Open Hand

Walking down the hall to the room where the meeting was taking place, Poppy felt like they were going to war. Walking beside her, Mary glanced in her direction with a knowing gaze.

Finally, they arrived.

The teaching staff was there, looking confused, and a little hostile, which may have something to do with the official looking personal standing around. Poppy couldn't blame them considering what happened last year.

"This is definitely not going to end well," the woman thought, "well maybe not for the staff," she added after looking at Mary and the Agents, who looked far too relaxed for such a situation.

"Ah good, all are here." North smiled, ignoring the looks of awe from some of the staff, "we shall begin, yes?"

Poppy, Mary, and the Agents sat down, and Albus started speaking, "I'm afraid you have us at a disadvantage, Ms. Evergreen had insisted on a meeting this evening concerning the students of the school, the staff and I were not expecting….all this."

The youngest Agent, Jack was his name, snickered, and mumbled something under his breath. The Australian, who insisted on Poppy calling him Bunny of all things, shushed him.

"My apology, I know it's a bit underhanded, but I found that sometimes it's for the best." Mary told him before turning to North, and nodded for him to start.

"My name is Nicolas North, to my right are my co-workers, Toothiana, Sandy, and to my left, E. Aster Bunnymund, and Jack Frost. And we are Agents of the Bureau of the Children Protection Agency, Britain Office."

There are low murmurs among the staff, the Bureau was known well enough, mostly for it's history.

"Ms. Evergreen has been in contact with me for the past several months, she expressed concerns, for her client, Mr. Potter. Stating that the school is unfit, and a danger to not only him, but the whole student body."

There are protests, denial loud, with the expectation of Albus who was staring at Mary, Mary for her part merely raised a brow. Finally, Minerva got everyone under control.

"Is this because of Mr. Potter's…diagnosis?" she asked, turning her attention to Mary.

"That is part of it, but the main issue here is that fact for the past five years, Mr. Potter and the rest of the students have been in danger, with next to no changes in terms of security so that it doesn't happen again." Mary said, "I have spoken to numerous students, I cannot tell you what we discussed as that would be breaking confidentiality, however it's enough for me to know that this staff lacks certain proper knowledge to handle certain situations."

Minerva opened her mouth, no doubt to ask a question, but Mary continued on.

"There is also the problem of your Headmaster."

Protest started up again, this time it took a little longer to quiet down, Snape, Mary noticed had been quiet since the meeting started.

"Not only has Headmaster Dumbledore employed several Professors who ended up being a danger to the students, but he still keeps on a member who has abused his authoritative position to at the very least emotional abuse most of the students here."

It said a lot that some Professors glanced at Snape, who narrowed his eyes at Mary.

"There have been multiple witness accounts of Mr. Snape's abusive behavior, and multiple complaints about his behavior that have been ignored by the staff."

"Children—"

"Once is an accident, twice is a coincidence, third is a pattern." Toothiana interrupted, "you should have at least inquired about it when it become obvious, and considering that this had been going on for years, tells me that either you didn't bother, or you didn't care."

"Now wait just a minute!" Sprout stood up, "how dare you say we don't care about the children, after everything—"

"I don't doubt you do, however, it's hard to believe when the evidence suggests otherwise." Jack spoke up, eyes hard and cold, nothing like the bright loud boy Poppy had meet earlier.

Sprout sat down.

"There is also the problem of Headmaster Dumbledore admitting to letting a student return to a household that he knew was abusive."

Mary noticed Minerva's lips thinned, and Hagrid, who was looking very unhappy, went thoughtful. Albus, after a brief tense silence all around, spoke.

"Yes, I was aware of that Harry's home life was not idyllic, however it was needed, Harry needed to be….humbled to combat Voldemort's power, Some may call it a cruel, but it was for the best."

Cold dread, is the best way Poppy could describe the feeling in the room right now.

"So, you risked a child's life on a gamble?" Toothiana's voice went low, beside her, Sandy's expression had darkened, "Did it not occur to you that your decision could have gone horrible wrong. Children who have been abused do not always end up growing up "humble", some become abuser themselves. Or were you so afraid of your past failures that you couldn't see that, or did you think that it justified it?!"

There is low murmurs among the staff.

Albus's tone shifted, "Ms. Toothiana—"

Toothiana's eyes narrowed, and there was a noticeable something in atmosphere, which silenced the staff. "Do not use that tone with us Headmaster for we will not bow to it."

Albus paused for a moment then, "The wards placed around Mr. Potter's home will—"

"We know all about the wards mate," Aster spoke up.

"Then you know that—"

"Yes, wherever he called home, meaning it did not have to be that house. And don't give me that bull about blood relatives will help keep the wards strong, I can name three spells off the back that can make a ward unbreakable." Aster interrupted, accent thicker, "magic is not as linear as you wish to believe."

North pulled out a paper, "These are official orders, effective immediately, Albus Dumbledore is suspended from his position as Headmaster of Hogwarts of Witchcraft and Wizardry, will be taken into custody for child abuse, and neglect. Effective immediately, Severus Snape is suspended from his position, and taken into custody for child abuse, also effective immediately, all staff must attention classes on Mental Health and Abuse, failure to do so will result in suspension or firing."

~.~

"This is going to be a nightmare once the media finds out." Poppy sighed into her whiskey.

They were in the woman's personal room, the meeting now two hours behind them. Albus and Snape had been escorted from the school, the other professors had also gone back to their rooms, with the promise that they will receive the information they needed soon.

"Hopefully not too much." North murmured, in his hand was some wood that he had started carving with a knife.

Mary hummed, "The goal is to make sure the students are not bothered, especially Mr. Potter."

While the Agents murmured agreements, Poppy was silent, Mary noticed, "Alright there?" she asked.

"Not really," Poppy admitted, "even though you told me about what could happen, it's sti—"

"Hard to process," Mary finished for her.

Poppy nodded, "And it all fast-paced."

"Yeah, I understand."

"What's going to happen now?" The Medi-Witch then asked.

"Well, with all the evidence gathered against him," Toothiana put down her tea cup, "Dumbledore will go to trail and convicted, Pitch will insure it."

Poppy's brow furrow, "Pitch? You mean that lawyer who everyone calls the Boogieman?"

Jack laughed, "Yep, that's him. Though if you ask his daughter she'll tell you he's nothing but an overgrown teddy bear."

Bunny snickered, while Sandy smiled brightly and started singing to the both of them. Poppy still wasn't use to it, having never seen actually signing though she had heard of it from one of the students in passing. Though according to Toothiana, Sandy could speak, he just chose not to.

"Anyway," Bunny yawned, "as for Snape, well. He'll most likely get a lighter sentence, only because Mary insisted on it."

This surprised Poppy, and she looked at the woman, during here stay. Mary had made it known she wasn't too fond of the man.

"He shows the clears signs of being the victim of abuse, and while that does not dissolve what he did, I rather he get the help he should have had. And hopefully, all of this, will be that start of helping the Wizarding World into understanding that sometimes, magic isn't the only answer, or that you shouldn't take things at face-value."

~.~

Mary had talked to him about it, told what she had planned on doing, and why, she told of all the possible outcomes, and asked him for his permission.

Maybe, if she had asked earlier in the year, he would have said no. Probably wouldn't have considered saying otherwise. And maybe he was still upset with the elderly man.

He said yes.

"I will try and keep you out the courts and media as much as possible," Mary had told him, "however, if you must, I will prepare you as best as I can. And be with you every step of the way."

When it was announced over breakfast that Headmaster Dumbledore and Professor Snape will not be attending the school upon further notice, Harry looked to Mary, vaguely aware of Professor McGonnell introducing the four new people sitting at the Professor table.

Mary noticed him, and gave him a nod.

Now it was happening.

Harry really hope his friends couldn't hear his pounding heart.

~.~

The Children Protection Bureau was put into place by the International Confederation of Wizards sometime after the Wizarding World went into hiding, founded by someone only known as MiM, who insisted on the Bureau to be separate from the Confederation, stating that "The safety of children, most always come before politics" it was a bold statement. Through hardships, and a lot of luck, the Children Protection Bureau was born.

Their mission statement: We bring wonder and hope. We bring joy and dreams. We are this world's Sandman and Tooth Fairy, their Easter Bunny and Santa Claus. It is our job to protect the children of the world. For as long as they believe in us, we will guard them with our lives.

Was a little pretentious, but one they lived up too, for no case was a failure.

~.~

Poppy's prediction was right, the minute the media found out Albus Dumbledore was on trial and why, they went ballistic. The newsletter was filled with coverage, and speculation. The only reason why they didn't flood the gate was because Hogwarts's wards made unable for them to do so unless the acting Headmaster allowed them too.

Inside Hogwarts was a different story altogether.

The students took the news well, or rather, it wasn't surprising to them, mainly from second year and up.

"What did you expect?" Mary shrugged when Poppy came to her about it, "most of them have been dealing with the shit that went on here for years now."

The students are also wary of the Agents, and Mary can't blame them really, however, it doesn't last more than three days when it became apparently that the Agents were nothing but big puppies when it came to children.

The toys and brightly wrapped chocolate eggs from North and Aster probably had something to do with it too.

They adored Jack.

Also, Sandy had taken over the Defense Against the Dark Arts position, Poppy isn't even sure how, and the children loved him.

"He might be better than Professor Lupin." One student had whispered.

Mary is sure that's high praise.

~.~

"Pitch is having a ball with this case," Jack grinned one morning, "I feel a little bad for the Headmaster."

"And Snape?"

Everyone turned to Mary, Mary smiled, "He's been officially fired from teaching, and not allowed to any kind of teaching until he's cleared by a therapist."

"And who's the lucky bastard that got that job?" Bunny asked.

Mary's smile grew, "My bastard of a brother naturally."

Bunny laughed. Poppy, sitting beside Mary and having been listening to the conversation, frowned. "Is that good?" she asked.

"It is very good," North nodded, "he has much experience, and can handle whatever is thrown at him, and has good heart like Mary. He will help Snape."

~.~

Harry arrived to his session just as Malfoy exited Mary's office, the boy blinked at Harry, who noticed his eyes were kind of red.

"P-Potter," Malfoy stuttered out.

Harry waved, "Hi."

Rubbing his eyes, Malfoy nodded then he was walking away, Harry watched him leave, before knocking on the door and entering.

"Evening Harry," Mary greeted.

Harry smiled as he sat down on the floor, they were doing the puzzle today.

"And how have you've been with everything's that's has happened so far?"

"It's been weird, but not in a bad way" Harry admitted, "usually when something happens to me, it's…kind of bad. But….it feels like everyone is actually on my side."

Mary hummed, "Well, that's good."

"Yeah, it is."

And he meant it.