Hello! This is my first fic, so try to be nice, but tell me the truth. If you have any suggestions, tell me. I love reviews! I'm not sure how this is listed, but it is going to be a surprise even to me who people end up with, so don't be mad if the pairings change.

Chapter one : Don't kill the messenger

Hermione saw the owls flying in, and looked up to see where her paper was. A tawny owl dropped a rolled up Daily Prophet onto her plate, and held out its leg, for Hermione to drop her sickle into a little pouch on its leg. As she unrolled the paper, she began to take a sip of pumpkin juice. She nearly choked on the juice as she read the headline New law forces Muggleborns to marry. "Ron, Harry, listen to this!" Hermione said, grabbing both boys as they walked in, and pulling them down onto the bench by her.

New law forces Muggleborns to marry

It was just announced this morning by the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, that a new law, deemed the "muggle marriage law," is to be put into effect immediately. This law is a response to the recent findings at the St. Mungos. A mediwitch at St. Mungos has reported that the number of squibs and children born with birth defects has reached a record high due to the purebloods breeding between close family lines, to keep their blood "pure." These numbers are only expected to grow exponentially if this trend continues. The law states that any muggleborn witch must marry a pureblooded wizard within a fortnight of receiving her first marriage contract. A marriage contract can be written by any head of a family line, and sent to any muggleborn witch at least 18 years of age. If the witch receives more than one contract she has a choice of marriages, but if she doesn't, she must marry the first wizard that has a marriage contract issued on her. If any muggleborn witch chooses not to comply with the law, her wand shall be broken, and she shall be exiled from the magical world.

"What are they trying to do to me?" Hermione asked, "this will ruin all of my life plans. I wanted to do things. Go to a college, and get a job where I can make a difference." Hermione stopped only to take a quick breath, before continuing on her indefatigable speech, "and now all I'll be able to become is some pureblood's domestic. I'll be no better off than a house elf assuming they don't kill me in one of their Death eater ceremonies."

"Hermione, Hermione," Harry said grabbing her arms before she was able to hit somebody, "Think about it, you aren't even eighteen yet. The law might be repealed by the time your birthday comes around."

"But what if it isn't taken back Harry? What will I do?" She said, starting to sound desperate.

"Dumbledore will never let anything happen to you," Harry reassured her.

"Yeah," Ron started, "and worst case scenario, one of us can marry you."

"WORST CASE SCENARIO!" Hermione screamed. She slapped Ron across the back, and gathered up all of her things. "Don't you worry Ron, I'm sure I'll find a way around the law." She said in a tone that told anybody who had stopped to watch another one of their many arguments, that Ron had said the wrong thing again. "I wouldn't want to burden you." Hermione added, spitting out burden as if it were venom. She ran out of the Great hall as fast as she could.

"What did I say?" Ron asked, ignorant of his apathy in Hermione's current situation.

---

Hermione hurried down the hallway. She didn't know where she was going, all she knew, was that she needed to get away from the Great hall where she would be forced to think about that stupid law. As she came to a staircase, she decided to head to the library. The least she could do is get some research in.

Why do these things always seem to happen to me? First people don't think I can do anything because I'm a muggleborn, and now that I have proved I can do things, they take my life away from me. Be a muggle or a purebloods slave; not much of a choice. Hermione thought as she hurried down the hall. She was so lost in her thoughts, that by the time she realized that there was a person rounding the corner, she had already run into them.

Hermione had started to gather her things when a wrinkled hand reached down to help her, "Miss Granger, where are you off to in such a hurry?"

"I'm so sorry headmaster, it was just that . . ." Hermione managed to mumble, a faint pink tinge rising in her cheeks. How could she have be so clumsy? Running into the headmaster, honestly.

"No need to worry Miss Granger," The headmaster began in his usual calm voice, "I too have read the article. I believe that is the reason you are running about the halls?"

"Yes, I just needed to get away from there, perhaps start some research. I wanted to see if this is even legal. I mean the whole idea, preposterous. How dare those muggle haters? The nerve of those short sighted officials in the ministry, why it is enough to make me want to --"

"Now slow down," Dumbledore said smiling, "I'm sure there will be time for all of that, but for now you need to return to the Great Hall, so you too can hear my announcement. There will be plenty of time to research later." Dumbldore put the hand that she had just recognized earlier on her back and led her to the Great Hall. It always had surprised her how he was able to take control of any situation, and keep a level head.