Disclaimer: Nope.

Author's Note: Thank you so much for the wonderful reviews! I'm so glad you enjoyed the chapter. I'm happy you liked the Harry and Sirius bonding moments, and thought the incorporation of the Dursleys was good. I definitely want to portray that Harry will never forget his time with them, but he's learning that he's loved and accepted now and is doing his best to leave behind all that they told him.

I can honestly say that no, it isn't because of my blindness that I have trouble adapting to changes in routine. That's a perfectly reasonable question to ask, but I really don't think that's what it is. I definitely think that it's because I'm on the autism spectrum and it's one of those things that I've always found difficult.

As for Harry meeting the governors - no, he's not actually meeting them yet, but he will meet some of them at another time. I'm actually very much looking forward to writing him coming into contact with them. Stay tuned for that in a future chapter!

I really, really hope you like this chapter. I honestly couldn't wait to write this one.

This introduces a concept I've never seen in a fic before, and this actually came to me during my time away. This story has grown and developed so much, and over the past few months, this plot point became something absolutely enormous that is going to have so much impact on the story. It's going to affect the war, the characters' relationships with each other, and the wizarding world in general. I really hope it goes over well with all of you. I'd absolutely love feedback on this, I'm super anxious for your reactions.

Everything I say here about the American wizarding world is all of my own creation. The same applies for Diagon Alley, Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, and Hogwarts. I take nothing from Pottermore or from the Fantastic Beasts movies. Since the actual canon books don't really talk about America (they only mention a school in Salem) I wanted to put my own ideas in this fic. I'm sorry that it doesn't follow Pottermore or the FB movies, but I honestly had so many ideas for this and so decided to make it AU.

Please enjoy.

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The jitters came back full force as Harry and Sirius traveled through the Floo network to Sturgis's home for the Order meeting. As much as he felt privileged to be included in any Order meeting, this one promised to be full of anxiety. After all, Sirius had told him exactly what it would be about, and Harry would have been a fool not to notice that his godfather was certainly anxious himself.

Harry had been so grateful to Sirius for offering to help him with duelling. Even though their practice hadn't gone particularly well due to Harry's exhaustion, Sirius had been patient with him, and his sense of humor had helped make it much less stressful. Emmeline had been right - it had lifted a huge weight off his shoulders to ask for help. It had been nerve-wracking, but he was glad he'd done it. When the voices of the Dursleys tried to interfere, he pushed them away, knowing that they had been wrong. Sometimes, asking for help was the right thing to do.

Upon arriving at Sturgis's home, they saw that several Order members were already there, sitting at the table in the kitchen. Harry acknowledged Emmeline by giving her a small smile and a nod. The woman nodded back, realizing what Harry was trying to say - he had taken her advice. Moody sat next to her, and on her other side was Remus, looking tired and worn, something that was unfortunately normal for him. Kingsley was already there, as were Hestia Jones and Dedalus Diggle.

Sturgis was sitting at the head of the table, and this both surprised Harry and didn't at the same time. He thought that this spot was reserved for the Headmistress, as she had also taken over Order duties from Dumbledore, but Sturgis had had such an impact on the Order that McGonagall must have allowed him to sit there. He smiled at Harry, and Harry smiled back. "There will be dinner after the meeting," he said to him and Sirius. "And our evening gathering will proceed as scheduled, if you'd like to stay."

Sturgis always had a way of making Harry feel comfortable, and alleviating the jitters that suffused his stomach. "Thank you," he said genuinely. "I'd like that very much."

"Me, too," Sirius agreed, and Harry could tell that Sturgis's spirits were buoyed by their acceptance.

Other Order members began to trickle in, and the more time that passed, the more Harry wondered what the governors had said. He grew impatient as he stared at the clock, anxious for the Order meeting to get under way.

Snape was one of the last people to arrive, and he glowered at Harry as he strode in, obviously despising his presence. As much as Harry wanted to glare back, he ignored the urge. He would do nothing to jeopardize the opportunity he'd been given to sit amongst the Order. It was something he wasn't taking for granted. Eventually, Snape looked away in disgust, realizing that Harry hadn't taken the bait. Sirius gave the man a truly nasty look, but Harry caught his godfather's gaze and shook his head. Sirius looked away as well, and Harry was gratified.

Finally, McGonagall stood up and cleared her throat. "Welcome to another Order meeting," she stated. "I know it is short notice, so thank you all for coming. As you can see, Mr. Potter is also in attendance, and there is a very good reason for that.

"But before anything else, I would like to make you all aware that I have decided to turn over these meetings to someone else. I have seen how impactful he has been on all of you, and I am exceedingly grateful for all he has done to motivate this organization into what it is today. In a very short time, he has achieved a great amount. Therefore, I am happy to announce that Sturgis Podmore will henceforth be leading the Order meetings."

Now Harry understood why Sturgis was sitting at the head of the table - he and McGonagall must have discussed this ahead of the meeting, and the man had agreed. He smiled at everyone as he received congratulations from many, including Harry. It made a huge amount of sense that Sturgis would take over Order duties. McGonagall would still remain a valued member, of course, but she could now concentrate fully on Hogwarts.

"Thank you." Sturgis looked rather overwhelmed at the high praise being given to him. It really did seem perfectly natural for him to be the leader. Kingsley was especially enthusiastic - the look of pride on his face was unmistakable. Harry had always sensed how close the two men were - they always stuck together at the evening gatherings, and there were many times that Kingsley assisted him in the activities everyone partook in.

Sturgis then looked seriously at everyone as he took over the proceedings. "I am very grateful to Minerva for giving me the opportunity, and that she trusts me to lead these meetings adequately," he said, smiling. "But for this explanation, I will hand the baton back to her. This, after all, concerns Hogwarts. There has been a major development with the school governors, and this is the reason Mr. Potter is here. Minerva, please tell us what you know."

McGonagall, looking very dignified, stood up again. Harry's heart sped up, and he felt it banging against his ribcage. He didn't know whether he was dreading this moment - his emotions were so mixed up, all jingling and jangling inside of him.

"I had a rather contentious meeting with the Board of Governors this morning," McGonagall explained. "Lucius Malfoy's replacement, Herbert Strickle, has a rather ... charming personality."

There were a few muted chuckles at the very clear sarcasm in McGonagall's voice, but Harry's mouth was too dry to let out any sound at all. A contentious meeting ... that didn't sound too promising.

But as McGonagall's explanation went on, Harry felt his mouth gape open. Matthew Banner, Rebecca Hardman, and ... Cho. He couldn't believe it.

He knew he'd never be able to forget seeing the murder of Matthew's aunt, uncle, and cousin. It had been one of the most horrific things he'd ever witnessed, and he still felt nauseated when recalling the pleasure that had practically dripped from Voldemort as he reveled in his power. He'd felt thoroughly satisfied as his servants made sport of torturing the eleven-year-old girl until she was pleading for it to stop. The fact that it was Matthew, of all people, who was helping him ... fate seemed to work in mysterious ways at times.

And Cho. For all the time Harry had remaining on this planet, he would never be able to forget the young girl's screams of, "WAKE UP CEDRIC! WAKE UP! WAKE UP! WAKE UP! Look AT ME, CEDRIC! WAKE UP! PLEASE! PLEASE! PLEASE! ENERVATE! ENERVATE! ENERVATE!" Her heartbroken sobs would haunt him for the rest of his life.

And yet ... she had come forward. She had spoken in Harry's defense. She wanted him back at Hogwarts. Only a few days ago, Harry had received an owl from Hermione stating that she and the older girl had become friends. Her letter hadn't gone into much detail of how they had developed a friendship, and Harry honestly wondered how Cho had come to her decision. He couldn't fathom how she could want to see his face ever again.

It must have shown in his expression when McGonagall said her name, because her gaze softened. "She is on your side, Mr. Potter," she said quietly. "She knows you're not responsible for what happened."

Harry remembered seeing her name on the counterpetition, the way her script was hesitant but she'd still done it. He wondered if she'd blamed him at first - McGonagall hadn't said so, but he got the feeling she wouldn't reveal such a thing. If she'd changed her mind, it only made Harry's respect for her rise.

"After the passion our three young students displayed, Governor Strickle was forced to reconsider his stance," the Headmistress went on. "We were able to negotiate, and he has agreed to some conditions that will make it possible for you to return to Hogwarts, Mr. Potter."

Harry felt his heart racing within his chest. He looked at the faces around the room, lingering the longest on Sirius. He saw mixed emotions there - there was worry and concern, but there was also enormous relief. Harry understood - Sirius was wary of letting Harry out of his sight, yet he was happy for him that there was finally some kind of resolution being proposed. Hadn't he said that, as long as certain standards were met and he would be assured of his godson's safety, that Harry deserved nothing more than to continue his experience at the ancient school? "That castle makes witches and wizards who they are." He'd talked in a reminiscent tone that filled Harry with an incredible empathy; there had been a sort of hopeless longing in Sirius's voice.

Harry, for his part, wasn't sure how to feel now. He had always loved Hogwarts immensely despite the trials and tribulations he'd lived through there. It seemed silly to say, but there was something so ... magical about its turrets and towers. The moving staircases, the talking portraits on the walls, the uniqueness of the ghosts, the way the plates and goblets in the Great Hall seemed to sparkle and shine, the comfort of the common room as students lounged around on the sofas and chairs ... nothing could quite compare to Hogwarts.

Still, Harry wrestled with the same feelings that had buffeted him in the time before he'd confessed to Sirius that he didn't want to go back yet. He loathed to admit it, but there was a part of him that was still scared of setting foot there.

He had definitely made progress in his recovery, and plenty of it. But he couldn't deny that he had gotten used to the way things were now. The rapport he'd developed with his tutors was such that going back to regular classes would be strange. He thought of the whispers and stares he would no doubt face if he traversed the corridors again, and his insides twisted with nerves.

And even if there were new security measures put in place ... would they be enough? The last few years had shown him that there were vulnerabilities at Hogwarts that dark wizards had been able to exploit. He thought of the Philosopher's Stone. He thought of that disgusting, evil diary. He thought of Pettigrew, who had spent years being Percy's pet before he became Ron's. He thought of Barty Crouch, Jr., and no one being the wiser that he was masquerading as Moody. Would even the strongest security measures be enough? And he could see by the expression Sirius wore that he was thinking exactly the same thing, and it frightened him.

"Harry." Sturgis spoke gently. "Harry, are you all right, lad?"

"Er ... yeah." Harry took a deep breath, straightening his spine and squaring his shoulders. He could do this - he could be strong. He could be brave. Rebecca, Matthew, and, oh Merlin ... Cho ... had fought for him, stood up for him. The least he could do was be exceedingly grateful and accept the changes that were about to transpire. He filled his head with thoughts of Ron, Hermione, and all those who had supported him ... he'd be going back to them. He thought of Ron's freckles, Hermione's brown eyes and insanely bushy hair, and couldn't help but smile.

McGonagall saw his expression lighten, and her lips twitched. "Indeed, you will be able to return to Hogwarts, Mr. Potter," she said. "However, as I have said, there were several stipulations I needed to agree to. First and foremost, the governors asked me what was being done in regards to your education this term. I explained that you are being tutored, and several of them suggested that you continue this arrangement until the term is over, and resume your place at Hogwarts in the new year. They were honestly genuinely concerned that you would face too many disruptions if you were to return immediately."

Everyone in the room was silent as they waited for Harry's reaction. He was unable to fight the relief that filled him at this pronouncement. He felt like a coward for it, but he couldn't deny how he felt. This, at least, would give him more of a chance to prepare for what Hogwarts would hold for him. And he would be able to continue with his tutors for a while longer.

"How did Rebecca and her companions feel about that decision?" asked Tonks. "Did they put up a fight?"

McGonagall smiled wryly. "Miss Hardman was about to, but Mr. Banner was able to restrain her," she explained. "He acknowledged that Mr. Potter is, indeed, still presently receiving an education, and to disrupt his routine might not be the best decision right now."

"It sounds like he can pick up on subtlety," Remus said quietly. "I'm guessing that he knew not to argue, if you didn't fight it."

"I imagine that some, Miss Granger and Mr. Weasley in particular, won't be pleased with the decision," Kingsley said with slight humor.

Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had been looking at Harry with gentle expressions the entire time this conversation had been going on, and Mr. Weasley said, "I have no doubt I will receive a furious owl from at least one of my children, most likely Ron. I'm glad that he has Hermione - I expect she'll be a calming influence on him, though I'm sure she won't be too happy about the situation herself."

"Do you not have anything to say, Potter?" Snape's black eyes flashed as he stared Harry down. "After all the trouble the Headmistress has gone to, and those students who are ... dunderheaded enough to think that the castle requires your presence ..."

"Will you ever treat Harry like he's human, rather than filth on the bottom of your shoe?" Mrs. Weasley burst out, glowering angrily at the Potions Master. "I've had quite enough of your constant belittling of the boy."

"I couldn't have put it better myself," Sirius snarled, laying a hand on Harry's shoulder. Harry looked at Sirius and saw relief mixed with guilt - obviously, his godfather was happy that Harry would be with him for a few more months, yet he felt bad that the boy couldn't instantly return to Hogwarts. Recognizing those warring emotions in his eyes, Harry smiled at him - he understood.

Paying no attention to Snape's derisive comments and the glowers several of the Order members were giving the dour man, Harry smiled at McGonagall. "Thank you, Headmistress," he said sincerely. "I'm sure it wasn't at all easy to talk to them. Strickle doesn't sound like a nice person."

"You can say that again," Kingsley murmured with a slight chuckle, and Harry got the sense that the two men had been acquainted and it was rather an ... unfortunate occurrence.

"What are the security measures that will be enacted in January?" Sirius asked, looking severely at McGonagall.

"I posed Kingsley's suggestion, of having Aurors take shifts around the castle at all times," McGonagall replied. "They would make themselves discreet so as not to constantly make the students aware of their presence. They will be focusing on their jobs, so even those who have a child attending the school will not be constantly watching what they're doing."

There could have been several jokes made at that moment - Harry remembered Tonks saying she would have loathed it if either of her parents showed up at Hogwarts for any lengthy period of time. But the mood in the room was far too serious for that right now. Instead, everyone looked pensive and contemplative.

Harry took a deep breath, and voiced his question. "Am I going to have guards, like I do when I go out into the wider wizarding world?" he asked quietly.

Snape opened his mouth, but McGonagall cut across him, preventing whatever snide comment he was undoubtedly about to make. She shot a glare at him and replied, "Yes, there will be Aurors who will be watching you closely. However, they will not be interfering in your daily routine unless anything particularly untoward happens."

Harry sighed. He didn't like it - there was something exceedingly disconcerting about not being able to even walk into the bathroom without someone watching you. The part of him that only wanted to be like everyone else - the part that despised being special, the Boy Who Bloody Lived - he wanted to argue. He wanted to object. He wanted to scream and rail against the world, to proclaim that it wasn't fair. It was the same part of him that recklessly went to Hogsmeade when everyone was up in arms about Sirius Black and the teachers were terrified to let Harry out of their sight because the man was apparently after him. All he'd wanted to do was go to Hogsmeade with his friends. He wanted to eat sweets and go to Zonko's and eat fish and chips in the Three Broomsticks. He didn't want to mope around Hogwarts while people his own age were having fun.

But he didn't argue, because he remembered. He remembered the thump of Cedric's lifeless body hitting the ground. He remembered opening his eyes, taking deep breaths to recover from the excruciating pain of his scar. He remembered seeing Cedric's glassy gray eyes staring back at him, his vacant gaze making Harry so, so cold inside.

There would be real-world consequences if Harry wasn't watched all the time. So what if he didn't have the privileges other students did? Someone else might end up dead just because Harry wanted privacy. He had a target painted on his back, and he would do anything to alleviate any danger to others even if he truly hated what it involved.

"Okay," Harry said quietly, and Sirius gazed at him with a heartbroken expression that told him all too plainly that his godfather understood his resigned acceptance.

"This does not mean that there will be an Auror in the room with you wherever you are," Sturgis said, his voice infinitely reassuring. "Locations such as the common room and your dormitory ... there will be guards outside to ensure that no unwanted visitors can gain entrance. It will be the same with classrooms. Most of the time, the Aurors will be in the corridors. They will know where you are, but I assure you that you will be able to spend time with your friends without always having an audience."

Harry looked around the room, and saw most of the Order staring at him with compassion. "I understand," he said quietly. "How do you think the other students will take it? Won't it make some of them angry?" He was sure that at least some would regret signing the counterpetition once they found out what it would take to have Harry there, never mind the ones who already thought he was a major security risk. "All of this is because of me."

Snape sneered. "Your egotism knows no bounds, Potter," he drawled. "Do you honestly think you are the only child that matters in the castle? Use the miniscule amount of brainpower you possess, and think. You are not the only one the Dark Lord is after, and that you think otherwise proves just how extraordinarily arrogant you are."

Sirius and Moody both started bellowing at Snape. The words were shouted so loudly, and they were so discordant that Harry was barely able to make them out. "How dare you" and "You have no idea what that boy's been through" were only a few of them.

"That's enough." The authority in Sturgis's voice silenced the room. Staring hard at Snape, he continued, "We are all aware of your opinion of Harry, Severus. Broadcasting it to all and sundry does not help this situation one iota."

"Indeed." McGonagall's eyes had narrowed, and she was wearing a truly forbidding expression that no student wanted to be on the receiving end of. Turning to Harry, she stated, "It has been shown that Hogwarts is not as secure as it has been touted, and it pains me deeply to state such a thing. It is prudent that with things as they currently are, the castle is as safe as possible. Therefore, some of the Aurors will be starting their shifts before you even return there."

Sturgis nodded, and spoke. "I will still be able to tutor you, Harry," he said reassuringly. "Kingsley has made sure that my shifts don't conflict with your sessions. Nor will they interrupt our evening gatherings, which will be proceeding as normal," he told the Order as a whole. Several of them smiled in response, and Harry was relieved to know that their lessons and the evening morale-boosting gatherings were still on. He was getting so much out of them - the man always found a way to lift his spirits.

Dedalus looked at Sturgis seriously. "I'm sure that's going to be hard, being at Hogwarts while Benjamin is there and not seeking him out."

A shadow passed over Sturgis's face, and his answering smile was sad. "It will be the most difficult thing I have had to do for a long time," he admitted softly. "But Ben doesn't need me to look over his shoulder. The students will, of course, hear about our shifts, and if he owls me to ask if I'm participating, I won't lie to him. But he needs to know that he doesn't have to think I'm watching him the entire time."

Arthur Weasley wore a very knowing expression. "I wish you the best of luck with that." There was a wistfulness in his voice, and Harry got the impression that right now, he wanted nothing more than to be an Auror.

Sturgis looked at Arthur with the same knowing expression. "Thank you. I'll need it," he confessed.

Harry couldn't imagine how hard that would be - to be in the same place as your child and accept that it wasn't part of your job to watch him. His eyes landed on those of Molly Weasley, and her face showed that if she'd been given such a task, she wouldn't be able to do it. He saw Kingsley looking at Sturgis, and he wasn't wearing the kind of expression that a boss would wear around one of his Aurors. Instead, he was looking at him in the same way that Harry and Ron might gaze at each other at a vulnerable moment. It struck Harry again just how close the two men were, and he wondered whether Kingsley had put Sturgis up to the task not only because he knew he'd be good at it, but as a kind of comfort. Even though he couldn't talk to him, it might help Sturgis to know that Ben was safe, and to take part in ensuring his security.

He looked at Sirius then, and honestly wondered how he'd cope when Harry returned to Hogwarts. Was he going to be okay? He despised to think of Sirius in his loathed childhood home all by himself. There had been discussions between the two of them before about leaving this place and finding somewhere all their own, where they could make new memories. Harry wondered if his return to Hogwarts might speed up that process. He didn't want to think about Sirius at Grimmauld Place alone.

And, selfishly, Harry wondered how he himself would cope. Don't be ridiculous, he told himself fiercely. You'll be with your friends again, and you know how much they care about you. And you know you have more supporters than you ever could have wished for. He thought of all those who had signed the counterpetition, all those names he didn't know. It had to be enough to know that they were all there for him, that their presence would counteract all those who didn't want him on the premises.

But he was still wary about leaving home, about leaving Sirius. And what about training for battle, and Occlumency? He knew he wouldn't need to be tutored in his subjects anymore, but his duelling skills ... he needed to keep up with them. Who at Hogwarts could teach him that?

"Harry?" Sirius's hand was on his shoulder, and Harry saw that all-consuming, fierce love in his gaze. "Are you all right?"

Harry couldn't help but blurt out his concern. "What about duelling?" he asked, knowing that Moody would infer that Harry meant Occlumency as well. "I won't have mastered that by January."

Sturgis, Emmeline, and Moody exchanged glances. "That, Mr. Potter, will be continuing," Emmeline told him. "When it gets closer to January, the three of us will work around your schedule and build it in. Sturgis, of course, will already be spending time at Hogwarts, and Alastor and I will also give you our time."

"You will be prepared, Potter," Moody said, his magical eye boring into Harry. "You can be sure of that."

A surge of gratitude swept through Harry, and for a moment, he was unable to form words. It floored him, to know just how much his tutors were willing to do for him. It would be on him to make it worth their while, and it gave him even more incentive to take care of himself so that he could put forth his best effort. "Thank you," he eventually said, the two simple words holding an infinite amount of meaning.

xxx

Sirius was battling mixed emotions as the Order meeting went on. Harry had gone into the living room, as the discussion regarding his education was now complete and the Order was moving on to other matters. He had gone without a fuss, knowing that even though he was accepted by most of the Order, he wasn't allowed to participate in the entire meeting.

His pup was returning to Hogwarts in a few months. A part of Sirius was overjoyed for him - the boy deserved nothing more than to be educated in the ancient, magical castle surrounded by so many who cared for him. He still couldn't believe the amount of people who had stepped up and signed the counterpetition, but in a way, he wasn't surprised at all. Someone like Harry was sure to inspire devotion and loyalty in so many.

But ... he remembered Sturgis on the night of Ben's birthday party, the pure sadness in his eyes. Sturgis hadn't wanted to let Benjamin go, although he'd known it was the right thing to do. And Sirius felt exactly the same - he didn't want to let Harry out of his sight.

Everything the boy had told him about his previous years at Hogwarts resounded in his mind. How could he be sure his godson would be safe? How could he trust that the security measures would be foolproof and that nothing would be missed? And how did he know that his emotional well-being would be taken care of?

In the end, it all came down to that very thing. Trust. He had to trust in the Aurors, trust in Harry's professors, trust in McGonagall. She was Headmistress now, after all, and although Sirius still harbored some hard feelings towards her for the past, he also knew she'd taken responsibility for the mistakes she'd made. There was no doubt in Sirius's mind that she was being sincere, so it was up to him to put his trust in her and to have faith that she would keep her promises.

But he was glad that he still had a few months with Harry. He could be there for him and help him through the remainder of his recovery. Doubtless they'd make more good memories that would sustain them both while Harry was gone. Their bond was eternal now, and even when the Hogwarts Express would take Harry with it, what they had wouldn't break. For all intents and purposes, Sirius was a parent now, and what he felt in his heart for Harry could never change.

There was another fear Sirius did not voice, although it was lodged deep within his heart. McGonagall might be Headmistress now, but what if Dumbledore returned? Desperately, he tried to clear his mind of that notion - the thought was too disconcerting. He knew one thing for sure, though - if the old man tried to interfere in Harry's life, he would get one hell of a fight from Sirius - and he knew he wouldn't be the only one in disagreement with Dumbledore.

Sturgis cleared his throat, and with a great effort, Sirius tore his mind away from Harry's education and focused it on what the new Order leader was saying. "There is another extremely important development that concerns Hogwarts," he explained. "It is something that has been mulled over by the governors for quite a number of years, but it has never come to fruition."

"Indeed." McGonagall nodded. "It is something that American magical society has partaken in for about a decade. As everyone here is aware, Professor Fiona Giddens, our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, has come from America, and has expressed strong support for this idea. She took it upon herself to write to the school governors about it this summer."

"It is very controversial," Kingsley added. "I do not think that most witches and wizards in this society will be for the idea. It will break many norms, and cause many of us to be very wary. Even some of us in this room might not relish the idea."

The whole room was interested now - all except Snape, whose expression was contorted into a look of disgust. Sirius felt a familiar hatred burn through him, and immediately thought he'd like whatever it was that Sturgis had to say.

"Once a year," Sturgis said, "usually in October, Americans have parent-teacher conferences at their magical schools. The objective is for parents to speak to their children's teachers, so that they know how they're doing and whether they need any assistance, whether it be practical or emotional."

Tonks's eyes lit up. "That's a really neat idea," she gushed. "Why have we never done that at Hogwarts? I wouldn't have minded if my parents came for only one day," she said with a laugh.

"Do not be obtuse, Nymphadora," Snape practically snarled at her. "Can you not discern what this means?"

"Do not speak to her like that, Snape," Moody growled angrily. "And it's obvious why you don't like the idea." His eyes, both magical and normal, were filled with a fierce mistrust as they bore down on Snape.

Tonks, though, wasn't phased by Snape's comment. "It means that parents will be more involved in their children's education," she said simply.

Sirius was definitely interested - parents and children seemed to be a major theme in the Order meeting tonight. He shuddered at the thought of his own parents showing up at the school - that would have been the absolute worst. Hogwarts had been his chance to escape their vile beliefs and their tyranny, after all. He could truly be himself in that castle.

As he looked around the room, he saw several people come to a dawning realization, and it was Remus who voiced it. "Does this mean ..." he said slowly, "that Americans actually have Muggles coming to their magical schools?"

"Impossible." Mundungus shook his head - he, for once, was paying attention. "Muggles can't even see Hogwarts. If they try, they'll only see a ruin, right?"

"Yes, that is usually true." Kingsley nodded. "But in the very, very rare instance, a Muggle can see the castle if a witch or wizard places a charm on them. The Muggle has to agree to it - they must know of the magical world and consent to its use. Even then, the charm will only hold for several hours, and must be recast if they wish to stay longer."

"Are you honestly suggesting that Muggles should come to Hogwarts?" Emmeline looked severely doubtful. "How would such an endeavor even be possible?"

Sirius felt a wild excitement suddenly blossom to life inside him, and he knew it stemmed from the thoughts he'd had of his parents just now. There were times when, even though they were no longer alive, he still felt the overwhelming need to piss them off. "And why shouldn't they be allowed to come?" he demanded of Emmeline. "What do you have against Muggles?"

Emmeline didn't react to Sirius's sharp and almost hostile tone. She responded calmly, "I have nothing against Muggles, Sirius. It is their safety I am concerned with. As you know, there is currently a war going on. I do not doubt that a certain monster and his supporters would be all too pleased with this information, and will have all the more targets to take their pick of."

"And what about the Statute of Secrecy?" Mundungus demanded. He looked more animated than Sirius had ever seen him. "It's the entire reason that we've been able to stay as safe as we are!"

"The entire notion is preposterous," Snape spat. "Vance has, once again, spoken sense. And Fletcher has always been fond of babbling inane nonsense, so I am astonished to say that there is actually a point to his drivel. The Dark Lord has already heard of this insane scheme and is already making plans around it."

"And these plans are?" Moody demanded, his expression ugly.

"I am unaware of them," Snape spat back.

"A likely story!" Moody bellowed.

"ENOUGH!" For once, Sturgis's voice was loud and demanding. "Severus, Alastor, if this continues, I will ask you both to leave. You are disrupting what is meant to be a civil discussion about a divisive issue. You are not helping the situation."

Snape and Moody, still glowering at each other, stopped their argument, both looking like teenagers who had been told off by their father.

It was Tonks who spoke next. "There are already going to be Aurors posted around the school, right?" she asked. "Couldn't they make sure that Muggles are safe, if the parent-teacher conferences happen? And ... I mean, parents of Muggle-borns already know about the magical world. What's the harm in them understanding it a bit better?"

Kingsley nodded. "As I have grown up in the magical world, I've seen many Muggle-borns drift away from their families," he said in his slow, deep voice. "They get integrated into the magical world, and their parents are barred from ever seeing most of it. They might get to see Diagon Alley if their child or another magical person guides them, and it's the same for Platform Nine and Three-Quarters if a witch or wizard has a hold of their arm or hand when they touch the barrier. So, yes, it is a possibility for them to see Hogwarts as well, though such a thing will take a lot of work. Muggles will need the transportation to get there, for one, and they will need a witch or wizard to cast the charm on them so they can see the castle. And the parent-teacher conferences will need to be complete before it wears off."

"But that's more of an opportunity for the Statute of Secrecy to be broken," Emmeline insisted. "Is it not a possibility that after seeing Hogwarts, Muggles will be more eager to tell their friends and acquaintances about it?"

"Yeah." Mundungus nodded. "How could they possibly keep something like that a secret?"

Hestia spoke up then. "It'll help the Muggle-borns stay closer to their families," she said, nodding at Kingsley. "Being Muggle-born myself, I was lucky - I always managed to stay close to mine growing up. But my other Muggle-born friends ... it was ... different for them. I always thought it was sad, you know?"

"But there's a war going on." Mundungus's voice was quiet. "I'm not against the idea of Muggles being more involved in their children's education at all. But ... won't they want to take their children away from the magical world if they find out more about the war?"

"So you're suggesting continuing to keep secrets from them about their own children?" Sirius thought of Harry in that moment, and wanted nothing more than to take him away from the fighting. "If they want to keep their children safe, isn't it their prerogative?"

"It won't keep them safe, Black." Snape glowered at him. "The Dark Lord will find them, mark my words. They can try to run, but they cannot hide from him."

Sirius saw that it took everything in Moody not to respond with an accusation, but the look in his eyes said it all. "You're contradicting yourself, Severus," Remus said softly. "If Voldemort will find them anyway, maybe it would help if the Muggles knew more. There is so much we don't know about their technology, about their ideas. Perhaps ... perhaps they could help us."

The room was silent as everyone contemplated this enormous news. "There are very good points on both sides of the issue," Sturgis said quietly. "The governors are in disagreement about it as well. Some think that it is now more important than ever for Muggles to understand the importance of our world, and the stakes of this war. Others believe that the more that they don't know, the safer they'll be."

"What do you think?" Emmeline asked curiously.

"I think," Sturgis said with conviction, "that all parents deserve to know what their children are facing. And I think that there is much that the Muggle world doesn't understand about us. Many have misconceptions about witches and wizards, as they have only really heard of us in stories. Some are rather ... wary when they hear about the magical world." His eyes were suddenly haunted in a way Sirius had only ever seen once - when he'd shouted at Dawlish when the other man had questioned Harry about Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon. Sirius had the distinct feeling that there was something painful in Sturgis's past - something to do with Muggles and the magical world.

Sirius also thought of Harry's own situation, of the unmistakable abuse he had suffered at the hands of his relatives. Although in that case, there was much more involved than just the fact that Petunia and Vernon hated magic. He honestly wondered whether it would have made things easier or harder for Petunia if she'd known more about the magical world. The thought didn't linger long, however - he felt no compassion or sympathy for Lily's sister, only hatred and disgust.

Kingsley nodded. "In the end, it is up to the governors to decide," he said.

Sirius's mind was buzzing as the Order devolved into more conversation about who was for it and who was against it. He didn't know what was going to happen, but he had the sudden, unmistakable feeling that whatever the decision was, it would change the fabric of the British wizarding world, and might even change the course of the war.