Chapter One:

"Lily," Albus yawned.

She smiled at him sweetly and sat next to him. There was a large brown owl next to her brother. "Who is the owl from? Is it from Mum and Dad?"

"I dunno," he replied, taking the letter. His expression went from exhausted to outraged to shocked. He was wide awake now and shouted, "NO WAY!"

"Is something wrong, Al?"

Rosie rushed over, "Albus, Albus, did you get a letter like mine?" She pushed a letter in to his hand urgently. "What are we going to do? What am I supposed to do? This is awful!"

The boy behind Rose sulked a little. "I'm not that horrible, am I?" he asked meekly.

Rose sighed. "I'm too young! This isn't fair!"

"What's going on?" demanded Lily.

"Lils," Al said. "There is a new marriage law. Rosie has to marry Andrew here, and I have to marry Susie."

"Well, at least you were already dating her," Lily said easily, "I don't have to worry about anything for another two years."

Albus glared at her. "You could at least be more...I don't know, empathetic!"

"It's not my problem," said Lily coolly. "Albus, it is better than having to marry somebody you don't even know. Imagine if you got a Ravenclaw girl you don't know! Look on the bright side!"

Al snapped, "I don't want to!"

"You need to go talk to Susie!"

"I don't want to!"

"Quit being so childish, Albus!"

"CHILDISH? I'm not the child here. I'm 17!"

"Yes, and you still act childish. I'm 14 and I act better than you!"

Hugo walked downstairs and sat next to Lily. "Be nicer, Lils. Al gets upset easily."

Lily glared a little, and then shrugged. "Come on, Albus is so overly dramatic sometimes. Al, you were going to marry her when you left Hogwarts anyway."

"Lily!" shouted Albus angrily. "You are so ignorant!"

"I am not," she said smoothly.

"You are too!"

"Am not!"

"Are to!"

"Am not!"

A silky smooth voice said easily, "Al, do you always argue with your sister so much? It drives me crazy."

"I'm sorry, Scorp. She's being irritable."

Scorpios shrugged and smiled at his best friend. "What wrong, mate?"

Lily answered for him, "He has to get married under the new marriage law to Susie."

Albus glared at her. "I can answer for myself."

"It isn't that bad, Albus. You still need to see my letter. I was furious when I found out. Persephone calmed me down."

"You got angry?" Albus looked almost ridiculously gleeful. "I love it when you get angry."

Scorpios grinned at him. "I bet you'll be upset for me when you read the letter."

Lily scowled. "I'm going to go practice Quidditch."

"Wait, I'll go with you," Hugo said. "I just need to finish breakfast."

Lily sat down again next to her age cousin, her annoyed expression slipping in to a fond smile.

Scorp handed Al the letter, and he started reading. Albus' expression was absolutely priceless. It went from glee to complete and utter disbelief to absolute and stiff rage.

"NO," he said stubbornly. "NO. It can't be."

Scorpios said, "I had that exact reaction." He sounded absolutely calm.

"Ready. Let's go Lils," said Hugo.

"No, Lils. You'd better here this."

Lily looked at Scorpios and Albus, worried. "Oh, is it that bad, Scorpios? What's wrong?" She had always cared for Albus and Scorpios. "I'm sorry for being so cold, Al. I hope everything'll be okay."

"Lily, you'd better read the letter," said Albus, his carefully controlled tone an indication to absolute anger.

Lily took the letter and started reading.

Dear Mr. Scorpios Malfoy:

We at the Ministery are very aware that your 17th birthday passed as of four weeks and three days ago. Because of the new marriage law, you are required to have taken a wife as of four weeks after your birthday. As you have not, one has been picked out for you.
You are most compatible with Lily Potter, daughter of Harry and Ginerva Potter. You are to have set a date before January 1st of this year.
Thank very much and please forgive us if this causes an issue.

Sincerely,
Hannah C. Davies

P.S. As Lily is younger than you are, the rules may be slightly different. We will send you the bits and pieces explaining the law by the end of the week. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Lily choked. "I. Have. To. Get. Married."

Hugo looked over her shoulder and skimmed the letter quickly. "Woah, Lils."

Everyone gave Lily strange looks. Lily felt herself flush. It all began to feel very real, and she felt her eyes start to burn. Nobody stopped her, so she rushed out of the Great Hall, hiding her face from everyone. It can't be.