Disclaimer: I own nothing J.K Rowling owns the characters ….if I did I would own Sirius Black ….sighs

Reviews please! Open to suggestions to add to the story! Thanks!

(AN: Sirius was cleared of all charges; peter didn't escape in 3rd year!)

Chapter 2: Sealed Fate

Sirius POV

Sirius stared at the letter from the Ministry in the too quiet kitchen at his Mother's dingy depressing house… how he hated this place. Taking a deep breathe and tearing the seal he began to read knowing that somehow the contents of this letter could seal his fate. But little did he know that would change his lonely existence for the rest of his life.

Dear Lord Sirius Orion Black,

Due to the low birthrates because of the war, the Ministry of Magic believes that the magical world needs to have more inter-connectedness of blood status to prevent another war speared by hate in the future. Therefore, all witches and wizards between the ages of 16 and 55 are to be married within three weeks' time and produce a minimum of one magical offspring to repopulate the magical community.

All witches and wizards are to have weekly copulations that will be monitored by the ministry. The use of a muggle or wizard birth control can have dire consequences as grave as Azkaban or wand snapping. Every couple must conceive a child within 14 months of the wedding. Failure to do so will be investigated by the ministry and charges will follow.

Couples will be matched by the ministry based off of a matching spell that aligns you with your best match and highest fertility rate. We have found your wife that can be as closely matched by magic as possible.

Your match is: Hermione Granger, age 17

Thank you for your cooperation,

Minster of Magic

Cornelius Fudge

The shock of the letter contents seemed to turn his mind to sludge and he could not think. Slowly Sirius ran through a hundred scenarios of what his life could be. He was shocked that they paired him with Hermione though… he wondered what she thought.

Would she think that he was old, and damaged?….. maybe that he had ruined her life. But think in the back of his mind he couldn't help but think that he had struck gold with his match. She was so beautiful and smart, what he liked most was her determination and feistiness.

Mulling over the rest of the letters contents he was not upset, how could he be? This could be his second chance at life, he had been waiting for a sign of what he could do with his life. He yearned for a family, not that harry wasn't great, but he wanted to take care of someone, go home to someone, start a family. Being in Azkaban taught him many things one being that he had yet to do anything in life and a family could make Sirius settle down and live life happily… happy?

He hadn't been happy in some time. He remembered how jealous he was when prongs got married and had Harry, he was happy for him of course, but so very envious. He considered himself a very lucky wizard. But all he could think about was the image of him and Hermione having a baby in their arms, teaching his kids how to fly, picnics in the summer, listening to his kids stories of their latest prank at Hogwarts… Having children to spoil at Christmas something he never really had in his own family…..he smiled…..a family….. something he never thought would happen for him.

Breaking his thoughts Hedwig swooped in with a letter, stroking her he took it and saw that it was from Harry…

Padfoot,

By now I guess you got your letter from the Ministry, I got Ginny! Can you believe it? Dumbledore said couples will meet within the hour. You can find Hermione in the common room she is upset but hasn't said much. See you soon and BE NICE!

Harry

Without another thought he jumped up and started to make his journey to Hogwarts.

Hermione POV

The hour passed by quickly after receiving her letter, lost in her thoughts in front of the raging fire that offered her no comfort. She heard the portrait ole open but could not turn her head to see who had come in.

"Hermione?" A deep voice asked with anticipating confidence. She snapped her head to the voice. There he was, standing in front of her not looking the least bit unhappy.

"Sirius!? I see you received the news?" her voice laced with the plight of tears she had cried for the past hour.

"Hello Love" he stated as his eyes were taking her in leaving nothing unturned. He took in her watery tense smile, red rimmed eyes, and swollen red nose. "It seems we are very compatible, how are you are feeling being matched to me?" his eyes yearning to know her answer and she saw the briefest flash of an emotion across his face… was it fear? How did she feel that she was matched to him?

She let out her breath she didn't realize she was holding, her voice heavy with emotion she said " I am….surprised, I feel as though they have ripped all my decisions from me as well as my future, I'm losing everything Sirius!" she burst into wrecked sobs, finally letting out how she was feeling. Sirius quickly moved towards her seated on the couch and wrapped his arms around her trying to sooth her, rubbing circles on her back. He himself was in turmoil with her words.

She slowly began to calm down ending in sniffles, stroking her hair. After some inner debate he paused and said sincerely "Hermione I cannot promise that we will be happy, but I can promise that I will try my hardest to make you happy. As for your future you can still finish at Hogwarts and even continue onto University if that's what you want I don't want to be in your way of your dreams"

She looked fully into his eyes for any sign she didn't know what she was looking for but regardless she found it. " I can really keep going to school?" she whispered in shock and relief.

"Yes" he chuckled "you're going to be my wife not my prisoner" and held her tighter. she gave a small nervous laugh.

"What do you think of all this Sirius?" she asked more seriously, now feeling more insecure as ever. His eyes darkened and held a different determined gleam.

"I think I could not be happier with the Ministry's decision Hermione." She had a look of confusion as she raised her eyebrows slightly. Slowly Sirius leaned down and bushed his lips against her, startling her. His lips were warm and he smelled of the woods and mint. His chest rumbled as he chuckled. He pulled her up from where they sat holding her waist.

"Come on love we have much to decide on" she looked at him confused "like what?" she asked.

With a playful smirk "I need to get to know my fiancé and we need to buy a house that I can ravish you in when your my wife." Her breathe caught, she blushed while her heart thumped in her chest as he stared so deeply into her eyes.

Read and Review for more Chapters!

I have recently graduated college so I will have a lot of time on my hands to finally dive in please let me know if you have any idea for direction of the story!

~Ash

TBC