AN1: POLL ON SIRIUS'S FATE, please go over to my author page to vote. For some of the options, I need to start setting the groundwork over the next couple of chapters.
AN2: Having read so many fanfics, and so been exposed to so many possible reasons as to why Voldie was able to build such a large following, my own take on this is colored by the writing of others. Unfortunately, I can't remember which point was originally made by which author (it would actually take a lot of research to map this out), but please understand my intent is not to plagiarize. I fully admit some of these justifications for the purebloods' actions are not my own invention but I read them in other works that I now can't quite remember. As always, I'm open to criticism. I will say that the works of mad_fairy over on AO3 are pretty awesome - they have two completed series where Harry is pro-magic and anti-muggle, kind of. These works also serve as an inspiration for my own characterization of some of the canon characters, most notably Draco and Hermione. My Harry is unfortunately not as smart or clever, merely has higher academic expectations placed on him.
Neither Harry nor Neville came alone to the library that Saturday morning - Granger had overheard Neville telling Ron about the study date while Millicent (not a naturally academic person) had asked Harry if he would be willing to tutor her in some subjects, including Potions. Harry and Neville had agreed that they would attempt their Potions homework on their own on Friday and would meet up to compare notes and quiz each other. Neville assumed that Granger had already done her homework and Millicent had done hers at the same time as Harry with help from the Potter Notes.
When Harry, who had already staked out a table in the library and was going over the impact that brewing direction and speed had on potions with Millicent, saw Granger walk in behind Neville, he immediately put away the Potter Notes. When Millicent made an inquiring hum, he hissed, "I don't want Granger to find them!"
Millicent sneered in her direction and nodded.
Neville knew Harry had good notes, but he didn't realize their usefulness, and neither had Harry until he began using them during school. The Slytherins had found out before he had thought to hide them but Harry preferred to keep them quiet until they were published.
Neville greeted the two Snakes as he sat down and took out his study materials. Granger also sat down and took out her study materials (double the amount of everyone else's) but did not constrain herself to a simple greeting.
"It's good that you three are starting your homework early, you never know how long it will take. I myself am finished-"
Neville, seeing burgeoning insult on Harry and Millicent's faces, interrupted his housemate. "Hermione, I already finished my Potions homework and I think they did, too."
"We did it yesterday," Harry confirmed.
Granger was obviously surprised. "You did? Already?"
"It wasn't that hard. Why, did you find it challenging?" Millicent asked in a faux concerned voice.
"Of course not! I just thought-"
"You thought no one else was as smart as you," Harry said in a steely voice.
"That's not what I was going to say!" Granger immediately shot back.
"Then what were you going to say?" Neville was a nice boy by all accounts, nicer than Harry, but he wasn't blind to Hermione's arrogance when it came to academics.
"Never mind," She said quickly. "What will we be doing then?"
"Quizzing each other on the reading material mostly," Harry explained. "We don't want to be embarrassed in front of everyone."
Neville stepped on Hermione's foot before she could say anything in regards to the last Potions' class and instead began quizzing Millicent. It ended up being a very enjoyable hour as it all turned into a game of who could come up with the most ridiculous question. Even Hermione relaxed and joined in the fun, though at the end she looked guilty and insisted on staying behind and "getting actual work done." None of them realized that there were other first-years near them (Ravenclaws) who had copied their game and found it very fun.
Over the next weeks, the Quizzing Hour on Saturday mornings became very popular with first-years from all houses, forcing them to find an abandoned classroom to use as it got too loud for the library. It evolved into the first round being focused on Potions while a second round covered all their classes. Few showed up every Saturday due to other clubs and interests but most took time during the week to play at least the Potions' version just to stay sharp for Snape's biweekly effort to trip students up. It also had the benefit of giving Harry the opportunity to socialize with most of his yearmates - while also improved their learning, but whatever. Some, like Ron, were in it for the competition and in the hope of stumping their rivals, but since everyone benefited anyway, the professors let them be.
Perhaps the greatest benefit of the game was the change in Granger's attitude - the game required quick, short answers that showed understanding of the material rather than just memorization, something Granger had a hard time adapting to. This carried over in how she answered questions in class which made her classmates (and professors) happier, though it still was annoying to have her hand shoot up and wave before professors even finished asking questions.
Harry continued to receive updates from Jackie regarding the Potter Notes; she had been able to track down one of his parents' closest friends, Remus Lupin, who had been his father's roommate at Hogwarts as well as one of his three best friends. Lupin had shared the prefect role with Lily and so had gotten to know her as well while they were still in school. Lupin had agreed to compile the notes, as well as adding his own from shared study sessions, in return for ten percent of the profit, though he would receive a hundred galleon advance from the publisher. Harry had owled the notes to Jackie before lunch on the last Saturday of September and they were returned to him Monday morning once Jackie had used her magicked long-lasting copies of them. These copies were then sent to Lupin to work with.
In mid-October, someone had the bright idea to dare the Weasley twins to get a picture of what was in the third-floor corridor. By the next day the twins had gotten over their trauma and were selling copies of the photo for two sickles a piece - it was very popular as people don't see giant, three-headed dogs every day. The picture of McGonagall's face when she found out what they had done sold for five sickles a copy.
McGonagall had immediately gone to scold the person she held responsible for the whole affair - the headmaster.
"Albus, I told just announcing to a group of teenagers to stay away would not work!" She began as soon as she stepped into Dumbledore's office.
"Especially not when a quarter of them are sorted based on their recklessness," Snape sneered. He and the other Heads had followed McGonagall to support her (and to watch the show, but it was mostly for the children… really, it was!).
"Oh, and yours are better? They were the ones to dared them into it!" McGonagall turned to glare at the potions' master.
"There is a muggle saying about a bridge that works well here." The man muttered quietly enough that McGonagall could pretend to not have heard him.
"Nevermind muggle sayings, Albus, do something to ensure the students' safety or we will!" Sprout insisted.
"I suppose an age line would not be out of the question," Albus murmured.
"You should have done that from the beginning!" Was McGonagall's exasperated response.
On the morning of Monday, October 28th the Daily Prophet ran an article on the upcoming release of the Potter Notes: A Hogwarts Study Guide for the Beleaguered Student. The article emphasized the importance of the Potter Notes as a memorial for the Potters as well as the fact that a portion of the proceeds would be donated to the Department of Law Enforcement. Harry's name was not mentioned anywhere in the article (something he had insisted on) and instead, the paper included quotes from people who had known the Potters. Flitwick had been the only professor quoted and he had spoken of Lily's talent for magic and how much of a loss her death was to the charms community.
Both Blaise and Pansy had begun subscribing to the Daily Prophet after the Gringotts break in just so they would not fall behind in the gossip. Theo, after borrowing the paper from Blaise and reading the article, was sending Harry a bemused look. "You're publishing them."
"Yes," Harry answered simply and continued eating his breakfast.
"I thought you didn't want to share them."
"I didn't want people who disrespect and dishonor the memory of my parents and what they stood for to use their work to get ahead. This way, the Notes are available to everyone and my parents will receive proper acknowledgment for their brilliance."
This caused Theo to blink and made the nearby Slytherins who'd been listening turn their head to look at Harry. One of them was Murk - there was always at least one prefect sitting near the first-years during meals to keep an eye on them and moderate their conversation. It would not do for Slytherins to argue or discuss confidential information where other houses could hear. It was the prefects' job to prevent first-years from making such mistakes.
This was one topic that needed to stay in-house. "Enough," Murk said quietly but firmly. "We will discuss this tonight."
Sophie immediately began a discussion on the newest fashions reported on by Witch Weekly (a very popular magazine among witches) which the other girls casually took up. Blaise and Draco began debating an upcoming Quidditch match while the others went back to breakfast. Thankfully, Harry had been sitting in his usual seat against the wall and had spoken in a quiet voice that did not carry to the other tables which meant the first-years would not be facing serious censure from the rest of their house.
These casual discussions continued throughout the rest of the day with all the first years avoiding any serious topics or mention of the Notes, except for Harry who would only say that it was something his parents would want according to people who knew them. This was supported by McGonagall, Flitwick, and Pomphrey all giving him more points than usual and being extra cheerful though misty-eyed in his presence.
That night, after dinner, the Slytherins casually exited the great hall year by year. The first-years had the ready excuse of Astronomy to leave early, the fifth and seventh years needed to study, the fourth years had an upcoming test, etc. By 7:00 pm all the Slytherins were gathered in the common room.
Though the room was exceptionally large and had a lot of seating, cushions were spread on the floor for the youngest students as there weren't enough seats to go around. The Slytherin were gathered in a large circle with most of the attention being turned towards the large fireplace, in front of which were a pair of armchairs. The two seventh year prefects, Lee and Murk, sat in these with the four other prefects positioned near them.
Lee held up his wand for quiet and began to speak. "When Harry Potter was first sorted to our house, some of us were happy, some indifferent, and some angry. Most of us saw the wisdom in waiting to see if Potter had what it takes to be one of us, if he would fit in. For the most part he has, but there are clear issues that still need to be addressed."
Lee turned to look at where the first years were sitting. "Potter's roommates, what do you have to say on the matter?"
The six boys shared uncertain looks before Draco began to speak. "Like you said, Harry mostly fits in well. He plays that muggle game of his, and reads muggle books, but other than that he fully embraces the magical world."
Theo spoke up. "The books are educational, about mathematics and muggle alchemy. There is nothing wrong with the pursuit of knowledge."
Alexander, Theo's cousin, nodded his head. "I agree. It has long been accepted that due to there being more muggles and they being more willing to experiment on each other, there are areas of knowledge that muggles are better equipped to study. Sometimes wizards would even hire muggle researchers to conduct initial studies and then go further with magic."
Murk looked interested. "Are your books applicable to our own subjects?" She asked Harry.
"According to my parents' notes, muggle mathematics forms the basis of Arithmancy and, more advanced mathematics, can be used to improve enchantment. Muggle sciences like chemistry and biology apply to transfiguration, and high-level physics can be applied to astronomy." Harry took a careful breath and continued. "I'm nowhere near that level yet, but I would like to learn the basics in case I have an interest later."
Lee nodded. "So long as your end goal continues to be a greater understanding of magic, there is no harm in studying muggle subjects. However, I will open the floor to anyone who objects."
Two girls who looked to be twins raised their wands, but only one of them spoke. "Our only objection is that this is all based on Potter's word, which we don't trust. Is he willing to show us these muggle books so that we may judge their usefulness?"
"Of course. You can make copies of them yourself." Harry didn't wait for Murk's or Lee's permission to answer.
Murk nodded. "Good. Now, this muggle game. I've heard of it. I've also heard your insistence that it will either start integrating magic or lose the interest of the students. Explain."
Harry took a moment to gather his thoughts before speaking. "I'm an active person - I love flying, but that is more about coordination and balance than physical activity. I like running and kicking, dodging and physically competing against other people. Football lets me do that; it's a fun game that can get very rough - I've broken my arm twice playing it. However, our ball is made of a muggle material that will break down due to the magical environment so we're all trying to come up with a magical alternative. I've suggested using an oversized gobstone but we haven't decided yet. In a decade, magical football will be very different from muggle football just like magical chess is very different from muggle chess." Most students appeared surprised by the last bit so Harry explained. "Muggle chess pieces don't move or talk, you have to pick them up and move them."
Draco was not the only one bemused by this piece of muggle trivia but the prefects chose to quickly move the meeting along. Murk turned to look at the rest of the house. "Anyone have any remaining issues with, uh, football?"
Most shook their heads and a few, notably Marcus Flint, looked as if they would be willing to try the game.
Murk's face took on a more serious cast. "Now we're getting to the reason for this meeting. You lot," She sent a look at the first-years. "Had made public comments before in regards to blood politics and the previous war before, but we've let them go as it was still early in the year and you hadn't had time to get used to how Slytherin house operates. However, starting now, we expect you to be less obvious." She quieted and Alexander Nott took over.
"Some of the reasonable dislike the purebloods hold for muggles and muggleborns will be covered in your Theory course so I won't repeat it. There is some reasonable dislike that won't be mentioned there that is largely political and societal in nature, as well as some not so reasonable hatred.
"Muggleborns are in effect immigrants to the Magical World, yet they, and the Ministry, refuse to acknowledge this which allows them to steadily and gradually change wizarding culture so that it more resembles muggle culture. A hundred years ago, magicals all over the isles held celebrations for the solstices and equinoxes, allowing for thousands of British wizards to participate in annual rituals that renewed our defenses and strengthened our community. Now, only the most conservative of magical countries still do this - most instead celebrate local muggle holidays like Halloween and Christmas.
"Another issue is less reasonable but still relevant - wealth. The magical world is smaller than the muggle one, and our wealth is not in gems or metal, but in enchanted objects and hoarded knowledge. Muggleborns, who do not have such wealth passed down to them from their ancestors, have long used the money they brought in from the muggle world to buy knowledge and objects and then either shared it, making it nearly worthless in an economic sense or had it destroyed due to it being dangerous. As if their muggle technology was not dangerous! Who destroyed Hiroshima? What led to the destruction of Atlantis? Muggle technology!"
Harry remembered the invisibility cloak in his trust vault and what Jackie had said about it being valuable. Harry had actually come across information on invisibility cloaks while researching invisibility spells; such cloaks stopped working after a decade, but his still worked perfectly and had been used by his father before him. It was a priceless piece of magic that any unsavory person would love to get a hold of.
Alexander was not done - he turned accusing eyes to Harry. "Now you've done the same - you released knowledge that should have been kept private to the public, decreasing its value."
Harry sat up - that was not what had happened. "I did no such thing! This was not new information - we're all learning it right now! My parents only organized it in one place! And I didn't do it to spread information, I did to spread awareness. Every time a dark lord comes along, every time magicals fight, it's always the strongest and smartest that get involved! They're the ones who die or are disabled or end up in prison! Yeah, my mum was muggleborn, but she was magical, powerful, and brilliant! And now she's gone because some blowhard decided she wasn't worthy of her wand!"
"That's not why she died!" Draco was quickly shushed by those around him but it was too late, Harry had already heard.
"What do you mean? What do you know!?" Harry demanded of the students around him. His eyes were wild behind his glasses and he refused to accept their silence. "TELL ME!"
Draco disregarded the others with a simple, "He needs to know," Before turning to Harry. "There was a prophecy, about you, that's why we're all so sure it was you and not your parents who defeated him."
Harry became numb. "Prophecies are troll shit." He said in a flat voice.
"Yeah, most of them are," Theo said with a strained laugh. "But they are also self-fulfilling. The Dark Lord, well… There is a reason Hogwarts began teaching Magical Theory ten years ago. Some magic… it should be avoided at all costs. The Dark Lord, while he was still at Hogwarts, he looked into things that… Well, the results of them did not become obvious to the rest of us until decades later. By then, it was too late, many of us had already sworn to follow him. We did our best to circumvent his orders, but, well…"
"It was hard." Lancel took over. "There's a reason I don't blame you for my dad being in Azkaban - what he did to end up there went against everything my family believed in. What you said about killing the best of us is true, but those who were closest to the Dark Lord, who held his favor, most of them were as broken as he was by the end of it."
"When he heard about the prophecy, he took it seriously and went after you. We don't know what it said, only that it scared and angered him. When you come of age you'll be allowed to enter the Hall of Prophecies in the Department of Mysteries and view the recording of the prophecy yourself." The twin who had previously kept silent now spoke - she was Flora Carrow, and her sister was Hestia.
Lee spoke up in an effort to get away from the topic. "Back to the point, Harry is correct that the information was already available for those willing to put a little effort in, but nevertheless, it is a bad precedent to set." He gave a stern look at Harry. "There are extenuating circumstances in this case that make your decision understandable but don't do it again. Knowledge for the sake of knowledge is as bad as power for the sake of power. Knowledge should be treated carefully, secreted away and only released in small pieces over a long period of time so as to prevent its misuse. We are not Ravenclaws, we know how damaging information can be."
Harry didn't actually know, but he also didn't want to share his invisibility cloak - even to have it studied by someone else - and he definitely was not sharing his father's joke book, which actually included joke spells invented by James. So, Harry nodded his head in understanding, though others mistook it for agreement.
AN: I didn't expect to address the reasoning behind the war so early, but here it is. Notice the hatred for muggle blood was not explained - Theory will also address the dangers of inbreeding. As for knowledge sharing - I don't like to share, especially when I'm met with expectation rather than gratitude. All wizards need is magic, so magical advances are more valuable than gold.