[a/n]I just MUST recommend a read. Won't take 10 minutes and the punchline had me in stitches All You Need to Know About Wizardkind By:Polydicta Offer thoughts in reviews if you like, and I'll answer, I won't spoil it.
Harry Does Different CDLXXX
Dear Creeveys
"In all I was pleased with your performance in yesterday's quiz." Professor McGonagall waved her wand at the stack of papers, which all went to the correct student "Of note, Mr. Weasley, your practicals have always been stronger than your theoreticals. Which is not necessarily a bad thing. That you have not yet replaced your broken wand is starting to impact your grade. If necessary I will write your parents."
"Go on Ron. Don't let them get to you." Harry patted his friend's shoulder. But something tickled the back of his mind. Harry wasn't sure what, but the Transfiguration Professor's comment bothered him. By the end of class it finally clicked and he raised his hand "Professor? Can I have a word, in private?"
She nodded "Of course Potter. After the homework assignment. That will be pages 58 through 80. Answer the questions at the back of the chapter, to be turned in. Next class. You had a question Potter?"
"Not about class, ma'am. Actually, I got today's lesson pretty quick." He replied in a tone that might be admitting a sin "No, it was when you mentioned writing to Ron's parents."
McGonagall's rather pleased expression turned, in a flash, to a frown "The subject of my correspondence with your friend's family is not your concern." She chastised.
"It wasn't Ron I was thinking about." The student waved dismissively "Has anyone written to Colin Creevey's parents? He's been petrified since Quidditch, and tomorrow's Thursday."
She barely blinked before waving off the concern "I'm sure Madam Pomfrey would send something if there was anything permanently wrong with your classmate."
"He's one of YOUR lions, Professor." Harry protested, unimpressed with the response.
Her face went to full Head and Deputy mode in a flash as she pointed out "You are potentially overdue for Herbology. Inform Professor Sprout of this impromptu talk and I will confirm." The conversation was clearly over.
Abcij
"Hermione? Ron?" this occurred in the Great Hall at supper "And I'm going to ask if I can call a Weasley Family Meeting." Seeing his friend's blush he waved it off "Don't worry about it. You know I don't sleep much. Besides I was really flattered by what everyone said at the Burrow."
The seven students found a classroom that Prefect Percy, only after insistence and prank threats, put under the best privacy ward he knew. Muttering unhappily "Right? What's this about."
"You're friends with Colin? Right Ginny?" asked Harry, having decided to best deal with all her blushes by ignoring them and treating her about like Hermione.
The redhead girl gave a bashful nod "He's nice. Well, when he's awake."
"Just why I'm enlisting you too." He confirmed "Now, here's what happened when I talked to McGonagall after Transfiguration this morning [his best recall thereof] And two questions. What do you think? And more, What do you think we should do?"
The fallout hit, unfortunately, exactly one week later as a crowd gathered for the Hufflepuff-Gryffindor Quidditch match. And right as Minerva was approaching her team to inform them that the game was cancelled. MANY cursed the timing.
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"My name is Arthur Weasley! Ministry Department Head!" echoed throughout the Hogwarts Quidditch stadium. "And I am here to bring a matter affecting all out children into public scrutiny where it belongs!"
The crowd's pregame energy quieted as the announcement became otherwise than expected.
A thickly built blond man, accompanied by a similarly colored woman stepped beside the speaker. After an involuntary flinch from the touch of the wand he spoke "I am what you people call a Muggle, Hugh Creevey. My son is a student here. Colin. Gryffindor First Year. It was only thanks to the machinations of Arthur here, and the Grangers here with us, I even learned my son has spent the past WEEK in a coma. He was apparently attacked by something STILL loose in the castle. Given that Arthur is a high official, and he only learned it from his son's friend."
"In case anyone's interested: the friend being referred to here is Harry Potter." Added Arthur. Just because he was rather outcast in Pureblood society, didn't mean he lacked political savvy. He smirked "I think you have everyone's attention now, Hugh."
This would include the Quidditch players and their professor. She frowned and spoke curtly "Apparently, you two did not think the staff had enough to do. Potter, and Weasleys, I suggest you four visit the infirmary. Silence Wood, even if it were not canceled before, the current uproar would certainly be enough to cancel the game. Off you go. I expect you four will not be inclined to leave, but remain there until I come for you." With that, McGonagall stalked away.
abcij
"I assure you that I am doing all I can. For both your children." Mediwitch Pomfrey had said to the visiting families. On their first arrival. And they were well enough accepting of her care.
Minerva McGonagall approached the Hospital wing well assured of her quality of the students' care. She'd known Poppy that long. Thus her certainty of the parents' appreciation thereof. She was very displeased with what had obviously been schemed behind her back. But the last two hours had served to bubble up nothing but outrage at the suspected prime mover. First introducing herself "Mr., Mrs. Creevey; Mr., Mrs. Granger: certain recent matters compel me to introduce myself as Headmistress Pro Tem."
"Headmistress" and "Professor" went around the wing. The titles were polite enough.
The tone was obvious to the new arrival "Let me begin by saying everything that can be done to keep Mr. Creevey and Miss Granger comfortable until they have been revived. I very much endorse the policy of the prior administration in that regard."
"For simplicity, we've decided to allow a single speaker to address our concerns." After offering his daughter's hand to his wife the man stood "Ian Granger, Headmistress, we all agree Madam Pomfrey's facilities are satisfactory under the circumstances. What we find insufficient is our children's treatment and, in particular, your handling …or rather… MIShandling of our involvement in the matter."
Were she in animagus form, McGonagall's back would be high "I should think we adults can discuss any matters outside of the hearing of children."
"True or not, we believe that, even unconscious our children benefit from the sound of our voices." This from Mrs. Creevey.
She then eyed the magicals with disfavor questioning "Molly? Arthur?" and seeing no movement focused her anger "I can, at the very least command obedience in you, Potter. Dismissed."
"All of us, together with the Weasleys" Ian went on "have agreed that anything anyone of us learn will be shared with each other. And as Harry was the prime mover in getting us together, we would be derelict indeed to leave him out. So how about we start there? As indebted as we are, why are PARENTS dependent upon the machinations of kids led by a twelve-year-old?"
She frowned "Professors should not have their authority questioned in front of students."
"The school nurse at Hermione's primary has to gain parental permission to give a child an aspirin for a headache." Countered her father coolly "But before further exploring your negligence, how about we discuss treatment? We all agree the maintenance care is more than adequate, but why has Colin been in this situation over a week? How long can they both be expected to remain as they are? We've learned it's a simple enough medicine that only takes a few hours to cook. Yet, according to the children, it will be months. Explain."
Clearly displeased with the tone, Minerva spoke similarly "Mr. Granger, you can be excused for being unaware: HOWEVER the particular plant which is the primary source of the SOLE treatment ONLY matures during the month of June."
"What do you people do when you want tomatoes in March?" Mrs. Creevey demanded, technically breaking with the spokesperson agreement. Though Harry did raise an eyebrow in ignorance of the matter.
Mrs. Weasley answered "Oh we have preservation spells for that. They are among the most elementary we have."
"So why weren't these fruits or roots preserved against need?" asked Mr. Granger.
Before she had the chance to reply to that, Minerva was hit with a different point from Mrs. Creevey "A better question is why wait a year when they're likely grown in South Africa or Australia? With what Colin has said about magic, he could have been up and around for breakfast that same day."
"There are concerns that would make that complicated." The Minerva answered, evasively "And the public announcement you precipitated have worsened matters immeasurably. As for you, Potter, I did tell you the matter was under control. You have unleashed a completely unnecessary firestorm that even your father, I believe, would not have considered."
Harry stiffened and drew himself up, unconsciously imitating his encounter with Mr. Malfoy, "Professor if it gets Colin and Hermione what they need even one day sooner than you and Dumbledore planned, then I'm proud of myself. And maybe if Dad wasn't dead he'd say the same thing."
"And while none of us would presume to replace his parents," Arthur spoke with all his rarely displayed departmental level authority "the bonds Harry himself formed make all of us obligated to act in their stead. All six of us will be looking out for his best interests. I trust we are clear, Minerva?"
It was Ian Granger who extended the olive branch that included an ultimatum "You will find our collective skills useful in quelling your …ahh… firestorm."
"The one whose match, you Mr. Potter, lit." Minerva glared at the boy "And the rest of you. There are less …volatile… ways to make your grievances known."
Hugh Creevey pointed out "Had Harry taken you at your word, exactly when would we have even KNOWN we had any?"
"Your now …ahh, former boss…" Ian continued smoothly "has been deprived of ONE of his crowns. Feeling like retiring?"
Given her husband's career Jill Creevey brought a moment of humor "No use crying over spilt milk, Headmistress. We want nothing more than our children walking and talking. Speed that process or …well… we could do this again with Professor Flitwick or Sprout perhaps."
The Headmistress paled, glared at Harry and stormed out.