Trials, Councils and Treaties
Harry wasn't sure where they should start. Should they just work their way through everything they'd discussed so far? The things that had come up in the first three books? Or should he just tell them what he wanted? That didn't seem ideal. He didn't want to become a sort of dictator... That would make him a little bit too much like Voldemort for his liking.
Amelia smiled at the young man. He was doing so well but this was clearly an overwhelming task. "Perhaps we should create lists. One for things that need to be done immediately upon our return. And then organise our longer term goals by location: Hogwarts, the Ministry, that sort of thing."
Harry nodded. That sounded like a good idea. But still where did they start?
"So, the first thing that needs to be done upon our return," he began slowly. How was he supposed to decide that?
"Is to get you as far away from your relatives as possible," said Sirius sharply.
Harry blinked. That hadn't even occurred to him. He'd been thinking about Pettigrew and Sirius.
Andromeda nodded, flicking her wand to add that to the immediately upon return column.
"Someone needs to get Sirius a trial," Harry said. "And the aurors need to..."
Harry paused. Should he really be planning to have Pettigrew arrested when some of the death eaters in the chamber seemed willing to turn over a new leaf. How would that work if they were in Azkaban? He was beginning to get a headache.
Madam Bones cast her wand at the mantelpiece putting Pettigrew's cage under a silencing charm so that he wouldn't hear their discussion.
"Moody, Kingsley and Tonks will immediately head to the Burrow to apprehend Pettigrew," Amelia said, now very much in work mode. "While I will remove Heir Potter from his place of residence."
"But where will you take him?" Minerva asked.
"To Black castle, obviously," Arcturus said sharply. "He will come to live with me. He is my Lord's heir. And I am his great-grandfather."
"Would it not be better if someone else remove Potter?" Minerva asked. "So the DMLE can get stuck straight into arranging trials for Sirius and Peter?"
"No." Amelia shook her head. "Unfortunately, this is the only way to guarantee the safety of those muggles. While I understand everyone's desire to inflict pain on them, I will not turn a blind eye to any crimes against them. I can't. Besides, any charges against them will hold better if he is removed by a member of law enforcement."
Arcturus nodded. Harry only sighed. He wasn't sure that was something he wanted. He definitely didn't want the entire wizarding world to learn about his cupboard.
"And of course, I will arrange for them to be arrested and charged with child abuse," Amelia said. Her eyes drifted towards Albus. "Of course, it is likely that you will face charges too, Albus."
Albus merely nodded his head. "It will be nothing less than I deserve."
"We'll need to set up a proper security team for Heir Potter," Kingsley said. "I'd like to head that."
Amelia looked hesitant. She didn't want to lose on of her best aurors but she couldn't deny Potter would need it. "As an auror or..." she began.
"Preferably as an auror," Kingsley said, "but I'm willing to hand over my badge if necessary."
"I'd rather you didn't," Amelia said grimly. "Besides, protecting the Prince will fall under the responsibility of the department."
Kingsley nodded, giving his boss a grin.
"All right. Once you've apprehended Pettigrew, you can focus on forming a team to protect Heir Potter. Six aurors and a couple of hit wizards should do it, I think."
"I don't think I need that many..." Harry began but Amelia merely smiled at him.
"They'll work rotating shifts," Kingsley said. "Two at any given time. You'll hardly notice they're there."
Harry sighed. He was never going to get a moment's privacy ever again. Then again that wasn't particularly new.
Charlie taking pity on Harry decided to change the topic. "I guess some of us will need to get back to Britain. I'll want to get started on the new reserve straight away."
"If I talk to the goblins while I'm here," Bill said gruffly, "I imagine they'll be able to help me expedite my return."
"I guess I could talk ter Aragog about the reserve," Hagrid said. "It'll be easier to move the spiders if they agree."
Amelia and her aurors smiled at that. They really didn't want to have to battle with giant man eating spiders.
"Someone needs to be responsible for returning the Mirror of Erised to the Department of Mysteries," Rookwood said with a sigh. It would be so much easier if he wasn't a convicted death eater. But when they left here, he'd be back with the dementors in his cell.
"We can do that," Bode said, pointing between himself and Croaker.
Rookwood nodded. At least his unspeakable colleagues would get the job done.
"And we need to get the Gringotts goblins to look over the school wards," Minerva said. "Something is clearly wrong with them."
There was a murmur of agreement around the chamber.
"Of course, there's one thing we've all avoided talking about," Moody said gruffly, his magical eye fixed on Tom Riddle. "We need to decide what we're going to do about the death eaters and Tom here."
Several people seemed to think they should all be sent to Azkaban. However, Harry was less convinced. Mother Magic didn't want them to fight. She didn't want war. "I think we need a treaty," he said eventually.
"A treaty?" several people asked, hardly believing their ears.
"If the deities didn't see any good in Tom, they wouldn't have helped him restore his soul," he said, his voice a little hard. "We can iron out the details before we leave here but I think we might need their help to make the changes we need. I mean, isn't that why Mother Magic brought them here?"
Everyone looked thoughtful even if they did want to argue. Augusta was frowning heavily. She really didn't want the death eaters to go free. Especially those that hurt her son and daughter-in-law.
"We would need to have set requirements for them being allowed to leave Azkaban," Amelia said. "I can't in good conscience advise you agree to a treaty that might release the likes of Bellatrix Lestrange."
Harry nodded his agreement. "They'd have to show remorse while under the effects of veritaserum, or at least something like that."
Amelia nodded. That could work.
Lucius frowned. "The problem is that any truce or treaty between the Prince and Tom Riddle cannot take effect until Heir Potter is of age."
"So, we need a short term solution," Tom said. "I guess, it all depends on just how much we want to tell the rest of Wizarding Britain about our time here."
"They'd never believe us!" Hermione said.
"The girl's right," Moody said. "So, we can't remove them from prison straight away but what we can do is arrange a bill for the Wizagmot on Azkaban reform. Remove the dementors once and for all."
Harry was frustrated. So much would end up having to wait until he was old enough to act. "Could we ask Mother Magic to emancipate me early?"
"We probably could," Tom said thoughtfully, "but honestly, Heir Potter, you deserve a few years of childhood if you can get it."
Albus sighed. He didn't want to make this suggestion. It would make it seem like he was trying to take charge. Which he definitely wasn't. He'd heard more than enough in these books to question if he might be losing his marbles. "I'm chief warlock. I could negotiate the treaty alongside Harry's chosen proxy."
Sirius nodded, although eyeing Dumbledore suspiciously. "That could work."
"The treaty itself could be predetermined here in the chamber," Albus continued, "between Harry and Tom. We would merely be acting as Harry's ambassadors in the future."
"Although it would require the general populace being aware that Harry is Mother Magic's chosen," Albus added after a moment. "That might not be something you want known until you're older, Harry."
"I don't think there's much chance of that," Harry said with a grimace.
"Well, we can discuss a potential treaty later," Tom said. "What sort of changes do you want to make Heir Potter?"
"I really want a magical primary school and I want better protections for muggle raised kids. I want to integrate squibs back into our society and I agree with Moody, even if your death eaters aren't in Azkaban, we need a prison reform act. Reforms are also needed for the ministry's policies with regards to non-human and part-human magicals. I think some changes are needed at Hogwarts too. Muggle studies should be compulsory for one thing and the curriculum needs an overhaul. And we need a class on Magical customs and culture. We need a new History of Magic teacher. Binns has got to go."
"New school brooms," Ron said behind a fake cough.
"And yeah, we need new school brooms and some changes made to the First Year Flying Class. To be honest, I think Hogwarts needs a physical education class. The school needs more teachers and the curse on the DADA position needs to removed."
"I can do that," Tom said seriously. "I'm the one that placed it after all. It could even be written into the treaty, if you are agreeable, Heir Potter."
Harry nodded.
"There needs to be an overhaul of the point system," Remus said.
"We need a longer Magical Theory course and we probably need to update the electives list," Minerva said thoughtfully. "And we seriously need to consider... I don't think I should be deputy headmistress, head of Gryffindor house and teach Transfiguration."
"Which would you prefer to continue?" Harry asked.
"I'd like to stay head of house and teach," she said after a moment.
"I'm not sure I should remain as Headmaster," Albus said.
No one said anything to that. They couldn't help but think that he might be right. Although, they did need someone in the chamber to have that position. It would make a lot of the changes they were seeking, significantly easier to implement.
"Perhaps we should discuss that later," Amelia said with a sigh. They wouldn't resolve all the issues immediately. And Albus could be useful in his positions. She didn't like it but even she accepted that sometimes you had to be pragmatic.
"We've also got to somehow restore the balance between light and dark magic," Harry said with a sigh. He didn't have the foggiest idea where to start with that seemingly impossible task.
"I think you might want to consider creating a council of advisors, Heir Potter," Lucius said.
"Isn't that basically what this is?" Harry asked.
"Yes. Although, you should probably make an official one with magical oaths and contracts in place," Lucius explained. "It would be unwise to trust any of us without those safeguards in place."
Moody was nodding his head in agreement.
"Then you can assign specific tasks to members of the council," Lucius continued. "There are a lot of great minds in this chamber and they can definitely help you achieve your goals."
Harry smiled at that. He glanced at everything that had been written in the air by Andromeda. There was a lot to do. And yes, it felt overwhelming. But it also felt like something of a relief. He had goals now. His greatest ambition was no longer just to stay alive.