A/N: I took some liberties with the timeline. In my story, Harry and his friends decided to research Tom Riddle after the completion of second year instead of waiting for Dumbledore to tell him about it in sixth year. I just feel that Harry and his friends would be a little more curious about Tom Riddle once the whole Chamber of Secrets thing happened and would try to figure out all they could on what caused him to turn bad. This is why they know all of Tom's information and are able to tell the other students now instead of not knowing anything about him.
I also realize that there is a lot of reiteration in this chapter but it had to be done to explain to everybody what was going on.
Please don't hesitate to leave me a review and let me know what you think!
Chapter 2 – Convincing
As Harry made his way to the Room of Requirement in a daze, Dobby searched for his friends Ron and Hermione whom he was asked to deliver a message. He finally found them in the Gryffindor common room trying to figure out where Harry had gone. Dobby kept himself invisible and tried to catch their attention.
"Psst" he whispered from next to their feet.
"Did you hear that Ron?" questioned Hermione while trying to find the source of the sound.
"I didn't hear anything except the canceled class party going on in here." Ron grumbled.
"Sir's Miss Grangy!" called Dobby a little louder but still quiet enough not to be heard by anybody else.
Hermione seemed to realize what was going on and looks around wildly "Dobby?" she asked quietly.
"Yes Miss Grangy, Dobby is here at your feet!" he called excitedly.
"Ron," called Hermione. "It's Dobby and he is keeping himself invisible for some reason. Maybe he knows what happened to Harry!"
She turned to where the sound of Dobby's voice is coming from and asked "Dobby, do you know where Harry is?"
"Yes Miss Grangy! Dobby has a message that the great Harry Potter sir asked Dobby to deliver!" Dobby looked around to make sure that no one else was listening before continuing on with the message. "Harry Potter sir asked Dobby to tell Harry Potter sir's friends to meet him in the Come and Go Room and to make sure that they are not being followed."
"Do you know why he wants us to meet him there Dobby?" asked Ron in confusion.
"No Sir's Mr. Wheezy," Dobby said in disappointment that he couldn't answer their questions. "Dobby was not informed but was only told that Harry Potter sir considers it very important that you come."
"Did he mean now or at some later time Dobby?" questioned Hermione.
"Harry Potter sir meant as soon as Harry Potter sir's friends could make their way there." Dobby nodded his head firmly even though Ron and Hermione still couldn't see him.
Ron and Hermione exchanged concerned glances and then turned to face the area that they believed Dobby to be in and said in unison, "We're on our way!"
Meanwhile, Harry had made his way to the tapestry of Barnabus the Barmy. He started pacing back and forth while trying to concentrate on a room that would have comfortable seating for all of the them and a physical representation of Hogwarts so that they could ask her questions without having to retrieve the Sorting Hat from the Head's office.
Eventually a door appeared and Harry entered into the room. It looked just like the Gryffindor common room only with fewer chairs. There was a female sitting in the fourth chair that Harry had never seen. She looked to be in her late thirties to early forties and modeled after what people generally referred to as an earth mother type. The female had very dark grey hair and medium grey eyes.
After thinking about it for a few seconds Harry asked, "Lady Hogwarts?"
"Yes Harry," responds the female sounding pleased. "It is I. When you asked the room for a physical representation for me it came up with this. It is actually very well done. Both my hair and eye colors match the stone of my walls."
"Oh, okay" mumbled Harry and flopped down into one of the chairs to think about what had happened while he waited for his friends to get here.
Hogwarts merely smiled at him gently but kept quiet. She knew that she had just asked a lot of Harry considering all that is already on his shoulders but she also knew that for her to keep going and flourish as a school she needed him as the Headmaster.
After a few minutes of quiet contemplation the door was flung open and Ron and Hermione rushed in looking frantic.
"Harry, are you okay?" asked Hermione while running her eyes over him as if to check for injuries.
"Mate, what's going on?" questioned Ron in panic.
"Did Umbridge hurt you?" asked Hermione with an angry glint in her eyes.
"Do you know why classes are cancelled?" said Ron with interest.
"She didn't expel you, did she?" wailed Hermione.
"Do you know why Dumbledore wasn't at the announcements at lunch?" Ron looks extremely confused.
Harry raised his hands in protest. "Guys, calm down. I can only answer one question at a time."
Hermione huffed but they both quieted down. They wanted to know what was going on and why Harry had told them that it was urgent for them to meet him here in the Room of Requirement.
"First of all," Harry said with a smile towards Hermione. "Hermione, I am not injured or hurt in anyway. And no, Umbridge did not expel me nor did anybody else hurt or expel me. As for Ron's questions… well that is what I called you up here for. You may want to sit down for this."
Hermione and Ron both look simultaneously relieved and worried at the same time. It was great news that Harry hadn't been hurt or expelled but him asking them to sit down means that there was even bigger news to impart.
Harry rubbed his hands together and took a deep breath. "Alright, I have an issue that needs dealt with immediately and I need your help to figure out what I should do. First though, I need to introduce you to someone." Here he gestured towards Hogwarts. Ron and Hermione noticed her for the first time and looked startled that they had missed her being in the room.
"Hermione, Ron, allow me to introduce the physical representation of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." Harry blurted out without thinking about how this introduction would be received.
"Excuse me?" questioned Hermione faintly while Ron burst out laughing.
"I know that it sounds like I am crazy guys, but hear me out." Harry said with slumped shoulders.
The two exchanged questioning glances and then nodded at Harry for him to explain as they will try and listen with open minds.
Harry sighed in relief and began his story. "It all started right after the D.A. meeting this morning. I was the last one to leave the room to make sure that things were cleaned up and the door would vanish so no one would be able to find our meeting room. On my way back to the Gryffindor common room I was tripped and grabbed by Umbitch and a few of her cronies, which did not include Malfoy. Umbitch spent a few minutes crowing about what she was going to do to me before she took me up to Dumbledore's office where we met Dumbledore, Fudge, McGonagall, Shacklebolt, Percy, and some other auror named Dawlish."
"Umbitch and Fudge confronted Dumbledore about me having an illegal organization going on in the school. Dumbledore made some subtle gestures that told me to lie about what was going on."
It was here that both Ron and Hermione looked startled at the Headmaster telling Harry to lie even to save himself from the minister and Umbridge.
Harry ignored their looks and kept going. "Umbitch brought in Marietta Edgecombe, whom it seems went to her after the meeting and confessed that she had been involved in it and gave all of the details. Hermione, you'll be glad to know that your curse worked. She had huge purple boils spelling out the word 'sneak' across her face."
Hermione looked immensely pleased with herself at her curse working along with extremely angry that it needed to be used because someone had told Umbridge about what was going on with the D.A.
Harry didn't seem to notice Hermione's reaction and kept explaining. "Fudge and Umbridge told us how they had made a deal with Willy Widdershins to get him to tell about our meeting in the Hog's Head. Fortunately they couldn't say anything about that because the ministry decree for illegal organizations came out a few days later. Marietta was unwilling to lift her face out of her hands to talk for fear of people seeing what was on her face. Umbridge was trying to convince her to tell Fudge what she had just told her when I felt a spell go by me. I wouldn't discover what it was until later but Marietta, under coaxing from Dumbledore, revealed that there had only been one meeting of the D.A. and that was the one that took place today."
Hermione looked like she was trying to figure out a puzzle while Ron was just looking on in worry over what Harry was revealing.
"After a bit of yelling, Umbridge finally gave up on getting Marietta to say that there had been more than one meeting and turned to confront Fudge. She told him how Marietta had told her how the room worked early this morning and Umbridge had found our meeting room and the list of names that was posted on the wall. She gave it to Fudge, wearing the most disgusting smile yet. Fudge noticed that we called ourselves 'Dumbledore's Army' and accused Professor Dumbledore of treason and trying to incite a mutiny against the ministry while trying to take over his job."
Both Ron and Hermione looked amused and disgusted at this. Fudge believed that everybody was after his job. Maybe because he knew that he was doing such a bad job of it!
"Dumbledore confessed to being in charge of the D.A. even when I tried to say something. Fudge was ecstatic and told him that he was no longer the Headmaster as he was under arrest. Dumbledore told him that was fine but he had to catch him first and he wasn't going to 'go quietly.'"
Ron and Hermione opened their mouths to start protesting but a look from Harry shut them up.
"Dumbledore cast some huge spell that knocked everybody but McGonagall and me out. He helped us up and told me that Kingsley had modified Marietta's memories so that she would only be able to recall today's meeting. That was the spell I felt flying by me earlier in the meeting. He told me to keep studying Occlumency and to do what I could to prepare the school, then grabbed Fawkes' tail-feathers and vanished. The others woke up and everybody took off down the stairs thinking that Dumbledore had gone that way to escape."
"A few minutes after they had left the office, McGonagall and Fudge were arguing back and forth, when the castle started rumbling. You guys felt that right?"
Hermione nodded her head in agreement. "It was very faint but I felt it Harry. I was wondering at the time what was going on but forgot to ask about it later on."
For the first time, Hogwarts spoke to Harry's friends. "That was me waking up."
Ron and Hermione looked skeptical but kept listening.
"Harry," said Hogwarts while nodding her head in his direction. "I believe that it is time for me to take over the explanation."
Harry nodded his head and sat back in his chair with relief. He knew that Hogwarts would be able to explain this part better than he could and it would sound more legitimate than if it came from him.
"First," began Hogwarts. "Is there anything I can do to convince you that I am who I say I am?"
Hermione looked both thoughtful and wary. "If you are really are the castle then I assume that you would know everything that goes on in it, correct?"
"Yes," stated Hogwarts calmly. "That is correct."
"Do you have some form of eyes and ears when you are not in this 'physical' form," Hermione asked in a more excited manner. "I mean do you use the portraits or the ghosts or something to that affect?"
"You are quite correct Miss Granger," Hogwarts said as she gave a proud smile in Hermione's direction. "However, there are limitations. I can only see if there is something with eyes nearby; be it a portrait, suit of armor, house-elf, etc. My entire 'body,' as in anything that is a part of the castle, can absorb sound to keep it but it can be extremely difficult to retrieve."
The three friends exchanged looks. Hogwarts, at seeing there confusion, tried to explain further.
"Hmm," she muttered with a frown before her face lit up in comprehension. "Aha! Let me give you an example. Do you remember your first year and how the three of you were trying to find out about Nicholas Flamel from the library?"
While Harry and Ron groaned in remembered pain, Hermione nodded her head vigorously.
"And you recall how frustrating and difficult it was to have to search the entire library with only one name to go on and no help from anyone?" she asked while looking at Harry and Ron's pained grimaces with amusement.
"Well," she began thoughtfully. "Imagine if the library had a printed book on every single conversation, shout whisper, anything at all that had made a sound in these halls. Now imagine that the library was in complete disarray and had no sense of organization whatsoever. A conversation between teachers from three hundred years ago was shelved next to you three's conversation from one time in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom in your second year and a book of Peeve's taunts towards the Marauders from your father's third year. And you still only had one name or topic to go on. You would have to go through every single book until you found what you are looking for."
Hogwarts couldn't help but laugh at the looks of horror on the faces on Harry and Ron. When she finally managed to stop laughing and looked towards Hermione she had to start all over again. Hermione had a determined but passionate look on her face as if she was about to demand to be taken to this 'library' so that she could begin to start sorting it into some form of order.
After a few minutes of laughter, she calmed herself down and spoke although a snort still slipped out every now and then. "Now you must understand that I 'look' through this 'library' at the speed of thought but it can still take some time to pull up a specific sound or conversation. And yes Hermione, I can still answer your original question being that I started to look for anything having to do with you three as soon as you started your questions of me. So go ahead and pick what you would like as your proof."
"Fourth year after the Yule Ball," said Hermione with a blush. "I know that I never told anybody about that and I was alone in the girl's bathroom after checking to make sure that no one was listening."
"Are you sure that you want me to talk about that specific one?" asked Hogwarts worriedly.
"Yes ma'am," she said quietly. "It's the only one that I can think of off the top of my head where I know that I never told anybody and no one heard me but the walls in that bathroom."
"Well," mused Hogwarts. "How about I whisper it in your ear so that the boys won't have to hear it but you will still have your proof that what I am saying is true?"
Hermione looked extremely relieved at that answer and eagerly nodded her head in agreement. Hogwarts got up and walked over to her chair. She leaned down and proceeded to whisper in her ear for a few minutes. Hermione got paler and paler before finally blushing beet red. Hogwarts went back to her chair and sat down again.
"She really is Hogwarts!" squeaked Hermione through her blushing.
Hogwarts turned to Ron who told her "If Hermione believes you then I do to." he said firmly.
"Very well than," Hogwarts said in an amused tone. "Allow me to explain where Harry left off."
She covered the same things she had told Harry; about how she had awoken, why she had awoken, the history behind the spell, the need for a new headmaster, and everything else. However, before she could get to who she had chosen for the new head, she was interrupted with questions from Hermione.
"So who will be the new Headmaster? What is going to happen to the school? Will the Ministry be able to fight the charter and take back control of the school?"
Harry winced but did not answer her questions. He waited for them to calm down before he told them "There is more to the story that you need to hear first. Please let Lady Hogwarts finish."
Hogwarts told them of her search through the staff files and why she did not choose one of them. Hermione looked like she was going to say something but a cough from Harry stopped her.
Hogwarts covered her search through the students' files and why she needed to pick someone currently at Hogwarts. She reiterated her requirements in a Head before telling them that she chose Harry as the new Head even though he has yet to agree as he wanted to talk it over with them before he made a decision.
The room got quiet as Hogwarts stopped talking and both Hermione and Ron are too shocked to say anything. Harry waited in dreaded anticipation for the blow up that was more than likely about to occur.
For Ron, the thought of Harry becoming the Headmaster caused two emotions to become immediately apparent. The first was elation, as with his best friend as the Head, he would be able to get away with anything in the school. However the second emotion, jealousy, quickly took over and overwhelmed him. He did learn his lesson from fourth year and the tri-wizard tournament however, and decided to think it over before he opens his mouth and ruins his friendship with his best friend again and maybe permanently this time. 'Would I really want to be Headmaster?' he asked himself.
'While it would be cool for the first few minutes,' he thought to himself after a few minutes of contemplation. 'I think that the actual work involved would get very boring after very little time. I would have enough trouble finishing my regular homework assignments let alone doing all that boring paperwork. That would be like homework times a hundred! No way in bloody hell! Besides, I can still probably be involved. Harry will be the one that has to deal with all the problems that will come. I can freely admit that I would have no idea as to how to handle that. Well it looks like I have made my decision. Support Harry as Headmaster! Ron nodded his firmly.
For Hermione, the thought of her best friend as the new Headmaster brought nothing but worry and elation. She knew that Harry had a lot on his mind already and the thought of adding the running of a school to that caused Hermione to panic. While she agreed with Hogwarts' reasoning, she didn't want Harry to be overwhelmed. Maybe she could convince Harry to accept some help for this problem?
And that was where the elation came into play. As long as he was willing to take advice from others and not try and do everything himself she fully believed that he would settle into the job nicely. He was great with people and had a very quick intellect that could spot problems that most people don't notice until it was too late. He was a very flexible person and was willing to do what needed to be done even if it made him unpopular for a short time. So, although Hermione could see some problems with this arrangement, she was prepared to convince Harry to accept the position under certain conditions. Now to see how Ron would react.
The two friends look at each other in question after they were done thinking, nodded at each other, and then turned to Harry. "We agree with Lady Hogwarts!" they both stated.
Harry was shocked at their agreement. He expected Ron to get jealous and storm out with Hermione protesting that he should leave the Headmaster job to an adult and that he is too young for that much responsibility.
"Wh… what," stuttered Harry. "I thought you would both be against this and help me convince Lady Hogwarts to pick someone else!"
"But Harry," started Hermione after getting a nod from Ron. "You would be a very good Headmaster! The majority of the students listen to you, you defend the students from bullies, you are willing to work with anybody as long as they respect everybody else, and for various others assorted reasons. I only have a few questions to ask Lady Hogwarts before you agree."
Harry is stunned and couldn't speak.
Hermione turned to Hogwarts and started on her questions. "Lady Hogwarts, will this Headmaster position be temporary or will Harry be able to keep it for as long as he wants?"
Hogwarts smiled as she responded to the question. "He will be able to keep the position until he dies if that is his wish."
Harry looked startled. Be Headmaster for the rest of his life? But he wanted to be an auror! Well maybe not so much now if he was going to work under people like Fudge and Umbridge but still!
"But I will be able to quit at some point if I want to right?" Harry asked nervously.
"Of course Harry," responded Hogwarts in shock. "This position is a job not a sentence for life! If, at some later point you want to quit and move on to another job, you just need to let me know who your replacement recommendation is and if I agree, take a little time to train him or her."
"Excellent," called Hermione. "Now for my next question. Does Harry need to run all of his decision through you first or will he be able to make them on his own?"
"That is a very good question Ms. Granger," said Hogwarts in approval. "I would prefer that Harry use me as a sounding board for all the major decisions but it is not a requirement merely a request so that I may be 'kept in the loop' as the saying goes."
"Finally," said Hermione with some trepidation. "Will Harry be allowed to have help from people, and if so, is it limited to a certain number?"
"Absolutely not," exclaimed Hogwarts. "I want Harry to have as much help as he needs to make informed decisions. Although I do ask that he makes sure that his advisors are not helping him for their own personal gain and they sincerely want to help the school and not just themselves."
"This is perfect Harry," exclaimed Hermione in relief. "I think you should create a council of adult advisors so that you have input from several different people instead of just a few. I also think that you may want to consider a council of students from all of the houses so that they may represent what the rest of the students will think about your decisions from their point of view."
Ron spoke up immediately. "Why do we need to include the purebloods and Slytherins? They will automatically be against anything Harry says!"
Harry had been tentatively nodding his head in agreement with what Hermione was saying. After Ron's comment he spoke up. "Ron, the Slytherins represent one quarter of the school. We cannot just exclude them! Besides, maybe this will help us to return Slytherin to the reputation that they should have had if not for that mistranslated text back in the days. It also might change a few of their minds about joining Voldemort when they graduate."
While Harry was convincing Ron that they needed to include the Snakes, Hermione was requesting parchment and quills from the room. They were going to have to write down everything that was being said so they could reference it later if needed.
When Harry was done, both of them turned to Hermione. Hermione started of the discussion. "I think we should have a maximum of eight people not including Harry. That will allow us to cover all of the different people here at Hogwarts without becoming overwhelming. Does that make sense?"
Harry and Ron nodded in agreement after a few minutes of thought.
"What I was thinking," said Harry. "Is that we make like the muggle student council, where there is a representative elected from each house. One for the fifth through seventh years and one for the first through fourth years. If it becomes a popularity contest I still have the right to reject them from the council for not doing their jobs and it will go on their records. That should keep all but the most determined people from trying to get elected for the wrong reasons."
Ron piped up. "Also, we should make it to where if a student is elected for the lower year rep it would only be for one year and they cannot be elected again until they qualify for the upper year rep spot. That will keep the same people from being elected several years in a row. The most they would be able to achieve is two years as a student."
"Excellent idea you three," Hogwarts beamed. "This will allow many ideas to be brought to our attention from the students and not the same ones over and over."
"Now for the adult council," Hermione said with a small frown. "This one is going to be hard. I think we should be careful about including anybody that already has a child currently attending Hogwarts. We might end up with too many conflicts."
"I agree," stated Harry with an apologetic look towards Ron. "I think we should try and get an adult from the major areas of the wizarding world. I was thinking a professor from Hogwarts, someone from the Ministry, and a parent of a former student."
"We also might want to look for someone from Diagon Alley or Hogsmeade so we can get a business person's opinion on the effect to the rest of the wizarding world." said Hermione as she chewed on her quill.
"St. Mungos might be a good choice," said Ron with a thoughtful look on his face. "I can see having a healer's point of view coming in handy later on."
"I recommend a goblin from Gringotts to help with the financial aspects," Hogwarts stated firmly. "They know everything there is to know about managing money and that will help when it comes to the budget and what we can or cannot afford."
"That is six so far," mumbled Hermione as she looked over her lists. "I can't really think of anybody else that would be helpful."
"Neither can I." Harry and Ron chorused together.
"We need to get started on the research Harry," called Hogwarts with a small frown. "There are a lot of things we need to look at before you start making any decisions about accepting the Headmaster position. You are going to need some help though."
Hermione tapped her quill to her lips in thought before she smiled. "How about we ask some of our friends to help us research? Once they know what is going on they will probably be thrilled to help and may even contribute some new ideas."
Harry lit up. "That's a great idea Hermione! But who should we invite? I mean we can't invite everyone."
"Maybe limit it to four from each house?" Hermione mumbled to herself. "That should be sufficient."
"Okay Harry," stated Hermione after she looked up from her mumbling. "I'm thinking four from each house. It would give us a good number for the research we are going to need to do but not be to overwhelming that we lose ideas in the process."
Harry shrugged his shoulders. "Sounds like a plan if we can convince them to come and help."
"I already know that Ron and I are included from Gryffindor so we just need two more people. I was thinking of Neville and Ginny. Everybody else seems too flighty, like Parvati and Lavender, or already against you, like Seamus."
Harry had a thoughtful look on his face before agreeing. "I also don't think that Dean would be too interested and it would conflict with his being friends with Seamus anyway so your choices are good 'Mione."
Ron spoke up, "I do not think Zacharias Smith should be included form the Hufflepuffs. He causes too much trouble for Harry in the D.A. Imagine what he would do with Harry as the Headmaster! I just don't think that he would be a good idea as an adviser."
"I agree with Ron 'Mione," said Harry. "I think for Hufflepuff we should have Susan Bones, Hannah Abbott, Ernie Macmillan, and Justin Flinch-Fletchly. They are all nice people and willing to work with others and not cause trouble."
"Excellent," said Hermione while scribbling down the names. "Now for the Ravenclaws. I was thinking of Padma Patil and Terry Boot."
"Those two would be a good idea." said Ron while nodding his head.
"I think the other two should be Luna Lovegood and Anthony Goldstein," commented Harry after some thought. "Luna would bring someone with press experience and Anthony seems like he is very smart which could be helpful."
"Works for me." Ron shrugged as Hermione nodded her head and wrote the two names down.
"I already know who I want to ask from Slytherin," Harry said hesitantly. "I think that Blaise Zabini, Daphne Greengrass, and Tracey Davis would be excellent additions. I have never heard of anybody complaining about them and I think that they would be willing to work with the others."
Both Ron and Hermione had to think about it for a minute as they had never really interacted with those particular Snakes before. After they couldn't come up with any reason not to, they nodded their heads in agreement.
"Now before I mention this fourth person," Harry said in a firm voice. "I want you to listen to my reasoning. I think the fourth student adviser from Slytherin should be Draco Malfoy."
Ron and Hermione opened their mouths to protest but Harry held up his hands and said "I told you to listen first."
After getting reluctant nods he continued on. "I know that both of you think I am nuts but let me tell you what I have observed since fifth year began. Malfoy has only been acting his previous role of bigot and bully. I can see it in his eyes. Maybe he saw what Voldemort was really like once he was reborn and no longer believes in him, I don't know, but for whatever reason, he has changed. He is merely going through the motions right now and doesn't really believe what he is saying."
Hermione couldn't help herself and opened her mouth to question "But Harry, how can you tell?"
Harry sent her a small smile. "It's in his eyes. They are filled with disgust and a little bit of shame when he calls you a Mudblood and Ron a blood-traitor. His insults have regressed back to first year instead of getting nastier like they should have after Voldemort was reborn and him being on the Dark side. And I don't know if you have noticed but he doesn't actively seek us out to insult us anymore. He only reacts if he runs in to us by accident. Trust me. Something has caused Malfoy to change his mind. And I think we should take advantage of that and encourage him to continue on this path. So what do you guys think?"
"I don't like it Mate," Ron said firmly. "However, you are usually the one that can read people better than I can so I'll agree to go along with it until he insults any of us or our families then I will take him out, okay?"
"I can agree to that," said Harry with a nod. "But you have to check and make sure he really means it and is not just saying it out of habit like we might say Ferret or something similar, alright?"
Ron thought about it and before he reluctantly nodded his head. It was now Hermione's turn.
"While I can agree with your reasoning Harry," stated Hermione. "I just want you to make sure that you are not going to try and save everybody at the cost of others. Make sure that you can trust him before you tell him everything that is going on. As long as you do that, I will agree that having Malfoy as an adviser would be advantageous."
"Perfect," crowed Harry. "Now we need to get the students here to the Room so we can start to discuss what needs to be done. Do either of you have an idea on how to do that?"
Hogwarts interrupted, "Harry, you might try writing a note and having one of the house-elves deliver it where no one can see like you did with Dobby. That way, the students do not make the others aware that something is going on before you are ready to tell people."
"I can write a generalized note that we can ask them to deliver," chimed in Hermione. "But Harry, you will need to add something to the Snakes' notes to get them here or they will not believe it."
Harry agreed and they sat down to come up with what the note should say. After a few minutes they had what they needed. The letter read like this:
Dear (insert name here),
I am asking you to come to the Room of Requirement as soon as possible so that I may utilize your skills in a new undertaking for the school. Please make sure that no one else is aware of where you are going as we want to keep this secret for now. There is nothing illegal or dangerous involved so please do not be worried.
Sincerely,
Harry Potter
Harry decided that since he cannot go and retrieve the Slytherins himself, he would add a little more to the note that will hopefully calm their fears of a trap or joke. He ends up with a note for the Slytherins' that looked like this:
Dear (insert name here),
I am asking you to come to the Room of Requirement as soon as possible so that I may utilize your skills in a new undertaking for the school. Please make sure that no one else is aware of where you are going as we want to keep this secret for now. There is nothing illegal or dangerous involved so please do not be worried.
I do want to assure you that this is neither a trap nor a joke at your expense. I am willing to take an oath when you get to the Room of Requirement to the effect of you not being injured or harmed during this meeting.
Please know that this is an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and will most likely, never come again. Please do not hesitate to take advantage of it while it is there. If you decide not to come, I believe that you will regret it for the rest of your life.
If you need directions to the Room, please ask the house-elf who delivered this note to you.
Sincerely,
Harry Potter
Harry turned to Hogwarts and asked her if she could please send up four house-elves, including Dobby, to deliver the notes to their recipients.
"Of course Harry." said Hogwarts and snaps her fingers.
Four house-elves appeared in the room. Hermione took three of them to the side to ask them to deliver their notes to the respective houses while Harry asked Dobby to stay with him.
"Dobby," asked Harry in a worried voice. "I was wondering if you could do me a favor. But before you agree, I want you to hear what the favor is first, okay?"
"Dobby would do anything for the great Harry Potter sir!" called Dobby in excitement.
"Thank you Dobby," said Harry with a small smile. "But hear me out first. I need you to deliver four notes to four Slytherin students, one of which is the child of your former master, Lucius Malfoy."
Harry had never seen a house-elf go pale but that was what he was witnessing now.
Harry hurried through the rest of his explanation. "I need them to be alone for you to deliver it and for you to wait around so that you may assure them that it is not a trap or a joke. I believe that Draco has turned over a new leaf and will not cause you any problems, but if he does, you remind yourself that you are a free house-elf now and can retaliate of you need to, okay?"
Dobby's nod looked a little shaky but he was determined to help Harry Potter in whatever he was involved in. "Dobby didn't see young Master Malfoy much Harry Potter sir. Dobby should not have much trouble."
"Thank you Dobby," said Harry in relief. "You don't know how much I appreciate this!"
Dobby seemed to perk up at this before he popped away to complete his mission. The other elves followed his example and all popped away to deliver their notes.
The trio decided to get the room ready for the incoming students while they wait. They started going through a mental list of what they would need and had Harry request it from the Room. This included a pensieve, parchment, quills, notebooks, pens, and a large conference table with chairs circling it so that everybody would be able to see everybody else.
The elves that were asked to make their deliveries to the Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw students had no trouble and received agreements immediately along with assurances that the students would be on their way as soon as they could do so without alerting anybody.
Dobby, on the other hand, was having a little more trouble. He had located the students that he had been tasked to find in the library but unfortunately, they were surrounded by several other Slytherin students. Dobby, while still keeping himself invisible, bounced on his heels as he tried to figure out what he should do. After thinking about it for a few moments, he cast a mild compulsion spell on all but the four students. The other students got up and murmured excuses before leaving the table and wandering off, leaving the four students Dobby needed to speak to, alone at the table.
Dobby hesitantly approached the table before steeling himself. This was for the great Harry Potter sir! Dobby would do anything for him even approach former bad master's son!
After checking to make sure that there was no one else around, he revealed himself to the students who looked startled at an elf approaching them in the library.
"Dobby," Draco exclaimed in shock. "Is that you? Father told me you had died!"
"Oh no," said Dobby in a quivery voice. "The great Harry Potter sir set Dobby free from former master Malfoy! Dobby works at Hogwarts now and is paid!"
"Free?" stuttered Draco.
"Paid?" asked Blaise Zabini in an amused tone.
"Yes mister Malfoy and mister Malfoy's friend. Dobby is free elf and is paid for his work!" Dobby announced with a little more excitement in his voice as he stood taller.
"So what are you doing here little elf?" asked Daphne Greengrass with some confusion.
"Dobby is on a mission from the great Harry Potter sir," said Dobby nervously as he remembered who he was talking to. "Harry Potter sir asked Dobby to deliver notes to mister Malfoy and his friends once he got them alone."
It was here that Dobby handed them each a note. "Dobby is here to assure mister Malfoy and his friends that Harry Potter sir did not do anything to the notes and that they are neither a trap nor a joke."
The four Slytherins took the notes with some trepidation, but when nothing seemed to happen, they opened them up to read. After a few minutes the Slytherins were done reading and turned to each other to get the other's reactions. Daphne and Tracey Davis were intrigued by what the Golden Boy of Gryffindor is up to. Blaise was mildly amused that Potter had the nerve to approach the Slytherins in the first place and Draco was just confused.
"Dobby," asked Draco. "Is this really legit or is Potter up to something?"
"Harry Potter sir does not lie!" Dobby sounded offended on Harry's behalf.
"Well," asked Blaise. "What do you guys think about this?"
"I must admit that my curiosity has been roused." said Daphne with murmurs of agreement from Tracey.
"Dobby," asked Draco. "Has Potter invited anybody else to his little shindig or is it just us?"
"Harry Potter sir has invited four students from each house," Dobby said excitedly before drooping a little. "But Dobby does not know who the other students are mister Malfoy."
The Slytherins thought about it for a few more minutes before they exchanged glances and turned to Dobby to give their agreements.
"Tell Potter we will be there in about twenty minutes." said Daphne.
"But first," interrupted Blaise before Dobby could pop away. "Where is this room?"
"Mister Malfoy and his friends must go the seventh floor and look for the tapestry of Barnabus the Barmy. Door to Room will be across from it." Dobby told them before he popped away in excitement to tell the great Harry Potter sir the news as the Slytherins started packing up their stuff while conversing quietly on what this might be about.
Meanwhile, back in the Room of Requirement, the other students had started to arrive. All of them tried to question the trio on what was going on but were merely told that they needed to wait for the rest of the students that are coming.
Finally, the Slytherins arrived to protest from the others. They quietly took a seat as they watched how Potter dealt with this opposition.
"Harry, why are they here?" called Ginny in disgust.
"They aren't staying are they?" asked Terry.
"Why in Merlin's name would you invite them in the first place?" questioned Justin.
Harry, after letting the others rant for a few minutes, held up his hands for silence which he received immediately. "They are here at my request. I will explain why in a few minutes but for now, know that they are under my protection until this meeting is over, understood?"
The other students were reluctant but eventually murmured their agreements.
The Slytherins were amazed at the control Potter had over the other students. What they didn't know was that those same students had been listening to Harry as a pseudo-professor for the last few months and so were used to obeying what he said while in this room.
Harry turned to Dobby and asked "Dobby, would you mind getting everybody some lunch while I explain what is going on please?"
"Anything for the great Harry Potter sir!" said Dobby before popping away to the kitchens.
Harry returned his gaze to the table and gathered himself for what he was about to say. "I guess for this to make sense, I need to start at the very beginning. I will be projecting my memories through the pensieve as I tell you what has happened so far in my life. I will try and keep this as brief as possible, but you need to know where I am coming from for this to make sense."
All of the students beside Ron and Hermione looked confused but agreeable. As long as he kept it brief and did not talk for hours they wouldn't mind hearing about the actual story from the one who had lived through it. They had heard some of the rumors through the years!
"As you all know," Harry began. "I supposedly vanquished Voldemort when I was just a little over a year old. I still feel that my mum had more to do with that than I did but I can't prove it. Dumbledore sent me to my mum's sister and her family so that he could set up blood wards based on my mum and my aunt. These would protect me from any of the stray death eaters and anyone that was out to find the Boy-Who-Lived and use me for their own gains."
There were some thoughtful nods of agreement from the students. They could understand that. Harry was huge and if someone had gotten control over him as a baby, they could have ruled the wizarding world.
"Unfortunately," Harry continued. "What Dumbledore didn't know was that my relatives, who were muggles, absolutely loathed anything that had to do with magic. That included me and it was reflected in my upbringing. I was treated as bad as a house-elf. I was made to cook from the age of five and I only received table scraps if I made enough food. I slept in the cupboard under the stairs until I received my Hogwarts letter. I was made to do all of the chores while my cousin Dudley was spoiled rotten. The only indication I had that I wasn't normal was the occasional bout of accidental magic that I performed."
Everybody looked extremely angry at this. Even the Slytherins knew that treating a child like this was wrong on all counts and for it to have been the Boy-Who-Lived just made it even worse.
"I finally received my Hogwarts letter a week before my eleventh birthday although I was not allowed to read it. The school kept sending letters but my Uncle kept them away from me. Finally, Hagrid showed up to find out why I hadn't read any of my letters. He told me about what had happened to my parents, because as far as I knew they had died in a car crash. Hagrid rescued me from the Dursleys and has been my friend ever since. He brought me my first birthday cake and my first present in the form of Hedwig."
Draco had an enlightened look on his face. No wonder Potter never let anybody insult Hagrid! If he had rescued Draco from a situation like that, Draco probably would have been friends with him too.
"Hagrid took me to Diagon Alley and introduced me to the wizarding world. This is where I met Malfoy for the first time." It was here that he turned to Draco and said. "Look Malfoy, when you and I met in Madame Malkins, you reminded me of my cousin Dudley. I thought you were a spoiled brat and got everything you ever wanted and didn't have to do any work to earn it. You insulted Hagrid and my parents unknowingly by saying that my mum should never have been allowed to attend Hogwarts. That's why I never took your hand in friendship."
Draco had a faint tinge of pink on his cheeks. He could look back and see how his introduction had caused Harry to turn on him from the beginning but he couldn't help it! He was just repeating what he had heard his father say!
"Finally, it was time for me to leave for Hogwarts. I met Ron on the train and we became friends instantly. Malfoy, I met you again, but once again, you left me with a bad impression. I got to Hogwarts and lined up to be sorted. I had heard from Hagrid that Voldemort was in Slytherin and Malfoy had said that he was going in to Slytherin, so I decided that I did not want to be in that house. The Sorting Hat told me that I could go into any house equally well and I told him 'not Slytherin'. After arguing with me for a few minutes, he eventually put me into Gryffindor."
There was shocked silence from all but Ron and Hermione. The Golden Boy of Gryffindor in Slytherin? Impossible, thought the other Snakes.
"Oh come on people," snorted Hermione. "This is Harry we are talking about here. He is the most brave, loyal, smart, and sneaky person most of us have ever met! Is it really any surprise that he could have gone in to any house?"
Harry blushed as most of the other students nodded their heads after thinking about it for a few seconds.
"Moving on," squeaked Harry through his red face. "Ron and I became friends with Hermione after we rescued her from the troll that was loose that Halloween. We eventually found out that the Philosopher's Stone was being stored and guarded here at Hogwarts. We thought Snape was the one trying to steal it because all of the evidence pointed to him."
It was here that Harry projected the memories of why they thought Snape was the one trying to steal the Stone. There were murmurs of agreement from the students. It certainly looked like Snape was guilty!
"We eventually learned that the person that was trying to steal it had managed to figure out how to get through the obstacles and had sent Dumbledore a note from the Minister of Magic asking him to go to the ministry that evening. We figured that we would have to get to the Stone first after McGonagall wouldn't believe us that someone was trying to steal it. We managed to make it through the obstacles but lost Ron to the giant chess set when he sacrificed himself so that Hermione and I could move on. Hermione was lost to Snape's obstacle because there was only enough potion for one person to move on and I decided that I would go."
Harry showed everybody the trio moving through the obstacles and the other students made exclamations of shock and awe.
"I made my way into the last room and found Professor Quirrell standing there. It turned out that he had met Voldemort in the forests of Albania and had been possessed. Voldemort was after the stone to try and bring himself back to life. I think it would be easier to just show you the confrontation."
Harry showed them how Quirrell had tried to steal the stone and Voldemort sticking out of the back of his head under his turban. After Harry blacked out from magical exhaustion, he stopped the pensieve and turned to the other students to get their reactions.
They were scared that Voldemort was in the school that entire time and no one knew. They also were extremely worried that he was apparently still somewhat alive although he seemed to have been some sort of spirit at that time. Draco is disgusted that Voldemort had to attach himself to the back of a servant's head and his apparent lack of concern for Quirrell's death even though he had carried him all year. Was this how he treated all of his followers? Why would his father follow someone like that?
"Exactly," said Harry in satisfaction. "Now we move on to my second year. Most of you know how that year went. I discovered I was a Parselmouth and everybody thought I was turning Dark. There are a few things that you don't know. Throughout the year, right before an attack, I would hear a voice in the walls talking about killing."
Harry showed his memories of the voice and the subsequent attack so the students would be able to hear what he heard, since it sounds like English to him. The students all paled when they heard the poisonous voice of the basilisk.
"Hermione finally figured out what it was but was petrified on her way back from the library. We eventually thought to look in her hand where she had ripped out a passage from a book on what she thought the creature was. It was a Basilisk, a giant snake that could kill with one look at its eyes. Fortunately, no one had looked directly into them."
Harry showed himself and Ron reasoning out how no one had died. He then showed them running to tell the professors but not being able to since Ginny had been taken.
"We knew that we were going to have to rescue Ginny ourselves since we were the only ones who knew where the Chamber of Secrets was. For the rest of this story, I am just going to show you the memory."
Harry started the memory with them going to confront Lockhart and give him the information they had. It progressed through them going down to the Chamber and the rock fall that had separated Ron and Harry from each other. Harry was shown entering the Chamber and the discovery of Ginny on the floor. It showed the students all the way up to when Riddle confessed to being Voldemort but Harry stopped it before it could continue on.
"I want everybody to pay particular attention to this part, especially you Malfoy." Harry said.
He then continued the memory through Voldemort/Riddle's confession of who he was and how he was a halfblood from a squib and muggle. Harry stops the memory so that the students can have their say.
There is instant silence at the news that Voldemort was a halfblood. Blaise couldn't help himself and burst into laughter. The fact that all of those "superior purebloods" are following a halfblood born of a squib and muggle was just hilarious to him.
Draco didn't know what to think. He knew how to recognize a false or tampered memory and this one clearly wasn't. Did his father know this and if so, why did he continue to preach about pureblood superiority if he was following a halfblood?
Harry continued the memory of him killing the basilisk and the stabbing of the diary with the fang to save Ginny. He also showed them escaping the Chamber and the confrontation in McGonagall's office. Ginny was given sympathetic looks from the other students. They couldn't imagine being under possession from a Dark Lord. It showed Harry and Dumbledore during the confrontation with Lucius and what had happened after with the freeing of Dobby.
"My father was the one who started all of this?" Draco asked with a pale face.
"Yes Malfoy," said Harry with a small frown. "Unfortunately it was what caused me to hate your father so much. It also tainted you by association in my mind, which I now regret, but I was twelve at the time."
"We are going to take a break now and let you digest what you have learned so far and ask any questions you might have." stated Harry.
A good majority of the students were still in shock over a twelve year old killing a thousand year old basilisk, let alone ask any logical questions!
Draco however, had a different idea. "Potter, do you know about Voldemort's life story?"
The trio exchanged glances before Harry turned back to Malfoy and said reluctantly, "We have been doing some research since we found out about Tom Riddle, yes."
"Tell us," demanded Draco. "We are hearing your side of the story and you represent the Light. Now I want to hear about the leader of the Dark."
Harry sent a glance at Ron and Hermione and they nodded their heads in agreement.
"Very well," Harry said. "But you're not going to like it. Voldemort was born to Merope Gaunt, the squib daughter of the last of the Gaunt Family. The Gaunt's were the last of Slytherin's line and could all speak Parseltongue. They had followed Slytherin's so-called pureblood rhetoric and continued to marry purebloods until they eventually ended marrying brothers and sisters which led to the entire line becoming squibs. Unfortunately, the Slytherin and Gaunt fortune had also been squandered away and so the Gaunt's were living in abject poverty in a small town called Little Hangleton. Now, Little Hangleton had a muggle squire, last name Riddle, who was the lord over the village. Riddle had a son named Thomas who was the epitome of what it meant to be a lord. He was rich, good-looking, smart, everything you would picture a lord's son to be."
"Merope fell in love with the Squire's son and decided that she would be able to convince him to fall in love with her. Of course, it didn't work. Merope was the product of too much inbreeding and looked like a female Crabbe or Goyle. She was about as intelligent as them to. After she was rejected by Thomas, she decided that she would brew a love potion and get him that way. It worked and Thomas ran off and married Merope. They stayed together for a year with Merope constantly feeding Thomas the love potion. She became pregnant and decided that she would take Thomas off the potion because he would obviously stay in love with her since she was carrying his baby."
"Thomas recovered his senses and ran, leaving Merope destitute. We couldn't find any information about what she did during these months as her father was dead and her brother Morfin, was serving a three year sentence in Azkaban for hexing Thomas Riddle. We do know that she showed up at a muggle orphanage and gave birth to him there. She lived just long enough to name him after his father Tom and her father Marvolo before she died with him in her arms."
"He was kept at the muggle orphanage and raised there. He was bullied for his 'freakishness' during the first few years of his life. We figure that he was having bouts of accidental magic and the other kids could tell that he was causing these incidents to happen being that children are usually more sensitive to magic. Tom got sick of it and decided to become a bully himself. He grew up under the motto 'Hurt them before they hurt you' and kept that motto for the next few years until he received his Hogwarts letter."
"Tom figured that here was a whole new world open to him. He was sorted into Slytherin where he found that he was the last descendant of the Founder. He adopted a very charming personality and began to gather a following of purebloods who believed in their superiority over muggleborns and halfbloods. These followers included your father Draco, and the parents of several of the other students currently at Hogwarts."
"He released the basilisk during his sixth year, hoping that it would help him purge the muggleborns and halfbloods from the school and continue Slytherin's great work, which it turned out, was completely untrue. Unfortunately, the first kill the basilisk made was Myrtle of Moaning Myrtle, the ghost in the girl's bathroom. Unlike in my second year, where no one was killed, the school was going to have to close. Riddle decided that he couldn't have that. He needed access to the library and the teachers to continue to learn more about magic. He decided to frame Rubeus Hagrid, who was raising an acromantula at the time."
"Hagrid was expelled in his third year and Riddle never brought the basilisk out again for fear that they would know that it wasn't Hagrid and start looking for a new culprit. After he graduated, he moved around Europe for a while, where, from what we can figure, he performed several Dark rituals that altered his appearance and changed his name to Lord Voldemort so that no one would be able to connect him to Tom Riddle, Slytherin Head Boy. After that he started the first war and the rest is history."
The students just sat there in silence. They had no idea as to what to say to that story. The girls felt a little sympathy for Merope but it was alleviated by the love potion. Draco, on the other hand, had a lot to say.
"Are you telling me that the so called Dark Lord grew up with muggles and the only reason he started this war was because they bullied him when he was a child?" Draco shouted in disbelief.
"Pretty much, yeah." Harry said with a shrug.
Draco shook his head in disbelief. He couldn't believe that all of this was over one man wanting to get some petty childish revenge on the muggles who had bullied him when he was young!
Harry sent Malfoy a concerned look but decided to move on to his third year. "I am going to skip over most of my third year. The only thing you guys need to know is what happened at the end so I am going to show the confrontation with Sirius Black in the Shrieking Shack."
Harry started the memory from when the trio had first gone to see Hagrid over Buckbeak's execution. The students saw how the trio managed to find out what really went on with Harry's parent's Secret Keeper and how Peter Pettigrew had been hiding all of these years.
They saw how Hermione had been taking all of her classes that year and how Harry and Hermione were encouraged by Dumbledore to rewind time and save Sirius and Buckbeak. Draco was kind of glad that the hippogriff had escaped as he hadn't wanted him executed, that was just his father.
The students were amazed and shocked that Black was innocent and that he had never received a trial in the first place. Susan made a vow to herself to mention this to her aunt so that she could look into it and get Harry's godfather freed.
"So, no Voldemort in my third year thankfully but that would change in my fourth year. I am only going to show you what happened during and after the Third Task. The rest of it you already know. Here we go. Brace yourselves."
Harry started the memory at him entering the maze in the Third Task. He showed how he had encouraged Cedric to take the cup since he was the real champion and how they had finally compromised on taking it together.
Both Ron and Hermione stand behind Harry with their hands on his shoulders to give comfort while Harry relived what had happened.
The other students saw Harry and Cedric arriving in the graveyard and Wormtail killing "the spare." The Hufflepuffs are quietly crying as they see how Cedric had died. They knew that Harry hadn't done it but it was still extremely sad to see it happen.
The memory continued on through Voldemort's re-birthing ceremony and Harry's subsequent fight to get away, including seeing the ghosts of Cedric and his parents. All of the females were crying at this point and even the males had a few tears leaking out of their eyes.
The memory moved on to Harry getting back to Hogwarts and his attempted kidnapping by the polyjuiced Crouch, Jr. They are startled to learn that they had been taught by a death eater that entire year. Only the Slytherins managed to keep their emotions from exploding when it was shown that both Dumbledore and Harry tried to tell Fudge about how Voldemort was back and he ignored them.
After the students calm down enough to hear, Hermione told them "We are going to take a few minutes for break. Please don't hesitate to request a restroom or for Dobby to bring you some refreshments if you need them."
The students could see her worried looks at the hunched over Harry. Hermione and Ron pulled him over to a corner and sat him down. They let him cry it out and tried to comfort him as much as possible. Even Draco couldn't help but be sympathetic. He had never had a classmate die in front of him while helpless to do anything. Potter was taking this much better than he would have.
It took about twenty minutes for Harry to gather himself again and return to the table. "I am sorry for breaking down like that in front of you guys."
There murmurs of "Quite alright Harry." and "No problem mate, would have done the same thing."
Harry sent them a grateful glance that they weren't making a bigger deal of it.
"So that brings me to this year and Umbitch." said Harry with a grim smile. There were a few snickers at Harry's nickname for their most hated defense professor.
"Most of you, except for the Snakes, know what has been going on this year." Harry turned to the Slytherins to explain.
"Hermione and Ron convinced me to start a defense club for the students and teach them what I know since Voldemort is back and Umbitch wasn't teaching us anything. We had a meeting every week here in the Room of Requirement and went over such spells as stupefy, the patronus charm, expelliarmus, and more. I received several detentions with Umbitch for not relenting on my story of Voldemort's rebirth. She made me write 'I will not tell lies' with a quill that used my own blood as ink."
The Slytherins paled at this as Harry showed the scar that is now permanent on the back of his hand. They had no idea that Umbridge had been using a Blood Quill! Those were entirely illegal unless used in Gringotts to sign contracts! How had she gotten a hold of one?
"The reason why I didn't invite the Slytherins is that I figured you either wouldn't want to come or would not be able to keep it quiet from the rest of your housemates. Sorry."
The Snakes murmured their acceptance of his apologies. They would probably have done the same thing if they were in Potter's place so there were no hard feelings.
"Now," said Harry in trepidation. "For what happened this morning and what caused me to ask you guys to come here today. I think it would be easier if I just showed you in the pensieve. It would be better than trying to recite what went on. I have already done that and it is a lot to talk about."
Harry put the memory of this morning's confrontation in Dumbledore's office in the pensieve and projected it for everybody to see. The students perked up eagerly. They knew that something had gone down for all of their classes to be cancelled but no one had any idea why.
As the memory progressed, the students become more and more shocked by what they are seeing. Fudge trying to arrest Dumbledore for treason? That was ridiculous! Even Draco knew that Dumbledore would never do something like that!
The students broke out into angry protests when they discovered that Fudge was planning on appointing Umbitch as the new Head of the school. Harry let them rant for a few minutes before holding up his hands for silence.
"I have someone to introduce you to before we move on. Lady, if you wouldn't mind?" he called to a dark corner of the room.
The students are startled to see a female move out of the shadows and come up to the table to sit down with them. "Guys, I would like to introduce you to the physical representation of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!"
A few of the students snickered, thinking Harry was making a joke. The others though, could see the serious look on his face.
"Good afternoon." murmured Hogwarts.
"She will be taking over the explanations for now as it is her story to tell." said Harry.
The students who had been snickering, quieted down when they realized that, no, this wasn't a joke and they had better shut up before they get themselves in trouble.
"I will begin with a little history lesson," stated Hogwarts. "This will give you some background information on the founders, what they did, and how history has been skewed all out of proportion."
Hogwarts told them of the founders and how they had created the school and why they were worried about the government back then. She explained about Slytherin and what he really felt about muggleborns and how he did not want pure "blood" he wanted pure of heart which had been mistranslated a hundred or so years after Slytherin's time.
The Snakes looked extremely startled at this information. If this was true, then Slytherin House's reputation was based on lies!
She told them of how the founder's decided to create the Founder's Charter and make the school sentient so that she would be able to be woken and activate it if there was ever the need. She mentioned that Fudge wanting to appoint a ministry employee as the new Head had awoken her and that was what the rumbling had been that they might have felt that morning.
A few of the students nodded in recognition. They had felt that faint rumble but didn't think much of it at the time.
She went on to tell them of how she had looked for information on why she had been awakened. She explained how she had discovered what was going on and how she was required to pick a new Head from the available pool of professors and students only and what the consequences would be if she didn't. She went over how she had searched through the professors files and why she had not chosen one of them nor why she didn't want Dumbledore to be reinstated as the Headmaster.
She once again reiterated her list of requirements for a new Head and why she had made them. However, before she could actually announce who she had chosen for the new Head, she was interrupted.
"You chose Harry, didn't you?" asked Luna with certainty in her voice.
Hogwarts sent her a pleased smile and said "Why yes Ms. Lovegood, I did!" Harry merely sheepishly nodded his head.
Everybody but Luna and the trio were shocked speechless but recover quickly. "WHAT!"
Hogwarts continued her explanation by going over the same reasons she had told Ron and Hermione about Harry and what he had done over the years. Once again, the students fell quiet.
Draco had a blank look on his face when he asked "So what does this have to do with us?"
Harry jumped in to explain how he will accept the position but he wants their help so he can make informed decisions. They will help him to research what changes need to be made and what their effect on the school would be. That is why the trio had decided on four students from each house and from all different backgrounds. Everybody will be able to contribute on how they think Hogwarts should be run.
The students sat back to think over the proposition when Harry noticed Malfoy gesturing for him to join him in the corner. He went over to hear what he had to say.
"Potter," said Draco with some confusion in his voice. "I want to know why you chose me to be part of this group. We both know that we hate each other!"
Harry smiled at this. "Malfoy let me tell you something I have noticed over the past few months." He told him the same thing that he had told Ron and Hermione about what he had noticed about Draco over the past few months. Draco is shocked. He hadn't thought anybody had noticed his change in behavior!
"I also know that if I am to have any of the remaining pureblooded Slytherins allow me to remain as Headmaster and follow what I want to do, I need to have someone they trust on my side already. You are one of the most prominent purebloods and I believe that you could convince them to allow me to make changes without alienating them completely. Plus, you would know better as to what they will accept or not when it comes to the changes we come up with. Does that make sense?"
Draco looked thoughtful and had to agree with Potter's reasoning. "But will you actually listen to what the other students and I, namely the snakes, have to say or will you completely disregard it?"
Harry looked offended. "Of course I will! But if you have an idea that is completely out there you will need to have logic and evidence to back it up and sell it to the rest of this little council, okay?"
Draco agreed and they head back to the conference table. There, the other students have obviously made up their minds. They all told him that they will be happy to help him and Harry thanked them in relief. Harry decided right then and there that he was going to do everything he could to help Hogwarts. It was his home and if accepting the Headmaster position helped him to protect it and make it better than he would do it! He turned to Hogwarts.
"Lady Hogwarts," questioned Harry. "Will we have time to come up with some ideas if I agree right now or will the professors and others know immediately of the change?"
"I can hold off anybody knowing for twenty-four hours but that is all." she stated firmly.
Harry looked to the rest of the students and asked "Do you guys mind being holed up in here for the next twenty-four hours researching and brain-storming?"
All of the students nodded their heads eagerly. They wanted to get started on trying to change Hogwarts for the better.
"Lady Hogwarts," stated Harry firmly. "I believe I will accept the position of Headmaster of Hogwarts."
"Excellent Harry!" called Hogwarts as both of them began to glow. The glow got brighter and brighter until it abruptly shut off.
"Whoa," called Harry in amazement. "I can feel the weight of the wards and everything that is going on in the school now!"
After a few minutes Harry shook his head and seemed to pull himself back to awareness. He turned back to the table and faced everybody sitting around it.
"Let's get this party started!" he called with a grin.
