A/N set up: The timeline is set a few weeks after Bill and Fleur's wedding. The Ministry did not become overrun, it's just badly corrupt. Harry, Hermione, and Ron are still at The Burrow getting ready for a Horcrux hunt.
I've had this Marriage Law story in my head for years and wanted to finally see it out there. More notes below.
Oh, and I don't own Harry Potter and am not making any money off of this crazy story that popped into my disclaimer, and the one on my profile page, will be all I will mention of this fact. The source material is not mine. Thank you.
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Chapter 1: A Misguided Idea
"By decree of the Ministry of Magic, all eligible witches between the prime reproductive ages of 18 and 34 are required to be wed within three months and if physically capable, to conceive within one year of their union."
Despite reading the sentence aloud, Hermione could not believe her own ears. It didn't appear like anyone else did either. The early risers of the Weasley clan all looked at each other, at Hermione, at Ginny, at the table, at their hands, and finally - at the crumbled paper now clenched in Hermione's trembling fingers.
Molly spoke first "This is not happening. This cannot be happening." Shakily she turned her eyes accusatorily at her husband, she yelled pointedly "Arthur, how could you not know this was happening?!"
Molly Weasley abruptly stood up from the table in a rush of feeling and then just as quickly crumbled to the kitchen floor, overcome with the absurdity of the situation. Arthur stooped down to hold her shaking form, soothingly brushing Molly's red hair from her face.
Speaking between breaths, Molly added "They can't have her Arthur. They can't. Our only girl."
Continuing to run his hands along her hair, Arthur tried to assure her "We won't let them Molly. She won't be 18 for another two years. They'll overturn this by then, it won't stand."
Still sitting silently at the breakfast table were the two other early risers, Hermione Jean Granger and Ginevra "Ginny" Weasley.
Hermione, one third of the famous Golden Trio, the brightest witch of her age, was staring numbly at her breakfast as endless scenarios soared through her brain and became catalogued into best and least likely options. As currently the eldest in the group, at the age of 18, she would have to find a husband quickly. Hermione's eyes lingered back towards the Marriage Act of 1997, she smoothed it out and read the entire document again.
The movement catching her eye, Ginny turned her gaze away from her parents and looked back towards Hermione. Speaking quickly, Ginny started trying to assure her in the usual quiet yet determined tone she generally used when plotting.
"Ron will marry you. You know he will. We'll wake him up right now and tell him about the new law. You'll see, he won't even hesitate." Ginny nodded at the end, almost as if she were assuring herself more so than Hermione.
Mrs. Weasley, snapping up at the sound of Ginny's voice, made a startled sound and immediately got up off the floor of The Burrow with Arthur scrambling to follow.
Walking closer, tidying her face and then wringing her hands in her age weathered apron, Molly added to Ginny's sentiments.
"Yes, Hermione dear. I'm so sorry I broke down before thinking how this affects you. Of course, you are already part of our family. If we can't find a way out of this, Ron will marry you, dear. I didn't want you two to get married under these circumstances but this can work. They will not force you onto someone you don't love if we have anything to say about it." She mimicked that same assured nod her daughter had just modeled.
Hermione looked past the overbearingly large breakfast mound that Mrs. Weasley had shoveled onto her plate that morning and into the eyes of the matronly woman that substituted for her own mother in the wizarding world. It was too much to bear. The plump and sweet red haired Molly Weasley could never be her mother-in-law. The Weasley's would never become her family, not anymore.
With shaky movements, Hermione pushed back her chair and stood up. It wobbled and fell behind her, making a sound as deafening as the crack forming in Hermione's heart.
"I think I need a moment."
As calmly as Hermione could manage, she walked towards the back door, opened it, and found a spot in the yard where she could be alone to think. She let out a few stubborn tears before practicing some breathing exercises to gather herself back together. She had to think, this was not the time to break down.
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Within minutes of stepping outside, Hermione heard the outraged shouts of Harry Potter, The Boy Who Lived, and Ronald Bilius "Ron" Weasley, the youngest of the Weasley's six sons.
Still clad in his toothpaste stained pajama shirt and dark linen pants, a messy haired Ron ran to join Hermione outside.
Before he could even open his mouth, Hermione asked "Where is Harry?" She had assumed he may also come to try and calm her down.
"He'll be out in a moment. He first decided to propose to my sister so that no one else could get an edge in next year."
Brushing his hand through his already pre-tousled hair, he paced a bit in front of her for a moment.
"But forget about Harry. I think we should be focusing on us first."
He paused his pacing to look at her tear stained face, and then kneeled beside her on the dew covered grass.
"Okay, here is the plan." Ron reached for Hermione's hands, looking into her eyes to try and share his serious tone.
"We'll take two weeks to put a few of the more important things together like who will come to our wedding, what food to have, and your dress, I suppose, and then we'll get married." Ron paused, shaking his head briefly. He continues "I didn't want to do this so young but you know, at least this way I get to keep you safe."
Noticing how stoically Hermione was looking at their entwined hands, Ron asked "How are you? You look oddly calm." Hermione did not respond right away.
Peering up, she studied Ron's face. Hermione hoped he would see the sincerity in her features, that he would understand that this logical choice pained her. She cared for Ron, more than she cared for any other man besides her father, even more than Harry in some ways, but the daydream of her and Ron being together one day had just come to a quick stop. She didn't care about Ron more than the fate of the Wizarding World.
"I am not calm Ron. I'm just thinking through my options. It won't be long now before complete strangers start proposing to me as a way to get to Harry." Nodding, she added "You know it's true. A lot of people are going to want to use me to get to him. I should think things through before that happens. We have a mission and this jeopardizes everything."
Letting go of her hands in a forceful push, Ron stood up and stared at her incredulously. "You cannot be serious. There are no other options Hermione. You are going to marry me!"
Hermione swallowed the lump in her throat and regrettably spoke the words that she knew would puncture Ron's heart.
"No, Ron. I am not going to marry you."
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Next time on For the Cause, For Herself:
Before the night was through Hermione had received formal Ministry approved proposal forms from her classmates Draco Malfoy, Gregory Goyle, Vincent Crabbe, Blaise Zabini, and a total of 10 other letters of intent from Death Eaters of all ages. The eldest being a man of 65.
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A/N: Thank you for reading the first chapter! I plan on updating chapter two right away so that you can see more of what I have in mind for the plot. All 20+ chapters have been written and I'll be editing them and putting them online daily.
More about me can be found on my profile page. I'm a writer and I'd love for you to check out my original work if you like what you see here. I also have a few one-shots for you to read and review while you wait for new chapters.