"Enoch, Megan, join us," Harry gestured to the two free seats left in the circular table. Several curt nods were exchanged between the members of his eight strong inner circle. "Albert was just regaling us with some fascinating details on the muggle economy. Apparently Deng Xiaoping embarked on a 'Southern Tour' to promote economic reforms. We were just discussing the implications of such."

"I...see," Megan supplied politely, clearly betraying that she was out of her depth. Enoch, while masking it better, was clearly in a similar state.

"Do not worry too much about it," Harry chuckled. "Albert has extensive experience handling business given his role as heir to the family business. But pleasantries aside, it is time to begin. Ira, what is the situation with the staff?"

"Tense, Isard is getting more erratic. Apparently the board feels that the staff are tethering on losing control of the school. There've been several proposed reforms, including a reshuffle of several teaching roles. They're accepting applicants for all positions, and the existing staff will have to defend their roles," Ira supplied, unable to keep a slightly gleeful look from her face.

"That is excellent news. New staff joining can be made to...see our way. I will leverage this in my discussions with Karkoff after this meeting. How is the training of the final battalion coming along?"

"Excellent. I've moved the Raven to advanced drills. Dragon and Griffin are still in moderate, with Dragon being in a slight lead. I've also identified several potential candidates for leadership training." She handed him a stack of notes. "I've profiled them, in order of my believed suitability for your purview."

"Thank you, Ira," he acknowledged, causing the girl to beam proudly. "Katerina, how is the buildup of our stocks proceeding?"

"We've trained up roughly two dozen in basic first aid, though we're running into difficulty because even the seventh years aren't that advanced in healing ability. To be blunt, we need someone who has more experience. However, none of the medi-witches seem receptive to providing advanced training."

"Interesting, Sarah, what is your take on this?" he probed. Harry did not miss the slightly envious looks many shot the fourth year girl, though paid it little attention for now.

"I believe that the focus should be on building up reserves of potions and medical equipment right now. They're prohibitively expensive, but acquiring basic facilities would give our faction a huge advantage over the others. Right now, we're all on equal footing due to our reliance on the medical wing to remedy injuries, it is a liability that could impact our effectiveness in the future."

"A fair point...Katerina, prepare a list to get us some basic facilities set up. Have a few of the seventh years try and accelerate the training of lower years. There's little we can do about advanced training for now, though perhaps we can see about getting several of our graduates positions in mastery programs." The girl nodded her head to show her understanding, and Harry turned to Otaba.

"I've prepared the notes you requested on enhancements. I am confident in the first two phases, not so much the third."

"Good, I'll review them and get back to you on them. Start probing for suppliers for mass acquisition of materials without raising alarm bells or massively inflating market prices." The boy inclined his head in understanding, and Harry turned to Enoch.

"Guild leaders have been briefed, and are on standby. Give the word, and we'll turn Durmstrang into a warzone" the seventh year promised. Harry nodded, pleased, turning to Megan, who perked up.

"I've managed to sow distrust among the school on Ivar-sorry, Isard's questionable educational methods. The oaths were also leaked, not traceable back to any of us, of course. There's been boiling outrage, and word is parents are going to file a petition with the board to have him removed."

"Excellent, splendid work as always," he complimented, watching the girl's smile grow even wider. Looking down at his watch for appearance's sake, he pretended to be surprised. "It seems that I've got ten minutes until my meeting with the highmaster. You may all resume your duties, Alana, stay behind please."

The girl looked startled, ducking her head as the others left the room. Harry stood up and walked over to the seat next to her, pulling it out and sitting in it. Alana was now trembling, though Harry pretended not to notice. "Tell me Alana, how have you been?"

"G-good," she managed to chirp. "My end of year projects are in order...and everything's just fine…"

"You believe that as much as I do," he chided gently, taking her hands into his. She looked up at him startled, no doubt the fight or flight instinct threatening to kick in. "Now, why don't you tell me what's been bothering you?"

"I...it's nothing-"

"Clearly nothing if it's worrying one of my closest friends," Harry shook his head. "If it's got you worried, then it worries me, dear."

"I...I just feel...like I'm not doing anything. All the others are doing so much...and yet...I'm just here. I don't get it, the books you're giving to me...the strange devices...what's the point?"

"And that's the question, isn't it?" Harry smiled distantly. "Tell me, what do you know of muggles?"

"Um...from the books you've read, it seems they've supplemented magic with technology. Their development of weapons is most impressive, though...why would that matter?"

"Tell me, what is the greatest struggle of the muggle population currently?"

"Technological development?"

"Which is impeded by?" he prompted.

"Energy production."

"Precisely," he answered with a nod. "But more importantly, the constraints of their reality. Without magic...they are limited in ways that we simply aren't. Using your example, energy production for instance, they will never achieve the near perfect efficiency that magicals enjoy. However, their advancements are still worthy of study."

"You want to create...magitech?" she proffered uneasily. He nodded simply. "But that's…"

"Impossible?" he asked with a smirk. "Just like a translation runic array was supposedly impossible, no?"

"Well…"

"Alana," he interjected softly yet firmly, lifting her chin until their eyes met. "I believe in you."

It was such a simple statement. So easy to give out. Were he on the receiving end, perhaps it would be nothing more than flattery. Yet it was clear for Alana, he might as well have offered the world.

"I'll do it," she promised, taking heart in her own words. "By merlin I swear I'll make it work."

"Do your best. That's all I can ask," Harry reassured, watching as she left the room far more emboldened. He sighed, doubts beginning to creep in. Advanced technology seemingly just didn't want to cooperate. Anything past the nineteen eighties, magic would nearly fry instantaneously, whereas with his runic hardwiring, simpler devices such as a calculator could last perhaps three months. As transistor density increased, their susceptibility to magical interference seemed to grow by orders of magnitude. But she was a far greater mind than him, and he knew if there was one who could find an answer, it would be her.

-Break-

"You're late," the highmaster growled as he entered the office.

"My apologies, preventing a civil war from breaking out requires constant diligence," Harry returned, causing the man to sigh wearily. "I'm sure you've heard the latest series of outrage, if you wanted to find common ground between the students, I daresay you've succeeded."

"And I'm sure you're taking full advantage," Karkoff ground out. Harry shrugged unrepentant.

"It's clear the board has decided, tacitly, to side with the students by releasing the oaths to parents. Which leaves you in a rather...precarious position, no?" Harry commented neutrally. "You can save the chest puffing, highmaster, we both know I hold the cards here."

"What do you want?"

"Seven points. Seven points and I will ensure you keep your post," Harry promised. It was a lie, of course, for he could never be certain of that. Though if he succeeded, then the highmaster would be in his debt, and if not, then he could deal with Karkoff's successor in a far stronger negotiating position."

"One, professors are all to swear new oaths."

"Done," Karkoff agreed easily."

"Two, a student commission selected from the assembly is to be allowed a veto on any future school matters, the right to veto any changes to school regulations and the right to inquest any professor."

"That's...not possible."

"Nonsense, I have read the school charter. The highmaster alone has the power to grant executive powers to any entity they see fit. As is, only the board holds such power. If you want a hope of staying in power, then you need me to be able to stand up to them."

"Fine," Karkoff spat out defeated.

"Three, the monopoly on messages by the commissary is to be terminated. The construction of the owl terminal is to be expedited under the supervision of a student committee."

"Fine," Karkoff conceded reluctantly.

"Four, there is to be an expansion of current facilities to ensure all prospective guilds have the equipment they need to start. Support for students is to increase through an expansion of the duelling arena, libraries and medical wing."

"Impossible! The cost of that would be enormous. The board will not sign off on such a project."

"Let me worry about the board," Harry waved off. "I want your signature on the paper."

"Fine, it won't make a difference anyways," Karkoff shrugged.

"Six, you will exercise your right as highmaster to invite the assembly master as your representative to the board."

"Preposterous! You would have me turned into nothing more than a figurehead? No, I would rather lose my position than my dignity in such...such..."

"Are you quite done?" Harry questioned unsympathetically. The man huffed, but sat down in his chair nonetheless. Karkoff gave a stiff nod.

"Seven, the organisation of guilds is to fall under the jurisdiction of the assembly master alone."

A nod.

"Excellent, this was a most pleasant discussion, was it not?" Harry smiled. "I'll expect the signed paperwork by tomorrow."

Karkoff did not respond, a small snub, but both knew who was in control, and who had come out on top in this conversation.

-Break-

"You let the brat do what?" Ivarin thundered, slamming his fist on the table.

"He holds all the cards," Karkoff retorted. "With the support of the board, consider us lucky that he is even negotiating."

"You only have yourself to blame," Hurst interjected amusedly. "Considering your treatment of students, it was a matter of time."

"Of course you would say that, considering you were exempt from this somehow. Makes us wonder whose side you're truly on, Amanda," Ivarin accused. While Amanda merely gave a toothy grin on the outside, inwardly she would concede to being just as confused. She sincerely doubted it was out of charity, so why exactly had her favoured student done this? It merited thought for later, but for now, her attention resumed on the meeting.

"Perhaps you could enlighten us on his demands?"

"Nothing less than a power grab," Karkoff spat angered, spittle flying out of his mouth. Hurst's eyes widened as the demands were listed one by one, and it was by the barest margins she resisted the urge to laugh out loud.

-Break-

"And now, in place of highmaster Karkoff, assembly master Harry White," the chairwoman announced with some disapproval. Harry inclined his head to the fifteen members of the board before beginning.

"As you are all aware, the students are on the cusp of a full blown riot. Seeing as there are thirty professors against two thousand students, I sincerely doubt the staff would bother trying to put up resistance."

"Is that a threat, mister White?" the chairwoman asked clippedly.

"On the contrary, I am enlightening you as to the reality of the situation," Harry rebuked. "While you are sitting here lavishing in your truffles and souffle, a civil war has been brewing in the halls of Durmstrang. The staff have recognised this fact and conceded to me. It is time for you to do the same."

"Who are you to talk, boy? You're here out of courtesy, nothing more," one of the board members, an old man with a long white beard, snorted. Several muttered their agreements in less than polite terms. Harry merely smiled.

"I talk to you as the only one preventing a full out civil war in the halls of Durmstrang," Harry responded easily. "Dozens of factions are currently stewing, just waiting for the opportunity. For a long time, it was their fear of me that kept them toeing the line. Now, it is a united hatred of the staff. But with the staff's concessions, have no doubt of their next target."

He tossed the stack of parchment he held in front of the chairwoman, who shakily picked them up, reading one by one aloud. By the end, most of the board members were trembling in their seats.

"Make no mistake, it is out of courtesy that I am here telling you this."

"What do you want?" one of the other men asked where the others remained silent. At the others' horrified looks, he sighed. "Enough, we know White has all the power. He could feed us to the wolves if he so desired. We have no choice."

"How...pragmatic," Harry mused idly. "Here are my requests…"

-Break-

"Students," Harry intoned, once again standing on the podium. "As your assembly master, it is my duty to represent all students with the board and the staff. For many years in the past, this voice has been lost to factionalism and infighting. And in that time, Durmstrang has grown stagnant, corrupt and inept. Since I have become your assembly master, I have made many pledges. Today, I am proud to announce they have been fulfilled."

"Prove it!" one of the pro-Grindelwald sycophants yelled, causing similar shouts to echo from both the left and the right. Harry raised his hand for silence.

"As of today, staff have been made to sign new contracts enshrining a commitment not to actively provoke, disadvantage or otherwise harm any student through the use of physical force, magic or the mind arts," he announced simply. There was a deafening silence before all the neutrals, and even many of those leaning to the left and right, sprung to their feet in rambunctious applause and cheering, It was as though the hall was trembling from the sheer tremor of the collective voices. Those on the extreme left and right eventually stood to their feet, knowing that to not show solidarity for such a feet would be political and social suicide, however reluctant they may be to acknowledge anything Harry accomplished.

When thirteen minutes later, the applause finally began to die down, Harry continued speaking. "Further to that, I have secured the release of funds from Durmstrang's bloated treasury to fund expansions for the libraries, guild rooms, the duelling arena, quidditch pitch, medical bay and the construction of several new classrooms."

More applause broke out, of near equal intensity to the first wave. Harry allowed himself to bask in it before raising his hand for silence. "As assembly master, I will also be leading a commission to ensure the completion of the owl transfer station. Until such is completed, the commissary will now be charging market rates in line with the ICW recommendations."

There was a long pause before suddenly, all at once, shouts of celebration erupted from all sections of the student body. For as much as the oaths of the professors were considered difficult to reform, the commissary's monopoly and extortionate rates had been so grounded in the reality of Durmstrang life that no one had thought to challenge it.

"Raven!" Sarah called out. Harry nearly stumbled despite standing still, forcing him to relax. Soon, the chants of 'Raven' left the mouths of all but his most stalwart opponents. Even as he raised his assembly master's ring to acknowledge this, he couldn't help but laugh inwardly at the irony.

-Break-

"Welcome, class, to our final lesson before the exams," professor Faure drawled. Because the class was so small, it was one of few that did not suffer from the intense rivalry between factions, tempered as they may be owing to the recent developments. "While you have made passable progress this year, it is time to show you the true potential of rituals."

He flicked his wand, causing several sprawling diagrams of ritual circles to emerge. "As you are all aware, the theoretical limit to the total number of ritual stages is forty nine, in reality, the maximum achieved has been five. Can anyone tell me which individual managed to succeed in this?"

"Malcom," Harry answered, surprising many in the class. Even Otaba looked stumped by this.

"Why don't you enlighten your less well read classmates?"

"Malcolm was the individual behind Malcolm's law, which extrapolated the exponential nature of power requirements for rituals. He theorised that all the energy in the universe would be roughly needed for a forty nine stage ritual. Malcom was a pioneer of fourth stage rituals, and the only one who succeeded in creating a modified resonance amplification ritual. While perhaps among the most useless, it was a proof of concept. When he attempted to replicate this with a sixth stage ritual, it led to the disaster of Urla. Since then, rituals beyond stage four have been barred by all ICW member countries."

"Good," Faure offered in a rare show of praise. "As mister White has summarised, rituals are increasingly dangerous as they are made more complicated. THere is a reason we have spent the past two years studying only single stage rituals, because if you can't get the basics right, you have no hope of completing a more complicated ritual. Look to your left. Look to your right. Statistically speaking, one in three of you will progress to next year's class."

"But fortunately for all of you, I am in a giving mood, so let us explore more on the possibilities of rituals."

"Here, you can see a three stage ritual meant to enhance the body, the mind and the soul. It is one of twenty six internationally recognised stage three rituals by the ICW, and has been performed safely for centuries. That is not to say it is simple, by any means, for even the slightest mistake could have disastrous implications for its participants. Let us look at the runic bridges that connect the inner circle with the outer ones."

"Observe that each of the three roots have three branches. This is not a coincidence. Because of the harmonic resonance of this particular ritual, the number three and its multiples are used frequently to enhance its integrity," the professor lectured, appearing now truly in his element. "I am not an expert in runes, but needless to say the development of suitable ones was the single most challenging task. You can study those in your own time. What matters for us is how the runic works are assembled."

He pointed to one of the diagrams, which expanded on the board as the others shrunk. All of the class furious scribbled notes.

-Break-

"I confess myself...regretful that I will not be able to see your rise so closely, Harry," Amanda admitted after the end of another duel and the two had taken their seats.

"I once heard from a wise man, that you should not fear separation, for if fate is kind, you will find your paths intersecting in the future, and if not, that you can take comfort that those you have come to cherish are following their own paths," Harry mused. Amanda hummed thoughtfully.

"Tell me, why did you grant me an exception to the amended staff oaths?"

"Ah, yes," Harry smiled. "I was wondering when you would bring that up. Tell me, professor, why do you think I did it?"

"I originally entertained the thought it was out of charity, but discarded the notion almost immediately." She gave a tinkling laugh at his mock hurt look. "Please, spare the dramatics."

"What was your next theory, then?"

"That you wanted a favour from me. A weak theory, by my own admission, but I would have seen clumsier attempts from those far more mature than you."

"And your final theory?" he questioned. She frowned, eliciting a slight chuckle from his lips. "Professor, you've always been quite enthralled by the numbers three and seven. I daresay not even your brilliant mind could find seven."

"That you wanted to turn the other staff against me." At his curious look, she elaborated. "I'm one of the more popular professors, this could have limited my influence on the other staff to turn against me and prevented the staff from hoping to present a united front against your very impressive campaign."

"Sometimes, I do think a bit of mystery in life is quite good for the mind. All wonderful theories, yet none correct." At her expectant look, he chuckled. "Is it so hard to believe I merely wanted to see you confused?"

"Quite," she drawled, frowning as he stood up.

"Have a nice day, professor," he smirked, leaving her speechless.

Author Notes:

Oh I do love me some irony. Alas no comments between last time and me publishing chapter, so straight to the worldbuilding.

There's a lot of people now fighting for Harry's attention. It's been implied in the past few chapters, but Harry's ascension is not without problems. As he expands, there is increasing tension between the various members as they all try to outdo one another and try to curry favour. It's a balance between keeping all of them on their toes and ensuring that they don't burn out or go at each others' throats. A dangerous game to play, but one Harry is well prepared for. This chapter showed a lot on how Harry leverages the situation and defeats his enemies in detail using the distrust between the board and the staff. I will say that Hurst's speculations had some merit to them, though none of them fully encapsulated Harry's true reasoning. I'll leave that to your imagination.

Another thing I mentioned that I want to build up over the course of the next three years (story years, but who knows, maybe the story will extend that far!) is the situation in the real world. I was originally going to cover a lot of exposition here, but I thought it would be a treat if we actually saw it happen over the course of the story. For those of you who noticed, magitech is definitely a bit of a tease, but for those of you impatient, here's a spoiler: the ambient magic that a wizard and witch projects generally is insufficient to completely fry anything but the most advanced (for 1992) technologies, notably circuits and transistors. I borrowed the idea very loosely of cosmic particle interference, a very fascinating subject. When more magicals congregate, this effect becomes more and more significant. Because of this, a very interesting phenomenon happened: by the time muggle technology had surpassed wizarding ones in a meaningful way, magicals had isolated themselves in their own communities, which had a far higher magical density and thus meant that all but the most basic electronics would fry quickly, leading to an incorrect assumption that muggle technology and magic is fundamentally incompatible. This point is going to be significant in the future, but don't feel the need to remember it because it will be brought up when relevant. I just thought it a fascinating titbit that might interest you.

Anyhow, the next chapter featuring Harry's end of year project demonstrations should be out in a few hours, so you (hopefully) have that to look forward to! As always, if you enjoyed, it would mean a lot to me if you could follow, favourite, share with your friends and leave a comment, even if just to say hi. Thank you for sticking around this long, and until next time, toodles!