CHAPTER 10 - ANOTHER NEW LORD BLACK, 6/20/96, Part B

"Harry, you shouldn't have said that. You know he will figure out that something is going on now."

"I know, and I don't care anymore. He has done one too many things to mess up my life. Anything that will give him cause to pause is fair game. There are a few other things I want to check into. I am sure that messing with my life is not the only thing he has done. There are bound to be other skeletons in his closets."

"I am sure, but for the moment we have other things to concentrate on."

As Harry and Remus arrived back at the beach house the Grangers' and Dora Tonks were just sitting down to lunch. They were just in time to join them.

"Welcome home Lord Black. Lunch is just being served."

"Thank you Aeronna." This from Remus, which did not seem to be a surprise to Aeronna, but it was definitely one to Hermione, her parents, and Dora. "Hi Dora, we weren't expecting you until tomorrow."

"I know, but I was able to get everything cleared up sooner than I thought and was able to catch the Grangers' before they left so I came with them. Hope you don't mind. If you do I can always go back home."

"No, no, of course not. I am glad you were able to come today. I would have felt like a fifth wheel, now I will have the best company in the house."

Harry and Remus joined the others at the table and all had an enjoyable lunch. After lunch Harry asked if everyone would join him in the study, he wanted to discuss what he had learned that morning. Remus said since he had heard it all already he would take Dora for a walk and explain it to her. But before they could leave Aeronna came to him and asked if he wanted to change the wards on the house before he left? They went off to the front hall to reset the wards leaving Harry and the Grangers to wander into the study for their talk.

"What is going Harry? How come the wards have to be changed, didn't you add Remus yesterday? I thought they were set to us all already."

"They are, but I set them remember. Well, there is a new Lord Black, so he has to set them now."

Richard and Helen looked at each other. Richard asked, "I thought you were the new Lord Black?"

"I was, yesterday. But today, Remus is."

Hermione was chewing on her lower lip, Harry knew she was trying to puzzle out what was happening, he also knew if she didn't get an answer soon the one withholding the information would pay dearly for their lapse. But he wasn't quick enough. "Harry James Potter, if you don't explain what is going on I am going to, to, to …well, I don't know what I will do, but you won't like it, I promise you that."

Harry had the good sense to look scared. When he took the chance to glance at her parents he realized they had the same sense of foreboding that he did.

"Alright, alright. I'll tell you. You know how I gained the Black title on Tuesday. Well, on Thursday, I found out that I had also gained 5 titles from the Potter line. And really, Hermione, how many titles does one person need? So I had Griphook do some checking for me and I abdicated the title of Lord Black to Remus. I discussed it with Sirius first and he was all for it."

"You are going to make a lot of enemies you know."

"No more than I already have. There may be a few people who are upset, but they will get over it or not. I don't care, it was my title and I could do what I wanted with it. We did it today without any fanfare so by the time anyone finds out it will be a done deal. And with us being unreachable this summer nothing can be done about it. If they do manage to get it reversed, which Griphook doesn't think they can do, but if they do, the title will just revert back to me, so they won't gain anything anyway. The petition that the Malfoys' filed has already been dismissed by the ministry. So even if they tried again I don't think anything will come from it."

"So is that what you wanted to talk to us about? About you abdicating your title to Remus?"

"No. Well, that was one thing, but not the main thing. I need to hear your take on a problem that I have encountered. I happened to think last night that if Sirius had a will didn't my parents have one too? So I asked at the bank today and there was one. Griphook said Dumbledore had it and was supposed to have shown it to me when I was 11 and arrived at Hogwarts, but he didn't. So he had Dumbledore floo called and had him hand over the will so I could read it. While we were waiting I visited my parents vault and found another copy in the vault, so I took it with me, and am I glad I did." With this Harry pulled the two wills out and handed them to Hermione. "Just read them, it will be easier than me trying to explain them to you."

Hermione read the top Will, the one Dumbledore had, then passed it to her parents and began to read the second one. When she got to the last paragraph she began to wonder. How could this have happened? Why was there a difference in the two Wills? Surely Dumbledore hadn't … slowly realization dawned on her. Dumbledore had to have changed the Will, but why? Surely Prof. McGonagall knew about it. After the Grangers had read the second Will Richard was angry. How could this have happened. "Doesn't the wizarding world have laws about such things? How can a man get away with changing a Will?"

"Harry, are you sure that Dumbledore changed the Will?"

"Who else, Hermione. He was the one with the Will. Remus says everyone in the Order had a Will, so he knew they had made it. But he obviously didn't know they had made a second copy and left it secure at Gringotts. I also found out today that he has been pocketing €6000 a year from my trust account since I entered Hogwarts, along with my whole seven years of tuition already being paid for. And my relatives have been receiving £2000 every 3 months that I have lived with them. They were supposed to use that money to buy my clothes, and food, and other things that I needed, but it all got spent on Dudley. I don't know what Dumbledore has been doing with the money, I didn't get the chance to ask him, I was too angry about the change in the Wills and thinking about the kind of life I had to live because of it." Now that Harry had started his rant, he couldn't seem to stop. Everything that he had been feeling just kind of came tumbling out. "I also found out that the blood wards that he said were on the house of my relatives to protect me don't exist. He could have placed the same wards on any home that I was living in at any time and I would have been just as safe. I didn't need to live in a cupboard under the stairs all those years, and I didn't need to be starved and beaten and bullied all my life, I could have had a family and grown up with a brother or sister, or at least a friend. Instead I grew up hated and abused, and not even knowing my name until I was 5." Finally, it seemed he was ranted out.

The Grangers just sat and stared at him. Hermione knew he wasn't happy at home and knew he always came back to Hogwarts half-starved and nervous, but she never knew it was this bad. She had heard bits and pieces from the Weasleys about Harry being locked in his room and them rescuing him, but she didn't know the extent of the abuse Harry had to put up with, she wasn't sure they were aware of the extent of the abuse. Surely if they had known they would have done something about it.

"Harry, surely Dumbledore doesn't know what was going on."

"Oh he knew. I told him, Ron told him, Mrs. Figg told him. But he always said I had to go back there because of the blood wards to protect me. I don't know why he felt he needed to control my life so thoroughly, but he did. He even came to the bank today and tried again to force me to go to the Burrow. That's why I wanted to tell you what I had found out today. Maybe you can help me figure out what he is up to. And this has made my mind up definitely. I am not going back to Hogwarts. I don't know exactly what is going on, but I am not going to play along anymore. Every year I have gone back thinking I was going home, glad to be leaving my relatives and having a safe place to go to. Then again, since I have been at Hogwarts it has not exactly been a safe place for me either. Maybe he truly believes what he has been telling me, maybe he believes there really are blood wards there to protect me. I will give him the benefit of the doubt, but that still doesn't explain about the differences in the Wills. From the feeling I got from Griphook, Gringotts is not happy about this either. It seems they take it very badly when depositors steal from one another and alter documents that have been left in their safekeeping.

No one had noticed that Remus and Dora had returned to the study, just in time to hear Harry's abbreviated life story. Remus was fuming. He now knew that going along with Dumbledore all those years and staying away had been a mistake. He should have checked on Harry himself. He should have checked on Sirius himself. He should not have allowed Dumbledore to play on his insecurities about his werewolf condition to control him. He now realized that Dumbledore had been controlling him as much as he had been Harry. Obviously not with as disastrous results, but control none the less. Dora too was examining her part in the scheme as well. She had never felt so ashamed in all her life. She had helped Dumbledore keep Harry a prisoner all these years. Well, if anything this made up her mind, she was definitely quitting the Order immediately, and would do all in her power to help Harry in his endeavors.

"Hermione?"

"Yes, Harry."

"As head of the Wizengamot wasn't it Dumbledore's place to make sure everyone got a fair trial?"

"Yes, that would fall in his prevue."

"Then why didn't he? Sirius was part of the Order, why would Dumbledore just allow him to be chucked into Azkaban without a trial?"

"I don't know, perhaps you should bring that up with him when you next see him."

"When I next see him could be the last time I see him. Remus ripped him a new one this afternoon, and Gringotts is going to have a few words with him too. I'm not sure there will be much of him left the next time I see him. But I do think a few changes may be taking place in his life."

"Well, I think I have given you enough to chew on for awhile. Have you had a tour yet?"

"Well, we got here and Hermione started the tour in the library, so…"

"Say no more Mr. Granger, I understand."

"Daddy!"

"Sorry, honey, but it's the truth, you did start the tour in the library."

"Well, how about we finish the tour and then take a swim?" Everyone agreed that was an excellent idea.

"Harry, would it be possible to take a tour on a broom? I have always wanted to ride on a broom. Every since I was a little boy and saw the Wizard of Oz and realized I would never be a flying monkey, I have wanted to fly a broom."

"Well, I have never taken anyone on a broom before, but I would think it is possible. Aeronna!"

Pop. "Yes, Lord Potter."

"Aeronna, are there brooms here? And is it possible to fly tandem on a broom?"

"Yes, Lord Potter, there is a broom shed that is stocked with brooms. They are all older models, but they are still very serviceable."

"Lead the way kind sir."

"Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy! This is really a dream come true for me."

"Hermione, do you want to fly your mom?"

"Not on your life Potter!"

"Gee, now I know where Hermione gets it, don't like heights either Mrs. Granger?"

"Not at all. And besides, I want to check out that library some more, despite what Dan may have said we only had about 5 minutes to look around before lunch was served."

"Okay, we'll meet you back there in a bit and then we can all go for a swim. Tonks, Remus, you want to join us?"

"I think I would like to, how about you Dora?"

"Sure, I haven't had a chance to fly in quite a while."

Aeronna led them out the door that led to the beach. About 500 feet down the path they veered off on a path to the left. They came to a small, greenhouse, type shed that when Aeronna opened the door contained about a dozen brooms. "These are all Haven's, sirs and miss." Taking one off the wall, "This is a Haven 220, it is for one person, not particularly fast, but very good for casual flying. This is a Haven 330, it is mainly used for parents taking along small children. It has several special safety features built into the tandem seat. And this Lord Potter is what you will need, it is the Haven 440. Made for carrying two adults comfortably. I believe you will find it is similar to riding a motorcycle." Harry, Dora, and Remus all grabbed a broom and headed down the path towards the beach.

"Oh, I just remembered something, Aeronna is there a way for us to communicate with each other while we are flying?" Aeronna popped back to the shed and returned in a few seconds with four headphone sets. "Would you like to join us? You could show us the various parts of the estate."

"Thank you Lord Black, sir, but no. I am not particularly fond of flying. But if you like a guide I am sure my son, Baelvan, would be most happy to accompany you and act as your guide."

"Yes, please, that would be very helpful." Aeronna closed his eyes and concentrated for a few seconds and there was another soft pop.

"Yes, father, how may I serve you?"

"Baelvan, Lord Black, Lord Potter and their friends would like an aerial tour of the estate, would you accompany them and act as tour guide?"

"Of course, father, it would be an honor. Sirs and Miss, let me get a broom and I will join you on the beach, that would be the best place to start. I see you already have headphones, that is good." He popped away. By the time the group made their way down to the beach Baelvan was already there waiting on them holding what appeared to be a smaller version of the Haven 220 that Remus and Dora both had.

"Baelvan, I have never taken a rider along with me, is there anything special I need to know before I start?"

"Well, just that the weight distribution will be different. Perhaps you should do a couple of laps on the tandem without a partner. Or better yet, Lord Black perhaps you would accompany him, since you are an experienced flyer."

"Of course, that makes sense. Come on Harry." The two of them jumped on the broom and Harry kicked off. Remus had never had an opportunity to see Harry fly, but he had heard tales. They did a couple of laps around the bay and Harry quickly got the feel of the extra weight and length of the broom. After about five minutes they landed softly beside the group waiting on the beach for them.

"MY TURN! MY TURN!" Dan was as excited as a 5 year old with a new puppy. He couldn't wait to experience one of his childhood dreams. Remus had barely climbed off before he was climbing on behind Harry. He had watched as Remus sat down then brought his feet up to put them on the back set of foot rests, once seated he realized it really was like riding a motorcycle. But where was the seat coming from, there was no seat on the broom. Dan shrugged his shoulder, 'Must be magic' he thought to himself.

"Alright, Mr. Granger, sit up straight and put your hands on Lord Potter's shoulders." Dan complied. Harry kicked off from the ground. They rose slowly and then began circling the bay.

"I have to tell you Mr. Granger, I have never flown over water before, at least not open water, only the Black Lake at Hogwarts and it is calm, no waves, or wind or anything."

"Now is not really the time to tell me that Harry."

"I know, but I just thought you should know if case you want me to land before we go anywhere."

"Not on your life. I am here and we are going!"

"Okay, Remus, you, Baelvan and Dora want to take the lead?" The group flew up and over the tree line and started a slow circuit around the estate with Baelvan pointing out various landmarks along the way. When they reached the manor house and hour later Hermione and Emma had come out onto the balcony of the library, they waved and the group flew over to them and hovered just off the rail.

"How is it Dan?"

"Wonderful, just like I thought it would be, only better. We have only been going slow though, so I can't really say it is thrilling!"

"We can take care of that if you want."

"Oh, I want, I want."

"Okay, back in a bit guys, see you soon." And before anyone realized what was happening Harry turned the broom and they took off. "Mr. Granger, I am going to lean forward now, so you can either lean with me or hang onto the broom handle if you want to stay upright. But I have to lean to get any speed." Harry felt Dan lean into him and so he leaned forward to get up a little speed. They were now doing about twice the speed they had done on the lazy tour around the estate. In less than two minutes they had covered the distance between the manor house and the beach. Once they reached the beach Harry leaned further into the broom and they really took off. It wasn't as fast as his firebolt, but it would do for now. After a couple of minutes Dan sat up straight. He had realized he could hold on with his knees. He had his hands up in the air and was laughing like a teenager on a roller coaster. Harry was laughing just as loud. "Hold on!" Dan barely had time to grab the broom handle before Harry took the broom into a dive towards the waves. Then back up and then into a spiral down and then up. The ride was exhilarating. When they came in to land on the beach where the rest of the group was waiting for them they were both hoarse from laughing and screaming, and red in the face from the wind, and wet from the spray of the waves when they got too close to a breaker, but happier than they had been in awhile.

"Harry, that was some flying, I don't think I've ever seen anyone do that with another person on the broom with them."

"Really? I guess I didn't realize. I just wanted to do it, so I did."

"Yeah, that seems to be your modus operandi. If no one says you can't, then you must can! Let's go back to the house, maybe Hermione and Emma are ready for a swim. Although it looks like you two have already been for one. Baelvan, thank you so much for the tour. Let me know if there is anything you need, or need to update or want to upgrade." When they arrived back at the manor Hermione and Emma were indeed ready to go swimming, and so they all headed up to their rooms to change into their suits. Harry and Remus were the first ready so they headed down to the cabana to get the towels, umbrellas and chairs set up for everyone.

"Hey, Remus, do you know if non-magicals can use gillyweed?"

"No, but that is an interesting idea, I think I will check into it while we are here." Maybe tomorrow would bring a surprise more in line for Emma and Hermione.