"If any of you feel the desire to follow in Mr Potter's footsteps and hire a private tutor we ask that you first bring it up with your parents, as they are the ones paying for your education, and then with us.
"Nobody on the Board of Governors or from the Wizarding Examinations Authority will think less of you should you chose this path. Hogwarts is here for your education and if you feel that you might do better in a one-on-one situation with a teacher, or if you do not get along with your teacher then you should by all means look into hiring a private tutor.
At this Lisa Turpin from Ravenclaw raised her hand. Madam Longbottom nodded for her to speak so Lisa stood up and asked "Would it be possible for all of us to have Madam Abbott as a potions instructor?"
"That is a matter that you will have to bring up with Mr Potter and Madam Abbott," replied Madam Longbottom "As the first to employ her services, Mr Potter may decide to keep his lessons private or Madam Abbott may wish to teach only one student as she will be keeping her main job at the Ministry."
Lisa nodded in understanding and sat down again
"Any more questions?" asked Madam Longbottom. When no-one asked anything in reply she bid them good day and stepped down from the podium.
A murmur of noise began to build as the students began turning to each other in order to discuss these new developments.
Before the noise could grow too loud, however, the doors to the Great Hall opened and two people walked in, not really paying attention to their surroundings.
"…I know it's in the back of the textbook," Harry was saying "but we've never studied it in class…"
"You're telling me," Sarah Abbott replied "that all you do in potions class is brew the things? You've never had to study why certain ingredients act the way they do when they are mixed together?"
"Nope, never." said Harry.
Neither of them got to say anything more because suddenly Harry was being mobbed by three quarters of the school.
"Well done Harry!"
"It's about time Snape got demoted."
"Can I join your potions class Harry? Can I?"
"Yeah, can I join too?"
"And me?"
"Harry, can you help me file a complaint against a teacher?"
"Nice one Harry!"
"That was wicked Harry!"
"…I'd like to get a private tutor, but I don't think my parents would like it…"
"I went to a prefect with a problem but he couldn't be bothered to help…"
These and many more were thrown at Harry from all angles. Ron's grinning face broke through the crowd "Way to go getting Snape demoted, mate. That really showed those slimy snakes."
At that Harry raised his hands and called out "Okay, guys," he said loudly, and they all quieted in eagerness to hear what he had to say "I'll see what I can do about helping you to organise private tutors if you want them, I don't know if Madam Abbott here has enough free time to see everyone, yes I will help you lodge complaints against staff and any problems with prefects I will deal with. Ron, I did not get Snape demoted because he was a Slytherin, it was because he is an appalling teacher who showed extreme favouritism and wasn't even remotely professional. Quite frankly expressions such as "slimy snakes" points to a level of bias that I do not like to see in a prefect."
Ron's ears went red at that, but before he could retort he was swallowed up by the crowd of students who were all eager to get their problems heard.
"It looks like Mr Potter has got his work cut out for him," observed McGonagall.
"Yes, it does," replied Madam Marchbanks "And that, I believe, is a scathing testament to how far things have declined around here these past few years. Once upon a time those students would have been taking their complaints to their respective Heads of House."
McGonagall, Flitwick and Sprout could say nothing to that. As they watched the crowd of students clamouring around Harry, trying to make themselves heard, the stark realisation as to how much they had been letting their students down was really driven home.
Harry's voice rose again, this time it appeared that he had resorted to the use of a sonorous charm to amplify his voice.
"Alright everyone, I can't deal with you all at once. Here's what we're going to do; go back to your house tables and write your complaints or concerns out on a piece of parchment along with your name, your house and your year. Your prefects will come around with a box for you to put your complaints into and then I will go through them all and address them when I can. Sound fair?"
Everyone was nodding and began making their way back towards their respective tables.
"Prefects, if you could come here so that we can sort you out with boxes," Harry continued. He was feeling rather good about this idea. He knew about complaints boxes that were used by companies in the muggle world, but hadn't thought of using one until just now.
.....
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