The Difficulties of Falling In Love
Chapter One
The Marriage Law

Hermione Granger woke up in the early hours of the morning. However, it wasn't on her own accord. She was woken when a certain long haired ginger started jumping on her bed. "Hermione! Wake up, wake up!" Ginny shouted as if Hermione was two kilometers from her instead of a mere two inches.

"Ginny, get off me," Hermione groaned, sitting up and wiping the sleep from her eyes and pushing her brown curly hair from her face.

After Voldemort was defeated, Hermione had been staying at the Burrow in Fred and George's old room. The twins hadn't needed it, as they were always at their shop in Diagon Alley, trying to clean up the mess that the Death Eaters left when they raided Weasley Wizard Wheezes. They had been living together in a flat above the shop, so they could always go down to test new inventions if they came up with something.

Ginny plopped down on the bed beside her. "Hermione! Dad came home with terrible news this morning. The Ministry passed the Marriage Law last night!"

Hermione's eyes went wide upon hearing the news. She had read all about the Marriage Law when she was still in school. It was terrible. The main idea of the law was that after a period of time when a lot of wizard and witches were lost, the Ministry of Magic would run a number of personality tests on wizards and witches, ages sixteen to twenty-seven year old, to set them up with their "perfect match". There were a few limitations of course, such as two purebloods and two muggleborns are not to be paired together due to the need to have the next generation to consist mostly of half-bloods.

This was a big problem because people were not to choose whom they marry. Their spouse was chosen for them.

Hermione jumped out of the bed and grabbed her bath robe, slipping it on as she ran downstairs. What if she wasn't paired with Ron? Sure, they weren't officially together, and she didn't know if she loved him or not, but they were expected-by everyone-to get married one day.

Ginny followed Hermione down the stairs, bumping into her as Hermione stopped in the doorway of the kitchen.

All the Weasleys were there. Harry had been staying at Grimmauld Place with Teddy, so he was not in attendance and there was no way to know if he knew about the law yet.

Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were sitting in their chairs at the table, the twins leaning against the sink, Percy next to Fred. Ron was sitting with Bill and Charlie at the table as well, Bill's arm around Fleur's shoulders.

There was a pile of letters in the middle of the table, everyone looking at the Ministry sealed envelopes in what only could be fear and anticipation.

Hermione took a step towards the table and picked up the envelope with her name on the front.

"Who's first?" she asked softly, looking over at Ron fearfully. At least she liked Ron, what if she was paired with someone she hated? Her only options were a half blood or pure blood. What if she were to be paired with a Slytherin?

The room was quiet for ten breaths before Ginny interrupted the silence. "I'll go," she picked up her letter and ripped it open, scanning the letter before squealing happily.

"Harry James Potter!" her eyes were bright as she looked first at Hermione then to her mother.

"Oh, congratulations!" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed, hugging her daughter tightly.

Charlie opened his letter next. He read nothing except the name in bold red letters at the bottom of the parchment. "Amanda Caroline Brown," he smirked, looking over at Bill. "Remember her? She was Ravenclaw in your year, bloody beautiful."

Bill smiled at his younger brother. "Nice!" he high fived Charlie and sat back down next to Fleur, who was raising an eyebrow at her husband.

When George read "Angelina Marie Johnson," from his letter, he looked at his twin worried eyes. Fred and Angelina had dated off an on throughout their years at Hogwarts, and as far as he knew, Fred still fancied the Gryffindor Chaser. "She's a nice girl," was all Fred said. "Don't hurt her or I'll hurt you," he joked with a wink.

Percy opened his letter next, confusion written clearly on his face for a second before realization dawned on him. "Luna Elizabeth Lovegood," he said, eyes widening. The younger Weasleys and Hermione burst out laughing, Ron even falling to the ground in hysterics.

Once their laughter had finally subsided, Ron opened his letter with shaking hands. When he said nothing, staring at the page in horror, Fleur looked over at his letter, her eyebrows furrowed. "Who is zis Lavender Brown?" she looked up at her husband.

Hermione's face fell and her fists clenched.

Ron looked up and found Hermione's eyes, worry written clearly on his face. He could tell she was angry, everyone could, though no one said anything.

Hermione ripped her letter open and read it to herself.

Miss Hermione Granger,

Earlier this morning, the Ministry of Magic passed the Marriage Law. The Marriage Law was created several centuries ago to ensure that our race continues to flourish. As of the recent war with the one known as Lord Voldemort, the Ministry decided that it was in our best interests to enact this law. As such, to ensure the health of the next generation, no two pure bloods or muggle borns will be betrothed, unless they can prove their relationship within the next 72 hours.

We are aware that this law may go against the beliefs of some of the older Pure Blood families, but this law is in everyone's best interest. The borders of our domain, both traditional and magical, will be guarded for the next year, as so no one can leave the country.

Personality tests on each witch and wizard in the country have been conducted over the past few weeks to determine who would be best together. You are to be married within two months, and conceive a child within the next year. Marriage licenses are to be mailed to my office and there is a clinic at St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries if you are having trouble conceiving within the next year and a half.

If you have any questions about the one you have been paired with, you can make an appointment with me on Level 7 of the Ministry of Magic, in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Thank you and have a nice day.

Sincerely,

Lana Tamer
Department of Magical Law Enforcement

Hermione's eyes trailed down the letter, reading carefully. She waited a moment before flipping to the next page of the letter. There was one bold line across the middle of the paper, which made her eyes widen.

Bethrothed: Fredrick Gideon Weasley

The letter dropped from her hands as she froze.

She heard another letter rip open and a loud "Bloody hell!" from across the room. Hermione's head snapped up and she locked eyes with Fred, her fiancé.

Ron got the idea and jumped out of his seat and ran to the dropped letter, reading his brother's name. "No! No, no, no no, no. NO!" He looked from Hermione to his favorite brother.

Everyone else seemed to realize Hermione had been paired with Fred because the last thing she heard was: "This should be interesting."

Then she passed out.

So I'm updating this story, since it has been a while since I wrote it. Once this story is updated, I'll post a new chapter. Thank you for reading and comment what you think of it :)