A/N: This is my first fanfiction on here, and I don't really know where this is going to end up or how long it is going to be! Reviews will be greatly appreciated! (: Thank you, and I hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter; all the credit goes to J.K. Rowling for her wonderful series!


Chapter 1

Hermione flicked the page of the Daily Prophet absentmindedly, her fingers drumming a restless beat on the cushiony arm of the chair. Her eyes wandered from the miniscule text of the paper to the window beside her, scanning the frosted panes of glass for any signs of danger outside. Only the cheerful tartan curtains and scudded lawn of the Burrow outside stared back. Hermione groaned wearily, pressing her hand to her forehead, and closing her eyes momentarily. Since the Great War against Voldermort, she was constantly on edge, jumping at the slightest noises, and whipping out her wand when someone appeared unnoticed behind her.

An insistent tapping at the window startled Hermione out of her brooding thoughts, and she almost laughed when she saw Errol, one of the Weasley family's owls, straddling a huge parchment letter in his beak, while giving her a dejected look. Leaning over, she unhooked the catch and allowed the small owl to hop over the frame onto the sill. He hooted once, ruffling his feathers and dropping the letter into Hermione's lap.

"Thank you, Errol."

The parchment was creamy, and the reverse side featured an official looking seal. Hermione summoned her wand muttering a short incantation to open it, easing out the letter.

She read:

Dear Miss Granger:

To stop the increasing discrimination against blood types in the wizarding world, the Ministry has decided to issue a new law to prevent this happening. Any magical being under the age of twenty-five, and not yet married has been chosen a match which they must marry before the deadline. Failure to do so may result in a prison sentence in Azkaban, and/or, a memory wipe and magical powers revoked.

Your match will appear on this letter in a few minutes of arrival, automatically. Once your match is revealed, you must begin the marriage process before the 25th of December, and be wedded before the 31st of January. The same circumstances will apply if you fail to do so.

Hope you are well,

Remi Rearless

Marriage and Relationship Coordinator

Hermione finished the letter, her stomach churning; the breakfast she had eaten only a few hours ago threatening to come back up. Thoughts buzzed in her head. Who was her match? Did she know him? She was about to find out. A sudden warmth flooded through her fingetips and lingered. A blinding flash of light swamped the letter, and she shielded her eyes from the sudden flash.

There, in gold scrawled handwriting was the name of her match. It was Fred.


Note: Sorry for leaving you with a cruel cliffhanger, I'm evil, I know. xD Reviews would be amazing! So please, please do! Constructive critism is also welcome, I'm always looking for ways I can improve my writing!

Until the next chapter~

GreenSwallow