The next morning Hermione awoke, she looked around and realised she'd fallen asleep on the sofa, Harry had disappeared but had left her covered with a blanket and she could see a note left on the table next to their empty cups. She stretched and picked up the note, opening it to see Harry's scrawl she read:
Gone back down to my dorm, you finally slept and I couldn't bear to wake you. See you at breakfast.
H
She looked at the note with worry, if he left that meant he hadn't slept; usually she woke up with him still next to her. She frowned at the note, he was probably nervous about being back in Hogwarts and having to start all over again at their final year.
Rushing through her morning routine, Hermione got up, showered, dressed and packed her bag without any thought. Just as she was about to depart for the Great Hall she heard the other door open and turned to see Nevillle coming out of his room about to do the same thing. She greeted him and together they left for breakfast making easy conversation on the way.
Upon reaching the Great Hall Hermione scanned the Gryffindor table and spotted Harry, Ron and Ginny all sitting up the far end. Pointing them out to Neville both of them moved to join them. Hermione sat heavily and began to load her plate to prepare her for the day ahead. "When's Mcgonagall giving out schedules?" She asked.
"Half hour or so," yawned Ron, "It's too early! I need to go back to bed."
"No Ron you're hungpver" His sister exclaimed smugly, "That's why you think its early, if you'd gone to bed instead of drinking yourself into a stupor you wouldn't be in this situation."
"Well who now sounds like a goody two shoes? Call yourself a Weasley? Fred and George-" the smile died from Ron's face as he realised he'd mentioned Fred whilst teasing his little sister. Ginny looked away, tears welling in her eyes, Harry put an arm around her and let her lean into him while she pulled herself together.
After that breakfast continued with only polite conversation about classes and who was taking what. They were all taking Herbology, Charms and Transfiguration and that's where the similarities ended. Hermione had chosen the most subjects in order to keep her options open for a career, Harry and Ron were both following the path of Auror, Neville was focusing on care of plants and magical creatures and Ginny was taking very general subjects in order to pursue her quidditch dreams.
They were interrupted by the owl post, Hermione accepted her Daily Prophet from the owl and put her money into the pouch before unfolding it and beginning to read. As she read her face turned ashen and her eyes widened. She dropped the piece of toast she was holding as she reread the headline over and over wishing this couldn't be true.
"Hermione, what is it?" Harry had instantly noticed how pale she had become and how quiet the rest of the hall had become. He glanced at the staff table to see the teachers all looking much the same as Hermione, Mcgonagall had turned red and was already furiously scribbling on parchment while Professor Sprout had begun to cry quietly into a handkerchief.
"A law." Hermione whispered, "They are trying to up the number of wizards in Britain."
"That's good, we need more magical folk in England. Mum always says we're all related now anyways." Ron said.
"No Ron, it's not more wizards from abroad. They want us to produce them."
"How? Magic or something?" Ron questioned, clearly missing the realisation that had dawned on everyone else's faces.
"No Ron, by marrying us to other students and making us reproduce." Hermione barely got the words out before her eyes overflowed with tears. "Just when we thought we were done with chaos." She put her head into her hands and breathed deeply.
Harry sat still. He couldn't move, couldn't react, Hermione was wrong, it wasn't going to be normal. He could feel Ginny batting at him, pestering him for company and reassurance but he couldn't give her either. A marriage law, a baby? It was way too much for him to cope with.
Hermione had finally picked her head up out of her hands and had begun to read the article, she could hear others around her crying, shouting and gossiping but she just wanted to get her facts straight.
"On behalf of the Minister of Magic, Kingsley Shacklebolt, we are pleased to announce that a new law is coming in with immediate effect. Law number 2837 will be known as 'The repopulation act' and is designed to repopulate the wizarding world after the devastating war against He-who-must-not-be-named.
The law will be active within 24 hours of this article and the following conditions will apply to all witches and wizards aged 17 or over.
The ministry will be assigning all non-married witches and wizards a spouse based on their best potential matches. These matches are found using a complex charm and will give couples the best chance of living in harmony and reproducing children.
Those matches will be made available by 7pm tonight in order for those who are happy to go ahead can marry tomorrow morning when the law goes into effect.
The law also states that a couple must reproduce a magical child within the first two years of marriage. A second must follow within two years of the first child. All couples must have at least two children.
The couples will be expected to complete a full wizard bonding ceremony with their spouse. This will require a magical wedding followed by consummation in the first 24 hours.
This law is designed and released with the best of the wizarding world in mind. We wish you all the best with your matches and we are pleased to announce the Daily Prophet fully supports the new law."
Hermione finished the article and sighed, she looked around and saw couples, some hopeful, some clinging to each other and some with tears in their eyes. She couldn't believe that 10 hours from now she would have a fiancé! After what could only be described as a hellish year she was now expected to deal with marriage! And a baby! She couldn't even think about it now!
She looked round at her friends, Ron had gone a blotchy red colour and was balling his fists as if he was about to start a fight, Neville was as pale as she felt and was whispering to himself, Harry was sat stock still and Ginny was pawing at him, trying to talk his ear off about how they would be paired. Hermione felt sick, she had no one to paw at, no one to hope for. What if she was paired with Malfoy? Bile rose in her throat but she swallowed and set her shoulders. No, she was not going to let this ruin her, she'd faced worse. 'Get through the day first Hermione' she thought, 'worry about tonight tonight.' With that Hermione stood up, looked to Mcgonagall and asked, "Where's the timetables Professor?"
"Class Hermione? You're thinking about classes now?!" Ginny screeched.
"Yes Ginny, I am going to get on with the day and just deal with it tonight. I am not going to let this rule my day." And with that statement she took her schedule and left the hall.
The day flew by, Hermione was desperate to stay in lessons, and normalcy, for as long as possible but with only half, or fewer, of the students coming into class today the teachers felt they couldn't teach a full lesson and only did introductions. Before she knew it, it was time to head down to dinner and the announcements.
Hermione entered the Great Hall and quietly took the seat that she had sat in only 10 hours previously. The others had also taken up their original seats and were staring at the staff table, assuming the staff would have the answers they needed.
At 7pm precisely the rustle of wings signified the news that all the 7th and 8th years were dreading. Hermione looked up to see hundreds of owls circling the tables looking for their recipient. Hermione all of sudden caught sight of one of the birds swooping to her table, it landed in front of Ron and offered its leg. He took it with shaking hands and looked at it with terror.
Finally, after another five minutes of waiting all five of them had their letters. Harry was the first to speak, "So, all together then?" All nodded and with a deep breath began to open them. All around them they could hear shrieking, laughing and crying as others found out who their matches were.
Hermione tore open the envelope, inside was one sheet of parchment, she unfolded it and was surprised to only see a couple of sentences. She began to read:
'Miss Granger,
We are pleased to inform you that we have performed the charm and found your ideal mate. Your mate's name is Harry Potter. If you already know your partner please introduce yourself and get to know each other, further information will follow for formal meetings with your mate.
Yours sincerely
Kingsley Shacklebolt.'
Hermione sat there stunned, she didn't know how to react, she raised her eyes and was met with emerald staring back at her. Harry was frozen, completely ignorant to everything around him. Hermione gave him a small smile, trying to reassure him but Harry remained still, shock on his features.
"Harry, Hermione, who did you get?" Ron was desperately swapping information with all around him. "Dean got Parvati, Seamus got Susan Bones, Neville got Luna- surprise surprise- at least they'll be happy together. Hey Gin, who did you get?"
"Terry Boot." Ginny whispered.
"Who?"
"Terry Boot." She said in a small voice, "I got paired with Terry Boot."
"But you and Harry-"
"No Ron, Terry is my match. Not Harry." Ginny was barely holding it together, she was staring at her paper with disbelief. She couldn't believe anyone would separate her and Harry.
"So Harry who'd you get?" Ron was now giving his full attention to Harry, he seemed to have forgotten Hermione hadn't shared her match yet.
"Er…well" Harry started while Ginny finally looked up with curiousity, "my match is, well, my mate is Hermione." Harry looked at Hermione again, this time registering her and smiling slightly.
"What?!" Ron roared, obviously annoyed now. "How did you two end up together? I got Hannah Abbott. I barely know the girl and you two end up with each other. How is this fair?"
"Ron we didn't ask for this." Hermione started, "it was done by charm we all read the letter. It was just chance that we got put together."
"Oh sure, you got paired with one of your best friends, the boy who lived? Sure, ok Hermione." Ron was beyond angry now and there was no stopping the offensive language coming out of his mouth. " I mean you could of at least worked it so I had ended up with you and Gin could of gone with Harry then we would of all still been together."
"Ron, stop it! It's not their fault!" Ginny cut across her brother. "The charm puts us with our best match and if its not Harry then I'm glad hes with someone that he knows and someone that understands what he's been through."
Hermione smiled at the red head. "Thanks Gin, that means a lot, especially from you."
"Well I can't say it will be easy but I'm willing to try. Excuse me I'm going to find Terry." And Ginny stood and walked over towards the Ravenclaw table.
Ron got up and stormed off muttering something about Hufflepuff which left Harry and Hermione staring wide eyed at each other. Harry spoke first, "Well, want to go talk?"
"Sure Harry, let's go to my dorm."
They left the hall and made their way to Hermione's dorm room, Hermione couldn't help but wonder what they were going to say to each other. She couldn't believe that her partner was Harry. Harry, her best friend! She took a deep breath and mentally braced herself for what was to come.
