Dear Ms. Hermione Jean Granger,
You're being sent this letter to be informed of the Ministry's new Marriage Law. This Law was passed by Percy Weasley, Head of the Department of Marriage. This Law is to have all single wizards and witches to be married to their "soulmate." You are included a paper informing you about the basic areas of this new Law. Your soulmate had been found so you are in no need of an appointment. Please do not protest with other magical people because it is thought best for the wizarding world to have this Law.
Sincere apologies,
Penelope Clearwater
Percy Weasley's Secretary
[][][][][]
I stared at the letters in my hands, shocked at what I just read. I couldn't believe they decided to make this horrid law. Harry, Ron, and I sacrifice so much to save the god damn wizarding world, and this is how we're repaid? The huge amount galleons, sickles, and knuts were a bit too much, but this? I carefully op
ened the envelope, and took out the second piece of paper.
Marriage Law: Rules and Basics
The content in this paper is for you to be informed of the rules and basics. In other words, here you can find what you have to do, what happens at your appointment, how to file a divorce, etc.
Appointment
During the appointment, you will have a small sample of your blood taken and a few minutes later, you will be told of who your soulmate is. Illegal magic is being used to find your mate due to an incident of a powerful wizard dating a few centuries back. Please note that you can be paired with anyone: muggle-born, half-blood, or pure-blood.
Rules
To do our best in wanting couples to fall in love, we have a few rules that can insure happiness in a couple's life.
1) IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO CHEAT ONCE THE COUPLE IS WED, SHOWING HOW POWERFUL THIS ANCIENT MAGIC IS
2) Couples must be together most of the time
3) It is NECESSARY for a couple to consummate their wedding night
4) Female MUST be pregnant within one month of marriage (fertility potion will be provided)
5) IF THE COUPLE OR ANY PARTY REFUSES TO COOPERATE, WAND WILL BE SNAPPED, 1 YEARS IN AZKABAN, AND BE EXILED FROM THE WIZRDING WORLD
Divorce
If the couple is not satisfied with their new life, divorce can be filed after 6 years of marriage.
I stared at the paper in my hands. Six years after marriage, I think. After 6 years I can divorce. In one after marriage I have to get pregnant. Could marry a muggle-born, half-blood, and pure-blood. Could be Harry. Could be Neville. Could be Theodore Nott. Could be Blaise Zabini. Could be Fred or George. Could be Malfoy. Could be-
"God fucking damn it!" I screamed, completely out of character for me. "It could be Ronald!"
Grabbing the nearest thing near me, which just so happened to be a hardcover book, and chucked it at the door. At the exact moment, the door opened and Harry walked in. The book hit his stomach, and Harry doubled over. His right hand was clutching his stomach whilst his left hand was holding my book.
I flinched, realizing what had just happened. Rushing over to Harry and holding him up, I mumbled apologies over and over again as I led him to my bed. I aid him down, still apologizing. Harry took a deep breath and sat up, handing me my book. He groaned in pain before looking at me.
"It's okay Hermione. I'm fine, but could I ask why you threw me a book, not to mention a hardcover book?" he asked.
"I'm so sorry Harry. I really didn't mean it, but I got a letter from the Ministry about some marriage law, and I realized I have a 76% chance of marrying Ronald," I replied, pulling the book closer to me.
"Marry Ron?"
"Yes marry him."
"Letter from the Ministry? Marriage law? Hermione what on earth are you going on about?"
"Didn't you get a letter?
"A letter from the Ministry? No I didn't, but I think Ginny did. OH which reminds me. She came in crying 10 minutes ago, blubbering about marrying Zabini and a law."
"And you didn't think of mentioning this sooner?"
"Um, it slipped my mind you know. I was hit by a book."
"And I'm sorry about that."
"Right anyway. Thanks Harry."
I stood up, throwing my book to the side, only to hit Harry once again. I chuckled quietly to myself before running out the door and down the stairs. I hear Harry groan in pain followed by a string of cuss words. Once I arrived at the bottom of the stairs, I run down the hallway, looking into the rooms trying to find Ginny. Damn Harry and his huge house with a million bloody rooms, I thought to myself.
Not realizing where I was going, I ran into some hard and warm. I felt myself tipping back and I squeezed my eyes shut, waiting for the impact. But it never came. Instead, warm arms wrap themselves around my waist and pull me up. I'm pulled up against a body, and I feel my face heat up. I was definitely blushing.
"Don't worry Granger, I got you," a soft voice whispered in my ear.
My eyes flew open in shock as I recognized that voice. And I realized who I had bumped into. I pulled myself away, looking up into gray-blue eyes. Draco bloody Malfoy looks down at me, eyes meeting mine in a heated stare. I feel myself blush harder, probably going down my neck.
"Thank you," I managed quietly.
We stand there awkwardly, not knowing what to do or say when I hear rapid footsteps behind me. I turned around, seeing Harry running towards us then stopping in front of us. He nods in my direction, his way of acknowledging me before taking Malfoy's outstretched hand. I stared at them in shock as they start to talk like best friends.
"Harry, what's going on?" I asked quietly.
Harry turned towards me and smiled.
"Hermione, if you didn't lock yourself up in your room ever since the incident, then you would have been aware about Draco and I's friendship," Harry explained slowly.
I thought back to the incident, suddenly finding it hard to breath as if an invisible hand had wrapped itself around my throat. My hands raise themselves to grab at my throat, as if they had a mind of their own. A hand gently places itself on my shoulder, making me flinch as the feeling of cold water being dumped over my body. It's refreshing really.
"But Draco's not here to explain how our brilliant friendship start," Harry says cheerfully.
"Then why is he here?" I asked.
"He requested to meet you"
"Because…."
"I'm not exactly too sure."
"The Marriage Law," Draco supplied. "I believe you got a letter saying not to worry because your soulmate has been found"
I nod slowly, thinking of what he just said.
"I came over to tell you that-"
"Can someone please tell me what's going on? I think I deserve to know."
"Shut it Potter. That will be explained later. As I was saying. I'm your-"
"Draco's Hermione's soulmate," said a voice behind us.
We all turned around, looking at Pansy who was standing under the archway to the parlor, a smile on her face.
"Pansy, how many times must I tell you to keep things between us. It wasn't your place to tell her," said Draco.
Pansy's smile grew bigger, "You can never trust me with secrets."
I stood there in shock once again, the feeling of not being able to breath coming back, only this time it was much quicker, and stronger. The letter I had received had told me about my supposed soulmate had been found, and then Malfoy started to tell me something about the law. And finally, Pansy says that I'm Malfoy's soulmate.
Realization hits me as I suddenly stop breathing, my heart beating faster than it is supposed to.
"Soulmate," I whispered quietly to myself.
My legs shake beneath, suddenly feeling like lead. My muscles ache for some reason, and I am unable to hold up my weight. My legs give out from beneath me, and arms once again wrap themselves around me. Draco Malfoy's arms to be exact.
[A/N Hello people. It has been a while since I have updated, and I'm sorry if you thought this was a new chapter. I'm currently editing this whole story seeing as I don't like it, and replacing each chapter with each new one. I'm not really changing much save for a few tweaks here and there. So very very sorry for not updating sooner, but I have been rather busy with school and whatnot.]