A/N: This is a rewrite of a story I previously wrote, but felt went in the wrong direction. The M rating is for later mature scenes and possible swearing. I hope you all enjoy it :)

Chapter 1

Hermione sat at her kitchen table, slowly fuming over what she had just read in that God-forsaken Daily Prophet. It had to be a rumour - a silly, stupid rumour with absolutely no fact behind it. It had to be. Her brow furrowed as she mulled over her newly acquired knowledge. She glanced at the headline again. 'Ministry announces Marriage Law bill!'

She stood at the window of her shop on Diagon Alley – Sphinx Books – and watched the mass of withes and wizards pass by in a flurry of panic. Admittedly, she understood the Ministry's reasons – the Wizarding population had taken a hard hit during the war and had dwindled miserably ever since. But she had always thought that there would be other alternatives, or that the ministry would at least wait. It had only been 5 years since the war after all.

Months of desperate petitions, marches and panicked engagements passed by, but the ministry was firm when they declared that Marriage Law of 2003 was now in action. And on Christmas Day of all days, Hermione received her letter.

Miss Hermione Jean Granger,

I am writing to inform you that you are eligible for marriage under the Marriage Law of 2003. On completion of the compatibility questionnaire (see enclosed) you will be matched with a suitable partner. A meeting will be held in the ministry offices where you will meet your future spouse and a legal binding will take place. The marriage must be consummated within 28 days. Failure to comply with the above conditions (further details in the enclosed leaflet) will result in a fine of up to 1000 galleons and a year or more in Azkaban Prison.

We thank you for your cooperation,

Matilda Forsweth

Head of Magical Marriages

Hermione threw down the letter in disgust, after removing the questionnaire. The entire Weasley family looked at her pitifully. All of the Weasley children were now married, including Ron who had married a homely girl called Suzanna Perham shortly after the marriage law had been announced. They seemed to be doing well if the already prominent bulge of her stomach was anything to go by. Not to mention the sickening love struck glances and pet names, which Hermione tried very hard to ignore. She had very quickly figured out that Ronald and her were not as compatible as she had once thought, but being alone when he had very quickly moved on to woman to woman was hard, especially now he had found happiness. But she wasn't bitter; in fact she was happy for him, perhaps just a tad jealous.

She resigned herself to her future and began to fill out the questionnaire in private, snorting every so often at the questions;

'Does your future partner have to like lettuce?'

'How often do you bathe?'

'Do you find eating to be an acceptable past-time?'

And on and on the list went. When she had finally completed the questionnaire, she sent it back, glaring at the owl as it went.

Several weeks went by without hearing anything from the Ministry and her thoughts ranges from the miserable; Maybe they can't find anyone because I'm so boring; to the hopeful; Maybe my owl got lost; to the desperate; If I left now, I could escape all of this. But eventually, like she knew it would, her letter came.

Miss Hermione Jean Granger,

We are very pleased to inform you that you have been allocated a suitable match and that you shall be legally bound to them on March 4th at the Offices for Magical Marriages at the Ministry of Magic in London at 2.25pm. Please arrive promptly in smart attire.

Sincerely,

Matilda Forsweth

Head of Magical Marriages

Hermione slumped back into her favourite chair and sighed, holding her head in her hands. So this was it.