Hermione's choice 17
Once again my request to have a small share of Harry Potter and his universe was denied. So no, I don't own any of it.
I would like to thank everyone who takes the time to review my story. It is greatly appreciated. I would, however, like to request that people keep things civil. I do not mind if people disagree with me (including one person who has said they will no longer read my work) but please do not swear or abuse me because you do not like where I am taking the story. I will say that the cowardly anonymous reviewer whose explicative laden review (that has been removed) actually taught me a few new swear words so obscure I had to look some of them up! So to that person, sorry, wrong gender and most of your suggestions are physically impossible even with magic or dismemberment!
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Harry Potter had been waiting in the great hall for Hermione to finish her meeting. She had told him that it wasn't necessary to wait but he wanted to be sure that she was alright. Eventually she emerged, chatting with a nervously smiling Draco Malfoy. Seeing Harry, Hermione hurried over.
"I told you that it would be fine!" She smiled. "Sirius took care of Mr. Malfoy when he tried to interfere and after that everything worked itself out."
"Hi Pup, good to see you." Sirius smiled walking over and gave Harry a quick hug before handing Hermione a scroll. "Hermione, the goblins need you to fill this out and send it to them as soon as possible. It is to tell them the penalty that you are imposing on Lucius. Okay, see you both soon." He waved as he left the hall.
Draco came over to the pair and hesitantly held out his hand to Harry.
"Potter, I have been shown the error of my previous attitude. I apologize for my undeservedly rude behavior towards you."
Harry looked at Hermione, who gave an encouraging smile, and then shook Draco's hand. "I think we both were at fault and I apologize too. Fresh start?"
"Agreed." Draco smiled. "So… Has anyone explained the differences between school and professional quidditch to you yet?"
The three sat down at a table and started to chat amicably.
"Harry, what are you doing with that bloody slimy snake?" Ron Weasley shouted as he entered the hall. "Piss off Malfoy! You aren't wanted here."
"Weasley." Draco nodded calmly at the irate boy. "Potter and I have agreed that we both acted erroneously and are trying to form a friendly acquaintance, if not begin a friendship. Is that something that offends you?"
"Harry, mate! You can't trust this slimy git. You know that all Slytherin's are evil!" Ron ranted.
"You mean like your grandmother?" Harry asked. "You said that she was the reason you are related to the Blacks and I looked her up. She was a Slytherin prefect for her last three years here."
"No! I don't believe you. My grandma is a good person, not a slimy snake."
"But, by your reasoning, she is evil." Harry explained patiently.
"Never! And don't you ever talk about her again." Ron shouted, not noticing a professor heading towards them. "All Slytherins are bloody evil! You can't tell me they are not all wanting to serve You-know-who or someone like him."
"Mr. Weasley!" an angry Scottish voice said. "Congratulations, you have just broken your twin brothers record for the most detentions in a single term. Three for the insults to Mr. Malfoy and Slytherin house, one for deliberately trying to ostracize another student and another two for swearing. Combined with your endeavors earlier this term… I had hoped that we had gotten past this sort of behavior. I am afraid that we will be needing to have another meeting with your parents."
Ron winced.
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As Sirius Black dragged Lucius Malfoy to the floo fireplace Lucius wondered how his life had come to this. He was soon to find out.
"Gringotts!" Sirius shouted as he threw some powder in. A goblins head appeared in the flames. "I have an interference violator of the Granger-Dagworth/Malfoy contract meeting."
"He may come through. Give this to the heir to fill out." The goblin said as a roll of parchment landed at the man's feet.
With a smirk Sirius said "Have fun Lucy. Enjoy the trip!" and pushed him into the green flames.
Lucius stumbled out of the fire place and landed on his back.
"Welcome to the corrections cells of Gringotts Mr. Malfoy." A goblin said. "Be seated."
Picking himself up from the floor with as much dignity as he could muster Lucius sat in the indicated chair. It grew vines that tied him tightly.
"We need to wait until Heir Dagworth-Granger has completed the paperwork and then we will deal with you. I will be back at that time." With that the goblin left Lucius to his thoughts.
After an indeterminable wait the goblin finally reappeared. He waived his hand and the restraints disappeared.
"Mr. Malfoy, we have received the demands of Heir Dagworth-Granger and have taken the liberty of creating the contract for your penalty payment. Here is your copy. Please read and sign it."
Lucius could not believe what he was reading. Naming her as his heir until Draco repaid the debt he expected, but repaying her parents for her school fees, paying for high quality uniforms and supplies and she wants a book budget of how much per year!? That was almost as much as he spent on hair tonic.
This would ruin him even further. He had always pretended that he was wealthier than he truly was and once Black had reclaimed Narcissa's dowry and all the money he had 'borrowed' from the Black vaults and other debts there was less than three hundred thousand galleons left. With that he had to buy a house, furnish it and then try to invest what was left to generate an income.
Fortunately, for him, when Narcissa had told him to leave her house the aurors that had been present had not found his most secret caches of the darkest items. What little they had found had resulted in more fines and he was lucky to escape being charged or sent to Azkaban. But he knew that he was going to be watched closely for the foreseeable future.
Lucius sighed and reached for the quill.
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Monday mornings Daily Prophet had an interesting article printed on page three that caught the attention of most of the school.
Magic in "muggleborns" vs genetic mutations.
By Ann O'Mous.
'During the 1960's there appeared an illustrated book series called 'The X-Men' regarding humans that had developed a series of supernatural powers (shooting light from their eyes, moving objects with only their thoughts or having retractable metal claws coming from their knuckles are a few examples). These abilities were explained as Genetic Mutations.
Genes and Genetics (for those who are unaware) are the building blocks that make up a person. They control eye and hair colour, potential height and so on. These are passed on from both parents to child and the more dominant genes determine their child's appearance. For example; A blond mother and a brunette father have a child that is brunette. A Genetic Mutation is where a gene alters itself to create a new possibility. For example; A blond mother and a brunette father have a child with red hair.
This has led to researchers, including myself, looking for the way that magic is passed on to our children and how is it that some people have the ability to use magic while others do not.
In light of the recent revelations I feel that now is the time to share the results of my research.
In many cases of 'muggle born' people it has been found that they are often the descendants of squibs that have been forced into the muggle world. These people often find partners and leave magic behind them, only using their memories to tell tales to young children who find them entertaining and the memory of magic dies with them. Most commonly it is when two decedents of squibs have children that a 'muggle born' occurs.
However, in some cases it has been found that there has been (for want to a better word) a mutation in the child, with no discernable magical ancestry, that enables them to be sensitive to magic.
I believe that this is how we, as humans, came to be Magical in the beginning. A simple mutation that caused us to be different to our neighbors. Once magic was detected magical people started seeking out magical mates to be sure that the gift would continue in their children. This led to the 'pure blood' ideology. That the parents would only allow their child to have children with others of proven magical bloodlines to make sure of the continuation of magic. Unfortunately, this has, in some cases, led to inbreeding to the point that has led to the weakening the magic in their offspring, sometimes to the point of the child having no discernable or usable magic.
The article continued on with many dry facts and figures that few read and less understood but the point had been made, which started many debates amongst the whole community.
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Quirinus Quirrell was worried. Or rather, his hidden guest was. Worse still his hidden passenger, his master, was not afraid to share his displeasure.
All of the changes that had been happening were the exact opposite of what they had come to expect from magical people. That the people were accepting and even embracing the changes to traditions and attitudes and some had even starting their own changes in society? It was beyond his understanding.
His masters biggest fear after reading the article was that the populous would start thinking about the inbreeding problem and loose the 'pure blood' ideology that he had based much of his agenda on, even if he himself had been a half blood. He was, however, curious to know what his own test would have told him. A shame he no longer had a body to test. Perhaps when he regained a body he would test it out.