Renouncing Magic's Child

Nearly Headless Nick watched mournfully ... full of mashed potato.

"Ronald, that is positively disgusting," Mrs Weasley said, folding her arms.

"You're lucky there's a feast ... a sizable chunk of steak.

Sirius gave Harry a look that made it perfectly clear that his manners better have improved in the last few years.

"Don't talk with your mouth full!" Mrs Weasley said.

"Thank you, Molly, but I'm perfectly capable of guiding my own son on his manners," Sirius said sternly.

"Godson," Mrs Weasley tutted.

"Son," Sirius said, through gritted teeth. "You heard Harry's Inheritance Test. I blood adopted him."

"You didn't say anything!" Molly argued.

"Not everything needs to be said with words," Sirius countered, "or in public. Harry is also eighteen, I should hope he knows by now not to talk with his mouth full."

"Well, clearly not!"

"Have you seen him do so here?" Sirius asked.

"Well..."

"No. You're basing your opinion on the book, which does not show Harry as he is, but how he was at fourteen. Besides, sort your own children's manners out before you comment on mine. That is the first time I've heard anything about Harry's table manners in these books. The same cannot be said for your son."

Molly blushed and even though it looked like it cost her quite a lot, she held her tongue.

"Peeves, of course," ... the Bloody Baron put his foot down. "

"He'd probably behave better if he was included," Luna said.

The Bloody Baron ... Terrified the house-elves out of their wits -"

Several people sighed. This was going to lead to more talking about house elves.

Clang... "Here at Hogwarts?"

Minerva looked surprised. "How did you think we kept the castle clean, fed you all and got your laundry done? Trust me, there are not enough adult wix in the castle to do all that."

"Certainly," ... Over a hundred."

"Why are there so many?" Mrs Granger asked.

"The school has always been a sanctuary for anyone who needs it," Albus said. "That includes elves. Those that find themselves the recipient of clothes, or whose family die out, they all come to Hogwarts. We have many elves in the school whose previous masters were abusive."

Mrs Granger smiled. That sounded quite nice.

"I've never seen one!" ... you don't know it's there?"

"And you say they're not slaves," Hermione tutted angrily.

"They're not," Neville said. "They choose to work. And yes, they choose to do it without being seen. That's not a standard set by wizards, that's elf culture. Gran, what was it old Nizzle used to say?"

"A good deed done in view is no good deed at all," Augusta said. "By cleaning and doing housework, they are doing us a kindness, an act of service. If they were seen to be doing it, they believe it would be like asking for praise."

"Well, they deserve praise!"

"Yes, of course, they do. But you don't get praised because you demand it or ask for it, you get it because you earn it." Augusta was losing her patience. Trying to explain house elf culture was challenging enough but Miss Granger just didn't seem to be willing to listen.

"But they do earn it!"

"And I'm sure their families praise them for their efforts," Augusta said, "but they do not do the work, looking to be praised. The praise or any reward, is seen as a side benefit that they do not expect. Just like when I do something for Neville that he does not ask me to do, when he notices and thanks me, I am always pleased but I do not expect it."

Hermione looked ready to argue again so Augusta sighed. "Perhaps we should continue reading. I believe your mother advised you to talk to the elves. I believe you will learn much more from them, than I could ever impart."

Hermione stared at him... sick leave, and pensions, and everything?"

Some people actually laughed. Augusta sighed again. She was not going to argue this point.

"Elves don't want paid!" Sirius said. "I mean you might get the odd one and if they do, then sure they should get paid. But for most of them taking payment would remove the original reason for doing the work. The work is no longer a gift to those you love, if you're paid for it. As for days off, elves are completely at liberty to choose when and how they work. Unless the head of their house has strictly forbidden something, they can do whatever they want. Except where it would break their oath."

"But..."

"Of course, some families break their oath, but most do not," Remus said.

"As for sick leave," Sirius sighed, "as they choose when and if and how they work, except where a family member makes a specific request, they can take time off if they're sick. It's not a job. They're just choosing to do chores for their family. And pensions? What would they need a pension for? They'll be well cared for until they die."

Nearly Headless Nick chortled ... "House-elves don't want sick leave and pensions!"

Neville nodded in agreement. His elves would be offended if he even suggested it.

Hermione looked down ... pushed it away from her.

"That isn't the answer, dear," Mrs Granger said.

"Oh c'mon, 'Er-my-knee," ... starving yourself!"

Mrs Weasley blushed again. Yes. Harry certainly had better manners than Ron.

"Slave labor," ... Slave labor. "

"No. It did not!" Neville said heatedly. "And if you ever say such a thing to an elf, they'll be highly offended."

And she refused to eat ... Chocolate gateau!"

Mrs Granger sighed. That wouldn't work. Hermione could be very stubborn when she wanted to be.

But Hermione gave him a look ... while I give out a few notices.

"Let me guess the fifth floor corridor is out of bounds this year to anyone who doesn't want to die," Remus said snarkily.

"No, Remy, the dementors are back for another holiday," Sirius said.

"Mr. Filch, the caretaker, ... if anybody would like to check it."

"Has anyone ever checked?" Harry asked.

"Not that I'm aware of," Albus replied, smiling gently.

The corners of Dumbledore's mouth twitched ... not take place this year. "

"WHAT?" Everyone from the new timeline was up in arms.

"You can't cancel quidditch!" Sirius said crossly.

"What?" ... this year at Hogwarts -"

"Oh, dear," Amelia sighed. She had really hoped that she was wrong.

But at that moment ... Great Hall banged open.

"Now what?" young Daphne asked. She wasn't sure she wanted to go to Hogwarts anymore.

A man stood in the doorway, ... toward the teachers' table.

"Unnecessarily dramatic entrance," Moody growled.

A dull clunk echoed through the Hall on his every other step.

Moody groaned. Surely, it wasn't him. He would have arrived with stealth. Perhaps Albus wasn't the only one showing signs of dementia.

He reached the end of the top table ... made him frightening.

"Thanks kids," Moody said with a chuckle.

One of them was small, dark, and beady ... they could see was whiteness.

"Your eye is rather unusual," Mr Granger murmured.

"It's goblin made," Moody said. "It sees through almost anything."

The stranger reached Dumbledore ... empty seat on his right-hand side.

"New DADA teacher," Moody said gruffly.

The stranger sat down ... "Professor Moody. "

"I don't think I like the sound of that," Moody muttered.

It was usual for new staff members ... more than stare at him.

"Well, that's rude," Moody said with a smirk.

"Moody?" ... "What happened to his face?"

"Been in too many duels to answer that question," Moody answered.

"Dunno," ... took a long draught from it.

Moody frowned at that. While he was always cautious about what he drank, he hadn't heard anything about him casting spells to check his food. That wasn't normal.

As he lifted his arm to drink ... ending in a clawed foot.

"Lost the leg in a duel with a death eater," Moody said gruffly. His mind was still on the food.

Dumbledore cleared his throat ... taking place at Hogwarts this year."

"ABSOLUTELY NOT!" Young Mrs Weasley screeched as young Mrs Malfoy said, "You can't do that!"

They were not the only ones expressing their displeasure either. Sirius and Remus were both on their feet and glaring at the headmaster.

The younger teachers looked equally incensed. "You can't be serious!" Flitwick said sharply. "The last one was an utter blood bath."

"Albus, I think you've finally gone balmy," Severus muttered. Albus thought he might well be right.

"You're JOKING!" ... a leprechaun who all go into a bar."

Minerva rolled her eyes.

Professor McGonagall cleared her throat ... allow their attention to wander freely.

"That's it," Sirius said. "Harry, you're not going back to Hogwarts. Not while Albus is headmaster."

Several other parents in the chamber looked like they might agree with him.

Albus frowned. "Perhaps we should wait and see what happens. I'm sure that there will be changes made to make it safer."

He couldn't imagine that he'd ever allow it to take place otherwise. But then again, he'd never have thought to have dementors guarding the school or a basilisk running loose or a possessed girl or teacher.

"The Triwizard Tournament ... young witches and wizards of different nationalities -

"Right," Sirius said, rolling his eyes. "So long as they actually survived."

until, that is, the death toll ... discontinued."

"I've heard everything now," Remus said. "Bring back the death tournament. You know that's what people call it, right?"

Albus gulped. Yes. He did know that.

"Death toll?" ... hundreds of years ago.

Sirius sighed.

"There have been several attempts ... the time is ripe for another attempt.

"Albus, tell us what happened with each of those attempts?" Remus said.

"Well, one year, the three governments involved couldn't decide on what rules needed changing," Albus said. "Another the handlers of one of the beasts needed for the tournament were all killed by the beast in question."

"And what beast was it?" Remus asked.

"A manticore," Albus said.

"What else stopped it?" Harry asked.

"Er... the year they got closest to reinstating the tourament, the schools had all gathered but champions had not been chosen when a lethifold killed five students."

"A lethifold?" Mrs Weasley looked positively faint.

"It was at Durmstrang that year," Albus said, "and they had gathered the beasts needed over the summer in preparation. The lethifold escaped and... well, that put an end to that."

We have worked hard over the summer ... mortal danger.

Harry laughed bitterly.

"The heads of Beauxbatons and Durmstrang ... a thousand Galleons personal prize money. "

The twins exchanged excited looks.

"I'm going for it!" ... impose an age restriction on contenders this year.

"To right," young Mrs Weasley said. "But that can't be the only change. Can it?"

Only students who are of age... still be difficult and dangerous,

"Still dangerous?" Sirius asked. "Please tell me you at least set a rule that excluded the use of XXXXX beasts."

Minerva frowned. She'd argued for that. But Crouch and Bagman had argued against her.

whatever precautions we take,

"Precautions?" Harry laughed again. "What precautions?"

"There were..." Minerva began.

"Whatever precautions you think you took," Harry cut across her, "they weren't good enough."

The adults all glared at Minerva now. Those that had been around for the event knew exactly what Harry meant and those that hadn't were now worried just what had happened.

and it is highly unlikely ... you are under seventeen.

The twins looked disappointed. That wasn't fair. They wanted to compete. And they would have only been a few months off.

"The delegations ... Bedtime! Chop chop!"

"Insanity," Remus muttered.

Dumbledore sat down again ... why can't we have a shot?"

"Because its dangerous!" young Molly said. "Even if you were of age, I'd like to believe you'd have more sense than to compete."

"They're not stopping me entering," ... "Yeah, a thousand Galleons. . . . "

Harry rolled his eyes. He didn't care about the money or the glory. This was perhaps one of the worst years of his life and that was saying something. In fact, after this year, they just kept getting worse.

"Come on," ... decide who the champions are?" said Harry.

"The goblet of fire," Albus said. "It's tradition."

"Dunno," ... stop us giving our names. "

Both Mollys looked at their sons. "We forbid you to enter the tournament."

George rolled his eyes. "Mum this already happened, and no offense but I can't see Prince Myrrddin letting the tournament go ahead in the future."

Molly had to admit that that was at least a little reassuring.

"People have died, though!" ... Fancy entering?"

"Do not encourage your brother to put his life in danger!" Molly huffed.

"What d'you reckon?" ... Dunno if we've learned enough. . . "

"You definitely haven't," Arthur said sternly.

"I definitely haven't," ... I'll just have to - oops. . . "

"Of course, I wouldn't want you to enter!" Augusta said in disbelief.

Neville's foot had sunk ... "a prefect downstairs told me. "

Minerva muttered under her breath about another year's worth of wasted passwords.

The portrait swung forward ... doorway to the girls' dormitory.

Several people rolled their eyes.

Harry, Ron, and Neville climbed ... completely stationary soccer players.

Mr Granger rolled his eyes. If that's what muggle tolerance looked like, he'd like to sell a wix a bridge. How they couldn't see their own prejudice baffled him.

Harry, Ron, and Neville got into their pajamas ... placed warming pans between the sheets.

"Warming pans?" Mrs Granger asked. "What is this? The middle ages?"

Everyone looked at her in confusion. "How would you warm your bed?" Arthur asked.

"An electric blanket," Mrs Granger said. "And that would probably only be in the dead of winter. To be honest, most houses wouldn't need such a thing between double glazing, insulation and central heating."

"Central heating?" Molly asked.

"It uses the movement of warm water through pipes to warm the house," Hermione explained.

It was extremely comfortable, ... you never know, do you?"

"You'll do no such thing, Ronald Weasley," Molly shouted.

"S'pose not ... Ron couldn't see what he could.

"I thought you didn't want to be in the tournament?" Ron asked crossly.

"I didn't," Harry said, rolling his eyes. "But that doesn't mean I couldn't enjoy the idea of it for a moment. It doesn't mean I'd actually enter."