Chapter 2: Stupid Law

Hermione sat eating breakfast with Harry and Ron at the Gryffindor table. Just then, the owls flew in. The Sunday Prophet landed in front of her. She unfolded it and looked at the headline in disbelief.

September 27th

Muggle-born Marriage Act

"WHAT!?" Hermione yelled slamming the paper down onto the table. Half of the Great Hall turned and stared at the 7th year heroine.

"What's wrong, Hermione?" Harry asked his friend with concern in his voice.

"Listen to this…'Minister of Magic, Kingsley Shacklebolt, signed the Muggle-born Marriage Act on states that all single muggle-born witches, 17-45 years of age, must be married to their arranged partner by Saturday, October 10th, due to the sudden rise in the births of squibs and stillbirths due to pure-blood inbreeding. Those married through this act must be with child at least a year after the marriage papers are signed. The Ministry has arranged all of these marriages and each person married through this new act will receive an owl from the Ministry informing them on who they are to marry,' can you believe this!" Hermione said indignantly.

"No way! Let me see," Ron said grabbing the paper from her hands. He spread the newspaper out on the table in front of him, brow knitting together as he read. From all over the Great Hall you could hear many cries of indignation and, from the Slytherin table especially, disgust. Just then, about half a dozen or more owls flew in, swooping in low and landing in front of a few seventh and a sixth years. A large tawny owl landed in front of Hermione, sticking its leg out for her to get the letter. She took the parchment from the proud looking bird and let the owl fly away from them. Everywhere people were crowding around their friends, large bunches of students obscuring the few dumbstruck muggle-born girls from view, a scarce few around male students.

"Go on and open it all ready!" Harry urged. Hermione's hands shook as she stared blankly at the offending piece of parchment. It was a though all of time stopped for a moment, until the most shocking owl of all flew in

"Whoa, look at the Head table," Ron said pointing.

They all turned and looked up at the table and saw a rather large owl land in front of their Potions Master, Severus Snape.

Severus watched as a large snowy owl landed in front of him. Calmly he took the letter and let the owl fly off. He broke the seel, noting that it was from the Ministry, and looked at the letter.

Dear Severus Snape,

We are pleased to inform you that by cause of the Muggle-born Marriage Act, you are paired to marry Miss Hermione Jean Granger. You will need to sign the marriage licenses by October 10th.

By the end of the first full year of your marriage, you and your wife will be required to conceive. If you choose to oppose this law then you will have your wand broken and you will be expelled out of the wizarding world.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Elizabeth Headsworth

Mrs. Elizabeth Headsworth

Head of the Department of Wizarding Endangerment

Severus's face turned even paler than usual, if that it was at all possible. He looked up from the letter, eyes sliding over the purple Ministry of Magic seal, glaring proof that this was not, in fact, a hoax. His dark eyes zeroed in on the Gryffindor table and skimmed over students that were, at the moment, unimportant as he found the unmistakable trio, frizzy curls, flaming locks, and dishevelled black. Their faces curious and in the case of Miss Granger in particular, quite shaken. It was then that said students noticed that they had the professor's undivided attention. His mouth dropped open as he gapped at them and back down at his letter. After a moment his eyes snapped back up and onto the face of Hermione. Her stomach dropped and she looked away from him back to her own letter. With trembling hands she tore open the letter, eyes quickly moving over the words emblazoned there and stopping on the name of her soon to be husband. The name of the man she be magically bound to and would live with for the rest of her life, the very same name of the one man who she was sure she could not live the rest of her life with. The name of the man who had constantly sneered snide comments, scoffed, smirked, and belittled her throughout her adolescence, the name of the man who just happened to teach Potions at Hogwarts.

Mr. Severus Snape.

So there's chapter two. How's that for hitting the ground running? Second chapter and already the main conflict has arisen :D I hope you liked the chapter :D

~Lilly Rae~