Quoth the Raven

Disclaimer: See Chapter 1. Reviews are welcomed. Flames aren't. Feel privileged: for some reason, we ended up close to 4k words for this chapter. Do NOT expect this all the time. - GF and the Frau

A/N: The chapter numbers have been corrected. * le sigh * That's what I get for combining two chapters to up the word count. -GF

0o0o0o0

Chapter 29: But with Mien of Lord or Lady

Albus Dumbledore sighed as he looked over the bill he'd written the night before to present to the Wizengamot. He knew it was a risk, but he needed that boy at Hogwarts! Harry needed to be moulded and guided to fulfil his destiny and he, Albus Dumbledore, was the only one that could do it properly.

A quick emergency session of the Wizengamot and he would have Harry at Hogwarts, where the boy belonged. He would need to know just what the boy had been taught, and if there was any way of undoing the obvious arrogance Harry seemed to have acquired. So much to do and so little time left...

0o0o0o0

Albus, as Chief Warlock, waited in the small antechamber as the rest of the seated members filed in. He mentally went over what he wanted to say. Failure wasn't an option when the 'greater good' was at stake. Harry just had to be placed back under his control and in the safety of Hogwarts.

There was a knock on the door. "Everyone is seated, Chief Warlock," said the red-haired aide peeking in.

"Thank you, Mr Weasley."

A hush fell over the chamber as Albus strolled up to his seat on the dais. As the minister banged a rock on his podium to call the members to order, the entrance doors opened.

Two men dressed in Muggle military uniforms entered with precision and scanned the chamber before stepping to either side of the doors. An elegantly-garbed young lord, dressed in formal robes with two crests adorning his shoulder, strode in.

Beside him was a tall man dressed in a pin-striped Muggle suit carrying a steel briefcase. Three more men in military uniforms followed the pair. Those that had some knowledge of the Muggle world recognised the dress uniforms and weapons of Royal Marines. The Muggle clearly was some sort of attaché from the Muggle British Government.

However, the young lord was a mystery. Clearly, he was a wizard, and Head of at least two Ancient and Noble Houses by his bearing and crests. Whispers of speculation rippled through the room.

Albus stood, frowning. "And to what do we owe the honour of such a display, Mr Potter? You do know that Muggles are not allowed in these chambers!"

The man with the briefcase smiled as he stopped in front of Cornelius Fudge's podium. He handed the Minister of Magic a sheaf of papers. The Minister glanced through them and paled visibly.

Looking up, Cornelius said, "Chief Warlock and Members of the Wizengamot, may I present His Grace, Lord Hadrian Potter, Duke of Gryffindor and Head of the Ancient and Noble House of Potter, and his advisor, Sir Peter Flinchley. His Grace is presenting himself here today on his fifteenth birthday to claim his seats on the Wizengamot."

"No!" shouted several members, over which could be heard "I forbid it!" from Albus Dumbledore.

"By your very laws," stated Sir Peter, "an Heir who is the last of his line can claim his titles at the age of 11 if he has proven himself capable of understanding his duties and responsibilities and with the permission of his legal guardian..."

"As his guardian, I was not so informed," Albus interrupted. "So I forbid it until such time as I have spoken with my ward."

"Unfortunately," Sir Peter continued, turning to the aged wizard with scorn, "you are not his legal guardian. Your rights were terminated when it was found you had had the Potters' will illegally sealed and yourself declared guardian by this very body. You were also declared unfit when the child was found naked and badly injured at the age of five, not even knowing his own name! The child in dispute, Hadrian James Potter, was made a Royal Ward and has been in Her Majesty's custody since 1986. It is by the Right of Her Majesty the Queen, that His Grace is here today."

"It's true," Cornelius Fudge stated, holding up a sheet of parchment. "Here, by royal decree from Her Majesty is a writ granting Lord Hadrian James Potter the legal right to his titles and holdings..."

Albus Dumbledore sat back in dismay. The bill he wanted to introduce was worthless - completely and utterly worthless! Why hadn't he thought to check on the possibility of Royal interference?

"What about his magical education?" a pink-clad witch asked in a simpering voice. "The Queen is but a Muggle, after all."

"His Grace is being schooled with private tutors," Sir Peter explained, placing a hand on Lord Harry's shoulder as the lad remained silent beside him, standing erect and proud. He didn't look anyone in the eye, but everyone in the chamber could see that the young Duke had a regal presence that couldn't be denied.

"But he needs to go to Hogwarts!" shrieked a red-haired witch in the audience.

The Chief Warlock silently blessed his colleagues for helping with his plans for whatever reasons. They were playing right into his hands.

"Why?" Sir Peter demanded.

"Let the boy speak for himself!" came a voice from the Wizengamot.

Lord Harry looked over at Sir Peter. As Wolf had taught him, the best of plans could fly out the window when engaged with the enemy. Sir Peter gave him a slight nod.

Taking a deep breath, Lord Harry spoke in a clear voice that could be heard throughout the chamber. "What you don't seem to realize is that I was sent into exile by one you hold in high regard." Gasps rose from the audience as he glared at Dumbledore. "Yes, exile . ..."

A low angry rumble echoed around the room at the young wizard's words but no-one interrupted, yet.

"To be placed in the Muggle world with people that my parents refused to acknowledge as blood relations, and who hated all things magical, would not be called 'protection.' To my mind, it was exile." He glared at Albus Dumbledore in disgust, causing the aged wizard to stiffen.

Lord Harry could feel the man trying to enter his mind but knew he could not. Wolf's and Wendell's careful tutelage, as well as the Lady's protection, had seen to that.

"At the age of five," he continued, "I managed, with a bout of accidental magic, to escape my prison, and was able to present my case to those that could do something about it. As for my education, I've had the best possible tutors and instructors, both in Muggle and magical studies since I became a Royal Ward."

"But what about a Hogwarts education? It is still the premier school," simpered the pink-clad witch who was later identified as Delores Umbridge.

Lord Harry looked to Sir Peter and the elder barrister cleared his throat. "His Grace would consider Hogwarts to complete his education if the following concessions are granted."

Dumbledore smiled. Maybe this would go his way after all. "And what would those be?" he asked with twinkling eyes.

0o0o0o0

That evening, in the shadows of the Tower, on the green overlooking the barracks, a lady dressed in black stepped out of the inky darkness. A raven landed on her out-stretched arm. "So our young raven is ready to try his wings. You have done well in training him."

Thor cawed a question.

"No, my pet, he will not go alone. The wolf and the otter go with him and will watch his back. The goat will have met his match, and the snake will find that my warrior is more than a match for his darkness. I am well pleased." She laughed as Thor launched himself, cawing triumphantly, into the night sky.

0o0o0o0

Hermione Granger watched as Aunt Maggie got Uncle Ben settled in their flat. It had been a very rough few days. John was off doing whatever it was he and Wolf were currently involved in. She wasn't sure where they were off to, and Maggie was too focused on Ben to really keep track of her adoptive son.

So, here she was, busy in the small kitchenette, putting the kettle on and sorting through the myriad casserole dishes, pies and biscuits that adorned the fridge and counter spaces. Choosing one dish, she popped it into the oven. Once the kettle sang and the tea was ready, she went to knock softly on the bedroom door.

Maggie stepped out, a finger to her lips. "The stubborn old goat finally dropped off," she whispered as she closed the door softly and set a ward to alert her if he woke.

"You know," Hermione said as she and Maggie sat around the table, "I don't know how I missed the signs of you being magical, Aunt Maggie. I mean, it's pretty obvious now that I look around."

Maggie smiled as she checked on the reheating casserole in the oven and helped herself to a spot of tea.

"You saw what you wanted to see; plus, we were very careful to keep everything as mundane as possible," Maggie chuckled.

Hermione fingered her necklace. "John... Harry... John ... Oh, I don't know what to call him!" she sputtered, tears close to the surface.

"It's easy, dear," Maggie said as she placed a plate of shortbread in front of them. "When he's here and living as a Muggle, he's our John. When he's in the Wizarding world, he's Harry."

"Oh, I suppose you're right, Aunt Maggie," she agreed, looking down at her tea. "It's just I don't feel like I know him any more."

Maggie placed a hand on the girl's arm. "He has been your best friend since he found you under his tree. You know him. That we had to keep his magic a secret is only one small part of just who he is. He used to have nightmares about when you would find out, you know. He would wake up calling your name."

Hermione jerked her head up. "Wha... what?"

Maggie nodded. "We always knew that you would have the power to make, or break, him when you found out. You alone, dear, hold his heart in your hands."

Hermione sighed. "When I saw John standing in the Alley over that witch's body with a look of pure fury in his eyes, I didn't recognise him at first. He was like some ancient warrior wizard from one of my books! Then he turned and I saw his eyes change when he looked at me, and I knew it was my John. I didn't know what to think. After that, he told me about Uncle Ben," she paused then wailed. "There just hasn't been time to deal with everything..."

Maggie nodded. "Ben's been dancing around a heart attack for months now, dear. You've always been a very sensible child, and these past few days have been so chaotic. It must be very hard for you to put things in perspective."

"I think the most frightening thing for me was meeting 'John's Lady!' I knew when he talked about her that she was someone special, someone real, but it never dawned on me..."

"That she might be a goddess?" Maggie finished for her.

"Yes," Hermione whispered with a shudder. "She, according to all the myths, is a very blood-thirsty and vindictive deity. How did John ever come under Her protection?"

"That's a tale in and of itself," Maggie answered. "One John himself will have to tell you, himself. As for being 'bloody-thirsty and vindictive' that is only one aspect of The Lady. She has always been there for him. You should realize that he seems to have a touch of Seer blood; we think it comes from his mother's side. Although Muggle-born, the goblins were able to trace Lily Potter's bloodlines back through a line of squibs descended from Ravenclaw. That line was well-known for its prophetic abilities and its devotion to the Lady."

Hermione shuddered. "I'm not sure how I'm supposed to act. Should I be angry? Yes, I am very put-out that he hid that part of himself from me! Should I be hurt? Well, yes, I am hurt, but I grew up here! Crown policies and military protocol have been drilled into us since we were eight and I understand what an oath of secrecy entails..." She paused to take a steadying breath before continuing.

"Am I frightened? Bloody hell, yes! Facing a goddess on the Tower Green in the middle of the night would scare anyone who wasn't already barking mad! What do I do now, Aunt Maggie?" she wailed. "I don't want to lose John, but he's famous in the wizarding world and I'm just a lowly, Muggle-born witch. I have no famous bloodlines to offer him. I'm wholly unsuitable for him in either world!"

Maggie gathered the crying girl in her arms and rocked her gently. "You offer him the one thing our John needs most of all - your love. Don't take that away from him, Hermione. If you do, I fear our boy will be lost."

0o0o0o0o

The Hogwarts Express pulled out of the station. In a single compartment under privacy spells and locks at the back of the train, a young wizard was going over a few things with an adult and his best friend.

The concessions that Lord Hadrian James Potter, head of the Ancient and Noble House of Potter had demanded were easy to push through the Wizengamot, especially with a very manipulative headmaster running roughshod over said body of wizards.

The first concession was that Wolf be allowed to serve as Lord Potter's batman. As a young Peer of the Realm and Royal Ward with the rank of Cadet Lieutenant, Lord Potter was entitled to a batman to oversee his needs and training.

The second was His Grace be assigned his own suite of rooms - one bedroom for himself and one for Wolf. He was entitled to a suite befitting his rank and heritage.

Dumbledore countered with "Harry must be Sorted and tested to see what classes he would need to attend." Sir Peter pulled out a parchment that detailed Harry's studies and test scores.

Dumbledore also argued that Harry needed to socialise with his age group. Sir Peter stated that his charge still had training with Wolf, and that took precedence.

Sir Peter went on to state that any disciplinary action against Lord Harry had to have Crown approval. Hogwarts was well-known for its favouritism among the Houses and, as a Royal Ward, His Grace was above such petty behaviour.

Several other minor concessions and compromises were hashed out before everyone had been satisfied.

As the English landscape sped by, a knock sounded on their door. Harry smiled at Hermione as Wolf opened the door. "So are you going to introduce me to your friends again?"

"Harry, you remember Neville Longbottom and Luna Lovegood? We've been friends since Luna's first year," she introduced them as they filed in.

"Blimey, Hermione, I didn't know you knew Potter," Neville said. "Ron Weasley has been sure he would be best mates with Potter since first year."

Harry looked puzzled for a while until Hermione explained, "Ronald Weasley. He's just as bigoted as Draco Malfoy is. Both are pure-bloods with a chip on their shoulders. Weasley is in Gryffindor and hates all things Slytherin, whereas Malfoy is Slytherin and hates all things Gryffindor."

"Also, the Weasleys are firm Dumbledore supporters. Their mother, Molly, is very entrenched in the infallibility of the headmaster and doesn't tolerate any bad-mouthing of him. I would be careful, if I were you," Neville explained further.

Harry chuckled. "Ah, I see. Well, if it helps any, I've known Hermione since we were eight. I wasn't allowed to tell her who I was, or what I was. I know that the Longbottoms and the Potters were firm allies in the past, and I hope we can be so again."

Neville nodded as he held out his hand. "I would like that."

"So, when were you going to tell us you were goddess-touched, Hadrian?" asked the vacant-eyed blonde beside Neville.

Both Wolf and Hadrian blinked, then stared at Luna for a moment. Something about her was sending off signals in Hadrian's mind and magic. "Oh, Goddess! You're a Seer!" Harry exclaimed. "How in the Lady's name have you been allowed to run free?"

"What do you mean, Harry?" Hermione asked.

Wolf stood and swore. "We have to get her out of here."

Harry raised a hand, closing his eyes. "No. Wait." Then he looked at Luna. "The Lady is helping you, isn't she?"

Luna fingered her radish earrings. "The Lady Cerridwen gave me these. She watches out for me, but Hermione has helped too, as has Neville. She is very pleased with you and Hermione. She hasn't liked it that everyone is ignoring her wishes and rushing to the Bumblebee's cause. He is mortal and subject to human failings. You will be careful?"

"I will, my lady. The Lady has been with me since the night that my parents were murdered. She helped me escape my jailers and has protected me ever since." He looked over at Hermione and squeezed her hand. "She has also given me much to be thankful for."

Hermione smiled at him as Luna's eyes took on her usual dreamy expression. "The nargles will stay away from you as long as you favour Hermione."

"I see that you use the loony bit very well, don't you?" Harry asked with a smile. "Count me as a friend as well, Luna Lovegood, Goddess-chosen."

Luna smiled.

0o0o0o0o0

Albus sat watching the students enter the Great Hall. The Daily Prophet had been running stories about how Harry Potter had been found. They were full of speculation on where the boy grew up and with whom.

The boy himself had been a bit vague. Albus had tried to get Harry to stay with Sirius and to introduce him to a few of the Order members who had children Harry's age. The Weasleys would've been a perfect match! They were an extremely Light-oriented family and very much under his control.

Harry adamantly refused. He stayed with his adoptive family until it was time to go to Hogwarts. Albus did find out that Harry was close to a Muggle-born witch in Ravenclaw. He would need to get closer to her.

Then there was the matter of Harry's batman. It was, he was told, a very old military tradition for young officers. Paul Wolfram was a Muggle-born who had left the wizarding world when he could not find a decent livelihood due to blood prejudice. It was a shame, too. More and more Muggle-borns were leaving after they finished Hogwarts and there was nothing to keep them here.

Just when Minerva McGonagall brought in the first-years to be Sorted, Albus stood. "Good evening and welcome to another new year at Hogwarts. I am happy to announce that Lord Harry Potter has been found and will be attending. He will be Sorted after the first-years. So let's get started, shall we?"

0o0o0o0

Ron Weasley was excited as well as frustrated. He had searched the length of the train and back for Potter and couldn't find him! It had been his dream to be Harry Potter's best friend when he found out they were the same age. However, since first year, Potter had been a no-show. How was he supposed to keep Potter on the Light side if he wasn't there?

He'd have his chance now, once Potter was Sorted into Gryffindor. After all, his parents were Gryffindors. It stood to reason he would be Sorted there as well.

0o0o0o0

Ginny Weasley couldn't wait. She had been dreaming of Harry Potter since her mother had read her stories about him when she was little. She had always dreamed of marrying him when she grew up. She had been very disappointed that he had gone missing, but she had refused to give up on her dreams. She would become Lady Potter; of that she had no doubt! She couldn't wait until her Harry was Sorted into Gryffindor.

0o0o0o0o0

Draco Malfoy watched as a tall, lean, black-haired youth wearing a mix of wizard robes and a military uniform strolled confidently into the Great Hall, followed by a taller man wearing a full kit dress uniform. His father wanted every detail Draco could give him now that Potter was at Hogwarts. Their master wanted to know everything.

Privately, Lucius Malfoy had been very impressed with Lord Potter at the Wizengamot, especially the way he had nipped all of the old fool's plans in the bud. This was one young wizard that did not worship at the feet of the great Albus Dumbledore and the senior Malfoy had found it refreshing.

Draco would have his chance to befriend Potter as his father and master wished soon enough.

0o0o0o0

Lord Harry sat on the stool and allowed the Deputy Headmistress to place the battered hat on his brow. A voice spoke to him within his mind: "Lower your shields, goddess-touched. I need to take a reading of your mind to place you."

"Who are you?"

"I am the Sorting Hat. Didn't you listen to my song?"

"No, sorry. I was outside waiting to be called in, but I take you at your word. Wendell the Weird told me about you once. However, if I lower my shield, the headmaster will be able to read my mind."

"He will not as long as I am on your head - and before you ask, I am not allowed to tell anyone of what we speak, or what I find, not even the headmaster. Trust me, goddess-touched."

"Very well," Harry said as he lowered his mind shields.

"Interesting. You are more than just goddess-touched; you are a child of Destiny as well, Hadrian Ravenschild!"

Time passed. The students in the Great Hall grew nervous and restless. They were tired and hungry and this was taking too long.

Suddenly, the Sorting Hat called out: "FOUNDER'S HEIR!"

All the staff gasped as a pale Minerva McGonagall took off the hat. "Come to the Headmaster's Office after the feast, Mr Potter."

"Yes, Professor. And it is Lord Potter or Your Grace."

"Harry, my boy, why don't you take a seat at the Gryffindor table so we can eat?" came the headmaster's voice.

Lord Harry stood and gave a slight bow to the Deputy Headmistress before turning to the Ravenclaw table. "Headmaster, I made friends on the train with a couple of Ravenclaws and would rather sit with them. And as I just told your deputy, it is Lord Potter or Your Grace," he snapped.

Not waiting for a reply, Harry made his way over and sat in the empty space between Hermione Granger and Luna Lovegood. Wolf stood behind Harry; protocol dictated that he wait on his charge during the meal. Both Harry and Hermione felt bad about it, but there was nothing they could do to convince him otherwise.

"Don't you think he should be sitting at the staff table?" asked one of the Ravenclaws.

"This is Sgt. Major Paul Wolfram; he is my mentor and batman. He's on duty at the moment and will eat later. I wouldn't worry too much," Harry dismissed their concerns as he filled his plate, playing his role.

0o0o0o0o0

We repeat, do not expect such a long chapter like this every time. It just worked out that way when we combined two chapters. We thank everyone for the reviews, they are very much welcomed. We try to answer privately any questions or concerns that do pop up from time to time.

Phil, we love you! You have been great in helping us.

Until next time. -GF and the Frau