A/N: For those who have commented about the unreality of giving child abusers money – I think I mentioned that even in the first Harry Potter book, very little of what happened PRE Hogwarts could be listed as Child Abuse. Not that the way that the Dursleys treated Harry was good. But Harry was not a shy, withdrawn, abused boy in canon. Even in Chapter 2 of the first book Harry had far too much of a sense of humor and ability to give his cousin a few verbal knocks without being punished for the environment to be seen as emotionally stifling. He was mostly ignored. Being required to wear second hand clothes – I'm no psychologist but it seems more indifference than abuse to me.

A lot of the "abuse" that Harry supposedly suffered before Hogwarts is described in fanfiction of various types. Nothing wrong with those tropes – but I'm not using them in this fic at least. Harry has never been whipped, he does not get punished for better grades, he hasn't been systematically starved – these are all things which are fairly reasonable inferences as a possibility but never specifically stated by Rowling.

The REALLY horrible treatment by the Dursleys started AFTER he went to Hogwarts.

The one exception is how Vernon allowed Marge to treat Harry – her not calling Ripper back after Harry accidentally stepped on the dog's paw until after midnight – that as abuse. But that seemed to be a very rare occurrence for her to visit. And I would note that Petunia rather disliked Marge in canon – even though she tried to hide it. Mostly, it was Vernon allowing his sister to get away with anything. Marge Dursley is, perhaps, the second most despicable person outside of Voldemort and his followers (Umbridge being the first) in the whole set of Harry Potter books. It takes little imagination to consider her the Muggle version of Dolores Umbridge. Making her Umbridge's niece seems … not an unreasonable path. Marge will pretty much disappear from Harry's life … the Interlude below explains.

So excuse me if I am not treating the Dursleys as the scum of the earth. Unlikable, disagreeable, but having deep seated issues at the core of why: It seems to me to be a more accurate rendition of the Dursleys – Pre-Hogwarts – from Canon.

And so I give you:

Dursley Interlude:

Vernon Dursley looked at the house he had driven up to and sighed. He loved his sister – but dealing with her could be a chore and a half. At least what he brought would make her more agreeable. He had only told her, when he called, that he had to speak about an important matter.

He trudged his way to the door. Before he even got there, he heard his sister's dog, Ripper, barking. Her voice could also be heard, "Settle down, settle down. It's alright, Rippey-poo. Mummy's here." Vernon rolled his eyes even as the door opened. "Vernon! You made it."

"Yes, Marge. How are you?"

"Everything is doing well. The last litters have been sold and I'm nearly ready to breed the next batch." Marge motioned for Vernon to come in. He did so, ignoring the bulldog which tracked him as he came inside.

The dog was shockingly disagreeable for being a bulldog – most British Bulldogs were quite pleasant and non-aggressive.

"Well, I am happy to hear things are going well. I've come to take care of some family business." Vernon sat down at the table.

"Would you like a cuppa? Or perhaps a wee dram?" Marge asked pleasantly.

"No, thank you. I'll be driving once again soon and I best not." She sat down across from her brother. "Anyway, do you remember Da's stories about his father and sister?"

Marge's face became disagreeable. "I'd rather not think about it."

Vernon nodded. "Well, perhaps this will change your mind: While his father his dead, our disowned Aunt is not. I found out that she was recently put in prison for what she did to Da', among other things."

Marge's face took on a surprised look. "All these years later?"

Vernon nodded. "She was found to be subverting things in her government job. A background investigation brought it up."

"Will wonders ever cease?" Marge asked rhetorically.

Vernon grinned a little. "Not really." He reached into his pocket and pulled out the cheque. He put it on the table and pushed it over to her.

Marge's eyes got large as she read the amount. "What's this?"

"This is half what the court awarded to Da' for what she did to him. I got the other half. And any money she had left after paying this and a few penalties was put into trust for Dudley's future. Twasn't much after the fines – but it's being invested by a right canny investment banker. I just came to make sure you got your part, too." Vernon had no interest in making Marge interested in how much money Dudley and his children would eventually get.

Marge contemplated the cheque and plans started filtering through her mind. Finally, she consciously put it aside. "Well, I think that calls for a brandy in celebration."

Vernon sighed – Marge liked her brandy a bit much. He was fond of a good whisky himself, but not when he needed to be driving. "We'll have to get together to celebrate when we both have the time."

Marge nodded. She'd just have her brandy after her brother left. "And how is the family? How's little Dudley-poo doing?"

"Fine, fine. His grades are improving. That school wasn't doing a good job so we got him a tutor. He's also been put on a food plan – the doctor found a few things. But he's been getting better."

Marge scoffed. "He's just a proper-sized boy. Not like that cousin of his. Has he still been making trouble?"

Vernon sighed. This was why he needed to visit his sister without the family. "Actually, a few things have changed with the boy."

Marge looked suspicious. "Like what?"

"You know how we said his parents were unemployed layabouts?"

Marge nodded.

"We found out that was because his mother's husband came from money. And instead of working, they were helping the government with some top secret stuff. We weren't told because it was so secret and we still don't know the details." Vernon had no interest in trying to explain that the freakishness their Aunt was guilty of had any good uses. He didn't have the time or energy.

Marge was surprised. "Then why was he left like a sack of potatoes on the porch? What about money to raise him?"

Vernon said, "Apparently, the man who did that was a dotty nutter. The boy's godfather, who had been falsely accused and put into prison, was recently free when the real culprit was found and interrogated. Very hush-hush. Like MI-6 hush-hush. He comes from money too. And so when he took the boy for his inheritance, the lack of a stipend was brought up by the bankers. They paid a lump sum for what we should have been getting."

Marge was astounded. "So the parents weren't worthless?"

Vernon shook his head. "Secret stuff. But they were trying to make Britain safe." He then added, "Also, Petunia's family had a trust estate as well. Because of certain inheritance rules, the boy's mother was the first to qualify and he qualified too. With THAT inheritance, completely separate from his father's money, the boy paid for Dudley's tuition for Smeltings – in full.

"Pet has a cousin near us as well. Her father's brother survived the war and they happened to move to Little Whinging as well. Because they're from the same family, the boy paid for the cousin's tuition as well. All with his godfather's permission. The Godfather insisted on paying for the boy's things. His parents already paid for his tuition in full to for the private school they went to. Part of the rules for the boy's father's family that they have to go to that school to inherit.

"All in all, we're going to have a much better Yule season and New Year. With Dudley's tuition paid, the money from the court, and the money from the boy's father's estate – we're close to 200,000 pounds in the black. And that's separate from the 75,000 for you."

Vernon pulled another card from his pocket and pushed it over. "This is the Barcley's Manager for Special Accounts." Vernon had no desire to put his sister in Diagon Alley – and so he had asked the Slipknife fellow for a regular banker for his sister to invest with. Gringotts had a relationship with Barclay's and this was the name they gave him. "I know you love breeding your dogs, but if you want to invest and perhaps enjoy a few of the finer things, this bloke will help take care of you. Make you future years a bit more leisurely in recompense for the years of work you've done."

Although Vernon actually loved working (this would surprise the people that he normally worked with if they knew), he knew his sister preferred an easier life. Done right, this might make his need to worry about her future a thing of the past.

"Well. Christmas will be much more pleasant. Perhaps I should come to your house for the holiday."

Vernon's face took on a brief pinched look before he relaxed. "Let me coordinate with the boy's godfather. We all know you and the boy don't get along. If he's going to take the boy, then there should be no problem."

Marge nodded. She, perhaps, hadn't treated the boy well in the past, hating to see her brother's good nature taken advantage of, but it seems it wasn't the boy's fault at all. She could ensure that she didn't see the boy again for her brother's sake. She might never like him, but she could respect that his parents weren't the bad sort that they had thought.

The Greatest Minister for Magic in History Part 12

It was November 30, 1990.

John Major had just completed his second day in the big chair, or nearly so.

He had replaced the Iron Lady as Prime Minister. Luckily, her loss of the position had not ousted their Party from leadership. He was looking forward to a quieter weekend before the next major item crossed his desk.

His phone sounded. "Yes?"

His secretary's voice came through. "Your 8:00 appointment just called to confirm that he would be here."

He was confused. "My 8:00? Did I have an 8:00?"

"If you look at your schedule, sir?"

Major did so and right there, in his own handwriting, was the notation on it. An A. Weasley, Advisor to Her Majesty's Government on Matters Special and Secret. He shrugged. "Thank you, Mary. I'm certain I can handle this one. Why don't you go home?"

"Yes, Sir. Thank you. I will be here tomorrow for the half-day."

"Good. See you then."

The Prime Minister looked through his notes and could not find any information on his 8:00. At 7:59, the guard announced a Mr. Arthur Weasley and a Mr. Cornelius Fudge.

He stood to welcome the two well-dressed men. "Welcome, Welcome. Mr. Weasley and Mr. Fudge. What can I do for you today?"

John Major was not emotionally prepared for what his visitors told him. That the man, Fudge, led a completely separate British government for a completely insulated people was a shock. He was greatly relieved to find the contact man, Weasley, quite sensible and proper. He was also informed of the purpose of the odd picture on his wall.

His visitors explained that this was the method used in the past to contact his office, but the phone was decided as a more viable option for the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister was quite happy about the change.

Major had remembered an odd comment from the outgoing Thatcher and realized that this was the meeting she had referred to.

All in all, as uncomfortable as it made the man, he would have been relived to know how much easier he had it than previous Prime Ministers.

He hoped he would not need to meet with these people again, or at least that there would be no emergencies in that sector. He had enough to deal with as regards the economy.

Cornelius Fudge made his way to the meeting room.

Truthfully, he was almost cursing at the need to interrupt his Yule holiday, but he had set the deadline for a plan to take care of Potions at Hogwarts and he would be Merlin-damned if he didn't see it through.

The Minister entered the conference room at the Ministry with fifteen minutes to spare. He said hello briefly to those who were already present. The Potions Master in question had already arrived as well – he was sitting along. His face was a stoic mask.

Glancing around, the Minister saw that Dumbledore had not arrived.

Deciding he needed to get a few things clear, the Minister casually made his way over.

"Potions Master Snape." The Minister's voice was neutral.

"Minister Fudge."

"I would like a private word with you."

The man looked at the Minister and nodded. With an efficient flick of his wand, the man set up a charm. "Those listening will only hear a buzz. Why did you wish to speak to me?"

The Minister sat down. "I think that you are curious about something. And you have something to ask me."

Severus Snape peered a bit at the Minister and said, "If you found my record so disagreeable, why did you not force me to be summarily dismissed?"

The Minister gave a small, victorious smile. "Yes. I knew this question would come to you. And I have an answer: Someone who's word I trusted spoke to me of mitigating factors."

Snape looked at the Minister. "And what were these … mitigations?"

The Minister nodded. "Perhaps you can keep this to yourself?" Severus nodded in reply. "Even from Dumbledore?" Startled, Snape nodded again.

"My source described you as perhaps the most ill-used wizard in the history of Magical Britain. Born of a pureblooded witch and abusive Muggle, your teenage years were a trial of endurance from being bullied by a certain group of fellow students who were perhaps treated with too much leeway by the Hogwarts staff. While I am certain that you gave as good as you got, four against one are not favorable odds. The instigator of this bullying found it offensive that you were friends with a girl that he fancied and this instigator was rather immature and pampered.

"This boy's friends included another pureblood whose family never taught him proper decorum, only their innate superiority. And although he rejected those values, he certainly took advantage of the unspoken influence his name generated. Another one of these boys, due to an illness he had no control over, was easily led by these others such that he didn't want to risk standing up against behaviour he knew to be wrong. And the fourth – the fourth was a rather pathetic wizard who also used the notoriety of being friends with these others to see other made to look as pathetic as he felt."

The Minister could almost see the man trying to maintain his calm.

"And then, an extremely humiliating attack caused you to lash out at this friend and the one bright spot in your life was lost. And, seeing this former friend eventually become close to and marry one of your tormentors certainly pushed you into the camp of one powerful wizard who used every opportunity to manipulate people into following him. Perhaps his people helped to take care of that abusive Muggle who sired you."

The Potion Master's face was frozen as the Minister explained.

"And then, service to this powerful wizard, you accidentally caused his eyes to move toward your former friend – whose friendship you still regretted the loss of. Trying to prevent her death, you went to this wizard's sworn enemy to try to prevent her death. And HE used to for HIS own ends; and forced you into vows which constrain you to this day. How am I doing?"

The Potion Master looked at the Minister with a fear which was barely hidden. "You are remarkably … well informed." The Potion Master desperately tried to conceive of where the man got his information but was coming up blank.

The Minister nodded. "Well, here's what I know: 1) The man who tormented you grew up. He then died protecting your former friend. He's been dead for ten years – get over it, man. 2) The secondary tormentor spent 9 years in Azkaban for a crime he didn't commit. Take comfort in that he at least received some punishment – even though he skated on almost getting you killed as a teenager. 3) The third tormentor still suffers from an affliction which marginalizes him. And unless something changes, he will never be able to harm you. Indeed, he was the most innocent of the four boys. 4) The fourth tormenter, the most wretched of them, is in Azkaban. You are not.

"So it's time to grow up. Forget about maintaining your position as a spy. You do no one any service from the appearance of supporting your former master's viewpoint. While he is not fully dead – steps are being taken. Between me and you, by the time your nemesis's son arrives to Hogwarts, the matter will be dealt with. Do not tell Dumbledore – I don't need the man's interference. You'll see the sign things are taken care of on September 1 of next year. This will free you of the vows you were forced to take.

"I was told that you have the capacity to be the bravest man in Great Britain. Your intelligence far outstrips the majority of the people around you. You have never set one foot in Azkaban – although that certainly could have happened. You were tortured for ten years by various people. Well, you've tortured others for ten years yourself. The scales are balanced, in their own way. So," the Minister leaned down and looked directly into the man's eyes, "grow … the … fuck … up."

Snape paused and then gave a curt nod.

"If you continue the way you were, I'll use my office to bury you. I sympathize with you – but don't think that won't stop me from crucifying you if I think it necessary."

The Minister stood and turned away. Just as he did, the man asked, "Who? Who told you of these things?"

The Minister turned his head and thought a moment. "I won't say his name. Yet. But he is known by the moniker of: The Lone Traveler."

Snape's face took on a startled look even as he dropped to Muffliato charm.

Amelia Bones, Augusta Longbottom, and Albus Dumbledore all watched the Minister and Severus Snape converse. Dumbledore attempted to use a supersensory charm to listen in, but a mild buzzing was all that came through. He did see the discomfort that Severus felt at the conversation.

He would have to speak to Severus later about what the man spoke of.

The Minister made his way to the seat that was set aside for him, even as the Board of Governors got the meeting underway.

The Head of the Board got the meeting started and ensured all were present. "Before we get to the matter at hand, does anyone have anything to say?"

Surprisingly Severus Snape stood and waited to be recognized.

The Head of the Board said, "Potions Master. You have something to say?"

The man nodded. "Yes. Thank you for the opportunity. I would like to take this moment to acknowledge my shortcomings as the Hogwarts Potions Professor. While I may be quite knowledgeable, I was a poor choice to teach those new to the subject as I have no patience for those who do not already have a base in the subject. As a result, my teaching habits were not the best way to ensure that the subject was properly taught. I would also like to point out that my personal history does not lend itself to a professional view of the different houses. As a result, besides limiting myself to Years Five and above for Potions Tuition, I am also hereby resigning as the Head of House for House Slytherin. I shall accept the reduction of pay which this will necessitate. I recommend Professor Aurora Sinastra, as the other former Slytherin on Hogwarts Staff, to be the Slytherin Head of House. The stipend for that position should be redirected to her, once she accepts and is approved. I shall, until the end of the 1992-1993 academic year, ensure all penalties and awards of points from my position are put through the different Heads of House to ensure there is no bias on my part, should I maintain my position." He then sat down.

There was a hubbub among those in the room. Professor McGonagall was looking at her colleague with surprise, almost shock. The Headmaster was speechless. The Potions Master sat stoically.

The Board Members were discussing this unexpected statement quietly. Finally the Head got the room back into order. "Potions Master Snape. Your acceptance of responsibility and recognition of your personal limitations are admirable. We shall take your resignation under advisement. You and the rest of the staff shall have our final decision on this matter before the return feast on January 3, 1991. Now, to the matter at hand."

Not wanting to lose the services of the Potions Master, regardless of his prickly personality, the Board had taken the Minister's suggestions. It was noted that the man did teach the upper levels extremely well. His shortcomings came during the earlier years.

A Potions Mistress had been hired for years one through four. The new Potions Mistress had reviewed the texts that were used and suggested an additional primer that should have been included for new students to Potions. It would explain proper safety procedures as well as basic ingredient preparation techniques. She proposed a month for each class to bring the current students up to speed.

After reviewing the proposed text, Severus Snape – once again surprising those present – volunteered to pay the 600 Galleons that providing the current students the next text would cost. It would be included on the First Year lists from that point on.

Severus Snape had done much during that particular meeting of the Board of Governors to dispel the idea that he wished to destroy to future of Potions in Magical Britain.

The only one who seemed discombobulated by the man's actions was, in fact, the Headmaster.

Later, when the Headmaster quizzed him on his change of heart, Severus Snape would only say that he was no longer the immature wizard he had been when hired at Hogwarts. He would not volunteer any more information. He even refused to explain the conversation he had had with the Minister for Magic.

The Minister reviewed the proposed bills that he had painstakingly put together over the past five months.

He had taken the research that he had done, the conversations that he had had, and the various tests that he had witnessed, and put together a bill which would, if it passed, ensure a large amount of money would be put back into the economy.

The title of the bill really indicated its central thrust: The Magical Britain Economic Resurgence Bill. The secondary bill, a much harder sell to be certain, was the Marriage Health Act.

The entire purpose of the bill was to find those vaults that were currently sitting in statis below the surface of Gringotts Bank and to get as many as possible into circulation.

It required that any Muggleborn invited to Hogwarts be given the recommendation for a Magical Inheritance test. It acknowledged that many considered Muggleborn were, in fact, Squib-born and that vaults that might be dormant could be available again.

To satisfy those who would not want to accept squib-born wizards into their family, the bill stated that any wizard or witch who was found to be related to a currently active family could NOT be told of their relatives without the permission of the currently recognized Magical head of the family. Gringotts would automatically inform any living magical relatives of the existence of a newly found relative and ask for permission to inform the newly found wizard or witch. If permission was not received, they would only be told that they were, in fact, descended from squibs but that there was no inheritance to be achieved at that time.

Gringotts, however, keep a record and, if the current family died out, the newly recognized family member would be notified.

To prevent inadvertent interbreeding due to a squibborn not knowing exactly who they were related to, any magical couple who wished to marry was required to test through Gringotts for consanguinity. This was the Marriage Health Act.

No marriage could take place between those who were second cousins or closer by blood without the approval of a head of family. NO marriage could take place between first cousins or siblings.

Even purebloods had their limits, as hard as that was to find. (Sirius Black had pushed for a ban on second cousins – it would have made his parents' marriage legally impossible and he felt the Black family already too inbred.)

If the couple already each had Inheritance tests completed, these records could be used as an alternate to a consanguinity test.

The third bill that the Minister wanted to get approved was the Magical Education Preparation Bill.

With so many Muggleborns being found as descended from squibs, the idea was to allow the squib parents and siblings or squib guardians to visit the school one time, at least, so that they could relate to what their magical relative would experience. The sibling must be at least old enough to start Hogwarts the next year. The squibs could not be forced to see the castle.

The trip would occur, at the earliest, the May before the Squib-born wizard or witch was to begin attending. The Hogwarts express would take one trip each year to bring the relatives to Hogwarts and then return them to London.

The Minister knew how much damage the refusal to even allow them to see the place could do. Petunia Dursley, in his mind, deserved AT LEAST the chance to see Hogwarts one time.

Also included in this bill was the mandate that Hogwarts educate any Muggle-raised wizard or witch for one year on Magical traditions and etiquette. The Muggle Studies elective, as required by ICW mandate under the Statute of Secrecy, was also ordered to be updated to reflect changing Muggle values, society, and technology.

The Muggle Studies professor was to undergo the same educational summer that Arthur Weasley had experienced to ensure that they were knowledgeable about current Muggle things.

The Department of the Interior was to provide the personnel to ensure that the Muggle Studies professor was knowledgeable about current Muggle affairs and history.

Ashlee, his niece, was looking forward to being that tutor.

The Minister had, by himself of course, negotiated the cut for the Ministry (and his own account as well as the Accounts Manager) for the mandated Inheritance Tests and consanguinity tests. The Inheritance test would remain 10 Galleons. The Consanguinity tests would be 15.

The Director of Gringotts had agreed as they were looking forward to getting quiet vaults active again. The increase in business was worth the two Galleons they would lose per Inheritance test and the three they would lose on the Consanguinity tests.

The Minister was just as happy to open another income stream into his accounts without taking the steps of "accepting donations" (taking bribes). The Traveler had warned him about the inadvisability of such.

The liberties he took in achieving commissions would have been considered corruption in the Muggle world. This was not, however, the Muggle world. The Magical world had a different ethos. Using your position to achieve financial success was almost expected.

Magicals were not particularly altruistic and no one really expected them to be. As long as you paid taxes on your income, the Magical government didn't really care where you made money. And Cornelius was very scrupulous about declaring income.

If he had accepted bribes, this would have been much, much harder to do.