Harry and Hermione Potter had been training hard for the first year at Potters Retreat, in-between the hard work of learning the magic that Hermione taught, the magic of the Ravenclaw's, and the truly old magic of the elves and Goblins they spent some time going into the local village and getting to know the local children. The entire year had been an exciting and happy experience for the young married couple who enjoyed both the work and play, and left them both eager to learn more, reading their texts together in the evening became a much looked forward too time to relax for them.
Albus Dumbledore was still on the island with the dragons, he had been seriously injured several times, three times he had quite happily thought he was going to escape by dying and would next wake up in the next life, away from the dragons and ready and willing for the next great adventure. Much to his sorrow the Goblins had no intentions of allowing him to die before he had made up for some of his crimes, and to date they figured he had only earned the value of two thousand galleons, which barely scraped the surface of what he owed, he still had a long way to go before they would allow him to die.
On the first of August as the family sat around the kitchen table enjoying their breakfast before starting the day, they were interrupted when Paddy entered the kitchen "Excuse me master Richard sir, there is an elf by the name of Pappy here to see you," he said with a small bow.
"An elf to see me, I wonder why? Hmm, ok Paddy bring him in, perhaps he would enjoy a cup of this excellent tea." Richard answered feeling puzzled.
Paddy brought the obviously old elf into the kitchen and introduced him to Richard "Master Regent sir, I is here from Hogywarts, she is in need of a new head teacher, she is also needing some new teachers, sir," the old elf said in a rather rough voice.
Richard looked at the little elf "But, but, but I'm a Muggle, I'm not magical, how on earth can I be in charge of Hogwarts?" he asked looking around the table.
Pappy looked at Richard as though he was slightly crazy "Little master be's the heir of Gryffindor, little mistress be's the heir of Ravenclaw, you's be's the heir of Hufflepuff, and you's be's the head of the family until young master be's a man and be's the new master Gryffindor, so you's be's master Regent," Pappy explained slowly for the Hufflepuff Muggle.
"Seems simple enough to me," Sarah said looking around the table "how about we go along with the master Regent and take a look at this supposed great school?"
It seemed all those around the table thought the idea was excellent, well all except Andy who was busy flicking his porridge at the two elves and giggling happily. Richard still looking unsure asked Pappy how they could get to Hogwarts, before Pappy could answer Paddy spoke up "That would be a job for the Potter elves sir."
Richard nodded his head "Ok Pappy is it, yes well we will visit the school after we have finished our breakfast, we will then see what is required." With a quick nod Pappy simply vanished with a pop.
It took the Potters and Grangers an hour to get ready to visit Hogwarts; Andrew was left with Petal while the rest were popped to the gates of Hogwarts School by several Potter elves. Richard looked amazed at the castle that stood in the vast grounds in front of them, looking around at his family he could see them all looking at the castle in awe. It dawned on him then that as they were all descendants of the founders, unlike other Muggles they had the ability to see the School.
They were greeted at the gates by a huge man who was accompanied by Pappy; Richard dismissed the Potter elves and told them they would be sent for when they were needed, if indeed they were needed later.
The overly large man who Richard estimated stood at about nine and a half feet tall and probably a little more than half of that across held out his huge hand "Welcome to Hogwarts Master Regent, the name is Rubeus Hagrid, everyone just calls me Hagrid, I'm the keeper of keys and groundskeeper here."
Richard looked up at the huge man while he introduced his family. Hagrid seemed to be overly excited to shake the hands of both Harry Potter and the fabled Hermione Granger. His excitement waned temporarily when Hermione corrected him, "The name is Potter Mr Hagrid, Mrs Hermione Jane Potter."
Hagrid's eyes lit up again when he realised she was telling him she was married to Harry Potter, the boy who lived. "Thar' ill' be many a witches heart Bro-en when tha bitta news gets out," he said as he turned to lead the way up to the castle where the faculty would be waiting for them.
As they reached the castle entrance they were greeted by several of the Schools tutors, they were lead by the woman they had met just once before.
"Good morning, I am Minerva McGonagall acting headmistress, welcome to Hogwarts Regent Granger and family. I have taken the liberty and arranged a tour of the castle for you; I hope you enjoy your visit. Filius our charms professor will escort you on your tour, meanwhile I have much to do before the start of term," McGonagall said before turning to walk away.
Richard had taken on his business man attitude as he had walked up to the castle and was truly annoyed by the woman who was treating them like little children. "Ah thank you for your offer, I am afraid it will have to wait, we have some serious business to sort out first. So Miss McGonagall would you be good enough to gather the staff together, I would like to speak with them."
Rather surprised by the way the Muggle spoke McGonagall huffed a little, she then lifted her nose a little before speaking "Filius would you please escort our guests to the great hall while I gather up the staff that are in the castle. Thank you." She then walked off in search of her staff.
Richard spoke to the staff one at a time, taking time to take a walk and talk with each one in turn, when he had spoken to the last teacher who had been a ghost and was unable to take a walk outside as had the others he asked his family to take a walk with him. Having asked their opinions of the staff and their attitudes he took a seat at the head table.
"Right first may I call you Pomona, he asked professor Sprout," once she had nodded he continued "I would like you to take up the mantle of headmistress if you would."
A highly surprised Pomona Sprout readily agreed to the promotion while blushing slightly at being picked from all her peers.
"Now Miss McGonagall, I am hoping you will continue in your roll as the deputy head, the reason I have not chosen you as head is quite simple. You are far to stuck in the ways of Dumbledore at this time, and I feel the School needs a change of direction to give the best education we can to the students that attend this ancient institution.
Now professors Snape, Binns, Trelawney, and Babel, your services are no longer required by the School, Mr Snape I doubt I ever met a more dislikeable person, no one with your attitude should be allowed anywhere near children.
Mr Binns whether you know this or not, you sir are dead and I have to admit that just spending five minutes listening to you had me completely bored and wanting to fall asleep, the teaching of history needs to be done with life and enthusiasm.
Miss Trelawney, it is quite obvious that you are a complete fake and you are taking payment under false pretences. Your services are definitely no longer required.
Which leaves me with Mr Babel, I have no doubt what so ever that you sir have never set foot into the world of ordinary folk, which tells me that you are most definitely just about the most unsuitable person to teach Muggle studies that the former headmaster could find.
Ok, now Professors Flitwick, Vector, and I'm so sorry I forgot your name, you professor, yes the one who teaches runes. I would ask you three to get together with the headmistress and help her in her quest for the replacement tutors for all but the Divination lessons. Even Muggles know that if you haven't got a gift it can not be taught. Money on that class would be a pure waste so it will be dropped. I think that's about all for now. So what are the chances of us all getting a nice cup of tea and a small snack before we take that tour of the school?" Richard leaned back and looked at his family; he was pleased to see that they all appeared to agree with everything he had said.
The tour of the castle seemed to be a little strange to Hermione; she seemed to keep getting a feeling of having been here before in some other life. None of the Grangers or Potters actually liked the School, it seemed far to out dated to be used as a place of learning in the twentieth century. By the time the tour was over the new headmistress had a small selection of witches and wizards that she thought might make suitable teachers. Richard left in her hands to chose and hire the replacements and promised he would return later in the year to access how they were doing.
The Grangers and Potters were all pleased to get away from the castle that seemed cold and bleak even in the middle of summer, when the School elves offered to return them to their home. After a quick talk to the huge Hagrid they walked out of the gates and were popped home to Potter Retreat.
After fussing over Andrew for an hour and an early supper Harry and Hermione were happy to climb into their bed, they were already looking forward to the next day and the lessons they would learn, they were both pleased that they had not gone to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, because even as a now twelve and almost thirteen year old they knew the education there was no where near as good as the one they were getting here at the retreat.
Down stairs in the living room the Grangers were discussing the old castle and the things Richard had set in motion there. They were all convinced that the old School needed bringing up to date and hopefully before the new millennium was upon them. Both Helen and Sarah commented at the same time that he had chosen well when he had chosen professor Sprout to be the head. Out of all those they had spent time with in the great hall she had been the one with the most concern for all the students and not just those that shared the house she had once been in.
The conversation then changed to what lessons were next on the agenda for their children, they decided that the next day would be spent with Helen as she taught them from Ravenclaw's amazing book.