just slipping a little between her legs. She shifted a little to widen her stance and let him go a little deeper.

"About as much as you. Do you want to become betrothed?" he asked her.

When she opened her blue eyes, he would have agreed to anything she wanted at the moment as she slipped her hands down his shorts. Her fingers brushed the tip of his cock and then one of her thumbs started to spread the slick fluid that was seeping out of him around his head. He almost thought his eyes would roll back into his other head.

Neville knew Hannah had dated some. He found he wished he had little more experience. He just had no clue she could do this to him. She moved forward, kissing his chin, then his mouth as she started to stroke him again. "Yes," she told him against his lips.

"Okay," he responded. He knew he liked Hannah for more than this, but his brain was too far gone to think of that right now. His body was in control... well his hormones were.

She pecked him. "Enjoy this," she told him, before dropping down. Neville watched with wide eyes as she pushed his boxer shorts down. She pulled him out, both hands wrapped around his shaft before she kissed the tip of his head.

"Merlin," he just managed to breathe out.

Dean and Seamus had said this was the best way a girl could use her mouth. He thought it rather crude and demeaning. From Dean it sounded like a joke. From Seamus it sounded dirty and like it was all he thought of girls. Either way, Neville found himself agreeing now as she wrapped her lips around him and then moved her head. It was warm, moist and sent shivers through him as he slid along her tongue. Who was he to argue this point if she was willing to use her mouth on his cock?

Neville grabbed the wooden edging until his knuckles turned white. "Merlin, Hannah," he said a few times as she caused a pleasure he never knew could exist. When she started to pump him as she bobbed her mouth around his head and her tongue did things he couldn't explain, he tried to pull away. "Merlin! Merlin! Merlin," he repeated before she hummed as he exploded in her mouth.

She sucked and he just barely breathed as he just kept pumping into her mouth. His eyes rolling a little as her tongue circled his head. His whole body shook as she made sure he was dry, and then he felt her swallowing as she took more of him into her mouth.

He felt like a quivering idiot when she was done pumping him. He was only standing by holding onto the wall. The satisfied smirk on her face brought a rather silly smile to his. She kissed his now very sensitive head before standing up.

"Did you enjoy that?"

He didn't know what to say. Instead, he took one hand off the wall and pulled her in. The kiss he gave her was the deepest, most passionate and sloppy kiss to date. His shaft pressed into her side and rubbed against the bare skin of her hip above her skirt. When he pulled back, she looked very satisfied. "That was... that was... Merlin, Hannah!"

She giggled at him. "Well, if you are willing to return the favor later, I can promise you that will be a regular thing. I want to play until we are married, then you can have all of me."

Neville just nodded; his brain still blown by the blowjob he had just received. "I will write to Gran later. I would like to use our solicitors."

She pecked him, pressing her body against him. He liked how her chest squished against his. "I will write to father to expect word from Madam Longbottom."

Neville went to touch her again, and she let him for a moment. He liked her moan as his hand pressed between her legs and over her panties. It was only a few moments before she reluctantly pulled away. Hannah bit her lip before saying with a longing to her voice. "Later or tomorrow. We should be at lunch. I want to know how Harry is doing and we may need to keep Lavender from killing Vane if she is back. I am not sure Hermione may not do the same."

"Sure," he said, reaching to hand her her shirt. He didn't think Hannah wrong. Though, he really didn't like to see her dressing. The prospect he might be kissing more than her chest soon still had him rock hard.

-oOo-

October 7, 1996

Hogwarts, Scotland

Harry met Lavender and the others in the common room. Like most mornings in the last week and a half, she threw her arms around him and gave him a little more of a kiss than he was comfortable with in the common room, but she wasn't trying to snog him.

He knew she had been really spooked by his love potion poisoning. To Harry, it was just another one of those things being Harry Potter.

"You two ready to go? There are others of us that like to see our girlfriends too," Ron teased.

Harry gave him a two-finger salute and Lavender moved to his side. Many of the others in their group laughed. That was one thing about the Marriage Covenants, it had mostly brought the fifth-year Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs together in a way they never had been before.

Lavender took his hand. "I'm alright, Lav. You don't need to cling to me like I am going to vanish," he said to his girlfriend, hoping she might finally realize that.

She looked a little flustered. "I know." Her hand didn't loosen.

He figured they would get over this. She hadn't been this clingy before.

"So, how are the new chasers working out?" Seamus asked.

"Katie is happy with Ginny and Demelza. They aren't quite the team Katie, Angelina and Alicia were, but they are good," he answered Seamus.

"I heard Katie and Ginny went at it again," Parvati put to him.

He shook his head. "No. They are good. Ginny just had a few ideas that Katie didn't like. I'm not saying they are bad, but I think Ginny and Demelza need more practice before we follow up on them. Maybe our second or third game this year. If not next year. I see the three of them staying together until next year."

"Well, I don't see anyone else being Seeker until you graduate," Lavender told him.

Harry grunted in response, which earned him a look from Hermione. After a second, he said, "I'm not sure I am going to play next year."

They all looked shocked, and Lavender's grip tightened even more. "A little tight, Lav," he said quietly.

"Why not!" Ron exploded.

"You can't be serious, Harry," Seamus exclaimed.

"Why not?" Parvati asked.

"Because he wants to focus on his NEWTs and to take the OWLs in Runes," Lavender replied. He had talked with her about it the other night when she had asked what he wanted to do with his life after they left.

"I think it a prudent decision," Hermione added.

"Oh, come off it," Ron snapped. "First Ginny is banned for the next three weeks because of detentions, now you are saying it's your last year to play? Your last year to really be a Seeker unless you go professional, which you could? Why would you give that up?"

Hermione and Lavender looked to Ron. "What did Ginny do to get so much detention?" Hermione asked suspiciously.

"It's not important," Ron waved them off. "Harry you have to play next year."

Neville gave him a look and he nodded. "Have you also considered that Harry, you, me and Lavender will be married some point next year and possibly have a child?" Neville asked.

Ron went to open his mouth and then left it open. It was obvious that Ron hadn't really considered that, even though things were getting serious with Susan.

"Sucks that," Dean commented.

Hermione's lips had pursed, while Lavender's eyes narrowed at Ron. Harry didn't notice as he added, "That was some of what I was thinking. I talked with Babbling. She said it is possible to apply for an apprenticeship next year for a few hours a week. I'm not really sure I will need Herbology now that I don't want to be an Auror, so I was thinking I might see if there was some place I could apprentice."

Lavender moved a little closer. "I think that a good idea. I am going to talk to mum. Maybe I can help her at the fret shop some of the year?"

Ron, Seamus and Dean looked a little shocked. Hermione just nodded her head. "I think that is a good idea too. Now, why does Ginny have three weeks of detention?"

"Was it Snape?" Harry asked. He was a little worried, but he knew Katie would be able to work something out with Ginny and Demelza.

"Something like that," Ron said a little evasively, finally getting Harry's attention.

"Maybe I can organize to work back at Longmarche half the week, taking care of all our greenhouses? Maybe Hannah will want to help?" Neville put to them, not seeing the dynamics between the four.

"Oh, bloody hell," Ron whinged. "Did you have to get so serious?"

"Hannah and I are going to sign a betrothal in a few weeks. We have been talking about getting married over Christmas or Easter holidays. If we do, Hannah will need to be pregnant within eighteen months," Neville replied to Ron. The boy was serious but looked like he liked the idea of marrying Hannah. "Harry, would you mind, maybe, standing as my best man?"

Harry smiled and extended his hand. "Anytime you ask, Nev."

"Bloody hell," Ron griped.

"You and Hannah will be the third I know about now," Parvati said, sounding pensive.

"Isabella Tintwhistle and Eddie Carmichael. Horatio Pershore and Hestia Carrow, was it?" Parvati nodded in agreement to Lavender. "Now Hannah and Neville. Ron, are you and Susan...?"

Ron shook his head. "We haven't talked about it yet. I thought I would see where we are after Halloween. We still have two and a half months," he told them, his hand going to rub the back of his neck.

"This is all so stupid," Hermione huffed, stamping her foot.

Harry understood, but without this, he never would have gotten to known Lavender. The six weeks with her had been rather brilliant. The feelings he had towards Hermione were now that of a beloved sister... or so he had convinced himself.

"It is what it is, Hermione," Lavender said. She gave him a look and he knew they would be talking about this later. Unless something really bad happened, he had already committed himself to her. Did it really matter if they went to talk to the solicitor tomorrow or three weeks from now?

"I heard Flora wasn't as pleased that Hestia didn't want to enter into a marriage with her and Alex Sykes. I hear he has two lines he could fill," Parvati said, the gossip in her unable to contain it.

They had all heard that. Most of the great hall had heard that when the sisters got into a row a few days ago. They were some of the numerous war orphans of Death Eater parents. They were twins from an incestuous relationship and apparently Flora wanted to continue that. Hestia didn't. Not that they said that in as many words before Professor Slughorn ushered them out of the hall with Pershore following his betrothed.

"Please don't say that. Isn't it bad enough others are still talking about it?" Hermione put to Parvati. Harry was sure she was sensitive due to the rumors that had persisted about them in the last few years.

They made it to the hall and sat at the Gryffindor table. Ron and Neville sat with Hannah and Susan at the Hufflepuffs today. As they sat, Dean asked Hermione, "Are we still on for Saturday?"

Hermione gave him a small smile. "Yeah. My treat this time?"

Dean shrugged, obviously not caring whether the man treated or not. Seamus looked like he was going to say something and instead cried out when Parvati stamped on his foot. "What the bloody hell was that for?"

"To keep you from putting your foot in your mouth," she said in a scathing tone.

He made a face at her before turning to breakfast.

Harry snickered at Dean. Lavender shook her head. They talked about other couples and classes until the owls arrived.

Hermione took her copy and a moment later dropped her spoon full of porridge.

They all looked to her, Hermione being the only one in their group to regularly get the Daily Prophet. "Are you going to leave us hanging?" he asked his best mate.

"Goyle and Crabbe are going to be tried as adults. Charges include rape, money laundering, muggle baiting and helping the Dark Lord. It could be twenty years or more in Azkaban, maybe even death. Holy... Malfoy and Nott are going to be facing the same charges, but they will be tried as minors. They could get no more than five years in Azkaban," she told them.

Lavender snorted. "They all deserve the veil," she told them. Lavender had told him about the Greengrasses.

"Is that why Daphne and Astoria Greengrass left?" Seamus asked. "Daphne had the best arse around."

"You are such a pig," Parvati said, a sneer on her face.

"Seamus, that is a little out of line right now," he told his dormmate. After a second, the Irish teen nodded contritely.

"Don't look now," Dean said, his eyes following someone from the doors to the hall.

Lavender and Hermione both stiffened to look at a girl with raven-black locks and a nice figure. She was walking next to two other girls. Her eyes found him and quickly looked away as she headed towards the front of the hall and the far side of Gryffindor table.

"What is she doing back?!" Lavender hissed.

"Lav, don't cause a scene. Not here," Parvati whispered.

Harry put and arm around her shoulders and she took a few seconds to relax into him. Hermione glared at the girl. "I swear if she does anything else to any of you they will never be able to trace it back to me," Hermione spat.

For those that didn't know Hermione like him, they looked apprehensively at her. Well, Lavender shared an approving look with his best mate. After a moment, she put a hand into the one he had over her shoulders.

"Well, there is one positive," Dean said and they all turned to him. "No one will be paired with Goyle, Crabbe, Malfoy or Nott this year."

Harry snorted in laughter as Hermione shook her head. Lavender giggled after a moment, more out of nerves than joy. Parvati just looked at Dean incredulously.

"You are all mental, you know that?" Seamus put to them. "This whole thing is mental."

-oOo-

October 12, 1996

Hogsmeade, Scotland

Ron was walking hand in hand with Susan. They were heading towards the edge of town. Susan was looking at him. "You are being really quiet today," she pointed out.

Ron shrugged his shoulders. "Just thinking."

"Something good, I hope? Like how the Arrows won the last three games?" she asked with a teasing smile.

"Oh, do you have to keep rubbing that in?" He returned her smile, not really feeling that offended. He loved the Cannons, and they were actually keeping a 4-6 season so far, but the Arrows were doing better at 6-3 right now.

"Yes," she said and then screamed as he went to tickle her. "Don't you dare!"

He tried a few more times before they took each other's hands again and he fell back into his pensive mood. They were heading out towards the Shrieking Shack, having done everything else in town they wanted.

Susan pulled him down to kiss his cheek. "What are you thinking about, Ron Ron?"

He screwed up his face. Lavender had teasingly called him that when Susan and him had been being a little lovy-dubby the other day and Susan had taken up calling him that to get a rise out of him. "I hate that."

"I know," she said cheekily.

He smiled at her antics. "You really want to know what I am thinking?"

"I wouldn't ask if I didn't want an answer. Auntie always says never ask a question you don't want answered, even if you don't like the answer," she told him.

They made it to the shack and leaned against the fence. She looked at him a little apprehensively. "Aren't you worried about being that close?"

"Nah. It's not really haunted. It was a werewolf that used to spend the full moons in the shack," he told her.

She raised her eyebrows. "How would you know that?"

He smirked. "Do you want to know what I am thinking about or why I know it was a werewolf?"

"Both," she said, tentatively taking the few steps to join him along the fence, leaning her bottom on it and leaning into his side. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "You know Hannah and Neville are signing a betrothal soon?"

"Yeah. Hannah is so excited. She rewarded Neville the day he agreed," she said with a grin.

"Really? How?"

She bit her lip before saying, "If we get to that point, I'll show you."

He was intrigued. He was not complaining where they had gotten in their relationship. Susan had very nice tits, but he was definitely more aggressive than Susan at times. They hadn't gotten farther than their shirts off. He may have tried to have his hands wander further south a few times. He didn't mean to be so handsy, but he liked her. She was Merlin-be-damned sexy, and he was too damned horny when she got him going. He always backed off when she wanted him too, though.

"What did Hannah do?"

Her face went a little red. "I'll show you if we get betrothed," she told him again.

He could imagine a few things and liked all of the possibilities. "Right. Well. That is kind of what I have been thinking about after an interesting conversation the other day."

"What conversation?"

Ron spent a few minutes tripping through what the Gryffindors had talked about on the way to the Great Hall Tuesday morning. Susan pressed further into his side the more he talked. Once he had gone quiet for a few minutes, she asked, "So, what are you thinking?"

He let out a sigh. "I want to do this in a more formal way, but I'm not sure I am ready yet. If I was to ask if you wanted a betrothal, what would you say?"

She wrapped her arms around his middle. "I would prefer a more romantic way of asking," she told him.

"So, you would say yes?"

She shrugged, turning her face up to look at him. He moved to look at her expressive brown eyes. "If you find a better way of asking me, you'll find out," she told him.

His insides were a bundle of nerves. "Maybe I will," he replied, leaning down to kiss her.

When they separated, Susan said, "If you are going to ask, please do it by Halloween. I really like you Ron, but if you aren't ready to commit, I need to find someone that is. I don't want to be matched with someone I don't know." Her voice sounded a little pained and her eyes watery.

He felt his heart sinking to his feet. This was all too much, too fast, but he was sure he didn't want to let her go either. He moved so that he could wrap his arms around her, and she buried her face into his chest. "I really like you, Ron," her muffled voice came to him.

He kissed the top of her red hair. "I really like you too."

-oOo-

October 25, 1996

Hogwarts, Scotland

Minerva was standing in the newly converted second floor of the East Building. Not many months ago, the twelve new suites were classrooms, storage rooms or abandoned. In her day, it had been the heart of the Charms and Enchanting rooms. Four professors and twice as many apprentices or journeymen used the rooms for classes and workrooms. Until this summer, she had never thought about how far their society had fallen. About a thousand students called the castle home for nine-and-a-half months a year. That was in the nineteen-tens. Now, it was three-hundred and twelve.

At the time, she could only remember two or three married couples a year. Marrying before graduation was not vogue at the time, and was not now.

She walked into a room, followed by Pomona, Poppy, Filius and two goblins. It was a fairly spartan accommodation. The main room was perhaps fifteen-by-fifteen feet, with an alcove made to hold a table large enough for four that was perhaps four-by-eight. The master bedroom was twelve-by-twelve feet. It would be large enough for a queen size bed, two wardrobes, two trunks and a single nightstand. On the opposite side of the room was a small room, about eight-by-eight. It was large enough for a young child. Next to it was a private bath. When the couple wanted, house elves would provide any meals or other food that was needed. The governors had also approved one private elf per couple.

"As you requested, we have provided enough furniture to outfit eat suite with a crib, couch, dinning set for four, a queen bed, three wardrobes, a work desk and nightstand," Gargash said in his goblin business way. He had a clipboard in hand that he was marking things off as he went through.

"There are wards setup that they can call for help from the infirmary if needed?" Poppy asked.

"Of course, Madam Pomfrey," the goblin said as respectfully as a goblin could. For the amount of galleons they gave them, and might be giving them over the next decade or so, they better be respectful.

"The three classrooms you requested for early childhood education will be ready next week," Gargash went on.

Poppy had pushed for that. It was looking likely that if everything went through, it could be a mixture of Hogwarts graduates and those still in school. The classrooms would also service as day care space for when the students had to attend classes. She didn't want to see it, but at the same time she hoped that it would be used for slightly older children. As part of the planning, it had been proposed that they might be able to offer apprenticeships again to increase the number of Masters in Britain. If they had Mastery apprentices here, they could have children as old as four or five here until they received their Mastery.

"That is good to hear. When will the third and fourth floor be completed?"

"The sixteen suites on the third-floor will be ready in a few days, and the last sixteen in eight days," the goblin answered her.

"Master Gargash, thank you. I find the work from you and your crew to be exemplary. I will sign off on the four thousand galleon bonus if the rooms are completed in three days as you have stated," she told the goblin.

The goblin gave a huge smile, baring his sharp teeth. "Thank you, Headmistress. If you excuse me, I would go see that everything is on schedule," the goblin said with a bow and then he and his companion hurried out of the room.

"Ms. Harwick and Mr. Vaisey are marrying next weekend. They have put in to move into a suite on November third," Filius commented.

"Mr. Speke and Ms. Tintwhistle have informed me they will be doing the same," Pomona told her.

"I saw the requests. Please ask them if they will be furnishing the rooms themselves or have it provided. They can have the first two rooms on this wing. I would also like to know if I need to add an elf to the wards for them as well," she said in a resigned manner. She didn't support this farce, but she would not see those in her charge suffer more than many seemed to be. "Have there been any other betrothals?"

"Neville Longbottom and Hannah Abbot. Brian Cinderford and Mary Doyle. Gladys Prescott and Anthony Goldstein. I have no confirmation on when," Poppy told them. Poppy knew about all the matches, having to do the final check to hand into the Ministry and understand any clauses that she may have to administer over.

"Isn't Prescott only fourteen right now?" she asked Poppy.

"Fifteen. They plan to marry over the summer, according to the contract. She'll be sixteen in January," she said.

Minerva pursed her lips.

"That is still so young," Pomona commented.

"All we can do is support them and make sure things go as smoothly as possible," Filius countered.

"Agreed. Do we need anything? Poppy and I have our bi-weekly meeting with the Minister and the Proliferation Council tomorrow," Minerva put to her senior staff.

"If we are to start having married couples, you will need to higher some staff for the nursery, preferable by the end of the school year if they need any training over the summer," Poppy reminded her.

"I will put advertisements in the Daily Prophet and a few other publications," she assured Poppy. Looking around the room again, she had the thought they were supposed to be teaching children how to become young adults and to someday be ready for this responsibility. Now she was going to have to teach children how to take care of children.

Pomona put a hand on her arm. "Minerva, you are doing everything you can to give our students the best chance."

"I just hope it will be enough, Pomona," she replied.

"We will do what we have to," Filius said. "Have you put more thought into what will happen in about twelve years from now?"

"Much, actually. I was going to present the report you put together at the Proliferation Board meeting. Hogwarts will not be able to accommodate more than fourteen-hundred students, and probably not more than eight hundred if we are to keep housing married couples. Not without a new wing or two. I think you are right. The Ministry needs to make plans to reopen some of the lesser schools or charter another two schools like Hogwarts. If the Unspeakables and Roberta Parkinson are right, we will be looking at more than twenty-six hundred students in about twelve years," she iterated more to help herself get all the numbers straight in her head. Everyone here had already gone over this.

"I still find that hard to fathom," Pomona put in. "There were only seven-hundred students when I was here."

"The population has been on a steep decline for the last hundred years," Poppy added. "Not many wizarding families had more than two children, and many half-bloods or Muggleborn have been driven out."

"That won't happen anymore. I have been assured that when the Wizengamot meets next month, the first order will be to review a report about anti-Muggleborn and other laws. Amelia has indicated that she wants to get rid of them all," Minerva said to them.

"I'll believe it when I see it," Filius commented. Minerva could understand the man's cynicism. Being a quarter-goblin does not lead to an easy life in their world.

"Dinner will be starting soon. We should head down towards the Great Hall," said Pomona.

Minerva looked around the suite one last time. "Ensure you talk to the future Spekes and Vaisies. I would like to have the rooms ready for them this weekend, but they will not be allowed to move in until they are married. That goes for all couples."

The other three with them nodded in agreement.