Alice Hexum wasn't an ordinary girl, but she wasn't extraordinary. She had a respectable job as assistant to the Chief of Magical Law Enforcement in the Department of Law. In the recent year, Minister Shacklebolt has been combining departments for both effectiveness and budget. The war ended the Ministry, and held a lot of vacant spots from Voldemort's supporters fleeing or being sent to Azkaban. These new openings allowed her to raise up through the ranks fairly quick. Her department now held not only enforcers, but also the Aurors. She sat at her desk waiting, staring at the floo next to her desk. The new minister set up a small headquarters for the law department for easier access around the country. In order for an agent to go out into the field, she had to sign them in and out of duty. Currently she had 3 men who were supposed to be back an hour ago. She stares at the clock. Five more minutes and she will alert the head. As she thinks this, the office door behind her opened up and head of department and chief walks out.

"Miss Hexum, what are you doing here? You don't normally stay this late into the evening. I thought you had plans with those twin friends of yours. It is Monday after all" Mr. McCaw said as he looked down on her drawing flowers on her sketch pad.

"I do have plans sir, but right now we still have three in the field. They were supposed to be back an hour ago; Millen, Jensen, and Benson. They were supposed to be doing a routine at the Leanny's place since the disturbance last week. I was about to come get you if they didn't report in another five minutes." She said nervously.

"The three of them? I'll go get Crowven in recovery and we'll put together a search-" The head was cut off by two men walking through the floo with another in between them being held up.

"OI Alice, ya wunt known what 'it us. The Leanny's had a bleedin' flower bed full of devils snare. Ol Benson 'ere needs ta go ta Saint Mangos ta see a 'ealer just in case." He said, plopping Benson on the chair.

"'Ello Director. Fancy meetin' ya 'ere," Miller said looking up.

"I'll get it all sorted. Director, you go have dinner with your wife." Alice said sweetly. She was just happy they were all alive.

"Now Jensen, take Benson over to the Healers via the floo. You know the routine. Any paper work that comes out of it, send to my desk. I'll take care of it in the morning." Alice commanded. "And Millen here, will explain why a simple routine ended up in a hospital visit."

As she stepped though the fire place of the twins place, late from handling the chaos the three rookies caused her, she took of her coat and yelled though the small flat. "Fred, George where are you? I don't smell food! It's your turn to cook!" She kicked off her shoes and made her way into the Monday night they normally made a very strong point to get together and eat dinner. Some weeks it is the only night they see each other, some weeks it's the 20th time they see each other. There in the kitchen she sees the twins staring at a book, one holding a pot and ladle and the other holding carrots.

"What are you two doing? Have you forgotten how to read?" Alice asked looking confused. Normally they try to cook and then she decides it's not edible and they end up at the pub in muggle London to eat and drink the night away.

"Well we were trying to follow a recipe-" George started holding the pot in his hand.

"But were already stumped" Fred continued.

Alice went over and looked at the book and saw the recipe was for chicken Marsala.

"Do you guys have chicken?"

"No." They said unanimously

"Do you have milk?"

"No."

"Do you have pasta?"

"No."

"Then how on earth do you plan on making this?"

"Well, we thought we had everything. It didn't occur to us to go to the market." Fred said. "Why don't we forget this and go to Lucky's?"

The drinking is starting early tonight.

"Fine idea brother." George said, following him out the door.

Alice sighed and put herself back together and followed them out the front door.

She woke up in the morning like it was every other day, except today she had a slight hang over. She went to her kitchen and made herself breakfast. Then she had her first cup of coffee for the day, then she had the feeling she would be drinking more coffee today than normal. Sitting there at her table sipping, she opens up the Daily Prophet and reads:

Minister Announces Marriage Law Reinstated

"Minister Shacklebolt announced this morning the newly reinstated marriage law will be in effect starting at twelve noon. At that time, all eligible witches and wizards between the ages of seventeen and twenty-five will be required to marry if not already married. The cause of this law is to stop the traditional inbreeding of pure bloods that have in recent years caused social disorder. By having pureblood and-"

Alice couldn't read anymore, marriage law? She was most defiantly in the eligible age range. twenty years old was right in the range. Folding the paper down, she got up and walked out her front door. She'll talk to her boss about this when she gets to work!

Walking in the main entrance was a feat this day, mainly because it seemed like a lot of people are in an uproar about the law. Understandably, Alice thought. The last thing she wanted right now was to get married. And now she will have to find herself a husband and quickly too! What if she doesn't like the man, what if she just rushes in with the first guy who asks her? What if-her thoughts are interrupted.

"Alice, please come into my office." She looked up and the director was speaking to her.

"Yes sir." She replied in a hurry.

Walking into his office she sat down in the seat across from the director's desk.

"Alice, you have been a very fine assistant up till today and I plan on keeping you around at the ministry. Now as you may have heard from the paper this morning, the minister has brought back a very old law called the marriage law. Being the head of the Department of Law, I'm going to find myself very, very busy over the next few months, seeing as the law will be falling into my jurisdiction. Now as my assistant, I am going to have to rely heavily upon you, and for that reason I have secured your letter with your match for you. I am also giving you the next two weeks off paid to get your head around this and to meet your new husband. I will be having one of the ladies who is exempt from the law-because she is married-do your work while you are gone. Then after that, you will be back here full steam ahead. Take the rest of the day off, you understand?" The Director stated, handing her a thick envelope. The look he gave her said no questions, leave. She said her thank you and apperated straight to the twin's apartment. Walking in, she looks at Fred who is just eating his breakfast-the twins open their shop at nine, compared to Alice who had to be at the ministry by seven-reading the paper. She watches his face as it goes from confused to angry to flat out furious.

"George, get out here and read this load of crap!" Fred hollers to his brother and then looks up noticing that Alice was in the room for the first time.

"Alice, have you read this?" Fred asked, holding the paper. Alice nods.

"Freddie, what's the Issue baby? Another crazy article about Potter?" George asks walking out in just in his jeans. Seeing Alice in the room, he walks by and gives her a kiss on the cheek as a good morning.

"They have reinstated the marriage law!" Fred says angry as his brother's jaw drops to the ground.

"They counldn't! That law was barbaric!" George says, spitting out his freshly brewed coffee.

"They did, and it seems I'm the first to get my letter. The director gave it to me this mornin' and I can't believe they're doing this." Alice says holding up her packet.

"Well then dear, open it up let us see so we can see what lunacy the Minister is trying to pull." Fred says more serious then he normally is.

Dear Miss Alice Marie Hexum,

I am here to inform you that you qualify for the new passed marriage law. Under the law, any qualified witch or wizard from the ages of seventeen and twenty-five will be subject to a match by the ministry. The ministry will acknowledge any engagements announced within twenty-four hours of receiving this notice. Using old and complex magic, every person will be paired with their match and will be under compliance of the following rules:

1. Within twenty-four hours of being notified of your match, you must make contact with said person.

2. Within two weeks a date must be set for the wedding.

3. All couples must be married by a Ministry Officiant; Officiants will comply with MOST traditional family wedding practices.

4. All couples must be married by the 31st of December of this year.

5. All couples will have two years to produce two magical children.

6. All couples have five years from date of marriage to have three magical children in total.

7. Any infidelity or unwillingness to comply will result in your wand being snapped and being exiled to the muggle world.

8. Of " blood types" will not be matched with other blood types.

9. Must be proven by a St. Mungo's Healer in order to be opted out of the law.

10. If requested, a new partner is not granted.

11. Law is effect to all English, Scottish, and Irish born witches and wizards regardless of country of current residence.

12. Upon wedding the marriage must be consummated within seventy-two hours as shown by you ministry bands you will receive.

13. Couples with one or both partners at Hogwarts will be subject to marriage but will be given an extension on children.

14. Veterans of the Battle of Hogwarts will be given one year extension on children.

15. The law is also applicable to all witches and wizards who are foreign and choose to remain in the country.

Thank you very much for your cooperation. On the next page, you will see who you match is!

"So who did you get stuck with? Who's the poor bloke?" George asked, trying to keep mood light.

Alice just looked at him, the person on her paper couldn't be right. She only met him a few times at school, not to mention he was two years older than she was. They did fight together at Hogwarts when the battle was happening. She had seen him fight, she had seen him and Longbottom carry the body of a sixteen year old who should not have been there fighting. At least she knew she wasn't getting paired with a deatheater. But her halfblood self was being paired with a pureblood. As far as she knew, they had nothing in common. She barely knew what he looked like when he wasn't covered in his, or others, blood. And now she was being told she had to marry him? To have children with this man. Who is to say he will be a good father?

"Earth to Alice. Who did you get? "Fred said, knocking on her head softly.

"Oliver Wood."