So I've been reading some Marriage Law fics and I decided why not add my own to the slightly overdone scenario. The pairings of course will be my favorite Draco and Hermione. Yes I know, Hermione ends up with Ron and DH but whatever. So if you don't like some good ol' Dramione then don't read. =)

Disclaimer: I do not own anything.

Expecting the Unexpected

Chapter One: The Letter

Hermione sat at the her kitchen table staring at the envelope the Ministry owl had dropped off almost two hours ago, trying to build up the courage to open it. Every time she tried to break the ominous red Ministry of Magic seal she was overcome with nausea. Her parents sat across from her, with equal feelings of anger, confusion, and anxiety, all aimed towards the envelope and its contents. Again Hermione reached a shaky hand towards the menacing piece of parchment. As soon as her trembling hand touched the seal she pulled away as if the letter were ablaze.

"Oh for goodness Hermione! It's a letter not an atomic bomb! Just open the bloody thing and get this over with!" her father exclaimed, his veins protruding from his balding head.

Still no one made an attempt to open the damned letter.

"Sweetheart, just open the letter. Whatever is inside of it, we'll get through it together. You never know, it might not be as terrible as you think is." Her mother said weakly with a small smile.

Jane Granger could not lie to herself. She was terrified for her daughter and felt completely helpless in the situation. She hated that after everything that her daughter did for this government, they were hell bent on possibly destroying her life. She kept her tight smile on as her daughter picked up the envelope and sighed heavily. Jane, never the very religious woman until recent events, prayed daily for her daughter's future. Now was the moment when she would find out if her prays would be answered.

With a sigh that made Hermione seem beyond her years, she broke the damned seal on that bloody envelope and took out the paper. Slowly she unfolded the parchment and let her eyes scan over the letter that would determine the rest of her life.

Miss Hermione Granger, August 12, 2000

I am pleased to inform you that a suitable husband as been assigned to you. After careful evaluation of your intellect, genetic background, and overall magic skill we have determined that you and you chosen partner are the ideal match to not only produce excellent offspring, but will hopefully put an end to old prejudices that we have been trying to eliminate since The Second Great War. As an honored war veteran and one of the leading activists for The Civil Rights of All Magical Beings: Wizards and Creatures Alike, we hope you will understand the importance of this huge and momentous nuptials.

You and your future husband must be married by December 31, 2000 and produce at least one child by February 17, 2002. Your meeting with the Department of Wizarding Marriage will be September 29, 2000 to let us know when your wedding date is and/or if there are any complications that would cause the marriage to be null and void (infertile, adultery, domestic abuse, etc.). Should any of these issues arise, please inform the Depart of Wizarding Marriage immediately and if necessary you will be put back on the waiting list for a marriage.

Your Future Husband: Draco Malfoy of Wiltshire, England

Congratulations on your marriage. We hope that you are as pleased with the match as we are.

Sincerely,

Agatha Gates

Head of Department of Wizarding Marriages

"Well Hermione?" Her mother asked eagerly.

Hermione opened her mouth to answer but before she could say a word the world went black.

When Hermione awoke she was laying on the couch with an ice pack on her head. She groaned as she tried to remember what happened. Her mind reeled as she tried to process how she had gone from sitting at the kitchen table to laying on the plush couch in the Granger living room. Her mother was kneeling next to her and her father sat by her feet.

"Hermione, dear, are you alright?" her father asked in a concerned voice.

"I think so. Did I faint?" she replied in a soft voice.

"Yes dear. You must have had quite of bit of shock. What did the letter say?" her mother asked in a worried voice. She looked to her husband who held the paper in his hands.

"Draco Malfoy of Wiltshire, England." He read, the anger clear in his voice.

Harold Granger didn't think he was ever so angry in his life, as would any father in his position. Not only were these…these people forcing his little girl into marriage, they were making her into some type of breeding machine. He wanted nothing more than to whisk his daughter away and hide her from this Ministry of Magic. He knew that he couldn't, he already offered and tried several different attempts to convince Hermione to hand in her wind and live amongst them. Harold cursed his daughter's stubbornness but knew she was right when she said she could never live among "muggles" and be truly happy. She had been training so hard in her Hogwarts for her future; that was her world now. He just didn't understand why her world also had to be her prison.

Hermione had tried to explain it to them a few times but the explanation didn't satiate his anger. Apparently after the war, that his daughter helped end he might add, there was a shortage of wizard blood and they issued the Marriage Law in order to repopulate. Hermione told him that with so many innocent wizards and witches were murdered, add that with the soldier causalities on both sides and the thousands of Death Eaters and those associated with them that were executed. The number was staggering. Quite frankly though, Harold Granger didn't give a damn about the reasons behind it or the fact that a law like this was issued once before several hundred years ago, making it quite legal. He still hated it.

Her mother tried desperately to lighten the situation and ease some tension in the room. "Didn't you say he went to school with you and fought with you in the war? At least you already know him, dear, and he is your age so let's be grateful that you aren't marrying some man twice your age that you don't know."

"Mother, at this point I'd rather marry someone ten times older than me. At least they'd die soon and I'd be done with this whole mess." Hermione groaned as she closed he eyes. Her father snorted in agreement.

Of all the people, it had to be him. Even Neville or Snape would have been better than this. Okay, maybe not Snape, but right now Hermione wouldn't be that picky.

"Hermione Jean Granger! Don't you ever say something like that again! That's a horrible thing to say! And you Harold, don't encourage her!" Jane scolded.

"Sorry." They both mumbled at the same time, but neither looked like they really meant it.

A heavy silence fell across the Granger household that was broken by a beak of an Eagle Owl tapping at their kitchen window. Jane quickly went to the window and sleek bird flew through the house, dropping a black envelope with a silver seal on her chest. Hermione didn't need to look at the seal to know whom the letter was from. Quickly she opened it, wanting to know what her future husband thought of the whole situation.

Granger,

I'm assuming that you have received your letter of "Congratulations" about our impending marriage. I can assure you I am far from "pleased with the match". However, I suggest that we should arrange a time to meet and discuss this situation in person. I have made reservations as La Luna Cantante for 7 o'clock this Friday night.

Draco Malfoy,

P.S. Please do you make yourself somewhat presentable, Granger.

Hermione was so angry she balled up the paper in her hand. The bird hooted and nipped at her hand. Apparently he wasn't supposed to leave until he had a reply. Hermione's mother handed her a pad and pen and Hermione wrote him a quick reply agreeing to the meeting place.

Friday night, that gave her only 55 hours to prepare and figure out what she was going to do. She groaned again as the bird flew out the open window and Hermione closed her eyes. For the first time in her life, Hermione Jean Granger didn't know what to do.