Chapter 25: Hogwarts' Representatives

*Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any characters therein

Sunday Morning, Breakfast

Harry stood outside the Great Hall after changing into his nicest formal robes. He had black dress trousers and dress shoes, a white long-sleeved button up shirt with a black vest on and buttoned up to the top. His over robe was a rich, deep green. He was startled while dressing by a blur of orange passing out of the corner of his eye, but relaxed when he realized it was only Crookshanks.

The cat looked like a hero back from war. He was scruffy and had a few pieces missing, but there was just something about his that made everyone love him. Harry gave him a scritch behind the ears and left the tower, preparing himself for the full assembly today.

He got to a hallway right off from the Great Hall when his isolated walk was finally interrupted. "Mr. Potter, I see you clean up well when you put in some effort." Severus was leaning against the wall waiting for Lucius, but delighted in finding the brat alone too. He gave the teen a long once over, liking what he saw. He'd decided to put the guilt out of his mind. He had a bondmate, and that was more than he'd ever thought he'd receive from another. He would not touch the young man until he understood the nature of the bonds, but until then...well, looking wasn't illegal, now was it?

Harry looked over at the dark man, salivating at the look of him in a few less layers of robes. "You as well, Professor. Ah..." He realized he'd probably just insulted the man and tried to backtrack. "I mean, uh, that you clean up well, that is."

Severus smirked at him. "I understood, Harry. You did not hurt my sensibilities by throwing my comment back in my face." Severus noticed the boy had a smudge of dust on his cheek and moved forward slowly. "May I?" He asked as his hand lifted.

Harry wasn't sure what was happening, but he couldn't stop staring into those eyes. Depths without end. He purred when Severus' hand touched the skin of his cheek and softly wiped something away. Harry whined softly when he pulled away, and surprise lit Severus' feature.

The dark man took a step back and addressed the teen. "You'd best get into the hall, breakfast will be ending soon."

Harry nodded, but didn't move, so Severus placed a hand on his back, propelling him forward. The spark that jumped between them lit both their bodies with desire. Harry didn't know what else to do on his own so he ran away. While he was not a blushing virgin by any means…this was something new and he had no idea what to do with himself.

He walked into the Great Hall and smiled as he saw Miles sitting between Hermione and Ron. "Hey Miles, how have you been?"

Miles grinned at his cousin's friend around a mouthful of French toast. He chewed and swallowed quickly and said, "Good, Mr. Harry."

Harry ruffled his hair from across the table before sitting. "Just Harry, Miles."

Miles nodded, they'd been working on getting Miles to call him Harry for a few weeks now, but it was still a work in progress, the boy was much too polite sometimes.

Harry sat at his normal place at the table and grabbed a glass of juice. He was nervous and excited that Hogwarts would finally be getting the leaders she deserved, and only sighed when Hermione set a plate before him. "Eat. You know how you get, Harry."

He sighed and nibbled at the fruit on his plate. Hermione continued glaring so he shoved a piece of French toast into his mouth to make her happy. She gave him a nod and returned to her conversation with Miles about his Charms class. Ron stood and made his way to the back of the room to talk to his father at the table that had been set up for the few outsiders who had been invited for the meeting. Oddly enough Neville was in the back with his Gran as well.

Harry shrugged, knowing he'd find out why soon enough and returned to his breakfast. He ate quietly, content in listening to his Pride enjoy a shenanigans free breakfast until a high-pitched squeal of his name stole his attention once more. He tensed at first until he could place the voice. He knew there were many children in the castle and all of them knew him very well, but he had to convince himself that it was only Draco. Tell himself that disaster had not befallen the hatchlings in the Chamber.

Harry turned on his bench just in time to catch a run-away Draco with Prongslet under his arm. He lifted the boy into his arms as he stood, and looked for Lucius. He could feel the eyes of the students and staff on him, but brushed it off.

He smirked as he saw Lucius, Remus and Severus in the Great Hall doorway, all three looking very dapper and matching with their respective Houses. Severus was wearing his customary black, though Harry thought he detected a glint of silver and green embroidery here and there. Lucius was resplendent in dark blue robes, a single design of bronze at the hem of them. Remus had a set of burgundy robes on, gold etching the bottom. Arthur walking over to join the four men. He wore black dress robes like Severus, though his were decorated with yellow embroidery.

Harry tilted his head with a smile and a nod as he noticed all of their robes had a similar cut. It seemed Hogwarts was already taking care of her men. He looked at the chattering little one in his arms and nuzzled his nose against the boy's head. "Good morning, Hatchling. How was your first night in your rooms?"

Draco bounced in his big brother's arms, "Good. I fell asleep in my bed, but I had a bad dream, so I sleeped with Daddy after that. Then this mornin' I met Papa and...and den we got dressed and came to see Uncle Sev and you!"

Harry was confused. "Papa? I didn't know you had a Papa?" He was careful of his phrasing with the child.

Draco grinned. "Uh-huh! Daddy said 'Lizbet's Daddy can be Bay's Daddy even though he's not Bay's real Daddy, sooooooo that mean you Papa is my Papa! And he has to be a Papa 'cuz Daddy is already my Daddy."

Harry knew he was missing something, but for the life of him couldn't figure out what it was. Thinking of something he asked Draco, "Is your Papa here, little Dragon?"

Draco nodded. "Uh-huh! He's dere! Right next to Daddy..." He said it as if it should be obvious, and to Draco it was. The little boy pointed to Remus and waved when the man turned his head when he felt eyes on him. He could see Harry's flabbergasted expression and shrugged as if to say "He's three, what can you do?"

Harry resolved to ask Remus about all this later, but he could feel the little boy's stomach grumble and sat with him. A muggle booster seat with a built in sticking charm, mostly likely brought by Winky from the Chamber, popped into view on the seat next to Harry and he strapped the excitable toddler into it. Hermione had already fixed a child friendly plate of finger foods for him and they all enjoyed his company.

Hermione was careful to apply a household charm she knew that would repel stains from cloth temporarily, but did the motions underneath the table so she didn't scare the child. He was already slightly comfortable with Hermione, but, with the exception of Heather, women were definitely not his favorite people to be with.

They chatted for some time, and Draco greeted Ron with enthusiasm when he returned, remembering the funny boy from before. Harry especially loved watching Ron's spit-take when Draco had to explain, again, about Remus's new name.

Clink. Clink. Clink.

The student body looked to the Head Table to see Professor Flitwick standing on a pedestal to address the school. He cleared his throat as the students settled down.

"As you all know, changes have come to Hogwarts. I will not go into the why, I believe our Ms. Granger has covered that sufficiently. Today we look to a future that is bright and prosperous. For too long Hogwarts has been divided from within, and today that stops. I understand that there have been many things going on at Hogwarts that were beyond our control or understanding, but now we must unite. I will not pretend to have known about the goings on at Hogwarts, quite the opposite is true. I have known about the events within the Gryffindor House for only hours more than you all have."

The students were surprised to hear this, but quickly settled again.

"Hogwarts is your home. Your House is your family. Those are the words we have made strides to live by, but now, I challenge you. Do not limit your family to your House. Families are large and reaching. They are always growing, and so you should as well. Now, if the ones in charge of this change would come forward to explain the changes to us."

Harry looked up and down the Gryffindor table silently signaling whom he wanted on the dais with him. Hermione, Heather, Ron, and Neville rose while Colin used the distraction to slip into the shadows, just in case. Hermione freed Draco from the booster seat and held him as they walked to the Head Table.

Ron took lead over the explanations as the other three would be presenting representatives.

"Hogwarts is our family, that is true, but it's a very big family. Luckily I have a bit of practice with those." The students laughed with him. "One thing I've learned is that everyone has their own perspective, and everyone's opinion is important. So, the new structure to Hogwarts will reflect this. As you've probably felt in the last little while, the castle's magic is thick and rich now. It has already accepted and welcomed her representatives, so today we will introduce you to the adult representatives of Hogwarts, then they will announce their choice for a student representative."

Ron looked at the others nervously. "Okay, well, sorry, I missed a step." The students laughed again and Ron ran his hand through his hair nervously. "We have a system inside Gryffindor House, and we've adopted something similar. There will also be two Champions, one student and one adult, so I guess I'll give her the floor."

The students look around curiously. Her? Her who?

The energy in the room built with tension as everyone whispered and tried to figure out just what Ron had meant, then relaxed slightly as they felt a warm energy flow over them. It moved through the room, stirring the air until finally swirling around one person in particular.

Lady Longbottom stood at the back of the room, holding herself with proper grace and decorum as the air around her moved and swirled.

Ron, being the announcer, spoke once more. "You are charged with overseeing the castle, protecting her in the political realm, and settling any disputes among the House Representatives. You are the voice of wisdom and reason, and are without prejudice or bias. Do you accept?"

"I, Augusta Miriam Longbottom, former Heir Regent to the House of Longbottom do accept this task." Augusta Longbottom made no long speech, nor took long to think. She was needed, and that was enough. She would do her duty, and if it helped others, so much the better.

A feeling of warmth and love enveloped the older woman as she sat, and Hogwarts turned her magic to her next Champion. It moved again, touching each child in its wake until it reached it's next Champion.

Harry took a step forward so he stood alone on the platform, swaying in the warm caress of the castle's magic. His face was neutral as he listened, though inside he was thanking the castle for her approval.

Again, Ron spoke. "You are charged with overseeing the castle, protecting her in the physical realm, and settling any disputes among the Student Representatives. You are the voice of wisdom and reason, and are without prejudice or bias. You will protect the castle's children as your own. Do you accept?"

Harry fell to one knee at her words, so like that night so many years ago. He knew what honor had been bestowed upon him. He knew he could do the job. He had been for years, but now he could do it for the betterment of the entire school, not just his Pride.

"I, Harry James Potter, do accept this charge on my honor. For Hogwarts."

With his acceptance came a glowing white light surrounding the boy. Many gasped, wondering what Hogwarts was doing to their friend but soon realized it was not Harry but the floor before him that was glowing.

There, on the floor was a sword with a small piece of parchment lying on it. It read only:

Take this, my Champion, that it may serve you in time of need.

Harry was very surprised to see the Sword of Gryffindor again. When Harry summoned the sword from the Sorting Hat in his second year the sword defaulted to his ownership, just as a magical beast became property of the wizard to slay it. Dumbledore, however, saw no need for a mere tool to have such a powerful weapon and had locked it away from the world. Harry was in awe that Hogwarts had seen fit to return it to him. He stood and conjured a rig to hold the sword to his hip until he could get something made.

Harry stepped forward as he felt Hogwarts encourage him to do. He looked to Neville and nodded his head to his Gran. Neville grinned and went to her, escorting her to a chair on the dais. "Hogwarts is home to many of the Founders' Heirs. We are all in Gryffindor due to circumstances beyond our control, but we stand by our school, not only our Houses. Each of us has chosen a representative and offered it up to Hogwarts. She has approved our choices. So, now, I would like to call up the adult Representative and have them announce the student they would like to work with."

Harry lifted a hand and gestured to the Slytherin table. "As Slytherin's Magical heir I present to you Potions Master Severus Snape, representing the Slytherin House." Cheers and claps were politely distributed around the room, though many were surprised to see that the Gryffindors were not the most somber about the choice.

Severus walked to the Head Table with his general dramatic flair, turning sharply when he reached Harry and Augusta. He bowed to them before turning to the student body. "I would ask Blaise Zabini to step forward."

Blaise had to be pushed from his seat to get him to move. He was astounded. Of all the Syltherins and he was chosen? Blaise stood before his Head of House, trying to get his brain to work right.

"Blaise Alexander Zabini, do you accept this role as Student Representative of Slytherin House?"

He nodded before saying, "I accept." The Syltherins cheered their Housemate and the two moved to the back of the platform. Harry gestured to Hermione to announce her representative.

Hermione stepped forward with Draco in her arms and bounced him, whispering "Look there's Daddy." She raised her voice just after to say, "As Heiress of Ravenclaw's line I call forward Lucius Malfoy."

A collective gasp of surprise rang out through the Great hall. Whispers of "Death Eater!" were heard. But Lucius kept his head held high.

He walked forward to grumblings of unease from the House of Ravenclaw and when he got to the dais he bowed to Hermione before taking Draco from the girl. "First," he addressed the students, "I would like to say something. Like Hermione, I was a displaced Ravenclaw when sorted. My family pressured me to accept no less than Slytherin House, and so I argued the Hat into my sorting, not its own. Just because I was not in the House does not mean I think any less logically than you all. This is a time of change and acceptance, and I ask you accept the choices of someone much wiser than us all: Hogwarts. Now, saying that, I need you to accept something else. Hogwarts has given me two charges to accept. Elizabeth Zabini-Mkapa and Luna Lovegood. Please step forward."

Harry and Hermione exchanged a look, but Harry shrugged. Hogwarts had accepted, and who could fault her. Both girls were exemplary Ravenclaws in different ways. However, Hogwarts knew that one of the charges would be indisposed in a few months for some time and thought ahead to find a replacement who would work well with her.

The two girls made their way up the stairs to the platform and Harry reached down to help Elizabeth. Her gait was a little off, but she was getting better at walking normally with the concealment charm on her belly. Her glamour was holding, though, which was great for the girl.

Lucius bowed to each girl and started the ritual, "Elizabeth Belladonna Zabini-Mkapa, do you accept the responsibility of student representative for as long as you are capable?" He asked with a look in his eye that said his wording was purposeful and he knew her secret.

"I accept," she said in a soft voice, her dark eyes glinting in the light.

Luna, Elizabeth's antithesis, was bouncing with excitement as Lucius turned to her. "Luna Celeste Lovegood, do you accept the responsibility of student representative for as long as you are capable?"

"I do!' She said, and skipped off to the back of the stage with Elizabeth in tow.

Neville stepped forward, the Hufflepuff table next. "As an Heir of Hufflepuff I present Arthur Weasley as the representative of Hufflepuff."

The Weasley patriarch began his speech similarly to Lucius as he heard some grumbles. "Just as Lucius shed some light on the past, so will I. The tradition of Weasleys being sorted into Gryffindor was not started with me. I was sorted into Hufflepuff with my wife many, many years ago. Madame Sprout can attest I'm sure." Pomona gave a nod of agreement and the students settled down again.

"Hannah Maria Abbott, step forward please."

Hannah gaped similarly to Blaise and was also nudged forward by her Housemates. She reached the dais in record time and relaxed as Arthur gave her a smile. "Hannah Maria Abbott, do you accept the task of student representative for the House of Hufflepuff?"

"I...I do—accept." She stuttered slightly.

They stepped out of the way together and Ron gave his father a hug in congratulations. Heather took her spot in the center. "As one of Gryffindor's Heir I call Remus Lupin forward for House Gryffindor."

Remus walked to the platform to the cheers of the older students. They remembered him as a kind teacher who was good at his job and fairly unbiased to the House system. As he climbed the stairs he met Heather and Harry with a hug. Harry, unable to leave the moment too somber, whispered to him, "Father of my heart...or should I call you Papa, now?"

Remus chuckled and whispered back, "None of that from you." They smiled and Remus went to the middle of the platform. He stood before the student body and Remus lifted his choice up to Hogwarts, as all the other men had done before calling out the student's name.

Remus took a breath.

Thanks for reading!

Shanyaya: In your review you asked: "What can really happen to the Griff that already left Hogwart? What about Percy?" Check out "No Rest for the Weary" and you will see some mention of this soon. After that it will come up in this story, but not for a while. Percy may or may not come up in particular, but Bill and Charlie will at a future point.

MsQueenWitch: Your review from Ch. 23 Magical Bonds said, "ummm.. you didn't explain what does this have to do with the price of tea in China.. why did his conversation start.. when.. since it is a flashback.. you say harry is the alpha male so shouldn't he remember the convo even if he is taking potions since he remembers everything else" I tried to send you a PM regarding the questions in your review, but got no reply, so for anyone else who was confused on the timeline and purpose of the last 2 or so chapters here is my reasoning for the last two chapters:

At a few points in the story I have made reference to soulmates/a bond existing between Harry and Severus. This is the beginning of getting that out in the open as Harry is not an expert in flashback takes place Saturday afternoon/evening after leaving Flitwick in the main hall. The rest of the chapter happens Sunday morning after Harry awakens but before this particular chapter's meeting. While Harry is the Alpha of the Pride, he is not infallible. He can be hurt and has been already when he was stabbed, and all throughout No Rest for the Weary. Potions affect him like anyone else and he does not feel unsafe around Severus, so he lets his guard down. Harry does not remember everything, to the contrary he forgot to search Dumbledore which led to Filch being called in a previous chapter.

tammywammy9: "Miles is my favorite character. It's official" Just wait until you meet the next OC :) You'll melt!