Chapter 7

As the first day of September was a Saturday, the first full day was also the weekend and therefore ripe for mischief for those not overawed by the experience of newly being at school.

The Pepperingye Marauders, as fans of Monty Python had decided that the new headmaster needed to be welcomed by a dance display – as they announced at breakfast to the groans of Madam McGonagall who knew them too well – and proceeded to do so, with the co-operation of the Stripy Marauders to make better numbers for a display.

U-may, Charis, Tobala and Wanda had spent the holiday making and decorating fabric fishes stuffed with cotton in preference to using either real fish or rubber ones; because, dressed in kilts, they proceeded to do the fish slapping dance, their feet under the honky-tonk twinkle toes curse to produce the requisite Archers music. When they had finished they proceeded to enchant the stuffed fish with a tricky little enchantment way beyond any but the more advanced NEWT students – it had required some considerable library work – to fly around the Great Hall as though swimming with magical programming to recognise each other and swim as a shoal, glittering and shimmering for being made out of fabrics with metal threads and covered in sequins. The Marauders involved bowed and curtseyed formally to the headmaster and marched smartly back to their places.

"Novel" said David dryly "DO persuade your pets to swim elsewhere for the Yule Ball; unless the Head Boy plans to use them as part of the décor."

"Seems a shame to waste them sir; I'll work on it" said Gorbrin laconically. "The Pepperingye Marauders have to come this year after all."

There was a collective groan from the fourth.

"I say, Nathan, you're bleeding" said U-may

Nathan put his hand to the small scrape on his cheek.

"Yeah, one of those dratted sequins was a bit sharp I guess" he said.

"Just part of the sequins of events then" quipped U-may.

Nathan poked her.

They were a little disappointed that David Fraser had not chosen to set his style as headmaster with kilt and full highland regalia; but the kilts had been their tribute to him and were in Fraser tartan, which David recognised and appreciated even if very few other people did. David had never been comfortable in full robes; so he chose to emulate Severus and wore a black suit of archaic cut with academic robes over it, and a hat so reminiscent of the one Lee Van Cleef wore in 'For a few dollars more' that he was, with such a suit, promptly nicknamed Colonel Mortimer by the MSHG.

oOoOo

After breakfast, David rose.

"It being a lazy Sunday, two of the upper sixth have asked if they might have the indulgence of half an hour of your time to put a proposal; that you can then consider over the rest of the weekend" he said. "Miss Malfoy, Miss Bulstrode."

Erica and Meliandra came forward.

"Most people in the wizarding world know that my mums run the Society for the Relief of Marginalised women" said Erica "For those of you new to the wizarding world or those who have managed to swan through life without actually managing to keep in touch with current affairs – quiet you" she added as several Slytherin juniors coughed with the word 'Ravenclaws' in the cough " – where was I, oh yes, my dad has four wives, we're happy with it, so it's no-one else's business and they're all involved in this society which is more than the society for distressed witches because it also takes into account the needs of muggle relatives of our world, hags, goblins, elves and any other needy females. It's aimed at women because women tend to be the most marginalised of the poor, generally even in this day and age even less well educated than men and barred by custom from some jobs. Those women who have had illegitimate babies are seen as scarlet women, whether they were raped, deceived or what; and few people will employ them. We want to start a junior branch at Hogwarts, aimed specifically at the relief of marginalised girls our own sort of age and younger. Girls who have been abused and got pregnant when they're only little girls of twelve or thirteen, or who are orphaned with no other way of earning a living than begging or selling themselves, especially if some oaf of a stepfather or neighbour has already used them because they were vulnerable."

"The habits of the poor are quite loathsome; why bother with them? They're scarcely more than animals" said Douglas Flint.

"Oh, you think those habits are confined to the poor do you, Mr Flint? Then you are VERY much mistaken" said Erica coldly. "A distant cousin of mine of good family, pure bred witch and well off was raped repeatedly by her stepfather from the age of thirteen; she gave birth here in school at the age of fifteen. Naturally as she was not at fault she was not expelled; unfortunately the perceptions of too many people – again of whatever class – see it as always the girl's fault regardless; and in some households where it happens if they are supposedly better class a baby would be quietly disposed of and the matter never spoken about because of the shame and the girl never able to deal with her trauma of all that has happened – including the murder of her baby which she may or may not have desired. The girl in question was offered an abortifacient but she decided to be brave because she did not feel it right to kill an innocent baby who had not chosen to be conceived; and her choice was respected. But it happens; and probably more often than we even know about."

"Will you believe me then if I tell you what's happening at home?"

The child who had stood was at the Ravenclaw table.

"Stop making a spectacle of yourself, Wintringham!" snapped Xanthia Fawcett.

"STOP showing yourself to be as ignorant as an Umbrous Alley traditionally downtrodden yet rectitude-snobbish goblin, Fawcett!" snapped Meliandra "Wintringham, kids your age don't know details if they haven't had stuff happen; and I say, you come with us to the Head's office while Storm and Zephyra finish off telling the rest of you what we had proposed."

Monica Wintringham stumbled out of her seat and burst into tears as Erica put her arms around her; Fenella Crawford came with her.

"Monica sleepwalks sometimes, Malfoy, and over the last year it's been worse" she volunteered "I'm her friend; I'll come along too if I may."

"You're all right Crawford" said Erica approvingly.

They left the part fey girls explaining the idea of giving a personal touch to a hostel by sewing and knitting and suggesting that if boys wanted to be involved with something they might want to think about setting up a hostel for boys too by skanking round Mr Malfoy.

Gorbrin laughed and said if anyone was interested he'd take an interest and work on his dad to help with funding but he would NOT have time to be president.

"I can though" said Ming.

There was much discussion – though on Ravenclaw table, Ming had to threaten to drop zits saying 'git' on the foreheads of those who preferred speculating over Monica to discussing what might be done to help others.

oOoOo

Meanwhile Monica stumbled through her story of how her mum had been abandoned by their real father for a younger witch and remarried a man who had taken a lot of interest in her and her little sister and she had thought it really nice until he started doing things she did not like; and how she was terrified he would start on little Miranda who was just seven.

"Surely she's way too young?" gasped Erica.

"Erica, did you not know that before Jade and Lydia were in the orphanage that awful father of theirs was grooming them to sell them – at three and four?" said David quietly.

Erica went white; and suddenly remembered that she shared a biological father with Jade and Lydia, the ubiquitous Jonathon Malfoy.

"Oh Fido, you WILL do something, won't you?" she said.

David did not chide her for using his nickname.

"Of course I will" he said "But Monica must tell me exactly what he has done; and I will put it then in the Pensieve for her and take it to the aurors office. After I have talked to her mother" he added. He did NOT tell the girls that some mothers refused point blank to believe in such depositions, preferring to believe that their daughters were lying than that the man who loooved them could do wrong. Erica pulled a wry face; she knew. Dione, whose case it had been that she cited, had not been believed by HER mother.

oOoOo

Madam Foster – which was Monica's mother's new name – exceeded expectations for David. She believed every word and declared that if only Monica had spoken up when she asked her what made her so quiet she would have kicked out Mr Foster forthwith. She then asked Miranda if Dad Stephen had done anything she found uncomfortable; and found that although he had not actually interfered with her he was certainly grooming her.

"I'm reverting to Wintringham" said that lady firmly "And we're going to cut up all his robes and smash all his collection of porcelain figurines and throw them out of the window and burn all his books in the front garden and change the locks. Professor Fraser, Miranda and I are going to be busy; would you be so kind as to send a locksmith round?"

"I'd be delighted" said David "And I'll fetch Monica home to help with your destruction."

"I am going to KILL him when he gets back" said Madam Wintringham viciously.

"No Madam Wintringham; leave his punishment to the auror's office" said David. "Though if I bring you a few boxes of rotten eggs, you and the girls CAN make your disapproval felt in other ways."

"What a wonderful man you are!" said Madam Wintringham in grim satisfaction "Yes, bring me my little girl; I need to apologise for being such a poor picker of men that she's had to go through that, and to hold her close and tell her it WILL be better!"

oOoOo

Back in school it may be said that Rufina Scrimgeour and Simi Patil both ended up as green tentacled bouncing balls for Rufina saying in her sanctimonious way that Monica should have told her mother sooner and Simi agreeing with her.

Sampta Patil told her sister it served her right; and left the floor to Lilith.

"It's not that easy you creeps" said Lilith "I know; my dad's a headmaster, remember. Kids tend to believe what grown ups tell them; and the grown ups who are this sort of creep tell lies and say it's all the fault of their little victim; and make them keep it as their special secret. Monica has a step dad; he probably told her that if she told, it would make her mummy so unhappy and would mean they were living in poverty again because he'd have to leave her if her daughter was so naughty as to tell. They use mind bending to get people to do what they want; and you can't say YOU wouldn't have your minds bent because we bent yours almost as much as your elders when we pulled the Riddle riddle jape 'cos you believed in it; and perverts are as good at mind games as any dark wizard. And you better not say ANYTHING to Monica when she gets back into school because I can arrange for your underwear to be permanently itchy for the next four years until you leave school. And Goshawk, if you spread any of your usual lies based on half truths to anyone, in school or at home or write to any papers I'm going to get Lucius as a Governor to sue your dad into penury for giving the school a bad name with having a liar for a daughter so there" she added to another Ravenclaw third year.

"AFTER I've jinxed you into a ball" said Sextus.

"Me too" said Fenella. She had suffered from Sonia Goshawk's severe embroidery.

"Acksherly" said Lilith "I have a better idea. Sec, grab Goshawk for me."

Sonia screeched and squirmed; Sextus held her firmly. Lilith stared hard into the older girl's eyes.

"What are you DOING?" squealed Goshawk.

"Sorted" said Lilith. "Listen, Goshawk; nothing unpleasant will happen unless you try to speak or write a lie; ANY lie beyond tactful ones because I'm that good I can make the distinction. If you start to lie, you will get a blinding headache. The moment you leave off lying it will go away. It should make life more comfortable for everyone around you AND might even teach you to be a decent person."

"I forgive you for jinxing us over that" said Rufina.

Lilith undid her and Sita with a flip of the hand.

"I wanted to get your attention so I could explain some facts of life to you" she said "I know far more about creeps than a kid my age ought to because I'm awfully good at being insignificant and unnoticed when grown ups are talking; and my sister Jade is sorting out social problems in Germany and my dad has come across heaps of problems as house head here and as headmaster at Prince Peak. One of my sisters is the child born of the situation Erica talked about because he adopted her; the little mother was in his house. It's awfully easy to be sanctimonious and say this or that ought to have been done; one might say that Albus Dumbledore should have killed the younger Tom Riddle when he had the chance, and maybe he ought to have done; but then Albus Dumbledore is a man of infinite compassion who hoped that my noxious grandfather would see the error of his ways. And I'm glad he didn't because then my mum would never have been conceived and I shouldn't be here. It's easy to be wise after events; the big ones SHOULD have told a teacher about our Riddle letter. Their decision not to was hubris – false pride to those of you with limited vocabulary" she added rudely "Not fear. We COULD have implanted a compulsion to make them fear to tell grown ups. It's easy-peasy lemon squeezy to put so minor a level of compulsion in a letter; even easier than giving Goshawk fib-related headaches 'cos that needs some quite subtle legilimensy."

"Isn't legilimensy illegal to use without a licence?" demanded Goshawk. "Like Veritaserum?"

"No, actually" said Lilith "Because though Veritaserum is awfully tricky to brew – I'm thinking of doing it for my NEWT potion – it can, like any potion, be used by anyone. Legilimensy is reckoned to be so hard a skill to learn that if you're self disciplined enough to learn it you're self disciplined enough to use it; not necessarily true, see also my inadequate grandsire, but that's the law. Should it be changed? Possibly. But the ministry also hold that it's impossible for the mind of a sub adult to learn so y'know, technically and legally I can't do what I just did. It's impossible to fly too and Voldemort circumvented that one too as the first person to do so. And we're STILL taught in charms that it isn't possible."

"Moving the half pint firmly OFF one of her hobby horses" said Sextus "I didn't know either about using brainwashing to keep kids silent but I do believe it, Scrimgeour, Patil; you will leave the Wintringham girl alone?"

"We shouldn't dream of doing anything to further upset her" said Rufina "And I guess we accept that Snape probably knows what she's talking about; it's an unwholesomely bad habit she has."

"Why thank you, thank you!" said Lilith, clapping her hands in mock delight.

"May I say too, you bigger ones" Purnima Zanam spoke up from a corner of the Ravenclaw common room "That before I was adopted at the age of eight I had been an orphan for two years and a street whore for one in the clutches of a big boy, who was then about the age you are now; and the terror, the pain and the humiliation is enough to drive you so much into yourself, having done to you what should only happen between consenting adults, that you do not WANT to talk about it because even thinking about it makes you relive all the terror and humiliation and pain. It would NOT take much to make a child keep silent because to talk about it at all, even to a special person, takes every ounce of your courage; and if you feared your special person would not believe you, then anyone who is doing it would punish you more. We could not tell the police because high ranking policemen were some of the customers; and even if low-grade policemen believed us, then nothing would be done and we would be hurt worse. You are such little innocents and it makes me angry that you pass an opinion over something you know nothing about. Thank you."

Rufina went white.

"I say, Zanam, I didn't know" she said "I am sorry it happened to you. "Is – is there anything I can do?"

"Yes, by golly there is" said Purnima "You can join the Society for Marginalised Women and give practical help to girls to be trained in a trade, like sewing, or even sponsored to school if they are clever enough."

"I – I will then" said Rufina.

"Thank goodness! You might just turn out a proper Ravenclaw not a git like your brother!" said Lilith.

"You shouldn't even be here, Snape; it's not your common room!" said Rufina "It's most improper that you should be able so easily to answer the riddles!"

"Well they are rather childishly easy" said Lilith "And the hat DID offer me Ravenclaw; I declined for family reasons. So I'm almost a second hand Ravenclaw as you might say."

"You are just ubiquitous" said Purnima.

"GOOD word!" agreed Lilith unabashed.

Something suddenly occurred to Simi Patil and she clutched her sister's hand.

"Sampta, mummy has a man friend; do you think he might hurt US?"

Madam Patil was a widow who was also a muggle; her wizard husband's family had paid for all the girls to go to Hogwarts.

"I don't think so, Simi; but you know, if he DOES behave inappropriately, at least now we'd recognise it and would be able to talk to each other and to have the guts to tell mummy, wouldn't we?" said Sampta soberly "And if she couldn't believe us, then we should have to tell Professor Flitwick because Flitters is nobody's fool."

"I guess most people's step parents are good people to take on other folks' children; like Lucius taking on Gorbrin and his eight siblings without turning a hair" said Lilith "and there's more to that than the fact that he can jolly well afford it; they all adore Lucius and call him dad without a second thought now. But I guess there ARE some creeps out there who just try to pick up women who are vulnerable with daughters – or sons I guess – who are the age they like to use. Tell you what, if your mum gets serious, invite me to stay for a few days in the hols and I'll legilimens him before she gets hitched. And if he IS a creep, we come up with a way to get rid of him preferably that gets him nicked too."

"From any other kid your age – or rather of the age you're with let alone your age" said Sampta " – that would almost be a fantasy; I reckon you WOULD get him nicked too, even though he's a muggle."

"Oh that's even easier" said Lilith "Muggles are paranoid about child abuse and perverts and if he IS he'd almost certainly have pictures on his computer and all we do is shop him to the fuzz and let them do the rest. Their laws are stricter than ours because our laws were written by people who didn't want to believe in such not nice things; and they're being revised, like actually having an age of consent to protect kids. Don't worry; we'll sort it out" she said airily.

oOoOo

The rest of the girls in the school were busy forming sewing bees and knitting groups; the idea of using a creative hobby to bring a bit of joy and colour into the lives of those less fortunate than themselves had really caught on; and Bella suggested a sponsored knit, that they should con parents into offering them so much a square knitted before Yule. Bella knitted and sewed only when she had no other choice so it really would be a challenge for her to produce a significant amount of squares; and she reckoned that she could touch several relatives for a large amount per square after they had fallen about laughing over the idea of her knitting at all. Mafalda declared she had no idea how to knit and sew but if the 'Times' would pay for crossword puzzles she would donate her fees accordingly and Bella suggested she write and ask and explain what she was going to do with the fee because they were more likely to pay her more.

Mafalda started scribbling down clues and trying them out on her classmates; and over the clue 'sounds like an insane garden creature – one who likes to wander forever' that was a nomad, she was jinxed firmly by the Belle Marauders to play – naturally – 'Tiger Rag' in the boogie woogie bogey bugle curse.

"I suppose the nomad hasn't got a gnome to go to" giggled Maud; and was duly poked.

oOoOo

Meliandra also had other business; David had appointed her head of school quidditch and asked her to form an all school team because he had challenged Durmstrang to a match before the weather became bad; and Meliandra had a lot of big decisions to make; not least who to pick as seeker.

She summoned Gorbrin, Jack Murray and Seckunder Singh and explained her dilemma.

Jack exchanged a glance with Gorbrin.

"Seckunder is the best of the three of us" he said. "Gorbrin and I work well together now; if you'd play us as chasers, we'd be pleased."

Meliandra nodded.

"I'm glad you concur with what I had been thinking" she said.

Jack flushed.

"Unlike poor Leroy, I grew out of being a prima donna" he said. "Who would you put as third chaser, Nathan or Zajala?"

"If I'm playing beater – and I AM one of the best – I'd as soon not play either" said Meliandra "Or it could be the Slytherin team with a few Ravenclaws. I thought I'd play Drusilla MacMillan; she's better than Sampta by a few hairs."

"She IS good; I'd not quarrel with that" said Gorbrin. "Drop me if you need to play another house more; I shan't take offence."

"I will though" said Meliandra "Your broomsurfing is something else; and I might make you play Keeper at that. Lilith is far too young for that much excitement and pressure; she's almost bound to take offence at something someone says and turn them into a spider and get her basilisk patronus to chase them; she still lacks self control when she's gotten annoyed."

"Fair comment" said Gorbrin. "And an age limit would too be a reason to leave Bryony Urquart out as well as not wanting to have too many Slythers because she is a natural as beater; and I guess in your shoes I'd feel mean about not including her."

"I do, but I've spoken to her about it; and she's helping me arrange a second seven like Professor Fraser wants" said Meliandra "They'll give us a few practise games and we're all used to being jinxed by Lilith so we shan't turn a hair."

Gorbrin laughed.

"Only too true" he said.

"Miriam Moonshine is a good, if not exciting beater" said Jack "And that's another Huffer."

"It is; I need another Raver" said Meliandra "And I believe I will play Sampta with you and Drusilla, Jack; and put Gorbrin in as keeper. A keeper needs many of the same qualities as a seeker; and he CAN broomsurf."

Gorbrin nodded.

"I've played keeper in practice when we swap around; I'm not too bad" he said. "Two each of everyone except the Gryffs and they have the star spot of seeker by compensation; shouldn't cause any political problems."

"I could run trials but it eats into playing time and frankly any house head of games jolly well ought to be able to pick the best in the school" said Meliandra.

"Thank you, you two, for ceding seeker to me" said Sekunder "I shall do my best not to make you regret the decision."

"If you play your best, nobody can do more" said Meliandra "And I say, they should be a tough proposition; since Jade Snape has been poking the Durmstrangers into co-operating and has managed to get their Quidditch coach to take the radical step of playing the best in the first team not just the best from the upper sixth they may well be tough; AND they practise against real professional teams because it gives the school team a game and too gives practise to the pros."

"Lumme! We'll have our work cut out then!" said Gorbrin.

"Yes; and they have the Asimov twins on their team too" said Meliandra. Those who were blooded knew the Asimovs as blood siblings.

"We're possibly toast then" said Gorbrin.

"THAT's why I need a broom surfer; it's our only advantage" said Meliandra. "We have a match on our hands; and it should be good fun!"

oOoOo

Monica returned to school first thing in the morning looking much happier; and Fenella Crawford gave her a hug and, to the girl's intense surprise, both Rufina and Simi just touched her on the arm.

"Th-thanks!" said Monica, who had half expected censure from the two rather priggish girls.

"Look, my mum's got a boyfriend and now I know what to look out for I guess I'm glad I know just in case" said normally pedantic Simi.

"Anyone who hurts people is like a little Voldemort" said Rufina.

"Well, cheers!" said Monica "Professor Fraser brought us some rotten eggs; and mum and my little sister an me cut up all his clothes and books and smashed up all his ornaments and threw all his stuff out of the window; and when he came home from work we threw rotten eggs at him, and mum shouted at him and called him a pervert and a man-whore and a disgusting little git and I shouted that mummy DID believe me and she loved me more than him so there; because he said to me that she wouldn't believe me because she needed him. And then the auror came that Professor Fraser had arranged and arrested him and he used the punit spell to drag him off by the ear from the wand because he was too loathsome to touch, the auror said – I think it was actually Draco Malfoy – and he said that the rotten eggs weren't half so rotten as a creep like him and we cheered the auror and booed Stephen Foster and I am just SO glad I don't have to worry about Miranda any more – and he HAD started touching her – and Professor Fraser says the school is pledged to take care of the families of any of its pupils that fall on hard times, and also that we can sue Foster for damages so we shan't have to be beholden to anyone. And I so want to join Erica Malfoy's society and help GET other creeps!"

"Crumbs, Monica, that's more than you've ever said in the previous two years you've been here!" said Rufina "Let alone all in one go!"

"Well I've been keeping it all to myself for so long and now I CAN talk about it because Professor Fraser says it's good to let people know things so it's sort of all bubbling out like the explosion Pustule Dippet had in her cauldron last year" said Monica.

The unfortunate Nancy Dippet was a Hufflepuff of the year below and had both had a disaster with her boil curing potion and had managed to cover Madam Sprout with bubotuber pus all in the first few weeks of term; and had been promptly christened 'Pustule' by her peers and had not lived it down for her continuing disasters in the potions dungeon. The particular explosion to which Monica referred had affected the then second years, Monica's year, because the cauldron had hurtled through the door narrowly missing the next class waiting because Madam Hardbroom, seeing something wrong, had hurriedly placed Nancy's cauldron away from all the class before it exploded; and the resultant detonation had sent the cauldron one way and its contents the other.

Rufina laughed.

"Well at least your explosion of words isn't as horrible as what that dippy kid cooks up in her cauldron; I mean, it's been horrible for you but I mean we don't mind you talking about it."

Monica nodded.

"Thanks. I don't want to go into detail; maybe when I've got a bit more settled I might share with Fenella if you'll let me?" she glanced at Fenella who smiled and nodded. "Oh HELL!" added Monica.

"What?" asked Fenella anxiously.

"There's Goshawk; she's been earwigging and I suppose the next thing that will happen is that she twists it all round to make it like I bring men home or something" said Monica, her eyes starting to fill.

"No she jolly well won't; Snape FIXED her" said Rufina "Every time she tells a lie she'll get a tremendous headache; written OR spoken. I must say, I never much liked Snape because I've always thought she's a bit of a show off but oh boy! I could have hugged her for that; I can put up with her being snide and rude to have Goshawk well fixed!"

"WOW!" said Monica "I say, I must do something really nice for Snape; I shall have to see what I can think of, because I know all the things HE said that people would think if I told on him and I bet she'd say the same sort of things. CAN she tell the truth long enough to not have a headache?"

"Well if she can't she'll just have to be silent" laughed Fenella.

They went off to class with more camaraderie than they had ever had; and Monica was a happier girl than she had been for a very long time and it showed in her schoolwork; and as David said to the staff, hopefully now too her nightmares and sleepwalking would also cease and would permit her to have a decent night's sleep as a general matter of course so that she would be more alert and generally healthier.

"I feel very chagrined that I knew nothing about it!" Squeaked little Flitwick.

"Filius, you knew there was something wrong; when a child is so troubled sometimes it takes a while to break through to them. You WOULD have found out" said David "It took the combined efforts of Krait and Severus to get through to Dione Parnassus over several years; I'm sure Monica would have confided in you, your house adore you. It's just so lucky that Erica had exactly the right words to make Monica burst out with her distress, that and her worry over leaving Miranda. And it HAS been found out; we don't have a child busy committing suicide over her misery, and she isn't pregnant. And THAT is because she's not old enough to have a period yet poor baby. And I have to say, I got Ellie to sit her own and explain the processes of reproduction to her so she shouldn't think that she was dying and it wasn't something Foster caused when she DOES start; just in case her mother forgets to."

"Albus was quite rright in his choice, David" said Minerva "Ye're a fine man and ye think of everything; I dinnae ken that I'd have thocht ahead tae the puir babe thinking so, though I've had enough wee lassies howling over not knowing wha' wis the matter and one thinking she's been cursed."

"And the message also goes home that the new headmaster of Hogwarts is as fearless in dealing with those who interfere with his students as Albus Dumbledore" said Filius. "By the by, do we have a drains problem? I've noticed a bad smell occasionally out front of the school."

"I'll look into it and ask Argus too" said David.