this is developing very interestinglyi like that you're showing how that whole marriage BS is slowly creeping in: new idea is taking root, the decision makers get interested, and the public is being swayedusual MLC's used to give you "Hermione opens the Prophed one morning and is appaled" scene; that got old quicklythank you for the read!!!M.

I love Goyle!  He's turned into a giant teddy bear. :)

Looks as though "the swing of the pendulum" is about to start overly favoring Muggle-borns over purebloods, and that is only going to lead to more of the same trouble as before.  I sincerely hope that the graduating seventh and "eighth" years will be able to change things to a more moderate outlook when they enter the Wizarding workforce...  however, if purebloods are being passed over for Ministry positions in favor of Muggle-borns, that's going to be difficult for resentment not to fester even in the group of students who may have initially vowed to work together.  I do hope that Draco doesn't let anger and bitterness drive him back down the very road that his father had been on.Fascinating story, still!  I am watching for updates to this one like a hawk!

What a fascinating take on a post-war wizarding world, and it sounds very much as if the "pendulum" is swinging in favor of those with muggle blood instead of those with pureblood heritage. I can definitely see how things could turn ugly again, especially considering the hideous treatment and outright slaughter of so many muggleborns during the war. Good thing Hermione and her friends seem to have recognized the possible dangers and are keeping an eye on things. I think Draco and Greg and their friends approaching Hermione and hers may be a very good thing for all of them ... in more ways than one.

awesome start, can't wait to read the next chapter!

I think Hermione is right in thinking that if the girls drop their paternity suits that the guys will be required to marry their already approved matches.  They must not drop their suits.

I'm wondering what is so horrible about Ron's approved match that he would refuse to even discuss it.  She is related to Graceilla Warblock?  Could she be Healer Blumfeild's ugly daughter?  Or Graceilla's sister or daughter?  Or maybe Graceilla herself?  Whoever she is, she must be a right terror.

Merilynn-Elizabeth Lovelle is very dissatisfied with her job right now.  This nonsense with the Social Heritage, Marriage, and Registration Committee has been making her life a living hell, and the demands of Graceilla Warblock, puffed up warbler that she is, is taking the meaning of Hell to new heights.  I think she may be very inclined to help the witches and wizards opposed to this foolishness bring down the entire law.

I can't tell you how delighted I am to find out that Severus is alive!!!  Yay! for Severus.  He's such a brilliant Potions Master and researcher.  Of course, being in service to the Dark Lord at the time, he would have been publishing under a different name prior to becoming a professor at Hogwarts.  The name he chose to publish under is very fitting for the Half-Blood Prince.  Hermione's staunch defense of him to the students present in their meeting was very gratifying for this reader. 

Now what will he say when he receives the owl from Hermione, or Draco, asking for his help?  I have a feeling that his help with coming up with a fool proof way to undo the Sterilization Curse will be critical!  But will he want to get involved?  Merlin, I hope so!

With things as they now stand, it looks as though there are going to be many witches and wizards pursuing further education after leaving Hogwarts.  I'm heartened by the support that both Minerva and Poppy are giving the students while making it seem like they are doing what the S.H.M.R.C. wants them to do.

Lordy!  What a busy chapter this is.  Well done!Beth

What tangled webs you have woven.  Very well written story so far and very enjoyable.

I am really enjoying the story and Draco's attempts to humanize himself.

Draco his having a dreary summer indeed.  I hope he will eventually be able to earn Harry's friendship.There is so much for Hermione to do with her new job.  All those file cabinets and forms would give me a migraine.  but I have no doubt that she will come up with a plan to make it better and easier to use.  And do well in school.It was great of Harry to lend her the money to buy her school supplies, and the books that Mr. Arlington gave her will help in her fight against the Marriage Law.This gets more and more interesting!  I hope we see some of the things she reads about the things that heppened during the Inquisition and other times when wizards were under duress.Beth

Oh, this just keeps getting more and more complicated.  But Draco is really trying, isn't he?

Really neat story.

Draco is persistent, I'll give him that! :)

Hermione seems to be effective at work,and she has a very good boss.  Draco worked hard at hosting Harry, and Ginny seems pragmatic enough to be friendly to him.  But this Charles Harper thing seems to be a potential disaster.  Can Draco help find Charles an acceptable bride who wouldn't mind being Mrs Harper?  I am anxious for Lucius to get out and start helping.  And where is Narcissa????  Thank you for the new chapter!

Oh, another very intense chapter.Just a short stop here ... there's another chapter waiting to be read.

Lovely chapter, Harry is a great friend and I'm betting those books will come in handy.

Now she is armed with information, will she make some porogress? :)

I like the way everyone helps Hermione with her protest.

I like how you set the mood of the chapter by showing the weather. So Draco is finding out that earning Harry's friendship will take some effort. Loved that.Lucius doesn't seem as changed by his interrogations as Draco and Greg had been. The job at the Ministry and all those reports, and forms... looks like Hermione has her hands full. How will she balance Law scool and being Ernest's assistant?

Edithe and Graceilla are quite a pair of old bitties! arent' they. Lay there and take it like rag dolls. geeezeI like how Hermione had to work to get what she needed to go to law school, instead of having it handed to her. More realistic this way. And it's nice that she turned to Molly for advice. Funny that networking works in the wizarding world too. good chapter.

Greg a dad - how cute! He'll be a good dad.I wondered how Hermione and Luna got around the 'virgin untouched' thing in Severus' directions. Leave it to Luna to ask a unicorn for help. lolWhy didn't Hermione just admit that the potion was created by Severus Snape? Surely he's auitted and everything?

Poppy suggesting that Hermione go to law school was priceless. I hope that Poppy doesn't get in trouble for her letter. Stress, the chowder and the Pseudopregnancy Potions - she actually blows thier secret!I loved Severus' reply - it's so him and the directions were hilarious as well as his snarky comments. Harry was being very good to Hermione warning her of Ron's actions, but that really had to hurt. And then Draco tells her he's petitioned for her - talk about bad timing! And what a Slytherin, backing up the sterility plan so he has an out! grr

Severus is alive! Whoot!  Loved Draco's line, "Send an owl." Hilarious!I knew that as soon as the girls got 'pregnant' the Ministry would be upset.  Loved Poppy's and Mary-Elizabeth in this chapter. It's oggd to see others don't like the law either.

I suppose that with everything going on, Bernice didnt get to come visit over Christmas and oogle Harry. too bad. Ron wwas a complete prat, and he'd just gotten lucky! You'd think that would've improved his mood some. It's not like she was really going to get pregnant. I hope Harry talks some sense in him. Or is this just a move to tear the relationship between Hermione and Ron apart?

Pseudopregnancy and Pseudocyesis Potions - interesting and a nice touch, inventive and convenient.  I'm glad that you have Sltherins included instead of shunned in this story.

'Proudly announce the Marriage Law and Proper Unions Act' - nice political way to put 'forced breeding!'  I like that this is an anti-marriage law. It will be fun to see where this goes.