To Keep You Safe
Chapter 1: To Alert You
Disclaimer: I don't own the Harry Potter series or anything you find inside.
Author's Notes:
This is a spin on the marriage law. This basically disregards DH. And Sirius is alive. I'll explain certain things as I go along and if anyone has a question or comment you know where to send them. Enjoy the story.
Hermione lay on her bed at Grimmauld Place. An Order meeting would begin soon and she would have to go down and listen to the latest horrors that Death Eaters have done. At least she didn't have the rigors of schoolwork to keep up with, she though wryly.
She immediately banished that thought. She loved school and learning and, in a way, that was what she was fighting for; the right for muggleborns to study magic. And she would be damned if some in-bred supremacist told her she wasn't good enough.
Mrs. Weasley had finally been persuaded that Ron, Harry, and Hermione could join the Order. She also decided that Hogwarts was no longer a safe sanctuary for her children so she decided that Harry, Ron, Ginny, and herself would stay here. The Burrow was still safe, if only because of the amount of charms surrounding the home.
A light knocking brought her out of her thinking and she called 'Come In' to the person. "Hey, 'Mione. We're about to start." Ginny told her. She nodded to her and smiled at her redheaded friend.
"Fred and George are going to show us some products they invented just for the Order." They both grinned and walked downstairs.
They took seats near Ron and Harry. Ginny immediately latched her hand with Harry's. Hermione noticed Kingsley Shacklebolt, Remus, Tonks, Fred and George, Alastor Moody, teachers from Hogwarts, Bill, Fleur, Charlie, Sirius and many others that she didn't immediately recognize. There was tension in the air and many looked deep in thought.
"Is everyone here?" Remus Lupin asked the large group assembled. He cleared his throat and glanced at Hermione and Ginny then looked away. Her palms began to sweat. "As everyone knows, Voldemort," he paused to let the gasps die down, "has many spies in the Ministry. There has been a new department set up and soon a law will be issued from it. Kingsley, would you like to explain further?"
Kingsley stood up and began, "The Department for the Regulation and Replenishment of the Magical Population will be issuing a law compelling all unmarried witches between the ages of seventeen and forty to marry. The law is still in its early stages so it may not even be passed but we need to match up Order members just in case. The law is of course being pushed by Death Eaters." Kingsley paused; apparently this isn't the worst part.
"There are only a few clauses so far but more I'm sure will be added. As of now, all muggleborns must marry a Pureblood or have the ministry approve the match. I also know that the primary reason for having this law pushed past is so Voldemort may capture two witches who are valuable to the Order and Harry." Everyone turned and looked at Hermione and Ginny. Ginny gulped but held her chin up high.
Hermione was in shock. Not about the fact that she was on a wanted list; that is normal when hanging out with Harry Potter. No, she was being forced to marry. She wanted to rant and rave and storm the Ministry. Ron gave her arm a squeeze and she smiled distractedly.
She looked up from her lap where everyone was watching her with concern and affection. She nodded in a comprehending manner. "What are the penalties for not marrying?" she asked quietly.
"If you do not marry by the deadline you will be matched up. You would most likely go to a high ranking Death Eater. If you still refuse the match you will have your wand snapped and pushed out of the Wizarding World. Of course, you would then be an easy target. You may also be sentenced to time in Azkaban." He said warily.
She pinched the bridge of her nose to keep her tears from leaking out. She said in a hard voice, "I see." Remus looked at his former student and friend with compassion. He hated that someone so young had to have their life dictated by the Ministry. He knew firsthand how depressing it was having your life torn apart because of what you are.
"Tomorrow they will decide on the law and we'll take it from there. It will still be a month before it will be put into effect if it is enacted. Fred, George? Didn't you have products to show us?" Remus asked the two pranksters.
The two put on brilliant smiles and played to the crowd, particularly Hermione and Ginny.
After the meeting Hermione locked herself into the Black library and almost everyone decided to leave her alone. Ginny hung around and chatted before going and taking the longest bubble bath in history.
They didn't say a word to each to each other about the Marriage Law. It was understood that they would just wait and see and then face what tomorrow brought with each other and with their friends.
Hello, all.
Please review the chapter and let me know what you think!
I'm looking for a beta reader for this story so if you're interested hit me up.
~supernaturalmuse