Chapter 9 Good-bye

That night, when everyone went to bed, the linked parchments were in overdrive, as everyone tried to tell everyone else what their parents had told them. It became a jumble of sentences, that were hard to decipher. Harry picked through it and realized that this might be his last year at Hogwarts.

From what he was gathering, the school mansion had already been built. It was called The Dagworth-Granger Fine Institute of Learning and Magic. Named after Hermione, who was the spearhead of the whole movement. That and the goblins insisted that she get recognized.

It would incorporate both worlds' curriculum. The Prime Minister and the Queen both agreed that this was a must. So far, it was set up to be a day school. Only portkeys could enter, except manually walking out the front door. The goblins were working on massive wards to keep undesirables out.

The town was already being formed. The local government had already been chosen, and it would all come together before school ends. There would be shops, a hospital, flats, houses, and even entertainment.

Harry wasn't sure how he felt about that. On one hand, the muggleborn that had left the wizarding world were uniting, and finally getting what they deserved. One the other hand, it might just close Hogwarts. A school that had been standing for thousands of years. That was a bit heartbreaking.

According to the ramblings of the parchment, the Prime Minister, the MI5, and a few other agencies, had been watching those that were turned out. So, it was a simple matter to get them together and let them know what was planned.

It seems that quite a few of them had been planning something similar, but didn't have the funds, resources, or the political power to pull it off. They had no sat idle, no, just because they weren't in the magical world, didn't mean they didn't practice magic. Not only did they practice, they improved. There were tons of new spells and it was a simple thing to incorporate them to the new town.

The Prime Minister was glad to hear that. It made the whole conspiracy easier. He now knew what they wanted and gave them what they were missing. He even told those that didn't know to go to Gringotts and see if they had vaults. He had a working relationship with the goblins, and they had no problem with people pulling their money out of the bank, since there would be a new and improved bank in the new municipal.

With judicious use of magic, it was only days that the school mansion, the hospital and townhall were erected. All it took was the muggleborns to pool their money and knowledge together to get it done. The goblins were ecstatic, and building a home under the town, along with the new bank. Treaties, and paperwork were already signed, and all was going according to plan.

The town itself was in the highlands of Scotland. Nestled in a valley between some low range mountains. It was far from the any normal town or establishment. They would be secluded, mostly because the Prime Minister agreed with the Statute of Secrecy. He knew how fickle the public was and he, and the Queen, said that it was better to stay hidden. There was an addendum, they had to follow the principles of the laws of the land. Since magic was different, laws would have to be conformed to fit.

There would be no Minister for the time being. That would come after they took care of the current one.

The plan was that magicals would live in the town, but it would be open to the parents muggleborns. They would be able to come via portkey to shop for their children, visit the school or just plain look around. It had been debated that the parents could live there, but a mass majority of them didn't want to uproot. They only wanted a place where their children would be safe and could make a living, it they so desired.

That same night Nymphadora Tonks made sure to remind everyone not to think about it during the day, and never, ever, look Dumbledore or Snape in the eyes. It had to remain secret.

The professors of Hogwarts were marveling on how the muggleborns were behaving. There were no arguments between them and the more radical purebloods. It was like they didn't care what the others thought. They would simply smile a condescending smile and move away. Since they traveled in large groups, no one dared start a fight.

A week into school, Harry pulled Hermione into an empty classroom.

"Harry, what are you doing?" she demanded irritably, she had been heading to the library. There were things she needed to learn.

"Sorry, I wanted to thank you," he said sheepishly, rubbing his scar a bit out of nervous habit. "Umm, thanks for not using the parchment to tell me about my aunt and uncle," he said with a crooked smile.

"Oh, Harry, of course I wouldn't do that to you. It's personal. My parents told me in confidence, only you were to know," she said softly, giving him a one-armed hug, leaning in to look at his face.

"Okay, ummm, thanks again," he said hurriedly and quickly skedaddled. Girls were weird, he thought for a moment she was going to kiss him or something yucky like that.

The year moved on, and it was almost Valentine's Day. Harry wondered that since he didn't give Christmas gifts, if the girls would take it wrong if he bought them chocolates. He pulled Neville into a room and ran it by him.

"So, what do you think?" Harry asked, watching the shy boy scrunch up his face in thought.

"I'm not sure how muggles celebrate Valentine's Day, but here in the wizarding world, giving chocolates means you're interested in them," Neville said thoughtfully, his face still scrunched up in thought.

"Oh, and eww, I don't like girls like that. Gross," he said, sticking out his tongue. Then he sighed. "What do you think I can do? I feel like a right berk not buying for Christmas," Harry said with a sigh, and leaned against the wall with his arms cross, a pensive look on his face.

"Why didn't you?" Neville inquired, a bit of hurt in his voice. He had gotten the thank you note, but it still hurt a bit that his friend didn't think about him.

"Don't know, didn't really think about it, to tell the truth. I never got presents before, so I just didn't think I'd get them this year either," Harry explained.

"You never got a present?" the sandy-haired boy asked with awe. He got presents every year for every occasion. He couldn't fathom not getting any. Heck, he still bought gifts for his parents.

"Well, Hagrid gave me Hedwig, so there one," Harry confessed with a bright smile.

"Well, that's good, I guess," Neville stated, then looked at Harry again. "Hey, Harry, what's going on with the muggleborn. You don't have to tell if it's a secret, but rumors are starting, and some of them are pretty farfetched. There's one that says you guys are going to storm the ministry, and take over," he added with a chuckle, like that would be unfathomable.

Harry's eyes darted side to side, like he was looking for the enemy. He thought about what he could tell his friend, and settled on, "I can tell you this, but you can't tell anyone, or even think about it hard. There are people here who can read minds," he said swiftly and quietly, pulling the other boy further into the room.

"Don't worry, Occlumency is one thing I'm good at," Neville whispered, all but bouncing in place.

"Okay, there's no such thing as muggleborns," Harry whispered in his ear. "I can't tell you anymore than that. At least, not yet, but I will as soon as I can. You're my friend, Neville, and I want you to stay my friend, no matter what happens." He was earnest. Never in all his life had he had friends. Now he had many, and he wasn't about to lose this one. Or any of them if he could help it.

"What do you mean?" came the puzzled response. "Of course, there are muggleborns. Your mum was one."

"No, not really," Harry answered, keeping his voice soft. "She's actually related to the first female Minister of Magic." He grinned proudly.

"Truly?" Harry nodded. "Wow, what…"

"Hey, what are you guys doing in here?" came a voice from the hall. It was Ron Weasley, they noted when the other boy entered the room.

"Talking about Valentine's Day. Harry had a question," Neville said, straightening up and shrugging.

"Yeah," Harry agreed, also shrugging. "Thanks, Neville, for letting me know. I'll suss out the rest myself." He clapped Neville on the shoulder, nodded to Ron, and left.

"What sort of question?" the redhead asked as Harry was leaving.

"None of your business, Ron," Neville chastised, the messy-haired boy heard as he moved further away.

"Who wants to know about stupid Valentine's Day, anyway. Only girls like that stuff," Ron grumbled, watching Harry walked down the hall as the two Gryffindors exited the room.

Neville just laughed and proceeded to his common room with Ron harping the whole way.

For Valentine's Day, Harry made simple cards, with the word 'friend' emphasized in each one. The younger girls giggled, and the older ones cooed. Some even kissed him on the cheek, making him wipe it off and glare at them. The boys thought it was dead funny, and laughed every time it happened.

"Serves you right," Dean said, after Tonks kissed Harry on the forehead and called him a good lad, messing up his already messy hair.

"I wouldn't have done it if I'd known they'd get all mushy," the boy grumbled, wiping off his forehead, and slouching sullenly.

The others just laughed and ate their dinner.

Time moved on and soon it was exam time. Everyone was studying as hard as they could. The library was full at all times, as students fought over the books, revised, and generally worked. The exams themselves weren't hard and it was the last week of school.

Harry and Justin were called to the Headmaster's office. They went up the twisting, moving staircase and knocked on the door. They were bid enter, so they opened the door. Harry's jaw dropped at all the people that were crammed into the room. He recognized Justin's dad, from the picture the boy had by his bed. He didn't know who everyone else was, though.

"Come in, my boys, come in. have a seat and we can get started." The boys complied, Justin sitting by his dad, and Harry next to him. "To my right if Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic. Next to him, is Dolores Umbridge, his Undersecretary. On my left is John Major, the muggle Prime Minister, next to him is Jane Albright, the head of The Department for Education, who I believe is responsible for the protection of children. And, of course, you know Mr. Finch-Fletchley. We are here to discuss the placement of young Harry Potter," the old man said, nodding to each person as he named them.

The two boys mumbled their hellos, completely uncomfortable around all the officials.

"Harry Potter is a national icon in our community. He should be with a magical family. I already have many families willing to take him in and train him for his place here," Fudge said pompously as he could.

"We've already discussed this, Fudge. Harry Potter is a ward of the Crown. He was raised in the non-magical world, and we will take care of him," Major stated, pulling papers out of his briefcase. "Mr. Finch-Fletchley has filed all the paperwork and can finically support Mr. Potter," he said, putting the papers on the desk in front of Dumbledore.

"You have no right," screeched Umbridge, making everyone in the room flinch.

"I have the backing of the Crown," Major said forcefully.

"We don't answer to the crown," Umbridge sneered, looking down her nose at the man.

"No, but Harry is register in our world, and he does," came the smooth reply.

"Harry, I know you said that you want to remain in the muggle world, is this still your desire?" the old man said, skimming over the paperwork. He sighed it was all legal.

"Yes, sir," was all the boy said, looking at the floor.

"But, Harry, my boy, don't you want to live around magic? I know a family that will take you and teach you everything you need to know. I'm sure you are acquainted with his son, Draco," the Minister of Magic tried to entice.

Harry wrinkled his nose. He didn't know Draco well, since the boy had left him alone after the first time they met. Still he seemed like Dudley, only skinnier.

"If my relatives hadn't been arrested, I would be returning to them. I don't see how this is different. Well, except I'm sure that Justin's dad would feed me and stuff," Harry said, thinking hard a quick on how to get his way.

"That just proves my point," Fudge huffed, folding his arms, "muggles can't be trusted with magicals."

"Now see here, you overgrown windbag, I am a muggle, my son is a wizard, are you saying you're going to take him from me and place him with a magical family? If so, then I will warn you right now that I will blow your head from your body before you could even lift your wand," Mr. Finch-Fletchley snapper, glancing at the government officials. They seemed to be upset enough to let the threat slide.

Fudge sputtered, his frog companion screamed, and Dumbledore sighed.

"Really, Mr. Finch-Fletchley, is violence necessary?" the old man asked, handing the papers to Fudge to look at.

"He is threatening to take kids away from what they know and shove them on to families that line his pockets," Justin's dad said, putting his hand in his suit jacket.

Harry wondered if he really did have a gun.

"I did not," the chubby man denied, "I was talking about Potter."

"There is no difference," Mr. Finch-Fletchley stated, his face getting red in anger. "They are both wizards that live in the 'muggle' world. Just because you people are stupid enough to believe that a fifteen-month-old baby can take down a 'Dark Lord', doesn't make Harry any different that Justin."

"He survived the Killing Curse," Fudge yelled, standing and getting in Mr. Finch-Fletchley's face.

"How do you know that? Were you there? No? Then shut up and sit down. We're tired of your stupidity," Justin's dad said, pushing the man away from him, making him sit back in his chair, which almost tittered over.

"How dare you!" Umbridge yelled, she too standing and almost made for her wand.

Dumbledore quickly silenced her and froze her mid-step, causing her to crash face first into the stone floor. "Please, everyone, settle down," he pleaded, guiding the frozen witch back to her chair, fixing her broken nose and releasing her with a withering gaze. She huffed and sat. "There is no need for all this fighting."

"You are correct, the placement of Mr. Potter is not up for debate. It has already been decided. The only reason we are here is to hand over the papers," Major said, getting out of his chair, and rounding the desk, Albright followed. "So, unless you feel like taking on our army, you will back down and accept that." He then waved Justin, Harry and Mr. Finch-Fletchley to follow him.

They did.

Fudge started yelling at Dumbledore, and Umbridge shrieked at anything.

"Those are some very unpleasant people," Albright said as they exited the castle.

"Yes, and they are the ones in charge. I don't hold out much hope for this world," Majors agreed.

"Sir," Harry said tentatively, "how can you and Ms. Albright see the castle? I mean, Hermione told me that non-magicals can't. So, I was just wondering." He hung his head shyly but glanced up to see what the man felt about being questioned.

The two government officials held out their right arm. On the wrist of both was a shiny bracelet, that had funny writing on it. "Your co-conspirators have designed a way for those of us without magic, to see magical places. We wanted to make sure that we could get into your new community, so that it doesn't wind up like this one," the Prime Minister explained with a welcoming smile.

"Oh," was all Harry said, thinking hard on that.

"Mr. Major," Justin asked, bouncing next to his dad, "can you tell us more about the school?"

"Shhh," the man said, looking around and seeing Hagrid by his hut. "Not here, and not now. You will learn all you need to know when school ends."

"Oh, okay, sorry," the boy mumbled, then started bouncing again. "Hey, Harry, do you realize what this means. We're going to be brothers," he said, excitedly.

"Wow, that's right. I've never had a brother. Only my fat pig cousin. What happened to him?" he asked Mr. Finch-Fletchley.

"He's been taken as a ward to the Crown too. He too was abused, just in a much different manner than you. He has no boundaries. He needs to learn discipline and adapt to living where he doesn't get his way. I think Her Majesty put him in a military academy," he answered, tapping his chin in thought, as though trying to remember.

"That's right," Ms. Albright said, nodding her head. "He's doing well there now. It was a rough start, but now he is a good student."

"Oh, good, I guess," Harry said with a short nod. He never thought that how his aunt had treated his cousin was wrong. He thought all other children, not him, were treated that way.

"Okay, Harry, Justin, be ready. We'll see you in a week," Mr. Finch-Fletchley said, hugging his son, then surprisingly Harry.

"Bye," the two boys said and watched the adults leave the grounds.

"This is going to be so much fun," Justin said, tugging Harry back to the castle.

Everything was going well, the only hiccup in the rest of the year was the disappearance of Quirrell. No one knows what happen to him, but rumor had it that the man got eaten by a three-headed dog. How that happened, only a few guessed.

Slytherin won the House Cup, and Harry heard from the upper years that they had won ever since Snape started working there, all but once. To Harry that meant that the man was cheating, and it seemed that the Headmaster was okay with that.

Hmmm.

Soon enough, they were all on the train. Many people were confused with the heartfelt good-byes that were happening. They were only going to be separated for the summer, right?

Right?