Edited by the mighty pazed!

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Chapter 67

Tannim sat at the table pondering what Chinthliss had learned about Albus Dumbledore. "Keighvin? Do you think that releasing this information would have much of an effect?"

Keighvin sighed and rubbed his face. "No… No I don't, it would actually do more harm to their people than good at this point." He sat back in his chair and looked toward the ceiling in thought. "His reputation is already in tatters, and any influence he had is long since spent. Our efforts at this point are better aimed at dealing with Umbridge, Malfoy and those ridiculous laws they keep pushing."

Sirius nodded. "They are getting more and more desperate, we need to keep the pressure on them if we hope to keep the changes you have started moving forward."

Keighvin chuckled. "By the end of the tournament it will be all over but the shouting. The non-magical government is arranging for a permanent protected side band broadcast BBC M1, England's first magical focused station, later this week. They will be able to pick up the new charmed antennas starting this week, and the first test broadcast will be a week from Saturday, the Wimbourne Wasps vs the Holyhead Harpies. They will be broadcasting the finals of the tournament as well."

Sirius broke out in laughter, it was a stroke of genius! Using the love of Quidditch against them!

When Sirius had calmed down, Keighvin dropped the other shoe. "To top it off the government has arranged several… gifts. The Three Broomsticks, The Leaky Cauldron, Hogwarts Great Hall, and a few other public venues are getting electrical upgrades and televisions as we speak. The Broomsticks will be on a generator for the short term, as will Hogwarts Great Hall, but power lines will make it to Hogsmeade by the summer, with a little magical help. The government is picking up the tab on the generators till then."

This brought on another round of laughter from Sirius.

"They will be broadcasting other things as well," he said once Sirius had quieted again. "A couple of child oriented educational programs in the morning and cartoons, a call in… or floo in… question show, focusing on the non-magical world, even a cooking show is planned."

Sirius's eyes were still twinkling with mirth. "They'll be falling all over themselves to be able to watch Quidditch in the pubs, see some of the other things and want it for their homes!"

Tannim nodded. "Add in the fact that those sets are perfectly capable of receiving normal stations as well, something shown to them when the televisions are set up… along with a complimentary radio…"

Keighvin nodded. "The other major selling point will be the lights. Hogwarts is a priority there, we have arranged for all of the common rooms to have full lighting and heat as soon as possible, along with the Great Hall and library. When the kids see how much easier it is to study with better light…"

"They'll want it everywhere else and at home as well…" Sirius said. "How long have you been planning this?" he asked. "I mean, this wasn't all put together on the fly… someone has been planning this for years."

Keighvin smiled. "You're right! But it wasn't us," he said. "The British government has had plans in place for some time but never had the ability to implement them… no way to force a foothold within the magical economy. Our bank proved to be that foothold."

Sirius nodded slowly. "I see… With the bank giving them access to Galleons they could start putting those plans into effect…"

Tannim shrugged. "Yes. The private economy, with only the barest of ability to buy in by the first generations, was one of the major pillars of their isolation, something that would only last for the next twenty years at the most."

Sirius looked confused by that statement. "Why?"

Keighvin shrugged. "England is just too small for it to last much longer," he said, his voice soft. "Europe as well, and your population interacts in too many places to stay unnoticed for much longer, photos and video will make sure of it."

Tannim nodded his agreement. "Even now electronic video surveillance is fairly commonplace in places like Kings Cross, and if it wasn't for the first generations being placed in security on those days by the Brits, it would already be done… even hiding the Express as it travels has had help."

Sirius nodded. "Alright, so what is next?"

Keighvin sat forward and put his elbows on the table. "Now we prepare for violence, especially during and after the final task. FX saw your ex-friend on his way out from his last trip into Hogwarts, he was using the Shrieking Shack tunnel, we believe he was meeting with someone on the grounds. Who that was is still under investigation."

Tannim looked less than pleased. "That little pecker is as slippery as they come, and the fact that he looks like a common brown rat when in his other form just makes it worse. We would love to capture him but it wouldn't do to miss and let them know we are on to them."

"Yeah, the rat was always good at avoiding things…" Sirius said dejectedly. "Especially in his rat form… He proved as much by not being eaten over our school years by Remus."

Keighvin snorted. "He would have most likely ended up with a stomach ache… Anyway, we are taking every precaution we can, and I am arranging for several Elvensteeds to be moved to Hogwarts along with a number of my kin to do a survey of the Forbidden Forest; do either of you wish to join us? I am looking forward to meeting with the tribe of centaurs, it will prove to be interesting I'm sure."

Sirius looked a bit uncomfortable. "No… I don't think my accompanying you would be a good idea. I… well we, the Marauders, are persona non grata with them… I think Bane, their chieftain's son would kill us on sight after the last time… The last time I looked back a male unicorn was trying to mount him… In our defense we didn't know the urine we sprayed on him was from a unicorn in season…" he said with a small smile.

Tannim chuckled. "You were real terrors weren't you?"

Sirius shrugged. "I like to think almost every grey hair on McGonagall's head came from us…" he said.

Their first morning back at Hogwarts had started normally; they arrived early, exercised, showered and headed toward the Great Hall for breakfast. It was then that Pansy noticed the first changes.

The most evident change was the pair of large screens that were in the process of being fitted along the back wall, measuring some twenty feet across each, a projection system as it was explained. The other was that several Slytherins were already seated at their table, a pair of whom stood and began to approach, almost as soon as the Fairgrove group entered.

What really confused her was that they weren't approaching Tannim or Headmaster Chinthliss, but her. "Parkinson, may we speak with you for a moment? In private?" the blond girl asked.

"Of course," she replied, looking over the pair of girls with a critical eye.

She led them to a quiet corner away from the others. "What do you wish to speak with me about Greengrass?"

Surprisingly it was her companion that spoke first. "Par… Pansy," the large girl looked down at her feet. "I-I'm sorry. I should have stood with you and not backed down when Malfoy started tormenting you… You've been a good friend to me and-"

"Milly, stop," Pansy said. "I understand why you did what you did. You have nothing to apologize for. I made my choice the moment I accepted the dance with Harry."

Millicent smiled. "Thank you." She quirked an eyebrow at her friend. "So it's Harry, and not Potter, now?"

Pansy chuckled. "To everyone, he only answers to Harry… He's nice too. I don't know what I was expecting, but it wasn't that," she said with a gesture towards the table where Harry was sitting on the table with his guitar on his lap, playing.

Pansy shook her head. "Anyway, what do you need Greengrass?"

"We felt you should know, and possibly pass along a few pieces of information," replied the blond. "Malfoy is most likely going to try something soon, ever since the new bank opened his family has lost a lot of its influence. A lot of people have taken advantage of the loans they are offering and his father is losing their stranglehold over them as they do, including in our house."

Pansy smiled. "And you think that dear Draco is going to try something to stem losing any more of his control within the school?"

Daphne Greengrass nodded. "I do. He has been working on something, planning, since your group left two weeks ago. I heard him talking with one of the seventh years, telling him that everything was in place and that he 'would see the power of the Malfoys soon!'"

Pansy rolled her eyes. "Draco and his mouth are going to get him killed before he graduates… Look, whatever it is I'm sure Harry can handle it."

Daphne and Millicent looked skeptical. "I'm serious. Trust me he can handle it," she said again. "He is in better shape than any ten Quidditch players, and he…" She paused for a moment… if he wanted the fact he was Chinthliss's apprentice known he would have said something. "He won't have any trouble with the likes of Draco."

Daphne still looked unconvinced. "I'll tell him, as well as our headmaster. I'm sure they will take precautions. Ok?"

Both of the girls nodded. "Good, thank you for the warning."

Milly stepped a little closer, and whispered, "So? What did you do after you left? I saw you when you came in, talking with him, are you setting your sights on the Potter fortune?"

Pansy chuckled. "Oh, I'm planning much more than just that…" she said with a wide grin and twinkle in her eye. "You two need to come down and… visit… the new classroom. I think it could be very enlightening."

The two girls looked at each other, briefly, before Pansy added, "I have learned something that may just change your plans for the future as well."

Harry made his way back from the Quidditch pitch, the weight of his crowbar looped through leather ties on his backpack a reassuring feeling. It had been almost a week since the warning from the pair of Slytherin girls, and as of yet there had been little movement from Draco.

When Harry had been told to make his way here, alone, to hear about the final task just a few minutes before he was due to arrive, he had decided carrying his weapon of choice would be prudent.

He was in a quandary at the moment, wrestling between his thoughts on the third task, a maze filled with magical creatures and obstacles, and trying to stay alert on his way back.

"So?" asked a voice from next to the door. "What did you think?"

Harry chuckled. "Dad that," he gestured toward the pitch, "is just insane. If they would put a student up against a dragon, just what in the world are they going to put in that maze?" He shook his head. "Then you add the fact that the maze is going to be able to change while we are in it? It could take days to make it to the center!"

"That's what Chinthliss told them," Tannim said turning to walk with his son. "We'll think of -"

"Don't worry about it Pop," Harry laughed. "I've got this one, all on my own. You keep an eye on everything else, and I'll handle this task."

Tannim's eyes widened, as he paused and looked at his son. He looked like he had a plan. "You're sure? You already know what you're going to do?"

Harry nodded. "Yep, no worries! I've got this… and I got them to agree to my carrying my crowbar, since I don't have a wand."

Tannim's eye quirked. "Did they look it over?"

"They glanced at it, but nothing else," Harry replied.

"Good," Tannim said. "Alright," he went on with a shrug. "If you're sure… or if you have any questions."

"I know, Dad," Harry said. "If I need it I'll ask, but I know my idea will work. You'll see!"