The Marriage Law

Sirius Black

Kingsley's POV

"Sirius?!"

I watched as Hermione gaped at me in horror. I hated seeing her like this, I really did, but there was nothing I could do. The Wizengamot had made their decision and I could not change it. 

"Kingsley, he's old enough to be my father! Surely the ministry can't really expect me to marry him.

"I'm sorry, Hermione. It's not just expected, it's required." I looked at her gently, noticing as I did that her brown eyes had started to fill with tears. "I wish there was some other way. I am truly sorry."

She swallowed hard, and a look of determination set itself on her face.

"It's not your fault, Kingsley. If the only way for me to keep my magic is to...marry...my...best friends...godfather...then I guess that's what I'll have to do."

Hermione choked out the words like they hurt her to say them. Her jaw clenched and she turned her back to me, obviously trying to hide her tears.

"Hermione..." I walk over to her and place a hand on her shoulder. "Oh, Hermione, I wish that it didn't have to be this way. I really do. I'm so, so sorry."

She shrugged me off.

"Like I said, Kingsley. It's not your fault." She turned back around, giving me a wavering smile. "Is it okay if I head back inside? I'd like to talk to Ginny about this."

"Of course. Be sure to contact me if you need anything, okay?"

She gave me another watery smile.

"Okay."

Ginny's POV

We were all in the middle of planning mine and Harry's wedding along with Fleur and Bill's baby shower when Hermione came back inside. To anyone else she would have seemed fine. Bloody hell, even I thought she was fine at first. But when she sat down next to me, I started to notice. The corners of her eyes were crinkled, tense. Her jaw was set tight and her lips were pressed into tiny slits. 

"Hermione?" Fluer had come over to place a dainty hand on Hermione's arm. "What did Kingsley want?"

Hermione looked down at her hands, picking at the cuticles on one.

"He...wanted to tell me who I'm matched with."

"And?"

Even my gentle prodding was too much for her. She sobbed, choking back tears."

"Oh, Hermione!"

I grabbed her arm and pulled her to her feet. I wrapped my arm around her shoulders and we escaped to the kitchen. 

"G-g-ginny..."

Hermione put her head on my shoulder and sobbed, trembling. I just held her, and eventually I started crying too. When we pulled apart, her eyes were swollen and red from crying, just like mine probably were.

"You don't have to if you don't want to, but...can you tell me who you were matched with?"

She sniffed, wiping her eyes with the backs of her hands. Finally she mumbled under her breath,

"Sirius Black."

"Excuse me?" I leaned in closer, sure that I had heard wrong. "I must have been mistaken. I thought you said the Ministry of Magic was making you marry Sirius Black, but he's like three times your age so that would be ridiculous."

"It is ridiculous, Ginny! He's old enough to be my father! And the ministry wants me to marry him!"

I couldn't believe my ears. Surely the ministry couldn't be this corrupt-could it?

"Oh, Hermione, I'm so sorry! I wish there was something I could do."

She shook her head gently, her gaze set.

"You're right, Ginny. There's nothing anyone can do. Except...will you help me tell everyone?"

"Of course I will."

12 Grimmauld Place (Sirius' POV)

"Hermione?" I stared at Kingsley in disbelief. "You must be joking. I'm old enough to be her father!"

"I know it's...not ideal, but the Wizengamot has spoken. You will marry Hermione within a year and have a child within two years or both of you will lose your magic."

I glared at Kingsley. I knew I shouldn't be mad at him-it wasn't his fault-but I couldn't help it.

"Well, if the Wizengamot has spoken, then I guess that's that."

"Oh, come now, Sirius." Kingsley's face was almost pleading. "I'd have thought you would have loved to marry a muggleborn. You know, make your mother mad, disgrace the family name. Just like when you married a werewolf. And a male one at that."

"Leave. Remus. Out of this." I said through gritted teeth. "Like I said, Hermione is half my age! Marrying her..."

"Is legally required of you. And I'd suggest you pay her a visit soon. You do actually have to speak to her, you know."

And with a crack, he apparated away.

I groaned, rubbing my temples.

"Kreacher!" 

There was another crack and the rugged old house elf appeared at my feet.

"Yes, flithy traitor, besmircher of my mistresses bloodlines, disgrace to the noble and most ancient house of Black-"

"Enough! Fetch me a drink, Kreacher." I sigh, settling back into a moth eaten chair. "It's been a rough morning."

"Right away my mistresses most hated son, one who-"

"KREACHER SHUT IT!"