Alice wasn't quite sure how to react to anything anymore. Her life was turning upside down even more so than it already was, and it was all thanks to the Ministry of Magic and their new, ridiculous law about marriage. Most of the people she knew that were her age and were unmarried that were in a serious relationship had gone to the Ministry and announced that they were to be married within the next year so they wouldn't receive the letter that was now sitting on her table staring her in the face. She needed to open it, but Merlin knew she wasn't ready to.

She brought her fingers through her long chocolate colored locks and allowed her eyes to fixate on the envelope before her before she finally broke down and opened it. Her older brother, the only person she had left in the world was sitting there almost equally as anxious as he opened his own. The remaining two Tearstone siblings lives were about to change indefinitely.

The letter was almost all too haunting.

To Miss Alice Leigh Tearstone:

As we are sure you are aware, the new law of the Ministry of Magic is that all witches and wizards over the age of 18 are to marry before the end of a year's time. Most of these letters have taken the better part of a month to get out because, here at the Ministry, we are looking to find those who are most compatible together to help move our future forward in a bright sense. We have taken into consideration many things in regards to your perfect match sure as lineage, school records, job status, and other important facts about you. Today marks your first day of 365 to get married to the person we have matched you to, and hope that you will find the silver linings in this.

Your match: Oliver Wood.

Thank you for your time, and remember, we will see you soon, as in three months we have a required meeting with you and your spouse to be.

The letter itself was rubbish, but Alice felt the letter drop from her hands when she read the name. Oliver Wood, The Oliver Wood. The one who once played for Puddlemere United but changed to a Quidditch Instructor after the war. That surprised her to the high heavens.

"Why her?" her brother groaned loudly. "I got Angela Marks. I hate that woman with a blimey passion. She threw me down the stairs our first year at Hogwarts together."

"I thought you and Angela were a thing once." Alice quipped, but her brother, Erik, gave her a look.

"We were until she said I wasn't cultured enough, that Quidditch ruled my life. I am no Oliver Wood mind you!" he said, and Alice looked away. "Who'd you get anyway?"

"Oliver Wood." she replied, reluctantly and he snatched the letter from her hands and laughed loudly.

"Oh, my dear sister of mine. I hope you can handle him!" He said, as amused as could be. She put her head in her hands.

"Just because you are on the Falmouth Falcons doesn't mean that you can laugh at me for having a Quidditch player, er instructor, for a.compatible match." She quipped. "Besides you have quite a handful with Angela."

Erik shot her a look, and he sighed. "We better owl them. Want to set up a double date to meet for lunch?"

"Sure. It will.make things easier." Alice agreed as she wrote to Oliver.

-

Draco straightened himself out. Today was going to be particularly interesting as he hadn't had much time to himself at all since the end of the war. He had renounced his former status as a Death Eater and had been going to lessons to become a healer. His mother had.never been prouder, but today, she stood before.him, her face almost grave. He had received hos.letter yesterday from the Ministry.

Today he was to meet his.match, Evangeline Hastings, and her family decided to tag along from what he understood. He looked.to his.mirror again before running.his.fingers through his.hair.

"How do I look, mum?" He asked, and Narcissa smiled.

"You look wonderful, Draco, now.come, they'll be arriving any moment.now." she said, and he gave a nod.

He was.in a nice.pair of jeans with a black blazer over a white button down shirt, and he.sighed as.he descended the stairs. Let the day be.over with soon.

Oliver ran his hand through his damp hair, a beige towel was wrapped around his waist. He squirted some minty toothpaste on his green toothbrush and proceeded to brush his teeth, getting ready for today's activities. After rinsing his mouth with water, followed by mouthwash, he flossed real quick and threw the thin white thread away. He slipped on some boxers with lightly faded blue jeans and a dark gray v-neck sweater with his black jacket. He put on his black and white Nike sneakers and glanced at the letter he had received just before his shower. There was a new law that was recently approved through the Ministry, that anyone over the age of eighteen had to be married by the end of the year; and hear was the catch- you was matched with someone. The name on his letter was one he hadn't recognized, which could be a good thing, or a bad thing.

Alice Leigh Tearstone. The name in bold letters stood out to him. He was terrible with names anyways, but the name Tearstone sounded somewhat familiar. Sighing he folded up the paper and stuffed it into the back pocket of his jeans. He had received another letter just a few seconds before about meeting for lunch, from the young woman; Alice Tearstone. He knew he'd have to make time for this, but it would be difficult to seeing as how Quiddich practice started in two weeks. The try-outs was last month, so at least that was out of the way.

He checked himself over once more spraying some Old Spice cologne on himself and heading to where they was meeting for lunch. He was a couple minutes earlier, and first to arrive. A wave of adrenaline rushed through him. He's only been on a blind date once, and it turned out terribly. So he was anticipating this. He found himself wondering what this girl was like, what she even looked like, if she was chubby or if she was slim, this helped pass the time.

----

Evangeline, most often called Eva, was sprawled out on her bed. She had already showered, but hadn't began getting ready yet, and she didn't want to. This whole idea and getting married thing was stupid as hell, and she didn't want any part of it, but apparently she had no choice. Groaning after hearing her mom call after her for the third time, Eva got up out of bed and looked through her closer before grabbing a pretty dress, the color of lavender, it could go well with her milky skin and fiery red hair and blazing green eyes. She pulled it on. It flowed around her knees, the straps thin, the top criss crossing around the chest area. She put on white sandal wedges and dried her hair, letting it curl naturally. She applied natural make-up on her face after brushing her teeth and walked downstairs to meet her parents and youngest brother, Allen, who was dressed on khaikis and a orange Polo shirt. "Oh, honey, you looked adorable." Mrs. Hastings said, gawking at her daughter.

Eva rolled her eyes and forced a smile on her face. "Thanks, Mom. Where's Dad?" Eva asked, looking around for her father. "He is finishing getting ready himself, you two are so much alike." Eva smiled once again, having to force it. After Eva's father joined them, they headed to the Malfoys'.

Draco Malfoy, once a followed of the Death Eaters. Why she was matched to him, Eva would never know. The last she heard he was an awful person, she hadn't heard one nice thing about him, not to mention he was a Slytherin and she was a Gryffindor, and he was pure-blooded and Eva was half-blooded, or what he could call a "muggle". She stood in front of the door, watching her "muggle" father ring the door bell and her wizard mother standing behind him, Allen holding her hand, and Eva beside them. They waited for the door to be opened.

Alice sighed, getting ready for the day. She had to look her best, so she dressed in a soft pastel blue sundress with Her hair in loose curls and a pair of tan gladiator sandals. Her make up was simple, enough to highlight her face, and she pulled her purse over her arm as she looked to her brother. He had cleaned up nice, wearing black slacks, a nice pastel yellow shirt, and a black tie.

"Looking sharp, Erik." She said, and he rolled his eyes.

"Kinda glad you got Wood now, maybe when Angela starts up I can ignore.her successfully." he said, and Alice shook her head.

"Glad you know everyone at this little.get together." She said. "We need to be off, or we'll be late." She said. "That and.I have to go to the stables today. Smoke needs to be ridden."

"You and your Hippogriff." He said, and soon they disappeared and apparated before the Leaky Cauldron where Oliver was waiting. Erik wasted little time getting over to him. "Oliver Wood! My my, it's been an age. So, I hear Ministry paired you up with my sister."

Alice made her way over, a small chill running over.her. "So sorry about Erik, sometimes he forgets that I'm here. I'm Alice Tearstone." She said, offering her hand to him to shake and soon a blonde came.forth.

"Erik, how did we end up compatible on any planet? Oh, hi Alice, darling. Looking.good." Angela Marks said.

"May I suggest we take this inside." Alice said.

-

Draco could hear the.knock on the door as he and his mother went over and answered the door. The family before them caused Narcissa to smile. "Welcome, we have tea.ready in the garden." She said, and they headed that way. Draco lingered, his eyes on the red head before him. She was.attractive, and he broke from his thoughts and followed the group.

The garden was more colorful, Draco had been planting colorful flowers to try to change the mood from dark. He gave a long sigh, looking in his cup. "So, I'm curious, Miss Evangeline, what field of work are you going into?" Narcissa asked, and Draco looked up to Evangeline's parents.

Narcissa smiled. "Draco has been working towards becoming a healer."

"Yeah." He finally spoke, and he felt himself sink. This was all sorts of uncomfortable.

Oliver was standing outside kicking at a small pebble, hands stuffed in the pocket of his jeans, when a voice came from behind him. Turning, he beamed as he greeted an old friend, Erik. Of course. Erik Tearstone, how could he have forgotten one of his oldest friends? "Erik." He said and chuckled when he mentioned the ministry pairing him up with his sister. "Alice is your sister?" He said and glanced at the beautiful young woman standing behind Erik. "Yes, he was never good at introductions." Oliver said with amusement as he took her hand and gently shook it. "Pleasure, Alice." He said to her.

He hardly noticed the blonde who had approached Erik, he recognized her from Hogwarts, but her name wasn't registering with him. When Alice suggested they go inside, Oliver nodded in agreement. "Let's go." He said and held open the door, sole purpose for his date and "match", Alice, but he couldn't come across as a complete ass hole. He flashed Alice with his most charming and dazzling smile.

----

Eva was deep in thought when Narcissa came to answer the door. She invited them inside and led them to the garden for tea. Eva wanted to scream 'murderer' at Draco and his mother, give them the most dangerous spell she knew, hurt them like the people he has hurt, but she fought that urge . Her eyes fell on Draco and was a little taken aback, he looked different, a lot different then what she had remembered him being only a couple years ago. He looked.. sane.

When they entered the garden, Eva's breath caught in her throat. It was gorgeous, she always had a green thumb herself. She expected it to be gloomy, different shades of grey and black, but no. This was like a garden you'd see in a Home & Garden magazine, and Eva couldn't contain the huge grin glued on her face. She glanced up when Narcissa mentioned Draco becoming a healer. Eva looked at him, curiosity showed on her face.

"Really?" She asked, unable to hide the surprise in her voice.

Alice smiled when they headed inside, but became.slightly displeased at the spat Angela and Erik were already having. She hung back a moment as the.other two sat down, and she grabbed hold of Oliver's hand and led.him into a nearby booth. "Sorry about that. Trust me, you don't want to be around Erik and Angela when they get on a row."

She saw their waitress and ordered a cup of tea and her usual, baked potato soup with some breadsticks. She looked to Oliver and spoke. "So, what is it you do for a living? I mean, this conversation has to start somewhere." She said, And once her tea arrived she took a sip. "I'm a spell inventor."

--

Draco could hear the conversation around them, but what really got him was the surprise in Eva's voice. He.knew a lot of people hated him, but he had.made amends with those who he could. Harry Potter, the Weasleys, Granger. But the rest of the world.saw him as scrum, and after all the pain he saw in the war, He wanted to be a healer.

He.nodded. "Yes really. I went back over the last few.months and took NEWT courses with Slughorn and Flitwick, and I take my exams for an internship in St. Mungos on MOnday."

Draco felt his.mother's eyes on him. "He will do wonderfully. I mean, he mended the garden too. Trimmed down all the hedges, brought some life back into it." Narcissa said, and Draco nodded, taking up his cup of tea and taking a sip.

Oliver watched curiously at the bickering couple. That would be interesting to see work itself out. At that point, he was thankful for Alice's soft and warm hand in his own, leading him to a separate booth where it was much more quite, which he didn't mind one bit. He chuckled and shook his head. "No, it doesn't look exactly like entertainment telly over there." He commented, jutting his thumb behind him at the couple, who was still in deep discussion about something. "But, it's obvious they were meant to be, right? That's what this whole new law is about. The person you're paired with, you're destined to be with." He said, shrugging. He ordered himself a monster cheeseburger with a side of french fries and a cola.

He sipped on his dark cola when their waiter brought their drinks over. He gave Alice his charming half-smile when she asked what he did for a living. "I coach professional Quidditch." He replied, obviously very proud of his job title. He didn't brag or boast, but it was something he was extremely proud of himself for accomplishing. It wasn't terribly long after they ordered that their waiter brought out their food, placing Oliver's burger and fries in front of him and Alice's soup and breadsticks in front of her. Oliver thanked their waiter and squirted some ketchup on his plate, beginning to eat his food.

"I assume you went to Hogwarts? Obviously. What house were you in? When did you graduate?" He asked between bites of his gigantic cheeseburger, swallowing bites down with his cola.

----------

Eva still couldn't hardly believe what she heard. Her eyes were glued on the beautiful garden she was standing in. Everything around her was so lush, so green, so beautiful, and so alive. Had Draco Malfoy really done this? The O-shape of her mouth turned to a small smile. But this could have just as easily all been an act, right? He could be doing this to just make himself look good. "And you'd be a stupid, very stupid girl, for falling that easily for his act." The little voice inside her head told her, almost as if it was mocking her. She mentally told herself to shut-up and pushed all those negative thoughts out of her mind.

She sat down at a patio table, an umbrella blocking out the sun's rays. She took a small sip of her tea, but no matter how hard she tried she just could not, and she meant COULD NOT, take her eyes off the man she was sitting so close to. Draco Malfoy, once a follower of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named (like it mattered anymore), was now training to be a healer? He had taken lives, right? Eva didn't know a bunch of the war, only what she heard. She quickly took her eyes of Draco, realizing she had been staring too long.

Had he noticed? Her cheeks burned a bright shade of red as she kept her eyes downcast, slowly sipping on her tea, listening to her parents converse with Draco's mother.

Alice listened intently as Oliver spoke, and she.gave a small smile. "Sounds like.fun. What team do you coach?" She asked, and his.next question made her sigh.

"I was a Ravenclaw. I graduated the year of the Triwizard tournament. Then I worked.in the Department of Mysteries for a time before I got into spell inventing. Have two spells right now that are being patented." She said. Her eyes bright as she ate her.food. "I already know when you graduates.and what house you were in. You and Erik.were quite a pair in school. Rodney and I uses to tease him endlessly about it." She said, her.eyes.falling.

Rodney had died in the war, protecting her.as.he always had. Smoke had been his Hippogriff, but Alice kept Smoke in his.memory. "this may seem odd, but after we're done, would you want to run an errand with me? I just don't like going to the stables alone, and Erik is.obviously preoccupied."

She.nodded in the direction of the now.snagging couple and shook her head.

-

Draco felt eyes.on him and wanted to shrink away, but rather than doing so, he remained silent as.long as he could before excusing himself. He began walking about the garden, making the excuse that he.needed to stretch his legs some. It wasn't a pie, but he just didn't like feeling so judged. No one.understood. He never killed.anyone, he.never meant to hurt anyone.either, he had.done what he had for his.father... who was.now.serving a five year term in Azkaban for his misdeeds.

He got to one of the yellow.rose bushes and.he.pruned it a bit, taking a few.of the.flowers and summoning a vase before.watching it.float to the.table.

Oliver, smiling at the beautiful woman sitting across from him. He ate a little over half his burger and all his fries and decided he was full afterwards, slowly sipping on his cola as she spoke about herself. "I play for Puddlemere United. Started off as a player and moved to a coach after a few.. injuries I pertained during the famous Battle featuring.. well, you know who." He said. They had lost so many friends in that battle. Sighing, he decided to change the subject quickly before he got too sentimental, but thankfully she had done it for them.

He nodded when she asked if he'd go with her to run some errands. "I don't mind at all. I enjoy going to the stables myself, always thought of getting my own Hippogriff. He said, putting a crisp twenty dollar bill down for their food. "If you're done, we can go. I'm sure they won't miss us one bit, and if so, well oh well." He joked, getting up, offering his hand out to her. "After you me lady." He said, his Scottish roots showing through.

---

Eva watched as Draco stood up and left the small group. Excusing herself, she put her small cup of tea down and followed him, making sure not to make a noise. He stopped in front of a yellow bush, and watched in awe as he summoned up a beautiful white vase, picking the flowers and putting some in the vase. "This is truly a beautiful garden.. I may possibly have judged you too quick." Eva said, letting her presence known as she came into the clearing. She examined the vase of yellow roses. "They were always my favorite, roses, I mean. Yellow, red, pink, whatever color they came come in, I like them all."

She smiled softly, sitting at the table they were nearby. How many of these did they have out here? "I'm sorry, Draco. You must have had a rough life, with your father and all." She said, her voice growing soft, almost sympathetic.

Alice smiled, softly, when Oliver said he'd go with her and soon they were leaving the Leaky Cauldron and heading on their way. "They are magnificent creatures. Smoke is a beauty too." She said, and once they were outside she took hold of his hand and with a bit of concentration, shed disapparated them and they reappeared before the stables.

Alice gently dropped Oliver's hand and headed over to the desk and the woman smiled. "Hello, Alice, Smoke has been waiting for you." She said, looking towards Oliver behind her, "who is your guest?"

"Oliver Wood, My Ministry chosen match." She said before waving him over. "She still in her.stable?"

"Yes ma'am." The desk woman said, and soon Alice was heading back, and she stopped before a stable with a beautiful grey and white Hippogriff. She bowed slightly before walking.closer and began petting the creature. "We'll fly.in a minute, I want you to meet someone."

--

Draco jumped slightly at Eva's voice, and.she listened to her words. "Yeah, well, plenty of people judge too quickly, it just happens I suppose." He said, and as she spoke of roses being her favorite, he gave a small half smile, picking one in full bloom and.handing it to her as they moved to another table and sat down.

Then she said something and he closed his eyes. "It wasn't bad, not until the dark Lord came.back full force." He said, and he looked.back to the garden. "After it all I just couldn't bring myself to sit by with all the pain anymore, so I became a healer."