Overachievers and Names
The document that Narcissa put in front of them was lengthy. Harri wasn't sure she would be able to make it through to the end. She hadn't read much since she started Hogwarts, even if it was how she spent most of her time before. Dudley would never go to the library.
"The bill purposes that Muggleborns must learn and practice our beliefs. It also posites that Muggleborn children be taken from their parents at the first bout of accidental magic," Narcissa said, giving a brief overview. "We will be discussing the pros and cons of those things before going over what was voted for in class. Draco, could you tell us your thoughts on the bill?"
"I think that Muggleborns should be taught our traditions and culture when they are brought into our world, but it would be cruel to take them from their parents," Draco said.
"I disagree slightly," Harri said softly at first but gaining confidence the more she spoke, "I think that we should monitor the younger muggleborn children so that they don't end up like me or worse dead. Muggles are terrified of things they don't understand, and the first thing they want to do is either to get everything back to the status quo or find out how it works and the latter can be deadly. I remembered seeing a news article about how a little boy died in an exorcism to try and 'get the demons out of him'. It was horrible."
"What if we started school sooner so that we have an opportunity to monitor and see who needs the help? Like a primary school that the muggles have? It could start at five, and that way, they can learn our culture and grow up in it," Neville suggested. "It's a good middle ground so that they can learn and understand, but it doesn't break up families."
Narcissa nodded along to what the children were saying. She could see their world flourishing under their rule. She wished that the adults in charge had come up with a solution as coherent.
"That is an excellent idea. Do you want to discuss what the vote ended up being?" Narcissa asked, pulling them away from their primary school planning. She picked up her transcripts. "The conservatives posed the bill, and the progressives had an uproar. To quote, 'Lord Diggery stood with a red face. He shouted that it was madness to take children from their families over magic and silly traditions. Lord Nott from the conservative side rose and said that they needed to preserve the traditions as they were a blessing, and it helped to keep their magic strong. The children need to be taught their roots even if they didn't start in their world. Lady Abbott of the neutral side stood and asked about how they would care for the children if they were taken from their families? She said that they would need food and shelter and plenty of room to grow."
"Why was Lady Abbott the only one asking about the children?" Harri asked. "It seems ridiculous that it took that long for someone to mention them."
"Yeah, I wonder why Gran hadn't said anything," Neville mumbled softly.
"We haven't gotten to your gran yet Neville she did speak but Harri your right it does seem a bit ridiculous," Narcissa said with a nod. "Continuing on after that, Lady Abbott's question was left unanswered as there was a bunch of arguing from both sides that even a Quick Quotes Quill couldn't keep up with. I'll start to quote again now, 'Dowager Longbottom stands and bangs her walking stick three times to gain the attention of the court. She spoke and said that this bickering like school children was getting them nowhere. She agreed that they needed to teach better history and culture, but to take children from loving homes was too far. They needed to find a middle ground before she could vote to pass the bill.' That made a lot of them sit down, and a vote was cast. It did not get approved."
"Can we introduce bills as heirs?" Harri asked, thinking about how they could present their idea.
"No, you can't, but Dowager Longbottom could introduce it to the court," Narcissa explained.
"We still need a place for the kids who need a home to go," Draco pointed out. "Lady Abbott made a good point."
"What if they were fostered by families who have the means to?" Neville asked. "It is quite hard for some witches to conceive, and this could help them have the child they always wanted."
"That's brilliant, Neville!" Harri exclaimed happily. "The kids in loving supportive homes can stay with their families, and the kids who need help can go to a family who would want and support them. We would need to do check ins on the kids to make sure the wizarding family is treating them right too."
"We should also get them an inherance test in case they have family unknown to them in the wizarding world," Draco suggested.
"You three are working on a homework assignment that I wasn't going to assign you for a few more months," Narcissa joked softly.
"What can we say we're overachievers," Neville joked carefully.
"I won't be able to put my name on this bill, will I?" Draco asked suddenly.
"If he has a problem with it, he will have to go through me," Narcissa said. "You are going to take credit for your work."
"I mean, I've fought Voldemort 3 times and one I can take a douche with a cane," Harri said casually. She saw the three of them flinch at the name and sighed. "Why do people flinch it's just a name?"
"During the first war, he put a taboo on his name. It could break through any families wards, and Death Eaters would show up to kill the person who said it," Narcissa explained calmly. "It's why we say He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named or the Dark Lord. It's a form of protection."
"Why not call him his birth name?" Harri asked suddenly understands peoples' discomfort.
"No one knows it," Draco said with a shrug.
"I do. His name is Tom Marvolo Riddle, and he is a bastard," Harri said confidentially.
"Tom became You Know Who?" Lady Longbottom asked, coming into the room. She looked struck by the statement. "Ephie had been prefects with him. She said that he was charming, but there was something off about him. I guess we know now."
"Grandma was friends with him?" Harri asked, perplexed.
"Not friends so much as coworkers," Augusta said before collecting herself. "Lunch is ready. Then you three are free for the rest of the day."