Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

A Fairytale Dream	By : MistressAshley Category: Harry Potter > Threesomes/Moresomes Views: 16030 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling and company. I make no profit in writing this story

Chapter List
- 1-A Fairytale Dream
- 2-Part Two
- 1
- 2
Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling and company—including but not limited to Rowling herself, the various printing companies (Bloomsbury, Scholastic Press, Allen & Unwin, and Raincoast Books), and Warner Brothers. I make no profit in writing this story.
Secret Santa Gift For: Dec
Beta: Kamerreon
Pairing: Harry/Hermione/Ron
Warnings: AU, het (m/f), light slash (m/m), threesome (m/f/m), double marriage/polygamy, minor character bashing (but everything works out in the end), slightly AU war.
Timeline: The war is slightly AU. I've set the war a bit earlier (mysteriously without disrupting canon *le gasp*), saved some characters and tweaked a few other things I didn't like. I don't go in depth into the war but if you notice any inconsistencies between the books and my story, they're (probably) intentional.
Harry gazed at the parchment in his hands, stunned.
He wasn't as unknowledgeable of the way the wizarding world worked as some would think. He hadn't known much when he had stepped into this world and, he was sad to say, his first and second years were spent having fun with his first real friends. But his eyes had been opened during his second year. He had been crucified for something he had no control over, and he'd had to watch as Mr. Malfoy used everything in his political power to oust Dumbledore and get Hagrid jailed. The power Malfoy Sr. had carefully cultivated over his years and the way he knew just how to use it had pushed Harry to learn everything he could.
The problem with that was that all his learning needed to be in secret. If the wizarding world had learned of it before he was knowledgeable enough to do anything with the minor, in the grand scheme of things, political power he had, people like Malfoy Sr. and Fudge would cut him off at the knees. Those two, as well as many others, had more reasons than he could count to stop him.
So, Harry had studied. Finding the Room of Requirement had been a Godsend, or Merlin-send. He could call up books, transcripts of cases the Ministry had tried, as well as laws—both old and new. Still, there was no way to learn everything in his free time. There were so many things he didn't know, and now that he had graduated from Hogwarts there would be no more Room of Requirement.
Merlin, how he wished for the Room right now.
Harry scanned the parchment again, hoping that the words would have changed, but the black scripted letters at the top still spelled 'Contract of Marriage'. The letter went on to explain how a contract had been made over a century ago, between a Potter and a Weasley. The Weasley had fallen on hard times but had had a daughter. He had petitioned the Potters, one of the wealthier, light families of the time to help him get back on his feet—for the price of his daughter.
The problem was that all the Potters of the time were married. The Potters proposed a marriage contract. The price of the contract would be everything the Weasley family had left. The Potters would manage the money and give him a small stipend to live off of. The contract would then be passed on through the ages to those who finished schooling. The problem with this was that Potters were known for marrying straight out of school, so by the time the contract had been passed on any available Potter had been married or otherwise claimed—until Harry.
Harry was now being given the choice of marrying a Weasley or voiding the contract. To void the contract meant that the stipend would cease to be deposited into the Weasley vault. Harry hadn't known the small amount of money in the Weasley vault had come from his own, but he did know it was the only thing keeping them alive. He couldn't do that to them.
The only available Weasley female was Ginny, and Harry couldn't do that to her either. He couldn't marry a Weasley, no matter how much he wished he was a part of their family. There was only one woman he could imagine marrying and she wasn't Ginny—she wasn't a Weasley at all.
Harry dropped his head into cupped hands. How was he going to get out of this without either ending up married to a woman he didn't love or taking everything the Weasleys had?
BREAK BREAK BREAK BREAK BREAK
He needed to research, and the best place in the world was Hogwarts. With that in mind, he grabbed parchment from his desk, and took up the quill to pen his request to have access to the library.
Harry spent hours pacing, waiting for a reply. What he had not expected was for his Floo to erupt, leaving a head floating in the flames.
"Professor!" Harry yelled, startled. He tossed himself onto the floor before the fireplace.
The face gave a tight smile. "Headmistress, Potter." Sparks flew as the head shook. "Your letter sounded urgent and the Floo is quicker than sending your owl back. I have the connection open if you want to come through now, Potter."
Harry sighed in relief, remembering the letter from Gringotts said he had only a month to reply before they took his non-reply as his answer and voided the contract for him. "Step back, I just need to grab something and then I'll be right through."
"I'm hoping you have some kind of explanation of what trouble you're in now," Headmistress McGonagall said sternly. Harry could just imagine the thinned lips and arched brow—flames weren't really that expressive.
"Of course, ma'am," Harry said, watching the face vanish, leaving an eerie glow of flames behind to show the connection was still open. Harry hurried to his study, grabbing the letter before he made his way back to the receiving room. He stepped gracefully through the flames … and was spat out in utter disarray on the other side. He'd never get the hang of the Floo!
"Good morning, Mr. Potter," McGonagall greeted. There was a cacophony of voices as the paintings shouted out their own greetings. A stern look from the Headmistress had more than a few ducking behind their frames. "What seems to be the problem now?"
"I got a letter from Gringotts," Harry said, going on to explain the specifics of the contract.
"Only you, Potter," McGonagall said with an exasperated shake of her head. "The library is open for however long you need. I'll have the house-elves prepare you a room."
"Thanks, Professor." Harry grinned as he went for the door. His grin grew as he heard the shouted, "Headmistress!"
BREAK BREAK BREAK BREAK BREAK
Sadly, after a week of searching, Harry still hadn't found anything about breaking marriage contracts consequence free. It seemed magic took offense to unfulfilled contracts and made someone pay the price.
Harry was beginning to feel hopeless.
"Harry James Potter, what have you gotten yourself into now?"
His eyes widened at the shout, gaze snapping up to find Hermione standing in the library's doorway. Her hair had tamed only a little as she had gotten older. It was still a mass of curls that flew in every direction. She had held onto her fondness of dressing in Muggle clothes—even working at the Ministry hadn't changed that. She made Harry's breath catch in his throat. She was so beautiful and yet, so very in love with Ron.
They weren't together yet, still tiptoeing around each other, but Harry knew it was only a matter of time. No matter how much he loved her, he wouldn't step in his best mate's way. He hid all of the feelings he had for Hermione as he always did—behind the mask of friendship.
"Hermione," Harry drew out fearfully, knowing that voice. He was about to get chewed up one side and down the other if he didn't come up with a good enough explanation.
After a quick explanation and the exchange of the contract, Hermione nibbled her lip as she thought. "The way Ginny tells it, you've been lusting after her for ages. She's sure at the next Weasley dinner, if you ever deign to come"—Hermione shot him a stern look —"you'll ask her out. I'm not inclined to believe that, though," she hurried to add at the look Harry was sending her. "Truthfully though, the contract doesn't state a gender. I'm sure, back then, it was only to give a Potter female the chance to marry a male Weasley, but we could use that if you'd rather.
"Bill's married, of course. Charlie isn't seeing anyone—perpetual bachelor, that one. Not sure what kind of husband he'd make. Percy's dating someone. Won't tell anyone who, just says he doesn't want to scare her away with a Weasley ambush. Merlin forbid, but last time I talked to Molly she was ecstatic. According to her the twins are practically on their way down the aisle, so that leaves them out …" Hermione hesitated but this was one of her best friends. She would give up her own happiness for either one. "There's … well, there's Ron. He's your best friend, Harry. He'd do anything for you, and this is for his family, as well."
"No," Harry said sharply, but then he sighed as she winced. "I'm sorry, Hermione. I'm just stressed, I didn't mean to snap."
Hermione reached across the table to gently squeeze Harry's hand. "It's okay, Harry. We'll figure something out. We always do!"
Harry smiled sadly. "I'm not so sure about this time, Hermione. Unless we can get me out of this contract someone is going to be hurt."
A frown furrowed her brow. "You don't fancy Ginny at all, do you?"
Harry shook his head, eyes focused intently on the table. "It wouldn't be a marriage, just something done so the contract isn't voided. The Weasleys need the money that comes from the Potter vaults. My first thought was to void the contract but keep the stipend going. Except, I've read up on marriage contracts in the past week—if the contract is voided, no Potter money can ever be given to a Weasley." Harry groaned and hung his head.
"I'm sure there's a way around that, though," Hermione said. "What if you transferred the money to me and I transferred it to the Weasley vault?"
"That won't work. The goblins are tricky like that. Someone in the past tried that and the goblins found out. They"—Harry grimaced—"made an example of him and then handed him over to Magic. The only way the Weasleys would be able to handle Potter money would be through a legitimate business transaction. If I bought something from"—he searched for a store name—"Madam Malkin's, paid, and then a Weasley came through and needed change, the money wouldn't be considered Potter money. There are very few instances around this and they don't just affect the Weasleys. I would never be able to shop at Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes again. They may even be forced to shut down, given that I gave them the money to start up."
"Oh, Harry." Hermione was finally getting the severity of the situation as tears welled in her eyes. There was determination there, though. Present Hermione with a problem, especially one where a friend might be hurt, and she'd find an answer.
Harry just hoped they could pull off a miracle.
BREAK BREAK BREAK BREAK BREAK
Two weeks into the constant search, one week from the contract's deadline, and the hopes Hermione had raised with her arrival were plummeting. The whole of Hogwarts' library was open to them and they had found nothing good, only instances of voided contracts and the consequences that came about.
Hermione's constant presence was a balm to Harry's heart. He was relearning his friend, beginning to look at her in a new light. He loved her more with each new thing he learned. It was … odd how you could see someone every day for years, but a few months' absence made you realize how truly little you knew about them.
Sure, Harry knew Hermione nibbled her lip as she thought, but if she had a quill in her hand she'd use it to brush her lips. He hadn't known that after a few hours hunched over books she would stand to stretch, hands over her head as her back arched forward. He also hadn't known that her bellybutton was an outie.
It was after one such stretch that Hermione slumped back into her seat with a sigh. "I think there are more books in the back alcove."
Harry shook his head. "I think it's time I gave in, Hermione. We haven't learned anything new about the contract, except all the bad things that would happen if I voided it." Harry closed his eyes, pain shooting through him before he managed to pull himself together. "I'm going to invite Ginny to meet me in Hogsmeade. Not a date, not really, but it will give us a chance to discuss the contract," he said, never knowing how much his voice showed the pain he was feeling.
"You're in love."
Beautiful, blunt Hermione, Harry laughed harshly. "And so what if I am?" he asked mockingly.
"Oh, Harry!" Hermione practically shrieked. "If you marry before the month is out, that's it, the contract gets put on hold until the next generation is old enough."
"No, Hermione. That's not how it works and even if it was, she doesn't love me. She loves someone else and I won't interfere in that. It wouldn't be fair if I did," Harry said sadly.
"What do you mean, it doesn't work like that?" Hermione frowned in confusion, choosing to focus on the first half, but filing Harry's answer and body language away for later.
"I mean, if I had been married before the contract was pulled it wouldn't matter. If I was engaged, a leeway period would be given, but just loving someone isn't enough. There had to have been a connection before the contract was sent out. Now, the goblins could never be sure I wasn't trying to get out of the contract. No one cons a goblin, after all. What they aren't sure of, doesn't matter. They'd never validate it if I brought if forward now."
"So, that's it then? You're just giving up?" Hermione asked, anger surging through her. She felt bad for taking it out on Harry, but they'd spent hours upon hours searching with very little sleep and only enough food to keep them going. It wasn't fair that they had nothing to show for it. Harry was in love and now he'd force himself to marry someone he had little to no romantic feelings for just to keep his friend's family safe.
It wasn't fair!
There was a crash as Hermione's magic exploded, sending the books on the table flying. The anger drained from her, leaving her gasping on sobs. Lean arms wrapped around her and she buried her face in a dark, woodsy-scented robe. It was a scent that was so Harry, a scent that meant comfort, safety, and love. The sobs let up but the tears still poured down her cheeks.
Harry shushed the woman in his arms, placating sounds falling softly from his lips as his right hand rubbed gently up and down her back; his left hand petted her head, twining through her bushy hair. He was sick, a very bad man, because even crying, a part of him got a trill out of holding her in his arms. He sighed into her hair, realizing that lost in his thoughts, his body had worked on its own. His face was now nuzzling the top of her head and Hermione had gone very still, very quiet.
Harry pulled back abruptly, chair toppling over as he hurried from the library.
If he had bothered to look back he would have see Hermione still seated in her chair, watching him leave with wide eyes—one hand curled around her body in a phantom hug as the other covered her mouth in realization.
BREAK BREAK BREAK BREAK BREAK
It was her. The phrase went through Hermione's mind at light speed. She tried it with different inflections, but it still meant the same thing. Harry, her best friend in the whole world, loved her—was in love with her. It didn't seem real. It was like this was the biggest joke in the world.
Her intelligent mind turned things over. In school, they had been the Gryffindor Trio. It had been Harry, Ron, and Hermione. If they were ever broken up into duos, very few would have said Harry and Hermione. It would have been Harry and Ron, best mates … or Ron and Hermione, who were sure to end up married once out of school. Except they hadn't, had they? Sure, they'd gone on a few dates, but it had been weird without Harry there to buffer them, to smooth their rough edges. They were the Gryffindor Trio or nothing.
The frown marring her brow cleared as an idea, a stupid, wonderful idea came to her. Hermione jumped from her chair with new energy, clambering down the aisles filled with books, searching, searching, searching … "Ah-ha!" Hermione yelped as she hauled a large, leather bound book from one of the shelves. She penguin walked back to the table, arms wrapped securely around the large book.
Dust clouded around her as the book dropped with a thud to the table, but Hermione ignored it as she flipped through the pages, eyes scanning fervently. She sucked in a breath, holding it as she read.
Double marriage (more commonly known to Muggles as polygamy) is not well looked upon in either world, but unlike in the Muggle world, it is not a banned practice.
Double marriage (then named multiple marriage) was more commonly used centuries ago when it was common for entire families to be lost to war or famine. Heirs, as soon as they were sexually mature, were married off to multiple wives and expected to father children before they were called to war or lost to disease.
The practice of multiple marriage was banned as of 1890 by the Wizengamot of that time, but it was agreed upon by all members to keep double marriage legal. They hoped that the law would never be needed but should there ever come a time of war, it would be there.
This was it, Hermione thought. It would take more than a bit of luck to get this to work and have it accepted by the Ministry, but Harry was the luckiest person Hermione knew.
She pulled a piece of parchment from her bag. Grasping her wand, she tapped the book's page and, concentration firm in her mind, tapped the parchment. The words poured from her wand, swirling around the page as they arranged themselves into the correct order. Hermione gave a firm nod as the page rolled itself up. She closed the large book and, feeling horrible about the work she was leaving behind for Madam Pince, grabbed her bag and hurried from the library.
Hermione moved quickly through the halls of Hogwarts, finding her way to the front hall with ease. She rushed, tripping and stumbling in her haste to the gate. She spun in place, fixed her destination in mind, and Disapparated.
She arrived seconds later at the edge of the Weasley property. Hermione walked the well-worn path, gasping for breath. She threw the door open with a slight wince, but this was an emergency and she was sure Molly wouldn't mind, anyway.
"Ron," Hermione yelled. "Ron!"
There was a thump from the kitchen before Molly rushed through the archway. The noise of what sounded like an elephant thumped down the stairs before Ron appeared. Neither saw Molly slip back through the kitchen's arched doorway as Hermione threw herself into Ron's arms, babbling everything that had happened since she had gotten a Floo call from Headmistress McGonagall.
Sadly, Hermione was going too fast for Ron. "Hermione, Hermione, you have to calm down. Deep breath, that's it," Ron soothed. "Now, slowly, tell me what happened."
"Harry, Harry got a letter from Gringotts. Did you know? Did you know about the contract?" She turned, frowning to look at Molly.
"What contract, dear?"
At least that was one worry off her chest. If they had known but hadn't warned Harry, Hermione would have had to show them that it wasn't just redheads that had the temper of a dragon.
"Right, well it was a marriage contract—" She opened her mouth to continue, but Ron's voice overrode hers.
"What?" Ron roared. "Who would do something like that to Harry? It wasn't his parents, right? Or Dumbledore … I mean, he was Harry's guardian for all those years, right?"
"Ron, Ron!" Hermione yelled, finally getting his attention. "It wasn't his parents or even Dumbledore. It was old, something passed down. But according to Harry, Potters marry young, so the contract was never enacted."
"So, now, with Harry not married, he's got to fulfill it? He could void it though. He doesn't have to marry some old cow just because a contract says he does!"
Hermione loved Ron to bits and his first two statements proved there was a brilliant mind in there, but then he had to go and tack on something like that. "No, Ron. He can't void the contract."
Ron frowned. "Well, why not? That's always an option."
Hermione felt pity well in her but pushed it down, knowing it was something Ron hated beyond all else. "Not this time. I said it was an old contract and it is. It's an old contract between the Potters and—and the Weasleys," she finished quietly, cringing as she waited for the explosion.
Except the explosion didn't come. She looked up to see Ron smiling broadly. "Well, that's great! We'll be family for real. Ginny will be happy—she's gone on about him for ages."
"Ron!" Hermione shrieked in disappointment. "Have you thought about what Harry wants? Harry doesn't love Ginny."
"So void the contract," Ron said.
"You don't get it, Ron. I just spent the last week at Hogwarts going through every book I could find on marriage contracts and Harry spent the week before that doing the same. There's no way to void the contract without hurting someone."
Something must have shown on her face or in her voice because Ron's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "What are the consequences?"
"The contract was made when the Weasleys first started losing money. They petitioned the Potters to help out, offering their daughter in marriage. Only, the Potters of that time were all married. They came up with the idea of the marriage contract. The Weasleys would give the last of their money to the Potters, who would manage it for them and give them a small stipend to live off of, as well as a bit more for schooling—it was written in the fine print that no Potter should have to marry someone uneducated. If there came a time when a Potter, out of school and given enough time to marry on their own, didn't marry, the contract would come into action. Like I said though, Potters were known for marrying straight out of school, or at least, getting engaged by that time. If engaged, they were given leeway to marry. Harry is the first Potter since the contract was created that hadn't married or gotten engaged by the time it was enacted."
"Come on, Hermione," Ron whined. He wasn't into the history of the contract, but forced himself to pay attention for Harry's sake.
Hermione sighed in frustration. This was so typical of Ron. "If Harry voids the contract the stipend that is taken from his account each month, the money that helped pay for your schooling, for your books, your robes, your food, will stop being transferred. You'll truly have no money but what your father brings home and your siblings are able to contribute."
"But, but that … that can't be right," Ron stammered in denial.
"Oh, Ron. I always wondered. My parents never could get the hang of Galleons and transfer rates so they left tuition and money management up to me. I know the exact amount it costs to go to school at Hogwarts—tuition, books, robes, everything. I always wondered how your parents managed to send all of you to school and still have money for food and essentials," Hermione explained. "If Harry voids the contract, that goes away and no Weasley will ever be able to touch a Knut of Potter money."
Hermione watched as Ron collapsed into a frayed and patched chair. "So, it's a choice between my family and Harry, Harry's happiness."
Hermione stooped down, ducking her head so she could meet Ron's eyes. "I have a plan. You're not going to like it, but it should be something we can live with … maybe even learn to like."
She watched a determined glint enter Ron's eyes. He trusted her to have a plan that would work. "Right, tell me this plan."
So she told him.
"Harry has to marry a Weasley, right? But it never specified anything else. That Weasley could be male or female, as long as they carry the name Weasley. Don't give me that look, Ron! I'm not asking you to marry Harry. I'm asking you to marry me!" she yelled. Her eyes widened as she realized what she had blurted out, and the silence her comment had created. Ron looked as if she had hit him with a hex between the eyes.
"Right, and how does that help?" he asked dazed.
Hermione pulled the parchment from her pocket, passing it over to Ron who opened it, reading it quickly before going back to read it again slowly. She watched as the best chess player she knew came forward from the depths of his mind.
"This might work. It won't be as accepted as it would be if Harry married two pureblood women. We're taking a big chance here. We could marry and then have you try to marry Harry and have the Ministry not accept it because you're a Muggle-born. This,"—he shook the paper—"was meant for heirs of old families. I know the Potters are an old family, but I think it was more meant for Harry to marry twice."
"I know," Hermione said, "but we have to try, don't we?"
"You're taking a lot on faith, Hermione. You threw a fit about Harry not loving Ginny. What makes you think he'll accept this?" Ron asked seriously.
Hermione ducked her head, eyes skimming the room.
"Oh," Ron whispered. "He loves you. That's why you're not worried about him accepting this." Ron wondered briefly why he was being so accepting of this, but pushed that thought from his mind. How could anyone not love Hermione? Besides, this was his best friend they were talking about. "So, how do we do this?" Ron asked in the most determined voice he could manage. He was shaking inside, practically vibrating in his seat at the thought of marrying Hermione. It was like a dream come true.
"We have to get to Harry and convince him before he sends a letter to Ginny," Hermione said.
"What?" Ron asked, brow creasing in confusion. How had they gone from marriage to stopping Harry from writing to Ginny?
"Harry's given up. He's spent the last three weeks searching the library from top to bottom and found nothing that could help him … only more horrible things that could happen if he doesn't follow through. He said he was going to send a letter to Ginny, asking her to meet him in Hogsmeade to discuss how a marriage between them is going to work. We need to stop that letter."
"Well, Ginny's going to be home soon," Ron hesitated. "Mum!" His lips pressed together at her immediate appearance. She'd been listening … but that was good because now he wouldn't have to explain. "Stop that letter," was all he said as he grabbed Hermione's hand, pulling her towards the door.
"Get some pictures," Molly yelled from the front door as she watched them Disapparate. She gave a sniffle as she returned to the kitchen. There was a wedding feast to plan and a letter to stop.
BREAK BREAK BREAK BREAK BREAK
Ron dragged Hermione past the Auror guarding both the Floo network and the Apparition pad. Hermione was forced to stumble after Ron as he pushed his way through crowds of people.
Once in the elevator, Hermione had a moment to catch her breath. The situation was finally catching up to her; she was on her way to get married. She didn't have the dress she'd dreamed of—not that she'd dreamed of one—her parents weren't here, and her daddy wouldn't walk her down a long aisle. She held back the tears as a warm hand grasped her own.
"Hey," Ron said softly. He knew exactly what she was thinking, and he'd grown enough that he wouldn't make an arse out of himself trying to comfort her. "We'll have a ceremony later. Mum wouldn't have it any other way. Just think, you'll get two weddings, three or four if we can convince Harry and the Ministry," Ron said brightly, laughing at the watery smile Hermione gave him.
"Maybe we'll just have one big ceremony. We're the Gryffindor Trio, after all."
The elevator took that moment to speak, "Department of Ceremony." It was a little known department within the Ministry, only created to appease the Muggle-borns. It was something Ron had thought was beyond stupid, but was more than thankful for now.
They registered their names before taking a seat in the small waiting room. They were called back shortly to what looked to be an old ritual room. There was a circle traced on the floor with a large alter just outside of it. They were instructed to take their place within the circle, facing each other. They clasped hands as the wizard began to chant in a language that Ron didn't understand a word of, but a glowing, deep purple cord materialized in the air before them, wrapping snake-like around their wrists, binding their hands together. The chanting reached a crescendo as the cord pulled tight, tight enough to make them both wince before it soaked into their skin, leaving only a tiny mark at their pulse points.
Ron turned to step from the circle, before he was dragged back by the front of his robes and pulled into the fiercest kiss Hermione had ever given him. Teeth clashed as soft hands wound through short red hair. Ron pulled Hermione closer with a desperate groan, forcing his tongue deeper to wind over and around Hermione's. They might have gone further if not for the rough clearing of a throat behind them.
Hermione pulled away, face flushed with color and noticed that Ron's wasn't much better. She grinned widely as she twined her fingers with his, dragging him from the room with a hastily called, "Thanks."
They rode the elevator back to the Floo room in giddy silence. There was no need for words as their fingers brushed and rubbed.
It was easy to take the Floo to Hogwarts and Hermione led the way to Harry's temporary room. They entered the room to find him slumped over the desk, and a peek over his shoulder from Hermione showed a list of relationship wants. She was sure this was something he was planning to put forth to Ginny. Sadly, Hermione thought with a smirk, Ginny wouldn't be getting the letter or this list if Mrs. Weasley had anything to say about it.
"Harry," Hermione whispered, pulling Ron forward with her.
Harry startled at the sound of her voice, turning the chair abruptly to look behind him. His eyes sadly took in their clasped hands before he turned forlornly back to the desk. "Go away, Hermione," he whispered desperately.
"No, Harry. We have a solution and you're going to listen," Hermione said sternly, plopping herself down into the chair next to the desk.
Harry gave a sigh, knowing that tone of voice meant no good would come if he didn't comply.
"Better to listen, mate," Ron pointed out with a grin.
"Shush, Ron." She barely glanced at him as she focused all her attention on Harry. "I had an idea after you left the library and Ron and I have put the first part of the plan into action."
"Yeah, and what is this plan that can save us all?" Harry asked sarcastically.
"Don't take that tone with me, Harry James Potter," Hermione glared. "I've spent the last week helping you research and now we have the only solution to this contract—a solution that keeps everyone happy."
"I'm sorry, Hermione," Harry said contritely, scrubbing his eyes harshly. He started as Hermione squeezed his hand. He was sure she wouldn't want to touch him, not now that she knew how he felt. He was even more surprised when Ron squeezed his shoulder. How could they still look at him with friendship and love shining brightly in their eyes after they knew his biggest secret?
"It's okay, Harry, it's been stressful on everyone involved. But I found the solution. We just need some of that famous Potter luck."
"What do you mean?" Harry asked warily. He didn't like the feeling he was getting.
"You need to marry a Weasley." Hermione held out her left hand, palm up to show off the tiny mark. "And I'm a Weasley."
Harry felt his heart break as he tuned out her words. "That's a marriage mark," he choked out, trying with all his might to push back the tears. "Were you so disgusted when you found out how I felt that you had to run off and get married?"
"What? No, Harry!" She pulled him back as he stood to make a break for it, shoving him down into his vacated chair. She dug through her pockets desperately, before she found the small bit of crumpled parchment. "Here, read it," Hermione said as she shoved it under his nose.
Harry scanned the parchment, disbelief flooding through him. This was crazy, absolutely barmy. There was no way it would work. It was too easy a solution. The goblins would never accept a Weasley by marriage, would they? "This will never work."
"What, why not?" Hermione demanded.
"The goblins will never accept it," Harry explained in his more reasonable voice.
"Of course they will, Harry. They'll have to because I've read that contract. I have it memorized and I've researched the ins and outs. It says nothing about the Weasley having to be female and it says nothing about the Weasley having to be a Weasley by birth. They had to make the contract vague enough to leave all avenues open. What if a Potter and a Weasley by marriage were both widowed at a young age? Marrying each other would have fulfilled the contract—as long as they were still young enough to have children, I'm sure. But, if you still doubt it, let's go to Gringotts. We can go now and be married by nightfall. I'm sure Molly is just waiting with a feast at the Burrow."
"What?" Harry yelped. "Mrs. Weasley knows about this?"
"Well, someone had to stop your letter to Ginny, mate," Ron said with a grin. "So, what do ya say? Want to marry my wife?"
Harry laughed until tears spilled down his cheeks, but it was a good laughter, a laughter shared by the greatest friends in the whole world.
When the laughter died away, it left an awkward silence behind, but that was quickly broken by Hermione, "Do you want some time to think about it? I just … I think it would be better to check with Gringotts and set your doubts to rest first. Once we know for sure if this idea will work, we'll give you a few days to think."
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The trip to Gringotts was simple enough and they were lucky to find an open teller who was willing to gruffly point them in the right direction.
Gobnock, the goblin in charge of contracts, looked no different from any other goblin—nor was his attitude any different. He was just as rude as every other goblin Harry had met before.
"What do you want, Mr. Potter?"
Harry stuttered for a moment before Hermione took over confidently. "We need to know if the marriage contract between the Potters and the Weasleys will accept a Weasley by marriage," Hermione stated in the tone of voice that made many believe her a know-it-all. It was a tone that caused Ron and Harry to share a grin behind her back.
"The contract does not differentiate between gender, race, age, or marriage. Only the name of Weasley and proof that it comes legitimately is all that is required," the old goblin said briskly.
"Right, thank you," Harry said as he wandered from the room in a daze. He barely noticed Ron and Hermione falling into step with him. It was the most natural thing in the world, having them walking beside him. How many times had they walked like this over the years? Too many to count, for sure.
They separated at the Apparition point. Ron and Hermione were on their way back to the Burrow to eat what was sure to be a feast, while Harry was headed back to his lonely room in Hogwarts.
Hermione threw her arms around Harry before she stepped back to give Ron room to clap his shoulder. That was all the goodbye they needed, because no matter what else might happen in the coming days, they'd always be friends first.
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Harry wandered the familiar halls of Hogwarts as he made his way back to his empty room. He didn't see the halls pass him by though, lost in thought as he was.
Could he do this? Could he marry Hermione? Could he marry his best friend's wife? And Merlin, didn't that sound wrong. But it wasn't a question of if he could do it. Harry knew he could, happily, marry Hermione. The question was, what kind of marriage would they have? Would he be just as alone as he was now … forever? Did he marry someone he didn't love or did he marry one of his best friends, the woman he loved but would maybe never know the feel of her body, never know if, in the throes of passion, she arched her back as she did when she stretched? Could he live with only a half marriage?
He knew these were questions he would need to discuss with Hermione and Ron before he made any kind of decision, but he agonized through the night, tossing and turning as the questions circled through his thoughts.
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Harry woke in the morning more tired than he had been the night before. His mind was still on the questions from the previous night. He didn't think he'd be able to wait the time it would take for Hermione and Ron to return. Still, the questions were all jumbled.
He called for a house-elf, ordering a simple breakfast to be delivered, before he moved to the desk. Harry fingered the quill as his mind sorted issues. Slowly, he began to make a list of the things we wanted to know, stopping only when a tray appeared before him, disrupting his writing.
He ate hurriedly, plate vanishing when he finished the last bite, before he turned his attention back to the parchment. He spent nearly half an hour organizing the questions, grouping them and changing them to suit his needs. Finally, he ended up with only one question he needed answered before he could say yes or no to Hermione's idea.
The words, fresh and black, glared back at him from the parchment.
What kind of marriage would this be?
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Harry dallied around Hogwarts that day, helping the teachers set up for the end of year exams. It was still a month or so away, but Hogwarts was large and needed much done before then. He had even helped Filch clean, that was how desperate he was for something to occupy himself with, something to keep his mind off the marriage proposal.
That night was just as bad as the one before it and Harry woke much too early, ready to cry or scream. He was beyond tired by this point. The reflection that stared back at him from the mirror had hair even more messy than before, dark circles under his eyes and a heavy lidded look about it.
This couldn't go on, Harry decided, pulling on whatever clothes he could reach and slamming the room's door behind him. He made his way out of Hogwarts and over the grounds to the gate. A turn and a crack of displaced air and he stood before the tilting shadow of the Burrow in the predawn light, lucky to have made it in one piece.
He felt only a tiny twinge of guilt for being here so early, but pushed that feeling down as his hand twisted the handle of the front door. He tiptoed silently up the steps, instinctively skipping the ones that creaked, towards the dark familiarity of Ron's room.
The door opened slowly under his touch. The first fingers of dawn peeking in the window illuminated the couple on the bed. Harry stood, entranced for a moment. The sun highlighted Hermione's hair, catching shades of chestnut and gold. But it wasn't just Hermione that had him frozen in the doorway. Ron's arm pillowed her head, his face buried in her neck. His hair, usually a shade of orange that could be considered red, mingled with Hermione's, shining like flames.
Harry shook his head, dislodging all thoughts as he stepped into the room, closing the door behind him. Hermione jerked up at the sound, disturbing Ron as she sat up.
"Harry?" Hermione rasped, voice full of sleep. "What are you doing here?" Her eyes searched his form, taking in the disheveled hair, the dark patches under his eyes and the second day clothes. She gave a sigh, pulling back the covers on the enlarged bed. "Come on, Harry. There are still a few hours before anyone gets up."
Harry nibbled his lip, eyes sliding to where Ron was seated, fist rubbing at his eyes tiredly. Upon seeing the eyes upon him, he gave a slight nod. With relief, Harry kicked off his shoes before clambering onto the bed. An arm draped across his stomach as Hermione cuddled into his back, Ron's hand rested comfortably on his hip, and Harry let himself drift, dropping soundlessly into a dreamless sleep.
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Harry woke to sun shining in his eyes and a shriek loud enough to wake the dead. His first thought was of the ghoul in the attic, but shrieking was not something the Weasleys' ghoul was known for. The piercing sound had roused the others on the bed and they all looked to the door, the door that was now open with a distressed and wide-eyed Ginny Weasley standing just outside the room.
Her eyes took in the arrangement—Ron on the end closest to the door, bare arms grasping at the covers, Hermione sitting primly beside him, covers pulled up to her chest (if not for the thin straps Harry could see hugging her shoulders, he would have thought her naked), and then there was a disheveled Harry, who was still rubbing the sleep from his eyes, the only one who looked even slightly dressed.
Ginny's eyes welled with tears that she valiantly fought to keep from falling as she shot Hermione the most betrayed look any of them had ever seen. She fled from the door, stomping steps heard from the stairs before the front door slammed shut.
Hermione sighed, pushing the covers off herself, in turn pushing the covers slightly away from the men beside her.
"What just happened?" Harry asked, feeling as though he was missing something. Hadn't they said Mrs. Weasley would stop the letter he'd written from getting to Ginny? Without that letter, he knew he had shown no interest in her. So, why did he feel as if he had done something wrong?
"That's not how I wanted her to find out. I'm sorry, Ron, I didn't even think to ward the door when Harry showed up," Hermione fretted.
Ron wrapped his arms around his wife, and wasn't that still an odd thing to call her. "It's not your fault, Hermione. I don't think this is the way any of us would have wanted her to find out, but it would have happened sooner or later."
"What am I missing?" Harry frowned, looking between the two as they exchanged looks. "Guys?"
"Ginny," Hermione hesitated before changing her mind. "You know Ginny's had a crush on you for a long time. Well, she thought that once V-Voldemort was dead, you'd realize you liked her too … except that didn't happen. So she gave herself all kinds of excuses, before she finally decided that you were focusing on finishing school. Since we graduated, she's just been waiting for you to show up or send a letter asking for a date. She's convinced herself that it was just a matter of time before she was the next Mrs. Potter."
"It's not exactly Ginny's fault, mate. Since she was little, everyone was always telling her how much she looked like your mum. And Mum, well, she was always telling bedtime stories—great, embellished bedtime stories about the 'Great Harry Potter'. She had this image of you in her mind, like a knight in shining armor. It got worse when she came to school. You looked so much like your dad by then that everyone was always sayin' it.
"It all just, just went to Gin's head a bit. She thought it was destiny or something, that you both looked so much like your parents, like it was meant to be—like you two were meant to be," Ron tried to explain. He loved his sister, he really did, but she had always been infatuated with Harry. It hadn't meant much to Ron before, when he thought Harry might return her feelings. Now, it just made Hermione's plan harder. He didn't want to hurt Ginny, but the plan was the best they could come up with. She'd be hurt more if Harry really did marry her, Ron tried to tell himself, and then, well, then he'd have to hurt Harry for hurting his baby sister.
"The only reason I'm thinking about this plan is so that no one gets hurt, but Ginny …"
"Harry," Hermione said sternly, "Ginny will be fine. She'd be hurt more if you went through with your first thought of marrying her. What happens when she finds out you don't really love her? That the only reason you married her was because of a contract? Ginny's smart. She'll find out. The question is when? After you have sex? After you have a child? After you've been married for five years? Ten? Twenty? That's not a marriage, Harry."
"I could learn to love her," Harry said, knowing, even as he said it, that it wasn't true. He loved her as a sister, a distant sort of friend, but he could never love her as a husband should love his wife. He would live his life, married to Ginny, watching Hermione love Ron, all the while, knowing he could have married her, if only he had said yes.
"Could you really?" Hermione asked doubtfully, nodding when he couldn't meet her eyes. "This plan works for everyone, Harry."
Harry laughed cynically. "How will it be any better than marrying Ginny?" he asked, wincing slightly at the hurt that flashed across Hermione's face.
"I thought you loved me, Harry?"
"I do, and that's the problem. You love Ron and you would have married him eventually. What kind of marriage could this possibly be?" Harry asked desperately.
Hermione laughed gently, cupping Harry's cheek with one hand, the other behind her grasping Ron's tightly. "We've been a trio for so long, a marriage between just two of us would never have felt right."
Harry, knowing Ron's temper, glanced at him quickly, wondering if he was going to get a fist to the face, but Ron was smiling. "Hermione's right, mate. Anything else can be worked out later," Ron assured him.
Ron had never expected to feel so calm. He had loved Hermione for as long as he could remember. The thought of her with another man made his blood boil, but not Harry. Harry had brought them together, kept them together throughout the years. Harry was the reason they'd come this far. Loving Hermione was something he could understand, could forgive Harry for.
Harry looked between them; they were so accepting of this. Was he the only one who thought this idea, this whole situation, was crazy? Still, he felt himself getting dragged along with this idea. Their calm acceptance of him helped. He wondered, briefly, if this is what they'd felt all the times Harry had calmly presented them with a crazy idea. "All right," Harry said quietly; nodding, he repeated his acceptance louder, "All right."
"All right?" Hermione asked with a grin that widened as the words sank in. "All right," she breathed, delighted laughter spilling from grinning lips as she threw herself across the small distance separating them to wrap her arms around a surprised Harry.
"Oof!" Harry grunted but he was so used to Hermione throwing herself at him that his hands instinctively caught her, head turning to the side to avoid her hair. His eyes caught sight of Ron. He wasn't smiling, and the look in his eyes had Harry vaguely worried, but it was quickly hidden behind a smile when he saw Harry looking.
Harry frowned, wondering if he should pull away from Hermione, but the decision was taken from him when Hermione pulled back.
Hermione looked over Harry's face, frowning worriedly. He still looked tired and the day could very quickly turn tedious or even dangerous. "I was thinking we could eat breakfast and then Apparate to the Ministry, begin putting things into motion. It will either be a very long, possibly dangerous process or exceedingly short—depending on how your luck swings, Harry," Hermione said with a smirk before the smirk was gone with a sigh. "You look tired, Harry. This can wait. We still have a little more than a week before the contract voids itself."
"No," Harry said, shaking his head, "I want to get this done as soon as possible."
"We can spend the day doing whatever you want, get a good night's sleep, and make it to the Ministry bright and early tomorrow. We don't have to do this today," Hermione said, worried.
A smile touched the edges of Harry's lips. "Are you backing out on me, Hermione?"
He watched as her tongue peeked out, nervously swiping along her bottom lip. "Of course not, Harry. I just want you to understand that this is going to be a fight. The law I found isn't an exact fit for our situation. If you look at it clinically, the law was made to help repopulate families. The Weasleys are already a very large family, but even if they weren't—I can't carry a child from both of you at the same time. It wouldn't speed up repopulation at all."
Ron cleared his throat, gaining their attention. "Actually, you could. There are spells for fertility and better pregnancy. Dad also mentioned something about how Muggles have been known to carry children from different fathers at the same time. It was something of a fascination of his. It's rare, right? But it does happen. Magic would just make it more likely."
Hermione narrowed her eyes, pulling her lip between her teeth. "We can use that, but it will still be hard. The Weasleys are a big family and so many of them are already in serious relationships that there's no fear of them dying out. There're so many things that can go wrong," she fretted.
The boys shared an eye roll. Typical Hermione. She had to have every angle of any plan completely thought out with back up plans for her back up plans. They wondered sometimes how she had gotten into Gryffindor. Gryffindors were the leap before you look types. Hermione was more than brave enough though, and she kept them out of heaps of trouble with her back up plans, so they forgave her that little fault.
"I saw that you know," she said with an arched brow.
Laughter and jokes were shared as they crawled from the bed. Hermione pulled clothes from a Muggle duffle bag at the bottom of the bed and Ron tossed clothes over his head for Harry, only Seeker skills saved Harry from being hit in the face by them, before Ron pulled clothes out for himself.
They moved down the stairs in companionable silence to find Molly Weasley stationed at the stove, wand waving through the air as she directed eggs to crack themselves into bowls, a whisk swishing itself through them. The smell of bacon wafted through the air from where it sizzled on the stove. A plate of fried bread floated to the table with a jar of Molly's homemade jam.
Harry and Ron fought briefly over the plate before Hermione grabbed it up, "Oh, honestly!" She scooped up the butter knife, slathering three pieces of the toast with jam. Her actions earned her an amused smile from Molly before the woman turned back to tending the bacon and getting the scrambled eggs on.
Shortly after, the table was weighed down with not just fried bread and jam but scrambled eggs, bacon, fried tomatoes, potato cakes, baked beans, and kippers especially for Ron. There was also an assortment of condiments and pumpkin juice, tea, and coffee for Hermione, who had somehow gotten addicted to the sludge.
There was the click of silverware as they served themselves before Mrs. Weasley broke the silence. "Did you dears get everything worked out, then?"
The couple glanced to Harry, unwilling to admit their 'engagement' before Harry confirmed it in front of a witness.
"Yes, we'll be off to the Ministry right after breakfast," Harry said, shooting a glare at Hermione when she opened her mouth.
Molly smiled widely, thoughts already on what to cook for dinner that night. She wondered if she should invite the rest of the family home. Maybe invite the children's friends over to celebrate. Not one, but two marriages in as many days had Molly vibrating with joy. There was so much to do, she thought as she shooed the children out after they finished eating.
As she began cleaning up breakfast, her thoughts turned further into the future than just dinner. She began planning the ceremony. Quick marriages at the Ministry were needed, but not having a ceremony was practically a crime! They could have it here in the backyard. The flowers would be in full bloom soon, Arthur could set up an arbor, and Molly would twine it with flowers to match the garden. Her mind trailed off into plans of who to invite and how to seat them all—stars shining in her eyes.
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Nerves began to settle in as they rode the elevator to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Harry's arms were crossed, Ron was fiddling with the fabric of his robe, while Hermione had taken to tapping her right foot against the carpeted elevator floor as she nibbled her lip. Their eyes strayed around the elevator, never once meeting the others'. Relief surged through them as the doors chimed and the mechanical voice announced their floor. As long as they were moving forward, doing something, the nerves could be tamped down.
They moved as one, shoulders bumping as they tried to squeeze through the opened door before Harry and Ron stepped back to let Hermione go first. Harry ended up being the last out.
They walked down the lavishly decorated hallway. Every inch of wall had portraits pasted to them and every alcove had a previous 'honorable' Ministry worker—those who paid the most, depicted for all eternity as a bust made of marble. It was all very excessive, Harry thought.
They made it to the Head's office. It was their hope that if they explained their situation, Amelia Bones, Head of the Law Enforcement Department would be able to pull some strings and tip the situation in their favor. In Hermione's mind, if they played this right, she would have a second husband by the end of the day.
Things weren't going exactly as planned, they each thought upon entering the office of Amelia Bones to find the Minister seated before her desk, Madam Bones nowhere in sight.
The man sat, familiar green bowler hat on his lap as his hands wrapped around a dainty teacup.
"Bloody buggering fuck," Harry heard Ron mutter under his breath, and couldn't help but agree to the sentiment. This had the makings of going completely pear-shaped very quickly.
The Minister looked up from his tea, plastering on a cheerful façade as he greeted them, well, one of them. "Harry, my boy, so good to see. You're looking well." They both knew that was a lie.
Harry pasted on his own polite smile. "You as well, Minister. I hope the Ministry has been treating you well." Behind his polite smile, he was mentally strangling Fudge.
"Oh yes, yes, busy job being Minister, but I keep up with it admirably well, if I do say so myself. Was there something you wanted?"
"We were actually hoping to talk to Madam Bones," Hermione said primly, lips firmed. She never could hide her distaste for Fudge.
Fudge gave a boisterous laugh. "I don't see why, girl, crime has been down since the Ministry began rounding up the followers of You-Know-Who. Terrible business, that."
"It's not crime related business," Hermione stated delicately.
"Well, then there is no need to go bothering Madam Bones. I can help you with any problem you might have." The smile he gave them reminded Harry of the sharks he had seen on the telly—that one channel Dudley had adored when he was seven.
"It wasn't that important," Ron said. Harry covered a wince at how obvious Ron had managed to say that. There would be no way out of it; Fudge would have scented blood and would go in for the kill any second now.
"It had to be somewhat important for you to come all the way down here."
Hermione seemed to have realized the futility of protesting now, the same as Harry had. Poor Ron still looked to be coming up with excuses.
As blunt as ever, Hermione plowed right in, "We wish to marry."
"Well, that's wonderful news! Which one of them will you be marrying, then?"
"Actually, that's what we were hoping to talk to Madam Bones about," Hermione said, digging through her pockets, coming out with both the contract and the copied page on double marriages. "The Potters created a contract with the Weasleys years ago. It's been enacted recently." She handed over the contract, allowing the man to read through it. She watched with narrowed eyes as he began to smile, nodding his head.
"This is perfect. The public has been clamoring for the Boy-Who-Lived to marry since he graduated. They want little Potters running around," he whispered, as if he were confiding a great secret to them. "They'll just love it if he marries the Weasley girl. The first Weasley girl in generations! Just imagine how many little ones they'll have together," he said delighted. "It will be the biggest wedding of the century, Ministry paid, of course."
The man would have continued to prattle on, if not for Hermione's sharp voice cutting him off. "We've found a way out of the contract."
Fudge looked as if a hammer had hit him between the eyes. "What? Get out of the contract?" he asked with a huff of laughter. "Preposterous." He turned to Harry, ignoring Hermione as he continued, "Why ever would you want to get out of it, my boy?"
"Not all of us are interested only in public opinion," Hermione said smartly before reigning herself back in with a deep breath.
"Well, I can't void the contract, if that's what you're asking." The man looked very putout, almost on the verge of pouting.
"No, that's not what we were asking. Harry needs to marry a Weasley … and after yesterday, I am a Weasley." Hermione handed over the parchment containing the information on double marriage.
They watched silently as Fudge's face transformed, varying emotions and shades of color flashing across his face.
"It's, it's just not done," he mumbled, fiddling with the bowler hat in his hands. "It wouldn't look favorable," he said as his eyes flicked nervously around the room, as if searching for unseen listeners.
"We don't care about favorable or not," Harry stated sharply, jerking the Minister's attention to himself. "Can it be done?"
"I, I, the law wasn't meant for this sort of situation," he blustered.
"We already knew that, Minister. What we asked, is could it apply, however loosely, to our situation? Can I legally marry Harry under this law?" Hermione asked.
"This law was meant for repopulation, not for the mere whims of a girl."
Ah, they were on familiar ground now. Still, Harry was surprised to hear Ron answer. "Hermione is no mere girl. Besides, you should know the kinds of things magic can accomplish and the advances it's taken since the law was written. Back then, there was no thought to how a woman might be able to carry multiple children from separate families. There are spells now made just for that and Healers to help the woman through the process," Ron pointed out smartly.
Harry cut in when it looked like Fudge might get his second wind. "Think about what the public opinion of you will be if the public finds out that it is your fault that the Boy-Who-Lived was forced into a loveless marriage."
They watched as Fudge's lips quivered, obviously fighting with himself before he slumped in his seat. "Oh, very well."
Hermione arched her brow, not trusting him for a second. "If you could just sign off on that? We'll need something to show the Ordainer before he can legalize the marriage." She watched intently with narrowed eyes as he signed the parchment, giving his acceptance of their marriage, before he tapped his wand against the letters that formed his name, causing them to glow briefly as he infused them with his magic—a one of a kind signature.
Hermione reached forward, snatching the parchment out from under his wand with a sharp smile. "Thank you, Minister. Boys, thank the Minister."
They shared an amused glance before smiling just as shark like. "Thank you, Minister."
Fudge glanced between the three. His throat bobbed as he gulped, reaching up to pull at the neck of his robes. A drop of sweat wended its way down from his hairline. "Congratulations to you three," was all he managed to come up with.
They at least waited until they were outside the office before they burst into laughter, running down the halls, paying no attention to the portraits or busts that they rushed past.
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The ride back down in the elevator was not filled with nervousness but with a kind of pleasant anticipation. They breathed deeply as the doors slid open, making their way down the revealed hall to a room that was all too familiar to Ron and Hermione.
Entering the room showed the very same witch behind the desk. The look they got from her caused a blush to rise to Hermione's cheeks. It was a look that not only asked what they were doing there, but if Hermione was woman enough to keep her husband happy. Hermione wondered how many couples the woman saw return to have their marriages annulled. Enough to have perfected that look, she guessed.
"Divorce already, dear?" the woman asked in a saccharine voice.
"No, marriage," Hermione said shortly.
They watched the woman's eyes wander between them before she settled on Harry, eyes running down his body before returning to his eyes. "Will the bride be along soon?"
Hermione stepped up, chin raised proudly, "The bride is already here."
The woman snorted in disdain. "Whatever you're trying to pull, love, you'll have to take it somewhere else—one spouse a piece. Divorce your redhead and you can marry the other," she said, appearing bored with the whole situation now as she pulled out a file and started in on her talon-like nails.
Hermione cleared her throat lightly.
Attention focused solely on her task, the woman behind the desk ignored the noise.
Hermione stepped forward, tapping sharply upon the desk. Once the woman glanced up, Hermione slammed down the parchment that contained the Minister's signature. "I think you'll find it is possible," she said coldly as she glared at the woman.
They watched her read through the parchment before her eyes zeroed in on the signature at the bottom as well as the names stated in the note. Heavily made up eyes widened. "Of course, Mr. Potter." She gave the obligatory eye flick as she strained to see the infamous scar before she hurried on. "And, and Mrs. Weasley."
Hermione started at her new title, stunned. Ron reached for her hand, giving it a squeeze that drew a fond smile from her. She was Mrs. Weasley—Mrs. Ronald Weasley. She wondered what she would be called once she married Harry? Would she be Mrs. Potter-Weasley? Hermione could admit that it had a certain ring to it—Mrs. Hermione Potter-Weasley. She liked that name, she thought with a broad grin.
The woman, whose name they still didn't know—but did it really matter?—hurried to the back room, parchment clutched in her fist.
Ron frowned, "Let's just hope she doesn't damage that. I don't think we can bully the Minister into issuing another and that's our only proof that what we're about to do is even legal. The git would take it as an open invitation to toss us into Azkaban if we didn't have it after."
Luckily, the woman returned shortly, still clutching the parchment as if it were a lifeline and she were drowning. Hermione took the paper back, smoothing the creases before she rolled it up, stuffing it into her pocket carefully. They'd need to find a better place for it if they wanted to assure its continued safety.
They were ushered towards the back, Ron lagging behind. He was stopped by an arm barring his way, before he could enter after Hermione and Harry. "It's ritual magic, you understand? Anything can go wrong. The bride and groom are protected by the circle and only they can enter it. There's no telling what could happen to any others in the room if something went wrong," the woman stated sweetly, vicious smile adorning her face.
Ron understood what was happening. Ritual magic could be a dangerous thing, but the Ordainer had to be almost perfect at controlling the power to hold a job like this, especially one inside the Ministry. They had made a fool of this woman in the front room, and this was her way of getting back at them and there was no way that Ron could protest. It was for his safety, after all. What could he say that wouldn't sound petulant and childish?
Ron allowed himself to be led back to the front room. He took a seat in the corner, imagining what had taken place in the ritual room yesterday but interposing Harry over himself. He let it play out in his mind as he tried to relax.
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In the other room, things were going much the way Ron was imagining them, except that Harry's right hand was crossed before himself so that he was holding Hermione's right.
The chant rose as the rope materialized to twine around their clasped hands. It was different though, slower, appearing almost curious as it wound upwards. There was a wave of acceptance that washed over them before a flash of light had them turning their heads away. When they looked back, the cord was gone and in its place was a tiny mark—a tiny marriage mark.
Hermione looked quickly to her left wrist, hoping that the matching mark was still there and the second hadn't somehow overridden the other. She breathed a soft sigh of relief to see it there.
It had worked. Their plan had worked.
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In the office of Gobnock, the official contract of marriage between the Potters and the Weasleys flashed brightly. Words scripted themselves, unseen, along the top of the parchment: CONTRACT FULFILLED
End Part One
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A Fairytale Dream