I do not own Harry Potter, the Wizarding World, or any canon characters.
A Taste of Magic
60th Course – Out in the Open
Dumbledore sat in his office, looking at the others within. On one side, Snape stood behind a sitting Draco that looked defiantly unbothered to be in his office, looking back with bored disdain. On the other side stood Igor Karkaroff and Olympe Maxime, Headmaster of Durmstrang and Headmistress of Beauxbatons respectively. Their emotions were much closer to the surface and open, a shared anger. McGonagall stood beside Dumbledore, looking upset and worried as well, something Snape reflected.
Finally a knock was heard and the door opened at a gesture from Dumbledore. Lucius was at the fore, looking plainly smug and satisfied, a curious expression. Who he was followed by surprised Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Snape.
"Quirinus?" Dumbledore asked, looking astonished. "You look…well." It was true. Quirrell looked oddly hale and hearty, slightly larger in stature compared to the last time Dumbledore saw him. He wore a slim dark green turban and though his skin was a touch pale, it was not pale from poor health. His eyes were a mix of red and brown, turning into a slightly unsettling auburn.
"Dumbledore," Quirrell replied, his stutter absent in his voice. "Good to see you as well. Severus, Minerva," he greeted his former fellow teachers. He nodded genially to Maxime but his eyes flashed when he looked at Karkaroff, something the other man noticed and was instantly put on guard.
"May I ask what you are doing here?" Dumbledore asked politely.
"Of course, but I would think it is obvious. I am here to aid my student in the Tournament," Quirrell said smoothly.
"So you are the Headmaster of this Sanguis Verus Academy?" Dumbledore hummed when Quirrell nodded. "A brand-new school then?"
"Yes, recently founded and established," Quirrell said.
"It does not matter that it was," Maxime said haughtily. "Your school was not invited into the Triwizard Tournament, how dare you insert one of yours into it?"
"I dare because I do," Quirrell said, somehow looking down on Maxime despite her towering over him. "Besides, there is precedent. Other schools have participated in the Tournament in the past."
Dumbledore had gone back and checked, shortly after discovering Draco's involvement. Quirrell was correct. In the past, smaller schools had taken part in the Tournament. "They are typically invited beforehand however," Dumbledore said diplomatically.
"Of course and we will make amends," Quirrell said negligently. "But the Goblet chooses the worthy and since our star student here was chosen, he has to compete."
"Perhaps you would like to explain how he is a star student of your newly found Academy?" McGonagall asked.
"Dual enrollment is hardly a rare thing," Quirrell said. "A multitude of students are enrolled in multiple magic schools."
"Yes, but enrolled does not mean attend and there is no proof that he has attended this Academy," McGonagall retorted.
"But there is." Quirrell handed a sheaf of parchment over. "You will find the correct school records here showing summer courses and other things to prove it. And they are all correct, legally and officially."
Dumbledore's eyebrows rose as he looked through the parchment. More than a few of the students listed were current Hogwarts students. "I must say that this is highly unusual and not fitting in the rules as posted by the governors."
"The rules have been changed over time," Lucius said smoothly. "Perhaps you were not aware of them during meetings? I know how busy you are and how your mind wanders during them."
"Oh you are correct, the mind does wander occasionally." Dumbledore's smile was cool. "Much like protocols directly informing of impactful changes, much like loyalties one might imagine. Is that not the creed of the school governors? Loyalty to the education of the students?"
Lucius flushed and Quirrell narrowed his eyes. "Loyalty to ensure proper education," Quirrell said sharply.
"While I assume all you have done up till now has been legally correct, I question the morality of it," Dumbledore said quietly.
"Fortunately, your so-called morals are not the guiding principles," Quirrell said. "Besides, surely you should have seen this coming. Hogwarts has fallen in years. It is no longer a paragon of education and it is not safe to her students. Attacked by trolls, surrounded by Dementors, invaded by criminals, petrified students, the Chamber of Secrets revealing basilisks? Not a place that places the students' well-being ahead of others."
Dumbledore froze, staring up at Quirrell. He looked around surreptitiously. Maxime and Karkaroof were startled by the accusations, looking at each other. Snape and McGonagall were also startled but Snape narrowed his eyes at Quirrell's back at one detail. Lucius and Draco looked completely unbothered, clearly enjoying the stream of events. "Those did happen," Dumbledore said very slowly, marshalling his thoughts. "However, we were cleared by the Ministry and the Aurors to show that those were extenuating circumstances."
"Extenuating circumstances have a way of normalizing the abnormal," Quirrell said. "Speaking of the Ministry." He handed over a roll of parchment bound by an official ribbon.
Dumbledore took it and read it. "So, the Minister has approved of this, as has the French Ministry and the Eastern European Ministry." Karkaroff and Maxime shared a look of surprise. "Well, in the light of that and as dictated by the Goblet, I suppose we must proceed as things are." He smiled apologetically to Karkaroff and Maxime who left angrily, muttering about contacting their Ministries. Draco left, head high and smile wide, followed by his father. At his nod, McGonagall and Snape left too.
He looked at Quirrell. "As Headmaster of Sanguis, you are of course allowed to be on the grounds for the Tasks and the events."
"Of course," Quirrell said imperiously.
"What happened, Quirinus?" Dumbledore asked softly. "I thought you loved Hogwarts."
"I loved Hogwarts," Quirrell hissed angrily. His eyes turned brighter red. "I loved it from the moment I set foot here. Yet it has changed, Albus. It is no longer the school it was, no longer the school it should be. It is my duty to create a place for the ideal of magic, to let magic be taught fully and properly, and that is impossible for it to be here."
Dumbledore remained outwardly quiet but inwardly, he was very alarmed. He had seen the change in Quirrell's posture and tone, how he suddenly became something else. Someone else. "I am sorry you feel that way," he said at last.
Quirrell leaned back. His eyes returned to the shade of auburn and he subsided somewhat. "It is a pity it came to this, Albus, but think of it as a good thing. Multiple schools means more opportunity for education and you used to say that a bit of healthy competition is a good thing." With a sardonic bow, he left the office, leaving Dumbledore alone in his thoughts.
-0-
"Well?" McGonagall asked. She and the other professors had come to Dumbledore's office while he went to the Ministry.
"It has all been done correctly and legally, apparently," Dumbledore said wearily as he sat down. He waved his wand and a bottle of amber liquor floated to him and poured itself out into multiple glasses. "Though, that is somewhat generous. Apparently in the last few years, new laws and clauses have been slowly and quietly introduced to make this whole thing done with little to no fanfare."
He drank his firewhiskey. "But yes, Sanguis Verus Academy is a fully accredited school and has similar subjects as Hogwarts does, with the same age range of students. They have a light complement of students on their books, but within the amount necessary to maintain the school's status. It has existed for a year now and has the backing of several influential Families as well as the Minister and half the board of governors."
"I thought the board of school governors were in the best interest of a specific school," Flitwick said.
"As did I and I made that a point of contention. So now, the board is being cut in half essentially with one half staying to represent Hogwarts and the other the Sanguis Academy," Dumbledore sighed.
"Which means we are going to have to actively compete for things now with the Ministry," Sprout groaned.
"And most of the students at Sanguis are ours?" Flitwick asked. "That's…that's concerning."
"A large amount, yes," Dumbledore sighed heavily. "And at this year's end, they will be leaving Hogwarts to fully attend Sanguis."
"What does that mean for us?" McGonagall gasped.
"Honestly? I do not know," Dumbledore said sadly. "We will still have the amount of students needed to maintain the school's status thankfully, but funding and all the other important things will be called into question."
McGonagall drained her glass and refilled it. "What a damn mess," she said angrily. She shook her head when Dumbledore tapped her glass with his in agreement.
"I had no idea," Snape said dumbly. "Lucius kept this from me, entirely."
"He clearly played his cards very close to his chest," Dumbledore said. "He and Narcissa have been listed as head administrators for the Academy." He finished his glass and poured himself more fiery liquor. "We will continue to teach all of the students the same as we have, completely without bias. When, when they leave, we can reassess what we need to do and compensate for our apparent shortcomings."
"You believe this is our fault?" Sprout gasped.
"Not entirely," Dumbledore said slowly. "That said, if we have not provided a complete and proper education that somehow necessitated students leaving, it is our duty to address and correct that. Schooling at Hogwarts was never compulsory but we pride ourselves in being the best."
He frowned. "However, I have reason to believe that there might be something else going on here. Yes, we had extraordinary things happen the last three years, but I have a feeling of suspicion about them."
"What does that mean?" Remus asked.
"There's a chance that there may be some relation."
"Surely not," Flitwick said, looking disbelieving. "The troll incursion being related to the Chamber as well as the Dementors? No, that can't be."
"You're not one to be excessively paranoid," Pomfrey said.
Dumbledore looked at them. "Quirrell made a point about safety here. He mentioned the trolls, the Chamber, the Dementors, the petrifications" he hesitated for a moment, "and the basilisks."
Flitwick and Remus immediately looked up at that and so did the others in attendance.
"That's not common knowledge," Flitwick gasped. "No one should have known the existence of both basilisks save the senior professors, Hagrid, and Harry."
"And none of us would tell anyone," Remus said, frowning. "We knew secrecy was paramount to save Blinky's life."
"Wait, the second basilisk is named Blinky?" Pomfrey asked.
"The Flamels named her yes," Flitwick nodded.
"I think I agree with you," McGonagall said, looking alarmed. "None of us would tell anyone else so how would Quirinius know?"
"That is why I am so disturbed," Dumbledore said. "And that is why I am somewhat paranoid right now."
"You have reason to be," Pomfrey said. "That is beyond simple coincidence and not a simple slip of the tongue."
"I know this is rather small in comparison to the emergence of this other school, but how did Malfoy get his name into the cup?" Flitwick asked after they were quiet for a moment. "You and I drew the age-line ourselves; no student should have been able to breach it."
"I think one of the older students put his name in. The Goblet might have accepted two submissions from one student," Dumbledore said wearily. "Or perhaps one student simply put his name in, one loyal to this new Academy. The Goblet is very old and very powerful but not infallible. We never imagined there would be a fourth school so we did not think to protect against that possibility."
"Can we not simply prevent him from competing? It is the Triwizard and he entered in bad faith," McGonagall asked.
"If he was an unwilling participant, perhaps," Dumbledore said. "However, he is very willing to participate."
"What do we do?" Sprout asked, looking around after another lapse of silence.
"We wait and see," Dumbledore said after some silence. "We teach to the best of our ability, maintain quality care here, and see what else comes from these events." After some more murmuring, all of the professors and the matron left, leaving Snape and Dumbledore alone in the office.
"I will try to speak with Lucius," Snape said without being asked. "However, since he created this Academy and made plans without informing me or asking me anything, I do not think he will divulge anything to me."
"I understand," Dumbledore said. "See what you can learn but there is no reason to imperil yourself."
Snape nodded before taking a deep breath. "I have received more than a few letters informing me of a good portion of my House leaving the school at the end of the school year."
"I suspected as much," Dumbledore said, closing his eyes. "Minerva has told me she has received some as well and I imagine Filius and Pomona will inform me on the morrow. This was a calculated gesture."
"Agreed."
Dumbledore looked at him. "How are the humors of your House?"
Snape looked uncomfortable. "Fraught. There are those that are happy with a Slytherin Champion, save he is not just a Slytherin Champion. There is tension there and it will only get worse."
"Watch over them, especially the ones that will not follow behind Draco," Dumbledore said.
"Of course." Snape looked at Dumbledore. "This will only become more…difficult."
"Indeed," Dumbledore said sadly.
-0-
Pansy and Millicent sat together on Pansy's bed in their room. They had stood in the common room for a short time earlier, after the end of the Halloween Feast and the Choosing of the Champions. The atmosphere in the common room was chaotic and odd, definitely strange.
Draco was proud and boastful, reveling in the attention and dreaming of what was to come. He was telling everyone of what Sanguis Verus Academy would be, showing pictures of the school. He spoke of the names of the teachers, and was loudly describing what the school would mean and represent, the opportunities it would provide.
There was a divide among the students of Slytherin. Some stood with Draco, having already been accepted to this new academy and had shown their loyalty to him and this new school. Others were uncertain, unsure of what was to come. Groups broke and fractured as lines were drawn and motives made plain.
The girls had retreated to their room after listening a little and they sat together, feeling a little lost and more than a little uncertain.
"This is what he alluded to," Pansy said after some time in silence. She continued when Millicent turned to look at her. "He confronted me on the train. He said something was going to happen this year, something big. That everything will change."
"He knew this would happen," Millicent said.
Pansy nodded. "He also said that if I remembered my place," her lip curled, "I would come out the better for it."
"That's ominous," Milicent snorted. "And gross."
Pansy nodded once more.
"What do we do?" Millicent whispered.
"I don't know," Pansy whispered back.
"I don't trust him," Millicent said flatly.
"Neither do I," Pansy said incredibly quietly. "He will not let what happened between us go, no matter what he might say. I realize that now."
They sat there together, feeling even more lost. Their heads turned when they heard scraping and movement, of stone moving against stone. Finally a brick in the wall at ground level moved and Sunny came squirming through. She entered the room completely and stretched before shoving the brick back into place, seemingly ignoring Pansy and Millicent's wide-eyes.
"Is that how you've been getting in and out of our room?" Millicent asked when Sunny leapt onto Pansy's bed to join them.
Sunny nodded and she clambered onto Pansy's lap and straightened, lifting her head and giving Pansy a look through heavy-lidded eyes.
"What are you looking at me like that for?" Pansy asked, narrowing her eyes.
"Oh wait, she's got something tied to her collar." Millicent reached over and undid a thin bit of cord and took out a folded piece of parchment that was secured behind her collar. "Huh, oh it has our names on it." She unfolded it. "It's from Harry!" She and Pansy leaned over it eagerly.
Hey Pansy and Millie,
When we got back, Sunny was here so we thought to send you a message tonight. No one's allowed to leave our common rooms right now.
I know things aren't great with you two and Draco and just wanted to let you know that we're here for you. Let us know if we can do anything and we'll try our best to do it.
I have just been informed that we'll try our best if it isn't illegal and it doesn't break rules. Or maybe only some rules. Now there is an argument over what rules can be broken and what can't be broken. I honestly can't believe this is happening right now. Well, I actually can.
Okay, the new consensus is that we'll be supportive and maybe break some rules but nothing illegal. Wait. Now they're debating what constitutes as illegal.
I better just send this now. We're thinking about you two. (Splash of ink) And Sunny of course.
Your friends,
Harry, Lavender, Parvati, Hermione, Neville, and Ron.
Pansy released a huge sigh of relief and it was echoed by Millicent. "Thank goodness," she breathed.
"Yeah seriously, I feel a lot better," Millicent said. "I thought we'd be alone." She hugged a purring Sunny.
Pansy turned thoughtful. "No, there are some in Slytherin that would not simply go along with Draco for any reason."
"True, but it'd be dangerous to show that right now," Millicent said.
"True."
Millicent blinked. "What's that smile for?"
"Draco said something on the train and I'm going to heed it," Pansy smiled, an idea growing in her mind.
"What?" Millicent blinked some more. "Explain?"
"He said if I was a proper Pureblooded Slytherin girl, I would recognize opportunity and do the right thing," Pansy said.
Millicent retched. "Okay well, first of all, he's such a prat. Second of all, what are you thinking about in terms of that?"
"The funny thing is, he's not wrong. We have been raised to try and recognize opportunity and plan accordingly."
"Right."
"In this case, I don't think he realizes that there will be opportunities unrelated to him." Pansy looked at her best friend. "What do you think will happen if the majority of the other Slytherin students leave?"
"More space for the ones that remain behind," Millicent said slowly.
"Exactly. And," she held up the letter, "we won't be alone."
"That's true." Millicent looked brighter.
"So we do our best to support our friends, the ones that stand by us," Pansy said, growing more enthusiastic. "And together, we face what's to come and take advantage of the fallout."
"I like it," Millicent said, also smiling now.
Pansy took her hand and squeezed. "We deserve this."
"Hell yeah we do," Millicent said and squeezed her hand back. Millicent's smile turned feral. "And we get to stick it to Draco too."
Pansy's smile mirrored Millicent's. "And it will be a distinct pleasure in doing so."
"Hey, you got there," Millicent said warmly.
"He has gone too far now," Pansy said firmly. "He has proven that he is no friend." She looked down at the letter. "While they have proven to be our friends."
"And let's prove we're theirs," Millicent said soulfully.
"Hell yeah," Pansy murmured.
-0-0-0-
AshokaTheGreat - Thank you very much. I've been sitting on that twist for a while now and am pretty happy with how it turned out. Hope you continue to like it.
poka - I'm not much of a baker sadly, which is funny considering I was a biology major and did so many science labs. I should try to get into it properly beyond my usual biscuits, cookies, and muffins I do here and there. Draco's performance will have some highs and lows and I hope people think it makes sense. Hedwig teaching Fawkes the finer forms of nonverbal communication made me laugh out loud when I wrote it.
Arnie1701 - Hope you enjoy what happens.
odonnellzoo99 - I'm going to do a few differences with the tournament, though the thought of his haircare at the bottom of the lake is such a funny thought. Or imagine his father being down there lol. Yeah, I was sitting on that twist for a while and hoped people would like it. Especially after so many people thinking I would put Harry in the tournament. Fawkes pillow fighting would not be fair for anyone. Can't get away from him.
61394 - Yeah, the name for the school was definitely chosen to be that unsubtle wink wink moment for him. Draco is the so-called poster child so it's not that surprising for the Goblet to be rigged to select him. Imagining Michael Gambeon saying that line is very funny, and being exasperated at everyone, especially Fawkes.
Thundramon - Poor dragon, probably would get an upset stomach. Too much grease.
Kaya - I thought people would forget since it's been hinted at here and there but not touched for a while. I like throwbacks and trying to seed little hints here and there and hoped people would like it.
Hands Off MY Wolfie - Hopefully people will like the changes I make to the tournament at large. Thanks for reading.
HammerSteel - Thank you. Niche was definitely what I would call this project. I really didn't think people would enjoy it so much and I'm glad people are.
DOOOOOOM Lord of Waffles - Your autocorrect has not been kind to you lately, as most autocorrects are wont to do. I used to not like coffee at all but I've grown to like it, though I don't think it gives me energy anymore sadly.
dawnsfire - I thought people would have forgotten about the school, so I was hoping people would be shocked and delighted to see what happened last chapter. I thought it would be a neat reveal. Gosh, that is a scarily real thing that can happen.
alix33 - To be fair, he's insufferable no matter what.
Mitkon2001 - That arretjescake looks very rich and very tasty.
DarkRavie - Thank you