Very well then. First, might I ask what the marriage rules for the Slytherin, Potter and Peverell families are?" Dumbledore asked.
"The Potter family rules are the simplest. They state I have to love whomever I marry, no other restrictions." Harry recited, "The Slytherin rules merely state that whomever I marry has to be a Pureblood and must remain a virgin until her wedding night. The Peverell rules say that I can't marry someone who has 'unsightly blemishes' on her face, that she be magically powerful and be at least of an Ancient House."
"Hmm…so, two Purebloods and another lady of any heritage." Dumbledore mused.
"Yeah, but how in Merlin's name am I going to convince three girls to marry me at the same time?" Harry asked languidly, "They'd slap me and call me a womaniser or something."
"Pureblood families teach their children about the ancient laws the year before they attend Hogwarts." Dumbledore said calmly, "As do the scions of any Pureblood families who are married to Muggles or Muggleborns. They would, if not be happy about it, at least know that your choice in this matter is limited to when it happens, not if it happens."
"So Muggleborns are going to be out." Harry sighed.
"Not necessarily. If you show them the law and the letter you will doubtless recieve informing you of the law's activation on your behalf, that ought to defuse them, at least somewhat. Especially one as smart as Miss Granger." Dumbledore said with a small smile.
"Hermione? Oh damn, I forgot about telling her!" Harry rapidly paled as he realised his friend would not be happy about this at all.
"Miss Granger is indeed somewhat…strident…about making her opinion clear on any subject." Dumbledore conceded, "If you wish, I can provide a book on the subject for yours and her perusal?"
"That would be a big help sir." Harry said feelingly. Hermione was very prone to fall into logic, despite being in a magical world, so Harry knew that a sound and airtight argument would stop her from going off half-cocked to try and find a way out of it for him.
While he would greatly appreciate being able to get out of it, everything he had been told about the ancient laws made it clear to him that getting out of this was the next best thing to impossible, short of destroying the Sovereignty Magic that bound Magical Britain and who knows what doing thatcould do.
Dumbledore stood up, walked over to a blank stretch of wall, and said, "Cognitionem Vincit Omnis."
The wall sank into the ground, revealing a hidden bookcase. The headmaster examined the shelves for a moment before pulling three books from the assortment and stepping back, allowing the wall to slide shut again.
"This book contains a copy of every law passed by the Wizard's Council and Ministry of Magic." Dumbledore informed Harry as he passed the first volume over to him. It had a periwinkle blue cover with the title, 'The Laws and Ordinances of the Realm of Magical Britain'. It had no author's name.
"Ah, that is because it is a self-updating volume." Dumbledore told Harry when this was brought up, "It is linked to the master volume in the Chamber of the Wizengamot and adds or removes laws as is appropriate."
"Shame textbooks aren't like that." Harry said, "It would save the Weasley's a fortune every year."
"True." Dumbledore said with a smile, "Now, these next two books are for your personal perusal. This one has the history of Magical Lords in Britain and this one outlines the duties and responsibilities of a Head of House."
The second volume Harry was passed had a rich red cover, embossed with the legend, 'Lords and Ladies: the Definitive Edition' by Engelbert Highcastle, while the third was an eye-piercing shade of magenta entitled, 'Who Rules the Roost? The Duties of a Head of House' by Martina Steepchapel.
"I would take the time to read all of these before you introduce them to Miss Granger, otherwise you might have some trouble reading them." Dumbledore said gravely, his eyes twinkling in amusement.
Harry snorted in amusement as he nodded in agreement. Once Hermione got her hands on a book, trying to pry it away from her was an exercise in futility, similar to trying to get Gilderoy Lockhart to actually do something useful.
"Tell me Harry, do you know the other female members in your year well?" Dumbledore asked curiously once Harry had shrunk the books and pocketed them.
"Not really." Harry replied uncomfortably, "Aside from Hermione, I don't really speak to any of them unless we're working together in class, especially the ones from other Houses."
A common situation." Dumbledore said with a nod, "I would advise that next year, you attempt to socialise with them more, even those from other Houses."
"No offence sir, but there aren't exactly many social events to do that kind of thing at Hogwarts." Harry said, "Besides, the Slytherins wouldn't give me the time of day."
"Young Mr Malfoy seems to have jaded your perceptions towards the House of the Cunning." Dumbledore observed, "Several members of Slytherin are actually from the Neutral aligned section of the Wizengamot however, Miss Daphne Greengrass in your Year for example. They stayed out of the last War, refusing to side with either Voldemort or myself. I encourage you not to let your previous bad experiences with Mr Malfoy cloud your judgement."
"I'll try sir." Harry said reluctantly, but knew that Dumbledore had a point.
"As to socialisation, I would suggest that when you pair up for learning spells or potions, you choose to work with someone other than Mr Weasley or Miss Granger." Dumbledore continued, "Indeed, next year you will be a Third Year and thus able to go to Hogsmeade Village, which is an opportunity for you, provided your guardians sign the consent form."
Harry privately thought that getting the Dursley's to sign the form would be very, very difficult, but decided not to inform the Headmaster of the possible slight hiccup in the plan.
Speaking of which, Molly Weasley wrote to tell me of your daring escape from the Dursley's last year." Dumbledore said with a frown, "Would you mind telling me what the entirety of the circumstances were running up to the time you left the Dursley's care?"