The New Subjects

He paid the entire Hogwarts debt. He paid for it. This was information that shocked Albus Dumbledore and most of the people in the room. This explains now why the man jumped right ahead to the head of the board of governors and why, Albus shifted on the papers presented to him, the man was given ownership of those assets in Hogwarts (approximately 25% of it). Even though Hogwarts itself is magically tethered, ownership is not fixed. This is why in the former Hogwarts charter, headmasters were considered the owners of the school until someone abused it which resulted in the lack of funds the school has suffered that is felt by today. The new charter is why the board of governors was created, to ensure that the headmaster does not have that much financial power and to avoid the same mistake as the previous headmaster.

Nobody expected that a man would pay off such debt, especially for 40 million galleons (approximately 200 million pounds in muggle money). That is a lot of money for the people in the wizarding world and who has that amount of money lying around just to pay off a school debt? Even the current liquid assets of Lucius Malfoy are at 60 million (300 million by muggle standards) and he is considered among the richest wizards in Great Britain (the top 5 to be exact).

This removed the debt and interest Hogwarts has been paying. Why it was very expensive was because the assets of Hogwarts have historical significance in value so they are very high during the time a certain headmaster used them as collateral for his gambling addiction. In order not to lose the school, the school agreed to pay the debt off (the personal assets of that former headmaster could not cover the debt and that man died before he could work off to pay it). Still though, because of this, the man has some level of power and control over Albus regarding how he runs the school.

It didn't help that Mr. Peverell already has a claim as the Ravenclaw heir, which validates his ownership of those assets in Hogwarts. The problem Albus is facing is that there is very little to know about Ignatius Peverell and his interest in the school for example in the case of Lucius Malfoy, Albus is sure that the man will either be out to get him or push for subjects that were too dark to be taught in the school. So, nobody on the board is sure what direction the school is going.

However, for the board, this also means that they can now have more money for the school's budget since they don't have to pay most of the school's earnings to the debt anymore except possibly pay a certain share of the profits to Peverell. Debt is different because it is fixed – meaning it has to be paid regardless if the school is profiting or not but profits are based on the actual income returned and because Peverell roughly has a 25% share, that means 25% of the profits whether it is high or low is owed to him. He will receive nothing if the school is at a loss so this is why it is less of a burden for them. It is such a shame that the 40 million galleons paid are not paid to the school but the creditors. They could use that amount of money to start up the school.

Luckily the selling of the school assets for ownership is not allowed by the new charter. Peverell is only the exemption due to the paying off of the debt so outside of him, nobody in the wizarding world has the right to buy Hogwarts, or else Lucius Malfoy would have done that by now.

Even though it was considered an emergency meeting, this was mostly a miscommunication on Benjamin Smith's part to introduce the new head of the board of governors. He seems very proud in the room while Lucius Malfoy is scowling at him, mostly because he sees Peverell as a potential network and Benjamin Smith beat him to it. The man may be a Hufflepuff but Hufflepuff trait he does not. Most people in the room did not expect to meet the new Peverell lord, not since the paper about him was just published this morning. Mr. Peverell introduced himself to the members and Albus as well. He was all smiles and even shook hands with him enthusiastically but Albus just feel like it isn't right. He senses some hostility from the man but Mr. Peverell doesn't seem like it. He couldn't shake that about it. Did he somehow hurt him or any of his family? He does not recall anything.

"As you may know, I have decided to donate 10 million galleons to the school." Mr. Peverell announced.

You still have that much money? The board thought. Is this man insane?

Ignatius does have some extra money. As the last remaining Peverell, the other assets that were abandoned from the previous Peverells are in his name. That's a lot of assets all around the world. Most he can't exactly use or can be passed down to his line. So, it is better to just sell them off. Ignatius and Augustus do not have children so the Peverell fortune is most likely to go to a distant cousin of theirs who has a daughter.

"As much, that amount of money could help fuel the school's operations. I am already aware that the school's budget is low and because of this is now increased. I would also like to tackle some of the proposals you have made that were rejected because of the lack of budget. And I have gone through them already so take a look." Peverell waved his wand and files appeared before the members.

The members turned the pages and looked through the pages.

"Healing magic?!" Macklemore MacMillian exclaimed excitedly. He was the one who pushed for this subject in the past but there wasn't enough in the budget. Healing magic existed in the long past in Hogwarts but was removed due to conflict with the ministry but there is a big problem with today's healing magic. There is a trend of shortage of healers and there aren't enough graduates from Hogwarts who can fill them, especially as taking a mastery in healing can take a lot of time and not everyone who takes it can pass. Having healing magic will make them already skilled during the mastery increasing their chances of passing and helping alleviate the shortage.

"You would be very happy to know that the department of magical education has finalized and formalized the subject and you can see a list of potential teachers that can be hired for the school. That will be up to the headmaster, I presume?"

Albus nodded. Still a little conflicted as he went through the pages of the proposals.

But this was the beginning of the changes. Ignatius wanted muggle studies to be mandatory for the magically raised students for the first and second years but become an elective for the third year. Nott and Parkinson protested.

"I do not agree with the muggle studies as part of the first and second-year curriculum. I do believe the students should be subjected to this early and should remain an elective." Malfoy stated. Some of the members agreed.

"I am afraid I do not agree with you, mister..." Ignatius looked at Smith who mouthed Malfoy. "Malfoy. The purpose of the first two years of muggle studies is not about studying about muggles but to help the students how not to break the statute of secrecy from muggles. I have once heard that there was a wizard who went to the muggle world, insulted a muggle, and got himself shot."

Nott coughed and blushed heavily. Nobody knows about that! Thought Nott. A long time ago he did go to the muggle world in Las Vegas, United States. It did not go well; he did get himself shot. It was embarrassing. He didn't know that muggles can be dangerous with those metallic things.

"I assure you that even with your wand if you are not fast enough to defend yourself, a shot on the head is all it needed to end your life," Ignatius said. Lucius continues to give him a look that he doesn't believe him.

"I even heard of a child who flew high up in the sky and crashed into a helicopter. All of these are issues with the magical world and all of these could have been prevented if our youngsters know what to watch out for to keep our magical world safe from the muggles. This also saves resources for the ministry in the prevention of muggles knowing about it. Resources that could be used elsewhere." Ignatius explained. "The abysmal knowledge of our fellow wizards and witches not knowing even the basics of the muggle world will get themselves killed or worse reveal our world to them." He recalls Augustus' complaints about a red-headed wizard who wanted to talk to him about plugs and rubber ducks.

"But isn't this a bit too much for the students? There are a lot of subjects here." One of the members asked.

"Too much? They are mostly electives. I highly doubt some students out there will be willing to take all of these subjects. They have to be stupid to do that." Another stated. (A/N: You thought wrong).

"But seriously, muggle studies as a requirement?"

"What does this magical transportation entail?"

"Is management and politics even important?"

"Of course, it is!"

And the people continued to argue in the room.

In the end, the board of governors approved wizarding studies, making muggle studies a requirement for the first and second year, healing magic, and politics and business. They have also approved of the increase in the salary of the teachers, increase in the supplies, and improvements and repairs to some areas of the school.

"What about the mind arts?" Lucius Malfoy asked. The proposal was included in the report Peverell gave him. He was the one who submitted but it was shut down by Dumbledore.

Peverell smiled at him. "I am thinking of using this as an elective."

"Absolutely not." Dumbledore countered. "The mind arts are dangerous for the minds of the students. They are too young and the risks of damage are very high. It could severely affect their magic development."

"There is a chance at damage yes. But I also am aware that many children also have attempted it in the past (most of them are from old families). It would be much riskier to leave them to self-learn those skills, especially without proper guidance. Having the option to help them learn this with guidance reduces the risks of damage."

"Still, isn't mind arts dark magic?" One of the board members asked.

"Mind arts is not dark magic, Mr. Troy. Just an obscure one. It does have a dark history but it is very important because it protects your mind from people who wish to link into your mind. I have heard a rumor that the former dark lord is a legilimens. I wouldn't want the dark lord in my head. Do you?"

"Well, no."

"Believe it or not, Durmstrang, Castelobruxo, and Mahoutokuro offer mind arts as well," Ignatius said. "So, I don't see the problem as to why it should not be included."

"But you-know-who isn't here anymore. I don't think we should worry." One of the members said.

"And you think Voldemort (everyone minus the headmaster flinched) is the only person who is legilimens?" Ignatius said. "I am aware that there are many people who have mastered it."

Like you for example. Ignatius pushed the message to Albus Dumbledore. The old man almost toppled from his seat.

Albus was shocked. The man is a master occlumens! And judging from the way he just acts like it was nothing means he isn't a low-level one either. So, the messages he keeps sending from his head were just a scratch on the surface?

This complicates things.

In the end, the mind arts were not approved due to concerns to most of the governing board. However, Ignatius just smiled. He does have some leverage to push it if need be.

*****

Ignatius felt it. He felt the palpitation in the air and he recognized it. The wand. He is the presence of the elder wand. Peverells have a natural affinity towards the hallows. Why? He never knew why. It was mentioned many times in the journal of many of his ancestors but was never explained why they were like that. This explains why his ancestors were able to know who has the wand. Whether death was involved in its creation there really isn't any source or information to verify that so it is assumed that his ancestor did something dark related to death to create the elder wand.

The worse is that the wand is in the hands of Albus Dumbledore. How did the wand find its way to another Dumbledore? It feels like history is repeating itself. Ignatius does not know. It has been centuries since the wand disappeared. He highly doubts that the Dumbledore's have the wand for generations as they would have been a very powerful family by this point but while they are an old family, they were still comparable to most magical families in the country.

Ignatius chooses to ignore it. That wand was a curse to his family and he isn't going to jeopardize his already improving health and his family line just so he could have the most powerful wand in the world back. In his opinion, that wand should have been destroyed. Ignatius and Augustus have a distant cousin who also has a child and they hoped this time the curse isn't passed down (although that child is not a Peverell by name, she still has Peverell blood in her and so far, the child has no indication of the bloodline curse but it is still early). He never blamed Albus Dumbledore for the atrocities of his ancestors. Although he still feels a little hostile toward him at some point. He believed it could be due to the blood feud of their families that lingers with the magic around them.

But what Ignatius hated during the meeting was that someone has been scratching on his mental barriers. At first, he thought to ignore it but he felt it strong. Someone is desperate. And that was when it clicked. Albus Dumbledore has been trying to breach his mind. Very naughty professor.

"Absolutely not." Dumbledore countered. "The mind arts are dangerous for the minds of the students. They are too young and the risks of damage are very high. It could severely affect their magic development."

Why because you'll lose the advantage of reading your own students' minds? This made Ignatius cringe. He finds the idea of a person who tries to breach their mind without permission as creepy but mostly unethical. Legilimens aren't exactly as popular as occlumens since people are not exactly happy when people read their minds. Although, surprisingly, not one country has thought to ban legilimancy. It's not like they could prove whether or not they are one or not. The problem with occlumens is that it can also render the effect of veritaserum for those in the high levels because it can shield their minds and keep the information in which is why in some cases it is frowned upon but occlumens is a very useful skill.

Besides, this is the least of Dumbledore's worries. Ignatius does have a way to push mind arts if he can. He is not going to allow this old man to gain access to students' minds, especially his two wards who are going to enroll in the school the next year.