Hermione was sitting in the Great Hall. She returned to Hogwarts with all her friends for their eighth year after receiving an owl, saying that it was mandatory for all of the students in their seventh year last year to return for their eighth year. She didn't understand why it had been mandatory when most of her grade could get jobs in the Ministry for what they did in the war alone, but either way, here she was sitting at a table in a place she really didn't want to be at.

Over the summer, they had rebuilt Hogwarts. Hermione couldn't even tell that a war had taken place here not too long ago, but even though Hogwarts looked the same, she couldn't help thinking that it didn't feel the same. The more Hermione thought about it, she wasn't sure if it was Hogwarts that didn't feel the same or if it was her. The war had changed her, or really the things that followed the war had changed her, but she didn't let herself think about it. It hurt too much.

Hermione had just finished eating when her attention was pulled to the staff table where Headmistress McGonagall was approaching the podium.

"I want to welcome everyone back to another year at Hogwarts and congratulate all the new students who have joined us this year." McGonagall looked around the Great Hall when Hermione realized that they had barely gotten any new students this year. "I hope everyone has a great year. Before we all leave to head to bed for the evening, I would like the 7th and 8th years to stay back. Everyone else may now head to their dormitories."

Hermione, confused about what was going on, started looking around the Hall for answers. "Why would McGonagall want us to stay back?" asked Ginny, who seemed to be just as confused as Hermione was.

"I can't think of a reason." As she was curious about what was happening, Hermione started having a sinking feeling creep into her stomach. She looked back to McGonagall when the last of the students left the Hall. Hermione waited for an explanation of what was happening.

McGonagall, who seemed to be sighing to try and calm her anger, continued on more sternly than was probably necessary "The minister of Magic has come to make an important announcement to all of you." As Headmistress McGonagall stepped away from the podium, the Minister of Magic stepped into the Great Hall from a side door off to the right of the staff table.

Minister Kingsley Shacklebolt walked up to the podium and cleared his throat. "The wizarding world appreciates everything everyone of you has done by fighting in the war. Every one of you has done more than anyone should have asked of you." He looked over at Harry when saying this and then back over the Hall when he continued on, "This is why the Ministry and myself regret having to come and ask more than we should. The past few months following the war, the Ministry has noticed how our society's population dwindled by more than half after the war. Even with the new witches and wizards that have come to join the wizarding world this year, we still don't make it to the halfway mark from before the war. The magical world of Britain could face extinction if action isn't taken."

Minister Shacklebolt looked over the Great Hall at the young adults who had just survived the wizarding world's most horrific war and hoped to himself that they would endure what the Ministry regretted having to throw at them. "There was a law put into place hundreds of years ago when Britain's magical population faced extinction. The law was put into place by an entire Wizengamot who sealed the law with elemental magic. If Britain's magical population dwindles past a certain point, it triggers the law into effect." Minister Shacklebolt allowed himself one last sigh to gather the remaining courage he needed to continue. "The law states that if the wizarding world's population dwindles past fifty percent, then the marriage law is triggered to repopulate the wizarding world."

The Great Hall was silent as the information that the students were just told sank in. Then the Hall was full of gasps of shock and anger. Hermione and Ginny turned to each other with looks of horror. Hermione couldn't believe what she was hearing. She was outraged.

The minister cleared his throat, and the Great Hall became quiet again. Once everyone was silent and looking at the podium, the minister continued on. "The Ministry became aware of the law starting to gain power about two months ago. Since the law was concealed with elemental magic, it takes longer for the effects from the magic to have drawn the amount of power from the elements to start showing up. The Ministry's research teams have been working tirelessly for the last two months trying to determine how to reverse the magic from happening. When the Ministry realized it was a possibility that the magic wouldn't be reversed by the time the effects of the magic would start, we put together a team that would determine the best possible steps to take if that were the case."

The sinking feeling in Hermione's stomach intensified to the point where she felt she might be sick. Hermione began listening twice as hard to the minister as he spoke to make sure she understood what was being said.

"The team delved into researching the effects and what the best possible options would be to minimize the power the effects will have on you. What we definitely know about the magic that surrounds this marriage law is that the magic has the ability to find the best possible partner for you and cause you to seek them out. We don't have answers to everything after that, but taking an educated guess, the magic will want to push until the couple is married and with child." The minister paused to see how they would take that piece of information. He was surprised that everyone was still quiet.

"We have determined that the effects won't start fully activating for another six months. The research teams are sure they won't have a way to reverse it by then, so we are starting with the plan to lessen the power of the magic. The research teams believe the sorting hat can determine who the best possible person is for you. That way, you will have time to get to know them and build a relationship instead of being thrown into one. The hope is that if you already have found that perfect someone, the magic effects will slow, and we'll gain more time to reverse the magic. So today, you will put on the sorting hat, and he will give you a name. I wish you all the best of luck." Minister Shacklebolt practically fled from the Great Hall so he wouldn't have to deal with their reactions to the news.

Hermione couldn't believe Kingsley really told them all of this and had the nerve to basically run before anyone could say anything. Hermione was angry. She had just fought a war, and now she is being told that her choices were being taken away. It seemed she wasn't the only one outraged. The Great Hall was filled with angry students who could be heard yelling outrageously about the situation they had been put into.

McGonagall walked back up to the podium, and the Great Hall slowly grew silent. "I'm sorry to inform you, but everyone must go through with this. I will bring the sorting hat out, and then we will begin." McGonagall walked over to the staff table and picked up the sorting hat from one of the chairs. She conjured a stool and placed the sorting hat down.

"I will be calling the girls up and placing the sorting hat on their heads. The sorting hat will then call the name of the person who best matches you. After you have your match, you will find a seat with them." McGonagall was angered by the whole situation. These were the kids she had taught their entire Hogwarts careers. The kids McGonagall watched grow up before her very eyes. She had seen each and every one of them as if they were her own sons and daughters. Now she had to watch a choice they should be making themselves on their own time taken away from them. McGonagall felt deeply for her students. McGonagall took a deep breath, looked at her list, and began.

"Luna Lovegood"

Hermione watched Luna walk up and sit on the stool. The sorting hat was placed onto her head, and a couple seconds later, the sorting hat yelled.

"Theodore Nott"

Hermione listened to pair after pair got matched. Some couples surprised Hermione; others made sense to her, like Neville Longbottom and Hannah Abbott. It seemed that the sorting hat was taking his time making the matches. Hermione was pulled from her thoughts by McGonagall calling her. Hermione was as nervous as she was on the day she got sorted. Hermione stood up on legs that felt like they had been hit by the jelly legs curse and somehow made it over to the stool without tripping over her feet. McGonagall placed the sorting hat on Hermione's head when she had sat down on the stool. The hat seemed to be just as big as Hermione remembered as it sank past her eyes.

"Oh, Ms. Granger, it's been a long time since I've seen a mind as intelligent as yours." The sorting hat seemed to be ruffling through her head. "Oh my, what do we have here? You no longer see yourself as the intelligent person that you are. There seem to be a few things you no longer believe about yourself. You also have lost the confidence you once had… and oh my, I see why."

"I don't see how any of this is your business," Hermione said, angered about what the sorting hat was telling her. Hermione hated the way the sorting hat was picking through her brain. None of this matters to the situation at hand anyway. Hermione thought to herself.

"Oh, but doesn't it, Ms. Granger? Doesn't the way you see yourself affect your relationships? You make it seem as if you don't deserve to be loved."

"I don't," Hermione said quickly.

Going solemn, the sorting hat continued on, "Hopefully, that will change in the future. I believe you need someone who will be determined to prove your worth. You are lost, Ms. Granger, and I know just the right person to help find you."

"Draco Malfoy" yelled the sorting hat.

Hermione couldn't believe what she was hearing. The sorting hat must be broken because Malfoy could not be the person for her. This all has to be a practical joke, Hermione thought to herself because that was the only way she got matched with Malfoy.

McGonagall took the sorting hat from Hermione's head, pulling her out of her thoughts. Hermione realized this was completely real and not some practical joke. She had just been matched with Malfoy. Hermione forced herself to stand and scanned the Slytherin's table until she found him sitting at the end of the table. She walked over to where he was sitting. When she got close, Malfoy stood up, offered her his hand, which she took, and helped her sit down.

Hermione watched the rest of the matches in silence. She watched Ron get matched with Tracey Davis, Ginny get matched with Blaise, which even she couldn't deny they looked adorable together, and most shockingly, Harry getting matched with Pansy.

McGonagall whisked the chair and sorting hat away and returned to the podium. "The last time this marriage law was in effect was when it was made. At the time, the students who found their match at school were given a dorm together in a separate part of the castle built for marriage law couples. Those original dorms still stand today and have gone untouched since that year. They closed themselves off from the rest of the castle. When the magic for the marriage law began showing itself, the dorms reappeared along with a portrait. There are enough dorms for every match."

McGonagall conjured a piece of parchment "You will have different rules this year because of the circumstances. Starting next weekend, you will be able to go to Hogsmeade and apparate to your home for the day so you can meet each other's parents and in the future when you are ready to begin planning your wedding. You will be able to do this every other weekend. You will be allowed to go to Hogsmeade every weekend. Just remember to keep up with your studies. Lastly, each match will have to go to the couples and parenting class once a week with Professor Holly. Your scheduled time is posted in your dorms. You start classes on Wednesday, so you can have some time to adjust, which means you don't have classes tomorrow." McGonagall, tired from the day's events, yawned. "It's late, so everyone follow me, and I will show you where the entrance that leads to your dorms is."

McGonagall led them to a part of the castle that seemed to have just appeared on the fourth floor. None of them could remember this section ever being here. This must have been what McGonagall was talking about, Hermione thought. She was looking around at the part of the castle that had appeared; it seemed to have a long corridor with small corridors that branched out from the main one. Making a mental note to look at them, she continued following McGonagall.

Hermione's eyes fell on the portrait at the end of the hallway. She had never seen such a beautiful painting in her life. The trim around the portrait had to be ancient; it was probably the oldest thing at Hogwarts besides the castle itself, but it was stunning. Hermione believed it had to have been made by the most skilled craftsman. It was made of metal, and all the details and designs made in the metal were perfect. Even the tiniest and delicate details were done masterfully in the trim to the painting. The masterful craftsmanship of the border didn't overshadow the painting. The painting was just as masterfully done. It looked so real she would have almost thought it was a wizarding photograph if not for the clothes signifying that it was before cameras were invented. The painting was of an extremely elegant woman with curly platinum blonde hair that was too long to fit into the painting. The woman wore an elegant white gown with gold trim. She looked as if she was a Greek goddess. Hermione was sure there wasn't another painting that could be compared with the one she was looking at.

Hermione was pulled from thoughts of the portrait when Headmistress McGonagall began talking. "This is the portrait that guards these dorms." waving a hand in front of the portrait. "The password is Matrimonium Lex. Have a good night." Headmistress McGonagall left back down the corridor they just came from, heading to her office.

Before anyone could say the password, the kindest and most elegant voice could be heard coming from the portrait. "Hello. My name is Isabel." the portrait paused, looking at each of them. Hermione felt as if the portrait was seeing through to her darkest secrets, and it was making her uncomfortable. The portrait began speaking again, "All of you must have had a long day. Each of you looks like you could use some good rest. If someone tells me the password, I can let you into rest."

Hermione was the one to speak up. "Matrimonium Lex."

The portrait swung open to allow them to enter. Hermione first entered a long corridor with doors all along the corridor on both sides. Hermione noticed that the dorms were relatively large if she went by how the doors were spaced. As Hermione was walking past the first set of doors, she noticed that each door had the name of a couple written on it. Hermione kept walking until she got to the door that said Malfoy and Granger. It was the last door on the left at the end of the corridor.

Hermione reached for the doorknob when she felt the room's magic accept her magical signature. Hermione was surprised to realize that their dorms were warded at all. It was more surprising that the dorm was warded to only allow in the occupants staying in the rooms. Of course, other people could come in, but they would have to be with her or Malfoy.

Opening the door, Hermione was greeted with a huge Common Room. There was a fireplace on the right side of the room. It had a comfortable-looking setting area in front of it. To the left of where she first walked in, there were two mahogany desks for studying at. On the wall in the back of the room to the right, there is an archway that leads to a small kitchen. The left side of the back wall, there was a door that Hermione didn't know where it had led to yet. She was highly excited that bookcases lined the walls everywhere, but the desks and the back wall were.

Hermione made her way over to the door on the back wall and opened the door to the most oversized bedroom she had ever seen. There were two huge black dressers on either side of the door when she first walked in. On the left side of the room, there was a black vanity that Hermione was already planning to use. There were small bookshelves along all the empty walls where Hermione could store her books. Centered with the middle of the back wall sat a queen-sized bed that Hermione feared she would be sharing with Malfoy. The bed came off the ground just enough that they would be able to store their trunks under it. On either side of the bed sat an end table. At the foot of the bed, a black chest sat that could store Hermione's blankets.

There was a door on the right side wall towards the back of the room. Hermione made her way into the last room, which turned out to be a bathroom with lightly tanned walls and a black and beautifully designed tiled floor. The bathroom had a shower, bath, toilet, double sink, and some cabinets for storage.

"I'm assuming you like the dorm," Draco asked her as he poked his head in the bathroom to see what it looked like.

"Yea, I do. It's pretty and comfortable." Hermione felt nervous talking to Malfoy.

Draco looked at Hermione and seemed to be searching her face for something when he appeared to have found it. "I don't want us to be treading carefully as if the other is a hippogriff. I've made mistakes in my past, and I'm trying to atone for them. The mistakes in my past have hurt others, you, more than most. I want you to know that I really do sincerely apologize for what my actions have done to you." Draco put his mask down wanting Hermione to realize that he regretted what he had done.

Hermione was shocked at what she was hearing; she had no clue what to say. Maybe the rumor she heard about Malfoy changing after the war was true, she thought to herself. She looked up at him and knew by the emotions written on his face that he had complete remorse for what had happened. Hermione, surprising herself, said, "I forgive you."

"Thank you so much. I don't deserve your forgiveness, but I appreciate it." Draco smiled at Hermione

Hermione, wanting the conversation to change, joked, "This doesn't change the fact that I will not be sharing a bed with you, Malfoy."

Draco chuckled, "I figured. I had already planned to sleep on the couch."

Hermione surprised she didn't have to argue about it with him, said, "Good. Now have you seen the parchment that says when we are to see the new professor?" Hermione started walking to the Common Room to look for it.

"It's on one of the desks." Replied Draco

Hermione made her way over to the desks and found the parchment. She looked it over. "We are to meet with the new professor tomorrow at 9 in the morning."

"So much for no classes tomorrow," said Draco.

"I don't think it's really a class" Hermione was hoping it wasn't. She felt it would be as useless as Divination.

"Probably not." Replied Draco, yawning. "Well, I'm going to make myself a bed on the couch. Goodnight, Granger."

"Goodnight, Malfoy." Hermione walked back into the bedroom.

Hermione couldn't believe how much had changed in the last couple of hours. She had been told that an old law would force her into marriage, the sorting hat had chosen Malfoy as her match, and now she was basically living with him. Hermione was exhausted from thinking about it all. She climbed into bed, unsure how to feel about it all. Hermione replayed the events of today over and over until she fell asleep.