This is my response to a challenge on another site. It is the Marriage Law Challenge.

There was a loud commotion in the Gryffendor Common Room, on September 19th. It was one Hermione Granger's 'coming of age' party. She was now 17! This meant alot, for now she could legally do anything she wanted, according to the Wizarding World. She had already started making plans for the summer after her last year at Hogwarts.
She didn't notice the depressed Ronald Weasley in the corner of the room, as people surrounded her, giving her presents. Nobody new why the boy had been depressed since he'd returned to Hogwarts, and he wouldn't talk, not even to his two best friends, Harry and Hermione. But tonight Hermione let him out of her mind.
Harry had gotten ahold of alot of Butterbeer, and some firewhiskey as well.

It had been a few hours, and the party had died down. Hermione was completely drunk, her long brown hair, which had been straighten early that day by magic, was extremely dishevalled, as she lay across the couch, humming 'Happy Birthday' to herself. Ron stood, seeming angry, and stomped loudly up the stairs, making the drunken girl frown and roll her eyes. She's ask him again tomorrow... She didn't make it up to her room, having fallen off the couch and been unable to stand without falling again, so she slept on the couch, after she managed to get some help onto again.

Hermione woke up, wincing at the light. Boy was she glad that today was a Saturday! She found her way up to her room and to her bathroom, hoping a shower would help. It didn't, but when she came out one of the girls in her room gave her a small vial, informing her it was garunteed to get rid of any hangover. She drank it quickly, and lay on her bed to await the effects.

Once the headache had gone she sat up again, seeing that it was still breakfast time, she headed down, her hair once again full and almost bushy, surrounding her face. She entered the Great Hall and as she sat by Harry a rush of owls came in, delivering the morning mail and paper. Two landed in front of her, one from the school, obviously, and the other the Ministry. She tore open both, looking over the Ministry's first, shocked at what she found.

-Hermione Granger.
Congratulations on your coming of age. I'm sorry to inform you that due to the number of squibs produced by the purebloods want to stay pureblooded, we have made the decision that all muggle borns are to marry a pureblood within a month of their coming to age. The pureblood will be a few months older than you, no more than five to keep the number of purebloods eloping down.
Thank you,
Rufus Scrimgeour Minister of Magic-

Hermione quickly scanned over Dumbledores, which was much shorter.

-Miss Granger I would like you to come to my office as soon as you can, so we can discuss the new law. I'm sure you know what I mean by now, and expect to see you soon.
Professor Albus Dumbledore-

Hermione didn't stop to eat, excusing herself. She didn't remember hearing anywhere about this until now.. Though now that she thought about it, it meant Ron might be married already! That did not sit well with her, because she knew, if she had to marry anyone right now, she'd prefer it be Ron. She found her way to Dumbledores offices entrance, and quickly said it, being a Prefect she had to know these things.
She hurried up the stairs, and knocked when seh got to the door, but Dumbledores voice answered quickly, almost as she knocked, "Come in, Miss Granger"
"What is going on!" She exclaims, waving the two letters angrily. "I have to marry a pureblood, within the next month!" Dumbledore only nodded grimly.
"Yes, I'm afraid it's true. And there is no way around it... I've looked. They don't leave much time for anything, but I have a list of possibilities for you, sent curtosy of the Minister himself..." He handed her the list, and she quickly became disgusted. There were only two names on it: Vincent Crabbe and Draco Malfoy. But suddenly Vincent Crabbe was crossed out, with a thin line, and vanished. Leaving the only option as Draco Malfoy. Hermione visibly paled, staring at Dumbledore. "No! I can't marry him!" She shouted in disgust. "I'm sorry, Miss Granger.. There is no option. You can stall as long as September 17th, before the decision.. but you have to be married by the 19th..." Dumbledore couldn't help but note her look of dismay, and sighed. "It might be easier to just do it now.. don't give the Ministry a chance to gripe at you"
Hermione frowned at Dumbledores insistance. "You mean I should marry Malfoy?" Dumbledore knew she didn't like it, but nodded "You will more than likely end up with a Slytherin, no matter how long you wait.. The good news is, you already know him"
Hermione stormed from the room, Dumbledore calling out to her "Come back tomorrow"

Hermione had gone through the day, not being able to find Harry or Ron! She was now in her dorm again, laying on the bed frowning to herself. What was she to do! Her only option, at this point, was to MARRY Malfoy! She had later found in the letter a second piece of paper, that stated the exact law. It stated that she had to consumate the marriage within the week after marriage, though they would get the week of school off as well, and at least one child was expected! The only good news was that the child didn't have to be immediate.. and that if it really was impossible, there were alternate ways of handling it.. magickal ways, of course.
She sighed for the umpteenth time that day, and stared up at the canopy of her bed. This was going to be a long, horrible, experience.

Hermione woke up early Sunday morning, the light hadn't even begun to show outside. She took a shower, doing her hair straight once again. She was thinking about cutting it, but shoved the thought out of her mind, as she got dressed for the day. She headed downstairs to see Ron, and went over to him. "Hey..." She started, biting her lip in worry. "You know what's going on, don't you"
Ron nodded slowly, sighing. "Yeah... I got to marry some hufflepuff girl in early August.. was runnin out of time, though.. they have been giving the pick to the mugge borns, not saying it's a bad thing, just got little say in the matter is all"
Hermione sighed, shaking her head. "Sorry, Ron.. I.. I've got to go talk to Dumbledore.. He asked me to come back today..." She offered a light smile, before turning to leave. She couldn't tell him she'd have to marry Malfoy, of all people.

Hermione entered Dumbledore office once more, and was shocked to see Draco Malfoy there. Dumbledore nodded to her, announcing her presence to Draco in turn. "Miss Granger, please sit down" He was very insistant upon hurrying the matter up, and barely left room for the two to speak as he made the plans. The choice had now been taken from them, as there were no other Muggle borns or Purebloods going to be available for a while. He told them they could set the date, and he'd do everything else... they'd be throwing the whole thing in, or outside if they liked.. so 'at' would be more appropriet, Hogwarts.
The two engagee's did nothing but glare at each other, furious.

END OF PART ONE