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Hermione.

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When had the simple act of breathing become so difficult?

Hermione Granger could not answer that question. For the struggle had come unexpectedly. Just like her acceptance letter into Hogwarts. Just like the kindle of her friendship with Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley. Just like the Battle of Hogwarts. Just like all of the deaths. Just like the arrival of the unyielding, silver envelope clutched in her thin fingers in that very moment.

She most certainly hadn't been expecting this.

She'd woken that morning to a seemingly normal day. Though she'd had a fitful night, battling futilely with her ruthless subconscious, just as she had been doing every night for the past year, she was able to inhale and exhale properly. Her heart was still beating gently in her chest, pumping warm blood through her veins. Her mind was blissfully blank with mingled grogginess and mild dejection for once. Most mornings, she woke with hammering headaches, which were a fraction of the aftermath of sobbing out her lingering hurt into her white pillow, and tear-stained cheeks.

Of course, her cheeks were tear-stained, but at least she was free of a migrane.

She felt that it was going to be a good day.

Fascinating, isn't it? How one's entire day can spiral down into an impenetrable sourness within seconds? Because that's all it took. Seconds to read the letter. Seconds to register the words. Seconds for her expression to contort with horror, confusion, and panic.

Even now, after nearly half an hour, she was still rooted to the ground, paralyzed by overwhelming shock. She was frozen. At first, her breathing had been erratic, matching the pace of her heartbeat. At first, she believed she was just dreaming.

Slowly, as her tired mind processed everything, the panic began to nestle into her bloodstream and course through her body. Soon enough, she was gasping dryly as angry sobs left her lips.

She wanted to slam the letter down on Shacklebolt's desk and demand he demolish the law. But how was she to do that if she couldn't breathe or move?

Of course, she had heard about the Ministry "taking the 'Marriage Law' into consideration", but she had never actually believed they would ever pass it. Sure, the population had taken a dramatic blow in the few years that Voldemort had taken his second reign. Thousands of lives had been easily ripped from their owners' grasps. But it would naturally replenish itself, right?

The Ministry of Magic didn't seem to think so.

It had been an entire year since the Battle of Hogwarts had passed and not a single child had been created or born in the Wizarding world. Not one.

Many were too afraid that maybe, just maybe, Voldemort would make one of his terribly spectacular returns and murder their newly born children. After all, everyone had thought him to be dead before and he came back.

But an entire year without any growth in population was severely damaging.

Hermione understood the need for such a law. But she didn't like it.

She'd read over the letter several times, trying to make sense of what was written. It was as though she were unconsciously rejecting the consideration. She felt both relieved and furious; the two emotions battled inside of her for dominance.

On one side, she should feel lucky that she hadn't been paired up by the Ministry's anonymous love guru with someone she'd never even knew existed. On the other hand, however, she thought it completely unfair. She should get a say in who she will marry and who's children she will bear.

The cons most certainly outweighed the pros in this situation. Yes, she knew him, but he was older than her. Much older. She recognized him as a father figure. Not a spouse. He'd just "returned from the dead", as the Prophet had put it. He was practically family to her. Non-sexual family. And not to mention, she was very much in love with Ron. There was absolutely no way this was going to work.

Hermione drew in a deep breath, let her eyes flutter to a gentle close and set the envelope bearing a large "M" on its cover down. She needed to calm herself.

She'd just talk this out with Kingsley and everything would be alright. It had to be.

After all, she couldn't marry Sirius Black.