Back at the Institute Minerva had conjured a table and chairs for them while Hermione waved up to Joan and Natalie just to let them know that everything was fine. Both went back to playing in the pool under the watchful eyes of just about everyone in the place.
The elves returned with refreshments as Francesco looked as if he needed a long, cool drink. "Harry I've never seen anything that disgusted me as much as a school governor screaming at a child because of the circumstances of her birth, part of me was cheering as you threw them off the cliff."
Eugene concurred, "we hear stories coming out of Britain but that's all they are, when you see it for yourself it's sickening. Is that typical of the treatment first generation magic users receive?"
Harry thought for a few seconds before replying, "that was maybe a touch excessive because we've backed them into a corner but in general terms the answer would be yes."
"Harry it's worse than you think," Amelia said "after Voldemort is defeated they want me to have you both arrested on Saturday with some triumphed-up charges and force you back to Hogwarts."
It was a thoughtful Hermione who summed it up, "so Dumbledore gone, Voldemort dealt with and Harry and I lose our magic leaving the purebloods once more in total control of magical Britain. I can see how this would be attractive to them."
Amelia nodded her head, "you know of course that neither Shack or myself would ever give that order but just the fact they're even thinking about it makes me sick to my stomach, if you ever have a job for me just say the word. I've reached the opinion that magical Britain can't be saved in its present form, it'll have to be torn down and built from the ground up."
"We reached the same conclusion which is why we applied to the Italian ministry for citizenship."
"Lord Potter on behalf of the Italian ministry can I say that we will support you in every way that we can, we have had our eyes opened today with both our tour of this lovely school and the conditions you are trying to leave behind. I'm sure we can guarantee your citizenship before Saturday for all of your party and we have discussed the other matters and look forward to working with you for many years to come." Francesco and Eugene stood and shook everyone's hand before taking their leave.
"Sorry to land that on you today Harry but I didn't want them having time to spread their ideas around people who would be receptive to them. I thought you dealt with the situation brilliantly."
"Can you stay for the day?" asked Hermione "we really need a plan of action that covers more than the Institute and will arrange a meeting for after dinner tonight."
Amelia was delighted at the chance to get to spend the afternoon with Susan and Hannah as the other four worked on an agenda for tonight's meeting.
....
Jillian Green was wondering why she had been included in tonight's meeting but the revelations that she heard had her head spinning.
Harry started the meeting, "can I say right from the off that the Institute will remain open, this is non-negotiable as too many of our futures are tied into this venture and it's the right thing to do."
This settled everyone as the meeting continued, "the bigoted purebloods are beginning to realise the threat this venture is to their power base, both politically and financially. They are already trying to make life difficult for us and this meeting is to tailor our response to that threat."
It was a thoughtful Amelia Bones who replied first, "Harry I can no longer continue as minister for magic, I could never be a party to some of the suggestions made today and will resign after the tournament is completed. I will hold off long enough to watch your backs and offer whatever protection I can while you're forced to return to Britain for the tournament but I could not do this job past Christmas. I find myself taking more showers than at any time in my life and I need to get out before I become acclimatised and all the stench starts not to bother me."
Hermione had a big smile on her face; "Amelia we had a job already picked out for you and were hoping we could entice you away from the ministry in the New Year. Our meeting with the Italian ministry was not just about our citizenship but the future of our students and even their families. What do you think will happen when the first student's job application form arrives on someone's desk with the Potter Institute listed as the school they attended? Our students will be ostracised in Britain so we are looking to arrange an alternative for them, the Italian ministry have offered instant citizenship to any student who completes their education at the Institute. This offer also includes their immediate family and all hell will break lose in Britain if this news leaks."
Hermione gave that news a minute to sink in before continuing, "it's not just that their ministry agrees with what we're doing here but the fact that everything in the Institute has been purchased locally and the fact our students all spend their gold in Naples has been a big boost to the local wizarding economy. We're looking to buy land and build our own village, even if we open a couple of shops or businesses they'll still be buying their produce or raw materials locally which helps everyone. We would like you to head this project Amelia and be our link to the Italian ministry, we have a couple of years yet before we get our first graduates but I would like the option to be open to students and their families by the time they've sat their OWL's. This should open up a whole new world of careers to them."
Everyone at the meeting thought this was a brilliant idea but none of them were under any illusions that the British purebloods would do anything but retaliate.
Harry brought Gillian into the conversation, "we may have to re-think our plans to have the orphanage located at the former Malfoy manor, the link between ourselves is now well known and I couldn't let anything happen to the children because of us. I know that Joan is the only child to have been adopted since we brought you out here and for that I feel I must apologise."
Jillian bursting into laughter was not the reaction that the Potters expected, "forgive me but that was just too funny, in all the time I've been associated with the orphanage the children in its care have never been happier. The people in this room have given of their time so freely that their days are filled with Minerva's magic, Hermione's stories and even Dan introducing them to the Saturday morning cartoons. The older children have been so kind to them and they love sitting on the terrace, eating their meals and chatting with whoever joins the table. You have provided them with such a better life and hope for the future with the promise of an education that your apology just cracked me up."
....
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