My house belongs to the bank, my work belongs to my boss, Harry Potter belongs to JK Rowling and this disclaimer belongs to DerLaCroix.

Tempest of the Fae

Chapter Twenty Nine: All in the Family

0-O-0

"Welcome to the family, darling!" Molly said with a large smile, she opened her arms as if she expected Harry to run into them.

Instead, after a disbelieving moment, Harry dove behind Sirius. "Keep that kidnapper away from me!"

Molly didn't take that well. "Now you listen here young man…"

"Quiet!" Matterson shouted and drew everyone's attention back to himself. "Mr. Potter would you please explain your comment."

Dumbledore hurried to Molly's defense. "It was just a misunderstanding, easily settled with no bearing on today's events."

Judge Matterson glared down at Dumbledore. "Why are you even here still? Your claim was thrown out. Now please leave or I will have you escorted from this room."

"Now see here I am…" Dumbledore began.

"Not involved in the rest of these events. Leave." Matterson ordered.

Reluctantly Dumbledore stood and shuffled from the room. The perfect picture of a child being told he was too young to sit at the grown up table. Once Dumbledore was out of the room Judge Matterson turned back to Harry. "Now Mr. Potter please explain the comment you made about Mrs. Weasley being a kidnapper."

"Well back on the first day of school my two friends and I were getting on the train when that woman grabbed one of them and tried to drag her off. She said that Luna couldn't go to Hogwarts and then she threatened Luna. I had to hex her, grab Luna and practically throw her onto the train for us to get away from her." Harry did his best to sound like a child reliving a fearful event while using his mental shields to keep from laughing at Molly's red face.

"Mrs. Weasley, would you care to explain your actions on the first of September?" Judge Matterson asked.

Molly waved her hand dismissively. "It's just like the headmaster said. A mistake, nothing more."

Harry wasn't going to let her wave it off though. "Kidnapping isn't a mistake! It's a crime."

"I wasn't going to kidnap her! I was going to take her back to her house." Molly said as if the whole matter was beneath her notice.

Matterson intervened before another shouting match could break out in his courtroom. "And what legal authority did you have to order the child anywhere?"

That threw Molly for a loop. "What?"

"What legal authority did you have to order the child to go anywhere?" Matterson repeated slowly.

"Luna has been our neighbor for years and was too young to go to Hogwarts." Molly said as her defense.

"Hogwarts said she could go." Harry chimed in.

Judge Matterson sighed; this day was already too long. "Let me see if I understand this. Because the child lived near you, you felt it was your right to remove her from the Hogwarts Express against her will?"

"She has no business being there this year." Molly snapped at the Judge. Arthur had the decency to look embarrassed at his wife's reaction.

"Mr. Weasley, you've been quiet, what do you have to say for your wife's actions?" Matterson asked.

"I have spoken at length with Mr. Lovegood and while we agree that Molly made a poor decision he understands that it was done out of concern for his daughter. I have spoken with her about it." Arthur said.

"Perhaps you should explain it again because she doesn't seem to have accepted that she did anything wrong." Matterson said sternly.

"Sir?" Harry called out. "You said they were the first family, does that mean there are others who could be assigned instead?"

"Yes, there are two other families who have already volunteered. The Jinwells and the Marks. I will send a message to both." Matterson wrote two quick notes and dispatched them.

"You can't do that!" Molly shouted.

"Yes I can. I would be willing to accept that you made a mistake with the child but your actions within this room call into question your ability to hold your temper." Matterson informed her flatly.

Molly crossed her arms and frowned. Oh she wasn't worried about not getting Harry, Dumbledore had already taken care of things. A few charms would insure those other families pulled their names from the list. But how dare Harry treat her like this? She would have to teach him some proper manners and respect. This is what came from living with muggles.

"Sir? Could Mr. Lovegood become my co-guardian?" Harry asked the Judge.

"I am afraid not. The law states that I must award the position to someone on the list at the time guardianship is decided. Exceptions can only be made when the list is empty." He made a sidelong look at Molly. "And unfortunately I cannot remove a name from the list myself. No matter my feelings on the matter."

0-O-0

Harry spent the next hour while they were waiting for word from the other families talking to Sirius. He asked questions about his parents, even though he already knew the answers. It was a safe way to kill time while Molly sat and glared at them. Harry also tried to remember anything he could about either of the other families. He couldn't remember having ever heard the names before, so they probably weren't Death Eaters or in Dumbledore's pocket. Well he hoped not at least.

This whole co-custody law stank. Hermione and Luna were going to flip out about it, Harry decided he would likely join them. Well if worse came to worse they'd just have to figure out a way to deal with the families.

Harry's musing was interrupted when a clerk entered and spoke in a hushed, hurried tone to Judge Matterson. Harry couldn't hear what the clerk said but he could make out the Judge's response. "You're sure? Odd. Thank you."

Judge Matterson turned back to those assembled. "I have just been informed that both the Jinwells and the Marks have declined to come and expressed a desire to have their names removed from the list."

"And that doesn't sound suspicious?" Harry asked, his anger barely kept in check.

"Of course it does. But I can only call for an investigation. Until then I must still follow the law, no matter how much I believe the remaining family should not here in the first place. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley you are granted co-custody of Harry James Potter…" Judge Matterson had to slam his gavel to regain Molly's attention as she had immediately stood and headed for Harry. "Pay attention. As I was saying, because this is a new law, and it is clear to me that there is a great deal of underhanded methods being used I will exercise my ability to assign a court ordered medium. Judge Cortus, as you are already familiar with Mr. Potter I would ask you to act as the Medium."

"I accept." Cortus said immediately. He had an uneasy feeling about everything that had happened. The fact that the law had been kept quiet until that day was worrying.

"Excellent. Mr. Cortus will act to protect Mr. Potter's interests and insure the law is obey. Also should both guardians disagree on a matter he will act as the tie breaker." Matterson said.

"I'm sure there's really no need for all that." Molly began. "Dumbledore can…"

"Mr. Dumbledore is not involved in this matter. Mr. Cortus I suggest all of you take a bit of time today to lay down the basic rules of this, odd situation." Matterson said.

Harry was surprised by the amount of paperwork both Sirius and the Weasleys had to fill out after everything had been decided. Mr. Weasley only stayed long enough to add his name where needed before he was forced back to his office.

Cortus made arrangements for them to use a small meeting room just down the hall. Normally kept free for lawyers to argue things out in. Harry was about to follow Sirius into the room when Molly stuck out her arm to stop him. "Harry dear, this really isn't a place for you. Give me a moment to find the Headmaster and I'll have him take you back to Hogwarts."

Harry snorted and ducked under her arm. He was tempted to arrange an accident for her but she was so close to Dumbledore it would be difficult. Not to mention Dumbledore could manufacture something to blame it on Sirius and cause all sorts of problems. Maybe Hermione and Luna would have another idea but he figured he'd just have to bare the insufferable woman for now.

Disbelief showed on Molly's face as Harry ducked past her. None of her children had ever had the nerve to do that and she wasn't about to take it from him either. "You listen here young man that was completely inappropriate!"

"So was trying to keep me out of a meeting about my future." Harry pointed out as he took his seat. Sirius and Cortus both hid smiles.

"Nonsense! You're far too young to make any decisions about your future. Leave it to the adults." Molly said.

"Right, cause adults have such a wonderful track record with doing what is best for me. Dumbledore left me with those bastards, the Dursleys beat me and made me live in a cupboard, you tried to kidnap Luna…"

"That was just a misunderstanding…" Molly began.

"No it wasn't. No one accidently kidnaps a child like that." Harry said firmly.

Cortus decided to interrupt before Molly lost her temper again. "I agree that Harry should be allowed to stay. Sirius?"

"Of course he should." Sirius said with a carefree grin as Molly's face darkened.

"Fine! Since you all know best!" Molly flopped down in the free seat and pouted like a child who had been told she couldn't have desert.

Most of the things covered in the meeting seemed fairly mundane to Harry. But when they reached talk about Hogwarts and his schooling Harry came to a sudden realization. Molly and Dumbledore could use her position to cause all sorts of problems. "Mr. Cortus?"

"Yes Harry?" Cortus stopped what he had been saying and turned to face him.

"I have a request. Would it be possible to make it so that both you and Sirius have to be there as well, should anything happen at the school?" Harry asked.

"Don't worry dear I've dealt with the Headmaster a number of times and am perfectly capable of dealing with an issues that arise." Molly wore a smug smile as she spoke.

"That's what worries me. I don't trust you or Dumbledore not to go and decided a bunch of crap for me without asking anyone else. But it all three of you are required then at least Sirius will be able to look out for my best interests." Harry explained.

"I agree with Harry." Cortus said much to Molly's displeasure. "Perhaps not for the same reason but if we are all required to be there then there can be no question of anything underhanded happening. I will also be making arrangements with Dumbledore for a meeting to discuss a number of issues."

Molly returned to quietly grumbling, until the talks turned to where Harry would spend his holidays. "Well of course he will come to the Burrow."

"Why of course?" Sirius asked in a warning tone.

"You can't expect a child to be comfortable in the dark place you call a home. Filled with all sorts of nasty cursed items that would do horrible things to Harry." It was clear from her tone that she was trying to scare Harry away from going to Sirius's home.

Harry turned to Cortus. "I don't really have to stay with her do I? Two of her children spend all their free time trying to make my life miserable at Hogwarts. Thankfully they aren't very good at it."

"Unfortunately as a co-guardian it is her right to request you spend time at her home. I don't see any way to make everyone happy so I suggest that from the time Hogwarts releases for the summer until the end of July Harry stays with Sirius. From August first until school resumes Harry will reside at the Weasley's home." Cortus suggested. As he thought no one looked happy about the suggestion. Molly in particular.

After a great deal more discussion they settled on the suggested schedule. Though Molly kept making snide comments about having so little time to fix Harrys attitude. Harry was pleased to find that both Sirius and Cortus were unhappy with her attitude.

It was late afternoon by the time they finished and Molly hurried for the room, no doubt to complain to Dumbledore about their plan not working as well as she wanted. Sirius was about to escort Harry back to Hogwarts when something else occurred to Harry. "Wait, does this mean Mrs. Weasley can get into my vault now?"

Sirius and Cortus stopped and glanced at each other. Cortus was the first to speak. "As a guardian she would have the right to access it."

"We need to put a lock on the Potter accounts." Sirius said.

"And that means?" Harry asked, though he could guess from the name.

"A lock is an old pureblood thing. When all the members of a recognized house are underage and they fear that their guardians will steal from them they can have a lock placed on their family accounts. No one can withdraw any money or property from those accounts unless everyone who signs the lock agreement agrees to it." Sirius explained as they hurried towards the ministry's fireplaces.

"Of course there are exceptions." Cortus added. "Such as medical emergency and ministry ordered payments. Which they authorized for the Weasleys, but it won't be much against what your family owns."

"Does it have to be a family member who signs the lock? If not would both of you agree to sign as well?" Harry asked. He was sure there was no way someone could fake all three of their signatures. And even if it was limited to family Harry was reasonable certain that Sirius would count through his grandmother.

"Anyone you trust may sign." Cortus said. "But you must trust them because they could easily withhold their signature and make demands for it."

"I trust both of you." Harry briefly thought about asking Xeno as well but decided against it. That might make him too tempting of a target for Dumbledore and he refused to do anything that might cost Luna her father again.

0-O-0

Harry was surprised when at Gringotts they were not lead into the office he had visited previous. The goblin behind the desk glared at them over a parchment. "The former Potter account manager is not available. I am Spleanslayer and will be taking over those accounts. What do you want?"

"What happened to him?" Harry asked before he could help it.

"That is not your concern as it did not involve your accounts." Spleanslayer said gruffly. He wasn't about to tell them that the former account manager had disappeared. It had already caused a great deal of work within the bank as all of the information he had had access to had needed to be changed. "Again, what do you want?"

"We wish to place a lock on the Potter accounts." Sirius said before Harry could say anything else.

Spleanslayer gave Harry a long look. "Mr. Potter you do realize once this lock is placed you will be unable to access your account without the permission of all those who have signed the forms."

"I understand." Harry said. While he would lose access to his trust vault for the most part Harry was sure Sirius could loan him any money needed until he was of age.

Having a lock placed on the Potter accounts was a slow but not difficult process. Each of their identities was verified before a dozen rolls of parchment needed to be signed. After everything else that had happened that day Harry was glad for one easy thing at least.

Harry briefly considered talking to Sirius and Cortus about several of the issues he Hermione and Luna had decided to deal with, mostly dealing with the use of his image and name, but in the end Harry decided that he should speak with the girls first and let them know what had happened.

Actually considering the time he was sure he'd be in a great deal of trouble with them.

The group arrived at Hogwarts just in time for Harry to catch the end of dinner. Cortus informed them that he would make the arrangements with Dumbledore for a meeting within the next week and if Harry had any further questions to contact them.

0-O-0

Hermione and Luna glanced towards the doors of the great hall several times a minute. Dumbledore had returned to the castle for lunch and looked entirely too smug. They both knew something had gone wrong. But they had no idea of discovering what or how badly until Harry returned. And as the day had dragged on they began to consider worse and worse possibilities.

A few owls made evening deliveries that had missed the morning one.

Finally towards the end of the meal Harry entered, he spotted them and rushed over. He had barely sat down between them when Hermione demanded to know what happened.

"Dumbledore pulled a new law from his ass, Sirius now has co-guardianship of me along with…"

Harry was unable to finish as Percy strolled up to the Hufflepuff group. "Potter, I expect you to be on time for meals from now on. You are representing my family after all. In fact I believe I will arrange a family meeting so that we can…"

"You aren't family." Harry cut him off. "Your parents are only involved in my life because that old ass Dumbledore couldn't keep his crooked nose out of things that don't concern him."

"How dare you! Twenty points from Hufflepuff." Percy snapped.

"You can't, as the matter didn't involve school I am free to insult people as much as I like." Harry pointed out.

"What is going on?" Professor Sprout asked as she arrived at the table. "I will not have Gryffindor Prefects coming here to harass my students."

"It's a family matter." Percy said curtly. He was not overly concerned with the head of Hufflepuff as she didn't hold any power over his academic plans and as soon as he finished his O.W.L.s he wouldn't even need her class.

"Wrong." Hermione chimed in. "It wasn't a family matter as you aren't Harry's family. And even if it was when you began to shout and take away points it became a school matter."

"Be quiet girl, this doesn't concern you." Percy said.

Sprout, Hermione and Luna were all ready to take offence at him but Harry's laughter stopped them. "Oh man, maybe I was wrong. That is exactly like what my uncle acted like just before he threw me into the cupboard. Let's get something straight Weatherby, you are not family, your parents aren't my family. The only Weasleys I might consider family are the twins. Otherwise Draco is more family to me then you are."

The great hall had turned their attention to the entertainment when Percy had begun to yell and take points. Now they collectively gasped. To publicly claim a Malfoy over a Weasley, well no one had expected that from the boy who lived. Percy clearly hadn't as his face changed to a wonderful red, almost puce color. "You would side with a death Eater over my family? How dark are you?"

Harry snorted. "Death Eater? Draco, would you mind showing us your arm?"

Draco didn't hesitate, he lost nothing but further the humiliation of a blood traitor family. He made a note to write to his father right away about these new developments. Draco lifted both arms and drew back his shelves to show the pale skin.

"I don't see a Dark Mark." Harry said. "Maybe you meant his father? Well I won't be rude and speculate on such things in public. Let me out lay it for you. If anyone here is dark it is you. Draco's mother did not try and kidnap Luna from platform 9 3/4, neither he nor any of his family have spent their time trying to get me and my friends in trouble."

At least not that they knew of, Harry was fairly sure that Draco wasn't behind any of the unsolved issues though. "His parents didn't use their connection to Dumbledore to try and steal my guardianship away from my godfather. So yes, I'd claim Draco as family over most of the Weasleys in a heartbeat."

Percy believed many things, one of those being that his family while poor was better than any of the dark families. To have that not only denied, but to many proven wrong in public, was too much for him. It didn't matter if everything Harry said was true. He lunged at Harry who rolled out of his seat to avoid Percy. "I'll have you sent home so you can learn respect for my family!"

"Not going to happen." Harry said as he motioned for Hermione and Luna to lower their wands. He could already see Professor Sprout had hers out to deal with him. Sure enough as Percy tried to lung for Harry again he found himself tipping to the side, petrified.

"Mr. Weasley that is enou-"

No one had paid any attention to Ron. No one had paid attention to him when he left the Gryffindor table, come around the Hufflepuff table or raised his wand. He knew he couldn't do anything to severe to Harry yet, in fact having Potter as a brother meant he'd have abundant opportunities to finish the future Dark Lord off. But that didn't mean he couldn't make Potter pay.

Loony saw him a split second before the curse left his wand, a fraction of time to slow to raise the shield and stop it. The spell struck Harry between the shoulders. He smirked as Harry collapsed on the floor, bending at near impossible angle and screaming. Maybe he'd put a little too much power into the cramping curse.

That was his final thought before his world erupted into pain. He was blind and deaf to everything else as dozens of curses and hexes rained down on him and Percy from the Hufflepuff table.

0-O-0

Sirius had been reviewing some of the new custody documents he had received that day when Cortus floo called and told him they were needed at Hogwarts, Harry had been attacked. Sirius floo'd to Cortus's house before they both stepped back though and arrived in the Hospital wing.

They had just stepped out of Madam Pomfrey's office when the doors burst open and Molly rushed in followed by Dumbledore. "My babies! Where are they? I want whoever did this expelled! I want…"

Her loud and shrill rant was stopped when she faced two wands; the fact that they were both held by first year students somehow didn't take away from the seriousness of the situation. Dumbledore was not amused. "Miss Granger, Miss Lovegood. Put your wands away this instant."

Neither of them moved to comply. Luna was the one to explain their actions. "This woman attempted to kidnap me, two of her sons assaulted Harry at dinner. If you believe that we are going to give this family a third chance to hurt us you are wrong."

Before Molly could explode, and judging by her colors it was bound to be a large eruption, Cortus stepped in. "Thank you both but Mr. Black and I will insure no harm comes to Harry."

Hermione and Luna traded glances before they reluctantly lowered their wands and turned back to Harry. Sirius turned to Poppy. "How is he? What happened?"

"Mr. Potter will make a full, if slow, recover. He was cursed from behind by Mr. Weasley…"

"Lies!" Molly shouted. "None of my sons would ever do such a thing."

"The entire great hall witnessed Ronald cast the curse." Poppy said in irritation. "After Percy had already tried to physically assault him. Incidentally that is also why both of them are here, each was cursed at least two dozen times by the majority of Hufflepuff and a number of Gryffindor's. You are lucky none of the curses caused a bad reaction with the others."

"What curse did Mr. Weasley use?" Cortus asked. He was already planning to take the matter to Matterson.

"An extremely overpowered cramping curse. Normally it would not have been serious enough to warrant a stay here but as I said, it was drastically overpowered and struck his back. Several of his ribs are bruised, one actually cracked, extensive muscle damage. We are lucky that his heart did not take any noticeable damage but I will have him under observations for the next two days to be sure." Poppy explained.

Sirius moved to speak with Hermione and Luna while Cortus turned his attention to Molly and the Headmaster. "I believe after Mrs. Weasley has checked on her children we should all move to your office to discuss this matter."

Dumbledore nodded, he knew this was a delicate situation. If his plan had worked as intended it would be him and Molly against Sirius, a battle of wills he was sure he could win. But now that old fool Cortus was on Sirius's side. Worse that old fool knew the laws! Perhaps better than Dumbledore himself. How was he supposed to manipulate the game if his opponent knew more of the rules than he did? That was how he won, it wasn't fair to turn it against him. "I agree, this is a serious matter that much be discussed in detail so that justice can be done for all parties."

Cortus resisted the urge to snort at Dumbledore's political talk. He watched the headmaster leave before he turned back to the healer. "Madam Pomfrey, may I make use of your floo again?"

0-O-0

(A/N: Thank you all for reading. I'm sorry about this chapter being late, and shorter than normal. I recently injured my hand and it has slowed me down a bit. So it was either a shorter chapter or another week of waiting, and after the last cliffy I thought I shouldn't keep you waiting any longer. Comments and critiques are welcome; flames will be force-fed to a random minion. As always a big thanks to this chapter's Beta Katzztar, drscot and kage66.)