Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters - that honor is strictly reserved for J.K. Rowling, who is, by the way, the luckiest woman in the world!

Author's Note: This is a response to the Marriage Law Challenge, and it will eventually get very racy, so younger readers, you have been warned. Chapter 1 - An Unfortunate Circumstance Hermione Granger rolled her eyes as she followed her two best friends, Harry and Ron, out of the dining hall. It was the last day of her 6th year at Hogwarts, and the boys wanted to go sit by the lake and get some sunshine before being stuck in a classroom all day taking final exams. Only a week earlier, the three had encountered Voldemort and the Death Eaters, saved a few lives, and Harry had, yet again, lived to tell the tale. Dumbledore had informed the student body of Harry's latest expedition with an almost bored expression on his face, seeing as his meetings with Voldemort were now an annual occasion with a similar outcome - it was like a movie with a somewhat happy, if incomplete, ending that kept getting shown over and over and over again. Sometimes Hermione wished Harry hadn't been quite so famous and heroic - since he managed to remain number 1 on Voldemort's "to kill" list, she constantly had to worry about him, and it wasn't like she didn't have enough other stress in her life to deal with. At any rate, for now, the three were safe, it was a sunny day, and she had her Charms final to look forward to. Almost everything was right with the world. Several hours later, the three emerged from Flitwick's classroom, Harry and Ron fretting over their healing charms while Hermione mentally went over every question in her head to make sure she got them all right. As she headed out towards the lake with the boys, Fawkes appeared in front of her face. Knitting her eyebrows in confusion, Hermione looked at the note he had attached to his wing, recognizing the loopy scrawl immediately as Dumbledore's.

"Miss Granger, please meet me in my office as soon as possible, there is a pressing matter which I must speak to you about. The password is 'snickerdoodles'.
D

Frowning, she turned at looked up towards his office. "What is it, Hermione?" asked Harry, reaching over to take the note from her.

"I'm supposed to go see Dumbledore. No idea why," she answered, holding tight to the message as if its contents were highly secretive and dangerous.

"Eh, he probably just wants to talk to you about your seventh year classes - you'd better not be using that time-turner thing again, you'll wear yourself to death, Hermione!" exclaimed Ron.

"I'm not, it's too much of a hassle, and I want to spend more time with you guys. Besides, it was McGonagall who spoke with me about that, not Dumbledore. I have no idea why he'd want to talk to me and not the two of you."

"Well, go, and then tell us later. We'll see you at dinner!" said Harry cheerfully, and continued walking towards the lake as Hermione hurried towards off towards the Headmaster's quarters.

"Miss Granger, I am sorry to disturb you from your day. I think it necessary, however, that you are informed of certain unfortunate circumstances regarding your muggle heritage. Do you know of what I am speaking, child?" Dumbledore asked in a too-calm and soothing voice, his eyes a dark steely-blue rather than the sparkling depth they usually resembled.

"No...my muggle heritage? What's wrong, is everything alright? Are my parents ok?" Hermione asked, immediately feeling panicky at his words.

"Oh yes, your family is perfectly fine. However, last night that imbecile Cornelius Fudge and his Ministry passed a piece of legislation called the Marriage Law. It was done very quietly and secretly, without notice to any of the people who would fall under its grasp. I believe you have observed over the years that many of the pureblooded wizarding families are inter-related because they feel they are superior to everyone who does not possess their flawless bloodline. The Ministry, however, is beginning to feel these marriages are an issue, because St. Mungo's has reported increasing amounts of stillborn, squib, and barren children."

"I have noticed that. I am still confused though, as to what this issue has to do with me, Professor."

"Well, Fudge believes that in order to end the intermarriage between pureblood families, a Marriage Law was necessary to provide each eligible pureblooded male with an opportunity to marry, procreate, and continue the wizarding bloodline. Therefore, he has possessed all muggleborn witches, from the age of 17 on, and made them slaves to wizarding law. The head of any pureblooded wizarding family can petition for a muggleborn girl of his choice, either to marry him or his son. Once petitioned for, the witch has no choice but to accept the offer - even leaving the wizarding world will not allow her to escape the grasps of the Ministry, because they have certain methods of finding women once they have been claimed. After the marriage has taken place, the couple is required to conceive an heir within a year of the ceremony. This law is truly unfortunate, and I do not in any way, endorse its contents. However, despite all of my persuasive efforts, several Hogwarts students fall into this trap, and it is beyond my power to help them escape unwanted marriages. The entire student body will be informed of his law later this evening, but I felt it was my duty to inform you immediately."

"And why was that, Sir? Is there more of a pressing situation with me?" asked Hermione, who had turned very pale at the Headmaster's words and was beginning to feel nauseated at the thought of being forced to marry.

"Yes, there is, regrettably. You, Miss Granger, have already been petitioned for - twice. According to the law, if a young woman is petitioned for more than once, she will be forced to marry the suitor that made the first offer. You are in the unusual circumstance, however, that the father of two suitors petitioned for you at the exact same time. In this occasion, the Ministry has decided that the witch has the right to choose between the two men. In this case, you appear to be somewhat lucky because you get to make the final decision yourself. But I will need to require a decision from you by the time you leave this room tonight."

As tears began to swim in her eyes and bile collected in her throat, Hermione gasped softly, "Who are the two men I have to choose from?"

Albus Dumbledore took a deep breath before quietly replying, "Draco Malfoy and Severus Snape".