Chapter 3: Reaping What You Sow

Disclaimer: All things Harry Potter belong to JKR.

A/N: Thanks to my awesome beta, SW69!

Harry stood in the employee lift watching the scene play out before him. Everyone was so engrossed in trying to figure out how to get out of marrying one another they'd not noticed him standing there.

It took only moments for him to realize that Hermione and Luna had cast some sort of magical binding charm, and now apparently Hermione had to marry Snape and Ron had to marry Luna. What he couldn't figure out was why Ginny was there.

Must be for moral support, he thought, but then Oliver Wood burst through the visitor's entrance, waving a piece of parchment and demanding an explanation from Ginny.

Once that happened, Harry couldn't remain silent. "I wouldn't mind hearing that explanation myself," he said, coming off the lift to join in on the conversation.

"Harry!" Ginny exclaimed. "Um... What are you doing here so soon after your holiday? And on a Sunday?"

Harry looked at Ginny long and hard before explaining. "When I got to Grimmauld Place and you weren't there, I went to check the Burrow. When your mum told me she hadn't seen you today, I decided to come in and catch up on some paperwork before coming in tomorrow morning. I found out that the Minister was working today and sent Kingsley word that I was in the office, and he requested a meeting with me. Now, would you mind telling me what in the hell is going on here?"

Everyone began talking at once.

"I wish I knew," Oliver spat.

"I can explain, Harry," Hermione said.

"It's not what you think!" Ginny blurted.

"Looney started this whole mess!" Ron told him.

"Your know-it-all friend created this entire situation," Snape informed him.

"QUIET!" Harry shouted. He could barely hear himself think with everyone speaking at the same time. Turning to Ginny, he said, "Explain what's going on, Gin."

Sighing, Ginny asked, "Could we go somewhere more private, do you think?"

"No you cannot!" Oliver said before Harry had the chance to answer. "Not until you tell me how I can get out of marrying you."

Harry glared at Oliver. "That'll do." Turning to Ginny, he said, "Gin?"

"All right. Hermione, Luna and I were staying at your place last night. We'd drunk a bottle of wine and began talking about the four of us," she gestured to herself and Harry and then towards Ron and Hermione, "getting married."

When she paused, Harry nodded his head and encouraged, "Go on." So far, things didn't sound too bad.

"Well, that's when Luna started going on about soul mates and such. I don't remember everything very clearly. That wine was... strong. Anyway, she'd brought the charm up, and after we'd explained what it was to Hermione, Luna had somehow talked us all into doing it."

"What does the charm do exactly? Tell you who your soul mate is?"

"Oh," Snape said, "if only that were all this blasted charm did. Not only does it tell you who your soul mate is, Potter, it magically binds you to them, creating a contract of marriage."

"I see," Harry said. "I guess the charm claimed that your soul mate is Oliver Wood?" Ginny nodded and tears flowed down her cheeks.

The-boy-who'd-defeated-the-Dark-Lord turned to Kingsley. "Couldn't you fix this? The charm is obviously bogus!"

"I'm sorry, Harry, but no," Kingsley apologized and then explained the situation to him and Oliver.

Oliver turned and was looking Ginny up and down, as if, Harry thought, she was some prized hippogriff and Oliver found her lacking. "No, this can't be happening to me. I'm not ready for this."

"You think she is?" Harry spat. "Why would she want you? Some pansy arse that has to play on an all-girls Quidditch team because he couldn't make it on a man's?"

Ginny gasped. "That's right! I'd forgotten!" She turned to Oliver. "You play for the Harpies, don't you?"

Ignoring Ginny, Oliver told Harry, "Oh, I can play for a man's team, Potter. I'm better than you ever were."

Harry snorted. "Yeah, I remember. Got knocked off your broom the very first game I ever played in. I, however, caught the Snitch."

"Oh, for the love of God, would you two shut it!" Hermione told them as she threw her hands up in the air.

"Quite right," Snape agreed. "You can compare cock sizes later."

"If he even has one," Harry said.

"I'll have you know I only play for the Harpies because me dad lost a bet to the owner of the team!" Oliver decided to explain. "She was upset because I was the last bloke her daughter dated before she revealed she played for the other team, as it were, literally. Her mum blamed me."

"Could be some truth in that, eh?" Harry taunted.

"How did you get out of your contract with Puddlemere United?" Ginny wanted to know.

"Harpies' owner bought out the contract." Turning to Harry, he said, "What about Cho? I think she dated you before she ended up with Padma Patil!"

"That was school shite, Wood. Things never went that for with Cho and me. Now you and the girl you dated on the other hand..."

Oliver held his hands up in a sign of peace. "Look, Potter, I know that you're upset. You've a right to be. But I didn't choose this, and I don't want your girl!" He stabbed a finger towards Ginny. "She is the one who took it upon herself to cast that bloody charm!"

Harry harshly rubbed both hands over his face and sighed. He looked around the room and jumped slightly when he saw Luna standing off to the side alone, crying. "Luna! When did you get here?"

Everyone in the room turned to look at the unusual girl, but she locked her gaze on Professor Snape and headed right for him. "Hullo, Professor. I must say, I am very happy that you're alive after that terrible incident with that horrid snake."

"Indeed?" Snape inquired. "Too bad I can't return your sentiments, considering the predicament you've landed me in."

Taking a deep breath, Luna turned to the room at large. "I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to ruin the lives of you all! I just wanted..." She looked briefly at Ron and then to the floor. "I swear that was not normal elf-made wine!"

"Elf wine?" Harry asked. "Where did you get this elf wine?"

Hermione sighed, looking at Snape rather than Harry. "From your kitchen cabinets, Harry."

"Damn it! Please tell me you didn't actually drink that wine!"

"Both bottles," Luna informed him. "Why? Was there something the matter with it?"

"Yes, actually, there was." He turned to the Minister. "It's the same wine I told you of, Kingsley."

"Ah, the Black's special elf-made wine that brings out your dark side?"

"The very one," Harry agreed. "I had planned on bringing it in tomorrow to have it analyzed and finding out what exactly is in it."

"I have a question," Hermione said, interrupting the conversation. "Luna, it's obvious who you wanted your soul mate to be. I'm just wondering why you were so confident that it would be Ronald."

Luna turned her wide, silver eyes to her betrothed. "Why, our auras, of course. They're the same, and like calls to like, my mum always said. Obviously, it's true because here we are."

"Yeah," Ron agreed angrily, "here we are!"

"This is all very fascinating," Snape drawled, "but there is the matter of the ones of us who have to wed only having three days to do so before being sent to Azkaban."

Kingsley looked around the room. "I can do it today."

"Today?" Oliver paled. "Well, I don't know. That seems too sudden I think. Don't you?" he asked around the room to no one in particular.

"Not really..." When everyone turned their gaze to Hermione, she explained, "Well, as Snape said, we've only three days! I don't know about the rest of you, but I have to be at work tomorrow morning, and I know how difficult it is for Professor Snape to leave the castle during the week."

"Did you forget what comes after the marriage, Hermione?" Ron asked, obviously hurt and angry. "Then comes the consummation. You'll have to have sex with that..."

"Careful, Weasley," Severus said in a low voice that made the hairs on the back of Harry's neck rise.

Harry fixed his gaze on Ginny and Oliver. Neither seemed to be looking at the other. He balled his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white. Trying to calm down, he took a deep breath in through his mouth and exhaled it through his nose, giving the image of an enraged bull about to charge.

"How could you do this to us, Gin? Why would you? We were going to be married! I was going to finally have a family! I loved you," he whispered, running out of steam.

"Harry," Ginny started, but her voice broke, and she couldn't continue.

Severus yawned, patting his mouth. "Touching." Looking towards his betrothed, he told her, "I don't care what the rest of these imbeciles do, but I will not go to Azkaban because you and your idiotic friends once again meddled in something you didn't take the time to research properly. We will marry now, and then in one year end it."

Face reddening, Hermione told him, "That's just fine with me!" Looking at the Minister, she said, "Let's just get this over with."

"I don't know where you reside, but I'm sure Kreacher would be honored to help Harry Potter's friend move her belongings to my dungeons."

"What?" Hermione asked, gobsmacked. "Why do I have to move to Hogwarts?"

"You certainly don't think I'll be moving from Hogwarts? Remember? According to the binding, we have to live together during that year. Since you and your friends caused this mess, it should be you three who make the sacrifices."

Hermione and Ginny both gasped, and Luna just stood there, continually staring at the floor. Harry thought she looked ashamed and happy at the same time.

"Oh, bloody, buggering son of a dark wizard!" Oliver yelled. "I travel! I stay in hotel rooms!"

Ginny quietly informed her husband-to-be, "I don't know if you're aware, but starting next season, I will be playing for the Harpies. I signed up just last month. I'll be traveling with the team anyway."

"Oh," Harry said angrily, "isn't that quite cozy? The happy newlyweds take the Quidditch world by storm! Perhaps Rita Skeeter would write it up for you for old time's sake."

"Harry, mate, stop it!" Ron said.

Turning his furious green eyes to his best friend, Harry said, "No! I won't stop it!"

"Harry," Hermione pleaded, "calm down."

"Don't speak to me, Hermione. You find Luna a convenient scapegoat, but you're the one who looked up the charm! You're the one who figured out how to cast it, and it was you who told the other two! Little miss-know-it-all! If there is something you don't know, you just won't stop until you find it out!"

Silence filled the room. Hermione let out one broken sob, but then turned her face away from the hate directed at her in Harry's beautiful green eyes.

Suddenly, Snape said, "If everyone is quite done with their pathetic display of theatrics, I would like to get this over with."

"It's going to have to be today for me as well," Oliver said, sighing. Looking towards Kingsley, he asked, "You're sure there is nothing to be done?"

Kingsley shook his head. "No, nothing. And if you want me to perform the ceremony, it has to be today because I have to leave tomorrow for Italy to attend an International Ministry of Magic meeting."

"Well, I can't wait. I've got a game in France at the end of this week, and I will have to practice every night," Oliver said. Turning to Ginny, he told her, "We have to do this now."

Ginny simply nodded and turned her gaze to Harry. "Please, don't hate me. My feelings haven't changed."

"I'm not staying for this," Harry told them as he stormed out of the room.

Ron glared at Luna. "If they're doing it now, I suppose we should, too."

"We don't have rings," Luna said.

"Rings? What the bloody hell would we have rings for, Loo... er... Luna? I didn't plan to marry you!"

"Right," Luna agreed calmly. "We can get those later."

Kingsley cleared his throat before Ron could further lose his temper. "If you three will stand before me, face your intended and take hands?"

Kingsley turned to Severus and Hermione, deciding to begin with them. After they'd repeated their vows, a satin yellow cord wove around both of their wrists and then disappeared.

"Ah," Kingsley said. "The yellow binding cord. This signifies attraction, charm, confidence, balance, harmony, knowledge, learning, concentration, persuasion, jealousy, joy, and comfort."

Next, the Minister faced Oliver and Ginny. After they'd completed their vows, a blue satin cord wove around both their wrists and then disappeared.

"Yes, yes, the blue binding cord. This represents tranquility, understanding, patience, health, truth, devotion, sincerity, honor, loyalty, peace, wisdom, protection during sleep, and astral projection."

Last, he faced Ronald and Luna. Once they finished their vows, Luna gasped when a black satin cord wove around their wrists before disappearing.

"Don't worry, dear," Kingsley assured. "The black cord has great significance. It stands for strength, empowerment, wisdom, vision, success, pure love, negation without reflecting, unlocking when stuck, and banishing evil or negativity. Very well done."

"Kingsley, once our year is up, how do we dissolve our unions?" Snape inquired.

"Good God, man! Your cord has barely binded you and you're already asking about dissolution?"

"Oh, indeed. Indeed I am, Kingsley."

Shaking his head, the Minister informed the three couples standing before him, "Once the year is complete, if you do not wish to remain married, you simply have to come back here and cut your cords. After doing so, the legal arrangements to end the union can begin."

"Fine," Oliver said. "Ginny, we have to go and get your things. We need to get to the hotel room. I have an early start in the morning."

Ginny simply nodded. She glanced at Ron, who was looking at Hermione. "Ron... I don't know what to say really. Except that I am sorry."

Ron turned his gaze from Hermione to Ginny. "Sorry is such an insignificant little word for the ruination of one's life...don't you think? Keep in mind, you've ruined your own as well."

"Hey!" Oliver said indignantly. "What's wrong with me?"

"You're not Harry," Ron simply said. Looking at his wife, who still refused to look him in the eyes, he said, "I have to go to the shop for a bit today. You can go get your things and move them to my flat. Put them in the spare bedroom, mind," Ron specified.

Luna nodded. "Okay, except I don't really know where your flat is. I've never been there."

"Oh, right. Fine. I'll show you on my way to the shop, and then you can go and get your things." Ron turned and walked towards the lift with Luna following in his wake.

"Don't forget," Kingsley warned, "this has to be consummated within twelve hours or it's null and void."

"All right," Ron said as he and Luna waited to enter the lift.

"I'm going back to Hogwarts now, Granger. You can get your things and come whenever you'd like. It makes no difference to me as long as it's within the twelve hours." He leered at her, mocking Ron in the process. "I don't have a spare room."

He turned and walked out with Hermione glaring at his back. "Git." Turning to Ginny, she said, "I want to say don't worry, that Harry will come around, but I've never seen him so angry."

Ginny nodded. "You know what's odd, Hermione? He was right furious, but he didn't seem like he was hurt by this at all. More mad than anything. Not that I'm saying he didn't have a right to be, mind, but you'd think if he was truly in love with me, his heart would've ached at least a little."

"True," Hermione agreed, considering. "He was livid. But, Ginny, you know how Harry keeps his emotions all bottled up."

Ginny nodded and started to comment when Oliver gently said, "Ginny, we've really got to go now. I don't know how long it will take you to get your things."

"Right, my things. We have to go to the Burrow." Realization hit Ginny like a rogue Bludger. "Oh, no! Mum!"

~*~

Severus once again made his way to Minerva's office.

"Oh, Severus, do come in," Minerva said, irritated that he'd entered her office for the second time in one day without knocking.

"Don't be sarcastic, Minerva. You can't quite pull it off. I'll only be here a moment at any rate."

"Well? Don't keep me in suspense! What did Kingsley say?"

"He married us. Come to find out, there were two other couples there affected by the charm as well as Hermione and myself."

Minerva waited a couple moments, and when Severus remained silent, she growled loudly. "Severus!"

He chuckled. "Ginny Weasley to Oliver Wood, and Luna Lovegood to Ronald Weasley."

"Oh poor Harry! He must be devastated! And Hermione! Ron, married to Luna?" The headmistress shook her head. "The poor dears."

"I'll remind you that one of the poor dears is my wife! Trust me, she traded up, Minerva."

"Why, Severus, if I didn't know better, I'd say you sound jealous!"

"Please!" he spat. "As if I'd be jealous over any of those imbeciles!"

"What color were the binding cords?" Albus spoke for the first time since Severus had entered the room.

"Yellow," Severus said with a sigh.

"Yellow, eh? Minerva, what does yellow signify?"

"I'm not sure off the top of my head, Albus! What? Do you think, I'm just a fountain of information?" she asked.

Albus nodded towards the bookshelf in the room. "There is a book there on hand fasting rituals. See if there's anything on binding cord colors."

"Really you two, that is hardly necessary. It doesn't matter. It's done," Severus said.

Minerva started to the bookshelf as if he'd not spoken. After reading a bit, she said, "Ah, yes! I see that jealousy is one thing! As well as attraction and charm. Oh, and knowledge and learning, plus..."

"Yes," Severus interrupted, not allowing her to go on. "Kingsley explained the meaning after the cord disappeared. I think that the knowledge and learning signifies more than anything else."

"So you say," Minerva argued. "A few moments ago, I'd say jealously signified quite a lot."

Severus rolled his eyes. "I am not jealous over that girl. I can't wait to be rid of her already! I need to go. I simply wanted to come up here and update you on the status of things, considering she will be moving into the castle today."

"All right, Severus. Would you send her to have a cuppa with me once she settles in?"

"Yes, Minerva, I will relay the invitation. After all, I live to be messenger boy!"

Severus could still hear his headmistress chuckling after he'd shut the door on his way out.