The Baby Project

The next morning when everyone got up, most people were nervous. Today was the day that they would find out who they would have to spend the rest of their life with. Not only that, but they had to start having children soon, though no one knew how soon that would be yet. As the students made their way down to the great hall for breakfast, there were many mixed emotions coming from the older students. Most people didn't see the slight excitement on Draco's face, however. No one had really spoken to him since he arrived. The only person that noticed the difference in his behavior was Blaise. 

"Man, what is going on with you?" Blaise asked as Draco took a seat next to him.

"What?" Draco looked at Blaise, confused.

"You are acting like you actually want this law to happen," Blaise said like it was obvious.

"Well, it is happening, Blaise, and I don't plan on losing my magic, especially after what we both went through already," Draco said as he put jelly onto his toast.

"Well, that is true, but how could you like this?' Blaise questioned. 

"This is my chance, Blaise. My chance to not marry who my mother tells me." Draco said. It was true; she wasn't going to try and get him out of the law. She was lucky not to be in a cell at Azkaban, and if he didn't comply, he would lose his magic, and she would not allow that at all. He was a wizard. It is what defined him and his mother, and they were going to make it in this new world. And that meant embracing this new law. 

After breakfast, everyone in their 7th or 8th year stayed behind to find out their fate. Hermione and Ginny were holding hands. Ginny had told Harry if she had been matched with someone else, she wouldn't be able to let go, and she would have to be ripped from his arms. So they had both decided that Hermione would be in charge of keeping her as calm as possible and Neville would be in charge of Harry. 

"Neville, I didn't know I could do magic before, and I could easily go back to being a muggle now. Ginny is my future, and if I am not paired with her, I don't want to be a part of this world." Harry told him, and McGonagall started to speak.

"Now, according to the new law that has just been put into place, all new couples must be engaged formally with a wedding date submitted to the council by December 31st. Married by March 31st and pregnant by August. If there is trouble conceiving a child, you will be given help from Healers. This is to be determined by the end of July. 

As of this morning, the ministry declared that each couple will have to have a minimum of two children and that the second child must be conceived by the second birthday of the first child. They will be in constant contact with you even after you graduate until you have had two children. I strongly encourage that you discuss the best way to execute these plans as soon as you find out your partners. 

New sleeping arrangements have been made available. You will be getting small apartments that have recently been built. This shall help you adjust in a safe environment to living with another person. 

You are more than welcome to sleep in your house dormitories, but be aware that it is going to be noted how often you are there. 

I must stress to you all this is not to be taken lightly, and the new council that has been appointed for this will be keeping close tabs on all of the couples." With that, McGonagall stepped out of the way, and an older woman came to the podium.

"The last time a new lady was at Hogwarts, terrible things happened, Harry." Ron chimed in under his breath. Harry only nodded, having been thinking the same thing. They were just going to wait and see what happened. 

"I am going to start calling off the lists of couples. Each couple will then head over to one of the smaller tables that have been set up for you, and you may start to get to know one another. I want you all to know this has been taken seriously, and we have made sure you will be with someone who challenges you and makes you a better person, someone we hope you will grow to love, even if it is hard right now. 

The first couple is Neville Longbottom and Hannah Abbott."

Neville looked at Harry and then walked up to the front of the room where Hannah was waiting. This was strange for both of them, but Neville smiled. He had liked Hannah for a while now, and this cut out all of that second-guessing that he tended to do. Perhaps this wasn't going to be so bad after all. 

The lady started to list off more and more people. Hermione, Luna, Ron, Harry, and Ginny had yet to be called, though, and Ginny was more hopeful by the minute that Harry and she would be together. She squeezed Hermione's hand tighter when her brother's name was called, though.

"Ronald Weasley and Romilda Vane." The woman called. 

Ron's mouth dropped, and he looked at Harry. He couldn't move. How was he with Romilda? 

"Go up there, Ron," Ginny said, shoving her brother off of the bench. He did what she said and started walking slowly to the front of the hall, taking a glance back every couple of steps. He had never even spoken to her; how was he going to marry her. 

They walked side by side to where the other couples were sitting, and they both sat in silence. Some of the other couples were focused on who was being paired together, others were sitting and talking to one another, but Ron and Romilda both sat with their heads down, in another world, trying not acknowledged what had just happened. 

"Ginny Weasley and..." Ginny grasped Hermione's hand even harder than before; she was incredibly nervous, "Harry Potter." 

Almost the entire hall erupted into cheers; at least there was one good thing that came out of today. Ginny practically jumped over the table into Harry's arms. 

"I knew it." She said with glee as she pulled Harry behind her to one of the tables. Normally they would have started talking right away, but their best friend still hadn't been paired with anyone, and there were only a couple of people left. 

Hermione was the last one at the Gryffindor table, and she started to look around to see who was left to pair up. Luna hadn't been called either she noticed and wondered if they were going to be alone together. Hermione was so nervous she failed to notice that Malfoy was still sitting patiently at the Slytherin table to be called. 

"Blaise Zabini and Luna Lovegood." The lady called from her list of names.

Ginny looked at Luna as she walked calmly over to Blaise at the front of the hall and followed him over to the table he had chosen. Harry couldn't believe it either. The most loveable person at Hogwarts, someone who would risk their life for him, was paired with a death eater. This was the first time he had been angry about this law whole heartily. 

"We cannot let this happen, Ginny; Luna deserves someone better than that," Harry whispered in her ear.

"Harry calms down; Luna can take care of herself. Anyways you don't know Luna as I do. She might surprise you. Just give him a chance." Ginny smiled and gave her boyfriend and future husband a kiss on the cheek. She was the only one that knew that Luna had had a crush on Blaise since 3rd year, and she was happy for her. The only thing she was anxious about was Hermione. Unlike her friend, Ginny had noticed the blonde-haired Slytherin that hadn't been called yet. And unlike Luna, she was unsure how Hermione would take it if they were paired together. 

Hermione just kept looking at Ginny; she didn't want to know who was left; she just wanted to hear her name at this point. How could she not be paired with anyone? Maybe she was right; maybe love wasn't for her. Maybe she could convince the council that she was more valuable as a mind and could work every day at the ministry after she finished her education at Hogwarts. She was already coming up with what to say when she heard the lady start talking again. 

"Draco Malfoy," Hermione turned her head slightly to see who he was going to be paired with, "and Hermione Granger." Hermione's mouth dropped, and she felt as though a ton of bricks at just landed on her chest. It didn't help either that there was an audible gasp from almost everyone in the room, including some of her professors. 

It was the first time Ron looked up since having his name called, and his face was pure confusion. He looked over at Harry, who had his fists tight in a ball, and Ginny was the only one keeping him in his seat. 

"They cannot do this, Ginny, his aunt, tortured her, and he didn't do anything about it." Harry practically had steam coming out of his ears. Draco had made his way up to the front of the hall, but Hermione hadn't moved; it was like she was stuck to the seat, and she didn't plan on leaving. She could feel everyone's eyes on her, but she didn't care right now. How could they do this to her? It was one thing to be civil with Malfoy and use him to help find her parents, but to make her marry him. She didn't think she could do it. She was too busy running everything through her mind. She didn't notice he had walked up to her and sat down next to her. The lady obviously seemed to find this acceptable and moved on to the last two pairs of students. 

However, no one cared because Draco Malfoy, known Death Eater, had willingly sat next to Hermione. He didn't seem outraged or upset, but rather calm. Ginny was quite pleased with how he acted, and she went back to trying to calm down Harry. 

"Ron, close your mouth. You are going to catch flies." Romilda hissed. Ginny looked over when she heard this and was surprised to see that Ron had immediately done as he was told. She was pleased with how everything turned out. She had Harry, Ron had someone to keep him in line, Luna had the guy she had always wanted, and Hermione wasn't alone. 

All was well for now.