# # #
#BOOM!#
# # #
Harry was out of his chair in a shot. He was already almost through the doors before the others at the table were even moving, as the sound of an explosion reverberated through the castle.
Running down the corridor the paintings were guiding his way. He skidded on the flagstones as he hit a cross corridor, the one that led to the owners' suites. As he started running he was only just in time to see Remus trying to get behind a portrait.
He remembered Hermione telling him her parents were in a suite just up from the owners' suites. That appeared to be where Remus was trying to get into.
Skidding to a halt next to Remus, he yelled, "Open!" And the painting swung open.
Remus bolted in, hesitated barely a moment, and bolted to a doorway across the other side of the room and off to one side. The door to the room was laying propped against a couch. Harry was not far behind him.
As Remus skidded to a halt just inside the doorway, Harry heard a loud shriek and some male cursing. Harry skidded to a halt alongside his honoraryuncle and looked at the scene of devastation within the room.
The canopy bed was a shambles, the windows had been blown outwards, and a piece of one of the broken canopy posts had hit the wall and smashed.
Sitting in the bed with the sheet and blankets pulled up were Dan and Emma.
Dan was yelling at Remus and Emma was blushing furiously. Neither appeared harmed.
Remus spun about in place and fixedly faced back out the door.
"What the hell happened?" asked Harry.
"We have no idea!" grumbled Dan. "We were... well, we were... Never you mind, lad!"
Coming running into the room were the healers. While he was listening to what Dan was trying to say, Remus had managed to scoop up Neville and Hermione and walked them both back out the doorway.
"Oh, for goodness sakes!" said Dan exasperatedly.
The healers took one look at the Grangers and ordered Harry out of the room.
As he stepped out, wondering what the hell had happened, Harry noticed one of the healers repairing the door and doorframe. Another was trying to repair the windows and the third was repairing the bed while Dan and Emma were still in it.
Hermione was struggling in Remus's grip. "Let me go!" she cried. "They're my parents. I need to see if they're alright!"
"They're fine, Hermione," replied Remus. "It looks like it was just a bout of accidental magic, is all."
"Then why won't you let me go in there?!" she cried again.
"Because the healers are dealing with them, and you'll only get in their way," the old wolf replied calmly. "You can go in when the healers are finished and they say they're ready for visitors."
The healers were quite a while before they came back out. Two of them were blushing furiously. All three were openly grinning.
Hermione came forward and asked, "Can I go in now? I need to make sure for myself they're alright."
"They're fine," one of the healers replied. "It was just a bout of accidental magic. They're just getting dressed and they'll be out soon."
Then the three of them left.
Hermione went back to her pacing where she'd been doing it after Remus had released his grip on her.
Her parents came out not long afterwards. Emma was blushing and grinning a bit sheepishly.
"What happened?" asked Hermione walking up to them to give them each a hug. "I was so worried. The healers just said it was a bout of accidental magic. But with your cores still so new I was worried it may have hurt you. Are you feeling okay? Do you need to go to the infirmary?"
"We're fine, Pumpkin," replied Dan. "It was just accidental magic. Don't worry about it."
Coughing a little Emma asked, "Umm... How about you take us on the tour of the castle now. It seems young Harry has already left. Maybe you should go and look for him, instead?"
"Harry's fine. Are you sure you're okay? We can go and search the castle later, if you like. Maybe, after dinner?" asked Hermione.
"Look, Pumpkin," said Dan, drawing her attention to him. "I think your mother and I would just like to go and take a little walk in the grounds surrounding the castle. I think we'd both like to see if we can burn off some energy before dinner. Okay?"
"Oh," replied their daughter. "Okay. I'm be next door in the owners' common room. You can find me there. Is that alright? Are you sure you don't need me to accompany you?"
"We'll be fine, love," replied Emma. "Run along, now, and join your friends."
After giving her parents a quick kiss on the cheek each, Hermione left. But, not before one last look back before she stepped out the exit.
Emma said, "When you make the earth move for me, Daniel, you don't muck about."
Dan just snorted in embarrassed amusement. "At least the healers have promised us they'll come back after we leave for dinner and cast spells to strengthen everything and cast unbreakable spells on everything else. I, for one, don't want to be interrupted like that again."
Emma chuckled.
# # #
An hour later, they knocked on the door of the owners' suites common room and were allowed to enter by Neville. The boy flat out grinned at them. They could tell he had a fair idea what they'd been doing. Emma blushed again, but decided to say nothing to the boy.
"Come in," said Neville. "We're about to head down to dinner, though."
"Yes, we know," said Dan. "We thought we'd walk in with you. That way you can direct us where to sit."
"Hi, Mum and Dad," called Hermione from where she was sitting on the couch across from the coffee table. "You can sit with me at the Ravenclaw table, if you like. Or, we can arrange for you to sit at the Head table with Sirius and Remus. Which would you prefer?"
"I... uh... think we should sit with the adults tonight, Pumpkin," replied Dan. "We can sit with you tomorrow, if you like."
"Okay," said Hermione. "I have a feeling the four of us heirs are going to get bombarded with questions from the students about what happened yesterday morning, anyway." Calling a house elf, she said, "Two more for the head table, please."
"Yes, Missy Claw!" said the elf, before popping away again.
"Are we ready, then?" asked Sirius. Getting no negative responses, he said, "Good, let's go then," and rose to his feet.
Susan and Neville, closest to the door, led the way.
# # #
Sitting down for dinner at the Head of the Slytherin table, Harry could see there were quite a few people missing.
"Where is everyone?" he asked Tracey.
"Ummm..." she stuttered. "Some of the students were allowed home to attend... funerals. A...And spend time with their families."
"Oh, damn!" groaned Harry. "I forgot about that."
"Errr... My Lord?" she hesitantly asked.
"Yes?" groaned Harry from where he had his head bowed over the table.
"Thank you," she simply replied in a soft voice.
Harry snapped his head up and stared at her. "Thank you?" he asked.
"For making sure Vol... Tom Riddle will never come back again."
Those who heard Tracey immediately fell silent and stared at her and Harry.
Harry hadn't noticed. His head was still bowed with his forearms on the table. His hands, clenched.
"I killed them, Miss Dav..." he stuttered. "I killed them, Tracey. They all died because of me."
Tracey hesitantly reached out and placed her hand over his. She gave it a gentle squeeze.
"They were very bad people, My... Harry," she said softly but firmly. "They were all guilty of very bad crimes."
"Yes, thank you, My Lord," said another, Blaise Zabini, reaching out and touching Harry on the arm.
"I..." stuttered Harry. He didn't know what to tell them. He didn't know how to respond.
"Thank you, my Lord," said Daphne Greengrass.
A second year, who had overheard, rose from where he was sitting and came around. Placing his hand on Harry's shoulder, he said, "Thank you, My Lord," before he moved off.
Another came forth. Harry didn't recognise them. "Thank you, My Lord," he, a male student, said in a stronger voice.
Others, including some from the Hufflepuff table, rose from their seats, approached, and said, "Thank you, My Lord."
Tracey kept hold of his hand. She was pleased Harry hadn't pulled away.
More started to come forward. "Thank you, My Lord."
Soon, others from other house tables approached. Each one said, "Thank you, My Lord."
The Head Table - indeed, all the other tables - stopped where they were chatting before the food was served. The Head Table just watched. Headmistress McGonagallsat with her hand to her mouth and was silently crying. So were many others.
"Thank you, My Lord."
Harry sat in a daze.
"Thank you, My Lord."
On and on it went.
"Thank you, My Lord."
Every student in attendance, even Ron Weasley, came forward.
"Thank you, My Lord."
As the last of the students approached, gave their own thanks and moved away again, the staff moved forward.
"Thank you, My Lord."
Harry just sat there in a stunned daze.
"Thank you, My Lord."
'Didn't these people realise he was a mass murderer?' he thought.
"Thank you, My Lord."
'He didn't even give them a chance to defeat him in combat. They died, unable to defend themselves.'
"Thank you, My Lord."
As the staff returned to their places, Headmistress McGonagall stood and said, "We've now all said our piece, and thanked our saviour..." Harry winced. "... But, it's now time we were fed and watered. Heads of Houses, if you please."
Hermione stood and commanded, "In the... way of Lord Slytherin; serve!"
Neville stood and commanded, "Serve!"
Susan stood and commanded, "Serve!"
Then, finally, Harry stood and softly commanded, "Serve."
And Headmistress McGonagall, still standing, said, "Serve!"
One by one the tables filled with a full serving of various courses. Head table, last.
In front of him, the students began to load their plates. Noticing Harry wasn't putting anything on his plate, Tracey began to load his for him. "You need to eat, My Lord," she said. "Please, eat something."
Harry sighed, picked up his cutlery, and began to mechanically eat his food.
He didn't even notice Tracey and Daphne, who sat opposite, surreptitiously loading his plate with more and more food.
He was just thankful the meal finally ended so he could return to the owners' common room.
Shortly thereafter, he took his leave and went to bed.
# # #
The next morning he felt a lot better, he even went down to breakfast with a bit of a smile on his face.
Those who saw him thought it was because he had finally accepted he wasn't to blame. Harry, though, knew it was the day he was scheduled to, once again, visit Her Majesty. There, she would commit him to High Justice.
What he wasn't expecting was what he read in the Daily Prophet. He hadn't read it since the morning of his 'getting rid' of Tom Riddle for good. He didn't know why he hadn't sought out a copy of it. He suspected it was his subconscious refusing to think of it to read of his crimes.
He had also forgotten to speak with the others and draft a media release inviting the media to, again, attend the castle. They had still promised to answer their questions about what had happened. But, this time, it would be just to answer questions.
However, he saw at the bottom of one of the stories where the Prophet said they had received the 'invitation' and would be attending. He kept it in his mind to talk to the others about it. And to thank them for getting it done. He didn't want the bad press saying they'd lied and a media conference wasn't going to be on, after all.
Looking around the Hall he noticed there was no sign of Neville, and Sirius still hadn't arrived either. Susan and Hermione were in their places and Remus was up at the Head Table. Dan and Emma were sitting at the ends of the table either side of Hermione, and they were chatting animatedly with both Hermione and some of the First Year students.
The paper also had an article about how Harry had turned two non-magicals - the paper was finally using the term non-magical instead of muggle (and Harry suspected Sirius's hand in that) - into magicals. It also included a short statement from the healers saying it had never happened before, and how they doubted it could possibly ever happen again.
Dobby had also popped by to let him know the amount of mail he had been receiving had, once more, begun to increase. This morning, he had received many more marriage proposals than normal. Some he knew he'd already received during the period immediately after he started receiving mail again. Obviously, people still thought him to be a 'good catch'.
This morning, it appeared everyone was willing to leave him alone to his thoughts. Tracey and Daphne tried to engage him in polite conversation but gave up when his answers were simple, almost always, one word responses.
After he'd finished eating he walked across and, asking a First Year Hufflepuff at the end of the table to slide across, sat down. The girl looked upon him in awe.
"Susan?" he asked his colleague. "Where's Neville? Doesn't he normally come down with you?"
Susan replied, "He and Sirius had an appointment at Saint Mungo'searly this morning. I believe they're waking up Neville's parents, for the first time."
"Oh!" said Harry, surprised. "I didn't realise they'd be able to try quite so soon."
"Once they knew the spell that had put them into the coma," she said, "they were quickly able to fashion another spell, combined with treatments, to wake them up. Fawkes... sorry, Polaris... has gone to meet them there. They're hoping his phoenix song will be able to help keep them calm when they're first awoken."
"Oh, good," said Harry. "I hope all goes well with them. Neville and his family have been just as much a victim of Dumbledore's manipulations as me and my family."
Hesitating a moment, Susan looked directly at Harry and asked, "How are you doing, Harry? I haven't had much of an opportunity to sit and talk with you these past couple of days."
"Yeah. Good," replied Harry. "It'll all be over this afternoon. When we visit with Her Majesty."
He didn't hear the First Year Hufflepuff girl next to him, a mundane-born, gasp in shock.
Frowning, Susan asked, "Just what do you think is going to happen with Her Majesty?"
"High Justice!" replied Harry firmly. "As a peer of her realm she has clearly decided she will be the one to try me for my crimes."
Surprised by what he'd said, Susan just sat there for a few moments. Then she reached out and smacked Harry in the back of the head.
"Ow!" said Harry, in surprise of his own, turning to look at her with a hurt look on his face. "What'd you do that for?"
"That was for thinking you need to be punished," she replied, firmly.
"But," he spluttered, "I killed people, Suse! I killed a lot of them!"
She reached out and smacked him in the back of the head again. "Stop it!"
"Ow! Suse!" he exclaimed.
"Harry James Potter!" she scolded him, not a little angry. "Promise me, that you will accept what Her Majesty says. It will be Her decision and you will respect it. Promise me!"
"Okay!" he replied somewhat hurt. "Damn, Suse; I promise, okay? I am Her servant, after all."
Still glaring at him a little Susan just nodded her head once and said, "Good. I accept your promise. Now, go back to your own table and stop scaring my 'Puffs."
Feeling like a whipped puppy, Harry went back to his own table.
Tracey and Daphne, he wondered when he started thinking of them by their first names rather than Miss Davies and Miss Greengrass, were quite sympathetic for the way Susan had hit him.
# # #
After breakfast, Harry headed back to the infirmary. He had a morning appointment with the lovely witch healer.
Walking in, he saw the Grangers had already beaten him there. There was only one of the trio of healers that were working on them the past two days, in attendance.
"How are they?" asked Harry.
"Good, actually," replied the healer looking pleased. "Their magical cores still seem to be growing."
Frowning, Harry asked, "What are they up to, now?"
"Just under 500 Merlins," said the healer. "Mister Granger's core is slightly larger than Mrs Granger's, at the moment. But, we think we know why that is."
"Why?" asked Harry, quite curious.
"While their cores have been growing, or filling up, their magic has also been working at healing them," the healer replied.
"Healing?" asked Harry, quite concerned. "I... hurt them... a lot?"
"Oh!" replied the healer in sudden understanding. "No, no. The magic is healing... damage their bodies already had before the... incident."
"Harry," spoke up Dan. "He means the normal damage that happens to a human body as it starts to get old. What he's referring to is the magic is somehow de-aging our bodies. He thinks, once the magic has finished doing its work, we'll look like a non-magical couple of about our mid-twenties. At least, that's what a late thirties magical couple looks like."
"Oh," replied Harry in understanding. "That's good, then, right?"
With a wide grin Dan replied, "That's very good."
With a returning grin, Harry went to take a seat in 'his' version of the two armchairs the nice mind healer witch had conjured for them yesterday. He had just called an elf to bring them some tea when she arrived.
Harry stood and said, "Welcome back, Ma'am."
"Oh, pish, Harry!" she replied with a flick of her hand, "What did I say yesterday? You can call me Gwenneth."
"Sorry, Gwenneth," replied Harry with a smile.
He waited until the witch had sat down and was starting to rummage about in her bag until he sat down himself.
Once she had everything out and set up the way she liked, she looked back at Harry with a pleased smile and said, "So, Harry; tell me what's been happening since last we chatted."
And Harry launched into what was happening with the Grangers, about their bout of accidental magic, about how all the students and staff came up to thank him just before the evening meal last night, and about what Susan said to him that morning.
Gwenneth smiled, frowned and encouraged where appropriate. Harry just enjoyed his time chatting with her.
She left about an hour later.
# # #
Harry noticed the Grangers and the healers had already left, so headed up to the owners' suites common room. In there he drew forth a sheet of parchment and began to write. However, he had to set aside what he was going to do when Dobby popped in.
"Master Harry Potter, Sir?" he asked.
"Yes, Dobby?"
"Is Master Harry Potter, Sir, ready to read all the incoming and sign all the outgoing mail he's received over the past few days?" asked Dobby respectfully.
"Damn!" said Harry with feeling before turning the his most loyal servant. "Sorry, Dobby. I'd completely forgotten about it."
The little elf just waited.
"Okay, then," said Harry. "We'd best be about it. Let's see it all, then.
Dobby snapped his fingers and an in-tray appeared stacked high with parchment. Alongside it was an empty out-tray.
Harry just sighed at the tower of parchment and began to go through it. Mostly, he only scanned the incoming mail and its corresponding outgoing letter or note, signed it, and placed it in the in-tray. Dobby had already disappeared.
He worked hard at it for a couple hours. By the end, he was suffering from 'quill-cramp'.
Sitting back with a sigh he called Dobby and had the elf take away the mail. Then, he pulled back in front of him the sheets of parchment he was working on and continued putting his thoughts down on parchment. He was running out of time before he had to go to his appointment with the Queen.
Harry knew the Queen was probably going to lock him away as of that afternoon and wanted to get as much committed to parchment as he could. He wrote out for Her Majesty how the Wizengamot broke down. He had to detail what each of the Houses on the Wizengamot were, whether they were Most Ancient, Ancient, Elder or - in the case of the Magical House of Malfoy - Magical. He also listed how each House currently aligned themselves, to the best of his knowledge.
The so-called 'light' side was of seven houses: Abbott, Black, Bones, Longbottom, Marchbanks, Potter and Stebbins. The so-called 'dark' side was, also, of seven families: Avery, Crabbe, Goyle, Rosier, Yaxley, Parkinson and Malfoy. The so-called 'grey', unaligned, side was of four families: Greengrass, MacMillan, Ogden and Smith. Dumbledore had sat as Castellan for Hogwarts and supposedly sided with the light. However, he also had support from two of the grey families, ensuring his position was, until recently, secure.
He went on to further list each of the Department Heads who sat on the Wizengamot, including Madam Umbridge (who was only an Undersecretary). They were: The Minister, Cornelius Fudge; Undersecretary to the Minister, Dolores Umbridge; Department of Magical Games and Sports, Hamish MacFarlan; Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes, Arnold Peasegood; Department of International Magical Cooperation, Barty Crouch Snr; Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Amelia Bones; Department of Magical Transportation, Basil Wood; Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, Cuthbert Mockridge; and Department of Mysteries, Algernon "Croaker". Though, the last never attended.
All the rest of the so-called seats were being sat in proxy by the other Houses as their lines had been ended during the previous war, during the 1970s, or before. That meant there were some Wizengamot members who were holding as many as ten seats by proxy. And they could vote each of their proxy seats along with their own. It gave certain individuals far too much voting power.
Harry recommended that those seats that were occupied because their lines had been ended, and were illegally being held by proxies on behalf of other houses, be removed. He also recommended that the members of the Ministry who sat within the Wizengamot were also removed. He couldn't see how they could sit unbiased when laws could be passed that related to themselves and their own departments; especially, at budget time.
Harry further recommended that those Most Ancient, Ancient and Elder Houses that weren't ennobled, be given consideration for ennobling under the wizarding world definition of it. And fix the number of ennobled members on the Wizengamot at fifty excluding, Herself; or, in her stead, the Royal Wizard.
Then Harry laid out that, instead of Ministry officials filling seats, forty-nine seats should be opened to elected representatives from the people of the wizarding community. And one seat, the Minister, should be filled as appointed by the Prime Minister as part of his Cabinet.
This would create a combined wizarding merged House of Lords and Commons with 101 members sitting in deliberation if the entire Wizengamot was in attendance. He also suggested the Heads of Department, especially the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, also be in attendance, but not as Members of the Wizengamot. Instead, they would sit as advisors, without a vote, and would only be permitted to speak when specifically asked for information relating to their own portfolios within the Ministry. They would also not be permitted to wear the purple and silver trimmed robes of members of the Wizengamot. Theirs would be plain black.
Harry did not believe there were currently sufficient numbers of wizarding folk in magical Britain for a larger body to govern them. The war in the 1930-40s, where many flocked to Grindelwald's banner, followed by the war in the 1970s, by the first incarnation of Riddle, had so decimated the number of wizarding kind in Britain that the current populace could not hope to support a larger body.
That many of the pure blood, ennobled Houses joined either Grindelwald or Riddle in full, causing their paternal lines to either end or be so gutted they died out soon after, made things easier for Harry; and, therefore, the Queen. It meant those Houses who all had seats upon the Wizengamot could be removed from the Roster of Members. It would both make way for new blood lines to be elevated and for a partial elected membership to step forth and be seated.
However, Harry also believed the number sitting upon the Wizengamot should be up for review once each decade to keep pace with the growth of the community. At that time, either new seats could be added through elevation or adding more elected members.
He then suggested to Her Majesty he meet with her, Sir Kingston, the other three heirs, and whomever else; to go through it all.
By the time he finished writing everything out, and laying everything out in written form as part of his report to the Queen, the other three heirs were in the owners' common room.
Harry walked across to Neville and asked, "Nev, mate. How are your parents?"
Without saying a word, Neville simply stood up and gave Harry a very strong hug. Harry, a bit shocked, ended up hugging him back for a few seconds.
When Neville back off again, he said, "They're awake, Harry. My parents have woken up." He had tears in his eyes.
"Damn, Nev!" replied Harry, happy for his friend. "That's brilliant!"
"The healers only woke them up for a minute or two, just to make sure they were going to stay awake, before they put them back to sleep again," the clearly happy Lord Gryffindor said. "Now that they know they're out of the comas, they're pumping them full of major healing potions to get their bodies back to normal health. That should take a couple of days, then they're going to wake them up for good and have a mind healer spend time with them."
Harry was happy for his friend. He was glad there was some good come from his having to deal with Riddle. Both Susan and Hermione had tears in their eyes, and Hermione had a case of the sniffles.
After Neville had sat back down again, still quite pleased, Harry handed him the stack of parchment he'd been working on concerning the Wizengamot.
"Nev," he asked. "Would you mind going over these notes of mine... my latest report to Her Majesty... and seeing if you can improve on any of it?"
Looking up at Harry, Neville took the documents and laid them out on the coffee table in front of him. The girls also leaned forward. It wasn't until then Harry noticed the Grangers were also in the room. "Oh!" he said noticing them. "Sorry, I didn't see you there."
"That's okay, lad," replied Dan. "What have you got there?"
"I've had it in my head to start focussing on Her Majesty's first task for us; fixing the Wizengamot. I wanted to get some things down on parchment before Her Majesty locks me up, this afternoon."
"Stop that!" Hermione snapped at him.
"Huh?" replied Harry.
"I said, 'Stop that'," she replied. "You don't know what Her Majesty is going to do, so stop treating it as a foregone conclusion."
Before Harry could respond, Susan half-growled, "Do I need to smack you again, Lord Slytherin?"
Harry held up both his hands in surrender and replied, "No, no! I'll just sit here then, okay?" And sat next to Neville.
He sat and waited for his friend and colleague to read through his report and attachments.
Neville sat reading, frowning, for a while before once more looking at Harry with a look of surprise on his face. "This is amazing, Harry." He looked across at the other two and said, "Ladies? Have a read of this. Harry's decided the Wizengamot needs to be redesigned and has been writing a report to the Queen laying out his idea for her."
Neville passed them the sheaf of parchments to read.
Harry was worried. What he planned, with what he hoped to accomplish with the Queen's backing, would set Wizarding Britain's society on its ear. However, both Neville and Susan... even he, himself, when he thought of it... were also going to be victims of that upending of society. He wasn't worried about Hermione as she was both mundane-born and raised. But the other two could upset matters before they even began.
"Bloody Hell, Harry!..." exclaimed Susan.
'Oh-oh,' thought Harry.
"... It's brilliant!" Susan continued to exclaim.
For once, Hermione didn't scold Susan over her language.
Harry was stunned by her overwhelming support. "Errr... you like?" he asked.
"Definitely!" she firmly stated.
Hermione looked back at Harry with no small amount of awe. "You've been holding out on us, Harry," she said.
Harry looked across at Neville and could see his best male friend was grinning back like a loon. "I take it you're in support, too?" he asked.
"As Susan said," replied Neville, "Definitely!"
Harry sagged in relief. "I wasn't sure how you or Susan were going to take it; as you're pure-bloods and all."
Neville said, "Don't be a git. Everything you've said in there is solid fact. I bet both Gran and Amelia would agree, too. But, there was no way the other ennobled were going to let go of their 'free' votes if it was simply raised as a motion. So, neither would have even considered it, otherwise."
Susan nodded and said, "However, if the Queen stamps her authority over the Wizengamot, they will have no choice but to go along with it. After all, she can strip them of their ennoblement at a whim, if she so chooses."
A much happier Harry said, "Then, are there any changes you can recommend before our appointment with Her?"
The other three talked about it between themselves while Harry sat back and waited. Finally, Neville said, "No. But how do we rank the order presented for each of the non-ennobled Houses to step forward? We can't have a situation where we need five more ennobled members and fifteen people are eligible to take them."
Harry frowned. He hadn't thought of that. His original plan was just to have them came forward alphabetically. But, how could someone named 'Blenkinsop' be more important than someone named 'Edgecombe' and that person be more important than 'Scrimgeour'?
Even in their Most Ancient, Ancient, Elder and Magical 'rankings', that was just too many Houses to ennoble.
Susan said, "Okay, Neville and I should be doing research into that with Auntie 'Melia and Madam Longbottom. Auntie 'Melia can use DMLE records to go through the records of all the Magical Houses to see if the latest Heads of those Houses, and or their heirs, have gotten into too much strife."
"Yeah," said Neville, "and Gran has quite extensive records on almost all the wizarding families across Magical Britain, and knows who's done 'great things' and would be a deserving family of ennoblement. For instance; Damocles Belby invented the Wolfsbane Potion almost a decade ago, Newt Scamander has done amazing things in cataloguing magical creatures, and... Hell... we've basically given Severus Snape an Order of Merlin by giving him the details on how to cure lycanthropy."
"His being a former Death Eater should play against that, though," said Hermione.
"If he earns the Order of Merlin?" asked Neville before answering his own question. "No one's going to give a damn."
"Okay," said Harry, "you've got plenty of time for this. Hopefully, Amelia and Augusta will come through for us again." Thinking a bit, he said musingly, "I wonder if I can convince Her Majesty to give one or both a knighthood. Hell, they've both been working their butts off so much already around our return. And we've just dumped a whole lot more upon them..."
Neville, who was taking a drink out of a goblet at the time, sprayed those sitting opposite with his pumpkin juice when what Harry had said had finally percolated in his brain.
"Ewww!" said Susan, sitting with orange coloured juice dripping from her hair, face and clothes.
"...And," continued Harry, not really paying attention, "that doesn't take into consideration how much they've been the true 'Leaders of the Light' within the wizarding world for the past ten plus years. Even though Dumbles has been decrying he's the Leader of the Light to anyone who would listen."
Hermione, frowning because she, too, had been hit - though not as badly as Susan - and negligently waved her hand and cleared them both of the... residue while trying to pay attention to Harry.
"You..." stuttered Neville, "...want to get the Queen to give my Gran a knighthood?"
"Sure!" replied Harry. "If there's been anyone 'fighting the good fight' these past ten years, it's your grandmother and Amelia. Besides, she took out the Lestranges and Barty Crouch Junior four on one."
Harry then glanced down at his watch and exclaimed, "Lunch time!"
Shaking his head in wonder, Neville said, "Yeah, sure; let's go eat. After he drops that on me."
Dan was just sitting there, chuckling. Emma gave him a light smack to the back of the head.
# # #
After a quick lunch in the Great Hall the four heirs, the Grangers, Sirius and Remus all went back to the owner's common room. Inside, Augusta was waiting for them dressed in her finery.
Neville rushed over to her, hesitated a moment, and gave her a hug.
"Lords and Ladies, please hurry up and get changed," she instructed them.
"Yes, Ma'am," the four heirs said, heading for their rooms.
Looking to the Grangers, she said, "If I may ask, do you two have something to change into?"
"Not wizards robes, no," replied Dan. "However, we have something nice to wear next door."
"I'll leave you to it, then," replied Augusta. "We'll meet back here in... ten minutes?"
Don nodded but looked at Emma. "Em?" he asked.
"That should do," said Emma, before turning on her heel and heading back out. Dan followed behind.
Looking down at Sirius she asked, "And what do you think you're doing, Lord Black?"
Looking confused, Sirius replied, "Errr... Putting my feet up? I don't have a class until later this afternoon."
"Get changed, Lord Black!" scowled Augusta. "Her Majesty is also expecting you!"
"Me?" asked Sirius, astonished. "Why does she want to see me?"
"It was not my place to ask, Lord Black," she replied, still scowling. "Now, off with you. Go and get changed."
"Yes, Ma'am!" exclaimed Sirius before he bolted for the door. As the door opened he shifted into Padfoot and was gone.
Looking at Remus she said, "I'm sorry to say, Professor Lupin, she didn't specifically ask for your attendance. However, I'm sure you'll be welcome if you'd like to come along."
Holding up his hands, Remus said, "No, no. That's okay. I'll just go and... let Professor McGonagall know Sirius won't be available for a few hours again."
"If you wish," said Augusta.
Remus hurried out of the room with Augusta scowling at his back. As the door closed, her face broke into a wide smile. 'I've still got it,' she thought.
Harry and Neville, as expected, return to the common room first. What was surprising was when Sirius knocked on the door before either Susan or Hermione came out of their own rooms. Sirius came in a bit puffed, but clearly quite pleased with himself when he noticed the girls hadn't made an appearance.
"Having the animagus form of a grimm has its perks!" he boasted. "I even made two Seventh Years faint just by running past them!"
Scowling at him, Augusta said, "I hope you at least let Poppy know where they were, or had someone else take them to the infirmary."
"Ummm..." said Sirius a bit sheepishly. "No?"
Augusta sighed and asked, "Where are they?"
"In the corridor just on the other side of the grand staircase, outside my office and classroom," replied Sirius.
Augusta sighed and sent off a patronus message to Madam Pomfrey. "At least it's not far from the infirmary," she said.
Harry was surprised to see her patronus was a lioness. 'It fits, though,' he thought.
Shortly thereafter they were joined by Susan and Hermione. Her parents arrived a couple minutes later.
"Are we waiting on Aunt 'Melia?" asked Susan.
"No, dear," replied Augusta. "She'll be waiting for us there." Turning to the wider room, she said, "Now, that's everyone. Let's be off, shall we?"
Augusta strode over to the fireplace, took a pinch of floo powder and called, "Buckingham Palace!" The flames whooshed and turned green.
Sticking her head into the flames she called, "Anyone there?"
A movement out of the corner of his eye caught Harry's attention. He turned to see both Grangers standing there looking at Augusta in shock.
Walking over to them he said, "This is your first time travelling by floo, isn't it."
Both just nodded their heads.
"Okay," said Harry soothingly. "We'll get you through this."
He led them over to the fireplace and called to Augusta as she pulled her head back, "Madam Longbottom?"
Turning to Harry, Augusta cocked an eyebrow at him. "Yes, Lord Slytherin?" she asked.
"We have a couple of first-timers here," replied Harry. "If Neville and I step through first. We can be ready to catch them on the other side, just like we did with the colonel."
"A wise precaution, My Lord," she said.
With a grin, Harry turned to Neville and asked, "Through together again, Nev?"
Neville grinned and joined Harry standing in the fireplace. Harry already had the pinch of powder and put his other arm around Neville. He looked at the Grangers and said, "Watch carefully." Then threw the powder at their feet and called, "Buckingham Palace!"
They disappeared with a whoosh of flame.
# # #
Stepping out into the Queen's Audience Room at the Palace, Harry saw Colonel Benton and a Page waiting for them. He said, "Be with you in a minute," before turning back to the fireplace. He and Neville waited for a few seconds.
A few moments later, there was a quick whoosh of green flame and Dan just about came flying out of the fireplace. Harry and Neville, expecting it, quickly caught him before he sprawled across the floor. They helped him gain his balance before stepping forward again.
"Okay, that was a little disconcerting," said Dan.
Next came Emma. However, she wasn't moving as fast and Harry and Neville didn't have to struggle so much to help her get her balance. She had clearly waited a heartbeat longer than Dan before stepping out. She'd bled off most of her velocity on her own. They backed off and guided Emma to stand with Dan.
Harry asked Neville, "Can you please remember to tell Dan and Emma the secret to exiting the floo when you leave here?"
Cocking an eyebrow at Harry as Hermione and Susan popped daintily out of the floo, Neville asked, "And why can't you?"
"I don't know what Her Majesty is going to decide will be my punishment," replied Harry while he was clearing the soot off the Grangers and himself.
Neville just snorted and shook his head in response.
Sirius came next, followed by Augusta.
Once they'd all been 'de-sooted', Harry turned to the colonel and said, "That's all of us."
The colonel regally bowed and said, "Very good, My Lord. Please follow me."
Looking around, Sirius exclaimed, "Wow! Big room!"
Harry just turned and smiled at him.
The colonel led them back through the palace to the Throne Room. Like the last time they were here, they were led through and into an ante-chamber that was guarded by two more Pages. One of the Pages held the door open for them as they approached.
Sirius was commenting on just about everything that caught his eye, including the throne and how Dumbledore would be envious of it, as they were led along.
As he was about to enter the room where the other three heirs had taken up their rings and they'd all been 'dubbed', Harry hung back and said to his godfather, "Sirius? We need the real Lord Black in here, okay?"
Nodding solemnly to his godson, Sirius replied, "Okay, Pup. No being the 'fun uncle' in front of Her Majesty."
"Thank you," said Harry with all seriousness, before stepping through into the room beyond.
# # #
Her Majesty was dressed a bit more formally, this time. She was wearing robes. Her diamond tiara was also a little larger. As was the retinue. This time, Prince Phillip was also in attendance, in the full military regalia of a High Admiral. Prince Charles was sitting on the other side of the Queen in his own Captain's uniform.
'Am I being tried or court-martialled,' thought Harry.
Standing about halfway between the middle of the room and the left wall, was Amelia. She was standing with a file containing parchment under her left arm, but no less well dressed. She wore formal Auror's robes. Standing with her were the Prime Minister, Sir David and Sir Anthony.
When he reached about twenty feet from the foot of his Queen, the Page gave a bow before spinning about and directing their party to where he wanted them standing. The four heirs stood together, in a line across, twenty feet in front of Her Majesty. The adults were directed to stand in a position, also in a line, on the side opposite Amelia and her small party.
The Page, once the guests were where he wanted them, stood just off to the side of the four heirs and after a deep bow, said, "Your Majesty. I present..."
The Queen gave the Page a flick of her hand and he shut up, instantly.
"Thank you, Stephen," She said. "That will be all."
The Page gave a second deep bow and moved to join the Royal retinue.
After a small hesitation, the Queen said, "Just over two months ago We had an... uppity... young Lord claim Privilege of Peerage to Our Prime Minister, and demand audience with Us. To say We were unhappy at this... presumptuousness... would be an understatement."
Charles gave a little snort of amusement. Her Majesty ignored him.
"However," she continued, "this young Lord proved his right, and the validity of his claim, by informing Us of sedition within one of Our Ministries, and the wizarding world in general.
"Furthermore, this young Lord, the Earl of Slytherin, informed Us of another three rightful heirs of Earldoms under Our dominion We had thought extinct for many centuries. That, alone, won him Our favour.
"It has recently been brought to our attention that, of the three tasks Our young Lord took upon himself, and onto the shoulders of his three colleagues, he has already made great strides in the first of them - the redesign of the school curriculum - and completed most utterly the third - the eradication of the self-styled terrorist known as Voldemort and his followers."
Glancing over at Madam Bones, she looked Harry straight in the eye and said, "We have witnessed, for Ourselves, through the device known as a pensieve, what you did on the morning of just a few short days ago. And, We find Ourselves, once more astonished by you, My Lord Potter."
Looking over at Amelia she said, "Madam Bones has also provided us with a significant and detailed report as to what effect your actions of that morning achieved."
Harry bowed his head in shame.
"Furthermore, she has also provided Us with a report from your mind healer as to how this has affected you," She said.
"I killed about fifty people, Your Majesty," said Harry feeling shame. "I'm a mass-murderer."
"Lord Potter," She snapped. "Look at me!"
Harry snapped his head up in shock.
"Lord Potter, We are not wroth with you," She said. "In fact, we are most pleased. And We most certainly do not consider you a mass-murderer!"
Harry just stared back in shock.
"But.. but..." stuttered Harry.
"No, 'buts', My Lord," She firmly said. "We are led to believe you have, in a most effective fashion, eliminated for good the terrorist, Tom Marvolo Riddle, also falsely known as Lord Voldemort, and fifty-six of his most avid followers; all, of which, had committed at least once the abhorrent crime of cold-blooded murder.
"I assure you, Lord Potter, if you had not... unknowingly... killed them, We would have ordered their executions. Through your accident you have saved us the effort required to have them so executed."
"Further," She continued, "We are informed Mister Riddle would have killed them, anyway, if he had been alive and it gave him an advantage. The fact you feel remorse and shame for what occurred speaks highly of you. However, it is misplaced."
"No, My Lord Potter, though you seem to expect it you do not find yourself facing punishment, this day," She said. "Instead, we have decided to reward you for your actions."
Harry couldn't believe what he was hearing.
The Queen stood, as did Prince Phillip and Prince Charles.
She walked forward and stopped about five feet short of him. Harry didn't notice the man move, but another Page came forward carrying a cushion. He stopped and stood sideways just in front of her and just off to one side.
"Step forward, Lord Harry James Potter, Earl of Slytherin," She instructed him.
Harry stepped forward a couple of paces and stood there in shock.
Hesitating barely a moment the Queen reached across and lifted from the cushion what looked like a beautiful medallion hanging on a red ribbon. She turned and held it just out from her body by the ribbon and said to Harry, "Bow your head, My Lord Potter."
Harry, not knowing what else to do, and unable to stop it anyway, obeyed her command and bowed his head forward.
The Queen then said, "For services to Our realm, and magical Britain - in ridding us, for good, of the terrorist leader Tom Marvolo Riddle, and his organisation, the Death Eaters - We award you the Order of Merlin, First Class; as is Our right." And she hung over Harry's neck the beautiful medal.
Harry didn't hear the gasps of shock come from the other magicals in the room.
Harry raised his head and said, "Ummm... Th...thank you, Your Majesty."
The Queen gave a short sharp nod and quietly said, "You may step back now, My Lord Potter."
Harry stepped backwards until he once more stood beside his friends. He didn't know what else to say or do.
The Queen turned on her heels, walked back to her seat and sat down. Prince Phillip and Prince Charles followed suit.
Once she was seated and had smoothed out her robes, she said, "Now. We have followed, with interest, the events that have transpired while you and your friends have been within the magical world these past few weeks. We understand you have had to accept your mantles as the Lords and Ladies of the Castle Hogwarts. Thereby, nearly destroying your careful planning. And We have viewed the pensieve memories of that event."
Harry wondered from where she's gotten hold of one or more of those.
"Even with your plans in near ruins, We have also come to understand you, and your fellow Lord and Ladies, have accomplished quite a few other feats, too.
Leaning forward slightly, She said, "We find ourselves most pleased with all of you. Keep up the very good work."
Sitting back she then said, "You four may rejoin your fellow guests for the moment."
A Page ushered them across to stand with Sirius, Madam Longbottom, and the Grangers.
"Madam Augusta Longbottom, please step forward," Her Majesty called.
Harry, who had been looking down at his unexpected medal, looked up.
The same Page then led Augusta to stand where Harry and the other three had just so recently stood.
Augusta stood in the middle of the floor with her head held high.
"Madam Longbottom," said Her Majesty. "This morning, We had the distinct displeasure of having Our Minister for Magic, Mister Cornelius Fudge, and his so-called Undersecretary, Miss Dolores Umbridge, stand before Us where you now stand."
Augusta frowned a little.
"We were in the middle of... remonstrating with Minister Fudge concerning his actions. At least, those of which We are aware," said the Queen. "During the course of that discussion, Mister Fudge engaged in the worst behaviour and committed the most grievous act of lese majeste we have ever witnessed. When I ordered his immediate arrest, Miss Umbridge attempted to commit regicide upon Our person."
Everyone on Harry's side of the room gasped in shock. Harry noticed the only reaction on the face of Amelia was a grimace with pursed lips. Those with her were clearly already aware of what had transpired.
"Miss Umbridge was shot and killed by Our loyal staff where she stood before she could commit such an act. Then, under guidance by Madam Bones, I was able to bind the magic of Mister Fudge, before sending him off to one of Our Prisons where he shall spend the rest of his miserable life.
"Through Our own intelligence gathering, and through advisement and wise counsel, We have decided to offer you the position of Minister for Magic in Our name. Do you accept?"
"I..." Augusta stuttered, "Yes, Your Majesty; I accept."
"Good," nodded the Queen firmly.
Another Page stepped forward with a cushion with a scroll of parchment placed upon it.
"That parchment," said the Queen with a slight nod of her head towards the scroll, "contains the details of Our Royal Writ and your remit to your office. You now answer directly to the Prime Minister and to Us. Please, take it."
Augusta reached out and took the scroll from the cushion before turning back to the Queen. "Thank you, You Majesty," she stuttered.
"You may step back and join your family and friends," said the Queen.
Augusta moved over to join the others.
"Madam Amelia Susan Bones, please step forward," ordered the Queen.
Amelia was a little startled by being called upon, but stepped to where Augusta had just stood.
"Madam Amelia Susan Bones, through Our own intelligence gathering, and through advisement and wise counsel, We have decided to offer you the position of Chief Justice to magical Britain in Our name. Do you accept?"
"Yes, Your Majesty; I accept," replied Amelia.
"Good," nodded the Queen firmly again.
Another Page stepped forward with a cushion with a scroll of parchment placed upon it.
"That parchment," said the Queen with a slight nod of her towards the scroll, "contains the details of Our Royal Writ and your remit to your office. You now answer directly to the President of the Supreme Courts of the United Kingdom and to Us. Your title will be Chief Justice. Please, take it."
Amelia reached out and took the scroll from the cushion before turning back to the Queen. "Thank you, You Majesty," she said.
"You may step back and join your family and friends," said the Queen.
Amelia moved over to join the others. Looking down in shock at the scroll she held in her hand.
Once again standing, as did both Princes, Her Majesty said, "We would be pleased to see you all join Us shortly in the library for an informal gathering."
Then she left through the same door as last time, both Princes following, followed by the rest of her retinue.
When she left Harry quickly found himself surrounded by his friends and, dare he say it, family. All of whom where admiring the medal and congratulating him. Or, congratulating Augusta and Amelia. Sir David and Sir Anthony also came over and offered their own congratulations to the three.
Very soon, Colonel Benton came over and asked them to follow him. He was leading them to the library.