Bitter Sweet Love

Summary: Marriage Law Fic: The War is over! The Golden Trio all return for their seventh year, but there's a surprise in store! They have to get married before the year ends!!! Will Hermione and Draco end up killing each other as they are forced into an unwanted marriage?

Starring: Draco Malfoy, Hermione Granger, Harry Potter, Ginny Weasley, Ron Weasley, Lavender Brown, Luna Lovegood, Blaise Zabini and others as they come along!

A/N:

This story is AU and here a few points you need to know before reading:

Harry defeated Voldermort at the end of their sixth year, in the summer

Draco accepted Dumbledore's offer at the top of the astronomy tower and joined the order, (but he didn't get along with the golden trio)

Snape did not kill Voldermort and him and Dumbledore are alive

Remus Lupin, Tonks, Sirius, Fred are all alive

Book number 7 (DH) – Never happened in this fic:D

Now enjoy!

X X X X

Chapter 1:

Letters

Seventh year. Final Year. N.E.W.Ts year. Hermione smiled, it was going to be the best year of Hogwarts because for once Voldermort would not intervene in the year. From her first year Voldermort had made an appearance in every single Hogwarts year but over the summer Harry Potter had killed Voldermort. It was over, the reign of the Dark Lord was over. Lots of different things happened during the war, some people who everyone believed were good became evil, then there were people who everyone thought were evil who weren't like Draco Malfoy, who shocked the world by turning against Voldermort and feeding information to the Order. He even saved Harry at one point.

Hermione smiled as she stood on platform nine and three quarters. She looked around to see if Harry and Ron were around, she couldn't see them. She caught up with Neville, Luna, Dean, Seamus and Lavender. To Hermione's surprise Lavender was different this year, more calmed, still the girly girl but more…relaxed. I guess everyone is relaxed, now Voldermort's gone. Hermione smiled and just as she was about to get on the train she heard her name.

"HERMIONE!" a small voice called.

Hermione turned to see Ginny Potter head towards her. She ran at Hermione and hugged her best friend tightly. Hermione had spent a lot of the time at the Burrow in the summer, after all her parents were no longer in the world, why spend the summer alone? Molly and Arthur Weasley had taken her in last year after her parents died, a whole summer ago. This year Hermione went to her parents house for the last week of the summer, she faced her fears.

"Ginny!" Hermione grinned hugging her. "Where's Ron and Harry?"

"Their coming, lets get a compartment and you can fill me in on the last week!" Ginny smiled as they got on the train. "So how was it?"

"I can't believe it took me a year to return but yea it was ok," Hermione smiled.

"That's all I'm going to get out of you isn't it?" Ginny asked.

"Yes," Hermione grinned.

Ginny rolled her eyes, "Fine, I'm not pushing you but when you wanna talk about it, I'm here."

"Thanks Gin."

Just then Ron and Harry entered the compartment, they began to ask Hermione about the last week but Ginny shut them up. Hermione smiled at her best friends, they finally had a normal year to look forward to.

Over the summer Ron had become even more taller, and thinner. Harry had surprisingly become tall as well but not as tall as Ron. Ron who was around 6ft 2. Ginny had changed the most, her red hair had deepened in colour, so it didn't look all red and gingerly like every other Weasley, it was darker and prettier. Hermione herself believed she hadn't changed but she had. Her bushy hair had calmed down a lot, it was now light brown hair in soft curls. She had a perfect hour glass figure, guys would call her gorgeous, she saw herself as ugly.

"So how come Dumbledore ain't appointed heads this year?" Ron asked.

Hermione shrugged, "I just got a letter saying there will be no heads this year and if there was I would have been the head girl."

"That is so weird, there's always a head girl and boy!" Ginny said shocked.

"Maybe there's something else going on," Harry replied relaxing in his seat, Ginny leaned on him.

"Like?" Ginny asked.

"I dunno," Harry laughed.

They spent the rest of the train ride laughing, it was a happy start as they headed into the Great Hall. Dumbledore said a few words after the sorting ceremony.

"Students welcome back to another year at Hogwarts, this is the first year after the fall of Voldermort," Dumbledore smiled. "This is a second chance for everyone. For those of you who fought in the war, thank you. However not everyone survived, lets have a minute silence for those who weren't lucky enough to survive," Dumbledore said. Everyone was silent, there were a few tears shed and then Dumbledore spoke again. "This year is a big year for fifth year students who will be taking their O.W.L.S. For sixth and Seventh years, the N.E.W.T.s are upon you. As you all can tell there is no Head Boy or Head Girl this year, I will explain that at a later date. For now, let the feast begin!"

"Finally," Ron mumbled as the food appeared.

Ron was stuffing himself.

"Gross Ron!" Hermione moaned. Did I really have a crush on him last year?

"Imhungry!" Ron said.

"Don't talk with your mouth full!" Ginny warned him.

Ron shrugged her off.

"So Hermione, any new love interests?" Lavender asked turning to face Hermione and Ginny.

Hermione looked shocked.

"That's a no," Ginny laughed.

"Look guys and me…" Hermione began.

"Don't go. And you don't have time for them as this is your N.E.W.Ts year," Ginny grinned as Lavender laughed.

"Come on Hermione let me set you up with someone!" Lavender smiled as Parvati turned to face them all.

"Like Dean Thomas," Parvati suggested.

"Yea," Lavender smiled.

"No!" Hermione spoke sternly. "You attempt to set me up and trust me I'll hex you so your tongues will be stuck to your mouth and you'll never match make again."

The girls laughed.

"Fine!" Lavender gave in. "But I predict you will fall in love this year!"

"Who are you Professor Trelawney?" Hermione asked bitterly.

"Mark my words," Lavender winked.

Soon Hermione, Ron and Ginny who were all prefects had to show the first years to the common room. Harry helped out too as this year he too was a prefect as well as Quidditch Captain. They all fell asleep quite easily not knowing that tomorrow would bring more surprises.

X X X X X X

Breakfast next morning…

"Why haven't any sixth or seventh years got their timetables yet?" Hermione asked as she grabbed a pancake.

"Dunno," Ginny shrugged. "Maybe their making amendments, I heard a few seventh years who didn't do too well last year have to sit in a few sixth year classes."

"Where'd you hear that?" Ron demanded.

"Um, me and Harry went for a midnight walk last night and hear McGonagall talking," Ginny blushed.

Ron glared at Harry.

"It was just a walk," Harry said firmly, grinning at Ginny.

"After breakfast can all students in their six and seventh years please stay behind!" McGonagall announced.

"Why?" Ron asked looking at the others.

"Probably to get our timetables," Ginny rolled her eyes.

"I knew that!" Ron argued.

Ginny just rolled her eyes.

"Will you stop doing that!" Ron said angrily.

"What?" Ginny asked innocently.

"Leave it Ron," Harry said firmly.

Ron sulked until breakfast was over. When it was Professor McGonagall and Professor Dumbledore remained behind while other members of staff left.

"Students can you all move to the front of the hall," Professor McGonagall said. Every student did so and with a flick of her wand, Professor McGonagall moved all the tables to the side of the hall and new one person desks were filling up the hall.

"Can you all take a seat," She said.

Everyone was confused but sat in seats waiting for someone tot explain what was going on.

"Your all wondering why you are here and what is happening," Professor Dumbledore smiled. "This morning a new law was passed, before I explain the law we have to wait for each of you to receive a letter from the ministry."

"A letter about what?" Ron asked dumbly.

"About the new law Weasel," Draco Malfoy snarled.

"Owls should be here any minute now…" Dumbledore said. "Here they are."

A swarm of owls entered the Hall and dropped a letter in front of every student.

Hermione opened hers slowly:

Dear Miss Granger,

The Ministry of Magic would like to thank you on your contribution in the Great War. During this war many people fought and many unfortunately died.

With these deaths the wizarding population decreased by 65.4. As you can tell this is a very high number and if matters are not taken into hand, the wizarding population will die out. I'm sure none of us want that.

This morning on September 5th, a new law was passed by the Ministry, it is the SAVE THE WIZARDS LAW also known as MARRIAGE LAW. All wizards under the age of 30 will be affected by this law.

This law states any wizard between the ages of 16 – 30 will be married to a compatible wizard or witch. This means every one between these ages will have an arranged marriage and will help in repopulating the wizards population.

We will not be arranging marriages randomly, along with this letter are forms and tests. You will fill them out and send them back today, then we will match your results up with another wizard or witch's wizard and a marriage will be in order. More details will be given once your partner has been selected.

For those of you who are currently in a relationship, the ministry will not break these relationships up. If it is true love then you can inform the ministry on the forms. You will still need to fill out the tests. This is because you will be tested further under Veritaserum to see if you are in fact in a relationship or not. If the results are negative there will be consequences and your forms will be used to find you a suitable partner.

Anyone who refuses to uphold this law, they will either serve time in Azkaban or will be forced to give up their magic.

Have a good day

Diana MacNewton

Deputy Minister of Magic

Hermione gasped, she reread the letter over and over again. Forced marriage, to Merlin knows who!

The students were outraged.

"They can't do this!" Draco shouted.

"They can't marry us off!" Lavender screamed.

"This isn't fair!" Hannah Abbott said angrily.

"Silence!" Dumbledore said and at once everyone was quiet. "First let me explain the law. You will be given a partner, so to speak, who you will have to marry and have children with. Those of you in a relationship will have to declare it but be warned if you pretend to be in a relationship to get out of this law, you might have to give up your magic. Is that clear?"

Everyone nodded or said yes.

"Now secondly, you all have concerns, of course you do but I'm afraid the law has been passed. Whether I am happy with it or not, the law has been passed and we have no choice but to follow it." Dumbledore finished.

Again the angry shouting began.

"Silence," Dumbledore called calmly. "I'm afraid there is nothing you and I can do, now can you please get out the forms, fill them in silence. Professor McGonagall will collect them when your done and will hand you your timetables. Your timetables will have a new class added to them next week to help you understand this law and understand marriage," Dumbledore added. "And if there are any of you in a relationship who wish to wed each other, you may discuss it with your partner now before deciding."

Hermione was one of the very few who were still in shock. She opened up the forms, the first just wanted name, address, school etc. the second and third were two short booklets. The first booklet had tests on Transfiguration, Potions, Defence Against the Dark Arts, Herbology etc. The third booklet was a few questions on her ideal partner. It took a few hours but by lunch everyone was done.

"Thank you, and lessons for both years will resume as normal from tomorrow, have the rest of the day off," Professor Dumbledore said.

Hermione headed outside followed by Ron, Harry, Ginny, Lavender, Parvati, Neville, Seamus and Dean Thomas. They all headed to the Gryffindor common room.

Lavender held up a daily prophet, "They didn't let any of us receive our mail this morning because of this!" There was infact an article of the new law.

"I can't believe this!" Ron said angrily. "Marriage! And what more arranged marriage!"

"And if we don't go through with it, we lose our magic," Seamus muttered.

"And I thought this would be a normal year," Hermione sulked.

"And did you see all those questions! So if we're dumb we get married to someone else who's dumb!" Parvati said.

"Gran's not going to like this," Neville said sadly.

"None of us have a choice though," Dean moaned.

Everyone looked at Ginny and Harry who were silent.

"You too are going to get married aren't you?" Dean asked.

"We already talked about it before this law, so yea," Ginny answered.

"But the Ministry still has to approve it, we got another form from McGonagall and we had to fill it in," Harry said.

"So how long before we know?" Lavender asked.

"This article says within a week," Hermione read, "And apparently deadlines will be set."

"Deadlines for what?" Ron demanded.

"Deadlines for when you have to be engaged by, when to be married by and when the woman must be pregnant by," Hermione sighed.

"They can't control our lives like this!" Seamus said. "First marry us off, second deadlines. Can't Dumbledore do anything?"

"According to this, Dumbledore tried to stop the law, he was unsuccessful," Hermione read.

"Great and if we start an uproar we lose our powers," Lavender said.

"Great, looks like we have no choice, we'll just have to wait and see who we get matched with," Hermione sighed.

X X X X X X X

"This law is ridiculous!" Pansy screeched as she sat in the Slytherin Common Room.

"And we can't fake a relationship either," Draco moaned.

"As long as I don't get matched up with a Gryffindor I'll be fine," Blaise Zabini smiled.

"Yea," Draco agreed. "One week, we have to wait a week and then we'll know."

A/N: Hey guys! My second Dramione fic! Hope you like it:D

Review and I will continue.

I know it's a marriage law fic and there are loads of them going around, but for those of you who know me I will have my random twists, ideas and to some peoples dismay cliffhangers:D lol!

Anyways review guys and take care!

Veronica

xxx