CHAPTER ONE

Hermione Granger entered the elevator with a smile. She pressed the button with a grace one can only manage in a good mood. She held her head high as the doors closed, placing both hands on the straps of her briefcase. She had just been called to the Minister's office and she was sure she was about to be granted her transfer from Head of Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures to the position of Junior Assistant to the Minister for Magic.

She reached level one and her smile grew with each step she took towards the Minister's office. Lifting her hand up, she knocked twice on the wooden door. Her smile froze the moment Harry Potter opened the door. Confusion knit across her eyebrows. Harry stepped aside and motioned her in, his face giving nothing away. Inside the Office were the heads of each level the Ministry of Magic held.

"Miss Granger, we were just waiting for you." Said Kingsley Shacklebolt.

Before Hermione could speak, Shacklebolt clapped his hands three times. "I now declare this meeting in session. We have gathered the Heads of all departments for news have reached our ears. As you all know, wizarding Britain is still struggling with the war's aftermath. Thanks to the help of all of you, the Ministry has been successful in all of its tasks these past two years. It has been my pleasure working with old colleagues as well as giving opportunities to recent Hogwarts graduates, such as Miss Granger, Miss Vaden and Mr. Potter. However, a new situation has called for the attention of the International Confederation of Wizards."

The Minister paused, checking to see if he still held their attention. Hermione looked over at Harry, who looked as lost as she felt. She did not understand a single thing. She was making up her mind if to ask or not when Shacklebolt continued.

"There really isn't a way to say this. The thing is, the Confederation has noticed that due to the war there has been a great decrease in magical beings, namely witches and wizards. Therefore, together with the Wizengamot, it has been decided to pass a new law which states that all witches and wizards from the ages of seventeen to thirty-two must be married by the end of the year."

The room erupted in shouts and disagreements. Harry took his glasses off and rubbed his eyes. Hermione could barely register the news. What was she going to do? Her thoughts zigzagged between Ronald Weasley and their failed relationship, the fact that they apparently now had a deadline and the possibility of finding someone new. Unconsciously bringing her hand to her mouth, she began to chew on a fingernail.

Shacklebolt lifted his hands in an attempt to quiet down the Heads of Departments. Hermione didn't understand why they were making such a big fuss; surely most of them were already past the limit age either way. Why it was not her making the fuss was beyond her.

The Minister cleared his throat before continuing. "That is not all. In order to hurry the process along, our High Court has decided that partners shall be chosen."

"What?" Hermione shrieked. Everyone turned to look at her. "You mean to tell me that the Confederation and the Wizengamot have not only decided that we must wed; they have declared a deadline and are even choosing who we marry?"

"Hermione," Harry said softly.

Hermione looked at the Minister's face. It was now dry of all color and a look of guilt shadowed his eyes.

"There's more?" Hermione snarled.

Shacklebolt cleared his throat. "Well, uhm, the High Court has also declared another deadline, which is really the reason for the arranged marriage after all."

Hermione narrowed her eyes.

"By the next year all arranged couples must have a newborn." Shacklebolt said in a low voice.

Hermione fumed. She opened her mouth to speak but nothing would come out. Harry put a hand on Shacklebolt's shoulder and said something slowly to him, his face twisted with anger. The Minister nodded. Everyone else was muttering quietly, others asking random questions.

Alicia Vaden walked over to Hermione, tears running down her cheeks. Then she turned to the Minister. "Why can't we choose?" She asked. "And if they will, how will they do it?"

Everyone turned to Shacklebolt. "It has been thought that choosing a partner on your own might take too long and it is necessary to start repopulating the wizarding world. As for the other question, I believe each person eligible for arranged marriage shall receive a letter tonight with the news and specifications."

"And there is nothing we can do about it?" Hermione whispered.

For the first time in a very, very long time Kingsley Shacklebolt felt tired. "I'm afraid not, Miss Granger."

Hours later Hermione was at home. She was sitting on her couch, curled up under a blanket, her legs under her and a tea mug between her hands. She was staring at the sealed envelope lying on her center table.

The letter arrived five minutes after Hermione had apparated home. She had thrown it on the table and had purposely ignored it since. She had cooked dinner, eaten, washed the dishes, cleaned the kitchen, tidied up her bedroom, placed scattered books back on the huge shelf that took a whole wall of her living room, taken a bath, changed into pajamas and made a tea.

This last one was already cold and she had yet to take a drink. She sighed and got up. Hermione took the mug back to the kitchen, threw it in the sink and leaned against the counter.

What am I going to do? She asked herself for the hundredth time. As soon as she had walked into her flat, Hermione had disconnected her floo network and changed the wards so no one could apparate in. It's not that she didn't want to talk to anyone, she was afraid that no one would come. Her mind had wondered back and again to Ron, to how they had taken a chance and had almost ruined the friendship.

If she had to marry tomorrow, Ron would be her first choice. But she was sure she was no longer his. She had managed to push him so far away they didn't stand a chance.

For the past hours Hermione thought of many different ways to stop the ridiculous law, she thought of arguments, points and even evidence. But she knew there was not a chance in hell she would be heard. She wondered how everyone else was coping. She was afraid to owl her friends. Doing that meant she accepted the decree, and she sure as hell did not!

She stomped her foot. Then she stomped it again for good measure. This was something she only did in the privacy of her flat. If her mother knew she still pulled the childish move… God, my mother! Hermione remembered. She was sure the news would be printed in the Daily Prophet tomorrow, and that her parents would read it. What they would say, Hermione could not begin to imagine, but she was sure it was not going to make her feel any better.

Hermione stomped her foot once more, enjoying the momentary smugness. She then threw her head back and groaned. Closing her eyes and taking a long, cleansing breath, Hermione walked back to the living room.

She sat heavily on her couch once more, pulled back her sweater's sleeves and picked up the golden envelope. She ripped it open and pulled out the letter. Slowly she opened it, noticing that once out the single letter became a packet of pages. Hermione began to read.

Ministry of Magic

January 4th 2001

Dear Miss Hermione Granger

The International Confederation of Wizards, our High Court Wizengamot and the Ministry of Magic would like to thank you for your brave participation in the Second War. We would also like to take a moment to remember all the fallen wizards and witches who lost their lives fighting for their beliefs, positive or negative. We lament the loss of our brothers and sisters and the magical blood that has been shed. It is in this note that the three organizations mentioned before have decided on a new law that has already been passed and do hope for your voluntary participation in honoring it.

Said law states that all witches and wizards between the ages of seventeen (17) and thirty-two (32) must be married by the 25th of November of this year. We are well aware of the shock and consequences this entails, and with hope of evading chaos and therefore allowing a smooth transition into a married life, it has been decided that a partner shall be chosen for you. This decision will not be random and will not be made lightly. Along with this letter you shall find a calendar with marked deadlines for completing the requests, instructions and a questionnaire. This last one must be filled as specified, for it shall be the way your partner will be chosen. It has to be owled back to the Ministry immediately after answered. Your results will be matched with those of another wizard.

It is of upmost importance that you follow through with these guidelines, for there are severe consequences for those who refuse to abide by the law.

More instructions will be given after your partner has been chosen.

Oscar Todd

Secretary of High Court of Law, Wizengamot

Hermione's jaw dropped as she reached the final lines. Who did they think they were? She wanted to scream, run, pull her hair out but she couldn't move. She felt numb all over. Her previous decision to end the law now seemed even more weak then it had before. She had nothing to defend herself. Before she had left the Ministry, Shacklebolt had told them that if they refused to follow the new regulation their magic would be taken away.

Ironic that they would choose that punishment, give up her magic, when it was exactly what they were trying to preserve. A bell sounded in Hermione's head and carried its musical chimes to the rest of her body as something new dawned on her. Hope blossomed in her belly along with adrenaline and new determination.

So what if everyone who received the letter refused? Would they really take all of their magic away? They couldn't, wouldn't win. Hermione smiled. She had found the flaw in their perfect plan and she would make sure to use it to her advantage.

Hermione sat back and began to rewrite her arguments. She would not fill out any forms, she wouldn't marry someone she did not choose and she would not give her magic away. She was Hermione Granger, damn it! Brightest witch of her generation, if there was anyone who could annihilate this law, it was her.

Author's note:

Thank you so much for reading!

Love,

lightmuse ;)