While Hermione and Harry spent time at Potters retreat happily learning about the different magic's from Helen, Sarah, Goblins, and elves. There were a huge number of people in the magical world who were happy about the changes that had been put in place at Hogwarts. In Hogwarts itself the students were far happier with how things were. Those who had been there when bigotry was allowed to run rampant in the school, even having had some really nasty bigots as teachers were quite busy informing new students what it had been like before Hogwarts regent took over. Richard was looked on by the student body as a hero who had come to the school and with just words he had done something that no one else had been able to do.
The staff were pleased to discover that the students were far more eager to learn under the new regime than they had ever been under the old method so they them selves worked harder to ensure that bigotry was stopped before it could start.
On Harry's fourteenth birthday, the two Potter's and the Grangers had just finished their breakfast when an owl arrived from Headmistress Sprout asking if she could see him at the school as soon as possible, and informing him it was rather urgent. There was no indication in the letter what the problem was but because it was the first letter they had received from the headmistress that practically begged for help the whole family decided that they would visit the school before lunch. Helen expressed her hope that they would be back at home in time for Harry's planned birthday party.
The entire family except Andrew who was left with Petal arrived at the headmistress office two hours after the owl had arrived with the urgent letter. Pamona Sprout was not too happy as she offered them all seats. "Before we start our discussion, would you mind reading this book, chapter four?" she asked Richard while placing a large thick leather bound book on the desk.
Richard and Helen both read the book together before passing to Harry and Hermione who sat and quietly read about a tournament that had been discontinued two hundred years ago due to the rising death toll. As Sarah took a turn at reading the book Hermione spoke up sounding a little worried. "Dad you can't allow this, I just know that they will force Harry into the stupid thing."
"No worry little one I have no intention of allowing Hogwarts to participate in anything so dangerous to the students. So Pamona what is it that has you so worried, is it something about this tournament as we suspect?" Richard said his face holding a grim look.
Headmistress Sprout pulled out a letter she had received and handed it to Richard. "The minister of magic sent this… this thing." She said her disgust quite obvious.
Richard read the letter informing Pamona that the ministry had entered Hogwarts into the Tri Wizard that was to be restarted that year, the letter also informed her that Hogwarts would be the venue for the Tournament. The whole letter read like a set of orders, giving no choice to the head or staff of the school. Richard looked at the parchment for just two minutes before he had made his mind up what to do.
"Ok Pamona this tournament will not take place within Hogwarts, nor will any of your students take part. Inform the staff that if it becomes necessary I will close Hogwarts School to prevent this ministry having control over the school. Also inform them that if I do close the school I ask that they stay on acting as care takers, they will be retained at their present salaries until we find it reasonable to reopen. Now is there anyway of getting in touch with the idiot that sent this rubbish."
Pamona stood without saying anything and walked over to the fireplace, taking a small handful of a green powder from a container she through it into the fire and called out "Amelia Bones," she then placed her head into the green flames. If Richard had not seen the floo in use in Diagon alley he would have tried to stop his headmistress because it actually looked as if she was trying to harm her self. Those in the office did not hear the conversation that took place, when Pamona stood back up from the green flames she walked back to her desk then told them, "I just spoke to the head of our law department, she has gone to tell minister Fudge that we refuse to take part, if he argues she is going to bring him here to talk to us.
It was a little over five minutes when the fire turned green again and then after a few seconds a small slightly chubby man wearing a green bowler hat stepped into the office, he was followed by a stern looking woman wearing a gold monocle, following her was a rather tall and muscular dark skinned Auror.
Minister Fudge wasted no time at all as he started talking as soon as he had dusted the soot off him self. "Now headmistress Sprout, you listen to me, as minister of magic I have signed the contract for the inclusion of Hogwarts in the reinstated Tri Wizard tournament. You will inform your students of this and you will prepare the castle to house the two other schools that will be participating."
Richard stood up to his full height and dwarfed the minister. Taking a breath to help control his temper with the officious little man. "Tell me Mr when did we the owners appoint you to run Hogwarts school?
Fudge looked up and Richard and took a step back, "I am the minister of magic, I do not need to have your permission, as citizens of the British magical world it is your duty to support your ministry. So as your minister I am ordering you to comply with this order."
Richard had his eyes half closed as he counted to ten before he spoke. "Listen to me you pathetic little man, Hogwarts is not taking part in your stupidity, I will close the school before I allow a little shit like you endanger the students, so take your order and shove it."
Fudge turned to Amelia Bones and ordered her to arrest Richard, and any of the others who tried to close the school. Before she could say anything or take a step Richard said quite calmly, "I wonder what our minister of magic might have to say about you arresting one of his citizens?" He then turned to Pamona and told her, "Send out the letters informing the parents that Hogwarts school is closed as of today, you may inform them that the owners were threatened by this little imbecile and so returned to their own country."
Pamona nodded and answered "Yes regent Hufflepuff."
Hermione spoke up from where she sat, "Headmistress you may take that as an order from both Gryffindor and Ravenclaw as well as Hufflepuff."
Fudge his face a deep red colour was practically stamping his feet as he yelled for them to be arrested. His bowler hat was taking a bit of a bashing in his anger, and everyone noted that he was stamping his right foot repeatedly like a child having a tantrum might do.
Standing behind Fudge Amelia had trouble hiding her grin as she said "Minister we can not arrest foreign nationals because they will not obey your order on how to use their property. The law is quite clear you have no jurisdiction here in Hogwarts. If the Hufflepuff regent decides to close the school he has every right to do so."
"What that cant be… it cant, I signed a contract, I made promises…" he trailed off and looked at Amelia as if he was about to cry, "what am I to do?"
It was Harry who answered him, "Isn't it obvious you nincompoop, cancel your stupid game. You obviously can not have a Tri Wizard Tournament with only two Schools taking part. Dad I think we should let the headmistress get those letters out, while we go home, back to our country that does not have idiots running the government. Besides it will save us thousands of galleons shutting the school."
Fudge had tears in his eyes he was so angry at what the young man was saying and was once again going to shout to have him arrested for treason when he remembered what Amelia had said, he then remembered that these people were not even British. He had a quick thought run through his mind and spoke without thinking through what he was saying. "Bones make sure they leave the country and then ban them from re-entering the country."
Pamona then gave the minister a shock when she said quite seriously, "The letters have all gone out regent, the school is now officially closed."
Richard smiled at her for a few seconds nodded then said "Please ensure that the castle is closed down, we will go to the ward room and set the lockdown to occur in thirty minutes."
Pamona nodded as Helen urged Richard to hurry up as they still had a party to attend. Richard turned to Amelia and saw the trouble she was having not showing her enjoyment at the predicament that Fudge had got him self into. "Well people good bye, oh and you need not follow us as we will be going to reset the wards before we leave and only the owners or the head of the school can enter the room." He then turned and followed his family out of the office.
"Don't fancy your chances of being minister this time tomorrow after that show of stupidity Fudge. Those purebloods are going to be after your blood having to send their kids off to the more expensive schools because of your idiocy." Amelia said as she and the Auror went to the fireplace.
Pamona was quite happy, none of her students would be lured into participating in the Tournament, and her staff would not need to search for new employment. She was happy with the out come even if she was certain it would be several months before the school reopened. She held back a chuckle as she saw the look on Fudges face as he stepped into the green flames that would take him back to the ministry. 'Bet that fool is wishing he had never heard of the stupid Tournament now' she thought as he vanished from sight.
One floor down from the heads office Richard had the two teens set the wards to battle mode and giving control of who could and could not enter or leave the grounds to the head mistress.
Outside the castle a beetle flying as fast as it could just managed to cross the ward line mere seconds before the wards flared as they were changed to battle mode. The beetle only flew as far as the edge of the forbidden forest where it landed and quickly changed into a laughing witch. "This is one hell of a story." She said to her self as she disapparated to London and the offices of the daily paper the Daily Prophet.