Obligatory Marriage Law Fic Chapter 1, a harry potter fanfic

With a sigh, Hermione folded the Daily Prophet neatly and set it next to her plate.

"Nothing new, Mione?" asked Harry cautiously. For the past few weeks, Hermione had been strangely calm considering the circumstances and Harry in particular was just waiting for the explosion.

The downturn of the girl's lip showed her displeasure as she responded, "Of course there's something new. When isn't the news focused on this new law these days?" No one in earshot missed her resigned tone.

"McGonagall is working on it. I'm sure she'll find a loophole or something for you." Harry dropped his fork and reached across the table to lay a comforting hand on his best friend's arm.

Meanwhile, their other best friend had also abandoned his food to grab the paper Hermione had set down. He threw a glare at his sister for nabbing Harry's copy before he could.

Ginny was intently scanning the page as though searching for something she'd missed. A moment later, she gave up and asked, "What's new? It looks like the same old rot to me. …Compatibility testing… Pro-Muggleborn program to assist with integration into wizarding society through marriage to a pureblood house… yadda, yadda, yadda."

Hermione allowed herself a moment by taking a drink of her morning tea as Ginny looked at her impatiently. Ron had also stopped reading to hear her response - likely since that was much easier than trying to read it himself.

"Yes, we already know about the bloodline study proving inbreeding is causing a detrimental effect on magic levels and causing outright infertility. We know about the Ministry's questionable Muggleborn Integration Initiative in response. We know everyone and their mother has an opinion. But, the part about Teen Witch Weekly doing a piece on the compatibility test is new."

"So? It's just a silly kids magazine."

Hermione gave up on her tea and sighed in exasperation, but shifted to face Ron for a lengthy explanation. "Firstly, Ronald, it's not just a silly kids' magazine. I know for a fact that your own mother subscribes and reads it regularly. It also just happens to be the only long-running, mainstream media source in Wizarding Britain besides The Prophet. Furthermore-"

"You've forgotten about the Quibbler," interrupted Ginny.

"No, I haven't. Not only is the Quibbler not widely considered mainstream, but it's also only been in print for about 8 years." She shook her head at how surprised her three friends appeared by that news, but continued on. "Teen Witch Weekly on the other hand published their 60 year anniversary edition just last year. That means our - your parents grew up reading and trusting that 'silly kids magazine' too. Teen Witch Weekly reaches as much of the wizarding world as the Daily Prophet, maybe more."

Hermione's slip up mentioning her parents didn't seem to affect her composure as much as it had, so she tried to finish the discussion succinctly before anyone could interrupt.

"Just the fact that they've mentioned an article in the other news source means that they approve and if The Daily Prophet approves, then we know the Ministry approves - and very likely orchestrated the article."

"But what does that mean?" stressed Ginny.

Hermione reached for her bag and stated, "It means I have to get my hands on this week's Teen Witch Weekly." With that she stood and strode out of the Great Hall, leaving her friends either still mulling on her words or staring after her.

After she was out the door, Ginny turned to Harry and nearly exploded, "How can she stay so - so… clinical?! She acts like this isn't affecting her directly and she's acting like she doesn't care if she ends up having to marry a troll, like Goyle!"

Ron shuddered, "Why him?!"

Harry ran a hand through his already messy hair, and replied, "Hermione already explained that yesterday. With the requirement only being for muggleborns and purebloods most affected by inbreeding…"

"Right," gulped Ron with disgust clearly showing on his face.

"Nevermind who she'll have to marry. She's being forced into a marriage and she hasn't gotten upset about it once!"

Harry shook his head and disagreed, "No, you didn't see her when they announced it back in June. She was furious."

Ginny deflated and sunk back onto the bench. "How did books calm her down so much then? Do you think she's in denial?"

Harry shrugged, but Ron turned bright red then mumbled, "She's not in denial."

Two pairs of suspicious eyes were on him causing him to shift sideways on the bench away.

"Explain."

"I didn't do anything, I swear, Gin! I just, well, it's that I can't do anything."

Ginny's foot started tapping and her hand was hopefully unconsciously reaching for her wand.

Ron continued, "It's just that, well, right before we came to Hogwarts, she asked me if I could 'help' but Mum absolutely forbade it. She made Dad swear an oath that he wouldn't sign off on any of us for the law. I suppose that means Charlie could still do it… should I owl him?"

Ginny had her hands over her mouth and still appeared shocked at what Ron said.

"What is it?" asked her boyfriend.

Ginny glanced nervously around to make sure no one was paying too much attention to their conversation instead of their own. Satisfied, she still lowered her voice and whispered, "Entering the draw voluntarily isn't the only way to help her. What precisely did she ask you?"

Ron looked confused. "Dunno. She just asked if I could help her. I told her what Mum did when we all heard about the law. I dunno why she didn't remember that herself though. Maybe she was still in shock."

Harry looked contemplatively at his girlfriend, whose head was now in her hands. He was about to ask what was wrong now, when she bolted up and harshly whispered, "Ron, she knew. Of course she knew what Mum did. That wasn't what she was asking about. I have to go find her!"

That left two Gryffindor boys alone at their table, utterly confused and noticing that they'd have to hurry to get to class on time.

Ginny hadn't had time to find Hermione before classes herself, but she did take the time to stop at the library to pick up a copy of the new law. Since it was so widely applicable to Hogwart's students, Headmistress Mcgonagall had announced that unlimited copies would be available at all times. She didn't seem to agree with the law, but she did make it clear that she wanted no misunderstandings regarding it.

Ginny spent History of Magic reading over the law again. It wasn't in very difficult legalese or anything, but it was very long and had sections that wouldn't apply for several years or in very unusual situations. It was one of those sections though, which had drawn Ginny's attention now.

…Exemptions include prior betrothal, engagement, or marriage agreements filed with the Ministry no later than July 1st, 1998; prior health issue confirmed by Head Healer Arkin and registered with the Ministry no later than September 1st, 1998; prior pregnancy confirmed by Head Healer Arkin and registered with the Ministry no later than October 21st, 1998; and voluntary magic and memory removal overseen by Head Healer Vaney and registered with the Ministry. Other exceptions should be brought to the Muggleborn Integration Committee for consideration.

*** Section Break ***

Hermione sat at her makeshift desk in the 7th and 8th year girl's dorm and flattened out a crumpled piece of parchment. Once she'd smoothed it out as well as she could, she waved her wand and finished the job with magic. The sheet looked fresh and new again, but still had the writing on it that Hermione forced herself to read for possibly the thousandth time.

Dear Ms. Hermione Jean Granger,

Congratulations! You've been selected to participate in the first round of the new Muggleborn Integration Initiative. This opportunity has been constructed by the greatest minds in Muggle Studies, Mind Healing, Genealogical Research, and House Heritage to offer equal footing for Muggleborns with their Pureblood counterparts while also promoting the growth of our magical society. We're so happy to welcome you to the program! Caseworker Penelope Clearwater has been assigned your case and will be contacting you with more details soon. We ask that you gather the following personal information to present to your caseworker for ease of processing:

• Any Muggle Medical Records
• Muggle Birth Certificates
• One other form of Muggle identification
• Previously run Gringotts Inheritance Test Results (when applicable)
• Proof of Wizarding Education Completion (or progress)

Best Wishes,

Lady Griselda May Marchbanks
Acting Head of the Ancient and Noble House of Marchbanks
Head of the Muggleborn Integration Committee
Head of the Ministry of Magic Department of Magical Education

She stopped herself from sighing and instead focused on placing the flattened sheet carefully between the pages of an emerald leatherbound journal. She'd originally purchased the notebook as a gift to Harry thinking that it matched his eyes, but later she second guessed her decision and had left the book at the bottom of her trunk. But she'd finally found a use for it and had been using it to sort out her thoughts and plans regarding this new law and what it meant for her future.

The next crumpled sheet of parchment got the same treatment as the first and again, Hermione read the words again as she placed the parchment between another couple pages.

Ms. Granger,

It is due to your performance within school and your excellence during the War outside of school that have made you a prime candidate for this program. As such we are unable to grant your request for exemption based on these merits alone. Your point about timing and the effect on your education has been taken into consideration. For the benefit of all, we have determined that you will be reassigned to the second phase of implementation. If there is another reason you feel you should still be exempt please don't hesitate to present it to Caseworker Clearwater for review. However, I would greatly encourage you to consider the benefits of participation - not only for yourself, but for the future of our society.

Best Wishes,

The next letter had singed edges that weren't repaired by Hermione's spell, but she read through it and carefully placed it as well.

Hermione,

You're right that the second phase was originally scheduled for the new year. However, the Committee has decided to move up the timeline due to unforeseen consequences of the first phase compatibility results. The first two phases will now follow the same timeline. The alternate suggestion was to grant Pureblood volunteers more liberties within the contracts to entice more participation, so I think you'll agree that this decision really was the preferable one.

Your new Final Determination date will be October 31st. As such, you will need to present yourself to St. Mungos for the Compatibility testing before September 1st but preferably as soon as possible.

Penny

Hermione had already been through so much fighting this archaic law. She glanced over her notes on the next page and saw all of her ideas from the last few months already crossed off. She'd tried everything she could think of to wriggle free. Nothing had worked. Even when she had thought she'd bought herself more time, somehow that progress had been undone by this "compatibility testing."

She glanced over at Parvati's copy of Teen Witch Weekly lying untouched on her sparse desk. A hint of guilt assuaged Hermione's mind at her roommate's plight. Parvati was a shell of her former self. After losing her best friend in the final battle, she now also had to deal with this law. Hermione hadn't had the heart to ask how it came about, but both the Patil twins were known to be dreading their entry into the law. Knowing that the Patil parents were strict traditionalists, Hermione thought it equally likely that they volunteered their daughters as it was that their line had been decreed inbred.

A flick of her wand had the magazine in her hand. She glanced sadly at the space that had previously been occupied by Lavender Brown's bed. Of course the beds had been shifted around to disguise the missing bed and beds had even been added to accommodate the 7th year girls, but Hermione and Parvati knew. The brunette had caught her roommate staring at the blank wall above Ginny's trunk. That had been the site of the two fashion obsessed girl's shrine. They had updated it with pictures cut from Teen Witch Weekly and other inane (to Hermione) decor to suit their current objects of interest. It sat barren now, a sign of Parvati's pain, but Hermione had no clue what to do about it. It almost hurt to look through the Teen Witch Weekly without seeing a single sign of wear let alone missing pictures.

She added, "Help Parvati somehow" to her list and then turned her attention to the article about compatibility testing. She'd moped long enough. It was time to get to work.