Developments of the Future II

1994...

Neville Longbottom's mood improved and so did his grades.

This was because he knows his parents are getting better, thanks to monthly reports from the elves.

But to trick those who disparaged him for so long, he hid his true abilities though he had to show that his grades are getting better along with his looks and handwriting because for a Future Lord, his penmanship cannot look like 'chicken scrawl that's barely decipherable'.

Actually, only muggleborns had better handwriting than magical children as apparently, Penmanship was NOT in childhood lessons for pure and half-bloods, and older muggleborn families who 'went native', forgetting their roots, to Diantha's disgust as muggleborn children or in her case, raised, they have better childhood education and are obliged to do well.

Granted, he was curious, thus Diantha sent him Penmanship Books.

'Oh! Are those Penmanship Books?' Hermione lit up upon seeing something familiar. Her parents bought her those books and trained her handwriting and taught her language and math by themselves before they let her go to school as they had no faith in the local school upon getting wind of the curriculum. They didn't let her go until she was six, ready for Key Stages. By then she can speak English just fine, too.

'Yeah, I wanted to improve my handwriting and asked Dia for advice, and she sent me a letter along with these.' said Neville as he was hell-bent on answering every page in the book in his spare time. 'These books apparently train muggle kids to have better and neater handwriting...'

'Yeah, my mum used to say that as we grow older, we'll be taken seriously by people around us, particularly come adulthood and employment.' said Hermione. 'Employers in Interviews might not take you seriously if you have lousy handwriting. I grew up like that.'

'Oh...well, I'm future Lord Longbottom, so I gotta get ahead while I still can.'

'That's a good attitude.' Hermione approves. 'Didn't Purebloods have lessons as a child?'

'Well, its all about Pureblood upbringing, everything else not deemed as important.' said Neville, shaking his head. 'So it's just learning how to read and write, math, and how to be a good pureblood kid. Compared to Muggle Education, I can see that this society is grossly behind in reality.'

'Well, it'll take one hell of a wake-up call for that.' said Hermione snidely. 'This society is so set in their ways. The mentality of 'my way or the highway', meant to accommodate the ahem, delicate sensibilities of lazy louts who don't want their cozy lifestyle to change into what's not comfortable for them, using being a pureblood as an excuse.' she snorted. 'It'll take a while for Magical Britain to change. I ask Dia details, and when she wrote back, I almost want to go to another school, but other schools charge tuition my family can't afford.' she sighed. 'So self-study for me it is. For my birthdays and christmas gifts, she sends me books she knows I'd like.'

'Good for you. If only others realize this...'

'Well, its up to us forward-thinkers, no?'

And how, otherwise the rest of the world's magical society will laugh at them forever, knowing how incompetent they are and near-insane with their 'troll logic', because of their way of life.

Diantha drew first blood...by internationally embarrassing the British Ministry of Magic and EVERY EMPLOYEE interrogated as if court of all things was compromised, what about other departments? Lots of people fired, put in prison, or under probation until they pass exams proving they're worth the job they're in. A lot of families employed through Nepotism did not get away unscathed. Especially if you got a high position despite how you're NOT qualified for it. And salaries ILLEGALLY raised and lowered to boot instead of following the laws as well as exploitative unfair treatments going on!

Even Fudge got sacked for being a Yes-Man to purebloods instead of the Leader with a Vision he should have been. So now Candidates are sought for their character and merits, no longer by 'blood status' and nepotism.

A much-happier example, was Mr. Weasley. He loved Muggle Culture and very diligent in his job as well as enjoys it, but lacked knowledge due to...an outdated curriculum in Muggle Studies and the fact the Ministry did not place value in an otherwise, important office as it plays a HUGE ROLE in maintaining Statute of Secrecy! Sure he got probated, but he was granted real education and training along with Perkins, his only subordinate. Perkins was a muggleborn who came to the Ministry when 'bigotry was at its worst' thus was shunted there.

Needless to say the pair leapt at the chance, gleefully studying in Mainland Europe 'under scholarship'. The Weasley siblings in Hogwarts joked it was 'Dad's dream come true.' Not to mention his lousy salary since graduating Hogwarts, was actually disproportionate to the true value of the job; it's TRUE salary was actually second to the Director of DMLE had the British Ministry did its damn job right!

As for Percy? He was more suited in his current job, than being Barty Crouch Sr.'s assistant. He was actually a member of the International Magical Trading Standards Body Office, until his diligence caught the man's attention and craftily got Percy into doing most of his work for him...and secretly taking credit for it with Percy non-the-wiser. That, and he was hiding his son who was a dangerous criminal and kept him under Imperius at home for many years! But he escaped, meaning there's a criminal at large, greatly upsetting Neville...considering what the man had done to his parents with the Lestranges!

When Percy found out, he was shocked and later, livid with the man he actually respected and looked up to. But at least he got acknowledged for his work by ICW Agents who interrogated him and informed him what Crouch actually thinks! Considering he ended up knowing much of Crouch's job, he got promoted to the man's former job and he can start working ASAP if he wants. He did, but since Bagman got sacked, he admitted he's way over his head for two more tasks as one, he's a recent graduate and two, he had no idea how to come up with challenging enough tasks for the Tournament so three students can fulfill their Binding Contract by competing and for it to end, someone MUST win to free all of them from said contract or become Squibs as a consequence!

While Percy had nothing against Squibs, he cannot fathom what it would be like, to lose half of yourself, unlike those born that way thus can live a normal life without the 'magical phantom pain of loss'.

Mr. Weasley under re-training wasn't much of a problem for the Weasleys. They got immense fortune thanks to Diantha so they weren't financially-hurting...

The rest of families whose parents and relatives lost jobs however, began speaking ill of Diantha out of anger...mostly, for outing their dark secrets and embarrassing them in public. The locals on the other hand, sneered at how they finally got their just desserts with their corruption and banning them for employment simply for 'not being pureblood enough'. Lampshaded by Rita Skeeter in an article and Fred would tell them, 'Its the first time Skeeter defended someone in her articles actually! Is there gonna be a meteor shower tomorrow?'

Well, not just the Ministry, the Hogwarts' Teachers got grilled too. Making things awkward with foreign guests over...

While the other teachers are A-OK, those who were NOT, were History of Magic, Hagrid for the second time since the Buckbeak Incident, Muggle Studies' Class, that Divination Teacher and Snape. And lastly, given how...inconsistent DADA was...the Headmaster got in trouble for allowing replacement DADA Teachers to 'teach as they please' instead of circumventing the curse by designing a consistent curriculum so despite it, students STILL get quality DADA! But he didn't consider the idea that when a random 7th Year was asked...it did NOT paint a good picture that Self-Study was usually an option when students could have used that time to de-stress!

In the Daily Prophet, an irate Observer said, 'A Proper Defense Curriculum ALWAYS starts with the basics! What's with this random garbage students get?! And don't get me started on Gilderoy Lockhart's idea of 'education'!'

Then there's his complaints about the other teachers' idea of teaching...

Poor Hagrid got fired as his idea of 'cute', is deadly for human children, Trelawney got fired, Burbage was on probation as her class learns Victorian Era Culture but NOT modern day, Binns got Exorcised, and Snape is also under Probation. Burbage and Snape were under 're-training' and substitutes filled in.

Then the latest scandal...with their latest DADA Teacher...

'Things weren't this bad before 1980s. We checked the records.' the ICW Member, Head of Department of Magical Education Sierra Escudo, a woman in her 70s frowned. 'Quality of education back then was much higher! Why did you let Hogwarts fall so low in Defense, Potions, Muggle Studies and History as well as a number of classes disappearing, Supreme Mugwump? This is beyond appalling! We expect standards to rise and recent graduates will have to take remedials in a number of subjects! No wonder you haven't competent Aurors and Hitwizards, as well as Potioneers! That means less national security, and even less competent Healers! Not to mention your people will be the ones outing us to the world, causing Witch Hunts upon us again! If you don't raise standards here, expect Wizarding Britain to thank you for going to the dogs and bringing trouble for everyone else and don't expect us to come to your aid if that were to happen!'

That bit up there, was because Madam Bones, among the lucky few to keep her position, had a lot to complain about herself.

That, was embarrassing. Internationally in Europe, mind you.

And Diantha's appeal for justice unearthed what was WRONG with the British Government and Hogwarts itself.

'Y'know, nevermind Death Eaters, Dia just saved the whole country by airing out the dirty cupboards to those powerful lawmakers in the ICW so Magical Britain will be cleaned up for us kids before we become adults.' said Hermione to her friends. 'With the biased corrupt officials out of power and decent people granted employment, maybe life here will get better and a lot of people have better chances of getting employed from now on.'

'Yeah, wouldn't that be nice?'

Teachers were on loan for crucial subjects. Standards got stricter and harsher too and unless you're a first year who just started in 1994, second years up to seventh years got swamped with so much work, and passing grade is an EE. A is now the equivalent of T and that's enough to hold you back a year! If one is caught cheating by copying homework of others or copying answers off of books instead of writing one's own answers, as in how one understood the lesson, you're punished.

Hermione who eats books as a pleasure of life, got punished and a severe lecture for how she does her homework...by writing down word-for-word what she read.

There was only time to eat, bathe and sleep, collapsing on one's bed. You're expected to sleep after 9 pm unless you're an OWL or a NEWT Student...

First years at least, has a much relaxed schedule, as they got little to catch up on anyway. Just a mere four months and three weeks' worth.

It was a long journey to reach levels of competence in History of Magic, Muggle Studies which is now a mandatory elective for all third years who are half-bloods and purebloods, while Wizarding Studies are now mandatory for muggleborns, Potions. Defense and Care of Magical Creatures since Professor Kettleburn quit. And for Holidays? Nope, you MUST catch up. You cannot go home for holidays. No Christmas, no Easter Break and NO SUMMER BREAK, until you finished the workload and passed all exams, proving you caught up to curriculum. Thus even seventh years like Cedric Diggory had to graduate...three years later. Those who failed are held back, until they can graduate with at least, EE in grades in both academic and practicals! But fail to graduate two more times, you're BANNED from employment in important jobs in society.

Now that, is embarrassing.

Quidditch Pitch became a Firing Range for students to practice DADA Spells on.

At least, for those in Diantha's year, they graduated only a year late...

'Overworking Season is over...' Ron sighed in bliss. Before he was happy with an A in his grades...until the Educational Reforms happened that he was forced to keep up or else, be the first Weasley in history to be left behind! Hell, Ginny had better grades than he did.

'It's worth it though.' said Hermione. 'We're now more competent than the adults, which is saying something!'

They were all stressed and weary during the day, which is why it became a staple for certain potions so students can recover from stress and fatigue during the night, and wake up refreshed with great mental clarity to function through the day once more.

It's now Year 1999.

Neville got to see his fully-recovered parents for the first time as since the reforms, there are no summer breaks until they caught up to ideal curriculum standards. Snape who was on thin ice for how he teaches, had to deal with a watcher who keeps an eye on him.

However, from all that workload, he looked older than his parents now, no thanks to stress actually.

His words? 'Let's go call Dia over.'

'Been a while since we last saw her.' said Fred. 'You know where she is?'

'No, but she can be contacted.' said Neville. 'She lives with Lord Black and they're in that new school of hers. She's very tight-lipped about her school and her location, so don't bother asking. I think before we get a job, we should be in good condition first.' he said. 'I doubt we can get working the way we are now. We're wilted vegetables, in and out! We don't look so good we look like living dead!' he exclaimed as yeah, all of them have dark circles, gauntness and pale skin, and looking 'older' than they should be.

'T-that'd be a good idea mate, I don't look as handsome as I used to.' George chuckled bitterly. 'Sooo how do we contact Dia?'

xxx

In a certain park...

Diantha who's now 18 got called out by her friends.

The difference between them, was as great as night and day.

'...wow, what the hell happened to you guys?' Diantha still wore a veil on her face, so only her body is seen. Wearing her gothic clothes that flaunted her figure got them eye-popping.

'The ICW happened.' said Ron. 'Since you appealed to the ICW for justice, they decided to investigate Magical Britain and the major problems are in the government and school. School standards are appalling Dumbledore got grilled real good. There were ICW Delegates who made sure we're up-to-date with education we are...overworked.' he choked out. 'And passing grade is an EE while Good grade is an O! You can't advance a year with a single A on a subject.'

'We caught up to the rest of the world in educational standards at least.' said Fred. 'We hafta do it or die tryin'.'

'I see. That's good for you guys but I think the ICW went a little too far with pressure. Its like you're made to pay for the failures of adults around you.'

'No kidding, I just want a break.' Ron complained. 'A good break before I go to work!'

'Well, that can be arranged. Neville sent me a letter, so for two months, spend time with your families while I finish more Healing Incubation Tanks.' Diantha advised. 'I only have three on me; the Longbottoms' and Sirius' old tanks where they healed from Malnutrition and Stress. I need to make more tanks to accommodate you all.'

'Thanks Diantha, we'd appreciate it.' said Hermione gratefully. 'But why are you hiding your face?'

'Because I don't want anyone from Magical Britain knowing what I look like now. I changed my face through potions that bring out the best traits in family bloodline while purging what's bad. End result, I don't look like my parents anymore and that suits me just fine.'

'I see...so have you graduated from your school?' Hermione asked her.

'I got one more year on me.' said Diantha. 'My new school requires us to study Basic Courses for five years, before letting us choose an Elective Course. Basically a Field but so many subjects needed to master said field to prepare for our career. Sooo I'm almost done.'

'Awww...but you sure don't look overworked like we do.'

'Well, I rest in my tank once a month to heal from study-stress.' said Diantha. 'Not to mention I have projects and a thesis to present so yes, I got pressure on me as well to elevate House Potter as a proper noble family as in my new society, a noble's respect depends on their accomplishments. I can't ride on Grandpa Fleamont's accomplishment forever.'

'Er what did the guy do?'

'He invented Sleekeazy's Hair Potion you know.' Diantha reminded them. 'Grandpa made a lot of money with that. And when he retired, he sold his company, quadrupling our family money. It's why we're well-off today.' she explained. 'That well-off-ness only happened recently when before, the Potters are a typical working-class family.'

'Huh? Really?'

'That's true you know.' said Neville. 'Very few Purebloods are rich for generations.' he told her. 'My family. The Blacks. Lestranges. Malfoys. Abbotts. Greengrasses and formerly, the Weasleys...' Hermione looked at the Weasley brothers who looked pained.

'Its a relative who got us all in the poorhouse by gambling...and when he couldn't pay, ran away thus the family ended up shouldering that massive debt.' said Fred.

'Yeah, its dad's Weasley cousin. That happened when dad was young.' said George. 'Our grandparents, grand aunts and uncles were livid, so they disowned him and we have to never have anything to do with him and his family ever again. As far as we're concerned, his branch of the Weasley is NOT our family. Uncle Tristan was disowned in name, blood and magic so he has no Weasley magic that'll tie him to our Gringotts account and Bill made great use of his connections when he got work in the bank.' he said grumpily. 'If they dare come to us for help, we're under a oath to cast them away or we'll find ourselves more troubled again.'

'I see...that's a little...interesting.' Diantha looked thoughtful.

'What do you mean interesting?' Ron frowned.

'There's a Weasley in my new school, only, this one's a brunette, only, her course is in Modern Magic Theory. Her name is Hilda Weasley. She is a student of a friend of mine's. He just became a teacher for Modern Magic Theory course. Its a brand new course so there's only a few attendees as of now.' said Diantha. 'I'll look into her background and see if this Weasley is born from this uncle of yours.' the siblings gulped.

'Please do.' said Ron stiffly. 'We'll appreciate a heads-up.'

'That can't be right, Dia, you're in a magic school and Grandpa Septimus disowned him in magic too, he should be a Squib!' Fred's eyebrows raised high in disbelief.

'Magical children can still be born from Squibs.' Diantha deadpanned. 'That normally takes after four generations from a Squib parent. However, given the timeline, if Tristan Weasley was a strong wizard prior to punishment...time decreases.'

'...we're telling dad.' said Ginny, after getting her voice back from shock. 'We'll look at the family tapestry in the bank for updates.' and they ran for it.

'...how bad is it that they treated this like a world-class disaster?' Hermione asked Neville weakly, in disbelief at how the Weasleys reacted.

'Its real bad.' said Neville, shaking his head. 'Tristan Weasley was addicted to gambling. He was converting the family gold into muggle money in a casino. You win some, you lose some, and there's the thrill of making it big or go home...when the family vault is empty and the family found out...jeezus, that was the scandal of the century and nobody's gonna forget it any time soon.' he told the girls. 'It's why families have gotten real strict regarding gambling. Weasleys became synonymous to 'suddenly bankrupt'.' he said with a shiver. 'Their manor and estate had to be sold to get by. It does not help that most of them don't have jobs, coasting by on family money, thus the first Weasleys to have jobs were the sons who just finished Hogwarts.'

'Yeouch.' Hermione cringed at the story. 'That's one story that's a life lesson worth drilling into your kids someday.'

'Doesn't it?'

xxx

Clock Tower...

'Hey Padfoot...do you know the story about the Weasleys suddenly going poor?' Diantha asked Sirius who spit-sprayed on his newspaper from shock at her words as he did NOT tell her that story. 'I just got wind of it when I met old friends who needs my tanks.'

'Do I?!' Sirius exclaimed, wiping coffee off his chin with his brown sleeves with a swipe. 'I was five years old! Five when nobody would shut up about that story! It was the biggest scandal in the century! A pureblood family bankrupt overnight in an instant because of Tristan Weasley gambling in a muggle casino! The wanker was 21 back then.' he then took a deep breath and exhaled. 'Arthur was nine years older than me back then when that happened.' he said. 'Come being comrades in Albus' Order of the Phoenix, its a miracle he remained a cheerful, jovial man.'

'Ah...'

'How'd you hear that old tale?'

'My friends initially came to get my help for health problems until the talk suddenly changed to money and who's rich in the Wizarding World...and Neville said, 'formerly the Weasleys'.' said Diantha after sipping tea. 'I didn't know that. I just thought Ron and the twins had been that way for years.'

'Nope, not.' Sirius tsk-ed with a finger wag. 'Poverty was the reason Arthur and Molly had their kids with age gaps between them. To earn money as raising kids is expensive. Money they clearly, don't have any more. Vaccinations against magical illnesses, diapers, stuff like that...'

'...'

xxx

Albus Dumbledore looked outside the window from his office.

It all started when Diantha Potter appealed to ICW because of the corruption of the court back then, leading to a Ministry Overhaul, massive arrests and Death Penalties and a lot of people fired. The Administration Office run by the ICW only accepts applicants with EEs or Os in their NEWTs.

The students are stressed and overworked because they have to catch up to the rest of the world, and he fell into criticism for letting standards go bad.

Well, 50% of it his fault and 50% not.

His side? Since HE was a budding Dark Lord, he has to destroy power of his followers at a young age by deliberately watering down the curriculum. It worked when he launched the First Wizarding War of Britain but politics hampered his efforts he had to rely on the miracle of a Prophecy. The other 50% was the Curse on the DADA Position. Voldemort himself hampered the strength of his followers by being petty, that he unwittingly aided in sabotaging their education.

Perhaps, by utterly overworking the next generation with intensive, stressful education and no school vacations for a couple years, the students who are focused with catching up or else be held back, kept them away from home and evil influences of their families, if kids had Dark-Aligned families.

And since 1992, he never showed up any more...he didn't know why, until the scandal with 'Alastor' who turned out to be the missing runaway Death Eater son Barty Sr. kept under Imperius until he broke free, and the real Alastor is ill, swimming in his own urine in his trunk where he was imprisoned!

They found him and destroyed his Rudimentary Body. Crouch Jr. was hard at work in reviving him. He aimed to get Diantha for a ritual, but he didn't know Diantha left Hogwarts forever thus decided on the strongest individual who has strong feelings of opposition against Voldemort. He targeted Neville by end of the year at the right timing in winter as depicted in revival rituals.

Only, he did NOT expect the ICW to storm Hogwarts after Sirius Black's trial and for him to get discovered.

Magical Britain will soon change.

But as long as Horcruxes remain and his servants seek him...he worries for the future. He can only hope their children won't bother, as their Death Eater parents are executed, as are those who committed heinous crimes and instead, pursue a more, wholesome life as good adults, without the evil pressure backed with murderous intent borne of petty goals.

But given the situation, at the expense of international humiliation, Magical Britain is saved in turn somehow?

What will the future bring, he wondered.

It wasn't a war that destroyed the dark faction, but rather, a massive overhaul destroyed Magical Britain for it to be reborn.

And it started with an appeal for justice for a family member as she had no faith in her own country to do the right thing. She has every right to, as Sirius sent them all a Howler about that.

By revealing how corrupt his country is, the ICW decided to destroy the Magical British Government so decent officials can move in and save the country.

The Power he knows not may be a mundane sort of power, not something miraculously-magical...getting the aid of powerful officials!