Chapter 1

Their First Mistake

May 2, 1999, One year after the Battle of Hogwarts

Swathed in a fluffy crimson bathrobe, Hermione Granger sat alone in the breakfast room of 12 Grimmauld Place, sipping her morning tea.

Her mind flicked through the memories she had of what had happened on this day exactly one ago. Tears began to form and she wiped them away, the sleeve of her bathrobe banishing the tears from her presence. No tears today! She reminded herself. I must be strong for the boys.

The Ministry of Magic had planned a memorial for the family members of the War Heroes at dusk. For once the Ministry had it right. She, Harry, and Ron were not heroes. They were only one of thousands of 'Survivors' of the Second War. Those who had given everything, their lives, they were the real Heroes. Dumbledore, Snape, Fred, Lupin, Tonks, Mad-Eye, Dobby, Cedric; they were true heroes. They faced their ends with strength and courage.

She reached for a piece of toast and smoothed a thin layer of apple butter on before taking a bite. "It just doesn't taste the same today." She said aloud, disappointed but understanding why.

A gentle tapping broke the solitude of the breakfast nook. Hermione rose and opened the latch to allow the brown owl in. The graceful bird swooped in, depositing the mail on the table. Hermione quickly grabbed a treat from the bowl beneath the window, offering it to the bird before it flew away.

"You're welcome!" She said lightly, laughing at the bird as she closed the window. Hermione walked back to the table and began sorting through the mail. First it was separated into 'important' and 'fan mail'. She scoffed as she placed half of the thirty-ish letters into the box labeled junk. The boys occasionally went through it when they were bored. Of the important mail, she separated it into piles for herself, Harry, Ron, and Ginny.

Hermione grabbed her mail began to go through it. She received letters from Luna and her mother. I'll read those later. Her subscription to Transfiguration Today, The Arithmancy Almanac, and Reading s in Runes were set to the side as she picked up the Daily Prophet. She set them aside and opened the official missive from the Ministry of Magic, Department of Magical Education Regulation. She quickly skimmed its contents.

"YES!" She screamed jumping up from the table doing a personal Victory Dance. "Yes!" She began to chant as she danced around the kitchen. "I did it, I did it. Take that Anthony Goldstein!" She shook her booty. "Ha ha N.E.W.T.s! You Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests! I showed you! I got eleven O's! I got eleven O's!" She stopped dancing and shouted at the top of her lungs, "I got elev…"

"Oh, wait. Let me guess. Eleven O's?" A sleepy Harry Potter said scratching his messy black hair. An equally disheveled Ginny Weasley stood, slightly embarrassed in an overlarge plaid shirt, next to her half asleep older brother.

Hermione blushed. "Oops." She whispered. "Sorry."

"So, you got eleven O's. Congratulations Mione." Harry said crossing the room to hug her. "You deserve every single one."

"Yeah, Mione. Congrats. I just hope me and Harry here get at least four E's and an O in DADA so we can begin Auror training!" Ron said hugging his best friend.

"Well, you two better! Especially considering the entire month Hermione spent reviewing with us!" Ginny said laughing at the blushing boys. "I on the other hand want at least 5 O's so I can become a Hit Wizard!"

The three others blanched at that thought. Mrs. Weasley would have an aneurism if she knew Ginny wanted to become part of the elite Aurors that tracked and captured dangerous criminals. Ginny may be small, but she was clever and Hermione had no doubts that she would make it into the program without a hitch.

"Yes!"

"Alright!"

"Score!"

They had all met the requirements to enter their chosen field. "This calls for breakfast!" Hermione announced. "A breakfast of champions!" She turned and entered the kitchen, Ginny close behind her.

*~*~*~*~*~*

In the breakfast nook, the boys began to quietly go through their mail, spending a great deal of time flipping through their copies of Quidditch Quarterly. As the divine scents of breakfast wafted into the room, they cleared the table for breakfast.

They wordlessly went through the routine that they did most mornings. The boys walked over to the hutch and removed the dishes and flatware and started to methodically set the table. After all, if the girls were cooking, the least they could do was set the table and clear it away afterwards.

By the time they finished their task, Hermione and Ginny came in, with breakfast floating along after them. Bacon, eggs, sausage, toast, porridge, coffee, orange juice, milk, tea, and all the fixings.

"Mmm! My favorites!" Ron said excitedly as the food finally met the table.

After the girls sat down, the four friends grabbed the hand of the person next to them and took a moment to remember the 'Heroes' and how their sacrifice allowed them to enjoy this moment in peace.

A few moments passed before Hermione and Ginny said in unison, "Tuck in!"

They ate in relative silence for a bit. Hermione picked up the Daily Profit. As she took a sip of Orange juice she skimmed over the headline.

Orange juice spewed from her mouth. "Have they lost their BLOODY minds!" She screeched.

A wide eyed Harry took the paper from her as Ginny asked, "What is it? What has happened Hermione?"

Harry paled, reading the Headline. "A Marriage Edict. The Ministry passed a Marriage Edict last night 78 to 22," he said weakly passing the paper back to Hermione who read the article aloud.

Marriage Edict Passed Last Night

Last night in a surprise move by the Ministry of Magic, the first Marriage Edict in 600 years was passed. Chief Warlock, Louis Bonham, reported that the Edict is in response to the dismal number of births in the Wizarding community. "Reports from the Ministries in other countries have confirmed a similar pattern of births, only 1 out of every 500 couples are even able to conceive. Numbers like this have never been seen in our world. The medi-witches and wizards around the globe are trying to account for this anomaly and no solution has been found."

In summary, the Marriage Edict, known formally as the British Isles Marriage Edict of 1999, affects all single witches and wizards in England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland between the ages of 17 and 40. Participation is compulsory. All unattached wizards who meet the above criteria will be given one week to petition for the witch of their choice. Said witch will then be allowed one week to select their spouse and owl their choice to the Ministry. The Ministry will assign spouses to those who chose to not fulfill the requirements of the Edict. Once conformation is received by the Ministry, couples are given thirty days to be married. All marriages will be bound by an Unbreakable Fidelus Charm, making the bond permanent, lasting until the death either spouse.

Failure to do so will result in the snapping of the offender's wand, binding of their magic, and exile from the magical world. "Don't try and be clever," says Bonham. "All of the Wizarding Bodies have adopted similar codes, so fleeing the country will do you no good."

As the main goal of the law is to repopulate the community, all contraceptive potions and charms as well as their Muggle equivalents, are now considered illegal. Use of said methods will result in the aforementioned penalties. Consummation of the marriage is mandatory.

Couples who are currently in relationships and wish to continue must come by the Department of Magical Binding for questioning before being allowed to marry. Witches and wizards who come of age after the first round of bonding will be given one month to fulfill the requirements of the Edict.

Happy Hunting,

- Rita Skeeter