A/N: Harry Potter and his world belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Brothers and anyone that has received licensing rights. I am grateful she gives us the privilege of playing in her world.
Opening notes:
The rise and fall of the wizarding population occurs with surprising regularity, mainly when a Dark Wizard tries to take over their world and those that would oppose such fight back. After a particularly dark period, the Wizarding Council enacted a covenant, sealed by twenty-eight families to ensure that wizards would not die out. Woven into the seal that would affect all those of the lands of England, Wales and Scotland, it would require those of the proper heritage to continue their blood lines when there was a great drop in magical blood.
When the British Ministry of Magic was founded, it was built on the old seals and laws of the land, binding all covenants that had been confirmed by twenty-eight families to be law until magic ceases to exist or the Ministry is dissolved. The Ministry then built the modern government on top of the old covenants. Through time, it would be forgotten that the Wizards' Council seal itself was built by Merlin and it was what he used to bound the old wild magics of the Isles so wizards could control it. This bond, or the Covenant of Merlin, is what would need to be broken to overrule any other covenant woven into the seal. Fear of the resurgent of the old magics is why no one wants to break the seal and leads to the current predicament...
This story will be how the most recent activation of the old Proliferation Covenants cast hundreds of years ago play out.
It is a story with some political play, lots of reactions to the law as the stresses imposed by the old magic forces its will, some angst, some drama and teens trying to figure out how to become adults...
Hopefully in the end everyone finds a happy ending.
Main characters that will be followed: Harry, Ron, Hermione, Neville, Dean, Lavender, Susan, Hannah, Ginny.
Pairings will become apparent as the story progresses.
This is also a mature rated story for adult themes and content. I will not post any warning on chapters this occurs in.
-oOo-
Chapter 1
-oOo-
July 23, 1996
The Burrow, Ottery St. Catchpole, England
Harry was going through the papers before him. Several wills, bank statements, house deeds and several vaults of coins and heirlooms were all that was left of his family or anyone that knew his parents as best friends.
Through the numbness, there was some anger to look at his vault statements and his parents' will. It had been sealed until a few weeks ago. He still had a little over eight-thousand galleons in his trust vault. His parents had left him about two-hundred and twenty thousand galleons and two properties. One was the place in Godric's Hollow, the other the house his mother had grown up in in Cokeworth.
It felt so impersonal after what happened to read these documents that had no personality to them. It was all in legal terminology.
He leaned over and put his head on the cool window as it rained outside. The cool window felt nice on his head. At least it was only a normal headache. His scar hadn't hurt once in the past month. He felt tired, though. The nightmares had started to let up, but last night had been bad. He dreamt of Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Luna, Neville, Remus, Sirius... everyone he cared for... they all fell into that veiled arch, never to return.
So many died a month ago at the Ministry.
Sirius. Remus. Dumbledore. Moody. Percy. Another six Order members he hadn't known... all dead.
Sirius at the hand of his cousin.
Remus and Dumbledore at the hand of Voldemort himself.
The names of the thirty-one employees and five Aurors that had died had been posted two weeks ago. That didn't include the dozens injured when people came for the alarms going off.
The victory had been a hollow one. Much of Britain was still in shock over the damage and death toll from the one battle. The Daily Prophet had said it could be months before the damage was repaired from the fight between Dumbledore and Voldemort. The lobby had been destroyed, the three levels of offices facing it had collapsed, as were the two floors directly under the lobby.
In the fray, and before Dumbledore had succumbed to his injuries, Voldemort had been cut down. Well, more like cut in half. A nasty black cloud had screamed out of his body before dissipating. Harry wasn't sure who had cast the final blow. There had been so many spells flying around. He was casting mostly cutting and blasting hexes himself.
Harry still swore he had been hit by a killing curse from Voldemort, but he was still breathing while the head Death Muncher wasn't.
What happened after Voldemort fell was horrific. Well, for his Death Eaters. Almost as one, they just dropped. Anyone Voldemort had marked fell like they had been hit by the Killing Curse. Black smoke coming from their left arms for a few seconds and then it had fallen silent when all the spells stopped.
It was a deathly silence that still caused a chill to pass up his spine whenever he thought about it.
It would be days later for them to discover everyone that had been marked had dropped dead when Voldemort was killed. One second they were breathing, the next just a lump of flesh wherever they had been.
Part of Harry was happy it was over. A larger part wished so many didn't have to die.
He wasn't sure if that night or the funerals had been worse.
Harry had been to a few funerals in the last month.
The more gut-wrenching funerals for him had been those for Sirius, Remus and Percy.
In the end, Percy hadn't betrayed them. He was a mole for Dumbledore and had come to the aid of his friends as they fought off Death Eaters and then Voldemort.
There were many days he wished he really had been hit by the killing curse and joined Sirius.
As he thought about death, he was undisturbed by the normally boisterous and loud house of the Weasleys. today it was quiet and subdued. It had been just over two weeks since Percy and his godfather had been buried and everyone was still grieving. Fred and George were trying to make light of everything, but they were not around much. They seemed to be throwing all their efforts into their work. In a week their new store would be opening. Harry suspected it was so they didn't have to brood on everything.
As he thought about it, he looked down at the papers in his hands. He was sharing a room with Ron, having nowhere else to go. Ron was reading a comic as the rain came down heavily on the roof above them.
Pulling his head off the window, he moved his parents' will to the bottom of the pile and took up Sirius' will.
Harry had been gifted everything that Sirius had left. There was a vault worth a little over two-hundred thousand galleons. Two houses: Grimmauld Place and a seaside cottage in Cornwall. Any heirlooms that might be in the vaults. Along with everything was a Certified Letter emancipating Harry. Sirius didn't want him to go back to his relatives if he didn't want to. Not that he could if he did.
He was taken out of his dark thoughts by Mr. Weasley.
"Harry, Ron, can you come down please!" Mrs. Weasley yelled up the stairs.
Harry sighed. Ron put his comic down. "I am not chasing after gnomes in this rain," Ron griped.
Harry gave a wan smile. "Maybe she wants us to give them a bath this time," Harry joked back.
Ron gave a short laugh, but it died too quickly. That was the way of things right now.
When they made it down the stairs, Mr. Weasley was home very early. It wasn't even lunch time. He also had a long expression. That wasn't that odd lately, but something seemed different. Mrs. Weasley was loudly banging around in the kitchen getting a kettle on the stove.
Ginny was sitting at the table across from her father. She looked at them, as though asking if either of them knew what was going on. Harry shook his head. "Boys, take a seat," Mr. Weasley told them in a solemn tone.
"What is going on dad? Is everyone okay?" Ron questioned.
Mr. Weasley handed out a letter to each of them. "I would not say everything is okay. The Wizengamot met last week after something very important was brought up by the Unspeakables. It was a closed and private session." Harry wasn't sure he understood why Mr. Weasley phrased it that way. Ron looked as clueless while Ginny's eyes went wide. "As part of their duties, they had to review the rolls and then hear what the Unspeakables discovered. Do any of you know now many families supported You-Know-Who?"
"A lot. What does this have to do with us?" Ron asked.
Harry was listening but looking at the letter too. As he looked at the address, he got a sinking feeling.
Mr. Harry Potter
Regent of House Potter and House Black
The Burrow, Ottery St. Catchpole, England
That wasn't the surprising part. On the back fold, just above a wax dollop with a Ministry seal on it, was written:
Magical Proliferation and Heir Department
Head Roberta Parkinson
Ministry of Magic, Level 4, London, England
Ginny must have read the same thing because she interrupted whatever Mr. Weasley was about to say. "Dad, I've never heard of the Magical Proliferation and Heir Department."
Mr. Weasley sighed. "That's because there hasn't been one in over two-hundred years."
Harry's sinking feeling grew.
"What does the Magical Proliferation and Heir Department do?" Harry queried.
"They enforce marriage laws and ensure that magical lines of importance don't die out," Mr. Weasley informed them.
Mrs. Weasley couldn't seem to control her temper anymore. "This is ridiculous, Arthur. Ginny isn't fifteen for a few more weeks. Ron and Harry are only sixteen. How can they make them do this!"
"Do what?" Harry asked, not wanting to point out he wasn't sixteen for another eight days.
Mr. Weasley rubbed his face and Ginny opened her letter. "When the Wizengamot was founded, some of the old traditions and laws from the Wizarding Council had to be kept. Some of those laws and traditions support the growth of the Wizarding World. In times when there is a precipitous decline in magical blood..."
"I am going to have to marry and let the Ministry decide who I marry!" Ginny screeched out. Ron went very pale, and Harry snapped his head to her. She looked at him desperately. "This can't be! Mum! Dad! This says I have to go along unless there is already a betrothal out there. This can't be right!"
"Bloody hell," Ron muttered.
"This is not right. If Dumbledore was still alive..." Mrs. Weasley started.
"He would not be able to block this without risking his own magic," Mr. Weasley cut her off. "This is a bound covenant to the Ministry, meaning if you are within its borders, you will have to do what is required."
Mrs. Weasley still looked livid. "I will not have any of my children bound in this way and forced into this," she snapped. "I will be going to the Ministry with you later and getting this straightened out. I can't see anyone supporting this."
"Molly, you will do no such thing. As I have just said, this is a bound covenant and is protected by a few very strong hexes. You and I cannot interfere. There are a few options though," Mr. Weasley stated.
"What options?" Ginny asked, looking a little hopeful.
"I was able to stop by the new office and talk with Rachael Edgecombe. Every fertile witch that has at least three generations of magical blood in them and are between fifteen and fifty by December twentieth will be required to register," he told them.
"So, this is a pureblood thing," Ron said with disgust. "Ginny is going to be forced to marry someone?"
"Not just Ginny, Ron. Every eligible and fertile man, with at least three generations of magical blood and between the ages of fifteen and sixty will be required to register as well. For those that are not married, you will be required to marry within one year of your seventeenth birthday. For those of us married, we will need to have another child. If either of us are not fertile anymore, then we will be required to have a child with another," Mr. Weasley said, looking towards his wife.
Mrs. Weasley put a hand to her mouth.
Harry looked as pale as Ron and Ginny. "So, we are just going to be appointed a wife and have to get married?" Harry questioned.
Mr. Weasley sighed. "Like I was saying, there are a few exceptions. One, you could already be in a betrothal and have it approved by the Proliferation board."
"You and mum said you would never do that," Ginny said, still looking at Harry.
"We would never," Mrs. Weasley stated.
"We may not have a choice," Mr. Weasley countered. "The next exception is to pen a betrothal before the first Ministry matching in December and have it approved. To have it ratified by the Proliferation board, the couple needs to both be fertile and have a certain magical match."
"What do you mean match?" Harry questioned.
"It used to be tradition to have a couple that was set to marry to go through a few tests to make sure their magic was compatible. I think it tripe, but when the laws were written, it was believed that magical power, prowess and purity could be measured and matched. Rachael said the Unspeakables have confirmed some of that is right, so everyone will need a test," Mr. Weasley instructed them.
"This is barbaric, Arthur. Why is this law still active? I thought the Wizengamot voted to do away with forced marriages years ago," enquired Mrs. Weasley.
"You know that the current laws allow a decision when the couple comes of age, but there can be some severe penalties. Maybe in the next few weeks this will have been found to be a big joke, but for now, the Proliferation and Heirs Department has been resurrected and they are sending out notices to everyone affected. There is supposed to be a big article in the Daily Prophet tomorrow. Notices go out after that. Rachael did me a favor and gave me the letters to give out to all our children and Harry," said Mr. Weasley.
"Does it have to be to someone that has three or more generations of magic?" Ron asked.
Mr. Weasley gave Ron a sad look. "The first wife, yes. There are provisions for a man to have more than one wife, but there are restrictions."
Ron frowned.
"How many are going to be affected by this," Harry asked.
"Several thousand people. Racheal couldn't give me an exact number as the registry was still not complete by the Department of Records, but so far it was over three thousand witches and wizards," Mr. Weasley said.
"There are that many young not married?" Mrs. Weasley queried.
"Molly, that is only for those that qualify. There are many more that do not. We have our own letters," Mr. Weasley said gently to his wife.
"How many Death Eaters died?" Harry asked. The Daily Prophet hadn't said.
"All those marked by You-Know-Who. The best estimate I have from Amelia Bones was about a hundred-and-twenty known people, with maybe another eighty unidentified, given the missing persons reports. She is convinced it will be closer to three hundred when they can confirm everyone. The problem was almost half of them died without any heirs and it gutted nearly forty percent of the Wizengamot. The loss of so many old Houses and Wizengamot members is what activated the covenant," Mr. Weasley informed them.
"Bloody hell," Ron complained.
Harry just nodded.
"You said if we are compatible, you can get around the Ministry matches?" Ginny asked.
Harry looked at her. His throat felt dry. He could see what Ginny was thinking. This was all too fast.
"Yes," Mr. Weasley said.
"Harry, will you marry me?" Ginny asked.
Harry blinked a time or two. "What? What about Dean?"
"What about Dean? He won't be eligible," Ginny told him.
Harry frowned. The Weasley matriarch looked between them. "I think we should only talk about this once we are certain there is no other option," Mrs. Weasley put in. "You are both too young and I won't have you being betrothed like that."
"Molly, I think we should seriously consider it if Harry and Ginny decide they want to try," Mr. Weasley said.
Ginny was looking at him rather hopefully. Ron was looking at the unopened letter looking destroyed. Harry had a good idea why. Harry's thoughts had gone to Hermione too, even if it was just to save her, but she wouldn't be eligible. Not as a first wife anyways, and he couldn't see her sharing with another woman. Harry found it repulsive himself, having been raised a Muggle where monogamy was the norm.
"No. I will not right now! I will not have either of them tied down like that," Mrs. Weasley firmly stated.
"Molly," Mr. Weasley started again.
"No, Arthur. I was in that situation once and I will not put my daughter or any of my sons in that situation," she just about yelled.
Harry was still looking at Ginny. He had to admit that she had grown over the last few years. She was athletic. Becoming shapely in the right areas and he found he liked her as she had opened up over the last year. She wasn't shy around him anymore, speaking her mind. She was quick to a joke at times and didn't take anything from anyone. She had also shown herself intelligent. She didn't show it like Hermione, but it had been pointed out that Ginny was in the top five of her year.
Harry had a few huge issues though when it came to Ginny: He liked someone else. He was only fifteen. She was fourteen. Worst of all was that Ginny was Ron's sister, and the Weasleys had all but adopted him. Could Harry see her as more than just a sister?
Mr. Weasley sighed. "We can stop talking about this today, but they will all have to go into St. Mungo's at the appointed time on their letters to have a physical and register. The first matches will be drawn over Christmas and sent after the New Years," Mr. Weasley stated.
"Until that time, this can still be reversed, and we will not talk about anyone in this house being betrothed," Molly put her foot down.
Mr. Weasley sighed again. "Why don't you three get out of here. My wife and I need to have a talk."
They left the kitchen and walked up the stairs. Ginny joined them in Ron's room. "Bloody hell! Bloody fucking hell," Ron muttered as he opened his letter.
Ginny sat on the cot next to Harry, folding her legs beneath her. Harry didn't look at her as he opened his own letter.
-o-
Dear Mr. Harry James Potter,
As Head of the Proliferation and Heirs department, I am pleased to write to you about the reactivation of the Wizard Proliferation Covenant of 1448 requiring the continuation of all blood lines. Through our records, you have been identified as the primary Heir and blood relative of the lines known as Potter and Black. A such, you are recognized as a wizard of note under the laws and will have to produce heirs for both lines if you are found to be fertile to sire children.
To confirm your eligibility to carry this honour, you are required to report to St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies on the first of August, nineteen-hundred and ninety-six at 9:30 AM. Please be present twenty minutes early with the paperwork provided. As our records show you are still under seventeen, your magical guardian will be required to be present and to affirm all documentation.
Once your eligibility is confirmed, you will be required to marry no later than one year from the thirty-first of July, nineteen-hundred and ninety-seven, or one year from your betroths' seventeenth birthday, whichever is sooner. If your betrothed is already older than seventeen before the thirtieth of December, nineteen-hundred and ninety-six, it will be one year from the first of January, nineteen hundred and ninety-seven. If not betrothed by December twentieth, nineteen-hundred and ninety-six, the Ministry will appoint a magically compatible mate.
Any existing betrothals shall need to be validated by the Wizarding Proliferation Board. This will require a magical compatibility test and validation of generational separation.
This is a great honour to keep the blood lines and increase our population. As such, if you decline to participate, some severe punishments may be enacted, including, but not limited to, fines in excess of a hundred-thousand galleons, a stay of up to a year in Azkaban, possible binding of part or all of your magic, or Ministry intervention.
Please find included a survey of your family, a magical contract stating you willingly submit yourself to Ministry approval of any betrothal or marriage contracts, and that you willingly allow the Ministry to appoint a magically compatible mate if the need arises. All contracts to be returned to the Ministry by the Thirtieth of August, or at your appointed time at St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies, which ever date is sooner. Without these contracts, the wizard of note shall be subject to any methods the Ministry deems necessary to continue your blood line, as stated above.
Sincerely,
Madam Roberta Parkinson
Head of the Proliferation and Heirs Department
Subdivision of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement
-o-
"Shite, this is real, isn't it?" Harry asked the room.
"I think so," Ginny said next to him. Harry looked up and she was just watching him.
"Bloody hell," Ron was still muttering. Like Harry, he must have read the letter at least twice. Ginny looked like she had read hers again.
Harry was trying to wrap his head around everything. The Battle at the Ministry. Dumbledore and Percy's death. Sirius' death. The reading of Sirius' will yesterday. The fact that his parents had had another vault with as much money as the Black's vault. Now he was going to be forced to be married!
"I have to find a wife by December twentieth, otherwise I will be matched to someone," Harry said in a disbelieving tone.
Ginny frowned. "Mine says next year."
"I have to marry within a year of my next birthday," Ron said, looking up at them. "I was going to ask Hermione if she wanted to go into Hogsmeade with me this year. You know, as a date."
Harry nodded. "We all have to marry within a year of turning seventeen."
He thought about Hermione, even knowing that Ron was finally admitting his feelings, Harry had planned to make his own play for her. Now he couldn't.
"How many will this affect?"
"Probably half or more of all those in fourth year and up?" Ginny provided.
"Who does that mean in our year?" Ron asked.
Ginny started to tick off names. "Well, I know in Gryffindor that would mean Romilda Vane, Georgie Ames, myself, Lavender Brown, probably the Patil twins, but they aren't old blood as in British wizards. We will have to ask dad if there are other restrictions. Then a year above you would be Katie Bell and Rosemary Thyme. Not sure who else for girls."
"We know Neville will be in this. And that arse, McLaggen. He's always spouting about his heritage," Harry remarked.
"Michael Quinn and Eric Greeves in seventh year," Ginny added.
"Do we know about Dean or Seamus? I know they both have a magical parent," he said, looking at Ginny. The last thing Harry wanted was to steal Ginny from Dean.
Ginny shook her head. "It wouldn't matter, I don't think. Without knowing who their parents were he couldn't claim anything. It's not like the goblins can do a blood test or anything."
Ron snorted. "Yeah. Can you imagine what that would be like? Bill told us about how many half-bloods were born during the last war after being raped. There would be pandemonium if some of those houses were claimed by bastard first-borns," Ron said with disgust.
"I don't get it," Harry said to Ron.
"First-borns, even if born out of wedlock, have magical claim over a House first, unless the next heir reaches fifteen and the current Regent claims them as their heir. Then it can become messy," Ginny answered.
"I never knew," Harry said, looking at the letter again. "I'm sorry you are going to have to break up with Dean."
Ginny frowned as she shrugged. "I like him and he's a good kisser, but we were only going out for a few weeks before the end of school. He's only sent me one letter so far this summer."
Ron scowled. "How can you be so flippant? And he better only have kissed you."
Ginny gave Ron an unimpressed look. "Listen, you stay out of my life, and I stay out of yours."
"How many others would there be?" Harry questioned.
"Luna also qualifies," Ginny supplied.
"I bet Bones and Abbot, too. They are both from old houses. They are both cute too," Ron supplied.
"I thought you liked Hermione," Ginny queried.
Ron shrugged. "I can still look and think someone is good looking."
"Cho Chang might fall into this. Her family has been here for a few generations," Ginny said, eyeing Harry.
Harry shook his head. "That would not work. You know this would mean all of Slytherin will probably be in on this."
All three of them made a face. "Oh, you mean I could end up with Malfoy?" Ginny shivered and Ron and him grimaced.
"Over my dead body," Harry muttered. "I could end up with Parkinson."
"I'm not sure what is worse," Ron groused before brightening some. "You could end up with Tracey Davis or Daphne Greengrass. They are pretty."
Ginny shook her head. "Is that all you care about?"
"Well, no, but it helps," said Ron.
"What about Brocklehurst, Li, Turpin, Moon, Perks or MacDougal?" Harry put forward.
"I know Brocklehurst, Perks and MacDougal are Muggleborns. Not sure about the others," Ginny replied.
Ron and Harry nodded. All three of them sat quietly, all lost in their own thoughts. Harry read the letter again and then looked at the two contracts, the survey about his family, most of which he had no clue about, and a small pamphlet that went over the laws. After a little bit, Harry asked, "Ginny, were you serious about wanting me to marry you?"
Ginny perked up, looking to Harry. Ron raised his head, his expression serious. "This isn't funny, Harry! Why would you marry Ginny? None of us are of age."
"I am not saying I like the idea, but out of all the girls we talked about, Ginny is the only one I really know," Harry tried to reason. "I'd be with someone I am at least friends with right now. It would let Ginny choose. Can you think of a better option?" Harry put to Ron.
Ginny didn't look as pleased with it being said that way. "Geez, if I am your only option..."
"Gin, you know I don't mean it that way. I mean you're cute, and we get along..." he shrugged his shoulder. "Who knows, we may wind up falling in love? I like to think I am a better option than Malfoy," he said jokingly.
Ginny screwed her face and they all laughed. "Oh, you are better than Malfoy," she agreed. They all sat there silently again for a few minutes. "I did mean what I said. If we are forced to marry, I would prefer it be you."
Ron looked disgruntled. "Just don't be all, you know, around me."
Harry smirked. It was the best endorsement he would get from Ron for now. At least he wasn't threatening to throw him from the Astronomy Tower if Harry hurt Ginny like he had to Dean. Ginny shared a smirk with Harry. Eventually Harry gave a heavy sigh. Soon after, they were all called down to lunch.
When he lay down that night, Harry went through all the conversations they had had. Knowing his life, this law was real, and he was bound to obey now. After his disastrous date with Cho, Harry had started to like Hermione. For once in his life, he would like to feel he was in control of something. If he could find a suitable match before Christmas, Harry would find a way to make it work. He didn't want the Ministry to decide something like this for him.
That had him thinking of all the possibilities. He quickly discounted anything with Cho. She was still a wreck by the end of the year and didn't want her crying every time they had to kiss. Susan Bones and Hannah Abbott were very attractive. The wet dream every night kind of attractive, and they had gotten along in the DA this year, but Harry just didn't feel that way towards them. They were nice girls, but a little bubbly for him. By that same measure, Lavender and Parvati were out the window. He didn't know Tracey Davis or Daphne Greengrass, and he wasn't sure he wanted too. They both acted like stuck up bitches the few times he had had to interact with them in classes.
He really didn't know anything about the other girls, or who the other girls would be. The pamphlet said they would be paired with someone within three years of themselves because of their age if he didn't find someone. Once you got over twenty, it could be as much as a ten-year gap.
The only few he could think about he might be attracted to were Katie Bell, Ginny and Luna. As much as he loved Luna and thought the slight blonde had nice curves, she was to distractible and out there. He wasn't sure if he would like her always talking about the strange creatures she always did. Katie was cute, athletic, fun to be around, easy to talk to and felt more like a big sister to him than someone he could have a romantic relationship with. Maybe that was from the years of being on the Quidditch team with each other and the way the three Chasers had taken him under their wing first year?
That really only left Ginny for people he knew, who, up until this last year, Harry didn't know well. She was Ron's little sister. The girl he saved from Tom Marvolo Riddle. Ginny hadn't even been able to really hold a conversation with him until last summer. Since then, though, she had grown some. Her body was maturing into a lean, athletic build with enough curves to catch his eye.
Ginny was also brave, fiery, magically strong and a good Quidditch player. All points he liked.
She was also becoming popular, even though she seemed to find quiet places often. Maybe her being shy around him was more of who she really was, and she just acted so outgoing?
Sighing, he turned over, trying to turn his brain off, but it just wouldn't.
Given that he might have a smaller pool to choose from, maybe he shouldn't push Susan, Hannah, Lavender or Parvati out of the running just yet.
Maybe he would have to see if he could find out who else is involved in this?
-oOo-
August 1, 1996
London, England
With many of the ultra-conservative and blood purists' leaders dead or on the run after Voldemort's defeat, what was left of Magical Britain was working into an uproar over the current situation. According to the Daily Prophet, the new Minister Bones and the remaining Wizengamot members were besieged by angry parents and those of age that wanted nothing to do with the law.
The Daily Prophet was also saying that there could be nothing to undo this unless the entire magic world of Great Britain decided to disband and then reincorporate with the Queens permission. To do so, though, meant that all magical wards, protections and what not that protected them from the Muggle world and themselves, would need to be broken, and then reestablished. It was something that no one wanted.
Harry didn't understand the issue until Mr. Weasley explained that it would take twenty-eight families to break the current seals. Once the Ministry seal was broken, all wards and anything established since even before the Wizarding Council would be broken. Many feared a great many bad things could happen, the least of which would be the Muggles finding out about them. There were rumors of great dangers that were hidden around the isles, never mind the dragon preserves, Hogwarts, the Ministry and other places. In short, it would be a collapse of their entire world that might take months to years to fully re-institute.
As of right now, the only two options that seemed available were to follow the laws or leave the country.
Harry thought about it, but he had too many friends, and even some he considered family, to just leave Great Britain. As much as he hated all this, Harry felt an obligation to see things through. His parents wanted their home saved, and Harry wanted a home.
Mr. Weasley passed on the most reliable news he could every evening and some were taking the option to leave. Rumors of a few families leaving were already circulating. It sounded like Ireland, France or Australia were popular destinations.
Thus, with him staying in the country, Mr. Weasley was escorting him to his appointment. At sixteen now, and emancipated, he didn't need Mr. Weasley, but he felt good to have him. Many were still looking at him as a hero, but not as much now. His involvement at the Ministry had been mentioned, but it was Dumbledore and others that were getting all the accolades and Harry liked it that many just walked past him now.
Once they entered St. Mungo's, it seemed busier than the last time he had been here. An Auror in burgundy robes, which were cut more like old riding cloaks, greeted them inside the doors. "Good day, sir. Are you and your son here for the Registration or to see a Healer?"
"Oh, this isn't my son," Mr. Weasley said. "I am just escorting Mr. Potter to register him today."
The man nodded his head. "If you would, please head through those doors and present your letter and other documents to the desk."
Walking through the double doors, Harry was greeted by three other teens with their parents. Sitting in the chairs closest to him was a blonde girl, a little on the chubby side with light blue eyes and tear streaks down her cheeks. Harry felt for her. The woman next to her didn't look any happier.
The boy, a few seats over, didn't look like he cared much. His brown eyes looked bored, and his close-cropped brown hair and muscular build had the feel of someone who attended military school... or Durmstrang, Harry suddenly realized. The stern man next to him cast a glance at Harry, gave an unimpressed uptick to his mouth and turned back to the book in his hand.
"Harry?" He turned to see Lavender Brown.
The girl was in a modest skirt and a nice blouse. The skirt showed off some shapely legs below her knees and her blouse did nothing to hide her curves. Her light brown hair, well more like dirty blonde, was in a loose ponytail. Her light blue hazel eyes looked close to tears. Surprising Harry, Lavender moved to hug him. She had never done that before, but Harry found himself putting an arm around her waist for a moment.
"Oh, isn't this awful," she said to him.
"It could be worse," he replied. At least it wasn't another plot by Voldemort to kill him or others.
Lavender backed up. She gave a teary chuckle. "I'm not sure how, but sure."
"Lavender, is this a friend from Hogwarts," a woman asked.
"Yeah, mum. This is Harry Potter. Harry, my mum, Rebecca Brown," Lavender introduced them.
Harry looked to the woman who was in a nice Muggle dress. What caught his eye was the hint of a tattoo on her neck and just below the sleeve on her left arm, which ended at her elbow. Each ear had a few earrings in it. On top of this she had the feel of someone that didn't usually get dressed up like this. There was something about the woman he liked almost immediately, especially when she took him in and didn't give the scar on his head a second thought. "Harry Potter? Lavender has told me so much about you. I am glad to finally meet you." The woman shook his hand.
Harry glanced to Lavender, who looked a little abashed. "Nothing good, I presume?" he queried.
The woman gave a broad smile. "Glowing, actually."
Lavender's face took on a little colour. "Mum," Lavender embarrassingly muttered out of the side of her mouth.
"Ma'am, I need you to finish signing this paperwork so I can get to the next person in line," the worker said from behind the desk.
A door opened from next to the desk and a tall girl with sleek black hair and aristocratic lines to her face stepped out. She looked a year or two older than them. No one was with her, and she walked by him without a glance. A man followed the girl out. "Pearson Troy."
The muscular boy stood and walked towards the door, his father right behind him. Lavender frowned. "He looks so cold," she told him.
"Yeah. I wouldn't want to be paired with him," he said in a concerned voice.
Lavender cracked a smile, and then started to giggle. "I didn't know you liked boys?"
Harry smiled back. "Yeah, well, you know, he would not be my type if I was."
Her giggles turned into a laugh. "I think I missed this side of you before."
He shrugged. "Not like we hung out much."
She looked at him as though she had not really ever seen him before. It didn't feel uncomfortable, but he felt like she was sizing him up. "Maybe we should hang out more this year?"
He shrugged again. "Maybe."
"Come on, Lav. You can talk to Harry when he is all registered," her mother said. The woman had an amused look as she slid her eyes between him and her daughter.
Mr. Weasley chuckled as he put a hand on Harry's shoulder. "You're next."
Harry turned to the woman at the desk. She was in mint green robes. "Name?"
"Harry Potter," he said, taking out the letter and other stuff in his pocket.
She looked up at him, studying him for a moment. "Papers?"
He handed them to her, and she looked through them. "None of these have a parent or guardian signature on them."
"I have been emancipated," Harry told her.
She scrunched her brow and then opened a draw. Taking out a golden quill and ink, she tapped it with her wand. "Please sign the guardian lines. If you are lying, it will be rather painful."
Harry took the quill, dipped it in the ink and a moment later the three parchments had his name twice. She nodded and looked at the paper again. "More than half your family history sheet is blank. You really need to fill in all you can."
Harry frowned. "That is all I know," he informed her.
After she studied him for a moment, she frowned. "If you get a poor match, don't blame me," she warned him. After putting the parchments into three separate trays, she took out another form. "Please read this, fill in any information you know, and sign."
"What is that?" Mr. Weasley questioned.
"Are you this boys Solicitor or Guardian?"
"No, but..."
"Then you don't need to know," the woman replied in a clip tone.
"What is it?" Harry asked.
Her demeanor changed and she smiled at him. "It is a consent form to have the Healers look you over, take a small amount of blood for use in matching you to a compatible mate and to release some medical information to the Proliferation Board."
"What type of information?" Harry queried.
"Age. Date of birth. Weight. Height. Whether you are able to sire children. Anything that is medically dangerous that could prevent you from siring children. A few metrics on your magic," she supplied.
Harry looked to Mr. Weasley. "Do you mind?" Mr. Weasley asked, taking the paper. After a few moments, he nodded. "Nothing that should be bad. Verify that the sample container will only allow what is in this contract."
"Thank you, Mr. Weasley."
A moment later, he sat with Lavender, who was sitting a few seats in front of her mother. Mr. Weasley went to sit with Mrs. Brown. Lavender looked nervous. "How are you doing?" he asked her.
"Scared," she admitted. "You?"
"About the same," he agreed.
She nodded. "Mum says if we can enter into a betrothal before Christmas, we will not have to take who the Ministry assigns."
"I know," he replied.
"Parvati says she hasn't received a letter yet. She was positive she would, but I think because she wasn't born here, she won't have to do this," said Lavender. Harry knew she liked to talk and had a feeling she hadn't talked to anyone yet. "How is Ron? I figured he would have to."
"Yeah, he does. All the Weasley's do. Bill is going to propose to his girlfriend soon. She is a French half-blood that meets the requirements of the law," Harry told her.
"Oh, that's good that at least someone is getting a choice. I have a feeling that this law is going to break up many relationships and lead to a lot of unhappy marriages," she commented.
"Probably." Harry didn't know what to say about that.
She shook her head. "That's all you have to say about this?"
"What do you want me to say? Ron, Ginny and I have been trying to figure out how to make this work all week. Hermione isn't back from a long vacation with her parents until next week and all I see this as is one more thing in my life I have no control over, so why worry right now?" he said to her. He knew he sounded more cynical than he should, but he was upset over this.
Lavender gave him a sad smile. "I'm sorry everything sucks. I feel the same way."
Harry nodded, calming down. "Yeah. Its bloody shite."
The door opened and a woman came out. "Lavender Brown?"
Lavender got up. As she turned to walk past him, she looked down. "Maybe you wouldn't mind if I joined you and everyone on the train? Maybe we could go into Hogsmeade sometime this year?"
Looking up at her, he was starting to think he may have misjudged her all these years. There was also the thought she was cute... well more than cute... and maybe he should look around before it was too late. Harry really wasn't sure about Ginny and at least he knew Lavender a little. "Yeah. I like the sound of that."
The joy in her smile met her eyes this time. "Good. I'll send you an owl?"
Harry shared her smile. "I can send Hedwig later and you can send a letter back?"
"I love that snowy owl. I look forward to getting your letter," she said.
When she went through the doors, Harry had a small smile on his face. Maybe this wouldn't be as dire as they all thought. That was until the doors to the main lobby opened. Harry's smile turned into a scowl. The pale blond, Draco Malfoy, walked in. He looked a little worse for wear, with dark bags under his eyes and his features not as smug anymore. Behind him strolled in his mother. Apparently, she hadn't been marked as she was still breathing.
Draco caught sight of him, and a look of pure loathing crossed his face before they turned to the woman at the desk.
Mr. Weasley sat next to him. "I've heard they lost most of their fortune. Couldn't have happened to a nicer family," Mr. Weasley said in a falsely happy voice.
Harry nodded his agreement.
"So, I take it Lavender Brown is a classmate?"
"She's going to be a sixth-year Gryffindor, like us," he told Mr. Weasley, meaning Ron and him.
"Do you know her well?"
"Not really. I think that may have been the most I have ever talked to her. She seemed more down to earth than normal," he replied, trying to ignore Malfoy.
Mr. Weasley nodded. "Harry, I want you to know that you always have a place at the Burrow. I know what Ginny offered. If there is no other way, Molly and I will be happy to accept you into the family, but if you find you like someone else, I think you should go for it. I am sure Ginny will be able to find someone, and I have talked with the Unspeakables. The selection process really should find partners that are compatible, and I don't mean just compatible enough to have children. The Ministry is taking this very seriously and Minister Bones is looking for the best outcomes she can."
Harry looked to Mr. Weasley questioningly. The man went on, "What I am trying to say is, just don't agree to my daughter out of a sense of loyalty or as though you feel you have to. I fear it won't work out in the end if that is the only foundation for your relationship."
After a moment, Harry nodded. He didn't get a chance to say anything as the door opened. An older boy he recognized from Slytherin walked out on his own. There was a snarl on his face, and an unhappiness in his stride. A man in lime green robes came out after him. "Harry Potter?"
Harry felt a little apprehensive.
"Do you want me to come in," Mr. Weasley offered.
"I think I'm alright," Harry replied before following the man with lime green robes into a corridor with three doors on each side.
-oOo-
Welcome to my next story. This is complete at the time of posting and 20 chapters long.
Postings should be once a week.
In the last few months, when I really didn't have much of a muse, I had slowly worked on this story and A Two-Finger Salute. With the House of Potter-Greengrass just about done, I wanted to post these projects.
I am trying to complete Dance of the Veela and Light of the Heart but seem to have just hit a solid wall on how to reach the end game for what I planned. I am not abandoning them, but I don't see when they will be completed.
Lastly, I have started to pivot to what my readers voted on last November for my next big story. In my Rambling and Dribbles, it is labeled Traveler, for lack of a better title right now. I do not know when that will start posting yet. I want to get a good ten to twenty chapter done before I post, and I am still not writing as much as I was, due to life and work.
Hopefully this summer my writing time will increase again, and I can finally finish some of the stories hanging out there and start posting my next big project.
WolfgangNH - 26 March 2022