Chapter 2

After leaving the platform at Hogsmeade, Draco and Blaise sat in a horse-less carriage discussing their summers of leisurely doing nothing but spending money.

"We sound like bastards when we talk like that." Blaise eventually said with a sour look on his face. "I hate it sometimes. But I love having the money to do it." He laughed enjoying the company of his old friend. "So how does it feel knowing that you get to spend the year in the same dormitory has Hermione Granger?"

Draco shrugged. "We were fairly civil on the train; in fact we even joked a bit." He turned his face away trying to forget the dumbass he had made himself look like. "I honestly don't think living with her this year will be an issue, mainly because I've given up on my Slytherin attitude of always having to mock her."

"It's true that we have grown up a lot this summer." Blaise agreed jumping out of the carriage at the front of the school. "I wonder how Potter and Weasley are taking this."

"Not well I would assume. We've all seen Weasley fly off the broom-handle more than once over something Granger has done. Potter's always there to make him calm down." Walking past the group and into the Entrance Hall the boys nodded in directions of their fellow Slytherins and eventually made their way to the table for dinner.

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After the sorting everyone in Gryffindor seemed to come alive, running up along the table to talk to their friends, but mostly people came to see the trio and Ginny. Celebrity by association was astounding by them, and if anyone in Hogwarts could get it: they would. Ginny got a few dates because of it and after awhile stopped responding to people she knew were only trying to get to Harry.

Hermione wasn't that lucky to get dates, mainly because of Ron. Obviously, that didn't stop Viktor Krum (who she still constantly writes to) or Cormac McLaggan. Every once in awhile the brilliant witch would feel herself looking beyond her friends to the other side of the room and when she caught herself, she hoped that no one had noticed.

"Mione, why does it look like a lot of the guys in the room are looking over in your direction?" Harry asked.

"I am sitting next to Ginny." The girls smiled.

"I think most of them are looking at you though, it's starting to worry me." Harry responded.

The girl looked at Ginny. "Do I have anything on my face?" The girl shook her head no. "Anything on my robes?" Again, no. "I don't understand then."

"Maybe-" Ron started, his mouth full of food.

"I hope you have all had a wonderful feast, now I must ask that all seventh year students remain seated for I have a special announcement for you. The rest of you: off to your common rooms please!" Dumbledore said smiling the same way he did every year.

Giving Ginny a smile as she walked out the room went quiet except for the whispering between groups about what was going on.

"I'm sure that you are all wondering what I have to say to you," The Headmaster began, his hands folded on the podium. "And I'm also sure that when I do, some of you will be angry. You must understand that I have no control over anything the Ministry does, however; I do support this bill for reasons that you might not comprehend right away." He paused, almost as if preparing himself. "The Ministry of Magic has created a bill that all seventh year students must marry someone of a different blood-line to keep the magic population from declining."

The Slytherin table erupted with anger, the Ravenclaws started talking about how illogical it was, some Hufflepuffs started crying, and the Gryffindors just sat there knowing there was nothing they could do.

"Unless you have a previous engagement for marriage such as a betrothal this bill pertains to all of you and unfortunately there is a caveat. Each couple must produce at least one magical child within the first two years of the marriage." Holding up his hand to silence the enraged students he went on. "The staff and I have spent the past few weeks discussing who would make ideal couples, not only for the future children but as partners. You must remember that once you are married there are no divorces or annulments like in the muggle world. You are together for the rest of your lives." The room fell silent for the first time since the Headmaster had started talking. "I will tell each couple in private that we have chosen them to be partners and within two weeks time they will be moved into a new flat-like dormitory, two weeks after that the ceremony will be held in my office. Each student is allowed to invite their parents and perhaps a few friends," he looked towards the trio. "But there will be no objections towards the marriage from any person. You are all dismissed now."

The stunned students went to leave the room, some of them storming out to write their parents, others crying from the thought of a lost adolescence.

"Coming Mione?" Ron called.

"I have to talk to McGonagall about where my new dormitory is. I'll meet up with you later." And with that, the boys left and Hermione walked towards the staff table, not noticing Malfoy was already there.

"Ah, yes Miss Granger and Mr. Malfoy if you'll follow me I have something I would like to discuss with the two of you." Dumbledore said motioning the students to follow him, as well as their Heads of House. Finally arriving in the office Draco and Hermione sat down. "Now, you are both well aware that being the most intelligent students of your year brings you to a whole new level of responsibility. This responsibility also includes being the first match we thought of after hearing the bill."

"Us?" Malfoy asked, shocked. "You think we would make a good couple, after all the hell I've put her through the past six years?"

"Yes Mr. Malfoy; and it's a quite reasonable match I must say. You come from a pureblood family and Miss Granger comes from a muggle family yet everyone knew she would outshine them all to become to undisputed Head Girl."

"Not to mention she has helped Potter with his task for defeating He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named many times without getting herself killed as well as keeping those two fools alive!" The Scottish woman announced from behind her star-pupil, her voice full of pride.

"Yes Minerva, Hermione also exhibits an amount of bravery and courage I have never seen in my many years here at Hogwarts. Draco, you come from a long line of proud Malfoy's and Black's and even though you have been stubborn to relinquish that considerable amount of pride, I believe Miss Granger could help you with that. Both of you have many traits to be admired as well as disliked, but together you could be evened out so to speak and both become more level headed." Dumbledore smiled. "The Heads of House will now show you to your new dormitory."

The four exited the office even though Hermione and Draco followed their professors blindly, still not grasping what had just happened.