AN: Sorry it's been a while, my muse has been difficult, to say the least. Jumping through half a dozen new plots, and refusing to let me focus on this fic. Reading through some of your comments however has caused my muse to sit up and take notice of this story again. perhaps it will let me finish it now that I've gotten at least a chapter written on the other ideas, though I have no idea if they will ever actually get published. Here is chapter 23, I'll try to get chapter 24 out before the middle of September but I'm moving into a new apartment as well so it may not be posted until the end of September. As always Read, and Review.

~~~~~Power of Ancestral Magics~~~~~

Chapter 23 – Betrayal

~~~~~Power of Ancestral Magics~~~~~

"What are you talking about, Tonks? Neither Harry's nor I's mirrors have rang since before we left Hogwarts.

"Ok, let me start at the beginning then, as you don't know what happened." Tonks said. "but before I start that expand your mirror and allow me to link in a few other mirrors. It will be easier if we can all explain at once, rather than you receiving pieces from all of us at different times." After Artemis, and the rest of Harry's house had all been linked in and most of the Royals had left, Tonks motioned for Artemis to begin.

"We got home from shopping on Monday around 3:30ish. After dining with Sirius most of us from Hogwarts went to bed, but I had a few things to pass on to Sirius from Harry, from earlier last week. I walked into the study as a House elf popped in and said that there was someone in the floo, saying that Sirius was needed at the ministry. He left very quickly." Artemis said tears in her eyes.

"By all accounts," Alexander continued. "Sirius was promptly arrested for treason upon arrival at the ministry. I objected to this and asked on what basis or evidence that these charges were leveled, only to have an Auror spit in my face and inform me that it was not the business of a foreigner to meddle in the affairs of their betters. I was promptly escorted out of the building, I immediately called Tonks and Apolline to inform them of the developments."

"I attempted to call the two of you as did many others, but no calls went through, I called Griphook and asked him to message you knowing that they have a secondary message system set up with Harry." Tonks continued.

"Harry and I checked it, both before we went out yesterday, and when we rose this morning there was nothing there, in either of our boxes, at least beyond the usual business paperwork." Neville interjected.

"I finally met with Sirius the Tuesday evening after spending most of the night and the day trying to meet with him as is my right as Sirius's lawyer. He told me it was a setup, and that there wouldn't be an out for this one. Malfoy and the minister both had their hands in the matter, mainly to claim the Black estate and money's. This morning the trial took place, as the Minister called an emergency meeting, and Sirius was judged, with a panel of less than half the Wizengamot none of which were of the high court Sirius was declared guilty and sentenced to the dementors kiss set to happen after the Wizengamot reconvenes after the solstice." Tonks answered, "Neville I didn't think of it before but where is Harry?"

"Harry is currently undergoing the ring settlement of a violent claiming. He is currently unconscious and depending on how much of that the ring chooses to show him, he will be for a while, as it is already at the three-day mark, he could be out till morning. He is going to be absolutely furious." Neville answered and all those in the mirror call blanched. "For all the ministry's plans the fact that Sirius Black blood adopted Haldris, making Haldris his heir will be what shoots them in the foot especially when knowing him, he brings this up in front of the ICW at the trial on the 8th of January." No-one had any reply to that observation from Neville.

~~~~~Power of Ancestral Magics~~~~~

For Harry the experience was far more heartbreaking, he watched as Sirius was arrested and then his treatment in the Aurors cells. He saw the gloating of Malfoy, and Fudge. How Delores Umbridge entered the cell and taunted Sirius about the plans she had for Harry. He felt the moment Sirius despaired. Harry watched through Sirius's eyes as he was dragged once more to Azkaban and placed in holding cell and be told that he would have visitors shortly. He watched as Sirius walked to the window and spoke.

"I'm pretty sure that this will count as a violent death, as I intend to fight that dementor to the last. Harry, I understand very well that I'm not supposed to be kissed until after Yule and the Solstice, but I don't think the one's behind this will wait that long, they've been planning for to long. I know you are going to be upset but I have known what they were planning since the planning went forward to trap the first gens. I simply saw you as more important, I'm sorry."

"Harry" Sirius continued, "I love you and the day you showed me your inheritance test my heart broke, I wanted to reassure you that you had a choice. No-one likes being told that they are trapped by destinies plans for them. I knew you would not like it either, but I knew when you showed me that somehow you would be tricked into claiming at least one of those Ancestral houses. When house Potter ascended, I hoped that I was wrong. You were my little boy and you are already drowning in responsibility you didn't need to drown in it more. But fate laughs at those of us who attempt to defy her and then punishes them." Sirius laughs.

"I went to visit the seer for my sixteenth birthday, for the tradition of seeing like so many other houses. I went with your dad, he came out pensive and unsure of himself. I didn't understand why until I entered. She refused to tell me what was bothering him, instead she spoke of seeing the future as being a bad thing and asked if it was the path I wished to take, at my positive answer she looked into the seeing glass and told me my fate. I was to be betrayed by one I trusted most. I would be forced to abandon my only son, and I would see the rise of a king. Those were the three things she told me. I swore then never to be a father. I had defied my parents already and I refused to be bend under the authority of another." Sirius sighs and looks away, before turning back.

"You were a beautiful baby Harry, and I saw no harm in asking your dad for permission to blood adopt, you were already proving that you would be strong. So, I adopted you, made you part black, and I think it was then that I became tied by fate. I accepted it later once I escaped prison, the other two pieces had already happened at least under a king's banner I could better protect you, then you showed me your test. I didn't want you to be king, call it selfishness but your kindness, your smile, the heart of innocence you hold, I didn't want to share, because the realm chose that you were to be the next Pendragon. So, I reassured you when the time came. But sitting here today I can only think of the last thing she told me. She said, "Sirius Orion Black, you will see the rise of a king, you will help forge him, and your greatest joy shall be seeing him crowned." I wish that I could see you crowned Harry, even if it meant you were king then I know your heart wouldn't be breaking." Sirius stopped here as two guards entered the room.

The guards bodily carried a kicking and screaming Sirius to the chambers were the kiss was given and from there Harry became a spectator, as Sirius fought the dementor, but eventually succumbed to the kiss, as Umbridge, Fudge, and Malfoy watched laughing. Harry's fury burned. His fury burned bright enough that his guardians woke and entered his mindscape looking for the cause of his agony. Finding it they whispered words of encouragement in his ear. They reassured him that he could claim revenge for this death. That these deaths would be justified, and that Harry heard as his anger faded to a simmer, controlled by the cords of revenge. As he settled his guardians stepped back as first James, and then Ignatius, faded into the mist leaving Michalis to settle the bearers burning rage.

"Can you hear me Harry?" he asked.

Harry opening his eyes, nodded. Not trusting himself to speak. "I understand your anger, sit allow me to tell you a story. I was born just after the death of the last king. It was a time of political strife and turmoil, but the house of Potter persevered. When I was married into the house of Malfoy it was a cause of much joy and celebration. I honored him as he honored me, and my other two bonded were more than happy for him to be head of our family. I was married at the age of 15 and carried almost 8 children in the next twenty or so years. I saw three of my children bonded themselves before tragedy struck our family."

Harry turned now and truly looked at Michalis, wanting to see his face as well as his words Harry's anger partially fading, causing Michalis to pause his story and allow him to settle. "You have to understand Harry, that the politics of that time where still very cutthroat. Some like the house of Potter that I had been born into where hardly touched by the change in politics at the time. But the house of Malfoy had been on the outer fringes of those houses protected by the king for a long time. As the king's head diplomat they worked closely with the king but they were not trusted by others at court. Many saw house Malfoy as a weak link that aided in the death of the king. In the cutthroat political world of that time it was a difficult position and those who saw their station as above what it was chose to exploit a perceived weakness."

"What weakness?" Harry asked.

"Silas Malfoy was my husband, and his father Oberon, were strong, at the time. Silas was called away alongside my two other mates for a peace conference to help maintain Albion's borders against the Japanese Empire. I in this time sat the Wizengamot seat as Oberon was gaining in age, and on that specific day the Wizengamot had gone long. I had left the three youngest of our children ages three, eight, and eleven at home with the elves, and with Oberon. I returned to the manor to find all four of them had been killed along with the staff and elves in our service. Our enemies seeing a weakness in our defense, had attacked the house and killed all those inside. My bonded were not to return for another two weeks and they did not. In the following two weeks I buried my children and had discovered who had attacked the house. Upon my lovers returned they could only stand by and watch as in my blinding fury I absolutely destroyed those that had touched my children. It served as a reminder in Britain the folly of touching a bearers favored. You see when I asked I told them that it hadn't just been for touching my children, they had slain Oberon as well, a man I had come to see as a father."

"People tried to judge me after that but found themselves unable to. I had made the point I wanted to make, until after my death the house of Malfoy remained unchallenged by all but the house of Potter. My children to would have little trouble in the political arena. It seems my great however many greats grandson has forgotten that the power, house Malfoy so readily uses derives technically from a Potter but more importantly comes from the actions of a bearer and he has done exactly what, those who struck at house Malfoy did in a manner. Sirius though many did not realize it was a guiding light to you, he aided you in reeling in your bearer fury, with his absence Britannia will feel it." With that Michalis nodded hugging Harry the dream broke, and Harry woke with tears on his cheeks and fury in his eyes once more in his room in Egypt.

~~~~~Power of Ancestral Magics~~~~~

Michalis woke in her picture frame, in the hall of ancestors at Malfoy Manor. Fury raged inside her as she felt Silas's arms tighten around her. She could see the other pictures turn towards her, many a Malfoy had come to their picture in aid, and for advice, to see the fury in her eyes was surprising. They knew Michalis as a quiet man, soft spoken and calmly collected, the Michalis they saw know was not that man.

"My love what has happened?" Silas asked from the behind her.

"That boy has all but signed the death warrant for the house, a death warrant I tell you." Her words echoed in the hall, as the footsteps of several youngsters did as well.

"Enough Michalis, you know as much about the outside world as any of us, death warrant pssh, poppycock I tell you, and you should know better than yelling when we have not only the young heir here, but his friends as well." A Picture said from down the hall. Draco though was unfazed and walked down to stand before Michalis's picture. The other Slytherins also gathered around him.

"I've never come this far down the Malfoy hall of ancestors before, who are they?" Theodore Knott asked.

"Silas and Michalis Malfoy, Michalis was a bearer that found Silas favorable, I don't know much about them beyond that. Father always told me it wasn't history I needed to focus on, and that if I was truly interested, I could look through the family Grimoires after I became Lord Malfoy." Draco answered.

"Your father is more of a fool than I thought, summon an elf young man, I will have words with your elders." Michalis answered.

Looking to his friends and not wanting to disobey Draco summoned and elf that was then sent to inform his father and grandfather that they were needed. The two men were quick to arrive along with a few others that Lucius and Abraxas had been in a meeting with.

"Draco, what is it that we were summoned for so briskly, you aren't hurt, I see no other reasons, if this is a prank…" Lucius was stopped by his father's voice.

"Consort Malfoy, a fine day to you and the days greetings, what has awakened your ire?" Abraxas Malfoy asked. "The last time I remember you being so angry you gave my grandfather such a tongue lashing that he voted conservatively for the rest of his days." He said continuing and cluing in a few others.

"Your idiotic bumbling son has signed the death warrant of this house, by challenging house Potter." Michalis answered.

Laughter sounded from the adults. "What I have done my dear consort is show the young Potter brat his place." Lucius Malfoy exclaimed. The lone figure of Mikhail Zabini stood in the background his eyes curious at first before going wide. Lord Le-Fay to looked critically at the painting before questioning.

"You are not the regular shadow of a persons true self, hidden away in a painting you are the true Consort Malfoy, of your time." Marvolo observe the question hung unanswered in the air silencing all the adults as the students remained carefully silent.

"I wondered when someone would finally pick up the fact that I was not a mere painted shade. When I woke, I expected the attention of the lord of the house, I received none, but it has been months and your continued foolishness in dealing with young Potter has assured my silence will last no longer."

"What would a Malfoy have to do with house Potter, you have been enemies for decades." Marvolo asked, not quite understanding the silent fear he saw in the eyes of Abraxas Malfoy, and Mikhail Zabini.

"Allow me to formally introduce myself Lord Slytherin." Michalis answered only to be interrupted before he could continue.

"I am Lord Le-Fay…"

Michalis interrupted Marvolo before he could continue. "You are nothing of the sort, a ring does not make you the head of an ancestral house, merely passing unscathed through blood-rights does not make you the head of an ancestral house. I lived in a time when there was a true lord Le-Fay and he would be disgusted to see you at its head today. There was a reason that Morgana and her ilk was banished from the family lands. You are much like her and her ilk, a true Le-Fay would be disgusted, the magic may have accepted you but it does not make you its master."

"How dare you…" Marvolo continued fury in his eyes.

"I dare because I'm the one who executed Morgana's last descendant you fool. I am Michalis Malfoy nee Potter, the last bearer consort of house Malfoy, the leveler of houses Storin, Crince, and Manner. DO NOT CHALLENGE ME!" Michalis answered. Her voice growing louder with every word, the last echoing in the hall.

"You, Lucius Malfoy, in your foolish hunt for power have challenged a bearers absolute rage, a rage that in me saw the destruction of House Malfoys strongest enemies, houses Storin, Crince, and Manner. Haldris fiery rage, desires only the blood of his enemies. Enemies that you now stand as the third, he has made his plans and has set his course, nothing will stay his hand in absolutely burning the ministry to the ground on the 8th. But for our house, for the house of Malfoy he is torn, of you Lucius Malfoy and of you Abraxas Malfoy, he wishes only for blood and almost nothing would stay his hand from destroying this house but one, one little thing alone stays his hand."

"What stays his hand?" Abraxas asks wearily, he is familiar with the story behind Michalis's words and he had approved of the plan to silence Sirius.

"Do you think, after your stupidity that I would answer that. You Abraxas Malfoy who know the story behind my rage and yet okayed the savage murder of Harry Potter's last remaining link to his parents." Michalis answered a cruel smirk adorning his features.

"The wolf still lives." Narcissa Malfoy pointedly rebuffs.

"Lupin betrayed him, he sided with Dumbledore over his behavior." Draco carefully points out.

The only acknowledgment of Draco's words is the whitening of the adults faces.

"You have no idea what you have truly wrought upon yourselves and I have no desire to inform you of all of it. If this is the folly the house of Malfoy has become, then I desire no part of it." Michalis said and turned from the outside of her portrait. Outside in the hall the adults quickly cleared, many of them taking their children with them until Draco was left alone staring at the portrait.

"Harry values my friendship that much doesn't he?" He tentatively asks.

Michalis turns back to the frame to the outside world. "He does, you are the only thing that stays his hand."

"I, I don't know how to ask him, I want to be more, but I know he's seeing Viktor and…"

"Peace young heir, he to feels a draw to you and like me and most Potter bearers requires more than one bonded, trust me Draco he has enough room in his heart for you as well."

Draco nods thanking Michalis before he to leaves. Michalis cannot help but think that although Draco's parents were fools, Draco saw the signs of the changes to come he was a true Malfoy, and he would fill well the position of Diplomat in Haldris's court, yes a change was coming and those who saw it would be the ones to stand with their heads held high in the coming era.

~~~~~Power of Ancestral Magics~~~~~

Harry rose from his room and after getting dressed entered the shared living. He quickly greeted the people there and thanked both the dowager queen and the Pharaoh for their gracious hospitality, as they left Alomar stayed.

"My apologies that this happened while you where here." Alomar answered.

"Harry, Tonks said as you no doubt know that Sirius wasn't to be kissed until after the Solstice so what happened?" Neville asked his Anxiety getting the better of him. He watched as Harry's fists tightened, anger was visible throughout his form and through gritted teeth he answered.

"The Minister and Umbridge decided why wait, and gave him the kiss early, even if I could get the charge and conviction of treason overturned, I can't get him back Neville." Harry answered almost crying at the end.

"Not know but you may be able to in time." Alomar answered. Harry sat as the air went out of him. Neville just stared at Alomar. Who continued, "I understand that it may not be as well known overseas, but I at least thought it was understood that Dementors are not natural creatures, they are servants of death."

"Well, yes, it is, but it's also known that the myth that a necromancer can reverse the kiss is a lie as well." Neville answered.

"Wait, are you saying…" Harry started his eyes going wide.

"Dementors and their cousins originate from Egypt, because they were the creations of our Ancestral house of Peverell, they were seeking a way, from my understanding at least to control people with their souls still intact. Inferi are all well and good they said but after a time the body begins to rot, and they aren't the perfect slaves. They sought a way to essentially make an inferi but with the soul inside as they had discovered that the absence of a soul is what made the body rot."

Alomar took in their interested faces and continued. "It was originally designed to be used against Egypt's enemies. The first success was alright, but the soul quickly faded and then they were left with an Inferi, so they made the Dementor to be able to use the souls of others to be able to sustain themselves as well. It went very very wrong, and the experiment escaped, not thinking anything of it they created the Lethifold and that was even worse. They didn't learn the true extent of the monstrous beings they had created until years later. When they discovered it, they created a set of family spells that could be used to return the soul a dementor had taken to the body as long as the body still had breath in it."

"So, what you are saying is if there was a lord Peverell then they could return my godfathers soul to his body." Harry asked quickly.

"Yes, and according to my father, somewhere out their there is an heir Peverell, he just has yet to undergo the Blood Rites ceremony." Alomar answered.

"Harry, there are other issues to that though to. A guilty sentence of treason can only be pardoned by five ancestral houses or the royal family of the kingdom in which the sentence was cast. Even if it was proven wrong, at the very least he would be forced to spend the remainder of his days in Azkaban serving out his sentence." Neville reminded everyone in the room. "And besides even if you could find five Ancestral houses it would only stay the sentence for five years without a Royals intervention." Harry heard Neville's words and stopped for a moment to settle his racing mind, as Neville continued. "Besides for blood-rites it would be safest to seek out the Goblins and it's unknown at this time if they can be trusted."

"What, why?" Harry asked.

"Because Griphook was asked to deliver a message to us about Sirius and never did." Neville answered and Harry rose turning to Alomar he asked.

"Can you escort us to Gringotts, I have a few matters to discuss with the Goblins?" Harry's face was a full expressionless mask now and Neville nor Alomar could read it.

"Of course, shall we." Alomar answered for the first time since he had set his eyes on being crown Prince, he was unsure of the intentions of the one who stood before him.

~~~~~Power of Ancestral Magics~~~~~

When the group arrived at the Egyptian bank, Neville was surprised at the fact that it was the third bank on the street.

Alomar sensing his confusion answered the unasked question. "The goblins are vassals of the Royal house of Albion as such, although they are permitted to bank in Egypt, but they are not the only ones. Gringotts here holds banking as a secondary occupation and the excavation of the Pyramids as the first, they are also responsible for aiding in a great many rituals here such as blood rites. That is why, I was so startled to hear you speak of them as being untrustworthy."

"The Britain Gringotts clan was recently found to be dishonorable and half of them were put to death on Grinholts orders." Harry answered.

A Goblin at the door turned at the door and sneering said. "It would behoove you wizard to remember common curtesy when walking in Goblin halls. It would take little effort to cut you down."

Harry turning towards the Goblin answered. "King Grinholt seems to have a larger issue than first believed for you to unwarrantedly verbally attack a member of Albion's great houses. I had come to speak of an attack on my family made possible by the actions of one of Gringotts own but seeing the actions here of a lowly door guard such as yourself, I see that there may be little to spare of the Goblins when next a king sits on Albion's throne."

"Enough Knarlnock, you have shamed us once more be gone with one of the other guards will take your place, I will deal with you later. My apologies Lord Potter but I know not of the incident of which you speak. I am Narfist head of the clan that operates here in Memphis." The intruder answered.

"That is to be expected not to sound rude, but this is a matter of which I wish to speak to Grinholt of, the honor of the Goblins is at stake and I will not see my words falling on deaf ears." Harry answered. Alomar and Neville looked on in surprise.

"Harry, one does not merely ask to see the king of the Goblin clans." Alomar said.

"Indeed, Lord Potter one does not merely order to see the High King of the Goblins." Narlfist echoed. "Anything you need speak of can be spoken of to me. I am head of the Egyptian bank."

"Except that the matter pertains to the fact that current prince of house Pendragon suspects the Goblins of betraying their oath of fealty Narlfist." Harry answered the fire in his igniting once more.

"How dare you, wizard how we goblins fill our fealty oath to the Pendragon line, matters only to an Albion King and that king will not be Pendragon but Le-Fay. I should kill you where you stand." Narlfist started.

"Lord Le-Fay is many thing Narlfist, but I will not answer to Lord Le-Fay any time soon. Lord Potter, it is well to see you, I wish it was under better circumstances." Grinholt said coming from beyond the doors of the Goblin chambers in the inner bank. "I had a meeting with Narlfist, as such I was already here and had yet to leave."

"Thank you King Grinholt a word in private please, it is not that I do not trust my companions, but this is not personal business." Grinholt nodded and despite Alomar's and Neville's request to wait a moment Harry followed Grinholt and Narlfist to a private room. Upon entering Harry turned and pulling a blade as in a voice colder than ice: "My aides and Sirius Black all gave Gringotts messages to pass onto me that were never passed on. Messages that where passed straight to Griphook, now I find it hard to believe that considering you and Griphook fully know my full inheritance and titles if I go through a full blood Rites ritual not a partial a full blood rite what I can claim. I find it difficult to believe that you would not be able to see treason in your own son yet you placed him in direct contact with me, furthermore you put him in charge of the search for other traitors." Harry took a deep breath before continuing.

"Here's what is going to happen, and this will be the only thing saving the Goblins from my anger. On the solstice I will be undergoing a full Blood Rite, with intent to claim five houses. After I go under, I do not care who else is also in the ritual room, all goblins will leave the room. The only people in the room besides those undergoing the Rite will be Potter family guards and security forces. If anything happens to anyone in that room that my guards have to inform me of, then I will personally, execute your entire clan, and will keep executing Goblins until I can find a clan that is loyal to Albion's crown. Am I clear?" Harry asked, Narlfist answered.

"and what is to keep me from killing you here?"

"The fact that an attempt will execute every goblin here in this building and I will still walk out of here unscathed." Harry answered.

"He speaks the truth Narlfist. Blood Inheritance marks him as Heir of house Pendragon, our oath stands to him. Grinholt turning to Harry bows and says. "As my liege so commands so shall it be done.

Harry walked out of the room unscathed to the surprise of all the goblins in the bank, Neville, and Alomar, who had all expected him to be carried out dead. Upon Neville asking what had happened Harry answered "We merely discussed how my Blood rites would work. I am sorry Crown Prince Alomar, I had every intention of celebrating the solstice with you but as circumstances stand, I will be undergoing blood Rites on the Solstice and will be returning to my homeland immediately afterwards. I'm sorry that our time together could not be longer."

Alomar nodded his understanding as they all returned to the palace. Upon their return the dowager queen had already sent messages that she understood the need for an early departure and that she nor the Pharaoh were angry. They understood politics and that they would be seeing them at the ICW trial on the 8th.