Hope everyone's summer is going well! Here is a new story for you. It is a Marriage Law fic and I'm very excited to post it because I just love the ML fandom. This is kind of just a filler chapter with hardly any dialogue, but I hope you still like it! Don't forget to R/R/F.

Disclaimer: I don't own the Harry Potter fandom or anything related to it. I do however own my OC and this story, as only small things are truly canon.

Enjoy!

Chapter -One-

The Letters

They all gathered around the table at the Burrow. Everyone's stomachs felt hollow, butterfly's screaming to be released. How could they not be nervous? Today they were to find out who they were designated to marry. Since finding out over a month ago about the newly instated marriage law, the entire wizarding community had been in a flurry. People were furious - why would such a dictatorship-like rule be installed? Kingsley Shacklebolt who had subsequently become the Minister for Magic since the ending of the war had tried his best to ease pained minds. The Undersecretary, Fern Merryweather, had done all she could to make sure that the matches and ruling would be fair and simple.

They did not want to inconvenience anyone, of course, and so they had done extensive research and background checks to make sure that the best could be made from the rule. The Burrow had been a flurry since the news. Everyone had been begging Arthur to try and convince Kingsley to change his mind, to no avail. Ginny Weasley had been practically hanging off of Harry's every move. Molly Weasley had become a lot more cranky and reserved.

The news of the law had come at a very awkward time. Everyone in the house was still grieving for their losses during the battle at Hogwarts... The mood in the Burrow had been one of melancholy and depression since the war had ended. This law had been the new cherry on the cake.

Nora O'Doherty had been bunking in Bills old room ever since the end of the war. The Weasley's were such supportive and old friends and had been more than generous to take her in. She had no one now. Her parents had both been killed when the ministry had been taken over and she had refused to move back to Ireland to be with the rest of her family. The times just weren't... Right.

It had been over a year since they're murder, but a gaping hole was still stuck inside Nora. She had just begun to heal, and seal the hole back - when the war happened. And then the hole came back - wider and deeper than ever. She had lost so many friends and family. The Battle had been devastating to almost everyone, even those who hadn't lost anyone. The death of Fred... One of her closest friends, had completely knocked her off her feet. Along with him, her old Gryffindor roommate Angelina Johnson had been killed. She had also lost an aunt, two uncles, and one cousin, along with countless other friends. The Lupins... Lavender Brown had died right in front of her... It had been an absolutely devastating event and it still made her cry into her pillow at night. It had been pure destruction.

She had been trying to help the Weasley's as best as she could since Fred was gone. George had temporarily moved back home and she spent a lot of her time with him - though he really tried to keep to himself. He hated the others seeing him cry. Often times when she was with him, he would turn his head away and fall silent and she just knew that there were tears in his eyes. She didn't know what it was like, to loose a twin, but she knew what it was like to loose a best-friend and a family member. However, George tried not to look for sympathy even if he was broken.

As it currently was, she was standing with the Weasley's at the table, waiting for the morning post. The month old letter from the ministry was held tightly and well wrinkled, in her nervous fist. Everyone had gotten one identical, and like her, had read theirs hundreds of times for true confirmation.

Dear Miss. O'Doherty,

It has been a horrific time in wizarding history. The Second Wizarding War has come and gone, and with it, a wake of destruction and death has followed. Everyone in the community is feeling the aftershocks of such a traumatic event and we at the Ministry understand this.

Though such a trying time has hit the world, we must strive to rebuild and continue with living our lives to their absolute fullest. As per such, and old law is to be reinstated as of: 5 June, 1998. This law is the Marriage Law (act. II. WL 1028447475. 1234. WG 005944.).

The law calls that for the re-population of the wizarding community those of the age of 17 (the legal age) to 30 must be married and have offspring within the next 10 years. With the help of the Ministry each single wizard will be paired with their future partner. To remain fair, extensive research is being sought into dating couples and the likes, to make sure that everyone is happy in their assigned partnership. Adjustments to partnership may be made after: 5 July 1998, when pairings will be sent out by owl post.

No one is exempt from this law unless they are already engaged , married, over the age of 30 or under 17 at the time of the pairings. The law will be valid for one year from the matches - all matches must still marry and produce offspring but younger wizards who turn 17 within the time of the pairings, will be exempt. (ex: a wizard turns 17 a week after pairings - he is exempt from the law).

We wish the best for the wizarding community and do not do this for inconvenience but for the survival of our race.

With your continued support to the wizarding world.

Hoping you are well,

Fern Merryweather

Undersecretary, Ministry of Magic

Nora had had to read the letter twice before believing it. She had then ripped it up, only to repair it seconds later, still horrified at the news. How could they do such a thing? It was almost barbaric.

SCREEEEEE

Nora's head darted up from her letter, and everyone turned their attention to the open kitchen window. Molly Weasley sucked in a big breath and grabbed the hand of her son Ron. "Time of reckoning, everyone... The letters are here."