Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the associated characters or worlds. Which is unfortunate for me but definitely fortunate for the rest of the world..

Warnings: Strong language and smut in future chapters. If you don't like mature content do not read and instead perhaps check out the other half of IronGirls Ruby and her story A Wizard's Soulmate. However if you do like mature content and fancy something much darker then check out my other story Never Forgotten, Never Forgiven.


Not Another Marriage Law Fic..

Chapter 1: Dean

The kitchen door to the Burrow almost came off its hinges as it was forced open by a very angry witch. Hermione Granger, the most gifted witch of her time, was being forced to do something against her will and with disastrous results. She had not fought against Lord Voldemort, been tortured and almost died multiple times to save the world only to have the new world so royally fuck her over.

Hermione stormed through the Burrow, not caring if she disturbed anyone. No one would be asleep. It was only half eight at night. Half eight at night! Normally the time of night would not irritate Hermione so much however currently everything angered her, including time.

Hermione huffed into the living room and threw herself into the armchair by the fire. She crossed her legs and her arms and stared at the flames, trying to control her emotions. Infront of the fireplace on the small wooden coffee table there lay a piece of parchment that had shaken Hermione's neatly structured life and turned it into a huge mess. The letter had arrived a week before and read;

Dear Miss Granger,

We, the Ministry of Magic are writing to inform you of a change to our laws. Due to high casualties during the war there has been a worryingly large decline in the population of the Wizarding community. To prevent possible extinction the Ministry of Magic has decided to enact a Marriage Law to protect the Wizarding race and secure its future.

All unwed Witches and Wizards over the age of 21 are to be married within the next 5 months and to have started reproducing offspring within the first year of marriage. To strengthen the magic in offspring the Ministry strongly recommends that Muggleborns and Purebloods marry each other.

This law is not to be contested. However if a Witch or Wizard refuses to obey the law they will be stripped of their magic and sentenced to live a muggle life. If you have any concerns regarding this law or in how to find a partner you can contact the newly created department of Magical Preservation and Family Services or perhaps look in the leaflet provided and see if your questions can be answered there.

We look forward to hearing of your engagement and wish you and your future partner all the best.

Yours sincerely,

The Department of Magical Preservation and Family Services.

"So I take it the date didn't go well?" An amused voice asked from the couch to the right of her. Ginny Potter (formerly Weasley) was sat there with her husband Harry Potter and they were watching their brunette friend as she continued to glower at the fireplace. Neither of them had been that surprised that Hermione was home so early. She had been behaving rather oddly since they had received the ridiculous news the other week.

Hermione snorted in response and uncrossing her legs she started to remove her shoes. "That is probably the understatement of the century Ginny." Hermione grumbled as she struggled with the buckle on her heels. Her shoes were new, made of red dragon scale, they looked amazing with her skin tight strapless red dress that hugged every one of her curves and lifted her breasts slightly so that they looked as though they could spill out of the top at any time. Hermione had gone all out for her date tonight. She had been so determined to make this work and now she found herself back at square one.

"Hermione what happened, I thought tonight was the night? You were so sure he would ask you." Harry said regarding his friend sadly. He knew she had her hopes up for tonight, he also knew that she would probably be disappointed.

"Oh he did ask me a question. Just not the one I had expected." Hermione replied bitterly as she got her shoes off of her. She summoned her slippers to her and placing her feet in them, she curled into the armchair.

Molly Weasley appeared suddenly, wrapped in a large fluffy mint green dressing gown, she had a tray containing steaming hot chocolates in her hand and a plate of freshly baked cookies floated in behind her. The smell was intoxicating and Hermione felt herself relax slightly.

"Hello Hermione dear, I thought I heard you come in." Molly gave Hermione a wry smile and Hermione had the decency to look slightly bashful as she recalled the noise she had made.

"I'm sorry Molly, I hope I didn't disturb you. I'm just so frustrated." Hermione sighed as she said the last bit and flopped her head back onto the chair and looked at the ceiling.

Molly took a seat, she passed out the hot chocolates and the cookies and Hermione gladly took them. She needed comfort and knowing her best friends and the woman who was a second mother to her were there to support her had a soothing effect.

"So dear, what happened?" Molly asked. Harry and Ginny stopped there bickering over a cookie and looked at Hermione curiously. "Well, as you know we had reservations at that new place Giovanni's-"

One hour earlier...

Normally if a man took her to a place like this she would be concerned he was about to tell her he loved her. However she knew that was not the case tonight. Although if he did tell her he loved her she knew how to handle that. It would not be the first time a man had proclaimed his love for Hermione and she had not returned it.

Hermione stood at the bar in Giovanni's restaurant. The place was beautiful. It was a new Italian restaurant in Hogsmeade that was the first magic friendly outdoor restaurant in Britain. Hermione was currently stood under a canopy made of soft silk sheets that glistened with lights of a thousand fairies. A quartet of wood nymphs played music softly in a gazebo at the centre of the restaurant where couples danced closely to one another. There were small tables dotted all around, designed for two people and no more.

The atmosphere was beautiful and the soft twinkling lighting of the fairies gave all the patrons at the establishment a beautiful glow. Hermione had never been anywhere with this much romance in the air. And she meant that, there were actual cupids flying around the tables, shooting their arrows at the fairies and sprinkling everyone with little pieces of heart shaped confetti.

Hermione sighed with contentment and turned to look at her date. Dean Thomas glanced away from watching the bar man who was making their drinks to give her a nervous smile. Apart from his furrowed brows and the slight sweat along the top of his forehead and upper lip he was incredibly handsome. He stood at just short of 6 foot which was fine with Hermione as she was barely 5 foot 3. He had broad shoulders and a nicely muscular body which Hermione could attest to as she had seen it plenty of times over the last month.

Hermione had been dating Dean for over a month and whilst she thought a month was a bit too soon to be getting engaged she knew that under their current circumstances it made sense. They were both muggle borns and because they were already dating before the law came in they would be allowed to marry each other rather than have to marry a pureblood or a half blood. Hermione knew it would not be simple as there would be some backlash, this was not what the law was supposed to be about. However this was Hermione's one shot at marrying for love under this new law. Sure she didn't actually love Dean but she was deeply attracted to him and he made her laugh. They always had a good time together, including in the bedroom. She was sure that one day she might grow to love him.

Hermione focused back on Dean and saw he was holding their drinks. He motioned towards the waitress that had suddenly appeared and they both followed her to their table. They were sat in the centre of the restaurant, in front of the gazebo. Hermione admired the couples dancing, they all looked so happy and in love. Hermione was glad that this marriage law hadn't affected everybody as badly as it had her. She knew there were a lot of witches and wizards who were thrilled to have an excuse to get married early and have babies.

That was the one part of law that really bothered Hermione. She had never really known if she wanted children. And now she was being told she had to have them her confusion had grown even more. Hermione tried to focus on what Dean was saying but her thoughts wouldn't stop. She gave Dean a once over, she supposed having Dean's children wouldn't be so bad. They would definitely be beautiful and Dean was an incredibly kind man, she knew he would make a great father. Hermione hoped she would be a good mother but she really thought she would have more time to figure that out, not a year like the law required.

Hermione jumped slightly as Dean gently touched her hand. "Hermione, are you alright? You seem kind of out of it." The frown on Dean's face had deepened even more. Hermione didn't understand why he was so nervous. He was normally so carefree. Unless he was planning on asking her something big. As in the big question big. Hermione started to feel nervous herself.

"I'm fine, thank you for asking. I was just admiring this place. It's so romantic. I've never been here before." She smiled slightly. Dean did not relax. If it were possible he seemed to get even more tense when she said the word romantic.

"Ah, yeah it certainly is that. Seamus didn't tell me that, he just said it had a calming effect. I might have to have a word with him about that." Dean mumbled the sentence so it was hard to hear. Hermione started to feel even more nervous. Something didn't feel right.

"Look Hermione, I'm just gonna come out and ask you. I know we haven't been seeing each other long and I know this marriage law has been sprung on us all of a sudden. And time is running out-"

Hermione cut him off. He was really starting to sweat now and seemed to be shaking slightly. Hermione clasped his hand in hers. "Dean, I know. I feel the same. This is so sudden and it's so much to ask of us," Dean visibly relaxed at her words and Hermione gave him a gentle smile. "Oh thank god you understand. I was so nervous that you wouldn't feel the same. And I've been so scared about asking you and-"

Hermione laughed. "You've been scared. What happened to your Gryffindor bravery? It's just one question Dean. Just ask me."

Hermione hated to admit it but she too was a little scared. Once Dean asked her to marry him it would change both of their lives. They would be tied to each other for eternity. She knew in her heart that she wasn't ready for this but she also knew she couldn't lose her magic and her freedom. Hermione straightened slightly and taking a quick swig from her wine glass she gave Dean an encouraging smile.

"Hermione," Dean started, "Would you mind if I started seeing other people?"

There was a pregnant pause and then a gasp from above them. Hermione looked up and saw an appalled looking cupid shaking its head at Dean. It threw confetti at Deans face so violently that another cupid had to come along and forcibly remove the aggrieved cupid from their table.

Hermione stared after the fat little cherubs with a stunned expression. She glanced back at Dean and saw he was mopping the sweat off his face with his napkin and loosening his tie. He seemed to be relaxing and suddenly Hermione was seeing red.

"Do you mean to tell me, that you invited me to quite possibly the most romantic restaurant on the planet. To a restaurant where literally everyone is getting engaged. Where there is even a fucking deal to get discounted catering for your wedding if you get engaged here. Where there are actual cupids floating around. You brought me here to ask me if you can have sex with other people?" Her voice ended in a shout.

Dean lent back in his chair and looked slightly appalled. "Hermione you can't have expected me to propose, we've only known each other a month."

Hermione grabbed her wine glass and chugged the rest of her wine. "Of course I expected you too!" She shook her glass at him in exasperation and accidentally snapped the stem in half.

Dean looked scared. "Hermione just calm down. Look I'm sorry you got the wrong idea. It's just I'm not ready to commit myself like that. I need to see what else is out there."

Hermione scoffed at this, "You need to see what else is out there? You? What about me? Do you not think I feel the same? That I don't want to be able to date? To try and find the right person?" Hermione didn't know how it had happened but she was suddenly stood up.

Dean just nodded his head. "Yeah I did think that. I thought you were on the same page. Hermione we haven't even said we love each other," Dean paused clearly thinking about what he was about to say. "Just to be clear I'm not in love with you."

Hermione looked around the restaurant in disbelief. Everyone was staring at them. "Funnily enough I could tell," she started to leave, "oh and just for clarity's sake, I'm not in love with you either!" and with that she turned and left the restaurant.

Present time..

"Oh Hermione, that's terrible!" Molly exclaimed whilst passing Hermione a second cookie. Hermione took the sweet treat eagerly and nodded her head. Ginny and Harry however were not so sympathetic. The two had been giggling throughout her whole story and were now openly laughing at her. Hermione scowled at them both and took a quite violent bite from her cookie. This only preceded to make them laugh more.

"Can you two please control yourselves? Can't you see that Hermione is upset?" Molly scolded them.

They both tried to straighten their faces but their attempts failed and they just sat there with grins. Ginny then rolled her eyes and leant forward. "Look Hermione, I know you're embarrassed but I don't think you're hurt. You don't love Dean and I don't think you ever would. He was a good lay and a bit of fun and that's what you needed at the time." Hermione nodded her head at that, an alarming sense of dread started to take over her. Without Dean she wasn't sure what to do. Who was she going to marry?

"From the look on your face I can already tell that you're worried about not finding anyone. Well I have a newsflash for you." Ginny got off from the couch and came towards Hermione. She knelt in front of her and placed her hands on Hermione's knees. "Hermione Granger, you are a catch." Ginny enunciated each word clearly.

Hermione wasn't so sure, "I am?" She really didn't think that. If that was true why did she struggle to keep a boyfriend?

Hermione voiced this worry and to her surprise Harry responded, "It's not you being unable to keep them, they can't keep you. They don't keep you interested. You deserve so much better." Harry said this in such a matter of fact manner that Hermione couldn't find a way to argue with him.

"Harry's right," Ginny stood back up and started to pace in front of the fireplace. "So what we need is to find you some suitors and send you on some dates," Ginny paused. "How long do you have until you have to get married?"

Hermione's frown reappeared at the mention of the bastard marriage law, "three months to pick a fiance and then 2 months to get married."

Ginny nodded, "Okay three months is our time limit to find you someone. So we could send you on 3 dates a week. That way you could date about 36 different men. Surely there would be at least one that you connect with out of that many."

Hermione blanched at the thought of dating that many men. "Ginny I can't go on that many dates. I have a job and a life and I don't want to give that up. Plus 36 is too many for me." Hermione really wasn't keen on the thought of dating again. Especially after her disastrous one today.

"Who would I even date anyway?" She asked.

"Thats easy. Harry, mum and I will pick your dates. We'll just give you a location and time to show up and we'll sort out the rest with your prospective lover." Ginny nudged Hermione and winked at her on the word lover. Hermione fought the urge to hit her. Harry made a gagging sound.

"You really don't have to do this." Hermione lightly protested. In truth the thought of their help was more reassuring than she would ever let on.

"Of course we do dear." Molly began, "You need help. Together we should all be able to figure it out. I can help make sure the men are gentlemen and know how to treat a young lady. Harry can do background checks and ginny can-"

"Ginny can check that they know how to really treat a lady." Ginny wiggled her eyebrows as she said this.

"Uh, I hope you're not planning on getting first hand research for this?" Harry said worriedly.

Ginny just laughed mischievously and sat on Harry's lap. "Of course not darling but I can ask around and find out what the word around town about these guys is."

All three of them laughed and looked at Hermione. She glanced at the coffee table and her eyes fell on the piece of parchment that was trying its best to ruin her life. She would not allow it that. "OK," she said looking at her family, "Let's find me a husband."


Author's note: Why Hello there! My name is Emerald and I am one half of the fabulous IronGirls. I've had this fic in mind for a while and this chapter has been sat waiting to be uploaded for so long. I'm already working on chapter 2. If anyone reading this follows my other story Never Forgotten, Never Forgiven don't worry I have not abandoned it, a new chapter will be uploaded later this week.

If you enjoyed this chapter then please, favourite, follow and review. Constructive criticism is fine, flames are not.

Thank you for taking the time to read this,

Emerald