A few months after the war ended, the ministry discovered that the wizard population had dropped by a drastic amount. So after weeks of debating on what to do. The marriage law was invited. All single witches/wizards from 17 - 40 had to marry their...
It's been nearly four months since the final battle at Hogwarts. 116 days, 13 hours, 22 minutes, and 12 seconds to be exact. After the war ended, I found my cat Crookshanks with another half-kneazle. I named her Altheia and decided to adopt her. I also discovered that my parents died in Australia. As I can't stand going back home, I rent a room in the Leaky Cauldron. I stayed with the Weasley's for about a week and a half, but it felt wrong to stay there after I broke up with Ron, so I moved to the Leaky Cauldron.
Anyway, I'm in the dining area of the Leaky Cauldron reading the Daily Prophet as I eat my breakfast and have my morning tea. Crookshanks is resting on my lap and Altheia is laying on my shoulders. I nearly choked on my tea and almost sent Altheia flying off my shoulder when I saw the front page.
Marriage Law Passed
Due to the drastic digress in the magical population during the wizarding war, the Ministry of Magic has been in heavy debate. After weeks of discussion, it was finally agreed to pass a mandatory marriage law for all single witches and wizards, aged seventeen to forty.
The Department of Magical Unions and Marriage has been placed in charge of pairing couples. They are using not only academic skills to pair partners, but also character profiling, and partner compatibility. They are also trying to pair up partners who already know each other.
The couples will have six months to marry, unless they don't know each other, in which case they will have nine. After the marriage, the couples have a year to have or be expecting their first child. They will then have another three years to be expecting their second one. Once all the requirements of the new law are met, couples may divorce if they wish too.
The Ministry of Magic has said in a statement that more information on the new marriage law will be given to eligible witches and wizards later today, along with the name of their future spouse. We advise all eligible witches and wizards to keep in mind that there will be severe consequences for those who fail to comply with the new law.
I groan as I put the paper down and rub my temples. We've already been through so much, but now they spring this on us. I have no intentions of not complying with the law, I just hope I'm paired with a kind, smart, and loyal wizard. In other words, not Ron.
An hour passes before an owl brings me a letter stamped with the ministry's official seal. I'm in my room relaxing by the fire with Crookshanks asleep at my feet and Altheia grooming herself when it arrives. My heart racing, I lean forward to read the letter by firelight.
Miss Hermione Granger:
I am pleased to inform you that we have the perfect match for you! He is intelligent, brave, compassionate, and level-headed, all the qualities prized in the house that he was also in: Gryffindor. Like you, he was top of his year at Hogwarts.
However I must warn you. He is much older than you and has a four and a half month old son. Because of these unique conditions, the Minister of Magic himself is informing your husband to be as well as giving him your special rules.
Please remember that failure to comply with any part of the law will lead to being banished from the magical world and/or being imprisoned in Azkaban, depending on the seriousness of the infraction. As I said before, your husband to be has your rules.
Your partner is Professor Remus John Lupin. I wish you both a long and happy life together.
Yours sincerely,
Mafalda Hopkirk
(The Den) Remus' POV
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I had just put Teddy down for a nap when Kingsley appears from my fireplace. He waves his wand and is instantly free of all soot.
"Morning Kingsley. I wasn't expecting company today. Is something wrong?" He shakes his head but says nothing else. I offer him a drink and this time he nods. After I've poured us both a glass, we sit down in the den. "What can I do for you today?" I ask.
"I trust you've heard about the new law?" The question feels rhetorical, since he's looking at the Daily Prophet on the coffee table, but I answer anyway.
"I have. I assume it involves me?"
Kingsley sighs and puts his drink down, looking at me seriously. "Unfortunately Remus, it does. Believe me, I tried to get you out of it. After all, you're a widower with a four and a half month old son. But as you're still in the age group, I was overruled by the Wizengamot. I did, however, manage to get you extra time."
"How much time?" I ask. I'm trying to stay calm, but how can I? I just lost Dora, and now the ministry is forcing me to marry some other witch. Not only that, I have to have two children with her!
"A year to marry and then a year to be expecting your first child," Kingsley explains. "As you already have a son, the Wizengamot has allowed that you and your partner need only to have one child. Once the child is born, you may both divorce if you want to."
"Who is my spouse?" Rather than answer my question, Kingsley hands me an official letter from the Ministry. I open it and read the first paragraph.
Mister Remus John Lupin:
I am pleased to inform you that we have found you the perfect match. She is clever, hard-working, compassionate, and very responsible, all prized qualities of the house you share, Gryffindor. At Hogwarts, she was considered the brightest witch of her age. Your partner is Hermione Jean Granger.
"You can't be serious, Kingsley!" I exclaim. "I'm old enough to be her father!" Teddy whimpers at my raised voice, so I go pick him up. I hold him close and rock him gently as I sit back down.
"I know it's not the best situation, but you know each other." Kingsley rests a hand on my arm reassuringly. "You're very compatible. Hermione has grown into a lovely strong young woman, Remus."
Before I can retort, Hermione too appears from the fireplace.
"Professor Lupin, I-oh, I'm sorry, Minister. I didn't mean to interrupt."
"Nonsense, Hermione, I was just leaving." Kingsley smiles at her encouragingly. "And please, call me Kingsley. We fought together in the war, after all. Good day to you both." And with that, he disapperates.
Hermione and I sit in silence for a few moments. I look down at Teddy to avoid meeting her gaze. Finally she says,
"I was hoping we could talk."
"Of course." I set Teddy down and walk over to her. "Would you like anything to drink?"
"A butter beer would be nice,"she tells me as she sits in Kingsley's vacant seat. I pour her drink and hand it to her, steeling myself for an awkward conversation.
A/N
Picture above of Hermione's cats and on the external link of Daily Prophet Title.
Edited by the talented @enterdausernamehere on April 17th 2023.
