Chapter 4: Secret Meetings and Surprising Resourcefulness
It had taken Lucius nearly a week after his master's order had been given to him to even contact Harry again; the younger wizard was certainly busy enough and even though no agreements had been made for the meeting that both parties now requested and desired internally...both sides were anxiously getting more and more tense the longer this was dragged out. A chance that someone would catch on and stop it in any way they could. Every time Lucius had reported to his master of his dealings with Harry; he had wanted to know of how he spent his time, who it was with and if Harry had seemed particularly interested in any of them beyond a casual or professional stance.
Lucius began to wonder if his master wanted Harry for more than simply an ally to their side. He was well aware that Tom had claimed Harry as 'his' years ago and that most of the Death Eaters had been ordered to stay away. They were not allowed to even think of touching him in any way. The blonde knew Tom no longer felt the need to kill Harry and it was part of his reasoning to approach him for a possible truce and alliance. But Lucius wondered how far these claims went for his master because they seemed to go much deeper than simply 'hands off; he's mine to protect.'
The young lord Harry was now made a picture that many had a hard time matching. He was by far an imposing figure among the masses as Lucius had become more intimately aware. Harry was one of the youngest Aurors ever accepted to the program. Heee had finished the training in next to half of the usual time a trainee normally did, and Lucius was very aware that he had the skills of the most veteran. Harry was one of the few Aurors that they sent out to the field when the others were in serious trouble and needed back-up and he wasn't already deployed. Lucius was unsure if Harry's superior's even knew of his talent in dark magic. If they did, they had tried to keep him from using it too much and or had ignored it.
Secondly, Harry was a part of the Wizengamot and was one of few there that usually was neutral to all proposals until he heard the details. It did not matter if the ideas were more Light or Dark oriented; he refrained from judging until all facts were bared. He had become a voice of reason when tensions became too hot for most to handle and Minister Scrimgeour was taking that into account far more logically than Fudge ever had wanted to dare to tempt Fate with. He seemed to rely on Harry's inner strength and resolve to see that the war ended, but the former Auror in him had never noticed the small and subtle smirks the young man made when he did not look. Harry handled the new minister deftly and made sure he was being carefully steered into the right direction.
A direction that Lucius did not doubt for one second suited both Harry's personal agenda, goals, ideals, and beliefs as much as they did Tom's own to a degree.
Lastly, Harry's magical power was just the same as his master's now. It had presence that everyone felt and reacted to in some way. Harry did not always act as though he knew of the reactions; but, Lucius would bet his family's fortune that the young man did know and played with the responses as he wanted...even his own to him. Harry had become different due to his training over the last few years; he and his former friends estrangement was proof enough.
The Malfoy lord shuddered as he recalled the feel of his magic during their lunch that one afternoon. It had been lulling and very subtle. A mixture of dark grace and cunning as it made him desire to be closer to Harry without at first knowing why. Harry was and had become a most excellent player of the game their world called politics; even if he proclaimed to hate them.
He needed to stop thinking like this. His body was reacting in a way that would not be good for his livelihood. If Tom found out...he was as good as dead. Harry belonged to Tom, whether or not he knew it and Lucius; much as he desired the beautiful wizard...he did not wish to cross such a boundary. He would simply have to have his desires returned to him without the affection he wanted.
Lucius sighed; he really needed to get a note or something to Harry. His master was beginning to get impatient and angry with his lack of success. He was walking to the office of the Minister now to hopefully arrange another session for the Wizengamot over an issue that had become precarious in the last several days due to the capture of a rather tenacious wizard who had been dabbling into necromancy without much prior studying and had been abusing International Floo privileges in order to not be caught easily.
It was then that he paused in step when two very familiar voices reached him from around the corner. One was so familiar he could have groaned in dismay as the magic in the hall was tantalizingly angry and had heated the room with its intensity.
"Rufus, you cannot be serious about this? That proposal will never pass in the Wizengamot and you know it. Not only would that be a serious breach into the laws of fair trial, but the sheer audacity to even suggest such a motion…The people would see it as a move to control that which the Ministry should not and likely would revolt. We do not need a civil war to begin on top of trying to fight the war with the Dark Lord." Harry snarled, "Have you so easily forgotten that my own godfather was illegally imprisoned there for thirteen years and your precious Ministry is still compensating him posthumously through me? A motion like that would ensure that Sirius and anyone like him would die without a chance to clear their names? Anyone who was later found as innocent; the Ministry would be forced to monetarily compensate and if they did not, it's no better than treason."
Lucius was intrigued. He made to stand off to the side so he could overhear this conversation. It sounded important; very important. The Minister of Magic had paled to the words Harry spoke of as his magic began to surge forth in his rage to the proposed idea. Rufus seemed nervous and was figuratively sweating as he waited for his younger colleague to calm down.
"I, I-I did not mean to harm anyone with this, Harry. I-It's just that the war has dragged on for so long and we don't know when the d-dark lord will try to break his most loyal from our hands. I simply..." He began
Harry pinched the bridge of his nose and held up a hand to silence the man. The Minister's babbling ceased automatically and Harry breathed slowly, "I understand that people are scared and wish the war to end as quickly and humanely as possible, Minister. I have suffered and been in pain from it for far longer than I care to say while most of the Ministry and common people have sat on their hands waiting for a boy; a child no less, to come in and save them from the unthinkable. I have lost more than I want to think about. However, you cannot allow their pleas of fear to get to you and allow them to make you drive towards actions that are so rash and hasty. This proposal is exactly that and would give our people more fear that the Ministry is becoming tyrannical and not caring for their opinions or welfare."
"You and I both know that what you're suggesting through this would not only see us both booted out of the Ministry forever if we failed to get a consensus for it, but it would also make us more of a target to our enemies when word reached them of what we had tried to do. We would become vulnerable to attack from all sides and in more than one way. I have more than enough enemies already and I have already suffered more than my fair share for this world without ever choosing to do so. I ask of you to please reconsider this. If you decide to do this and go through with it; I will not support you in this effort nor will I support you as the Minister any longer. The position of the Minister of Magic is one prestige, and supposedly, honor."
"You are the one who is supposed to care for the welfare of all your citizens. You are the one that ensures our peace lasts for as long as it can. That includes the welfare and peace of mind for the prisoners of Azkaban and Numengard. Whether or not you ideally care for them is neither here nor there. I would not suggest to you that you should care for them in such a way, as many of them have hurt others in more ways than we know. However, they still are humans who deserve to be treated properly no matter their current state."
His eyes hardened and Rufus saw the iciness to them as he swallowed hard to the almost murderous look the veteran Auror in Harry was giving him.
"I will take of my leave now and hope to Merlin you come to your senses. I will not be the one who you can blame when your actions crucify you and get you kicked out of here for trying to be a tyrant. Know that if you try to pull this off, I will use any and all of the resources I have at my disposal to ensure that it will not stand. This I promise to you."
Harry stormed off down the hallway as his aura furled about him like a black cloud of anger and doom to his enemies. Lucius saw the slight of his hand to follow as Rufus walked the other direction back to his office. He also knew the young man was angry; quite a bit if the ever increasing amount of magic that could be felt was anything to go on. His magic was boiling around him and the hall. It made all the passer-by people blanch and walk away hastily. Lucius was forcing himself to merely walk beside him as his arousal began to hurt, but even he was having difficulty containing his emotions now.
Harry then turned and led him to a small coffee area. They entered it and Harry sighed as he placed a locking and silencing barrier over the room, "I need to speak to Tom immediately. Rufus is being a fool, and I will not be the one who is caught in the middle of his insane plan. If you value your fellow compatriots in the prison, you will need to let me speak to him."
Lucius saw the seriousness to his eyes and knew from experience the truthfulness in his words. His master would be angry at his abrupt bringing of Harry to his halls, but at the expense of his followers and whatever Rufus planned? He would take the punishment.
Lucius nodded, "Follow me. I know he should be in his home for the time being."
Harry nodded as he let down the barrier. They left the room and one of them was led to outside the Ministry where Lucius asked him to grab onto his shoulder. Harry grimaced; he hated port-keys, but time was of the essence and he had no room to complain.
Moments later, they appeared before the large white manor home and Harry looked up to the mansion with a look of boredom.
"He hasn't changed much since the last I saw of the place. But that could simply be because he wants to dissuade the locals of coming near here. I sense the magic he used to hide it. It is most excellent, if a bit overdone." He noted
Lucius wondered if that statement was made in lieu of the connection Harry and his master shared mentally and what they saw through it. No matter what, Harry always seemed to surprise him. He followed Lucius without hesitance or fear even when it was possible Tom would go ballistic and try to kill him anyhow.
The sentinel outside the halls had wide eyes as he noted Harry walked beside Lucius without bindings and was conscious.
"Is our Lord inside?" He asked coolly
The sentinel merely nodded.
"Tell him I have brought news and a special guest." Lucius said
The guard nodded; though warily and with a narrowed gaze as he left. There was a sudden, loud crash and then a small amount of hissing. Harry smiled slightly, "A bit over-reactive, but Tom has never dealt well with surprises. I imagine that that had to do with his past."
The guard returned not seconds later and bade them enter.
Tom watched as Lucius entered before his gaze awaited the guest and then held his breath as Harry followed him inside. His blonde follower had not been bluffing when he went on about Harry's magic now. It was nearly as suffocating as his own and Tom could feel it as much as he knew Harry felt his own.
Lucius bowed low before him and Tom waited to see what Harry would do.
Harry smirked now, "If you want me to bow and kneel before you: I am afraid that you will be disappointed. I am not your follower, Tom. I do not bend like them to you. You do not own me."
His voice dripped with a smug tone, "Though I am sure you wish that you did. You have tried several times now to sway me to your side of the war."
Green eyes met Red as Lucius tensed and he waited for the explosion. To the blonde's surprise, Tom merely smirked in mirth for the comments and nodded in acquiescence.
"True enough. Why has Lucius brought you here so abruptly?" He asked, "He was supposed to arrange a meeting place for us to speak in privacy?"
Harry straightened his shoulders and his gaze was hard now, "That was my fault. I received some news that I protested to vehemently. I went to Rufus to try and change his mind about it; though I doubt I have. The Minister of Magic is trying to put forth a motion to have anyone in Azkaban and Numengard kissed within the next few months. Anyone else caught after that and proves to be a follower of you is granted the kiss effective immediate."
Tom's eyes widened as he tensed and then began cursing in parseltongue.
'Rufussss isss ssso dead the next time I ssee him' Tom angrily snarled, 'I will not let thisss tressspass sstand.'
Harry watched him in curiosity and responded easily to the familiar language, 'I told him it wasss next to treassson, but the man isss too sstubborn to lisssten to reassson. I told him that if he dared to try and passss the motion; that I would take every resssource I had to stop him. That I would withdraw my sssupport to him if he dared to do thisss.'
Tom froze as he heard the sibilant language drip from Harry's mouth. He had forgotten that the boy had somehow been born with the gift too. It sounded like sin from him; to be seen as someone so light and then to hear the sensual, exotic and forbidden language was almost arousing.
Lucius by now had straightened himself and was watching their interactions cautiously. He was almost intrigued by what Harry had said, as Tom had become less tense in seconds. His eyes had softened some as he watched the younger man.
Harry then approached him and showed no fear of his response to his closing in proximity. He gently laid a hand to him and reassured him that they would stop this madness. Harry's gaze seemed self-assured and Tom knew from that one look that the boy had truly meant it when he claimed to want to defect. His magic curled itself in with Tom's own and Tom sucked in a breath as he watched the mixing of the two. Rare few wizards could do that so easily.
"We have much to discuss between us, but for now; your imprisoned followers need your help. I will go back to the Ministry and call an emergency Wizengamot meeting to startle the Minister; he won't expect it so soon. Lucius should accompany me as well. For now, I will appear neutral to certain issues as I have already within the last few months. But know this Tom; I cannot be what the Light wanted of me. It would destroy me." His eyes seemed hollow and dull as he pronounced this and rubicund eyes felt concern bubble up for the first time in years for the younger man
Tom had never felt so nervous as he did now.
'Make sssure to come back to me, Harry. Our magic mixing the way it did when you instigated it; you knew, didn't you? You knew what it meant?' He asked of him softly as his hand reached out to touch his cheek
Lucius was now in shock; he had never seen their lord be so affectionate to anyone before. Harry merely smiled to the touch and spoke back to him in a gentle way that made Tom less tense and anxious. Lucius wondered what was being said between the two to derive the reactions he was witnessing in both of them now.
Tom ignored Lucius in favor of speaking to the young man who had intrigued him for the better part of the last decade.
'I will allow you passage to my Floo in case you find yourssself in intenssse danger and need to essscape." He told Harry, 'I do not doubt your mansssion hasss extensssive wardsss, but I would be more content to know you are sssafee if you are here.'
Harry nodded finally in silence before smirking and the whispered something to Tom that Lucius really wanted to know what it was about. For Tom's red gaze had honed into him and narrowed on him nastily. Harry laid a hand to him and Tom watched as Lucius fidgeted in uncertainty before he breathed and relaxed again.
Harry smirked to Tom, 'He can wisssh all he wantsss, Tom. But he will never have me; for that right has always been yoursss and yoursss alone. Besssides, I will enjoy toying with him for a while.'
Tom growled to that and did not like the sound of that. Lucius was too easily influenced by those of magical power. He could easily find words to seduce anyone he wanted and Tom knew better than to simply trust his words of how he knew not to cross boundaries. Tom grabbed his wrists tightly and Harry scowled as he then flicked his fingers and Tom was pushed aside several inches.
'I am not a possessssion to be owned and ssstored away, Tom. I refuse to be treated asss ssuch." Harry hissed acidly now, 'I have sssurvived for too long now to sssubmit to sssuch a life.'
Tom's eyes then glowed with malice as his magic whipped up and about him in his rage that Harry would deny him his right to claim him even after admitting to knowing what he had. His anger surged as dark magic began to coalesce in the room.
Lucius stared in horror as Harry merely blanked his face and stood there; as if waiting for the magic to lash at him.
The dark waves turned to him and they sought to restrain him. To show him who was dominant and of who was really in control. Harry simply shook his head at the way Tom was acting and as the magic tried to collide into him, the younger wizard flared his own mana and the dark waves were repelled back by his own.
Two colossal dark auras were butting heads now. The foundations of the house were beginning to vibrate underneath the duress of magical pressure. Harry's own magic was now just as agitated and flared as Tom's own did with little consideration for the aging home. His verdant gaze watched as Tom's eyes narrowed at him with both suspicion and respect. The room had become suffocating and much too warm.
Lucius had been forcefully reduced to a kneeling position in order to endure the sensations of dark magic from the two that were battering invisibly to his own core. His breathing was labored now and he watched in worry for both of them. He did not know what to do to avert this, and he did not dare to try for fear of Tom's anger at him for it.
"I will return here; I promised you I would. But, I will not be treated as an object Tom." Harry's voice was firm and cold now as he quit speaking in the snake tongue, "Do not force me to walk away and never come back because you are being blind."
Tom tensed at the mention of Harry vanishing and never being seen again. Once, that would have been a welcome situation to him and what he wanted; but as all things in life, the scenario of the war was not as it had been and that made him wary.
Harry smirked now as his eyes glinted, "The one with the power to vanquish the dark lord approaches. Born to those who have thrice defied him. Born as the seventh month dies. And the dark lord will mark him as his equal. But, he will have a power the dark lord knows not. Either must die at the hand of the other; for neither can live while the other survives. The one with the power to vanquish the dark will be born as the seventh month dies."
Intense dark magic radiation permeated the hall as deathly quiet over took it. Tom's eyes were a mixture of wariness and insecurity as he watched the young man who seemed completely at home with his magic as it was.
Harry smiled, "You made your equal in me twenty years ago on that Halloween night. But the prophecy is not as accurate as it could be, since we both survived that night. I can choose to do as prophecy dictates and find a way to destroy you. I already know of one method that would work quite well; given how many items I have that belong to you already and of knowing what they are."
His smile dimmed now as Tom tensed, "But vanquish doesn't necessarily mean to destroy and annihilate permanently. I do not wish to annihilate you to achieve what I need to do. For if I did kill you; truly kill you, it would soon enough begin to affect me and then the whole wizarding world."
Harry's eyes hardened as red eyes seemed wary of him, "You have a choice here, Tom. I ask of you to make a logical and wise choice. I do not wish to walk away and need to find more alternatives to the plans I already put into motion, but if you cannot accept me as I am to you; you will not have me either. I will not endure such an empty life simply for your sake. It would not be kind to me."
Harry then released his magic and calmed some as he turned to leave and beckoned Lucius to follow him. The blonde looked warily at Harry and then his lord, who merely gave him a death glare with burning eyes as he waved at him to go.
"I am heading to the Ministry now, but I will return. I will send word if you need to go to the prison and break your followers out. For now, try to calm yourself and think on what I said to you today."
As soon as they had apparated out, Tom let out an enraged yell of frustration and his magic was then pummeled into a stone wall. His magic was screaming in pain for the rejection as it told him to claim Harry and possess him. To make him his and never allow him to get away. Red eyes were confused and he wondered what hurt more about this. That Harry had initially rejected him, or that Harry seemed to prefer Lucius's company to his own even when their magic called out to the other? What had he said and done that Harry had not liked so much?
Harry had reacted to being grabbed as if Tom had tried to…exert his dominance to him and then spit acid about not being an object? The dark lord wondered why Harry thought Tom had tried to control him?
His red eyes suddenly lightened as he realized why. Harry had already promised to him that Lucius would never touch him. That only he had that right, but that he merely enjoyed teasing the blonde. Tom's jealousy had reared because he was aware Lucius was already susceptible to Harry's magic and might not take to the teasing he was going to do.
He had tried to stop Harry from doing such actions by grabbing him and wanting to keep him there. He saw Harry as his and thus did not like the thought of Harry teasing Lucius for his own amusement, much less anyone else.
Tom sighed; he knew he had made a big mistake now. He would rectify it when Harry returned and hopefully the young man would at least try to understand his thoughts and reasoning behind his actions.
Meanwhile, as the Dark Lord of Britain was slowly calming his rage…Lord Harry James Potter was fuming mad and Lucius was nervously walking beside him down the halls of the Ministry. He pulled a small crystal out and activated it it. Sending a signal out to all the others.
A message for the emergency meeting he had just initiated. Harry eyed the crystal with emotional distance and then curled a lip as he tried not to react in disgust to the object. Lucius noted that he seemed displaced as he looked to it.
"The crystal that the members of the Wizengamot have now for this was an invention based off of something else." Harry told him in monotone, "In our fifth year, I lead a group defense club when Umbridge would not train us. We all signed a contract of secrecy to protect the group and some of us knew that if it was breached; the perpetrator would be cursed and humiliated for ratting us out, but not all."
"Hermione made these coins that looked like galleons and had enchanted them with the Protean Charm. As the leader of the group, I had the main coin that set the time and date of our next session and then my coin would burn slightly as the new information was then made clear on the galleons of the other members."
He shook his head, "Such a brilliant mind being wasted. She wanted to fit in and believed that the Light would help her to do that. She was a genuine friend for so long, and then her arrogance took over. The crystals are based off of that coin she invented, but she didn't get the credit for it because too much had changed from her original design. I felt bad initially that the person I hired and tasked to make them had stolen her idea enough to change it and make it theirs."
Harry's eyes then hardened, "But soon after that I learned she had been stealing from me for years. Even when I had no idea, and so I put an end to it and did not feel quite as guilty over the matter. An eye for an eye, as they say."
Lucius heard the bitterness and remained silent as he spoke. Harry had not had an easy life from what he gathered; something that bothered him more than it should have. He was still a wizard child, and deserved better than whatever he had been dealt.
"Lord Potter, why have you activated the emergency crystal?" A feminine voice asked
Harry smiled slightly; he knew that voice
"Lady Longbottom, I have called an emergency meeting because I have some information that the governing body should know of and it may impact all of the wizarding people. I understand you and everyone else have lives, but this cannot wait." He said firmly
She eyed Harry with concern as he had been busier lately and had not had time to come to see her grandson much, but she merely nodded and walked to her seat as the others began to file inside. In the next ten to fifteen minutes, nearly a hundred witches and wizards had come to the hall and sat down. Harry waited until he was sure that no one else was coming and ordered the aurors to close and seal the doors.
He saw some of them fidget in nervousness and paid it no mind; they were ignorant old fools as it was. They knew of the political struggles but most of them merely cared for their own lives more. He stood and flared his aura as he gave a glance to Augusta and the hall ceased its idle chatter.
"Ladies and Gentleman of the Esteemed Wizengamot, I humbly beg of your forgiveness for my abrupt call but this is a matter I cannot afford to put off. I know you all are busy with other duties and tasks, so I ask of you to please bear in mind that I would not have activated the crystal if I did not think it necessary to do so."
The Minister seemed nervous as Lucius gazed to him and then seemed to find his resolve as he spoke firmly and without hesitance.
"Why then have you summoned us, Lord Potter?" He asked
Harry then smirked before them at the Minister and then shook his head, "Really Rufus? You cannot guess why I would summon this body for this meeting after the argument we had in the hall mere hours ago. I warned you not to do this; yet you have ignored me and sent the proposal onward to be viewed by us here. I warned you that if you dared to try what you are doing now; that I would use anything within my resources and all my power to not allow it to gain momentum. You did not listen clearly, and now you are subjected to exactly what my name allows me to do. Though you have yet to see me at my full power, and I pray to Merlin that you never need to."
The body was silent as the Minister sat there staring while Harry's eyes hardened, "The Wizengamot is a judging body comprised of the eldest blood in the community of Great Britain. It is the governing body that passes our laws, tries our prisoners and exonerates those who have been proven innocent after being imprisoned. It ensures that the welfare of our people is prosperous and that the taxes are fair."
Harry stood regally and then spoke softly, "It is the body of our government that ensures all our people are treated humanely and as fairly as possible despite the many views based upon the old traditions and practices dealing with blood status. So, before this body today, I am invoking the Rite of Seniority over it." He declared
The hall was silent and all eyes were locked to him now. Augusta was surprised at this and stood slowly, "Lord Potter, your heritage is as old as my own and equal in terms of line age; there can be no way—
Harry smirked, "I must disagree Dowager Lady Longbottom, for my line is far older than yours."
Augusta looked to him with confusion, "How?"
Harry sighed, "Funny you should ask. I received a letter that had been post-dated, and it was from my parents."
The hall sucked in their breaths as Augusta seemed weary now, "And what did the late Lord and Lady Potter reveal?"
Harry smiled with a hard glint as he looked to Rufus, "That I am the direct heir to the Peverell name by blood. Ignotus Peverell is my ancestor, and Gringotts goblins have already confirmed it. I went there yesterday after I received news."
Outcries of shock filled the hall as many stared and wondered why Harry did this now of all times when the world was torn in a war.
Dowager Longbottom weighed him up with her eyes and tried to see if he had told them any falsehoods, but all she sensed was confidence, truthfulness and a sense of determination in Harry now. She sighed, "Do you have proof of the claim?"
Harry shook his head, "I did not claim the name as mine yet. If you need reassurance of my words; then send for the director of the bank. He is managing my accounts due to some suspicious withdrawals that I had not authorized."
The body waited to see what she did; it had been centuries since a goblin had entered these chambers. She had almost made a decision as another spouted off angrily.
"Do not tell me you are considering heeding his words, Augusta? The boy is a half-blood and only seeks more to his name than he has already." Avery sneered
Harry glared to the man as Lucius shook his head to Avery's idiocy, "My father was Pure-blood, and while I am not; that does not mean that my magic is any less than that of yours, Lord Avery. Maybe if you hadn't noticed I would not have said, but you should be aware that I have more of a name than you will ever gain before you die. I have no need for more attention, but time is of the essence as the war continues. Be careful who you threaten; I am more than a match for you and you know that."
Avery stood and drew his wand as he cast and Harry stood there while the spell merely bounced off of him. Harry raised a brow with an arrogant smile, "That's it Avery? That's the best you have? I am disappointed."
Harry then raised a hand and the elderly lord rose from his seat clutching at his throat and Harry dragged him before him with a smirk, "Not so empowered now, are you?" He sneered, "I may be half-blood, but my blood is literally made of magic from the history in it."
"Merlin, Morgan Le Faye, three of the four founders and so many more prestigious witches and wizards are traceable to me through my blood. Can you say the same?" He asked snidely, "For a former dark wizard, you are weak."
Harry then tossed him back to his chair and then watched the hall as they looked to him in wariness and he sighed, "I apologize for the outburst, but it has been a long and trying afternoon. I am in no mood for fights that are so seemingly petty. It is not my intent to fight this out so brutally, but a decision needs made. The war's tides are turning; I felt the shift in the magic about us and it concerns me."
Augusta was shocked; she had never seen Harry act as he had within the Ministry halls till now.
"Send for the Director; I want to legitimize this without any doubts left to be concerned over. If Lord Potter is truly of Peverell blood; I will renounce my place as the senior here." She said calmly, "But if he has claimed falsely; he will be thrown from this body and not allowed to return. Agreed?" She asked of him
Harry nodded with a smile now, "Agreed, Lady Longbottom."
It took no less than five minutes before the director of the bank came in with his armor on and gleaming gold while two elite warriors stood on either side of the old goblin. He seemed confused until he saw Harry before the body and then nodded to him congenially.
Augusta stood slowly, "Director Ragnok, you have been summoned to confirm the lineage of Lord Potter before this body. He claims to have the blood of the fabled Peverell clan and has invoked the Rite of Seniority. The rest of us wish to see proof of the claims."
Ragnok did not look surprised by the news and only grunted, "And how far exactly into the lineage of Lord Potter do you think we would have to delve to even get that proof without our tools and instruments?"
Harry then caught the director's attention, "It matters not Ragnok. I am able to withstand the pain they push me to endure. I will put up with it if my claims are proven true."
Ragnok then turned, "And so you will accept the lordship? Knowing that accepting means you are practically wizarding royalty among them. The wizard monarchy was lost ages ago, and for you to accept it; you are stating that if you desired…you could dissolve the Ministry of Magic and remodel the monarchy?"
Harry heard the gasps and internally smirked to the fear in them all. He sighed outwardly as no expressions crossed his visage, "As of now, I have no desire to do such a thing. If I am given a good reason to; I will weigh the benefits and disadvantages. For now, simply do the test they want and then we shall see what comes after."
Ragnok eyed him with wariness and then motioned to his guards. They seized Harry bodily as the Aurors grabbed their wands and were about to stun them when an encasement of white energy prevented them from doing so.
"It's alright. The warriors grabbed me to keep me from using my magic to lash out when I start to feel an intense amount of pain. They do not have their normal means to do this, and the only way now is to do this with their magic. It will be harmful and I will lash out."
Augusta's eyes seemed to fill with guilt and remorse. Harry had taken the brunt of their world's pain to himself and now he took even more with little complaint or fear. He was a man of worth; one to respect, and she hoped Lily and James were seeing him now with pride.
Ragok then summoned the energy and it was then sent directly into Harry. The young lord tensed and then his body reacted to the foreign energy with cataclysmic results. Ragnok was forced to summon more and push it into Harry as he screamed and writhed. Ten minutes of horrifying screams. Another ten minutes of witches and wizards who had never witnessed such brutality but for a few. Twenty long minutes of magic exploding and creating cracks in the hall as Harry's magic tried to resist, even if his will was telling him to allow it.
Then Ragnok stopped as he sat cross-legged on the floor and Harry slumped into a limp pile within the warriors hands. A few seconds after his body glowed red and words began to form above him.
Lord Harry James Potter-Black
DOB: July 31st, 1980
Parents: Lord James Charlus Potter and Lady Lily Renee Evans-Potter (Both Deceased)
Godparents: Lord Sirius Orion Black (Deceased) and Lady Alice Diora Longbottom (Incapacitated)
Heir Scion of the following:
The House of Potter (By Blood)
The House of Peverell (By Blood)
The House of Gryffindor (By Blood)
The House of Black (By Blood-Adoption)
Indirect Heir, but entitled heir of the following:
The House of Ambrosia (By Blood and Marriage)
The House of Avalon (By Blood and Marriage)
The House of Ravenclaw (By Arranged Marriage
The House of Hufflepuff (By Arranged Marriage)
The House of Meadows (By Will and Testament)
The House of Agnet (By Arranged Marriage)
The House of Erenir (By Blood and Arranged Marriage)
Harry stayed limp as the whole hall watched the words of exactly how much power Harry had in his hands if he were to seize control of the Ministry through the Wizengamot. Lucius had always wondered why his master had feared this child and his blood so, and now he knew.
Harry had more magic aligned to his lineage than any one person in the room now. Half-blood or not; he could wipe them all out in a singular outbreak of his power and it would not matter who was there…they'd be gone. The only one who had ever stood a chance of survival had already endured one attack, and Lucius was unsure his master could endure another of that nature.
"By magic, the boy was telling the truth…" A woman spoke in whispered fear
The body was shaken and then startled to awareness as the slumped figure in Harry stirred as he rolled his shoulders and then glanced at the list. He did not seem at all surprised by any of it; he had known of this and knew if they forced this upon him, he would come out the victor. He smiled somewhat and then slowly stood as Ragnok too stood, "Lord Potter, are you alright? I had to fight your magic for some time to get that list from you?"
Harry motioned to the warriors to let go and hesitantly they did. The hall watched as Harry did not collapse from a lack of energy or weakness to what had been done. He stood tall and his right hand glowed with healing mana that he used to heal some minor injuries. He grimaced for a few moments, but then relaxed.
"Ugh, that was uncomfortable, but nowhere near as bad as suffering the Cruciatus from the Dark Lord." He said faintly, "I might have a few bruises later, but I fixed my popped elbow, so I should be alright for now."
Ragnok raised a brow, "I have to wonder what sort of body you really have to tolerate all that and only have a few bruises and a popped elbow. Most get bruises, lacerations, several broken bones and a lack of energy for the next few days alone. And they usually get that after only one shot of my magic intruding into theirs. You had four shots of my magic. That you are standing and not completely drained is astonishing."
Harry smiled, "I am made of magic as you said."
He turned to the rest, "I hope this evidence will suffice?"
Augusta bowed her head, "It is sufficient. I rescind the title of my seniority and pass it to Lord Peverell in full acknowledgement of my power."
Ragnok then gestured and Harry turned to him with a smile that brightened the hall.
"Do you Lord Harry James Potter-Black, accept the name of your ancestor by the magic in your very life-blood from which it was given to you from? Do you accept the name of Peverell as your own and all that it encompasses? Do you accept all its holdings, titles, and challenges as your own?"
Harry knelt before the goblin and the Wizengamot as he nodded firmly and without a trace of second thought, "By the power of my magic and my blood, I accept the name and title of Lord Peverell as my own. I accept all the responsibilities of the name I carry now and I accept whatever challenges holding the name will bring me. Before the embodiment of the Wizarding Law, I swear my oath of my house's responsibility to the Wizard World, so mote it be."
Ragnok smiled now as the others fidgeted nervously, "Rise then Lord Peverell and take this ring to prove your lineage. May both Merlin and Morgan guide you."
Harry placed the ring on the appropriate finger and waited. If the Peverell signet rejected him; even though he was the heir, Harry had just gone through tons of pain for nothing. He suspected many in the hall wanted the ring to reject him. Finally, the ring stopped glowing and settled as Harry cast a Lumos to prove he was still a wizard."
"Ragnok my friend, please stay and watch over the proceedings. There is much to be done and very little time to act in." Harry asked of the elder goblin
The goblin halted his steps in surprise as he turned with a questioning gaze to Harry.
"Goblins and other magical races have had magic for far longer than humans have. They have been ostracized and pushed out of their own world by people who have had ideas of superiority. I intend to see the broken bonds restored and done so with peaceful means if possible. I will respect the cultures that simply refuse to rejoin this world and hope that in time; they see a new and better Wizarding Britain that they can feel comfortable returning to."
Ragnok eyed him with respect as he considered the words and Harry's request. The rest of the Wizengamot watched in shock as Ragnok and his warriors knelt before Harry and agreed to stay. He turned to them, "I did not intend to take up the mantle of the Peverell name so soon, but our own Minister of Magic has forced my hands in the matter."
"As the new Chief Warlock, I ask of the governing body to tell me if the Wizengamot still believes in the saying of 'innocent until proven guilty' and the laws of fair trial?" Harry asked them
The members all whispered fretfully to themselves and amongst them. Harry sensed their nervousness.
Augusta then answered, "The Wizengamot does and always will believe in those words and will always do their best to see it done. Magic is formidable and has many ways to deceive even the brightest minds and most observant eyes, Lord Peverell. Why do you ask this?"
Harry answered her without a moment of time wasted and his icy tone sent chill waves through them, "Because apparently our very own Minister of Magic does not believe in them any longer. A former Auror, a person who was supposed to protect life no matter the station, has drafted a motion to have the dementors of Azkaban give their soul-sucking kiss to every resident there within the next few months. The documents are within the pile of papers before you; if you all have not read through them."
An outcry was heard as heads turned and Rufus hunkered down in his seat; utterly humiliated.
Harry smiled nastily now, "And if that were not enough; the motion was to move towards Numengard after the 'cleansing' of Azkaban."
Harry then walked about in confidence, "Dementors are foul creatures; we all know this, and we are all aware of the danger they pose to any person at any time. They make us relive our foulest memories while all our happiness is drained from us. Leaving us with weakened minds and bodies for the next person who wanted to harm us to find."
"The prisoners of both Azkaban and Numengard are there for many reasons. Many that they deserved to be there for, but the prisoners are still human beings. They are captive there and exposed to the darkness of the dementors every single day. Is not enough of a punishment to them to simply allow the residents to rot away as they lose their minds due to the exposure?"
Harry watched as the flickering of emotions passed through many of them.
Lady Valene stood as Harry turned to her in question, "You would have them continue to suffer the effects of the creature than to end it and also remove a potential threat to our community?"
Harry considered her a moment. She was not tied to the Light or the Dark side of the war; staunchly neutral and having had little to voice before now. He wondered why she had taken an interest in this.
Harry grimaced, "Make no mistake Lady Valene; if I were assured of the guilt of every person in those two prisons…I would have had no problem seeing such a motion pass. However, I am not a seer and neither am I so arrogant to try and assume their innocence or guilt."
"My own godfather was a Lord of a Noble House. He was wrongly accused and imprisoned in the hellhole known as Azkaban for thirteen years. He was sent there without a trial; everyone assumed his guilt from what had happened so quickly. He escaped to protect me and he died without a chance to clear his name. If such a motion passed; you would condemn nearly four hundred people to the Kiss. If any of them were innocent, the Wizengamot would bear the guilt for the death and the Ministry of Magic would be forced to compensate the family of the deceased."
He eyed her now with a look of fierceness, "I would rather take the time to ensure our prisoners were guilty of the crimes they are accused of than to commit a mass genocide. The gentle people of our community could revolt over this even if they want the war to end as much as we do. They would become frightened of how powerful the Ministry had become and revolt to end a perceived reign of tyranny and oppression towards them."
Harry watched them all as Lucius was impressed and rather captivated by Harry's words.
"To do what Rufus plans would make us seem no better than the Dark Lord himself. Sacrificing a few more lives to move forward in the name of peace or a new world order."
Harry's fist clenched, "I will not tolerate mass genocide like this. I said I would burn this place down and rebuild it if I must. Here's the reason I might actually do it, so I suggest that the Wizengamot decide logically if they wish to alienate the one lord with more magic in him than Albus Dumbledore himself. The one lord who is prophesized to defeat Lord Voldemort himself."
His words had struck a chord.
"I will adjourn the meeting for the next two days. Take time to find the answer that suits all of you and in two days; return here to tell me what the governing body has decided. If the motion passes; be warned that I will tear the ties I made to this body and to the Ministry. I will not support this and if you pass the motion; all of you will then be made to know the power of the Peverell name more intimately than you ever wished to."
Amelia Bones stood suddenly with a hard gaze to him, "Is that a threat to us?"
Harry turned to her and smiled with a razor sharp intensity while emerald hued eyes looked to them all with a determined air, "No Amelia, it isn't a threat to you all. It is a promise."
Amelia Bones paled to that. Harry rarely promised anything to anyone, but when he did do so; he kept his word to the very letter. It was partially what made him such a fantastic Auror. He knew his limits and how to stretch them without breaking taut lines.
Harry's magic then silently and wandlessly unsealed the chamber. He walked out; shoulders still straight, a stride to his steps and a confidence most dared not to show openly. Many of the rest remained frozen where they were and Lucius did not wish to be seen as suspicious by leaving directly after Harry. He stayed to listen and gather the thoughts of those who talked about this. He would see how many would wish to oppose the motion versus be all for it.