Chapter 12

Disclaimer: JKR owns everything, and I don't make any money with this story. The idea of the Marriage Law originated at wiktt, I believe. I'm just borrowing.

A/N: This story is AU since DH.

Chapter 12

Despite the late night, Hermione awoke early the next morning. She found herself in her customary position on Fred's chest, with the fundamental difference of not feeling the shirt he had worn to bed underneath her cheek, but bare flesh.

At the same time as awareness and memories came rushing back to Hermione, her thoughts and doubts returned. As silently as possible, Hermione extracted herself from Fred's embrace and, carefully checking he was still fast asleep, quietly made her way into the bathroom.

Not daring to cast a look in the mirror, Hermione stepped into the shower and turned the hot water on. Standing underneath the spray, she let her thoughts go back to the previous night. She meant to think about it rationally, but details kept creeping up, distracting her from any demure line of thought. Bottom line, she had enjoyed the previous night's activities a lot.

But Hermione's analytical and down-to-earth personality didn't allow her to bask in the afterglow for long. Just as short and pragmatic as her shower was, her thinking soon returned to the problem at hand: Hermione's feelings towards Fred. The poor girl was simply overwhelmed by their sheer existence, never having expected to fall for someone so unlike her own character.

But as she was towelling off and put on a fresh set of clothes, Hermione mused that having feelings for Fred really wasn't much of a problem. After all, they were getting married.

Seating herself on the closed toilet seat, Hermione allowed herself the time to properly analyse their situation from top to bottom. However, she was unable to achieve any other results than the fact that, as unorthodox as their relationship was, they were starting to care for each other. For Hermione was sure that Fred was feeling similarly to her, and the fact that they expressed those feelings could surely not be a bad thing.

Smoothing down her clothing, Hermione finally did look into the mirror and found that she looked just as familiar as the day before, bushy hair and all. Taking her customary deep breath to relax herself, she opened the door and stepped outside the bathroom. Fred was awake by now and reading the Prophet in bed.

"Morning," she offered tentatively.

"Morning," Fred replied, putting the paper aside. "So what's the verdict?"

"Excuse me?" Hermione asked, confused.

"You've just spent an hour in that bathroom, no doubt thinking about last night and weighing the pros and cons. I wanna know what you have decided," Fred explained good-naturedly, a small smile playing on his lips.

Hermione was once more surprised at his ability to read her like an open book, but she also saw the nervousness that lingered right behind the carefree exterior he had put up. She slowly made her way towards the bed and sat down beside Fred, ignoring, for now, the fact that she very well knew he was naked underneath the sheets.

"I think... that this is all moving very fast... and that I had never expected to... develop feelings for you. I did, though, and I don't regret sleeping with you," Hermione explained truthfully. Fred looked relieved at her words.

"Good," Fred grinned playfully. "Does that mean we can do it again?"

Fred tugged at her arm and pulled her on top of him. Hermione smiled into his kiss.

"We need to get to the Ministry."

"The Ministry isn't going anywhere," Fred whispered and successfully distracted Hermione by running his hands up and down her spine.

"It's not like we have an appointment," he mumbled before burrowing one of his hands in Hermione's unruly hair and deepening their kiss. Hermione returned his kiss passionately, enjoying the feel of Fred's strong body underneath her.

Until they heard a sharp knock on the door, and George poked his head inside.

"Oi, are you two at it again? Shouldn't you be at the Ministry?"

Hermione groaned and buried her face in Fred's chest, embarrassed. Fred threw a pillow in the general direction of the door. George successfully ducked the airborne cushion and continued unperturbed, "I'll open the shop now. You two should get a move on." Shaking his head, George left the room before any more feathered missiles could threaten his well-being.

Alone once more, Hermione didn't move from her spot on top of Fred, her cheek comfortably resting on his bare chest, listening to his heartbeat.

"We're confusing the hell out of him," Fred finally broke the quiet.

"George?" Hermione asked.

"I think yesterday he suspected there was something going on between us because of the Marriage Law, as a front, almost. Today he finds us like this. Poor chap probably doesn't know what to think anymore." Hermione noted Fred didn't sound too apologetic.

"Fred, have you thought about just telling him?" Hermione asked, raising her head so she could look at his face. "I mean, I've got Harry to talk to. He knows. I'd understand if you want to tell George."

"Maybe," Fred answered evasively. "But at this point I'm afraid he's going to be mad because I didn't tell him upfront." Before Hermione had a chance to reply, Fred sat up, taking her with him. "We should really get going."

*********************************

After a quick breakfast, Hermione and Fred went to the Ministry of Magic. They Floo'd in together, Fred hugging Hermione tightly from behind so they wouldn't get jostled against each other during the ride. Once they reached one of the many gilded fireplaces in the Atrium, Fred let go of Hermione's waist, taking her hand instead.

They made their way over to the security desk. When they passed the Fountain of Brethren, Hermione involuntarily shuddered, remembering that one night when she had been at the Ministry with Harry, Ron, Ginny, Neville and Luna. Even though she hadn't seen the fight between Voldemort and Dumbledore, she had passed the Atrium when she had been escorted back to Hogwarts. It had been utterly demolished.

Evidently the Fountain of Brethren had since been restored, although Hermione still noticed some cracks and dents, and the jet of water flying from the wizard's wand seemed to be somewhat irregular. It gave her an odd sense of satisfaction to see that the Ministry hadn't been able to cover up all the remnants of Voldemort's visit. Serves them right.

Fred and Hermione weren't the only ones who made their way over to the security desks, where three Ministry employees were now stationed. Several other witches and wizards, mostly couples, walked over from the fireplaces, and others joined from the direction of the visitors' entrance. Small lines were forming in front of each desk as people anxiously waited to be searched and have their wands registered.

"Bloody Marriage Law," the badly shaven Ministry employee examining Hermione's wand grunted disagreeably. "Haven't even read the Prophet yet."

After they had been properly searched, registered and provided with visitor's badges, Fred and Hermione joined the stream of witches and wizards walking through the golden gates and towards the lifts. Hermione was just about to ask Fred whether he knew on which floor the registrar's office would be, but closed her mouth again the moment she took a look at the lifts. There were huge signs floating above each elevator. Glittering purple letters read Registrar's office: Level 2.

"Somehow I doubt we'll be the only ones getting off at level two," Fred muttered when they joined a rather long queue in front of the elevators.

It took several minutes until it was their turn to enter through the golden gates and step into one of the elevators. People were standing as close as sardines, and every time someone wanted to get off at one of the lower levels, half the people in the elevator had to step out to let them through. By the time Hermione and Fred, together with several other witches and wizards, arrived at level two, Fred was wearing a scowl and Hermione was chewing her lip anxiously.

They followed the floating purple arrows pointing them towards the registrar's office, though the direction signs were completely unnecessary, since they could have just walked towards the source of all the voices. Once they stepped through a set of large oak doors, Hermione and Fred stood in a large corridor already half-filled with waiting couples. At the end of the corridor, there was another set of oak doors, and above the heavy frame floated a purple number. Hermione heard a bell chime, and the glittering number changed from 132 to 133. A wizard in flaming red robes and a tiny witch, a couple by the looks of it, went inside the office, a small number 133 floating above their heads as well.

"Should've gotten up even earlier," Fred remarked, tapping a small purple box near the door they had just come through. A beam of purple light shot out of the box, and a glittering 564 appeared above Fred's head. He groaned.

They got comfortable on the floor of the corridor, as some early birds had long ago taken the few available seats, and waited. Bored and thoroughly regretting not taking a book, Hermione looked around the room. Most couples looked about as anxious and nervous as she felt, the Marriage Law having put them all in an awkward position. A few wizards were looking angry. Hermione imagined they were there to give the registrar a piece of their mind. Some looked absolutely besotted with their partners, and others again seemed to feel the desperate need to convince the other people in the hallway that they were indeed a couple by subjecting everybody in their close vicinity to a private show. Hermione redirected her gaze to the floor when the witch sitting against the opposite wall of the corridor started crawling onto her fiancé's lap.

"At least the Ministry is kind enough to provide entertainment while we wait," Fred remarked with a chuckle. Hermione elbowed him in the ribs, and the witch opposite of them glared from her position on her fiancé's lap.

*********************************

By the time number 563 floated above the oak doors, Hermione herself was lying with her head in Fred's lap, cushioned by his winter cloak, having just spent the last half hour counting the cracks in the ceiling.

They slowly got up, dusted themselves off and walked through the crowded corridor towards the entrance to the office. While Fred restlessly watched the glittering number, willing it to change to 564, Hermione looked at the polished brass plaque on the door reading:

Department for the Regulation of Wizarding Marriages

Head Registrar: Dolores J. Umbridge.

"Noooo," Hermione groaned, just as the number changed. Fred also had the opportunity to read the plaque before the doors opened and they had no choice other than to go through. Looking seriously worried for the first time, Fred took Hermione's hand, and together they entered the registrar's office.

They stood in a large room with several desks on either side. More than a dozen Ministry employed witches and wizards were working at the registrar's office, answering owl post, filling in paperwork and mastering the gigantic administrative feat in general that had resulted from the release of the Marriage Law.

At the far end of the room, a desk twice the size of everyone else's stood on a small pedestal. Hermione didn't need to read the polished name plaque to know it was Umbridge's desk. Several grotesque porcelain figurines, loosely resembling playing kittens, on its surface attested to that.

Umbridge herself sat on a pink upholstered chair behind the desk, her hands folded neatly in front of her, a patronizing smile contorting her unpleasant features. Like a gigantic toad she was presiding over her polliwogs. Reluctantly, Fred and Hermione walked up to her.

"Er...good morning," Hermione started awkwardly. "We're here because of the Marriage Law."

"Tut, tut, my dear. Everyone is here because of that," Umbridge replied sweetly. "What exactly do you want?"

"We've come to be exempted from the Ministry's choosing process. We, that is Fred and I, want to get married," Hermione further explained. Both she and Fred were still standing awkwardly in front of Umbridge's desk, as the newly appointed registrar hadn't offered them a seat.

"I see," Umbridge chirped. "Are you aware that the Ministry is in the position to ask detailed questions before administrating a marriage accreditation?"

"Yes, we've read the pamphlet." Again Hermione was the one to answer.

"Well then," Umbridge said. "Take a seat."

Relieved that the first hurdle was taken and Umbridge hadn't thrown them out right away, Hermione and Fred sat down and prepared themselves for Umbridge's questions. Just when the registrar wanted to begin her enquiry, another person arrived at the desk, taking a vacated seat at Umbridge's side.

"All files are in order, Dolores," the newly arrived wizard said before taking his quill, pointedly ignoring Hermione and Fred.

"Very well. Percy Weasley is going to protocol our meeting and assist me in finding my decision," Umbridge explained before starting her questionnaire.

"Names please."

Hermione stated both their names while Fred was busy staring at his older brother, who in turn busied himself with writing down their names as if he hadn't known them all along.

"Ages?" Umbridge continued, seemingly unaware of the tension surrounding her desk.

"Blood Status?"

"When did this relationship start?"

Hermione answered all questions while Fred silently sat beside her.

"Do you wish to get married within the next thirty days?" Umbridge asked sweetly, looking at Fred and Hermione as if she was expecting them to decline.

"Yes, we do," Hermione answered, adopting Umbridge's saccharine tone and giving her a broad smile for good measure. Fred managed a smile as well, which didn't falter when his brother acknowledged his presence for the first time by coughing disapprovingly.

"You believe your relationship is serious enough to progress into the marital state?" Umbridge continued unfazed.

Hermione once again answered affirmatively.

"Explain why!" Umbridge demanded, looking at them expectantly.

"Er..." Hermione faltered.

"Unsure about their relationship," Percy said out loud while writing the corresponding note into the protocol. Umbridge nodded approvingly. Hermione frowned.

"We have very serious feelings for each other and wish to spend the rest of our lives together," Fred spat, speaking up for the first time.

"Is that so?" Umbridge asked. "And you believe your own choice in a partner is going to be more prudent than the match the Ministry can provide for you?"

Fred's face clearly said, 'I wouldn't even trust the Ministry to choose my socks for me, let alone a lifelong companion.' Out loud, he said, "I believe Hermione is the one for me, and nobody else would be better."

Umbridge looked disappointed while Percy once again coughed disapprovingly.

"I'm still not convinced your relationship is serious enough," Umbridge said. "You say you've been together since last summer. Are there any witnesses for that?"

"No," Hermione supplied. "We've only told our families about us this Christmas."

"And they approve?"

"Not exactly. They are kind of divided in their opinion." Which wasn't a lie, as Hermione reasoned with herself. Although George currently was the only family member waving the 'I support Fred and Hermione' banner, he nevertheless had taken their side.

Umbridge tutted critically, but dropped that particular line of questioning.

"Are you able to support a family?" she asked Fred instead.

"Yes. I run a very successful business with my brother," Fred supplied.

"What kind of business?" Umbridge prompted.

"A joke shop," Fred said.

Umbridge and Percy managed to tut simultaneously.

"The Ministry is a very good customer of ours," Fred continued unfazed, though Hermione could see that he was gripping the arms of his chair so tightly his knuckles had turned white. She covered one of his hands with one of her own to get him to relax. Percy sneered at them, and Fred stiffened even more.

"Well then," Umbridge cleared her throat, "if the Ministry buys your products..."

Fred had difficulties to suppress a smirk.

"I'm still reluctant to approve your request. I'll have you know that already several people have voiced their interest in Miss Granger's hand in marriage." Hermione gasped and Umbridge delighted in her shock. "Though I can't quite see the attraction," she added nastily, "all applicants are outstanding members of the community."

"I also have to add, that as a brother to Mr. Weasley, I have considerable doubts as to his ability to support a family, not so much economically, but emotionally. He seems to be lacking stability and sense of responsibility," Percy said importantly.

Hermione tightened her grip on Fred's hand before hissing, "How would you know? You haven't had any contact with your family in years." Percy reddened, whether in anger or embarrassment Hermione couldn't tell, and returned his gaze to the protocol.

"Yes, yes, a lot of evidence to suggest this is not a relationship destined to be permanent." Umbridge seemed positively delighted.

"That's not true," Hermione insisted, raising her voice slightly. The employees of the registrar's office where starting to eavesdrop on their conversation. "Fred and I are very serious about each other."

"Maybe, maybe," Umbridge chirped once more and consulted the questionnaire in front of her. "Have there been any sexual relations?" she asked bluntly.

Hermione could only stare at her open mouthed.

"Not that this is any of your business," Fred answered, "but yes."

Percy gave his loudest cough yet.

"The Ministry has to take every aspect into account when making its decision," Umbridge justified her question.

"Old spinster," Fred muttered under his breath, though Hermione was the only one who could hear him.

Umbridge consulted the papers in front of her again. "I really ought to decline this request, for the good of the Ministry..." she muttered, taking care that everyone in the room could hear her.

"You listen to me," Hermione suddenly snapped. Leaning halfway over Umbridge's desk, she purposefully invaded the toad's personal space and continued threateningly, "I don't care how many personal questions you ask, Fred and I are a couple, and we want to get married. Now you can either approve or we're going straight to the Wizengamot and file a complaint because the Ministry isn't upholding its own laws."

"If you think the mighty Wizengamot is going to listen to a little Mud..." Umbridge tried to sound condescendingly, but the effect was ruined when she scooted back in her chair in order to avoid an angry Hermione.

"And..." Hermione interrupted, her voice rising to a crescendo, "I'll be having a nice chat with Rita Skeeter about your practices. I'm not sure the Ministry would want this kind of publicity."

Everyone in the room was now openly listening to Hermione. Work had ceased completely.

"Go, 'Mione!" Fred mumbled, though he hid his grin in one of his hands.

Hermione was still leaning over Umbridge's desk, breathing hard.

"Well, to be honest," Umbridge spat, clearly trying to save face, "I wouldn't want to burden any respectable member of our community with you anyway." And with a disgusted look at Fred, she added, "You truly deserve each other." For emphasis she rigidly hit her wand at the papers in front of Percy, and a bold stamp of 'approved' appeared on them.

"For once, we agree," Hermione spat, snatching up the papers and leaving with Fred in tow. Nobody bothered to say good-bye to Percy.

"Don't forget to make an appointment for your nuptials," Umbridge shouted after them. "Wouldn't want you to miss your deadline and be charged with assault."

Hermione stormed out of the office, barking at the next Ministry employee to show her where to get the appointment for a wedding. Fred and Hermione had to wait in yet another line to get said appointment. By the time a smiling Ministry witch wished them 'Good luck' for their February 20th wedding, both wanted nothing more than to leave the place. Clutching their papers to her chest, Hermione followed a seething Fred to the elevators and into the Atrium. Seeing yet another line in front of the outgoing fireplaces, Fred veered towards the visitors' entrance instead. Both he and Hermione had ripped off their visitor's badges before they even entered the telephone booth.

tbc

A/N: I hope you like the chapter. Thanks to my lovely betas.

Please review.