Author's Notes: This is a refined chapter!
Hi, I am Delilah Wise and welcome to The Marriage Decree.
I began writing The Marriage Decree in 2014, and first published it in 2016.
I am currently, in 2021, in the process of refining and editing the earlier chapters, that have not been looked at since 2016. As you can imagine, many of the earlier chapters aren't well written. They are cliched, troupe, and have bad grammar and spelling. I am hoping to rectify this with my refining and editing.
I will write 'This is a refined chapter!' in the author's notes of all chapters that have been updated. Therefore, you can decide whether to just read the refined chapters, or read further. Please be kind if you chose to read on. Constructive comments are welcome.
You can find me on Instagram where I post about chapter uploads, chapter refines, and ask for my readers' advice on plot and character arcs.
Enjoy x
During Hermione's first few months at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, she dreamt of home. She missed weekend walks in the country with her parents, watching VHS's of Disney films every Friday night, and sleepovers at her grandparents or uncle's house. Thinking of her family helped her get through the loneliness she felt wandering the corridors of her magical school alone before she became friends with Harry and Ron. She had hoped things would be different from her time at primary school, where she had been bullied and excluded for simply being herself, but it wasn't until the end of her first year when she finally began to feel as though she fitted in with the wizarding world that the dreams stopped.
Instead, whenever she was home for the holidays, her dreams would take her back to Hogwarts. She longed to be sitting in Hagrid's shack with Harry and Ron, reading books in the library and eating dinner in the Great Hall with all her friends. Now her dreams helped her through the blandness of the muggle world.
The summer after the war, sleep didn't come easy. It was a mixture of habit, from having 'constant vigilance' drilled into her from Moody and the many nightmares that plagued her dreams. Hermione spent May grieving numerous of her dead friends at their funerals. She then spent June travelling around Australia, searching for her parents so she could return their memories of their daughter. Once back in Britain, Hermione helped rebuild Hogwarts to its former glory, ready for her eighth year.
Being back at Hogwarts did help lessen the number of nightmares she had, as she got back into a routine, but it is much harder to break the habit of light sleeping. Therefore, when she hears the sound of tapping on a window within her dream, her eyes snap open, scanning her childhood bedroom back in her parents' house. She takes a second to remind herself she's home for the Christmas holidays since, in her dream, she had been sat by one of the Hogwarts library fireplaces reading a book on advanced transfiguration.
Stood outside on her window ledge is a large barn owl, most definitely one of the Ministry Owls. In a quick manoeuvre, Hermione slides out of bed, wrapping herself in her dressing gown so as not to feel the cold. She opens her bedroom window, letting in the owl, along with a large gust of icy winter wind. The owl lifts its leg for Hermione to untie her letter then flies straight back out the window without waiting for a treat. She slams her window closed before diving back under her warm, cosy covers to read the Ministry's letter.
Hermione's been receiving letters from the Minister for Magic at least once a fortnight, and she's tired of them. The letters keep asking her to give speeches and interviews on the war events and her bravery. As far as she was concerned, she hadn't been that brave. She did what she had always done, helped Harry Potter to defeat Lord Voldemort and she had been terrified the entire time.
Kingsley Shacklebolt
Minister of Magic
London
England
Saturday 1st January 1999
Dear Mr/Miss,
Tomorrow marks eight months since the end of the most disastrous war Wizarding Britain has ever experienced. At the hands of Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters, we lost many of our family and friends. We may never know the actual number of lives taken during the four years of war, but those deaths of which we are aware, the number is devastating.
Unfortunately, this devastation in such a short period has drastically decreased our population. It is the belief of the Ministry of Magic's statisticians that this effect could lead to the eventual extinction of the wizarding community in Britain within a century.
The Minister of Magic, Kingsley Shacklebolt, hereby decrees, as of Saturday 1st January 1999, that a Marriage Decree is enforced to increase the population and the morale of our community.
The Marriage Decree
1. All persons to graduate from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry on Friday 26th June 1999 to persons aged 24 on and before Thursday 1st July 1999 will be required to marry in The Marriage Ceremony.
2. All persons the above applies to will be required to complete the attached questionnaire to ensure they are effectively married to the person with whom they are most compatible.
3. Once married, all couples will be required to reside for two years, or until the birth of their first child, in our new Ministry Starter House Estate.
The Law
1. All marriages within the age range above are hereby illegal until The Marriage Ceremony on Thursday 1st July 1999.
2. Any persons who do not return their questionnaire will be fined one hundred galleons.
3. Any persons who refuse to marry their chosen partner in The Marriage Ceremony will be sentenced to a minimum of two months' imprisonment in Azkaban.
4. Any persons found guilty of using any infertility potions will be sentenced to a minimum of five months' imprisonment in Azkaban.
5. If at two years you and your partner have not conceived a child, you will be required to undergo fertility testing. If found to be infertile, a divorce will be granted and any fertile persons will be required to remarry within one year.
Approved and signed,
Kingsley Shacklebolt
Minister of Magic
Hermione sits up in bed, the covers falling to her lap. She rereads the letter multiple times as the words slowly sinking in, and even then, she can't believe she has read the letter correctly. Why would Kingsley force them to marry some random stranger, or perhaps worse, a close friend? Furthermore, why would Kingsley force them to reproduce within two years? There was a school full of the next generation of adults, ready to live their life to the fullest without the fear of death and war. The population of the British wizarding community was bound to increase naturally over the next decade or so.
She realises she hadn't even thought about Ron. What would happen to those people already in a relationship? Although, she's not entirely sure they are in a relationship. After their first kiss in the Chamber of Secrets, they had only kissed a few more times, and they'd never been on a date. They would hold hands while walking around Hogwarts between classes, and they always sat together in the library or the Great Hall. She wished they could be more intimate, but Hermione worries they had been stuck in a friendship for too long, that transitioning into a relationship was too much for them. She had seen Harry and Ginny's relationship only blossom since getting back together after the war. However, Harry and Ginny had always had that underlining crush going on beneath their initial friendship.
She checks her bedside clock. Eight o'clock. She climbs out of bed, quickly dresses and runs downstairs. Unfortunately, despite it being New Year's Day, 'Granger's Dental Practice' was open until midday every Saturday, and so her parents were at work.
Instead, Hermione leaves through the backdoor and apparates to The Burrow from the alleyway behind her parents' house. Perhaps Arthur Weasley will have some insider knowledge on the thought process behind this Marriage Decree.
The skies are grey over The Burrow, foreshadowing the emotions that are to come once the Weasleys read their Ministry letters. Hermione expects the older Weasley children to be up. Her thoughts are confirmed when she sees Percy through the kitchen window, staring down at their kitchen counter.
Hermione keeps her eyes on the older Weasley as she walks down their garden path to their kitchen door. Still, his attention remains focused on whatever he is doing. When she enters The Burrow's kitchen, Percy glances over, and Hermione notices a pile of parchments on the countertop.
"The Marriage Decree?" Hermione asks, walking over. "What do you think about it?" She asks.
Percy had spent the summer reflecting on himself as he helped rebuilt Hogwarts. He had written each family member an apology letter that he had read allowed to them privately. It had taken time, but gradually, he had been forgiven by the Weasley family and life at The Burrow almost felt like how it did before the war. Now, Percy's opinion was one she sought out and appreciated.
However, Percy shrugs, "This is just another way for the Ministry to control the way we act and think. I'm surprised by just how surprised I am by the announcement." He admits. The new Percy Weasley, while being self-aware, also now had an intense hatred for the Ministry. "Minister Shacklebolt shall expect a strongly worded howler from me," he adds sternly. There's the old Percy still shining through.
"What's happening down here?" George yawns, rubbing his dark circled eyes as he descends the stairs in a multi-coloured dressing gown. "Oh, hi, Hermione," he makes himself a cup of coffee.
Hermione tries to ignore the flask George slyly pulls from his dressing gown pocket and pours into his coffee. She's worried about George, but she can't imagine the pain he is currently in, still grieving the death of his twin brother.
Percy uses his wand to send George's letter flying over towards his brother. George catches the envelope with a strained smile. Hermione and Percy watch as George's eyes scan the parchment, then flips over onto the questionnaire that Hermione had yet to read.
George nods his head then sighs deeply as he refolds the parchment, placing it back inside the envelope. His free hand pats his chest three times before he picks up his coffee, taking a sip.
"So, what do you think about it?" Hermione asks him.
George shrugs, "We haven't really got a choice, so what's the point of having thoughts about it. It's going to happen whether we like it or not." He heads back upstairs, sipping at his alcohol-laced coffee.
Hermione's not sure if George has been fully sober since the end of the war. She talked to Ron about getting his brother help, but Ron insisted George was fine and rarely drank. However, Ron is rather unobservant, so she isn't surprised since George has been secretive with his drinking.
"Mum's been throwing out the firewhiskey, but he's been buying his own and hiding it in his room." Percy says with a sigh as he sits on the edge of the kitchen table. "He hides it under Fred's bed because he knows Mum won't touch his things."
"He's not going to accept help until he can accept himself that he has a problem," she tells him.
Percy nods, letting his head fall into his hands. His newly long hair falls in front of his face. He hadn't gotten it cut since the end of the war, a personal act of defiance against the Ministry, who asked their employees to keep their hair short. Without really thinking, Hermione brings his head down on her shoulder to comfort him, and he embraces her back tightly.
"I wish it had been me, Hermione," he admits so softly that she isn't sure she heard him correctly at first.
"Don't say things like that, Percy," she warns, hugging him tighter as she strokes the back of his hair. "It wasn't your fault, Percy. You didn't bring that wall down, okay. And you've made amends for being an idiot the last couple of years, so it's time you forgave yourself because everyone else already has." She tries to convince him.
"I don't know why you're so nice to me," he states.
Hermione shrugs, pulling out of their embrace. "Out of all of Ron's siblings, you were always one of my favourites. You were studious, you followed the rules, and I really looked up to you in my first year. In fact, I think I even had a little crush on you back then." She admits.
From upstairs, something akin to a herd of elephants come charging down the stairs. Hermione turns to Percy sternly, "I will deny it if you ever mention my crush to anyone." She says as Harry, Ron and Ginny burst into the kitchen.
"Hermione," Ron pauses, surprised by her being at his home. "What are you doing here?" He asks, walking straight past her to the fridge.
"We all got a letter from the Ministry," she says, getting straight to the point.
Ron groans, understandably so, as he pulls out the carton of milk from the fridge. Both Ron and Harry had been receiving the same letters as Hermione at least once a fortnight.
"It's different this time," she explains, sending his envelope levitating over to him.
Harry and Ginny are already sat beside each other at the kitchen table, reading their letters together. Ron hops onto the kitchen counter and rips the envelope open. She watches as his eyes slowly take in everything written on the piece of parchment. A frown forms on his brow as he turns the parchment over to read the questionnaire. To her surprise, though, he smiles, throwing the parchments down on the counter as he begins making a pot of tea and toast.
"Why are you smiling, Ron? That's your future being taken away from you." She states, angry at his reaction.
"Question nine on the questionnaire asks for our current relationships. Why else would they ask? They're obviously going to use the answers to pair us with our current partner? We've got nothing to worry about, Hermione." He explains.
Hermione scoffs, "This isn't just about who we are paired with, Ron. It's about the Ministry thinking they can control us. Did you really want to get married straight out of Hogwarts and have children so young?"
Ron shrugs, "Mum will be happy; she's always wanted grandkids." He starts buttering the toast.
"Do you not want something of your own for your life, Ron? Besides what your Mum wants, or what the Ministry is making you have?" She argues.
"Look, Hermione, it's really not that big of a deal. I've learnt to take what life throws at me and just make the most of it." Ron tells her.
Hermione is infuriated, but she knows she'll never win this argument. "Well, I wanted something different for my life." She sighs.
Unlike Ron, she has hopes and dreams for her future. She wants to travel, visiting wizarding communities in other countries. She wanted to continue her research into house-elf rights. She hoped to one day become the transfiguration professor at Hogwarts, and teach the future generations of witches and wizards. She hadn't thought too much about getting married and having children. Her parents were in their thirties when they'd had her. She knew she had plenty of time before deciding if or when she was going to settle down.
"What do the two of you think about this?" Hermione turns to Harry and Ginny, both of whom look up from their hushed whispers.
"I'm going to speak to Kingsley," Harry claims. "If I can understand what his plan is, perhaps I can convince him otherwise. Or at least give us options on our partners, rather than showing up to this Partner Ceremony on the first of July and hoping for the best." He explains.
From upstairs, they all hear Molly wandering around, knocking on doors before opening and closing them. "Where are you all?" Her voice calls throughout the house, magically magnified.
"Downstairs, Mum," Percy calls back up.
Molly's footsteps come down the numerous flights of stairs before joining them in the kitchen, "Oh, morning, Hermione. I didn't expect to see you this morning." She smiles, giving her a quick hug before filling the kettle up with a spell and setting it to boil. "What's with all these gloomy faces?" She asks, scanning the kitchen.
Ginny hands her litter over to her mother, who frowns as she reads, absentmindedly getting mugs out of the cupboard. "I wonder if your father knows about this," Molly thinks aloud. "Surely this shouldn't apply to you kids. You were directly responsible for defeating – Voldemort – and his Death Eaters. You should be given special treatment." Molly hands the letter back.
"I don't want any special treatment, Molly," Harry states. "I've had enough of it since joining the magical world. Plus, it wouldn't be fair to all those who also helped us defeat Voldemort, who is going to be forced to marry a random person at this Partner Ceremony." He shakes his head. "But I can, and will, talk to Kingsley about all this, convince them there are better ways." He finishes.
"Well, all things considered, it's quite exciting, isn't it?" Molly mentions. "My babies are getting married. I just wish we could have a proper ceremony." She sighs, making cups of tea for everyone.
"We're not getting married by choice, Mum," Ginny complains, storming upstairs with Harry following not far behind.
"They're obviously going to get paired together. I've never seen a more perfect couple since Arthur and I started dating." Molly chuckles, handing Hermione a cup.
"There's no guarantee of that, Molly," Hermione points out. "Kingsley's not going to want to back down from this either, now he's announced the Marriage Decree. Not when he's only been officially in power since September first. It would suggest he's indecisive. He'll have to go ahead with the Ceremony." Hermione explains.
Molly shakes her head, "Those two will figure something out." She shrugs, busying herself in the kitchen by cleaning out all the cupboards and reorganising her crockery, cookware and utensils. That's how Hermione knows Molly has been shaken by the news; she's trying to keep her thoughts busy from overthinking.
At the kitchen table, Ron is already filling out his questionnaire, between eating his slices of toast and his cup of tea. He doesn't appear to be giving each question too much thought, just writing down the first answer that comes to mind. Before deciding if she wants to join him, he's finished and folding the parchment back up.
"Mum, I'm heading off to work," Percy announces, draining his cup of tea and placing the empty cup in the sink. He kisses his mother's cheek and heads to the door.
"I think I'll join you, Percy," Hermione spontaneously says, needing to get away so she can be alone with her thoughts. "I'll see you all tomorrow." She adds as she leaves with Percy.
"When are you going to fill out the questionnaire?" Percy asks as they walk down the garden path.
Hermione shrugs, "Probably in Diagon Alley, or I'll wait until I get home."
Percy nods, "I'm going to do mine at work. It's usually quiet until half-ten." He explains.
After helping the Rebuild Hogwarts cause, Percy had sought after employment outside the Ministry of Magic, which wasn't easy. The majority of jobs available in Britain consists of Ministry work, bank work, shop work or Hogwarts work. In the end, Percy had gained employment at Flourish and Blotts as the assistant manager. It was perfect for him, and he had already made many positive changes that had earned him a few bonuses and accreditation.
They both apparate into Diagon Alley, then bid goodbye as they go their separate way. Although, Hermione is bound to find herself in the bookshop at some point that morning.
She first stops at Gringotts, where she takes five galleons out of her account. She had spent most of the Christmas holiday with her extended family, so she had not had the opportunity to shop for school stationery supplies. Therefore, her next stop is Amanuensis Quills for all her stationery needs, including parchment, ink and quills. Next, she steps into the Slug & Jiggers Apothecary for the potion-making supplies she'll need to practice for her NEWT in potions. Professor Slughorn was setting rather harsh homework for the eighth-year students. Then, she pops into Madam Malkin's to pick up the robes she had owled in for adjusting. Hermione had been gifted a new pair of school shoes for Christmas that had a taller heel than her previous ones, meaning the hem of her robe needed to be lengthened slightly. Finally, after spending an hour wandering around shopping, she heads to Flourish and Blotts.
She had a galleon and a few sickles left, which she wanted to spend on a book. As she enters, Percy's head glances up from the till's counter, where he had been scribbling something down.
"Hello again," he smiles. "Are you shopping?" He asks.
Hermione nods, "I'm looking for a book Professor McGonagall suggested. I know where to look." She says, heading upstairs.
Percy rolls his eyes playfully; he wouldn't be surprised if Hermione knew the location of every book in Flourish and Blotts.
Upstairs, Percy had created a few reading nooks near the windows and a few tables with comfortable chairs for customers who wanted to read a couple of pages before deciding to buy. It had been one of his great ideas that had been positively received by the manager and the customers, Hermione in particular.
Hermione takes a few seconds to scan the transfiguration shelf before her eyes land on the book. 'The Lost Transfiguration Spells from Tenth-Century Europe' by Adelmo Weber. She wasn't sure how Mr Weber had found the lost spells. Still, Professor McGonagall had assured her the book was an essential read for anyone wanting to pursue a career in transfiguration.
It's an expensive read, but she doesn't mind purchasing, so Hermione takes the book down for Percy to ring up on the till. She hands over the galleon and three sickles as payment.
"I've just finished the questionnaire," he makes conversation as he hands the book back over. "It makes no sense," he chuckles, already done with the whole Marriage Decree. "You'll enjoy the part where you inadvertently write an incorrect answer; the whole room lights up red. I had a customer in who immediately left."
"Great, I'll look forward to it," she says sarcastically. "I think I'll just fill it out at home, then." She smiles, opening her new book to the contents page to scan as she leaves.
"Good luck," Percy calls after her as she opens the door.
Hermione laughs, turning back to wave goodbye, only to feel the wind knocked out of her chest as somebody tries to enter the shop and walks straight into her instead.
"Sorry," a recognisable voice speaks before they seem to recognise her, and their attitude changes, "Granger, watch where you're walking?"
Hermione glances up to find Draco Malfoy rubbing his chest where her head had bumped into him. "I apologise, Malfoy," she awkwardly smiles, stepping aside to let him pass. He hadn't spoken with a sneer or a smirk, and so she didn't mind returning the polite apology. She even threw in a smile for good measure.
Since they all returned to Hogwarts for their eighth year, Professor McGonagall, who was acting-Headmistress, made it very clear that any fighting or arguing between the different houses would be met with the strictest of punishments. Furthermore, to foster a more positive relationship within the four houses, all eighth-year students had been assigned their own common room and dormitories, separate from the younger years.
Hermione watches as Draco Malfoy walks upstairs, ignoring her and Percy, the only other people in Flourish and Blotts. She glances over at her friend, who is stood with a wide grin on his face. She shakes her head with an eye roll in amusement.
"I'll see you later, Percy," she bids him goodbye once again as she leaves.
Not ready to go home, or perhaps in an active attempt to prolong filling out the questionnaire, Hermione decides to head to Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour. After Mr Fortescue had been murdered by Death Eater's, his Parlour had been taken over by Penelope Clearwater, Percy's ex-girlfriend.
Hermione enters, purchasing a hot chocolate, instead of ice cream, since it is New Years Day and the weather was not just cold, but wet and windy. She stands talking to Penelope about The Marriage Decree as she sips at her drink. Hermione can't put her finger on it, but Penelope seems especially worried when Hermione first mentions the questionnaire. She assumes that Penelope has a boyfriend she doesn't want to lose to the Partner Ceremony. When the bell above the door rings, signalling another customer entering, Hermione says goodbye. She turns to leave, and for the second time today, walks straight into someone's chest, spilling her hot chocolate down their white shirt.
Instinctively, Hermione starts dabbing at the spill with the napkin that had come with the drink. "I'm so sorry," she continued to pat the stain, but she can see she's only making it worse.
She glances up to find Draco Malfoy, staring at her, this time, eyes wide and staring at the hand currently pressed against his chest. "Are you following me, Malfoy?" She questions.
"Of course not," Malfoy frowns down at her. "I just wanted an ice cream, and now I'm dripping with hot chocolate." His hand grips her wrist, "You can take your hand off of me now." Malfoy smirks, and Hermione realises her hand is still feeling his surprisingly toned stomach, so she snatches her hand away.
"Don't be so dramatic, Malfoy," she sidesteps around him, but he turns with her, following as she swings the door open, ringing the bell above the door. "Now you are following me." She comments.
"Do you expect me to enjoy an ice cream with a stained shirt?" He asks her rhetorically. "I'm going home." He states.
"Goodbye, then," Hermione says, for lack of knowing how else to end this encounter.
She steps towards the side alleyway, preparing to apparate home when she hears him call her name.
"Granger, see you tomorrow," he tells her.
By the time she's turned back to face him, he's gone, probably having disapparated back to Malfoy Manor. The thought of his home sends a shiver down her spine as her left forearm itches where Malfoy's aunt, Bellatrix Lestrange, carved 'mudblood' into her skin. As her breathing increases, Hermione apparates back home for fear of panicking in the middle of Diagon Alley.