Chapter five

'Everything you just suggested Harry is exactly what our world needs. The students would do better if they had something fun to look forward to. Not all students are natural at quidditch as others. There are some who just can't grasp the concept of chess, or gobstones. We have groups and clubs, I'm not even sure if you know how many, but some are still not interested in what is offered. So say you do this and implement a night that the students could have fun, like a ball without being formal. Yes there might be some that do not want to enjoy their time off like that, most will. As for the staff, I'm sure if we talked it over we can work on a night where all the staff can be together without worrying about what the students are getting up to.

'I remember Albus telling me that one headmaster used to seal the house rooms after curfew that way he knew the children would be safe. Too many parents complained, not that their children might get up to something, but it gave them the belief that if someone was hurt, how would they get out to call for help. Maybe as the head of Hogwarts Lady Hogwarts might assist in a charm that will alert the staff who is out after curfew.'

'I think the staff need a night like that. I saw how stressed all of you got at the end of a week. It's good to take some time, but it's good to be able to do something different, enjoy the company of your colleagues without having to worry that one of you would have to leave to do some duty. Naturally if it's one person's night off they can go out, maybe they might like to have a romantic evening, maybe they just might want to go to bed early,' Harry looked around at the now repaired great hall, he couldn't stop smiling, 'Hermione will hate me for this, but why can't we use a resource that is already here and part of Hogwarts? House elves. I'm sure we could get a few to keep watch on the students for a few hours so the staff can have some time to themselves. Also, with how many fight and how many of those kids will lie about it, we could utilise the house elves, ghosts and portraits to explain who was in the wrong so the right student gets punished,' Harry saw all the members of staff that were sitting at the table smiling and nodding. It gave him confidence to continue.

'Hogwarts is old and it's beautiful, it shows an ancient time but it is filled with modern kids. When I was talking to Seamus one day, he said if he had to live here forever he couldn't do it, he wants to enjoy part of his father's life. He told me they like to go out together, they go camping but with muggles they camp where they can use electricity for a light, a small fridge, a radio. Seamus said that even though he could use magic for all that now his of age, he doesn't want to because his dad can't and he wouldn't like to make his dad feel inferior. I get what he means; he wants to keep parts of both his parents. I hated those muggles I had to live with but I did get to enjoy some things from that world. My mother was a muggle-born who grew up with all that muggle stuff, so I want to keep a bit of my parents with me in the way I live. But how will a lot of that stuff work here even if it gets accepted?'

'As Kingsley said, they have been developing muggle equipment that will work with magic and not electricity. Give me one good example of how we could modernise Hogwarts without taking away the students and staff's rights in how they might use something?'

'Okay, the library, I used to find it impossible to find a certain book and some of those books are very old and delicate. We could keep the library as is for people like Hermione who loves to sift through old books. But for some students who just want to find the information they need for their homework then they could sit at a computer, type in what they want and there the book is, the whole book. It goes further, so if you want information on transfiguration but only on the animagi, then you find the book you want using the computer then you type in animagi and that's all that will show up, so you don't have to sift through everything else. But if you want the actually book then the computer could help with that, you type in which book you want and it tells you exactly which row and which shelf, even which end. Now me, I do like to read those old books, but sometimes students just don't get time if they are quidditch players, if they are prefects or head boy or girl, or just can't help ending up in detention.'

'See, that is a perfect way to keep both old and new without taking away our rights. It allows us to choose which way we want to read, a book or a computer. You are already showing that you are the right person to do this. Yes running this school will still take you a long time to learn, we will help you learn and you will have time, years to learn it all. Right now it's how to entice the children born with either one muggle parent or two to stay in the magical world without giving up their muggle heritage. If we implement some muggle equipment not just at Hogwarts, but for the ministry and our homes, then the children will see they can have the best of both worlds.'

'If a charm or spell could be invented that will allow people to use their magic in a muggle home with all the electrical equipment that would be a great asset. I originally thought of buying a house, but it was going to be like a muggle home, or at least part of it. I was thinking that maybe I could have one part of the house separated with large stone walls, some type of enchantment placed on it, then that part could be muggle, but I can use magic in the kitchen. As you just said, it would give us the best of both worlds. Look at Hermione and Ron, they are dating, two completely different people and different in how they were raised, and they are different in what they want. Now Hermione was never one for watching television as she prefers to have her nose in a book. Ron on the other hand would enjoy television even though he was raised in a fully magical home. If couples could compromise between muggle and magical homes than it might help marriages last. I don't know if it will help or not, it's just something that I thought of because of Hermione and Ron.'

'You could be right, they are from different backgrounds. Hermione knew nothing of this world until she received her letter, Ron grew up hearing about Hogwarts, St mungo's, Diagon alley and seeing magic in his home.'

'That's another thing, why weren't people like the Grangers visited when Hermione was young to explain she was a witch and how she might have accidents with magic?'

'It has been discussed but as most people in the position of power were supporters or pure-bloods. They did not believe the muggle-borns should be told anything. All children will start to show their magic abilities from the age of seven or eight.'

'I remember being four when I did something; my aunt screamed until my uncle took me into the garage. I had no idea why until he picked up a mirror. I had long dark red hair, but it wasn't a wig it was really my hair.'

'Four, are you positive you were not older Harry?'

'Yeah, it was before I went to school at five. I remember that first day at school. I got in trouble for ignoring the teacher, but I didn't realise she was talking to me. She kept saying Harry, Harry Potter; I'm looking around to see who this Harry Potter was. I tried to explain that I never knew my name, she didn't believe me. But it was months before that when I had the long red hair. After my uncle used his belt I was locked in the cupboard for a week.'

'Even though I wish we kept an eye on you Harry, you should not have been punished like that. Now most children will not do magic that young, I have never heard of any child being that young. I know Albus said he did at six but he was only a month off turning seven. Do you remember what you were thinking of before your hair grew?'

'I used to talk to my parents, ask them to rescue me. I used to have dreams of a flash of green light and screaming. One dream I saw a woman scream, she had long dark red hair. From then on I dreamt of her, I had no idea she was my mother. Hagrid explained about my parents and how they died.'

'Maybe it was your mother showing you that your dream was real, she was showing you your mother. This is something I have not heard of before Harry. One thing, I have seen your black messy hair for seven years, I see your father's face and your mother's eyes. It would be unusual to see you with your mother's hair and not your father's.'

Harry saw the look on Minerva's face which made him laugh, 'Maybe I can work out how to do it again so you could see it. I wouldn't mind seeing if I still look like my father or my mother if I had her eyes and hair. All anyone ever told me was I look like my father but I have my mother's eyes. I would like to know more about them. But about my hair, you've made me curious, Minerva. I'm going to see if I can change my hair again.'

Minerva smiled at Harry but hearing that he did magic at age four is just unheard of, she was curious if it meant anything. Or it could just mean that Harry Potter is powerful. He did produce a patronus at the age of thirteen and that is unheard of. She was the only member of that could do a patronus. Albus and Severus could also do one, but no other could do one. Minerva had a feeling that in years to come, she might see just how powerful Harry is. He could end up being the most powerful wizard in the magical world.