Chapter 02: Of Love and Compassion

Harry sighs as the last sheet of paperwork making his emancipation official is completed. Handing it to Lurnott, the goblin who mistakenly betrayed him, he grins happily. Suddenly a knock comes at the door and Harry looks to Lurnott questioning his pale face with a raised eyebrow. "Enter Director Ragnok." Lurnott looks so frightened at the thought of the director coming to see them. The door opens and Harry scoots his chair over while making a 'welcome, please sit' gesture. Director Ragnok conjures a chair effortlessly as he glances at Lurnott.

"I believe that one of you missed a vault." He hands the paperwork to Harry earning a frown of confusion. Harry looks at Lurnott with a raised eyebrow earning a slight nod of encouragement.

Opening the file Harry absentmindedly replies to Director Ragnok. "Thank you, Director Ragnok, we were not aware that the test would miss anything, or at least I wasn't. If there is anything I can do for you, please do let me know." Harry winces at the large amount of galleons that have been transferred into his name by goblins from dozens of families. Sighing tiredly, he mentally wishes that he had a thought of what to do with most of his trillions of galleons.

Harry freezes as an idea overcomes him. He owns Hogwarts if he is correct, maybe some of the money can go toward that. Plus, as per the Maeneil Family Files, he owns an abandoned town that he might be able to be use. Looking up at Director Ragnok he sees him looking at him as if trying to discern him. "Director Ragnok? May I ask something and get an honest reply?" Director Ragnok raises an eyebrow as if thinking about it before he curtly nods to relent. "Is there any way that I could put you in charge of altering the school Hogwarts since I apparently own it? I want a certain amount of my money placed in the hands of the person who can alter the school along with permission to add or withdraw classes. I want a complete rehaul with any additions necessary as well as upgrades to everything."

Ragnok grins at him as he ponders it for a moment. "I assume that you wish for useful classes of all kinds and things that might actually help the child down the road, correct?" Harry nods to him as Director Ragnok grins devilishly. Ragnok stands and motions for Lurnott to scoot over which he does. Reaching into the desk he pulls out a contract and places it on the table. "We need the details of how much and what limitations we have in explicit commands." Harry nods to him as he stops to think about it.

Looking around for another paper Lurnott suddenly hands him a muggle notebook complete with an inkpen. Taking it from Lurnott he begins making a list of things that he wants done.

List of Tasks for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry...

Refurbish the dorms and add a unity 'Common Room' for house unity.

Make posters listing the rules for the Unity Common Room and place them where they are easily read.

Maybe make it where at most two people are roomed together to sleep at a time.

Re-haul the rules for dorms to make sure they are adequate for all ages.

For the students that might be on a student council or such make sure they have their own separate dorm with access to resources that they might need to complete their assigned tasks.

If there is not one make a student council to oversee the needs that the students think need tending to. Make rules for the council to make sure that they do not abuse the privilege of the council seats.

Make a room for the student council to meet and discuss things with the rest of the student body.

Make a room for the student council to meet with the teachers to make sure that all needs of the students are addressed.

Make four rooms in the castle somewhere for homesick students to cry to a therapist of some sort. If there needs to be more therapists allow more space for them.

Make a shop for those feeling peckish late at night. Make sure the shop sells healthy foods and snacks.

Make sure the cooks serve healthy foods at all meal times. I refuse to have the children being unhealthy as it is not good for their survival or health.

Make a student monitor program to help the teachers when need be if there isn't one.

Make sure that the older students can be up later as it is harder for them to sleep for longer hours. Just make sure they stay in a mostly safe area or on the main part of the grounds.

Make a few dozen copies of complaint sheets to be reviewed by the headmaster or headmistress and then be used by students.

Review the jobs of the teachers and make sure that they are doing their job to the best of their ability. Same goes for the other staff living on the grounds.

I want there to be a few classes based on exercising to choose from, it should be mandatory that they take one for each year at the least.

Update the library and all potions labs. Should there be anything else needing updates do so for them as well.

For the teachers make sure each one has a full suite. This includes a private kitchen, a small private library that can be expanded, a wardrobe room for their more expensive clothes, and anything else that they might need.

Make sure that there is a teacher's lounge and that it has refreshments for the teachers along with snacks to get their thinking going.

Make sure the Headmaster, Deputy Headmaster, and the Heads of Houses have their own suite with a common room that they share, I am sure that they might need to meet with each other regarding certain students and this common room might be used as a meeting room to discuss the student's behavior with their parents or guardians.

Make sure there is a room to be used for the 'Parent Teacher Meeting Night' that I have planned.

Add more protective wards that are stronger while making sure that the current source of power for the wards is up to the task. If not add more power sources that are filled to the brim for the job.

Add a few recreational activities for the students to partake over the weekends.

Add a weekly activity that takes children into the safer part of the forest to forage for potions ingredients. Make sure all the students come prepared for this class and that the residents of the forest are notified beforehand that the students will be venturing into their forest for plants. Make sure there is a wagon to place the harvested ingredients in with sorted jars.

Make a hunting party to clear out the more dangerous creatures from the forest unless they are semi sentient or even sentient to a large degree. I own an island that they can be moved to with any agreement that they choose.

If there are any sentient creatures who do not intentionally try to hurt humans try to make a treaty between their group and Hogwarts for help and other things when needed. Make sure we give them equal to at least 1.25 times the value of their help. I do not want them to think that we are cheating them.

I want the library to be made at least comfortable. Maybe putting in plush carpeting, plushy chairs, and other comfortable seating arrangements. Also, add a section for things like comic books for the people who come with their more studious friends.

There should be a room assigned for use of detentions. Each night of the week a different staff should be assigned to work the children during detentions. This may include different things such as making potions for the hospital wing should we have one or even scrubbing and cleaning equipment that the school uses. Besides this the detentions can be used to get the nighttime cleaning done during the day, such as bathrooms and classrooms. Should the student not know how to clean they should be assigned to the caretaker to be taught how to clean things properly, and not just giving things a once over wash. Washing things should include making sure that the object in question is spotless and has no trace of dirt or grime. If there is a spell to detect residue of potions or other things teach it to the staff to use during the detentions to make sure the students do the cleaning jobs right.

Another idea that might be useful is starting a student mentor program. Each new student must have a student in either fourth year or higher. These 'Student Mentors' can teach the newbie such things as secret passageways to get to classes, the ins and outs of their house, and the rules of everyday life at Hogwarts.

There should also be some time periods, for the older students to tutor younger students. Since the tutors are going to be taking time out of their day, the school should arrange a contract to pay the student for each tutoring session that they have with each child. Some of the tutorship payment should come from the school coffers but if possible send out pamphlets to the parents informing them of the program and tell them that their student may be enrolled into the program if a monthly donation of any kind is given. Make sure that they know the donation may range from books, money, potions ingredients, herbology plants, or another remotely useful thing for the school.

Also, speaking of donations, I want the parents to have the option to donate objects and toys to be given to the children at Christmas time for those who are unable to go home for Christmas. Should there be extra toys each year those toys will be set aside for a yearly 'yard sell' to make some extra money for the school updates. If possible, send a pamphlet requesting donations for this as well.

Oh, I should have thought of this first. Make a pamphlet for all teachers, staff, students, future students, and past students to inform them that the Heir of Hogwarts has claimed the school and that upgrades are in the process. For the teachers and staff add an extra telling them that it is me and that I want any requests for updates to be given to the Hogwarts Accountant to be considered for revision and aid.

Should the teachers also wish for a bonus we will take applications for a bonus. For the current teachers, we need to decide if they should be the head of their class type or if we should add another to be the head of their classes. There should be a teacher added for each class while there are two teachers added for the basic classes.

There should also be a place on campus for seminars to be held for both students and former students. The admission for the seminars can be anything that is reasonable but not above 15 galleons, that would be too much if it was higher.

If possible I want the ideas for a sliding scale tuition to be considered. If possible, this will help a whole lot more than the regular system that we have now. From my understanding, there are nearly 30-50% of the current student body that lives in wealthy families. Because of this if we start the sliding scale tuition within the next few years the school admission will be available to everyone for a reasonable price.

Next it should be considered that people are hired to come in and explain their job choice in career days held at the school for the students. There should be at least one career day in each month. Near the end of the year there should be more for both sixth and seventh years that explains the dangers of each career that they may have chosen.

Any other things needing tending may be tended by the Hogwarts Accountant. He/She has permission to alter any classes, add any classes, renovate the school buildings, create new buildings or structures, and to expand any part of the school for any reason found logical.

Should they feel the need to abolish any groups within or focused on the school that exist right now they have my permission to abolish and send thank you notices to those in those groups while telling them that they and their services are no longer needed.

Should the accountant feel the need he/she may create a parent council with reasonable members of the magical society. Only three muggle parents at max may be on the twelve-member parent council if only to get fresh innovative ideas to get more muggleborn students into the school for the year.

Should any other Hogwarts related items and equipment need a re-haul, change or update the Hogwarts Accountant has permission to do so. Should there be any changes needed that do not completely fall under this contract the Hogwarts accountant can review the needed change with the Heir of Hogwarts and the staff of Hogwarts to make sure it is adequate or even remotely needed, useful, or helpful toward the residents of Hogwarts Grounds which include the sentient beings in the forest who are not humans.

Signed: Harry James Potter.

Handing the sheet of parchment to Ragnok he allows him to look it over. After several minutes of Ragnok reading the list and writing on his own revised sheet of parchment he hands it back to Harry to review the changes. Most of the things just include things like decor supplying, grounds tending, and other assignment of jobs and tasks for new teachers.

Besides that, it listed a set of rules for those who help fulfill the contract to 'redo' Hogwarts and make sure that she is up to date in all areas. Harry tilts his head before adding a thing at the bottom of the revised version.

Should two or more parties of the contract agree the terms and obligations may be reviewed and either changed, added to, subtracted from or revised an unlimited amount of times in regards to the participants duties alone.

Handing it back to Director Ragnok while nibbling on his bottom lip he worries that it might not be a good idea to add that last tidbit. Ragnok casts a spell on the new version copying it onto the contract parchment causing it to glow softly in acknowledgment of the terms. Ragnok pauses as he eyes Harry curiously, "Are you willing to sign it with a blood quill? The quill will just make the contract magically binding to the point that there be severe repercussions if the contract is even thought of being broken."

Harry nods eagerly before pausing he looks at Director Ragnok as he tilts his head towards him. "I am willing to do so if I may pay you extra for the job. I would hate to cheat you and force you to use such a severe contract without paying to ensure that it is completed properly. I wouldn't want it any other way and I've got to thank you for thinking of this to make it harder to get out of." Ragnok slowly blinks at him. Putting his pinky finger in his ear he swivels it around before pulling it out clean as can be.

"Can you repeat that, please." Harry quickly repeats the terms for the blood quill usage. Ragnok quickly writes the term for the blood quill down and they are both happy that the contract accepts the addition. They both sign it in their blood causing it to copy itself and vanish completely. Ragnok smirks happily, "How much is the budget limit?" Ragnok asks with a very polite undertone.

Harry looks at his inheritance list where it lists the total galleons to his name. Looking at the list he pulls out a new sheet of parchment and writes down a price offering. Giving the list of money to Ragnok he watches his eye bulge before he smirks devilishly. "The amount to work with is excellent. One million galleons is a very good start to get everything. If possible, do you want us to enchant certain tiles in each hall and room to glow softly when someone is near? It might prove useful to catch wayward students out past their bedtime. Plus, we could possibly buy some semi sentient creatures who focus on protecting children and place those creatures in and around the school. Parents who know all about them might prove to be valuable allies when they find out the extent of the protection that you are trying to extend to the students."

"Thank you for the compliment. However, maybe we should get a book printed that automatically is delivered to the muggleborn's parents. This should include a synopsis of the classes and their courses that year, the protection measures, and a few of the most famous people to come from Hogwarts as students who are remembered from Medieval times. They remember Merlin for sure. And maybe we can include a few things for them to look over, maybe a map of where they go to in order to get to Hogwarts' train, a list of common transportation methods, and maybe a small booklet of different common magical ways of gaining simple things, like luck with love or money, like making a bundle of herbs and the likes. Maybe even giving them a pack of five different herb mixtures." The goblin blinks at the thought. He hums thoughtfully at the idea as if it might be profitable.

"Considering only about 15% of all muggleborn make it to Hogwarts that may actually be a good idea. It will get more magicals in the area to Hogwarts. If possible we can also gather all the books used last year in the classes and have them be given to students each year starting next year. The books for new teachers that are suggested by them will have to have my approval." Harry nods in agreement before he yawns tiredly, he sees director Ragnok frown. And looks at him with sleepy confusion. Lurnott also seems to be worried.

"Are you not well?" Lurnott asks and Ragnok clears his throat.

"We don't know how many hours a night humans require of sleep." the director elaborates for him.

"Kids range from 12 to 8 with adults ranging from 5 ½ to 7 hours. Teenagers can be the high kid range and up to the middle of the adult range. It is extremely rare but the news shows that some families have strange descendants and their genes mutated so that they require only one hour of sleep per night as adults. Maybe two or three in one million people to be exact." The goblins give him hefty frowns.

"You should have already gone to bed! Why didn't you tell us!" Harry stares at him.

"My relatives usually force me to work around the house until eleven at night. Then I spend three hours doing homework from the muggle school or reading to improve myself followed by sleep, three hours total. I function mostly fine, but when I haven't slept in days…" He says before wincing, knowing he may have made things worse for his relatives.

"Pardon?" Director Ragnok growls with a very pissed look. His fangs are showing far more teeth then Harry expected, his nails have lengthened into claws and his pupils are slits.

"Whatever you do, don't make Dudley go into foster care. He never has been taught better, his aunt and parents taught him it is alright to bully others. They never would have made him so cruel if it wasn't thanks to me. He is a child, he does what he sees and his genes make him a little dumb. It isn't his fault." Ragnok gently grasps his shoulders and Harry realizes that not only is he rambling but he has tears in his eyes for Dudley.

"… You have done well." Director Ragnok tells him solemnly.

"I… I want to change the contract briefly." Ragnok pulls the contract out and Harry writes on the back of his own page.

Should there be anything that any of the goblins think of needing to be done for the students sake at Hogwarts they are to report it/them to the Hogwarts Accountant who will then negotiate with Director Ragnok on what should be done and how much it will cost.

Any refusal of what staff call 'subhumans' shall have them fired immediately. Any student of any race or species is allowed to go to Hogwarts.

For the non-human students there will be a few mentors of their own kind will be picked from adults until there are enough students for them to have mentors of later years.

The adult mentors will, for the most part, control what those students are allowed to do and what punishments they can have, mostly because they have a different biology, which means they have different health needs.

Should any student call the non-humans anything discriminating they shall be suspended for three weeks with no chance to makeup school work from the teachers. They are allowed to pay 20 galleons a week for another student to write down assignments or 40 for the teachers to do so, which they will have a month to turn in.

They can get suspended a maximum of five times, after that they are expelled until the next school year, which will have them beginning the same year again.

He hands it to Ragnok before he sees him read and add it. Harry uses the blood quill to sign his initials, which is copied by Ragnok, before Lurnott whispers, "Stupefy." Harry feels himself black out.

Harry wakes slowly, with the fluffiest of blankets covering him, allowing him to snuggle into them warmly. He knows this is odd, but he doesn't care as long as his relatives don't disturb him. He stiffens as he remembers his stay at the Leaky Cauldron and he sits up, looking around completely awake thanks to his memories of earlier in the day returning. A soft pop is heard before a tiny being is in front of him, bringing him a tray of food.

"Master must eat, Mipsy be told to make sure Master eats. Mipsy is a house elf that now belongs to Master thanks to goblin director purchasing Mipsy for Master out of goblin's own pocket. Mipsy is happy that she has a new bond with Master. Mipsy doesn't want to die of being deprived of magic. That be Mipsy's worse fear, which is helped by Master." She sees him raise his hand for a moment as she hands him his tray.

"So, you cannot live without a bond?" Mipsy nods curtly. "Why?" She gains an anxious look as her ears lay flat against the back of her head, her eyes look towards either her hands or feet, he can't tell which, she begins wringing her hands, and starts fidgeting badly.

"House elves… Elves have no source of magic." Harry's eyes widen, he instantly realizes what this means. "Elves are parasites..." He covers his mouth, barely stopping his tears. "But pureblood wizards and witches know how useful we are. They bargained with Mipsy's ancestors to give elves magic in return for service. They actually gave us life itself." Harry can't help the sob that startles the elf.

"How many are dying right now?!" He sniffles as he tries not to cry, knowing that his elf is distressed at seeing him near tears.

"Does… Master want more elves?" She asks curiously.

"No, I want to save them and give them life." She wails as she lunges and hugs him for several moments, they cry together. And, after several long moments, Mipsy gets off and vanishes, already knowing what Harry wants. He wipes at his tears even as another sob comes out.

"Potter?" He startles as he looks up at the nearly panicking Lurnott.

"House elves! Their… they have no… I… get some families willing to host a few, I refuse to let them die." He whimpers completely ignoring the food. Lurnott flicks his hand, causing the tray to float over to the desk against the wall. Lurnott hesitates for a moment before sitting next to him and letting Harry lean into him to cry. Harry doesn't even notice the goblin's serious look being aimed at Ragnok. He hears him whispering but he is currently beyond all logical thought. After a few moments something is pressed against his lips.

His lips are tightly closed as he remembers Vernon pouring bleach down his throat. He has, during that time, become so ill they have been forced him to a hospital and are still forcing him to pay for the hospital bill they paid for with their generosity.

A hand gently caresses his hair. "Please drink this, Potter." He hears Ragnok say. He sobs, knowing they won't hurt him, before he drinks the nasty concoction. After maybe ten seconds he is completely calm despite the tears already there still remaining. He wipes them away and nods to them knowing they have done him a favor.

"May I suggest a cure for your empathetic misery?" Harry nods as he turn toward Lurnott, who looks at Ragnok for approval earning a raised eyebrow. "If there are enough to take in we could simply assign students to host them, responsible ones at that. They might need to sign a contract for this but it will allow a lot more cleaning to get done. I hear that most of the unused classrooms are dirty with dust and some decaying furniture, not sure if it is true though." Lurnott tells them honestly Harry gently snuggles against him even more. Harry feels him shifting and pauses as he realizes that he may be causing him to panic.

"I'm sorry. I don't mean to make you panic." Ragnok smirks as Lurnott stutters briefly.

"Back to the topic! Is it a yes, no, likely, possible, or maybe?" Harry nods as he looks at Director Ragnok.

"It will benefit the students to have someone who knows the school well enough to find them a book that is in the library for work assignments. Though we will have to set some rules, liken telling them not to go into the restricted section without the student's head of house giving permission. And no first, second or third years shall be given any permission to read books from there without supervision at all times, meaning a prefect or a staff able to use magic and correct any mishaps." Harry says knowing these things can be very dangerous for a student's health. Ragnok nods to him proudly at the thoughts he has voiced.

"What about you?" Harry frowns in confusion before he hums.

"I doubt I'll actually need anything from there. I have plenty of books from my family. Oh! Have the house elves search through the student's belongings for contraband. Also, see if there is anything in there needing supervision, like family tomes being read, which I plan on doing that. However, only the goblins can decide if the student can read it after analyzing it. And, if anyone is willing, I can buy a few translator elves to translate scripts into English. They will have to buy the notebook and all writing supplies though. If the books don't come from the home of any student or teacher they belong to the library." Ragnok nods and Harry realizes that another goblin, a scribe, is nearby writing it down messily.

"Well, there are also other things to be considered. Like what happens if school books are damaged." Harry blinks, not quite knowing, before the look of recognition enters his mind.

"A lot of those books have to be priceless, right?" Ragnok nods, grinning a little as Harry pauses to think. "They will have a debt to the school, if they can't pay for it then collections from those books they own, by copying them, and collecting debts owed to them shall happen. Or, alternatively, they can pay for things with the unique designs of things like ward schemes, which can be enacted around the school for the safety of the residents, and other useful to the school itself items." Harry tells him, earning fanged grins from both of them.

"Maybe even getting a few therapy animals, even if they are, in reality, really old pets or pets needing care before they pass on. Even if it postpones their death for a while they have a chance of recovering." Ragnok says with his gaze focused on Harry.

"I'll buy them and a few students who care for them well will be paid a stipend to buy any resource books they might want or need to study and figure out what they want their future job to be for them." Ragnok hums with a certain nod. Lurnott looks at Harry with another look of adoration, which Harry notices this time. Harry flushes at the look being aimed at him.

"What?" He asks with a flush of his face.

"You slept for exactly one hour. Apparently it isn't just goblins who are more rested near magical sources." Harry nods thoughtfully.

"Could I buy a report about any studies into that?" Ragnok nods to him.

"Yes, since you have been named Goblin friend we will sell such to you." Harry blushes even further as his eyes widen.

"Is that… um… a title?" He squeaks with surprise as he tries to understand what he means.

"Correct." Harry feels loved and he can't help smiling tearfully.

"Well, I appreciate it so much." He can't help the feeling that these beings actually care so much more about him then even his blood relatives.

He feels relief.