A/N: I own nothing but an over-active imagination.

Hello there! I wanted to take a swing at one of my favorite Dramonie troupes, Marriage Law. I was inspired by a tumblr post I saw on Pinterest outside of the HP fandom. For those of you who have been following along with my WIP Questions of Convenience, I haven't abandoned it. I like multitasking :)

Here is their post "I wish there were necklaces given to us at birth that were half of a unique shape and your soulmate wore the other half and they got warmer the closer together you were and colder the further away you were so you could go on this journey when you're ready to find your other half so that you could be spared all the pain and heartbreak of being played with by those who don't take dating as seriously as you do."

This story won't follow this premise to the letter. It isn't a choice for our beloved characters to set out on this journey, not really. And they may not be happy with what they find along the way. At least not in the beginning.

Shorter chapters and more frequent updates. Rating M for smut in later chapters (because I love it). Eventual Dramonie. Mentions of Romonie. And hopefully a few laughs and tears along the way.

psyducked : whoever and wherever you are, thanks for the inspiration!

The Law

"This is complete rubbish!" Hermione exclaimed from her seat next to Ron. It was merely her 17th such outburst in the 20 or so minutes that had passed since she and the remainder of the Weasley clan had arrived outside the newly formed Department for Magical Population Security. The title of the department was rubbish as well in her opinion. And she felt she was controlling herself quite well, given the circumstances.

Ron reached out a comforting hand as Molly and Arthur looked on with solemn expressions. Hermione jerked her hand away. She didn't need comfort. She needed these pencil pushers at the Ministry to remove their heads which were clearly up their own arses, and repeal this blasted law.

A year had passed since the end of the second wizarding war. And in that time, the Ministry had successfully developed a plan to ruin everyone's lives.

The magical population was dwindling. Yes. Of course it was. Hermione wasn't blind. There had been so many casualties, on both sides. What did they expect? But this rash law they had passed was not the answer. What did they mean by forcing people to marry and begin having children before they were ready? It was barbaric!

"I don't WANT to get married!" She shouted to no one in particular. "Not to ANYONE." She didn't miss how Ron winced at her words, drawing his body in toward himself and away from her.

Ok, so she and Ron hadn't worked out. And maybe she shouldn't have been so harsh in her rejection of his proposal once the law was announced. But she didn't want to marry him, or anyone, just to avoid being subject to this ridiculous ordeal.

"Maybe it won't be so bad," Ginny offered from her seat across from Hermione.

"Easy for you to say, Gin. No offense, but this really doesn't have anything to do with you. You have Harry. You love each other. He would have proposed to you after graduation on his own." She paused dramatically as her eyebrows furrowed and she shot an accusing glare to the closed door on the far side of the room before continuing. "WITHOUT MINISTRY INTERFERENCE!"

She barked the last sentence out, hoping they could hear her on the other side.

Ginny's face hardened, but she refrained from reacting to her friends harsh words with too much anger.

"I may not be subject to the law, but don't forget that half of my family is! And that includes YOU, Mione."

Before either witch could say anything else, Harry burst in the small waiting area. His brow slick with sweat and his hair even more unkempt than usual.

"Sorry! Sorry! I was ambushed by reporters in the atrium. This place is a mad house!"

Ginny's face softened and she rose to greet her fiancé, giggling as she attempted to pat down his dark hair.

"It's ok. They haven't seen anyone yet. Whoever is in there is taking their sweet time."

"I HOPE THEY ARE CAUSING AS MUCH OF A SCENE IN THERE AS I PLAN TO!"

Everyone in the room winced this time at the tone and volume of Hermione's exclamation.

"I know it's not….ideal," Harry offered, " but at least the ministry is trying."

"Trying to, what, exactly?! Pair us up and force us to breed like cattle?"

"It's not as if everyone doesn't have a choice," Ron mumbled.

"Some choice we have! Get engaged before our appointment, have our wands broken and move to the muggle world, or…..this…"

Just then, the office door flung open, almost coming off its hinges, and none other than Draco Malfoy stormed into the sitting area.

"MARK MY WORDS, WITCH! This will NOT end well for you!" The blonde wizard froze suddenly, realizing the room was full. With a scowl, he took stock of its occupants, straightened, then gave a curt nod in greeting. That was apparently as cordial as a Malfoy could get in a room full of Weasleys.

"Hello, Malfoy."

"Potter. Weasleys." The latter name seemed to ooze from his lips. In irritation or disgust, Hermione didn't know, but her galleons were on the latter. To everyone's surprise, he didn't leave. Instead he continued his rant.

"This," he held out his hand, which held a small pendant on a delicate silver chain, "is utter rubbish!"

Finally having found a kindred spirit who was as outraged as she, Hermione stood, taking a few steps toward her former classmate and threw her hands up.

"THANK YOU! Finally, someone else who sees this for what it really is!" She turned to face the room. "This is what I've been telling you all this whole time. Even Malfoy can see how ridiculous this law is."

Behind her, Malfoy arched a brow, taken aback by being on the same side as the witch in front of him for the first time ever. But then, her words sank in, and his face flared in outrage.

"Don't tell me you lot actually agree with this law?" He spoke accusingly. Every redhead, and Harry, hung their heads. They didn't agree with it, no, but they had accepted it.

Hermione knew this, but she had expected more anger. More shouting. More fight from a family of Gryffindors. But the war had taken a lot from the Weasleys. And their will to fight, anything or anyone, had been lacking ever since.

A short witch with a round face and beady eyes appeared in the doorway behind Malfoy. Her voice was shrill and startled Hermione as she spoke.

"Granger, Hermione Jean." She watched with slight amusement as Malfoy's eye twitched and his jaw tightened at hearing the woman's voice. But not wanting to lose any of the fury she had summoned to unleash upon the Ministry, she quickly pushed her humor aside and squared her shoulders, as if preparing to march into battle.

Both she and Malfoy began walking at the same time. She toward the beady-eyed witch and he toward the hallway. As they passed, their eyes meet for a moment. Both filled with fire and anger.

"Give her hell, Granger."

She froze, glancing over her shoulder and watched the tall wizard as he strode proudly through the open doorway and out of sight. That may have been the most civil conversation I've ever had with Malfoy.

"Miss Granger." She winced. Looking back toward her destination and the woman who was to be the harbinger of her demise.

As she entered the cramped office, the door clicking shut behind her, all thoughts of Malfoy disappeared.