Chapter 17 – Escape
~~~~~Power of Ancestral Magics~~~~~
Bearer's Tower, Hogwarts
Harry could honestly say as he got up on Monday morning the sixth that the past weekend had been exhausting and full of time-consuming tasks that had put him behind on his schoolwork. The buyout of the daily prophet when the shares had tanked after Harry had formally revealed that he was indeed Lord Potter by several other people for the remaining shares not already owned by either Potter Black or Longbottom Houses, had paused the lawsuit with the caveat, that if they could not contain there reporters to stay within the accepted libel and slander laws then the case would be resumed.
Secondly was that although internationally Potter Industries had not taken a hit at all, after the unveiling of the return of the Ancestral house of Le-Fay, the same could not be said here in the Isles, as Lord Le-Fay seemed to be holding its outside Isles properties at the same level they had been for the past few generations. In the Isle's it seemed the house of Le-Fay wished to claim as many businesses of House Potter as they could, by either running them out of business or by forcing House Potter to hand them over. In that Harry and Sirius were both being run ragged putting out fires both politically, and economically, for the businesses both owned and associated with House Potter.
On the other hand though, Draco was proving to be in invaluable asset in the business world, as he helped soothe and point out the quick and easy fixes to some of the issues that arose, quickly and artfully, frustrating his father to no end, when he had finally seen Draco's artful hand aiding Harry. In exchange Draco was learning a smidgeon of what exactly Harry had in store for Marvolo politically after the initial fervor died down, and he had shivered but given his own blessing for it, though as one of Marvolo's largest supporter's the official house of Malfoy would suffer from the blowback. Draco had come to understand that this was politics and prepared his already growing Draconis industries investments he had made to shift overseas to help weather the storm coming though he gave no warning of this to his father or grandfather. Which garnered the interest of the watchful eyes of his friends, who had seen the change in the Malfoy heir but kept it to themselves.
~~~~~Power of Ancestral Magics~~~~~
Hogwarts, Scotland
For Draco the past weekend had been mindboggling. He had finally begun to see that although his father was far more shortsighted, his grandfather was shortsighted as well. The two men that had once taught him the important of having contingency plans had in fact it seemed forgotten that little Slytherin rule as they threw all their chips in at the same time, onto the same side, never seeing the storm brewing on the sidelines.
Meeting his aunt Andromeda for the first time she merely wrapped him in a hug called him her little Dragon and said that all children went through the phase as they grew up of realizing that the adults in their lives were infallible. In time his own children would go through the same thing with him, but that the big thing was to stay true to himself and that was why he was here at Gringotts, to fetch a few items from the family heirloom vault. Draco had finally decided to issue courtship as he had once desired to do for another. In his new friends and allies he had found someone he wished to court and would gladly do so.
While at Gringotts that morning he had used some of the last of his free spending cash and have the inheritance tests performed on him, instead of the regular two tests provided by Harry's fund. Draco was doing all four as to get a proper grasp on his own situation, so nothing surprised him in the coming months. Harry's unveiling of himself being the Evan-Shade heir and being able to easily circumvent Marvolo's claim to the throne so easily had surprised Draco though he felt that, and Neville agreed something else was being held back from them by Harry. Some of Harry's contingency plans had not been as explained as others and showed the holes where secrets lied. Oddly this bothered neither of the boys as they understood the need to keep the family secrets as exactly that.
Draco had come before classes as he did not wish to miss classes today and tomorrow was a joint 5th, 6th, and 7th year merged History and Culture Saturday class, that was also a free discussion period for the most part of their four-hour long class period. It spoiled any plans they had for the weekend, but Draco was oddly ok with it as he was looking forward to the discussion. He thought as he returned to Hogwarts, besides he wanted to get a second opinion on whether or not to undergo blood rites.
~~~~~Power of Ancestral Magics~~~~~
As the young heir Malfoy entered his office from the floo Dumbledore watched him. He was only one of the several pawns that had been acting out this year. Dumbledore watched as he exited the office with barely a salutation, no doubt to join Mr. Potter, and Mr. Longbottom in the great hall. That was an unexpected and frankly unwelcome friendship he thought. As he focused on Harry, his mind jumped to the past weekend, he had expected young Harry to cave to the demands of Marvolo as he was now the head of an ancestral line. The fact that he didn't both unnerved him and made him proud. In one way it showed that the boy was still redeemable, that he had not completely fallen to the dark yet, after all his Gryffindor courage to stand before the power of such a house and not only defy it but to seemingly challenge the house had been surprising even for Dumbledore. However, the boy willingness to challenge him was almost going to far as it was very obvious that the boy was not going to merely allow the murder of his parents to be swept under the rug. It was such a pity that blood rites would have pieced Tom's soul back together, Harry's fury would have died so easily with the knowledge that Harry to was a horcrux. However, he could not seem to forget the whisper that Alastair the sorting hat had made years ago would the boy had truly willingly walked to his death?
~~~ Flashback September 6, 1991 ~~~
Dumbledore called the staff meeting together. "Well, the first week of classes is now over, let us first discuss the upper years and then return to the first years as they will be our main topic of discussion for the night." After a half an hour of talking about any issues in the upper years he quietly steered the conversation back to the first year. "Severus any issues with your littlest snakes?"
"None as usual" the dour man grumbled.
"And you your ravens Filius?"
"None they are all eager to begin the theoretical lessons."
"As are mine" Ponoma Sprout commented.
"And your lions Minerva?"
"I'm wondering if my house might have a few mis-sorts."
"Oh, you do, do you, who might you be wondering about?" Alistair had asked chiming into the meeting for the first time in years.
"Well young miss Granger, I'm fairly certain should be a Ravenclaw." Minerva answered.
"A sharp mind she may have, but there is courage within her that outshines the mind and has her forgetting it at times. She will at times surprise you as she will be your most ardent rule follower until she finds her place in the pack, and depending on where she settle's you may have a quiet and shy lion, or a powerful and fearless, lioness willing to do anything to protect her friends. Any others." Alistair questioned deeper.
"Mr. Longbottom seems better suited towards my house Alistair." Pomona Sprout chimed in.
"Done well among the Badgers he would have, but he is not as soft as they are. Many of your badgers will not realize the harsher realties of our world until their later years, and Neville, the lion that he is understands the dangers of our world and has squared back his shoulders and marched on." Alistair answered and then continued.
"Among this year's first years only two could possibly be mis-sorted, one went to Gryffindor and the other Slytherin."
"And who among my Slytherins does not belong?" Snape snarled.
"For both young men, the only choices they had were Slytherin and Gryffindor, young Draco however will take a little bit longer for that dragon to waken, his temper is not as easily riled, he has been well taught, it will take time for him to gather himself enough to let his courage shine. But make no mistake his brash courage is tempered by the cunning, and quick thinking of a snake. The easiest would be to describe both him and young Potter as sleeping dragons, and pray you never waken them."
"Potter hasn't an ounce of cunning in him, he is nothing more than a brash, arrogant, Gryffindor no matter how you look at it, he is unsuited for…" Severus Snape was abruptly cut off by the hat.
"He could out Slytherin, Slytherin himself as his ancestor himself once did. Ignatius Potter was never a student in these halls but the three years he taught politics and law here before his death set the bar at a level that has not been broken or raised since. He wore me thrice in all his years as head of the house Potter, and a mind far too similar for my liking, lurks in Mr. Potter. Given the right tools and motivation and you will have a fine head of house for Potter in time. Wrong him and you could create a monster stronger than Grindelwald, and Voldemort combined for he will know no mercy."
~~ End Flashback ~~
His mind was brought back from that memory to enter another, from earlier that week.
~~ Flashback Begin ~~
Albus watched as the doors to the great hall were slammed open and several ministry representatives, several Wizengamot lords, and Lord Le-Fay entered the room. They were escorting a gentleman and his entourage. A gentleman that Albus recognized. Albus made to rise before the department head of international affairs spoke up.
"Do remain in your seat Albus, our business today has little to concern yourself. Lord Potter, might I introduce to you Prince Dimitri of the Empire of Russia. He has been in contact with my department for about a month now. Recent actions taken by you are in direct violation of…"
"The betrothal was never ratified by the head of house Potter, Alexandria's signature on said document means nothing as you are well aware. Therefore, nothing in that document is applicable to house Potter." Harry interrupted rising from his seat to stand before the assembled party.
"Lord Potter, please these are not politics you can understand…" The department head was interrupted by the prince.
"I care not for the intricate political games played by your house. I was promised a bride, in Artemis Ivanov, you will give him to my care, and we will be wed on the next solstice. Or else." The prince ordered.
"Artemis, do you wish to marry Prince Dimitri?" Harry asked.
"It does not matter if he wants it or not, the betrothal is signed. He is a mere bearer anyways, he has no say in the matter, all he is, is a broodmare for me to get a strong heir out of and then execute. Its all you bearers are good for anyway, how a bearer like you could even become a lord is beyond me." The prince belligerently interrupts.
"Artemis?" Harry questions.
"No, my Lord, I do not wish to wed the prince." Artemis answers.
"You have your answer then, House Potter declines, as the contract was not signed by a proper head of house the contract is not binding and will not be honored by House Potter." Harry answers not taking his eyes off of the Prince.
"Now, Lord Potter be reasonable, it is one boy's happiness, for Britain's continued good grace with Russia, please reconsider." The minister asks.
"My answer is final." Harry answered coldly.
"If house Potter does not agree to honor the contract, then war it shall be. Britain will bow to us, and your house will serve mine and I will have all of your houses bearers." The Prince sneers.
"Now surely we can come to some semblance of an agreement here." Marvolo says stepping forward. "Surely the Lord and Head of House Potter would not place the protection of one member of his house above that of Albion's."
"You go too far Lord Le-Fay. I suggest you remember your own place in this discussion, and among the kings court." Harry answers.
"Perhaps if you are too young to handle the responsibility of making such decisions than you should not be head of house." Marvolo answers.
"You are well aware that declaring war on Britain means declaring war on Albion are you not?" Harry asks focusing once more on Dimitri and ignoring Marvolo. Dumbledore stiffens against his chair feeling a shift in the wards of Hogwarts. His eyes search the room for a threat that wards would react to, to cause a disturbance of this magnitude but can find nothing.
"Albion, Albion is dead, any power the house of Potter may have held is gone." The Prince sneers.
"You are certain of that?" Harry mocks.
"Ye…" The prince doesn't finish the sentence as Harry lifts a single hand up and the Hogwarts wards are ripped from Dumbledore's control, and the Albion wards shove Dimitri into the stone floor.
"Get up." Harry orders the prince. The prince visibly attempts to but is stuck hard to the floor.
"Release him." one of his entourage orders pulling his sword on Harry.
"I am lord and head of house Potter, commander of the armies of Albion, and Albions first and last line of defense. And you are ordering me to have the wards of Albion release this miscreant that dares to raise a threat against the empire my line has sworn to protect?"
"That is not the Potter house's prerogative." Snaps a member of the Wizengamot that had escorted the prince.
"My apologies, Lord Protectorate Potter. It had been so long since the house of Potter had exercised the Power it was thought lost. That your house no longer held the protectorate title." Grovels the Prince's attendant.
The wards pressing down on the prince release him, and Hogwarts's wards return to the control of the headmaster as Harry speaks. "In the future if your Prince attempts to declare war in such a way again, I will not humiliate him I will execute him. This is his only warning. If he is not outside Albion's wards by the noon hour this will happen regardless. I suggest you take your leave, as for the rest of you, this is a place of learning, classes were expected to commence half an hour ago, and cannot while you monopolize the attentions of our professors, I suggest you depart as well.
~~ End Flashback ~~
He is brought from his musing by his fireplace going off with request for someone to floo in. His mind lost in thought as he mindlessly approved the request. There was no doubt that those two dragons that Alistair had spoken of had finally opened an eye, they weren't awake yet but would be all too soon. No, he wouldn't move against them, not yet, let the ministry and Wizengamot allow them to sharpen their claws, it would allow him, to tame their fire when the time came. Dumbledore was drawn from his thoughts as his floo once more went off and the ICW head of Investigations stepped out requesting the presence of several teachers as well as students. The severity and grief on his face had Dumbledore immediately complying. Dumbledore quickly sent massages to the students knowing that the mood Mr. Smith was in would see him in hot water if he obstructed the man's work in any way. As the men waited for the others to arrive, Dumbledore patiently waited hoping this would not be a repeat of what had happened on Monday. Albus shivered slightly remembering the pandemonium that had brought. That had been a nightmare of Epic portions that had reverberated throughout the week, in both the school, and the social and political fields. When the door open and in walked, Neville Longbottom. Draco Malfoy, Abraxas Malfoy, Lord Le-Fay who was staying at the school, Lucius Malfoy, several other teachers, and Harry Potter, Dumbledore only marginally relax understanding the tensions in the room.
Making sure he had everyone's attention, the head of ICW investigations began to speak. "This morning as usual 16 ICW guards left to relieve the 16 guards already stationed at Nurmengard Prison. They returned fifteen minutes after they had left to inform me that they could not take up their posts, for the prison was no more. Shortly afterward I left with several investigators and the guards and discovered rubble and ruins left in the wake of whatever happened. As we speak my men are already clearing the grounds of debris and attempting to locate and identify as many bodies as they can. It looks to be a massacre of everyone there, the question is by who."
"Why are you telling us this?" asked Minerva in annoyance. "I doubt you have deigned to have us aid you in the cleanup, so I fail to see the reason for our presence."
"He's telling us because they haven't found the body of the most dangerous criminal in Nurmengard." All eyes in the room turned to look at Harry. "It's a simple conclusion, the notification of myself and Neville is readily apparent, as our houses have standing blood feud with his. Grindelwald did not like traitors of any kind, and if the stories are to be believed the Malfoys held that position in his mind, for you Abraxas Malfoy where promised to him by your Mother but chose to serve your rising schoolmate instead. The teachers and the headmaster are readily apparent as we are all in Hogwarts and even if we weren't Dumbledore has the dubious honor of having claimed to defeat him. He cannot let that claim stand and so if he has indeed escaped, he will eventually attack Hogwarts, if only to draw Dumbledore from his Ivory tower. I doubt I need to explain why he will be coming after Lord Le-Fay."
"It is surprising how easily you put that together Potter but enlightening none the less. Those are the reasons I am here. The teachers needed informed as this information will be in the papers this morning and will cause panic among the students."
"I fail to see why we have the worse dark lord here in this very room, previous he may be but worse he was, furthermore his defeater is also here." Pomona Sprout interjected.
"I fear Pomona that will only be the attitude of our Isle raised students, those that come from greater Europe, will not see it that way, as they were never touched by the hand of Voldemort, and as such view Grindelwald as a much greater threat. My own story was not built up as much there, as I remained a teacher of a school that catered mainly to the students of the Isle's and as such, they were not exposed to me." Harry snorted at Dumbledore's explanation but did not comment instead fingering the Grimoire in his hands. Neville and Draco looked at him with concerned expressions but said nothing. "Will that be all inspector?" Dumbledore asked.
"From most of you, yes. From Lord Le-Fay we wish to ask his aid in the clean-up and recovery, if we can find Grindelwald's remains, we can stall the panic across Albion with ease."
"I will be along as soon as breakfast is finished and the students have been settled, seeing me will no doubt help in assuaging their fears." Marvolo answered.
"Lord Longbottom, Lord Potter, I would ask your aid as well as the aid of the men beneath you, the vassals of both your houses would be helpful in this."
Sparing a glance at Harry, Neville answered, "I will be ready to leave when you are." Draco will you be accompanying us or will be staying to get our notes from classes today?"
"By the look on my grandfather's face I will be staying, although culture class will be boring with just the assistants teaching." At Neville's blank look he continued. "Yes, I will get your notes."
"Thank you Draco, I will come as well, Mr. Smith, allow me to mirror call my godfather so that he can send the aid requested, and to assure the vassals in the castle that I have not had a horrible fate befallen me while I slept or some such nonsense." Harry said.
"Thank you I can wait until you have done so and then we can leave if you would like"
"That will be more than acceptable, allow me a few moments" With that Harry left the rooms mirror calling, Sirius, Artemis, and Andromeda as to the present situation.
~~~~~Power of Ancestral Magics~~~~~
Nurmengard Prison, Austrian Alps, Austria
Harry quickly centered himself as the world straightened out as the apparition ended. Harry could feel the warming charms on his clothes activate to protect him from the brisk cold of the Austria Mountains. The snow swirled and circled around them as ice could be seen on the ridges around them. Before them days ago had stood a mountainous fortress covered in ice and snow, now rubble and a skeleton of its once sleek form stood outlined against the rock of the mountain. As part of the fortress itself had been built into part of the mountain itself, Grindelwald had not been able to completely destroy the structure but the free-standing portions that had been its main living spaces and entrances were now piles of scattered rubble in a clearing.
Harry turned hearing the further cracks of apparition from behind him and saw approximately four dozen Potter Hit-Wizards arrive to aid in the rescue, a cheer went up from the ICW volunteers and investigators that had already been there. Harry smiled, turning towards the building before asking investigator Smith, "Have you already gotten the readings you need magically for your investigation?"
Shouting a few questions at others Smith turned back to Harry and answered him "My men say they've gotten all the readings they can all they need to do now is gather the body's and do the diagnostic readings to confirm their identities, as well as search out any possible survivors, unfortunately all we've found so far is the bodies of prisoners, there is still some hope however slim it may be that the guards could still be alive."
"Very well, as it is highly unlikely that they are in the visible sections of the fortress and at this point the upper levels are inaccessible could you pull your men away from the destructions zone?"
"I can, what are you think of doing, Lord Potter?" Smith asked.
"Just clear your men from the wreckage I'm going to make a way for us to access those upper levels. I want this place cleared today if at all possible." Harry answered.
"Now Mr. Potter this crime scene falls under my jurisdiction, you can't just…" Smith trailed off as he looked down into Harrys eyes. Normally Harry's eyes were green, when he was angry, they sort of glowed showing off his own power. Smith looked into eyes that didn't sort of glow, they shone with power, they shone with the might of house Potter, but in their depths shone another power, one that Smith felt was judging him, judging him and finding him wanting for something. These eyes reminded him of the stories he had been told of the war with Grindelwald, more specifically the fire that had shined in Charlus Potters eyes as he had hunted Grindelwald, and those who knew the full story, had no doubt that it had become a hunt. Those eyes those reminded him that the Potter house had the sole power and right to tap into the wards of Albion and wield the Power of house Pendragon, if only for brief moments, when acting in the line of their duty. Smith, stood down, "My apologies my Lord please continue."
"I'm not trying to undermine your power Head Investigator Smith, but if Grindelwald is once more at large then I have a responsibility to ensure that the people are informed. It is my responsibility to ensure that Albion is informed of it and prepared for the war his escape will no doubt bring." With that he turned seeing the ICW men cleared out raised his wand and muttered a spell under his breath. Andrew Smith had seen many powerful magics cast in his life but the gasp from the grizzled veteran behind him made him prepare for the worst, but he was not prepared for the spell to split after it had left the boys wand. Each stream of light split off again and found a piece of the once mighty fortress, they then floated those pieces into the air and then began to piece them back together. He stood gaping ten minutes later when the fortress Nurmengard stood once more in front of him whole again.
Harry stumbled slightly being caught and steadied by his three regular bodyguards, before speaking to investigator Smith once more. "If you have maps of this place please pull them out, I can cast a few spells to make more but let's use the ones brought here first. I want approximately at least four teams of nine, the teams are to be further into sets of three, one set to move in the front for protection, the third set to move behind for defense, the second set to move between the teams to levitate and identify the bodies found. Let's, start on the northernmost wings and then we will move through them in a clockwise manner. Once you have the max about of bodies your levitation spell can carry bring the bodies back and assemble them in the atrium to be identified once more by the ICW team. Well, what are you waiting for, move out!" Harry proved his words to be more than orders as he too joined the teams searching the northernmost tower with Alrick, and his two other bodyguards taking up flanking positions on either side and behind him, Neville to joined his group with another set of Hit-Wizards in front of him.
~~~~~Power of Ancestral Magics~~~~~
Nurmengard Prison, Austrian Alps, Austria
When Dumbledore and Marvolo Le-Fay along with their entourages arrived shortly after 10 am they had expected to see ruins instead they saw a stable, sound fortress, though the rows of bodies set for identification in the Atrium after they had entered told the story of what had happened. They quickly located Smith and approached him.
Dumbledore quickly asked. "What happened Smith, some of those bodies look as if they had been buried beneath rubble yet the fortress looks put together, I thought you said it had been destroyed."
"It was destroyed this entire section was one humongous pile of rubble when I spoke to you this morning, but shortly after he got here, Lord Potter, after checking that my men had gotten all the readings they needed, cast some spell that acted like a huge reparo spell. It put the entire thing back together." Smith replied.
"You trusted him that, that was all his spell did," screeched Madame Umbridge from behind them all, "That boy is an insane, attention seeking liar, who no doubt has hidden the body of Grindelwald away from everyone just so he can claim another dark lord is back just as he claimed Voldemort was back, that boy should be locked up…" She was stopped by the wand of a grizzled looking man standing next to Smith.
"I would suggest you stop while you still have your head madame, that boy is a Potter and deserves your respect. The only lying I hear or see is coming from yourself madame as cleared or not the Dark Lord he spoke of is standing beside you, and the attention seeking I fail to see outright, all I see is a press that has tried its hardest at working to destroy his image as the press in Britain has tried to do to house Potter since the end of the war with Grindelwald, you would think you people would be more honorable to a boy whose family sacrificed himself to save your own hides."
"Enough we can discuss this at a later time I assume you all came to help out, then let me give you your assignments, Viktor, Harry's group has finished the Northernmost wing and started on the easternmost wing you join his group when they return for another body dump as to the rest of you…" Smith gave out assignments to each one who had come with Marvolo and Dumbledore, even those that had come to merely gawk and see, such as the minister and Umbridge.
The entire group stopped for lunch around noonish, at which point both the Northern wings, Eastern wings, and the southernmost wing of the fortress had been fully searched. One southern and the two western wings remained as did the four towers, Harry had ended up creating magical maps of the fortress once they had found the ward stone, so the men didn't keep finding hidden passages, and shortcuts to and from different parts of the fortress.
~~~~~Power of Ancestral Magics~~~~~
Nurmengard Prison, Austrian Alps, Austria
At lunch the many volunteers eagerly warmed their cold fingers warm cups of coffee, hot chocolate, tea and cider, as they eagerly ate hot soup to warm them up. Marvolo, Dumbledore and their companions quickly found themselves the subjects of glares and looks of disgust, from not just the squadrons of Potter hit wizards but many of the volunteers from mainland Europe as well. Marvolo heard more than one mumble that if Dumbledore had kept his meddling hands to himself none of this would even be an issue.
Marvolo turned to investigator Smith, "You would think your men would be happy for the help, we have given, not leveling us with death glares."
"You have never travelled much abroad, outside of Britain or the Isle's at least have you?" Asked the grizzly old man that had spoken earlier. A round of no's went around the table from most of the Hogwarts contingent at the question. "Well then you wouldn't understand the way that most of your lot are treated in greater Albion. Due to the actions taken over the past little over half a century, most outside of the isle's do not favor Brits much. Even most of the old line as most of your "purebloods" have turned away from some of our more sacred traditions and embraced this pureblood dogma so prevalent in Russia. The war with Grindelwald ended most such thought in Albion outside of Britain. The standing and prestige of the great houses like Bones and Malfoy have fallen in favor, because of their actions or inactions, as the case may be. You lot follow nor honor the sacrifices of the past, and those that have made sacrifices such as the Potters and Longbottom's are vilified by your press and dishonored by the older houses."
"Outside your precious Britain those houses are still held in high regard and many look to them for guidance in regard to the return of the kings, and for many other political matters. Even after the war with Grindelwald when your ministry sanctioned house Potter for the actions taken by Charlus Potter much of Albion celebrated and toasted their name. In your minds Albion is nothing more than the 7 million citizens inside Britain, never thinking of the almost 100 million that live outside the isle's. Most outside your borders see Britain as nothing more than the spoiled oldest brother that throws tantrums when the rest of the family doesn't do things his way, and Dumbledore and you, Lord Le-Fay have not aided in that regard." The man continued.
The grumblings around the Hogwarts contingent did not grow any less as the day went on and they finished right before dinner. Instead of seeing the truth in the statements given by others however, the minister and others only saw what they wanted and rationalized that the complaints given by others where made up lies, or was simple jealousy for what of the other states of Albion had it as good as Britain, Britain held the shining jewels in Albion's crown in both Hogwarts, Dragon Moor and the currently missing Camelot, who could compare? They remained willfully ignorant and though the saying is ignorance is bliss, others that remember the look in Harry's eyes earlier that day reminded them that the young lord to was growing tired and if the rumors around his sudden knowledge of his legacy where true then he and his house would be welcomed by any of the other states, even if they had to deal with the houses of Longbottom and Black as well.
