Chapter four
Harry kept scanning all the students as Madam Bones explained what was about to happen. When a Slytherin student tried to say it was illegal to use veritaserum on a minor, Amelia went on to explain that it was voted on during an emergency session of the Wizengamot. She also went on to explain that the vote for the use of veritaserum was almost unanimous.
Harry lent closer to his friends, 'Sabastian found out that since I was legally Sirius's godson I could take the Black seats in the Wizengamot. Now since I'm not of age I had Sabastian take the Black votes along with the Potter votes, that's four votes.'
'Gran would have voted for it, so that's two,' Neville said.
'She did, Amelia voted for Susan, that's another two, then she voted for her part of the family, so another two. Since all the death eaters had been arrested before the meeting, we knew it would go in our favour. The only rights the students have in this is to have their parent with them while being questioned, but they will be silenced if they try to interfere. The only questions they can be asked is about the dark arts, dark artefacts, the dark mark, Voldemort and if they were involved in anything illegal or own anything illegal. I was questioned by Madam Bones with four auror witnesses, they are being recorded as well, just like mine was. They are hoping some of the parent's turn up, the ones with the dark mark.'
'Are they going to question the Slytherin's first?' Ron asked.
'No, it's going to be random, but they are speaking with the teachers first to get an impression about each student. That's so they can to keep an eye on them.'
'Some of the aurors just left,' Hermione said.
'They are going to search the castle but also guard certain area's. But they have guards already posted around curtain areas,' Harry raised his eyebrows at Ron and Hermione so they knew it meant that the tunnels were guarded.
'I do not like this Minerva.'
'Why is that Albus?'
'Harry is going about this the wrong way, some of these students could be turned back, but if they are arrested they with become angry.'
'I disagree, once they are questioned it will reveal exactly what their feelings are about you-know-who and the dark arts. I believe in second chances, but only to those who show remorse. There are several students here who believe it is there right to curse muggleborns just because they are purebloods. We know the numbers Albus, very soon those students who have been victims will band together and do something since we, the staff have not lifted a finger. We have all told you many times that you are too soft on those students and you allow Severus too much leeway. It is time all students are treated the same and all staff treat the students fairly. But most importantly, that the students who do curse other students deserve harsher punishment.'
'They could be turned Minerva, if they are not given the chance than our numbers are going to drop.'
'Our numbers are dropping because that lot are killing, those students that have joined have already killed. There are too many innocents inside this castle to allow those students free reign of the school. I believe Mr Potter has done a good thing for our world, first is getting rid of that woman, again you did nothing. Now I have to get to class, but you won't get the staff's support in this, apart from Severus. Think about that Albus, the only person to support you is an ex death eater, who I believe should have been sacked years ago,' Minerva stood and left the staff table, as she walked past the Gryffindor table she patted Harry on the shoulder and gave him a rare smile.
'First Flitwick and Sprout now McGonagall, it seems even some of the teachers approve of your plans Harry,' Neville said.
'We know McGonagall wanted to do more, it was the old man that stopped her.'
'Why would he do that?' Hermione asked.
'Because he believes he can turn all those back to the right side. The trouble is he believes sob stories so he gives them a pat on the back then they go on their way and continue what they were doing before. That is one reason Madam Bones worked it to use the truth potion. They will find out if the students are really dark, if they were forced by parents and if they truly believe that all muggleborns should be slaughtered. After she questioned me we spoke about the first war, she lost her entire family apart from Susan. She went the right way about trying to get the real death eaters locked up. Not like Bagnold and Crouch who just put people in prison without proof, or let them go, again without proof they were innocent. If you think about this logically Hermione, if something wasn't done then half the magical population would be dead before the war was over. This world would not have survived if we lost so many. Shops like Madam Malkins would not have been able to support itself. Places like Quality Quidditch Supplies would have closed because no one would be buying their equipment. That leads on the professional quidditch games, there wouldn't be enough players to keep all the teams going, nor would they have many spectators so they wouldn't make money. With things closing down or losing business, no one would pay to go see a game when they need to look after their family. Then it just keeps getting worse where you lose some teachers because they aren't needed with half the students they had. Add to that, a lot of healers would lose their jobs since there wouldn't be enough people left to keep them on. It all snowballs, one thing after another. Then you get some who think it would be just too dangerous to stay here so they leave the country and make a life for themselves overseas.'
'Dad said something about that last time, and that some shops closed, some were lucky enough to keep going but only barely. He remembers Florean's closed, he opened after what happened to Harry's parents,' Ron said.
'So many that wanted to take a hard line last time finally said they couldn't take the chance. Since they knew Fudge wasn't going to do anything to help they had to stand together or this world could have just had a few of those types of families. The rest of us would be dead or if we were lucky, gone, escape over to another country. She told me that many other ministries had already began to implement their plans, to take a hard line on those who wanted Voldemort to win, those purebloods who believed only they should wield magic.'
'Charlie was going to speak with the Romanian minister, Bill was going to talk to the Egyptian minister.'
'They probably did the moment they were told he was back. But think of this as well Hermione. If he was left to raise his army again, it would have eventually spilled over into the muggle world. He thinks muggles are animals. He really is stupid if you think about it. You and I know what the muggles have, Dean and Seamus would understand as well. If people began to die, muggles I mean, then the military would step in. We might have muggle repelling charms, but they have satellites and radar and all that technology that could see past those charms since the charm could not be put on a satellite that sits in the atmosphere. They will see us as a threat and drop a nuke on us. That might be going too far, but they could easily blow up Diagon alley in one go. They would find homes that are hidden, like where Snuffles is. They have rocket launchers that could be used on those homes. Just because they can't see us here with their eyes doesn't mean they can't destroy Hogwarts with their technology.'
Hermione sighed, 'You're right Harry, I spoke with dad, he said with the right equipment he could see the pathway from Kings Cross station to platform nine and three quarters. It would be like the old witch trials, but with technology. There must be a reason why Professor Dumbledore didn't help?'
'Whatever his reason Hermione, it was not good enough, not when people are dying and not when it could mean the end of all of us. They hate muggleborns Hermione, they,' Harry pointed at the Slytherin's, 'they know your name, how hard would it be for them to find out where your parents live or work. Do you think they would hesitate to take them out if they could? Snuffles and I were talking, we knew that the ones that are marked would have taken care of some of the students inside the castle when they got the opportunity, Remus agreed, but the old man refused to listen to their concerns. He never does, they talk, they all give other options or advice, he turns them all down and goes with his ideas. He said he didn't want power that's why he never wanted to become minister. But he does like power that is why he refuses to listen to others when their advice is much better. But also he has power here, he influences the future of the magical world, us. It's time to take the blinders off Hermione, he might have done a lot for this world but he hasn't done enough over the last five years. Heck, his hardly done anything since my parent's died. All those death eaters that lied to get out of Azkaban, they were biding their time, waiting, yet he sat on his wrinkled arse and just let them build up their power. He was chief warlock back then, he could have said they must be questioned using veritaserum, but he didn't. So will you please look at peoples actions, for the good of all of us?'
The group of Gryffindor's all stared at Hermione who seemed to finally realise that following or believing someone blindly could be dangerous to them as well as their world. Follow, respect and listen to those that do right by everyone, that is what they all needed to do before there world was destroyed.
