"Marriage Law as Set Forth by British Ministry of Magic, 2010
Minister for Magic, Rupert Raphael Repicheep
British Ambassador, Percy Ignatius Weasley

*What follows is a series of acts housed under the Marriage Law Bill as set forth by the Wizengamot Council in order to deal with the rise in Squibs and the decline of able-bodied witches and wizards in Britain's wizarding community.

*Failure to comply with the law will result in a two-year sentence at Azkaban, followed by immediate removal of wand.

*Upon receiving written notification of spouse, each couple has exactly three months to provide adequate proof of matrimony.

Rules and Stipulations:

All witches and wizards between the ages of 17 and 30 must marry a magical person of the Ministries choosing if not already engaged or married. (Please note that the Ministry will attempt to partner people of close ages, although in select cases, this may not be possible)

Couples who are not engaged may enter pleas between the dates of January 30, 2010 and February 30, 2010 if they can prove at least one year of relations and proof of sexual relations which would make one unfit to marry otherwise. Special pleas which involve a pregnancy before the stipulated one year time period will be granted.

Single witches and wizards who do not fall into marriageable age as set forth by the Marriage Law Bill may petition the Ministry for a suitable match after undergoing an extensive background check.

Divorce is only possible after five years of marriage and at least one successful pregnancy.

Witches and Wizards who wish to commit to marriage with a muggle of their choice must contact the British Ambassador directly, Percy Weasley.

Witches and wizards wishing to commit to marriage with a witch or wizard that does not fall under the jurisdiction of the British Ministry of Magic may request a meeting with the Department of International Magical Cooperation.

Any questions regarding the bill can be directed to Austin Denton, Senior Undersecretary. For the complete set of rules, please send a request by owl to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement."

As soon as Professor Wood had finished reading the front page of the day's Daily Prophet, whispers, calls and shouts broke out amongst the four tables of Hogwarts, as the Professors watched, making no efforts to regain the order or quiet that had fallen over the hall not moments ago.

"I swear! Repicheeps' finally lost it! I was worried last year when he-"

"This is ridiculous!"

"This has to be some kind of a sick joke right?"

"Yeah! They can't reall-"

"That's your father's name on that Weasley!"

"I don't know wha-"

"Oh My God! I think I might be dying!" came a shriek from the Gryffindor table.

I looked to my left, ready to help the girl few seats down, however it was confusion that had me crossing the distance between our seats to ask if everything was alright. The girl was a fifth year, and not eligible for the Marriage Law, but her problem was very quickly identified as she tossed her long dyed black hair and began to complain about how 'all the best looking boys' would be gone in three months, and then were would her plans about Albus be?

I sighed as the girl and her gaggle of friends stared up at me with matching looks of disgust on their faces. Of course that's what they'd be complaining about. Not the fact that a whole chunk of the Wizarding population were going to be forced to marry people they may not know, but the tragic loss of the possibility of getting together in broom closets around the castle with older guys such as Albus Potter in Seventh Year.

After about five minutes, Professor Wood decided enough was enough and that as breakfast had ended, everyone in Fifth Year and below were to have free time whilst the Sixth and Seventh Years talked over their reactions. Jeez. Let's just say talking to strangers isn't my forte. In fact, I'm so bad at it that even when I'd spent Six years of my life with these people -

"Hey, new girl - that's Rose's seat!" Yeah. There you go. The aforementioned Albus makes his first appearance.

I suppose I shouldn't give myself such a bad time. I mean, it's not completely my fault that people don't seem to be all that bothered about me. I mean, I'm a Shy Muggle-Born Gryffindor whose idea of a good night is reading a good book tucked up in bed with good music, hot chocolate and marshmallows. Probably has to do with the fact that I was from Forks, Washington. I guess if I'd been put into Ravenclaw I might have done a little better in the friends department, but... Oh, Wood's started talking.

"I'd like everyone to take it in turns to say something about the new law. No-one will interrupt - You may only talk when I say your nam-" I decided to glaze over what she said next. Sometimes it's really worrying how much Wood likes to do pep and feeling talks with her students. Rumor has it she does them with her husband Oliver - you know, the former England Captain who took England to victory in two World Cups with his crazy practice regimes.

Being right on the edge of the horseshoe of chairs she'd created, I was going to be last to speak, so when Wood finally began to call names, I had time to adjust to the slight shock that when she would say the name of the next person in the row, she'd also announce the name of the person they were going to marry. I guess listening would have been better... I just hope I didn't miss anything else important.

Anyway... Ah! I was describing myself wasn't I? I guess given the right outfit and make-up I could be something halfway towards decent looking. I was born with pale skin like my sister, golden brown hair with I streaked a fair amount of times, sort of plump lips with a touch of color. My favorite part of my appearance was definitely my eyes; they were the deepest blue and looked like the magnificent oceans near the reserve.

Hm... Maybe I should listen to some of these people a little more closely - Rose Weasley just made a really good point about losing five years in a loveless marriage if the Ministry gets it wrong. Urge to put my hand up and yell 'Preach' like in Glee is slowly but surely rising... And it's moved along. Ooh! Development! Rose and Scorpius Malfoy are getting married! Definitely listening to this now!

Malfoy's saying something about how he thinks that the Ministry should allow early a divorce if a spouse is abusive. This starts a girl off to my side starts crying louder, and I realize that a LOT of people are crying. I wonder why... Maybe this is one of those things which doesn't hit until suddenly - BAM! It's there, and there's no way you can get away from it!

Oh wolf! This isn't good! I think... I think... Okay... Breathe! Breathe! Heart's thudding, breathing's increased. No tears. That's good I guess.

Wow. Only four people away from me. You know when something's playing out like slow motion, but at the same time it's too fast? Neither did I until just now. I mean! What am I going to tell my siblings, the quiletes, the Cullens, heck even the Volturi? I'm getting married to someone between the ages of 17 and 20 (guess, the Ministry said close right?) - How're they going to take that? Badly would be my guess. Bells would get freaking furious, eddy would have a fit, Leah would punch a wall, Seth would tear up a part of the forest, the boys would go of drinking, Jasper would be depressed from all the negativity, and Emmet would be planning my future spouse's death.

Three.

... I guess Alice and Rose are my only hope. They would take my wedding as a challenge and try to make it better than Bella's and Edward's.

Two.

...

One.

...

"Lastly Starlyn Raveena Varnette Swan... Sixth Year... 17... Born July 31st" YES I KNOW! I felt like screaming! I just want to know who I have to get married to! I hope it's not a Slytherin... but I suppose I was never one to discriminate... Wait! Did I just miss the guy's name? Oh Merlin! Now everyone's staring at me have a mental conversation with myself, and I don't even know the guy's name.

"S-Sorry. Could you repeat that?" I hear myself say. Whoa! Haven't talked in front of this many people in ages. Guess that's why they're all looking so shocked right?

"Starlyn...Raveena...Varnette... Swan" Wood paused to take in a huge, steadying breath before continuing on with the second name. "Teddy Remus Lupin... Quidditch Player for the Chudley Cannons and Captain of England..." another steadying breath... "25... Born 1 May."

What! This didn't happen to anyone else. My voice got stuck and I paled. Then without warning I dropped to the floor and into unconscious.