Chapter 3 The Bell

Albus sat in his office with the Book of Names, and the Pen of Acceptance, in front of him on his desk. He contemplated what spells he would need to change before casting a Gemino on it. "Perhaps I can even add a curse on the book. I do not want the protean charm to allow for changes made, or copies made for others to get their hands on." He was speaking to himself.

He had placed curtains and silencing charms on many of the portraits. They would never agree to his choices and actions. Only a few remaining heads would agree with him. It did not matter that others considered them to be the worst headmasters that Hogwarts had ever seen. He knew he could trust them, and they would think like him if they had faced the same situation. They would know that his vision was the right way for the future to go. He began speaking to himself again, making sure to vocalize his thoughts so his personal privy council would keep up with him and interject as needed. "Well, they say two heads are better than one, so seven should be perfect."

"Gentlemen, you have all given me wonderful ideas. I am taking your counsel to heart. Some of the spells that you mentioned I am unfamiliar with. Professor Veridian, you spoke of the most unusual ways to alter this in the name of the greater good. I am unsure where to find many of the spells that you spoke of."

"I would suggest looking into some of the spells and poetry in my memoires. Just a warning, you may have to decode them. For that I recommend a cross reference with the Malleus Maleficarum, and the Secrets of the Darkest Arts. I did use both to help place a cipher on my grimoires. I believe they are still here within the head's office. I do hope that they were not sent to the restricted section. Most students would not understand, and it might drive them mad." Headmaster Veridian, looked down at Albus with a gratified smile. He knew that the current head was a master of several disciplines, but he was growing fond of the man.

"You can also find some texts of use in the Black library. I will let Walpurga know. I would hate to see her turn you away from knowledge. She may be a proud supporter of the Dark Lord, but I think you will find her willing to listen to your proposed greater good. She may even be willing to help you. If you do not mind. I think I shall go speak with her now." Phineas gave a mischievous grin before exiting his frame.

Albus smiled at the help from the tempestuous man. His counsel for once was proving quite beneficial. He was able to put aside past grievances and arguments if this would help. They would likely go back to an opinionative accord once they were done, but perhaps he should listen to the man's advice more thoroughly.

What none of the occupants of the room knew was that Peeves had been there watching and listening to their conversation. He preferred to not get involved with the daily affairs of this castle, but he could use this. He slipped his head back out of the wall he had been peering through, 'so many books in this office, make easy camouflage for dear old Peevesie. But, Ha! I said Butt, butt, butt, butt, butt, butt.'

He took a few moments to dance through the halls farting on every bounce he made, though it was more like jumping in a silly dance. He kept repeatedly grabbing his knees after jumping to bounce along every surface like a pinball for a moment, and then back to his jig. 'By Eris,' he came to a screeching halt, 'if I speak with the cat, and the Baron, this will turn out better than a closet, No! a whole classroom full of Dung Bombs. Maybe I should even let those Marauders know. Oh, how I miss them. Hmm, how can I get this to them. Oh, I know I can convince the cat to let the creators of the law know. That might be even better than getting it to my Marauders.' With a Cheshire smile he quickly flew off in search of the Baron and McGonagall, singing his new butt song all the way. This earned him quite a few odd stares. However before long several firsties began singing the strange ditty along with him. By dinnertime the whole of the castle could be heard randomly breaking out singing butt, butt, butt, butt, much to the professor's annoyance.

~ooOoo~

"Dumbledore," Walpurga Black's voice was sharp almost shrill as she opened the door to number Twelve Grimauld Place. "I was told to expect you. Why are you darkening my doorstep?"

"Madam Black, it is a pleasure to see you again, you are looking wonderful. I am truly sorry for hearing that your husband Orion has past, you have my sympathies." He gave her a simpering smile, which never met his eyes.

"Stop with the petty sentiments. You have a silver tongue that many Slytherins could only dream of achieving."

"This is true Walpurga, may I call you Walpurga?" at this the twinkle was finally visible.

"No." She wanted this man gone from her house, and preferably out of the entirety of the Wizarding World.

"Very Well Madam Black. As much as you may not want it, you and your family do have my sympathy for your loss. Your husband Orion was a great man. We may have butted heads often, but I always valued his opinion. Perhaps I could not relent to him at the time." He huffed; the sky had been overcast but it seemed to open to a steady drenching rain. The lady of the house still had not granted him entrance, and he was growing impatient, as his robes became drenched. "I will not argue with you on my way with words. But there is no falsehood in my sorrow at your loss. May I please come in out of the rain to explain better why I am here. If you do not agree with my reasons, I will gladly disappear, so you need not see me or assist me again. You have my word." He had chosen to play upon her sympathies.

She gave a patronizing sigh, "Very well, Welcome to my house. Enter freely and of your own will. I shall show you to the parlor. Creature! Tea!" She stepped to the side, she stood stone still barely letting Albus by.

"Yes, my Mistress," the house elf croaked. He popped away quickly, his brilliant white pillowcase fluttering around his proud frame.

She walked with a proud cultured grace as he followed. She opened a set of grand French doors, "Welcome to my parlor. Please make yourself comfortable."

'Said the spider to the fly,' Albus smirked, he waved a gnarled hand quickly drying his clothes, and entered taking a seat in the elegant, winged chesterfield chair. He watched as she perched on a matching lounge. "Madame may I be so bold as to ask you your opinion about the amendment your sons and late husband have pushed through?"

Creature returned with a formal tea service, he bowed to his mistress and popped away again. She looked over his choices and nodded approvingly. She seemed to be mulling over her thoughts and what to say to this madman. "How do you like your tea? Orion never mentioned how you take it." She hoped that if the subpar offerings that Creature had brought would get him out of the house faster. 'I wonder if he would even notice if I attempted to poison him.'

"Oh, three sugars and a lemon, with a touch of cream." He smiled politely at the woman in front of him.

'Disgusting, how can he stand the clotting, and the sweetness of it.' She politely fixed the cup and made a move that imitated opening her poison ring over the cup. There may not have been anything in the ring this time but depending on his reactions she may very well poisoning him in the future. She smiled and handed his cup to him, noticing that he watched her every move. "Here you are." She prepared her tea with a touch of honey and lemon. 'He has not taken even a sip yet. Interesting, I shall have to remember this for later.' She took a quick sip from her tea, it was still just a bit too hot for her liking, but Dumbledore smiled and raised his cup drinking deeply from it. 'How thick can this deranged man get. As if I would poison the pot, then again he would believe that the elf could do just that on my orders.'

Once he had drained his cup, she politely took it and poured him a fresh cup. "Headmaster, if I may be frank, I have not heard much on the law. My husband did not involve me in his political career. I have read the synopsis that the Prophet put out several months ago when it was introduced. My understanding is that it has something to do with controlling the mudbloods, and their muggle parents. I feel that I am neither for nor against it, however a further separation from their kind would be good for our society. It is after all what Salazar Slytherin wanted. My sons have several times attempted to bring me into the debate with them. Each time I have reminded him of that choice made centuries ago, and the consequences that it has wrought."

"Hmm, I see, and what are your thoughts on wizards ruling over muggles, I know your family were strong supporters of Grindelwald in his time." He gave her a patronizing smile, with his grandfatherly twinkle.

Walpurga tried not to grimace at Dumbledore's insincere smiles. 'I may be a snake, but he is slipperier than an eel. Perhaps even slimier than a bobotuber even. If he asks for another cup I really will have Creature poison him. I am sure that would please the elf to no end.' She gave him a placid face in return, drawing on every ounce of her talents as a society wife. "Headmaster, that was my father who was a supporter, not I. Muggles have their place. May the Founders, bless and keep the muggles." She brought the cup up to her lips and softly spoke before taking a sip of her now cooled tea, "far away from us."

He chuckled, "but perhaps we and the rest of the wizarding world are meant to be the Tzar. I see you are well acquainted with muggle theater. We however do not live in Anatevka, and our problems are not so small."

She gave a moue of disgust at how he was steering the conversation. "We are still debating matters of tradition headmaster. Now if you will please get to your point, I haven't got all day." It was time for her to be blunt, and she was tired of playing this man's games. She could see why Sirius liked him so, he could be just as stubborn an ass, and prone to demanding his way.

"Very well my dear." Walpurga grimaced at the term of endearment. "The Ministry has passed your husband's law. They are demanding that they have a copy of the book of names, and those who would be accepted to Hogwarts. I am concerned on how this can be used to harm any magical child, even mudbloods." He paused and took a sip before setting the half-drunk cup to the side.

"I wish to assure my staff, and any headmaster that shall come after me, that this cannot, and will not bring harm to those children, and to their squib counterparts. I have spoken with the venerable headmaster Black, and he has suggested that there may be spells within your library that can assist in protecting the book from any tampering, or any other dealings that may be used for nefarious purposes."

She adjusted her skirts, and picked off some imaginary lint, "so you expect me to open my library and allow you to ruffle through my family spells, and grimoires on the mere suggestion of my ancestor. I find this quite difficult to accommodate. I will speak with Phineas and find out which books he is thinking of. If it is not one of our family spells or magics, I will allow you to view it. If the books do have family spells, then I shall copy them and Owl them to you."

"While I would prefer to read the books in their entirety and cross reference any additional resources you possess, I feel that your offer is probably the best I shall receive. I understand your hesitancy, I would be in the same position if someone was requesting access to my family libraries."

"If that is all Headmaster, good day. I shall have Creature show you out." She stood looking imperiously at the annoying man. "Creature!" She squealed for the elf, before taking her leave of him.

'Well, my dear, I shall have to make the books I need disappear I suppose.' He smiled at that thought. As the elf entered to see him out, he apparated away, tearing through the wards on the home.

~ooOoo~

Once the headmaster returned to his office, the bells rang to signal the end of classes for the day. 'Well then, I have at least two hours to move this forward.' He looked at the book and pen on his desk, it had continued to write out a few names as he had been gone. 'Hmm, I shall have to offer this Granger family my congratulations. Seems that old Hector managed to keep his line alive. I thought his son was a squib though. Ah well, it matters little if it is just another mudblood born. Wait.' Albus stared at the dates on the book the child had been born on the nineteenth, it was only the twenty fourth. No magical child in recent history had managed to show a magical outburst that early.

'I'm going to need this Hermione Granger for myself. Right, the new book will only show those children from the start date of the law, and then can backdate to show children that were born prior to the start of the new term. We've had month long gaps between births before, or children who just do not survive to draw breath the next day, the Ministry will not see any issue with the abnormality.' He chuckled to himself. It was a mirthless laugh that sounded hollow even to his ears. 'Hmm, need to work on that. I need to make sure that others will not be off put. Right, let me see what it is that I am working with.'

He waved his hand over the book and multicolored runes and wards became visible to his eye. 'Ah, it is attached to the leys and the castle itself. Well, that will not do. There are wards against tampering, and alteration. I will have to get rid of those temporarily.' He took a few moments to take off several wards that powered the book. 'Several of these spells also seem to be tied to the headmaster's chamber. Surely the ministry will not allow that. Hmm, I wonder if they will request their copy to be tied to the ministry and that new department they made. What was it again? Department of children's protocol, children and widows, children and proper behavior, comportment of prenatal wizardry? Damn, I can't remember. Even so it is of little import. I can make sure it has several of my people overlooking it, perhaps even employed by it.' He began dismantling the other spells and wards on the book.

'Very well, as much as I loath to do this I will have to call the Ministry and have some of their input on this. First, however, let me glamor over this name so that it is not visible to anyone who is not a headmaster. With my luck as of late, they will send the Malfoy's, and Sirius.' Albus placed an advanced ward on his desk sealing the book from all who would view it. He smiled genially at the bag of lemon drops that he had gathered on his way back from the Black home.

"Now where did I put that Veritaserum." He walked into his private lab just off his chambers. The elves had done a wonderful job cleaning the blood out of the grout. 'They even took the child's body away. I'm sure that Aragog and his children will ignore the fresh meat, given that it was bloodless and cold by the time I was finished with it. Bah, some other pet or experiment of Hagrid's will deal with the evidence, at least he is good for something.'

'Horace would kill for this if he saw it, he is already tired of his water closet that he complains about. My lab gleams like the top of that muggle chimera building, or whatever it was that they called it. It is an odd saying really. Muggles come up with the funniest ways of saying something. Freeze the balls off a brass monkey indeed, though I don't think many witches' tit are freezing. Maybe, they are referring to the Salem girls. They did hang them outside for a good time,' he mused.

He caressed the instruments in his lab before pulling out several vials of clear liquid and smiled. 'This will do nicely. Hmm, perhaps I can enhance another treat. That will have to be a project for another day. In the meantime, having Veritaserum laced candies will have to do. I think I should place a compulsion charm on the bowl, and the candies themselves though. Children may take to sweeties easily enough, but adults always seem so wary of them. I shall have to fix that. I should also head back in an hour or two and get the books from the Black library before they can reset those wards.' He turned and set several different alarm charms.

From the other room he could hear former Headmaster Black cursing him and screaming his name.