I See Forever In Your Eyes

A Marriage Law Fanfic Snape/Hermione

M.o.M. Mandates Marriage Law

This author is pleased to report the most romantic news of out times. The new Minister of Magic ( Kingsley Shacklebolt ) has finally put his signature on the Marriage Law the Wizengamot has been composing over the past year.

"We hope to eradicate the so called importance of blood status & promote a new era of acceptance of all magical peoples" said one Arthur Weasley ( a known muggle enthusiast ) . Lucius Malfoy, on the other hand, focused on practicality: "It's about the birthrate." He bluntly stated, "This law will promote the birth of witches and wizards. It's alarming how many squibs are being born to both purebloods and muggle-borns."

Either way, there will be lots of marriages in the near future. Each eligible witch or wizard will be receiving their letters with compatibility surveys in the next week/when they come of age. Whichever comes first.

-Rita Skeeter

Hermione threw her copy of the Daily Prophet on the table in disgust, making Kreecher glare at her display incredulously. She had been staying with Harry at Grimmauld Place until she could complete her owl-post NEWT studies. He had actually told her she could stay forever if she wanted, but with his and Ginny's engagement, she knew it was only a temporary solution.

Gulping down the remainder of her morning tea, she grabbed the Daily Prophet & her coat. Kingsley Shaklebolt would have another thing coming to him if he thought she was just coming in for a chat.

"This is inhumane!" Hermione raged, throwing the newspaper in the shocked face of Kingley Shaklebolt.

Kingsley sighed as he looked at the girl – no woman, he corrected himself- before him. He stood up and pulled a book on wizarding law off of a shelf in his office. He found what he needed and handed it to Hermione.

She looked at him quizzically before reading the text out loud:

'The Wizengamot has the authority to force the Minister of Magic into signing a proposition into law if and only if the Minister is unanimously overruled by the entire Wizengamot.'

She snapped the book closed and her glare at him softened. She knew he didn't want this either – but his hands were tied.

The next day, both Harry and Hermione got their letters. However they were very different letters. Harry had been granted a dispensation from the Marriage Law. The reasons given for this were that he had save the wizarding world from genocide, he was a half-blood so he could marry either a pure-blood or muggle-born witch, and the fact that he was already publicly engaged to one Miss. Ginevera Weasley – who was also being given a dispensation.

Hermione's letter was of a much more concerning and, quite frankly irritating nature:

Dear Miss. Granger,

Due to Wizard Law #89700, otherwise know as 'The Marriage Law', you are eligible to be wed. To ensure your future happiness, we have included a compatibility survey enchanted with anti-cheating spells (to ensure the honesty of answers). This must be completed and returned by seven o'clock sharp tomorrow morning, or there will be penalties up to and including 24 hours in Azkaban for every day the survey is tardy.

A copy of the Legislation for this law has been included for your perusal as well.

Best wishes in this happy time of your life.

-Dolores J. Umbridge

Senior Undersecretary, M.o.M.

Hermione snorted this before passing the letter to a waiting Harry. "She would only send me best wishes if she thought they might speed me to my grave. I wonder if Firenze could do me a favor…"

Harry chuckled a bit and told her she was starting to sound like a Slytherin. Hermione threw a bit of toast at him good naturedly and began reading the law itself.

By the time she had read it over twice, Hermione felt shell shocked. The law applied to all witched between the ages of 17 and 40 – no age limit for the wizard as long as they were over 17 and still fertile. The thought of Dumbledore being subject to the law made her shudder a bit before she remembered that the dear old wizard was at peace in the afterlife.

Not only did they have to marry, but they had to at least be with child within the first two years of the marriage as well as continue bearing children until one male heir was produced and/or it would cause the witch health issues to continue being pregnant.

Failure to comply meant time spent in Azkaban and/or artificial insemination to ensure pregnancy.

Hermione felt truly ill. She wasn't ready to become a mother. She had wanted to continue her schooling and apply for apprenticeship for the Transfigurations position at Hogwarts. Most husbands wouldn't allow her to pursue these goals if she was expected to be at home having baby after baby…unless she was able to have a male child on the first shot – which was wishful thinking.

Worst of all, she hadn't found a loophole in the law. Feeling defeated, she turned her attention to the blasted compatibility survey.

Name: Hermione Jean Granger

Age: 18

Occupation: Currently completing my NEWTs via owl post. I intend to apply for the Transfigurations Apprenticeship at Hogwarts once I receive my scores.

Preferences for Spouse:

Age: Younger than 40 years old

Profession: No true preference

Looks: Not important, though I would prefer someone who is on the tall side – about 6'

Other: I would appreciate a spouse whose intelligence level is compatible with mine. It would be nice to be able to carry on an intelligent conversation with my future spouse.

She looked over her answers three times before folding up the survey and stuffing it in its envelope. As she watched Hedwig fly off with her Survey, Hermione began shedding silent tears. Gone were her dreams of finding true love and walking off into the sunset for their happily ever after. The floodgates didn't open until Harry put his arm around the girl he considered his sister. It was only then that she buried her face in his chest and sobbed.