Harry Potter The Surprise

The portkey delivered them onto a terrace that ran the entire length of a magnificent villa. The terrace protruded over the side of a cliff and provided a breathtaking view of the Bay of Naples, with the gigantic active volcano, Mount Vesuvius, lurking ominously in the background. Even spotting Professor McGonagall sitting having tea with Madam Pomfrey wasn't enough to drag their eyes away from the magnificent display of nature at its finest that surrounded them.

Remus introduced the two house elves that had come as a package deal with the building, Brutus and Cindy. Remus had already allocated rooms to all their guests so called them to order as the house elves began popping away with their luggage.

"Listen people, if you follow me I'll show you to where you'll be staying. The elves are already placing your luggage there and will have dinner ready for us on the terrace at eight."

"But that's two hours away, I'm starving."

Smiling at her friend, Hermione pointed out his understandable mistake. "Ron, we're in Italy now. They're an hour ahead of UK time. You all need to put your watches forward by an hour."

"If I put my watch forward two hours, can I get my dinner now?" Dobby appeared beside Ron, giving him a pastry to munch on as he and Millie fell in line with the rest of the group behind Remus.

Harry and Hermione were joined by Sirius as they made their way over to the two witches having tea. Minerva rose as they approached.

"Mr Potter, Miss Granger, I can only apologise for my behaviour…"

Harry was having none of that. "Professor, that wasn't your behaviour. You behaved exactly as Dumbledore wanted you to, and he used his wand to ensure that you did. We actually saw him obliviate the Minister of Magic, so no apology is necessary. You can stay here for as long as you like. We even have a job offer for you, teaching in our new school."

Before Minerva could answer, Pomona and Filius arrived by portkey. Filius rushed directly over to see how his friend was, while Pomona ran a critical eye over everything she was seeing while making the same short journey. From her widening smile, Harry was assuming she liked what she saw.

The building looked fantastic, and the view was nothing short of spectacular. That same famous view also gave the professor information on their location, information that she was liking very much. "A mild climate, so greenhouses are more about containment than heat. Volcanic soil which, with the addition of a little dragon dung, is the best growing medium in the world. Lord Potter, so far you've impressed the herbologist in me - mind you no more Scottish winters would be enough to do that - now let's hear the rest of your plans?"

As Pomona sat down with the rest of the group, Harry and Hermione realised they were facing another meeting here - one they thought was a few days away and hadn't prepared for. With their three professors all waiting on answers, Harry started off winging what they hoped would be a winning presentation.

"My first point is an obvious one, Hermione and I know practically nothing about setting up and running a school. It would be our intention to pick the right people for the job, and then provide the resources to let them get on with it. Our school days are supposed to be some of the best times of our lives, they shouldn't see us having to fight for those same lives while supposedly in the school's care."

Hermione took over seamlessly from her betrothed, after giving Harry's last comment a moment to sink in. They had spent hours in the infirmary, talking over their bond about what they wanted the Potter Institute to be. It was now time to air those conversations out loud. "Taking into account our time at Hogwarts, we have a much bigger list of things that we certainly don't want to see in our new school. A Headmistress that hides behind a gargoyle and unknown password is a big no-no. She should be at the very heart of the school, and accessible to all."

While that appeared to go down well, Harry thought his next point would be more controversial to three Heads of House. "There will be no division amongst the students, other than the necessary gender ones for dorms and such. No houses, this school and its students will be their family. We don't think labelling eleven year old children, a label that lasts their entire life, helps build a school spirit - rather four separate house ones."

Backing her betrothed to the hilt, Hermione also pushed hard for something that was central to their plans.

"We're looking at yeargroups of around twenty students, totalling one hundred and forty by the time we reach seventh year. The Potter Institute is being set up as an alternative to Hogwarts, not in direct competition. We could never replace Hogwarts, there's simply not the room here. If we can open in September, there will be a maximum of eighty students attending the Potter Institute."

"With that small number, no one should be able to slip through the cracks and get lost. The change in Luna just typifies what we want to do here, Millicent too. Being sorted in different houses forces an expectation of behaving a certain way onto children, children who are really too young to know what they're buying into at that point."

"Sitting watching an eleven year old Harry almost die at his first quidditch match was not my idea of entertainment, yet the whole incident appeared to be forgotten about because he caught the snitch."

Harry gave a chortle at that point. "We didn't push it because Hermione set Snape's robes on fire and stopped the curse - well a flaming Snape flailing into Quirrell stopped the curse..."

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