Harry laughed. "Oh, I'm sure Mrs. Weasley is an expert by now in making a lot of food." He grinned in her direction fondly, knowing that it was true.

Sirius barked out a laugh, and led him and his younger self to the kitchen while the other adults followed behind. This chapter was fairly mild.

He only hoped the rest of the book would be just as easy to listen to.

After the loud meal, where everybody was reminded that the room's occupants was made up mostly of Gryffindors, everybody scattered for a while to take a break.

Before they could disappear, Severus spoke up. "Twin menaces." He waited until he had the menaces attention, before crooking his finger at both of them, and leaving the room.

Fred and George glanced at each other, slightly concerned, before they followed silently. Mentally, they were debating what they might have done wrong, but were coming up empty.

Once they reached Severus' private lab (created the night before, and already well used), Severus gestured them to a seat.

"Professor, is something wrong?" Fred finally asked after a moment of Severus not saying anything.

Severus blinked at him, slightly surprised that the Weasley spoke up. "I wanted to speak with you, about your shop. Most of the prank items there, are fairly harmless, however, there are… some items you have created, that don't always serve such a benign purpose." The Twins glanced at each other, concerned and worried about where this was going.

They already knew that the Death Eaters used the Instant Darkness Peruvian Powder they imported, to sneak into Hogwarts at the end of Harry's sixth year, and had already put it on a 'restricted' sale list.

Had the Death Eaters been using their prank items to hurt people? Had their own inventions, been used to torture or kill?

"The Portable Swamp, in particular, has become a favorite of Bellatrix's." Severus said with a grimace. And he really did not want to know where she got a crocodile. He wished he could forget why.*

Even Lucius, who was abusive at best towards them, had grown concerned for the safety of his house-elves (although that may have been more towards the fact that he didn't want to have to deal with getting new ones and having to deal with them figuring out their new masters needs), and ordered them to stay away from Bellatrix, ignore any and all orders she gave them, and to stay away from the swamp no matter who tried to order them towards it.

The Dark Lord's prisoners, on the other hand… they weren't so lucky.

The Twins flinched, and looked slightly green, George in particular, didn't want to imagine it for fear of really being sick.

When they glanced at each other, they nodded. "We'll have to review the anti-theft measures on our store, and go over what we sell to the general public again." Fred mused, getting another piece of parchment and jotting it down.

"I'm not sure how we could limit what our product can be used for... it really is for jokes and such. I'm not sure how we can make sure they are used for their intended purpose once they leave our store." George frowned. "And we run a joke shop, I'm not sure how we can determine who is safe to buy certain products." He reminded his brother.

"I'm not saying to take product off the shelves, or run background checks on every customer. If a product isn't being used for it's intended purpose, or is being used to harm, then that is not your problem. That is the problem of the person using it. Once this war is over, I don't think it will be as much of an issue, anyway. I'm saying, to be much more careful while the Dark Lord is still in charge." Severus cut in. If they started checking every customer out, they would lose a lot of business.

"How would she have even gotten one of our Swamps?" Fred asked quietly.

Severus gave as close to a shrug as he would ever get. "Owl ordered it under an alias. All those who were in Azkaban do it, you would be surprised at some of the things I have seen them receive in the mail since their escape." He wasn't too concerned about that, there wasn't much the Twins could when their customers used a fake name on the order sheet. "Or they could have used glamours, or even Polyjuice."

Fred and George looked at each other, a little alarmed. "We should see if Bill can't put a Thief's Downfall or something over our shop door." He wanted to know who his customers were, and George agreed. They would much prefer it if they knew that the customer was who they said they were. And, it would have the added benefit of cutting down on theft. A win-win, as far as the Twins were really concerned.

"We should have done that ages ago." George muttered as both boys got up to go bother their younger siblings for a while.


After Severus disappeared with the Twins, Molly and Arthur pulled both Harry's and Hermione's aside for a quick lesson about general wizarding holidays and traditions. They had discussed (in that silent way that only close couples could) earlier, and agreed that they should tell the four about all the wizarding traditions, even those that they didn't follow for some reason or other. As most of those reasons included the practice being horribly outdated (like arranged marriages) or were considered Dark anymore, Molly wasn't too happy with that decision.

She didn't see why the children needed to know about stuff like that, but Arthur was insistent that they weren't their parents, even if they had taken that role off and on for years now, and that Hermione would only go read up on it later if she felt like they weren't telling her everything. He had never appreciated the way she constantly undermined Sirius' relationship with Harry that summer Harry stayed with the Black Lord. He was just careful to keep those arguments behind closed doors.

(Ironically enough, they were almost the same as the small arguments they'd been having during the reading about her hovering over the boy, only now she seemed to actually be getting it.)

"Alright, you four. We never realized before now that you two," He pointed at the older pair, "were so unfamiliar with wizarding tradition and holidays. That's partially my fault I suppose... I never even considered that you weren't raised knowing. You were raised with Muggle traditions and holidays..." He shook himself. "Let's start with Yule since that was mentioned in the book, and then I'll tell you about the other wizarding holidays." He squeezed Molly's hand tightly when he felt like she was going to say something.

"From what I've read," Hermione said quietly, and a little nervously. "Most or all wizarding traditions have roots in dark magic."

Arthur sighed. "I think I know which books you were reading. For some reason Albus thinks those contain everything that is needed to be known about wizarding tradition... I never have been able to figure out what he has against his own traditions and holidays." He honestly sounded annoyed. "The books you read were all written by a Muggleborn wizard who... well, lets just say that he had a problem with Purebloods in general." He grimaced, remembering what his father had told him about the incident. He noticed Hermione's confusion. "He had a personal issue with us, and his opinions and writing were heavily colored with that view." She frowned and looked down.

"Well of course they were... look at what happened to him!" Molly exclaimed quietly.

"Molly, that's not what we are here to discuss." Arthur reminded her just as quietly. "Yule, is a week long celebration of life, magic, and family. On the day itself, the family will gather around the Yule log and offer 'sacrifices'. Usually food items, but some will add drops of their blood as well. There is nothing dark about it." He cut Hermione off when she went to protest. "Blood is extremely powerful, and the use of it is to be taken seriously, in this case it simply... adds to the ceremony. So to speak." He went through the basic details of Yule, what it represented and how it was usually celebrated. By the end, Hermione was quiet, a lot of what she thought she knew was being contradicted.

After going over the Yule holidays, they went into Samhain and Beltane, then the solstice's and other wizarding holidays or traditions. Some of it, Hermione didn't like very much, and made this opinion known. Loudly. Especially when they got around to marriage contracts and arranged marriages.

"It may seem backwards and barbaric to you, Miss Granger, but kindly remember that these traditions are what made the wizarding world survive until this point. If not for some of our traditions, we would have wiped ourselves out centuries ago. I suggest you think before completely disrespecting other cultures traditions." He said it coldly, making her rear back in shock. Harry looked at her in equal surprise (after glancing at Arthur in shock), while their younger selves looked shocked and a little surprised.

Arthur watched her for a moment before he sighed. "My apologies, I should not have snapped. But, I have held my silence for years while you and other Muggleborn walked around disrespecting and badmouthing wizarding tradition as if they know what they are talking about. My family and I may not follow all those traditions, and we may be more friendly towards Muggles than most, but do remember that we are Pureblooded wizards, and those traditions are still part of our heritage." He rubbed a hand over his eyes tiredly.

Her eyes were wide as she looked at him as though she'd never seen him before. Harry now knew why, despite the fact Molly Weasley's temper was so famous, why the boys made more of an effort at not disappointing their dad, or making him angry. They made their mother mad all the time, but Harry had never seen them truly make their father mad or get on his bad side. Before this, he thought it was just because their father was laid-back and had the same sense of humor. Now, he thought it might be because of something else... the look in his eyes when he told Hermione off... he wouldn't want that look directed at him, ever, not from this man.

"Sorry, Mr. Weasley. I'll try to be more understanding." Hermione said quietly.

"That's all we ask, dear." Molly said quietly before going into a topic that she knew Hermione would really struggle with... House-elves.

"It's slavery! It's wrong and shouldn't be happening! Slavery was outlawed decades ago!" She argued.

"Yes, in some places. Most, places actually." Arthur said with a shrug. "In the Muggle world, yes. Yes it is technically abolished worldwide, although you will find that there are places where it is still freely practiced. Just, not as openly as it was decades ago. In wizarding Britain, slavery was abolished around the time the Muggle crown declared it outlawed, back then the two communities were... closer, than they are now. However, there are some wizarding communities, or among some magical races, where it is still perfectly legal and openly practiced to keep slaves, so long as the slave is magical in nature. In other words, they are not allowed to keep Muggles as slaves, everything else is fair game. I know the vampires keep slaves among them."

"But, that's... I, That's totally barbaric! How is that allowed to continue?" Hermione burst out, enraged.

"I do not like that it happens, however... it is the culture in those areas and for those races, Hermione. It is what they have grown up doing for centuries. Within the ICW, which Britain is apart of, slavery is outlawed. Those communities are outside the ICW's control, and are still very isolationist, even more so than here in Britain. You may have noticed that we don't get many foreign business here in Britain? Well... it's gotten better since the war with Grindlewald." He huffed. "Back to the topic. In those cultures, there is absolutely nothing wrong with owning another sentient being. We were talking about House-elves, though. It is not slavery." He said firmly.

"How can you say that! They're not getting paid, they're abused, ordered about as if they were incapable of thoughts and emotions, they..." Arthur cut her off.

"They do not get paid in Galleons because they have no need for money, nor do they want it. Everything they need is provided by their family. Their 'payment' is in the control of their magic." She stared at him, confused. "When a House-elf bonds with a family, they enter into a symbiotic relationship. The wizard provides safety, magical stability, and food. In return, the elf takes care of the house, cooking, and helps with the children if there are any. Are there wizards who abuse this relationship? Of course there are. However, do not think that what you saw with Dobby is the norm when it comes to House-elves." He warned.

Harry was going to ask something, but Hermione spoke over him, to his annoyance. "What about Winky? Crouch just tossed her aside like garbage!"

Arthur sighed and looked off to the side for a few moments while he thought. "Yes... and no." He held up a hand to stop her protests, fixing her with a stern look. "Think about everything you know now, that you didn't know that night. Especially about his son."

She frowned, and this time Harry spoke up before she could. "Crouch Jr. had just escaped the Imperious his father held him under long enough to almost escape completely. Later, Voldemort and Wormtail showed up at the Crouch home and put him under the Imperious after freeing Jr."

"Yes. For one, Winky had proven herself not strong enough to hold back Crouch Jr., for another, he feared that somebody would put the pieces together and come looking for his son. And, by being under the Dark Mark when it was cast, she brought all the questions and speculations about Crouch back to the front of some people's minds. He spent his life fighting the Dark, with a single-minded, and close-minded, intensity for years. Then, his son turns out to be a Death Eater. Making people ask questions and sullying the Crouch name. Then, years later, just as the questions finally stop, his House-elf is spotted under the Dark Mark after failing to keep his son under control. Something you don't know, is that Crouch almost doted on Winky. She was treated like one of the family, understandable, really, considering she practically raised him while his parents worked and traveled."

"He sent her away for her own protection as much as it was also because she failed in her job." Harry realized. Then he frowned. "Sirius once said, that to truly judge a man's character, you should look at how they treat those under them."

"Good advice. I'm not saying that Crouch was in anyway pleasant to be around, and he was extremely biased against anything Dark, or even remotely Dark. Look at what he did to Sirius because of his family name! But, he cared for his family, in his own way. It's still a mystery to some about why his son joined the Death Eaters, he was an extremely proud father who took every opportunity to brag about his sons achievements when the boy was in Hogwarts." He was quiet for another moment.

"Another thing you must understand, is that she was found holding a wand. Creatures are banned under British Ministry law, and that has been debated back and forth between the creature communities and the Wizengamot for years and does not need to be hashed out here," He stopped and another rant from happening. "Most creature communities ignore the restrictions British wizards try to place on them, anyway. However, as a bonded House-elf, she was and is subject to wizarding law, and wizarding law states that non-human beings are banned from possessing a wand. If Crouch did not promise to punish her himself, she would have gone before the Committee in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, and would have been subjected to Azkaban or death. In letting her go from his house, he saved her life. Yes, it also meant her magic started to turn on her, but she would have had time to find a new family to bond with, or make her way to Hogwarts, which she did."

There was silence for a few moments, before Harry finally asked what he'd wanted to before Hermione interrupted. "What did you mean when you said the elves 'payment' is in control of their magic?And that her magic would turn on her?" He asked.

"Ah, yes. Elves, are powerful. Extremely so. To the point where their magic goes out of control, easily and with little to no reason. If left unchecked long enough, the elf will die an extremely painful and slow death. When they are young, this is not a problem, it is when they reach their own age of magical maturity that they need to find a family to bond with, or some other way of controlling their magic." He explained.

Harry was horrified. "So, when I freed Dobby from the Malfoys..." He started.

"His magic would have started going out of control, yes. When he went to Hogwarts to work, he managed to bond just enough with the castle to keep his magic stable while he looked for another family to truly bond with. It's not unusual for elves who have been kicked out for whatever reason to come to Hogwarts to seek refuge." Arthur reassured him, and he slumped back in relief when he heard Dobby hadn't suffered because he didn't understand what he was really doing.

"I still think it's awful, ok, so they don't need monetary payment, but what about days off, holidays, sick leave!" Hermione would not let it go.

"They don't want them, Hermione. They like working. They don't like not having something to do. Yes, elves have their own holidays and traditions. They celebrate those how they can, depending on the family they work for, their master may or may not give them the time to celebrate. Those that don't, their elves will usually celebrate however they can with a few spare minutes here or there. Ask any elf, who is not Dobby! Ask any elf if they want regular days off, they will treat you as if you were diseased and kick you out of their work area." Arthur said firmly. "You need to remember that you cannot force your opinions of what is right and wrong on others." Molly made a soft noise of agreement.

"Now, I think your S.P.E.W idea is a good one... but your approach and goals need to be rethought. Trying to free elves as you were will only result in them being killed by their own magic. However, there is nothing stopping you from campaigning to make sure they are being treated well by their families." Arthur finished before he and Molly stood up, intending to find people and get on with the book. Harry, his younger self, and Hermione all followed while Hermione stayed where she was, lost in thought.


After eating, Minerva and Remus rounded up Dudley and his younger self, and had the Room create a classroom for their use. For today, they were just going to test what Dudley knew while they went over the expectations for Dudley, since he'd already been tested and his lesson plan written up. Remus wanted to make sure the boy knew that his previous behavior would not be tolerated. Not that Remus tolerated it before, anyway.

Remus, having worked in the Muggle school system, knew what was expected of the boys to know by their teachers, and knew how much the Muggle educational system had advanced and changed since the last time Minerva had a reason to interact with it in anyway. Since anybody had deemed it needed to interact with Muggles for any reason, come to that. So, Minerva had agreed that it would be best for him to figure out what the boys knew and what they needed to know.

Earlier, they'd been talking and the Professors had been more than willing to admit that the Muggleborn and raised, along with those half-bloods that attended Muggle primary school, were the better essay writers at Hogwarts. The Purebloods were home-schooled by either their parents or had tutors growing up, and they didn't usually do anything with essays or writing. They focused on spelling, grammar, and basic math for the most part, with some magical theory thrown in. The richer families added etiquette (with music and dancing included), language, business, and politics lessons to the mix along with learning the Family Magic. Where the Muggle school system had students write simple essays and stories that had to follow a format. They also taught how to pick the important pieces of information out and use it.

Minerva and Pomona spent the rest of the meal grumbling about the inadequacies of the wizarding school system.

"Alright, Dudley. Now, we need to know what you know so we can put together a plan for you. I have an idea from when I was your primary school teacher, but its been a while since then." Remus told him with a small grin.

Dudley was happy enough, after the Dementor attack, he'd started taking his studies more seriously, but his attitude for all those years before that left their mark and made it difficult, even though he got a tutor through a school program. Dudley was much less happy about hearing (again) that he was expected to study while here.

He'd liked Remus well enough while the man was his teacher, he supposed. The man at least made the lessons more interesting then any other teacher he'd ever had, even if Dudley was never all that interested in learning. Although, he'd never been thrilled that the man actually disciplined him or stepped in when he was trying to get his way with somebody else.

"Ok, Dudley, I have this for you," He handed Dudley a written test he'd made up the night before after Sirius woke him up from a nightmare, neither of them had been able to get back to sleep, although they were glad that Harry hadn't been woken up by them. The kid needed sleep after not getting much the night before that, and the busy few days they'd all had. While Minerva supervised Dudley taking his test, Remus ran through the results of Dudley's test with him and told him what they were going to be working on the most while here. It seemed that Harry hadn't been exaggerating when he said that he did all of Dudley's schoolwork that the boy could get away with forcing on him.

They looked up when there was a knock on the door. "Hey, we've started gathering again." Neville was standing in the doorway, having been sent to find everyone by Molly, who wanted to try and finish this book tonight so they could have a few days to process everything that happened in the Trio's first year.

"Alright, we will be right there, Neville. Thank you." Remus smiled at him. He was glad to see how much Neville had grown in confidence over the years, he'd been worried back in the boys third year. Neville smiled back and went back to his mission, asking the Room to guide him to where everyone had scattered to.

When they were finally all gathered again, "Alright, let's get to it, shall we?" Filius asked as he restarted the charm on the book, making sure it was starting in the right spot.

Chapter 14 Norbert the Norwegian Ridgeback


*I was watching a show with alligator's while writing this. It was on my mind. I used crocodiles because they are bigger and generally seen as more aggressive. The type that Bellatrix LeStrange would go for over their smaller, 'gentler' cousins.