DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter. All the characters portraid are property of one brilliant J. K. Rowling. Only the plot is mine. I do not profit from this in any way.

Three years had passed since the second war in the wizarding world ended. People had started to go back to their lives and were starting to heal the wounds they had been left with. Family members that had perished in battle, from the smallest 11 year-old to the bravest of men were mourned, ceremonies were made, and awards were given. In spite of all the beautiful and proudly pronounced words to honor the fallen, everyone knew the world they once knew was never coming back. The scars were made and the pain was suffered.

In an attempt to accelerate the healing, the Ministry of Magic had come up with a solution to counteract the effects of the hundreds of lives lost. They decided to send a special letter to particular subjects, in possession of certain characteristics, listing a number of 'actions' they were advised to do in a certain period of time in order to help their world recover faster. Of course the advice part was only to foolish the less attentive, for there were consequences to the ones that didn't accomplished the listed tasks.

Harry Potter, the war hero, savior of the wizarding world, head of the golden trio, the-boy-who-lived-twice-and-killed-Voldemort, was having breakfast in his house when the mail came from the window.

'Mail's here, honey.' he called to his wife who was upstairs in the bedroom.

His yellowish brown owl, Melvin, flew over the table, dropped the letters on it, and then flew right to his side, standing on the back of a chair. Harry picked up a few owl treats, gave them to his little friend and petted it on its head. Melvin hooted in appreciation and then flew away.

Harry picked up the small pile of letters and started to sort them 'Garbage, bills, fan mail, garbage, garbage, bills and gar… oh wait… what's this?'

'What's what, Harry?' asked Ginevra Weasley Potter, entering the kitchen and hearing the admiration on her husband's voice.

'Well, I was checking the mail and this came up.' he revealed the two envelopes he was talking about. Official looking envelopes, with the Ministry's seal. 'One for you and one for me'.

Accustomed to having all types of mail entering her house, she wasn't too much concerned about the contents the envelope could have. 'So? What are you waiting for? Just open it already. Mine's probably the same, anyway.'

Breaking the seal, Harry picked up the parchment inside and read out loud.

'Dear Mr. Potter, it is with great satisfaction that your Ministry presents you with the new tasks that are required of all selected wizards and witches in order to help improve the wizarding world we live in.'

'This ought to be good…' Ginny commented with a doubtful look.

Harry looked at her, understanding what she meant and then continued to read 'To counteract the devastating effects that the Second Wizarding War had on our world, all Wizards and Witches between the ages of 17 and 90 are advised to do as follows:

(1) Find a partner:

a) Half-blood or Pure blood, if you're Muggleborn

b)Muggleborn, Half-blood or Pure blood, if you're Half-blood

c)Muggleborn or Half-blood, if you're Pure blood

(2)* Formalize the choice. To do this, the applicant must send a Marriage Form to the Ministry of Magic and, after approval, the Ministry will send the proposal to the intended subject. If the intended subject accepts the offer, the Ministry of Magic will notify the applicant and contacts will be sent to each part.

(3)** Marry. Both the applicant and the intended subject must agree on a date to perform the marriage and notify the Ministry so that the Department of Marriage can schedule the ceremony on the date chosen or a date proposed.

(4)*** Conceive a child. After the marriage is validated, all couples will have to conceive at least one child.

With the best regards,

Minister of Magic

*The applicant has exactly 60 days since the receiving of this letter to complete the first 2 tasks.

**After the proposal is accepted, the couple has 30 days to schedule de date and perform the ceremony. The marriage will only be considered valid after it has been consummated. If the consummation does not take place within the 30 day period, the marriage will be considered void along with the proposal.

***The couple has exactly 365 days to conceive a child, or else the marriage will be considered void.

The failure to complete all four tasks is punishable with breaking of the subject's wand and expulsion from the wizarding world.

As Harry finished reading the letter, his voice faded to a whisper and he just stared at the parchment, unbelieving the words he had just read. After what seemed like an eternity, he looked up to his wife and she had her hand covering her open mouth and her eyes widely open.

'Oh Merlin, I can't believe they are going to do this! They can't! There must be something to prevent this! Some law, some, some… I don't know. Something!' Ginny finally burst.

'I am not less surprised than you are but we have to look on the bright side: we already have the 3 first tasks completed.' he said with a smile and then added with a more serious and concerned face 'Unless you don't want to complete the fourth, of course.'

'Oh, stop it you. You know perfectly well I am more than willing to do the fourth. I want to have a child with you, I just wasn't expecting to be controlled by the Ministry about it.' She said seriously 'But my concern is not so much about us, Harry.' She looked at him meaningfully and he understood what she meant.

'Shit. You're right. I almost forgot about Hermione.'

Meanwhile in another house...

'I can't believe it! This can't be! Those imbecile, incapable pieces of… aarrrgggg!' Hermione yelled alone in her living room. She flopped down on the couch and inhaled profoundly. When she exhaled, the breath came as a sob. What started out as anger at the Ministry's revolutionary idea to help the wizarding world, ended up to be the unavoidable reminder of one of her greatest losses.

She hadn't thought about it for quite some time but the simple mention of the word partner was too much for her and she felt like her heart was braking once again. Ron was supposed to be her partner. Everybody knew that and so did she. But he couldn't be her partner now. Not now, not ever. Ronald Weasley, member of the golden trio, was one of the hundreds of people that perished in the war. He died along with his brother Fred, Remus, Tonks, Moody, and so many others, too many to recall.

Hermione had missed them all and mourned their deaths but no one had left such a big hole in her heart as Ron had. It wasn't fair. Her parents weren't with her, which was the same as they being dead, since they had no recollection at all of whom she was. Harry had gained a family. In the middle of all this confusion, war, loss, Harry had found the Weasleys and, specially, he had found Ginny. What about her? She lost her parents, Ron and at the same time – or consequentially - the Weasleys. In summary she lost her real family, her second family and the opportunity she had of creating her own.

Letting herself go, she cried herself to sleep, completely forgetting about her job.

She woke up a couple of hours later with a ringing on the bell and so she stood up to go to the door, eyes still red from her tears. When she opened it, she found two pair of concerned eyes staring at her. She let the door open for them and went back to the couch.

'How are you, 'Mione?' Harry asked after entering and sitting on the armchair. Ginny sat beside her and put her hands on top of Hermione's.

'We received it this morning and came here as soon as we could.' Ginny said.

'I can't do it, I just can't.' she only said.

'You have to, 'Mione. You know what happens to those who don't. Besides, I bet there are loads of decent guys willing to marry you. After all, who wouldn't?' She knew Harry was trying to cheer her up but not even him was enough this time.

'That's not true, Harry, and you know it. But thank you.' she tried to say something else but she just couldn't talk, her throat was tied up so tightly.

'Hermione, I know this is not the best case scenario, but who knows? Maybe you'll find someone you can be happy with. Sometimes we find love in the last place we thought possible.' said Ginny 'We can help you… at least for part of the time.'

'What do you mean?'

'That's what we were supposed to talk to you about in sometime this week but this Ministry thing came up and we just ran here.' Harry started, shifting in the armchair, uncomfortable. 'You remember me telling you about the proposal I thought that Italian quidditch team was going to do, right? Well, I wasn't really sure they were going to actually do it and I really hoped they did, but on the other side I didn't want them to because then I would have to move and get another house and all that. But on the other hand I really, really wanted a change because…'

'Get to the point, Harry!' Hermione yelled to her best friend

'Well, they did invite me and I did accept it.' he finished and then looked at her.

'Oh…' that was a slap in the face… with a chair… soaked in alcohol and wrapped in barbed wire. So, basically, Hermione lost her parents, her soon-to-be-fiancé, and now she was about to lose her best friend at the same time as she was supposed to get a fiancé and marry him in two months' time. This is just getting better by the hour. She then realized she was supposed to be happy for her friend and support him, so she put her best smile on her face and added 'Hum, I mean, I guess congratulations are in order. So when are you going?'

'Hermione, we didn't expect this to happen so suddenly. We were hoping to have a bit more time to talk to you and explain things.' Ginny said

'No, that's ok. You have to live your lives, right?' Hermione tried not to look disappointed but it was hard keeping it on with all the stuff that was going through her head.

'Look 'Mione, we are going to Italy in two weeks but until then we will try to help you as much as we can, ok? I promise we'll find someone.' Harry was trying to calm Hermione and himself down because the truth is that with all of these sudden changes, he was kind of nervous too. I can't imagine what she's going through, right now.

'Harry…' Ginny called softly.

'I know.' Harry answered, getting up and then looking at Hermione 'We have to go now, but promise me that if you need something, anything, you'll call us.'

'Ok.'

'See 'ya, 'Mione.' Ginny kissed her cheek and Harry her head.

And that was the last time she saw them before they went to their new lives. They never contacted her in the next two weeks, like they promised. They must be busy. After all, they are moving away from the country and starting a new life away from this mess. I wish I had that choice.

Now she was truly alone, but she couldn't lose any more time pitying herself and asking why this had to happen. For some reason unknown it was happening and the only thing she could do about it was finding a solution to her problems. But it looked like the solution to all said problems went through finding a fiancé, marry him and have a child. No more loneliness, no more bothering from the Ministry and a brand new family. Piece of cake. I only have to do those tiny little things and I'll be fine.

For another two weeks Hermione kept on with her normal life and in some way ignored that her life was supposed to suffer major changes in the next month. She didn't receive any other letter from the ministry since that fateful day.

Until a certain morning when, while she was having her coffee, a grey owl came through the kitchen window carrying an envelope in its paws.

She took the letter and gave the owl a treat. She observed carefully the handwriting on the front of the envelope and recognized it. She had seen it before but she just couldn't quite place where. Not wanting to wait more and suffer in anticipation, she opened the envelope, took the sheet of parchment on the inside and opened it.

Dear Ms. Granger,

I hereby inform you of my wish to propose a marriage between yourself and my person. Having knowledge of the formal procedures I have sent a marriage proposal to the Ministry of Magic that should arrive soon after this letter.

I understand that the reason for my contact is not ordinary and most probably unexpected, but I can assure you I have all intentions of clarifying my intentions as soon as you agree to meet me.

With no further subject,

Draco Malfoy

AN: I know, I know this is almost nothing to start with, but I just want to 'test the waters' and see where this goes from here. I haven't written much of this although I already have an idea of where I want it to go. The problem is finding the time, and the patience to put it on paper, because in our head we picture it just like a movie, but putting pen to paper (or fingers on keyboard) is much more 'painful'.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy this short short short beginning and tell me what you think.

p.s.: I am not an English native speaker so please, forgive my mistakes and feel free to give me some advice ;)