I'm sorry for my extended absence. Between work and some other things that have been happening I haven't had much time to write. I know I have two other fics in progress, but for now I will be putting those on hold. In order to bring some sort of order to my life I have decided to start a new fic which will be updated once a week. Hopefully the schedule will provide me with some creative distractions without interfering with all that's happening.

I just want to thank everyone who has read my other fictions and provided me with helpful (and sometimes highly amusing) reviews. I appreciate that you take the time to read my attempts at reasonable fanfic.

I have always enjoyed marriage law fics; they can be silly, endearing and downright hilarious at times. That's why I've decided to attempt one of my own. It's rated M for future lemons and language. It's a slow burn Dramione so you will have to bear with me but hopefully it will be worth it.

The two letters sat on the table between them. Their innocuous appearance belied the nature of their contents. Hermione stared down at them, unseeing, her mind still reeling as it processed their contents. Her attention was brought back to her surrounds when she felt a hand squeeze hers. She turned to Harry, a look of deep concern spread across his face.

"It's going to be fine, 'Mione. They'll pair you and Ron. I'm sure of it."

"Harry," came her voice. It seemed distant, as if it wasn't of her, "you read the letter. There's no reason for them to pair Ron and myself. We aren't married or engaged to be wed. We could end up with anyone."

"We could just get engaged now, they wouldn't have any choice but the let us get married." Ron chirped in, his expression hopeful.

"They've already paired you, Ron. Did you not read the letter properly?" Ginny slapped her brother on the arm. He swotted her hand away and swore. She turned to Harry, "Do you think this is what that survey was about? The one they did around two years ago? They must have used it to gain information about everyone in order pair people up. I didn't give it a second thought at the time even though mum said she thought it was odd since the Ministry had never done one before."

Harry leant forward and grabbed Hermione's letter. He reread the letter aloud as if it would somehow confirm the contents were real.

"The second war against Voldemort left the wizarding population dangerously underpopulated. In recent years it has become apparent that if immediate action is not taken to remedy the situation we may face extinction within the next few generations. By order of the Ministry Of Magic all witches and wizards that are of age and unmarried, or not engaged to be wed, have been paired with an appropriate individual for marriage."

He trailed off before picking up again,

"- to produce children and save our community. In order to ensure the greatest genetic diversity and combat the well know problem of low child yield amongst some pure blood families we have put candidates' information through a rigorous process that will select the best pairing for each individual."

"This can't be legal. We didn't fight Voldemort to have this happen." Harry gestured angrily with the paper before flinging it down on the table once more. Hermione stood. She needed to leave. She needed to research the legality of this, find some sort of loophole. There would be something in the Ministry's law library or their archives. There had to be. She needed the security of books, of knowledge.

"Hermione, don't go." Ginny stood with her, taking her friend's hand in hers.

"I'm sorry, Ginny, but I need to get to the Ministry and talk with people in the DMLE. Research this… this… mess."

"Hermione," Ron stood, his letter in hand as he pointed at it hopefully, "we're scheduled to appear at the Ministry on the same day. This is a good sign! It could mean that they've paired us! I mean, why wouldn't they?"

"Ron, we aren't even dating!" Hermione turned back to him; his optimism felt annoying in that moment, "We haven't been together for the better part a year. Somehow I doubt they would take into account previous relationships."

"We don't know any of what they've taken into account with these pairings!" He shook the paper at her aggressively, "Or are you just hoping that they've paired us with other people?"

"Ron, that is absolutely ridiculous!" Hermione countered angrily. Harry and Ginny fidgeted uncomfortably in their seats, giving each other side-glances knowing what was coming. This was a topic they were both familiar with and one they had had to endure numerous times over the last few months. After several hundred "how dare you"s and looks of betrayal (which Harry always felt were far too overdramatic) from both Ron and Hermione, they had finally decided the best course of action to take on the matter was for both of them to run for the hills whenever the topic arose. Luckily at that moment James's cries began to echo through the room. Without missing a beat Ginny was up and out of the room, yelling her assurances to James as she went. Harry scowled at her as she practically sprinted from the room. Ron continued as if nothing had happened.

"Is it really? Because last time I checked I did actually ask you to marry me and you said no. You said we should wait, so I did, and then I asked as again and once again you said no!"

"You asked me when we were twenty and then again at twenty four! I told you I wanted to wait, that I wanted to fully establish a career first! Just because I wasn't ready for marriage then didn't mean that I wouldn't eventually want to get married! All I wanted from you was patience but you weren't willing to give that to me, Ronald!"

Hermione grabbed her things off the couch as she spoke. She still loved Ron and she knew he felt the same but things had been broken after her refusal of his second proposal. Within a few months of her second rejection their relationship had begun to decline. Something had shifted in that moment and they became distant from one another. Eventually Hermione had ended it; despite the pain it had caused her to say the words. There had been no animosity, just a quiet understanding from both of them that perhaps it was for the best. Hermione knew that they would probably return to each other in the future, but for a time after things had been somewhat awkward between them. They had just gotten back to normal and now this… this horrid Marriage Law would set them back to who knows how far.

"I think I'll just pop and help Ginny - she's been gone a while." Harry said gingerly after a few moments of silence. Hermione and Ron watched him as he practically sprinted from the room, the tension between them disappearing with him.

"Ron, I love you. No matter what happens, I will always love you. I know we may not be together now, but I had always assumed we would be together again someday." Hermione moved to him and took his hand, "I can't bear the thought of not having you in my life, you mean far too much to me but it's a reality we have to face. We might not end up paired together."

Ron pulled Hermione into a deep hug and rested his chin against the top of her head. She breathed in his woody cologne and sighed. She couldn't help but relax slightly in the safety and comfort of his arms. He gave her a small kiss on the forehead, which Hermione answered with a smile.

"You better go get at those gits at Ministry. I know you won't sleep until you do."

Hermione smiled and shook her head in amusement – he was right, she wouldn't sleep until she had researched every inch of the new law. She pocketed her own letter and squeezed Ron's hand once more.

"Please say goodbye to Ginny and Harry for me. And Ron," she paused as she reached the front door, "I can't believe I'm saying this, but I hope I'm wrong and that you're right."

"If it does turn out that way I will never let you live it down. For the rest of your life I will always remind you about that one time I was right. My tombstone will read: 'Hermione Granger got it wrong. I was right!" He smiled and gestured out each word in the air before him.

"I'm not below hexing you, Ronald Weasley!" Hermione narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms menacingly.

He gave her a scandalised look. "You know what, that's fine because with this law you would have to marry me if we're paired together… even with something rude written across my forehead in pimples."

He gave her a teasing smile and Hermione needed nothing more to know that they would be fine, they would get though whatever this law would throw at them.


Ron had been correct about Hermione's research. For the three days before her appointment she had spent every waking moment badgering anyone she could and doing ceaseless research about the law. For all her research and questioning she had come up empty handed. Whoever had drafted the law had done so in a concrete and meticulous manner. Hermione couldn't help but be impressed by the use of language and attention to detail. She would certainly have to refine her own work along the same lines. If she could achieve this level of skill, perhaps her legislatures concerning the rights of magical creatures wouldn't be picked apart so ruthlessly in the future.

Hermione sat in the Ministry's law library doing last minute research. She had arrived in the early hours of the morning after spending most of the previous night at the same desk in which she now sat – she had popped home briefly for sleep before returning. Blearily looking down at her watch she cursed as she saw that she was running late. There were only a few minutes before she had to be at her appointment with the matchmaker. She had wanted to get there early in order to quiz them for more information but that would have to wait for during the meeting. She hurriedly shoved her belongings into her bag and tried to straighten her dishevelled hair as she set off at speed to the meeting rooms.

The elevator seemed to take forever, it felt like everyone and their aunt was using it. Hermione checked her watch in frustration every time the door opened and muttered strained greetings to various colleagues. After what felt like ages, the doors finally opened on the correct floor. She stepped out into a long corridor that had been divided into several, small, closed off cubicles. Each cubicle had its own number painted in big, bold red characters across the door. Hermione couldn't help but notice how quiet everything was – perhaps they had cast silencing charms on each of the cubicles. She imagined it was necessary to ensure that the more unsavoury reactions did not interrupt any other meetings that were in progress. Hermione jumped at the sound of a small cough to her left.

"Miss Granger, you are late."

A short, stern looking witch with a clipboard was staring up at her. Hermione managed to allow a flustered apology to stumble from her before she realised she needn't apologise. This woman could hardly think she'd really want to be on time (or enthusiastic) about a meeting concerning her arranged marriage to someone who might well be a stranger.

"Please proceed to room number seven." The witch consulted her clipboard, making a small tick next to Hermione's name, "Your match has already arrived and is waiting for you in the cubicle."

Hermione strained a little to see if her future husband's name was next to hers. It was not, but she did manage to see that Ron had arrived. A flutter of hope burst in her chest; she might actually be paired with Ron. She had given the matter some thought the previous night and realised that even though the timing was not ideal – it interfered greatly with the schedule she had mapped out for her career – being married to Ron had never been an unappealing thought. In fact she quite enjoyed to notion of becoming a Weasley, even if it was ahead of schedule.

Against her better judgement she had allowed herself to be taken by the idea that they would be paired together. She opened the door to the number seven cubicle and hurried in, her face slightly flushed in anticipation. Hermione was fully expecting to see Ron sitting within a silly grin spread across his face. Instead she was greeted only by her matchmaker, a portly old wizard with an enormous moustache. Hermione was mesmerised by the sheer volume of it – it rivalled her own hair on its bad days – as she crossed the cubicle to take up a seat in front of his desk.

"My apologies for being late Mr, ah," she smiled and glanced down at the name plate on his desk, "Mr Cobblesworth. I understand my match is already here?"

"Indeed I am."

Hermione's smile fell from her face as she visibly tensed. She hadn't heard that voice so close to her in years, not since the trials after Voldemort's death. Panic bloomed in her chest as she looked blankly at Mr Cobblesworth. He seemed somewhat taken aback by her drastic change in demeanour. She heard her future husband move behind her and take up the seat next to her.

"Let's get this done with, shall we?" His tone was crisp and efficient.

Hermione blinked dumbly as she turned to see the face of Draco Malfoy looking directly at her.


There it is, folks -chapter 1 in my first marriage law fic. I'm sorry that it doesn't seem like much but I hope you'll stick with me. Please read and review – like I said, your input is greatly appreciated.

PS. I have no idea how betas work, but if anyone is willing to help with this fic or even just explain what it entails to me I'd be glad of it. (I'm a noob, I know, but if you don't ask you won't know!)