"Did you adopt him?" Justin asked.
"No we found his brothers." Harry shook his head, "They had both run away from home at the age of eleven. A set of twins and they didn't know about the younger brother. Evidentially he was the replacement. But the twins were in good shape. They had found their way to an orphanage and claimed to have been abandoned. Then they sent a letter via muggle post and were admitted to Hogwarts, one in Ravenclaw and one in Hufflepuff a year or two ahead of me."
"Did you get suspended?" he asked.
"No but I was sent for psychiatric evaluation." He grinned, "Spent 2 years talking to a mind healer when I wasn't working or repairing this place. We were able to work through a lot of my stuff. They never sent me on a suspected abuse case again though."
"The history books said you didn't marry but had three kids." He raised an eyebrow, "Where they all like Evan?"
"Yes." He agreed, "James was the first one. I thought it was rather fitting since my father's name was James and any kid I would have had would have been named James."
"Then came Al and Lily." He nodded.
"Lily was actually named Isabella but hated her name. Her abuser was her mother whom she was named after." Harry grinned happily, "She asked if she could use my mother's name."
"At what point did you move into the castle?" Justin asked.
"I had mostly finished by the time I started to adopt kids." Harry shrugged, "The charm in the Great Hall wasn't done yet amongst a few other things. When Lily joined James and Al at BAM I started spending more time here again. Once they were all on their own I sold my house and moved in here. I retired from the aurors at the same time."
"Were you finished before you moved in?" Justin asked.
"Yes I finished the charm in the hall last." He sighed, "It was a pain. Merlin, look at the time. Do you want to use my floo or stay overnight?"
"The floo if you don't mind." Justin stood, "I live with my parents at the moment and they're probably wondering where I've been all day."
"Most likely." Harry grinned, "Please keep this a secret until we're more prepared. You may tell your parents that you may have another teaching job and that you'll have more visits before you're sure."
"What's your floo address?" Justin asked before he left.
"Harry Potter, Scotland." He grinned, "Not too many magicals live up this way anymore."
Justin left and Harry sighed relaxing in his chair. He waited a few moments before he turned to the hat, "What do you think, sorting or not?"
"Very difficult." The hat told him, "Separating could bring back the old hatred which is the opposite way you want the school to go. But on the other hand it is tradition."
"What about changing the qualifications for the houses?" he asked.
"You already moved the dorms and classes from the dungeon." The Baron commented as he entered the room, "Will you change the names?"
"No the names are part of history." Harry waved him off, "I won't change the house symbols either. I just think we can say something other than bravery for the lions and ambition for the snakes. I still believe that song had a larger impact than you thought."
"I suppose." The hat agreed, "I could call them chivalry, scholarly, loyalty and determination."
"All houses could have them." Harry sat up straighter, "You could say all houses require people with those four traits in different quantities. Gryffindors more courage. Ravenclaws have scholars. Hufflepuffs have loyalty. Finally Slytherins have determination. But they all contain all four."
"That is a mouth full." The hat observed.
"More time for you to sing." Harry grinned.
"You know I've had a song ready for years and now you're making me change it." The hat huffed.
"Was your song about equality and getting along?" Harry asked.
"Something like that." It sniffed.
"Hogwarts is pleased." The Baron spoke again, "Both about reopening and the direction you are taking her in."
"Good." Harry nodded.
"What would you do if she hadn't agreed?" Severus asked.
"Stop." Harry shrugged, "I'd rather leave her closed than open her up against her wishes or go against her ideals. What did you think of Justin?"
"He seems competent." Severus offered.
"That is high praise coming from you." Harry scratched his chin, "Any objections?" None of the portraits made a sound, "Very well the motion carries and we'll enlist Justin to help us reopen." He stood and went to the floo and tossed in a handful of powder before getting on his knees, "Neville how are you?"
Justin stepped into the library from the floo and dusted off his robes. His book was still lying on the table so he picked it up and left the library to find his mother.
"Finally finish reading?" she asked not having been aware he had been gone most of the day.
"Not quite. I've been gone on a job interview." He plopped the book down, "I think I may have gotten it."
"Really?" she turned to him, "That was quick. Do you want dinner?"
"I have to meet with them a bit more but it looks very promising." He grinned, "I actually ate dinner with the man I was talking with."
"How far away will you be?" she asked well aware that BAM was the only decent school around.
"Within portkey distance." He grinned.
"Well that's reassuring. At least you won't be off planet." She huffed, "Where will you be?"
"I don't want to say until I'm surer of my position." He shrugged, "I don't want to press my luck."
"I will be told before you leave right?" she demanded.
"I'll be letting you know before I leave." He agreed.
"When did you leave today?" she wondered, "I never heard the floo go off."
"I got tired of reading and went for a walk." He grinned, "I ran across a man looking for a charms professor for his school and we talked for a few hours. I wanted to make sure I wasn't walking into a similar situation as BAM."
"Good thing you took that walk." She shook her head and left the room wondering where he had gone to find someone like that.
"We spent yesterday talking about me so today I want to hear about you." Harry insisted when the Justin arrived the next morning.
"Ok, I received my Mastery in charms about six years ago at the age of twenty two." He began, "I went to teach at BAM after that. I was on one year probation then I became the charms master for the school."
"Tell me about growing up." Harry smiled.
"Well my parents are Mark and Emily Brown, both are magicals." He shrugged, "I was sent to muggle primary because my great aunt said it would be a good idea."
"The seer Lavender Brown?" Harry asked.
"Yes, does that bother you?" he asked.
"Nope, I don't mind seers just the prophecies." He grinned, "Lavender found out long ago I didn't want to know what my future held. We were in the same year and house."
"Oh." He didn't know what to say so he just went on, "She said I needed to go to muggle primary so I went. It was unpleasant and I hated her for years for making me go."
"Do you still?" Harry asked.
"No." he grinned, "Once I was teaching it helped me relate to the mug… first generation magicals. I still hated the primary school though."
Harry chuckled for a moment, "How did the transition from muggle primary to magical secondary go?"
"Not bad." He grinned, "In fact I think I was better off than most, even if I didn't want to admit that at the time. I had the best of both worlds a magical knowledge from home and the experience of a structured school. I have even thanked Aunt Lavender for insisting that my parents send me there."
"What was your experience at BAM like as a student?" Harry continued
"I enjoyed the work, I liked learning." He stated firmly, "But the location leaves something to be desired. It is an old industrial area that was cleaned up and transformed but to me it always felt dead and depressing. Hogwarts feels more alive with just you in it than that school did being full of children. It didn't feel magical."
"Hogwarts is unique, I'm not sure I know enough to explain it. But she is sentient." Harry grinned, "I'm not sure even after a thousand years of students BAM will feel less dead because it wasn't made to be magical. It was made to serve a purpose."
The fire flared pulling their attention away from the conversation. A woman's face appeared, "Hello Daddy."
"Lily flower." Harry responded, "How are you dear?"
"I'm fine but I've got a question." She grinned at him mischievously.
"I've got company is it a private question?" he asked.
"Not particularily." She shrugged, "It's about Hogwarts."
"Well ask away then." He indicated for her to continue.
"James said that Al talked to Luna yesterday and she said you are going to reopen Hogwarts." She said all I one breath, "Is it true and do you need a teacher or ten?"
"Yes love it is true." Harry nodded and indicated Justin, "I was going to call you three today after I finish interviewing my prospective charms master. May I introduce you to Justin Brown."
"Aren't you the charms master at BAM?" She asked.
"Not any longer." He shook his head, "Headmaster Major told us before Christmas that next year first year purebloods will be turned away."
"What?" she yelled, "But that's preposterous?"
"Hence the reason we are reopening Hogwarts." Harry told her nonchalantly.
"Good." She nodded determinedly, "You will be counting Megan and Morgan as students and probably James' and Al's kids too."
"Most likely." He agreed, "We only want people who believe in equality. We are dropping blood status and using first and second generation to describe their exposure to the magical world. If you are muggleborn you are first generation everyone else is second."
"I like that." She grinned, "I have my mastery in potions."
"I know you were my next candidate." He acknowledged, "What do you think Justin? As my Deputy Headmaster I need your input."
"I believe Potion Mistress Baker would be a fine addition to our school." Justin grinned goofily; she was well known and extremely good.
"We won't be starting proper until September first." Harry smirked, "But you will be expected to help with the mandatory summer session for all new students probably in July."
"Just enough time to get my affairs in order." She agreed, "When is our first meeting?"
"Let me get a few more teachers first." He shrugged, "I'll let you know."
"Should I tell James and Al to expect a call?" she asked sweetly.
"I'm not sure how it would look to have the headmaster and three professors related." Harry said uncertainly.
"Didn't I tell you I'm adopted?" she teased, "I am not related to the two of them at all."
"I don't think it will be a problem." Justin offered, "Especially since we're just beginning. Hiring people you know to help you get off the ground is expected."
"Besides James is a terrible teacher." Lily offered, "I was thinking more of the school healer. That is if you can steal him from St. Mungo's."
"A pediatrician on staff might be a good idea." Harry nodded, "Yes please tell them to give me a call soon."
"Bye Daddy." She grinned largely.
"Bye love." Harry shook his head.
"What does Al do?" Justin asked.
"He has his mastery in Transfiguration." Harry offered.
"Healer, Potions, Charms and Transfiguration are good then." He nodded, "We need herbology, defense, history and astronomy to fill out the rest of the core. Then runes, arthmancy, alchemy, Apparition and Muggle Studies take care of the extras."
"We have a herbologist." Harry corrected, "You missed Care of Magical Creatures."
"Creatures are part of defense aren't they?" he looked up from his notes.
"I don't want people to just learn to defend themselves when they've made an error." Harry explained, "If you know how to properly greet a hippogriff then you don't need to necessarily defend against it."
"There's a proper way?" he asked.
"This is why you didn't know there are Centaurs still around." Harry pointed out, "I didn't agree with Dean when he took that out of the curriculum. I understand the professor got hurt but if he knew what he was doing he wouldn't have. Dean should have just hired a better professor."
"Who will you hire?" Justin asked.
"I have a few people I can contact to get ideas." Harry shrugged.
"Who did you get for Herbology?" Justin was poised to write the name on his notes.
"Neville said he would for a year or two." Harry told him.
"You don't mean Neville Longbottom do you?" Justin was wide eyed.
"Yes why?" Harry turned back to the man.
"How many outrageously talented people do you know?" He asked in shock.
"Neville is one day younger than me." Harry shrugged, "We shared a dorm with Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnegan."
"Finnegan from the Irish distillery?" he asked, "The one who makes the best whiskey in the world."
"Yes." He answered nonchalantly.
"I repeat myself how many outrageously talented people do you know?" Justin was in awe.
Before he could reply the fire flared again and two identical men entered the room.
"Harry old chap…" one began.
"How are you…" the second continued seamlessly.
"We've heard you're…"
"Reopening the school…"
"What do we get…"
"To teach?"
"There isn't any way I'm letting either one or the both of you loose in my school when it is full of children." Harry chuckled, "I am not as insane as Dumbledore liked to pretend he was."
"Barmy." Albus' portrait interrupted, "I was going for barmy."
"Which reminds me, Justin add hall monitors." Harry pointed at him.
"Well hello…"
"Who do we…"
"Have here?" the twins again spoke in that tennis like manner.
"Justin Brown." Harry introduced him, "A great nephew of Lavender's. Justin, meet the two oldest children alive, Fred and George Weasley."
"A pleasure." Justin stood and shook each of their hands, "Maybe you can answer my question."
"What question…" George asked.
"Is that?" Fred finished.
"How many outrageously talented people does he know?" Justin loved how they talked.
"If he knows you somehow you become outrageously talented." Fred summed it up, "You'll be next."
"He's already talented." Harry waved them off, "I managed to steal him away from BAM."
"I heard they lost their charms master." George nodded and took a seat.
"So what are you two really doing here?" Harry asked.
"Just came to start mischief." Fred answered.
"You do excel in that." Harry agreed, "I have a favor to ask."
"Which Weasley would you like us to speak to?" they asked together.
"Bill or Charlie I imagine." Harry frowned, "I'll need a good care of magical creature's professor. Not one that lets his arm be snapped off by an enraged hippogriff. I want one who knows how to treat them. That's why I'm looking on the continent."
"Any other qualifications?" they asked.
"They cannot care about blood status." Harry told them, "We're even changing the names. We're referring to muggleborns as first generation and everyone else as second generation."
"The two of you…" Fred began
"Have decided…" George was of course next.
"To change…" Fred was beginning to look gleeful.
"The status quo?" George mirrored him.
"Harrikins is causing chaos again." They yelled together.
"Are you sure these two morons can handle the assignment?" Severus snarled from his portrait.
"Of course we can." Fred turned to him.
"How is the old dungeon bat anyway?" George also turned.
"He's fine." Harry tried to hide his chuckle when the man stalked out of the picture, "Although he wasn't too happy when I moved the potions lab out of the dungeons. I've actually closed them off for safety of course."
"How did Hogwarts react?" George turned back to him.
"She let me add on two new towers." Harry grinned, "Wait until you see the outside."
"How is the pitch?" Fred asked.
"Perfect of course." Harry huffed, "Did you not think I would?"
"Of course you would." They agreed together, "We better go start questioning people."
"Hermione would probably teach for you." George added.
"I was thinking of librarian." Harry grinned, "Would you sound her out for me?"
"Sure." George grinned.
"If you don't want to tell them who you're hiring for you might get a better response." Harry hedged.
"That was mostly mum." George pulled Harry out of his chair and gave him a hug, "Ron was her baby as much as Ginny was."
"Before we leave." Fred turned solemn.
"Gin has asked to see you." George added.
"She's in St. Mungo's with…" Fred began but turned to George.
"I don't remember what they called it." George answered his look, "She's dying."
"I'll go by this evening." Harry agreed, "What room?"
"You're a good man Harry." They said before leaving.
Justin tried to not ask but he was just about to explode. He heard Harry chuckle, "Ask your question."
"I thought the Weasleys didn't like you for some reason." He blurted out.
"Most of them… some of them don't." Harry sighed, "The youngest of the boys, his name was Ron. He was the fifth boy in our dorm and my best friend. He stepped in front of a killing curse that was meant for me. His mum, sister and one of the brothers blamed me for his death. The rest, except the twins, avoided me to keep the peace. Hermione was my other best friend and Ron's girlfriend. He never even knew she was pregnant. She had a very difficult time seeing me, though she didn't blame me like the others. Fred and George have always been my strongest supporters. They never have wavered from that."
"I'm sorry I brought it up." Justin offered.
"It's ok." He shrugged, "Summer school, what will we do this year?"
"I think it's essential we get it all set." Justin let the change in topic go, "We need to get a syllabus written up for it and contact volunteers to educate us on their races. I thought goblins, centaurs and maybe merfolk. Merfolk will be difficult since we can't communicate directly with them."
"I know a spell that will interpret both ways." Harry offered.
"Excellent." Justin grinned.