Once there the group just sat down and chatted. The children occasionally switching who they were next to until everyone knew what everyone else knew. After forty five minutes of this Susan said, "I'd like to make an announcement."
"A month ago at Gringotts there was a sale. It was a private sale offered only to golden cauldron level Potion Masters, wand makers and Ministries of Magic around the world."
"That's great, Susan, and this is important to us why?"
"Because this morning when my aunt opened the annual tuition bill from Hogwarts it showed this years costs paid in full and a twenty thousand galleon credit towards the next three years."
Daphne and Michael put it together first. "The basilisk!" they exclaimed.
"Uh huh. That's what I think."
Harry-who knew the value of his trust vault- thought about how much difference not paying his tuition this year would make, which for him wasn't much. Then he thought about about Ron, his brothers, and sister and what the dossier said about Arthur Weasley, one of the many on Ministry personnel, had said. "Gees, I didn't realize a basilisk was worth that much."
"Well there's the whole deadly magical creature thing, Harry." Tracey said.
"Yeah, I suppose."
Neville could tell his best friend was thinking hard. "What is it, Harry?"
"The Weasleys."
"What about them?" Blaise scoffed.
"They are poor, and because of what happened last year they might not have money enough for school this year."
"Serves them right." Daphne said.
Hannah and Susan both gave her a disgusted look.
"Really, Daph? Ginny Weasley deserved to be possessed by You-Know-Who? I personally don't think anyone deserves that." Aaron said the disgust evident in his voice. His tone changed as he turned to Harry and asked,"What are you thinking, Harry?"
"I was thinking of asking the goblins to shift some of my credit for next year over to the Weasleys."
Daphne said, "You can if you want, but myself, I wouldn't. Not after what the twins did to you first year."
Blaise nodded his agreement.
Harry frowned at the reminder.
Hannah spoke quietly, "I think,Harry, that is a very noble idea. In fact I think I might do the same."
"Me, too." said Susan.
"Of course you Huffle-"
Harry snarled at Tracey, "Don't say it, no one says you have to, any of you. But leave stinking house prejudice out of it!"
Tracey turned red and looked at her lap, Daphne bit her lip "You're right, Harry." They turned to face the girls they had almost insulted. "Sorry, we've…"
"It's okay." Both the Hufflepuff girls said.
Susan continued, "Your families are Slytherin and after a summer of only being around that kind of thinking… wait, that sounds really prejudiced too. I'm sorry."
Michael-usually the quietest member of the group-said softly, "Scary isn't it, how much that kind of thinking dominates our society. Is it any wonder our world has so many problems."
"School doesn't help, not with the stupid house cup." Hermione said. "It would be different if the teachers gave points for cooperative efforts rather than encouraging one upmanship the way they do."
Harry couldn't resist a tease. "Neville, check my pulse. Did I just die and not realize it? I thought I just heard Hermione Granger criticize our teachers!"
Everyone in the group chortled as Hermione blushed but asserted, "It's true."
Blaise felt the alarm on his pocket watch go off . "It's gone four, it's been fun but I've got to go. See you all next week on board the Express."
The group headed back to the Leaky Cauldron. When Hermione realized Harry was headed to the Underground intending to take the trains back to Surrey she persuaded her parents to give him a ride. They discussed their summer homework and it was only as Harry climbed out in front of his Aunt and Uncle's favorite takeaway place five blocks from home that Hermione said,"Harry, if you give the Weasleys that money it shows clearly to me that all the trash that gets said about Slytherins is just that: garbage. You make a very clear case that it's the person not the house that matters. I admire you very much for even thinking about it, after all the things the Weasleys did to you first year. See you." She waved as her parents pulled away.
Harry went in, ordered, and paid for family sized helpings of the his family's favorite dishes then walked home. Dudley helped him set the table. Then they all sat down.
"So Harry, you are here for another week, your classes for the summer are over. What are your plans for the rest of the time? We don't want a repeat of today." His Aunt asked after dishing herself some garlic mashed potatoes.