Silver Eyes

Chapter One

Everyone knows that because of the last two wars, both caused by Tom Riddle and his Death Eaters, the very magic around us, especially in Magical Britain, had weakened. We just hadn't been aware of just how badly it had hit us until Kingsley was made Minister of Magic.

Then it had been a race of the best minds from all different fields to see if we could save our people from going extinct in only a few generations.

The answer came three months after the war.

"Celeste Syrina Black," shouted Hermione, yanking me from my restless sleep badly enough that I rolled right out of the bed with wand in hand and a spell on my lips. "Did you vote for this?!"

There was a lot that I could say to Hermione in that one moment.

But instead of being my usual sarcastic and amazing self, I instead blearily got to my feet while summoning whatever 'this' was to have a look at what made her angry.

Turns out 'this' was a Marriage Law.

"Godric's swinging sword," I blurted out as the last of the sleep left me while I continued to read over the law itself along with the parameters that had to be met. "No, I can say with a hundred percent honesty that I didn't bloody vote for this."

Meaning that a secret Wizengamot meeting had been held and I hadn't been notified as I should have been considering the Black House had two seats on the Wizengamot.

But then again, considering even Kingsley okayed this, it meant we weren't being told everything. That was never a good thing.

Unlike the others, I didn't even show up back to Britain until after Third Year at Hogwarts having been living in the United States with my other godfather since my first one, James Potter, had been murdered by Riddle.

Mainly since he had feared my father, Sirius Black, coming for me. Turns out that was ridiculous since he hadn't even betrayed the Potter's and had been innocent.

Remus hadn't hesitated to move us back to Britain, while enrolling me in Hogwarts with Dumbledore's help, the second that he had learned the truth.

We had then begun to live at Grimmauld Place with Dad, considering he was still a wanted fugitive. Which gave me the chance to get to know the person who was my father.

In that time, before his own death, he had taught me everything I needed to know to be the next Lord Black since he didn't wish for the title or responsibility.

Not that I could take it up myself until I was seventeen and of age, but the point still stood.

He hadn't hesitated to teach me what he himself had been taught by his own father before he ran away. Though not in as a fanatical fashion as he said his father had taught him.

"Vote for what?" muttered Harry as he wondered into my bedroom uncaring that I was only wearing a pair of short sleep shorts and one of Fred's old quidditch jerseys.

That brought up a whole new issue in truth, mainly for the witches if this law was to be believed.

"As of today," began Hermione with a snarl, hair sparking as her magic swirled around her, "a Marriage Law has been enacted to save Magical Britain from going extinct."

"What?" choked out Harry as he stalked forward to grab the piece of parchment I was waving in the air with a wrinkled nose. "This can't be bloody real. We're still recovering from the Battle of Hogwarts! How can they do this?!"

It was a good thing that I had Grimmauld Place renovated and revamped.

None of it even closely resembled the place it had been when my father and Remus were alive.

Because it looked like I was going to need the space since I had a feeling there was no getting out of this. Especially considering who all gave their agreements to this law.

"Kings signed off on it," I added with a sigh before heading toward my closet to get dressed since I had a feeling the rest of those who had been in the Order were going to show up. "Might as well call a meeting and get it over with. The law will take effect at midnight to activate whatever object they created to get the best matches."

We'd get our results the next morning and would have two weeks to meet and marry the ones listed as our 'perfect' matches. Or else have our magic bound.

There was another issue of if they'd also add the Death Eaters considering most were Heirs and Lords to the Noble Houses. Great, today was just going to be great.

~ Time Skip: Dining Room ~

One of the last to show up had been Kingsley himself causing the talking in the room to fall silent making the other man sigh tiredly. Though I couldn't help but offer the man a tight smile while motioning for him to take the seat at the head of the table.

Each of us held our copy of the new law.

Which meant there would be no mistaking what this conversation was going to be about.

"I wasn't aware," began Kings as he rubbed at his forehead before looking at those around him making each raise an eyebrow. "They didn't inform me of the crisis until after I had been sworn in as the new Minister of Magic."

That wasn't something one wanted to hear, especially considering how badly off things had already been during the war.

"Over the last month I've had the best of the minds I could hire try to find a way to save our people, our future in generations to come, and this was the only solution they could come up with."

Meaning this truly was the only option. Kings wasn't the type to just give up and settle for something like this if another answer could have been found.

"How will this affect those already married?" asked Bill as he placed a hand over Fleur's who was smoothing her other hand over her small baby bump. "Because I refuse to leave or marry anyone other than Fleur, we're already expecting our first child."

"Anyone who is already married will not apply toward this new law," answered Kings with a shake of his head making Fleur's shoulders slump. "But if one is a widow, and of the right age, then they will be considered and have to follow the new law."

Meaning those like Rodolphus Lestrange, considering Bellatrix was killed during the Final Battle by Molly. That was a moment I would never forget.

"What about for those who are engaged?" asked Percy next from where he was leaning tiredly against Fred, neither had yet recovered fully from their stay at St. Mungos. "I've only recently proposed to Penelope."

"You'll have to appear before the Ministry before midnight tonight," answered Kings causing Percy to nod before turning slowly for the living room where I had the only floo set up. "That's what the second parchment is explaining."

I hadn't bothered to read the second one, and that was something I wouldn't do again.

From the way Hermione was scowling I could see she agreed to that.

Not that anyone else in the room was engaged. None of us had really thought about settling down considering we'd just finished fighting in a war.

"Why is that the women have to have up to six husbands?" I finally asked, unable to keep silent on the matter any longer since it seemed no one else thought to bring it up.

"There are less witches to wizards," answered Kings with a small smirk while I couldn't help but pout with red cheeks from the few chuckles filling the air. "Because of that, witches will have to take more husbands while a wizard will only have the one wife."

Because of course that would happen.