-o-AN-o-
Once more I must acknowledge the contributions of texan-muggle to improving upon the grammar, spelling, punctuation and overall polish of this chapter.
I would like to thank Claire for providing primary editorial oversight and plot hole patching.
-o-AN-o-
-oOoOo-
Albus was in a rare mood: incoherently rageful.
He had gone to Gringotts to talk with the Potter account manager, only to be told the account manager had no reason to discuss anything with him. When Albus had pointed out he was Harry's magical guardian, he was informed, in no uncertain terms, that as Harry was now Lord Potter, he no longer legally required a guardian as he was considered an adult.
When he attempted to access his own vaults he was informed that, as House Dumbledore was a vassal house to the House of Potter, all of his assets had been seized as a result of investigations conducted by the Department of Magical Law Enforcement and by the appointed representatives of The People as specified by treaty with The Crown. The results clearly demonstrated he had violated the terms of one or more treaties with The People and that his assets would be surrendered to the injured parties. Although he had broken no wizarding laws, per se, he was now considered persona non-grata to the Goblins as of midnight. Should he enter Gringotts or any property held or protected by The People or Gringotts, he would be seized immediately and, should he escape, The People would make a demand directly to The Crown for his arrest and return.
Steelfist had watched this interaction between the Concierge and the Chief Warlock. Steelfist didn't think Dumbledore was evil, just incompetent and stupid when it came to the well-being of children in his custody.
Albus left the bank and returned to his office. He had not expected the company waiting for him. Kingsley Shacklebolt and Alastor Moody were waiting in his office.
"My friends, it is so good to see both of you," Albus said with a false smile. In all truth, he could use a fire whiskey and a lay-down at the moment. The reply he received simply helped in reinforcing those needs.
"Save the false welcome for those who would believe it," Shacklebolt said. "I am here to resign from the Order and to explain to you the consequences of any future interference with the Auror Corps."
"But Kingsley..." Albus began but was cut off.
"Save it. I have been lied to and it may have cost my best friend and his wife their very lives and it certainly cost their son nine and half years of his life, so don't even try to make amends with me, Albus. There was a time when I valued your friendship, your leadership and your mentoring. I don't know what happened to you, but you have failed me for the last time. If I discover you are attempting to gather information through members of the Auror Corps, I will take you down whatever it takes. You are no longer inviolate, Albus. Your failures with the Potters, and likely the Longbottoms, cost you far more than just my loyalties to you," Kingsley said, his fury barely restrained.
"I am sorry you feel that way, Kings..." Albus began but was cut off by his oldest friend.
"Oh just shut up, Albus and for once in your life listen to others," Alastor said. "I asked you a number of times if you had checked on the boy and I took you at your word when you told me he was safe. You told me he was protected by Lily's family and only after the reading of the will of one of the finest rising stars in the Auror Corps do I find out the only man I ever trusted with my back other than Shack here was lying to me likely every time I asked him a question. For Godric's sake, Albus, do you have any idea the damage you have caused? Do you realise the one person who could bring you down from every position of responsibility you have is the one person you sentenced to a life of torture, starvation and emotional scarring he may never get past? Do you realise there are political groups within the ICW and the Wizengamot that are so thoroughly in his pocket that if he snapped his fingers, you would be out of both organizations without so much as a by-your-leave? Do you realise he holds seventy-five percent of the Hogwarts Board of Governors seats?"
"Alastor, I have my reasons..." Albus began, getting cut off once more by Minerva entering his office.
"Is the old bastard...oh, I see he has finally decided to appear. So good to see you, Albus," Minerva said.
"Yes, Minerva, he's here and Shack and I were almost finished," Moody said, turning back to Albus.
Minerva took a seat next to Moody and waited for him to finish speaking.
"Albus, we've been friends for nearly eighty years, and in all that time, I have only ever seen you blunder this badly once before and even then you never once made amends for it, believing that if everyone forgot about it, all would be fine once more. Let me tell you this time will be different. You have single-handedly managed to annoy, anger or enrage every single member of the Wizengamot. For Merlin's sake, man, if Lucius Malfoy were to walk in there today and call for your head on a pike, it is likely he would be able to get a vote called on it," Moody said.
"Alastor, I don't think it is all that bad," Albus said, trying to hide the ball of fear growing in his stomach.
"Think? Really? Albus, no matter what you might 'think', reality is about to painfully intrude on the utopian ideal running around in your head. And if you try Legilimency on me one more time, old friend, I will pluck your eyes out the old fashioned way. I would suggest you contritely apologise to young Harry, beg for forgiveness and hope he allows you to retain your position of headmaster through his years at Hogwarts. Failing that, from what I understand from Amelia the Goblins told her, you won't have a pot to pee in or a window to fling it out of as they've seized your assets for treason to your House's House," Moody said. He then stood, and Shack stood with him. "I, too, as of now, am resigning from the Order. Let me reiterate Shack's not-at-all-empty threat, Albus. Should you attempt to subvert, commit espionage or otherwise attempt to gain any toe-hold or unpublished information from any member of the Auror Corps, you will be arrested and we will have veritaserum leaking out your pores in an effort to determine your level of involvement. Based on my discussions with Amelia and Shack, the Goblins are out for your blood if you step even a wands-breadth over the line. Make no further mistakes, Albus. These are the last words you will ever hear from me as your friend while you live," Moody said, then turned to Minerva. "Thank you for letting us in Minerva. We hope to see you next week at the Ministry."
Moody and Shacklebolt left Albus' office. Minerva counted to twenty to give them an opportunity to reach the bottom of the stairs.
When the two men left and Minerva didn't say anything, he thought he was safe. "Well, that could have gone better," he said.
"Eighteen... nineteen... twenty..." Minerva counted then stood and walked over to Albus, towering over him.
"Headmaster Dumbledore, I am here on official business as my responsibility as Deputy Headmistress requires, and I am here on a personal note," Minerva said. "Business first. There is a meeting of the Board of Governors called for Monday evening at eight. Your attendance is required and a transcript of the meeting shall be taken, along with memory copies stored for pensieve review. Should you fail to appear for the meeting, it shall be presumed you have resigned your position as Headmaster of Hogwarts, at which time all personal property of yours shall be packed and left at the gates, outside the wards," she said. "Do you understand your attendance is required and the consequences should you fail to attend?" she asked.
"Now Minerva, I am sure..." Albus began but was cut off.
"The question requires a 'yes' or 'no' answer, Headmaster and is not open to discussion," she said.
Albus frowned at her officious demeanour. "Very well, then. Yes, I understand my attendance is required and I understand the consequences should I fail to attend. I will, however, be attending the meeting," Albus said.
"Excellent. I shall inform the Board of Governors of Hogwarts and send them a memory of this discussion for pensieve review," she said, then began silently counting. "One... two... three... four... five... six... seven... eight... nine... ten..." she thought, then looked at Albus once more.
"You indicated you also had something personal you wished to discuss?" Albus asked.
SLAP! Minerva's hand lashed out and hit Albus hard enough to swing his head around and knocked his glasses clear across the office. It also had the unintended consequence of causing the few remaining prior headmaster portraits who were still dozing to awaken. The ones already awake and watching the events unfolding in the office sucked in their collective painted air.
Minerva looked at Albus, seemingly in concern. "Are you all right, Albus?" she asked.
Albus felt his jaw for a moment and waited for the stars in front of his eyes to go away before he looked at Minerva. "I think so. I certainly wasn't expecting..."
SLAP! Her hand lashed out again, knocking Albus completely out of his chair onto the floor. She walked around his desk and looked at him laying on the floor. He pushed himself up and grabbed for his chair. She reached a hand down to him to help him up. He looked at it warily, then took it and steadied himself before sitting down once more in his chair. She walked back around to the other side of the desk.
"I'm sorry, Albus. I won't do that again," Minerva said.
"Thank you, Minerva," he said.
"Are you all right?" she asked.
He looked around and saw the glint of his glasses across the room. "Other than the pain in my face and jaw and my glasses apparently broken, I think... " He began.
Minerva picked up the Charms textbook from Albus' desk and hit him in the side of the head as hard as she could. He tumbled out of his chair and fell heavily to the floor.
She walked over to where he lay and stood over him.
"I... thought... you said... you weren't going to... hit me again," Albus wheezed out.
"Oh no. My apologies if you misconstrued what I said. That seems to happen around you frequently lately. I meant I would not slap you again. It was beginning to hurt my hand even with the numbing charm in place. Now, do you have any idea what you have done which might upset me so much that I would be willing to do this to my friend and confidant of nearly seventy years?" Minerva asked.
"Something to do with young Mister Potter, no doubt," Albus said, regaining his equilibrium.
"Oh. 'Something' to do with Mister Potter? And do you know what it might be," she asked mildly.
"I imagine it has to do with his treatment by his relatives," Albus said, crawling across the floor, attempting to get back to his chair.
"You 'imagine', do you? I spoke to Lord Potter's account manager after the reading of his father's will. I explained to the account manager my role in his placement with, as I believe I told you, 'the worst kind of muggles' and the account manager thanked me for my honesty and then showed me some memories Lord Potter had provided him to show to anyone involved in placing him with those vermin. I sat watching the memories of his treatment for three days, Albus. The only reason House McGonagall is not destitute at this moment is because Lord Potter's account manager believed me when I told him I honestly believed the 'protections' you placed around Mister Potter's home would protect him from harm," Minerva said, her anger rising the closer Albus got to his chair.
When he finally gripped his chair, before he could rise to sit in it, she grabbed him by the collar and pulled his face right next to hers, yelling at him from a hair's breadth away.
"You LIED to me! You assured me he would be safe! I was supposed to have raised him like a son! He was supposed to have been loved! To have been cared for! To have been treated with kindness and respect! You were a witness to the will! You deceitful, thoughtless, careless bastard! I am giving you fair and timely warning, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, that should you lie to me, whether through fabrication or omission, in the future, I will duel you to the death and I will not be the one dying that day. Do I make myself perfectly clear?" Minerva screamed at him and pushed him away, watching as he once more fell to the floor. "I expect you to contact Gringotts, agree to meet with a Goblin representative on neutral ground and spend the three days it will take you to watch those memories, Albus. I will not speak to you again until you have done so, unless you have no desire to mend this rift between us." She turned and left without waiting for an answer.
Albus looked in surprise as she slammed the door on her way out. He sat up to lift himself into his chair when his vision turned grey.
It was an hour later when Severus entered Albus' office to find him unconscious on the floor with a black and purple hand-sized bruise on his left cheek. It would be a day later when Albus awoke in a room at St. Mungo's.
-oOoOo-
Albus awoke to a brightly-lit white room. He looked around at the fuzziness of the room and reached over to the night table and found his glasses and put them on. The room came neatly into focus. He turned and saw that Severus was sitting in a chair, reading a potions periodical.
"Severus?" Albus asked.
Severus picked up a piece of paper, placed it between the pages he had been reading and set the magazine down, then looked at Albus. "Albus," he said.
"Where are we? This doesn't look like the infirmary," Albus said, lifting himself to a sitting position in the bed.
"We are at St. Mungo's, Albus. Poppy refused to treat you until, as she put it, you look in on what you put the boy through. Since it is Tuesday, I would suggest you do what has been asked of you so that you are fully informed for the Board of Governors meeting Monday evening," Severus said, then smiled a small, almost spiteful smile, "I, too, had a discussion with Minerva, although it would appear our conversation was less... energetic than the conversation she had with you. My jaw was not dislocated after we spoke."
"Severus, I cannot waste three days right now. We have to find Harry and put him some place safe," Albus said.
"Albus, Harry is safe. Harry is much safer than you are at the moment. Tell me, Albus. Where is young Lord Potter staying at the moment?" Severus asked mildly.
"I have no idea, Severus. That is why we must find him!" Albus exclaimed in frustration.
"Albus, you have no idea because he is under Goblin wards. Goblin wards which were practically given to him. You also might be interested to know that he is now Lord Potter. Do you recall the oath you took as Headmaster of Hogwarts? Do you know what would happen if you actively attempted to incarcerate or otherwise detain a Founding Family's Lord?" Severus asked.
Albus thought for a moment. He didn't really want anyone, other than himself, knowing he had never sworn the oaths for Headmaster of Hogwarts or Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot.
When he didn't speak, Severus continued. "Regardless of whether you care or not, I have already made arrangements with Gringotts and St Mungo's for the two of us to watch the three days worth of memories Minerva felt so compelled to speak to you about. You will watch them with me, Albus, or you will lose three of the four heads of house if you are not sacked Monday evening yourself."
"You would leave Hogwarts, Severus?" Albus asked in subdued shock.
"No, Albus. I would be the only Head of House you would have left," Severus explained. "Pomona, Filius and Minerva have all made their intentions clear, both to the Board of Governors as well as to me. You will watch those memories before you leave here and before the Board of Governors meet Monday, or the first words you will hear when you walk into that meeting will be something along the lines of, 'You're fired'," Severus said.
Albus sighed with a resigned look on his face. "When will the Goblin representative be here?" he asked.
"He is already here, waiting on us. Perhaps you would like to get up, get bathed, eat and then we can begin," Severus said. He stood and walked to the door. Before opening it, he half-turned. "Albus, Minerva indicated she was upset with me for making presumptions about Harry's upbringing. I believe many of my perceptions about him will be torn asunder when we are done with these memories. Minerva said that she was gravely disappointed with you and your behaviour. If, as I suspect, I am correct about my presumptions, I will presume you will do whatever is necessary to ameliorate your relationships with all of the people you have wronged, much as I will have to do, even if it means losing my life," Severus said and left the room.
Moments later a mediwitch entered. "Good morning, Mister Dumbledore. My name is Bonnie and we need to get you bathed for your meeting and I have some potions for you as well," she said with a bright smile.
Albus looked at her and could not help but feel a level of menace from this witch.
-oOoOo-
Even with the wards, charms, spells, rest periods and nutrient potions provided to both Severus and Albus during the three days of watching the nine and a half years of memories, Albus, and from his appearance, Severus as well, felt soiled beyond redemption.
Albus had expected a normal pensive-like experience witnessing the events as a detached bystander.
Using some Goblin magic Albus was unfamiliar with, Albus and Severus actually experienced the abuse first hand, as if the abuse were being carried out against them directly.
The habitual, systemic emotional, physical and psychological abuse from Vernon Dursley and his son, Dudley, were targeted at destroying the boy's entire being, centred on his magic. From what Albus could see, reflecting upon the memories, Vernon's wife, Petunia, was only an aggressor when either of the two male Dursleys were at home or expected home soon. One particular moment stood out in Albus' mind, after Harry's arm had been dislocated by Vernon for some imagined failing of Harry's. It had been Petunia who had taken Harry to task, given him one of her Valium and, once it had lulled the boy into a stupor, she had put the joint back in place. Harry had been four years old. Upon his return from his weekend business trip, Vernon had noted the boy had some of the use of his arm back so be broke it by slamming it in the cupboard door and threw him into the dark prison cell beneath the stairs before storming off and demanding an explanation from Petunia. The memory played long enough to hear Petunia scream and the next day when she let him out of the cupboard to make breakfast, she had a blackened eye and was holding her ribs. She'd had to stay home two weeks before the bruising on her face had completely disappeared. It was not the only time Petunia had helped Harry, but it was the most memorable.
Albus could barely stand when he first came out of the memories and, thankfully, the Goblins had provided him with a bucket, a glass of water and a carafe of water to refill the glass. Although his stomach was mostly empty, he completed the process of emptying his stomach into the bucket. The water was especially helpful when he no longer had anything in his stomach to come up, but his stomach and mind felt it necessary to continue. Albus drank and regurgitated three glasses of water before his stomach calmed sufficiently. He knelt on the stone floor and began crying in earnest, flashes of his experience as Harry in the goblin pensieve rushing through his mind. "Harry, I am so sorry. I wish with all my heart I could take all of those years back and put you with people who loved you. People who cared for you. I am so deeply, terribly sorry," he said to the wall and the air. He cried for some time before he heard a door open behind him.
Albus stood and turned to find an older, immaculately-dressed, Goblin standing in front of him, looking at him as if he was a specimen in a potions shop.
"I trust the water helped, Mister Dumbledore?" the Goblin asked with no hint of amusement.
Albus nodded. The Goblin snapped his fingers. Two other Goblins, both wearing plate mail, walked forward, bearing pillows. Upon each was a wand and a vault key. Albus looked in shock as these were his wands. He reached out for them when the well-dressed Goblin spoke.
"Mr. Dumbledore, you are, of course, aware your vault and properties have been seized per treaty, based upon your actions nearly ten years ago," he said.
"I am, Sir," Albus said.
"My client, Lord Potter, felt this was an unfortunate application of the law and wanted to make amends. As he is a friend of The People and a personal friend of both Guilder Gringott and Branch Manager Ragnok, I was asked to personally oversee your care," the Goblin said.
Albus hoped he wasn't displaying the fear and panic on his face that he felt in his heart. The Goblins could be utterly ruthless under the treaties they had with the crown when it came to interfering with wizards or witches the Goblins considered friends.
"It is clear to me you have not yet fully recovered from your experience with Lord Potter's memories as I can see concern and worry on your face. These are likely the best emotions you could be showing at present," the Goblin said. "I have a choice for you, Mr. Dumbledore," he gestured to the pillows. "On each of these pillows you will find one of the wands you were carrying and a key. I should point out to you, if you were unaware, the wand in your possession on the black pillow belonged to a vassal family beholden to the House of Potter and The People and The Crown would like to see it returned to House Potter; most specifically returned to the current Lord Potter. The Elders of The People specifically asked you be given an opportunity to freely surrender this wand to Lord Potter, to whom it has been explained it would best be kept in his Founders Wing until he reaches his majority. I likely need not explain the reasons for this to you, Mr. Dumbledore."
Albus felt torn. He had vanquished Grindelwald to achieve the wand and knew it could only truly pass to one who had vanquished its wielder. "Do the Elders expect me to lose a duel to young Harry for me to surrender it?" he asked.
"No, Mr. Dumbledore. Our researchers have examined the means wherein the wand and the other items associated with it were created. Freely giving the wand to another is also considered a means of surrendering, but it is considered the most honourable means of passing on these items," the Goblin said.
"Sir, you have me at a disadvantage. I do not know your name," Albus said.
The goblin slightly bowed to Albus and stood up again. "I am Elector Ironclaw of Gringotts and tribal leader of the Thracknoir Tribe," Ironclaw said.
Albus' eyes widened.
-o-
In the last Goblin rebellion, the wizarding world was all but on the verge of being slaughtered by the rebellion led by the Thracknoir Tribe. They were considered by all wizarding kind as the elite warriors of The People. They had never shown fear of death and had never ever slaughtered captured prisoners. Yet, when the wizards had lost all hope and saw their death marching towards them, a witch had walked out to the coming wall of death and called to the Goblin general for parley. The general and his senior warriors spoke in quiet, almost reverent tones to this witch. At the end of the two days, the witch called forth the remaining leaders of the wizards and instructed them to sign the treaty in front of them or wizarding kind would be no more. The treaty was signed and, much to the surprise of the wizarding leaders, the Goblin general surrendered his sword to the leader of the wizards. His words were said to be, "I would sooner surrender my forces to you than to harm one hair of a friend of The People." Regardless of what Binns might teach, the last Goblin rebellion was not put down by an army of wizards, but by a single witch: Corinne Amanda Lovegood.
-o-
Albus returned Ironclaw's bow. When he stood, his decision was made based on his memory of what brave men and Goblins did to insure the continuity of wizarding kind. "I would, with a lighter heart, gladly entrust a most-worthy Goblin to take my wand to Lord Potter, to be held until his majority or the need is great, in his Founder's Wing," he said. He slowly and with great care picked up the wand in question by the tip and handed it, handle first, to Ironclaw. Ironclaw took the wand and placed it back upon the pillow and untied the key from the same pillow and handed it to Albus. When Albus touched the key, the Elder Wand disappeared from the pillow.
"You must realize by now that I am being formal with you, Mr. Dumbledore, for a very specific reason," Ironclaw said.
"Should you not then be referring to me as either Chief Warlock Dumbledore or Headmaster Dumbledore then?" Albus asked in confusion.
"And that question brings us to the very heart of the matter, Mr. Dumbledore. Were you to actually hold either of those two positions, I would be referring to you as one or the other. In an unusual meeting of the Wizengamot last evening, there was a vote of no confidence for your role as Chief Warlock called forth by Lord Lucius Malfoy. Lord Potter and the block of votes he holds, possibly to your surprise, abstained from voting on this matter, not that it would have mattered in any event as the vote of no confidence was otherwise upheld unanimously. Chief Witch Grizelda Marchbanks was then elected into office after Lord Black's faction put her name forward and Lord Potter's faction seconded her name. Lord Malfoy had also managed to have his name entered into the running, but he garnered only seven votes. He seemed most upset," Ironclaw said, looking off into the distance for a moment with a smile on his face. He then turned back to Albus.
"As to your role as Hogwarts' Headmaster, sir, that brings us to your second choice of the day. For reasons unknown to me, Lord Potter is quite fond of you. I suspect it is his youth or his upbringing, but who's to say. In any event, Mr. Dumbledore, your second choice today is as follows. You can choose to take the oath of the Headmaster of Hogwarts today before leaving this room or you may leave this room today and you will never be allowed to step onto the grounds of Hogwarts for as long as you shall live," Ironclaw explained.
Albus swallowed. Never see Hogwarts and all of those bright, young minds? I cannot bear the thought! "Is the required quorum of members of the Board of Governors available on such short notice to receive my oath?" he asked.
"As it only requires two-thirds of the members of the Board of Governors, or their proxies, to be present for this, I can assure you the necessary quorum is on hand and awaiting your decision, Sir," Ironclaw said.
"Very well. I freely choose to accept Lord Potter's generosity and hope one day to be forgiven for the mistakes this old man made in placing him where I did. I wish to give the oath of office, Sir," Albus said contritely.
Ironclaw gestured to the warrior with the white pillow to bring it forward. Ironclaw then gestured for Albus to take his wand. He removed a scroll from his pocket. "Sir, please repeat the oath after me," Ironclaw said.
Albus was taken aback a moment, "But Elector Ironclaw, we need the quorum to be present," he said.
"I am the proxy for three-quarters of the Hogwarts Board of Governors, Mr. Dumbledore. Now, as I was saying, repeat after me. I, state your name, do solemnly swear to uphold..." Ironclaw read the oath and paused periodically so Albus could swear it.
"...I so swear. So mote it be!" Albus exclaimed at the end. An incandescent flash of light blinded Albus for a moment. When he could see once again, with great surprise, he noted his colourful robes had been changed to a brilliant, immaculate white.
Ironclaw bowed to Albus once more and extended his hand. Albus returned the bow and took Ironclaw's wrist in his hand. "Let me be the first to congratulate you on taking your first step on the road to redemption, Headmaster Dumbledore," Ironclaw said.
As Ironclaw said the words, "Headmaster Dumbledore", Albus felt as if an enormous weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
Ironclaw untied the key from the white pillow and offered it to Albus. "Now as to these keys, Headmaster. The first key is keyed to the Dumbledore family vaults which were seized and given to the person deemed most wronged by your actions. Young Harry asked that I inform you that neither he nor any agent of his entered or removed any properties from these vaults, even though they were legally his to do with what he wished," Ironclaw said. The relief on Albus' face was tangible.
"As I said, he is quite an honourable and forgiving lad. He is also generous nearly to a fault. He understands there are many children who are magical but whose families do not have the means to attend Hogwarts. This information was provided to him by both Gringotts and by The Ministry's Book of Names. Lord Potter has insisted that all children who are able must be given the opportunity to learn their magic at his birthright school. Therefore, all magical children eleven to thirteen years of age whose families did not have the means to send their children to Hogwarts shall be informed their way is being taken care of by other means and they are to start as first years this September. If any of their siblings are also magical, the funds will be used to have them taught as best as possible, with age-segregated groups at an alternative location provided by Lord Potter. These children will be allowed to experience the same amenities Hogwarts has today but will be using a different set of instructors, hired from recently-graduated students of Hogwarts. These instructors shall be under the same new levels of behaviour Hogwarts instructors are now required to meet and will be hired and managed by the Hogwarts Board of Governors. Gringotts is charged with overseeing and auditing the funds from this account and providing the Board of Governors periodic statements," Ironclaw finished explaining.
Albus was stunned. Many times a bright, beautiful mind had been found, only to be passed over because his or her family did not have the means to send them to Hogwarts. This was truly a dream come true for many, many children.
"Headmaster Dumbledore, please do not think me unkind or untrusting of you or the oath you just took, but I must, as a duty to The People and Lord Black, who asked me to convey this message to you personally as he is still unable to do so. Should you bring about any additional harm to Lord Potter through intentional behaviour, The People shall place a price on your head of one million galleons and a deed and portkey to an extradition-free island. Lord Black also indicated he would match the amount. That boy's safety is my highest priority as stated to me by Guilder Gringott. I do hope you understand the level of trust we are placing in you," Ironclaw said.
Albus nodded, not trusting his voice. Aberforth would hunt me down for two million galleons!
"Then, Headmaster, our business today is concluded. If you will excuse me I have another appointment of equal importance," Ironclaw said.
Albus bowed then stood and extended his hand. Ironclaw returned the bow and took Albus forearm in his hand. "May your vaults line with the gold of your enemies," Albus said.
"And may your path stay on the straight and true towards the redemption you seek," Ironclaw said, surprising Albus.
"Oh, and Headmaster, those wards you placed on Harry's relatives' home, tying the protections to the life-force of his aunt? Because of his treatment, they instead had the effect of binding his magic and limiting the size of his core. Please keep that in mind," Ironclaw said, hearing the sound of Albus sucking in air in shock.
With that, Ironclaw turned and left the room while the guards showed Albus to the public floo room at St. Mungo's.
-oOoOo-
Severus, too, was given the experience of living through Harry's years of pampering from the Dursleys. Unlike Albus, for whom the physical pain had been somewhat deadened, Severus had no dampers in place and was allowed to feel the full effects of having his femur broken at the age of six and having to have his leg strapped to pieces of pipe because "...a useless freak like you doesn't deserve to be sent to the hospital to mend...". When Severus came out of the memories, he rolled off the couch he had been laying on, landed heavily on the floor and emptied the contents of his stomach where he lay. His ribs were still tender where the muggle boy had beaten Harry repeatedly until four of his ribs had been broken at age seven. A massive headache still raged from the hairline skull fracture Harry had received on Dudley's ninth birthday when he had struck Harry with his new cricket bat, "...to break the bat in..." the boy had laughingly said at the time. Severus retreated into his mind, separating the physical pain away and gathered his magic. He systematically reviewed his body and found there was no actual damage, just the memories and pain induced by the memories. He began his meditations and performed them for several minutes before he felt an intrusion nearby. He came back to awareness and noted an immaculately-dressed Goblin standing at the door. He stood and noted there was a glass of water, a carafe of water and some damp towels on the table in the room. The Goblin gestured for him to make use of them, which he did. Once he had washed the mess from his face and hair and drank some of the pleasantly cool water, he turned to the Goblin and bowed deeply, his hands palms up and his fingers splayed. He held this position for a count of ten then stood once more and opened his eyes.
The Goblin bowed slightly and stood once more. "Potions Master Snape, we are impressed with your manners," the Goblin said, "In return for such a gracious display of trust, I shall introduce myself. I am Elector Ironclaw and I am here specifically at the request of Guilder Gringott and Branch Manager Ragnok."
Severus hid his shock well, betrayed only by a slight tightening around the corners of his eyes.
"Potions Master, I understand there was some enmity, for good reasons at the time, between you and the late Lord Potter. I understand that based on this enmity, you believed Lord Potter had experienced a similar upbringing and was made from the same mould as the late Lord Potter. Would you say this is an accurate estimate of the situation before you viewed the memories you were permitted to experience?"
"I would say that is a nearly wholly accurate statement, Elector Ironclaw," Severus said.
"And how would you describe your feelings about Lord Potter now, Potions Master Snape?" Ironclaw asked.
Severus thought for several moments. He survived conditions that would have grown death eaters taking their own lives. Not once did he beg for help. Not once did he break. "I have misjudged him to my own detriment," Severus finally said, then realizing he had to be as honest here as he had to be with himself, "he survived trials I would not have and is a far better person than I could ever hope to be."
"Perhaps in your own mind, but Lord Potter has left open a path of choice to you, Potions Master," Ironclaw said.
Severus narrowed his eyes at the Goblin. "And what choice do I truly have with this on my arm," Severus asked, ripping the sleeve from his robes and exposing his faded, but still present, dark mark.
Ironclaw smiled grimly. "With that remaining on your arm and entwined around your soul, none at all," he said.
"Precisely, Elector. I have no choices," Severus said, a hint of despair in an otherwise iron tone.
"You misunderstand, Potions Master, as I have not yet told you the choice you face. You see, Voldemort gave you that mark, bound you to him of your own free will, using your soul and the soul of the person whom you tortured without mercy and killed. It is powerful, evil magic," Ironclaw said. Severus looked at him in shock.
"Oh yes, we at Gringotts are fully aware of this variant of the Protean charm. Gringotts does not possess a way to remove it," Ironclaw explained.
"Then what is this choice you speak of?" Severus asked in desperation and exasperation.
Ironclaw fully faced Severus and snapped his fingers. Two guards stepped forward. One carried a silver pillow with a gold chalice emitting noxious red fumes. The other carried a bright green pillow with a wicked looking dagger whose hilt was an emerald-eyed cobra.
"You can choose to remove the mark both from your arm and from your soul. There is a price, which is two-fold, for doing this, which you must agree to perform. I will explain this cost before you move forward with it, so you are making a fully-informed choice. Do you understand?" Ironclaw asked seriously.
"I would do anything to rid myself of this mark," Severus said adamantly.
"While you may think that, allow me to tell you the cost first," Ironclaw said.
Severus nodded and gestured for him to continue.
"There are components to the price. The first component of the price is physical pain. You will be required, of your own volition and under your own power, to plunge the Dagger of the House of Gaunt straight through the middle of the mark on your arm until it protrudes through the other side. It must stay there until the mouth of the dagger spits blood and its eyes turn blood red. You must then pull the dagger out, drink the potion from the chalice and hold the chalice tightly against the mark. It will draw the magic from your body and soul the way a poultice draws poison from a wound. Once this begins, it can only be stopped one of two ways; your death or the removal of the soul magic binding you and your magic to Voldemort. Do you understand this portion of the price?" Ironclaw asked.
"I do, and would carry this out willingly," Severus stated without fear.
"The second part of the price is mental anguish. You must atone for the murder you committed. The ghost of the person you killed has been trapped in a soul well, causing the spirit unimaginable pain. When the mark is removed, the pain is removed, but the memory of that pain will linger with it for as long as you have had the mark unless you are willing to atone for your actions. That atonement is dependent upon the spirit of your victim. The spirit can not be exorcised by any means, not even your own death, and your spirit would be tied to this corporeal world to the end of days if you fail to reach atonement. Do you understand this portion of the price?" Ironclaw asked.
Severus hung his head in shame. "I understand and would willingly atone for my crimes," he said just above a whisper.
"The final portion of the price is one of servitude. Lord Gaunt requires an oath of fealty and servitude from the last surviving member of the House of Prince to the House of Gaunt to assist you with this ritual," Ironclaw said.
Severus looked up at him sharply. "Is this your idea of a cruel joke, Elector? The House of Gaunt is extinct and died when the last heir died in Azkaban," Severus said, anger radiating from him.
"Potions Master Snape, I never jest when lives are at stake. You are familiar with Founders' Rings?" Ironclaw asked.
Snape shook his head. What in Merlin's name are Founders' Rings?
"The signet ring of any House recognized by The Crown and The People may never be used to falsify a document. They may not be used or worn by any but the recognized head of that house, and it is the magic within the ring which recognizes the head of house and no law the Ministry could pass would allow otherwise. You are familiar with this so far, considering you wear the Prince Head of House ring?" Ironclaw asked.
Severus nodded then released the magic which hid the ring from view, allowing it to appear for the first time in many years.
"Founders' Rings are just that. They are the rings denoting the Head of one of the four Founding Families. One of these Families is the House of Gaunt. I have here a letter, signed and sealed by Lord Gaunt's hand just yesterday offering you this opportunity. I would like you to read it," Ironclaw said, passing the writ to Severus.
"Lord Prince,
It has been my experience no man or woman is either perfect or universally wise. My good friend Nicholas Flamel might argue that all men and women are dunderheads of one type or another, but that is a different discussion. I understand that, if you are reading this missive, you are on the cusp of making a life-changing decision in a direction I believe would benefit all of the magical races of the world. While you may consider requiring an oath of fealty to be onerous, let me assure you it is as much for your protection as it is for mine. I hold in my hands the keys to your future. You hold in your hands the keys to the future of generations of wizards and witches, both in your capacity as a Potions Master and as the head of the house at Hogwarts my illustrious predecessor founded. I do hope you find the cunning and the strength to select as I would have you choose, but know this: The choice is yours and yours alone. I can free you from a master whose yoke crushes the very breath and life out of the magic of these lands and brands her children like cattle for the slaughter. In return I ask only that you allow your soul to heal and work to heal the wounds you caused through poorer choices earlier in your life. I will respect your choice, regardless of which direction you choose.
Signed Lord Gaunt."
Severus sat heavily in the chair which appeared behind him, the note dangling in his hand. Ironclaw reached forward and gently removed the note from Severus' hand. He looked up at Ironclaw. "How?" he asked.
"Lord Gaunt's House has worked with the Goblins in the past and assisted us some eleven years ago in dismantling this mark from another of Voldemort's followers. That man had been working behind the scenes in efforts to end the cycle of terror from Death Eaters and their ilk," Ironclaw explained.
"How do we begin this?" Severus asked.
A table with a potion appeared in front of Severus. "It starts with a blood replenishing potion of Goblin manufacture," Ironclaw said and motioned toward the potion vial.
Severus uncorked the potion and sniffed it. He looked askance and sniffed it again. "This smells like strawberries," Severus said in surprise.
"It is my understanding the Goblin Potion Masters add ingredients during various times of the brewing to make the potions less palatable to Goblins so we don't begin to enjoy taking potions," Ironclaw explained and took the vial from Severus' hands and took a whiff from the vial. His expression changed to that of a completely nauseated Goblin. Ironclaw recovered and handed the potion back to Severus. "Were you trying to make me ill? It smells of those atrocious red berries used to regulate a dragon's digestive system," Ironclaw said.
Severus smiled a little smile and downed the potion all at once. To his continued astonishment, not only did the potion not taste of wet mandrake dung and thestral urine, but it had a sweet, almost melon-like after-taste. The sight of him licking his lips clean made Ironclaw almost want to vomit.
Ironclaw shook his head. "The next steps I have explained to you. The dagger must be plunged through the mark until its mouth fills with blood and its eyes turn blood red. You must then drink the potion from the chalice and then you must place the chalice over the mark and allow it to draw the evil from around your soul and out of your arm," Ironclaw explained again. "Do not worry, I will tell you what needs be done should the pain overwhelm you."
Severus nodded. The two guards brought their pillows over. Ironclaw untied the silk tie holding the dagger in place and handed it to Severus.
Severus gripped the dagger in his hand but was unprepared for what happened next. When he plunged the dagger into his dark mark, the head of the cobra came alive and deeply bit his right hand. The pain of the dagger had been excruciating but the cobra bite caused his right hand to feel as if it was on fire. The veins of his right hand and right arm turned light grey to grey to black as he watched the venom draw up his arm. He could feel it entering his heart and being pumped into the remainder of his body. The pain in his arm from the dagger was as nothing compared to the all-consuming, mind-shattering pain from the fire burning through his system, and yet he held the dagger in place, knowing this was his only true salvation. Suddenly he could feel the fire within him cool to a pleasant, almost intoxicating sensation. He looked at the cobra's mouth biting down on his hand and saw blood streaming out onto his hand. Just a little longer, he thought. A few moments later and the cobra released its bite, sealing the holes where it had bitten him with a bright green sludge. The dagger's eyes were now the colour of blood. He tore the dagger out of his arm and could hear a blood-curdling, throat-shredding scream, not realising it was his own. He grabbed for the chalice and gulped the thick, smoking, syrupy potion down. When the chalice was empty, it flashed a bright white colour and the inside of the chalice was filled with a bright, white-hot fire. He looked down at the bleeding hole in his left arm and saw black smoke attempting to escape. He slammed the chalice down over his dark mark and began screaming in earnest as the fire burned deeply into the flesh of his arm. He could feel the magic of the ritual fighting with the magic of the dark mark for dominion. While it was clear the magic of the ritual was winning, the magic of the dark mark was fighting with all of its energy and intent. He felt as if his body was being shredded and salt rammed into the wounds with bladed hammers. He felt as if the marrow of his bones was being drawn out. He felt the liquid in his eyes boiling. He felt his hands being shredded by the beaks of crows and the fire from the chalice cauterizing every injury in its wake. He felt long needles pierce his brain, his neck, his spine, his heart. He began to lose his grip on reality as the pain intensified yet again. The screaming coming from the dark mark's magic was now competing with the screaming coming from his own throat. Just as suddenly as the pain began, it was gone. Severus felt drained, as if his very soul had been torn out along with the magic of the dark mark and then the remaining pieces of his soul were reassembled and put back in him, healed and clean. As drained as he felt, he also felt an intense euphoria, as if a curtain had been pulled away and the sun, in all her beauty, had been allowed to once more shine in his heart. He opened his eyes and saw her. No matter how good the euphoria felt, he now felt an all-consuming anguish, for here, standing before him, was the spectral resonance of his one and only murder victim. She had been a child who, had she lived another week, would have seen her first day at Hogwarts. She looked worse than he remembered her having looked the night he tortured and killed her at the urgings of his fellow death eaters and Voldemort. Please! It hurts so bad! she said to him.
He knelt down in front of her and cried, blood-tinged tears pouring out of his eyes. "I am so so sorry," he cried out. "You did not deserve what I did to you. I will do everything I can to ease your suffering." As he cried, the expression of pain seemed to lessen on the ghost's face. He cried out for her pain until he no longer had any tears left. Had it not been for the Goblin potion, he would have cried himself asleep. When Severus opened his eyes again, it seemed as if the ghostly girl was sleeping peacefully, but he doubted that would last long. An hour of crying hardly makes up for over a decade of foolishness, he thought.
Ironclaw had witnessed both rituals done this way and thought Severus was, by far, the stronger of the two men. "Lord Prince, are you now willing to swear an oath of fealty to the proxy of Lord Gaunt?" he asked.
Severus nodded. Ironclaw bent down and unrolled a parchment upon the stone floor in front of him so that Severus could read it.
"I am ready to receive your oath, Lord Prince," Ironclaw said.
Severus knelt and read the parchment in front of him, knowing that regardless of what oath he was required to swear, he had already chosen this path. There was no backing out now. He bowed his had and began swearing his oath.
"Here do I swear by mouth and hand, fealty and service to The Crown, The People and the House of Gaunt."
"To speak and to be silent, to come and to go, to strike and to spare, to do and to let be, in such matters as concern The Crown, The People and The House." He paused a moment to read the parchment further."
"On my honour, and the lawful command of The Crown, The People and The House, in need or in plenty, in peace or in war, in living or in dying, from this hour henceforth, until the The Crown doth fall, or The People are no more, or Magic fails, or death take my line, or the world end. So say I, Severus Abaddon Snape, Lord Prince."
A blazing white light left Severus and illuminated the parchment, which rolled up and flew into Ironclaw's hand. Ironclaw turned and handed the parchment to one of the waiting guards then turned his attention back to the kneeling wizard.
"Arise, Lord Prince, vassal of House Gaunt. Today begins a new life for you," Ironclaw said, reaching a hand down to help Severus stand.
Ironclaw had one more surprise left for Severus, however.
"To prevent an untimely demise and your change in allegiance, I am going to apply a false dark mark to your arm," Ironclaw said. Severus looked down at his left arm and for the first time noticed the dark mark was completely gone and, although he had plunged the dagger into his arm, his arm was whole and without blemish or scar. Ironclaw took Severus' left hand in his left and drew his right fingers down Severus' arm. A slight burning sensation later and once more, the hated mark resided on his arm.
"Do not worry, Lord Prince, the mark will fade away unless you need it to be seen, you are in the proximity of other corrupt Protean charms or you are incapacitated. You need not be reminded daily of past transgressions except by those you have already freely chosen," Ironclaw said, looking into Severus' eyes. "There is one last bit of business Lord Gaunt insisted be taken care of today," Ironclaw said. One of the guards brought forth a silver pillow and tied to it was a gold key. Ironclaw untied the silk tie holding it in place and took the key from the pillow, turned and handed it to Severus.
"I do not need charity of funds," Severus said calmly with only the slightest hint of ire in his voice.
"Lord Prince, the gold in the vault this key opens is of only a secondary concern to the House of Prince. Lord Gaunt, however, felt it appropriate for you to have access to a small sampling of potion ingredients and copies of some brewing tomes from before the founding of Hogwarts. He could think of no one else he trusted with the materials or the knowledge," Ironclaw explained. "There is also gold enough to purchase seven years worth of classroom sets of Materia Magica so those students not in your own house would have the same advantage of knowing the reactions of the various materials with one another. It is presumed you will once again add this title to the list of required materials for Potions."
Severus had the good grace to hang his head and nod is self-disgust.
"Should you require any assistance from Lord Gaunt, Lord Prince, please come to the Concierge's desk at Gingotts and they shall ensure you receive Lord Gaunt's attention.
"Thank you, Elector Ironclaw. May your vaults line with the gold of your enemies," Severus said and bowed deeply, closing his eyes, holding his hands out wide and splaying his fingers, once more honouring the Goblin Elector who had been the representative to the benefactor who provided him with a survivable future.
"And may your path stay on the straight and true towards the redemption you seek," Ironclaw said, returning the bow in kind, this time, knowing a completely different man stood before him now.
-oOoOo-