Title: The Law
Summary: A law has been passed. Harry and Hermione must marry. What will the outcome be? -Response to a challenge set by lordanhur in the Forum part of PK.
Genre: Romance/None
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Never said I did… you can't sue me! Ha ha! :p
Ship: Harry/Hermione.
Spoilers: Books 1-5.
A/N: I now have my amazing writing partner in crime writing this with me, so I these chapters are better than the first few.
Chapter 6
Remus led the group to a secluded willow away from the other couples, the basket clutched tightly in his hand. Mr. and Mrs. Granger followed behind him, glancing over their shoulders every once in a while to look at Harry and Hermione, who brought up the rear of their group. Harry nervously glanced every few moments at Hermione's hand, wondering if he should… if he even could grasp it.
Gathering his courage Harry reached his hand out slowly towards Hermione, brushing the back of her hand with his fingertips. Her hand twitched and slowly uncurled from the fist she had made, letting his fingers slide through hers and entwine their hands tightly together. She gave his hand a quick squeeze, which he returned tightly.
"Here we are," Remus said. He placed the basket at his feet, grabbed the chequered blanket covering it and with a snap of his wrist had it spread out on the plush grass they were standing on.
He crouched down and pulled out the golden plates that were used Great Hall, setting them out on the blanket while motioning for the others to sit down. Harry stood until Hermione was seated, her legs curled around her body, before sitting himself. Instantly her hand covered his and the gentle pressure made him sigh silently as he watched his parents - in - law sit across of them.
Remus set out an array of different foods between them as their goblets filled with the drinkers' favourite beverage. Harry watched as Hermione sipped her sparkling cider nervously before Mr. Granger broke the tense silence.
"Well," he said, clearing his throat. "That was quick." He motioned to Hermione and Harry. "Wham, bam, thank you ma'am."
"Daddy!" Hermione gasped, horrified. Harry could hear Remus trying to stifle a snicker, bending lower as he placed the rest of the food out on the blanket to hide his amused grin. Harry's cheeks turned crimson while Mrs. Granger glared at her husband.
"Richard," she said a warning evident in her tone. Mr. Granger instantly became quiet, but not before squeaking out a 'sorry love'; he did not want to face the wrath of his wife.
"Well… how are you feeling?" Remus asked quietly as he watched Harry glance sideways at his new bride before looking away quickly as Hermione turned her attention from her Father.
"OK, I guess." Harry answered, keeping his gaze fixed firmly on the grass in front of him.
"So, I suppose, you're going to want to know why you were forced to marry," Remus stated.
"You can tell us?" Harry asked, barely allowing himself to believe it.
"Yes," he said nodding, eyes fixed on the two Gryffindors. "Would you like to know?"
"Yes!" Hermione answered at once. Finally she would be able to receive the answers that she had been craving. The three days that she had before going to see Professor Dumbledore were spent in the library, devouring any information she could find that would help her in fighting against this law. Sadly, she had found none.
She didn't believe the protection excuse. There was any way that the muggle -born's in the ministry would have agreed to this unless there was a very good reason, and she was sure that the Purebloods wouldn't have been very keen on the idea of their family lines being "dirtied" by a muggle-born being married into the family.
She wanted to know WHY.
"The primary reason for this law being passed was for protection-"
"Protection from what?" Harry interrupted. He didn't care about being polite at that moment; he wanted answers.
"You should know better than anyone Harry," Remus said, his toffee colored eyes boring into Harry's emeralds. "Protection from Voldemort"
"We can look after ourselves Professor." Hermione said defiantly. "And I seriously doubt that anyone in the ministry would approve this law. Although I was not able to find any information in getting this law repealed I know that the muggle-borns wouldn't be so easily won over by the idea and the Purebloods definitely wouldn't want muggle-borns in their families to protect them. They would rather see them get killed."
"You're right as usual, Hermione," Remus said with a sad smile. "There was a lot of opposition to begin with. The muggle-borns were adamant that they didn't need protecting and the purebloods were dead set against having muggle-borns in their families. It looked as though the law would be thrown out."
"Well why wasn't it then?" Richard asked.
"Fudge," Remus began and then paused, turning to Hermione's parents to explain. "Cornelius Fudge is the Minister of Magic which is our form of government." The Grangers nodded in understanding so he continued. "He thought it was vital that the muggle-borns were protected at all costs-,"
"Why?" Richard interrupted.
"We don't know exactly," the werewolf said with a tired sigh. "He was as set against it as the others the first day, and the next he thought that it was a great way to protect the muggle - borns. We don't know what happened."
Harry could see that Hermione was taking in all of the information and thinking it over in her mind. She had the light in her eyes that she had when she was working on a particularly difficult homework problem; only this time it was strangely subdued.
"Maybe someone spoke to him that night. Someone might have done or said something to him so he would make sure the law was passed," Harry pondered aloud.
"That is a possibility," Remus agreed, nodding slowly.
"But who would want the law passed? Everyone was opposed, weren't they?" Hermione asked, her mind still sorting through all the information and gathering more facts.
"Not everyone. A few supported the idea... mainly the half-bloods that wouldn't be affected."
"So a half-blood might have done something to make Fudge support the idea, but what about the vote?" Hermione asked.
"It was close. One vote made the decision; 11 to 10." Remus said taking a sip of the Butterbeer from his goblet. "I spoke to at least 14 of the people who voted and they all said that they were against it."
"14 people?" Harry asked. It simply didn't add up.
"Yes. I think it was fixed so that it would be passed whatever the vote was."
"So no one actually supported idea... well not enough to get it passed anyway?" Richard clarified.
"No," Remus agreed.
"So, explain to me again," Richard said. " Why did Hermione have to marry Harry?"
"To protect her from Voldemort," Remus said
"How?" Hermione asked.
"When you're married, a bond is formed. The bond protects the other from being hurt."
Harry, Hermione, Richard, and Caroline all looked at Remus with dubious expressions.
"I don't believe it either," Remus said.
"But I'm not a pureblood. Why did we have to marry?" Harry asked, desperately trying to understand just why he was now married to his best female friend.
"Because you are the 'boy-who-lived'. You can protect Hermione better than anyone. Plus she's the most at risk as she's the closest to you."
"Is there anyway we can get out of this?" Hermione almost begged
Remus shook his head mutely. He couldn't bring himself to say it.
There was no way out it; they were to be married for the rest of their lives with no more than friendship in their minds.
*~*~*~*
Several hours later Remus had shown Harry and Hermione their new sleeping quarters, which was tucked into the corner of a large tower, hidden far from the other married couples. The two were left alone to take in everything that they had heard while Hermione's parents left with Remus, who had offered to show them Hogsmeade.
It was a rather spacious circular room with a comfortable looking double bed in the centre of a plush crimson rug over a dark wood floor. On each side of the bed were two side tables, the same colour as the dark wood that made the floor. A second bed that was obviously only there temporarily, was tucked in the corner near the bottom right of the bed. A wooden door was flung open that they could make out the bathroom, a hamper next to the door. A crimson couch stood against the wall under a small window dressed in blood red curtains over-looking the lake. A large fireplace was placed in the wall at the foot of the bed, the mantle above decorated with pictures.
Harry, Hermione and the Grangers would be very comfortable while they were there and once the Grangers left, there would be a good chance that they would be able to keep the second bed, something that both Harry and Hermione were very pleased about at that moment.
"It's... erm.... nice?" Hermione commented weakly, glancing at the large bed quickly.
"Yeah." Harry agreed awkwardly. "Look, Hermione, you can have the bed, I'll take the couch."
"Harry -," Hermione started but Harry cut her off.
"Trust me, Hermione I've had worse. Remember, I lived with the Dursley's for eleven years."
"Which is exactly why you should get the bed! Harry, I don't mind the couch," Hermione insisted, pushing him gently until he was sitting on the edge of the large four - poster that they were currently arguing over.
"Hermione -," Harry began.
"No Harry," Hermione snapped.
"Hermione -," Harry started again.
"I said no! You are going to take the bed and that's final!"
"Hermione -,"
"WHAT?!" Hermione roared.
"I was going to say that you could take one side of the bed and I could take the other," Harry said, smiling softly. A crimson blush dusted Hermione's cheeks.
"Oh. Are you sure?"
"Yes," Harry replied. Hermione nodded her thanks, swept over to the trunk that had been brought from her dormitory to their new quarters; pulled out her pyjamas; and swept into the bathroom.
Harry sighed and began to change into his own pyjamas himself, which consisted of a black T - shirt and a pair of black and red flannel pyjama bottoms that Remus had given him for his birthday.
After placing his clothes that he had worn to the ceremony into the hamper in the corner of the room he walked over to the bed, turned down the covers on one side and then swiftly crawled under them on the other. He snuggled deeply down into the comforting warmth, his emerald eyes drifting shut behind his glasses as he relaxed deeply into the pillow his head was resting on.
The door to the bathroom opened silently and Hermione stepped out the torch light dying as she stepped from the room. Glancing around the room she saw Harry lying in the bed, eyes closed, and for the first time that day looking completely relaxed. She smiled softly and set her dress on the hamper before tiptoeing over to the right side of the bed and sliding under the covers that he had turned down for her.
She reached to the side table next to her and picked up her wand, waving it around lightly. "Nox," she breathed and the torchlight faded from existence, leaving only the small fire burning in the hearth. Placing her wand back on the side table she shifted her body so that she was nearly hovering over Harry on her elbows.
"Harry," she whispered softly to him, placing a hand tenderly on his shoulder.
"Hmm," Harry murmured, eyes fluttering before the long eyelashes parted slowly. "Hermione?"
"Lift your head," Hermione said gently. Harry did as she said and Hermione took the spectacles from his face, leaning over him and placing them on his side of the bed.
"Thanks," he said as she settled back into her original hovering position.
"You're welcome." She smiled at him and was about to speak when he beat her to it.
"Hermione? C - Can I . . ." he stuttered quietly. "Can I . . . k - kiss you?"
"What?" Hermione breathed, shocked.
"Please, Hermione," Harry begged almost silently. "I just . . . I guess I want to . . . well I dunno . . . if you're my wife . . . and if what Remus said was true that there is no way out of this . . ."
"Alright," Hermione said quietly. Harry blinked owlishly at her before reaching and hesitantly cupping her cheek in his hand.
Leaning towards her slowly he bumped his nose against hers gently, causing a blush to blossom across his cheekbones before pressing his lips to hers and then wrenching his head back as if she had burned him.
He tilted his head on his pillow to the right curiously, his eyes narrowing in thought. He blinked twice and then tilted her head a bit more; lifting and pressing his lips back to hers. This one lasted a moment longer before he pulled away, slower this time but still quickly.
Blinking again he pulled her down and touched his lips gently to hers, his eyes fluttering closed. He let his lips linger against her plump ones, taking in the mint taste from her toothpaste in quick short kisses before pulling away on a sigh and resting his head back on his pillow, eyes still closed and a flush in his face.
Wrapping his arms around her slim body he gave her a brief hug before releasing her. Hermione tilted her head curiously before crawling to her side of the bed and resting her head against the pillow. "Goodnight Hermione," Harry murmured and she knew that in a few moments he would be asleep.
"Goodnight Harry."
*~*~*~*
"So, Remus," Caroline Granger said as she walked with her husband and her daughter's former Professor down the peaceful streets of Hogsmeade. "How did you become Harry's guardian?"
"Harry was my friend's son," Remus began quietly. Caroline could see that the memory was painful for him so waited silently until he was ready to continue speaking. "His father, my friend James, and his mother Lily were killed when he was one."
"Yes," Caroline said quietly, clutching her husband's hand tightly. "Hermione has told us that story many times. She also mentioned his godfather. What happened to him?"
"Sirius was killed two years ago when Harry and Hermione were fifteen," Remus said coldly. "We don't really talk about it."
"I'm sorry," Mrs. Granger said. Remus shrugged, brushing away her apology.
"It's fine." Richard sighed and glanced at his wife, knowing what she was trying to do; she wanted to make small talk with the man before she went in for the kill. She wanted to know what he had been hiding from them when he had told them about the law.
"Remus, can we stop for a moment? We'd like to talk to you."
"Of course," Remus said, leading them toward the Three Broomsticks. "We can sit in here and have a Butterbeer."
Minutes later they were sipping at the warm drink that Madam Rosmerta had brought to them. "What is it you wanted to talk to me about?" Remus broke the silence.
"The law," Caroline said simply. "You were hiding something from us when you were telling us about it. We want to know what it is." Remus chuckled softly, swirling a finger around the rim of his mug.
"I see where Hermione gets brilliance." He sighed heavily, the wrinkles around his eyes seeming to deepen in the bright light of the pub. "I was hiding something, yes."
"What is it?" Richard asked, taking a long pull from his mug and smacking his lips as he set it back down. Caroline shot him a disapproving look before turning her eyes back to Remus.
"There is another part to the law that we are keeping hidden from the students. The students were married for their children."
"WHAT?!" Richard roared. The other patrons in the pub turned to look at him and a lush spread across his cheeks and he waved sheepishly. He settled back down and glared at Remus. "What do you mean their children?!"
"Minister Fudge thinks that if purebloods and muggle - born's were to wed and bear children that they'd be the most powerful bunch of wizards and witches the world has seen since Professor Dumbledore. The main reason for the marriage is still protection though, since the combination of a pureblood and muggle - born child might protect the mother from danger."
"You said might," Caroline said. "Is this an experiment?"
"More or less," Remus said agreeing. "The reason that Hermione was married to Harry is because those two may be the most powerful wizards in the school. Fudge demanded that these two be placed together because an heir from them would be one of the most powerful children in history."
"That means they have to . . ." Caroline trailed off, a blush in her cheeks. Remus shifted uncomfortably but nodded.
"Yes, they will have to."
"Won't we have to tell them though?" Richard asked. "Harry and Hermione seem to think that they only have to marry and that's it. They won't willingly hop into the sack -,"
"Richard!" Caroline gasped but Richard ignored her.
"Together so how are we going to get them to have this heir?" Remus sighed heavily and buried his face in his hands for a moment before looking back up at them.
"The contract that we signed had a hidden clause."
"What did it say?" Caroline asked fearfully.
"Hermione must willingly bear an heir by nineteen of she will be taken away from Harry and kept in St. Mungos where they will artificially inseminate her and keep her there for a year then send her back to Harry with the baby."
"What?" Caroline breathed. "That can't be possible. It can't be LEGAL!"
"What Fudge says is legal," Remus said. "We tried to protest but Fudge wouldn't hear it. The Order and I -,"
"The Order?" Richard asked. Remus nodded and signalled Rosmerta, who brought new mugs of Butterbeer and took their empty ones away.
"The Order," Remus said once she had disappeared. "Is a group that is trying to stop Voldemort and his Death Eaters." They nodded and Remus continued on his previous thought.
"The Order and I fear that Voldemort has something to do with this and we're looking into it but we have found nothing." He glanced at his watch and stood. "We should be heading back. The wards around Harry and Hermione's quarters activate at midnight."
"Wards?" Caroline questioned as she stood with Richard. Remus threw down a few galleons, nodded to Rosmerta, and held the door open for the two nervous parents before following them out into the village.
*~*~*
A few minutes later the Grangers arrived back at the room to see their daughter tucked up in bed with her new husband.
Hermione was turned towards them on the bed, Harry's body curled around her back and one of his hands resting on
her hip of top of the covers, the other entwined with one of hers on the pillows, his head resting on his arm.
A small smile appeared on Mrs. Granger's face as she surveyed the sleeping pair. They both looked completely at peace in each other's arms and for the first time that day they looked like a real, happy couple. The smile dropped from her face as she remembered what Remus told her. These poor children; her poor daughter . . . they had their lives altered dramatically because of a stupid law and a Minister that didn't seemed to know which way was up.
Sighing, Richard and Caroline tiptoed silently to the bed in the corner. They would be leaving the next day and so they needed their rest. Caroline took one last look at her daughter and son-in-law before snuggling up close to her husband, who encircled his arms around her waist before they fell into a light sleep.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Chapter 6, done.
Chapter 7, next!
Please review!
Thanks.
~Just Breathing