Hermione looked around at the familiar room, the Great Hall. She looked across the Gryffindor House table and smiled at her closest friends, Harry Potter and Ron and Ginny Weasley. It was going to be a great year, she could feel it. She hadn't gotten Head Girl, nor had any other seventh year girl, and there was no head boy either. No one really knew why, but everyone hoped for and explanation in Headmistress McGonnagal's start of term speech.
Professor McGonnagal took her place at the podium, now that the sorting was finished. She gave a grim smile to the tables knowing what lay ahead for the seventh years. "Welcome new students, and welcome old. It has been an interesting year to say the least, what with the war and everything, but Voldemort has finally been defeated, and the Wizarding world is at peace. Mostly." She added as an after thought, sending a glance toward the Slytherin Table. "I hope this year will be a great year, a new dawn, you might say."
She continued with the usual, stay out of here, don't do this. At the end of her speech she retreated to her chair, not sitting in the high backed gold chair Professor Dumbledore always sat in, but instead sitting in her usual seat, just to the right. The food appeared in front of the students, and Ron, as usual, was the first in their group to start eating, shoving spoonfuls of mashed potatoes into his mouth.
"'Ow
wez ur suner irminnie?" He asked, his mouth full to bursting point.
Hermione grimaced slightly.
"Ron, can you please not be so
immature and talk when your mouth is empty." He swallowed and gave
a sheepish smile, always trying to impress her. The rest of dinner
was filled with prattle about how summer went, and who did what –
or who – until everything was eaten and everyone was ready to haul
themselves off to bed.
Professor McGonnagal stood up and smiled at the students. "I would like to ask the 7th year students to stay after for a few moments. You are dismissed." Hermione looked at the other Gryffindors. Most of the students got up and left, including Ginny, who gave Harry a quick kiss before heading off to bed. Over the summer they had gotten back together, much to Hermione's pleasure, and Ron's dismay.
McGonnagal stood at the podium again, looking at the new 7th years. "I have seen you all grow up over the past seven years, forming friendships," she looked at the 'Golden Trio,' "and becoming who you are today. You all are soon going to be graduating and starting your own families – but I am sad to say that day has come early. There were heavy losses in the Wizarding War – as I am sure you all know – so the ministry has taken it upon themselves to marry you off to each other." There were yells of outrage as the news finally settled in. Professor McGonnagal gave a stern look to the rioting students, making them quiet. "You will all receive a letter tomorrow morning explaining the ministry's steps. This is a law, so if you disagree with the ministry, there is nothing you can do but hand over your wand. It will only be 7th years influenced by this, but if you are currently dating someone in a younger year and wish to marry them, you may do so with consent from the ministry. There are also dates by which you must have things done. Engagement must be done by new years, marriage is by graduation date, and the woman must be pregnant by the end of August, and failure to do any of these will result in the confiscation of your wands until the all requirements are met." The seventh years stared at the Professor, shocked into silence.