The Summer
"Why don't you want me to talk to Professor Dumbledore?" Hermione asked Harry.
"I think Dumbledore is trying to control me" Harry said. "I got a letter saying that I was named in Sirius's will, but I never got a letter from Gringotts. Dumbledore told me that he would go in my place, and tell me if I was given anything… if he deemed me ready or entitled to know" he added.
"Was that the only reason?" Hermione pressed. Her friend took another swig of his hot chocolate before answering.
"He said that the Death Eaters knew about it, and that I was in danger if I left Privet Drive" Harry said. "But how could they have known if they didn't send me a letter? Voldemort would have to have a spy in the Post Office in order to know that kind of information" he shook his head.
"Well come with me tomorrow" Hermione said. "I was named in the will too, so I was having to go anyway. Have you had anything to eat?" she asked him.
"No" Harry replied. "Even though I had something important to tell them, the Dursleys didn't give me any food at all. Only had half a slice of toast this morning" and Hermione dearly wished to give his relatives a wisdom tooth extract minus an injection.
"I'll make you some soup up" she said. "Anything you'd like?" and Harry shook his head.
"Just anything but French Onion please" he said, and Hermione sat him in the living room which had a fire going already in the fireplace.
"It has been a good while since I last saw you" Emma said to Harry. Harry had almost forgotten she was around, and he nodded in agreement.
"It has"
"Listen Harry" Emma said. "Hermione has told me of what happened, and that there is a big fight going on in the magical world. Tell me, please – whats going on?" and Harry thought for a long time before replying.
"First of all, it isn't just some fight. It's a war, and the war is going very badly for us. Lots of good people are being killed by Voldemort, and there is nothing that we can seemingly do about it. These gas explosions, bridge collapses, strange lights in the sky… that's all from the fighting going on. The war is going very badly for us, more so then what is generally known. Some people believe that if we don't get a break soon, we may have no choice but to surrender within six months" and Emma paled at the news.
"Can I get my daughter out of this?" she asked.
"No…" Harry shook his head again. "Apart from the fact she is what is known as Muggle Born, Hermione has stood up to him and his side before. Add to that the fact she is my friend, and you have a tough bucket of monkeys" he looked at Emma. "I'm sorry about that, but you should know the truth. Maybe we'll get a lucky break and Voldemort dies after slipping on a banana skin or something. Your only bet is to move out of the country, but Voldemort has spies and contacts all over Europe. Besides that, Hermione would find a way to get back here and stand by my side at the fi…" he stopped as Hermione came in from the kitchen with a bowl of steaming hot mushroom soup.
#
A change was taking place inside Hogwarts. The position of Headteacher of the school was vacant, and Dumbledore had returned to the post on just his say so. This was considered by the castle to be an attack upon the school, so Dumbledore was magically removed as Headmaster of Hogwarts as a search for a new occupier began. What was needed was somebody who almost always thought things through, was fair minded, considered to be honourable, dependable… Four names popped up, and the school examined them closely. McGonagall's name was discounted because of her stated opinion she was not worthy of such a post. Filius Flitwick was also out of the running because he was content to just be a charms teacher and nothing else. The next name, Amelia Bones, was removed from the list for the same reason – contentment in current position. There was also the fact that she would be key to fighting the war from the DMLE, and not a pile of stones filled with kids.
The castle could not figure out what to do about informing the new Headmaster of his appointment.
#
Harry awoke the next morning and it took him several moments to figure out where he was. After getting himself showered and dressed, he headed down to find breakfast in full swing.
"Good Morning, Harry"
"Murugh" he replied.
"Is he alright?" asked Emma.
"Quite" Hermione replied. "How many sugars?" she asked Harry.
"Murugh Murugh" Harry replied, sitting down at the kitchen table.
"There you go" Hermione gave him a cup of tea. "Harry… don't take this the wrong way or anything like that, but how about we get you some new clothes? We can take money from Gringotts and get it converted to sterling. If the Dursleys have thrown you out, then there is no reason for you to dress in their hand me downs" and Harry looked at her.
"Murugh murugh for me?" he asked, the tea kicking his mind into gear at last.
"Of course I'd do that for you" Hermione replied with a smile. "There are lots of places we could go to, and you'll look a very nice young man indeed" she added.
"What would I do without you, Hermione?" Harry smiled, and then set about eating breakfast of French Toast. He was amazed by how quickly Hermione could get organised and she had telephoned the train station for times of trains to London, looked up times of buses and had everything ready that they would need. What they didn't know was that Dumbledore had an inkling that Harry would appear. His plan was to wait until the meeting was underway, then rush in and claim that Harry was in danger, and the Headmaster would take over for him.
He was wrong about that one two counts.
#
A short tube ride got Harry and Hermione to Diagon Alley, after going through the Leaky Cauldron and they walked down to the bank. Once inside, they went to a free teller and explained who they were and what they wanted. Both were shown into a large meeting room with comfortable leather chairs, and they talked for a while until the door opened and admitted the Weasley family.
"Harry!" Mrs Weasley hugged Harry. "Where were you last night? You had half the Order looking for you" she said.
"I left before my relatives could throw me out" Harry replied. "Went to Hermione's house because she was nearer, and I knew that I'd be alright at her house" and the door opened and admitted what seemed like the entire Tonks family, Remus Lupin and Narcissa and Draco Malfoy. The two rivals glared at each other as the Goblin in charge of the reading walked in and sat at the head of the long table.
"Good Morning" Griphook said. "This is the will reading of Sirius Black. You have all been mentioned as benefactors of the will, and are also here to collect on behalf of those who can not attend for good reasons. Does anybody have any objections to me starting the reading now?" he asked.
"Just get on with it…" Draco said.
"As you wish" Griphook muttered something that Hermione smiled at. "Mr Black used some interesting words, and I quote directly from his own speech
Hi everybody…
If you are reading this, then there has either been a great cock up in the legal department or I am in fact dead. I presume I was killed in battle, and not by the mad father of twin 14 year old girls whilst climbing out of their bedroom window after shagging them both senseless. As I guess you are all eager to find out what I have left you, what do you say that we get on with this?
I, Sirius Black, do bequeath the following items:
To my favourite cousin, Andromeda – I reinstate you to the family, and leave you the sum of 1 million Galleons. You can also take a few reminders of the first guy you had a crush on.
To Nymphadora
"Drop dead" Tonks said.
"Already have done… I leave you the sum of half a million Galleons and the motorbike that you always liked.
To cousin, Narcissa, I leave you the sum of one Knut and cast you out of the family. Your bride price shall be recovered from the Malfoy family.
To my sweet and darling nephew Draco, I leave sod all.
To the Weasley family…" Griphook paused for a second as he read what the family were to get. Harry and Hermione noted the looks that passed over Ginny and Ron. "…I leave Fred and George the sum of one million each, plus some of the notes for making jokes.
Arthur Weasley is to get my entire collection of Why Things Work, the sum of twenty thousand galleons and a rubber duck named Doris.
Ginny Weasley is to receive some of my dresses and skirts, shares in both the Nimbus and Firebolt companies and a boot to the head" and Griphook lobbed a large steel toe capped boot at the girl. It caught her on the side of her skull, and sent her spinning to the floor.
"Remus Lupin is to receive the rest of my wardrobe, a haircut, the property of 12 Grimmauld Place and the sum of 250,000 Galleons.
Hermione Jane Granger is to receive the sum of 1 million Galleons, the contents of most of the library from 12 Grimmauld Place and my thanks for watching over my godson, Harry.
My Godson, Harry James Potter. I was supposed to look after you in the event that your parents were killed before you became of age, but there was a minor hitch with the idea. However, I can do one thing for you. I hereby emancipate you – that means you are thought of as an adult. I leave you the sum of 10 Million Galleons and everything else you want to have that has not already been given away. Do not let anybody dictate what you have to do or where you have to go.
Wishing you were here…
Sirius"
"But I didn't get anything" said Ron in a whining voice. "Sirius owes me for looking after Harry" but most people ignored him.
"Those people who have been unable to attend will be sent letters detailing what they received, and sent with their designated persons. They were not mentioned during the reading at Mr Black's request" Griphook said. "Assistants will take you to sign paperwork. Mr Potter and Miss Granger will remain" the Goblin added. Harry and Hermione went back to their seats as the others filed out – Ginny floated out because she was still unconscious. Through the doorway, they saw Dumbledore speaking hurriedly to the Weasleys before the door shut. "That should last for long enough" said Griphook as he waved his hand. A slight shine was now around the doorway.
"Do you mind us asking why you have requested us to stay back?" Hermione asked.
"What I am about to say is very important" Griphook said. "Albus Dumbledore has been removed as Headmaster of Hogwarts. That in itself is nothing of great importance, but I took the liberty of going over your account, Mr Potter and have discovered that he has been taking a great deal of money and giving it to a family known as the Dursleys. He has also been giving your money to the Weasley family since their eldest child started Hogwarts. He told Gringotts he was your guardian, and he showed us forms and papers to that effect. Now that you have been emancipated, Mr Potter, we can do something about it. There is one small problem though…" the Goblin seemed very on edge.
"Are you alright?" Harry asked, forgetting the news about Dumbledore and concerning himself with Griphook's distress.
"What I have told you was deemed to be a secret between ourselves and Dumbledore. If any of the other members of the bank's staff find out, I could be fired from my position. However, your parents treated me with kindness and respect whenever they visited. I grew to know them very well indeed, and I was deeply saddened by their murders by You-Know-Who. That is one of the reasons I made up a complete and accurate list of all transactions since three weeks after they were killed. Mr Potter, what I have just told you breaks our secrecy rules and goes against everything that a Gringotts goblin stands for. For my sake, as well as yours, keep this hidden away until you can read it in peace and quiet and total safety" and he glanced around before handing Harry a large brown files and a leather accounting book.
"Why am I here?" Hermione asked.
"You are the brightest witch of your age, Miss Granger. Apart from myself, there is only you who could help Mr Potter to make sense of what that man has been doing for a decade and a half" Griphook said, looking around as if someone else was in the room. "I looked up the records concerning you, Mr Potter, and it seems as if there are more charges that you could give Dumbledore – not just the fraud. I wish I could say more, but you do not know or what is listening" and the meeting drew to an end.
"If you are ever in need of help, Griphook, then get a message to me quickly, and I'll come to your aid" Harry said, then opened the door to face Dumbledore.
#
Albus Dumbledore was not a very happy man at all. The waiting assistants had refused to let him go into the meeting, and it seemed as if Harry was now no longer under the control of the Dursleys. Molly Weasley had informed him that Harry was emancipated, and only now was Harry coming out with Hermione Granger. Perhaps he could still salvage something of today.
"Harry, my dear boy" he moved towards him.
"Good Morning, Sir" said the pair together.
"Is there something I can do for you?" Harry asked.
"I understand that you have left your relatives' home, and I must ask you to return there at once" Dumbledore put on his best grandfatherly appearance. "You are in great danger because Voldemort's spies have learned of your presence" and Harry frowned.
"Voldemort's pies know where I am?" he asked. "I don't think I am in danger from a bunch of bakers, Sir" he added.
"Harry, we can get your things from Miss Grangers. I am ordering you to go as your guardian" Dumbledore's tone was firm.
"That would be a problem" said Hermione.
"What do you mean?" asked Dumbledore. He was expecting Harry to admit he was being silly, and that he was grateful Dumbledore was looking after his best interests. The fact he was not doing so was sounding alarm bells in his head.
"Sirius emancipated me in his will" Harry said. "I signed the paper work a minute ago, and I have a lot of stuff to do" and with that he walked off with Hermione and Griphook.
#
Dumbledore's day got worse when he found all of his belongings in the corridor outside the steps to his office. The stone gargoyles refused to open for him, so he sent for his Deputy Headteacher and she was able to open the door and get to the steps which rotated out for use.
"Can you open my office door as well, Minerva?" Dumbledore sighed with annoyance. "I sometimes suspect that the whole world is…"
YOU ARE NOT PERMITTED HERE! LEAVE NOW, OR SUFFER A PAINFUL FATE! a voice called out.
"Did nobody tell the wards I have returned as Headmaster of the school?" Dumbledore asked.
"It seems not, Albus. I'll go down to the chamber and cast the required spells" McGonagall left Dumbledore sitting in the corridor on the top of one of his travelling trunks.
"I have to find a way to get back into Harry's good books" he mused. "Perhaps if I give him some time to cool off… he'll be still distraught about the death of Sirius I expect" and he was so deep into his thoughts concerning what had gone on in a closed session at the bank, that he didn't hear McGonagall coming back until he tapped him on the shoulder.
"I have checked the wards three times, Albus" she said. "And on the third time, the castle produced a written note that I was to give to you. Once I have done that, I am to leave you here or else be sacked" and she handed him a folded piece of parchment and then turned and walked off to her office – smiling as she went.
"Curiouser and curiouser…" Dumbledore muttered, and opened the note.
Dear Albus Dumbledore.
Please note that you are no longer Headmaster here, and that your replacement has already been chosen. Your continued occupation of the Headteacher's office and rooms will not be tolerated any longer. You have twenty minutes to sling your hook
Yours truly,
The Castle
PS: You owe the Sorting Hat three Sickles – it asked me to remind you.
#
Ron and Ginny had attempted to get Harry round to the Burrow, but he had convinced them that he needed to stay at Hermione's house because of some old rule which was explained after the will reading. After they had left the bank, Hermione took Harry shopping and they got a whole pile of new clothing. They had changed some money into muggle currency, and proceeded to Harrods as their first stop on the big buying trip. They took the train home after nipping back into the Leaky Cauldron and shrinking all of their purchases.
"Do you want to go over these now or tomorrow?" Hermione asked. She pointed at the ledger and file they had been given by Griphook.
"Tomorrow" Harry replied, hanging his new clothes in the wardrobe and putting his old cast offs into a couple of bin liners. "I'm just glad we were able to get out of Harrods in one piece" he muttered.
"You going on about that man again?" Hermione teased him. "He seemed to like you a lot" she added.
"Hermione, I suspect he like a lot of male customers – he works in the men's department" Harry looked over his shoulder at her.
"What do you expect?" Hermione replied. "His title was 'Gentlemen's tailor' after all"
"Mione… he bats for the other team" Harry said.
"He never said he played cricket" Hermione replayed the talking they had done in her mind.
"Oh for fuck's sake, Mione" Harry swore. "He was a card carrying member of the Shirt Lifters Brigade" and then gave a limp wave of his hand for effect.
"OH!" Hermione went a bright shade of red as she got what he meant.
"Yup" Harry nodded as he laughed at his friend's reaction. "Anyway… I was thinking that I would wear those black slacks, the frilled shirt and the loafers for dinner" he said, referring to the fact that Hermione's parents were taking him out for dinner to celebrate his emancipation and escape from the Dursleys.
"I'm glad you're not going back to those horrible people" Hermione said. On the way back to Hermione's house, Harry had told her everything that the Dursleys had done to him over the years. Hermione suggested that he could prosecute them for all the cruelty and neglect, and Harry made a note to look into it when he had the time. For now, he had three weeks of the holiday that were free of trouble and possible injury, and Harry intended to use them up to the maximum. Hermione's parents had talked to their daughter and discovered that the Dursleys had never taken Harry out to any theme park or beach in his entire time with them – excluding the trip to London Zoo of course. Harry unexpectedly burst into tears when the Grangers then asked him if he would to go with them to Alton Towers that weekend. It was the first time that anybody had asked what he wanted to do over the summer, and he poured over every piece of information that he could get about the theme park.
#
Harry and Hermione talked to Neville, Luna, Ginny and Ron on the trip to Hogwarts, and filled them in on what had happened over the summer. Ron almost demanded to know why Harry had not come over to the Burrow for the rest of the summer holidays after the reading of Sirius's will, and Harry replied that the terms of Sirius's final message to Harry had dictated he stay at Hermione's with her and her parents. It hadn't said that exactly, but one could interpret Sirius's warning to mean it.
"I wonder who the new Headteacher is at Hogwarts" Neville said. "The Prophet said that we would be told by McGonagall at the Welcoming Feast" and they speculated as to who it could be.
"I hope it isn't Umbridge" said Ginny.
"Strange the castle decided to kick Dumbledore out" Hermione said.
"You don't think its Snape do you?" Ron asked.
"Stop the train" Harry said.
"What for?" Hermione frowned.
"If Snape is Headmaster, then I am transferring to Beauxbaton" Harry replied, and they all laughed. The rest of the trip went on in good company, but Harry was concerned at Hermione being closely watched by Ron. Of course, he did think that Ron had a crush on Hermione. It seemed as if a betting ring was going around on the train, and Harry placed his 10 galleons on it being Hagrid. He knew it was a very long long shot, but he could make a tidy sum if that were the case. After they had arrived at Hogsmeade, they packed into one of the carriages and settled down for the trip up to the castle.
#
McGonagall had tried everything to get people's attention, but nothing seemed to work on the excited pupils – so she went for something desperate.
"Hem hem" and everyone went silent as they heard Umbridge's trademark cough. "That's better…" McGonagall said, and nearly everybody laughed with relief it was not the hated toad. "Now in my hand is the name of the person who shall be the next Headteacher of Hogwarts. I do not know the identity myself, so it will be a surprise for all of us. I assume that you will all give your support to whoever it is…?" McGonagall paused to let everybody nod and say they would. "Very well then. The person is…" McGonagall opened the envelope and took out a single card of parchment. After a second to read it, the Deputy nearly collapsed back into her chair.
"Bloody hell" Ron said. "I think it is Hagrid" and it took a full five minutes for McGonagall to regain the power of speech.
"I believe you are sitting in the wrong chair…" then looked to her left were Snape was sitting and faintly smiled. The Slytherins became rather excited and talkative as the other three houses groaned.
"No…" moaned Neville.
"Would you care to take your seat, Harry Potter?"
A/N:
Okay... if we have any Star Trek fans in the house tonight, somebody will spot a quote from Yesturday's Enterprise somewhere in this chapter - modified to fit Harry Potter of course!
Well I hope you like this chapter as much as the previous one - 180 emails just concerning this fic!
Man am I good...
Nothing much to say, but if you think this was good, then you just wait to read chapters 3,4 and 5 which have already been put in the bank. For those of you that are waiting for Escape's Chapter 13, then please continue to wait. I have a big bundle of fics to be released at the end of the month, so you'll not miss out. Also, the annual Pixel And Stephanie Forever Awards are awarded 25th December, and details upcoming about that Tuesday. Just a little something I like to do every year at Christmas time...
Author Request: If anybody has a HANDHELD shortwave reciever and who does not want it, then please hold up your hand - I want it!
Regards
Dr Pixel And Stephanie