Summary: It is after the Final Battle which happened at the end of their sixth year. Everyone is moving on with their lives and the Hogwarts students are looking forward to a calm and studious year... Until a surprising announcement – all witches and wizards over the age of seventeen must marry!

x x x

On a surprisingly cool September morning, Hermione Granger was pushing her way through the barrier of platform Nine and Three Quarters. After making sure Crookshanks was still asleep on the trolley in his carrier, she made her way through the bustling crowd of Hogwarts students to find her friends.

"Hello Hermione," called a soft voice,

Hermione turned and saw Luna Lovegood about to board the Hogwarts Express. She was holding the compartment door open for Neville Longbottom.

"Hi Luna, how was your Summer?" Hermione asked with a fond smile on her face,

"Oh it was very nice, thankyou. What about yours?"

"It was alright. Have you seen Harry or Ron?" Hermione asked, turning to scan the students for her best friends,

"I saw them a little earlier – oh there they are with Ginny!" Luna said excitedly.

Hermione followed Luna's gaze and saw Harry, Ron and Ginny waving frantically at her with big grins on their faces.

"Thanks Luna! I'll see you and Neville on the train okay?"

With that, Hermione made her way over to Harry and the two Weasleys.

"Hermione!" Screamed Ginny, before enveloping the taller girl with a bone crushing hug,

"Ginny!" Hermione squeaked, "How were your Summers?" She asked once she was released,

"Brilliant! We can finally use magic!" Cried Ron,

"Yeah," Harry snorted, "And he's been having a ball levitating Pig – into my hair!"

"Well Pig was enjoying it!" Exclaimed Ron,

"Boys," Muttered Ginny, "I wish you could have stayed over this Summer, Hermione..."

"Me too," Sighed Hermione, "But I needed to get my parents back from Australia. You have no idea how much hotter it is down there than here,"

"Really? I can't even stand this heat!" Harry exclaimed,

"How did your parents react to being under a memory charm all that time?" Asked Ron,

"Well, when I told them how we beat Voldemort and that the war was finally over, they accepted that it was for their safety."

A whistle sounded, alerting them that it was almost eleven o'clock, time to board the train.

"We should probably get our trunks into a compartment," Said Harry as he hoisted his luggage off of the ground.

The four climbed onto the train and began the search for an empty compartment.

x x x

"Oh I can't wait to begin our lessons. It's NEWTS this year!" Said an excited Hermione,

"Ugh! Don't remind me," Grumbled Ron,

"Lucky I've still got this year before I begin my NEWTS!" Smirked Ginny,

"Well I can't wait till Quidditch begins!" Harry grinned.

The train was slowly coming to a stop in Hogsmeade Station. Ron's stomach gave a loud grumble. In truth, Hermione was feeling rather hungry too, luckily food wasn't far away.

After getting off of the Hogwarts Express Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny climbed into a thestral guided carriage with Neville and Luna. Luna was holding an issue of the Quibbler and a picture of a three horned animal of some sort could be seen on the cover.

The thestrals pulled their carriage up to the Hogwarts entrance and everyone hopped out, in a hurry for the feast.

Hermione marvelled at the grand entrance hall she had missed so much, before she headed into the Great Hall after Harry and Ron. Hermione sat down in between Ginny and Ron, across from Neville. Hermione smiled as she saw Ginny's hand squeeze Harry's.

After a few moments Professor McGonagall entered the hall with a line of new first years trailing behind. The chatter died down and the worn old Sorting Hat was placed on a stall infront of the scared looking group.

Hermione remembered how frightened she'd been at her Sorting Ceremony.

The Hall waited in silence, looking at the hat. Hermione saw Dumbledore sitting calmly with his hands clasped loosely underneathe his chin.

A rip appeared near the hat's brim, opening wide – and it began to sing:

" I may be old and worn,

But that really doesn't mean,

That I can't see what's in your mind

All your thoughts will be seen.

I'm smarter than I look,

And I am the key,

I'll tell where you belong

Where you're meant to be.

You might belong in Gryffindor,

The dwelling of the brave,

Those Gryffindors surely can be

Stronger than a stave.

Perhaps you are a Hufflepuff,

Patient and true,

Loyal from the heart

Maybe this is you.

Or yet in mindful Ravenclaw,

Those that use their wits,

Always up for learning

Perhaps it's here that you will fit.

Or maybe it's in Slytherin,

Where you'll find your kind,

Those with cunning intellect,

Who carry stubborn minds.

So don't be afraid, to try me on!

Trust me I don't bite,

I'll put you where you fit in most

Because I am always right. "

The hall immediately burst into applause as the hat bowed to its audience before becoming still.

Professor McGonagall unrolled a piece of parchment and began calling the first years one by one to be sorted.

"Abrams, Donald!"

A small boy with floppy blond hair scuttled forward to the Sorting Hat.

After a moment's pause –

"GRYFFINDOR!" the hat called.

Hermione clapped along with the other Gryffindors as Donald joined their table a few seats down.

"Bernelle, Louise!"

A girl with a long dark braid to her waist moved forward to the hat -

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

"Burns, Cindy!"

"SLYTHERIN!"

Hermione looked over to the Slytherin table to see Draco Malfoy clapping lazily beside a smug looking Pansy Parkinson.

Ron's stomach let out another growl, "Come on!" He moaned,

"Ron!" Hermione whispered, trying to concentrate on the sorting.

"Lodan, Fredrick!"

"RAVENCLAW!" Hermione watched as the table second from the door burst into applause.

"Moore, Helen!" A girl wearing robes that looked two sizes too big tripped forward to the stool. After a few silent moments –

"RAVENCLAW!" Helen hopped off of the stool and nearly fell into the seat next Padma Patil.

"Aww, she's so sweet!" Said Ginny watching the girl.

"Rollip, Henry" and his brother Hayden went to Hufflepuff whilst "Sanderson, Mandy" Joined the Gryffindor table.

Hermione clapped along with the Gryffindors.

"Sode, Laurelle" went to Slytherin as "Tamper, Violette" went to Ravenclaw.

Once the Sorting had finished with "Zaner, Parcy" being made a Hufflepuff, Dumbledore stood up for his beginning of term speech.

"Welcome," he said with a smile, "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our delicious feast I would like to ask all of the students who are seventeen or older to please stay behind after the feast. Thankyou and dig in!"

Ron immediately began shovelling food onto his plate as it appeared.

"Why do you think we need to stay behind?" asked Harry,

"I'm not sure... Hopefully it's nothing bad," said Hermione as she began to eat a roasted potato.

"Maybe it's something to do with Quidditch!" said Ron hopefully.

x x x

Once the desserts had been cleared off of the plates, Dumbledore stood again and watched as the first through sixth years departed. Ginny gave Harry a quick kiss and Hermione could have sworn that she saw Dumbledore smile lightly in their direction.

"Now, I expect that you are all wondering why I have asked you to stay behind," Dumbledore said almost gravely, "A new law was passed yesterday stating that all young witches and wizards that are of age must marry. The marriage must be Muggle-born to Pure or Half-blood, or Half-blood to Half-blood, or Pure-blood to Half-blood," The twinkle that was almost always present in Dumbledore's eye had completely disappeared. It was obviously upsetting him a lot that his students had to face this news.

"You will all be taking a compatibility test unless you are engaged in a relationship that you are happy to marry into. The results will be sent to you by Friday morning and there is no way out until 'death do you part'." Dumbledore attempted a smile before continuing,

"We will of course be making everything as comfortable as can be. Seventh years will be getting their own common room on the fifth floor with adjoining dormitories for the couples and a new class will be held here every Friday afternoon for you all, to help you understand marriage.

"You will take the compatibility test after breakfast tomorrow. Good night,"

Hermione and Harry were stunned into silence.

"Bloody hell..." Said Ron.

x x x

Hours later Hermione Granger paced the Gryffindor common room.

"They can not do this!" She yelled, "What about our rights! What if we get stuck with some SLYTHERIN?"

"I can't believe this," said Ron, "Mum's gonna have a fun day with this news! Ugh, it's so unfair you can just marry Ginny!" He said as he turned to Harry,

"At least we'll be brothers," Said Harry as an attempt to lighten the atmosphere,

Ginny was leaning against Harry's legs reading Witch Weekly's horoscopes. Much more accurate than the muggle versions.

"Hey listen to what my horoscope says: 'You will make a commitment to the one you love and start on a new adventure'. Hah! That must be the marriage thing! What's your sign Hermione?"

"Virgo," She muttered,

"Hmmm, okay," Said Ginny, " 'New beginnings await with the need to place differences aside. A challenge approaches...' Ooh, that sounds promising," Said Ginny thoughtfully.

"We should probably get some sleep," Said Ron, yawning,

"Yeah," said Hermione, "We'll be getting that test tomorrow..."

With that, the four Gryffindors made their way up to their respective dormitories.

x x x

A.N – Hi everyone! This is my 1st Marriage Fic. Hope this chapter was good! Please leave me a review if you liked it! That Sorting Hat song took me ages! Xxo