Jillian Green was wondering why she had been included in tonight's meeting but the revelations that she heard had her head spinning.
Harry started the meeting, "can I say right from the off that the Institute will remain open, this is non-negotiable as too many of our futures are tied into this venture and it's the right thing to do."
This settled everyone as the meeting continued, "the bigoted purebloods are beginning to realise the threat this venture is to their power base, both politically and financially. They are already trying to make life difficult for us and this meeting is to tailor our response to that threat."
It was a thoughtful Amelia Bones who replied first, "Harry I can no longer continue as minister for magic, I could never be a party to some of the suggestions made today and will resign after the tournament is completed. I will hold off long enough to watch your backs and offer whatever protection I can while you're forced to return to Britain for the tournament but I could not do this job past Christmas. I find myself taking more showers than at any time in my life and I need to get out before I become acclimatised and all the stench starts not to bother me."
Hermione had a big smile on her face; "Amelia we had a job already picked out for you and were hoping we could entice you away from the ministry in the New Year. Our meeting with the Italian ministry was not just about our citizenship but the future of our students and even their families. What do you think will happen when the first student's job application form arrives on someone's desk with the Potter Institute listed as the school they attended? Our students will be ostracised in Britain so we are looking to arrange an alternative for them, the Italian ministry have offered instant citizenship to any student who completes their education at the Institute. This offer also includes their immediate family and all hell will break lose in Britain if this news leaks."
Hermione gave that news a minute to sink in before continuing, "it's not just that their ministry agrees with what we're doing here but the fact that everything in the Institute has been purchased locally and the fact our students all spend their gold in Naples has been a big boost to the local wizarding economy. We're looking to buy land and build our own village, even if we open a couple of shops or businesses they'll still be buying their produce or raw materials locally which helps everyone. We would like you to head this project Amelia and be our link to the Italian ministry, we have a couple of years yet before we get our first graduates but I would like the option to be open to students and their families by the time they've sat their OWL's. This should open up a whole new world of careers to them."
Everyone at the meeting thought this was a brilliant idea but none of them were under any illusions that the British purebloods would do anything but retaliate.
Harry brought Gillian into the conversation, "we may have to re-think our plans to have the orphanage located at the former Malfoy manor, the link between ourselves is now well known and I couldn't let anything happen to the children because of us. I know that Joan is the only child to have been adopted since we brought you out here and for that I feel I must apologise."
Jillian bursting into laughter was not the reaction that the Potters expected, "forgive me but that was just too funny, in all the time I've been associated with the orphanage the children in its care have never been happier. The people in this room have given of their time so freely that their days are filled with Minerva's magic, Hermione's stories and even Dan introducing them to the Saturday morning cartoons. The older children have been so kind to them and they love sitting on the terrace, eating their meals and chatting with whoever joins the table. You have provided them with such a better life and hope for the future with the promise of an education that your apology just cracked me up."
It was a relieved Harry who answered, "we had hoped to convince you to stay in Italy and we'll build a new orphanage beside the Institute, we also want to attach some stables and provide horse riding as a pastime."
Emma started celebrating and kissed Dan, who was left to do the explaining, "After watching Joan on that pony in New Zealand we had a bet as to how long it would take to have them here at the Institute. I just lost and owe my lovely wife a night out, can I borrow the Ferrari son?"
Harry could only nod his head while smiling at the folly of betting against the Granger women, "Jillian we will open an office in Diagon Alley where prospective parents can make an appointment to visit and allow the ministry child services a contact point. We may find ourselves with the occasional Italian child but I think this would always be a short-term measure if the local authorities were stretched."
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