The Great Hall was filled to the brim with students, staff, government officials, and pure-blood lords. Nobody but the government knew what this meeting would be about but a select few knew that they would have to try to be prepared for whatever new thing the Minister had cooked up. No doubt that whatever it was, it would be a life changing event. Looking around the room, Harry could easily spot the Death Eater Lords, the Order members, and hell even Lord Sirius Black, a pardoned ex-con and Harry's godfather, was here.
The entire hall was silent as the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, stepped up to the podium and began to speak, getting straight to the point, "Everybody knows that because of the recent wars, the pure-blood clans of old have been reduced from almost a hundred witches and wizards to but a few and in the case of the Potter clan, two hundred to one."
Harry grimaced, his family had once been the largest of the pure-blood clans now he was the last Potter, and he had a damn Dark Lord gunning for him. 'Just bloody great.'
Fudge continued, "Because of this great travesty and the severe decrease in the magical population, the Ministry and the Wizengamot has decided to reenact the Restoration Laws. This means that every witch; muggleborn, half-blood, or pure-blood, above the age of 13 is to turn herself in to the Ministry at the end of this meeting for training to become a mother. To defy this law will be seen as an act of treason and will be dealt with accordingly."
The entirety of the Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw girls burst into outraged tears knowing that there was nothing they or anyone could do to help them. The Slytherin girls seemed sad and resigned as if they had already been told that the purpose of their lives was to be nothing more than breeding stock and most likely they had.
"Any wizard that is financially stable, is capable of having children, and has the deed to a house of at least 6 bedrooms, will be able to have the honor of conceiving with a 'mother'. However only wizards who have an old pure-blood name will have the honor of being the head of a clan. I will warn you right now, every 'mother' is to be treated with the respect every magical mother deserves regardless of blood. If the Ministry finds out otherwise the 'mother' will be confiscated and put back in the system and the children will be confiscated and moved to a magical orphanage, as well as the confiscation of the entirety of your estate and a sentencing of five years in Azkaban for each mistreated 'mother' and a further year for each child in need of confiscation. The ministry is serious about this, we will not stand for the mistreatment of a 'mother' or her children." Minister Fudge stated, seriously.
Harry's eye's immediately wandered to the Slytherin boys, several of them were smirking at each other as if the law didn't even apply to them, Harry growled angrily to himself as he turned back to his table and looked over the Gryffindor boys almost all of them were angry, all except; Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnegan, but Harry had known that those two had DE personalities.
"Now then on to the necessities; one, all 'mothers' will be a hundred thousand galleons, 25,ooo will go to the parents of the 'mother', while the rest will pay for the 'mothers' future children's Hogwarts scholarship tuition; two, all 'mothers' must give birth to at least three children and 2 of the children must be boys before she is even allowed to proceed with a career of her own; three, all 'mothers' will have a ribbon placed around their necks that will record their medical condition and the spells being placed on them. This is to protect the 'mother' from abuse, the ribbon will alert the DMLE of the mistreatment of a 'mother' and the DMLE will act accordingly. After a 'mother' has given birth to the necessary amount of children, if she decides to continue the life of a 'mother' the ribbon will remain around her neck.
"Four, all 'mothers' rooms will be placed under a type 2 time capsuled ward (means the time will pass twice as fast in the room) which will cost 1000 galleons each. And last but more importantly; five, all magic will be restricted and bound to your properties until the program has been completed." Fudge actually looked proud of himself at that and Harry could understand why.
Fudge had just put the war in a strangle hold and guaranteed the survival of the pure-blood clans at the same time. Harry was actually a little impressed with the man and he'd tell him so if the man hadn't of also gave the DE's a chance to create their own army. Then again them ribbons were pretty impressive by themselves.
Once again Harry looked to the Slytherin boys, they didn't seem as happy as they once were but they still held a determined look to them and it made Harry wonder just how many of them would be arrested during this program because it looked like the ministry was serious about protecting the 'mothers'.
"Harry? What do we do?" Neville Longbottom whispered from across the table.
Harry turned to look at him, before looking at Hermione's tear-stricken face and immediately made a decision right then and there. Taking a deep breath, Harry made his decision known, "We help as many of the 'mothers' as we can. We know who would treat them right. We know what is needed to be allowed even one of the 'mothers'. We can't protect all of them but we can protect as many as we can."
Neville nodded his agreement, "Alright then."
Ron grimaced, "Wish I could help you guys, but I don't quite fit the requirements."
Fred and George spoke up, "Yeah sorry bout that, Harry."
Harry looked uncomfortable, "Yeah, actually something I did awhile back might actually be of some use now."
Ron and the twins looked confused, "What do you mean?"
Harry shifted in his seat, "I kinda set up an account for each of you three and bought you each a house. Then I used my fathers cloak to put the account keys and the deeds in your school files."
Neville burst into laughter, "You sneaky little bastard!"
"Exactly how much did you give us, Harry?" Ron yell-whispered.
"Um maybe... a million galleons..." Harry mumbled, sheepishly.
"A million galleons between us?" Ron stated thoughtfully, "Doesn't sound that bad I guess."
"Um... sure let's go with that." Harry said under his breathe.
Hermione giggled at Harry's words, "Thank you Harry for doing this I know you hate being the center of attention and you hate what they're doing to the witches but you still want to help the 'mothers' even though what you're about to attempt will put you in the spot light. I really appreciate this, Harry. I'm sure the others do too."
A clearing of the throat drew every bodies attention back to Fudge, "Now then, will the new 'mothers-to-be' please make your way to the front and follow Madam Promfrey into the room through the staff room doors. There Madam Promfrey will implant a mothers knowledge into your minds and place your ribbons around your necks. While that is going on I will ask the owner candidates to stand up, summon their files and hand their files in for consideration. With any luck you will have been given a new owner by time you walk back through those doors. Your new ribbon will bear your owners family coat of arms. Professor McGonagal will help you sort yourselves and when you hear your owners family name you will stand behind your new owner, where you will be portkeyed to your new home."
It took a few minutes to clear the Hall of the appropriate women and when it was finally done, Fudge turned back to the room,"Now then would the gentlemen with the requirements needed who want to be considered please stand up and summon your files."
As one Harry, Neville, Ron, Dean, Seamus, Fred, and George stood up followed immediately by Draco Malfoy, Theodore Nott, Blaise Zabini, Vincent Crabbe, Gregory Goyle, Cedric Diggory, Charlie Weasley, Bill Weasley, and Sirius Black. Immediately all files had been summoned and given to the ministry officials.