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BeWitched, Body and Soul	By : SiriusWriter Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female Views: 5198 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not make any money from this fanfic. I do not own Harry Potter or any part of this world, nor do I own any part of "Pride and Prejudice." Anything you recognize belongs either to Jane Austen or JKR.

Chapter List
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A/N: Thanks so much to JohnOfVegas for reviewing not once but twice! I really appreciate it! I'd also like to thank everyone who's voted--it's inspired me to post this quick little chapter sooner than I'd anticipated. I know it might feel like things are moving a bit slowly but I want to do the plot justice, and when you ignore a huge chunk of canon there's a lot to work around. However, I just finished Chapter Six last night, and it is definitely worth waiting for. Fear not, dear readers, for there is both plenty of plot and smut to come!

When Ginny awoke the next morning, she momentarily forgot everything that had transpired the night before and instead thought only of a sizzling plate of bacon for breakfast. As her roommates started waking up, however, it all began trickling back, and she found herself doubting whether she would care to eat ever again.

“You guys go ahead, I need to write a letter,” Ginny said to her friends before they traipsed down the dormitory stairs for breakfast. She quickly pulled out a quill and parchment, pausing for a moment before letting her concerns flow out onto the paper. She looked it over once, signed her love, and cast a quick sealing charm before she grabbed her book bag and walked out the door.

“Ron!” She called, catching sight of her brother’s hair just before he crawled through the portrait hole. He waited for her to catch up, looking groggy and uneasy. “Can I borrow Pig this morning?”

“Who’re you writing?” Ron asked, his tone suspicious.

“Not Harry.” Ginny retorted sharply, narrowing her eyes. Ron’s ears turned red, telling her she had guessed the reason for his hesitation correctly. “It’s to Dad.” She showed him the scrawl across the front, and he relaxed visibly. Ron had taken Harry’s departure badly, and Ginny knew if she were contacting him Ron would be irate with jealousy.

“Oh. Yeah, ‘course.” He said, and the two of them began their way down to the Great Hall.

“Where’s Hermione?” Asked Ginny, hoping to break Ron’s sudden bad mood.

“Probably already colour-coordinating her homework planner,” Ron mumbled, but Ginny did not miss the softness that came to his eyes as he spoke. Ginny had not considered her brother in light of the new law; she knew he and Hermione had harboured feelings for one another for years, but neither seemed willing to admit it. ‘If they don’t do it now they’ll never get a chance to be together,’ Ginny thought, resolving to discuss the matter with Hermione later.

Despite her misgivings, Ginny was able to choke down a slice of toast and pumpkin juice while looking over her new schedule. She had done fairly well on her OWLs, and was to be taking advanced Transfiguration, Charms, Herbology, Astronomy, Ancient Runes, and Defense Against the Dark Arts. She’d admitted to McGonagall during her consultation last year she really wasn’t sure what she wanted to do after Hogwarts; she only knew she didn’t want to be stuck behind a desk. She was, however, extremely looking forward to Quidditch this year, having been made Gryffindor team captain (much to Ron’s chagrin), as well as her second year of Prefect duties.

Wiping the crumbs from her tie, she was just about to head off to the Owlry before class when Dumbledore stood to address them. “I must request that all sixth and seventh years remain behind for a brief announcement.” Groans echoed through the hall as the students hoped this announcement would be much pleasanter than the last.

When the younger students had cleared out of the Great Hall, Dumbledore spoke again, “I would now like to introduce Florence Nuppington, head of Magical Marriages for the Ministry of Magic.” He gestured to the unfamiliar witch they had seen the night before, who looked equally ridiculous today in a set of glittering turquoise robes.

“Thank you, Professor Dumbledore. Good morning, students,” She said as she took the podium. Her voice was shrill, but not entirely unpleasant. It was a bit breathy, as though she might burst into giggles at any moment. “I know many of you were upset at the news last night, but rest assured we are going to do our best to ensure this new law will not interfere with your studies.” Hermione looked suspicious, but did not get up and leave in objection. “As Professor Dumbledore explained last night, the marriage law requires all witches and wizards coming of age in the next year to be married before September next, whether to a partner of their own choosing or to an assigned spouse. You are more than welcome to choose a partner from a different country, though it should be noted that same-sex marriage is not legal in Estonia, Belarus, or Malta, so anyone who may wish to choose a spouse of the same gender from one of those countries will have to be married in a country that has legalized gay marriage.”

Ginny hadn’t realized there were still any wizarding countries that banned gay marriage; almost all of the wizarding world had accepted long ago that neither magical ability nor moral status had anything to do with sexual preference, and had allowed gay marriage for at least as long as there had been a Ministry of Magic in Britain.

“Additionally, age difference between spouses is not a factor where the law is concerned, but we have placed strict measures in place to make sure neither party is being coerced into marriage. Barring such an incident, however, anyone who refuses to comply with the marriage law will lose his or her wand, and be excluded from the wizarding world.” Nuppington said, a nervous edge to her peppy voice.

It seemed Hermione could contain herself no longer at this, and her hand shot up into the air. “Ma’am, what if we should choose to leave the country? Would the law still apply?”

“Every magical citizen of Europe is bound by the law,” said Nuppington, “but if you wish to apply for citizenship in another country and are granted your request before September next, you will not be held to it.” Hermione bit her lip and lowered her hand slowly, glancing quickly at Ron before turning her eyes back to her unfinished breakfast.

“We do recognize that you are still young, and many of you may not have found love, or even know what you desire in a life partner. Therefore, every month we will be hosting an event for all sixth and seventh year students so that you can meet one another. While you are not obligated to marry someone your own age, we feel this is probably what most of you will be comfortable with, and would like to give you the opportunity to meet potential spouses from other years or houses.” Nuppington beamed at them before continuing, “Come October, we will also be setting up a series of ‘blind dates,’ as it were, to get things started. These pairings will be based on estimated compatibility, to be assessed by a quick test that you will all take tomorrow morning before your first class of the day.” She looked disgustingly overjoyed at the prospect, and the giggle that had been threatening to escape her throat finally manifested itself and rang throughout the Hall.

“What if we’d like to marry someone who is a year younger?” A girl at the Hufflepuff table asked.

“Should you have a specific partner in mind who will not come of age before September next, you may put in a petition to delay your marriage a year, but know that such a petition is binding and you will be required to marry your chosen partner when he or she does come of age.” Her lilac-lined eyes swept the room, glittering in girlish excitement, “Now I know for many of you this is not your first choice, but if you are open to the idea, I think many of you will find your very own happily ever after!” Nuppington finished, asking if there were any further questions. When she received none, she gave them all a cheeky grin and another little giggle before returning to her seat at the head table. As the students roused themselves to go to class, Ginny threw her bag over her shoulder, intending to get Hermione’s thoughts on the matter, only to find that the Head Girl was striding purposefully up to the head table. Ginny watched as she conversed briefly with Nuppington before returning to the Gryffindor table for her things.

“What was that about?” Ginny asked as the two exited the Great Hall.

“I asked if I could see a copy of the law,” said Hermione. “I want to see if I can’t find a loophole.”

“Did she give it to you?”

“She didn’t have a copy with her, but she said she could get it to me by tomorrow morning.” Hermione wore the expression Ginny tended to associate with exams; gritted determination.

“Would you consider leaving Britain?” Ginny asked.

“I don’t know,” Hermione sighed as they climbed the marble staircase. “I mean, I don’t know how I’d explain all this to my parents, and I would hate to make them uproot on my account. On the other hand, I can’t stand the thought of being forced into marriage, especially when I have such ambitious career goals.” Hermione said, speaking of her plan to enter Magical Law Enforcement. “Besides, I’d like to get married some day I’m sure, I just never thought it’d be so soon. Would it be worth it to leave the country just to delay something I’d planned on anyways? But then again, who would I possibly marry?” She said all this rather quickly, a faint blush blooming across her cheeks.

“Hermione, is there really no one you’d consider?” Ginny shot a look at Hermione over her shoulder, raising an eyebrow.

“Well, I—”

“I know you two haven’t even admitted your feelings to each other, and marriage might not exactly seem desirable so soon, but if you love each other anyway…” Ginny trailed off, stopping at the fourth floor corridor.

“I hardly even know if he’s interested anymore,” Hermione admitted under her breath. “Everything about this year just feels off. I wish Harry were here, it feels wrong being at Hogwarts without him.” She said more to herself than Ginny. Ginny hadn’t realized this was the first year the three of them would be split up; she put her arm around Hermione, who quickly remembered herself and hurried off to class.

“Just think about what I said!” Ginny yelled up the stairs after her. She certainly hoped at least one couple this law forced together would be in love.
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BeWitched, Body and Soul