Hey everyone,
Another thing I want to remind you all of. Because Riddle was taken down in December, he never got to free his followers from Azkaban. I'm not entirely sure what I'll do with Bellatrix Lestrange and the others, but I will think of something. And for those of you who know me, you probably already know that I don't plan to just leave that witch to rot in prison. The Dementors are fine, but she deserves worse.
Much worse,

Venquine1990

Chapter 38
Your House Is Like Your Family

25th of February 1996
Gryffindor Common Room
Ron's POV

When I heard that Professor Sprout planned a House meeting the Sunday after the meeting in the Teachers Lounge and that Professor Flitwick would do the same the Sunday after, I agreed with Professor McGonagall that the Gryffindor House Meeting would be on the final Sunday of the month. I also used the Valentine's Day Hogsmeade weekend to visit Harry again and tell him about the meeting that took place.
And because this weekend was after the Hufflepuff House meeting, I already got a bag from Bill, through Dobby, full of letters from Hufflepuffs who wanted to apologize and repent. Some even, according to Harry and Bill, had the writers saying they'd be willing to swear oaths of fealty, just to ensure they'd never go down that road again. Harry was really moved by the whole thing and even cried a little when he read a few of the letters.

I also told him about MacMillan and how badly Professor Sprout took him to task for his words back then. MacMillan had tried to argue that he had apologized, but Professor Sprout had rebutted this with the question: "About your beliefs of him being the Heir or about your statement in regards to his Muggleborn Mother." And my year mate had, apparently, sourly admitted that it had been for the former, not the latter.
"He's serving detention until a week before OWLs. Though the teachers are lenient and agreed that, if he does what he needs to do in the detention in a good enough time, they will spent a little bit of the detention time to help him study." Harry had been very relieved to hear this, yet then he had told me something astounding. "Dobby's been helping me with homework. He tells me and when I'm done, he sneaks my essays into the teacher's piles.
I'm not really sure why the teachers haven't brought this to your attention yet, Ron, but I don't really care. I'm just glad that Dobby's helping me not fall behind." I had silently agreed with him, even though the thought of Harry studying for his OWLs while he was here hadn't even occurred to me. Yet at the same time, it made me very, very proud of the young man I considered my little brother and I had smiled at him.

Then Harry had turned somber and asked about Lupin. I had grimaced and told him that he hasn't been since at Hogwarts since his confrontation with the Headmaster over the Christmas break. Harry had nodded and said that the same was true about him not seeing Lupin near the Shack since that same day. The fact that Lupin, while wearing gloves, had tried to attack his best friend with a silver sword still horrifies me.
It also still makes me worry about whether or not I'm going to have to keep Harry here for the rest of his Hogwarts career, if not his entire life, a thought that increases my infuriation at Lupin. But when Harry heard that I was going to take the Gryffindors to task, he told me about a plan he had for Lupin, which he wanted me to implement once I was done. I had been astounded at the risk behind the plan, but Harry had reassured me.

"We have Dobby, Ron, not to mention that one of the Keepers is now a Curse Breaker. He can decrease the level of risk we might have to take before we put this plan into motion. Thanks for that one, by the way." I had nodded and told him the good news. How, in the same weekend as the Gryffindor House Meeting, Bill would set up the feeding line between Hogwarts and the Shrieking Shack, to implement new powerful wards here.
"Bill told me that the whole thing might take one or two months and then the wards should be just as strong here as the Fidelius Charm. That way, once the charm falls, the strength of the wards will keep your – eh – movie chamber working. And don't worry about the trial period. Bill taught me that it won't affect the Fidelius Charm unless all nine of us let it. You can have your Trial Period and we can let the Fidelius fall whenever we want."

Harry had been ecstatic about this and we had spent an hour or so watching one of his favorite movies. I had been deeply impressed with what Muggles are able to accomplish with a flat screen and animated frames of people, objects and scenery. Harry had actually explained it to me in a way that makes sense by comparing the whole thing to my old comics, but then on one screen and with people hired to voice the written text.
I had gushed about this with the other Keepers after I left, but I had also made sure to inform Hermione about Harry and his studies. The girl had squealed to express her pride in our best friend and I had stayed behind after class first thing on Monday to confirm this with Hestia Jones, who had become the new DADA teacher after the Christmas break. The woman had giggled and told me she had wondered how it kept showing up.
Naturally I hadn't revealed Dobby's identity, but I had been happy and proud to learn that Harry hadn't just been handing in the essays. He had apparently acquired himself a Pensieve and he was now sending memories of him practicing the spells set by the staff alongside his essays. And because of this, Harry was in the Top Five of best students in our class. Again I had shared this with Hermione and again the girl had squealed.

One night I had been unable to ignore my growing curiosity and I had asked Dobby if he knew where Lupin was. He didn't, but Kreacher, who was also helping me and Dobby without anyone other than mum, Lupin and Sirius knowing, did. And it irked me to no end to learn that Lupin was going across England and soaking up the love he got over his newfound fame. "Did Lockhart die and get reincarnated or something?" I thought.
The fact that there is now a ward that keeps personal elves from visiting Hogwarts outside of the personal dorms doesn't really bother me. Dobby is still employed by Dumbledore, so the ward technically doesn't work on him and I only meet Kreacher in bed when the other boys are already asleep anyway. Though apparently the elf is now also part-time working for Hogwarts and is helping keep an eye on the kitchens.

"Kreacher knows about the new ward on the food, but Kreacher wants to be sure that, when young master returns, he be kept safe. Kreacher is now employed at Hoggywarts to provide young Master and his keepers with their meals. Kreacher is one of few elves who has been granted this privilege." And it was after this that I learned that families with Elves had been able to request the same privilege with their Heads of House.
Parvati and Padma had been two of these people as they are apparently vegetarian and the Hogwarts House Elves often put beef and meat in front of them, which makes them nauseous. I don't really get how anyone can't enjoy a good bit of roast pork, but I do understand why they requested the privilege. I also discovered that Terence Hodgens, whose family is in feud with the Patils, had snuck into the kitchens to arrange the beef thing.

Needless to say Professor Flitwick really tore into the arrogant Raven for his actions. It was done in public in the Great Hall and it was discovered that, while the man himself wasn't a vegetarian, he once had a brother who had allergy to certain bits of meat. Some student had done the same for a joke and his brother had almost died of the event. Everyone had cringed and winced at hearing this and Hodgens had profusely apologized to the Patils.
Two days later, Bill had installed another ward onto the kitchens; one that would only let people into the kitchens if they wanted to get something to eat for themselves or for a party in the common room. But at the same time the ward would keep the people out if they wanted to order food for anyone that wasn't them, a member of their family or their House. A lot of students had been amazed at the complexity of the ward.
What's funny is that this had also inspired a lot of Second years to decide that they would pick Ancient Runes and Arithmancy for their elective classes as Bill had apparently let it slip that those two classes were essential for ward creation. Naturally Professor Vector and Babbling had been very happy and excited that they would get to have such a large and full class of students to teach next year, though they hadn't gloated about it.

Now it's time for the House Meeting and while I'm glad and relieved that Professor McGonagall is present, I am also grateful that, before the meeting took place, she assured me that she would let me take charge. In return I had told her of Harry's plan. The woman had been shocked, yet she had also understood. As much as Harry might enjoy his time in the Shack, he is growing to miss us dearly and wants to get back to his old life.

And now that I might be only two more steps away from achieving this goal, I definitely feel the same. My skin almost tingles with the desire to put this all behind me, to put this whole event in the past and leave it there. The determination I have been feeling ever since I was made the first of seven Secret Keeper receives a boost and I can feel it spreading to the others. I sense their determination growing as well and sense them sending me their pride.
And while they're all spread across the Gryffindor Common room, just to keep their identities as Keepers a secret for just a little while longer, I also wonder about something else. Each time that I visit Harry, I feel a strangely strong sense of longing and even a suppressed sense of jealousy coming from Fred and George's end of the bond. But because I need to focus on the here and now, I decide to leave this for after we've accomplished our goal.

"Thank you all for coming. I know that this, a House Meeting, is very unusual for most of you and I take full responsibility for that. It pains to me to admit that, when Mr. and Mr. Weasley first came to Hogwarts, I started putting more value behind my role as Deputy Headmistress and with that neglecting my duties as Head of Gryffindor. And for those of you wondering. Yes, our reason for this House Meeting is similar to the reason behind the House Meeting in both Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw House these past two weeks.
I will leave the rest of the explanation to Keeper Ronald and his older brother, Keeper William." A lot of the Lions are shocked at this last part and Lavender asks if Bill has been one of the seven this whole time. Bill shakes his head and says that he was only recently added. Someone else scoffs and suggests that anyone can be randomly added. His tone angers me but Bill remains calm as he refutes this and firmly he explains:

"No, you are quite wrong. Unless you are in sync with the desires of the Keepers, the magic will deny you. And after all, if anyone can be added, then the whole point behind the Fidelius Charm would be moot, wouldn't it? As that would give the enemies of those who are Keepers the chance to become a Keeper. Magic doesn't work like that. Trust me, I speak from almost 6 years of experience." The lad seems reluctant to accept this.
Yet Bill just goes on, after a short glance my way, and says: "Now onto a bit more about the Fidelius Charm. I studied it and discovered something very interesting. If a Fidelius Charm has 7 Keepers or more, it gains the same level of sentience as a newborn House Elf. Because of this, it can learn to discern for itself if the reason behind the charm being active is still valid or not. However, it can also analyze and discover new reasons.

And right now, it's whispering, sort of, two terms in the ears of my brother, myself and the other Keepers. Lupin, due to how arrogantly that man has been behaving towards his own friends ever since he became famous and because he is the last of the Order of the Phoenix to apologize for how he was spying on Harry and calling it guarding him. And excessive – bullying." Bill makes sure to put extra emphasis on the last two words.
Instantly someone jumps up to argue against this, but Professor McGonagall steps up and says: "Mr. McLaggen! Before the House Meetings took place, Mr. and Mr. Weasley met with the staff and we were all adult and responsible enough to admit that we had failed Mr. Potter when it mattered. Surely I can expect something similar from someone who is nearing adulthood himself." The lad winces and sits down again.

I look at the Professor and my brother to convey that I will take over from here. "And besides that, when it comes to those last two words, it's really about our first two years here. I already know that a lot of you apologized about how you treated Harry these past few months and I could tell you were genuine. I am, of course, annoyed that it happened a third time in a row, but that's not the point I'm trying to make here.
Also, while the First to Fourth years might be innocent in regards to these two years of issue. And yes, I consider the Fourth Years innocent as you were only First years in my Second and I know that peer pressure is a thing, not to mention the whole thing with the Chamber debacle. I want you all here for one reason. So that those who are innocent can learn from the mistakes of their peers and so that the same mistakes can't repeat themselves.
Now I will admit that, when it comes to Second, the Hufflepuffs were way worse, but that has already been dealt with, so I will let that portion rest. But only that portion, because some of you really weren't any better. And admit it, a few of you even helped the Badgers in this, telling them where to hide or blocking Harry's path so he'd be forced to walk those paths and get scared shitless like that. No apologies for my word choice, Professor."

The woman sends me an unimpressed look and then suddenly a Seventh year girl argues that I'm not even Prefect anymore and that I shouldn't have this right. At this I send her the same look as our teacher send me and then Bill tells the whole House about his own experience when he was in Fourth year and ends it with the words: "And that included three Team Captains who didn't have the right to do that either. Your point?"
The girl winces and like McLaggen sits down again before Bill says: "And as for why I told you all this? Not just to argue against the young lady's words, but to prove a point. I was fourteen, was already taller than Ron is now and still I was so scared off by the whole event that I didn't dare to report it. And I only dealt with 20 students, not almost 200. So imagine the fear Harry felt when he was only eleven and twelve years old."

Instantly I jump at my sudden opportunity and say: "And that's exactly the problem. Almost none of you ever put yourselves in Harry's shoes. You never question why he might have done something, you never think beyond what you think you know. You just believe you know him, because you heard stories about him growing up. But – and I'm sure the Muggleborns can understand this terminology – those stories are as real as Beauty and the Beast and Sleeping Beauty.
They're not. They're made up, fantasy, kids' stories, nothing else. Harry was Muggle-raised. And because of the Statute of Secrecy, he was never able to do anything that was written or said about him. Heck, he wasn't even the one to have ended Voldemort all those years ago. According to Headmaster Dumbledore's theory, that was thanks to his mother. Because Voldemort offered her to step aside and she refused him.
And I'm willing to believe that. If a man as wild, adventurous and daring as James Potter was willing to become a house father to protect his son, I'm willing to believe that Lily Potter would use ancient, forgotten magic to sacrifice herself and save her son. And anyone who has known Harry or heard him speak these last few years, know that Harry deeply respects his parents and their sacrifice. But also that he dearly misses them.

Because that is the problem with the Wizarding world as a whole. We were all so exuberantly happy all those years ago to have someone finally beat Voldemort, we completely ignored the sacrifice he had to suffer to get that done. And we have been ignoring that loss in his life ever since, all for the sake of our own selfish desires and worse – for the sake of merchandise and a quick Galleon. Two noble deaths are being monetarily exploited here."
I take a deep breath to stop myself as I am ranting and going off topic. I also realize that I am putting a sense of guilt on these students that isn't theirs to bare and sighs as I continue: "But that's neither here nor there and neither is it the reason for this meeting. The reason for this meeting is one thing. A statement. A statement that we are all subjected to, the first day we enter this incredible castle. Your House is like your Family."

Professor McGonagall smiles at hearing me quote her and I send her a quick smile back before I continue: "And let's face the facts here people, because there are two. One, I come from a really large family. And while I might not understand what Bill sees in all that math stuff or why Charlie likes to test his limits with Dragons, I love and accept my brothers. Which brings me to point #2, almost none of you have done so for Harry.
You don't tolerate him, you expect of him. You expect of him to live out your wildest fantasies and to be the legendary hero that your parents told you about growing up. Or in the case of the Muggleborns, that you read about in books. But here's the facts. One, those stories are made-belief. Two, those books are written by magical strangers, not people who lived in the same neighborhood as Harry when he was growing up Muggle."

I notice that I seem to be losing a few of the other Lions and roll my eyes at this. I look away and say: "Look, I'm not asking you all to fawn over Harry. He bloody hates that. I'm asking you accept that he exists and that he is a person. That he has flaws that you might not like, but also that he has traits about him that make him a likeable person. All I'm asking is that, for once in the last four almost five years, you lot look past that damned scar."
The same girl as before asks what me what I'm saying and if I'm expecting them to welcome Harry back with open arms. I sigh and explain: "At first, yes, but only for the first day or so. Just treat that as if it's the First of September or something. After that, if you think heh, Potter is not worth my time, that's fine. But if you think that Harry did something to humiliate Gryffindor, inform Professor McGonagall, don't harass him over it.
All I'm really asking is that you treat him the way you did in Third and that you leave behavior like the first year 150 point loss incident and the second year Chamber incident where they belong; in the past. And just for the record (I point at Hermione as I say) you were proven wrong in the latter and I will leave the former to Professor McGonagall. But trust me when I say, you don't even know half of it when it comes to that."

To my sheer annoyance I notice that most of those who are in Fred and George's year now look at me in disbelief, same with McLaggen and a few friends of his. Thankfully, everyone from my year and below looks genuinely curious. I send Dean, Thomas and Parvati a quick look as the three of them had personally apologized to Harry about that incident and I don't hold it against them anymore. They smile at me when they spot this.
"I know I am almost four years overdue with this, but allow me to explain what happened that one night. A few weeks before it, Professor Hagrid had gotten tricked into sharing sensitive information with a follower of Voldemort. The follower distracted Hagrid from this fact by giving him a dragon egg. The egg, apparently, contained a Norwegian Ridgeback. Professor Hagrid attempted to raise the dragon, but he was incapable.
Because of this, and because Mr. Weasley's elder brother works with dragons, Mr. Potter and Miss Granger convinced Professor Hagrid to send the dragon to Charles Weasley. However, Mr. Potter not only covered for Professor Hagrid while explaining the situation to Charles, Charles also tried to keep the whole thing secret, thus agreed to meet Mr. Potter at the Astronomy Tower. This was where Mr. Potter was caught after the dragon had been taken.

However, before this whole transfer of the dragon could take place, Mr. Draco Malfoy found out about the dragon. Rest assured that Professor Vector has been informed and that she discovered that former Professor Snape knew about all this and did nothing. She herself saw the error in this and has since then admonished Mr. Malfoy for his tardiness with reporting the dragon. Another person who found out was Mr. Longbottom.
He also found out that Mr. Malfoy wanted to use the dragon to get Mr. Potter in trouble and wanted to warn Mr. Potter. Thus he too was caught out after curfew, just like Mr. Potter, Mr. Malfoy and Miss Granger. And now, ahem. I, Minerva McGonagall, swear upon my magic that the 150 point loss was due to me taking an unacceptable amount of 50 points each from Gryffindor for three students being out after curfew. So I swear, so mote it be."

This act of magic and these words leave the Gryffindor Common Room in an astounded silence. I'm personally amazed that the Professor is willing to go as far as to swear an oath on her magic to convince the students of the truth. Most of the others are astounded and astonished that the reason behind the point loss was so meager and silly. Then someone loudly exclaims the question of why Harry himself never explained this.
I sigh and answer: "Two reasons. One, when did any of you ever even give him the bloody chance to? I saw most of it happen and only kept my mouth shut because, two, like Harry covered for Hagrid, he felt he deserved the punishment. And like I said, I saw it happen. Each time either Harry or I tried to explain ourselves, you'd sent death glares our ways or yell at us to shut it. So don't ask that question, you already know the answer."

The lad winces and I release one last breath before I say: "Like I said. Your House is like your Family. Gryffindor needs to stand united. Whether we like each and everyone here in the House doesn't matter. As long as we can tolerate each other and not attack each other like a pack of hyenas out for a dead prey, that's fine. Do I believe there will never again be instances like first or Second. Oh hell no, but let's not repeat our behavior of back then, alright?"
A couple of students share thoughtful looks, but then the kid who was Sorted as the first Gryffindor of this year nods solemnly at me. The students who had been sharing thoughtful looks see this and their eyes widen. Then, as an obvious sign that they believe they can emulate their younger peer, they also nod at me. And I sigh in relief at the nods that follow. And when everyone has nodded I move onto discussing Harry's plan.

What is that?
Don't worry, next chapter will be ALL about that. And in the chapter after it, Harry is going to face one last hurdle before he will start his trial period and return to Hogwarts for his classes. Also I'm going to throw in a little ship that is not entirely new to me and my writing, but that still has a bit of an original tint to it. I'm also probably going to just summarize the rest of the year, maybe cover a bit of summer and then end this story.
We'll see,

Venquine1990