Do What You Have To Do
by LittleBird
Summary: The Ministry has enacted a new Marriage Law and Hermione isn't exempt. SS/HG.
Disclaimer: J.K.Rowling owns everything, I don't. No copyright infringement is intended.
Authors Note: In response to the Marriage Law challenge issued at WIKTT. This may appear dark in the begining, but plan for this to lighten up.
Chapter 1
Hermione opened her morning copy of the Daily Prophet and choked on her pumpkin juice as her eyes were accosted by the onslaught of fresh wedding photos. She threw down the paper between Harry and Ron and the three of them began their morning ritual. Today was a banner day.
The game, as they called it in an effort to reduce the horrible reality, was to be the first to spot a recognizable name or face in the wedding announcements. Not that a wedding would normally be a horrible thing, but since the Ministry passed the Marriage Law a number of months back it had become something of a sick joke with no punchline.
Ministry Degree 7482sj, otherwise known as the Muggle Born Marriage Law in polite circles (and the Mudblood Enslavement Act everywhere else), was enacted by Minister Fudge in response to a scathing exposé of St Mungo's the previous year. The most widely read story in the history of the Daily Prophet was a result of an undercover reporters infiltration of the hospital to determine the effects of inbreeding in the wizarding world. For the first time in its history the number of squibs and childbirth related disabilities were reported. Yearly comparisons were compiled and cross-referenced, and while names were protected, it became clear that the years of intermarriage between pureblood families was working against the Death Eaters plans of a perfect world. Children of pureblood families were far more likely to be squibs and have lower IQ's than children of muggle born and mixed bred wizards. St Mungo's own studies showed that the percentages, already high, were rising exponentially every decade. Follow-up stories were planned to document the whereabouts of these children.
It was however the first and last exposé printed under the short reign of Editor-in-Chief Banter Withens. He was unceremoniously fired the next day. But that news, and many other stories, never made it into future annals of the Daily Prophet. The new Editor, Terrance Parkers, took a different view on such blasphemous reporting.
Fudge tried to stifle the public outcry, but quickly decided that the best course of action was a bad course of action. Fresh blood in the wizarding world would solve the problem, so it stood to reason that muggle born witches should be "introduced" into pureblood society. Of course this wasn't going to happen on it's own, so late one night he and a select few wrote the decree and quickly signed it into law before anyone (namely Albus Dumbledore) could stop them.
The decree stated that any pureblood wizard or head of household could petition for the betrothal of a muggle born witch. All muggle born witches from 18 years and up were required to marry a pureblood wizard within 6 months of the decree, or if not eligible in that time then within 6 months of their 18th birthday. If the witch didn't receive offers within that time frame then they would be assigned a husband by a Ministry lottery. Furthermore, if any eligible witch refused to marry within the allotted time frame she would be required to turn in her wand and all magical licenses and became ineligible for benefits (such as education and employment) in the wizarding world.
"Look at this one" Harry said as he pointed to a rather sadistic looking groom with nothing more than a wisp at his side. "Is this his second or third marriage since the law was passed?" He didn't expect a response from the other two though. Once a wizard was widowed he could marry again, it was easier to not think about what happened to his previous wife -- or wives.
"And what about this one! I don't even think she's blinking -- obviously under Imperio," countered Ron in an attempt to lighten the mood. Even he new that it was a poor attempt at best. None of them wanted to admit it, but there were a lot more pictures like that these days.
When the law was first announced it was scoffed at by many, but attempts to repeal it were met with unexpected resistance. Marches, protests, and mock wand-breakings by affected muggle born witches and their supporters were not covered by "respectable" news organizations. When the first wedding photos came out they showed the Ministry public relations campaign in full swing. Childhood sweethearts and secret loves -- all of whom were not allowed to date publicly much less marry because of pureblood prejudices -- were now happily married and looking forward to starting families. Life, it appeared, was indeed good. However, with all the attention being paid to the weddings splashed across the front page there was much less attention on the notices of death hidden in the middle of the paper. Not too soon afterwards those same smiling couples would make a less celebrated appearance as a result of some unexplained explosion or terrible accident. The fact that the Dark Mark hovered over the deadly scenes was conveniently left unreported by the Daily Prophet and given only a cursory examination by Ministry officials.
Despite the lack of official confirmation, or rather in spite of it, the country was abuzz with fast spreading rumors. Soon no pureblood wizard intent on keeping his life would dare touch a "mudblood" and prejudices were running at an all time high. It was thought that the law would be quickly repealed when suddenly a fresh batch of marriages started taking place. Eligible witches were now being scooped up by known or suspected Death Eaters. Scurried away from their families they usually found themselves working as house slaves or in brothels until they too ended up on the obituary pages.
The Ministry's law was doing what Voldemort and the Death Eaters had so far failed to do -- run the muggle born population out of the country. In fear for their lives many witches were leaving the country in droves, preferably before their 18th birthdays. Those that could afford the expense were going to the Americas or other far reaching continents. Those without resources went into hiding closer by -- hoping that they would not be found. Some were successful, others ended up on the front page in wedding robes with the slack expression indicative of someone under the Imperious curse.
The fact that this was obvious to all yet oblivious to the Ministry was astonishing. Whisperings had begun to associate Voldemort and Fudge saying that Ministry officials were nothing more than unmarked Death Eaters. At dinner tables across the country quiet arguments ensued over whether the law had been a plan of Voldemort and Fudge all along, or whether the law had been enacted innocently and then exploited by Voldemort and his followers. The latter case was losing support the longer the law stayed in force.
With a snort of disgust Hermione closed the paper and gathered her books for class. Ron and Harry quickly followed suit. It was difficult to tell which of the three was more worried about the ramifications of the law. Hermione of course was worried for her own safety, but was already making plans for a future that wouldn't be stopped by this insipid law. Harry was worried for his friend, but more worried that with Voldemort still alive this was one fight in which he couldn't assist. And Ron was just waiting for the opportunity to step up and be the man he secretly wished he was -- the man that Hermione could love.
All three were just glad that her 18th birthday wasn't until the following summer so they would still have their final year at Hogwarts together. One more year to be the golden trio. One more year to enjoy their childhood. One more year to get the damn law repealed.
by LittleBird
Summary: The Ministry has enacted a new Marriage Law and Hermione isn't exempt. SS/HG.
Disclaimer: J.K.Rowling owns everything, I don't. No copyright infringement is intended.
Authors Note: In response to the Marriage Law challenge issued at WIKTT. This may appear dark in the begining, but plan for this to lighten up.
Chapter 1
Hermione opened her morning copy of the Daily Prophet and choked on her pumpkin juice as her eyes were accosted by the onslaught of fresh wedding photos. She threw down the paper between Harry and Ron and the three of them began their morning ritual. Today was a banner day.
The game, as they called it in an effort to reduce the horrible reality, was to be the first to spot a recognizable name or face in the wedding announcements. Not that a wedding would normally be a horrible thing, but since the Ministry passed the Marriage Law a number of months back it had become something of a sick joke with no punchline.
Ministry Degree 7482sj, otherwise known as the Muggle Born Marriage Law in polite circles (and the Mudblood Enslavement Act everywhere else), was enacted by Minister Fudge in response to a scathing exposé of St Mungo's the previous year. The most widely read story in the history of the Daily Prophet was a result of an undercover reporters infiltration of the hospital to determine the effects of inbreeding in the wizarding world. For the first time in its history the number of squibs and childbirth related disabilities were reported. Yearly comparisons were compiled and cross-referenced, and while names were protected, it became clear that the years of intermarriage between pureblood families was working against the Death Eaters plans of a perfect world. Children of pureblood families were far more likely to be squibs and have lower IQ's than children of muggle born and mixed bred wizards. St Mungo's own studies showed that the percentages, already high, were rising exponentially every decade. Follow-up stories were planned to document the whereabouts of these children.
It was however the first and last exposé printed under the short reign of Editor-in-Chief Banter Withens. He was unceremoniously fired the next day. But that news, and many other stories, never made it into future annals of the Daily Prophet. The new Editor, Terrance Parkers, took a different view on such blasphemous reporting.
Fudge tried to stifle the public outcry, but quickly decided that the best course of action was a bad course of action. Fresh blood in the wizarding world would solve the problem, so it stood to reason that muggle born witches should be "introduced" into pureblood society. Of course this wasn't going to happen on it's own, so late one night he and a select few wrote the decree and quickly signed it into law before anyone (namely Albus Dumbledore) could stop them.
The decree stated that any pureblood wizard or head of household could petition for the betrothal of a muggle born witch. All muggle born witches from 18 years and up were required to marry a pureblood wizard within 6 months of the decree, or if not eligible in that time then within 6 months of their 18th birthday. If the witch didn't receive offers within that time frame then they would be assigned a husband by a Ministry lottery. Furthermore, if any eligible witch refused to marry within the allotted time frame she would be required to turn in her wand and all magical licenses and became ineligible for benefits (such as education and employment) in the wizarding world.
"Look at this one" Harry said as he pointed to a rather sadistic looking groom with nothing more than a wisp at his side. "Is this his second or third marriage since the law was passed?" He didn't expect a response from the other two though. Once a wizard was widowed he could marry again, it was easier to not think about what happened to his previous wife -- or wives.
"And what about this one! I don't even think she's blinking -- obviously under Imperio," countered Ron in an attempt to lighten the mood. Even he new that it was a poor attempt at best. None of them wanted to admit it, but there were a lot more pictures like that these days.
When the law was first announced it was scoffed at by many, but attempts to repeal it were met with unexpected resistance. Marches, protests, and mock wand-breakings by affected muggle born witches and their supporters were not covered by "respectable" news organizations. When the first wedding photos came out they showed the Ministry public relations campaign in full swing. Childhood sweethearts and secret loves -- all of whom were not allowed to date publicly much less marry because of pureblood prejudices -- were now happily married and looking forward to starting families. Life, it appeared, was indeed good. However, with all the attention being paid to the weddings splashed across the front page there was much less attention on the notices of death hidden in the middle of the paper. Not too soon afterwards those same smiling couples would make a less celebrated appearance as a result of some unexplained explosion or terrible accident. The fact that the Dark Mark hovered over the deadly scenes was conveniently left unreported by the Daily Prophet and given only a cursory examination by Ministry officials.
Despite the lack of official confirmation, or rather in spite of it, the country was abuzz with fast spreading rumors. Soon no pureblood wizard intent on keeping his life would dare touch a "mudblood" and prejudices were running at an all time high. It was thought that the law would be quickly repealed when suddenly a fresh batch of marriages started taking place. Eligible witches were now being scooped up by known or suspected Death Eaters. Scurried away from their families they usually found themselves working as house slaves or in brothels until they too ended up on the obituary pages.
The Ministry's law was doing what Voldemort and the Death Eaters had so far failed to do -- run the muggle born population out of the country. In fear for their lives many witches were leaving the country in droves, preferably before their 18th birthdays. Those that could afford the expense were going to the Americas or other far reaching continents. Those without resources went into hiding closer by -- hoping that they would not be found. Some were successful, others ended up on the front page in wedding robes with the slack expression indicative of someone under the Imperious curse.
The fact that this was obvious to all yet oblivious to the Ministry was astonishing. Whisperings had begun to associate Voldemort and Fudge saying that Ministry officials were nothing more than unmarked Death Eaters. At dinner tables across the country quiet arguments ensued over whether the law had been a plan of Voldemort and Fudge all along, or whether the law had been enacted innocently and then exploited by Voldemort and his followers. The latter case was losing support the longer the law stayed in force.
With a snort of disgust Hermione closed the paper and gathered her books for class. Ron and Harry quickly followed suit. It was difficult to tell which of the three was more worried about the ramifications of the law. Hermione of course was worried for her own safety, but was already making plans for a future that wouldn't be stopped by this insipid law. Harry was worried for his friend, but more worried that with Voldemort still alive this was one fight in which he couldn't assist. And Ron was just waiting for the opportunity to step up and be the man he secretly wished he was -- the man that Hermione could love.
All three were just glad that her 18th birthday wasn't until the following summer so they would still have their final year at Hogwarts together. One more year to be the golden trio. One more year to enjoy their childhood. One more year to get the damn law repealed.