Marriage Law (d.m)

~ chapter 1 ~

The ride to Hogwarts felt unsettling to her. The last time Madelyn was there, she watched some of her friends die. She clenched onto Hermione's hand, making Hermione look over to her and smile. Madelyn was glad she was able to come back to Hogwarts and finish her schooling for one more year. 

On the other side of Hermione sat Ron and Harry while Ginny sat across. Hermione tried to make small talk to ease everyone's minds and Harry tried to keep up with the conversation, but it usually lead to dead ends. 

Once the train arrived at Hogwarts, the group headed for the carriages. Madelyn caught a glimpse of Malfoy stepping off the back compartment of the train with Pansy, Blaise, and a few others she couldn't see. Madelyn thought of all the classes she was going to have to attend with the former Death Eater. Harry had told her Malfoy wasn't as bad as he seemed but she still felt uneasy about the man due to his involvement in what lead to her friends' deaths.

All five of them stepped into the carriage, followed by Luna and Neville. Madelyn could tell the two got close over the break from the body language given off. She was happy for them, she always felt Neville deserved a happy ending. 

She smiled as he sat next to her and he did the same back. The next thing they knew, the carriage was taking them up to Hogwarts. 

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The six of them sat at their house table while Luna split off to her own. Many students were happy to see all their friends again including her own, but Madelyn couldn't help but feel sad when thinking of all the happy memories from the year before. She knew her friends felt the same but they each had someone to comfort them, Madelyn didn't have anybody. All Madelyn could see were smiles around her, so she put on a show and followed along. 

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The cheerful voices throughout the room became quiet when McGonagall stepped up to the podium. 

"Good evening students, I'm am so very pleased to see everyone's face. We have experienced a tragedy but we are pushing forward to a brighter future. As many of you have noticed, our previous seventh-year students have returned for another year to make up for the last." 

She went on to talk about how things were going to be different and better for the students. 

"I am happy to see everyone. After dinner, I am going to make an announcement that affects the seventh and eighth-year students." She finished and walked to join the other professors.

The group all turned to look at each other. They didn't understand how anything was only going to affect the upper-class students. The group began to eat and tried not to stress over what was to come. 

"How was your summer?" Neville asked the group while grabbing for the chicken in front of him. 

"Mine was great! I spent a lot of time with Ron and tried to do lots of things that I wouldn't normally do," Hermione said while smiling at Ron. 

Harry went on to tell the group about how he spent lots of time at the Weasley residence with Ron and Ginny.  Madelyn joined them many times but she didn't want to intrude and spend her whole summer there. They all had different ways to cope with what they experienced and Madelyn chose to spend lots of time to herself. After Harry finished, Madelyn went on about her summer and about how she didn't do much. She told Neville about how she spent time with her parents, whenever they were there, and hung out with the trio for parts of the summer.

"I see that you and Luna have gotten close," Madelyn said as she nudged Neville. He became awkward as his cheeks flushed. 

"Yes, we have sent letters back and forth a couple of times over the break," he said while looking down to try and hide his blush. Everyone giggled and Neville joined in. 

Madelyn couldn't help but feel upset everyone around her had someone except herself. Madelyn had flings before but nothing long enough that she would call relationships. Before the war, she was interested in Dean Thomas but the battle seemed to have changed him in a negative way. She also had flings with almost all the houses, but who hadn't. They were all teenagers in a school that had pretty loose rules. Although, she never did anything more than flirt with the boys. 

"Students, it is time for the announcement." Madelyn was interrupted from her deep thoughts as McGonagall stood at the podium. "Before this school year, there were many meetings at the Ministry of Magic about what was to happen this year. Many of you may not be aware of a law that was made over forty years ago. It was not spoken of and was kept secret because many had disagreed with it. It has never been enacted till now. It goes by the name of the Marriage Law. Citizens from the age of seventeen to twenty-two will be wed by the end of the school year, or by June if they are not students, and produce a child within a year of the marriage. This is to help with the population problem that came about from the war."

 Some students began standing up and yelling. A ruckus began and could not be silenced. Madelyn turned to Hermione who looked concerned and shrugged at her. 

Everything felt like it was in slow motion for Madelyn. She watched students stand up from their seats throwing their hands around and others turning to their friends for help. Madelyn didn't know how to feel. She didn't want to get married. She hated the law and hated that she was being forced into something with no control. 

McGonagall began to explain that the next evening, all the seventh and eighth-year students will meet there and be placed with their partner. The Ministry had a way to find out who was their soulmate. Madelyn hated that term. How would they even be able to figure that out, she thought to herself. McGonagall looked devastated and everyone could tell she wasn't happy about it either, but Madelyn didn't care. The law didn't affect McGonagall. She wasn't going to be forced to marry someone and have a child.

Madelyn wanted to be able to find out who was right for her by herself. She wanted to go on dates with people and fall in love the normal way, not be told by the Ministry who was right for her. 

"I'm sorry students. We can't do anything about this but I'll see the seventh and eighth-year students tomorrow night," she said and walked away into a room, followed by the other professors. 

"Is this a joke?" Ron yelled. "We are nearly nineteen and we are forced to get married and have a baby?"

"I don't understand," Harry said after. Neville got up and walked towards the Ravenclaw table. Hermione looked upset as she held onto Ron's hand. Harry wrapped his arm around Ginny's waist, leaving Madelyn to sit alone. She felt a tear fall along her cheek and pushed it away as she stood up. 

"I'm going to head to my room. I can't deal with this right now," Madelyn said as she faintly waved goodbye. The group nodded. As Madelyn was heading for the door, she saw Malfoy sat lecturing Pansy and Blaise about, she could only assume, the new law. Madelyn couldn't help but feel bad for whoever was to end up with him. She continued walking towards the dormitory and got ready for bed when she reached her room. She then laid in bed thinking about who her future husband was and how the guy couldn't be that bad since the Ministry was putting her with her soulmate. She tried to think of the positives through the negatives but not many came to mind. One more tear fell and landed on her pillow. She closed her eyes and went to sleep trying to forget about her future.