Just at the close of summer, in the weeks before school was about to start, there appeared an article in the Daily Prophet that shook the foundations of the wizarding world. It was announced that a series of new rules, pending approval, would be put forth, governing the suitability of those who would sit on the Wizengamot.
No longer could scions of the old magic houses ascend automatically to the Wizengamot. Due to the increasing political will to ensure that wastrels were not occupying the Wizengamot when a plethora of better-suited but less well born candidates were available, it was proposed that all peers should meet certain basic academic requirements to ensure a functioning knowledge of magic.
This caused quite a stir, notably amongst the upper classes of the wizarding world, though due to sheer pride their public front was one in which they claimed the minimum academic requirements were to pose no obstacle at all.
All this resulted in a private conversation between Evan Rosier and Fabian Prewett on the first day of their fifth year in Hogwarts. Evan Rosier was of the sporting type, and failed to apply himself academically and was therefore behind on his magical learning. Due to parental and external pressure he required extracurricular tutoring to get him up to speed, and he needed to pick a non-threatening but intelligent student who would discreetly coach him in exam-passing ways. For this reason he singled out the somewhat friendless Fabian Prewett, who was surprisingly appointed to the post of Ravenclaw prefect.
Clandestine tutoring sessions were set up, to take place in the cover of dark and away from sight, for the embarrassment of having need of tutoring would be too much for Evan to bear. It was through these sessions that teenage infatuation began to blossom between the two boys, for in his loneliness Fabian must have found this sudden and close attention from a highly desirable member of the student body overwhelming.
…
Narcissa Malfoy coughed and gently patted the corners of her mouth with her napkin.
"If Evan was so hot, as you say, why would he even bother with Fabian?" Ron asked with an unpleasant frown.
"Oh, please do not be quick to judge cousin Evan. He was a poor, love-starved boy as well, what with his parents. He must have found Fabian's infatuation very gratifying and together they had a love that fortified them against the harshness of the real world..."
Ron looked like he was about to throw up.
Harry jumped in before things got out of hand, and waved the old and yellowed copy of Utter Hogwash in Mrs Malfoy's face. "What then do you make of this picture?"
Narcissa's eyes lit up upon seeing the photo. "Ah! One has nearly forgot! It was the Hogsmeade Fayre!"
"The Hogsmeade Fayre?" Hermione questioned. "What was it?"
"A charity fundraiser!" Narcissa exclaimed in delight. It seemed that charity fundraisers really got her going, Hermione silently noted.
"It was for the benefit of the Hogwarts Student Foundation, which hands out scholarships and bursaries to students from less privileged backgrounds," Narcissa declared pompously. "Your Uncle Fabian was a notable recipient of this aid, as, I'm sure," -she sniffed- "members of your family have been."
Hermione could see Ron gripping the fine china cup so tightly he was about to snap the handle off. She put a hand on his knee, and Ron gave her a pleading, get-me-out-of-here look.