Yuletide Blessing

Politics

They used the Floo to reach Longbottom Manor. Two house-elves rushed to help them and clean the soot from their robes. Neville arrived a moment later, welcoming them warmly. "My Gran is anxious to meet you, Lord and Lady Potter. I really don't understand why she didn't try to get to know you earlier, though; why she waited until you got your lordship before trying to meet you."

Harry shrugged. "She may have her reasons. She might tell us or not, but that doesn't change anything, really."

Soon enough they were standing in front of Dowager Lady Longbottom, who was sitting on a couch. Neville acted according to strict protocol. "Lady Longbottom, it is my pleasure to present to you my friends, Lady Hermione Potter and Lord Harry Potter. Lord and Lady Potter, this is my grandmother, the Dowager Lady Augusta Longbottom."

Harry stepped forward, taking the offered hand and kissing her knuckles, as expected. Hermione only approached and courtesied, nodding her head, receiving an approving node as well.

With the official introductions over, Augusta waved her hand at the comfortable couches and sofas scattered around. "Why don't you make yourselves comfortable so that we can get to know each other?"

Neville pointed discreetly at the sofa closest to his grandmother's couch, and the Potters sat there, while he sat on the other side of Augusta, on well padded chair. The strict old lady proved to be very interested in the young couple. After making Harry tell her about the bond, being quite aware of the points he skipped in his story, she turned her attention to the tournament. "I understand that you didn't want to take part in it and somebody else forced you to become a champion. Have you found out who did that and why?"

Harry smiled, not quite gladly. "This should be kept secret until after the tournament ends, or it may cost lives." Both Augusta and Neville nodded solemnly. "You've probably heard about the imposter who taught us defence. He was a disguised death-eater, a convict who escaped Azkaban. He had a plan to make me compete so that I may eventually be kidnapped and used to resurrect his lord. Luckily, once we found out, we could plan how to counter this, but only if everything is kept secret."

"That sounds like a very good plan. I hope you succeed," the old lady said.

Harry thought this was a good time to ask, "Have you known my parents and their friends?"

Lady Augusta sighed. "Your father, James, and my Frank were very close friends, despite their differences. James was all about pranks and girls, until he started dating your mother, while Frank was the serious type. He had never told me, but I believe he also gave your father some ideas for pranks, although he would never take part in one. As for your parents' friends, I only got to meet Sirius more than once. I sometimes wish I didn't."

"Sirius did not betray my parents. The one who brought Voldemort to them was Peter," Harry said firmly.

"Are you sure? How would you know?" she asked.

"Last year, we almost caught Peter Pettigrew and freed Sirius, had it not been for Snape and the full moon. Peter is a rat animagus and used his animal form to escape when confronted by Sirius, thirteen years ago, and then last year, after confessing in front of me of being the one who told Voldemort. Sirius is my godfather and is innocent, yet the Minister wouldn't listen to me."

"This should have been revealed during his trial!" Augusta insisted.

"Sirius had no trial! He was sent to Azkaban without trial. Do you think you could help in assuring Sirius a just trial?"

Augusta seemed a bit shocked. "I've never known that he had no trial. I was too busy at the time, and when I could finally pay attention to what was happening around, it was way after the incidents. I'll talk with my friends in the Wizengamot and see if we can do anything to uncover the truth."

"Thank you, milady. I appreciate this very much, and I'm sure Sirius will appreciate it even more."

With this subject out of the way, he thought it was time to tackle another. "If my father and your son were such good friends, why didn't you try to find me and talk with me until now?"

Neville gasped almost audibly at the bold question, but his grandmother only sighed. "As soon as I could act, after the tragedy that happened to us. I tried to find you. I asked Dumbledore about you. He assured me that you were safe with your relatives and should be kept away from the wizarding world, where too many followers of the dark lord were still free. I didn't really trust him about that. Not ever having children of his own, I didn't think he could really find the best place for you, yet whatever I tried, I couldn't find you. Then, when you came to Hogwarts, I thought I could contact you during vacations, yet Dumbledore forbade this as well, 'for his safety,' he said. Now, as you're emancipated, I can finally disregard his opinions and speak directly with you, and I'm glad to say that I find the best traits of both your parents in you. I feel proud for you and Neville becoming friends without my intervention. You should also know that Longbottom and Potter stood together for many generations as very close allies, and I hope you two will continue this alliance."

Both Harry and Neville said, "We will!" They were surprised when a lightening-like flash appeared between them, making it a magical oath.

The rest of their visit went quite nicely. Neville led the couple on a short tour of the manor house and even showed them to his prize greenhouse. Dinner was served exactly on time, and the food was delicious without seeming extravagant. They had a lot of conversation during dinner and a bit after. Harry felt like he was finally getting to know Neville the way he should have, if only his parents stayed alive, and he also felt much closer to Lady Augusta, whom he found to be quite a warm person under her strict exterior.

This made him ask another question. "Why do you insist that Neville uses his father's wand? It doesn't seem to fit him very well. I'm sure that a wand that fit him would help him reach much better results in class."

The old lady seemed surprised. She turned her gaze at her grandson, who seemed very disturbed by the question. "Neville, I didn't know you had any problems with this wand. Why didn't you tell me?"

Neville squirmed on his seat. "Well, Gran, I knew how important this wand was to you, so..."

"Neville, I only gave it to you when we were still not sure if you were really magical enough for any wand. I didn't expect you to keep using it. Actually, I'd like to keep it as a reminder, a display piece, and not subject it to the abuse of Hogwarts." Her expression turned determined. "Tomorrow morning I'm taking you to Ollivander's for a new wand. I should have done it almost four years ago. I'm sorry, dear."

Harry had a very good feeling when they finally returned to their temporary home. Not only had the visit cemented the alliance between the two houses, but he had also helped Neville gain a proper wand and possibly started something to help Sirius. This called for some celebration, and Hermione was quite eager to help him celebrate for quite a while, until both were sated and tired. They hugged each other and fell asleep.

It took a few more weeks before they started planning for the third task. "We must disallow any portkeys out of Hogwarts grounds, including wherever the third task is going to take place," Harry proclaimed.

"I suggest we stop both directions. We may only allow portkeys within the wards, and not too close to them either," Hermione suggested.

"Why so?"

She shrugged. "Just to make sure. We can allow portkeying the winner, and the other champions, out of the maze, though."

Harry gave it a thought. "Yes, we should give emergency portkeys to the champions, in case they feel in too much danger, or if they get badly injured. It should be easily activated, though."

"How about voice activation? Saying, 'Take me out' should activate it."

"Sounds great to me, as long as we make sure nothing too dangerous is brought into the maze. Where will it actually be, I wonder."

'In the quidditch field. The maze is already starting to form there,' Hogwarts told them.

"Thank you, Hogwarts. Well, it looks like I'll have to assure the safety of our champions again. Don't you think I should use our position as owners?"

Hermione contemplated the question. "Not yet, unless we have no better way. As owners, we may be burdened with more responsibilities than we're ready to handle, and we're still too young. Besides, you should concentrate on the tournament. Once, it's over, we may reconsider, as I'd surely like some improvements at school."

"So do I. You're right about waiting, though. There's too much happening this year for us to take charge. It may be easier and safer to do it during the summer. We can still command Hogwarts to help keep the champions safe, just as during the second task."

"We can surely do."

As the time for the third task approached, Hermione had another idea. "If anybody is going to try and sabotage the third task, it's either a death-eater or one under Imperius curse. I'm sure Hogwarts can recognize them."

'Indeed I can, my lady.'

"So, we can set the wards to disallow any death-eater, except for Snape and Karakoff, from entering the school grounds until the day after the third task," she suggested.

Harry frowned. "I believe we can do better. As owners of the school and its grounds, we're practically the rulers here. We my arrest any offenders and even judge them, if we so please. I suggest we send the suspects to holding cells, stunned and separated from their wands, so they can do nothing even after being awakened. We can then use Veritaserum to interrogate them, or let the aurors do that. By the time the Minister can do anything about the situation, it will all be over and done with."

Hermione smiled. "I like your idea. Hogwarts, can you send people with the dark mark or ones under Imperius to holding cells, stun them and keep their wands out of reach?"

'It can easily be done. I can even prevent animagus transformation, once they are in the holding cells.'

"Good, do it! We're going to charge you tonight and you may raise these wards immediately."

'It will be done, my Lady.'

Harry gave it some thought. "We should add ones using their animagus form as well, except for Sirius, in case he comes to watch."

'Sure, my Lord!'

In order for this to work, Harry needed to have some cooperation with the auror force. He asked to meet with Amelia Bones, the head of the DMLE, using his Potter lordship to gain her attention. He used the privileges of his lordship to reach the meeting by Floo, along with Hermione, both wearing their formal Potter robes.

"Lord Potter, Lady, I hope you can explain why you wanted to meet me. I'm very busy as is and I don't like wasting my time," Amelia greeted them,not quite warmly.

Harry smiled. He was sure she was going to like his ideas. "Well, I'd first like to disclose a secret to you, one you're not to share with anybody else, unless we permit it."

This seemed to pique Amelia's curiosity, yet she stayed cautious, only waving her hand in the sign of "continue".

Harry let all his rings show, just as Hermione let her Hufflepuff ring become visible. Amelia gasped. "You practically own Hogwarts! Is that why you wanted to meet me?"

"Partially," Harry admitted. "You see, as owners, we can control the wards and add some more, unknown to the headmaster. We asked Hogwarts to add wards that would move all marked Death Eaters to holding cells, where they will be interrogated, using Veritaserum. As you already know from fake Moody's interrogation, their 'Imperius' claim was bullshit. With their crimes exposed, their fate should be very clear."

Amelia frowned. "One cannot be tried a second time for the same crimes," she stated.

"Not even when new evidence is found? I don't think so."

She nodded.

"Well, just make sure to check your own aurors. I'd not be surprised if one or more are Death Eaters as well."

They set all the details in advance. It would be a very interesting third task, although not necessarily for the audience.