Chapter 1: Letters

Dear Mr. Potter,

The Ministry of Magic has reestablished a temporary ordinance, Statue 1045-25-2A, to instate Ministry of Magic approved marriages for the preservation of the magical community and reform the bonds the recent war has torn apart. The Marriage Law gives the Ministry of Magic the right to assign spouses to those of age. The Marriage Law is implemented for all of those of child baring age: seventeen (17) years of age (by the first of this year) to those of thirty-five (35) years old. Due to the influx of the population that is subject to the law, there will be three (3) dates for the procedure to be enacted. The first two dates shall occur during the summer months. You, Mr. Harry James Potter, will fall under the third date. The third is scheduled for September 1st. The enrolled Seventh and Eighth year students are to report to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry by the Hogwarts Express and remain in the Great Hall to await further Ministry of Magic instruction.

Looking forward to your participation,

Jason Turpin

Assistant Manger in Law Relations

Harry sat speechless as he read his letter. The breakfast table at the Burrow was rather quiet as all those who received their letters read and processed the information that was required of them. Mrs. Weasley held a pan full of hot sausages as she leaned over to read Ron's letter. The sausages rolled out of the pan on to the table, going unnoticed.

"What are they playing at?" asked Ron, looking dumbfounded at Hermione. For once, she looked just as startled as he was as she remained silent.

"Dad?" asked George. "This says I have to report to the Ministry next Monday."

Mr. Weasley met the eyes of all those at the table.

"There was a report circulating around the Ministry of how the war took a toll on the population in Britain. The numbers further deceased with each imprisonment. I guess the Wizengamont believes that enacting this law that it will encourage repopulating. I'll try to find out more at work."

Harry didn't like it being left up in the air. Maybe he should have given the politicians more attention over the summer than he would know about the law or could have prevented it altogether.

Harry glanced at Ginny, who offered a brief smile. The flutter of butterfly's shifted in his stomach. He gave her a shy smile in return.

Ginny and he resumed their relationship after the war. For all intensive purposes, he felt their relationship was going well. He could devote his attention wholly to her. More so now that he didn't have to worry about some crazy wizard who was intent on killing him.

Ron and Hermione's relationship took off as well. Mrs. Weasley was simply buzzing around with happiness of the couples and would make references at times to a supposed 'double weddings' that caused Harry to scuffle nervously and the tips of Ron's ears to go red. Neither felt that they were ready for marriage, but now, they would have no choice if the Ministry insisted upon it.

"Harry," Ginny whispered in his ear.

She motioned for the back door to walk outside. Harry followed her silently as the Weasley family continued to discuss the letters.

"Harry," she began, training her eyes straight ahead. "I know what you are thinking and you are probably right. The Ministry will listen to you and change this law."

His stomach twisted. It was the exact opposite of what he was thinking. In fact, he understood why the Ministry acted. He thought it was wrong to insisted they marry so young and for the choice of their spouses taken away from them. Maybe the age limit could've been raised or do some type of incentives for married couples to start a family or have more children.

"Wait a minute, Ginny," he cut her off. "Do you not remember the last three years? The Ministry of Magic does not listen to me nor care about me as long as I do as they say. Opposing them on this law will not change anything."

Her eyes flashed.

"What if they pair me with someone else? What if it's a Slytherin? Will you just let them hurt me? What about the others, who were on your side of the war, getting paired with someone on the other side?"

"Ginny," he couldn't hide the exasperation in his voice. "There are hundreds of people working in the Ministry. Surely one of them has already thought of this and even argued it before passing the law."

"You don't care if they force us apart," she spat. "I waited for you and I've hardly seen you this summer. Do you not want to be together?"

"You did not wait on me," he argued back. Her unfounded claims pricked his heart. "You told me yourself that you dated Dean during Christmas. You know what I was doing Christmas? I was in Godrick's Hollow, nearly getting killed by Voldemort's snake."

She mumbled in frustration.

"I'm tired of hearing of everything you all had to do during your searching. You weren't the only ones who suffered. We—"

"I don't want to talk about," he cut in. "There's no point in arguing."

"Yes there is." Her cheeks flushed the same red hue as her hair. "You fought the injustices of You-Know-Who so that we would have the freedom to chose our courses of life. Now, the Ministry is placing restrictions on us and taking that freedom away that you fought for."

"I did, but I fought Voldemort. He was my enemy. It's someone else's turn to take on the Ministry of Magic."

Ginny stormed away without a response. Harry watched after her knowing that he made the right decision for himself. If he were to take on the Ministry over this new law, there would be additional pressure on him to take up a position within the Ministry and since this was a law, the pressure would surround a political position. Ginny argued over the freedom of choice taken away from her, or the people at large. What about his life? Harry never truly had a choice of what he did with his life from the beginning. At this point, he wanted the choice to stay as far as possible away from the Ministry. His choice of spouse may be taken from him, but he'll still get the choice of his career.

He walked aimlessly in the backyard thinking to himself and hardly registered when Ron and Hermione joined him.

"I take it you're not going to charge the Ministry keep?" stated Ron.

Harry shook his head then sighed. "I'm tired of fighting."

"That's what I tried to explain to Ginny," Hermione said. "We've got enough time for the people to argue and protest. This is not our fight anymore."

Harry smiled at her use of the word "our". Hermione was loyal beyond a fault.

"But what if you two don't get paired with one another?" Harry asked.

Ron shrugged. Hermione opened her mouth, but hesitated and looked to Ron, who nodded.

"We discussed it," Hermione admitted. "During the war, I guess my - our - emotions got the best of us. You know, the life and death choices with quick decisions. Ron and I wanted to take things slow, and I think it's safe to say," she paused, chancing a quick glance at Ron again, "that neither of us wish to separate, but we're not invested enough for it to hurt if we are."

Harry nodded. He felt like Ginny and he were in the same situation as they were. Though, he was attracted to Ginny physically and at times he enjoyed her company, but she was demanding and her tempter got the best of her on more than one occasion.

"Just as long as nothing comes between us," said Ron rather firmly, looking between the two of them. "I made my mistakes in the past and whatever happens, even if either of you get paired with a Slytherin, I'll behave myself."

"Me too," echoed Harry. Hermione nodded. Harry felt an ache in his chest from the thoughts of them being separated for unknown reasons. He had been with them so long that thoughts of being with out his best friends scared him a little. There was a mutual understanding that passed between them that the marriage law topic was closed.

"I'm sorry if I upset Ginny," Harry apologized to Ron.

"Don't worry about it," he answered. "She'll grow up some time."

"She said something that makes me wondered if she's right."

"How so?" asked Hermione.

"Well, what if those from opposite sides of the war are paired together? Do you think that some will take advantage of it and abuse the other spouse in the marriage?"

"That is a concern," she responded, looking thoughtful. "I know you don't want to get involved, however, I've wanted to take S.P.E.W. further." Harry knew what she was thinking. Ron seemed to follow too for he didn't interrupt her. "This could be my starting block for equal rights among all magic creatures, starting with the human counter parts."

It was later agreed on, that Hermione would drafted two letters of their concern. One was to the Minister of Magic and the Wizengamont and the other as an open letter to the Daily Prophet. They each signed their names to the letters and sent them to their locations. The Daily Prophet printed the letter immediately and over the next few days other articles were written with additional concerns. The first date of the marriages were postponed for a week as the Ministry addressed each of the concerns.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione received a personal owl from the Minister.

Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, and Miss Granger,

I would personally like to offer my gratitude for bringing your concerns on the matter of the safety of the perspective spouses and their roles in the war to our attention. Others brought forward the same concerns and a solution has been put in place.

The Ministry has two methods in determining the couples. The first is by means of separating the Soul Mates through an easy detective charm. Those without Soul Mates are then required to an aura scan. Those with the near same scans results will go through a personality test to see compatibility. There is also a third option that the Ministry will yield to, and that is the already agreed upon arranged marriages that many of the older families obtain through contracts. The Ministry will not break said contracts in leave of the law.

If these solutions are not addressed fully of your concerns, please send a reply by my owl.

Kingsley Shacklebolt

Minister of Magic

Harry was slightly relieved by the solution, but it did not put him to ease any. He was still to marry some girl within the next month. He glanced over at Hermione who read the letter to the rest of the Weasley family. Ginny sat beside her on the couch, with a blank expression as she listened. When Hermione finished, Ginny looked up to meet Harry's eyes. Her brows furrowed and turned away quickly. She had not spoken to him in the last week and avoided any rooms he occupied.

"Who wants to play quidditch?" he asked, needing to relieve the growing tension in the room. Several grins were exchanged before they spent the rest of the day ignoring their troubles.