1Small note: to those who read my first chapter when I first posted it, I decided to change something. Instead of it being the end of their seventh year, it is in face the beginning. I decided on this for several reasons, but I thought I would make that a little note.
Enjoy.
I own nothing but the creativity.
Chapter Two
The news had come to them one morning over breakfast. Dumbledore had started the morning feast off by announcing his acceptance as the head of the ministry in place of Fudge. No one was really surprised, after Voldemort had fallen at the end of their sixth year Dumbledore had been practically running the ministry from Hogwarts anyway. It was only a matter of time before he made it official. But no one suspected the horrors that would befall them.
After his little announcement, he had ever so humbly started to list the changes he hoped to bring to the wizarding world during his time in the ministry, and like everyone else Harry had been eagerly listening to his speech. However, towards the end he mentioned a 'great change' coming to their world, where the issue of blood status would be a thing of the past.
His solution of a marriage law dictated that every of age single female wizard would be married off to a male wizard of the ministries choosing.
As might be imagined, this news wasn't exactly welcomed with open arms.
"I mean, after all of his years as this great wizard and his only solution is forced marriage" Hermione screamed again, for what seemed like the hundredth time. The Gryffindor common room was long since empty, leaving the male members of the golden trio to sit and listen to the rants of their book worm.
"Herm's, we know it a big upset, but maybe you should sit for a few-" Harry was cut off by a shrill scream of outrage.
"A big UPSET?! Easy for you to say! Your not single, you and Ginny have it made. No one is forcing you to tie the knot any time soon. Not that I think you two wont eventually, but at least you know each other!" Hermione began her tirade all over again, pacing in front of the fire and looking by all accounts a mad woman.
Sighing, Harry glanced over to the window where Ron had taken to sulking for the duration of the day. He claimed to be ok, but Harry knew better. Ron had always had a thing for Hermione, and it was no secret. Now she was going to be married off to another bloke and there wasn't anything he could do about it.
Hermione might have been right about him not having to worry as much, but that didn't mean he was free from all concern. They were his friends after all. Sitting there in the plush red chair, watching his two best friends have mental breakdowns, Harry knew he was in for a different kind of war, and this time he was powerless to stop it.
XXX
two days had passed since the little announcement, and for the most part Hermione had calmed down to a more rational state of mind.
She was getting married.
The thought kept coming to her when she least expected it, and it always made her feel like she was walking through a horrible dream. She could remember being a little girl and reading books like 'The Little Princess' and 'Sleeping Beauty'. Oh how she had wanted the fairytale wedding. With the prince coming to her rescue and whisking her off to be married in a big church, with big wedding bells and a big wedding dress.
Now, she had grown up rather quickly, and those childish fantasies faded as they always do. But not completely, after all she may be a witch but she was still a human, a female human at that.
That afternoon found Hermione in the Library pouring over the vast array of legal documents and law books that were kept at hogwarts. She knew it was a long shot, but somewhere in the dark depths of her mind she was determined to find a way out of this. Couldn't this be considered invasion of rights? Invasion of privacy? Something?
After finishing the last pages on chapter seventeen of 'Wizard Laws and How to go About the Whole Business' she slammed the book shut in a huff of defeat. The bloody old coot had taken into consideration every possible loop hole and patch worked his law to assure no one could escape it. Not that she had totally given up that is, maybe she would get lucky and a new dark wizard would pop up and kill her before she was forced into marring some old, fat and rather droll wizard who, she assumed, would smell faintly of cottage cheese.
After a few more minutes of pondering her decidedly unpleasant situation, Hermione gathered the various books strewn about the table she had been occupying for the last three and a half hours and cast them back to their original places under the sharp gaze of Madam Pince.
Taking a glance out of a small dusty window towards the far wall of the library, Hermione noticed the waning light streaming through and mentally began to prepare herself for the inevitable. It was a Wednesday, and only three weeks into the beginning of her seventh year at Hogwarts. Dumbledore was expected to release the list of the matching by the end of the week, and after that her life was going to change drastically. Taking one more longing look towards the small window, Hermione made her way out of the library heading for supper.
XxXx
"If one more word is uttered in this classroom about the 'black list' you all seem to be whining about, I can guarantee the one responsible will receive two weeks detention, cleaning pots the muggle way. Is that clear?" Snapes silky voice slithered through the room, bringing everyone to an abrupt silence.
"I suppose he's just jealous, being left out and all" Ron muttered under his breath to Harry, earning a small smirk. Harry knew Ron still didn't fancy the potions professor, but after he proved his real loyalty during the final battles, Harry just didn't have it in him to hate the man. In fact, he often found him self admiring the Slytherin. Not that he would ever admit it of course.
While dicing up his flubber worm liver, harry focused in on Hermione who was seated a table ahead of his, currently stirring her labor inducing potion counter clock-wise 77 times. His thoughts drifted to the ominous 'Black List' as it had been dubbed. Tomorrow would decided the future of his two best friends, and Harry didn't know how to handle it. Harry had been woken last night by Ron crying to himself, and it had gone on for hours. Harry hadn't said anything to him simply because he didn't know what to say.
Harry just couldn't figure out why Dumbledore was doing this. There had been a time last year when he had doubted the wizard, after finding he had been lied to. But they had reached an understand, and Harry had been elated when everything had come to fruition at the end of last year. Dumbledore had survived the war and Tom Riddles twisted persona and died for the final time. Everything had been going so well. What the hell was the old man thinking?
Deciding getting lost in thought during potions class was an all around bad idea, he snapped his focus back to his potion in time to see it turn an interesting shade of plum, a color it was most assuredly not suppose to be. Snape, of course, took great pleasure for the rest of the class reminding him such.
XxX
It was Thursday evening, and everyone in the castle was on edge. Fights were breaking out over stupid arguments, and teachers were having a hard time controlling the students during dinner. Taking her ususal seat between Ron and Harry, Hermione noticed Draco Malfoy sitting off to the corner of the slytherin table, alone. After the war, his father had been found as a casualty and unmasked as a death eater.
Of course, the slytherin prince was dethroned and shunned by even his own fellow classmates. While Draco himself had been cleared of all charges, it was never proven what side he really rooted for. Now a days, she hardly ever noticed him because he kept to him self, and never really spoke in class.
Part of her wanted to feel pity, but then she would be reminded of all the horrible things he had done over the years and would push aside those feeling rather quickly.
"Bullox, the lot of it. Im telling you, this wont go through!" Ron was shouting at a Ravenclaw who was arguing with two other Gryffindor's. He was red faced and sightly pink all over, food spitting out of his mouth while he couldn't seem to decided on wether to stand or sit, opting for a middle ground of half crouching in his seat.
"Dumbledore is head of the ministry now, and all the parents are supporting him because they think he must know best, with his experience and all. Who is going to challenge him?" the Ravenclaw countered, crossing his arms in obvious defiance.
Hermione chose that moment to tune out of the conversation, and leave the great hall. She hadn't even started to eat and already her appetite was strangely absent.
Tomorrow was going to be simply horrid. In all respects, by this time tomorrow, Hermione Granger would no longer be a free woman.
XxX
AU: Yes? No? What do you think?