AN: I know this plot has been done several times before, each with its own twist. But, this is probably one of my favorites to read and I've been dying to write one for a while now. I hope you enjoy my take on Marriage Law!Dramione
:)
-Lindsey
EDIT: Thank you Sakura Lisel for reminding me of an error in the letter! It has been fixed.
Hogwarts wasn't the same, it never would be. These walls, no matter how many had been rebuilt, had seen too much death and despair. The early September air was crisp as Hermione walked up towards the castle. The carriage ride had been interesting, almost all the students could see the Thestrals that pulled their carriage now. What started as awe, soon turned into pain when the students realized why they could now see the once invisible creatures. A silence fell over them, a moment to honor those that were lost only a few short months ago.
Walking into the Great Hall again was like coming home. Despite the trauma that had taken place here, this room still contained some of the most joyous moments of her life. Hermione couldn't help but smile at the eager first years who were coming in to get sorted. There was a larger crowd than Hermione had expected. Enrollment must have gone up now that imminent danger seemed to be gone. Hermione shook her head, if only everyone really knew what was to come here in the next few days. There might not be so many smiling faces.
It was only a couple days prior to the start of term that Hermione, Harry, and Ron had been called to conference with the Minister of Magic, Kingsley. Hermione was sure it had something to do with the war. There was only so much more they could hear about it. The press, the interviews, the "war heroines". All of it was a bit too much. Personally, Hermione considered every person who stood with the light to be a hero in their own way. She was tired of having the spotlight on her, just because she stood next to Harry Potter during the final battle. As it turned out, the meeting wasn't exactly about the war. More, the repercussions of it.
How she had wished it had been another war interview.
The Minster had asked them to be the face of the new law that would be going into effect here within the next week. He seemed convinced that with the three of them on board, the rest of the world might not be so resistant against it. Hermione was quite sure there wasn't enough magic in the world that would make people compliant to this. But, she agreed. She would do her part to help. After all, she wouldn't let all the work they had done to save the world be for nothing.
The Magical Union Law. That was what was going into effect. The Minister had promised that individuals would only be paired with their soulmate. They would do the very best, top-notch magical diagnostics to determine this. In summation, any witch or wizard between the ages of 18 – 35 were to be paired and married within six months. According to the law, two children were to be born within the first 5 years of marriage. If medically unable, the couple were to adopt orphans of the war. Kingsley seem convinced that this law would help to increase the population of the magical community and ensure that an evil like Voldemort could never come to power again. Sure, it sounded good on parchment. But Hermione knew people would feel as if their new freedom was being taking from them. That's what she felt like. For this first time in seven years, she was finally free. Yet, here she was about to become the face of a law that she wasn't even sure she believed in.
There would be press conferences she and her betrothed, along with Harry, Ron and their partners would have to attend. They would have to be the voice of support. It felt as if she was getting ready to go back into another battle.
She knew the letters were to arrive tomorrow, the day before the start of term. The Minister told them that all the information on the law would be included in the letter. Including who they were to be paired with. In all honesty, Hermione wasn't quite sure who she would be matched with, or how exactly they would determine their compatibility.
She and Ron hadn't worked out, which she saw coming. They seemed to run on two different paths, definitely not cohesive for "soulmates". Would it even be someone that she knew? What would be worse, being paired with someone you knew, but didn't want to be with . . . or being paired with a complete stranger? Either way she would have to smile to the public and act like this was the very best thing that had happened to her. That, or lose her wand and rejoin the muggles. That wasn't an option, though. She had spent the past seven years fighting for her place in this world, there was no way she was turning back now.
Hermione had just taken her place at the Gryffindor table for breakfast when the sound of owls alerted the post being delivered. As she expected, most of the 7th and returning 8th years seemed to get a letter. Along with a few members of the staff. This was really Hermione's first chance of seeing who had returned to Hogwarts after the final battle.
The Ministry had offered the original seventh-year students honorary diplomas and the option of not returning to Hogwarts to finish their schooling. It seemed most of her peers had taken that option, including Harry and Ron. They had opted to go on to Auror training, getting a jump start on their careers. They promised to return for the interviews and press conferences, and she took faith in that.
Not returning hadn't been an option for Hermione, which she was sure no one was shocked by. She looked around the room, surprised to see a couple of people she never would have thought to see back there. A few Slytherin's included. There seemed to be a total of twelve or so returning seventh years.
Hermione was pulled from her thoughts by a parcel landing on her plate in front of her, the Ministry seal shining in emerald green. With a slow breath she picked it up, shaking off straggling pieces of the eggs that the envelope had landed in. With careful fingers she pulled out the letter that sealed her fate and unfolded it in front of her.
Dear Miss. Hermione Granger
As you know, the recent war took many from us. Here at the Ministry, our thoughts are with you and the ones that you may have lost. After reviewing our population numbers, we fear our community has taken a near fatal loss. The magical population is low enough that we predict extinction of our kind to be imminent within the next hundred years.
Because of this, The Minister of Magic himself has decreed a law to prevent this. As of Today, August 30, The Magical Union Law will be going into effect. This law states that any witch or wizard within the ages of 18 to 35 years old will be paired with their soulmate, married within six months, and required to bring two children into our world within five years of marriage. If medically unable, you are to adopt orphans of the war.
While I know this may be a shock to you, we assure that we are only take this measurement because it is absolutely necessary. Please know that we have used the most advanced techniques in magic to pair you with your soulmate. We have no doubt that your partner will be your equal. Not just in intellect, but in life. They will challenge you, push you, and love you. Just as you will them.
We would also like to impress upon you that infidelity is not an option. Causing your partner pain will in turn hurt you. We hope you come to understand that the Magical Union Law was also established to support loving relationships. The war we endured was due part to a man having never known love. It is our greatest hope that with this enactment, we will never see an evil such as before.
We are pleased to tell you that your soulmate is:
Mr. Draco Malfoy
Please contact your betrothed at your earliest convenience.
Should you choose not to marry, which we would highly dissuade you from, you will be asked to turn over your wand and join the muggle world. By doing this, you will be abandoning your partner as well.
So, please do not make this decision lightly or in haste.
Take these months before you're due to wed to get to know one another and embrace what will be the greatest love of your life.
If you have questions or concerns about your match please contact:
Miss. Elizabeth Newton - Head of Magical Relations
We wish you a happy life filled with love and prosperity.
-Ministry of Magic
Hermione dropped the letter, her hand going to her mouth. Her eyes focused on the page in front of her, mainly only on the name of her soulmate. She reread the name again, trying to process the information she had just received. No, there had been a mistake. There was no way the "latest magical techniques" could have paired her with Malfoy.
Hermione heard gasps all around her. Some shrills of happiness, clearly someone got who they wanted, others in loud protest. The Great Hall was in uproar. Hermione only stayed silent, her eyes slowly raising to meet the grey eyes of her betrothed, across the great hall.
Bloody Hell.
She hadn't seen him since his appearance in front of the wizarding council after the war. Herself, along with Harry, were the main reason he had not been locked away with his father in Azkaban. They testified for him, something Ron had yet to forgive them both for. He left that day, with a house arrest sentence and with the knowledge that his magic would be under strict supervision for the next five years. Really, a slight slap on the wrist for a young man who had been caught up in the schemes of Death Eaters. He was damn luckier than most.
The sound of a fork dropping against porcelain drew Draco's attention away from Hermione.
"Fuck Merlin himself!" He heard Blaise almost choke, a hand going against Draco's back. He stiffened, glaring over at his friend. He hated being touched, something that Blaise had momentarily forgotten. The icy stare refreshed his memory, and he dropped his hand with haste. "You and Granger?" He asked, clearly looking over at the open letter in front of Draco.
"Fuck off." Draco nearly growled, folding up his letter quickly and shoving it in his pocket. He was thankful his father had met the dementor's kiss, solely because the reaction to this news would have been catastrophic.
He looked up again to find Granger, only to see an empty place where she sat before. The She-Weasley who had been next to her was gone as well. He could only imagine the thoughts running through her mind. It was actually funny, if he thought about it. The Golden Girl of the War was to marry the dark prince himself. Oh, the irony. The prophet was going to have a field day when this was released.
"No matter. I didn't do much better. Loony-Tunes Lovegood." Blaise tossed aside his letter, having only read the name and no other information.
"Perfect match. Though, it's a pity for the rest of us that you have to procreate." Draco replied, standing from his spot.
"What?"
Draco smirked, walking away and leaving Blaise to review his letter in peace.
Hermione wanted to be happy for Ginny, she really did. She had been partnered with Harry, though it was no surprise. As if the Ministry wasn't going to pair Harry with the woman he wanted. In the short time since receiving her letter, Hermione had convinced herself that her magic hadn't been paired with Malfoy. Instead, she was being used as a puppet for the Ministry to display unity and forgiveness. How dare they make a game out of her life like this. Oh, did she have words to say to Kingsley.
"Mum is going to have a cow!" Ginny gushed for probably the third time since they made it to Hermione's common room. The returning seventh-years, having been so few of them, were given a separate wing in the east tower. They shared a common room, but aside from that they each had their own dorms. Having only been there for a day, she hadn't seen any others there.
The shared room was decorated nicely. Warm, plush couches surrounded the fireplace; against the far wall sat a row of bookshelves and a few desks for studying. Below the windows there were two wizarding chess tables, waiting to be played. There was one staircase that led up to the rooms, each with only a number on the door. Hermione's was number eight. Each room shared a bathroom with their neighbor. She had yet to see who resided in number seven.
"She'll be thrilled." Hermione replied, resisting the urge to silencio the poor girl who was trailing behind her up the stairs.
"I'm sorry, Hermione. I'm just so thankful that the ministry paired me with Harry." Ginny tried to calm herself down. She all but threw herself on top of Hermione's bed when they entered the room. "Do you really think the Ministry set you up though? That they're using you?"
"Without a doubt. What other explanation is there?" Hermione took a seat at the foot of the bed, folding her legs beneath her. "I mean, it's preposterous. There's no way magic would have paired us as compatible. He was a death eater, for Merlin's sake! They just want to show the world that if two enemies could support this marriage law, then everyone else should!"
Then, it clicked. It all made sense. That was exactly why Kingsley had called a meeting with the three. He had planned their pairings to create a showing of unity. He had them agree to be the 'face of the law' before they knew who they were to be united with. What utter bollocks.
Hours later Hermione sat alone in her room, having already written to Harry and Ron. She filled them in on Hogwarts and of her pairing, ending the letter with a request of a quick reply. She was in the middle of composing a howler to the Minster when a sharp knock on her bathroom door startled her. The door opened before she had a chance to answer.
"I'm just going to - "
Hermione's eyes met those of her intruder, who also happened to be her newly appointed betrothed.