Chapter 2
- Law is Law –

~Fred's POV~
When I reached our flat that afternoon, I still wanted to throw things around or just scream. Of course it was not that Hermione was a stranger or a person I absolutely don't like or even hate but…I was together with Angelina for so long. She was at my side after the wall had crushed down on me. She was the one to hold my hand while I was in this bloody coma. Sure, my parents and my siblings did the same, but that's not what I mean. And yeah, maybe Hermione did, too but…it was just not fair.
I am happy that at least George and Ginny got the partners they wanted. My other siblings are already married or engaged. At least I think that Charlie still is with his fiancée. Well…I don't know for sure but that's also not what bothers me. The only thing that matters is that I will lose my Angelina…to Oliver Wood, my mate…oh happy day, right? No, because I know that he had always had an eye on her and it's bloody devilish from destiny to give her to him in the end.
I let myself fall down on the couch, crossing my arms and glaring at the wall in front of me. I didn't even realise that my dear twin arrived few moments later until he sat down next to me.
"Hey Freddie, why are you in such a bad mood?" he asked as if he had slept the whole day and just woke up without knowing anything.
"You're not asking me this stupid question again, are you?" I retorted turning my head towards him.
"Sure I do because you didn't really answer me back in Mom and Dad's backyard. Hey, see it this way: You're not the only wizard who has to give up the person he likes or even loves. Many people have to do. There aren't many wizards and witches who are engaged, so they are only in a relationship in worst case. And, as you can see and as you've heard, they are only partly important for the Ministry. I'm sure more than ¾ suffer the same as you do."
"Easy for you to say, you can and MUST be together with Katie." I rolled my eyes…and slapped myself from the inside. I really didn't want to talk like that to George. I actually didn't want to talk to anyone like that.
"Gred!" he said in a sharp voice.
"Forge!" I said back. After a few seconds I added, "Fine, fine! I will give up on Ange when my visit at the Ministry tomorrow is without success, okay?"
"Good. Phew…but as I know you, dearest brother mine, you won't really stop until she's no longer yours legally, am I right?"
"Maybe."
"Mh…I would do the same if I were you…at least I think so."
I lifted an eyebrow on that comment. He thought so? I would rather say he would freak out even more than I did.

The next day, I woke even earlier than I would when it was my turn to open the shop. But to be honest, I didn't really sleep. Too many things were floating in my brain. I had visions about Angelina and Oliver through the whole night, mixed with the crying shade of Hermione and things flying around to hit everyone or everything which comes in their way.
Talking about Hermione…she really did cry yesterday. However she didn't start when Ron had said that he had to marry Luna but after she had read her own letter. Should I take this as an insult? That she cries because she has to be together with me? Or maybe she was just crying because of sympathy towards me? I don't know; it confuses me. Maybe I'll ask her later, I'll have a stop at the Burrow nonetheless after my visit at the Ministry.   
I made said visit as early as possible, means at 9 o'clock. At that time, I have already been awake for 4 hours and Georgie was still asleep. I suppose he would come to the Burrow when he's awake and will leave the shop closed for today. It was likely that nobody would come to buy anything…everyone would be just as shocked as I and my family are.
So now, there I was, at nine in the morning. No one except the snobs who were working here (of course my dad and my brother weren't snobs!). I asked the lady at the reception where I have to go to complain against the new Law. She smiled at me and told me the department.
When I reached this department, I still was the only one. Did really no one bothers to tell them what stupid shit this is? …Obviously not…or maybe they're just not brave enough. No Gryffindors.
I knocked at the door, surprised that there wasn't a secretary or something like that with whom I have to speak first. Anyway, I was asked to come in and so I did.
"Good morning Sir I…"
But, as those gits in the Ministry are, he interrupted me before I could even think about finishing my sentence, "Ah! One of Arthur Weasley's sons, right? Take a seat, take a seat!"
"Eh…yeah obviously…thank you." I sat down on the chair he had offered me. It wasn't really comfortable…or maybe it was just me…just the reason I was here.
"So, how can I help you, Mr. Weasley?" he asked smiling. He smiled at me even though I thought I clearly had to look like I would punch everyone who has the nerves to give me a smile like that.
But I could hold back. I cleared my throat and said, "Well…I've received this letter yesterday…the one about the Marriage Law and I'm…not satisfied at all. See…I've been in a relationship for many years now and I'm happy with my girlfriend but…" I really had a hard fight with myself to prevent me from cursing. "…well…your letter, this law, says all suddenly that I have to end this relationship to be together with my younger brother's girlfriend. This can't be right, can it? Not only that it's…unfortunate for me but I'll also break my brother's heart when I marry Miss Granger. They're finally together after so many years and now…"
Again, I was interrupted. And he was still smiling…
"I can understand you. We're more than sorry that you were paired with your brother's girlfriend but you also have to understand us. Or at least try to. We've planned how to bring our community back to good since You-Know-Who was defeated. When we finally had a plan, we established tests and…when you're now to be together with that girl instead of your current girlfriend, it will have good reasons. And…as we've written, we tried to support relationships but we couldn't have them all…well…you know what I mean. Some of the current relationships wouldn't last longer than some weeks or month…this isn't a future!"
"But listen, I've been in this relation for almost four years! My brother and his girlfriend have been together since the war! Isn't that long enough?"
"Mr. Weasley, no, it obviously isn't and you also don't seem to fit that good to your…well…ex-girlfriend but much better to your fiancée."
"Don't call them like that, please! Not now!" I took a deep breath, cleared my throat again and then asked what had just plopped into my mind, "Ehm…wouldn't a change be possible if I asked my girlfriend to marry me just today? She would say 'yes' without hesitation!"
"No Mr. Weasley, it's too late. You had your chance before you received the letter, now you'll have to accept your future."
"Pfft…as if one can call it a future when it's completely planned by the Ministry!" I snapped standing up from my chair.
"I'm really sorry." he said still having the nerves to smile at me. I can tell you, I really wanted to punch him but I did better and left without saying a word, slamming the door behind me.

By now it was 9:30. Was it really only half an hour that I was here? Wow…so I have loads of time to visit my dear brother Percy…mh…do I really want that? He's one of those 'creatures' at the Ministry…not as bad as that git I was talking with but…Percy loves laws somehow and he also doesn't have the problem as he married back in January.
I decided that I first of all should ask if he's even there. You couldn't be that sure as we're talking about Percy. So I went to the reception at the entrance for a second time this day and asked whether my dear brother was there.
"No, I'm sorry to tell you that Mr. Weasley has just left for a meeting outside the Ministry. Do you want to leave him a message?"
She smiled…toothy. Normally I would like it, I'm sure, but today…I just wanted to hit the top of her desk with my head.
"No, thank you. Have a nice day." I said and left immediately. Outside the building, I first of all massaged my forehead with my thumb and index finger.
Okay, a short summary: I didn't have any success, means I now have to accept that I'll have a wife who cried when she read my name. I will have to leave my Angelina and have to return to my true self, I can't stand this person I turned into yesterday. It's not normal that I want to smack down everyone around me just for being in a good mood.
Sighing, I twisted in the air and disapparated to the Burrow. The sooner I have a normal conversation with Hermione the better I'll feel. I'm sure.
"Ah, George! Just in time, do you want some porridge?" my Mom asked when I appeared.
"Ehm…Mom, I'm Fred. And…no thanks, I'm not hungry at all. But wait…does that mean that George still isn't there?"
"You're the only twin I've seen today."
So my dear twin was still asleep…or on tour with Katie. This could be possible, too, as the two of them surely have to spend some happy hours together after so good news like those from yesterday. …Fred, stop being jealous of your twin's happiness!
I sighed again sitting down in the couch. "Mom, where's Hermione by the way?"
"She should be down every minute. She just wanted to change her clothes."
"Uh-huh." I leaned my head back against the backrest. This could be fun. A funny time. Really.
Five minutes passed until someone came down the stairs. From the low noise it had made I could tell that it was Hermione, my siblings usually were louder. "Mione? Could you join me, I have to talk to you." I said a bit louder so that she could hear me.
Just few moments later, her bushy-haired head appeared at the doorway. "What is it?" she asked me.
I patted the seat next to me. "Not from so much distance, it's about our great future." I gestured wildly, made a rainbow in the air with my hands…I just couldn't resist. She smiled a bit and came to me.
"Okay…ehm…may I speak first? It won't take long, I promise." she said all of a sudden.
"Uhm…okay, sure." I nodded slightly.
"I just wanted to let you know that I'm sorry. Really sorry. It's really not fair that you and Angelina have to separate just because of…me and this strange law. I also could have lived with Cormac or Seamus or someone else. Please don't understand me wrong, I really like Ron, otherwise I wouldn't have been together with him but…somehow I knew that this wouldn't last forever. And I also like you, you're a really good friend and…yeah…"
"Cormac or Seamus? Don't be silly, Mione. Anyway…there's no need for you to apologize. It's not your fault, huh? I rather want to say sorry because I was such a git and lost temper. I was at the Ministry this morning…of course without any success. I still would like to hit this guy in his face but…yeah…I accept it now. I don't want us to be sent to Azkaban."
She grinned slightly. Yeah, my voice slowly turned back to normal…to a joking sound. Great! Unfortunately now I had to go on with something more serious.
"But Mione…there's one thing you should know. I'll go on spending as much time as possible with Angelina until the very end. I'll stay together with her until she says 'I will' to Oliver. Alright? Good. But besides of this…and besides of those three years to have children, I think that a marriage between you and me will be great fun. We're good friends, aren't we? And don't those kitschy Muggle love stories always say that you have the best husband or wife when he or she is your friend?"
"Understood and I don't have a problem with it. I won't do the same with Ron but I accept it and understand your point. About you and me…well…yeah, you're right. It would be great." she answered smiling slightly.

~Hermione's POV~
"Great. So…tell Ginny, Ron and Harry that I say 'hi', I have to leave now." he said standing up.
"I will. See you then, Fred!" I smiled at him until he flooed away. To Angelina of course. Sighing I turned around so I could lie down on the couch. The situation few moments ago was exactly the same old story. I say something and think quite the opposite. I said I would like a friendly marriage but at the same time my mind screamed that I want to marry the person I love and who also loves me back. But what should I do? When I compare myself to Angelina or anyone else around me I just couldn't think about anyone - except Ron - and Fred at the very least falling for me.
With another sigh, my thoughts went to my parents. They surely didn't know yet. They wouldn't receive an owl from the Ministry of Magic. Someday I would have to tell them. I didn't want to imagine their faces. My Mom would probably cry because it's not Ron. Oh dear…all I wanted now was drifting off into a deep slumber, away from all this.
"Hermione, dear? When do you think we should plan all the marriage dates?"
"As soon as possible, Mrs. Weasley…as soon as possible." I mumbled and again I thought different. Take your time, Mrs. Weasley, as much as possible. Fred would be thankful, too.