Chapter 2 The Book
Dumbledore entered the headmaster's office like a storm cloud. His deputy Minerva McGonagall close on his heels. His magic swirled about, ruffling the books, and moving the portraits of the past Headmasters about.
'I cannot believe those children, playing at being lords, won this. How can I possibly spin this? I need to maintain control, and not get caught. I do not need my own core working against me.' The chess master stood looking out of his office window. The weather outside seemed to mirror his mood. It was still early in the day, but the sky was darkening with the oncoming storm.
Soon the rain lashed at the windows, while the wind howled out. Albus stood there wanting to howl himself. 'The boys are nothing remarkable, so how did they sway the vote? They have enough money that they could have bribed even my supporters, but surely if that were the case, they would have come to me and confided about the payment. Even Arthur voted with them. He is one of my most loyal, well no he is not but Molly is. Surely, she had some measure of control over him. Unless she had stopped his potion regime again, he was looking rather off. I know they could not have rigged the boxes. Even if they had a fraction of my powers if I could not, they certainly would not know how to break the wards. Although, Severus might. He does have an uncanny ability to dismantle even the tightest of wards. If I had not quickly got him under my thumb and compelled him to become a potions master he would have made an excellent curse breaker for Gringotts.
'Even my marauders have thrown their lot in with the Malfoys. They are going rogue. How do I stop their actions and bring them back into the fold? I know that Sirius will not react well to idle threats, or even suggestions that breaking his vows to me. He is just an overgrown child who cannot stop rebelling against something. Perhaps now it is I that he has chosen to turn to with his father gone. No that could not be it, Orion was always the more accepting of him when it came to his antics. I don't think he is doing this as another act to anger his mother. Even with the woman being a blood supremacist, she would understand the need for new blood. Her rose garden is second to none thanks to the cuttings and magical hybrids that she creates. That alone would teach her something about muggle genetics.
"Albus. What in the world is going on? You need to get ahold of yourself." Minerva placed a comforting hand on his shoulder and brought him out of his thoughts.
"I'm sorry Minerva, the vote was cast today on the amendment. It passed and now I must figure out how to copy the Book of Names, so the Ministry has a copy. They want changes made to the book as well. I do not like the fact that the Ministry will have access to these children at their whim." He lied to her with ease. He schooled his features so that the twinkle in his eye was dimmed and sad looking.
"Albus, what do you mean? We both know that, well You Know Who is the power behind the Ministry currently, thanks to his Death Eaters controlling almost every major department."
"I know Minerva. They say that this will be able to find Muggleborn children. They claim that they will remove them from their parents and have Purebloods adopt them into their families." He scoffed and removed his half-moon spectacles pinching the bridge of his long, crooked nose.
"I find that unlikely, more that they would use it to eradicate those children at well, His whim." Her voice was quiet and full of fear. "Is there any way that this can be avoided? Those children must not come to any harm."
"I don't know yet. We don't have enough forces to have someone track down the child and watch their home for a Death Eater attack." He sighed, "I can only think to hide some of these children, so they do not show up on the Ministry's copy."
"Well, won't that go against the law itself? Are you truly willing to risk everything on hiding the children? Surely, we could perhaps work within the law and make sure that they go to families like the Weasleys, Longbottoms, Tonks, Potters if it needs be. I know that Andromeda would love to have another child, and Molly is always welcoming people into her honorary family. I know that they are stretched tightly on only Arthur's salary, but we could certainly start a charity to help families that could not easily support a child, or more."
"Albus," a growling voice drew the attention of the two living occupants of the room. "Stop thinking like a common Gryffindor. You need to fight fire with fire at this point." Phineas Black seemed to be in a right rage. The cranky old Slytherin was one of his closest advisors when no one else was around to see or hear their discussions. His picture was askew on the wall from Albus's magical outburst and seemed that the former master was holding on to the large bookshelves behind him.
"What do you mean Phineas?" Albus spun to look at the painting. There was a deep furrow in his brow, and a scowl on his face that would rival his former student, Severus Snape.
Minerva went and straightened the painting and received a quiet thank you from the taciturn Slytherin. She needed a moment to regain control of herself and began straightening the other Headmasters and Headmistress. She could hear them all thanking her for the kindness that she provided, even when they themselves had been angered by this news.
"I mean Albus, you need to use a protean charm anyway, but are you going to let it have all the names. I think you could have it alter some of the data that it provides. Even the Dark Lord uses something similar on his devotee's. I have seen them from my frame at Grimmauld place. Young Master Regulus has been called when his friend Lord Prince has not. Use that thinking against them."
Minerva gasped. "But they are just boys. Why would they throw their lives away to follow a madman?"
"I don't know why they have Minerva. But perhaps you and some of the other professors can help guide their future endeavors." Albus went quiet and sat at his desk looking at each previous head. Some nodded in agreement, some did not. "Minerva, go inform the rest of the staff. The Law takes effect on January one. We will need to be ready by then. Let them know that I will be willing to listen to their opinions on this as well. We will have to make arrangements for those children who are already here. They are to be taken from their families as well."
Minerva just shook her head at this revelation. "I will go and call an emergency staff meeting for you. Take your time in thinking this through Albus. Do not do something that you will regret. This law could come back to bight you when you least expect it. In the meantime, I shall run the meeting in your absence, and for the love of Circe, take a calming draught, you need a clear head going forward."
Albus nodded and summoned the potion. Minerva smiled and walked out the door sending her Patronus before her. He set the potion on his desk. He was reluctant to take it before making any decision.
"Dumbledore, take the potion," Headmistress Dilys Derwent called from her frame. "Once you have a calmer head then we can all discuss how this will work. With that you can make an informed decision which will benefit those children and supports the school." She gave a disgruntled look in Phineas' direction.
Albus nodded and drank the potion. She was right, clearer heads would prevail and then he could regain control. He still agreed with Phineas' suggestion, while the Ravenclaws were just as ruthless as Slytherins at times like these, and the Hufflepuffs always put the school and children first. He could guarantee that with their help he could swing this for the greater good. He already had the whole of the school thinking that Gryffindors had the best ideas and solutions.
Thanks to him they were now the most sought-after house. He wished that he had not need to turn the others into single ideas and stereotypes. They had been all great houses. Even Merlin himself was a former Slytherin and he had accomplished so much in his long lifespan. Albus only hoped that he would be as revered when his time came. He was pleased for the moment that he held the esteem of the wizarding public. Still, that would not likely last once he passed, history needed to exult him as the great savior of the Wizarding World.
"So, where do we start." Albus summoned parchment to take his own notes. He smiled up at the portraits with a shark toothed grin and waited for them to start.
~ooOoo~
"Minnie, what is going on." The diminutive charms master looked anxious and took his normal seat near the head of the staff table. The rest had spread out among the tables before her. They all seemed to have taken their preferred spot within the room.
"Just a moment Filius, I want everyone's attention first.' She could easily speak within this chamber and have everyone hear her if she wanted. The spells laid upon the staffroom and its wards were complex. She could hear individual person speak if she wanted to. Also, this room could easily withstand the most destructive of curses, thanks to Filius. She was proud of her former teacher's work, it made it easier to conduct this and even speak to one person, so she did not have to cast a Silencio or Sonorous charm to reply to them. 'I need to keep in mind, that this is perhaps the safest place in the whole castle should the students need protection. The come and go room would also work. I only hope that it does not come to that. Between Dumbledore and the Dark Lord's current cold war, it will likely happen sooner rather than later.
When everyone had taken settled, and the house ghosts had arrived, she addressed the group. "As you will all read in tomorrow's Prophet, Amendment Three-Hundred and Ninety-Four has passed. We are of course concerned what this will do to our Muggleborn, excuse me our New-Blood students, and how we as a school need to move forward."
There were several grumbles from all around and a few furious outbursts. Minerva tried to calm their concerns and gain control back over the meeting. She was fighting a losing battle as their voices rose, their despair and anger grew. Others were swept up in the chaos, as it rushed like Fiendfire within the room. It seemed no one was spared from shouting and arguing their opinions, or distain of the new law.
She noticed Peeves looking for once quite sober. This was always a dangerous thing when dealing with the poltergeist. Surely, he of all beings should be chuffed at the chaos, but no. He did not seem to enjoy this at all. 'What in Godric's name was going on here.
"Silence," the Bloody Baron spoke with a roar that would have impressed even Godric Gryffindor himself. "I have never seen such impertinence from a group who calls themselves adults and teachers of this institution. Have you taken to acting as the fifth years whom you teach?" The normally taciturn ghost glared at each member in the room.
The Fat Friar, and Sir Nicholas de Mimsy Porpington both nodded their heads in agreement with the Baron. Sir Nicolas's head almost flapped off to hang from his neck, and swing, as he agreed with fierce determination. Helena helped him to put it back. Once he realized his actions he paused and thanked her. She simply shook her head in disappointment towards the actions of the staff.
Helena spoke with a quiet intensity as she looked over the staffroom. "As both the Baron and I are some of the oldest ghosts and would know how the Founders would view things, perhaps Minerva we should be your personal advisers. While the headmaster may make the decisions, we can help you to ensure that they are the best decisions as you implement them."
"The man may think he is 'King' of this school and place himself above all of you, but he spends little time with the actual student body. The deputy, and the heads of the houses are the ones who will be enforcing the laws within this institution. We will make ourselves available for you all. The Headmaster has his portraits to confer with, the staff will have the ghosts." The Fat Friar added with his warm tones of acceptance.
"We shall help you all through this." Sir Nicholas added, "We will also make sure that all the portraits in the castle, which are not of a former head, are onboard. They are the best gossip network you have. If the children are being mistreated anywhere in the castle, we can make sure that they are quickly taken care of."
Shockingly Peeves spoke up, "you know that there is enough room within this castle. If we ask the castle itself, I know it will make the accommodations needed so each child has a private room. While I enjoy tormenting you all and causing general chaos, even I know that they need a place that is their own sanctuary." He spoke in his normal manic tone and tried with all seriousness to speak his mind. "Now if you will excuse me, I have a corridor that I wish to play in. So, smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast, and if I don't see you around, I will see you square." The poltergeist laughed maniacally, before emitting several loud, and quite smelly farts, which enveloped the room as he disappeared to cause whatever mischief would undoubtably be found by some unlucky student sooner rather than later.
"Now, shall we have our esteemed deputy head continue?" The Baron looked on with an intimidating growl.
"For a man who rarely speaks, thank you Baron, and the rest of you for your support. Now we need to get down to brass tacks and begin the creation of our new system. As unlikely as it is, I agree with Peeves for once. Though we might consider having doubles rooms within the dorm. Some students will need a peer to help them." Minerva spoke with an authoritative tone. She could hope that this would help stop, at least in part, the bullying that ran rampant thanks to her former house.
"Agreed," chimed in Flitwick, while the rest of the staff nodded on. "As much as the old goat would not go for it, we might need to request additional assistance, and even more staff."
"His purse strings are tighter than mine," Molly Weasley spoke up. The head of Gryffindor tried to lighten the mood. Her comment landed flat. The whole of the staff knew that it was not her purse strings that were tight, but her apron strings instead.
All the staff around, wondered when the heavily pregnant witch would be taking time off. She had a habit of rubbing members of the staff the wrong way in support of her beloved charges. Yet, they had to admit that it was difficult to give as quite as much love and attention to each student within her care as she did. She even treated children of other houses like she was their mother when it was needed.
'Will this new law help to lessen interhouse rivalries, or should we attempt to encourage it ourselves.' Poppy started thinking on how this could change the various injuries and curses that she and her staff would be treating. 'I should also make sure all students are given a physical though the year.' The young Healer thought deeply about this, 'I have been here and out of my Mungo's residency for five years now. Why haven't I done this before? I know I keep thinking about it, and then suddenly it slips my mind.
She shook her head to clear the cobwebs from her brain. 'I need to read this law thoroughly. And address it with the other healers of the hospital wing. I should assign this to a few of my assistants. I can have Iseult gather all the medical files from the muggle healers on each student. She is great at research and convincing those that have the information we need. She would also send copies to Mungo's and the Ministry for their files if I am not mistaken. No sense in keeping them blind.'Poppy smiled at the thought. She stood, gave Minerva's shoulder a quick pat, smiling at the witch who had tutored her for her first two years as a student. Minerva had been a sixth year when she was a firstie. "Min, make sure you assign a fifth or sixth year to first year students. I think a cross house mentorship would go even further."
Minerva nodded to the former Hufflepuff, remembering their time as students. She watched Poppy as she left for her office, and to inform the other hospital wing staff. Minerva had patted her on the shoulder as she left before she summoned muggle legal pads and biros for them to brainstorm with the ghosts. 'No sense in wasting parchment when this will do, and it burns easier so none of the rejected ideas leave this room. I should also ward the floo. The old goat was a bit too keen on cheating out the Ministry.
"Alright let's get started." She sat down at the head of the table and looked to the others scattered about to join them as the table made more room and seats for those off in the lounge area. 'I love this castle. Too bad it rarely heeds my requests. Then again that old goat rarely lets it have control and do that for which it had been created. Everything had to go through him.' She scoffed, and then remembered herself. She would make this the most productive meeting as possible. 'If Albus didn't like their proposal, then I will ask the castle and the house ghosts to help.' She gave a grin worthy of Peeves to the Baron, and Helena. The Baron nodded back with a smirk, and Helena let out a quick giggle.