…Rufus Scimour the current minister of magic. Dumbledore noticed the young girl's arrival and immediately stopped speaking however Scimour wasn't quite so sharp and continued on

"I am sure they will be satisfied with their partners Dumbledore, they were matched to the highest of standards. In fact I think you will find-"

Dumbledore cut him of here, whether this was for Hermione's or his own sake or for his own (crumbling) insanity is unclear.

"Hermione my dear, what's the matter?" He asked softly. His cornflower eyes twinkling. Hermione however said nothing, she did not even attempt to seek eye contact with him, instead she simply handed him the letter.

His marvellous brain digested the letter almost instantly and he pulled his arm around the girl, affectionately rubbing her arm the pushed the incriminating letter towards Scimour.

"I am sorry Dumbledore, but I do fail to see what the problem is" He said slowly.

"You mean, you honestly expect her to marry him?" Dumbledore spat his voice accusing but his face neutral. Truth be told he was kind of expecting something like this to happen, as he had known that the Dark Lord must get married along with the rest of them. It was only when he saw her face chocked up with pain; condemned seemed to be spelt on it, that he truly realised what this would do.

"The ministry has been infiltrated hasn't it?" in a voice barely raised above a whisper.

Scimours face grew dark with anger "You know full well its impossible to do that! Especially with your little touches Dumbledore!" To be frank he wasn't overly concerned about Miss Grangers problems he was too busy worrying about his marriage to Minerva McGonagall, even someone with his "position" couldn't wiggle their way out or even tweak the effects of this law. "If you doubt it then why don't you ask that blasted hat of yours who did this infernal matchmaking!"

"Great idea" Dumbledore beamed. Startling his companions a little. And with that he left the room to retrieve said item. When he returned he saw them looking (if it was possible) even more agitated.

Dumbledore beamed again before placing the filthy hat on the desk and proceed to question it.

"Did you place Miss Granger with Tom Riddle" he asked, not paying attention to Scimours shudder at his mention of the name. However the hat merely chucked in the affirmative.

"I am afraid, that I have to ask why" the headmaster said showing the hat the respect it deserved.

The hat just continued to chuckle "Headmaster, cant you see it? Their shared desire for knowledge, their denial of rules, egger to prove. Their pasts and their personalities?"

Dumbledore cut in here "Miss Granger is nothing like tom personality wise!"

"True but who would want to be married to someone with exactly the same personality, they are more complimentary"

This time it was Hermione who cut in "don't worry, I'll do it2 she whispered .

"Don't you realise the danger you are putting yourself in?" Dumbledore's hand was resting on her shoulder protectively.

"I'm strong" she whispered (trying to convince herself more than them)

"You are Harry Potter's best friend aren't you?" the minister interrupted, reminding the pair of his long forgotten presence.

She merely nodded.

"And you are a muggle-born?"

Again just a nod.

"I am sorry" the minister offered.

She nodded again not paying much attention to the pair. Motioned her goodbye and left them to brew in events. While she went to break the news to her friends. She felt like she had betrayed Harry, like she had a noose ready made for him.

"A true Gryffindor if I ever saw one" the hat noted.