Thank you for the am-a-ZING support you guys are showing! I am touched by the responses I'm getting. This fic is more popular than I could ever have imagined. This chapter is 4000 words long, and is a special suprise to you guys for staying with me this long.

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I do not own Harry Potter, though I wish Remus Lupin owned me. :)

"Because she's a silly yong girl, is that right?" -Remus Lupin, later in this chapter. (HAHAHA)

Hermione opened her eyes groggily, trying to remember where she was. Her vision focussed on a room that was tastefully yet simply furnished. Out the window, was a wonderful view of the lake. Through an open door she could see a comfprtable bedroom, and the only other door was closed.

With a groan of embarassment, she remembered how McGonagall had suggested she marry Ron, and she'd fainted. Fainted, she recalled, cringing at the other important event of that evening – her break-up with Remus. She was about to collapse into a fresh wave of tears, when the door opened and Minerva stepped in. "So, dear, you are awake. I am sorry to have startled you so badly, when I should have dealt with the situation delicatedly."

She waved her wand at a chair at the corner of the room, and settled into it, looking at Hermione carefully. Hermione shook her head and said, "No, Professor. It's all a little too much to take in, that's all."

McGonagall got a look on her face Hermione had never seen there before- as if she wanted to ask a question, but didn't think it was the right time. Hermione understood. "Professor...Ron and I...aren't together anymore."

McGonagall looked surprised, then rearranged her features into one of polite concern. "He- we broke up. We're just friends now. We weren't meant to be together, really. I can't marry him. I don't want to marry anyone." Hermione's voice cut off in a panicked note.

"I won't let any harm come to you, Hermione. Kingsley and I are already trying to manipulate the options, like I told you before. Since Ron is out of the question, we have to pick someone else. Please come to my office tomorrow and we'll see what we can do."

Hermione walked around the garden, trying to organise her thoughts. How did her entire life turn around in so short a time? What was she gooing to do? Who was she going to marry? She shuddered at the word. She was not averse to marriage, but it was surely one of the last things on a young adult's mind, one who was in school, trying to find a career, find her parents, sort out her life.

She leaned down to pick a flower, when she heard voices floating down to her. She was standing right where the garden wall ended, and she could hear two people talking on the other side of the wall.

She heard a voice she recognised very well, say, "I miss you. I love you. Please..."

Hermione made to leave, still frusratedly trying to remember who's voice it was. But the next word by the other person made her freeze.

"Tonks...", whispered a voice she would recognise anywhere, anytime.

"I can't...", Remus said.

Tonks sobbed. "I'm sorry. I love you, but I messed up. So bad. I don't deserve you, but I need you. Pleas e, tak me back. I promise I'll make it up to you."

Hermione stepped around the wall, where she was hidden by the thick vines. Through them, she could see Remus standing against the wall, and Tonks standing close to him, clutching his shoulder. Her face was blotched, and tears were pouring down her cheeks. Remus looked pained, no, it was more than pain. Seeing him, Hermione felt pain shoot through her. Even among al her problems, and their break-up, it tore at her to see Remus being thus pleaded to by Tonks.

She knew how much pain this was putting him through. He would see it as a chance to get back to his life with Tonks and Teddy. Teddy. She remembered how Tonks had cheated on Remus with some other guy, and wondered why Remus was still talking to her. He wouldn't get back with her.

Suddenly her heart constricted, as she realised what was happening. He was going to take her back. He must have seen it coming, and had even broken up with Hermione at the first chance he got. Her suspicions were confirmed, when Tonks burst into tears outright, her body racking in pained spasms, and Remus, looking tortured, put his arms around her and pulled her close.

Hermione's heart went cold, and tears brimmed in her eyes, as Remus murmured into Tonk's hair, "It's okay. Stop crying." Tonks seemed to stop shaking, but she was still crying loudly. Suddenly, Hermione felt like she was an intruder. She realised that much more than this had gone on between them when they were married. Obviously.

Not wanting to see any more, she turned, and stumbled away. She dragged herself up to the tower, into bed, and cried herself to sleep.

She woke up the next morning, and only when she was halfway through Advanced Charms did she realise that McGonagall had asked to meet her. So on the way to Divination, she slipped away from the boys, and headed to Minerva's office.

Hermione entered, and Kingsley and Minerva were seated. As soon as she sat down, Minerva wasted no time. "We have reseaerched your options, and there are only two people who are currently not in any kind of relationship, who could possibly be wiling to marry you."

Hermione stiffened. Two names.

She nodded.

Minerva said, "Dean Thomas."

Hermione tried to keep her face from dropping in horror. "I can't marry Ginny's ex-boyfriend.", she exclaimed.

"I don't really think Ginny would mind, dear, seeing as she's ended up happy."

Hermione shook her head vigourously.

"Who's the other one?"

Minerva shot a look at Kingsley, and looked hesitant, alsmost embarassed to suggest it.

Kingsley grunted, "Remus Lupin."

Hermione's head snapped around to look at him, to make sure she'd heard right. Kingsley met her gaze with a kind look in his eyes, as if telling her it was okay.

"But...", she trailed off.

Minerva jumped in. "Don't think we decided this without you, Hermione, but Lupin should be your choice. He can afford you protection, and he would be a good friend to you. The law may not be a requirement later on, and annulments of the marriages may come about. So do not think this is the end of the road."

Hermione still was speechless. "I can't marry Re-Prof-Remus."

"You can, Hermione," said McGonagall. "And I think you will. It is what is best for you."

Hermione didn't answer, and McGonagall tactfully let her think over it. She turned to Kingsley, and said, "Did you ask him?"

"No, I wanted to wait for her acceptance before telling him."

McGonagall looked over at Hermione, and Hermione gave her a beseeching look. McGonagll sighed. "I have already explained the circumstances to you, Hermione. We are trying our best, and putting aside your expectations for now atleast, you will have to compromise. Do understand, dear. Can you imagine if you were forced to marry an ex-Death Eater?"

Herrmione fell silent. Now she was starting to get worried. It seemed like Minerva was serious that she marry Lupin. There was no way, ofcourse, that she knew about them. She wondered if she would still make them marry if she knew. Moving on, Lupin was obviously in love with Tonks. As much as she liked Remus, she didn't want to marry him if he really loved his ex-wife. And if he didn't love her after all, she still couldn't marry him, because they'd just broken up.

Hermione sighed.

In a flash, Minerva nodded to Kingsley, and Kingsley exited the room before Hermione could blink. There was a silence as they waited for him to return. Suddenly, they heard footsteps on the stairs. Remus' voice sounded angry. Furious, really. "What the hell is she thinking? I can't marry Hermione Granger."

Kingsley's footsteps climbed up the staircase, and he said softly, "She needs your help, Remus. The poor girl must get married, and you're the only one who can do it." Kingsley seemed to remember that Hermione was inside, and was choosing his words carefully. For Remus' reply, it was obvious that he didn't know she was there. He followed Kingsley, and he said, " Why can't you do it, Kingsley?"

Kingsley said queitly, "You know perfectly why, Remus."

Remus gave a cruel laugh. "Because she's a silly young girl, is that right? I'm the guy whose wife left him, he's going to end up alone anyway, why not me, huh?"

Tears filled Hermione's eyes. This wasn't the Remus she knew. Why was he talking like this? How could he sound so hard and cruel, especially when speaking of her?

Minerva looked saddened at hearing all this, and looked liked she wished neither of them had to do this. Hermione suddenly stood up, her eyes brimming with tears. She wasn't even able to see McGonagall dismiss her kindly with a nod. She pushed open the door and brushed past a pitying Kingsley and a stunned Remus.

The next day, Remus Lupin didn't turn up to class. The boys wondered what was wrong, why Remus was missing so many classes this year, but Hermione didn't care. She didn't want to see him. She's stayed up all night reseraching the Marriage Law, and the circumstances under which it had been initiated about a hundred years ago. That had been done in a small district, and there wasn't enough information for her to sniff out a loophole.

Now, every boy she came across in the corridors, she couldn't help but think if he wouldn't be willing to marry her, atleast temporarily, to save her life. Add on top of that of how the relationship with Lupin had gone down the drain and how he still liked Tonks, it was all she could do to drag herself through the day.

As the class packed up after Charms, Flitwick came up to her and told her that McGonagall wanted to meet Hermione. And so, Hermione headed to the Headmistress' office, and knocked.

"Enter."

She stepped in, and immediately stiffened. Remus was sitting opposite McGonagall, and he was staring out the window. She walked up to the table and stood behind the empty chair. Minerva beckoned her to sit, and she did, awkwardly not looking at Remus.

McGonagall looked from Hermione to Remus. Then she said softly, yet firmly, "Remus."

Remus said stiffly, "I'll marry you."

Hermione opened her mouth to protest hotly, and reject his offer, when McGonagall shot Hermione a red-hot glare that clearly screamed, 'Shut Up!'

So, she said nothing. McGonagall said, "Thank you, Remus. Now, the Ministry will be sending you a letter. If all goes well, one of your choices will be Remus Lupin. You will need to reply to the Ministry, and then they will set the date and the venue of the...ahem, wedding. Since the marriage might be questioned by other students and parents, let us keep this arrangement under wraps. According to them, the Ministry picked him for you to marry. Is that clear?"

Feeling light-headed, Hermione managed to mumble a "Yes, Professor."

Minerva stood. "I have some work to see to. Notify me when you get your letter, Hermione. You can expect it soon."

Remus and Hermione left the room, and there was a silence as they descended the staircase. As soon as the gargoyles let them out on the corridor, Hermione began blindly walking away. She didn't hear Remus shuffle his feet awkwardly.

"Hermione," he called, so softly she almost didn't hear. But she did. Her heart skipped a beat, in anger or something else she didn't know. She froze in her steps, but didn't turn around.

She heard his footsteps come up behind her, and his voice whispered, "I'm sorry." He sounded almost as pained as she had seen him at the garden wall. Remembering that scence, her heart tightened, and she spat, "I'm sorry too. I'm sorry I have to marry you because you'd rather be lonely all your life than marry a silly girl like me."

She didn't see his hand freeze when he heard her words. He had been about to touch her hair, but when she spoke, his face filled with pain, and his hand dropped.

"I didn't mean that," he said in a tortured tone.

She rounded on him, thrusting her face forward and glaring at him. "What did you mean then? Did you mean it when you said you liked me and wanted to try? Did you mean it when you said you broke up with me only because Harry wouldn't approve? Do you mean it when you say you'll marry me to save me from some nameless person?"

He said, "Please, Hermione, why are you saying this? I...something else was on my mind that other day. If I had known you were listening..". He stopped, when her glare intensified.

"If you consider it an incovenience, maybe I should ask Ron if he'll marry me after all."

Something passed over Remus' face, and he immediately straightened his expression. She didn't quite understand, but she thought he'd looked surprised. Not angry-surprised, or hurt-surprised. Just surprised.

He however, didn't reply, and said, "We can never be together, Hermione. This marriage is a chance and mock one, and it will be nullified once it's been proved pointless. Until then, let us keep it as a business agreement."

Hermione glared at him, saying, "Really? How much is Minerva paying you to marry me?"

Before he could open his mouth to reply, she was gone.

Dear Miss Granger,

This is the official order of the Ministry Of Magic's Magical Law Enforcement Department, ensuring the implementation of the Marriage Law(20-), Clause 4 for orphaned young adults. You are required to pick one of the following and owl your choice along with this original letter to the Ministry before the end of the week.

Choices:

Robert Peter Jacklord

Remus John Lupin

Steven Mark Brown

-Janet Breakthrough,

Head of Magical Law Enforcement.

"WHAT?", yelled Harry, when Hermione told him about the letter. Ron looked nervous, like he was trying to hide something. Hermione looked like she was about to cry, and she curled up on the chair, trying to console herself.

Ron asked tentatively, "So, who're you going to pick?"

Harry and Hermione turned to look at him as one, amazed.

Harry said, "Remus, ofcourse."

Hermione's mouth fell open and she turned to look at Harry now. Ron looked stunned.

"W-what?"

"It's not like you have a choice, right? I mean, I wish it had been somebody you were dating, but since you're single, and since McGonagall says the marriages will be annulled later, think of it as something temporary. Better Lupin than some guy who could try to take advantage of you, right?"

Ron went red in the face and spluttered when Harry mentioned Hermione being single, but Harry just ignored him. Hermione burst into tears. Harry looked like he didn't know why, but when Hermione wailed, "You really think so? Thank you!", he lightened up and hugged her, consoling her.

She sniffed, and settled back. She winked at Harry and said, "Do you think Ginny would be the maid of honour?"

Harry burst out laughing. "She'd be thrilled."

Ron said, "Aren't you counting your chickens before they hatch?"

Harry looked at him. "What's with you today, Ron?"

"I have some news too."

Hermione and Harry looked surprised. "What is it?", she said.

"I'm getting married.", said Ron.

There was a stupendous silence in the room.

"To Padma Patil."

The next week went by in a flurry. Hermione sent a reply to the Ministry, and soon an owl swooped down on Lupin the next morning. The school was having breakfast noisily, but when Lupin read the letter, he looked up and his gaze latched on to Hermione's. Then he started, and looked back at his breakfast. Soon, another owl arrived, giving details of the venue and the date of the wedding. There was one other boy getting married. He was a seventh-year, and he was marrying his girlfriend. Both the marriages would be taking place at a church in London the last weekend of the month.

Hermione was losing sleep every night thinking about marrying Lupin. She missed her parents so much, and she wished they were there to support her, and give her away at the altar, even if the marriage wasn't really going to last long.

She ended up often at the window-sill where she'd cried the first day back to Hogwarts. She cried and cried, sometimes just staring out the window at the scenery. One night, she was walking back to her common room, when she heard a bang somewhere up ahead. She stole up to the corner, and peered around it. To her shock, she found Remus leaning on a wall, trying to hold himself up.

Racking her brain what day of the month it was, she ran up to him, and caught him just as he fell over. She could barely hold him up, and she fell against the wall, with Remus pinning her on the other side. She gasped when she looked at his face. It was twisted, and he was crying, and gasping. She led him across the corridor, to another hallway where his room was, and she held him tightly around the shoulders, saying, "Remus, are you okay? Are you in pain? Just one moment, hold on, now."

She got the door open, and he wobbled over to the chair and fell into it. She came up to him, putting her hands on his face to see if he was feverish. He looked up at her with a pleading look in his eyes, which were slightly unfocussed.

"What's wrong? Speak to me," she said. He opened his mouth, and the stench of Firewhisky washed over her. Her eyes widened, and she said, "Are you drunk, Remus?"

He looked at her again pleadingly. He said, "Hermione...leave me..alone."

She straightened up, and took a long look at him. She turned around and left.

She didn't sleep a wink that night. The next day, she wouldn't look at Remus in class. She kept her eyes on a vague point on his shoulder. After class finished, he called in a shaky voice that only she seemed to notice, "Miss Granger, please stay back after class."

She stepped up to his desk, and she still wouldn't look at him. "Hermione," he said. "It wasn't what you think."

She gave him a bitter smile. "When is anything ever what I think?"

He winced. "Look, I had a small glass. And then one more, and another. It was a one-time thing."

She met his gaze squarely. "You were drunk. Wasted. I didn't know you even drank except at dinner."

"I don't!. It's just..."

She said softly, "...things have been so hard lately?"

He looked at her quickly, as if agreeing might offend her.

There was a silence. He cleared his throat, and said, "Anyway, I wanted to talk to you to discuss something."

She looked questioning.

He gave an amused smile. "Harry is much in demand, I take it. I want him to be my best man, but I'm sure you'll want him to give you away. So I thought we could discuss it."

Her face looked surprised. Whatever she had been expecting, she hadn't expected this.

"Oh," she said. "I've asked Ginny to be my maid-of-honour. Remus said, "She's thrilled, I'm sure."

"Yes, well, she knows its not permanent."

Remus looked carefully emotionless, and he said softly, "Hermione, you get married for the first time only once. So I suggest you enjoy this, fake or not. As long as it's going to happen, at least be happy."

She blurted out, "How can I be, when you really want Tonks? Me and Law are standing between you now."

Remus looked shocked, and said, "What?"

Hermione mentally kicked herself. Now she would have to explain that she had overheard them the other night.

"Why do you think that?" he prodded.

She fumbled for an appropriate answer, and said, "You like her. I know. I'm not blind."

She internally sighed in relief. She'd managed to lie and yet not.

Remus looked at her, and sighed. "She wants me back."

Hermione had to refrain from rolling her eyes.

He continued, "She wants me to be there for Teddy. Apparently her boyfriend threw her out, and she suddenly claims to love me just the way she claimed to, before we married. Conveniently, ofcourse, the divorce nullified the effect of the curse."

Hermione couldn't help but look disgusted.

"'Don't judge her, Hermione," he said softly, and Hermione looked taken aback. This was the first time since they had ever spoken of Tonks in the library that one night, that Remus had ever defended Tonks.

"You don't know what she went through. What we went through."

Hermione tried to hide the hurt at what he said, and replied, "I'm not saying I do. But you don't deserve to be cheated on."

"No, I don't. Just like how you don't deserve to be cheated out of a husband. I shouldn't be marrying you."

Hermione looked surprised at the change of topic. She was starting to feel comforted at the thought that they were able to carry a conversation like old times, even though neither of them had mentioned the break-up yet. Eager not to trigger a fight, she said, "You're not cheating me out of one. It's...temporary."

Remus said, "Some things are permanent, Hermione. I feel like I'm taking advantage of you."

"Don't be silly. I know what I'm getting into."

"I'm sorry."

Twenty minutes later, Hermione was walking away from the classroom, wondering how the conversation had gone from Remus getting drunk to what it would be like to be married. She pulled aside a tapestry to take a shortcut to the next class, and stopped short. Ron Weasley and Padma Patil were embracing tightly, and he was kissing her neck, murmuring something softly.

She turned on her foot, and left. Neither of them saw her.

If you're feeling sorry for her, don't. This too, shall pass. grins

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