Pansy's Fault or How Pansy Cause the Zombie Apocalypse

"They can't do this." Ginny Weasley shouted at her father, "How can you allow this to happen?"

"Sweet heart I'm sorry." He replied, "I don't have any power to stop this."

"But you do." Harry said calmly to Kingsley.

"I tried." He sighed, "But we don't have enough people on our side. Those that are light side are opposing us. We're backing the purebloods on this one. They're just terrified if they don't pair a light or neutral person to a dark person they'll have another major dark wizard in a matter of a few years."

"They're going to if they force us to marry someone they choose." Harry frowned, "It will be me. Parkinson will drive me to it. There isn't any way at all that I'd consent to having sex with her."

"I'm sure Malfoy will be dead within a week." Ginny huffed.

"With Nott right behind him." Hermione growled.

"Bulstrode." Ron whimpered still looking at the paper containing his spouse to be.

"Oh, I don't feel so bad now." Ginny snickered at her older brother, "That is seriously disgusting."

"Do you have a list of all persons being affected by this?" Harry asked.

"I do. I can't let you have it, but if a copy was to be made of this list there would be nothing I could do if I didn't know it." Kingsley smirked laying the parchment on the table and turning his back, as did the other adults in the room.

"You have a meet and greet tomorrow." Arthur mumbled as they all turned back after a few seconds, "All of you together in one place to be matched up with your chosen."

"I'm not going." Ron declared, "I think I'm moving to Australia."

"Oh we're going." Harry grinned evilly, "We're all going."

"Harry, I don't like that look." Kingsley grimaced.

"I like it." Ginny grinned, "What are we going to do?"

"Go to the library." Harry chuckled at the mouths that dropped open.

"Hey that's Mione's line." Ron spluttered.

"He can borrow it." Hermione was all for anything to get out of a marriage with Theodore Nott.

"Old laws aren't going to help you." Kingsley sighed, "This one supersedes anything that has been in place before."

"Oh well." Harry let his shoulders droop and turned his back, "I guess we can't do anything."

Only the wink to his friends let them know he wasn't backing down. To help with the ruse the other three also drooped and turned and made their way to Ron's room. They closed the door, locking and silencing it before Hermione turned on Harry.

"What's the plan?"

"First we need to get everyone involved to Hogwarts." Harry stated.

"You mean Slytherins too?" Ron asked suspiciously.

"Everyone." Harry declared, "I'm sure they are just as ticked as we are about being forced to marry each other."

"Point." He conceded.

"Letters are going to take too long." Hermione was quickly calculating how much time they had to get a meeting arranged before the event the next evening.

"It won't take us an hour." Harry grinned, "All we have to do is get to Hogwarts."

"How are we supposed to get into Hogwarts?" she asked.

"Portkey." Harry pulled a snitch out of his pocket. When his friends lifted an eyebrow he explained, "McGonagall gave it to me as an emergency portkey in case I get attacked or overwhelmed by fans. It takes me to Gryffindor tower."

"What are we waiting for?" Ginny placed a finger on the small ball.

Ron and Hermione followed with just a bit of reluctance. Harry tapped the ball with his wand and they all felt the pull as they disappeared in a swirl of color. None of them heard the gentle knock as Molly tried to get them to open the door. It would be a good thirty minutes before Bill suggested they fly up to the window to get their attention. By that time of course they were long gone.

"Harry, what are you all doing here?" Minerva asked as they all ran into the Great Hall during a staff meeting.

"Emergency." Harry explained, "May we borrow the house elves?"

"What?" she asked.

"I need them all for just about three minutes." He explained, "Oh, can we kick you out of here?"

"Harry." McGonagall started.

"Have you seen the new marriage law?" he asked. When she shook her head he continued, "It is pairing a light person with a dark one in the hopes of preventing another dark wizard like Volde."

"That's ridiculous they can't do that." She huffed.

"They are." Harry pulled his paper out, "They've matched me with Parkinson of all people."

"She was all for handing him over to Volde if you remember correctly." Hermione reminded the group.

"We don't want you here so you can't be blamed for helping." Ginny finished.

"I think we'll adjourn this meeting to my office in ten minutes." Minerva stated standing, all the others left without a glance or another question, "Babble."

"Yes Headmistress." And old elf popped into the room.

"Aid Mr. Potter with whatever he needs please. Whether it be lunch or anything else." She stated and pulled the doors shut behind her as she went.

"What is you being needing?" he turned to the young man.

"Can you and the other elves please grab each of the people on this list and bring them back here." He asked and then thought of the literal way Dobby had taken everything, "Make sure they are properly dressed with no one straight out of the shower or anything. We just want them here within the hour."

"We can do that Master Harry." He nodded and popped away.

"Harry." Hermione started.

"Is it worth the argument to marry Nott instead of using what we can?" he stopped her before she could start.

"Right." She nodded, "But you will pay them."

"I will offer." He stated.

"I wonder why he called you master." Ginny pondered, "They don't usually do that unless you own them."

She didn't get her answer as people started popping into the hall. After about fifteen minutes the popping stopped but the roar of talking in the room was almost overpowering. Harry stood on the teacher's platform and set a loud firework off to catch everyone's attention. It quieted immediately and everyone turned to face him.

"Good morning, I trust you all received the same notice I did." He held up his ministry decree.

"Are you the one that kidnapped us all?" Draco yelled.

"I didn't kidnap you the house elves of Hogwarts did." He smiled, "I did express the interest in talking to all of you and you know how helpful they are."

"Good one Harry." Seamus called.

"Now Draco are you happy with the person they've chosen for you?" Harry addressed him since he was the one that spoke first.

"NO." he yelled, "They negated my contract with Astoria. We've had that since she was born."

"Right and I am betting the rest of you feel the same." He stated.

"But what can we do about it?" Padma asked from beside her sister, "It supersedes any laws or contracts placed before it."

"As I see it we can all rebel separately and bring many charges against the ministry and hold up court for a while." He said, "Or we can work together and rebel causing an upheaval of tremendous proportions. We already know we can beat any of them with magic. If we work together we can over throw the whole thing."

"How?" came a chorus of exclamations.

"I don't have a complete plan yet but if we work together we can develop one. We only have twenty four hours in which to do so." He said, "Can we put our differences behind us and work together?"

"What if we don't want to be led by you?" Pansy Parkinson growled out.

"I have an idea." Harry grinned, "Everyone, take a seat at your house table. Now we are going to vote for a leader. First nominations, they must be nominated and seconded and the person must agree to be nominated."

"I nominate Draco." She purred.

"I don't want it." Draco announced before it could be seconded, "If this falls flat I don't want to be blamed."

"Any others?"

"Harry Potter." Luna stood.

"I second it." Ron added immediately.

"I will agree to be nominated." He nodded, "Next?"

"Hermione Granger." George snickered from the back.

"NO." she stated loudly, "Though I thank you for the vote George."

They waited and no one else volunteered a name, Ron called it, "Anyone opposed to being led by Harry?" Pansy was the only one who raised her hand, "All for Harry?" Most of the room raised their hands.

"Ok thank you." Harry nodded, "Anyone who doesn't want to be a part of this stand up. Babble."

"Yes Master Harry." He asked softly.

"Everyone standing is to be returned home and their memories of this meeting taken." He stated. This caused a few gasps around the room.

Eighteen hours later they were closer but not ready for their rebellion. Everyone had been resting for the last few hours except Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Neville and Luna. The rest of the people in the room woke up as food began to appear on the tables. Harry was thinking deeply and only pushing the food around on his plate as he sat at the table.

"Is the food not to your liking Master Harry?" Babble appeared at his elbow.

"It's delicious as always." Harry wasn't paying attention he was thinking of the problem.

Babble stood for several more moment before he sighed and popped away. It was time for them to begin getting ready for the meet and greet. So the group left Hogwarts to their own homes. Harry was the last out of the Great Hall. He looked back with a sense of longing before he turned and left the building he considered home.

When they arrived at the Burrow they were met with concerned looks and Molly Weasley's anger, "Where have you been?"

"Hogwarts." They all answered together.

"We have a plan but not much of one." Hermione added.

"What are you going to do?" Arthur asked his voice and face full of concern.

Harry shook his head, "Lawsuits, we couldn't agree on any other option."

"I surprised you agreed on anything." Charlie added.

"You have to be there in an hour." Molly's anger was gone.

"We know Mum." Ron led the way upstairs.

They were back and properly dressed before the hour was up. A portkey was used to deposit them in a large room in the ministry. Groups of small tables for two were spread around the edge of the room. The middle of the floor was open. It took next to no time for all the people to arrive. Kingsley stood on the stage and began to speak.

"Before we begin I would encourage you to find your seat." He spoke with no emotion, "There are place names on each table so find the one with your name and sit there. You will be sitting with you ministry chosen partner."

"May we ask questions?" Hermione refused to move.

"There will be a question and answer time at one point today." He nodded to the young woman, "If you will please move to your seats so we can all be comfortable when we begin."

It was slow going but eventually the all found their seats. Harry was aware that he wasn't the only one refusing to look at their partner. Ron and Hermione were nowhere near him but Neville and Luna were with their partners within a few tables of Harry.

"Thank you." Kingsley stood again, "I am turning this over to the writer of this law, Delores Umbridge."

Not one person clapped. No one booed. No one seemed to even move. She stood at the podium for several moments smiling at them all. It was like she was waiting for the applause to end, but it had never begun. She cleared her throat with the same hem hem noise she always made.

"Thank you for that kind welcome." She seemed to focus on Harry, "It is so nice to see you all here with your ministry approved spouses to be."

Harry narrowed his eyes. This was just what he expected from her. He didn't notice that he wasn't the only narrow eyed glare. He did hear some people shuffling in their seats as Umbridge's sickly sweet voice continued.

"We are pleased at the positive response we've had to this new and exciting law." Several people openly scoffed at the woman but she ignored them, "We are generously allowing you up to six months for engagement before we expect marriages to occur and children should follow within one year. We are glad that you are willing to help restore our population."

More grumbling went around the room like a wave. Umbridge was smiling horridly up at the podium. Harry decided she was insane and could hear the applause that wasn't happening. It was the only thing that explained her pauses to him. It was also insanity to try and force these marriages on them.

Harry heard a familiar grumble and turned to find Draco and Ginny directly behind him, "She is insane."

"I think the same." Harry whispered back, "How big is our chance of getting her committed?"

"Probably not big enough." He smirked back, "I'm going to start my lawsuit tomorrow."

"Me too." Harry replied.

"Now to foster the relationships we will be having more meetings like this set up." Umbridge continued, "They will be safe, ministry approved meetings so you can feel comfortable and get to know your chosen spouse."

"She has to be kidding." Draco hissed.

"That insanity claim is sounding easier." Harry snickered.