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Harry Potter and the Smallest Change.
Chapter 37. Fourth Year, Part 19. 1995.
The Hogwarts Express was peaceful.
Harry sat in a compartment with Susan and Holly on either side while across from them sat Daphne, Luna, and Hannah.
Halfway through the trip, Hermione knocked on the door and entered with a sheepish smile.
Behind Hermione stood Neville and Ronald. At the sight of the two boys, Harry's compartment sighed and rolled their eyes.
Hermione wore a nervous smile.
'Harry? Neville would like a word with you?' she asked, and Harry smiled at her.
'Sure, take my seat Hermione.' Harry said and stood, he patted Holly's leg as he did.
'I won't be long.' Harry said to the others in the compartment as he walked past Hermione toward Neville.
'Brother, would you walk with me?' Harry asked Neville, who gave a small nod, echoed by Ronald beside him.
Harry led the two boys down the corridor to a quieter part of the train, to give them a modicum of privacy. Once there, Harry looked around and saw no one loitering about, then turned to Neville.
Neville sighed and schooled his features.
'Hermione has convinced me to tell you some things, though I don't know what you can possibly do about them.' He muttered, sounding bitter.
Harry gave the other boy a soft smile.
'Say what you want to say brother, I bear no ill will toward you. You had a rough year. If I can help you, I will.' Harry said.
Neville frowned and his shoulders slumped.
'If you'd been in the Tournament, you would have won. Nobody stood a chance against your girlfriend, and I know that you're beyond me, as much as I hate to admit it. That's the only reason I'm telling you this.' Neville said, defeat in his tone.
Ronald stared at his friend in surprise, but Harry paid him no mind. His gaze locked on Neville, who slumped even further.
'My scar gives me visions of Voldemort; I see what he sees when he's angry or happy. This only started after the Third Task. Before, it just hurt, or it was a rare thing, like once or twice in our first year.' Neville paused and rubbed his scar, which looked fresh.
'But now? Its every night. When I sleep, all I see is him, with a body, killing innocent people and torturing his followers. I know most of them by name, here.' Neville said as he pulled out a list of names on a sheet of paper.
He handed it to Harry.
Harry scanned over the list and his eyes widened at the number of influential names. He slipped the list into a pocket in his robes before he turned back to Neville.
'I can't tell you how I know, that parts a secret, but there is a Prophecy about you and Voldemort. Talk to your gran about it, she might have enough sway to find out more about it.' Harry said, and Neville paled.
Harry understood the other boy's reaction. Having a Prophecy about you means it's something important, having a Prophecy about you and a Dark Lord? Nothing good would come of that.
'Whatever training you did for the Triwizard Tournament, double it. If Voldemort has a body like your visions suggest, and I believe you that he does, it won't be long until he comes for you. I'll help you if I can.' Harry said and glanced out the window at a paddock filled with cows which flitted past a moment later.
Harry turned back to Neville.
'This summer I might contact you and your gran about some political stuff. I would appreciate you helping me out. The Longbottom's and the Potter's have always been on good terms. I would like that alliance back in time.' Harry suggested, and Neville's eyes narrowed.
Neville sighed, like the fight left him.
Neville looked deep into Harry's eyes.
'You're the better wizard. The Longbottom's will follow the Potter's like we did in the past.' Neville declared and Harry blinked in surprise.
But before Harry could say anything, Neville turned and walked away, his steps slow and an air of defeat clung to the retreating boy.
Ronald looked between the two in confusion before he scurried after Neville, leaving Harry alone in the corridor.
After a moment of stunned silence, Harry turned and walked back to his cabin. Once inside, he took the seat on Susan's left, closest to the door. Hermione was still sitting in his seat from earlier.
Harry was silent and didn't notice the cabin fall silent at his entrance.
Hermione leaned forward in her seat.
'Harry? Is everything okay?' the bushy haired witch asked.
Harry looked up and saw all the girls looking at him. He gave them a weak smile. He looked between Susan, Hannah, and Daphne.
'Neville just declared allegiance to House Potter.' He said and Daphne choked on a laugh.
Hannah blinked, and Susan gaped at him.
'Wait, what? Neville has always thought he was better than you, he's the Boy-Who-Lived. Why the sudden change in heart? If he pledged his House to yours, that puts him in a lower position to you.' Susan frowned.
Hermione looked between everyone with a confused expression.
'What are you all talking about?' she asked, and Susan put a hand on the girl's leg and smiled at her.
'It's one of those Pureblood things that wouldn't make sense unless you've grown up in our world. To be honest, sometimes it doesn't make sense to us either.' Susan admitted.
Hannah leaned forward.
'The Wizarding World has a form of aristocracy, similar to what the muggles had a few hundred years ago. But in essence, the governing body of the Wizarding World is the Wizengamot, yes?' she asked, and Hermione nodded.
'Yes, I know that already.' The muggleborn witch said.
Daphne cleared her throat.
'The Wizengamot's members are drawn from wizarding families. The older and more prestigious families have more influence in the Wizengamot than others.' She tucked an errant strand of hair behind her ear.
'In this cabin, we have Harry, who is Heir to House Potter. They have a seat on the Wizengamot. Hannah's, Susan's, and my own families all have seats as well.' Daphne paused again, smiling at Luna, then turning back to Hermione.
'The Lovegood's are not an ancient or noble house, therefore do not have seats on the Wizengamot. Are you still with me?' Daphne asked.
Hermione nodded.
'It makes a sort of sense; it also explains why most of the Wizarding World seems to be stuck in the middle ages.' She mused.
Daphne's eye twitched and her jaw tightened before Luna took her hand in hers and clasped it tight.
Susan cleared her throat.
'I would appreciate it if you didn't make those sorts of comments, and I'll explain why in a moment.' Susan raised a hand to stop Hermione's reply.
Hermione blinked and her mouth snapped shut.
Susan smiled at Hermione.
'There are differences between the magical and muggle worlds, plenty of them. But neither is superior to the other. I am comfortable on both sides thanks to growing up alongside Harry and Holly's family, especially his muggleborn mother.' Susan said.
Hermione nodded, though she wore a frown.
'The muggle world has advanced in one way, while the magical world has moved in another. Neither is inherently better than the other. That is important to understand before we go any further.' Susan explained.
Hermione blinked a few times before nodding.
Holly put a hand on Hermione's leg.
'There are a lot of things about the magical world that seem odd or disgusting from a muggle point of view. Mum told us about when she discovered how House-Elves were bonded to humans. She originally thought it was slavery.' Holly said, and Hermione nodded with vehemence.
'I knew it.' She whispered.
Harry shook his head.
'It's a symbiotic relationship. House-Elves cannot survive without the ambient magic given off by a magical household or area. You won't find House-Elves living by themselves or in communities, they simply won't survive.' Harry said before Holly jumped in.
'A muggleborn wizard tried to free a bunch of House-Elves in the forties. He set up a village with houses and everything for them and dumped them all there after giving them clothes. He tried to teach them and rehabilitate them from what he thought was slavery.' Holly said, and Hermione turned to her with wide eyes.
'What happened?' Hermione asked.
'Within months, they all died. They starved from a lack of magic.' Holly said, and Hermione gasped, horrified.
Daphne sighed.
'They sentenced the wizard to Azkaban for ten years for the murder of forty House-Elves. He had bankrupted himself by purchasing so many House-Elves, and he died in prison before his first week was up. Some say the House-Elves of Azkaban killed him in his cell.'
Hermione gaped at Daphne.
Hannah leaned forward.
'Things are the way they are in the Wizarding World for a reason. It may look like its stuck in the past from a muggle perspective, but the system works and there's a reason why things are done in certain ways.' She said.
Harry stretched in his seat, his joints popped, and he let out a relaxed groan.
'The Great Houses of the Wizengamot are an example of this. This form of Government fell out of favour for various reasons in the muggle world. But one big reason why its still seen in magical communities is that the Great Houses have access to Family Magic.' He said, and Hermione's eyes widened.
Harry grinned.
'Yeah, I thought that would get your attention. Family Magic only works for members of a family, or more accurately, of a bloodline. For example, there is a Potter Family Magic that Holly and I can use once we are taught.' He said and Hermione frowned.
'But we could never teach any of you, not that we aren't allowed, but it just wouldn't work.' Harry explained, and Hermione deflated.
Hermione's shoulders slumped forward.
'Why haven't I read any of this?' she asked, and Daphne laughed.
'For those who grow up in the magical world, this is common knowledge. Are there books in the muggle world about crossing the street or putting on a pair of shoes?' Daphne asked.
At Hermione's blank stare, Daphne shrugged.
'Granted, those aren't great examples, but that's the best I can think of right now. The point is, this is all common knowledge to us, that's why its not written down anywhere.' Daphne finished and Hermione slumped further.
Holly put a hand on the older girl's shoulder.
'How about next year, you spend some free time quizzing Neville and Ronald about the magical world, write a book about the differences between worlds that you would have wanted to have when you first found out about this world.' Holly suggested.
Hermione jerked up in her seat with a wide smile. She pulled Holly into a tight embrace.
'Thank you, that's such a great idea.' Hermione gushed and stood.
'I'm going to get started right now. Thank you all for explaining this to me, I really appreciate it.' She beamed at them all and sped from the cabin, leaving the others to stare at each other in surprise.
Susan blinked, then turned to Harry.
'What are you going to do once Neville gets his gran to make it official?' she asked, and Harry shrugged.
'I've got some ideas, but as it would have to be dad who goes into the Wizengamot to start things rolling, I'll have to talk to him first.' Harry said.
Susan nodded, and Holly narrowed her eyes.
'What do you have planned?' Holly asked, and Harry grinned.
'I'm going to change the world.' He declared and turned to Susan, ignoring the others stunned expressions.
'Do you think Sirius and your Aunt would be up for a prank?' Harry asked and Susan blinked.
'Sirius? For sure. But mum? It really depends on what it is, and whether your mum will be involved too.' Susan said.
Harry grinned at the red head.
'Mum is going to love the idea.' He smirked.