There was silence in the room for nearly half a minute after this. However that half a minute seemed to stretch on for hours, with the only sound in the room being peoples breathing. It was Ollivander who broke the silence first.
"How is John the heir of Merlin? Surely either myself or his father should be the heir?"
"That is simple." Grukgruff replied. "To inherit a line, you must have a certain concentration of that families magic in your blood. Your family will have a bit, Mr Williamson's family will have a bit. They merge in a higher enough concentration in young Mr Williamson for him to inherit the line."
"How is that possible? Williamson is muggleborn?" enquired the Minister, who failed to see Lucius Malfoys sneer at the word 'muggleborn'.
"There was likely a squib earlier in the line." Professor Dumbledore mused.
"I thought the Dark Lord was the heir of Slytherin." Malfoy stated, looking at Daphne critically.
"Tom Riddle came into Gringotts age sixteen and took this inheritance test. Although he is part of the Slytherin family through his mothers line, he is from Slytherins youngest son. Miss Greengrass inherits from the eldest son."
"Who is Tom Riddle?" asked Minister Fudge.
"Tom Riddle is Voldemorts true name Minister" stated Dumbledore, ignoring the squeak at the name Voldemort.
"We digress," interrupted Professor McGonagall "what does all this mean practically?"
"I do not know Minerva. I will have to consult both the Hogwarts and Ministry charters."
"I can consult the Ministry one." Minister Fudge offered.
"Thank you Minister, but as Chief Warlock it is my responsibility to consult these things. Besides, I believe you have a meeting with the International Quidditch Federation tomorrow do you not?"
"Yes of course."
"Can I suggest we all keep this quiet for now? I don't see the need to release this to the press until we can give a full statement on what this means." Dumbledore carried on.
"Of course," blustered Fudge. "We can't give the press inaccurate information. What about next Monday?"
"That should be enough time." Dumbledore agreed. "I feel we should all meet here Sunday afternoon to work out a plan of action."
"Well I should be off. I have that meeting to prepare for in the morning. It was nice seeing you Albus, Professors." With a tip of his hate Fudge turned towards the floo and left for the ministry, followed by his two Auror bodyguards and Lucius Malfoy.
"Now all this has been sorted I need to speak to our students about their timetable we now have." Dumbledore started. "I have been working throughout the day to study what the charter says you must learn and to find the appropriate teachers. Some of the subjects we don't normally teach here, and other subjects we do teach here will have to be taught by different teachers due to scheduling conflicts."
"Does that mean we get to learn magic others won't?" asked John.
"Yes it does." Dumbledore beamed at his enthusiasm, as he handed out their new timetables to look at.
Monday
Double Charms (Master Therin) Potions (Professor Snape) Herbology (Professor Sprout) Anceint Runes (Professor Babbling)
Tuesday
Duelling (Professor Flitwick) History (Professor Bagshot) Transfiguration (Professor McGonagall Healing (Healer Simpson) Charms (Master Therin)
Wednesday
Double Transifuration (Professor McGonagall) Double Mind Arts (Professor Dumbledore) Politics (Tiberius Ogden)
Thursday
Double Potions (Professor Snape) Double Defence Against the Dark Arts (Master Merrmann) Warding (Master Ardwyad)
Friday
Defence Against the Dark Arts (Master Merrmann) Herbology (Professor Sprout) Double Alchemy (Nicolas Flamel)
"We get lessons from Nicolas Flamel?" John burst out excitedly when he read that part.
"Yes he was kind enough to agree to this, as were the other names you see that aren't teachers. They are all masters in their respective guilds, and Master Mermann was once a battlemage for the ICW."
Looks of wonder was plastered on the face of the three children who grew up in the wizarding world, while Harry had to have it explained to him by Mark.
"Battlemages are elite soldiers of the ICW. There are only fifty to a hundred or so at a time, but if any country request aid of the ICW these are sent. To give you an idea how strong they are there are only two people known to have survived a duel with You-Know-Who are Professor Dumbledore and a battlemage, who managed to cut his nose off."
Harrys face now resembled the others in the room.
Professor Dumbledore interrupted now.
"However your timetable will not start until next week. This week you need to learn all you can about your new houses. I will be escorting you all tomorrow afternoon to Gringotts to sort out account details and then tomorrow evening we will have a meeting here to discuss what your new status means in terms of the school. Now I think it's time you all said goodbye to your guardians and went off to bed.
With a round of goodbyes and hugs the four students left the office and went back to the common room. None of them went to bed however.
"What does this mean?" asked Susan.
"I think it means that we're in charge of the school. I mean we are the heirs right?"
"Maybe." Harry agreed. "But what about John being the Heir of Merlin?"
"I don't even want to think about that." Moaned John.
"You're going to have to John." Daphne lectured. "Our world will look to you for guidance, whether you like it or not.
"But I'm just eleven!"
"Well you'd better grow up fast then." Daphne said as she went to bed.
As John went up to bed as well, he reflected he didn't seem to have much choice in the matter.
o-0-o
The morning went rather slow for the students. Professor Dumbledore came up to them at breakfast to inform them that he had read the Hogwarts Charter the night before and was now aware of what exactly their status meant for the school now. Despite their protests, he refused to tell them before the evening and instead asked them to read up on either the Wizards Council or Hogwarts history until he collected them after lunch.
So the four of them had gone off to the library for the morning. Susan and Harry researched about the history of Hogwarts while Daphne and John read about the Wizards Council.
While many people thought the Wizards Council was disbanded because of the rise of the Ministry, this was not strictly true. The Wizards Council existed for another five years after the Ministry was formed, before being disbanded in September 1712. During these five years it existed as an advisory council for the Wizengamot and a check on the Ministry's powers. However for the Wizards Council to exist it had to be chaired by an Heir of Merlin. In August 1712 the only known living Heir of Merlin was assassinated by a business rival and was without heir. Thus the Wizards Council was disbanded. John could only presume it would start again, though how much influence it would have would be another matter.
After a lunch of pork sandwiches and a dessert of trifle Dumbledore came to collect them all to take them to Gringotts, where they were all met by their Guardians again. One by one they went into a room and they each spent about half an hour with a goblin before escorted downstairs. It was finally Johns turn, who went in with his father as his grandad had gone in with Harry. He was surprised to be met by the biggest goblin he had ever seen flanked by two guards in full armour.
"I am Rangork, leader of the Gringott Clan of Goblins."
Both John and Mark bowed once they realised who they were meeting before John spoke.
"May your gold flow freely Lord Rangork."
"Sit down, Heir of Merlin. I will be your account manager for both the Emerys vault, as well as your Ravenclaw vault."
"I am honoured Lord Rangork."
"Down to business. Neither vault has a great deal of money. The Ravenclaw vault has ten thousand galleons. The Emrys vault has even less, only five hundred galleons. Their worth is with the knowledge buried within. I know for a fact that the Emrys vault has a book written by Merlin detailing his life. There are no restrictions on these vaults. You may make any withdrawals you please."
"How would you recommend increasing my money, Lord Rangork?"
"Mr Ollivander foresaw this problem and suggested to Heir Potter that he offer you a loan of a million galleons. Heir Potter was happy to do this. I will invest this for you."
"That is very kind of both yourself and Heir Potter.".
"As for property, you own Ravenclaw Manor, in the south of Scotland and Emerys Castle in Yorkshire. Neither are in a good state of repair. It would cost significant amounts of money to repair them. You also own twenty five percent of the lands belonging to Hogwarts as well as twenty five percent of the castle itself."
John was shocked that he actually owned part of Hogwarts. He was brought out of his shock by being presented two boxes. The first was made out of solid bronze and had a silk lining. Inside was a gold signet ring with an eagle engraved on it. Along the band of the ring were shining Sapphires which Rangork informed him were from Sri Lanka. Rangork informed him the approximate value of the ring was a million galleons.
"It also has an enchantment on it. Whoever bears this ring will be able to read any language."
"Cool. Why do I have the Head of House ring though? Shouldn't I have the heir ring?"
"For the four Hogwarts houses you merely have to be attending Hogwarts to claim the headship."
He then opened the other box which was made of quite plain English Oak. Inside was another gold signet ring. This one had a dragon roaring as its crest. It was the crest of House Emrys. It had diamonds along the band, all completely colourless and all reflecting the light of the room. Rangork informed John that these diamonds were from South Africa. Although this ring had an enchantment on, it was not one Gringotts had been able to work out.
"You are the only surviving Heir of Merlin. You are automatically head of the House Emrys."
After thanking Rangork and taking their leave, John and Mark went down to the vaults. Reaching the Ravenlaw vault all John could see were books. Books as far as the eye could see with a pile of gold in the middle. John wanted to take some of the books but his dad told him to come back at Christmas and take some. They moved further down, to vault one. The very first vault ever created.
Opening the vault, John expected something grand. But it was dusty, very dusty. And along with a small pile of gold there were books all along the shelves. There was some armour, swords, pikes and axes, but mainly it was books. One book had a particular pull to John. Moving towards it he picked it up and felt the magic on it. He immediately knew this was the book Rangork had told him about. The autobiography written by Merlin. He left the vault with this book, silencing his dads suggestions with one look.
After a long ride they reached the top where they were being waited for by the students and Professor Dumbledore.
"Ah the last of us is here. Now we have one more stop. You are all to be fitted for new dress robes at Twilfitt and Tattings. They know of whom they serve and are sworn to secrecy until Monday when its announced and these robes are payed for by myself as a gift. I will place notice-me-not charms on your rings so only those who know the secret will be able to see them. Now come along."
They all moved to Twilfitt and Tattings where they were fawned over by one of the fitters. Susan opted for a black robe with a yellow cloak. The cloak would have the Bones and Hufflepuff crest sewn on it. Daphne also went for a black robe, with her cloak being in Slytherin colours and having her houses crest on it. Harry went for the same idea as Daphne with a black robe and cloak in Gryffindor colours, but this time having three houses on.
Johns first insitinct was to go for the same route but then he stopped and thought about it. Merlin was known as the greatest light wizard of all time. He wanted something symbolise that and thought long and hard eventually had an idea.
"I would like white robes with a dirt repelling charm on them. For the cape I want it in Ravenclaw colours and my houses symbols on them please."
All their measurements were took before they left the shop and headed back to the Leaky Cauldron to floo to Hogwarts where they were dismissed to dinner.
During dinner they compared rings. They were all of similar design, with a signet representing the house (the Peverell signet was the symbol of the Deathly Hallows) with jewels going around them. Daphne's had emeralds, Susan's had yellow citrines round while Harry's Gryffindor ring had rubies. The Peverell ring had Garnets round.
They also found out that the Hogwarts rings all had enchantments on them.
The Hufflepuff ring would increase the power of healing spells.
The Slytherin ring would prevent any intrusions of the mind.
The Gryffindor ring would help inspire bravery in tough situations.
It was not long after John and Harry finished their treacle tarts that Professor Fltiwick came to escort them to Professor Dumbledore's office and let them in before joining the other Heads of Houses.
"I have studied the Hogwarts charter and now know what your status as heirs mean. The major thing is the Board of Governors no longer exists, and you take over this function. This means that you approve our budget requests every year as well as approve the hiring of new teachers. Your coming also means we can access the second Hogwarts vault with your permission."
"Four eleven year olds have this power?" Susan asked.
"Only you four. But yes you do. I hope you wield it responsibly."
The four of them nodded dutifully.
"You also have power of making changes to the school such as any expansions or any food changes. You also have power over punishments, though this is limited while you are students."
"Limited how?" John asked.
"You can only give points to the other three houses and can only take points from your own house. You cannot give out detentions until you leave school. You also all have rooms somewhere in the castle, the same rooms the founders had. The elves may be able to guide you to them. The final thing is with four of you here we can recharge the wards to full power with your rings. I would like to do that tonight, if you are willing?"
When they nodded the students and the Heads of Houses all followed Dumbledore to the now empty Great Hall. Dumbleodre moved to the back of the throne and pushed his wand ino a small hole. The four house tables moved to the side, as the Hogwarts crest split in half. With Dumbledore's gesture they moved down to the crest to see a hole in which to put their ring finger in. doing so all four immediately jumped as they felt power rush through them.
"What you sensed then was Hogwarts wards recognising you as their master. Now for the next part. Could the four heads of houses please place your hand on the wrist of the hand which has the ring on and point your wands at me. You will need to channel the power coming from the students."
Once all were in position Dumbledore pointed his wand to the roof and started chanting in Latin. Suddenly a beam of light shot through the four teens arms, through their teachers and into Dumbledore, before traveling up his arm, through his wand and into the glass ceiling of the Great Hall. Dumbledore carried on chanting until a bang echoed across the hall and Dumbledore lowered his wand.
"It is done" spoke Dumbledore softly. "The wards are not at a power seen in nearly five hundred years. I would like you four students to come to my office tomorrow morning after breakfast. The password is Lemon Drops. I need to discuss the wards with you and make some budgetary requests of you. Goodnight."
With that, Dumbledore swept out the hall.
o-0-o
The next morning saw the four students at their table eagerly discussing their new powers.
"We could sack Professor Binns." Suggested Harry.
"We could get rid of curfew" was Susan's suggestion.
"Or we could be sensible and do sensible things." Daphne interrupted.
"I think we should wait until our first year is finished, unless we come across any pressing matters." John suggested. Harry and Susan looked a bit crestfallen but all agreed.
"Besides we don't know how much money we have to work with." Daphne said, as the four got up to go to Professor Dumbledore's office.
Reaching the office and saying the password they all walked into the office to see four comfortable chairs sat in front of them.
"Thank you for coming. The charging of the wards went well. No hostile force will be able to penetrate the castle now."
"Was we at risk anyway sir?" asked Harry.
"Not a great risk but you never know. It is better to have the defences and not need them then be praying you had them when the enemy is in the walls. And we have detected a few dark objects that have likely been smuggled in by older students. Nothing too serious, but a warning will be given at Christmas that these objects are best off not returning."
"How exactly do the wards work sir?" John asked.
"To put it simply the object you accessed last night was the top of the ward stone. The stone is imbued with magical energies by the four founders. These magical energies are then formed into enchantments through the use of runes. The distance the wards protect depends on how much magical power is used in the creating and how powerful the wards are. The more powerful the wards, the less surface area they protect. The Hogwarts wards stretch to the main gate. A good distance for the strength of the wards."
The four students nodded along with this.
"Now the main reason I wanted the four of you here is to make a few requests to dip into the extra money we now have. For several years we have had two requests turned down by the Board of Governors. I would like to use some money from the secondary account to purchase these."
"What is the secondary account?" Susan enquired.
"It is a system set up by the founders. They set up a second account and filled it with gold. Every year ten thousand galleons is added to the account. It was done so if a Board of Governors ever tried to embezzle the accounts the school could still function day to day. The only way a Headmaster can access the account for anything other than this scenario is with the written approval and seal of three of the four founders heirs."
"It seems like a good system. How much is in that account?" Daphne asked.
"It was lasted accessed in in 1842 and only then a small amount was taken out. It has around six hundred thousand galleons in there."
"What is it you want to purchase sir?" John asked.
"Madam Prince has asked for three years now for some new books to update the library. The subject teachers have all agreed that these would be good additions. In total they would cost five hundred galleons."
The students looked at each other before nodding, to Dumbledore's beaming delight.
"And Madam Hooch has asked for eight years for new training brooms for the first years. She now says the current brooms are barely safe. She would require twenty brooms at one hundred galleons each."
Again all the students looked at each other and nodded, again to Dumbledore's delight.
"Thank you for this. I'm sure Madams Prince and Hooch will be delighted. After you sign the paperwork I would like to spend the day reading Magical Theory if you please. This will stand you in good stead in classes."
o-0-o
That was how much of the week progressed. The first day they spent researching magical theory. They learned Guidance Theory, which said that magic need guiding with words and wand motions. This had been the dominant theory for hundreds of years until Intent Theory was developed by Albert Withershaw in 1876 and had slowly gained traction until it was now accepted as the dominant theory. Intent theory stated that it was intent which allowed magic, not wand movements and words. They just helped inform the intent. The four students were inclined to believe the Intent theory.
Friday was spent reading up on how the Ministry hierarchy was formed. The Wizengamot was made up of the noble houses. They voted on laws and also functioned as the judiciary. On the most serious court cases the whole Wizengamot was present and voted, on lesser cases three members were chosen at random to hear the case.
Laws were drawn up by the Minister or Head of Departments. The Minister was chosen in part by the Wizengamot and in part by public vote. Nominees would put themselves in front of the Wizengamot who would select the best three before it went to a public vote. The Minister could be removed by a vote of no confidence that passed by a two thirds majority.
After dinner Friday they were invited up to Professor Dumbledore's office for tea and biscuits and a conversation on how the week had gone. It was not until they left the office they realised that Dumbledore had been testing them on what they had been reading.
By common agreement they spent Saturday morning reading some of their school books before they spent the rest of the day dedicated to fun. Susan and Daphne spent their time reading girly magazines while Harry and John played wizards chess (which Harry was improving at) while discussing the latest developments of the duelling league.
Sunday night found them back in the headmasters office with Professor Dumbledore, Minister Fudge and two new aurors, none of which John recognised.
Dumbledore started the meeting.
"Good evening all. We are here to discuss how we move forward with your heritage. I spent time reading the Ministry charter so now know what must happen."
"What did you find Albus?" asked the Minister.
"First of all the normal age of majority in the Wizegamot does not apply to them. They are eligible to sit in and speak non-judiciary functions now, though they are not eligible to vote until they turn fifteen. They must nominate a representative to vote on their behalf."
"I suppose I'll call a meeting then. Should Tuesday evening be fine Albus?"
"I can't see any problem with that. The Wizards Council must also be reformed. They will be able to propose legislation to the Wizengamot. Also they can send any laws back to Wizengamot for reconsideration before they're passed."
Fudge looked a bit uncomfortable at this but knew it was the Ministry charter. He had it checked himself by one of his Undersecretaries to make sure Dumbledore didn't just make it up as he went along.
"Finally Lord Williamson becomes Arch Mage of Great Britain."
"What on earth is that?" asked John.
"It means you become the magical advisor to the Queen."
"I thought it was the Minister who liaised with the Muggles?"
"It is and remains so. You simply have a yearly meeting with Queen to advise her on the goings on in the wizarding world. The Minister handles any day to day issues requiring muggle input."
"But I'm eleven. How can I advise the Queen?"
"We will cross that bridge once you've settled into your lessons.
Minister Fudge interrupted.
"The Ministry will provide appropriate guidance, Lord Williamson. How do we announce this Albus?"
"How about we tell the press we have an announcement to make and invite them to Hogwarts tomorrow evening. That way we can tell the school and get word out to the press at the same time."
This was agreed as a good plan by all present. It was also decided the children should wear the formal robes purchased earlier that week and would have the notice-me-not charms removed from the rings before going out to the press. At last the children were dismissed for the night, the four of them getting an early night due to start of their new timetable in the morning.
o-0-o
The next morning the four apprentices were sat in a small unused classroom waiting for Master Therin, their new charms teacher. At dot on nine o'clock he walked into the room.
Therin was an extremely tall and extremely thin man with small moustache. His hair was a brown that was turning to grey and behind his green eyes laid a fierce look of intelligence.
"I am Fergus Therin, a Master of the Charms guild. I graduated Hogwarts thirty years ago and have dedicated my life to the study of charms. Who can tell me what a charm is?"
John's hand immediately flew up in the air, closely followed by Daphne's. Susan and Harry also knew the answer but didn't volunteer to give it. Therin motioned for John to give the answer.
"It is a spell that alters the properties of an object or what it does, without changing what the object truly is."
"Good answer. Can anyone tell me the exception to this?"
"Animation." Daphne started. "Though it would normally fit into charms it is actually transfiguration."
"Well done. Do any of you know why this is the case?"
Silence followed this question.
"No need to worry. I wouldn't expect you to know the answer at this stage of your learning. The answer is because of the type of magical energy that's released. Each spell has a certain type of energy, separate from all other spells. Skilled wizards can tell what type of spell has been cast by the energies present. Animation draws upon energies more closely aligned with transfiguration spells then charms."
The lesson continued as Master Therin went through all the theory about charms and listed what he hoped to achieve by Christmas, such as levitation and softening charms. By the end of the class, on the way to Potions they felt like they knew exactly what was expected of them and how they would get there.
Potions was far different from the previous week. Rather than Professor Snape writing instructions on the board and making them brew a potion he instead took them through how each ingredient reacts with each other to produce an effect. Daphne, Harry and Susan lapped it up. John, while managing to keep up, struggled to truly understand it.
Herbology and Ancient Runes dragged. They spent Herbology learning how to care for some basic plants. Ancient Runes, while it seemed like could be interesting in later points, was quite boring as they learned about the differences between Norse, Greek, British and Roman runes.
In truth, none were focused on lessons during the afternoon. Instead they were focused on what was to come that evening, when their statuses were due to be revealed.
The four apprentices dined in their common room, separate from the rest of the school that night. The air was heavy with anticipation and nerves as they dined on steak and roast potatoes before heading up to their rooms.
John got changed into his robes that were white as snow and put on his cloak that was Ravenclaw blue with bronze trim. He felt a bit stupid wearing them and wasn't sure if the colours went together, but he felt the colours were significant. The white to represent the purity and light sidedness of Merlin and the cloak representing Ravenclaw.
Moving downstairs he saw Professor Flitwick with Harry, discussing the lesson tomorrow morning on duelling.
"Very fetching robes Lord Williamson."
"Thank you Professor."
Just then the two girls walked down the stairs, and John couldn't help but feel they looked rather pretty. Their robes certainly suited them, cut in a slightly different style to the boys robes.
"Are we all ready then? We are to go to the Great Hall and wait outside in the Entrance Hall. When Professor Dumbledore introduces you should walk up the hall and onto the staff dais, standing at the head of your associated table where you will be joined by the staff Head of House. Understood?"
They all murmured their understanding before moving down to the Entrance Hall. The tension in the air was palpable and nobody talked. Once they reached the Entrance Hall Professor Flitwick removed the notice-me-not charms on their rings before moving into the Great Hall. The four students listened into Dumbledore's speech.
"Now a week ago, during the sorting ceremony we had four students sorted not into houses, but as apprentices to the school. This can happen for numerous reasons, normally because a student displays the qualities of all four houses equally. This was not the case with these four students. Allow me to introduce them to you.
We have Lady Daphne Greengrass, Heir to House Greengrass, Lady of House Slytherin."
As Daphne walked into the hall and stood by Professor Snape you could hear a pin drop, until a round of applause broke out from the Slytherin table.
"Lady Susan Bones, Heir to House Bones, Lady of House Hufflepuff."
This time, after a small period of silence there was a loud cheer that came up from the Hufflepuff table.
"Lord Harry Potter, Heir to House Potter, Heir to House Peverll, Lord of House Gryffindor."
This time the cheer was immediate and deafening, lead largely by the Weasley twins chanting 'Gryffindor' repeatedly.
"Finally we have Lord John Williamson, Lord of House Ravenclaw and Lord of House Emerys."
There was no cheer at this. Just shocked silence. Eventually a round of applause broke out, first at the Ravenclaw table, but it soon spread to the other tables. Even the Slytherin table was applauding politely as cameras were flashing from the press that were invited.
