BLOOD OF THE MOTHER By BertaS Dec. 2005
Chapter 31
Disclaimer: Not mine, I'm just playing.
Orphans? What Orphans?
Harry walked into the front room the next day to find Sev seated at the new dining table with several covered breakfast dishes in front of him. He was frowning at something in the letter he was reading. There was a hand full of post on the table.
"Is it that bad, Sev?" Harry asked, he gestured at the post as he opened the breakfast dishes inhaling appreciatively. Hogwarts elves always went all out for meals.
"Two invitations to an awards ceremony, one for each of us," Severus replied as he lay down what he was reading. "Notes from Cissa and Annie, they used almost the same wording, they both still want us to visit, Cissa says tea next Saturday would be good, while Annie says supper the same day would be best for her." Sev took a deep breath, "and summonses to testify at Dumbledore's Trial which will start on September first, again there is one for each of us."
Harry interrupted before he could mention the other three letters, "Bloody Hell. I don't suppose they will be done with us before eleven when the Express leaves London?" After Sev shook his head Harry continued, "Alright, I am not going to get to ride the Express this year, but I'll be damned if I'll miss another sorting feast." Harry said as he angrily dished up eggs and bacon on to both their plates.
Sev poured them both milk (Dobby insisted that they were both to thin to drink juice all the time), "My sentiments exactly, however may I please request that you do not use such language where I will have to reprimand you." He looked at Harry with his patented glare # 87, the one that said he would like to use you for potions ingredients, "It would, under the circumstances, make me most uncomfortable."
Harry blushed and grinned, "Yes Sir. Professor," He coughed slightly, "Sorry Sev, when did they schedule the awards ceremony?"
"Oh," Sev had to clear his mouth of a large bite of banana muffin, "next Friday at noon, in the ministry's auditorium."
Harry snorted through a bite of eggs, "Well I guess that is better then the Ministerial Mansion or whatever. What else you got there?" he indicated the remainder of the post.
Sev grinned this time, "Responses to my requests to speak to the students. The twins seem quite excited. It would seem that Lupin has been telling tales from his days here at school. Mostly of the pranks played on me and that I played on the 'Marauders'." He had a smug smirk, "They asked if I would be willing act as a consultant for them being as they left school before they passed the NEWT's."
With a grin on his face Harry said, "I can see it now, a whole line of new products, WWW Presents, The Marauder Specials." He waved his arms to indicate a large banner and laughed. Sev laughed as well thinking that the name was oddly appropriate. Even though he himself was never a Marauder Severus was the inspiration for many of their pranks.
The rest of Sev's day was taken up by meetings in the staff room. Lupin had arrived late the previous evening after being informed that Severus would indeed be making the wolfsbane for him.
Harry had volunteered, as long as he could use magic, to clean the potions class rooms, Sev had decided that all of the NEWT classes should be in the class room across the hall from the regular one. There would be more advanced ingredients in that cupboard, things that the younger students would not need. This room would be warded so that only those students that were supposed to be in there would be able to enter.
Severus had opened an elective class for the sixth years that had received 'A's and 'E's on their OWL's he wanted to bring them up to the same standard as those who had earned 'O's. He had also offered a class for seventh years that had made 'E's on their OWL's. These classes would be challenging, especially for the seventh years who would be cramming five years of review and two years of actual experience in to one year, but he thought that for those who really desired it and would work hard for it, they would be able, with his help, to get ready to take the NEWT's by the end of this year. This meant that he had two extra classes this year but all of the NEWT classes were quite small, so he didn't think it would be a problem.
At dinner that evening they had walked in to the great hall to immediately be set upon by the divination teacher who had changed her predictions drastically in that Harry and Severus would both be living to ripe old ages and have twenty children between the two of them.
They had had a good laugh, Trelawney had even joined them briefly then commented with a soft smile, "I know what you think, but I'm not always wrong. I realize that it sounds strange, even improbable, but I strongly feel that you will have at least 20 children and you will acquire them by next summer." Her tone changed to annoyance, "I haven't figured out how that will come about, but I know that it will."
The next couple of days where spent preparing for the coming school year Harry helped organize the potion cabinets in both class rooms, he also assisted Remus with his syllabus, using notes he had made form the DA last year. Remus and Sev said that they would both be happy to sponsor a study group that could achieve the results that the DA did. Harry had found out, not only from Professor McGonagall, but from notes from most of the members, that every member of the DA had gotten an 'O' on their DADA OWL's. Harry had suggested that maybe it could be more of a dueling club.
Friday found many of the staff members in their dress robes and heading to the awards ceremony at the Ministry.
By the time the ceremony was over Harry was ready to strangle Thornprick. The man had indeed gotten Sev an Order of Merlin, Second Class. There were several Aurors who also received Order of Merlin of different classes as well as other commendations for this and that. Harry was sure that most of them were long over due but it was annoying that Severus was somewhat lost in the shuffle.
Thornprick had also managed to have Harry credited with the deaths of all the Death Eaters that had been killed by their Dark Marks. And the capture of all those knocked out by the wards as Private Drive.
On their way out Rita had once again handed them each a list of questions but a few of the reporters had shouted questions out any way. When one asked his opinion of the Minister Pro Tem, Harry had not been complimentary he had said that he was sure that almost anyone would be a better choice when it came time for elections.
A second reporter had shouted out asking what Harry thought of the treatment of the orphans.
Harry, of course, had no clue why he was being asked about this, so he asked a question of his own, "Being one myself I can tell you it is no picnic. Are you referring to specific orphans or just orphans in general?"
Rita had answered softly, "The Children of Death Eater families, Harry. Apparently no one really wants them. Some of them have been given over to muggle orphanages."
Harry eyes had blazed and he suddenly spun on his heel and headed back in to the auditorium, shouting for Thornprick. He came across Percy Weasley first and growled, "Percy, find me Thornprick I need to discuss orphans with him. Now!" Percy had scurried off as though chased by demons.
Many of the reporters had followed and were ready for the show and to shout additional questions at the Minister Pro Tem. When Thornprick, Harry and Severus all arrived in the middle of the room, Harry snapped, "The Wizarding world will not be abandoning those children. Good god, where do you think Riddle grew up?"
Dickey was completely confused and just sputtered. He was unaware of any one named Riddle or of how he grew up.
Harry continued, "I want a full list of those orphaned in this war and where they have been placed. I will be personally inspecting where they are and who is taking care of them. If it is not satisfactory they will be moved, do you understand me. They are not responsible for what their parents did, and I will not leave them with people who do not want them or feel they are a burden." Harry's eyes were burning and his robes were blowing around him as though in a high wind.
The Minister was completely at a loss and still sputtering.
Percy had not found his boss until he was already being dressed down by Harry. Percy Weasley might not like Harry Potter but he disliked Thornprick even more, and as he was an efficient secretary he was able to summon and copy the proper file and hand it to Harry with in seconds of him asking for it.
"Thank you, Percy. I will be in contact about what I find." Harry whirled again, and came face to face with the reporter that brought this question to his attention, "I'll have to get back to you on the answer to your question, if you still need to ask."
"No, Sir, I think I got every thing I need. Thank you, Sir." The man gulped and stepped back.
Harry and Sev apperated to the town house where, Harry opened the folder and was appalled to find that the children had actually been photographed with numbers like criminals. There appeared to be twenty-one of them in the care of muggles. There were no more than five in each facility. Several were in homes of relatives but they were not listed individually, there were also an unknown number that went to Saint Bernadette's Magical Orphanage.
When Harry was finished reading he handed the file to Sev and collapsed on the sofa. He was soon in tears. Sev was at a loss but thinking a moment about what Harry had done for him when he had cried. Sev gently pulled Harry up and sat with him more or less on his lap holding him as the tears fell down his own face to be soaked up by Sev's shirt.
When Harry calmed down and realized what Sev was doing he kept his face buried in Sev's chest, blushing. "Sorry, Sev, I just can't imagine leaving anyone go through what I did, I mean…" he looked up, "it was bad at the Dursleys, especially when I was little, but, I know that it could have been worse, so much worse."
Sev patted his back, "We will check on them, it is very easy to read muggles, we will know immediately if they are abusive. And those placed with their relatives I will check even thought it is considered quite rude to do so with out permission." He wondered what his master's family had done. He thought briefly about going to visit them and inflicting on them what ever they had done to Harry, but quickly dismissed the idea as some thing that would upset Harry.
Harry sat up, "Thanks Sev." They discussed what they would do if they found a child to be in the care of an abusive adult, and how they where to get where they needed to go. They finally decided that some subterfuge might be needed. And that they should wait till Monday to start their inspections.
They discussed enlisting one of the women to pose as Sev's wife and say that they were considering adopting a brother or sister for their son Harry. However they decided the more direct and truthful approach would be best for Saint Bernadette's.
Next chapter should be Tea with Cissa and Supper at the Tonks residence. We may visit some orphans as well. Unless, Merlin forbid, I go off on a tangent again.
As always thanks for reading and reviewing. –
I have been advised that I would get more reviews if I allowed Anonymous reviews. I am aware of this, however I like constructive criticism. If a person has to sign their name they are less likely to be truly rude. Thanks again. BertaS