"But wouldn't that make Harry the Heir of Slytherin?" Hannah argued. "And didn't we establish he wasn't?"
"Tom Riddle is the Heir of Slytherin." Harry said firmly. "Otherwise known as Voldemort."
Many in the room flinched.
"We think when he attacked me there was a magical transference because of this." Harry explained, once again lifting his fringe and revealing the faint scar.
"I wish I could talk to snakes." Connor piped up. "We have a garden snake that lives under the apple tree."
"The first snake I talked to was a boa constrictor at a zoo." Harry told him, grateful for Connor's intervention. "He was very bored at just being stared at all day."
"Did he say anything else?" asked Connor, his brown eyes shining with curiosity.
"Well, he thanked me for freeing him although I didn't really mean to." Harry said with a small laugh. "My cousin pushed me and I accidentally magicked the glass away from the snake's enclosure."
There were quite a few chuckles in the room.
"How was it growing up with muggles?" Robert asked, toying with his empty glass.
Harry tensed again at the question but forced himself into giving a shrug. "OK. I prefer living with Sirius."
"I guess it gives you a unique insight, doesn't it?" Alicia said, thinking out loud. "You're the Head of a powerful Ancient and Noble House who effectively knows what it's like to be a muggleborn in the wizarding world."
"I guess." Harry said doubtfully.
"OK," Albert said, "now it's getting interesting. What are your thoughts on being muggleborn in wizarding society?"
Harry glanced at Neville who gave him an encouraging look, one that said he'd back Harry up. This was the kind of the thing they'd debated in Sirius's politics lessons. He took a deep breath.
"I think it's harder than it needs to be." He waved a hand to stop anyone interrupting. "My relatives were afraid of magic so they didn't tell me what my accidents were and I thought, well, I thought I was a freak." He blushed hard but ignored the heat on his cheeks to continue. "Now, my relatives knew it was magic but didn't tell me because they were scared. The parents of normal muggleborns probably don't know though so there's no way of reassuring their kids."
"You think we should get involved earlier then? As soon as accidental magic is detected?" Albert questioned.
"Won't that endanger the Statute of Secrecy more?" argued Robert.
"I would say it would protect it more," Neville chipped in confidently, "if we provide early assistance, we provide reassurance and can help the parents ensure other instances are kept to a minimum."
"And we can help prepare them for entering the wizarding world better." Harry warmed up to his argument. "I was really overwhelmed when I was told so I didn't know what to ask and everything was very confusing."
"Muggleborns get the introduction booklet don't they?" Robert said dismissively. "That should be enough."
"The booklet isn't very good." Hannah spoke up. "I'm a halfblood because Mum's muggleborn and she showed me her copy. It's an outline of the government set-up, the directions to Diagon Alley and Saint Mungo's, and then mostly about Hogwarts but then it's just the classes and a brief history."
"Is that all? That's appalling!" Michael said. "There should be a proper book…"
"We and Hermione were thinking primary schools for wizarding children." Harry said, pointing at himself and Neville. It had been the idea they'd come up with during their last politics session.
Albert smirked. "I see it didn't take long for the Houses of Potter and Longbottom to regain their former closeness."
"We stand together as always." Neville said simply.
"And besides Neville and I godbrothers." Harry added, defensively. "We're practically family."
"I like the idea of a wizarding primary school." Hannah said. "My Mum made me go to a muggle one and it was great. If we had a wizarding one, I think that would be marvellous."
"Maybe one day Abbott, Granger, Longbottom and Potter will be to primary education what Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Gryffindor and Slytherin are to secondary." Alicia teased.
Harry smiled back at her. "I can think of worst things to do with my life."
"What do you fancy doing as a career?" Terry asked, butting into the conversation.
Harry darted a look at Terry. "I haven't really decided but I was thinking Quidditch player or broom racer."
"Oh, you'd be brilliant!" Terry said immediately.
"I don't know if I'm that good." Harry said modestly.
"You're the youngest seeker in a century." Jeremy pointed out. "And you're undefeated – well, apart from that match against Diggory but that wasn't your fault. You're likely to get try-outs by seventh year if you continue."
"I think that would be a marvellous career! You look smashing in your Quidditch gear." Lydia exclaimed, flicking her long blonde hair over her shoulder.
Susan sent her a dirty look. "Harry could do a lot more good staying in politics or becoming an Auror."
"Is that what you want to do Susan?" Harry asked quickly, taking the opportunity presented to throw off attention from himself.
"I was thinking law." Susan replied.
Harry's questioning gaze went to Hannah who blushed. "Healer, probably."
Robert shifted as Harry looked at him. "I'll be taking over Ogden's. Firewhiskey doesn't make itself."
"I was thinking of the Ministry. I'd like to get into the DOM as a researcher." Jeremy said.
"I'm a mediwitch at Saint Mungo's." Alicia supplied.
Everyone else chimed in and the range of careers and ambitions was impressive and gave Harry food for thought about his own future.
Lydia had waited until last. "I'm going to be a wife and mother."
Her brother dropped his head into his hands.
"Well, that's a valid choice." Alicia said kindly. "Motherhood is a wonderful thing." She glanced at Harry and winked at him. "Are you going to be arranged, Harry?"
Harry avoided Lydia's stare and shook his head at Alicia. "Sirius said my Mum would come back and hex him. He's giving everyone the freedom to choose for themselves."
"So that's why Parkinson's arrangement with Malfoy was dissolved?" Michael asked. "You know she's furious."
"She probably sent the death threat!" joked Jeremy.
Harry smiled. He wished it had been Pansy but he suspected it was Tom.
"So you're not arranged to the Granger girl then?" asked Lydia bluntly. "Because you've been seen everywhere with her this summer."
Harry frowned at the slight to Hermione. "She's with me because she's my best friend and she's under the sponsorship of the House of Black."
"My Dad said Lord Black announced it at the July Session." Terry said. "Said it was a repayment of a life debt."
There was a hint of a question and Harry nodded. "She helped me save Sirius from the Dementors at Hogwarts."
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