Chapter Forty Seven - Post Owl Break

Disclaimer: The Harry Potter universe belongs to the proverbial Duchess of Magic, JK Rowling, Scholastic, Bloomsbury, Warner Bros and some other high falutin' companies. No matter how much I whine about not owning anything related to the HP universe, other than a few fanfic plots, I do not profess to own - and would never dream of making any money off - JKR's wonderful world... Damn it!

A/N: As some reviewers rightly pointed out, I could have ended the story at the end of the previous chapter. However, I quite like carrying on a bit, just to see what develops. Besides, I like the idea of 50 chapters. :)

Chapter Forty Seven - Post Owl Break

_‗_

—==(oIo)==—

ˇ

With Riddle done and dusted, the three Potters no longer needed to train for their eventual confrontation with him. So, the time they had dedicated towards the training, was now theirs to do with as they pleased.

Hermione, of course, wanted to immediately set the time aside as revision study. And, with the exams only a couple of weeks off, it was difficult to argue with her. However, Harry decided to give it his best try.

"Hermione-love," he gently asked. "Why is it you want to dedicate so much time to revision study when the three of us are, for all intents and purposes, NEWT level students?"

Hermione had clearly expected the question, or attempt, and had her arguments all ready to respond. "One; while you did alright on your OWLs our first go around, even you must admit there was a lot of room for improvement. You received a Troll for History of Magic, for Merlin's sake."

"Hey," he complained. "I was mentally attacked by a false vision of Sirius being tortured at the Ministry of Magic that afternoon, remember? Of course I was going to fail it."

Ignoring the argument back, Hermione continued. "And that doesn't account for how... average... you performed on other subjects. Two; you didn't study Ancient Runes last go around, as you have been doing, this time."

Harry just sighed and let her continue.

"Of the subjects you did last time, there was plenty of improvement available to you. The only subject you excelled in was Defence Against the Dark Arts."

"I practically taught the bloody class!" he retorted. "Of course I was going to do well in it."

"Well, as Professor Snape said, we've been practicing so much on the practical and employed uses of DADA, Charms and Transfiguration, we're been slipping behind in the theory of those subjects. That's what we need to catch up on," she reasoned.

"Then, of course, there's also Potions, Herbology, Astronomy, Care of Magical Creatures, Muggle Studies and Arithmancy. You and I will both have no problem with Muggle Studies but Daphne might need help. And Daphne and I also have to focus on Arithmancy."

As each of his arguments was torn down, before he could even mention them for the most part, Harry sank lower and lower into his seat. "Fine," he eventually grumbled. "Let's get on with it, then."

As Hermione laid out her arguments, Daphne just sat there listening with one eyebrow cocked and a smirk on her lips. She never said a word. Then again, she knew Hermione had more than enough argued the reasons and didn't need to say anything in support.

_‗_

—==(oIo)==—

ˇ

As the OWLs finally arrived, with the first test being Transfiguration, Hermione was turning into a nervous wreck. One night, with a couple of days to go, she was madly muttering to herself and reading through reams of notes late at night until early morning.

Harry, who'd attempted to already order her to bed twice, silenced her, levitated her, threw her over his shoulder and carried her into the master bedroom.

There, he banished her clothes off her to the hamper, released her from the silencing charm and, before she could start yelling at him, put his own mouth to work on her body, effectively shutting her up. Daphne had been watching and, when Harry made his dive, decided to add her own lips to her sister-wife's body. Hermione fell asleep about twenty minutes later with a smile on her face.

The next morning, Harry and Daphne sat their wife down and forced her to promise not to study beyond a certain time of night, or before a certain time in the morning. If she exceeded the time, she'd be punished by being made to pleasure them both.

BY the time OWLs began, all three Potters were very physically relaxed due to the amount of sex they'd recently been indulging in.

_‗_

—==(oIo)==—

ˇ

This time, without the threat of Riddle hanging over his head, nor the headaches and visions he was receiving through the mind link, Harry was far better prepared for the exams. He almost literally just breezed through them. Daphne made the same claim, but Hermione felt she must've failed because she didn't answer a particular question here and there as thoroughly as she could.

As the Potters had planned, for each of Charms, Transfiguration and DADA, they went for the bonus. In Charms on the first Monday of the two weeks of exams, the three cast their patronuses and even included demonstrating how it could be used as a verbal messenger. In Transfiguration on the first Tuesday, all three demonstrated 'self-transfiguration' by switching to their animagus forms; just as his father did for his NEWT in the subject. With Neville's help - exchanged for help on Potions from Daphne, Transfiguration from Hermione and DADA and Charms from Harry - the three also breezed through Herbology on the Wednesday. For DADA on Thursday, the three walked in to the practical examination room wearing their Order of Merlin medallions. The three examiners looked at them with stunned expressions, and immediately sent them straight off again, with promises they'd be receiving 'Outstanding Plusses. Hermione was ambivalent about whether it was cheating or due regards. For the Ancient Runes exam on the Friday, all three wrote of their work as a team with Luna in the array that created the wards throughout the castle to stop curses and hexes flying, for bonus points.

Similar endeavours were attempted for all the other subjects the next week - Potions on the Monday; Care of Magical Creatures on the Tuesday; Astronomy split over Wednesday morning and late that night; History of Magic first thing on Thursday afternoon, followed by Muggle Studies in the later afternoon; and, finally, Arithmancy on the Friday morning.

For bonus points in Care of Magical Creatures he explained why it was so easy to take down a fully grown dragon; further explaining the need nearly all non-aquatic beasts had for breathing as being a quick conduit to bringing them down, including nundus and the like. For History of Magic he covered the reason for the Statute of Secrecy and how current methods used to maintain it were being eroded by muggle developments in surveillance. He quickly conjured what a surveillance camera looked like, together with the various weather protection shielding they employed. For that one, he left behind a rather terrified panel of examiners. And for Muggle Studies Harry simply walked over to a typewriter that was displayed in the classroom and explained how it worked, before then showing a little bit of typing. Then, when asked, picked up a telephone and went over it's basics concepts, operation and the latest improvements; including the brand new technology of cellphones.

By the second Thursday afternoon, Harry was walking between exams and the Great Hall for meals whistling a jaunty tune. He'd not been happier. OWLs were a great deal easier than he remembered, he no longer had a dark wizard bent on making him dead, he had two lovely and very intelligent wives who were great fun in more ways than one, he had an extended family and plenty of friends, and life was just great. And, in the previous timeline, today was the day he'd hared off with his friends to the Ministry of Magic to rescue his godfather, only to see him die. 'Happy new life, Sirius,' he thought.

While both wives were in taking their Arithmancy OWLs on the Friday morning, he went for a fly. And, was having so much fun in the air, he was laughing and pulling off dangerous stunts with almost wild abandon.

Once he returned to the ground, he quickly found himself surrounded by Neville, Susan, Hannah, and Blaise and quickly hustled off to the infirmary.

"There's something wrong with him, Madam Pomfrey," huffed Neville. "No one should be this happy immediately after taking all those exams!"

Harry just laughed and said, "I found them enjoyable, actually. They were far easier than I heard they'd be."

"Alright, that's proven it," Neville almost snarled. "Someone's potioned him again."

"Mister Longbottom, calm yourself," said Madam Pomfrey quite sternly and coming over. "Due to the nature of the soul bond Mister Potter has with his two wives, any potion that attempts to affect his mind or ability to think will fail. The bond considers it an attack and repels it."

"Then it must be Wizard's Flu, or something," pushed Neville.

With a sigh, the medi-witch turned to Harry and asked, "Do you feel unwell? Nauseous? Unusual bowel movements? Coughing?"

"No, no, no and no," smiled Harry. "I kid you not, I'm actually rather happy. The exams were not as difficult as I thought they would be; and I think I did really, really well in them."

He glanced at his watch and saw the time. "Hunh!" he said. "Hermione and Daphne should be about to come out of their Arithmancy exam. If history is a guide, Hermione's going to be really, really stressed and need some... stress relief. And I'm just the wizard for the job!"

He grinned and hopped off the bed. "Now, if you'll excuse me, Hermione needs me. I'm about to make her very, very relaxed."

Quickly, he strolled out of the infirmary, again whistling a jaunty tune and walking with a spring in his step.

"He didn't mean what I think he meant... did he?" asked a deeply blushing Susan.

All four teens found themselves blushing.

"Yeah, actually," said Hannah, a little softly. "I think he did."

Madam Pomfrey, who was thinking the same thing, gave her throat a deep clear and said, "Alright, you four. I think we all know what's making Mister Potter so happy; and, it isn't potions. Out!"

As they walked out, Blaise muttered, "Tracey was in that same exam. I wonder if she'd be willing to let me provide her the same kind of stress relief." Looking to the other three, he said a little louder, "If you'll excuse me, I need to make sure Tracey's not gotten herself stressed." And he hurried away.

_‗_

—==(oIo)==—

ˇ

Of course, with exams out of the way, the Express left for London the next morning.

And, with no Dumbledore to try and send him back to the Dursleys, and no dark wizard trying to find Harry to kill him, the three were more open about their summer plans.

This time they weren't even being picked up from Platform 9¾. Hermione was carrying a portkey to take all three directly to the Grangers' garage. The only reason they didn't just decide to use it from the compartment was because the train ride was supposed to be taken, and they wanted to spend a last few hours with their friends unwinding from their exams.

Now they no longer needed to hide just how advanced they were in the practical components of their wand-based subjects, the three were early to the train. Once there, they took a compartment and quickly set about making it one big one with the use of expansion charms.

The spell took power to make the expansion last long enough without the use of runes, but Harry alone had power to spare. So he set about making the compartment much larger in both lateral directions. Of course, he didn't need to go up, so he didn't need to expand it that way. The window was enlarged both vertically and horizontally and now ran almost floor to ceiling and was twice as wide to allow plenty of light within, and improve the view. The bench seats were transfigured into far more comfortable plush upholstered couches; and a table was created between the seats nearer the window to allow those who wanted to play games, such as exploding snap, a surface to play on without having to sit on the floor.

From a compartment able to seat six, or eight at a squeeze, they now had a compartment able to seat fourteen in comfort, with plenty of leg room to allow those sitting to stretch their legs out without getting in the way of those opposite; or block passage to those moving between the window and the door or back again.

"Anything else we can do?" asked Harry, using his wand to scratch behind his ear.

Daphne frowned for a moment before she began gesturing with her wand. The plush upholstery developed a pattern of mixed House crests dominated by the Houses of Potter, Greengrass and Granger; but also adding in Black, Davies, Zabini, Longbottom, Abbott and Bones. Then she turned her wand to the walls and changed the cheap light English oak finish to a much darker and richer European yew in a deep lacquer finish.

"Nice!" said Harry.

Hermione then raised her own wand and changed the gas lighting from the tacky bare steel frames with green glass around the flame heads, to incredible polished filigreed brass, clear glass surrounds and multiple gas heads with larger gas bags to provide far more light.

Harry wasn't being idle at this point, either. He quickly transfigured the cheap linoleum flooring into a fine weave soft patternless carpet in a light brown with a deep underlay.

As all three finished, Daphne softly said, "Yes. I think this will do for us for the next seven hours. This is more our style."

The three, grinning to themselves, walked back into the compartment and settled down.

As Blaise, Tracey and Draco walked in, they stopped in awe.

"Bloody Hell," muttered Draco, before he looked at the three. "Who did this?"

"We did, of course," said Daphne. "Now that we don't have to downplay our abilities, we're freer to cast magic like this."

"This is incredible," said Tracey, moving in and taking a seat. "No wonder you three found the OWLs quite easy."

"Let's get the others in here," said Harry. "He quickly conjured up a messenger patronus to Neville, telling them which carriage and compartment, and sent it on it's way."

"Neville?" asked Hermione.

When Harry nodded, she cast her own messenger patronus and sent it to Susan. "And that's to Susan," she said.

"Who else?" asked Harry. "The twins?"

"No, they're not on the train," said Hermione.

"Oh?" asked Draco.

"As soon as they finished their last NEWT exam, they simply walked out the front door of the castle, walked out the gate, and apparated away," she replied. "I think they were heading directly to their new store in Diagon Alley."

"New store?" asked Blaise.

"They're setting up a joke shop in a store in Diagon," she replied. "Harry and Sirius argued over who was going to fund them. Sirius won."

"He played on him being an original Marauder, the cad," huffed Harry. "The twins like the idea of having one of the original Marauders as their silent partner.

"The son of an original Marauder wasn't good enough," pouted Harry.

"Awww... poor baby," smirked Daphne.

"Wait," said a confused Draco. "You argued over who would be able to give the Weasley twins money. The same two Weasley twins who scored, like, six OWLs between them. What am I missing?"

Hermione smirked and replied, "Firstly, the twins fudged their OWLs, as they do most all the exams, to stop their overbearing mother demanding they apply for jobs in the Ministry. Without the right scores, at least, they couldn't get in."

"Okay, I understand Molly Prewett can be overbearing, and a real screech owl when she gets angry, but why would they want to do that?" asked Draco.

"Think about it, the two older boys, as soon as they graduated, shot through to other countries; Bill, as a curse breaker for Gringotts in Egypt, and Charlie, as a dragon wrangler in Romania," explained Harry. "Percy, even though he went into the Ministry, as soon as he had the chance to cut ties with his mother, took it. As soon as Molly 'Potions Queen' Prewett was out of the Burrow, he moved back in. And the three older boys bought their father a house elf, so he'd not find himself wanting to take Molly back due to her being able to keep house and cook.

"When the twins entered Hogwarts, they already knew their mother was already demanding they get good grades so they could get a decent job in the Ministry, like their father. To fight against that, they worked hard on their prank products but fudged their school results, so Molly could no longer force them into a career neither wanted for themselves."

As he was talking, Luna simply walked in, took a few seconds to look round at the changes, and walked to sit at one of the chairs at the table. There, she pulled out a copy of the Quibbler and began to read it.

"Think about all the pranks they developed that involved things like potions, runes, timed charms, and the like. Almost every one of them they developed," said Daphne. "That means, from about second year on, they were developing potions, charms, rune schemes, et cetera. As second years.

"Now, knowing that, do you really think their exam results were accurate, and showed a true measure of their abilities?"

"Bloody Hell!" said Draco softly. "Why did we never think of that ourselves?"

"Hello, Luna," said Harry to the slender girl.

"Hello Harry," she said, without looking up from her magazine. "I like what you've done with the compartment."

"Thank you," he said. "Daphne and Hermione did most of it."

"With a strategy like that, why weren't either of them sorted into Slytherin?" asked Tracey.

"The Hat was going to sort them there, but they threatened to burn it, if it did," explained Harry. "I think they also explained exactly how they were going to get it, and with what type of fire they'd burn it. The Hat believed them."

As Harry was talking, Neville turned up with Hannah and Susan in tow. They took one look at the compartment from the door, stopped and gawked.

"Well? Come in," said Hermione.

That got the three entering and looking for seats. They found a comfortable couch to sit on in about the middle.

"Like it?" Hermione asked them, gesturing about.

"How were you able to accomplish this?" asked Susan.

"By having access to one-on-one tutoring by a Charms Master who loves to teach," said Daphne.

"And a huge library where you can study anything you want," added Hermione.

"By having to learn as much as you could, as fast as you could, the practical applications of wanded magic," replied Harry. "We're still very light on the theory. But, we'll have that sorted to rights next year."

By agreement, none of the three were willing to give up the secret of the Room of Requirements, and how much it aided them in being able to learn as fast as they could as much as they could.

They actually found most of the best books on the subject of Transfiguration could be found in the Room of Requirement. But, that was also the case for all the subjects they focussed upon, including Charms and DADA.

_‗_

—==(oIo)==—

ˇ

Throughout the trip they had a few other people drop by. In most cases those people took one look at the compartment, and never left.

For most they were asked the same questions: How did they change the compartment? What spells were used? And similar. After the first almost half dozen times, Harry would just grunt, "Transfiguration and charms. Study them and you, too, will be able to accomplish such feats. It's not that hard once you know what you're doing."

"I wonder why no one else thinks of doing something like this?" asked one Ravenclaw. "After all, if it's just transfiguration and charms, we're all capable of it. I'd've thought the seventh years would be all over something like this."

"It takes a fair bit of power to overcome the magic of the Express to allow for the room expansion charm," explained Hermione. "However, the rest of it is really just simple transfiguration. The secret, if there is one, is you must have a very good and detailed picture in your mind of what you want, and a good understanding of the properties of the material used."

"But, that's the same as what we're already told for transfiguration of far more simple things," said the 'Claw. "Is it really that simple?"

"It is," she smiled back. "The difficulty isn't the spell, it's the concentration and creativity of your mind, and it's ability to hold the images, that forms the difficulty of transfiguration.

"Then there's just the inherent problems of transfiguring living tissue. There, you have to be pretty exacting in your concentration and knowledge. We start with inanimate to inanimate, then move on to animate to inanimate, then inanimate to animate. And, finally, the most difficult of all, animate to animate.

"The peak of that is self-transfiguration of animate to animate. Like this..."

She then stood in the middle of the floor and muttered, "Ummm... timber wolf, I think; given the room." She then smoothly switched to Pouncer, before switching back again.

After hearing all the gasps from those who listened and watched, she calmly sat down again.

"Bloody Hell!" said one of the various students who'd joined them in the compartment. "Can... all three of you do that?"

Harry gave a shrug, stood, appeared to concentrate for a moment, and said "Grey wolf." He then shifted to Hunter, before shifting back again.

As they all heard the gasps again, Daphne snorted and said, "Nice try."

"What?" asked Harry. "What did I do wrong?"

Daphne seemed to think for a few moments before she replied, "Your fur was a little dark for a grey wolf. And you carried across the colour of your eyes. Wolves have amber-coloured eyes; possibly dark brown. They definitely don't have green."

"Okay, Miss clever-witch," he huffed. "Show me." And gestured to the floor.

With a smirk, Daphne stood frowned a moment and shifted. Tracker stood there a few moments before Daphne shifted back to human form.

"Ha!" said Harry. "You accused me of having too dark fur; and yours was too light along your ruff."

"At least she was closer with the eyes, Harry," smirked Hermione. "Green was just too startling on a wolf."

"Well, we've still got work to do to get them exact," said Harry. "I still say it's pretty good for fifth years."

As they neared London, most of those who'd just stopped by and never left, rushed back to their own compartments to be with their trunks and stuff as the train pulled into the station.

Once it'd pulled in, and the others left, the three cancelled their changes to the compartment to set it back to 'Express standard'. Then portkeyed out of the compartment to the Granger garage, without even stepping foot on the platform.

_‗_

—==(oIo)==—

ˇ

When Ant, innocently enough, asked how the exams went, Hermione launched into a half hour long complaint session about how she thought she might have failed various subjects and hoped her parents wouldn't be too disappointed when she had to repeat the year.

Both Ant and Cele looked as if they listened attentively, but the amused glances to Harry and Daphne told them the Grangers were used to this sort of behaviour.

"I'm sure it'll be fine, honey."

"Oh, I don't think it'll be as bad as you think."

"Well, as long as you did your best."

"We'll just have to wait for the results to arrive to see for ourselves."

"When will you find out how well you did? You don't know? I'm sure it'll be in plenty of time for you to pick your NEWT subjects. Don't worry."

After half an hour, with her parents amusedly paying her some attention, it didn't look like Hermione was about to slow down any time soon. Harry sighed, walked up to her, and simply gathered her in his arms as he kissed her as passionately as he could.

When he stepped back it looked as if he'd managed to short circuit her brain, as she stood frozen on the spot.

A firm nod and grin, knowing he'd done a good job, he turned to the Grangers and asked, "So, how's little Wags? I didn't see him when we came in."

Cele was about to answer when Hermione gave a start, blinked and said, "Oh, my God! I don't believe I forgot about Wags! I mean... William! Where is he? Oh, dear! He must think me a horrible big sister for not thinking about him and coming to say hello, straight away. I've gotta find him!"

After a frantic look about, she suddenly ran from the room, looking for her brother. "William?" she called, from somewhere along the hallway. "Where are you?"

"She knows he's, like, only eight months old, right?" asked Daphne.

"Not at the moment, she doesn't," replied Cele. "I think Harry's kiss derailed her ability to think properly."

Harry, now well past the stage where he'd blush after a comment like that, just grinned back and said, "It tends to work. We had to do things like that, before and during the exams, to get her to settle down."

They only managed to get Hermione settled down when they practically forced her into an armchair in the lounge and Cele placed baby William in her arms. Once ensconced, she began babbling at the baby telling him all about Hogwarts and what he had to look forward to.

Meanwhile, Harry and Daphne organised the bedroom and had Dobby bring the trunks in.

_‗_

—==(oIo)==—

ˇ

Harry was becoming well and truly relaxed after a very stressful year, while staying with the Grangers. Before they left after the first week and a bit, heading for the Farm, the three made the time to sit down and plan out what subjects they wanted to take for NEWTs.

"But, we don't even know if we've passed any yet," said a slightly worried Hermione.

"Take it that we got at least Exceeds Expectations on all of them, and we'll figure it from there," suggested Daphne.

Over the next couple of days, the three thought a lot about their subjects.

Daphne had borrowed a book off her parents about the various careers in the Wizarding world, and what subjects were considered important for each of them.

"And what do you plan on doing, Harry?" asked Hermione.

He gave a little shrug and said, "We haven't thought to ask our angels what they think we should do, yet. Maybe there's certain subjects we should focus on for that."

"I know you don't like the profession all that much," said Daphne. "But, I think you should focus on politics."

After Harry gave a little scowl, she continued, "If we're going to make significant changes to improve society, as the angels expect us to do, then the answer lies in the Wizengamot and creating, amending and cancelling legislation.

"I think the three of us are going to have to focus at least part of our efforts in learning everything we can about drafting legislation. As long as we're well knowledgeable in that area, we can't be browbeat by the old hands into backing off."

"She's right," agreed Hermione. "I hadn't thought of that. That means study in wizarding law, muggle law, history and similar."

"I also need to take proper control of the Potter finances," said Harry. "That means I'll need to take the NEWT 'Estate Planning' elective, law elective, and the Introduction to the Ministry elective. Plus, I think I'll continue in my studies of Ancient Runes, Charms, Transfiguration and DADA."

"That's seven," said Hermione, writing them down. "I don't think you should do any more than that. You've still got your current responsibilities to the Wizengamot to attend. And that's likely to increase in the very near future, now that many who sat on the Wizengamot are either dead or in Azkaban."

"And, don't forget, you two will be inducted as full members of the Wizengamot at the next sitting," said Harry. "So, you have to make allowances for your service there when figuring out your own class load. So, what about you two?"

"Potions, Charms, Transfiguration, Ancient Runes, and... Arithmancy for core subjects," listed Daphne. "Law, and Healing for electives, I think. That makes seven for me."

As Hermione finished writing those down, she asked, "What about Estate Planning and subjects like that?"

"We'll have access to Harry's texts on the subject," she replied. "Plus, we've got access to my father's knowledge, if we need to ask anything."

"Alright, Hermione," said Harry. "It's time to bite the bullet and choose. I don't think either of us would believe you've not given significant thought to what you want to do as a career. So, spill."

With a sigh of frustration, she replied, "I know, for a fact, I want to continue with Charms, Transfiguration and Arithmancy... probably Ancient Runes. But, what I really want to do, is research."

"What sort of research?" asked Daphne.

"Spell research, I think," she replied. "I want to develop new spells and research improvements in other areas of magical theory, and the like."

"Then, on top of your first four choices, you'll probably need to continue with History of Magic," said Daphne. "And add the electives Enchanting and... something else of your choosing. Healing, perhaps? There's a whole range of specialist spells attached only to healing."

As she nodded along with the recommendations, Hermione was writing them down. "If Binns's NEWT class is anything like his OWLs class it's actually going to be pretty useless to me."

"Maybe," said Daphne. "However, you'll need a NEWT in the subject to be able to study further. For research, History of Magic is a must, I'm afraid. I take it you're hoping for an invitation to join the research unit of the Department of Mysteries?"

"Down the track, yes," she replied. "However, I don't think there's a great need for me to join the Unspeakables right out of school. I'd like to work independently for a while, if that's alright?"

"Of course, it is," said both spouses.

Laughing a little, Harry said, "I don't think it'll drive the Potters into bankruptcy, if you must know."

"Then, yes," she firmly said, looking down at the list. "These are the subjects I want to take through to NEWTs, if I score high enough on my OWLs."

"Then," said Harry. "Unless we hear differently, these are the course loads we'll be taking at Hogwarts for the next two years."

Hermione sighed and said, "I guess. But, I'd like to hear more about the subject of spellcrafting and research before I definitely choose."

"We can do that once we're at the Farm or the Black House," said Daphne. "We may even be able to use those Orders of Merlin to get in to talk to the researchers in the Department of Mysteries. They'll have excellent suggestions for you."

"Actually, that sounds like a wonderful idea," replied Hermione, brightening up.

_‗_

—==(oIo)==—

ˇ

After their pleasant time at the Granger Residence, the three moved without much fanfare to the Farm.

Now that they had access to the Floo system again, Harry made a quick dash across to Potter Retreat to make sure everything was alright, there. Before returning, almost immediately, to the Farm.

"How's Jeeves and the rest of the staff?" asked Hermione.

"They're all fine," replied Harry. "But, Jeeves again asked me when we're likely to move permanently to the Manor."

"Did you tell him we'll be living there for the rest of the summer about two weeks from now?" asked Daphne.

"I did," he replied with a nod. "That seemed to perk him up a bit."

"Well, he's just going to have to be happy with that for yet another two years," she said, as if the subject was closed.

"He knows," he sighed.

Because it was the break between the OWL year and the first NEWT year, the three didn't have any assignments they needed to complete. This left Hermione a bit stressed until Daphne convinced Astoria to let Hermione help her with hers, and Astoria immediately asked.

Then, for the next few days for a couple hours each, Hermione could be found happily talking to Astoria about her assignments, and providing added instruction when the younger girl seemed to be a bit confused about a particular subject. This then led to Astoria inviting her friends over for 'study sessions', and Hermione helping them all out with their assignments.

It was just before their last day at Greengrass Farm when Harry received notice from the Wizengamot Administration Service of an upcoming Wizengamot meeting, and the girls received their first summons to the meeting to be inducted.

Proud as punch, Matthias then immediately declared a trip to Twillfit and Tattings to be fitted for Wizengamot robes was in order, and the three were off to the Alley.

Though he felt he didn't really need them, Harry was refitted for new robes, as he'd grown some since his first sitting. And, with all three now fitted and provided new Wizengamot robes shrunk and in their pockets, with Matthias the three returned to the Farm.

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The next day was the move to the Black House, and the day after that was the Wizengamot meeting.

Other than just moving from one location to another, Harry spent part of his time writing up his speech as the applicant to induct both his wives. Unlike the one he gave on receiving his second Order of Merlin, this one was quite tame. It only spoke about the bravery of both, and how they fearlessly stood by his side when facing Riddle, casting their own spells and providing point defence.

On the morning of the meeting, just before they needed to take the Floo to the atrium of the Ministry, they were joined by Matthias and Deece, who had earlier side-along apparated the Grangers to the Farm, and who were also joining them. Their presence was yet another surprise for Hermione.

"All here?" asked Sirius, as he looked about. Answering his own question he firmly said, "Yep." And rubbed his hands in glee.

With Matthias and Deece leading the way, the party Floo'ed through with Sirius bringing up the rear. "All here," the old dog immediately declared.

Then they headed for the Wizengamot chambers.

Sirius, Matthias, Deece, Ant and Cele all climbed the stairs into the visitors' gallery, while Daphne and Hermione were led off to the new inductees' waiting area. Harry ducked through the back door and met up with the other members of the Wizengamot, who were all waiting in the members' assembling area.

The members were almost immediately called out to assemble, climbing into the members' tiers, with the last being the Chief Warlock. And, at exactly the time called for the meeting, the Chief Warlock banged his gavel to signal the start of the meeting.

Of course, after the calling of the reason for assembling, Hermione and Daphne were brought forth to be inducted. Harry immediately stood as the applicant and was allowed his speech.

"Brightest witches of their ages. Consistently challenging one another for the highest honours in each of their classes..."

"Showed great courage in standing by my side while we faced evil personified in the form of the dark wizard, Tom Riddle..."

"Assisted in my training and, themselves, trained for more than a year to ensure Riddle's defeat..."

All the usual tosh.

Then came a speaker against. It was quite unusual, and the other members catcalled her for it. But, as she claimed, she had the right.

She spoke about how sitting both Daphne and Hermione gave the Potter family three seats on the Wizengamot. Then spoke about their combined youth. Segued into how all three were still students and, she assumed, all three would remain so until after completing their NEWTs. Made vague references to possible apprenticeship contracts and how, as apprentices, they were completely beholden to their masters for even so much as permission to attend. And finished with how it meant an unprecedented number of sitting Order of Merlin holders.

That led to one of the wizened old members to stand. He began by rebutting her points with logical arguments, and even included points of law. First, as holders of the Order of Merlin, all three Potters were entitled to sit. That was enshrined in law and, to speak against it, meant to speak against ancient laws. He then spoke of the history of the Wizengamot where, centuries past, they'd had even younger members sit, and in greater numbers. He then stated that any apprenticeship contracts, if such were in their future, would require the master to allow them to attend their Wizengamot duties; as such instances had also occurred in the past. And finished by stating if the three were old enough to earn an Order of Merlin then, by Merlin, they were old enough to sit in their tiers.

As there had been a speaker against, there had to be a vote, however it was just a formality, as the rebutter reminded them. Because the vote became moot, it was by acclamation. Both girls were given their standing ovations as they ascended into the tiers and simultaneously sat, one to each side, of Harry, as pre-arranged; before the applause ended and the rest of the members retook their seats.

Once the real business of the chamber began, the main order of business was what to do with all the Death Eaters they captured on the night Riddle fell. Some were just for tossing them in Azkaban... for which Harry vehemently disagreed... while others demanded a speedy, yet fair, trial for all of them.

The result was speedy trials and Madam Bones's department were ordered to expedite matters to ensure all faced justice as soon as possible.

The current make up of the judiciary was mentioned as a risk, but a vote to change the membership was quashed.

Again, other members approached the three Potters about forming alliances and getting their feel on certain issues. This time, with strong support from his wives, Harry hinted at the needs to rid their nation of laws outlandishly in favour of purebloods over those considered of lesser blood. And a few other matters. He also spoke about how, reducing the number of tax breaks for purebloods, just because they were considered pureblood, would allow greater funds to boost their auror and hit wizard corps, and provide funding for others who had pet projects they were unable to gain funding for. While he didn't receive firm support or outright objection, he felt he'd accomplished something from the political manoeuvring.

In New Business after lunch, someone wanted to move a motion to censure Harry for his remarks on the evening of his second award. However, the same rebutter as earlier, reminded members that the new recipient was given the right to speak their mind, no matter how some might be offended. It was felt that, because they'd accomplished a feat worthy of such an award, they'd earned the right to speak their mind. Harry remembered the man from earlier sessions and knew him to be extremely knowledgeable on both the history of the Wizengamot and its operation. He bore being courted as a possible ally in changing the laws to be fairer for all magicals.

The mover of the motion then claimed he was unaware of that important point, and immediately withdrew his motion with the consent of the seconder.

Shortly, thereafter, the meeting was closed. This time the three held back to make a few more contacts, based on Daphne's urging. And left a little later to rejoin their families.

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—==(oIo)==—

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