Usual disclaimers, no rights to any characters portrayed and this is neither the real world nor a Disney Princess tale. There will provably be changes in the first hour or so as I find things that didn't come out the way I wanted.
They had to stifle their laughter as they entered the Wizengamot court room, because even by Dumbledore's normal flamboyant standards, those robes were extremely lurid. The fact that he'd arranged for the session to be moved into the Wizengamot's smallest court room so that he could try to fill the Wizengamot seats with his own supporters was if anything more obvious than those ridiculous robes, but that was answered easily enough.
Griselda swept into the court room and looked around at the packed Wizengamot benches and many more Wizengamot members standing around arguing that they outranked the ones who had taken the seats, and cast a Sonorous. "What is going on here? What idiot had a session which includes the criminal trial of someone who anyone who has had children at Hogwarts in the last ten years will demand to see brought to justice moved into a court room which only holds a quarter of the people that Court Room Ten does, and more to the point does not hold enough Wizengamot seats for a criminal trial?"
Dumbledore blustered, casting his own Sonorous. "Madam Marchbanks! I will thank you to keep a civil tongue in your head! There is nothing on the agenda for this session that cannot be handled in this court room, or by the sitting Wizengamot members. Now as you are obviously not required for this session and have already caused undue disturbance, I will thank you to leave!"
She rounded on him at that. "And what are you doing in the Chief Warlock's seat Mister Dumbledore? You have a known relationship with the accused, in fact you prevented him standing trial for his crimes as a Death Eater twelve years ago, just before you hired him as a professor at Hogwarts as I recall…. Surely you must know that you must recuse yourself as Chief Warlock for this session Mister Dumbledore?"
"Who are you to tell me what I must do? If you will not remove yourself madam I will have you removed! Madam Bones, have Madam Marchbanks removed from the court room immediately!"
"No Mister Dumbledore, Madam Marchbanks is quite right, this court room does not meet the requirements to hold the criminal trial of Severus Snape, and due to your known relationship with Severus Snape, our laws state that you must recuse yourself as Chief Warlock for this session. I am both surprised and disappointed that as the Chief Warlock, you apparently do not understand the laws of Magical Britain that relate to this."
She turned to address the court at large. "If I could have your attention please? This session is being moved to Court Room Ten as this court room is inadequate for the criminal trial that is on the agenda, and due to a conflict of interest, Mister Dumbledore is ineligible to preside as Chief Warlock..." She had to cover up the smile at how well this had played out. "Lord Ogden, to prevent any appearance of a conflict of interest on Madam Marchbanks' part, seeing as she was the one who pointed out to Mister Dumbledore that he must recuse himself as Chief Warlock, as the only other Wizengamot member present who is as qualified as Madam Marchbanks to preside as Chief Warlock, will you accept the responsibility of serving as Acting Chief Warlock for this session?"
Tiberius bowed. "It would be my honour to serve as Chief Warlock for this session Madam Bones."
And with that, everything was set, the session was in Court Room Ten, which held the entire Wizengamot. Dumbledore had already shown his hand, so all the Wizengamot members present, including his own supporters, had seen him be forcibly removed from the Chief Warlock's position on the basis of the long standing legal requirements which formed the underpinnings of their legal system, which he apparently didn't understand, things weren't going Albus Dumbledore's way at all!
As soon as they were settled in Court Room Ten, Amelia formally requested that the matter of the trial of Severus Snape be moved up to the first item, as it was obviously a contentious issue, and requested that another item be added to discuss Mister Dumbledore's fitness to serve as Chief Warlock, in view of his apparent ignorance of the laws of Magical Britain in the matter of criminal proceedings and trials. Dumbledore's supporters were up in arms about this, but Tiberius silenced the room and called for a vote on whether to add an item to review Mister Dumbledore's fitness to serve as Chief Warlock, very few were surprised that the vast majority of the Wizengamot voted for it.
When Minister Fudge tried to demand that Chief Warlock Dumbledore preside and Tiberius essentially told him to shut up or leave because he had no authority over the Wizengamot, and in fact he was an agent of the Wizengamot, so they could have him removed from his position…. Albus Dumbledore was starting to get worried about how this session was going. He knew that he was safe from being questioned or charged because he and Millicent Bagnold had quietly slipped through a ruling that guaranteed them immunity from prosecution for anything done while they held the positions of Chief Warlock and Minister for Magic back when she was the Minister. They'd kept it quiet for the day that they'd need it, and it was looking more and more like he was going to need it today.
Amelia carefully worded her request to have the restriction on forcibly using Veritaserum on the accused removed, citing that he was a marked Death Eater with strong evidence of criminal acts against him. She had to fight to cover up her triumphant smile when the actual vote that was passed was that the restriction on forcibly using Veritaserum on the accused did not apply where the accused was a marked Death Eater and there was evidence to show that they had committed criminal acts, because she could see that Malfoy and some of the other Death Eaters on the Wizengamot realising that that ruling actually opened the door to them being forced to be questioned under Veritaserum.
It didn't take long to get plenty of proof to uphold the current charges against Snape, but then Harry stood up. "Madam Bones, Chief Warlock Ogden, when he was shouting at me in the Great Hall of Hogwarts, this man clearly indicated that even ten years after my parents were murdered, he still retained a great deal of anger against my father. Given the fact that he was known to be a Death Eater and involved with some of the people around my family at the time..." he paused and looked at Dumbledore at that "I would like to know whether he had anything to do with my parents' deaths and if so who else was involved and what other events were related to that, and also what other criminal acts he has been involved with, what other Death Eaters he was associated with at the time, and since then… I think that's it, but if we don't find out now, I'll probably never have a chance to find out who was responsible for my parents' murders."
Snape started laughing at that. "You want to know who was responsible for your parents being killed? You were! If you and Longbottom weren't all but named in that prophecy that was given to Dumbledore, the Dark Lord wouldn't have come after you!"
Amelia looked at Tiberius. "From that, it would appear that there is good reason to ask the questions that Duke Potter has requested My Lord Chief Warlock."
Tiberius nodded. "Indeed! Begin the questioning please Madam Bones."
Amelia nodded, but noted Dumbledore and some of the Death Eaters trying to sneak towards the doors, so she barked an order to seal the court. Tiberius looked a question at her and she nodded to Dumbledore and the others. He nodded grimly and picked up the gavel. "No-one but officers of the court is to enter or leave this court room until this matter is concluded. The use of magic is hereby restricted to officers of the court only. So mote it be!" as he banged the gavel, everyone in the court room felt the magical decree wash over them.
They actually had to send for more Veritaserum because they'd used up the supplies in the court room before they'd even finished questioning Snape, and they had over thirty others in custody, awaiting questioning by then. When they finished questioning Snape and sentenced him to life in Azkaban (because in his memories he had always been hiding when the things that could have sent him through the Veil were committed), Dumbledore was amazed to find that a boy over a hundred years his junior could actually terrify him, because Harry was looking straight at him when he stood just before Snape was dragged out, but his words weren't directed at Dumbledore. "Severus Snape's actions took everything from me, so as Duke Henry James Potter, Head of the Most Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter, I claim the right to take everything from him! He forfeited his Houses and everything belonging to him and them last night, but this was not enough to repay my loss, so I, Duke Henry James Potter, Head of the Most Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter, hereby take the magic of the wizard born as Severus Tobias Snape, So Mote It Be!"
Everyone's attention was on Harry, so they didn't note Hermione, Sue, Luna, Sirius, Cyrus, Edessa and Xeno quietly reciting "So Mote It Be!", but they noted the magic as this decree was accepted by the court, and saw Snape collapse as his magic was stripped from him, so most of them thought that Harry had done that on his own. After that worrying display of magic in a court room where magic use was supposedly blocked, Harry's parting shot of "I look forward to hearing how you fare with the dementors of Azkaban without any magic…. Snivellous!" chilled many in the room, because the tone wasn't that of a child striking out, it was a man taking vengeance for his family.
When they started on the others who'd been taken for questioning, another ruling was required to allow the ones who weren't marked Death Eaters to be forcibly questioned under Veritaserum, and Tiberius had to cover up his reaction when a note magically appeared on the bench in front of him. He nodded to himself when he read it though, as this was the best chance to get this through, so he made a show of angrily giving up trying to word the ruling. "This is ridiculous! We're wasting time trying to come up with more and more specific exemptions to allow us to question the accused under Veritaserum, when we should be concentrating on finding out what crimes they have committed against Magical Britain! The only reason for the accused to refuse to be questioned under Veritaserum is if they are guilty of what they are accused of, so I am hereby asking for a ruling that anyone who refuses to be questioned under Veritaserum may be forcibly questioned under Veritaserum, no-one is exempt! What say you, Members of the Wizengamot?"
Once the members of the Most Noble House Alliance had all cast their votes for the ruling, others jumped on the bandwagon, looking to be seen to be on the winning side. It passed with a vast majority of 'for' votes, because the only ones who voted against it were those who couldn't afford to be questioned under Veritaserum, and fifteen of them couldn't vote as they'd already been taken to be questioned.
Another note appeared on the bench in front of Amelia and she quickly used the communications mirror to call Kingsley and have him go to Barty Crouch's home to pick up his supposedly dead son, Barty Crouch Junior, who was currently hiding under a cloak of invisibility and under the effects of an Imperius curse that had been placed on him by his father.
After Barty Crouch, Senior and Junior, were both brought in and questioned under Veritaserum, Barty Junior was sentenced to go through the Veil of Death and Barty Senior was sentenced to life in Azkaban, and Harry stood again. The court room went quiet, half in anticipation, half in dread, so everyone heard as he spoke. "In the name of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Longbottom, I, Duke Henry James Potter, Head of the Most Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter, declare that the Noble and Ancient House of Lestrange and the Minor House of Crouch are to be eradicated in Magical Britain! All holdings, possessions and moneys belonging to the witch formerly known as Bellatrix Lestrange, Rodolphus and Rabastan Lestrange and Bartemius Crouch Junior, and the Noble and Ancient House of Lestrange and the Minor House of Crouch are hereby forfeit to the Noble and Most Ancient House of Longbottom! I also claim the magic of the witch formerly known as Bellatrix Lestrange and Rodolphus Lestrange for Earl Francis Longbottom, Head of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Longbottom, and the magic of Rabastan Lestrange and Bartemius Crouch Junior for Countess Alice Longbottom, Consort of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Longbottom. Furthermore, I claim all holdings, possessions and moneys belonging to Bartemius Crouch Senior and the magic of Bartemius Crouch Senior for Duke Sirius Orion Black, Head of the Most Noble and Most Ancient House of Black, So Mote It Be!"
Once again, everyone was focussed on Harry, so few heard the others repeat "So Mote It Be!", but they felt the magical decree and saw the Crouches collapse as their magic was stripped from them. The Aurors picked both of them up and carried them out, Barty Senior was taken to the healers before he was sent to Azkaban like Severus had been, but Barty Junior was taken straight to the Chamber of Death to be put through the veil as there was no sense in wasting the Healers' time and energy on him.
It took a while to get through the thirty three others who were taken on the basis of Snape's testimony, and the other twenty eight who were taken on the basis of their testimonies under Veritaserum, but they all either went through the Veil of Death or to Azkaban. Most of their houses were eradicated, as very few had anyone who was regarded as truly 'innocent' in them, and they all lost most, if not all of their holdings, possessions, money and magic. Over two thirds of them were from the 'Dark' Houses, but the 'Light' Houses lost quite a bit too, and while they tried to allocate what they took from them to their victims where possible the 'family' and their Houses gained quite a bit from the houses that had attacked them in the wars, so they'd gained at least three or four times as many votes as they'd expected, and with the other sides losing those votes, the impact was all the greater.
More than a few of the ones sentenced to Azkaban didn't make it there, because they couldn't survive without their magic, and several of the ones at Azkaban who Harry took their magic from died on the spot as well, though word of that didn't come through until a few days later.
Dumbledore had to play his trump card after they'd gone through all those taken for questioning because Amelia called him to the chair to answer questions about his part in the crimes that they had heard testimony on. Few bothered trying to rebuke Amelia for the language that she came out with when it was confirmed that neither the Chief Warlock nor the Minister for Magic could be prosecuted for or be required to answer questions regarding any acts committed while they held those positions, because most of them were on the verge of saying the same thing.
Sirius was infuriated by the smug look on Dumbledore's face when it was confirmed that they couldn't charge him, and he shot to his feet. "While we may not be able to prosecute the Chief Warlock for his acts, we can call him to answer for them, and replace him if he will not!"
Amelia looked chagrined, as she should have been the one who raised that, and spoke up. "Indeed! As we have already added an item in this session to address that very matter, I request that we do so now!" Tiberius looked at the Wizengamot members and majority voted 'yes', so Amelia presented the evidence they were going to use against Dumbledore, and referred to the testimonies that they'd just heard.
Tiberius didn't waste any time and called for the vote to dismiss Albus Dumbledore from the position of Chief Warlock and notify the ICW that, as he no longer represented the Wizengamot of Magical Britain, he no longer qualified to hold any roles on the ICW. Elphias Doge, Lord Macmillan and other Dumbledore supporters of course argued that they couldn't dismiss him because none of the accusations against him had been proven.
The brighter ones shut up when Amelia answered with a feral grin. "All Mister Dumbledore has to do to disprove what he is claimed to have done is to willingly submit to being questioned under Veritaserum. As Lord Ogden quite rightly said earlier, the only ones who need to fear being questioned under Veritaserum are those who are guilty…. So Mister Dumbledore, will you willingly submit to being questioned under Veritaserum?"
If looks could kill, Amelia would have dropped dead at that point, but as it was, she just chuckled at the glare he gave her, chuckling louder when he responded. "I refuse to have any part in this farce! It is not a legal trial and therefore nothing coming from it is legal!"
Tiberius nodded. "Seeing as Mister Dumbledore has again refused to answer any questions in regard to the matter, we will proceed with the vote to dismiss Albus Dumbledore from the position of Chief Warlock and notify the ICW that, as he no longer represents the Wizengamot of Magical Britain, he is no longer qualified to hold any positions on the ICW."
The only ones who voted against Dumbledore's dismissal were his supporters, and once it was voted in, Amelia raised the fact that they needed to replace him immediately to minimise the disruption to Magical Britain. As Acting Chief Warlock, Tiberius agreed and called for nominations for the position of Chief Witch or Warlock. Augusta jumped in and nominated Countess Griselda Marchbanks, apologising to Tiberius and listing her reasons for considering Griselda to be slightly more qualified for the position. None missed the fact that he agreed with those reasons and said that on that basis, Madam Marchbanks would be his choice as well, or that he refused to accept a nomination because of that. Macmillan nominated Doge, as a senior member of the Wizengamot, and objected to Sirius' none too quiet comment that of course Doge was a senior member of the Wizengamot, because he'd been following Dumbledore around like his shadow ever since Dumbledore joined. Quite a few laughed out loud when Fudge nominated himself for Chief Warlock, but Tiberius quietened them down and said that everyone had the right to be nominated, even if they only got one vote, and asked whether there were any more nominations.
When there were no more, he called for the vote, but he went against procedure by asking the Court Scribe to advise how many votes each candidate had received, instead of just announcing who had been voted in. Some queried this and he explained that he wished to determine whether they would have to deal with friction in the Wizengamot because of a perception on some members' parts that their candidate had been cheated, because they had only just lost out to the one who was voted in. Most people in the court room laughed when it was announced that Fudge received one vote (his own obviously), but Dumbledore jumped up and claimed tampering when it was announced that Elphias Doge had only received seventeen votes.
When Tiberius asked on what basis he was claiming tampering, he said that most of Elphias' supporters votes had obviously gone to Madam Marchbanks, and that could only have happened if the system was tampered with, so Tiberius called for a vote on the question. "Does any member of the Wizengamot have any reason to believe that their vote was not recorded as they voted?"
There was only one 'yes' vote, and Dumbledore confirmed who that was by jumping out and shouting. "Of course it wasn't! I hold the proxies for the Houses of Potter and Flamel and I cast them for Elphias, so it is obvious that someone has somehow tampered with the Wizengamot's voting system!"
He didn't appreciate it at all when Harry burst out laughing at that. "Why would you ever think that you hold the voting proxies for the House of Potter old man? It is my guardian who holds the voting proxies for my house..." He gave Dumbledore the chance to get out. "Yes, that is correct, I hold them as..." before he went on. "Duchess Angela Susan Black, Regent for the Most Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter!"
Dumbledore just stared at him, stunned, because even knowing that Harry had taken his titles three weeks ago, he'd just presumed that he was still the brat's guardian and had held onto those voting proxies, but Harry hadn't finished yet, as he turned to John de Greystoke. "Lord Greystoke, it is my understanding that you are in fact the Steward for the Noble and Ancient House of Flamel?" John just nodded, trying not to laugh. "I apologise for prying into your houses' affairs Lord Greystoke, but can you shed any light on Mister Dumbledore's claims to holding the voting proxies for the House of Flamel?"
John shook his head. "I should be getting permission from the new Earl Flamel before I divulge any information in regard to his house's affairs Duke Potter, but in view of the situation we find ourselves in here, I must hope that he will forgive me. No. Mister Dumbledore does not hold the voting proxies for the Noble and Ancient House of Flamel. I hold them, as Steward for the Noble and Ancient House of Flamel."
Tiberius decided to twist the knife a little more. "Scribe, which candidate did the votes that Mister Dumbledore cast actually go to?"
The Court Scribe spent a few minutes trying to find the answer to that, then he looked up in confusion. "None, My Lord Chief Warlock, Mister Dumbledore cast his vote, but he actually had no votes to cast because he is nothing but Head of the Dumbledore Family, which has no votes associated with it."
Tiberius frowned at Dumbledore. "Why are you wasting the Wizengamot's time like this Mister Dumbledore? Your casting of a null vote qualifies as interference with the Wizengamot and even if you had immunity from prosecution before as the Chief Warlock, you do not now! Leave the Wizengamot benches and join the rest of the general public in the galleries!"
When Dumbledore just glared at him, Tiberius roared. "NOW!" and he hastily scrabbled across to the galleries, changing direction at the last moment as he saw the glares coming at him from the group of Hogwarts students and their parents he was heading for.
Tiberius tersely asked if there were any more questions, and when everyone shook their heads he called for Countess Griselda Marchbanks to take the oath to formally accept the position of Chief Witch. Once she'd taken the Chief Witch's seat, Griselda looked at the Wizengamot members and asked whether they had all heard the oath that she'd just taken as Chief Witch to uphold all the laws of Magical Britain? When they all indicated that they had, she launched into the case that she'd outlined the night before, using Dumbledore's and half a dozen of the previous Chief Witches and Chief Warlocks' actions to show that the authority and responsibility of the role was too much to entrust to one Witch or Warlock, as these others had proven. She had them eating out of her hand and they voted in the motion to have the role split so that it was shared by two Chief Witches or Warlocks in by an overwhelming majority, so she immediately nominated Baron Tiberius Ogden as the other Chief Warlock, citing Augusta's nomination of her to show that she was only marginally more qualified than he was, even if you accepted the arguments that were made for her superior qualifications and then called for other nominations, only Doge was nominated this time, and he received even less votes than he did when he was up against her. She called Tiberius up to take the Chief Warlock's oath and a second seat was created for him at the bench with her.
When Griselda went to order the court unsealed though, Harry stood again. "Albus Dumbledore! While you may have immunity from prosecution for your actions under the laws of the Wizengamot, you have no immunity under the Most Ancient House Laws of Magical Britain! Ample proof has been heard here of your crimes against the Most Noble and Most Ancient Houses of Potter and Black, the Noble and Most Ancient House of Longbottom and countless other Houses and Families. As your brother Aberforth is innocent of your crimes, we shall not penalise the Dumbledore Family, instead we order that Albus Dumbledore be cast out of the Dumbledore Family, leaving Aberforth Dumbledore as the Head and sole member of the Dumbledore Family. We also order that any and all property, artefacts, heirlooms, moneys and other belongings unlawfully taken or held by Albus Dumbledore shall be immediately returned to their rightful owners, along with any and all moneys earned from any property or belongings that were not rightfully in his possession and that Albus Dumbledore be made to work without pay for Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry until such a time as his salary has repaid any and all moneys that he is unable to repay at this time."
"From this point on, Deputy Headmistress Minerva McGonagall must authorise any and all payments and decisions made by Albus Dumbledore in the position of Headmaster at Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry, and any and all unnecessary fripperies purchased by Albus Dumbledore with Hogwarts funds such as golden thrones, perches and plates is to be sold for the best possible price and the money returned to Hogwarts' vaults to cover school operating costs and any and all salaries paid to anything other than legitimate corporeal employees will be recovered and returned to the Hogwarts vaults. Discriminatory school fee scales that were authorised by Albus Dumbledore as Headmaster are also revoked as of this moment and charges or rebates as required will be made in regard to the current school year. From this moment on, Albus Dumbledore may never be alone with any students of Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry, or any other minors. Albus Dumbledore's magical signature will be monitored and any and all compulsions, coercions and memory charms cast by Albus Dumbledore from this moment on will be investigated and punished to the full extent of the law…." He paused as he tried to work out what he'd missed. "And half of Albus Dumbledore's magic shall be forfeit to Duke Henry James Potter, Head of the Most Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter in reparation for his actions against Duke Potter! So Mote It Be!"
The others repeated "So Mote It Be!" and everyone in the court room felt the magical decree being accepted and Dumbledore collapsed. At that moment, Fawkes appeared and Dumbledore struggled up to try to grab her as he ordered her to get him out of there. All that got him was a clawed and burnt face, because she attacked him to make him let go and then burst into flames right in front of him. When Dumbledore saw the ashes at his feet and realised that Fawkes hadn't flamed out, that this had been a burning, he dropped to his knees, desperately searching through the ashes for the newborn phoenix that always rose from the ashes, but there was nothing there! The photographers that Xeno had ready for this got some great pictures of the downfall of Albus Dumbledore.
By the time Albus returned to Hogwarts, his office and quarters had been emptied of all the fabulous treasures that he'd spent nearly a century acquiring by any means necessary. He was despondent about what he'd lost, so he stumbled down to the Great Hall for dinner. Any idea he may have had about this cheering him up though was dashed when he saw that his lovely golden throne was gone, it had been replaced by a wooden chair like every other at the High Table, and the golden plates and cutlery were replaced with pewter and silver.
Seeing McGonagall and Sprout walking in with Potter and his group was the last straw and he leapt to his feet, roaring. "You have the nerve to return here after you betrayed me like that McGonagall? Get out, you're fired! And you will be too if you try to defy me Sprout!"
That didn't go at all as he'd planned, because McGonagall just laughed at him and turned to Potter. "He doesn't appear to have learned his lesson My Lord. All he has now is what you left him of his magic, perhaps if you took half of what he has left he might get the message?"
Harry agreed with Hermione over their link that this would be a good lesson for everyone here, and when the others nodded too he turned to Albus Jones (as he'd defaulted to his mother's maiden name when he was cast out of the Dumbledore Family). "Albus Jones! As Deputy…." He stopped and gave an evil grin. "No, as Co-Headmistress McGonagall has said, you appear to have failed to learn anything from the the lessons you were given today, so we will have to make the lesson easier for you to understand….." He stopped again to consult with Hermione about the best way to proceed, and then nodded, and somehow projected his voice throughout the Great Hall again. "Under Most Ancient House Laws I, Duke Henry James Potter, order that Professor Albus Jones and Professor Minerva McGonagall shall share the role of Headmaster and Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, however Headmistress McGonagall shall have overriding authority on all matters. As the Headmaster duties are now being shared and Professor McGonagall has teaching duties, Professor Jones shall take up the role of the recently departed Professor Quirrell as Hogwarts' Defence Against the Dark Arts master, effective immediately. Professor Jones will from this point on occupy the Defence Against the Dark Arts master's office and quarters, and he will have responsibility for ensuring that Horace Slughorn is immediately engaged as Hogwarts' new Potions master. Professor Binns, Professor Trelawney and the Divination course are all hereby terminated, effective immediately, and it will be Professor Jones' responsibility to deal with terminating Professor Binns and Professor Trelawney. However, Professor McGonagall will have responsibility for securing a new History of Magic master and someone to create and teach a new course to be called Magical Culture. It will also be Professor McGonagall's responsibility to direct the revision of the current Muggle Studies course into a new course called Muggle Culture, which will actually teach the students of Hogwarts about the contemporary Muggle world. As Headmistress McGonagall shall have these additional duties to perform as the Co-Headmistress, effective immediately, Professor Pomona Sprout shall become Hogwarts' Deputy Headmistress. So Mote It Be!"
Hermione, Sue, Luna and Sirius all repeated "So Mote It Be!" and everyone in the Great Hall felt the magic accepting the decree. Harry gave the old man an evil smile. "Have you learnt your lesson now Professor Jones?"
Albus just spluttered. "You can't do this to me! This is my school!"
Harry sent a request to Merlin over their link and a minute or so later the four School House Ghosts wafted into the Great Hall. Harry bowed to the Gray Lady and the others in turn. "Greetings My Lady Helena... Sir Nicholas... My Lord Solomon... Friar Barnabus…. I thank you for coming in answer to my plea."
Most of the people in the Great Hall were shocked when the House Ghosts curtsied or bowed in return, and those close enough to see the look of amusement on the Gray Lady's face even more so.
"Not at all My Lord, we are ever at the bidding of the Council, and especially the Heirs. How may we help you My Lord?"
"Professor Jones here appears to be confused Lady Helena, as he is apparently under the impression that Hogwarts is his school."
"Why are you referring to this man as Professor Jones My Lord, is this not Headmaster Dumbledore?"
Sir Nicholas leant in, speaking in a stage whisper which the entire Hall heard. "He was My Lady, but the Council was forced to punish him for his transgressions, so he was cast out of the Dumbledore Family and took his mother's family name of Jones. He has also been demoted to Secondary Co-Headmaster while Deputy Headmistress McGonagall has been promoted to Primary Co-Headmistress. Professor Jones is Hogwarts' new Defence Against the Dark Arts master and has been moved into the Defence Against the Dark Arts master's office and quarters."
The Gray Lady curtsied to Harry again, apologising. "Oh I am so sorry My Lord, I do not know how I could have missed so much going on at Hogwarts!" but those close enough to see her expression could see that she was still quite amused.
Harry bowed to her again. "Think nothing of it Lady Helena, these changes only happened in the last hour or so, but I was hoping that you and the other House representatives may be able to help convince Professor Jones here that this is quite real, and that Hogwarts is not his school, so that we can go forward with all the work that must be done to return Hogwarts to her former glory."
Lady Helena curtsied yet again, murmuring "Surely, My Lord" as she and the other House Ghosts wafted past to surround Albus Jones.
Harry and Hermione stepped to Minerva's side and cast a muffling spell around them. "I'm sorry Auntie Minnie, I realise that this wasn't really what you had in mind, but it's what came to me when I was trying to punish the old fool and get some use out of him. Thinking of the failures he brought in for DADA, other than Uncle Remus, and Barty Junior actually, made me decide to make him the DADA Professor. Slughorn's a creepy old bastard but from what I remember and remember hearing about him, he was a damned good Potions master?"
Minerva nodded. "Binns is a bad joke and he's ensured that at least two or three generations of Hogwarts students haven't properly learned the History of Magic... for the good of the students and Hogwarts, he had to go."
Minerva nodded again "Trelawney and the subject of Divination is something that we heard quite a bit from you about over the next four or five years. She's only here because she gave Dumbledore, and therefore Riddle, the prophecy that destroyed my and Neville's families. As we've discussed with the centaurs….."
Harry stopped and looked at Hermione. "Aragog! We have to get him and his children out of the Forbidden Forest and Magical Britain… if they won't leave we'll have to wipe them out." Hermione nodded and Harry turned back to Minerva.
"Sorry Auntie Minnie, I just remembered about the Acromantula colony in the Forbidden Forest..."
She shrieked "THE WHAT?"
Hermione nodded. "Hagrid found Aragog's egg and raised him when he was a student here..."
Minerva cut her off. "What do you mean when Hagrid was a student here?"
Harry cut in again. "It's a long story Auntie Minnie and I believe one that's better told in private, if that's alright with you?"
Minerva nodded, but she obviously wasn't happy. "Anyway, as the centaurs told us time and again, you can't learn to be a seer, you are or you aren't. Trelawney isn't doing Hogwarts or the students any good, so I decided to get rid of both her and her stupid course. I'm sorry to dump finding someone for the Magical Culture course on you, but I can think of someone who would be perfect for both that and History of Magic…"
He just nodded when Minerva said "Augie?" and continued...
"Yes, because what I'm thinking of isn't Magical Britain for Muggleborns, it's more teaching those born in both the Muggle and Magical worlds about how the political and social structure of Magical Britain works, and the wider Magical world as well for the later years, because most of them obviously don't have a clue. And Muggle Studies, well you've been in the Muggle world enough to know that it's completely useless Auntie Minnie. We need to get someone who is Muggle raised to deliver the Muggle equivalent of the Magical Culture course, and to educate them on current Muggle technology as well. I believe that the current Muggle Studies Professor needs to go immediately because it's urgent that we get the students started on the right track as soon as possible and a traditional Pureblood like him won't be able to change as quick as we need him to, even if he was willing to, which I doubt."
She was just shaking her head at him. "I could point out that I only asked you to give the old fool a slap on the wrist, but you're right Harry, these changes will help get Hogwarts back to her former glory. Now don't forget to remind Pomona that she's the Deputy Headmistress now, though she may box your ears for failing to ask her first."
She and Hermione laughed at the deer in the headlights look on Harry's face as he realised what he'd done, then they dropped the muffling spell and went to do what they had to. Pomona tried to look stern but she broke and laughed at him. "Silly boy, I've been waiting for over a decade that old fool to kick the bucket so that Minerva can become Headmistress and I can take over as her Deputy Headmistress. This isn't exactly what I had in mind, but it's pretty close, so thank you Harry. Don't forget to talk to Filius about why you didn't make him the Deputy Head though, he will understand but it will show your respect if you talk to him about it."
Harry nodded and headed off with a "Thanks Auntie Mona", but got side tracked as he passed Albus Jones, sitting there looking glum and doing nothing.
"What you you doing sitting here Professor Jones? You've got plenty to be getting on with don't you?"
"You can't order me about boy!"
Harry sighed. "Damn, I was hoping that 'you can't teach an old dog new tricks' was just an adage! Look! You only have two choices here old man…. you can get moving quick smart and do the tasks you've been given as Professor Jones, or you can walk straight out that door as Mister Jones, the squib, or more likely a Muggle because you're pissing me off so I'm inclined to just take all your magic…. Of course, if you make me do that, at your age you probably won't live long enough to reach the door. So what is it to be, Professor Jones…. or Mister Jones?"
Albus looked at this boy, who he was finally coming to understand held his very life in his hands, with fear and loathing. He was also wondering how he hadn't seen that this was truly Lily Evans' son until now…. James Potter had had the reputation for being formidable, but those who knew them had said that Lily was the more ruthless one when it was absolutely necessary.
When he didn't respond Harry growled "Well?" in a menacing voice.
"Professor Jones! Professor Jones!"
"Right, you've only got until tomorrow morning to complete your three tasks and have tomorrow's Defence lessons ready so you better get moving! Seeing as Potions has to be ready to go by tomorrow morning too, I'd suggest you get your arse moving and get Professor Slughorn on-board first…. Just remember though, the only one bound by any promises you make to him is you… Not Professor McGonagall, not me, not Hogwarts, you! And before he goes near any of our students, make damned sure that he understands that the rule about never being alone with any students that applies to you applies for him as well! and that we'll be doing random tests of his students to ensure none of them have been given any potions for that matter. You probably shouldn't tell him about that until you have him locked in though, because if he isn't here, ready for class, tomorrow morning, you will be Mister Jones. Do you understand Professor Jones, or do I need to repeat myself?"
Albus stared at him in horror, but just as Harry went to ask him again, he blurted out. "No! I mean yes, I understand and No, you don't need to repeat yourself!"
Harry looked at him for another minute and nodded. "Good, now go!"
At that, Albus scurried out as quick as his tired old legs would carry him.
After watching after him until he was out of the Great Hall Harry went to do what he'd come for. "Uncle Fili! I'm sorry, Auntie Minnie had to remind me that I hadn't talked to you or Auntie Mona about why I made her Deputy Headmistress rather than you, I mean..." Filius laughed. "Yes Harry, I know what you mean."
"I hope you know that it doesn't mean that I respect you any less than Auntie Mona, it was just the problems we'd all have with the Pureblood bigots, like Dad said about being my guardian..."
He hesitated and then cast a muffling spell and switched to Goblin, because he knew from Uncle Gringott that Uncle Fili hadn't abandoned his roots. "I don't know whether Dad ever mentioned this, or even knew about it Uncle Fili, but he had aes sídhe blood, both Tuath Dé and Fomoiri. So did Mum but I know that she didn't know about it, and so do I of course…. Uncle Gringott also did the blood adoption ritual with me to allow the Goblin Nation to support me, so I have Thane blood as well now. So they'd call me a Half-Breed too if they knew."
Filius looked surprised, then nodded thoughtfully as if that explained something. "Yes, Lily and James were always more than other witches and wizards, so their being aes sídhe makes sense… Did Grand Clan Chief Gringott mention that he did the blood adoption with me as well, back when I was a young man and anti-goblin feeling made being part goblin a rather dangerous thing?"
Harry smiled "No Uncle Fili, Uncle Gringott just said that you were an exceptional goblin who hasn't abandoned his roots.… but he did make a point of referring to you as 'your Uncle Fili' so I should have picked up on that."
A back handed compliment like that from the leader of the Goblin Nation made Filius throw his head back and laugh. "What of the others, do they have aes sídhe blood as well Harry?"
"I'm not certain Uncle Fili…. I know that the original three Druid Lords had it, but I don't know how many of the High Druids did and I doubt the Founders did. I know Uncle Siri does... I'm sure Mione and Luna do, and Uncle Xeno sees things that others don't so I feel that Luna was more likely to have gotten it from him than Auntie Pandora. I do feel that Daph and Tori do, and Auntie Edessa, Auntie Andi and Dora too, but I'm not sure about Uncle Cyrus or Uncle Ted..… and I don't get the feeling that Sue and Nev do. Which would make sense if everyone's right about the Fates as that would mean that those of us with aes sídhe blood are bonded to each other by either love or familial bonds."
Filius nodded approvingly. "You are a credit to your parents Harry, with both their keen intelligence and their feel for magic. We haven't really had a chance to talk since that first day, but they would have loved to have lived to meet Hermione…. she's just the sort of girl that your mother especially would have wanted you to find."
Harry had to explain why he burst out laughing then. "Sorry Uncle Fili, Mione just said that you're making her blush…."
He realised when Filius looked confused that he'd left before they went to get Crookshanks and Hedwig, and Auntie Minnie mustn't have had a chance to tell them.
"Hermione and I can talk to each other like we can to the familiars and Merlin Uncle Fili…. Auntie Minnie and the others believe that we were bonded before we were sent back, and the Fates gave us the link to make things easier. We're linked to Luna, Daph and Tori too, but it isn't the same, we can feel where and how they are, but we can't talk... not yet anyway, our link with Luna's getting stronger..."
"Who is Merlin Harry?"
"Oh I'm sorry Uncle Fili, I keep forgetting that we haven't had a chance to talk about most of these things yet… You know Merlin as the Sorting Hat… Merlin bonded an image of himself with most of his knowledge and some of his magic into a Mage's hat so that he could continue to serve as an advisor after he was gone, but Merlin's been stuck here doing little more than sort students once a year for the last thousand years, he's in my trunk flat now, with Fawkes."
"Fawkes?"
"Yes, she was never really bonded to Dumbledore, he found some of Salazar Slytherin's early notes for the Druids' Bond that was used to enslave the common elves and he used that to entrap Fawkes into his service…. But she's free now… Well she's free but she's chosen to enter into a familiar's bond with me."
Filius threw his head back and laughed again. "Oh it will be interesting to have you here Harry. I would very much like to talk to Merlin sometime if I could?"
Harry nodded. "Of course, he would love to have more people to talk to, he's been rather lonely and starved for conversation for the last seven hundred years at least."