Chapter 30: Fruits of Labor
The sounds of chairs be pushed away from the tables filled the hall. All of the students made their way to their dorms and bed. After a few minutes, the only people left in the Great Hall were the Professors and Staff. Harry activated his communication charm and called the goblin guards, "Goblin Control, this is Raven Phoenix, we have completed the feast and all students are heading to their dorms, please begin patrol."
A moment later, Harry received confirmation from the guards that they had begun their patrolling of the castle. Harry asked Hogwarts to close the doors and seal them, then sat down at the round table that had just appeared.
After everyone sat down, Harry turned to Albus, who was seating to his right and he began. "Well Harry, I believe that was what I would call an entrance."
There were noises of approval from all around the table. It really was impressive. "Thank you Albus, Ginny was reading one of Rowena Ravenclaw's books about how the opening feast was done in the past. Do you know that the totems actually escorted the first years into the castle. Unfortunately, the magic required was lost once the founders and the heirs passed away. You see each generation had to claim their inheritance in order for the castle to respond to them.
"Anyway, I just wanted to let everyone know that we had some Death Eaters attempt to sneak into the castle thru a portal tonight. That is why Gin and I were not here for the feast."
Severus and Albus spoke up at the same time, "Who was it and what portal?"
Harry looked at the two professors and smiled, "Franklin Nott, Theodore Nott's older brother, Mark Anthony Rodriguez, an American, and Joseph Curtis Smith, also an American. Evidently they tried to enter through the vanishing cabinet that Fred and George Weasley stuffed Montague into last year."
Severus spoke up, "Montague said that he heard conversations, as if they were in different locations. I assume that there is a mate to this cabinet?"
"Yes there was, but no longer. Once Gin and I apprehended them… and chatted with them for a little bit, the ICW authorized the Black Brigade to level Borgin and Burke's in Knockturn Alley. They did this under the guidelines set down in the ICW Charter. They apprehended 10 more people, including Mr. Borgin; each one of them had the dark mark on their arm. They were handed over to the Ministry already in accordance with the Treaty of 1597 between the International Confederation of Wizards and the Ministry of Magic of England and all of Great Britain.
"As per ICW law 123HG71, all assets from the shop Borgin and Burke's and their owners, in this case the Borgin and Burke Family Vaults, Properties, titles, and seats on the Wizengamot of Great Britain, are now owned by Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."
Blaise Zabini asked the question that everyone wanted answered. "Harry why in the hell does the ICW have jurisdiction in this matter?"
Ginny spoke up the answer this question. "As you may remember from this summer, when Harry took his place as the High Lord of Hogwarts, he disbanded the Board of Governors. After careful consideration, we decided to register the school with ICW as a sovereign school.
"As a sovereign school, we can teach what we want, as long at it falls within the guidelines of the ICW, which if I may say make more sense then those of Fudge's Administration. Now as of today, Hogwarts is also registered as the official school for the Witches and Wizards of Great Britain. This means that all witches and wizards that are born in England will be contacted by us first.
"The other benefit, which we discussed at length with Minister Bones, is that as an ICW Sovereign Registered School, we can use the ICW laws to handle certain issues that may creep up. These include dealing with intruders. The law Harry stated basically says that if approved by the ICW, a sovereign entity may use whatever force is needed to stop anyone who threatens them.
"Since the Ministry of Magic and ICW have both recognized the dark mark as a clear and present danger, we were able to act. Because Mr. Borgin and Mr. Burke both had the Dark Mark, the Black Brigade and Gringotts seized all assets and transferred them to Hogwarts, as payment for their transgressions against us."
Harry took back over the story telling, "As the High Lord of Hogwarts, I have decided to split up what we have received from tonight's adventure. Please look over the parchments that are in front of you."
Borgin Family Assets
Cash on Hand in Vault 234
2 billion galleons, 123 sickles, and 19 knuts
Personal Properties
Borgin Ancestral Home
Flat Knockturn Alley, London
Investments*
Magical
Borgin & Burke's Knockturn Alley, London 50%
Burke Family Assets
Cash on Hand in Vault 235
1.5 million galleons, 673 sickles, and 187 Knuts
Personal Properties
Borgin & Burke's Retail Shop (Destroyed)
Flat Knockturn Alley, London
Investments*
Magical
Borgin & Burke's Knockturn Alley, London 50%
Borgin Family Assets
Cash on Hand in Vault 234
2 million galleons, 123 sickles, and 19 knuts
Personal Properties
Borgin Ancestral Home
Flat Knockturn Alley, London
Investments*
Magical
Borgin & Burke's Knockturn Alley, London 50%
Borgin & Burke's Retail Shop
Cash on Hand in Vault 234
100 million galleons, 123 sickles, and 19 knuts
Inventory
Various Dark Arts Objects (Recommend Destruction)
Harry gave the group a moment to read before he spoke up. "Also included are the 7 seats on the Wizengamot that they controlled. Now after discussions with the Minister, I have decided what is going to happen.
"The money from the Family Vaults will go to the Hogwarts Needy Student Fund. The money from the Retail Shop will go to the Ministry of Magic and the ICW in a 85% 15% split. The 85%, which is the Ministry's share, will be earmarked for the MLE Department and the Aurors. The ICW is going to invest it's share in helping magical communities that do not have any sort of government.
"The Wizengamot seats are going to be a little bit more interesting. Since a number of Pure Blood Families have been wiped out thanks to Tom Riddle, the odds of returning the seats to their rightful families are pretty low. So, three of the seats will go to families who are not on the Wizengamot, I believe the Zabini, Patil, and Chang Families to be exact.
"The remaining four will go to muggleborn witches and wizards. The first one will be given to Granger Family, the second to the Creevey Family, the third to the Kilpatrick Clan, and the last to the Quirke Family. Now the only restrictions are that only a magical person can sit on the Wizengamot, so that means that Hermione, Elizabeth, and Orla are now members of the Wizengamot. Colin, you and Dennis need to decide who will serve. Minister Bones, myself, and the Headmaster will be meeting with each of you and your parents to explain what has happened."
The staff meeting went for another 45 minutes before Albus called it to a close, it almost midnight, and even though there was no class the next day, the staff had to be up and ready to field many questions.
As everyone was heading to their rooms, Harry checked in with the roving goblins. There were no incidents to report so Harry and Ginny made their way out of the hall and towards their suite. On their out, Harry asked Albus, Minerva and Severus to join him and his wife for breakfast in their office in the morning.
Harry and Ginny crawled into bed 10 later and fell into a restful night's sleep.