DISCLAIMER! This Harry Potter story was written for fun. All rights belong to the wonderful lady (JK Rowling) who gave the world Harry Potter to read and enjoy. New Movie is coming in April! Hurrah! Yeah, for Fanfiction – a great place to stretch your imagination and enjoy someone else's creativity! This is the sequel to The Potter Cartouche.

Chapter 28 Chocolates and Fusses about the Future/ Start at Hogwarts

The winter term at Hogwarts began with a quiet confidence that the institution was focused on education and not some unnecessary agenda. Fred and George Weasley were two wizards keeping a low profile while working hard. They intended to do well on their NEWTS next year and begin making their dreams come true.

Harry Potter's study group of fourth-year (and one third-year) students met the first full day and immediately began revising their homework. Ron wandered through collecting drafts of essays to use for his homework. The students attempted intervention with Weasley and encouraged him to do some of his own work, but he shrugged off the recommendations.

Daphne Greengrass and Harry studied different rune alphabets with the older fifth-year students from every house and the approved methods for mixing Norse, Egyptian, Babylonian, and Sumerian runes. He spoke about using some words in the runic arrays only briefly, and once everyone refused to consider such a thing, he shut up and let the group move on to their conclusions.

Harry retreated to his study room in the evenings and worked with Hogwarts and Dobby on some ideas for runic arrays. He made sure to make and send bags of gold to Bloodhook to increase the balance in his vaults. Reports from France indicated that Sirius Black had stabilised and showed signs of improvement in his time being a human. The company of Fang, Hagrid's dog, seemed to improve Sirius' state of mind because the wizard was seen brushing the dog's hair frequently when he was in his human form.

Andromeda Black and Harry exchanged letters discussing a visit to Sirius during the spring break. Lady Augusta Longbottom agreed to the idea so long as everything else was calm around Harry in late March.

A page 2 article on the second task in the Tri-Wizard Tournament in Alexandria in February. The hosts, Ptolemaic School of Sorcery, scrapped together the necessary funds to pay for a few viewing stands beside the Mediterranean Sea for the few Beauxbatons and Durmstrang students sent to witness their two champions race with hippogriffs in the waters around the ruins of the famous Library at Alexandria. The newspaper reporter who covered the tournament for this task was an Italian wizard who commented on the unease among the few students in attendance and the stupidity of the organisers – 'The entire event occurred under the sea! There was nothing to see!'

Despite the boredom of the event and the sad memories the second task brought up, no one died or was injured in the second task, and everyone returned to their school that same afternoon. Harry wondered, 'Under the water? If it'd been here at Hogwarts, the champions would have been swimming in Black Lake – in February! Nuts! According to Dobby, wizards are stupid, and I think they're insane.'

After lunch, Harry went to Flourish and Blotts, the bookstore annexe that operated in a sturdy trunk inside the entry hall. He talked to the witch who was minding the store that day about books on wizarding law.

"Well, that's an entire library," she replied. "There's Magical Britain law, ICW law, and the treaties that govern which law applies to different situations."

"You seem to know a lot about this."

Nodding, she explained, "I'm studying law, and it takes about four years of study before you can pass your LEGALS at Zurich. If you decide to go this route in the future, get a job with Gringotts rather than a wizard's business."

"Why?"

"My bosses don't seem to think this is the best use of my future. They think I should get married and start popping out young wizards and witches."

Purchasing the book on the treaties, Harry did some serious reading in the following weeks. While it was simply a coincidence, Headmaster Emeritus Dumbledore gave a speech on the laws that governed Magical Britain and the ICW. Harry and his study group attended, and Harry was the only student who stood to ask questions at the end of the lecture.

Dumbledore enjoyed discussing the importance of the statute of secrecy, the reasons for every government agreeing to the law and the relationships of different muggle governments with their magical counterparts in the other countries in Europe. When Dumbledore stated that the relationships between the different governments in South America, Africa and Southeast Asia weren't important, Harry interpreted that to mean the old wizard wasn't interested in those countries. Dumbledore did speak sorrowfully of the terrible witch hunts that occurred in the Soviet Union in the 1920's and '30s while Joseph Stalin (certainly a squib) consolidated his power.

"The reduction of the magical population in those lands were matched by Grindelwald's decimation of wizards and witches in Germany, France, and the other countries of mainland Europe. In 1946, only Great Britain contained a truly viable number of magical people to move forward into the future," concluded Dumbledore.

"But then the insurrection by the Dark Lord and Death Eaters destroyed our population," Harry stated. "Hogwarts had almost a thousand students enrolled in 1946, and today there's less than half that number."

"Our numbers will recover," Dumbledore replied confidently.

"How?" asked Daphne Greengrass. "Our economy is shrinking every year."

"Magic will see to it. Magic will not let us die out. The old families will lead the muggle-borns forward with our laws and rebuild Magical Britain."

"But professor, the muggle-borns go back to muddy-land. They don't stay in Magical Britain," added Theo Nott. "Many don't stay at Hogwarts once they pass their OWLS."

"Thank goodness," commented Marietta Edgecombe, while her Ravenclaw friends nodded in agreement.

CHANGE SCENE: Valentine's Day Potions

There wasn't any trouble or excitement in Hogwarts until Valentine's Day. Harry only heard about the problem in the Gryffindor Common room after supper. A box of chocolates had been delivered to Colin Creevey at breakfast. (Harry had already left for class when the owls arrived). When Colin went to open the box, a wizened old elf appeared and grabbed the box from his wizard's hands and took the box Headmaster Bennet.

"Chocolates be potioned with line-theft brew. Would make Heir Black love some witch and steal Black family future," Kreacher explained, guarding the box even after setting it on the table. Colin was surprised but realised the charmed bracelet on his ankle must have warned Kreacher about the potions.

Bennet ordered everyone to leave their Valentine's gifts on the table and head for class. "Everything safe will be exactly where you left it when you come for lunch."

Muttering about stupid British wizards, Bennet summoned the DMLE. The Aurors cast their powerful spells and determined that the only box of chocolates for Colin were dosed. The other gifts were clear. However, the potion in the chocolates sent to Heir Black would make Colin pursue some witch in the school.

"A potion's master did not brew this potion," Amelia Bones explained. "This is some amateur's potion bottle."

Bennet sighed and said, "Now I have to call Mrs Tonks and tell her."

Frowning, Bones said, "That means there'll be an arrest, trial, and execution before the end of the week."

Andromeda and Ted were summoned to the school. In the Great Hall, with Headmaster Bennet and Deputy Headmistress Longbottom present, the DMLE completed their investigation and determined that the potion had been brewed by an old witch named Eloise Hoodwinked who lived in Cornwall. Amelia sent Aurors to arrest the woman, take her into custody, and bring her to the DMLE offices in the ministry.

Everyone was relieved when Colin was summoned and checked for any contamination. He was clear, and that seemed to be the end of the matter, but the boy said, "Don't kill someone over this. Please!"

"Colin, this isn't something for you to worry about," Andromeda said, dismissing the boy's request. "The laws are clear about this kind of thing."

"But…"

"No. I am your guardian, and I know best," Andromeda insisted and turned back to Amelia to plan the trial. Colin Creevey, usually a pleasant and cheerful young man, frowned and caught the eye of Ted Tonks. Ted caught a glimpse of the Black family blood in the boy's gaze for a moment. Augusta Longbottom grimaced, thinking of instances where she'd spoken in the same manner to Neville.

Colin left the Great Hall without saying goodbye to anyone (a breach of proper etiquette for an heir) to return to his dorm room and write three letters – one to Grandfather (Marius), one to his parents, and one to his vault manager at Gringotts, a goblin who frequently offered sound advice to the young heir. Three owls left the castle within the hour, and Colin went to his afternoon classes.

In the common room after supper, Harry came in just before Lavender Brown ran into the room, hurried to Colin and begged, "Colin, I'm sorry. So sorry, but please don't let them kill my grandmother…please!"

Already present in the room, Professor Carter asked, "What's the problem here?"

"Professor, they arrested my grandmother this afternoon. Something about line theft…my mom's confused. Grandmother's been locked up by the Aurors," cried Lavender.

The young witch turned back to Colin and pleaded, "Please don't let them kill her!"

Carter pressed for more information, "Miss Brown, what are you talking about?"

"My mum sent me a letter at supper…it got here just as I was leaving the Great Hall. My grandmother did something stupid and sent a box of chocolates to Colin. And…and they were dosed with a potion to make him fall in love with me. But I don't know anything…that's not something I'd do!"

Lavender turned toward Colin and pleaded, "Please, Colin, don't let them kill my grandmother."

Ron Weasley sneered, "They're likely to kiss your whole family. Or at least take everything you own…like Tonks did to the Marchbanks family. Colin got everything they owned when that old witch tried to take Dennis to be Diggory's son."

Colin and Dennis exchanged looks, and Professor Carter said, "Everyone calm down."

Then the head of house addressed the air saying, "I need a calming potion for Miss Brown."

The requested potion appeared in the wizard's hand, and he gave it to Lavender, who was being comforted by her dorm mate, Parvati Patil. The head of house continued with his instructions, "Miss Patil, take Miss Brown to your dorm room. The prefects will check on you later. If she feels up to, suggest that she write to her parents before going to sleep this evening."

Once the witches had removed themselves from the room, Professor Carter addressed Colin. "Mr Creevey, I understand you spoke to your Regent today."

"I did sir, and she wouldn't listen to me."

Harry stepped up and asked, "What do you mean, Colin?"

"I told Regent Tonks that I don't want anyone to be killed over a stupid potion. There's magic to make this witch promise never to do something like this again. And she's the grandmother of a friend. What will that be like for the rest of the time we're both students at Hogwarts if Lavender's grandmother is executed?"

"Professor Carter, can you arrange a visit by Mrs Tonks and Colin's parents and grandfather?" asked Harry. "I'll get Lady Longbottom to participate, and I'm sure Headmaster Bennet will get involved."

"That's a good idea, Heir Potter," Carter said. "Let me go see Bennet now and get things moving."

Neville added, "I want to be there and ask the goblins to come too."

CHANGE SCENE: Shouting and Changes

Andromeda Tonks was unhappy before she stepped through the floo into the headmaster's office at Hogwarts the following afternoon. The scene before her made her angry. Ted followed his wife and immediately took her arm to calm the witch when he saw the individuals arrayed against her.

Marius Creevey (Black), Mr Creevey, Colin, and Dennis, were seated with Harry Potter and Neville Longbottom and their guardian, Lady Augusta Longbottom. Goblins from Gringotts, Amelia Bones, and Headmaster Bennet stood to one side as observers or counsellors. Professor Carter, head of house for all four students, was also present, standing behind them to show his support.

"What is this?" Andromeda asked.

"The Heir of the Black family is not happy with his regent this morning," explained Marius. "My great-grandsons, their father, and I wish to address you plainly and in front of witnesses."

Andromeda frowned and studied everyone – Augusta was conflicted, Amelia was concerned, Bennet and Carter were unhappy, Heir Potter and Heir Longbottom were sad, and the Creeveys were disgusted. When she glanced at her husband, she noticed he was not solidly behind her in this meeting.

Colin spoke, "As Heir Black, I inform my Regent that I do not want you to prosecute that witch for line theft."

"She broke the law," Andromeda replied.

"It is a terrible law, and you'll be pushing for the ministry to execute the grandmother of a friend of mine at school."

Andromeda's frown grew deeper, and she glanced at Director Bones, who also looked unhappy with the boy's request. She began to address the boy, "Colin…"

Harry Potter interrupted Andromeda and prompted her, "Regent Black, refer to my close friend by his proper title."

Staring at the Boy-Who-Lived angrily for a minute, Andromeda remembered him saying once that she couldn't intimidate him with her stare – she didn't compare to a basilisk.

"Heir Black, Mrs Eloise Hoodwinked brewed a powerful love potion that could have damaged your mind if you'd eaten many chocolates. She must be punished."

Marius spoke up, "I agree; she must be punished. But her death or spending the rest of her years in Azkaban is a punishment that doesn't fit the crime."

Amelia Bones said, "The laws of Magical Britain aren't enforced at the whim of the lords of this land.

"Yes, they are," said Harry Potter bitterly. "Anyone with money can buy the outcome to any trial in the Wizengamot they want. Gold got Death Eaters freed without even a slap on the wrists. And political favours were traded to send the current Lord Black to prison without a trial."

"Not on my watch," hissed Bones. Again, the witch remembered that her stare wouldn't impress the Boy-Who-Lived.

Harry rose and asked, "Director Bones, did you or did you not make some agreement with the late Lord Gravis McMillian to block a lawsuit by this same witch against the Ministry for the injuries to Lord Black for illegal incarceration?"

Falling silent, Amelia refused to meet anyone's eyes.

"That's not important today. This witch – Hoodwink – attempted to steal the future of the Black family!" argued Andromeda.

"Oh, for pity's sake, this is 1995, not 1695 or 1795! We don't need to kill everybody who pisses you off!" shouted Marius.

"But we have to show the Black family is not to be trifled with! We are a proper pure-blood magical family."

Marius frowned and said, "Then what about your daughter's behaviour? Is she behaving like a proper daughter of the Black family? This very day, she trains to become an Auror! That's completely improper for a traditional daughter of this house. She should marry and begin birthing babies!"

"My daughter and I were cast out of the family."

"And Heir Black can bring you back into the family once he is seventeen," Marius said. "When that occurs, will you force her to resign from the Aurors and accept an arranged marriage as Colin decides is best for the family's interests?"

Andromeda paused, remembering her situation when her parents and grandfather tried to force her to marry Lucius Malfoy.

Colin spoke again and said, "The Black Family will not accept any terrible punishment for Mrs Hoodwink. Take away her license to brew potions and make her swear on her magic to never use a love potion again on anyone."

"She's not a licensed potions master," Bones argued.

Marius scoffed and said, "There are hundreds of potions brewed and sold every day from the back doors of taverns and homes. Make her stop brewing for a year as a financial penalty and swear never to brew love potions again."

Amelia Bones as the prosecutor for the case and Andromeda Tonks as the regent for the complainant were not pleased with the directions they received. Bones replied, "I'll take it under advisement."

Lady Longbottom cleared her throat before she said, "Director Bones, the house of Longbottom and the house of Potter remind you that our votes are necessary to pass your budget. If Heir Longbottom and Heir Potter are unhappy with the resolution on this case, you will not have our votes."

"House Black will support the budget!" declared Andromeda Tonks while her husband sighed at her side.

"Regent Black, if you do not guarantee me now that you will do as Heir Black has directed, I'll begin steps to replace you," Marius Creevey announced.

"You can't," Andromeda replied shortly. "I'm the only person with the proper blood to be accepted by the Wizengamot as regent."

The goblins grinned, the golden tips of their teeth visible, and the vault manager for the Black family replied, "As the eldest male, Marius Black can petition King Ragnock to deny the regent the right to spend any money or use the family magic in any way. You might cast the votes in the Wizengamot, but all payments of bills and loans would cease…it would be very messy."

"The king won't disrupt business like that."

The goblin Bloodhook coughed and said, "Freshgold."

Looking at Harry Potter, Andromeda found the cheeky bastard smiling innocently at her. Still angry, Andromeda Tonks conceded the battle and stated, "The Black Family asks that the Ministry for Magic not seek the maximum punishment for Mrs Hoodwink. We suggest that the DMLE make her stop all brewing for a year as a financial penalty and agree to brew love potions again by swearing on her magic."

Then Andromeda turned and left the headmaster's office through the floo with her husband following only a moment later.

END OF CHAPTER