Again sorry for the long wait, same old same old, real life and writer's block. I've had most of this for months but it didn't feel like enough, but I've got nothing more so this is the last chapter. Thank you all for reading this story. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.
Returning from his patrol, the common room was nearly vacant with the exception of Hermione and Ron sitting near the fireplace waiting for him. Harry figured that Hermione wanted to discuss in length what they were going to bring up in the prefect meeting and then following that a meeting with their head of house.
There were some changes they wanted to occur throughout the school and start a study group that would be more easily done with the support and backing of their fellow prefects. Since the running of the group would hopefully left to the prefects, they had to also support the idea. Harry didn't want anyone to be forced into this though he thought it was a great idea.
Of course there were some other things that should be changed to support school unity but small steps were best to begin with. And nothing could be done unless the professors also agreed to the proposed ideas.
"Harry, how was your patrol?" Hermione asked once he had entered the common room.
"Fine, no trouble to be found." Harry answered, sitting down in an armchair across from his friends.
"Good. Now we should go over what we want to talk about again. We have to make sure that all of the houses agree otherwise the study group won't happen." Hermione started pulling out scrolls full of vitally important information, according to Hermione, that she wanted to go over.
Ron groaned and stood, "Well since I'm not a prefect I can't be of much help. I'll just head up to bed." And quickly he escaped from Hermione's grasp leaving Harry to suffer through the entirety of Hermione's work ethic. Not that Harry minded much since it was about something he also felt passionately about.
Plans were rehashed and discarded, redone, relayed out, and everything in between until they both thought it was perfect. Everything from age groups, to size of the groups, the subjects, and possible tutors were discussed. If they wanted it to work they had to have every little detailed thought out and planned.
Change was hard to come by in the wizarding world and if it wasn't full proof then someone would shoot it down. So Harry and Hermione had to make sure that the plan was viable and that everyone would accept it because if change didn't start happening even at the small level of Hogwarts then the wizarding world would someday collapse.
History tends to repeat its self and Harry knew that was especially true in the wizarding world. The issues brought up were never really resolved, just a band-aid solution was applied while the problems still festered underneath, ready to flame up at any moment like an infection. If one looked at the history books, those not about the goblin wars, then one would see a long line of 'Dark Lords' and 'Dark Magic'. The Dark Lord would be defeated and then all they stood for would be aggressively attacked, then shortly after another Dark Lord would rise up.
Harry knew that if the issues weren't resolved then in a couple of decades another Dark Lord would be on the rise. For muggle-born or raised this seemed like a revolution or a civil rights movement. But instead of race or gender it was based on magic. While he didn't think all of dark magic was ok, not everything had to be horrible after all. Though admittedly he didn't know much about the Dark Arts, but the definition that it only caused harm didn't seem right. After all he could think of several 'light' spells that could be used to hurt others.
But the issue of the Dark Arts would have to be on the back burner for a while. There was a lot of research still to look into before they could even think of where to start. Most likely they would need a pureblood or someone else versed in the Dark Arts to make headway and they could learn more of the hidden issues that cause the purebloods to follow Dark Lords.
Right now though Harry wanted to focus on the prejudice between the houses, it was a good place to start before heading onto other prejudices. If he could get people to see that Slytherins weren't automatically evil then that would be a great start. Even better if they start to look past the defining nature of a person's house, that people were more than just two defining characteristics.
Though if the various other prejudices common in the wizarding world were also challenged that would be amazing. It takes years for change to happen, but it started in the schools and the new generations. Younger people were more open to change usually while the older generations were stuck in their ways.
"That went well." Harry said after all the prefects had left leaving just him and Hermione.
"Yes it did surprisingly, must have been either your luck or the Harry Potter effect." Hermione said as she organized her papers and notes back into her bag.
Lightly glaring at Hermione for that comment he continued, ignoring the second half of what she said. "I thought that there would have been more opposition, I thought that at least there would have been one or two that disagreed."
"I told you it was the Harry Potter effect. When you get started on a topic you're passionate about or have some sort of speech you change people's minds. That and I think that a lot of students want to get along but didn't know how to without some guidance."
A great deal had been accomplished this meeting, even if some of it still had to be approved by the Professors, some of their other key goals had been started. But there was a big chunk of suggested ideas that would have to wait till after they left Hogwarts.
The diverse group had come with a bunch of ideas that were great but a little ambitious for students to do. While Harry knew they often accomplished what people thought impossible and should be left to adults, this time there were legalities that needed them to be graduated to accomplish. Besides some of their ideas would take time and support to be put into effect, but that was ok. Rome wasn't built in a day after all.
After gathering up all the stray papers left behind, Harry followed Hermione out of the room and back towards their common room. "Let's put these away and find Ron for lunch." Hermione suggested Harry made a noise of acceptance.
Turning his head Harry saw a young Hufflepuff approach Malfoy down another corridor. Slowing his stride Harry watched the interaction. It was obvious the student was nervous about approaching Malfoy, but Malfoy responded politely and the student looked relieved.
The young Hufflepuff skipped away cheerfully after whatever response Malfoy gave. Malfoy turned and met his gaze, Harry smiled at him before continuing after Hermione. Out of the corner of his eye Harry noticed the shocked look on Malfoy's face and quietly chuckled
"What's so funny?" Hermione questioned his mirth.
"Malfoy's face when I smiled at him." He said with a grin.
Rolling her eyes Hermione responded, "It's a wonder that he didn't have a heart attack or check you for curses."
~~~~~~~~ (Hogwarts) ~~~~~~~~
Change was slow to start off but it quickly swept through the school. There was a large decrease in bullying, harmful pranks, and disruptions in class. Similarly there was an increase in happiness and laughter in the halls. Hogwarts hadn't been like this in decades, nearly a century.
There was no care about ones house and prejudice towards blood status was decreasing along with the hatred towards 'Dark' families. Traditions could be spoken about without someone calling it pureblood prejudice. Discussion could be had about magic, of all kinds and from other countries, which had vastly different views than Britain.
It was nothing short of amazing what small changes were capable of. And slowly the change was spreading to the students' parents, and after graduation the change would spread further and faster.