Of Monsters, Of Men

Chapter 38

December 4, 1942

Over the following week, Tom asked Headmaster Dippet if he could take Harry as his dance partner. Headmaster Dippet said that he unfortunately couldn't let them know at that instant and would ask the judges and other Triwizard Tournament administration. He assured Tom that he would let Harry and Tom know closer to the date, and he also congratulated them on their burgeoning relationship.

Harry was quite unhappy that Headmaster Dippet couldn't give them a direct answer, but it was what it was. They would just have to wait and see. At least Headmaster Dippet had reacted positively to the news.

The meeting with Augusta Crouch went well. At their weekly FiGS executive board meeting, Polly said that she'd convinced Crouch to fund their pins. She said that Augusta grilled her with hard-hitting questions about specific details and logistics, as well as their general plans regarding distribution and their general intent behind creating the pins. Polly relayed her well-executed responses to the rest of the board, and everyone couldn't be happier that Polly was the one who was talking to the Augusta Crouch.

With their budget request for pins approved, FiGS went full steam ahead with their requests and contracts so that one hundred fifty pins would be ready in two and a half weeks—on December 22nd. This way, they would have three days before the Yule Ball to distribute the FiGS pins to interested Hogwarts students. With any luck, FiGS members and supporters would wear their pins on their robes to the Yule Ball. The FiGS executive board would tell the members officially about the pins at the next general meeting and that if they wanted to bring awareness and support FiGS, then they should wear them as a badge of pride.

All in all, it was a well thought-out plan that everyone on the FiGS executive board endorsed. Harry, personally, couldn't wait.

—

December 9, 1942

Five days later, FiGS met with Septimus Weasley for their club support committee meeting. The six of them sat in an empty classroom with Weasley, a redheaded boy with ruddy cheeks.

Weasley reviewed the parchments that Tom had brought: the FiGS constitution, their future plans, and a list of events and what they'd accomplished so far. Harry, Tom, and the rest of them sat in silence as Weasley flipped through the documents, inspecting each with a critical eye.

Eventually, he placed the constitution back on the table. His eyes were cool and clear. "I understand that your club's mission is to promote first-generation student interests here at Hogwarts. I was wondering why," he paused, adding, "excuse me for this, a Slytherin would want to found this specific club. We all know that Slytherin is the least Muggleborn-friendly house."

Seeing Tom open his mouth, Harry bit his tongue.

"Because I've seen what Slytherin does to those that it deems unworthy," Tom said simply. "And I wanted to change that."

He's truly changed. Enough to admit it to the world, Harry thought.

If someone had told Harry that Tom would be saying those words two years ago, he would have laughed in their face.

Septimus Weasley sighed, interlocking his fingers in front of him. "I see. I agree deeply with your club's mission. However, the Board of Governors and by extension, the Student Union have not been the most supportive of your mission." He spread his hands wide. "The Board especially thinks you're agitating the student body too much."