Hey everyone,
Well, we got McGonagall warmed up to Carmelita and co, now to cover the other topics that Dumbledore brought up when he and the others entered the Transfigurations classroom. Also I am going to spend a few more chapters on the 25th as there are a couple of topics I still want to cover. McGonagall's help for Sirius' case, Hagrid's class, the Coopers Occlumency class and Harry's meeting with Dumbledore about his home life.
Let's do this,

Venquine1990

Chapter 21
More Matters To Discuss

25th of November 1994
Transfigurations Classroom
Galleth's POV

I know that Carmelita, Sly and the gang are shocked and confused about the fact that I was brought to this world once before. I'm sure they're also wondering why I seemed so intrigued when Dumbledore gave his explanation to the arena the other day. The truth of the matter is that his predecessor never did so and that I myself was too disgusted with the situation I found myself in to even care for such details in the first place.
I try to suppress a smile at this as it was that same valiant impatience of mine that, a few months later, got me caught and imprisoned by Penelope. A small part of me wants to ask Carmelita and the others what became of the traitorous little rat, yet I decide to leave that for later. Instead, I keep my focus where it belongs. I had already noticed that a few of the students around me had looked at Harry shocked and this has upset me.

It was especially upsetting to see their shock when they saw Harry cowering and seeking comfort in my armor and person. The fact that these fellow students have never seen Harry look vulnerable just further establishes to me that Harry has really never dared to let his guard them, that he has always tried to show a brave front to them. And one statement made by young Neville especially makes this even worse to me.
"Your House is like your family. But it seems like to me that Gryffindor has been separated into two, perhaps even three, Houses for the past few years. Harry and his friends have obviously been one family, but it seems like some of those friends have often moved into one of the other two families over the years. It appears that I really do need to repeat my actions from all those years ago. Well, I succeeded back then and I will succeed now."

Harry returns to his seat, yet I motion him with my head to seek comfort with Carmelita. My little descendent nods after a minute and I stand up as he sits down. "Headmaster, I believe it's best if we address my previous visit to this realm next and then move onto Carmelita's cases. Though I also wish to apologize to Professor McGonagall as all this is obviously cutting into her class time." Yet the woman doesn't care.
Dumbledore also nods encouragingly, yet I easily see him trying to hide his concern behind a look of intrigue. A lot about the man really impresses me and I also feel quite confident that, as long as he keeps his stubbornness in check, the man can be of great help to us and our cause. It is quite obvious that the man deeply cares for those around him, Harry included, but he also seems to easily lose himself in his own beliefs and plans.

And while I slightly worry on whether or not those plans will benefit Harry, I just turn to the class at large. "I will not lie to you and I will warn you beforehand. If at any point you feel like what I will tell you is too much for you to take, I ask you to leave the room. I have no doubt that your fellow students will bring you back in once I am done. And for those of you wondering or worrying, as I said, I will not lie; deaths were occurring when I first came here."
Instantly the whole room seems to freeze with shock and everyone stares at me with wide eyes, some of them even gaping. I nod solemnly at them and a few of the girls who have blue trims on their robes quickly pack their books and leave the room. I give the four of them and the young blonde with the red trim on her robe a nod of pride and the five of them smile at me gratefully. The door closes behind them and I release a breath before I start.

"It was in 1301, which to me really is only one year ago now. My men and I had just finished a crusade within our own noble country and we were resting. Just as we were all about to return to our homes, the same bright light that brought my ancestors and me here the other day enveloped my men and myself. As the light cleared we gazed upon this castle. And let me tell you, these days it is in much better state than it was then."
For a moment I ask them if they want a description of what the castle was like, but most of them shake their heads. I notice a few of them nodding and so I tell them to meet with me after classes. The two boys who sit behind Neville and Hermione smile at me gratefully. I take another breath and try to suppress the image myself. Over the past few centuries the castle seems to have added a few towers and this reassures me.

I regain myself and continue my tale. "I won't deny that my men and I needed a fortnight to gain our bearings and learn of how this world works. Yet one of the reasons it took us so long was because we had to constantly be on guard. Either because there were students attempting to strike at us or because we spotted them attempting to strike at those younger and smaller than them. The major reason we were brought there was the belief of the populace.
Yes, many live by the belief To the Victor go the Spoils or the belief Only the Strongest Survive, but I have never seen these beliefs be lived up to more than in the three years that my Order and I spent in this castle. It truly pains me to say this, but my men and I failed to save a total of 45 students from certain death. Though one reason for this is because, at the time, there was no Hospital Wing in place in this school."

Even Dumbledore seems heavily shocked at hearing this and I close my eyes tightly as I try to suppress memories of what I saw some of these poor innocent souls die from. Yet I also try to suppress my memories of some of my own reactions to these deaths. I take and release a deep breath and once again bless the Great Cooper Ancestors for sending Sly and the others my way when they did a few months after I finished.
I look up and the sight of the students currently in front of me fills me with a new sense of confidence and determination. I frown and my need to do everything in my power not to let the same happen to any of these young souls fills me up from within and feels like a fire that burns fiercely within my heart. And I hardly need to look at either Carmelita or Dumbledore to know that they share in my desire to see this done.

"It truly pains me to tell you all this as the worst offense of it all was the fact that the staff themselves were doing nothing to stop the older students from committing these crimes. And while there was not yet a Ministry for Magic, as you call your government these days, England did already have a justice system in place at the time. However, even this system was being ruled by a variation to the Only the Strongest Survive policy.
Except that instead of strongest, in the case of this system it was the richest that survived. Now it may not be known these days, but I remember it well. All members of staff of that time were either cousins or children of the ones that ran the justice system. Therefore, none of them ever felt the need to report the atrocities to their superior. However, while it unfortunately took us two years, my men and I managed to get through to them.

Though I will admit, I am not proud of the method I had to use to do this. I had to, I admit, lower myself to their level and force myself to think like them. It allowed me to see the world their way and this was what allowed me to spot a weakness in their policy. You see, most of those who managed to survive this terror, but were not of the same wealth as the staff and justice system members often ended up working for them.
And by the time that my men and I arrived, the wall had already spotted something. Something that, in the end, I decided to use as a method to convince these – pardon my language – disgusting pieces of vermin rats to change their ways. And so in the end of 1300, just before the Yule Holidays, I approached the Headmaster of the time and told him this. If you don't make your students change your ways, they will lose their slaves.
They are killing their own future workers and you are doing nothing to stop this. Do you really want to one day see those wealthy witches and wizards have to lower themselves to digging into their own gardens or cooking their own food? Surely you would rather not submit them to this? As I said, I am not proud of what I had to do or say to finally get this done. Yet it woke up the staff and over the school year that passed, changes occurred.

This was especially true in regards to the beliefs and views of the staff. As they themselves worked hard to keep their richer students from attacking the weaker ones, they started to see much more potential in their weaker students. And thankfully, by the end of the school year, all of the staff were of the belief that weak and or poor students had the same potential and rights to study at their school as their richer peers.
I will not lie and say I did not worry about whether or not we had been returned to my own world too soon, yet my own world needed me and my Order. And a few months later, even this proved not to be enough as I required the aid of my brave descendant Sly and his team to protect and aid me. However, it warms my heart to see Hogwarts in the state it is now. The school is obviously indeed much better than it was 700 years ago."

The students around me smile in pride and relief and one of them in the back looks at me questioningly. I nod at them and they head outside. After a minute or so they return with their peers and everyone returns to their seats. Another thing I noticed as I spoke is that a few of those that were listening were turning red with shame from time to time. These sightings fill me with a sense of confidence and I can't help but think:
"They may have never hurt their peers to the point that a student got deadly hurt, but they seem to have realized that they have indeed hurt their peers for the wrong reasons. Good, this will hopefully solve one of the reasons we were brought here." And for a short moment I wonder if perhaps these were some of the students who had turned on Harry during his First or at any other point in time. But I ignore this for the time being.

"Very well, now that we have discovered and discussed these dark times in Hogwarts' history, I believe it's best if we move onto the other most vital topic." Dumbledore speaks up and a lot of those in the classroom nod in agreement. I notice that some of them are doing this because they would rather leave the previous topic behind them, yet others just simply nod in agreement. I myself just simply return to my seat.
Carmelita stands up as I sit down and she says: "Headmaster, I believe that another member of your staff, during Harry's Charms class, made a very vital and significant statement. When it comes to my client, many of you have let the events of those few days affect how you view the ten years that took place before them. But in truth, you should have viewed the events of those few days with the years previous in mind."

Dumbledore nods in agreement with a smile on his face. McGonagall also looks intrigued and I happily speak up. "Please remember, Madam Professor. The supposed victim of this case was a trickster. A Cooper even." And these words seem to be the catalyst that helps the woman realize what we are talking about. She turns to Dumbledore in shocked astonishment and mutters: "Albus, you can't be serious.
He attacked my House several times just last year." I hear a chair screech across the pavement of the floor behind me. But before the person – who I am almost sure is the same redhead that attempted to attack Harry the other day – can speak up, Harry also throws his chair to the ground as he stands up. "And one of those attacks was on Halloween. On the one night that no Gryffindor was even in the Tower. Why would he do that? Why then?"

The woman tries to argue and state that it must be the man's desire to lay in ambush. But at this I stand up and say: "I will tell you the same thing I am certain my descendant Tennessee told your colleague, Madam Professor. There are three factors that prove this impossible. Black's stay in Azkaban must have affected both his mental and his physical state. It must have made him too twitchy to lay in ambush and too physically tired to not fall asleep.
Not to mention that no thief, criminal or crook worth their skill would dare to take the risk of lying in wait on someone in a location where they cannot be assured that their target will arrive there before anyone else. Black could not have predicted that young Harry will be in the common room before the First Years who would probably tire sooner or the elder years, who might want to study for their tests before bed. He would not risk such a thing."

The woman blinks at me and I hear someone grumbling behind me in disgusted annoyance. Harry calmly returns to his seat and smiles at me in grateful pride. Then Carmelita stands up and speaks. "Professor McGonagall, remember what your colleague told Harry and myself. Remember the Potters. Remember that James Potter was a prankster and a trickster. And most importantly, please remember that Sirius is Harry's godfather.
Please, remember the importance behind this role. Remember how, especially back then, such a role was even more important than it is these days. Please remember why the Potters did this." And while Carmelita might sound like she is begging the woman, her tone is not pleading. It is merely conveying her trust that the woman will indeed come to the right conclusion, just by remembering these things. And Madam Professor proves her right.

The woman slowly lowers her head and her voice is almost breathless as she whispers: "The war. They – they did not believe that – that they would survive. They made Black – Sirius – they gave him this role – out of their love for their son. Merlin, why did I forget about that? Why did I just discard how strong their love was? The Potters were always known for how they put their heart into all they did. I should have remembered that."
Carmelita and Dumbledore nod in agreement with the woman. Carmelita pulls her notepad and her pen out of her pocket. She looks up at the woman and asks: "Professor, Headmaster, your colleague told me of what Sirius was like in the reunion of 1981. If you have anything else that took place during that time and that proves what Sirius was like around that time, please let me know. I truly need all the evidence and witness statements I can get."

The two nod and a proud smile slowly grows on Dumbledore's face as he says that he might have something. Instantly the man has the attention, not just Carmelita's or mine, but of most of the class. I had already looked behind me and noticed that those with a blue trim on their robes were deeply shocked to hear about the Black case. And now they look almost just as excited and curious as their red-trim wearing peers.
"It was a week before Harry's first birthday. The Potters were actually attempting to use a Muggle method of hiding that had apparently worked many times during the 1940's. They had somehow managed to build a bunker underneath an old rundown shack of a home that had been raided by Death Eaters a few months before then and were hiding within. To be honest, this method actually kept them safest for the longest time of all attempts.

However, there were a few methods through which the Order, friends and I were able to contact them and young Sirius was determined to use one of these to give Harry his very first birthday gift. What's more, at the time Sirius was very much constantly dividing what little income he had between his own needs and funding my Order's needs to win the war. Yet that one week, he worked himself into the ground three times over as well as into four debts.
At the time I worried why he was working this hard on all this and then, on the thirty-first, he proved me why. I am sure it will shock and horrify some of you, but between 1978 and 1982, all Quidditch stores were closed." I snort in amusement at the man's slight joke and yet I can also hear the same redhead exclaim his shock as he yet again throws his chair to the floor. Dumbledore sends the young man a short smile and then continues.

"Yet on the thirty-first – and to this day I still do not know how he managed this – Sirius came to me and said get this to Harry. Make sure he gets this before nightfall. I'll pay you three times my monthly income next month if you can assure me you will do this. And he actually put a kiddy-broom in my hands as he said this. Naturally I felt compelled to comply to his request and I even refuted his offer as I worried for the debts he already had."
The man shakes his head and mutters about how he never should have forgotten about Sirius' drive or the hard work Sirius did in the months that followed. I definitely nod in agreement with his words, especially because everything I have heard of the man and his actions so far only further prove this to be true. Carmelita also has a few tears gathered between her eyelids as she writes, yet there is no denying the fiery passion in her gaze.

After she is done writing, she takes and releases a deep breath as she thanks the Headmaster and asks his colleague if she knows anything. The woman seems to think for a moment and after this her eyes widen. She nods and says: "It is an event that took place much sooner, yet I sincerely believe that the severity of the situation will again prove useful." Carmelita nods and slightly raises her pen and notepad up to her chest.
Professor McGonagall takes this as a sign to start her story and she complies. "It was on New Year's Eve of 1980. As the Headmaster said, the bunker plan kept the Potters the safest for the longest time as it hid their location for a total of three months. But the same can be said for back in December. Their plan back then kept them safe from mid-October 1980 to that very night. And because all previous attempts failed sooner, we were cocky.

We were all of the belief that this time it had worked. That this time the Potters were truly safe. That they would be able to keep themselves hidden until we had ended the war for them. The Order had even decided to throw a New Year's party for all members who were not in hiding themselves. And Black was in attendance that night." The woman shakes her head once again and mutters something similar as her colleague.
"It was just a few minutes before midnight. Everyone was getting excited as we were slowly growing the belief that 1981 was the year we would win, that it would be the year where we would take him down and end the war. And yes, that was indeed true, though we only believed it at the time, we didn't know it like we do now. Either way, just a few minutes before midnight Black's face suddenly changed, from happy glee to horror.
He called out The Potters and everyone stared at him. He tried to rally us together, tried to get Albus to gather a team, tried to get Remus to come with him. Yet none of us listened. We were too drunk on our elation. I admit, we just didn't want to give up on our belief that the Potters were safe. Black cursed us, pulled his wand, set off a few explosive spells just to convey his rage with us and then he Apparated away.
I still remember this as he actually Splinched himself and left most of his hair behind. Yet not even ten minutes later we got a report from one of our men who worked in St. Mungoes. Black was nearly in a coma, James was suffering from Cruciatus exposure, Lily was –. Needless to say, it was a miracle they survived their injuries. And back then, we came to the realization that that miracle was named Sirius Black, yet I forgot about it for all these years."

Even I am gaping at the woman's tale by this point. My disbelief has never been greater and at the same time I cannot even begin to understand. "How could they? How could they have condemned a man like that? They owe their friends' lives to him and yet they condemned him only a day after he lost the ones he worked so hard to protect. How could they have just thrown that to the wind? How could they have – betrayed him like that?"
And never before I feel my determination to see this world fix itself be as strong as it is now. I don't like the fact that this means I have to go up against those that once fought for the same ideals I truly believe in, but I am determined to see it through. I feel the Cooper within me once more embrace both Sirius and young Harry within its spiritual embrace and mentally I feel like I have truly adopted them both. As my Heir and my family.

"Coopers stand united. And united, we will do all we can to protect these two. They are the reason we were brought to this world. And we will not fail this reason." I silently vow to myself. Yet as the class rounds up, as Professor McGonagall excuses the few who have become emotional over her tale, I make another mental vow. Whether we manage to fix this world or not, Harry and Sirius will not be left behind once we are done.
And now more than ever I truly, desperately hope that Bentley is right. That there is another me who has come to 1301 and who is living the life I would have lived if the magic of the wall hadn't brought me here. "I do not want to return to that world and time. Not anymore. When we are done, I want to go with Carmelita and the others. I want to return to 2007 with them. And I will, no matter what it takes or what the costs. And so will Harry and Sirius."

Indeed, Galleth.
And yeah, I probably am making it pretty crazy and unbelievable that the Order just ignored all of this after Sirius "betrayed" the Potters and "killed" Pettigrew. Unfortunately, that still happened. And unfortunately, this is not going to be the only depressing fact that is going to weigh Harry down today. And even more unfortunately, next chapter is going to cover the next depressing thing. Do you guys hate me yet?
Yes? No? Good,

Venquine1990