3 Magic senses.
Lord Greengrass nodded at Daphne, who speed-walked to the floo. We can't have a noble girl running through the house, so this was her fastest speed possible. Five minutes later, the Davis family walked in, Tracey with a stack of Harry bloody Potter books in her arms, whispering excitedly with Daphne.
When she noticed me looking at her, she froze, put her stack of books on the table, picked a book that was obviously her favorite, and wordlessly handed the book to me. I tilted my head, puzzled about what to do with that book. Is it a gift from her? Do I have to sign it? Read it? Comment on it? Harry Potter and his half-blood friend, it said on the cover. I remember that in most fiction, she is pictured as a half-blood.
I asked: "Miss? This is for me? What do I have to do with it?"
A voice behind her said, "She should have first introduced herself before handing out gifts. Good day, Heir Potter. My name is Lord Davis, and this is my wife, Lady Veronica Davis Steward. My son is Roger, but we call him Lance. My daughters are Tracey and Ursula. Thank you for granting my daughter's request to help find her first wand."
Mrs. Davis smiled: "Tracey, be a proper lady and greet our hosts first, then you greet Heir Potter, after all that, you can ask for an autograph ." I decided to save the poor girl, took a pen out of my pocket, and wrote, 'For Miss Tracey Davis, I hope to become your friend in real life. ' Closed the book and handed it back to her.
When I smiled at her again, she snapped awake, looked around, Astoria barely holding it together, her brother grinning, the adults with amused smiles on their faces, and Daphne looking worried at her.
Blushing, she said: "Oh Morgana! I am sorry for ignoring you uncle Cyrus and aunty Ellen, Heir Potter, I apologize for my bad manners, I am Tracey Davis please to meet you."
"Don't worry, Miss Davis, although it still surprised me that I am so well known in the wizarding world. I did not even know they wrote books about a boy with my name."
Tracey: "But those books are about you! The Harry Potter, Boy Who Lived! That is you!"
I shrugged: "There are a lot of boys who are alive, some even named like me. Potter is a common name in Britain, after all. Personally, I have never seen a dragon, unicorn, hippogriff, or even a Princess in my life. I was raised by Muggles and didn't even know about magic before I received my Hogwarts letter. Even then, I thought it was a stupid joke. Anyway, I am pleased to meet you, Miss Davis." I took her hand and planted a kiss on it. Oops, I was supposed to brush it. The poor kid got steam coming out of her ears, and Daphne looked jealous.
Lord Greengrass took control of the situation: "It is still early, if we leave now, we will be back for lunch."
Little Ursula was looking at the new guy and accidentally dropped her toy. In a reflex, I caught it and levitated it back in her hands… dammed, I did not want to show my wandlessness to them. Before, they just thought I was a little kid who liked to brag and had some magic tricks. Then again, I need powerful allies against Dumbledore.
Doing damage control, I said: "Do we have to use that floo?" Mr. Greengrass: "I'm afraid so, Heir Potter." I groaned: "Great."
Xxxxx
The bloody floo launched me headfirst out of the fireplace. This time, I was prepared, with a judo roll, I got on my feet. Japanese martial arts are great! We went into Knockturn Alley to the wand shop. On the way, I spread my magic senses, looking for treats. Different kinds of creatures were watching us pass by, but the number of adults in our group prevented them from taking a risk.
The old lady was happy to meet me again in the shop: "Welcome, young man, are you back to amaze me again? I would offer you a job, but the ring on your finger tells me you don't need one."
Mr. Davis: "Heir Potter is here to assist my daughter in finding her first wand, Madam Wilson. Heiress Daphne was very pleased with hers."
Mrs. Wilson: "Well then, Heir Potter, do your magic, please."
Yeah, no pressure, I hold my hand out to Tracey. Hesitating, after a nudge from Daphne, she put her hand in mine. Closing my eyes, I said: "Miss Tracey, think of doing magic. Just think of it."
Her magic began to flare. I searched for a wand with a matching resonance and sensed two. I called the closest match and gave it to her. As with Daphne, she got a strong reaction, a glow covering her.
I mentioned: "I felt another strong pull, a bit weaker than this one, but strong all the same."
Mrs. Wilson: "That is the second time I've seen such a strong reaction; it is rare to see such a strong match. Can you do another one? Perhaps for this young man?" She pointed at Roger Davis.
Roger looked at his dad: "Father, my wand is from Olivander's. Can I have a new one if heir Potter finds a better match?" Poor daddy, expecting to buy one expensive wand, has to cough up some galleons for two wands. Defeated, he just nodded his head.
We did the same, I pulled the strongest match, and gave it to him. I commented: "Your old wand is not even in the top five of compatibility." It set Lord Davis three hundred galleons lighter, though.
Mrs. Wilson: "It is a remarkable gift you have, Heir Potter."
Astoria tapped my arm and asked: "Can you help me find my wand next year too? I winked at her and held my hand out. Eager, she grabbed it and concentrated. I pulled the best match and presented it to her. It saved me a trip next year. Astoria was dazed by the feeling she got.
Silently, I whispered: "Now you know how your magic feels, meditate on it and circulate it through your body."
She handed it to her dad and said, "Daddy, I want this wand." Mrs. Wilson was happy; they came to buy one and left the store with three. I was her favorite person right now.
Xxxxx
Back at the mansion, Roger thanked me: "Heir Potter, this wand feels so much better than my old one. You have my gratitude."
I responded: "No problem, Heir Davis, I profit as well in a way, having your family's goodwill is a plus for me."
Mr. Greengrass: "Ah? Do we have a Slytherin in the house?"
I tilted my head: "That depends, yesterday I spent a day with Miss Hannah Abbot and Miss Susan Bones, chaperoned by Miss Peggy Abbot and her betrothed. All four were promoting Hufflepuff, and of the three other houses, Slytherin has the worst reputation. Meaning, if I am truly ambitious and cunning, Slytherin would be my last choice to be in. Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff would help me more in my ambitions."
I pointed out, "Also, from my parents' journals, the girls in Slytherin were treated like cattle; it could be the mentality of that era, but any half-blood girl in Slytherin did not have a happy time, even the girls from less affluent families. I don't know about now, but fifteen years ago, Slytherin was not a safe place. Although my parents are in Griffindor, they could have a biased opinion."
Mr. Greengrass sighed: "You are right to a point, our wives were in Ravenclaw, we in Slytherin, in the height of the war, most death eaters came from Slytherin, most, not all. The four houses had them. I remember a half-blood girl three years older being harassed by the upper years, she did not come back after her owls. As a second-year student, you have to keep your head down. I always wondered what happened to her."
The chances of Daphne and Tracey ending up in Slytherin are getting small now. Am I manipulating now? Hell yes! I know the story! Why wouldn't I manipulate? Anyway, I am dead and in the body of Harry fucking Potter, I'll take everything I can get. Not following my stupid brothers' example, though, too much girl drama.
I watched Astoria sitting in a corner, meditating. That girl is highly motivated now. At lunch, the talk went to the curse of the Dada position. Lord Davis mentioned that this year's one broke a record. He quit a month before the term even started. Yep, now he is shoveling dragon dung. When lunch was over, I talked with Roger about Ravenclaw, discussing both the good and the bad. The girls were close by, listening to Roger's sales pitch for Ravenclaw. The private rooms and library had me sold. The stairs you have to take every day… not so.
An hour later, I said goodbye: "Lord Greengrass, Lady, and Misses, thank you for your hospitality. Maybe we'll meet again at the station of the Hogwarts Express."
Mr. Greengrass: "Or sooner, Heir Potter, if you have questions about your family duties as an heir, you can owl or visit us anytime. I'm certain Lord Davis feels the same."
Mr. Davis: "We do. You are always welcome to visit, Heir Potter."
Xxxxx
Now, what transportation do we get? The Bus of Doom or the Floo from Hell?
Bus of Doom, it is. I grabbed hold with my magic to stabilize myself and got peppered with all kinds of stuff that was flying around. Do those morons do this on purpose? To only call them as a last resort? On the normal bus ride home, I got off halfway and walked to a small crop of trees. I concentrated and called the Elf dad mentioned in the letter: "Tapsy! Come here, please!" With a pop, Tapsy appeared before me and grabbed me by the legs, sobbing that Master Harry finally called them.
Oook? "Tapsy? Can you bring me home? I don't know where it is." House elf transportation rules! I appeared in a hall of an ancient building.
Tapsy said: "Master must set the wards. Follow me to the office, master Harry." In the meantime, several pops were sounding around me, and ten house-elves clamped to my legs, some laughing, others crying with happiness. Ten minutes later, Tapsy guided me to take possession of the main ward-stone, setting the conditions for entering, crossing people off the free visiting list, and adding Snape and Dumbels to the enemy list. The floo list got completely wiped clean. When everything was settled, Tapsy led me to a room filled with paintings.
She showed me a painting of an older couple, "Master Charlus, this is young Harry. He has come home." The older couple looked at me, and Charlus finally asked me: "Where have you been, Harry? Tapsy could not find you, somehow your presence was hidden from our elves."
I laughed bitterly: "Dumbledore betrayed us all. He hid me at the Dursleys, and they treated me like dirt. At Halloween, when I was four, I pretended to be possessed by my mum and told them to treat me better. Life got better since then." They hardly believed me, so I told them the story of the frying pan. "Blooddagger said that I am definitely Harry Potter, or the Heir Ring would reject me. Now, I am looking for a magical guardian to get Dumbledore off my case. Do you know someone who can help me? A lawyer of some sort?"
Charlus: "First, get the copy of the Will, Tapsy, bring it here, please." Tapsy snapped her fingers, and the Will appeared in my hand. It read:
25 October 1981, Last Will of
Lord James Charlus Potter and
Lady Lily Rose Potter Evans
If I die before my wife, I appoint her to be Regent of House Potter until Harry turns seventeen, which also means the seat in the wizengamot.
When both of us are gone, Harry is to be placed with the following people:
Sirius Black, his Godfather by ritual.
Alice Longbottom, his Godmother by ritual.
Andromeda Tonks Black, cousin and dear friend
Remus Lupus, one of our best friends, only if he takes an oath to never betray us.
Peter Pettigrew, one of our best friends, only if he takes an oath to never betray us.
Veronica Davis nee Steward, a good friend, and fellow intellectual.
Ellen Greengrass Brown, a good friend and intellectual
Harriet Abbot Harper, a dear friend and ally
Amelia Bones, a good friend and ally
If the people above are unable or unwilling to take Harry in, a magic family will do if they swear an oath to never have followed, and never will follow the criminal organization of Voldemort and his Death Eaters.
A magical or Muggle orphanage as a last resort.
It is absolutely forbidden to put our son with Petunia Dursley Evans. She hates us and magic.
All properties fall to Harry on his seventeenth birthday on the condition that he provides a comfortable home for his mother and funds to live as she likes.
We grant 500 galleons a month for expenses and upkeep for Harry.
We donate 5000 galleons to Albus Dumbledore for casting the Fidelius with Peter as secret keeper on our cottage.
The list went on with who gets what and how much. What puzzled me was why the four candidates for magical guardians are the mothers of the girls I first interacted with, and why those mothers didn't mention they were friends with my mum?
At the end, the list of witnesses were listed:
Sirius Orion Black
Peter William Pettigrew
Albus Brian Wulfric Percival Dumbledore
Griphook
On a different page, I found Mum's explanation of her choices for guardians:
All of them except Alice are mothers with daughters, so he can grow up with a sister and not as an insensitive prick like his father, who took until his owls to grow up.
A bit harsh, but not far from the truth. Well. We know why they had to disappear. Sirius and Alice were prime candidates to raise me, and Dumbo needed a humble Harry that worshiped him.
I read the Will out loud, I even mentioned the four girls I spend time with are the daughters of the women in the Will.
Charlus said, "I think someone higher up is interfering with you. The frying pan with the memories, meeting the girls, those are no coincidences. Magic has a strange way of getting what it wants. It is possible Dumbledore erased the memories of their friendship, or Mrs. Greengrass and Davis didn't want to scare you away. At this point, everything is speculation."
Xxxxx
Well… it is time to catch a rat. Maybe a trip to my betrothed, you know, meet the in-laws.
Tapsy found Aunt Petunia's home in my memories. Don't ask me how they do it, because I have no clue at all. I ordered her to take all my possessions home and wait for my call.
The family was watching the Tellie, when the show was over, I said: "I found my house and the Will of mum and dad. It said it was forbidden to put me here with you because you hate magic and everything around it. I already moved my things there.
Dud, I will visit regularly. Aunt, uncle, we do not always agree, but you treated me well after that Halloween. Uncle, I will keep my promise to give the names of companies to invest in. Also, I suggest moving from here, out of range of Dumbledore. Beware of Mrs. Figgs. She is a spy for Dumbledore. If you want to contact me, call for Minny in a secluded space."
Xxxxx
I waved and left the house. A big chapter was closed off, a new life begins, I'm walking into the sunset, my hair is waving in the wind, birds are singing, orchestral music is playing in the background, a pretty girl is running to me, jumping into my arms, smiling… I wish.
Tapsy popped me home, and I had to run to the bathroom to take a dump.
The next day, Charlus told me the ICW meets the second week of August, the wizengamot on the last Friday of August.
So the old goat is off the island this week, I can visit my bride-to-be today. A present for the love of my life! Hmm. What to buy… a chastity belt is a bit too soon, A black leather Cat costume too, Whips and paddles either… man, this limits my choices… ah! I am going to get the jealous git green from envy. The wife gets a Nimbus 2000! Maybe I'll sign her books too… with love, your hubby! What to get Mommy-in-law… flowers?
Devil Snare is a bit drastic, Muggle cookbooks? Nah… the complete collection of fake Lockhart? A concert ticket of Celina Warbeck or what's her name, that singer… Nah, she probably forces you to come along. An elf? They can fight over who will cook today. Ah, a real clock that shows the actual time, maybe they will show up on time for the train. An annoying one you can hear it's tik-tak from across the house and every hour a gong that counts the hours. Darned, they have silencing charms.
Xxxxx
No more Bus from Hell for me, I take the Elf express, a smooth pop is all it takes. My first stop is Gringotts, at Blooddagger. I asked him to make legal copies of the Will and the betrothal contract with Ginny Weasley. Also, to ask Griphook why he supported Dumbels to block the will. I bet that dude is going to lose his head. I put them all away in my expandable book bag.
The next stop is the pet shop for a small, unbreakable cage.
The broom shop had a few Nimbus 2000s in stock. I bought two of them. I even got a discount if I posed for a picture. Man, I need to learn the Lockhart spells for glamorous posing and Snape's billowing cloak, maybe the twinkling eyes of Dumbels too. I shopped for an enchanted ring that detects potions… very important.
Have you ever noticed that when you look for a clock shop, you never find one? When you don't need one, however, then they are all over the place. Fuck it, she gets a new cookbook.
Xxxxx
I took the Bus from Hell again, cause I forgot how that village was called. They dropped me off at the boundary of the wards. I didn't know how to ring the bell, so I stepped forward. It was weird, like stepping into foam that gets thicker and harder, I stepped back, they should already know someone is visiting.
A woman came out of the house, walking halfway, she asked: "Hello, young man, who are you? Do you need something?"
Hmm… let's presume they are nice. "Hello, mother. I came to pay a visit to my fiancé. Is she at home?"
I walked further in until I got stuck in the wards. "Huh? I am not welcome? Do you hate me? I even have a present for my fiancé."
I turned around and walked back out down the road. She came back to her senses when I was ten steps away: "Wait! Are you Harry Potter?"
I shot back: "Good Lord! How many betrothal contracts does she have? Do I have to share her with five other blokes? Then I'll pass if you don't mind. Send her my regards and good luck to those other five."
She ran to me: "Nononono… there is nobody else, I was just surprised, that's all." She grabbed my arm and led me in. She opened her sound horn and bellowed: "GINNY! COME HERE! A VISITOR IS HERE FOR YOU!"
God dammed! Those are some serious decibels. She can even be heard through a heavy metal concert. That is a bloody foghorn. Several redheads popped out of the house. There was a thin, tall one, a pair of identical ones, and one with food in his mouth. Where was the wife? Is she cheating on me already?
I asked: "Those are all males, I hope you have another one, do you name them all Ginny?" Molly: "Of course not, those are Percy, Fred, and George, and that one is Ron."
I shrugged: "Oh, I thought when they all looked up when you yelled Ginny. They were also named so. My mistake."
Ron yelled: "Ginny is on the loo taking a dump!"
OK… now I begin to feel sorry for the girl, a strange boy is here asking for Ginny, and the loudmouth yells she takes a shit? A high-pitched scream comes from inside the house. I turned to Molly: "He didn't pay attention during tact class? I can only imagine how she must feel right now. Maybe it is best I come back tomorrow."
I turned and walked back out. At the boundary, I called Minny to pop me in Diagon Alley. I can be mad at Dumbledore and the Weasley parents, but she is just a little kid, caught in adult schemes. At the postal office, I bought some stationery and wrote 6 letters, one to Augusta Longbottom, the others to the women in the Will to invite them and their families to a dinner in my mansion at Abergwyngregyn in Wales next Sunday to talk this over. For safety reasons, I will not yet connect the floo. And gave each the name of an elf to call upon for transport. I sent six owls out and went back home.
Xxxxx
The next day, I tried again at the Weasleys, Minny popped me at the boundaries, and I let my presence be known. This time a little girl came to get me, the bride I suppose. She stood before me: "Harry Potter?"
I smiled and nodded: "Yes, I checked this morning, and I am still Harry Potter."
She smiled and asked: "Who else could you be then?" I laughed at that: "Well… sometimes I am The Boy Who Lives, sometimes I am a storybook hero, you know the kind that slays dragons and stuff. Sometimes I am just myself." We walked inside, talking about the different kinds of Ginny there are.
The boys were gathered in the kitchen, I introduced myself: "Good morning everyone, I am Heir Harry Potter, last week on my birthday, I discovered in Gringotts that there is a betrothal contract made between Miss Weasley and me. Now, before I act on the contract, I wanted to know this family personally. So here I am, the last of my line, so they say."
Molly: "Welcome, Harry. Yesterday was one big misunderstanding. This here is Percy, he starts his fifth year at Hogwarts and is a prefect. This is Fred and George, they start in their third year. This is Ron, he is in your year. And you met Ginny, she starts at Hogwarts next year."
I smiled: "Hello, everyone. Mrs. Weasley here is a little present for you. And Miss Ginny, this is for you." I handed the gift-wrapped broom to her. Ginny began to hyperventilate when she unwrapped the Nimbus.
Ron shouted: "No bloody way! That is a Nimbus 2000! The best broom of the year!"
I shrugged: "I asked around, people said the Weasleys can handle their brooms, so I decided to gift Miss Ginny one, although Miss Ginny, if you'd rather have something else, we can always trade it in for something else." Ginny had her broom in a death-grip, Ron was drooling, the twins were happy for Ginny, Percy probably found it inappropriate.
Molly looked worried: "Should you give her something so dangerous? She hasn't sat on a broom yet."
I looked at Ginny: "Really?" Ginny responded automatically: "I sneak in the broom shed sometimes and fly alone in the orchard with one of the brooms." She snapped awake: " Thank you, Harry, I love your gift."
Snobby Percy asked: "What house do you think you'll get sorted into?"
I tried my joke again: "I hope one with a roof on top." I scored with Ginny and the twins, but Percy was offended for not being taken seriously. And we had to wait for Ron… ah, he gets it now.
I said: "I frankly don't care much about it, probably Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff, Slytherin is possible too."
Ron protested: "Noo! You have to go to Griffindor, the house of the brave. Your parents went there too."
I shrugged: "So? It is just a school, what do I care where I end up, it is not important at all."
Molly said, "It is important, dear, it creates friendships that can last through the years."
Tilting my head, I asked: "So you say we are only allowed to be friends of your own house? I plan to get along with every student, no matter in what house they are."
Ron shouted: "Gryffindors are the best!"
I answered: "Meh, I do not measure myself by the accomplishments of others, and don't want to get dragged in a herd mentality. I am myself."
Ginny was in her own broomstick world. I had lunch with the gang. Once they calmed down, they were good guys. Ron was a bit dense, but who cares? I could keep the twins apart by their magic signature. Percy? Meh, he has a stick up his ass.
After lunch, they went flying. Ginny had to change her outfit, but soon the sky was red. So… this is broomstick flying. Frankly? Did you ever try sitting on a stick? Those things don't have a saddle! After a few minutes, your but crack is going to hurt, your tailbone is in the middle of it, so that will hurt too.
After a while, Fred and George landed next to me: "Harry? Don't you want to fly?"
I answered: "Honestly? I am still trying to wrap my mind around the concept of flying on a cleaning tool. I am Muggle-raised, so I am out of the water, so to speak. Doesn't your arse hurt flying that stick?"
Fred: "Nah, they have cushion charms on them, they are comfortable to sit on."
I sighed: "Alright, I'll get mine out and try it out. I never sat on one. I took my broom out and asked: "OK… how do you start this thing?" After a two-hour speed course, I was able to keep up with the guys. I definitely was not chaser material. My aim was way off, the need to be good at it wasn't there either. I wasn't a seeker either.
Ginny flew circles around me. But I could have fun flying. George said, "You are definitely not Quidditch material.
I looked offended: "Hey! No dirty talk in front of your sister! Just joking, guys, flying is fun, but no more than that."
Xxxxx
Afterward, Ron showed me his new pet. Scabbers. I studied it, felt it with my magic, the rodent just felt… wrong. I looked at it from all sides and asked, "You're sure this is a rat?" I tighten my grip with magic. I continued: "It looks more like a human hiding like a rat."
Scabbers began to wriggle and squeak. The rat bit me! This is what I was waiting for. I swore and threw him with full force on the floor, yelling: "That man bit me!" Scabbers was a goner, flat-out dead.
Ron looked at me, slack-jawed: "You… you… You killed Scabbers!"
I shot back: "What is wrong with you? Why do you keep a man as a pet rat? He bit me!"
Ron yelled, "You killed Scabbers! He is not a man, he is a rat! And you killed him!"
Molly came to the commotion: "What is going on here?"
Ron yelled: "Harry killed Scabbers!"
I yelled back: "And I said that that thing is a human animagus, not a real rat! And the stupid thing bit me!"
Molly paled: "Harry, are you certain? How do you know?"
I answered: "Several things, Ron said Percy had him for years, rats live tops 3 or 4 years, second, I can sense magic, this one does not feel like an animal but human, third, I recognize this rat. It is Peter Pettigrew; he betrayed my parents to Voldemort. Fourth, the moment I said he felt human, he wanted to escape, so he bit me. Now, someone calls the police, or how do you call the law enforcement around here?"
Molly was stumped; she walked to the fireplace and called the Aurors.
I turned to Ron: "I'll get you another pet or a new wand, maybe both. If I am wrong and Scabbers is a real rat, you get my broom, deal?"
Ron was conflicted. He did not know how to feel, sad that his rat was murdered, or happy because he got a broom if he were a real rat and dead. A few Aurors came in, Molly explained the problem, and based on my suspicion, the rat was an animagus. A few revealing spells noticed it had magic in it.
I remarked: "An animagus that dies in his animal form gets his human form back after one or two days, it depends on how strong the magic is. And this is Peter Pettigrew, the man who betrayed my parents. So I want my godfather out of prison. Why do you think he could betray us is madness, he is my godfather by ritual!"
The Aurors looked at each other: "This is above our pay grade; we will contact Madam Bones."
A floo call later, Madam Boned walked in: "Heir Potter? Are you sure this is Pettigrew?"
I answered: "100%, Madam Bones, I can sense magic, and that rat felt human, not like an animal. When I told Ron, the rat tried to escape and bit me. I got angry and threw it on the floor. You just have to wait for a few days, and he turns back into a human."
Madam Bones asked: "How do you know that?" "I read my dad's notes. It was in a trunk in my trust vault. It described the rat, too. Did you read my parents' Will that I owled you today? It stated loud and clear that Peter was the secret keeper, you have my Godfather by ritual sitting innocently in that prison, and I want him free. He is Lord Black by the way."
The statements were noted, the rat confiscated, and Madam Bones has work, enough for overtime. I took her apart: "Madam Bones, my father's letters stated the ministry is littered with death eaters and sympathizers. Let your Aurors swear they are not Death Eaters before you let them get Sirius, or he is dead before you can talk to him. You know, it may even save your life someday."
She asked: "How old are you, Heir Potter?" I laughed at her: "Madam Bones, I did elementary school in 2 years, secondary in three. I have a perfect mindscape and 99% memory recall. I have several offers for muggle universities here and in the USA. I am maybe eleven years old, but smarter than half of your Ministry put together."
Yeah, yeah, OP dude coming through.
Xxxxx
Back home, after dinner, I went to my office, and several letters were on my desk. Yep, I have an office now, with a big ass desk. Six confirmations for Sunday dinner, and Amelia Bones wanted to have a meeting tomorrow at her office. That should be fun. I replayed my confirmation with Hedwig and started my studies. The mansion had a great dueling room for practicing my spells.
This is the downside if you know the story. You have to train like Hell or get your ass kicked, before you know it you overshoot your goals and become an OP character. With my magic training and mindscape, I can memorize each book I read and learn spells very fast… wandless and silently. If I use my wand, I blast the roof of the building. At a point, I stopped learning new spells but worked on controlling the output of my wand.
Xxxxx
The next day I promised Ron I take him to Diagon alley for a new wand and pet, Minny dropped me off on the boundaries of the Burrow. The twins welcomed me,
F: "Heir Potter!"
G: "What animal are you"
F: "going to kill,"
G "Today?"
I grinned: "I don't know yet, do you have an old owl hanging around here?"
The twins paled,
F: "Not Errol!"
G: "We like him!"
"I promised Ron a new pet and wand, it is better to keep my promises. So I thought today would be fine."
Molly went along with Ron and me, first to Olivander for the wand. We entered, the creep appeared behind us, meh, I just turned my head and asked: "So, you sell any decent wands here?"
As he was just preparing to spook us: "Ah, Harry Potter, I was expecting you last week. And Ronald Weasley is also a latecomer, Molly Prewitt, with hair of a unicorn tail eleven inches, very rigid. I remember it like yesterday. While he was giving his speech.
I took Ron's hand and whispered to him to think of doing magic. I concentrated and pulled the best match. I gave the wand to Ron and said to Olivander, "We take this one, please."
Ron had a strong reaction with his wand. It was as if he fell in love with it: "Blimey! I did not know it could be like this! It is ten times better than Charlie's old wand."
Olivander was speechless. That never happened before! It was too fast! I asked: "How much? I have places to be today, and Ron needs a new pet, choosing one takes time, you know, and a wand holster too."
Olivander: "You need to buy yours now, Harry Potter."
I shrugged: "Nah, I'm good. Where do I press my ring?" We were in and out of there in less than five minutes, a record, I guess. Cheap though, fifteen galleons, it does not make sense at all, the holster costs almost as much as the wand.
"Ron! To the pet store, if you want to be in Slytherin you need to buy a snake, for Gryffindor you have to get a lion for puffs a badger… You know? The only safe Hogwarts pets are ravens."
Ron took his time. Pets are important after all… I guess. Never cared much for them, though. The kids drag them into the house, and the parents have to care for them. We walked out with a barn owl. He has a brain after all, a bloody postal owl costs as much as ten Olivander wands! Or half my wand. I said goodbye to both of them and said I had an appointment with Madam Bones.
Xxxxx
The Leaky Cauldron was loaded. I waved to Hannah, paid for the powder, and flood? Flooed? Flooded? Anyway, I was ejected from the Ministry hall, at the desk, the Auror on duty said: "Present your wand."
I answered: "I left it at home." Puzzled, he asked Why?"
"Well, what uses does it have if you are underage and are forbidden to use it? Then it is just a stick to carry around. I have an appointment with Madam Bones. How do I get there?"
The directions were clear. When I arrived at my destination, Madam Bones came from another direction with two wands in her hands. The rat got human again, I presume.
Madam Boned greeted me: "Heir Potter, you were right after all, it was Peter Pettigrew, he carried two wands, his and You Know Who's wand."
Nah, I am not in the mood for word games: "Voldemort's wand, so Sirius runs free now, I hope?
She nodded: "We are getting him out right now. I had to show them to prove it was Pettigrew who betrayed your parents. And Black did not get a trial at all."
I said: "Do your best to protect him, Madam Bones, I looked it up; if Sirius dies, a Draco Malfoy will get it, and it seems Daddy Malfoy is an imperioused Death Eater, and did your Minister get an Order of Merlin third class for arresting Black? What happens if he has to return it?" Darned, I'm rushing it again.
I gave my statements and left.
Xxxxx
Having Elves rocked! No cooking, washing dishes, laundry, if you asked it they would spoon-feed you. I told them we had a dinner party tomorrow night and they take care of everything I fell back to my routine, meditation, exercising, magic control, popping over to Duddi, getting the crap beaten out of me by Duddi, popping back home. I brushed up on wizarding customs with my ancestor's paintings to prepare for tonight's dinner.
4 An eventful August.
At dinner time, the guests arrived, popping in with my elves. The greetings with the males, the brushing of the hands with the women and girls. To tease her, I kissed Tracey's hand again, the poor girl blew a fuse. Neville is just a shy boy, his gran was easy to recognize with that vulture hat. A lot of theories were made of that hat on the fan sites.
Astoria, I'm told has been meditating from the moment she got her wand until now. Silently I passed her a muggle book about the human anatomy I found with mum's schoolbooks. I whispered to Astoria: "Study this book and circulate your magic through your bloodstream and your nerves. But ask permission from your parents first." Exited she showed the book to her parents.
Curious, Daphne asked why I gave her the book, I answered: "Well, she now has a wand that she is not allowed to touch for a whole year. This is just a book to guide her to understand the bloodstreams and nerves, so she can guide her magic better while meditating. You should read it too, it helps you with connecting to your magic better."
While the adults were mingling, the young adults, Lance, Peggy, Peter, and Nymphadora formed a group, the rest of the kids flocked together, well, the girls were gossiping, I ended up with Neville, I asked: "Hey, Mr. Neville, excited for Hogwarts? I am a bit reserved about it, you know, never known about magic, then being dropped into a new world is spooky." Neville responded: "It is scary for me too. Gran thought I did not have enough magic to get the Hogwarts letter."
I frowned at that: "is that so? May I test it? Give me your hand, and think about doing magic. OK... Miss Daphne? Can I have a moment please? I want to compare your magic capacity with Mr. Neville's. Can I hold your hand as we did in the wand shop? Now think of doing magic. Thank you both. Neville, you have about the same amount of magic as Miss Daphne, but it seems to be obstructed, did someone bound your magic? I had my blocks released at Gringotts at my birthday."
The adults noticed me holding Neville's and Daphne's hands and paid attention to our conversation. When the gran heard me say Neville's magic has a block, she paled and said: "That can't be, Dumbledore had him checked out after that fight and said he is fine."
Stumped I looked at her: "Madam do you forget the reason why you are here? I am 99% certain that Dumbledore put the block on Mr. Neville himself. I suggest letting the goblins examine him. It took a team of old Goblin cronies to remove my blocks, also the wand he is carrying is the exact opposite of his magic." Right, throw the faulty wand in the mix too. Gran scoffed: "That is his father's wand, it will work well for him." I responded: "Oh? You are his mother, try to use it yourself. I bet Mr. Neville can get better results with your wand than his fathers."
Before it got out of hand Lord Greengrass and Davis explained how I helped select their daughter's wands. Mr. Davis: "Augusta, Heir Potter went with us to Madam Wilson's wand shop, and selected perfect matches for Tracey, Lance, and Astoria. Lance said his new wand works a multitude better than his previous one. Heir Potter can sense magic on a level I never heard of. When he tells you Mr. Neville's magic is blocked, my advice is to believe it."
Mr. Greengrass: "Take Mr. Neville to Gringotts. It does not hurt to check it out. But make sure to invite Heir Potter with you. Madam Wilson acknowledged his talent for it. I can vouch for it."
Great! A vote of confidence from Dad Greengrass and Davis. Gran budged: "Tomorrow I'll visit Gringotts. Heir Potter, can I ask for your assistance with the wand?" I answered: "Mr. Neville is my Godbrother madam, I will do all I can for him." She mumbled: "I forgot Lily was his Godmother, and Alice is yours."
Xxxxx
Tapsy called us to the table. The dinner went fine. Charlus pumped the last few hours some table etiquette in my head. You know, use a knife to cut the meat, a spoon for soup, that kind of thing, as if we used our hands and feet in the muggle world. I stopped him when he said not to lick my plate clean.
"Gramps, I am not a two-year-old, and the muggles evolved from the times we lived in caves, so we know now how to use a knife and fork. Although I have troubles with chopsticks." He grumbled: "I had to tell Sirius that when he was fifteen. He told me his inner dog demanded it."
Anyway, dinner went well, Tapsy is experienced, so I let her manage the whole thing. Afterward, we retired to a salon, the adults and I in one, the kids in another.
Madam Bones started the talks: "We all read the Will, Dumbledore did something inexcusable, he went completely against Lord Potters Will. He is also responsible for putting Heir Black, now Lord Black in Askaban. This is an attack against two Major Houses, but what puzzles me, why? What are his reasons?"
I took my parent's letters and showed them the part of the prophecy: "Both Neville and I could have been the child the prophecy speaks of. Dumbledore has been manipulating my parents to guide the prophecy the way he wants it to. If I grew up in the wizarding world I would be hard to manipulate.
He knew my aunt hate magic, it was said so in the Will he witnessed not a week before the events.
He let Hagrid take me from the cottage and placed me at my aunt, even before Sirius was arrested and Aunt Alice attacked.
That proves the premeditation to manipulate my upbringing. I confess the first years at the Dursleys were Hell on earth. On Halloween, I yelled at her that my mum will be waiting for her in heaven. From then on it got better, I got a room to sleep in, got better food, and even new clothes.
I trained my magic senses, at the boundaries of the wards, feeling a small reaction inside of me. I get bored a lot so I started to play with that feeling inside my body, circling it in my body while meditating. A side effect is it made my brain more active and my memory a lot better.
In elementary I skipped three grades in one school year, I finished elementary the year after. The secondary was finished in three years. right now, I have offers from several universities in Britain and the USA. Until I got a letter from Hogwarts a few days before my birthday.
So Dumbledore wanted a beaten scared kid that looks upon him as Merlin reincarnated, but I am exactly the opposite. Nobody messes with my family now."
OK… we let them swallow my semi-bullshit story. I better not mention the memories. Or the frying pan.
Lord Greengrass was the first to react: "That explains a lot, you are acting years above your actual age."
I shrugged: "I have 99% perfect memory recall, spend my last school year with fourteen to sixteen-year old's teenage drama, it seeps through." Mr. Abbot: "What are the contents of that prophecy? It must be important enough for Dumbledore to break so many laws."
"I don't know, I doubt my parents did, only there was one, and Voldemort was targeting them for it." Madam Bones said: "There is a hall of prophecies in the department of mysteries. If there is one, it should be there. Augusta, when you take them to Gringotts come to me afterward. I'll speak with Croaker about it."
Andromeda said: "We should focus on why we are here, the magical and muggle guardianship. I propose I take the muggle guardianship. Ted is a lawyer, in the wizarding and the muggle world. The magical guardianship will be contested by the wizengamot if I took that too. Ten years Askaban will make Sirius unfit too. Alice is out too, Remus? Does anyone remember him?"
I answered: "Remus Lupin is out too, he was bitten by Greyback when he was five years old." That got them chocked Mrs. Davis: "He went to Hogwarts with us! We spend seven years with a werewolf?" I scoffed: "Werewolves are only one night a month dangerous, a night you can prepare for. They are sick a few days before the change and after. They are harmless to animagus, that is the reason my dad, Sirius, and Pettigrew became one."
Yep, I am spilling it all. I need those families on my side and keeping too many secrets from them can bite me in the arse some day.
Madam Bones: "Well the next on the list is you, Veronica. Or you Ellen, both of you were part of Lily's study group, they used to call you the three queens of wisdom.
Ellen sighed: "Those were the best times I had in Hogwarts beside Cyrus." She looked at me: "We did not mention it to you because you could think we were manipulating you. We were planning it for today or next week."
I nodded: "It is alright, I only read mum's course journals, and I'm gathering my nerves to read her diaries. If mum trusts you so will I. For the muggle custody, my aunt and uncle are eager to sign me over, just present the papers and they will sign it."
Madam Bones: "The least resistance will be with the Abbot family, they are solid on the light side, and were part of the alliance. Even Dumbledore can't protest against them.
Ted: "They are on the list of candidates and are part of an ancient alliance, they have the biggest claim if they want to take guardianship. In my opinion, it is the best option. It gives him the regency to vote for Potter in the Wizengamot, they don't want to lose it to a gray or dark family."
Mr. Abbot: "If nobody objects and Heir Potter agrees, I am willing to take his guardianship." Everyone nodded and looked at me: "I agree, and please, everyone here, call me Harry. I would like to live here if possible."
Mr. Greengrass: "That is only allowed with adult supervision. Now that you are going to attend Hogwarts it will only be for the holidays. Jacob, How old is your Peggy? She could fill the role of chaperon."
Mr. abbot: "Peggy wants to get married next spring, I don't know if Peter has arrangements, he is the second son of Lord Edwards."
Andromeda: "Nymphadora graduates next year and wants to join the Aurors, she is already talking of moving out. Having her here behind solid wards would ease my mind. She turns eighteen in September."Mr. Davis: "Lance is an adult too, although I am already mentoring him to take over the business and estate. So it is best he stays at home."
Madam Bones: "Why don't we call them inside and ask them in person."
The next hour was filled with an explanation and the proposal to move in this mansion to chaperon. I added the services of the house-elves, free room, and board, access to the library except for the Potter-only books. The offer was for seven years, to start.
For a young couple, it was a good chance to save up their funds. Tonks jumped to the occasion: "When can I move in cousin?" I shrugged: "Tomorrow if you want. I'll add you to the list of permanent guests." Peter: "I want to talk it over with Peggy and my parents first before we decide. It is a tempting offer though."
I said: "I will add everyone here today to the wards, and are always welcome for a visit. Should we inform the rest of my situation? They are bound to find out."
The other kids got the explanation, and the offer to visit and study.
Xxxxx
It was a productive evening, Tonks and Abbot are going for guardianship, Hannah, Susan, and Peggy asked for my help to buy a new wand. I told them a wand from Mrs. Wilson is almost 150 galleons and asked Mr. Abbot and Madam Bones are ok with that. I said: "Yesterday I helped Ron Weasley select his wand at Olivander. It works there too, although the quality of Madam Wilson's is better."
Tonks was puppy eyeing her dad. I chuckled: "Maybe we get a discount if we buy in bulk." Madam Bones: "We can arrange it for Tuesday, my day tomorrow is full, courtesy of Harry here. He stirred a doxy's nest when he got Peter Pettigrew exposed." I joked: "It is a gift, I can't help it."
When everyone left, I thanked Tapsy and the rest: "The dinner party was a success thanks to you all, I am glad to be home with my Elves family, if you ever need something just say it, if it is in my power I'll make it so." That will keep them happy, after ten minutes of getting hugged by elves I got to bed.
Xxxxx
Monday, I went to Gringotts with the Longbottom's and asked for Blooddagger's mother, at the Longbottom account manager Gutripper. He asked: "Why do you ask for granny? What do you want from her?" Gran said: "Heir potter suspect that my grandson has a block on his magic, he wants Neville to be checked by the one that helped him remove his block."
Granny came in: "Heir Potter? Why did you ask for me?" I answered: "I could not miss you for a day." She grumbled while caning me: "Show some respect for your elder's cheeky kid." Gran: "Oh, I thought I was the only one that wanted to do that." Oops, two on one is only fun if they are a century younger.
Granny waved her dagger at Neville, going on with her expression I was right. Granny: "The same block as yours Heir Potter. I need help to remove it, the blood tracker too." Gran exploded: "That bastard put a blood tracker on my Neville?"
An hour later a relieved boy and a raging mad old woman left the bank with me. I asked: "Wand now or tomorrow with the others?" Neville: "Gran, I want to go tomorrow with the others. Let's go to Madam Bones."
In the Ministry, Gran's aura scared the shit out of everyone. She stomped to Madam Bones's office, the secretary swallowed and let her through.
In Madam Bones's office, she raged: "Blocked for 80% Amelia! A blood tracker! Is that man insane?" Madam Bones: "As with Harry, it is to keep him timid. With powerful magic you get confidence, if you are almost considered a squib, then you are glad you are accepted and grateful at the teaching staff to be allowed in school." She looked at Neville and asked: "Am I right Heir Longbottom?" he just nodded.
I sensed a person behind us, I turned: "Hello sir, you must be Mr. Croaker." Croaker: "You are right Amelia, his magic senses are exceptional. Heir Potter, you want to see the prophecy that was made about you?" I answered: "Yes please with the ones present as witnesses"
The trip down was spooky, I bet it was made especially to create a mysterious atmosphere. To up their paycheck.
The prophecy is a bit disappointing, I studied the orb: "I am sorry to tell you but this orb is tampered with if I am right." Is it possible that this orb is used to record an adapted version of the prophecy? I say this because compared with other orbs inhere, it has different kinds of magic on it. Or it has spells on it to warn if someone activates it."
Croaker cursed, called a colleague, both started to examine the orb. It turned out it was an alarm and tracker. Dumbels was in bad papers with a lot of people now. That means I m doing a good job. I asked if I could visit Sirius, but Madam Bones informed me he is in a secret location.
I asked Madam Bones the procedure to connect the floo to the grid, she answered: "Harry, if a floo used to be connected to the grid, it is custom that the connection is disabled in the manor, you can reconnect it anytime you want." I smiled: "I will connect it today, Neville, you are always welcome for a visit. So are the others. I'll go back, I think my first chaperon is moving in today."
Xxxxx
At the manor, I asked Charlus how to reconnect the floo. After a half-hour stumbling, I got it to work. After lunch, Tonks popped in, with a lot of baggage: "Cousin! Where is my room?" "Tapsy will show you the floor where you can choose a room." She smiled: "Thanks, Cousin." I replayed: "You can call me Harry if you want Miss Nymphadora." She grumbled: "If you want us to get along, call me Tonks. I hate my given name." I nodded: "I can understand, it resembles nymphomaniac too much. Got bullied a lot?" She shouted: "See! Even you get it! Why does my mother insist on calling me that?"
I shrugged: "Ask her? Maybe a favorite aunt or grandmother was named that way. Anyway, the floo is connected, I set the password to The Pottery. I already keyed you in the wards and added your name to the floo. Now I am trying to figure out how you can give someone a day pass so you can have visitors. Although the access to the house will be limited for them, is that acceptable?"
She grabbed me in a hug. "Harry, I may never leave." I answered: "Don't scare me please." She grinned: "We are going to get along great, Harry." I studied the floo manual until dinner.
Tonks was promoting Hufflepuff during dinner I said: "Your house is scary. You are too fanatical about that house. Susan and Hannah are the same. I'll bet you are all wearing yellow and black underwear. Tonksie pretended to be shocked: "Who told you our secret? Only initiates can look at them!" she grinned: "Only joking Harry, but I do have some. I'll show you when you turn into a Puff."
I groaned: "Too much info Tonks, besides, I lack the hormones to act on it, give it a year at least. Now, tell me about your ability to frame someone else for your pranks." After dinner, I showed her how to give one a day pass. I added: "Don't make the mansion a tourist attraction, or organize a punk concert, for the rest do as you please." She asked: "Boyfriends? Girlfriends?" I shrugged: "What do you expect me to say? No more than ten at the same time? You chaperon, me the kid, remember?"
That got me another hug. I cursed my lack of hormones.
Xxxxx
At breakfast, I asked if she came along for the new wands or have other plans: "Ten o'clock at the Cauldron. Can you explain how to exit the floo? I always fly across the room." Tonks laughed: "Every beginner does that, they are nervous to stand still in the fire, and want to leave it as fast as possible, the floo gets that intent and ejects you at the speed you want to leave the fireplace."
I cursed, betrayed by my own fears. We floodeded to the Leaky Cauldron at a quarter before ten, the girls already there and expecting me to fly out. I kept my cool and walked out like a pro.
Astoria pouted: "Who told you? We always wait a month before we tell them." I grumbled: "Traitors. My chaperon did her duty and informed me." My chaperon stepped out of the floo and bumped me forwards. I scraped my dignity up from the floor and asked: "Who has yet to arrive?"
Hannah said: "Peggy and Peter, Neville, and Lance said he came to watch." At ten o'clock everyone went to the Wand shop. By now I was Madam Wilson's favorite person. I started with Neville, he had three strong reactions, I asked him if he wanted a gentle or an aggressive wand, the gentle wand was pulled and connected to Neville.
I remarked to Madam Wilson: "I did not notice it before, but I connect the wand to the person I am guiding. I guess that is what makes the connection so strong. Does that make sense?" Madam Wilson: "That must be it because I have never seen someone else have so strong reactions to their wand."
Hannah and Susan were next, both only had one strong connection. Peggy and Tonks could choose too. Peter was last: "Last but not least, although the number of wands is rapidly dropping, gentle or rough Peter?" Peggy: "Rough!" before clamping her hands before her mouth." In the presence of parents and in-laws, it is a big no-no. I smiled: "Rough it is, lucky guy." The adults, not parents chuckled.
"The show is over now, I'll do only special cases from now on. Friends and family." Madam Wilson: "Too bad, I had a good week thanks to you." I'll bet she has, eleven wands. Although the effect on boys is different than on girls, the boys are almost in love with their stick Neville keeps on staring at it. All of them are asking what wood and core they have, me? I am not interested in that. It works and that is enough.
On the way to the Cauldron, I offered them study sessions to prepare for Hogwarts: "I study theory from after breakfast till lunch, after lunch I do practical study. In the morning and evening, I meditate and circulate my magic. You are always welcome when you want to.
Mr. Greengrass: "What kind of practicals are you practicing? Unsupervised practicing can be dangerous." I answered: "At the moment control, I need to reduce the power I push through the wand. First-year spells, mostly. I can do all spells till fifth-year wandless, but if I try them with a wand I blast the roof of. Now I am practicing Lumos. I lifted my hand and did a wandless Lumos, increasing and lowering the clarity of the light, changing colors, split them in five, for each finger one, all the while explaining how I train. Aah… it is so much fun to show of. I better not say I tried it with incendo fireballs and burned my fingertips.
Xxxxx
The following days I got back into my routine, Neville was a regular visitor, the girls always came in pairs, mostly in the morning, the parents came along if they wanted to train in the afternoon.
I did do a visit to Gringotts, I took a page from my brother's fiction, and closed a deal with the Goblins, with my future knowledge we are going to rake the cash in with the millions. The clause that any goblin profits from my information have to pay, is going to make house Potter stinking rich. I did ask to buy shares of the Daily Rubbish.
Tonks came through with the muggle guardianship, The Dursleys were happy to sign me off. No hard feelings, meh not much anyway, I like Duddi too much to wreck his parents. I still visit him regularly.
The day came that the Abbots were legally recognized as my magical guardians. We had a big celebration at his place. The day after, Daphne, Tracey, Susan, and Hannah came over with their mothers, with a strange smile on their faces. I backed off until I stood with my back to a wall.
Daphne said: "I told you, you were going to pay. It is time to cash in. Dancing lessons, one or two hours a day. There is a ball next week and you are going to perform." I swallowed: "Can I ask Neville to even the odds a bit?" The tosser could already dance. Now I have five laughing at me, after a few days, they didn't need cushion charms on their feet anymore, the day before the ball they declared me… passable.
The ball was at the Abbots to present me to the 'crowd', with four girls and their mothers fussing over you, I was told to stand still and let it happen, I am already planning my revenge in a few years, to say: 'lie still and let it happen'.
Anyway… I stood next to my guardians welcoming the guests. I am popular, we attracted a big crowd. Fudge and his toad, Lucius and albino, some fossils from the Wizengamot, and some ministry workers.
A few days before the ball, we debated to invite my illegal fiance, but I don't want to cause pain to a kid to punish for another one's faults. I asked my four torturers for advice.
Daphne: "For as long you don't expose Dumbledore, she is your fiance, not inviting her is a slap in her face." In the end, we invited them; only Arthur came, but the girls did a Cinderella and put her in a new dress that Astoria chose, and delivered her to the ball. I asked them if they transfigured a pumpkin into a carriage, but the girls did not make the connection to the fairy tale. Anyway, Ginny was the little princess guarded by five witches. I did remove a nasty bug from Ginny's hair and crushed it, I levitated the bug in Fudge's pocket. I better keep this house clean.
That was exhausting, my feet didn't leave the dancefloor, if I dared to stop I got Fudge on my case, I did let it slip that Sirius was Lord Black and made me his Heir, we should have lunch sometime. I did get one over at Lucius, I had practiced giving my eyes a red shine. I approached him when he was alone. I turned my eyes lightly red and started: "Lucius Malfoy, my slippery lieutenant, ten years, and you did not even look for me?" Lucius froze, before he could answer, my eyes turned bright red and commanded: "Mail the diary I gave to you for safekeeping to Harry Potter so I can return. If not… I hear your boy starts this year too. Maybe I get to know him better."
I smiled and turned the color back to green, I acted a bit dazed, looked at Malfoy, and asked: "ah… Lord Malfoy was it? Having a good time I hope?" The poor man almost pissed his pants, he gathered his wife and ferret and left. Playing the possessed kid is still fun. The next day I received the diary from Tom Marvolo Riddle.
The Goblins were happy to get rid of it. I asked to keep the ring in one piece, it was an heirloom from my family, and wanted it for myself. Blooddagger laughed his ass off when he heard how I got the diary.
I heard a few days later the ferret transferred to Durmstrang. Dumbledore was still on the continent, trying to pilfer the stone from the Flamels.
Xxxxx
On the twenty-third of August, the Wizengamot held an emergency trial, we used that to get Lord Abbot the Potter seat.
I stood in the visitor's stand next to a man dressed in canary yellow and a little blond girl. I smiled and introduced myself: Hello my name is Heir Harry Potter, but call me Harry, are you here to report on Stubby Boardman?" The canary looked at me: "How do you know that? I am indeed reporting on Stubby Boardman. Ow, my manners, I am Xenophilius Lovegood, and this is my little moon, Luna. We run the magazine the Quibbler."
"Well… I must disappoint you, this here is indeed Sirius Black, but back in the days, he did act as a stand-in to let Stubby get some rest. I am impressed you found him out. Miss Luna, when are you going to attend Hogwarts? I'll start in September." She looked at me, and with a dreamy voice: "You still have to remove two nasty nargels from the school. I am glad Tommy is almost gone. I wasn't looking forwards to spending months in Malfoy's dungeon."
Ooook? Meh, it's Luna, I smiled: "Yeah, we can't have that can we, and we need another reason to fly with the thestrals, we will make up something. And those nargels that nest in Ravenclaw will get clipped." Her face brightened: "I like that very much. Are you going to save Ginny too?"
"Sure, I'll get the snake this year ok? I'll get someone to take pictures for your magazine." Talking with Luna is fun. I invited her to take an interview with me.
Anyway, Sirius cleaned up nicely. The trial? It was really fast, veritaserum, the Will, a dead Pettigrew, and Lord Black was a free man, although he needs to register as an animagus… I wonder how Fudge could explain a dead Rita in his wardrobe.
I took Sirius home, hired a mind-healer, threw a small party on Saturday, a big one on Sunday, by my calculations Dumbledore should have found out by now.
My friends did very well with only a few weeks' practice. Astoria took the lead in magic circulation and meditation, although the others were not far behind. The books I bought about the human body and Chinese acupuncture were helping a lot. Sirius healed, just by looking at us all having fun practicing magic.
Neville came out of his shell when he noticed he could keep up with the others. When I was practicing with my friends I did it wandless for their safety. Sirius noticed my problem and suggested making a fake wand without a core, to hide the wandless.
"Sirius, you are a genius! Do you know any impressive kind of three? Like Yggdrasil the World Tree, or the Legendary Oak Tree, Sacred Baobab? You know, to impress the crowd."
Neville heard what I asked and stated: "There is the Giant sequoia, they are the tallest in the world, the Lebanon cedar, it can age thousands of years, so is the Yew, the Bois Dentell, a rare tree from Mauritius, the St. Helena Gumwood tree, a rare tree from the island St Helena…" We all looked at Neville while he kept rambling about different kinds of trees he knows about.
I stopped him: "Ok Neville, one of them will do, do you know where I can get a hold of one of those? He nodded with a smile: "Mum planted several rare trees on our estate, I will get you a branch to create your fake wand." He left in a hurry. Hannah said: "We should talk more about plants, did you see Neville's face light up talking about it?" I mentioned: "It is his way to connect to his mum, his gran is always talking about his dad, but neglect telling about his mum. And he is apparently good with it."
Xxxxx
Dumbledore noticed all of the signs, now that the Will is in the open, his guardianship revoked, he had to do some damage control. At the Wizengamot on the last Friday of August, he resigned as Chief Warlock, stating that recent development showed his attention was to spread out. And he should focus more on the education of Britain's future.
We took it as a win, we are not in a hurry to shoot all our ammo in one go. Although he did get a serious tongue lashing from Gran, Sirius, and Amelia.
On the Wizengamot session, Sirius claimed his Lordship and declared me his Heir. I glanced at Lucius Malfoy and smiled. The poor sod did not even protest.
Well… it is time to prepare for a train ride.