Author's Note: I do not own any part of Harry Potter, it belongs to JK Rowling , I only own the plot line for this particular fan fiction as an original creation of my own imagination. This story is not epilogue compliant. I highly encourage you to read the prologue I have provided it might be a bit duller and not quite in keeping with the same writing style as the rest of the story but it will help you understand the preface of the story. If you want to risk it or don't care then skip to where it says "The Announcement".
Chapter 1: The War After the War
Prologue
So many people had been lost in the war, too many it felt like, but life went on. Voldemort's forces broke apart and scattered in the face of his resounding defeat and subsequent death at the hands of Harry Potter. Harry and surprisingly Draco Malfoy had both opted not to return to Hogwarts but instead accept positions as Aurors hunting down the remaining death eaters. Truthfully Malfoy probably would not have been offered the job had not both Harry and Hermione vouched that he had saved their lives, with Ron's grudging agreement. Draco proved himself to be invaluable however, since even if he did not know the individual in particular they were hunting he knew from years of experience how they would think. He and Harry developed a strong working partnership and even the beginnings of a friendship. Though Harry informed Ron and Hermione on more than one occasion that despite his postwar transformation Malfoy was still an arrogant prat a large portion of the time.
Ron and Hermione's relationship lasted until it was time to return to Hogwarts. Ron opted to instead join the Chudely Cannons as their keeper, a life long dream of his. Hermione told him she didn't want the stress on either of them of trying to maintain a long distance relationship while he was traveling with the cannons around Europe and she was studying for her NEWTs. Hermione told Ron if they were meant to be together they would find each other again at a time when they were both more capable to sustain a relationship.
Ginny completed her seventh and then was recruited by the Holyhead Harpies. She and Harry did not have an opportunity to resume their relationship after the war as he immediately went hunting for death eaters. They had parted on amicable terms and still maintained a friendship.
Hermione returned to Hogwarts to complete her education. A month into her studies a group of rogue death eaters returned to Britain. They went to the ministry of magic and surrendered themselves to Minister Shacklebolt. Kingsley was both surprised and confused at their sudden surrender, when none of them were high priority enough for his Aurors to be hunting yet. The reason for their surrender soon became apparent, when witches began dying. They had placed a magical poison that targeted witches into the fountain at the ministries center when they surrendered themselves. The water then flowed out to the magical households all over Britain. Hogwarts became a safe haven for witches, since it water supply came from the black lake and was untainted by the poison, as the ministry struggle to find an antidote. Hermione became part of the ministry team whose mission was to find an antidote. They managed it after only two short weeks but the damage was done. Only forty percent of the witches who survived the war survived the poison. The Weasley family escaped with out any further damages since Molly was visiting Ginny and Hermione at Hogwarts during the out break, and Bill and Fluer were in France with her parents. Many others were not as lucky. After they found a cure Hermione retreated to her room so no one could see her weep for those who they had lost Andromeda Black, Lavender Brown, Pansy Parkinson, Daphne Greengrass, Astoria Greengrass and too many others to even comprehend in her state of exhaustion. Life went on though, and for a while it seemed as if life had some how managed to return to normal. The wizarding community in Britain did not suspect that another blow to their normal lives to come so soon.
The Announcement
Four years after the Battle of Hogwarts…
"Teddy and I are home," Hermione called out to Harry as she tossed her keys on the front hall table of 12 Grimauld Place and scooped up a giggling Teddy Lupin. "Narcissa Malfoy never ceases to amaze me. She some how retained her spirit and sanity after years of marriage to Lucius. She fought the poison long enough for us to develop antidote, and while still in her sick bed offered to take in Teddy as soon as she heard about Andromeda. On top of all that apparently she managed to raise Draco to be a decent human being judging by the work you two have been doing," Hermione continued as she headed toward the kitchen of the house she, Harry, and Ron shared. At least, Ron shared it with them whenever he was in London and not traveling with the team.
"Cissa invited us over for dinner with her, Draco, and Teddy Wendseday. I think that will be… Harry?" Hermione trailed off upon entering the kitchen as she saw the blank look on Harry's face and the pale pallor of his skin. "Mione have you seen the paper today?" Harry asked as if he were a million miles away. Hermione set Teddy down in a chair at the kitchen table before she responded, "No I went in earlier this morning so I could leave early to get Teddy form Cissa's since we've got him all weekend." "Did you notice anyone acting oddly today, or here any interesting gossip?" Harry queered her in the same strange voice. Hermione had never heard Harry use a voice like that before and it scared her more than anything he had said. "Harry you already know I didn't. First of all I didn't manage to become head of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures in less than two years by gossiping with my coworkers. Second Harry you know what I'm like when I'm working. Some one could cruccio the person next to me and I'd probably be to focused to notice unless they bumped into my desk while convulsing in pain. Tell me whatever has you looking like you just saw Voldemort walking around in the ministry, you are really starting to scare me," Hermione said impatiently. "You wouldn't have heard from Cissa either. I left work before Draco, and I know she stopped getting the paper after what they printed about her and Draco following Lucius re-imprisonment in Azkaban," Harry said to himself almost as if he had not heard the second part of what Hermione had said. "Harry!" Hermione exclaimed now truly panicking. Harry handed her a copy of the days Daily Prophet, but continued staring blankly at the far wall of the kitchen.
As Hermione looked at the headline she felt the blood draining from her face too. "Ministry Enacts Marriage Law to Deal with Population Loss Following Voldemort's Defeat," the words glared at her from the front page of the newspaper. The sounds of the world faded away as she sank into a chair. She felt the world pressing in around as if to choke her, Harry had defeated Voldemort four years ago but they still couldn't seem to be free of his influence. "It feels like we will never be free of him doesn't it Mione," Harry said quietly appearing to almost read her thoughts.
"Uncle Harry is Aunt Hermy okay? She changed color," a small voiced asked from the chair between her and Harry. Harry looked down at the five year-old and managed to muster a smile. "Don't worry Teddy, Mione is fine. She is just surprised," Harry assured the small boy. Teddy's interruption snapped Hermione out of her state of shock. She suddenly found herself very angry. She was Hermione Granger brightest which of her age, if Lord Voldemort couldn't dictate her fate she sure as hell wasn't going to let some law do it for her. She stood abruptly saying, "Harry I trust you can look after Teddy, I'm going to see Kingsley." Then she apparated to the ministry.
The reception area, which led to the minister's office, was full of angry witches and wizards. Hermione had, had a very long day and was simply done tolerating any such nuisance. So for the first time in her entire life Hermione used her fame. "I am Hermione Granger of the Order of Merlin, war hero, and youngest ever head of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. I need to speak to the Minister of Magic. Now get out of my way." The crowd parted before Hermione's words half in awe and half in fear of her ire. She strolled past them and into the elevator, which went to the minister's office. The receptionist looked as if he would have liked to protest but one leveled glare from Hermione insured his silence. "You may inform Minister Shacklebolt I am on way," Hermione coldly instructed the secretary.
Hermione stormed out of the elevator ready give Kingsley what for, but stopped short when she saw his slumped shoulders and haggard countenance. His dark skin looked ashen, there were large circles under his eyes, and his slumped posture spoke of extreme exhaustion. "I am sorry Hermione. I tried to stop this I really did. I vetoed and was over ruled by the Wizenmagot. I've spent hours pouring over the old law they are invoking, or trying to find some sort of legal principle to prevent them from doing so," Kingsley confessed dejectedly.
Hermione dropped into the chair in front of his desk and reached for the papers he had indicated. "Well, let me have a look Kings and we'll see if I can't find something to help," Hermione said trying to sound reassuring. "Don't patronize me little girl," Kingsley growled. "Please Kings you're thirty-five, not fifty you are hardly old enough to be calling me little girl," Hermione snorted in reply. She poured over the law looking for any way out. The more she read the worse it got. Then she turned and read the vote for invocation and swore. Kingsley was looking at her as if she had just grown a second head, "I don't believe I have ever heard you use such language before Miss Granger." "Maybe not Kings but in case you hadn't realized the press release doesn't cover the full extend of the law. Though I appreciate the amendments they made in regards to the age range and to spousal abuse nice to know one of my husbands won't be allowed to beat me to death," Hermione responded to his comment. "Ah, yes we did rather feel if we released all the information at once there might be a riot," Kingsley said rather guiltily.
The Marriage Law:
Last enacted in the year 1408.
All witches and wizards under the jurisdiction of this ministry and of reproductive age are here be required to marry whoever the ministry determines through use of the circlet, a magical devise which can select the optimum pairings, would be best suited by temperament and ability to produce strongly magical offspring. In this case the law has been invoked because at current reproductive rates the magical population of Britain will be extinct in five generations. All single witches between the ages of 18-45 are here by required to marry four ministry-selected husbands and produce one child for each husband. The witch must produce at least one child every two years, until the quota is met. These marriages will be magical and sealed with a magical. As such once such relationships are sealed they cannot be broken under any circumstance, save death. This law is sealed with ancient blood magic using the blood from the first witch and wizard in Britain, should any attempt to not comply they will become ill to the point of death. The only antidote is compliance. All couples currently married will be expected to produce two additional offspring with in the next four years should they be able to do so. Spousal abuse shall be severely punished; the action will be swift and relentless. Should one spouse lay hand on the other with malicious intent or demonstrate other behavior consistent with abuse they shall immediately fall ill and the ministry will be alerted. The offender will then be transferred to Azkaban for the short remainder of their life.
All unmarried witches and wizards of age have from the invocation of this law one week to report to the ministry for testing then an additional four weeks to wed their respective matches. The matches must be consummated in that same time frame. Witches and Wizards falling under the jurisdiction of this law will be required to report for monthly fertility consultations. Any witch or wizard reaching the age of consent with in five years of the passage of this will become subject to it though allowances will be made, allowing them only to be subject to its ill effects once their matches have been determined. Some single wizards may not be required to marry if all available witches have been paired adequately. Any witch or wizard married at the time of the law who becomes a widow or widower during the five year period after the laws passage will be subject to the same conditions as any single wizard or witch who comes of age with in the five year period.
"Kings I can't find a loophole either," Hermione admitted forlornly. "I may be old, but I'm not senile little girl. As brilliant as you are it doesn't seem likely that you can find something in two hours that I've spent more than a week looking for," Kingsley teased adding, "I've run out of things to do I'm minister of magic, not benevolent despot I only have so much control. We did, do need to do something to boost our population drastically." "Is it really this bad Kings? I know we lost a lot of people, but working in the ministry which is fairly male dominated I guess I just didn't notice how bad it was. My friends were at Hogwarts for the most part so I didn't loose anyone really in during the poisoning except Andromeda," Hermione asked quietly. Kingsley handed her a black folder, "It is really this bad little girl here are the population projections."
Hermione sat quietly for a long time, trying to reconcile herself to the fact that the Wizenmagot was treating witches like a bunch of brood mares. Kingsley broke the silence saying, "Hermione if you don't mind I'm going home it has been a very long week. You and Harry have your appointments for compatibility testing on Monday at eight. They were suppose to happen over the weekend, but I know you've got Teddy so I did what I could." "Thanks Kings get some sleep I know you'll probably be back here before the sunrises tomorrow. Oh, we're having dinner at the manor on Wednseday I'm sure Narcissa would love for you to join us. Besides with out Tonks around I know you don't have any body else to force you out of your shell," Hermione offered as she left Kingsley's office.