The Marriage Law

Chapter 1

Hermione looked at Ron and Harry with their gloomy faces and said, “Oh snap out of it you two! We’re going home! And just think of all the time you get to spend with Ginny, Harry,” she added slyly, avoiding Ron’s gaze as she said so.

While Ron and Hermione were indeed a couple, things didn’t feel quite right to Hermione. She had liked Ron or as long as she could remember, but now that she had him, she had become conscious of the sibling-like relationship they’d had for so long, something that was hard to break out of.

As thy settled in to their compartment onboard the Hogwarts express, Ron and Harry both sighed, causing Hermione to frown. After the war, the two boys had planned to go directly into auror training. Their plans were dashed however by a Ministry announcement proclaiming that all students had to return to Hogwarts to complete their disrupted education. Hermione hadn’t minded. She felt that there was plenty of time for a career and family later and she planned on enjoying an uneventful year at Hogwarts, something she desperately needed after the events of the year before. She also knew that Harry and Ron needed the same thing even if they didn’t realized it themselves. She did wonder about it being obligatory, but chocked that up to the lack of education received by students the year before.

One upside of it being obligatory, Hermione thought, was that all of their friends had returned with them. It was with great joy that she greeted Neville, Luna, Dean and Seamus among others upon their arrival at the school. There were notable faces that were missing, she thought as she watched Parvati who looked lost without Lavender, but as she hugged the girl, she knew that this way, at least they’d get through it together. 

Another group forced back due to the new rule were the Slytherins, and though they seemed more reserved, not much seemed to have changed, Hermione observed as she caught Ron exchanging a nasty look with Gregory Goyle. Hermione nudged Harry and snickered as she watched Draco Malfoy fend off the repulsive Pansy Parkinson. The pug-faced brat seemed to be back in full force, though Hermione noted with interest that Malfoy no longer seemed to want her lavish attention. Hermione couldn’t help wondering if and how the events of last year had changed him. He had after all saved their life at his manor; not a very Slytherin-like thing to do. As she watched him and Blaise Zabini leer at some terrified first years, she thought to herself that she certainly was not going to go over and ask him about it. 

“You coming babe?” Ron asked her sweetly.

“I sure am,” she smiled, clasping his rather sweaty hand. She tried not to think about how it felt a little bit odd to be holding his hand. She was sure it would just take one getting used to.

As they entered the Great Hall, Hermione sighed contentedly. She was finally home. She vowed not to let anything, not even Slytherins or worries about Ron, ruin this moment.

Dinner was lovely. Hermione, Ron, Harry, and Ginny were joined by Neville. And the five friends laughed their way through the delectable meal. Oher friends and acquaintances kept coming over to greet them or to thank the Golden Trio for their service the year before. Just before the end of the meal, Professor McGonagall stood up to make the beginning pf term announcements. Most of them were standard, no one was to enter the forest, Weasley Wizzard Wheezes were banned, etc. One announcement however, did stand out.

“Would all seventh years, new and old, please stay behind after the feast for a brief meeting.”

This last announcement sent the hall into a buzz—what was going to happen to the seventh years? Did it have something to do with this being the first year after the war?

“Does anyone else find this, in combination with coming back being obligatory, slightly fishy?” Harry asked suspiciously.

“On the bright side, I’m in your year now!” Ginny commented happily, giving Harry a peck on the cheek.

Hermione smiled at her best girlfriend and added, “There’s nothing we can do to find out sooner so we might as well wait and see.”

“I’m sure everything will be alright,” Neville added. “I mean, what could be worse than what happened last year?”

xxxxx

At long last, their meeting was underway. Professor McGonagall addressed them from the front of the hall.

“The ministry has put a new law into effect, one which, much as I wish, I have absolutely no control over.”

The tension in the room heightened palpably.

“As you’ve probably figured out, this has something to do with the mandatory attendance this year.

At this, Harry mouthed “I told you so” to Ron, who was looking greener by the minute. Hermione shushed them, then returned her gaze to their regretful looking headmistress.

“The war spilled much magical blood and cost many lives. The wizarding population took quite a hit. For this reason, the ministry has enacted a new law, making marriage mandatory for those between the ages of 17 and 35. All of you must marry this year, and be pregnant by graduation. This will affect all of you, and is why attendance is mandatory this year. The program created to employ and facilitate this process will be carried out here, at Hogwarts for all of you.”

Shocked silence followed her statement. Hermione was in shock. Marriage this year? She certainly wanted to get married and have a family someday, but that was very far down the line. She already felt like shed been robbed of her childhood, now she was being forced to get married too?

McGonagall spoke again. “I want to make it clear that I am fully against this law. It is my belief that you have already been through enough as it is.”

“Preach woman,” Seamus muttered.

“However, my hands are tied. The law is the law. Stay after lunch tomorrow for your sorting.”

“Sorting?” A Hufflepuff called out.

“Yes, into your pairings.” McGonagall said sadly.

This time, there was an audible gasp after her statement. They were going to be forced not only into marriage, but into an arranged marriage? “We don’t get to choose!?” “They simply can’t do this!” “This is worse than the war!”

Hermione could only sit there in silence, tears streaming down her face. What if she hated who she was sorted with? She’d have to marry him, have his children. She looked at the Slytherin table. What if she was put with one of them? Someone would be.