Augusta tapped her heel, having not only seen but shown the memory of Hagrid's Dragon. "Give me one reason not to push for Hagrid to be placed in Azkaban for harming and endangering children, Hmmm?" She ignored the terrified shiver of Hagrid, who turned incredibly pale.
Albus sighed. "He did not intend to do so, he forgets that as a half giant, he is immune to many issues that those without such powers are not."
"More reason to have him monitored and educated! He has a history of this, I am all too aware of that fact. Frank told me of him setting his house on fire when drunk and so many other things. I brushed it off, to my shame, but honestly he needs to be monitored." She turned to Hagrid. "We are going to have a long, long conversation. And you will be charged, dragon trading is highly illegal. However, Frank and Alice tried to create a separate facility for lesser crimes. No one deserves Dementors beyond murderers and rapists. I will not put you through that. Hagrid, I know you to be a good man, but you are not safe to be around. You regularly endanger the students, and that cannot be allowed. You may be losing your job."
"PLEASE, IT'S ALL I HAVE!"
She held out her hand, stopping his and Albus' next words. "I am not saying it will happen, but it may. We will discuss it. I am on the Board again, Albus, I can have him removed. However, I do not want to. He may be a fool, but he is an excellent grounds keeper. I will have him punished though. Not just him, Minerva dared put a hand on Neville, as did Filch the other two. Your entire staff will be investigated and I will be leading that."
Albus sighed. "Very well... where and when?"
"In two weeks, that is including the Third Floor Corridor I have heard about, with the Cerebus?"
Both shivered. " Fluffy hasn't hurt anyone!" Hagrid barked out.
"He is a threat, and cannot be allowed to remain where he is! Do not argue it will only weaken your case Hagrid. Now, do remember, you no longer have full power here, Albus. You abuses of power are adding up. Good day, to you both."
She whipped around and marched out, the moment she saw Minerva outside the office, she snarled. " Lay a hand on my Grandsons, either of my beloved boys, and I will break you Minerva. We both know a battle between us would likely kill us both."
Minerva shivered, nodding knowing she was right. She wisely said nothing as Augusta turned to her Grandchildren, smiling with pride. "Continue to stand up for yourself, you deserve it, both of you. Go to your dueling room. I look forward to one day seeing where your skills lie."
Her boys, both Neville and Cassius, hurried away, eager and happy as only youth could provide.
Two weeks later, Augusta returned to Hogwarts with her old Friend Amelia Bones and stood before the Hogwarts students. "Hello, my name is Augusta Longbottom. I am a member of the Board of Directors. Today and for the next few months, we will be investigating Hogwarts. The Staff, the rules, the power abuses. If you have anything to say, you are free to do so."
She saw Cassius stand. "Are you going to look into Snape? Who gets off on abusing students, especially Harry Potter for who know's what reason? Or how he doesn't really teach just writes things on the board. Or McGongagall who allows her temper to justify extreme punishments that rarely fit the crime. Or Filch who enjoys threatening and abusing students. Or Dumbledore who does nothing to quell this?"
Everyone went quiet, but then several Hufflepuffs stood and defended his words, starting with Cedric.
"He's right, Snape is a right bastard. He takes points off for breathing and allows his snakes to sabatoge potions!"
A pretty blue eyed girl nodded. "He lets his snakes attack people openly and never punishes them!"
This went on for a while, with the entirity of Hogwarts getting in on the action. Then, to everyone's shock, Daphne Greengrass stood. The girl was quiet, kind of rude, but a great student. She whistle and everyone looked at her. "We Slytherins learn nothing, he punishes you lot, but he just lets us slide by. He allows us to pass but it is self sabotage by being too forgiving! I want to be an Unforgivable one day, I need to be a great Potioneer!"
Augusta nodded. "Yes, to all of you. Come to me, no detention or point loss can be given over the next few weeks. In fact, those with something to say, stay here. The rest of you may go."
To her fear, almost everyone stayed... and that was a haunting sight.
Were things really that bad?
She dreaded to find out.
Turning, she saw the pale faces of the entire staff... and the hateful stare of Severus Snape.
This only solidified her desire to do something for her boys, for Frank and Alice whom she so dearly and deeply failed... She would make ammends, one way or another.
Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.
This was a joyful chapter.
Love, your Ninja Overlord,
Mika.
