Chapter Fifteen - Attacked
Disclaimer: The Harry Potter universe belongs to JK Rowling, Scholastic, Bloomsbury, Warner Bros and some other high falutin' companies. Me, I'm just a PR professional. I don't profess to own - and would never dream of making any money off - JKR's wonderful world. However, its her sandbox and she's left the gate unlatched so we can go in and play a bit. Which, I've done.
Chapter Fifteen - Attacked
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The next morning, the seven were sitting together at the Hufflepuff table finishing their breakfasts when the mail rolled in. A great deal of it was aimed directly at Daphne, with some overflow aimed at Harry.
As soon as the mail owls began landing on the table both Harry's and Daphne's rings were going crazy. The two looked at the piles before them in shock. There was even a howler hovering in the air above Daphne's pile.
While everyone else around them were also in shock, a couple of hands started to reach forward to the piles. Harry thrust both hands out and knocked the hands away. "Nobody touch anything!" he yelled, drawing his wand out. The hands were snatched back as if scalded. "Some of this stuff is booby-trapped!"
"Everybody back away!" he yelled again.
While Harry was keeping everyone from touching anything, both Professor Flitwick and the Headmaster hurried over.
"Mister Potter?" asked Professor Flitwick. "What is going on?"
"I don't know, Sir," replied Harry, who was waving his wand over the entire mess. "But I'm detecting harmful intent-based magics. There's both mind altering charms and harmful potions at work, here."
Both Professor Flitwick and Dumbledore moved forward with their own wands drawn. Both had their wands moving in elaborate movements.
Speaking up as both started to work, Harry said, "You're not to cancel any of it, Sirs. I want the aurors called to investigate. These, whatever else they are, are attacks on the Head of an Ancient House and his betrothed. That makes it a criminal matter."
Pausing for a moment, both Professors, with grim looks, nodded and continued to work.
Students around them were talking about what they were watching.
A few moments of work and those packages still attached to the legs of owls were released, allowing the birds to depart. However, Hedwig immediately flew to Harry's shoulder and glared back down at the offending piles. She also gave him a couple of indignant hoots and a nuzzle of his ear.
With a disappointed sigh, Dumbledore was the first to back away. "You are correct, Mister Potter. Though most of it is simple mail, I'm detecting at least three that have been infused with various potions, two with compulsion charms, and one I cannot figure out what it is, but is clearly harmful."
Lowering his own wand, Professor Flitwick looked ropable. "I detect the same. Plus one that has a small explosive component with, I think, undiluted bubotuber pus."
With a frown, Dumbledore gave his wand another flick over the piles and said, "Yes, aimed at Miss Greengrass. It would have exploded the moment she touched it. I have neutralised the explosion but left the rest of it in place."
Turning to Professor Flitwick he said, "Please take over here, Filius. I'll summon the aurors through my office. Mister Potter is correct in that this cannot be allowed to go past, uninvestigated." He turned and rapidly left the Hall for his office.
Professor Flitwick had the Ravenclaw students either move further down the table or across to other House tables. Those sitting nearby at the Gryffindor table were also moved away.
Daphne immediately moved to Harry to be hugged. She was upset. "Who would do such a thing?" she querulously asked.
"People who are not happy with you for becoming betrothed to me; people not happy with me for becoming betrothed to you, or becoming close with someone who's not of the 'Light'; people thinking I attacked their children last Sunday night; or maybe just mothers, daughters, whatever, not happy with you for snagging the Boy-Who-Lived. It doesn't matter what drives people to do something like this, it's still a criminal matter and I want them dealt with as such," replied Harry.
When everyone, except Harry and Daphne, were moved away, the professor moved next to Harry and said, "I did not recognise the movements of your wand for that detection spell you used, Mister Potter. Care to explain?"
With a sigh, Harry quietly replied, "That was a bit of theatre, as you would put it, Professor. A little bit of misdirection. The detections were made by the betrothal rings Daphne and I wear. They're charmed to actively detect harmful potions, poisons and spells whenever such comes in close proximity to the rings. I want to keep the abilities of the rings as secret as possible for as long as possible." Indicating the stacks of mail, he said, "And this, in part, is why."
With a look of initial surprise, the Professor's expression cleared in understanding. He said, "Ah, yes. I remember your parents wore similar rings once they were engaged. I once worked with your mother to see if the charms could be expanded. I'm very happy to see that they work as designed. And, that neither of you are hurt."
After Dumbledore returned with a small group of aurors, the aurors set to work on bundling everything up and taking it away. The senior auror said to both Harry and Daphne, "We'll go through it all and see what we can track back to identify the culprits. Any mail we clear will be sent back to you immediately. You should have it at lunch."
Harry nodded and said, "Thank you. I'm expecting some very important personal mail today and I don't want to miss it."
After the aurors left with the mail Harry and Daphne joined the other five at the Hufflepuff table. He was handed a copy of the Daily Prophet by one of the 'Puffs looking at him with a bit of awe. "Here, I noticed your copy was taken with the rest of your mail. You might want to read the front page."
With a word of thanks to the 'Puff, Harry unfolded the paper. Three articles on the front page immediately caught his attention.
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SIRIUS BLACK FREED
In a shock court appearance in Courtroom Five in the Ministry yesterday, Sirius Black, thought to have betrayed the Potters and killed Peter Pettigrew, finally faced trial, reports Monty Wordsworth, court reporter. What's more shocking is that he was proven to be completely innocent of the crimes and exonerated from any wrongdoing.
Lord Black has spent almost ten years behind bars at Azkaban for crimes of which he was completely innocent.
The real culprit was found to be Peter Pettigrew, who, apparently, was not killed. Peter Pettigrew is now wanted for questioning around the events of the 31st of October 1981, and the killing of the muggles a few days later.
The first person to congratulate Lord Black was none other than Mister Harry Potter, The-Boy-Who-Lived, who hugged him.
In another shock, it was learned that Lord Black is actually the godfather of Mister Potter. Information that was not made clear until yesterday.
It is expected Pettigrew's Order of Merlin Third Class will be retracted.
When asked what he most looked forward to now that he's been released, Lord Black replied, "A long, hot bath."
As Lord Black left the courtroom, he did so in the company of Mister Potter, Mister Potter's betrothed, Miss Daphne Greengrass, and Lord Greengrass.
It is believed Lord Black is likely recovering at Greengrass Estate.
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MUGGLE GUARDIANS OF BOY-WHO-LIVED SENTENCED
In a trial immediately prior to the shock events around the exoneration of Lord Black, the muggle guardians of the orphaned Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived, stood trial yesterday on numerous charges, writes Monty Wordsworth. The charges relate specifically to the appalling treatment of our young hero while in their questionable care.
This reporter was made ill during and after watching verified memories of vicious beatings over the course of almost ten years upon Mister Potter at the hands of his muggle guardians. And I was not the only one. Many members of the Wizengamot sitting in judgement of the muggles concerned were also quite ill while they had to watch the memories played for the court. They were, in many cases, both gruesome and horrifying.
I will not sicken our readers by going into detail of the beatings and other treatment concerned. However, some of the injuries resulted in many multiple poorly set bones that remained untreated, long-term untreated malnutrition, and an incredible number of scars upon his body.
Many of our children were read bedtime stories of Harry Potter and his adventures over the years. It has now been proven those stories were nothing but the fantasy writings of deranged individuals who wrote them to profit off Mister Potter's misery. I, for one, will be returning the 'Harry Potter' books I purchased to read to my children at night to the bookstore from where I bought them. I will be demanding a refund.
While we should be the ones comforting Mister Potter during these times, Mister Potter spent most of the time during the playing of the memories comforting his betrothed, Miss Daphne Greengrass. Miss Greengrass appeared quite shaken and distressed from what we were all witnessing. Her reaction was unsurprising.
Mister Potter, with a stoicism hard to find in many adults with years more experience to the hardships of life, set aside his own emotional turmoil to provide comfort to a loved one, placing her needs above his own.
During the sentencing phase of the trial, this reporter expected the muggles to immediately be sentenced to the Veil or the Kiss. However, Mister Potter asked to speak in defence of his guardians for their actions against him. Yes, dear readers, in defence. Madam Marchbanks, as presiding judge, granted him the opportunity.
Mister Potter took the floor and spoke of how the muggles treatment of him stemmed from fear; fear of magicals and the wizarding world. The same fear that led to the witch burnings of yester-year. He spoke of how it was fear that led to the muggles mistreating him. He said they feared magicals and did not want to see him become one. Mister Potter's generosity and compassion shone through.
And he asked that, instead of the wizarding world sentencing them, that they be handed over to the muggle aurors for the muggles to deal with them.
While in secured chambers, the panel convened to pass judgement. They agreed with Mister Potter's recommendation. And so the muggles will be handed to the muggle aurors.
Mister Potter may not be the hero of those fantasy books supposedly written about him. Books that are nought but lies. But he is no less a hero to those muggles for what he accomplished yesterday in that courtroom.
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DUMBLEDORE CHARGED
It was also learned yesterday that Albus Dumbledore was the magical guardian of Mister Harry Potter, The-Boy-Who-Lived, while he was being mistreated by his muggle relatives, continues Monty Wordsworth.
In light of that information, it is unsurprising that Albus Dumbledore has been stripped of his magical guardianship and now faces charges relating to those events.
Mister Dumbledore faces further charges, including charges relating to abuse of his authority as Chief Warlock in placing Mister Potter with the muggles, going against the wishes of Mister Potter's parents in who should be granted guardianship of him, sealing the Potter Will, and neglect of his duties as a magical guardian when he had claimed the position for himself.
Upon the reading of the charges, Mister Dumbledore immediately stepped down as Chief Warlock until the charges were dealt with. It has been tentatively scheduled that Mister Dumbledore will face trail on these charges next Monday afternoon.
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After breakfast, Harry had his first class at 9.00am; Double Charms with Professor Flitwick and the Gryffindors. For the others, it was their second lesson; for Harry, his first.
Like everything else he did, Harry picked up the material very quickly. After all, he'd already read his text before school even started; and it was now safety stored in memory.
However, so as not to arouse suspicion, he had his text with him on the bench and was idly flipping through the pages. While looking through, he soon came to the conclusion his days at Hogwarts were going to be absolutely boring if he didn't find himself things to do. He and Daphne were going to be running their little 'etiquette club' on Sunday afternoons, but what was he do with the rest of the time.
After having read through his class schedule Harry could see that classes would only occupy a small portion of the day. Assignments, a bit more. And meals a little bit more again. Sleeping was no longer an issue as he now passed by on about six hours of sleep a night.
That left on average about five hours a day 'down time' on weekdays if he took things slow, and about fourteen hours a day 'down time' each weekend day.
That was intolerable to Harry. So, Harry started to plan.
First, he was going to do what the healers had demanded of him, and exercise. He'd start with running in the mornings and see what he could do about other cardio work after that. That meant contacting someone, probably Madam Malkin, to see about owl ordering some clothes to exercise in.
He would also see if he could learn what the prophecy Voldemort mentioned was. Voldemort might be gone but all his Death Eaters weren't. One of them might come after him based on the prophecy. Harry thought it best to be aware of it. After all, forewarned is forearmed.
He planned on reading every text book for his classes right through all seven years. If he had to, he'd borrow them off the other 'Claws, over time. That way he'd have the whole lot committed to memory.
Next, he'd move on to other material contained within the Hogwarts' library. He'd heard older 'Claws talking about Arithmancy and Ancient Runes. Those sounded like fun. At least he hoped they would give him a chance to exercise his mind.
He also wanted to know what other magicks there were out there that never were, or were no longer, taught at Hogwarts. The Hogwarts library was a treasure trove for someone with Harry's mind. Granted, a great deal of it might be repetitive, and have been covered numerous times in other works, but he could still glean a lot of information out of it.
If he was going to be doing something like that, though, he knew his mental library was going to require expansion. Maybe, he could use the same space expansion techniques that were employed on his trunk.
'Alright,' he thought. 'Maybe I'm not going to be bored spending on and off seven years here, after all.'
But there had to be more to do than just read and memorise tome after tome; then sorting the information in them into a library of his own design. Could the Dewey Decimal system be used within his own mind? Or was there some other cataloguing, magical, method he could use? Perhaps investigating information cataloguing systems should be the first project to do.
And what about what was going on with him, personally. He'd had a piece of the soul of Voldemort tucked in behind his scar on his forehead. And, apparently, there was another that had possessed that Professor Quirrell bloke. How was it possible for someone's soul to be split like that?
Next, was what Voldemort had said on that night in his nursery. There was some sort of prophecy about Harry and Voldemort. That was why it appeared Voldemort specifically targeted Harry, not the Potters, in general. How could he find out what it was?
Harry gave himself a visible shake to help clear his mind of all those thoughts. He still had the rest of the current double period of First Year Charms to get through before he could even think of anything else.
Harry had never liked to sit still and do nothing. It reminded him too much of being locked in the cupboard under the stairs. He much preferred to be doing something, no matter how menial it proved to be.
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At lunch, Harry and Daphne received their mail, as did the group who were sitting with them at the time they were, as Harry was putting it, mail bombed.
From Cygnus, he'd heard that Sirius had bathed, eaten a decent meal - his first in a decade, and was fitted with some of Cygnus's clothes that were now too small for the older man. They planned today to head back to the Ministry where Sirius was picking up his effects he had on his person when he was arrested, and that were still in evidence storage. That included his wand.
His effects from the place he was staying during the period leading up to that night had been lost. It was suspected that the muggle landlord, after Sirius failed to return, had sold the effects or simply just gotten rid of them. However, they couldn't even talk to the landlord, as he had died a few years previous.
Then they were heading for Gringotts for Sirius to formally accept the Lordship of House Black, and carry out what business was needed to bring the accounts out of the stasis into which the goblins had placed them on the death of old Arcturus.
Cygnus felt that would be enough for the now ex-Azkaban resident. They would spend the rest of the day at Greengrass Estate, where Cygnus and Amelia would lead Sirius through the memories Harry had given them. Cygnus told Harry they would not be showing Sirius the memories of Harry's time with the Dursleys.
Cygnus also included a short paragraph on how he would discuss the Regency/Proxy of the Seat of Black with Sirius. Now that Sirius was exonerated the choice had been, or would soon be, removed from Harry and given to Sirius. Harry was happy with that. He felt he had more than enough problems taking care of House Potter. He didn't want another about which to worry.
Harry also received a short note from Sirius with Cygnus's letter where his godfather spent much of the letter apologising to him for not being there for him while he was growing up. Harry didn't know what to decide on that. He was, on one hand, angry with his godfather for letting his emotions rule over his head in letting Hagrid take him that night and deciding to go after Pettigrew instead. On the other hand, he understood that grief can do strange things to a person's cognitive thought processes, and lead a person to do something they would not have done had they been able to, in layman's terms, 'think straight'.
However, Sirius wasn't arrested and taken away until three days after the events of that night. Dumbledore had already dumped baby Harry at the Dursleys by then. It was hard to see how Sirius would have been able to care for Harry if Dumbledore had already unilaterally decided Harry was going to be raised by the Dursleys. And Dumbledore had also claimed magical guardianship over Harry by the time.
No, Harry was angry with his godfather for not being there; but, also understood he really had no choice in the situation. His ability and desire to raise Harry was stolen from him. Harry would discuss it with his godfather on the weekend to see if they could come to terms with it, together. He hoped they'd be able to get past the issue and get on with their lives.
A letter from Gran informed him that she hoped to officially be his Regent as of close of business that day. The Wizengamot Administrative Services had accepted the Change of Regency paperwork and were supposed to be formally filing the change to take effect at the beginning of the next formal Wizengamot session.
Harry also received a separate note from Professor Flitwick letting him and Daphne know their 'etiquette club' had been approved by the Headmaster. They were permitted to 'advertise' the club via the House noticeboards in each House common room, and on the school wide noticeboard on the wall outside the entrance to the Great Hall.
Harry handed the note to Daphne and said, "All we have to do now is find a location, such as an abandoned classroom, from where to run the club. I suspect a good location will be found in one of the classrooms on the second or third floors."
Nodding, she replied, "If we're organised quick enough we could hold the first class - club meeting - next Sunday."
"What're your classes this afternoon?" asked Harry, curious.
"Charms with the 'Puffs; and a free period," she replied. "You?"
"History of Magic and free periods," he replied.
"How about during the free period we have together we search for a suitable venue?" she asked.
Nodding, Harry replied, "Alright, sounds good."
Grabbing an apple and an orange and dropping them into his bookbag Harry said, "Time to go, I think. We don't want to be late."
The group nodded and rose to their feet. Together, they walked out of the Great Hall.
In History of Magic Harry checked to make sure that Professor Binns merely droned on as if reading directly from the text before pulling out his parchment, quill and ink.
While he was already building a pretty substantial timeline of events in his own mind around late October and early November 1981, he knew others did not have his skill in being able to do that. He pulled the piece of parchment towards himself and began to write it out.
Sometime 1980 or Early 1981
- The Potters move to Godric's Hollow and go under the Fidelius Charm.
Late October 1981
- Pettigrew becomes the Secret Keeper for the Potters
31st October 1981
- The Potters are attacked.
- Dumbledore 'knows' they're attacked from Hogwarts.
- Dumbledore sends Hagrid.
- Snape arrives and leaves, then Hagrid arrives, then Sirius.
- Hagrid tells Sirius that Dumbledore tells him to take Harry back to Dumbledore (why not James and/or Lily?)
- Hagrid leaves on Sirius's motorcycle
31st October 1981
- Hagrid arrives in the infirmary at Hogwarts with baby Harry
- Dumbledore and Madam Pomfrey check over baby Harry (neither notice the soul fragment)
1st November 1981
- Late. Hagrid arrives at Privett Drive with baby Harry. Dumbledore and McGonagall are waiting. Harry dumped
3rd November 1981
- Sirius confronts Pettigrew in Covington. Pettigrew disappears and Sirius is arrested
5th November 1981
- The Longbottoms are attacked
Unknown dates
- (1/2 November 1981?) Dumbledore claims magical guardianship over Harry
- Dumbledore seals the Potters' Will
- Dumbledore falsifies? the placement of baby Harry
Questions
- Why did the Potters move into Potter Cottage instead of remaining at Potter Manor?
- Why did the Potters agree to go under the Fidelius Charm?
- How did Dumbledore know the Potters were attacked?
- How did Dumbledore know Harry had survived and his parents had not?
- Why did Dumbledore send Hagrid, a man not legally allowed to use magic, into the scene of an attack without backup?
- Why did Dumbledore send Hagrid and not go himself?
- Why did Dumbledore tell Hagrid to take baby Harry back to himself instead of taking him to the Longbottoms?
- Why did Dumbledore place Harry with the Dursleys when he was supposed to go to either the Longbottoms, Sirius, the Greengrasses or the Boneses?
- Why did Dumbledore seal the Potters' Will?
- Was Dumbledore aware of the contents of the Will?
- Did Dumbledore seal other Wills? Why?
Once everything was on parchment it looked quite appalling. If nothing else, the timeline would make questioning Dumbledore over his actions of that time easier. Harry couldn't see a way for the old man to wheedle his way out of it as it proved all the guardians his parents decided for him were still available at the time of the evening of the 31st of October 1981.
He would ask Amelia or Gran to look into what the dates were for three small events for which he didn't have said dates; the date Dumbledore claimed magical guardianship over him, the day he sealed the Potters' Will, and what records were submitted surrounding Harry's placement with the Dursleys. They should be in the records at the Ministry. Maybe. Hopefully. If they weren't it would mean Dumbledore had even more questions to answer.
Grabbing another sheet of parchment, Harry wrote to his Aunt Amelia to ask her to look into it. He'd send it, together with what he wrote of the timeline of events, off with Hedwig after class finished.
Once he was finished writing, Harry looked around the classroom. One Hufflepuff student, Ernie MacMillan, was writing as fast as he could apply quill to ink to paper to ink in an oft repeated cycle. The rest were all actively asleep, or playing games such as noughts and crosses, otherwise known as tic tac toe.
On the Ravenclaw side there were Anthony Goldstein and Mandy Brocklehurst sitting together and taking notes. The rest were apparently sleeping, studying or doing homework. Now that he thought about it, Harry could see that the two Ravenclaws were taking notes together. They were comparing what each other included. And, it appeared, the other 'Claws were aware of this.
A glance over at the 'Puffs could see Ernie MacMillan stop writing suddenly and Sheila Whitlock take up where the boy had left off. Obvious the 'Puffs had the same ideas as the 'Claws. A pair from each house were taking the notes for the rest of the class.
Looking at the boy who sat beside him, Michael Corner, Harry asked, "I take it Goldstein and Brocklehurst are taking the notes for the rest of us?
"Yeah," said Michael, "If I remember correctly, Boot and Li are next lesson, then there's McDougal and me, and so on. You're on with your own in a couple of weeks. Sorry, but there's only nine of us."
"Who's idea was this?" asked Harry.
"Dunno," shrugged Michael. "It came up in discussion during dinner last Monday. Someone then came up with a schedule that rotates one on and four off."
"Interesting," replied Harry with bit of a smile. "An effective and efficient use of assets; namely, ourselves." Nodding towards the 'Puffs he asked, "And them?"
"Same idea," said Michael. "However, they're using one person to take notes until that person can no longer use a quill; then, hand it off to the next person."
"Inefficient," said Harry. "However, if it works for them..."
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After sending off his letter to Madam Bones, Harry went scouting for a suitable classroom. He wanted one that was airy and spacious. One that had windows, as not all classrooms did. And preferably one on the eastern side of the castle, so the sunlight would not be streaming in through the windows and blinding club members in the afternoons.
After he found a couple on the third floor Harry realised it was time to meet with Daphne. He met up with her in Entrance Hall. Together, they returned to the third floor.
"Well?" he asked opening the door of the first of the classrooms. "What do you think?"
"Possibly adequate, Potter," she sniffed with a slight smile looking at him askance.
'Oh!' he thought. 'Want to play, do we?'
He immediately adopted the obsequious used car salesman mien. "If my lady would care to step within I shall be most happy to demonstrate why I feel my lady would be most pleased with this choice."
Daphne took two paces into the classroom and looked around. Harry followed her in and stepped around her.
"The third floor, my lady, as you would expect of course, is the most prized upon which other clubs seek to establish their home," he smarmed. "The third floor allows easy and near equal access - as much as one can expect with Hogwarts of course - to all four common rooms of the Houses.
"Secondly, the third floor means the clubroom is far enough above ground to not be affected by the cold in winter. And yet low enough not to be bothered by the heat of summer."
Walking towards the deep-set windows he said, "As my lady can see this particular model comes equipped with a large and ornate window allowing views of both the northern banks of the lake and across the Forbidden Forest in the near distance, all the way to the rolling countryside beyond in the far distance.
"As the window is on the eastern side of the castle it, of course, means the room will flood with morning sun to warm it for the day; and provide light, without blinding sunrays, in the afternoons when we hope to run our club meetings."
Moving back to the centre of the room, he continued, "The room is currently unfurnished, so allows us the opportunity to furnish it as we wish. I'm assured the blackboard can be repaired by the house elves, and they can also provide the furnishings we need.
"As for furnishings, I was hoping the low desk option with comfortable chairs appeals to you, rather than benches with high chairs such as found in the potions lab and charms classroom. If it pleases, my lady, I recommend a U-shape arrangement of desks to facilitate conversation among the club members."
"Well," said Daphne, appearing to think hard, "I believe we shall take it." Before adopting a stern mien, "Of course, it will need to be properly cleaned and serviced before I'm willing to run our little club from here."
"Of course, my lady; of course," replied Harry in full sycophantic mode and repeatedly bowing most humbly.
That was it for Daphne. She cracked up laughing.
"Alright," she giggled, raising her hands in the air. "You got me. And, yes, this one will do very nicely."
Harry grinned back.
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After once again visiting Professor Flitwick and letting him know which classroom they chose as first preference, they headed for the library to meet with the others. The professor said he would ensure the elves cleaned and readied the room for them.
"I confess to being unsure if they will be able to locate sufficient similar, if not identical, pieces of classroom furniture for you," said the professor.
"Actually, it might be best if they don't," mused Harry. "By looking like a whole bunch of cast-offs it won't look like a formal classroom."
"And, as it won't look like a formal classroom," continued Daphne, "the members won't feel like they're students in a class."
"Precisely," replied Harry.
"In that case," said the Professor, bringing the impromptu meeting to an end, "I'll make sure the elves are aware of that need. And I'll ensure you're notified directly by the elves once the room is ready for you."
"Thank you, Professor," they both said, leaving the office.
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The seven were just finished packing away their school works when a house elf popped in between Harry and Daphne.
A little startled, at first, Harry didn't get a chance to ask what it wanted before Daphne beat him to it. "Yes?" she asked.
The house elf replied, "The classroom young Master and Miss be asking for is now being ready."
"Thank you," said Daphne before the little house elf popped away again.
Hermione, mouth gaping open, was looking at the spot where the house elf had stood. "Wh - what was that?" she asked.
"That was a house elf, Hermione," replied Daphne. "They work here to take care of the needs of the students and staff."
The seven began to make their way to the Great Hall.
"They're - they're not slaves, are they?" asked Hermione in a voice tinged with accusation as they walked.
"Certainly not!" huffed Daphne. "They're servants who live in a symbiotic relationship with wizardkind. Working for witches and wizards makes them happy and strengthens their magic. In return, they - borrow from the magic of witches and wizards to whom they're bonded."
"Or," continued Harry, "if not bonded to a specific witch or wizard, they can be bonded to a family as a whole. Or even, as is the case with the elves of Hogwarts, to a specific place; so long as it is magical enough."
"So," said an unsure Hermione, "not slaves then?"
"No," replied Susan. "We treat our family elves with respect. However, there are some families that treat them most appallingly. The Malfoys are one such example. Thankfully, they're few and far between."
Shocked, and not a little outraged, Hermione asked, "Can't something be done for them?" Before she went on, "I mean, we have the RSPCA, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, to ensure pets and other creatures are not treated badly. And that those who do are prosecuted."
"No," replied Susan, again. "There are no laws in place to ensure house elves are treated well. Though I, for one, wish there was."
"And that house elf that came to talk to Harry and Daphne?" asked Hermione.
"One of the ones that work here at Hogwarts," replied Harry. "It came to let us know the meeting room for our etiquette club is ready."
Daphne explained, "We told Professor Flitwick which vacant classroom we wanted to use, and he had the house elves working to get it how we wanted it. The elf was just letting us know that they were finished."
"And, when can we see this wonderful new clubroom - house - whatever?" asked Tracey.
"How about we take you to see it after dinner?" asked Daphne.
"Yeah! Thanks! I'd like that," replied Tracey, happily.
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