A/N: My take on a marriage law/after the last battle story. Hope you enjoy it. I will try my very best to update regularly. Suggestions are entirely welcome and highly encouraged!

Chapter I- Of Love and Surprises

Life since the final war hadn't been what Hermione Granger expected. She had a job at the Magical Law Enforcement Department, but, besides that, life had not been particularly good to her. She had been living with Harry in a flat near Diagon Alley and while she loved having someone to talk to, she missed the 3rd part of the Trio. Ever since their kiss in the Room of Requirement, Hermione had always seen her future with Ron. They would live together, stay together, and eventually get married and have bushy-haired, redheaded kids. However, things hadn't gone the way she wanted them to. He had gone off to fulfill his dream of becoming a professional Quidditch player. He was playing for the Cannons, as was expected. He had also catapulted them into a winning streak, which surprised many people, but not Hermione.

She went to work every morning, came home every evening, made dinner, talked to Harry, and went to bed. Nothing ever happened, and life had never been so dull. Sure, she didn't miss the war, Voldemort, or living in fear, but this sedate life hardly suited her either. She didn't exactly want adventure; she simply wanted a break from the monotony. Ginny came to visit them often, bringing treats and news from Mrs. Weasley. She was one of the only exciting things that ever happened at 912 Cansiber Lane, Hermione's flat. Nothing had happened so far between Ginny and Harry, no matter how hard Hermione pushed the both of them.

On a frigid Monday evening, Hermione sat in her blue and gold kitchen while the water boiled for pasta. She sat on the kitchen counter, gazing out the window, looking down at the passerby on the street, all carrying parcels and other various things. She was holding a new muggle book in her hand, A Great and Terrible Beauty, which she had purchased from the bookstore across the street. It was written by a witch, but that tidbit was unbeknownst to the Muggles. She heard the front door swing open and shut and soon Harry was standing at the kitchen door. Even though they both worked at the ministry, Harry's job as an Auror usually kept him later. He walked over to Hermione and kissed her forehead. "Alright, love?" he asked while he looked straight into her eyes.

"I suppose. Ron phoned." Hermione answered. Harry's face registered surprise.

"Did he, now? What did he say?"

"Well, that he's all right, and he's coming to visit soon." He smiled weakly.

"Okay, well I'm going to go shower and I'll be down for dinner soon."

Hermione simply nodded. She put the pasta to cook, and served it in a few minutes. Harry came downstairs, wearing his starred pajamas, which he only wore around Hermione, who would never make fun of him for it (seeing as she had her own pair) and they talked about their jobs and so on. After finishing dinner, Hermione quickly excused herself. When had life become a routine? She wondered. The most exciting thing that had happened in months was Ron calling. And she wasn't terribly happy about that. Yes, she was in love with Ron, but there were many things they had to work out. Hermione went to bed, hoping that somehow, the cards would turn on the morrow.

The rest of the week passed by slowly. On Saturday, Hermione, Harry and Ginny decided to take a trip down to Hogsmeade, just to have some fun and pass the time. They went to all the shops and then the Three Broomsticks for butterbeers. Hermione and Ginny found a table while Harry went to Madam Rosmerta to get their drinks. He quickly returned, setting down butterbeers for the ladies and firewhisky for himself.

"So have you heard about this stupid marriage project the ministry is cooking up?" Ginny asked the both of them.

Harry looked surprised and asked, "Where'd you hear this?"

Ginny took a sip of her butterbeer then replied, "At work. Some of the secretaries were discussing it, and it sounds preposterous."

She said indignantly. Ginny worked at Verdad Parchment, the new most popular andtrustworthy newspaper, which was rapidly overtaking the Daily Prophet.

"What exactly does it entail, Ginny?" Hermione asked.

"Well apparently they're picking about 20 young people, pairing them, making them be confined in a house for a year, and the only way to get out is to conceive!" Ginny replied, flustered, and stole a glance at Harry, who had turned his head, but turned back to look at her intensely.

"Are the young people allowed to refuse?" Hermione asked.

"Of course not, Hermione. Who would ever voluntarily agree to that?" Harry shot back.

"I'd say we should just hope none of us are one of the 20 young people," Ginny lamented, "I wouldn't quite know what to do with myself."

When Harry and Hermione returned home that evening, they found two envelopes sitting patiently waiting for them on their living room table. One was addressed to Miss Hermione Jane Granger and the other to Auror Mr. Harry James Potter.

"What are these?" Harry asked, as if speaking to himself. Hermione heard him as if through water, or from a trance. She could imagine what these letters would reveal. Hermione picked hers up.

"This letter serves the purpose of informing you about your participation in a rather interesting experiment. Your participation is compulsory by law. You will be matched with someone around your age, and marry them. You, your match and several other couples will live in a house together. Once a couple conceives an heir, they will be allowed to come and go from the house, and will in time be supplied a house for themselves. If a couple is disrupting the peace, they will be placed in a new house by themselves, which they will not be able to leave until an heir is conceived. Couples will be allowed a year to determine whether to stay together, or terminate the marriage. The purpose of this experiment is to see how single young wizards and witches, matched upon compatibility, will actually function as a couple. Further instructions will be given to you upon your arrival at Kennetneiss Manor. Following is the name of your match."

Hermione gasped in anticipation.

Draco Malfoy.

If Hermione had previously complained that life wasn't exciting, it bloody hell had changed. Harry hadn't even said a word that night; he had just gone up to his room. Hermione had picked up his letter from where he had unknowingly dropped it, crumpled. His match was Lavender Brown. Ginny had Apparated to their flat, tears streaming from her face, clutching a letter as well. She had simply cried on Hermione's shoulder. Much later that evening, they were interrupted by a faint pop. Standing in front of them had been none other than Ron Weasley. Ginny had rushed forward and hugged him, but Hermione had merely waved. Hermione now stood remembering in front of the fireplace, waiting for Harry. They had to drop their lives, and rush out to do this experiment. They were expected today at 9:30 at the house in which all of the couples would live. It was already 9:25 and Harry hadn't come downstairs, not even to eat breakfast. Hermione slowly climbed the stairs to his room, and softly knocked on the door. She received no response. She opened the door to find Harry sitting next to his trunk, with his head in his hands.

"I don't want to do this, Hermione. I really don't." He whispered.

"None of us do," She said, as she stroked his hair.

"I'll be there for you, every step of the way." She said. He tried to smile.

"You'll have it tougher 'Mione, with Malfoy to deal with." "I suppose I will."

Hermione was secretly, or perhaps not so secretly, terrified of the prospect of leading a married life with someone like Draco Malfoy. Harry squeezed her hand, and told her that everything would be all right. They were standing in the living room of their new residence. Not too long ago, they had been looking at the foreboding façade of the Manor. It was all black, except for its several stained glass windows. It looked sinister and brooding, but only on the outside. Now that they were inside it was, Hermione hated to admit, just as cozy and welcoming as Hogwarts. There were people from all the different houses assembled here, and also a Ministry witch, come to tell them their instructions. Hermione glanced at Draco standing across from her. He was shooting her looks of pure hatred and disgust. This wasn't exactly her fault, was it now? She thought bitterly. Even though he was trying to reassure her, Harry looked green and unsettled himself.

"All right, everybody! Pair up," said the extremely, almost annoyingly cheery Ministry Witch, whose name was Amora Decandere.

"Better get it over with," said Harry, as he released her hand and walked over to Lavender. Despite the fact that he felt horrible and could've thrown up on Lavender's shoes, Harry warmly greeted her with a smile and a hug, and Hermione could see he was telling her that it had been too long since he had seen her last at graduation. Harry might have been head over heels in love with someone else, but he would always be the polite gentleman. Hermione silently watched all the boys go to their soon-to -be wives with regret. She could see the suffering in their faces, and her heart leapt to her throat and cut off her breathing when she saw Ron. He joined Parvati Patil, albeit not very happily. Ginny was settled next to Seamus Finnigan, Fred and Demelza Robins were talking animatedly, George looked at Romilda Vane with caution and distaste as she ogled at Harry, Dean Thomas was leading Luna to a chair, Marcus Belby and Katie Bell stood awkwardly next to each other, Susan Bones stared shyly at Ritchie Cootes, while he looked anywhere but at her, and a now, beautiful, transformed Millicent Bullstrode and Blaise Zabini were staring menacingly at each other. As everyone settled down in chairs around the room, they noticed that there were two people still standing.

"Now, now, be a dear and sit by Ms. Granger," Ms. Decandere said to Draco.

"Will it be at all possible to be reassigned?" He drawled.

"No, not for a year," the witch said sternly, but her smile was back in place immediately.

"I refuse to sit next to the Mudblood," he protested. Harry and Ron started to open their mouths but Hermione stopped them. She stared steadily at Draco.

"You know, we're going to have to live with each other for a year. You might as well stop being a baby. We don't have to like each other. Hell, we don't even have to talk to each other. But we're going to have to cooperate," she said.

"I don't care about cooperation! I want to live my life, all right? I don't want to waste a year spending it with you," he shouted.

"Well, it doesn't seem like either of us has a choice, does it?" She screamed back. Draco whipped out his wand before anyone noticed. "Confundo!", he shouted.

"Protego," Hermione countered.

"I figured you would try something like that," she said calmly.

"How can you be calm?" he said.

"Furnunculus," he tried again, but Hermione was too quick.

"Densagueo," He tried once again.

Hermione screamed, "IMPEDIMENTA." He immediately froze.

"Incarcerous," she said again, then summoned him to her side and sat him down. She also performed Expelliarmus, so he wouldn't try anything silly anymore. She smiled at everyone in the room and at Amora.

"So now we know who wears the pants in this relationship," said Dean under his breath. Everyone but the Slytherins quietly laughed.

"Well, we don't want anymore of that happen. Does everyone understand?" Ms. Decandere asked. Every nodded their heads but Draco.

"I won't make any promises." He growled.

"Tut, tut," replied Ms. Decandere. "All righty, moving on to the rules. You've heard some of these all ready," she said, as words began to appear on a chalkboard in the middle of the room.

"Number 1, you may not leave the house, until you've procured an heir, or the year is up. Couples who conceive an heir will be moved to a house for themselves, and will be allowed to come and go. Couples who make trouble," here she stopped and looked at Hermione and Draco, "will also be moved to a house for themselves, but they will not be allowed to come and go until an heir is conceived, or the year is over. Number 2, you must attempt to be civil to each other. Number 3, you must not cheat. Number 4, each couple will share a room. Number 5, there will be a big surprise tomorrow. That's it! Have loads of fun!" she said as she Disapparated with a faint pop.

"She must be mad if she thinks I'm sharing a room with you. You'll just have to sleep outside the door. Now release me you stupid Mudblood," he commanded.

"You'll have to ask more nicely than that," Hermione refused.

"Zabini, Millicent, do something," he pleaded.

"Draco, this is much too entertaining," Millicent replied while Zabini smirked.

"All right, enough," Draco said. With only one hand motion he liberated himself of his bonds. "I didn't want to have to do that; it drains my energy. Also, I didn't want to embarrass the little Mudblood by showing off."

Hermione was quite surprised but she merely shot him a withering glare and stood up. She walked over to where Harry was standing. He still looked faintly green, but was, at least, not accompanied by Lavender.

"It'll be alright," she told him.

"No, Hermione, it will not," he said, as he stormed upstairs, which she supposed was where the rooms were. She looked at Lavender as she watched Harry go. Lavender looked confused and scared. It was the first time Hermione had ever felt compassion for her.

"Hermione," a voice called behind her. She turned around and stared into Ron's blue eyes. He reached out a hand to her. She flinched.

"Will you ever forgive me?" He asked her, his eyes wild and tortured. She measured her words.

"I will, in time. Just not now," she replied. She was strong now; she could deal with him. She walked up to him, rested her hand on his cheek, and brushed a kiss across his cheek. It would be hard living in the same house as him, but she could do it. He turned around and walked to Parvati, and then went upstairs with her. Hermione then realized, by looking around the mostly empty room, that the majority of the couples had gone upstairs. Soon, Malfoy and she were the only ones in the living room.

"I don't suppose you could make yourself useful and fix me something to eat," he said, looking at her sideways.

"No. You can very well get up and do it yourself," he quickly strode over to her and roughly pushed her into a wall. "Look, Granger," he said, as he placed his arm next to her face. "We're going to do things my way. Now, I don't want anymore of those little shows we put on just a while ago for everyone. You understand?" he asked.

"You foul git," she spit out.

"Watch your mouth." As he said this, he was wrenched back from her. Dean was holding Draco by the collar. "Don't you lay a finger on her," he threatened. Dean had always stood up for everyone around Hogwarts, especially his female classmates.

"Hermione here, she's a lady. Treat her as such. Now, I don't expect you to know how, since you aren't a gentleman, but you had better learn, Malfoy," he said, releasing him from his grip.

"Thank you, Dean!" Hermione called. He just waved over his shoulder. Hermione took one last look at Draco, sprawled on the floor, breathless, and then started climbing the stairs. She was tired, and tomorrow was going to be a big day.

"Glisseo," she heard Malfoy shout, and the stairs instantly turned into a slide. Hermione slid down, screaming the whole way, and ended up right under Draco.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO HERMIONE?" Ron screamed as he came around the corner and took in the sight. Immediately he bound Draco, only to have him fall on top of Hermione.

"Oh my goodness," Ron moaned. He quickly slid down then rolled Draco off of her. The stairs turned back to their original position. Draco kept screaming for them to release him, because right after getting up, Hermione had silently placed an anti-wandless magic charm on him. Hermione ignored him, and Ron, and looked for her and Malfoy's room. After walking down an endless corridor she found a door that had their names engraved in it. Ron caught up to her.

"Hermione, will you be okay?" he asked. She nodded. She firmly shut the door and flicked on the lights, only to realize that there was only one bed in the room. Since Draco wasn't here she could just take the bed, and he could conjure another. Hermione had had too much excitement for one day and she had time only to wash her face before exhaustion overtook her.

Hermione was woken up a few hours later by Draco stumbling in the room, and turning on the lights. "What? I'm also expected to sleep in the same bed as you?" he asked, truly bewildered.

"Who took pity on you?"

"None of your business!"

Hermione wanted to know who had released him from the charm. "No, you can just conjure one for yourself," she replied sleepily to his previous question.

"What if I don't want to?" he challenged.

"Then I suppose you'll have to be content with the floor, because I don't think you want to sleep with the dirty Mudblood." He quickly magicked a bed and sheets and a pillow, next to Hermione's. He took off his shirt and changed into pajama pants all right in front of her. Hermione was surprised and taken aback that he would have the audacity to change right in front of her. She blankly looked at him, in shock.

"Don't stare," he said, a smirk forming. "I've lost the Mudblood thing, by the way. I was very upset. I didn't mean it," he whispered, almost inaudibly, as if he did not want Hermione to hear, and before she could ask him to repeat it, he had turned off the lights.

A/N: I'd love it if you reviewed and let me know what you think.
My quote of choice for the week: "But oh, you caught me sleeping in the power sockets. You caught mildewing the tiles of the bathroom."-Ghosting by Freelance Whales.