Hermione's choice 10
I asked Santa for the rights to Harry Potter for Christmas and he laughed so hard he fell out of his sleigh.
Owing to that, the rights still belong to Warner Bros and JK Rowling.
Thank you to Meggle la Muggle for her help with this chapter.
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A late night meeting was being held in the caverns of Gringotts bank. Leaders of the Goblin Nation were concerned about the reports they had been hearing through the news outlets.
"Don't the wizards understand that if they lose many more people to the muggle world that the economy will collapse? At a minimum, it would fall into a deep depression." Rumbleroar, Director of Gringotts London, asked heatedly.
"I don't think many have thought that far or understand the ramifications. Heir Potter's heritage test has raised a few points that we might want to consider. With so many families being squibbed out or having been killed or died out in the last century or so, many humans think that they have no real ties to the magical world. That is one of the reasons why they feel they should leave it. I feel that it is time to reintroduce the availability of heritage testing to the Wizards. It could prove a link to our world and any potential inheritance could be an incentive to stay. The money sitting in unclaimed vaults is doing nothing for them or us now." Daggerclaw suggested.
"What if we only charge a nominal fee, one or two galleons. Then everyone will want to see if they have an unexpected inheritance." Heritage Director Smoothwick suggested.
"Profit by quantity rather than expensive fees? Hmm… That just might work." Rumbleroar looked thoughtful for a minute. "Take out a half page advertisement in all news publications for the next week and list the potential benefits of doing the test. Make sure there is a small print disclaimer stating that there may be nothing to be found." Rumbleroar ordered.
"Why don't we go to Hogwarts and do the tests for the students for nothing? Even if we discovered nothing new we would gain good will from the humans, showing them that there is more to us than historical uprisings." Daggerclaw asked.
"And if we do, then they will be able to put the gold back into circulation. What if we offer to teach the children how to manage their money? Show them how to make it grow and use it productively? Using our services of course." Smoothwick agreed.
The goblins looked at each other thoughtfully.
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Pomona Sprout was worried.
She knew that many people would be looking seriously at leaving the magical world. But how to stop it at Hogwarts?
On Sunday night at the end of the weekly house meeting she stood and said "Owing to the talk about muggle born students thinking of leaving Hogwarts I want to ask, what do you think we can do here at the school to prevent this happening?"
"Offering some of the major subjects we would have been studying in the muggle world would be good. That way we could take the exams in another way." Justin Finch-Fletchley said quickly. "I don't think that it's a secret that I was down to go to one of the best schools in England before I decided to come here. Even before this came up, I have been worried about how I will be able to go back and continue my family business. To do that I need a university degree."
"What subjects would you suggest and what do they do?" Professor Sprout asked curiously.
"English would be a start. It would also help with subjects here. It teaches how to use the English language, proper spelling, punctuation, grammar and how to structure writing like essays and so on." Justin explained.
"Maths would be good too. It would help with Arithmancy if people started early enough." Sixth year student Meg Lee said.
"How would a muggle subject help with one of the hardest classes we offer?" Sprout asked, shocked at the thought.
"When I started Arithmancy in third year I was repeating most of what I had been taught in primary school. I mean, yes, magical children are taught to add and subtract but most don't know how to multiply or divide or use fractions and decimal numbers easily. We spent the first term learning how to do that. Things like algebra or geometry don't seem to be known here. And I was starting to learn those when I was nine." Meg explained. "If basic maths was taught from first year then there would be no need for the revision. We could just start learning and probably be able to go further with the subject because everyone had the basic skills already."
"Why don't we learn Latin? Most of our spell work is in a variant of Latin so it would make sense. A lot of non-magical schools still offer it as a language choice." Fourth year Ellen Mathews asked.
"Probably because you don't need to understand Latin to understand the spells." Professor Sprout said thoughtfully. "Perhaps we could start a club for those that want to learn more?"
"Professor, I was thinking. If the magically raised students get non magical high school qualifications, what is to stop them from living in both worlds? Professor Dumbledore said that it is impossible for them at the moment but what if this was a way to open that door? Getting the best out of both worlds? Who knows, there may be a way to get electricity to work in a magical place and reduce the chance of exposure." Hannah Abbot asked.
"Explain please." The bewildered professor was getting more than she had expected tonight.
"In class the teacher said that every home in the UK is powered by electricity. He said that people who don't have their houses connected are often considered either radicals or just nuts by a lot of the community." Hannah explained. "If magicals had access to things run on electricity, then they could keep up with current events or little things like knowing about TV shows. We were told that this general lack of knowledge that makes us stand out more and more."
"Especially at our age." Meg interjected. "Not knowing any of the latest fashion trends, hit music or movies make you look like you live under a rock. I try to catch up quickly at the start of each holiday but it's hard to talk about things that were released during the term."
"So, greater exposure to these things could help keep our world secret?"
"Professor," Cedric Diggory said respectfully. "I have heard about these things in modern muggle studies but without seeing and using some of them I think we, magically raised, are still at a disadvantage. From what I have learnt, these things are the main entertainment used in muggle houses. Nearly everyone uses them."
Seventh year 'She-who-will-not-be-named' Tonks spoke up. "My mum is from an ancient pure blood family and my dad's a muggleborn so I grew up with knowledge of both worlds. Knowing about things on telly or what's popular has kept me safer than trying to keep everything secret in the muggle world and lets me have fun there too."
"I see," said Professor Sprout, "it looks like there is more that we will have to do to make things work. I will raise this with Professor Dumbledore. This has been very informative, thank you all. First years, it's almost time for bed. Have a nice night."
"Goodnight professor!" Hufflepuff chorused.
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Tuesday morning started as usual as most students made their way sleepily to breakfast.
The early morning quiet was soon shattered by a loud, hysterical scream coming from the Gryffindor table.
"RAT! There's a bloody RAT on the table!" Screeched Scarlett Harrison.
"Keep your hair on!" Shouted Ron Weasley, jumping to his feet. "It's only Scabbers!"
"Miss Harrison! Mr Weasley! Please calm yourselves" Professor McGonagall said sternly as she walked over. "What is the problem?"
"There is a dirty great RAT on the table!" Scarlett snapped.
"It's only Scabbers!" Ron retorted. "He needs to eat too."
"Mr Weasley, your rat should be fed from the pet food you brought from home, not from and at the house tables." The professor explained. "I can overlook you taking some fresh fruit sometimes but feeding your pet is your responsibility."
"Why does he even have a rat? It isn't on the approved list! It's disgusting! I don't want to be in the same tower as that thing!" Scarlett wailed. "It should be exterminated!"
"Hey! You're not killing him!" Ron shouted, snatching the rat off the table and holding it close to himself.
"I am afraid that Miss Harrison is correct that it isn't approved. We do allow other pets as long as there are no complaints about them. I am sorry but I will have to take your rat until we can send it home to your parents."
As Minerva was explaining this reality to Ron, Amelia Bones walked confidently into the Great Hall and approached Professor Dumbledore with a scroll in her hand.
"I'm afraid you are in for a busy day Albus. I have called for an emergency meeting of the Wizengamot and a trial at ten am today." She explained as she handed over the scroll. "I am also here to invite Harry Potter to attend as this will involve him and his future."
"Very well. Mr Potter is sitting at the Gryffindor table. He has my permission to attend. I was wondering if I may ask you to do something in your role as an Auror?"
"You may ask." Amelia replied cautiously.
"We have an unapproved pet that is being complained about. Would you please perform the usual scans on it?" Dumbledore said, looking at the small commotion.
"Certainly." She smiled, thinking that it would be an easy thing to do. Walking over she smiled ruefully at Minerva.
"Is this the pet in question?" Amelia asked smiling at Ron. "Don't worry, I will just perform a few harmless spells and then we can get it sent home for you."
Ron reluctantly handed over his pet. Amelia pulled out her wand and began.
"Infectus!" Nothing happened.
"Polutum!" Again nothing.
"Alright, last one. Animus revelio!" She dropped the rat in fright as it began to grow and transform.
"Stupify!" Amelia shouted. "Hmm, animagus! I am going to have to take him with me." She said as she conjured a cage. Transforming the unknown person back into a rat she placed it in the cage and locked it securely. Looking around she then handed Harry a piece of parchment. "Mr Potter, here are the details of today's meeting and hearing at the ministry. Professor Dumbledore has already approved for you to attend. I hope to see you there later. Excuse me please. I suddenly have even more work to do before then."
"Thank you Madam. I will see you there." Harry replied.
"Mr Weasley, as this is what you thought was your pet, I need you to accompany me to the ministry." Amelia said and Ron gulped nervously.
"Madam Bones." Percy said, standing up. "I would like to come with my brother until our parents can get there. Also, Scabbers was my pet before I gave him to Ron. You may have questions for me too."
"Professor McGonagall, with your permission? We will need to use the floo please." The professor nodded "Very well gentlemen. Come along then." Amelia said leading the way out of the hall.
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Striding through her department she placed both Weasley boys on chairs with instructions not to move or talk to anyone.
Once in her office Amelia places the caged rat on her desk and sent for several people. Arthur Weasley, to be with his children while they were questioned. Louie O'Dowd, a trusted auror with lightning fast reflexes and an unquestioning devotion to his duty. And Master Healer Jessica Whycroft, who specialized in Pediatrics and was the nations expert on animagi related injury. She knew that she would have to be quick but thorough with this.
As he entered the office Arthur Weasley gave a strained smile to the head of the department. "I always knew I would be called in here one day about my children but I always thought it would be about the twins!" Arthur tried to joke. He had seen which two were sitting outside.
"If even half of what Susan has written to me about them is true I would hazard a guess that I will be seeing them professionally sometime next year." She joked back before turning serious. "Arthur, I need your permission to question Ronald and Percy. I don't believe that they will be in trouble but it would be better to know anything they can tell us now."
"You have my permission." Arthur knew that Amelia did not take questioning children lightly.
Calling Percy in first she started. "You said at Hogwarts that this rat was your pet first. Please tell me how you got him and when."
"I found him in the garden when I was about five or six. It seemed tame enough so mum and dad let me keep him."
"Has it always been missing a toe?"
"Yes, it was still healing when I found him."
"Do you know how long rats usually live for?"
"No. I mean, I thought that nine years was probably old for a rat, but I didn't think anything of it."
"The normal life span is around two to three years." Percy and Arthur both looked shocked.
"OH!" Percy exclaimed. "I'm sorry, I honestly didn't know! I was just happy to have a pet."
"There is no shame in that." Amelia smiled at the distraught boy and tried to put him at ease. "I had a pet snail when I was a child and loved it to death. I didn't realise that my Slimy was actually a series of snails that my father found for me when they died. That I why I asked about the missing toe. I cannot see either of your parents mutilating an animal just to keep you innocent about death."
"Neither can I! Mum hates even killing a chicken for food, so it wouldn't be like her to do that. And dad always taught us to respect and care for animals. I can't see him hurting one at all." Percy said fervently.
"Alright. Why did you give the rat away?"
"When I was made Prefect my parents bought me an owl. I knew that Fed and George wouldn't want him and I thought that Ron would like to have a pet at school."
"Thank you for your help. Could you please go back to your chair outside and call your brother in?" Amelia dismissed Percy.
Ron came in and sat nervously. "Um, Dad? Is this going to mean that you are taking me out of Hogwarts? You aren't going to send me to Aunt Muriel are you?"
"Just be honest and we will talk after." Arthur said sternly.
"Ok." Ron looked at Amelia. "We have had Scabbers ever since I can remember. He was always Percy's pet. I didn't really want him but a pet rat is better than no pet at all. He never did much, he just eats and sleeps. I never saw anything else really."
"Alright, that answers anything I was going to ask." Amelia said. "Thank you and you may go and sit outside."
"Amelia, I take some of the blame here too. I should have been a bit suspicious about how long the rat lived. I should have known better." Arthur said sadly.
"I am not blaming you or your family." Amelia said with a smile. "Why don't you sit with the boys while we finish this?"
She called Auror O'Dowd and Healer Whycroft into the office.
"I need to find out who this is. Louie, be ready for anything. Jessica, I want you to reverse the change and monitor him. Ready?" Amelia asked as she placed the uncaged rat on the floor. They nodded.
"Animus revelio." Jessica intoned. They watched as the figure grew and changed.
"Sominus." Louie cast as the figure started to stir.
They looked at the man lying on the floor. "He looks vaguely familiar. Anyone have any ideas?"
"No. I can check some of the old records?" Louie suggested.
"Do that. You have fifteen minutes. I have to be in front of the Wizengamot at ten am. But throw him in interrogation room one. I want to question him ASAP! Jessica, with me for the questioning please. After that I need you to check over the Weasley boys to make sure they haven't had anything happen to them."
"No problem." Jessica nodded.
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Walking into the interrogation room Amelia was pleased to see the unknown man seated at the table with both movement restriction and magic inhibiting handcuffs.
At Amelia's signal Jessica woke the man. The man stirred and slowly looked around.
"Good morning. I am Amelia Bones, and you are…?" She said pleasantly.
"I'm not saying anything!" the man said, with fear obvious on his face.
"Alright. So I will just charge you now and you can answer under the influence of veritaserum in the court room."
"Charge me? With what? What have I done?"
"Being an illegal animagus for starters. Perhaps child endangerment. What do you think of the perversion of the minors of a Pureblood House?"
"NO! You can't do that!" He squeeled.
"Then talk!" Amelia snapped.
"My name is Peter Pettigrew."
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