Anti-litigation Charm ~~ The world of Harry Potter belongs to J K Rowling and those who were lucky enough to secure some of the rights from her, Bloomsbury and Warner Bros among them.

This fanfiction is absolutely non-profit. It is written for the enjoyment of fanfiction readers, my own, and the development of my craft. I have never made, nor ever will, make any money from it.

Author's Note:

I am working very hard to become a better writer. I'm French, so my English may seem strange to native speakers... I accept all forms of constructive criticism. Reviews make me smile, so don't hesitate to give me some ^_^

About the story:

I have read many Marriage Law fics. I really like them a lot, but something always seemed to be somewhat lacking in them to me. The answer as to why came to me in the form of a short article in a national newspapers a few months back and a series of dreams soon after.

So here is my take at a Marriage Law fic. I couldn't find the rules anywhere, so I based it on what I think they were.

Enjoy!

Chapter 1: It's starting...

Severus Snape was not a happy man. Then again, in his view, there seemed to be very little happiness left in the Wizarding World. After fighting tooth and nails to free himself from both his masters, he was now entangled in this stupid new law and faced loosing that long-awaited freedom. Sitting in a soft armchair across from the Headmistress, he scowled at her as they waited for Lucius Malfoy. Minerva McGonagall simply stirred her tea slowly, immune to his dark looks after years of receiving.

Severus had barely survived the Battle of Hogwarts. Apparently, two-thirds of the Golden Trio had decided that he should be honoured in death. Granger and Potter had gone to retrieve his body, only to find him still alive. He had his paranoia to thank for that. No Potion Master would have lived next to that snake and not kept a Bezoar on them at all time. Severus had gone one step further: he had extracted one of his back teeth and replaced it with a Bezoar, transfigured to look like a regular tooth. It had saved him from the venom. Flitting in and out of consciousness, he had drank all his supplies of Blood Replenishing potions by the time the two teenagers had found him. He'd had to spend weeks in St Mungo's to have his vocal cords repaired and to recuperate from the war.

In the meantime, the Ministry had begun rounding up the Death Eaters. Just like the time before, those with enough money and the right connections escaped justice. Severus knew for a fact that several high ranking officers in the current Ministry were ex-Death Eaters. And then, they had tried to go after him. It had taken the thrice-cursed Boy-Who-Just-Wouldn't-Leave-Him-In-Peace to prove that he was in fact a spy for the Order of the Phoenix, and spare him from Azkaban.

The Potion Master's scowl intensified when he thought once more about why he was in the Headmistress's office instead of his own, celebrating freedom from the dunderheads for the next couple of months with a good Firewhisky. Severus's eyes flitted to the portrait of Albus Dumbledore. The old coot was resolutely snoring away in his frame. He had been the one to warn them about this marriage law, when it was still only a murmur in the halls of the Wizengamot. There were advantages to knowing the portrait of a celebrated hero and former Chief Warlock of that assembly of blundering fools. The members of the Order of the Phoenix had been deeply disturbed when Minerva had told them about this law some three months ago. And since then, they had become downright scared by how fast the Ministry was trying to pass this stupid legislation. They said the dwindling number of magical births needed to be dealt with decisively...

The flames in the fireplace turned green and a tall blonde wizard stepped through. He flicked his wand over himself, syphoning the soot of his robes, before sitting in the other armchair.

"Welcome, Mr Malfoy. Would you care for some tea?"

Lucius waved the offer aside. Severus looked his friend over. The blonde wizard was no Occlumens: his rage showed in the tension of his jaw and the fire in in eyes. Minerva sighed and inclined her head for him to proceed.

"I have managed to get my hands on the first draft of the law."

The ex-Death Eater produced a thick scroll and placed it on the Headmistress's desk.

"Simply put, they want to force Purebloods to marry either Half-bloods or Muggleborns. This is supposedly to encourage a better mix of magical bloods. Marrying Muggles is to be forbidden. Previous matches will be dissolved unless three or more magical children have been born from the union. Purebloods – both wizard and witches – will be allowed to petition the other bloods. Half-Blood and Muggleborn wizards will also be allowed to petition potential matches. Matches will have one month to be confirmed. Past this time limit, the Ministry will match couples themselves, giving priorities to the wishes of the Purebloods. The matched couple will then have a week to marry.

"A child will have to be conceived within the first year of marriage. By the seventh, all couples will be expected to have at least 3 children. Until then, intercourse will be required twice a week, except while when expecting. Medical conditions making conceptions and births difficult or dangerous will be taken into account, and these cases will be treated on a case by case basis after an independent review from St Mungo's. In case of natural infertility of one half of the couple, the other one will be required to re-marry as soon as possible. Where both parties are infertile, the couple will be left alone.

"Everyone from the age of 17 to that of 90 will be subject to the law. No exceptions. Refusing to submit will mean a trip to Azkaban for anything from 1 year to 10. On release, one would still be subject to the law."

After this rather long speech, Lucius sat back in his chair and pinched the bridge of his nose. Severus realised that his friend's marriage was on the line here. Draco was the sole heir to the Malfoy heir...

Minerva closed her eyes and sighed deeply. Severus was tempted to do the same. The law was ridiculous. They would even attempt to break apart happy families. No to mentioned that Hogwarts would see their 7th Year having to marry and conceive a child – some even give birth – while still at school. Utter madness!

Minerva picked up the scroll from her desk, then waved her wand at it. The scroll multiplied itself. She handed the original back to Lucius. Severus picked a copy for himself. There had to be loophole somewhere. Otherwise, there was always impotency potions. Severus looked up and caught something in Minerva's face that stopped all his thoughts in their track. Glancing sideways, he saw that Lucius had noticed it too.

Fear. As ex-Death Eaters, Severus and Lucius had seen this expressions often enough. Looking more closely, Severus guessed that the Headmistress was downright terrified by that law. Somehow, he didn't think it had to do with the fact she would be subject to the law herself. She was probably scared for the students. With good reasons too. It was highly likely that some of the former Death Eaters will try to pull a few strings and land themselves a teenager for a wife.

"Please, get in touch with everyone you think may want to know about this and ask them to read through this law. Tell them to come up with ideas on how to stop this madness, or at least delay it for as long as possible."

As she spoke, Minerva retrieved a small black box from a draw. She enlarged it and placed one of the scrolls inside. She shut the lid and the box glowed golden. Severus frowned at the strange feel of that little magic trick. Lucius stood and Severus imitated him.

"Thank you, Mr Malfoy, for your help. Severus, would you mind giving me a few more minutes of your time?"

Recognising the dismissal, Lucius nodded and departed through the Floo. Probably off to try and bribe his way out of this law. Severus sat back down, and frowned when Minerva waved her wand around, placing extra privacy wards on her already tightly secured office.

"How up to date are the members of the Order of the Phoenix when it comes to Defence?"

Severus raised an eyebrow at the enquiry.

"I would have no idea, Minerva. There has been no official training sessions since the end of the war."

"Could you guess for me? I know that you have kept up your training. As have I, for slightly different reasons. What would you say of the others?"

"Fletcher was never a great fighter." Minerva only snorted at that and waved him on. "I think Charlie and Bill Weasley might still be in shape, thanks to their jobs. I have no idea what the others have been doing."

Minerva sighed and Severus frowned as he could still see the fear in Minerva's eyes.

"What do you think could happen that you want us to fight?"

The Headmistress shook her head slightly, her eyes on the black box where she had stuffed the draft of that stupid law. Severus looked between the box and his employer. He could tell she had something else on her mind. But she was reluctant to speak any more than that.

"As my Deputy, I suppose I really should tell you more, shouldn't I?"

"Is it relevant to the school?"

"To a point..."

Severus frowned and took his seat back. Minerva fussed some more with her tea before letting the spoon clatter on the saucer.

"Tell me, do you think that the parents of Muggleborns will let their children come to Hogwarts if they know what is supposed to happen on their 17th birthday?"

"I suppose not. But it still the children's decision, whether or not to come. The parents should respect that."

"Would you let your child into a school if it means they are forced to marry at 17, when not even of age?"

"They will be of age."

"Not in the Muggle world. According to my darling daughter, the law there stipulates that we would need the parents' consent for the child to marry before 18."

Severus pursed his lips slightly, then shook his head. "Hermione Granger should remember that this is the Wizarding World. When a child comes here, they live by our rules."

Minerva had the audacity to smirk at the tone of his voice as he pronounced the name of the third member of the Golden Trio. Who also happened to be the Headmistress's adopted daughter. Minerva had always refused to explain how this had happen 5 years after the little chit had left the Wizarding World behind.

"The problem is, she's right. And we are in for a world of trouble if that law passes."

"It's not if, Minerva. That law will be passed. You know as well as I that there really are far more Squib births now than there used to. The Ministry might be going about it wrong, but they are trying to help."

"So we enslave children because a bunch of old farts decide they know better when they know nothing!"

Severus narrowed his eyes at the Headmistress, surprised at the amount of venom in her voice. He thought again that Minerva was not telling him everything. And it obviously had to do with the Granger girl. Minerva never dropped her name in conversation. Unless it was very relevant for some reason.

Granger had left the Wizarding world in a snitch over the Ministry, if he recalled well. Something probably insignificant to everyone but the know-it-all. True that she had been shaken a year before that when she discovered that, despite her efforts, her parents had been found by the Dark Lord. And killed when they had no useful information on her whereabouts. She had changed after that...

Across from him, Minerva sighed and slumped in her seat. She waved a hand around.

"Don't mind me. I'm just worrying over nothing."

"If you are worrying, I doubt it's nothing."

Minerva's weak smile did nothing to reassure him.

"So what exactly is Granger saying about all this?"

"That's my worry. She knew about the law before we did. And she said nothing until I brought it to her last week. Then she only comments about that point in Muggle law..."

"How did she know? Even Lucius had to grease the hands of many an official to discover that much. Granger has no connection left in the Ministry since Arthur Weasley's retirement."

Minerva made a small noise at the back of her throat as her eyes fell on that black box again.

"Suffice to say that Hermione is very well connected in her own way, even if she lives in America."

Severus knew better than to ask. For some reason, Minerva was always very reluctant to answer questions about her adopted daughter. The only thing you could get out of the Headmistress was that Granger lived in the US, was quite happy with her life, and had become a very powerful witch. Severus doubted that last, but could not deny the rest. He only saw the girl once a year, at the reunion of the Order of the Phoenix, but she seemed content enough during this event.

"So why wouldn't she tell you?"

"That's what worries me. If she didn't tell me, she probably couldn't. And that means the US Magical Affairs are involved somehow."

"The American equivalent to the Ministry of Magic? Why would they be involved in a law passed in Britain?"

"That's what I'd like to know."