Welcome to the club

Harry and Erren walked through the school, tense silence settling between them. Erren was not much of a talker and Harry was too shy to speak without reason. Erren leads Harry through hidden shortcuts and out-of-the-way paths, taking detours at the sight of any painting or ghosts before finally stopping in front of an abandoned classroom.

He knocked on the door in a pattern and it opened with a click. Erren made his way inside, with Harry following his lead. Inside was just as he imagined, dusty and cluttered except one clean bench and a single Gryffindor sitting on it. Raising his head, he smiles on seeing them.

"Erren my friend, new member."

Erren nodes, "And hopeful recruit." and stands protectively beside the door.

Griffindor quirks his eyes at that, turning his head towards Harry. His eyes went towards his scar for a split second before zooming on his face.

"I am George Elliot, fifth-year griffindor. Mister Potter, I never thought you would be joining the Mages club."

"Why, are there any restrictions on who can join?" Harry asked, as far as he knew, the club also doubled as protection for muggleborns but it should not be exclusively for them.

"No, the club can be joined by anyone as long as they have enough dedication to finding it. Most vulnerable students are invited, yes, but as long as someone has enough sincerity, he or she could join."

"Then why was I invited? Because I was deemed vulnerable?" Harry asked, a little miffed.

George and Erren shared a look, before George said, "No, this year things are much more heated and Minister's speech did not help either. We are bringing anyone we can into the club. Infact you are one of the last one's to be contacted.

Harry nodded, and George presented him with a parchment. Harry read the listed rules and duties of the club, as well as punishment for breaking these rules.

'Never tell outsider any information about the club especially member names, location, composition, etc.' Harry read over the entire contract before signing it.

George checked and smiles, "Welcome to the Club."

Erren locked the door behind while George moves to stand in front of the blackboard, tapping it with his wand and muttering something under his breath.

With a lurch, the board swung sideways, showing an opening in the wall that expanded to form a passage, much to the surprise of Harry.

"Come in." George walked first and Harry followed him into the tunnel. Erren closed the passage behind them, not following them into the path. George cast wand lighting charm while Harry's enchanted glasses came online, allowing him to see in the dark without a problem.

They did not move through the dark passage for long, soon they were standing in front of a stone wall at the end of the tunnel. With a tap of wand, the wall receded and Harry stepped into a large, bustling room.

The bookshelves filled with arcane and rare tomes adorned the walls on all sides, and many tables and couches sat around the room, filled with students of all houses. Harry even spotted a few Slytherins sitting, mingling with other students. In another corner, he spotted a large saucer the size of the courtyard fountain levitating near the ground and many students sitting around it. The whole hall had a warm homely feel, somewhat like the Griffindor common room. There were many rooms attached with labels from potions to Dueling. One side of the wall was covered with grand windows, showing a beautiful landscape of Black lake and Forbidden forest.

"Woow" Harry exclaimed in wonder. George smiled, looking at the eleven-year-old, "It is great, isn't it. You can start with whatever you want. Laze in front of the fireplace if you want, read about magic, practice potions or spells. If a senior agrees, you can even learn directly from them."

George leads Harry to a corner, right next to the large floating saucer. Harry recognized it immediately.

"That is a Pensieve, a magical device used to view memories although this one's rather large. Here you can learn non-magical education and take the rest during holidays. It is not best but with little effort here and rest during holidays, completing both educations is quite easy."

Harry looked downwards to see a memory of a teacher teaching in a normal class, just desks were occupied by students in cloaks.

"It is optional, like everything else although I will highly recommend it. Many aspire to study in universities after completing Hogwarts and join I.D.E.A. afterward, I included."

"IDEA?"

"International Department of Extranormal Affairs," George explained, leading him to a large noticeboard. Harry notices a large newspaper clipping with a picture of Ember addressing the UN assembly. Since the picture was colored and not moving, so it was most likely from a non-magical source. He read the headline, 'UN agrees on the formation of a new international peacekeeping body!'

"It was formed just a few days back, and the core idea behind it is the same that is behind Mage tower and this club, to protect. A worthy cause if I ever heard one,"

"To protect huh, were things always this difficult for muggle-borns?"

George paused, "Before things changed, the school was not that difficult for us. There was no Snape and we were not tormented that badly. But many were killed, at an attack in Diagon alley, in the train, and even at school. When that happened, no one was informed, no news in Prophet, no announcement and no action from law enforcement, instead their parents were obliviated if lucky, or they were visited by death eaters themselves."

"Even if a muggle-born luckily passed Hogwarts, they had no future. No one will hire them, either because of hate or fear, it did not matter. Things were bad, but as far as Hogwarts goes, we lived in ignorance of what dangers awaited us."

"What happened?"

"Ember, she shook the entire board. Fresh out of Hogwarts, she founded Mage Tower to shelter and protect everyone being persecuted, Muggleborns, werewolves, house elves, you name it. Understandably, she became a target and before long Voldemort came for her, along with his army."

Harry's breath hitched, making George amused, "And she sent them packing. Voldemort stood no chance against her, he barely even escaped with his life. Mage tower went from a small group to one of the most powerful organizations in the wizarding world. Muggleborns, who anyone could step on now had a reliable backing and support. Overnight Muggleborns became a threat to everyone else. And threat inspires fear, it inspires hate which along with no small amount of bruised pureblood ego, led us where we are now."

"But enough of that, now move along, enjoy, read, practice, do whatever you want." Harry nearly jumped when George patted on his back.

Harry went to bookshelves, looking for every book he could find on magical theory. He had a lot on his mind as he absently scrolled through scores of arcane and difficult to find tomes, but now he had one goal in mind, to understand magic to its very root, to know and understand it an instinctive level, to build a strong base on which he can build his skills and here he found it.

Perhaps Mages club was not a bad idea at all.