Harry Potter was sitting at the furthest end of the table with his head hanging low. Small beads of sweat was forming on his forehead even in mid December.
The battle worn Auror couldn't believe the scene that was unfurling in front of him. These were his people, the good people. But how come they reached at a discussion like this?
He could see Shacklebolt nodding in disapproval as Professor McGonagall said something that didn't fall in line with his statement. Blaise Zabini, the Leader of the House of Lords was almost looking like a brinjal as his words were repeatedly nullified by Ronald Weasley, the Deputy Minister of Magic.
Harry's eyes scanned every corner of the room. The scene was almost the same everywhere.
Good people were arguing and some even had their wands drawn, ready to slay each other.
Harry felt guilty.
Extremely guilty.
It was his statement a week back that has lead to this day.
He needed her to succeed.
Right at this moment his last hope was resting on Hermione Granger. The Chief Healer of St. Mungro's.
But where was she?
Harry sighed and stood up.
He needed to buy time.
He mildly cleared his throat before he amplified his voice magically,
"SILENCE", his voice boomed.
The room fell silent at once.
Shaklebolt looked at him hopefully.
" Ahem", Harry continued.
" I understand the situation but why are we discussing something this oppressive when Ms. Granger is working with the best of the Potion Masters, Herbilogists and Healers to find a solution? Can't we be a bit more patient and rational?"
He expected Shaklebolt to support.
But he sneered.
" Be more realistic Potter. If we keep on being patient, in a matter of a few years the Wizarding Community will be wiped out.
Who pointed out that the long struggle with the Dark Lord already brought our number down to less than 2 millions and the mass execution at Azkaban and the recent war with Giants and the Werewolves took us down to less than 0.8 Millions? And out of that 0.7 millions are old/ children/ already married?
It was you Harry.
You drew the statistics while lying at St. Mungro's 10 days back, injured and ready to die.
In death you saw the seriousness of the situation so clearly. What happened to that understanding now?
If we don't act asap, the community will be doomed.
And let me remind you, Granger is working on genes, fertility, multiple births and other advanced Science Potter, she ain't digging up any ancient magic to produce miracle children from nowhere.
We damn need that Marriage and Childbirth Law. Its not about if the Laws are implemented or not. Its about the lowest and highest cut off ages for bearing mentally and physically sound babies with best magical potentials. So wake up dreamer, not all battles are fought by muttering Expelliarmus."
Harry scanned all faces again.
For once people were not fighting.
Everyone was nodding is unison with Shacklebolt.
Harry felt defeated as he hung his head low. Suddenly he felt like an eleven year old again. Weak and vulnerable.
He didn't oppose this Law for nothing, he had his personal agenda. He was no longer that selfless boy of 17.
Harry writhed in pain as he silently apologized to his wife who lost her fertility two years back during childbirth. He knew for once, their life was about to change.
************************************
Right then the big Entrance burst open as Hermione Granger walked in with a group of ten odd wizards and witches. But what caught everyone off guard was the presence of one silver haired certain infamous wizard in that group.
Apparently he was in hibernation for more than ten odd years and people almost forgot he even exists.
A soft murmur broke amongst the officials as all pair of eyes focused on Draco Malfoy, the man back from dead.
After the group settled down, Hermione stood up and started reading out from a paper. As expected, she went straight to the point without any introduction.
" As you see, we need to bind ancient with the new to create the best possible genetics and if we use a popular muggle way, a witch can give birth to 3 to 4 children at a single go. The muggle procedure is a bit painful for multiple conceiving but Healer Lovegood and her team is working on making the procedure less painful for the people.
I would like to give you an idea about the recent cross genetics mapping we performed over the last 6 days. If I were to breed ahem I mean make babies with Professor Longbottom here, we would have wizard progenies with Intelligence level of 75%, physical strength of 25% and magical abilities of 60%.
On a contrary a mapping between me and Potter sets that level to Intelligence level of 83%, physical strength of 50% and magical abilities of 85%.
But if that cross breeding was to happen between me and another Muggle born like Auror Goldlock, we would have the worst probability of getting Intelligence level of 70%, physical strength of 55% and magical abilities of 20%, ie, we may even give birth to a squib. So, even two extreme powerful parents may fail to produce the desired type of child if the genetic choice is wrong.
But what I found the most interesting is the output that came for myself and Mr. Malfoy. Considering the fact that his lineage is one of the purest and the oldest and mine is totally new, the test results put progeny attributes at Intelligence level of 95%, physical strength of 80% and magical abilities of 98%. Not only that, such children may also sponteneously develop special abilities like being animagous/ reading minds or speaking to selective animals.
There was a collective gasp as Hermione put the paper down. Such children were the necessity of the hour and every one present in the room understood the importance of her statement.
She left the floor to Neville Longbottom to talk about herbal methods of increasing fertility whose speech was followed by Luna Lovegood's lecture on painless procedure of multiple childbearing.
After an hour of discussion McGonagall was the first to speak, " So, the Scientists collect the database and make the match then. What about the matter of hearts and commitments?"
Hermione chuckled, " No offense meant Professor, but feelings are mostly lies. We use feelings as an excuse when we settle for less/ fight for things beyond reach and need to justify our choices.
Why bother for feelings when Science can give us the desired output and Law can enforce the breeding?
You may always arrange for giving people multiple choice, but, that must not compromise with the genetics of the progenies. We may need feelings elsewhere, but, this is not the place to focus on feelings. "
There was a mixed reaction.
But at the end Hermione Granger made perfect sense and thus, the Laws were passed with majority support as Harry Potter watched in dismay.
He lost his best friend Nine years back when he chose to side with Ronald Weasley.
All he could do today was to watch and sigh.
After all its life and life is never fair.