Desperate Measures

Chapter One

Hermione grinned. There he was.

"Ron!" She shouted gleefully as she was swept into her boyfriend's arms and swung around. She collapsed into his embrace, her smile stretching to her ears. "I missed you so much!" She exclaimed.

"I missed you too, love." Ron murmured into Hermione's hair. She took in a shaky breath, untangling herself from Ron's embrace.

She turned around and hugged everyone else that was returning to Hogwarts. Faces flooded her vision, Ginny, the fiery red head, Harry, the boy who lived, Neville, the hero, Luna, the slightly different girl. Hermione's friends.

Hermione laughed at something Ginny said and caught moment in the corner of her eye. She swiveled around, ad gasped. It was Malfoy. He was coming back to Hogwarts? Why? He hated Hogwarts.

"Hey. Guys," she interrupted, "did you know Malfoy was coming back for his last year? I didn't even know he was allowed to come back."

"No. I didn't know either." Harry responded, he face pulling into a tight grimace.

"Neither did I," Ron said, "but I don't even care. For all I care, the swine can go live in Azkaban with his father. Did you hear that he's getting the Dementor's Kiss? And his mum was sentenced to ten years!"

"Ronald!" Hermione scolded. His voice had obviously carried to Malfoy's ears as Hermione saw him cringe. He seemed uncomfortable in his own skin. His pale skin was even paler than usual, his cheeks were sunken in and his hair wasn't slicked back like usual. He seemed to shrink when everyone looked at him. He seemed vulnerable. Something was definitely wrong.

Hermione blinked, then Malfoy had disappeared. Hermione shook it off and followed her friends into the Great Hall.

The sound of chattering filled the air as a battle raged inside the Minister of Magic's mind. He stood in the shadows of the Great Hall as he thoroughly thought out his decision. Surely, they would understand, as they knew that it was for the best of all of them. But maybe there was a better way for this to happen....

No. This was the most quick and efficient way. It had to be done.

But they're only children! No they were not, they were seventeen, an adult in the world of magic.

But they went through so much! And they could handle a little more.

His mind was made up, as he stepped onto the platform, drawing everyone's attention to himself. No going back now.

Hermione wasn't sure why the Minister of Magic was at Hogwarts, but there had to be a logical reason. He didn't just show up!

He stood at the platform, and everyone hushed around him. Even the candles seemed to hold their breaths.

"Hello, students! It is wonderful to see so many of you back at Hogwarts, and I'm sure that Headmistress McGonagall is glad too. As you all know, this year is going to be a bit different from all the lives lost and all of the returning witches and wizards sitting in front of me today. Also," his eyes darted to the side nervously, "a new law has been implemented by the Ministry."

Confused glances were exchanged through the hall. No one knew about this so called "new law."

The Minister continued, his eyes glued to the floor. "This law, is called the law of repopulation."

He gave it a minute to sink in, resting his hands on the platform in front of him. Hermione didn't understand exactly what this meant. Repopulation?