Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, or any of the characters you recognise. They belong to J.K. Rowling. I do own the plot and any up and coming characters you do not recognise. I do not make any profit from the writing of this story it is for entertainment only please do not sue.

An Unwanted Marriage, But an Unexpected Love

Chapter One: Four Choices, Padfoot and Moony's Story Time

Hermione Jean Granger felt a sickening dread, which was due to the fact she had just received mail delivered by a Ministry owl, receiving mail from the Ministry had become the worst nightmare to pureblood wizards, half-blood and muggle-born witches, all spanning from the ages ranging from seventeen to forty since twenty four hours ago.

A nightmare ever since a month ago when the Minister of magic Cornelius Fudge had passed a new law declaring all Muggle-Born and half-blood witches had to marry a pureblood wizard, however, the worst part it was not, not by far, oh no the worst part was that each witch had a list of four adult wizards to choose from. In addition, of course most of said wizards usually ended up being old enough to be the father of said witches, which was of course expected when all the younger wizards were either already married or engaged young usually straight out of Hogwarts.

Therefore if a Wizard was over the age of seventeen and not already married or due to marry either come forth of their own accord placing their name on the list of suitable and eligible bachelors or alternatively they were forced to place their name down or they too would suffer the fate of having their magic drained and their wands snapped. They could not even marry a pureblood witch, not in less they already had an engagement before the law was enforced.

For once there were not discriminating against the sexes; all witches who were half-blood or muggle-born was on an even level with pureblood wizards. The only people in the wizarding world that was safe from this new law were half-blood and muggle-born wizards, and pureblood witches, which meant those unfortunately subjected to the law looked upon the half of the wizarding community unaffected unappreciatively.

The ministry, Fudge in particular believed due to purebloods only wanting to breed with other purebloods that far too much inbreeding had taken place, meaning the rate of squibs or still born had increased by thirty five percent since the early nineteen eighties. Pureblood males needed to start marrying and breeding with half-blood and muggle-born witches, which Fudge believed would soon set an example for pureblood witches to start marrying and have children with half-blood and muggle-born wizards.

Hermione was staying at the Weasley's for the remaining six weeks of the summer holiday before returning to Hogwarts for her seventh and final year, due to her parents being gone on a six weeklong conference all over Europe for their work. She was glad she was at the Weasley's and not at home with her parents when she read the letter sent from the Ministry, knowing it would have been more stressful, particularly with her father around.

Hermione cringed and looked to be about to burst into tears as she read the official looking letter and the words that would seal her fate along with some wizard this she had no such doubt.

Dear Miss Granger

We the ministry are writing to you to remind you that due to the law having only been made official the previous day and your eighteenth birthday is due the first week of the following month, means you are eligible for this new law, which states all muggle-born and half-blood witches of the age of seventeen to forty must marry a pureblood wizard also the age of seventeen to forty. We have made a list of four suitable and unmarried suitors as stated below. You will choose one of those four wizards, which you have only two weeks from the day of receiving this letter in which to comply and make your choice. We invite you to attend the ministry two weeks on Monday morning first thing where you shall meet with the minister and your list of four suitors. There you will be required to choose your choice of spouse, if in failure to do so then the minister will be within his right to make that choice for you. If you refuse to comply with this notice and not abide by the law we will be forced to strip you of your magic and exile you from the Wizarding world indefinitely. Please read the enclosed list of eligible suitors.

Moira Warwick

(Head of the marriage, deaths, and births department)

Hermione felt ill and seriously so as she covers her mouth with her hand and let out a pain-filled sob. Mrs. Weasley stood from her chair around the kitchen table of the Burrow and made her way over to the younger witch and pulled her into a comforting embrace as she continued to sob. Her sobs was all that was heard in the deafening silence of the kitchen as all the Weasley's except for Charlie, who was in Romania, looked at the usually strong witch with sympathy.

Ginny Weasley, who sat in her boyfriends lap, none other then Harry Potter, took the letter Hermione had dropped and read the choices her best friend had available to her. She scanned the paper and instantly turned green with revulsion at the second name on the list, but was biting back a smirk at the first name and frowned in puzzlement at the third and finally nodding at last name. She read aloud, "Your choices Hermione are, first Sirius Black, second is Severus Snape, Rupert Greenwell is your third choice and finally your fourth is Barty Crouch Junior."

Hermione sniffled as she glanced up at Sirius, who was sitting at the other end of the table next to Remus Lupin and his cousin Tonks. He was eyeing her thoughtfully, whilst desperately hopping she would not see fit to choose him, not that he had anything against her, no, he just did not feel comfortable marrying one of his godson's best friends who he had known since she was only thirteen.

Hermione shook her head and said, "No offence Sirius, but I cannot choose you, I cannot marry you. You are the godfather of one of my best friends, meaning this whole situation is stressful enough without adding unnecessary tension and awkwardness into the mix, which would surely occur if I chose you instead of one of the other three."

Sirius sighed, a sigh of evident relief and replied, "Oh thank Merlin for that, I mean I have nothing against you Hermione, but you are like the daughter I never had, plus I've known you since you were only thirteen, I just honestly cannot bring myself to make you my wife. On top of that as you have already pointed out, I am the godfather of one of your best and closest friends, which is another reason why a relationship that is not platonic and marriage between us just won't work."

Ginny grimaced and said, "Well, I guess that leaves you with Snape, Rupert Greenwell, and of course Barty Crouch Junior." She added in a disgusted tone, "Snape, ewe how on earth did he end up considered as an eligible suitor, for you of all people, Hermione?" Sirius, Remus, Harry, and Ron choked at the mere thought of Hermione becoming Mrs. Snape. Hermione on the otherhand could not suppress the shudder of displeasure that went through her at the mere thought of kissing Professor Severus Snape, evil potions master extraordinaire.

Remus said, "I and Sirius went to Hogwarts with both Barty and Greenwell. Greenwell was a Hufflepuff, while Barty he was a Gryffindor, his twin Benjamin Crouch was a Slytherin." Sirius added, "No wonder he went bad and became a death eater, then goes and frames Barty, who ends up accused of being a Death eater when it is Benjamin pretending to be him all along. Barty, who didn't and still doesn't have the dark mark end up sent to prison."

Tonks shook her head letting out a snort of disbelief and remarked in a bland tone, "Talk about giving the saying an evil twin a whole new and literal meaning, he was Barty's evil twin, literately." She went on saying, "It's just shocking to realise one twin remained on the side of the light, but the other didn't. It's just when I think of twins I cannot help but always see the likes of Fred and George Weasley."

The others chuckled knowingly at this, the twins in question especially, they knowing exactly what she meant. The Weasley twins knew they would die for each other before they even dared think of turning on and betraying someone as good as their other half of a none sexual nature. They were loyal to the other to an absolute fault, meaning no witch, no matter how stunning, or some crazy assed homicidal freak, fruit and nut job of a dark lord with world domination on his mind would come between them.

Not even this current law was liable to accomplish any ill will between the twins. George was already engaged to Angelina, meaning he was luckily exempt from the law seeing as he and Angelina had officially become engaged two months before the law was even announced never mind actually official. Fred unfortunately was eligible for the law and had placed his name down even if it was not out of choice. He was due to receive notice of whose list of eligible suitors he was placed on.

Sirius added, "Barty is a spitting image of Benjamin, but with better teeth, plus minus the murderous psychotic tendencies and the love of long hair to his shoulders like Benjamin had. Barty was and still is always the more laid back twin." He added around a smirk, "Although just because he is the more laid back of the two does not automatically make him a pushover, oh no, Barty has one hell of a foul temper when provoked."

Remus added, "True, Padfoot, you and James learned that lesson the hard and in a very painful way" he was grinning deviously as he said it. This caused Sirius to glower at him and was sure if James had been alive and present in the room he too would have been joining him. Remus ignored the less then friendly looks from his long time friend and continued, "But he never went out of his way to inflict that temper on others. He has a temper, but thankfully he is not one of those wizards who have a ridiculously short fuse, though if and when that fuse of his does blow then I highly recommend taking immediate cover."

Sirius smirked knowingly, knowing exactly how wise it was to take cover in such a situation, never being able to forget the way he learned that hard and very painful lesson. He shook the memory away as he asked Hermione, "So who else was on that list of yours, didn't you mention Greenwell?" He hoped she hadn't as he knew Hermione would clash almost as badly as she would with Snape as a husband and in close quarters on a regular basis.

Hermione frowned as she asked, "Greenwell, where have I heard that name before I know I've heard it before, but where?" She let a frustrated noise in the back of her throat when she could not place the correct face with the name. Remus, who noticed how frustrated she was starting to become told her what she wanted to know. He asked, "Do you remember in your fifth year Hermione when you took your owls?" He added at her silent nod, "Do you remember a young member on the examination board, blonde, blue eyed, appearing as if he were not long ago out of Hogwarts himself."

Hermione frowned before her eyes widened in realisation and seconds later honestly looked like she had swallowed something highly sour or had come across a very foul stench. She shook her head rapidly and responded with such vehemence that she gained a few raised brows from the Wesley's and the others. She said, "No, no way, there is absolute no way, I cannot do it."

The others were smirking as she shuddered and all but spat, "Good grief he was like the Hufflepuff equivalent of a Malfoy, if it weren't for the fact he did not have the psycho killer instincts of the Malfoy's, then he could have been one of them quite easily." She grimaced as she added, "He was stuck up and acted all high and mighty, acted as if he was god himself. I seriously thought he was going to choke and die due to all of that forced pompous charm, either that or I would end up dreadfully ill in the end."

She concluded, a sarcastic edge to her voice, "So patronizing, absolutely unreal, I swear the imbecile was terrified of a witch with more than a few brain cells to rub together." The other burst out laughing, even Molly could not help but chuckle and patted Hermione sympathetically on the back. She really did pity the poor girl and was glad her Ginny was not eligible for the laws requirements.

Hermione shook her head again and said, "And no, I can't marry Snape either, I refused to be married to and bare the children of a man who would never respect me, who believes me to be a worthless know it all." She added coldly, "Besides, he is a Death eater, sure he is spy, yes, but that does not mean I wish to be involved with a man who will constantly be in the shadow of a raving and murderous lunatic, I would never be safe, nor would any children for that matter."

Harry sighed and said, "Well, I guess that leaves you with Barty Crouch Junior. I met him at the end of my sixth year; he was at professor Toffty's funeral." He added, "He looks like his brother, in fact they are identical, except his hair was a lot shorter and slightly spiky." He added, "Which is also why I had a problem with being near him to begin with, until of course he smiled at me knowingly. His smiled looked truly pained and I think it was he knowing his brother's own actions in his name had shown the many consequences again.

Harry sighed adding, "But as far as his personality goes he is nothing like his brother was. I was strongly reminded of Remus only with a slight edge to him, an edge which reminded me a bit of Sirius, a very much quieter version of Sirius." He shrugged, smirking as he saw the knowing and amused expression on Remus's face, while Sirius mocked glowered at him, sticking his tongue out at his godson, who rolled his eyes in reply.

He concluded, "I liked him, he was willing to tell me things about my parents and my aunt, my dad's sister, when he went school with them, Sirius, and Remus. He was really nice about it and did not mind any of the questions I asked him. It was great having a whole different point of view concerning my father and mother, what they were like during their Hogwarts years and after they graduated and had me."

Sirius said to Harry, "He used to be like a brother to your mother and aunt, always stuck by the pair of them when neither James, me or Remus were able to do it." Sirius's voice reflected evident respect." He laughed lightly, having been on the receiving end of the wrath of two fiery red heads himself on many occasion. He concluded and said, "Not that either your mother nor your aunt needed protecting, they could hold their own, in fact both were capable of making any guy who truly crossed them fear them with a well placed threat, hex or a good solid kick.."

Remus laughed knowing before he sobered and added, "Barty's home life was in fact a lot like Sirius's own, except Barty Crouch senior was not a Death eater with a scarily overbearing obsession for the dark arts and pureblood supremacy, just a lousy father and a workaholic who hardly ever found the time to devote any attention to his sons or his wife for that matter."

He paused before adding, "He and Sirius have so much in common when it came to their siblings." He went on, "Sirius became a Gryffindor and never got along with his brother, who became a Slytherin." He went on after another brief pause, "And Barty he also became a Gryffindor, however, he never detested his twin brother, not until our sixth year and he started acting in ways he had not in the past. And as you can guess, he too became a Slytherin as well."

Sirius added, "Both of our siblings ended up becoming Death eaters and Barty end up going to prison, whilst his twin paraded as him, blackening, destroying his reputation, his values, his beliefs, what he stood for in short." He continued, "I ended up going to prison because of Peter for apparently that traitorous rat. In short we both went to prison for crimes we did not commit and we also managed to escape."

He explained, "I managed to escape in my Animagus form, Barty, on the otherhand accomplish his own escape whilst he was sitting in that cell and his powers began to build up and he managed mentally to master wandless magic. He was always the most powerful in our group and somehow strong enough to apparate though the wards, meaning if anyone besides Harry or Albus was going to accomplish it then it would be him."

He sighed and added, "If it had been you Harry who attempted such a thing, I don't doubt that you would have brought the entire prison down to the ground literately." He revealed, "Barty was always a powerful wizard, not in your league or Albus's, but his power level always managed to outweigh Remus's and mine. Even your father and mother came a very close second to him in the magical strength department."

Sirius suddenly grinned as he asked, "Did any of you notice on the Marauders map that not only was there a picture of a stag, a grim, a wolf, and a rat, but also a stallion?" Harry nodded and replied, "Yeah, I always wondered about that, whenever I activated the map the names Prongs, Padfoot, Moony, Wormtail and also Midnight would show up on the map."

Remus smiled and said, "You all only knew of four of the marauders and never knew of the fifth member, except for when you activated the map. Not many do that never went to Hogwarts during mine and the other Marauder's time." He finished, "Midnight, he was and still is the darkest brown stallion, hence the name midnight, who is none other then Barty Crouch Junior."

Hermione smiled and shook her head as she said, "Not only one but two of my supposed suitors were and still are members of the infamous Marauders, trust my luck." She added with a giggle, "Oh god if I marry either one of you, I would never be safe, and you would be pranking and causing me a headache right left and centre. I'd become as paranoid as Alistair Moody, always checking my food and drink, looking for little traps here and there."

The others laughed at this, while Sirius and Remus were nodding knowingly. Remus commented, "Well, actually you would have most likely had that trouble with Sirius or James, Barty and I on the otherhand, we were the less volatile of the group and were more likely to think before we acted. Peter on the otherhand, well, the less said there the better."

The smile left Hermione's face as she said. "I do not want to follow this law, but I refuse to lose my magic and be exiled, so my only other option is to marry Barty Crouch Junior and become Mrs. Crouch." The others looked at her in sympathy, knowing she and other witches and wizards did not deserve any of this. Fudge the pompous fool, his stupid and degrading law was ruining and making a mockery out marriage.

Marriage was supposed to be a bond and a commitment between two people who loved each other, no matter their sex or sexual orientation. It should not happen because of some discriminative law and was wrong for one to enter into such a commitment when both parties were not doing so of their own accord. Complete consent and full dedication was how it was supposed to be on both sides or you honestly had no place entering into marriage.

The law destroyed the meaning of pledging one's self through vows and rings to another. The law turned marriage merely into a piece of official looking paper and set of fancy and expensive jewellery. The vows were invalid before the bride and groom would even get around to saying I do. The vows honestly became just words instead of actual vows that held and meaning or worth to the actual bride or groom.