A/N: Hopefully it's good. I didn't find this chapter to be very substantial. The good thing is, the next chapter is already written! So expect the next chapter at a reasonable time. Thanks for reading!
Chapter 13: Albus too many names Dumbledore.
Red hair was the most astounding visual in the small little kitchen of the burrow. Severus Snape was in the corner brooding like usual. Molly was shuffling around the kitchen, baking up a storm for the arrivals. Arthur was sitting at the kitchen table staring at Molly in thought. The twins were sitting next to him. Ron was standing up next to Hermione, who was staying there for the rest of the summer.
Sirius Black, who looked like death, was leaning against the wall. There was Alastor Moody, Mundungus Fletcher, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Nymphadora Tonks. Remus was standing next to Severus, but wasn't feeling very talkative. Lastly, there was Bill and Charlie Weasley who were also standing next to Remus.
The fireplace flared and in came the arrival of one, Albus Dumbledore.
"Good evening, everyone!" Dumbledore's booming voice ran through the kitchen, making Molly turn around abruptly. "We have some grave news to report, I'm afraid."
"Albus? What do you mean?" Molly asked in her tight voice. "Surely it cannot be that bad."
"Oh, but it is." Dumbledore said gravely, staring at everyone in the room individually, before keeping it on Mundungus Fletcher, gaze heavy. "Mr. Fletcher here has been guarding the Dursley house for sometime now and not once did he report anything of value and what is happening in there. Naturally, I went to investigate myself, and found him passed out on the sidewalk, with a fire whiskey bottle in his hand." They all gasped except Remus, the twins and Severus Snape.
"Poor, poor choice I tell you." Dumbledore shook his head sadly. Dung shrunk into himself, trying desperately to become invisible like the very invisibility cloak he had used. "Since he wasn't doing his job, I'm afraid we've lost something invaluable." The twins wanted to sneer but refrained from doing so. Remus let a low growl erupt from his throat that no one heard except for Severus, who had a blank mask on his face as always.
"No!" Molly shrieked.
"Yes." Dumbledore lowered his head, "It was silent, if Dung here had even been there at all and not in a bar drinking that night. If Dung had been there and not having heard anything, it was most likely a small raid."
"But, Albus!" Molly said. "We need him!"
"Yes, yes. We do." Dumbledore said lowly. "Which means we have to do everything in our power to get him back."
"Professor, what's going on?" Ron piped up, looking around in confusion.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Who else is invaluable to our cause of getting rid of V-Voldemort, idiot." Hermione placed her hands on her hips and looked at Ron with a 'I know more than you' look.
"What's happened to my Godson!" Was Sirius' immediate remark.
"Potter?" Ron asked in surprise, his ears red from embarrassment. "Why is he so invaluable? If he is gone, then I say good ridden."
"RONALD WEASLEY!" Molly screeched.
"Now, now, Molly." Dumbledore said and looked chidingly at Ron. "Jealousy is a bitter thing. However, we are in need of young Harry in this war."
"Yes, Headmaster." Ron said with his head to the ground, ears turning redder than his hair. 'Stupid, Potter. Always getting the attention!' Ron thought angrily. The twins turned to their younger brother knowing exactly what he was thinking. Then, they both looked at each other with matching expressions on their faces. To some it may seem like a chiding expression, but for them it was an expression of absolute revulsion.
"So, what did Potter get into this time?" Severus sneered in disgust. "He couldn't even stay in a muggle house without causing trouble."
"Severus." Dumbledore shook his head. "When I visited the home, It wasn't what I expected to greet. Instead, it was a terrible mess."
Molly gasped. "That must have been horrible. What happened to them, Albus?" She asked in alarm.
"There is use of the Cruciatus, the Imperious, and also the Sectumsempra spell." This time Dumbledore looked at Severus. "Do you know anything about this, Severus?"
Severus sneered. "I assure you, I didn't keep the spell to myself when I made it." Severus told him. "I have told the Dark Lord the spell, and a few others in the inner circle by the Lord's order."
"The magic use was covered up, and it took a while to salvage the last remnants of it." Dumbledore said. "It was a terrible sight."
Molly had her hand up to her mouth in surprise and Arthur stared impassively at Dumbledore saying nothing.
"So what's happened to Harry?" Remus said softly. "Is he alright?"
"That I do not know." Dumbledore said in return. "We are to assume that the Dark Lord has captured Harry Potter. It is imperative that we find him."
"Who will take custody of him now, when we find him?" Molly asked. She seemed to be the more talkative person in the room. "The Dursley's certainly can't."
"That, Molly, is up to you." Dumbledore said smiling like everything was going to exactly how he planned. "You may take custody of him when he's back. That will give you access to his accounts and money. The Marriage contract between young Harry and Ginny is still in effect too." Remus really didn't think he could hold himself back from tearing the old fool a new one, and the twins weren't fairing much better. "Severus, do you have the potion made for when Harry gets here?" Dumbledore looked at his spy in question.
"Yes, the potion is in the store room ready for use." Severus said in his naturally cold voice but it was somehow colder. No one noticed though.
"The Dursley's have been buried and it is curious how the house had a Anti-Muggle charm on it. Usually, Tom doesn't hide from muggles."
"Maybe he wanted it to be a surprise? I mean... wait until you found out?" Hermione told her professor in her snotty 'I'm right' voice. "He could have been gone since the start of summer!"
"Calm down. Harry is still alive." Dumbledore told them all.
"How do you know that Professor?" Ron asked him curiously.
"I have my ways." Was Dumbledore's only answer.
Severus sneered in impatience. "Are we done, Albus?"
"Do you have somewhere to be Severus?" Dumbledore asked him over half-moon spectacles.
"I have potions on stasis, if we are done I would like to go and finish them." Severus said in a clipped reply.
"Yes, yes, I will be going to Gringotts." Dumbledore waved his hand. "Everyone, keep your eye out and we will form a group to look for young Harry."
"Albus, surely you don't think that Potter is somewhere outside. If anything he is locked up in the Dark Lord's dungeon, there is no way you will be able to get there." Severus said darkly.
"We have to try... if not then we will have to use our last resort." Dumbledore said stroking his beard.
"And that is?" Molly asked in curiosity.
"Neville Longbottom."
-.-
"WHAT!" Harry and Tom both shouted at the twins. "What do you mean they found out!" Harry finished for them both.
"The old fool went to check on you at the Dursley's because Fletcher didn't send any updates of what you were up to." Fred told them.
"We couldn't do anything but watch when he came, he found magic traces and now knows how the Dursley's were killed." George also put in.
"Fuck!" Harry cursed. "I forgot all about Dumbledore's lackeys' watching the Dursley's house." Tom pinched his nose in alarm.
"You're lucky Fletcher is incompetent and was the only one watching the house when you killed them." Fred said shaking his head.
"Ya, It was either he was out drinking then or he was passed out because there was no way he couldn't have noticed anything happening." George told Harry in relief. "They had Snape brew that obedience potion that they are planning to give you, and when they find you they are letting Mum adopt you and then they will have access to your accounts."
"That's not the worst thing!" Fred cut in. "They are still going on about that Marriage Contract between Harry and Ginny."
"Gross." Harry shouted in disgust. "That will never happen since I am emancipated and I have the Contract eliminated."
Tom curled his arms around Harry's waist and placed his chin on Harry's shoulder. "Harry is mine, and that chit won't be going anywhere near him."
The twins coughed in amusement. "Well yes, anyway, Dumbledore seems to know something is going on with Gringotts because he said he was going there after the meeting." George said.
"Also, Dumbledore said if there is no hope for you, they are going to use the second best." Fred continued.
"Second best?" Harry asked tilting his head, but then he gasped. "No!"
"To be honest, yes. They have Neville Longbottom lined up to continue where you left off if they can't find you." George said nodding his head.
"But wait! Gringotts! You don't think he can do anything do you?" Harry asked Tom in a panic.
Tom didn't talk for a few moments but then looked at Harry. "Dumbledore is tricky. He might find a way to get in anyway regardless of not being your Magical Guardian anymore." Tom said and then bit his lip. "And if he finds out he can't get in there anyway, he will know he is not your guardian and he will know something is definitely going on."
"So regardless of what he does, he will still find out I've been to Gringotts?" Harry huffed.
"Pretty much." Tom muttered.
-.-
Albus liked to think he was best thing that ever happened to the Magical world. He was Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He was Supreme Mugwump and Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot. He could have been Minister if it wasn't for the Headmaster position. He couldn't leave it and let someone else take up the mantle. Manipulating young minds into liking him and following him each year and each generation.
It was a goal to Albus, to be the most powerful person in the world. If he had to use people to reach it then so be it. It was for the Greater Good, after all.
After not receiving the money he have always gotten from Gringotts in the Potter vault, he started getting suspicious. Which landed him in the very building, talking to a goblin that he would very much like to put in it's place. Snarling at the great Albus Dumbledore, how dare those filthy goblins.
"I would like to talk to the main goblin in the Potter vaults." Albus said kindly, his eyes twinkling.
The goblin snarled again and got down from the stand, making his way to the Head goblin's office. He knocked and when he heard the 'come in' he opened the door.
"Sir, Albus Dumbledore is here." Griphook told him gravely. "Should I just kick him out?"
"No, no, I will come out and speak to him." Cadhork got up from his chair and followed Griphook out to the front hall. "Ah, Mr. Dumbledore." Cadhork said, feigning a happy tone.
"Cadhork." Albus nodded. Cadhork snarled inwardly at the obvious disrespect. "I was suitably confused when my monthly payment was not delivered."
Cadhork took on a disbelieving look. "I'm sorry, Mr. Dumbledore." Was all he said.
Albus stared at the goblin. He was starting to get angry and nobody liked an angry Albus Dumbledore. "Well, what is happening?" Albus' voice broke in obvious impatience.
"I'm afraid you don't have the privilege to take money from the Potter vault." Cadhork told him in an almost condescending way.
Albus was about to snarl but he remembered where he was. Containing himself, he looked the goblin in the eye clearly telling the goblin who the better was in the conversation. "What do you mean I don't have the privilege? I am Harry Potter's Magical Guardian!"
The goblin shook his head. "Not anymore you aren't." Cadhork told him, trying to contain his smirk. "Mr. Potter is emancipated."
Albus felt like he couldn't breath when he heard that. Emancipated? When did this happen? How could Harry get emancipated when he was at the Dursley's? He won't be able to manipulate Harry anymore if the goblin was right.
He had to find a way around this, and fast! "Emancipated? Surely not. Mr. Potter has been through to much to be on his own. After the Tri-Wizard Tournament and Cedric Diggory's death, he is very much unstable. He shouldn't have been able to do it." Albus said confidently. "I will be going to the ministry about this to get permission on letting young Harry become adopted by the Weasley's."
The goblin's eyes widened in alarm. He didn't think the old fool would think of something like that.
"I will be seeing you, Cadhork." Albus said, once again smiling as he walked out the Gringotts doors.
"Are you going to tell Mr. Potter?" Griphook asked Cadhork.
"Of course, he needs to know right away." Then Cadhork scurried off to send a letter to Harry.
-.-
"What are we going to do?" Harry bemoaned to Tom and laid across his lap. Tom was running his hands through Harry's hair, thinking.
"We can pretend I actually did capture you and you can get 'saved' by Dumbledore?" Tom said looking down at Harry in question. "But we will be apart for an unknown amount of time." Tom pouted.
"It's a good idea, but I really don't want to see their faces anymore." Harry told him somberly.
"You will have to at one point." Tom sighed.
"Well yes, but that's not until a few more weeks from now when school starts." Harry said looking up at Tom with a puppy dog expression.
"Harry!" Remus came in spluttering in alarm. "Dumbledore had a meeting and..." Harry looked at Remus and also sighed.
"We already know Remmy." Harry said smiling slightly.
"Whew, so what are we going to do!" Remus shouted once again in panic.
"That's what we are trying to figure out." Harry said, leaning on Tom. That was when an owl that nobody knew came through the window of the room and landed next to Harry. Harry straightened up and reached out to the owl to pet it. The owl hooted and nudged Harry and Harry took the letter from him.
"Who is it from?" Tom asked curiously.
"Looks like... Gringotts!" Harry said, reading it quickly.
'Mr. Potter, I have bad news to tell you. This is a quick letter to tell you what happened when Dumbledore showed up here. When he came he demanded to know what happened to his monthly payments. I told him that he didn't have the privilege to touch the Potter vaults and he was really angry. He asked me why and I told him you were emancipated. Now, I know I told you I wouldn't let him know anything but, I thought he would leave all well and good alone so I told him. Now, I know that was a horrible mistake to make. When I told him of the emancipation, he said that-that wouldn't do, and that you were unstable from the Tri-Wizard Tournament and Cedric Diggory's death which meant you couldn't be alone at a critical point in your life. So then, he said he would go to the ministry and get permission to let the Weasley's adopt you. I'm sorry, Mr. Potter. If you would like to switch account managers, you should. It is after all, my fault. I sincerely hope everything works out for you. I hope your gold flows and your enemies tremble.
Cadhork,
Head Goblin of Gringotts.'
"This isn't good..." Harry muttered, looking down at the floor and gave the letter to Tom. "Dumbledore is trying to ruin my life again and I won't let him!" Harry shouted enraged.
"What about the goblin!" Tom told him, throwing the letter to the floor. "He wouldn't have known about the emancipation if it weren't for him!" Remus picked up the letter off the floor and read it. He then looked at Harry.
"What are we going to do." Remus repeated.
"We have to do what Tom said." Harry told him. "We have to let them save me." Harry rolled his eyes.
"How though?" Remus muttered.
"There is no way were are giving away this location." Tom told them both sternly. "We can have Harry say he escaped?"
"Not bad, but it's making you out to be a fool which you are not." Harry said and Tom smiled.
"Anything for you, my dear." Tom tightened his hold on Harry's waist. Harry looked up to Tom and planted a kiss on his lips.
"You're so cute when you're trying to be nice." Tom gave Harry a slight glare.
"I'm being serious." Tom said in a mock pout.
"Did I hear my name!" Sirius said popping his head in through the door. Harry laughed at the look on Tom's face.
"No, I did not say your name mutt." Tom said crossing his arms.
"But Tom, you actually did..." Harry said slowly. "Are you alright?" Harry placed his hand to Tom's forehead.
Tom batted it away. "Okay, enough!" Tom growled. "I'm the Dark Lord here!"
"Temper, temper." Harry said smirking at Tom.
"Let's just get ready for your escape." Tom muttered, looking at Harry with a gaze that even Harry couldn't interpret. Harry just shrugged and kissed Tom on the corner of his lips which brought a small smile from Tom.
Sirius and Remus just gave each other a look and smirked. Only Harry could find a relationship in the Dark Lord.