DISCLAIMER: I do not own the characters. JK rowlings and Marvel are the proprietors. I'm just riding the train.
CHAPTER 10: NEXT STEPS
HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY
HEADMASTER'S OFFICE
Prrofessor Flitwick escorted Hermione Granger into the office and they took a seat as they waited for Professor Dumbledore to get the sorting hat to re-sort her.
"Miss Granger, I would like to appeal to your better sense. I really don't see any reason for you to request to be re-sorted. Why would you want to leave the house that has been your home for the last four years?" Dumbledore tried to change her mind.
"Because without Harry, it's not my house anymore. He made it more bearable. But the Weasleys betrayed him and they betrayed my trust. I can't stand being in the same house with them after what they've done to both of us." she said with the strength of her convictions.
"Everyone makes mistakes, dear girl. Surely you can forgive the Weasleys theirs." Dumbledore pointificated.
"A mistake is when spill ink on your homework or when you pick up the wrong robe by mistake. Feeding somebody potions or trying to make sure that they are kept away from helping their friends is not a mistake, that's evil in a way that cannot be possibly be anything else." she said angrily.
"Miss Granger, accusing someone without proof for your own short-comings is something that I would expect from Mr. Potter. You seem to be following him down his own dark path of anger and recrimination. You both should learn to practice forgiveness. That is what makes us so much different from others who would cause harm without conscience. Perhaps you should try and forgive young Ronald for his and rebuild your own friendships." he suggested.
"Thanks but no thanks. I'd prefer to be re-sorted and get back to my school work." she said grimly.
When Dumbledore was set to try and argue again, Professor Flitwick decided it was time for him to personally intervene and make himself understood.
"Professor, I think it is time we continued on with Miss Granger's re-sorting and allow her to get back to her education." Flitwick suggested with a touch of impatience in his tone.
"I understand, Filius. It's just that, as Miss Granger's magical guardian, I felt it was in her best interest for me to attempt to reach her once more." Dumbledore pontificated.
"Just the re-sorting, if you please, Headmaster." Hermione said as she looked to Professor Flitwick.
Seeing that he'd lost this particular battle, Dumbledore accepted that he'd lost and he stood and walked over to the shelves that held the sorting hat. He reached up and carefully took the hat from its shelf.
"Clarence, Miss Granger has requested being re-sorted as per the Hogwarts charter due to personal reasons. Would you be so kind?" Dumbledore asked as he approached Hermione.
"Of course, Professor Dumbledore. When I first sorted Miss Granger, I made it clear then that she would be better suited for Ravenclaw. While I am disappointed that she finds the re-sorting necessary, at least she will finally find her true home." the hat replied.
"Are you sure that you won't reconsider this?" Dumbledore tried again.
Hermione just shook her head and refused to say anymore as she took her seat. Dumbledore sat the hat on her again after all this time and waited while the hat re-evaluated her once again.
"I was right in my initial assessment and now I can announce the proper decision. Miss Granger goes to Ravenclaw." the hat announced.
Hermione's robes changed to Ravenclaw colors and she looked at Professor Flitwick.
"Miss Granger, the House Elves will move all your things to Ravenclaw tower. If you'll follow me, we'll take your there and then get you your new schedule. Is there anything else that you can think of which would be helpful to you?" Flitwick said as he led her out of the tower.
"Yes, Professor. But that is a conversation that I would prefer to have in your office." she said as she studied the walls and porttraits with a jaundiced eye.
"I see. We'll adjourn to my office after we get your room assignment in the tower settled." Flitwick agreed as he realized what she was getting at.
He decided to engage her in small talk while they made their way to the tower, so they discussed classes and teachers while they travelled.
DELACOUR MANOR
LUNCH TIME
Jean Luc Delacour was sitting in his study when his fireplace flared and he heard Amelia Bones calling his name with a touch of panic in her voice.
"Jean Luc! Jean Luc, I need to talk to you! It's urgent!" she called.
"Amelia, I'm here. Relax. What is so important?" he called as he went to the fireplace.
"I have some information that I need to get to Harry before he undergoes the treatment. There is some information I was made aware of and you need to get his new account manager there before he goes under. If you don't Harry will lose his magic." Amelia said in a panic.
Her words were enough to cause him some serious concerns and that was motivation enough to get him to play ball, so to speak.
"Come through, Amelia. Talk to me and we'll know where to pick up the ball-game from. I don't want to get Harry involved until we have more information on hand." Jean Luc said as she stepped through the fire to join him.
Amelia walked out of the flames and moved to sit in front of his desk while he settled back into his own seat.
"Alright, Amelia. Talk to me. What is so important that it cannot wait until Harry is properly healed to deal with it?" he asked with no little amount of skepticism and concern.
"Normally, I wouldn't bother you with this because Sirius Black brought it to me. But the way he brought it to me left me more than a little concerned." she started.
"Why should I listen if Black brought it to you. It could just be his way of trying to get back into Harry's good graces." Jean Luc denied.
"If I thought it was just that, I wouldn't even have brought it up. But when he explained it to me, I knew I had to get in touch with you so we could suss out the truth of this." Amelia offered as an explanation.
"I'm tempted tol disregard this warning just because it comes from Sirius Black. Can you give me a good reason not to?" Jean Luc asked skeptically.
"I would normally agree with you. But this is a threat to his magic and I think we should take it seriously. The quickest way to learn the truth is to contact his Account manager and have him search out a marriage contract between Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley." Amelia said careful to keep her tone level.
"Mon dieu! Harry will blow several gaskets if there is. Let me contact War Hammer and have him check for us. Do we know how long it could be before the penalties are called in?" Jean Luc said as he walked over to the fireplace and threw a dash of floo powder in.
"Gringotts Paris Director War Hammer." he called and dropped down to the fireplace.
"Who calls forn me?" he heard the director call out.
"It's Jean Luc Delacour, Director. We have a possible emergency on the part of Harry Potter. We need you to research if there is a marriage contract between House Potter and House Weasley and possible consequences. It could be a matter of life and magic." Jean Luc said to explain the urgency of the request.
"I see. That does seem to present a problem. I will look into it right away." War Hammer promised, "I should be back in touch with you in about twenty minutes, But I feel compelled to advise that you have Lord Potter present when I get back to you."
"I will contact Harry and explain it to him when we get off the floo."Jean Luc promised.
"In that case, I will return to you in a short time." War Hammer said and cut the connection.
Jean Luc stood and turned to Amelia as he reached his feet.
"Now we go find Harry and inform him of this latest turn of events." Jean Luc said as he led her into the house to get to the patio where Harry usually sat with Fleur.
DELACOUR MANOR
HARRY'S WING
Harry and Fler were exploring the wing to decide what Harry would be able to do while he was awake when he was going through the treatments to prevent boredom while he was recuperating. Harry knew he was already behind and he would need to take his OWLS before he could be considered a true adult wizard.
Unfortunately he knew this and he felt vastly under-prepared for this. Even though he'd taken his Lordship and declared his seats more or less in suspension while he was out of the country, he realized that the Wizarding World would still require the test scores before they were willing to fully accept him as a wizard.
"Well, this sucks!" he said as he started to look over the books he would need to undergo his treatment.
"Maybe yes, maybe no. This gives you extra time to study and prepare for the tests. The higher the marks you receive the more seriously you will be taken." Fleur pointed out to him.
"Maybe so. But the problem is that I will still have trouble with the tests because I can't get around very well." he said almost dejected.
"That's not necessarily true. Harry." Amelia said as she and Jean Luc walked into the room where they were.
"Madame Bones? What brings you here?" he asked in surprise and confusion.
"I received some information that prompted me to come here. Right now we need to return to Jean Luc's office to meet with War Hammer over a matter that specifically threatens you and your magic." she explained quickly, piquing his interest.
"I don't understand. What are you talking about?" he demanded.
"Let's return to my study. War Hammer will join us soon and we can find out the truth of the matter." Jean Luc said as he motioned to the door.
Harry and Fleur followed the two adults to the elder Delacours study to hear the truth. Harry trusted Amelia but something told him that this would not be good news he heard. They reached the study and were served cups of tea, settling down as they waited.
The floo flared into life and the Potter account manager stepped out to join them.
"Good Morn, Lord Potter. I feel I must apologise to you on behalf of Gringotts. It appears our London Branch allowed some rather unsavory dealings that now threaten your health and magic. If it takes shape, you will be placed in the very disadvantaged position of being forced to return to Britain and enter into a marriage contract." War Hammer said, preferring to disclose the danger all at once.
"WHAT THE HELL?! "Harry demanded as he looked at the goblin in shock. "What are you talking about? Who did this to me then?" Harry demanded, his temper about to blow.
"From what I can see, your account manager in London allowed many things to take place that should never have made it through the office." Waar Hammer started.
"Who was the Potter account manager and what has he done?" Harry seethed, his voice almost a hiss in anger.
"Account Manager Griphook was the Potter Account manager. He allowed Headmaster Dumbledore to act as your magical guardian and sign a marriage contract between you and the Weasley's youngest child." If you don't void the contract before you the young girl turns sixteen then there is a good chance that your fortune and your magic will be forfeited as you are found in breach of contract because of your declaration at the Ministry of Magic. Then the Weasley family and Headmaster Dumbledore will be the ones to profit as they were listed as the beneficiaries if the penalties are invoked." War Hammer said as he waited for the exxplosion that was bound to take place.
To everyones surprise, Harry didn't explode. Instead, he internalized the anger and his voice became cold as ice as he looked around the room.
"So, a traitorous Goblin allowed this attempt at Line theft and Theft from my family while the so-called Leader of the Light attempts to steal my wealth and heritage. I should pull everything from Gringotts and turn it over to the gnomes of Switzerland to manage." Harry said as he met War Hammer's eyes and the goblin could see the fire that was burning there.
"The only reason I don't Director War Hammer is because you have dealt honorably with me. But there is a condition for my continued patronage of Gringotts." Harry said, his voice a low hiss.
The goblin met the mages eyes and he knew that he would have to meet the conditions if they wanted to continue the relationship and business that the vaults the young lord controlled. Otherwise the Goblin nation would wind up almost bankrupt.
"What do you require, Lord Potter?" War Hammer said in resignation as he met the youth's eyes.
"First, I demand the traitors head! You allowed this and Gringotts is required by honor to correct the problem. The second is that my wealth be completely removed from the British economy. All debts are due, all contracts are voided and any commercial properties are to be liquidated and their debts to me paid in full. Do I make myself clear?" he demanded. At the nod from the goblin, he made his last demand crystal clear, "I also want full transparency on this. That means that Gringotts make the information for these circmstances clear to the public, making it plain to the British wizarding world that Albus Dumbledore is to be held responsible for this." Harry said implacably.
"What of the traitors part in this?" War Hammer demanded.
"How you handle that revelation will sit with you unless you try to use me as a scape-goat for this. Do you understand what I'm saying?" Harry replied.
"Yes, Lord Potter." War Hammer acquiesced.
"Good. I also expect the full accounting of all my vaults and what has happened with them. You have two days to get that completed. Now, how would I void that contract?" he asked.
"The only way that the contract can be voided would be through discovered betrayal. Fortunately, all you have to do is sign to void the contract under the betrayal that was discovered at your trial." War Hammer said as he put the contract on Jean Luc's desk with a blood quill.
Harry looked at the contract and something was tickling the back of his mind.
"Before I think about signing this damned thing to void it, I need to know the consequences of it. Especially as Ginny Weasley also owes me a life-debt." he said looking at the Goblin suspiciously.
authors note: thank you for staying with me. Yhank you for the reviews and enjoy the show. to TG:m you are right. 4 months was time to do another chapter.
