Thanks as always to JK Rowling, who lets us play in the universe she created. I am using Mafalda Weasley as a character, but of course other than being in Slytherin and not being a heroine type of character, she is totally of my creation.

More major changes because Deb, my Beta, makes sure the story makes sense. Thank you, Deb. Reviews will make both of us happy.

*

It was August 31, 2018, the day before the students were to leave for Hogwarts. All of the Magi and Elves learning languages, or MELLS as they called themselves, were at Potter's New Burrow or the New Burrow. Most of them had arrived by Floo, or by the North American equivalent, Closets. Harry had installed one of the magical Closets, which used a similar green powder, which took the place of the Floo network in North America. None of the families had used the Magic Carpet network that was common in the Mid-East and Africa, since there were no Magic Carpets in Britain. Magical Carpets were illegal in Britain. The parents of the Magi accompanied them, and the Elves came along with the Magi families. Only Harry and Ginny were at Potter's New Burrow; to allow both The New Burrow and Potter's New Burrow to house the families of the students raised with Elves.

On the morning the train was leaving, Professors Sidney and Kim Stanford came to Potter's New Burrow, along with their three children. Ruth and Abraham Stanford had been sorted into Slytherin, at their request. The Stanford parents suggested that the students volunteer for Slytherin, both because it was the smallest house, and because they wanted to change the character of the house, and their children had agreed. Apparently, the hat had agreed as well, because it sorted them into Slytherin. Their youngest, Jacob was not starting for another year.

"Senda Eseven, Hermann Brandt, please come with me," Kim called those who were too young to attend Hogwarts. "Students are not allowed to ride the Hogwarts Express until their first year."

With a fair amount of grumbling and pouting, Senda and Hermann left through the Floo with the Stanfords.

Galadriel walked into the group just as the Stanfords were leaving. "I have Apparated here," she announced. "We have an area at Hogwarts that the elves can use to Apparate into and out of Hogwarts. I am taking the Elves with me."

The Elves that were part of the MELL group left with Galadriel. Dis, who was nominally a Malfoy Elf, but in reality was a guard for Cleo, and her brother Frerin P/W, who always shadowed Albus, were of course going to ride the Hogwarts Express with them. Although large for Elves, both were usually so quiet that it was easy to forget that they were there.

"I want all of you in three or four compartments, close together," Harry Potter informed the group. We will have extra guards on the train. I want all of you in compartments a half hour before the train leaves. We have one extra person riding with Al and Rose, their cousin Ivana Romanoff. Her adopted father is Al and Rose's uncle."

Gabrielle talked to some of the students, and announced, "The Edingtons, Adel Brandt, Jean-Louis, Maria and Jesus Rios are riding with me."

Scorpius was talking to the Native American students. He looked at Rose, and she proclaimed, "Scorpius and I will go with Harry Eseven, Joshua and Sarah Firewalker."

Albus then acknowledged, "That leaves Ivana, John and Marcy Chang, Harry and Ginny Wang, to ride with Cleo and me."

The students and their parents were taken to the train by Floo. They chose adjoining compartments in the same train car, and settled themselves in, as other people were just starting to arrive.

*

As soon as the train left the station, all the parents of the students raised with Elves took one of the train station's Floo connections to one of the offices of Dursley, Potter and Weasley. In a large conference room were Al and Carrie Van Lente of the International Aurors Association, Raphael Vaud, the head of the Swiss Aurors, and a number of other Aurors from around the world of the Magi.

Harry spoke first. "If your students didn't tell you, they have chosen a name for their group. They are the Magi and Elves Learning Languages, or MELL's for short."

"We are worried about security," Al announced, gaining everyone's attention. "The attack on Albus during the first Quidditch game last year, the bomb that could have killed four of the students in Switzerland, and some other rumors and intelligence, worries us as it must worry you. We are going to increase the number of people patrolling the grounds. There will be staff stationed inside Hogwarts as well. The professors all know what we are doing and they are going to be working with us. Unless you object, Raphael and I want to appoint Gabriel Habsburg, Raphael's predecessor, as head of security at Hogwarts. He will reside in the castle with his wife, Hermeli, who is also a qualified Auror. Although they will be the only Aurors staying inside the school grounds, we will have a larger group of Department of Magical Law Enforcement personnel, assisted by some Elf assistants, patrolling the outside of Hogwarts and Hogsmeade."

The parents, many of whom were concerned about their children's safety, agreed.

Joseph Marie Felion Jr., the father of Gabrielle, started to complain, "How do you know that our children are safe? You had a Chinese teacher hurt your son, Harry, last year. You have replaced your Chinese Potions teacher with another pair of Chinese Potion teachers. How do we know we can trust them?"

T.T. Chang defended them. "I did not know Dragon Chen, although I do know of his family. Elessar & Arwen Wong have been my students, and I know their extended family well. I can vouch for them. I'm worried about the teachers who run that 'slippery-in' house. Olivia Ollivander seems to me like one of the Ollivanders who doesn't care if their wands are used for good or evil. I know the Ollivander family has lusted after powerful wands, and I do not trust her. I'm not sure I trust any wand maker. I was shocked that the wand that Cleopatra now uses left China. I don't know what Ollie Ollivander did to leave with that wand."

Harry pondered answering T.T. "Slytherin house has produced more than its fair share of dark Magi," he admitted. "Olivia has been teaching for over a decade, not without a little controversy. Slytherin is still more secretive than Minerva and some of the other staff and I would like. Albus is in Slytherin, and I expect big changes in that house eventually. For all her Pure-Blood prejudice, I have a hard time believing that Olivia would deliberately hurt a student."

"What about the non-teaching staff?" Joseph Marie persisted. "Argus Filch, the old caretaker, is just mean, but his new assistant, Igor Karloff, worries me. Then you have Bowman Flint, who ought to be in some prison for just shear nastiness. I know he lives next to the sewage treatment plant, and doesn't have anything to do with the students. He is still within the wards of the castle, and can go into and out of the grounds on his own."

"Bowman cannot bring anyone into the grounds by himself," Harry replied. "He goes to the Hogs Head and gets drunk on occasion, but the Davies know how to handle him. Tracy VanDer Raaltee is related to them, and she is our primary school teacher on the grounds, so when Bowman is too drunk to go home by himself Tracy and Roger bring him home. I do not have any reason to trust him, but I'm not sure how he could be a problem either. Argus vouches for Igor. We are watching him to make sure he is nothing more than unpleasant."

There was a good deal more grumbling about Hogwarts, but eventually the meeting broke up, and Harry left for Hogwarts.

*

When the students, arrived at Hogwarts, Hagrid bellowed, "First years, any new students, come with me."

Rose explained, "If this is your first year at Hogwarts you need to be sorted into a house."

There was some grumbling by the older students, but Hagrid led them all to the boats to travel to the castle. Albus noticed that three other people, he thought they were Aurors, accompanied Hagrid.

Adel Brandt noticed Albus' curious gaze and explained, before she went with Hagrid, "The older woman going with us is Mrs. Habsburg, and her husband is going with the other students. Mr. Habsburg was the head of the Swiss Aurors, and his wife is also an Auror."

There were what looked like Aurors accompanying the older students as well.

Once they arrived at the Hogwarts Castle, Rose sat with Cleo, and their friends Hanna McGonagall, Patty Finnegan and Christy Shook at the Gryffindor table in the great hall. Rose tried to identify the students led in for the sorting, so she could tell who some of the people were. She did not recognize as many of the people as she thought she would.

Xenia Berry was sorted into Hufflepuff. "We know Xenia from church," Rose whispered to her friends.

Ade Brandt, John and Marcy Chang were promptly send to Slytherin, as was Bennett Davis.

Gabrielle DuMond seemed rather please to be sorted into Ravenclaw. "She is very bossy," Rose observed softly, "and she doesn't like Scorpius or Cleo. I'm glad she is not in Gryffindor."

Harry and Luta Edington were sent to Slytherin, as was Harry Eseven making the three friends quite happy. Rose thought it was hilarious how Harry's parents choose their last name, turning the Canadian E-7 identifier into Eseven was mocking the Canadian government.

Jean-Louis Felion was sorted into Ravenclaw. Rose murmured, "Jean-Louis and Gabrielle are cousins."

Joshua Firewalker was sorted into Hufflepuff. "First of the Elf Friends in Hufflepuff," Rose quietly remarked. "I didn't expect that. He is a nice person, though, and he should fit well in there."

Sarah Firewalker was sorted into Ravenclaw.

When Hudson Jordan was sorted into Gryffindor, Rose observed, "Hudson's father works for my dad and Uncle George at Weasley's Wizard Wheezes."

Edmund Lewis was sorted into Ravenclaw, and Rose whispered to Cleo, "His father is pastor of St. Merlin and Mungo's in London, the church we attend."

William Lionheart Jr. was sorted into Hufflepuff, and Rose commented, "Bill and his sister Erica fly with the Weasley clan when they can. They are both very good at Quidditch. I think his sister likes James, but James has just noticed that Erica is a girl."

Maria and Jesus Rios were sorted into Slytherin.

Ivana Romanoff was sorted into Gryffindor. James Potter and Rose both stood up and waved her over to the Gryffindor table.

Cleo had met Ivana when she was staying at Potter's New Burrow, and hugged Ivana, welcoming her into Gryffindor. Then Ivana sat with the other first year Gryffindor girls.

The sorting was almost finished when Harry and Ginny Wang were sorted into Slytherin.

When the hat sorted Bert Weasley into Hufflepuff, Rose mumbled to Cleo, "He is one of a whole hoard of Weasley cousins. His sister and some other cousins are also in Hufflepuff. They are mostly farmers, and some of them work for Uncle Harry. His parents work for Uncle Harry."

"You are a Weasley," Patty Finnegan observed, listening in on Rose's running commentary. "How many Weasley cousins are there?"

"Granger-Weasley," Rose promptly corrected. "I'm not sure. They are all over England, with some in North America and others on the continent. It's a really big extended family."

Right after Bert was a girl who looked like a Weasley, red hair, freckles, and all. Rose did not recognize her, and was surprised when Professor Longbottom announced, "Mafalda Weasley." The girl strutted up to the hat like she was the most important person there, plopping the hat on her head, and looked right at the Slytherin table. The hat sent her to Slytherin." She sneered at the other houses before proudly trotting over to the Slytherin table.

"A Weasley in Slytherin?" Rose sputtered. "I have to ask my dad if he knows who she is."

After the sorting, Cleo pondered the situation, remarking to Rose, "None of the students who can speak Elfish were sorted into Gryffindor. I'm not sorry that Gabrielle was not sorted into Gryffindor. She is smart, and she and her cousin may fit in Ravenclaw. She really does not like me, though. I was surprised that the Firewalker cousins were sorted into different houses. Sarah is bright, and I guess she would fit in Ravenclaw. Why is Joshua not in Ravenclaw? He is the only Elfish speaker in Hufflepuff."

Rose remarked, "I'm more interested in what is going to happen when the Slytherin students find out that most of the people sorted are allies of Albus and Scorpius. Even Bennet Davis should be an ally of Al; we know the Davis family, and they are not exactly fans of the worst of the Pure Blood nonsense. We will have to ask them about Mafalda. She doesn't look like a very nice person."

*

Professor McGonagall stood up and spoke. "I want to welcome all students, new and old. We have a larger than normal number of students from outside of Great Britain this year. We should all try to make them feel welcome. Hogwarts continues to grow, with more students from Great Britain and an increasing number from other countries. We have twenty students, four from Great Britain and sixteen who have just joined us, who are here with their Elves. All twenty of these students are learning to speak Elfish, and will be spending some time working with the Elves. We at Hogwarts are proud to have one of the best schools for Elves in the world.

"For several reasons, including some of the foreign students, we have increased the security in and around the castle. I want to introduce Mr. & Mrs. Habsburg, who will be living in the castle." She motioned for them to stand. "You should all meet them over the next year. If you have any concerns about security, please let one of them know. Mr. Habsburg has just retired as the Head Auror in Switzerland, and his wife is a fully qualified Auror.

"There are areas in the castle and around the grounds that are forbidden, including the forested area beyond the lake. You need to ask permission to leave the secure area around the castle. As tomorrow is Sunday, there are no classes. Feel free to explore the castle. You will receive class schedules in morning. I suggest you at least read the introduction for any classes you will have Monday.

"For tonight, enjoy the opening banquet, and enjoy your time at Hogwarts."

*

Before the end of the feast, Gabriel and Hermeli Habsburg left their seats at the head table to see Olivia Ollivander. "You have been hard to find," Gabriel declared. "We need to talk to you about security in the Slytherin dormitory."

"There is nothing to talk about," Olivia snapped. "The prefects in Slytherin have everything under control."

"All the dormitories have more than one entrance. We need to make sure fireplaces cannot be used to Floo. We need to know where any other ways to enter and exit the dorms are. We have a reasonably good map, but we need to see the inside," Gabriel insisted.

"True Pure-Blooded Slytherin students still run Slytherin," Olivia sneered. "You do NOT have my permission to hassle the students."

Harry Potter, wearing his invisibility cloak, listened to the exchange. Harry was concerned about Olivia Ollivander. So far, Urban Ubridge had just been a not too bright teacher, totally under the thumb of Olivia. Harry doubted Urban was a risk, since he had been teaching for longer than Olivia, and never had caused anyone to doubt his loyalty to Hogwarts.

Harry accompanied Gabriel and Hermeli up to Minerva's office after the banquet.

*

When the Slytherin students went into their dorm, Tom Riddle Handley was there, and he was telling all the new students, "Stand against that wall."

Albus had warned his new classmates about the previous year, and he and Scorpius quietly told them, "Sit down."

Tom became agitated, shouting, "New students against that wall."

Albus countered with, "What are you doing here, Tom? I know you are an eighth year student, but you are no longer a prefect, and you have no place trying to run Slytherin."

Tom yelled, "I HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO BE HERE, AND YOU KNOW IT."

Quietly Albus continued, "My father and I met ..."

Tom yelled over him, "SHUT UP, YOU STINKING MUDBLOOD. I AM STILL THE LEADER HERE, AND NO STUPID STINKING MUDBLOOD CAN TAKE OVER FROM US PURE BLOODED ARISTOCRACY."

Tom continued his rants while all the other students sat quietly listening. Albus slipped out his Magi Mobil and whispered to Maria Rios, "I'm sending this to Professor McGonagall." He then gave Maria the mobile, and she quietly took video of Tom's rants.

After the opening banquet Harry Potter, the Habsburgs, and Professor Sidney Sanford went up to Minerva's office. They were not there long when Minerva's Magi Mobile rang, and the five of them could see that someone was sending them a video of Tom Riddle Handley's rant.

Minerva conjured her Patronus. The next thing Tom knew, he was confronted by Minerva's Patronus saying, "Tom, you know you are not allowed in the Slytherin dormitory after hours. You have your own room in the Eight Year housing. Leave now if you do not want to be expelled from Hogwarts."

Tom growled as he turned and instructed Archana Lucy and Tom Higgy, "You know what to do," before storming off.

Tom Higgy stood up, glanced at Albus, and proceeded to speak. "I am Tom Higgy, and I am one of the seventh year prefects. Archana Lucy is the other seventh year prefect. Orion Cowley and Bellatrix Haney are the sixth year prefects, and Victor Valsey and Katherine Wilkes are the fifth year prefects." The prefects stood up when they were announced. "To our great surprise and dismay, Slytherin is no longer pure, but the leaders of Slytherin have always been of Pure Blood. Introduce yourself, and tell us if you are Pure Blooded."

Albus nodded towards the Wang siblings, and they stood up.

"I am Harry Wang," Harry announced.

His sister continued with, "I am his younger sister Ginny Wang. Our great-grandfather is WW Chang, the Chinese Minister of Magic."

The brother and sister sat down. Tom scowled at them, saying, "You need to tell us if you are Pure Blooded."

Harry kidded, "Yes, we are pure blooded Han Chinese."

Albus nodded at the other Chinese couple, and John and Marcy stood up. John snidely remarked, "We are pure Han Chinese as well. I'm John Chang, and my sister is Marcy. Our grandfather is TT Chang, the co-author, along with Albus' Aunt Hermione, of the Potion textbooks that almost all the Magi in the world use. Like Albus and his cousin Rose, we have made all the potions in the first of the text books."

"Are you ..." Tom tried to interject, but before he could say any more another two students stood up.

"I'm Henry Edington," Henry loudly proclaimed.

"I am his cousin Luta Edington," a girl immediately followed with. "Our grandmother is the North American Minister of Magic. We are Americans, which usually involved being very modern. We are way ahead of most countries in our ability to use the best of No-maj technology along with the best magic. My mother is Korean, and in American, we are proud of how marrying people who are of a different race or nationality gives us hybrid vigor.

"I have heard of how some people are concerned with the myth of Blood Purity. I never