Harry sat with his fellow older seventh year Gryffindors, those who were finally finishing their last year at Hogwarts now that the war was over. He felt a combination of relief and guilt, knowing that this morning's owl post wouldn't be bringing him a letter from the Ministry of Magic. Being a Half-Blood he was free of the ludicrous, so called Marriage Act and it's convolutions.
Most members of Wizarding Society, even those directly affected by the law didn't know all of the act's provisions, but being best friends with Hermione Know-It-All Granger meant that he and Ron and most of the rest of Gryffindor did. Hermione had read the entire act, all it's sections and subsections and amendments. She could describe in excruciating detail what it meant to Muggle born witches and wizards and what it meant to a "pureblood". Harry found himself putting quotes around the term pureblood because Hermione had explained that one could actually be only 75 pureblood and still be considered pureblood under the marriage law, or as the ministry had phrased it one would be considered a pureblood as long as 6 of 8 great grandparents were pureblood witches or wizards.
Harry continued to think about the marriage act as he scanned the room; he saw some very distressed looking couples. Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkins looked the worst. The marriage act would force each of them to marry a Muggle born, they had tried to get around the it by eloping before the law went into effect, but the Ministry of Magic had suspended marriage licenses to all purebloods and Muggle borns as soon as word of the Marriage Act got out, until after the law went into effect.
Many a young witch who would be eligible under the law was nervous, because the law gave older bachelors preference in choosing a compatible bride. Many of the 7th year girls wonder what sort of age gap there would be between them and their prospective groom.
Harry's musings were interrupted by the arrival of a parliament of owls, most clutching scrolls with the official MOM seal. The birds quickly began offering up their mostly unwanted deliveries and nearly all of them showed their legendary wisdom by not waiting around for a tidbit of food.
The sound of breaking seals, unfurling parchments and sighs and sobs were interrupted by the scolding sound of the familiar voice of Hogwarts most intimidating professor, "Are you daft bird? I'm not supposed to get one of those wretched Marriage Act Notifications, I'm a Half-Blood!"
Suddenly all eyes turned to the head table where a nonplussed Ministry owl hopped about impatiently waiting for Severus Snape to remove the proffered letter. The owl and the wizard had a bit of a staring contest. When it seemed that Snape's stubbornness would keep the bird there all morning, Professor Flitwick spoke up, "Severus, just take it. You can sort out the problem later." Severus snorted, but finally took his diminutive colleague's advice, though he scowled at the official scroll and made no move to open it.
"Ignoring it won't change what's inside it my friend," Filius observed.
"No, I suppose it won't," Severus agreed, lifting the scroll and breaking the Ministry of Magic seal.
He had barely perused the first sentence when Severus began to swear, "Bloody hell, those ministry cretins have royally cocked up!"
"Severus, join me in my office!" Headmistress McGonagal snapped, when Severus didn't immediately move from his chair at the head table, she added sharply, "Now!"
Students all across the Great Hall fought valiantly not to laugh, but were fighting a losing the battle as it was priceless seeing their most feared professor being called to the Headmistress' office like a naughty third year caught playing with a fanged Frisbee. As the doors to the Great Hall closed behind the swirling robes of the potion master, the contained laughter burst forth like water from a fire hose.
"Well that was brilliant," Ron observed.
"Yeah, best bit of entertainment we've had in ages," Harry agreed.
"Ooh, you two," Hermione growled.
"What?" Ron asked bewildered.
"Don't you have any sympathy or respect for the man, he is a war hero and he did save your lives," she looked at the two young men seated on either side of her and added, "several times."
"Yeah, well still, he went ballistic over a letter from the Ministry. I mean, it's a simple clerical error. What's the big deal?" Harry asked.
"A simple clerical error?" Hermione repeated. "Since when does the ministry make clerical errors? And think what that error suggests, we know full well that Professor Snape is a half-blood."
"Yeah, the Half-Blood Prince," Harry said recalling the inscription in the old potion textbook he'd used in 6th year that turned out to be Snape's.
"Yes, but think what's implied by that letter. What would you think if you got one, Harry? Or if you hadn't got one Ron?" Hermione asked.
"But,"– both boys started.
"I know that's not what happened, but what if?"
"I'd think my Dad wasn't my Dad," Ron said slowly and with dawning realization.
"Yeah, no wonder he was so bloody angry, it's like someone publicly declaring your mother a slut and you a bastard," Harry summed up the situation.
"Merlin's beard, I think for the first time since I've known Snape I feel a bit of sympathy for him. I mean I'd be furious too if some ruddy clerk's bungled spell slandered me mother's good name," Ron said firmly.
"You mean libeled, slander is when someone says something, libel is when it's written." Hermione corrected.
Both young men rolled their eyes.
"Well, Snape'll get it all straightened out. If he could handle Voldemort, he can handle some skiving clerk at the ministry of magic."
"Yeah, but can he handle the headmistress?"