Harry Potter was relaxing in the sitting room of Potter Manor when an owl flew down and landed on the arm of his chair.
"What do you have for me here?" he asked the owl as he pulled the string attaching the letter to its foot.
As he opened the letter, he scratched the owl behind its ear. It was an audit from Gringotts updating him on the status of his accounts. Soon after the war ended, Harry found out that Dumbledore and some of his supposed friends had been stealing from him. Keeping him weak so they could manipulate him. He was naïve and believed everything they told him. What a fool he was.
The Weasley family had been planted at the train station to make sure they would be shown as a friendly family to him. Hagrid was purposely informed that Harry would have been able to get to the station with help from his aunt, even though it was clear that his relatives held nothing but disdain for him. And as it shows now in his bank statement, all were being paid to be his friends, Hermione included.
Of course, it made sense. It explained so many things. Why Sirius was never given a trial. Why he was made to stay with muggle relatives who obviously despised magic. Why he was sent back to them every year. Why no one noticed the visible signs of abuse. Dumbledore had played his life like a chess game, and he was happy to let it slide because at least he had a chance at some form of kindness in his life. Even if it was fake.
Few of his friends had stayed faithful to him after the war. The twins, ever thankful for his involvement in helping them set up shop, stuck by him through thick and thin.
When Bill decided to move back to France with Fleur to raise their child, they offered for him to come and stay with them. He hadn't wanted to intrude on their happy family.
Neville and Luna told him he should come with them when they decided to move to the Americas. Both had lost the last of their families and wanted to get away from the memories of horror and destruction. Not that Harry blamed them. He would have wanted to disappear too. But he couldn't just go with them. They deserved a chance at a happy, peaceful life which never seemed to happen when he was around.
After the war, he got to know Draco Malfoy and Blaise Zambini. It turned out that they were both friendly people once you got past their cold and haughty exterior. They had become his closest advisors now that he had claimed his titles of Lord Potter-Black. They educated him on proper etiquette and made sure he knew what his responsibilities as a head of house were. They had just announced they were engaged as well.
All in all, the few he had left to help and protect him started to have lives of their own. The ones he believed in turned out to be fakes, out for his money. Harry would much rather be alone than face the pain and disappointment of losing those close to you, whether it be by death or betrayal.
Harry sighed and looked down at the paper in front of him outlining what exactly was stolen from him. There were multiple transactions outwards to pay Dumbledore, the Order of the Phoenix, Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Mrs. Weasley, and the Dursleys. Not too much of a surprise. However, there was something else coming out of the main Potter account which shouldn't be possible.
Dumbledore had no access to the main Potter account because he didn't have any Potter blood. The Potters turned out to be almost as paranoid as the Blacks when it came to the security of their vaults. The only thing Dumbles had been able to steal had been from his trust fund and his parents' private accounts.
Looking more closely at the transaction it seemed to be a monthly stipend to the Ootori Group. It also appeared to be a muggle corporation. If they are getting money from the main Potter vault, the CEO must be related to the Potter's somehow.
Harry quickly grabbed a quill and some parchment and wrote a note to Gringotts letting them know he would be there to speak to his account manager in an hour about this Ootori group.
Could it possibly be that he had more family than he thought?
Once at Gringotts, a goblin teller came up to him and directed him into one of their private rooms to speak to his account manager, Steelfist. After finding out about the fraud going on with his account, he promptly fired his old account manager, and he was brutally beheaded. How unfortunate for the creature.
"Greetings Account Manager Steelfist, may your enemies tremble at the sight of you."
"And you, Lord Potter-Black." the goblin replied. "I was told you had an inquiry about our audit of your accounts. I believe we had planned to retrieve all money stolen from your accounts, with interest. Is this no longer the plan?"
The goblin seemed slightly pissed at the thought of losing the chance to bankrupt so many people. Fair enough, Harry thought, goblins are not known for their kindness and charity.
"No Steelfist, I still want to claim as much money back as I possibly can, you receiving 10% of the returns made to my account of course."
The goblin grinned.
"The reason I am here is actually to discuss why a company called, The Ootori Group, has been taking a monthly stipend since before my parents passed from the main Potter Vaults. I was led to believe only Potters can take anything from the main vault. If it is someone with a blood relation to me, I would like to be able to meet them. This way I can use them in my custody case. If the Wizengamot insists I must have a guardian since am only 15, even if the Tri-Wizard Tournament emancipated me in magic's eyes, possibly this person or group could take that role."
The goblin looked at the paper where the company had been listed. Calling in an assistant, Steelfist spoke in Gobbledygook asking for the companies file. Shortly after a file appeared on the goblin's desk and was handed to the young lord.
"If I recall correctly, it is a company run by the squib child of the late Lord Charlus Potter and Lady Dorea Potter nee Black. They sent him off to a prominent family in the muggle world, the Ootori family, who they were close to and were unable to have children. The Ootori family was given a monthly stipend for their son, and it was to continue being given to him until the day he died. After the fiasco of having a squib, the late Lord and Lady were hesitant to try again. They were in their late 50s when they had your father. Lord Potter passed shortly before you were born from Kneazle Lumps and Lady Potter was killed in an attack on Potter Manor by Voldemort, as he thought your parents were hiding there. If I am correct, your father kept in touch with his elder brother up until they went into hiding."
Harry looked through the file as Steelfist talked. The actual company was in the medical field and was very prominent in the muggle world. They also had a small private security force, and their fingers dipped in many other ventures. On paper, it showed that Potter Corporation, something he had never heard of before but seemed to be an official muggle company, donated to the Ootori Group monthly.
"How exactly did my parents know the Ootori family?"
"Your grandfather was heavily involved in the muggle world. He was much like your late godfather and Arthur Weasley in that aspect. He liked the idea of combining muggle inventions with magic. However, when Grindelwald came to power, your grandfather decided that instead of combining muggle inventions with magic, he should invest in the muggle world and make a company for himself to protect the Potter name should the wizarding world crumble."
Harry hummed to himself in thought, "So what exactly is the Potter Co. involved in? As they knew the Ootori group, I would assume there was a medical aspect."
"They are involved in developing the technology. Potter Co. is one of the world most renowned developers of medical technology, along with weapon development and computer software. Many companies have deals with the Potter Co. to run under their own names, but they get their best employees and most of their base parts from Potter Co."
"How is it being run?" Harry doubted his parents had time to run such a large company while they were in the war. How was he able to keep control of it when no one in his family had been around to be involved in almost 20 years.
"After your grandparents had James, they decided to retire from running the company. They assigned people to run the entire company which funds itself at this point, but there is a clause in the companies contract that if a future Potter ever wanted to take control of the company, they would be able to get involved as long as the company continued to profit."
Harry looked up at the goblin, interested in the prospect. Nothing was left for him in the wizarding world. Did this mean he could just pack and set up shop in the muggle world instead? Especially if he had an uncle, who could take legal custody of him.
"Could you put me in contact with my estranged Uncle. If I can get Wizengamot to transfer my custody to him, I should be able to continue my muggle schooling and live in the muggle world instead, correct?"
"I believe I can set up an appointment with your lawyer and uncle. You will most likely have to learn Japanese though. The Ootori group is based in Japan."
Harry grinned. Learning a new language was the least of his problems if it meant he could escape the betrayal of wizarding Britain.
When Harry walked into the meeting room the next day, he was faced with a stern looking Asian man accompanied by a slightly less stern looking lawyer and a somewhat friendly looking assistant. Bowing to the man, he assumed to be his Uncle he introduced himself and sat down, his lawyer who was behind him taking a seat in the spot next to him.
Soon after his account manager came in and sat down.
"Thank you for coming today Mr. Ootori. I understand how valuable time is for you so let me get to the point. This is your brother James' son, Harry. I'm not surer if you have kept up with the news in wizarding Europe but young Harry just recently defeated Britain's Dark Lord, and although magic has emancipated him, magical Britain is desperate to keep him under a short leash. We were hoping you would be willing to become his ward until he is of age as he would like to return to the muggle world and take over Potter Co."
Mr. Ootori leaned back in his seat, suddenly looking a lot older. "I assumed something happened when James stopped writing, but I was unaware it was due to a dark lord. I assume he is dead then. I was never one for being involved in the magical community. Although my birth parents were apart of it, I was never too connected to them as I was brought up in the muggle world. I met you once as a baby, but I was too busy with young children of my own ever to come again."
Harry leaned forward in his chair, "I understand if you are unwilling to take me in, Mr. Ootori." he felt it would be impolite to call him but his first name without permission. "You wouldn't have to look after me though. I could even be only in name. I'm used to being alone. I have enough money to purchase a house. I would just need your signature for small things. Nothing really."
Mr. Ootori scoffed, "I will not have you insult the Ootori name by assuming I cannot provide adequate care for you. My daughter had moved out to live with her husband, and my two eldest sons have places of their own. There is plenty of you for you at my house. Although I no longer carry the Potter name, I still carry the belief you should help family. Had I known James had died, I would have taken you in then and brought you up as a proper heir to Potter Co."
Harry looked shocked. He wasn't used to people giving two cents about his well being in any way. Although he found real friends at the end of the war, he was never overly close to any of them. If anything they were more acquaintances. People who offered you things because they knew you would never accept them.
Mr. Ootori turned to his assistant and spoke in quick Japanese, then turned to the goblin and said, "All I would have to do to put him under my care would be to sign a paper, correct? Then legally I can take him back with me to Japan as my ward."
The goblin nodded.
Harry's head spun. This was all going to fast. He had come up with a multitude of reasons his Uncle should sign the papers, and he needed none of them. There had to be some sort of hidden benefit he was receiving.
Then Harry realized it, of course, there was a hidden agenda to his Uncle's movements. He now had a close connection to the next heir of Potter Co. What better motivation for him than to receive even more funding or better benefits of the backing of Potter Co.
He felt stupid that he had thought, even for one second, that someone had actually cared for him. Everyone had hidden agendas. Trust no one. The only person you can believe in is yourself. If you don't help yourself no one will. His mantra continued in his head.
"How soon can you have the papers here by?" asked Mr. Ootori.
The goblin opened the folder in front of him, "Here they are. After this Lord Potter-Black will be in your custody."
Harry's lawyer spoke up, "As his blood-relation, no one can testify against your custody over Lord Potter-Black except for the young Lord himself. Especially since your only tie to the magical world is by birth."
Mr. Ootori nodded, handing the paper over to his lawyer to make sure everything was in check.
"Lord Potter-Black," Mr. Ootori started but was quickly cut off.
"Please call me Harry, Mr. Ootori."
"Very well, Harry. Please call me Ojisan. If you move to Japan with me, I will hire private tutors to make sure you are up to standard on your muggle schooling and then you will attend Ouran Academy, the same school as my youngest son, Kyoya. It is a prestigious school with many connections so you should make sure you hold yourself with the poise of someone of your standing. Please feel free if you would like me to hire tutors for etiquette as well. You will mainly be in contact with my assistant, Reo Tanaka. You may call him at any time if you need something from me. If you would like to talk to me personally, I would appreciate it if you make an appointment as my time is valuable."
"Of course, Ojisan," Harry replied dejectedly.
"You shall also need a personal assistant in Japan alongside any you have currently. I will give you a list of people you can choose from. If you are unable to choose, one will be assigned to you. My youngest will help you with anything else you may need."
Mr. Ootori's lawyer passed the paper back to Mr. Ootori to sign.
"Is there anything else you need?" Mr. Ootori addressed the goblin.
The goblin shook his head.
"Then I must go. Harry, I expect you to be ready to leave Britain by the end of the week. I will have a passport and private jet awaiting your call."
Harry looked a bit confused, "Ojisan, why could I not just take an international portkey. Was that not the way you arrived here?"
Mr. Ootori's assistant Reo came over to him and explained, "As you will be entering the muggle world, you need to have not just appeared from nowhere. Here is my number and a list of all the information you may need from us. Please call me at least one hour before you are ready to leave. Have all boxes you wish to ship labeled with the address attached to the paper. They will be picked up and shipped to your new residence when you call. Also, make sure any magical items are well hidden or on your person as you will be moving to the muggle world. We will have a car pick you up from your current location of residence. The list of personal assistants are also on the list. If you wish to conduct a personal interview, let me know, and I will arrange one for your arrival. All know about magic, so do not be worried. You will also be assigned a muggle and magical bodyguard. Please let me know if you need anything else."
Harry let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding and nodded with a faraway look in his eyes trying to remember all the information he was just given.
Mr. Ootori's assistant walked out of the door following after his boss's departure.
Harry turned to Steelfist his lawyer and asked, "Is there anything I should be worried about?"
Steelfist sighed, "Just beware, young Lord, that not all kind actions have pure intentions behind them."
The lawyer scoffed in agreement.
Harry nodded, "Thank you for your time Steelfist. Unless you need anything else from me, I will be taking my leave. I have a few things I need to get in order before my departure."
"I believe everything is in order Lord Potter-Black. May your gold forever grow."
"And may your enemies ever tremble, Steelfist."
Harry turned and headed for the door, quickly walking out of the building and apparating back to Potter Manor.
Once at the Manor he called on Dobby to let him know he should start packing any muggle items that he would need. Pulling out some parchment and a quill, Harry penned a letter to Draco and Blaise explaining his current situation.
Pride and Poise,
I hope this letter finds you well. I have recently discovered that my father had a squib brother. As the ministry is pressuring me to find a legal guardian until I am 17, even though magic herself has emancipated me, I have decided to forgo my current life in the magical world and restart in the muggle one. I shall be leaving in 5 days to Japan, where my Uncle currently presides.
As your many lessons have taught me, there is more to being a Lord than sitting around and spending your money. I would appreciate it if you were to take over any social events I am expected to attend as Lord Potter-Black and explain to my associates that I will not be present in magical Britain for at least the next two years, if not more, due to extenuating circumstances.
Should you need anything else, you know how to reach me,
Raven
"Hedwig," Harry called out to his companion. "Please deliver this to Pride and Poise."
She nibbled his finger as he attached the letter to her leg.
Sighing, Harry scratched behind her ear, "Will you be coming with me to Japan, Hedwig."
She gave him a nip looking mortally offended.
"I would never suggest you would abandon me Hed. I just know you had your eye on a mate and I would never want to take that chance away from you."
Hedwig scoffed and gave him a look saying as if she would let her owlet go off alone.
Harry chuckled at his owls' antics and waved her off to go deliver the letter. He had a lot of packing and organizing to do before he would be ready to leave the country.
Draco Malfoy stormed through Potter Manor with a letter in his hand, his fiancé trailing behind him.
"Potter! What is this rubbish?" he shouted as he entered the office.
Harry Potter looked up from his spot behind his desk. He expected Draco would be coming to speak about the letter, but he didn't realize it would be so soon. He had only sent the message a few hours ago if that.
"Draco, Blaise, How lovely to see you." Harry's smile not reaching his eyes.
Walking up to the desk and throwing the letter in front of Harry, Draco said, "Cut the crap. What is this stupidity about you leaving the magical community? By all means, go someplace else, but I don't want to have to deal with your hoards of fans asking me where you disappeared to."
Harry smirked. "I knew you worried about me somewhere behind your attitude. Why I would even say, you liked me more than a friend if you weren't already engaged."
A snort came from behind Draco.
"It's lovely to see you too, Harry. Now please explain to us why you're going to Japan." Blaise said pulling a pouting Draco onto his lap as he sat in one of the chairs placed in front of Harry's desk.
Harry sighed leaning back in his chair, "You know I don't like the fame. With Wizengamot pressuring me to find a guardian or be appointed one, I realized this is a good solution. I get away from the fame, the idiots trying to rule my life, and get to meet another relative of mine."
Draco snorted. "I hope this one is better than your other relatives."
The look in Harry's eyes said it all.
Sitting up straight, Draco said, "Not again. He's not threatening you, is he? I will kill that son of a bitch. He better watch his,"
"Draco!" Harry interrupted, shocked. "It's not like that at all. It's just that…." Harry pauses, gathering his thoughts, "I understand why he's so willing to take me in. He's just another manipulator. Not like I haven't dealt with them before. Plus, its only two years. If he acts out in any way against me, all I have to do is tell the goblins to cut his funding."
"That's not the issue, Harry." Draco sighed. "I understand that you have a hard time believing this, but some people genuinely care for you out there. If they would let me take guardianship of you, I would. After you got hit with that de-aging spell, even before that, Britain's had it out for you. It legitimately sucks to be you. You've been eighteen before, I don't understand why they think you can't govern yourself. You still have all of your memories. It's just your body that's younger." Draco continues off on a tangent about how stupid Britain's government it and then sighs.
"What I believe Draco is trying to say, is that we're here for you. Even if it means taking on the rest of the world." Blaise took over.
Harry's eyes shone with unshed tears. It wasn't fair that people tried to be kind to him. He just caused them trouble anyways.
"In any case, what is it actually that your new Uncle is hoping to gain by adopting you."
Harry sighed, "It turns out my grandfather created a multi-billion dollar business called, Potter Co. in the muggle world. It became very successful and is one of the biggest suppliers for multiple large companies from what I understand. I need to research a bit more. My Uncle, who runs the Ootori Group, is one of the companies that work alongside Potter Co."
"And as the heir to Potter Co., you are a valuable piece to have within his grasp." Draco continued for him with a sigh. "Why must you always get put in these situations, Potter. You have the worst of luck. It's hard to believe you're even alive still."
Harry chuckled grimly.
"So, should I threaten him," Draco smirked. "I have a wonderful torture chamber."
Shaking his head, Harry laughed. "You probably shouldn't do that. Do you by any chance have connections to magical Japan though? I just realized they might have issues with an unknown magical coming to their country without notifying them. Especially since I'll be traveling by muggle means."
"The goblins have most likely already fixed that for you," Blaise replied. "They seem to like you more than most."
"Because unlike you uptight purebloods, I don't pretend to think I'm better than them. Did you really think I wasn't listening to all the scary shit Binns told us about them? Better to be on their good side. You do recollect that they executed the goblin who crossed me on sight, correct?"
Getting up out of his seat on Blaise's lap, Draco announced that they needed tea and proceeded to drag Harry and Blaise to the sitting room.
A few days had come and gone since Draco and Blaise had come to visit him about the letter. They had returned several times to question him and make sure he was making the right decision, even going so far to offer to move with him. They came to an agreement that Draco and Blaise would come to visit him every other weekend.
He also contacted the Weasley twins, Neville, and Luna, about his departure to Japan. Neville replied back wishing him luck, with Luna's ever cryptic note at the end telling him that if he allows himself to bloom, the one will come to pick him. The twins said to him that they expected a weekly update and if they ever found out something had happened to their little brother they would personally come and prank said person for the rest of their lives.
Making sure he had all the magical items he thought he might need in his trunk, he shrunk and attached it to the chain hanging around his neck. Along with his now shrunken trunk, sat a stag, a lily flower, a grim, a wolf, and a snake. The people who he lost who actually gave a shit about him. For all their mistakes and blind trust, they did all care in their own way.
He picked up his newly purchased phone and a suitcase with some new muggle clothes and called Reo. He had been quite helpful over the past few days, and he was starting to see the benefits of having a personal assistant. So much that he went through the profiles and organized to meet with five of the people on the list once he was in Japan.
Thanking whoever created language potions he told Reo that he was ready to leave Britain.
Reo told him that a car would be outside of Potter Manor in an hour to pick him up and take him to his jet.
Harry had spent the past few days learning more about Potter Co. and getting in contact with the current CEO, Mathew Birmingham. Though skeptical of Harry's qualifications at first, Birmingham quickly warmed up to the young Lord after learning Harry didn't necessarily want to take his place as CEO but instead get involved in the company until Birmingham was ready to retire.
Birmingham was incredibly supportive of his choice to go to Ouran Academy in Japan. He mentioned it was one of the top schools in the world. He also suggested that he continue higher education at the Academy. Something about meeting the children of Potter Co.'s business partners. He also suggested that Harry should learn Chinese at some point, as it is a handy tool when negotiating.
When Harry heard that he sighed and added it as another language on his list. Sadly, language potions are only a short term solution to learning a new language. Especially since they only translated spoken words. His tutors, which he had started lessons with over email, had all agreed that he was a quick learner when he applied himself and if he went through full language immersion, he would learn the spoken language almost fluently within a month, and the written language would come with practice.
Looking at the clock, Harry decided he had time for a cup of tea.
Sitting down in the parlor Harry called for Dobby.
"Would you please make me a cup of tea, Dobby."
"Of course Master Harry Potter Sir!" Dobby replied, snapping his fingers making a steaming cup of tea appear.
"You're an angel Dobby. Are you sure you'll be fine here?"
Dobby nodded. "Dobby will be making sure Master Harry Potter's house is ready for whenever Master Harry Potter wants to come back."
"I appreciate it Dobby. I would love for you to be able to come with me, but I'll be staying in the muggle world. I promise I will call you should I need anything but you must make sure you stay invisible to muggles."
"I will Master Harry Potter Sir. Dobby will be the best Dobby can be!" Dobby said with a grin.
Harry smiled. The memory of how Dobby came to work for him re-surfacing. Though Dobby was happy to be a free elf, he was slowly losing his magic. Once Harry realized what was happening, he was unwilling to let his friend die. Asking what was wrong, Dobby explained that house elves were actually cursed out from the high elves. They betrayed magic, and the only way they could keep their magic was to bond to a wizard. This bond forces house elves to clean and cook for their bonded as the only way to keep their magic. In the beginning, most wizards and witches treated the elves kindly, but once they realized they were basically slaves to wizards, the turned cruel. To still be humane, and allow Dobby to keep his magic, Harry decided to bond with Dobby. In agreement to bond, Dobby would receive a monthly payment of 5 galleons and as many socks as he would like. Harry tried to get Dobby to accept more money. However, Dobby was insistent that 5 galleons were already too much for the great Harry Potter to be paying Dobby.
Sipping his tea and reminiscing about the past time flew by. Soon he heard a ring at the door.
Harry put his cup down, and it vanished. Smiling he grabbed his newly purchased muggle suitcase and headed to the door, ready to face his new life.
Updated: 2019/05/10