Chapter 21 – Farewells and Goodbyes

The two griffins stayed almost four days on the Quidditch pitch. Almost everyone with any free amount of time made their way down to the observation area to watch the legendary creatures or maybe see them take to the air for a quick flight around the castle. Hagrid took the opportunity to tell his COMC classes all he knew about griffins but most of the more sensitive witches quickly learned that they didn't want to be around Dulari or Shadhan during feeding times. )It was a little 'messy' as Hadrid termed their eating habits.)

Harry, Hermione and Ginny were frequent visitors although the girls seemed to more interested in Dulari's pregnancy and asked the griffin a lot of questions about how she was going to set up her den, when the cubs might be due and how may she expected or wanted. The two girls found out a lot about griffin birthings and Harry took that female conversation time to have some conversations with Shadhan. The male griffin told Harry that he wasn't going to be very concerned about the cubs until Dulari actually went into labor. There weren't a lot of creatures that would bother a pregnant griffin but Shadhan said that there were a few varieties of dragons that were 'especially short-memoried and sometimes needed reminding'. Harry wasn't sure he wanted to see what might be left of anything that got in Shadhan's way of defending his mate.

Potions classes for the three class days the griffins were at Hogwarts seemed to bring a certain fervor out in Professor Snape. His lectures concerned the number and variety of potions that could be produced from some griffin components. The potions were very rare and hardly ever produced because the griffin parts were very extremely hard to come by. While Professor Snape didn't come out and ask Harry to obtain any blood or discarded feathers or claws from the huge beasts, his glances toward the three Potters were hopeful at best and frightening at worst. Harry didn't think Snape would dare try getting any samples himself but he certainly wasn't going to ask Dulari or Shadhan to contribute anything to Professor Snape's stores.

Officials from the Ministry of Magic that visited Hogwarts were told in no uncertain terms that they proceeded at their own risk if they wanted to get close to the massive griffins. One Unspeakable didn't quite believe that but Dumbledore rescued the man from one of the high spires of the school anyway. That wizard was truly unspeakable for a couple of hours as the shock of his forced displacement wore off.

It was Wednesday afternoon when the two griffins stretched their wings out and launched themselves back to their migration south. There was another storm coming in from the north and Harry could understand that the following winds would help them along their way. When Harry asked about the possible danger from lightning, Dulari had replied that lightning "wouldn't dare strike them". Harry wasn't sure if the female griffin was kidding him or not.

Dulari asked Harry to fly with them for a while and he was only too glad to grab Ron's broom and fly alongside. Ginny and even the still height-wary Hermione didn't want to miss the opportunity to accompany Harry and the two griffins as they flew. The unusual combination flew around the grounds twice and students and professors flocked to doors and windows to watch them go. At one point Dulari flew up under Harry so that he could stand on her broad back for a few moments. After Harry laughingly mounted up his broom and took off to from huge creature, the griffins turned and headed southward with a couple of acrobatic maneuvers. Harry and his wives sent the pair of griffins on their way with mental well wishes and promises that they would see them in the spring. Hermione and Ginny pulled up to hover beside Harry and watched as a few Dementors rapidly moved well away from the path of the griffins.

The Potters were waved down to the area the griffins had stayed in by Hagrid and Madame Hooch. There were a few house elves cleaning up the area and Madame Hooch was inspecting the grounds to see if any of the pitch needed to be replanted or the goals adjusted from the infrequent bumps the griffins had made on them. Hagrid walked over to where the three had landed and held out a small bundle to them. There were a half dozen feathers and Hagrid said that they more properly belonged to Harry than anyone else in the school.

Hagrid turned and started back to where the elves were but Hermione called out for him and Hagrid stopped. She picked out the longest griffin feather which was almost as long as his whole arm and handed it to Hagrid. Hermione conveyed the offer from Harry. "I don't know if you want to keep this as a memento but maybe Ollivander can make you a nice spare wand if you want one."

Hermione was almost knocked down with Hagrid's pat to her shoulder. "Thank you Harry." The half-giant wiped a tear away and carefully stowed the feather in one of the many inside pockets to his huge jacket. He waved before he went back to direct the house elves in their cleanup. The ever energetic Collin Creevey came running over from the almost deserted observation area. He told the three that he had taken a lot of the pictures of both the griffins and the flight around Hogwarts that the group had made. Ginny offered to pay Collin for copies of the pictures because she thought it might make a nice surprise for her and Hermione's parents.

Collin said that it might not be much of a surprise because he had seen some other photographers accompanying the Minister of Magic earlier. "The Minister and a bunch of other officials came down to try to get close to the griffins again. They were just heading down to the pitch when you all took off. You're probably going to be on the front page of the Prophet again Harry."

Harry shook his head and Ginny said it probably couldn't be helped. "At least the Minister didn't stick around for another photo session with Harry. He's just too busy trying to catch the escaped prisoners."

Collin said he would hurry trying to get the pictures developed as soon as he could and ran up the path back to the school. Harry, Ginny and Hermione had to answer a few questions about the griffins and flying with them by the students that remained in the observation area.

There were still five golden feathers in the little bundle that Hagrid had given them. By the time they got back to the Hearth, it had been decided to give two feathers to Professor Snape and leave the rest with Dumbledore to do with as he saw fit. The three had decided not to tell anyone else the news about Dulari being pregnant. It would stop the Weasley twins from starting a betting poll on the delivery date and size of the litter. It also made them a little uneasy that newborns of their extended family might be sought out and hunted if the news got out.

Xxx xxx

While his godson and his wives were out flying around Hogwarts with the griffins, Sirius asked Knop to take him directly to Gringotts. The house elf was only too glad to help his master's guest and took him right into the bank lobby itself. Sirius thanked the house elf and said he would use his portkey to return to Potter Manor later.

Sirius stepped up to the nearest queue and asked the goblin in the window if he could see the account manager for the Black family. The teller sent a young goblin around to escort him to one of their private offices. Sirius followed the goblin through a series of corridors until they came to a very elaborate door. The goblin knocked on it twice and then opened it up for Sirius to walk through.

There was an impressive desk in the middle of the office and an even more impressive goblin sitting behind it. When Sirius approached the desk, the goblin stood up. "My name is Ragnorak; you are late arriving to your inheritance Lord Black."

"My apologies Ragnorak. I was wrongfully detained by the Ministry but am trying to make up for lost time. My godson Harry has told me about how well you and the other goblins have treated him."

"Lord Harry has always treated us with respect. Not the usual attitude we have grown used to from wizards in England."

"My godson is a very smart lad and I'm quite proud of the way he has handled himself."

"I judge that you are going to be looking out for his welfare then. That is good and why I wanted to see and talk to you. Harry Potter has proven himself to be a Friend to the Goblin Nation and I wanted you to understand that we will take whatever steps may be necessary to help defend him."

"As would I your excellency. Thank you for seeing me but I'm sure the head of the goblin nation has much better things to do than seeing to one wizard."

"You are more than one wizard, Lord Black. Your family is among the richest in magical England and one of our largest depositors. You will be granted the highest courtesies any time you have business here." Ragnorak made no signal but another goblin knocked on the door and entered the office. "Lord Black, your old family account manager, Fangknife, died while you were incarcerated. This is the new Black family account manager, Clawslag, who will be taking care of your business concerns from now on."

Sirius stood and bowed to Ragnorak. "Thank you for your time today Ragnorak. May your enemies die fast and bloody."

"Good day Lord Black."

Sirius followed Clawslag back through the corridors until they came to a smaller office. Clawslag entered and Remus followed him in to find a standard desk with a couple of chairs pulled up close to it.

"So what may I do for you today Lord Black?"

"I have a matter of some legal issues and wish to overlook my accounts."

"There is a need for authentication first Lord Black" Clawslag said. "Before you claim your House Ring or accounts."

"Of course, I expected as much. Blood or battle?"

Clawslag waved one brown hand at the wizard. "While your family has been deemed dark, there is no record of you personally offending or committing a crime against Gringotts or the goblin nation. A simple blood test will be all that is needed."

Sirius let go a breath. "Thank you for that. I'm not exactly in the best of shape physically or magically to combat a goblin warrior."

Clawslag looked at Sirius a little incredulously. "Have you been talking to Lord Potter about manners? It is a little unusual for a human wizard to say thanks to any goblin."

Sirius grinned a little crookedly. "Harry Potter has told me about the meetings he has had with the various goblins here in Gringotts and in Diagon Alley. I have no wisdom if I insult the one handling my money; I earn no trust by not trusting you. It is a simple matter of recognizing a true enemy and one that is not."

"We have a good beginning then Lord Black."

"I hope so Clawslag."

Clawslag waved his hand and a thick ledger appeared on the desk along with a silver dagger. Glad that his friend Remus wasn't there, Sirius held out his hand above the account book. Clawslag took Sirius' hand and made a quick cut across the palm of his hand. He then held that hand over the ledger until a few drops of blood fell on it. The ledger glowed briefly and the goblin nodded his head as if it was what he waved his hand and the cut on Sirius' palm disappeared.

The goblin waved his hand once again and a small box appeared on the desk and opened automatically. Sirius looked down to see the Black family ring appear suddenly on the ring finger of his right hand. It had been many years since Sirius had even glimpsed the family ring. It was a broad gold ring holding a large onyx stone. The stone had a stylized silver B over a blood red raven.

Clawslag nodded as he saw the ring appear on Sirius hand. "That takes care of the ownership of the accounts and your family ring Lord Black. Do you want to see the secondary accounts that belong to your family members?"

"Not at the present time although there is one account I want closed and transferred eventually. I would like a summary account in… five days listing assets, properties and debts. In addition I have a specific list of changes that I wish to start making now."

Sirius reached into a pocket and pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to Clawslag. "The first and last items on that list are the priority items. The rest can wait until after those two are accomplished."

Clawslag looked at the top item on the list. "Does Lord Potter agree to this first thing you desire Lord Black? He is legally an adult and it is a little unusual."

"I fervently hope so. Make the document double binding then with both parties having to sign to make it legal."

"Then the other change further down…?"

"Will be changed when I figure out who and what I want to include and exclude."

"Very well then." Clawslag went to the door and exited it briefly and then came back in. Two minutes later, another goblin knocked on the door and entered the office.

"Lord Black, this is Griphook – Lord Potter's account manager. Griphook Lord Black has a small favor to ask of you. It involves procuring something for your client."

Sirius made a small bow to the younger goblin and told him what he wanted. Griphook nodded his head in understanding and waited while Sirius signed a blank chit made out to a specific shop in Diagon Alley. Griphook made to leave but Sirius stopped him. "My godson has told me how much you have helped him in understanding the financial aspects of his life. Is there any way I can reward you for helping him Griphook?"

Griphook looked both pleased and embarrassed by the words Sirius said. "It has been an honor to help Lord Harry and I get my reward from my duty Lord Black."

"Very well Griphook. May your coffers overflow and your honor always increase."

Griphook and Sirius ended up bowing to each other again. Griphook exited the office and Sirius turned back to discussing the other items on his list with Clawslag. It was a productive afternoon on both sides of the desk and Clawslag created a specific portkey to bring Sirius to Gringotts lobby when he wanted to conduct business.

Sirius Black cast a disillusionment charm on himself and wandered around Diagon Alley for a while and enjoyed his relatively limited freedom.

Xxxx xxxx

Harry's hearing returned a little earlier than expected. He was listening (via Ginny) to the DA meeting on Friday evening. Blaise Zambini was talking about the history of the split between the pureblood families and the rest of magical England. He was arguing the point that it went back fundamentally to Salazar Slytherin and the other founders. Hermione was arguing that the real split had happened after the last of the Goblin wars was over and the so called "historical" families hadn't needed to be so desperate about getting numbers to make the forces on both sides a little more even.

Harry thought about the discussion up to that point and jumped into the debate. "The trouble with both your arguments is that it's all historical. The real problem that even the oldest of the old families won't acknowledge is their upcoming extinction."

"What?"

"Harry?"

'Harry!'

Harry looked around. "Did I say something wrong?"

A number of students along with Remus Lupin swarmed the young Gryffindor. "You heard us. Harry, your hearing is back."

There was a thoughtful pause and then Harry just nodded. "It's back but it's not quite right yet. To me it's like your arguing in the next room with the door part way open. I'd say it's about a quarter back now. So pul-ease, e-nun-ci-ate a lit-tle for a while. Th-ank you."

"Five minute break to let Mrs. Potters talk to their husband. I'm sure they have something to say to him about flying into a thunderstorm now that he can properly hear them. NO snogging allowed."

"Sorry, didn't hear that last bit Professor Lupin." Harry kissed both wives on the cheek to the amusement of most of the students in the room. Remus threw his hands up and gave up control of the group. He turned to wink at Professor Flitwick who was shaking with silent laughter.

Harry had everybody settle back down in their seats and waved to Professor Lupin. "I'm quite all right now Professor."

"Good, then you can explain your last statement to everyone Harry. Something about extinction?"

"Okay. What's the most impressive thing about this school when you first saw it?"

"The lights."

"The towers."

"The feel of magic."

Harry shook his head. "All those are good answers but not the one I'm looking for."

Dean Thomas finally shouted out his guess. "The size?"

Harry seized on that answer. "Yes, that's it. Does anybody beside me wonder why the school has so many empty classrooms? Or why we aren't taught a lot more of subjects? Besides the very basics I mean?"

"We're too busy already Harry. More subjects mean more teachers and more homework. Even Hermione wouldn't be able to keep up with that."

There was a general chuckle about Ron's statement but Harry acknowledged the directness of the problem. "There would have to be a balance between learning and overwhelming. Perhaps Professor Flitwick would like to comment on the reason that homework assignments aren't stacked up like the tall trees in the Forbidden Forest."

Flitwick was a little startled about being put on the spot but did reply. "As long as it doesn't leave this room, there is an unsaid coordination between the teachers about filling up the limited amount of free time that students have every week to work on assignments."

"Does Professor Snape know about this?" That comment came from Seamus. After the laughter subsided, Remus steered the conversation back to Harry's original statement.

Harry came up to the front of the room and leaned back on the desk. "In one of my wanderings around the school, I found an old records office. There wasn't much left in it but there was a class list from the year 1729. Right in the middle of one of the goblin wars. There were over 900 students in the school at that time. I think there may be about 300 enrolled now. The four houses each had two heads then - one for the wizards and one for the witches. There were too many bodies for one adult to deal with the number of students properly."

"I'm not going to speculate on how many of those students were from pureblood families or from muggle or combination parents. But the point is that in the last two or three hundred years a lot of pureblood families have died out. Was this from the insistence that purebloods only marry purebloods? I guess it could be that. There is such a concern from the 'old' families about carrying on their names and the sanctity of the blood lines that I think that the number of offspring from most marriages has declined. It makes the inheritance simpler and the in-fighting for status and power almost non-existent. There is also the ongoing competition to exercise political and economic control and power. Daphne, am I far off the mark?"

"Not really Harry. A little oversimplified but pretty close to what my parents and grandparents have told me. There's not a lot of families that have more than 2 children. "

"Let's add in the philosophy from the original Lord Slytherin or Lord Voldemort that only purebloods should have magic. That has cut down the number of people who might eventually come to Hogwarts. No parents – no students. Who knows how many potential mothers or fathers the Death Eaters killed in the war a dozen years ago? And the incoming class sizes become smaller and smaller. Lesser student numbers results in lesser tuition to hire professors or to teach different subjects. I think you can see where this is headed. The pureblood families becoming more inbred with a smaller and smaller number of options to carry on their names. So a possible extinction."

Cho spoke up then. "What kind of different classes or subjects might be taught if there were more students or more professors?"

"I'm going to let Hermione answer that one because she has run across some of the other possible branches of magic while exploring the Hogwarts library. And talks concerning one of the founder's libraries."

Hermione stepped forward and slapped Harry lightly on the back of his head. "Thanks but before anyone asks, Lady Helena hasn't agreed to let her library be opened up for general viewing. Yet."

"The Board of Governors and/or the Ministry of Magic has intentionally or unintentionally restricted what we learn. Other branches of Magic that we might learn here could be the basis for actual careers. Let's see if I can list some other branches of magic that are out there (but not taught here at Hogwarts) and you can tell me what type of job you might want to get into."

Hermione paused for a moment and then looked sideways. She smiled and made a qualifying statement. "My spouses are exempt from this discussion."

"Nuts!" came from Harry and Ginny and almost everyone laughed.

"Okay, here we go. Martial magic."

"Auror" came the answer from a few different students.

"Broomology? Ron?"

"Quidditch team equipment managers or broom makers. That's something I'd be interested in."

"That's why I asked you specifically. Elemental magic? Anyone?"

Marta Ferraforte held her hand up. "Farmers, builders and… flying carpet operators?"

Ginny and Harry laughed but said that her reply was right on.

"Wandlore?"

"Wand maker" came from almost everyone.

"Or wand fixer or troubleshooter" Hermione expanded the possible job market for everyone. "How about Mind Magic?"

There was a hesitation as everyone tried to think of a proper job that might fit the classification. "The muggles have a thing call psychologists that help people with mental problems."

Hermione nodded. "Excellent Parvati. Just as there are diseases of the body, there are certain diseases of the mind. What if you could help someone who was broken mentally or had an unnatural or overwhelming fear of something irrational?"

'Like Professor Snape? He's irrational.' Ginny's mental question almost threw Hermione into a fit of giggles.

"Here's a new one that being taught in the United States –Technomancy."

Only Professor Flitwick could answer to that term. "Making muggle devices run on magic."

"Thank you Professor."

Remus called a halt to any further discussions. "That's about all the time we have for this evening. Points for anyone that can come up with other branches of magic we haven't discussed. Necromancy doesn't apply as we are trying to find useful applications. Volunteers for next week? Fred?"

"Anybody want to learn the fun-dementals of fireworks?" A lot of hands went up and Fred and George said they could talk about that for a while. Professor Remus volunteered a short history of the previous war against You-Know-Who.

"But we already know how that ended" Justin complained.

"Before Harry" Remus responded. Harry looked up to the ceiling and rolled his eyes. 'Maybe I'll skip that part.'

'Snogs all around then?'

'Well, if you really want to Vixen.'

'I always want to snog you and Nonnie.'

Harry grinned and it was Hermione who rolled her eyes this time. But she was grinning and nodding at the same.

Remus told everyone not to dawdle getting back to their quarters before curfew and the meeting was dismissed. There was the usual cluster of people talking to each other by the door as they said their goodbyes. Harry noticed that Cosmos and Lucretius each gave a smiling Marta a good hug before they parted ways. He was happy that the three were close after all the problems they had had earlier in the year.

Harry made a point of saying goodbye to the group of Slytherins that were heading down to the dungeons. "I'm back to hearing again Draco. Anything you want to say to me while I'm here?"

Draco smiled a little evilly. "No, I'm glad you've got your hearing back. I'll make sure I tell Professor Snape first thing in the morning. He saved up a few comments from the class you didn't hear."

"Wonderful." Harry and his wives joined the group of Gryffindors heading back to their tower. There were nine of them all told and they laughed and talked about a variety of things. Eventually the conversation turned back to the griffins and Harry was trying to describe to Ron, Neville and the rest of the wizards how it felt to be standing on the back of Dulari while she was flying.

Not to be overshadowed, Ginny and Hermione were telling the witches how scared they were about Harry's seemingly foolish stunt. Harry was defending himself as it was the griffin's choice to come up under him.

Suddenly the stairway they had been climbing started swinging around to face another corridor. The twins moaned when they saw where they were headed. The corridor ahead for didn't really go anywhere and it meant doubling back and retracing their steps to get to another stairway headed upwards. The stairway stopped abruptly in mid-change and the group tumbled a little as they lost their footing. The group was still regaining their feet when two figures appeared in the shadows near where the head of the stairs should have been.

Harry was still reaching for his wand when he saw two wands suddenly pointed to the group of Gryffindors. Before he could shout out a warning for everyone to duck or defend themselves, a double shout came from the hidden pair.

"Avada Kedavra!"

Twins beams of a bright green light shot out from the darkness. Ginny was still reaching for her wand when someone pushed her down the stairs. Ginny could only stare and scream as she saw Ron take the curse meant for her. The force of the spell threw Ron over the side of the stairs and he fell a long time to impact loudly on the floor three floors below.

Harry recognized the sound and look of the killing curse from somewhere. He was still trying to form words to fight back when a little form hurled herself into the path of the beam headed at him. Harry could only stare as he saw the limp form of Marta Ferraforte at his feet. She had been killed.. she had sacrificed herself to save him!

Harry cast a Reducto toward the unknown pair but it was deflected aside by a shield. The group of Gryffindors was watching both Ron's fallen body and the young witch at Harry's feet. A few people started firing back at the attackers but a shocked gasp appeared as one of the people at the head of the stairs stepped forward into the light. It was Lucretius, Marta's brother!

"He has served his purpose" an evil low voice said from behind Lucretius. "I release you. Finite Incantatem! "

Lucretius shook his head as if waking up from a bad dream. He saw Harry Potter and a bunch of his housemates with wands pointed at him. He also saw his sister's unmoving body. A horrible scream came from Lucretius throat. "I've killed her!" The twin fell to his knees and covered his face in sorrow.

The creepy voice spoke again."Imagine the pain and the shock of being forced to kill your own flesh and blood. That awaits you Harry Potter. You have embarrassed and played with the families of the followers of the Dark Lord long enough. Your loved ones will die soon!"

"Avada Kedavra!"

The killing curse was cast one more time and Lucretius Ferraforte went sprawling lifelessly across the stone floor. Spells went flying into the darkened alcove to try and hit whoever was back there but no success. Spells began flying back from the hidden person but there were no further Unforgiveables.

Hermione raised her wand and cast a quick spell. "Lumos displodere". A rocket of white light hit the back of the alcove and exploded like a flare going off. When everyone saw who had been hiding in the darkness the spells were tripled in intensity and speed. Lucius Malfoy sneered at the group isolated on the stairs before he ran back into the shadows and disappeared!

"Vika, move this stair!" Harry shouted into the air and the spirit of Hogwarts responded by letting the stairway complete its rotation. Harry, Neville and the twins rushed over Lucretius' body and began searching for Malfoy.

They gave up the search 10 minutes later without finding the Death Eater. When they got back to the stairway they heard some loud sobbing. Reluctant to look, Harry peered over the rail to see Ginny's body thrown over her brother's and crying uncontrollably. Hermione was rubbing her back and trying to lift her up. Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall were standing beside the scene with a shocked look on their faces.

Somehow sensing his presence, both Dumbledore and Hermione looked up to find Harry peering down.

Hermione's shocked voice filled his mind. 'He… he's dead Harry! Ron's dead!'