A/N: This is my take on the Harry Potter Marriage Law. I hope you enjoy, as this is NOT the typical marriage fanfic. :)

OOOOO

The eighth year students boarded the Hogwarts Express for their return after the War. Hermione sat with Harry and Ron, who both returned for their eighth year, and Ginny, who was returning for her seventh year. Looking out their cabin door they saw a group of Slytherins passing by, including Draco Malfoy, Blaise Zabini, and Pansy Parkinson. They glared into the Griffyndors' cabin as they went by.

"I'm genuinely surprised Pansy returned." Ginny stated.

"I'm more surprised about Zabini." Ron said. "Malfoy probably bribed him to return because, well, obviously Goyle wasn't going to."

"Of course Malfoy came back. Wouldn't be Hogwarts without him." Harry said.

Hermione looked out the window at the disappearing platform. "I don't really care who came back. Did you hear about the marriage law the Ministry is passing this year?"

"Hermione, we've already talked about this a million times." Ron said, exasperated.

"But WE are going to—"

"Hermione!" Harry yelled. "I don't want to hear it any more. You think we don't know enough about it?"

"No, Harry, we don't." Ginny said. "We don't know who gets matched up with who. I can't stand it."

"No way, Ginny." Ron said. "If we are already dating someone, we can marry them, right Hermione?" He looked at her.

Hermione pulled out her copy of the Daily Prophet. "Well, Ronald, we can't be sure. The Ministry hasn't yet revealed the specifics…"

"But it would be stupid just to match us up with somebody we don't even know!" Harry exclaimed.

"Well, at our age, most likely it would be somebody we know. We would get matched with Hogwarts students." Ginny explained, looking at Hermione.

"Yes. It's not very likely that they would match us with someone much older. I would say Percy's age at most." Hermione shrugged.

"That's not horrible." Ginny concluded.

"What!? I don't want an older woman! That's just gross!" Ron half-yelled.

"You DO know that I'M older than YOU, right, Ron?" Hermione lifted her eyebrows at him.

Ron fidgeted in his seat. "Well, yeah, but only by six months. And we're in the same year."

"I don't think we should be worried." Ginny said. "I mean, we don't have to be married until we finish our schooling. We'll know who we're going to be married to, but still, it's nine months away."

"Nine months is WAY too soon! I wanted to go to university, travel, and work on my magic more before I got married! And we have to have a child within two years of marriage! It's not long enough!" Hermione exclaimed with tears in her eyes. Ron put his arm around her.

"Hey, don't worry. We are going to get married. I promise." Ron comforted her, yet not looking comfortable himself. Hermione sniffled.

"I hope you're right."

OOOOO

A/N: I know everyone's probably sick of marriage law fanfics, but they sort of fascinate me. I didn't want mine to be the typical one, either, so please keep reading to find out my twist!