A/N
The next two chapters are perhaps a bit verbose. But I thought a meeting to get rid of Dumbledore after more than 40 years as a Headmaster should be detailed. It won't be 'only' about Ginny's suicide attempt but other incidents of the last years too (Arthur is able to complain about it because in every incident one of his children had been injured or endangered.) I hope you'll enjoy it.
By the way: In these chapters there will be some accusations against Dumbledore. Please remember that it is something different to convince a batch of governors or to prove it in a court. These accusations will be able to blemish Dumbledore's reputation, but not put him into Azkaban or do something similar.
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End of an Era (1)
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Pinegrew Manor – Daphne's Bedroom – 18th of April – Tuesday, Early Morning
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She came to her senses slowly, pulling out of her troubled sleep. Since they learned about the manipulation of the Dursleys' and especially Petunia's emotions and memories, each night had been disturbed by bad dreams. Two nights ago it had been so bad that Daphne had invaded the privacy of Harry's bedroom and slipped under his duvet, holding him through his nightmares. In the beginning it had been a surprise to watch him develop positive feelings for his Aunt, but in the end she should have expected it. Harry had wished for a family his whole life and Petunia was still part of it. Now, with his knowledge about her true character – still not the most pleasant one, but far from the harpy he had endured for a decade – he allowed himself to hope again.
She had expected this night to be troubled too, the night before the meeting of the Board of Governors. If all went well, Dumbles wouldn't be Headmaster anymore by the end of the week. Daphne really hoped that they would succeed with their little project; that the meddlesome coot wouldn't be able to wriggle out scot-free again. He was very adept at convincing others of his good intentions and often enough they had forgiven his 'little misdeeds'. Hopefully this day would be different.
Pulling her own cover aside, Daphne rose from her bed and listened. Nothing could be heard from Harry's room. It was only 6 AM and perhaps he was still sleeping. But Daphne doubted it. It was far more realistic to expect him to have his room protected by some silence spells so as not to disturb his family. Daphne smiled: His family. He had started to call them as such and she really liked it. How much had changed since his arrival at the manor 9 months ago, how much had changed between them. In the beginning she had hoped to chase him off as fast as possible. And now she hoped that he would stay for a very long time.
Her hand went to her mouth. He had kissed her a few hours ago, before he went to sleep. "We'll succeed, Daphne," he had whispered. And she believed him. She didn't want to leave Hogwarts, she liked the school, she liked most of the teachers – none more than the petite Charms professor, not even Poppy who was a close second – and she liked her friends. But they would go to Toledo should Dumbdork win again. She ground her teeth. No, he wouldn't win.
Putting on her dressing gown – a silk Japanese one, a Christmas gift from her sister – and simple slippers, she left her room and sneaked to the door of Harry's room. A bit surprised she heard someone working therein. Someone mumbled angrily and it wasn't Harry. She opened the door only to find Paddoc cleaning and tidying the room. He was just putting clean sheets on the bed with no Harry in sight.
"Paddoc, what are you doing?"
The grumpy house-elf turned around and grimaced. "What does it look like? Cleaning, don't you think so, Mistress?"
Daphne grinned. Paddoc had always been especially grouchy and his tongue had been sharp towards everyone. But he was incredible loyal and once saved her mother from severe injuries or even death in a car accident. They allowed him to behave like this, enduring his grumpy attitude with humour. But something must have happened for him to be like this at this early hour.
"And Harry?"
"He's not cleaning." Paddoc mumbled something about young masters not having any conception of order and only being able to mess around, before he explained: "He's down in the kitchen with Ciddy." Without any further explanation, Paddoc whirled around and continued to clean the room. With a last smile and a little wondering frown Daphne left and started her way to the kitchen.
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The first thing she noticed was the smell. Chocolate and dough – it came from a baking plate covered by a large cloth. Then there was noise and confusion. House elves were running around, working at the stations or preparing the dining table. It was normally used by the house elves but someone had enlarged it. Now it was appropriate for humans too and two of the elves had started to put plates and cups on it. Ciddy was sitting on a sideboard and watching Harry with wide eyes. He was using a pan to prepare blueberry pancakes and it looked darn good how he was working.
This certainly solved the mystery about Paddoc's mood. "Young Mistress doesn't belong into the kitchen," he had scolded her the last time when Daphne tried to surprise her mother by a self-prepared breakfast. Paddoc regarded humans working in 'his' kitchen as an insult, a demonstration that he wasn't able to care for them. Unsurprisingly Harry had been stubborn enough to get his way nonetheless.
"Leave the plate alone," Harry ordered without looking in her direction. Hastily Daphne retreated from the table where she had just tried to uncover the baking plate. With a last elegant panache he put the pancake on the pile and the pan on the stove, before turning around and grinning at Daphne. He's happy and relaxed, Daphne wondered. Kitchen work apparently does wonders to improve his mood.
Before she knew what happened, Harry stepped forward, put an arm around her waist and pulled Daphne to his chest. "Good morning, sweetie-pie."
Daphne frowned deeply and opened her mouth to scold him for that ugly nickname, but was stopped by his lips on hers. "I hope you slept well without me," he whispered, causing her to blush. Glaring at him she smacked his shoulders. "You're dirty and… floury," with a frown she brushed away some flour from his shirt. Before she could continue with his face, that showed even more hints of his work, Harry leaned forward and rubbed his face – and the lingering flour – onto her gown like a cuddling puppy.
"Harry," she pushed him away. "That's disgusting."
"You're saying I'm disgusting?" he pouted.
"Not you… your behaviour." You're adorable cute, Daphne mused with a smile.
"And me?" He asked with a broad smirk, slowly sneaking in her direction. Daphne stepped backwards, trying to avoid Harry and his blueberry hands. Over his shoulder she saw a broadly grinning Ciddy watching the scene. We're not alone, Daphne realized with a shock. Hastily looking around she noticed that everyone was looking at them. She slipped, but Harry's seeker reflexes allowed him to catch her in time. "You're all… floury… and sweaty… and full of blueberries and…"
He kissed her again and all reluctance was forgotten. He drew back by only a handbreadth and smiled: "Hello you."
As he leant forward again, someone coughed. "I heard breakfast is ready."
Blushing furiously Daphne detected her mother and grandma, clad in dressing gowns and broadly grinning, standing over there and watching them. Her grandma's eyes were resting on the floury handprint on Daphne's derriere. Perhaps it wasn't so bad, Harry pondered, that Cyrus Greengrass wasn't the typical father, trying to chase away every 'lecherous boy'.
"How long have you been here?" Daphne asked meekly.
"Long enough," Agatha smirked and slowly went to the table.
Daphne felt herself lifted from the ground and carried bride style to her place. "I am able to walk, thank you very much" she growled.
"You're even more beautiful, when you're angry."
Neither the comment nor the smiles of her family were helping her blush in any way.
"Who wants a pancake?"
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An hour later they were still eating. Augusta, Neville and Hermione had joined them, along with Ana and Remus. Everyone tried to avoid speaking about today, about the meeting. But it was still in everybody's mind. Again Daphne stared at the empty chair at her side. Harry – after providing everyone with one of his self-baked Muffins – had left the kitchen some minutes ago. She had an idea on what he was doing and had ordered Ciddy to prepare two additional chairs at the table.
As expected he returned a few minutes later with his aunt and cousin in tow. Both stared wide-eyed at the table and seemed to be a bit reluctant to join them. Harry stepped between Petunia and Dudley, linked arms with them and dragged them into the kitchen.
"Auntie… these are my very best friend Hermione Granger, her boyfriend Neville Longbottom and his Grandma Augusta. The silent one over there is Remus Lupin."
Petunia slowly nodded and even showed a very small smile. "I remember him from Lily's wedding. You were the reasonable one among her friends."
"Hello Petunia," Remus nodded. "I'm happy that you're…" He stopped, not knowing how to continue. That you're yourself again? That you're not longer a harpy?
After a small nod of his girlfriend, Harry led Petunia and Dudley to the empty chairs and her side. Both behaved very shy for the next minutes. While they had been guests of Pinegrew Manor for four days already, they had avoided the other inhabitants most of the time. Only Ana, who had been treating Petunia, had spent more than a few minutes with them. Harry threw a pleading look towards Daphne to break the ice and she nodded slightly.
"What do you want to do later, Dudley?" Daphne asked kindly. He only shrugged and stared toward his plate. Dudley wasn't really hungry and unwilling to eat more than some tiny bits, quite a change from his behaviour only a week ago. "Harry told me you're great at sports." Dudley looked up and glanced at his cousin, still uneasy how to behave around him. "Perhaps you could train in our gym. I'm not very good at those things, but Harry and Neville could use it to train a bit themselves as well."
Harry and Neville glared, Roxanne smiled and Hermione tried to hide her grin.
"I would like that." Dudley nodded with a shy smile.
Harry smiled happily at his girlfriend. Leave it to her charm to pull Dudley out of his shell. He still couldn't forget the past, but with the charmed music box out of their life, Harry was willing to give his Aunt and Cousin a second chance. What do you want to do later? Daphne had asked. What about Petunia? Harry wondered. She had never spoken about her dreams, at least not with him around.
"Petunia?" Harry started slowly. "Did you have dreams in your youth about your future life? I mean: Did you always want to be mother and wife or…" He pointed towards his cousin: "Dudley will leave the house in a few years. What will you do then?"
Petunia sighed, concentrating on her nephew and trying hard to ignore the eyes of everyone else resting on her. "I wanted to be a mother, yes, wanted family, a house and a garden. But I also wanted to study."
"Study?" Perhaps it wasn't nice to show his surprise so openly, but he had never expected this. But, thinking longer about it, perhaps it could have been expected. Her sister had been the brightest witch at Hogwarts until Hermione entered the school. Petunia couldn't be as dumb and simple as she appeared sometimes. Had she downplayed her intelligence because of her husband? It was quite possible that Vernon reacted similarly to the 'old Dudley', jealous of anyone more intelligent than him.
"I wanted to study 'Applied Mathematics'. It's about problems like how thick has a bridge pillar to be, how strong have you to design a steel beam to endure an earthquake or what life expectancy should a machine have." Harry had only a basic knowledge of mathematics but a single look into the awed face of Daphne showed him, that this was certainly an extremely complicated part of mathematics. "It was how I met Vernon. I had an internship in his company's engineering office."
"Why didn't you continue, Mom?" Dudley asked flabbergasted. Apparently this was a side of his mother completely new to him too.
"Your father…" Petunia shrugged. "He wanted me at home." For a moment Harry saw a hint of sadness in her eyes, but hastily she hid it again.
"Be right back," Harry whispered and left. After some minutes he returned and put a book onto the table beside Petunia's place. Daphne had realized instantly what it was and nodded, smiling broadly. This was a splendid idea.
"That's Mum's Arithmancy book. She used it in her third year at Hogwarts. Arithmancy is very similar to Mathematics as far as I know. Perhaps you could have a look. But you have to speak about it with Hermione or Daphne."
Gently Petunia caressed the book. Lily's book. "I'll have a look. Thank you, Harry."
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Hogwarts – Headmaster's Office – 18th of April – Tuesday, Late Morning
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Cold blue eyes were scanning the front page of the newest Quibbler. It was a special edition and simply looking at the picture below the headline nearly gave him a stroke. This couldn't be a coincidence, he knew, this special article being published today of all days. He really had to stop the Lovegoods, prevent them from publishing more articles about Potter, spreading more lies.
But first he had to stop Weasley. It was a shame. Arthur had been his steadfast minion for a long time. That he chose to betray him now had been an awful surprise. After the meeting he would have to smash his reputation, show everyone that he was unwilling to endure more lies. And he had to force Molly back into control of her family. It was needed for the greater good. With a sigh he pushed the thought aside and concentrated on the article again.
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Family wanted – Fame to shed
By Luna Lovegood
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His eyes wandered towards the picture again. Petunia Dursley was sitting on a chair in a simple dress, her eyes showing a mix of sorrow and exhaustion. Behind her stood her son Dudley and Harry Potter, his left hand resting on her shoulder, his right arm around his cousin's back. It wasn't meant to be like that. It was meant to only be hate between them and disgust. How could this happen?
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I remember fairly well the day my father told me about the boy-who-lived for the first time. Back then, only six years old, I didn't understand that there was something wrong about his story, about the idea of a one-year-old beating the worst wizard around in a duel. In my imagination he was the greatest hero in the world and I so wished to meet him one day. My best friend Ginny Weasley and I spent a large part of our childhood dreaming about him. More than once we were fighting about who would get him in the end, until we decided – very fairly we thought – that we would allow him to choose between us. But it had to be one of us; nobody else was worth to have him – Harry Potter – the boy-who-lived.
Then we met him for the first time. We were eleven and he twelve. Our dream became true, perhaps even better now, because he wasn't the typical hero. Yes, he was incredible brave, but he was also very friendly, caring, sometimes shy and the most faithful friend you could imagine.
But one thing he was not: The boy-who-lived-happily-ever-after.
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With growing anger Albus followed the article, followed the description of Harry's life. Starting with the day his parents died, explaining to everyone how happy Harry would have been to exchange all his fame for a few more years with his family. There was another picture, this one showing Albus with the baby at the Dursleys' doorstep. There could only be one source of this picture: Minerva's memory. How could she betray him like this?
The article continued with a description of the next decade: Harry living in a cupboard, Harry getting his first room with bars at the window and a bolt to lock the room. In another picture Harry was shown wearing handed-down clothes of his cousin, the boy way too thin and small for his age.
He had to work in the house and in the garden, Dudley Dursley explained in our interview. I never had to do chores, and I got the best meals, while Harry was often too exhausted to even eat the few scraps he was allowed to have. My friends and I chased away anybody willing to befriend him. And because I was bad at school, he had to be too. Now, having seen house-elves at work for the first time, I know that we treated him far worse. Someone told me about the protection of a family: I wonder if he ever saw family in us. I doubt it very much.
Albus hadn't expected that Harry would ever be willing to share his private life like this. Certainly it was the Pinegrew-bitches' fault again. The article showed Albus as an uncaring fiend, neither respecting the wishes of Potter's parents nor willing to assure his welfare for a long time. He had to prove that someone messed with the Dursleys' memories; he had to prove that Harry had a happy childhood. Or would it be better to explain why he had done this; that he only wanted Harry to grow up as a normal person? He had to think about this.
His mother never wished her son to grow up with her sister. Not because she didn't love her, but Lily Potter knew about the problems of a magical child growing up in a muggle family. I assume that every Muggleborn wizard and many half-bloods understand these problems. Every Squib will know about something similar too: The jealousy between siblings, the issues of parents to understand their child, similar but different too.
Muggle Petunia and Witch Lily grew up as loving sister, but the magic distanced them. While Lily left for Hogwarts, her sister had to stay behind. The fights could be expected. And it only grew much worse when their parents were killed by Death Eaters, trying to hurt Lily Potter with their death, but hurting her sister too. Magic had robbed her sister and killed her parents. How could Muggle Petunia not hate magic?
It was no surprise that Petunia Evans hated magic from the depths of her heart when Albus Dumbledore – ignoring the wishes of Lily Potter – appeared at her door and begged her to rear the boy. She didn't send him away, but took him in.
"You never leave behind your family."
You assume that this is simply a tradition of pureblood families? You're wrong. Muggle Petunia Evans followed this commandment too. But she had no chance to ever love the boy, to ever behave towards him like a responsible parent, like she would have been despite her hate towards magic. You ask me why?
Albus nodded. Hastily he turned the page of the paper to continue reading. From sentence to sentence his blood pressure was raising more. They knew. They couldn't know – impossible.
Three reasons: Lies, memory charms and compulsion spells.
Albus was fuming.
It would be fairly easy to hate Petunia and her family for what she did to Harry Potter. It would be easy to despise her and think: That's the way of Muggles, we should have expected it.
But what if there was someone who messed with her mind? Someone who told her lies to increase her hate of magic and estrange her even more from her sister? It is easy to alter memories, easy to obliviate moments of joy and sisterly love. And even easier it is to alter emotions, decrease love and increase every bad thought and feeling through the use of charms. And this someone wasn't a Muggle, but a Pureblood Wizard.
I don't want to say that Petunia would have been the best guardian for Harry without this messing around with her mind. In contrary I know that both sisters didn't want her to be it. But I know too, that she never had a chance to show her real self. Now, with her mind her own again, with her memories back and the influence broken, she'll have a new chance. Harry is willing to offer her this chance despite their past.
I only hope that you all allow both – Harry and Petunia – to have a chance at becoming a family now. Don't mess with them again.
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Hogwarts – Great Hall – 18th of April – Tuesday, Early Afternoon
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Most of the students had left the hall an hour ago after their lunch. While the meeting of the Board of Governors was public – at least the first part about Headmaster Dumbledore – it was only in theory so. The press of curious people was far too great to allow entrance to everyone. So many parents had shown up, so many Ministry officials and journalists that only those students were allowed to attend who had the consent of their Head of the House.
A large table with twelve seats dominated the room, arranged like an 'L' with nine seats at the long side and three at the short. A bit apart was the place of the headmaster and a seat for witnesses. To the left the Ministry had found their place around an armchair for the Minister himself. He was only a spectator like everybody else, but his presence was proof enough of the importance of this day. And it was the first hint for Albus Dumbledore that this meeting could perhaps be more serious than he had assumed so far.
Harry, surrounded by his friends and family, had chosen a bench to the right, allowing him to look into Dumbledore's face. Behind him, a bit shielded from everyone, Petunia sat at the side of Emma Granger. They weren't the only Muggles in the room, but certainly drawing the most interest. More than once someone pointed towards Petunia and whispered with his neighbour.
A weird moment had been the entrance of Cyrus Greengrass. He had politely if coldly greeted his family, before he offered his hand for Harry to shake. A bit hesitantly he had accepted, unsure why the pureblood patriarch suddenly showed this kind of interest.
"I wish you luck with your endeavour," he simply stated, before he left after a last nod.
A bit confused Harry looked around. Roxanne shrugged and Narcissa Malfoy – who was sitting only a short distance away together with her son and Astoria – rolled her eyes and smiled shortly. Harry felt himself reciprocate the smile. Yes, he mused, perhaps she is really changing. He had been surprised to hear from Sirius about their latest conversation. Narcissa had promised to help him regain the status of the Head of House Black. As a quid pro quo she demanded his support in her family matters. Not all was well in House Malfoy, apparently. But for now, with Lucius as their 'trusted ally', they had to stay quiet about this.
The future will be interesting, Harry mused.
A bit to the left was the area for the journalists. Luna was sitting there with Colin at her father's side. She simply stared at the table with her dreamy eyes, ignorant to the fact that she was the most famous journalist today. Her father was beaming with pride, his face clearly showing that he wanted to yell "she's my daughter" to everyone.
Dumbledore, his robe today not as colourful as expected, was sitting at his small table, struggling to show a confident face. Staring at the paper he was holding, he mumbled something, apparently preparing one of his renowned speeches.
They won't help you today, Harry hissed toneless. Your era is at its end.
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The governors had entered the Hall and taken their seats with dignity. One member of the examination committee and two members each with links to the four houses belonged to the board of governors. Most of the seats had belonged to a family for generations while ancient Examiner Griselda Marchbanks was a tradition in herself.
Harry sent a smile to Agatha Pinegrew, who was sitting between Augusta Longbottom and Florian Davies, an Uncle of the Ravenclaw Quidditch Captain Roger Davies. Naturally he recognized Lucius Malfoy. The dark-tanned woman with the raven-black hair at his side could only be Blaize Zabini's mother. Two of the Governors – one each with a tie from Hufflepuff and Gryffindor – were unknown to him, but the last one he had seen a few times since the start of the tournament: Amos Diggory.
"I don't believe it," Hermione whispered fervently. "That's Mister Blotts." She pointed towards a grey-haired man, sitting at the short side of the table between Amelia Bones and a toad-like woman in a ridiculous pink cardigan.
"Blotts who?" Neville whispered back. At least I'm not the only one without any idea, Harry grinned.
"Blotts – like in 'Flourish and Blotts'," Daphne explained.
Harry rolled his eyes. Sure he had to sit between the only two students who were able to recognize the book mogul.
"What's he doing here?" Hermione asked. "Do you think I could talk with him later?"
Now it was Neville's moment to roll his eyes, but he made sure to look into another direction and pat his girlfriend's hand.
"Grandma told me: he's here for the second part. They want him to give input about the cost and selection of the books of the new courses they intend to start next autumn. Amelia is certainly here as an observer for the DMLE in case there is more to do about Dumbles. And the toad, that's Um-bitch… I mean Umbridge" she corrected herself after a cough of her mother. "She belongs to the Ministry."
Harry nodded to himself. Remus had told him about Um-bitch. Apparently she had been the source of most anti-werewolf legislative initiatives of the past decade. Not a woman he wanted to have around, for sure.
"There's Arthur," Neville pointed out. "Here we go!"
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He looks better now, Harry pondered, exhausted and a bit sad but stronger and more self-confident.
Arthur Weasley had entered the hall together with his eldest son Bill. Dumbles' smile had only been answered by two glares. Be happy, that neither Charlie nor one of the twins is there instead of the controlled Bill, Harry grinned. They would have beaten you to a bloody pulp instead of only glaring.
Charlie had visited Daphne a week ago and written several times while she had still been in the Hospital Wing of Hogwarts. A bone-crushing hug and his inability to stop thanking her had left Daphne a bit shaken. When Daphne once tried to apologize for not recognizing the danger earlier, he had stopped her. "Nobody could have done more for my baby sister. I'll never forget what you did for her." After that there had been a fit of temper as he began to ramble about Dumbles and what should be done to him. Ripping the arms from their sockets and feeding him with his own tongue were the more harmless ideas.
No, Harry grinned, be happy that Charlie isn't here.
"Mister Weasley," Augusta Longbottom addressed the Weasley patriarch. "You wished to file an official complaint against Headmaster Dumbledore. Before we start this meeting, I have to ask: Do you wish to continue? Would you be agreeable to an accommodation, perhaps together with an apology from Headmaster Dumbledore?"
Dumbles' face showed a grimace like he was biting on a lemon. But to his 'luck' Arthur wasn't willing to stop now. "I want to go on," he stated with a hard voice. I never heard him like this, Harry pondered. He was always so soft-spoken. "I won't accept an apology or any other accommodation. I wish to file an official complaint and demand the resignation of Headmaster Dumbledore. Should you not follow my wishes, I will extract my children from this school."
Dumbledore shook his head, his expression unhappy but not very concerned.
The Weasleys aren't important enough. To lose them as students would only be a minor setback for him. On the other hand…
Harry looked to his side, when he felt Daphne kicking him slightly. She nodded towards Arthur and Harry understood.
"Lady Longbottom? If I may?"
Dumbledore frowned in his direction, but Augusta only nodded: "It is unusual but you may speak, before we continue. But only this once; only because we haven't officially started."
"Thank you, Lady Longbottom." Harry sensed the smile of his mother who appreciated his effort to behave properly.
"I only wanted to add, that my friends and I wish to support the Weasley family in this matter. Should the Board of Governors not follow Mister Weasley's request, Miss Daphne Greengrass, Mister Neville Longbottom, Miss Hermione Granger and I will leave the school too. We'll certainly regret to leave, because we really love this school, their teacher and our friends and housemates. But we can't tolerate such a Headmaster and his dangerous meddling anymore. Thank you, Lady Longbottom," Harry bowed slightly and sat down again.
Quite a murmur went through the room after this statement. Dumbledore looked shocked and Augusta needed some time to steady the spectators again. "Thank you, Mister Potter. Now I declare this meeting to be officially opened. Mister Weasley, please start with your complaint."
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The next hour went by in a flurry. Arthur told about the last years, starting with the events around the first year of Harry and Ron. He told about the dangerous forest and the lack of real protection against adventurous students going there. There was the story about the detention in the forest with Hagrid. As he started to speak about the forbidden third floor and the room with Fluffy, Dumbles wanted to stop him. "Some things are not meant for the publicity to know."
"This is nonsense," Amelia Bones interjected. "Lady Longbottom, dear Governors: I've spoken with Mister Weasley about his statement beforehand and he'll tell you enough about it, without dishing out any sensitive information."
Augusta nodded as if she hadn't known this beforehand. "You may continue, Mister Weasley."
And so he did. He told about the room with 'some magical artefact in it', described it as 'of utmost interest' for some persons of darker motivations. "It is completely incomprehensible, that the Headmaster hid this artefact in Hogwarts of all places. The Ministry or Gringotts would have been far better caches. To tell the students about it and even arouse their interest, can hardly be called only reckless anymore. No magical lock, no age line, no ward to alarm someone in case of tempering – it seems to have been the intent of the Headmaster to have some students enter that part of the castle and battle the protections." He glared at the Headmaster: "Was it a test, Albus? A test for Harry Potter? A test that caused my son to spend a week in the Hospital Wing?"
Albus didn't answer.
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He's omitting details, Harry pondered.
Arthur had continued with the events of Harry's second year, but there was no Lucius Malfoy in his story – perhaps because we can't prove this part – and the book didn't belong to Tom Riddle. It simply was 'a dark artefact of unknown source, containing a kind of Imperio Curse' to force the reader to open the Chamber of Secrets.
"It is incomprehensible how nobody realized this danger. The wards of the school didn't react? No teacher noticed the moody behaviour of my daughter? Nobody recognized the reason of the petrification? He really had to wait for some teenagers to solve this riddle? I can't belief that. Despite my low opinion about Headmaster Dumbledore's behaviour, I share the Board's high opinion about his abilities. He simply had to know about this. So why didn't he react? Was it another test? Did he have an interest in causing havoc, confusion and fear?"
"Headmaster, where is this book now," Augusta demanded to know.
"It has been destroyed."
"Completely? As far as I heard, it had only been stabbed. According to Miss Weasley it was still recognizable after the events in the chamber and Mister Potter gave the book into your hands."
"Yes," Dumbledore paddled back. "I meant the magic had been destroyed. The pure object still exists."
"I demand you to put it into the hands of the DMLE," Amelia Bones interjected from the sideline.
"I'll look for it after this meeting," Dumbledore smiled sweetly.
Amelia glared at him. He'll find an excuse later, Harry realized. But why does he want to keep it?
"I think we all could use a break, Lady Longbottom," Harry drawled to everybody's surprise. "Perhaps the Headmaster could use the spare time to fetch the book. I could identify it after the break, so there won't be a misunderstanding about it."
He hates me now, Harry grinned. Good old boy, I like this. You have no idea how much I want to cause you pain for what you did.
"That's a wonderful idea, Mister Potter. We'll do a break of 15 minutes. Headmaster Dumbledore, I expect to find this diary on my desk upon my return."
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After the break and the presentation of the book – with Dumbles' face a mask of stone – Arthur shortly spoke about Harry's third year. Luckily Hermione knew about his statement, or she certainly would have reacted, when Arthur started about the 'dangerous beast Buckbeak'.
Harry grinned, as he thought about Dumbles not being able to explain Buckbeak's flight without telling everyone about his own part in the matter. "I understand the wish to show our children a proud and interesting beast like a hippogriff. I even support the idea of them being a part of the curriculum. But I demand more security measure to prevent further injuries."
Harry rolled his eyes when Lucius Malfoy nodded in support. Was this alliance really worth it?
"And then there was the part of Sirius Black attacking my son twice on the grounds of Hogwarts. I understand that there are doubts about his guilt in the crimes he is accused of. But nonetheless he was a searched criminal and apparently the Headmaster was unable to prevent those attacks."
Harry didn't like this part of the complaint, but he had to admit that there still was the principle: Security of the students. And Sirius had been dangerous in his state of mind – not that he had been to blame for this.
"A last point about that year: Professor Remus Lupin. I want to state openly and firmly, that I have no problems with Professor Lupin. I trust him with the life of my children and regard him a friend. But still, as a parent, I have to demand that the Headmaster informs the Board about the identity and nature of his professors beforehand. He has to allow the Board – in place of all parents – to examine every professor and judge his qualification and aptitude. It is inacceptable that he hid these details from you."
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The band begins to play, Harry thought, when Arthur started to speak about the current year.
"My daughter's mood was declining over the course of the last term. There was pressure from all sides, pressure to force her into a relationship with Harry Potter. It was against my wishes. It should have been clear that there was no chance for my daughter to win his heart. Look over there." He pointed towards Harry and Daphne. Both blushed and pressed their intertwined hands even more as hundreds of eye pairs rested on them.
"Simply look at them, and tell me that you're unable to see the love between these teenagers." Smiles, nods and more than one sigh could be seen and heard, what only caused their blushes to intensify. "We don't know if it will last. As every love there will be doubts, there will be fights, there will be tears. But we have to give them a chance and not willingly try to separate them. Lies, traps, forcing my daughter near him – that's all so wrong, even more for someone like the Headmaster. Despite my wishes he continued to make his plots, continued to shove my distraught daughter onto Mister Potter.
"Two months ago, shortly before Valentine's Day and the second task of the tournament, there had been some serious incidents. Someone" he glared at Dumbledore "not only used lies but also potions and compulsion spells in his attempt to separate Miss Greengrass and Mister Potter."
Dumbledore tried to intervene, but nobody listened. Everyone knew about the rumours, everyone had read the story in the Quibbler: The interview of Harry, the apology of Viktor.
"It should have been the first of hopefully many happy Valentine Days for this young couple, but someone destroyed this. Luckily they were able to overcome these schemes and are together again. House Weasley wishes you both all luck for your future." He bowed slightly and Harry shortly stood up to reciprocate.
Arthur's voice got very dour now. "Before this plot my daughter seriously hoped, that there would be a chance to regain Harry's friendship. There had already been a sprain in their relationship, partially because of a temper tantrum of my daughter she really regrets today. But then she had to realize that there was no escape. My wife – I have sorrowfully to admit – and the Headmaster continued in their plans and even planted my daughter as Harry's hostage in the second task and Miss Greengrass as the hostage of Viktor Krum. It was a clear attempt to pair them up against their wishes.
"A Headmaster," Arthur boomed "has no place in the relationships of his students. He has no right to hassle with them."
Arthur slumped down, leaning heavily on his table. Bill whispered to his father and Arthur nodded. After a while he returned to an upright posture, his voice now very gloomy. "My daughter saw no chance to escape these manipulations anymore: Her mother at home, the Headmaster at school with the might to influence her life there from every angle. There was no escape – only one. One month ago my daughter tried to commit suicide."
For a while there was only shocked silence. It was one thing to read about this, but something completely else to hear it from the father of the girl, so obviously struggling with his emotions.
"It was a real, serious attempt, not some cry for help. She wanted to die, wanted to end all this. Without Miss Greengrass," Arthur stopped and sobbed. "I'd lost my daughter without her. I can never repay this, Miss Greengrass."
Daphne smiled and nodded weakly; she appeared to be very pale and shaken.
"Mister Weasley," Augusta interjected with a surprising soft voice. "We all feel with you. How is your daughter today?"
"Thank you, Lady Longbottom. My daughter is healthy again, physically and magically. Emotionally however she's still a mess. She's staying at home. We'll decide in the summer if she'll return to school. At the moment she's home-schooled – by the way: With the help of Professor Lupin. I only say this to add proof that I'm not against werewolves, but only against secrets."
His statement apparently didn't endear him to Um-bitch. Augusta nodded and gestured him to continue.
"The letters my daughter received from Harry and his friends helped her very much. She has some hope again and perhaps one day she'll be able to forget or at least live with the memory."
"She's our friend, Arthur." Harry's clear voice disturbed the silence. "We don't blame her for what happened and offer our hand in friendship. And should this meeting not go as hoped, we'll take her with us to Toledo. She will not be alone."
.
One hour later
.
"The three-headed dog has never been a danger to any student. He acted only as a deterrent."
Dumbledore smiled sweetly, his eyes twinkling – the whole 'well-meaning grandfather' package. Someone gagged, earning Daphne a reprimanding glare from her grandmother and a smirk from Augusta. Turning to Dumbledore she fetched some papers from the table.
"Like Mister Weasley already stated: It is a bit unsettling that someone with your experience in the rearing of teenagers – and especially with Gryffindors and their very special mindset" Harry hadn't to turn around to connect the snigger with Professor Snape "was unable to foresee, that the hint about a danger on the third floor would dare more than one student to try his luck. We have several testimonies from students – mostly Gryffindors but from other houses too – who tried to investigate that part of the castle. No ageline, no alarming ward, no magical lock – a simple Alomohora was enough to get into the room with this… animal. A Cerberus is certainly not harmless. It is a well-trained watch-dog and without some knowledge about its weaknesses nearly impossible to circumvent. No, Headmaster Dumbledore, to our regret we share Mister Weasley's opinion that you intended to use this as a test for the inventiveness of some of our students."
.
"I have to admit that I made some errors two years ago. I didn't handle the events around the Chamber of Secrets very well. Perhaps I simply trusted the abilities of our renowned DADA teacher, Professor Lockhardt, too much. I should have stepped in earlier."
Harry sensed that Dumbles' attempt to shift the responsibility on Lockhardt's shoulders had been the wrong move. Nobody aside from a few persons knew about the former Professor's lack of talent and character. Too many spectators still adored him and that he had to spend these months in St. Mungo's – officially a result of his battle against the basilisk – had only strengthened his reputation.
"Yes, you should have. That you needed the help of some students to find the source of the problems is lamentable, as was your lack of eagerness to ask the DMLE for help in the matter. By the way I personally regret your lack of delicacy of feeling in handling Mister Potter and the unfounded accusations against him at that time. 'Slytherin's heir', really? As a member of House Malfoy I would feel offended. You showed again that you aren't really in control of your school, your students and especially your teachers."
For a moment she looked chidingly in Snape's direction, before she continued: "By the way I have a question about the events of that year from Mrs. Granger." Everyone stared in her direction and Harry's face softened as he watched his Aunt pressing Emma Granger's hand reassuringly.
"Why didn't you inform her about the condition of her daughter? Didn't you deem it worthy because Miss Granger is a Muggleborn?" This caused a storm of protest from the spectators. Even some of the pureblood mothers joined in. Not to tell a mother about something like this was disgusting. "And why did you need so long to cure the victims of the Basilisk? Some of them had been petrified for weeks."
"Miss Granger's origin had never an influence on how I handled her or her parents. I only didn't want to frighten them. We knew how to heal the victims. For cost reasons we wanted to use our own Mandrakes for the potions. Luckily…"
"Bullshit."
"Mister Longbottom." Augusta glared at her grandson and there weren't many in the Hall who wanted to change places with Neville at this moment. But Neville ignored her, he was simply too agitated.
"Go, Tiger," Harry whispered and received a light slap from Daphne.
"Yes, we used our own Mandrakes and certainly this diminished the costs substantially. But really… you're counting Knuts and allow your students to stay petrified for days, weeks and even months?"
"Mister Longbottom, you have to understand…" Dumbledore sententious voice was interrupted by Neville again.
"I have to understand, that your students aren't important enough to help them immediately. I have to understand, that your reputation was more important than to tell their parents what happened. 140 Galleons – that would have been the price."
Neville fetched a vial from his pocket. "I needed two days to find someone willing to send me this. Three days he needed to prepare it. And that was without the help of someone like Madam Sprout or Professor Snape and their connections. Yes, you saved a hundred galleons through the use of our own resources. But do you really assume that a mother wouldn't be willing to spend this amount of money on her child to save her the unimaginable agony to lay there for weeks – rigid, helpless, to hear all but unable to do anything? And even if a mother hadn't the money to pay for this, wouldn't the Board of Governors be willing to spend the money? No, it was only your reputation you had in mind and the students had to suffer."
Neville was breathing heavily now. Harry smiled, Daphne nodded proudly and Hermione tried to calm him. "I'm sorry about my outburst, Grandma. I'm sure we'll speak about it later… at home." Some laughter could be heard. The face of his grandma showed far too much pride about his honest rage to fear any real punishment. "But I really can't endure more of this nonsense from this careless, meddling, old coot."
Neville had left his seat and Harry was a bit concerned now. With a low voice he snarled: "I didn't forget what you did to me, old bastard. You'll pay for it." Under the gasps of the spectators he threw the vial towards the Headmaster and hit him at the forehead. Harry grabbed the arm of his trembling friend.
"I think we all need a little break," Augusta's voice thundered through the hall. "After that we'll speak about the last school year."
.
"The Board of Governors was shocked to hear about the events of the last year," Augusta Longbottom explained after the break. "The security breaches through Sirius Black, the injury of a student through a hippogriff in a lesson – regardless of his own fault in the matter" she added with a stern look "and the hiring of Professor Lupin without informing us about his condition, had been more than a bit unsettling. You knew quite well, that – despite of Mister Weasley's opinion about Professor Lupin, an opinion I personally share – too many parents would have qualms about this choice. It is irrespective how reasonable these fears are in times of Wolfsbane potion: You simply have to honour the wishes of the parents and will of this Board."
She looked around, her eyes resting at last on Professor Lupin. "I regard Professor Lupin as my friend. I hired him to work in my library, where he did a wonderful job." Harry smiled shortly: Throw in a bit of free advertising.
"I spend last Christmas with him and I wish him only the best. But right now I would have to deny him a post at Hogwarts. It's not about our wishes, Headmaster, it's about our students and their families. If you want to hire him, use your political cloud and change the laws, change the public opinion. It would be time for it. But don't act so secretive."
Dumbledore bowed slightly, according to his expression convinced that this matter was finished now. You have no idea, Harry sniggered.
"We could assume that this was a one-off issue. But apparently there is more about it, a kind of pattern. The Board wants to hear about a similar matter that took place a decade ago."
Dumbledore paled visibly when Augusta called Professor Snape.
.
"Professor Lupin and I… we hated each other. I think you could say it as simply as that. But it had nothing to do with his condition. It was about his behaviour as a student and his lack of taste in choosing his friends."
He likes this, Harry grinned.
"Please tell us about the events in your fifth year."
"You have to remember that back then there was no Wolfsbane potion. A Werewolf had to lock himself away to protect others. Professor Lupin had been a student in my year. His condition was known only to the teachers and Madam Pomfrey. Headmaster Dumbledore tried to hide it and offered him a hideout on the grounds of Hogwarts. Naturally his regular disappearances and his bad condition in the days following a full moon were suspicious."
Snape glanced towards Hermione. "I remember a third year student last year, who was able to recognize Professor Lupin's condition within three months despite the Wolfsbane. In his time some students knew about it too. One night, an alleged friend of Professor Lupin, lured me into his hideout."
The spectators gasped, ignoring Dumbledore's attempt to downplay the issue.
"Luckily another friend, a real friend of his," shortly he glanced towards Harry now "learned about this and just in time rescued me. Without him I would have been bitten, perhaps killed."
"What had been the consequences of this incident?"
"More or less: None."
"What? Please explain."
"I was in the Hospital Wing for a few days, unhurt but badly shaken. The Headmaster visited me, told me about the detention the culprit got for his deed. He was unwilling to do more. The welfare of Professor Lupin and his 'friend' was more important than justice. 'It was only a prank', he told me."
"Why didn't you tell someone about this?" Amelia Bones interjected. "You would have been in your right to accuse that 'friend' of attempted murder."
"Headmaster Dumbledore forbade me to tell anybody. He even threatened to use a memory charm on me, shouldn't I comply."
"That's nonsense, I would never…"
"Shut up." A fuming Remus Lupin interrupted Dumbledore. "You did. Severus, tell them about the apology… you old slimy bat."
Some spectators sniggered. Snape glared at him but nodded after a moment: "A few days later, after he recovered from the full moon, Professor Lupin visited me."
Take this, bastard. Harry grinned, as he watched Dumbledore going deathly pale. You hadn't expected him to remember, did you?
"He apologized for the incident and I accepted."
Augusta left it to Lucius Malfoy to ask this time: "That was honourable, but what was so special about the apology?"
"Special about it was the fact, that I didn't remember it for more than a decade. Only a month ago an incident disclosed, that someone had messed with my memories, changed some small but important facts."
"Why should someone do this to you?"
"To influence me," Snape responded: "To influence my behaviour, to let me hate Professor Lupin even more. Someone" He glared at Dumbledore "messed with my mind to better hold control about me."
"These are substantial allegations, Professor Snape."
"It's my founded opinion," Snape answered calmly. "I have been teacher at Hogwarts for more than a decade. Despite contrary rumours I loved my work – at least the potion master work and teaching a few less clumsy minds each year. Spreading fear among the other dunderheads wasn't bad, either."
Only Snape, Harry grinned, could speak about this part of his personality so openly.
"I would have stayed at Hogwarts for a long time. But with this incident I changed my mind. I can't prove my allegations, Lady Longbottom, but I don't have to work for a Headmaster I don't trust. After this year I'll take my leave."
.
A/N
The next chapter will be about the second day of the meeting, especially the testimonies of some teachers.
A reminder about Toledo: Harry spoke about it because the Magic School of Toledo – thanks to his Aunt Ana Hernandez – offered them places to continue their education.
I want to change several things at Hogwarts. But because most of them will only be important after the summer break, I'll only hint at them now. You'll see more of them in the sequel. But feel free to write about your ideas especially regarding new courses, changed content of the old, teachers and leadership (Deputy and Houses only, the new Headmaster is already fixed).