Disclaimer: NOT Blonde, Not rich, not living in Britain, initials are not JKR therefore don't own. Love the characters and the setting so am just playing, I get nothing but the reviews my readers give me. Authorship shared with Darkshadowedrose.
Trust is a Relative Thing
Chapter 4 Finding out about the magical world
On their return from Diagon Alley, they quickly made dinner and then Petunia proceeded with the plans for a movie with Vernon and Dudley. After setting up the perch for his new owl, Harry dove into all the things they had gotten in the Alley and started sorting and stowing it appropriately into his school trunk. He carefully left the box from his mother on his pillow as a reward for doing his work first.
Harry found his new trunk fascinating. It was 32''x18''x 14''on the outside. His robes went into the first compartment which looked and acted like the old fashioned wardrobe steamer trunks but with enough space for his entire wardrobe both wizard and muggle with room to spare. Harry bet himself in fact there would be room for four more wardrobes just like it.
The second compartment had racks, four of them. each rack looked like it was 30''x4''x13'' when they were stowed, but when pulled up each rack was actually 30''x 20''x 5'6'' with shelves that magically adjusted for the size of the books on it. His books, he carefully sorted. Some books he decided were must read all of before school, some were read the first few chapters, and some were read when there is time. He grimaced as he racked them into his trunk, this was really going to cut into his drawing time. He only left out the books and pamphlets of the muggle born packet to read tonight. He did it for two reasons, one he liked to keep things tidy, and two he doubted his Uncle would appreciate books about magic being left about.
The third compartment was a little different there were straps in the lid that the shop keeper told him were to hold three partly shrunken broomsticks, then there were two trays one shallow that he used for his parchment and one deep enough for his potions kit and the box from his mother. Under that was where he stored his cauldron and the telescope he retrieved from the attic. This compartment's insides like the others exceeded the outside by quite a bit but Harry sensed it only got as large as was required by the contents. Now all he needed was his wand and a few miscellaneous items and he was ready to go to Hogwarts.
Harry tidied his room and got ready for bed. He both longed to and dreaded opening the box from the vault what if … Suck it up he told himself. He touched the latch only to snatch his hand back as it pricked his finger. A moment later the latch fell open. Harry carefully opened the box.
Inside was a photograph and it was moving. It was of a man with messy hair and glasses, a stunningly beautiful red haired woman and a baby with the same dark hair as the man. The two adults cuddled the infant and took turns holding his hands and kissing them. and helping him wave at their observer. Harry traced his fingers over the adults. "Mum? Dad?" He reluctantly put the photo aside after a few minutes. There was a stone amulet of some sort on a silken cord, and a ring that had a coat of arms carved into it's surface, two letters, and a blank parchment. The ring was of a metal Harry hadn't seen before and he could tell it was meant to be used as a seal because it was in reverse. He wished he understood heraldry and the symbology of the seal there was a stag reared up on its hind legs on one side, a griffin in the same position on the other side, the helmet at the top looked to the stag it looked like the might be some sort of crown like object at the base of the helm. There was a bar with something so small he couldn't distinguish it and three five petaled flowers of some sort in the fields either side of the bar. . And across the bottom it read Potter. Harry put the ring aside and looked at the letters. Which to read first?
Harry decided to open the smaller of the two first.
Bambi,
As you open this you are eleven, I hope I'm standing beside you but if not I hope my death had meaning. If I am not there I'm sure Padfoot, Moony, and Wormtail are, and I'm sure they have taught you the fine art of pranking. I don't have a lot to say. General life advice, live each day like it's your last and never miss a chance for laughter. Find the woman of your dreams. (As a Potter you'll have that dream tonight, so you'll know her when you meet her, but do stop and smell the roses you meet along the way.) Do whatever it takes to win her to your side, and live a long happy life. Don't take the family motto of Pro Fidelibus (faithful in defense) too seriously. Be generous with those you call friends, and never fail to humiliate your enemies. Hopefully you have grown up in a world without He who must not be named (I don't put much stock in the prophecy Dumbledore insisted we hide because of. Not that you and Neville couldn't kick the snake's butt, but why should you have to? You have us adults to take care of that.) While you're at Hogwarts study hard(I'm sure you're brilliant, like your mum.), play quidditch (You're a natural on a broom but don't ever tell your mum I put you on mine and you flew like a pro at one year old.), and pull pranks. I'm sure you'll be the best lion ever. I love you,
Dad
P.S. I loaned Albus my cloak but it was only a loan if he hasn't given it back get it from him. And the blank Parchment in the box touch it with your wand and say "I solemnly swear I'm up to no good, second generation." Peter lost his copy to Filch fourth year a mere month after we finished it. Sirius' brother burned his fifth year (Regulus didn't know what it was only that Padfoot treasured it), and Moony's got torn to shreds during last month's full moon. but your Marauder map has all the latest and greatest improvements that your godfathers, I, and your mum could think up. Not to mention all the other things we found after we did the first edition map. Details are on the map. Happy pranking!
P.S.2 Put the ring in the box on your right little finger, then you will be properly vested as the Potter heir, you can't take the Lord's ring until I die or you are of age, but the heir's ring will help you socially.
As Harry finished the letter he felt a melancholy pang. His father apparently thought his friends would be there for Harry but they weren't. He got the feeling that his Dad was a very fun person, however based on Aunt Petunia's few words about him, his sense of humor didn't appeal to everyone. He wondered why his father called him Bambi. Then Harry slipped the ring onto his finger and was startled when it re-sized itself to fit. Harry then opened the next letter.
The writing on this letter was smaller, and delicately precise much like his own.
Harry,
Happy birthday my darling boy! Hopefully I'm right there with you, but it is an uncertain world we live in and life doesn't come with guarantees. If I'm not I hope your godfather, Sirius, lived up to his responsibilities, failing that I'm sure your godmother Alice Longbottom stepped forward. However if neither of them is in your life, I'm positive Minerva McGonagall did a fine job raising you.
When I write this we are living in hiding. Before you were born there was a Prophecy given about the one who would defeat Voldemort. While I don't put much stock in prophecy, Voldemort does. So Albus thought it best that we and the Longbottoms go into hiding. Alice and I were great friends at school and she had her son twelve hours before I had you. But of course you know this because you and Neville have grown up together, given I am his godmother as Alice is yours. There are so many things I want to show you and teach you, but if you are reading this without me, I will only be able to warn you and ask that you do your best to learn them on your own.
First I am muggleborn. Many in the magical world hold that against me, never mind that I was headgirl at Hogwarts and I bested many that try to call themselves my better. There are those that will insult you as a halfblood, and many, many more that will insult me to anger you. Tell them talk is cheap and proof is in the actual learning and doing of magic. I know that will shut them up because you have on more than one occasion actually wowed me with your accidental magic. If I raised you, you no doubt know of the muggle world, if not then learn about it. Not From Muggle Studies at Hogwarts, learn about it from a muggleborn and going and experiencing it for yourself. You have family in the muggle world I have a sister Petunia Dursley her husband 's name is Vernon. She has a son a little older than you. They don't like magic but after what your idiot father did at their wedding I can't really blame them. If you contact them be kind even if they are rude. They are quite helpless against magic after all.
Your father is a pureblood. The Potters are an Ancient and Noble house. There are only six such families left in Magical Great Britain. Unlike many of the Ancient and Noble houses once every five or six generations the Potters tend to marry muggleborn witches and, as the portrait of your three greats grandfather puts it, freshen the blood. It is an illustrious bloodline Harry. One day you will be a baron, just as Neville will one day be an earl, and your godfather will one day be a viscount. While James and his father are only children his mother was not, she was a Black. Dorea Black to be exact. Through her you have many cousins sadly only a few are worth claiming. Sirius of course, Andromeda Tonks, and much further away on the family tree are the Weasleys and the Longbottoms most other Blacks are purebloods and followers of Voldemort. Never let someone's blood status influence you Harry. It is just a bunch of bullshit anyway, made up by someone trying to feel superior. If anything it backfires on them, the mental effects of inbreeding are becoming noticeable. Sirius' cousin Bellatrix is certifiable and sometimes his manic behavior pushes that limit. Others are simple minded or almost squibs because of it.
I love your father, and he can be the sweetest and most wonderful man, but he can also be the world's most insensitive idiot. I finally decided that the joys and sweetness he brought outweighed the anger his idiocies most of which stem from his pureblood and spoiled upbringing. Magic has a way of smoothing away the things that would sometimes otherwise keep people apart. Our getting together largely came about after he grew up a little and realized carrying a joke too far isn't funny, and some lines shouldn't be crossed. Some of that came about because his parents died and some of that was because his friends almost got a rival as well as one of his dear friends killed in the name of a prank. He is a loyal friend and a fierce protector of those he loves. He is already done with his letter. I'm sure he encouraged you to play pranks and risk your neck playing quidditch at Hogwarts. I'm also sure he has encouraged you to join Gryffindor. I will not. Not that I was ashamed to be a lion, if anything I was proud to be one; but it's more important to be a good person and do your best than worry about your house. Something I never told your father was that I was considered for all the houses. I love you no matter what you are, be it lion, badger, eagle, or even snake.
In the box there is an amulet, I made it for you. It has three spells. When you go off to Hogwarts I expect you'll be like your father and get into at least a bit of mischief/trouble I wanted a way to locate you, so the first spell is a tracking spell I've keyed it with my blood so I'm the only one to be able to use it. The second is a spell to protect your mind, it is a complex magic, at low level such as someone wanting a general sense of your mood it won't block, but if some one were to be deep scanning you it would block it and heat up to warn you to get away from the person doing it. The third spell is one to wake you if someone sends a stunner at you, it is purely for defense. Your attacker would expect you to be unconscious but you will be awake. The stone I used is Larimar, it's mythology is that it helps us to view events from a different perspective, to soften and enlighten, and to heal the emotional, physical, mental and spiritual body. I find it's sea color calms me. I found this stone during James' and my honeymoon in the Dominican Republic. It is a small piece of us for you to carry with you.
Now about school I've already covered the topic of house. I wish my expectations to be clear Harry you will keep yourself in the top ten of your class at Hogwarts. For your third year electives I recommend Arithmancy, Ancient Runes, and Care of Magical Creatures. Divination needs a gift, Muggle studies is so far out of touch it's not worth the time. Other magics worth learning are healing, warding, curse breaking and although many people frown about it occlumency. I highly recommend the last because it is the only sure defense against wizards who would read your mind. The earlier you learn it the better and easier it is to learn.
The reason I recommend it is that I had a friend that was a natural legillimence. We grew up together. Severus was a halfblood and his home life left a lot to be desired, but he was very powerful and smart. Your father resented the fact that I was friends with Severus. Their rivalry was the stuff of legends. Sev was in Slytherin, and well, it didn't sit to well with anyone that Sev and I were friends. Sev had one habit that drove me a little crazy he was a natural at mind magic. I learned occlumency by third year because well a girl likes to have her secrets and when you're around a natural legillimence like Sev, there are no secrets without it. Sev blurted stuff I wanted kept private a few too many times. I would say that Sev was another person you could look to for guidance, but for what happened the end of fifth year and after. That rival I mentioned your father's friends almost killing, that was Sev. It happened the evening after your father pulled an exceptionally humiliating prank and I tried to defend Sev. He reacted badly out of pride and called me mudblood. Mudblood is an exceptionally derogatory putdown applied to muggleborns. I got angry and it was the end of our friendship, although it was wrong and immature of me to keep the grudge as long as I did. It was after that that Sev embraced the darkness that exists in Slytherin house and it was too late. I regret that.
That would be my one warning if you are sorted there. Slytherin has a reputation for Darkness and it is poorly regarded by the other houses. It makes it easy for you feel like the weight of expectation is you will be dark. If you're sorted there go against the flow. Slytherin is the house for the ambitious Sev became the youngest Potion Master in three hundred years and he was well on his way to his Defense Mastery when I wrote this. Cunning and ambitious don't have to mean dark.
Lastly I would warn you. You are a Potter that means money, power and prestige. You are also the subject of prophecy, there will be those who seek to control, use and manipulate you. Some will be obvious, some will be very subtle. Trust, but not too deeply. Sometimes I fear we have trusted wrongly, James ploughs ahead as if there is only one course. I stay with my husband and I will stay the course. But if we are not beside you as you read this, chart your own course and don't let seemingly harmless kindly old men steer you.
With all my love and affection,
Lily Elizabeth Potter
Harry wiped away tears. "I will Mother." He then placed the amulet around his neck and the letter back in the box. His owl hopped off her perch by the window and seemed to want to comfort him. He stroked her feathers and smiled as she pecked lightly at the amulet around his neck. He wondered if all the people his mother mentioned were dead. Then it occurred to him that a woman named Minerva McGonagall was the deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts, he wondered if it was the same woman.
The next two weeks saw Harry and Petunia doing prodigious amounts of reading. Harry read the muggle born information packet, Hogwarts: A History so he would know about the school and more importantly the school rules, and the books his Aunt told him were must reads: the general laws , the etiquette book, the wizarding genealogy and the who's who. He also spent time figuring out the ledger, and realized he owned four properties. An apartment building in London, a cottage in Godric's Hollow in Wales, a small fifteen room manor in Staffordshire, and a beach house in Brighton. When he told Petunia her lips tightened and she frowned. Harry also read through a list of everything in the heirloom vault and wanted to get some of the family journals it listed to read.
In addition he skimmed all of his textbooks then read and made detailed notes on the first three chapters of each book. He also read the one of the books from his potions kit that explained proper techniques for potion ingredient prep. Harry practiced the different cuts and getting them precise as he prepared dinners, lunches, and breakfasts. Petunia had given him odd looks until he explained what he was doing after which she nodded remembering Lily doing the same thing as a girl. Harry practiced writing and came to the conclusion he would only use a quill when required. His art steel nib pen was far superior. He named his owl Hedwig after a Saint in his History of Magic text.
Petunia spent her time reading the law books and the books about or that mentioned Harry. When she was done she made some phone calls and found a place not far from Diagon Alley where she could privately meet with the lawyers of Davies, Corner and Ogden on August 20th. Harry sent Hedwig to make an appointment with the optician in Diagon Alley and made arrangements to meet with Mr. Marcello at Ollivander's on the nineteenth of August to get his wand. Vernon surprised both of them by not saying a word and picking up take away on the days they got too engrossed in what they were reading to make dinner, apparently eighty-seven thousand pounds bought a lot of tolerance.
Life at Privet Drive was hectic not just because of the cramming Harry and Petunia were doing on the magical world, but also because they were trying to get two boys ready to head off to school. Dudley had been accepted to Vernon's old school Smeltings. Harry for the first time alongside Dudley got an entire wardrobe of new clothes, including many things he wasn't convinced he'd need. (three sets of capilene long underwear, polar fleece pants. Where did his Aunt think he was going? The arctic?) A large supply of school and personal supplies and much to his pleasure art supplies. Harry bought a set of wheels to attach to his trunk that could snap in and out of the mounts, and what he thought was the best school backpack that came in leather. Harry also bought a bridge pad, a cribbage board, a couple decks of cards and paperback copies of all his favorite books plus a few new ones. Last he bought a silver picture frame for the photo of him and his parents.
Dudley surprised Harry that night. "Harry could we talk?"
"Sure Dudley what do you need?"
"Do you think I can do this? I mean go to Smeltings be a success and such? I mean I've always had you to help me and I know that you are way smarter... I'm just..."
"Dudley who took your end of year exams?"
"I did."
"That's right you did, not me. Yes, I've helped you study since we were little, and I'm not saying that things probably won't be a bit harder for you. But you know how to study and you know the mechanics of how to learn. I'm sure you'll do fine and if you're really worried about it join a study group or ask for tutoring."
"Yeah, you're right. I can do this. But all the same I think, I'm actually going to miss you, you girl."
"All right that's it..." The resulting wrestling match had Petunia yelling at both of them while they fought to keep straight faces.
August 19th arrived and Harry and Petunia arrived early to the Leaky Cauldron. Tom let them through to the Alley. Their first stop was Ollivander's. Thaddeus Marcello was there and told them by way of greeting "Boy, that wand of yours had a mind of its own. Of course, I doubt that I'll ever experience such a thrill of accomplishment ever again, I'm actually considering retiring."
"Can I see it !" Harry sounded very much his age at that moment, causing all the adults to smile.
The wand maker extended it, handle first to him. It looked amazing the four woods swirled thirty two centimeters from the base to the tip in a coil, narrowing from a four centimeter diameter on the grip to centimeter at the tip. Each wood was edged by the woods of compatible elements. Where the grip began was a ring of silver inscribed with five runes small but smooth silver wires swirled and chris-crossed giving it a texture that would make hanging onto it easy, that continued twelve centimeters to the haft where Harry's aquamarine was held in place by another silver ring this one inscribed by six runes.
"First you must activate the runes, by putting a drop of blood on each. This will bind the wand to you so only you can use it."
Harry took the small knife Ollivander offered and frowned as he made a small cut on a finger of his left hand and did as directed.
"Magica sanguine excitari ligaveris. There it is finished, take your wand Harry."
Harry took it and couldn't resist giving it a wave. A veritable fountain of rainbow sparkles burst from it like champagne from a bottle.
"Bravo!" exclaimed Mr. Ollivander.
Mr. Marcello just got a very pleased look on his face before saying, "I hope you know how to take care of this wand young man. No carrying it around in your pocket or some such nonsense, and keep it clean. It was far to much work to create for you, not to take the best care of it. Understand?"
"Yes, sir. Where do I?"
"Ollie here carries holsters and wand care kits. My payment if you please."
Harry paid him the thirty four galleons he still owed. Then looked to Mr. Ollivander who said "Let's look at holsters shall we?" before waving goodbye to Mr. Marcello.
Half an hour later wand appropriately holstered and backpack dropped off for charming, Harry was at the optician's, while Petunia headed to Gringott's. Medi-witch Chang was a early twenty something witch who seemed thrilled to meet him.
"Harry Potter, in my shop! This is such an honor." she practically squealed.
Harry eyed her suspiciously "Yeah, I wanted to get some contacts. Unless there's some spell or potion that can fix my vision all together."
"Oh that's right you've grown up with Muggles. Let me explain your options. First: total correction, it involves both spells and potions and is very expensive two thousand five hundred galleons. And if your vision were to change it would have to be done over. That's one reason I don't recommend it for someone your age. Option two: glasses most people, 98 percent, go for this, most glasses are between three and five galleons. Third and it's something I've pioneered, is gradual correction. I took the muggle concept of contact lenses and adapted it. I put a lens that has been spelled to always maintain appropriate oxygenation and moisture in your eye, to self clean and to maintain whatever curvature is needed to give you twenty twenty vision. Then you also have a course of drops to put in your eyes that over the course of, well for most of my patients who have tried it, which I admit is not many, in two years their vision was corrected to the point they no longer needed correction of any kind."
Harry wasn't sure how she could have said all that without taking a breath but he was sure she did. "Okay. If I go with option three how often do I take the lenses out for cleaning."
"You don't, I put them in and six months later you come back and I check your vision before I put a fresh pair in. The lenses have set ranges for correction."
"That sounds like what I want. How much is it going to cost? "
"Okay. Then let my cast a few diagnostic charms and we can get started. As for cost the contacts themselves are fifty five galleons the expensive part of this is the potion drops you'll use twice a day. Those are two hundred galleons per six months. " She paused and cast her charms before continuing. "The drops are what encourage your eyes to change to mimic the curvature of the lens they also help maintain the charms on the lenses. My goodness your eyes are quite bad aren't they. No wonder you want to be rid of your glasses you lose them and you're just about blind. My previous patients were no where near this bad instead of two years you are probably looking at...probably four."
"From my perspective that's still a bargain. But I'm going to Hogwarts on September 1st and I won't be back until next summer. How can we..?"
"I'll send a notice to Poppy Pomfrey she's the school's medi-witch. I have to anyway because of the eye drops. I'll just schedule to go to the school on or near the 19th of February."
Something occurred to Harry, "Medi-witch Chang?"
"Yes."
"I assume since you know about contacts that you know at least a bit about the muggle world?"
"Yes."
"I've got all my immunizations I need as a muggle but are there Magical illnesses I should get protected against?"
"Yes there are. I can refer you to a friend of mine at St. Mungo's he specializes in pediatrics."
"That probably would be a very good idea."
"Well let's take care of your eyes then we'll take care of that."
Meanwhile in Gringott's Petunia was asking lots of questions about Harry's properties and she was very furious to be told that the Godric's Hollow cottage had been sealed from entry and turned into a historic site. Especially since no reimbursement for doing so had been made to the estate.
"You mean to tell me that, you people just took valuable property from an orphan, who saved your collective behinds?"
"Not the goblins but the wizards ,yes."
"Someone is going to pay for that. Tell me did anyone even think to collect the valuables or personal mementos from the house before they sealed it?"
"Not to my knowledge."
"What about the manor? What sort of shape is it in? The beach house? The apartment building?" Petunia nearly wanted to scream when her first, second and then third question went unanswered.
"The apartment building has been maintained and the income invested separate from the main Potter money vault and the trust vault. It was refurbished two years ago to bring it up to current building codes."
"Well, I suppose that is something. What about taxes on all the properties and income or is my nephew going to owe some huge ridiculous amount in back taxes?"
"Taxes appropriate to both worlds have been paid on time. Gringott's takes care of that for most the wizarding world."
"That is a relief. I have to say, I have been pleased by the service you have provided Barchok. I hope your recommended solicitors do as well."
"Mrs. Dursley, if I may be so bold, what do you intend to do?"
"Well, there is the matter of recompense for the cottage and then there are all of the writers and publishers who have capitalizing on my nephew's name and misfortune and never once verifying their so called facts and never paying him a penny of the profits. Then there's the matter of my sister and her husbands wills. It is quite illegal to suppress such things in the muggle world, I knew my sister and am quite sure it would not have been her choice for me to raise my nephew. Whoever did that, must have disregarded quite a few laws in the name of blood wards to protect him, not to mention that whoever it was didn't bother to even ask but merely assumed and left him on my doorstep. By doing so they endangered my nephew's life.. Which leaves me with an appalling sense that someone powerful is trying to play me and my nephew like a violin. I want to change legal firms because it's patently obvious to me that the previous firm hasn't been doing its job of looking out for Harry's interests.
"Next on my agenda here today, is it possible for me to arrange to visit these properties especially the one in Godric's Hollow. Can you tell me where my sister and her husband were buried? I feel it would be appropriate for Harry to visit his parents graves before he heads off to school.
"Oh and I would like a detailed analysis of what the wards at my home do and do not do to protect my family. There was a problem for the owl delivering Harry's dress robes. When they didn't arrive as scheduled he sent his owl and discovered the problem. Also we've never received any mail from this bank and I don't believe it is the goblins doing. Barchok, I have to ask, I assume there are fees Harry's trust or family vault is paying for all this help you've been so graciously giving us."
"That would be correct and they should be appearing in the ledger I gave to Harry. But here is a sheet describing our services and the fees. I did file the change in financial trustee without charging you, and the recommendations for the legal firm and medi-witch also cost you nothing. We at Gringott's owed you something for caring for Young Lord Potter despite the oversight of you not receiving your just stipend for his care. It should have been noticed after one year instead of going unnoticed altogether. But I took over as account manager to the Potters, three years after that time and the only thing I had to base my decisions on were the previous records."
"Very good. See you tomorrow?"
"I will be at the meeting to answer any financial questions. I should have at least a few details regarding Lord Potter's properties for you by then or I will know why not."
"Thank you. Harry should be done and there are things we need to do back in Surrey. Good day Barchok. Oh, one last thing I nearly forgot, Harry wanted to ask if he could get the family journals from the heirloom vault so he could read them."
Barchock found Harry's muggle aunt interesting, on the surface so much a human lady but underneath there was a certain ruthlessness that appealed to his goblin sensibilities. He wondered if the Boy-Who-Lived had learned any of it."I believe we could bring them out one at a time. Shall I bring one tomorrow?"
"That would be lovely. I believe he wanted to start with his grandfather's journal. Good day."
The next day Mr. Corner of the firm Davies, Corner and Ogden was by turns pleased (that representation of the BWL was moving to their firm), shocked (that the magical world had done what it had done to their hero without recompense), and appalled (that the BWL's previous law firm had done nothing about it). He was pleased that the paperwork to overturn the Wizengamot seal of the Potter wills was completed, and was impatiently looking forward to working with the firms barrister to upset the status quo, not to mention the lovely paychecks that it would mean for everyone at his firm. If he figured it correctly when things were settled the young Lord might own a sizable portion of the magical world's publishers. This was going to push the firm to the top, for years Marchbanks, Doge, Diggle and Trent had used the fact that they represented both Dumbledore and the Boy-Who-Lived as their calling card. Barchok of Gringott's was sending Marchbanks, Doge, Diggle, and Trent notice that their firm was being replaced, due to inadequate representation of the BWL, and had given him just what he needed to include them in false representation suit. All of it was enough to have any solicitor rubbing their hands in glee. Before he left the two hour meeting he shook hands with his first muggle client and declared it a pleasure to represent her and Lord Potter.