Grimmauld's Home for Unsafe Learners

Chapter 5: Never Tickle a Sleeping Dragon

June 1994 - June 1995

TW: abusive parents, past abusive homes, implied child abuse

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The first few weeks of summer were... shocking to say the least.

The first thing Sirius had done when he got the Grimmauld (besides getting to know Reggie's kids) was floo to Hogwarts to talk to Minerva McGonagall. She was one of his mother figures as a kid (the other being Mrs Potter) and he wanted to see her for the first time in over a decade and a half.

She had welcomed him with open arms, almost as if welcoming him home (if they both cried, neither mentioned it). Then Sirius had brought up part of the reason he had come. He wanted to expand GHOUL (Regulus had already approved).

McGonagall smacked Sirius with a book, to which Sirius started complaining. But then, Minerva handed him the book, explaining that it showed all magical children born in the United Kingdom so she could send out Hogwarts letters and they began planning.

Within a week, Minerva and Sirius had a plan and they were bringing it to Amelia Bones.

"We want to start a new department in the Ministry," Sirius blurted out, causing McGonagall to smack him again (no book this time).

"I beg your pardon?"

"What he meant to say," McGonagall glared at Sirius, "is that we want to renew the Department of Child Protection Services,"

Amelia closed the journal she had on her desk, "Explain."

"You know my brother Reggie, he came to you a couple weeks ago about adopting his children and you helped him. What's to say we can't do the same with children under 11. The program that he has running, while amazing, does not take into account children that don't attend Hogwarts currently, seeing as he has no way to help them over the summer. But, I can. Remus Lupin and I want to help the children that can't help themselves."

"Mr Black," She sighed, rubbing the bridge of her nose, "While as amazing as this sounds, we have no way to get access to these children. If they live in a magical community, chances are their parents have wards up. If they live in a muggle community, their parents would notice that their children are missing and contact the authorities, then contact the government and the government would contact us. We have no way around that."

"Amelia," Minerva said, bringing Amelia's attention to her, "You know as well as I do that every child deserves to be cherished, Magical or not. You've seen the reports, you see how many children we lose because of their guardians abusing them. We want to give these children a chance at life, at happiness, whether they choose to do it in the Magical world or muggle, they deserve a chance."

Amelia looked away, trying to blink away her tears. When she looked back, she opened the journal back up.

"What do you have so far?"

Sirius smiled widely and brought out his own journal.

—

Within weeks, Sirius, Minerva and Amelia had a foolproof plan and they were going to bring it to the Wizengamot meeting in August.

As soon as they presented their idea, they already had the votes of the Black, Potter, Zabini and Prewett on their side. Slowly, every member of the Wizengamot agreed. Oddly, the Dumbledore house was the last to agree, only agreeing when Regulus spoke up.

"You're a school Headmaster, Albus, don't you agree that every child deserves their best chance at life? If you don't, maybe we should be questioning your position teaching our children about your beliefs."