If you're reading this, much love. Man has life gotten easier ever since I cut down the amount of soda, fast food, and red meat that I eat… Also, I've been doing a lot of thinking about the population size of the Wizarding World and why there's really so few students at Hogwarts, and knowing that Hogwart's maximum student population is around 1,000, I ran some math and did a bit of research, because I'm an easily distracted nerd who likes reading quasi-technical things in my spare time.

CONTENT WARNING: A hastily researched essay with sloppily done math INCOMING. Skip past to the ENJOI if you don't wanna read about my thoughts on the Harry Potter universe's population size and what number I'm going with with the Twin's Potter.

The population of the UK 66.65 million. Running some numbers and a quick assumption that the wizarding population of the UK is one tenth of the total, that leaves… 6.6 or so million wizards and witches living in the UK. Now, the usually average population of the UK who are 18 and younger is about 20 percent, which equals 13,320,000 children. We'll cut that number in half… leaving us with a cool 6.66 million eligible to attend Hogwarts at any given time.

Even if my math was done incorrectly, which was done through Google search to avoid me using my GOD AWFUL own skills, THAT'S STILL A LOTTA PEOPLE, YO

But, hey, lets cut that number down, shall we? Let's say… 5% of the population of the UK is magical. That gives us 3,332,500. 20% of that being… 664,500, half of which being arguable eligible for Hogwarts(Which, according to many sources I've found to be able to hold 1,000 students,) to a lean 332,250.

That is… still a helluva lotta of magical kids who NEVER get a Hogwarts letter… ok ok ok, lets trim it down to 1%? 666,650? Okay, 20% of which is… 133 some od thousand or such. Half of which is..

Yeah, you get the point. Even at a paltry 1% of the population, there would STILL 133,300 children who are born with the necessary magical gene to fit in the halls of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Granted, the gene is still an incredibly rare and special thing to have inherited(Hermione is one extremely lucky person to fall in to 1% of the population!) However, there aren't any other magical UK schools named in the books(I think, at one point, there were two others named in secondary sources that I had found YEARS ago, with one being in Northern Ireland(named O'Doherty's, I believe?), but these have since been scrubbed from any sources I've been able to find in recent years,) that could take these students in, but still, at 1% of the population, that is still a logistical overload for three whole schools to handle, much less the 1,000 max Hogwarts is supposed to.

So, at any given time, Hogwarts would have a full student load in its halls. How does the math that reflects the estimated population size of Wizarding UK? Assuming 1,000 is half the population below the age 18, we can say that 20% of the population equals 2,000. 2,000 maxed up to 100% is… 10,000. Ten grand. 0.15 the percentage of the entire UK. Not just less than 1 percent, BUT BARELY OVER A TENTH OF 1 PERCENT! The small city of Edwardsville, Illinois for example has almost two and half times MORE people than the entirety of Wizarding UK COMBINED? Not exactly a viable population, eh?

Which brings me to my next point, the Minimum Viable Population. The MVP is a number that essentially estimates the lowest possible number of a population needs to continue existing in a long term sense. There isn't really a set number or ratio(the 50/500 rule kinda fudges that, I think,) as it can be affected by random events, environment, biological changes, etc., BUT I can almost guarantee that only 1% of the UK being a wizard would be inviable, and can CERTAINLY guarantee being a pureblood supremacist a practically unviable idealogy.

28 families, out of what, a potential couple thousand? Get outta town, you're more inbred than my cousin from 'Bama(if… you know, I actually had a cousin from Alabama.)

But that notwithstanding, 1% STILL isn't a great number to work with regardless of blood purity. You must consider the economy, disparities in family sizes, people like McGonagall or Snape not having children at all, murder, health/overall life expectancy, overall death rates vs. birth rates, disease, poverty, infertility rates… it's a mess, dude. So why does wizarding UK seem so… small town? The universe created seems to describe a number LESS than 1%. Well, the simple answer is JK Rowling wanted to establish a small, cozy setting for which Harry Potter to take place, without having to meander into population levels and other nonsense. And we must figure that dealing with cold hard numbers in a children's book isn't exactly… readable. But alas, this lapse in world building still falls into the same trap that the Star Wars Legends EU does, where everything is made up and the numbers don't make sense(an Imperial I-class Star Destroyer outputs almost as much power as a STAR, REALLY?)

Now we can argue that a fair bit of the population is coming from muggle descent. There rises a NEW problem from that, however. It is stated, or maybe implied, in the lore that muggleborns are descendants of ancient squibs who either were banished or excommunicated themselves from magical society, joining the Muggle one instead, passing a dormant magical gene down through generations to be passed on to a lucky descendant later on. Squibs are anomalies, exceptions. They are a rare population amongst an already rare population. The numbers of muggleborns being born with an active magic gene would thus be rare as well, to an extent, making a reliance on fresh blood coming in from muggle populations almost moot, and dwindling the magical population to, dare I say, extinction, or at the very least to such a rarity that even the number of witches and wizards we see in the books or on screen realistically impossible.

So, what percentage have I concluded on using for my Twins Potter canon? I'd say estimated somewhere between 3-5%. There has to be other schools and institutions besides Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, Durmstrang, or Ilvermorney. They may be smaller, lesser known, and localized, and I will probably never really mention them or write about them in any way, but that will be my headcanon on how to explain why only 1,000 kids out of 600,000 can attend Hogwarts.

DISCLAIMER: Like I said earlier, this was hastily researched, I glossed over a lot of finer details in favor of making this as short as I could, and I may very well have gotten some things waaaaaay wrong.

Anywho, I've taken up enough page space and time. Change your underwear, brush your teeth, wash behind your ears, and…

ENJOI

…

The fallout of James Dean's latest mishap wasn't as bad as he thought. As it turned out, the tall blonde man was Malfoy's dad, and the Irish guy was Emma's. James Sr., as a law enforcement officer with the Aurors, had Malfoy by the family jewels with assault on a minor, so any legal action that Lucius Malfoy brought up on James Dean for attacking Draco was annulled, and Declan Kennedy, Emma's dad, never really had anything to do with it to begin with.

Mom, on the other hand, was a little more difficult to get off. But halfway through her tirade, James dropped Lockhart's name and she cooled off. "You four are grounded. Two weeks."

Two weeks came and went, with the days all being spent working on their half of the project they had started with Mr. Weasley. It was... suspect, at best, but they managed to make a functional prototype of a short distance walkie talkie from a pair of old wizarding wireless receivers, the cobbled together remains of an old rotary phone, and the electric power converter of an old RC car they had found in a dumpster behind the local electronics store.

James Dean and James Sr. managed to make up a few days after the Diagon Alley Debacle. It wasn't really a spoken mutual apology as it was a silent sort of agreement to put it behind them, and it wasn't long after that they started hanging out with each other in James Sr.'s workshop again. The elder James even helped with some of the spell work to make their pet project work and shared a little joy with Arthur Weasley at their collective success.

The weeks passed way too quickly, and before James Dean knew it, he was standing before the portal to Platform 9 and ¾. Off to Hogwarts for a new year of pranking Argus Filch, avoiding Professor Severus Snape, getting philosophy lessons from Dumbledore, and serving detention with McGonagall... James couldn't keep the smile off his face.

King's Cross was full of people; wizard families taking their children to the train and muggles looking at the weird people with luggage carriers filled with odd things like cauldrons, toads, and owl cages. Wabbajack, James' owl, hooted angrily at one muggle kid who tried to stick his finger in at him. James scared the kid off, and Wabbajack ruffled his feathers at James appreciatively.

The walk through the platforms was uneventful, and Fred and George went through the portal first, with ease. Molly went through with Ginny, and Lily wheeled after them. With the others out of the way, James Sr. held Ron, Harry, James, Travis and Brian back for a moment.

"Now, boys," James Sr. started, and the boys groaned with the prediction of the inevitable lecture.

James Dean droned his father out, knowing exactly what he was going to prattle on about. Avoid fights, pranks, and Malfoy, do your homework, wash behind the ears and say hello to Hagrid, don't forget to stay on Snape's good side, even though he doesn't have one… James heard it all already. So he went off into la-la land alongside Brian, and watched people on the platform. An old lady hobbling to Platform 13 to get on her train dropped a ten pound note from her purse, and a punk rocker teen picked it up and pocketed it. James and he made eye contact and nodded at each other. A businessman disembarking from a train on Platform 7 was shrieking at his young, female assistant for getting his coffee wrong. Her white blouse was stained brown, and she was crying as she hurried to keep up with the jerk's long strides.

"James!"

"Huh?"

"Check this out!" Harry hollered.

"What is it?" James asked, as he snapped out of his day dream. "Where's dad?"

"Went through the wall," Travis sighed. "He went first… but now we can't through!"

"Okay, dudes, this is messed up."

Harry rubbed his forehead where he banged it on the now closed wall that was the entrance to Platform 9 and ¾. James couldn't agree with Brian's assessment more, but what really got him was why the portal to the magical world wouldn't open for them. Ginny, the other Weasley's, and the Potter parents passed through fine, but it wouldn't let them through? What the hell?

"Yeah, it is. Chances are, too, that our parents ain't going to be able to come out, either."

"James speaks reason," Travis muttered. "Thank you, Captain Obvious."

"I try."

"So what do we do now?" Ron asked, looking confused.

"Well, we can wait," Travis suggested lamely. "Or, we can take a little initiative. The Anglia is parked outside…"

"That's right!" Ron exclaimed, a mischievous grin growing on his face.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa," James tutted. "That's risky. Mr. Weasley's car isn't exactly a Ministry-approved project, so he said himself. If we mess it up… he could lose his job, or worse. We can't just up and take his car. What if something goes wrong?"

Ron's look of eagerness died with this realization.

"Since when have you cared about something going wrong?" Harry asked incredulously. "You are a proud troublemaker."

"Yeah, and we take pride in getting away with it, too," Brian argued. "I'm with James. We shouldn't do this. It's too risky."

"What's too risky?" the voice of James Sr. asked. The five turned. "What prank is worth missing the Hogwarts Express and worrying your mothers half to death?"

"No prank," James Dean answered, smacking his palm and the hard concrete wall that was the entrance to the Platform. "We're barred, apparently."

"What? Why? On who's authority?"

"I dunno," James shrugged.

"Grr..." James Sr. growled. "Gimme your backpack."

James Dean relinquished his pack, and his father pulled out a sheath of parchment and one of James's pens, scribbled something on the paper, and moved to open Wabbajack's cage, before pausing and narrowing his eyes. He looked to his son, who also had his eyebrow raised, and it appeared that the two were thinking the same thing.

"Letters by owl haven't been getting out from us," they chorused, and James Sr. again growled in irritation.

"Grah!" James Sr. scoffed, pursing his lips and shaking his head, putting his hands on his hips in thought. "Wait here, I have an idea."

The five watched as the eldest Potter stomped off to a dark nook of the train station, and watched as, with his back to them, a silvery light emanated from what they all assumed was his wand. He seemed to speak some words and took the time to enunciate them clearly. A silvery blue ball of light then tore off, through the wall and disappearing. Their father stayed there, waiting expectantly, when another ball of silvery light appeared, and James Sr. shook his head in resignation.

"Let's go," he growled at the five boys as he stomped away, leading them from the station.

"Pops?" Travis asked in confusion.

"We need to get you all to school," their father grumbled. "And... well, let's just say the only way I can currently get you all there isn't going to be by train."

They all shared weird looks, but shrugged almost in unison, and began wheeling their carts to follow.

…

James Dean had to admit, his father was a crafty guy. Not only did he manage to hotwire Arthur's Anglia, but he also had the cool to drive the old rust bucket rather smoothly. The way he drove made it seem like they were agents in a spy movie. And of course he had the forethought to wait until they were outside of London, in a low traffic area, to take flight and use the invisibility enchantment.

I mean c'mon, who would be dumb enough to take flight in the car from King's Cross?

The ride was exciting at first. The thrill of adventure had gotten Harry and Ron riled up and wooping as James Sr. skillfuly flew them across the greater part of London to find the Hogwarts Express.

...

As dusk turned the sky a menagerie of warm to cooler colors, their father woke them up. "We're close. Better get dressed for school, kids."

Clobbering each other with knees and elbows, they struggled into their school robes. Not a word was said, as they had spent most the day napping and were still in the just-woke-up phase. James Sr. had flown quietly and smoothly behind the train like a pro all day, but now all they could see was the glittering of lamplight poking out of the windows of Hogwarts Castle as they made their final approach.

James Sr. put them on an approach that would touch them down somewhere in the vicinity of the Entry Hall. The Whomping Willow loomed ever larger as they flew nearer, its limbs and moss-like leaves swaying in the breeze in the gentle dusk colored atmosphere. It was serene, almost picturesque, and it brought James Dean a sense of peace as his groggy mind interpreted what he was seeing. It was like a Bob Ross painting, and it made waking up and getting ito gear hard…

Until a choking sound came from the engine.

"Uh oh," James Sr. muttered.

The car nosedived, straight for the main trunk of the Whjomping Willow. James, who was in the front passenger seat, got a prime view of Ron's behind as he came flying into the front seat over his shoulder. "Dude, get your butt outta my face!"

"Pull up, Dad," Harry screeched from the backseat, holding onto Travis as the more muscular boy held on for dear life to the headrest. "Pull UP!"

"I'm trying!"

"Dad, we're gonna wreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee-"

With a mighty CRAAAAAASH, the Ford Anglia smashed into the earth, its nose plowing the grass and dirt before slamming into the tree before its rear tires finally found solid ground. They were lucky; the carhad lost enough of its velocity when James Sr. had slowed for the descent. Had they hit any harder…

"Oh," the James muttered. "So that's why they make seatbelts. Man, look at the windshield! It's screwed…"

"The windshield?" Brian scoffed. "The entire car is junked. Mr. Weasley is gonna be livid!"

"My wand," Ron cried as he pulled himself up from James Dean's lap, holding up his wand. It was nearly snapped in two, the only thing holding it together was a its battered core and a small strip of wood that luckily didn't break in the wreck.

"So that's what stabbed me in the shoulder," James Dean said, rubbing his left shoulder idly.

"Screeeeeech!" James Dean's and Harry's owls, Wabbajack and Hedwig, screeched in unison.

"Hush, you's."

Ron and Harry muttered something about a wimping wallaby, all before James Sr. screamed, "Get down!"

The twelve inch thick branch of the tree came swinging down, hard, into the front hood of the Anglia, crushing the already mangled metal. James screamed a quick "Holy shi-" before the car came to life, and on its own, backed away from the tree and swung it's doors open. Rearing back on it's back tires, it kicked it's six occupants and their luggage out of the car and with a mighty war cry, chug-chug-chugged off into the Forbidden Forest.

"Well…" James Sr. sighed. "That didn't go as planned."

"Apparently not," the voice of Severus Snape sneered.

Turning around slowly, James looked up at Snape, green with fear. "Uh… it wasn't us?"

"Headmaster's office," Snape replied with impunity. "All of you."

"Severus, I already explained the situation to Du-"

"Headmaster's office," Snape simmered, eyes practically glowing with anger. "Now."

With that, Snape turned on his heel, his caped robe billowing behind him, as James Sr. helped the boys collect their belongings and followed him. Their father was quiet and looked peeved, and James remembered that there was some sort of bad blood between the two older men.

Snape led them past the Great Hall and up the first flight of stairs that led to the Headmaster's Tower. The Gargoyle Corridor was only something James had heard about, as he had never made his way down it last year, and it lived up to its moniker. At the far end sat a large, looming, stone carved gargoyle that was as ugly as it was spooky. As Snape approached, it reared its had and looked him in the eye, it's skin cracking as it did.

"Password?"

Snape gave James Sr. and James Dean derogatory looks, then leaned in, whispering what James Dean supposed was the password.

"Correct," It stated simply, and the dais it was on spun, lowering down to reveal a grand marble staircase that led to the top of the tower. Snape wordlessly led them upwards at his long legged, angry pace, and they were all forced to leave their belongs at the base of the stairs. Dumbledore was there, standing outside of his office, as if waiting for them.

"Ah, so you have arrived," he said, holding his arms out in welcome but not looking welcoming. "Boys, please wait out here. Mr. Potter, Severus, please, come in and lets discuss this with Minerva and Filius, when they arrive.

It was quiet in the office, while James Dean and the others waited. Flitwick and McGonagall didn't take long to show up, but didn't spare them a glance or even a greeting as they stormed into the office.

That was when things got heated. James Sr. apparently had explained what had happened, and Snape blew up on him, claiming such a thing was impossible. James Sr. snapped back that with magic, nothing was impossoble, to which Snape accused him of lying and making a publicity stunt. That was when the heads of Ravenclaw and Gryffindor houses cut in, and the yelling went back at forth with Snape angrily as Dumbledore and his father had more somber, even tones. Apparently, Snape wanted James Sr. arrested and the Potter sons expelled, considering their "illegal use of magic." McGonagall and Flitwick had other ideas and made them very well known. Dumbledore finally made up a verdict in a quiet, diplomatic tone, and the Headmaster's office opened. James looked for his father; he wasn't there. Dumbledore stormed out of his office looking like he was ready to spit fire, but gave the five boys a neutral look before he descended the stairs. Harry looked like he was about to say something but choked on the words. As he tried to speak again, he was cut off.

"Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, with me. Now."

Harry and Ron quickly followed the stern and angry looking Professor McGonagall, heads low. Snape passed by after her, almost tripping the wizened and aging Professor Flitwick, head of Ravenclaw House, as he did so. Giving Harry a death glare, he too stormed off and disappeared down the corridor. Flitwick motioned for James, Travis and Brian to follow him, and they did so without a word. He led them to a classroom on the second floor, a corridor down from Ravenclaw Tower.

As they entered the room, Flitwick tried to climb atop a dusty, unused desk. Travis stepped up and lofted him atop it. He mumbled his thanks in between wheezy breaths and smiled awkwardly. His hair was a wiry, wispy white and stuck around in odd directions, reminding James of Albert Einstein. His wrinkled, pudgy face was pale, and his bright blue eyes were of a clear tropical sky, warm and breezy and intelligent. He stood only a mere three foot tall; the three boys made him look like an eighty year old toddler.

"Now," Flitwick started. "Boys, I know that it wasn't your fault. Your father told us about the mishap at King's Cross. But, unfortunately…"

"Unfortunately what, Professor?" Brian asked.

"Well, lads… Snape doesn't want to let you and your father's course of action go unpunished. He wanted you expelled-"

"Pffft," Travis mumbled. "Please. What else were we supposed to friggin' do?"

"Your father's point exactly, in less… er… minced words. Now, we all know that is extreme and cruel, and completely unnecessary given the situation. I, for one, see no reason why there should be any punishment at all, but Snape is… beyond reasoning, and is threatening to take this issue to the school's Governor's unless something happens now. So Dumbledore has decided that detention is a hppy medium, and has the details of your punishments to the respective Heads of House."

"So…?" James queried, curious. "What's our poison, Professor?"

"Well, it isn't exactly a poison. A week of detention each, with me, in my office. You will help me grade assignments."

"You're the one who is charge of detentions for first quarter!?" Travis gasped. "Sweet!"

"Well… not exactly. That privilege is Gilderoy Lockheart's."

The three boys groaned in exasperation.

"My point exactly," Flitwick wheezed knowingly, shuddering at the thought of them being cooped up with Lockhart, apparently. "So I will handle your punishments, at least this time. I know how…" He flicked his gaze to James. "Popular, you boys are. Subjecting you to such torments would be rather… well, it would just be too much."

"We appreciate it greatly, Professor," James smiled, earning a smile from Flitwick in return.

"Of course you do. The less you have to deal with, now, the better. Now get going back to your dormitories. The feast is long over by now. I'll write you each notes, in case Argus decides to heckle you."

...

"Dude, I love Flitwick," Travis laughed as he flipped his note over in his hand. "I swear, we got so friggin' lucky getting sorted in Ravenclaw."

"Tell me about," Brian sighed as he tucked his note in his pocket. "We can use these damn near anytime we want- he didn't even date them!"

"We'll keep that in mind for the next time Filch hassles us," James snickered. "Three free get outta jail free cards, baby!" James tucked his note in the breast pocket of his robes as he met the portal to the Ravenclaw dorms.

"Give me food, and I will live," the Eagle head guarding the dorms muttered. "But give me water, and I will die. What am I?"

"Fire," all three answered.

"You may pass," the Eagle opened the door. The three boys didn't make it across the threshold before they were swept in by a mass of hands.

"Nice flying, boys!" Fred Weasley hollered jubilantly. "What prank are you gonna pull next!?"

"That was brilliant!" George gushed as he hauled Travis and Brian in after.

"Your best prank so far!" An older, lone Ravenclaw cheered, but was shut down by a glare from Samhain al-Fulani, a now Sixth Year Prefect who was obviously very upset about the Gryffindors being in his common room but had obviously been bested in a battle of wits. The paper-pushing Irish-Arabic boy instead had settled on glaring holes in the back of the Weasley skulls, instead.

James gave an eyebrow raised look at Travis, who quizzically glanced at Brian, who... they were fairly sure was so spaced out at that point that he didn't recognize anyone talking to them. "How the hell did you two get into Ravenclaw tower?"

"We have our ways," George smiled, and gave a suave little smile to a Ravenclaw girl in their year, whose cheeks turned as red as her hair as she waved back.

"Sly devil," James Dean muttered, and slugged George on the shoulder. "What's up?"

"Was wondering what you three were up to later-" Fred explained as James led them to their favorite spot on the Commons, a little nook away from everyone else in the corner of the Tower, well away from the warmth of the fire, but also well away from prying eyes.

"We got a new hit on something-"George continued, holding up a ball of seemingly inconspicuous yarn. "Figured we'd up the ante from what we did last year?"

"Its guaranteed to succeed, after all," Fred tried to sell it. "We have a foolproof-"

"As much as I am game to ruin Filch and Mrs. Norris-" James interrupted them, shuddering at the mention of the hated feline creature. "We are already in detention because of Snape, and Dad making us fly here in that car. We're on the list now and I doubt we'd go unseen, at least for the near future."

Fred pursed his lips, obviously unhappy with the answer, but seemed to relent. "Fair enough," he sighed, and clapped his hands on his thighs as he stood up. "We'll run it solo, for tonight. Take care of yourselves, eh?"

"You betcha," James replied, bumping knuckles with his counterpart mastermind. The twins slinked out of the Ravenclaw common, not without some pomp and circumstance. The redhead girl George wooed all but swooned after their exit, and Travis scoffed.

"Whip," the darker skinned brother muttered.

"Useful whip," James amended with a grin. "We can use her attraction to our benefit later, I'm sure."

"Who's the sly one now?" Travis chuckled, giving his brother a devilish grin.

"It was always me," James threw his hands up and laughed, leaning back into his couch and crossing his ankle over his knee.

"Surprised you didn't take their offer," Brian stated simply as he prostrated himself back into his own seat. "Normally, you're a prank slave driver."

James shrugged and licked his teeth in thought. "Like I said, its too hot for us right now, and we are running on empty as it is. We haven't eaten anything since breakfast, and missed the Feast because Snape wants to be a D-Bag. Snape and Filch both are probably, as we speak, actively looking for us at and just want to catch us slipping. 'Sides, it's been a long day and I wanted to relax. You guys, uh, see K anywhere, by chance?"

Travis shook his head, and Brian looked like he needed to think about who that was before jolting, as if shocked awake, before mirroring the gesture. "Nah, ain't seen her at all."

James Dean pursed his lips in consternation. "Hope she was okay by herself on the train," he muttered.

"I'm sure she was fine," Travis replied, a beat too quickly. James smiled slightly at this; Travis was having a hard time not showing how worried he was. The girl had sent them any letters over summer, and judging by the way Hermione, Ron, Fred and George's letters never got delivered, James bet theirs to her never made it, either.

"You sound convinced," James teased, but adopted a more stoic expression, relaxing into the lush, fluffy cushion and steepling his fingers over his stomach. "I'm worried, too. I dunno why our letters never went through, or why their letters didn't get in to us. The more I think about it, the weirder it seems."

"Strange," Brian murmured. "We didn't even find it all that odd when it was actively happening. Hindsight..."

"Hindsight's Twenty-Twenty," Travis agreed. "Think it was that house elf?"

"Who, Dobby?" James asked, raising an eyebrow. "I was thinking about that ever since you proposed it. I think perhaps we should-"

"Do some research?" Brian and Travis chorused.

"Seriously, brah, you are sounding like Hermione," Travis cracked, slapping James Dean's knee.

"Am not," James scowled with narrow eyes. "Keep in mind that her brainpower is wasted on her bookish academic pursuits. I have... broader intentions for my superior mental savvy."

"Oh, please do enlighten us, Wise One."

James held a finger up. "First. If you know your enemy as you know yourself, you need not fear the outcome of a hundred battles."

"Sounds like a quote from some stupid general," Brian whined, eyes glazed over.

James rolled his eyes and swatted the back of Brian's head, before flicking a second finger up. "I would hardly call Sun Tzu stupid. Second, the more we know about House Elves, the more we can do to prevent it-him-it- whatever it is, from trying to sabotage us further, and, in fact, maybe find ways to use Dobby or other house elves to our advantage."

Travis looked pensive and relented with a shrug. "Sounds square. I can't imagine that little creature being on our side, but hey, if what we were told about them is true, it'll make for one helluvan ally."

James snapped his fingers in agreement. "Precisely. It'd be a huge win for us, especially considering what the little buggers are supposedly capable of, but that's not what I'm so excited about as I am their subtly."

"Explain," Brian asked.

"According to what Uncle Padfoot says, they're treated like third class citizens to most magical kind. That outside of their obligations, they are practically invisible."

Travis and Brian grinned.

James grinned back and held his hands out like a messiah preaching the heavenly word. "I rest my case."