Harry has a different reaction to his near death experience at age nearly seven and become a right little Machiavellian Prince and, as his relatives tell everyone he's a hooligan, he starts bringing their falsehoods to life.
I don't own or derive any material benefit out of Harry Potter or Stargate. This story is not a crossover, though it will feature a certain general from Texas.
Lord Arcturus Black was extremely pleased with how the weekend had gone. He had met Harry Potter and knew he was alive, which was the opposite for everyone else, except Cartwright, his legal representative. Sirius had told him about all the murders and activities Bellatrix had told him about and Arcturus' dicta-quill had recorded everything. Strangely, she had never been able to tell him why they had gone after the Longbottoms. Lord Black recalled that the state in which the four death Eaters were found was almost identical to Aberforth Dumbledore being found next to a goat or, was it, a sheep. Aberforth had been naked.
Bellatrix Lestrange had her marriage annulled and the dowry restored to the Black main family vault, less the 10% the Goblins took in fee and only because Lord Black was an especially favoured customer. Arcturus took great pleasure in kicking Bellatrix out of the family. Almost as much as he had kicking Walburga out of the family. He notified Andromeda Tonks that he had restored her to the Black family. The Black family tapestry looked much better now he had cleaned up Walburga's blastings and added his own. He didn't know what magic Harry Potter had managed to perform, but his name was not showing up on the Black family tapestry. Arcturus had extorted 10 million galleons out of the Malfoys. Lucius believed Draco was the Black heir who would inherit everything Black owned, so regarded this transaction as no more than paying his son the money. Arcturus restored Dorea Potter nee Black to the family tapestry. This was a crucial move for his strategy.
Arcturus invited Cygnus, Pollux and Cassie to live at 12 Grimmauld Place. Once, Pollux was there, Arcturus compelled his loyalty to House Black. He did the same to the House-elf Kreacher. He included a ban on Kreacher having any dealings with the Malfoys including Narcissa.
Arcturus contemplated his strategy. He had two votes on the Wizengamot; his House's and his own from the Order of Merlin, First Class. Those votes were currently being voted by Dumbledore. Dumbledore voted his own Order of Merlin, First Class as well as Pettigrew's. Arcturus didn't know the names of the other two holders on the Wizengamot. Dumbledore voted the Potter and Gaunt seats, too. He was proxy for Houses Prewett, Weasley, Shacklebolt, Slugthorn and Ollivander. He usually voted the Hogwarts seat, as well. Bagnold had been the last Head Boy or Head Girl to attend. Dumbledore claimed scheduling issues as the reason. Since he was Headmaster of Hogwarts and in control of scheduling and Chief Warlock in control of scheduling the Wizengamot meetings that excuse didn't hold water. Dumbledore controlled 12 votes. There were 50 seats in the Wizengamot: 28 belonged to the Sacred 28, the Noble and Most Ancients Houses; 16 Noble Houses; 5 Order of Merlin, First Class holders; and the Head Boy or Head Girl of Hogwarts. The Malfoys were a Noble House, despite the best efforts of House Black over the centuries and not a member of the Sacred 28 or a member of the Wizengamot, despite their own best efforts. Originally, Light and Dark were equally represented 22:22 amongst the Purebloods. Decisions were supposed to be taken by the way the Order of Merlin holders voted and on odd occasions by the Hogwarts representative.
The Order of Merlin was headed by a Grand Sorcerer, who was also a holder of the Order of Merlin, First Class who just happened to be Albus too-many-bloody-names Dumbledore. There were only 5 holders of the First Class alive at any one time, 10 Second Class and 20 Third Class. When any of the class holders died and there was no obvious candidate for promotion, the Grand Sorcerer got to choose the one promoted or awarded in the case of Third Class holders.
There were a couple of Societies that Lord Black needed to take into account. The first was the Most Extraordinary Society of Potioneers that was headed by its founder Hector Dagworth-Granger. He'd ask Cassie about the dirt on Hector. The other was the Dark Force Defence League. Lord Black wasn't sure whether that meant they defended the Dark Arts or combatted them. Lord Black didn't know who their current leader was. Another thing to talk to Cassie about. Cassiopeia Black was Keeper of the Black Book. That Book was full of indiscretions by member of the Sacred 28 and other wizards and witches. Lord Arcturus wondered what the Book held about Dumbledore and his family.
Then there was the Order of the Phoenix. Its leader was Albus Dumbledore and it was open to all Hogwarts alumni to join. Strange Lord Black had never received an invite. It must have got lost in the post. That was highly likely as Grimmauld Place was unplottable and untrackable. Unlike many other places it was warded against House-elves and Phoenix'. Not even Hogwarts letters could breach its wards. Arcturus didn't believe that any invite was ever sent to him.
The wards of Hogwarts were controlled by the Headmaster. The wards of the Ministry were controlled by the Chief Warlock. They were one and the same person. Hogwarts had a Death Eater in it, teaching and members of the Order of the Phoenix. The wards ought not have permitted that. The Wizengamot had both Death Eaters and Order members in it, in that case. So too, the Ministry. That was unacceptable.
A dozen years ago the Black family had 10 adults and 5 children. Now it was down to 6 with another 2 cast out. Lord Arcturus Black had allowed Andromeda back into the family, but he wasn't going to invite her to family gatherings at Grimmauld Place. Cedrella Black had been married into the Weasleys to gain control of their fortune. She had failed and been blasted off the tapestry in consequence. Dorea Black had helped House Potter against House Black and destroyed the Weasleys, financially. She'd been blasted off the tapestry, as a consequence. Dorea had been restored, because, in death, she could now be of service to House Black.
House Potter had numbered 5. Today it was extinct to all but those in the know that there was an Heir in hiding.
Said Heir, was sitting in the living room in 4 Privet Drive, watching television. He'd read some interesting spells and thought he could do them. The house and garden were spotless. Harry Potter, for that was his name, wanted all his neighbours to know that he was the one responsible for the awards Petunia Dursley won.
7pm duly arrived and with it the Dursleys. Harry could hear the car stop. He could hear his heartbeat. The beats were speeding up.
"Freak get our cases," Vernon yelled. So much for being normal, Harry thought.
"Get them yourselves. They're much to heavy for me," Harry yelled back, in reply.
Dudley rushed in to the lounge. A nice impedimenta caused him to trip and fall at Harry's feet.
"Bowing before me, Dudders? Blood will out." Dudley struggled to get to his feet. A full body bind prevented movement.
"Mom, Dad," Dudley yelled. "The freak's used his thingy on me." Harry shuddered to think whatever would the neighbours think?
Petunia ran into the lounge and screamed. A stupefy put her out. That just left Vernon to deal with. In he stalked, belt at the ready to deliver a thrashing. It took Harry three tries with Arresto Momentum to bring Vernon to a halt.
"I survived a Killing Curse from the worst Dark Lord to ever exist. You three aren't a patch on him. My name is now James Evans. You're looking after me as a favour for my mother. If anyone asks, that is. You pay Dudley £10 a week in pocket money. As of today, you're halving that. It's no skin off my nose. If he turns up at Smeltings. As a tub of lard, not knowing anything, because you think he's thick. When he tried, he does quite well in class. Of course, you know best. I'll carry on doing the chores, but you'll pay me £5 a week and I get to eat normal portion sized meals with you every day and a snack everyday, because I've health issues to deal with. Proper dental and health check ups, too. An eye test wouldn't go amiss, either."
"When we took you in, we promised we would beat it out of you."
"More fool you Vernon. Accidental magic tends to be more dangerous, when that happens. And it always does. Now do we have a deal?"
"I understand."
"I didn't ask you for your understanding."
"Yes, Fine. We have a deal."
"The mail is stacked on the hall table. Oh, and Vernon, you ever try directly or indirectly to do what you did before my birthday and I'll turn you into a smear on the ground. I'm going to bed, now."
Harry went to his cupboard and locked the door and added a spell for good measure. He'd done 7 spells and was about to pass out. Was he close to magical exhaustion? Harry didn't know, but he realised why wizards and witches didn't start their training until they were 11. Harry had a good nights slight and awoke refreshed in the morning. He performed his ablutions, went down stairs and made breakfast. He ate with the Dursleys. He could tell that they were not happy with the new state of affairs.
School was as he had remembered it. This year he had the teacher whose hair he had turned blue as his form tutor. He should have been in the other group, but no, the headmaster was making this tough for him. At lunch, Harry noticed he was being smiled at by a very pretty blonde haired girl. Lovely blue eyes, too. Harry finished lunch and went over to say hey.
"Hi, I'm James Evans." Harry held his hand out. Susan Bones did not shake his hand. The only time wizards ever shook hands was to seal a deal.
"Hi James," Susan said. "My name's Hannah. Hannah Abbott." Susan didn't know why she lied.
The two did not get the chance to exchange any further information, because Dudley and his gang came over to stop James making friends with anyone. There was a scuffle and James found himself before the headmaster.
"I'm very disappointed in you, making a disturbance before the first day is even over. I don't know how you acted in your previous school, but such behaviour is unacceptable at this one. Do I make myself, clear?" the headmaster thundered.
"I had finished lunch and went over to introduce myself to a girl who was smiling at me. Next think I know, Dudley and 4 friends come over and tell her she can't talk to me. That behaviour is unacceptable. Do I make myself clear?"
"Such cheek, you will serve detention for the next week?"
"No."
Harry filched a couple of first class stamps. At the end of the day, his class teacher refused to let him leave. He made it home without getting attacked. He did his chores and cooked tea. At the end, he turned to Dudley and said, "You will not stop me from making friends."
Harry found locks fitted to the outside of his cupboard, again. Harry rolled his eyes. He couldn't say he hadn't warned them. The following morning, Harry filched a couple of sheets of writing paper and envelopes from Vernon's study as he was tidying up.
At lunch time, Harry went to sit next to Susan after he'd finished eating. Once again Dudley and his friends broke up their conversation. Susan lent in close to Harry's ear and whispered, "Okay, Harry, you're the Boy-Who-lived. You'll soon sort them out."
How did she know, who he really was? She didn't seem inclined to share that information. Harry would have to see how it played out. In detention, he wrote two letters. One to Mr Cartwright expressing his regret that he wasn't able to sort out his relatives and thanking him for not saying so. Harry asked him to get in touch with the carpenter and bring the police round to see the bolts on the outside of the cupboard door. He'd had bolts on the inside because he feared for his life. The second was to the county education services, the classroom had the address prominently displayed. Harry said he was being bullied by the headmaster and his form teacher. He said he was being prevented for talking to anyone and the head put him in detention and wouldn't listen to the truth. He signed his name as James Evans. On his way home, he posted the letters.
The evening meal passed without incident. Harry even got his snack. He was locked in again at his bedtime. He slept like a log. All day he expected to see the county educators and the police come, but they didn't. That night he frantically looked for a spell that would work. He decided he already had all the ones likely to be useful. At least ones that didn't threaten to leave him magically exhausted or worse.
Thursday and Dudley and his gang decided to go 'James Hunting'. Susan Bones watched as Harry threw 4 expert impedimentas and all the gang except Dudley crashed down and broke various limbs. Dudley was still after Harry. Harry ducked behind the kitchen trash can lanes and pulled off one of the dustbin lids. He timed his move forward perfectly, hitting Dudley square in the face. Dudley turned and Harry brought his right foot down hard on the exposed lower leg. There was a discernible sound of a leg cracking and Dudley screamed as he collapsed, out cold.
"You'll be expelled for sure," his form tutor hissed.
"Five boys chase me to beat me up and I'm the likely to be expelled. You'll be lucky to have a job after tomorrow."
Harry made himself scarce, playing truant for the afternoon. He arrived home to find the carpenter and policeman waiting for him. The officer spoke.
"James Evans, we'll need to speak to you about the incident at school today."
"How about I show you what you've come about, first." The door was locked. Harry made a pretence of finding a key, and used alohomora. They went inside. The carpenter saw the locks once more on the outside of the door and explained what he had done and why. The police officer's jaw dropped. He made notes.
"Whilst we are waiting for your relatives Master Evans, perhaps you can explain what's been going on at school."
Harry did, at length. The carpenter knew that if one of his kids had been treated like James was, he'd have punched someone's lights out or worse.
Vernon tried to go for Harry, when he saw the trio in the room. He was restrained. They were cautioned over their treatment of James. They had to move him into Dudley's second bedroom, immediately. They had to clear Dudley's toys out as well. Harry got moved to his new bedroom. He enjoyed his supper. That was more than could be said for Vernon and Petunia.
"Dudley will be a month in hospital thanks to you, you freak. It'll be another month before he's going to be fully well again."
"When five attack one, bad things will happen," Harry snarled. Harry was still snarling, next day, when he went to school. His form teacher had been re-assigned. His headmaster placed on garden leave. Harry had been placed with the group he always should have been with. Harry wanted Hannah to meet Hermione. He invited her to come with him to Crawley meeting at 9am. Susan agreed. She wanted to come clean about her name to Harry. That evening Harry was locked in to his new room. There were bars on the window. The door had a cat flap.
"This is where you will stay in my house."
Petunia was by later to see he had a dentist appointment in Crawley at 10am and an eye test at 11am, also in Crawley, tomorrow. I'll let you out then. His food was pushed in through a cat flap. Who did that? Harry cast a colloportus using his other's wand. This was not working out. Threats were not producing the right outcome for Harry. Oh well.
Just as Harry was about to leave, he tried a different tack. "I didn't realise how scared you are of me, probably of mages in general. You stick to our deal and you'll have nothing to worry about. That goes for Dudley, too. A cat flap is a good idea. A cat would help me learn responsibility. I can't learn that too early."
Harry was given his £5 and shoved out of the door. He'd find out whether the softly, softly approach was going to work on his return. He'd taken a tenner from his secret stash. Petunia watched Harry go. She wished he'd never been left on their doorstep. She went back inside. Vernon called her into the study. She went inside.
"It's bad, Pet, we've got demands from Gringotts to repay money we took for Harry, from the County for his foster money and back rent to James Evans his new name. £72,000 we have to pay or else, is the warning."
"We have to pay it," Petunia said. "The goblins don't mess about. Do we have the money?"
"I'm getting that promotion on Monday to Sales Director. That £20,000 before taxes. I'll be Managing Director in 2 years. Financially, we'll weather this storm. Can we get rid of him?"
Petunia looked at Vernon, deeply worried.
"I don't mean kill him. His deal is actually very reasonable. He has to have back up to do what he's done. Our defense is that we are deathly afraid of him. He understands that, even if my bosses weren't quite so accommodating. It won't affect the promotion."
"My mother had a sister, June, who was a war bride. Ran off with a yank. His name was Samuel Hammond, I think. He died a decade ago. His son George, is based out of a US airforce base. The letter was from him and has a return address. I can write and ask him to take 'James' off our hands. I'll tell him we can't really afford him and have the second child of our own that we've always wanted. I can tell him that 'James' is a bit of a terror."
"Whatever you think that will work, Pet. The sooner he is gone, the better I'll sleep."
Petunia left the studio and sorted out George's contact details and sat down to write an airmail letter, using the special airmail writing paper. Petunia had bought some, just to make it appear to a neighbour that she had international contacts.
The letter duly written was despatched. Petunia went to the post office for a stamp and posted the letter. It would take about 3 weeks to reach this George. It would be two months before she would have news, and that was assuming George was on base and not out and about.
Harry met up with Hannah and they caught the train, Harry paid. Susan admitted she'd given him the name of her best friend. She was named Susan. Harry and Susan entered the dentistry early. Doctor (Mr) Granger looked at Harry and asked, "Who is your friend, Harry?"
"Susan Bones. She goes to the same school as me."
"Mr Granger, is your name Dan?"
"I am indeed, Miss Bones." Doctor Granger seemed amused.
"Do you have a sister named Hecate?"
"I do. Do you know her?"
"No, not personally, I've heard her mentioned. My Aunt has done so several times."
"Hi, Hermione, meet my friend Susan. She's at the same school as me."
"Hi Harry, hi Susan. Are both of you here for a dental appointment. We've a James Evans at 10am."
"That would be me," Harry said. "What people know me as, now. Apart from my friends, of course."
"Hermione, do you have an Aunt Hecate who gives you weird books?"
"Strange question Susan, but yes she does. I've read Tales of Beedle the Bard and Babbitty Rabbity. My favourites are the Harry Potter books."
"I'm sorry to have to tell you, Hermione, that I have never done anything like it says in those books."
"Those books are supposed to be about you. You live in a castle and go off all around the world saving people."
Susan laughed. "Harry put his cousin in hospital for a month."
Doctor Granger didn't quite smile. It was good to see Hermione acting normally with a couple of kids. "Harry can you stay for lunch?"
"Sure. I've an eye exam at 11am, though."
"We'll come with you. I know the optician."
By noon, Harry had had his dental check up, an eye exam and sourced his new pair of glasses. Susan enjoyed 'going muggle' as she called it. Susan got back to Little Whinging about 4pm. Her Aunt picked her up. She asked where Susan had been and Susan told her. She mentioned, in passing that she'd met a Hermione Granger, her father Dan Granger and that Hermione had an Aunt named Hecate. Susan mentioned they were going to meet up at Crawley Library every Saturday morning from 10 til 1 and use a room you could book, all free. Amelia did wonder who the mysterious third member of the party was. Probably some unsuitable boy. She would follow them next time.
Lord Arcturus Black had resumed his seats in the Wizengamot. Dumbledore now only controlled 10 votes. Only! Lord Black had a pile of papers to look through. He had voted for traditional House Black policies. Dumbledore harangued him after the meeting for supporting Dark policies. Lord Black refrained from speaking out against Dumbledore.
"Chief Warlock Dumbledore, I have just resumed my political activities. I have only my family's actions in the past to guide me in my decisions, now. I have a stack of paperwork, as homework. If there are policy issues you feel would be of benefit, please do leave such messages with the secretary."
"I shall do that, Lord Black." Dumbledore had a twinkle in his eye. For a master manipulator, Dumbledore appeared quite the amateur, which was what made him more dangerous. Lord Black took the paperwork with him to Sirius to get his input. The pair then went to Grimmauld Place for the three there to give their thoughts.
Pollux put his finger on the issue. Remove the votes from Dumbledore by making the Wizengamot named only, removing proxy voters. Claim the Potter and Gaunt seats. Pollux revealed that he knew that Lord Voldemort had been Tom Marvolo Riddle. He would know. He had gone through Hogwarts in the same year, same House. Find a popular candidate, not Dumbledore for magical Britain's representative to the International Confederation of Wizards (ICW). Remove Pettigrew's Order of Merlin. Get the rules for the Order of Merlin stated in the Wizengamot.
Revenue to magical Britain came in two sources. The first was 500000 galleons from the ICW as rent; the second a generous annual gift of 500000 galleons from the Malfoys. Lord Black wanted to get the system of taxation re-installed as there was when he gave up on politics 5 years ago. He would have to ask the Wizengamot Budgetary Office to draw up plans. A proper tax plan could yield 1.5 million galleons in revenue. That was what they had before, at any rate.
Harry was having a much better second week at school. He had a cat to take care of at the Dursleys and sat next to Susan in school. Even the Dursleys behaved themselves. Harry was still able to read his parents' journals and annotated text books. Harry was particularly interested in the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy, but could not find it detailed in the books he had. He mentioned that to Susan. Susan had Hannah over to stay for the weekend, but forgot to tell Harry.
When Harry turned up at the station to find both Susan and Hannah, he was not best pleased. Had he known Amelia Bones was tagging along, he'd have been even less pleased. He greeted Hannah as warmly as he could. When Hannah asked what sort of magic they were going to do Harry said they studied theory not practical and this week they were going to talk about the Secrecy Statute. Susan admitted to stealing a copy of the Statute from her Aunts. Amelia would have words. Hermione was delighted to meet another witch. Harry confirmed that Hermione was a witch, her father was a squib and that before the summer he had last seen her his one year birthday party and she'd called him a holy terror. Harry confessed that was his one and only birthday party. His muggle relatives hadn't held with a freak like him having a birthday party. The three girls were quite distressed. Amelia was very angry. She recognised James Evans as Harry Potter.
The four had a one hour very animated discussion about the Statute. Hannah made a comment about Neville Longbottom being a squib. Harry retorted, "Put him on a broom and you'll see he's no squib."
At that moment, in popped Lord Arctutus Black. "Hello, Harry and friends, how would like to spend some time with Sirius and I looking over the Wizengamot plans?"
"We have to be done here by 1pm," Hermione said.
"I'll make sure I bring you back 10 minutes earlier. What are you studying?"
"The Secrecy Statute," Susan said. "We've made a few notes." Hermione packed everything away
"None of my House ever studied the Statute at such a young age," Arcturus said. "I'd like to hear what you have to say about it. Now, are you ready to go?"
The five held onto a portkey and were soon standing in front of Sirius. Introductions were made. Sirius remembered Hermione from the party. It was a happy memory he had of Harry and Hermione playing together. Sirius greeted everyone. Lord Black followed suite. The girls looked suitably impressed. They then spent some time going through the stack of papers from the Wizengamot. Notes had been added. After half an hour, Lord Black asked for their thoughts.
Harry was first to respond. "Dumbledore holds too much power and doesn't use it to push his side's agenda forward. That's why you want to make it named seat holders only and claim the Potter and Gaunt seats via Dorea Black and my defeat of Moldie. That has my support"
Hannah was next up. "My dad told me that Sirius had a trial and that you, Lord Black, never requested the full Wizengamot trial."
Sirius responded. "I was arrested and woke up in Azkaban, without a trial of any sort."
"I assure you, Heiress Abbott, that I did make repeated calls for a full Wizengamot trial for Sirius. He is my heir, as Dumbledore knows."
Susan piped up. "That's shocking. I'm glad my Aunt was able to sort that out for you."
"I most certainly am," Sirius said. "Thank her."
Hermione added. "This was a misuse of power by Dumbledore. He failed to allow Sirius the trial he was entitled to, just as he decided what should happen to Harry, when it was not his place to so do."
"Dumbledore's riding roughshod over the Wizengamot and trampling the rights of the Noble and Most Ancient Houses into the ground." Hannah was quite upset by this.
"Rights Squibs and Muggleborns had won by 1968, have all been overturned, The Purebloods are forcing Muggleborns and Squibs out of the magical world and it's harming the magical world," Hermione uttered with a sense of outrage.
"The only vestige of those rights are the employment of Argus Filch at Hogwarts and he's a prime example of why squibs shouldn't be seen in polite wizarding circles and a Muggle Studies course taken by Purebloods with such an out of date curriculum that leaves wizards with a very low out of date perspective on just how dangerous Muggles are to us," Sirius said.
"Dumbledore again," Hermione noted. "I expect I shall be told that as a Muggleborn all my rights are protected and any position is open to me. Only those of you here know that I am the daughter of a squib and I'd like to keep it that way."
"My aunt knows," Susan said. "I'll ask her to keep it quiet."
"As wizards and witches, we need to ensure that all wizards and witches know the culture and traditions of the magical world. This is a matter of survival for us all. That education has to be done at Hogwarts. It's failing us all, if it doesn't do that," Harry said.
"How do you get to be a holder of the Order of Merlin?" Hermione asked, her interest piqued.
"I shall have that read into the proceedings on the Wizengamot," Lord Black said.
"It was so sad what happened to Neville Longbottom's parents. My dad said all they can remember is being attacked," Hannah said, sadly.
"What if they can't remember being attacked?" Harry suggested.
Could it really be that simple, Lord Black asked himself? "I'll suggest that next time I play with Neville," Hannah said. "I'm also going to see how good he is on a broom," she added, mischievously.
"You agree with the Purebloods that Wizarding culture is under threat?" Arcturus asked.
The four looked at each other and nodded. Finally, Hermione spoke, "If Muggleborns aren't taught the how and why of wizarding traditions, it is inevitable. Muggleborns only have the Muggle world as a reference."
Arcturus Black did not expect 4 Light faction children to accept the central tenet of the Pureblood agenda. He talked with the children, until it was time to take them back. When they got back, they had time to tidy up again and agree to meet up the following Saturday.
"Harry, it's possible to take an entrance exam for my school, in November. You'd join in the following January."
"Thank Hermione, Susan and I will look into that," Harry said.
"I'll tell my dad about Sirius never getting a trial and Dumbledore lying that he did and that Lord Black didn't ask for one. I'll tell him the Muggle Studies course needs updating and not taught by a Pureblood and to start Wizarding culture classes for all Muggleborns and Muggle raised," Hannah affirmed.
Amelia Bones couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"Get Filch sacked from Hogwarts. If he's the only squib anyone has ever encountered, everyone's going to hate Squibs," Susan supported. "I'm going to have a discussion with my Aunt, about today."
"That's okay, Susan," Harry said. "Just ask her to keep secret what we need kept secret."
"Just in case you forget me, like everyone else seems to have, give me your addresses," Harry said.
"I've not received muggle post before," Susan giggled. The three gave Harry their addresses.
The four left the room just before 1pm and left the keys at the reception. Amelia Bones followed. Hermione left the three and the journey back on the train passed without incident. The girls knew better than to talk with Muggles around. Once back at the station the girls said bye to James and made their way home via portkey to Bones Manor.
Susan and Hannah explained what they had done and learnt that day. Amelia didn't let on that she had followed them to the library. The girls explained what they had agreed with Lord Black. Amelia discussed the issue. She found that they had a greater understanding than many of her aurors. She'd ensure she tackled that. Sunday night and Hannah had a similar conversation with her father. He was pleased that she was interested in what was happening in the Wizengamot and in the wider wizarding world. He realised that he'd been neglecting that. He'd been neglecting Wizarding Etiquette, too. That would change. He'd have words with Regent Bones about teaching the pair of them. They could invite their friends, too.
A few days later, the Light faction met in one of the Wizengamot's many chambers. Dumbledore opened proceedings and started to go through the Agenda for next month's Wizengamot. The Noble and Most Ancient Houses in attendance were Abbott, Crouch, Fawley, Longbottom, MacMillan and Shafiq. In attendance from the Noble Houses were, Bones, Vance, Diggle, Marchbanks, Ogden, Merriweather, Smith and Jones. Bryan Abbott added up all the votes and came up with 24, including Dumbledore's 10. If Black voted with the Dark faction, the Light would lose every vote. Fortunately, Bryan knew that Black was going to stir things up.
Dumbledore went through the ten items on the agenda. Five were important for the Light and five unimportant to the Light and they could allow the Dark to win those. Bryan looked at the other attendees as Dumbledore summarized his recommendation.
"Chief Warlock, as you well know, agenda items may be submitted until the middle of the month. It is far too early to call this an agenda."
"That's true, Bryan, but it's unlikely that there will be any more agenda items submitted," Dumbledore said.
"My daughter had cause to take to task for not teaching her wizarding etiquette and tradition. It is clear she is not the only one in need of tuition. That is not how you address a Lord of a Noble and Most Ancient House, Dumbledore."
"Of course, Bryan, but we are all friends here."
"You are of an inferior House, Dumbledore, and you do not get to call me by my first name. Wizarding Etiquette and Tradition is a subject that will be returning to Hogwarts' curriculum. Teaching a knowledge of our traditions is absolutely essential or those who are muggleborn or muggle raised have no point of reference except muggle culture. Your muggle studies course is a joke. Actually, it's worse than a joke. Your professor asserted that the course is up to date and shows how little the wizards have to fear from muggles. The course book is at least 50 years out of date and the pureblood wizard who teaches it has no idea just how dangerous muggles are. Wizards and witches have no idea about the fashion styles in the muggle world and stick out like a sore thumb. That threatens the Stature of Secrecy. We risk exposure because wizards don't blend in."
"The Wizengamot does not have authority over the curriculum taught at Hogwarts."
"The Wizengamot does when Hogwarts' failing standard imperil our existence." Lord Abbott was supported by most of those in attendance.
"Hogwarts is a fine educational establishment."
"Sadly, Headmaster," Griselda Marchbanks disagreed. "The gap between Hogwarts and the other 10 International schools has been getting worse."
"You exaggerate, Griselda." Dumbledore's twinkle had gone.
There was unanimous agreement that standards had indeed slipped and the curriculum needed to be restored in some places and updated in others.
"I've had no suitable auror candidates for the last 6 years. They are lack the Potions NEWT that your pet Death Eater won't teach unless they get an Outstanding OWL."
"All professors can set their own standards, Amelia."
"No new Healers either. No new Potions Masters. Setting all professors to teach NEWTS to pupils with Exceeds Expectations OWLs is reasonable. Expecting Outstanding is unreasonable. The Hogwarts Charter set that standard a millennium ago. I expect you, Headmaster, to follow it," Amelia Bones thundered.
"All professors have autonomy to set their own criterion."
"No, Dumbledore, they do not." Amelia Bones was starting to get annoyed.
"The Wizengamot cannot rule on such matters." Dumbledore looked irritated that his rulings were being challenged.
"This is the fifteenth time we'll be debating cauldron thickness," Lord Shafiq said. "My family has been making cauldrons for seven centuries. We use the standard as set down by the International Confederation of Wizards. Magical Britain continues otto adopt it and continues to suffer from inadequate cauldrons. Five students a year are seriously injured in cauldron accidents at Hogwarts each year, because cheap, inferior cauldrons are being bought. There is a Ministry Department that is incapable of adopting the proper standard. It does not need Wizengamot action. I shall say so, at the next meeting. I have not been called on to speak on the 14 previous discussions, despite my family's especial knowledge of cauldrons."
"There are always many wizards who wish to speak on the matter." Dumbledore was temporizing.
"Who don't know what they are talking about." Shafiq left the meeting, taking his stack of papers with him.
"Five of these agenda items benefit a member of the Wizengamot. The five are all members of the Dark faction. Three items are regulations, like cauldrons and two restrict the rights of muggleborns and squibs still further," Bryan Abbott said. "None of these items are positive for our community."
"I had hoped I could count on your devotion to the Light. I see now that I was mistaken," Dumbledore sad sadly.
The meeting broke up shortly thereafter. Lady Vance cornered Lord Abbott.
"Headmaster Dumbledore acts as the Magical Guardian for all Muggleborn and Muggle raised students whilst they are at Hogwarts."
"He's failing completely at the task of preparing them for life in the magical world," Lord Abbott retorted. He walked away, grimacing.
Whether it was just luck or there was some other force at work, the airmail letter arrived at the same airbase at which Colonel George S Hammond was based within a few days of being posted. He'd be relocating, shortly. He read the letter. It was from his mother's sister's daughter. Her sister had died, leaving a son for her to raise. As it happened, his son Fred had just finished college. He and his wife Claudette had married before going to college together. They had tried for four years now to have a child. They'd failed. George was secretly rather glad they had. They'd had tests done which showed that Claudette had a very low chance of conceiving, due to a rather unpleasant illness as a child. Here was a boy who could be the answer to their prayers. He'd talk the matter over with them at the weekend. Petunia's dislike of the boy was palpable.