The Preservation Act

In her sixth year at Hogwarts, Hermione Granger expected danger.

She expected whispers about Voldemort, Harry's suspicions about Draco Malfoy, strange lessons with Dumbledore, and the uneasy feeling that the war was drawing closer to the castle walls.
She did not expect the Ministry of Magic to pass a law forcing every witch and wizard of age into magically determined marriages.

She certainly did not expect her name to appear beside Severus Snape's.
Cruel, brilliant, feared, and impossible to understand, Snape has spent six years making Hermione feel small. To him, she is Potter's friend, a Muggle-born Gryffindor, and an infuriatingly clever student who asks too many questions.
But the Ministry calls their match absolute.

As Hogwarts fractures beneath fear, Death Eater influence, and an ancient law no one fully understands, Hermione and Snape are forced into a dangerous alliance neither of them wants. The war is still coming. Draco Malfoy is still hiding something. Harry is still chasing the truth. And somewhere behind the Ministry's polished words, Voldemort has found a new way to control them all.
Hermione Granger has always believed rules can be challenged, laws can be broken, and truth can be found.

But some magic was never meant to be fair.

And some bonds were never meant to be survived.