Draco Malfoy. The name screamed out at her.
Draco Malfoy. She repeated numbly in her head.
Draco Malfoy. Her future husband.
The day before
"Did you hear?" Ginny Weasley asked as she followed her friend through the crowds of Diagon Alley. Hermione was to pick up several Transfiguration books for the start of a new year at Hogwarts. At the age of 20, Hermione worked at Hogwarts as a Transfiguration professor and a part time Healer.
Hogwarts restarted a year ago, after the castle went through severe refurnishing. Three new professors joined the staff. Neville Longbottom, who was to teach Herbology, after Professor Sprout's unexpected retirement; Hermione Granger, who was to teach Transfiguration as Professor McGonagall see to it that she needed to have sometime off and Draco Malfoy, who was to teach Defence against the Dark Arts, after his deceased godfather, Severus Snape.
"The Ministry is releasing a new law. A Marriage Law." Ginny said loudly as she squeezed through the crowds to follow her hurrying friend. It turned a few heads and Hermione whirled around to look at her friend. "It applies only to those who were involved in the war. People like us, ages eighteen to twenty three."
"What of those who are already married or engaged?" Hermione wondered.
"They won't be counted," Ginny sighed in relief. She was engaged to Harry, so the two was fortunate enough not to be in the Law. "But you and Ron… it'd be luck if you two end up together. Merlin knows who they'll pair the two of you up with."
"Where did you hear this from?" A witch inquired from beside Hermione. She looked about their age, so Hermione supposed that she too was to be involved with the Law.
"My dad. Apparently Kingsley finalised it just this morning. It'll be on the Prophet tomorrow for sure. I think they're going to put the pairs in the Prophet as well." Ginny replied. The witch nodded and hurried away with wide eyes. "I think that scared her away."
"Goodness, the Prophet? Everyone's name will be on their with their partner? Everyone will know!" Hermione groaned. "I'd give it 2 months before every couple decide to get a divorce after their marriage. They can't simply pair people together at random!"
"But they're not—excuse me! Hermione! Wait!—they're using the sorting hat." Ginny hissed next to her ear as they entered Flourish and Blotts. "Rumour has it that the sorting hat had been used as a match-making hat during the regency era, when there was no students left to sort. It said it matched Harry's, Malfoy's, Neville's and my parents! Dad didn't argue with it because he said it was technically true." Ginny didn't explain what she meant, then turned her voice to a whisper, "Trelawney used it as a companion once when they were trying to 'see the future' of possible couples."
"You don't really believe that do you?" Hermione scowled incredulously. "Trelawney is nothing but a—she did match-making? Goodness!"
"As much as I would like to cast a Silencio on you—" Malfoy waved his wand at Hermione, "silly me, I just did—I am very much interested of your conversation. Trelawney match-make is quite believable. Pansy used to drag me there everyday to demand the two crazy dingbats to match her up. You won't believe who they'd matched her up with."
"Who?" Ginny eyed the blond carefully while Hermione did frustrated movements beside them.
"Your brother." Malfoy smirked at the dumbfounded expression at the two. "I wager their names would be right next to each other on the Prophet tomorrow."
"You were listening, you—" Ginny fumed.
"Please," Malfoy scoffed, "as if I'd do such a thing. Blaise told me. He works in the Ministry too you know and, as best friends, he told me." Then he looked repulsed, wordlessly he shoved past them and left the bookshop, leaving an amused Ginny Weasley and silenced Hermione Granger in his wake.
Present
It was a fine and dandy morning. The sun was bright, birds were chirping. It was the first day of the year of course Hermione was excited. The mail delivered, with the owl was the Daily Prophet, whose headline screamed, 'Marriage Law. Will it lead to happiness or will it destroy their future?'
Hermione Granger had, at first, forgotten all about the Marriage Law her redheaded friend introduced her to just yesterday afternoon. She woke up, feeling refresh and excited—she couldn't wait to meet the returning students and the first years. Her first year of teacher had gone smoothly, her students liked her, and they often greet her at the hallways and would always go to her if there were any help with any homework.
Fully dressed and perfectly ready to go, she picked up a copy of Daily Prophet and waited for Neville. Her eyes widened at the sight of the Daily Prophet's front page. She had nearly forgotten all about it. Immediately, she read the article, scanning through the rules and the consequences if the Law was disobeyed.
Nervously, she fingered the corner of the page that would lead her to the list. If the intended does not marry within the time allowed, their wands would be snapped and will not be allowed to purchase another. In another words, they were to live as muggles. With a deep breath, she flipped the page and scanned the list for her name.
'Blaise Zabini and Luna Lovegood!' Hermione mused. Zabini and Luna have never talked; she doubted that they've even met.
'Ronald Weasley and Pansy Parkinson!' Hermione laughed aloud. Seems like Malfoy knew what he was talking about.
'Neville Longbottom and Hannah Abbott! Oh Neville!' Hermione smiled. It was a common knowledge to the ex Gryffindors that Neville liked Susan.
'Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger!' She was stunned into silence. Never had she ever thought of that possibility. Her and Malfoy? That's clearly impossible! They've got it all wrong! She was glad, for once, that she was the only one awake at this time. She wouldn't know what to say, that is, until Ginny Weasley entered the room.
"Hermione! Goodness, did you see? They did pair Parkinson and Ron together." Ginny laughed as she clutched the Prophet in hand, but when she saw her stunned face, Ginny sobered and asked concernedly, "Hermione?"
A couple of incoherent mumbles were all Ginny received in reply.
"Hermione?" Ginny tried. "Yours isn't that bad…is it?"
Hermione gave a sort of forced, short, strangled laughter before looking at her friend bitterly. "Malfoy. My future husband."