Chapter 1
I opened my eyes and saw a lilac colored ceiling. I blinked once trying to remember where I was. Wasn't I supposed to be in a forest or somewhere else? Where were Harry and Ron? I suddenly sit up, alarmed and look around the room and realize that I am at my home. Relief floods me and I fall back on my pillow.
The war has ended. Kingsley is the Minister of Magic. Harry has been approached to join the ministry as an Auror. Ron has decided to join George to help with the shop. Although the N.E.W.T had not been conducted this year, the Ministry accepted to provide the students with their certificates due to the contribution to the war. Neville had decided to go on a tour of the world to explore the different plants. As for me, the first thing I had done after the war apart from helping rebuild the castle at Hogwarts, was to try and find my parents. Harry and Ron had helped. After two weeks of fruitless searching, Harry had finally managed to find them. For once, I was not so happy that my spells work so well. After a lot of trouble, spells and convincing, I finally got my parents back and we returned to our home. My parents had returned to their profession and I had decided to decline my certificate and return to school. My father had supported my decision to formally complete my education.
I had told my parents about the war, but had maintained to keep quiet about the gruesome details. They didn't need to know about all that. The few times that I had screamed at night when I had had the dreams of being tortured by Bellatrix, my mother had asked me about the dreams and I had meekly told her it was just the fear of the battle.
I got up and got dressed. Walking into our kitchen I found my parents eating their breakfast, ready to go to the clinic.
"Good morning mom, good morning dad." I pecked them on their cheeks. Finding my parents was like finding my life back. I got myself toast and eggs and was just about to eat when there was a knock on the kitchen window. I looked up to find an owl and walked up to the window and let it in. It dropped two set of letters and flew away. I picked them up and walked back towards the table.
"What is it, honey?" my dad looked up from the paper that he was reading.
I looked at the first and realized that it was from Hogwarts. "School, Dad." I replied distracted by the official looking second letter. "I had written to professor McGonagall about returning to school, school term is approaching, so I guess it's about that."
I opened the first letter and read.
Miss Hermione Granger,
It is my pleasure to inform you that your request has been accepted. You will find your school list enclosed with the letter. We will look forward to see you on the 1st of September.
Minerva McGonagall
I checked the letter and found the list of all the books required. I opened the next letter and started reading.
Miss Granger
As you are aware, the war has resulted in an all time low in the population of our kind. Due to which the Ministry has decided to revive the Marriage Law. According to the law all wizards and witches from the ages of 17 to 50, who are single, will have till the end of September to ceremonize their wedding and a year after that to have their first child. All those who are engaged shall have to inform the ministry by the end of this month. All others will be informed about their pairs, which will be selected by means of a comprehensive analysis based on both their personalities, by the 5th of the next month.
We wish you all the best.
The Department of Magical Law Enforcement
I read and re-read the letter again and again, my mind going numb. I hardly registered my mother calling me. It was only when she shook me that I realized that both my parents were staring at me, worried.
"Is everything okay, Hermione?" my dad looked really worried.
I looked down at the parchment in my hand. I took a deep breath to calm myself. I had helped win a war. I couldn't let this shake me up like that. I looked up at my mother.
"It's from the Ministry. It is to inform us, those who are of age and single that we need to be married by the end of September. We can inform them if we are engaged. If not, then they find a match for us and we will have to comply."
"What? But, why?"
"The wizarding population is low after the war. This is a method to revive it." My parents did not look convinced. I had to explain them better. I had read about it, it just hadn't struck me that we could be facing it now. I had been far too busy with other things. "It is a method to make sure that our population does not decline beyond a certain number. It is not the first time that this law has been applied. On the contrary, it has been applied numerous times." I looked at them. They still did not seem too sure about it. "It is not something that we can do about. The names are usually selected by a method very similarly to that of the triwizard tournament. So, all those who are selected as pairs will be compelled to marry."
I chanced a glance at them. "Mom, Dad, its okay. I survived a war being on run for an entire year from one of the most evil wizards of all times. I'll be fine." I really hoped that that was true.
I returned to my room after a few minutes when my parents were off to their clinics, still a little worried. My father was really worried how I would manage my last year at school, along with being married and bring a child. He was not wrong in being worried about it. It wasn't as if I was not worried about it too. But there were other things on my mind. And I was sure my mother was worried about the same thing as me. It was the only thing that was going through my mind right now. Who would I marry?
After the war, my and Ron's relation had not exactly deteriorated, but we both had realized that we were better off as friends. We were closer than before but not romantically and now I was thinking if it was possible to take him as something more. Or else it would be leaving it to the Ministry to find my pair. Frankly, that was not something that I was excited about.
That day all I could do was sit in my room and think about what to do. Either I had to inform the ministry about my choice or leave it on my fate. And presently, it was not something I could rely on. Fate was not exactly proving to be my best friend.
After pondering over it for the entire day, I decided to go down to Diagon Alley and wrote a letter to Ron asking him to meet me at The Leaky Cauldron at noon the next day. It was at least worth a try.
The next morning I got up early. I hadn't been able to sleep well. Then again which girl at the age of 18 would be able to sleep if she was told she had to marry someone in a month's time? Not only that, a year to have a baby. Great, that would mean, I would definitely have to be pregnant when I would be giving my N.E.W.T. Not a very cheering thought either. So much for being a war hero and the brains of the Golden Trio.
I brushed and cleaned up. Pulling up my jeans and a t shirt, I ran down stairs to get some breakfast. I would then leave the house and apparate to Diagon Alley. I found mom and dad talking. Upon seeing me they wished me morning and went back to their conversation. I hardly paid any attention, my mind far away on what I would say to Ron and how that would go. So I hardly noticed when my dad walked out of the room. My mom turned to look at me. "Hermione? Have you thought about what to tell Ron? I know, you two are no longer together but wouldn't it be better with someone you know than let the Ministry choose. Your father and I are really worried, especially since we can't do anything about it. At least you know Ron."
I looked up from my breakfast. I should have known. I had told my mother about Ron. She would obviously be worried about who would be paired with me. If it was Ron, she would at least know that the boy was decent and he was the only one she knew well about apart from Harry. He would obviously inform the Ministry about Ginny.
"Yeah, I'm meeting him at Diagon Alley today. But please mom, don't start it again." I told her before she could say anything. "Look, I know you and dad are worried. I won't deny I'm not, but let's not just get worked up, okay? It's not like I'll be paired with a Death Eater, they are at Azkaban. And i don't think tey'll consider the ones on the run for such a cause. And more of all I think, I have at least made enough mark in the ministry that they would actually pay a little heed to who they would pair me up with. I have at least gained that much over the last seven years in that world." I smiled at her and looked up at the clock to realize I was already running late. I quickly finished my breakfast and got up. "See you later mom." I said giving a peck on her cheeks and ran towards the stairs. I met my dad there and after a peck and a "be safe" from him, I got my wand and moved out of my home and apparated to Diagon alley.