Magical Lineage

Hermione Granger simply could not believe what she was hearing. The Minister of Magic was announcing that, due to all of the pureblood and muggle-born wizards lost during the war, the population of wizarding Britain was at risk. Though the Bulgarian and Swiss leaders offered assistance in the repopulation effort of the English families, the Ministry has decided that that option will be held in reserve as a “last resort". To ensure self-repopulation, each remaining pureblood witch/wizard is to join and have at least one heir with a half-blood or muggle-born witch/wizard.

After everything she’d been through; after the war, losing friends, and the loss of her parents. Even if Hermione was aware that the loss of her parents was her own doing, for their protection, it still hurt. And now, despite holding the title of “the brightest witch of our time,” she would not have a choice of when or if she would have children but also no choice in who would father those children..

She turned to Harry and said, “I can’t believe that the Ministry is going to enforce this ridiculous decree. I’m going to talk to Shacklebolt. Would you come with me?”

“I’ll come with you, but I knew this was coming. I met with the Wizengamot, or what’s left of them, yesterday. This is a serious situation, Hermione. This program of forcing wizards and witches to have children just to repopulate the wizarding community is outrageous, I’ll grant you that. It has to succeed though, or the British wizarding community will be lost within the next century. “

“You seriously believe that it’s right to tell a witch that because she’s a muggle-born, she has to bare a child for a pureblood wizard that most likely fought in the war to kill or imprison her? She must live in a loveless relationship. and in some sort of harem situation to boot? All for the repopulation of bloodlines that the wizarding world would be better off seeing die out.”

Harry responded slowly, “I believe that the British wizarding world is so important that I agreed to re-establish the Potter seat on the Wizengamot, and am actively contributing to the rebuilding of our Ministry.”

Hermione was speechless, but only for a moment. “I thought you and Ron wanted to train with the MLE and become Aurors?”

“That was the dream before the war. Now... Well, we all have to make sacrifices. Ginny and I will be joining the repopulation program. She will be in my group, as one of my pureblood witches. The only advantage I have by being ‘The Chosen One’ is the ability to have some say in deciding who I am to be paired with. The Ministry will want to pair you with one maybe two wizards. Do you want me to try to get you paired with anyone in particular?”

“Are you barmy?!” Hermione shrieked. “Have you lost all sense of reality, Harry? I DO NOT want to participate in the program at all, let alone... Oh. Sweet. Merlin. I have dreams of my own. I’m not even sure I want to have children. Besides, you’re like my brother. I do not want to talk about shagging multiple wizards and having children with them.”

“Yes, I know it’s weird. But Hermione, I’m not actually your brother. If you need to talk, I’m here. I can try to arrange for Ron to be one of the pureblood wizards you’re assigned to.”

“Ron? Ron? I would rather mate with Slughorn.” Hermione screamed in frustration and became so angry, so fast, that her hair literally sparked.

“I’m sorry. I know you two have been arguing lately... I haven’t been around much, and I thought maybe you’d made up.”

“Well, let’s get you all caught up: Ronald Weasley is an utter arse. He is a thoughtless bastard. I helped him get through most of his classes, I fought at his side even after he left us during the horcrux search. Then he reappeared and you accepted him back with open arms. But I accepted him purely to make it easier for you, Harry. Then he thought he had the right to kiss me after the battle. When I told him that I had feelings for someone else he treated me like shit. He then disappeared, went off in true Ron fashion. He didn’t want to help Narcissa and Draco during their trials. Narcissa saved your life and Draco... Well, Draco did what he did to save mine. He didn’t deserve to go to prison.”

Harry swallowed hard. Narcissa did save his life. Had it not been for her, Voldemort would have killed him for sure. Her deception about his death was what tipped the scales of the final battle, the reason he hadn’t been struck dead in the woods. As for Draco... for all of his misdeeds, he would always be grateful to him for saving Hermione. Harry still couldn’t believe what Draco had done, without even a pause or a thought. He used the killing curse. According to a review of his memories, it was the only time he had EVER used that unforgivable.

“I don't want to be paired with anyone, least of all Ronald. I know Molly would be thrilled, but I’m pretty sure that right now Ron and I aren’t even friends.” Hermione lowered her head. She knew this statement hurt Harry, but she couldn’t help how she felt. She’d spent way too many years worrying about Harry and Ron; getting them through school, getting them out of trouble, getting in trouble because of them. Years of putting herself last. Not anymore. She loved Harry, he was all the family she had left. But she needed to finally focus on herself.

Shacklebolt was just entering his office when Hermione caught up to him. He wasn’t sure why she was coming to see him, but he had a strong suspicion it had something to do with the repopulation announcement he made earlier that day. Merlin’s balls, he didn’t want to be Minister of Magic. He’d told the Wizengamot that he would only do it on a temporary basis. He had a feeling these were just words he had said to make himself feel better, considering it has been three years since Voldemort's defeat. Oh well in for a penny, in for a pound.

“Hermione. You are looking wonderful. How are you? What brings you to my office today?”

“Good morning, Minister,” she replied.

“Please Hermione, call me Kingsley. We survived a war together. Not to mention we were both members of The Order.”

“Very well, Kingsley. I’m fine.”

How is everything down in research?” he asked.

“It is fine. As you know we just recently got a new Department Head. Actually, I was hoping to work at Hogwarts; as you know, Madam Pince was killed in the battle. Her position in the library was never filled. The teachers are each scheduled for library duty, which isn’t convenient for them or the students. Not to mention leaves the library very disorganized. I asked Minerva if the Board of Governors was planning on filling the position since I have been expressing an interest in filling it. As for the reason I’m here, I think you can parse that one out on your own.”

Kingsley pursed his lips and nodded. “I know you heard the Ministry’s repopulation announcement, and I know it will upset many witches and wizards.”

Hermione crossed her arms in frustration. Though her tiny frame was not physically intimidating at all, her magical abilities could scare the hell out of Salazar Slytherin himself. “I don’t think it’s right to expect people to give up their relationships with people that they actually love, to procreate with someone based on a Ministry decree.”

Kingsley stood tall. “Hermione, no one is saying you can’t have a loving relationship with someone outside of your repopulation group. All we’re saying is that the wizards you will be assigned to must produce an heir with you. You are free to love whomever you wish. You are not required to marry these wizards.”

She glared at him and snapped, “I’m about to get very crass Kingsley. I don’t have to love the wizards? Oh, you’re right. Just let them shag me. Impregnate me. And then what? Who raises the baby?”

“Well, the way it will be presented, if the wizards or witches wish to be together, great. A wizard can have multiple wives or a witch can have multiple husbands if they wish to live as a family unit. If a wizard or witch does not wish to live as a family, they can separate. The child will either live with the witch or wizard, or arrangements' can be made to share the child. From what I understand, muggles practice this type of parenting with some frequency.”

Hermione was beyond agitated at this explanation. “Kingsley, I don’t think you are fully understanding what it is you’re asking us to do. Not to mention the strain on the children, the potential emotional fallout.”

Kingsley’s voice became both very quiet and quite stern, “I know exactly what I am asking of each and every witch and wizard out there. I’m taking on two witches myself. Do you think that plays into my plans with Jacob? He’s not happy at all, but I’m a pureblood, and I know my responsibility. I am the last in my house. Jacob knows I love him, and he knows that he and I will be together when this is over. Maybe we’ll even have a child or two to raise. So please, do not assume that I am not sympathetic to your argument. My body will war with my heart, just as yours will.”

Hermione felt ashamed of taking the stance that Kingsley wouldn’t understand. She’d forgotten that he was the last in his noble house and, given his sexual preferences, he had planned on letting the line die with him.

She apologized and left his office, resolved to head home and await the Ministry’s letter. The one informing her of which wizards were going to father her children.