Stuck By Law *COMPLETE*

Three Months Later:

Though a young woman of only twenty-one years, Hermione Snape, wife of Severus Snape, is making quite the name for herself. She has pulled strings that others didn’t even know were there to be pulled, she revamped the old marriage law that is in place so that all marriages are practically wanted instead of forced.

Though Hermione too is a victim of the marriage law she claims that she has never been happier than she is with her husband Severus Snape and their daughter Aibhlinn Marie Snape. She was hired to make matches in the Ministry Department of Magical Marriages but quickly climbed the ranks and is now the Head of that department. Where the law once held fear of the unknown and seemed like something of a death sentence for everyone involved it’s now talked about in pleasant conversation and is now something that is open to be learned about for everyone of any Hogwarts age. There are fundraisers being held to raise awareness of the law, Ministry parties and balls going to be or already being held and there is a support system for young, new wives as well as new mothers so they never feel alone.

This reporter is wondering what the magical community is thinking about with the possibility of voting in a new Minister. One is curious if our world is ready for a change like Hermione Snape or if they are willing to stay with Minister Percy Weasley. But no matter what anyone chooses in four months when there is a vote this reporter knows exactly who she’s voting for.

Rita Skeeter

~~~//~~~

Hermione looked down at the picture of herself on the front of the Daily Prophet. She had been standing in front of her new Head of Magical Marriages office when she’d been given the position. She looked proud and happy in the picture and she’d have to admit that she was even happier now. She turned and walked away from the meeting room where her department had just finished up their monthly meeting with the minister. She was by the door of her office when Percy caught up to her, she rolled her eyes when she heard his nasally voice from behind her.

“The New Face of the Ministry of Magic?” He repeated the headline “Anything I need to worry about?”

“Oh yes” Hermione laughed as she turned to look at him “When I’m done I’m going to steal your wife too” He shook his head with a grin on his face and relaxed completely.

“Apparently I’m being silly” He said leaning against the doorframe after she opened her office door “I have to say though, you are truly doing amazing things here and I appreciate it”

“Thank you, Minister” Hermione smiled “You’ve done amazingly with the whole community”

“It’s difficult to do as I’m sure you know” Percy said with a short laugh “Okay, I’ve got to go I have some paperwork to do and then I’m going home early”

“Goodnight” She said and watched him walk away. She rolled her eyes yet again, he acted as if his going home early was something new but the truth of it was that he went home early three days out of five and would complain about being overworked when he had to work a full day.

She sat behind her desk and wrote up a new idea that she wanted to bring to Severus that night when she got home. She smiled at the parchment and then went back to the work she had been working on before the meeting. There was a knock on her door and she found Harry standing there with a tired smile on his face. She leaned back and pushed her papers away from her and motioned for him to enter and take a seat across from her. Once he was seated she waved her wand and closed and silenced the door and then conjured up some tea and cakes.

“Welcome, Harry” She greeted and he laughed.

“Why all the cloak and dagger?” He asked as he accepted his tea from her.

“This conversation cannot be overheard” She told him “I have taken the necessary steps to make sure there is no way any listening device or spell can be placed upon my office…you can check if you like, the only magic that works in this office is my own unless there is reason for someone else to use their wand to protect themselves”

“Good spell work” He commented after trying a number of spells “So what’s so important?”

“Harry” She said leaning back in her seat “I’m going to be frank with you” He nodded “I am working my ass off to be made Minister Of Magic”

“I figured this much” He said with a smirk “What do you need?”

“Your fame” She answered and he scowled at her “Harry you are a pillar in this community, if you were to start a campaign for me with a few other people then the wizarding world would follow your example”

“Isn’t that cheating?” He asked, he was still just as uncomfortable with his continued fame as he had been when he was growing up.

“Its politics, Harry” She said “Do you think that Percy got his position because everyone liked him?” She gave a hollow laugh “Not in the least. He was sneaky and underhanded, I’m not being like that…I’m being smart and likeable but I think that even you can see that I would be good in that office”

“I’m curious though” He said thoughtfully “Would you be running the wizarding world…or would Severus?”

“I would be, Harry” She said testily “I am the one that has been coming up with all these changes, Severus has been offering up some advice and his thoughts but it’s all my decision in the end” She glared at him and decided that it was time to treat her best friend like she would a difficult consumer or financial advisor “I would of course allow you to voice your own thoughts and opinions, you know that I am always open to new ideas or someone wanting to help with an already existing problem”

“Really?” He asked “You weren’t always like that”

“Let’s just say that the business world has given me some sharp edges while smoothing out some other edges” Hermione answered “Harry, things could go back to…no, things could be better than they were when we were kids. No more hatred or prejudices because I wouldn’t allow it, no more favoritisms in Hogwarts…everything that we saw and experienced as children, we could make that better now but I need your help” She knew that she had him when his eyes went slightly out of focus and then settled on her again.

“Fine” Harry said “But you do know that I have no idea how to run a campaign, right?”

“I do” Hermione answered with a laugh “Tomorrow at eight o’clock in the morning you are to go to The Hungary Witch Café to meet your partners, they will know exactly what to do”

“Anything good to eat at this Hungary Witch Café?” Harry asked.

“Its Hungarian food” She answered “Some of its great and some” She tilted her hand a few times side to side “Not so much”

“Great” Harry muttered “Is that all you wanted to see me for?”

“More or less” She answered “How’s Lily?”

“Good” He answered “Full of energy but Ginny and I have things worked out pretty well so neither of us are burnt out”

“That’s good” Hermione said “Abilene has Severus and I running at all times but I have to say she sleeps through the night now”

“That’s good” Harry frowned “I think Lily is just plain spoiled as she screams at night until we bring her in to our bedroom and then there’s no peep from her all night”

“She’ll grow out of it, I’m sure” Hermione said.

“I hope so” He said skeptically.

When Harry finally left Hermione was feeling pretty proud of herself. She smiled to herself and pulled a piece of parchment towards herself and thought for a moment before she started to scribble a letter furiously to two people she hadn’t spoken nor written to in months. The Malfoys, she had gotten a few letters from them but never answered and up until the last letter she hadn’t even opened them but finally softened a little. The letter had begged her to see reason, to use her ‘big brain’ to figure out the truth behind their actions. She wasn’t stupid and she knew that they had been blackmailed in to firing her so the ministry could hire her. That’s not what bothered her so much that she couldn’t talk to them until this very moment, no that she could and did understand. What she’d been so angry about was that they hadn’t explained it to her, wrote her a letter or even attempted to show her (without bringing too much attention to themselves that is) but no, they had thrown her out on her ass and didn’t even attempt to explain themselves or see if she was okay. She hadn’t even received a congratulations letter from either of them when Aibhlinn had been born, she smiled and sent it out with the ministry owl before collecting her stuff and leaving for the school.

A/N: Tell me what you think.