Rose Among the Thorns

Chapter 4- Visitors

A voice from the fireplace woke Hermione out of a troubled and uneasy sleep.

"Hermione!" the voice called. "Are you here?"

"Mmph. Mmmmph," Hermione replied sleepily, brushing her tangled hair from her eyes to see Lavender Brown's anxious face.

"Do you mind if I drop in? I don't suppose you've heard about the Law, have you?"

The previous evening's events crashed back in around Hermione. "Sure, come on over. I could use a bit of company right now anyways," she replied, looking at the clock on her mantle. It was four in the afternoon. "So much for a productive day looking for loopholes," she thought to herself.

Moments later Lavender tumbled out of Hermione's fireplace onto the hearth. After the War Lavender had grown up quite a bit and now both young women were good friends, their competition for Ron's affections during their sixth year forgotten.

"So you know about this rubbish, huh?" Lavender asked as the two women sat at Hermione's kitchen counter, drinking coffee.

Hermione nodded. "I had dinner at the Burrow last night. Mr. Weasley and Percy brought the news."

Lavender rolled her eyes. "This is serious bollocks. How in the name of Merlin's saggy trousers could they have ever thought this would go over at all?"

"Apparently some of the pure-blood families approve," Hermione replied.

Lavender snorted. "Not mine. When Dad read the Prophet this morning he looked like he'd curse every member of the Wizengamot to Neptune and back." She paused, taking a long drink from her mug. "He and Mum went into the Ministry today to see if they could sort anything out."

"Mr. Weasley said that the Minister had been working on it for quite a while but no one could find any way of getting us out of this mess."

"Well this is bloody brilliant," Lavender replied. "Of all the rubbish to come up with after we risk our lives to save the Wizarding World..."

She was interrupted by a loud tapping at the window across the room. A large tawny owl pecked at the glass. Hermione stood and let it in, where it swooped down and sat on the faucet, holding out its leg. She removed the thick parchment envelope and the owl flew swiftly back out the window. A large purple insignia, M.o.M, was stamped on the seal, with her name in a curly script on the front.

"Oh, that's probably your list," Lavender told Hermione as she tore the envelope open.

"My list?" she asked, then comprehension dawned on her. "Oohhh, that list."

And indeed, it was the list. Hermione cleared her throat as she read the attached note aloud.

Dear Ms. Granger,

With the passage of the Wizengamot's recent Marriage Law Number One, it has come to our attention that you, as a muggleborn, must comply with certain requirements stipulated by said law. As mandated, all muggleborn wizards and witches are to follow the compulsory procedure of marrying a pureblood witch or wizard within three months of July 1^st. In addition, each pureblood and muggleborn pairing is required by law to produce no less than two magical offspring, the first of which is to be conceived within the first six months of matrimony. All petitions for marriage must be submitted through the Department of Magical Matrimony and Progeny in the Ministry of Magic. Non-compliance with the Marriage Law will result in permanent imprisonment in Azakaban or until said witch or wizard is willing to fully cooperate with the Wizengamot's ruling. A list of suitable marriage partners has been enclosed for your convenience.

Sincerely,

Beatrice McLarkin,

Head Secretary to the Wizengamot

"Well that was enlightening," Hermione said snidely.

Lavender chuckled. "Let's see who's on your list." She reached for her handbag and after a moment of rummaging about she pulled out a similar list. "I thought we could compare."

Hermione stared at her in disbelief.

Lavender shrugged. "Well if we've got to spend the rest of our lives with some disgusting old bugger we may as well have some fun while we can."

Someone pounded at Hermione's door. "It's me, Ginny," a voice called from the corridor outside.

"And Susan."

"And Hannah."

Hermione grinned as she opened the door to face her friends.

"So you've got one too?" Hannah asked, gesturing at the list still in Hermione's hand.

"Just now. You too?"

Both Hannah and Susan raised their fists to show similar slips of parchment.

"We thought you might have an idea how to get out of this rubbish," Susan said as she stepped into Hermione's living room.

Hermione shook her head. "No idea. It looks as if we've got no way out."

"Come to join the List Comparison Party, have you?" Lavender asked, emerging from the kitchen with a large tub of chocolate and peanut butter ice cream and five bowls in her arms.

"Good idea, I need some comfort food right now." Hannah sighed, collapsing heavily into Hermione's sofa. "Lucky you, Ginny. You got out of this just in time."

Ginny nodded in agreement. "Only by two months. If I hadn't been able to marry Harry..." She trailed off.

Hermione squeezed her hand. "But you did, so you've got nothing to worry about."

Ginny smiled in relief. The five women helped themselves to heaping servings of ice cream and unfolded their lists.

"Who's first?" Susan asked.

Lavender volunteered. "Let's see who we've got here," she said, unfolding her parchment list and brandished a large, outrageous magenta quill from her handbag, much to the entertainment of the other girls. She began to scan down her list. "Ooohh, Michael Corner, possibly...Justin Finch-Fletchley, nice... Dennis Creevey, hmmm... Anthony Goldstein, maybe. Wait a minute, who's Giles Bennett?"

Hannah screwed up her face in concentration. "Ravenclaw, three years ahead of us, right?"

"I think so," Hermione answered.

Lavender made a mark by his name with her outrageous quill. The other girls giggled. "Well, ladies, the possibilities are endless. Someone else go now, I'm in deep concentration."

Hannah snickered. "I'll go." She pulled dramatically at her list. "May I borrow your quill?" she asked Lavender.

"By all means yes, my dear," she replied, handing it over with a little bow. "Each person can use it to mark their favourites..." She paused. "...or cross off those deemed unworthy and unacceptable."

Ginny giggled. "Really Lav, this is serious business. These are your futures at stake."

"Then we've got to have as much fun as possible in the next three months. I'm not wasting time moping around about all this. I'm going to enjoy myself as long as I can before I get tied down to some prat," Lavender replied with fervor.

"Here here," Hermione called out as she returned from the kitchen with a large bowl of steaming popcorn and a bottle of wine. She set them down on the table and conjured glasses for each of them.

"Well, well, who've we got?" Hannah said, returning to her list. "Jimmy Peakes?"

"Gryffindor, two years behind me. Played Beater for a while. I think he works in the Department of International Magical Cooperation," Ginny replied, taking a deep drink from her glass.

"Not bad, not bad," Hannah said, making a mark by his name. "Who else...Marcus Belby... ooohh, Neville... Blaise Zabini!? How the devil did he get on here?"

"He is a pureblood," Hermione answered. "I hope he's not on mine."

Hannah scratched violently through his name. "Definitely not. I don't want to go the way of his stepfathers. How many has his mum gone through now, five? Gah, Marcus Flint and Theodore Nott are on here too! Do the Wizengamot have a death wish for me or what?"

"As far as they know, they're innocent until proven guilty," Susan replied.

Hannah shook her head. "Not in my book they're not. Well, well, well, Ginny, I've got two of your brothers on mine."

"Which ones?"

"The twins. Definite possibility there," Hannah said, making little marks by their names.

Ginny rolled her eyes. "Don't count on it. I don't think they'll ever be ready for marriage."

"Now it doesn't look like they've got much of a choice," Hermione said.

"Susan's turn!" Lavender chorused. Hannah passed the magenta quill to her best friend.

Susan rolled her eyes. "Great." She unfolded her list and began to scan down it. "Ritchie Coote, maybe... Dean Thomas, he's ok... oh for the love of Helga, Zacharias Smith?"

Hermione laughed. "Have fun with him."

Susan scratched out his name. "No thank you. Anyone else? Oh yes, Terry Boot, Seamus Finnigan, both possibilities..." she trailed off, marking by their names. "Any popcorn left?"

Ginny handed her the bowl. "At least there are a few on each list that are decent blokes."

"Hermione hasn't started on her list yet," Lavender added, prodding Hermione in the ribs. "Your turn."

Hermione cleared her throat and opened her list nervously. "Well, there's Lee Jordan, he's nice. And Ernie Macmillan, he wouldn't be so bad. Oh bollocks, Malfoy and Goyle are on here." She snatched the quill out of Susan's hand and scratched through their names so violently she poked through the parchment.

"We know you're bent on shagging Goyle but try to hold it down!" Hannah said, tossing a piece of popcorn at Hermione.

Hermione laughed with the other girls and tugged the popcorn out of her hair. She looked back at her list. "No, no, no," she mumbled.

"Who?" Ginny asked curiously.

"Cormac McLaggan," Hermione replied.

The room erupted in laughter.

"That git?" Susan asked. "Hannah went out with him once," she said, gesturing at the other girl.

Hannah waved her arms emphatically. "Don't even bring that up. I never want to think about that night again."

"What happened?" Lavender asked.

"He's a prat, that's what happened! All night he was trying to get his hands up my skirt! He wouldn't take no for an answer. He's almost as bad as Malfoy!"

"Don't worry, he's scratched off too," Hermione told them. She scanned her list until she reached the bottom. She could feel her cheeks begin to flame.

"Who is it?" Hannah prompted.

"Someone we know?" Lavender asked.

"It's not someone bad, is it?" Ginny asked, her voice full of concern.

"No, he's not bad," Hermione choked out. "It's... it's..."

"WHO?" They shouted in unison.

"Charlie," Hermione whispered, looking at Ginny. "Charlie Weasley." She paused. "They get the same lists as we do, don't they?"

"I think so," Susan said.

Hermione thought she would die of embarrassment.

*******

notes: I liked the idea of a bunch of girls getting together and having a laugh about their lists. It is serious business, but I wanted them to have a lighthearted moment.