Chapter Text
Major Daniel Oliver Granger, Dog to his squad mates, was walking with the rest of the members of the Royal Marines Commandos that were accompanying his SBS unit into the African jungle. Their Assault ship sat offshore in the Atlantic. They had been flown in by Helicopter and dropped a few miles from their objective, and were now tabbing in silently to hit the guerilla encampment from both sides at once to rescue the French medical team that had been taken hostage from the Medicine sans Frontiers hospital in the nearby city. Their vessel had been in the right place at the time, and the French government had asked for their help in this old colony of theirs. Their scout, one of the local tribesmen, was a man whose sister was amongst the captives, carrying his nephew or niece, hence their trust he was not about to lead them to a trap, he hoped. The Scout held his hand up for them to stop, they could here sounds of revelry, the guerrillas were drunk. He smiled, this would be easy, his heart had no compassion for these men, they would kill the male medic’s if they had not already, the women would be repeatedly raped until they either died, or became too pregnant to use, these were not freedom fighters, they were scum that discovered a Kalashnikov would get you what you wanted.
They moved forward, carefully, everyone’s nerves taught and ready for action. The infra red scope showed which of the huts had the hostages, they might be lucky and get them all out he thought. He knew the commandos were in comms with the group approaching from the east, they were waiting for them to be in position. He was hot and itchy, his balaclava was far too thick for this jungle, but better than a pale coloured face to target. The soft pops of the grenade launchers told him it was time, the grenades, both fragmentation and flash bangs exploded the noise rippling into a long crackle. He was running, just behind his squad, his job, Tail End Charlie, was to cover everyone’s backs and flank, as they concentrated on getting the hostages. He was also the squad medic. The Marines were hitting the guerrilla’s and it was slaughter. In front of him they breached the hut, the guards dropped before they even realised they were targeted, the suppressed HK MP5 lethal in close quarter combat. They had ripped the side out of the hut and Dan entered, a young black girl was holding a newborn to her chest her eyes wide, the whites showing in the light of the flames licking around the camp now.
The gunfire stopped. It was over. Dan stepped out to the door and looked across to the main compound, Marines were dragging bodies to one side. The occasional single shot answered the question about prisoners or medical aid to the guerilla force members. He saw the medic in the Marines unit, they exchanged a look, “All good Dog. Couple of minor cuts, nothing needing your skills mate. How are the hostages.”
“All good I think, We can give them a proper check when we get back to the ship.” He turned back inside and watched as torches were used to check and release those that were identified as hostages, hiding among hostages was an old trick and they were being cautious. Their scout ran into the tent, and in rapid African called to his sister, their reunion was emotional. Whilst they siblings were celebrating life, a petite black woman in scrubs stood from beside the girl, she patted the girl on the shoulder and approached Dan, she saw the red cross on his shoulder. “Medic?”
“I am, just in case, is anyone here in need of attention?”
“English,” She spoke in heavily French accented English, Dan was entranced, she was small to him, the top of her thick mane of hair only just reached his shoulder, but in the dim light he saw her pretty face, her skin a tone lighter than the locals, she would have been a target for the scum they had just eliminated. He felt a flash of protective anger wash over him. “Thank you for coming for us, I do not think we would have seen another sunset without you. I know what they planned for me and I would have fought them until they killed me before I let them use me like that.” She reached up around his neck and pulled his head down and kissed him. “Merci, mon sauveur. Merci mon brave.” She kissed him again. He smiled, the kiss felt wonderful, something left a glow in his chest and he realised he was going to have to get this young lady, his first thought was to want to bed her, but something of her called to him. He wanted to give her children. He wanted a life with her.
He could hear the sound of the Chinooks, the green and red flares lit the space cleared in the middle of the camp. His team guided the hostages to the chopper that had just landed and working in a relay bundled everyone into the rear of the Helicopter with a load of marines. He found himself half carrying the cute doctor that had kissed him, the chopper lifting off even as its rear door started to close, the second one swinging in to land and pick up the rest of the force. Moments later as they sat in the dark hold of the noisy machine, they saw the actinic white light of the phosphorus set off to dispose of the bodies. He took the young woman’s head in his hand and pulled her into his shoulder to prevent her staring at the light and losing her night sight, prior to landing back on their ship.
A week later they walked off the boat into Cape Town, hand in hand. Emma Deurre was a surgeon. A Dental Surgeon, but had learned to deliver babies and do what was needed in civil war torn Africa. Daniel Granger had originally been through Dental College and had learned Orthodontics, but had signed up with the Navy as his sponsor, and served following graduation. Being a six foot three rugby player, the Marines had interested him. He had flown through the training, the commando course, and had taken a year’s officer placement with the oh so secretive SBS. They sometimes trained with the more famous SAS regiment, but they were almost unheard of. They liked it that way.
Dan had three weeks leave due. He and Emma went on safari together, and then flew back to meet her parents in Paris. He proposed to her outside a street café in Montmartre, in the shadow of Sacre Coeur before he left. His tour was almost done, and his drive and ambition had turned to creating a family. He left the Forces later that year, and they married at the church, in her parents home village in the Massif Central. Daniel’s friend from his squad, Christopher Andrew Thompson, Cat to his Dog, was his best man. Emma’s sister Charlotte was bridesmaid. The two of them hit it off and Dan wondered if they would be back for another wedding later.
Within a year Emma was pregnant, she gave birth to Hermione Jean Granger on the 19th of September 1979. Dan was over the moon with pride. His mate Chris was crying along side him as they looked at the little cinnamon coloured baby, her huge brown eyes captured them both.
The birth had taken it’s toll on Emma, Hermione would be their only child. They swallowed the sadness at this news with the thought of their precious daughter, She was going to be remarkable.
Chris didn’t make a go of it with Charlotte, he wasn’t ready to leave his squad, and one dark night doing a job that no-one would ever admit happened his luck ran out and he was killed on operations. Dan drove to the quiet memorial service organised in Hereford. His daughter was not settling and fretted constantly, so Emma told him to go alone, Charlotte was visiting, but didn’t feel she should go either. It was the beginning of November 1981, a cold frosty night. Dan said goodbye to his old mate, but could not stay to drink with the others, he was worrying about his girls, and felt compelled to leave.
The world appeared to conspire against him, an accident closed the motorway, sending him off into some random town. He stopped for fuel and bought a local map. As he walked back to his car he heard an old fashioned motorcycle, he saw it fly over his head and land behind some houses. His curiosity was peaked and he jumped back into his Range Rover and drove along the street, into the estate mentally tracking where he needed to be. He saw the bike at the end of a road, the rider was huge. An absolute unit. He killed the ignition and lights. The street lights were all out and he sat in silence, reaching under his seat for the lockbox that contained his personal protection weapon. A Browning Hi-Power. He mentally snorted at that, they were anything but high powered. Their short comings being the very reason he had been taught the double tap style of shooting.
As his eyes adjusted he saw three figures, two were dressed like Disney characters out of a story about Merlin or something. The Unit handed them a bundle and then walked back to the bike and set off into the air passing over his head. The Merlin character placed the bundle on the doorstep of a house and then did something to put the street lights back on. He then disappeared, followed almost immediately by the one dressed like a witch. Dan blinked. He had to check, it looked like a baby, surely it wasn’t. No-one would leave a baby on a doorstep like they were delivering milk.
He climbed out of his car and walked to the house, gun tucked into his waistband at his back. He was livid when he saw it was indeed a baby, who in their right mind would do such a thing. There was a letter. He opened it and read it. This was the child’s aunt and uncle’s house and its parents had died. His temper rose, but ice ran in his veins. Someone was going to be in trouble. He pressed the doorbell and held it for a full minute. The Hall light came on and a shrewish woman appeared. He towered over her, “Some idiot left this child on your doorstep. He is your nephew, and according to this letter, it is my sad duty to inform you that your sister is dead. If this letter is to be believed.” Whatever he expected her reaction, it was not the one he got.
“Good. That little freak, and her freak husband are gone. Good riddance. Keep the little freak if you want him, he has no home here.” She shut the door, locking it, the hall light went out. Dan stood for a moment, his first thought was to kick the door in and….. His thoughts trailed off. Force the child into a house he wasn’t wanted in. They would dump him in an orphanage. He looked at the child in his arms. His eyes were open. Bright green and regarding him, he had an ugly scar on his head, angry and red. It looked infected. Dan was at his car. When did he walk back to his car? He opened the rear and pulled out his go bag, unzipping it he set it on the back seat and threaded the seatbelts through the handles, He unwrapped the child, checking that he was still clean, his blanket fell to the floor forgotten. Dan wrapped him in the navy-blue woollen service jumper in the bag and settled Harry into the makeshift crib. “Hello Harry, welcome to the Granger family, I am sorry about your parents, but you have a new family and a sister now. Let’s get you home shall we.”
He replaced the gun under the seat, made safe and unloaded. He drove the rest of the way into their recently acquired house near the golf course being built in Crawley. His parents had passed last year, and he had sold their house. The money had allowed him and Emma to buy their own practice, with enough left over as a deposit on the house. As he drove he told Harry about Emma, Hermione, Charlotte, his best mate Cat Thompson. The drive didn’t seem to take as long as he expected, but it was still almost two am when he arrived home. He lifted the new addition to their family out of the back and walked to the front door. It opened as he approached, to Emma, looking tired and holding a sleepy Hermione on her hip. “She won’t sleep. Just keeps saying Daddy, and Harry? Over and over……..” Emma saw the bag, and the baby, “Daniel, why have you got a baby?”
“Let me in and I will tell you.” He followed her into the kitchen, where Charlotte was making tea.
“Harry.” Hermione called, she was reaching out to the baby, in the bag. Emma looked at her husband.
“He is called Harry. Let’s put them in her cot, see if they settle. Then I will tell you how this has happened.” They carried the pair to Hermione’s bedroom and settled them into the cot, the second Harry was laid next to her, she wrapped the boy in a hug and they drifted off to sleep in seconds.
“Now Daniel Oliver Granger, you can explain to me why you appear to have kidnapped a child?” He knew she would be happy, but the full name was a warning, his wife’s temper was up, and she looked exhausted. He reached around her and took her into his arms.
”I will tell you everything, I didn’t kidnap him, I think I rescued him. Let’s go get that tea Charlie is making and I will tell you what’s going on.”
Emma listened, and read the letter. Then she quizzed Dan over every detail. Finally they slept. The following morning, they put Harry in Hermione’s old high chair, the one she had just outgrown, and had breakfast, to Emma’s amazement her daughter fussed over Harry making sure he had enough to eat, passing him his cup, Hermione had never bothered with dolls, but she was doting over the new addition to the household.
Albus Dumbledore walked back into his office following breakfast, it was Monday morning, and the school was in full swing. He sat at his desk and picked up a lemon drop, and he unwrapped the confectionary, he realised the suite of devices monitoring Privet Drive were all silent. He looked around them once more, to be absolutely sure. He was in equal measures afraid, and angry. His carefully crafted plan needed Harry to be at the Dursley’s if they had harmed him, he would,……….. give them another chance.
He apparated from his office directly into the driveway at number 4. He didn’t knock simply unlocking the door and walking straight in to find Petunia feeding a child, a glance told him it was not Harry. “Where is Harry Potter?” he demanded putting some compulsion into the request.
She turned to him, “I sent him back with the man you sent to bring him here, we do not want him, we want nothing to do with your kind, we do not want freaks in this house. Now get out before I call the police.”
“I sent no-one, I left him on your doorstep.” Dumbledore replied.
“You left him on a doorstep, well, the chances are a fox took him then, there are plenty of them about. HE is not here. We do not want him. If you bring him back we will take him to an orphanage. Now leave.”
Dumbledore reached for his wand, but the very wards he had created to protect Harry from ill intent, protected Petunia and Dudley because of their blood and he was expelled from the house. He was angry, this was not good, he had cast a tracking charm on the blanket when he had placed the boy on the step, he sent a search spell, it revealed the blanket in the gutter at the end of the road.
He had lost Harry Potter.
If the wizarding public discovered his mistake, he would be lynched, or worse he would lose his headmaster position. He returned to his office. Minerva would crucify him.
Emma Granger was looking at the little boy they had adopted. It had taken over six months for all the paperwork and all the approvals, but the Dursleys utter refusal to take the child, and the foster parents both being medical professionals, one a decorated serviceman who wanted to adopt the boy made it an easy if tedious and drawn-out process. Here they were, almost Harry’s second birthday, and she was holding the adoption papers, signed and authorised. Harry was their boy. She had nothing but love for the little tyke, her daughter Hermione adored him, and he loved her right back. His scar was finally healing, they had tried various treatments, anti-biotics and antiseptics had not worked, it had remained angry and red. Eventually they had consulted with a colleague at the hospital where she and her husband held an Orthodontic clinic once a week about it, and he had taken some samples. He had found necrotic tissue in the wound, and they had allowed him to carry out a minor procedure on him, he had carefully removed all the affected tissue and then carefully closed the wound and put Harry on a cocktail of high strength anti-biotics. The scar had healed and was fading.
The pair of them started school together, Hermione one of the oldest in her year, Harry one of the youngest. They didn’t care, Harry was much the same size as Hermione, and fiercely protective of his sister. Harry tempered Hermione’s tendency to try to answer every question before anyone else could, he counselled her to let the others answer the easy ones, and only answer if no-one else could, to count to three before putting her hand up, and not to annoy the other children. Even so there were some children who tried to bully Hermione about her wild hair or her large front teeth. Having dentists for parents she knew they would be fixed, but she also knew it would not be until she reached her teens. With Harry at her side, she did not become upset at the taunting, but rolled her eyes and challenged them to think up more original insults. “Really, Bushy haired beaver, or bookworm is the best you can manage. My teeth can be fixed, you are stupid and you smell of wee, can you be fixed?” The girl in question looked at Hermione with murder in her eyes, and it wasn’t long before she tried to get one of the boys to hit Hermione. Harry simply stepped in front of the boy and faced him down. They were mostly ignored through school after that, they didn’t have many friends, but they didn’t really care.
Hermione’s letter arrived five days before her eleventh Birthday, and was followed up the next day when Professor McGonagall arrived at the Granger’s door. Emma invited her in, and made tea, she was sat with Hermione as she carried out the transformations, and Hermione’s face was alight with wonder as she described Hogwarts and learning all about magic. Dan and Harry arrived back from his football game with the junior team he played on.
Harry ran straight into the room to tell Hermione he had scored a goal, and stopped in his tracks at the sight of the stern woman sat in the chair. She looked at the messy haired boy, with Lily Evan’s bright green eyes staring straight at her, a faint but just visible scar over his right eye, and Minerva could feel the powerhouse of magic from the boy, and she could sense the bond between him and the girl. She kept her composure, just. “Good morning young man, I am Professor McGonagall, I was just telling Hermione and her mother about the school for witches and wizards. I can sense that you are magical as well, what is your name young man, perhaps we shall see you soon as well?
Harry stood up straight and in a clear voice as he had been taught, “I am Harry, erm Professor. Harry Potter. I was abandoned as a baby and my mum and dad adopted me. I don’t know if you will have me on any list, my family didn’t want me. I am glad, because I love my adopted family.”
Minerva was having to double down on her occulemency, standing in front of her, healthy, happy and loved, was Harry Potter. His legend was larger than life, credited with defeating Voldemort as a baby, Minerva knew that was Lily’s work, not a baby’s. He had then been taken to ‘safety’ by Albus Dumbledore and lost the same night. Dumbledore had survived, at the cost of a lot of his status and credibility, the eventual discovery that he had no idea where Harry was, but Minerva had checked with the Goblins at Gringotts, and they still had a vault in his name, magic would close the vault if he died.
Minerva had realised Albus was not acting in the best interests of the boy, and had become suspicious about the events leading up to his parent’s deaths. Dumbledore was a revered wizard, accusing him of anything was difficult, too many took his word as gospel truth, and were convinced that whatever he decided was for the best.
“Harry Potter. I knew your parents James and Lily. You get your eyes from your mother, and your unkempt hair from your father. They were two of my favourite pupils, Lily was fiercely intelligent, brightest witch of her generation many called her. Your parents loved you Harry, and they would be delighted to see your new family is so loving. They did not abandon you.” She stopped and looked at Emma, “Does Harry know why he was not brought up by his parents?”
Emma smiled, “He knows they were killed when he was a baby, his Aunt and Uncle are the ones that refused him a home. Fate guided Dan to the street where he was dumped like a milk bottle, and after talking to his Aunt, brought him home. My daughter decided we were adopting him within the first day, and we have never regretted a moment of it, he is a wonderful boy and we are proud to call him our son.”
The words stung Minerva, but she could not deny the truth of them. Her initial instinct to roast Albus about the fact she had found Potter, no thanks to his care, became tempered with the urge to protect the son of her favourite students. She would visit Gringotts and make some enquiries, who was his magical guardian, she could perhaps organise some wards to prevent meddlers doing anything, his location would only be secret until next September, then people would be able to find him.
She realised, he was not receiving mail. Where was it all going? “I am glad to hear he is settled in to such a loving and happy family, Harry is a little famous in our world, so his disappearance was big news, newspapers still print stuff about him on his birthday and on Halloween, the day it happened. I will not reveal his location to the world, but when he starts school, it will become known. Would you permit me to organise some magical protections for your home? for Harry, and Hermione, and both of you. His fame will attract some attention once people know he is still alive.”
Minerva left the Granger’s and apparated into Daigon Alley, she walked down the street and up the steps to Gringotts, where she requested her account manager Kobold. After some formalities were observed, she asked the questions she had come to Gringotts to attempt to resolve.
“Do you know who is the Magical Guardian of Harry James Potter, I recently discovered him alive and well and I wish to do my best to ensure that he remains that way, I fear if Albus Dumbledore gains this knowledge he will use his influence to attempt to gain control over the boy, and I do not believe he has the child’s best interests at heart.”
“I can make enquiries, I can ask the Potter Account Manager, will you be bringing Mr Potter to the bank on his eleventh Birthday?”
“Yes, but I would like to get some warding organised on the house he lives in with the family that has adopted him, he is safe at the moment as no-one else in the magical world knows where he is, or even if he is alive. Once he starts at Hogwarts all of this will be no longer secret. This raises another question, where is his mail going. I cannot believe that he has never been sent a single letter, I would expect the sky to be full of owls on his birthday, or Halloween. He does not know of his ancestry, or his fame at this moment. It is delicate, I do not wish anyone on the Ministry to find Harry until we have his guardianship sorted with someone who will act in his best interests. Can we discover what the wills of his parents say about his guardianship?
“Wait here please Mistress McGonagall, I will speak with the Potter Account Manager and see if he is willing to assist.” The Goblin left the office and returned sometime later with another goblin he introduced as Gnarlak, the Potter account manager.
“Mistress McGonagall, would you be able to bring young Master Potter to the bank so that I may meet with him, we should then be able to open his parents wills and potentially address the issues you have brought before my colleague Kobold, I have sent several letters but it is apparent that he is not receiving them, we are concerned that he may not gain access to his trust vault on his birthday, and worry that others may have possession of his vault key.”
“I will speak once more with his adoptive family, and seek their leave to bring him to the bank, would it be permissible to bring his new family, they are muggles, but they appear to be good people. My avenues of enquiry are limited for fear of alerting the wrong people to his whereabouts before we can make it safe, if you can answer some of these questions, it will go some way to allaying my fears for Harry and his Sister.”
Gnarlak smiled, showing altogether too many teeth in Minerva’s opinion, “Bring his family, his adoptive sister should do an inheritance test, she may have access to a dormant vault. In any event, his family should know his history as far as it is permitted.”
Minerva stood and with a short bow took her leave of the Goblins and made her way back into the Alley, where once clear of the bank she apparated back to the Grangers. Knocking at the door, she was once more invited back inside. “Mr and Mrs Granger, sorry, that should be Doctor’s Granger?
“Actually Mr and Mrs, as we are surgeons, and as such revert to Mr or Mrs, from Doctor. Makes no sense but that’s how it goes, many people call us Doctor as a courtesy it isn’t important really.
“Ah, interesting, I popped to the Bank, to see if they had any information on who was Harry’s magical guardian, I think he may not have one as he has been regarded as missing for all these years, but I want to ensure that whomever is appointed will act in Harry’s best interests, as I do not fully trust Albus Dumbledore with Harry. It was he who left Harry on the doorstep, where you found him, to my eternal shame I was there and despite arguing that it was not right, I allowed it to happen. That was a terrible mistake, and I shall not stand by and let others abuse a position of trust over Lily’s son, I loved that girl. She was Head Girl in her last year at the school and should have gone on to do great things, if not for the tragedy that befell her and James. I owe it to her and Harry to make good for my error in allowing Albus to leave the child, I hope one day Harry will forgive me, but until then I will ensure that he and Hermione are safe at Hogwarts.” Minerva relaxed a little having cleared what she wanted to say. “I would like to organise a trip for you all to go to the Goblin Bank, Gringotts, where you will meet the account manager for Harry’s birth family. He will have a legacy vault, and an inheritance, his family were quite wealthy, and it would allow you to open a vault for Hermione, for the future. The Goblins appear fierce, but honour is held in great regard by them, and they are scrupulously proper in their banking. Is any particular day of the week better for you?”
“We work at our practice alternate weekends, but we both have Mondays off, however the kids are in school. We will both be off in two weeks’ time, the weekend after next, is that soon enough?
“I think that will be fine, I will sort a time with the bank, and send you a letter. If an owl taps at your window, let it in and give it a treat, a bit of bacon, chicken or raw meat. It will have a letter for you. I can ask it to wait for a reply. For safety I will only refer to Hermione, but Harry is most definitely included.”
“Owl Post,” Dan shook his head, “whatever next. Until next time Professor,” he shook her hand and walked her to the door, where she promptly disappeared from view.
Minerva arrived to collect them on the Saturday morning as arranged, and the five of them held onto the ribbon she held as the portkey activated and carried them into a reception room within the bank. A goblin guard motioned them to follow and guided them to a room, where Gnarlak waited for them. “Please sit everyone, I am Gnarlak, the account manager for the Potter family, and as such would be young Heir Potter’s first point of contact in the bank. Normally he would be introduced by his parent on his eleventh birthday, but this is not possible in Harry’s circumstances, so we have arranged for today’s meeting. He bowed to each in turn, “Harry I assume, Miss Hermione, Mr Granger, Mrs Granger, Professor McGonagall.” He placed some parchments on the desk, “first things first. We can do a simple test with a few drops of blood, to establish identities and ancestries. If you will agree to these tests, each of you should place a few drops of your blood in the circle on the parchment, magic will take care of the rest.” He produced a small athame from the desk and the blade glowed red for a second, “the blade is sterile, who will go first. Dan smiled and held his hand forward, “Our warrior as always Major. Well met Sir,” he cut Dan’s thumb and let the blood drip onto the sheet before healing the cut and once more sterilising the blade. Harry went next, then Hermione and last Emma. Whilst they watched lines of text appeared on each sheet, Gnarlak smiled, “Hier Potter, son of James Charlus Potter and Lily Rose Potter nee Evans. Your identity is confirmed. I have your parents wills here, do you wish to hear them now, and in private, or are you happy for your companions to stay?”
“They can stay, and I would like to hear them please.”
“Very well, please place your thumb on this box here,” he held Harry’s hand, Harry felt a slight prick into his thumb and the box clicked as the lock released. Gnarlak opened the box and retrieved the documents within. There was an envelope, addressed to Harry. It said to be handed to Harry on his coming of age, Gnarlak placed it back into the box. “One for later in life I am afraid Master Potter.”
He laid the will out, it was a combined will, from both parents giving each other control and in the event of both being dead, everything left to Harry except for three bequests;
200,000 Galleons to Sirius Black, to look after Harry in our absence,
100,000 for Remus Lupin for the same, and to support Sirius, and
30 silver Sickles to Peter Pettigrew for his betrayal.
In the event of their death before Harry was an adult his guardians, in order of preference dependant upon their availability were;
Alice and Frank Longbottom, oathswarn Godmother and Husband
Sirius Black and Remus Lupin, oathsworn Godfather and honorary uncle
Pandora and Xeno Lovegood, close personal friends
Andromeda and Theodore Tonks, close personal friends
Minerva McGonagall, favourite Professor of both parents, if none of the others are possible, please find Harry a good family
Under no circumstances is Harry to be left with Petunia Dursley or her family. He will not be safe.
Gnarlak folded the papers, “Mistress McGonagall, it would appear that you are the Magical guardian for Harry James Potter, the Longbottoms are not available due to their injuries, Sirius Black is imprisoned, it would appear unjustly. Pandora Lovegood passed away two years ago, the Tonks are banished form the Black family, it would be dangerous to send Harry to them, for both Harry and the Tonks family, which leaves yourself charged with finding Harry a good family. I suspect fate has sorted this already, but you have the final decision within the magical world.”
“I believe you are correct and fate guided the Grangers to Harry, I could not wish for a better home for him, in his circumstances, I would not wish to change anything. It will help me sleep knowing that I am his guardian in the magical world for now, it prevents any others making a play for control of Harry and his family vaults.”
“You said my godfather was unjustly imprisoned, what did you mean?”
“He is recorded as your oathsworn godfather. The will is a magical document, and can only contain true statements. This means that Sirius Orion Black swore on oath to protect you and your family at the cost of his life if he deceived or betrayed you. The oaths are not common, they can be troublesome, but the Potters and Blacks are old families. If Sirius Black had betrayed you as he is accused, he would have died on the spot, ergo he is innocent of the charges for which he is imprisoned.”
“Who is Peter Pettigrew?” Harry asked.
“He was the fourth member of a group of Hogwarts students,” Minerva answered, “They called themselves the Marauders, and where your Father, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew. Your mother was eventually the fifth member. Pettigrew was a little out of his depth in their company, they were the stars in their year, popular with the witches, always having fun, Peter was their pity project perhaps. If he betrayed them, it is a bitter pill, they treated him better than he deserved.
“What about my mother?”
“Your father pursued her romantically for their entire time at school, she only relented and dated him in their last year, when he settled down and became more responsible. She was close to Remus throughout most of her school years, they formed the core of a study group, which included Alice Longbottom, then a Brody, Pandora Lovegood, then a Johnson, and Amelia Bones, who has become the head of the DMLE. It was a slight surprise when she finally agreed to date your father, he was self-confident to the verge of arrogance, and together with Sirius they brought out the worst of each other. Sirius and He were quite brilliant, they easily achieved the results to become Aurors, and were outstanding. Responsible, not so much. Lily was a good influence on them all, they knuckled down and worked in their last year.”
Gnarlak cleared his throat, “Emma Michelle Granger, nee Deurre, your parchment Shows no magical lineage, Daniel Oliver Granger, you are also a muggle, apologies for the term. Hermione Jean Granger, you are the descendant of the Deurre and Granger lines, the two lines joining has awoken the magical ability in you. Interestingly you are also the wife to be of one Harry James Potter. Your marriage is recorded as magical, you are soul mates, and when you are of age, or when certain physical acts take place, your bond will form, and eventually become sealed. This would explain why fate drew your father to rescue the infant Harry. You appear to have destiny.”
Gnarlak smiled, “Mr Granger, before you give Harry the talk all fathers give the suitors of daughters you should know. The bond is not formed, they have not so much as kissed, but you are almost certainly looking at the future father to your grandchildren. Soul mates such as these find each other so incredibly rarely, and when they do their love is like no other. Their lives will always be intertwined, they will do everything together and be the greater because of it. I hope this piece of information does not cause any trouble for our youngsters, they appear as surprised as their parents.”
Gnarlak reached into a drawer, and opened a box, he handed Harry a ring from within the box, “Your Heir’s ring, it offers some magical protections and guidance about family magics. Hermione, please select a ring from this row, one that calls to you.” Hermione picked a silver ring with a pale blue stone and diamonds either side. Harry place it onto her ring finger,” Harry did as he was asked and the ring resized into her finger with a small flash. “It is a magical betrothal ring, nothing more than a friendship ring at this stage, but it too offers protections, and shows that House Potter protects you, as you are due to start Hogwarts this year, this will help keep you safe.”
“Lastly Harry, this is your vault key, to your trust vault. It refills on your birthday to top it up to 5,000 Galleons, a Galleon is currently worth £51, similar to the Krugerrand, so that is £255,000 in mundane currency. Do not allow anyone else to use your key. No-one.”
“Hermione, this is your vault key, as Heir Potter’s betrothed, it will top up to 1000 Galleons annually, like wise do not allow anyone else to use the key.”
“You have probably all surmised that Harry is in line to inherit quite a fortune, his total worth will be over fifty million Galleons when he comes of age. I shall require someone to review the family investments with me in due course, but they are in good shape at the moment, there is no hurry. I shall write to the various parties and inform them of the bequests, given the nature of Pettigrew’s relationship, he is allegedly deceased, if we find him, I shall inform you of our results. Sirius Black is in Azkaban, but Remus Lupin should at least be in touch with you in the near future, I assume he believed you lost.
“Lastly, warding your residence magically, Mistress McGonagall had mentioned this, I would recommend that it is carried out in the next few weeks and the costs can be borne by your main vault, if Regent McGonagall agrees?”
“Excellent, that is the best solution to what I was hoping for. If you can advise me when the warders will carry out their survey, we can discuss what is possible. I can advise Mr Granger on what the various wards will do and what safety measures should be in place. Can you get everyone an emergency portkey. We can decide upon a sanctuary to transport them to later. I think we are done for now, today has been more successful than I had hoped.”
She turned to the group, “lets get to the exit hall and we can portkey you all home,”
They stood, Harry last to stand, he looked up at Dan nervously. “Don’t worry sprout, I have seen you step up and protect our pumpkin so many times, I think I knew you two would be together eventually. I am not angry, as long as you keep treating Hermione as you have, I can’t ever see that changing. Just no kids for at least fifteen years, I am way too young for grandchildren any time soon.”
“Daaaaad, No.” Hermione whined, “I am waaaaay too young to even think about that, I am still blushing because Gnarlak said I hadn’t even kissed Harry. I do love you Harry, but you are going to have to wait for the romance stuff, I am not ready.”
Harry was tomato coloured, “Waiting sounds really good, really good.” He hurried out of the room. Emma laughed, she patted Dan on the arm, “I think this is so adorable, I will have a gentle talk to our girl, just to be sure, but she is so sensible I am not worried. Honestly I cannot imagine a nicer boy for my little girl, they can marry in fifteen years did you say? Maybe ten.” She laughed, “we are going to get so much fun teasing them, I almost feel guilty.”