Thanks for all the Reviews! I hope to address the point about the Prefects in the next couple of chapters.
After leaving her students to settle, not that she was sure they would, given the circumstances. Minerva headed from Gryffindor tower towards the Headmaster's office.
Upon arrival, she was let in immediately before finding the other three Heads of House already present. As she entered, Dumbledore looked up and smiled.
"Ah Minerva, good. I trust everything is settled amongst your Lions?" He asked.
"As well as can be Albus." She replied. "They are all in their Dormitories but how long before they sleep is anyone's guess!" She remarked.
"It's the same with my Badgers." Pomona Spout spoke up. "Thankfully tomorrow is Saturday so we have a couple of days to get everything sorted out."
The others nodded, except for Severus Snape, the Head of Slytherin, who just scowled.
"Potter must be behind this! He's just throwing a paddy because he didn't make prefect!" Snape snapped.
"I'm not sure how you think that Severus." Filius Flitwick, the Half Goblin Head of Ravenclaw interrupted the greasy haired Potions Master. "He was not even in the Great Hall at the time! Do we know if he is even in the castle?" She asked.
Minerva nodded.
"Yes he is. He went straight up to the Gryffindor common room. He was waiting there when I led the students up there. I've asked him to meet me tomorrow after breakfast to discuss his requirements for this year." She said, turning to Dumbledore.
Albus nodded.
"What do you think is the best solution for the current dilemma?" He asked the four Heads.
"I have tried persuading the former Prefects to change their minds but they are all adamant. And no-one I spoke to was willing to take their place." Pomona said, impressed at her houses loyalty to another.
"It was same with my Eagles." Filius added.
"And my Lions, who with one notable exception are fully behind Mr Potter as well. None want the job if it is not offered to him first." Minerva continued.
"Who is the exception?" Albus asked.
"Mr Weasley." Minerva replied. "As we were going up the stairs I heard him vocally boasting that he had finally got something that Mr Potter had not and he would not be giving it up!"
"So Weasley's true colours show though at last!" Severus commented.
"How many Prefects do we have left?" Albus asked.
"I only have one, Mr Weasley as I've said." Minerva replied.
"None, all mine have resigned including the Head Girl." Pomona said.
"I have none either, even Mr Davies has stepped down as Head Boy!" Filius added.
"Somewhat surprisingly about half my Prefects have stepped down." Severus finished with a sneer. "I suspect that has more to do with what happened in the Wizengamot over the summer rather than directly supporting Mr Potter. The political climate has changed and numerous families do not want to get on the wrong side of the new Potter/Black alliance." He paused and turned to the Headmaster. "Can you now tell us what happened?"
"I'm afraid not Severus." Albus replied. "I am bound by the Oath the same as everyone else who was there."
"Well he will get no special treatment from me in my class!" Severus scowled.
"Well that won't be happening!" Minerva spoke up.
"Are you telling me to give one of your House special treatment?" Severus demanded.
"No." Minerva replied. "It's just that, Mr Potter will not be in your class this year!"
"What!" Severus spluttered.
"Mr Potter's Guardian as engaged several private tutors to teach Mr Potter in areas he feels that he either needs it or to keep up with his advanced program." Albus said with a smile, knowing that this would get his Potions Master riled up.
"Advanced!" Snape practically shouted. "Potter can barely make the simplest of potions correctly and without help!" He added, not mentioning that most of Harry's failures were due either to sabotage, distraction or his determination to see the son of his enemy fail.
"Then perhaps you can explain how Mr Potter has manged to achieve his OWL in Potions over the summer?" Minerva asked sweetly. "Not to mention Transfiguration, Charms, Defence, Arithmancy and Ancient Runes." She added, rubbing salt in the wound.
"What!" Severus spluttered again. "Preposterous! I suppose he told you that and you went and believed him?" He sneered.
"Certainly not!" Minerva replied primly. "I received official notice from the international OWL office that Mr Potter achieved Outstanding with Honours in all six of the subjects he sat an exam in."
This caused Snape to gape like a fish with both Filius and Pomona sitting in stunned silence. To achieve an Outstanding on an OWL was an achievement and to get even one with Honours was an occasion to be celebrated. But to get six was an event that no other student in living memory had achieved. That he achieved them on the harder International Standard OWLs made the situation even more noteworthy.
"How?" Filius managed go say, even though he still seemed shocked.
"He apparently received tuition over the summer from some top level tutors. That, combined with nothing much else he could do with his time, has resulted in some of the highest marks a Hogwarts student has ever received. Though when Miss Granger hears, I fear she might get a little jealous!" Minerva remarked.
"Will that be a problem?" Albus asked, still trying to salvage his plan and not seeing how he could do it.
"I hope not." Minerva replied. "Miss Granger is just beginning to mend bridges with Mr Potter and I would hate to see it spoiled by this." She added.
"What do you mean?" Pomona asked. "I thought they were friends?"
"They were, until our esteemed Headmaster told both Miss Granger and Mr Weasley not to contact Mr Potter over the summer. That, combined with his mental state, has caused a rift between them. As I said, Miss Granger has already started to try and fix things between Mr Potter and herself, but Mr Weasley has not even spoken to Mr Potter yet as far as I am aware!" She finished.
Albus nodded, trying to salvage the situation. The trouble was that Ron Weasley's innate jealousy would get in the way in this situation. Either they kept Mr Weasley on and struggled to cope without Prefects or they replaced him with Mr Potter and hoped that all the former Prefects would accept their jobs back. It was essentially blackmail.
"That reminds me Albus." Minerva interrupted his thoughts. "Why did you tell me you spoke to Mr Potter regarding the Prefect position when you clearly had not?"
Albus looked panicked for a moment. He could lie, but Minerva could usually tell if he did so, which is why he tried never to lie to her. He decided, as always, to tell a half truth.
"What I meant to tell you was that I intended to speak to Mr Potter when he was fetched from his Aunt's house. I felt sure he would agree with me so I may have assumed he would definitely do so." He replied slowly.
Minerva made a sound like a horse.
"Well in future, please do not assume anyone will agree with you before you have actually spoken to them. It was not pleasant being called a liar by Miss Granger, even though I technically didn't lie, she was still told something that was false!"
"This is getting us nowhere." Albus said, trying to steer the conversation away from any lies he may have told. "Does anyone have any thoughts on what to do?"
"I think the simplest solution is probably the best." Filius spoke up. "I think when you speak to Mr Potter tomorrow, offer him the Gryffindor Prefect position. Should he accept, hopefully all our other Prefects would accept their jobs back. Should he turn it down, they might agree to do the same, though I doubt it!"
The four Heads of House and the Headmaster continued to discuss their options and other problems.
Meanwhile, in the Fifth year boy's Dormitory, Harry himself was trying to get some sleep. He was not doing very well due to the altercation he had with Ron when he arrived there after seeing the First years to their own Dormitory.
"What do you think you were playing at? Ron yelled as Harry entered the Dormitory.
"What are you talking about Ron?" Harry asked, not wanting an argument.
"Getting all the Prefects to resign! I don't know how you did it, but you're not getting my badge off me!"
"I have no idea what you're talking about!" Harry replied. He turned to Neville who bed was next to his. "I wasn't even in the Great Hall for the Feast, can someone explain what Ron is yelling about?"
Ron's ears had turned pink as he glared at Harry.
"After the Feast, Hermione walked up to McGonagall and quit being a Prefect in the middle of the Great Hall. After she had done, most of the other Prefects also quit. They claimed it was not right after all you had done for you not to be made Prefect. The only Gryffindor Prefect who didn't quit is Ron. I think all the Claws and Puffs quit too. Even some Snakes!"
"Thank you Neville." Harry said before turning to Ron. "None of that was anything to do with me. The only person I spoke to before the Feast was Hermione. Even then that was only a few minutes. I was rather sharp with her for not writing to me all summer. But then again neither did you Ron! How does it feel abandoning the person who you frequently claim is 'your best mate'?" He asked.
Ron looked at the floor, his anger had turned to embarrassment. Especially now that Dean and Seamus were both looking at him too.
"Dumbledore told me not to!" He finally said.
"I know that Ron!" Harry replied, his voice still calm. "But why was it so easy for you to do? You've been to Privet Drive and seen what it was like for me there! How could you condemn me to a whole summer of that?" He asked.
"It wasn't going to be the whole summer." Ron replied defensively. "You were supposed to come to us on your Birthday as always. It was only supposed to be until your Birthday!"
"Then why, when you knew the plan changed did you not write to me then?" Harry demanded, struggling to keep his cool.
Ron mumbled something that none of the others could hear.
"What was that Ron?" Harry asked.
"I forgot!" He whispered, barely loud enough to be heard.
"You are a real git Ron!" Harry snapped. "You were too busy having fun to think about me! Luckily Sirius did think about me and got me out of Durzkaban after a couple of days."
"You've been with Sirius Black?" Neville asked, having heard the real story of what happened from his Gran. "Everyone wondered where he went and how you ended up allying with him!"
"He's my legal Guardian Nev." Harry replied. "So he has regent powers of the House of Potter until I come of age. That combined with his own house, he is now Lord Black, and our other friends like your Gran and Susan Bones' Aunt, changes can be made. Though it is taking time! He added.
"There is another problem though Harry." Neville said. "The Minister's right hand woman, Delores Umbridge, is our new DADA teacher!"
"You've got to be kidding me?" He demanded.
Neville shook his head.
"No. She was introduced during the feast. Now Fudge has eyes and ears in the castle! She's probably here to get at you!"
"Then she is in for a shock!" Harry replied with a smile. "As I'm not taking DADA with you guys this year. In fact I'm only taking a couple of regular classes, the others are being taught by tutors and self-study!"
"Wow!" Breathed Neville, Seamus and Dean at once. Ron however, was back to looking jealously at Harry. He mumbled something under his breath.
"What was that Ron?" Harry asked again.
This time Ron stayed silent, knowing it would not end well.
"Well I'm off to bed. I've got a meeting with McGonagall after breakfast tomorrow so I want to be as rested as I can." Harry said after waiting a few seconds as it was clear that Ron would not answer.
He went to his trunk and took out his pyjamas and washbag. He then disappeared into the bathroom. Once inside, he washed and changed for bed. He then took his final two potions of the day before going back into the Dormitory and climbing into bed. Closing the curtains, he cast a silencing charm on them before putting his wand under his pillow and closing his eyes.
Early the next morning, Harry awoke and the first thing he did was put on his glasses and cast a Tempus charm. Seeing it was not quite 6, he tried to go back to sleep for another hour but he was too wired to sleep. Sighing in frustration, he got out of bed and as soon as he opened his curtains, he obviously broke the silencing charm as Ron's chainsaw like snores were suddenly reverberating round. Restraining himself from silencing Ron's bed, he grabbed a towel and went into the bathroom for a shower.
Ten minutes later he was back and dressing in a clean uniform. He was about to head downstairs when he remembered something. He took a pile of what looked like parchment out of his trunk and, putting his wand in its holster and picking up his book bag, headed down to the common room.
As expected the common room was empty. Even Hermione did not usually get down before six-thirty so he had at least twenty minutes to do what he needed. Picking up the first sheet, he tapped it with his wand, a map of Hogwarts appeared. At first glance it looked like the Marauder's Map, but it showed less of the castle. He had created them over the summer as a charms project. It also showed only one dot in the middle of the Gryffindor common room. Satisfied, he tapped the parchment with his wand again and the map vanished. He then sat in a chair and took out a book to read.
At six-thirty, almost to the second, Hermione appeared and came over to him.
"Are you alright Harry?" She asked. "You're not usually up this early?"
"I've been waking up at about this time all summer." He replied. "It's a combination of several reasons. What time did you tell the First years to be down here by?" He asked, knowing she would have done so.
"Seven-thirty." She replied. "I told them I would show them to the Great Hall for breakfast."
"Snap." Harry replied. "I also have a little gift for our newest Gryffindors. Something I worked on over the summer." He indicated the pile of parchment.
"What are they?" Hermione asked, knowing Harry would not be so cruel as to just give them a sheet of parchment.
"Tap the top sheet with your wand!" He said with a smile.
Shrugging, Hermione did so. Only this time, in addition to the map, across the top of the parchment flowed the words 'Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry – Property of Hermione Granger'. The dot showed her as being in the common room. She then looked at Harry.
"How did you make this?" She asked.
"A lot of what went into making the Marauder's Map is the same. Except this one only shows public areas and areas you have been. It shows where you are and can give you directions to get somewhere. For example, place your wand on the map and name a place on it." He replied, still smiling.
Now looking curious, Hermione placed her wand on the map and said 'Library'. This made Harry chuckle, only Hermione would pick the library first.
In front of her eyes a purple line traced the route from where her dot was to the library. Hermione squeaked in surprise.
"How?" Was all she managed to say.
"I created the original map as a charms project over the summer. With my tutor's help, I made a couple of dozen copies to give to our new First years. I remember how tough it was finding your way around, especially if you have no elder siblings or friends to help you." He replied.
"Tutor?" Hermione asked.
This made Harry chuckle again. Trust Hermione to pick on that.
"Have a seat Hermione, there is something I need to tell you before you find out from elsewhere." He paused as she sat down next to him. "I'll tell you full story later, but I spent most of the summer in a clinic to help me get over some of the problems I had."
Hermione looked at him in horror before giving him one of her patent hugs. Harry waited until she released in before continuing.
"Anyway, while I was there I had a lot of time on my hands and thanks to some rather ignorant remarks I made to a couple of the healers, it was suggested I get some tutors to get my education up to scratch so I would be ready to take my OWL's and not fail any." He paused before continuing. "How Sirius managed it I don't know, but several of them are world renowned Masters and Mistresses in their fields. I started with Potions, Charms, Transfiguration and Defence to begin with as they are the four key subjects and there were no facilities to do Herbology and Care. In my second Defence lesson, the Mistress who was teaching me gave me some rune clusters that I would need to protect myself against and of course I knew nothing about them. When she heard I was taking Divination instead, she gave me such a talking to I felt about this high." He said holding his thumb and forefinger about an inch apart. "The result of that is I was given lessons in Runes." The same thing happened with Arithmancy. During my first Charms tutorial, the Master who was teaching me gave me an Arithmanic breakdown of the charm to aid me being able to cast it. When I told him I didn't take Arithmancy, he looked at me as if I was some sort of prized idiot. So another tutor was organised. As a result, I received a kind of accelerated program in six subjects. I also worked a bit on History, both Magical and Mundane, but nothing like the scale of the others. This all ended in me sitting my OWLs early in those six subjects."
"You've taken your OWLs already?" Hermione gasped. She was torn between her pride at Harry working hard and her jealousy that he had taken the exams early.
Harry nodded, a little sheepishly and stared at the carpet.
"Have you got the results yet?" She demanded.
"Yes, I got them over a week ago." He replied, keeping he eyes on the floor.
"Well? What did you get?" She asked.
Harry said nothing, not wanting to cause a scene.
Hermione, seeing what Harry was nervous, took his chin in her hand and lifted it so she could look him in the eyes. She gave him a smile.
"I already know you passed them Harry. You would not be mentioning it if you had failed!" She said softly. "So what did you get?" She asked again, still in the same soft tone,
"I got an Outstanding with Honours on each of them." He replied so quietly that Hermione barely heard him.
"Outstanding with Honours!" Hermione gasped again, looking like she would have fallen over had she not been sitting down. "That puts you in the top one percent of all students. I'm surprised the Prophet has not made a big deal about it, as there is no way the Ministry would have kept it quiet!" She added.
"The Ministry probably don't know." Harry replied, shrugging slightly. "I took the exams in the ICW testing centre in Munich, not far from where I was staying."
"Munich! You've been in Germany?" Hermione was having trouble keeping up with the shocks.
"Sirius has an estate there, near the Black Forrest. The German magical government got him a trial and it was ratified by the ICW. Sirius is free everywhere else except Britain!"
"Typical" Hermione snorted before a thought struck her. "You said you took the exams at the ICW testing centre?" She asked.
"Yes that's right." Harr replied, nodding.
"Well that means you took international OWLs and not the British ones!" Hermione said. "The international OWLs are supposed to me much tougher, but they are recognised in every country around the world, whereas an individual country's OWLs might not be."
"Wow!" Harry replied. "I knew they were hard, but I expected them to be. I didn't expect them to be different to the ones taken here." He added, it really had not even occurred to him.
"So what are you doing with your classes this year?" She asked.
"That's what I've got to speak to Professor McGonagall about this morning. I plan to take Herbology and Care with you guys, drop divination and my tutors will continue their work so prepare me to sit my NEWTs as soon as I'm ready. My Defence Mistress thinks I may be ready before Christmas, the others I'll take in the summer."
At this Hermione was shocked into silence. Harry took one look at her and put his arm around her shoulders.
"What's the matter?" He asked her.
"Is this going to be your last year here?" She asked, not wanting to spend two more years at Hogwarts without him.
Harry shook his head.
"No. If I manage to achieve my NEWTs at the end of the year as I intend, I plan to take a Mastery and Hogwarts would be an ideal place to do it. If I am prevented from staying, for whatever reason, you will be the first person I tell and we will be able to work something out. Besides, do you really think Dumbledore is going to want me to leave? He'll probably throw the Defence teacher's job at me!" Harry said soothingly.
"You'll be brilliant as a teacher Harry." Hermione responded. "You should see the one we have this year, people call her the Toad!"
"Umbridge!" Harry gasped. He then reached into his book bag and pulled out a rather ornate hand mirror. Taking his wand he tapped it once. "Padfoot!" He called.
A few seconds later Sirius' face appeared in the mirror, looking like he had just go out of bed.
"Morning Pup." He greeted Harry. "Everything alright?" He asked, knowing Harry would not have called him just to talk.
"Not really." Harry replied. "There has been a bit of a fallout due to me not getting the Gryffindor Prefect position. McGonagall told Hermione that I turned it down. When I told her that I had not spoken to anyone from Hogwarts all summer, she quit in protest and the majority of the Prefects followed."
"Wow, looks like the PR campaign has had its first major result." Sirius replied. "Though I doubt you called me just to tell me that. Is that Hermione sitting with you?" He asked.
"Yes." Harry replied and tilted the mirror slightly so Sirius could see her more clearly.
"I hope you're proud of yourself!" Sirius said, glaring at the girl. "Not bothering to contact Harry all summer! He really needed you! You do get that don't you?"
Hermione nodded, shame burning on her cheeks.
"Enough Sirius." Harry said firmly. "We have already spoken about this and Hermione has apologised. Trust will take time to build but we are both working on it. Besides, I called you to tell you that Umbridge is the new DADA Professor here!"
"The Toad is teaching?" Sirius screeched.
"Apparently." Harry replied. "According to Neville, she's probably here at the bidding of Fudge to try and get round the injunction we placed on her."
Sirius chuckled, much to Harry and Hermione's confusion.
"What's going on?" Harry asked.
"I think I'm going to have to get Ted and Andi to pop over to the Ministry and remind Fudge of the Hogwarts Charter of Independence."
Harry had no idea what Sirius was talking about so he looked at Hermione, who looked equally clueless. He then looked back at Sirius.
"What's that?" He asked.
"The Hogwarts Charter of Independence is a very old law. It is about as old as the Ministry and, in a seemingly endless amount of very old legalese, states that no person who holds an appointed position within the Ministry can hold a teaching position at Hogwarts without first stepping down from their Ministry position. And if that were not enough, their Ministry position must be filled BEFORE they start teaching to prevent them nominally stepping aside. It also covers the reverse. No Hogwarts Professor can be nominated to a position within the Ministry without first resigning their tenure." Sirius stated gleefully.
"How come Dumbledore is, or was, Chief Warlock than?" Harry asked.
"Dumbledore holds a hereditary seat on the Wizengamot." Sirius replied. "Something that was specifically not included in the Charter as a number of previous Headmasters have also been Heads of their own Houses and held a seat on the Wizengamot. It is on the basis of that seat that he was elected to the position of Chief Warlock. And how he was made Britain's representative to the ICW and from there made Supreme Mugwump. Though from what I hear, he might not be holding that post for much longer either." Sirius added.
"So in short, she must either quit Hogwarts or quit the Ministry?" Harry clarified.
Sirius shook his head.
"Too late for that." He replied. "She has already been introduced as the DADA Professor, so the only way for Fudge not to have broken the law is to retrospectively sack her from before term began and appoint a new Senior Undersecretary from that date. He could then claim wanting to give his new deputy time before having the press conference. Should he chose not to, I will have him and the Toad thrown into a cell as the crime for breach of the Charter is not kind!"
Harry smiled.
"Make sure I there when Umbridge finds out, I want to see her when she realises it is all her own doing!" He said.
"I'll do my best Pup. Now it must be time for breakfast, I'll call you if anything comes up!" Sirius gave Harry another smile and the mirror returned to normal.
"What was that?" Hermione asked.
"Something my Dad and Sirius made while they were at school here. It's been improved to give it greater range as they only used it to talk when they were in separate detentions." Harry replied, slipping the mirror back in his bag.
Casting a quick Tempus charm, he saw it was after seven. Getting up, he straightened his uniform. Soon, voices and footsteps were heard on the stairs and the new First years, along with an assortment of other students started coming down the stairs.
Waving the First years over, Harry gave each one their own map and showed them how to use it. He also told them that no-one, apart from himself, would be able to use their maps in the future.
Once they all had their maps, Harry got one of them to volunteer to lead the way to the Great Hall with their map. Then the 30 or so of them, made their way through the portrait hole and down to the Great Hall.