*grins* And I so could have easily made this slash. :P In joke, you had to be there.
And just for fun I included a direct stab against the next generation of Hogwarts students and how the teachers (apart from Snape) care for them. Ten points if you can spot it. And another five if you can spot the 'Hogfather' reference. And a further ten points if anyone can spot the alcohol reference in here.
Disclaimer: Nope I still don't own it because I'm not Rowling surprisingly enough. And nor am I Terry Pratchett. Bloody surprising is it not?
And most of the information within comes from 'A Dictionary of Political Thought' by Roger Scruton. Most helpful that book is.
Thanks: To Faith for being Faith. And the MartianHousecat for explaining the political content.
And Faith - aren't you glad I didn't?
And thank you Georgina for redoing all of this for me!
___
Chapter Two: History Is A Kick In The Head
The class was empty.
All except the twenty-one students that were sitting, waiting for the Patrician's arrival. A few of them glanced at the fifth year who was sitting at the back of the class looking as nervous as humanly possible. A couple of them began to point and whisper.
"May I suggest that you focus on yourselves rather than the addition of Mister Quirrell to the class. It might help you to focus on your studies and perhaps you might even be ale to pass the class."
Eyes turned to the front of the class. Lord Vetinari was sitting as his desk, looking at the children not yet happy but not yet angry. He was impassive to a fault.
"Now I presume you are wondering why I have asked Mister Quirrell to attend this class? I felt he had promise - unlike the rest of seventh years that were in this room the last time we met."
Most of them knew better than to mutter complaints under their breath. Most of them were too scared to utter a single word of protest. Most of them thought hexing Quirrell would be a good idea until one member of this school of thought caught the tail end of a disapproving glance cast in their direction. One however stood out from the rest...
"Yes Miss Evans, what would you like to enlighten the class with today?"
"Well sir, I was wondering - why is the class uneven? I thought because it was about politics then there would be sort of a democracy going on with equal right for equal numbers."
The Patrician peaked his fingers in front of his chin. He stared at Lily, cold blue eyes boring into her... The four Hufflepuffs were all but holding onto each other whimpering in fear.
"Miss Evans, has it ever occurred to you that not every society runs on the premise of a democracy?"
"I don't understand sir."
The Patrician sighed. "Miss Evans has it occurred to you that the British government and the wizarding world are two separate governmental bodies?"
"But they work in conjunction together." seeing the disapproving look she hastily added. "Sir."
"Working in conjunction with a government does not mean that they are the same thing. For example, your wizarding world runs a Guildian based society combined with an Oligarchy whereas the British governmental policy is more democratically based with a separation of powers over the executive branch of..."
The Patrician trailed off. Apparently this was far too much information for the most to handle. The six Ravenclaws looked like all their dreams had come true in one sentence, the seven Slytherins looked both pleased with the admission of an oligarchy rule and disgusted by the concept of Muggle politics; the four Hufflepuffs looked like they were about to cry and finally the four Gryffindors were a mixture of the above.
"Miss Abbott?"
"Sir?"
"What part of this did you not understand?"
There was a pregnant pause before the timid Hufflepuff answered. "M-Most of it sir."
"Mister Quirrell, please explain to the class what the combination of a Guildian based system with an Oligarchy is."
"Y-Yes s-s-sir."
The young Ravenclaw stuttered his way through an accurate description of what the Patrician had asked of him. Firstly, the idea of the Guilds being organisations to promote social, professional and religious interests historically and the evolution in terms of the wizarding world saw the formation of Apocatheries, Wand Makers, Broom Makers and other major business interests. The oligarchy saw the foundation for the Ministry of Magic whereupon the aristocracy had the centre of power for decisions here.
"Well done Mister Quirrell."
"Th-Thank you s-sir."
The Patrician turned on the class again. "Any questions children?"
Many faces were blank. Apparently the ideas of a Guildian based society - even though thoroughly explained - was totally foreign concept to the most of them. A pity as most in this room had grown up in the wizarding world - one would have expected them to grow up with a vague conception of how things were run.
"Mister Lupin." sighed the Patrician. "Perhaps you could enlighten the class as to how the wizarding world runs its governmental procedures."
"Er... The Ministry of Magic sir. That's where our laws come from."
"And how precisely is your Ministry of Magic made up Mister Pettigrew?"
Lily's voice rang out. "I get it now sir! The Ministry of Magic is made up of divisions and the divisions are representative of the subdivisions in the wizarding world and those are the basis for the Guildian system that you are taking about!"
Six Ravenclaw heads crashed down on desks simultaneously as did one of the Slytherins. The remaining six Slytherins either had pained expressions on their faces or were trying not to fall off their seats laughing.
"Mister Wilkes, are you all right there? Do you need to see the school nurse?"
"No sir, I'm fine."
"Then would you please cease from trying to remove your eye with the end of your quill."
"Sorry sir, force of habit when faced with the obvious."
"Quite so indeed Mister Wilkes."
Snape, who was sitting next to Wilkes, took the quill from the boy and patted him on the shoulder. Wilkes seemed to give up on the idea of taking his eyeball out. At least he was not trying for one of the other student's eyes, the Patrician thought to himself, that would after all be messy and call into question the sanity of his students...
He couldn't deny that the idea was a fascinating one though.
"Miss Evans, next time I decide to call upon Mister Pettigrew to make an answer I will refrain from doing so and ask you instead. Does that suit you?"
You could almost hear the divide going, "Go on Lily - tell the man yes... It'd be fun... You know you want too!" and "Lily - if you answer that question you'll never see the light of day again. Don't do it woman! For the love of God nooooo!!!"
Instead she apologised. A collective "Phew!" and "Dammit!" went over the class.
Lord Vetinari moved on. "Miss Evans seems to have left out that the Ministry of Magic is ruled by the few and that few is the elite of your society."
Collective murmurs of assent, mostly from the seven Slytherins, echoed in the class. Vetinari allowed the brief discussion to go on for a moment before returning to the subject at hand. "Tell me children, has this system always presided in the wizarding world - or is this a relatively new development?"
The Ravenclaws were the first to raise their hands, shortly followed by the Slytherins and then two of the Gryffindors.
"Miss Brocklehurst."
Young Larissa Brocklehurst nodded politely at the Patrician and began to speak. "The wizarding world has not always followed the current system that we have now. As Quirrell mentioned, there has been an evolution to the way our body of politics has run. Things are more clearly defined whereas before the system tended to overlap into each Guild and also the ideologies of the people in charge."
"How so, Mister Ashlon?"
The Gryffindor smiled and started to speak about the cultural divide that threatened to overthrow the Guilds during the age of the founders and several centuries later. The problem being that dark wizards were more rampant than they were nowadays. The Patrician noted a slight hitch in the boy's voice when he said this, however he followed through with his explanation - concluding with a statement of how the practitioners of the dark arts were slowly eradicated over a period of years when the wizarding world united to prevent further destruction of their people.
"How would you then describe the wizarding world before the age of the founders and the Guildian system Mister Snape?"
"I'd say it was similar to the ethos of chaos sir."
"How so?"
"Well sir, before the founders wizarding society was often cursed by Muggles - to be more specific the religious aspects of Muggle culture. This however was not always the case, as classical history shows wizards and some witches were regarded as heroes. For example in Greek history, Bellaphron who slew the Chimera was in fact a wizard. As society progressed and the old religions died out to make room for the now dominant religions such as Christianity, the old system of beliefs died in magic and the men and woman who used their powers to aid Muggles were persecuted. For reference here I turn to witch burnings, the Spanish Inquisition and lets not forget the persecution suffered in Salem."
"Thank you Mister Snape. The next time we meet children, we will be examining Muggle society and their political prospects. Please note that wizards and witches were not the only ones that suffered at the hands of the majority. Many innocent Muggles were persecuted as well. Class dismissed."
With that said the Patrician turned to his notes on his desk and the class left, quietly. The Hufflepuffs all but ran past his desk, the rest left the man to his work. Today had been an interesting lesson, the children either had a grasp on the subject or they were too frightened to admit it.
That, or they were just plain ignorant.
"Your Lordship?"
"Yes, Miss de Boer?"
"Might I have a word?"
"Of course."
~
Lily was somewhat pleased with her involvement in the class, although she did have some apprehensions as to whether or not the Patrician liked her. She left Peter and Remus to walk up to the Gryffindor common room by themselves - no doubt the boys were going to get together to cause some mischief. James had been rather put out by the fact that he had not been included into the class. She had to agree with him there - it seemed awfully unfair that only her, Peter, Remus and Tyberius Ashlon were the only Gryffindors in the class. Quirrell was a fifth year and a Ravenclaw to boot - why couldn't James be there as well. She stopped and frowned in the middle of the corridor.
Life wasn't fair.
In fact it was terribly unfair.
She caught sight of two of the Ravenclaws in her class. Larissa Brocklehurst and Helena Kingston. She decided to go over and join in on the conversation that they were having. They were all friends after all - and she could use some girl company right now.. James and the boys were fine but there was just something more appealing about talking to girls... And they seemed to be talking about guys all ready - perhaps she could get some help in trying to move her relationship with James forward...
"Honestly Helena, you have as much chance in shagging him as I do."
"Shag who?" interrupted the plump redhead.
"Oh hello Evans." sniffed the girl who had been talking. "We were just talking about Lord Vetinari and how much we like him - weren't we Helena?"
"Yes Larissa. What do you think of him Evans?"
The Gryffindor looked carefully at the two Ravenclaws she wanted to count amongst her friends and thought only for a moment before she opened her mouth to reply.
"I don't like him."
Larissa and Helena looked at Lily incredulously.
"What isn't there to like? He's highly intelligent, very good looking and he doesn't have a biased opinion of the facts unlike every other member of this faculty."
Again Lily paused. "How can you find him attractive? I mean he looks like an older version of Snape. Now someone like James..."
Larissa snorted. "James Potter has nothing on Severus Snape and if you had any taste whatsoever then you'd see it. Evans, until you develop any sense that your Muggle infused mind can grasp - then you can be part of our conversation. Come Helena."
They left a bewildered Lilly Evans standing alone and miserable at yet another rejection to add to this year's all ready large list.
She honestly couldn't see what the attraction was compared to James. James was an athlete. His blue eyes rippled with the promise of fun, his hair wild and unkempt suggested an air of mischief. All Vetinari had to offer were hawkish features on a tall thin frame. He was arrogant but yet not, his beard hiding whatever could possibly lie beyond that impassive face. He had a powerful presence...
The man was a mystery wrapped inside an enigma with the addition of a paradox to be sure.
The polar opposite of James...
Lily Evans, seventh year Gryffindor made an important decision. She headed to Lord Havelock Vetinari's office to see him.
For the most part this would be about the way he treated her currently in the class, the second being that she should try and understand where Larissa and Helena were coming from, after all she really did want to call them friends of hers. And maybe they had a point... The Patrician could be good looking but...
He still looked like an older version of Snape.
Oh and perhaps there was the chance that she could get James back into the course. That would be good. At least she wouldn't have to sit with the Hufflepuffs any longer if he was in the room - not that the Hufflepuffs were bad or anything... They just weren't what she'd call good for the class.
For starters they were far too frightened to actually answer anything - then again, she put that down to the Patrician's foreboding appearance.
As she neared the class, Lily heard the familiar peal of razor-sharp laughter that signalled the presence of Narcissa de Boer - a Slytherin seventh year that attended the same class as she. Slowing her pace, she all but edged her way to peep around the door of Lord Vetinari's class.
Narcissa - ice blonde sculpted to perfection was perched on the edge of his Lordship's desk. Her skirt, noted Lily, was riding dangerously high.
Not that it appeared to be of any concern to the much older man.
It was not long before the Slytherin left - brushing past Lily and hitting her on purpose, making a false apology and Lily almost swore she heard the mutter of "Stupid Mudblood" before the other girl vanished.
Ignoring the protests of her mind, she entered without knocking. Silently she moved to Vetinari's desk, a neat stack of parchment moving ever so slightly with the small breeze she had created. She looked down at his bowed head as he wrote, marking a document relating to the class she was not entirely too sure of.
"I do believe that you are casting a rather heavy shadow over my work Miss Evans." he said not even bothering to look up.
"Oh, right... Sorry."
She moved. The slight sound of the man scratching the parchment with his quill unnerved her. An awkward silence descended and after a while she began to fidget.
Vetinari sighed and put his quill down and looked at her - his eyes looked like they were passing through her.
Is there anything in particular you wanted Miss Evans or did you come here just to be irritating?"
"I came here to speak to you sir... It's about the course." she replied hoping her little white lie would take to seed in a fruitful manner.
"Take a seat then Miss Evans."
She went for the seat the Patrician had indicated and then decided against it in favour of his desk. After all, if Narcissa de Boer could sit on it - then so could she...
With a lack of grace she plonked herself down, knocking over half of the papers Vetinari was in the process of working with.
"Thank you Miss Evans. This discussion is over."
"But sir!" she protested.
"Out."
"But..."
"Out Miss Evans."
Something about the order and the steel in his eyes indicated painful things would happen if she did not take his advice.
As she was walking out a comment was directed at her retreating figure.
"Do not try and pass yourself off for something that you are not Miss Evans."
Lily walked indignantly back up to Gryffindor tower. Of all the things he could possibly have done he had to say that one comment. Other teachers would have been more understanding to her plight - she would have even offered to pick up the papers if he hadn't of been so rude.
"Callous old bastard." she muttered to herself and then instantly regretted it as he may have heard it. The man was odd - knew everything... Probably dabbled in the dark arts, looked like he did anyway. She gave the password to the Pink Lady who guarded their tower entrance and sat down in the empty common room.
She wondered where James was. James would make it all better.
~
"Where is the Patrician?"
The Duke of Ankh looked at the Patrician's clerk, he was angry.
Actually angry was probably not the right word to use when describing Sam Vimes' current disposition.
Thoroughly pissed seemed far more accurate, although less appropriate term to use.
"The Patrician is currently indisposed at the moment. Can I take a message at all?"
"Drumnott - I need to see the Patrician right now. Where is he."
"Indisposed your grace."
"He's been indisposed every time I come and see him! When will he not be indisposed?!"
The smaller, and much younger man, waved his hand flippantly - a trait Vimes presumed that he had picked up off the Patrician. "I can't really say your grace."
Sam Vimes, Duke of Ankh and Commander of the City Watch slapped his forehead in disgust. Through gritted teeth he said, "When the Patrician is not busy, please inform him that I need to speak to him... Rather urgently."
"Of course your grace. Will there be anything else today?"
It took a great deal of willpower for the older man not to hit the younger.
"Nothing." he snapped and then stalked out, cursing the Patrician for not being available.
And the rest of the city of Ankh-Morpork flowed on.
~
The Patrician got back to the palace later that night. He received the three urgent messages, all from Commander Vimes demanding an audience, handed the paperwork he had taken with him to Drumnott - mostly regarding the state of affairs in the city - and then went to bed. He was not needed at Hogwarts for the next couple of days, thus Vimes could have his meeting the next day. He was pleased with the way that the city was running without him, like clockwork almost.
He should have taken up teaching in another dimension a long time ago...
He signed the last of the ordinances that needed to be signed and went to bed, foregoing the game of chess he sometimes played in the evening.
~
The children waited patiently in the class, eyes on the door and not saying anything - just in case they missed their teacher's arrival.
Someone coughed.
"Quite all right there are we Mister Pettigrew?"
The Gryffindor got over his coughing fit by falling out of his chair after the silky voice had spoken.
"Y-Yes s-sir."
"Excellent. Shall we begin then? Unless anyone else would like to have some form of medical emergency?"
Pettigrew turned bright red, the Slytherins were dying to snigger but thought better of it. Last thing they really wanted was to draw attention to themselves that was not favourable.
"Miss Evans, perhaps you would like to begin the discussion on Muggle politics. Tell me, are their any similarities between the current political systems in the Muggle world of today and the wizarding world."
The girl nodded - perhaps the Patrician wasn't all that bad, she thought to herself. She surprised herself by giving a model answer about how they were in fact quite similar. Her main examples consisted of the House of Lords and the Ministry of Magic. The idea here being that they were similar in format with the creation of rules.
"Well done Miss Evans."
The Patrician was pleased with her... It was almost as if he'd totally forgotten about the desk incident. She beamed happily at him.
"Do you have anything at all to add Miss Evans?"
"No sir."
"Are you in any form of pain at all?"
"Uh... No sir."
"Then please stop looking like that - you're beginning to scare Mister Turpin and Miss Abbott."
Lily was crestfallen. Made a mockery of yet again. This class really wasn't for her. The Patrician was mean - and all she had ever tried to do was be the perfect student. She'd been polite, what more could the man want from her? Her right arm perhaps?!
The class went well until they started to discuss the more controversial part of the course.
Religion and Muggle politics and the conflicting ideals that turned them into one...
First there were the short and very terse answers, accompanying then were the patronising questions. Second came the all out distrust between the Pure Bloods and those that were of a primary Muggle decent. Third came the volley of whispered hexes between each group. Finally the class ended with three black eyes, a broken rib and one student painted Hufflepuff Yellow - much to the disgust of the other six Slytherins.
Vetinari applauded them for their efforts and sent them on their way.
Their homework for that night was to write a ten-foot parchment about reasons why they should respect each other's political differences.
~
Your Lordship,
I must say I am most disgusted with the recent behaviour of your class. My Gryffindors have been subjected to horrific incidents in that room and have also indicated to me that you are the sole reason for their problems. Miss Evans has informed me that you are absolute terror to her and Mister Pettigrew, and I have also heard similar reports from Anise Sprout that her Hufflepuffs live in abject fear of you. Something about you being trained as Assassin, or so I have heard. On this issue I believe that the students are overreacting but the rest I feel they are not.
May I suggest to remedy this situation or else face dismissal from this programme.
Yours Sincerely
Minerva McGonagall (Deputy Headmistress and Head of Gryffindor House)
Vetinari read the letter with amusement.
So the children had decided to complain about his teaching methods... It had only taken them three lessons to find fault with him. He thought it not surprising that it was the Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors that found him to be intimidating - although only two were specifically mentioned. Young Lupin and Ashlon did not seem to have a problem, Evans tried far too hard to impress him and young Pettigrew was a disgrace. The Hufflepuffs he could make allowances for to a point. They were no than the trainee Dunces in the Fools Guild after all.
The Patrician reached for the silent bell that would summon Drumnott to his services. The young clerk came, as he always did - waiting for the Patrician's instructions quietly as he did.
"I want you to take care of the owl."
"The owl sir?"
Vetinari indicated the dazed looking bird staggering around on the floor by the window.
"Ah, the owl sir."
"Indeed. It seems to not be handling the transition very well - though what fool sends an owl to travel across a dimension or two with a message is beyond my comprehension."
"Does this have something to do with your whereabouts the four days you were unavailable sir?"
The Patrician looked at the clerk. No more words were said, the clerk went about his duties and the Patrician composed a message back to McGonagall. It was along the lines of 'Perhaps if your student spent less time trying to impress me and the other grew a backbone then perhaps their would be no problem. Please do let young Evans and Pettigrew know that I will be wanting to discuss this with them as soon as possible.'
It was a far more eloquently written however.
As there would be no need for him to return to Hogwarts until early next week, he turned his attentions back to affairs of the city. This was after he had sent a pigeon back across the dimensional continuum. A pigeon rather than an owl because the spatial interference would not ruin the tiny brain of the creature.
The owl that he had been sent would be cared for of course. It would be a symbol of ignorance.
~
Your Lordship,
Please return my owl this instant! I do not know, nor care, about the system in your country but when one sends a personal owl to another it is expected that the same bird be returned. This bird you returned to me I find a personal affront to not only myself but also the school.
Yours Sincerely
Minerva McGonagall (Deputy Headmistress and Head of Gryffindor House)
~
Dear Professor McGonagall
Your owl is currently sitting in a cage trying to sing like some form of small songbird. And might I add - doing it rather badly. When you sent the creature through with the message, the dimensional travel interfered with its brain. Rest assured the bird is being well cared for and will be until the end of its days.
Yours Sincerely
Havelock Vetinari (Patrician of Ankh-Morpork)
~
There had been no more correspondence from Minerva McGonagall but there was - waiting for him in Dumbledore's office. She immediately launched into a barrage of insults, which he listened o with great amusement - nodding his head every so often as if he were taking it all to heart.
"Thank you Professor for your observations. And no - reassurredly, I am not an agent of this Voldemort character that you speak of."
"Minerva, please calm down."
The seething Deputy Head of the school fell silent - glaring at the Patrician.
"Mister Dumbledore the bird is quite happy where it is. My clerk Drumnott provides it with great care. I must say, it seems rather happy in its new environment."
McGonagall was about to protest again but Dumbledore lay a hand on her arm in an effort to calm the formidable woman, and possibly keep her from hexing the other man.
A few more formalities were then cleared and thus began the discussion about the children in the class. McGonagall managed to keep her ire to an astonishingly quiet level and it was agreed that the Patrician would speak to the students in question after the class had finished for that day.
Dumbledore was not entirely too sure how they had reached that consensus but accepted it. There was not much he could do now, as the man had left for his class.
Speaking of which... He hadn't even heard him leave.
~
The lesson that day progressed nicely.
There were no broken bones, no insults and most importantly - no irritating little sots interrupting the lesson every five seconds to say something that had no particular importance to the actual lesson whatsoever.
"Thank you for your home work children, class dismissed. Mister Pettigrew, Miss Evans and all of the Hufflepuffs please stay behind."
He could almost hear the silent screams from the four Hufflepuffs and Pettigrew. Young Evans however was a picture of serenity. She was smiling and she was silent.
If there was one thing that the Patrician couldn't stand it was overly silent people with smiles on their faces. It was a clear indication that they were in fact up to something.
"I hear that you six seem to have some problems with me and my teaching method. Instead of broaching this issue with myself, you have gone to Professor McGonagall for aid. May I inquire as to what the problem is?"
The four Hufflepuffs were all but sitting on each other and Pettigrew looked as if he'd rather be over there with them than sitting next to Lily.
"Sir." said Lily as she raised her hand to speak.
"Yes Miss Evans."
"We in particular find you very unapproachable compared to the other teachers here at the school. You put us on the spot sir and it is very disconcerting."
The Patrician nodded before speaking. "Tell me Miss Evans, what exactly are you here at Hogwarts to learn?"
"Witchcraft and wizardry sir." she replied in a puzzled tone. "But I don't see how that is relevant to this issue."
"Miss Evans it is very relevant and let me explain why. I presume most of you intend on becoming aurors or at one point will be faced to use you magic in great urgency will you not?"
The six students nodded intently and the Patrician continued with his explanation.
"The reason why I put you on the spot as you call it Miss Evans is because this will train you to be ready for future situations which require you to be alert. You live in very dangerous times and your teachers here tend to coddle you in order to prepare you for he world outside. I wonder, how much coddling do you think your enemy will give you before they curse you?"
The look of confidence was slowly wiped from Evan's face. The Hufflepuffs and Pettigrew slowly relaxed in their seats. The Patrician wasn't out to get them - he was out to help them...
Sort of.
"Have I made my intentions clearer at all?"
"Yes sir." five of them chorused.
"Miss Evans?"
"Can I speak to you in private sir? I'd rather not broach it here."
"Of course, the rest of you are dismissed."
Once they were gone, Lily made the wisest decision she had made since the Patrician had started to teach here... She stayed in her seat rather than trying to sit on his desk again. They sat and Vetinari waited, Lily attempting to reach for the courage her house deemed that she have. Eventually it came out.
"Why don't you like me sir?" she blurted.
"Miss Evans I neither dislike you nor do I like you."
"But you're always so mean to me and I try my hardest to the best student in the class!"
The Patrician was thoughtful for a moment. "Perhaps the problem lies within your need to be perfect rather than you being who you are."
This was a revolutionary concept for Lily. This was the seventies, the age of Aquarius, the age of burning your bra to throw away the symbolic shackles the "weaker" gender were kept under. Philosophy like this made an impression on young girls who fought the evils of oppression by the dominant male. The combined powers of feminism and the idea that what others thought about you wasn't all that important struck took aim and struck with true force in Lily's mind.
You could almost hear the glingleglingleglingle.
"I understand now sir. Thank you so much!"
The girl left, the Patrician couldn't help but feel that he had created a monster. Nothing that couldn't be dealt with at a later date however.
He settled down to read the homework that the children had handed in to him...
Apparently a ten-foot parchment of real educational value was something of a rarity at Hogwarts. This also followed through with the idea of "respect" - that too was rather far-fetched.
The most enlightening, as he perused through the stack, were the essays from both sides which condemned either point of view. For entertainment value he would have to recommend Daniel McKinnon's, "Both Muggles and Pure Bloods are complete and utter idiots. I respect only those that do something to earn it. My Da and my Ma have earned it, ergo that is where my respect will forever lie."
He gave the boy an 'A'.
The Patrician felt he deserved it.
Amongst the others that got 'A's' were Snape, Malfoy, Lupin and Evans. He saw right through Snape and Malfoy's efforts but gave them the points anyway for a good attempt at faking their way through that particular piece. Down the bottom he wrote a few notes to give suggestions on how to lie convincingly in an essay. For starters, learning not to write the word 'Muggle' so heavily would be beneficial. Heavy-handed writing suggested some form of prejudice and could insinuate less than favourable results. Evans on the other hand actually handed in a fairly decent piece of work. At the bottom he wrote a congratulatory note commending her effort.
~
The last lesson was spent with a quiet summary of the differences and the ideals of respect. They came to a conclusion... The laws set by the Ministry of Magic were in fact unfair but fair at the same time. This of course followed through with any and every law ever created. Ultimately the ruling council would always do things to their advantage rather than to the advantage of the lower castes.
The second half of the lesson introduced the next topic on the list.
Ideological Differences.
A tie-in with the Historical Aspects of this course. This however, would cover the latter ideals of the wizarding world. Most importantly it would touch on the ideals of light and dark in context.
He watched with interest the way that this affected the students. Most of them were solemn, some even spoke with hooded voices. Hiding their grief and sometimes even their belief in what the minority was calling for.
There was one rule placed in the class though. No wild accusations were to be made against another student. The unsaid protests showed on a few faces, rage painted the room. He could have cut the tension in the room with a knife if he had cared to.
"What you must understand children, is that the key element to politics is understand your opponents stance and identify with it before you can justify your own stance. You must see both sides of the coin for it to be a valuable piece of metal."
Lily was the only one to take this as totally Zen meaning. She nodded her head to everything the Patrician said. Young Quirrell, who had the misfortune to be seated next to her, looked at her incredulously and started to inch away ever so slightly.
"Mister Quirrell is there something you wish to add to the conversation?"
"No sir."
"Then why exactly are you fidgeting?"
Quirrell inclined his head towards Lily.
"The intensity of a persons listening can become a nuisance and they may in fact lose what is being said. Miss Evans?"
"Yes sir?"
"I would like you to write up a presentation for the next class. I want you to research the differences of the current political tensions of both sides. I expect a non-partisan presentation I add. Are you capable of such a task?"
Lily was extremely proud of the attention that was being drawn to herself. Other members of the class were thinking along the lines of "Bloody Gryffindor gets all the luck", the rest just wanted to see her fail miserably.
"Oh and Mister Quirrell. I would like you to assist Miss Evans with her endeavours. Class dismissed."
And thus ended the first part of the course. Muted complaints at the Evans girl working with the fifth year on a very important presentation were kept well away from the Patrician - although he did in fact know about them. It was one of his many talents - having ears in places that he himself couldn't be, or at least wasn't supposed to be.
The Patrician went to Dumbledore's office. He wished to discuss the next part f the course, find out if there was any chance that the children in the class may find the content offensive at all. If there was, then at least he could be prepared for the worst to happen. The gargoyle guarding the entrance accepted his password that he had been given and let him up the stairs.
The headmaster was waiting for him.
"Mister Dumbledore, I wanted to speak to in regards about the next part of my course."
"Oh?"
The old man was looking up at the Patrician intently. He indicated that the younger should take a seat and silently offered the other cup of tea that was sitting on the desk.
"There may be some conflict of interest with the next part of the course and what it will be dealing with. I wanted to know if there were any particular students that would be sensitive to the matter at hand? Perhaps those that have suffered some form of injustice from either side."
"I think perhaps the idea of Voldemort's politics will cause the majority of the class some difficulties. The ones to watch out for however would be the Hufflepuffs, young Lily Evans and Tyberius Ashlon. You may need to remove the wands at the beginning of each lesson. Some students may take it upon themselves to defend their family honour."
Clearly the headmaster was indicating the opposition to the names he had spoken. Unsaid, but he was referring to Malfoy, Snape and the rest of their little group in the class. The Ravenclaws, as it sounded, were also not above suspicion.
"What about outside the class headmaster? What will you do in order to protect the students then?"
"There will be protections available for those with Muggle blood. Be assured your Lordship, no student will come to harm under my care."
The Patrician knew now where the thoughts of the headmaster did lie. He absorbed the information and said not a word - preferring to change the subject instead.
"I feel some remorse at Professor McGonagall's owl that she sent me during my time on the Disc. I would like to make amends to the woman as she feels that this is solely my responsibility. However, I have no clue as to where to begin. Perhaps a replacement for the bird she lost would be the appropriate gesture."
"An excellent suggestion your Lordship. I shall make the necessary arrange..."
"No need." the Patrician interrupted. "I will be quite able to do this myself. All I require is a student to volunteer as my guide."
"Of course, perhaps you would prefer it if Hagrid made himself available to your needs."
"A student will be fine Mister Dumbledore. It will allow me to get to know my charges better."
"As you wish. I will make arrangements for Mister Pettigrew and Mister Lupin..."
"I was thinking perhaps of Mister Snape."
"Oh." Dumbledore thought for a moment and then nodded at the Patrician. "I see perfectly your Lordship. An excellent suggestion. I will send the boy a note immediately."
The Patrician opted to wait in his offices rather than to stay with Dumbledore. The old man seemed to have a different take on the reasons behind his suggestion of Snape rather than the acceptance of the two Gryffindor boys. Lupin would have been an interesting subject to bring along, but he had seen the altercations between Snape and Lupin. The hate that poured of the Slytherin's body every time the Gryffindor came near radiated deeper than he would possibly ever know. It was as almost as if the Gryffindor's very presence was a personal affront to the Slytherin.
"Good afternoon Mister Snape."
"Good afternoon sir"
The boy was silent, waiting for the man before him to speak.
"I trust you understand why you are here?"
"Of course sir."
"Very well. We should leave for the town immediately."
"Yes sir."
A carriage was waiting for them outside by the steps that led up to the school. They sat opposite each other, silent as they began the journey to Hogsmeade. The Patrician had his eyes closed but yet Snape could feel the scrutiny he was under. He was determined not to fidget under the closed stare, instead opting to seat himself exactly as the Patrician was. Rigid body, eyes closed and head tilted slightly.
"Mister Snape, you make an excellent mimic."
And that was the last thing that was said until they reached the small town.
Snape looked at the Patrician expectantly. He knew the man was not of wizard decent, but yet he fit into the town with such ease it would have been hard to distinguish him from a real wizard. He watched the man move with an air of superiority that only the ancient Pure Bloods could carry. He overheard the whispers of those around him - confirming that they knew this newcomer or at least spreading stories about his coming. It had only taken an hour but this man had in fact become a wizard of ancient and powerful blood. The only indecision made was whether or not his loyalties lay with Voldemort or with the fight against him.
"Everything all right Mister Snape?"
"Yes sir."
Severus led them to the Pet Store as it was expected of him. He held open the door for the Patrician and then followed him in. They were immediately accosted by the owner - apparently business had been slow.
"Your assistance is not needed at this time sir."
The owner faulted for a moment and then nodded. Severus made a mental note of the Patrician's disposition - something to be stored away for future reference.
"So Mister Snape, what do you think of these?"
The boy hadn't even noticed the Patrician slip away to the other side of the room. He was standing beside a selection of birds. Each was beautiful, but yet something about them was not right.
"They're ill sir. I wouldn't recommend them to anyone."
"They look perfectly healthy - how can you tell what is wrong?"
The Patrician was curious about the boy's apparent knowledge and indicated that he should go on. Snape launched into an explanation of how the owl's appearance was deceiving. The pupils were dilated, their feathers far too glossy for a normal bird and finally - the colouring appeared as if it had been spell cast rather than a natural tint.
"You have a very good eye for detail Mister Snape."
"Thank you sir."
The Patrician beckoned the store owner over and waved Snape away from the proceedings. It appeared that only a few words were exchanged, but when the owner turned - he was as white as a sheet. He went out the back and came back five minutes later with a owl that was perfectly healthy without magical means to aid it looking like this. He all but gave it to the Patrician - Snape would have thought the price on that birds head would be thrice what Lord Vetinari had paid for it, but apparently there was a sale going on.
"Well done sir." said Snape as they left the store to return to Hogwarts.
"Indeed Mister Snape."
~
The Patrician handed the owl over to the Professor of Transfigurations and left her office almost as soon as he got there. In fact, if it weren't for the bird, she could have sworn that he was not there at all. Along with the bird he had written an apologetic note saying how sorry he was for the loss of her previous owl and how he hoped that this would more than make up for her loss.
She saw the veiled sarcasm in his words but to any other it would just be another note begging for forgiveness. Most certainly the headmaster would see it that way.
She couldn't help herself - she just really didn't like the Patrician. There was just something about him, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.