SEE What?

by Lil Nezumi

Permanently "ON HOLD" - HPDM, SSRL, creatureHPDM, headmaster overthrown, badGrangy badWheezy, new changes to Hogwarts curriculum. WARNING: Story severely edited, chapters HAVE been changed, but will be loaded at a later date.

4. Chapters 9 to 17

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Chapter 9

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August 19

Draco was surprised to wake up to an empty bed, than again he was equally surprised the he had fallen asleep soon after releasing his seed in his mate's mouth. He hadn't lied to Dudley when he told him about the anticipation that he felt for the completion of the bond. Still he was a little disappointed that Harry was not in bed with him and that's when he heard him talking to someone in the other room.

He got up, went to the loo first to refresh himself and put on a silken bathrobe that he found on the chair near the door. He went into the living room and was astonished to see Harry dressed in the sleep bottoms he had worn the night before. His mate was not wearing a top and there was a snake around his neck. He was standing in front of a strange table.

"That tickles, Harry," Dudley's voice said, coming from the table.

"I imagine that it does, but I need to see my way in order to be able to continue," he said. "Morning Draco."

Startled that Harry knew he was there now, but didn't know about them last night when they entered the room, he returned the greeting. "Good morning... How come you didn't detect us last night and what are you doing now?" He asked curiously, making his way to see what his mate was up to.

"Hmm? Oh, last night I had placed a silence spell around the room. I needed a little bit of privacy when I unpacked some of my things. I guess that I forgot to take it down after I was done."

"Harry that still tickles," Dudley complained. "Drake there's some breakfast on the table, help yourself. Harry's spelling the excess right now."

"Sorry Duds, I'll numb the area first, but I have to see it with my hands. Just pretend that I'm a doctor that doesn't care what you look like. If I had my eyes, I wouldn't be doing it this way," Harry explained.

Draco looked at the procedure that was taking place in front of him. His eyes widened. He didn't know that the reducing that was taking place in front of his eyes at the Dursleys involved more than what he had seen when he first met Dudley.

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Dudley had been losing steadily since his birthday, which was approximately a month before Harry's. Draco only showed up near the beginning of August and had not really seen how big Dudley used to be. The spices that Harry had provided Dudley with, was actually a potion in powdered form.

The powdered form that Harry provided was vastly different from the liquid form of the potion. The powder mixed with additional spices changed the property of the potion to a less harmful outcome and thus it provided Dudley with an easy way getting rid of his excess fatty tissue.

The liquid form was deadly and was usually used in an offensive battle, due to the nature of the reactions it has when it comes into contact with the flesh of any creature. If it comes into contact with any flesh, the potion is instantly absorbed and then proceeded to expel the body's fatty tissue through the skin, like a sieve, and that's in the most painful manner. The rate at which the potion worked was extremely fast. Once the potion hits the flesh and once all the fatty tissue is expelled, the potion then attacks the body's water reserves, effectively mummifying whoever the potion hit.

Harry had studied it from the memories he had been given from the ghosts and found that it could be modified to be beneficial for those hoping to lose excess weight. However, he was very clear in his instructions to Dudley and had explained that it would only work if a strict dietary and physical program was followed. Otherwise the ingredients may have some unknown and adverse effects that Harry had predicted and provided to him.

Harry was also very clear that it was up to Dudley to see if he wanted to try this experimental procedure, but that if he did, he would have to inform Harry of any and every possible side effect that he may experience.

Dudley kept very accurate notes from the beginning to the end and one noticeable side effect was that his bowels were used to expel the excess fat, in solid and gaseous form. Unfortunately that had caused him some embarrassing moments, but Harry then provided him with a very fancy watch that had a special charm. It had allowed him and everyone around him clean breathing room when he pressed one of the watch's buttons. No one noticed anything after that.

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Draco was shocked at the volume of loose skin on Dudley's body and was fascinated at the way that Harry was 'fixing' it. Harry was massaging a potion into a certain area on the thigh, seeking the muscle beneath and then with a whispered spell, in some strange language, caused the skin to shrink back to the way it should have been in the first place.

Harry could only do a bit at a time, but he was already more than half done. He had done Dudley's front half and was now working on his back. Dudley wanted Harry to do the front first, even though he was embarrassed to expose himself to his cousin, but he knew that if he missed any section that was affected by his gluttony, he would never be happy.

His fat had accumulated in the worst places, but Harry's spice had reduced the total amount that he should have been carrying. Still having his entire front done embarrassed him, not to mention it was a somewhat intimate in procedure. Harry offered to put him to sleep for it and for that he was glad, but now that the front was done he was wide awake for the procedure taking place on his back. Worse Drake was now up to witness it.

"Dudley? Um…" Draco began, not sure how to ask about what he was looking at.

"Yeah, it's true," was his reply from the massage table. "Harry could you get my wallet from my room."

"Sure," he said and then with a hissing whisper, Dudley's wallet floated to him. Harry didn't stop his treatment when he used the spell.

Dudley pulled out a couple of photos of himself from the school year that just finished. He had some left over from the ones he normally handed out to his friends, but this time kept a few. It was those that he looked at every time he wanted to stop the diet or the exercise. Those photos were a constant reminder of what he no longer wanted.

Dudley sighed and handed the pictures to Draco in order to show him the truth. "Here, look at these. They are the most recent ones. I know that you weren't able to leave the room often, so you never actually saw the ones in my family's living room."

Draco took the pictures and looked at them. He blinked as he realized just how huge Dudley really used to be. He sat down on the couch and continued to flip through them, looking at them in wonder.

'How could anyone get so huge?' he thought.

Then he recalled some of the programs that they watched on computer through the web access and then Draco knew that the muggles had a problem that was not common in the Wizarding world. He remembered watching all those ads for weight-loss systems that appeared in pop-ups. There ranged from diets to exercise equipment that targeted specific areas. He remembered laughing and talking to Dudley about how silly muggles were for obsessing over their weight.

Magical folk were naturally fit in the sense that they didn't gain too much weight due to the magic that flowed in them and around them. There were some exceptions, like Molly Weasley, but Draco and a few others believed that to be caused from the number of children she had brought into the world and the way their magics may have interacted with hers in the womb. The others that he had seen, were explained away by his parents, as having been backfired spells. Now he wondered if they were actually wrong.

This is what he explained to Dudley, but to know that the Muggle that had helped him was affected by his weight in such a way, he feared at what he might have thoughtlessly laughed or said about the predicament of others. Draco was now feeling ashamed by it. "Oh, gods," he muttered, hiccupping slightly and taking a deep breath. "I'm so sorry for everything that I said that..."

"Hey, Drake," Dudley said loudly. "Snap out of it." Draco looked at Dudley's face, through slightly watery eyes, for the first time since he came into the room to find Harry treating Dudley. "I didn't give you those for you to feel bad. I know... and it's OK. Please don't worry about it. You were allowed to your own opinions and of course you didn't know."

"But, I made fun of those people and those ads," Draco said. "I made fun of the machines and diets and… of the people."

"Draco," Dudley began. "It's all right. I'm all right now. Those pictures in your hand are what allowed me to continue with Harry's experiment. It allowed me to decide for myself what it was that I was looking for in my future. A person needs something about them that makes them unique and my father was all talk about promotions and such from his company. He didn't know that I overheard some of his co-workers talk about how he'd never get another promotion until his image and health improved.

The company that my father works for is huge, but in order to be promoted the employee has to help the company maintain their image of hard workers. They don't necessarily promote just skinny people, but as long as their health was there it proved to the outside companies that everyone working at Grunnings cared about their own health. Obviously my father didn't and wouldn't hear of it. He kept putting it off as being big boned just like his sister, my Aunt Marge.

In the end I was disgusted with myself and I finally asked for help from Harry. I'm glad that he was able to do something to help, despite everything that I had put him through in our younger years."

Harry just listened to Dudley's explanation and was glad that his cousin had figured out for himself that he needed to lose the poundage. "Dudley," he said. "You've taken care of my mate when you didn't have to and you've helped me keep that flock of useless birds off my tail. I know that you were raised to behave a certain way. I just hope that you don't continue your bullying ways after we leave for school this year. I've already forgiven you for past actions."

"Thank you Harry."

Draco took a deep breath and expelled a shuddering sigh. He looked at the photos and then handed them back to Dudley. "It's a good thing to forge ahead and make your own plans for the future. Sometimes it's harder to do that in the magical world because magic can coerce you, if you're not prepared to resist. My father also molded me into what he wanted, but I was lucky because of Harry too. He helped me when I was about to give up. He gave me hope." He said all this beaming at his mate.

Harry sensed the action, turned around and returned the smile to his mate. "Why don't you have some breakfast Drake? I'm almost done. After this Dudley needs to go back into the tub for a re-soak in order for the skin to seal itself the way it is now."

"OK," came the reply. Draco went to the table and had a light breakfast while watching the procedure happen from where he was sitting. "Harry?"

"Hmm."

"How did you discover a way to help Duds?"

For the rest of the time it took to complete the treatment, Harry explained the potion and what it was originally used for. Also he explained how he came up with the idea to modify it and the procedures for the modification.

Draco was impressed. He loved potions, but Harry took it nearly to master level. It was as though something in him changed in regards to potions. The Slytherin knew that he wasn't really interested in potions like his godfather and the way Harry seemed to be now. He anticipated hearing some lively debating conversations between the two. He couldn't wait for his godfather to see the new Harry. He hoped that the two of them would get along now.

"There," Harry said. "Draco come here and tell me if I missed anything."

Draco stood up and walked over to the massage table. Dudley was still embarrassed, but knew that a human set of eyes was required for an honest opinion of the changes. He took a deep breath, stood up and turned around for Draco to see.

Draco's eyes widened, "Wow. That's amazing."

He looked from top to bottom, seeking any loose or marked skin. The only evidence that he had ever seen was from Dudley's reduced chins. That's all that he saw at the time when he first met him. The fat under chins was no longer there, but the skin had been loose and stretch marked from the excess. The spell that Harry used took all that way and now Dudley's skin was taught and well defined from the exercise that he had done.

Dudley blushed, but turned around completely for his friend to see. "Did I miss anything?" Harry asked.

"No, you didn't," Draco answered, in wonder. There were no marks or loose skin anywhere.

"All right then Duds," Harry said. "You have one last bath to take. You have to soak for one hour, you can let the time go overboard, but you can't go under that time. I can spell the bathwater to remain warm for you."

"Thanks," Dudley said. "I would appreciate that very much. Last night was murder when the water turned cold."

The boys just laughed and Dudley went to his room to prepare for the last bath in the ritual. He wasn't stupid. Everything that he just did had the earmarks of a ritual. Still he was very glad that it worked. He would have to remember to give Harry the left over spices and the journal he kept when the changes occurred.

"Harry," Dudley called, when the tub was filled. Harry entered the room after a bit, tapping his stick to guide him.

"Ready?"

"Yes, please spell the water," Dudley asked. "By the way did you claim you mate yet?"

Harry chuckled, "That is none of your business."

"In other words… No," he said laughingly. "Seriously Harry. You should do it while you still can. I promise to stay here and after my hour bath I think that I will go out for the afternoon and shop for some new clothes. I already have a bit, but I would like some others. That should give you enough time to take care of him. I know he wants this to happen before you guys return to that school of yours."

"Thank you Dudley," Harry said. "Don't worry. Draco has already told me what he wanted and frankly, for now, what he wants he gets. I'll spell our room for silence."

"Please do," Dudley chuckled, as Harry left the room.

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Harry walked back into the living room chuckling. "What's so funny?" Draco asked.

"Duds' request," he replied. "He wanted to make sure that I used silencing charms for when we finally finish bonding."

Draco blushed, but looked at his mate with anticipation. Still he knew that Harry wanted to hold off a little bit longer before his mate claimed him so he said, "Did you have breakfast yet?"

"No, but I'd love to have breakfast in bed with you," he said suggestively. Draco gulped and Harry continued, "Why don't you bring the fruit with you and resettle on the bed. I'll join you in a bit. I need to clean up some from the potion I've been using, it smells too much."

Harry made his way into their room and into their washroom to clean up, leaving Draco to make up his mind. It didn't take long. Draco took the fruit bowl with him and set it up by his side of the bed. He removed the silken robe and place back on the chair that he found it on.

He moved the covers back to the way they were early this morning when he and Harry first woke up and settled back onto the pillows. He didn't have to wait long, because Harry came out of the bathroom.

He was hissing to the snake around his neck. They seemed to be having a conversation, when Harry unwrapped her from her comfortable position. He settled her into an enclosed container from which she helped to create, so that she could easily come and go as she pleased. It was also for her safety and was dark, warm and comfortable enough for her to sleep in.

(...I'm just warning you that we may get vocal in our mating...) Harry hissed.

(...That's OK...) She replied. (...The brothers will be using us to impart their gifts to your mate once you have completed your mating dance. It is best to happen when your mate is passed out from the exertion...) She hissed her laughter.

(...Of course...) He replied with the same hissing chuckle that his familiar graced him with. He stood up and made his way to the bed. His magic sight showed him that Draco was nude and waiting for him. He smiled at his mate and then removed his sleepwear, to join his mate.

Draco's eyes were fixed at the masculine beauty that his mate exuded. His breath was speeding up and he was becoming aroused just by looking at his mate.

Harry could smell his mate becoming aroused and knew that soon they would be considered one entity, bonded forever together magically and by Wizard World law. He climbed into the bed and settled next to his mate.

Draco sat up and rearranged the pillows behind him so that he was facing his mate. He took the bowl and cupped it in his hands. He took a piece of fruit and brought it up close to Harry's mouth.

Harry sensed the action and smelled the fruit. He opened his mouth obligingly accepting the sweet melon. Draco become bolder and allowed his fingers to brush up against Harry lips, when after several pieces his fingers were suddenly sucked in and playfully nipped. His breath hitched and his heart started fluttering rapidly. Better yet he was getting so hard that his penis started leaking pre-cum from the tip.

Harry smiled with the digit between his teeth and then decided that he's had enough fruit, took the bowl away from the hands of his mate and placed it on the bedside table. Taking hold of the limb attached to the hand he was cleaning, he rubbed his hands up and down it the length of the arm with light sensual touches. He followed his hands, with his mouth, up Draco's arm with little sucking and marking kisses. He pulled his mate closer to him and then proceeded to seek out those luscious lips.

Draco emboldened by the actions that Harry had taken to put him at ease before and the fact that he was entranced by his mate, moved forward seeking to replace his fingers with his tongue. Something that Harry had no objections with. Harry continued petting and touching his mate, seeking out all of those little noises that Draco had produced for him earlier.

Harry moved from his mate's beautiful mouth when they were running out of air, but moved on to the cute little ears he had yet to explore. Nipping at them between his lips, he ran his tongue along the edges. Draco was running his hands all over his mate, seeking the heat that Harry produced and also seeking to please Harry.

Harry made his own noises due to his mate's explorations. Harry gently laid Draco down on his back and proceeded to mark him once more. He made sure that his memory was correct about all of the spots that drove Draco to murmurs were still the same or to verify if more had come into play.

Draco was at this time still very aroused and knew that with every kiss and nibble he would be driven over the edge quickly. That was the case when Harry began to nip and suckle his nipples just like this morning. Unrelenting attention to those hard little nubs caused Draco to release his seed once more, only this time it was all over his stomach and his mate.

This pleased Harry in more than one sense. What is not known to Draco was that Harry had to hold off, not in consideration to his mate, but to increase the strength of the bond. Ideally the minimum number of releases or orgasms that the dominant Draekon brought forth in their mate should be at least one before the mate claimed them.

Harry had read of one Draekon forcing his mate to orgasm seven times before fully claiming their mate. Although in that case the mate was a female and as females tended to have multiple orgasms, Harry wasn't going to push it with his mate. He hoped for at least three or four and his mate was proving to be very accommodating in this instance.

So the more that Harry made his mate release his seed and the longer Harry didn't, made the bond very strong and allowed for more partnered gifts. Gifts that Harry could give his mate, like some of the knowledge that the ghosts had shared with him. There were other gifts that Dauphin said she would give to his mate with the help of the Snake God Brothers. At least this time it would be without the fever that had produced in Harry.

Draco's body trembled from the release, but Harry didn't stop his attentions. He leaned down and proceeded to lick up all of his mate's seed. Ensuring that his was very clean and then proceeded to kiss, nip, suck and generally mark his mate's long legs.

Strangely enough, to Draco, all of this attention had him fully aroused once more. He didn't think that his knees were sensitive and he certainly didn't believe that toes were meant to be part of a seduction, but when Harry sucked and tongued each one thoroughly, he was hard pressed not release once more.

Harry sensed that his mate was close once more, started his way up to the inner thighs. He sucked, played and marked his way up. His nose sought out his mates' arousal and then once more his attentions were turned to that wonderful leaking length. He tongued the entire length several times, scooping the pre-cum that was flowing from the tip. Then he began to suckle the tip and sinking the head further into the heat of his mouth.

He began slowly at first with enough pressure on the base to make his mate hold off for a bit. He paced himself and chose to go slower then before, but his attentions were very thorough. His tongue learned each vein and tickled the ridge around to the head. Then he heard it, he mate was pleading for release.

How could he resist such provocative sound and his mate begged so sweetly. He took a deep breath and then proceeded to suck with for all his worth. He let the base go to allow for his mate's release and swallowed everything that his mate had to offer.

Draco was all sensations. His body was still shuddering from his third release this morning, but his skin was feeling very hot, like there was something missing. His senses expanded and diminished at the same time. He felt the magic that Harry used to guide some of his actions and those little balls were electrifying against his skin in the most pleasing way. Suddenly his was turned over so that his mate had access to his backside.

He knew that the time was near. He also knew that the first time had to be painful because he had read, in one of Harry's more informative books, that the blood of the first coupling was important to any magical bond. So Draco knew that from this first claiming he would have to bleed and that scared him a bit, but it also made him understand what it might be like for a woman's first time if her shield wasn't broken.

'Virginal sacrifice, indeed,' he thought ruefully.

Harry turned his mate over, but knew that there was one thing left to do before he was prepared to claim his mate. His hands reached up and removed the collar that had protected Draco from being seen. Once removed the spells on it were released and now it was nothing more then a bit of leather with one chain link and a useless charm at the end of it.

He tossed to the ground and then began to massage his mate's neck, gently rubbing the area that the collar had covered. He leaned in and nuzzled. Then he kissed the now empty space and moved gently to his mate's lower back.

He sucked at each vertebrae bump and used his hands to knead and rub up and down that soft expanse of solid flesh. His path was clear and he longed to get to the end of it. He had anxiously anticipated it too. When he reached the lower back, he knew that it was only a matter of time.

Harry knew that he had to control the strength of his magic during this time or he would end up with a catamite or sex slave, which to him was in no way appealing, whatsoever. He had come to love Draco through the correspondence that they had. He absolutely loved Draco's mind, so there was no way in hell that he would take that away. So his magic was forcibly contained for their first time together. He thanked every star above that he was magically strong or else those bitches that used the Subliminus spell would have made him their sex slave.

He turned his thoughts away from that and turned his attentions back to his mate, more specifically to the beautiful round globes of Draco's behind. First one then the other received all the same attention that Harry had subjected the rest of Draco's body to. He nibbled, sucked and marked each one, slowly spreading and exposing the treasure within.

Draco for his part was just feeling everything. Everywhere his mate had marked him was hot and iching, but in a very good way. He felt the nips and suck on his butt cheeks and felt himself spreading his legs and allowed himself to open up for his mate.

Those hands, oh those hands were marvelous. Harry had rubbed and spread him even further and then he felt it. He felt himself opened by those hands and fingers. He felt completely exposed to the hot breath that his mate was expelling onto his hidden opening.

Harry just breathed in the scent of this new area and leaned in closer, spreading and expelling his heated breath onto it. His hands were rewarded by the twitching and relaxing of the muscles beneath them and so he leaned further in to take his first taste. His mouth had been watering for a time with anticipation of this and now with his tongue coated in saliva, he tongued the creased crevasse in one solid up motion.

Draco wondered what Harry would do now, but instead felt the textured muscle slicked with drool.

"Oooohhhh," he groaned out. "Morrre," he purred, shifting back into his mate's questing tongue. Harry continued to lick the ridges at a steady pace.

Up then down, a little twist here, a little twist there and the occasional stiff thrust into the sweet hole. Over and over, Harry performed his little tongue dance. He slicked the entrance as thoroughly as possible, thrust his tongue in and giving it little flicking motions prior to pulling out again.

Draco was next to insane at that and knew that he was close to losing it again. "Please Harrrrry," he throated a purring tone. "Please take me...hhmmmm... m...m...Make... mm.m...me... yourrrs... pp...p... p...ple..eease." He murmured over and over.

Harry knew that the time was right. The magics were building up within the barriers that he had set up in the room. He still licked and kissed around the opening when he gently pushed one finger in order to begin to spread his mate some. He knew that he couldn't spread him too much, but had calculated that a two-finger stretch might be enough for him to make his little mate bleed enough to satisfy the Draekon bonding magics without causing the blond too much pain.

One finger in and Draco pushed back seeking "Morrre...ohnnn...yesss...morrre," he beg.

Slipping in a second finger Harry was now actively sought the pleasure centre of his mate, in other words the magic button or the prostate. He curled his seeking fingers and scissored them at the same time he found it.

Oh boy! Did he ever?

One brush against it and Draco mewled and shook from the sensations he got. Another brush against it and Draco moved to his hands and knees. He pushed him-self onto those very talented fingers.

Harry was pleased with the way it was working and slowly extracted his fingers from the hungry little opening. His own penis was hard and dripping so much pre-cum that he was sure that it wouldn't take long for him to finish claiming his mate. He took himself in hand spread the pre-cum all over himself and slicking the head preparing to penetrate his mate. His slickened hand returned to finger the gaping entrance, slicking it and marking it with the sticky substance, transferring it into that waiting hole.

Harry spread his mate's cheeks and leaned in close rubbing his hard length against the hot entrance several times. One of his hands had a clear spread of the opening and the other guided the head into the dark heat. The opening was tight, but he told his mate to take a deep breath and then release it. As soon as the breath was released, Harry thrust in deep and hard into his mate, causing his mate to cry out in a mix of agony and pleasure. Harry had angled himself to nail the prostate which would cause pleasure in spite of the forced entry causing the pain.

His nails had expanded and were hooked into his mates' upper hips and bone, causing more blood to flow. The location indicated possessiveness yet the hold was not tight and didn't bruise this time. The nails were part of the marking process and each crescent will change to a protective rune that would prevent his mate from ever being taken by another in this fashion.

Harry pumped in an out steadily and didn't stop the pace until he found that his mate matched his pace, as the pain dissipated. He knew that they had succeeded in 'bleeding the virgin' because he could smell the blood mixing in the slickness of the flowing fluids in his mates entrance, not to be mistaken with the blood from were his nails pierced his mate.

He was close, but so was Draco.

Draco was pulled up into a sitting position and when he spread his legs even more he as able to assist in the pounding that he was receiving. It wouldn't take much more and so Harry wrapped one arm tight around his mates' chest, his bloody nails of his right hand, digging into the flesh above Draco left nipple and over his heart to created more protections for his mate. The other scratched gently at the inner thighs before heading towards the erect leaking member awaiting his pumping hand.

Harry wrapped his hand around his mates pulsating member and began to fist him in quick hard up and down motions, occasionally pressing his thumb across the slit a the tip. "Oh... Harrrrry...I'mm... I...I'mm... g...g...gonnna...cummm...fasssster... I'm...I... ah..I..I...aaah...AAAAHHHH." Draco shuddered and went very still for about two seconds before screaming out Harry's name one last time and releasing ropey seeds of connected pearls.

Harry knew that when Draco went very still in the two second period that was when he made his move. He had nuzzled and suckled his chosen marking site when he had pulled his mate into a sitting position. When Draco paused and stilled that was when his bit down hard forcing Draco to release his seed and caused his own to spill within his mate. He said the bonding words, "One together, now and forever." He heard his mate whisper his reply, "Now and forever, one together."

It was then that the magic dove into the boys and began initiated the knowledge exchange that Harry had experienced earlier in the summer. Draco only received a portion of the knowledge and most of it was random, a few exceptions were in the written, historical and cultural differences. That was what was imparted to him to assist his mate. The knowledge of the nuances for different accepted written languages versus culturally written documentation, which are rarer finds.

Harry spelled them cleaned, as his mate was now in a 'little death' and would not come out of it for a few minutes or perhaps he may even fall asleep. He slowly pulled out of his mate and gently laid him down on his back. He lay down next to his mate curling around him protectively. He moved his mates' member out of the way like he promised Dauphin, so she could access certain areas on his mate and then he fell into a slumber next to his bonded. He would just have to remember to check the claiming marks for any changes, although he had an idea on what some might be like and he knew where they would appear.

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Dauphin came out of her carrier and slithered drunkenly up onto the bed where the two bonded Draekons now slept. The left and right heads slithered up Draco and at the junction or groove of the thigh and pelvis where the large femoral arteries were. She bit down and released the venom that would protect Harry's mate. Just like what happened to Harry and the venom allowed Draco to have knowledge of several of the spoken languages, similar to Harry's gift from the Brothers.

Draco was given complete immunity like Harry, but less languages. The Brothers had another gift for the blond Draekon and it was Dauphin's middle head that would provide it. Once the other two bites were done, she slithered up to the belly and stationed herself above the small bellybutton. She struck in a swift move. She bit both left and right sides of the bellybutton, producing four small pinpoints that would be forever there. She pumped a special type of magical venom that could only have come from Gods.

This venom would allow Draco to carry children when the time was ideal. Draco and Harry would have to decide at the same time for children to be produced and the magical venom would do the rest. The Brothers decided on this gift, as Harry had passed many of their trials and had indeed taken poor little Dauphin as his familiar, when even the magical snake did not believe that he would.

Dauphin, done with her task returned to her container and returned to her well deserved rest. Glad that it was finally quiet in the room. Harry hadn't lied to her about the noise those two would be making. She had a feeling that this kind of activity would happen on a frequent basis, she was going to ask for her carrier to be silenced in order to prevent her sleep from being interrupted in the future.

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Chapter 10

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August 19 - Founder's Law Enacted

The creature that Harry had encountered in the abandoned Tibetan Temple was right. Antiok was right. The sense that he had felt coming from the Scottish Highlands regarding another of his kind was in fact quite right. Her name had been Athena and she had died there without ever releasing her final seed into the world.

These ancient creatures had an awareness of the other planes, which included where the souls of the unborn reside. The creatures were given a gift and that was the ability to communicate with their unborn just prior to releasing them into the world.

Antiok released his last one, knowing that that was its' wishes, despite coming into the world far smaller than his brethren. It wanted to become the familiar or companion of a long lived creature such as the Draekons were.

Athena on the other hand was already dying and could not release her seed safely. She spoke to her child and agreed to pass away by sinking into the world's connecting Lay Lines. She sank into the largest node, which was a crossroad of merging lines. Before fully passing on she agreed to release her seed into it.

Her seed then waited and rested there until four magically strong beings came along and created a magical centre for learning. These four were, of course, the four Founders of the school known at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

They had decided build a structure on the site where Athena had chosen, millennia ago, to sink into the earth. During the construction of the castle they had decided to employ many different magical beings, one species, of which has already passed from this plane of existence, never to be seen or heard from again.

However, this particular species was also known to have been adept at tapping the 'Lines', which they did, but which also allowed Athena's final seed to merge with the school's creation. All this resulted in the castle being rumored to be semi-sentient.

Rowena was fully aware of the full extent of the castle's consciousness and had told this to the other Founders. They conspired with the building and found that the entity now inhabiting the walls was actually something positive and very beneficial. They included her in all the decisions they made and made her the keeper of the Founders Law.

They had chosen the perfect location away from 'political eyes', but they all knew that in time some of their ideals would fall by the wayside. Indeed all the Founders had studied various civilizations that had risen and crumbled throughout time and history. They knew that the way they ran the school would change within a few centuries.

The Founders were an idealistic bunch, but with projections towards the future. They knew that some political entity or form of governmental body would try and perhaps succeed in taking over the running of the school. They plotted for a different future, with this in mind.

They began to run the school together. Each having a say and their ideas were brought before the others. The merits or benefits were discussed, debated, argued over and eventually the idea was either used, modified or discarded.

Four heads were better than one for making these types of decisions hence they developed the four houses with four Heads of House. However, one person would have to eventually take the lead for a final decision. So, on a rotational basis each Founder served a four year term as the Headmaster or Headmistress of the school.

In truth the Founders like the idea of four heads better than one, that the Heads of the Houses were all elevated to the status of Deputy Headmaster or Deputy Headmistress. They assisted with administration and the total running of the school. The true Headmaster or Headmistress was chosen by the school, herself, in order to promote the ideals of the Founders.

They were: (1) an area of safe learning for magical children, (2) a secure site of Sanctuary during times of conflict, (3) a place of growth and advancement in magical studies, (4) a preparatory place in order to turn out useful, productive members of the magical community, no matter the race, colour, or creed and that included species.

The rumored 'Historical Conflict' between Godric and Salazar was just that, a rumored conflict. They never fought any battle against one another and certainly not over a Muggle separationalist point of view. They did have their moments, but then so did all the Founders, as most friends do when they disagreed with one another from time to time.

Overtime, some of Godric's and Salazar's more memorable disagreements had escalated to tales of epic battles and eventually an all out war. These tales occurred by word of mouth, long after the Founders had passed away.

After about 579 years of watching and guiding, the school informed the Headmaster and Deputies that she would be slumbering for a time. She was just a newborn entity and therefore needed time to replenish herself, like any other.

She was confident that the future would follow in the Founder's footsteps and dreams. Unfortunately, nearly one hundred years later a war broke out and the political climate changed. It had been steadily changing and affecting the school's policies. This occurred steadily since her final conversation. This was long after the last Deputy that had ever heard her speak, had passed away.

The Ministry of Magic grew to demand taxes and a say in the magical education of the children. The school Board of Governors was developed by concerned parents in order to prevent too much Ministerial influence. However, that too became corrupt over time.

The goblins knew that with the changing times, they were selected to watch and wait for the time when Hogwarts woke up again. They had a body of individuals whose main task was to seek and maintain a connection with the Guilds of all the main Fields of Magic in the world. They did, of course maintain connections with other guilds too, just in case.

They knew that a time was going to come that the school will wake up and she would wake up to a mess. So, they kept accurate track of all the professors currently employed at the school. They kept accurate records of all the courses that had been eliminated through time. Listing which Headmaster or Headmistress had eliminated which course, under what circumstances and under whose political influence.

The goblins also kept track of potential teachers, instructors, aids and apprentices or journeymen that could come on a moment's notice. This was in case there should be an educational revolution in the future.

Better yet the school has a way to notify them via the buildings' stones that the goblins' ancestors had helped set up when the school was being built. Through an ancient branch of goblin magic, some ancient structures could speak to one another in a language known as 'Stone Speak'.

They knew that should something happen to awaken the school they would need to have all possible paperwork in order. They followed all the current laws and the changes in laws related to magical schooling. They kept track and at times ensured that nothing would affect the Founders Law. They made sure that the Ministry of Magic forgot about it.

All of this was in order have everything ready to evict the current Headmaster out. None of the actions that the school took could ever be overridden by any governing political body once it was fully activated by the Hogwarts selecting a new Headmaster.

The school was created and still is a boarding school, hence a law unto itself. No outside interference was to have ever influenced what was taught within those walls. No outside beliefs were tolerated, so that there was to be no black and white view of the world. Once the students left, they left with a clear understanding of the outside world, politics and should be able to make informed choices. It was not like that today.

So now on this day, the day that the Draekons have formally bonded, the school woke up. The first thing she did was yell had Headmaster Dumbledore. She told him that she was enacting the Founders Law and that he had 72 hours to get out, before he was forced out. Her voice escalated in the air, like that of a howler.

After that she contacted all of the house-elves, ghosts, portraits and every other living magical entity to fall under her command until the new Headmaster arrived. They were to clean up what they could and prepare the Founders' tower for her choice and his mate.

Next she contacted the Gringott's bank and told them who the new Headmaster was and to get him to sign all contracts of that nature. She also requested that the new Headmaster accept the four year term on a condition that it could be renewed without question for an additional four years. The school needed time to re-adjust to perhaps new courses that the goblins would be presenting to the Headmaster. It also needed the time to allow the stagnation and corruption to be removed from the glorious halls of Hogwarts.

Albus Dumbledore never once suspected that the school was anything other then just a building from which he was safe, secure and in a position to mold young minds. He thought he had job security, boy was he ever wrong. He thought that he had everything under control, but was now realizing that everything was not going according to his carefully laid plans.

Indeed after that disastrous meeting on August 15, when every Order member could not find a place to sit. Nor could the people living there find any wardrobes left to store their clothing, which resulted in several shouting matches with him. The only way things could have happened was that a new owner had taken over. This was in spite of the all secrecy and other protective wards that he had added to the place.

He had to concede that no. 12 Grimmauld Place was no longer safe. He had now been planning to move the Order's meetings to Hogwarts, only to find that if he did not move out by August 22, he would be forcibly evicted and perhaps even be stripped of some of his magics.

All of this was almost too much for him to handle. However, he did have other places to go and therefore he left messages to the Order with directions of who is now in charge and of how to get a hold of him. He left behind a few other instructions, packed his belongings and then just walked out of the school.

He was determined to leave them to their own devices. Especially after the way his Potions Master had denied him. He had wanted Severus to brew that potion in order to get Harry under the Subliminus control once more, but that snarky bastard said no. He threatened the man with prison, but Severus just reminded him that he was released into the school's custody and not into Albus Dumbledore's custody.

Fawkes did not go with him. There was no way for the phoenix to do so. There was a general misconception about this particular phoenix. He was never owned by one Albus Dumbledore. He was not a familiar to any wizard and had chosen to companion the school rather then any human. He just hung out in the Headmaster's office by choice and now with that distasteful one gone, he was fully prepared to hang out wherever he wanted and with whomever.

He consulted with the school about who he should pester and when the school mentioned a name, he agreed. He was just going to wait for the professors to return before becoming a nuisance to the one the school wanted him to companion.

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Grimmauld Place - Flashback August 15

Severus and Remus had decided to show up early at Headquarters because they hoped to be able to deal with the portraits before any of the others showed up. Seems that their luck was still holding because Severus was able to successfully behead the foul house-elf and burn him with the Hellfire spell. He did it in front of Sirius' mother's portrait as a bonus to see her gape-mouthed expression as he did it.

"Well, that felt particularly pleasant," Severus said, with a small dark, mischievous grin. "Now what should we do next?"

"If we only knew when the rest would show up and if we had an army of house-elves..." Remus began. He paused and the grinned a Marauder grin at his dark companion.

"Well... the school's elves are available. They do tend to be slightly bored, especially the younger ones."

Remus full out smirked and then called, "Dobby!"

In popped one of the more colourful elves that they had ever seen, but they knew that this one would do anything for Harry, so they stretched the truth.

"Oh, the great Harry Potter's Wolfie and...," he turned to look at Snape and shivered slightly at the glowering looks. "Potions Master Professor Snape, sir. How Dobby be helping?"

"Severus, please stop scowling at him if you want to gain his help," Remus said. "Dobby, are there any elves at the school a little bored? Do you think that they might want to do a little job for us? We're in a bit of a hurry because we don't know when the others will be arriving back."

Severus did stop scowling and nodded at the house-elf, indicating his agreement. "Yes, Dobby know of 15 that be needing something to do," he replied.

"Perfect," Severus said. "Call them here, now and be quick."

"Severus?" Remus asked, wondering what was going on through that dark mind.

Before the Potions Master could answer there were several popping sounds. 17 house-elves waited anxiously for instructions. They all stopped to look at both professors and just waited silently, because they knew that Professor Snape could not tolerate chatter.

Severus spoke to them, "This house has recently been cleansed of the Dark Influence that it had been under. Now that some portraits are off the walls, I find the walls are in desperate need of a new coat of paint. As you can see, the portraits that have been removed left behind their marks." He indicated the scorch marks on the walls and also pointed out that some of the other frames needed to be removed in order to remove the surrounding dust stain.

Remus was catching on and continued giving the instructions, instinctively knowing that the ballroom was off limits, "That's right. This place needs a good dusting and good overhaul with a new coat of paint, the floors and carpets need cleaning, too. However, there is one room that you will not touch. Do not touch the ballroom, is that clear?"

Several heads nodded. "A moment," Severus began. "I know that there are occupied rooms here still and I feel that they should be coloured special for these guests."

Remus smirked and so did Dobby, knowing full well who resided here at the moment, "Something special for Harry's Wheezies and Grangie." Dobby said. The little hoped to pay the back for the nastiness that he had witnessed from a distance.

"Gred & Forge's rooms should be coloured in their own style. I don't think that those two...," Remus began.

Dobby nodded knowingly. He mind spoke with Winky, as she was the seventeenth elf here, and got her to direct the other elves to the tasks requested. Soon there was only one elf in front of the two professors.

"I be taking care of the Wheezies' and Grangie's rooms," Dobby said. "What colours?"

"I believe that a neon pink and yellow room for Miss Granger would be suitable," Severus said.

"Slytherin green and silver for Ron Weasley," said Remus. "That brat is just too full of prejudice."

Severus continued, "I believe that we will leave the rest up to your good tastes."

Remus agreed, but added, "A freckled room for Miss Weasley. She must have a matching set to the ones she already owns and I know that she hates." Dobby nodded and popped out of there.

The two professors were hard pressed not to laugh, but were able to maintain their countenance, barely. They could hardly wait for this evenings' debacle.

It didn't take the elves that long to finish because of the cleansing that the house had, they had been able to use the full force of their inherent magics. In the mean time both gentlemen decided to get a look at Severus' new books. Walking into the library that housed the books, both noticed the additional shelves and the added books.

"I didn't think that there was this many," Remus muttered. He reached out to look at one that he had never seen before, when his hand was grabbed.

Severus was just in time, he didn't want his protections to harm the werewolf. "The shelves are warded. They'll give you an electric shock, if you try to take one. I've set it fairly high and there are, of course, other tricks." He pulled the book that Remus was interested from the shelf and handed it to him. "I'm hoping that the new owners will allow them to remain here for the time being, but that will depend who's inherited this place."

"Thanks," he said. "I don't recall ever seeing this one before. Now that we're waiting, wherever shall we sit?" He chuckled, looking around the empty room.

"You're a wizard, conjure up a chair," was the reply he got. "Albus is not the only who knows how."

The two professors set up a comfortable reading area and had even conjured up a table between them. Winky came in to offer them tea and both men agreed to it, thanking her politely.

The elves worked like small tornadoes, completely overhauling the house in record time. With the exception of the rooms belonging to some of the Weasleys and Miss Granger, the rest was tastefully done in soft tones, creamy accents and that basically changed everything from dark and somber to bright and cheerful.

In due time the house was completed and all of the elves popped out, except for Dobby. He went up to the two men to petition them for a bonded position for Winky. She needed a home soon or she would soon pass away from depression. Winky did not know that Dobby would be doing this for her.

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It was a very happy Winky, a couple of hours later, that left merry old England and happily prepared her master's new house, getting it ready for him. Remus agreed to take her bond, figuring that she needed to be away from the darkness surrounding these times here. Since he didn't know what Lily's Field needed, he had her go there and take a look around. He needed an inventory of items that were there and what would be needed there.

Also, he sent her to Snakes End to find out what was required of that place. She was to also keep an eye out for elves that were freed and that preferred to work in peaceful, quite, library type of situation. They needed to know how to handle books, preserving, storing and maintaining them.

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It was much later in the afternoon, when the others had returned from their errands. They found the entire house empty of furniture and completely repainted. They also found the two professors quietly reading in the only chairs to be found in the house.

Going through the house everyone looked in nearly each room to try and locate the furniture that had once been there. Some finally noticed that some of the portraits were no longer on the walls. A quick check found that the portrait of Mrs. Black was indeed gone from the wall.

The only Weasleys that were happy with their rooms were Fred and George. They had been moved from the closet sized room with a bunk bed into the master suite.

The twins had had no choice at the time because everyone else in the household wanted to keep the peace between Ron and Harry. Ron would have complained too much if Harry had his own room, which would have been his right by his relation to Sirius Black.

Hermione was given her own because she was a girl and because she had so many books that she took over the place, besides Ginny wouldn't be around that much. When she eventually moved in she settled for her own room, which was about the same size as Hermione's.

Now the twins were in the room that had housed the missing Buckbeak and it was very clear that the hippogriff would not be returning. Why would he?

Dobby was the one that had set them up in that room, in order that the closet room they had used as a bedroom be returned to its closet status. That house-elf had outdone himself for the twins. He moved them and actually painted the entire room plaid. It was a brightly coloured plaid, but plaid in tones of dark green, bright daisy yellow, mid-blue and a very dark royal purple. They absolutely loved it.

Of course, everyone thought that they were crazy and argued with them to move out of that room, since it was the Master Suite and no one should be in there. The twins got around that by saying that since, in the beginning, they had been very understanding and they accommodated to the requests of others, in order to prevent fights from breaking out over something so trivial as room size, they should be allowed to remain where their belongings were now. Besides, since they were not the ones that moved their belongings in the first place, they felt that it would be an insult to whoever moved them by moving out.

Ron was insulted that his room was now coloured like the Slytherin common room. Ginny was insulted because she absolutely hated her freckles and by default anything that reminded her of them. Hermione was insulted by the colours now in her room, it was really too much. Some very intrepid house-elf had even added to many frills and lace.

She had also been shocked several times, when she tried to remove the books that she had been using in her studies. Professor Snape had pointed out that the other students of the school did not have access to these same references and therefore it was hardly fair for her to be studying from these ones.

"How dare you tell me, what references I can and can not study from?" She said shrilly. "Sirius allowed me to look at them and he even Willed these ones to me."

Snape glared at her and said, "Miss Granger, it does not suit the Gryffindor in you to lie. How dare you presume to have witnessed the magical Will of Sirius Black?"

"I didn't say that I witnessed the Will. Headmaster Dumbledore told me at the beginning of the summer that they were Willed to me." She said calmly. "Now, if you don't mind, I would like my books back."

Remus and Snape developed astonished looks and then looked at one another. It couldn't be helped there was too much going on for Severus to maintain his cool collected self. Especially, since Hermione's hair was standing straight up. They laughed, loudly and more to the point, in her face.

"How dare you laugh at me?" She fumed. "Remus, I thought you had some respect for Sirius' wishes and you Professor Snape, how dare you tell me that I lied." The two calmed down quickly at her tirade.

Severus then said, "Miss Granger, if you were not a witness to the magical Will of Sirius Black then you've inherited nothing, but a lie. These books were indeed bequeathed to someone, but that someone was not to you." He then took one from a shelf, without getting shocked and showed her the bookplate with his name on it.

She blanched and then asked, "How was Remus able to get one then?"

"I handed it to him," was the reply.

"Well then, how about you..."

"No," Snape interrupted. "You no longer have access to any of these books. I will not hand any over to you or your posse."

She stomped her foot and stalked out of the room, mumbling, "We'll just see about that."

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Albus Dumbledore had arrived on time for the meeting, but had stumbled into the argument between Ron and the twins, regarding the room situation.

"Now boys what is this all about?" He said in his normal grandfatherly tone. Once the situation was fully explained there was nothing that the Headmaster could do about it. "It seems to me that the magic in the house decided to move the twins. In order for the twins to move out, they would have to petition it." He said, eyes twinkling in their direction. Sure that they would do so because they were always prone to listen to him.

"Really..." George began.

"Magic did this..." Fred continued.

"Well, then since..."

"It is the house's decision..."

"We wouldn't want to..."

"Offend it by moving..."

"When it clearly..."

"Wants us to be there," they finished in their usual twin speak. No one was going to be able to change their minds about it. They were right, some buildings would be offended and since no one knew that it was Dobby's doing, they weren't going to argue about it.

"Well, now that that's settled, let's move on," the headmaster said. He paused looking around the room, wondering how it could have brightened so much, when he noticed that there was no furniture around. Shrugging his shoulders, he conjured himself a very comfortable chair. As he sat down in it, it vanished.

"Now boys really," the headmaster said looking at the twins, thinking that it was a practical joke. No one was laughing.

"Professor Dumbledore," Molly began. "We've tried that already. We have all conjured chairs and have been unable to sit in them. The only ones who can successfully conjure and sit in their conjured chairs are Severus and Remus."

"Really," he glanced at his two professors and they demonstrated. "Then why haven't you gentlemen...", he was cut off as he watched Bill Weasley sit in Remus' conjured chair and watched in astonishment, as the conjuration didn't last. Bill fell to the floor.

"We don't know why it works for us and not you, but again maybe the magic in the house had been released since, Mrs. Black is no longer around," Remus said.

"I agree," Severus said. "Now that that portrait is gone a few things have changed." He shrugged like he didn't care and leaned up against the far wall with his arms crossed. "Could we get on with this? I have a potion to brew."

"Yes, of course, of course," the Headmaster said. He began the meeting, decisions here and there being made. Missions handed etc.. etc..., but then came the time for him to find out about what the two professors found at the Dursleys.

Professor Dumbledore turned his twinkling eyes to the gentlemen that were conversing quietly and asked, "So, how did you find our young Harry?"

Professor Snape smirked darkly and said, "We didn't."

"He wasn't there at all, Albus," Remus said. "In fact I don't think that he has been there for quite some time."

The noise generated from that statement was deafening. After all Harry had been writing to the order, he should still be there. They did observe Harry's owl coming and going from the house. Harry had even been writing to the others, full letters etc... etc... etc... In the end they discovered that Harry had indeed been gone for quite some time and was currently at an unknown location.

Dumbledore rationalized that since Harry was still writing to the Order then he was in fact fine. After the argument with Severus, because he declined to brew the potion Dumbledore wanted, everyone decided that perhaps it was best to leave Headquarters to the possible new owners.

The Weasleys were forced back to the Burrow and Hermione with them.

Hermione did complain to the Headmaster about the books, but as they were now all plated in Severus' name and secured by ownership spells, there nothing that he could do. In fact that made him ponder on his Potions Master's motives, since he obviously was in attendance to the Potter and Black Wills that he himself was denied viewing that same day.

The twins looked at one another and knew that they were thinking of coming back, but didn't know how to do it. Just as they were leaving, Remus handed them a note that he received in his box from Harry. It was a similar note with a Gringott's key.

As soon as everyone had dispersed, the boys left for their own viewing of a Will.

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Chapter 11

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August 20

Harry and Draco were late in waking up that morning. They had slept the entire day and night away of their bonding. Harry and his mate were now linked in such a way that if one needed to recover from something the other's physical presence was required. Therefore both slumbered until the one that needed to recover was well. They would now wake at the same time and may sometimes share dreams, but they were not telepathic. They had too much in their minds to incorporate telepathy.

Draco woke up trying to stretch, but was just too sore and he groaned his discomfort. This caused Harry to wake up concerned. "Draco? Are you all right?"

"Yeah," came the muffled reply. "I'm just very sore at the moment."

"I understand," Harry said. "Stay put for now, I'll run you a bath." He tapped his way into the loo and proceeded to fill the tub. He had potions prepared for his mate and selected something mild and soothing to use in the tub.

Ensuring that there was nothing in his way, he returned to the room, scooped up his mate and carefully carried him into the steaming room. He helped him to stand in order to be able to pee, but once Draco had done that, Harry scooped him up and deposited him gently into the warm water.

Once in the water, Draco was relaxing nicely with the heat, but was disappointed that he had no company. "Join me," he said.

Harry chuckled and then slipped in behind his mate. He gently washed his mate, massaging the back muscles with care. He the washed his mate's hair and was somewhat surprised at the length of it. "Wow! Your hair really grew during your change."

"So did yours, you know," Draco said.

"Well, yes, but I cut mine to make it manageable," Harry explained. "With everything that I had to do, it was better if I cut some. That's why it only goes to my mid-back and to nearer to my shoulders when it's tied properly."

Draco was surprised. He was under the impression that he had to keep it and said so. Harry laughed. "No, you don't. I would not force you to keep that length, it's not practical and if you're not used to it, well then that could be unsafe. I'll cut it for you or we can go somewhere for that."

Draco sighed, "Thank the gods. I don't want to keep that length. It's too much. I know a place that we can go to. Duds and I spotted it. It's actually a place that specializes in tiny braids. I thought that that would be kind of fun to have."

"You mean like dreadlocks?"

"Yes," Draco confirmed.

"Sure," Harry said. "I can even provide some beads for you." Draco snorted and knew that whatever his mate wanted to provide him with for his hair would contain protective magic. He did not mind that in the least.

Now it was Draco's turn to wash his mate and he did so with a little too much enthusiasm that Harry became aroused. Draco took care of that by facing his mate and grinding his own erection into him. The tub was excellent in that it was a reclining tub, so Harry leaned back, stretching out, letting his slippery little mate cover him.

Harry's hands traveled all over that lithe body and pulled him to grind onto his own turgid member. Draco continued to thrust down, loving the feel of Harry's hands running up and down his back. The hands were pausing from time to time to knead his butt cheeks. Running a finger between, teasing the sensitive flesh found there.

"Oohnn, Harry."

Harry thrust up and slid a hand between them to fist them both to completion.

"Come on love," Harry said. Draco shuddered once. Harry continued to pump until both had released their seed. Draco then collapsed on him, trembling every now and then.

Harry spelled the water to drain and then spelled the tub to re-fill itself. He added some mild cleansing potions and then brought one to his mate lips for him to swallow. It was a simple pain relieving potion, but it was flavoured nicely. Something that Harry discovered for himself, when he decided to brew his own potions.

There was no way, he was going to put up with that foul tasting shit that passed for potions in the school's infirmary. Besides, he no longer trusted potions that he did not brew himself. That's how he landed in that mess at the beginning of summer.

Once both Draekon's were cleaned and dry, Harry took his mate back into their room and produced another pair of silk pajamas. This time it was in a mandarin style with a Chinese collar and little frog buttons to hold it closed. They were a pale blue and the top was a called a quarter. Meaning the length went down a quarter or to the mid-thigh. The pants were long, but there was the design of a dark black and red dragon winding up one of the legs. The top had accents that complimented the dragon design.

"Oh... These are beautiful Harry," Draco gushed over the silken design. "Did you buy a lot of these?" He asked watching Harry pull on his matching pair, only his were black with a red and blue dragon.

"Define, a lot," Harry said in a teasing tone. "I have enough for us to go one month without ever wearing the same pair twice. I bought several Hakamas in Japan and more then a few Cheongsams from China. I bought a lot of unfinished pieces too. I want to gift Professor Snape and Remus with some, but I need your eyes to chose appropriate colours for them.

In almost every place I stopped I bought the native wear, as well as some of their version high end evening-wear, you know suits, tuxes, formal robes, etc... I even shopped in some of the magical alleys and picked up, more then a few interesting gadgets that I'm not sure what they do, but they had an interesting magical feel to them. Before you say anything, they are not really Dark, they're more in the Gray area of magic."

"I got you some things too, Harry," Draco said. He then showed off his new trunk with the electronic equipment in it and that surprised Harry. Draco explained how they had discovered that those items can work in wizard space. They couldn't work in highly magical areas, like Diagon Alley or Hogwarts, but they did work in wizard spaced items like the trunks.

He explained how he got the machines to run and all the shopping that they did. He had picked up things here and there. Then he showed Harry the trunk that he had gotten him, explaining that the first layer held his school supplies and the second his clothes.

He led Harry down to the third level and said, "On three of the walls we added floor to ceiling shelves. We filled them as best we could and uh..." he led him to one shelf that had protective magics and a set of doors.

Draco opened them and explained some of the contents, "Me and Duds found lots of magical items in Muggle pawn shops. We kept the more interesting ones and sent the rest to the Ministry. They have a place for these things and do not question where the objects came from as long as the parchment used had a truth spell on it. The contents of those kinds of letters only needed to indicate that there were no other items at the shop. That Department does require the shop's location so that they could monitor the activity there for a time."

"Draco this is amazing," his mate said. "I love it. How big is the wizard space in here?"

Draco blushed a bit and confessed that these were matching trunks for couples. He then said that he gave the largest one to Harry, not knowing how much stuff Harry would be bringing back. "The space in this one is twenty feet long, thirty feet wide and sixteen feet high. Mine is slightly smaller, but I'm happy with it now that I can bring my computer and electronic stuff."

Harry laughed, then kissed and hugged his mate, "I'm glad. I do have a lot of stuff. Most of it is shrunk, but I am going to need your help to find a few things. Let's just leave this for now."

The boys left the trunk and made their way into the living room. "Whoa, guys. You do look like you're married. Aw, matching jammies, how cute."

"Oh! I almost forgot," Draco said and returned to their room for a few moments. He came back and smiled as he held out a couple of scrolls and a pen. "We have to sign the papers to register the bond." He then paused biting his lip and asked, "Harry do you really not mind that I take Uncle Sev's name as my middle one?"

Knowing that this was a sticky situation, but ever since his mate had explained everything that Severus had done for him. Indeed, knowing everything that Severus has done for Harry, there was no way that he would deny his mate this. It would be good for that man to be acknowledged.

Harry walked up to his mate, reached out to him and held him. "Of course I do not mind. He is an honourable man. If he could just drop some the acts he has to maintain, I'm more than sure that he would turn out to be a very fair man. He has saved my life a few times, you know. Please take his name."

Draco wrapped his own arms around his mate grateful that Harry understood. One squeeze later and the papers were signed. Copies were popped to the appropriate locations, like the Ministry of Magic, Gringotts and Harry's secure travel pack.

"My turn," Harry said, going into their rooms. It took a little doing and a lot bartering, but he had found the perfect, well he hoped that they were the perfect rings.

They were made by the dwarves of Everest. No wonder the Muggles always strived to get to the top. It was so that no one would think of digging into that mountain. Harry was following a map that had been provided to him by Uluru and it led him into the apparating room of the mountain, known as Everest.

He was going to give that old Australian coot an earful when he saw him again. The dwarves were not pleased to say the least, but after a while Harry was able to explain everything. They knew that he would be able to find them again without the map. Harry swore that he would never divulge that secret, but couldn't promise never to seek them out again.

When they had asked why, Harry explained that he was blind due to certain circumstances and that the magics he could feel around him were very interesting. He said that he hoped to be able to visit in the future, perhaps to study with them or bargain with them again.

The audacity of the youth impressed these stone masons, so they agreed conditionally. Harry then had the further audacity to ask if they had ready made pieces for the outside world. He was looking for something specific for his mate and himself. He wanted bonding rings. The rings could remain on their hands forever, but would also be safe to wear when they was working with spells and potions.

The dwarves liked him. The fact that he told them his tale freely and explained how he could understand what they were saying impressed them.

They helped him out and he picked several pieces from earrings, bellybutton rings and studs, to necklaces and rings for himself and his mate. He picked out five sets of rings, knowing that he could sell them or give them away in the Wizarding World because he had the written permission of these mountain people. The rings had the protections he needed.

Dwarven work was immaculate and would probably be in high demand as their work had not been seen in the Wizarding World for a long time. The writ that the dwarves gave him permitted only him and his mate to be their representatives. This meant that only he and Draco would be able to sell those pieces.

Of course, the next time that Harry visited they told him that he had to bring his mate. Which Harry agreed because there was no way he was going to remain apart from his mate any longer. He knew that Draco would get a kick out of being the second Wizard to visit their mountains since this race of people had withdrawn from being actively present in the world.

Harry came back from his thoughts, as he found was he was looking for and then he returned to sitting room with a jeweller's case in hand. Gulping nervously he brought it forward and explained what they were.

He sat next to his mate, as Draco sat staring at the beautiful craftsmanship. He took one of his mate's elegant hands in his own, gaining his mate's attention. "Draco, I have grown to love you through our letters and I wanted something to show the world that we are together. I would like you to pick our wedding and bonding bands."

"Oh, Harry," Draco launched himself at his mate laughing and sniffling at the same time. He had been afraid that Harry wouldn't want to publicly acknowledge their union. He should have known better. "What about during classes, especially in potions?"

"They are already spelled with protections and we can actually wear them in Potions class without fear. They were spelled by creatures that are not by definition Wizards. Anything that Wizards use or throw at these rings will not affect them. Please pick out your favourites. I plan on giving a set to Moony, once he has his man. I think that I will wait and see about the rest."

"That's a wonderful idea. This is so fun. It feels like I'm in a jewellery store," Draco said excitedly. He then took his time looking at each set, but they were all so wonderful that it was a hard choice to make. On some instinct he closed his eyes and he let his left hand hover over the tray.

Then he felt it, a small tingle. Gingerly he fallowed the sensation and let his hand land on one particular set. Looking at the set that his magic chose, he smiled. They were perfect, neither to big or too little. They had a Celt-like woven design interspersed with a rune that was shaped in precious stones, here and there. Each rune was like proclamation for their married life, like Love, Joy, Understanding, Eternity, etc... They were perfect.

"I have them," he said.

Harry lift one of his hands palm up, "Let me see."

Draco placed the band that would be his on his mate's palm. Harry smiled, his mate had made a good choice. He was also smiling because he knew that the ring in his hand was the one that Draco wanted him to place on his finger.

Harry lifted his mate's left hand, kissed the empty ring finger and then slipped on the ring. He looked towards his mate and said, "With this ring, I thee wed."

Draco had tears in his eyes, but also had a beautiful smile on his face. He repeated the actions that Harry had done and managed to choke out, "With this ring, I thee wed."

He sniffled with sentimentality and then he was tugged towards his mate only to be kissed soundly. Then he was tucked into him and just held.

Dudley was witness to the moment and he even had tears in his eyes, although he was too manly to let them fall, he brushed them away and waited them out. Draco had fallen asleep again, lulled by the proximity of his mate.

"Duds?" Harry asked, wondering if his cousin was still in the room.

"Yeah," he whispered.

"Did you have any plans for today?"

"Not really. I tried to go shopping yesterday, but I didn't know what to look for or what would look good on me. So I thought that today we could go with Drake. He does have the better taste. He also said that you could spell my storage unit against theft and damage. I bought the same type of furniture that Drake has in his trunk and I would like for them to last and be safe until the time comes for me to pick them up."

"No problem. It's probably a good idea to get out today and get used to traveling in a crowded area. Plus I have to make sure that you're both comfortable with me and my cane," Harry said.

Draco was awake and he snorted saying, "Why would we need to get used to you and your cane? We're fine and if any others make comments, well it'll just be because they're jealous of our good looks. Honestly we could pass for those models I've in the mags on the stands."

Harry chuckled, but Dudley caught something that Draco missed in Harry's original response and asked, "Today?"

Harry blinked and ducked his head, "Yeah, tomorrow I have to pass on some information to Draco in a magical way and then he has to take over the care of his familiar. We'll need to visit the butchers for fresh meat and the grocers for fresh fruits. It will need them."

Draco sat up, "You have my familiar?"

"Yes, but it hasn't hatched and won't until you get the information needed and perhaps a few other ritual steps." Harry explained.

"Oh, well that's all right then. How about we leave in an hour's time? That way we have enough time to spell Dudley's storage and shop, shop, shop."

The boys chuckled at the blonde's antics, but if there was one thing that Harry had long since been aware of and that Dudley had come to learn, was that Draco loved shopping. What Dudley knew, but Harry didn't was that Draco had taken to the Muggle world shopping centres like a terror. He had to go in every store and see everything. It would take hours just to tear him away to go to the next shop or centre.

HPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDM

August 21

Harry had successfully exchanged the knowledge that Antiok wanted to pass on to his seed, to his mate. Draco had to do a small ritual of cleansing and then cut his palms before removing the seed from its protective container.

Harry had re-sealed the container and stored it in his ingredient cabinet. He would eventually be in need another cabinet soon, but for the time being it would do. He chose to save the blood that had contained the seed. In fact Harry was hoping that Draco would allow him to keep the shell to.

Draco then had to hold onto the seed until it hatched. The seed was cradled and held for hours. His mate was allowed to assist in relieving the ache in his muscles, but he wasn't allowed to handle the seed after it had passed hands. Eventually the little creature cracked his shell and began to squall like an infant.

Harry was allowed to keep the shell, as it was highly unlikely that such would ever been seen again.

The familiar was a miniature dragon that would grow no larger then a Shetland pony. Draco was proud that this creature had chosen to be his familiar. They fed it and it fell asleep. When it woke up again, hungry they fed it some more, but then Draco initiated the exchange required, passing on the knowledge that Antiok wanted the little dragon to have.

All through that day they spent it feeding the little guy and sleeping in between those feedings. It was a fairly uneventful day for the boys.

HPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDM

August 22

Dudley knew that they were all exhausted from the day before and he knew that they would eventually need more food for Draco's familiar.

He left them a note, telling them that he stepped out for more meat and fruit for the little guy. He was pleased to have actually seen a dragon in his lifetime. He hoped that he would be able to visit them sometime in the future and maybe get a chance to see some other creatures that only lived in the fantasies of Muggle literature.

When he came back though, he was surprised to see nine Little People in front of the door to their suite. It looked like they were trying to figure out how to get in. It didn't obviously didn't occur to them to knock on the door. As Dudley got closer he noticed that they were not Little People from the Muggle World, but actually goblins.

'No wonder they didn't knock on the door to the room. What on Earth are they doing here?' He thought, 'Oh… Guess I might as well let them in. It's obvious that they want to see Harry.'

Walking up to them cautiously, as five of the nine looked like they were dressed for battle. He approached them and said, "Hello gentle beings. Are you here to see Harry Potter?"

The leader stepped forward, looking at the strange Muggle up and down. "Yes, we are. Could you let him know that we are here?"

"Of course, allow me to open the door for you," he slipped in the cardkey and they all watch as it beeped with a green light and the door unlocked. Turning the handle he stepped aside and let them enter.

Two of the armed guards stayed on the outside with notice me not charms. Once the door was closed, two other guards remained in the entrance way. The fifth looked to be a leader or General and he took note of the surroundings before allowing the other four to walk into the room.

Meanwhile Dudley walked in and knocked on the boys' door. "Come in," he heard.

"I'll be just a moment," he said to the goblins in the room. Walking into the boys' room with his groceries he was pounced on by Draco.

"Thank the gods you went out for more food," Draco said. "He's still hungry."

"That's all right," he looked around for Harry. "Where's Harry?"

"I'm right here." Harry said, stepping out of the loo. "Something wrong Dudley?"

"I'm not sure," he said. "There are some goblins here to see you. Five look like warriors and four look like suits and they're all here for you."

Harry wondered what that was about, but then shrugged and told him to offer them up a seat and drinks. Not tea, but the strongest alcohol that could be found here.

Dudley and Draco smirked at one another, they hadn't told Harry yet that Dudley had invested in his own triple lock trunk. His third compartment had ten distilleries for the brewing of various alcohols. He had always been interested in the do-it-yourself kits that he had seen advertised.

He was currently testing different variations, mixing magical components with Muggle ingredients. His second section contained the linked ventilation system that kept the fumes out of the distilling room. The first held the finished products.

He had five completed products that were very different from anything seen in the Wizarding and Muggle Worlds. They had been waiting for Harry to come back to test the level of magics within them to see if they could be sold in the Wizarding market without causing harm. The boys had, of course, tested them for fun.

Dudley thought himself that these would be perfect to offer the goblins. The products were definitely stronger then anything that he could offer from the Muggle World. So when he returned to the living room he said, "Gentle beings, please take a seat. Harry will be out shortly and I have been instructed to offer you a drink. Is that acceptable?"

The goblins were shocked that this Muggle was polite and therefore agreed on the drinks. They silently hoped that it wasn't some Muggle swill that they had to choke down in politeness. The leader said, "It is acceptable. Thank you." They all sat down and waited while Dudley entered his room and retrieved the five finished products.

Luckily Draco had obtained the proper tools for him in order to be able distill magically, as well as the bottling magics he needed, because there was no way Dudley would be able to produce as much as he had in the short time he had. He wanted to finish the processes and use the remaining ingredients, before his last school year began.

Proceeds from the sale of those would give him a comfort cushion for his future finances. Besides he liked brewing this way because the little magics that he did possess helped to run the machines. Draco showed him how compensate for the rest.

Dudley picked up five different bottles and then made a decision to inform the goblins that these were new products that had never been brought to market. He made sure to bring out his notebook to record their reactions, just in case. Bottles in hand, he returned to the living room and placed the bottles on the table. Going to the bar area he then brought forward all the shot glasses that he could find and set them on the table.

The goblins stared at the bottles, knowing that they had never seen these before. Two were a dark burgundy, one was a pale orange, one was clear like water and the last was a golden yellow with white sparkles floating in it.

"I feel that I must inform you that these products have never been marketed. They have been tested and were found to be too strong for Muggles. Wizards should only drink them with shot glasses and only filled to these specific amounts," he explained. He then showed them which ones needed to be filled where for wizards and then clearly said, "I have not tested these in any other mixes or for any other beings and I am not sure what the reactions would be to any of you. However, they are the strongest drinks that I can offer."

The goblins looked in wonder at this youth. He knew that the drinks were strong and how much to serve a pure sample, no mixing, to a human wizard. Goblins never had a problem with human drink before, but conceded that the varying amounts which were from three quarters to a quarter of a shot glass full, had them curious about the strength of these drinks.

Harry walked in and sat down, as the goblins were debating on whether to test the drinks, when the General said, "I will do it and so will Negik." He said pointing to one of the goblins guarding the door. "Negik, your palate is younger then mine, we will compare."

"Sir," Dudley said. "May I take notes of your reactions and impressions?"

"Whatever," the older goblin grunted. He set up a second row of shots filled just like the first. Both goblins then took the matching glasses of a burgundy about three quarters full and gulped the first one down. "Weak," the general said.

Negik on the other hand said, "Passable, his palate is jaded. It would be good in a mix with some kind of fruit juice or fruit ice."

On the next burgundy they both turned away from the table and spit it out. They shook their heads. That one was not for goblins. Mouth cleaning spells without flavour allowed them to really taste the alcohol and not allow the previous taste to override a new one.

Next was the pale orange in a half full shot glass. They took it and swallowed, nothing happened. Then it hit them, both goblins were hit with an alcoholic dizziness that had the room spinning for them and forced them to sit down or fall over.

"Whoa," Negik said. "Good one."

"Yep," the general agreed. One of the other goblins performed a goblin sobering spell on them. "There was next to no taste to it and it went down like water, but it hit our systems forcibly."

They tried the clear one, which was stronger then moonshine, but they didn't like it. Then they tried the final one, the gold one with the white sparkles in it.

It was the strongest of them all for a Muggle and a Wizard. The shot glasses were only filled to about a quarter of the glass. Dudley would have made it less, but then he and Draco had had a quarter, only to pass out and wake up the next day. No headache though, but also no memory of anything stupid that they might have done. Draco cast a memory spell in the trunk and confirmed that they had only passed out and slept.

Gulping down the last drink Negik and the goblin General felt it hit their tongue like ice and then burn down their throats. They waited like the other times to see if there was a side effect and then it hit. They expelled frosty air, but the taste was different a spicy cinnamon mixed with clove.

That's what Negik said, but the General said that he tasted something else, something more to his tastes which was almost like Dragonfire Brandy that he had tasted only once in his life. This drink was, more then passable, it was acceptable.

This particular drink was strong and it was also one that the goblins could savour. The bonus was that for some reason it turned into something strong that the goblins liked, but more importantly the flavours changed according to the goblin drinking it.

A couple of the suits, one of which was Griphook, mentioned to Harry that his cousin could sell that one and the pale orange one for a very healthy profit in the goblin market, after it had been thoroughly tested of course.

Harry looked toward Dudley and said that they would discuss it later. Dudley just nodded and removed the other bottles and the used glasses. He left the last bottle and clean glasses for the others to use. It wouldn't do for the goblins to be falling down drunk, if he left behind the pale orange one.

Harry waited until all the goblins had been served with a drink and then they began to explain the reason that they were here. First however, Griphook handed over a pouch of coins to Harry. "You were right lad. You won that bet. They were courteous and polite."

Harry laughed, "Thank you my friend. Now what is going on, could I not have met you all at Gringott's?"

"First let me introduce my colleagues, this here is General Knokthorn in charge of our goblin armies and one of the drink testers, Sir Gronk in charge of the Instructional Records and Sir Gobknok head of Gringotts Bank." Griphook explained, as Draco walked in and sat down next to his mate.

The goblins were staring at the sleeping creature in his arms. The tail was long and wrapped around Draco's arm and the rest was cradled in his arms. It looked like a baby dragon, but it wasn't like any dragon that they had ever seen. It was a pale purple with a slightly silver belly, very tiny claws, six super short legs and a very long body. It had tiny silvery purple wings on its back and a tiny pearl like nub on its forehead.

"My turn," Harry said. "This is Draco Severus Potter my bonded life-mate, the creature in his arms is his familiar and that is my Muggle cousin Dudley Dursley. Now I have a question, Instructional Records?"

Sir Gobknok took over and said, "Allow me to give you a bit of history that you may not know. Since it is about the time of the Founders and how they actually ran the school." He went on to fully explain the entity that was Hogwarts and the relationship it used to have with the founders. He told them that in the past there were four deputies, which were also the Heads of House, plus one Headmaster or Headmistress.

He then went into great length and detail on the courses that the school used to have and how they had all, but disappeared. He brought forward statistics from the other magical schools around the world and showed how far behind Hogwarts was in their curriculum, but that the potential for growth was there.

Then, after all of that, the goblins produced a large parchment with the details of the Founders Law. They watched as Harry read the law line by line and they knew that changes would soon be taking place at the school. Then they produced the contract that Hogwarts wanted signed, which is when Harry fully realized the implications.

"ME!" He exclaimed; his voice slightly cracking. "The school chose me?"

"Wow, that's wonderful love. Think of all the changes you could make and the Ministry won't be able to say a word," Draco said, without a hint of jealousy. He had read the Law at over his mate's shoulder. He certainly didn't want to run the school, but he was sure that he could present ideas to Harry and they would be considered.

"But how do you know…how would the school know that I wouldn't abuse the position?"

"Harry," Draco said. "You wouldn't. It's just not in you. I may not have shown it, but I have observed you and I have never once seen you abuse your fame. You could have, but you never did. So why do you think that you'd abuse the Headmaster position. You've certainly had an example of what not to do.

Besides, if you take over now, the changes you make will increase the protection in the school for all of the students this year. It would become the Sanctuary needed for the families in this war. You will also be able to correct everything that has gone wrong, by keeping the Ministry away and kicking the Board out on their collective asses."

"Draco, love, you do realize that if I sign on it's for four years, plus an additional four if the school decides extend it. That's eight years before we could ever really leave the school."

"Yes, but then we are long lived creatures. Eight years will be nothing and we'd still be able to go on vacations. You'll be able to know that things will be running smoothly. Plus, you can set up special defences against the Dark Lord and his goons. I know that you want a chance to prepare for that battle and I know that you know things need to change at that school. What a better way than this.

Besides you'll be able to get special dispensation from the Headmaster to miss your classes and pursue independent study in order to prepare for any battle or war with the Moldering Man and his crew. As a bonus, you do have a beautiful set of Slytherin eyes in your classes to see how the students are accepting the changes I know you'll be making."

Harry looked at his mate ruefully and said, "You really want me to do this don't you?" He chuckled when Draco admitted that it was power and that he was fully confident that Harry would listen to the school's requests. "All right, I'll admit that this is too good to be true, but that it is not something that I can turn down on a whim or through weak protestations of 'but I shouldn'ts', and 'I'm not qualifieds'. If this is a trick..."

The goblins shook their heads and said no that it wasn't. Harry signed the papers and once they were all signed, copies were made for all parties and filed accordingly. "By the way what happened to Dumbledore?" He asked. Then he received the story about how the school sent him packing, they were all laughing.

Once everyone settled down, Harry turned back to face one of the goblins and asked again, "Instructional Records?"

Sir Gronk took over this time and explained about the Department of Instructional Records. How the existing Guilds and potential teachers aides, assistants and replacements were kept on an availability list that they could be called in to assist the professors or teach new courses. It was also how they kept track of ineffective Professors at the school and listed potential replacements.

They had all been vetted by the goblins and this would shake the school, however if Harry wanted to make changes to this school year, he would have to so quickly. There were funds that he could access from the Founders vaults and in fact several portraits of the Founders were stored in these vaults after there had been some conflicts. They could be returned to the school to provide guidance to the young, new and obviously powerful Headmaster.

Harry excused himself for a moment, went into his room, picked up Dauphin for moral support, hissing some of his reasons for the nervousness that she had felt. He picked up a new Journal that expanded as needed, his special ink and pen.

(...Congratulations...) she hissed.

(...I'm still nervous, but I believe that I can do this with love and support from Draco and my family...) he hissed back at her walking to the others.

(...Don't worry, you are not a bad man and you can always consult with Uluru or pray to the Brothers for guidance...) she hissed.

He settled back in the seat that he had vacated and hissed, (...You are wise my friend now let me finish this...)

(...She's right Harry...) Draco spoke to him, hissing, not realizing that he was now speaking Parseltongue.

"I agree with her too," Dudley said.

Startled Harry looked at Dudley and then Draco. "You both understood what we were saying?"

"Well, of course Harry," Draco said. "You were speaking English."

Harry chuckled and said, "No I wasn't, just ask our guests. Dudley spoke English, but you spoke back to me in Parseltongue."

Draco and Dudley were confused, but Dauphin decided to pipe in and distract them while her friend was occupied with the goblins. She told Draco about the Brothers' gifts of immunity and languages and who the Brothers actually were. Although he didn't receive as many languages as Harry, she did mention that he was given another gift to be revealed at a later date.

Both of them tested Dudley and found that he could only understand Parseltongue, not speak it. It was something that he didn't mind, since Draco obviously couldn't tell the difference when it was spoken and that was not something that Dudley needed to happen in the Muggle World.

Harry made several notes in his journal about the potential courses that could be added and who the assistants, journeymen or teachers for them could be. He was pleased that the goblins had a historian ready to take over the classes for History of Magic, providing that accommodations could be made for his special needs. He was a vampire, so having lived through some of the history he had a better perspective on the whole issue.

He would now have to contact all of the professors currently working at Hogwarts and determine whether, if they remained, if they would be for or against the changes. Still the boys' summer plans had just been cut short. However, Dudley asked if he could come along, as a treat to see this infamous school.

Harry, Draco and Dudley made their plans and then with the assistance of the goblins were given port-keys directly to the school for the next day.

Harry said he would keep in touch. He knew that the goblins wanted a safe place to teach their young and there was an idea in progress to diminish racial prejudices between the races.

HPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDM

August 23

The boys arrived at Hogwarts in the morning and since she was so pleased that Harry accepted, she quickly explained what she had been doing. She can control most things and was also an aide herself in the time of the Founders.

She guided them to the Founders quarters and tower. She allowed them to choose their suites. Draco wanted the Slytherin ones and Harry agreed. The boys let Dudley decide his own, in which he chose the Hufflepuff one and settled in.

There wasn't much furniture in the place as it had been emptied over time, but Harry knew that the time was right to visit the old Headquarters at No. 12 Grimmauld and pick up some furniture from there. As well as getting extra sets of same sofa and chairs, like Draco had in his wizard trunk to occupy the common room of the suite. He didn't want Draco to use his and he figured that since they were really comfortable why not get more of the same.

Before leaving Hogwarts they informed her of a few of their plans and instructed her to get the teachers back to school within the next two days, as there will be a revision of duties. A meeting needed to be held with them in order to rush a change in the requirements for uniforms and book lists, especially if new courses were to be added on short notice. A meeting will also need to be held with them before the assistants and journeyman arrived.

As Headmaster, Harry now had control of the wards and was able to apparate them directly to No. 12 Grimmauld Place through them. He called Hedwig to deliver a letter to the Weasley twins telling them that they were on their way. Draco used his insta-mail box to send massages to Professor Lupin and to his Godfather, to meet the boys there.

They were going to divvy up the furniture, as soon as they arrived.

Weasley twins greeted them. "Harry, welcome back..." Fred said.

"It's about time you showed up...," continued George.

"Do you know..."

"What happened?..."

"We were moved from..."

"That tiny closet room..."

"Into the master suite..."

"Not only that, but..."

"Did you know that..."

"We inherited this house from Sirius," they finished together.

Harry laughed, "I missed you guys. Yes I knew that you inherited. We're just here to divvy the furniture."

The twins looked at each other and then turned back to look at Harry. "What furniture mate?"

"We can't even conjure anything long enough to sit down," George complained.

"Really," Harry said. "Let me just see what is going on, then."

He closed his eyes and sent out a magical echo to see what could be affecting the house and their conjurations. He laughed out loud when he detected a very special house-elf signature. He couldn't stop laughing, it was too good. Dobby had cursed the areas where the Order members congregated with the two exceptions being Professor Snape and Remus Lupin.

"He's cracked," George said.

"He's lost it," said Fred.

"My goofy mate," Draco sighed. "Quit that and tell us what's wrong with the house." That's when the twins noticed the two extra individuals that had tagged along with Harry.

"Malfoy!" They both exclaimed and then they turned to the other youth with them. "And Duddy dinkens, have we got something for you. What a minute, what happened to the rest of you?"

"I lost weight and I no longer have much of a sweet tooth. Sorry guys, but I don't want anything from you. Harry's warned me off," Dudley said.

They then turned to Draco, "So Malfoy, would you be interested in our new products?"

"That's Potter to you two chuckle heads and no I'm not interested in being your guinea pig either," he said.

Harry was still chuckling on and off, but was now seated on the floor from the exhaustion that came with laughing too much, when the twins turned to him and said, "Bad form Harry! You married the ferret and didn't tell us."

He stood up suddenly, immediately sober and said, "Do not insult my mate."

His eyes darkened and began to glow with a hunter's light. His nails and teeth seemed to gleam with deadly intent, showing the twins that he had changed more then they knew. He was wondering whether to uncase his wings and attack when a sneering voice spoke to him.

"Still can't control your temper Mr. Potter," a voice of darkened silk, shattering Harry's anger.

"I can control my temper just fine, but I will stand for no insult against Draco. Is that clear?" He turned in the directions of the twins.

They were nodding their heads in agreement, not knowing that Harry couldn't see. Draco then said, "They're agreeing to it, Harry."

"Oh," he said, deflating a bit more. "Well that's good. I'm sorry guys, but there was no ceremony."

"Well, Love," Draco began. "If they want to see the exchange of our rings, perhaps Dudley could submit his memory? Duds?"

Dudley thought about it, smiling as he remembered the sappy little scene. "Sure, I can share it, but you have to tell me whether it's gonna hurt or not. If it's going to be painful, then I don't think so."

"Don't worry Dudley," Harry said. "I can take it from you. It's just like copying a recording, but without anything being lost in the copy. You'll just have to concentrate on the memory so that I can locate it. We'll wait to do that a bit later. I guess if Professor Snape is here, then Moony is here too?"

"He's standing right next to me Mr. Potter, what are you blind?" Snape said in a condescending tone.

"Yes," he replied blandly.

Remus moved in close to look at all of the changes in his godson. Then he looked closely at the unfocused eyes. "He's telling the truth."

Harry reached out to his godfather and pulled him into welcoming hug. "I missed you Moony," he murmured into the strong shoulder that he leaned against, pulling back a bit he then said, "Don't worry I've learned to adjust. If I hadn't, I would never have found out who was responsible for the conjuration problem in here."

"You know who did it?" The twins asked. "Please tell us who."

"In a moment," Harry said. He walked up to his mate that was currently being glared at by his own godfather. He took Draco's hand and guided him towards Remus and said, "Remus, I'd like to introduce to you my love and bonded life-mate, Draco Severus Potter."

Remus smiled gently and held out his hand for Draco to take, "Welcome to the family. It's a pleasure to finally see you. It seems that you gave us the slip, back on the fifteenth."

Draco beamed at Remus, "Thank you. It was easy with Harry's charm. You do remember Dudley, don't you? He helped me out a great deal."

"Draco," Snape snapped out. Draco was startled. Then he walked over to his godfather, looked down at the ground, but realizing that his godfather might have been worried about him. He decided then that he was proud of his decisions and boldly looked his godfather in the eye.

Severus noticed all of the changes that occurred in his godson, but then startled nearly everyone by pulling him into a hug and holding on, saying softly, "I was worried, my little Dragon."

Draco's smile was hidden in the dark folds of cloth wrapped around him. "I know," he whispered, wrapping his own arms around his godfather. "I'm sorry I never wrote to you, but I was..."

"I'm just glad that you are well, safe and free. Now let me see the mark," his godfather said. Draco stood tall and moved his braided hair off the side of his neck. Snape didn't touch it, but knew it for what it was. It was a marking, specific to the mating with one of creature blood. "Are there more?"

"There are, but you'll not see them," Harry said. He walked up to stand next to his mate, taking a hand in his own. "They are private and the only way for you to see them is for you to become his primary healer."

"Harry," Draco began. "I don't..."

"He has the training, Love," Harry said. "It is his choice and yours, but if you choose him then you will never be seen by any meddling infirmary medi-witch."

"Uncle Sev," Draco said. "I would be honoured."

Severus gave a very small grin to his godson and said. "All right then, but I insist that you have a backup healer, in case I am unavailable. You'll show me the marks later when I examine you. I'll need to begin keeping records." He was hugged by his godson, once more and then was released quickly.

"Uncle Sev, I would like to introduce you to my love and bonded life-mate, Harold Jamison Potter."

Harry paused a moment and held out his hand and waited for the Professor to take it. Snape looked at the earnest face of his godson and could not deny him. He took hold of Harry's hand in a firm, yet welcoming grip.

"Welcome to the family Mr. Potter," he said.

"Maybe you should consider calling me Harry. After all, Draco's last name is Potter, too."

"We'll, see."

"Well, now that everyone has been introduced…" Fred started.

"And now that everyone has had a chance to get all huggy…" George continued.

"Not that we got any…"

"But we didn't want any either…"

"Could Harry finally…."

"Tell us who's responsible…"

"For the lack of furniture in here…"

"And for the reason why…"

"No one could conjure and keep their own," they finished.

Harry grinned and then asked a few pointed questions first, "Was there a major cleaning or overhaul done in here recently? Were any house-elves involved in the changes?"

The twins answered that they didn't know, but the Draco noticed his godfather's twitching mouth and Remus' own grin. "Uncle Sev?... Professor Lupin?"

The boys turned their attentions to the two professors and suddenly Severus let out a very small snort like chuckle and Remus broke down laughing.

Severus began explaining, "Well on the fifteenth, when you two left the Dursleys you left behind something for me and Lupin. We followed the recommendation to go to Gringotts, where we witnessed the Wills of the Potters and Black."

"My reading only involved a few properties," Remus said. "Severus' on the other hand had a positively Marauder aspect to it."

"That's correct," Severus continued, nodding in agreement to Lupin's explanation. "Sirius Black had given me the key to removing the unwanted portraits from the walls, but after I had done that the walls were in such a sad state that…"

"He decided a new coat of paint would be in order," Remus continued, pointing to Professor Snape. "It was amazing how much the house-elves could do in such a short time. We called in one that we knew would help us out, just because we're associated to Harry."

"That's correct. He was able to bring in 15 elves from the school. They were a tad bored, due to the lack of something to do in summer."

"Severus also suggested that a few rooms needed particular colour schemes to reflect the current users of those rooms."

"We left the rest of the rooms up to their good tastes of course, however I believe it was Malfoy's former elf," Severus always enjoyed saying that, "that had the pleasure of painting those specific rooms."

"We did not ask him to move you guys though," Remus said to the twins. "But I liked that it had been done."

"Of course the resulting arguments about it were an entertainment bonus," replied Severus.

Harry, Draco, and the twins were opened mouth watching and listening to the two Professors talk with such familiarity just like the twins, nearly finishing each other's sentences. Exchanging a few looks amongst themselves, they laughed. Dudley just smiled knowing that he was missing some of the exchange, but was glad to be included in the humour.

Harry and Draco insisted on being told about the colour schemes in the rooms, laughing when they found out about them.

"Now that everyone has been caught up to date, perhaps you would be so kind, Harry, to inform us, as to who is responsible for the conjuration problems in this house," Professor Snape asked, miffed that it was taking so long to get that particular answer.

The twins were patience themselves, they knew that eventually Harry would spill, but they also knew that they were not going to let him leave Grimmauld Place without telling.

"Of course, Professor," Harry said, pausing for effect. "It was Dobby." Knowing that once he said the house-elf's name the funny little creature would appear before him.

In popped the mischief maker himself, all excited and saying, "The Great Harry Potter Sir has asked for Dobby?"

Harry grinned at the little creature and said, "I believe that I owe you some socks, don't I?"

Dobby looked at everyone around him and grinned back at Harry, saying "Yes sir, that'd be three pairs."

"Well done," Harry said. "I did think that one of the Professors would have figured it out by now, but they didn't."

"Harry," Remus asked. "Did you set this up?"

Harry just grinned at them. He waited for them to come to their own conclusions and once they did they realized that Harry had indeed set it all up.

Severus looked at the youth and Dobby and then he asked, "The 15 bored house-elves?"

Harry just continued to smile. He nodded at Dobby for him to tell the tale. It seems that Harry knew that Dobby would be called upon by either Professor in order to help fix up the house, after the foul portraits had removed. Harry also knew that the furniture would pack itself away after the Will had been read to Severus and Remus, because Sirius had said as much during Harry's own reading of it.

So, he organized the house-elves from his other estates to be available and set up the prank on the Order of the Phoenix, preventing them from being able to conjure any suitable seating arrangements, tables, etc… With the exception of the ones that called on Dobby for assistance.

They had bet on socks because Dobby loved them and Harry didn't care if he received more of them. He was so used to not getting any, that Dobby's gift of them during the winter holidays were right up there with Molly's jumpers. Harry loved them because they were made just for him.

The professors were shocked at the little house-elf and the twins loved it. It was a perfect prank, because no one suspected that a House-elf would ever be capable of doing that. Only Harry would think to gain the assistance of a House-elf for such a thing.

"Thank you Dobby," Harry said. "I think that you can release the spell. Here is your payment." He handed Dobby three pairs of very gaudy mismatched socks, in varying colours and patterns.

Dobby nodded and said, "Anything for the Greater Harry Potter Sir."

He popped away, once he lifted the spell, returning to his duties at Hogwarts. The school had asked him to help Trelawny pack her belongings and only her belongings. She was a tricky witch trying to pack some of the crystal balls that belonged to the school.

"Well, now we know," the twins said. "I wonder if he was the one to move us into the Master Suite?" One of them asked.

"I believe so," Remus said.

"I told him that you two would inherit the place," Harry explained.

"Brilliant," they said. "What about the furniture?"

Remus told them the contents of Sirius' Will with regards to the furniture and how he wanted them distributed.

"We're here now for them," Draco said. "We have a new place that we're living in and it's pretty bare at the moment. So coming here and following the bequest was the best idea we could think of before having to go out and actually purchase some."

Dudley nodded in agreement. "Harry also said that he believed the Headquarters would no longer be used for the Order after certain events had occurred. He said that it would perhaps be a good time to seek out the hidden rooms of this house for the remaining books belonging to Professor Snape."

Snape was surprised, but secretly pleased that Harry had considered helping him. "The furniture is stored in the Ballroom, isn't it?" Remus asked.

Harry nodded and then explained about the roaming door. The twins were tickled to find out about that. Harry also explained that once everything from the bequest had been taken care in regards to Grimmauld Place the twins would then know all of its secrets.

The twins grinned and decided to help the gentlemen find everything that they wanted. They did admit to one another that with the empty rooms they were able to decide how they wanted to fill them. They did not however tell their mother where they were living. Their father had a small inkling about where they were, but refused to be involved in nosing about in their private business.

It took the greater part of the day to locate the hidden cubbies and rooms and to separate the furniture.

There was a very heated and amusing argument between Harry and Professor Snape regarding several potions armoires that were available, but they could only be opened with Parseltongue passwords. Such things would have been useless to Professor Snape and that is what Harry pointed out.

The Professor then argued that they would be useless for someone who was just mediocre in Potions. Harry turned that back at him, saying that the Professor couldn't be a good judge of that since he was prejudice against anyone not in Slytherin and worse against the bloody Boy-Who-Lived.

Harry then said if the Professor really needed another ingredients storage unit then he could have Harry's traveling one after he transferred his ingredients out of it. The Professor said that he would have to wait and see what it looked like first. He was thinking that he would probably accept anyway, those cabinets could get expensive.

Professor Snape then wanted to know whether there were any rare ingredients within these ones, but Harry was adamant on not opening them, in case there had been spillages when the furniture moved. He did promise that once they were opened any ingredients that he had excess of, he would give them over to the Professor. The professor did not want to accept that claiming that Harry would probably want to keep the rarer ingredients, to which Harry agreed, causing the Professor to lose some of his steam and sputter.

There were other minor conflicts regarding some wardrobes and desks, but in the end everyone was nearly satisfied with everything that they had chosen to take. Professor Snape was still grumbling about the cabinets and possibly rare ingredients that Harry was sure to butcher in an attempt to make passable potion. But the remaining furniture was given to the twins to do with as they pleased.

Everyone returned to their homes exhausted from the moving, shrinking, unshrinking, setting up and of course, the arguments, which Harry knew full well that he had one day's grace before confronting the rest of the Professors on the twenty-fifth.

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Chapter 12

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August 24

The boys spent most of the day within the Founders' Tower and chambers. There were many things to think about and that they wanted to present to all of the Heads of House.

Harry and the boys also went to review the contents of the Founders' vaults. They had no difficulty accessing them because it was the school that had ordered them locked when she awoke very briefly about two to three headmasters before Dumbledore.

They had been surprised that many of the books stored there were what was used for teaching in the Founders time. Since the goblins were instructed to bring back the larger portraits of the Founders, Harry had decided to bring with him a set that was just a general poster size for their main room. He felt that he would need the school's originators assistance to come up with a set of mandatory courses for each year to attend.

There were new classes that Harry wanted to add to the curriculum, due to the fact that some students had inconsistent training or education, namely the so called 'Purebloods'. Most did not attend school on a regular basis and not all of them could afford tutors, so their scholastic discipline was somewhat lacking.

The teachers often complained about the poor writing, comprehension and deductions skills. Not to mention a serious lack in knowledge on how to go about researching and how to do most of the basic things, like properly structuring an essay and writing skills were a terror to many of the teachers.

Dudley was a great help with explaining to the Founders the differences in the types of courses that he started with before he was eleven to his boarding experience. He compared the differences and noted the increased options, year after year. Some future courses could only be taken if he had taken an introductory course in one of his previous years.

Harry and Draco felt that the first and second years, who are the only ones to have a set of mandatory courses prior to having a choice in their third year, were not being given the opportunity early on to make decisions. It was as though the Ministry, the Board of Governors, the Professors and previous Headmasters did not trust that the young could make informed decisions about their own futures.

Harry wanted to change that. There would still be mandatory courses, but they were going to be changed into an Introductory Level. The levels he wanted were Introductory, Intermediate, General, and for a select few, there would Advanced Level or Specialty Level selections available.

All Introductory courses could be taken during any year and the first and second year students will still have to have the basic set of mandatory classes. Classes were not going to be doubled until their third year.

The boys with help of Hogwarts and the Founders had made the necessary changes to the mandatory courses for each year with some added options. All of which, Harry would be presenting to the Heads of House on the following day.

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First & Second Year Courses:

"Introductory" Levels I & II

Introductory English - incorporating, reading, effective writing (essays, etc...) and comprehension skills.

Introductory Mathematics - improve their numerical understanding and general calculating skills, which will, effectively help with several other areas of spellworks and potions. It must be noted that this is not an introduction to Arithmancy, but could be used as a primer to assist that particular course in the future.

Introductory Charms - incorporating magical theory, learning normal everyday charms that assist to improve the quality of life, charm movements that help to improve body memory

Introductory Transfiguration - incorporating magical theory from a calculating point, learning normal everyday transfigurations to improve the quality of life and forming a solid base from which the future courses can be built upon

Introductory Potions - incorporating a ground work of understanding ingredients and ingredient interactions, as well as classroom safety, precautions and procedures to follow in potion making. The potions learned in these two years are not to be battle potions, but household and medical. Including, effective note taking for deductive testing and thesis works.

Also since Harry found one particular book in the Founders vaults, which was titled "Simple Single Serving Potions", he added that to the book lists of the first and second years. This book was perfect for them in order to learn the basic steps to potion making. It used the least amount of mostly harmless ingredients. It also showed, at the end of the book, how to proportionately increase specific ingredients to make larger batches for normal households or medical facilities.

Introductory History of Magic - will incorporate basic geography, as per the new teacher's request. Harry had maps and globes ordered and there were several sets of different books, Wizarding and Muggle that showed the differences in their histories, as well as where magic influenced muggle history or vice versa.

Introductory Defense Against the Dark Arts - now incorporates a physical fitness program with the learning of what the Dark Arts are and what measures can be taken for defense. For the first and second years, it was a class that would instruct each of them to know their limits and what they can do to protect themselves with or without magic.

Introductory Herbology - students learning plant properties, the differences between the Wizarding variety versus the docile Muggle variety. Dangerous plants will be demonstrated only. Students will be learning the basics of managing a mini greenhouses and growing the plants they need for their potions. Poorly maintained plants will result in poor Potions.

Muggle Culture Studies - two classes per week, Mondays and Wednesdays for the wizard born, Fridays will be a combined class with the Wizarding Culture, in order for comparative study and debates.

Wizarding Culture Studies - two classes per week, Mondays and Wednesdays for the muggleborn, Fridays will be a combined class with the Muggle Studies, in order for comparative study and debates.

Optional Courses (only two permitted for first and second year):

"Introductory" Levels I & II

All introductory level courses will be available to all students and should a first year student be ambitious and wish to take any "Introductory" level courses available to third years they will be permitted to do so. It would only be after a three week trial an unbiased evaluation will be made to ensure that the first year student can keep up with the third years, of course. If they can't keep up, then they forfeit that time slot to a study period until the next term where they will be allowed to enter into an optional class that has only a half-year completion rate.

Introduction to Music Studies - instrumentation and playing, only available instruments are strings, percussion and piano. Singing in the first year is reserved only under Professor Flitwick's choral and incantation enunciation class.

Introduction to Arts - drawing, painting, sculpting and visual studies of the famous past masters and those not so master-like...

Introduction to Metallurgy - ground work for blacksmithing, welding, structural calculations, etc...

Introduction to Woodworking - ground work for carpenters, house builders, etc...

Introduction to Martial Arts - ground work for specialized training available in Karate, Tae Kwon Do & Ju-Jitsu.

Introduction to Gemology - ground work for gem workers, jewelers, all for the purpose of learning the different properties of a gem, how magic affects them and to what degree.

Introduction to Accounting - for those interested in learning to budget and how things are taxed in the muggle and wizarding world.

Introduction to Creative Writing - ground work for future writers, newspaper workers, etc...

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Third & Fourth Year Courses (four optional courses):

"Intermediate" Levels III & IV

The third and fourth years will be counseled by the journeymen, teachers and assistants in order to determine their future interests. Knowing that some of those interests may change in time, the counseling for third years will be more fluid and will help to determine the best courses to take at the time. Fourth years will become settled into their studies for the future and will have a greater understanding of their own selves and what they truly want.

No double classes will be offered, but most the optional courses are permitted on a per semester basis, depending on the Ministry Level of the course, i.e.: any courses that have O.W.L.S. or N.E.W.T.S. assigned to them will be year long, like Care of Magical Creatures, Divination, Arithmancy, etc...

Any student having completed the previous level of "Introductory" course will be permitted to continue onto the "Intermediate" levels. Therefore all levels of I & II must be completed prior to moving onto level III or IV.

Intermediate Mathematics - further study into geometry, algebra and calculus. Again this is not part of the Arithmancy classes.

Intermediate Charms - continuation of charms

Intermediate Transfiguration - continuation of transfiguration

Intermediate Potions - learning different potions, comparative studies on benign versus dangerous ingredients and how potions are affected by them, continued education in the deductive testing and thesis reasoning process.

Intermediate History of Magic - Learning in depth the history of certain spells, Dark or Light, or how some light spells became Dark, as well as the history on the Ministry of Magic and a bit on the Laws, how they came to be and how some can or can not be changed.

Intermediate Defense Against the Dark Arts - physical regime to be followed, incorporating more practical studies and theory. Learning more spells and learning to broaden critical thinking in dire situations.

Intermediate Herbology - students still maintain their own mini greenhouse, incorporating newer with the existing, learning the plant interactions and paying attention to the environmental needs of the plants. The students are still responsible for growing and maintaining these for their potions.

Muggle Studies - one class per week Tuesdays, for wizard born. Thursdays will be a combined class with the Wizarding Culture, for diversity debates pro and cons of each society.

Wizarding Culture - one class per week Tuesdays, for the muggle born. Thursdays will be a combined class with the Wizarding Culture, for diversity debates pro and cons of each society.

Optional Courses (four, permitted for third & fourth years):

"Introductory" I & II or "Intermediate" III & IV

Music Studies - further study in chosen preference of musical studies

Art - further study in a preferred medium

Introduction or Intermediate studies to Metallurgy

Introduction or Intermediate studies to Woodworking

Introduction or Intermediate studies to Martial Arts

Introduction or Intermediate studies to Gemology

Introduction or Intermediate studies to Accounting

Introduction or Intermediate studies to Creative Writing

Introduction to Runes

Introduction to Arithmancy

Introduction to Divination

Introduction to Entrepreneurship – will show basic business concerns and practices as a start-up program, problem solving for beginner businesses, methods and managing, etc… for those that dream of one day owning their own business.

Introduction to Care of Magical Creatures

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Fifth Years (five optional courses):

"General" Level V

Fifth years will receive counseling on their potential career paths, the courses required for their future studies and the grade requirements for Magical or those interested Muggle College and/or University studies, if their paths go in that direction.

The optional courses increase, due to the diversification of the options themselves. Example Metallurgy, the students will be allowed to branch into pure Blacksmithing, Jewelry Crafting (arts required) or Ferrier (specialized in Horse shoe making, Care of Magical Creatures required). Carpentry can be branched out from cabinet making to creating blueprints for houses (math required).

Students in these years will have a better grasp of the courses they need for their future, so many will be dropping their unnecessary or unwanted courses. However, they will need pass their chosen O.W.L.S. in order to continue on forging for their chosen future. O.W.L.S are administered some of the mandatory Ministry Courses. The students themselves can choose to attend depending on what O.W.L.S they want to have or need to have.

Doubled classes may be offered, but the optional courses are still permitted on a per semester basis, depending on the level of the optional course and the course itself.

Some "Intermediate" level course options are such that they are completed in one year and not on a semester basis, as they will depend on the depth of the subject needed. These students will also have the option to move into an "Intermediate" study of any optional course that they may have already completed the "Introductory" level of.

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Sixth & Seventh Years (six optional courses):

"General" Levels IX & IIX or Advanced "A"-Classes or Specialty "S"-Classes

Sixth and seventh year students will receive in depth counseling on their potential career options. A series tests will assist those that may have changed their minds and may help the students weed out the interests that are hobby versus career making.

The sixth and seventh year courses will be available at a General Level, at an Advanced Level or at a Specialized Level, depending on the number of students that can attend an Advanced Level or Special Level of instruction. Professors who're planning to teach any Advanced or Specialty Levels will need to have a minimum of five students. If there are not five, then the students can gain additional instruction and studies after regular classes from tutors.

At the beginning of their schooling, in first year, the students will have eleven courses, but the course times are going to be shorter and the students will be given less course work.

At this point in their schooling, the students have reached nearly final years therefore the course intensity will increase and classes will be significantly longer, based on the needs of the instructors and the courses themselves.

Double classes will be offered for the mandatory N.E.W.T. courses, but the optional courses that are not N.E.W.T. based may also be doubled depending on the number of students present or interested in the course.

Advanced Level or Specialty Level optional courses are such that they are completed in one year and not on a semester basis, as they are more in depth. Therefore the total optional courses per year for sixth & seventh year students will be six. They will still have the choice of starting any "Introductory" level course, even though they are nearing the end of their schooling. It will help to ground their choices and possible develop potential hobbies.

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The boys had discussed, debated, argued, with Hogwarts and Founders, to find a balance in the courses that they were going to offer. They had the list of teachers and aides ready.

Dudley and Draco wrote the above for the Heads of House to review the next day. It was all in order for them to be prepared for changes to occur, effective immediately. Harry wrote to the Instructional Records of Gringotts and listed all of course that he needed teachers, journeyman, aides and assistants for. He also asked if they of any secretaries or receptionists that were available in order to assist the Heads of House in their increased administrative duties.

Harry also wrote to Gringotts Bank to find out the normal rate pay for all the teachers at Hogwarts and requested a comparison list from the other such schools around the world. It didn't matter if the information came from Magical or Muggle schools, he just wanted to have a good basis of comparison.

Sir Gronk was in his element and he had been prepared for this ever since he was chosen to work this post. He dispatched owls here and there. There were many on the list of availability that were prepared to leave whatever position they had at the moment, in order to be a part of this new system at Hogwarts.

The journeyman heard it first and the news spread like wildfire. There was new Headmaster and Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was having a huge course overhaul. They all planned to arrive on the next day and they all did not care which course they would be assisting or teaching in. It was Hogwarts and most would do anything for that school.

That is how Harry and Draco felt because they too would do anything for the school. Once the decisions were made, Harry felt better about the changes he had planned. Draco was there with him and Dudley was helping out too.

At the end of the day, they all went to bed slightly exhausted from the previous day and from the debates they had today. Harry was nervous about the next day, but then he treated it like a Quidditch match. He'll let his nerves take over later, much, much later.

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August 25

It was nine in the morning, when all the Head of Hogwarts' Houses met in the staff room. All of the regular professors were a little miffed at having to show up a couple of days earlier then planned. Normally they would work an extra two weeks at the end of term to get everything in order for the next one and only need about three days to get settled in at the school.

A couple of them were peeved to have found out that they were fired, especially Professor Trelawny. She never left for holidays so the new Headmaster had the school evict her, just like it had the previous Headmaster.

Unfortunately for the other Professors, the Headmaster demanded that they return to the school or forfeit their positions. This was highly unlike Headmaster Dumbledore, but with the political climate as it was they had no choice. Hogwarts was the most secure site that they had in the Wizarding World and they loved to teach here. So now the Heads of House were all there waiting for Professor Dumbledore to show up. The other professors and teachers were made to assemble in the Great Hall.

The Heads of House were therefore surprised when four goblins walked in, instead. They were carrying large frames, obviously belonging to portraits, but then the Heads of Houses heard a female voice directing the goblins to position the paintings on the walls just so.

Once the paintings were up, a scroll appeared in front of each Head of House, from which they were to read the contents before the paintings would even be uncovered. Cautiously they took up the papers, unrolled them and read the contents.

They were given an abridged version of the Founders Law and they were all astonished at the contents.

Professor Snape, Head of Slytherin House was frowning and wondered how this would cut into his potions research and how this would affect his spying for the Order or any duties that the Dark Lord may request.

Professor Flitwick, Head of Ravenclaw House, squeaked periodically at a line every now and then, not knowing where to begin to direct his thoughts.

Professor Sprout, Head of Hufflepuff House was thoughtful and wondered about the scroll and its contents.

Professor McGonagall, Head of Gryffindor House was nearly outraged at having to share her hard earned position as Deputy to the Headmaster, but then her thoughts turned towards all of the time that she had lost away from the transfiguration research that she loved.

Dumbledore had conned her into the position, making her feel that as a Gryffindor she should be the one to assist him. Now however, if she read this correctly, she would gain much more then just time.

"Does everyone in this room understand what the parchment implies?" The disembodied voice said.

The four Heads of House all acknowledged it. It meant that they would be taking on more responsibilities, but that they would have a greater share in making decisions for the entirety of the school. The final decision will remain on the shoulders of the Headmaster, though. Still there was a lot of room for improvement.

The portraits were then unveiled. Low and behold there were the Founders. The professors had never seen any portraits of the Founders around the school, but here they were now. As goblins were the ones to have brought them in, it stood to reason that these paintings were stored at Gringotts Bank in a vault somewhere.

The Founders looked down at the current Heads of Houses and soon were speaking to them, answering what questions they could, with that female voice interjecting every once in a while. Finally when the Founders had outlined what their true intentions for the school had been, the Professors were surprised.

It would have been so nice to have all of those course options during their lifetime. Indeed the professors hoped that they could participate in some of them in the future, if new courses were going to be added to the curriculum.

Now they asked themselves where Professor Dumbledore was, when Snape figured it out. "The disembodied is the School and Dumbledore is no longer Headmaster. Correct?" He addressed this question to the voice and the portraits.

"You owe me Ricky," Salazar gloated. "I told you it would be a Slytherin that would figure it all out."

"Bah, stupid snake-speaker," Godric grumped, crossing his arms. "At least the Headmaster is a Gryffindor and don't call me Ricky."

"Really boys," Rowena said.

Helga said, "Don't tell them who it is. I want to see their shocked faces when he walks in."

"Fine, fine," Godric said.

Salazar nodded his agreement only too happy to have won the first bet. They had a few others on the go, but he did have the patience of a snake and could wait to see it all play out.

"Now that everyone has caught on. Are there any other questions?" Hogwarts asked.

McGonagall spoke up, "Is this all there is to this meeting, other than finding out about a new Headmaster? Surely there is more in order for all of the Professors to be requested to the school at this time."

"There is," said Hogwarts. "The new Headmaster wants the current Heads to review the booklists sent out to the first and second year students to ensure that the lists were accurate. It seems that he was able to view his own original lists and compare it to that of another student in a different house, only to find that there was one book missing from his list. I had the house-elves get copies of all the first and second year lists from the student files."

The lists were then popped onto the staff table, all shuffled so that the Heads did not just receive the ones from their houses, but a mix to be able to accurately compare.

Needless to say they were shocked at the little bit that they sorted through. Professor Flitwick told them to hold off on the rest and then preformed a charm that sorted the lists into two piles. One pile with all the books listed and one pile with the missing book. He sent another charm to separate the piles into the houses and there they found the problem.

Slytherin house received the complete book list. The other three houses received a half and half proportion, half getting the full list and half not.

Professor Snape was livid. It was a book that was required for his course and all future potions classes. If most the students he taught had never seen it, much less read it, no wonder there were such problems in his classes. It made him look to favor the ones that knew what they were doing and punish those that didn't know better because they didn't have that book. Worse, if the muggleborns in the school had no knowledge of what might be required and only followed the lists, they were going to be left behind.

The book was called, "Comprehensive Potion Ingredients, Interactions and Brewing Safety". The students who are failing or that have failed may not have, if they had this book on hand in the first place.

McGonagall was angry as well. She had charmed the pens to send out accurate lists and it looked like someone had tampered with them, secluding the muggleborns. The lists were standard for first and second years, so it never changed. It made her look very bad, as well.

"We need to send out list corrections, immediately," she said.

"Well at least it will only be to half the students," Professor Sprout said.

Hogwarts spoke up, saying, "Wrong. The entire student body will be receiving a completely new student list for the new courses that the Headmaster will be introducing. Also, because there will be a change in the school uniforms for the entire student body. The Headmaster has already compensated the tailor, Mme. Maulkins for any student that will show up for a change to the ones that they had ordered. There are also some house-elves here that will help alter the school robes to fit the new standards when the students arrive.

These new standards are for the safety of the children, but also to accommodate the new courses that the Headmaster wants to implement. The added reason is that all students need to be prepared for battle. This school will defend itself, but we will not have students tripping over their uniforms to get to safety. Here are the new standards."

Hogwarts called up four images that shifted from the old uniforms to the new, showing the differences and their practicality.

The boys' uniforms consisted of black muggle jeans or very dark brown leather or suede pants, spelled for durability. All tops consisted of dark brown or black coloured jumpers with their house colours in piping on the cuffs and collars. The undershirt was to be a thick, comfortable material and no ties because of its potential choking hazard. The robes were to vary in length from the mid-thigh to the knees only.

Houses colours would be on a scrolled runic edging around the collar and from the shoulder down to the cuff of the left sleeve. Runes were added for protection. There would be no shoes at the school for the time being. Solid dark boots with heating and cooling charms built in, were to be purchased and worn at all times. They were also to purchase 3 dark pairs sweatpants and sweatshirts, piping to be added to reflect houses.

The girl uniforms consisted of the same materials and colours as the boys, but to preserve femininity the 'skirts' were lengthened to mid-calf or the ankle and were made like skorts or bolero pants. Basically they were pants that could be masked as skirts and were highly comfortable.

The undershirts and jumpers were to be the same as the boys'. The robe length for a girl was to the knee or ankle length. Houses were differentiated in the same manner as the boys. They were also required to purchase boots (which could be long from ankle to knee), sweatpants and shirts like the boys.

Professors Sprout and McGonagall immediately saw the practicality for the girls' uniforms. They wouldn't be exposing themselves to the elements or to the boys' scrutiny, but the sweatpants?

Professors Snape and Flitwick, saw the female practicality, but questioned the muggleness of the boys' uniforms. Still they had to agree that the shorter robe length would prevent students from tripping on the hems.

All the Professors wondered whether they would have to dress in a similar fashion. They were curious about the sweats though and asked the school and Founders if they knew about them.

Hogwarts then said, "I was asked to clean up several of the larger school rooms that had never been used in the last few hundred year. They were modified into what the Headmaster called a gymnasium. The floors have a solid running track on the outside and a wooden floor on the inside with peculiar coloured markings. They look like barriers, but there are no spells on those."

"He told us that the students needed more exercise and was going to introduce workout schedules and sports to get them into shape," Godric said. "Personally I agreed. We trained our students to be physically fit in order to at least be able to dodge properly."

"It is a shame that the courses this school has maintained are the ones that only require marginal physical action, at best." Helga said, "I mean even I knew how to physically defend myself, should I lose my wand."

Salazar nodded, "I've heard that most of the exercises that these students get is from the distance they have to travel from class to class."

The Founders were shaking their heads, despairing at how far their ideals had fallen. The Heads of House, themselves wondered why nothing had been done to correct these things in the past.

"How will this be corrected now?" Professor Flitwick asked. The door to the staff room opened by the one person they had been waiting for.

"Sorry, I'm late," said a very familiar green-eyed Gryffindor.

He sent his magic pulses around the room locating the Headmaster's chair and realized that it was one that used to belong to Dumbledore. He frowned at it and then banished it away, conjuring one of his own in plump leather, infinitely more comfortable. He sat down papers in front of him and he smiled at the Heads of House. He waited for the explosion that he sure was going to happen.

"Potter what do you think your doing?" Snape demanded.

"This is not the place for you Mr. Potter, you'll need to leave," Professor McGonagall said.

"There's no way that you are qualified for the position," said Professor Sprout, who was really shocked that perhaps he had been the one selected.

The only Head of House didn't say anything right away, but paused and remembered the Founders Law that he had just read was Professor Flitwick. When he did finally speak, he caused all of the protestations to cease. "You were the one that the school selected, were you not, young Mr. Potter?"

"That is correct Professor Flitwick," Harry replied. "Hogwarts has been keeping me up to date on the meeting, while I was previously occupied."

"Occupied, doing what exactly?" Snape demanded.

Harry faced the professor and calmly said, "Greeting and settling the journeymen that would be taking over your first and second year classes. There are dozens of new teachers, that have been hired to add more classes and diversity to our curriculum. There are also numerous teachers' aides that will be assigned to every Professor in this school."

The Heads of House were gobsmacked. They were astonished and further astounded by the list that Harry had just handed out. "These are the added courses for this year. I have already contacted the bookstore in Hogsmeade to ensure that the additional course books would be readily available to the students by owl order, once they have decided on their extra curricular courses.

The only students that would really be affected and have advantage with this newer curriculum are the first to fourth years. They will have the better chance to adjust and benefit from it. Unfortunately the fifth years will only be able to take advantage from some of the new courses, but the current sixth and seventh years will be heavily dependent on the career counseling that they will be receiving prior to selecting their courses for the year.

I have made it mandatory that all the students take a one and a half hour course in physical education as part of their Defense Against the Dark Arts course. They need to be able to match the standard of education that the other magical schools have been turning out. This school has the room available and had the potential to compete in a world wide market, but after seeing the statistics on the low productivity from the adults that this school has turned out, I was sorely disappointed."

He paused to take a sip of water that Dobby had just delivered, "Thank you Dobby."

Surprisingly Dobby didn't gush at him. He just said, "You're welcome sir," and popped away to his other tasks.

"Hagrid will be continuing his education and the expulsion against him is no longer effective. I provided the Board and Ministry ample evidence that they agreed to allow him this chance. He will be studying in the evenings with me, my mate and other teachers who're excellent with one on one teaching. Since I have been made the Headmaster of this school, I will no longer be formally attending classes, as I do not want preferential treatment from any of the Professors here.

In fact I would find that to be a conflict of interest. The Founders have graciously accepted to tutor me in the required courses. I will participate in some of the extra curricular classes and will show up for tests, but will probably be training with different experts, in different subjects, some of which may be offered at a later date, but at this time I will be testing their suitability of most courses.

I will be in the Great Hall for all meals, but I will be sitting with the other seventh years and I will not be announcing to the school that I am the Headmaster. At least not until the Dark Lord is no longer an issue or there is a pressing need to reassure the student body or their parents.

I want to protect the students and the students will learn to defend themselves, without me standing up and placating them with false platitudes. I will need the four of you to show a united front to all the students and the additional teaching staff. The fact that Headmaster Dumbledore is not here will cause a stir. The fact that another has been delegated Headmaster, but refuses to be seen or acknowledged will also cause some friction.

There is a battle or war headed in this direction and no child coming to this school should feel threatened or even be involved in this. We will have plans and have back up plans to our back up plans. They will be cared for and I do mean all of them.

If they request sanctuary from this school or from any of you, tell me and we will figure something out. They will not be made into spies or traitors, they will be saved." He took another sip, wishing that he could see their faces. He knew that they hadn't left yet and he believed that he was reaching them.

"I am aware that some of the students are already Marked, but I don't know under which conditions they were Marked. I don't know if they were forced or willing, but I do have something in mind that will monitor their activities in order to prevent any coercion of another being in this school. Everyone will have a monitor, including all the instructors and yourselves. This item will be handed out after the sorting."

He held up a small two inch sphere and explained that once activated by tapping it with your wand or by picking it up, the sphere would levitate and either circle your head like a halo or remain stationary about three inches away at all times. He would be using this to communicate with the teachers and students.

It would also monitor everyone's health and allow the medi-witch some advance knowledge, should a student suddenly her assistance. It would not interfere with any of the class studies and once everyone was used to it, it would cease to be a concern. It was not in any way, shape or form an invasion of privacy and it would certainly not allow anyone to peek at another's activities during a private moment.

"I'm sure that the four of you need to think on everything that I have said here," he said. "I need to know that I can count on all four of you. Please feel free to contact me after you've discussed these courses, the new curriculum and everything that I have presented. The Founders and Hogwarts can clarify some of these decisions and the statistics can be provided to you by Sir Gronk from the Goblins Instructional Records Unit."

He rose from his seat, leaving it there so that they would have a focus and remember that this was not a prank in any way shape or form. He even left them a copy of the contract that he signed for the position of Headmaster.

Hopefully, they could work through it.

Professor Snape said, "I need a strong drink in order to process everything that was just said. In fact, I think I need to get drunk because I could have just sworn that Harry Bloody Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived, Gryffindor Golden Boy, is now in charge of this school and my salary."

The others agreed and Accioed their favorites, beginning to debate, review, argue, consider, etc... Everything that was presented was gone over with a fine tooth comb, so to speak.

Harry had even left behind the sphere for them to test it as much as their hearts desired in order to prove his words were sincere. He had thought of almost everything that he could do, in the very short time he had and now it was just a matter for the Head of Houses to integrate everything that he had just presented and realize that they had no choice, but to agree.

HPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDM

Chapter 13

HPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDM

August 26, a little while after the Big News

Harry returned to the staff room. It was just a bit before the noon meal and to look in on his Deputies. He had Dudley and Draco with him, but the boys were shocked to discover that the professors were drunk and out of their gourds. This was not something that he had anticipated. It was not yet noon and all of the Heads of House were drunk.

Harry chuckled, "I did not think that they would do this."

Draco was shocked that his godfather had resorted to drinking this early in the day. "Severus Salazar Snape, what the hell do you think you're doing, drinking this early in the morning?"

Snape's head was on the table and he was almost drooling on it, but when he heard that tone of voice, he automatically slurred, "Noshin' mother."

Draco's eyes widened in shock and Harry began laughing at that statement. Dudley was in his own corner chuckling at them too.

Severus turned and looked around, seeing only a blurry white-blond head looking at him aghast, he said, "What' sa matta Luce, never cared whether I was drunk a'fore or not. You come to sort me out and use me again?"

It was Harry's turn to be shocked. There was no way that Snape had just suggested that! "Professor Snape you'll watch what you say to your godson or I may just have to take drastic measures."

Snape just looked at him confused, slurring, "Potter? I coulda swore that Harry bloody Potter is the 'eadmaster and responible... reshpnibabble... uh, in charge o' me pay."

Dudley spoke to Harry, "Cousin, maybe you should sober them up, before he says anything more incriminating."

"Good point, I didn't think that Professor Snape's language skills would fall to gutter cockney." Harry extended his wand and said, "Sobrietas Puritas." It was the pure sober charm that rendered the individual completely sober without sickness.

The Heads had all been looking goofy and were giggly when the Potions Master was speaking to Harry and his godson, but once they were all sobered, the reality of the words were shocking to remember.

Snape blanched and blushed when he remembered the exact words that he said to Draco and in that awful dialect of his muggle father. It was not something that he wanted anyone to know about. The Dark Lord's Mark did not allow him to be intimate with anyone that didn't have the Dark Mark.

All of the Death Eaters were that way, but since he was gay and hadn't bonded with anyone prior to being Marked he had no choice. He had to take what was offered and there was no one in the Inner Circle that he would ever permit that kind of intimacy, except Lucius. The reason for that was that if he didn't accommodate that Malfoy Asshole, then the Dark Lord would become involved and that usually meant repeated beatings and rapes from the both of them.

"We will be discussing this later, Professor Snape," Harry said, sternly. He was somewhat disappointed in them, but the implications that Snape had brought up would devastate his godfather should he find out. Harry was in the middle of researching the Dark Mark, but this was something he hadn't come across. "You will be dining with us this evening to explain what you meant."

Severus just gulped and nodded. This really was not something he wanted his godson to ever know about, but he had the feeling that he had no choice now. There was something about Potter now that prevented him from speaking out against it.

"Later," he agreed still white and still embarrassed at having let slip such an intimate detail of his personal life. However, knowing how powerful Harry Potter had become he allowed himself to have a very teeny tiny glimmer of hope that something could be done about it.

"Now, how about, we all go down to the Great Hall to meet the new teachers and greet the returning ones?" Harry suggested.

"Just a couple of things Headmaster," Professor McGonagall said. "We have a few questions that we'd like answered before heading down."

"Of course," Harry said, taking his seat and conjuring two more on either side of him. Draco followed and sat on his left, while Dudley sat down on his right.

"The increase of teaching staff and assistants will be creating a lot more administrative work for us," she began.

Professor Sprout asked, "Also, what if we wanted some of our own students to be assistants?"

"Who will be determining our pay from now on or paying us for that matter?" Professor Flitwick asked, as this was a point of concern to all of them.

Professor Snape was about to ask something, when Harry held up his hand. "Just a moment Professor, please allow me to answer one question at a time before asking another."

Snape closed his mouth and decided to listen to the answers before asking his own questions.

Harry began by putting them at ease with regards to the administrative duties, by explaining that when he hired the additional staff that he had also hired administrators to help oversee the vast number of changes and duties.

"Even Mr. Filch and Hagrid will have assistants and helpers with their positions as caretaker and groundskeeper. Your pay has been changed and set to be comparative to other private magical schools available and therefore you will all be receiving a pay increase. The Founders had vaults specifically set up to pay any and all employees at that worked for this school. The Ministry had been taxing the school and that's why fees were set up. Your previous pays came from the fees that the school administered to the students. These fees varied, depending on the political climate and who paid off whom.

Now all fees have been altered to allow all students to attend without undo stress to parents and caregivers. They've also been altered to match parental income on a percentage basis. Therefore poorer students will be paying less than the richer ones and the richer students will not be overpaying their fees, as a standard fee has been set at a top level not to go over and beyond that.

I found out, this summer, that I was paying three times more then Draco and only because I was not aware of the fees. The Goblins have straightened it out, but had figured that I over paid several years of schooling and had in fact been paying for a several of the students to be attending here. That has been fixed of course and those students will be coming here at the expense of their own parents, under the new percentage payment plan. No more political influence in any way shape or form will affect this school.

Professor McGonagall, you will receive back pay for the differences in salary for the past ten years, as you should have been paid as a Deputy Headmistress, instead of your pay remaining that of a Transfiguration Professor. I am only allowed to go back ten years or I would have compensated you for the entire time you were working in the capacity as Deputy Headmistress."

Dobby came back and delivered coffee to all of the professors, plus juice for the boys. Harry then addressed Professor Sprout's question. "I know that some students will be able to fulfill positions as assistants and I certainly would not prevent them. You are asking about Neville Longbottom, aren't you?"

"That's correct." She said and then asked, "How did you know?"

Harry smiled and said, "He's a genius when it comes to plants, too nervous in Potions class, but a true genius with plants and their properties. I was thinking of him when I was coming up with the idea of the mini-greenhouses. Plus I, myself, will be taking over the first year students in Potions and DADA, alternating the teaching of the second years in those classes."

"That's another thing. Mini-greenhouses, I've never heard of such a thing," she said.

Dudley answered her unspoken question, "It's something relatively new in the Muggle World. A company has come up with miniature greenhouses for people who live in the city and in apartment complexes. It allows them to have the same benefits of owning a green house, but the added bonus is that it is small enough for them to work at and to maintain. I have some pictures here, if you want to see them."

She had nodded and so he showed her what they looked like and said, "Obviously with magic, the older students could make them and then younger will learn to take care of their own plants. Also, Harry showed me some of his environmental stasis globes for the ingredients that he's collected and that system can be incorporated with the mini-greenhouses for the older students or students who might want to pool their efforts with other students in order to increase the variety of plants available for their potions. They could be made shrinkable without placing stress on the plants."

"We also know that some students may not show an aptitude for growing plants, but they all must make the effort in their first and second year, as that is where most of their ingredients will be coming from for their first year Potions class. Those that do not have an aptitude will be thoroughly tested before being declared incapable. Laziness or sabotage will not be tolerated." Draco explained.

"Draco why are you here?" Snape asked. "How do you know all of this? Potter what do you mean that you'll be taking over the classes for the first and second years, especially in Potions and DADA?"

"I live with my mate, Uncle," Draco answered. "Surely you didn't expect me to live away from him and as for knowing all of this. Dudley and I helped him hash all of this out yesterday, along with the Founders here and Lady Hogwarts, of course."

"Who's your mate?" Professor Flitwick asked.

Draco wrapped his arm around Harry's and leaned in, laying his head on the broad shoulder of his dark haired Draekon mate.

That's when the rest of the Heads of House noticed the matching rings. At least Snape wasn't surprised at that one, due to his re-introduction of Potter at Grimmauld Place, when they went to fight for furniture. Although he had yet to see the promised memory that Dudley had said was "Uber Cute" and full of corn, whatever that meant. He strongly suspected that it was a Romantic's wet dream, still he curious and wanted to see it.

The professors were a little surprised with the ease that the two had adapted with each other's presence, but Dudley explained that they had been corresponding for a good portion of the later half of the summer and that Harry had kept in touch with Draco for longer then that.

"I'm not sure how he did that, but I know that he did," he said.

Harry answered part of Snape's questions returning the conversation back on track. He was pleased that Draco was not afraid to show his affection publicly. Harry was slightly concerned about the Malfoy mask that his mate had perfected over the years. "That's correct. I will be taking over those classes because I want to be sure that everything will go as I have planned. I do not want you teaching the first and second years because, to be quite frank, you talk over them and you don't seem to be able to bring yourself to understand the level of learning that they are at.

You're more suited to older students, perhaps something of a university type standard, but I know that you must remain here for a while until the war subsides. Also, you are actually still a ward of the school and can not leave without Ministry sanction before the war is officially over.

Teaching those levels will improve my understanding better in both those subjects. Plus it will free you to have an optional class or two on experimentation. Showing the older students, how to experiment with different ingredients, since they will not be able to take advantage of the new system. Should you choose to teach that option?"

"Also, Professor Snape," Harry said. "We all know the parts you have had to play by being a spy for the Order, but I want to make one thing perfectly clear. If you are not summoned before September 1st, you will refrain from going anytime after that.

These monitoring devices will prevent you from leaving, just like the students, and should any Death Eater show up to demand your whereabouts, you may choose to explain that you're confined to the school or that you are no longer interested in the Dark Lord's campaign. I am currently researching how to get rid of the Dark Mark and will need your cooperation in order to succeed."

"Of course," he said, glad that Harry was not going to demand that he spy anymore. He didn't want to and he had to admit that the idea on a couple of Potions Experimentation classes was intriguing. "What about the Order of the Phoenix? What if they still want me to spy?"

"That will of course be your choice, but I do not want you teaching at this school and spying at the same time. It is wearing you down and quite frankly, you don't need to spy. I've been able to refine my connection with the Dark Doofus and can readily see what needs to be seen whenever I feel like looking. I can sift through his mind and know everything that he does, has done or is planning to do."

Severus was startled. The information that Harry claims to be able to access was tremendous, but he didn't know whether to believe or not. Harry then allayed his fears by saying, "You can test me later and I'll show you what I mean."

The Potions Master nodded and then asked, "The three of you came up with this plan to revolutionize the education given in this school?"

"That's right," Dudley said. "Is that such a difficult concept to accept?"

Professor Flitwick spoke up, "Just a minute young man. We know young Mr. Potter and young Mr. Malfoy here, but who are you?"

Draco then corrected the little professor, "Sir and ladies you need to know that my last name is no longer Malfoy. My name is now Draco Severus Potter, registered properly at the Ministry and Harry is my bonded life-mate. Dudley Dursley is Harry's Muggle cousin."

"How are you able to see Hogwarts, young man, let alone be in it, if you're a Muggle?" Professor McGonagall asked.

"Oh, I'm not completely Muggle. I'm more of a squib and am able to use some small magics too. So I can see things normally, just like you do," he said and then turned to Professor Snape and re-asked his question. "How come the three of us planning this "Educational Revolution", as you've put it, is difficult for you to accept?"

Again Severus paused to think before answering in a knee-jerk reaction to the question. He wanted to be sarcastic and sneering, but Harry was now the Headmaster and he wasn't quite sure how his 'old' attitude would be viewed by him. "Mr. Potter has never showed an interest in his education or the lack of it. It is somewhat difficult to accept that he has gained any respect for learning. I suppose that it is possible that I have been bit misjudging and a lot harder on him than some others, but he never seemed to appreciate the efforts we took to teach him. So, yes the concept that he could be interested in learning and has actively changed his attitude does make me wonder."

Harry smirked at his professor. "Sir, you are a Slytherin and the Head of Slytherin House. You should know better by now that many people can have many different masks. The-Boy-Who-Lived is an act. One that I absolutely hate to play up to and yet know that if I acted any different the students and the Wizarding world would cry out their objection. I hated placating the masses and I loathe the publicity that has bombarded me since I entered this world. In short, I think being famous sucks and would rather leave it to the glory seekers like Lockhart.

I'm sorry Professor McGonagall, but I feel that you need to know that I have never approved of the actions that Professor Dumbledore took at the end of my first and second years. Not to mention any of the times that he appointed extra house points at the end of a year in order for Gryffindor House to come out on top, due to the actions taken when I and my friends had supposedly 'saved the day'. It was wrong the way he manipulated the points. It was worse because he had set-up those situations and they should never have happened in the first place."

"You believe that those situations were set-ups?" Professor Sprout asked.

"Of course," Harry said. "How else would Hermione know about the spell for the Devil's Snare to free Ron, in our first year? How else would Hermione become one of my friends if Professor Dumbledore wasn't aware that another Professor was responsible for releasing a troll in the school? The school whether she was asleep or awake would still have been able to relay the information to the current Headmaster, if that Headmaster was listening. He took a gamble with that one because there was no guarantee that I would have become her friend and she was the only one with enough logic in her, at the time, to figure out Professor Snape's logic puzzle. I could not have solved back then."

The Heads of House were looking thoughtful at his speech, when Hogwarts spoke up and told them how she was connected to the Headmasters and Headmistresses. There was no way for any of those things to have happened within her walls without the Headmasters or Headmistresses knowing.

They were connected when the position was accepted, but almost every Headmaster or Headmistress used that knowledge for their own purposes. This was not something that she was happy about either, that's why she chose Harry. He was not corrupt and he has the time to learn and grow into the position. Besides, he was one of the few who actually gained the respect of other creatures, which she pointed out in reference to the goblins that ran Gringotts and the respect he showed to House-elves.

"As for my seemingly recent interest in my education," Harry continued. "Well, it has never been recent. My mask was just that, a mask. I knew that I could never seem to do better then my friends because Hermione needed to shine with her knowledge, besides it would have been an added and unwanted burden to be one of the top in school and put up with the…ugh…adulation of being famous too.

Really how high of a pedestal do I need to be on? There was just no way that I wanted to be up there in marks, besides I only needed to do well enough to pass the O.W.L.s I needed in order to get into the more advanced classes of my choosing. Thankfully none of the Professors in Hogwarts were administering those, so I could do as well as I pleased. Therefore I did just well enough to get into the advanced courses that I needed."

"Now that you can not see, what career are you aiming for?" Professor Snape asked. The other Heads of House had not noticed his disability and all gasped in shock at the revelation. "Please, you can see that his eyes are not focused on any one of us when he faces us, so don't act so shocked," he snarked at the others.

"Really Severus," Professor Flitwick said. "We did not notice because of everything that he has been presenting here. It almost seems inconsequential, at the moment. Our teaching careers here have just been turned on its end."

The others nodded and Harry said, "You're right Professor, whether I can see or not is not important at the moment. Please believe me, I have learned to compensate for it and I have been seriously considering a change to my career options before now anyway. Being an Auror now is no longer an option, but then again I was becoming disenchanted with the prospect of working a job of Dark Wizard Hunting and working for the Ministry. I figure that since I'm contracted to Hogwarts, I'll have more than enough time to find the career that will be my future passion."

Snape then decided to ask his true question from the beginning, which pertained to the information that he received earlier in the morning meeting. "That book for the first years, where did you find it? You stated that I won't be teaching the ankle biters and that I can pawn the first two years, maybe three onto someone else?"

Harry grinned at him and confirmed that, "That's correct. I do not want you teaching the first years nor the second year students. They actually need to learn and not be afraid to ask questions. When you eventually do get them, they should be grounded enough to please even you. We'll go through all of that later, when the other Professors have been introduced to their assistants and aides."

"Thank all the gods," Severus said relieved that that was not just a dream.

"As for the book, I found that in one of the Founders Vaults yesterday, when we went to confirm the rate of your pays with Gringotts. Sir Gronk is the one who suggested that we go through the vaults to see if there was anything in there that could help us out. The book, though, had to be copied at a Muggle copier store, due to the fact that this book was not in print for long and Flourish & Blott's did not have any on hand. I've had extra copies made for the other students, if they're interested in it. I'll save one for you and I know that I will be making a few of the potions before I allow the students to do so. They will be dispersed during their first class."

The other Heads of House were relieved too when they found out that Snape would not be teaching the first or second years. The man really he had little patience for those young ones and now would not be able to take away too many points during the day because of them.

"We will discuss that later this evening too. I'm sure that you will want to re-test my competence in potions. I assure you that you have nothing to worry about, but since my grades seem too poor for your tastes feel free to test me in that subject too, but I ask that you do so without prejudice.

We will be meeting here at least once a day until the beginning of the year, same time in the morning, to discuss further needs and issues however we must now go to the Great Hall. I will introduce you to the new Professors and to your aides or assistants."

They had several more questions from this morning, but Harry was right they had time and did need to meet the new Professors and aides. Harry would be answering many queries from different directions, plus they were sure that some answers would be provided when the met their assistants.

Harry had planned to swear the Professors to secrecy regarding his Headmaster status and Hogwarts agreed to help. Rowena and Godric were the ones that came up with the monitoring balls and with the help of Salazar they were able to modify them further to assist the Professors and aides in keeping the secret. They would all know who the new Headmaster is, but they would not be able to say his name, the only word that would ever come out in regards to him would be just that, Headmaster, no first name or last name.

Draco's own ball would be like that too, just in case he slipped up. It was entirely possible for that to happen and Draco agreed. He was proud of his spouse and knew that he could slip up in order to show up the Mudblood and the Weasel.

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Helga had helped out with the mini-greenhouse idea. She loved the conversation she had with the only Muggle-Squib she had ever met. Seems that Dudley wasn't completely into just sports, he had discovered a green thumb and had been part of an outside club, called the "Grower's Network".

The Grower's Network was just that. It was a place that plant growers came together to introduce themselves, find jobs, find people interested in the same things that they were into, etc… It was like any other group or organization, but the local chapters came together one or twice a week to discuss plants, fertilizer and nutrients, begin growing things, potting procedures, etc... Most of the chapters were also part of the greenhouse business that wanted to allow people of these clubs the chance to attempt growing things and allowed them to take over one greenhouse building.

There were several outside clubs, like the auto club, the builder's club, etc… These clubs were a growing affair in the business world, due to the needs of the current market. Not many young people were interested in the Trades type subjects anymore, but these clubs opened up many eyes to another form of earning money, other then the electronic or computer industry.

Still Harry, himself, had been surprised that Dudley was interested in plants to such an extent. He silently wished there was somehow or someway that Dudley could remain at Hogwarts, instead of returning to Smeltings.

Dudley had even admitted to the fact that he didn't like his current school and wished that he didn't have to return to the Muggle World. Still it was a comfort to him that Harry and Draco would be only a phone call away and that he could write to them have the letters delivers via insta-mail boxes that they had.

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The meeting was at an end for now and they made their way to the Great Hall, when Harry pulled out a copy of two new Potion recipes to discuss with Professor Snape.

"Professor Snape," he said, walking along side him and tapping his sticking in front of him. He pulled out a scroll and was holding it out in the general direction of the Potions Master. "Please have a look at these and tell me whether you will be able to provide them, as well as the Wolfsbane potion, during the school year."

Severus took the parchment, giving a quick glance he was surprised at the contents. He had heard that there was a potion, specifically made for Vampires made to assist them in functioning normally, without going into a blood rage, due to a lack of an appropriate food source. There never was any confirmation of that in any of the Potions magazines or journals that he subscribed to. It was an underground rumor that he had heard a few times in the Darker alleys.

Better still there were two potions on the list. One to assist with the need for blood and the second was a cloning potion to clone willingly given human blood, almost like a Blood Replenishing Potion, but in this case it provides an instant food and nutrient rich source for a hungry vampire.

They were walking into the Great Hall when it hit Snape; one of the new Professors was a Vampire. There was going to be a Werewolf and a Vampire teaching at Hogwarts? He just looked at Harry, as though he had grown another head.

"What's the matter Uncle Sev?" Draco asked.

"I just realized that Harry has hired a Vampire to teach here," he said, answering his godson.

"Are you sure that this is wise, Harry?" Professor Flitwick asked.

Harry smiled at him. "Of course, Professor DeLuka has been vetted by the goblins. In fact his name has been on the list of potential replacement professors the longest. His credentials are without reproach and the students will love his teaching methods. The goblins had kept everything up to date and this particular individual absolutely loves History, all History. Who better to teach the students on the subject than someone who has been through it. He certainly won't just focus on the Goblin Wars."

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The Heads of House had not seen the changes that had been occurring in the Great Hall and they were not aware that changes would be taking place in there, but it happened. The seating in the Great Hall had been re-arranged to an old format that had been around during the Founders' time.

The teachers' tables were no longer raised as high, which had been about a foot and a half higher then the students' tables. They were now only a half a foot higher, which allowed approachability to them from the students. Also, the teaching tables formed part of a U shape which was finished by the seventh year tables.

Along the right side of the hall was the table of the assistants and aides or journeymen, under the larger portraits of Rowena Ravenclaw and Godric Gryffindor. The head table was set up for the actual professors and teachers. The left side of the hall, under the equally large portraits of Helga Hufflepuff and Salazar Slytherin was the seventh year tables.

The other tables and benches were set up in rows in the middle just like normal, however there were coloured numbers hovering over them and carved into the tables. Starting from the right, near the teachers' aides, the numbers were 5 & 6 next was 3&4 and near the seventh year tables were the numbers 1 & 2.

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Harry walked and tapped his cane here and there to guide his way. The Professors and teachers' aids were all seated where they were supposed to except for the four Heads of House. Harry motioned the four to their new places at the head table. He took the reigns and began addressing them all.

"Hello everyone," he said. "As you may already know from this morning my name is Harry Potter and I will be the one of the assistants to the DADA and Potions classes for the first and second years. With me are the Four Heads of Hogwarts Houses and they are also now the new Deputy Headmasters and Deputy Headmistresses of this school. If there is any concern about the school, the students, the curriculum…anything, feel free to bring your concerns to one or all of them.

You have all been notified about the courses that are now available and you've all signed the contracts accepting these positions for the duration of two years, which, by the way, I am very happy to know. Now if each of you would kindly open the box in front of you."

In front of each person, in the hall, there appeared a small square box and within that box was a small one and a half to two inch round marble like crystal ball. The Heads all knew what these were, but the faces of the others showed that they did not. "Please either tap it with your wand or pick it up with your hand. Professor Snape, you may choose to wait until September 1st to do so. I've already explained this to you."

Snape just nodded and tucked the package into his pocket. He wanted to wait and see whether he would be summoned anytime between now and the first of September. He didn't want the Order to know that he was going to refuse to spy any longer during the up coming year. He was too interested in the new changes and preferred the chance to show his students that they had a choice that did not involve Dumbledore or the Dark Lord.

The others did as requested, even the other three knowing that they just might be confined to the school because of it. All the balls began to float around their heads in varying patterns or elliptical formations. Harry then explained what they are and what exactly that they do. "Please understand that the Heads of House have thoroughly tested them and can answer any question that you may have."

A voice came from the aides' table and it was a voice that Professor Sprout was happy to hear. She sent a huge smile to Harry and even though he could not see it, he felt it and returned her smile. "Harry, why are you directing all of us like this?" Neville Longbottom asked. "All you've told us so far was that the Headmaster told you to assist us in getting settled, but where is Headmaster Dumbledore?"

Neville was happy to have been asked and had readily signed the contract just like the others, but now he was curious about Harry's motive, but also about the tall blond boy that walked in next to Draco and about the fact that Draco Malfoy was here as well. He trusted Harry, when Harry had sent him a letter asking if he was interested in being an assistant to Professor Sprout for a revolutionary new idea for first and second year Herbology students.

It allowed him to be employed safely for the next two years. His grandmother approved knowing that he would be safe at Hogwarts, but now he wondered why Harry was the one that was leading them and seemed to be making the decisions.

Harry smirked and said, "Excellent questions Neville. First up, now that these monitoring devices have been explained in general, I need to add that the ones you've all just activated has an extra charm that will prevent any of you from revealing what I am about to tell you or perhaps I should just let our dear Hogwarts explain while we have our meal. Would you be a dear?"

"It will be my pleasure, Headmaster," she said, startling everyone and causing everyone to look at Harry with new eyes. He just looked at everyone and bowed. Then he took his seat next to Draco and began to eat while she and the four portraits explained the Founders Law to all the Professors, Aides, Journeymen, and Assistants.

They were surprised that the school had such power and that there was even such a Law, but many were glad of the changes. Hogwarts explained why she chose Harry and why she wanted someone without true experience in these matters. He was willing to take advice before making any decisions and he was not afraid of making the necessary changes to improve this school.

Also, he had the guts and power to prevent Ministry of Magic's or the Board of Governor's interference. It would only be a matter of time before they found out, but they planned to hold off as long as possible. Although there was the possibility that Dumbledore would spill the beans, but Harry sort of had the feeling that Dumbledore would only do so after the school year had begun. It was a strategic move that would either expose him earlier to the students or would allow him time to come up with a counter plan.

It was a good thing that the meal was now, since mostly everyone needed to think on the news that they have just received. There were several questions regarding the new curriculum, books, supplies and classroom needs. Ideas were further bounced, but they all agreed that Harry's concept and ideas were the best point to jump off from.

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Harry directed the administrative assistants to the Heads of House and told the Heads that Dumbledore's old office had been converted to allow the four of them to jointly work in the same space. They could be there on a rotational basis with a rotating door that connected to their personal office for House duties in the section of the school where their House was located.

The administrators were set up in an adjacent room to the House offices with a connecting door to the Deputy office and to each other, in case they ever needed to pool their tasks. They decided to pool certain tasks, like the sending out of the new lists for all the years and in order to change the prefects, mainly two more prefects per house were added. The lists have been made and were being sent later this evening.

There would be no Head Boy or Head Girl this year, which was something that would piss off Hermione, because she had always hoped to have the Head Girl position. There were enough assistants and aides for the lowers years that Prefects were all that were needed for this year. Perhaps the other two positions will be resurrected in the future, once this black and white war was over. For now it was best not to place a student in charge of the others when their alliances were questionable.

Harry explained this to everyone, but Professor McGonagall was fuming. She wanted to know the real reason and Harry just said that once Professor Snape activated his monitor, then he would explain why and not before. Also, she wanted to know why Hermione was not considered for being a teachers' assistant.

Harry answered her question frankly, "I know her and she would not be interested in teaching. Nor could she teach at the same level as the students. She takes certain things on faith and does not allow for any deviation or thinking, she's extremely book learned. I had her try to teach and show me a few things, but her methods are incorrect for the new environment that we are creating. Besides she has been panicky about the seventh year and N.E.W.T.s since she found out about them in third year and it had been getting worse now that she's passed her O.W.L.s. She will be too busy trying to stay at the top to teach."

McGonagall was still miffed that she had to wait for the true reason why Harry didn't want Ms. Granger to be the Head Girl, but she did admit that there were enough adults in the school to compensate and if she was truly being honest with herself, Hermione really would be a terrible choice because of her very strict mannerisms. To be truly honest, would be to say that Hermione Granger would take to dictatorship rather then democracy, if given a position of authority over other students.

Once the lunch was cleared, Harry brought out the book he had used with Sir Gronk. It listed the interests of all present. The Professors were then able to evaluate the assistants and in effect choose the most suitable amongst all that were there.

There was only one Potions Journeyman that was interested in working with this Potions Master and no other assistant there was interested in working with the Snarky man. That's when Harry said that he was the one that would be working primarily with the first years in the DADA and the Potions classes. He pointed out to Severus that the Journeyman would be able to look over part of the new program, where the plant ingredients were grown by the students and that the Journeyman would be able to team up with the Herbology ones for that.

Neville was made assistant to Professor Sprout and would be working in conjunction with an office aide and two Journeymen for two full years. He was in heaven, but he still did not know the name of the blond that was constantly talking to Draco Malfoy.

Dudley had noticed the curiosity of the curly brown haired boy, but was unable to find out what it was that the other wanted. Still he knew that he would be here until the thirtieth and would probably help out with the Herbology and Muggle Studies courses. The setting up of the classes and bouncing off of ideas, especially for the Muggles studies classes.

Draco didn't know if he wanted to be an assistant or not, but he was guarded like all the teachers, with the secret of Headmaster Potter. Unfortunately it was still a honeymoon time for him and his mind was not completely focused on the information flowing around him, since his mind drifted occasionally into the gutter with tiny scenarios of a naughty student being punished by his Headmaster.

Later he figured that the best way for the future counselors to begin analyzing the students, would be for them to test him first, since he had no idea of his potential interests. Also, since Draco was going to be living here for three extra years after his seventh with an additional possibility of four more, he knew that he would be able to take advantage of nearly all the optional courses and be able to complete nearly every level of them. That might help him out in figuring what his future career passion would be. He had a feeling that his mate already knew what his own passion was, but was just waiting for Professor Snape to break down and acknowledge his mate's interest and intelligence on the subject of potions.

Soon all the new teachers and assistants were placed satisfactorily, except the ones who were waiting for the History Professor. They had been told that the new Professor was a vampire, prior to accepting their positions, but that if they were ever really uncomfortable in his presence then they would still be employed to tutor the older years or to assist with the Wizarding studies, because some of those classes will cross over with the study of History. In fact many of the classes were going to cross over in order to improve understanding on many of the core subjects required in the British and Scottish communities.

Europe and other countries were a different matter and hopefully the new History Professor would be able to provide a different point of view. Especially since he was of Spanish decent, but had lived in South America, North America and many of the other countries in the world.

His name was Professor Antonio DeLuka and he has been around since Cortez invaded the Aztec empire. He was actually there when it happened, but he had an additional Wizarding perspective of that time and would probably cross teach the Muggle perspective versus the Wizarding during his classes.

This year certainly promised to be a lively one.

A contingent of House-elves popped into the Great Hall and one was assigned per course to a specific professor and two were assigned to the administrative assistants, due to their current needs to rush out the new course and items lists today.

Dobby was in the process of making a list just like Harry's, in a different journal, for the house-elves outlining the varying interests. Any free house-elves were to be offered a safe place and would be offered bonding, if that was what they wanted.

Dobby, himself, was assigned and bonded to the Headmaster. He would listen to no other.

He had wanted Harry to choose him, but he wasn't sure that Harry wanted to be bound to a house-elf. He wasn't prepared to present himself, but Winky knew this and had petitioned for Dobby just like Dobby did for her.

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Dobby's current job was to list all of the elves in the school, including the ones on Harry's various estates and find out their interests and how to keep them from getting bored. The intrepid little house elf was a genius and had been increasingly open to suggestions and was no longer really subservient in his manners.

He was able to locate a couple of elves that Remus had asked for his library property, 'Snake's End' and he had even found a set of triplet house-elves that wanted a minimal bond that left them free enough to pursue their own interests.

One was a male, who liked practical jokes, experimenting with magic and items; the second a female liked to clean, listen to and make music; the third, who was also male, was a cook and loved potion work. It was a good arrangement because two would cause a mess and the third would clean, as long as she was not the butt of any jokes or testing, which if she was she was permitted to refuse to clean up after any of their messes. Of course these three bonded to the Weasley twins with the understanding that they all had one day off, one evening off, were paid 10 sickles a week to feed their interests and were allowed to wear whatever they wanted.

The twins loved all three of them on sight and agreed to everything that they wanted. They even insisted that the elves have a pick out of any of the rooms for their own. Turns out that the one who loved jokes, took Ron's old room, the female of the triplets took Hermione's, toning down the fluorescent aspects and reducing the amount of lace and frills. The cook of the three took Ginny's old room, but only after the two flesh tones were changed to a Robin's egg colouration of light blue with the 'freckles' changing to the dark blue-black spots found on a robin's egg.

Dobby had been listening to the stories about the house-elves of the past from the Founders and Hogwarts. He even had the Sorting Hat on his head for fun. The Hat was very informative and was able to tell him that should he have been human he would have been difficult to place because he had Ravenclaw and Slytherin tendencies in him.

It was great that the House-elves were being employed in a larger and stronger capacity. In fact many were now sitting under the Sorting hat for fun and it was a very happy Hat that chatted with all of them, equally. It answered any question they wanted to know about. The house-elves had only one other concern, but when it was brought up to the Headmaster and Harry fully understood what it meant, he didn't deny their request.

It turns out that the Headmasters and Headmistresses of the past only allowed the mating of the house-elves once every five years, to allow for each generation to train the next.

Dobby and Winky were the ones who were volunteered to explain the conditions in the bonds that prevented them from mating on a regular basis. Both elves were embarrassed, but Draco put them at ease and they were able to fully explain that one night of every year they had a gathering, in a private location to seek out a mate for the night. That entire night was basically an orgy, in order to produce elf children. Elves did have the option to mate for life with the permission their masters, but the gathering was the easiest on them in order to get offspring.

Harry didn't see anything wrong with house-elves doing what nature intended, but he was concerned about the statistics of the situation and asked clarifying questions about the number of young born versus the survival rate of a house-elf. It was clear that the number of house-elves was diminishing because of the strictures placed within the bonds that the Wizards had been currently using.

An elderly elf explained that the system of the gathering only worked for now, as there were less house-elves being born. When their numbers increased to an adequate proportion to support the Wizarding population, then less house-elves would be born. It was natural to them for that to occur and then they would be mating for life instead of mating for species survival.

Harry wrote all this down in a larger journal in order to recall his official Headmaster decisions and why, pertaining to any new situation. He then allowed Hogwarts to alter the bonds on all the House-elves to allow them to procreate, as their nature intended. He didn't ask or want to know the specifics, but told the house-elves that no young one would be bound unless they had completed their training and wished to be bound. The level of binding would also be optional, like the triplets that the Weasley twins had taken in.

The house-elves all agreed that it was fair because of his acceptance they collectively decided that they would not protest the fact that Harry wanted them in a different uniform.

Each uniform was distinctive to the position that they were working. He had Dobby explain to him the differences in their tasks that the House-elves performed and their safety measures versus the injuries they tended to acquire.

That was the reason for the change in uniform for the house-elves. Protective clothing would be worn for the tasks that required it. He had the male elves wear children's short pants or just normal pants that would protect their legs. The females knew of the changes to the girls' uniforms and chose a similar fashion of fake skirts for their lower halves. They were, also, made to wear something to protect the soles of their feet, sandals were used by most and a few chose shoes or boots to cover their feet, but these were for the elves that worked outside.

They all had to wear something of a shirt and they had collectively decided on a tunic style top, short sleeve for summer and longer sleeve for winter, with the same design as the students.

Many elves added the scroll work in accordance to their 'houses' that the Hat would have placed them in. Not surprisingly, many were Hufflepuff, but a few were in the other houses. Dobby was proud of his blue-green scroll works acknowledging both houses.

All of this occurred during the time that Hogwarts woke and between the time that Harry first arrived at the school and then the day before, when they were making plans.

He did accept a modified bond with Dobby, as the little elf was so looking forward to it and Winky was a very good negotiator. Dobby still had the same day off, plus two evenings free and his pay was increased to five galleons a week.

Dobby had to fight Harry on the 'Master' deal, but then Harry consented to decreasing the amount of pay for a change and accepted just the word 'Sir'. There was a re-negotiation clause that would occur after five years of service.

Dudley and Draco were watching this process in fascination. It seems that Draco was impressed with Harry's haggling skills and Dudley was impressed that the little fellow could hold his own against Harry's stubbornness.

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"Those of you who have been students here in the past have known what our sorting feast was like." Harry began to explain the new formation of the tables in the Great Hall. "Any new student to this school was sorted into a House and then made to sit with that House, despite the fact that they may have made friends along the train ride.

It is a separation that should never take place during the feast. I agree that the House system in and of itself does promote a harmony of like personalities, but the students should not be exposed to only those personalities during their meals and after hours. That is too much segregation.

The students should also feel free to consult with the teachers or the assistants during the meals, just like they should be able to consult with any student in the higher years. So, first and second year student will be seated at the table nearest to the seventh years. Fifth and sixth years will be near the teachers' aides and the third and fourth years will be between the two. This will allow the lower years to be able to approach the higher years without feeling that the must see a teacher for assistance. Each year is paired in such a way as to be able to assist the others and to be able to gain assistance.

Further I would like all of you to consider being sorted like the students so that you would feel the same House association and pride, just like the first years do. Please reach a consensus for tomorrow afternoon. If the majority wishes to be sorted, then all of you will be sorted. Those of you that have attended Hogwarts and wish to be part the House you graduated with, please feel free to do so.

I myself will not be re-sorted, but as I will no longer be attending formal classes due to my needs, I will acknowledge the houses that I belong to just like our house-elves have done. In fact, Dobby would you come here a moment?" He called out to the very happy elf.

"Yes, sir," he said, as he popped into the great hall.

"I would like you to show the scroll work of your houses."

Dobby stood on one of the tables and showed the scrolling of blue and green twined together. They were surprised because those colours were for Slytherin and Ravenclaw, however Dudley and Draco were not, as they had noticed this yesterday. Everyone had noticed the uniforms on the elves that showed up for assignment, but were now able to look at it closer, understanding what the scrolling meant.

"Dobby, I need your help with mine," Harry said. Dobby nodded thinking on it and then a pattern in a series of Celtic knots came together in a complementary formation of all four colours of red, gold, green and silver. They did not look like a nasty mix of Christmas deco. They had discussed this evening before. Showing all the colours of Harry's houses surprised many there. "Thank you Dobby, that's all for now."

Dobby just said, "You're welcome, Sir," and Popped back out of the Great Hall. He was looking into a few rumors of house-elves that had been freed, but were languishing over the lack of work.

Harry continued on, "As you can see, should you have more then one house in you there is no pressure to take one house over another. I believe that the students may be more receptive to an assistant or aide, if they were dual housed or showed an association with their House. So tomorrow will the day where the course plans will be figured out and a small synopsis of the expectations will be prepared to present to the students. I believe that all of you have enough, for now, to work through with your aides and to settle in comfortably. We have five days in which to resolve most issues. I will see all of you tomorrow. Good Day!"

Then he left the Great Hall with Draco. Dudley stayed behind for a bit to confirm a time with Professor Sprout and Professor Morgan (Muggle Studies), when they wished to speak with him regarding any of the subjects or ideas that has been brought forward. He still didn't have time to speak to the curious boy, but knew that the following day he would be able to.

Neville understood that and also knew that tomorrow he wasn't going to be put off from an introduction to that interesting person. He was curious, Herbology and Muggle Studies was a strange enough combination, but he knew that this person had never attended Hogwarts, either. Still his curiosity was up far enough that he would meet him tomorrow even if it meant talking to Draco Malfoy.

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Chapter 14

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August 26, Evening

Harry and Draco cuddled and petted one another on the couch in their main room when Professor Snape and Professor Lupin arrived, guided by an assigned house-elf. Severus was surprised at the location of the boys' rooms and asked to know where exactly they were.

Hogwarts then explained that they were in the Founders' tower and in their combined quarters. It was the best solution that they had at the time when they were building the school, to reside in the same location as it was easier to bring their ideas together.

The Potions Master noted that Draco and Harry were comfortable in each others' presence and that they were not afraid of what they felt for one another or felt that they had to hide their relationship. He sat near them and looked around the room. Lupin took the opposite chair and took a look around him.

The main room that they were in was furnished with a couch and chair set-up similar to Draco's third compartment, but that there were extra desks, tables, chairs and a few other items that they had picked up from Grimmauld Place, scattered about the room. Severus was disappointed that he was not able to see the Potions armoires that Harry took from the old Headquarters. He was still miffed about those.

The evening meal took place in an adjoining dining room and was very good. After that was done they got down to discussing his actions this morning. He didn't want to bring this up to them, but still felt that teeny tiny glimmer of hope that Harry Potter would be able to free him.

He did not want to explain this in front of Lupin, but knew that if the wolf found out about this any other way, the chances of his...happiness?... might be compromised and a Slytherin will find any way to prevent anything that might sabotage their own future. Snape knew that the wolf a long sharp nose and it would eventually sniff out the secret.

'Yes, it's best that he knows what is going on and why I must act and be the way that I do...For the time being,' Severus thought

His actions and attitude during his seventh year were caused by the Mark and the conditions stored within it, but then the Founders spoke up and expressed their wish to see the infamous Dark Mark that they were constantly hearing about. Once they saw the form of it, Godric roared with laughter while Salazar chased him through the portraits of the school.

Rowena then explained that they had had an ongoing prank war that lead to a temporary tattoos marking the loser. That particular one was one that Salazar had probably written about down in some journal, but never had the chance to use it against Godric.

Helga even explained that all the pranking done by the other two had sometimes damaged Hogwarts and that the building, herself, had gotten upset with them. She decided to create a play area for them, in the bowels of the castle. It was a place where they had been able hex each other or duel to their hearts content.

Severus and Remus were in a daze with that information. Both were also surprised that Salazar had managed to catch Godric, binding him and gagging him and then dragging him back into this room's portraits.

Harry explained to the Founders that this one was not a temporary tattoo, but a brand. With his altered sight he was able to see the connection and the way it inhibited certain functions and how it was altered to be more like a slave mark.

Draco was intrigued by the play area that Hogwarts created. "Would that play area happen to be called the Chamber of Secrets?" The Founders looked at the blond Draekon and said that it was. He turned to Harry and said, "I want to see it. Can we go?"

"Perhaps tomorrow or another day. I'm more concerned with the properties of Severus' Dark Mark," he replied.

Dudley admitted that he was curious about the Chamber too, but was equally concerned about the differences in the marks that could occur in the Wizarding world. "This Mark, what does it do? Does it hurt you in any way?"

Professor Snape scowled, when he thought about the pain that having the Mark caused, including residual existing pain from it. He heaved a sigh and Remus looked at him with concerned eyes, as began his tale. "I was fifteen. My step-father sold my services to the Dark Lord because of my huge potential in Potions. I was Marked without knowing about the additional conditions stored within the Mark and I was Marked without consent. I never wanted to follow such separatist ideals."

He became a bit flushed, knowing that he was about to impart a very intimate personal fact about himself to these boys and the one that had gained his interest over the years.

"In school I wasn't sexually active like many of the others my age were, but I had begun to develop an interest in someone from my year. I had dreams and woke up like any others your age, but it was rare and I was not too sure what my feelings in the matter were at the time. I just know that this person fascinated me." He said, glancing into the amber-brown eyes of the wolf, but quickly turned away to continue his tale.

"Other people in the school, Marked people, had noted my interest, and had taken matters into their own hands in order to prevent me from ever acting on it. Even Sirius Black and James Potter had noted my interest in one of their friends, as their Wills stated. That person apparently had the same interest in me, but was as aware of it as I was aware of my own. That is to say not really. Knowing now that Peter Pettigrew was a spy and traitor to the Potters, you guys can guess who the person I had an interest in was.

I'm sure that Sirius Black had either mentioned this to the others or had ranted on about this in private and was overheard. His Will indicated that his advances been rejected by the one I was paying attention to and that he had taken action to "take care of it" at the time. That's when the Whomping Willow event had taken place.

Due to the fact that Pettigrew was Marked and likely taking anything of interest back to the Dark Lord or whether it was one of the others, it was obvious that word had gotten around to the Dark Lord. I was called after a while and Lucius Malfoy was on hand to explain that those who are Marked, but not maritally bonded were the toys of the other Death Eaters and that of the Dark Lord. These toys could bond, but only with the permission from the Dark Lord if, and only if, they brought their intended forward to be Marked by him too.

I refused. I refused everything. I vowed to myself that I would not bond to anyone under such conditions. I also refused to be anyone's plaything. I am not made that way.

Lucius was there... because he wanted to... break me." His breath hitched at the emotions that were brought forward with this particular story of his involvement with the Dark Lord. He continued on, "The Dark Lord allowed it, as long as he was there to witness it and participate in it." He took a shuddering breath, a gulp of tea and could not look at anyone in the room as memories of those times surfaced.

"I fought for a long time before I chose to appear broken. I wouldn't give them the satisfaction of winning. I let it look like they won. My appearance changed because of it. That's why I never fixed my nose since the last time it was broken and why I refuse to improve my looks to correct the "Greasy Git" image. I'm a Potions Master, of course I know how to clean up my appearance to look all right, but why give them something tolerable or slightly appealing to look at when they were taking me against my will." He took another sip of tea.

Remus was horrified by everything that he had heard because it meant that if he wanted to be intimate with Severus he'd have to be Marked by the Dark Lord. Now, however, it looked like Harry was looking into correcting the situation and he sincerely hoped that his godson could do something about it.

Harry asked, "What are the conditions within the Mark?" Remus' attentions were turned back to the conversation at hand.

Snape sighed, "I can not be intimate with anyone who doesn't have the Mark. I can't even kiss someone on the cheek, hold their hand or hug someone without feeling pain." He looked to his godson's astounded face and his worried expression. He clarified the situation, "Not you. It's with anyone that I'm interested in, sexually interested in. Anyone that I'm interested in and that can arouse me is noted within the inner circle, that's why my sexual relations have been limited to Lucius and the Dark Lord. They gave me no choice in that matter.

My magic has also been filtered to the other members of the inner circle and I'm more than sure that my life force is drained with every forced act whether of intimacy or against what I feel is right. It has to do with the sexual magics that occur at puberty. I'm sure that you are familiar with some of that."

'If I were to even kiss him, he would be in pain. The Dark Lord's posse would know through the Mark.' Thought Remus, but then he knew that Harry was thinking of something.

Harry frowned. He didn't like this at all because it was another form of coercion that he was not willing to put up with and certainly did not want to see Professor Snape remain trapped under such conditions. It looked liked he would have to take a trip into the Dark Lord's mind. He would need Snape's cooperation in the matter because he wanted to see a Marking from another point of view. With two points of view, he would probably be able to find out how to counteract some of the conditions in the Mark before trying to get rid of it completely.

"I can see the threads that feed the Mark from yourself, but before I can take any action, I would need to see a Marking ceremony from your perspective." Harry then explained that he would gather the memories and pull them out for the Founders to help. Perhaps Salazar had left something behind that Tom Riddle had accessed while in school.

Knowing what the Chamber of Secrets looked like, Harry wondered if there were more secret areas that Salazar might have had in the school. Perhaps the Founders had their own bolt holes away from the others for privacy. The more he thought about it the more he was convinced that it wasn't Salazar, but perhaps some other descendent.

Harry questioned the Founders about this and they all confessed that they had their own private studies or calming rooms around the school. When the Chambers of Secrets was brought up again, Harry asked, "Are there any other ways into the Chamber, besides through the Parseltongue entrance?"

The Founders were confused. "Parseltongue entrance?" Rowena said. "What Parseltongue entrance?"

Helga continued, "There was no entrance to the Chamber that was activated by Parseltongue passwords." She said, but then turned to look pointedly at Salazar, who promptly denied ever having set Parseltongue passwords to the Chamber.

Godric had finally gotten out of the bonds and gag to have his say in the matter. "It's not like you were the only one able to speak Parseltongue in our time. You had several cousins from your father's side of the family that could do that too. Perhaps one of the nasty little blighters made some changes after we left."

Salazar nodded saying, "That's true. My father's brother was a little extreme with his ideas. I'm sure that one or more of my cousins just followed their father blindly."

Draco piped in, "You know I bet that the whole Slytherin versus Gryffindor issue was because of them and not the two of you. If your cousins had the surname of Slytherin then there was also the possibility that any fight that broke out under the two Founders' names were not these two, but another Slytherin and Gryffindor."

Snape and Lupin were surprised by this little insight, but then quickly realized that any offspring or close family member could have been the ones that brewed the political conflict and escalated the rift between the Houses in the school. No one actually knew how the conflict started, but it was obviously clear from talking to the portraits, that Godric and Salazar were not the ones involved.

"It could also have been one of them that had placed that Basilisk in the Chamber, unless Godric and Salazar were the ones that got it to play with," Dudley said. Harry had already told him about the events of his second year and therefore he knew about the great snake that used to be there.

"The monster of the Chamber of Secrets was a Basilisk?" Snape asked, he was sure that Professor Dumbledore had claimed that it was another animal altogether.

"Didn't Dumbledore tell you?" Harry asked. "I was sure that he told all of the Professors because the students and Mrs. Norris were petrified from the indirect gaze of the animal. Professor Sprout was growing mandrakes that year for the Anti-Petrification Potion that you provided."

"Indirect gaze...? He said that it was another creature altogether that petrified the students and nothing about an indirect gaze. He didn't mention a Basilisk. Where is it now, do you know?" Snape wanted to know because of the potions ingredients that could be obtained from it was key to some of the older potions recipes that he had.

"I killed it in my second year," Harry said.

"Do you happen to know if Dumbledore vanished the beast or if it's still there?" Snape asked sharply.

"It's not in the Chamber anymore. I rendered it for Potion's ingredients."

"What?" Professor Snape asked.

"How and when?" Draco asked curious as to when Harry could have done such a thing.

"In my third and fourth year," Harry said. "I was not permitted to go to Hogsmeade when Sirius had escaped from Azkaban and when my name was placed in that Goblet, I was no longer responsible for my final exams. I had lots of time on my hands at the beginning of those years to render the carcass. Hagrid showed me how to render several animals, including snakes. I asked him about Basilisks and he told me the differences in rendering different snakes."

Harry shrugged, to him it was no big deal. He knew that the Potions Master would be interested in the ingredients from such a great snake. He had rendered it completely in order to be able to present some parts of it to the Potions Master. However, since Snape's attitude never changed towards him and his efforts in the class were never noticed, he never presented them to him.

"You rendered the entire creature without permission from the Headmaster? Without telling me?" Snape asked.

"Well sir, I was prepared to give you some of it, but you were a right git. I didn't need the Headmaster's permission to render an animal that I had killed in self-defense," Harry said. "I rendered the animal for myself. I learnt from Hagrid that any person, who finds an abandoned carcass, disposes of or kills a dangerous creature had the rights to do with the remains as they please. I thought that rendering that beast would help me to understand the structure of it and give me the time away from all that unwanted attention."

Snape shook his head. Then he recalled that Harry wanted to bribe him for his assistance to figure out the potion that he had sent. Not only that, but Headmaster Dumbledore had ordered more Occlumency lessons for Potter. He was lost in his thoughts, when it hit him again that Potter was the Headmaster now and no longer required to take those lessons. He was going to lose those lovely ingredients that he could have negotiated for under Harry's supposed bribe request in his letter.

"Professor Snape," Harry began. "I know that I am no longer under the order of Dumbledore, but I would still like your assistance to train me for the upcoming conflict with Tommy-boy. Everything in my letter still stands, but I believe that we will need to redefine the requirements, as I do have other tutors that will be coming to help me."

Severus looked up and had a renewed hope that he would eventually be able to haggle or bargain for those ingredients. In the meantime Harry said that he would be concentrating on the Dark Mark, so that the Potions Master will not be able to feel the effects or at least hopefully be able to change the properties so that no pain would be transmitted with the Dark Lord's displeasure.

"Thank you Harry," he said. "I hope that something will be found in time. I'm sure that the Dark Lord is able to modify them whenever we are in his presence, but also when we're in his presence there are times that the Crucios and tortures he did had caused us to fall unconsciousness. Modifications to the Dark Marks could have been done then."

Harry nodded. The he stood up and went to his room to pick up three single memory pensieves that he had picked up during his travels. One was for Professor Snape's memory of a Marking Ceremony, one was for when Harry managed to extract a memory from the Dark Doofus and the third was for Dudley's memory of the ring exchange between the two Draekons.

Harry then told the professor to extract the memory of a Marking ceremony that he was witness to, while he walked through Dudley's mind for the cutesy exchange.

He knelt in front of Dudley and said, "Think of the time that Draco and I exchanged rings." Dudley was nervous because here was his cousin with that wand of his pointed at him. He knew that he would not end up with a tail this time, but still he was nervous.

"Okay," he said, indicating that he was ready.

"Legilimens," Harry said. He went in gently and saw the memory that Dudley had brought to the forefront of his mind. It included the matching jammies comment and finished at the point where he was watching Draco slumbering in his mate's arms. He pulled the silver thread gently from the mind, copied it and dropped the copy into the single memory pensieve while the original returned to Dudley's mind.

Severus watched as Harry extracted the memory and knew that the boy was now able to Occlude his mind from intrusion. There is never one without the other in regards to Occulmency and Legilimency.

"That looked like a successful extraction. How did you develop this skill?" He asked.

"I had gained many skills and memories over the summer. I needed help to learn the difference between the useful versus the frivolous. I had a capable instructor that helped me sift through it all and help me to bring forward what I needed to learn at the time. All I had to do after that was practice a couple of times before the lessons took hold."

Harry explained a bit about the spiritual exchange that occurred when he came into his magical inheritance. "It was something that I could not stop, but then with everything that I have been able to sort through, I have found several ideas or plans that may help for the future battle. It certainly helped with coming with ideas and some of the decisions I made for the school too."

Severus handed the pensieve with his memory in it and told Harry to study it well before giving it back. Harry nodded and handed the one for the ring exchange to him. "I suggest that you allow Remus to view it after you're done or with you if you like."

Lupin looked interested in viewing it and said, "I'd like to watch with you, if you don't mind?"

Dudley said, "Send it to the Weasley twins when you're done. They want to see it too and Harry you did promise to send them a copy."

The potions professor nodded his head and then took his leave, saying, "I don't mind Lupin, but I believe that I will be going now. It's getting late and the Headmaster did call for another early meeting in the morning."

The boys laughed, watching both men leave. "I'm knackered," Dudley said. "I'll see you both in the morning. Night Draco. Night Harry." He received a "Good Night" in reply. The Draekons took the pensieves to Harry's trunk.

They were organizing it bit by bit every night. Harry's gifts to his mate were plenty and were not all given at one time. Still Draco was pleased that Harry had taken the time to find things that he thought would please him.

Dudley had told Harry about Draco's fascination with films and movies. Harry had picked up several in different languages that had the subtitle options on the DVDs. Harry couldn't wait to listen to some knowing that he would be able to understand what was being said and in the original language of the recording.

The four potions armoires were set up side by side and Harry had already conversed with the snake guardians of the three he obtained from Grimmauld Place. There was several Dark Potions in them that matured over time and increased in potency because of it. However they would require thorough analysis before being able to clearly identify them, as some of their labels may have faded over time.

Still Harry was able to clean them up, bit by bit, as he had to re-enforce some of the spells on the one of the armoires. Another was a complete right off, but he still had to cautiously maneuver the contents because some of those were still good enough for use.

The last one was a more recent purchase that had belonged to Regulus Black, but he had never been able to use it as he had disappeared under mysterious circumstances. He wouldn't have been able to open it either due to the Parseltongue locks, but he had been hoping to present it to the Dark Lord for his own amusement. He never had the chance before he died.

Harry and Draco finished the tasks that they had planned to complete by the end of the day. They went to their rooms and prepared for sleep, well it was their honeymoon, so they did eventually go to sleep.

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August 27, Sex Ed?

The following day, Harry had confirmed with the administrative staff that all of the letters had been sent out the previous evening. They were now organizing the syllabuses for the new courses with the new teachers, all of whom were hoping to have at least six to ten interested students, as that was the minimum that Harry felt a class could be before the class should not be offered. The maximum number of students per class was to vary, but not go above 20, as some teachers would not be able to handle that number. Classes were not to be separated in to just two houses, which was a source of complication in the past, but of all four that way the students' schedules could be greatly manipulated, hopefully, to everyone's satisfaction.

The next morning, during their meeting with the Heads of House, Harry presented another trick up his sleeve for September 1st. Dudley and Draco were present for this discussion, as they had more input to bring forward for this situation too.

Sitting in the chair that he had conjured the day before, Harry was seated at the head of the table with Draco and Dudley on either side. The table size was reduced to a six foot round, bringing everyone closer together and to prevent shouting.

Professor Flitwick brought up the changes that occurred in the Great Hall and asked, "What about promoting house unity?"

Draco explained to them, "House unity can be maintained within the dorms and through some organized inter-house competitions. Each student will be encouraged to cultivate friends outside of their House and classes. Forcing the years to sit together will give them a greater chance to note that they are the same and here to learn the same things. Forcing the Houses to sit together, as they did, only re-enforced segregation in the classes, the segregation of the students and ultimately the future adults of the Wizarding world."

"From what I have been able to understand," Dudley said. "The students who are known as Muggleborns were further separated by not allowing them access to all the Houses. Reviewing the older records we found that the Muggleborns are more likely to be sorted into Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Gryffindor. It was very rare that a Muggleborn that had the affinity for Slytherin to be sorted into that house."

Harry continued, "There is also the problem that Muggleborns have been stifled in their need to adapt to this new environment. We are going to incorporate a Muggle concept at this school to allow the students to diversify their time in activities that will promote House unity. There will be inter-house sports days, once the students have learned a few other sports besides Quidditch. Many Muggleborns that come here are often surprised that there is no football, rugby, basketball, baseball, etc… available. That is why some of the physical education that the students will be learning in DADA will be these sports because it teaches them how to work as a team, as a unit together."

Severus was surprised that they had done research into the past placements of the students, but couldn't fault the statistics that came out of it. It was true that the Muggleborns came to this school sometimes found it hard to adjust as everything seems to change for them.

He secretly agreed that there is more out there than just Quidditch and couldn't understand why the previous Headmasters never allowed for more sports. Even the Olympics that occurred every four years had a Wizarding division, but that was not something that anyone learned about at this school.

Dudley then presented a new issue for the Heads of House to think on. "I've attended a private boarding school, just like Harry, for the past six years. We have had exchange students every year from other countries and we have never denied them the rights to practice their own religions or culture. However, whenever there have been any altercations based on various misunderstandings, the students were brought before the Student Court and Student Counsel in order to resolve the issues."

Harry continued, "Ideally a student counsel or student court would allow the students to collectively present their problems or grievances to neutral parties rather than their Heads of House. It is an idea to keep in mind for the future because I am planning ahead for the next year and will be bringing this back up during a meeting next semester."

"Once Harry defeats Voldy-whatever or even before he does," Dudley said. "The students, who require or ask for sanctuary, would probably be the best ones in a position to implement the initial stages of a Student Court or Student Counsel. The counsel will also allow the students to bring up their issues collectively and be able to present them to the professors, the Heads of House or even the Headmaster."

Again the Heads of House were intrigued by the forward thinking of their new Headmaster. Harry then moved on to another topic that needed to be discussed at this meeting. Another change that would be occurring in conjunction with the changes to the course schedules, there were going to be changes in the train times because of the day that September 1st fell on.

"The students will be arriving earlier then in the previous years," Harry began. "We will be receiving the influx of students around four in the afternoon. This will allow ample time for the students to be informed of the changes in the seating arrangements in the Great Hall.

In fact half of the Journeymen and aides will be riding the train in order to inform the prefects of the changes and be there for additional security. Announcements about the students' arrival order will occur as the train pulls up into Hogsmeade and the years will arrive at the school in that order. Also once the sorting of the first years is completed, there will be a few standard announcements and then feast will begin. Any other announcements can wait until after the feast."

"The ones making the announcements at the feast will be the four of you," Harry said.

"So we make the announcements after the feast for you," Snape said.

"There's nothing wrong with that," Professor Sprout said. "It will help the Headmaster hide in plain sight."

Professor McGonagall asked, "Do you want us to explain about the new classes available and hand out the schedules too?"

Harry nodded and Draco said, "It would be best for the students to get acquainted with the number of new changes."

"Not only that, but it will allow the students time to reflect on their optional or alternate courses." Harry continued. "Since September 1st is Friday, the students have an extra two days to get used to the new ideas, besides if we show them what the options are they will be able to take Saturday and figure out which ones they wish to attend. It will also allow time for the older years to visit the counselors in group sessions for career advice. We'll have them turn in their schedules by the end of Saturday or by Sunday morning the latest and have them sorted out in order to hand them a complete schedule on Monday."

"They should list their choices in order of priority. Like which class they want to take as their number one option, followed by two and three," Dudley suggested. "Maps to the school would also be advisable. In my school, one was provided every year that I have been there. This was due to the changes in subjects or teachers and the new class locations varied, if I happen to be taking a new course."

Professor Flitwick was excited now. "Perhaps… I could charm one that will disappear after a month or so, depending on the year of the student. We do need the students to learn how to rely on their memory. That's why one was never provided before."

Harry thought on it and said, "That's an excellent idea. Now, while we're all here I believe it would be the perfect time to tackle a slightly difficult and sensitive topic," Harry said. "Dudley you don't have to stay for this, but you can if you like. Draco the choice is also yours."

"I'm staying. I would like to know the answers," Dudley said.

Draco said, "I'm not going anywhere. I, too, want to know the answers."

The four professors and Founders were surprised that they Harry was allowing these two to stay, but it was very apparent that Dudley and Draco were advisors of a sort and were slightly above the Heads of House, due to their proximity to Harry. Draco was there as Harry's mate and Dudley as part of his blood family.

"I have not seen, heard nor attended any class for sexual education at this school. Now just because it's not something that I may have heard about, I am sincerely hoping that such classes are taking place." His questioning, but blank eyes shifted to every professor in the room, Founders included.

The four Deputy Headmasters looked at one another and all of them had felt some degree of shock register on their own faces and be reflected in the others'.

Professor McGonagall began, "Classes of that nature begin with your Head of House during the third year, but only to the point of explanations for the girls and instructing them on appropriate behaviour. Girls do mature at a faster rate and we feel that they need to be aware of some adult precautions prior to engaging in any activity of that sort. They are also instructed on what to look out for with regards to possible coercion."

"The boys usually mature later and therefore are given the same instructions during their fourth year," Professor Flitwick said. "Boys tend to be the aggressors, but we have had a few that were not and felt that similar instructions on how to prevent being coerced were to be part of those classes."

"It is during their fifth year that the students are given further instructions on how to prevent disease, pregnancies and accidental bonds from occurring," Professor Sprout said. "They are even instructed on how to detect the level of magic that a potential partner may have in order to make an informed decision."

"Surely you recall having attended those classes, Mr. Potter," Snape said.

Draco answered, not caring that the question may not have been addressed to him, "Yes I have, as you were the instructor." He didn't want is godfather falling into the habit of singling out Harry and revert back to snarking at him. "But Harry hasn't or he obviously wouldn't be asking."

Snape didn't mind Draco's answer because his question was addressed to both Potters that were now in the room.

"There is a reason why I'm bringing this up now," Harry explained. He took Draco's hand in appreciation of his defense, but managed to convey his feelings that Snape wasn't acting malicious. "I suspect that some 5, 6, & 7 years may have engaged in that kind of activity and have developed bonds that may or may not be complete nor are they registered with the Ministry."

Draco continued, "We also suspect that several Muggleborns were not in attendance to any of these classes just like Harry. It is kind of late to investigate this information after the fact, but I suspect that the reasoning for this neglect was to trap them under the control of a witch or wizard."

Harry then explained that there were a couple of times in the past school year that he had been coerced into physical relations that he had never even considered prior to them occurring. He then submitted his memories of the parties or events of those times and how he came to the realization about the potion ingested and the "Subliminus" spell used.

All of the professors here were in shock. "This is one of the main reasons that I wanted to implement the Monitoring Marbles," he explained. "During the announcements the 5, 6, & 7 years will be asked to remain behind in order for you to review their magics and find out if they had bonded or were left with incomplete ones.

The ones that are incomplete will either have to be completed or we will have to instruct them on how to close off the partial bond. Closing it off will further prevent them from being manipulated in the future and hopefully sever the connection. The marbles will be able to help you out with that, as I will be providing the four of you with a more in depth access to the monitoring spells on them."

"Another reason to monitor the students is to track the ones that have been Marked. They won't be able to leave the school grounds with these activated. Also for this year, all Hogsmeade visits are cancelled. If the students need anything, they can send owl orders to the stores or request it from their parents. Their safety is still a top concern."

Professor Flitwick spoke up, "What do you propose that the students do with their free time? Hogsmeade is a diversion from their studies, what are they to do now?"

"Well, my school had clubs that the students joined," Dudley said. "The clubs fell under several categories, like Intellectual, Athletics and the Arts. Clubs that fell under the Arts varied in subject, as there were Performing Arts, Showcasing and Radio & Journalism. Those that fell under Athletics depended on the sports preferred, like Football, Rugby and Basketball. The Intellectual Clubs were for those that were not inclined to sports and they included Chess & Strategies (as there is more than one military strategy type game), Mathematics and Sciences. All of the clubs allowed students with like interests to join and allowed them expand their knowledge in those areas."

Once again the four Deputies and Founders were surprised at the news from their Headmaster and the ones seated by his side. Then Harry spoke, "This may seem strange to many of you, but we had small clubs in our primary school, so these ideas are not exactly new to me. I'm glad that Dudley has reminded me of them because it will also allow students to gain experience in some future fields like Arithmancy, Sports or even proper Journalism and News-casting. I'm certainly looking forward to seeing the potential club ideas that may crop up during this school year."

Draco nodded and wondered what his courses should be. He knew that he wanted to help Harry out and be by his side when the time came, so he asked him in front of the others, "Harry?" Harry turned and focused his attentions to his mate. "Since you're going to be fight the Dark Lord, I was wondering if I could attend some of those courses with you instead of formally attending classes here. I don't want to be a liability to you and I do know that I will not be able to play Quidditch this year either. So I was hoping to work out with you."

Harry smiled, "I don't mind you working out with me, but then who will be my eyes in the classes. You should take counseling first before making any decision. It will also be up to your Head of House, as he and I will be discussing the additional training that I will be taking."

"We'll discuss this later," Snape said. "Are we done here? I seem to have a Journeyman to speak to about my potions classes, including you, Harry."

Harry smiled at him and just nodded. "Any queries or solutions into our discussion today will be addressed tomorrow at the same time. We'll announce the possible clubs during lunch, as the others may be able to provide us with some insight on which clubs should be started and which teacher or teachers' aide want to be advisors to a club. We will need their names to provide have a list on hand of those available and interested."

They discussed a few more details before leaving the staff room with their minds in whirl. Harry certainly was not hesitating in his decisions. Hopefully the students wouldn't be too disappointed about the lack of trips to Hogsmeade.

Dudley took leave of the other two, as he planned to team up with Hagrid in order to learn about the food gardens that helped out the school.

Draco left to meet up with a couple of the counselors and Harry made his way down into the dungeons to pick up the first and second years syllabus from Professor Snape.

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Chapter 15

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August 27, later that day – Part I

The Great Hall once again bubbled with conversation about the school, but this time things were being discussed in order to organize the classes and courses better.

The teachers and aides were allowed to have morning meals in their own quarters until the thirtieth and then they were to attend the Great Hall for all meals. The only exception was Professor DeLuka and a few others like Professor Snape, who would sometimes be too busy with supplying potions for the school. He had the Journeyman and Harry to help him out, but he would have preferred his godson's company for this. Whether he had an interest in potions as a career or not didn't matter when it came to mass amounts of potions ingredients preparation.

However, Draco did need some career counseling as he did not really know what direction to take for his future, now that his life was no longer dictated by his father, but by his mate's currently obligations. He didn't mind those obligations because he was proud of his mate. He did promise to help them out later in the afternoon, after he had been used as a guinea pig by the career counselors.

HPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDM

Dudley was a little nervous when he went to meet up with Hagrid, especially since the one time that he had met the man, that man had given him a pig's tail.

Hagrid was outside, hitching an old fashioned plough to something that Dudley thought was a horse, but obviously it wasn't. In fact the creature looked awfully familiar, when suddenly its head turned to face his direction and a chirping emerged. That's when he noticed that it had wings and a beak. The wings were protected and covered to prevent it from taking off, but the rest was just like he remembered.

Grinning he stepped forward and bowed to it, looking it directly in the eyes. "I did not think that you would know what to do Mr. Dursley," a deep voice boomed from where the hippogriff was being hooked up.

The hippogriff bowed in return and then went back to waiting for Hagrid to finish up. The large man had promised to play with him or let him go play after he helped with this thing. Dudley approached them, now that he had permission from the animal.

"Harry told me all about him," Dudley explained, petting the large creature's neck. "I met Buckbeak this summer when I was helping Harry out with his mate."

"His mate?" asked Hagrid, lifting his shaggy head. That's when Dudley noticed where the monitoring ball was. It was nestled with the big man's shaggy beard, like a small bird in a nest.

Dudley chuckled and then answered his question. "Yes his mate. You might remember him as Draco Malfoy, but his name is now Draco Severus Potter. He may have been rude before, but that was because he had to play a part or act in a way that would benefit him for survival. From what I've learned, his father is not a kind man."

Harry and Draco had told Dudley that he could tell Hagrid anything, including the fact that they were mated. It was something that the big man would understand. They still had not told him about the decision for the continuation of the larger man's magical education, but they would soon be going to visit him for tea to explain that to him.

"Really… Now tha', I understand," Hagrid said. "Why are ye here, now?"

"To learn how you work the land," the tall blond said. "I want to see how it's done in the magical world versus the Muggle one. Obviously you can't use the larger gas powered machines that the Muggles do and I'm curious to see how it was done not so long ago in the Muggle World."

"Tha's not what I meant," the big said. "I mean why r' ye at Hogwarts?"

He motioned for the youth to stand behind the plow and then showed Dudley how to strap in and move with the animal and machine. The blades on it were sharp. Their purpose was to till some new section or area of land for the students to prepare and learn from for the coming semester.

Hagrid would be following behind them with a rake shaped four pronged tiller to further break up the earth. "Well?" He said motioning to the area that was sectioned off with a bright orange rope.

"I'm on vacation," Dudley said. "I came to see the infamous magical school with my own eyes and Harry let me come. That's all... Hee-yah, let's go Buckbeak." He tapped the reigns gently and the large animal pulled forward.

Hagrid was surprised that the Muggle knew what to do with when encountering a hippogriff, but then he hardly knew the boy. He stood up and watched a few more moments. He then realized that Dudley was not that round anymore and he wondered if Harry had something to do with it.

It was time to work up a sweat. The amount of land to work was not small, but Hagrid had a feeling that he would be finished earlier then expected because of the extra help. He stood behind his own plow and animal and motioned him to begin moving.

HPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDM

Neville was returning from the greenhouses for lunch, when he came upon the two men working in the field. Now that was a sight that he had never seen before. 'Hippogriffs used as plough-mares?' he thought. 'How silly! But that guy...' He watched the back muscles play under the harness and the leg muscles shift with every step.

When he first saw him, Neville was curious to know who he was. He had never seen that kind colouration on a guy before, well that's not entirely true because of the various combinations in the magical world still this was different to him. He's seen blond-haired blue-eyed girls and knew that sometimes it was just magic enhanced beauty spells that helped them to achieve that look, but it was not found on many guys and this guy was all natural. He was tall, looked muscular and was tanned too.

Dudley had been working out that summer to build up the muscles he needed to replace the fat that he was losing, but he did not neglect his appearance. Draco and Harry had dressed him up on the day they went shopping, but to top it all off Draco insisted that Harry perform a tanning spell on him that would allow for the newer skin to have some protection from the sun. It was too new to allow it to burn and they didn't know what the effects would be if it did burn.

Neville was curious to know more about him because it seemed like the blond was a Muggle Studies assistant. Also he had helped out with the new greenhouse concept and now here he was plowing a field.

'Something's not adding up, is this guy a transfer student?'

Neville's interest in the guy wasn't surprising to him. He had always watched people, taking in how they looked, who they hung out with and some of the time he even had dates to the school's parties, but he never cared whether his date was male or female. It was always someone that he could be with for fun and it was usually with someone that he knew or that knew him.

He never dated someone he wasn't sure about and he certainly did not play the field like some of the others in his year did. He respected himself too much for any casual sex encounters. His own grandmother would be disappointed to know that he acted in less then a gentlemanly fashion.

However his eyes were now on someone that was visually pretty, but he knew better then to judge someone on how they looked. Still, watching that guy plough was better then watching strangers walking in the street and it was definitely better then returning to the Great Hall to have something as ordinary as lunch. He sat down on a hill nearby and just watched them work, thinking about nothing, just enjoying the view.

It was peaceful to see someone hard at work and enjoying themselves while they were at it. His eyes were half closed, resting, when he heard laughter coming from the field. It was the kind that was infectious and it wasn't booming, so he knew that the laugh came from the new stranger.

He opened his eyes and saw that the guy was laughing at Hagrid. The big man had stepped into a hole that caused him to have one leg buried up to the knee. Neville frowned, 'Is he making fun of him?' He watched as the guy removed his harness to go help the larger man out of the hole.

Then he heard words float up to him and they put him at ease, "I told you to watch out for that hole. I don't know what made it or how far down it goes. Are you all right?" He said as he got under one shoulder and helped to heave the man out or least let the larger man use him as a lever.

Slowly the leg came out of the hole. "I'm fine, thank you for your help Mr. Dursley," Hagrid said, huffing from the exertion. It was an awkward effort before he had managed to free his leg.

"Just call me Dudley. Mr. Dursley is my father and that man... well, please, just call me Dudley," he replied still chuckling. "Oh and you're welcome." He got up to have a look at the hole in the ground, shook his head and returned to Buckbeak, who waited semi-patiently for the work to be done so that he could go flying.

Hagrid was chuckling himself as he looked into the hole and realized that it was the burrow of an animal that had long since moved on. He chuckled some more, knowing that he had tried to side step it, but still ended up in it. He turned his gaze back to the youth who was not making fun of him when he laughed and had actually helped him out. He could see the humour of the situation.

Dudley turned back to look at the big man grinning. "You keep standing around and I will be finished long before you start," he said. "Let's go Buckbeak, we have to finish this before I can go bug Harry."

Buckbeak chirruped in his way trying to say that he wanted to bother the boy too. Hedwig heard him and hooted back that she would find out where the boy was. It was time that he came out of that stuffy building for some sun.

(...I'll go harass him into coming outside this afternoon...) she said to the large animal.

(...We should be done by then...) Buckbeak replied in the common language of the birds.

Dudley was still smiling as he listened to the noises coming from the two animals. Hedwig swooped down and landed on Dudley's shoulder, going along for the ride in the meantime with her eyes closed. His gaze wandered over the fields and then fell on that brown haired boy that was sitting in a nearby hill watching them. He smiled at him and waved.

Neville was entranced with the way the blond was at ease with the large animal. He was then surprised when a Snowy Owl landed on the guy's shoulder and the guy looked at ease with the whole chirruping conversation happening around him. He was then startled when the guy looked up smiling at him and then waved.

Poor Longbottom was embarrassed at being caught looking, he turned slightly red in the face, but he smiled back and shyly returned the wave. He stood up, turned and walked back towards the castle.

'What is going on with me? Why am I embarrassed by this guy? He only smiled and waved at me. Maybe he thought that I was someone else. No... That can't be it.' His confused thoughts were plaguing him slightly, as he made his way into the Great Hall.

He didn't see anyone that he knew, so he sat down and began to serve himself some lunch. He didn't notice when someone sat down next to him, but was a little surprised by the clicking that he heard nearby. Looking up and around he found that Draco Malfoy was sitting next to him and that the clicking sound came from the beads in Malfoy's hair.

Malfoy's looks had changed over the summer. Neville noticed the changes in his teeth and eyes, plus there were some black strands at the temples of his shoulder length hair. He looked at the multitude of tiny little braids that were now in longer hair and the beads, varying in colour and size, were what held the braids' form. Suddenly silver-grey slit eyes were looking into his light-brown ones.

Neville blinked and blinked again. "I'm sorry Malfoy... I didn't mean to be rude by staring at you," he said.

Draco snorted with a smile and said sarcastically, "I hadn't noticed. Please, just call me Draco."

Neville just blinked once more and the asked, "That guy that walked in with you and Harry yesterday. Who is he?"

"Dudley Dursley," Draco said after swallowing a mouthful. "He's Harry's cousin."

"Why is he here?"

"He wanted to come along," Draco explained. "He was curious about the school that Harry had been coming to and they thought it would be a nice vacation for him to get away from the Muggle World for a little bit. It was certainly a change for him. Why are you so curious Longbottom?"

Neville flushed a bit and said, "I'm not sure and please call me Neville."

He turned his attention back to his meal and decided that maybe he didn't really want to know more. He had overheard conversations about Harry and his family when he talked to Ron and Hermione. He heard that the guy was a bully and had hurt Harry.

"He's changed," Draco said after he saw the bumbling Gryffindor frown.

"What?"

"Dudley has changed," the blond Slytherin repeated. He looked knowingly at Neville.

"Why would I be interested in knowing that?" Neville said, feeling guilty that he was telling a half-truth.

Draco quirked an eyebrow and looked at the blushing Gryffindor. He was impressed. Longbottom had told him the truth and yet it wasn't complete. It looked like Neville really didn't know why he would be interested in knowing and yet Draco was hardly stupid. He'd seen the curiosity in Neville's face.

"You're good," Draco said. "That was almost believable. But I think you should know that the guy helped me and Harry out over this summer. You should know that everyone grows up over time. Everyone changes over ti..." His voice trailed off when the bond he had with his mate surged for a moment. "Excuse me," he said getting up and running out of the Great Hall.

Neville was concerned by Draco's actions and therefore he stood up, following the running blond down the stairs towards the dungeons. "What's going on?"

"I don't know," Draco said. "Harry might be in trouble, but I'm not sure how."

"Hogwarts," Neville said as he was running and keeping up with the Slytherin. "Did something happen in the dungeons with Harry and Professor Snape?"

The building was currently focused on maintaining the structure around her headmaster. Two house-elves popped in front of the two boys, causing the boys to halt and when the elves took hold of them, they were popped to a section of the building that looked to have collapsed inward.

"Bloody hell," Neville said.

"HARRY," Draco shouted.

"Yeah," a voice replied within the rubble. "It's OK Drake. My magic's holding up the wall, but you need to clear some of it away in order for us to get out."

"Come on Longbottom, start moving some the rubble nearby and levitate what you can to the side," he said. "You elves get some emergency medical supplies here now. Dobby!"

The two elves popped out and Dobby popped in. "You go get some extra help from the charms teacher and his assistants. Get someone else to find that bastard Filch. He's the caretaker of this school. I want to know how this could happen."

Draco then spelled the walls to remain upright. The others came running and soon the rubble was removed. Harry's magics had created a dome around himself, the potions Journeyman and his Professor. The journeyman was injured, but not too much, so his injuries were stabilized and he was soon taken to the infirmary.

Harry refused to go to the infirmary and so did Snape. "I'm not injured Madam Pomfrey," he said. "I'm just shook up a bit, but that is all."

"Well some calming potion for you is in order and I just need to scan you to be sure," she said.

"I'm sorry Madam Pomfrey, but I don't need to be scanned and I certainly do not need any calming potion," Harry said wrapping his arms around his worried mate. "My potion is right here," he murmured, turning his head into the crook of his mate's neck and nuzzling the mating mark.

Draco wrapped his arms around Harry and said, "I think that I can take it from here Madam Pomfrey. We won't be doing anything too strenuous for the remainder of the day. I hope."

"Where do you think you're going Severus Salazar Snape?" She asked in a tone that indicated he should not be heading anywhere, but the infirmary.

"I am uninjured as well and I am going with the Potters," he said. Walking in the direction that Harry and Draco were heading in.

"The Potters?" Neville asked quietly, watching them walk away. He didn't know whether to follow them or not, but then knew that he had to return to his duties at the greenhouses.

Mr. Filch was found and then directed to the secretary's office that appeared to guard the doorway to the Deputies' Office, which used to belong to the old Headmaster. Obviously there was going to be some extensive discussions regarding the building maintenance or lack of... He brought a copy of the lists of items that he has submitted over time to Headmaster Dumbledore and the resulting contracts and repairs that did or did not take place.

The secretary, an elderly, but competent woman, took the folder from Filch's hands, said a spell that copied the contents and placed the copies in a coloured folder matching the houses. Then she sent the folders whizzing up the stairs just behind her, only to have them settle on each of the Deputy Headmasters and Headmistresses new desks. She returned the original to Mr. Filch and then told him to have a seat in on one of the chairs that were lined up just in front of her.

"They will be with you shortly," she said. "They have not all arrived yet to the summons for a review of this incident." He nodded and sat down in one of the most comfortable chairs that he'd ever been in.

"I wonder if I can get one for my office," he muttered, looking through the contents of his folder. He was the caretaker after all and all repairs or reporting the need for repairs was the Caretakers job. He knew that something was off with the old coot, but he did the best that he could with whatever supplies he had. He was only one man after all. A note popped up shortly after he sat down, indicating that the meeting would have to take place the next day, as the time was running short.

"I'll be back tomorrow then," he said. She just nodded and made a note on the magical calendar sitting on her desk.

HPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDM

The boys headed in the direction of their rooms and Professor Snape returned to his own rooms to rest for a bit. He wanted to give the boys some time to recover from the accident that had just occurred. Plus it looked like he was going to begin his Deputy Headmaster duties early because he just sent a summons to the others.

It wasn't anyone's fault that that happened. The walls were weakened and they had been only looking into another classroom as a possible location for potions experimentation to occur. The place needed to be secure, but the room that they were currently looking into was iffy at best. One spell to clean the room and it collapsed. He knew that they should have consulted with Filch on the matter, but they had been too curious to explore a part of the building that barely anyone had been in for a while.

He wasn't going to live this one down with that wolf, once that situation was explained. He just hoped that the mangy wolf would allow him to keep some of his dignity. He highly doubted it because he could just picture in his mind Remus standing there and telling him that he was acting like a Gryffindor.

'I'm not a Gryffindor,' he thought, although he could see their point of view in the matter. A knock came at his door.

"Enter," he said. The door opened to a very worried looking DADA Professor.

"Severus, are you all right?" Remus asked.

"I'm perfectly fine," he replied. "You needn't concern yourself about me."

Remus wasn't fooled. "Do you need anything? Can I get you something to calm your nerves? Don't say you don't need it, I can see you shaking from here."

Severus bowed his head. He hoped that the werewolf wouldn't be able to tell. "I have calming potions over there," he said and proceeded to get up to get one.

"Stay put. I'll get it for you," Remus said.

Snape did as he was told and then he even allowed Lupin to hold the bottle while he swallowed the potion. Remus made sure not to touch the Potions Master, but the close proximity did much to ease the wolf's edginess over the incident.

The two men had spent the previous evening, after having left the quarters of their respective godsons and talked well into the night. It seems that after Remus discovered the extent that the Dark Lord would go to in order to bind his followers, the wolf in him raged. It was a strange sensation, but it was one that he recalled from his seventh year.

Remus had not been unaware of the pain that Severus was in during that time nor were his senses blinded by his surroundings or friends in school. He had a pretty good idea that Severus was in trouble and in pain from repeated rapes because he could smell the pain, the blood and the semen. He was just unable to do anything because he had run out of time in order to claim the one his wolf instincts called mate.

He was the DADA Professor after all and he knew that the wolves had mates for life. He was a very learned man, but he couldn't stay around and watch the one he knew to be his, fall further into the trap that had been set by his parents and his peers. That's why he left after seventh year and that's what he explained to Severus the night before.

Severus had been shocked to learn that Remus was aware of some of the events that occurred during the seventh year and that the only regret that the wolf had was not being there in time to prevent it.

The previous night's conversation opened up a path for the two men, but caution would have to be taken with their actions until Harry could find a solution to the Dark Mark issue. Remus did admit that the wolf in him needed to be close in proximity to the snarky man and Severus didn't mind that too much.

He was a private man, but then he found that if they couldn't touch one another, then they could do other things for each other, just like Remus was doing now, taking care of him as close as he could without touch. It didn't activate the Mark and the Dark Lord was not aware of these actions or of Snape's interest.

Touch sparked the Dark Mark and was triggered by emotions that accompanied touch. This was something that Severus had taken time to explore years before the first fall of the Dark Lord. It was a step in the right direction. They would get to know one another, just like their godsons had and they could take their time until they could be physically together.

Now that Severus had finished swallowing the last drop from the vial the two men just looked at one another. Remus smirked and then said, "You need a bath. I'll go get one ready for you."

Severus blinked and slowly nodded his head. "All right, but remember..."

"Don't worry," Remus told him. "You still need to go meet up with the boys after. I'm just going to prepare it for you. Besides I need to return to my assistants and continue planning classes for the DADA."

"All right," Severus said. "If it helps, Harry's going to be taking over my first years and half of my second years. That might help you to divide the tasks. However you might want him to take over one of the physical fitness classes for the first years, instead of having him teach your second years. You do have more teaching aides for DADA anyway." He then looked into the concerned amber eyes, after Remus had returned from preparing the bath and then said, "Thank you."

"You're very welcome and thank you for the advice." Severus just nodded and shooed the werewolf out of his rooms.

Severus went to his bedroom to undress and then he stepped into his bathroom, carefully getting into the foamy bath that Remus had prepared for him. He smiled in the privacy of his bathing room, washing away the dust and thinking about Potter's revelations.

'The boy certainly knows what he's doing in potions,' he thought. 'I still haven't seen him brew anything, but I will only need to see his potions armoire and some samples of his finished potions to know more about his abilities in brewing.' Anyone truly interested in potions will have an armoire organized in such a way that everything needed will be close at hand.

That was true, as Severus has two such armoires of his own. One was a gift from the Potions Master that taught him and helped him to earn his Mastery. The other came from a surprise inheritance from a very distant relative named Great Uncle Fergus Prince, who came from his mother's side of the family.

The inheritance included a very small getaway cottage in Ireland somewhere. He'd never been able to go visit it yet. There was also a modest vault in Gringotts that contained just a bit of money, but had more books and junk in it. Severus never complained about that because amongst the junk is where he'd found his second potions armoire.

That armoire contained a few potion volumes tucked away in a secret cubby, whose language was still difficult to decipher. He was also surprised to have found a couple vials of potions, plus some other vials containing unknown or seemingly rare ingredients.

As soon as his bath was completed and he was dressed, he gathered up what he needed to meet with the others, taking a page from Harry's book and bringing an empty journal for the purpose of recording the meeting. He also thought that it now was a good time to visit the boys to see how they were doing and to drop off the pensive memory.

He had stored two memories in it, one of his own memories of a Marking Ceremony and one of the more recent Marking ceremonies that had taken place after the second rise of the Dark Lord. He thought that it might help Harry to make a comparison of the two times.

The single memory pensive could actually hold up to 3 complete memories and not just one. It's just that hey were great gifts for giving copies of single moments that not many read the instructions that come with the device; other then how to copy a memory and store it properly.

Taking them in hand he made his way up to the Founder's Tower.

HPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDM

The boys were now in their quarters, quietly talking to one another. "What happened down there, Harry?"

"Hmm," he murmured from his comfortable position within the arms of his mate.

"Harry," Draco said exasperated that his mate was holding off. "I felt something through our bond now please tell me what happened."

Harry faced his worried mate and then shifted so that he was the one holding onto his mate. "It was just a normal accident. I think I used too much power behind the Scorgify spell," he began to explain. "Professor Snape was interested in the prospect of teaching a class on how to conduct proper potions research and experimentation. We were just looking into some of the rooms and cleaning them up as we went along, but that one room wasn't stable and we were not aware of it."

"I told one of the house-elves to look for Mr. Filch and have him take an explanation to your Deputies. Although I'm more than certain that the only reason something like happened was that repairs had been neglected over long periods of time," Draco told his mate. Harry nodded in agreement with that conclusion.

"It will be fixed. I'm sure that this is a perfect time and situation for the Deputies to come together and begin working on something other then just their classes." Draco cleared his throat to show Harry that he didn't really care about that at the moment. He just wanted to know that Harry was all right. "I really am fine," he said kissing his mate, further calming Draco down.

Draco sighed and knew that to be true because he had given his mate a thorough look over. There were only small cuts on his arms and face from the falling debris, but that was the same for his Godfather and that Potions Journeyman.

"So how did it go this morning with Uncle Sev?" He asked curious about the testing his mate had to go through in order to prove to the Potions Master that he was competent in the subject.

Harry smirked and said, "It was a blast because once he found out that I was perfectly capable of instructing the first years, I could hear the joy and relief in his voice. Journeyman Lang and I will be splitting the second years between us and the journeyman will be taking over teaching the third years completely." He chuckled recalling the situation and then told Draco how his godfather was gobsmacked with Harry's abilities.

HPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDM

Earlier

Harry made his way down to the dungeons in order for Professor Snape to test his abilities. Journeyman Lang was already there, waiting for them. Thankfully the man didn't gush at him, but that was something that Harry already knew about the Journeyman.

Sou-Kim Lang was only interested in potions. Potions were his life and when he found out that he had been selected to go to Hogwarts' School for Witchcraft and Wizardry, he packed his bags and said goodbye to his dead-end, lab assistant days at the research facility. The facility was way under a budget and his only task there was to maintain the lives of the creatures that they experimented on.

He never liked that place because he was sure that it was associated with the Dark Lord and his cronies. He thanked his god that he was a foreigner and he didn't feel the need to become involved with the politics of this country. He further offered thanks when he was contacted by the goblins once his working visas were in order. The goblins had taken his name for a list of possible assistants or replacements in relation to his preferred field of Potions.

Sou-Kim didn't believe that anything would come of it, but now he was extremely glad that his name was on that list. He was so ecstatic that he could work under the guidance of one of the greatest Potions Masters in the known world, Severus Snape.

When Harry got down there, it was with relief that Professor Snape greeted him. It seems he got a small taste of hero worship and was hoping to pawn it off onto Harry. It didn't work because once Harry was introduced to the journeyman; the journeyman just went back to looking at Severus with adoration and awe in his eyes.

Harry chuckled at the Potions Master's predicament. "It's not going to work Professor Snape. I did a thorough background check on Journeyman Lang. It's obvious that he wasn't born and raised in this country, which makes him perfect for the position. He has no pre-conceived notions about how to teach the students from certain families that will be coming to this school. Plus he is a Journeyman working towards his Master Certification in Potions. Why wouldn't he look up to someone who's earned his Master Certification at the youngest age ever?"

Severus had to agree with that statement, he was proud to have broken the record when he earned his certification. It was also true that Journeyman Lang would not care about the possible nobles or social structure in the classroom.

The Potions Master set about testing Harry's potions knowledge. He even allowed Harry to consult with any books that he may have brought with him, thinking that there was no way the boy could have any on him.

Harry smirked because he knew that Professor Snape did not expect him to have any on hand and said, "Really..."

He pulled out three large tomes, two smaller compiled journals and his own personal journal that looked like it was bigger then the other two and was filled with sectioning tabs. "Well that's good because I happen to have several here with me."

Severus was surprised by the fact that Harry had books with him. He was further surprised to find that he didn't know what they contained. The very fact that Harry was prepared showed him that the boy was sincere in his request to be tested and taken seriously. "Very well, shall we begin?"

Harry smiled at the Professor and said, "Yes."

The next hour Harry was asked so many rapid-fire questions regarding potions ingredients and their interactive properties that even Journeyman Lang was hard pressed to remember that information. He was impressed that Harry knew all of the answers.

Harry answered every question thrown at him and consulted his own personal journal only once. He never needed to consult the other books that he had brought along. All he did when a question made him pause was to run his hands over the covers of the books, let it settle on one before he answered the question correctly without fail.

Severus was trying to think up harder and harder questions, trying to stump the Boy-Who-Lived, but it wasn't working. Some of the questions were from the Journeyman and Master levels and for some reason that stubborn Gryffindor knew the answers. It seemed that he had finally stumped Harry, forcing to him consult one of his books, but it looked like he only needed to consult one of the journals and not one of the larger tomes.

The Potions Master knew then that Harry understood the properties and the interactive proportions of the ingredients. Somehow the boy even understood why it was better to mix one thing rather then another. Recognizing his defeat, he sighed, "All right... You win... You know enough to teach the first and second years."

Harry laughed and Journeyman Lang was stunned. Lang said, "First and second? I think that he could teach all of the years and you'd be out of a job." Severus just grumbled a bit at that.

"Don't worry Professor. There's no way that I want to teach the upper years. They're going to be your burden." He said gleefully. "Besides you can still be mean and snarky to those years without having to worry about noticeably changing your teaching methods. I'm sure that there will still be some that will irk you therefore I foresee large points deductions in the future for those students should they do so."

The Potions Professor grinned darkly at that statement, pleased that Harry wasn't asking him to change completely. He had seen and heard what Harry had said in the memory that he'd been given for the time the two boys exchanged their wedding bands, about him being a fair man. He could be fair and still be mean in teaching, as long as the students were learning properly.

Harry was right in the fact that the students were not comfortable asking him questions, but that was something that could be changed over time. He certainly didn't have to appear changed for the sixth and seventh years, but perhaps he could mellow out his teaching methods for the fourth and fifth year students.

'We'll see about that and take it one day at a time,' Severus thought.

At the moment there was an interesting conversation happening between Harry and Lang. "How did you know all those answers? I would have consulted the texts in front of me, why didn't you?"

"I only needed these in front of me for association. I already knew the answers, but I was also sorta testing my own abilities to research," Harry explained.

"What do you mean?" Lang asked.

"The majority of the answers to Professor Snape's questions can be found in these tomes and journals, but I needed to re-assure myself that I would know where to look for the answers, if I didn't know what the answer would be. Luckily for me, I only had to look up one answer and that was because the question was tricky and somewhat obscured, like a riddle you have to figure out."

"Mr. Potter, do you mean to tell me that each one of these books contains the answers to the questions that I have asked you?" Professor asked, intrigued by such a possibility.

"For the most part, yes Professor. Feel free to look them," Harry said. "You too, Lang, feel free as well. You'll see what I mean by needing to know where to look for the answers."

The three tomes varied in colour and texture, but the most amazing thing about them, were their titles and who they were compiled by.

"Magical Plants: Properties & Potions Interactions" compiled by Salazar Slytherin with contributions by the World Masters of Potions, Alchemy & Herbists (from 625BC - 1125AD).

"Creatures Great and Small; Parts & Properties, Interactive Analysis" compiled by Salazar Slytherin & Godric Gryffindor with contributions by the Veterinary, Muggle & Magical Medical Guilds (from 473BC - 1139AD).

"Potions through Ages & Time" complied by Rowena Ravenclaw & Helga Huffelpuff with contributions from the Witches Guild & Historical Mages Compendium (from 1103BC - 1198AD).

The three journals were similar with the exception of Harry's larger one. The journals were compiled by Harry with a mix of old recipes versus their newer counterparts and the differences that occurred over time, plus an in depth analysis of the cultural differences, as well as geographic anomalies.

In his large journal, there was further analysis into each potions origins and it held literally hundreds of partial potions recipes or formulas to complete in part or as a whole, as well as puzzles or riddles to ancient potions formulas in different languages.

Some of the ancient Masters in Potions were very protective of their formulas and if someone didn't figure out the keys to the riddle, well it would be their own fault if the results were not the ones that they were looking for. Harry's larger journal contained a section for timeline and a mini-history of different nuances that show where the wording of something or meaning of the words had changed over time and species, language or a mix of all three.

When he had to consult his journal for the verbal test, it was because Professor Snape had mentioned a timeframe in regards to a particular potion, which was altered in the past and it's most recent application was no longer what it originally set out to be, that included the name of it. It was to stump Harry, but obviously Harry was prepared for such questions.

Professor Snape and Journeyman Lang were impressed by the tomes and journals. "These tomes, how did you get a hold of them," Professor Snape asked. "I have never seen them and they are certainly not available to the general public."

Harry smiled enigmatically and said, "I told you that I have journeyed a long way. These were rare finds for me, as the country that I found them in did not even speak English. They were foreign works that had no value to anyone there and it was just luck that I found them. As you can see, these are not originals, but a third printing."

Professor Snape then said, "I hope that one day you'll be able to tell me the truth about them."

"Professor, I am telling you the truth," Harry said. "There was this shop in the far side of a small town to the West of Tibet, I don't even recall the name now, but you do know that there are pawn shops everywhere. If a traveler is out of funds or in a bind they will pawn what they can for money. That's where I found two of the tomes. They were in that shop. I have different versions of them in other languages because these were the most complete works of their time. The Founders were known by the Guilds world wide and some of those guilds still exist today. I wonder if they have updated copies of these, it's not like they'd be available to the general public."

Journeyman Lang blinked and was impressed. It was true that many of the pawnshops didn't care what the objects were and knew that money was a factor when someone came in to give away their treasures. "I am a member of such a Guild, but they do not have these available for dispersal. You can go a petition for the right to view one of these works, but how could the shop not know the value of such?" Lang asked. "Most wizards or mages know to cast spells to uncover these kinds of treasures. How could these have not been found?"

Harry then smirked and opened all of the tomes. "Can you read these ones?"

Both men looked at the words in the books and found that they did not understand a single one. There was something at work here because it felt like the words shifted before their very eyes and now they were developing headaches.

"It's probably best if you two don't look too long or hard at the words written in here," Harry said. "The shopkeeper warned me about getting a headache, but I never told him that I was blind and couldn't see the words."

Severus and Lang both looked away from the book, blinking and slowly realizing that their temples were throbbing. "Ow," Lang said.

"Here," said Harry. He held out two potions vials for them to take. "This should help. It's just a simple headache reducer."

Lang just took it and swallowed it before realizing that that was a stupid thing to do. What if Harry had been evil and wanted to poison him, but the potion that had a pleasant taste and that surprised him. There was nothing that could change the taste of potions or else the effects would be lost, however this potion was working and working faster than a normal headache reliever.

"Wow," he said as he sighed in relief, glad that the pain was gone.

Professor Snape took his and looked at it. The colour was off and it didn't smell like a 'Headache Reducer' or 'Headache Reliever' potion. In fact, it didn't smell at all and that caused Snape some concern.

He smirked when he saw that Lang took the potion and swallowed it before even pausing to consider that it could have been poisoned. He waited a moment and noticed that Lang's tension had noticeably eased and that the strain that came with headaches had diminished, only then did he considered taking the unknown potion.

At his exclamation of "Wow", Professor Snape lifted the vial and took a small bit into his mouth. He was surprised at the taste. It wasn't foul and his tongue tingled, which meant that there was a numbing property to the potion that would help to ease a headache. He swallowed the rest and waited. It didn't take too long and his headache was gone.

"Would you care to explain this Mr. Potter?" He asked.

"You'll have to be clearer on what you want explained Professor? Is it about the headache effects from the books or anything about the potion that you've just taken?" Harry asked.

"All of it," was the answer he received from the irritated Professor.

Harry just chuckled and then went on to explain that the books may have been compiled by the various Founders, but that the person who bound the third version of those books had been Salazar Slytherin. The books were protected by runes, set into the bindings and Salazar printed everything in Parseltongue. An incantation was needed to alter the words back, but Harry would have to study the runes and consult with the portraits of the Founders, as they may remember the incantation.

"Altering the potion to reduce headaches was easy once I had access to the different ingredients, especially those that were only available from another country." Harry explained. "There is also something known as building up immunity to a specific ingredient, kind of like developing an allergy. I had developed that with one of the main ingredients to the base of the headache potion. In fact that particular base is used in several healing potions, so I had to alter it in order to be able to have effective potions on hand for my personal use."

"And the taste, how did you manage that?" The Potions Master asked.

"Who said that I had to make it taste like the regular, mass produced stuff?" Harry said. "There no truth to the old saying that states 'All potions must taste bad to be effective', that's just a misconception. It's just a fact that most potions taste bad because no one has thought to improve the taste of them for fear of losing their effectiveness. Unless they really needed to take such potions on a regular basis and then it was altered. It's kind of like the Muggle saying, 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it.' Those that were altered were usually done so by Potions Experts or anyone with enough determination."

Lang asked, "But those recipes are private and not found in the regular books or tomes."

"True," Harry said. "However, I have visited several pawn shops over several countries and have purchased many private journals that families or people no longer wanted or no longer understood the language within them. I made several finds that allowed me to construct this journal of timelines and nuances. You'd be amazed at what people throw away or get rid of."

"May I see that journal?" Professor Snape asked. Harry handed his larger one over to him and let him look through it. It was an amazing piece of work that obviously took some time to compile. There was no way that Harry could have done that over just one summer and that's what he was asked. "How long have you been working on this?"

"Let me think… The one in your hands… Hmm," Harry thought back over the time it took, sneaking away from his two 'best' friends in order to actually be able to study. He's been doing that for longer then either of them knew. "I'd have to say since about Christmas of first year. It wasn't easy to compile those or know where to begin, but I knew what I wanted the end result to be, so I copied what I could from the library and started from there."

"First years don't know how to use the copy charm. It's a sixth year spell." Professor Snape said, clearly thinking that Harry was lying.

"I never said that I used a spell," Harry explained. "I made notes about the books and the pages that I wanted to copy, including locations of the books in the library. I learned how to use librarian spells for finding the appropriate books and when I finally learned a copy spell in the second year, I began to compile my journals to fit my needs."

"In second your year Mr. Potter?" The dark man quirked an eyebrow to show his incredulity, not that Harry could see it, but he could detect the note of it in the question.

"Parseltongue-spell, Professor Snape," Harry said. "I was curious to see if there would be any differences to spells cast in parseltongue, rather than in the common language of the spell. I know that most spells require the Latin or an archaic tone, but how do you improve spells if that language can not improve over time. It was during the time that everyone shunned me for being Slytherin's heir that I had a lot of time to consider languages and wondered if French, German or even Japanese people cast in Latin or in their own tongue." He shrugged and then explained that to him that parseltongue or snake language was just another language and that's when he decided to cast a couple of first year spells in Parseltongue and in English.

"I started with the basic Lumos spell. First I said Lumos in parseltongue and then I said Light in parseltongue, which is basically the same thing and got the same results. Then I tried the spell by saying Light in English, I got the same results that I would get by saying Lumos. There are some words that will not translate well, but some of the basics are similar." He further explained that magic was basically about intent and that the learning taking place was just how to direct the outcome of the magic with gestures and words.

"The concept of copying or making copies is not a foreign concept to Muggleborn, as they often have copying machines for that. In fact they are called photocopiers, but those won't work in the magical environment. However, before photocopiers there were carbon copy machines that started out manually before becoming electric and those probably could be used in the Wizarding World because they don't run on electric power." Since he couldn't see their expressions, he was deprived of their gap mouthed gold-fish imitations to his explanations and reasoning, but what a sight it would have been. "So, yeah... That's how I copied what I needed over the years."

"Well Headmaster," Professor Snape said. "I'm impressed. I think that I will be re-evaluating everything that I thought I knew about you."

Lang was stunned as well. He had studied for years and never once thought to try spells in his own language as opposed to the commonly used Latin, which was considered a 'Dead' language because it never evolved past what it used to be. He was seriously re-considering his position under these two because Harry seemed far more competent then he was.

However, he squashed that idea fast because he needed to teach in order to continue learning and Harry was the Headmaster of the school, so he couldn't just be a Potions Instructor. Re-thinking it, he knew that he would learn a whole hell of a lot with these two Masters.

'Yes, Harry Potter is a Master and not just one of potions. He's got innovative thinking that will open up the Wizarding World for growth, especially the stagnating parts that are floundering in their own past. Boy, am I ever glad that I had my name on that list.' He thought, still overwhelmed by everything he had just learned.

"Well Mr. Potter," Professor Snape began. "I think that we will have to explore part of the dungeons for a suitable room for potions experimentation. I believe that I will have time to offer three extra curricular or optional classes just for that and it will be opened only to the third, fourth and sixth years. Fifth and Seventh years have their O.W.L.S. and N.E.W.T.S. to think about. I may reconsider it for the other years later on, once your new system has been in place for a couple of years."

"Thank you Professor," Harry said. "Journeyman Lang can assist with the Third years in that area, as you may need to ease them into being taught by you. Since you've handed off their class to him and you did mention that you'll only be teaching fourth to Seventh. Unless you wish to split the fourth years with Lang. I'm sure that he would be able to handle them just fine what with him taking over half the second year classes and all of third. That would leave you with extra time to familiarize yourself with you Deputy Headmaster duties and perhaps a bit more time for your own personal research."

Journeyman Lang then thought up of a Club that he would be interested in supervising. "Headmaster, with all of the potions required for the running of the school and with this new book of recipes, plus all of the practical potions we'll be producing, I wonder if I could open an after Class Club for fun potions. To let the students know that there are potions out there, that are frivolous and fun."

Harry bit his lip to stop himself from chuckling at the groan that came from Professor Snape when he heard the words "frivolous & fun" in association with his beloved Potions. "We'll see when the time comes. I believe it would take the children's minds off of the impending war and from their worries about getting good grades. Perhaps something for the first and second years, as Professor Snape might want the third years to have an optional class in potions experimentation. I wouldn't stop any student that wanted to join your club though. Clubs should be opened to all years."

"Club announcements will be held off until the students have been able to settle into their routine of schedule. It will be announced in the middle of September, after the first Prefect meeting of the year." Harry said, not against the idea at all, but he knew that Snape wanted to have a look around for an experimentation room. "How about we put our ideas on the back burner for now and explore the castle for several experimentation rooms."

"What does 'on the back burner' mean?" Lang asked.

"Muggle expression," Harry said collecting his books and shrinking them to place in his pocket. He chose not to clarify that expression, as another idea popped into his mind for the Muggle Studies classes. He pulled out another Journal, the same one he was using to keep track of the teachers and the decisions he was making for the up-coming year and made a note in it regarding his idea. "Where's my large journal?"

"Here," Professor Snape said. He had been glancing through it, making note of the colours and tabs, as well as the method that Harry used to track the timelines. He was utterly fascinated by that Journal, but since they were now preparing to leave the room, he handed it back to Harry. "I hope that I can look through it again sometime."

"Of course Professor," Harry said. "It would be interesting to discuss different aspects of it with you and I look forward to it." They headed down a likely looking corridor, consulting with the school from time to time about the rooms in the area, but even she had no idea how long they had been empty or how stable the rooms were.

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Chapter 16

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Neville was returning to the greenhouses when he realized that Dudley and Hagrid hadn't come in for lunch and wouldn't be in until they had finished their work. "Dippy," he called to one of the house-elves that he knew was assigned to the kitchens.

"Dippy be helping Master Neville," the excited house-elf asked.

"Could you take a lunch basket out to Professor Hagrid and Dudley Dursley? They both didn't come in for lunch and I know that they have been out there working hard. Oh and could you add some treats for two hippogriffs and an owl, please?" He said hoping that the little elf wouldn't be too afraid to go near the large teacher or the stranger.

"I's be happy to do that for yous, young Master. Any'ting else?" She asked eagerly.

"No that will be all for now. Thank you," he said politely. She was always kind to him and he always answered the house-elves with politeness to show his appreciation for their efforts. She curtsied and popped out.

'Now that was new, but I suppose with their new uniforms the elves are adopting a more advanced or perhaps a more free form of acknowledging our requests', he thought with a smile.

He continued heading towards the greenhouses to meet up with the three other assistants that were assigned to Professor Sprout. Two were Journeyman Herbalists and one was a Landscaping Journeyman, who wanted to improve her knowledge of plants and plant formations, as well as what worked well together in a garden.

Landscaping as a guild, was something that Neville had never heard about, but it was apparently popular in the Americas, which is where this girl came from. She had explained that the environment and concern for it was a big issue where she came from. That was why she was here, she wanted to spread the word about this new guild and explain what they actually worked towards.

It was actually considered to be a small branch of the Herbalists and Herbologists, but they mainly focused on how to preserve the plants' natural growing environment and how to improve or protect it. If all else fails, how to reproduce that environment to be able to move them out should something occur that required such drastic measures.

Neville understood what she meant. Meanwhile he was the only Herbology assistant among them. The other two were Herbalists not Herbologists. Herbologists were quiet rare in that not many people wanted to become one, it was far easier to become an Herbalist.

Herbalists were the ones that helped to grow potions ingredients for healing potions or ingredients for cooking and nothing much more then that. They generally didn't care about the more complicated plants needed for more difficult potions or property protection, but that was all right because the Landscapist would assist with the students in that respect.

Neville was there to begin to learn how to become a Herbologist and was hoping that he could speak to Professor Sprout about an apprenticeship under her tutelage. He took his Gryffindor courage in one hand and approached her with his request. "Professor Sprout?"

"Ah, Neville. I'm glad that you're back we have much to discuss today and much to prepare," she said happily. She may have been a short person, but her personality bubbled.

"I was wondering if you'd consider apprenticing me in Herbology," he asked.

She looked at his earnest face and was very glad that he had approached her. That was how many apprenticeships worked. The student would look for their teachers and it was only on very rare occasions did a Master select or approach a student for apprenticeship. A master was under no obligation to accept an apprentice and could be approached many, many times with a request to teach and never accept. However, once they did accept an apprentice they then had to follow standard guild strictures.

Pamona Sprout was hoping that he would approach her before the end of this summer. If he hadn't then she would have approached him because it would have been a waste to lose such a promising Herbologist to the Herbalist section of the Growers Guild.

There was only friendly rivalry and the Herbalists knew that Herbologists were required in the world, but with the way that many of the students turned out in the past from Hogwarts, the field of Herbology was losing ground to the easier branch in the field of plant growers. With the young Headmaster's 'Educational Revolution' happening now, she was sure that the future would hold more Herbologists.

She smiled at Neville's worried expression and said, "We'll discuss that after we talk about the classes and possible options or maybe even a Grower's Club. Now ladies and gentleman let's get this talk over with so we can play in the dirt."

The others just laughed, but were eager to finish the discussion. This was something that they all loved about working in the gardens or greenhouses, playing in the dirt. It was just something that they all had in common and it was further enjoyed by watching their hard work succeed when the planted seeds grew.

They couldn't wait to begin teaching and assisting with the classes. They were eager for the new mini-greenhouses that the Charms and Transfigurations Professors and their assistants were creating spells for, based on the outline or image provided by the new Headmaster.

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Hagrid and Dudley finished the plowing about an hour after lunch was finished from being served in the Great Hall. Hagrid was about to invite Dudley to take a meal with him when a house-elf delivered a picnic basket to them explaining that it was to make up for their missing meal. She even told them that there were treats in the basket for the hippogriffs and the owl that was still on Dudley's shoulder.

They thanked her and ate their missing lunch with a lively conversation about everything that's going to be taking place at the school. It was a wonder that they could get along, but Hagrid was not one to hold a grudge and didn't seem to have any bitterness in him.

Once they were done he asked whether Dudley wanted to ride Buckbeak and that's how Dudley became this first Muggle-raised Squib to ride a hippogriff. Hedwig was flying around with them for a while before going to fetch Harry to play with them, but soon her attentions were drawn to a commotion in the Forbidden Forest.

"Hagrid," Dudley shouted from above. "Go into the forest, head north towards two o'clock, there's something going on. Hedwig go to Harry and get us some help." He heard screams coming from the woods and as he was not one to hold back he said. "I see multiple flashes of light that way," he pointed in the direction that he planned to head in and have Hagrid follow. "Let's go Buckbeak… heeyah!"

Buckbeak reared back in the air and then took off towards the direction of the flashing lights. Dudley guided the active animal and had him set down near the area of the conflict. He wasn't stupid because he was well aware that the lights were magic spells that were released in the area. He knew that he had no protection against it, but if there was one thing that he knew about the wizards it was the fact that they could be taken by surprise with physical attacks. He jumped down from Buckbeak and crouched down to pick up several sizeable stones to chuck. Buckbeak remained quiet, knowing that he may be needed for the fight ahead.

Dudley began walking cautiously towards the area and observed the moment before taking any action. He saw six dark cloaked Death Eaters, masks and all. He wasn't surprised to find them sniffing around the school, but he was shocked to see that one of them had a little girl up in the air held there by only her wrist.

'She's going to have a dislocated shoulder,' he thought.

Then he saw three others on the ground, one was down and not moving the other were huddled together trying to protect the one that was down. The Death Eater that was holding the young girl had them at a disadvantage because he had a captive and was shaking her violently for emphasis.

"Put down your wands," he yelled at them. One of the boys in the center of the group scowled at the ultimatum and nearly growled out loud because they had just run out of options.

The other one that was still mobile was another girl with light-brown hair that frizzed from the magical static in the air. She too scowled at the lack of options. The third was another boy, but he was the one that was unconscious due to the injuries that he received trying to protect the others.

Dudley watched from the shadows and crept close, but not too close in case someone saw him. With several rocks in his hand, he hoped that it would be enough to distract the Death Eaters and that Harry would arrive soon.

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Hagrid heard Dudley's shout and saw the direction that he took off in. He also saw Hedwig winging towards to castle. So he took up his crossbow and made his way towards the commotion. Luckily it was near the edge of the forest. He walked in that direction swiftly and silently through the trees.

Just because he was larger and taller then a normal human, it didn't mean that he stumbled loudly through the forest. It didn't make any sense for a groundskeeper to be unable to hunt or cull a herd wild animals, if he couldn't sneak up on them silently.

Quietly he approached the area where the sounds of fighting and magical light were taking place. He looked around and saw that Dudley was approaching from one direction. He then made a decision to come in from another angle in order to be able to take out the other Death Eaters.

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Hedwig had been flying alongside Dudley and Buckbeak having fun, when she sensed magic being expended from the direction of the forest. Then she heard Dudley telling her to go get Harry.

She took off in the direction of the Founders' Tower because that was where she sensed her friend and master.

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Harry had just finished telling Draco about his morning and they had just settled down for a long cuddle, waiting for Snape to show up, when his monitoring crystal rang in alarm. It was Hagrid's that was sending an alarm because it was connected to the emotions of panic, fear and anger. Anytime one of those emotions was released the monitoring crystal would send an alarm.

"Draco we need to get up," he said to his blond mate. "Go get your emergency kit and send a message to Madam Pomfrey, she may be getting some patients."

Harry said all of this while he was heading towards his trunk in order to get his own emergency kit, complete with potions, disinfectants, salves and lots of sterilized bandages. Draco ran to gather his own kit which contained much of the same on a lesser scale because his kit also contained collapsible splints, neck braces, blankets and more bandages of different types. He then took his own monitoring crystal and sent a message through it to Madam Pomfrey in order for her to be prepared for an emergency.

Harry took Dauphin out of her carrier and wrapped her around his neck while walking towards the window. Hedwig was there talking to him, explaining what she knew was going on. (...There's a fight happening in the forest. Dudley was riding Bucky when there was someone screaming from inside the forest. He's gone in there to help and told me to get you...)

Harry listened to her and then said (...I'll need you to guide us to the fight and Dauphin will guide me in flight. We'll take off from here, after my mate is secured to me...). He then translated his conversion in Parseltongue for his familiar which Draco understood in a confused sort of way.

"Secured to you?" He asked.

"Do you trust me?" Harry asked.

"Of course I do," Draco said in a miffed tone, as if there was any doubt to it.

"All right then," Harry said.

He gestured his mate to come forward and step up on the ledge of the tower window. The window ledge was large enough to hold him and his mate in a standing position. Draco had a pretty good idea of what was about to happen and was a touch nervous, but only looked at Harry with love and trust, standing where he was told.

Harry then climbed up just behind to his mate and said, "Dauphin will be guiding me, you just need to hold on. It's the fastest way short of apparating and I can't apparate because I don't know the coordinates I need to get to. Besides I always wanted to take off from here like this."

He took a hold of Draco around his waist and around his chest, he said a spell that will allow Draco to stick to him and then they both took a step out of the window, diving down out the tower headfirst. It was just to gain momentum and then Harry uncased his wings and soared up through into the sky and flew towards the forest.

Dauphin guided him in order to avoid obstacles just like the time that he decided to fly and nearly got tangled in Muggle electric wires. He explained that part of the reason she was his familiar was to assist him when he couldn't see with his magic because of certain areas affected it or because of his method of travel. She had told him once and once was enough because she re-enforced it by biting him, but she told him that she wanted to be of good use to him for which he was continuously glad to have her as his familiar.

Draco was startled and then nearly scared shitless when they dove headfirst out of the tower window. His heart was thumping rapidly and when he realized how secure he was in those arms and with the charm that held him in place, he slowly relaxed his death grip on Harry's arms. He opened his eyes and watched the ground zip away as they skimmed near it.

He heard Dauphin hissing or talking to her master, directing his flight and that was when Draco realized that the bond of trust Harry had with the Runespoor familiar was absolute. He trusted the little snake completely and Draco knew that it was something that he wanted with his own familiar. His own familiar was with him most times, but it was still very young and still needed lots of sleep and care.

They approached the edge of the forest at a rapid rate and soon he was released from his mate's grip into a smaller clearing, just about a hundred yards away from the noises that they heard. "You go on foot and I'll drop down from above," Harry said. "It will surprise them and I don't care if they find out that I'm the Draekon. It will serve to piss Voldie off if and when he finds out."

"Okay, but promise me you'll be careful," Draco said.

Harry promised him with a kiss on the mouth and the wind from wings caused Draco's hair-beads to click. The blond cast a 'Silencio' on them and one on his body, except his mouth and voice. It was to prevent him from making noise as he approached the attackers.

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Dudley was crouched in the brush and was listening to the demands of the Death Eaters. He was growing furious when he noticed the movement of a large shadow on the opposite side of the clearing. That's when he knew that Hagrid was in position.

The four children in the middle of the Death Eaters were obviously students of this school and it looked like they had been through quite an ordeal before even arriving here. They had scrapes and blood splatters all over their clothing. Their hair was matted and their clothing was even tattered. The girls were lucky to still be somewhat modestly covered and yet it was clear that the eldest may have gone through something that she had never meant to experience until she was ready. It was the same with the two boys because they had blood stains on the seat of their pants.

Dudley and Hagrid were both horrified by the children's appearance.

'I hope that Harry gets here soon,' he thought and then heard Buckbeak chirp in a tone that imitated Hedwig. That let Dudley know that help was in the area. He picked his target and threw one of the stones in his hand, hitting the guy on the back of his wrist, forcing the one that was holding the little girl up to let her go.

Hagrid got two shots off from his crossbow and Buckbeak gave what could only be described as a war-cry charging one of the Death Eaters that was looming over the prone student. The other two students, noticing that help was in the area began to fight back physically pushing off their attackers. They scrambled for their wands not caring if they would be expelled for underage magic use or not. They were both casting a shield around the four them to prevent stray spells from hitting them.

Hagrid was occupied by three of the Death Eaters, who tried to gang up on him. Buckbeak was playing tag with one chasing him all over the area and cutting him with his razor sharp beak and clawing him every time the Death Eater tried to cast a spell.

Dudley had kept two fair sized rocks in his hands and charged the one that held the girl, basically tackling him and pummeling him with his fists. It was effective because that Death Eater had lost his wand when he was tackled to the ground. The Muggle's fists connected with any part of the body that he could reach and the Death Eater didn't know what hit him.

Draco ran towards the clearing, stunning the last one and then approached the students, one of which recognized him.

"Draco!" The boy exclaimed shocked by the changes he noticed at a glance.

One of the Death Eater's attacking Hagrid heard the name called out. He stopped and refocused his attentions on the blond Draekon. "Well my son," a voice came from within the mask. "It seems that this is where you've been hiding. I'll teach you to defy our Lord... Cruc..."

Harry dropped down from above and landed heavily on the Death Eater before he could finish casting the spell. "Gods... He's just as annoying as Voldemort... He's always talking. Draco, take my kit and help the others. You two drop the shield and let him in. I'll set up another once he's there with you."

"Gotcha," he replied to his mate. The two lowered it to allow Draco in their little circle and then he said, "I'm in Harry, put up something that will allow friends in."

Harry hissed in Parseltongue, which caused all four to shudder, but then they felt the shield and the strength of it. It was three times stronger then when the two were combined and they knew that they would be safe for the time being.

Meanwhile Hagrid had grabbed both of his attackers by the scruff of their necks, when they were distracted by Harry's descent and banged their heads together, causing them to pass out from the pain. He dragged them over to the side and tied them up with rope that he had brought along just in case.

Harry turned his attentions to Draco's father by focusing on the magical signature surrounding the man. "Malfoy," he hissed gleefully. "Aww, little Tommy let you come out to play."

He pulled out his wand and began to cast several spells that would prevent the Death Eaters from leaving the area. In fact he used the Dark Mark as the key to prevent them from apparating, port-keying or shifting their forms to get away.

"Harry Potter," Malfoy senior growled out. He saw his son catch the kit that the Boy-Who-Lived Brat had thrown. "I should have known that the Golden Boy was the one behind this."

"This..." Harry said in a questioning tone. "This is just you failing again. Were you expecting Dumbledore or one of his cronies?" He said trying to antagonize the aristocrat.

Draco ran to the children and began to help treat their wounds. He cleansed the open ones and wrapped them up in bandages. Then he administered potions to prevent extreme blood loss and salves for the cuts. He gave them blankets for cover and for their shock.

"Let's get you guys stabilized. Harry should be done soon," he said. "We'll talk later after you've all been taken to the infirmary. You guys did the right thing by coming here."

They looked at him relieved that they had made the right decision. "Thank you," said the one that called out his name. "I'm sorry I shouldn't have..."

"That's enough," Draco said. "We can talk once you guys are safe inside the castle."

"Do you think that the Headmaster will allow us to stay until the school begins?"

Draco had an enigmatic smile and said, "Oh, I'm absolutely sure that you'll be able to stay."

He continued to hand out potions and then turned his focus on the one lying on the ground. He poured potions down that boy's throat, massaging it in order to force him to swallow. He used his hands to seek out the injuries and noticed tender ribs and a few broken bones.

Dudley finished pummeling his opponent. The guy looked like he was just released from a meat grinder. Sometime during his fight he had dropped his rocks and had put the guy in a sleeper hold, cutting off his air supply. It was not enough to kill him, but definitely enough to render him unconscious. He heaved a sigh and took a look around to see if he was needed and then noticed that Draco was tending the wounds of the children.

He walked towards the group and began to assist with the others. They were shocked until Draco reminded them that the shield would allow anyone in that had no intentions to harm.

"Drake you need to tell the Deputies to meet and call in the cops," he said. "I'll continue working on this one. Oh, make sure that you get some reliable ones."

Draco nodded and took up his crystal, sending a call to the Deputy Headmasters and Headmistresses. "Gather in your collective office," he ordered on Harry's behalf. He knew that Harry didn't want to be exposed yet as the Headmaster, so they would have to be organized. "Call in the Aurors, make sure that a couple of them come from the Order. We have Death Eaters on the forest grounds and we're bringing them in. Madam Pomfrey is already aware that she will be receiving guests."

His crystal shone in the colours of the collective houses indicating that they have received the message and that they were on their way. He turned to look at how his mate was doing.

"Come on Lucius," Harry taunted. "Cat got your tongue?" He was laughing a bit because he had cast a spell at the older Malfoy and caused him to speak like a cat. He couldn't get any spells out because he didn't know about Harry's little trick with the languages.

Harry was growing tired of this game and therefore he quickly cast a stinger with an immobulous so that Lucius' last sensation was like static shock, but with the immobulous directly after it caught in him in a spell loop the left him getting zapped, over and over again.

"Harry," his mate called out to him after he had done this. "Quit playing and conjure us a couple of stretchers. We need to get everyone back to the castle. The deputies should have the re-enforcements in their office by the time we get there."

"Aww Drake," Harry pouted in fun. "But he's so much fun to play with. I wanted to try out other things with that one."

"Harry!"

Harry just let out a laugh, but he sobered quickly when Dauphin hissed at him. (...You're making the others nervous...)

Harry sighed and stopped the stinging spell. "Don't worry I've had my fun for the day." He said and then conjured up appropriate stretchers for the injured children.

He tied off every Death Eater and then levitated them like balloons over his head like a kid at the fair. He did make sure that they were stabilized, but immobile.

'At least they'll have a great view,' he thought looking up at them.

Draco used his wand to levitate the stretchers after he secured the children to them. "Dudley, come on. Help me push these through the forest. Harry will keep an eye out on his balloons," he said laughing at the glares he felt from above.

Even the three conscious children were amused that the Great Harry Potter had Death Eater balloons. Buckbeak was tempted to fly up and poke at them, but Harry stopped him. (...They need to stand trial and I'm more then certain that a couple of them will be going right back to prison without one...)

(...Very well, but the next time I play with one it will be for keeps. I don't follow your laws, Draekon...) Buckbeak said.

(...I understand...) Harry replied. (...I won't stop you...)

All of the children were unconscious just as the group broke through the edge of the forest. "Hagrid," Harry said. "You don't have to come with us. Most of this is self-explanatory and if they do need to question you then they can just come to you to ask. If you need one of us with you, just call us through your crystal."

"Tha's right kind of you Harry," the larger man said. "I do need to finish putting the ploughs away and throw on some mulch in the field. Dudley you'll be a welcome help anytime."

"Just don't step into that hole again," Dudley said pleasantly.

"Scamp," Hagrid said, waving them off. This let them pick up their pace to reach the castle entrance. There they were met there by Madam Pomfrey and her assistants.

Draco explained everything that he did and what he had given them to make them sleep. "I'll be back later to check up on them and we'll to talk with them once they have rested," he told the matronly woman.

Harry waited and then three of them pulled down the Death Eaters to haul them into the school and up to the Headmaster's former office. The boys allowed the ropes to have enough slack for the Death Eaters to bump into whatever happened to be in the way.

Peeves showed up for a moment and threw a couple of water balloons at the floaters before zipping away in his manner. Even the armor in the hallways seemed to drop their weapons on them, as if they knew about the true nature of the dark robed men.

It was going to be tricky to get them up the stairs behind the secretary's desk, until Dudley suggested that they be shrunk to fit. Draco started laughing because it was funny to see the big bad Death Eaters become no bigger then a foot and a bit long. They weren't so scary now. Even the secretary had to agree that they were better off that way.

Once they were up the stairs they were treated to a view of the new room. Four large desks were in a semi-circle and all the portraits of the former headmasters had been moved to a gallery on one of the main floors and all of Dumbledore's gizmos were removed from the office. It was now a serviceable place for the four of them. Over time they would eventually bring things to make it more comfortable, but for now it was painted in such a way as to be welcoming.

There were three Aurors, plus the old Headmaster standing there waiting to take them away. Dumbledore had been there when Snape called on Kingsley Shacklebolt and he couldn't think of a reason to prevent the old meddler from coming into the school.

He had a quick conversation with the other Deputies and the school in order to allow that old geezer in on the conversation. The school said she'd warn Harry and she did by talking to him in Parseltongue, as they were walking up to the office. "You two don't say anything once we're in there Okay," he said. "I doubt that anything else will happen, but just let me handle the old coot."

He knocked on the door and entered when someone told them to come in. "Hello everyone," he said cheerfully. "Welcome to the party. Here are some balloons for you." He handed Malfoy and another over to Shacklebolt. Dudley actually handed one to the former Headmaster and to the Auror next to him and Draco gave the other two to the remaining Auror.

Dumbledore was surprised to see the young Muggle in his school and he was even more surprised when he looked up and saw that the balloon he was holding was actually a shrunken Death Eater. The rest looked at their own balloons and noticed the same. They were shocked at the various bruises and injuries that they were sporting.

In the meantime, Harry had conjured chairs for the boys to sit in, as they were all exhausted in varying stages due to their exertions. Harry from flying, Draco from running and Dudley from all the work he had done prior to the fighting.

"Mr. Potter, Mr. Malfoy," Dumbledore paused a brief moment to hand off his Death Eater to an Auror. He then asked, "Boys, could one of you begin to tell us what happened and why you've treated these people in such a manner?"

Draco gripped the arms of his chair in anger at being addressed by his father's name, but Dumbledore didn't know, neither did the Aurors. Harry took his mate's hand and squeezed in gently in his own in order to calm the blond down. It helped because Draco visibly relaxed at the touch.

Dudley began to tell them what happened, as he was the one to notice the commotion coming from the forest in the first place. He then explained what he told Hedwig and Hagrid before heading into the forest and how he saw Hagrid place himself in position for an attack.

Harry then told how he and Draco were around and that his owl had come to get him. He told the Aurors that they flew over to assist them. Everyone in the room assumed that the boys used brooms and the boys never corrected that assumption.

He then said to them that the plan was for Draco to go on foot and for him to drop from above in order to surprise them. "What do you know...It actually worked. They were certainly surprised." He said after his explanation was completed.

"That doesn't really explain the extent of their injuries," Dumbledore said.

"Well, two were fighting Hagrid. I took care of Lucius Malfoy and a hippogriff played with another. Dudley took on one of them and the last one was stunned before he could getaway. I think that one fell on a boulder or something," Harry said.

"I stunned him before I called the Heads of House to assemble," Draco said.

"Why would you do that Mr. Malfoy?" Dumbledore asked.

Draco ignored him. His question was not clear because it could be taken as to why he stunned the Death Eater or why he called to gather the Heads of House. He was also pissed to be addressed as 'Mr. Malfoy' and wanted to tell the old man off.

"He was given a device to allow him to communicate with me," Professor Snape said. "I called the others together because as the deputies to the new Headmaster we are the ones that have to deal with this situation."

"There's a new Headmaster?" One of the Aurors asked.

Another said, "Deputies? I thought that there was only one deputy Headmaster or Headmistress at a time."

"Due to the times that we are living in, it was a revolutionary idea to have more then one at the post in case one should fall during the upcoming conflict," Professor Sprout said.

Professor Flitwick said, "Truthfully, it is best to have more then one to rely on, just in case."

"Being a Deputy is difficult when you're alone with the duties." Professor McGonagall said narrowing her eyes at the Auror who asked the question and at the former Headmaster. "I'm relieved that I have some help and that the work can be split in four. It allows more time for other things."

Dumbledore's eyes began their infernal twinkling. Snape knew that the old man was going to say something that was about to infuriate them, so he cut him off by saying, "Well now that you gentlemen have all of the details, shouldn't you be returning to conduct your own investigations. You do realize that Mr. Malfoy should not even be free and yet here he is."

"He's right," Shacklebolt said. "We need to take these criminals back before something else happens. Albus we need to leave now."

"I'll be there in a bit," the old man said. They all watched as the Aurors left with the Death Eaters, leaving behind one meddling old man. "Now Harry do you have anything else to tell me. I notice that you're close to young Mr. Malfoy here."

"Albus," the Gryffindor Head of House exclaimed. "That is none of your business."

"That's correct," Professor Sprout said. "Just what are you doing back here. I was under the impression that you had been fired."

"It heartens this old man to know that you're all working together, but I have found out that I can not be fired," he said. "The Board of Governors and the Ministry of Magic have given me this." He pulled out a scroll and held it out in his hand waiting for one of them to take it.

Harry surprised the old man by summoning it to look at. He performed the Braille reading spell on the parchment and skimmed it with his hands. He was reading it, but he was also scanning the magics within the parchment.

Of course it was all official by Ministry and Board standards, but it was not official for the school since Hogwarts was not under the Board or the Ministry's rule. That's why he did something that no one should have ever been able to do to any piece of 'official' paper. He ripped the parchment in half, twice, he then crumpled the pieces into a ball followed with a swish of his wand he ignited them in a small flash of fire.

"Well that should take care of the Ministry and Board meddlers," Harry said smirking. "If I couldn't do that, then of course it would have been official, but since I was able to and since my actions are reflected on every copy. It's obvious that the scroll and all decrees within it were bunk."

Dumbledore was shocked and the Deputies were no longer surprised by anything that Harry could do. They sent indulgent smiles to the old Headmaster, as though to convey the fact that they were just patronizing him by letting him into the school to visit. The old man wasn't pleased.

"How were you able to do that Harry? What do you mean every copy?" He asked the smug looking young man.

"Every copy means every copy, of course." Harry said and then quoted something that caused Albus Dumbledore to blanch. "In the Ministry Convention of Magical Education of 1223, the law states that all Private Schools only need to allow for a set standard of courses that can be administered by any Ministry of Magic, but is not to be limited by such a body, as the World Guilds Confederation supersedes them all as being considered neutral to any Government Educational System.

No Governmental Body can overturn the rules and regulations for the running of any private school, as long as the school meets the minimum requirements set by the current Governing Magical Ministry of any country. All private schools must have an originating plan and can, through time have their regulations amended to meet the needs of the current Governing Body.

However, should the new regulations be in conflict to the schools original mandate or if the original purpose of formation has been altered beyond recognition then the Private School in question is entitled to revert to a previous regulatory form in order to meet student demands or particular educational requirements.

In short, since the original mandate of this school was a place of innovation, learning and safe sanctuary during times of conflict that is the form that this school has reverted to. In that reversal, what was old law or obsolete law, has now became new again. Therefore, you can no longer be Headmaster of this school as per the original laws set out at the formation of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry by the Founders and their Law."

Draco was so proud of his mate that he didn't care about propriety in front of the old man. He changed his seat to his mate's lap and basically snogged him senseless. Dudley was laughing at the gobsmacked expression on the old man's face. Harry was too occupied to continue answering the questions, but even Professor Snape had a satisfied look on his face, pleased with the outcome.

"That also means that as long as we still maintain at least the minimum of one course that can be administered by any Ministry of Magic, this school can function just like it did in the time of the Founders," the disembodied voice of Hogwarts piped in. "Which means that you are still fired."

Dumbledore had blanched even more that he now started looking gray around the edges when he heard the voice of the one that chased him out of the school. "We have re-formulated the school's course list and have maintained the core subjects from the beginning of Harry and Draco's school career. It is unfortunate that they will never be able to take advantage of this change in curriculum, but all the students from year five and under will now be following a new standard," Professor McGonagall said.

"I think they will have a chance with some of the newer courses for fun," Professor Flitwick said knowing full well that Harry was going to apply for a couple of the first year optionals and so was Draco.

"Just who is the Headmaster now," Dumbledore asked.

Professor Snape said, "That will be revealed in due time. Meanwhile, the new Headmaster has charged the four us to review some of the old decisions that were made in the past. So while you're here, perhaps now would be a good time to go over some of the neglected repairs in the dungeons and the unstable or unused rooms that seem to be around in abundance."

"Yes," said Professor Sprout. "I think that now will be a very good time to discuss the undersized greenhouses that have never been expanded based on your decisions or the lack of field hands for the growing of foodstuffs that this school used to be able to sustain on its own without having to purchase from the outside world."

The Head of Ravenclaw piped in. "I, myself, would dearly love to know why the library hasn't had an overhaul of the books it contains nor why it has never been expanded. Perhaps you would be so kind as to let us know the reason for some of those decisions as even Headmaster Dippet had been able to add books to the school's archive after your arrival as a Professor."

Dumbledore backed up towards the fireplace and he was surprised that they all seemed to have a feral gleam in their eyes. They weren't going to stop him, if he chose to floo out of there right now.

"You know Albus," Professor McGonagall said. "You always did say that help would always be available if you have faith. I have enough faith in the new Headmaster that I believe that his 'Educational Revolution', which is what the papers say, will be an extremely good thing for this school. But I digress, I too would like to know how come the transfiguration class rooms were always too small for the number of students and why no improvements could have been made or why no funding could have been given for special projects for the students classes."

Harry was finished being kissed by his mate and still had his arms around his blond, when the familiar trill of a bird of Light sounded within the old office of the Headmaster. He was smiling because he sort knew the phrase that called the phoenix.

Fawkes got tired of waiting and therefore had decided to make an appearance. He burst into the room, flew around in lazy circles, hoping that one of the Professors would make him a stand. Everyone watched the bird fly around the room, kind of at a loss on what to do. Finally Snape was fed up with the glowing sparkles coming off the bird decided to conjure a very large stand for the bird in one corner of the office.

It was as far from him as possible because he wanted no reminders that the old Headmaster used to use that bird for summoning him. However, being the phoenix of the school and not belonging to any one person, Fawkes settled onto the shoulder of the Potions Master and refused budge, even at the threat of being plucked like a chicken and dissected for potions ingredients he refused to move.

Dumbledore had had enough shocks and decided that now would be a good time to make his escape out of the office that no longer belonged to him. He couldn't leave fast enough because Harry had hexed his robes so that the moving parts on it froze in place and had changed them to the colours of the school. It was still an eyesore, but since the old man was leaving nobody focused on it too much.

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Madam Pomfrey had run several scans over her new patients and was shocked to see everything that they had been through. It saddened her to note that all of the children had been abused in varying degrees and she sincerely hoped that the new Headmaster would allow the little girl to remain at the school, due to the fact that she was two years younger then those who begin here at eleven.

She also hoped that with everything being changed at this school that these boys and the older girl would be able to obtain the counseling that they need. Maybe this was something that she could bring forward to the Headmaster as the children may need psychiatric counseling and the school should have someone available for the children to consult when in need.

She prepared the files that contained the results of her analysis and the treatments required and arrived just in time to see Dumbledore leave the office through the floo.

Strangely, she wasn't present the other day during the big announcement in the Great Hall and had not gotten the monitoring crystal at the same time as the others. It was on her desk waiting for her with an explanatory note of what it was and what it did. The note indicated that hers and the assistants' monitoring crystals would be different. They were much smaller and on chains because that would not allow them to be lost during cases of an emergency should they be called away from the school grounds. If they had to leave the school grounds, then they were the only exceptions for the time being.

Nor was she around when her assistant nurses showed up, as she was in Hogsmeade taking care of an emergency at her summer clinic. When she returned from her emergency, she found that she had two assigned house-elves to her infirmary and two assistant nurses that were there to continue their education privately through correspondence in order to become full medi-witches. It was her choice to assist them or not, but they were not her apprentices as they were considered to be Journeymen in the nursing field.

So, when Madam Pomfrey arrived in time to see the old Headmaster flee, she was at a loss at who she was supposed to report to. "What is going on here?" She asked.

"Madam Pomfrey," Draco asked. "How are they doing?"

"They are stable for now, but no one has answered my question yet," she said. "What is going on here? If the Headmaster has just left then who am I to give my reports too?"

"You give them either to the Deputies here or to me," Harry said as though it was obvious, but then he remembered. "Oh… Of course, you were in Hogsmeade during the time of the announcement, weren't you?"

"What announcement?" She asked.

"Poppy," Professor Sprout said kindly. "Perhaps you had better sit down for this."

"Mr. Potter some tea would be good right about now," Snape said to his godson. He knew that the blonde wanted to be acknowledged as Harry's bond-mate or husband to get rid of any reminders of his own father.

Draco knew who the Potions Master was addressing. He sent him a grateful smile and snapped his fingers for a house-elf to deliver some tea for everyone. He returned to his own chair and watched as Harry conjured another chair for the infirmary's head nurse.

"This will take some time to explain," Professor Flitwick said. That's when they started to explain everything from the beginning of being summoned back to school, to the new school's courses and who, exactly, was the true Headmaster of the School.

It was a lot for the woman to take in, but she was used to emergency situations where things can go either way in the outcome of a patient. Still this one was a little overwhelming for her, so Harry stood up and provided her with a calming potion for the duration of the conversation, telling her to take it if she needed to.

It took quite the rest of the afternoon to explain everything and even after having taken the potion she still needed time to think on things. However she did present her findings to the children's Head of House and allowed Professor Snape and the new Headmaster to sort out what can be done for the children.

They deferred that decision for later, as those children were still sleeping and were not going to wake up until the treatments had run their course.

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It turns out that three of children were all students and Slytherins. They were Pansy Parkinson, Vincent Crabbe and Blaise Zabini. Annabel Crabbe was the fourth child and wasn't due to start at Hogwarts for the next two years, but the older students couldn't leave her behind. Vincent was old enough to take custody of her, should he choose to do so and should they be disinherited.

All three of the older students had been surprised at the summons they received from their parents on August 25. They were sent to Crabbe Manor and that's when they realized that they had run out of time.

The Dark Lord wanted to Mark some of the children of his followers before the school year started, but the students kept on saying that they were going to checked. Blaise had heard a rumor from one of his very distant relations that Hogwarts was calling in extra Journeyman to help with the coming school year.

The Slytherin tried to keep that information to himself for the time being. These three children were the next in line after Draco to be Marked and they couldn't believe that the younger Malfoy had allowed himself to be Marked so soon. They all knew that Draco didn't want that ugly thing, but what they didn't know was that Draco had escaped from his father's hold, until they were questioned about it.

The three eldest were confined to the dungeons and were questioned over and over again about the possible whereabouts of Draco Malfoy. The Dark Lord was not a patient man. Right now he didn't care if these three were bonded to another person or not, he just wanted results and wanted them fast.

Annabel Crabbe may have been young, but she was far from stupid. She tried to help them whenever she could by bringing down potions, salves and clean food and water to drink. It seems that she wasn't careful enough because a certain rat caught her at it and informed the Dark Lord of this. He was further pushed into a rage and had some of his newer recruits physically hurt the little girl through pain and cutting spells.

Vincent, Blaise and Pansy were all brought to witness this, but Vince had escaped the arms that held him in place and tried to get to her. That is when the Dark Lord decided that he needed more broken toys. He never once called on Professor Snape or else Voldemort would have known that the man was no longer a faithful follower. Either way it didn't matter now because he offered what looked like two little boys and a little girl to a couple of known pedophiles among the Death Eaters.

These Death Eaters were allowed to do whatever they could for the next 24 hours to get them to join him or die. Annabel was too young for such activity, but one of his new recruits offered up a potion that would allow the three oldest to appear like they were young children. That pleased the Dark Lord and that suited the nasty Death Eaters who liked to molest young children.

Annabel had been released for the next day, but would be brought back before the group and then the outcome for the four would be decided collectively. Again she was far from stupid and she prepared everything that she could with the help of her personal house-elf and the ones that were part of the Zabini and Parkinson household.

These elves were loyal to their young masters and mistresses that they had been bonded to. Therefore they were the ones that gathered everything that the students would need for the new school year. Annabel's owned pack everything of value that belonged to the girl and her brother. She left her brother's house-elf gather his school supplies and other private things.

It was by chance that one of the house-elves had been spotted by Dobby, during the errands they were doing and he found out what was going on. He quickly popped to the school and liberated more potions and extra bandages that the students would need. He even provided a very powerful portkey that the school had given him upon his request.

Unfortunately the portkey could only take them to a clearing in the Forbidden Forest near the edge closest to the school. It was better then nothing so Dobby took it and told the house-elves to follow the masters and mistresses when they came to the school. They were bonded to the children and not the rest of the house, which is something that he convinced them about and when they looked into their bonds and saw that it was true.

Annabel then made sure that she was not seen again and waited for the older ones to be returned to the dungeons. She knew that they were going to be called forth on the next day, but she had to let them know that there is another choice.

She had tears in her eyes when she saw the condition that they were all in and snuck into the cell that held her brother and his friends. There was only one guard at the end of the hall and no other. She walked over and started handing them potions to keep up their strength and surprised them by handing them their wands.

"I know that you've just been through something very awful, but I need to know the choice that you plan on making," she said tearfully.

"What do you mean Ann?" Vincent asked her.

"Do you plan to take the Mark? Did they break you to that point?" She asked.

"I'd rather die," said Pansy. She felt dirty, completely unclean. She had been waiting for love instead of an arranged situation. The only thing that she can be thankful about was that her magic was stronger and that she was not overcome with a need to be with the one who took her virginity. She was able to deny the bonding magics that were generated by the first act of intercourse.

Blaise nodded, "Me too. They took away what was mine to give. I wanted to hold out before doing anything like that."

"I'm sorry Ann, but I too would rather die then join them," Vince said. "I know that I played dumb at school and at home, but that was because I didn't want to seem to be of use. I was hoping to continue and save you from being noticed."

Annabel sighed in her relief and noticed the glint of anger and hunger for revenge within their eyes. She whispered because she noticed the approach of the guard, "I'm glad that you told me the truth, but I have suspected it all along. Besides I'm here to give you guys another choice, if you want to take it, then stick with me and we'll find a safe port to the next Harbor. We need to learn a bit more before having the key to unlock our knowledge."

The guard in the mean time was bored so he decided to pace the length of dungeon corridor when he heard the whispering tones. He didn't hear what said, but the three that had just been returned were just lying around and whispering in pleading tones for the torture to "Please stop," with several "Please no", and a couple of "No, not again."

The guard snickered, knowing exactly what they had been through and that it was nothing to what they would go through when they gained the mark. Voldemort's magic was stronger then the ones that had played with them. Once the children were Marked, the Dark Lord would take them and make them all his personal catamites.

He returned to his post, never once noticing the fourth person in the cell with the others. Annabel didn't say anything else and let the older ones decide their course of action. It was unanimous, they would take the offered out and hope that the Headmaster of their school would allow them to remain there until school began.

However, they had to wait to get out of the cell because the whole dungeon did not allow for port-keying or apparating, but where they were brought to next was another story.

On the afternoon of the 27th, they were brought before the Dark Lord and they were given their choice. They fought the spells and the ones that held them; and managed to huddle together in the middle of the Death Eaters' circle.

Annabel took the portkey and activated it, but not before six of the Death Eaters figured out what was going on. They sent spells at the children, but since the spells were strong they were pulled into the portkey in that manner and that's how they all ended up in the Forbidden Forrest.

Vincent took the brunt of those spells and one of the Death Eaters sprang forward grabbing the girl, while Blaise and Pansy were sending spells of their own to the surrounding Death Eaters. However, their attempts were feeble due to their lack of energy.

That's when Dudley heard the noise and help did come. Now all four were safe within the walls of Hogwarts and they didn't know the decision that was being taken. Their personal house-elves were there speaking to the Headmaster, his mate and their Head of House with regards to what they knew their masters wanted and what had happened.

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Chapter 17

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August 28 - 29

Things were pretty much getting together for the school and their new guests were recovering well. Madam Pomfrey had been able to convince the Headmaster that a Psychiatrist or Psychologist would be an asset to the school. Harry didn't complain. His only question was, "Why wasn't there one around before now?"

"It's a Muggle field, but one that I believe should be required," Madam Pomfrey explained. "Witches and Wizards can cure many things, but the simple fact is that we do not have people like psychologists to speak to about any matter. Sometimes we just need someone to talk to that will not judge us."

Harry was all for it and allowed her to seek out a couple of good ones, as long as they were vetted by the goblins and that their credentials were clean. He did advise her that perhaps a Squib or someone from a Muggleborn family that knew about magic would be the best.

"I trust you to fill the position Madam Pomfrey, but please be sure to let me know. We have to give them the monitoring crystals just like everyone else." He said and she nodded in agreement. Those devices were useful because one had been given to each of the four guests, since only touch was required to activate them.

They were placed the hands of the sleeping children, to activate them and that assisted Madam Pomfrey with some of the scanning and monitoring that she had to do. She got the help of Professor Flitwick to modify hers and those of the nurses because some of the information coming through was not important to the diagnosis or treatment of the children.

To know that they had nightmares may be important in a sense, but they were triggering the crystals to the Headmaster and the Heads of House too, so all of the crystals were modified to only show that the students were sleeping. Harry decided to keep the emotions part of his own crystal active, but he modified it so that it was muffled when the children were asleep and that helped.

Harry was more concerned by the fact that Professor Snape hadn't been called to the meeting when the decision was made to Mark the children. He was even more concerned over the fact that he hadn't even had a vision of the events like he normally would have. Something was wrong with the connection and he was going to have to resolve that very soon or else more children might fall to that same fate.

He planned to meditate for 24 hours and had discussed with Professor Snape the possibility of allowing the children to remain in the Slytherin House for the time being. He talked with his mate and told him to tell them about the new school courses and the fact that Hogwarts was now a sanctuary for them, if they chose to stay.

Harry had the counselors and the teachers test Annabel and they have found that she was still behind in a few subjects, but that she could attend the Hogsmeade School for those missing subjects. She was also given special permission to attend any of Hogwarts new classes that they were setting up or to finish up with the Hogsmeade School. In fact a letter went out to the Hogsmeade School to allow their older students to take the new optionals from Hogwarts.

It was a collaboration that was approved as soon as the word had gotten out about it. The parents were eager for the children to be at Hogwarts and the town had a meeting with one of the Deputy Heads, stating exactly what the new courses were and which would be available to the Hogsmeade children. The town agreed to a trial run of it until Christmas came around.

There was also the promise that carriages from the school would be sent to pick up the children at their school and return them after the classes were over. The privilege would only happen twice a week and the children were only allowed to take up to two optionals, provided that they maintained their current level of study in the Hogsmeade School.

HPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDM

Harry had prepared a meditation room in his Slytherin Quarters and was about to drift in thought until he could figure out what was going on with the connection that he had with Voldemort. He needed to know because if he no longer had any connection or if the connection was weak, he would have to break it and use an alternate method of gathering information.

He had several already in place and it was not going to be through the use of spies, like Dumbledore had. Well that's not entirely true, but these were going to be unmarked spies that truly wish to help in order to get rid of the evil, but they were not human and not everyone had been gifted with languages.

The new Headmaster had a respect for life and had found several interesting things that were not available in the United Kingdom. They were only available in other countries because the U.K. was trying to preserve their old ways, which is in fact one of the reasons that the Ministry of Magic in England was stagnating.

He was not going to rely on Professor Snape. 'I'm going to free that man, I swear it,' he thought. 'Professor Snape's been through so much and he deserves some measure of peace and happiness. I know that the same goes for Remus. There are many who were able to find something or someone after that bastard's first downfall, but their are others who were stuck in the past with hurt and pain that just didn't go away.'

"Harry," Draco called out.

"I'm in here," Harry said from a side room.

"Oh," he said. "So this is where you set up the meditation room. Very nice," he said, not even looking at the decor, but staring at his mate.

Harry grinned knowing the direction of Draco's gaze and walked over to his mate that was standing in the doorway. "I'm hoping that I can figure what is going on with my connection with old Moldy. It's going to take some time."

Draco frowned and asked, "How much time?"

"Hopefully only half a day, but it might be longer," Harry said truthfully. "It is something that needs to be resolved before the rest of the students arrive at school."

Draco pulled at Harry and said, "Can it wait for a couple of hours? You have a situation that needs to be resolved in the bedroom and that also needs to be taken care of before that."

Harry let his hands cup his mate's firm tush. He squeezed them gently and pulling his mate flush, saying, "Well, we can't leave anything unresolved in the bedroom now can we?"

Draco moaned and replied, "No we can't. Let's go." Harry just lifted his mate and the blond jumped a little wrapping his arms and legs securely around his mate, allowing him to carry the sneaky little Slytherin into their bedroom.

It wasn't difficult for Harry to find his way, as he had the layout of their quarters completely memorized. Once they were in their room and the door was closed behind them. Harry was still carrying his mate, promptly dropped onto the bed completely covering his mate and grinding into him.

'Draco's making those noises again,' he thought. His dick hardened every time he heard his mate make those little noises. It was intoxicating because it was cute coming from his mate. It sounded like something between a hiccup, a squeak and a moan.

Harry kissed those lips that were begging for his attention. He knew that his mate didn't want to technically be left alone for the next 12 to 24 hours, so Harry was going to try his best to exhaust his mate before that time came around. He also knew that he had to make up some 'Honeymoon' time for his mate and Harry had a plan on the back burner for later.

HPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDM

The Slytherins were surprised to see some of the changes that had happened in the school. They had noticed the increase in the number of Professors and it was something new to see so many assistants around and...

'Are there more house-elves around?' Pansy wondered. 'What is going on around here?'

The students had recovered enough from their injuries to be released from the infirmary and they were now walking down to the Slytherin dorm rooms that had been prepared for them. They were told to go straight there, where their Head of House would explain a few things to them.

Once they had entered and settled in the chairs and couches of the common room, they began to talk about a few of the things that they had noticed. "Did you guys notice the changes in the Great Hall? It looked like huge portraits were placed on the walls," Blaise said. "Just what are these floating little balls around our heads? It's making me nervous."

"Did any of you notice that there seems to be a lot more house-elves and they aren't dressed in tea-towels like many of them normally wear," Pansy said. "Yes, I did notice these things, but they don't seem to do much other then whiz about."

"We're here to get answers and perhaps a solution to our problems," Vincent said looking down at the top of his little sister's head. "Did I hear one of you call Draco's name in the forest?"

"Yeah, but I think that it might have been just a dream because I haven't seen him since then," Blaise explained.

They heard a noise by the entrance. All of them looked to see who could possibly be coming into the Slytherin dorms. There was a small collective sigh of relief that it was their, Head of House, Professor Snape. He strode into the room and sat in one of the chairs near where his students had settled.

"I hope that you've made yourselves comfortable here?" He asked then and when he got various nods, shrugs and affirmations, he continued on. "The Headmaster wishes to let you know that you are welcome to ask for sanctuary from Hogwarts. It's an offer that is given to you freely."

"Really," Blaise said. "What's the catch?"

"Is the old coot going to ask us to spy for Death Eater activity in the school or what?" Vincent asked.

"Vinny, you can't!" Annabel exclaimed. She turned to the Potions Master and said angrily, "I won't let you or anyone take him away. He can't spy for y..."

"That's enough young Miss Crabbe," Severus said, holding up his to stop her tirade. "Calm down. No one is being asked to spy."

"Bullshit," said Blaise.

"I don't believe that that twinkly eyed old man isn't going to 'persuade' us to do some of his dirty work. Just because he doesn't want his precious Gryffindors to be tainted with darker side of things, he's willing to let the rest of us, students, down," Pansy groused folding her arms in her irritation.

"He's not one to offer us something for nothing," Vincent said.

"Let me explain a few things first," Snape said. "For one thing, Albus Dumbledore is no longer the Headmaster of this school and don't ask me who the new one is, I can't tell you in any way shape or form. Every teacher here is spelled to secrecy for the Headmaster's protection and the protection of the students." He paused for a moment, enjoying their stunned expressions. They never once thought of Dumbledore as replaceable.

"Secondly your own personal elves may be permitted to remain here, but there will need to be a review of your bonds with them. The new Headmaster does not like any creature or person being mistreated. Next up, all of you will be scheduled to see a Guidance counselor to assist you in deciding a future career path and a private Medical counselor for the trauma that you've experienced. You have no choice in this matter, am I clear?"

"Yes, sir," they said.

"What happens now?" Annabel asked. Professor Snape then began to explain some of the newer things that were going to happen at the school like the new classes available and the new uniforms. He told them about the extra assistants and Journeymen at the school.

"If any of you are interested in apprenticing or even assisting on some courses. You will be permitted to do so, depending on your scholastic level," he explained. "Vincent, you will have to redo most of your tests and exams in order for us to gauge your true levels, as you seem to have developed a little something called intelligence."

Vincent just smirked at his professor's slightly vague compliment and then the door to the common room opened once more to let in the one person that Blaise thought was just a ghost. "Oh, good you guys are all here," the blond Slytherin Prince said, walking into the room and carrying some books with him.

"Professor Flitwick and his troupe of charmers have just finished putting this together. The Deputy Headmistresses have already looked at them and the Headmaster says that they seem fine. Only your approval is left and if it's okay, Professor Flitwick will do a mass charming on the piles for the rest of the students. He did these six in advance and they can be modified, if you think that there is something wrong with them."

The others in the room were all staring at the changes that have occurred in Draco since the last time that they saw him. It was amazing the changed that one person can go through when they're bonded to a magical creature. But that was not what they had observed the most.

It looked like he had been thoroughly shagged because some of his braids were tucked in under several others and some of them looked matted. His lips were swollen and it is obvious that he's been kissing and been kissed due to the number of hickies that he's sporting all over his neck. Let's not forget that he seemed to be walking with cautious steps and had a dopey smile as he was explaining everything to Professor Snape about the books.

Blaise started it by letting a small snort pass through his lips. Pansy tried to stifle her giggles, but even those pushed through. Vincent smirked as he watched the blond maneuver to a nearby chair and Annabel said in a sing-song tone, "Someone just got lucky."

Draco looked at the young girl and said, "Anna Banana that is none of your business." The stern effect was lost because he was blushing profusely and the others couldn't hold it in anymore, bursting out with their laughter.

Professor Snape had taken the books from Draco's hands and looked through all of them. He pulled out his wand to review the spells on the books and listened as Draco explained the books or scholastic journals. They were going to be placed on the tables of the Great Hall so that the students would be able to see and have them for the rest of their time attending Hogwarts.

These books were hide bound journals that contained course explanations and selection forms. The courses were separated by tabs per year and with different coloured tabs per course. They would begin to fill in automatically with the available courses for the year starting with the mandatory courses and then the optional courses.

So if you happened to be a brand new first year, then the book that you would receive would only be filled with the first year course information. Should someone protest, like Hermione could have done if this had been initiated during Harry's first year, she could have been tested and probably advanced classes or skipped a couple of levels. Second year students would still have this course book, but then they would have the information from the first and second year, and so on and so forth.

It wasn't going to be very effective for the sixth or seventh years too much as their books will only contain the summaries of their first years at the school. They would have to continue with the courses as they had begun them with their goals already pre-set to their choices. Fifth years will have a bit more options due to the fact that it is their O.W.L. year and that they could get good counseling this time around, instead of putting up with their choices, like many of the sixth and seventh years. Any year under the fifth, were going to be able to use them for course selection and it is going to be used as a place for the students to select their optionals.

The book magically recorded the information if the student used their wand like pens. It was quite innovative and that was an idea from one of the Charms Journeymen. If something that is commonly used to record someone's magical signature was a person's wand, why not have the wand work for them? The students only had to print their names on the covers and the books would remain theirs for the rest of their lives.

The charms in the books would allow for a temporary map of the school for the first month only and then it would disappear. The books were also charmed to only work for the one whose name is printed on it and the books would also always find their way back to their owner. It was also the one place where the students could see their marks per class, but only as a pass or fail, not a numerical grade. Those were only going to be given at the end of each semester.

Overall Snape was impressed that the book even came about, but then Harry's idea to be innovative and challenging to the students and the teachers was quite interesting in itself. At least the school will be credited for successful ideas and so would anyone involved should they be contracted to mass produce the school's innovations.

"These are perfect. You can tell the Headmaster that I approve of them. This will be a year of testing new things, won't it?" He said to the others and just to Harry through Draco's ball.

Harry sent the go ahead to Professor Flitwick, to mass produce them and link them to the course schedules determined by the passing O.W.L.S. and the written student subject interest forms that Dumbledore had instituted at the beginning of this summer. Obviously the students will be revising that once they arrive and see that they have more choices.

Professor Snape handed one to each of them and took away the extra ones for Harry and Neville. "Let Dudley deliver the one to Neville. I think that Neville is curious about him and he won't have much time to get to know him, now that we are so close to the end of summer," Draco said absently, looking through his own book and signing his name on the cover with his wand.

"Very well," the Professor said, getting up to leave. "Maybe you can persuade your friends that the Headmaster is sincere in his offer of sanctuary for the year."

Draco just waved at him as he exited the rooms. The others looked closer at the Slytherin Prince and as one they began to ask, "So who are you shagging?"

"Are they good?"

"Is it a guy or a girl?"

"Details we want details," one of them said.

Vincent drew the line at that and said, "No we don't. Not with Annabel in the room, no descriptions. That's private Blaise."

"Well if it was all that private then why is he covered in hickies?" The Italian retorted.

"It's not to show off, besides Vince is right. It's private," Draco returned. "You'll find out September 1st anyway and it will cause a stir, so you'll have to enjoy the fireworks then."

"Just one thing," Pansy said.

"Yes."

"Neville?" She asked. "Are you on a first name basis with the Squib of Gryffindor?"

"He's not a Squib," Draco defended him. "He's brilliant in Herbology and Professor Sprout has accepted him as an apprentice. You know how rare Herbologists are these days, so don't put him down."

"Merlin…" Blaise exclaimed. "Next thing you know you'll be defending the Golden Boy, Potty-Head."

Draco's eyes shone with a silver light and he stood up tall, glaring at all of them. "If I did, what would you do?"

"I'd wonder what made you change your mind and then demand to know why?" Blaise said. Pansy and Vince nodded in agreement. Annabel looked on in worry.

Draco sighed and then said, "He saved me this summer."

He then told them all about what happened at his house between himself, his mother and his father. He told them what he experienced and then through the ball he asked Harry if he could tell his friends about the Draekon part of it, as it would take their minds of some of their hurt and it just might push them to learn something new.

Getting the okay, Draco told them about the house-elves and how his trust in the ones that obeyed his father was fading, telling much of his story on how he was rescued and how he had actually lived like a Muggle for the later part of his summer til being offered sanctuary too. The house-elves served their evening meal in the common room and they continued to exchange their stories well into the night.

Draco stayed with them because he knew that Harry was still in the middle of meditating on his connection with Voldemort.

HPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDM

Meanwhile, Professor Snape sought out Dudley in order for him to deliver Longbottom's book to the bumbling Gryffindor. Although he had to reluctantly admit that the boy was a genius when it came to plants and he was sure that Professor Sprout could not have found a more worthy apprentice, so long as the boy stayed out of his potions classroom.

Dudley looked at the book in his hand and waited for the ones who worked the greenhouses to return. He saw Professor Sprout and she told him that Neville had volunteered to stay and finish the planting.

Making up his mind, Dudley decided that now was a good time to return the luncheon favor, with a picnic basket of his own. He had the help of one of the house-elves put something together and set out to meet the curious boy.

'If he has any questions, I suppose that I can answer them,' Dudley said. He had already gained permission from Harry to talk about the mini-greenhouses and anything else that came to mind.

Taking the course book and picnic basket with him, he walked towards Greenhouse 3, when low and behold there he was, walking towards Dudley.

Neville was surprised that the one who caught his attention was on his way towards the Greenhouses. Looking down at what the boy was carrying, his brown eyes began to sparkle in appreciation of the basket. Smiling he looked back up to see a strange, stunned look on the guy. "Are you all right?"

Dudley looked up at the question and nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine. I thought I'd return the favor from the other day and bring some dinner. Would you care to join me? It seems that there is a good view from that hill over there," he said teasingly and pointing to the hill that the boy had been sitting on watching the men plowing the fields.

'OH God, am I flirting with him? He's a guy! Not that it matters, but I've never flirted with a guy before.'

Neville blushed at being reminded that he had been watching the two men plough the other day and then something startled him. 'Is he flirting with me? Uh-oh, the better question now would be do I want him too?'

Dudley waited until Neville was in step with him and then said, "Lead the way. You know these grounds better than I do, maybe you know of somewhere we can talk. It looks like you might have some questions for me. At least that's what Drake told me and I'm curious to know why."

"I hope that is not the only reason that you came with that basket," Neville said. He then realized how that sounded and he blushed in horror at what the other might be thinking.

Dudley didn't know what to think because he was caught in an image of a green-thumbed imp, blushing at something he must have said, but darned if he couldn't focus on the words that were just said. He tilted his head a bit, shook off the image and stopped Neville's babble with an upraised hand. "It's okay. Whatever you just said is okay. Let's find someplace to just chat and get to know one another. By the way my name is Dudley Dursley…and I'm what Harry calls a Muggle-Squib."

"Neville Longbottom," the Gryffindor replied. "I was always afraid that I would be a Squib. How do you handle it? Doesn't it frighten you not to be able to do magic? What do you mean by Muggle-Squib? How did you come up with those little green-house ideas, they're so cute! How did you..."

Dudley chuckled and then laughed. He wrapped an arm around Neville's shoulders trying to stay up. "Calm down, I'll answer your questions. You're beginning to sound like Harry's description of his old friend Hermione when he described her as a… wait a minute let me get this right…" He was still holding onto the shy Gryffindor, but was leading him towards another hill with a view of the lake.

"Ah, now I have it. He described her as a 'babbling fountain that spewed tons of questions and answers', and you sounded like that babbling fountain, but you know what?"

"What?" Neville asked nervously watching, as Dudley put aside a journal looking book and set out their diner.

"I like that you want to know," Dudley said with honesty. "Some of the answers may surprise you and some may shock, but I hope that you will understand after a few of the answers you get. Shall we?"

"Hum?"

"Let's eat and then we can discuss the rest over some tea," Dudley said settling down on the picnic blanket. He looked up and saw the uncertainty in Neville's face. He gave an understanding look and then gestured his welcome.

Neville smiled again, sat down and settled in to get some very interesting answers.

HPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDM

August 29, Middle of the Night

Harry was finally finished reeling in the loosened connection that had nearly been severed by the distance he had traveled in the summer. The connection had stretched beyond its original form and was about to be cut by the actions of the Dark Lord.

However, Harry was able to catch it and reel in most of it back into himself, as most of the link was part of him and he didn't want old Tommy Boy to gain some of his abilities or his magic. In fact Harry took some of Voldemort's because he knew that in order to break Snape's tie to the Dark Doofus he would need some of the connecting magic.

Harry collapsed where he lay after he had finished his task. Dauphin and Draco's little familiar had kept him company. Dobby popped in and covered him with a blanket, dropping a pillow near Harry's head. Harry sought out the object and curled in on himself dreaming.

HPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDM

August 30, Early AM, before the sunrise

Harry woke up, screaming from a nightmare. It was just a vision, but truly it was also truly a nightmare. Privet drive and all of Little Whinging was up in flames. He was able to see the firefighters coming in and the Aurors, but unless he went there he would never be sure of this vision.

'I thought that I had disconnected that link,' he thought. Then he realized that Voldemort had sent him a final vision with the severed end of their old connection. "No," he said and then he screamed. "NOO! YOU GOD DAMNED SON OF A BIIIITTTCH! AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

His screamed awoke the castle and some of the inhabitants. Harry was not affected by the spells that Voldemort had cast in his vision, as that was the first thing that he disconnected, but the vision was in living colour and clear. One of the last ones that he would ever see and it had to be the death of Dudley's immediate family, including Aunt Marge, who had come for a short visit.

Draco woke up with a start that morning because of the angry and hurt emotions that were flowing through the bonds. He got up face and raced out of the Slytherin common room before any of the others there had realized it. He ran to his quarters and sought out his mate, who was screaming himself hoarse.

"Harry," he shouted to gain the other's attention. "HARRY!"

Harry turned his blank eyes towards the sound of his mate. There were tears streaming down his face. "Draco we need to go somewhere and you need to tell me exactly what you see. Do you understand? This is very important."

"Of course Harry," he said. "Let's just clean up a bit…"

"No," he said. "We won't be seen, but I need to know and I need to know now. Not later."

"Okay Harry," Draco said concerned. "Let's go." He walked up to his mate and took his arm like he had been taught, when they had gone shopping together.

"Hang on," Harry said and apparated them through the wards.

HPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDM

August 30, afternoon

Dudley was sitting on the ledge of what Harry called the 'Astronomy Tower'.

'There's a nice breeze here,' he thought. He was just sitting there contemplating his choices now. There wasn't much that he could do at this time. 'Harry did promise that a funeral would take place if I wanted it, but I don't want one nor do I want to go to it.'

His thoughts turned to the times when his mother showed him her love in the only way that she wanted love shown to her, through praise and material things. His father was proud of him in his own way, but sometimes that wasn't enough and most times he knew that it wasn't right, but they had been his parents and he loved them back. Just like most children do.

Hogwarts kept an eye out on him because he didn't have a huge magical core like the other students. Harry had told them what had happened and he had asked that Remus and Severus go take care of the details on the sly. They were to Obliviate who they can and get transfer papers for Dudley to attend another school.

Dudley was offered the option to return to his old school or to do correspondence course via the internet for an actual Muggle educational certificate. "You have to finish your school year," Harry had told him. "It doesn't matter if you don't go to college or university, but you must finish your year. You need Secondary School certificate in order to have more choices for your future."

"I understand Harry," Dudley had said through the tears that couldn't stop flowing down his eyes, after Harry had told him about his parents and his neighbors. "I only need three courses to finish off at school anyway. I had doubled up in the first three years, so that my last year would be easier. No one knew, not even my parents."

"That's wonderful," his cousin had said. It was strange to Dudley to hear that proud tone coming from him. "You are also welcome to stay here. You can attend any of the optional courses that you want and if you'd prefer to assist in some of the other courses you can. We'll just have to test your levels. I know that your magic is muffled and that's why you're classed as a Squib, but nothing says you can't assist in the areas that you know, like Muggle Studies or perhaps gardening, maybe even helping Hagrid out with the animals that he brings in. It's up to you."

It was a lot to think about and that's why he was in the tower. He needed time to put some of his thoughts in order. Hogwarts was a wonderful lady. She told Harry that maybe Dudley could use the Room of Requirement to vent his anger and sadness. It was a good idea, unfortunately Dudley didn't have enough magic in him to make the request, but Hogwarts arranged it for him.

Dudley had gone into that room and noticed that there were many breakable things. There were things he could throw and there were also things that he could hit, like punching bags. All it took was a thought, the thought that he would never see his parents again and that it was all the fault of a Muggle hating Wizard. He raged, vented, shouted and cried. It was something that he had needed and he was grateful to Hogwarts for her understanding.

'That fucking bastard has a lot to answer for,' he thought. 'My parents, Harry's parents and every victim hurt and tortured for his cause. God he reminds me of Hitler sometimes. He wants to completely eradicate a race of people with no magic. He's going to breed out the magic if he does that.'

A calming breeze came through the room. It was a warm breeze too. He heard a noise by the stairs and when he looked up his eyes met a set of understanding light brown ones. "Uh... I'm sorry to disturb you," Neville said. "I just wanted to see if... if there's anything I could do."

"No," Dudley said looking back out of the window. "There's nothing that anyone can do, not right now anyway. Thank you for asking."

"You're welcome," Neville said turning away and about to head back down.

"Neville," he asked in a questioning tone. Neville turned back into the room and then walked over to stand next to the blond Muggle.

"Yes?" He said shyly putting a hand on the shoulder closest to him.

Dudley looked at hand on his shoulder and then placed his on top. "Harry is taking care of the paperwork regarding their burial. The legalities and other financial stuff the goblins are having their human Muggle representatives working on that." He sighed taking the delicate looking yet calloused hand in his own. You can't work in the dirt and with certain tools without developing working hands. "I just have to make a choice about my schooling now. Do I stay here and finish through correspondence or do I return to finish my schooling?"

Neville sucked in a breath at the thought that Dudley could actually chose to leave. 'I don't want to influence him in staying, but I hope that he will stay,' he thought.

"It's a hard choice to make isn't it?" He pondered. "Can you stay and finish here? Is that even a possibility? I do know that it was difficult for me to choose to become an assistant and it was even harder for me to ask to become an apprentice."

"Sure it's possible," Dudley said. "Drake and I found that there's a trick to it. But, tell me why was it a difficult decision to become an assistant?"

"If I became an assistant, then I would be leaving my grandmother alone for the extra year that I would be assisting in teaching," he said. "If I didn't then I would have been living with her for another year or two before moving onto University or an apprenticeship. I asked for the apprenticeship now, just in case Professor Sprout said no. So what's the trick? Does anyone else know? How is that going to work?"

Dudley snorted and said, "From everything that I've heard about your brilliance with plants, how could you have doubted her answer? I'll explain the rest at a later date, all right?"

"All right. As for me, there's a part of me that will always doubt things like that," the Gryffindor said. "I think it comes from a time that my family thought that I was going to be a Squib; that I would fail to get into Hogwarts. It got so bad that I eventually thought that I might fail too."

Dudley took the hand from his shoulder and held it in his own. It was a first for him to do such a thing and he still wasn't certain about his actions. "I know what I'd like to do. I just hope that I don't resent or begin to hate the magic. I certainly hope that I don't get jealous of what the others can do here that I can't."

"You're staying!" Neville said with an excited hopeful tone that he tried to muffle down, but which still sort of squeaked out.

"You want me to?" Dudley asked, a little surprised to hear the happiness coming from the other. "Why?"

"Honestly," Neville began and once he received the go ahead he continued. "I truly don't know. I'm glad that you told me the truth about your past with Harry, but for some reason I just want to get to know you some more."

"I'm glad," Dudley said sincerely. "I've never had anyone interested in me before. Many were interested in my fighting skills and I do know that many of my 'friends' were the fair weather kind because they only call me once in while this summer. They didn't visit or anything. I even caught them talking about me behind my back at school, more then a few times, so I knew what they were like."

"I'm sorry to hear that," Neville said. "I didn't have many friends, as I would have liked in my first year. I shared a dorm room with the 'Boy-Who-Lived' and that's all that many wanted to know about me. I didn't tell anyone anything and that's mostly why I was left to my own devices during that year." He shrugged, it didn't bother him anymore. He was glad to have gotten a chance to know the real Harry.

"My first real friend is Drake," Dudley said. "He's not a bad guy and I can see where he's coming from, although he was in a very bad shape when I first met him."

"Could you tell me about that?" Neville asked.

"Sure, but I'm getting kind of thirsty and could something to nibble on," he said, looking at Neville's neck in a teasing light. 'God, where is all this coming from? I'm still flirting with him!'

Neville blushed and said, "Flirt!"

"I'm not trying to be," Dudley said with a small smile, squeezing the hand in his own. "You're kind of cute when you blush, did you know that?"

He stood up, still holding that hand and decided he didn't care who saw him, so he began to walk out the door leading the flustered Gryffindor. "Come on I'll show where I'll be staying for the year here and I need to tell Harry my decision."

"Okay," Neville said. There was still a tinge of red across his nose, but he was happy that the tall blond was feeling better. Internally he was super-uber happy that Harry's cousin decided to stay.

'I guess that in time he will be able to properly grieve or maybe say goodbye to his parents. Still I'm glad that he will be staying,' Neville thought with a private inner grin.

HPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDM

TBC…