A/N: Hello! This is Seventh year. Marriage Law. Last year at Hogwarts. I'm really excited. As you know, I'm not J K Rowling thus I do not own the Harry Potter franchise and no copyright infringement is intended. This is written purely for my own (and yours?) entertainment.

I know this chapter is seriously short but I need to keep up the pace. I've got a massive list with dates and everything saying what needs to happen when. I've done quite a lot of research for this story but it won't all be cannon.

I'm sorry this note is so long. Enjoy!

LILY'S P.O.V

I'm going back to Hogwarts for the very last time (see what I did there, fellow Starkid fans?) but this time as Head Girl. James finally told me about this Epiphany of the Soul, he's convinced we're soul mates. As if. Soul mates do not exist. I told him that and he just smirked at me and said 'we'll see'. I think he's trying to prove it to me throughout the school year or something. I wish him luck.

James is the Head Boy. It was mightily awkward when he got his letter because everyone was looking expectantly at Remus. So when James turned out to be Head Boy, everyone was really surprised and kind of disappointed. I wasn't. I mean, Remus would have been the obvious choice looking at his sensibility and intelligence but James outshined him in the intelligence department and he's actually quite sensible. That doesn't mean they all are, though. Wormtail (Jesus, I've started using the Marauder's nicknames now) is still as hilariously childish and immature as ever and Padfoot (what can I say? They've rubbed off on me) is no less of a troublemaker than he was seven years ago.

Marlene is very happy with Padfoot and it's amazing to see her so upbeat and cheerful. Alice and Remus have been getting rather close, which is adorably sweet. Remus and I are still best friends, I don't know what I'd do without him. As for James… I love him more than I've ever loved anything. He's the love of my life and he makes me complete. That sounds cheesy but it's true.

I've managed to persuade James to meet Tuney and Vernon (ugh) for dinner in the Christmas Holidays before they get married. James was kind of intrigued by my Muggle sister and her fiancé. Heaven knows why, together they're the most unpleasant company I have ever had the misfortune to encounter. I keep trying though. Petunia is my sister and I love her, despite her nuptial choices in Vernon. I still can't get my head around that – Petunia and Vernon. She's way better than that pompous overweight weasel.

Besides, she needs my help with the wedding now that mum and dad are dead. Deep breath. I'm recovering from shock and being mentally unstable according to St. Mungo's. I'm still angry that Dumbledore felt the need to get me looked at by healers. I'm fine. It was a Vereor. Why can't people just let it go?

JAMES' P.O.V

SORTING CEREMONY – DUMBLEDORE'S SPEECH

"…would like you to welcome Minister for Magic, Mr Valcon."

There's a polite applause. The Minister steps up to the podium and clears his throat.

"As I'm sure you know, this war is at its height. People are dying faster than we can recruit them. Not to mention that the unity of the Wizarding World is crumbling. After a lot of deliberation, the Wizengamot and I have decreed that a Marriage Law be put into place –"

The whole hall shouts and yells in indignation. I join in shouting about freedom and pride. You can feel the angry buzz in the air, even the Slytherins are joining in the protest.

"SILENCE!" Dumbledore's voice rings throughout the hall and not a single person defies the order.

"Thank you, Professor Dumbledore," the Minister bows his head in Dumbledore's direction, "I know this law will be seen as intrusive and extreme however, the Wizengamot has searched for an alternative and there is none. The Marriage Law will not only bring people closer through marriage but ensure that more children are born. We cannot allow the Wizarding population to suffer and for our race to die out –"

"You're raising pigs for slaughter!" Lily shouts from our table. This is followed by a chorus of agreement.

"The Death Eaters wouldn't dare harm children with Magical Blood –"

"You're wrong! They'd kill anyone on the Light Side," Marlene pipes up on our table.

"The Wizengamot have decided that this is the best way to go. All children born from the Marriage Law will be protected by the Ministry –"

"The Ministry is crumbling! The Dark Side is infiltrating it! You can't even protect yourselves!" a Ravenclaw screams at the Minister.

"We can. The Ministry is strong and cannot be defeated. It is the force behind equality and goodness. We are very much in control of the situation!"

"No you're not!"

"SILENCE!" the Minister cries over the hall, "as I was saying, the law will only affect those of age and above - from seventeen to fifty. Ages will be matched as well so you will be paired with someone of similar age. If however, the person whom you are paired with is under the required age, you will have to wait until after your graduation to become married. So of course the law will primarily affect those in sixth and seventh year. The law will not affect the Slytherin House –"

"That's not fair!"

"It will not affect the Slytherin House as they are believed to be conspiring against the Light Side with He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. To ensure security, the Slytherins will be mostly isolated from the rest of the school. No lessons will be shared with them, nor will they interact with students from other houses –"

"You can't automatically assume every Slytherin is a Death Eater!" Lily says and she looks very determined.

"This is for security and safety, little girl. I don't expect you would understand," he frowns disapprovingly in her direction. I scowl at him, how dare he say that to Lily. "You will be paired using the Anima Charm. It will find your best suited mate. You will be expected, unless one of you is not of age, to marry and conceive a child within five years of becoming married. If one of you is infertile, potions can be taken. The Anima Charm will be performed shortly before Christmas. Enjoy your evening."

"I can't believe it! This is utterly ridiculous. They can't expect people to get married at seventeen."

Lily's been ranting in the Head Girl and Boy's common room for about half an hour. I've been listening intently but mostly admiring how attractive she is when she's irritated.

"What if we're not paired together," she says suddenly.

"We will be," I reassure her, "we're soul mates."

"Not that again! There's no such thing as soul mates!"

"There is," I smile, it's cool knowing something she doesn't, "the Epiphany of the Soul –"

"I don't care about the Epiphany! I don't need the Epiphany of the Soul as proof that I love you. Soul mates cant be real, it's like your whole life is planned around one person and you can't ever do this or that. It's oppressive... I'm too tired to go through this again," she sighs, sitting down next to me.

"I'm going to convince you we're soul mates by Christmas."

"Impossible."

"How much are you betting?"

"Nothing."

"Aw come on, play along."

"Fine. If you're right, then I will let you name our child."

"You're on. I'm thinking Pickety Johnson Potter."

"Pickety? You made that up."

"I did," I admit.

"It should be illegal to name your child Pickety Johnson Potter."

"You said I could choose!"

"I said you could choose if you were right."

"And I know I'm right, so Pickety Johnson Potter it is."

"Don't you dare," she says.

"What? Should we name them after the Giant Squid you love so very much? Squirty Squid Pickety Johnson Potter."

"You're ridiculous," she says, laughing anyway.

I love making Lily laugh.

"If you're not careful, I'll divorce you and run off with the Giant Squid," she jokes.

"You'd run off with our child?"

"Of course not! That's revolting, James. I'm talking about the mega hot squid in the lake which I would rather go out with."

"You wouldn't do that."

"No you're right, I wouldn't."

She leans over and kisses me.

"I love you, you know," she says.

"I do know and I'm lucky."

She smiles and we snuggle up together on the sofa by the fire. What could be better?

SEVERUS' P.O.V

This law does not affect those in the Slytherin House…

Great. Now the entire world thinks all Slytherins are evil. I should be happy that the Marriage Law does not affect me but what about Lily? What if she gets paired with Potter? I've heard a few rumours speculating that Lily and Potter are dating. She wouldn't, would she? Not that it matters.

I can't help being pleased that Lily stood up for the Slytherins.

"You can't automatically assume every Slytherin is a Death Eater!"

The thing is, you can. Virtually everyone is a Death Eater in Slytherin with the exception of Mudbloods who normally get assaulted and murdered and people who are under age. But they're all planning to get the Mark and become Death Eaters later so you could count them as part of the Dark Side as well. The Dark Lord isn't picky. If you're talented or easily manipulated, he'll recruit you. Or at least try. Nobody ever says no. He always has something to offer you. For me it was my father's death, for Narcissa it was her family's safety. Those who have said no aren't alive anymore. You'd have to be either a lunatic or really gifted with magic or both to survive defying him.

What scares me most of all is that his attention has turned to Lily. It's quite evident that Lily is one of the most talented magical people since Merlin. The Dark Lord is willing to overstep the fact that she's a Muggle-Born. I know what she's going to say and I'm scared for her life. What scares me more is what he will offer her.

This is why I must rise up the ranks fast so I can try and get the Dark Lord to spare her life. If only I had something I could offer him. Something he needs but cannot get by using magic. Then, I could stand a chance at protecting her.