Chapter Text
The following morning at the Tonks residence Andi and Sirius were sitting talking over a cup of coffee at the breakfast table, Ted was in his home office going over some papers, and making sure he had everything in order for the ‘gamot session after Christmas, where he would be with Sirius as he took his seat. He was also seeing who would be best as Harry’s guardian, as they expected a challenge from Dumbledore at the ‘gamot. Dora was only visible as a body sized lump under her duvet.
The wards registered someone had attempted to apparate directly into the house, and had expelled them. Sirius looked at Andi, a question on his lips. She answered, “I think Dumbledore just tried to crash into our house, it appears you paying the goblins for those expensive wards was not paranoia after all. You have our gratitude Siri.”
“He must have been at Kings Cross and seen you leave with Harry, I bet he thinks Harry lives here.”
“Harry is only four doors down, I am a little embarrassed by that, I have lived here for eight years, and I only met him last summer after Nymphadora met him by accident. But Ted and I usually apparate in and out of the garden or via the floo.”
“He will be back in a while I imagine, I will let Harry and Hermione know he is lurking,” Sirius sent his patronus off to tell Harry, only to see it stop at the back door. The door opened and Harry’s face peered around the door, can we come in, we wanted to have a bit of a chat about the lockets and stuff if that’s OK?”
“Bad timing Pup, Dumbles is sniffing around, we think he just tried to apparate straight into the house.”
“Harry stepped in with Hermione at his shoulder, “We’ve been expecting some form of showdown all year, we expected him to try it on at school. He thinks we have years to sort everything out, senile old buffer doesn’t realise we might have Riddle finished before new year.”
Hermione asked, “Where does your ward dump an intruder?”
“I am not sure, either the English Channel, or Coniston Water, depending on how hard they hit the ward, if we set them on their highest setting it’s some completely unpronounceable volcano in Iceland, sounds like a cough with a mouthful of sausage.”
“Eyjafjallajökull” Hermione said.
“easy for you to say.” Harry snarked
“Gesundheit,” Sirius replied. Hermione fixed him with a level 3 stare, they only become fatal above level 5.
At that moment Albus Dumbledore was drying himself off in his office having been dumped into the centre of one of the Lake Districts larger lakes, not warm in the height of summer the water had been truly freezing. He was convinced that the presence of such heavy-duty wards meant that Young Harry must be at the Tonk’s residence. He looked across to Fawkes, the bird looked back and trilled something mildly derisive, it promptly flamed out of existence. Albus transfigured his robes into muggle attire. In his case a yellow and black plaid three-piece suit of a cut not seen this side of the nineteenth century, with bright red riding boots, and a purple felt top hat. Satisfied that he would be unobtrusive in the muggle neighbourhood he apparated once more, this time to a place slightly away from the Tonk’s house and became painfully aware of a second equally powerful set of wards on a nearby house, these did not banish him to a lake as he landed outside of them, but they made his landing rough, and he was feeling every one of his considerable years when he materialised.
Dan was standing in the rear of the double garage that stood apart from the house, he had just been to the butchers to pick up their order for Christmas and was loading part of it straight into the chest freezer in the garage, he heard Dumbledore apparate, and having some experience of the form of travel recognised it for what it was. He saw the wizard, and equally recognised him, for a moment he cast about for a weapon, and then as Dumbeldore set off away from him relaxed and went into the house. He found Emma and told her what was going on, and went to open his bag of tricks.
Back at the Tonk’s Hermione looked up, “He’s back, he just triggered our wards with a near miss.” Sirius and Hermione looked out of the window. “Here he comes, he looks like something out of a Dickens parody.”
He stopped at the property boundary, and waited, “He is knocking on the wards,” Andi announced. “I don’t want to let him inside, shall we go see what he wants Siri?”
“We know what he wants, lets see if we can persuade him to clear off without a fight.” Sirius and Andi opened the front door and walked out onto the driveway in front of their house, “Good morning Albus, care to explain the attempt at crashing into my cousins house earlier?”
Albus’s eyes narrowed at the sight of Sirius, he had heard that the authorities had released him, he was innocent, but hadn’t expected to see him any time soon. “I was looking for Young Harry, I need him to be safe, and I know just the place. If you could let me see him, I would be most grateful, it is for his own safety.” He went with his number three smile.
“Harry doesn’t live here, he came here for some pizza and to visit last night, but he is home now. We keep that location secret for obvious reasons. His address is not my secret to share, Albus. It is not something you need to know, and it is not your responsibility to decide where he lives. You kidnapped him as a baby, and you lost him. You have no credibility with his family, nor with mine.”
“Sirius, my boy, there is no need to be so adversarial, I only intend what is the best for the boy, he needs to be with his family, it is for the greater good, he must be protected. I am sure you understand.” He twinkled his eyes.
Andi replied, “Harry is with his family Albus. He has lived with his family since you dumped him on a doorstep, and the Dursleys refused to take him. Harry’s Great Grandmother, was our grandmother, we are family. Harry has the blood of the House of Black in his veins, do not try to polish the turd of your blatant attempt to wrest control of Harry from those people who have HIS best interests at heart and do not seek to use him for their own nefarious purposes.”
Albus gave her his best disappointed look, “Andromeda, there is no reason we cannot agree on who is best for Harry for his future, I am disappointed that you have so little faith in me, I only want what is best, if you could just tell me where young Harry is I can iron this out with him in no time.”
“By obliviating everyone I assume?” Sirius declared, “Andi is a Healer, her husband is in law, mind magic used on either is a stretch in Azkaban, perhaps you can use my old cell. Albus.”
“No, no Sirius, not everyone.” Albus whipped out his wand and was hit by the “Expelliarmous” spell cast from the side of the house by Harry, he called the wand to him and it flew to his hand, he felt it engage and the surge of magic ran through him, “Harry, there you are, I was just.” He was cut off mid-sentence.
Harry had heard enough of the bloviating beard for the day, he tried to cast an obliviate and saw the spell impact Dumbles, he expected him to be quiet and freeze. He did not, he started to talk, “Well Harry, it is lovely weather we are having for the time of year, it’s nice on these old bones of mine to have a warmer day. Young people just do not understand how cold and draughty Hogwarts can be when you are getting on in life, and the value of a pair of nice warm woollen socks…..”
“Harry, what spell did you mean to cast?” Hermione asked.
“Obliviate, but all I could think was how the bloviating beard was in full flow, and I think I said ‘bloviate’ instead. Will he ever shut up?”
“I don’t know, but he isn’t casting anything in that condition is he. You have the Elder wand now as well. I think you had better keep that regardless, it balances things out a bit.” Hermione marched over to Albus grabbed his arm as he was waxing lyrical about the flowers in the garden, even though in late December there were none. She side along apparated him to his office and then popped back to the garden. “That should keep him out of our hair until someone figures out how to reverse that misfire.”
Sirius was laughing silently his shoulders shaking, Andi looked across, “What did you do Harry?”
“I tried to cast an obliviate on him, with the Elder wand, I was going to blank him and drop him back in his office, so he wouldn’t come back, and I was thinking about him bloviating, and I said ‘bloviate,’ when I meant to say ‘obliviate’ I have no idea what I have cast if I am honest.”
Andi smiled and chuckled, “Well it worked, let’s go get a drink and perhaps a pastry.” They walked back into the house to see Dora stood just inside the door.
“Way to go Harrikins, you have just invented the ultimate prank spell for blowhards. If I thought I would survive Hermione’s wrath I would kiss you.” She laughed and grabbed his face pinching his cheeks in her hands, “Intent is the heart of magic, I reckon it will take them a day or two to sort old Dumbles out, Hogwarts will be fun next term. Brilliant, the Twins would be in awe.” She turned back into the house, “I made a pot of tea.”
------oooOOOooo------
Minerva McGonagall walked into the Headmasters office, one of the Hogwarts house elves had informed her that the Headmaster was not well, “Professor Kitty, Headmaster Bumbly is not making any sense, can you be’s looking at him?”
The Headmaster was dressed like a Victorian era circus owner, and was pacing up and down his office, “Is everything alright Albus?”
“Ah Minerva, I am so pleased you are here, my, my it is lovely to see you, how are you feeling today. Not too tired I hope, isn’t it a lovely day, I was just thinking to myself that it was a lovely day and it is. What brings you to my office on this most lovely of days, not that it isn’t nice to see you, because it is, but I wonder what it is you wanted on such a lovely day……” Albus rambled on.
McGonagall stifled a smirk and called the elf, “Tippy.” The elf appeared, “Please ask Professors Snape and Flitwick to come to the Headmaster’s office.” The elf popped away as instructed.
The Professors assembled in the office and stood listening to Albus describing what a nice day it was and thanking them for coming, on such a nice day.
Snape looked over to McGonagall, “Has he been confounded?”
“Not as far as I can tell, I tried a Finite but it had no discernible effect upon his state.”
Professor Flitwick was sweeping his wand over Albus, who currently was extolling the virtue of a steak and kidney pudding. “The magical signature of whatever was cast, is Albus own wand, he appears to have cast something and it has rebounded.”
“He is rather fond of obliviating people who disagree with his thinking,” Snape observed dryly.
“Judging by his clothes he was attempting to blend into the muggle world,”
“Merlin, save us. If he was seen in public looking like that, the poor people who witnessed anything will need obliviating to maintain the statute, and their sanity.”
“Can we check his wand and see what he cast?”
“He doesn’t have a wand on him, and I was wondering how he got back to this office.”
“Wonder, I wonder, I wandered lonely as a cloud, and gazed all around about me as I floated….”
------oooOOOooo------
Sirius, Harry and Hermione were sat in Gnarlak’s office, waiting for the Goblin to arrive. Unusually they had been given refreshments and were sat chatting,
“I have a couple of ideas about it Harry, I’m hoping he holds off until the ‘gamot session on Friday. I am perfectly happy to leave Minerva as your magical guardian, but if we need to fight Dumbles, Ted has a few tricks up his sleeve. Minnie told me that it took Severus and Fillius combined to undo the hex you put him under, and he has no memory he is admitting to of how it happened.”
“What about the wand, now Harry has it, is he trying to get it back?”
“It’s the wand of Ignotus Peverell, it’s Harry’s by birthright, a family heirloom, and it has joined with Harry and the Hallows, you probably over match Dumbles now. Even if you gave it to him, it is your wand.”
The door opened and Gnarlak entered, accompanied by another Goblin, taller and dressed in fine clothes, he was carrying a long handled axe with a large red jewel at the top of the shaft, the eye of the axe. Hermione jumped to her feet and bowed to the two goblins then with her right fist clenched over her heart spoke, “Manager Gnarlak, King Ragnok, may your gold grow as your foes perish.” She bowed again.
Gnarlak looked on, “Mistress Granger, may your foes perish as your gold grows.” He returned the salute and the bow. “I see you recognised our King, Ragnok. These are the human young that Kragnok spoke so highly of, the adult, is not Warrior Granger, however.” He introduced them, dismissing Sirius somewhat.
Ragnok gave each a short head nod of respect, “You fared well alongside members of my Horde in battle against a dark wizard, and the reaper itself favoured your cause. We have inspected the vault you suggested, and we can detect the dark magic within, but our contracts are absolute, and we may not enter the vault without it’s owner’s consent, unless carrying out our duties as bankers. This gives us a small difficulty, once we can enter the vault legitimately, we can confirm the breach of contract and act, but as the owners are in Azkaban, we currently have no reason to enter.”
Sirius smiled and stood, he bowed and saluted as Hermione had, “King Ragnok, I believe I may be able to assist. The Vault belongs to Bellatrix Lestrange Black. As head of House Black, I can offer you several reasons to enter the vault. Firstly, a bride price was paid, and the marriage contract has not been fulfilled, the House would seek to recover these funds. Secondly, Bellatrix has brought shame to the House, and I intend to expel her, I would want any monies she has received as her stipend from House Black returned from the date she took the dark mark. Thirdly, as her head of House, I believe I can authorise you to check the vault for proscribed items, so as not to place the House in breach of contract with Gringotts.” Sirius bowed again and sat.
Ragnok and Gnarlak talked briefly in Goblin and with a brief nod to the crowd Ragnok left.
“If that allows the goblet to be recovered, then we can organise the removal of the soul shard,” Hermione stated.
Gnarlak took a seat at his desk, “What brings you to the bank today?”
Sirius spoke, “I have a property that has been left abandoned, it too contains a Horcrux, we believe, and the evil has infected the very building itself. It has drawn all manner of dark creatures, and I would like to hire a team of cursebreakers to cleanse the whole property, and then builders to modernise and renovate the house, finally new wards to protect the property and those within.”
“This can be arranged, what is the address, of this town house?”
“Number 12 Grimmauld Place.”
“Is anyone resident at this address?”
“There is an old House Elf called Kreacher, the miasma has twisted his already bitter personage beyond reason. I am not sure of what to do with him.”
Hermione said, “Call Kreacher, you can get him to fetch the locket and witness its cleansing, that will help his mental state, he is trying to complete the last order he received from Regulus.”
“Perhaps, but as he is at this time, neither of you would be safe at Grimmauld Place, perhaps I should just knock it down and start again.”
A goblin entered carrying a box, he placed it upon the table and spoke briefly to Gnarlak, and then left. Gnarlak turned to the rest, “Ragnok has authorised an audit of the vault of Bellatrix Lestrange Black, and this dark item, proscribed under the terms and conditions of vault rental with Gringotts. Pursuant to this breach of conditions the contents of said vault are forfeit, and once the charges are levied the balance will be credited to Mistress Granger’s account as the first to notify us of this item.”
“Sirius, get Kreacher to bring the locket, we can call Susan and have them both cleaned at the same time.”
Sirius shrugged, “Kreacher.” He waited, “I Head of House Black, call Elf Kreacher.” He raised his eyebrows. The Elf appeared and stood muttering.
“Kreacher, fetch the locket Regulus entrusted you to destroy, we shall cleanse it of the curse for you this morning.” Hermione said to the elf.
Kreacher stood and regarded Hermione, he started muttering “Mudblood tells Kreacher what to do, but Kreacher wants to fulfil Master Regulus’s wishes, Kreacher does not like blood traitor Master.”
Sirius looked at Hermione and shrugged, “Kreacher. As Head of House, I order you to fetch the locket here, you may stay to witness it’s cleansing.” The elf looked at Sirius for a moment and popped away.
Harry called Susan, she appeared in the room, hair in a French plait, poker in hand. “What have you got for me today munchkins?”
Harry pointed to the box, “That should be the cup of Helga Hufflepuff, and we are waiting on Salazr’s locket to appear.” Kreacher appeared and placed the locket on the table next to the box.
“Oh, good work.” Susan placed the tip of the poker onto the locket and with a loud scream reaped the soul from within, she turned to Gnarlak, who was seeing her in her Goblin form as Grimlok, the Goblin Reaper. She spoke to him in Goblin, “Open the box please, Manager Gnarlak.”
Gnarlak did as asked and she reaped the soul shard from the cup as well. “Well done Munchkins, and you doggy, just one piece left and we can finish this dark wizard for good.” She curtseyed to those present and faded from view.
Kreacher was staring at the locket. “Locket is clean, Master’s task is complete. Mudblood achieved what Kreacher could not.”
“Kreacher, return to the House, and start cleaning, I want that house habitable as soon as possible.” The elf glowered at Sirius and popped away.
Hermione stood and picked up the locket, “At some point we should return these to the school, if we can get rid of Dumbles.” She put in the box along with the cup, “Manager Gnarlak, could you place these in my vault along with the Diadem please?”
“Certainly Mistress Granger.
Mister Black, we should organise a cursebreaker to visit the property and give you an appraisal and prepare a quotation for the work you outlined, once that is complete, I think the renovation works can follow. Are you free this afternoon, I can organise one of our Human employees to meet you near the property, so that you may grant them access.
------oooOOOooo------
Sirius was sitting on one of the benches that were scattered around the small park that sat in the centre of Grimmauld Place, and across the road from where his family home was. A small attractive woman with an almost elfin appearance walked up to him, “Mr Black?”
“Yes, are you from Gringotts?”
“I am. Samantha Bell, Senior Curse Breaker, I am here to assess the work required to your property. Can you take me through the ward lines Mr Black?”
Sirius stood and smiled at the lady, “Madame Bell, Please call me Sirius. Mr Black sounds like my father. The house is across the road, if you will follow me, I can take you over the ward boundary.”
“Likewise call me Samantha, Madame Bell sounds like my Grandmother, shall we go? Sirius.” He nodded and they walked across the road to where the house sat looking tired and derelict. As they crossed the pavement, and walked up to the front door, Sirius reached out and took her hand.
“Allow me to bring you over the ward boundary, it will be safer this way,” As they walked to the door Samantha felt the wards wash over her, they felt old and malevolent.
“Nice place, it feels warm and welcoming.” She snarked as Sirius opened the front door.
“It fits right in with the family vibe, my loving mother and father were such welcoming people.”
“I am glad they are being welcoming, I would hate to try and visit if they didn’t like me.”
The portrait of Warlburga started screaming at Sirius, calling him a worthless blood traitor and demanding to know why he had darkened their hallways.
“Lovely woman, your birthday parties must have been popular.”
Sirius laughed, “I would never invite anyone back here, my best friends included a werewolf, and muggleborn girl and a few members of the light side of our world. My mother would have self-combusted.”
“If that portrait is any guide, that might have given you a better childhood.” She looked around and pulled a notebook and pen from her backpack, “Lead on, let’s see what this place needs doing to it to make it habitable.”
------oooOOOooo------
Christmas arrived on Rusper Road, Crawley, at the Granger’s house the kids were down later than any previous year, and it was a subdued affair, the older minds in the children not having any real enthusiasm for opening presents early in the morning.
The meal however was a more festive event, the Tonks family joined them with Sirius in tow and the eight of them sat down to a meal created jointly by Harry and Dan, Hermione had apparently inherited her cooking ability from her mother, and the menfolk set to and organised the spread.
Dora, Harry and Hermione were sat down one side of the table opposite Sirius and the Tonks adults. With the Grangers at the ends, “Where did you learn to cook muggle style Harry?” Dora asked him.
“Previous lives in the Dursley’s. I had to cook for them, or get beaten. I hated cooking for them, but I discovered that I like cooking when it’s my choice.”
Hermione gave him some side eye, “So why did you leave it to me in the tent? I am a terrible cook, I can burn a boiled egg. When we were starving to death, where was Chef Harry.” She huffed.
“Well. It’s woman’s work Hermione.” Harry grinned and ducked as she gave him a hard stare, “I am joking, it never occurred to me that there was something you were not amazing at.” The side eye returned,
“Nice try Pup,” Sirius mock whispered, “I think you might have better results if you offer to cook Hermione something special.” Dora snickered to herself.
“What do you reckon Hermione. Get Harrikins to cook a nice meal, and act as your bultler all evening?”
“Hmmf. I am not sure, what I can tell Harrikins, is that his chances of an adult Christmas present have just evaporated.”
“You can do that?”
“When we portkey to Susan’s cottage, we are back in our original bodies from our previous life, so aged about twenty somrthing.”
“Pity you can’t come back in those bodies if you have to fight?” Dora pondered out loud.
Hermione looked at Dora for a moment, and nodded thoughtfully.
“So you have both been through School before?”
“Yeah. Hermione still makes me revise though.” He ducked and received more side eye.
“Yes, because of course your marks last time around were so exemplary, since you spent most of the time goofing off with Ron, rather than working.”
“What I meant,” Dora said, “Was that once you have sorted what you are supposed to do, you could simply take the exams and finish school, and have a life.”
Harry shook his head, “teasing Hermione apart, we need to build friendship groups and start alliances, we need to rid Britain of the scourge of blood purity, we can’t do that laying on a beach. We have to go to school.” He bumped Hermione with his elbow, and smiled at her, “Getting rid of Dumbledore would be a good start, he is a roadblock to modernisation, he regards witches as nothing more than wombs to bear wizards, he hoards information, he believes only he knows the correct path. Thousands died because he hesitates, because he believes anyone, except me, deserves another chance, no matter what they do, nor how little remorse they show. He potioned us in the past, and compelled us into relationships, twisted what we should have. He is our enemy.”
Hermione spoke, “For what I suffered, for what Harry endured on our previous lives, he deserves to die. Ron Weasley looked me in the eye as I died from the basilisk fang he stabbed me with, as it’s venom reached my heart he called me a mudblood whore. I was supposed to be his wife in Dumbledore’s plan, but the potions wore off. The toxic carrot killed me rather than let Harry and I be together. He will die. How we have not decided upon, but he is dead.”
“Whoo, you two are spooky at times, remind me not to get on your wrong side.”
“It will never happen. You were always a friend, you never betrayed anyone, ensuring you do not die this time is one of our goals.”
“OK kids, enough. This is supposed to be a celebration, not a wake for people who haven’t died yet. Lighten the mood for pity’s sake.” Dan spoke from the end table.
------oooOOOooo------
It was the morning of the Wizengamot Session, and Harry and Hermione had walked around the corner to the Tonk’s house, where they were met by the family and Sirius. Andi gave them both dark robes to wear and advised them to keep the hoods up and shield their faces in the Ministry, there would be plenty of observers at this session, held as it was in a school holiday, students were a common sight.
They used the floo into the Ministry Atrium and went in turn through security, without incident and took the lifts down to the level of the Wizengamot Chamber, they filed in and sat in the visitors’ gallery, keeping their hoods up, Andromeda sat with Ted on their left, Sirius settled on their right. As they sat waiting Neville and Daphne walked up and took seats in the row in front of them, Daphne spotted Harry, but with a finger to his lips he motioned her to be discrete and with a wry smile she nodded, and whispered to Neville sat at her side. He looked up and with a subtle nod, acknowledged Harry and Hermione.
Eventually the room was filled, Harry carefully looked around the room, Malfoy was sitting in his seat, with Draco at his side, Minerva was sitting across the other side from the Malfoy’s. He recognised a few from previous lifetimes, Cyrill Greengrass, Daphne’s father, and Augusta Longbottom, Neville’s grandmother, a few death eaters, Crabbe, Goyle. Some of Dumbles sycophants, Doge and Diggory. Harry remembered Diggory, his campaign against them. Some of those who would decide things on merit, Nott, Bulstrode, Shacklebolt, Macmillan, Ollivander.
Fashionably and ego massagingly late Dumbles made his entrance, wearing eye watering yellow robes, and smiling his best grandfather smile. Hermione squeezed his knee, and with a flick of her eyebrows, let him know what she thought of the performance. Dumbles took his seat and after a lengthy and largely unnecessary introduction asked the clerk of the court for the first item.
“The first item on the agenda is the New Head of House Black assuming his seat on the Wizengamot. The court calls, Sirius Orion Black.” Sirius stood and worked his way down to the front of the courtroom.
Throwing the cowl of his robe over his shoulders he stood tall and in a clear voice announced, “I Sirius Orion Black, of House Black hereby take my seat on the Wizengamot as entitled, may magic judge me to be worthy. So Mote it be.” His family shield briefly flared into existence in front of him, signalling to the ‘gamot that he was a rightful Head of House. Shortly after the crest of the House of Black formed over the back of the bench reserved for their House.
Sirius looked up at Dumbledore, it was traditional to invite the incoming Head of a House to say a few words. The assembled members turned awaiting his invitation. The clerk turned to Dumbledore and looked at him with raised eyebrows. Albus was not happy, he knew Sirius was out of Azkaban, but he was not expecting him to take his house, and the last meeting had been erased from his memory. He sucked in his cheeks, “Does the new Head of House Black have any words for the Wizengamot today?”
“Why thank you, Chief Wizard, I was beginning to wonder if you would ever ask.” Sirius paused and looked around the room. “I would like to remind the honourable members, that I was falsely imprisoned, without trail. We shall be seeking recompense. I also announce that I have made my Godson, by ritual, Harry James Potter the heir to the House of Black, it’s properties and it’s titles. I shall be taking up all of the duties that come with the House, including those of Governor of Hogwarts. We of House Black are not satisfied with the safety of the pupils under the auspices of the current Headmaster. We feel he has too many roles and his responsibilities stretch his diminishing abilities too far.”
Sirius walked from the court up to his seat to a level of discussion, Dumbledore banged his gavel and the next item was introduced. A reading of the Bill on the standards for cauldrons and apothecary supplies. This was followed by a debate on the possible introduction, of a consultative document considering the prospect of allowing muggle communications technology called radio to be incorporated into the magical world. It was dismissed as unnecessary.
Finally it came to any other business, and Dumbeldore himself declared an item, “If it would please the court, I have an item for consideration. It has come to my attention, that Young Harry Potter has once again entered our world, after being removed all those years ago. I believe that it is in the best interests of all, that the role of his magical guardian be entrusted to myself, and I would like to put this to a vote.
“Objection.” Ted Tonks stood. “Firstly, if you wish to dispute his guardianship, and contest it’s validity you must recuse yourself from your seat as Chief Wizard. Secondly, you must recuse your proxy votes that you hold in the name of House Potter. As you have just confirmed that you are NOT his magical guardian, those proxies are invalid, and every vote you have made using them is equally invalid. This leads me to a point of order, you have been misleading the Wizengamot for ten years. You should face censure and possibly expulsion.”
The courtroom buzzed with discussion, the clerk, banged his gavel, and then looked pointedly at Dumbledore. “You have to step aside. It is Protocol. You cannot preside over your own motion.”
Dumbledore gritted his teeth in annoyance, but there was no way he was going to win this particular battle so he stood and with what dignity he could muster walked down to the seat reserved for the House of Dumbledore. The Clerk pulled a list and looked at the assembly, Madame Longbottom, are you prepared to chair this motion?”
“I am, I shall hand my vote by proxy, to the House of Black, Sirius, I entrust you to vote correctly in this matter.”
“I shall vote as agreed, Madame Longbottom.”
Augusta made her way up to the seat of the Chief Witch, in her case, and settled herself in. “Mr Dumbledore, you have a few questions to answer. Firstly however, who is the Magical Guardian of Harry James Potter on record?” The clerk pulled a file out from the pile on his desk and turned to it.
“The Guardian of Record is Minerva McGonagall, who I believe is present. She is also listed as one of the guradians of choice on the will of James and Lily Potter.”
“Madame McGonagall, can you answer a couple of points to the ‘gamot, on this please.”
Minerva stood, “What is it you wish to know? Madame Longbottom.”
“Can you confirm that you are the guardian of record as per the will?”
“I can confirm that. I was present with Master Potter when the will of his parents was read, and of the listed guardians I was the one available. Your Son and daughter, first on the list, are sadly in St. Mungo’s. Second on the list was Sirius, who was still illegally incarcerated, then the Lovegoods, but Pandora passed a few years ago and Xeno isn’t coping well with her loss. Then Ted and Andromeda Tonks, at that time expelled from their family, which we felt would leave them and Harry vulnerable. That left me with the responsibility of ensuring Harry had a loving family, which he has, I took on his magical side, his family are exceptional, and Harry has grown into a fine young man.”
“How did Harry come to be with his family?”
“They adopted him through the muggle legal system back in 1982.”
“This is after he had famously been kidnapped, according to Mr Dumbledore.”
“Albus interceded immediately following the murder of his parents, removing Harry from his home, and taking him to his muggle relatives.”
“Did Mr Dumbledore have any authority to make these decisions?”
“Having seen the will, No he did not.”
“Do we have a copy of the will?” she addressed the question to the clerk.
“Yes we have a copy here, some details are redacted for House privacy reasons.”
“It is a matter of public record, that Harry was lost that night, do you know how this occurred?”
“I do, I know that Harry was left on the doorstep of his Muggle Aunt and Uncle on the night of the first of November 1981, at around eleven thirty, I to my eternal shame was there with Albus, although I objected to leaving him there. I was overruled and at that time acquiesced to his authority.” Minerva paused to gather herself.
“I learned the rest of the story ten years later, when I met Harry’s new family. The man that became his father saw Harry abandoned, in his words. ‘like a bottle of milk,’ and as a parent went to ensure the baby’s safety. He rang the doorbell, and was told in no uncertain terms that Harry was not welcome in the household. As the parent of a girl of a similar age to Harry, he decided the best course of action was to take the infant home, and as a result the family adopted Harry and he has lived happily with them ever since.”
“May we know the name of this family.”
“I believe it is on record with magical child services, but I would rather not declare Harry’s home address in court to be reported in the press, for his, and his family’s safety.”
“For the moment I will accept that. Thank you Madame McGonagall.” She looked across the court, “Mr Dumbledore, would you like to explain why you think that you should be granted the position of magical guardian to Master Potter, over the current guardian.?”
Dumbledore stood, Hermione placed her hand on Harry’s arm and with a look prevented him casting his ‘bloviate´ curse at him, for now. “Thank you Augusta,” He was stopped by the bang of a gavel.
“Mr Dumbledore, in this circumstance, I am Chief Witch, or Madame Longbottom. You constantly use familiar terms for people to create the impression they support you. In this instance I am forced to be neutral, but if you do not follow protocol I shall find you in contempt, throw out your motion, and sentence you accordingly. Now I suggest you start again.”
“Madame Chief witch, I believe that Young Harry has a destiny within the magical world, an important role to lead the wizarding world into the light. As such I truly believe that I should take responsibility for his upbringing, whilst his current family have done a good job, I believe that I should be his mentor for the future. As leader of the Light I can ensure that Harry is guided and mentored in the direction his destiny requires.”
“Mr Dumbledore, you refer to a destiny, would you care to explain to the ‘gamot what this destiny is?”
“I am afraid Augusta, that his destiny has to remain a confidence, lest his life be put in peril.”
“Mr Dumbledore, I have already cautioned you about over familiarity, if you persist I will hold you in contempt. From that statement, can you provide any evidence to corroborate your claims that Master Potter has a destiny that requires your input.”
“Alas no, madame Chief Witch, I must prevail upon the court’s indulgence that I have not guided them wrong before and that I should be trusted in this instance.”
“Do you have anything to add?”
“No, I believe my record stands for itself.”
“Is there anyone here to speak on behalf of Harry Potter, or his adopted family.”
“That would be my role, Madame Longbottom.” Ted Tonks once again stood to speak. “I am retained by the Potter estate and I am also the legal representative to his family.”
“Mr Tonks, the floor is yours.”
“Thank you, Madame Longbottom. Firstly, I would address Mr Dumbledore’s record, that he wishes to use as his badge of honour. On the 31st of October 1981 James and Lilly Potter were betrayed and then murdered by one Tom Marvolo Riddle, son of a muggle and a squib, that styled himself as Lord Voldemort. Due to protections layered upon Harry by his mother the spell backfired and killed Mr Riddle, Harry survived, but at the cost of his parents.” Ted looked around the room, noting the faces at the revelation that Voldemort was not a pureblood.
“Following this terrible act, Mr Dumbledore sent his gamekeeper, the well meaning but indiscrete Rubius Hagrid to collect Harry and take him to Hogwarts. I wonder how Mr Dumbledore knew in advance of the attack, to have his man on the scene before any official response arrived. Hagrid refused to hand the boy over to his oath sworn Godfather, and no attempt was made to check the wills of the Potters’ to ascertain who should be given custody.”
“The next act was to abandon Harry on a doorstep in the dead of night, with the temperature well below freezing, with a letter informing his aunt of her sister’s death. No contact was attempted, with these muggle relatives of Harry’s. We know that if they had taken Harry into their home, he would have been abused, beaten, malnourished. His muggle relatives hate the magical world, his aunt and mother were estranged, the will specifies that Harry must not be left with that family. It states, ‘He will not be safe.’ It is a matter of public record that Albus Dumbledore lost Harry Potter, mostly because he ignored everyone and did what he believes to be for the ‘Greater Good’ a phrase he is fond of, but whose good, I wonder.”
“The man that has become Harry’s father witnessed him being abandoned on this doorstep, and knocked on the door, they turned the child away, so he took the boy home. He lives with this family, he is happy, Healthy and loved. His adoption is legal and registered in both the mundane and magical systems. Harry is happy with Minerva McGonagall and his godfather Sirius Orion Black sharing the magical guardian duties. Sirius is related to Harry, and as you heard earlier has made him the Heir Black.”
“I can see absolutely no reason to change any of these arrangements, in fact I believe that if Mr Dumbledore were to be given what he requests he would force Harry to return to his magic hating relatives, so that Harry would be pliable and compliant to this scheme of his, ‘For the Greater Good.’ In conclusion, I believe that Mr Dumbledore presents a threat to the wellbeing of my client and his family, and measures should be taken to safeguard Harry, from Mr Dumbledore’s influence.” Ted looked to Augusta, nodded and took his seat.
“Thank you Wizard Tonks,” she looked around the court. “Is anyone from magical child services available?”
Velma stood from her seat, “Here Madame Longbottom, Velma Dinkle, Magical Child Services, on a transfer from MaCUSA.”
“Do you have anything to add to these proceedings?”
“Thank you, Yes. Some time ago members of the Ministry became concerned with the department of magical child services here in Britain, finding that my predecessor had been hit with multiple compulsion charms, and certain orphans from the Blood War’s records were being accessed unofficially. With this in mind I was stationed here to mind the shop, I have natural occulemency, and cannot be confounded or imperioused by any witch or wizard.
Since I have been in the office, Mr Dumbledore is a regular visitor, attempting to access the records for Harry Potter, or sometimes his godbrother, Neville Longbottom, your ward Madame. He constantly claims that these are requirements for his role as headmaster, but never produces any documentation to back up these claims. He has attempted legillimency on me on at least five occasions, without success.”
She finished her statement, “I would support Law Wizard Tonk’s assertation that Mr Dumbledore presents a threat to Harry and his adopted family.”
“Thank you Miss Dinkel, does anyone else wish to speak?”
Doge stood, “I would like to add my support to Headmaster Dumbledore, I have complete faith in him, and if he believes the child should be in his care, then we should make it so.”
“So noted, anyone else?” Harry looked at Hermione and she nodded.
Harry stood and flicked his hood back, “I would like to say a few words, if I may? Madame Chief Witch.”
“Please, introduce yourself, and say your piece,” there was some murmuring in the court.
Harry cleared his throat, “I am Harry James Potter. Son of James and Lily Potter, last of the line of House Potter. My parents will specified several families to look after me in the event of their death. Mr Dumbledore is not mentioned anywhere in the will. It specifies that I was not to be left with my aunt, and that is where Albus Dumbledore dumped me like a parcel being delivered on the doorstep. I believe his intentions were to keep me uninformed of the magical world, magically weak, physically retarded and emotionally vulnerable. In short he was going to groom me into a little faithful acolyte that would happily go to my death when he required it.
I will not acquiesce to any instruction to allow Albus Dumbledore any control over my person, my family, House Potter, or it’s vaults. He is not fit mentally to be placed in charge of children. At this moment he has a Cerberus in the School, as part of a lunatic scheme protecting the philosopher’s stone of Nicholas Flammel, or something that purports to be the stone.
He has baited a trap for someone to enter a school that contains hundreds of children. He will not reveal for whom the trap is, but it is for Tom Marvolo Riddle, Mr Dumbledore does not believe he is dead, and he further believes I must die in order for his final defeat. He is wrong on both counts.”
Harry looked around the room, Dumbledore’s grandfatherly countenance had disappeared, he was glaring at Harry. Across the room Amelia Bones was leaning over and whispering to her assistant who left the room immediately following their discussion.
Harry stood and walked down to the front of the court. “Magic judges if you are worthy of taking your seat, if you are of age.” He drew his wand. “I Harry James Potter, of House Potter hereby take my seat on the Wizengamot as entitled, may magic judge me to be worthy. So Mote it be.” His wand flashed, and the crest of the House of Potter appeared before him. The crest over the Potter seat appeared as well. “I nominate Andromeda Tonks as my Proxy.” He almost shouted over the furore in the room.
Augusta hammered her gavel. Eventually the court settled. “It appears Mr Potter, that you are emancipated by magic, given that you no longer require a guardian, the motion is dismissed.” She banged her gavel. “Regards the illegal use of voting proxies by Albus Dumbledore for ten years, I assume you can investigate, Madame Bones?”
“Madame Longbottom, I will commence the investigation at the close of this session. I have dispatched Aurors to Hogwarts to check to see if there is indeed a Cerberus in the school. It is either a case of child endangerment, or perjury and slander. I must propose a motion to suspend Mr Dumbledore from his position of Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, subject to the results of our enquiry into vote rigging.”
“Seconded.” Sirius called from his seat.
“Let us have a show of wands, green to pass the motion, red to block.”
The wand count was closer than it should have been, but Dumbledore was suspended. Harry stood in the centre of the court, he felt the stares of Lucius and Draco on him, he looked up at them and smiled a cold smile, as he did a dark shadow of a tall hooded figure with a scythe appeared to their perspective around him. Draco sneered at Harry, who laughed in return.
Augusta banged the gavel. “I call an end to this session of the Wizenagamot, the appointment of a temporary Chief witch or wizard can be addressed at the next meeting. Let the meeting Close, she banged the gavel one last time.”
Harry walked over to where Hermione was waiting, he felt Dumbledore’s stare and ignoring it left the room, where Ted and Andi Tonks waited. “I should scold you, young man, making me your proxy, you might have asked first?”
“Sorry, it was a late idea, Susan told me to do it, I assume no one else could see her?”
“No, you were alone to us.”
“OK, she pointed out, magically Hermione and I are in our twenties, so the Wizengamot magic would class me as an adult, and therefore no guardian.”
“Harry James, do not pull a stunt like that without telling me first. I was scared the magic would reject you and strip you of yours.” Hermione was standing with her arms folded and looking quite cross.
“Sorry love, Susan popped in by my side, I assumed you could see her.”
“See her, Yes, hear her No. You frightened me you prat.” She slapped his arms and Harry could see her eyes were wet, he pulled her into a hug, just as a set of neon yellow robes came into view. “Sorry Hermione, I didn’t mean to scare you. We can talk later, Fumbles is here.” He whispered into her ear.
“Harry my boy, I am so disappointed, you reveal so many things that should not be known. Why do you believe I want to harm you, we must work together for the greater good of wizarding Britain. Please come and talk with me when school starts again in the new year, you are being misled and we should be united against the evil that you describe.”
“Perhaps, but if you will excuse me, I have some matters of a private and legal nature to deal with.” Harry led Hermione over to where Sirius and the others waited.
“Way to go Pup, epic prank. Dumbles will be busy just surviving that assault. Now, who is for dinner? my treat.” Harry pulled his hood over his face and the group slipped out before the reporters worked out where they were. The Prophet would be interesting in the morning.
------oooOOOooo------
They left the Ministry by the main entrance and as they walked out into the cold sunshine of a London December afternoon, they heard a familiar voice call, “Padfoot?”
Walking towards them looking malnourished and rather shabby was Remus Lupin. “Mooney, you look terrible, where in Merlin’s name have you been?”
“Germany, the Bavarian Alps to be specific, one of the few places that would employ someone like me. I read the news of your innocence in the paper, but I couldn’t travel until a few days ago, to keep people safe.” He exchanged a look with Sirius.
“Well we are just going to get some lunch, you look like you could use a decent meal, we will have to sort something decent for you to wear, but you had better come along, then we can all catch up.”
“Harry, is that you?”
“It is Remus, it is lovely to see you again. We can tell you all about what is going on over lunch. Come with us, we can sort some clothes out quickly enough. Don’t worry we know all about your furry little problem.”
“You told them?” he looked to Sirius.
“No, my dad told me.”
Remus stopped in his tracks, “James is alive?”
“No. Come with us, it’s a story better told with food than standing outside in the cold.”
They apparated into muggle London, where a visit to a gent’s outfitters saw Mooney sorted into some nicer clothes and then on to the restaurant, where they brought Remus up to speed with what was going on, and introduced him to Dan and Emma.