Chapter Twelve

Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoat Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

Warning(s): short-ish chapter alert! and the second half of my long overdue update!

Rowthan

"Harry, what would you say, if hypothetically, your mother and I separated?" James asked as he looked at his son. He was speaking cautiously, he still wasn't completely certain of this possible future.

Harry looked at his father in alarm, "What?"

James knew this was a sensitive subject for his eldest. But, seriously, who else was he going to bounce this idea off of? His father's portrait?

His father had not been keen on his son marrying a New Blood but concluded that he would not have a grandchild out of wedlock. Harrison, named after his Great-Grandfather Harold in an effort to appease Charlus Potter, was born less than a month after graduation. The only reason Lily was able to hide her pregnancy was because of a few charms on her closed robes which gave her more space under the robes to accommodate the child growing within her while still appearing to be her svelte self on the outside.

Not surprisingly, the robes were invented by a woman in the 18th century. Back then, as soon as a woman began to show they were locked away until the baby was born.

Some women got tired of the practice fast and invented the robes so they appeared to be nice and thin on the outside.

"I don't recognize her anymore. For Godric's sake, we've been living in separate homes for the last year! She refuses to go to the Charity events for the Dragons. She knows how much that means to me! It's why I go to her New Blood... excuse me, her "Muggleborn" Scholarship Charity events!" James ranted as he stood up and began pacing. "She doesn't even use the term "New Blood" even though that's what the scholarship is for! The New Blood keeps the Old Blood from becoming too interrelated! Hell, Remus is a 3rd generation New Blood! Uncle Charlus's kids, nearly all of them married New Blood!"

Harry raised his hands in a peaceful gesture, as he stood himself, clearly his father had been thinking about this for a while. "Dad, if this is what you think is best, then do it."

"I'd be ruining her name." James said thoughtfully. "Like Diana did to Charles. All the Prince wanted to do was marry someone acceptable! He did so! He did his duty! Then, when he wanted to end it quietly once the children were old enough to understand, she threw him under the bus!"

Harry shook his head, "Dad, be glad you're not a Windsor. Do what needs to be done and do it quietly."

James looked at his son, "Harrison, I don't want you to think this decision comes lightly. But she's been in our world for nearly three decades now. She has yet to change and accept that we do things differently. That she chose to go to a School of Magic known for housing, teaching and training British Nobility."

Harry frowned, "You mean to say she was accepted to the other Academies?"

James nodded, "I talked to your Grandmother Evans and your Aunt Petunia. Lily was accepted to all four British Schools of Magic: Hogwarts, Merlin, Albion, and the Le Fey Institute."

(See NOTE at bottom for explanation!)

Harry turned to his father, "There really isn't anything I can tell you that you don't already know. Does Jake know?"

James shrugged, "He's intelligent. He knows we're separated in all but name."

"And then why have you not filed for divorce?" Harrison demanded briskly, he was not speaking to his father here as his son but as a fellow Lord.

James glared at his son, "Because I have no grounds. Harrison, the only grounds I would have to divorce her are sterility, adultery or incarceration."

"What about the ultimate traditional divorce?" Harrison said as he sat down, tired of staring at his father pace all around the office. "Dad, petition our Sovereign."

James sat down next to his son, the retired Marauder knew the only way for a marriage – even one with nearly twenty years under the belt – could be completely dissolved would be if he petitioned to the Sovereign. "We do not have a Sovereign, Wizarding Britain has not had a Sovereign since Charles the First."

Harry scoffed. "And you call me insane. Dad, who the hell is the ruler of Godric's Hollow in the most traditional context?"

"Well, Godric's Hollow is within Radnor. The Earl of Radnor."

Harrison smiled, "Think Higher."

"A Dukedom? The Duke of Wales, Prince William or Henry - if I had to hazard a guess."

Harry shook his head, "Higher."

James frowned, "Are you telling me what I think you're telling me? You want me to ask His Royal Highness Prince Charles of Wales for a Dissolution of Marriage?"

"I met His Highness a few months back. He came to Lady Rowthan's House. He wanted her vote on a preservation bill going through the House of Lords. He's quite a conservationist." Harry remarked. "He's quite a conversationalist if you want and respect his opinion on certain things. I am certain he would be the leader of the Environmental Conservationists in Parliament if he could."

"The Prince of Wales made a house call?" James said, dubious.

"Lady Rowthan is well known with the Moderates in the House of Lords. She's been a member of the House of Lords for decades." Harry noted. "He seemed surprised to learn that Lady Rowthan will retire next year from the House of Lords when I assume the mantle of Earl of Radnor."

James raised an eyebrow. His son had a point. If someone were involved with a political party for decades, even if it was someone who operated behind the scenes as Lady Rowthan was known to do, they would have plenty of reasons to be influential on a key vote. "How … enlightened is Prince Charles?"

Harry laughed, "Dad, He went to Gordonstoun. It's a very private school near here. They establish enlightened Mundanes."

"Wow. No wonder Charles wanted William to go to Gordonstoun."

"William still knows about the Magical world. The Heir and the Spare of the British Throne become enlightened quite recently." Harry reminded his father. "Granted, it helped when one of their cousins was discovered to be New Blood."

James nodded, "So why else did you come here? I know it is not to help me obtain a divorce."

Harry smiled wryly, "Durmstrang Sixth years want to sit in on your NEWT Seventh Year Class."

"So you said."

"We need your support, and the Coterie hopes to obtain permission for their sixth years to sit OWL classes and the Seventh Years to sit NEWT Classes."

James nodded, "That sounds reasonable. What did you have in mind?"

"We need Dumbledore's permission in order for both schools to sit in on the Core classes. Oh, and Arithmacy and Runes. Professor Septima Vector and Professor Bathsheda Babbling are known as some of the best in their fields."

"What about my class? I know people aren't exactly jumping to be taught by the father of the "one hit wonder"."

Harrison nodded, refusing to blush in shame for the comment his father must have overheard, "Jacob hasn't made things easier for our family's reputation but you are a known and somewhat, mildly, more than not, revered instructor. Especially with your Dragon history."

James smirked, "Alright. I will talk to Albus first thing."

Harrison smiled, "Thank you, Lord Potter."

James frowned, "What was that?" he asked as they stood.

Harry laughed, "Thanks Dad." He said as the two hugged quickly. "I will see you at Yule?"

"Wouldn't miss it." James promised as Harry walked out of his office.

NOTE

Merlin Academy is a school that cost half of Hogwarts. It was funded primarily through a flat tax imposed by the Ministry of Magic, and it is a good school. They were not as elite as Hogwarts but up to 80% of British Witches and Wizards go to Merlin.

Albion is a sort of trade school for witches and wizards. The witch or wizard have a normal education to OWLs, those who score well had the opportunity to continue to Merlin while the others are taught a trade. They train the average witch or wizard for the average work. Electricians (yes, they did exist in the wizarding world), Plumbers, Nurse's Aids and the like. A notable exception included Madam Malkin in Diagon Alley.

The Le Fey Institute is an elite all female boarding school on an island off the coast of England. They specialize in preparing women for leadership roles in the Ministry. The most notable of their alums include the first New Blood female Minister of Magic - Bagnold.

Hogwarts on the other hand is known for teaching the Old Blood and the powerful New Blood. There is a reason the powerful muggle raised students go to Hogwarts on full or half tuition, common sense said that if you introduce new blood while the old blood was young, they would be more willing to marry a new blood. Notable Mentions include Lily Evans (even though her assimilation into the Wizarding World was more of pushing a boulder up a hill than an enjoyable walk), Hermione Granger [her first book on the Wizarding World included Customs, Norms and Morals by Theodore Tonks (a book on the customs New Blood needed to know, written by New Blood), although her intelligence made her mildly abrasive to some and she would likely never give up on Equal Rights for all beings and creatures] and Justin Finch-Fletchley. (Granted, it helped that Justin was from a wealthy background and had old money going back centuries.)

Hogwarts was not known for taking in commoners. Period.

With the Evans Scholarship, the number of New Blood increased by ten in the last year. With James's influence, second and third generation New Bloods were receiving the scholarship.

Hogwarts's population was rising, and not just because wealthy alums played the Muggle Stock Market.

Malfoy was having a field day "Messing with Muggles and taking away their money". Lucius Malfoy was shrewd but there was no doubt he was a good businessman. The man positively enjoyed taking away money from others, and if he took money away from Muggles – all the better.

The end! I hope to update again soon!