"You were." He agreed, "But it's better than not making it at all and that's where ninety percent of the available women are."
"So that is the top ten percent of available women." She nodded pacified, "Our age or all available?"
"All of those on the list are within five years of us and no more than two years younger." He offered.
"Interesting, what list would this be?" Seamus saddled up to Hermione's other side.
"A list of powerful witches." Hermione offered but kept Harry's secret.
"Why would you want to know who is powerful?" he asked.
"So we know who not to make angry at us." Harry grinned and gave Hermione a wink, "We'll know that they'll send us off painfully if we make a wrong move."
"Who is on the list?" he asked with a thoughtful look.
"Hermione and Ginny." Harry offered, "They are fifteenth and ten respectively."
"The only surprise there is that they aren't one and two." Seamus shrugged, "Who else?"
"I'm not saying any more quite yet." Harry grinned, "But if you start annoying the wrong person I'll warn you."
"Harry, you're leaving me in pain here." He yelled as the two walked off without him.
"Harry." Minerva called as they made it to the next hallway.
"Professor?" he moved their way.
"We have a small problem." She waved at the large chunk of stone in the hallway, "None of our spells will work, can you try something."
Harry walked over and ran his hands over the stone. He didn't feel any issue with it so he levitated it to the spot it was supposed to go. He set it in place and the boom that resulted knocked most of them off their feet. Harry was still standing with his hand on the rock.
"Well that was unexpected." Harry looked up as everyone started to make it back to their feet.
"What happened?" Minerva asked, "Why couldn't we move it?"
"It was the largest piece of stone dislodged. Hogwarts wanted me to put it back." He shrugged, "Kind of like a cornerstone. With that placed by an heir all the repairs will hold. All my wards will hold."
"Professor!" someone called getting their attention, "Look!"
They turned in time to see smaller stones and dust being pulled to the wall. Within a few minutes the wall was back to normal. When the shock wore off a bit they turned to Harry.
"Well what do we do now?" someone asked.
"Check around and if there aren't any more places that need fixed then we'll get a meeting in the Great Hall." Harry suggested as he moved on.
They were all congregated in the Great Hall by lunch time. The meal was its normal loud time but Harry was apart from it since he sat with the teachers at the main table. He watched his friends chat amongst themselves and wished he could sit with them. But Hogwarts made it clear and he was sitting where she designated. Harry sat up straight in his chair suddenly and began to grin. A single owl carrying a red envelope descended to the Gryffindor table dropping the envelope and flying back out. Ron looked to Harry like he'd been betrayed but the howler grabbed his attention.
"I can't believe the six of you." Molly's voice range out, "Sneaking out of the house and taking over Hogwarts and declaring it a sanctuary, Arthur and I couldn't be prouder. I do wish we could see you though we miss you terribly. Hermione do your best to keep them in line. Percy, George, Ron and Ginny please behave, but stick by your ideals. Harry… I have no idea what to say to you. Being the heir of Hogwarts is a huge job. No smaller than the last one certainly. Be sure to eat enough and get enough sleep dear you'll need it."
With that the envelope dropped to the table and stayed silent. Four Weasleys and Hermione turned to look at Harry who was holding his hands up in surrender.
"The wards didn't block it because it wasn't bad." He offered.
"Mum loves you best." The four Weasleys accused with laughter.
"She just knows his habits." Hermione waved them off, "If we didn't remind him to eat and sleep I think he'd forget."
"I would not." He huffed, "I don't sleep because I have insomnia."
"Insomewhat?" Neville asked.
"Insomnia, it means he doesn't sleep all night." Luna offered.
"I didn't know they had a name for that." Neville shook his head.
"Anyway." Harry interrupted them, "The wards stop anything with anger or ill intent so nice howlers will get through."
"Nothing like getting yelled at in a nice way." Astoria snickered from her spot beside Draco.
"Speak for yourself." Romilda Vane sniffed.
"I believe now is the perfect time to address one more foreseeable problem." Harry quirked an eyebrow at the Gryffindor table, "I will not tolerate rudeness within this sanctuary." His glance fell on each table, "No calling people sneaky snakes, Gryffindorks, duffers or know it alls, no purebloods, halfbloods, mudbloods or blood traitors. We have just ended a war that nearly destroyed us because these things mattered so much. Good natured teasing is fine. But if you begin to hurt someone's feelings stop. Punishment will be dished out. If you will not stop you will be removed from the sanctuary where you will fall under the jurisdiction of the Government."
"Are you yelling at Vane or Astoria?" Draco asked.
"In this case Romilda Vane is the party in the wrong." He explained, "Astoria was having fun and not hurting anyone's feeling. It was a light hearted statement that poked fun without harm. Romilda's was meant to hurt and she did it in a snide manner. Houses do not matter to me. If Ron were to be rude and not stop I would kick him out. Same if it was Draco, Michael or Ernie."
"Are you certain you wouldn't favor the Gryffindors." Pansy asked, "Some of us have really given you a hard time over the years."
"While that is true some of the Gryffindors weren't always peaches and sunshine either." Harry pointed out, "If I refused to help everyone of you who had been snide, rude or hateful to me at some time in my stay here I think I could count five people who I would help Hermione, Ginny, Neville, Luna and George. Hermione only counts because the times she was rude it was to help me open my eyes."
"Master Harry." Babble popped into the room, "Peoples at the gates."
"Do you know who?" Harry asked.
"Somes is wolves." Babble shrugged.
"Minerva would you accompany me?" After she nodded Harry turned to the nurse, "Would you prepare to do some checkups Poppy?" Another nod and he turned to Draco, "Would you be able to identify any people that sided with Voldemort?"
"I can." He agreed and stood.
"Babble how many?" Harry turned back to the elf.
"Fifteen." He answered, "Should we be leaving the food for a while?"
"Yes, I'll let you know when you can take it." Harry stood, "Ron, George, Hermione, Luna, Neville, and at least seven others who would like to help come along. Ginny keep the study on the spiders going. Professors if the rest of you would stay here to watch over new comers until I get back from the Hospital I'd appreciate it."
He ended up with more than he requested but the group made their way to the gates. He noticed Greyback trying to hide amongst the group. Draco was hidden behind Dean and let Harry know about three other individuals that had sided with Voldemort. Harry had recognized two of them. They worked out who would be stunning them before he approached the gates where Minerva was giving the new group instructions.
"I want a single file line." Minerva instructed the new comers as Harry had requested on the way down to the gate, "You will be accompanied by two students up to the school. I want anyone who is injured to the front of the line. If they need help you will help them through the gates and hand them off to a set of students."
"Is it true that Hogwarts has been declared a sanctuary to all magic kind?" one of the men near Greyback asked.
"It has been." Harry stepped forward.
"Even werewolves?" another asked.
"All creature types are welcome." He nodded, "We only ask that you warn us of any needs you have or protections we need to set up. I won't allow anyone to hurt another resident."
The first person limped forward, "I'm a werewolf. I need a safe place to transform on full moon nights."
Luna and Ernie stepped forward and helped the man. Several more entered before Greyback and the three others that had sided with Voldemort. Once all four of them were in Greyback tried to grab Harry around the throat and the others pulled wands. Harry's spell was already on its way and Greyback ended up falling face first on the ground. The other three groups had stunned their person and no one had any injuries. They tied them up and eight students stepped up to levitate the four off to be sent to the ministry.
"I thought…" another man stopped shy of coming in the gate.
"Greyback was already wanted for injuring a current resident and they were trying to attack us. As long as you have not harmed someone on purpose you are free to enter." Harry shrugged, "The other three were known associates of Voldemort and they will all be tried before we decide what to do with them."
"What of the rest of us?" a woman asked.
"To insure the safety of everyone here I will be setting up some precautions." Harry said, "Everyone already here and anyone new will need to probably make a vow of some sort. The students already know what kind of things I won't tolerate."
The rest entered without incident. The students stayed with the person they were assigned to and after they returned to the Great Hall Harry began to discuss options with Minerva. Draco was listening in and added a comment or two. When it was done he had everyone, staff, students and new comers make the vow.
It stated: I vow on my right to stay to not to intentionally harm anyone within the sanctuary whether that be by deed, word or magic. I vow to help others when I can. I will view each person as an individual with no regards to blood states, disability, affliction, house or race. I will abide by all rules given by the heir of Hogwarts.
Harry started and each person repeated after him. As each person finished their name was added to the list Harry carried. Anyone who was in the building and did not repeat the vow was listed in red ink. After the Great Hall was finished Harry repeated the vow in the hospital. Once there were only twelve names in red Harry went to visit Greyback, the three Voldemort supporters. The eight students quickly made the vow and Harry set Greyback up in a chair as Blaise Zabini entered the room.
"Veritaserum." He held the vial out.
"Isn't that illegal outside the ministry?" Michael Corner asked.
"I don't know." Harry shrugged, "But I want us as safe as possible."
"Good point." He admitted.
Harry first transfigured the wooden chair into one made of steel. Then he tied the man to the chair keeping his hands in front and crossed at the chest so they were plainly seen. Finally he changed the ropes into steel bands.
"Wow, do you think that's enough?" Michael asked sarcastically.
"Do you have any idea who that is?" Draco asked as Blaise shook his head in disgust.
"No." Michael replied.
Harry pulled open his jaws and allowed Blaise to put three drops in the mouth before the two of them stepped back and Harry woke him up, "Name?"
"Fenrir Greyback." He answered.
Michael backed up to the wall. Draco smirked, "Call it overkill now?"
Michael didn't answer and Harry continued with the questions, "How many werewolves have you made?"
"About two hundred, I didn't really keep track." He responded.
"Any idea how many you bit?" Harry asked.
"Don't know but I'd say about half of them die." He responded, "Sometimes I can decimate whole families."
"Why did you come to Hogwarts?" Harry asked.
"To bite people." Greyback replied, "They'll change or die, don't care which."
"Where these three working with you?" Harry pointed to the other three.
"They wanted to kill you." Greyback shrugged at them, "I came along to get anyone I could."
"How much longer will the Veritaserum last?" Harry asked Draco after he stunned the wolf.
"Depends on his strength." Draco shrugged, "Generally it lasts an hour or so."
Harry transfigured three more chairs and tied the three wizards to them. One at a time he woke them up and questioned them under the truth potion. They had come to kill him. No one else was with them. All three were stunned again and Harry had them brought up to his new office. Minerva was waiting with the minister.
"Is that Greyback?" Kingsley indicated the man in steel bands.
"Yes, I didn't want to take any chances." Harry shrugged, "These three were supporters of Voldemort and came to kill me, Greyback came with them trying for anyone he could get."
"Well done." Kingsley nodded, "Can I get a few more Aurors here?"
"Two more." Harry agreed, "Then each Auror can have one of them. Any progress on the law changes?"
"They're still in debate." He sighed.
"Remind them that as long as Hogwarts is a sanctuary any school children will have to agree to the vow before they can attend. Wands are the only magical item they are allowed to have and the same wards on letters will be in effect." Harry provided him a copy of the vow, "Without that vow made to me children won't be entering here."
"I certainly hope we've cleared off the marriage law by September." Kingsley said sarcastically.
"All laws." Harry smirked back, "That is only one, I want them all reviewed. I also want a complete list of laws after you're done so that they can be review by us to see if they're satisfactory."
"But…" Kingsley was shocked.
"All of them." Harry nodded again.
"Shall I call for two more Aurors?" Minerva asked trying to hide a grin of her own.
"I'll do it." One of the aurors offered.
"Harry there isn't any way we can clear off all those laws by then." He argued.
"If I thought they would follow through we wouldn't be a sanctuary now." Harry argued back, "They were going to have me marry Pansy Parkinson; she was the one wanting to hand me over to Voldemort during the battle. I have no faith in them as a whole. I do believe a few members want to correct things."
"You realize you're holding the world hostage." He pointed out as the two new aurors arrived.
"They forced me to." Harry shrugged, "You know as well as I do that these laws need changed. With them left as they are dark wizards have a huge population of people who will be willing to join them. The down trodden always find a way to rebel."
"They aren't going to be happy." Kingsley sighed.
"They can join the club." Harry indicated Hogwarts with a wave of his hand, "It's not my job to make people happy. It my job to make sure this world is a place where the majority of people can be free, as minister that should be your job too."
"It is, I'm just not sure we can get there in three months." He implored, "Can't you give us some more time?"
"You have all the time in the world." Harry said, "I'm not saying you have to fix it all in three months. I'm just saying until they're fixed Hogwarts is a sanctuary. It is still a school."
"Sir?" the first two aurors were already gone and his guard was ready.
"Alright." Kingsley sighed, "Are you sure Harry?"
"Positive." He replied, "Do you think I'm wrong?"
"No." he frowned, "I just wish you were."
At dinner that evening Harry had an announcement, "In case you've heard the rumor and are wondering, yes Greyback was arrested." Cheers rose in the hall, no one was sad to see that man gone, "In celebration tonight we are starting a chess tournament. How many people have boards?"
They ended up with eight boards and set them up two per house table. Everyone who wanted to participate signed up on a parchment. From that Harry drew two names at a time and set up the first games. Nearly everyone wanted to play. Once the tournament roster was set up and everyone settled down he began again.
"The chess tournament will start shortly. I wanted to add that I also plan on having a quidditch tournament and a dueling tournament. These are things to keep us busy and fit. If there are participants for any other tournaments or if you want to find someone to play games with approach our panel." Harry announced.
"Who is on the panel?" Hermione asked.
"You and whomever you pick." He grinned at his friend.
"You were just waiting for the first person to ask weren't you?" she narrowed her eyes at him.
"Yes, but I was sure it would be you." Harry chuckled.
"Can we have muggle games?" Dean asked.
"Sure." Harry nodded, "I would just like to make sure that everyone has at least one physical hobby to keep them up and moving."
"Thank you Dean, for volunteering to help me." Hermione smirked playing Harry's game, "I would like at least three more volunteers especially someone who knows a lot of the magical games."
"I'll help." Daphne stood.
"Us too." Padma pulled Parvati to her feet surprising her sister.
"Only if she wants to." Harry interrupted the twin.
"Yes I'll help." Parvati rolled her eyes.