Confronting Prejudice

Narcissa looked at him defiantly. "Because that's who he is. A half-breed."

Righteous anger was beginning to surge through Harry's veins and somehow, Narcissa could feel it. From the way her eyes widened after the fact, she probably wished to take her answer back. Harry suppressed his anger before responding. "What makes you think you're any better than that servant is?"

"They're servants! They have to work for their wages. We were born with money, therefore that makes us better! It's the same with Muggles. We were born with magic. We ARE superior!" Narcissa yelled.

Harry was shocked at her opinions. He vowed to himself that he would purge them from her and anyone else he could find in the world. First things first though. "You will apologize to that servant." Harry directed.

"I will do no such thing."

"You will."

"I won't!"

'Uncle Vernon would have beaten the tar out of me by now.' Harry reflected to himself silently as he observed his dis-obedient ward sitting across from him as he contemplated what action he should take.

Several ideas occurred to him, ranging from grounding her to taking her over his lap- strange as it would be. To be honest, his knowledge of child-raising skills came from what littlehe had heard from other children during his stint at a Muggle school. Parenting skills witnessed and heard about at Hogwarts were for those whowere older than Narcissa was acting.

Finally, Harry had an epiphany. One learned through experience, Narcissa would be no different."From this point on," he declared, "you will work as a servant. Not only that, you will work to pay for your room and board here at Nair'icaix. What you eat and how you live will be determined by how well you work. Not only that, you will not use or benefit from magic in any way unless I decide to make exceptions."

"What?" exclaimed Narcissa, pale as a sheet. "You can't do that! You're my ward and you have to care for me!"

"You're also older than seventeen." Harry commented dryly. "If it makes you feel any better, you can tell people that I'm your parole office instead of guardian."

"I refuse!"

Harry looked at her quietly and then responded. "You have no other choice."

Like clockwork, Bellatrix entered and closed the discussion. She put on a good show of asking what had happened and what was going to be done. After Harry 'told' her everything, she called for Bess who agreed to take Narcissa to Mrs. Higgin. If Narcissa wanted dinner, she would have to get at least an hour or so of work in.

After the door closed behind Bess and Narcissa, Bellatrix sat on Harry's desk and beamed at him. "You're an absolute genius! Personally, I would have. . . well. . . anyway- making her work will do wonders I'm sure."

"I just hope it works." Harry commented.

"Of course it will. That was the best display of parenting that I've ever seen." There was a lull in the room as Bellatrix studied Harry thoughtfully, a small smile and a faraway look coming into her eyes. "You would make a good father, Harry."

"It was just a lucky idea." Harry said. "The Dursley's weren't exactly good role-models."

"Perhaps." Bellatrix said absently. "Don't forget your drills. I'll come down later to do some practice duels with you, for all the good it will do. You've already surpassed me."

...

Snape disguised his laughter with a hacking cough as he passed a group of wary looking students on his way to the Headmaster's office. Because of his connection with Potter's Legion, most of the Gryffindors were now not so hateful of him. Other students still looked on him with suspicion though.

Due to Potter's communication that he had received earlier, Snape knew precisely what this emergency Order meeting was going to be about. Ironically, there was nothing the Order could do that would have any significant effect.

He smirked as he watched Weasley and Granger, who had come from the opposite direction, step past the gargoyle that guarded the office and go up. He shortly followed and joined the rest of the Order in the conference room that adjoined Dumbledore's office.

After everyone had arrived and sat themselves at the table, Dumbledore spoke gravely. "It has come to my attention through some of my contacts in the Ministry that Lord Polairix called on Minister Fudge this morning."

"Did anybody recognize him?" Ron asked quickly, before the aged professor could continue.

"He was cloaked and hooded." Dumbledore answered. "His bodyguards had silver hair and silver battle robes. None of the bodyguards were known to us."

"What happened during the visit?" Hermione asked, hoping to get the meeting back on track.

Dumbledore looked at each Order member before proceeding on. "Lord Polairix successfully 'convinced' Fudge to give up Azkaban and come into compliance with his other decrees. I believe that Polairix used some sort of force or compelling power to persuade Fudge to give it up. He was dead set on keeping it earlier this week."

"He has to be stopped!" shrieked Mrs. Weasley. "If some man can just walk into the Ministry without resistance and force the Minister of Magic to do anything, what prevents him from walking into Hogwarts and killing all the students in their beds!"

Snape rolled his eyes. "Calm down woman! There's nothing to suggest that Lord Polairix is a Dark wizard of any sort."

"How would you know?" Ron said acidly in defense of his mom.

"I AM a Dark wizard, Weasley!"

.....

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