AN: Marriage Law. Hermione had only narrowed down to four possible men that she may find herself living with them. If not she could find herself lost in the Muggle World forever. Lucius Malfoy, Severus Snape, Sirius Black, and Remus Lupin, which one will she pick?
AN:I own nothing. Everything belongs to J.K. Rowling. Doesn't follow the books/movies, did some editing.
AN: Revised, found an editing program.
Ch. 1
During the spring break for Hermione Granger. During the time of her seventh year. She was at her grandparents' manor in the northern parts of Scotland. While her parents were busy with their Dental practice.
She was riding one of the many horses that were available to her. A brown and white painted stallion, who she had named Shakespeare. A grand horse he was. She trained the horse from the time that he was able to be away from his mother, and he would only listen to her and no other.
Hermione was enjoying the nice warm hot weather as she was with her beloved horse out in the moor. Taking the time away from her long studies that her friends have always made fun of her about. No one from the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry knew about her grandparents. She was not going to share that she comes from a long line of Ladies and Lords of the Muggle World.
No. She was way too grounded for something like that. Just like her mother, who married for love and nothing more.
As Hermione was riding Shakespeare. An owl came upon them. Nearly spooking the horse enough to where Hermione had to grab the reins. Once he was settled, she petted his neck to calm him down from the owl's sudden arrival. Once the horse was calm; the owl landed on her shoulder, to where she was able to get the envelope from its foot. Then the owl flew away.
With the envelope in her hands. Hermione noticed that it was not from any of her two best friends or any of her teachers from her school. She flipped it over and saw the seal of the Ministry of Magic's monogram upon the hard wax seal. She wondered what was going on for them to send a letter to her.
Hermine had never been sent a letter. Not even during her time in the third year for the Time-Turner usage. Or her fifth year for the Department of Mysteries fiasco. With a big sigh; Hermione opened the letter, which read.
Miss Hermione J. Granger,
I am informing you of the new law that was just past. At midnight of last night; by the Ministry of Magic's new guidelines. Which follows, Muggle-born witches and wizards at the ages of 17 to 57 must marry. Either a half-blood or pure-blooded witch or wizard of the opposite of the muggle-born. The reason for such new law came about was due to the low birth rates in our Magical World. That it is time to take action before being wiped out.
Even though you are in your seventh year of schooling;. The Ministry of Magic's records shows your use of a Time-Turner during your third year. Which calculates your age of eighteen as of today. To where you have to take part of the new marriage law. Or have your wand snapped and being cast out of the Magical World forever.
The requirements of this new law are as follows:
1. Every muggle-born must marry a half-blood or pure-blood within the 17-57 age range.
2. Must have given birth or about to give birth to a child within the first three years of marriage
3. Must have given birth to three or more children within the first seven years of marriage.
4. People still in school still have to marry, but can hold off of having children until graduation. Or near graduation.
5. Half-blood or pure-blood must submit for the muggle-born.
6. If a muggle-born has more than one offer. Then they must go the Ministry to pick which one in front of a Ministry witness. And give reasons why or why not to marry that person. But is given a month to decide which one to marry.
Within a few days, another letter will be coming to you to state who will marry. Or a summing to come to the Ministry itself to pick.
Sorry to inform you like this,
Kingsley Shacklebot
After reading all of that, Hermione Granger who was known for logic thinking and quick minded. Was finding that she was having trouble breathing. She could not believe the Ministry of Magic was making her marry. Then finding out that she was now eighteen years of age due to her usage of the Time-Turner.
If she knew this was going to happen, she may have never picked it up. But the love of knowledge was just too much for her to not use it. Then she had also saved her best friend's godfather; Sirius Black from a fate that was not his own. As soon as that came to her mind an idea also came smacking into her.
What if Lord Voldemort did this in order to get to Harry through me? I could never live with myself if that was the case?'
Hermione then grabbed the reins of her horse and started making him run. Where she could feel the wind going through her hair, to make her feel as if she was free. Then the tears of the unknown came leaking out of her eyes. As the thunder of the horse's hooves came upon the earth, as they moved across the moor.
After a while; the horse took control of the direction of where he wanted to go. And took off towards the manor where he knew that Hermione would feel much better than being on his back. He could tell that she was not happy for whatever reason. He just wanted her somewhere that he knew that was safer than being out in the open.
Shakespeare galloped all the way to the stables that were next to the house. The manor was made of rock and stone from the days of old. While the stables were a mix of wood and rock. There was also a bit lake in the back of the manor where Hermione would go and swim and fish during the hot days of her stay.
The horse slowed down. Walked into the stable where the groundskeeper was feeding the other horses. Which looked up and saw Hermione's red eyes from being crying. The grounds keeper dropped everything and ran up to the horse. Grabbed it's reins and tried to get Hermione's attention. But only was handed a letter into his face for all of his troubles.
"After reading the letter; he looked up and said, "Mya; you still have us, no matter what happens."
Hermione looked down to the man's blue eyes, who she had called uncle as a child, "Alfred; I'm scared."
Alfred reached up and wrapped his big massive arms around her little body. Bringing her down to earth and hugged her. He was six foot three with a massive built. From his younger years; with brownish-red hair and beard with some graying. His fifty-two long years of living. He hated seeing Hermione like this; from all the years that she was in school. She always came home crying because of lack of friends until Hogwarts.
Alfred sighed, "Come on. Help me put Shakespeare away, and we will go in and tell your grandparents of what is going on."
After a while; Alfred had managed to get Hermione to help put her horse away and fed. Before heading into the manor where her grandparents were in the dining room. When they looked up and saw their angel walking in like it was her last day of life. They knew that something was wrong. Alfred gave them the letter for them to read as she sat down and waited for them to say something.
Lord Hamlet MacArthur looked from after reading the letter and said to his granddaughter. "Now Hermione. Before coming here. You had no idea of this was going to happen did you?"
"No grandfather; I have not."
Lady Julia MacArthur looked at her husband and asked, "What are we going to do?"/
Hamlet said, "Well; we will handle this like any noble person would do. We will meet these suitors and help Hermione dwindle them down to the proper one. If it is too many; we can always hold a sort of a battle of the wits to see what happens."
Hermione laughed. She had heard of such things from the books of her family line. To pick the proper suitor if there was too many that wanted the hand of a daughter. They could not pick which one. She could not wait and see what would happen with wizards trying to use muggle weapons to battle for her hand.
Julia saw the smile on her granddaughter's face and said, "From that smile upon your face. It tells me that wizards don't use weapons in your world?"
"No, but I can always laugh to see them try. Oh well; thanks for the smile, Grandfather. It was worth picturing a few of them that I had in my mind."
What she had pictured was Draco Malfoy scolding at a bow and arrow to work for him. But also picturing it scraping his arm for not knowing what he was doing.
Another image was of Ron trying to pick up a sword, but manage to flip himself over. Because of him trying to lift the biggest sword of the bunch and it weighed too much for him to handle.
After dinner that night. Hermione climbed up the west wing of the manor with laughter. As she was heading for sleep that night. When she had gotten to bed. She laid next to her was her beloved husky Lear, who guarded her against unwanted dreams that night.