Here we go with Harry's birthday. Harry has five hundred things to do today and the first thing is dealing with the Dursleys. That event can be found in "Sweet Sweet Revenge", along with the things that the girls are going to do to the miserable moronic Muggles that have been masquerading as his family for sixteen years. This chapter begins just five minutes after Harry has walked away from Privet Dr. for the last time. For those of you that remember the scene with Narcissa Malfoy at the end of the last chapter, we're not going to find out what her problem was until next chapter, so just be patient. I guarantee you will find out.

Yes, I was gone for far too long, (Blame the dead computer) and this is very short for me. It's that way for a reason, which I will explain in the A/N at the end of the chapter. I do update my profile fairly regularly, so if you wondering why I'm not writing, you could check that. This chapter is not yet Betaed, as it has been so long that I thought I'd just post it and replace it with the Betaed version later.

Insanely unneeded disclaimer: I don't own any of this, except the plot and even that was inspired by Jeconais' "White Knight, Grey Queen". I might have changed it just a bit though.

Harry Potter and the Shades of Grey

Chapter Twelve

Freedom, Duty and Responsibility

OoOoOoO Harry and crew, Diagon Alley, 31JUL97. OoOoOoO

Harry Potter stepped out of the Floo in the Leaky Cauldron and looked around. He stepped to the side as more people started pouring out of the Floo. Miranda, closely followed by Hermione, Ginny and Pansy were first. Behind them came four hooded and cloaked wizards that sat down in the common room in places that gave them clear views of the Floo, the door to London and the alley's door.

Harry and Hermione stepped up to the bar where Tom was wiping the counter. "Good morning, Mr. Potter, and happy birthday."

Harry smiled at him. "I think we've known each other long enough to dispense with the Mr Potters, Tom. Especially since I don't know your last name. Is our room ready?"

Tom nodded. "It's the same room you had when you stayed here before, Harry." Tom passed a key to Harry and Hermione passed a small pile of Galleons to Tom.

"Harry, let's go," she urged, frowning at a watch. "We're on a very tight schedule. You can talk with Tom after we've finished with our business."

Harry allowed himself to be pulled up the stairs and into a familiar room that didn't look as if it had changed at all. He smiled as he remembered fighting with the 'Monster Book of Monsters' in this room.

Miranda stood by the door while Hermione took over the desk, laying out several stacks of parchments and scrolls. Ginny and Pansy sat on the bed and watched Hermione. Hermione looked up at the others. "We have to go. We're going to be returning from Gringotts in a few minutes and we have to be gone before we get back."

Harry Potter turned seventeen today, and he had a lot of things to do. Since he didn't want to take the chance that the Death Eaters would attack in a large crowd and possibly hurt bystanders, they had come up with a plan to make their public appearances as short and confusing as possible. Turning seventeen in the Wizard world was generally a matter of importance only to the young person and his family.

Harry Potter, The Boy-Who-Lived, Baron Potter, Lord Black, Head of house Montrose, was incapable of doing anything normally, as his friends reminded him and today was no different. Harry would gain control of three families today, as well as having to decide what he was going to do with the Malfoy assets. He smirked as he thought about his plans for most of the Malfoy assets.

Andromeda Tonks and several people from the Windenmere families had spent a lot of time over the last four weeks checking Malfoy manor and the other Malfoy properties for Dark items and curses and were finally satisfied that they were clean. Harry had not asked how or why the Windenmeres knew so much about Dark items and curses. He had been busy himself, reading and learning about his families.

The Potter histories were long, but the Potters were a traditionally Light side family and there had been very few surprises in their long and illustrious history.

The Montroses, on the other hand, while not dark, had been a merchant family, dealing in magical goods and businesses around the world and their history was full of agreements, deals and debts, both to and from the Montrose family. Pansy, Blaise and Daphne had spent hours going over the books, deciding what they were going to do. Daphne, whose parents were also merchants, had turned out to have a knack for figuring out how the deals and debts interacted and how to make a profit from them. That she could ask for advice from her folks, who had been doing this very same thing for nearly fifty years hadn't hurt either. They had a long list of things that Harry would deal with when it came time to accept the mantle of House Montrose.

Harry sighed. The houses of Potter and Montrose didn't worry him. While complex, all of the Montrose agreements were business deals. The Ancient and Noble House of Black on the other hand, was a Byzantine web of deceit, murder, betrayals, feuds and alliances that made Petunia's daytime serials look simple and innocent. Had it not been for one thing, Harry would have simply turned down that inheritance. However, if Harry turned it down, it would go to the next heir. Since the three Black sisters, Andromeda, Bellatrix and Narcissa had no male children that could inherit and Regulus and Sirius had died without children, that left the cadet branches of the house. The nearest relative was the Flint family, and Harry was not going to allow the Death Eaters to get their hands on Sirius's things. He didn't know if Marcus Flint was a Death Eater, but the rest of the Flint family was solidly in Voldemort's corner and he was not going to take the chance that Marcus might be different without some very convincing proof.

Harry shook off the thoughts of the Black family and considered what they would doing today.

Pansy had gotten a Time Turner from one of the Windenmeres and they were going to be using it several times today. Harry had to go to Gringotts to open all three of his Family Vaults and start the procedures to convert the Malfoy holdings to his name, or one of them. After that, he had to record his intentions for the Wizengamot seats he controlled, place his proxies in the ones he would not be sitting in and record his families and his new Clan.

After that he had to stop by Madame Malkin's to get Wizengamot robes and family robes for official occasions, an event he was not looking forward to, and then they were going to go to Grimmauld place to spend the night. Tomorrow, he would look at the properties that he would be getting today to choose his new home. Harry suspected that the girls had something planned for his birthday but he had carefully not noticed. His thoughts were interrupted as Hermione stood up from the desk and grabbed the first stack of papers they would need for the meetings at Gringotts. "Let's go, Harry," she said, looking at her watch. "We're in position right now, so we can get to Gringotts without seeing ourselves on the way."

Ginny frowned. "That gives me a headache. How many of us are running around Diagon Alley right now anyway?"

The five of them started down the stairs as Hermione thought about it. "Right now, just two sets of us. Later there will be a twenty minute period when there will be four of us in four places at once. We'll be in Gringotts, the Ministry, Madame Malkin's and giving Rita an interview at the same time."

Pansy frowned. "That's not going to have any affects on us, is it?"

Hermione shook her head. "No. I asked about that. As long as we don't interact with ourselves there will not be a problem."

Harry looked around as they walked to Gringotts. Four wizards in red trimmed robes followed them openly and Harry didn't bother looking for the others. Most of the Wizard world knew that Harry Potter was coming of age today and that he would have to come to Gringotts to do things related to that. With Voldemort still out there, Harry was not taking any chances today. The four wizards were their obvious escort, there to let everyone see them. Somewhere around here were ten more wizards led by Moody. That group of wizards were a hidden asset and they would stay that way until something happened.

The group reached Gringotts without an incident and stepped inside. Harry looked around. He saw Mr. Sharpstar and walked over to him. "Good morning, Mr. Potter." Nicholas Sharpstar had warned Harry that he would be very formal in public today and Harry responded in kind.

"Good morning, Solicitor Sharpstar. Are you prepared for the Potter meeting?"

"I am, Mr. Potter. The conference room is ready and our appointment is in four minutes." He looked over at a group of people. "Our guests are here as well. Since you're here, there's no reason to wait. We have a lot to do today." He walked over to a goblin and said something. The goblin nodded and Sharpstar beckoned to Harry and the other people waiting.

The group followed the goblin down a hallway to a door and went into the room. Miranda went in first, leaving Harry shaking his head. How she always managed to get past everyone to get into any room first without knocking anyone over was truly a mystery.

In the room, Harry went to one end of the table as he'd been told to do. Nicholas sat down on the right side of the table and the others sat down close to Harry. There was a goblin sitting at the other end of the table. "Good Morning, Wizard Potter. I am Nocktooth, the administrator for vaults 550 through 900. Since your vault falls in my area, I have been assigned to oversee the transfer of authority in this matter." He looked at his papers in front of him. "We have gathered here to witness the passing of the Potter family to its new Head. Wizard Potter is claiming that title. Does anyone here dispute that claim?"

He looked up and waited a few seconds. No one said anything and he continued. "Solicitor Sharpstar has given me the proofs of Wizard Potter's claim and since no one has a better claim, we will continue."

"Wizard Potter, you have the Potter Histories, debts, agreements and accounts of your family. Will there be any changes?"

Hermione was already passing the stacks of papers to Harry. "First, I have offered to bring several people into my family. They will be accorded every right of a Potter as shown in these papers. They will be cousins except for Pansy Parkinson-Potter. She will be my younger sister and the heir of the Potters until there is an heir of my blood. Her children, except her first born child, shall remain cadet branch heirs of the Potter family so long as her line remains within the Potter family rules. Violet Bulstrode-Potter will also be a younger sister."

Pansy stared at Harry. She had not been told about this. Harry smiled at her and returned his attention back to the goblin. "All of the family agreements will stand except for the agreement between the Potters and the Goyles, dated 1459. The Potter family withdraws from that agreement, and will pay the one thousand Galleon penalty for withdrawing without notice."

Harry passed the adoption papers down the table to the goblin. "I will have my will witnessed and recorded today, outlining how the estate will be divided, both before and after my marriage."

The goblin looked up. "Marriage, Wizard Potter?"

"I will marry Ginevra Weasley three days after her majority, provided that we are both still alive and agreeable to the match. Miss Weasley will assume all the duties, rights and privileges of Lady Potter."

The goblin made another note. "And the Bride price, Wizard Potter?"

Mr. Weasley looked up at that. "The Weasley family waives the Bride price."

Hermione and Pansy sighed. Harry ignored them and looked at Mr. Weasley. He was just one of the people that had joined them for this meeting. Molly had come, as Harry had asked his surrogate family to witness this meeting, along with several other people he respected or liked.

The passing of a family line to a new head was always witnessed by twelve Witches or Wizards of good character and Harry had invited the Weasleys, Mad-Eye Moody, Augusta and Neville Longbottom, Professor McGonagall, Narcissa Black, Andromeda Tonks, Gawain Robards, Blaise Zabini-Montrose, Daphne Greengrass-Black and Mrs. Warrington to be the witnesses.

Harry pushed those thoughts away as he stared at Mr. Weasley. "Wizard Weasley, are you trying to insult the future Lady Potter? As a member of an old family, you should know that Lady Potter's status is partially determined by her Bride price."

Arthur sighed. "I thought you wanted to change the Wizard world," he said mildly, "to bring it into the modern age."

"I do," Harry said, "but I am not going to start with traditions so old that their very beginnings are lost in time. There are plenty of things to work on that are far more pressing. Nor do I want to stint on this, and have people say that Lady Potter is less than Lady Montrose or Lady Black."

Molly looked at the three girls. "I hate to admit it," she told Arthur, "but Harry is right. Ginny will be considered a second wife, lower than the other two if Harry gives a lesser Bride price for her."

Arthur sighed again. The whole idea of selling Ginny was uncomfortable to him. "Fine. What price will you pay for Ladies Black and Montrose?"

Harry took a deep breath, watching the girls. The four of them had spent hours deciding on Bride prices for each of them that was high enough to insure their status without being so high as to cause comment. Harry, after a talk with Pansy's father, had a different plan and he wasn't sure how the girls were going to take it. "Ten thousand Galleons each."

Everyone present stared at Harry in disbelief. "Harry," said three female voices nearly in unison and Harry held up his hands.

"It is my choice." Harry looked at the three girls, focusing first on Ginny. "Ginny, are Hermione and Pansy worth that much?"

"Yes, of course they are."

Harry looked at the next woman. "Hermione, are Pansy and Ginny worth that much?"

"Barring my belief that the entire idea of Bride prices is outdated, insulting, chauvinistic, barbaric and reduces women to cattle, yes they are."

Harry had to smile for just a second as he remembered some of the things Hermione had said when she found out that Harry would be giving her father money to marry her. He pushed that aside as he looked at Pansy. "Pansy, are Hermione and Ginny worth that price?"

Pansy was frowning as she thought about it. "Maybe. It's a very high Bride price for a simple Mrs Montrose, and high for the bride of a Baron. It is a good price for a Lord's Lady, high enough to maintain a good status. Now, as an indication that we will share status, without rank between us, it is a good offer, raising the other two without bringing down Lady Black."

Hermione had a lock of hair in her teeth as she thought about it. Pansy reached over and took it out of her mouth, giving it a sharp tug. Hermione winced and glared at her but didn't say anything to her. She looked back at Harry. "Harry's right. Given the archaic system of status that we are working within, this is actually the best way to go about it."

The goblin made another note. "I will have the papers drawn up and ready for signing shortly. While we wait for that, are there any new matters for the Potter family?"

The Potters are entering into a number of alliances. These papers show those agreements." Harry passed the goblin several more parchments. "In addition, the Potter family is entering into a newly formed Clan. The Ancient and Noble House of Black will head this new Clan."

The goblin looked up. "A new Clan, Wizard Potter?"

OoOoOoO Harry and the allies, Longbottom Estate, 21JUL97. OoOoOoO

Harry looked around the room. He looked for Hermione, Pansy and Ginny first, uncomfortable with being the focus of everyone's attention. Augusta Longbottom's meeting on the 15th had been interesting and this meeting was the result.

They had been in the ballroom in Longbottom Manor for about an hour. The head of every family currently working with Harry was here, along with the Lovegoods and the Longbottoms. Harry was waiting for Mrs. Longbottom to start this meeting.

Augusta Longbottom tapped on a glass and waited until everyone was quiet. "Harry Potter and I met some time ago to discuss some things relating to this venture. Since then I have met with all of you for two reasons. First, I wanted to know each of you and second, I asked all of you to consider something." She looked around. "We all know that Mr. Potter has to deal with the being called Voldemort. At the same time, we all have goals that we cannot accomplish separately. Since none of our goals are mutually incompatible I suggest that we form a new Clan to further all of our goals."

Augusta watched the group as she allowed them to think about it. The Weasleys, solidly Light side and good people, despite their total lack of regard for money. Molly Weasley would open doors with the Prewitts as well, another Light side family whose reclusive nature was part of their charm.

The Lovegoods, stranger than the animals they hunted for, but with an odd way of seeing hidden things.

Alastair Moody, as brave as any Gryffindor, despite having been a Ravenclaw.

The families of the Windenmere group, loyal as any Hufflepuff, but capable of a pragmatic ruthlessness that would appal a Slytherin.

Augusta Longbottom had spent nearly twenty years watching her only child and the woman she'd grown to love as a daughter waste away. She had been jerked out of the Pureblood mindset that said the Ministry and the DMLE would take care of things and the events of the last four years had only increased her distaste for the people running the Ministry. There were a few good ones, Amelia Bones had been one of them until her death and some others tried, but for the most part, the Ministry had become a quagmire of corruption, indifference and stupidity. She still believed in the traditions but her faith in the people running the Wizard world was gone.

She was joining this group for two reasons. First, ever since Neville had joined Harry, he had changed and she could see his father in him now. Even after the incident at the Ministry, he had politely but firmly argued with her about Harry and the things they did. The Longbottom family owed Harry Potter. The second reason was all hers though. She knew that Harry and the younger people with him had plans for the Wizard world and she wanted to insure that the traditions that meant something were left intact.

All of Harry's friends were bits of a whole. Together, they were far more than the sum of their parts. The Granger girl, despite some strange Muggle ideas, was brilliant, capable of research and learning that few could match.

She had dismissed Ron Weasley from the early reports, but even he was changing. Wherever he went when he wasn't with Harry was doing him a world of good.

Ginny Weasley was another one that she had thought was with Harry strictly because of her hormones, but she was a fighter. She hadn't broken down after killing someone in the battle of Diagon Alley and she had faced Death Eaters more than most Aurors. Augusta sighed. She'd seen only the persona of a girl with a crush and never bothered to look deeper. That might have been a mistake.

Pansy Parkinson had grown up with the Purebloods and could keep Harry from making mistakes that would reduce his effectiveness and if Augusta's eyes didn't deceive her, she was falling hard for Harry Potter. That would bring that Windenmere loyalty into play.

Augusta looked at Harry, conversing quietly with Moody and Mrs. Warrington. He was not much to look at, at first glance. Short and skinny, looking as if a strong wind would blow him over, she had no doubt that many would dismiss him out of hand if it wasn't for his reputation and the legend that had grown up around him.

Talking to Harry though, showed an entirely different side of him. He was charismatic and a leader. Given what she'd been able to find out about his upbringing and life so far, they had to be natural talents. When she'd decided the explore the idea of a clan, she'd called in favours from all over and right now, she probably knew more about Harry's life than anyone but Harry. She knew that Dumbledore had been up to something, manipulating Harry and his life, but without whatever knowledge the headmaster had been working from, or the chance to ask him what he'd been doing, all she could do was wait and see what came of Dumbledore's actions.

Noticing that most of her guests had stopped talking to each other, Augusta prepared to open the discussion. "We all know what Mr. Potter has done in the last few years, and especially in the last three months. He has shown himself to be the leader we need in these dark days. The Ministry is not capable of dealing with the Death Eaters. The Minister may be a decent leader, but he is a politician, who will consolidate his power first and worry about the people second." She paused to take a sip of her drink and moisten her throat. "As the head of three or four families, depending on what he does with the Malfoy name, he has the power to make the Wizengamot listen to him. Using the Potter or Black names, he can make the Pureblood families listen to him. Added to that, he is young and liberal enough to appeal to the younger people. He has everything he needs to be a force for positive change in the future, except one thing. Mr. Potter needs a power base of people that he can trust. We can be that group."

Alistair Moody nodded. He'd seen the intensity that Harry put into his training and the power the boy tried to control. "Not a lot of people in my family, but the Moody family will join this group."

Mr Weasley was talking quietly with Molly. "The Weasley family will stand with Harry."

Harry was frowning as he looked around. "Hermione, didn't you tell me that starting a new clan required twenty families?" Hermione nodded. "The Windenmeres have twelve families, and we can add the Weasley, Moody, Potter, Black, Montrose Longbottom and Lovegood names to that. Aren't we missing one?"

Hermione sighed. "Harry, you control the Malfoy name as well, remember?"

Harry blinked. "I'd forgotten about that." He looked at the girls. "You three aren't looking for a Mrs. Malfoy for me, are you?"

Pansy looked at her nails. "Millicent Bulstrode isn't doing anything."

Harry stared at her in horror and Hermione and Ginny looked sick. Pansy watched them for a second and then smirked. "Gotcha." Harry felt a wave of relief. "Although, we could open another leak in Riddle's people if we took a Death Eater girl and put her in the Malfoy name."

Harry shook his head. He pulled in a little closer. "I want to marry Ginny and Hermione," he paused for a second, staring at Pansy and continued. "And we have a deal, but I will not marry anyone without love."

Ginny smiled as she shared a look with Hermione. "How much longer before we tell him?"

Hermione was studying Pansy and Harry. "Not much longer, I think."

Harry was distracted as Mrs. Longbottom started talking again. "We are different people and except for the one goal that brought us all together, we have different expectations. If we're going to do this, let's set some Clan rules that we can all live with."

It took more than four hours to hammer out a basic set of rules that would become the basis of the new Clan's traditions over the years to come, if it continued. The Windenmere families refused to change their ways, so the new clan had very few rules about morality. The only family related rule Harry insisted on was the Clan head's right to investigate any rumours or talk of child abuse in any form. "I grew up with that sort of thing and I know first hand what it can do to children. I will not permit that to happen to any child I am responsible for."

Mrs. Longbottom insisted that at least some of the old traditions be kept and in the discussion that followed Harry and Hermione learned a lot of things they hadn't known before. Most of their experiences with Pureblood tradition had been bad, but there were a lot of old ways that they hadn't learned about. Some of them were simply things that school age children wouldn't worry about, like the care of elderly people in a family and others were considered common knowledge, so much so that people didn't speak of them.. It was simply assumed that everyone knew them. The order of precedence when entering a formal event and dozens of others, most of which were not good or bad, although some of them seemed silly to the Muggleborn or raised.

They finally decided to work out the base of the clan rules and worry about the rest of it as they worked out the differences between families. It had taken nearly a week to get the Clan charter written up the way they wanted it and no one was completely satisfied with the result, but they could all live with it. Alistair Moody had shrugged. "That is the art of compromise after all, lad. You give a little, I give a little and we meet somewhere in the middle."

OoOoOoO Baron Potter, Gringotts, 31JUL97. OoOoOoO

Harry sighed as he examined the Potter key. It was a small gold key, not much different from the one he'd had for years. This key though, had a few things attached to it that his first key didn't have. Control of the Potter family, a title, and now that the paperwork was finished, a family that Harry was responsible for. The weight of those people was far heavier than the small key.

"Baron Potter, are you ready to hold the next meeting?" Harry looked at Nocktooth and nodded. "Baron Potter, since the Head of a family is a separate entity from the person that holds the title, until you are confirmed as the Head of the Montrose and Black families, I will refer to you as Wizard Potter. It is not disrespect, merely a legal fiction."

Harry looked at the goblin. "I will not take offence, but can you explain how I can be four separate people? I am only one person."

The goblin frowned as he thought about the question. "Harry Potter is a person. Baron Potter is a title. When one person, such as Harry Potter holds two or more titles, the titles are held separately. Think of the titles as similar to an elected position. Harry Potter can be elected to the Ministry of Magic, but when he goes home, he is a man, a husband, a father. The title of Head of Family is like that. In the middle ages, as families started dying out or intermarrying and combining, something had to be done about one person holding several titles. This was the simplest way to do something about the problem. The Head of a Family registered with the Ministry is a separate legal entity from the person who holds that title."

Harry frowned. He understood the concept but a glaring problem presented itself to him. "So, under these rules, Harry Potter is not responsible for any crimes Baron Potter commits, correct?"

The goblin nodded. "That is correct."

Harry looked at him. "But if Baron Potter is convicted of a crime, Harry Potter and all the other titles go to jail together, don't they?"

The goblin nodded again. "That is also correct. It is a flaw."

Hermione sighed. "Harry, please try to avoid getting in trouble with any of your persona."

Harry looked at Hermione as Ginny and Pansy burst out giggling. "I never look for trouble. It finds me without any problem."

Ginny stopped giggling long enough to say, "trouble doesn't find Harry, because it doesn't get far enough away to lose him."

Harry sighed. "Thanks for the optimistic view."

Pansy shrugged. "Honest viewpoint, Harry, but so far, you have always beaten everything trouble can throw at you, and now you have a great many people that will help you fight."

Harry smiled at her and caressed her cheek with the back of his hand. Harry was not good at verbal displays of affection, the girls were finding, but he had a dozen little things he would only do to or with them. Harry didn't touch many people, and the gentle touching of their face with the back of his hand was a gesture he used only on them.

More telling were his eyes. There was a way he had of looking at the three of them that said more than any words. It wasn't lust, it wasn't starstruck love, it was something that said you were the centre of his attention right then, and that you were more than merely important to him.

Hermione's thoughts were interrupted as Harry started back into the conference room. She followed him into the room as the other people that would be here for the Montrose meeting. Hermione knew very few of these people, mostly the witnesses. There were twenty or so people that she didn't know, although Blaise and Daphne seemed to know them.

She noticed that quite a few of the new people were foreigners, which she had known but not fully grasped. It's one thing to see a tourist wandering around Muggle London. It is another thing to see foreign Wizards and Witches in the clothing native to their lands. Judging from the clothing Hermione could recognize, some areas of the Wizard world were as far behind the Muggles as British Wizards while other parts were closer to the Muggles. Hermione barely kept herself from staring at two Witches, both Japanese. One of them was wearing a traditional kimono and obi and the other was wearing jeans and a t-shirt with a techno band Hermione had never heard of on the front.

The Montrose meeting didn't have any real surprises, being mostly Harry and Blaise renewing or changing business agreements that had been in abeyance for thirty years. Hermione found it only typical of the wizard world that they would wait more then thirty years to resume business. Pansy and Ginny left about half-way through the meeting with one of the Japanese witches.

They came back a few minutes later and Hermione frowned. Both of them had strained looks and they were unusually quiet for the rest of the meeting. Between the attention Harry was paying to the agreements that he was making and the quiet tension of the next two meetings, he didn't notice the looks the two of them had.

Hermione had the biggest surprise of the meeting. "Hermione Granger-Black is my heir until there is an heir of my blood. Hermione Granger-Black and I will be married two weeks after Baron Potter and Ginny Weasley are wedded, provided we are both still alive and willing." Hermione frowned but didn't say anything. She knew that she was the only possible heir as long as she wore the Matriarch's amulet. It would have been nice of Harry to tell her about this, though.

Hermione had a chance to talk to Ginny and Pansy for a few minutes while they waited for the people that would be joining them for the Black meeting. They had twenty minutes between each meeting, both to give the other parties with an interest time to be assembled and so Hermione could use the Time Turner on the people that needed to be in three places at once. As soon as she was done with the Time Turner this time, she turned to the other two girls. "What happened?"

Pansy looked around. No one was paying attention to them and she moved closer to Hermione and hugged her. With her face hidden in Hermione's hair she whispered in her ear. "Do you remember that letter Harry got from the Japanese Wizard?" Hermione nodded. "He has to answer it soon. I don't have time to explain right now, but after the meeting I'll tell you everything."

"You better."

Pansy grinned in Hermione's hair and kissed the side of her neck. "Will you punish me if I don't?"

"No, I'll be nice to you for a week if you don't."

Pansy sighed and let her go. "You don't play fair."

Hermione smiled and grabbed Pansy by the hair with one hand. "On the other hand, if you tell me what I want to know, I can always reward you for your work." She tightened her grip enough to make Pansy gasp and let go. She smiled at Pansy's look and turned toward the door. "Let's tell Harry that we're ready to start the next meeting."

"Very ready," muttered Pansy.

Ginny sighed. "Take your mind out of the gutter."

"Why?" asked Pansy innocently. "It likes it there and I meet the most interesting people."

Nocktooth took them to a much larger conference room for this meeting. All of Harry's allies would be there for this meeting, along with many representatives of various families that had agreements and debts with the Black family. Pansy recognized most of them. Very few of the head of any of the families that had business here were here, instead sending people empowered to act in their stead.

Harry sighed. "I was hoping to see some old friends at this meeting," he told Nicholas Sharpstar quietly.

Sharpstar looked at him. "Did you really think that any of the known Death Eaters would show up?"

Harry shrugged. "I was hoping. Some of them are going to get a lot of money when I break agreements that have stood for decades and I was hoping greed would override common sense."

Nicholas froze as another group of people came in. "He's trouble."

Harry looked at the group that had entered and were finding seats around the table. "Which one? None of them have Dark Marks."

"No, he's a more insidious evil. He's a solicitor, one that served as the council for more than half of the Death Eaters after the first Voldemort war ended." Nicholas was regarding one of the new people with disgust.

Harry followed his gaze to an older wizard and shivered. The man looked like an older version of Lucius Malfoy. "Who is that?"

"His name is Sasksis O'Cintrast. He's a cousin of Lucius Malfoy on the Malfoy side. He's been the perfect example of why Solicitors have a bad name for more than forty years."

Harry smiled slightly. "Can I assume that you don't like him?"

Nicholas was still staring at the other man. "Yes, Baron Potter," he said in a louder voice, that everyone could hear. "You can say that I don't like him. In fact, before they banned duelling to the death, he spent six years on the continent, avoiding my challenge. When he returned I challenged him to a duel and he refused. He said that it was because duelling is a barbaric tradition that should be banned, but I think it's because he's a coward."

Everyone fell silent as the other wizard coloured. He glared at Sharpstar for an instant and then his face went blank. "I hope that you can remember the law as well as you remember old grudges. I would hate to have this victory come because you were senile, or too wrapped up in the past to work today."

Sharpstar gave O'Cintrast cold smile. "I've forgotten everything I knew about the law. Of course, that still makes me twice the solicitor you ever were. The only cases you ever won were the ones you paid for." He turned to Harry and began talking about some of the things they would be doing later.

Nocktooth had been watching the exchange with interest. He regretted the end of the verbal sparring. Goblins love any kind of a fight and an intellectual fight was no different. "Wizard Potter, are you ready to begin?" Nocktooth was hoping to see more fighting quite soon.

"I am." Harry had been in Gringotts for nine hours now and he was beginning to get tired. He wasn't going to show that to these vultures though.

"We are gathered here today to witness the passing of a family to its new Head. Wizard Potter is the heir of Sirius Black, oldest son of the last Head of the family. Sirius Black is dead without claiming his place as Head of the family. Does anyone have a better claim than Harry Potter?"

"I am making a claim." The statement came from three separate voices. The goblin looked at the three people.

"State your name and reason for the claim. You first." Nocktooth pointed at an older Wizard.

"I am Gregory Hanson, representing Marcus Flint. My client is the current head of the cadet branch of the Black family with the closest blood ties to the Blacks. Since a blood tie is higher than a Godson, my client is the rightful Heir."

Nocktooth shook his head. "Closeness of blood ties doesn't apply in cases where there is a named Heir in a legal will. Your claim is denied." He motioned to a goblin standing by the door. "Escort Wizard Hanson out."

When the man was gone, Nocktooth turned his attention to the next claimant. "State your name and case."

"I am Perry Weatherbee, acting on behalf of the Ministry of Magic. Sirius Black was a criminal. His estate is forfeit to the Ministry under section four, paragraph three of the Criminal Act of 1678."

Nocktooth thought for a minute. "Sirius Black was not convicted of any crimes. His escape from Azkaban was the legal act of a man being wrongfully held in captivity. Since the confession of Peter Pettigrew cleared him of any wrongdoing, the Ministry's claim is denied."

Harry watched the Ministry stooge walk out and had to smile. There actually was a Weatherbee working for the Ministry. He wondered if Percy would enjoy the irony of it.

Nocktooth looked at the last claimant. "State your name and case."

"I am Sasksis O'Cintrast and I am here to represent Rudolphus Lestrange. He is the rightful Heir to the Black family." The Solicitor sneered at Harry and then turned his attention to the goblin. "Sirius Black was cast out of the Black family by his own mother. As such he cannot make a will that legally gives the Black fortune to anyone. Since Narcissa cannot have more children and her only offspring is a convicted criminal, her line cannot inherit. Andromeda Tonks was cast out, the same as Sirius Black. Her line may not inherit. Regulus Black died without offspring, ending the line. That only leaves one line to inherit, Bellatrix Black-Lestrange."

He smirked at Nicholas. "Bellatrix cannot, by the Black family rules inherit the family. Her husband would have taken the name and title. He is dead, however, along with his wife. Since her will left everything to him, and his will leaves everything to his brother, my client, I submit that Rudolphus Lestrange is the Heir."

Nocktooth frowned as he considered this claim. O'Cintrast smiled at Nicholas as he passed a stack of papers to the goblin. "Here is the notice that Mrs. Black printed in the paper about Sirius Black being cast out. Here is her will, reiterating the same wish. Here are the wills of Bellatrix and Rabastin Lestrange, clearly stating who should receive their fortunes."

Nocktooth studied the papers for a minute. "I will seek guidance on this." He put the papers in one of the goblin boxes with a note. He closed the lid and it flashed. "We will now wait for an answer, one way or the other."

OoOoOoO Grabhand and others, Gringotts, 31JUL97. OoOoOoO

Grabhand frowned as his box lit up with an incoming message. He wasn't supposed to be disturbed. He smiled as he saw the matter that had come to him. Wizard Potter. The man was interesting and always had such intriguing ideas and problems. He began to study the documents that had come to him.

Five minutes later he sent off a message of his own and soon there were five goblins in his office. "The Lestrange family is attempting to claim the Black estate. We need a legal way to stop them." He handed papers out to each of the goblins and they started reading, switching papers when everyone had read the one they had.

One of the goblin looked up from reading. "Why is Gringotts so interested in Harry Potter? He's a child by their standards, just coming of age today."

Grabhand looked at Holdthumb and then at the goblin that had asked the question. "Harry Potter may be the Wizard we have been looking for."

The other three goblins looked at the two of them. "Are you certain?" asked one of them.

"Not yet. We are still examining the possibilities, and until this Voldemort person is taken care of, we will not openly back Potter. We will make his life a bit easier, as long as nothing can be traced back to us."

The goblins nodded and went back to their examination of the various documents. The goblin that had asked about Harry suddenly sat up. He read a section of the document he had and then asked for Bella's will. He looked at Grabhand. "I think you might find page three, section five interesting in the first parchment, if you look at Sirius Black's will and Bellatrix Lestrange's will."

Grabhand looked at the pages the other goblin pointed out. "This is excellent work. I will remember your name, Snatchear." Grabhand wrote out a short paragraph on a parchment and put it and the documents back in the box. It glowed and Grabhand stared at it for a minute. "Pity I can't find an immediate profit out of this."

Holdthumb sighed. "Instant profits are nice, but in the long run, if Wizard Potter is the person we seek, your name will be remembered forever and the gold will flow like water."

Grabhand looked at him. "Possibly. That is the hope. There is also the fear."

OoOoOoO Harry and the others, Gringotts, 31JUL97. OoOoOoO

Everyone stared as the box flashed before Nocktooth. He took the documents out of the box and read the parchment on top. He looked up at the group. "The Black family rules clearly define the duties of the Patriarch and the Matriarch. The Matriarch may deny a family member the use of the family wealth and properties, but only the Patriarch may formally remove someone from the family. See page three, section five of the family rules. Since Sirius Black's father died before he had his disagreement with his mother, Sirius Black could not be removed from the Clan. His will is valid. Bellatrix Black died after Sirius Black. That means that her will is invalid. She cannot leave the Black estate to anyone. Your claim is denied."

Nicholas Sharpstar smiled thinly. "Point of law, Goblin Nocktooth. Since a member of the Black family died without a valid will, who is responsible for the distribution of that person's estate?"

Nocktooth didn't hesitate. "In the case of an old family, the family head reserves the right to distribute those things that were part of the family."

Sharpstar nodded. "Then I ask that Gringotts freeze all accounts that Bellatrix Black-Lestrange was party to, until a proper accounting is made. Since the head of the Black family has not taken over yet, that accounting will have to be delayed at least two weeks, so that the new head can investigate the accounts."

Nocktooth thought about it for a minute. "That is only fair. It will be done." He scribbled a note and placed it in the box. It only took a second for him to get an answer. "It is done."

Nicholas smirked at the other solicitor. "You shouldn't play in a court you can't buy. Why don't you run on home and leave the grown ups to do the real business?"

Sasksis O'Cintrast glared at Sharpstar. "You haven't heard the end of this."

He started out, only to be stopped by Neville standing up in front of him. "Tell your client that I am dying to meet him again, when I am not helpless."

Harry blinked. "In fact, Wizard O'Cintrast, you can tell him that I will be waiting for him to bring his family accounting, so that we can divide the estate of Bellatrix Black properly. Since I have to go over the accounts, I find it only right that the head of the Lestrange family assist me, so that we can have a fair and equal split."

Neville smiled again, looking at the light haired Solicitor. "Remind your client that as Wizard Potter has not had a fully magical upbringing, he may not know all of the intricacies of this. I feel that as his friend and fellow head of family, I should be there to iron out any difficulties."

The Solicitor glared at them. "You think you'll get away with this? This day's work is going to cost someone more than you're willing to pay."

Harry's eyes blazed as he stood. "Wizard O'Cintrast. I find your manner and words offensive. Leave, before I challenge you to a duel." Harry started toward the older Wizard, who paled and rushed for the door. Harry watched him leave and turned to the goblin. "I apologize for the craven display of cowardice from a human. Please, do not judge us all by him."

Nocktooth just looked at Harry. "We at Gringotts have had dealings with him before. He has never had the intestinal fortitude of a Flobber worm."

Nocktooth looked around. "Are there any further challenges to Wizard Potter's assuming the mantle of Patriarch of the Ancient and Noble House of Black?" Nobody said anything and he turned to Harry. "Wizard Potter, while you have assumed the mantle of Baron Potter and Lord Black today, you do not hold those titles as yet. Before you will hold those titles, you must confirm your fealty and loyalty to the Queen of England. You will find an address in the paperwork that I give you. It is your duty to send an owl and inform the Queen of the assumption of titles. You will be told when and where you are to go to give your oaths."

Harry blinked, staring at Nocktooth. "I have to meet the Queen?" Harry had grown up a simple Muggle and the thought of meeting the Queen was as far from his experience as the thought of flying to the moon. Normal people may see the Queen, during an event, but they very rarely met her face to face.

"Unless you're not going to keep your titles. Then they will lapse, and the holdings of the titles will be open for the Queen to reassign as she sees fit."

Narcissa looked at Harry. "I will instruct my lord in the proper protocols." She smiled. "After all, you did promise me that I could live in my home and if the Queen gives the holdings to another, I can't do that."

Harry sighed. "That's a topic for another day. Let's get this meeting over with right now."

Nocktooth looked at Harry. "Wizard Potter, you have the Histories, debts, accounts and agreements of your family. Will there be any changes?"

Harry sighed. "Many." Hermione was passing him a thick stack of papers and parchment. "First, the following people are adopted into the family." Harry passed the papers over. "The agreements between the Crabbes, Goyles, Malfoys, Lestranges, and the Blacks are ended and the Black family will pay the two thousand Galleon penalty for ending those agreements. I am also ending agreements between the Black family and the following families. Diggle, Marrison, Starr and Stannison. Those people are welcome to file a complaint about me ending the agreements in any court. I would not recommend that they do so, but it is their right."

Nocktooth looked at the agreements that Harry was ending with those four families. No, going into a court and admitting that you had agreed to kill Muggleborn Witches and Wizards before they were old enough to attend Hogwarts would not be good for them.

Harry continued. "The Black family has agreed to accept the leadership of a new clan, built under these general rules and subject to modification by a majority of the family heads involved." Harry passed along the paperwork.

"Last, Miranda Riddle-Black is my heir, until such time as there is an heir of my blood and shall remain a cadet branch as long as her line remains within the guidelines of the family and clan."

Miranda, like Pansy and Hermione, had not been warned about her sudden elevation and her eyes widened. She managed to keep quiet, but Harry knew that he'd be answering some tough questions later.

It took nearly four hours to finish all of the paperwork and by the time they were done, Harry was more than ready to drink the energizing potion Hermione had ready for everyone. He made a face as he finished it. "Does any potion actually taste good?"

Hermione looked at him. "Of course not. The average house has a dozen or more potions in their medicine cabinet and they taste bad so that small children don't drink them."

Harry blinked. "You mean they're supposed to taste disgusting for a reason? A logical reason, at that?"

Hermione smiled at him. "I know. It took me three days to get over it, when I found out that the Wizard world did something logically."

Augusta Longbottom sighed. "If you would get over your biases, children, you might found out that we do a good many things for logical reasons, even if you have to understand the magical reasons for it."

Harry and Hermione blushed. "Sorry," Harry apologized, "but we've seen so many things that don't make logical sense that we began to think Wizards don't use logic."

Hermione was consulting her list. "We've left the Leaky Cauldron. In a few minutes, we can go back and have lunch with Mr. Robards and Rita Skeeter, and then go to the Ministry to inform them of your new status."

OoOoOoO Harry and crew, The Leaky Cauldron, 31JUL97. OoOoOoO

"How do you wish to be addressed, Wizard Potter?" had been Rita's first question.

Harry considered it. "Informally, like now, Wizard Potter or variants is fine. When I am being formal, it will depend on what capacity I am working in."

Rita nodded. "You have assumed the responsibility for four houses today, Wizard Potter, including their fortunes. What will you do now?"

Harry took a bite of his lunch while he thought about the question. "As you know, I have a small problem with the current dark lord. I will be working on a way to abate that nuisance and going to Hogwarts. I do have NEWTs this year. Other than that, I am going to be spending a great deal of time learning about Wizard culture and the rules that govern them. Since I have a position in the Wizengamot, I should know something about the governing body."

Rita sighed and looked at Hermione and Pansy. "You two have really been working on him, haven't you?"

Hermione shook her head. "Harry listens to us, but his answers are his own. He wouldn't even let us write a press release for the papers. He said that honesty is the only way to go when talking to people, and pre-written papers were not completely honest."

Harry nodded. "When you write it in advance, there is too much chance of shading things to say what you think the people you are writing for want to hear. I would prefer not to lie to people. They got enough of that from the previous Minister and the Daily Prophet."

Rita winced. "I'm going to leave that last bit out, Mr. Potter. I do want to keep my job."

DMLE Head Gawain Robards was listening to them. Harry looked at him. "I thought you would have a few questions of your own, Mr. Robards."

"I do, but not as many as you would think. I have been researching your families and have a very good idea of just what you're doing. I do have to ask, what did you do with the Malfoy estate and name?"

Harry grinned. "In return for certain promises and agreements, I gave it away to the people that needed it the most. I accepted the family, adopted two people and stepped down as the head of the family. They are in my Clan, and will have to remain within certain guidelines I set down, but they are the new Malfoys, for intents and purposes."

Gawain Robards looked at the smirks of the young people surrounding him. "This will give the old Malfoys nightmares, won't it?"

Harry smiled. "I can only hope so. The new head of the Malfoy family is Colin Creevy-Malfoy and Dennis Creevy-Malfoy is the only other member of the family right now."

Mr. Robards blinked and then choked on his drink. "You gave the Malfoy name to a pair of Muggleborn kids?"

Harry nodded happily. "Yes. They have been very helpful this summer and Colin has promised to stop stalking me with his camera, and that was well worth the Malfoy name, I think."

"I know you've been using Colin for taking pictures of Death Eater defeats this summer, but what has Dennis been doing? I haven't seen him in any of the battles." Gawain Robards was mildly curious about that. None of his intelligence had said anything about Dennis Creevy. Harry was apparently hiding something from everyone.

"He's rather excitable, too much so to be in the fighting, but he does have a careful and methodical approach to things, if you can keep him calm. He's cataloguing the various libraries I have control over now and creating one consolidated library for the Potter manor."

Harry didn't bother mentioning that Dennis was also setting aside any book he found that was cursed or Dark, for the Horcrux hunters to deal with. Harry didn't think the head of the DMLE needed to know just how many evil items he'd gotten with the Black and Malfoy estates.

Lunch passed far too quickly for Harry, even with Rita's questions. All too soon, Hermione was looking at her watch and telling him they had to be going.

Harry sighed, but he got up and said goodbye to everyone that was not going with them on the next trip. Pansy and Ginny were going to the Bludger to write up the paper's version of what Harry was doing today, and only Harry, Hermione and Miranda were going to the Ministry to register the new Clan and Harry's assumption of the family titles.

They were all going to meet the other people that would be joining them for the meeting at the Wizengamot scheduled for this afternoon, when Harry would appoint his proxies for the seats he controlled and have the Wizengamot charms applied to the rings the proxies had chosen. Normally, the Head of Family rings would have the charms on them, but since only Harry could wear those rings, the proxies had chosen different rings.

Augusta Longbottom looked at Harry as she got ready to leave. "I know why you gave the Malfoy name to those two boys, Harry, but I wish you had given me more time to teach them about the Wizard traditions."

Harry smiled at her. "I am sorry about that, but the Creeveys have been useful and they will be good people."

Augusta gave him a sour look. "Good people, yes. However, they are also very..."

"Excitable?" Harry suggested with a grin.

"I suppose you could put it like that." Augusta said. "Now, if you will excuse me, my Lord, I have to give them a lesson on the Wizengamot for this afternoon's meeting."

Harry nodded. "I'll be making arraignments to continue my lessons as well. I'm not sure how often I'll be able to meet you this year, but I will be owling you regularly."

Augusta nodded. "I will be waiting."

"Mrs. Longbottom," Harry said more seriously, "I want to thank you for everything you have done for me and the House of Potter. It will be written and remembered."

Augusta flushed. "Thank you, Baron Potter." Written and remembered was a Pureblood custom, having to do with the Family Histories. If a person or Family did something, good or bad, to or for a Family, it was recorded, so that every member of the family would remember it.

The family histories that Harry had been reading for the last three weeks were full of things like that. The Potter histories had many examples of it, and he was still trying to read the Black histories. The Potter line was almost eight hundred years old, but that was nothing, compared to the Black histories. The Blacks had earned the "Ancient and Noble" title honestly, having been awarded their Lordship in 924 AD. Harry sighed. The family had come down considerably since the first Black had been ennobled for "bravery and gallantry on the field of battle".

He shook those thoughts off as he approached the Ministry. Right now, he had to concentrate. The forms in the Ministry wouldn't be a problem but Harry was expecting the Minister to show up and have something to say or talk about. What the Minister would want was a hot topic for discussion, but no one knew what he would want or what he would offer.

Harry approached the guard and handed over his wand. "Baron Potter, here to visit the forms and records office."

The Auror on duty smiled at Harry. "Welcome to the Ministry, Baron. Here's your badge. Do you need a guide?" She saw Hermione behind Harry. "Never mind. How are you, Miss. Granger? Will you be wanting your normal badge?"

Harry looked at Hermione. "Just how often have you been here?"

Hermione frowned. "Too often. The red tape and forms you have to deal with are a pain, and I have to record how many Portkeys I make each week." She smiled at the Auror. "Hello, Auror Fitzgerald. I'm with Baron Potter today, and I need to change my honorific. I am Miss Granger-Black now."

The Auror nodded and handed Hermione her wand and a badge after tapping it with her wand.

She handed Miranda a badge as well, without a word. Harry looked at his badge. "Baron Potter, Forms and Records." Hermione's badge had the same thing written it, but Miranda's badge simply read "Defender". Harry shook his head. The way the Wizard world acted around Defenders was just weird.

Miranda saw his look. "Lord Black, the Order of Defenders has certain privileges, but we have rules as well."

Hermione led the way to the lift. They got in and Hermione pressed the button for the second floor. As the door opened and they started to leave, Dolores Umbridge was waiting for the lift. Harry tensed, but didn't say anything as Hermione laid a hand on his arm.

Umbridge was about to say something when she saw Harry's badge. Her face went from shock to disgust to calculation in seconds. "Baron Potter, I have to apologize for my previous actions. I was merely following orders. I'm sure a traditional person such as your noble self will understand that order must be maintained."

Harry's magic was beginning to manifest as he looked at the Witch that had made his sixth year one of the worst years he'd had. "I do understand that order must be maintained," he said tightly. "And I am certain that you understand that the old traditions must be upheld as well. Including vengeance. The Potter and Black families have a long history of vengeance. If you are still in Britain in forty-eight hours, I will have my vengeance."

Dolores Umbridge stared at Harry. "You can't threaten me, I'm the Under-secretary for the Minister."

Harry smirked. "And I am the only person that can kill Voldemort. Which title will the Wizard world consider more important, I wonder?"

Dolores Umbridge paled and rushed into the lift without another word. Harry smirked at her until the lift closed. He looked at Hermione. "Which way, Lady Black?"

Hermione frowned at him. "I thought you were going to bring the Wizard world forward, Harry, not regress to a barbarian yourself," she said tartly as she led him down the hallway.

Harry grinned. "If you believed me, then she did. Good. I want her to sweat, wondering what I'm going to do."

Hermione stared at him for a second and then smiled. "This is the same thing you did to the Dursleys, isn't it? Psychological intimidation."

Harry nodded. "I will make sure that she cannot hurt other children, but that is as far as I am willing to go for her. She's not a Death Eater, merely a Pureblood bigot. It will be worse for her to watch us change the world and be powerless to stop us than anything else we could do to her."

Hermione stopped and hugged Harry. He hugged her back and kissed her gently. "I love you, Harry, but I wish you'd let me know when you're going to do this. It makes me nervous."

Harry reached up and stroked her face with his hand. "I love you, too." Harry's eyes were soft and warm and Hermione blushed. She hugged Harry again and started down the hallway with Harry's hand in hers.

Miranda watched the hallway, ignoring the two of them in their private minute. She was the first to see the three people that came around the corner. The Minister of Magic, Rufus Scrimageour, Percy Weasley and someone she didn't recognize were coming toward them. Harry and Hermione saw them a second later and Harry stepped up in front of Hermione.

"Baron Potter, may I have a minute of your time?" asked the Minister formally.

Harry looked at him for a second. "Of course, Minister."

Percy opened a door and looked inside. "This room is empty, Minister."

Hermione and Harry waited as Miranda checked the room. When she nodded they entered. The stranger stayed outside the room and Miranda positioned herself to watch the people inside and the door. Harry looked at the Minister. "What can the House of Potter do for you, Minister?"

"Baron, you have done great things for us in the last few months. I have no problem with anything you have done. I admire it, in fact."

Harry looked at him. "Thank you, Minister, however, I hear a 'but' in there somewhere."

"Baron Potter, you have to know that I am on very shaky ground, politically. What you may not know is how that affects you. As I said, I agree with what you're doing. If the next Minister doesn't agree with your actions, he can stop you."

Harry tilted his head. "How? I am not in the Ministry, nor am I violating any laws."

Percy looked up. "Actually, Baron Potter, while your previous actions have not violated any laws, if you continue with your present course, they will. In 1142, the Ministry of Magic, under pressure from the Royal family, passed a law disallowing privately held troops. Your fighters will fall under that law now that you are assuming the Head of House positions."

Harry and Hermione looked at each other. Harry turned to the Minister. "I assume you have something that will allow me to carry the war forward."

"I do. It would mean that you can carry on as you have been, but you would have to become a part of the Ministry, under my command. That wouldn't mean much, as I think you're doing well, but the appearance of cooperation between us would help me."

Harry frowned. "I would like a few details, please."

The Minister gave him a surprisingly boyish grin. "How would you like to be the first Commander of the Department of Magical Warfare since the last Goblin War?"

OoOoOoO Harry and various others, the Wizengamot chambers, 31JUL97. OoOoOoO

Harry looked around. Besides himself and Neville Longbottom, both of whom were here to present themselves to the Wizengamot to be seated, there were dozens of people here. Augusta Longbottom was going to relinquish the Longbottom seat and assume the Malfoy seat until Colin was of age in a year or so.

Colin was here, Rita was sitting next to Luna and a reporter from the Bludger. Judging from the look on Rita's face, Luna was being her normal self.

All of the heads of family from the new Clan were here along with twenty or thirty other people that Harry recognized. Nicholas Sharpstar looked at Harry and watched him looking around. "Everyone we needed is here, Baron Potter. The law was passed in this morning's session and everything is in place."

Hermione, Pansy and Ginny grinned. Harry's plan was reaching its climax and the Death Eaters wouldn't know what hit them. Harry had used Nicholas to get two new laws passed in the Wizengamot. The first was a simple amendment to an existing law. It would require that any person sent to Azkaban be tried and that Veritaserum be used to confirm their crimes.

It was the second law that had been passed that Harry and the others here today would be using.

"Wizards and Witches of the Wizengamot, be seated. This session of the Wizengamot is now in session." The Wizard that spoke was named Markus Inkee and Harry liked what he knew about the man. He was one of the few neutrals in the Wizengamot, and highly respected by everyone, which is how he had become the Supreme Mugwump after Professor Dumbledore's death.

"Wizards and Witches of the Wizengamot, today's session will see the seating of several new members of the Wizengamot. Some of them will be filling seats not used in years and we should welcome them."

Harry sat patiently as the formalities concluded. The Wizengamot, like most political bodies, had many traditions and customs that they followed. Harry was still learning them all, but all of his people had been briefed on the time this meeting would take and they were willing to wait. The pay-off today was worth any amount of waiting.

Harry watched as the Wizengamot started confirming the proxies and seats. Mr. Blount, from the Windenmere families was Harry's proxie for the Black seat, while Mr. Weasley sat in the Montrose seat until Harry or Blaise finished Hogwarts. Harry was watching Blaise closely and he was still considering giving the family to Blaise and Daphne if the family ghosts would transfer the family obligation to Blaise and Daphne.

Neville took his seat and Augusta assumed the Malfoy seat. Nicholas Sharpstar would continue in the Potter seat until Harry left Hogwarts.

After all of the proxies were confirmed, Harry stood up. "Wizards and Witches of the Wizengamot, I would speak to you. May I be heard?"

Markus Inkee thought about it for a second. "Of course, Lord Black." By Wizengamot tradition, a Wizard was always addressed by his highest title in the chamber.

"I am not speaking to you today as Lord Black, Sir, but as Harry Potter. This morning, the Wizengamot passed a law to allow any person wronged by another Wizard to claim some share of that person's estate as compensation for their wrongs. I claim the total holdings of the being known as Tom Riddle, Lord Voldemort, and You-Know-Who as compensation for the deaths of my parents, Sirius Black, my godfather, and all the other people I have lost to him."

The Wizengamot erupted into talk and Harry raised his voice. "I lay claim to those things, but I do not want them. I want to them to go to the ministry, to help all the people that have suffered as a result of Voldemort's actions."

Markus Inkee restored order after a minute. "Lord Black, this claim is undeniable, but as far as anyone knows, that person has no assets for you to claim."

"He has one thing, and I would claim that, to sever his last tie with anything. Tom Riddle was named after his Muggle father, but his mother was the last of the Gaunts, the last of the Salazar Slytherin lines in direct descent. I would claim his name, and give it to a Slytherin, one that embodies the essence of what Salazar Slytherin wanted for his house."

Harry stood waiting patiently for the Wizengamot to quiet down after that statement. "Mr. Potter, this is not a matter to be taken lightly. I assume you have a candidate in mind."

"I do. This person has shown remarkable ambition and a desire to improve her lot in life, without joining Voldemort or being Dark. She is intelligent and strong-willed. According to my sources in Slytherin, she has managed to change her house ranking from ninety-fourth to twelvth, as high as you could get without being one of Malfoy's cronies, and she did it all without anyone even noticing her, except when she needed a bit of recognition. She has, in all ways, shown the qualities of a true heir of Slytherin."

Markus frowned thoughtfully. "This person you speak of, Lord Black, does she have a name?"

"Sally Ann Perks. She is a seventh year student in Hogwarts. She is a Slytherin." He turned and pointed to a young girl sitting near the door. "And she is here for you to question."

Sally Ann Perks stood up. "Wizards and Witches of the Wizengamot, I was rather surprised that Harry Potter would come to me for this. I was the person directly before him during our sorting, but until last week, I don't think we ever even spoke. He came to me last week and convinced me that of all the people in Slytherin House, I had the best chance of restoring the Honour of the house and the great name of Salazar Slytherin."

Harry and the others watched as the Wizengamot questioned Sally Anne about her desires and her plans for the future. For more than an hour they grilled her, asking her dozens of questions. Finally, they ran out of questions. Supreme Mugwump Inkee looked at her. "This will not be an easy decision, Witch Perks. We shall debate it and vote on it after we have finished the other business before the Wizengamot."

Harry stood up again. "I will await your answer to my request. For now, I wish to sponsor several other people who have similar requests of the Wizengamot."

Markus Inkee looked at Harry. "How many petitions do you have, Lord Black?"

Harry looked at his list. "Susan Bones, requesting an amount from the Crabbes for the death of her aunt. Her parents, the same. Neville Longbottom, the Lestrange estate for the loss of his parents. Hermione Granger-Black, claiming a settlement from Antonin Dolohov for attempting to kill her." Harry looked at the list. "There are a dozen more, but I will simply give you the list. I have several other appointments today. Nicholas Sharpstar will stay and conduct business in my name." Harry passed the sheet to Markus Inkee. "I also have need of many of the claimants. Here are their depositions, agreements to abide by the decisions of the Wizengamot, and the temporary right to vote a seat from the twelve heads of family that have seats in my Clan. Apparently, they wish to meet with me about something tonight and we have to go."

Inkee looked at the paperwork Harry passed him. "Nicholas Sharpstar has control of four council seats and eight Wizengamot seats for the votes on reparations." He looked up at Harry. "That is a good many votes for a new Clan, Lord Black. Why do I think that we have seen the emergence of a new power bloc in the Wizengamot today?"

Harry smiled. "Not a bloc, Wizard Inkee. We are merely together for this vote. In future votes, every family head will vote the way they believe. This time we think alike. Next time, who knows?"

Harry bowed to the Wizengamot. "I really must be going. Good day, Wizards and Witches."

OoOoOoO Harry and the girls, Madame Malkin's, 31JUL97. OoOoOoO

"Lord Black, if you stand still for a minute, this will be over with much faster and then you may ogle the ladies all you want." Madame Malkin sounded irritable and Miranda smiled inside. She never let any of it show, however.

Harry blushed and tried to stand still. The three girls were in different changing rooms and taking turns coming out dressed in robes that made Harry pay attention. He was fairly certain that Pansy's 'too loose' dress had been an excuse to flash him 'accidentally' in front of everyone. Harry was also certain that they had planned this, as they took dressing rooms in widely separated areas, forcing him to turn to see each of them as they came out to show him whatever they were wearing.

Hermione was blushing as she looked at the outfit she was wearing. It wasn't risqué, by Muggle standards, but she'd long ago figured out that Wizards were at least a hundred and twenty-five years behind Muggles in fashions. Women in the Wizard world covered everything from the shoulders to the ankles and nothing was form-fitting except swimwear.

This was a simple pair of jeans and a spaghetti-string strap blouse. The jeans were a bit tighter than Hermione normally wore. She sighed as she started wiggling out of them. OK, so they were tighter than anything she'd ever worn and the forest green top was silk and also tighter than anything she'd normally buy. The look on Harry's face had convinced her that Pansy had been right though. He had been startled at first, and then his eyes had swept over her as if he wanted to memorize every line of her body. She had nearly felt the desire and love he'd been showing. Hermione smiled wryly as she finished changing. Given his Aestuomagius ability, she might well have been feeling it.

Over the last few weeks as Miranda and Moody had trained him, Harry had been learning to harness his power. Well, sort of. By its very nature Harry's power was not a controlled skill. It was emotionally driven and grew more powerful with stronger emotions. Strong emotions, however, are not easily controlled.

Harry's Aestuomagius abilities were the only thing that weren't working out to some sort of schedule. The Windenmere group's researchers had examined and re-examined every memory of Professor Dumbledore's. From those memories and the knowledge of Voldemort that the people that had been in his camp had, they had deduced the location of most of the Horcruxes. They had found all but three now. They had a couple of ideas about destroying them, but they were looking into other methods, hoping to find one that did not include a high level of danger for the person destroying it.

The last three were going to be difficult. One of them was in Nagini, or was the snake, they weren't sure of that yet. They needed the snake to be certain. The second one was in Hogwarts and that was Hermione's job this year, to figure out where and what it was.

The third was the biggest puzzle. They still hadn't found it, or even a clue as to what or where it was.

Hermione changed into her robes and stepped out of the changing room. Harry was standing near Miranda and Hermione smiled at him. The other two were still in their changing rooms and Hermione crossed to Harry. He smiled at her, his eyes softening in the way they always did. He held out his hand and Hermione took it. They waited for the other two. Ginny came out first and claimed Harry's other hand.

Pansy came out and saw the three of them standing there waiting for her. She started to say something but Hermione cleared her throat. Pansy's eyes went to her and she went to stand next to Hermione, taking her hand.

Harry stopped and looked at the three girls. "What's next on the agenda, Hermione?"

Hermione smiled. "Just one last stop, Harry." Hermione handed the ends of a Portkey around and everyone took a grip on it. Harry was just asking where it would take them when he felt the familiar tug behind his navel.

Harry and the girls landed in a dark place. Harry tried to get up but Ginny and Pansy started kissing him. He vaguely heard Hermione saying, "We must be early. I'll find the light switch."

He pulled his lips away from Ginny long enough to say, "I'll be here." Pansy claimed his lips then and Harry was only too willing to let her.

The lights came on and as they did lots of people shouted. "Surprise!"

Harry jumped, but the two girls with him were wrapped around him, and he couldn't react before what they'd said made it into his brain. He looked around. All of his friends and a lot of the Windenmeres he'd met over the summer were here and all of them were smiling at him.

The two girls got up and helped Harry up. He looked at them. "This was Hermione's idea, wasn't it?"

"Actually, the surprise party was Ginny's idea. I suggested the way to hide it from and Hermione came up with a way to keep you from attacking everyone when they surprised you," Pansy said.

Harry grinned as the Weasleys closed in and Molly attempted to compress his ribs. Hermione and the rest soon had him in a party mood. The next four hours were a happy blur of food, fun and gifts. Violet Potter spent most of the evening wrapped around Harry's arm, tugging him around.

Harry was surprised to find Millicent Bulstrode there. She nodded to him. "I came to see Violet. We spent the day together." Millicent looked at Violet, who had let go of Harry to hold her sister's hand. "I owe you for protecting Violet."

Harry nodded. "I need someone to watch over Pansy and help her get all the Slytherins that don't want to follow Voldemort together. Blaise and Daphne will be helping as well."

Millicent thought about it. "Between the three of them, they know almost everything that goes on in Slytherin. They have more status, more money and more intelligence. What do you need me for?"

Harry cocked his head as he looked at her. "Not for muscle. That was Malfoy's thing. I want someone who they can trust, that will help them."

Millicent looked down at Harry and then down at Violet. "Deal."

Harry smiled. "How come you didn't join the escape?"

Millicent shrugged. "Potter, look at me. I'm nearly two meters tall and stronger than most of the guys in Slytherin. I did not inherit the beauty of my mother, but the size of my father. Without the Dark Lord ordering someone, what are my chances of marrying someone with a brain and who looks decent?"

Harry looked at her. "That depends on what you want. If you get involved with people that look beyond physical features and size, you might be surprised. The Hufflepuffs are good at that." He watched her for a minute. "Why do you say they have more intelligence? You don't seem to to like Crabbe or Goyle to me."

"Thank you for that, Potter. I am not that bad, but I know my limits. Like Weasley, I follow the people that think better than I do. I have my talents and skills, but intense thinking isn't one of them."

"It was never mine, either, but I am learning." Ron Weasley had come up behind them. "If you like, I'll help you with some things I have learned. Mental discipline type things."

Millicent stared at Ron. "Learning indeed," she said dryly, "if you're willing to help a Slytherin."

Ron winced. "I have had a few lessons recently. One of them has been on the stupidity of believing in stereotypes."

Harry smiled. "You better be careful, Ron. If you change too much, the Sorting Hat may decide you're a Hufflepuff."

Ron stared at Harry and then smirked. "Whatever you say, O fearless Slytherin's child."

Millicent was watching them. "Gryffindors with a sense of humour. Will wonders never cease."

"Gryffindors have many hidden talents, but Harry is not really a Gryffindor." The three of them turned to find Luna and Neville standing there. "Harry is more a student of Hogwarts than a member of a house."

Neville was standing close to Luna, not quite touching her, but very close. Harry looked at them and and smiled. He could feel something there, something he'd felt from other couples he'd been around this summer. "Hello, Luna, Neville." He looked at Luna, remembering something she'd said about him once. "Have you and Neville been playing with an Amoreati?"

Luna smiled but shook her head. "I haven't been able to find one. All we've been doing is..."

Neville was blushing furiously as he held his hand over Luna's mouth. "They don't want details, Luna." He looked at Harry and Ron, who had broad smiles as they watched the two of them. "Luna and I are exploring a more intimate relationship."

Harry smirked. "Mr. Longbottom, are you doing something I should know about with one of the female members of my clan?"

Neville blushed again. He let Luna go. "Actually, Harry, you should be trying to protect Neville from me. I led him on until he had no choice but to seduce me."

Neville looked as if he would like to sink into the floor. None of them noticed the crowd gathering around. "I did not seduce you," Neville whispered, "You crawled into my bed in the middle of the night."

"I had to, your aura wanted me there." She smiled at Neville. "It's OK though. I've gotten used to your size."

Harry and Ron looked at each other. This was more than they wanted to know about Neville and Luna. It was not all they were going to learn though. "I say, Gred, what ever happened after we left formal education? These young people seem to hiding things."

"I agree Forge. Whatever could Neville have been hiding all this time?" The four of them looked up to see most of their friends standing around.

George's question had been a wisecrack, but Luna took it literally. "About twenty-three centimetres normally, but when he's happy to see me, it's exactly thirty centimetres. I measured it."

Everyone in the group turned to look at Neville, who was banging his head against a wall. Luna stepped up to him. "You'll never dislodge a Fuzzy Snax that way." Luna kissed Neville, taking her time and making a few of the girls sigh as Neville responded.

She let go of him and looked at him. "Is it gone yet?"

Neville looked down at her and smiled softly. "Yes, Luna."

She smiled. "Let's make our goodbyes to the host and Harry, Neville. I have an urge to explore."

Neville looked up at the group. "Wonderful party, Harry, but Luna wishes to go. Happy birthday." He said the last bit over his shoulder as Luna headed for the door with his hand firmly gripped in hers.

Harry smiled as they left. "Neville will be good for her. She's a nice girl."

Ron sighed. "You do realize that he'll be perpetually confused by what she does, don't you?"

Harry looked at his ladies. "And that makes him different from any other male?"

"Before this becomes a conversation that has several men sleeping on sofas, let's move along, shall we?"

Katie, who had spoken, pulled the girls off for a conversation that involved a lot of whispering, giggling and looks at various men.

"You ever wonder what they discuss in those conversations?" Ron was watching the girls as Harry and he stood there chatting.

"Of course. I've never been brave enough to try and eavesdrop though."

"And you shouldn't, Lord Black. Some things are meant to remain a mystery. Would you be as happy with your ladies, if you knew everything they thought?" Augusta Longbottom was standing next to them.

Harry thought about it for a minute. "I don't know. I do know that I wish this was all over, so that I could spend a hundred years or so trying to figure them out."

Conversation turned to most general topics and the party was winding down when Shacklebolt came in and looked around. Spotting Harry, he started toward him. Harry saw him come in and frowned. Shacklebolt didn't look happy. "Har." he started and stopped. "Pardon me. Baron Potter." He stopped again as Harry held up a hand.

"I know about the formalities, but here and in any home I own, you and all the members of my nameless Order can drop that. To the people I fight with, I'm just Harry in private."

Shacklebolt nodded. "Harry, the London police responded to a call earlier. A man was shambling drunkenly down a road. They investigated and the man refused to follow orders and stop. They came closer and he attacked them. He killed one of them and they shot him dozens of times before he fell."

Harry blinked. "Dozens? How is that possible?"

Shacklebolt sighed. "He'd been dead for a week or more."

Harry frowned. "An Inferi, then."

"That's not all. He was somebody we knew. It was Pettigrew."

Harry sighed. "I guess he was wrong about his importance to Voldemort."

Shacklebolt nodded. "I started doing some checking after I heard about this. The Obliviators have been busy this week, Harry. That was the third Inferi that was seen, and there have been five vampire victims that Muggles have seen. If you add those to the ones Wizards found, the local vampires have left a body out every night since your meeting with Voldemort."

Harry frowned. "Voldemort has allied with them, is what you're saying."

Shacklebolt nodded. "It looks that way. I've started looking for them, but they're very good at hiding."

Harry frowned. "Make sure you're at the Order meeting tomorrow. I'll be taking everyone to Potter Manor for it, after Dobby and Winky have made sure it's ready for visitors. We have a lot to talk about. The Minister changed things dramatically this morning."

Harry turned to Ron. "Do your people know about this yet?"

Ron shrugged. "I don't know. They haven't said anything to me about it."

Harry was about to say something else when he was confronted with three sets of irate eyes. "Harry, this is a party. You will save your planning for after the party. Otherwise, those of us that planned it might think you don't appreciate the party or us."

Shacklebolt coughed. "Happy birthday, Harry. I'll see you tomorrow." He headed off in the direction of the buffet.

Ron just smiled and started the same way. "Good luck, Harry."

Harry was left with Hermione, Pansy and Ginny staring at him. He smiled. "I apologize. Since I have offended the three of you, I assume you want me to make it up to you. How can I do that?"

The three of them looked at each other and them smiled at Harry. "Dancing," they chorused.

OoOoOoO The Author, Here and Now. OoOoOoO

Harry's had his last good day this summer. I hope he enjoyed it. Shacklebolt's investigations are about to turn up a few things that are going to ramp up the tension a level and the full moon is just two days away.