Story Arc 6, Chapter 9

With Harry's birthday on a Sunday this year, he was able to invite a few more people to the party. This would be his first real birthday party. Besides the Grangers, there were the Tonks, Weasleys, Longbottoms, and Bones. Professors McGonagall, Sprout, and Flitwick were invited as well as Hagrid. The whole quidditch team showed up in force. Molly Weasley had insisted on bringing the cake, but the Potter and Black elves took care of everything else. While they couldn't fly very high, there was still a spirited game of quidditch to be had as well as several rounds of "follow the leader".

Hermione had brought some muggle games for people to play such as croquet and twister. The twins were having a ball with twister. The adults sat up near the house watching the children interact.

Sirius said to Andi, "To think this almost didn't happen."

"But it did and has, Sirius. Don't beat yourself up for something you couldn't prevent. Things are much better now and Harry has a real family surrounding him now. There are people keeping an eye on him. He's filled out quite a lot this summer."

"I know, Andi, but if I'd never went after the rat …"

"Stop it, Padfoot," admonished Remus, "We all have a hand in what happened to Harry. I could have ignored Dumbledore and visited him. I know my way around the muggle world that I could have found him if I'd tried. I didn't. Let's keep the past in the past. We've learned from it and must move forward."

"Well said, Remus," said Minerva.

Sirius asked, "Has Albus said anything about what his decision is going to be?"

Minerva replied, "Not yet, but he's not dragging his feet quite as much on hiring the new staff. He wanted to bring Slughorn back, but I told him we need someone who is interested more in teaching than in adding to his lineup of who's who. We've found four couple with a mix of backgrounds to take over has House Masters or Mistresses. One of them is a muggleborn who has a muggle psychology degree. She's already working on some programs for the first years to help them get acquainted with each other and with being away from home. Another suggestion is that instead of making the fifth-year prefects responsible for all of the first years, we take fourth years and match them up one-on-one as a sort of 'sponsor'. This will give us a better idea of who would be better for prefects in fifth year."

Andi said, "I like that idea! Big Brother/Big Sister sort of setup?"

"Precisely," said Minerva.

The adults talked more about the changes pending at Hogwarts and were pleased with the direction it was heading. Amelia told them about the aborted attempt to resurrect the Triwizard Tournament. If Amelia hadn't canceled it, Augusta Longbottom would have made sure it came before the Wizengamot.

They finally called in all of the kids for cake and snacks. Harry got a pile of presents. He got books from Hermione and Remus. Andi gave him some new clothes, both wizard and muggle, as he'd grown out of another set. Molly's contribution was the cake, but the twins gave him some samples of their joke products while Ron and Ginny gave him some sweets from Honeydukes. The quidditch team chipped in for some new armor for their seeker. Neville got him a plant that would almost sing him to sleep. It made a weird sort of humming noise that most people found relaxing. The Grangers had gotten him some muggle clothes as well.

As enjoyable as the day had been, Harry was glad when he bade the last person goodbye through the floo. They sat in the sitting room drinking their beverage of choice – for Harry that was a cold butterbeer.

"Well, pup, how does it feel to be 14?" asked Sirius.

"No different from 13, to be honest," replied Harry.

Sirius laughed, "That's about what I said when people asked me that stupid question. Is there anything else you wanted for your birthday but didn't get?"

"No. I got more than enough stuff! I can't wait to read that set of books you got me on Defense, Remus."

"Don't spend all of your time reading, cub. You'll have plenty of time to do that once school starts. But if you see something interesting in them, let me know and I'll show you the spell."

"Perfect!" Harry let out a long yawn.

"I think it's time for the birthday boy to go to bed," said Sirius.

Harry got up and stretched, "G'night Padfoot. G'night Mooney."

- Scene Break -

The next two weeks were busy, but not excessively so. With Hermione gone on vacation, Harry went over to Ron's once more, but it became clearer to Harry that he and Ron were drifting apart. Harry was making plans for his life while Ron was content to keep the status quo. Madam Longbottom had had Sirius and Harry over for dinner one evening to discuss what was happening at Hogwarts.

Harry went through the explanations he'd given the professors and Madam Marchbanks on what they perceived the needs to be. He'd given this presentation enough to know it thoroughly.

Then she dropped the (not so secret) bomb, "Albus has asked me to become the Deputy Headmistress. At first, I was reluctant to accept, because I know how Albus likes to keep things close to the vest, but he said that he wanted to spend more time in the castle observing his teachers. He also said he wanted to teach an introductory course in Alchemy. It would just be for NEWT students. Apparently, you've given him a major wake-up call."

"So, it sounds like he's going to stay as the headmaster and resign his other positions," said Sirius.

"I wouldn't go that far, just yet, Lord Black. I think he's still trying to figure out how to have his cake and eat it too. By delegating the administrative functions to his deputy, he can say he has more time to focus on both the school and the Wizengamot," said Augusta.

Harry said, "The Charter is very clear that the Headmaster/Headmistress has no other jobs."

"I wish you well in enforcing that, Lord Slytherin Potter."

- Scene Break -

Albus had called a meeting of the entire faculty and staff and requested Harry and Sirius' presence on the tenth. Harry had just picked up the paperwork from the first sale of basilisk parts so he had a better idea of what funds would be available to the school in addition to the regular funds.

Both Harry and Sirius were surprised at the number of new people waiting in the Great Hall when they arrived. Albus had hired an additional teacher for the core classes of Transfiguration, Charms, DADA, and Potions. The senior teacher would teach the OWL and NEWT students while the junior teacher would teach the younger years. Transfiguration, Charms, Potions, and Herbology each had two apprentices assigned and would function as teacher assistants. The potions apprentices also had the primary responsibility for brewing potions for the hospital wing.

Two people Harry did not see were Mr. Filch and Professor Trelawny. Professors Babbling, Vector, Burbage, were also there. Besides the new assistant professors, there was Professor Grubbly-Plank who was taking over Care of Magical Creatures. Hagrid would be her apprentice. The new DADA Professor was Mad-Eye Moody and his assistant, SURPRISE, was Tonks! The new History professor turned out to be Bathilda Bagshot.

"Thank you all for joining me this morning. We have quite a crowd of people who are new. I'd like to go around the room and have everyone introduce themselves and what their specialty is."

This took about fifteen minutes for everyone to say their name and subject. Harry was expecting at least one person to question his participation, but no one did.

"We have a full schedule over the coming weeks to prepare for the new school year. Most of you have had a chance to look at your classrooms and accommodations. If there are supplies that you require, please provide an itemized list to Madam Longbottom. She is tasked with developing our budget and then ensuring we stick to it. You will not be denied the essentials, but we must avoid frivolous purchases.

"The potions laboratories have been moved to the same floor as the Hospital Wing. This will allow Potions Mistress Jones to collaborate with Healer Tonks and Madam Pomfrey concerning their needs."

Harry looked up at Andi's name and saw her hiding behind Madam Pomfrey. She looked at Harry and gave a quick wink.

"We have added a full-time healer to our staff to better care for the students and staff as well as give Madam Pomfrey a bit of a rest. Healer Tonks has been a senior healer at St. Mungo's for many years. Her daughter, Nymphadora, is the DADA apprentice. You will also see Ted Tonks here. While he is not part of the staff, he will be living here during the school year. I hope to persuade him to teach a course on wizarding law, or, if nothing else, provide lectures as his time permits."

"I would like us to split into two groups. I'll take the faculty and teaching staff along with Lord Black. Lord Slytherin Potter, if you and Madam Longbottom would take the dormitory staff, I'd like you to go through the processes we currently have regarding discipline and the points process among others.

As he'd already heard, the house masters/mistresses were already planning activities for their houses, especially the first years. Since Harry wasn't too far from his first year, they all grilled him for things he'd wished he'd known before and after he'd arrived at Hogwarts. Harry started listing out things:

1. A map showing where everything is

2. An introduction to basic wizarding customs

3. An introduction to the staff so they knew who taught what before they actually had their class. Perhaps a poster in the Entry Hall with each subject, teacher, and room assignment

4. Where to find the kitchens

5. Their house master's/mistress's office location

6. How to contact the master/mistress in an emergency

7. How the house elves worked, especially regarding laundry

Then they talked about discipline. Harry told the story from his first year of being docked 50 points when Malfoy was only docked 20 and the ill will it caused in the house. At least with Snape gone, the points system should be fairer. Wouldn't it be easier if each individual had their own points counter and at the end of the year, each house's points would be totaled for the final results?

Harry also talked about worthless detentions. Being sent into the Forbidden Forest after curfew because they broke curfew seemed crazy. While scrubbing cauldrons might be a punishment for some of the purebloods, for Harry it was nothing difficult. The group started a list of typical violations and assigned a point assessment to each. This would be provided to the teaching staff.

The staff had tried to put together a map, but with the castle changing on a whim, any map they made would be rendered moot in a short time. Harry said he'd talk with Sirius and Remus to see if a basic version of the Marauder's Map could be developed.

Harry liked the idea of assigning each first year a buddy from the students in fourth year. The Gryffindor prefects were never ones to stay around to help the firsties. Percy acted as though he was making a supreme sacrifice every time someone asked him a question.

Harry was pleased with all his group had accomplished. They'd finalized a student handbook along with everything else they'd done. Each student would be given one and they would be required to review it and sign the acknowledgement form during the first week of school. There would be no excuses that they didn't know a certain rule.

Another thing added to the list of first week events is that each first year would receive a health screening to ensure everyone had the proper vaccinations. No need for a case of dragon pox to break out because someone didn't go to St. Mungo's.

Albus called time for everyone at one in the afternoon. The elves served a hearty lunch and then there was discussion from both groups. The professors had developed a Code of Ethical Standards and Behavior that they would have to adhere to which would go along nicely with the Student Code of Conduct.

Harry talked to Sirius about a simplified Marauder's Map and thought it might be possible. He'd have to talk to Remus to be certain.

When they discussed the idea of individual point counters in addition to an overall one, Professor Flitwick suggested that Albus discuss it with the castle and see if she could make it happen. Albus wasn't sure it could be done, so Harry went over to one of the walls and placed both hands on it. He could feel the castle stirring as he shared his idea for the individual point counters. He told the castle that he wanted them located in each common room rather than in the Great Hall, leaving the overall point counters as they currently are. A few minutes later and it was done. Harry would trek up to Gryffindor Tower before he left to see what the castle had designed.

Finally, it was four o'clock and they were done for the day. A lot had been accomplished and there was a road map for what was still outstanding. Harry and Sirius would be available to consult as their time allowed. Before leaving, Harry, Sirius, Minerva, and the Fredericksons (Gryffindor House Masters) went up to Gryffindor Tower. After entering the common room, they looked to the side of the wall and saw one counter with the name Harry Potter. Albus said, "Twenty points to Mr. Potter for working with the castle to establish the new counters."

As he said this, Harry's counter added twenty rubies to it. It looked like the castle was also happy with this new system.