16
Disclaimer. As usual I don't own Harry Potter, or any of the characters, things, or animals, that are mentioned in the Harry Potter books, I do how ever own the plot in this little venture into the Potter verse.
Thanks Minerva.
Harry James Potter stormed into the kitchen of number 12 Grimmauld place and demanded that Remus Lupin took him back to the home of his aunt and uncle, who were the Dursleys. They lived at number 4 privet drive. A place he usually could not wait to escape from, because his aunt, uncle and cousin hated him. "There is no way I am staying in this house," he declared loudly.
Remus Lupin, and Molly Weasley tried to talk to him but he was adamant about his decision to leave Grimmauld place. After several minutes of arguing Remus agreed with Harry's demands and returned him to his Aunts home. Following Harry up to his tiny room Remus tried to get Harry to tell him about this sudden change of mind. "After all you hate living here," Remus said as he asked once more why Harry would want to return after only a few minutes at Grimmauld, Harry refused to answer for several minutes and simply lay down on his broken bed with his hands behind his head.
"After the way I have been treated by your lot this summer the whole lot of you can bugger off, and you can tell that senile old shit I quit his dumb school. Now leave me alone. At least here I know why the dregs of humanity I live with choose to ignore me." Harry finally said with a quiet anger in his voice.
"Harry you can't mean that. What about your friends? What about Ron and Hermione?" Remus asked, taking note of how angry Harry was.
"What friends? If you mean those who have been writing to me for the past six weeks, answering my letters and offering the help I needed, and almost begged for while been kept locked up and starved here at my dear aunts house then I don't have any friends. Don't bang the door on your way out Mr Lupin," Harry said as he rolled to face away from Remus.
Ten minutes later Remus gave up trying to get Harry to see reason and sadly left the room to make his way back to Grimmauld place.
Meanwhile back at number 12 Grimmauld place Hermione Jane Granger entered the kitchen. "Mrs Weasley, has Harry arrived yet? She asked the older woman who was cooking their dinner.
"Oh! Hello Hermione dear. who? Harry? Oh yes he arrived about half an hour ago," Molly said distractedly as she rushed around the large kitchen collecting things she needed to use for dinner.
"Well he's not up in his room, did he go to the library do you know?" Hermione asked as Mrs Weasley started the dishes washing them selves in the sink.
"Oh no dear, when he arrived I sent him up to you and Ron, but he came back just a minute or two later and demanded to be returned to his aunts place. Remus took him there about twenty minutes ago," Molly said as she waved her wand at the large cooker and started some pans boiling.
Hermione's face had just turned very pale when Remus walked into the room "I'm sorry Molly I was unable to change his mind," Remus declared as he reached the table "I'll need to floo Albus to arrange for a guard to be put on the Dursleys house again."
"Remus, did Harry say why he wanted to go back to those awful people?" Hermione asked as the tired and worried looking ex-professor sat down.
"No, sorry Hermione. One thing I do know, I have never seen Harry so angry. He was absolutely furious about something but he wouldn't say what, he just said 'After the way I have been treated by your lot this summer the whole lot of you can bugger off'," he told her and shrugged his shoulders "something in this house really upset him and I don't have a single clue as to what. Oh when I mentioned his friends he said if I meant those friends who had written to him for the past few weeks then he didn't have any friends, why he should say that I don't know."
Hermione thought about what had happened at about the same time Harry had arrived and she knew why Harry had stormed out of the house in anger, or as Remus had said feeling furious about something.
She had just told Ron about Harry writing a letter asking her to be his girlfriend and she had complained that Dumbledore had ordered her not to write to Harry in answer, "So as soon as he arrives I shall grab him and kiss him and tell him yes," she had told the red head.
Ron with a look of hate and jealousy had grabbed her and said "like this," he then kissed her before she could stop him, his hands wandering to her most private areas. She had been angry with Ron for taking such liberties with her and she let him know in no uncertain terms.
After telling Ron off with a fierce knee to the groin and a slap to his face that loosened his teeth, she had gone down stairs to ask about Harry, only to find he had been there and had left.
She had known instantly from what Molly told her why he had left and she cursed herself for listening to Dumbledore and not writing to Harry.
During his stay at number 4, Harry had written several times to Ron and Hermione, the first three letters to Hermione he had enquired how she was feeling after the injury she suffered at the ministry of magic. The last two of those first three letters he had asked if she would be interested in being his girlfriend, but he had not received an answer. What letter he did get was passed to him from Tonks, it was basically a short little note that said absolutely nothing that interested him or told him anything except Ron and Hermione were together somewhere. He remembered the only pathetic attempt at a letter he had received that summer.
'Harry mate, can't say much because Dumbledore told us not too write to you in case the owls were followed, we are all ok at snuffles place, see you soon. Ron and Hermione.'
That was all there was in the one note he did receive and he had not been happy about being told nothing, he had been annoyed that Hermione had not given him an answer, and he was annoyed at Ron for the stupid note he sent with nothing worth reading in it, and he was truly annoyed that they were together while he was held prisoner at number four.
By the time Nymphadora Tonks had arrived at number four to watch over Harry he was gone, and he had left no trace of where he had gone. Tonks arrived back at Grimmauld place to find everyone eating dinner in the kitchen. Her news that Harry was gone without trace was enough for Hermione to stand and filled with anger she slapped Albus Dumbledore across his face "You stupid senile old bastard, Isolating Harry after all he has been through drove him over the edge. If anything happens to him because of your stupidity I'll bloody kill you myself." She yelled before running up to her room and collapsing on her bed for a good cry.
Before Dumbledore could recover from the shock of a slap to his face from Miss Granger, he found two wands at his throat. Remus Lupin had an almost death like grip on the front of his robes as he was dragged from his chair. The voice he heard come from the usually placid werewolf almost made him wet him self. "What have you done fool?" Remus question was accompanied by several other voices that asked "What did she mean 'Isolated'?"
Fred Weasley who was sat watching all that was happening spoke up "Whisker face there ordered us all not to write to Harry, and not to contact him in any way, said that Harry needed to be completely alone to grieve over Sirius just as he had us not to write after Diggory's death."
Minerva McGonagall having heard Fred removed her wand from the throat of an old fool who had finally made one mistake to many with the son of her friend Lily, she made her way up to the room Hermione and Ginny were using. Opening the door she found her favourite student sobbing into her pillow. "Hermione, what is it child? Do you know why Harry has run away?" she asked sympathetically.
Hermione hearing professor McGonagall took in a deep shuddering breath before she answered. "Yes… it's Dumbledore and that stupid Weasleys fault."
Fifteen minutes later Minerva McGonagall led Hermione into the kitchen. Albus Dumbledore was lying unconscious on the floor, his nose obviously broken yet again as it was at an unusual angle the blood was still running freely and everyone else was talking about how to help Harry. A quick glance around and she saw the man she wanted, "Kingsley I want Mr Ronald Weasley arrested for a sexual assault on Miss Granger, and if Dumbledore or the Weasleys dare to try and pull that pureblood shit, charge the disgusting animal with sexually assaulting the betrothed of the lord to an ancient and noble house," she growled while glaring at Molly Weasley.
If Minerva McGonagall could get her way and finally be rid of the stupid student who through his idleness and lack of ability was holding up the education of his entire year by taking weeks to learn what should be learned in days, then she was willing to do all she could to have him out of Hogwarts.
After isolating a boy who they all knew needed help with his grief from those he loved, a boy who had witnessed his friend's death one year ago and his godfathers death just a few weeks ago Albus Dumbledore could go fly a kite as far as she was concerned, and his completely stupid reason for keeping the Weasleys at the school, well that he could shove where ever monkeys kept their nuts. She did not see why having the Weasleys in the order was more important than stopping the bullying of the twins or ridding the school of a retarded student who should never have remained after his first few weeks.
Just a few minutes later Ron found him self being dragged from his room and into the kitchen where a rather large and angry crowd of witches and wizards were waiting.
Minerva glared at him for a few seconds, "Mr Weasley what have you to say for your self after what you did to Miss Granger?" she asked the anger in her voice quite evident.
"What? I haven't done anything, what are you on about?" Ron answered a truly puzzled look on his face.
"See my Ronnie did nothing, he just said so." Molly chimed in.
Minerva once again glared at the stupid Weasley matriarch. "I have examined Miss Granger's memories and I can assure you that your son sexually assaulted her."
Ron as stupid as normal looked at the professor, "Well she was on about being Harry's girlfriend, she belongs to me not him. I just let her know how it was with a kiss… and well maybe I did grope her a little, but she hit me for that, so next time I decide to take what's mine I shall have to teach her some of our ways, and not to hit her betters. She needs to be more polite to us purebloods and do as she is told."
Ron stood there with no idea he had just condemned himself to a charge of sexually assaulting the betrothed of a lord and head of a noble and ancient house. Every witch in the room wanted to do far worse to him than Hermione had done after hearing his words, after all it was bigotry like that they were all fighting against. Even his mother Molly could not believe that her own son was talking like a Malfoy.
While all this was going on Hermione was wondering why Minerva was calling her Harry's betrothed, surely she would know about it if her parents had signed a betrothal contract wouldn't she?
What she did not know was that Minerva had an idea quickly develop in her mind and a little later that night there would be a betrothal contract between her and Harry backdated and signed by their magical guardian Albus Dumbledore. One copy would, with some help from an odd little elf be placed in Harry's Gringotts vault, and another would be placed in each of their files at Hogwarts, and one would find its way into the ministry files. Minerva McGonagall signing Albus's signature had never been questioned once since Minerva started to sign all the school related documents for him almost forty years before when he taught her how to copy his magical signature.
Harry who had been sent to the local shops to buy the Dursleys fish and chip supper lay on his bed and began to wonder if he had been a bit hasty in leaving Grimmauld place, he would at least get something to eat there. He had absolutely no idea that Tonks had been and had taken Dudley's words of "Potter's not here!" as meaning Harry had left. It never entered her mind that the obese fool could simply mean Harry was out at the shop.
Ten am the following morning several things were happening at the same time. In the ministry of magic Arthur and Molly Weasley were watching a pensieve memory of their son Ron shoving his hand down inside the front of Hermione's jeans and kissing her while she struggled to push him away. In the office next door Kingsley Shacklebolt along with Amelia Bones, head of law enforcement was examining the betrothal contract between Harry James Potter and Hermione Jane Granger that was kept in the ministry files and they both declared it legal and binding.
Albus Dumbledore was waking up in the secure ward of St Mungo's, he had been placed there for assessment after being brought in by several rather angry people who had all made declarations that he was mentally damaged and thought he was god.
Harry Potter was just unrolling his copy of the Daily Prophet, the headlines of which declared Heir Apparent to the Potter Lordship, Harry Potter's betrothed sexually assaulted by Potter's best Mate. Harry having no idea he was betrothed read the article, the few details were rather sketchy but he put two and two together and actually came up with four. He and Hermione were betrothed and Weasley had harmed her in some way.
Hermione was sitting in the head masters office at Hogwarts with her favourite professor examining a betrothal contract between her and Harry, apparently having been drawn up just after she and Harry had rescued Sirius Black, and signed by Sirius and her magical guardian Albus Dumbledore. There was a huge smile on her face as she thought of getting married to Harry when he turned seventeen.
Arthur Weasley led his distraught wife out of the room they were in and entered Shacklebolt's office, there they were shown the now legally accepted betrothal contract. Molly Weasley was almost wailing as she saw all her hopes and dreams for her two youngest children smashed by a simple piece of parchment.
Arthur was truly hurt knowing he had brought a person like Ron who would do such a thing to his best friend, into the world, and he had no idea what to do. He knew that Ron was bound to be severely punished, probably far more than he would have been had Hermione not been betrothed to the Wizarding worlds saviour.
Even when he was told that Hermione was betrothed to Harry, Ron who was being held in one of the ministry holding cells, simply could not work out what he had done wrong, as far as he was concerned she could not be betrothed to Potter because he him self had declared his ownership of the muggle born witch when he revealed his jealousy during the Yule Ball, so he thought he was quite entitled to do as he wished with her.
Minerva was a little amused as not a single person had questioned the contract once they saw Dumbledore's name, they did not even seem to consider Sirius name as even remotely relevant, she wondered for a short time why the entire magical population had allowed one man to hold so much power over their lives without ever questioning it. Happy that her rapidly thought up and executed plan had worked, she chose to keep her thoughts to her self and not to rock the boat just yet.
At number four Privet Drive Harry was getting rather hungry, he had not even been able to scrounge any left over's from the fish and chips the previous night and had once again gone to bed on an empty stomach. He had not been given any breakfast either and thoughts of all the food at Grimmauld place that Mrs Weasley was preparing when he left kept flitting through his mind. He pulled out a piece of parchment from his broken desk and scribbled a quick note to Hermione asking her if she could send him some food as the Dursleys were once again starving him. As Hedwig left Harry hoped that she reached Hermione.
Hedwig his faithful familiar took the letter and left to deliver it as quick as she could, heading toward Hogwarts where Hermione was spending the day getting over the assault by Ron. She was spending the day, day dreaming of weddings and wedding dresses. And getting married to Harry, which according to her transfiguration professor and head of house could be quite soon, because she was going to see to it that Harry did what Dumbledore has so far prevented him from doing, visit Gringotts and claim his inheritance as soon as she could find him, and as head of the Potter house he would need a wife.
Hermione sitting out under her favourite beech tree was quite surprised when Hedwig landed on her shoulder bringing her out of a day dream about her and Harry playing in the park with their three children. Taking the note from Harry's familiar and reading it she turned to look at the beautiful owl on her shoulder and asked "Is Harry still at the Dursleys?"
Hedwig nodded her head to let Hermione know that he was indeed at the Dursleys. "Okay Hedwig dear, you go and tell that man of ours that I will see him soon." With another nod of her head letting the young woman know she understood Hedwig took to the wing and headed back to her best friend Harry.
Hermione was chuckling as she entered McGonagall's office and handed over the note. The thought of all those members of the order running around trying to find Harry when he was exactly where he was supposed to be making her chuckle. The note also brought a chuckle from Minerva who called for Dobby the house elf and gave him instructions to take Harry a large lunch and inform him that she and his betrothed would call to collect him that afternoon. "Oh and Dobby tell him to dress in the best of those rags the Dursleys provide for him."
Professor McGonagall was thinking about getting Harry and Hermione married as quick as she could, she wanted them married and out of Dumbledore's reach before he was able to talk his way out of St Mungo's. She being a magical did not think it odd or wrong that the two should marry so young, as far as the magical world was concerned the head of a family could get married at the age of twelve, his bride could be any age if there was a betrothal contract, no other permissions were needed and as they were sixteen they should be ready for that stage of their life. She was hoping that the two teens would actually agree to be bonded that very afternoon, if she could get Hermione to look beyond her muggle upbringing.
Albus Dumbledore could not believe what was happening to him, he was in a locked ward with magic suppressing handcuffs on and the more he demanded his freedom, declaring quite loudly and more than a little indignantly "Do you know who I am? I am Albus Dumbledore the most powerful wizard alive," the more he was being restrained. All he was doing as far as his healers were concerned was verifying what the people who had brought him in had said about him. Albus Dumbledore seemed to think he was a god or some such being.
Dumbledore's healers were almost as old as he was and they were as equally ignorant of the real world and what was happening as the old head master appeared to be. They sat in one of the more luxurious offices and discussed if the headmaster was still capable of running a school with the attitude he had, was the old gentleman actually competent enough to even look after him self. One of the healers was worried that their patient seemed to be proving he thought himself some form of deity and might actually do something stupid like starve him self thinking that the gods did not need food. They concluded their discussion by deciding that the old man would be kept in restraints until such time his illness could be fully diagnosed. They would ask him at the week end what god he thought he was, and why he thought he had god like power over ordinary people.
Amelia Bones sat in her office thinking, something about Harry Potter being betrothed was bothering her and so far she had not been able to get any of his files released due to the head of the Wizengamot having had everything but the betrothal sealed. What was bothering her was that Harry was living at a muggle address, when in fact a betrothed Lord apparent should be getting trained in his duties as a lord and as a head of house from the age of eleven, and to do that he needed to be living in the wizarding world in his family home.
Knowing that one of her officers was a member of Dumbledore's private little army she sent for Nymphadora Tonks. Tonks entered her bosses office with a little fear, her boss was known as a formidable woman who would take no nonsense from anyone, Tonks worried as she tried to think what she might have done wrong.
"Ah, Dora, come in sit down," Amelia said smiling, "Now what can you tell me about this… where is it, ah yes here, so what can you tell me about this house, number four Privet Drive?"
Tonks drew in a breath rather sharply, not knowing what to do, what would the old fool do when he got out and discovered that the ministry knew where Harry lived. Trying to put that worry away Dora Tonks decided to tell all she knew about the place Harry Potter lived in. Her description of Harry Potter's life with his family was not a very pleasant one and she could almost see the steam coming from her boss's ears as she disclosed the way Harry was treated since she had joined the order a few months earlier.
Twenty minutes later minister for magic Cornelius Fudge almost ran from Amelia Bones office, the huge smile on his face would on an ordinary person be a deep frown or a look of anger, but Cornelius had just heard a tale about Potter that he was positive would bring down that arrogant old head master who thought he had a god given right to interfere in things. Reaching his office and puffing quite hard Cornelius grabbed some floo powder, threw it in his fire place and called out "Number 10."
While Cornelius was carrying out his part of things Amelia was issuing arrest warrants for a whole group of the order of the phoenix which was Albus Dumbledore's private little army. The people who had for years kept Harry Potter a prisoner at Privet drive.
Minerva and Hermione arrived at number four Privet drive and made their way to the front door. Dressed in her finest clothes Minerva was looking rather regal as the door opened to reveal Vernon Dursley. "Good afternoon, I am Lady McGonagall and I am here to see Lord Potter," Minerva said in a voice that almost had Vernon standing to attention. She intended to have some fun with this evil vile muggle and she was going to enjoy it.
The flustered Vernon bowed several times as best he could considering the amount of flab and fat that made up his vast bulk. "Welcome to my humble home My Lady, come in, I'll fetch the freak, I mean the boy for you." He blustered not actually catching on to the word 'lord' that Minerva had said, he had never had a real live aristocrat visit his home before and he was too busy picturing meetings with lords and lady's and royalty as he became friendly with the obviously regal woman.
Hermione only just managed to hold in her temper as the whale in front of her called Harry a freak as if it were a normal name for someone. She determined she would be returning to this house one day in the future to teach the whale some manners.
Harry was totally shocked when there was a polite knock on his door and Vernon asked, actually asked if he could come in. Vernon entered the room before he could answer though and showed his nephew that he had not really miraculously changed, so there had to be another reason for his unusual show of manners.
"Get down stairs boy you have a visitor, and you had best be on your best behaviour. The Lady down there is not one of your freaks, so I want no signs of 'it' or bad manners at all or you will suffer for it when they leave." Vernon growled out as he snarled and then sneered at Harry.
Harry got up from his bed where he had been sitting, it being the only available thing to sit on in his dilapidated room. Making his way down stairs his huge uncle straining the steps behind him Harry was surprised to see professor McGonagall and his best friend and according to the prophet his betrothed, had arrived already. Seeing his professor giving him a slight wink he decided to play along to see where things were going.
"Good afternoon ma'am, miss," Harry said holding back a laugh that wanted to escape.
"Good afternoon Lord Potter, I am Lady McGonagall of clan McGonagall, with me I have the future Lady Potter. We are here to carry out the required introduction of your lordship to his betrothed. Now my lord if you are ready we will leave here and visit your mansion. The Lady Hermione will of course accompany us. But first might I ask my lord why is it you are wearing the gardeners used cleaning cloth's, surely your guardians will not allow a peer of the realm to wear such disgusting rags out in public? I swear your cousin the Queen would not be happy at all with such people," Minerva asked her face as stern as he had ever seen it.
Harry bit his tongue a little before he answered, "I am afraid My Lady that my guardian Mr Dursley has refused to purchase new clothes for me for as long as I can remember… I seem to remember him saying that it would take the food from his plate wasting money on the likes of a freak like my self."
Minerva turned to look at the now pale Vernon, "Surely lord Potter you jest, from what I can see of the man he has sufficient excess fat to live for a good year without the need for food, mayhap if he were not the size of a giant killer whale, and did not eat enough food at one meal for several normal families he would have had sufficient funds to purchase an entire wardrobe for you each year. Well we must worry on that another day, for now you need to spend time getting to know your betrothed. I just hope your cousin does nothing too drastic."
Minerva turned to glare at Vernon "You sir shall be hearing from me again, now be gone from my sight you detestable being." She said with an icy chill in her voice that would have scared Voldemort.
Harry could hold it no longer as they walked out of the house, looking back at Vernon he laughed as he called over his shoulder, "They are short of killer whales at the safari park, why don't you and Dudley go and offer to stand in for a couple."
As soon as they stepped out of number four Hermione took hold of Harry's hand, before they had reached the public road she pulled him into a chaste kiss and then said "Yes Harry, I'll be your girlfriend, oh and do you know what? Ron got locked up. The smelly cretin grabbed me and kissed me said I belong to him, that he had claimed me as his property. He is in so much trouble for what he did."
Harry holding her hand gave it a squeeze, "Oh he is in far more trouble than he knows, I read the prophet about him assaulting you, I want to know exactly what he did before I sort him out."
Minerva watched the young couple as they got reacquainted after their six week separation and she had no doubts that her plan was going to work out just fine. Clearing her throat she gained their attention, "Harry, Hermione as you are now both aware you two are betrothed, and I would like to suggest that the two of you complete your bonding as soon as possible, preferably today or very early tomorrow. The reason for my suggestion is for the two of you to be able to be free of that old fool Dumbledore before he can get out of the mental ward at St Mungo's, if the bond is not complete before that time he would be able to and no doubt would declare the betrothal void.
After a little nosing in his office I know for a fact that he intends to eventually force Harry to marry Miss Weasley. I don't know for sure but I think he had plans to give you to Ronald Weasley, Hermione. Weasley's belief that you belong to him adds to my suspicions of our esteemed headmaster. I don't know why but he wants your influence in Harry's life ended. As your magical guardian, once free he could carry out his plans and no one would be able to stop him. Being bonded will remove his control of you, as you will both become emancipated fully adult witch and wizard. Harry he has been actively preventing you from claiming your heritage, I discovered this a few days ago and Mr Weasley's actions gave me this chance to correct things."
Using a port key Minerva took the two teens to an alley near the Leaky Cauldron in London. She then led the way in to Diagon Alley and to Gringotts Bank where she asked to see the Potter estate manager.
"Er Hermione, this bonding thing, it's like a magical wedding right?" Harry asked as they made their way through the bank.
"Yes Harry love, it's a wedding, why don't you want to marry me?" she asked in return.
"Oh it's not that, I think the idea of being your husband brilliant, it's just well… don't you want your folks here? You know for the wedding." He said quietly worried in case he had offended her.
"Harry we don't need, nor would I ask them for their permission. Do you have any idea why I spend so much time during the holidays with you or at the Burrow with all the Weasleys? My dear sweet parents all but disowned me when professor McGonagall visited to tell them I'm a witch. When I do spend time at home I rarely see them, they tend to stay away from the evil witch as much as they can, they much prefer to be at their office. Their only visit to Diagon Alley proved to them that wizards are all evil," Hermione told him quietly.
Harry had had no idea that Hermione's parents were like that, though he had heard of and actually knew muggles that were like his Aunt and Uncle, people who thought that all magic and both witches and wizards were in league with the devil. He had heard some horrific tales where a witch's parent had given their own children up during the many witch hunts over the centuries. He had thought though that those days were now long gone and would not be returning but he realised that he was wrong, his own family were not just an isolated case. His own family would give him up in a heart beat if they thought he would be burnt at the stake, seems Hermione's parents are somewhat the same.
Harry, Hermione and Minerva were rather suspicious when his estate manager seemed rather angry with Harry being there, they became even more so when he was obviously not willing to answer their questions and kept avoiding giving a straight answer. After only ten minutes with him and having had no co-operation Minerva led the two teens from the office after making an appointment with the surly Goblin for the following afternoon.
As soon as they reached the vast lobby of the building Minerva led them to the nearest vacant teller station. A rather ancient looking Goblin looked down on them and asked if he could help. Minerva gave the Goblin what in human terms would have been a grimace but the Goblin saw it as a smile. "Yes good teller, if we could have a few minutes time with a senior member of this fine institution, we would like to discuss some anomalies with Lord Potter's account keeper."
Harry had never seen an angry Goblin before and it made him and Hermione take a step back when the Goblin snarled and practically growled. Getting down from his high chair the Goblin led them to an office at the far end of the lobby then ushered them in and called out something in gobbledegook.
It took just a few seconds for a rather powerful looking Goblin to enter the room from another room. Together the three humans described their visit to the Potter estate manager, once finished they were given some refreshments and asked to wait for a few minutes.
Fifteen minutes had passed when the Goblin returned and offered an apology for taking so long. "It would seem Lord Potter that the former Goblin in charge of your estate was in the pay of one Albus Dumbledore. His goal was to prevent your acquisition of your estates until the human Dumbledore allowed it. Your former manager has been replaced and your new manager and a full team of accountants are even as we speak going over all records of the past sixteen years."
The Goblin who informed them he was called 'Greyone' asked Harry about his history so far and the four of them sat to discuss Harry's life. It had been difficult for Harry to reveal his life at Privet drive with Hermione listening but once that part was over Harry had felt somehow relieved of a very heavy burden and had a rather enjoyable conversation until eight Goblin's arrived, all carrying large ledgers. The tallest who also seemed to be the senior of the team that entered asked for permission to speak freely.
"Lord Potter, what do you know of a Miss Ginevra Weasley?" he asked.
Harry looked a little puzzled as he thought about the question, "Well she is the sister to a former friend but in truth I barely know the girl. Why do you ask?"
"If you would bear with me for a short time… Next might I ask when you signed the permissions to allow Mrs M. A. Weasley access to your money and property?"
Harry once again looked at the Goblin with a puzzled expression, "Mrs Weasley, once again I barley know her… I mean I stayed at their home a few weeks, maybe four and a half or five weeks in total since I started Hogwarts, that time there was spent mostly with the Weasley boy's. I don't know why I would have any reason to allow a woman I barely know into my personal belongings, so I can tell you right now I never gave her permission to access my vault."
"I thought that would be the case, now if you will just excuse me one moment while I speak with Greyone…" the Goblin said then turned to look at the most senior Goblin in the room. "I think we have some odd circumstances that would seem to reveal a fraud in progress. According to these ledgers, at the age of sixteen, Miss Ginevra Weasley will become eligible to access all Potter vaults without restriction; Mrs M Weasley has free access to amounts up to 1000 galleons a month. All Weasley Hogwarts fees are paid for from the main Potter vault annually. All these conditions have been in place since January first 1982.
Each permission was signed by both A. P. W. B. Dumbledore and the former estate manager Fasthand, and of course the Weasley's. Oh yes there is also an allowance with no limit for some organisation called the order of the phoenix. Total loss so far to the Potter estate has been 11 million galleons, and a large amount of historic and personal property, and oddly sixteen portraits and one phoenix."
Harry was furious that people he trusted could talk and joke with him while behind his back they were robbing him of his inheritance. "Mr Greyone sir, would it be possible to reclaim all that has been taken from the Potter family, the money itself means little to me personally, but that property and money is my inheritance and the inheritance of our children and grandchildren. If it can be done I would be willing to pay for your services."
"It will be done My Lord, we will perform the reclaim ritual this very day. Whether we are able to reclaim all the monies… I can't say but we will try." Greyone answered.
"In the muggle world they send people to claim the possessions and property of the criminals," Hermione said quietly.
"As do we My Lady." Was the answer she got along with a look that told her the Goblins were going to enjoy getting Harry's things back.
Twenty five minutes later Amelia Bones arrived and was handed Goblin arrest warrants for Dumbledore and the entire Weasley family, along with the evidence of their crimes. With her she had the minister who was in a far too happy mood at the thought of what the Goblin's would do to his rival and probably most powerful enemy Dumbledore.
Harry and Hermione agreed to hold their bonding ceremony that day and Minerva arranged for Amelia and the minister to carry it out for them in an office of the bank. Tonks and three other of the Aurors that accompanied Amelia and the minister were there as witnesses to the very simple marriage ceremony, and the declared emancipation of the newly wed Potter couple.
Using a portkey obtained from one of the four Potter vaults the two teens said goodbye to the minister, Amelia Bones, and their deputy headmistress and left to visit Potter mansion and while there carry out the consummation of their bonding. Amelia stayed with the Goblins to discuss the reclaiming of the stolen Potter funds and a large list of artefacts and other personal property. By the end of the week the Weasley family would all be homeless and more than penniless as all their lands and possessions were to be confiscated by the DMLE and handed over to the Potter estate manager for sale.
Albus Dumbledore was finally released from the hospital on the Sunday, stepping out of the reception of St Mungo's he found himself once more grabbed and wearing magic suppression handcuffs. This time it was not Remus Lupin who had grabbed him, but was several Goblins. He was informed that his lands and possessions had been confiscated and the Goblin that did the talking wore a large toothy expression as he told the old man that he need not worry, he would not need money in the Goblin tunnels where he was to spend the rest of his life.
Vernon Dursley was still watching the three freaks as they walked down Privet drive, he was so pleased to see the back of them disappear around the corner. Turning to walk back into the house he was shocked to see two police cars and a large black van screech to a halt out side his home. He was still wondering what was happening when the team of armed police officers who had all swarmed out from the back of the van surrounded them.
A tall and well built officer stepped up and read out from a sheet of paper. "Vernon Geoffrey Dursley, Authorized by the PM, I have here an arrest warrant on charges of kidnap and illegal detention of a peer of the realm…"
Vernon stopped listening as other officers ran into his home and began to search for any evidence they could find. It did not take long for them to find the prison cell that was Harry's bedroom, it took them just a few more minutes to discover Harry's previous bedroom. Vernon and his normal family were about to spend a lot of their years looking at the world through the bars on their normal prison cell windows.
Harry and Hermione having chosen a rather isolated property on a rather long list, had arrived at a pleasant six bedroom country house and were met by a small family of elves. Having questioned the elves Hermione discovered that the male elf Solly had been found almost beaten to death by his former owner and restored to health by Harry's grandparents, his wife Cilla had been found begging for food outside Gringotts after she had been thrown out by her Death eater former master. They had been given permission to join the Potter family and to live at the home that was at the time a little run down. The two elves had bonded after being together working on the house for a year; their three children had not wanted to leave the Potter home or the Potter family who they were very proud to be members of.
Hermione was elated that the Potter's seemed to have been forerunners of her freedom for elves campaign. After a tour of the house and a nice meal cooked by Cilla, the young and eager couple went off to bed. Normally when two teens take their first steps to engaging in sex it is the female who is the more nervous of the couple. Hermione though being nervous of the act was amazed at just how nervous Harry was, he was almost terrified that he might hurt her and she would then leave him. Even as they began their first joining she had to promise him she would never leave him and that she loved him.
Both teens were surprised at just how much they had enjoyed their first time. "Hermione love, can we consummate our marriage every day?" Harry asked a slight dazed and very happy look on his face.
"As often as we possibly can Harry, as often as we can, I don't think I ever enjoyed anything quite as much in my entire life before." Hermione replied as her eyes began to close. Unlike the books she had read where it said that the first time was usually over in a matter of a couple of minutes, they had enjoyed two hours learning about each other, and what they liked.
After spending almost an entire week in bed the two Potters were called to Gringotts to lay official claim to the stolen Potter property. Harry discovered that Dumbledore had stolen the portraits to prevent Harry learning of his full and true inheritance. Two of the portraits came as a shock to the boy who had been so badly treated by his relatives. The life size portraits of the previous Lord and Lady, his parents were a very welcome addition to the living room of Potter Grange, as they renamed the house.
For the next week both Harry and Hermione spent almost as much time talking to the two Potter portraits as they spent in bed with each other. All thoughts of ever returning to Hogwarts were dispelled when Harry declared the school was not a safe place for them. Hermione organised for them to be tutored at their home. Minerva assisted the two teens in finding instructors who specialised in home tutoring. They all taught their subject up to at least NEWT level, most taught up to master level.
Harry and Hermione took being lord and lady of the Potter family very seriously when they discovered that the family were responsible for over seventy tenant families that lived in Potter farms and properties. They were also responsible for a small army of house elves, none of which would ever take up Hermione's offer of freedom at any time they wanted it.
As Harry and Hermione were getting used to their new way of life. Albus Dumbledore discovered just how right the goblin who said he would not need money. He was sentenced to life in the tunnels for kidnapping, and facilitating the torture and mistreatment of an under age wizard.
Several days after Dumbledore went missing Severus Snape also vanished. He woke two days later sharing a tunnel with his former boss. Severus Snape was charged with espionage, and large scale and methodical sabotage of the wizarding world through his position as Potion master at Hogwarts. He found him self paying for all the bullying he had fostered and carried out. He was informed that as he had destroyed the careers of hundreds he would never leave the Goblins tender care.
Minerva McGonagall was promoted to the position of head mistress, her deputy was Pomona Sprout and together they started to drag Hogwarts back to the top of the quality educational institutions. They also began to drag the school into the twentieth century, while hoping that they could some day before the end of the century, be living in the same century as the rest of the world.
Harry and Hermione made sure to finish their education before they decided it was time to have children. Their decision came just a month after Voldemort and his minions attacked Potter Grange. Where he was totally destroyed by the Potter elves. His back up plan designed to prevent his death did not work against the Potter elves. After just ten minutes of fighting Dobby Potter dispatched the evil one into the next life, he was followed seconds later by several ghostly figures that bore a resemblance to their maker. As the last of the ghostly figures screamed in fear whilst being dragged down into the shadows, death eaters started to fall and die when their life force was siphoned off through their dark mark.
It was Hermione who suggested it was time that their family grew. They were blessed with an almost immediate pregnancy and their first son was born exactly ten months later. Minerva McGonagall was named as their son Andrew's first godmother, though due to her age she demanded that she have a replacement ready just in case, so Dora Tonks was enlisted as secondary godmother, which led to her being chosen as godmother to their next child, Rose a little girl with a remarkable likeness to her mother. Andrew and Rose having finished primary school were in their first year of being home tutored when the Potters had their next baby, a girl who with her strikingly black hair was named Raven.
Raven Marie was followed by a brother who was the last of that generation's Potters. His name Michael James Potter and he was a spitting image of his father, even giving him self a small lightning bolt scar for a short time when he banged his head when out playing one afternoon. The Potter family grew up happy most of the time. Together the family ran a chain of bookstores and though they did not need the income there chain of books spanned the worlds both magic and muggle.
Harry and Hermione retired on their hundredth anniversary and left the running of both the business and the family to their children and grandchildren. They spent their final years enjoying being with their family. When they parted from this world they were together surrounded by their children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great, great grandchildren.
At the bottom of their grave stone the words 'Thank you Minerva' were inscribed. People speculated over the centuries exactly what they were thanking the goddess for; no one ever guessed they were thanking their teacher and friend who had made their life possible.