Summary: Marriage Law fic! AU. Can Hermione and Fred make the best of a bad situation?

AN: This is AU. Takes place after HBP. Not DH compatible. There will be some Ron and Hermione but make no mistake this Fred and Hermione all the way. Oh and this is unbeta'd. if anyone is interested.

Chapter 1:

Pg. 1

The Ministry of Magic has been alerted to a problem in our magic community. Centuries of inbreeding amongst many of our pureblood families has led to various problems which include but are not limited to various blood diseases. These disease, many of which are fatal, could have long term effects on our community. In response to this current population crisis your ministry has decided to take what will be considered a radical step. We will be enacting a Marriage Law as of 2 July 1998.

Rules, regulations and specifications of the 1998 Marriage Act:

1: All unmarried Witches and Wizards between the ages of 18-49 will be required to be married within 2 weeks of this notification. (Any Witches or Wizards who will be 18 prior to September 31 are included in this)

2: The match must be between a Muggle born and pureblood witch/wizard.

3: Any Witches or Wizards who are currently engaged or will be engaged within 48 of this notification will be excluded. You must notify the ministry in writing within 48 hours of this notification and you must be married within the 4 month time frame referenced above. If a match is not chosen or announced within 48 a match will be chosen by the ministry.

4:The couple must consummate this marriage within 7 days of the wedding.

5: All Witches and Wizards who are married under this act must conceive a child by the 1st anniversary. If that is not achieved then tests will be preformed to see if the couple has any fertility issues. These issues will be treated if they cannot be treated then the couple may choose an annulment at that time with no penalty and they will be reentered into the lottery.

6: The couple must cohabitate for the duration of their marriage and may only be separated for emergency and employment reasons.

7: The couple must stay married for at least five years and conceive one child and then they may choose to apply for an annulment.

8: Failure to comply with any of the above specifications will result in the loss of your wand and imprisonment in Azkaban and a fine will be levied.

The Ministry understands the burden the Marriage Act could put on families who are already struggled in these hard times so will be paying remuneration to the families PER CHILD who is required to marry. If you have any question please feel free to contact the Ministry at any time. All Questions/concerns/petitions/etc. should be addressed to newly formed Department of Nuptials.

Thank You in advance for your cooperation in this matter. And as always have magical day.

Regards,

Pius Thicknesse

Minister for Magic

"This is ridiculous!" Hermione seethed. She was sitting at the Weasley's kitchen table looking at the family.

"We agree," Tonks said. "It's a little less than slavery."

"You're not helping, dear," Remus replied. He was slumped into a chair across from Hermione. He looked wearied and sad.

"Is there nothing we can do?" Hermione pleaded.

Mrs. Weasley sat down and took Hermione's hands in her on. "We have tried. Unfortunately, the minister has been placed under the imperius curse and we believe this a plot of Voldemort's."

"A marriage law?" Hermione scoffed. "That is his plan? He is the darkest wizard ever and his big bad plan is to force marriages on people. Maybe we have overestimated him a bit."

Remus chuckled earning him a glare from Molly Weasley. Remus cleared his throat and said, "We have reviewed the wording of the law and we believes this piece of legislation was passed specifically with you in mind."

"Me?" Hermione demanded. "Why?"

"You're a loose end," Tonks replied. "You represent a problem for Voldemort. If he can separate you from Harry then it leaves Harry slightly more vulnerable. At least we think that is the motivation."

Hermione sighed and then said, "So, what they put this law in effect and then...what is the endgame."

"The ministry pairs you with someone...probably the son of a death eater and then..." Arthur Weasley shook his head and trailed off.

"I think you understand what is at stake here," Remus told her.

"I do," Hermione admitted. She was trying to work through this. "So, I can marry Ron or Harry or..." She saw Remus shaking his head. "What?"

"Read it again," Remus suggested.

Hermione took the letter and quickly realized the problem. "18...they have to be 18?" she asked.

"Harry isn't even 17 yet," Remus reminded her.

"And Ron won't be 18 until March," Molly supplied.

"Well, what about Neville, or Dean or Seamus," she was getting desperate and that was clear in her tone.

Remus exchanged a look with Arthur and then said, "The problem is that we have run out of time. You have two days to decide. Most of those boys you mentioned are not 18. And well..." He paused and then said, "We need you married to someone we, as group, can trust. We have to be sure whomever you marry can't be put under an imperius curse and allow you to be kidnapped or..." He let the words die out and the implication hang in the air.

Hermione deflated, "So, what do we do?" she asked almost in tears.

Molly squeezed her hand, "We have an idea." She nodded to Arthur who stepped outside. A minute later he came back with the Fred.

Fred looked more sullen then Hermione ever remembered seeing him before. He gave her a half smile and then sat down next to Remus.

"I ...have to marry Fred?" she asked and then quickly added, "Not that there is anything wrong with Fred. But how did we get to Fred?"

"Well, Bill is getting married, "Molly explained. "Charlie lives in Romania and you haven't had enough contact with him for it to be believable. Percy is well..."

"A ministry loving prat who turned his back on his family and friends?" Fred offered.

"Fred," Hermione and Mrs. Weasley scolded him at the same time.

Fred chuckled, "That was frightening," he said.

"One of the twins was the only logical choice," Remus told Hermione.

"And seeing as George has a girlfriend I offered to take one for the team," Fred interjected.

"Whom is George dating?" Hermione asked.

"Alicia Spinnet," Fred answered. "You didn't know?"

"No, I miss everything when I go home," Hermione told him.

Remus cleared his throat. Fred and Hermione brought their attention back to the matter at hand, "We will have to file a petition today for you and Fred. If we are correct in assuming you are the target we imagine paperwork will be filed for you in the next few days by various death eaters. "

That frightened Hermione but she tried to look brave so she just nodded, "I understand."

"We will have to sit down with you and Fred and concoct a story. The ministry is going to ask you when you started dating, details of your courtship. You know?"

"Will they ask for proof? Like letters and stuff?" Hermione didn't know how far they would take this.

"No," Remus assured her. "But we need to have a cover story ready and you and Fred will have to appear as a couple."

"When will the wedding be?" Hermione asked.

"On the 31st of July," Molly told her.

"That's Harry's birthday," Hermione pointed out. "And wont Fleur be angry? Her wedding is coming."

"Fleur understands we have explained it," Molly assured her. "Now, your wedding won't be as large as hers as we don't have much time. Just family and close friends."

"That is fine," Hermione said. Her eyes went to the letter and a thought entered her head, "then I will have to go and live with Fred and George? The letter says I have to cohabitate."

"Yes but we will rearrange things, "Molly told her. "We will put two beds in George's room and he and Fred will bunk together."

Hermione flushed as she asked the next question, "it says here that we must...consummate..."

Fred smirked but didn't say anything.

"No," Remus answered. "You will not be expected to do anything like that. That would be criminal. The letter says you must have a child by your 1st anniversary we expect to have it overturned long before then and then the marriage can be annulled."

"But if you want to..." Fred started.

Molly turned on him and glared, "Frederick..." she started.

"Just joking mum," Fred defended himself.

Molly continued to stare daggers at him until he stopped smiling and looked at his feet.

Hermione was torn between amusement and fear at his comment so she just looked away hoping she wasn't too red.

"And the ministry required your parents to sign a letter allowing your marriage as you are just shy of your 18th birthday," Tonks told her. "So, you will need to see your parents tomorrow and explain it."

Hermione knew that would be a pain she was already fighting with her parents as it was. She just nodded though. the she asked a tough question,"What should I tell Harry and Ron?"

Everyone was quiet. Molly squeezed her hand. "We will all sit down tonight and explain it to Harry and Ron. We will make them understand this is a necessity."

"This is going to be fun," Fred said. "Ron will go through the roof."

"Fred," Mr. Weasley warned him.

Hermione wandered how often they had to say his name like that on a daily basis.

"It's true," Fred insisted. "Everyone knows Ickle Ronniekins fancies her."

Hermione wanted to go through the floor. This whole thing was more than she could take.

"Fred, don't make this more difficult than it needs to be," Mr. Weasley chided him.

"I guess that is all we need to say on the subject," Remus said. "We will meet with the Order and set this in motion."

"We will sit down with the kids tonight and explain," Molly sighed.

Hermione knew Mrs. Weasley was worried about Ron. Hermione was too.

"Tomorrow you and Fred will go to your parents and explain," Molly said.

"Why do I have to go?"Fred whined.

"because her parents have a right to meet her fiancé and because I said so," Molly's tone had an edge of finality to it and Fred seemed to grasp that so he didn't say anything else.

"We are adjourned," Remus said and the adults left

"Ok, Dear?" Fred said once they were alone. "Are you ready to be Mrs. Fred Weasley?"

"Ron?" Hermione begged. "Please say something?"

Ron was turning red, that of course wasn't unusual he did that every time he was angry, but this was a deeper shade of red than Hermione had ever seen. He kept opening his mouth and shutting it yet no words were coming out.

"Oi! Ron!" Fred said. "Just rant and get it over with. You look like you are about to have a heart attack. "

Ron turned and glared at his brother, "YOU ARE MARRYING HERMIONE?" he shouted.

Fred rolled his eyes. "Like I planned for this? Like I asked for this?" He looked at Hermione. "No offense?"

"None taken, "Hermione replied.

"So, there is no other option?" Harry asked. "No way out. She HAS to get married?"

"Unfortunately," Mr. Weasley answered. He looked at his youngest son, "Please do not be angry at Hermione and Fred. Hermione is a victim and Fred is doing her and the Order a favor."

"This is complete rubbish," Ron yelled again and stormed out of the room glaring at Hermione and Fred as he went.

Hermione felt tears sting her eyes. Just when things are finally good between her and Ron? Just when they get on the same page? Ron was right...this was complete rubbish.

Everyone was quiet now and staring at Hermione. She wiped the tears away. Fred has a strange look on his face. Hermione was too ashamed to look at anyone else.

Harry put a hand on her shoulder, "He will come around. I am sure he understand this wasn't your choice. I will talk to him." He started to go after Ron. He stopped at the bottom of the stairs. Then smiled at Fred and Hermione, "Congratulations, by the way."

Hermione smiled at Harry and watched him walk away. She reminded herself this wasn't forever. They would fix it. But it certainly messed everything up and she wondered if things could be fixed.

Fred grinned at Hermione. "Want to go on a date?" he asked.