Chapter 20: The Fifth Year, Part One

"I knew it! I knew it!" Bellatrix Lestrange exclaimed as she and the other Death Eaters sent to Azkaban were rescued by their master. "The Dark Lord came for us! In your face, Crouch!" Barty Junior then stared at her. "Not you, Barty. Your blood traitor father."

"Silence, Bellatrix!" Voldemort commanded. "We still have a lot of work to do!"

"Yes, Master!"

Two days later, British Minister of Magic Cornelius Oswald Fudge was at the International Confederation of Wizards Headquarters to try to convince them to force Harry Potter to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. "This is better not to be another lame attempt to have the British Wizards imprisoned in France released just because they're purebloods, Fudge." The ICW Supreme Mugwump demanded.

"Negative." Fudge replied. "This is about Harry Potter. With He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named back, the Boy-Who-Lived's safety is more important than ever. I'm asking this venerable body to force Harry Potter to attend Hogwarts."

"Harry Potter already attends Beauxbatons, Minister Fudge." The ICW's French representative replied. "Why would making him change schools be important for his safety?"

Fudge then motioned for Albus Dumbledore to answer. "Ladies and Gentlemen, with Voldemort back, Harry Potter will need a safe place to continue his education. While my modesty usually prevents me from confirming, I am the only wizard Lord Voldemort ever feared and this is usually regarded as the reason he never tried to take over Hogwarts during his previous rise."

"He made two attempts during what would be Harry Potter's first and second years there." Was the representative's reply.

"We have improved the wards ever since then and it's as safe as before." Fudge replied.

"How safe can a school be when one of its faculty members is a sniveling Death Eater?" Sirius Black asked.

"What is he doing here?" Fudge exclaimed.

"You called for this meeting to discuss Harry Potter's safety, Minister Fudge." The ICW Supreme Mugwump explained. "Did you really think we'd not call for his guardian's presence?" Fudge had no response for this.

"Sirius, I know you and Severus had your divergences in the past, but I can assure you he regrets his past crimes." Albus Dumbledore pleaded.

"And I can assure you I don't believe it, Dumbledore." Sirius replied. "I won't let my godchild attend any school that allows the presence of a known Death Eater."

"Sirius, Beauxbatons doesn't have the same wards Hogwarts has." Albus pleaded.

"What good will those wards be with a Death Eater inside Hogwarts?" Sirius asked.

Meanwhile, the guards at the French Wizarding Prison got chilled out. "Dementors!" Shouted the first one to spot them. "Ready your wands! Expecto Patronum!" While the wizard guards were distracted by driving the Dementors away, the Death Eaters pointed their wands at them and shouted "Avada Kedavra!"

Meanwhile, at the Sirius Black's home, Harry and the Dursleys (they came for moral support because Sirius didn't want to leave Harry alone) were wondering about the outcome of the ICW meeting. "Won't that crazed old fool give up?" Vernon asked.

"Dad, if Harry is forced to attend Hogwarts, may I go with him?" Dudley asked.

Back at the ICW meeting, a decision had been made. "Minister Fudge, the International Confederation of Wizards will grant your request on one condition: that Severus Snape and other confirmed Death Eaters, reformed or not, are no longer allowed inside Hogwarts grounds." The Supreme Mugwump announced.

"Deal!" Fudge quickly shouted before Dumbledore had a chance to object.

"Are you okay with this, Headmistress McGonagall?" The Supreme Mugwump asked.

"No." She answered. "Ever since I took over as Headmistress, Professor Snape is improving himself."

"Then I'll pass an Educational Decree prohibiting confirmed Death Eaters inside school grounds even when reformed." Fudge declared.

"Fine! You win. Just give me time to hire a replacement."

Time Skip to September 1st

Three Hogwarts students recently transferred from Beauxbatons arrived at Platform 9 ¾'s French counterpart. "Thanks for joining me, guys." Harry said.

"That's what family and friends are for, right, Gabrielle?" Dudley asked.

"I'm so proud of you, Diddykins!" Petunia exclaimed.

"You three keep an eye open for Dumbledore." Vernon advised. "It's a good thing Gabrielle's sister got a job at Gringotts to improve her Eeenglish." He said the last word with disdain.

In the train, the trio went to the deepest compartment so they'd avoid the students that took the train at Platform 9 ¾ and their noise. Unfortunately, it seemed to have been in vain since Ron Weasley managed to find him. "Are you here to release more insults, Weasley?" Harry asked with venom in his voice.

"No." Ron sheepishly said. "I am here to apologize and to thank you."

"Why?" Asked Harry not understanding what Ron would thank him for.

"For thinking you were a traitor for attending another school." Ron explained. "I didn't suspect it was just a way you were using your fame to get Snape sacked. And for that I thank you."

Harry, Dudley and Gabrielle couldn't believe their ears. Did someone really think it was all to avoid a professor? Well, technically it was but…

"My brothers, Fred and George, even said they were considering not attending their seventh year so they'd have more time for their joke shop but the desire to know what a year without Snape feels like." Ron said.

"I don't care about Snape." Harry said. "I just wanted to have a normal life without Dumbledore trying to turn me into a weapon."

"But it's your duty to stop You-Know-Who!" Ron exclaimed. "You're the Boy-Who-Lived!"

"I was just lucky." Harry replied. "And Dumbledore wasted it by not going after the Horcruxes earlier."

Ron stood there awkwardly for a while. "Well, thank you for ridding us of Snape anyway."

Later, at the Great Hall, Headmistress McGonagall made the announcements. "Welcome back, students. First, I'd like to welcome three students who transferred from Beauxbatons Academy of Magic: Gabrielle Delacour, younger sister of Fleur Delacour, Beauxbatons Champion of last year's Triwizard Tournament; Harry Potter, the Fourth Champion of said tournament; and Dudley Dursley, cousin of Harry Potter. I'd also like to announce two new additions to our staff: Albus Dumbledore, our former Headmaster, former Transfiguration teacher and former Head of Gryffindor House, agreed to fill the Defense Against the Dark Arts vacancy;" several students applauded. "and, with the sudden departure of Professor Snape, his predecessor, Horace Slughorn, agreed to resume his duties as Head of Slytherin House and Potions Master."

Several Slytherins applauded. After that, the sorting started.

"Delacour, Gabrielle." She went to the professors' table, put on the Sorting Hat.

"You value knowledge and fear your decision might have harmed it. RAVENCLAW!"

"Dursley, Dudley." Dudley then sat at the stool.

"A secret desire to become smarter than your brother but no malicious desire to sabotage him. RAVENCLAW!"

A few names later, "Potter, Harry."

"You're brave but not to the point of taking unnecessary risks. You're loyal but only to those you trust. You're ambitious but not enough for Slytherin. RAVENCLAW!"

Please review.