Harry and the Magic Factory

A/N: I had an interesting review from the last chapter that noted that Harry didn't really have an equal opponent to fight and it seemed as though he was too powerful. Let me explain my view: Harry is not fighting a single Dark Lord in this story (not any more), he is fighting wizarding prejudice and corruption that has built up over a thousand-plus years of history, in addition to dismantling the barriers between a tiny wizarding world and six billion muggles. It's Harry versus the system (as personified by people like Snape, Dumbledore, Umbridge, Fudge, and others). Taken this way, Harry's magical strength will get him through a duel with any hundred witches and wizards, but it's no where near enough to hold back six billion opponents should they organize against him. So, in future chapters, expect more politics and alliance forming to emerge. Harry's power, wealth, economic and political acumen, plus the people he works with will have the time of their lives trying to pull off their long range plans. Enjoy!

Chapter 19

X-c-X-c-X-c-X

January 2, 1998

Sirius Black looked rough when he met the Apprentices outside the small building where they were all staying. He'd wanted to remain in bed a couple more hours, but his remaining joy and sense of obligation had propelled him out of bed.

Sirius couldn't actually get the smile off his face. He'd face Bellatrix twice and beaten her twice. He faced Karkaroff and obliterated him. He'd personally knocked both Nott and Avery from competing in the finals. And, in his coup de grace, he'd faced Moody three times, lost twice, and still come away the winner in their final match. Sirius Black held the second place ranking for the next year!

Sirius stared at the tired, eager faces in front of him. He'd seen Fred and George throw themselves into duels yesterday afternoon, once the formal tournament had concluded. They needed a lot of work, but Sirius imagined that both of them could be brought to Mastery level within three years, assuming they wanted to put in the work. The other surprise had been the vacant-looking Luna Lovegood. She didn't have much in the way of a repertoire, but she was fast, accurate, and very cunning.

All of them had partaken of the food, and the dueling, and the drinking. All of them looked like they'd prefer to still be asleep. But, today was the beginning!

"All right. Boring stuff first, you lot. Paperwork to get you into the Apprenticeship Program. Then signing up for accounts with the Potter Trust. Then we'll get into the specific details of each of your apprenticeships. You all get to share this house for the next few years, so feel free to decorate it up to your standards. Community meals are held in the village every day, but don't expect Oompahs to do all the work, you know. Very busy. You'll be on a rota, so you'd better dust off your cooking skills unless you want everyone else to mock you for burning water or some such stupidity."

Neville blanched. He'd actually done that, ruined a pot by boiling all the water out of it in his absentmindedness. And he'd never yet produced a satisfactory result from a meal he'd prepared.

Fred and George smiled. The meals they'd produce would be highly – educational – for everyone involved. They'd taste just fine, but have some interesting, lingering effects.

Sirius could almost read their minds. And he didn't quash their glee at having so many guinea pigs. They'd learn about exactly how many Pranks Masters there were in the Potter Estate if they took up this cause. They'd come out the worst of it, but it'd be fun for everyone involved.

"Here we are. It's just a one page contract for each of you. Very simple, I think. Some of the legal types here wanted this ridiculously long thing that no one could understand. Harry said no. Simple, short rules that apply to both sides. Let's review it together before we have you all sign on."

Sirius handed out the remarkably short legal document.

'I am freely joining the Potter Estate Apprenticeship Program. I remain free to leave the program at any time, keeping all of my knowledge and accumulated pay. I understand that the program will last for three years or until I achieve my Potter Estate mastery, whichever comes first. I understand that I may become a citizen of the Potter Estate once I achieve my mastery.

Sirius read it out loud, stopping after each sentence to ask if anyone had any questions. So far, so easy.

'I accept my commitment of thirty working hours per week, for which I will be compensated 100 galleons per week.'

This brought about a couple of exclamations of shock. "Are they serious?" "That's a ton of money for just thirty hours a week." "If we get paid that much, how much will housing cost us?"

"Okay," Sirius said, "let's cover that part. I know it's a lot of money on your side of the curtain. Probably the hundred galleons is a monthly wage at the Ministry of Magic for a junior staffer. But here, it's what we pay interns every week. Your housing is complementary here, by the way, as none of you will be allowed to build or own homes until you become a citizen. So, you'll spend some on food, on entertainment, on clothing, but I hope most of it goes into savings. Questions?"

"How can you afford to pay that much," Susan Bones asked.

"Like I said, it really isn't a lot. Each of you will be doing very valuable work for us, it'll produce new knowledge and wealth for all of us. You should definitely share in that, Susan…"

Fred and George knew an excellent deal when they heard one. And Sirius had been mostly right. They'd each drawn about one hundred twenty galleons a month for their work at the Committee on Experimental Charms. Now they'd each receive four hundred galleons per month, and not have to worry about housing. It was a dream.

"I accept my commitment to study twenty hours per week at Potter School or through independent study or through tutors. I will meet with my work and schooling advisors at least four times per year to define and revise mutually agreeable plans; I recognize that I may ask the head of the Apprenticeship Program for new work or schooling advisors at any time. I will begin my mastery-level research no later than one year after signing this contract. I understand that after the rules and laws of the Potter Estate are explained to me, I am bound to them for the length of my Apprenticeship."

That was short. Most of the Apprentices were turning the sheets over to read the rest, the stuff on the back. Only the back was blank.

"Questions," Sirius asked.

"That's it," was the first one asked by Colin. "It's not even ten sentences."

"Told you it was a simple thing. You have two responsibilities to us: work and school. We have responsibilities back to you: giving you advice, providing your salary and housing, and helping you to complete your Mastery and your Apprenticeship. Going into more detail than the level of common sense just opens up silly loopholes and gives everyone a headache. So, more questions?"

"When do we go over the laws," Susan Bones asked.

"I think Remus Lupin will cover them with you this afternoon. It's also a fairly short list. Anyway, you shouldn't sign this contract until after you've gone through the course on rules and laws. Safer that way…"

"And what about the work we'll be doing…"

"And the research area…"

"Can we change them, if they don't agree with us?"

Fred and George had dopey grins on their faces as they tried out their twin-speak in front of the small group.

"I dare say we'll probably find more fields where you don't agree with them than areas where everything fits together nicely," Sirius responded with a smile. "That said, it's all negotiable. You'll learn about your initial assignments very soon. We ask that you give them a shot, hang in for a month, and then we can renegotiate if it comes to that."

Neville was the one who asked the most unexpected question. "Will you let us learn to duel like that, like what we saw yesterday?"

Sirius just smiled. He was sore, but still quite pleased after his second place finish. "Anyone and everyone here can learn to do those things, if they choose. The Potter School has great material – even recorded classes you can watch at your leisure, sort of like in a pensieve, if you're familiar with them – on every subject, but our best area is probably offensive and defensive magics. Tons of awesome stuff and you can't even imagine the things that Harry teaches, of course that'll be a long way off, most of that stuff requires you to be fairly adept at wandless, no incantations or wand movements for any of it…"

That started a lively conversation as they took a slightly more indepth tour around the village. This one was focused on how to survive there. They saw the Potter Greengrocer; the Victual Shoppe; the sickeningly sweet interior of the Patisserie and Tea House; the massive Blott's Bookstore; the Potter Haberdashery; and seven other stores of general use. The final stop on the tour was the Potter Trust.

"Inside to set up accounts, all of you. It's not ever a good idea to keep goblins waiting…"

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Harry walked up to the small room they'd set up for Amelia Bones and knocked on the door. This was the first moment he'd had to discuss the former politician's situation with her.

She was up, dressed, wary, but ready to start the day. She did not reveal her surprise at the particular person who'd come to greet her this morning.

"I thought we'd take a walk, Madam Bones, and have some breakfast. I think there is a great deal we should discuss together."

"I must thank you for the opportunity. I've been thinking of different options to get myself out of a bad situation, have been planning for a long time, but when Susan came home and told me the things she did… Well, I knew it was something I had to see for myself. I hope we can find some way to work together, because my French is fairly rusty and I don't fancy having to learn it on the streets of Lyon or Nice if you kick me out."

Harry laughed and shook his head. "We don't generally kick anyone out. If you don't like it, or don't fit in, I expect you'll kick yourself out." Harry looked closely at the much older witch. "However, based on your record, I'd say you could do well here if you wanted."

He took them both to the Patisserie and Tea House. They had a light breakfast and kept the conversation even lighter while they were in public together. Harry gave Amelia Bones a brief history of what they'd put together, including some of the things they'd done in regards to the Ministry, which shocked Amelia as she hadn't known any of it. Amelia explained in broad strokes her basic disillusionment with her former employer.

"I understand exactly your concerns, Amelia. We've designed our form of government to ensure a lot of those problems can't happen here…"

"Impossible," she said. "The head of government will always be mucking about, may not be completely corrupt like some people I know, but the head of a government will favor his friends with privileges and the like…"

Harry smiled. "You'd like the Mastery thesis I wrote for my Law and Politics program. I talked a lot about wanting an orderly government that was kept reasonably free of corruption and ill influence…"

Amelia sort of smirked at him. She was judging him by his chronological age. She didn't really know what he could do, other than duel in an insane fashion.

"Well, judge for yourself. We have a weak executive, a strong but heavily term limited legislative branch, and an independent judiciary, all tied together with checks and balances."

Amelia nodded. In theory it sounded fine, but the devil was always in the details. Like the Wizengamot was sound in principle, a hereditary body made up of experienced witches and wizards who passed laws, with a smaller subset given over to also adjudicating criminal prosecutions, but it has been as corrupt as a bronze galleon for as long as Amelia had known it.

"So, what does this weak executive do?"

Harry took another bite of his morning roll then answered, "Let's start with what the executive can't do. He can't appoint anyone to any legislative, judicial, or minor executive offices – nor ambassadors. He can't declare or wage war; he is not immediately the commander of any army, either. He can't present a budget for approval." Harry thought for a second. "Yes, that's the main points. From comparative government study, those are pretty much the main ways heads of government seem to get into trouble: appointments, money, and warfare."

"That's an awful lot of power reserved to the legislative branch, then…"

"True," Harry said. "But the executive retains some powers. He maintains right to speak on any topic, so he can use informal pressure to make legislation happen or to modify a bad bill into an acceptable one. He can veto any legislation, including any appointment made by the legislature, and it comes with a line item power so he can strike out individual lines in a budget or individual provisions within a bill. That keeps legislators on their toes; the current executive has a definite mean streak when it comes to marking down legislation to keep things brief, coherent, and fair. He also has the right to pardon anyone, plus the right to dissolve the entire legislative council – but not any particular person on it – should it become inept or corrupt. But his main method of controlling the makeup of the government and its success is his right to supervise the creation and enrollment of new citizens. It's strictly merit-based here, Amelia. Two citizens can have a child here, but the child isn't a fully fledged citizen until he or she passed all the requirements. So, no one will ever be able to run for the council unless they first impress the executive during their proving, in their earning of a mastery."

Amelia was now thinking in two opposite directions. First, it sounded like the executive had virtually no real authority, but could do a lot with the few tools available to it. Second, it sounded like it might be rather challenging for Amelia to get herself a permanent place in this kind of system. But, she'd hold her specific questions about her situation for a more private venue.

Amelia was formulating a probing question about the way an executive could accomplish anything with such limited powers when a man popped up by Harry' side and launched himself into a tirade. Amelia couldn't make much of what he was saying.

"…it's a travesty that that man was only sentenced with such light punishments, Harry. I mean, we should name him an enemy of the state or something. Have you turn him into a piece of statuary to go out in front of Government House. That's put the fear of Merlin into them…"

Bilirubin Anders was back making trouble again. First about Bracus, now about his father, Severus. And the man really didn't know when to shut up.

Harry quickly finished off his tea. He scowled slightly at his overly hawk-like Council member. "Mr. Anders, I think the case is settled. He became a vassal and was remanded over to the justice of the people he actually intended to attack. I suspect the Oompahs will treat him far harsher than you could ever imagine." That statement got Bilirubin Anders to shut up. Then Harry stood up. "Amelia, if you're finished, perhaps we could continue our discussion in my office at the School?"

Amelia breathed a bit easier. She knew what it was like to be pigeonholed while in public. She didn't know why Harry had just been sought out, but she was glad it was over.

The pair got up and walked out of the shop while Bilirubin just frowned and boiled in his own frustration. "…but it's necessary," he shouted after them.

"Every group has at least one like him," Amelia said.

"A layabout who's been elected to high office while he breaks all his promises, even the most inviolable?"

Amelia laughed. "Yes, have you met Cornelius Fudge? You described him perfectly."

Amelia told a few Fudge anecdotes before they arrived at the school. Harry remembered that it would have a new student today: Dennis Creevey. It made Harry happy to know they'd done a good job convincing the Chosen. He'd gotten six Apprentices, a Potter School student, and whatever Amelia might turn into. Not a bad haul for a first attempt at introducing one's self to the wider world.

Harry ushered Amelia into the office he shared with Sirius and Remus. It was the large one that the Apprentices had visited while at the Potter School. Amelia was fairly impressed.

"Now, to finish my explanation – with no rude people around to crash this meeting – the legislative council has most of the power. Appointments to governmental positions, drafting legislation, drawing up the budget, supervising military affairs (although that's still hypothetical, as we've not needed to launch anything like that), signing treaties, sending out ambassadors, assigning tasks to the executive (such as having him command an army or something), and impeaching its own members or the executive or even dissolving the entire charter. But any citizen can only serve a single four year term. So, there's no getting entrenched inside and staying forever and forgetting yourself there."

"Is it safe entrusting so much power to such a citizen legislature?" Amelia was genuinely interested now. She was asking honest, rather than guarded questions. "I barely trust the Wizengamot to make good laws and some of them had been doing it for forty or fifty years apiece."

Harry nodded. "I think you'll find that most citizens here take a more active interest in the government. First, because it's so new. Second, because earning citizenship was sufficiently difficult that it reminds them to be interested and concerned – generally. There are still a few with their heads in the clouds; or a few with less than honorable intentions. But we figure out who they are through their service; and when their term is up, you don't have to listen to them in that way again. Third, the council appoints the governmental staff and directs them. The staff is kept honest by the council; and, in turn, they suggest useful and necessary laws for the council to consider. Fourth. We have banned lobbyists; we have also banned formal political parties. However, any citizen may speak up on any issue or may try to encourage any other people to adopt his views. But they may not abdicate their own work in convincing a person by paying someone else to do it for them. Likewise, candidates cannot hide behind a meaningless party name and slogan. They run on their accomplishments, or their promises for the future, or whatever imaginative distractions they can conjure up during the elections. Or they don't run at all."

Amelia was definitely interested – and skeptical.

"These are wonderful, almost utopian ideals, Harry. But in the practical world where we all live, how can you be sure they are true. It's one thing to say lobbyists are banned, we had laws similar to that, but then Bagnold and Fudge listened to everything that that advisor of there's said, that Lucius Malfoy…"

Harry frowned a bit at this. "I know who you're talking about: Malfoy and several others went far beyond lobbying. The Ministers for Magic under your old system listened to these advisors because these advisors lined their banks accounts with gold galleons to ensure their ideas were listened to…"

"How do you know? I always suspected," Amelia said, "but I could never prove anything…"

"Lucius confessed it in one of our court sessions. His bank records from Gringotts confirmed it…"

"How?" She spluttered. "How could you get that silver-tongued devil to say the first thing? Or the goblins to give up records? They'd rather eat their own young than do that…"

Harry frowned. "Do not joke about goblins, Madam. We have been in a negotiated concordance with them for more than nine years now. I'd hate to have to turn you over to their courts for breaking some of the treaty provisions."

Amelia stopped talking, even stopped thinking. This young man was serious, deadly serious. That just brought up a feeling of dread – and even more questions to ponder. How did anyone negotiate a truce with goblins without first conquering them in battle? It just didn't happen. Binns – when he was still alive – had been quite strenuous in proving that point over and over again while Amelia was at Hogwarts.

The room was silent for a long time as both considered their positions. Harry wanted more people experienced in law and politics among his citizens. Amelia wanted a safe place for her and her niece to live, preferably someplace challenging. But neither was sure of the person they were speaking with. For Amelia, the young man across the way from her was radiating power, but he also seemed to be delighted with some odd ideas. Like preaching an utopian form of government. Or turning over a wizard for justice from goblins. What kind of show was he running here?

Amelia began speaking first. She wasn't going to back down or apologize for a slight she didn't know she'd made. She was going to push forward.

"So, I imagine there's a judicial branch, too. But it doesn't sound like any rights have been reserved for the common citizen. Do you work from the Magna Carta…"

Harry picked up on Amelia's game before she even finished her first sentence. Avoidance. He'd let her get away with it for today. But she had to understand. This was a different place with vastly different rules.

"We have a code of rules and privileges that apply to every citizen plus those children who live here who haven't yet achieved their mastery. But we also distinguish between citizens and others. The Lord has a citizen's rights, but many additional responsibilities such as serving as the executive of the government. Vassals to the lord have no right to vote or participate in government until they are released from their vassalage. And residents are those granted permission by the executive or Lord to be here and prepare for their mastery and for citizenship."

"Why differentiate at all?"

"We needed a status for the captured Death Eaters. We removed the influence of their Dark Marks through magical contracts – you know, the old Liege laws – but I couldn't trust them to be good citizens nor did I want to lock them away and leave them a drain on everyone else. This way they are productive and reasonably happy, even though they should be in Azkaban under the system imposed by your old government…."

He'd slipped and said "I" again many times. Did he think he was that important? Did this boy have delusions of grandeur?

"Explain the protections, then. I'm interested to know what rights a citizen retains under this government of yours."

"Rights and obligations, Madam. Can't get one without the other. The Basic Law is fairly simple. Rule 1. Every citizen is guaranteed the right to study magic, and to practice it in such ways that do not interfere with the rights of other living, sentient beings. There are no limits to the use of magic or other physical means when it is used in self-defense, or the defense of another."

Amelia thought about that protection. It was far and above what the Ministry permitted. Unforgivables were Unforgivable, even against would-be attackers. Portkeys were monitored and the Ministry could punish witches and wizards for using unregistered ones. But it should be like this rule; witches and wizards should have the whole world of magic to explore, so long as they didn't use it against others. She was tempted to smile.

"Rule 2. Every citizen is guaranteed the right to a full, lifelong education on any topic magical or otherwise that is equally available to all citizens and free-of-charge."

That almost knocked Amelia back in her seat. Logically it made sense. Couldn't have a meritocracy without guaranteeing that everyone could achieve the required results. Much of the problem with the Ministry was that, from birth, students were treated with unequal regard based upon their heritage or their wealth or any number of other factors. But guaranteeing a free education helped to ensure that everyone could compete, regardless of their parents' wealth or other flukes of nature.

"Rule 3. Every citizen is guaranteed the freedoms of mind, speech, movement, and association to the extent that they do not impede or injure any other living, sentient being. Rule 4. Every citizen accused of a crime is guaranteed a trial by an impartial judge and jury of fellow citizens; if convicted, every citizen is guaranteed penalties that are neither excessively harsh nor cruel; only for the taking of a life of a sentient being may the penalty of death be exacted."

To her shame, Amelia knew that the Ministry had promised similar standards of freedom, but had never let them take root. Not everyone in Azkaban had a fair trial, but it was hard to reopen cases. And opponents of the ruling faction in government frequently found their rights to speech and assembly curtailed by petty, random Ministerial decrees.

"Rule 5. Every child, through his or her twenty-first birthday, is guaranteed the full protections of citizenship, regardless of having earned them; all citizens swear to help support and protect the children living within its borders."

Listening to that almost brought tears to Amelia's eyes. She had seen, in her years as an Auror, every kind of horrible treatment of children. Some had just plain disappeared; others had been bludgeoned. This sounded wonderful, but how did they enforce it. It wasn't possible to protect every child from every person who might wish them harm. Amelia was a realist.

"6. Every citizen shall be free from abuse, whether verbal, physical, or otherwise, from theft by force or guile, and from physical harm or death, lest the full weight of justice bear down upon the law breaker."

That sounded like a very brief code of criminal activities, but Amelia could see how "theft by force or guile" could describe any number of crimes, from the robbery of a bank vault to the kidnapping of a child. It was simple, but she hadn't started digging into their judicial system.

"Finally. Rule 7. In return for the above rights and all privileges of citizenship, every citizen swears to come to the defense of every other, regardless of past grievances or quarrels, to defend the institutions upon which the government is based, and to fulfill all oaths made in receiving citizenship; any omission or inaction in regard to this law is a punishable crime."

Amelia sighed. It sounded wonderful, but it was more utopian tripe. She thought she'd burst the young man's bubble right now.

"So how do you enforce any of it? Must have a hundred Aurors to keep everyone in line…"

Harry shook his head. "You don't need people to enforce magical contracts, Amelia. You can use magic, of course. Every citizen signs a magical contract reconfirming his or her acceptance of these provisions. The wards prevent any lethal curses falling on another person, except in very specific places, like in dueling circles or in training rooms. We have wards monitoring the health and safety of all our children. We catch other criminals, like thieves, through the use of truth wards once we detect crimes. And the executive of the government is tasked with ensuring that the government itself doesn't begin infringing on the most basic rights: to magic, to education, and to freedom of mind, speech, and movement. It's almost a sacred trust for the executive…"

"He must be a better person than I am," Amelia said with a heavily sarcastic tone.

"I like to think I do a good job, Madam. I designed this system with a lot of help when I was young. It's been in place for coming on ten years…"

Amelia didn't know what to say. She didn't know if she could believe what she was hearing now. This man was a head of government? How? Why? She didn't understand it at all. Nor did she think the form of government he'd outlined was possible. A weak executive keeping a strong legislature in check – preposterous. The basic laws sounded appropriate, but unenforceable. No matter what he said.

"You will come to understand a lot about us in the coming days, I think. I've had this kind of disbelieving conversation with a lot of people over the years. I think you'll find that we say what we mean here. But it isn't my job to convince you. No, you'll have to convince yourself. Talk to anyone you meet. Test it out for yourself…"

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Gilder Mascot was walking out the Potter Emporium with his wife behind him. They'd just done the week's marketing and his wife had found a nice new robe she was rather pleased with. All in all, a good day.

That was until Gilder found himself flung to the cobbles of Diagon Alley, his hand stepped on, his wand on the cobbles being crushed under someone's foot.

His wife shrieked for a second before some kind of silencing spell hit her.

"You'd best be knowing where it's safe to shop, sir. 'Cause it isn't this place."

Gilder looked up. He saw an angry face peering down at him. And he saw the work robes of an Auror, too. Whoever had attacked him was an Auror or had stolen Auror gear.

This was bad. Gilder's hand throbbed in pain, but his head was even worse. He was afraid; he was disarmed. He craned to look behind him. It seemed someone was restraining his wife. Then he saw a flash as the box his wife was holding flew into the air. Everything came crashing down.

The jar of pickled cauliflowers crashed against the cobbles. The acrid smell of vinegar assaulted his nose while the Aurors continued to laugh.

Gilder Mascot pushed himself to his feet, grabbed his wife, and quickly vanished from the Alley. They'd picked the wrong target. No, not Gilder. No, the Aurors were instilling fear into the would-be visitors of the Potter Emporium.

The Oompahs noticed the attack. They immediately made up a box to replace the destroyed produce. And a replacement robe. And, from a secret room in the back of the store, a new wand that would perfectly match the one that the customer had just seen destroyed. Few knew that the Oompahs had wands available for sale. Mostly they were there for emergency use.

An Auror attacking a customer qualified as an emergency.

And the goblins noticed, too. They noticed everything. They took down the date, the time, the names of the people involved. They transcribed all the words they'd heard spoken, the comments about how "Dolores" was stepping up the program. The goblins added it all to their massive files. They were waiting for the right day to make their stand. They had been waiting for a very, very long time.