Asking

In the Headmistress' office:


Severus Snape, despite his actions and words to the contrary, believed strongly in House unity. He also believed in wizarding unity. One of the few men he had truly respected and loved had not only been of a different House, he had been of his house's greatest rival, Gryffindor House. Now that man was gone and Severus was going to attempt to posthumously give that man his greatest wish.


"Minerva, I need to speak with you and with Albus. I have an idea."


The portrait of Albus Dumbledore smiled down at his friends.


"Hello, Severus. How are you today and what is this idea?"


"Hello, Albus. I am well. I believe I've finally found a way to bring about House unity. For years we've had the Houses taking classes together, but they've always been able to choose their own partners. This, of course, meant that, despite taking classes together, the students still did not work together. I've just paired the students in my seventh year Potions class with the member of the opposite House whose scores most closely match theirs."


"Well. Why didn't we think of this sooner? It's really quite brilliant."


"Minerva is right. A simple concept, yet, apparently difficult to grasp."


"As the muggle saying goes: a child shall lead them, Albus. Draco Malfoy came to me this morning requesting Hermione Granger as his Potions partner. Don't look at me that way, I didn't hallucinate it, Albus. Besides, you'll be interested in the boy's reason for wanting her. Apparently, the Ministry..."


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At the same time:


"Mr. Malfoy, you have managed to miss my entire class. Were it not for Ms. Granger bringing me that note from Professor Snape, you would have a detention. Do not let it happen again. Go on with you, lunch has begun."


"Yes, Professor Flitwick. It will not happen again, sir."{Lovely, another lunch spent with Parkinson. I swear, if I thought I could get away with it, I'd Obliviate her every memory of me. I'm just so glad I won't have to marry that wench. Oh, joy, here come Crabbe and Goyle.}


"Draco?"


"Crabbe, Goyle, what is it?"


"Um, we was wondering, why are you spending so much time talking to Potter, Weasley and Granger? I thought we was supposed to hate 'em?"


"Vincent, Granger and I are Heads this year, Potter and Weasley are prefects. If I don't spend time with them, how am I to do my job? Speaking to them is a requirement."{And, even if it wasn't, I'd much prefer their company to yours. At least I can have an intelligent conversation with them.}


"Oh, ok. It just seems like you spend more time with them than with us Slytherins. Some of the others was saying that maybe you was switching sides on us."


{A little late for that thought, as I 'switched sides' before sixth year. That damned Pensieve of Father's. It was a bloody good thing Potter got rid of Voldemort or I'd have been done for. Just a damned shame Granger wasn't there when I switched; it would have made all this so much easier.}"Vincent, I am not going to justify that comment with an answer."


"Huh? What does that mean?"

"It means that he doesn't want to overburden your poor brain. Isn't that right, Drakie?"


"Parkinson, if you continue to call me by those annoying pet names I will be forced to do something you will regret. Now, if you will excuse me, I'm missing lunch."


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Back in the Headmistress' office:


"...So, Mr. Malfoy came to the conclusion that his best choice for a bride would be Ms. Granger."


"Merlin's Wand! Did he mention when this law will take effect?"


"No, but prior to coming here, I contacted some of the same associates Mr. Malfoy would have spoken to. The law is expected to pass easily and as soon as late October or early November. It's quite likely that at that point it would go into effect at the first of the year."


"So, four months? That's rather quick, particularly for the Ministry. Why would they move that fast on this law?"


"Minerva, have you noticed over the last decade or so that Hogwarts attendance has dropped considerably?"


"Well, yes, Albus. What does that have to do with this law?"


"I know where he's going with this. Hogwarts' attendance would only drop if the number of magical children born each year were to drop. This law is not entirely about the war casualties or even about the prejudices that caused the war. It is, at least in part, about the decline in magical children being born."


"Are you sure, Severus? Even if there were a drop in magical births, why would the Ministry force purebloods to intermix with half bloods and muggleborns? How would that change the magical birthrate?"


"It's quite simple, my dear Minerva. Think how few Pureblood families there are left. How would they stay 'pure'? They've been inbreeding for the last few generations. This, in turn is causing more miscarriages, squib births and fewer children in each family. Look at our own students, how many of the pureblood families, with the notable exception of the Weasley family, have more than one child?"


"Hmm, as I think of it, multiple children are a rarity. You may both be correct, but I still don't see...I take it back, I do see. Inter-mixing the blood would eventually, perhaps not completely cancel out, but at least begin to balance the years of inbreeding. Eventually, the birthrate would begin to rise again and the consequences of the inbreeding would potentially be reversed. I can also now see why young Lord Malfoy would want Ms. Granger; she is quite easily the best choice to continue the Malfoy line. She is the brightest witch of her age."


"Draco also has the Malfoy preference for having the best the world has to offer and Ms. Granger is most assuredly the best the muggle or half blood populations have to offer. I daresay this will be an interesting courtship."


"Yes, it should be. We will help it along by taking your lead with all the seventh, fifth and third year classes. I will advise all the Professors to match their students in the same manner you have, Severus. Now, I believe we should attend lunch so I may speak with the other Professors."

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