Disclaimer: NOT Blonde, Not rich, not living in Britain, initials are not JKR therefore don't own. Love the characters and the setting so am just playing, I get nothing but the reviews my readers give me. Authorship shared with Darkshaddowedrose. beta read by Alix 33.
Trust is a Relative Thing
Chapter 11 November
In Kent, Augusta Longbottom wasn't sure who she was more disgusted with her grandson or her old friend Minerva McGonagall. She looked out the dining room window at the mid November landscape and sipped the tea the house elves brought her.
Neville was so shy and he would be easy pickings for people who wanted to use him. That the Potter heir had made such a strong impression on Neville on the train didn't say a lot either way for the boy. That he stayed with Neville said that a) either he wasn't a strong wizard and wanted to have easy followers his being in Slytherin might indicate this; or b) he was exactly what he presented himself to Neville as, a lonely boy connecting to the one discernible tie he had concrete record of. Augusta unlike many witches and wizards didn't assume all Slytherins were dark. One of her favorite cousins who had had a dismal home life had been in Slytherin, Josephine had been cunning because she'd had to be. It was possible the Potter heir was like that, his behavior after the train ride seemed to indicate this. Augusta wanted to meet him herself before making a final decision.
She was disgusted that Neville was writing to her asking how he should help his friend. She wanted to tell him if he's your friend stand up and be counted as such and tell everyone else they should stick their opinions where the sun didn't shine. Longbottoms stood up for what they believed they didn't give into pressure. But Neville had come out of the attack on his parents so traumatized, Augusta believed he had suppressed his own magic due to fear of what magic had done to his parents. She'd wanted to kill her brother in law, Algernon, when he'd dropped Neville out the third story window and forced him to display his magic. She never could see what her sister Enid saw in that man. Thank Merlin the two of them didn't reproduce. But Neville had made it into Hogwarts, and much to her surprise into Gryffindor. Which meant the boy had to have the courage to live up to the family name in him somewhere. But he was so infernally shy and retiring it quite drove her out of patience especially when Minerva's letters informed her the boy was being bullied and he was letting it happen.
Minerva, there was another rub. They'd been year mates eons ago. Minerva was foolish, always was, always would be. She was the quintessential Gryffindor lead with her heart not her head. Stand up for her beliefs but never ask if they're the right ones. Minerva had ignored the proper match her parents had arranged for her. John Peasgood had eventually married another. Why? Because Minerva McGongall ignored the gossip of the older folks about the handsome, charismatic, heroic, young(comparatively at the time) transfiguration teacher and fell in love. A love she was still waiting to have returned. Minerva had as an impressionable second year fallen stupidly, irreversibly in love with Albus Dumbledore.
The man had never recognized it, never appreciated it, but took almost full advantage of it anyway. As a teacher he had impressed upon Minerva how wonderful her talent with transfiguration was. He had mentored her all the way through her mastery. Because he was a teacher she became one. Even now sixty years later Minerva waited, doing whatever task he assigned to her, wanting words of love from Albus Dumbledore although she had confessed to Augusta "I don't think he sees me that way. But he appreciates me, and I mean more to him than any other woman." Minerva seemed content with that. August still couldn't fathom why her old friend put up with it. Instead of being the cat of her animagus and demanding to be worshiped and adored, the woman was a spaniel kick me and I'll come and cringe at your feet where that man was concerned. Especially since the man in question took advantage of her friend and had her do a good share of the work that by rights should be his and she never stood up to him even if he was wrong.
Augusta didn't kid herself many in the wizarding world thought the sun shone from Albus' backside, her own son had made that mistake. Granted he had ended the conflict with Grindelwald. Granted He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named had feared him. He was the most powerful sorcerer alive at the moment. He always reasoned everything out but kept information that others could use to himself. He said he always believed in second chances but he wasn't above holding what he knew about others over their heads to make them do as he wished. He wielded vast political power but he was a user not a giver. He played the political games and said the right words and easily fooled most wizards. Of course most wizards were fools.
As headmaster, Albus had the services of Fawkes, which made most people believe the bird was his familiar. She knew better, one of her ancestors had been Headmaster. Phineas Black and Armando Dippet had been such dark wizards Fawkes had retreated to the forbidden forrest, but Fawkes was tied loosely to the Headmaster position and only a few knew it. Fawkes had left the school before and returned when a "light enough" headmaster was named to the position.
Albus wasn't all bad he had good intentions. He made an error common to people of great intelligence and ability, he thought that because others weren't as intelligent or skillful he didn't need to consult them never mind that they would be affected by the decisions he would make as well. She had seen enough of his methods she didn't entirely trust him, of course the same could be said of ninety-five percent or more of the ministry. Albus talked a good talk but he was very little action. He preferred to move behind the scenes as he put it. He talked equality for the muggleborn but there was next to no action to make that a reality. He talked inter house unity. Well if what was happening to Neville was anything to go by the Headmaster was just as much action on that topic.
Minerva was asking her to tell Neville to discard his friendship with Potter. Well it might make Minnie's job easier, but a little hardship is good for the soul. She couldn't in good conscience do that when there was the matter of a life debt between the boys, and who knew, it might be just the ticket to bring Neville out of his shell and into the sort of man he'd need to be to become the next Earl of Longbottom. Frank hadn't even gotten the chance to get comfortable with the title and take his seat in the Wizengamot before he and Alice were stricken.
Augusta pondered how could she meet young Mr. Potter. She finally decided to do something she hadn't done since her husband died seventeen years ago. Longbottom Abbey would host a Yuletide Ball and house party over Christmas. Well she'd better get to work, because a party like that would take a lot of work.
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In Surrey, Petunia sat sipping her tea and looking out the window into the late November rain. It was lonely without the boys here. She stayed busy with her ladies aid meetings and her bridge group, but lately she was wanting more. She had taken to volunteering at Surrey General Hospital two mornings a week and had joined her local ballet studio for two additional classes a week. It was moments like this she truly cursed the name Albus Dumbledore. If it weren't for him she would have a larger house to keep her busy and she would have a child or maybe even two or three to care for. Caring for the house was so easy a half hour to an hour a day and it was done now she faced boredom until Vernon came home three hours from now.
Suddenly she noticed an owl flying in the rain. She opened the window and allowed the creature to perch on the back of a kitchen chair normally they waited on the branch of a tree outside but not with this rain. She moved to the cabinet under the sink where she kept a small container of food for them. After removing the parchment attached to its leg she put the dual dish with water and food in front the bird and stepped into the laundry closet for a ragged old towel to help dry it and then put under the bird. It would do to ease cleanup if it had an accident. Petunia had noticed however, the owls that came in general seemed to know not to do their business in her house.
The ward analysis by the goblins showed that in addition to blood based protective wards, that prevented any witches or wizard who had the intent to draw the blood of anyone who lived in the house's blood from getting in the wards included a mail ward that prevented mail directed to Harry from getting through without a special "key", and a compulsion ward to make them stay in the wards for the most part. Harry sent his beautiful snowy owl at least once a week with notes to her and to retrieve mail sent to Harry via Petunia (a simple solution to the problem) from both Gringott's and Davies, Corner, and Ogden. Usually the birds came shortly after Vernon left in the mornings but sometimes it was mid afternoon. The afternoon ones almost always left again before Vernon got home. She didn't care for the creatures except for Harry's , but she didn't blame them for the magical world's oddities. She opened the parchment.
Dear Mrs Dursley,
We have examined the holdings of various companies that were basically in stasis following the deaths of the Potters. Sadly two have gone belly up, there are five more that I recommend selling off even though it will be a loss. Four others are breaking even, that I would perhaps recommend additional investment in, I believe they could become quite the moneymakers. The rest are producing a tidy profit and are sound investments. That I believe sums up the financial aspects of what I know and am working on. By the way the goblins concur with this strategy.
That is not the limits of Lord Potter's concerns however. I believe it would be a good idea for the wills to be read during the winter break. Marchbanks, Doge, Diggle and Trent are being obstructive and by getting the wills open we can yank their teeth thus taking control of the Potter concerns. This should be easy with the help of Barchok.
The Potters have a seat on the Wizengamot. The wizarding equivalent of parliament. It is currently being held and voted by Albus Dumbledore. If as you have indicated he wasn't the Potter's choice of Guardian, that means as physical guardian for the last ten years you would have some say in who held and voted that seat for Lord Potter. Harry will not be eligible until after his twenty-fifth birthday to actually vote that seat. My firm has ties to the Honorable Tiberius Ogden, as you can probably tell from the name. He is a respected Elder of the Wizengamot who while undeniably light is a contemporary of Dumbledore, and is therefore known for occasionally taking a stand counter to that of the Chief Warlock. Furthermore the Honorable Elder Ogden was a friend of the current Lord Potter's grandfather, if we can wrest control from the Chief Warlock I would recommend asking him to vote the Potter seat as he knows the the issues before the Wizengamot best.
Please owl me the details of what Harry's plans are for the winter break as his presence is required for the will reading. Also my wife was wanting to invite Lord Potter and yourself to a solstice dinner party December 21st. It would be good for Lord Potter to meet a few of the people we are corresponding about.
Cordially , Stephen M. Corner
Petunia went to the drawer where she kept the large sheets of impervious parchment and pulled a sheet of it out in addition to her personalized lilac stationary that Harry and Dudley had given her last Christmas. She wrote her response on her stationary.
Dear Mr. Corner,
That is good news. Harry was planning to stay at school over the winter holidays as the rest of us are spending them with my sister-in-law. The two of them have never gotten along and Marge's dogs have always made Harry miserable. Perhaps however we should make alternate arrangements for him to come to Gringott's for a day, and make arrangements for him to attend your wife's party as well. Although I would be there for the will reading I have to decline for the party, I would trust you to look after him. As to Harry's family seat, I would like to meet Honorable Elder Ogden before making such an important decision.
Sincerely, Petunia Dursley
Then she took out the special pen and ink Harry had bought for her to use with the parchment and wrote: Mr. Stephen Corner c/o Davies, Corner and Ogden. She then folded and sealed the parchment around the sheet of her stationary. Before tying it back on the owl and opening the window.
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Harry put the final touches on his painting of Hogwarts. There were only two weeks of fall term left Christmas was almost here. He hoped Aunt Petunia liked the painting. He was careful to omit the few details that made it clear Hogwarts was a magic castle but put enough in that he was granting her childhood wish to see Hogwarts for herself. He had also bought a refill of the stationary he and Dudley had got her last year since it had been a hit. He spent quite some time considering what to get the rest of his family for Christmas before buying. He'd ordered some gold cufflinks and shirt studs for Vernon and had gotten four tickets to a boxing match for Dudley. He was torn between ignoring Marge (his preference) and sending a simple charcoal sketch of Ripper that he'd mounted and matted. If he sent the sketch he'd please everyone (except possibly Marge). He'd decided to get Neville the Gift certificate from Lillywhites he'd spoken of months ago. Hermione was going to get a copy of Helga's Guide Of Do's and Don'ts for Young Witches and Wizards. After careful consideration Harry decided to get Hagrid a book about dragon care. Not because he liked the man, so much as because Hagrid was the one who gifted him with Hedwig. Harry decided on chocolate frogs for the kids in Slytherin who either he tutored or was tutored by except Flint . Flint was getting a gift certificate to Quality Quidditch Supply. He'd done his Christmas shopping through owl order or via the mail order that happened through a post service catering to muggleborns in Hogsmeade thanks to a little help from Flint.
Apparently Albus too many names Dumbledore was good for something. He'd had words with Snape and Harry was off the constant all-weekend detentions. Harry was actually getting the opportunity to do some of his supplemental studies like occlumency. This was what a weekend was supposed to be. But like all things it had to come to an end. Two things happened the next day there was a signup to stay at school for the holidays and Harry got a dozen owls.
Harry had gotten the occasional owl order package, the mail forwarded to him via Aunt Petunia mostly from Gringott's telling him or asking about the odd business matter, and once a month he got a letter in return for his weekly letters to Aunt Petunia. So he was shocked when a dozen Owls lined up in front of him with parchments. Uneasy he started to remove them Tracy and Daphne helped him. He eyed the pile of parchments uneasily. He knew the mail wards of Hogwarts should prevent anything very harmful from coming through but he was sure he didn't know that many people in the wizarding world beyond the walls of Hogwarts. He tucked the parchments into his bag he'd figure them out in history, then tucked into his breakfast.
In History Harry set his dicta-quill to writing what Binns said. Then he slowly went through his pile. One of the first things he noticed was that unlike most wizarding correspondence most of these had envelopes a typical wizarding letter was a folded into twelfths parchment that had been sealed with wax. Envelopes usually meant large multipage letters, or formal invitations. Or worst case scenario something harmful enclosed. Harry looked through to see if he could find anything familiar about any of the envelopes. Well one of them had a seal with Longbottom under it, that one was probably safe, another had Corner that one too was likely safe.
By the end of class Harry had opened all the parchments, and was surprised to find himself the recipient of several invitations. One was from the Longbottoms for a Yuletide ball and House party , and one was for a winter Solstice Banquet and was from the Corners. The remainder were from people he didn't know and wouldn't even consider saying yes to, those invitations were to the Boy-Who-Lived and from people he had never met. Harry's largest issue with all of them was he had planned to stay at school. The solstice dinner was the 21st and Longbottom Party was the 24th through the 1st, Harry really wanted to go to both but he also knew that his Aunt and Uncle would be at Marge's the 20th through the 2nd, Hogwarts was ending the 18th and the Express ran the 19th returning the 5th of January with classes resuming the 6th. There the added difficulty of although Harry had a wizarding wardrobe sufficient to school and he could cover dressing appropriately for a dinner party doing so for a ball and week long house party was a bit beyond its capacity. He really wanted to go to the party at Neville's and he knew he needed to start making connections in the magical world the party at the Corners would be a good place to start. But how to do it? Harry supposed he'd better start by contacting his Aunt.
