A/N - I told you it was on the way. Thanks for not giving up on me! Same deal here. Feel free to let me know how you feel (suggestions, comments, PRAISES *hint hint*, criticisms). I'm always looking for ways to improve! I would also love it if you reviewed just for the sake of reviewing. You're all wonderful :)

Thanks, again!
-Mel xoxo

Chapter 1 – Breaking News

It happened on the 17th of August. I was in the kitchen, making a stew, expecting Ron and Harry at any moment. We were going to have our weekly get together and this week we'd planned for my house. This one day a week seemed to be all we had for each other, now days. Things had become so hectic. Harry had his job – an Auror, of course. Ron, working for the ministry, as well, never had any time once he'd taken over his father's position. And then there was me, working as a Professor at Hogwarts.

But this is all beside the point. What is really important is what happened next…

"Breaking News: The Ministry has put into law a…"

I didn't get the chance to hear the rest. I knew it was important but the moment I heard that loud crack in my living room, I couldn't help but drop everything and run to greet my best friends.

"Ron! Harry! My goodness, it's so good to see you!" I shouted.

"Gosh, 'Mione. It's great to see you, too." Ron said, exasperated from my tight grasp. Harry laughed as I released Ron and proceeded with his own attack. When I'd finally released them both, I realized that they both seemed a little off.

"Why do you too look so glum? In need of a little fire whiskey to wash away the long week of work?" I asked, halfway joking.

"Well, 'Mione, there's been a bit of a fuss going on at the Ministry. We've been avoiding talking about—"

"What Ron is trying to say is that we were hoping things wouldn't come to this. There's been some issues lately going on as far as Wizarding population goes. Maybe you should sit down…"

"No, I'm fine. It must be important so let's get on with it." I said as I poured them each a glass of wine.

"Well, the thing is, since the War, the Purebloods – despite our efforts—have not really ceased their… prejudices. And, well, it's quickly becoming a problem for us all. The Pureblood lines are growing smaller and smaller and if we don't do something about it as quickly as we can, it could deplete our entire race. This won't really affect our generation directly but from here on out, things could get bad." Harry explained.

"Okay… so what exactly are you telling me? Is this what they were talking about on the news just now?"

"Yes, we tried to make it here before you saw it. We thought the news might be better coming from us. " Ron told me. I was beginning to get a bad feeling in my stomach.

"Just tell me what is going on already!"

"The Ministry has passed a marriage law." Ron blurted, no emotion in his voice.

I sat silently. What could I say really? Could the Ministry really force me to marry someone? It's not like I was any threat to the Wizarding Race. I would marry whoever I fell in love with. That was the plan, at least. Bloodlines don't make a difference to me when choosing with whom I will spend the rest of my life.

"Aren't you going to say anything?" Harry asked, concern evident in his expression.

"What can I say? I don't see how this could possibly—" And then it hit me. They were telling that the Ministry was going to force me to marry. It was going to affect me in the most direct way possible. I was going to have to get married. "No. You must be joking. They couldn't possibly mean to force me to get married. It's preposterous."

"Hermione, I'm so sorry—"

"Don't you dare, Harry Potter. Don't you dare say you're sorry. Were you two involved in this? Why didn't you tell me sooner? There must be something I can do, something I can say. They must see reason. This is tyranny!" I was having a breakdown. I could feel it. They could see it. I wanted nothing more at that moment than to sink into a fluffy chair and lose myself in someone else's life, in some story.

I could feel them, now. They caught me, mid faint, and were taking me to my room. I could see the lights fading, feel their voices getting farther away. They were trying to make it all better. But, nothing could soothe me at this point. My entire life was just signed away by some Ministry official. So much for love. So much for happiness. What did they expect from me?

I could feel myself falling into a state of unconsciousness and I had no desire to put a stop to it. Maybe, I'll wake up and this will all have been a dream. Maybe, I've hit my head, I thought. There is no way the Ministry could do this to me. Not after all I've done for our World.

After what felt like only moments, I woke. The room was bright, however. It was as if it were morning.

I climbed slowly out of bed, thinking to myself that it must have been a dream and reluctantly began my morning routine. I jumped when I heard a knock on my bedroom door.

"Hermione?" It was Harry's voice behind the door. Oh, no, I thought. This can't be good. "Hermione, are you awake?"

"Er—yes." I said as I approached the door. I opened it to see my two best friends, concern drawn all over there aging faces.

"Hermione, are you alright?"

"I'm fine." I said, the reality finally sinking in. "What time is it?"

"It's three in the afternoon. You were unconscious for hours. We were beginning to really be concerned."

"No, I'm fine. Really, I am." I lied, clenching my teeth. "So, who am I to marry?"