More Than Meets the Eye

A/N None of the characters you recognize are mine. I'm not making any money on this, it is just something I am doing for fun. This is my first fanfiction so please read and respond.

Chapter 1

Hermione sighed contentedly as she sat down on her bed. It was so good being back home. Although she had enjoyed touring the United States with her parents, their request for a magic free vacation had been harder than she thought it would be. She realized of course that Dumbledore had made sure that she and her parents were always protected, but she had not seen the aurors she knew were there. She couldn't believe that she hadn't had any contact with the wizarding world for two months.

There was a tapping at the window that turned out to be a small brown owl. She quickly lifted the sash to let it in. It hopped around on her desk, holding out a leg to her. Hermione removed the piece of rolled parchment and lightly stroked the bird. “Would you like something sweet to eat?” she asked it. She opened a drawer when it chirped excitedly. She pulled out a shortbread biscuit, broke it into pieces and gave it to the excited bird. “Don't you get treats very often?” she asked it. She was ignored as the owl continued to eat away. She smiled and unrolled the parchment.

-H-
D said that you would be getting home today. We have a meeting tonight.
Come to the B first. Can't wait to see you!
-H-

Hermione shook her head at the cryptic message. It was something that Harry had started when had written Sirius for those two years. She briefly wondered whether Harry continued writing in such a way out of habit or as a tribute to his godfather. She pulled out some parchment to send a reply.

Message received. I'll see you soon.
Hermione
P.S. Give the poor bird a treat now and then. I've never seen one so excited over a piece of sweet!

She tied the note to the owl and sent it on its way. After she watched it fly away she changed and got ready to go. She couldn't imagine her parents having a problem with her spending the night with the Weasleys, after all she had spent the last two months with them. She walked down the stairs to find her mother. “Mum?” she said finding her at the kitchen table reading the paper.

“Yes dear?”
“I just got a note from Harry. There is a meeting tonight that I should go to. It might be long so I'll probably spend the night at Ron's.”
Her mother sighed. “Oh alright.”

Hermione was surprised at her mother's disappointed tone. “Mum is everything okay?”
“Everything is fine. Just go ahead,” her mother answered her looking back down at the paper. Hermione looked at her for a few moments before heading back upstairs. She was still trying to shake the feeling of guilt as she gathered her stuff, grabbed the floo powder and went to the fireplace in the sitting room. She lit a fire, threw in the powder and called out the burrow. She stepped into the green flames and was almost instantly surrounded by five red heads and Harry. Ron, Ginny and Harry gave her a quick hug as she greeted them, the twins and Molly.

“I am so glad that you came as soon as you got Harry's message,” Ginny said as they all sat down at the table. “I figured you would with this new law and all.”
“What new law?” Hermione asked and watched the shock fill their faces.
“You mean you don't know?” Ron asked her after a brief silence. “How can you not know? It has been in all of the papers everyday for the past six weeks!”
“Ron, when my parents said a magic free vacation they meant it. I haven't seen the prophet or any other magical newspaper for the past two months. I had my wand with me, but I was only allowed to use it if there was an emergency. I was practically a muggle while we were away. Now, what law was passed that has caused such a reaction?” Ginny wordlessly handed her a copy of the paper, afraid at what her reaction would be. Unlike her brother and Harry, she knew that Hermione wasn't going to be happy.

Hermione felt her jaw drop as she read the headline. “Marriage Law Enacted!” She quickly scanned the article. “Due to the increasing concern for the low birth rate among wizarding families, the Ministry of Magic has passed a law to stop the inbreeding commonly associated with pureblood families. According to a ministry spokesman, they understand that these measures might be seen as extreme, however if the wizarding world is to continue fresh blood must be brought in. Since there are more muggleborn and halfblood witches and wizards, and in an attempt to give some freedom of choice, it will be the muggleborns and halfbloods between the ages of 14 and 40 who will be proposing. This should ensure that each pureblood will have several options to choose from.”

Hermione's eyes grew wider and wider as she read the article which was followed by a list of all eligible purebloods between the ages of 14 and 40. “They can't be serious!” she exclaimed when she was finally able to speak. She looked around the room hoping to be told that this was one of the twins' gags.
“I'm afraid they are,” Harry answered her. “They do have a small point 'Mione. Birth rates among the wizarding community have been very low. While the rates of miscarriages, infertility, and squibs have drastically increased.”
“'Mione most wizarding families aren't like mine,” Ron said jumping into the conversation. “Think about it. How many of our pureblood classmates have siblings?”
Hermione stopped to think about what he had said. Now that she thought about it, she realized that although she hadn't noticed before many were only children. “Alright, I can understand why they are so concerned, but this law is ridiculous!”
“Compared to some of the original ideas this law is pretty tame. According to my dad, some of the first drafts had requirements on sex frequency and number of children. At least how the law stands now the ministry won't be checking in to make sure everyone is having sex four times a week, with fines or prison time if a pregnancy isn't produced within a year!”
“What?! They actually....I mean...What about...How could they...” she struggled incoherently for a moment. She thought she could never be more shocked they she was at that moment. She was wrong. “Dumbledore must be having a fit!” she finally managed to spit out. Suddenly everyone at the table was looking down. “What?” she asked sure that she wouldn't like the answer.
“Dear, Dumbledore isn't against this law,” Molly told her softly. Once again Hermione's jaw dropped.
“How can he possibly be for this law?!”
“Well, he is concerned by the birth rate, but more importantly he believes that it will have a significant effect on the war. By forcing purebloods and non-purebloods to marry it will end the idea of pureblood superiority, since in a couple of generations there won't be any purebloods. When Voldemort can no longer hide behind the idea of supremacy he will be exposed as the power hungry monster that he is, and his downfall will happen quickly.”
“Well if its for the war than its a wonderful idea to force people into a permanent relationship!” Hermione replied sarcastically.
“Hermione...”
“No Harry! I can understand why you feel that this isn't a huge deal. After all, you and Ginny have each other, and Ron has Lavender. Now I ask you to understand how I feel. I have worked very hard for the past six years and now it is all worthless! I planned on having a career that would make a difference, not being some pureblood's whore and breeding mare.”

Molly reached across the table to squeeze her hand. “Now dear, I know that you have had a shock, but you know that not all pureblood wizards treat their wives like that. If I had an available son I would be proud to have you as a daughter. You must know that none of them would treat you in the manner that you have described.”
Hermione returned Molly's squeeze. “I know Molly, and I appreciate that you would offer one of them if you could, but the truth is I hate the idea of being forced to get married.”
“Hermione, why are you so against getting married?” Ginny asked her.
“I'm not against getting marred Ginny, but I want to get married out of love, not duty. I know I haven't spoken about it but I'm just like any witch. I've thought about falling in love and getting married. I've dreamed about having and raising little wizards and witches.”
“Wow,” George said to Fred “who would have thought our logical Hermione is a romantic?”

She sent them an icy glare. “Just because I am serious about my studies, and have spent a lot of time in the library doesn't mean that I don't have the same desires as most women! Now, it has all been ripped away from me.”
“Not necessarily Hermione. After all having children is what this law is all about. And you shouldn't give up on the idea of love either. Just because a marriage is arranged doesn't mean that it needs to be loveless,” Molly reassured her. At her look of disbelief she continued. “I know what I am talking about. My parents had an arranged marriage, and a more in love couple you would be hard to find. It is true that I was in love with Arthur when I married him, however, everything I know about love I learned from them.”
“Thanks Molly. I still don't like this law and I still think that it will cause more problems than it will solve, however I no longer think that I am destined to a life of misery.”
“That's the spirit Hermione! At least you get to choose who to propose to. Now what wizards are you attracted to?” Ginny asked her with a determined look on her face.
Hermione blushed deeply. “I don't know. I haven't thought a whole lot about it.”
“You mean you've dreamed about falling in love, getting married and having children, but you didn't dream about who the wizard involved would be?” Fred asked.
“How exactly does that work?” George queried.

Hermione sighed slightly. “Listen, I don't know a whole lot of wizards outside of Hogwarts, and I always planned on waiting to get married until I had finished school and an apprenticeship. I didn't think it would be fair asking a guy to wait that long, so all thoughts or dreams about a specific someone just seemed like a distraction.”
“Now there's the practical Hermione that we all know and love,” replied George.
“Don't worry 'Mione,” Fred continued picking up the paper. “George and I know lots of wizards due to our business. We'll just go through the list of eligible purebloods with you and find the perfect match.”
“Um guys, its really um..sweet of you to offer your help, and please don't take this the wrong way, but there is no way that I am going to let you two play yenta for me!”
“Yenta?”
“Muggle term, means matchmaker,” she explained.
“Yeah,” Ron chimed in. “Harry and I know her better than anyone else, if anyone is going to be this yenta thing it'll be the two of us!” He finished hotly while Harry turned white at the idea.
“Oh Merlin!” Hermione groaned bringing a hand up to rub her eyes. “No, no, no,no,no.”
Ron looked a little hurt. “Why not? We are your best friends. So if you need help then why shouldn't we be the best ones to help you?”
“Ron you know how much I care about the two of you. You guys are more than my best friends, you're more like brothers to me. There are just some things that I can't talk to you about. It would just be too uncomfortable,” she explained trying not to insult him further.
Ron nodded. “I suppose you're right. So who are you going to ask for help?”
“Well I am glad that everyone has decided that I can't make this decision on my own!” she kidded with a smile. “I guess that I will ask Dumbledore for help. He has never steered me wrong yet, and he knows everything about everyone. I am also going to ask McGonagall. I've worked with her quite a bit and I think she knows me pretty well. And I would also like to ask you Molly. You've been like a second mother to me.”

Molly beamed with pleasure. “I am honored that you trust me enough to help you make this kind of decision. Of course I will help you, and I am sure that Albus and Minerva. Perhaps it would be a good idea for the four of us to sit down together after tonight's meeting and look at who might be compatible. After all, you only have two months before the commitment ceremony must be preformed. Why don't you write a letter to Albus and Minerva asking them for help. Harry needs to go back to headquarters soon, so he can easily take it for you.”


Later that afternoon Ginny, Ron and Hermione were sitting in Ginny's bedroom playing a game of snapdragon. “Hermione...Hermione! It's your turn again”
“What? Oh sorry,” she answered coming out of her thoughts. She looked down at her cards and frowned. She couldn't remember the last card she had played. “I'm sorry guys. I just can't seem to follow the game right now.”
“That's okay Hermione,” Ginny reassured her putting down her cards. “You have a lot on your mind. If you want we can just talk,” She gave a pointed look at Ron, who sighed, put down his cards and nodded at Hermione.
“Thanks guys. Its just that this morning when I woke up, I had no thoughts of getting married anytime soon. Now I am going to propose to someone, in all likelihood a complete stranger, and my whole life plan has changed. I know Dumbledore, McGonagall, and your mum will do their best. I understand that I will have to give up the idea of having an apprenticeship, but I hope that they will be able to find someone who will let me to finish school.”
“Whoa, wait a minute 'Mione! Finish school? Not have an apprenticeship? What are you talking about? How does this law keep you from doing all of that?” Ron exclaimed.
“Oh come on Ron. They might be able to find a wizard who'll be willing to let his wife be away from him long enough for me to finish school, but there is no way they'll find one who'll let be gone for an additional five years!”
“Hermione you don't have to get married right away!”
“But I thought that the ceremony had to take place within two months?”
“Oh Merlin 'Mione,” Ginny groaned. “I keep forgetting that you wouldn't know all of our old traditions and ceremonies. The commitment ceremony isn't a wedding, its a betrothal.”
“A betrothal? You mean all I have to do is get engaged?”
“Well, its a little more than just a simple engagement. I take it that you've heard about the fidelity charm?”
“Of course. It has been classified as dark magic. It binds the couple together with no option of removal. The Ministry outlawed its use a couple of centuries ago to stop parents from using it as a means of forcing their children to get married against their will.”
“Well, the Ministry has brought it back, but in a modified version. They saw it as necessary because they didn't want to force fourteen year olds into marriage, but they also didn't want some purebloods trying to get around the law by having babies before having to get married.”
“How has it been modified?”
“Well first of all, only the couple can evoke the spell that links them together. Also the spell can be lifted with the consent of both parties. This means that in extreme situations, an engagement can be broken.” Ginny told her.
“Besides Hermione,” Ron jumped in. “Even if you had to get married right away there are plenty of pureblood wizards who are, or were, Ravenclaws. They would definitely take your dedication to your studies as seriously as you do.”
Hermione smiled. “Thanks Ron. You know, I never thought about a Ravenclaw. I guess I always supposed that I would marry another Gryfindor. Hmm... I don't think that a Ravenclaw would be creative enough for me, but I guess it would be better than ending up with a Hufflepuff.”
Both redheads laughed at this idea. Ginny was giggling so hard that she had tears streaming down her face and almost fell off the bed. “I'm sorry,” she gasped when she had finally calmed down enough to speak. “Its just that the idea of you ending up with a Hufflepuff is almost as funny as you ending up with a Slytherin!” All three of them laughed at that mental picture.