Authors Note: I do not own in any way shape or form anything from the Harry Potter verse. I'm just here to twist and turn some of the plot points for my own amusement. Harry is fed less here than in canon. Some things are a mix of movie and book versions. Thank you for those that put this on their story alert.
Chapter 2
Harry looked with awe at the oddly tilted house coming up. It had to be held up by magic. There was no other explanation to the fact that it stood at all. Putting the car in the shed and pulling Harry's trunk from the boot Ron paused and pointed at the bars in the backseat. "We should be bringing these just in case"
Happier than he'd been all summer Harry still couldn't believe Ron and his brothers had come to rescue him in a flying car no less. They were all joking around on their way back to the house. When Ron stopped, eyes wide, swallowing hard and turning an incredible shade of green.
"Mum" Ron said his voice cracking.
What happened next was one of the scariest things, Harry had ever seen. Logically he knew the Weasley boys were bigger than their mum. But somehow as she drew nearer, they seemed to shrink. Mrs. Weasley seemed to be all but breathing fire and he really didn't think he would be surprised if she did that.
"WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?" She started. Harry hung back and watched in sick fascination as scolding the like of which he had never seen. The Dursley certainly never scolded Dudley like that. The Twins tried to cut in telling her how Harry had been locked in. However, their previous record was against them and that was brushed off as a ploy to get out of trouble. Ron countered with how they'd been starving him, which was met with a, you are learning entirely too much from that
set of brothers attitude. However, just as she was hitting her stride. The Twins pulled up the bars getting her attention.
"What are those" she asked.
"We had to pull them off his window mum" Ron started
"And his door was locked from the outside." Continued one twin.
"With a lot of locks."
"With a little flap thing in the bottom of the door."
There was an angry hiss as if water a had bit been thrown on an intense fire. "They dare" Mrs. Weasley said lowly with an intensity that was far more deadly than all of the screeching that had come before. Turning her attention to Harry. She asked. "They locked you in?"
With a gulp Harry said. "Yes ma'am."
"They fed you through the flap?"
"Yes ma'am."
"How much?"
"1 tin of cold soup a day ma'am" Harry was very embarrassed to have to answer that, but had no experience resisting someone that was angry on his behalf instead
of angry at him. Even though his last answer was said in almost a whisper, all of them had heard and were equally appalled.
Mrs. Weasley drew herself up, pulled in a deep breath and said. " "Well, breakfast will be ready in half an hour "" turning to walk back to the house. "You can have a bit of a nap after" all the redhead boys sighed in relief. "You'll be degnoming the garden this afternoon for taking the car and scaring me half to death." Groans could be heard from those same boys.
"Well, really." One twin said.
"It could have" said the other.
"Been much worse." They finish together.
"Much worse." Agreed Ron.
"I'll help" Harry said, starting an argument that lasted till Mr. Weasley came home from work just after breakfast had started. Ron still didn't think Harry should help. He hadn't done anything after all, Harry stayed firm. It was because they had come after him. So he would help.
Harry was very entertained by Mr. Weasley's fascination with all things Muggle. The most amusing thing to Harry was how Mr. Weasley immediately got himself into trouble by getting excited about the car. The total lack of sincerity in his scolding of the boys had Harry hiding his grin and in a napkin before Mrs. Weasley could notice. All in all it was a very different family meal experience than he had ever had before. If Ron was his best friend before he was much much more after that meal and what came after. Harry fell in love with the whole family and subconsciously adopted them. They were his and he would protect them always.
As he and Ron turned to go upstairs, he noticed Mrs. Weasley put her hand on Mr. Weasley's arm and whisper for him to stay. When they reach their room Harry hurried over and pulled his invisibility cloak out of his trunk.
"Come on," Harry pulled the cloak around both of them and they went back down to listen. The Twins must have noticed to, as they were crouched down behind the railing of the lowest landing Harry quietly got their attention and put the cloak around all of them. "It must have an expansion term," he thought for them to fit. The Twins looked around in awe.
"You will be explaining later." They whispered Ron snickered at the predicament Harry had gotten himself into.
"THEY WHAT!" Mr. Weasley yelled.
"Sh….. Don't wake up the boys" Mrs. Weasley said in a low voice.
She showed him the bars and explained about the soup and Mr. Weasley kept getting redder and redder.
"I've never seen dad this angry," whispered Ron. The Twins nodded in agreement.
"He is NOT going back there" Mr. Weasley stated firmly that strode over to the fireplace, throwing some powder and he stuck his head in the fire and said. "Albus Dumbledore, headmaster's office Hogwarts."
"Headmaster are you there?" Arthur asked.
"Please Arthur. Call me Albus" cameanswered the calm voice of the headmaster.
"Albus, of course. I was wondering if you had a few minutes to come through Molly and I have a few concerns about Harry." Harry's eyes widened in panic, he turned to the other boys and whispered.
"He can see through invisibility cloaks!" George slipped from under the cloak raced up the stairs and back as quietly as he could with some cloaks he threw haphazardly over the landing rails. After all, in a house of boys some clutter is to be expected. Then he slipped back under the cloak and they all chose a gap to peer through as Dumbledore stepped calmly from the flames.
Molly started right in with "Albus those Muggles had Harry locked up!"
"Now Molly I'm sure he was just grounded for his use of magic. His family may have overreacted just trifle. I'm sure we can smooth things over when you take them back tomorrow."
"TAKE HIM BACK! He is not going back there." Both Molly and Arthur stated.
"It's safest place for him." The old mage said firmly.
"They were starving him." Molly came back.
"All boys that age think they're starving you should know that." He countered
Before Molly could say anything about the soup Arthur showed Albus the bars. He did frown at those.
"I'm sure; they just overreacted to his use of magic. He needs to be there, where his mother's sacrifice ensures the blood wards that I placed there." the headmaster was clearly not listening to their concerns.
"Blood Wards! But those are dark magic." Arthur said clearly upset.
"Not at all. Not at all, merely ancient magic. I just utilized Lilies Lily's sacrifice to maximize Harry's protection." The argument went back and forth for some time before Albus lost patience with them. The boys had been whispering to each other when they heard "Obliviate" swiftly looking down again. They saw the bars were missing and Dumbledore was getting ready to leave.
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, though still argued that Harry should at least stay the rest of the summer since he was already there. Dumbledore was a bit irritated that they could still argue with him, even after he had modified their memory. Harry was deeply touched no adults had ever stood up for him (well except for Hagrid. But somehow this was very different). This was people of the same world arguing with someone clearly more powerful than themselves on his behalf. Dumbledore finally did give in and said he could stay the remainder of the summer. He didn't even glance around as he left.
The boys sat for a moment before flinging off the cloak and charging down the stairs.
"Mum, dad, Mr. Weasley, Mrs. Weasley" they all yelled at the same time, all talking very fast. All trying to tell what had happened all at the same time.
"What is going on here?" Shouted Percy. "Could you please keep it down some of us have homework to do." Everyone turned in surprise to stare at him. No one had seen him come down the stairs.
Fred, taking advantage of the sudden silence turned to his parents. "He obliviated you. Dumbledore obliviated you."
"Nonsense" came Was Percy's pompous reply, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had been momentarily stunned first by the avalanche of boys and very loud babble. Then by the accusation itself.
"Now boys. That's going too far just to get out of the bit of trouble." Mr. Weasley said, very sternly.
"But it's true." Came back all the boys, Mr. Weasley opened his mouth, but was cut off by Percy's snide. "We should lay in the supply of Veritaserum for this lot. All they ever do is lie."
"We'll take it" George said, glaring at his older brother.
"Now now, nobody is taking anything." Mr. Weasley said, "I'm sure we can work this out"
"They just made the offer, because they knew it wouldn't happen." Percy said with a sniff.
"We'd show you if we could," Ron popped up.
Mr. Weasley was getting exasperated, and he could tell Molly wasn't going to be quiet for much longer. What Ron said though gave him pause that what they said might true. It was a huge accusation that the right people needed to know, if it was true. It also meant that what they had been saying about Harry's home life was also true. The right people needed to know that to. It just so happened, one of those people would have an Auror's pensive (one that was tamperproof). He gave a sharp look at his youngest son. "Would you really?" All the boys nodded this really surprised Percy and their parents.
"All right Fred. Why don't you go and get ready to come to work with me. It really shouldn't be too big of a surprise if I bring one of you to keep you separate as a punishment." The Twins tried to look offended, but ruined it with matching grins.
"I can't believe you're even thinking that could be true! Well, I have much more important things to do besides be part of this little fairy tale." With that, he went back upstairs.
Mr. Weasley looks sadly after Percy, but decided to deal with that later.
"Arthur, are you sure?" His wife asked.
"Yes, we have to know and someone else should know just in case." He said tiredly.
Mollie looked at her family who had all been up all night, narrowed her eyes and said "I'll be right back." Then went upstairs.
Mr. Weasley looked at Harry and frowned. "You should probably go as well, but I don't know how to get you in without everyone at the ministry seeing you. Someone is bound to tell the headmaster." The boys all looked at each other and smiled. Harry raced back to the stairs picked up something next to the wall at the base of the stairs came back over and put on what looked like a cloak and disappeared. "Blimey!" Was the only thing he could come up with.
Hearing movement upstairs he came out of his shock. "Better take that off and hide it for a moment. If Molly sees that you'll not see it again till you're out of school." Pausing and with a small mischievous smile. He said. "And what fun would that be" Ron had the coolest dad. Just as Harry got the cloak hidden Molly came back down the stairs with four potion vials.
"This is all the pepper up, we have" she said worriedly.
"That's okay dear just Fred and Harry will go with me." She gave a vial to each of them saying sternly. "This doesn't take the place of sleep, but it should help today." She then frowned over at the two boys then told them to go up and put their school robes on.
"Sir, can we go to Gringots today to?" Harry asked before going upstairs.
"I don't know Harry, but we'll try" answered Mr. Weasley
As they were getting ready to leave and Mrs. Weasley was fussing over Fred one last time Mr. Weasley whispered to Harry. "When you get there, put that lovely cloak of yours are on as quickly as possible." Then a little louder. "Remember to look for us we'll be trying to block the floo from site for a minute or two. It will help to tell you when to get out also." After repeating instructions on how to floo, and some fussing over his robes, Molly let them go.
Harry was able to get out of at the right place, and quickly got up off the ground. Putting his cloak on as he did. Fred and his dad sandwiched him in between them, then made their way through the Ministry.
"And this is the Auror department. You might want to look around you'll be getting to know some of these people quite well if you don't shape up." Fred rolled his eyes as some of the nearest Auror's laughed. Arthur was trying to think of a way into Madame Bones's office when she came out briefly to speak to one of the senior Aurors.
"Fred, act like I told you to straighten up. Harry, when she looks try to show her, just her, your face okay." Fred stood a bit taller and started trying to straighten out his robes. Harry snaked a hand up inside the cloak and adjusted his fringe to reveal his scar. When she glanced over, he moved the hood, just enough to show her his face. Her eyes widened and she opened her mouth, he put his finger to his
lips, asking her not to say anything about him. Then he pulled the hood back in place.
"Arthur" Madame Bones said with a smile. "It's been entirely too long, especially when we work in the same building." Coming over to shake his hand. "Is this one of your boys?" She asked.
"One of the twins." He said with pride. "Molly felt today would be a good day to separate them a bit" raising an eyebrow at his son.
"Do you have time for a spot of tea?" She asked.
"Sounds just the thing. Thank you." Argued He agreed and followed her to her office.
After Madame Bones closed the door Harry went to take off his cloak. "Not quite yet Harry." Mr. Weasley said softly. Quickly he put it back on, and a moment later, Madame Bones, assistant came in with the tea. As soon as she left, Harry took off the cloak.
"Are there privacy charms and in here?" Arthur asked. She assured him it was very secure, and even set additional charms to put them at ease. Arthur then went on to tell her why they were here and see if they could use a pensive.
"Of course, of course." Then she frowned at the boys "you do know, if you are lying you can be in very serious legal trouble?"
"Yes ma'am." They both answered.
"Why don't we start when you arrive to get Harry? So that we can establish that story to be true?" She asked looking at Fred. Taking Fred over to a large pensive. She directed him to think of when they got to number 4 Privet Drive to when they left.
"Madam Bones, do you mind if I view this memory with you?" Arthur asked, after saying she didn't mind. They both entered the pensive.
"This is just too weird mate." Fred said in a low voice Harry nodded his agreement as they both stared at the adults obviously vacant bodies. A few minutes later the two adults, came back into themselves. It was readily apparent that they were not happy with what they had seen. The Director of the DMLE jotted down a few notes right away, looking over at Harry. She asked. "That empty tin of soup, next to your owl cage that was your dinner?"
Harry nodded, saying he "yes ma'am. That was my food for the day." Harry didn't notice the adults going pale at that. He had had a thought that worried him. "You don't think I hurt Hedwig, by feeding her some of that, do you? I didn't have anything else, and they wouldn't let her out to hunt."
"No…." her voice cracked just a bit. She cleared her throat and tried again. "No Harry. I don't think it hurt her. It was just for a short time." She and Arthur shared a look before getting back to business. She gave Fred back that memory and went on to extract the one of Dumbledore's visit.
"Now this time, why don't you both come with us?" She suggested.
This time, when they exited Arthur was barely able to contain his fury Madam Bones was writing furiously glancing up, she asked Arthur. "Did you notice the Legelamency?" He nodded.
"I'll be sending someone over to teach your whole family and Harry Occlumency" she looked sternly at Arthur when he looked like he might protest. "It's needed,
and yes, I think that children should be able to get at least the basics before school starts. At least enough to realize when someone is trying to get into their mind." Getting up, she went over to the bookcase and chose two books to bring back to her desk and started quickly, looking through them.
"Now to the bad part, what he did was wrong and borderline illegal. His position in the Wizargomot however will give him a certain leeway on this if we push it. It could turn into a very ugly political game." She said warily. "Could we please have the memory of why you were locked up?"
After viewing that memory they all looked worried. "I really wish he could have been more specific. Though it is amazing, he could free himself from the House Elf bond enough to do this." Looking over it Harry. She assured him "I can use this memory to have the underage use of magic removed from your record Harry."
"Can we get Harry out of there?" Arthur wanted to know.
"I would love to" Madame Bones started "but… where would he go?"
"Molly and I…."
"That is part of what I was looking up earlier. Let me explain a little of what I think happened. When Lily and James were killed, Harry was expected to go to his godfather Sirius Black. However, since Sirius was sent to Azkaban for betraying Harry's parents, this was not possible. Now Albus had to make some very fast decisions about Harry's safety with no living relatives in the magical world custody would have fallen to Sirius' mother. This would have been completely unacceptable to Albus, as she sympathized openly with Voldemorts views. The next logical candidate would have been Andromeda Tonks; however, she had been disowned by the Black family. The next in line would have been Bellatrix Lestrange then she had ended up in Azkaban. Not long after Sirius. Then it would've fallen to Narcissa Malfoy, which was equally unacceptable. Quite frankly, if he had been given into any of their care is very doubtful he would have lived to attend Hogwarts or he would have been raised to be like Draco." She looked sympathetically at Harry.
Harry was quickly going into shock. He had a Godfather? One that was in Prison? One that betrayed his parents? He tried to pay attention as she continued but it was hard and thoughts questions just kept whirling around his head.
"I really do think that he does care for you Harry." She tried to reassure him. "He must have felt the only way to keep him alive was to give him to someone outside the magical community. Given his mother's blood sacrifice the best place would be with her blood relatives."
Arthur groaned. "And once he had made the decision. He never looked back. He never does. He's absolutely convinced that it was the only way. And once there, it probably never occurred to him to check on Harry. He was raised in an entirely different era. He probably felt they would automatically love him because he was family." Arthur shook his head sadly, as things started to make much more sense to him.
"That doesn't make what Albus did at the Borrow right he should have listened. People have gone to him for advice and guidance for so long that I think Albus has forgotten that even he can make mistakes." Madame Bones pointed out "I am sure with some of the creative minds in your family." She slid a glance over to Fred. "That you can find a way around this. Even if he does have to return to those awful mugglespeople. We also need to remember that the Ministry or at least, the Minister would love to get a hold of The-Boy-Who-Lived. Sorry Harry, Minister Fudge would love to use him as a political pawn."
"For now, the Headmaster has given his permission for Harry to stay with you for the remainder of the summer, correct?" She asked Arthur. He nodded that that was right. "Then you have that and the nine months back at school before any action needs to be taken." Arthur didn't look happy, but nodded his agreement. Fred however had been thinking since she had mentioned creative minds. He now leaned over to whisper to his dad.
"Dad. I have an idea that I can't tell you here. I'll let you know, when we get home okay." His dad looked puzzled, but nodded.
"Well, I suppose we can safely leave things for now" Arthur said reluctantly "we had better be off. Thank you for trying to help."
"Before you leave, there is one more thing." She paused, took a deep breath and dove right in "now I know you're happy with your job Arthur. But you still have five children in school. You have to know that you are paid way too low." Arthur looked like he wanted to protest. So she went on before he could "anyone else in that same job would be paid twice as much. As much as I dislike pureblood politics the way you and Molly completely ignore all traditions is doing a great disservice to your children."
Arthur's ears started to go red, and he looked like he was getting angry. "My family is doing just fine." He said shortly.
"Did you know that Bill applied for a job at the Ministry?" She asked startling Arthur.
"He did? Why did he go to Gringots then?"
"Because he got laughed out of McNair's office for knowing less about the traditions of his own world than some of the Muggleborn, who were applying for the same job. From what I have been told he went home to talk to Charlie. Charlie then sent a letter to his friend Nymphadora Tonks, whose mother was Andromeda Black before she married. She agreed to tutor them in the traditions they needed to know to succeed in this world. With what he learned from her, He was able to get a job at Gringots."
Arthur looked stricken. "Why didn't he tell me?" He asked with bewildered sadness.
"He didn't want to hurt you." She said softly, Harry and Fred were watching all of this with wide eyes. Their minds were reeling from everything that they had learned and more just kept coming. Both trying to be as small as possible, knowing that they probably shouldn't be here for this "I understand that you don't like the pureblood rhetoric and some of the politics that go with it. Neither do I, but I am still proud of what I am and follow many of the traditions. That does not make me a Deatheater"
Arthur looked shocked. "Of course not. I would have never thought that"
"Well, I got this started. So I might as well just wade right in even deeper." She said with a small smile. "You may want to talk to Billius he hasn't been the same since his wife and children were killed in the last war. He hasn't done any of the Head of House duties in the last few years. And you haven't been paying attention." Fred and Harry were now paying very close attention to what was being said.
"As it stands now, you are his heir." She said very firmly. "Your brother Michael's wife is right now trying to get a marriage contract signed between her almost Squib son and the Bulistrodes youngest daughter. Because you don't follow the traditions, she thinks they can just bypass you and have any children from that union made heir." Arthur frowned at that he didn't like his sister-in-law, and really didn't want the Bulistrodes in charge of his family. And that is what would happen if he just sat back and did nothing.
"Now I don't want to know how you're going to help Harry, but to do it effectively. You need to become much more politically active and being heir would help. Okay, enough with the lecture. Just think about it, please."
After thanking her for her help in getting Harry under his cloak again. They made their way down to Mr. Weasley's office so he could get at least a little bit of work done. The boys sat in a corner, quietly going over everything that they had heard. It was very overwhelming, so decided to leave the problem of Harry's godfather for another time. Even though Harry knew he would be going over it in his mind over and over again. But right now, they needed to concentrate on the reason they
came here to begin with. They hadn't been there very long when Mr. Weasley received a memo that made him look thoughtful. Right after that, his boss Denton Diggle (who looked older than Dumbledore) came in and told him to take the rest of the day off since he'd been putting in so much overtime. He could probably take a couple more days unless an emergency came up.
He gathered up the boys ready to head home. When Harry reminded him. "Sir, do you think we have time to stop by Gringots?"
"There's still an hour or two left of the morning so I don't see why not "Arthur agreed. "Fred, it might be a good idea for you to just head on home." When they got to the atrium Arthur watched Fred floo out. Then turned to Harry and motioned for him to follow him as they were walking he said in a very low voice were going to the apparition point. "When we get there, grabbed my arm very tightly, and I will apparate us to Diagon Alley. Now I don't do this very often. So make sure you hold on very tight."
Entering Gringots, they made their way to an open goblin.
"Mr. Harry Potter would like to speak to his account manager." Mr. Weasley said firmly. The goblin's eyes did the brief flick to Harry's forehead that he had come to expect before signaling over another goblin and handing him a note.
After entering a pair of ordinate doors. He motioned to a small waiting area. "Wait here, please."
"Does Bill enjoy working for Gringots?" Harry asked to fill the silence after they had been seated.
"Oh yes, he really enjoys a good challenge, and being a Curse Breaker is that and more" Mr. Weasley smiled thinking of his oldest. They filled in the time waiting with him sharing stories Bill had written in his letters to his family. In what seemed like no time at all the goblin was back to escort them to the Account Managers office.
Harry, who hadn't really been paying attention earlier realized that he recognized this goblin and felt that he had been rude not to have said something then. "Good morning, Mr. Griphook it's good to see you again."
Griphook paused in what he was about to say, and blinked a few times in surprise. Before collecting himself. "Good morning Mr. Potter. It is good to see you again as well. There is no need to call me Mr. Goblins do not use that title. It is just Griphook or goblin Griphook." He instructed as gently as a goblin could, if this human recognized and greeted him as an individual and an equal to his own kind he could help with how to do it properly. Mr. Weasley was amazed. But decided not to interfere Harry seemed to be doing just fine.
"If you would follow me, Mr. Potter, senior goblin Corfax will see you now." This was a far cry from the curt 'follow me please' he had originally and normally used. The exchange had been noted by the goblins close by, as Harry and Mr. Weasley left a very quiet shockwave rippled through the goblin nationbank...
Harry noticed, the goblins bowing to each other as they carried on their business around them. And he quietly asked. "Goblin Griphook, am I supposed to bow when I meet Senior Goblin Corfax?"
Once again, this young one had surprised him. "You are a wizard, so it is not expected. It is however polite. Senior goblin Corfax is of higher rank than myself so my bow will be relatively deep. Yours need not be so deep." He demonstrated with a slight bow. Not so shallow as to be rude and in no way deep enough to indicate the goblin as being higher ranked. Both Harry and Mr. Weasley tried it and thanked Griphook for his instruction.
Entering a good-sized office Griphook paused to allow the Senior Goblin time to finish his conversation with another subordinate. Griphook new exactly what he was being told and nodded confirmation. When the questioning glance was sent his way. They took wizards, a more formal (read longer) route for a reason. The other goblin hurried from the room and Griphook bowed. "Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley to see you sir." Both of the wizards bowed and thanked the Senior Goblin for seeing them.
Already the young ones attitude was spreading,spreading granted Arthur Weasley was a soft sell rumored to be tolerant of non-wizard races. He would wait to see if Weasley could shift from tolerant to accepting making a mental note to observe the Weasley currently employed by Gringots. The young Potter heir had unknowingly shocked the Goblin Nation, more than once this morning. A little Imp of mischief (which most other magical races didn't know that goblins had) came into Corfax eyes. Though still being watchful. He had decided to help the young one in front of him as much as he could, but decided to shock. Mr. Potter just a bit, as a small payback and because it might be fun.
Coming out from behind his desk. He bowed deeply. "Welcome Lord Potter. When no answer came to our letter, we felt that you had decided against the ritual at this time." He watched as with some amusement as Harry's eyes widened in his mouth fell open in shock. Mr. Weasley also seemed to be in shock.
"L...L...Lo...Lord? Letter? RITUAL!" Harry stuttered and shock.
"Mmm" thought Corfax, either his guardians or Dumbledore are screening his mail. Most likely Dumbledore his instructions to Gringots were pretty easily gotten around. He had set a limit on withdrawals after the first visit, which was good because the young lord had exceeded that amount on his first visit. Dumbledore clearly never expected Harry to ask them about his vault he thought Harry would go to him with all of his questions. His instructions on that count were only to be notified if someone strange made inquiries into the Potter Estate. Lord Potter and his chosen advocate in Corfax's mind did not qualify as needing to notify the old busybody.
"My apologies, Your Grace, Lord was just the easiest of your titles to use." Corfax was really beginning to enjoy himself now.
"Your your…." Harry couldn't even get it out. Arthur though very shocked was able to get a pertinent question out.
"Titles. More than one?" Clearing his throat. He went on "yes well that is one of the reasons that we are here young Harry here has no idea what is required of him as the last Potter in the direct line."
Harry nodded vigorously. "I didn't even know I was a wizard tiltill Hagrid came to get me last year. They told me my parents were worthless drunks who died in a car crash."
All humor fled and Corfax actually growled and bared his teeth in a vicious snarl. Both wizards reared back in their seats and angry goblin was a scary thing indeed.
"Worthless! We'll see about that. I am not a wizard therefore don't know about family traditions. Beyond those that take place within these walls, if we start with those I am sure you will learn what you need. Let's start with the letter, your Grace." Corfax stated taking a seat at his desk and opening the Potter file.
"Harry, please call me Harry." Harry insisted.
"Please call me Corfax. Now, did you receive a letter at the end of your school year? Sometime in the last week of your school year." Harry shook his head it wasn't even in the pile of letters Dobby had given back to him. "Did you receive a copy of your parents will in September of last year?" Again, Harry shook his head.
"We will get to your parents will in a moment. Now, the letter pertains to the fact that you are the last of your direct line underage and have been out of contact with the magical world. There is a blood ritual that needs to be performed to confirm your ascension as Lord Potter." Harry narrowed his eyes at Corfax.
"Lord Potter. So what was all this, Your Grace?" Corfax gave a small evil little smirk.
"There is a very old Muggle Dukedom that has not been aired out in centuries in the Potter line. I do not believe that most people even know it's there and I believe the Muggles think this line has died out." He informed Harry,. though Though paying attention to the small byplay. , Arthur had caught the blood ritual part and it worried him slightly. He expressed this to Corfax. "No need for worry. It's all perfectly legal, if very rarely used. Most heirs have someone in their family to claim them as their heir and train them in what they need to know this ritual was only set up as a failsafe in case of just your situation Harry. The old families didn't want all of their traditions and knowledge lost."
"If I was supposed to receive the letter at the end of the school year. Does that mean that it would need to be done soon?" Harry asked.
"Yes, this ritual should be carried out before your next birthday, which is I believe in two days am I correct?" Harry nodded confirmation. "Would it be possible for you and your chosen advocate to return here tomorrow at 10 a.m. for the ritual to take place?" Harry looked over at Mr. Weasley nodded his agreement to that plan.
"Now about your parents will. It should have been given to you for review upon your entry to Hogwarts I take it that this was not done." Corfax inquired of Harry.
"I never even knew they had a will." Harry said, sadly, Mr. Weasley put a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Would it be possible for me to see it now?" Harry questioned.
Corfax did not answer. He simply handed it over his desk for Harry to read.
As Harry read color leached from his face and every emotion, grief and despair, anger was clearly visible on his face, despite his effort to control it. Even as he tried to control his emotions, a fine tremor seem to shake everything in the room. head Head down he whispered. "I was never supposed to go to the Dursley's never" Mr. Weasley squeezed her hand on his shoulder in support.
Clearing his throat Harry said "my guardians The Dursley's are non-magical. Mr. Weasley has graciously allowed me to stay at his house for the remainder of the summer because of a small misunderstanding earlier this summer. As I mentioned my guardians are not magical. They also… distrust anything magical. I was raised with no knowledge of this world and its traditions. This is getting more and more obvious the longer I'm here. As Since my money is still in the magical world. I can only guess that my guardians don't know or don't control that portion of my inheritance." Harry was trying for all of his worth to sound grown up using everything he had learned from his Aunt, TV shows he had heard through the thin door of his cupboard and seen through the grate in it. Even to thinking of how Snape and Malfoy might act only nicer on all counts.
"Remember, we think the Dumbledore was desperate to protect you." He reminded Harry "The darkness of the times made people have to make some very big decisions in very little time."
"I do not think that headmaster Dumbledore so much disregarded the will, as didn't even open it. He came in and froze all of your assets, except for your trust vault to be used upon your entry into Hogwarts. This has worked to your advantage, as several individuals have come forward claiming the right to administer your estate in your absence. The Ministry has also tried to gain control of your Estates on more than one occasion. However they could never provide transcripts of your guardiansguardian's trial therefore no matter what Wizards say, within GringottsGringots Sirius Black is still the only one other than Dumbledore who was executor that has any say over your accounts." Arthur looked startled, and Harry's was getting a headache from an overload of information.
"Why would the Ministry not have transcripts? Why does that matter?" Harry said more and more confused.
"This means though he is in prison he has never actually been convicted of a crime. There was never a trial. That means they cannot confiscate any of his property or yours by lumping it in with his. They couldn't get yours in any case but were greedy enough to try anyway." Corfax was clearly unhappy about that. Goblins did not like anyone mucking about with their accounts. Leaning back and clearing his throat he asked "Is there any thing else I can help you with?"
"We came here today with a lot of questions, and many of them can probably wait until after the ritual tomorrow. But there are a couple that we need to know about now." Harry said apologetically. He then looked down at the list of questions Hermione had sent him and asked "Do you have to report to anyone about how much I take for from my own accounts? And is there a limit to what I can take?"
"Headmaster Dumbledore did ask to be notified if anyone strange inquired after year estates. I do not believe Lord Potter that you can qualify as someone strange." With a slight quirk of his mouth and a little mischief in his eye. He went on "at least not for these purposes. And yes, Dumbledore set a limit to be notified if you withdrew more than 1000 galleons at a time. But beyond that, he set no limits. He probably felt that you would make one withdrawal for your school supplies each summer and that would probably be the only time you could come to the bank." Harry who had been getting more and more comfortable with Corfax as he had tried to explain the mess that Harry was in snorted and rolled his eyes at the goblins humor. Mr. Weasley was in shock. He hadn't realized that goblins have a sense a of humor.
"Do I have to go back or up front to withdraw 1000 galleons or can I just ask you for them that now?" Harry asked because he really wanted to get out of here now. He didn't think he could take any more information today, luckily Corfax said that there would be a 1000 galleons waiting for him as he exited the office. After thinking Corfax, for his help, Mr. Weasley and Harry finally headed home.
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"Your home, how did it go?" Asked Mrs. Weasley.
"Yeah mate Fred won't tell us a thing." Ron complained the
"We need to talk." Mr. Weasley said warily then turned to Fred. "You said you had an idea. Can you tell me now?" Fred lit up with a huge smile, said he'd be just a
minute and thundered up the stairs. Mrs. Weasley barely had time to send a worried look at her husband for Fred followed by George and Ginny came running back down. Fred clutching something in his hand.
"Can we keep him dad?" Ron blurted out.
"I'm not a puppy Ron." Harry said with a snort, smiling to take the sting out of it but Ron's ears went red, and he looked a bit sheepish.
"Not exactly" his dad said. Arthur then looked over at his wife, and then said sadly. "They were telling the truth Molly Dumbledore did obliviate us I'll explain in much more detail later but right now. Let's have a look at what Fred has."
"Well, one of the biggest problems Harry has when he is at the Dursley's is being locked in that bloody awful room." Fred cringed just a bit, as his mum yelled at him for his language then he quickly continued on. "The other problem is the lack of food and I think this here." He waved around the catalog in his hand. "Might just solve both those problems. Look at this here." He opened the catalog and pointed to the deluxe model multi-compartment trunk.
Both Molly and Arthur looked over the description and nearly had a heart failure over the price. Arthur then reminded the boys "you do know that magical trunks aren't allowed at Hogwarts until your fourth year."
"Well that's just it. It's not during the school year that he really needs it. So mum could just keep it here and fill the pantry during the school year and bring it with her when she picks us up from the station. It comes with a shrinking charm on it that only requires Harry to touch it with his wand to bring it back to normal size. That doesn't count as magic. So he can't get in trouble for it with this trunk, he can put it in his pocket. So when his uncle locks up his trunk. It won't really be the important one" Fred explained with a huge smile.
"Brilliant" said Ron in awe. The others nodded their head in agreement.
"Oh, Fred. It's so expensive, though." Molly worried, picking up the catalog. She leafed through it and said maybe we can find something a little less expensive.
"I'll look through the catalog tonight. Mrs. Weasley." Harry tried to reassure her, but from what he could see the one Fred pointed out was the one he really wanted.
"Why don't you go up and take a bit of a nap. And we'll see what we can do."Arthur suggested. Molly though he insisted that he have lunch before he had a nap. After lunch she shooed all of the children back upstairs. Then she and Arthur sat down to discuss what had happened. It nearly broke her heart to learn that they had inadvertently hurt their children's chances for a good job. They really hadn't purposely ignored tradition had just tried to distance themselves from the pureblood extremists after her brothers died. She was so busy worrying about the rest of her family to even notice that they were neglecting a very important part of their education.
"Why not to go pop in on Billius and have a long-overdue chat." She suggested to her husband after they had gone over everything he learned Amelia's office. He nodded his head and headed off for his brother's house and Molly got up to start an elaborate dinner cooking. Cooking always helped to calm her nerves.
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Arthur was shocked when his brother opened the door. He looked far older than he really was. Clearing his throat. He said. "I think that we need to have a little talk. I am so sorry that I haven't been over sooner." His brother gave him a puzzled look at open the door further and invited him in.
"There's nothing for you to be sorry about, you have your own family to take care of and a job that keeps you busy day and night from what I hear." Billius gave a small smile. "Now tell me what is really going on, you didn't just drop in for no reason."
"You're right of course I just came from Madame Bones Office where I had a very enlightening conversation." He then went on to explain about limiting his children's job prospects and what he had learned about what Michael's wife was up to. "Now
I don't expect you to automatically make me your heir, but I do think that who your heir is should be up to you." He explained earnestly.
His brother gave a huge sigh and shook his head and said tiredly. "I suppose I really should've been expecting this, but you're not the only one that got so involved in their life. They forgot to pay attention to what was happening around them. Since Katie died. I just seem to have lost interest in just about everything, but it has been 14 years. Maybe it's time to come out of my little cave of grief." A small smile crossed his face briefly, and he said. "Though I did have one or two things to keep me busy. I have managed to at least partially refill our vaults we're not rich by any means, but I think that our family will be at least somewhat more comfortable. I was so busy doing it. I forgot to tell anybody, or to start using it."
"As for my heir of course I'm going to choose you, Michael just doesn't have any sense, which he proved without a doubt. When he married that hag" Arthur looked a little startled and gave a smirk and reminded Billius that Crystal was actually quite pretty. "I was referring more to her disposition." Billius said smartly. After a nice conversation over tea He announced "well, there's no time like the present. Let's get this over and done with." He then got out and herded Arthur out to go to Gringots. Again.
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Meanwhile back at the Burrow upstairs in Ron's room, Harry was being pelted with questions. "Come on, mate. Tell us what happened. Fred hasn't said a word since he got home. Bloody annoying, that is" Ron all but whined George was in complete agreement with him. He hadn't been able to get anything out of his twin. Though Ginny really wanted to know what was going on. She stood a bit further back almost hidden behind her brothers, turning all shades of red at the thought of talking to Harry Potter.
So Harry sat down, and both he and Fred told them about giving up their memories and having to stand in them, watching them. It was really weird. They went on to explain about what Madame Bones said about who would get him if he had stayed in the magical world. George gave a low whistle and shook his head "that's bad
mate. Those families. They're all deatheaters and Sirius Black he supposed to be right up there."
"My Account Manager said that Sirius Black never got a trial, so nobody asked him why he did it. I mean, he was their best friend. He had to be to be named my godfather. So why did he betray them." Harry shook his head sadly, his eyes shining with unshed tears. No one had an answer to that.
At dinner that night, everyone noticed something different about Arthur, but no one can seem to pinpoint what it was. Molly had a secret little smile as she knew exactly what the difference was. Finally, it was Percy, who noticed the new ring that his father was wearing.
"Father where did you get that ring?" Inquired Percy.
Harry and Fred shared a look and smiled as they realized what had happened. Arthur beamed proudly and announced to his family. "Your uncle Billius has made me his heir. This means that this year, we will be able to get new robes and new school supplies for everybody. Now we can't go overboard but as heir I now receive an allotment from the Weasley estate. I was also informed today that Denton Diggle has decided to retire after 75 years of service to the Ministry. He has indicated that he will recommend me as his replacement; Madam Bones has also promised her support. I love my job, but I will still be able to keep my hand in as Head of the Muggle Interactions Division. I can't promise anything as Minister Fudge will make the final determination, and I am not exactly his favorite wizard."
Molly fairly glowed with pride at her husband, and even Percy looked impressed. Harry could tell that things were looking up for the Weasley family. He hoped that it would continue because he could think of no more deserving family. Ron, who seems to have the hardest time with the Weasley's poor status, was nearly beside himself with excitement.