My newest story! I've got high hopes for this one, and I've already got the second chapter started. I know it's a marriage law fic, and they've been done with some many characters but they're some of my favourites and I decided to take a swing at it. I'm Canadian, so please forgive my Britishisms, but I've tried my best. Hope you like it!

"A Marriage Law? Really? That's what it's come to out there? I'd rather they kept the Muggleborn Registration plans! I'll snap my wand before I let the Ministry marry me off to some Death Eater to become a sex slave!" Hermione raged as she sat at the kitchen table of number 12 Grimmauld Place. Her hands were shaking with rage and fear as she read the letter in her hands.

"Hermione, it may not be that horrible. There are plenty of purebloods that aren't on Voldemort's side. I mean, I know you don't want to get married to McLaggen, but you could still fight the war if you were. And no one on our side is about to force you into having... erm, relations with them." Harry reasoned.

"I'll marry you, Hermione, I'm a pureblood. I don't know why you're getting your knickers in a twist. There, problem solved." Ron stated, with a smug look on his face.

"As flattered as a I am Ronald, the problem isn't solved. You aren't eligible. It says here that my use of the time turner has aged me 6 months, so now I'm legally of age. You don't get a choice on who you marry, either. The law says that a husband will be chosen for me within the week 'based on our ability to produce viable magical children'. I don't think I'll be getting McLaggen, either. This could be bad." Her shoulders sagged and she put her head on the table.

"So then you want to leave magical society then?" Harry asked, apprehensively. Ron's head shot up, and his eyes grew fearful as the gravity of the situation set in.

"No... Yes.. I don't know! I don't want to just leave! I want to stay and fight the war. I want to graduate and work in the Department of Mysteries and fight for house elves and be a witch! There's nothing in the muggle world for me now! My education stopped at 11, and it's going to be really hard for me to try and explain that away. I want to stay!"

As she burst into tears, Harry and Ron sat paralyzed for a moment before rushing to comfort her. Awkwardly patting her back, Harry began to speak.

"So you want to take your chances then? I mean, the only way this law could become permanent is if we completely lose the war, and Voldemort wins. But if we win, then this Law will be repealed. So this may only be in effect temporarily. So if you want to take your chances then you could be married to someone for a little while and you could potentially be helping the Order. But if you don't want to take the chance, you could leave magical society for a while, and no one would think any less of you."

Hermione stared out the window, deep in thought. "I.. I'm going to stay. I can't leave you guys like this. I'm not a coward, I won't run away from this. Especially when there are plenty of other young witches in my situation who don't have homes to run off too." She turned to look at them with a watery smile.

"And maybe I'll get lucky and get paired up with a Gryffindor."

"So when do you find out who it is?" Ginny asked, later that night as they prepared to go to sleep.

"By the end of the week I think. I'm so nervous. I mean, I've been thinking about it and even if I am paired up with a Death Eater, then at least I might be able to learn something useful for the order. My best case scenario is if I get lucky and end up getting paired with Fred or George because then I'll just stay here."

"Useful to the Order? Hermione, no one is expecting you to go through with this for the Order. This is a huge deal! I mean, fuck, have you thought about what being married to a Death Eater night be like? Torture! Physically and mentally! You do know that under Wizarding Law, a marriage isn't legal unless it is consummated within 24 hours of the ceremony? And.. Sweet Merlin, Hermione you know all of the Order's secrets! You can't marry a Death Eater or we've already lost the war! They'll torture every bit of information out of you!" Ginny panicked.

"I've already thought of that. I was researching the Fidelius Charm today, and I think I can modify everything that pertains to Harry or the Order is the secret. I'll get McGonagall to be the secret keeper and I'll still know all about it but I won't be able to talk about it with anyone who she hasn't told about it. I'm going to take other precautions as well though. I'm brewing a batch of Veritaserum antidote and I'm going to keep it on an invisible chain around my neck. I'm also thinking about carrying an emergency portkey, maybe a bracelet or something, that will have a password. I won't be taking any chances. If things get bad, I'll be out of there." She said.

"But that's not even why I'm so nervous. I mean, with a Death Eater, I know it's going to be bad. I'll hate every minute of it but I'm preparing myself for that. But what if I just get a normal pureblood?" She asked anxiously.

"Oh yeah, because being married to someone who doesn't think you're scum or want to kill you would be absolutely terrible! Are you bloody daft, Hermione?"

"Oh, shut up, Ginny. Obviously that's what I'm hoping for but I don't know how to act. With a Death Eater, I'll be able to hate them and I won't have to pretend. But what if I get some poor Hufflepuff who wants a real marriage? Or some Ravenclaw who doesn't want to fight in the war? If I get someone normal, how do I act? I mean, I'll have to sleep with them! I'll have to pretend to enjoy it or something! Bloody hell! It's almost worse in some ways, because I'll have to consider the other person's feelings! Death Eaters, I can prepare myself against, but I don't know how to prepare for anything else!" She was panting with exertion by the end of her tirade.

"Ahhh.. I see what you mean. Though I wouldn't say it's almost worse. It's still a damn sight easier than being married to some pureblood supremacist who'll treat you worse than his house elves. Still... I think everyone is fully aware that this law is a sham. Nobody in their right mind is going to go into this thinking they're getting a real marriage. Just try to think of it as having a roommate. You might even be able to have your own room!" Ginny's reasoning made Hermione feel slightly better about her impending marriage.

"Chin up, Granger. You could get incredibly lucky and marry one of us!" Fred said as he and his twin sauntered into the kitchen to find her with her head in her hands.

"That would be incredibly lucky, Fred. Why what witch wouldn't want us. You should be hoping for me though, 'Mione, because I'm better looking. And I'm brilliant in bed!"

"I know it's a sad day in hell when I'm actually praying that I get paired up with either of you two. That would be wonderful.." She said, sighing.

"I knew you'd always had a bit of a soft spot for us, Hermione! Look at that love in her eyes, George! Hermione Granger wants nothing more than to become a Weasley!" They all laughed and Hermione felt some of the tension leave her shoulders. Fred passed her a glass of pumpkin juice and she sipped it gratefully, wondering how long it had been since she'd eaten a proper meal. Fred's expression changed and he put his hand on her shoulder.

"Though, in all seriousness, we're both hoping you'll get one of us. Even though we're both having arranged marriages, we're getting muggleborns. So I may end up married to an annoying Hufflepuff, but she's probably not going to hate me or try to hurt me; but that is a possibility for you. No matter happens, you can always come to us for a sympathetic ear-"

"Or a shoulder to cry on. And if you do get a bastard husband and he hurts you in any way, call us." George chimed in.

"We'll come and get you out of there. I mean it. We won't be letting no slimy git hurt our Hermione." Fred finished. She smiled at them for a moment before the kitchen door opened. Mrs. Weasley walked in with several bags of food floating behind her.

"Alright, you two. Put this lot away and peel the potatoes for supper. Hermione, dear, I'd like a word with you in the Library." She said kindly. Hermione stood and walked out with her.

"Now, I know you think you have no choice but to go ahead with this marriage but you can back out if you'd like to. You are only a child, and this could be incredibly dangerous. The Order doesn't need a spy badly enough to risk the life of a young girl. Please, I know I'm not your mother, but I think of you like a daughter and we could keep you safe! We could find a way to get you away from here and then no one could hurt you!" She said, getting more agitated as she went on.

"Please, Mrs. Weasley. I know that I don't have to do this. But I'm going to do it. I'm scared, and I'm taking every precaution that I can think of. I won't run and hide, though. I may be young, but I can be useful. This is probably the only way that I'll be able to help the Order any more, and I intend to do that. And you never know, maybe with this law I will become your daughter!" She said, with a sad little smile. Mrs. Weasley burst into tears and threw her arms around Hermione, who began to sob as well.

They sat like that until Ginny tapped on the door to say dinner was ready.

"Hermione, there's another letter form the ministry for you!" Ginny yelled, running up to meet Hermione as she came down the stairs. It had been three days since the original letter and Hermione was as nervous as ever.

"Merlin, Gin, I don't know If I can read this. I mean this letter contains the name of the man who I'll be married to for the foreseeable future and possibly the rest of my life!"

"You could get lucky Hermione. Maybe it won't be so bad." Ginny said, almost as if she were trying to convince herself. They walked back into their bedroom and sat on Hermione's bed. After a moment of silence, Hermione grabbed the letter from her hands.

"Let me see it. Before I lose my nerve." Tearing open the letter, Hermione read aloud.

"Greetings Ms Hermione Granger,

We hope to find you well prepared for your upcoming nuptials. Attached are some of the terms concerning your arranged Pureblood marriage, which are subject to change at any time without notice. For full details please contact the Department of Arranged Marriages.

Your marriage is scheduled to take place tomorrow afternoon at 3:15 p.m. at the Office of Magical Documents. Please arrive half an hour early to ensure all documentation is in order and to be introduced to your future husband or wife.

Please note that you may only bring a maximum of 5 guests with you to the ceremony, due to space restrictions.

Sincerely,

Mafalda Hopkirk,

Secretary

Department of Arranged Marriages"

"That's all the letter says? That's bloody ridiculous! It doesn't even tell you who you're marrying!" Ginny fumed. Hermione took a deep breath and slowly turned to the second page. Her voice shook as she began to speak.

"The Arranged Marriage Act has been put into effect due to the dwindling numbers of viable magical children being born. It is the Ministry's belief that by matching a Muggleborn and Pureblood based on their ability to produce children that the magical population will flourish. Not all Purebloods or Muggleborns are eligible for this wonderful opportunity due to incompatibility. Below is an incomplete summary of The Arranged Marriage Act.

1. All marriages must be consummated within 24 hours of the ceremony to be valid.

2. Couples must have sexual intercourse at least three times a week, not including the time when the female is menstruating.

3. Absolutely no methods of contraception are allowed until the marriage has produced no less than three children.

4. Couples must wear the Ministry-provided wedding bands at all times.

5. Couples are subject to surprise investigation by Ministry Officials at anytime in addition to the standard monthly inspections.

Any witch or wizard who does not present themselves at the appointed time and place of their marriage will be immediately charged with treason, and a warrant for their arrest will be issued.

Noncompliance with the Arranged Marriage Act may result in fines, chaperoning or incarceration."

"Merlin's pants, Hermione. That's terrible. You can still back out you know. After seeing this, I'm starting to think you should. No one would blame you. We could whisk you away to a safe place!"

"No, I'll do it. I've made up my mind. It's the only help I can give to the Order. If I run, then I'm completely useless. At least this way they've got someone on the other side. And like you said, maybe I'll get lucky and get one of the twins!"

She got up slowly. "I wonder if Fred and George have gotten their letters yet? If either of them have the same time listed in them then there is a chance that I might be marrying one of them!" She said, hope shining in her eyes.

She bolted from the room and almost immediately collided into the twins, followed by Harry and Ron.

"Did you get your letter?" George said, a hard look on his face.

"Yes. 3:15 p.m. tomorrow. You?" She asked, steeling herself for a negative answer.

"I'm at 3:15 tomorrow! Hermione, it might be us, it might be alright!" Fred yelled, throwing his arms around her. She let out the breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding and felt the adrenaline rush through her veins. There was still hope!

"I'm at 3:30. They don't set aside much time for the ceremony, eh? But this is brilliant. I wonder who I'll get…" George said, with a grin on his face. "Maybe I'll ask around, see who else has my time tomorrow." He said, and was off with a wink.

"Hermione, that's brilliant. I really hope you get Fred. But don't get your hopes up too much. I mean, obviously Fred is our first choice but you should still go ahead with all the precautions. I don't want you going into this unprepared." Harry said reasonably. Hermione nodded through the tears in her eyes, and threw her eyes around Harry and Ron.

Ron held onto her tightly and buried his head into her hair. "I'd rather my brother had you than anyone else, 'Mione. I know he'd treat you right." He whispered as she nodded.

"Right then," she said, stepping back. "I've got packing to do, and Professor McGonagall should be here after dinner to help me with the charm. You lot want to help me sort through what to take?"

"Take? Why would you take anything?" Ron asked, his eyes looking suspiciously watery.

"Well, if I don't get to marry Fred, than I'm moving out tomorrow and in with my new husband. I might not get to come back." She said sadly.

"Oh.. Well then, yeah we'll help. Spend all the time we can with you now I guess."

"I'll get us some snacks, okay? I'll meet you two up there in 5 minutes." Harry said awkwardly. He quickly backed away in an obvious ploy to get them alone.

"Hermione… are you sure you want to do this? This isn't like all the other stupid shit we've done. Harry and me won't be there to watch your back this time. We'll help however we can but you're basically on your own. I don't see why you've got to throw yourself into the snake pit like this though! You could leave for a bit, and wait for things to calm down a bit first! You don't have to do this!" Emotions were flashing across Ron's face faster than Hermione could read them, but he finally settled on anger and glared at her.

"Ron, I know what I could be getting into. It could be bad, hell it could be terrible. But I won't run from it! If I can't be a witch, than I don't know what I can be. I can't go back into the Muggle world and just pick up where I left off. I'm not that girl anymore. Since I was eleven years old I've wanted to be on the Wizengamot! All of my hopes and dreams and plans for my life have been based around the idea that I would be a witch! I can't just decide that I want to be a Muggle and abandon my friends in the middle of bloody war! I've got to take the chance that things may turn out okay! And if not, if I end up with a Death Eater, then at least I'd be able to do some good as a spy!"

Hermione was panting with exertion by the time she'd finished speaking. She hadn't realized how many reasons she'd had for going through with the marriage before she'd tried to justify it to Ron.

"Okay... I get it. You're going to do this. I don't like it, but I guess I can't stop you. I hope, for your sake, that you get to marry Fred, because that's the only way you'd be able to live the life you want to lead. But if you end up marrying some bastard who doesn't treat you right, than me and Harry will come and rescue you and hex the living snot out of him and you'll just have to cope with living back here again. 'Cause I won't let you stay with some abusive prick who thinks you're his new toy. " Ron said fiercely.

"It'll all be alright in the end. Whatever is supposed to happen will. I won't pretend that it will be a happy ending for everyone but I know that we will win the war; because we've got Harry and You and the Order and everyone on our side. Dumbledore believed in us, and so do I." Hermione said, putting on a brave face.

Ron nodded. "I forgot, I told mum I'd help her clean the Doxy eggs out of the airing cupboard. Be back soon." Ron stood up abruptly, walking to the door.

The door was about to swing shut behind him when it stopped at the last second, and Harry walked through.

"I take it that didn't go well?" he asked, handing her a cauldron cake.

"No, he's rather upset. While I can see why the situation makes him upset, I don't see how he thinks I have another choice! I mean, the only other choice I have is to abandon my life! He can't possibly expect me to just go back to being a Muggle, can he? And then what? When the war is over, just abandon that to go back to being a witch? I can do that!"

"He doesn't expect that. He's just upset with the situation. You know he's had feelings for you for a while. He's always expected that he'd be the one to marry you. I think that the fact that he may lose you to his brother is the hardest part of all. He'd never admit it, but I think that he'd rather you left the magical world than stay and marry another wizard. He'd never admit it to you because he's ashamed of it, but he thinks that if you were trying to be a Muggle, than he could try and date you."

"I always knew he felt that way. And to be honest, I felt that way about him for a while too. But things have changed. I always knew the feelings I'd had for him weren't permanent; he's always been more my best friend. Even when I fancied him, the marriage that I fantasized about was very platonic. We were together but we were best friends still, in a very platonic way, and I think that's why I wanted to marry him.

He's always been safe; he'd treat me right, give me children and be my best friend. I fancied him in the most platonic way possible. But I don't feel that way about Ron anymore. This law has forced me to grow up in ways that I'll never understand. I'll be married in less than 24 hours. And since we all know that wizarding marriages are not easy to dissolve, and its probable that I'll be married for the foreseeable future, I think it's only fair that you try to help Ron find new girlfriend, or at least a girl to get his mind off of me."

Harry thought briefly about making a comment about Ron not fancying Hermione anymore s a joke. but decided that the situation was to grave to be lightened by humor.

"Okay. But you can't abandon us. I want to see at least two letters a week, more if you can manage. Weekly floo calls.. rig something up like the D.A. coins again if you can manage it before you leave. And visit as often as you can manage. I really would like to see you at least three times a week. But that one will have to be worked out after you're married."

"Harry, if it's possible, after I'm married I'll visit every bloody day!" Hermione exclaimed! "I'll try my hardest to see you guys every opportunity I get!" Hermione said.

"I know you'll try, 'Mione. That's not what I meant. It's just… I hate that this is happening! But it'll will all be okay, somehow. If things get to bad we'll get you out no matter what. We love you."

"I know, Harry. It'll all be okay in the end." She smiled up at his concerned face, but it didn't reach her eyes. He wrapped his arms around her and they sat like that until they were called for dinner.

"Okay. It's 2:20, all my things are in my pocket. I'm as ready as I can be. How do I look, Gin?" Hermione asked as she paced across her – no Ginny's bedroom for what she saw as her last time.

"Good. Not too polished like you're dressing up for this, but not sloppy like you don't care about your appearance. You look professional, kind of indifferent to the situation, I guess. It's too bad you can feel like hat too." She said sympathetically. Hermione has spent the entire morning at the first part of the afternoon going through a cycle of changing her clothes, repacking her things, redoing her hair and makeup and freaking out.

"Well I think I'm ready to go now. Promise me that no matter what happens at the wedding, you'll keep quiet. I don't care who is up there at the altar. You have to sit in the pew and keep a straight face and not say a word. Can't let them see fear or it'll be hell form the start. I've got a much better chance if no one knows why I went along with it. If they think I'm part of some plot the Order has cooked up then I'm safe, for a bit." Tears were glistening in her eyes, but she wiped them away furiously.

Ginny reached out and grabbed her hand. She was about to go on reassuring Hermione when there was a knock at the door. Ron opened it slowly, and poked his head around.

"Mum says we've got to leave now Ginny, and she wants your help with the.. dishes" He finished lamely. Ginny nodded and left the room without questioning him, leaving Ron and Hermione standing in tense silence.

"'Mione, about yesterday… I wasn't trying to be a prat. I just.. I thought.. Fuck it. You know that I always figured we'd end up together. And this really buggers up that plan. I don't want to see you with anybody else. But I don't want to never see you again. It'll be hard, but I want to stay friends. This isn't the last time I'll go off on you, I can bloody well promise you that, but promise me that you'll always forgive me?"

The tears that had been in her eyes were now streaming down her face, and she could only nod before throwing her arms around him and openly sobbing. He held her tightly for a moment before she heard another knock. Harry stood in the doorway, and smile slightly t the sight of them.

"We have to go now. We have to be there in less than ten minutes. Can't stretch it any longer." He sighed, and turned to go but Hermione grabbed his hand and squeezed.

"You guys are the best friends ever. I love you both and nothing could change that." She led them both down the stairs and into the kitchen where the rest of the Weasley's waited.

She looked around the room at her surrogate family, and wondered what she was going to do if she had to leave. She looked around the room and vowed that she would return here someday soon.

"Alright then, off we are. Let's hope for the best then." Mr. Weasley said as he grabbed a hand full of floo powder from the pot next to the fireplace. He took a deep breath and shouted "Ministry of Magic!", before stepping into the flames.

The rest of the family filed after him until it was only Mars Weasley and Hermione waiting in the kitchen. Hermione stepped up next, and as she was stepping into the fireplace, she heard a muffled sob come out of the older woman's mouth.

"Granger, Hermione!" A short, fat witch called. She slowly got up form the uncomfortable chair she was sitting on and walked towards the desk. A shiny brass plate proclaimed the name Millicent Selwyn. Hermione stood there for a second before clearing her throat.

"Alright then, fill out these forms, and the get into that line up." Selwyn did not look up as she spoke, just thrusted a stack of papers at Hermione. She took the forms and sat back down.

"Forms? They want you to fill out forms?" Ginny asked incredulously. Fred's name was called and he squeezed her arm before being whisked away into another room. Hermione just nodded as she began filling in the boxes. She finished filling out the forms and took a deep breath.

"Well, this is it then, I guess. I'll be married within the hour. Wish me luck!" She said, attempting cheerfulness. She quickly walked over to the line before she got emotional again.

As she waited she looked around the room for a clue as to whom else her husband might be, if not Fred. She glanced at the door just as Lucius Malfoy walked through it. He glanced at her, and smirked before walking into the office behind Selwyn's desk. She turned away and another Ministry witch was in front of her.

"Alright, Granger, you're up next. Just walk through those doors and you'll meet you new husband. You've got a few minutes to talk before the ceremony but make it quick." She walked forward and walked through another set of doors.

As she walked in, Draco Malfoy stood from his chair and looked at her. She felt the panic swell up in her chest and black dots dance across her eyes before everything went black.

please review! it's been a while since I read any Dramione, let alone wrote it. But this one was itching to get out, so let me know what you think!