7th April 2005

She frowned at the interdepartmental memo, notifying her that a planned meeting with the Minister's team needed to be postponed by a week due an 'unprecedented priority case'. What did that even mean? Was there an unprecedented International visit? The economy forum wasn't scheduled until the end of May as far as she knew… What law was being passed so urgently that they needed to postpone a short meeting about prison policy? Did Kingsley have something to do with it? Why would he keep it hush-hush from her though?

She switched from DRCMC to an advisory role for the Minister for Magic under DMLE just last year, but Kingsley has always been forthcoming with her as they properly began the restructuring of the Ministry and public sector assets. Her gut was telling her something didn't feel right but she had no way of verifying it as everyone in the legal team was under oath and couldn't answer even if she asked.

She took a sip of her tea and frowned at the tepid liquid. Maybe she was just having one of those mornings… she was due her period in a little while, last night's storm woke her up a few times so she was already tired and had a mild headache when she walked into her office that morning. That must be it for sure. She resigned herself to a trip to the policy archives to take a couple more books on the legalities surrounding the prison in order to finalise the proposal Kingsley wanted on his desk by the end of the week.

As she was sorting out the rest of the memos, a quiet knock got her attention. She looked up curiously at the timid sound and was surprised when it was accompanied by the sight of her best friend hovering on the threshold.

"Hey, everything alright?" she asked and waved him in. Something must have been up when Harry's usual chipper knock sounded hesitant.

"Hmmm, how are you?" he asked as he came in and not only closed the door but warded it carefully.

Hermione's gaze narrowed as she observed his dodgy body language and the fact that he didn't actually answer her. "I was fine, until you came in with that face on. What's wrong?" she asked straight up, setting her pen down to give him her full attention.

He took a seat and grimaced. "Nothing's wrong per se," he answered evasively. "Just came to check in if you haven't received any…interesting news lately?" he asked.

Hermione frowned at the odd query. "Should I have?" she asked suspiciously.

"I wasn't sure if you would," he offered, running a hand through his thick, unruly locks. "For one, Ron is single. Again," he admitted.

"Damn it," she rubbed her face tiredly, glad to have placed a charm to keep her light makeup in place earlier, or she would have rubbed most of it off by now. She really didn't need this today.

Ron being single was not in itself unusual. For some reason he couldn't settle down with a witch for longer than a few months ever since the war and their disastrous two-week attempt to date. And every so often when he became newly single, he had the bright idea to suggest to her that they try it again. She loved him, truly, but fondly as one her once best friend, not as someone she could imagine spending the rest of her days with.

"Thanks for the heads up," she sighed and looked up, noticing his intense regard of her. "Do I have something on my face?" she asked, reaching up to touch her cheek self-consciously.

He shook his head and sat forward a bit, leaning his elbows on his knees. "Nothing, beautiful as ever," he offered with her favourite lopsided smile and shook his head. "Are you…dating anyone right now?" he asked curiously but a bit hesitantly.

Hermione raised a brow at the query. "I mean I'm flattered Harry but gay men aren't my type," she deadpanned, making him snort.

"Thanks for that," he rolled his eyes. "I wasn't asking for myself, obviously. It's been a while since you dated, I just wanted to see if there was anyone prospective on your horizon," he mused.

Hermione's lips quirked into a smile. It wasn't that she didn't miss dating, and truth be told she did miss good sex, it has been about a year, but her work kept her busy, her friends were a joy to spend time with, and she was contented as she was. "Not right now, I've been busy with the prison reform recommendations for the past few months. And if you're thinking of setting me up on another blind date, may I remind you of the last disaster," she said pointedly.

At least Harry had the good grace to look sheepish about it. He meant well, she knew he did. Figuring out his own identity and discreetly dating a few muggle men over the past couple of years has done a world of good for his confidence. His preferences weren't yet common knowledge, but she thought perhaps soon he will be ready to start dating in their world as well. In his excitement though, he arranged a blind date with one of the Unspeakables that worked with the Aurors and after the third suggestion to leave the restaurant for some privacy, Hermione did just that. Alone. She knew Harry couldn't have predicted the man would be an utter sleaze, but perhaps it would be better if he didn't try to set her up in the future.

"Are you sure? I heard Cormack McLaggen praising your choice of attire after you visited my office last week," he waggled his brows ridiculously.

Hermione snorted in a rather unladylike manner at his teasing. "Out of my office, Potter, or you'll be chased by canaries," she threatened though they both knew there was no heat behind the words.

Harry sprung up and saluted her. "Yes, ma'am, right away," he grinned before walking around the table and giving her a quick hug. "Take care, yeah? I'll be working late if you want to pop by," he offered before leaving her office quietly.

She shook her head, still confused and feeling a bit odd about that interaction. Her secretary popped her head in with an offer of fresh tea and her itinerary for the day. Seeing the three meetings ahead, she sighed and began her day.

…..

The buzz of her intercom startled her from her reading and she pressed the receive button. "Yes, Alethea?" she asked, hoping she didn't have an unannounced visitor. She was just at the perfect spot in the prison records for her comparison chart.

"I'll be heading home if you don't need me for the rest of the evening?" her voice came through clearly, the sound of shuffling parchment indicating she was just tidying her desk for the night.

Hermione looked up at the clock and startled when she noticed it was past six. "Of course, you go ahead. Sorry to have kept you, I should have let you know I will be staying late," she said apologetically, knowing Alethea liked to get home to her little daughter.

"No problem, I had to finish your schedule for tomorrow as I'll be on annual leave. I'll leave it for you on my desk to pick up with your mail in the morning," she offered kindly. "Oh, and I just received a memo from the Minister, he's asking to see you this evening if you haven't yet left. Should I respond?"

Hermione screwed her ink pen closed and got up. "No need, I'll head over now. Thank you, Alethea, have a lovely long weekend," she offered and started packing up her office.

Tomorrow was a Friday and without a secretary, she had a good reason to come in early and finish her charts first thing before any meetings interrupted her work again. She packed her Filofax and pashmina into her handy leather tote bag for flooing. She might as well check in with Kingsley and head straight home. Once her office was tidy and locked up for the night, she passed by Alethea's empty desk and headed up in the elevator to Level One.

Basement Level One only had a few offices, most importantly the one for Kingsley, one for his secretariat, and four offices for his advisors - finance, tactical, international relations and legal. When she was offered the position of Deputy-Head of DMLE, she wasn't sure if it was warranted at the young age of 25. She felt she had so much to achieve yet, but before she could make up her mind, she was summoned to speak with Kingsley and he explained that despite not having an official advisor on internal affairs, he believed that her role could serve to help him understand what needed to be changed internally. She accepted the job the following day. She may not have an office on this floor, but she was rather with her department instead of this grand setting anyway. She passed the two smaller meeting rooms and the larger seating area for hosting foreign delegations before finally arriving at the very end of the corridor to Kingsley's office.

His secretaries had gone home for the day so she knocked twice, awaiting a response and frowned when it wasn't forthcoming. She knocked again and looked up in surprise when the man himself opened the door a moment later. His neutral expression shifted to a smile and he stepped aside to let her.

"Sorry Hermione, I wasn't sure whether you have left already," he invited her to take a seat, not at the formal seating area before his desk but over at the comfortable sofa under the charmed window.

"Everything alright? I thought we were meeting tomorrow," she set her bag down at the edge of the sofa and sat down in the seat beside it. "I'm still finalising the prison reform act revision, but it won't take long," she stopped when he shook his head.

"That's perfectly fine. Actually the deadline on that is postponed until the end of next week. In the meantime there is something else I wish to discuss with you," he took off his charcoal grey robes, revealing a well-fitting light blue shirt and slacks.

Despite the seven years spent behind a desk and dealing with bureaucracy, his build was still as solid and shoulders as broad as Hermione remembered years back when she held onto him as her life depended on it on the back of a thestral, polyjuiced as he best friend. Now in his mid-forties, he still exuded calm confidence, though observing him as she was, she noticed a couple of new worry lines around his eyes, his head was no longer bold, instead sporting a fade-in buzz cut, and the short salt & pepper beard that he's been sporting for a couple of weeks now was apparently here to stay. Truth be told, it only added to his charm, though she wouldn't be surprised if it was a result of his busy schedule and shaving negligence rather than anything deliberate.

Rita Skeeter even wrote a column about the Minister's new look, inciting corridor gossip that made Hermione roll her eyes to high heavens.

She was surprised when he popped the cufflinks out of their place and rolled his sleeves up leisurely, revealing solid forearms covered in deep dark skin and hint of a couple of tattoos. This was apparently an after-hours conversation, so she sat back in her seat a bit and crossed her legs comfortably, glad to take the pressure off her high heels. The silence of the room was cut when her stomach growled and she felt her cheeks warm when he lifted his amused gaze to meet hers.

"Skipping lunch again?" he asked and opened a nearby cabinet, pulling out a couple of take out boxes.

"Hypocrite, I bet those were supposed to be your lunch," she said pointedly as he walked over and handed her one.

Kingsley shrugged. "Sadly it's apparently not on my itinerary to have lunch these days," he sighed and cast some heating charms over his chow mein.

Hermione reheated the appetising-smelling Pad Thai and dug in gladly with the offered chopsticks. "Thanks for sharing, this is actually my favourite," she admitted in between bites.

He looked momentarily amused before his expression darkened again and he looked into his noodles with a frown. Hermione finished her mouthful and set her chopsticks down into her own carton, reaching across to squeeze his forearm supportively.

"Are you alright, Kings?" she asked gently. After their thestral ride, their friendship continued to develop and despite the age difference between them, he had never treated her as anything other than an equal. When he asked her to work as an unofficial adviser to his role, he made it clear he didn't need someone working for him and nodding their head to his every word, he needed someone to have his back, stay honest in their views and work with him. She hoped that they could be called not just colleagues but friends as well.

He looked at her, truly looked at her for a moment, seeing the girl who came out of the war too thin and haunted and became the warm, elegant, and competent woman sitting before him today. Perhaps he should get on with explaining the situation so she could reject his offer and they could both continue as they were. He could always go for his second choice, even though it wasn't ideal.

"There is something I haven't been able to share with you so far, as the information has been restricted to the lords and members of the Wizengamot and myself. I shouldn't under regular circumstances be sharing this with you until at least Monday when the news will be announced to the public, so I need your word that this will stay between us," he began, knowing if anyone was good for their word, it was Hermione.

She didn't like the sound of this at all but nodded. "You have my word."

Kingsley set his meal down and turned slightly to face her. "We've done some research into the state of the British wizarding community last year and discovered some worrying trends. We lost a lot of excellent wizards and witches during the war, less children are being born and the pureblood community is producing more and more squibs, if any children at all. Our society needs repopulation in the next five years, or we may face near extinction in 150 years from now," he summoned the report and showed her the data.

Hermione set the food aside and flicked through the pages, pausing especially on the page which showed pre and post-war population statistics. Their community has shrunk by thirty-five percent and most of the victims were of child-bearing age. This was a bleak reality and she could see why this would be unsettling. "So what are the proposed next steps? Integrating with muggles or more foreign magical communities could be very beneficial. The muggles have a whole diversity and inclusion programme around the minoritised communities, and it has many benefits - economic, cultural and on the population growth," she observed, thinking perhaps their colleagues across the pond or even closer in Europe could be of great help.

He inclined his head in agreement. "That was my suggestion as well," he revealed with a smile that sobered far too quickly. "Sadly I was outvoted by too many voices for a more radical local option. The Magical Repopulation Act will come into effect next week on Friday the 15th. It stipulates that all wizards and witches aged 20 to 50 that are not married at the time will have to do so by 31st May, or they will be assigned a choice of three potential spouses to choose from and marry by the end of June. The Act stipulates that these married couples need to produce at least two children if medically possible, within seven years of the wedding date," he explained, seeing the realisation set in with every word.

Hermione was momentarily speechless. A Repopulation Act. They were to be married off, likely to a stranger, and made to become broodmares for the Ministry. "And if someone didn't want to comply?" she asked softly.

Kingsley took a deep breath, aware this question would be coming. "Resistance is predicted so the stipulation is accept the law or surrender your wand," he delivered the final blow.

She sprung up from the sofa and began pacing by the table, her mind working a mile an hour. "This is…it's just…" she paused, looking at him and wondering how he managed to stay so calm and still. "I know it makes sense to them but do they have to force people to marry and have children? What if they can't? Or don't want to? How are they even going to match people?" aware she was very much part of the age bracket at twenty-six. At least thankfully most of her friends were paired up already.

"Apparently on magical compatibility grounds. The Department of Mysteries has developed a spell that analyses magical compatibility and provides each witch and wizard with your three most suitable matches. This is to ensure there is a balance in the relationship, as it encompasses other factors such as intelligence, values, interests, and other key personality traits," he explained, watching her pace some more before sitting down beside him, her lips set firmly as she processed this information and finally accepted that this was her new reality.

The Act was passed, there was no repelling the law especially with this kind of hard statistical evidence, and speaking out against it would mean she would lose her job, likely her wand as well. She was by no means happy about it but she realised the need to be practical. "There is no escaping this, is there?" she asked softly.

Kingsley shook his head. "For neither of us," he acknowledged, folding the take out carton shut, his appetite gone.

She looked up at him. "Of course, you're affected as well. Will you be expected to publicly endorse this even though you didn't agree with it?" she asked, understanding why he seems to have been so busy lately. This type of legislation meant the need for more resources, staff to wed couples, managing any incidents in response to the law…if her guesstimates were correct, this had to have been in the works for months, the final voting and prep in motion at least over the past couple of weeks. Of course their Minister would have to show leadership and speak favourably about this publicly.

Kingsley nodded, glad she understood his situation. "I am expected to choose a bride over the weekend and have her accompany me publicly to endorse this all the way up to the Anniversary ball. My wedding could be drafted and scheduled for Saturday 30th April if she agrees to it," he explained.

Hermione shook her head. "I'm sorry you have these expectations placed on you. Will Ministry employees be expected to set a good example as always? Is that why you're giving me heads up, to give me a chance to find someone?" she asked, wondering where she would even know where to start.

"Not quite," he admitted and summoned another sheet of parchment, handing it over to her.

She took it, confused at first until she saw the contents.

Kingsley Shacklebolt, Lord Shacklebolt

Magical Compatibility results as of 4th April 2005:

Hermione Jean Granger - 95% compatibility

Hestia Jones - 62% compatibility

Marlene O'Hara - 58% compatibility

She was about to ask if there was any way to see her own results but he was already passing her the other sheet of parchment in his hand, having predicted she would need to see it to confirm.

Hermione Jean Granger

Magical Compatibility results as of 4th April 2005:

Kingsley Shacklebolt, Lord Shacklebolt - 95% compatibility

Severus Snape, Lord Prince - 73% compatibility

Harry James Potter, Lord Potter-Black - 69% compatibility

It was no choice at all. She would never put Harry into a position where he would have to marry a woman just to produce children. He must know about this, and is likely preparing to register his preference in coming weeks, otherwise she was sure he wouldn't have been listed here. Either way, he was a firm no. So was the Headmaster, as far as she was concerned. He had barely recovered following the war, and the one time she consulted him for a case in her previous department, he made it very clear that he wanted absolutely nothing to do with her and the rest of the Golden Trio. She couldn't imagine trying to build a bridge to the acerbic man, and the dynamic with him being her ex-teacher would probably make it very difficult. Her gaze returned to the name at the top of her list as she contemplated her options. There was no time for her to find a partner realistically, no one she knew well and felt to be in any way compatible with. Very few men her age held any appeal to her anyway. It appeared he may be her best option. She handed the results back to him and took a deep breath. "I presume that we're having this conversation because 95% is better than 62%?" she asked.

Kingsley inclined his head though his lips quirked in amusement at her shrewd assessment. "Mathematically speaking, yes, but it is not my only reason for approaching you. I would like to think that these results and our friendship would be enough of a basis to build on under the circumstances, if not for something meaningful then to at least be companionable and remain friends enough to co-parent. I know being the Minister's wife will come with many sacrifices and constant media attention but I would like to think that we both have enough experience with those to make it work," he offered to lighten the mood.

Hermione looked at him for a long moment. "Can I ask you something?" she asked, hoping she wasn't overstepping a line. When he nodded for her to go ahead, she asked something that he never provided an honest answer for to the media. "Why haven't you married until now?"

Kingsley chuckled. "I should have expected that one," he mused. "In all honesty, for several reasons. I know many aurors are married and have families, but I worked on the most dangerous assignments, or overseas, and was often away for months on end. Especially when guarding the muggle Prime Minister, as I was required to stay in residence with him for two years. That's not a safe life conducive to a family. I didn't know whether we would survive the war, all I could do was have faith in Harry. I haven't been disappointed so far," he added.

"And since the war?" she asked curiously.

His thumb pulled on the thin gold hoop earring hugging his earlobe, a tell she rarely spotted and was still trying to figure out. "There wasn't any time really speaking, and though I have had several offers, they didn't feel right. This office carries responsibilities for the Minister and his wife, which pose initial challenges and place expectations on any potential wife. But I will not always be in this office and need someone who will grow with me, I need a partner to find some companionship if not love with," his drawling basso earnest as he gave her time to process his words.

She looked at him and wondered whether she could grow to love him. The honest truth was, she didn't know him well enough to answer that question. And was she prepared to be a Minister's wife with everything it entailed? "Thank you, for giving me a heads up and sharing this with me. I would like to think about this. When do you need an answer?" she asked.

"Ideally by the end of the weekend, if possible. Do you have a house phone or a mobile?" he asked.

She nodded. "I can call or text, it's quicker and more reliable than owl post," she agreed.

He got up and snatched a quill from his desk, jotting down his mobile number. "Take the day off tomorrow, I can instruct my secretaries to help postpone your meetings. When you're ready to let me know your decision, text or call is fine."

She nodded and picked up her handbag, folding the phone number neatly into a side-pocket. "I'm sorry I don't have an answer for you right now."

He however shook his head. "I didn't expect you to. In fact, I think I would be a little worried if you did," he offered a small teasing smile. "I hope to hear from you soon," he opened the door for her.

She nodded and headed for the lift, feeling his gaze on her as she walked down the corridor. For some reason she was feeling entirely too calm, but that was likely the shock of it. She wondered when she would freak out and if Harry was going to be able to dodge whatever she threw at him for knowing about this and not telling her…