AU: There are a lot of stories out there where Harry Potter has another sibling, or a marriage contract, or people manipulating things to benefit themselves and/or make life worse for Harry, or Harry discovering he is a lord and being political. This is a twist on all that.
I don't own the general ideas, but this specific implementation.
Harry Potter was standing in front of the Wizengamot, wondering how he would be able to defend himself when Fudge was trying to get the whole wizarding world against him. His thoughts were interrupted by a girl who walked in to stand next to him, muttering about papers and late notice and obnoxious bought politicians. She tucked her black hair behind her ear before looking up from a book she had been skimming.
"Is there a reason the Ministry has accused the House of Potter of underage magic in front of a muggle?" she asked, annoyance present in her clear hazel eyes.
"Yes. Mr. Potter..."
"Wait, this just states that the Ministry has accused the entire House of Potter, not a single entity. I'm quite sure the entire House did not cast underage magic in front of a muggle. Not to mention I know the entire House is not under the restriction for underage magic, even here," the girl said, her hazel eyes closing in on the Minister.
Harry watched the girl in interest. She was wearing formal robes, but beneath them was appropriate muggle business attire. Clearly she had ties to the muggle world.
"Mr. Potter is the entire House of Potter, and since he is underage and has cast magic, it makes sense to charge the House as he is the representative..." Fudge began, sweating a bit as a few of the witches and wizards in the courtroom began to whisper and talk and shoot him disapproving looks.
"Isn't that a contradiction? If this person is old enough to represent the House, than the person would not be under the restrictions for underage magic. If the person is under the restrictions for underage magic, than the person is not old enough to represent the House and thus the House cannot be charged with the crime. It would be charged to the individual," the girl answered, raising an eyebrow at the Minister.
Harry decided that he liked this girl who was able to destroy Fudge with logic, the law, and facts. He remained quiet, watching the show. He noticed that the grey haired witch with a monocle was also enjoying the show. She was leaning back in her seat, smiling.
"Hem hem. There is still the fact that magic was done in front of a muggle," a short lady in pink spoke up, getting the attention of the girl.
"Alright, so allegedly magic was done in the presence of a muggle. Where is the report by the responding Aurors?" the girl said, turning to the pink woman.
"There were no Aurors sent. The incident was discovered when the Trace was activated..."
"The Trace? You mean the means by which the Ministry tracks underage magic? Didn't we just confirm that if the person represented the entire House, they would be exempt from the restriction for underage magic? Therefore the Trace should have been removed, and as such the entire incident should be ignored as hearsay since the incident was not properly investigated," the girl interrupted.
"Little girl, I do not know who you are, but rest assured the Ministry does not appreciate you questioning their ability to do their job," the woman said, glaring at the girl.
"Doesn't the public have a duty to question the government and make sure that they are doing their job to the best of their abilities? Also, I received a summons to be here, so if the Ministry didn't want me here, than they should have not summoned me," the girl said, forcing a smile on her face while tapping her wand against her book.
"I am not sure why you got the summons. This is suppose to be the trial for Harry Potter. You aren't him," the grey haired woman said kindly. The girl blinked at that.
"I thought it was a trial for the House of Potter," the girl said, confused.
"Yes, and since Harry Potter is the only survivor, he would be representing the House of Potter," Fudge jumped in, trying to regain control of the trial.
"No. I'm the Head of the House of Potter. Have been since I was fifteen. I went to Gringotts and everything," the girl said, looking around. "I've even voted here before."
Everyone stared at her, Harry included. Who was this girl? On closer inspection, she did resemble his father, but wouldn't someone have told him he had a sibling? Or wouldn't they have grown up together?
"You are the Head of House Potter?" Fudge asked, eyes flicking between Harry and the girl.
"Yes, I took the position over at age fifteen. The last person to hold that position before me was my father, James Potter," the girl said slowly, looking around at everyone as if they were crazy. "So this trial is for Harry Potter? Not Acacia Potter?"
"Hold on, Acacia Potter died at the same time as her parents," Fudge said, sputtering.
"No, she was out trick or treating with a friend, and returned to a destroyed house that appeared abandoned and so said friend took her to America to get away from the insanity of Britain with the current Dark Lord running around," the girl, Acacia Potter, said politely.
"He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named has not returned!" the pink woman shouted.
"Good to know..." Acacia said, eyeing the woman with concern. "So, you are trying Harry Potter for underage magic preformed in front of a muggle? And he is a member of the House of Potter?"
"Yes, Lady Potter," the grey haired woman said, giving her a careful glance.
"Alright, did you summon this person?" Acacia asked, looking around. Her eyes found Harry and widened a bit. "Do you know you look a lot like my mother?"
"I think the line is James Potter," Harry said, still trying to take in the fact he apparently had a sister no one had told him about.
"No, you have his hair. And glasses, but cheek structure, nose, chin and eyes are Mum. Are you Harry?" Acacia asked. "Harry James Potter?"
"Yes,"
"Huh, suddenly things make a lot more sense. Do you have a barrister appointed for your trial?" she asked, looking around for someone and frowning when she didn't find anyone.
"No..."
"Well, I guess I'll have to step in," she sighed. "As the Head of the House, I can appoint myself as his consul since I don't actually know any British barristers. Clearly, I'll need to fix that."
"I have a lot of questions," Harry said, staring at her.
"Now isn't the best time. I request a meeting with my client to go over the charges, our options and to allow you the time to fill out the proper charges," Acacia directed to the grey haired woman. She nodded, despite Fudge and the pink woman yelling and sputtering. Acacia cast a silencing spell around the two of them and turned to Harry expectantly.
"Me and my cousin were attacked by Dementors, I cast a patronus to protect us, I got expelled, unexpelled, and here I am," Harry explained, figuring that this girl Acacia was at least trying to help him which was more than anyone else in the room was doing.
"Ok, why would Dementors attack you? Why were you with your cousin?" Acacia was taking notes, tucking her wand behind her ear as she did so.
"I don't know, and I live with him," Harry answered.
"So clearly he is exempt from the Statute of Secrecy, as he is probably already aware of magic. Even if he wasn't, as a child in the same house as a magic user he is exempt since it is assumed that the direct family is informed. As for the Dementors...that is disquieting," Acacia said, tapping her pen against her chin. She asked a few more clarification questions, and then indicated to the grey haired witch that they were done talking.
"Harry Potter is accused of casting underage magic in front of a muggle and breaking the Statute of Secrecy. This being the second time he has broken the restriction for underage magic..."
"Casting magic for defense of self and other beings is allowed under the restrictions. Dementors were..." Acacia began before being interrupted by Fudge.
"Oh yes, I was wondering when we might be hearing a strange story. You expect us to believe Dementors were in Little Whinging?" Fudge said, seeming to get back his stroll after having the surprises from earlier.
"Why wouldn't Dementors be there?" Acacia asked mildly.
"Dementors follow the Ministry's orders,"
"Perhaps a few escaped?"
"Absolutely not! The Ministry has complete control over the Dementors. They would only go somewhere if the Ministry ordered it," the woman in pink interrupted.
"Ah, so political assassination attempt that failed," Acacia said, eyes brightening as she figured it out. Harry was content to just let her do all the talking since she seemed to know what she was doing. "If the Ministry controls the Dementors, clearly someone abused their powers to attempt to destroy Mr. Potter."
"Who would do that?" the woman in pink demanded.
"Well, judging by the fact this trial is being run in front of the entire Wizengamot, that the Minister is presiding, and taking into account the Minister's comment about waiting to hear a strange story, I'd say the Minister."
There was absolute silence in the courtroom as everyone looked from Acacia to the Minister and back. Fudge was pale, clearly not have expecting the turn the trial took.
"It would explain why the trial time changed at such a late notice," a witch was heard saying in the silence. People began to agree. The woman in pink looked indignant. The grey haired woman was sitting back in her chair and giving Acacia a measuring look.
"He's lying," the woman in pink shouted.
"There are only two uses for the Patronus charm. A Dementor attack, or a Lethifold attack. Either way, there is danger to the castor involved. Are you saying that Mr. Potter decided to cast a complicated charm in front of his cousin for no other reason than to annoy the Ministry?" Acacia asked, voice ice as she turned her gaze to the woman. The woman glanced around, and seeing the looks from the Wizengamot, who were beginning to get the idea the whole thing was a waste of time and resources, stayed quiet.
"In that case, may I request an investigation into why two Dementors were in Little Whinging unaccompanied?" Acacia asked politely.
"I don't think that's necessary..." Fudge began.
"Only a guilty government has anything to hide," Acacia said delicately, and Fudge shut up.
"Anyone have anything else to discuss? If not, this trial has ended and been found a mistrial due to possible clash of interests of the Minister," the grey haired witch said, banging the gavel Fudge had dropped.
"I have a witness for Harry Potter!" Albus Dumbledore entered, with Mrs. Figg behind him. Acacia looked at him, doubt in her eyes.
"You're a bit late sir," she said.
"Oh?" Dumbledore stopped, looking at her before going pale.
"Mr. Potter is free to go and attend Hogwarts. However, if our investigation into Dementors leads no where..."
"Mr. Potter will be back here. We would expect that," Acacia said, nodding to the woman. She turned to Harry.
"You mentioned questions? I'm staying at the Leaky Cauldron, would that be an appropriate place to meet and discuss?" she asked Harry.
"Miss, Harry must come with me for his own protection..." Dumbledore said, trying to usher Harry away from the girl claiming to be his sister. Acacia raised an eyebrow.
"Why are you attempting to intrude on internal matters to the House of Potter?" she asked, resting a hand on Harry's shoulder and holding her wand loosely in the other. Dumbledore glanced at the hand resting on Harry's shoulder, and winced at the sight of a gold signet ring on her pinkie.
"Perhaps you will allow me to provide the safe place where you can meet?" Dumbledore offered instead. Acacia paused for a moment, before nodding, her grip on Harry's shoulder tightening before relaxing.
"You won't get away with this, little girl!" The pink woman screamed. "The Ministry will not tolerate this!"
"Would now be a fine time?" Acacia asked, ignoring the commotion behind her as the grey haired witch and the pink woman began to argue. Dumbledore nodded and escorted them out.
"What happened Harry? Did you get off?" Hermione, Ron and Sirius jumped on Harry the moment he got in the door at Grimmauld Place.
"Quaint," Acacia said, looking around as she stepped in. "Is there somewhere to hang my robe? I didn't have time to change into something casual."
There was silence as everyone took in the girl with black hair and hazel eyes who looked very similar to Harry. She glanced around to see everyone staring at her and blinked.
"Hello?" she said, tentatively.
"Who are you?" Ron asked bluntly.
"Ci-ci?" Sirius asked, with Remus dropping a mug on the floor in surprise. Acacia looked surprised.
"Ci-ci? I haven't gone by that in about fourteen years. I prefer Cay now," Acacia said. She looked around the room. "I'm Acacia Potter."
"She died," Ginny spoke up, with Molly nodding and beginning to berate her husband for bringing an impostor in the house.
"Apparently rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated. I've always wanted to say that line," Acacia smiled, delighted. "Anyway, I went trick or treating with a friend, and when we came back my house was kind of, well, not there. So Auntie Rhian decided that it was best to skip out on England. I grew up across the pond."
"Auntie who?" Remus asked, eyes wide as he looked to the signet ring and back to Acacia's face.
"Auntie Rhian. She lived in Godric's Hollow. She became friends with Mum while we were stuck there," Acacia said.
"Why didn't you come back when the war ended?" Hermione asked.
"We were living as muggles, and the United States of Magical America are isolationist, so the news didn't filter through," Acacia shrugged. "Also, Auntie Rhian was busy amassing an empire of businesses. It's not easy to do that."
"And you didn't decide to let your brother know you existed?" Tonks asked, disbelief on her face as her hair changed to blue.
"I thought he was dead," Acacia defended herself.
"You thought the boy who lived was dead," Hermione said, crossing her arms in disbelief. Acacia looked around to stare at Harry.
"Oh, you're the boy who lived? No one ever mentioned his name," Acacia said, rubbing the back of her neck and looking sheepish.
"Where have you been living?" Ron asked as everyone gaped at her.
"Under a rock. Running businesses isn't easy you know, especially if you're still a student, and taking extra courses on money management and keeping up with muggle classes so you can get an MBA at a good university. Speaking of businesses. So, I didn't think you were alive..." Acacia said, turning towards Harry.
"How do we know you are who you say you are?" Ginny asked. "Can't be too careful."
"Fair point," Acacia nodded before holding up the hand with the signet ring. "This, which can be authenticated by anyone able to use magic, would only accept the proper lord or lady. Thus, we know I am the heir to House Potter. That, and Gringotts would probably kill anyone trying to be someone they aren't and trying to get into the older vaults. And I've done business with the Goblins and survived, so we can assume I'm me. Right?"
"Hard to fake a signet ring that passes for a real one," Moody said, examining the ring.
"Hey guys, she did also help me get off on that farce of a trial," Harry added.
"What business do you do?" Hermione asked.
"I'm dabbling at the moment. The Potters were known for warding, so there was a warding business already set up. I expanded it into a magical creature business as well, since many of our customers were magical creature breeders. I bought up a few, made a few deals with others, and managed to find several, uh, adventurous souls to start one solely under the Potter brand. I have one magical greenhouse currently attached to the magical creature breeding facility, and based on revenue from that we may or may not branch out into others in different parts of the world. I was also looking into financing a curse breaking team to send down to the Yucatan Penisula. Several veteran warders have expressed interest," Acacia began, a light coming on her eyes as she began to discuss her businesses.
"You've been doing this for how long?" Remus asked, sitting on the floor from the shock. Even Harry was staring at his sister in surprise.
"You're still a student," Sirius added.
"Well, I took a finance class since I was going to be the Head of the House and didn't want to run everything into the ground, and one of the assignments was to pretend to invest money, and I figured well, why wait? We were mostly doing safe investments, and since Auntie Rhian is a great business woman, I got her advice," Acacia shrugged. Then she turned towards Harry.
"Anyway. Right, so, I have some bad news for you." Acacia took a deep breath before plowing on. "You know how I said I didn't know you were alive? Well, one of the families I was doing business with demanded a marriage contract to be put in place with their oldest daughter, and Harry Potter. Since I thought you were dead, it seemed like the best option for getting their cooperation and not losing anything important."
"What are you saying?" Harry asked, hoping she wasn't saying what he thought she was saying.
"Harry, may I be the first to say congratulations on your upcoming nuptials with Daphne Greengrass."