Chapter 039
Harry thought about that for quite a while before he gave a nod to himself and said, "Then, please inform your grandmother, Regent Augusta Longbottom of Longbottom, that I, Lord Harrison James Potter of Potter and rightful Head of the House of Potter, hereby inform her that as long as she remains Regent of the House of Longbottom the long-standing alliance between our houses is hereby suspended for cause. And that said cause is a direct result of her failure to act when informed of obvious problems relating to then-Heir Potter by Heir Longbottom and when repeatedly encouraged to do so by Heir Longbottom.
"Lord Potter considers her lack of action as a direct betrayal of the principles of the alliance, if not the actual wording. And, therefore, sees her lack of action as a betrayal of the House of Potter."
Neville froze in place and stared at Harry in shock. "You... you―"
"Yes, me, Neville," said Harry. He hadn't raised his voice. He'd just spoken in a quiet voice without much inflection and without even anger or vindictiveness. His voice was just firm.
"Gran's going to kill me," Neville near-moaned.
"The fault does not lie with you, Heir Longbottom," Harry disagreed. "The fault lies entirely with her. She did not act as she should have done; as you tried to get her to allow you to do.
"What you tried to do was the right thing; what she did was not. She should be thankful that, due to your response to my question, I did not dissolve the alliance completely; only suspended it."
"She's not going to see it that way," Neville shook his head and sighed.
"Then send her to me and I'll deal with her," said Harry. "You honoured the alliance by letting me know as soon as you could; at the earliest you were restricted to by your Regent. That is, you told me as soon as I asked you about it. And you were straightforward and honest with me.
"Your Regent... your Gran... is the one entirely at fault. As I've now explained, if I had thought you had somehow or for some reason decided to keep me ignorant, I would have immediately terminated the alliance in its entirety. She should be thankful that, by your words and actions, I have only suspended it. And then, I've only suspended it until such time as she is no longer your Regent.
"If she wants me to remove the suspension she'll need to step down as your Regent and allow you to take up the Headship of your House. I will not remove it until then."
"Oh, Merlin!" the other boy moaned. Suddenly he squared his shoulders and looked more fully into Harry's eyes. "I shall contact Regent Longbottom at my earliest opportunity and ensure she is informed of your decision."
Harry smiled back and said, "Good man! And, if you need my help in writing down exactly what words you should use, find me and I'll help.
"After all, we definitely do not want her to have the wrong impression, do we?"
"No, we do not," replied Neville, a lot more serious about it than Harry was about asking it.
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―==(oIo)==―
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Heading for lunch, as soon as Harry walked into the Great Hall he noticed there were a couple of new faces sitting at the head table. They seemed to be waiting and watching for something.
As soon as it appeared pretty much all students were sitting at the House tables, quietly eating and or discussing who was sitting at the head table among themselves, one of the two, an older gentleman, rose from his chair and made his way to the lectern Dumbledore often used for his announcements.
By the time he arrived behind it and looked about the Hall, most students had quietened right down, with only a low murmuring coming from those still softly talking between themselves while keeping an eye on him.
"Students!" he quietly but firmly began, before pausing as the remaining noise dimmed down to almost silence. "Students. For those who do not know me, I am Bartwinkle Creston. And I am the Chair-wizard of the School Board of Governors."
He gave that a few moments to sink in before he continued. "Like the vast majority of you, I'm sure, I was shocked at the information Lord Potter brought to light during his attempt at the first task of the Tri-Wizard Tournament yesterday. There was so much information, in fact, that many of us, including myself, have not had time to... reconcile... what we learned with what we thought we knew. However, of what we've now come to know is true, it is sufficient for the Board to determine that we will be allowing, without dissent, the DMLE to complete their full and ongoing investigations before we reach a final determination as to what changes need to brought in here, at Hogwarts.
"However, that does not mean we are not going to act on what we already know.
"First, Madam Bones's assuming Acting Headmistress of Hogwarts for the duration of the investigation is supported by the Board, irrespective of her assuming control of the school and its grounds as part of her remit as senior investigator of the DMLE investigation of crime on the grounds. Albus Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall are suspended as Headmaster and Deputy Headmistress, respectively.
"Second, all Head of House positions are suspended for the duration. And - until such time as we, the School Board, are satisfied - such positions will not exist. Even then, changes are very likely to occur.
"Third, all staff charged or otherwise under investigation by the DMLE have their positions as Professors of Hogwarts suspended until such time as they are cleared by the DMLE to resume their positions. Even then, as with the Head of House positions, changes are likely to occur.
"Fourth, as many professors are currently under investigation - and as many are therefore suspended and, as a result, are not legally permitted to teach - all classes are hereby suspended until the Board gives the word they may recommence. Therefore, letters are being sent to your listed guardians asking if they would prefer you to be sent home for the duration; however long that may be. That period may be anywhere from a few days to a few months.
"For those guardians who would prefer you to be brought home, the School will be paying for portkeys for you to both be sent home and for you to be called back once classes recommence. We will not be using the Hogwarts Express for this."
The man then took on a pained countenance with his eyes closed for a few moments before he opened them and then directed his gaze towards the Gryffindor table. It was only a short moment before his eyes laid upon those of Harry.
"Lord Potter," he solemnly said. "On behalf of the School Board of Governors you have my and their deepest apologies. We should have kept a better eye on the Headmaster and staff of the school and we did not. Like everyone else, we were swayed by the honeyed words of Albus Dumbledore not to take a closer look at what was going on. That ends now.
"From this moment forth the Board of Governors of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry will be keeping a closer and constant watch over the school; to ensure for ourselves and the wizarding community at large that nothing like what has happened over the past three plus years - and even before that - will ever happen again. No longer will the Headmaster or Headmistress, whoever they may be, have... carte blanche... to act without all such actions being subject to Board overview or review. You have our word."
Harry thought about that for a few moments before he gave the slightest of shrugs and a simple nod back. Creston seemed satisfied with that and turned back to the greater Hall.
"And, finally, on behalf of the Board of Governors of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry I apologise to our visiting guests from Durmstrang Institute and Beauxbatons Academy of Magic. You came for what should have been a friendly competition between our three schools. And, instead, have quickly found yourselves embroiled in what I believe would have to be the greatest scandal our school has seen in its entire one thousand year history.
"At this point I do not know if the Tournament will be allowed to continue 'as is', will be completely modified to get it over with as soon as possible - considering the binding magical contract enacted by the Goblet of Fire - will be deferred until a later date or will simply be cancelled outright. That decision has not been made and will not be made until we have further information.
"Therefore, we must ask both schools' champions to remain at Hogwarts until that decision has been reached. Accordingly, both schools' other guests are also welcome to remain."
With what appeared to be a firm nod to himself, together with a clear relaxation of his shoulders of the stress he must've been under, Creston finally said, "That is all. Thank you." And stepped away from the podium. He returned to sit with the other adults at the head table.
Of course, that now became the topic of discussion among the students. Hermione wanted to speak about it with Harry, but he wasn't interested.
"But, Harry," she begged. "This is important."
"I agree," he replied. "However, you and I discussing it will make not a bit of difference in whether or not it occurs. As such, I see it as a waste of time when I have other, more important, matters I need to deal with."
"Like what?" she asked.
Again, Harry could see she wasn't being nosy, just usually curious. So he didn't shut her down.
"I have House business to discuss with Neville and quite a few other students who are Heirs of other similar Houses," he replied. "And, no, it's not business I'll be discussing with you. This is business of the Houses of Potter and Black with their allies; and not for discussion by others not of those Houses or allied Houses. Sorry."
Again, Hermione seemed surprised by the answer and not a little disappointed. "This is yet another facet of the 'real' Harry Potter, isn't it?" she asked.
"Yes," he replied with a firm nod. "I am Harrison James Potter, Lord of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter and named Heir Presumptive of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black. As such there are certain alliances and business dealings of both Houses that are privy only to me, other Heads, Heirs or members of those Houses and our allies. I simply cannot discuss much of any of it with you without each of their approvals."
With another sigh of acceptance, she gave a nod and looked away. More and more it was becoming apparent her best friend, Harry, would be moving in wizarding social circles she, as a simple muggleborn, would not be able to join. That then had her thinking how Lily Potter, another famous muggleborn and the mother of her best friend, actually did move in those circles. And that was because she had married the Head of one of those ancient families. Which then led her to a subject she had spent only a little time upon before: Was her future to be the next, as she'd once thought, Missus Potter; and now knew to be Lady Potter?
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