Bonus Round

Alright, rookie. Have you thoroughly mastered all the above techniques, but want to take your forced marriage law fanfiction up a notch? Try out these fun ideas!

Margaret Atwood's fever dream

Inspired by the popular work of Margaret Atwood A Handmaid's Tale, an open avenue for storytelling presents itself for your writing convenience. This fantastical arena for coerced marriage is sure to both excite and disgust your readers. What happens when Hunger Games meets Fifty Shades of Grey meets The Old Testament at a soiree? Your fanfiction!

Voldemort defeats Harry Potter in the final duel, and he becomes the tyrannical leader of Britain who introduces an oppressive law requiring wizards and witches to marry against their will. It's dark, like dark-darkso you can use that Explicit Rating and go to town checking off every Archive Warning and tag in sight: non-con, dub-con, rape, graphic violence, murder, underage, overage, major character death, cute puppy death ext. Nothing is off limits in the way your characters can coerce each other, both inside and outside the bedroom.

Don't worry if you are unfamiliar with Atwood's work. There really are a few key elements to demystify your knowledge of the genre of speculative fiction. First of all, the entire story is a twisted take on biblical teachings. All women in your society become child-bearing vessels who shuffle around town in red capes and white caps like colonial nuns. They call all men their 'Commanders' and their wives - 'Mistresses'. Your OC, probably a female, is the equivalent of a handmaiden who exists solely for prostitution repopulation. It's rape, but it's sanctioned by the Dark Lord, who very clearly adopts religious vision during his time beyond the Veil. All members of your society talk in half-prayers, referencing deities and misinterpreting Biblical passages.

Near the end of your story, the Love Interest teams up with your OC to overthrow the government and escape the clutches of the Dark Lord.

"

Cho shuffles along the barren streets of Hogsmeade, the safe haven of sweets and butterbeer of her youth. Now it is filled with men in uniform, patrolling the paths and gazing suspiciously at passing women in red cloaks. Cho keeps her head down as she enters the store that was once called Honeydukes, but now sells items like milk and bread. Why Wiccans could not be trusted to conjure up their own groceries but must resort to shopping the Muggle way, Cho decides is a way for the Dark Lord to show his authority.

"Blessed be the fruit," says a nearby female figure.

"Of Thy womb of Salazar," Cho replies.

"Mazel Tov."

Cho recognizes the woman. It is Fleur Delacour- very pregnant and very much alive. She wishes she can speak to her, but she knows the rules. Errands must be done quickly and no cavorting with the other Handwitches. Cho takes her food and bids Fleur goodbye with a nod of the head. Before Cho can leave the store, Fleur brushes past her.

"Go to the Three Broomsticks and tell them the password. Salami."

With that, Fleur is gone. Cho sees this hint as a subtle message leading to her freedom. Should she take the risk and disobey the local authorities? No sooner than Cho exits the store does she see that Fleur had not gone very far. Two of the patrol guards overheard their conversation and are leading Fleur into a carriage at wandpoint. Cho swallows and rushes back home to Commander Of-Diggory. No, it is not safe for anyone here.

"

Bride and Prejudice

Taking a note from Jane Austen, set your story up in a regency-era England. Your MC is a person of low-standing status who must find a suitable match. In comes your Love Interest, the roguish and very rich Duke who bats not one eyelash in your MC's general direction, vexing her every fragile English nerve. They are forced to get together when by some turn of events, are discovered alone, without a chaperone in a dark secluded garden behind the house. Whatever will happen to your MC's RePutaTiOn if they do not marry this unlikely suitor? Imagine the gossip of the ton when they spread rumours of your OTP taking a turn upside down in the gardens to the rest of the beaumonde?

Many tres a la mode shows like Bridgerton are gaining popularity, making these types of stories a novelty and a hit. Don't worry if you're not familiar with the customs of the time. It's all quite simple: male oppression, shy women trying to find a suitable bachelor in possession of a large fortune, meddling mamas and half-titties peeking slyly out of the tops of feather fans. To make this even more believable, make sure you replace every simple word in your character's phrases with the most difficult-to-pronounce equivalent from , add plenty of adverbs before any dialogue bit and really heighten the stiff formality of the English culture.

"

"Verily, Astoria, you do affirm that you were promenading alone at dusk with his Grace Labastran, Duke of Lestrange at Mrs Malfoy's grand Yule ball last fortnight?" asks Pansy over tea in the carriage.

"Oh non, I so q-quickly must protest such a proclamation. I would nevermore be sighted in his Grace's presence unchaperoned by my dear governess. How might you envision me in such a m-misallience, henceforth hence in such a compromised position?" Astoria says steadily, but her hand with the teacup quivers much more than is acceptable when a lady drinks tea in a carriage.

"Compromised indeed. Nevermore I should ever think to listen to this gossip myself, but I'd heard of it from two other ladies of our circle, and hence, I must therefore demand of you, wherefore henceforth you had been last fortnight, henceforth my previous interrogation to your position?" Pansy continues sipping the tea. Noticing Astoria's gesture of vexation places her hand in hers. "You know we are buxom sisters, you can tell all."

"Ah, verily, you are most correct. There was a situation that may have been interpreted as unsuitable for a lady of my position. I had come to the gardens to take a rest from the merriment of the ball and found myself ravished by two gentlemen at once who had the very same idea. But I assure you, the Duke saw me struggling in the arms of Mr Draco Malfoy, that wicked Earl, who had pounced upon my unchaperoned bosoms in order to frighten me into accepting his hand. And then, the two of them — Duke and Earl —promised to duel to protect my honour. Well then I fainted and the Duke took me to the fountain where he tore open my corset so that I might breathe-"

"Gasp!" gasped Pansy, gloved hand to her puckered lips. "But what a situation indeed. You know what this means, my dear heart? You must marry the Duke. Or the Earl. Or both! But never neither. It will be an awful scandal if word gets out that your unchaperoned bosoms have been sighted by two gentlemen in one night and not one ring upon thy finger in the morn."

"

The Vamp-Elf-Fairy-Wolf Diaries

One dark and stormy night, your main character gets caught in a kerfuffle, seeing a secret ritual they shouldn't have. Suddenly they have to wed a supernatural being who happens to be…a Hogwarts student\professor they know, and who has a double identity they don't about. Double whammy! Vanna can I buy a vowel?

It's Professor Snape…the Vampire King! It's Draco Malfoy….the Werewolf Alpha! It's Neville Longbottom…the Siren Lord! It's Pansy Parkinson…. the Elven Princess! So many mythologies to exploit!

The *worst* part is, now they must be wed to satisfy the rights of the ritual. Your character is sucked into a world of unusual new beings that possess powers beyond anything known in the History of Hogwarts. How will they navigate their new life as the bride of the Underworld or husband of the High Priestess Fae of the Spring Court?

"

"I-I'm not afraid. I know what you are. What you all are," Neville stutters. He's read books. Many books. He knows things boys his age have never even dreamed about.

"Say it." The winged folk in the circle practically spit out the words, pushing Pansy to the forefront of their group. Pansy Parkinson-nude and glittering like she's been bathing in sequins- crosses her arms over her breasts. Her large wings pop out of her backside. Pansy stands still glaring daggers at Neville as her mates begin to chatter and tease.

"Call her by her True Name," they chant. "Call your mate!"

"You always wear your hair to cover your long ears. You've got shiny skin. You leave the castle as you please because…you've got wings." Neville approaches Pansy, hoping that the one familiar face in the circle won't abandon him. "You're a-"

Neville doesn't have time to answer because the page formatting inconveniently cuts off his deduction.

The last thing the awkward human boy sees before he's smacked across the head with a magical sparkle wand and dragged deeper into the midnight wood is Pansy's wicked grin.

"