CHAPTER 1
It was still early in the morning when 16-almost-17 year old Hermione Granger got up in her room in 12 Grimmauld Palace. Obviously her roommate Ginny Weasley was still in bed. As she made her way down the stairs to kitchen, where Mrs Weasley would be cooking breakfast for the members of the house, she remembered how everything had changed at the end of her fifth year. At the Ministry, Sirius had barely escaped from Bellatrix and everybody now believed that Voldemort had returned. The most shocking thing had been the appearance of a certain Draco Malfoy along with Professsor Snape and his mother Narcissa Malfoy at Grimmauld Palace a day after the ministry incident where his father Lucius Malfoy had been arrested. Oh yes, the presence of the two Malfoys had created a ruckus in the house which was only settled after Professor Dumbledore had come and solved the matter. You see anybody who knew Mrs Malfoy would know she loved her son immensely and would do anything to protect him, even if it meant taking him to the Order. The two Malfoys had definitely helped the Order and now not one member doubted them.
The wonderful smell of Mrs Weasley's cooking reached her nostrils as she stood at the kitchen entrance. However, she was forced out of the euphoric feeling as soon as she laid her eyes on the table. Sirius Black was up at seven in the morning. Oh no, something was definitely wrong. And if that wasn't enough the other members of the Order were also present. Remus Lupin sat beside his wife Nymphadora Lupin-nee-Tonks, Kingsley Shacklebolt sat in one corner reading The Daily Prophet. Mr Weasley sat at a corner discussing something secretly with his eldest son Bill Weasley who had recently married Fleur Delacour. Mrs Malfoy, who was otherwise always impeccably dressed, for the first time looked like she had been through hell. Professor Snape and Professor McGonagall who were never here this early were also sitting tight-lipped today. Being lost in her thoughts she never noticed the presence of six boys who looked like they just wanted to go back to bed. These boys were the Fred and George Weasley,who were plotting some new prank as usual, Harry Potter and Ron Weasley,her two best friends in the world, and Draco Malfoy and Blaise Zabini. Blaise had already planned on being a neutral party in the war but when his best friend Draco Malfoy had joined the Order Blaise decided to join him in defeating Voldemort too. And perhaps a certain girl was also the reason he had joined the Order. Behind them was a girl all dressed and ready for the day, Ginny Weasley.
As the younger ones sat for their breakfast nobody said anything. No jokes from Sirius as well. Yes, something was wrong. However in that moment Professor Dumbledore made an appearance by floo and was closely followed by Head Auror Alastair Moody. As they sat down their eyes turned to Hermione. Hermione, always the clever one, asked with little fear about what was wrong. Dumbledore started to say something but stopped and so it was Remus who decided to answer her. "We have got ourselves a little situation here." That one sentence was enough to draw everyone's attention. The adults, though aware of the situation still listened to a sentence at the time of war only meant bad news. Remus continued, "The Minister of Magic, obviously under the order of Voldemort, passed a Marriage Law." He paused, waiting for the outrage to follow but he was met with silence. Perhaps they were still in shock and so he continued. 'All muggle- born witches are to marry pureblood males by their 17th birthday."
For the next few minutes nothing happened. That is before Harry found his voice and asked the question that was on everyone's mind." Is there nothing we can do to stop this law?" " No Harry." Remus replied. "So what will we do about Hermione?" This time Sirius answered," We need to find her a pureblood male before any Death Eaters petition for her." All this while Dumbledore had been observing Hermione and so the next question he asked was for her."Hermione, do you need some time child? We can discuss this in the evening if you want." "Discussing it later on won't change anything. So what do we now?" Yes, she was the Hermione Granger everyone knew. Smart and brave. Ron, ever the helpful one turned to Hermione and said," I can marry you. You will be safe here." "Ron no! I can't marry you. I don't want you to give up on your happiness for me. We both know 'us' can't happen." Well you see that is because Ron was not attracted to was something all the young adults in the room knew but had never dared to tell the adults. "Well, if needed I can be the knight in shining armour for you Hermione." Fred teased. " And who said you were allowed to do that and not me. Say what Granger, will you marry me?" said George sending a charming wink Hermione's way. "Don't you two have girlfriends? Girlfriends who, to put it lightly, will kill me if I marry either of you." Hermione retorted. "What about Charlie?" Bill asked. " No don't you dare take Charlie's name. I have looked at him like a brother for as long as I have known him and that will never change." replied Hermione. "Well, there is always Sirius left." Harry said rather awkwardly. "What?" Those three echoes had come from a very pissed off Hermione, a shocked Sirius and an outraged Molly. Everybody turned to Dumbledore expecting him to say something but the silence they got told them that Sirius was the only one left. "I will not marry a man who is almost my father's age. Professor you can't ask me to marry this man-child, no disrespect to you Sirius."And with that she stormed off to her room followed closely by Ginny. "None taken." Sirius' reply was the last thing she heard.
Downstairs everybody still did not know what to do until "I'll marry her" was heard from Draco Malfoy. "Did Malfoy seriously just say he will marry our Mione?"Ron whispered to Harry who could only nod to that. " Draco dear, are you sure?" Narcissa asked. "She needs someone mother. I'll do it to save her." Nobody said anything absorbing it all in. "Very well then. Mr Malfoy it is. Now let's just hope Ms Granger agrees." Dumbledore said before taking his leave followed closely by all members of the Order except the Weasleys and Malfoys who were staying at Grimmauld with Sirius and Blaise.