A/N: Ahh! I am so sorry that it took me so long to get this chapter up! I had major writer's block... This chapter is very Harry Potter oriented and I know that there are a few details I'll mess up, but you'll have to excuse me. Not a whole lot happens in this chapter, but things are revealed. Remember though, this isn't the be all end all. Reasoning has to be explained, the truth about the truth will still come out, etc.
Last Chapter Summary: Remus finds Harry and has a talk with Gibbs, Harry wakes up, Remus calls Minerva and they talk about the Potter's will
Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Harry Potter or NCIS
Minerva POV
I walk into Gringotts and find a goblin teller that is available.
"How can I help you?" He asks.
"I need to speak with someone about the execution of a will. It is urgent," I reply.
The goblin looks quite bored, but continues to ask the standard questions, "Whose will are you disputing?"
"The Potters'."
"And why?" The goblin asks.
I hesitate before pulling out my muggle cellphone. A few years ago, I created a spell that could play back the last conversation had on a cellphone. Electronics and magic don't usually mix, but because the cellphone was not actually being used, the spell worked.
I explain the purpose of the cellphone and suddenly realize that the goblin will want to know what the conversation was about that was so important. "I was speaking with an old friend of mine regarding the Potters yesterday when he brought up some facts that didn't quite sit right with me. It is very important that I find out the truth."
The goblin hesitates but eventually comes to a decision. He beckons with one of his long, spindly fingers to follow him. We step into one of the carts and he presses a few buttons. The cart speeds down dozens of corridors, writhing left and right. After a few moments, we stop moving. The goblin gets out and motions for me to follow him.
I do, and he brings me through more hallways and past many doors that look like they might lead to offices. Finally, we hit the end of a hallway and my goblin guide knocks quickly.
A horse voice calls from within, "Enter."
The goblin opens the door and walks in. The room that we've entered is elegant with a goblin-made sword hanging on the wall. An ornate desk sits in the center of the room with an elderly goblin sitting behind it. He gestures to a chair for me to sit down in, and I graciously nod.
"May your gold flow on," I greet.
"And may it never stop," he replies.
"Minerva McGonagall," I bow slightly.
The goblin bows his head back, "Ranlok. Director of Gringotts. What do you need?"
That was one thing that you could always rely on goblins for; they are always straight to the point.
"I need information about a will," I begin. "I know that normally, I would not be able to view it as it is not mine and I was not called for the reading, but therein lies the problem."
Ranlok's eyes pierce straight through me, "We would have contacted you if you were in it."
I smile tightly, "As I said, I have reason to believe that not everything was quite… orthodox when the will was drawn up."
Bringing out the cellphone, I once again explain its use and then play back the last conversation.
Ranlok's face is impassive, but he listens closely. When the conversation ends, he snaps his fingers and a long piece of parchment appears. He scans it before calling to the goblin that brought me in, "Hemguk! Get Alfuf immediately and tell him nothing.
A few minutes later, Hemguk returns with Alfuf. Ranlok turns to Alfuf and beckons him closer, "You presided over the Potters' will."
The goblin nods, and Ranlok continues, "Did you execute the will according to procedure?"
Another nod, but it is a little more hesitant this time.
"Get me a copy of the will," Ranlok demands.
Alfuf cowers slightly under Ranlok's gaze, but he slowly draws the piece of paper out of the air. Ranlok curls his finger towards himself and the will flies into his hands.
He looks over all of the details before turning to me, "You are correct. You are in this will, yet you were not called in. As are Remus Lupin, Sirius Black, Alice and Frank Longbottom, Marlene McKinnon, Emmeline Vance, and Filius Flitwick."
He looks at Alfuf, "Why did you not follow procedure?"
Alfuf doesn't answer.
"Why?" Ranlok thunders.
Alfuf begins to shake, "I… I was told to."
"By whom?" Ranlok asks. His voice is quiet, but deadly.
"By Albus Dumbledore."
I gasp, but inside I know that this really isn't too surprising.
Ranlok doesn't seem surprised either, "What did you get in exchange.
When Alfuf doesn't answer, he beckons him forward and says something to him softly. I see Alfuf tremble and then back out of the room slowly.
"Get all of the wizards in the will here!" Ranlok demands of Hemguk.
Hemguk walks out of the room before I can stop him, but I soon get my voice back, "Many of them won't be able to make it. Marlene McKinnon is dead, Sirius Black is in Azkaban for his betrayal, and Alice and Frank are in St. Mungo's. Remus Lupin is out of the country. Only Emmeline, Filius and I could be here for the reading."
"You contacted Remus Lupin. He can listen through that muggle contraption. Our magic is different than yours. It doesn't interfere with muggle electricity as much. And as for Sirius Black, well, he's innocent," Ranlok replies.
I stare at Ranlok, but I know that goblins do not joke. "But," I sputter, "he was the Potter's Secret Keeper! He betrayed them to You- Voldemort!"
"No, in the will it states that Peter was their Secret Keeper and Sirius was just a decoy."
I can't take it anymore. I put my head into my hands and burst into tears. Everything that I have buried away for the past eight years is coming back.
After a few moments, I am calm again, "What can we do about it?"
"We?" Ranlok asks. "No, it is just you. Take it to the Wizengamot. We will read the will with Mr. Black before he is set free. He will just still be in chains."
I nod and Hemguk enters the room with Emmeline Vance and Filius Flitwick in tow.
Picking up my cellphone, I dial Remus. He picks up on the second ring, "Minerva?"
"Yes Remus. How is Harry?" I ask anxiously.
"Doing better. What do you need? And how are you talking with me?" Remus replies.
"Apparently, muggle technology and goblin magic can coexist. Remus, I have important news. Albus did read the will and in it, the Dursleys are never mentioned. The reading is about to begin. Oh, and Remus?" I know that the news of Sirius' innocence will come as a shock to him.
"Yes?" He asks.
"Sirius is innocent."
"What?! Sirius is innocent? No, no! He killed Lily, James and Peter. He can't be! Minerva, he's a murderer," Remus explodes at me. His reaction is to be expected; the four Marauders were closer than any other group of friends that I've ever seen. Remus was horrified by Sirius' betrayal.
"No, Remus. Sirius is innocent. Peter was really the Secret Keeper; Sirius was the decoy. Peter betrayed the Potters," I tell him.
"So, is Sirius out of jail? And is Peter really dead?" He questions me.
"I am working on getting Sirius out of jail, but I'll tell him today about what we found. The goblins have the right to get a prisoner from Azkaban for bank business. The goblins said that you could listen in through the phone, but I really think that you should be here for it," I add.
"All right," Remus says. "I'll be there as soon as I can, but I will leave as soon as it is over. I need to get back to my Pup."
A/N: Well, I hope that you liked this chapter!
Thank you to all of the reviewers! I don't have time to respond to them all individually (although I will if you have a question/concern/it is especially amazing), but I would like to say that I really appreciate them!
I hope to get the next chapter up soon. Have a good Halloween if I don't get chapter 13 up by then!
