The Perfect Opportunity.

Chapter 3: The Marriage Law

This is in-fact a marriage law.

At those words, the hall erupted in a roar of indignation. People were crying, shouting, and a couple of people were even sitting with their head in their hands. No-one took it well.

'Silence!' Professor McGonagall shouted. The hall fell quiet. 'Let me explain further. The Minister has decided that since the wizarding population has dropped dramatically since the war, all young adults from the ages of 17-25 are required to marry and have children 3 years from today's date, the 1st September, 1999. If you fail to do this, you will be considered a traitor to wizard kind and will be given a choice: be exiled from the wizarding world and have your wand snapped or serve a five year sentence in Azkaban and then be put back into the cycle to try again. You will be paired with your soulmate, and once paired, there will be no further changes. You will live in a flat within the castle with two other couples. Fortunately for you, you will find out your soul mates today, as we wish to give you as much of a chance as possible. So, let us begin. When I call your name, you will come up here and have your finger picked. You will then place it on a piece of paper, and that will tell us who you are paired with.'

The Professor took out a roll of parchment and called out 'Neville Longbottom.' Nervously, Neville made his way up to the podium. Snape pricked his finger and pressed it to the paper. Slowly, loopy words began to form on the parchment. Once the movement had stopped, the paper read Hanna Abbott. 'Hanna Abbott,' McGonagall called. The girl stood and shakily made her way to Neville, then proceeded to sit down with him.

The crowd of seventh years yet to find out their soulmates thinned and more and more were 'sorted'. Eventually, 'Harry Potter' was called. Harry gulped and made his way to the podium, so nervous that he didn't even feel the prick. Whilst the words were being formed, Hermione noticed that Ginny was looking extra tense. Finally, after what seemed to be an eternity, Professor McGonagall called out 'Ginny Weasley'. Harry visibly relaxed with relief and Ginny was grinning as she ran up to him and gave him a long kiss. It was so long, in-fact, that they only broke apart when McGonagall gave a cough. They separated, looking sheepish as Ron tried to get out of his seat, seemingly to kill Harry. He was so angry that Hermione had to hold him back. The couple hurried off to their seats on the other side of the hall and McGonagall called 'Ronald Weasley'. Ron stormed up, got his finger pricked and placed it on the paper. After barely any time at all, the teacher called out 'Hermione Granger' and she happily walked up.

The sorting was finally over and they then found out who they would be living with, in their flats. It was announced and Ginny was relieved to find that she was in a flat with most of her friends: Harry, of course, Ron and Hermione and Luna and, surprisingly, Draco.

They headed up to the flat, the entrance to which was behind the painting of the Bridesmaid with the white dress and flowers. 'Please, make your own password.' the little girl lisped.

'What shall we choose, guys?' Harry asked.

'How about Free Spirit ?' Hermione asks.

'I like it.' says Ginny.

'Me too' agrees Ron.

'Me as well' comments Harry, thoughtfully.

After sharing a look with Draco, Luna says 'We agree'.

'So, Free Spirit it is.' says Hermione.

'As you wish,' says the portrait.

The canvas swings aside to reveal their new living space. They step through to reveal a large, round room full of greens, blues, purples and silvers. The carpet is fluffy and deep purple. There are plush green leather sofa and armchairs with comfy blue and silver pillows. In the middle of the room, there is a log burning stove, which is burning fiercely. There is a little hole in the wall, in which logs are stocked. To the left of the door, there is a door way into Draco and Luna's room. All of the rooms have the same furniture and colour scheme, but the occupants can change the colours any way they wish. In the middle of the room, there is a king sized four poster bed. Each size has a bedside table, upon which an elegant lamp is sitting. Above the bed is a muggle painting of a vase of flowers, and built into the wall on either side of the bed is a walk in wardrobe. At the foot of the bed, there is a fabric sofa, which is facing a wall that is covered in shelves. They have books on every subjects the couple will be taking at the school, and there are also some fiction books. There is space for the books that they have brought with them and one the floor is a soft rug covering the hard wood floor.

They all have marble ensuite bathrooms, with a bath, shower, toilet, and sink. There are also large windows in every room of the flat. The couples all chose different colours for their rooms. Draco and Luna chose green, blue and silver. Ron and Hermione chose gold and red, just like the Gryffindor common room and Harry and Ginny chose purple, white and gold.

They sat up late chatting about the turn of events and eventually decided to go to bed. Draco and Luna briefly argued over who was getting the bed, but soon decided that it was big enough for the both, and fell peacefully asleep. Ron was asleep the moment his head touched the pillow and Hermione soon followed. Harry and Ginny stayed up even longer, talking until Ginny fell asleep mid-sentence and Harry has to levitate her into the bed. He then got into bed himself, turned ff all of the lights with a wave of his wand and drifted off into a peaceful slumber.