This is my first fanfic. So be nice . Post-war. No epilogue, and Fred didn't die. Everyone returns to Hogwarts to finish school (except for Fred and George, who have a flourishing business). Don't freak. It doesn't sound like it at first but it WILL be a George and Hermione fic. Oh, and I don't own Harry Potter or anything else.

"I'm really sorry." Mr. Weasley pleaded as the Weasley family, Hermione and Harry all sat around the kitchen table in the burrow.

"Arthur, it's not your fault!" Mrs. Weasley insisted, "I'm quite displeased that the Ministry made you deliver the letters! When they could have owled them."

"No Molly," Arthur said, "I asked to deliver them, I didn't want the family finding out on their own, I thought we should all be together with this."

"Well we weren't unaware of the impending letters." Bill stated flatly, "They've had it in the front page of the profit for the last 4 months. I'm actually surprised they gave us all that much notice. With all the upheavals that were bound to happen and have been happening, people are downright angry."

"So they should be." Snapped Hermione. "This is ridiculous! Who forces marriage!"

"The Ministry apparently. Though Bill, you got nothing to worry about. You're already married." Fred said sullenly.

The twins had been silent all morning. A trait that until this moment, no one thought existed.

"So should we read the terms of the imprisonments first? Or who we're getting hitched to?" George asked, not caring to phrase any of his questions eloquently.

"Let's read the terms first. That way, we can react properly." Charlie said, "Because if can get married, then call for an annulment the next day, I could care less about this law and go back to work."

"I doubt it's that simple." Ginny stated. She held her envelope tightly, looking as though she was unsure of whether to hex it or simply rip it to shreds.

"Alright." Harry said, "I guess I'll read the terms."

Harry picked up the larger envelope on the table. He opened it and slid out a piece of embroidered parchment, to lessen the insult as George stated.

To those Eligible for Engagement,

"Wow, they make it sound like we have a choice…" Fred grumbled with a quick shush from Mrs. Weasley.

Due to the recent events, it has come to the attention of the Ministries of Magic around the world that the wizarding bloodline has weakened. In order to secure the wizarding race for future generations, a Marriage Act has been decreed. Every eligible witch and wizard is enrolled in this Act minus those already engaged.

Here are the terms of the Marriage Act:

You will receive an envelope with two letters enclosed. There will be a letter from the Ministry naming one person the Ministry has selected. The other is a list of names of wizards who have petitioned for your hand in marriage.

You have a weeks' time to decide and send confirmation to the Ministry of your choice. If no confirmation is sent either: a) a ministry member will arrive at your location to encourage you to sign the Act, giving you only their option or b) if a choice is refused, you will be escorted to Azkaban until a choice is made.

"Well, that's just bloody fantastic isn't it?" Ron growled. He looked at Hermione, who just raised her eyebrow. She knew Ron's feelings for her. But fame had gone to his head, and rather than embracing Hermione in victory, he turned to his group of admirers, whom Lavender was the leader of, leaving Hermione alone. Well, not completely alone. The Weasley family embraced Hermione along with Harry, who was strongly embraced by Ginny.

"I didn't know we could petition…" Harry trailed off. He looked down. Everyone around the table knew he was thinking of Ginny, who hugged his arm.

"I think it was more of an inside thing." Stated Mr. Weasley. "I knew some members of the Ministry were sending in petitions. I just never got involved. I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault, dad." George said, "How could you have known that I wanted to petition for Neville's hand in marriage anyway?"

Fred grinned at his twin, "Too late anyway mate! Neville and Luna got engaged a few weeks ago."

Despite the tension in the room, everyone grinned a little. Ever since the defeat of Voldemort, Neville had been just about as famous as Harry, at least among those at Hogwarts. George and Fred had taken it upon themselves to promote his fame, and lovability. Everyone knew George prided himself for getting Neville and Luna together, even if it was just locking them in a small version of the Room of Requirements for an hour…

"Continue, Harry, please." Mrs. Weasley said.

Terms of the Marriage:

Once a wizard or witch has been selected, you have two months' time to be officially married, and to consummate the marriage.

Annulments are not permitted

A wedding ceremony is not required, solely legal papers need to be signed and both partners in agreement. Though, those who choose to have a ceremony will be eligible for monetary compensation.

Partners will need to stay in the union for a minimum of three year.

Each couple is to have at least 2 children who possess magical abilities, if the three year limit is chosen, the couple must start having children within the year. If a length of time is not chosen by the couples, the couples must start having children in two years.

Harry stopped reading and looked up from the parchment. Everyone was staring at him. Mrs Weasley, from her blank stare, was in shock. Everyone else just looked at Harry in disbelief.

"Well, they're really doing this then hey?" Charlie sighed.

"Well, let's get this over with then? How shall we start?" Mrs. Weasley asked anxiously.

"I'll go first." Charlie said.

"No I will." Ginny said, "Let's start from youngest to oldest. Have some sort of order here."

She tore open the letter she had so wanted to tear apart moments before. She read, "Ms. Ginny Weasley, the Ministry has paired you with Mr. Harry James Potter. Please review your petitions as well, and send word to the Ministry by the end of the week with your choice. So my petitions, Mr. Blaise Zabini, and Mr. Seamus Finnigan."

Ginny snorted and looked up, "Seamus. Absolutely."

Silence.

"I'm joking!" Ginny quailed "I would have hexed every Ministry member, sorry dad, to oblivion had they not given me Harry."

"My turn." Said Ron, "Mr. Weasley, the Ministry has paired you with Miss Lavender Brown. Please review your petitions as well, and send word to the Ministry by the end of the week with your choice. So my petitions, let's see, Miss Romilda Vane, bla, you're joking, and Miss Padma Patil... That's it? No Hermione?"

It was Hermione's turn to snort, "Ron please, that ship sailed a long time ago."

Ron looked at her, hurt very apparent in his eyes, "Yeah, I guess I helped hoist anchor on that one hey?"

Hermione smiled, "It's okay Ron, and you're still one of my best friends."

Ron smile showed gratitude and relief. He gave Hermione a hug.

"Well, I guess Lavender it is. Sorry guys. She'll grow on you. She really is nice, I'll try keep the PDA down though."

"Thank you." The twins said together.

"Harry dear? You next." Mrs. Weasley said.

Everyone looked to Harry. But Harry was busy talking and giggling with Ginny, apparently oblivious to everything that was going on.

"Um, Harry?" Hermione said somewhat impatiently. Honestly, this was serious!

"Oh sorry," Harry looked up, looking slightly sheepish. He held his envelope, already opened. "We all know that I am going to marry Ginny. I figured it didn't matter what the rest of the letter said."

Ginny grinned and pulled Harry into a hug, planting a kiss on his cheek.

"Alright then, Hermione?" Mrs. Weasley said kindly.

Hermione stared at her letter. And slowly opened it and read

"Miss Granger, the Ministry has paired you with... " she paused. Hermione's face shot up with complete disbelief. This could not be happening. She continued, her voice quiet and slightly shaking, "The Ministry has paired you with Mr. George Weasley." She ended in a whisper. She couldn't breathe. She knew she would marry someone, but she was expecting someone she wasn't already associated with. She couldn't bring herself to look up from the parchment.

"Hermione?" It was Fred. Hermione looked up and saw an empty chair beside Fred.

Tears threatened to spill out of her eyes. George was gone. How could the Ministry do this to her? After all that she had done for this secret world. How could she do this to George? Who was with the trio in spirit the whole way, and fought his own battles. She knew he was upset. He was gone. She couldn't do this to the family. She stood up, reading the other part of the letter silently. Please review your petitions as well, and send word to the Ministry by the end of the week with your choice. The petitioner requesting your hand in marriage is, Mr. Draco Malfoy."

"It's fine," She heard herself say, "I'll be going."

Hermione walked quickly to the living room and to the fireplace. She tossed some Floo powder in, not listening to the family behind her calling her and questioning her.

"The Malfoy Manor." She stated, and stepped into the fire.