Chapter 3: Deadlines

After supper, Hermione had gone up to the girls' dormitories and refused to come down. Harry and Ron had shouted up the stairs for ten minutes to no avail, then tried to climb the stairs, which turned into a slide and deposited them back in the common room. They eventually gave up when Ginny came down and told them to leave her alone for a while.

"She's still coming to terms with the fact that she'll be married to Malfoy. Let her alone."

In the dormitories, Hermione sat with the drapes drawn around her bed. Why do I have to be the one paired with Malfoy? He's a stupid prick who will never be kind to a mudblood like me. I'll be stuck with him forever.

The fact was that wizarding marriages did last forever. There was no such thing as a divorce in the wizarding world; you stayed with your partner until death. Wizards thought of divorce as nothing more than muggles running away from their problems instead of trying to fix them. Well, whoever thought up those rules had to be a Gryffindor. She thought. No one in Slytherin would ever be that brave.

As she changed from her school robes into more comfortable pajamas, she thought about the year to come. They would apparently be having a marriage counseling class, helping them get through the year. Well, I'd be stupid not to think that Malfoy and I will surely need that class. Anyone who knows us would be able to guess that we hate each others guts.

Just then, a beautiful grey owl swooped in the window and landed on the edge of her bed, hooting softly. Hermione carefully took the roll of parchment it was holding and it nuzzled her hand before flying off. Opening the letter, she smiled when she saw Mrs. Weasley's handwriting. She would be one of the few marriage counselors for their year. Wouldn't Ron be happy to hear that.

The next morning, the Great Hall was abuzz with conversation as word of the marriage law got around to the younger years. After breakfast, they were escorted out of the hall, and the eighth years were instructed to rise from the tables. McGonnagal waved her wand and the tables disappeared, being replaced with desks for two people.

"If you would, please be seated with your partners. I know that many of you are not happy with this marriage law," there was venom behind her words. "but these are the ministry's orders and we must follow them." The students grumbled, but did what they were asked. Malfoy came over to Hermione, who had managed to get a desk by Harry and Ron. When he opened his mouth to say something, she cut him off. "Just to make things clear, Malfoy, I am just as unhappy as you are to be paired together. If we could refrain from arguing, maybe we'll get through this."

He slid into the seat next to her, eyes flashing. "Well, Granger, I was about to say the same thing. I guess the Ministry did choose a good match for us."

She was fuming. But before she could reply, McGonnagal began speaking again. "Now, I would like to introduce your marriage counselor for this year. Mrs. Weasley, if you would stand please."

Ron visible paled. "Bloody hell," he whispered to Harry and Hermione. "My mum is going to be helping us with our marriages."

Mrs. Weasley waved her wand and two stacks, one of notebooks and one of books, began floating around the room. "Now, I would like each of you to take one book and one notebook. The book contains the deadlines for the marriage law, and the notebook is to record dates in. Today, I would like you to read through the deadlines and decide with your partner on a wedding date. Please also decide on a date with your friends or family to shop for wedding attire. If you need any assistance, please raise your hand."

Hermione opened her book to page ten and began to read.

Cutoff #1: Wedding

Your wedding may be no later than May 1st. Your wedding day must not be any time after this date. If you fail to choose a wedding date before December 31st, the Ministry will make your choice for you.

How unfair, she thought. What if you want a summer wedding? Or better yet, what if you don't want to have anything to do with this stupid law? Seeing as Malfoy was still reading, she decided to read ahead, so she had an idea of what else she had to do.

Cutoff #2: Pregnancy

She gasped, knots in her stomach. Forcing them together with someone they didn't really know was already unfair, but this?

All females must be with child by April 30st. Any couple not expecting by then will be given a one month extension of the deadline. Any couples who, after this allowance, are not expecting, will have agreed to relinquish their magic and banishment from the wizarding community.

"Complete and utter rubbish. What does the ministry think they're doing, ordering us around with marriage? I mean, not that I don't want to be Harry's bride," said Ginny, while twisting her ring around her finger. "but don't you think this is a little too soon?"

The Gryffindor girls sat on the dormitory floor, painting each others nails with the colorful muggle polish Hermione had brought with her that year.

Hermione was glad her parents were muggles. That meant they wouldn't have to find out about the marriage law from the daily prophet, and that Hermione had more time to work out how to tell them that she had been paired with the boy who had terrorized her throughout her years at Hogwarts.

Meanwhile, in the Slytherin boys' dormitories, Draco Malfoy was thinking about his unfortunate luck to be paired with Hermione Granger.

Why the stupid Mudblood? Merlin, I wouldn't have minded if I had gotten paired with Pansy Parkinson. She's annoying as hell but at least she's a pureblood. Now I not only have to live with Granger, but marry her and have children too! Dear Merlin, the Ministry's more stupid than I thought!

"Now, since last year, when it was destroyed by Fiendfyre, the Room of Requirement has been repaired. Unfortunately, it is no longer a shifting room." The class groaned. Many of them had known about the room, and had hidden there when they hadn't wanted to go to classes.

Mrs. Weasley continued to speak. "The size of your house will be decided based on the grade average of you and your partner. The higher your average, the larger your home will be."

"Well, Granger, this has got to be one of the only good things that comes out of marrying you. At least we'll have a house fit for a pureblood like myself."

Hermione ignored him as she swung her messenger bag over her shoulder and stalked out of the classroom with the rest of the students, leaving Draco to trail after her.

When the class reached the room, professor McGonnagal began to read off the addresses of the pairs while Mrs. Weasley gave them keys to the homes. "As soon as your name is read, please receive your keys and proceed towards that address. Even numbered houses are to my right, odds to my left.

Hermione and Draco were number eleven, with Harry and Ginny and Ron and Pansy as neighbors. Their house was large but simple. A light grey color with a white fence and golden gargoyles on the windowsills. A fragrant lemon tree stood magnificently in the front yard. Hermione paused in the living room. An elegant staircase led up towards what Hermione assumed were the bedrooms. Three doors led to different parts of the house. Suddenly, she heard Malfoy calling from upstairs.

"GRANGER! GET UP HERE!" he shouted.

"Well, you could say please." She muttered, and climbed the stairs, walking into an emerald green bedroom with thick black and gold curtains.

"What do you want?" she asked, irritated. "I was going to see if this gigantic house had a library."

He stood at the end of the bed, smirking. "What?!" Hermione said, exasperated. Then she noticed.

Malfoy stood at the end of the bed. The only bed in the room.

This was going to be hell.

Well, what do you think? Sorry it took me so long to update, I had a bunch of tests at school. I'll try to update either Wednesdays or Saturdays or both. Reviews and helpful criticism are appreciated!

-Hazel-