Hey everyone,
So in this chapter, subtlety is going OUT THE WINDOW! I am going to show off more of Dorea's awesomeness, but I am also going to give James and Lily a chance to shine. And yes, this chapter will also show off more of the Ministry's foolishness, courtesy of the biggest fool working there. I don't think I need say more.
Also, I am aware that Article 13 has been accepted by the European Parliament - or whatever - but I do not care, at least not yet. This whole act is not going to count for us for another two years, so until then I am going to continue posting updates every month. At least until as many of these stories are completed. Though I am hesitant to start new stories because of this as well, sorry.
Let's have fun,

Venquine1990
Shout-Outs To:
WhiteEagle1985

Chapter 10
Subtlety? Not This Time

1st of August 1995
Potter Manor, Portsmouth
Harry's POV

"Grandma is AWESOME!" I say as we take the floo to come back home and I hear mum, dad and Sirius laugh at this as we enter a small side room near the sunroom where I met them little over an hour ago. I rush in and say: "She was so great. She talked in on the Editor in Chief of the Daily Prophet like – wow.
And then she bought me ice cream and took me to her usual spot, which is actually right in the middle of the public field, but with all these charms on it and she encountered the Malfoys. And the way she talked with Mrs. Malfoy, it was – it was – Great Shen Ron! And then – and then she talked down on Malfoy – MAL-FOY!"

By now my whole family is laughing as I am just lounging in the chair I was in earlier, my arms hanging over the arm rests and my shoulders almost level with the seat itself. "So I guess you're ready to give us a chance at making your life your own again, sweetie?" Mum asks and I nod vigorously as I think to myself:
"If they are any bit as great at this as Grandma, then this is going to be the best summer yet!" And while I don't really have a lot of great summers to compare this to, do I not care as dad asks: "And you're ready to acknowledge that there is a contract betrothing you to Susan Bones and that Neville is your godbrother?"
At which I languidly answer: "I've grown a crush on Susan over last Christmas, but because of my fame, the student body and their grapevine and the fact that Neville's had a crush on Hannah Abbot, Susan's best friend, for much longer – since somewhere in our Third, if not Second – I just didn't feel as if I should do something."
At this my family share a look, yet then I sit up a little and ask: "How long do you think it will take for Fudge to come here?" And Grandma shrugs as she says: "I expect him here any minute, really. I wouldn't put it past him to visit the Prophet with new slander every day. Either that or to check whether or not it's still going."

This makes me grimace, yet the woman smiles at me and says: "You don't have to be there if you don't want to be." Yet while I really want to see her at her best again, do I still feel like taking her up on that. And then dad gives me the perfect solution as he says: "And if you do, you can always use our cloak if you want."
At this I nod and then turn to grandma as I ask: "So, when are we going to announce all of this?" At which the woman shrugs and says: "Whenever we want. We don't really need to rush it, plus there are already a few who know of the Dragon Balls having been used. It really is only a matter of time until it comes out on itself."
This confuses me until mum says: "You wished back everyone killed in the war, Harry. So it will be only a matter of time until those people come to the Daily Prophet to complain about this slander and then, it's only a matter of the Editor in Chief to put one and one together and put it into an article. We really don't need to do anything."
"Not to mention, I doubt the Japanese Minister is going to allow Fudge to continue his slander for much longer, especially with all the evidence he has available to him, am I right?" And the fact that I actually have an official high-ranked member of society on my side is something I never saw coming and that I deeply enjoy.

I then turn to dad again and ask: "Do we need to wait for the story to drop to contact Neville? I'd rather contact him first and Susan after. I know, I know, but I want to let him know that I am aware of his crush and that, to me, it doesn't feel right acting up on this contract if he can't also be with the girl he wanted for much longer."
At this dad turns to mum with a loving smile and he says: "He's even more noble than you were, love." Which makes me feel really warm inside and at which mum nods with a loving smile of her own. Dad then turns to me and says: "And to answer your question, no. We don't have to wait for the story to drop, not if we don't want to.

I doubt Frank will disbelief us or not give us a chance to explain ourselves." Yet at this I cringe as I suddenly remember that they weren't there when I made my wish. "James, Frank's not in charge of the family. He and Alice got attacked only days after you guys did. He's been in St. Mungos for the last fourteen years."
Sirius tells the man and I go on: "But I used the same wish in which I got you guys back to get them restored too. I just – don't think the restoration was as quick and to the point as it was with bringing you guys back, considering how long they have been suffering." At this the man nods and mum worriedly asks us:
"What happened to them?" And I answer: "Neville never told any of us, because he saw what happened when you speak of such things from me and my fame, but – I found out through Dumbledore and his Pensive last year. Bellatrix Lestrange and her family put them under the Cruciatus Curse for an extended amount of time."

The woman gasps and puts a hand in front of her mouth in shock at this, yet then I get shocked as suddenly a House Elf appears in front of grandma and says: "Lady Potter Miss, there be a nasty, meanie woman stuck to the border walls, miss." And grandma thanks the female little thing before she hums and says:
"So someone tried to use their Animagus form to get in here, did they? I wonder who they could be." Yet at this I turn to Sirius, only for grandma to say: "The wards capture Animagus, only if I don't make sure to add them to the ward list. Sirius was added earlier this morning, but he and your father are currently the only ones."

I nod at her and we all leave the sun room as well as the Manor itself. And yet, even before we reach the woman, do I recognize a very familiar feature. A pair of large glasses, that look quite ghastly and are embedded with all kinds of fake gem stones. "I thought that woman had a deal made with Hermione last June."
I think to myself, yet then I shake my head and feel like an idiot. "Deal or no deal, Skeeter would never let that stop her from a scoop like this." And I quickly make sure to whisper to grandma: "That's Rita Skeeter. She's the Head Journalist for the Daily Prophet, but the only thing she cares for is media. She cares nothing for truth.
Look out for her Quick Quoting Quill." Yet grandma smirks at me and says: "Oh dear, the wards have probably destroyed that thing already. They don't accept such items as they consider it an item of threat against House Potter." And while I feel amazed at the effectiveness of the wards, do we approach the struggling woman.

"Harry –." She tries, but grandma turns to dad and asks: "Are we invisible or something? Or do people think they can walk all over us, just because our grandson has some title stuck to his name? Honestly, this is Cuffe all over again." And the woman turns to my grandmother in shock, who seems to really enjoy herself as she says:
"Also, you're the Head Journalist? Cause if you are, you're a bit of a disgrace to the paper, don't you think? Believing that your little form can just sneak in anywhere and not research the places you want to spy on first? Surely you heard about the impenetrable defenses of Potter Manor back during the war, Mss. Skeeter."
"Of course I did, but –." The woman tries, yet Grandma doesn't give her a chance and says: "But you thought that the wards were down, because that Killer managed to destroy this place so long ago. That's a bit stupid, don't you think? I mean, if the Manor was restored, why wouldn't the same count for its warding system?"

At this I work hard to hold back a snort, only coughing very softly as the look on Skeeter's face proves she didn't think of it like that, yet then she tries to go a different route and says: "I may have made a mistake, but I am still –." But grandma rolls her eyes and says: "An insufferable witch that thinks she can get away with spying.
Get the picture, Mss. Skeeter. My grandson is wearing a Japanese Warning Scarf. He can get the Japanese Minister, who will already be making a visit to these parts for various important reasons soon enough, to come here and arrest you. And sorry, Mss. Skeeter, but he does have that right – for one very special reason."
Here grandma smiles at me and says: "Potter Manor might be in Portsmouth, but it gained an independent status of the Wizarding British Law 256 years ago. Therefore it is up to the Lady or Lord of the House to decide which country represents our rights – and I chose the Japanese." Which amazes and impresses me.

I then turn to Skeeter herself and say: "Not to mention, Mss. Skeeter, I thought you made a deal with my best friend about me some time ago. One where you promised not to seek out anymore dirt about me. So care to explain why you thought coming to my Family Manor was a good idea?" And the woman seems unable to answer.
"My guess, she was in the silly little belief that her deal with you wouldn't count for us. And probably deluded herself with the thought that, like you being a minor, we wouldn't be able to fight back against her or know the law inside out and know how to use it against her. She probably deluded herself with her own ego."

This coming from grandma seems to really piss the woman off and she snarls: "You have no idea who you're dealing with. I can dive into your pasts easily and dig up dirt that will make you hide yourselves in some hovel for the rest of your lives. I can –." But then grandma seems to lose her calm and hisses as she snaps:
"Listen, you little simpleton. I know who you are and I know what your style of writing is like. The problem for you is that I can use that kind of style against you. I can use all the dirt you dug up about others to rally them against you. I can destroy your credibility without even breaking a sweat. You think you scare me?"
At this grandma goes to stand almost nose to nose with the woman and snaps: "Fame is fleeting – and trust me, I let plenty of enemies – of both me, James and my beloved Charlus – know that as I build up my reputation. And unlike you, little Miss Skeeter, I build my reputation on my skill and being, not my articles or papers.
You think you can dig up dirt on me? Please, it will be nothing that hasn't been brought to the light already and that I squashed and made insignificant within a week's time of it becoming public. And I don't think I need to tell you what I did to the journalists who tried that. Tell me, have you ever heard of Eric Trueheart?"

And while this is a completely new side to the woman, one that makes her look completely different from how she treated Barnabas Cuffe and Mrs. Malfoy, does the name indeed seem familiar to Skeeter as she whitens worse than Cuffe did earlier and grandma steps back as she says: "Good, you at least know about that."
She then snaps her fingers and the wall actually releases Skeeter. "Your presence isn't welcome here, Mss. Skeeter. Make of that what you want, but I'd personally advice you to take it for the message it is. If we want House Potter to be in the paper, we will contact Barny." And with that does grandma turn her back on the woman.
Mum then takes my shoulder in her arm and turns me around as well. And while I feel slightly wary at leaving the woman here, do I follow them back inside nonetheless. And apparently grandma notices this as, after closing the front doors, she says: "Don't worry, the House Elves heard me as well when I said that."
And instantly I get what she means. If Skeeter doesn't leave of her own volition, the House Elves will make her leave. This makes me sigh in relief and then the same House Elf who warned Grandma before pops in and says: "Lady Potter Miss. Dinner be ready, miss. Does Mistress want it in the dining room or the sunroom again?"
At this grandma smiles and says: "In the sunroom for now, Wipsy. We'll go back to informal dining room tomorrow." The House Elf nods and grandma turns to me as she says: "We might as well make this wonderful first day of our family being back together as celebratory and special to the last minute as possible, right dear?"

I nod at her and smile widely, yet then I feel confused about something and ask: "Grandma, I – I don't mean this as hurtful or anything, but – what about Grandpa?" And the woman sighs as she says: "I – I'm not sure he was killed in the war. He went missing, but he went missing in an area where the Killer never went.
Because of that, I don't think the Dragon considered him part of the wish." At this I cringe, hating that I made her think of something that must be really hurtful just because I was curious, but dad lies a hand on my shoulder and says: "It's okay, Harry. You deserved to know that. You had a good reason to ask her about it."

And I try to turn my grimace into a smile as I look at him before we move over to the tower and the sunroom. Yet before we can reach it, do I hear a familiar noise coming from a room off to the right. "Well, that's just rude. Coming in at around dinner time? That Minister has no respect for families now, does he?"
Grandma asks annoyed and I grimace as we move over there instead, grandma muttering: "Wipsy, please put our meals under stasis and let Sirius know we'll meet him there shortly." And only then do I realize that Sirius didn't follow us when we left to check up on the border wall and who had been captured there.
This makes me sigh in relief as I really didn't think about what could happen if someone like Skeeter saw the man and we enter the room, which turns out to be an office. Yet I make sure to have mum, dad and grandma in front of me as I can already imagine what the portly man with the bowler hat will do if he sees me first.

Yet it seems as if that doesn't matter as the man has the same ego as Skeeter – though personally I consider his greater than hers – as he instantly snarls at grandma: "You can drop this stupid disguise now. You're not –." But grandma proves that she's not going to be intimidated nor that she is very impressed with him.
She snaps her fingers and to my amazement does the entire office change its interior, the walls turning a different color, the chair the man is standing in front of turning to ash and the carpet turning soaked and muddy before another snap of grandma's fingers changes everything back to normal and she raises an eyebrow at him as she says:
"We both know only the Lord or Lady of the House can adjust an Ancient Family Home like that, don't we? Good. Also, next time, remember that you are not at the Ministry. We respect you as our host there, you show us respect as your host while here. Attacking your hosts isn't done, Minister. It simply just isn't done."

Yet then I get shocked as a familiar, pompous voice snarls: "You can't talk to the Minister like that!" And I look over dad's shoulder, my eyes widening when I indeed see the horn-rimmed glasses and red hair of Percy Weasley, the elder brother of my best friend, glaring at grandma, who only turns her look on him and raises an eyebrow at him.
"Really? You think I don't have the right to admonish the Minister of his disrespectful behavior in my own home? You really believe I will let him walk over me in front of my family? That I will pick his title over my role as Lady of the House? You're really that delusional, are you little boy?" And she shakes her head at the end of this.

"I AM THE MINISTER'S ASSISTANT!" Percy shouts, but grandma shrugs and says: "And you just proved that you put more importance behind a title than a reputation. Also, how long have you been his assistant anyway?""For three weeks now." Percy says, no longer sounding furious, but sounding pompous instead.
"Then you have a guardian angel somewhere in that Ministry. Cause if you treat Heads of other Departments the way you just did me, you would have been hazed horrendously and probably ended up in St. Mungoes. And no, kid, no one there puts as much importance behind titles like you just did, not anyone I know, at least."
"Yeah well, you've been dead for years, haven't you?" Percy snaps, yet at this dad asks: "Is Amelia still Head of the DMLE?" And the look on Percy's face proves enough before dad turns to Fudge and asks: "And is she still the last person who got switched in Head function?" And the man shows the same face as his assistant.

"Don't make any claims you can't back up, kid. It won't do your reputation any good. Though you also really proved your short-sightedness just now, cause it doesn't seem as if you know about my reputation now, do you?" Grandma then asks and Fudge cringes as Percy snarls: "No, I don't! So what? What does that matter?"
At this all three of my family members roll their eyes as grandma turns to Fudge and asks: "I can only assume that Barny opened the Floo for you, but refused to come with you, right? Seems he has more smarts than this kid here. Going into a situation without learning all the facts first? A real rookie mistake there, don't you think?"

"Who are you anyway? How dare you talk to me like that? What is this reputation of yours worth? I am –." Percy snarls at her, but grandma asks: "Ever heard of the Dragon of the Light?" And instantly Percy shut up, turns white and steps back in fear, his hands shaking to prove that he has indeed heard of this name and title.
"You – you – you – you're not!" He whimpers, but dad steps forward and says: "She is. And she's also the one person Voldemort wanted dead since he started his rise to power in 1970, but didn't manage to kill until 1978, when she was out of sorts over her concerns of whether or not my father had been killed."

He then turns to Fudge and asks: "And now that we are on that topic. Care to explain, Minister Cornelius Oswald Fudge, what in the name of the Ministry for Magic and the Most Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter makes you think you can slander a minor who is also the future of my family and House?
Or what my son ever did – that wasn't written by some grapevine writer, that is – to make you think he has so much disrespect for my wife and me he would lie about our killer? Or has fame and your title gone to your head so much you forgot that Voldemort turned my son into an orphan when your lot decided to make him famous?"
"And how can you even forget that in the first place?" Mum then asks and while I worry for her considering her state of health, do I just let her go on as she asks: "Boy-Who-Lived? Isn't that just synonymous with orphan? So how could anyone who loves that title ever forget that we died the night that name was born?"
And then grandma finishes it all as she crosses her arms and asks: "Unless of course the Wizarding World thinks they can focus on the positive so much, they have the right to ignore traumas like that. Is that what's been happening this past decade, Minister? Did you really think an orphan would ignore such a thing for a title like that?"

By now Percy's entire face is beat red, though I'm not sure if it's out of embarrassment or rage, yet Fudge seems to have more moral fiber than my old friend as he looks really hesitant and I can even spot guilt and regret in his eyes. "That is why there will be no more slander of my grandson, Minister, or my House."
Grandma then says, but then Percy shouts: "HOW DARE YOU! YOU'RE NO BETTER THAN YOUR STUPID WIMP OF A GRANDSON! YOU SERIOUSLY THINK YOU CAN TELL THE MINISTER WHAT TO DO? HE'S THE MINISTER! HE MAKES THE RULES! HE GOVERNS THIS REALM!
YOU DARE TO DEFY HIM! YOU WILL BE ARRESTED FOR THIS! FOR TREASON! I WILL SEE YOU –!" But then the boy stops as he notices the rage shown on the faces of my family. "Minister, you might want to teach your little assistant how things run in Ancient Houses. Because I know he descends from one.
And based on his threat to see me arrested when all I was doing was defend my family's honor can make me challenge him to a duel here and now. And we both know the outcome of that duel, don't we?" Grandma snaps, glaring at the boy with a rage in her eyes that makes me think: "She really is just like a dragon."

"Weasley, she – she's in the right." Fudge mumbles to which Percy looks at him shocked and dad snaps: "A title like Minister does not exceed a Lord or Family's rights, especially not in their own home. Do not assume such stupid notions, Weasley, it will only make things worse for you, especially in the long run."
At this Percy turns to the Minister, but Fudge shakes his head and asks: "Lady Potter, do you have any idea on how you got back to this realm?" And grandma wants to answer, but then something happens that I didn't want as Percy suddenly spots me. He glares at me and snaps: "Proud of yourself, are you Potter? Thinking you can –."
Yet then he whimpers as suddenly mum is right in front of him, her entire form showing how furious she is and she hisses at him: "Listen up, you little no-good punk. I was willing to stand between a megalomaniac and my son, so if you think you are any scarier than him or that I will cower before you, you are sadly mistaken.
You will leave my son out of this, you will not insult him in his own home and you will show him the respect he deserves, considering this is his home and not yours. So drop your bloody ego, put a stop to that stupid swelled up head of yours, end your little illusion that you are above us, which you're not and know – your – place."

And while I have no doubt that Mrs. Weasley would try to skin her alive for it, does mum actually spit on the boy's glasses before she says: "And for the record, I was wandless against that monster and I am wandless now. But I am a Muggleborn witch, so trust me when I say, I don't need a wand to make your little sorry excuse for a life miserable."
And while I was expecting Percy to again use his title as a defense, does he seem too petrified with shock and fright over my mum's actions as the woman turns her back on him and says: "No one insults or threatens my son, not in my presence." And dad smirks at her as she comes to stand in front of me once again.
And while this makes me feel as if I am back in my infantile form, which makes me remember that I had been standing up in between a set of bars – my crib, I assume – and that there was some kind of horrible presence that made me want to cry standing behind something warm and familiar, do I shake off this feeling and regain my focus.

"Minister, return to the Ministry. Your assistant is not welcome here and you need to look up his Guardian Angel. Because I know that people like Amelia Bones and Bartemius Crouch would have never let a noob like this treat them the way he just did us. Also yes, I will meet with you soon to give a full explanation behind all this.
Until then, leave me, my home and my family alone. You have already done enough damage to what was once a great and powerful name and I have enough on my plate to fix that to bother with the likes of him. You, I still slightly respect, because I can tell you have a conscience and you have already realized your mistakes.
Now do your job and make sure he knows how to do his. And now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to have dinner with my family. Minister, little brat." And with that does grandma turn her back on Fudge and Percy, the same way she did on Skeeter before. And before she helps me turn around too, do I spot Fudge take Percy away.
"You sure were a lot more direct and vocal this time, grandma." I say as we leave the office and grandma answers: "Some situations require subtlety and some require direct action. I'll teach you the differences and how to spot them, dear." Making me smile at her as we move back into the sunroom, Sirius waiting for us.

Well said, Dorea.
So yeah, Percy really tried to overstep his bounds and has one hell of an ego. And while Fudge will have his moment of clarity, do we all know what'll happen when he gets back to his office. After all, we all know that Percy isn't the only one there with crazy ideas of grandeur and who believes himself above all others.
However, next chapter won't focus on them. Next chapter will focus on more positive opportunities for Harry's future. We are going to reunite some old friends as well as get our actually favorite Minister back in the game. Yeah, that guy sure isn't going to wait for the grass to grow, not with the information he has on hand.
This will be fun,

Venquine1990