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Marriage Law, slightly AU
This story is mostly compliant with the books. Differences include; Sirius never died at the Department of Mysteries, Snape did not kill Dumbledore and is still on the side of the Order, they have not yet found all of the Horcruxes, but did go on the hunt for a while. As you will see below, the day at Malfoy Manor did happen. I have not yet decided on a pairing or on how compliant the rest of the story will be. There has been no final battle yet – it is to come.
Disclaimer – Don't own the characters, or some of the plot; it all belongs to the wonderful J.K. Rowling. What would we have done without her?
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The One with Life Changing News
Her world was changing. There was no denying that. No one would look directly at her, no one wanted to be the first to tell her how bad it was going to get. All she knew was that the Ministry had passed some new law in an attempt to regulate muggle-borns and she would find out the details at the Order meeting tonight. She wasn't sure why the Order couldn't hide her at a safe house – take her away until the ministry gave up on their new-fangled idea for monitoring her, and people like her. She supposed they had their reasons but she wouldn't submit to being tracked by the Ministry...not without a fight.
"Hermione? Are you up here?" Hermione could hear Harry calling to her from the staircase. He was probably going to inform her that lunch was ready, as if she could eat at a time like this. It was the last thing she felt like doing.
"I'm not hungry!" She replied, closing her eyes and leaning back against the headboard of the bed she was occupying at Number 12 Grimmauld Place. She heard knocking at the door, and then Harry poked his head in.
"That's not why I was calling," He looked worried, "There is someone from the ministry here to see you. I think it would be best if you came downstairs."
Hermione looked up at her best friend sharply, "Were we expecting someone?" She asked worriedly. Hermione was not aware of any visit, and she still had no clue what to expect from the Ministry, "Is it safe?"
"They know you're here. Tracked your magic. The only Order member here right now is Bill Weasley, he left when the Ministry worker showed up - went to get Dumbledore. We are supposed to keep the guy talking until they get back." Harry explained all of this in a whisper, nodding her head towards the staircase and silently asking her to follow him.
Hermione stood and followed her friend from the room. She felt very apprehensive about this, wishing the Order had filled her in sooner about the goings on at the Ministry.
"Ah good, Ms. Granger," the Ministry worker walked over to where she stood on the last step, "My name is Bartholomew Batten, I am here to perform your official interview and ensure you don't try anything to avoid the next few days." As he spoke, he quickly clasped a white band around Hermione's wrist. She was so distracted by him talking about an interview that she didn't notice until it was too late.
"What is this?" Hermione asked, tugging at the band and trying to remove it, "What have you done to me?" She frantically tried to remove it, only to find it let off little shocks and got tighter and tighter as she struggled. Harry grabbed at her hands and held them still,
"Relax Hermione, this isn't helping, Dumbledore will fix it when he gets here. Let's just go sit down." He whispered slowly and quietly in her ear, leading her into the sitting room across from the staircase and sitting down next to her on the couch.
Hermione was panicking inside. How did she get so distracted as to not notice him putting this on her? What happened to her CONSTANT VIGILANCE, she was supposed to have learnt from Moody? She was so busy beating herself up that she completely missed everything the Ministry worker had said since she sat down. So absorbed in examining the band around her wrist, she didn't come out of her musings until Harry squeezed her hand that was still resting in his.
"As I was saying Miss Granger, I have many questions to ask you, and many more visits to make after yours. If we could have some privacy, we will be moving this right along." Batten looked pointedly at Harry.
"You can ask me anything, Harry is not leaving." Hermione stated, her tone leaving little if any room for argument.
"Very well," Batten pulled out something that resembled the quills Rita Skeeter was quite fond of and spoke quickly, "Please state your full name, age, House at Hogwarts, and type of wand you carry for the record."
"Hermione Jane Granger. 17. Gryffindor. Vine wood, dragon heartstring, 10 ¾ inches."
"Excellent. Are you currently in a relationship?"
"How is that any of your business?" Hermione asked her voice high-pitched and angry.
"Answer the question please." Batten replied in a bored tone.
At that moment, the fireplace roared with green flames and out walked Bill Weasley. He looked quickly to her wrist, sighed heavily and moved out of the way of the fireplace. A moment later Dumbledore came through, and his immediate action upon seeing Batten was to look at her wrist as well. Upon seeing the band, he too sighed heavily and turned to Batten.
"I would like a minute to speak with Miss Granger before you continue your interview." Dumbledore stated looking at Batten evenly.
"Well I'm not sure..." Batten began but was interrupted by Bill, who put a hand on Batten's shoulder and led him from the room muttering something about Butter Beer.
"Hermione my dear, it is best if you let me explain before you ask any questions." Dumbledore said tiredly as he saw her opening her mouth to speak. "It is unfortunate that Mr. Batten arrived before we had the chance to explain things at the meeting tonight. He has placed a binding band on your wrist, it will remain there until you comply with the new law the Ministry has put in place. Unfortunately, now that the band is on, there is really nothing we can do to avoid compliance. I must ask that you answer all of Mr. Batten's questions truthfully. In the meantime, Bill and I will gather the rest of the order. I think we should begin our meeting early tonight, don't you?"
Hermione was a little dazed and so she simply nodded. Not sure what to ask first or even if Dumbledore would have the answers to the questions.
"Good girl. Harry is welcome to stay while you finish your interview, but I warn you dear, the questions will be very personal." Dumbledore rose from his seat as he spoke.
"It's fine..." Hermione said, grabbing Harry's hand tightly.
Batten came back into the room, looking slightly more cheerful than before and sat down across from the two teens once more.
"If you would be so kind as to answer my previous question, Miss Granger," Batten prompted.
"No." She said in a small voice.
"Have you previously been in a relationship?"
"Once."
"Was this man a pureblood wizard?"
"Yes."
"His name?"
"Viktor Krum." Hermione looked puzzled. After she has said Krum's name, Batten had pulled a register out of his bag, and frowned, muttering something about that not being an option as he placed the register back in his bag.
"Very well. Does your virginity remain intact?"
"Hey!" Harry shouted, jumping up angrily, "That is surely not a question on your list!"
"It certainly is." Batten argued, standing as well, "I must ask that you leave if you will not remain quiet."
"Harry, maybe you should go down to the kitchen and wait there. I'm sure there aren't too many questions left." Hermione looked pleadingly at him. Harry did as she asked, wondering why she would no longer want him there after she had been so adamant about him staying before.
"Answer the question please." Batten was once again sitting, looking as though no disturbance had occurred.
"No..."
"Who was your partner?"
"I...I...I can't say." Hermione mumbled looking down at the floor, tears in her eyes.
"I need a name Miss Granger."
"I don't have one. It wasn't consensual...it happened when we were being held captive a few months ago...I don't know the name." She answered truthfully, struggling not to cry.
"Very well." Batten began to pack up his things, "Hold out your wrist please."
Hermione did as he asked, watching as he tapped it with his wand. The band turned black immediately and she couldn't help but wonder what the significance of the colours was.
"You have a week or a list will be sent to you from our office. I hope you find one on your one, judging from the colour of your band – our list shouldn't be too extensive." Batten said shortly before turning and leaving Grimmauld Place.
Hermione made her way to the kitchen slowly and very confusedly, sitting quietly at the table when she arrived. She did not understand anything Batten had said at the end of their meeting. The three men in the kitchen decided to let her be until the rest of the Order showed up. The night would be stressful enough without them bothering her now. Hermione barely noticed as people began showing up for a meeting that was sure to change her life. When Tonks came into the room, she ignored everyone else, heading straight for Hermione and wrapping her in a hug.
"You are going to need a friend tonight, and since Ginny can't be here, I will be next to you the whole time." Tonks stated, grabbing Hermione's hand in one of her own. Ginny, who was not of age, was not allowed to attend Order meetings.
"Thanks," Hermione whispered faintly with a ghost of a smile.
Dumbledore called the meeting to order and the room grew silent, "This meeting is held with heavy hearts. The incompetent fools at the Ministry have decided it is necessary to control and track all muggle-born witches and wizards. Underage witches and wizards have been given a less extreme binding band for the time being. They must wear them until they are of age, when they too must comply with the new law. Witches and wizards, who are of age, must marry a pureblood within a month's time."
Dumbledore paused to let the commotion die down. Many people who had arrived for this meeting were unaware of the recent developments. "Within the order, we only have one muggle-born who is not already married, Miss Granger. As you can see, the Ministry came today and placed a binding band on her." As he spoke, he looked down at her wrist and was confused to see the change in colour. "Miss Granger must arrange for her own husband by the end of the week or a list will be sent by the Ministry and she will be obligated to marry one of them."
"There may not be a list." Hermione spoke softly, gripping Tonks' hand tightly.
"What do you mean, dear?" Dumbledore spoke gently, looking from the band to her eyes and back again.
"Well now that you explained the ridiculous marriage law, Batten's words make much more sense. It is highly unlikely I will get a list. What is the punishment for not complying?" Hermione spoke mostly to herself, until she asked her question at the end.
"Azkaban." Arthur Weasley spoke up from his seat around the table.
"Oh." At this news, Hermione turned and buried her head in Tonks' shoulder, crying quietly.
"Miss Granger, I am still confused about why you think there will no list," Dumbledore said, hoping to coax an answer out of her.
"Give her a minute Albus," Molly Weasley spoke up as she placed a cup of tea in front of the crying teen, patting her on the shoulder as she went back to her seat.
Hiccupping, Hermione raised her head, and spoke slowly, "I'm not sure if I can tell this story a second time today, I'm very sorry...I may need more than a minute."
"What story?" Ron said loudly, "Who did you tell it to already?"
"Batten." Hermione said darkly before turning back to Tonks' and beginning to cry again. She knew that Batten was right; no one would want her after what had happened. It startled her to find that the idea of Azkaban didn't scare her as much as the idea of Ron and Harry being left alone.
Dumbledore continued the meeting, hoping Hermione would speak up when she could. The Order discussed other news, trying to avoid staring at Hermione. Tonks was whispering quietly to her, encouraging her to drink her tea and gather her courage.
"I am not pure." Hermione said suddenly, "I never told anyone...but that is why my band was turned black and why Batten says I may not get a list. Apparently blood isn't the only thing dark wizards like to be pure." She had said all of this without looking up from her mug of tea, "Also, my interview was never finished because I was unable to provide Batten with information he needed."
"What information?" Dumbledore asked curiously.
"I'd rather not say."
"It is important we know everything." Dumbledore looked at her, trying to apologize with his eyes.
"She obviously didn't want the whole world knowing Vicky took her virginity. So she kept it to herself." Spat Ron, angrily glaring at Hermione.
"Ron, let's not do this now," Harry pleaded.
"Miss Granger, was that the reason?" Dumbledore asked gently.
Hermione simply shook her head. Not sure she could admit to a room full of people something that she could barely admit to herself. She felt Tonks rubbing her back softly and felt so appreciative for the older witch and how close they had gotten in recent months. The two of them, along with Ginny, were almost always together these days.
"I need you to tell us." Dumbledore repeated.
"Batten needed a name...but...it happened..." Hermione kept pausing to draw deep, shuddering breaths, trying very hard not to cry again, "the night at...M-m-m-malfoy manor. I didn't have a name to give." She managed to get that all out before she began to sob and the rest of the room broke out into chaos. An unfamiliar hand grabbed at her own and she jumped, letting out a small squeal.
"It's just me," Sirius tried to calm her down but she moved closer to Tonks looked for solace in a female friend, shaking her head as she went. Since the night at the manor, Hermione had been pretty good at hiding how uncomfortable males made her. Harry and Ron no longer bothered her, as they had spent so much time together on their hunt for the horcruxes but if any other male touched her, she tended to panic. The night had already been stressful and hiding her discomfort seemed like too much to ask at this point, so she simply curled into a ball on her chair and wept.
If Sirius was hurt by her rejection, he didn't let it show, instead going back to seat and staring pensively at the wall. It was almost half an hour before Dumbledore could get most of the room to settle down, and the only remaining noise was Hermione's quiet whimpers and Tonks' quiet reassurance.
"Miss Granger will not be going to Azkaban. This is simply not an option." Dumbledore began to speak.
What happened next surprised Hermione so much, she would have sworn she was imagining it.
"I'll marry you, Hermione." Charlie Weasley was the first to offer, standing up from his seat.
"As would I." Sirius offered his own hand in marriage, standing as well.
Slowly, all the unmarried pureblood wizards stood proudly from their chairs all offering the same thing.
"Don't want to be left out, do we Gred?"
"Of course not, Forge! We'd be happy to do it!"
With that the Weasley twins, stood and smiled at Hermione who was looking around the table in disbelief.
In an unsteady voice Hermione finally spoke, "Remus I think you had better sit down or you may cost me one of my good friends." The table looked and saw Tonks' fierce glare towards Remus as he stood with the rest of the men. Everyone broke out into unsure laughter as Remus sat down sheepishly.
"I don't know that I can let any of you give up your freedom for me..." Hermione spoke slowly, looking at all of the Weasley boys, Sirius, Kingsley, Neville, and 7 others she didn't even know the names of.
"I should mention more about this law before you all dive into this," Dumbledore said gravely, looking proud that the men had all offered so kindly, "There are very specific rules attached to this marriage. The first being, you have 29 days from the time you are bound to find a husband. Once you are married, the marriage must be consummated within one week. You must also have children within 3 years, live in a marital home, and there will be monthly visits from a Ministry aide."
Hermione who could barely be touched by a guy froze at the mention of the word consummate, and looked worriedly at Tonks who smiled supportively. "I'm not going to marry anyone who I've never said more than hello to, and if any of you have reconsidered I won't hold it against you." Hermione stated, watching as the 7 men she didn't know sat down hurriedly. Percy quickly joined, stating he would be unable to think of her as anything but a sister.
Bill, Charlie, Fred, George, Ron, Sirius, Kingsley and Neville all remained standing, quite sure that they would be willing to be her future husband.
Looking sadly at Neville, she spoke in a voice so quiet many people in the room almost missed it, "I'm so sorry Neville, thank you so much...but it can't be you. It just can't." Poor Neville looked very confused as he sat back down, not sure why Hermione would have such an aversion to it being him.
"Professor Dumbledore, is there any reason I should pick one of these men over the others? I really don't think I can choose."
"I think, Miss Granger, it would be best if you spent some time with each of them over the next few days, including Mr. Longbottom and got to know them a bit better. This may make your decision easier." Dumbledore seemed to have a twinkle back in his eye that led some in the room to think he already knew who Hermione would pick.
"Sure, I guess that makes sense. We can figure that all out tomorrow...I think I need to get some sleep." Hermione left the room hurriedly, going up to her room.
A/N
I hope this chapter didn't confuse you all too much. The next chapter, entitled "The One with the Seven Suitors" will be Hermione spending time with each of her potential husbands it will be up in a week. There will be weekly updates for this story, always on a Thursday.
Please Review.
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