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Marriage is a great institution, but I'm not ready for an institution.

Mae West


Hermione shuddered to think what could ever distract a Weasley from its supper. Drawing her wand, she cautiously made her way through the kitchen, ears strained for any sign of trouble. She could faintly hear voices coming from the next room, and she cast a silencing spell on her feet before moving across the dark hall. There were still Death Eater insurgents eluding the Ministry's capture, and naturally the Burrow would be a target.

With her wand drawn, she edged towards the living room door and listened quietly.

"- I don't see how there's any way they can get away with it!" came what she instantly recognized as Harry's voice. The smooth yet grave tones of Kingsley interrupted him.

"Whether they can or not, the fact remains that they are. It will be made public at the end of the week. We've got to get word to as many Muggle-borns as we know, try to give them at least a bit of warning. The more time they have, the more options. There's no way we can counter their plans at this stage without simply forcing their hand. We need more time."

Hermione's brow furrowed, Kingsley sounded weary, but for all his dire warnings, there seemed to be no imminent danger. About to open the door and announce her presence, Hermione's hand was stayed as she heard her name.

"Luckily Hermione's got things sorted, but I shudder to think of the poor dears without anyone to go to!" Molly's voice was greeted by silence.

Hermione opened the door and entered the room, feeling the silence thicken further.

Eyes sweeping the room, she numbly took in Kingsley's weary look and Harry's blatant outrage. Mrs Weasley stood arms folded behind Mr Weasley's chair. The rest of the red haired clan was perched on the lounge, with Oliver wood jammed between a worried looking Fred and Percy. Ron looked torn between concern and guilt.

"Right. Why am I lucky then?" Hermione quietly demanded, her low tone penetrating the silence.

Looks were passed throughout the room as silence once again prevailed. It must be bad if no one wants to tell me.

It was finally Kingsley who drew a deep breath before asking her to sit down. When she remained exactly where she was, he went on, seemingly unsurprised.

"The Ministry are in the process of introducing a new law, a marriage law. John Dalwish, or rather, the administration he fronts, are worried about the magical population. With all the lives lost during the war, the magical community is dwindling. They reason, or at least they profess to reason, that the only way to remedy this situation is to stimulate a baby-boom, to use the Muggle term." He drew another sigh, and plainly struggled for a way to continue.

"At the end of the week, all Muggle-borns and Wizard-borns, the magical children of Muggle-borns, will be required to marry," he stated blandly, obviously deciding there was no delicate way to put it.

"That's utterly barbaric!" Hermione exploded, her face burning red. "That's preposterous! What was the point of fighting Voldemort at all if the ministry intends to maintain its outdated views on blood status?"

Those of the Weasleys who had gone to school with Hermione drew back in their seats, obviously recognizing the warning signs. Ron and Harry were no different.

Mr Weasley continued for Kingsley, no doubt used to explosive women.

"They won't argue it like that. They'll chalk it up as a sacrifice that must be made for the Wizarding world. The gene pool desperately needs new blood in it and from what Kingsley has been able to make out, they'll be providing generous benefits to those affected, to save face with the public."

"They're forcing innocent people to abandon their rights, their freedoms, and become breeding mares? And they expect to 'save face'? No! This is preposterous! We have to gain public favour first, alert the press."

"Hermione, the Ministry's leaning on the Prophet as it is. As soon as they got wind that the news had leaked and opposition was forming, they'd roll out the campaign earlier."

"The Quibbler then!" Hermione shot back, her ire refusing to admit defeat.

"That wouldn't change anything Hermione. Public outrage alone won't be enough to stop this," Kinsley's calm tone refuted.

"There has to be a loop-hole! Surely there's some precedent, some clause to protect Wizarding rights!" Hermione knew she was clutching at straws and she knew she was probably rehashing what everyone else in the room had already brought up.

She didn't care. A wave of hysteria threatened to overthrow her, and Ginny leapt from the lounge to make Hermione sit. Firmly gripping her younger friends arm, Hermione took a deep breath and raced through the possibilities.

Suddenly everything clicked together. Her mouth ran dry.

"They… the Ministry, they're leaning on St Mungo's too, aren't they? I've been, oh god. I've been helping them." Hermione felt as though she would be sick.

This outburst at least, seemed to startle the group.

"What do you mean, 'Mione?" Ron piped up. Mr Weasley and Kingsley were exchanging dark looks, while Percy gasped to her right.

"When you asked about Huxley?" He asked her tentatively, earning a questioning look from Ron.

Hermione nodded at the carpet in front of her, not looking up as she addressed the room.

"They've had 17 new interns in and the place has been swarming with Ministry officials all day. They wouldn't tell me what we were looking for, I swear! I just got told to analyze the initial results. They were looking at Agrippa, Faerie wings and Nightshade. Illegal Contraceptives. As well as a Fertility Solution. I thought, I mean, I assumed they were exploring the binary opposition to enhance the effect of the fertility potion, but... Oh God. They're working on a way to render contraceptives useless." Hermione buried her head in her hands.

You're a horrible person Hermione Granger. Attempting to be the best, yet again, and look where it's got you. You've let this happen. You've helped this happen.

"Hermione, this isn't your fault" Harry spoke up from the floor, reaching across to pat her arm awkwardly. "You weren't to know. At least now we know the full extent. This isn't your fault."

Kingsley and Arthur stood to the side, quietly discussing this new revelation. Ron was muttering something soothing in her ear, but she ignored him, trying to come to grips.

You'll have to get married.

At 19.

Oh God.

Raising her head from her hands, she looked Kingsley dead in the eyes.

"What happens if we don't?"

Once again a tense silence filled the room. Mrs Weasley looked set to break it, when Kingsley, in his deep resonate voice answered her.

"You have 30 days to find a suitable match. At the end of the 30 day period, the Ministry will pair all remaining candidates together, and you have another 7 days to comply with the law."

"But you won't have to worry about any of that dear, we can have it all settled for you." Molly tried to soothe her, looking flustered at the young girl's reaction.

"What happens if you refuse to comply after the full 37 days?" Hermione continued.

"But-," Molly attempted to interrupt.

Kingsley didn't bat an eyelid as he stared the young witch down. "Azkaban."

Hermione simply nodded. It seemed she couldn't be shocked any further. It was simply all too much to take in. She had 30 days to either become Mrs Ron Weasley or rot away in Azkaban. Why was that suddenly a difficult decision? She loved Ron, didn't she? Hadn't she always wanted to be with him?

Not like this.

Not breeding the Ministries babies and hiding her research and spending endless, sleepless nights lying next to a snoring Ron. Wizard marriages were far more literal than Muggle ones. Till death do us part was not so much a sentiment as a binding magical contract.

"I need some air," she gasped to the room, before running out the back door.


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