The life of the witches and wizards who maintained a life in the boundaries of the Ministry of Magic's district had changed dramatically.
With all the deaths from the Last Wizarding War, the entire wizarding population began to dwindle dramatically. Pure-bloods, who had secretly supported Lord Voldemort, disassociated themselves with the half-bloods and muggle-borns and tried to leave to the more exclusive pure-blood society in Eastern Europe, but the Ministry put up strict restrictions forbidding them to leave.
Five years after the war, with a brand new Minister, Rupert Fudge—the very nephew of Cornelius Fudge. He moved up in the ranks of the Ministry, beginning in the Improper Use of Magic Office.—new rules were thought up by the ministry, tightening the reins on the common wizarding family.
Hour after hour, Fudge would look at charts and graphs showing the disturbing trend of the wizarding population dwindling. The war, of course, had broken relationships, slashed a line through the pure-bloods and the half-bloods. Without the purebloods, the half-blood generation would slowly bleed out, leaving no witches or wizards at all.
It was time he implemented his first law. In the sixth year after the Dark Lord's death, 2004, Rupert Fudge broadcasted throughout the homes of every wizarding family, explaining the new law. All witches and wizards over the age of eighteen, or those who did not attend Hogwarts anymore, were to be matched with another witch or wizard. This match would be made inevitable, and they would be married under the eyes of Wizarding Law.
Harry Potter, who had married Ginny shortly after the war, had narrowly missed having to find a match. He continued to live happily, keeping house with Ginny and their son James. Ron Weasley, who also escaped having to find a match, married Lavender Brown just days before Rupert Fudge implemented the law. He had married her as soon as Arthur Weasley came home with the startling news.
For Hermione Granger, however, life for her would be changed forever. News came by owl to her, arranging her marriage to the man who would soon be called her husband. She cried and screamed when she read the name on the letter, and when she informed Harry and Ron, still under duress, they swore to take down the ministry. They would never let their best friend Hermione Granger marry such a cold and dark man.
She was matched with Severus Snape.
Dear Ms. Hermione Granger, the letter stated,
We are pleased to inform you that we, at the Ministry of Magic, Matrimonial Law Enforcement Office, have matched you with Mr. Severus Snape, for your compatibility in many areas. Your outstanding achievements in education have led us to believe that you can live a fulfilling life without the case of boredom, and also to be able to converse to each other easily. Your wedding date is set for December 22, come next month, so you have some time to prepare. We at the Ministry, and on behalf of Rupert Fudge, Minister of Magic, wish you the best and a fulfilling relationship with your new partner.
She moaned and cried for two weeks before she finally became numb. During the wedding ceremony, her eyes were blank as if she shut off her mind from her body. Severus looked as though he did the same thing.