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Cheers to you all,
Your company through the journey means the world. As a small thank you, here's an extra chapter.
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They came in on a Portkey. The pull spat them onto the International Transit dais, Durmstrang snow still clung to their sleeves. They had jumped from Durmstrang to the German Ministry, then on to London on Arcturus Black's sealed writ.
The Portkey clerk reached for the standard script about registration of arrivals. Vinda set a folded letter on the counter so the black wax faced up. The hound in the seal caught the light. The clerk clipped their transit tags, stamped the log, swallowed the lecture, and stood.
"We would like to meet with Minister Black," Vinda said, and did not make it a question.
The walk to Level One took no time at all. Ignatia Travers rose from her chair when the doors were open. She had a folder already in her hand and the right names in her mouth.
"Master Rosier. Mistress Morozova. Master Greengrass. You were expected a day or two later." She turned towards the Minister's office. "Follow me please."
Arcturus Black stood when they crossed the threshold. The room smelled of old leather, spell ink, and fresh coal. He took Vinda's hand first, then Yelena's, then Horatio's. The courtesies fit like old gloves.
"You move faster than rumor," Arcturus told them. "I did not expect you for another day."
"Your letter asked for speed," Vinda answered, eyes sharp over the rim of the seal as she returned it to her pocket. "We obliged. Now, why are we here, old man?"
A smile cut his face in two. Wolfish and pleased. "You are a rose with too many barbs."
Vinda smirked. "Start to talk and you will not bleed."
Horatio's mouth tugged. Yelena's brow lifted the smallest measure and then set.
"We are listening," Vinda told him, and took a chair without asking.
"You are here to take control of Hogwarts." Arcturus motioned for the other two to take their seats and he followed suit. "Vinda, I want you to sit the head's chair. Headmistress. Master Morozova, I want you to take Transfiguration and the headship of House Gryffindor. Master Greengrass, I want you to take Potions and the headship of House Slytherin."
He let the words stand while an elf slid in with a tray. Ignatia took the tray and set it where each hand could reach without thought.
Vinda tasted the tea, set the cup down, and let her eyes return to him. "The Board of Governors are agreeable with this idea I assume."
"Of course," Arcturus said. "Most of the old lot are under inquiry for aiding a dark wizard." Every time he referred to Dumbledore as dark wizards a smile was appearing on his face. "They are writing their resignations as we speak. That leaves a thin bench. Myself, Malfoy, Lord Greengrass, your kinsman." He said turning to Master Horatio. "A handful of sound names. We will make the vote inside the hour, if you accept."
Horatio cleared his throat and looked over the rim of his cup. "Minister, you have professors on the isles. Why us?"
"Because a pupil of three of you asked," Arcturus said, gaze flicking from Vinda to Yelena and lastly to Horatio. "And because he wrote one line that amused me. If the Board will permit, he wrote, I need Master Horatio here as well." The dry note in his voice did not reach the eyes.
Vinda allowed a small smile to touch the corner of her mouth and vanish. Horatio hid his in the cup. Yelena did not bother to hide the smirk.
"If the boy thinks he may slack now that an old fool sits in a cell, he is wrong," Yelena said. "I will see what he learned after he make ma accept him."
Arcturus took that without flinch. "Good. I want a school that teaches. I want discipline. I want the castle to remember that rules matter."
"Terms," Vinda said, fingers loose on the cup. "Budget will be tripled, you will have the final say on discipline. Stable Auror presence at the gates until students forget how to panic. Autonomy in the classes. Most importantly no political involvement on the curriculum. Hogwarts will legalize the subjects of Dark Arts, Dueling and Rituals as soon as the new Board meets. Which is waiting your acceptence of your posts."
"In return, I expect results. Examinations to standard. No more stunt lessons, and get rid of Binns the moment you have time. I'm arranging a new History Professor from the Vampire Covens."
Yelena set her cup down slowly. "Transfiguration will be taught with order. I will set a curriculum and I will hold to it. I will need access to work rooms and the tool stores."
"Granted," Arcturus said. "Tell Ignatia what you need and do not surprise me with invoices."
Horatio leaned back just enough to test the chair. "I want a proper stockroom. A safe for restricted ingredients. Written permits for purchases through the Ministry supply office, and lab that does not share a wall with the boiler."
"You will have the old alchemy room and the key to the safe on day one," Arcturus told him. "Permits will be signed before you set foot on the grounds."
Vinda watched him over the cup. "Very generous. I recall you prefer not to spend where you can bully."
"I bully when coin is wasted and on some cases for sport." Arcturus answered. "Your budget will leave no room to make choices between two options."
Ignatia's quill moved without sound. Paper grew on her desk like frost.
"What about Defense?" Vinda asked, almost idle.
"Covered until summer," Arcturus said with a chuckle. "You will set the search after that. I will... I meant, the Board will approve the name if it comes from your end."
Vinda breathed once through her nose. "Then you have your headmistress. I will need a letter to the castle staff by this evening. We will move there in the morning."
Yelena inclined her head by a degree. "I accept."
Horatio tapped one finger on the arm of the chair and let it still. "I do as well. Provided Master Corvus will work closely with me."
Arcturus lifted a hand. "Done, done, and done. Ignatia will prepare the instruments. Board session in an hour. You will need to take the Floo to the castle for your magical signatures to be registered. Filch will open the old rooms. Flitwick and Sprout will brief you on the rest and the damage done."
Vinda rose. "You are almost charming when you are efficient."
Arcturus stood with her. "You are almost bearable when you are not trying to frighten me."
Horatio laughed once, low and warm. Yelena's mouth did not move but her eyes did.
"Let us fix a school," Vinda said, and took the parchment Ignatia brought to the edge of the desk.
"Let us," Arcturus answered. He signed the top sheet where the line waited for his and other members of Board of Governors names. The ink dried black and final.
--
Breakfast ran quiet and thin. Two head chairs, the chair for DADA Professor and the headmaster seat were empty. Cutlery moved without much appetite. The ceiling showed a low lid of last days of winter cloud.
Argus Filch opened the side door and moved in. Three figures followed in his wake, hoods down, steps measured. The squib tipped his head toward the staff table.
"Professor," Filch rumbled to Flitwick. "They are asking for the person in charge."
Corvus was already up. He met them three paces from the dais. A small bow to Vinda first. "Master Rosier. Welcome."
He turned to Yelena with the same measure. "Master Morozova."
Horatio's hand came out before Corvus could speak. A dry grin. "Master Corvus. I will feel welcome when I have more of those tears."
Corvus answered with a quiet laugh. "Welcome, Master Horatio. I will make sure you do. I will have extra vials ready and," he leaned in so only Horatio caught it, "a measure of very old basilisk venom. Consider it a welcome gift."
Satisfaction warmed Horatio's eyes. "Consider me motivated."
Corvus felt the stare before he saw it. Vinda's gaze was cold, Master Morozova's look matched hers in temperature. He cleared his throat.
"Of course, welcome gifts for you both as well, Masters Rosier and Morozova."
Flitwick's chuckle escaped before he could stop it. Horatio's followed, lower.
Vinda drew a parchment from her sleeve and placed it in Flitwick's hands. Thick paper. Fresh with the seal of the Board.
Flitwick read fast. Relief moved the corners of his mouth. He turned and motioned the new Professors to stay next to him to face the hall.
"Students," Flitwick called, his voice clear enough to reach the rafters. "Please welcome Professor Vinda Rosier."
Slytherins rose at once. Ravenclaw came up in good number at the same time. Pockets of Hufflepuff and Gryffindors stood after them. The sound swelled and then settled to a hush.
Her name was known to certain families already. After Corvus' reponse to Granger's question some students was smart enough to make some research.
Flitwick continued, "Professor Yelena Morozova." Another rise. The Hufflepuff and Gryffindor table looked at one another, then stood as a block. Now the whole student body was standing to greet their new mentors.
Flitwick did not pause, "Professor Horatio Greengrass."
He went on. "Professor Morozova will assume the post of Head of Gryffindor House and will teach Transfiguration. Professor Greengrass will assume the post of Head of Slytherin House and will teach Potions." He paused and for a moment. "Professor Rosier will serve as Headmistress of Hogwarts, effective at once."
Flitwick turned toward the red and gold and the green and silver. "Prefects of Gryffindor and Slytherin. Come forward and make yourselves known to your heads."
Percy Weasley led the Gryffindor line with a badge that had seen a polish that morning. On the Slytherin side Gemma Farley matched him. Names were exchanged. Faces placed. Notes made on small parcments. The hall began to breathe again.
Vinda faced Flitwick, "as the former headmaster is not at liberty, I will need to go to his office and take control of the wards."
"The seventh floor," Flitwick answered. "We will find a way to gain entry if we need to."
Vinda flicked a look to Corvus. "Walk with me, Corvus."
"Of course, Headmistress."
Horatio clapped Corvus once on the shoulder as he passed. "Do not forget the the vials Corvus."
Yelena paused just long enough to sweep the Gryffindor table with her eyes. The first years sat straighter without knowing why.
--
Snow came past the window in tireless lines.
Henrick Voss watched the new ward lights pulse on the map, a thin ring knitting coast to forest to ice. The stone under the building hummed. With this map there will be no muggleborn for his country anymore. All the magical children will appear and be registered.
Kaarna, his new secretary set a folder down. "Witches and Wizards started to move to the completed settlements. Night squares are quiet, Wolfsbane potions are shipped and ready for distribution. Contracts with the blood banks are done as well. We are registered as a hospital in their records."
"Werewolf ranges first," he said. "Warding the Centaur forests should continue."
She was a member of the Alliance and not only supportive of the agenda but even had some ideas of her own. He has already sent them to Arcturus Black. Kaarna slide the next folder which has a red mark on it. "Adoption filings."
He signed it after checking. "Blood rites for the young. Oaths for the older ones."
He has set three teams, each team having two Auror and Two Withches or Wizards who are masters of Mind Magic. Every muggleborn was getting taken from their homes. If they are younger than twelve years they were getting adopted through a blood adoption ritual, if older they were given a choice. Choose the Wizarding World or the Muggle one. It was getting explained to them in gentle tones. For the ones choosing the muggle world their cores were getting sealed and the memory of the meeting removed.
For the ones agreeing to join though their memories were gettin 'arranged gently.' Their faimilies though were getting a bit intrusive recipe. Their memories getting changed heavily. Within multiple session not only them but relatives and friends of the muggleborn was also forgetting they have ever know that person. A new life for a new person.
Kaarna slid the log. "Seventy three households adopted through the ritual. Fourteen choose the Magical World. Seven did not." Her tone was sad on the last part. "The rest processed under rite and memory work."
A clerk brought a letter. "From Berlin."
"One of the Teams wll move to Stockholm next to share the reports." Kaarna read. "Riga and Vilnius will wait a week."
"Proceed." He rolled his neck. "This window will not stay open. ICW will remember us soon enough."
"We finish before they do," Kaarna said.
"Funds from London at noon," she added. "Arcturus Black wants the number of blood Adoption rites conducted by week's end. Grigori Volkov asks for covens moved to the new settlements."
"They will have them." He signed the last adoption page.
Kaarna watched him a beat. "You look pleased."
He nodded and started to write a short status by hand. Counts, names, tallies. He added one line and watched as the ink dried.
"For the greater good," he murmured, and sealed the letter. Kaarna already moving the next folder. Voss reached for it and opened it to approve three more names waiting for a blood adoption.