Marriage Law: Four Separate Tales, One Magical Story

The Party

     Through the grand doors of the great hall, loud classical music is heard- the works of the toad choir and their younger year wizard and witch companions. As the group reaches the entrance of the hall the doors, magically, open. The music grows louder. The hall looks amazing, the roof is cursed to look like stars- the moon can be seen in place of the large, grand chandelier. Candles float around the room, illuminating every crack and crevice. The house tables are replaced with lots of round tables, each with eight chairs around. The centrepiece of each is a magical, floating slide show. Each, magically, personalised to show a slide of the lives lost in the great battle who the onlooker has known. Many tears are shed.
          Harry and his group sit at a table near the front of the hall, closest to the non-alcoholic bar. Once everyone is sat down, Ginny's hand rests on the table.
          "Oh Merlin!" Hermione excitedly exclaims at the red-headed beauty, "is that an engagement ring?" Ginny blushes.
           "Yes, Harry proposed just before we left, the recently engaged couple share a glance and hold each others hand. Congratulations fill the table. The new discussion transfers to who they think will be next out of their little community. Most think it will be Lavender and Ron. The two go red, they have secretly been holding hands under the table, they loosen their grip and place their hands on their laps, fearful of confrontation. The conversation is cut short by an attention grabbing cough originating from the front stands

      "Ahem, students, I thank you all for being here tonight. I understand your N.E.W.Ts are not far away and a few of you would rather be studying," the tables' attention turned to Hermione, who blushes in acceptance of the accusation. "But tonight is not just a celebration for those who are here today, it is also for those who can not be, those brave wizards and witches who were not so lucky. It is thanks to them that we can be here today, though the situation may not be ideal. And so, tonight, whilst you are partying and celebrating your survival, please also find it within you to celebrate life after death. Thank you, please, enjoy your night." With that, Dumbledore exits the stage and takes his seat at the front of the hall. Tears and applause erupt in the grand room, echoing through the school. 

         As the speech finishes, the feast appears in front of them. Ron is happier than most. The feast consists of each students favourite meal and dessert. A way for students to get to know their partners and companions better- the way to someones heart is in fact through their stomach.
         "Ooh, I have twelp broth!" Luna exclaims in pure delight, "my mother used to make it for me." She sighs, Blaise quickly changes the subject to stop her from being upset.
       "What is it, love?" He asks, looking questionably at the food in front if the blonde. "It looks... really nice!" He states weakly, she looks up at him with sparkling eyes,
         "It's like a soup made from all kinds of plants and fruits, but the main ingredient is the crushed leaves of a twelp stick!" She explains passionately, the Slytherin smiles, "would you like to try some?" The blonde asks with hopeful eyes.
        "Sure..." he exclaims, already regretting his decision, she lifts a spoon filled with the substance up to his pursed lips. He reluctantly swallows. However, his facial expression changes to a neutral one.
         "Was it nice?" The confused blonde asks innocently.
          "Yes, actually!" She smiles and turns back to her food proudly, confused as to his use of 'actually', how could someone doubt twerp broth? Zabini smiles at her before doing the same.
           Hermione's food was a muggle meal her dad used to make, before he, sadly, forgot her. She looks at her plate guiltily and rests her head on her hand in a surrendering manner. Draco looks down at her, confused,
       "What's up Granger?" He asks kindly, she turns to him in shock,
        "Nothing, it's just my meal is... well it reminds me of my parents." She says in a hushed tone as to avoid anyone else overhearing.
         "Oh," the blonde man adds confused, "what's wrong with you being reminded of them?"
          "Nothing..." she states, playing with her food, "I just miss them." Draco looks at Hermione and thinks of some way to comfort her, he doesn't know why he's even bothering.
        "I miss my parents too, my dad not as much but still a bit. I miss my mother not being here, with me, everyday. After the war we would stay together, to avoid the loneliness, it's weird I know. But I can't imagine what she might be going through. At home. On her own. Without my dad there for her." He adds, looking down at his plate, her shining, brown eyes turn their attention to him,
        "My situation is slightly different... but I understand," she places a hand on his, comfortingly, "I'm always here if you need to talk."
      "Same here, Granger." They smile, and return to their meals, as well as their hands to their own laps, where the large table discussion begins about quidditch and if the house season will be starting soon. Lavender, Hermione and Luna move to be next to each other so they can talk about different matters, like what they think about how other relationships in the school are going, and of course, Lavender knows it all.
Soon, the feast is over. Kind words are said about their passed classmates and families in a great, inclusive lecture. Once Dumbledore's speech is over, he raises his hands up and with them the tables centrepieces turn from slideshows to flying lights, each representing a fallen student. They all fly up to the ceiling and float around, where they remain for the evening.
All of the tables vanish and students are all ushered to dance. Harry is the first to get his partner up to dance, he and Ginny walk to the floor hand in hand and begin to dance to a slow, romantic song. Ron and Lavender follow as the next song begins to play, Ron rests his hand on her waist. They don't break eye contact, they really could be in love.
Blaise grows tired of sitting listening to Luna continuously talk about creatures he does not know a thing about,
"Do you want to dance, love?" Blaise asks desperately, the blonde turns to him and smiles.
"Very much so, Blaisy!" She hops up from her chair and ushers for him to take her hand, he looks at her dubiously before caving in and following her to the dance floor. He rests his hands on her waist and she rests hers on his neck. They sway to the music dreamily as Luna looks to the sky with sparkly eyes. The Slytherin looks at Luna with a gleam in his eye, what in Merlin is she doing to me?
Draco gets bored of sitting silently with Hermione. He looks at her with tired eyes, stands up and places his hand out in front of her. The brunette looks up, she raises an eyebrow and the blonde.
"Come on, Granger!" He exclaims trying to sound happy, "we can't sit down in silence all night and I doubt we will have a civil conversation that lasts the night, so, come on!" He pulls her to her feet, looks her up and down with a smirk on his face, she blushes at this, before sarcastically rolling her eyes. He leads her to the dance floor and places a hand on her waist, she flinches in shock before resetting to an unexpected comfortable state. They begin to dance slowly. Rarely speaking, intense eye contact being their only communication. For what seems like hours they dance, barely breaking eye contact.
After a few hours of classical music a more familiar band comes to play, the Wierd Sisters. Everyone rushes to the dance floor and begin to dance more confidently, jumping and screaming at the musicians.
At midnight a bell rings and the last song plays, students head to their common rooms, the party hasn't finished just yet. Hermione catches Blaise and Draco discussing something they seemed to find funny, she brushes this off and begins walking back with Luna. Ron and lavender had already left and Harry and Ginny walked behind the two friends. As they reached the common room they encountered the two Slytherins holding bottles of fire whiskey, they ushered everyone to sit, there were only six as Lavender and Ron had 'went to bed'.
      2'o'clock in the morning, only Draco and Hermione remain.
"I enjoyed spending tonight with you, Mione!" Draco admits drunkenly, Hermione smiles,
"I enjoyed tonight with you too, Draco!" Hermione adds, even more drunk then Draco. "It's early in the morning, I think I should start sleeping now, nighty, night Dee!" Yawning, she nods off. Draco watches the bushy brunette sleep, eventually deciding it may just be bed time. He stands and picks up the Gryffindor. Draco lays her in the centre of the bed and uses his wand to change her into something, all he can think of in his drunken state is one of his t-shirts. He then rolls in next to her, unaware that he has rolled close enough for her to cuddle in to him.