The-Merry-Yule (IV) [Chapter 222]

“So, what exactly are you expecting from me?” Amelia asked after Harry assured her that Susan was going to be protected inside Hogwarts. Though she wasn’t sure if she could trust a fourth year Slytherin to protect her niece or not, but considering Harry was also a fourteen year old, she wasn’t sure what to think.

“I am expecting you to help rebuild the country” Harry answered with a straight face. “Let’s not kid ourselves, we all know that almost the whole Dark Faction is in bed with Voldemort and that is not where it ends, he even has some sympathizers among the Grey Faction, tell me if I am wrong?” Harry turned and asked Cyrus.

The man gave a reluctant nod… Cyrus was the de facto Leader of the Grey Faction and even though he would like to believe that he ran a tight ship, he knew the truth. There were a few who believed in You-Know-Who’s cause even though they were a part of the Grey Faction. “There are some…” Cyrus admitted reluctantly.

“Then there is the matter of Death Eaters in the Ministry itself… All Departments of the Ministry, except for the DOM are filled with Death Eaters. Voldemort only needs to give the order and the Ministry would fall” Harry snapped his fingers in the air, to add some dramatic effect.

“Voldemort might be an evil fucking bastard, but at the end of the day, he is simply one man. Yes, he is strong considering the standards, but still, he is only one man. He might be leading the Death Eaters, but he sure didn’t create them… He might have united them and created the group, but the people who support him were already there” Harry slowly explained.

“If it wasn’t Voldemort, then it would have been someone else… They only needed a strong leader who was strong enough to oppose Dumbledore and the Ministry. Even if we kill Voldemort, the problem is not going to disappear… The Death Eaters are simply going to lie low and wait for the next Voldemort to appear” Harry explained maliciously.

“What exactly are you suggesting?” Cyrus asked in a fearful tone after taking a gulp. He could already see where Harry was going, and from the horrified looks on everyone’s faces, they could also say what Harry was trying to say.

“What I am trying to say is that I am going to kill all of them” Harry revealed with a nod of his face. The look on his face was completely calm and serene like he just didn’t admit that he was planning to kill hundreds of people. He didn’t even seem to be bothered in the slightest at his own admission.

Chills started to chase each other up and down Cyrus’ spine as he reeled back in shock at his admission… If Harry really carried out his plan then not only the Ministry, but Wizarding Britain as a whole would collapse…

“Can you hear yourself?!!” Amelia snapped as she slammed her fist on the table. Cyrus slowly turned around to stare at the outraged woman… He could understand why she was outraged, but he wasn’t sure if it was a good idea to scream at the boy in front of them. Then he glanced toward Saul…

The man was looking really uncomfortable, but Cyrus believed that the man was more concerned about Amelia, rather than the fate of the followers of the Dark Lord… Then he finally turned toward the rest of his family. His wife was completely aghast and he couldn’t blame her. So, he slowly grabbed her hand to support her.

He finally understood why Daphne decided to follow the boy… No, that was wrong. Harry Potter was no mere boy. He was a force of nature… He had seen the memories. He wasn’t sure if even the whole might of ICW would be able to face him. Albus Dumbledore, the Dark Lord and Gellert Grindelwald were Magical Titans and Grindelwald would have succeeded if it wasn’t for Dumbledore, but Dumbledore was no longer young, so he wasn’t sure if Dumbledore could stop him again.

Then there was Harry or Hadrian Potter, whose Magical Might trumped the power of all of the current Magical Titans combined… He glanced toward his eldest daughter and she looked as calm as always even though Astoria was shaking like a leaf… He hated himself for putting his daughters through this, but he was completely helpless.

When he was forced to sign a Marriage Contract to keep his family safe, he knew that money couldn’t buy everything… Real and tangible power trumped everything else. ‘I didn’t even notice when Daphne grew up so much…’ Cyrus thought wistfully as he started to wonder if he could have done something different.

“Of course, I can hear myself. I will let you know that my ears are in perfect condition” Harry declared mirthfully before his expressions shifted and his expressions turned cold. “It is clear that you don’t agree with me, but are you going to oppose me? Considering you know someone strong enough to stop me” Harry asked coldly and when Amelia didn’t say anything, Harry simply cracked a smile.

“Let me tell you a story…” Harry trailed off as he leaned back on the couch, completely unbothered by the hateful glare Amelia was giving him. “There used to be a peaceful kingdom. The King was loved by everyone, but in a few years, the kingdom was invaded and the invaders successfully took over. At first, the citizens weren’t happy, but after a couple of decades, nobody even remembered the previous King and his bloodline”.

“Then the new regime made themselves look like saviors and turned the previous King and his family into tyrants… Apparently, the invaders saved the citizens from a tyrant and everyone believed the story… Do you know why?” Harry asked and it was Saul who answered.

“History is written by victors and victors are always good and righteous” Saul answered grimly and Harry beamed at the man.

“Those who are at the Top always determine what’s right! The Top is a neutral ground! You might say Justice will prevail. Of course, it will! After all, the one at the Top is Justice!” Harry finished passionately and clutched his hands. His eyes started to glow and his hair started to float. They could see the raw Magic radiating from his body.

Moments later, he finally reined in his Magic and smiled… “I am not at the Top, not yet, but in the future, I will be…” Harry growled in a determined tone and Cyrus couldn’t help but frown at his words… He had seen what Harry was capable of and he was certain that it was probably only a glimpse of his power, so he couldn’t understand why Harry didn’t consider himself to be at the Top.

“I have no intention of taking over Wizarding Britain or any other place. That is why I want you to be the Minister… I want to leave this place in good hands” Harry said softly as he stared at Amelia. The woman didn’t know what to say anymore after Harry’s passionate declaration… Her whole being was completely against his plan, but what other choice did she have?

She didn’t know anyone who was strong enough to face Harry and stop him…

“Master Hadrian, the food is ready” Before they could start talking about anything else, Norton appeared with a soft pop.

“Thank you, Norton” Harry thanked Norton as he stood up before smoothening his robes. Then he turned toward all of his guests. “Please, follow me” Harry urged and Norton disappeared with a soft pop to inform the other house elves that Harry was arriving with his guests.

“So, how is Ilvermorny?” Saul asked, making Harry raise his brows at the man. “Before anything else, I am a scholar and we don’t get to meet many Ilvermorny students” Saul explained his reasons after he noticed the look he was getting from Harry.

“Well, you have probably heard, Isolt Sayre wanted to attend Hogwarts, but her aunt Gormlaith Gaunt, a Pureblood supremacist didn’t allow her to, so she created Ilvermorny in the image of Hogwarts. In fact, it is really similar to Hogwarts. There are 7 floors, just like in Hogwarts, and there are four houses, just like in Hogwarts” Harry explained, but Saul wasn’t the only one who was paying rapt attention to the story.

Daphne, Astoria, and Susan were also listening to his story very carefully… The three of them grew up extremely sheltered, so they never went out of Britain and learning about another Wizarding school was fascinating for them…

“Really? What about the Salem Witch Academy?” Saul asked curiously.

“There is not much I can tell as it is a Witch-exclusive school and even though MACUSA is backing the place, it is not recognized by the ICW. The Salem Witch Academy was created as a tribute to the women who were burned at the stake during the Salem Witch Trials” Harry explained with a thoughtful look on his face. To be honest, he never tried to learn about the place since he never considered it important.

“Women? Not Witches?” Daphne blurted out, surprising even herself. She wasn’t planning to speak, but she ended up doing it before she could realize what she was even doing.

“Yes, women. Not just Witches… They grabbed any women they suspected of performing Witchcraft before sticking them to a stake. Some were genuine Witches, but most were Muggles… If there is anything Wixen are good at, then it is hiding. After all, we have centuries of experience in hiding” Harry explained with a shrug.

“Did MACUSA get the people responsible for the Witch Burnings?” Daphne asked again. She decided in for a knut then in for a Galleon.

“MACUSA came to be after the Witch trials were put to a stop in the first place. They wanted to avoid another repeat of such an incident, so they created MACUSA and united the American Wizarding Community, but from what I know, some people were killed and the rest disappeared into thin air… Just like the people from Church” Harry finished with a shrug.

“Oh, we are here… Let me introduce you to everyone” Harry said as the group finally arrived in the dining halls…