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Last Exit to Eden	By : lucretziathevagabond Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Lucius/Hermione Views: 17266 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: All Harry Potter-verse characters belong to JK Rowling, Bloomsbury et al. No copyright infringement intended. No money is being madefrom this or any of my stories

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Title: Last Exit to Eden

Rating: R

Pairing: Lucius/Hermione

Summary: When Hermione turns in her wand and returns to the wizarding world, she finds friends she never imagined and a life full of surprises.
Disclaimer: JK Rowling, her editors, publishers and others own Harry Potter and any recognizable characters. No copyright infringement intended. I am merely working to improve my writing skills and let my imagination take center stage.
The title of the story is from a song by Amanda Marshall.

Prologue: The Ultimatum

"This is absolutely ridiculous! There is no way I am going to go along with this ridiculous law!"

Hermione Granger lay the paper down on the Weasley's well worn kitchen table and stared at the Burrow's occupants in disbelief. The Weasleys, both honorary and legal, were just sitting down to a late breakfast when the Daily Prophet-Morning Edition had arrived and drawn all of their attention. Arthur Weasley now cleared his throat to attempt to calm down the outraged young woman

"Ah, now Hermione dear. I understand that you must feel a bit out of sorts about this marriage law. However, after the war it has become apparent that if the world were to survive, we need to put our personal feelings aside and think about the good of our community. While this may not be the ideal situation, Ministry officials won't do anything too drastic or unpleasant. I can get the paperwork today, and we can start to plan a strategy.

"The wizarding world, you mean." She said angrily. "You mean the survival of the wizarding world, not the survival of the muggle world. There is apparently more than one in many people's minds."

Molly jumped in without thinking. "Hermione dear, we knew that this law was in the works. Harry and Ginny, and Ron and Lavender both got married before this would become an issue. I know your university education was important to you, but it cut in on the time you had to meet someone. In time, you'll learn to love your new husband. It takes a bit of time, that's all."

Hermione glared at the red haired matriarch and looked around the table. Most of the Weasleys were paying greater than usual attention to their plates and trying to stay out of the crossfire. Only Harry was willing to meet her gaze.

"Hermione, this law is ridiculous and is going to be overturned. Even if it isn't, all you have to do is meet the requirements of the law, and then you can get divorced. It won't be that horrible. Plus we'll all be there for you."

"I will absolutely not submit to any law that tells me who and when I will marry. Witches are not breeding factories at the command of a bunch of doddering old fools!"

She glared at her now cold eggs, and her stomach turned. This could not be happening. There was no way that after over ten years in the wizarding world, she was going to be forced to something so backward as agree to an arranged marriage. She had fought on the front lines at the second Voldemort war; and had been tortured by crazy Bellatrix Lestrange. Since the war ended four years ago, she had been working diligently to help rebuild Hogwarts and lobby for protection of the muggleborn. How could the wizarding world turn their backs on her now?

"The requirement is for you to marry and have three children in five years. That hardly makes you a breeding factory. After that, you can do as you please. Although you may want to think about settling down, Hermione. Marriage to a pureblood would ensure your place in the wizarding world. No one could argue that you don't belong once you have proved you are serious about staying." Molly had made her argument using Molly-logic. Bad idea.

Hermione felt as though she would be sick at any moment. Fighting in a war didn't mean she intended to stay? She could feel the bile try to make it's way into her mouth, and she felt faint. Standing, she emptied her eggs into the dustbin, ignoring the stares.

"I need to leave. Thanks for breakfast Mrs. Weasley."

Grabbing floo powder, she stepped into the fireplace and didn't look back.

Hours later, Hermione lay in her bathtub with bubbles up to her nose. With Chopin on her headphones and a glass of wine on the tub ledge, she tried to relax and forget about today.

She had spoken with her parents earlier. Andrea and Stephen Granger had been very supportive, offering to take her in for as long as she needed to get on her feet. The looming question was, of course, how she would get hired in the muggle world with no record of university or even high school education? Sinking back into the hot water, she slipped her head under the surface to wash her hair.

She was so lost in her own thoughts that she didn't hear her fireplace activate, nor did she hear the rustle of robes as the dark skinned man step into her flat. He was accompanied by a elderly woman dressed in tartan robes and expression one of grave concern. It was only when the door to the bathroom was wrenched open that she knew anyone was there. Her head jerked toward the noise and she leapt to her feet, mindless of her nudity.

Minister of Magic Kingsley Shacklebolt looked almost as surprised as she did. Averting his eyes and handing her a towel, he growled out "I need to talk to you, Granger."

The scene in her sitting room was enough to provoke her, as she dressed and came to the main area brushing her hair. Kingsley and Professor McGonagall had made themselves at home, and were now seated on her sofa and drinking tea from her grandmother's teacups.

"I wasn't aware I had invited company over tonight." Her voice was icy, a reflection of he anger at having her privacy invaded.

"I'm sorry to have barged in on you like this" Professor McGonagall said, putting her teacup down." Molly tried to floo-call you several times and when you didn't answer, she was afraid you might have done something drastic."

Hermione snorted.

"Right. After fighting on a battlefield for two years, surviving crucio so many times that I lost count, and working twenty -hour days to help rebuild Hogwarts. Do you honestly think that I would off myself over some silly law?"

"Miss Granger", Kingsley began, "We came because we were concerned for your welfare."

"And, of course, because a witch choosing suicide over legalized slavery would not reflect well on your administration" she supplied, a smirk on her face.

"You are out of line, Granger, " he growled. Hermione was in front of him in seconds. The look on Kingsley's face showed his dawning realization that he may have gone too far.

"Let me see if I understand this properly; stop me when I make a mistake. When I summon the Aurors, you are going to tell them that after you disabled my wards, entered my apartment armed with your wand in the middle of the night, entered my bathroom where I was bathing and made yourself at home despite the fact that we are not now nor have we ever been friends, that I am the one out of line?"

"Miss Granger, please sit down. This is a very serious matter. You can't speak that way to the Minister of Magic." Professor McGonagall said briskly.

"The Minister of Magic is an intruder in my home. I am within my rights to cause him harm if necessary to protect myself. As for him being Minister of Magic, if he doesn't learn to watch his mouth, he won't be minister long. Your diplomatic skills stink, Kingsley." His face darkened, but he said nothing. He held out a parchment bearing an official Ministry seal. She opened the parchment and read:

Dear Miss Granger,

As you may be aware, Law number 2005-10 was passed last week. This law, bearing the short title the Marriage Law, indicates that as an unmarried woman between the ages of 21 and forty and capable of childbearing are subject to its decree.

As a muggleborn witch, you are required to marry either a pureblooded or halfblooded wizard within the next two months. If you choose not to marry, you must surrender your wand and be ostracized from the magical community until death or you become unable to have children, whichever comes first. During the first five years of marriage you are required to produce three living children of magical ability to help repopulate the magical community. Fertility and lust potions will be available at a discounted rate for those affected by this law.

The three wizards below are noted to be particularly suited to you based on an all- purpose compatibility spell cast by the Marriage Enforcement Officer assigned to your case.
1. Oliver Wood, 26 years old. Quidditch commentator. 2.
2. Cormac McClaggan. 25 years old. Ministry official-Standards and Weights. 3.
3. Neville Longbottom. 25 years old. Owner of plant and herb store-Diagon Alley.
Best wishes for a happy and fertile marriage,

Dolores Umbridge

Marriage Enforcement Office r

"Why is Neville crossed out?"

"He has already chosen a wife. I believe you are already acquainted with Hannah Abbott." She nodded.

"Well, neither of these are acceptable choices. Oliver Wood is a notorious womanizer and McClaggan is a pompous ass. And what fool chose Umbridge to be a marriage counselor?" Hermione lifted her chin in anger.

Kingsley sneer distorted his usually placid face. "Umbridge volunteered, and not many people wanted the job. As to your complaints about your suitors, I suggest you make a choice quickly before another name gets crossed off. I understand Wood has been auditioning his prospective brides."

She grimaced, and tore the parchment to shreds, dumping the pile into Kingsley's lap.

"I'm not choosing either of them. I will not be a part of this law." Kingsley rubbed his temples.

"Granger, I can't make an exception for you. I know what you've sacrificed, but if I allow you to avoid the law then others will cry foul. You have to set an example; witches around Britain look up to you. You know the deal: Marry either Wood or McClaggan, have three kids and then you can get divorced, poison him, whatever you want to do. Think of it as a last assignment for the Order."

"No."

"Pardon?" He looked stunned, as if no one had ever told him that before.

"I said no."

"What do you mean no?"

"I am a muggleborn, Minister. I've lived without magic for much of my life. It won't be easy, but I can survive. My parents are there, and I know how to use the technology and can assimilate. If my options are those two buffoons or nothing, then I choose nothing."

"Miss Granger, you don't mean that. You are one of the most promising witches in Britain. Surely, you can choose someone else. Kingsley, she should be able to choose someone else." Professor McGonagall looked panicked, as if she were just realized all of this was really happening.

"Fine. Granger, which pureblood or half blood would you consent to marry?"

"No one."

"What?" Kingsley bellowed, jumping to his feet. "Granger, you are intentionally making my life difficult. I am giving you the choice of any unmarried pureblood, and still no one is good enough? I have enough problems without worrying about your little tantrums."

Hermione's voice was calm. "Kingsley, this is not about you. Since you have taken over as minister, you have done some great things. You have also done some things that can be classified as political suicide, and this is one of them. I can't believe the pureblooded community can be happy about this, and there is no way that the halfblood or muggleborn population are throwing any parties either.

"What about one of the Weasley twins? They're still single." McGonagall interjected, a touch of desperation in her voice. "You've always gotten on with them all right."

"Professor, I am not getting married to anyone right now. I am not having children right now. When I decide to do either of those things, it will be my choice. For almost a decade, I fought against one dictator that wanted to exterminate my kind, and at one point he even had the Ministry at his beck and call. To bring him down, I had to fight and suffer, while never questioning the Order and their motives. Every time I tried, I was reminded of my place. I will not stand by and allow others to define my life; I will not surrender myself to an entity that has already been proven corruptible. In short, Kingsley, I will be the mistress of my own destiny. If that means I have to leave the magical world to do it, then I accept that.

"Miss Granger, those are pretty words, but they are ineffective. Either marry or give up your wand."

She held out the ash stick that had been her constant companion for over a decade.

"Do you want it now?"

The Minister of Magic stood and straightened his robes. "If you choose to marry, then according to the law, you will have two months to complete the transaction. However, if you intend to surrender your wand, you will need to be moved out of this flat and back to the magical world within the next seven days. No magical pets, no transfigured furniture, nothing. One week from today, you will no longer be a witch."

Hermione stood as well and helped the Professor to her feet. "You can take my wand, Minister, but I will always be a witch. I'll see you one week from today. Unlike you, I will have the courtesy to come during normal business hours."

With a look of frustration, the two uninvited guests took their leave. When the last flame went out, she sat on her sofa, and let her composure crumble. She cried for hours, before pulling out a parchment to begin to make plans.

The next six days passed in a flurry of activity. The Weasleys had floo-called her several times begging her to reconsider. Molly even went so far as to say that she would never see Hermione again, leading her to believe Molly didn't intend to venture into the muggle world. There was also the explanation to her parents, moving her belongings to their home, and attempting to find a job that didn't require proof of muggle university attendance or a high school diploma. It was a very busy time.

The hardest thing was for Hermione to write the letter to the Ministry informing them of her intent to leave the wizarding world. She stopped getting the Daily Prophet, and for that reason had no idea of the public outcry about the Marriage Law. The pureblooded community was calling for Kingsley's resignation, and for once the half-bloods and muggleborns were in complete agreement with their elite brethren.

On the appointed day, Hermione went to the Ministry as agreed. Approaching the reviled Dolores Umbridge, she handed over her wand. Umbridge's toad -like eyes were full of malice, as she took the wand and snapped it. Silence overtook the crowd; according to the law, wands were to be held by the Ministry intact for two years.

"Oh, dear. Look what I did", she sang, unable to hide her glee at the opportunity to bring down the heroine Granger. "My hands must have slipped." Hermione turned to leave, silent and resolute. She had expected something like that from Umbridge, the stupid cow. As she passed the crowd, Umbridge had to take one more dig at her.

"Miss Granger, what does it feel like to be completely insignificant? This is no longer your world, not that it ever was really." She motioned with her jewel -encrusted hands to the guards to watch the departing woman, as though she were going to do something rash. Hermione looked at the silent crowd awaiting her response. Many held signs and wore pins with the words Marriage Act and a red slash through it. Women were crying and trying to touch her. Her act of defiance; and the photo that Colin Creevey snapped at that moment of Hermione's half smile, chin lifted in defiance would become as famous as the one of the Golden Trio propping each other up after the final battle.

"I am certain, Miss Umbridge, you will likely soon find out for yourself".

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Coming up: Muggle Adjustment and the Weasley's Proposition. I promise Lucius will be in the next part, I had to get this out of the way first.
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Last Exit to Eden