Chapter 1 The Snake's Sunrise
The sun was slowly brightening the cool morning outside the window of St Mungo's. It was going to be a quiet and beautiful day but this had become Severus Snape's least favorite time of day. These early mornings were the time when the Daily Prophet was delivered. It seemed like so long ago that he enjoyed reading the paper, sitting in front of the fire at Hogwarts before classes, but lately all of the articles left a bad taste in his mouth. Almost every article, front page to back, talked of the final battle and most of them mentioned him. Of course, they talked of his heroic measures in battle, how he helped Potter destroy Voldemort, and how he had been a spy, all along ,for the Order. It wasn't that he didn't appreciate finally being called something other than a coward but after more than a month of the same stuff, he was tired of reliving the same nightmares, and was ready to bury the past.
That was not as simple as it sounded, seeing as he was currently a patient at St Mungo's with slow healing bites. The stitches in his neck wound itched and the bandages that covered them were uncomfortable and stiff. Leaving his voice no more than a rasp and the healers did not have high hopes for it getting any better. He knew that he should not complain though, at least he had survived the vicious attack by Nagini.
Just then a short and stout witch appeared in the doorway of his room. Silently, she shuffled into the room and handed Severus that morning's copy of the Daily Prophet. Without a single word she turned around and with a swish of her gray robes she was gone.
Silently, he picked up the paper to find a large picture of the newest Ministry of Magic staring back at him. With a deep frown he read the article underneath.
First Blunder or A Step Toward Restoration
Minister of Magic, Kingsley Shacklebolt, has signed the Matrimony and Procreation Laws into effect yesterday evening. The new Matrimony and Procreation Laws are a way to ensure that the devastating losses of the war and high count of squib births will not allow a depletion of the population of magical folks. Under the law every unmarried witch of legal age will be owled a Ministry selected list of seven wizards and she will have one week to decide which one will become her mate. This process will ensure the best possible match is made to prevent inbreeding and for magical ability in the child. The couple has seven days after the match is made to marry and consummate the marriage. The couple will then dwell together as any married couple would, caring and providing for each other. Within the first two years of marriage the couple will be required to produce a child or be pregnant with a child. If no child is produced or pregnancy confirmed then the witch will be inseminated with her husband's sperm by a Healer at St Mungo's. The couple will then have the responsibility of raising and caring for the child until that child becomes of age. Within five years of the marriage the couple should have a second child or the witch will then be inseminated with her husband's sperm to guarantee pregnancy. After ensuring two healthy, magical children it is then the couple's choice if they wish to have more children. To ensure the highest chance of pregnancy the couple will be required to have intercourse at least once a month during the time in the witch's cycle in which she is ovulating. Any witch or wizard in contempt of the law will be subject to a fine or sentenced to Azkaban. Over the next six months all eligible witches will receive their official ministry letter and from that time on any witch coming of age will receive her letter on the day of her seventeenth birthday. While the law is in effect witches may only marry under the terms of the law. These laws will be in effect for the next seven years at which time an assessment will be made to see if the magical population has increased. If not the law will stay in effect for another seven years and if a noticeable difference has been made the law will be suspended until such time as it is necessary again. For more information about the law please owl the Ministry Office of Registry, Marriage and Family Department.
Nauseated. That's what this law made him feel. Bitter, overwhelming nausea. If he thought he could have handled it he would have thrown up the meager contents of his stomach, but his throat was already sore.
Who would be the unfortunate soul that he would be forced into marriage with?
His thoughts were interrupted by a tall, broad shouldered wizard wearing lime green robes entering the room. "Good morning, Severus."
"Nothing good about it." Snape rasped with a frown, setting aside the paper.
"I take it you read the paper then." The healer said as he came to the bedside and sat down.
Snape merely nodded.
"Well I can't fix that but I can tell you that today those stitches are coming out." He said as he pulled out his long wand.
"Finally." Snape breathed.
The healer cocked an eyebrow. "If you're wounds had not been so bad then there would have been no need for the stitches to remain for so long." He set to work conjuring the supplies he would need.
"I didn't get attacked by choice. No one wants to have their neck torn apart by a snake." Snape rasped annoyed.
The healer ignored Severus and set to work removing the bandages. After several long moments he had successfully removed the stitches. "There you are." He said with a smirk.
"Can I see?" Snape asked.
"Suddenly developed a vain streak?" The healer asked with a raised eyebrow. Snape shook his head, annoyed. "Then I'm just going to bandage this up. Your wounds are not completely healed yet so you'll need to keep them covered for another two weeks at least." After another long moment the Healer had his neck wrapped in fresh bandages.
Snape narrowed his eyes. "I have to be here that much longer?"
The healer stood and vanished his supplies away. "I would say another three of four days max. Just to be sure that there's no problems." Severus slowly smiled at the Healer's words. "Don't look so happy, I still want to exam those wounds for the next couple months at least once a week. There may yet be damage from the snake's venom."
"Just when I thought I would be clear of you." Snape rasped with a frown.
The healer walked to the door then paused for a moment. "You're not off the hook that easily. Now get some rest, I'm sure you'll have witches trying to marry you in no time." The healer smirked in a very Slytherin fashion and then was gone.
Snape sighed. "That's what I'm afraid of."