Several days later Minerva's head was again in the fire.
"Hello Minerva" Remus greeted
"Good morning Remus, you are looking well!"
"Thankyou my dear. Pass that thought onto Poppy would you? I want to take Harry to the seaside and it would be much easier with her blessing than without!"
"Oh Remus. You two are so naughty! But yes, if you so desire that, I shall tell Poppy to come and see you. Is Harry there?"
"He's in the library, working on his school. He's been at it like a man possessed. He barely eats, doesn't take a break and is always up before me and in bed after me."
"Maybe if you told Poppy that, she'd insist he take a break. Naturally he can't go alone and I hear the seaside is very nice at this time of year..."
Remus burst out laughing. "Would you like to come through Minerva?"
"Thankyou Remus. I shall be over soon then."
Just five minutes later Minerva and Poppy came through the floo.
"Good morning ladies" Remus said. "Would you care for tea?"
"Perhaps in a bit Remus. You say Harry is in the library?" Minerva asked.
"Yep, just go in. He's unlikely to hear you if you knock."
"Ok, thankyou Remus."
When Minerva had left, Remus turned to Poppy.
"Did Minerva send you?" he asked.
"Yes. She's worried about both of you. You're almost due for a check-up anyway, shall we head upstairs?"
Remus sighed. "As you wish."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Harry was surrounded by parchment and books. There were also several muggle notebooks around him and he was writing in one with a ballpoint pen.
"Harry?" Minerva said.
Harry did not appear to hear her. Minerva walked up to the boy and tapped him lightly on the shoulder. An instant later Harry's wand was pointed at her.
Harry's face went bright red when he realised who it was and he quickly stowed his wand. "Sorry Professor" he mumbled.
"No problem Harry" she said. "Although Poppy may be round to see you in a bit and I don't think she'd appreciate being at wandpoint."
Harry let his head hit the desk with a thunk. "Remus asked her to check on me, didn't he?" he asked.
"No he didn't. He told me what you were doing and it was obvious he was worried about you, so I asked her to come. To check on you both." There was an awkward pause. "However" Minerva continued "that was not the reason for my visit. I met with the Minister yesterday and he was, shall we say, less than accommodating of your idea. To him, not reopening Hogwarts was barely short of treason."
Harry snorted. "Why am I not surprised" he said.
"What do you mean?"
"Well the Ministry has never been on my side has it? Why would that change now?"
"Opening a school is ambitious Harry. Opening a school without Ministry backing is nigh on impossible!"
"For you maybe Professor." Harry grinned. "But even the Ministry needs to appease the public. I just defeated Voldemort. I can guess who the public would back if it came to it." There was no arrogance in his tone, he was stating a fact. "I don't like my fame, but I can't deny it's useful sometimes. Tell me," Harry's face became serious and his stare intense, "if you had to choose between working in my non Ministry approved school and Hogwarts, which would you pick?"
"Your school" Minerva answered without any hesitation.
"My point exactly. How many others would also say that? Their reasons may all be different but they would come. Wizarding Britain is so far behind; it really needs someone to kick it up the bum and take it forward. Wizards don't like change, but to get our society back we need to. I am probably the most influential wizard alive today. I have to do this."
"Lily and James would be so proud of what you have become Harry" Minerva said. "Do you have the funds you need to start out? I know several people that would willingly lend to you."
"Have you seen the Potter vault Professor?" Minerva shook her head. "Remind me to take you next time I go to Gringotts. Yes I have the funds."
"I see you're adamant about this Harry. That's good, but listen to other people's advice. You have seen a lot in your young life, but there are others who have not had to fight to stay alive all the time. They know more about the working world, listen to them. Especially to Remus. I look forward to seeing your plan progress and if I can be any help, you only have to owl or floo me."
"Thanks Professor" Harry said with a smile.
"Oh and Harry - it's Minerva" she said as she left. The eighteen year old sat surrounded by paper, parchment and books staring at the door.
