I don't own HP.

Changes - I changed the minister from Srimgeour to an OC, and 'hopefully' removed some of the 'childishness'.

Chapter One

It was a calm, quiet night when Hermione Granger's life changed. She was at her parent's house after the war was over, and the houses around them were silent. The noises coming from the television were muted to the Eighteen year old witch, as she sat on the couch next to her mother reading a book. After the tense camping the previous year, she was grateful for the time to relax, and besides her correspondence with Ron and Harry, the only contact she had with the wizarding world was through the books she had bought before searching for her parents.

Despite the fact that the war was over, Hermione was not able to squash the instinct to jump up and draw her wand when someone knocked on the door. She turned to her parents and motioned for them to be silent, and cast disillusionment charms on them. The rational part of her knew that she was probably overreacting, but the part of her that had just been through a war couldn't be more prepared as she opened the door.

"Hermione Granger?" The tall man at the front of a group of ministry officials asked.

"Yes."

"My name is Patrick Jergens and I am the Minister of Magic. I have come to inform you and your family that a new law has been passed."

After glancing at the delegation and not seeing a wand in their hands, Hermione narrowed her eyes. "What kind of law?" She asked, mind blazing.

"It is of the utmost importance that both my colleagues and I speak with you and your family, and it would be much more convenient if we could do so inside."

"How do I know that none of you are death eaters in disguise?"

She could tell that he was having a hard time not rolling his eyes, and frowned at the few who didn't resist. "Ms. Granger, if I could do anything to placate your concerns, I would, however you will need to trust me until I can get what I came here to say out on the table."

Hermione didn't move from her defensive position in the doorway as she asked him, "will you make an oath on your magic that neither you nor any of your colleagues will do any harm to either me or my parents?"

He nodded, realizing that he wouldn't get in any other way, and slowly raised his wand. "I, Patrick Charles Jergens do solemnly make an oath on my magic, and honor, that neither I nor my colleagues will cause any harm to Jean, Richard, or Hermione Granger." A small flash was emitted by his wand, and he raised an eyebrow at her, as if questioning whether it was sufficient.

She gave them all another look before nodding, and stepping aside to allow them entrance. As she was shutting the door behind them she motioned towards the living room. "We'll do this in here, but you'll need to conjure extra chairs."

Hermione quickly cast the charm that revealed her parents when they entered the room, and didn't miss the glance that the minister sent at her. They all arranged themselves around the coffee table, and one of the ministry workers conjured a tea pot, which was distributed amongst them before the minister started to speak. "Mr. and Mrs. Granger, Hermione, we have come here tonight to tell you that a new Marriage Law has been passed. Normally we would start at the beginning of an alphabetical list and work our way down, but there are certain high profile cases, like 'the Golden Trio' who need protection from potentially problematic spouses. So along with you, Harry, and Ron: we are also alerting a small amount of others before calling the general public into the ministry to find out their intended."

Jean, who was glancing at her daughter, turned to the minister. "Who all is on this list? I would hope that no married people are on it, as it would be very destructive."

Hermione barely controlled the urge to hex the official who sneered at her mother and snidely remarked, "The list is compiled only of single witches and wizards that are of age."

The minister looked towards the man who had spoken. "That will be enough Mr. Fletcher."

Hermione kept her glare on him for a moment longer before turning back towards the ministry, and saying lightly, "Please continue."

"As I said, this is a marriage law, and to determine your future husband, we give you a potion called Esposo del deseo de mi Corazon. It was invented by a Spanish conquistador a few centuries ago, who wanted to prove to his wife that he truly loved her. Loosely translated it means 'spouse of my hearts desire'. This potion searches through your memories, and analyzes your magical signature to see if you have become romantically attached to anybody, as it leaves an imprint on your core. A minute after you ingest the potion we will take a small sample of your blood."

"Why would my blood be needed?" Hermione asked him.

At the word blood Jean paled. "Just how many people are going to be affected by this law?"

The minister turned very serious. "All unmarried, of age citizens of magical Britain. During the seventh year at Hogwarts, all of the students that fall under this category will be taking a few extra classes to prepare them for marriage. A child development class and what not."

Hermione leaned forward, "May I ask again why my blood would be needed."

"After taking the potion, we will prick your finger and let the blood fall onto a piece of parchment where it will spell out the name of your intended. As soon as you take the potion, your name will be removed from the list."

Hermione's face turned thoughtful, but her father frowned, "and what if the person is unwilling? Or if my darling daughter gets chosen by someone else after she comes to terms with who her blood determines."

The sneering man who had been rude to Jean turned to Richard. "The magic of the potion will only write a name after checking the others heart as well. And as Patrick has already said, after Hermione's blood chooses her mate, her name will be crossed off of the list."

"Mr. Fletcher if you do not stop snapping at my parent's I will not be held responsible for my actions."

Jeans curiosity broke through the silence that followed Hermione's statement. "How will it do that?" She asked, referring to the potion. "How will it check somebodies heart who isn't here?"

The corners of the ministers' lips twitched. "Magic."

"Is there any other option besides me doing this ritual?" Hermione asked, curiosity brimming at the magic being described.

"I can leave, and you can wait until somebody else takes the potion and your name is listed."

Hermione looked between her parents before turning back to the minister. "May I speak to my parents alone for a moment?"

Patrick nodded, "Of course Ms. Granger, take as long as you need."

Hermione stood and followed her mum and dad into the kitchen, "what do you think I should do?"

Jean smiled fondly at her. "I think that you are too proud of knowing as much as you can to be comfortable not knowing who you are intended to marry."

Hermione turned to her dad. "Daddy?"

"Sweetheart, whatever you want to do is fine by me. I want you to do whatever you think will make you the happiest. If that means waiting impatiently for a letter telling you who your future husband will be, then do so. But I agree with your mother, as I always do, by thinking that you'd be happier knowing."

For a brief moment Hermione allowed her insecurities to shine through. "What if he doesn't want me?"

"Well then I'll get your friends Ron and Harry to magic him up with their fists." Richard replied, before moving forward and pulling her into a tight hug. "If he doesn't want you, then he is insane. Though if what they say is true, then if he says he doesn't want you then he's lying."

Hermione hugged them both before glancing back to the living room. "Thank you two, we might as well go tell them before Mr. Fletcher gives himself an aneurysm." The Grangers returned from the kitchen, and reclaimed their seats before ten minutes had passed. "My parents and I have decided to do the ritual, but I was wondering if you could explain the process better? Do I just take the potion and then drip the blood onto the parchment?"

Patrick laid a blank piece of parchment on the coffee table in front of Hermione and her parents, and set a potion vial down next to it. "You will take this potion, and about forty-five seconds after you take it, you will begin to feel slightly light headed, which will be a short acting reaction to the rush of your magical core being stimulated. As soon as you begin to feel light headed, you need to begin to chant the name of the potion, and when we prick your finger you will continue chanting until the drop of blood touches the paper."

"So I chant 'Esposo del deseo de mi corazón?"

"Yes," he paused allowing her a moment to think over what she had to do. "You may take the potion whenever you are ready."

"How long after I begin chanting do we prick my finger?" Hermione asked him, as she picked up the vial and unstoppered it.

"About a minute after you begin the chant."

Hermione nodded, and tipped the vial back, downing its contents. After she had swalled the potion she moved her tongue around in its wake and said, "It tasted sweet." Though she hadn't been counting seconds, the light headed-ness hit her when predicted. So she started speaking, "Esposo del deseo de mi corazón. Esposo del deseo de mi corazón."

The minister had been staring at his watch, and after sixty seconds he held his hand out for hers, and touched the tip of her finger with his wand. Palpable silence filled the room as the blood dripped on the parchment and began to swirl. The swirling continued until the crimson blood formed three words.. three words that spelled out a name. Hermione gasped, and even some of the ministry officials seemed shocked. Because the name that had been spelled out in blood, was Severus Tobias Snape.

~Finite Incantantem