Unofficial Portkey Archive

Author's Note - This is a short chapter, for me. The real world rears it ugly head again for me and my betas, but at over ten thousand words it is still longer than ninety percent of the fanfiction chapters out there. The next chapter just went to beta reading.

You may find this chapter a bit stilted and might wonder why it and the next chapter deal in certain subjects to such detail. I determined at the outset of writing this tale that I wanted Harry to be able to change Wizarding government, education, and society for the better, but Hogwarts wasn't built in a day. The government will substantially change within six months. Education will take Harry several years, and society will take decades.

However, the groundwork for all of this will be laid before Harry and the gang returns to Hogwarts on September first, which will happen in chapter eighteen or nineteen.

Previously, Harry had lunch with Isaiah Smith, great-grandfather of Zacharias Smith and a prominent member of the Wizengamot. Earlier that day Cornelius Fudge had coerced an unprepared Harry into taking his place in the Wizengamot prematurely. Frustrated with Dumbledore for the young man's lack of preparation, Smith had been abrupt with Harry during the embarrassing Wizengamot session. However, Smith's treatment of Harry changed for the better during their lunch together - for just cause.

Before departing the Ministry of Magic, Smith was attacked by six Death Eaters. The attempted assassination was in retaliation for Smith's open support of an emergency funding increase for the Auror Corps. Harry's intervention had thwarted the attack, saving Smith from a torturous death.

When the two men departed Greenbees restaurant, Mr. Smith led Harry through Diagon Alley to Tilter's Way, a side street Harry had never even noticed before. Its entrance would be easily missed by most, as it appeared to be a small pathway between two shops. After one approached the street and faced it straight on, it expanded to be about as broad as Knockturn Alley, but sunny and pleasant, and very upscale. Harry realized this was the location of the more expensive shops of Diagon Alley. Tattershalls was the third store on the right.

Ernald Tattershall himself came to the front of the store and gushed over Smith, ignoring Harry.

"Naldy, stop your nattering, man, I'm not your customer today," said Smith.

Before entering the store, Harry thought he was wearing high quality clothing. After all, his cloak was a gift from Remus that his guardian has purchased from a very nice shop. Also, he was wearing the dress version of his Winky-made utilities, and Harry had never owned anything to compare with his dragon hide boots.

"Mr. Smith, you know Tattershalls' doesn't dress servants and half-bloods, surely you wouldn't bring a Mudblo--" The man's prissy diatribe was cut short by Harry's wand in his face.

Smith smiled. He had warned Harry of Tattershall's pure-blooded snobbery, and had suggested a particular approach to handle him. "Ernald Tattershall, this is Mr. Harry Potter, the newest member of the Wizengamot and holder of twenty-seven votes. I am sure he will remember your greetings when the time arrives to vote on extending your franchise for the exclusive tailoring of parliamentary robes."

Harry hated what he was about to say, but he saw the dubious wisdom in following Mr. Smith's advice. "Mr. Tattershall," he began. "I'm already tired of your face and angered by your words. I require someone else to fit my chamber robes, or should I perhaps have my house elves whip up some and explain to the others legislators that your workmanship has suffered of late?"

What little chin the tailor possessed disappeared in a gulp, and the fop swooned to the floor. Harry's quick wand work broke his fall.

"Was it necessary to treat him that way, Mr. Smith? He could have been hurt, and I'm used to having pure-bloods act rudely towards me."

"This is step one, Harry. To become a feared Wizengamot member, you must instill fear in the right people. You are looking at one of the biggest gossips about the Chamber and its denizens. Before the next session, everyone who may oppose you in the future will know that it is dangerous to cross you or insult you, and those in the muddling middle may gain some hope from your show of strength. Eventually they might come over to our side. I'll ensure that our existing allies, or at least most of them, understand what happened here. I won't bother myself with the Dumbledore faction. They do as he wishes without any thoughts of their own. You may tell the Headmaster what you will."

Smith leaned over and patted Tattershall's cheek roughly, increasing the power with each strike until the little man aroused. Smith then grabbed his arm and shook him firmly.

"Naldy, I've warned you that even I don't like such words as half-blood and Mudblood, and here you go insulting more than just me." With strength Harry wouldn't have guessed at, Smith lifted the small man to a stool nearby. "I've prevailed on Mr. Potter to give you one more chance. You'd do well to produce your best work, soonest, and give him your long-term client discount from the outset. I've told him what I paid for my last robes from here, and that was highway robbery."

Tattershall gulped again, producing even more Adam's apple and less chin that before. At a snap of his fingers the shop house-elves appeared. They hustled Harry to a mirror, and using multiple tape measures the elves were soon recording all his dimensions at once. In the midst of this activity one elf accidentally stepped on Harry's toe, something he did not even feel in his dragon hide boots.

Harry was only aware of the misstep when the tailor slapped the elf across the room and began to berate the little creature for this infraction. Harry reacted to this abuse without a thought. Tattershall yelped as his body suddenly rose from the ground and spun around three times. By the end of the third spin, Tattershall was floating helplessly before a very angry Harry Potter.

"Must you hurt and mistreat your elves without cause?" Harry's rage this time was much more genuine than his earlier pique at the tailor's blood prejudice. "I didn't even realize this elf had stepped on my foot, and no harm was done. The measure of a man can be taken in how he treats those beneath him. If you work very hard, you might manage to insult Gryffindor, Quidditch and Spell Mongery before I leave, more things I hold dear. Shall I bring my friends back with me next time so you can insult them, too?"

Tattershall was visibly shaking as he floated six inches or so off of the floor in front of the angry young wizard. Harry closed his eyes and ran his left hand over his face. He slowly lowered the little man and reached out to steady him as he did so. Tattershall flinched at his touch, but Harry gently helped the man to a chair by the wall. Nonchalantly he pulled a wand and wordlessly summoned chairs for himself and Smith.

Harry looked down for several moments; before he looked back up. "I apologize, Mr. Tattershall, for my actions and words today. I've acted against my own standards of conduct. I don't want you to fear me; I will not harm you even if you displease me. However, if you deliberately inflict bodily harm on another, especially on one who is not free to leave your service, you will incur my wrath. Kicking your own house-elf may be legal in this sorry kingdom, but I disapprove of it. If I see it, I will stop it but I will not harm you for doing it."

Harry took a deep breath. "I will harm Death Eaters or those who attack my friends. And I consider my house-elves to be my friends. My elf Dobby has saved my life, and I his. So you see, I value elves as you may not. But even that does not explain my actions today. What I am about to tell you could be valuable information to those who will oppose me. I ask for your secrecy, but I know of your reputation for spreading gossip. So knowing of this flaw of yours, I willing risk telling you this and hope that your better nature will rise to the occasion.

"I was raised by Muggles, you may know. But what you do not know is that they treated me little better than a house-elf. I was told nothing of magic or my place in our world and my relations assigned me many servile chores. I would then be punished for not completing them to their satisfaction. I was never hurt badly, but was cuffed about the ears regularly, and viciously spanked for the slightest infraction, real or imagined - just as you struck your house-elf moments ago."

Harry looked down and sighed again. He helped Tattershall to his feet. "I apologize again, Mr. Tattershall, and I hope you will treat your elves better in the future, but that is ultimately for you to decide. You should also consider that while those who espouse pure-blood supremacy might enjoy your bigoted remarks, there are many, including a number of pure-bloods, who do not agree with you. For the health of your business you should at least wait until you know the political leanings of a prospective client before you speak."

Harry took a step back and nodded at the stunned little tailor. "Now, sir, I need... three?" He looked at Smith who nodded. "Three of your fine chamber robes in my size, and I need at least one of them by Tuesday morning."

Tattershall silently opened and closed his mouth three times before sputtering twice. Then he said to his elves, "My apologies, Pildie. Do you and Hangler have all of Mr. Potter's measurements?" The terrified elves nodded.

"Mr. Potter, Tattershalls will complete your three robes by 4:00 PM tomorrow. Where may we deliver them?"

"Thank you, Mr. Tattershall. For security reasons I would prefer that my house-elf come for them at that time if you'll allow it."

Ernald Tattershall gulped, but spoke with increasing resolution, "I can only promise your house-elf's safety if he or she will come to the elf entrance at 4:00 sharp, Mr. Potter. I cannot make my other clients..."

"That is fine, Mr. Tattershall. I understand your business issues and clientele far better than I would wish to. Oh, and please call me Harry."

Tattershall gasped for a moment. "No sir, Mr. Potter, it's not as we do things, but I thank you for your kind offer. Please call me Ernald, or Naldy if you wish."

"Which do you prefer, sir?" Harry asked.

The tailor looked back and fore between Smith and Harry. "Ernald is my preference, but you may--"

"Then Ernald it is, and I look forward to seeing the quality of your workmanship. Oh, are there any comforts, conveniences, or other features you add or can add to make these robes more comfortable?"

Tattershalls eyes brightened. "Well, each robe comes with the standard resizing charms to allow for changes in girth two sizes in either direction." The little man smiled. "But judging by your physique, we'll shift and strengthen those charms for gaining muscle mass in your arms and shoulders. The Cooling charm also comes standard, and a Warming charm is available, too. However, only older witches and wizards with circulation problems request it.

"I daresay you use those wand holsters all the time, so a wand pocket will not be needed. We sometimes receive requests to add special food or beverage pockets, but by Wizengamot rules those are not supposed to be included. No food or drink in Chambers, but..."

Smith laughed. "Get those pockets, Harry. You may find you need them as your esteemed colleagues become more and more longwinded at budget hearing times."

Tattershall blushed and nodded as he looked at Harry.

Harry smiled and said, "I leave my chamber robes in your hands, Ernald, oh, and do include a wand pocket for each hand; you never know when I might decide not to use these holsters. Please inform my house-elf if any special care or instructions are needed for the Chamber Recognition spells, unless all house-elves automatically know such things. Thank you, Ernald."

~*~

Isaiah Smith's eyes lit up when Harry suggested Florean Fortescue's as a place to chat. His delight quickly faded into obvious disappointment when he saw that it was, as usual, full of customers. Shaking his head regretfully, Smith explained that this conversation would require privacy. Harry allayed the older man's fears by explaining the spell he had mongered to create a Zone of Silence as he'd decided to call it. Smith smiled and began enumerating his favorite flavors of ice cream; he always found it difficult to choose just one.

After they had polished off two excellent ice cream concoctions with syrups and nuts and chatted for a bit, Harry summarized what he'd learned so far.

"Okay, so until about two-hundred years ago, it was common knowledge that Wizarding families deliberately married Muggles on occasion to strengthen their magical power - usually Muggle nobility - or Muggleborns. Only in the last hundred and fifty to two hundred years has "pure-blood" become such a catchword for snobbery. The magically powerful pure-blood bigots insist that they have kept strong by bringing in magical brides and grooms from other countries. Yet, you believe it is far more likely that they've surreptitiously introduced Muggle blood into their family lines, teaching the Muggles to act magical or keeping them in seclusion."

"Here is an observation that forces me to consider a more detestable possibility," Smith interrupted. "When a male heir has been born to one of the outsider brides of dubious magical abilities, a much larger percentage of these females have died in childbirth than is the statistical average."

"That's abominable!" Harry exclaimed.

"The death rate is a fact. The cause is mere speculation, and I don't think it happens any more, but..."

Harry shook his head and continued. "The pure-blood advocates with money are not pure-blood at all, and those poor and uninformed pure-bloods gradually lose their magical powers trying to maintain purity. My friends the Weasleys...?"

Smith said, "They are so blood-blind that they have married across all segments of society and have done so for love, not advantage. They've succeeded through their openheartedness to do what the pure-bloods only hope for with nary a Squib in the bloodline. I seriously doubt there is a magical family around that's more than half magical blood, even at that, and the Weasleys are probably as pure as they come today and still powerful."

Harry stated, "That's what Hagrid said, about most being no more than half-blood, when Draco Malfoy first called Hermione a Mudblood in our second year. I'd never heard the word and Hagrid explained it to me."

Smith nodded and said, "Hagrid should know, his father was much more pure-blooded than the Weasleys and the last of his Three-Thirty-Three family. When Rupert Hagrid married Fridwulfa for love, he ended the Hagrid family's right to rule. He tried to sell that right, but no one offered him what he asked, I believe. He never approached me.

"Then Rupert was mysteriously killed during young Rubeus' third year, and Ranulf Malfoy secured the Hagrid family vote by some machination I've never figured out."

Harry was shocked, but resumed his summation after a stunned pause. "You also told me that you had raised Zacharias after your son and grandson were killed along with their wives during Voldemort's first war. You trained up Zack expecting me to be similarly raised to rule in the Wizengamot and knowing our families had always been friends. Since I knew nothing of this, Zack was more than disappointed and has let his feelings fester to the point where he treated me badly last year. You will explain things to him, won't you?"

"First thing after dinner this evening," Smith promised.

Harry paused before going on. "And now you tell me that for almost two thousand years, a family's status was largely determined by how far back it could trace its magical roots. So Smith, Potter, Miller, Tiller, and Cooper would be the family names with the strongest claim to rule. And if the Ollivander family had chosen to join the Wizengamot, they would be the most acclaimed, since Willen the Olive Hander introduced magic to this island. Do I have that right?"

"Yes," Smith confirmed, "And by creating the wand, Ollivander probably holds the most famous old name in the magical world.

"You see, we should be able to control more opinion and sway in the Wizengamot than our votes can provide us alone, if we try to go back to the old ways of recognizing family magical history as the thing most revered. If we begin to speak this way, many others will respond, because it will change the order of things to some degree. Though there are plenty of Millers in the Wizarding world, the direct line from the first magical Miller died out in the Black Death era. That line now exists in your list of votes through the Potter heritage. You can mention it to add to your own prestige.

"However, Alexius Tiller, for example, tends to vote with Florence Sheets, though not always. She's a distant cousin and claims better bloodlines than his. Alex's maternal grandmother was a powerful and beautiful Muggleborn witch. Alex chaffs at Florence's hold over him because of blood claims. If we raise the issue of the longevity of magical heritage, the Tillers have been magical in England nearly a thousand years longer than the Sheets. Alex's vanity will love that, and give him the excuse he needs to join us. Your grandfather was always solicitous of Alex's opinion when young Alex took his place in the Assembly in '39. If you ask his opinion from time to time, we'll gather him in with us. He's a good old soul but a little weak-willed. He may also cajole his friend Darance Bread to join us. That would be three votes for our side - a six vote differential."

"A what?" Harry asked.

Smith looked the slightest bit peeved at the question but lightened up and answered readily. "Three votes no longer voting with them and now voting with us change the score by six votes." Harry nodded and pinked in understanding.

Smith smiled and began to warm to his subject. "You know about the Ollivander family history and the few early magical families in Old Albion. Do you know more about our magical history? Binns still rants on primarily about goblins I believe, but have you read any beyond his incessant drones?"

Harry shook his head. Smith frowned. "I need to have a talk with Dumbledore. Well, Harry, do you remember your Muggle history of our island? Have you guessed about how it has affected us, even though we've tried to remain separate from them for nearly two thousand years?"

"I sort of remember what they taught in my first six years. It was mostly a survey of British history and world history from a British perspective, I guess."

Harry paused thoughtfully. "I remember a bit about the Saxons invading and the locals fighting all through the years after the Romans left. I know that when the Saxons finally took and held London it messed up the Wizarding economy, which was dependant on the Muggle currency of the time. That's when Gringotts was founded and the Galleon, Sickle, and Knut were created. Early five hundreds AD if I recall."

Smith nodded. "Yes, that's an important event. I bet you heard that from Ollivander, not Binns." Harry nodded. Smith continued, "Well, our magical history runs parallel to many of the Muggle events. Let me give you a brief overview of the historical timeline of those who serve in the Wizengamot. If you know, let's say, that all boat and shipping related magical family names came in with the Vikings in the seventh, eighth, and ninth centuries, you'd know that the Longbottoms are a thousand years behind the Potters."

"I'm not supposed to use that against Neville and his Gran am I? Because--"

Smith held up his hand and Harry stopped. "No, Harry. Longbottoms have always fought along side the Smiths and the Potters in the Wizengamot on the side of the Light. We'd never insult them, even if their opinion differed from ours. We'd reason with them. However, the Sheets family is named for a ship part also - the ropes that guide sails are called 'sheets.' Therefore, you know Florence is also a thousand years behind your family in magical prominence in Great Britain. She's one we fight against.

"If we use our magical heritage to treat Florence like she's nouveau-magical, and imply insult to her that way, we will do as your great-grandfather and I did to prove whomever we are insulting. We would cast dispersions on the jumped up Sheets or Malfoy families, but then shortly thereafter we'd say something very nice about the Longbottoms or Dodderidge families, for examples, who are of the same era or even later. Complimenting them is one way to prove our point, but if it is appropriate to conditionally yield the floor to them to ask their opinion, that is even better."

Harry sighed. "I hate the idea of just considering Florence Sheets an enemy without trying to talk to her first."

"Harry, your efforts with Naldy Tattershall today, treating him kindly, were a credit to you and your family name. I'm such a curmudgeonly old coot that I often forget you can catch more pixies with sweet sap than with owl bile. But Florence Sheets will never be your friend even if you give her half of your family votes. She hated you before you were born, and the fact that you killed Reggie today means she is trying right now to figure out how to have you murdered. The only reason why she hasn't simply hired an assassin in the last hour is that she's also trying to figure how to gain your votes for herself, or someone she controls. She wants to be certain of that before she has you done away with."

Harry looked at Smith and raised one hand to eye level and said, "Voldemort." Then he raised his other hand to a level far below the first and said, "Florence Sheets, got it."

Smith had flinched just a little when Harry said the first name. "You can blithely joke about her, but, Harry, you have just underestimated her hatred and her guile unless you realize that everyone else who hates you is far below that second hand."

Harry nodded his head. "I'll take your word for it, but I find it hard to believe she can hate me more than the Malfoys."

"Maybe so, but Lucius is not around right now, and Draco doesn't play on the same pitch with Florence. Now back to my family name history lesson. As with most last names, many of the oldest family names in the Wizarding world come from occupations or trades."

Smith went on the describe some of the other occupation based names that followed the Potters and the Smiths - names such as Hunter, Houseman, Fletcher, Tanner, and Thatcher.

Next in the history of last name creation came color based names - Black, Gray, Brown and Brownlee, also Green and Greenglass. Then came geographical landmark names such as Meadowes, Fenwick, Hill, Brooks, Wood, Oakley, and Maple. Then came family names derived from animals such as Fox, Byrd, Wolf, Lyons, and Weasley.

The Saxon and various Scandinavian Viking raiders not only added shipping related names such as Longbottom, Sheets, Snape, Spinaker and Tunstil, but they also made popular patronymic names such as Peterson, Williamson, Pierson, and Carlson.

The French names such as Malfoy, Butler, and Devereaux, came with the Norman invasion, and they were followed by the food related names of Fudge, Cake, Appleseed, Bread, and Drinkwater. The final names group Smith described as odd and of no logical derivation - names such as Dipple, Diggory, Dawlish, and Dumbledore. Porpington, Jorkins, and Umbridge were in this category, but Smith stated most of these names began with the letter D - Dippet, Dodderidge, Diggle, and Dingle were added to the list.

Regarding the Malfoys, Smith stated that their family had entailed their right to rule to only male heirs of the Malfoy name. Malfoys had been very active in bringing in wives from outside sources, and they used Malfoy daughters as little better than Wizard trading cards to marry off for political gain or profit. Therefore, Mrs. Malfoy couldn't exercise her husband's votes, and Fudge voted the Malfoy ensigns and assignments. Those were the sixteen he'd voted against the Auror appropriations this day, though nothing required Fudge to vote them as Malfoy would have.

Smith finished with several very important details about Wizengamot activities. "Now as to recognition. The chamber acknowledges or denies a person's claim to the right to rule. When you entered and the bell gonged, you probably thought it accepted you to be there." Harry nodded. "Well, it did, but it also acknowledged your ability to vote your twenty-some-odd votes. When it's time to vote, if you or anyone claims more votes than your right, it will clang something fiercely unsettling, and we have to stop and go to the book for clarification. Claiming less votes than you can causes no chamber warning, as you saw. Claiming too many, by the way, is the most embarrassing thing that can happen to a Family Head in the Assembly."

"The book?" Harry queried. "Do you mean the Wizengamot handbook?"

"No, sorry. 'The Book' that works in conjunction with the chamber to keep things on the up and up. You met Ledbetter, the Clerk of the Wizengamot. He's actually checking as we go along. The Book itself records everything, but the law states that someone needs to check its entries. Useless law, that, but someone a hundred and eighty years or more ago thought he was misquoted. The Book can't misquote, but that didn't stop an idiotic law from being written.

"The chamber and the Book were magically created by the most powerful wizards and witches of the age back in 1205. The two loosely compare to Hogwarts and the Sorting Hat. The magical folk of the day put their best magic into making The Book and the chamber are sort of all-knowing, at least about who does and doesn't have the right to rule, and who has a strong enough claim on another's votes, and who has the stronger claim to vote another's if there is conflict. Of course, you can't just take someone's vote without a logical reason, but The Book is the arbiter of these things. It decides the merits of such a claim. Next time you join us in chambers, arrive early, Harry. Go to Ledbetter and ask about the existing Potter and Black votes. He'll tell you how many votes you control. You'll have various family ensigns in your paperwork from the Potter and Black vaults at Gringotts, but they may not be clearly marked as to why you have another's vote and how many generations you may claim it." *** ~*~

Harry realized that they'd been sitting there for over an hour, their ice cream long gone. He cleared his throat. "Thank you, sir, for your time and your information. May I sit with you, or at least near you and ask questions in the Assembly?"

"Definitely."

"Also," Harry asked. "Could you take a little more of your valuable time some day in the future, and tell me more of my family members that you knew?

Smith stared at him. "No one's told you about them?" Harry shook his head and looked down.

"I will, son, and I'll speak with Zacky this evening. You two got off on entirely the wrong foot with each other. You may never be the friends that Benedict and I were, but you should be fast allies for the war ahead and the decades that will follow as you both serve in the Wizengamot.

~*~

Harry spent the evening reading the translations of the foreign newspapers' accounts of the vampire negotiations. They all reported the events regarding Harry accurately and fairly. The Bulgarian and Ukrainian papers even went on to boldly state that Ambassador Glean, and Minister Fudge to a lesser degree, should be held responsible for nearly causing a war with the vampires. This was viewed as unconscionable interference when such a war would be fought primarily in Eastern Europe with limited effect on the geographically removed Great Britain.

The translations were bound in a book with the goblin seal of accuracy prominently displayed on its cover. Harry ran his hand over the seal lost in thought. This information was vitally important, but how to use it? That was the question. Until a better plan came along, Harry decided to take the translations along every time he attended the Wizengamot, just in case the right opportunity presented itself.

Harry spent the rest of the evening reading and rereading a second time the Wizengamot Book of Rule. Although it was not an easy read, it was no more difficult than the Hogwarts history textbook he'd received. The rule book made much more sense the second time through. Harry planned to speed read it again Monday night.

~*~

At the start of Thursday's knife-fighting lesson, Ted Granger had told Harry he'd be gone for a week. He said it was business for Dumbledore and the Order. His expression told Harry that was all he intended to say on the matter. Any questions would be pointless. The lesson had been particularly grueling, pushing all other thoughts from Harry's mind. The rest of Harry's day had been a blur of activity: entering the Wizengamot, meeting Smith, the battle and all that followed. His thoughts did not return to the dentist's mysterious mission until Friday morning. Lingering over a second cup of coffee, Harry found himself wondering exactly what the mild mannered dentist and consummate Muggle warrior was doing for Dumbledore.

Harry was roused from his musings by Hedwig's arrival with several pieces of mail. Remus and whoever helped him were still vetting Harry's owl posts. Hedwig fetched any "approved" posts for Harry twice each day, making one run early in the morning and another in the late afternoon.

The first post was Luna's plea for Harry's assistance with her father. Harry didn't understand how conjuring a corporeal Patronus could have triggered Sol Lovegood's unusual behavior, but he definitely wanted to help his friend. Perhaps, he could make it to the Lovegoods' this afternoon, after seeing Clarinda.

Harry was meeting Hermione at 10:00 to begin their Spell Mongery research and he wanted to allow plenty of time for that. He finally decided to send Winky off with a note telling Clarinda he'd be there by 2:00, and not to worry about fabric prices for the moment.

The second owl post was from Molly Weasley.

My Dear Harry,

I hope this finds you in good health. I know you are better fed this summer than ever before, but I so wish I was the one feeding you.

To set your mind at ease let me tell you that Arthur and I are delighted you're joining us in buying Ginny a broom for her birthday. I really know nothing about brooms and how to figure out who should ride what and when, but we've been around our Quidditch-mad children long enough to understand your explanation of why this would be an excellent choice for our Ginny as Chaser and Gryffindor team captain.

Now, the real reason I'm writing you is to thank you, Harry, for your very important part in bringing Percy, and that sweet girl, Penny, back into our lives. The other day when we were all at the Burrow, cleaning, degnoming and such, Arthur Apparated home and called me into the parlor. All the children were outside working and he simply handed me your letter to all of the Weasleys asking us to forgive Percy.

My dear, sweet, seventh son in all ways but blood, you'll surely see the evidence of my tears of gratitude on this post before I'm finished. Your depth of feeling for us, and your perspective on a loving family... well, it humbles us to know that you attribute your wisdom on the importance of family to spending time with us. I could go on through scroll after scroll, thanking you, but I shan't embarrass you so. You do have a mighty big hug coming Sunday at the birthday party.

Back to what happened. After I read your letter, twice, Arthur told me that Percy had approached him that very morning with your letter, admitted the errors of his way, and insisted Arthur read it. We left the children in the capable hands of Nymphadora Tonks and Emmeline Vance, then we Apparated to a small Muggle park in Ottery St. Catchpole. Percy and Penny were there, and we talked for almost two hours.

Arthur and I made our way back home and Flooed the twins and Bill to join us for an early dinner at the Burrow while it was still light. After eating, Arthur read your letter to the family and we discussed Percy and our feelings towards him. I'd like to say everything went swimmingly, but then you'd know none of the Weasleys were there. We yelled and cried and argued, but in the end your letter, dear boy, made our children's reacceptance of Percy into our fold much easier. We couldn't help but think of you as we discussed this.

Percy is arranging to meet separately with each of my children before Ginny's party on Sunday, if possible. I hope and pray all goes well, and when it does, you will be the one that we will thank for it.

How I wish I were there hugging you now. All my love,

Molly/Mum

~*~

Harry lowered his head in gratitude that his letter had helped.

Hedwig's third delivery was a parcel from Filius Flitwick. Harry opened it eagerly. He had written to the professor earlier that week requesting he recommend some sources of information on attachment charms. The contents far exceeded Harry's expectations. Inside were a very small book and a note from Professor Flitwick. The diminutive Charms professor wrote that this tiny tome was the definitive work on attachment charms. It contained both theory and practical instructions for not only linking multiple objects, but for also coupling the permanent charms on those objects. This would allow the various enchantments to work in concert without damaging the objects or the enchantments involved. Harry could almost see the modest but brilliant half-goblin blush as he apologized for describing it as the definitive work, since it was Flitwick's own Mastery thesis. The note ended with a post script stating that since this degree of Charms complexity was well beyond N.E.W.T.s level, he'd love to see whatever Harry was working on. Flitwick also offered his assistance once school started if Harry needed it.

Harry smiled. Professor Flitwick was one person who seemed to have no reservations about Spell Mongery. Most of Harry's mongered spells were fundamentally charms so far, and Harry looked forward to the discussions in this year's Charms classes. He knew Flitwick would not be able to resist including Harry's mongering discoveries in the dialogue.

Harry's Paladin visit with Su Li began at 9:00. He was considerably relieved that it went well. All of the residual effects from the aberrant Paladin acceleration potion were definitely waning. Hopefully there would be no more females running up to him to kiss him in the corridors. FINALLY!

Su Li did rush toward Harry at the start of the visit, as was typical early in the program. He grabbed her wrists and held her at bay, but within a minute or so she regained her control. Rather than discuss the worn out questions suggested at the start of the visitation program, Harry and the pretty yet-taller-than-Cho Asian Ravenclaw spent their time getting to know each other. Harry had read How to Win Friends and Influence People earlier that summer. He was curious because his father had read it out of a desire to make himself more amenable to the witch then known as Lily Evans. The book was not at all what Harry had expected. It wasn't about manipulating people as the title might suggest, but rather detailed a number of ways to get on well with others. One of the chapters discussed how to stimulate a meaningful and enjoyable conversation.

In typical Harry fashion he had not the slightest idea that his genuine desire to get to know a classmate better would be misconstrued as romantic interest.

~*~

After the one hour Paladin visit, Harry met Hermione in the Transfiguration corridor as they had agreed. They planned to use an empty classroom Dumbledore had offered for their initial work on codifying Harry's thoughts, theories, and discoveries on the way magic worked. Harry had never actually mongered a spell inside Hogwarts, but he did not anticipate any problems or dangers. After all at least two thirds of Harry's Spell Mongering had been done inside his small room at Privet Drive. Of course, out of respect for Dumbledore's wishes, he would not do any spell creation inside the school until Dumbledore made time to see Spell Mongery in action.

Hermione had never seen Harry monger a spell. She'd seen the last test of the initial Thunderfire charm from a safe distance, but Hermione had not seen the actual process of creating the charm. He wanted to show her, but he knew he needed to explain a few things first to that hyper-inquisitive mind he so admired. Only then did Harry plan to lead her out to the paddock near Hagrid's hut and demonstrate by mongering a simple charm that would create an index for any book, something he knew Hermione would appreciate. She had long lamented that very few Wizarding books had such conveniences, whereas most Muggle nonfiction books did. Harry thought he knew just how to create the charm, but even if he didn't succeed, the effort would be instructional.

Just as Harry finished greeting Hermione, Winky snapped into the corridor.

"Harry Potter, SIR. Winky in apologizing for interrupting Harry Potter, SIR and his Grangy, but is terrible distressing to Miss C'linda."

The little elf looked at a wall like she wanted to run towards it to punish herself, but Harry knelt before her and gently placed his hand on her little arm to comfort her.

"No problem, Winky. What's upsetting Clarinda and you?" Harry had learned that staring straight into the little elf's eyes with a look of genuine concern usually calmed and comforted her more than anything he might say.

"T'is a bad man from the Ministry. The bad man is shouting, is threatening Miss C'linda. Miss C'linda is scared, she is. Winky didn't ask to leave, so Winky expects to be punished, but Winky is afraid the bad man will harm Miss C'linda."

"Winky, you'll never be punished for trying to help protect one of my friends," Harry said with urgent sincerity. "Pop over and tell Dobby about this. Please tell Dobby I want him to protect Clarinda if he thinks it's necessary. If the bad man touches Clarinda at all in a threatening manner tell him to restrain the man, and I'll protect Dobby for doing so. Go! I'll be there as soon as I can."

Harry turned to Hermione. Before he said anything she stepped forward and placed her hand on his arm. "Go, Harry. Fred and George told us about Clarinda Jordan and how you're helping her." She wrinkled her brow in disgust. "The Ministry can't seem to leave anything alone that you're involved with. Go fix it. I'll see you Sunday at the birthday party."

Harry grabbed Hermione's hand and looked into her eyes. He paused, not knowing what to say.

"Go!" she said. "I understand." Then she gave him such a smile that even in his concern Harry couldn't help smiling back. He squeezed her hand and whispered, "Thanks," before turning to go.

Harry ran to the corridor where the secure Floo fireplaces had been set up for students coming and going on Paladin business during the summer. They were only connected to the Paladins' homes and a few other safe locations. Harry made his way to Grimmauld Place using the secure red Floo powder he kept on him at all times and the proper password. He stepped out of the fireplace and made his way through the empty house to the front door. From the front porch he Disapparated to Diagon Alley, arriving right outside of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes.

So far, no one had determined how Harry had managed to Apparate himself and Mrs. Figg into the middle of the Grimmauld Place parlor on Aberration Day. What he had done should have been impossible based on the wards on the old house. Although he was grateful it had worked when survival demanded it, Harry was reluctant to try it again without a better knowledge of the wards... at least not unless he were in equally desperate straits.

Harry entered the twins' store and passed Lee without a word, going straight to the doorway they'd created between the two shops' back rooms for easy access. Harry walked to the door, cast a Silencing charm, and then opened the door. Dobby and Winky both saw him immediately, but Harry placed a finger to his lips to stop them from calling out his name. Dobby stood in the entryway to the main part of the shop. His hands were raised ready to stop the interloper if need be. An obvious look of relief spread across the house-elf's face at his master's arrival.

"I don't care who your benefactors are, or who owns this property." The voice was haughty and gruff. A menacing tone laced his words. "I'm closing down your shop and confiscating all of your wares and equipment. The fines will be steep. Opening a shop without proper Ministry permits. Hiring unlicensed workers. Using house-elves in a place of business without a permit. Not using proper resources for manufacturing goods."

Harry had heard enough. He strode in wearing his sternest look and using the charm he'd created to cause his cloak to billow out behind him.

"And just who do you think you are making demands and threats on my property?" Harry startled the wizard who had Clarinda, not exactly cornered. She was holding her own to a degree, but he had backed her to within six or eight feet of a wall with no real exit.

"Step away from her, sir," Harry continued menacingly, "Step away now, or you'll be out on the street lying on you backside before you know it. How dare you threaten my business partner? Step this way and state your business in a civil manner." Harry was consciously using some of the words and inflections he'd read about in the Wizengamot Book of Rule.

Harry managed to appear very imposing, even thought the other man was taller by several noticeable inches. The interloper was huge, but slovenly and fat like a heavyweight boxer seriously gone to seed.

"Potter, you and this girl are in serious violation--"

Harry clapped his hands in the man's face and it sounded as if it had been amplified by a Sonorus spell. The man jerked at the noise, as did everyone there except Harry. The brute stopped speaking.

"Your name and credentials, sir, or out you go. Then state your business civilly, as I asked." Harry's eyes showed a fire that few would ever want to see again, once they had experienced it. Harry also held his left hand behind his back and produced his Cloak Billowing charm wordlessly and wandlessly, though not on his cloak this time. The effect caused the sound of rushing wind to stir around the shop.

Startled on several levels, the man gulped once, and then glared at Harry. He fumbled in his robes for a single dirty and bent business card. "I'm Jenkins of the Department of Magical Business Licensing and Fees--"

"I'm Harry Potter; I didn't catch your given name, Mr. Jenkins." Harry disrupted Jenkins' momentum once again with this statement and held out his hand to shake.

"Er, Albus Jenkins--"

"Oh, were you named for Albus Dumbledore, or is Albus a family name for your branch of the Jenkins?'

"Er, Dumbledore--"

"Well, Clarinda, may I present Mr. Albus Jenkins of the Department of Magical Business Licensing and Fees. Albus - I may call you Albus, mayn't I?"

"Er..."

"Good, no need to be formal. Albus, this is Miss Clarinda Jordan, my partner in this business we have yet to open. As a matter of fact, we haven't even named it yet, have we Clarinda?"

"No, Harry, but Phoebe over there had several good ideas and I had one or two I'd planned to discuss with you and the twins." By this time Clarinda had regained her composure and was appreciating Harry's attempts to discombobulate the bureaucrat before her. "Any ideas you care to suggest, Mr. Jenkins?"

Jenkins was beginning to regain his head of steam. "See here, you bloody popinjay, you and this bint will not resist ____ ______," Jenkins mouthed several more words before he realized his voice was making no sound. Harry had not pulled his wand or spoken a spell, but his hand was raised to Jenkins and it was clear this was his doing.

The man pointed to his throat and gave Harry a stern look.

Harry responded with an equally forbidding look. "Mr. Jenkins. I have tried to be civil. Yet, you used profanity towards me and insulted Miss Jordan. I will now release you and I expect you to calmly tell us what has you so upset. One more outburst and I'll see you out the door as promised and I'll file a formal complaint with the Ministry." Harry wiped his hand through the air in front of Jenkins and he was released.

Jenkins took a deep breath, but still glared daggers at Harry. "All right, Mister Potter. First, you've opened a shop without proper Ministry permits"

Harry held up his hand. "We're not open for business, are we, Clarinda?"

"No, Harry. I haven't even taken down the 'For Rent' sign. I didn't want anyone to come in here interrupting our planning and sewing."

"All right. Next, Mr. Jenkins."

Jenkins face grew redder. "Hiring unlicensed workers--"

"I understand you ladies are both members of the Seamswitchtresses' Guild. Am I correct?" They nodded. "Your guild provides all needed permits and such, correct?" They nodded once again.

"Next, Mr. Jenkins."

Jenkins' increasing frustration began to show in his reddening face and the purple vein throbbing on his neck. He snorted in disbelief before saying, "Using house-elves in a place of business without a permit"

"How does that rule read, exactly, Mr. Jenkins?"

"What! Why you..."

Jenkins balled his fists, but Harry said coldly, "Tell me exactly how that rule reads or go back to your office and bring me the written regulations."

Jenkins made a guttural grunting sound before calming the slightest and saying, "Only house-elves owned by the shop owner may work in any business establishment without proper Ministry licensing--"

"Ah," Harry interrupted him again. "You see, I own these elves and I am an equal partner in this business with Miss Jordan. So they are allowed to work here. All that she will ask of them I have pre-approved and they will most likely not be working here once the shop opens, except on rare occasions and usually then when I am here, or will be here shortly."

Jenkins looked like he was going to explode any minute.

"Calm yourself. Mr. Jenkins. Dobby, a glass of lemonade for our hardworking Ministry guest here." A house-elf pop was heard as Harry started speaking again. "Is there any other rule or regulation you want to discuss with us, Mr. Jenkins?"

"Why, I" But a pop occurred again and Harry turned from the man.

"Why thank you, Dobby." He reached down for the glass with pale yellow liquid in it. The condensation on the glass made it look most tempting. "Here, Mr. Jenkins. To cool your brow and your temper."

Jenkins knocked the glass from Harry's hand and Dobby leapt to catch it. But Harry held out his hand and summoned the glass back to himself, only spilling part of it. He took a sip and said, "Ah, sorry. Don't you like lemonade Mr. Jenkins?" Jenkins took another swing at the glass but Harry stepped back and the wizard over balanced and wobbled a bit before righting himself.

Harry stood patiently before him, but everyone else in the room had moved toward the doorway to the back room of the shop.

"Please tell me what other complaints you have regarding this establishment or be on your way to help some other business in our magical community." The words at face value were most hospitable, but the tone of Harry's voice held both sarcasm and a warning.

Jenkins thundered, "You're not using the sanctioned resources for manufactured goods. You have to buy cloth from the Mages Importers and Distributors, Ltd. Only they--"

Jenkins had been advancing on Harry and drawing his wand as he spoke. In a second the bureaucrat's wand was flying across the room and Jenkins looked down the point of two wands, each aimed just below one of his eyes. A chilled wind swept through the room even though no door or widow was open.

Harry applied slight pressure to Jenkins' faces with his wands and forced him to step back until the man was up against a counter. Seeing the obstacle Harry had pulled his wands slightly back from the man's face. However, once Jenkins came to a stop, Harry reapplied the slight pressure from both wands to the man's cheeks.

"Are you telling me it is the law that we can only buy cloth from this company?"

Fear was replacing the man's rage, but Jenkins swallowed and tried to bluff his way through. "Every clothing shop in magical England knows they have to buy from the 'M.I.D.' or pay the consequences."

"Ah, so there is no law, just one person in the Ministry strong-arming shop keepers into buying from this company. What's your cut of the profits, Jenkins, or are you paid another way?"

"Why, I never..."

"For your sake, I will pretend that you and your self-righteous indignation never entered our shop today, Jenkins. Now leave!" With this Harry roughly grabbed his arm and steered him towards the door.

Jenkins shrugged off Harry's hand, but stepped quickly to the door before turning and spitting out, "You'll regret this, Potter. Plenty of things happen to those who disregard the 'M.I.D.' Boy-Who-Lived or not, you're just a school boy and Dumbledore can't protect...you..."

Harry interrupted Jenkins' tirade by laughing in the man's face. "You are behind the times, you overgrown prat. I'm a member of the Wizengamot, now. Do you know the cost of threatening me with such harm? I'll call for an immediate investigation of you and your so called 'M.I.D.' in the next session."

This time Jenkins laughed. "You do have some protection then. I'll admit that, but we'll see what you can stir up in the Wizengamot. In the mean time, you'd better deal with the Mages Importers and Distributors, Ltd. sales representative when he calls, Missy, or else."

With that final ultimatum Jenkins stormed out, slamming the door hard enough to break the glass. Harry adroitly cast a Reparo before any of it had hit the ground.

Harry turned and saw fear in the three women's eyes. "Calm down, ladies, the show's over. Dobby, appropriate refreshments, please." A pop was heard again. "Now, Clarinda, where did you buy the cloth you're using here?"

"I... I knew," she started and gulped once before continuing, "That it's best to buy from the M.I.D., but they wanted triple what we paid for cloth at Malkin's, making it impossible for us to be profitable. There was no way I'd pay those prices, so I went to a Muggle wholesaler, and sure enough, their prices for the same fabrics or those of equivalent quality were even less than what Madam Malkin pays. The selection was better, too. Their patterns were newer and more in line with what I envision for our fashions. I don't know how the M.I.D. found out about it. I shrunk the cloth bolts and brought them here in my hand bag."

Harry sighed and ran his hand through his hair. "It's not your fault, Clarinda. Unfortunately this kind of thing happens... a lot. Believe it or not I learned about this type of gambit from my Muggle uncle of all people. A few years back a steel supplier used very rough tactics in a similar situation. They threatened force if my uncle's company switched to another supplier with better prices. Uncle Vernon had recommended the new supplier and was incensed by the threats. He refused to change his recommendation, but he bought a cricket bat to take back and forth to work with him.

"He finally said that the parent company took care of it somehow. I just found out this summer that wizards own that parent company. I wonder if they took care of the problem with magic."

Harry's expression brightened as he considered the possibility. He instantly drew his wand and began placing a number of spells on the front door, windows, and outside walls of the shop.

"You're safe for now, ladies, and I'll make sure you arrive home safely, too. Give me a little time to think about it and I'll take whatever measures are necessary. I'll be back before the end of the workday to let you know exactly what precautions I've taken for your safety."

He paused, sighed, and continued. "But first I must ask, did any of you accidentally tell anyone who might be affiliated with this Mages Importers and Distributors, Ltd. that we were starting this business? Please look me in the eye." They each looked Harry squarely in the eyes and shook their heads convincingly.

After a moment Harry nodded his head positively. Dobby popped back with sandwiches, butterbeer, and small shot glasses of what Harry thought must be Firewhiskey. The elf looked his way and when Harry nodded his approval, Dobby offered the platter to the Seamswitchtress nearest him.

Harry walked to the connecting door between the two shops and asked Fred, the first twin in sight, to join him. They whispered for several moments. When Fred walked away, Harry remained at the door obviously waiting for something.

Harry smiled when Lee came through the door. He carried a box containing several Wheezes, one of which he began to apply to the south wall.

"In case you haven't all met yet, this is Lee, Clarinda's brother. He will stay with you until I arrange formal protection."

Harry was surprised by a raven landing before him with a note tied to its leg. Harry stroked the bird gently before removing the note that read:

Potter

I have need of your assistance as soon as possible.

Please come to the Gringotts Executive Apparation
Concourse and ask for me.

Please send word back with this raven, or by
your house-elf as to when you will arrive.

Gultangk

Harry closed his eyes for a moment and took two slow, deep breaths. He reached out his hand and summoned a quill from the counter without a word. Only the gasps in the room reminded him of the need to play his wandless and wordless magic cards close to his vest.

Harry scribbled a message in less than thirty seconds and called for Dobby. "Please take this to Gultangk. It tells him that I will join him in thirty minutes or less. Please wait while he reads it, Dobby, and then ask the director if this rate for my time is acceptable. Once you have his answer come back here and wait for me. I'll be back soon." Dobby nodded his understanding and popped off.

"Clarinda," Harry asked, "When Madam Malkin fired you, did she make any threats about your opening your own place?"

Clarinda paused thoughtfully for a moment. "Not really, Harry. Madame Malkin has a temper and she is rather prideful, but she never threatened me. I've always thought that underneath it all she's a kindly soul. I even think she'd hire me back, if I went to her and asked. Madame Malkin's just too stubborn to approach me even though she knows I pulled my weight around the shop."

Harry looked at her kindly for a moment. "All right. I'll go see what she can tell me about Jenkins and the M.I.D." Almost as an afterthought Harry looked at the two seamswitchtresses. "Do either of you know anything about what just went on, or anything at all about this Mages Importers and Distributors, Ltd.?"

They both shook their heads and one said, "They're a big company supplying to everyone, but I've never met anyone who actually works for them, not even a delivery person." The second lady nodded her head in agreement.

Harry pulled his hood up and renewed his Cooling Charm. He told them he'd be back soon.

~*~

Chapter end.

*** Special Addendum - The Author's Uncut Version - One of my betas pointed out that everyone might not like to read my full history of the magical families of the Three-Thirty-Three. As a history major I cannot imagine why everyone doesn't find history as fascinating as I do, but for those who don't I took the full explanation out. For the masses who crave historical back fill to the Harry Potter Universe, the full explanation is below, entitled The Full Explanation About the Three-Thirty-Three Family Histories.

Even though he said it should be an addendum, that beta did say that I made it very interesting (I blush) so don't expect dry recitations. You'll also discover a number of satisfying facts about many witches and wizards in this addendum. Cheers! Thanks for reading!

~*~*~

Author's Note - My Grown Up, Well Spoken Harry - Several reviewers asked for a concise explanation as to why Harry is now so well spoken and acting so mature. They admit that I have probably explained it over the last 220k plus words, but would like a brief summary here.

When Harry started school Vernon and Petunia paid little attention to his initial interest in reading. When Dudley's first report card grades were substantially lower than Harry's, our hero was "encouraged" not to excel. It was made painfully clear that Harry should spend little time reading and attempting to do well in his classes. At Hogwarts Ron's lack of academic ambition, and the subsequent laughing at Hermione the bookworm before Halloween of their first year, confirmed that early lesson. In spite of this Harry did well on the theoretical because of Hermione's forced assistance.

The death of Sirius and Harry's realization that he must be prepared to fight Riddle and his Death Eaters, caused him to decide to buckle down and truly study. Learning to speed-read increased his abilities to master educational material because he is now able to read at a speed in line with his attention and comprehension. Learning you can be smart and are smart is a wake up call to want to be studious. Learning is thrilling if you want to learn what's before you.

(In my own life I drifted through high school making B- to C+ grades. When I made it to college, I found my motivation to succeed academically, and graduated with only a few B's all the rest A's.)

The summer of the Paladin Program Harry is being fed properly and he's having the growth spurt he should have had years earlier. Good nutrition is conducive to improved learning. Spell Mongering brought a 'logic of magic' that was sorely missing from his Hogwarts training. More on that will be included in future chapters.

Aberration Day truly made Harry an eighteen year old, and one who is powerful and knows he's different. Killing people in self-defense is a sobering, life changing activity. Harry's magical, physical, and emotional maturation came on him in full force. Having to defend Spell Mongering to Dumbledore and all the other adults present in the library on his birthday caused him to break the bonds of his teenaged dependency on the others, yet he realized he still needed to work with them. The thought and effort Harry put forth to build a logical case for Spell Mongery for Dumbledore and others gave him more confidence.

Harry's lessons with Father William Martin, not only in Occlumency, but in dealing with death and killing as well, gave Harry more varied learning experiences and it helped him build his mental capacities. More on his increased mental capabilities will be included in later chapters also.

As to his vocabulary - well, read a lot of good books and see if your vocabulary doesn't improve as well.

Cheers!

~*~*~*~

Special Addendum - The Full Explanation of the Three-Thirty-Three Family Histories

Mr. Smith finally started detailing the appearance of the different magical families in the timeline of magical British History.

"Remember the Ollivander family chose not to be part of the Three-Thirty-Three, but they also made the decision to stay out of politics back in the first century AD. The Potter, Miller, Cooper, Tiller, and Smith family names originate from the early Olive Hander times, and variations of House, Houseman, and Hauser do, too. The Housemans were a Three-Thirty-Three Family, but they died out over three hundred years ago. I don't know who can claim their vote now, if anyone.

"In the years following 382 BC, and all throughout history actually, a number of other occupational names became Wizarding family names. Some of these families are still in the Three-Thirty-Three: Fletcher, Hunter, Bowman, Spears, Farmer, Baker, Cooke, Butcher, and Candleman. The last two have died out, and the Fletcher family sold their rights to rule permanently to the Malfoys about two hundred and fifty years ago.

"The next category of Three-Thirty-Three Family names that came along historically had to do with color. The Black, Green, White, Blue, and Brown families came in there, although so did the Blackburn, Greengrass, and Brownlee family names. The Redbeard family came from the Vikings, not this era of other color-based names.

"Then there came the family names having to do with geographical landmarks. The Meadowes family line ended when Benjy died on a mission with your father during the first Voldemort war. So also died out the Fenwicks with the death of Dorcas. The Hills are still around and so are the Brooks, Wood, Rivers, Flint, Banks, Granite, Copper, and Ironwill families. The Agate and Marble families sold their rights to rule centuries ago. A Potter forbearer of yours bought one family's rights, and a Brooks bought the other's."

"Between the Potter and Black family ensigns, those assigned to those families, those purchased, and those rights to rule bequeathed in perpetuity, I believe you could have voted twenty-six or twenty-seven votes today, as I said."

Harry shook his head. "Should I be angry I wasn't informed of this?"

"No, it was a stupid oversight. I am sure Doge, Dumbledore, or both of them would have told you at some point before you entered chambers officially in their schedule for you. Fudge interrupted that. Your not knowing is only significant in its harm to your reputation since you were called on to vote today. Far greater harm would have been done if you'd spoken in chambers today. That was obviously Fudge's design."

"How so?"

"If you'll remember the normal conversations, asking for votes and Boaz's welcome to you, there was only a degree of formality. But did you listen when I spoke for the matter to be voted on? Did you hear my words and voice intonations?"

Smith sat up straight and cleared his throat. "Miss-TAH Potter, my dear confederate in this assembly, you must read that book we all cling to with our reputations, and learn of our chosen verbal ways. My esteemed colleagues of this august body would never deign to attend an ear to your protestations or recommendations unless you spoke thusly."

Smith cleared his throat and said, "You heard me change my tone of voice and use certain phrases such as 'august body' and 'esteemed colleagues.' Most of them are blithering idiots - well, at least half of them, and they can be swayed by a prettily turned word and a heroic plea, both of which you can do with careful forethought and some practice. Don't discount an impassioned plea. A hero can stir the hearts of men even if you don't word it right, but do both and you'll be even more effective.

"It's best if you have to use the types of phrases we like most of the time. You'll be pleased to know when you look in your copy of the Wizengamot Book of Rule, that you will find a very straight forward bit of clear writing on just how we work and operate. Few governmental bodies have such practical and uncluttered instructions.

"However, in that book you'll also find the back thirty percent or so full of lengthy explanations on every bit of clothing we wear in that chamber, page after page on why we call each other Miss-TAH and Ma-DAAM, and twenty-five or thirty pages of suggested phrases for speaking there. Most of it is in archaic English and if you use it none of us will understand you. Look at the very last five pages or so for phraseology to help you speak now."

Harry shook his head. There was much to learn, but he meant to make Fudge rue this day and his attempts to embarrass the Potter family. If left to study the matter with Elphias Doge, Harry would not have become active until the next summer. Fudge had changed that today. Harry knew in his heart of hearts that he could not turn back from this challenge, not once he saw Umbridge vote against the Auror budget increases. The Minister had gambled that Harry would be too embarrassed today to continue, but he was wrong.

"You've side tracked me from my spiel on Three-Thirty-Three Family names," Smith said. "It's important for you to know this - when the names appear in history and their origins." Smith cleared his throat and tried to pour more tea. The pot was empty after a drizzle, so Smith drew his wand and tapped the pot twice. It shimmered away and an identical pot, filled with steaming tea, reappeared a moment later.

Harry thought about asking a question while the older man meticulously fixed his tea, but he decided against it. When Smith finished he muttered something about patience, so Harry decided it had been some sort of test.

"Next came the animal and plant related names listed among the Three-Thirty-Three members. The Fox, Wolf, Bird, Maple, and Oakley families still rule. The Barkwood and Lyons families have disappeared, their rights to rule unassigned and no one has figured how to claim them or appropriate them. There are perhaps fifty or more names and their corresponding votes floating out there somewhere unclaimed.

The Flowers and Rose families' votes have gone to the Zabini family. The Weasley family and its huge number of votes are in the Umbridge camp as you know. Has any Weasley told you how that happened?"

"Mr. Weasley told me about it this morning, just before the Assembly. I went by his office on another matter," Harry said.

"It will surprise you to know about the Weasleys before Percival. Particularly in light of the Weasley family as you know them today. They were scrupulously fair, hard working, fun loving in private, and most congenial. That's no surprise I bet," Smith stated. "However, they were pure-blood advocates, though they never wanted Muggleborns, half-bloods, or even Muggles hurt in anyway.

"Remember, back then pure-blood advocate families were rare. All Wizarding family bloodlines remained strong by bringing in new blood from time to time. However, the Weasleys only did it by going to extremes most others didn't. They went to great lengths and expense to bring in only pure-blood witches from other countries to refresh their bloodlines. Few saw the need to make such efforts at that time, but that's how all those redheads can be considered some of the most pure-blood among us.

"The Weasleys were also all in Slytherin before Percival, who was the first Gryffindor Weasley, but not the last. Seventeen generations I believe it is of nothing but Gryffindors since Percival. Nothing if not consistent, they are."

Smith squinted at Harry. "And I see by the look in your eyes that the idea of Slytherin Weasleys gives you dyspepsia. Well, I don't have time today, but one day I'll teach you about the houses from my family writings. Although if you can find the Potter Family Journals since the War of the Roses I daresay you'll be able to read more than I can tell you.

"But on with the family names. It's important.

"The Vikings and by that I mean Norwegian, Danish, Swedish, Finish, and Baltic States sea raiders came to England throughout the late seventh, eighth, and ninth centuries, give or take a few years on either side. Their wizards came too. Those family names reflect two basic influences - their love of their ships as I mentioned, and the father's patronymics.

The most respected name from shipping influences is Longbottom. That would most recently be Augusta Longbottom or her husband, Paul, one or the other never let an Assembly start without their presence. When Paul was in chambers Augusta was almost always in the gallery, except when she had to take care of young Frank. After the tragedy with Frank and Alice, Paul still attended, but he was a crushed man. He died when young Neville was three or so. At that time Augusta lost heart. She has assigned her votes to Tilden Farmer. You saw him vote his one and the Longbottom fifteen today. It would be nice to have her voice back in the chamber.

"Clarence Spinnaker holds another ship related name from that era, as well as Robert Sails, Emily Turnstil, and Cranford Boom. The Riggers family right to rule is unavailable, as that family has no active heir to be found.

"I told you about your friend and mine, Florence Sheets. Interestingly enough, for two more generations her family controls one Three-Thirty-Three Family's right to rule that you may love almost as much as you do hers. A 'snape' is a special water proof wood joint used in sailing ships once, and snapes still may be used in boat building for all I know, can't abide the sea personally. Became sick on the boat ride to Hogwarts my first year.

"Your potions professor's grandfather lost his right to rule for four generations for supporting Grindelwald during that war. Severus Snape's grandchild will be able to rule upon his or her eighteenth birthday. Florence controls that vote, and her heirs until then, or forever if the line ends with Severus.

"The word 'patronymic,' the other Viking naming schema, comes from "pater," father, and "nymic," name. The names vary based on language, but there are many such Scandinavians in the Three-Thirty-Three, like the names Robertson, Williamson, Olafson, Pierson, Carlson, Peterson, and Petersen. Those are still active families, but at least that many more are either assigned to others or lost to us in some way.

"Regarding nationalities, the Scottish, Irish, and Welsh Wizarding families have always been one with us British, so they did not come from the outside like the Scandinavians and French.

"As I mentioned earlier, the invasion of the French wizards gave us the current names of Butler, Gerard, Norman, and Malfoy. You may find it interesting that Minister Fudge voted the sixteen Malfoy controlled votes against the Auror appropriation today, which is interesting. Malfoy could not have assigned them to him. Being in Azkaban means he does not have that right. No one else has stepped up with any foreseeable claim to see if the Chamber accepts it."

"Hold on," Harry said. "There are two things I don't understand. First, why doesn't Mrs. Malfoy serve in her husband's place, and second, how does the chamber accept or reject such things?"

"Some of the families, very few actually," Smith explained, "Have entailed their right to rule away from any female, whether she be heir or wife. The Malfoys are one of those families. They've often married without love for money and position, and they've occasionally gone back to the French Wizarding pure-blood families to keep their bloodlines powerful. Because of these two facts they don't trust anyone but a Malfoy male. Thus they've entailed the ruling rights away from any female Malfoy, even a female daughter. Malfoys use girls like Wizard trading cards and marry them off for political or financial gain, or both.

"Now as to recognition. The chamber acknowledges a person's claim to the right to rule. When you entered and the bell gonged, you probably thought it accepted you to be there." Harry nodded. "Well, it did, but it also acknowledged your ability to vote your twenty-some odd votes. When it's time to vote, if you or anyone claims more votes than your right, it will clang something fiercely unsettling, and we have to stop and go to the book for clarification. Claiming less votes than you can causes no chamber warning, as you saw. Claiming too many, by the way, is the most embarrassing thing that can happen to a Family Head in the Assembly."

"The book?" Harry queried. "Do you mean the Wizengamot handbook?"

"No, sorry. 'The Book' that works in conjunction with the chamber to keep things on the up and up. You met Ledbetter, the Clerk of the Wizengamot. He's actually checking as we go along. The Book itself records everything, but the law states that someone needs to check its entries. Useless law, that, but someone a hundred and eighty years or more ago thought he was misquoted. The Book can't misquote, but that didn't stop an idiotic law from being written.

"The Wizengamot chamber and The Book were magically created by the most powerful wizards and witches of the age back in 1205. The two loosely compare to Hogwarts and the Sorting Hat. The magical folk of the day put their all into making The Book and the chamber sort of all-knowing, at least about who does and doesn't have the right to rule, and who has a strong enough claim to another's votes, and who has a stronger claim to vote another's. Of course, you can't just take someone's vote without a logical reason, but The Book is the arbiter of these things. It decides the merits of such a claim. Next time you join us in chambers, arrive early, Harry. Go to Ledbetter and ask about the existing Potter and Black votes. He'll tell you how many votes you control. You'll have various family ensigns in your paperwork from the Potter and Black vaults at Gringotts, but they may not be clearly marked as to why you have another's vote and how many generations you may claim it."

Smith took several more swigs of his tea, and smacked his lips in appreciation. Harry wondered if smacking one's lips was considered good manners in the Wizarding world.

"Now, there are two final categories of names that were the last families to rise to power and join the list of Three-Thirty-Three Families before 1205." Smith said.

"The first of these are the food family names. Fudge, Cake, Pudding, Figg, Pear, Appleseed, Bread, and Drinkwater are a few. Although the name Cook is actually one of the last occupation-based family names and it emerged at the same time as these food based names.

"The last naming scheme group I call the Absurd 'D' names. Of course I'm not stupid enough to say that to the face of any of them, but as people began to attend Hogwarts, a number of magical family names showed up with no records of where they came from. The names were like made up words, jumbled letters almost, with no logic to them and odd sounding. They were powerful enough wizards and witches, but their names.... Well, most of them begin with 'D,' hence my title for the group. Some of the Absurd 'D' names are: Derwent, Dippet, Diggle, Dingle, Diggory, Dalrymple, Dawlish, Doge, Dodderidge, and Dukelow. A few of these weird family monikers didn't start with 'D' such as Jorkins, Porpington, and our hated Umbridge. However, in my opinion, the oddest sounding name of that group is your favorite and mine, Dumbledore."

Smith finished his tea and set his cup down with an obvious sense of completion. "That is an overview of the different names and their order of emergence for those families who were there in 1205 to sign the Magna Magicae Carta, and formally create the Wizengamot as we know it today. I've enumerated about a third of them.

"Just less than two hundred years later, the Black Plague and its variations were killing Muggles and wizards alike. However, we were able to survive better than Muggles if we contracted the disease. We were also better at keeping ourselves away from those infected by it.

"Two Italian wizards made their way to Great Britain at that time. Their names were Zabini and De Luca. Both were experienced medical researchers, and they helped us to eventually create a curative potion here. They were very popular as you might imagine, and they brought family money with them, which they invested wisely. Within fifty years or so, they were established families, and asked if they might buy the rights to rule formerly belonging to two families that had died out during the plague. The Wizengamot agreed. Over the ensuing years the Ollerton and Ogden families were also allowed to buy in to the Wizengamot, though neither did any great service to the community such as Zabini and De Luca had. However, the Ogdens and Ollertons have also ruled wisely. The last Ollerton was a female who married a Potter during the Napoleonic Wars. You hold hereditary right to rule the Ollerton name, as you also hold the Potter and now Black hereditary rights to rule. They never leave you. All your other votes have either been sold to you, or assigned temporarily or permanently to you. There is a difference.

"In the early fifteen hundreds the Patil family had become great importers here in England, and the Goldsteins had become great merchants. Those families petitioned to buy into the Wizengamot. In a fit of both racial and religious bigotry, a law was passed that forbade any family to acquire the right to rule from another that wasn't already a Three-Thirty-Three Family. Thus began the practice of families gaining more and more votes. Before that four votes were the largest number controlled by a single family. Fearing one family eventually gaining majority control, a law was passed setting the maximum number a family can control or own at fifty. So, Our Miss Umbridge could acquire three more votes at most."

"Any questions at this point, Harry?"

"So then all of this pure-blood rubbish is very new," Harry said. "These family names and the duration of their influence in magical history have traditionally been the most important factors in determining power and influence... in the formalized Wizengamot and even before 1205, long before. Could you tell me more about how and why this changed?"

"Ah, yes. You see, until Percival Weasley passed the first protective laws for Muggleborn and half-blood magical folk, the idea of pure-blood was irrelevant. The family names, meaning the males, would marry a strong Muggleborn witch or even a noble born Muggle girl, but Potters were always Potters and Smiths were always Smiths. They became ever stronger because of attention to their personal health and the regularly refreshed bloodlines. This was never really discussed, but still commonly known, like mothers know fresh milk is really better for their children than canned milk or powdered."

"I can't believe this whole "pure-blood back so many generations" is a bunch of hogwash."

"Amazing, isn't it, young sir? As a matter of fact, I wouldn't be surprised if most of the Malfoy French wives have been noble born Muggles as opposed to witches. Several of my nosier ancestors have written that many Malfoy foreign wives have never been seen to do magic, and I saw it with my own eyes in young Draco's great, great-grandfather's case. His French wife never did any magic that I observed as a young pup. She carried a wand, but didn't look like she knew which end to point where."

"Fascinating," Harry said. "I can't wait to use that with Malfoy the next time he spouts off about pure-blood this or that. Do you remember Draco's great, great-grandfather and mother's names?"

"Theobald Malfoy married Odette DuLanrie some time just before the first Muggle War. He married her in France, and we were not invited, of course. She was a beautiful blond, with a very sad face. Theobald was much older than she and a hard man in business and in the Wizengamot. I felt for her as a young lad, sitting in the gallery watching my father and your great grandfather battle Theobald in the Assembly Chambers. If Odette Malfoy were still alive, I'd ask you to spare her feelings. But she's long gone to an early grave. We're at war both in the field and in that chamber. You fight at Hogwarts, as well. If you speak kindly about Odette and ask about her heritage, Draco's expression will tell you the truth, if he knows her heritage. You're a bright lad; create what mischief you can from there. We fight this battle as we can, and putting Malfoys in their place might help put us back on top with our millennia old magical legacies.

Harry paused and his face became a bit grim. "But, Mr. Smith, aren't we just trading heritage for pure-bloodedness? I don't want to make others feel inferior to me because of something I've been born into. What makes us any better than them with that approach?"

"Because lad, we only bring it up when a pure-blood brings up their blood mantra. Your grandfather Benedict and I used to only use this tactic when a pure-blood went on a tirade about bloodlines. We would question his or her right to claim any special place, particularly if we knew of a Muggle noble woman in their family tree. Then we'd immediately bring up someone from a newer British magical family, making it apparent that we respected them far more than the family of the one we had castigated. We'd make it clear that we respected a person for their character, knowledge, or abilities - not their bloodlines.

"Potters, Smiths, Millers, Tillers, and the like held top sway. Even the Longbottoms and Spinnakers had a three or four hundred-year advantage over Malfoys and Gerards. But that system had its absurdities as well. For example, Dumbledore is a name that has the weakest heritage in terms of longevity. Yet, Albus Dumbledore is a powerful wizard who has an impressive track record of service to the Wizarding world. The Diggorys, Doges, Diggles, and Derwents have all served with great intelligence and distinction, too. Even the Dawlish family has served well, though I don't see what young Clarence is doing with his puppyish behavior towards Fudge. His father despised Cornelius and Fudge's father Milbert as well.

Although I wonder what Albus is thinking regarding you and the Wizengamot, I must admit he is brilliant. He's served in the Assembly since he turned eighteen, or sent his delegate if war or Hogwarts kept him away. He's a very fine Chief Warlock. Albus provided Benedict and me many opportunities to praise a newer name in the Wizengamot after we had slammed a pure-blood bigot on his or her own short magical heritage.

The great thing is that many of the swing votes that hesitantly follow Florence Sheets and Fudge, will remember Benedict and our special brand of putting down the pure-bloods. They should pay very close attention to you and me if we work the system together. We have a chance to sway them our way if you make sense. Speaking the proper lingo is not hard; but you must follow the established mode, with certain words and phrases thrown in occasionally. Read the book you received today. The first five pages and the last five pages of the section on Wizengamot dialogue, proclamations, and pronouncements, will cover all you really need to know in that respect.

"Did you notice in my speech today I talked about how things were before the Romans came to Old Albion? And what about my reference to the first century AD when we wizards decided to distance ourselves from Muggles?"

Harry nodded. "I understood those references because of my time with Mr. Ollivander, but I wondered who else would, since he made it fairly clear that few knew his family story."

"Right, Harry, but the wielding of obscure knowledge can increase others' perception of your power. There is a lot I don't know from that time and the years between, but few others know more of our history than the Potters and the Smiths."

"Mr. Smith, you said that the old Potter journals dating way back were destroyed in the War of the Roses. Do you know if my family kept any records after then, and if so, where they might be?"

"I don't know, Harry. Your grandfather, Benedict, would have kept any family records with him at Potter Palisades. Death Eaters killed him about a month before you defeated You-Know-Who. The attack occurred at that home. Any Potter family records may have been destroyed or stolen then. I saw James, Lily, and you at the funeral. But we did not speak of such things."

"Umm, Potter Palisades. I've never heard of that."

Smith sighed. "If Albus were here I'd have to ask you to strengthen that Zone of Silence of yours before I wear his ears off. The Potters have owned several family homes over the centuries, and some of their oldest homes no longer exist, but you still own the land. A lot of the shops you own in Diagon Alley stand on the land of the first Potter huts and pottery work sheds. Potter Palisades is the oldest existing home dating back to the late ninth century in some of its original buildings. But there is a mountain home in northwest Scotland, Godric's Hollow in Wales, and a town house in London. You also have vacation homes in Tuscany, Bermuda, Malaysia, and the state of Nevada. I believe it is in the colonies. Oh, and you own a minor Greek island with a home also - lovely in winter I hear.

"Any family papers might have been lost at Potter Palisades when your grandfather and grandmother were killed. I have no idea of the damage done to the property. On the other hand, your father may have taken them to Godric's Hollow where they could have been destroyed or stolen. There is also the possibility that your family's manuscripts and journals are at Gringotts or one of the other family homes. Have you discussed your properties with the goblins?"

"No, sir. They gave me a valise with documents about them, but I've avoided reading it. I'm... I'm afraid it will break my heart, even though I'm starving for information about my family. It's... well, the properties show how I've benefited from their deaths...."

Smith's face showed a grandfatherly concern. "I can easily understand your reluctance, Harry. But I'd wager that valise also holds the family ensigns for the Potters and the Blacks. You'll find how many votes you have and why, in there. You also may be able to find leads to the Potters' family journals. The Blacks were never the diarists that your family and mine have been, but I'm sure they have their journals somewhere as well. They were into the Dark Arts at least since my family journals first mentioned them. Their family histories might give you a perspective that ours can't, Dark though it may be."

Harry and Mr. Smith parted and the elder wizard agreed to tell Harry more of his family at a later date.

~*~

End of Addendum