I know, I know. I haven't updated my other two stories… But… I just couldn't help myself… Forgive me? 3

J.K. Rowling is the rightful owner of Harry Potter... sniffle Not me... sniffle

Ch. 1

"What?!" Ginny's red hair flowed angrily around her. "You can't be serious!"

Hermione nodded. "As a heart attack." Ginny raised her eyebrow. "Never mine. Look, we'll just have to learn to deal with it."

"How can you be so calm about this? You don't even know who you've got yet." Ginny growled in frustration and threw herself across Hermione's bed.

"I'm sure whoever it is will be perfectly suitable." Hermione grinned. "I may even end up liking them."

Ginny stared at her friend incredulously. "B-but. I don't want to."

"It's not a question of what we want, now is it? We're just going to have to go with the flow. They've even given us a chance to choose who we want." Hermione smiled when Ginny raised her head.

"Really? You mean it?"

"Yes. So you can ask Harry about it. It I'll make him ask you."

Ginny grinned. "Yay! Now I don't mind so much." Her face fell a little. "But what about you? Do you have your eye on anyone?"

Hermione laughed lightly. "Oh, no. I'll be quite content to wait until I'm assigned someone. Unless, of course, someone petitions for me. But I'm really not counting on that."

Ginny cocked her head. "Why not? I thought for sure you'd be interested in someone."

"Well…" Hermione thought for a second. "I wouldn't mind Draco or Snape really. As far as husbands go, I'm sure they'd be alright."

Ginny's eyes widened. "Are you mad? Your first instinct is to go for the Slytherins?!"

Hermione chuckled. "I'm looking at this from a purely logical standpoint. Both come from wealthy families and I've never seen either be unreasonably physically cruel to anyone."

Ginny shook her head. "Maybe the Ministry will have enough sense to stick you with a Gryffindor. Have you talked to Ron about it?"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Come on, Gin. Honestly, I can't think of a worse candidate. Besides, he's already talked to Lavender." She drew out the name in a very sing-song voice, much to the amusement of Ginny.

Ginny giggled. "I agree. She'll be a much better match for him. You need someone halfway intelligent."

"True. Maybe I should marry you instead. At least you have some sense." She laughed and Ginny rolled her eyes.

"If only." She grinned and got off the bed. "I'm going to go find Harry. Have fun thinking about your favorite men."

Hermione stuck her tongue out. "I believe I will. I might go talk to McGonagall."

"There's you a prospect." Ginny sniggered. "You'd have the money and the brains without the crudeness."

Hermione gasped. "Never. I couldn't imagine Mi-Professor McGonagall in that light." But despite her words, she blushed. 'To be honest… I never let myself…'

Ginny chuckled. "Bye, Hermione."

"Bye, Ginny." The older brunette sank down into her sofa by the fire as the redhead left the room. She muttered to herself, "How does she always know?" She gazed into the fire until emerald eyes swam into view. Shaking her head, she put her hand over her eyes. The Marriage Law was causing way too many questions to arise that she did not want to have to answer.

"Hermione?" The soft voice emanated from the fire.

Hermione's head shot up and she looked into the fire, startled to see the piercing emerald eyes were still sitting there, framed by pale skin surrounded by ebony hair pulled into a severe bun. "Oh, Minerva. I didn't see you there."

"I'm terrible sorry to disturb you, but I have something of importance I wish to speak with you about." Minerva's eyes shone with something akin to excitement, tinged with a hint of sadness. "Could you come to my quarters as soon as possible?"

Hermione nodded. "Sure. I'll be right over."

Minerva gave a quick nod and then withdrew her head. She sighed and went back to her armchair. How was she supposed to broach this subject? She hadn't though this through.

So…What do you think? I would really appreciate some feedback. .

R&R loves!

I also know that this one isn't as long as my chapters usually are... But it's just starting out and I'm trying to get a feel for it.