Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter
Chapter 8
The world around her was a blur, insignificant movement of darkened shadows passing by her eyes as she stormed through the Ministry Atrium. Wizards and Witches alike stepped out of her way, their brows tightened in confusion as she swept passed them. None of them wanting to be the one to anger the already frustrated Witch.
From his post against the wall Ron read Hermione silently as she moved through the crowds, he'd seen that look before, more than once in his life she had approached him; with that much ferocity where her magic was crackling around her, he had silently pleaded for the ground to swallow him up. It had been many years since he had seen her this way, and as people quickly side stepped around her his curiosity grew. What had rattled his friend in such a way that she would respond so openly with her emotions. From across the room his eyes met with a familiar grey pair, he too had been watching Hermione through the atrium. As they continue to stare at each other Ron knew he didn't need Occlumency to see what Draco was thinking, as he was thinking the very same thing. Whoever had upset Hermione Granger was surely going to pay for it.
The lift ascended far too slowly for Hermione's liking that she wished she'd taken the stairs, her foot tapped rapidly on the cold marble floor as her eyes glared into the panel. The second the doors sprung open she marched out of the elevator and straight down the hall. All kinds of ways to kill Kingsley Shacklebolt swarmed around in her head, she slammed opened the door and ignored the stuttering secretary who tried to inform her that she couldn't enter without an appointment. With a wave of her hand, the door to the Minister's office slammed open and Hermione stepped inside. She was pleased to see Kingsley looked shocked.
She waved her hand a second time and the door slammed shut on the secretary. In seconds Hermione had concocted a silencing charm around the room.
"Shacklebolt!" she said her eyes glaring in to his.
Kingsley eyed Hermione like a wild animal ready to pounce, he didn't break eye contact but instead fixed his glare just as deeply. He didn't know what had ruffled her feathers but he knew he was going to find out very soon.
"Had a very interesting conversation with somebody today and they informed me of a little something that I wasn't best pleased about?" Kingsley raised an eyebrow, his face remained calm and collected but his stomach was rapidly twisting into knots only Muggle boy scouts would be able to accomplish.
"What's this about a lack of women in the wizarding world?" His entire body sagged at Hermione's words and upon his reaction Hermione screamed in frustration. She fisted her hands tightly into her hair. "So it's true! There is this stupid marriage law that is coming into effect, I'm going to be forced against my will to marry three wizards? Why am I finding out about this from a friend when it should have BEEN YOU EXPLAINING THIS TO THE WIZARDING WORLD IN THE FUCKING FIRST PLACE KINGSLEY?" Hermione screamed. "DO YOU NOT CARE ABOUT THE INDIVIDUALS THIS WILL EFFECT? ALL THOSE WOMEN WHO ARE GOING TO BE ENSLAVED TO BEING A HOUSEWIFE AND A CHILD BEARER, YOU THINK EVERY SINGLE WOMAN WANTS THAT, NOT EVERYONE WANTS TO MARRY! AND NOT EVERY WOMAN DESIRES TO HAVE A CHILD, YOU CANNOT FORCE THIS UPON PEOPLE!"
"Hermione, I understand honestly I do and I have been searching for a way out of this since I heard about but it's above my head, and there's nothing I can do."
"Nothing you could do? You could have the decency to inform the Wizards and Witches of this country that this law was upon us. How long have you known about this, how many months or is it years that you've heard the rumours of a marriage law?"
"It's not so easy, I am trying to not make people panic into rash decisions. Telling everyone a marriage law could be on the side would have caused panic and disarray and it was too soon after the war to worry people about it."
"The war has been over for a good few years Kingsley..."
"Yes and think back to how Harry, Ron and you were after the war Hermione. Do you think announcing to everyone that a possible marriage law could be arriving in the not so distant future would have helped the country and its people heal? No! It would have caused more hassle, more anguish and even more suffering. And I wasn't prepared to do such a thing."
"So why are you still waiting to inform people, this law is coming to England very soon and you still haven't told anyone. Harry and Ginny are planning to marry next year, if this law comes in before they are wed then Ginny will have to marry another two men alongside Harry, and carry another two men's child."
"I know, Hermione I know. You're angry and damn it you have every right to be angry! I'm angry, this affects me as well. Not in the same way it'll affect you but it will affect me, but I have seen the figures and I have seen the drop. For centuries baby boys have been most important to this world, continuing the family names and the lineage it carries but this has come at a cost. For every Pureblood female there are five Pureblood males. Muggles produce far more wizards then witches, you throw in the half blood and it means there was one witch for two wizards that was before the war, yes wizards and witches alike died in the war but when you take out the young and the old, the percentage of child bearing witches to that of the Wizards are one Witch to three Wizards. You know how important population growth is Hermione and this is the only way."
Tears welled up in Hermione's eyes and she shook her head. "I didn't go through hell and back, so I could be enslaved. If I wanted to be enslaved by the ministry and its babbling bumbling baboons then I would have handed myself over to Voldemort and saved myself the damage! Harry, Ron and I fought for freedom where a person had a choice on what they should have and how they should live their lives. Dumbledore died with the same belief, you are going to make many enemies because of this Kingsley!"
"Nobody said Minister was going to be easy,"
"And if I knew how this was going to end then I would have fought tooth and nail to keep you out of that chair. You are betraying everything the order fought for and all those people who laid down their lives for this country. You should be ashamed."
"I do! As the date nears I find it harder to look in the mirror. I'm aware of what the war represented but I am stuck between a rock and a hard place Hermione. I cannot over turn the law, even Harry himself wouldn't have the power to do such a thing, and it's coming across the world. It's already in the US and so far it is working. Yes it's been kept very quiet and it's wrong, I'm not looking forward to this just like you!"
"What happens to all those homosexuals, are they still forced?" Kingsley closed his eyes and lowered his head.
"For the men they'll have other male company but the women will not be so lucky."
"Will age be taken in to account?" Kingsley shook his head and Hermione slid down the wall.
"The marriages aren't chosen by the ministry to start with. Every name of a Witch and Wizard from the age of 18 upwards will be listed, all witches will be given a period of time to choose three suitors, in this period you can meet, date and dump to your heart's desire. Before the end date the ministry must be informed of the coupling, all four individuals must attend at the same time and a spell will join them removing their names off the list, in a way it's almost like a marriage certificate. Those whose names remain on the list will then be picked by the ministry, Azkaban inmates are excluded as well as the infertile. All individuals will be made to have a fertility check. By the end of the first three years of the companionship the witch must have either given birth to the child or be pregnant from one of the three husbands."
"What if you have a miscarriage or twins? Or what happens if you suddenly have one or two children and complications mean you cannot have another?"
"With twins, you'll still be expected to give birth to another two children so each husband has a child. With regards to a miscarriage and extra year is added on, so instead of a three year time scale you'd have a four year time scale. If complications arise that stop child conception, whichever husband doesn't have a child with the witch will be removed from the family and he'll be placed in a new one."
"And if I refused to have a child or marry then what?"
"Life in Azkaban or banishment to the Muggle World."
Hermione's head dropped and her eyes slid shut, the anger in her body was slowly disappearing and now the desire to cry was overcoming it, she'd faced so much trauma from the war and it had taken her so many years of soul searching and coming to term with the damage she had caused herself to finally become happy in herself. For the first time since before the war she was finally happy with her life, and now knowing that it was all going to be taken for her was a hard pill to swallow.
"I'm going to leave you to your work Minister," she said quietly before turning and walking out of the door, she didn't wait for Kingsley's reply, too many thoughts were clouding her senses.
The secretary she had scared half to death watched Hermione leave with a frown, she had known of Hermione Granger and the difference in the person who had walked into that office a few minutes ago to the person walking out now was astounding, whatever had been said in that room had certainly shook her. She watched her disappear out of the door and glanced into the office to see the Minister with his head in his hands and she frowned. What had happened?
Hermione continued to ignore the people around her as she walked out of the Ministers section, she continued her way until she hit the stairs, she silently pushed pass those descending and slowly step by step walked up the stairs. She stopped when she reached the third floor and continued to walk down the corridor until she stopped in a familiar spot, she tapped lightly on the door and waited until it swung open before entering.
"Granger, what a pleasure," Blaise smirked and Hermione offered a weak smile in return. "What's wrong?" he asked his smirk transforming into a frown.
"Everything Blaise," she said and dropped heavily in to the seat, she banged her elbows down on the table and buried her head in her hands.
Concerned Blaise quickly stood from his desk and wandered to the corner of his office where the coffee machine was kept, he quickly pressed the buttons and in seconds a cup of hot coffee was placed in front of Hermione. "Want to tell me what's got you so upset. From what I've heard some of the guys in the office saw you storming through the atrium like a woman on a mission."
"Hermione sighed, "You know that Viktor is staying with me for a couple of days, well he informed me he was getting married."
"I remember this…"
"Well the wedding isn't from love, but a marriage law sweeping across the world. There aren't enough witches in the world at child bearing age for the amount of Wizards. In other words for every one Witch there a three Wizards. Viktor told me the law was coming to England. I went to see Kingsley Shacklebolt and it's true. I'm going to be forced to marry three Wizards and have a child to each of them or I'll be sentenced to Azkaban or be banished to the Muggle World." Blaise gripped the desk tightly at Hermione's words, he had stumbled back from the shock and allowed the words to digest in his mind.
"They can't do that!" he snapped. "They cannot force us into marriage. How would it work with me being male?"
"You'd have one wife and you'd have two brother husbands, almost like polygamy where a man can take multiple wives, but this would be legal."
"Fuck that!"
"Blaise I don't want to have to marry three men, I wanted to marry one and have all my children when I was ready for them with that one man, now I feel like these children will grow up knowing they weren't wanted but they were only born because of the law. I hate this! I hate it!" Blaise wrapped his arms around Hermione and held her tight, he knew very little of the law and as much as he wanted to know he also didn't. He was angry and hurt that once again they were going to be used as puppets, but Hermione wouldn't be this upset if she knew there was a way out.
"I'm sorry Bella really I am!"
"It's not your fault Blaise, but it looks like I need to start finding myself suitable suitors for marriage," it was a terrible attempt of a joke but Blaise still smiled none the less.
"I'm insulted you didn't say two husbands, I'm a catch Granger," he winked and Hermione laughed.
"That you are, though I'm curious." Blaise raised a brow. "Kingsley said homosexuals are included in the law, if you are a gay man then you'll be in company of other men. I've heard many rumours about you…"
Blaise chuckled and leant back on the desk. "You asking if I'm in to men Granger?" she looked down sheepishly but nodded. "I think the term you are looking for is bisexual, I have a preference for women over men but I have been known to spend some quality time with other men if you get my drift?" he winked and Hermione rolled her eyes. The previous embarrassment gone.
"So you a giver or a taker?" she asked cheekily and Blaise grinned.
"Both!" Hermione let out a laugh.
"Why am I not surprised, I did put you down as a taker more than a giver though."
"What are you trying to say, because I am a Slytherin it means I am selfish and I like to indulge in pleasure given from others? Hermione nodded and Blaise scowled. "Maybe so, but I'm perfectly happy to exert my own pleasure on others, do you have a spare half an hour at hand?"
Hermione grinned, "Half an hour Zabini, you promising that long?" Blaise's eyes widened in shock before he grabbed her from the seat.
His lips descended on hers and Hermione moaned as he dominated the kiss, his hands were everywhere and she loved it. Her own ran up his tailored shirt before unclipping his robes fastened at the neck, the fabric floated to the floor as she worked on the button of his shirt. His own hands had made quick work of her skirt and were now fiddling with the buttons on her shirt.
He pulled away from her mouth, dropping hot open mouth kisses to her exposed neck. "Happy to relieve some of that stress are we Granger?"
"Shut up," she growled and bit down on his neck reciting a gasp from Blaise, she nibbled along his collarbone as he finally undid the final buttons on her shirt. Her chest was heaving and his hands squeezed her breast through her bra.
"Fancy," he muttered as he rolled her hardening nipples over the lacy fabric. Hermione moaned wantonly, her nipples were a weak spot for her and Blaise knew the right techniques to get her gasping for breath.
She pushed his shirt off his back and admired the rippling muscles along his chest. Damn he was gorgeous she thought as she ran a finger down his muscles before sliding her hands up to his nipples, she took a step forward and leisurely traced her tongue around one.
Blaise slipped his hands around back and undid the bra, his hands tugged harder and she threw her back in pleasure as he teased and taunted her nipples. With her mouth free from his body Blaise ducked his head and took a nipple in his mouth as a hand slipped down her panties.
Hermione moaned wantonly as his finger traced her clit, she was soaked and it drove Blaise on more, she spread her legs wider allowing him more access. He swapped breasts lavishing the other with the same care and attention he had done its partner.
Her hands slid to his belt and with quick fashion she undid it and pulled his trousers down. The tent in his boxers declaring how turned on he was. With a wave of his hand his desk cleared and Blaise grabbed Hermione around the waist lifting her on to his desk, sliding the panties to one side.
Her eyes were wide and doe like and her chest was heaving from the excitement. He was all for foreplay but at this minute he knew it wasn't needed, he relieved himself from his boxers and stroked himself, watching as Hermione's eyes dropped to his leaking cock. He stepped forwards and lined his cock against her soaking entrance and as they locked eyes he slowly eased in. She winced as she stretched around him but the pain quickly disappeared and pleasure overcame her. She moaned loudly as he started his thrusting, his fingers continuing to tease her clit.
"Faster!" she demanded as he continued to leisurely fuck her, Blaise grinned and through a leg over his shoulder and started to thrust faster. Hermione gritted her teeth as Blaise tormented her, his shaft was filling her and his fingers were tormenting her clit, and she was slowly losing control. Her body rocked with the strength of his thrusts and she continued to moan, her orgasm was close she could feel it overcoming her. "Don't stop!" she demanded.
Blaise winked and continued to thrust inside her, he could feel her muscles clenching around him as he fucked her, she was so close. He pressed his fingers harder on her clit and she exploded around him, all the tension from earlier was easing away as her orgasm took over her. He continued to play with her clit as he thrust harder and faster, his own orgasm quickly coming to him. With a few more thrusts he exploded inside her, his head dropping to her chest as he thrust spilling his seed inside of her. Hermione rubbed his back as she laid on his desk, closing her eyes she savoured the silence and the release o stress even if it was for only a short period.
XXX
She tapped her fingers on the window as she read the note she was sending to Ginny, she didn't want to go into too much detail about the law but she knew Ginny deserved to know, a letter wasn't the right way of telling someone about a law that could ruin the lives of everyone her friend cared about but she didn't know if she could look into Ginny's eyes and tell her. She reread the note for a fifth time before letting out a sigh. She folded the carefully written note and slipped it into an envelope. She sealed it shut and reached for her owl. She fastened it to his leg and watched as he sailed out of the window and into the sky. She closed her eyes and lent her head against the wall, her mind drifting back to the law,how badly was her life going to be because of it?
Wow I honestly cannot believe how long it has been since I last wrote for this story, in fact it's been ages since I last wrote anything in general, I've tried writing for other stories but so far it was only this chapter that had the ability to be continued! I do hope you enjoy this, and thank you to all those who have stayed ever so patient. If you are reading any of my other stories, most of the next chapters have been started and hopefully will be up soon!
Lottie!
