Disclaimer: I can hope can't I? Wait, no, I can't. Not mine, never was, never will be.
A/N: This chapter's almost completely different. I realized I didn't have a DADA teacher for this story, so now we have Professor Austiere (nice name, right? lol). Hermione and Dumbledore's discussion is completely revamped and his level of pity (that he shows) for Hermione is lower.
All the heads in the great hall were turned twords the headmaster, Albus Dumbledore. He smiled back at all of his students, new and old.
"It's wonderful to see you all again, and I must extend a warm welcome to our new students. Mr.Flich has posted a new and revised list of items not permitted which can be found posted on his office door. As a reminder, and a notice to new students, the forbidden forest is called such for a reason. It is strictly out of bounds." Harry, Hermione and Ron shared a sheepish grin as the Headmaster glanced pointedly at them.
"I would also like to take this opportunity to introduce Professor Austiere, our new defense against the dark arts teacher." Dumbledore indicated a short woman with cropped brown hair and a lopsided smile on her face. The student body applauded her, and she waved a modest hand in recognition. "As some of you may already know, Professor Austiere used to be a auror at the ministry, not unlike Professor Moody."
"I know you all must be famished, so, on with the feast!" Dumbledore gave a dramatice swoosh with his left arm and immediately the plates filled with food.
The dynamic trio eagerly ate their meal, which consisted of roasted turkey, masked potatos with rivers of gravy, and an assortment of other foods. They were so absorbed in their plates that none of them noticed Professor McGonagall walk up behind them. She tapped Hermione's shoulder and as she turned around she said curtly "Miss Granger, the headmaster would like to see you in his office after the feast."
Harry and Ron looked questioningly at her, but Hermione nodded to the professor as she rose from the table. "I'll see you later." she said, giving them a meaningful look. They nodded silently to her, though she knew they were dying to ask her why she had been called to Dumbledore's office. She was wondering the same thing herself. Probably just Head Girl issues, she supposed.
The halls grew more crowded as more students finished their dinner. Hermione took her time in getting to the stone gargoyle which marked the entrance to Dumbledore's office. She leaned on the statue, waiting for the headmaster to arrive and let her in.
She hadn't been waiting long when Dumbledore arrived in a flurry of purple robes. "Good evening Miss Granger." he said with a small smile. Hermione smiled back tentitively as Professor Dumbledore said the password "Snickerdoodles" and the gargoyle stepped aside.
"After you, Miss Granger." Dumbldore said, motioning to the circular stairs leading up to his office. Hermione climbed up the stairs, and took a seat across from Dumbledore as he sat behing his desk.
"I suppose you're wondering why I asked you here, Miss Granger." Dumbledore said quietly, leaning forward onto the desk.
Hermione nodded and replied politely "Yes I was, sir."
"Well, I recieved several letters from the ministry today, and majority of them concerned you." he said slowly, taking his time in getting to the heart of the matter.
"Oh?" Hermione said questioning, blinking slightly. "Why?"
"You remember the time-turner you used in your third year here?" Dumbledore asked. Hermione nodded and he continued "Of course you do. Well, it seems you added quite an amount of time onto you age."
Hermione furrowed her brow, trying to remember the amount of time she used it. "How much, Professor?"
"One year, 3 months and 7days, according to the ministry."
"What?! How is that even possible? I didn't even have the time turner for a year. For that to be possible I would have had to be at three places at once for the entire school year!" Hermione ran a frustrated hand through her bushy hair.
"Exactly." Dumbledore said simply.
"But then why would the ministry say it was so?" Hermione said, confused.
"Have you heard of the recently passed 'Marriage Law', Miss Granger?"
Hermione's eyes grew wide in sudden comprehension. "You mean...they did this so I would be subject to the law?"
Albus Dumbledore nodded, his hat shifting slightly on his head. "Which brings us to the second letter." Dumbledore pushed an official looking letter across the desk.
Hermione took the letter with shaking hands and read disbelievingly:
Lucius Malfoy, head of the Malfoy family, requests the marriage of Hermione Granger to his son, Draco Malfoy.
As of today, you have one week (7 days) in which to recieve other offers. Offers will be collected at the Ministry Department of Marriage and Betrothals and at the end of 7 days a husband will be chosen for you, based on the need of the family.
The marriage contract rules and obligations is enclosed.
Hermione blinked a few times, then read the contract over again, breathing heavily. When she had finished reading, her eyes glazed over and rolled back into her head, and she slumped in her chair into a dead faint.
Professor Dumbledore sighed deeply and levitated the girl onto a small couch on the side of the room. He contemplated using ennervate to wake the girl up, but he decided to let her wake up on her own, and spare her the shock of a premature awakening.
Hermione woke with a start a few minutes later. She sat up and shook her head a few times trying to remember what happened. Suddenly her stomach lurched. Unless some miracle happened, Draco Malfoy would be her husband.
She covered her mouth with her hand and mumbled "I think I'm going to be sick."
The headmaster conjured a chair next to Hermione's seat on the couch and pushed a glass of water into her hands. Professor Dumbledore said "My dear, I know it's alot to go through right now, but I promise you I will do everything I can to get you out of this."
Hermione stared at him for a moment. "You mean leaving the country? I can't leave my parents or Harry and Ron."
"No, not possible anyhow. The ministry has extradition policies with other countries so you would likely be sent right back here as soon as you had gotten to your destination." the headmaster explained.
Hermione rubbed her head and said with a slight shudder "I can't see any other solution, even if I left the wizarding world, broke my wand and all, the Ministry could still arrest me and take me to Azkaban for trying to evade the law."
The headmaster nodded and slowly said "Hermione, nothing could be worse than you marrying into the Malfoys. You wouldn't be treated..well." Hermione shuddered and nodded agreeingly. "The only way that you would be protected is by marrying another wizard."
Hermione frowned for a moment. "Who?" she finally said, after waiting a few moments.
"I was thinking of getting an order member to petition for you. We can't just leave this to fate and hope that another random wizard will petition, because they would most likely be killed by the time the owl had reached the ministry. You need someone who can protect you." Dumbledore explained.
"Killed?" Hermione asked.
"The Malfoys do not want to lose you. They're not above doing anything and everything to get to you."
"Why would the Malfoys want me so badly? According to them, I'm a mudblood, below them. Wouldn't that infringe on their pureblood superiority?" said Hermione.
"I'm surprised you haven't figured it out yet. You are best friends with Harry Potter, and although you may not have realized it, you are infact a powerful witch." Hermione blushed slightly at the compliment.
She sighed. "There's not much I can do is there?"
"Not much, no. All you can do is be strong." he finished with a sad smile. He helped her up from her spot on the couch, making it obvious that the conversation was over.
A/N: I've decided that I will never have Albus Dumbledore 'twinkle' in any way, shape or form. It's overdone to the point where my left eye starts to twitch when I read it. Alright, maybe that was a little overdramatic. But you have to admit, twinkling is just wrong. What would you do if someone twinkled at you? I'd scream and run away for dear life. Honestly.
:::insert plea for more reviews/feedback because the author isn't going through all these chapters for her health.:::