CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE:
WHAT TO DO ABOUT …
WEDNESDAY, JULY 3, 1996 - Potter Manor.
The previous evening's conversations had been about the Weasley plot against Harry. The Longbottoms, of course, did not know about it but everyone else there did. The arrival of the special package from Ginny prompted the need to begin to think about options. The one option that everyone agreed would not be considered was doing nothing. Neville and Susan were stunned that anyone from the family that everyone knew were the closest friends Harry had would even consider such a vile and illegal act.
Everyone was in agreement that Molly Weasley had to pay. Using an illegal love potion on an Heir to a Noble and Ancient House was both a crime and a sure fire way to launch a feud. Bill, Remus and Minerva were adamant that of the adults for now only Molly should pay. House Weasley had been allied with the Potters for centuries and were almost as close to the Potter line as House Longbottom. The Weasley line was also almost as ancient, but had lost its status and a true Ancient and Noble House centuries ago.
Molly, however, was a Prewett. The Prewetts were a much newer Pureblood line and while not openly supporting the likes of Voldemort, were staunch believers in Pureblood Supremacy. It was Daphne who pointed out the irony. Most all Death Eater families were actually relatively new to the Pureblood lines, at least those who could honestly claim that title. The Blacks were one of the few Ancient and Noble Houses that had Death Eaters amongst its members. The Greengrass family, while able to trace their magic back to the founding of Hogwarts, were Purebloods only by the strictest interpretation of the Laws of Heritage as they had a Muggle or Muggle Born as ancestors as recently as five generations ago.
The Prewetts had been political and financial rivals of the Potters for generations. They had a seat on the Wizengamot by virtue of some underhanded dealings that allowed them to buy the seat from a House that had held it for six hundred years and had opposed any laws that might return them to their former status outside of the political aristocracy, as in any laws that promoted any rights that made Muggle Borns and Half Bloods equal to them. The Potters, Half Bloods by tradition as most wives and consorts were Muggle Borns, were the champions of those the Pureblood bigots despised and had been for centuries. What was more annoying to the Prewetts was that the Potters whether by accident or genetic quirk were charismatic and gifted politicians while the Prewetts and their supporters were not. It was as Remus reasoned a large reason why Dumbledore wanted the Potter line to end and probably why Molly was her chief co-conspirator. Eliminating Harry and raising his heir as a proper Pureblood (technically still half-blood) bigot would end the strongest opposition in the government to the Pureblood agenda.
Bill Weasley had begun his falling out with Dumbledore as Head Boy. He was convinced he had been picked because his mother was a reliable Pureblood unlike his father. He was expected to look the other way as Dumbledore discriminated against Muggle Borns in every way imaginable short of deny them admission altogether. He discovered early in his final year that not only was Dumbledore the Magical Guardian of all Muggle Borns at Hogwarts and many others as well, Dumbledore also sold his female wards off as Concubines regularly. The only Muggle Born witches who avoided such a fate were those who, like Hermione and Harry's mother, became Consorts before they could be sold. Bill's own brother Percy had purchased one of Dumbledore's charges Fifth Year - probably not long after a lucky night playing cards which was the prat's main vice - a girl named Penelope Clearwater. She was one of the few Muggle Borns who ever made Head Girl under Dumbledore's tenure as Headmaster and the only reason why she did was that she was then the bound Concubine of the Head Boy Percy Weasley, who Bill classified as more Prewett than Weasley.
Bill divided his family into two camps. The Weasley Camp were those who viewed and judged people by their deeds and character rather than their bloodlines. Firmly in this camp were his father and younger twin brothers Fred and George. The Prewett Camp were either open or closeted Pureblood bigots. In Bill's estimation this included his mother, Percy and Ron. Suddenly Ron's treatment of Hermione made sense. While arguably he didn't hate her as much as he hated Slytherins - a Weasley trait - Ron was only slightly less hostile and his association with Harry and Harry's friendship with Hermione were the only reasons he was civil with her at all, and even that was not often.
Charlie Weasley was the only one Bill could not place. Charlie had learned to appear to sit on the fence and Bill was convinced that his younger brother had taken his job with dragons in Romania to stay out of the political nonsense. Bill had always thought Ginny was a Weasley at heart, but now he was not sure. Then again, he was not sure just how much she knew about the plot against Harry.
In Bill's opinion, his mother's actions made the reputation of his family forfeit. Moreover, after years with the goblins, he knew that sometimes taking out those loyal underlings was often the best way to weaken and destroy an enemy. Bill and Fleur were safe from any immediate repercussions of any action. They were favored employees of Gringotts and thus Goblin Friends, meaning if things ever got to hairy in their wizarding world, the Goblin Nation would welcome them. They were also now living in Charenwell, which meant that Magical Britain could rot. Bill's only real concerns right were for his father and twin brothers and mainly the twins. The twins, however, fell into the category of Harry Friends, as in those who unlike Ron had never betrayed him. Charenwell offered both a new market for their joke shop and far less restrictive trade laws that would allow them to sell abroad without enriching the pockets of scores of Ministry bureaucrats, hence if things got dicey for them in Britain, they could relocate.
Bill really did not have an idea of how to deal with his Mum. He was convinced they had to be quick about it and it had to be public. The plot against House Potter had to be revealed in all of its gory details. Harry felt that there was too little to go on insofar as the murder plot was concerned, but also felt the potion alone would be more than enough if they could exploit it somehow. Leave it to the Slytherins to figure out and tell the others both how it could be done, when it should be done and just what kind of public scandal it would create for Molly Weasley and Dumbledore. The more Harry thought about the Greengrass sisters' plan, the more he liked it. The Old Man would have used guile, deception and stealth. Voldemort would simply have killed. Theirs was a middle ground far worse than the extremes. It's effects would be known by all, permanent and the victims would live long lives in ruin, but would live none the less.
When Harry awoke the next morning, the thought of the Weasley problem was still on his mind. A part of him, the part that stayed Ron's friend all these years for no other reason than that Ron was his first friend, hated what had happened in recent weeks. The part of him that had been abused, tormented and manipulated by those he was supposed to trust all his life, on the other hand, wanted some payback. Dumbledore was all about second chances, at least for those who made him look like the White Knight he was not. Dumbledore always preached to Harry about forgiveness, yet never really meant it unless it served his aims. Dumbledore's deceit and the Prewett-Weasley greed were about to come back to haunt them. The obvious victim would be Ginny. The real victims would be Molly, Dumbledore and his side of this civil war. It would not take them out, but it would get them out of Harry's way and life.
Harry woke up this morning with Hermione snuggled in his arms for the first time in almost a week. She had announced just after lunch the day before that her "icky time" was over and made it clear she had expected Harry to join her in celebrating as often as they could given their schedules, guests had Harry's responsibilities to the other women in his family. He certainly had missed this, he thought as he thoroughly enjoyed waking up Hermione and Mallory, who shared the bed in honor of her news. Then again, it was her turn anyway.
Luna and the Longbottoms joined Harry and his women for breakfast. It would be several days before the Third Floor was ready for House Longbottom so until then they all dined together. Neville and Susan would spend at least part of the day with the older Longbottoms going through the possessions that had been retrieved from their respective homes to decide what would be used to furnish and decorate their private apartments once the apartments were ready.
Minerva would be spending much of the day at Hogwarts clearing out her office and completing what little paperwork remained for her in the days before her retirement. She was scheduled to retire immediately after the reading of Sirius Black's Will, which was in a week. She was required to attend not because she was a beneficiary, but rather as the representative of Hogwarts. This was required as the primary beneficiary was still technically a student.
Dumbledore would be there as well, but only in his capacity as Head of the Wizengamot as the designation of a new Lord Black carried with it a seat and scores of votes in the Assembly. Because the Will affected one of the last Ancient and Noble Houses, the new Deputy Director of Magical Law enforcement, Kingsley Shacklebolt would also attend. Usually the Ministry was represented by the Minister of Magic, but the politics following the debacle for the Ministry a few weeks earlier - namely the unequivocal return of Voldemort - precluded that. The Director was also disqualified as Arthur Weasley was named in the Will.
Towards the end of breakfast, Minerva pulled some enveloped from her robes and started handing them out without a word. Harry, Hermione, Neville, Susan and Daphne each received one.
"Is th-this what I think it is?" Hermione asked.
"Picked them up at Hogwarts yesterday," Minerva said. "They are to be sent out in a few weeks but as the normal post-owls from Britain cannot find this place, I decided to deliver your O.W.L. results as soon as I could.
The five teens paled and Hermione's hands were visible shaking. "Oh no," she said not seeing the smirk on Minerva's face.
"I'm sure you did fine," Harry whispered.
"But there were so many questions that I was not happy with my answers…"
"Hermione," Harry said soothingly, "you say that after every exam and you always get top marks. Are you going to open it?"
"Afraid," she whispered.
Harry shrugged and opened his. He was no longer really worried for many reasons, not the least of which being his education and training would continue regardless of his marks. Still, he hoped he did okay. He began to read:
ORDINARY WIZARDING LEVEL EXAMINATION RESULTS
Student: Harry James Potter
School: Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Passing Grades / Raw Score / Mark / O.W.L.s
Outstanding / 9.0 or greater / O / 3
Exceeds Expectations / 7.5 - 8.9 / EE / 2
Acceptable / 6.0 - 7.4 / A / 1
Failing Grades / Raw Score / Mark
Poor / 4.5 - 5.9 / P
Dreadful / 3.0 - 4.4 / D
Troll / Less than 3.0 / T
Students who score a Poor are allowed to take intensive remedial studies and may test again at the end of the next term. Students with Dreadfuls in core courses (Herbology, Potions, Charms, Transfiguration, Defense) must take remedial studies until they pass. Students with Trolls are not allowed remediation.
Exams may have both a written and a practical exam, each scored separately. The two scores are added up and divided by two to create the overall raw score. Other marks that may appear are:
H: Honors Level - Highest score in exam group
WD: With Distinction - scores over 10.0
N: No examination offered
X: Did not take exam
I: Incomplete examination
Raw Score and Marks Denotes Theory/Practical/Overall
Course: Raw Scores - Marks - O.W.L.s
Ancient Runes: X
Arithmancy: X
Astronomy: 7.8/6.2/7.0 - EE/A/A - 1
Care of Magical Creatures: 9.4/9.0/9.2 - O/O/O - 3
Charms: 8.8/9.6/9.2 - EE/O/O / 3
DADA: 10.2/10.4/10.3 - O/O/O/H - 3
Divination: 7.0/4.6/5.3 - A/P/P - 0
Herbology: 8.5/8.7/8.6 - EE/EE/EE - 2
History of Magic: 4.0/N/4.0 - D/N/D - 0
Muggle Studies: X
Potions: 8.8/9.6/9.2 - EE/O/O - 3
Transfiguration: 9.2/9.2/9.2 - O/O/O - 3
7/9 O.W.L.s / 1 with Honors, 4 O's, 1 EE, 1 A Total: 18
Ranking: 24/41 Hogwarts.
291/535 Nationally
As Harry read he was actually pleased. He knew he failed history and divination and really did not care. The Outstanding in Defense was almost expected, but with Honors? That meant he was the best in the country! Outstandings in Charms and Transfiguration were surprises but the Outstanding in Potions was a shock. Everyone could see him beaming until he reached the bottom of the page. He ranked 24th in his class at Hogwarts. That was the bottom half! His face fell.
"Harry? What's the matter?" Hermione asked.
Harry handed his sheet to Minerva. "I bombed," he said sadly.
Minerva had already seen the results for Harry's entire class. She had not actually memorized them, but she had brought a summary of them back with her. She looked at Harry's complete marks for the first time.
"These are quite exceptional, Harry," she said. "Honors in Defense, that's amazing! It means you had the highest score in the entire country! Outstandings in Care, Charms, Potions and Transfiguration - to be honest I would not have foreseen the latter two at all. Well done!"
"But I'm in the bottom half of the class!" Harry protested.
"Ah! Yes, well…"
"I mean with five O's, shouldn't I be higher?"
"You failed an O.W.L." McGonagall said.
"So?"
"The ranking system ranks all students who do not fail above all of those who do regardless of marks. You fail one O.W.L. and you're ranked behind students who passed but barely passed all of their O.W.L.s."
"But that's not fair!" Hermione protested.
"Pureblood thing," Daphne said.
"What do you mean?"
"The system is designed to make marginally magical Purebloods look good," Daphne said. "A pureblood who takes the minimum six O.W.L.s and passes all of them barely is ranked ahead of anyone who fails any O.W.L., event the ones who took all twelve and got Outstandings on all but the one they failed. My Daddy told me that History of Magic was designed to favor the Purebloods as the Ministry sends Pureblood families course materials and cheat sheets as soon as their son or daughter is eight."
"So we're set up to fail?"
"In a manner of speaking, yes."
"Just how bad is it?" Harry asked.
"Four Slytherins beat you in ranking, Harry," Minerva said. "Daphne here was one, but she clobbered you fair and square. The other three are only ahead of you because they passed all their O.W.L.s. Ranking is based upon points earned. You earn three for each Outstanding, two for each Exceeds Expectations and one for each Acceptable. You get no bonuses for qualifying for N.E.W.T. level courses or for With Distinction or Honors level scores.
"Harry scored 18 points and qualified for N.E.W.T.s in six courses. He received honors in Defense meaning he was number one in the entire country in that subject. Actually, his score was the highest ever recorded. He should get credit for those accomplishments and rank above lesser mortals who did not achieve as much.
"Milicent Bulstrode, Draco Malfoy, and Pansy Parkinson all rank above him in class standing, but were nowhere near as competitive.
"Ms. Parkinson was the second best Slytherin with 16 points. She qualified for five N.E.W.T. level courses, but not in Potions as she had no Outstandings at all. Mr. Malfoy barely managed an Outstanding in Potions, his only one. He qualified N.E.W.T. level in four other courses. He had 13 points. Ms. Bulstrode had thirteen points and is only qualified to study for her History N.E.W.T.s."
"That's so unfair!" Hermione said. "Harry did way better."
"I agree," McGonagall said. "By points alone, Harry should rank 12th. If we give weight to his N.E.W.T. qualifications and his Honors, he should rank 7th in the class. Still, his behind the rest of you lot."
"Really?" Neville asked in surprise.
"Really," Minerva said. "You were a most pleasant surprise, Neville. Honors in Herbology, Outstandings in Runes, Care and Defense. Exceeds Expectations in Astronomy, Charms, History, Potions and much to my pleasant surprise Transfiguration. You even got an Outstanding on the Transfiguration Practical. You could sit for N.E.W.T.s at Hogwarts in everything except Potions. Eighth in the class! Good job!"
"Hold on," Harry said. "Didn't you take Divination?"
"The class," Neville said. "Not the exam."
"Why not?"
"It was only an elective and I didn't understand any of it. You're not required to sit for O.W.L.s in elective courses."
"Oh." Harry thought for a moment. "Skiving off Divination would not have helped me either as I still failed History of Magic," he added with a sigh.
Neville passed around his exam results.
ORDINARY WIZARDING LEVEL EXAMINATION RESULTS
Student: Neville Algecyrus Longbottom
School: Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Course: Raw Scores – Marks - O.W.L.s
Ancient Runes: 9.1/9.2/9.1 - O/O/O - 3
Arithmancy: X
Astronomy: 8.7/8.5/8.6 - EE/EE/EE - 2
Care of Magical Creatures: 9.2/9.0/9.1 - O/O/O - 3
Charms: 8.5/7.9/8.2 - EE/EE/EE - 2
DADA: 9.6/10.2/9.8 - O/O/O - 3
Divination: X
Herbology: 10.4/10.2/10.3 - O/O/O/H - 3
History of Magic: 7.6/N/7.6 - EE/N/EE - 2
Muggle Studies: X
Potions: 8.2/7.5/7.9 - EE/EE/EE - 2
Transfiguration: 8.0/9.2/8.6 - EE/O/EE - 2
9/9 O.W.L.s / 1 with Honors, 3 O, 5 EE / Total: 22
Rankings: 8/41 Hogarts.
63/535 Nationally.
"He can't take N.E.W.T. level Potions?" Frank asked. "But he had an Exceeds in Potions," Frank said. "Exceeds means N.E.W.T.s!"
"Professor Snape is the Potions Professor and only accepts Outstandings for N.E.W.T. level training," Minerva sighed.
"What a load of Dragon shit!"
"Frank!" Alice scolded.
"Alice, neither of us got O's in Potions. Without N.E.W.T. Potions we could not have become Aurors! And this Snape cretin! Only Outstandings? What's that about? No school requires Outstandings for N.E.W.T.s! Bet the bastard is related to Severus the Death Eater."
"Actually," Harry said, "it is Severus the Death Eater."
"He's allowed to teach children?" Alice shrieked. "Does Dumbledore know he's a Death Eater?"
Minerva nodded.
"Does he know how Severus got his Mark?"
"I don't," Minerva admitted.
"He killed five Muggle families after raping every girl under the age of sixteen! He's into children!"
"That explains things," Daphne said.
"How so," Minerva asked.
"If you lose your virginity in Slytherin, you are expected to service our Head of House at least until your sixteenth birthday."
"But that's…" Alice started.
"Evil?" Astoria said. "The greasy bastard was a Death Eater and has been promoting the cause of his Dark Lord. Not outside Slytherin of course. But inside? Guys are expected to take the Dark Mark one day. Ever since He came back. Us witches? We are expected to marry them and do their bidding. Gang raping us is considered training. Sissy and I avoided that. When we bonded with Harry, he was our first time and considering our alternatives, it was all a Slytherin girl could hope and pray for. We are not slaves nor whores with Harry. We know we never will be. When our time came to bond with him if it was then our choice we would have done so. Had the Consort Bond been available to us, we would have offered ourselves to him of our own free will."
"Being a witch in Slyterhin House is no better than being the worst sort of Concubine," Daphne added. "Most are little more than House Whores by the end of Third Year. If the witch is betrothed, she is expected to sleep with her betrothed and is usually left alone. Then again, her betrothed can whore her out, as Draco has with Pansy.
"When I learned I had been sold to Lord Black, I was terrified both for my self and for my sister. We thought that Draco Malfoy was to be the next Lord Black. When I learned Lord Black was actually Harry, I was relieved. I knew he would not be like that. And he is not. With Harry, my sister and I are treated as human beings. As a witch in Slytherin, we were viewed as little more than whores."
"I'm sorry," Minerva said. "If I had known. If one of you had come forward…"
"It's been like that for ages," Amber said. "It was like that when I was in school, although our Head of House was not involved. Good thing too. Slughorn was a walrus."
"Besides," Daphne added. "We learn our first day that's what's ultimately expected. First day back, the Prefects gathered all first year girls to watch the boys deflower an older one. We are warned that we can give it up willingly, or that was going to happen to us after our O.W.L.s. Pansy was the first in our year. Draco took her at the end of Second Year and then she put on a show and did it with Crabbe, Goyle and all the male prefects and Quidditch players. She started taking private lessons from Snape the next year 'til he tired of her."
"Snape should be fired," Susan said.
"You think Dumbledore is going to give up his pet Snake?" Daphne said. "Dumbledore knows what's going on, I'm sure of it. Besides, none of that matters anymore as Story and I are never going back." With that, Daphne defiantly opened her envelop and read her marks. "Wow!"
ORDINARY WIZARDING LEVEL EXAMINATION RESULTS
Student: Daphne Renee Greengrass
School: Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Course: Raw Scores – Marks - O.W.L.s
Ancient Runes: 10.0/10.2/10.1 - O/O/O/WD - 3
Arithmancy: 10.5/N/10.5 - O/N/O/H - 3
Astronomy: 9.8/9.8/9.8 - O/O/O - 3
Care of Magical Creatures: X
Charms: 10.2/10.0/10.1 - O/O/O/WD - 3
DADA: 8.2/8.6/8.4 - EE/EE/EE - 2
Divination: X
Herbology: 8.5/8.9/8.7 - EE/EE/EE - 2
History of Magic: 8.2/N/8.2 - EE/N/EE - 2
Muggle Studies: 7.2/N/7.2 - A/N/A - 1
Potions: 10.2/10.4/10.3 - O/O/O/WD - 3
Transfiguration: 9.8/9.6/9.7 - O/O/O - 3
10/10 O.W.L.s / 1 with Honors, 3 with Distinction, 2 O, 3 EE, 1 A / Total: 25
Rankings: 5/41 Hogwarts
42/525 Nationally.
"Honors in Arithmancy!" she began.
"Damn," Hermione grumped.
"With Distinctions in Runes, Charms and Potions! Outstandings in Astronomy and Transfiguration! Exceeds in Defense, Herbology and History! Acceptable in Muggle Studies. Oh well, I didn't think that course as all that good really. These are great."
"Highest in Slytherin in years," Minerva said. "She ranks fifth in the class."
"Good job, Sis," Astoria said. Everyone agreed and Daphne actually blushed from the praise.
"I'm tied with her," Susan said excitedly! "Wow! But really, though, she should be ahead of me."
"Why's that ?" Neville asked.
"She got one Honors and I got none and she has one more With Distinction than I do."
Susan then passed around her results.
ORDINARY WIZARDING LEVEL EXAMINATION RESULTS
Student: Susan Marie Bones
School: Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Course: Raw Scores – Marks - O.W.L.s
Ancient Runes: 9.0/9.8/9.4 - O/O/O - 3
Arithmancy: 8.6/N/8.6 - EE/N/EE - 2
Astronomy: 8.8/9.4/9.1 - EE/O/O - 3
Care of Magical Creatures: X
Charms: 10.1/10.3/10.2 - O/O/O/WD - 3
DADA: 9.2/9.2/9.2 - O/O/O - 3
Divination: X
Herbology: 8.2/8.6/8.4 - EE/EE/EE - 2
History of Magic: 7.0/N/7.O - A/N/A - 1
Muggle Studies: 9.4/N/9.4 - O/N/O - 3
Potions: 7.8/8.1/7.9 - EE/EE/EE - 2
Transfiguration: 9.8/10.3/10.1 - O/O/O/WD - 3
11/11 O.W.L.s / 2 with Distinction, 5 O, 3 EE, 1 A / Total: 25
Rankings: 5/41 Hogarts.
42/535 Nationally.
"Those are excellent marks," Minerva said, "you should be proud of them, Lady Longbottom."
It was the first time anyone had addressed her as that and it was just a little embarrassing, but Susan liked it.
"Thanks," she said softly.
"Highest in Hufflepuff, if you must know."
"Really?"
"Really."
Susan started to cry silently.
"What's wrong, Love," Neville asked.
"Auntie would have been so proud," she whimpered. "I wish she was still…" She began to cry as Neville pulled her into a hug.
"She would have been so proud," Neville said. "I am. Although your Herbology score," he added to lighten the mood.
"You were always better than me at that, Nev," she said more calm. "You got Honors! I would never have done as well as I did without your help. Thank you, Love."
"You're welcome. I am always proud of you by the way. Always have been. You're my wife and best friend and those are forever and I consider myself lucky to have you in my life."
"Oh Neville," Susan sighed before launching herself into a long and slow kiss. "You're SO getting shagged for that," she whispered when the kiss finally broke.
"Hermione," Harry asked, "are you going to look at your marks?"
Expressionless, Hermione opened the envelop and read her marks.
ORDINARY WIZARDING LEVEL EXAMINATION RESULTS
Student: Hermione Jane Granger
School: Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Course: Raw Scores – Marks - O.W.L.s
Ancient Runes: 9.8/10.4/10.2 - O/O/O/H - 3
Arithmancy: 10.1/N/10.1 - O/N/O/WD - 3
Astronomy: 9.8/10.0/9.9 - O/O/O - 3
Care of Magical Creatures: 9.6/9.8/9.7 - O/O/O - 3
Charms: 10.2/10.6/10.4 - O/O/O/H - 3
DADA: 9.4/9.6/9.5 - O/O/O - 3
Divination: X
Herbology: 10.2/10.0/10.1 - O/O/O/WD - 3
History of Magic: 10.2/N/10.2 - O/N/O/WD - 3
Muggle Studies : X
Potions: 9.9/10.3/10.1 - O/O/O/WD - 3
Transfiguration: 10.3/10.7/10.5 - O/O/O/H - 3
10/10 O.W.L.s / 3 O with Honors, 4 with Distinction, 3 O / Total: 30
Rankings: 1/41 Hogarts.
1/535 Nationally.
Without any sign of a reaction, she then quietly handed her marks over to Minerva. "I should have done better," she said.
Minerva read the marks herself. She already knew how Hermione had done but had not memorized the report.
"These are exceptional," Minerva said. "Honors in Runes, Charms and Transfiguration. You do realize that aside from you, only one other person in the history of O.W.L. Exams managed three Honors and that was Dumbledore. With Distinctions in Arthrimancy, Herbology, History and Potions. Outstandings in Astronomy, Care and Defense. I'm not sure how you could have done any better considering your marks are the highest in the country."
"I could have gotten more With Distinctions," Hermione replied.
"Considering they were not available in Astronomy or Care, the fact that you only missed one…"
"In Defense," Hermione said. "That damned Boggart again!"
"Minerva again told you about failing all your classes?" Harry asked.
"N-no," Hermione said. "This one was m-much worse." There was pain in her voice. "It was you Harry. You telling be you could never love me."
Harry pulled her into a hug. "Guess it's a good thing that it was only a boggart."
"Yeah."
"So what would you say if I took you back to our room and showed you just how wrong that boggart was?"
"Sounds like a plan," Hermione said.
Later that morning when Harry and Hermione were regrettably dressed again, Harry sat in his Study looking through this week's version of the Concubine Catalog. Hermione was sitting across from him going over some of her research notes.
"Hermione? We have a problem."
"Oh?"
"The Auction Catalog…" Harry began.
"Don't tell me I'm still in it!"
"You're not. Neither is Clarice for that matter. No that's not it."
"Then what's the problem?"
"There are a lot of new lots it seems, all of them first timers."
"How many?"
"Twenty-two all told."
"That bastard," Hermione scowled.
Harry nodded in agreement. "Ranging in age from 12 to 17. Most are either Muggle Borns or have no Magical Guardian, although there are a few who look like they may be in a similar situation as Daphne and Story were."
"This is just sick," Hermione said.
"And it's a problem," Harry agreed. "My plan was to buy all the first timers. Taking you and Clarice off the market, that would have been twelve total. That's all there were a week ago. Now assuming Luna asks to become Lady Black and we take Ginny, that gives me eight. I only have room for twelve according to your calculations. Even then, twenty women is going to be difficult to manage."
"All a question of scheduling, Dear," Hermione said with a smile. It was unspoken, but Harry knew who would be working on the schedules in time. "Thirty, though, that would be a bit much."
"I'd say twenty is pushing it, Hermione. But I don't want ten of these girls to suffer just because I can't handle them."
"There's always Neville," Hermione suggested.
"That's what I was thinking too."
"He'll need to buy twelve, I think."
"Why?"
"Numbers again. With Susan and Amber that'll make fourteen which is a powerful number, fifteen including him and that's another powerful number."
"That's two more than available and according to Remus, there should be no additions to the lots between now and the Auction. Deletions are possible. But even though the book should be closed for any additions, it's still possible."
"Have any thoughts Love?" Hermione asked.
"Yes. My thinking is this. I want balance between my Houses. Ideally that means one Consort, two Matrons, two Attendants and balance between those bought as opposed to acquired."
"Okay, I'll bite. What does that mean?"
"You and hopefully Luna chose to bind with me. I acquired three witches from inheritance and should I take Ginny, she'll be an acquisition and not a purchase. That's four Concubines by acquisition. I was thinking as to the rest, two witches each from each House at Hogwarts. I already have the Slytherins, so than means two more from Gryffindor, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw."
"You're still six short, Love."
"There are five girls from other schools who are first timers. Two each from St. Patrick's in Ireland and St. George's in London. One of the St. George's girls is your friend Sally Anne Perks. There's one from St. Andrew's in Scotland and there happens to be a quite fetching young lass who is used who also went there. That would give us two from each other school on the list and would give me four 'used' witches, two in each House."
"Balance?"
"Balance. Ideally House Potter and House Black will be almost identical. One Consort, two 'used' Concubines, two acquired, seven purchased, and those seven will be balanced as well. One from each Hogwarts house and one from each of the other schools. Of course, all this falls apart if ten witches get sent to hell because I cannot place them."
"So we talk to Neville, then."
"And Susan."
Hermione nodded in agreement.
"And assuming they come onboard, that brings up my second problem."
"And that is?"
"Space. Hermione this Manor is huge but can you really see thirty-five families living here comfortably?"
"I'm sure we have plenty of room."
"Now. Mallory's pregnant. You, Susan, Minerva, Amber, Dora and Daphne are all trying. There's nothing that says that Frank and Alice cannot and will not have another child. We know Story wants children eventually. Something tells me that most if not all the others will too in time. House Longbottom could well be here for years. That's thirty-four witches between Neville and me. If you figure children, well do the math. Can we fit well over a hundred people in this Manor comfortably?"
"Even if you subdivided the upper floors, Harry, you do know that the flats would be larger than my parent's place. I don't see a problem."
"I'll concede that point, Hermione. But I want better for my family than I had. I have no excuse since money is not an object."
"Expand the Manor?"
"In a manner of speaking," Harry said earning a groan from Hermione at the unintended pun. "Actually, I am thinking of building two more."
"Where?"
"Either side of the Pitch." Harry called the huge lawn surrounded by the elliptical drive at the front of the Manor 'The Pitch' as it happened to be the same size and shape as a Qudditch Pitch. "On the south side, nearest to Neville and Susan's Lake and Bonding Tree, I will build Longbottom House. This will be theirs while they remain in exile and will be large enough for Neville and his entire family with a ground floor of public apartments like we have here, although not as large. On the north side will be Black House, which will house my family. Ten of my girls will raise their children there, the other ten here. This floor will be for me and my Consorts and our children. Four of my women and their families will occupy the second floor and four the third."
"Any other grandiose plans," Hermione said trying to hide her concern about spending.
"I spoke with Darda earlier. Longbottom House could be built and ready by early September. Black House a little later. And that's with my other plans in play."
"Do tell," she said with a hint of sarcasm.
"There's a large lake to the northeast. I plan to build a hotel there for guests. I intend to at least allow family to visit their daughters and that's where they can stay. But, as I see the war will be hardest on Muggle Borns and their families, I intend to invite them to move here to Charenwell. I will build a city for them on the South Coast in the undeveloped regions. I will open the lands to farming and such aside from the wildlife reserve, of course. I figure we could well double the population of this country should the Muggle Borns and their families move here."
"How many and what will they do for a living?"
"At least double the current population," Harry said, "and the new city will be a manufacturing center as I see it."
"Of what?"
"We feed three times our population as it now stands. Double the acreage and we feed six times that. But we are a net importer of manufactured goods both magical and Muggle. I doubt we can really compete with the Muggles, but the magicals? With the right people, we could become a net exporter period. That means jobs and good incomes for all. Of course, it also means that if I am successful, Charenwell's population might actually be larger than that of Magical Britain in a few years time. That too plays into my plan."
"How so?"
"I want to raise an army, Hermione. An army to defend Charewell if need be, but one that can take back magical Britain when it falls to the Purebloods. As it stands, I can raise three thousand troops if need be. Double the population, and I can more than double that. Particularly if I include non-magicals. You realize that Voldemort nearly took it all with only about five hundred Death Eaters and supporters? Maybe even less? You think he could stand an invasion from more than ten times that number?"
"So you really are planning to go to war?"
"Eventually it will be necessary for all. I would rather lead a magical army against my magical homeland than to allow the Muggles to engage. You should know where that might lead."
Hermione nodded. "Genocide."
"In all probability."
"How long to raise this army?"
"Two years minimum, I figure and that assumes cooperation with Her Majesty's government."
"For what?"
"Arms, for one. I'm not going to teach Unfogivables. But there are no effective magical defenses to guns and bombs. And they are just as lethal for us as they are for Muggles."
"Is that the only reason? You do realize using a gun as a wizard is illegal in Britain?"
"For the citizens of that country. We, however, will be an invading army. Foreigners. As for why guns? In addition to being lethal, they have much longer range. Spells are ineffective beyond about twenty or thirty meters and hard to aim accurately beyond ten. Rifles, however, are lethal at well beyond four hundred meters and accurate out to four hundred meters with standard training. I would prefer to kill them at a range where they cannot harm us whenever possible."
"They'll say we're not fighting fair."
"And killing innocent men, women and children is?"
"Point taken."
"I hate to say it, but this is one war where we must win."
Hermione nodded in agreement. "And you think you can get them? And the training?"
"Don't know, Love. We'll make do if we cannot, but I'd rather go in with an overwhelming force. Need to talk to Sir Stephen about the possibilities and such."
"And how long do you think Magical Britain can hold out in the meantime while you are raising this army of yours?"
"If I do nothing, it will fall within a year or so. But, if I play the cards I hold, I can set both the Old Man and Voldie back a year or more by depriving them of their money. It will also hurt the Ministry, but not as much. That should give us time to prepare."
Remus arrived right before lunchtime and was pulled into a conversation with his old friends, the Longbottoms.
"So Moony, Lord Mayor is it?" Frank asked. "And just what is that?"
"Similar to the Minister for Magic," Remus said.
"And do they know?"
"Know what?"
"Do the people here know about your condition?"
"As in that I am a Werewolf?"
Frank and Alice nodded.
"They've known for years."
"And still you're Lord Mayor?"
"It's not an issue here," Remus said. "In Britain, I am considered a Dark Creature and my kind is regulated by the Department for Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. You get bitten there and you cease to be human in the eyes of the law. Here, my condition is considered a medical condition and it is regulated by our Board of Health and Welfare. There are twenty-five Weres in this country. We all have jobs. Many of us have families. We all get Wolvesbane Potion courtesy of the government at no cost and that policy predates my tenure as Lord Mayor by almost a decade. Each full moon, we gather at the Wereclub, members only, exclusive to Weres and spend the full moon there. It's actually rather fun sitting around howling at the moon all night." Remus chuckled.
"The only way we can get into trouble is to bite someone. There hasn't been a biting here in over a century."
"Then where to the Weres come from? Are they born?" Alice said. "We've been told that is the reasons Weres are not allowed to marry or have children because the children would be Werewolves too."
"Rubbish," Remus said. "There is no proof of that. In fact quite the opposite is true. There have been many Weres, men and women, who have had children here and not one child became a Were."
"Then where did they come from?"
"With the exception of myself, every Were in Charenwell was born here and went to Britain either for school or work. That's where they were bitten. One bitten, they returned here where they can live out normal lives."
"And you?"
"I've lived here since the summer following my First Year at Hogwarts. James's family took me in."
"But you've spent a lot of time in Britain."
"Yes. I went to school there and later I joined the fight against Voldemort. Aside from those activities, I've lived here. Charenwell is my home now. And now that I am joining a different fight against Voldemort, I doubt I'll be heading back across the water anytime soon."
Remus then began telling the Longbottoms about the real Albus Dumbledore. The shocking news left them speechless until sometime after lunch. Quietly, they were beginning to believe that Harry and this Charenwell might be the only real hope for their former home.
A/N: RELATIONSHIP SCORECARD:
If you didn't read the Intro, you missed that. This is so you can keep up with who's with who and how.
Key:
Names in Italics = OCGr – Gryffindor, Hu – Hufflepuff, Ra – Ravenclaw, Sl – Slytherin. (Number indicates last year completed. No number means they finished all seven years.)
Harry James Potter, age 15.
1. Hermione Jane (Granger) Potter, age 16 (Gr-5); CONSORT (POTTER).
2. Dora (Tonks) Black-Potter, age 21 (Hu); CONCUBINE (BLACK).
3. Minerva Grace (McGonagall) Potter-Black, age 68 (Gr); CONCUBINE (POTTER).
4. Mallory Michelle (Grant) Black Potter, age 39 (Hu); CONCUBINE (BLACK).
5. Daphne Renee (Greengrass) Black-Potter, age 16 (Sl-5); CONCUBINE (BLACK).
6. Astoria Lynn (Greengrass) Potter-Black, age 14 (Sl-3); CONCUBINE (POTTER).
Bill Weasley, age 25.
Fleur Patrice (Delacour) Weasley, age 19; CONSORT (BILL WEASLEY).
Neville Algicyrus Longbottom, age 15.
1. Susan Marie (Bones) Longbottom, age 16(Hu-5); CONSORT (NEVILLE).
2. Amber Selma (Harker) Longbottom, age 33(Sl-5); CONCUBINE (LONGBOTTOM).