Summary:
Kingsley and his Ministry of Magic contingent meet their Hogsland counterparts to discuss their future. A peek into Hogwarts curriculum. The next crisis.
Beta read thanks to Tanguera!
Notes and review replies at the end. Reviews are very much appreciated.
Historically, newly established magical territories found themselves at a disadvantage to negotiating tariffs, trade and any interchange between existing communities. Kingsley noted that the Hogsland contingent seemed incredibly at ease. Six quiet and somber witches and wizards, features charmed indistinguishable, dressed in dark uniforms smoothly exited the fireplace and fanned out. Hogsland's Minister, Legal Counsel and Undersecretary arrived shortly after. Kingsley noted an intensity in their guards' gazes but the three men strolled past aurors to shake his hand without a sign of anxiety. He noted there was always one dark guard at a time moving their fingers in discrete sign language, and another's lips moving without sound. Kingsley made a mental note to find out from where Hogsland was sourcing their law enforcement and security, the reports on the HLE did not accurately describe the silent grace he was witnessing. Later, he would be dismayed to hear only rumours that the contingent was a hodge podge of battle hardened war veterans. Neville and Severus had held a brutal training camp, with all the combat ready individuals the combined contacts of the Hogsland Council could muster. Former Dumbledore's Army, Death Eaters and refugees were all held under voluntary Unbreakable Vows upon entering the service, which guaranteed Hogsland citizenship and safety to their families.
The opening proposals for import and export tariffs, restrictions, and immigration/emigration had been sent over in advance; the giant vicious owl snapped at his secretary's fingers until he was present to relieve it of the weightless charmed wooden box. So before the Hogsland contingent had arrived, Kingsley felt fully prepared with the stack of counter offers, at least until they reached the sitting room. Undersecretary Blaise and Solicitor Pucey looked around, then briskly transfigured the coffee table and two wingback chairs into a serviceable long desk and backed stools. Prime Minister Longbottom perched on the arm of the remaining loveseat, and watched the horrified facial expressions on Kingsley's secretary and advisor, as Blaise and Adrian promptly ripped through all the proposed changes with dripping red quills. They muttered to each other while scribbling, "Look here, you would think they at least remembered the thirty-seventh revision to their own constitution."
"Merlin, they obviously didn't consult Percy Weasley or he'd have a conniption over this mess."
"This sounds too much like segregation. It's like they never learn." Blaise set down his quill after the last page, returned the chairs and table back to their original form, and chugged a cup of tea while Pucey cracked his back.
"No offense intended, Kingsley. But we thought the proposal we sent over was rather reasonable." The Ministry of Magic Undersecretary spluttered.
"Reasonable? You erected the wards and declared yourself separate, you don't get to have all the benefits without consequences."
"Yes. That is true. We thought it was reasonable. You see, we're self sufficient. As is, we don't really need anything desperately from the rest of the British magical community. We just wanted to be civil and set out clear boundaries for the sake of the children. They need a school, and not all parents can afford to send their child to another respectable institution of the International Confederation of Wizards. It would be a dire situation if they had to resort to less esteemed, less regulated and for-profit schools when we are still offering tuition-free education, provided our governments work past the minor details."
"Where the Ministry still pays the expense!"
"You will notice that the expense is much lower per child, almost half of last year's cost."
"I'm concerned of the apprenticeship proposition, the students would obviously have preferential bias on positions in Hogsland if they start apprenticeships before graduation."
"Competition always breeds excellence, and the Confederation has already approved the program. The students are not restricted, in fact their employment opportunities are greatly expanded. They leave Hogwarts with practical field experience that is invaluable."
It was hours later, when Neville shook the hand of a stunned Kingsley, politely ignoring the tears welling in the MoM Undersecretary's eyes.
"Hogsland wasn't created to oppose the Ministry. We have other priorities." Kingsley heard the unspoken 'other than your stupid campaigns.' "Primarily, taking care of our own."
The majority of the initial proposal had been agreed upon and signed with a few concessions that were actually rather piddly, all which didn't affect Hogsland priorities anyways. Kingsley felt as if he had greatly overestimated his position when the Hogsland representatives left, and thanked Merlin they were keeping the currency.
Agriculture Day, combined Herbology and Care of Creatures Class, Fourth Year Slytherins and Hufflepuffs.
"I'm not going anywhere near those chickens." A towheaded boy rolled his eyes at his partner, then kept dragging the tub of shavings closer.
"Then I'll inform the elves that you don't wish to have eggs for breakfast." The blonde girl turned to gasp at the professor.
"You can't do that!"
"Where do you think your eggs for the last two months have been coming from? Or the chicken you eat for dinner?" The shadow of his wide brimmed hat didn't hide the amused smirk surrounded by deep laugh lines, and the girl bristled.
"I don't know and I don't care, the elves do all the shopping."
"Well, at Hogwarts which is now in Hogsland, the elves don't do the shopping. They use the eggs, meat and manure from these chickens to fertilize plants for your food. Ms. Carruthers, all that is required is for you to levitate the chickens from one pen to the other, so Mr. Trent can banish the shavings into the compost heap, put down a new layer, then you levitate the chickens back. You are nowhere near the chickens. It's a half-hour process, and then you do the same with the rabbit hutches." The girl drew breath to retort when her partner hissed,
"Roxy shut up and just do it! I don't want to muck out the cattle pens, the goats bite!"
"I assure you Mr. Trent, eventually the cattle rotation will come to you once more before you graduate from Hogwarts. Perhaps you two could assist me with lambing, if chickens and rabbits are not to your taste." Benji Trent quickly covered Roxy's mouth with his hand.
"No, no Professor Bakewell. We are happy to do chickens and rabbits."
"Oh, well, then I'll make sure you have them for the class next week as well."
The professor walked away, whistling as his rubber boots squeaked on the wet grass. Roxy grumbled at Benji, "I wish we were fifth years, then we could just harvest plants and apply rapid growth charms." Benji glared at her.
"Didn't you hear from Lucy? They switched the fifth and sixth years. They have bean and aquaponics duty! You hate beans and they have to chop up worms for the fish!"
"Ewww!"
"Then the sixth years have bees and orchards."
"We're supposed to be here to learn, not as slave labour." Benji snorted.
"Speak for yourself. I'm learning loads. Da says one of the best brewmasters is a Forester, I already asked to be his apprentice."
"Well, I don't want to be an apprentice!"
"No one's making you! I'm gonna be someone Hogsland wants. No one wants a girl that just whines all day. Now leviosa those chickens already."
Theo didn't bother knocking on Hannah's door and leaned against the doorjamb as the Minister of Hogsland scrambled to find his pants. Hannah gracefully stood up and wiped the corners of her lips with her thumb.
"Sorry to interrupt, Abbott, but Grimp is reporting a bout of fevers amongst the Forester children. I've already prioritized our potion load with the brewing team, but they're advising that if it's the same bug that is sweeping through the rest of St. Mungo's to prepare for pneumonia and possible seizures."
"Merlin, just when we were starting to clear beds. We won't have nearly enough room or staff, Poppy's finally taken time off! Did they say if it was viral or bacterial?" Theo and Neville followed the mediwitch out at a trot, watching as cots were unfolded from cabinets, and assembled from wooden crates that had been left till someone had time. Theo gestured to open doors off the hallway, that had not been there yesterday.
"No,but I've already attached several regulated tents to address the space issue, and adjusted the wards to monitor and automatically quarantine and transfer anyone with symptoms here. Severus and Hermione are assisting the brewing team, and there's a new Madam Garner product specifically for fevers. Flume has agreed to forego the usual two weeks of marketing to address the need." Neville nodded, combing his hair back with one hand.
"And did you inform the HLE of the quarantine requirements? We need to step up security. There will be more activity, especially when we have our own brewing capabilities and the best Potions Master in England."
Notes:
Robert Bakewell was a British agriculturist considered by some to be the father of animal husbandry.
I understand that tariff negotiations would not usually be settled within a month much less a day, however, the premise of Hogsland is acting in the interests of moving forward with the materials one has.
If you haven't realized from previous chapters, my grasp of literary time is fluid at best. The line breaks could be minutes or months, please let me know if you see something that doesn't make sense.
Review Reply: First if all, I want to thank everyone who has reviewed this story and those that will. I am extremely grateful in having your thoughts on what has happened and your wonderings on what will be in the next chapter. You are fantastic!
So, in no particular order...
Ndavis77: Thank you! I'm sure that the process of secession in reality is much more intricate than what I'm typing up. So happy that my version sounds competent! Sorry for not getting to Hermione and Severus in this chapter, but the world I've built seems to come up with pressing technicalities!
Klo: Neville really is a Gryffindor, so he needs just a touch of political grooming. Neefa is as diva as a house-elf can be. She will rap your knuckles with a wooden spoon and tell you like it is. Haha, I wish I could say more about the rest of your comment but there would be too many spoilers! Thank you for following my train of thought! Don't you wish there was a McGonagall face-palm meme out there? 'Cause that's what I had in my head for her entire section in Chapter 6.
Starie78: Thank you! I had hoped that my story wasn't clichéd so I'm glad I have achieved that somewhat.
Hitokimi: One of my end notes is for you. Yes, my timing jumps around a lot so there isn't a specific amount of time that the line breaks signify. But, saying that, I have fixed this error! So please review again if you see another discrepancy!
Sunset oasis: Thank you! I've tried to give each some character development despite the crazy 'build a country' situation. Slytherins are near and dear to my heart. I would be the Huffliest Slytherin but that's the house I would demand the Hat to put me in.