Ch 3
Edited 4-17-2021
Hogwarts Express
January 2, 1993
11:58 AM
The beginning of the train ride for Hermione Graynge (not Granger as the benighted headmaster had insisted she use) had brought more happy chaos to her world, she didn't know what that said about her, but she liked what had happened over the mid-winter break. Getting her happy and admittedly loud extended family back was worth not seeing her friends. Now she sat absorbing the information pouring out of her friends about their own happy Christmas times.
Neville and Ron were good friends, who for the sake of Gryffindor house point totals, she kept under a tight rein. Neville had been getting much better and starting to come out of the shell he had been living in. He was bubbling over about how well his parents were doing now that they were out of St. Mungo's. Apparently, they had been in there for some time, and he was not too clear on the reasons why they had started getting better after the fall equinox.
Something to do with an uncle who was now talking to an Amelia Bones, 'who straightened him out right quick' after he got out of his own stint at St. Mungo's from where his grandmother had put him. 'Scary witch with a wand' was the only comment he made about how his great uncle had gotten there. Apparently, family drama went through everybody's house. That supposition was born out by Ronald Weasley following comments.
Ronald Weasley was a trial. He had to be cursed with chaos or had just overflowed from the twins and stuck to him. Apparently both his father and his sister were in St. Mungo's for some reason. His Dad had gotten hurt at work and they had gone in to visit him and Ginny had ended up staying.
"Now Percy is going about getting her assignments while she's in the hospital for the next month. Thought mom was going to go spare about that until the Unspeakable stepped in. Whatever he whispered to her shut her right down. Had us all waiting right there under Aunt Muriel's supervision getting scanned by the Unspeakables and a couple of the healers, while she ran back home with the Unspeakable. Still don't know what that's about, mom said something about having to wait for permissions from the Ministry to talk about it. And that somebody was picking up Ginny's bills for her stay in the hospital. As long as Dad and Ginny are better afterward that's a good thing. Dad will tell us later. Dads always good about that." Was Ron's baffled laissez-faire comment on the whole thing.
"Except when we got home mom took me to get a new wand." He had whipped out the new wand and proudly displayed to all.
"A Brand-new wand from Ollivander. Fourteen inches, willow, containing one unicorn tail-hair. I can do magic a whole lot easier now." And promptly transfigured all the candy wrappers into chess pieces. Hermione shook her head some things never changed.
"A lot of people getting new wands," said Neville "dad and I went out and got new wands, apparently one of the big reasons I'd been having trouble with his old wand was that he had burned it out fighting the Lestranges, the core was all but burned up. Might as well been using a stick the whole time is what Mr. Ollivander said. Now I've got a new one, one made by Ollivanders grandfather, 13" long, made of cherry wood, and had a unicorn hair core. I can reach my magics so much more easily, Lumos!" The compartment had been flooded with brilliant light that blinded everyone in the compartment for several minutes and left all of them seeing spots for half an hour. To Neville's profuse apologies.
She hadn't panicked, two of her study friends were coming in and had seen the wand flash and heard the commotion from down corridor. Padma and Lilith had kept her from panicking. Harry had remained calm and through his own steady voice calmed Ron and Neville down and had Padma call a prefect. Definitely hero potential in her mind.
By the time the prefect had gotten there, their eyesight had started to return. And they had all been given a note to see Madam Pomphrey when they got in to school. Flash blindness was no joke and could have long-term effects, the no nonsense Hufflepuff prefect had told them in no uncertain terms. A handy thing to remember going forward. But she had liked cuddling up with her two friends for the several minutes it taken for her eyesight to return. Having Harry hold her hand while she did so just made the interplay of magic between them so much better. Yes, she admitted to herself finally, her hormones where fully awake and working quite well.
Harry was Harry. Most definitely a hero in training, though she could wish the school could be more systematic less dramatic. She would at least do the best she could to not be the damsel in distress. And Padma would help her, Hermione blushed again at her grandmother's cackled explanations about compatible magic in wizards and witches, not to mention with Erdogan's curse and the imbalances that had caused between the sexes. And how powerful wizards could attract more than one witch.
Nana Christine had been very pointed about her potential relationship with Harry. She really had not needed 'the talk for young magical ladies' just yet, stuck to a chair next to three female cousins also getting very descriptive two hour-long presentation. Hideously embarrassing but very enlightening. She had barely been able to look at any of her boys without a full-on blush. And yes, they were her boys she was willing to admit that to herself anyway. Or at very least one of them was.
When she and her female cousins had looked at her in their shock at her description of covens and multiples evident. Nana had just rolled her eyes and squashed that automatic rejection of the possibility of a multiple.
"You're all imposing modern mores and motivations from the mundane world on a force of nature. Women have evolved to select the most powerful mate they can so he can protect and provide for them and their progeny. They have also been selected by evolution to be the ones who cooperate with others of their own sex to make life better for themselves and their children. What you must do is turn it around and try to see how the mores and standards of society are influenced by that and multiply the effect of Erdogan's curse on that already complex equation over the last half-millennium and more.
"Then look at multiples as a method the witches used to get along with each other and sort of control their crazy wizards. Its why the Houses of Avalon support the Sabat and the old rites, where the Ministry all but criminalizes them to protect the ways the purist and certain financial elements prefer to operate."
And that effect wasn't something new in the family either. Chaos and powerful wizards and witches, apparently it had been Nana Christine's whole life. That had really been a shock finding out that one's quintessentially English Nana was half-German, raised in Eastern Prussia had been an auror with the German Ministry, and had spent the entirety of the second world war on the eastern front fighting the Russians, for the German army! Even though she had ended up marrying a squib from England and one of her long-term female friends from France had followed.
"My best war trophy yet!" Comment from grandpa made ever so much more sense now. She missed him and his hugs, but he had passed away last year. Nana's explaining about the imbalance between the sexes made worse by Grindelwald's war on the Continent or by Voldemort here in England, and why certain aspects were tolerated more openly in the magical world then the Muggle world. The few, and she admitted highly edited stories about Nana Christine and Jane's experiences during the war had been horrifying.
She had explained also that squibs could be affected as well. It also explained why Nana and her father had considered Nana's friend Jane's children as part of the family, they were part of the family. All three of her daughters were magical. That explained a lot of what she had seen about the magical world, its stuffy 'traditions' where a method to hold of the chaos found in its day-to-day affairs.
That chaos was going to be added to next year when her brother Benedict got sorted in. Of course, he was going to be a Gryffindor, especially with his perchance for getting into things he shouldn't and coming out smelling like a rose. Like starting the whole revelations train going by pulling Nana's wand out of her sleeve and declaring.
"Look Hermione Nana has a wand to!" And waving it about with a great big fountain of sparks that gave everyone and everything in the room magical color changing Christmas themed polka dots.
Nana had been delighted if a little chagrined. After giving her brother Benedict a hard swat on the butt for picking up and using somebody else's wand without permission, she had every one of the magicals in the room pull out their wands. After a few moments hesitation they had, shocking Hermione and her parents and all her other cousins. Nana had just cackled delightedly and under her very skilled direction helped clean things up.
The accidental magic reversal squad showing up and seeing a veritable wall of wands pointed at them in what they had thought would be a Muggle house after the accidental magic had been cleaned up had been a rude shock to them and Hermione's parents. Though they had calmed down quickly when they realized that they would not be doing anything except leaving and going to write a report. Much better than the hours work or tricky memory caps they thought they'd be doing.
Especially shocking was that Auntie Sarah and her very aloof husband Jared had been running late, not shocking in itself but every one of that side of the family had a wand. And may have had more to do with the ministry squad leaving quicker when they waltzed past the temporary outer wards behind the reversal squad. And had led to the ministry installed monitors being ever so quickly removed and familial wards put in place by a quick no-nonsense team of goblins.
Finding out what one's cousins really looked like could be shocking, Uncle Jared along with his four children by Auntie Sarah had dropped their glamours. That was going to make a trip to Gringotts ever so much more amusing going forward especially with Nana taking over magical guardianship for all her grandchildren in magical Great Britain and Uncle Jared as the alternative.
It also explained why she had a very prominent set of teeth marks at one elbow from wrestling with her cousin Harold at age six for the last chocolate chip cookie, and several blurry memories afterward. Trouncing him in the snowball war the next day, thank the Weasley twins perchance for snowball wars this last fall, the spells learned then had been very useful. The winner taking home the prize of a plate of Nana's chocolate chip cookies fresh from the oven had been a very satisfying bit of overdue revenge. And had gotten Uncle Jared laughing at cousin Harold's crestfallen expression and her gleeful war dance of victory. She thought she had been very magnanimous at sharing the cookies, Nana's chocolate chip cookies with just the best! Even better when shared out with family with hot mugs of cocoa to take away the sting of the outside cold and losing. Even though it meant extra time brushing your teeth at night under mum's direction.
It was a very long couple of days and mishmash of fun, exhausting, enlightening and disappointing. Finding out that the nine out of fourteen of one's first or second cousins on both mother and father's side of the family were already in, or in four cases already out of magical schools and the others looked to be going to them was more than a bit of a shock after thinking herself alone. To go along with the fact that there were more schools than just Hogwarts in magical England and to the revelation about an unstated policy of separation of communities imposed by the Ministry of Magic. Apparently control freaks existed on both sides of the magical and non-magical world. A very serious and enlightening conversation for Christmas and boxing day. In between banishing the occasional reappearing polka dots.
Though finding out her parents friend Aunt Gwen was their longtime lover and her two daughters half-sisters! Finding out that one's mother and their good friend were each giving her one or more siblings in the spring was just, noo noooo her brain hurt, and she could not think of her parents and Aunt Gwen doing that! Even though it now clicked with her about those thumps and moans she had heard through the walls of her room late at night the week before she left in the fall and other times. Not thinking about that!
And the announcement had brought rapturous joy from Nana. Had the normally placid and loving lady practically cackling. Something about the best kind of immortality, and reward for the trials in one's life, being a horde of giggly happy grandchildren covered in chocolate smiles. And then her looking at all her grandchildren with fondness and expectation as they dug into her huge container of chocolate chip cookies, charmed as they were to be just as hot as they were when they got out of the oven.
Several of which were packed in her baggage and if the boys were very good she may actually share them with them. She did wonder what kissing Padma would taste like after sharing them… Or if Harry's children would have the same beautiful green eyes.… Possibly a bushy haired little girl with her father's eyes, Hermione clamped down on that train of thought quickly.
No, after NEWTs she told her hormones firmly. Need to think about something else. At least until after dinner.… From the look in Padma eyes she would not be averse to helping her, burn off, some of the energy they all were feeling.
"So how was your Christmas Harry?" She said brightly changing the subject from the rehash of the latest Quidditch game that the Cannons had just lost against Puddlemere Ron had launched into. She didn't need to be reminded about Harry's antics on the Quidditch pitch they gave her enough of a fright when he was doing them, she didn't need reminders of them. Let Neville and Ron hammer that out, Harry needed to concentrate on something important her.
Damned hormones!
Harry didn't know what to say to Hermione at this point. A lot of things that happened most of which he couldn't talk about. Like meeting Emmaline Vance-Potter, the two half-sisters, the less than one-month older half-brother, and two full sisters that had been driven out of the country at the end of the last war. Then meeting his godfather Sirius Black his wives and children.
And that the only reason they were back in England was that Severus Snape and the core of the death eaters were dead. He couldn't talk about the things that they suspected Dumbledore was complicit in. Like how Snape and Dumbledore had gotten to James and Lily Potter. And what they suspect happened in those last days and since the wars end. Why they couldn't move him before the investigations got hard evidence and could checkmate the man's political power and agents.
The failing health of Lord Arcturus Black, who didn't expect to see the summer, was setting things in motion. But again, those where private things and not what Hermione or anyone should hear for now.
"It was okay Hermione, relaxing just as Christmas break should be. Dudley and I made snowmen in the backyard." At Black Manor. Along with the Black children and his magical siblings and several magical cousins with wands sent them dancing about the back yard. As a way to burn off magic Sirius had pompously pronounced when the mothers had glowered at them
"And we made the Christmas goose, Aunt Petunia wasn't unhappy with it either." Dobby and several Black and Potter elves had made a truly magnificent spread to go with the goose. And they hadn't cooked anything but breakfasts until this morning.
"Thank you for the gift card to Flourish and Blots, I got several useful tomes from their secondhand section. Dudley says his teachers highly recommend the secondhand or off Diagon stores rather than the newly published books approved by the ministry. Too much has been pulled out of a lot of the so-called authorized magics. I hope you enjoyed the books I sent you?"
"Yes, the collected works on the Animagus Transformation from around the World by R J Lupin was very good. It even had footnotes and an index. Simply loads above anything published and approved by the ministry. And very readable."
"See I have good taste in books and it's something you can't get at Flourish and Blots approved publications selection."
"I remember this book," said Padma "my mother wanted to have Mr. Flourish order it in. But the ministry put a X notice on."
"Censorship!" Said Hermione in a shocked tone. "Did they have a reason to refuse to print it here?" Padma shrugged she didn't know the details on that only that they had not been able to have the book reprinted here.
"It's very simple Hermione," said Harry softly "RJ Lupin is a werewolf, and as a dark creature is forbidden to publish or just about do everything but breathe or work the most menial and low-paying jobs. They are barely allowed to keep their wands as it is. From his work 'Lycanthropy in England and other Purist Countries', he says that a lot of what the ministries lump everyone in with one werewolf named Fenrir Greyback who can be directly traced for 80% of all new lycanthropy cases in England, France and Germany since 1957 with at least twice as many deaths, that we know of."
"And they haven't caught this criminal?"
"No, they've caught him a few times. Worse he's a pureblood from a 'good house', and as such the aurors are forbidden from doing common tests on him that others would normally get, nothing written into law just ministry policies. And because he supported the dark Lord with his pack during the last war, he has other protectors on the Wizengamot and in the ministry who make sure any case against him disappears. More specifically the witnesses and evidence disappear."
"And the ministry allows this!" said Padma with a shocked expression, Lilith just looked at Hermione and Padma with pity. Both were look looking at Harry with open mouth horror.
"Yes, they allow it, there are factions within the ministry that pay Greyback and his pack hefty amounts of coin to disappear troublesome Muggle born. Or just to cause them problems or to intimidate them. He and his pack are thugs for hire, there are others some worse methods of intimidation if rumors are to be believed. If he and the others were taken out of the equation they or their helpers in the auror department would have to do all the persuasion, and that might get messy for the ministry reputation for law and order." Lilith said the last in a dust dry mocking tone.
"Then how did he get the books published?" Asked Hermione after a moment. Harry grinned his sly happy, mischievous grin they so rarely saw. The one that always made her insides a little queasy.
"Simple, he lives in France now and the French don't care one whit about what someone publishes in an English there about the British Ministry. In France the French translations of his natural philosophy papers are lauded. The French standard is that if it's factual and can be backed by testable or first-hand documents means there is no case in France for legal suppression. And being a werewolf is not a disqualifying condition for publication as it is here. And you can get the book ordered in direct from an international bookseller in Geneva, and the Swiss have the same standard. I'll give you the address to go to, don't use one of the school owls they can't be used outside of Great Britain without permission or the ministry finding out. I'll let you use Hedwig, send the letter through the mail service there, and it will come through the Gringotts package service."
"Gringotts package service?"
"Yeah, the printer sends mundane mail to Gringotts UK. They charge a sickle fee to put it on a bird with your next bank statement. It's usually shrunk down and you have to have your key to get it un shrunk. The ministry doesn't dare interfere with Gringotts or international mail and the bank makes some money."
"How did you find out about the books?" Asked Lilith.
"My cousin Dudley! He goes to St. George's; their history teacher is not only alive but far less enamored with the ministry and any form of censorship at all. He gave me the list of books the history teacher recommended and sources for them outside of areas that the ministry controls. And yes, Hermione you can have a copy of both lists as well." Hermione smiled widely as did the other two girls, all three girls were in love with books.
"Though back to the subject of Greyback," said Neville "I doubt that will continue with the new minister coming in, especially with all the deaths at Nott Manor has yet to be determined."
"New minister?" Asked Hermione shocked as was Lilith. "I didn't know Fudge was stepping down?"
"Then you have not been reading the Daily Prophet over the break?"
"No family business, very very hectic time, lots and lots of cousins. Loads of fun really but not a lot of time for reading. Even daddy has a stack of newspapers he's going to go through, very glad he warned me they were hosting the get-together this year at our place and I got my homework for the holidays done before I left school. Especially with finding out several of them go to St. George's, maybe they know your cousin Dudley? That was extremely shocking and it is very likely that my little brother will be joining us next year."
"Oh, sounds like a story here, do tell?" Said Lilith happily.
"I should tell you why," said Hermione primly.
"Because If you don't dear Hermione, Lilith and I know where your ticklish parts are. We are on either side if you, leaving you completely vulnerable," Said Padma with a sweet evil expression on her face.
"…and have no compunction about tickling until we get the truth from you, so give!" Said Lilith with a determined shake of her head and a fake sweet smile on her face. Hermione looked at them with mock horror. All three boys blinked and shifted at the mental images that came to mind.
"Harry, you'll save me from their horrible attack, won't you?" She looked at Harry imploringly.
"This is intriguing, ticklish spots, I may actually help them, then again tickling all three of you sounds intriguing also." said Harry with a twinkle in his eyes, trying desperately to resist the imploring expression of Hermione's soft brown eyes.
"I have been abandoned by my protectors and fallen in with a bunch of villains willing to torture me for my secrets." She said dramatically.
"Well, nothing for it then." She sighed with mock resignation "Benedict, my brother who just turned eleven, had a snowball fight in the backyard with some of the other cousins. While he was out my Nana Christine, my fathers mother, had arrived, and had just put down this huge box of her signature chocolate chip cookies when the cousins and my brother tromped in covered in snow. He ran over and was giving Nana a hug when he suddenly pulled her wand out from her sleeve. 'And says look Hermione Nana has a wand just like you!'"
"Absolutely shocking to us when it lit up the whole front parlor in bright sparkly lights and Christmas themed multicolored polka dots that moved over everything including Crookshank's, presents and the Christmas tree, oh and us. I do not look good in polka dots!" The rest of the compartment broke down laughing.
"And that's surprising?" said Neville around a laugh "you would expect any further children to be magical in your family especially with a powerful witch like you being born into it."
"Yes, but one does not expect the rest of one's extended family to laugh instead of being horrified. Or that your fantastic at making chocolate chip cookies and hugs Nana to very professionally lead in the spell breaking and cleanup, a Nana I did not know was a witch until just that minute!"
At the shocked expressions she quickly ran down the fact that her widowed Nana was half German but had an English mother, and was a graduate of the schools in Germany not Hogwarts. And had married and English squib that was in the army of occupation. And the fact that she worked at St. Trinian's School for Young Ladies as the upper form defense against the dark arts instructor. That and the not very long, or detailed, tale of Uncle Jared putting his wand tip into the ear of the accidental magic reversal squad lead witch when they showed up, thus avoiding everybody being obliviated. Her fellow students were suitably impressed.
"Do they know why your father wasn't magical?" Asked Neville.
"Nana actually did. She got hit by a curse in 1947 while she was carrying my father and his twin brother and it damaged both of their magic, so they never manifested. Though to date of the nine grandchildren between them, five have it and the rest all appear to have it in some form," leaving out the second wives each man had from the equation as Nana said boys were not told the facts of life at Hogwarts, and that was a can of worms she did not want to open with them, yet.
"All of them are going to magical schools here in England or Canada where my uncle lives. That and my aunt Sarah's four children soon to be five are all magical. But then again Uncle Jared is very much a wizard, works at Gringotts International Office Belgium. His oldest two go to a private school the senior leadership at Gringotts has for their children. He's very good with illusions and security charms got us a very good deal on some ward stones for the property through him."
"It's nice to be connected," snarked Ron and both Harry and Neville nodded.
"It doesn't hurt, just as long as you make sure everybody makes a profit on the deal and everything is aboveboard. Nana was very clear about paying full price for the best quality ward stones herself for all the family properties, those she hadn't already warded that is. Gringotts made a profit just not the killing they would have normally against people they don't like." Said Hermione firmly.
"So, what did happen to the minister? And you said something about Nott Manor?" said Lilith. "I had heard that there were some goings on. And that the Wizengamot had met in special session twice last week from others as I loaded on the train. But I don't get the paper while I'm in the home as mom detest that rag. So, I have no details. If you would please?" Harry schooled his features and looked serious. Hermione rolled her eyes and smiled Harry was into one of his dramatic moods, they were invariably funny and he made sure caused no harm to anyone. He just preferred to make people laugh. These moments didn't happen very often.
"Brace yourselves ladies it's a tale not for the faint of heart, but of fell deeds and dark magics, brought low by idiots and the curiosity of fools. Several deaths because of things we were not meant to know!" said Harry in an over-the-top dark and dramatic radio announcer voice and handed over several copies of the Prophet from his charmed handbag. Hermione glanced at them and with a quick flick of her wand the newspapers were floating in front of the three witches and they were quickly devouring all the information as the newspapers floated in front of them.
Neville snorted and laughed lightly. Ron also laughed but looked bored he really didn't like politics and his mother hadn't given out a lot of details about the incidents. He knew they happened just, not a lot of details. The ladies ignored them for hard details from the paper.
"The fallout from which is just beginning to be felt across our world. Especially since the seven-day legal suppression of the story with a D notice has expired for the incident at Nott Manor and a sanitized incident report was released for Fudge's death yesterday just in time for everybody's New Year's Eve hangover." Continued Harry.
"The most immediate news for us Ron," Harry said focusing on his redhaired friend "Is that five students, four in our year alone, did not return to Hogwarts; Draco Malfoy is likely to be in the hospital for at least six months to a year and we are not going to have to suffer his presence until next fall at the earliest. While Gregory Goyle, Vincent Crabbe, Theodore Nott and Marcus Flint are all currently suffering from a profound case of death. As did Lucius Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle and Notts fathers and even grandfathers and not a few uncles. As is the not very lamented Severus Snape." Neville and Ron perked up at the last, Ron more so than Neville but neither were a fan of their potion's professor.
"So, it is confirmed that he was killed at Nott Manor?" Asked Neville.
"Apparently died at St. Mungo's the next day, from the horrifically detailed description of the body there wasn't much left of them but skin, bones and nearly liquified organs and roots from that black triffid plant. Makes you very cognizant that upper division NEWT herbology at Hogwarts can be called combat gardening with very good reason!" Neville laughed at Harry's over-the-top style and countered with a posh upper crust manner of feigned indifference.
"Yes, yes do pay attention in class dear chaps or instead of feeding the plants you will be the plant food!" Ron shuddered at Neville's blasé but very serious warning. Harry nodded sagely.
"At least it will give us a very good reason to pay attention in herbology now that we have real examples of what could go wrong if you don't!" Pontificated Harry dryly but smirked afterwards. All three boys laughed the girls rolled their eyes and grinned at each other but made note to pay strict attention in sixth and seventh year Herbology.
"Do you know who's going to be teaching potions?" Asked Ron after a minute. Neville spoke up from his seat very factual manner.
"Professor McGonagall as acting headmistress put out a statement that former professor of potions Horace Slughorn has agreed to cover the rest of the school year's potions classes, he taught potions before Snape, indeed he taught the late Professor Snape and most of our parents is what grandmother said. But he is not accepting head of the head of house Slytherin position as he is not expected to return next year. And a search is underway for mastery level candidate to fill the position permanently starting in the fall. Professor Lockhart has also resigned effective at the new year. No reason was given. And his position is being taken for the rest of the year by several light-duty aurors on rotation, who are recovering from wounds. Again, a mastery level candidate is being looked for to take up the position of defense against the dark arts instructor in the fall."
"Acting headmistress, yes I see the notice here," said Padma half distractedly "there doesn't appear to be anything from Professor Dumbledore here, has something happened to him?" Neville answered it while Harry contemplated what he could say about what he knew. Ron looked alarmed.
"My grandmother says he's in the hospital in Geneva, he lost a duel with a wizard from New Zealand, apparently the ICW solstice meeting was far less congenial than it normally was, and to add insult to injury he had a heart attack on the way to the hospital." Everyone in the compartment pause what they were doing to look at Neville as he continued speaking.
"The ministry hasn't published that yet, and has it under a second D notice, as they don't want to start a panic, what with Fudge dying and all. People might think it's a coupe or an attack on the leadership from foreign countries. But grandmother has several papers from overseas come in weekly. And it made quite a splash overseas, especially as it went to fisticuffs instead of wands and was very public.
"The other wizard got his nose and several ribs broken but he cracked Dumbledore's jaw, some teeth, his pelvis, nine of his ribs and broke his wand arm and right leg when he got him down and got the boot into him. He had his heart attack after his opponent stunned him and left him in his blood, vomit, and teeth on the dueling platform. He's expected to make a full recovery but will be at least two possibly three months under a healers care. And he was replaced as supreme Mugwump for Magical Great Britain by the new Minister."
Ron and the three witches in the compartment looked at Neville in shock. The witches quickly went back to reading even faster when they realized he had stopped speaking. Harry just looked on blandly and raised an eyebrow when Neville looked at him, puzzled at his non-expression. Harry had to put a stop to the question forming on his friend's mind.
"Game of dragons chess Neville?" Neville brightened up; he didn't like wizard's chess it lacked depth in his opinion. Ron looked on in growing surprise as Harry broke out the three-dimensional chess set with its nonstandard board and it very odd pieces from his charmed handbag.
"Where did you get that?" said Ron eyes wide as the other two boys began to play. Harry was concentrating on making sure everything was set up right and smiled for a moment at Ron.
"I went to my family vault just after I got off the train, I thought it was a wizard's chess set from my father but low and behold this was inside. My father made it as part of his Transfiguration's materials forming project sixth year, then charmed them for the charms class animation study for midyear in his seventh year. Dudley and I played it quite a few times over the break." So, had he and his brother Charlie and Sirius Black and aunt Emmaline. Both the later telling stories about his parents at Hogwarts and afterward.
Charlie also told stories about his misadventures with all their sisters and how he was very glad to have backup finally in the form of Dudley and Harry. Being the only boy in a house with five young witches who were all related to him was not a good thing in his opinion. Though it did mean he did not have to share clothes and he got to look at a lot of their friends who could be smoking hot. Harry could sympathize, then again Hermione could be a little much all on her own and several the older witches In Gryffindor and around the school could qualify as smoking hot. Not that the three witches in the compartment with him were any slouches at all, as Seamus Finnegan had said and all three boys had agreed with, they definitely had loads of potential.
"My dad said it came from a wizard in America, about the turn of the century you can't buy them commercially because the ministry doesn't think it's very traditional and they don't think a lot of the colonies since they broke away and told the ministry to stuff it. But my father played with his father with a set in the manors head office. He taught me a little over the fall, as we were getting to know each other. It takes longer and is a lot harder than standard wizard's chess."
"And they can be over a lot faster than wizard's chess if you're not paying attention," Said Harry. "Want to play with us?"
"How can you there's only two sides?"
Harry grinned like a shark and took his wand and tapped the corners of this square on the three boards and it morphed into a stack of hexagons and a third set of grey pieces appeared. Ron's jaw dropped open for a moment before he also grinned and took up position behind the third set of pieces. Before he began playing, Harry held a finger to his lips to the two wizards. Then reached into his handbag and pulled out several books set them the magical field floating with the papers in front of the ladies. Along with a spiral note book and multicolor-pens.
"Some light background reading material if you have questions ladies?" All three murmured a very distracted "Thank you Harry!"
Neville and Ron grinned at Harrys forethought and both gave him a thumbs up. And the boys are left to their game for the next several hours as the witches scratched notes on parchment and murmured softly to each other.
Their only real interruption was from the snack lady. While he did buy some candy, he much preferred the traveling lunch basket of; three types of soup, sandwiches, several types of crisps and crackers, cheeses and pickle slices, several dips, and butter beer or soda, Dobby had packed this morning. When shared out it fed everybody in the compartment and a good part of the Gryffindor Quidditch team when they dropped by after Harry showed them the runes built into the cabin that expanded the compartment. The food would've been far too much for him alone but wasn't enough to make them sleepy or full feeling just enough to get them to dinner.
Ron got trounced playing against both the other boys and Neville squeaked out a very narrow win.
The Great Hall
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
8 PM
Minerva McGonagall stood up in front of the entire school at the lectern in front of the staff table as the dinner and dessert plates were cleared away. Having been told to remain seated after dessert for a short series of announcements before the welcoming feast started the students sat and looked at her expectantly.
She looked down to see the faces in front of her and smiled.
"Firstly, I'd like to welcome you all back to the spring semester of Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry. You will note that the two petrified students, Colin Creevey and Justin Finch-Fletchley and the petrified Sir Nicholas not to mention Mr. Filch's cat have been returned to us with help from the Ministry potions lab.
"I can feely tell you that the creature responsible for the attacks has been neutralized in a magical stasis. And will be completely removed over the summer when the students are no longer in the building. Furthermore, that no student or staff member was responsible in any way for the attacks in question.
"There are certain parts of the building that have been sealed by the Unspeakables and staff that the creature used to access the rest of the building. As a precautionary measure I ask that you not attempt to bypass the seals, unless of course you want to be expelled and have a year or so in Azkaban for endangering the rest of the school." Her firm tone and stern manner let everybody know that she was deadly serious about this. Even Fred and George were somber and attentive.
Then she had introduced a bandaged senior auror named Proudfoot as the senior defense against dark arts instructor, he would lead a four-man team of injured aurors for the rest of the semester. And a portly older balding gentleman as Horace Slughorn, the acting potions professor come out of retirement until the end of term. Exactly as Neville had said his mother had told him. Both men received polite claps from the students many of whom are starting to nod off as the well filled bellies and long day caught up with them. The announcement that Headmaster Dumbledore would be out because of health reasons for a month brought a rush of whispers and worried looks from some of the students.
"Furthermore, with the death of Professor Snape over the winter break, Professor Aurora Sinistra, with concurrence of the school board will be taking over as head of Slytherin House effective immediately and for the foreseeable future." There is lots of polite clapping for this announcement especially from Slytherin House she was a well-liked and well-respected teacher who broke no nonsense in her classrooms. Things could get only better for Slytherin in their opinion. And it did underline the headmistress's damnation by faint praise policy in relation to the late Professor Snape.
That left the one dark haired blue-eyed late middle-aged gentleman sitting at the dinner table with the staff who was not already known to the students. He was not wearing professor's robes but instead a well-tailored dark suit. And his presence had confused all the students.
"And that just leaves one more announcement. The school board in its wisdom has decided that the school needs more staff and that the workload of senior staff needs to be split. It's first appointment in this ongoing project is a castellan. He will be in charge of the school building and warding. So, if you could come forward and read yourself in please, My Lord." Professor McGonagall motions the stranger to come forward. The gentleman stood up and walked, almost marched, forward carrying himself with a no-nonsense attitude.
And out in front of the lectern where McGonigle met him. He stands in front of her face her and draws his wand and a bit of parchment from a breast pocket holding the wand aloft he lights it with a soundless flick. And Minerva holds her wand aloft and does the same.
The gentleman begins reading from the parchment in front of him in a loud firm carrying voice.
"From Lord Richard Middleham Duke of Exeter, director of magical education for the Ministry of magic, to Lt. Col. Lord David John Windsor, Royal Corp of Magi, Baron of Wolferton twenty-fourth of December, Year Nineteen Hundred and Ninety-two. Sir: You are hereby directed and required to proceed to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, there to take upon yourself the duties and responsibilities of Castellan in the service of the Crown. Fail not in this charge at your peril.
"By order of, Emily May Blatch, Baroness Blatch, CBE, PC, FRSA Minister of State for Education, for Her Majesty Elizabeth II, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith.
"Madame Acting Headmistress I accept the position of castellan."
"You have that positions sir." And with that swirls of light wrap themselves from Headmistress McGonagall to the new member of the staff. After several minutes the lights faded down and the acting headmistress spoke.
In a Swiss hospital on the continent Albus Dumbledore screamed like the damned as the ward connection to Hogwarts flowed away from him and the power tap he was used to since 1943 was summarily cut off from him.
"Well, my Lord I suspect you should introduce yourself and what you expect from the students going forward."
"Thank you ma'am. I'll be quick." He turned and looked at the hall from side to side seeing every student and looking at every table.
"My name is David Windsor. I am Baron Wolferton, heir to the duchy of Sandringham and a member of the nobility of Great Britain. You will call me my Lord or Mr. Windsor. Don't disrespect me and I will not disrespect you.
"Mr. Filch and Mr. Hagrid work for me and as they have detailed knowledge of the building and the grounds we have been, and will continue conducting a very thorough inspection over the next few weeks as we plan for the summer's work. Don't make our work harder or you will not like the consequences.
"I am also far less tolerant about the use of magics on the structure of the school itself or in making pranks that make work for the elves, I will leave punishments for the effects on the students to the headmistress." Fred and George and a few other pranksters in the hall were faintly alarmed at the dark glower the headmistress sent from where she stood. Things were going to be different.
"Speaking of the house elves, each staff member has one or more elves assigned to them, each house has one assigned to each year. And it is the kitchen elves that make the exquisite meals we eat, you will all respect them. But just because they're there does not allow you to abuse their nature. Treat them as you would any other treasured servant. Because their service to the school is treasured, disrespect them. And. We. Will. Talk. And you will not like what I and my wand have to say.
"So, clean up after yourselves and put things back and keep your rooms clean, use the clothes hampers. Don't make their workday longer because you're a slob. It's the courteous adult thing to do.
"After a thorough inspection over the spring semester, I will oversee the repairing of the school and the ward system. I can do this because I have a degree in engineering science from Oxford, a mastery in magical construction, and masteries in warding and enchanting. Part of this is because this building has needed significant upgrade for some time. Part is because I am a trained war mage not a member of the aurors, I have fought and shed blood for this country and the Queen on every continent on earth, bar none. I have a far less gentle approach to defense then the previous headmaster. You can expect the defenses I will be building to be comprehensive and… measured but, in the end, don't seriously or capriciously test them if you want to remain in this world."
From where they sat Harry and Hermione had no doubt that the word he had wanted to use was lethal. This was a man who usually did things and said things that he meant, a very refreshing change from Professor Dumbledore's methods of non-information sharing wrapped in riddles, platitudes and enigma. Several other students frowned and looked at the man grimly shaking their heads and muttering to themselves. Their opinion was also plain. Others were confused but the faces of Muggle born's and half-bloods tended to be very serious.
"I will listen to legitimate complaints. If you as a student see a part of the school infrastructure that needs to be changed, we can work something out. Just to let you know the headmistress has told me the only people who will be allowed to make immediate changes to the schools infrastructure during the school year are the staff. That does not mean I don't want to hear from you but put it in writing and drop it in a suggestion box I will leave outside my office which will be next to Mr. Filch's, we will see about what is going to happen when we do the major work in the summer. I can assure you that we will take those recommendations into advisement.
"Most of that work you will not see until next fall when you can expect to see a great many changes. For those of you who have things stashed around the school I would suggest you have them removed when you get on the train. I make no promises of it still being there in the fall. I would also recommend to those members of the staff normally reside here year-round that they choose alternate accommodations for the summer. Unless you want to live in the middle of a magical construction zone. I do not recommend it.
"The full extent of the that will be done has yet to be determined. We hope that it will be better going forward. But it will still be a castle. And the school will still be here."
"You have been warned." He turns back to Prof. McGonigle who has returned to stand behind the podium and in a polite differential tone said. "Madame acting Headmistress thank you for letting me address the school."
"Thank my Lord castellan," she turned and looked at the rest of the school as Lord Windsor went back to his seat. "It's late and our lower form students should be to bed very quickly, the rest you tomorrows a school day, I expect you to be in bed if not asleep by 10 PM. Prefects are to take charge and immediately escort their houses back to their dormitories. The six ladies and three gentlemen, who were given notes by the schools house elves before the feast, will meet in the conference room just outside the Great Hall and be escorted back to their rooms by staff after their meeting with me and the school med witch. Those who receive such notes on the train coming in will need to see Madame Pomphrey tomorrow afternoon after last bell. No exceptions! You will see her as directed." She looked at the rest of the school.
"Nobody else needs to remain to escort the students from this late meeting back to their dormitories. Prefects, I expect a headcount for all years as soon as you get them back to their common rooms. Dismissed." She said the last very firmly.
The houses stood up as a body and soon channeled their way outside the Great Hall, breaking up into four separate streams as they went back to their houses under the prefect's firm direction.
The nine students in the room were extremely nervous, when most of the senior staff, Lord Windsor, the school matron and two aurors walked in. Minerva took note of four of the witches discomfort. She looked at the young wizards and addressed them sharply.
"Gentlemen what you see here you will not speak of or I will have my wand on you by the end of the day do you understand?" All three wizards nodded vigorously especially when the dour castellan simply cocked his head and looked at them with a flat unsmiling face. Minerva chuckled inwardly; it was so nice to have competent support when it came to the more fractious wizards. Then she turned back to the witches.
"Ladies I would ask that you drop your glamours, the itching feeling you have is because the school wards are rubbing up against them and trying to make them fail. Unlike headmaster Dumbledore I believe pregnancy is a fact of life and should not be hidden away simply because one finds it uncomfortable or the circumstances of conception unpleasant." Soon all four very pregnant witches stood revealed before the rest of the room.
"I didn't have anything to do with that," said the panicked first-year Ravenclaw wizard. Just about every adult in the room stifled a laugh.
"None of the gentleman in this room had anything to do with these ladies condition, so while I take care of school business with the ladies you will remain silent." Minerva said firmly.
"Ms. Greene, Mrs. Chang," Minerva said to the two witches who were not obviously pregnant. "Please call your nanny elves, the school is telling me your children are very nearly in a panic about being too far away from both of you. And both elves are frantic and need help."
In an instant two elves appeared with three very loud crying children and both witches immediately went into full mommy mode and quickly changed both and had them attached to a breast feeding within moments, the school matron helping Mrs. Chang with her twins. Minerva smiled indulgently babies were always cute and they came when they came.
"Now ladies, Lord Windsor has found a store of concubine closets that he has reconfigured and put next to your beds in the dormitories, and each has a small crib space for babies and a sleeping chamber for your nanny elf, that will be connected to a general nursery and play room for your babies in an annex off the school hospital wing. Instead of the ad hoc arrangements that were tolerated in the past we are returning to an older and safer standard going forward.
"You will not be expelled as several of the previous headmasters and school boards would have liked. And had done so as part of an informal policy. The schools written charter itself expressly precludes expulsion because of pregnancy. It was written at a different time in a different place, but the legal protections remain and were never formally rescinded. Which is why the school elves, some of us on staff, and the school itself have helped you take care of your babies and hide your pregnancies in the past.
"Ms. Greene the elf who's been helping you for part of last year and through the summer is a trained nanny elf looking for a family if you wish to bond with her, I will release her from the school without any hindrance and she will still be able to act as your nanny elf through the rest of your sixth and seventh years here." Tamara Greene the sixth year Gryffindor smiled widely as a great weight was lifted from her shoulders. She would not have to give up her education for her baby. Then winced a little and shifted her son to her other breast under the shawl as he started to fuss.
"Quiet their lovely, mummy is sorry for dinner being late." Several members of the senior staff chuckled at the quiet by play.
"Reminds me of my sprites when they were that young," mused Lord Windsor with a whimsical smile on his face. "My wives made the same statement to them and then blamed me for them being late, sometimes they were actually right." He looked over at the three young wizards in the room. "Remember this scene and the words said here gentlemen, babies are much much more work than just the very pleasant times it takes to conceive them, you are forewarned." And all three young wizards paled, several members of staff laughed at this.
"Mrs. Chang," Minerva smiled and turned and spoke to the very traditionally married Raven seventh year who is feeding a baby on each breast. "Your family has indicated that you will remain in class through the completion of your newts this year. The same arrangement that applies to miss Greene will be given to your family provided nanny elf. If either elf requires the assistance from the school elves, they will be given it immediately." She turned to the other four pregnant witches; another Gryffindor from six year, two Hufflepuffs from seventh year and their lone Slytherin, a seventh year.
"You ladies are all due to give birth within the next month and a half. The same considerations will apply to you going forward. But be advised professor Slughorn, and the incoming defense of the dark arts instructor, along with I and Professor Flitwick will take precautions that you not exposed to any dangerous magics or other substances going forward. More likely you will be having a lot of writing assignments while sitting in the library especially for potions as there are several at this level which a witch who is pregnant should not make. Now if you ladies would please bear with us as I and Lord Windsor discuss things with our three gentlemen here."
All three wizards took a deep breath and firmed up their faces the face of the official barrage in front of them. You could practically see the thought run between them that this could not be good. It got worse when Minerva stepped back and gestured to Lord Windsor.
"Frederick and George Weasley, and young Henrik Goyle" he sat there and drawled. Looking all three wizards as if they were thorns in his side. "Fred and George, next Saturday you and I with the help of several elves will be moving your potions lab out of the Gryffindor house practice potions lab located in the wing next to the Tower. That lab is meant for the use of all your house not as your personal private reserve." He looked at them darkly for that and both boys had the sense to look mildly ashamed for having warded off the lab for themselves.
"As such we will move your lab to an outbuilding for several reasons which you will take note of. Specifically, that young Henrik Goyle here," indicating the young Ravenclaw with a nod. "as a means to keep himself busy and to hide from his brother in Slytherin is a bit of an enchanting prodigy. He built an ad hoc forge and workshop directly below your potions lab. Furthermore, he had the power and ability to summon a kobold to power his forge set up. And he did this as a first year! And has every indication of being a very skilled enchanter going forward if he can keep from blowing himself up!"
Every adult in the room looks surprised and not a little impressed, several witches made notes to tell their younger sisters about young Henrik Goyle. Fred and George looked a little worried. They were very smart and could and could connect the dots very very quickly. That could have been very bad.
"I'm not here to step on your creative impulses gentlemen and I completely agree that they should be channeled and directed in a manner that prevents unnecessary injury and deaths. I agree with Minerva that you three would continue to experiment even if we told you you couldn't..." He turned and looked at the youngest number of the trio when using talking in a softer voice.
"Mr. Goyle, I am fully impressed by your work to date, it has a lot of potential and it's as a Master enchanter myself I tell you that if you have any questions going forward or need some direction for afterschool studies please talk to me, I have many books on the subject that aren't in the school library, yet. To help you and prevent the earth shattering kaboom if the kobold got out or something went wrong with your enchanting, I am reopening the school forge located in the wall tower between the Firebolt gate, leading to the Quidditch pitch and the ancient rune building. I have had the elves cleaning the forge room and retrieving all the tools in storage in the castle since I discovered the kobold last week.
"You and I will move him tomorrow afternoon after classes do I make myself clear?" The young wizard smiled and shook his head vigorously it didn't look like he was going to be in too much trouble.
"Be that as it may there are several books about the care and feeding of kobolds and enchanting which you will read, and I will ask several papers from you before I turn you loose again. We don't need earth shattering kabooms in the school. Especially if they wake up little babies," and he nodded at the young witches in the room. All six of which glowered at the all three of the young wizards in a dark manner promising painful things if this happened. And he, Fred and George firmly nodded their heads up and down in a vigorous manner. The staff grinned at the interchange; Windsor knew how to conscript people to his cause. And keeping order in the castle was at time impossible without the consent and help of the older students.
"What say you young man?"
"Sir, yes sir, I will comply Sir!" Then he turned to Fred and George.
"Gentlemen I'm going to have to be a little more serious with you to. How by Merlin's blue left testicle did you to numb nuts get access to the school powder magazines?"
"Powder magazines?" Asked Minerva as her wide eyes and sharp voice announced her alarm to all there. "I didn't know we had powder magazines!"
"Neither did I, until I started looking through the wards around their lab two days ago. But it appears a potions professor back during the Civil War had set up a production facility for black powder in the space expanded basement of the Pollux Tower and several long spaces in the walls leading away from it. From the records left in the small office there, he was selling to both sides and making a pretty profit. The proceeds of which was in a locked chest at the back of the magazine and with that wizard's demise without heir now property of the school, less a finders fee to these young gents for actually finding the windfall for us. The nine hundred talents of gold and silver bullion or equivalencies will go a long way toward paying for all the things we need to do to Hogwarts this summer.
"Nine hundred talents!" choked Minerva.
"Yes, the Crown and the parliament were very eager for his continued supply of their armies. It was very good and well manufactured powder. Exactly what you'd expect from a potions master with house elves helping." He turned and looked at both wide-eyed young men. "I've already had the chest and its treasures moved by the house elves to the herbology vaults at Gringotts for conversion into modern coinage. It will be there when you need it this summer." Minerva nodded but was still shocked at the amount given, that was more than ten years revenue for the school! What other treasures was Windsor finding hidden under their noses in back rooms of the castle?
"Thankfully these young gentlemen did not venture into that portion of the magazine. If they had there were several very tricky traps that would've lighted the whole thing off. Blowing up four hundred tons of black powder no matter its age would not be a small kaboom. Especially as we have discovered it uses chlorate powder in the formulation, and while chlorate powder does speed up the production of black powder it makes it physically unstable and has the nasty habit of absorbing magic if left in magical fields for any length of time. And this supply has been sitting inside the wards of Hogwarts since its manufacture in 1672, when the headmaster who was running this using the house elves lost his head to a cannonball making a delivery. The elves just finished the last batch. Put it in twenty-pound oak kegs and let it sit."
"At least you two gentlemen have been using it for just making fireworks and where somewhat careful in the amounts and manner with what you were taking out. And you were smart enough not to do any work in the magazine itself. But you did leave a portal connected directly to your lab open to the magazine. Please stretch your minds for a moment to what would've happened if the kobold had flared or young master Goyle lost control of enchantment starting a fire in his forge that would spread to your lab. And then that fire spreads to the magazines!"
He was a little excited at this point. He had to get the point across to all three of these gentlemen before they blew themselves and most of the school sky high. "Magazines which while warded those wards are in serious need of maintenance."
"That explains the efficacy of the fireworks they've been making." said Professor Flitwick. He paused thoughtfully for a moment. "I actually know of a fireworks maker who would love to purchase this material, if it could be moved safely."
"Not until this summer," spoke Lord Windsor fervently "I've sealed the magazine spaces up again and made sure that what I suspected is the method that the gentlemen used to gain access will not work again. But I'd like to have details on how they did get it and need to know if there's any more of that powder lying around outside of their lab!"
"No sir all the loose powder not already in one of our fireworks in the stone chests in our lab is restricted to the half keg in its own stone chests there." Fred spoke quickly.
"We knew we were dealing with something special when we tested it on small amounts sir. It reacted very well with the coloring metals normally used in general fireworks." Said George. "I'll admit we like explosions but not when it hurts people!"
"At least there is that," breathed Lord Windsor. "Well Headmistress I believe that takes care of the babies and loud kaboom prevention business tonight. These gentlemen have several long days ahead of them. And misters Weasley if you think the extra reading, I'm going to be giving Mr. Goyle is a bit excessive there is nothing to what I'm going to be giving to you two. And all three of you can expect to lose half of every Saturday not a Quidditch day or a Hogsmeade holiday, for the rest of the year. Doing the research into the safety procedures for conducting the arts you three are into. We have been abominably lucky so far, one slip in the last half year and things could have been much much worse. And there would have been a lot of tears in this country. I'm done here." He said the last to the headmistress in a tired voice.
"Yes, all of you accept Ms. Seraphina Shaw – Brown," indicating the lone and very pregnant Slytherin in the room. "Are dismissed and will be escorted back to your dorm rooms by the rest of the staff. Ms. Shaw – Brown we have a few things with the aurors to talk about, in private."
After the rest the students had left and the door was closed. Minerva nodded to the two aurors.
"Ms. Shaw – Brown, as Severus Snape's contracted consort do you have access to Spinners End?" Asked senior auror Dawlish.
"No, I do not. My father may have been, required by certain parties to sign the contract at the end of last term, but he did put the stipulation in the contract that he would provide a property for myself and any children to reside in and that only Mr. Snape would be allowed access to it. I have total control of the wards for a four-hectare inspace with six rooms in a tree off Mandale Park in Rochdale my father called Treehold."
"An in-space?" asked or Dawlish.
"My father makes enchanted trunks with spaces inside that are larger than outside. Some of them are quite luxurious and could be warded to a high standard very economically. Treehold was one the products he provided to some of my family members and the family allies, the tree itself provides the stability for the enchantment to be hidden inside it, other enchantments ensure the tree is very healthy and is not cut down by the Muggles and can be accessed in a number of ways. Mr. Snape was quite intrigued at the possibilities of the space but frustrated that he could not figure out the enchantments and that as part of the contract if I died it would revert to my families trust account and that he had no access to the wards stone. He was very happy that I had such a large garden inside to provide both fresh food and some potions ingredients for my own brewing and that we could shut out the outside world."
"He never took you to Spinners End?"
"No sir my father stipulated that in the contract that Treehold would be my home and the home of any of our children to shield them from the legal fallout of his actions if any. Furthermore, I was not required to attend any … events… with him until our second child was five years old. I can provide you a copy of the contract if you desire. It is a matter of public record though it was not published in the newspapers."
"Did you have access to his quarters here?"
"Yes, after the contract was signed, I had access to them. Most nights in a week this last year I spent in his bed but I kept a bed in the girls dormitories for appearance sake. As my father and he had signed the contract at Summer solstice."
"Did you have access to his private potions lab here?
"Just this last school year but I rarely went in there as many of the potions he was making for other clients would have adversely affected the baby if I had been exposed to the brewing process." Wallace frowned this did not look like it was going to get anything.
"Do you know anywhere else he was doing any brewing?" Seraphina thought for several moments.
"The only other places I can think of him doing any brewing is Malfoy Manor. And while he did have an office and access to the lab in Treehold he preferred to do his brewing at Spinners End or here at Hogwarts as that lab was set up significantly different than this one."
"How so?"
"I use a hybrid traditionalists and natural philosophers set up for the lab at Treehold. Severus preferred a traditionalists lab. And was not… comfortable with much of the natural philosophers equipment that my mother had helped me install."
"Will you grant access to the department to search Spinners End as part of an ongoing investigations?"
"As stipulated I cannot grant access to his properties or his main vault and the only property we held together is Treehold. As part of the contract my father required that he set up a separate vault for myself and our children. The monies there were to provide for our upkeep to a set standard."
"Were you aware if he had made a will since signing the consort agreement?"
"Yes, my father required it. He knew Severus Snape's reputation and history and while he was… compelled to sign the agreement. Mr. Malfoy who witnessed the signing agreed the stipulations were prudent given the possibility of a reverse in the current political climate and the stance my family normally kept. From what I remember, with Severus' death the estate goes into a Gringotts trust to be held in full for our child's majority less a set amount of the interest deposited annually in our upkeep vault for myself and our children. The rest of the interest being available to pay for our children's schooling. The Prince family seat and its vote in the Wizengamot was to be held in proxy by Lord Malfoy until our son was twenty-five years old. Which was acceptable to myself as I have no desire to enter politics."
"Gringotts is going to sell Spinners End?"
"That is my understanding, though they would probably allow you to search the property as they catalog the contents for storage or disposal."
"Gringotts would have a ward key to Spinners End as part of liquidating the property as part of the trust agreement," Dawlish said to his partner "we can get a warrant they will honor. Thank you, Ms. Shaw–Brown. We won't take up anymore of your time." Both aurors nodded to the headmistress and exited the room. Minerva turned to look at Seraphina.
"I'm going to ask Miss Shaw Brown, was this contract your idea or your father's?"
"It was an… idea brought up by Lord Malfoy. I believe it was to punish my father's lack of financial and public support for the… Cause… he and Mr. Snape espoused during the last war. They also wanted a much larger inspace to use as a base for other parties. But the four-hectare unit I have is about the largest that can be built in magical England without attracting Muggle attention or killing the tree, if you use an oak as a focus. Even then Treehold will only last about a hundred years. There are reports of larger ones in American sequoias but I do not know if that is true and if it is true is only limited to certain places on the West Coast of North America. I do know they were in the process of identifying a place or places where they could put several for their use when the accident at Nott Manor happened. While my father may have a contract to deliver the inspaces they would now go to the ladies in charge of the specified houses rather than the men indicated in the contract."
"I have heard the term but it lacked details. Before but can you tell me what is a focus stone?"
"Something a British ex-pat published on during the last century, the absolute gold standard for enchanted spaces, in theory at least based on the massive several hundred-hectare elven hill halls of antiquity. Supposedly the ex-pats husband had created several stones by melding different magical elements to create a focus even more power than the old Elven spaces. But the ministry attacked him and sequestered the magic involved as dark or at least that's the tale.
"More likely it would have upset the flow of rents and taxes." Muttered Lord Windsor.
"My great-grandfather supposedly worked for him for half a year after Hogwarts and he says it used a mix of Muggle and magical technology to do something neither was able to do themselves. My family has been trying to re-create the process that was vaguely described in the publication and great-grandfathers diaries but has had no great success doing so until we created the inspace trees. My understanding is that the potential lifespan on the synthetic focus is unlimited and is not subject to decay if the tree itself begins to die or is destroyed like the enchantments my family uses.
"Then again, I don't know anymore details other then they exist as a theoretical construct of great utility. And that would make hiding large magical communities or buildings from the Muggles much easier."
"Do you miss Mr. Snape?" Asked Minerva with sympathy in her voice.
"The… Contract headmistress was Mr. Malfoy's idea, when he discovered Mr. Snape and I both shared compatible magic's. I personally would not have pursued a relationship with Mr. Snape other than professionally as while he was an excellent potions master; he was not somebody I would normally… consider associating with socially. Then again from several reactions he had I suspect he and Mr. Malfoy were more intimate than they appeared in public." Said Seraphina coldly.
Minerva grimaced at the girls biting tone at the last remark and the images it provoked. Ms. Shaw–Brown obviously did not think much of such men using witches, such as her and Narciso Malfoy, as a cover for their… proclivities. But the vast majority of the social elite felt they had to hide such things and Albus while he was of a similar bent had helped all but criminalize homosexual conduct among polite society for his own reasons. She was very lucky the wards had kept him and men like Lockhart out of the girl's dormitories for the most part or many girls would have been expelled over the years.
"Thank you Ms. Shaw–Brown, do you have a nanny elf?"
"Yes, I do headmistress one was provided by my father. She was my nanny elf when I was younger." Minerva smiled that would be excellent for the young lady going forward.
"Do you need an escort back to the dormitories?" Minerva asked.
"No headmistress I believe I will be perfectly safe getting to my dormitory. Though I am glad not to have to hide under the glamours, the itching was becoming intolerable this evening."
"Yes, Lord Windsor and I perfectly agree that such things hamper students ability to function. Well then have a good evening and sleep well."
"Thank you headmistress have good evening as well."
As the door closed Minerva smiled, so Lord Windsor wasn't just chasing the dragon, they could hide the whole school in its own dimensional pocket. A thought for later in the evening, the inspaces though sounded intriguing as a private retreat rather than the huge manorial property Lord Windsor had intimated about. She would have to see and get more details about both from Shaw – Brown' father. Pomona would be ecstatic if the extent of the lands Lord Windsor hinted at could be attained and controlled 'like a greenhouse' he had said. Very intriguing indeed.
In the mailroom of Gringotts, a goblin curse breaker working the incoming international mail was looking at the late-night delivery of international parcels and letters that had been kicked out of the first sorting queue because of possibly foreign magics on them. One of them, postmarked Geneva Switzerland, had not only set off the detectors for possibly foreign magic there had been hostile mind magics indicated. He spent several minutes bracing up his mind wards before looking at it closer on the analysis slab and casting several analysis spells to work with the device. He looked at the sheet of paper that rolled out next to the slab. The package had a wand in it, in a metal evidence cylinder, a wand with entailment magic on it. Entailment magic to the house of Peverell cloaked by something else something dark something from… outside. The package came with a letter taped to the outside without magic directed it to the account manager for the House of Potter.
The clerk shrugged he was no thief no matter what the wand whispered to him. And this required more than he was prepared to deal with hear. He sent it and the report to the dangerous magics holding area in a sealed lead box to be looked at more closely by the morning shift with several high threat warnings clearly labeled on the outside, with a warning about the package for the oncoming shift supervisor. And then sent a note up to the Potter account manager's office about the package being diverted there and the report detailing why, just in case he was expecting the package at a set time. Then turned back to the queue of packages, this shift was going to be a long one.