Chap. 17: Potter Manor, the DOM, Theodore Nott, the Minister, and the Weasley Cookout.
Saturday, April 22, 2000
Harry and Daphne awoke, and as they promised themselves, they had a bit of a lie-in, then, an hour-long bout of sex in their huge shower, and finally, a long breakfast in their kitchen, which ended at 11:00 AM.
Harry and Daphne made their way into the great hall, where Harry parted from his wife, and made his way to their office to retrieve the Malfoy's literature on time altering devices from the safe. Daphne, though, made her way into the media room, and curled up in her favorite chair by the window, which overlooked the front grounds of the manor.
Once settled, after putting her feet up on the matching ottoman, Daphne had Winky to bring her some hot tea. She opened a book that she had just started to read, titled 'Official and Confidential, The Secret Life of J. Edgar Hoover," authored by Anthony Summers. The book held interviews with several people who were connected to the mafioso, and the muggle's US Counterintelligence Services. It was quite the read, as she had already looked up a few things by using the index before she had ever read the prologue. Talk about dirt, Daphne thought, it was there.
Harry collected the Malfoy books and journals, and made his way into the media room where he gave Daphne a kiss goodbye. Next, he flooed into the atrium at the Ministry of Magic, and as he made his way to the lifts, he began singing under his breath.
.
Ol' Blanton and Jim Beam, I know you of old,
And you've robbed my poor pockets of silver and gold.
You've thrown me into ditches, and torn my clothes,
But I'll still drink your liquor, goddamn your soul.
.
It's a whiskey, rye whiskey, rye whiskey I cry,
If I don't get my whiskey, I think I will die.
.
I'll eat when I'm hungry, I'll drink when I'm dry,
If the dark times didn't kill me, I shant never die.
I'll tune up my fiddle, and I'll rosin my bow.
I'll make myself welcome, wherever I go.
.
Rye whiskey, rye whiskey, rye whiskey I cry,
If a tree don't fall on me, I'll live till I die.
.
Beefsteak when I'm hungry, red liquor when I'm dry,
Galleons when I'm hard up, and religion when I die.
They say I drink whiskey, my money's my own,
All that don't like me, can fuck off alone.
.
Rye whiskey, rye whiskey, rye whiskey I cry,
If a giant don't stomp me, I'll live till I die.
.
Sometimes I drink whiskey, sometimes I drink rum,
Sometimes I drink brandy, and other times none.
But if I get drunked up, my whiskey's my own,
And them that don't like me, can piss off alone.
.
Rye whiskey, rye whiskey, rye whiskey I cry,
If my broom don't drop me, I'll live till I die.
.
If the ocean was whiskey, and I was a duck,
I'd dive to the bottom, and drink my way up.
But the ocean ain't whiskey, and I ain't a duck,
So we'll round up dark wizards, and all get drunk.
.
Rye whiskey, rye whiskey, rye whiskey I cry,
If the whiskey don't kill me, I'll live till I die...
.
As Harry passed the Fountain of Magical Brethren, he threw five galleons into the pool. He was in a very good mood today, and, he felt lucky.
Harry walked along the black-tiled corridor to the large black door of the DOM, on level nine, where he opened it, and stepped inside. As the entrance chamber started to spin, Harry called out "Time Study Room." The wall's rotation stopped, so Harry walked in the direction he was facing, and opened the door in front of him.
"Sir Harry," an unknown unspeakable said, "what can I help you with?"
"I'm looking for Simon," Harry replied.
The unspeakable, who Harry couldn't identify, held up his hand and nodded, then stood, and left through the back door of the time room. It was almost as it was when Sirius passed on during the battle, but now, the tall case holding the time-turners was missing. All the carriage clocks were still hanging on every wall, which gave off a loud synchronized ticking, and the sparkling bell jar was still on the table between the desks. As Harry was studying an eighteenth century grandfather clock in the corner, the door opened, and Simon Croaker walked in with his hood down.
"Sir Harry," Simon said with a grin, while shaking his hand, "I didn't expect you today. What can I do for you?"
"I come bearing gifts, of course." Harry handed the stack of books over to Simon, who began to look through them, especially the two journals.
"Where did you find these," Simon replied, "if I may ask?"
"That was the Malfoy's stash," Harry explained. "Draco brought them by last night."
"Thank goodness," Simon sighed, and placed the stack on his desk. "Any word from the young Nott heir, yet?"
"No," Harry said, and shook his head. "Draco is still working on him, and Nott's still scared shitless of his father.
"However," Harry continued, "I have something planned for Nott Sr. come Monday."
"Did you ever think about giving young Theodore a visit?" Harry shook his head at this, so Simon thought things over. "Why not drop by there today, and offer him protection? He may not listen to Draco, but he will you."
Harry sighed, and went back to studying the grandfather clock, while remembering everything that happened within the room that he was now standing in during the Battle of the DOM in June 1996.
"I can give it a try," Harry replied. "I'll floo home and fill out a complaint form on his father to use as a bribe. I have enough pull at Nurmengard to get Nott Sr. another twenty years, and have him moved to one of the two high security towers. The other tower has Dolohov's name on it for sure."
"Hmmm," Simon thought as he stood. "It's lunchtime, Harry, care to join me?"
"No," Harry grinned, "Daph and I had a late breakfast, so I'm stuffed. However, I'll walk you up."
As Simon's nodded, he pulled the hood up over his head, which concealed his face behind a black mist, and motioned to the door with his hand. Harry turned, and followed him out of the DOM to the lifts.
Once the door to the lift shut, Simon looked up at the ceiling. "That was Bode's son you just met, and he asked me to give you a message."
"Did he?"
"Yes," Simon replied, "and he said that he wanted you to avenge his father. He said that he knows it was Nott Sr. and Rookwood that done it, though he has no hard evidence. His father was my father's best friend, Harry, and the Bode family deserves closure."
Harry sighed, and pinched the bridge of his nose. "That's Daph's department, Simon, but I'll see if I can have the NSC reopen the investigation, and put her lot on it, eh?"
Just as Harry said this, the door opened for level eight and the atrium, where Harry stepped off, but held the door and looked at Simon.
"I'll see what I can do," Harry said, as he released the door, and tipped his flat cap at the unspeakable.
Once Harry arrived home, he told Daphne about what he had planned, filled out the complaint, and went outside to apparate to the old Tudor manor house belonging to the Notts.
Harry apparated onto a small farm road to the west of Ledbury, just outside a small hamlet called Kynaston, into a light rain. He'd been here before, just after the war ended, with the British and US aurors. The house was built by John Coke in the early 1600's, replacing another dwelling. The old moat was buried in the field just opposite the house.
The two-story Tudor manor house was of post and beam construction, with wattle and daub walls that were painted white, and it had a slate hip roof. There were three tall brick chimney stacks emerging from the home, with two on either end, and one in the middle. The front entry's portico was offset to the left, and a long, but scruffy, rose bush lined walkway led from a set of steps at the road.
As Harry walked up the steps, he could see the old Hop kiln's stacks sticking up from behind the house. The Notts had run an illegal still and brewery here for years, and they still grew Hops that supplied a large brewery in Ledbury. Harry wasn't interested in ale, though, but he was interested in maybe purchasing the Nott's five-hundred gallon copper whisky still that was made in Moray, Scotland. Thinking that, Harry decided to play nice with the lout.
To Harry's left, he could see two large, and long, greenhouses still in operation. However, Harry thought, if Theodore was a drunk, he bet that house elves were running most of the operation.
Harry came to a second set of steps along the walk, which separated the front gardens from the lawn, and he could sense the wards. Here, he stopped, and using his hand, he sent a pulse of magic into them, warning Nott that he had a visitor.
It wasn't long until he saw the front door open, and out came a staggering, brown-haired, weedy wizard, who made his way toward Harry, squinting, trying to make out who it was at first. When comprehension hit the young wizard, he almost tripped and fell, but then cursed, and made his way toward Harry.
Harry thought that Theodore was quite comical, just as most drunks were. The young man needed to dry himself out, Harry said to himself, as Nott pitched and weaved along the walk. Nott also seemed to be singing a rather funny drinking ditty under his breath called "Don't Go Drinking With House Elves." It was the wizard's version of "Don't Go Drinking With Hobbits," as an house elf was a Hob after all.
.
Don't go drinking with house elves.
Sure you'll have a grand time all night long.
But if you're not used to drinking with house elves,
You may not want to wake up at all.
.
They were thoughtful and kind,
When they invited me to drink,
A lone human among house elf kind.
They bought me a half,
Then another and one more,
And told stories of days long gone by.
The brew was strong,
My glass never empty,
As if time stood still and bare.
But when I awoke the next morning,
I felt like Old Smaug had been there... "belch!"
.
When Nott came to a stop at the top of the two steps, he tried to tilt his head back to look down his nose at Harry, but this caused him to stumble two steps back, almost falling on his arse, making Harry snort, and Nott grimace.
"Potter," Nott slurred out, "wha' brings you here on dis miserable day? It's bloody well pissin' down da rain for fuck's sake."
"It's barely...," Harry chortled out, but caught himself and changed tactics. "Nott, you and I need to have a long talk about your father."
"Dat so," Nott muttered. "Al' righ', let me adjus' da wards."
Nott drew his wand, and aimed it at the right-hand stone post beside the steps, but his wand was waving all over the place, and Harry was about ready to duck and take cover. However, Nott muttered something under his breath, and Harry felt the wards accept his presence.
"Come on, Potter," Nott said, then belched, and almost dropped his wand, "I need anudda drin-k."
Harry sniggered, but walked up the two steps, and followed the staggering man into his manor. As they made it to the door, Harry had to grab Nott's elbow to steady him, as he almost pitched onto the lawn. Harry seriously thought about hauling Nott over his shoulder, as he didn't look to weigh nine stone, but he thought better of it, as he didn't want puke running down the back of his new tailored tweed jacket.
Harry walked out of Nott Manor with a cardboard box full of books and journals, and a signed complaint in his hand. Harry was grinning, as on that complaint, Theodore admitted that he watched his father murder his mother when he was just a young child. When Nott slid the signed complaint across the desk, he mentioned being able to see the Thestrals at Hogwarts, from day one, and that it unnerved him. He admitted that his mother had been trying to protect him, when his father used a strangulation curse on her.
No, Harry thought, Nott Sr. was now a lifer, and if he could find the evidence about Bode, why, they might just toss the duffer through the veil, and be done with it.
Harry shook his head before he apparated, as Nott did pass out on him, and he did have to throw him over his shoulder, and pack him upstairs to toss him on his bed and let him sleep it off.
"This will mean another trial, Harry," Minister Shacklebolt said. Harry had apparated to the DOCS HQ, and went straight to the minister with the complaint.
"Yes, but now we have him," Harry said, "and we'll be rid of him for the rest of his miserable life."
"Young Theodore will have to testify," Kingsley replied.
"Don't worry, Kingsley," Harry said, as he stood to leave, "Draco and I will work on that. Plus, we have my memory to view."
"What's the other thing you mentioned?"
"I want to see if we can reopen the cold case on Broderick Bode," Harry explained. "I think it's time that some within St. Mungo's talked, and I think that Daph's lot are the ones that can find the truth."
"Tell Lady Potter that she has my blessing," Kingsley replied, as Harry started to leave.
"By the way, Harry," Kingsley continued, "the obliviators finished up. Both Lestranges, Nott, and Dolohov knew about the girl."
Just as Harry nodded, and mumbled "Thought so," he was about to step out of the door of his suite at the DOCS HQ, when Kingsley cleared his throat, getting Harry's attention. "Good work, Harry."
Harry nodded, tipped his flat cap, and closed the door behind him. Now, he was heading home to spend some quality time with his wife, as tomorrow would be the cookout with the Weasleys.
Sunday, April 23, 2000
At 9:00 AM, the hearth in the inglenook fireplace of the great hall at Potter Manor flared green, and out stepped Arthur and Molly Weasley. Arthur had been to Harry's new manor, but Molly had not. The poor woman was gaping at all the grandeur, and turning in a circle as she looked everywhere, even up at the galleried landings above.
"Arthur," Molly whispered, "are you sure we're at the right place?"
"Yes, Mollywobbles," Arthur said with a grin, which made the elderly woman blush.
"This place," Molly whispered, "puts Malfoy Manor to shame. How did he afford this?"
"You know that Fleamont and Effie were very wealthy, Molly," Arthur whispered. "James never got a chance to spend any of it while living in their old house, so he and Lily left it all to Harry. Then there was the Black's wealth, and what came from a few other's wills, plus the money that Harry made from Number Twelve."
Just as Molly was about to reply, they heard a small pop, and looked down to find Kreacher giving a small bow.
"Kreacher welcomes the Weasleys to the home of Sir Harry and Good Lady Daphne, Laird and Lady of The Noble and Most Ancient House's of Potter and Black. Please follow Kreacher into the media room, where the young master and mistress be watching the news."
As the two elderly Weasleys followed Kreacher, Molly looked at Arthur, "Watching?"
"Oh," Arthur replied, as he too was looking around, "must be the telly he's talking about."
When Arthur and Molly walked through the door, they found Harry propped up against the arm of the sofa, against a huge pillow, with Daphne's head lying in his lap, as they watched a weatherman on BBC. Molly noticed that Harry was running his fingers through Daphne's long blond hair, and that the young couple looked as content as they could be.
"Master and Mistress," Kreacher croaked, "the Weasley's have arrived."
"Come in," Harry said, and directed them with his hand to the two plush wingback chairs at either end of the sofa, "and have a seat. Make yourselves at home."
Daphne sat up at this, and grinned at the elderly witch and wizard. "Welcome! Yes, please, make yourselves comfortable, and let me make you both a spot of tea."
Molly noted that a sterling silver tea set for four was set out on the coffee table, and that they had a crackling fire in the small fireplace.
"If you don't mind," Molly said, as she took the chair closest to Daphne, but only after she gave them both a quick hug, and after Arthur had shaken both of their hands.
"Oh, it's no problem at all," Daphne said. "How do you both like your tea?"
After both of them told her, Molly kept an eagle eye on Harry's young wife, and couldn't find a fault with how she made the tea. Yes, no wonder Harry was healthy, Molly said to herself. The young woman wasn't all looks, and she had housewife skills too, Molly thought. Now, if there were some children running about soon, Molly would be satisfied.
Harry was sitting back enjoying the show with a grin. He knew that Molly was very picky about any of her sons girlfriends and wives. Poor Fleur still caught the brunt of it for some reason, and Harry truly believed that it was only because Fleur was French. Just as Harry thought this, the weather forecast, which was good for the day, was over, so Harry turned off the telly with the remote.
"What is that," Arthur remarked, "that you just used?"
"Oh, Arthur, don't start," complained Molly.
"This?" Harry held up the remote, grinning, and Arthur nodded.
"Oh, that's the remote control for the telly," Harry explained, and handed it to Arthur. "When you mash those buttons, it acts like a wand. You can turn the telly on and off, turn the sound up or down, and change the channels to what you want to watch."
Arthur mashed the power button a few times, and changed the channels before turning it off again. "The muggles are getting more advanced, aren't they?"
"Oh, you have no idea," Daphne said. "This is nothing compared to the technology that they have now."
"Really?" Molly wondered, and Daphne nodded.
"What is that one for on the table?" Arthur asked this after he noticed a black remote laying close to Daphne.
"That is Daphne's favorite," Harry explained, "which operates the stereo in the corner. Show them honey."
Daphne picked it up, and pointed it at the stereo while pushing a few buttons. Chopin's Douze Etudes Op. 25, No. 1 "Aeolian Harp" started to play, and Daphne lowered the volume so they could talk.
Molly clapped her hands in front of her mouth, and listened. "That is simply beautiful. Who is that?"
"That music was composed by Frédéric Chopin," Daphne explained, "who was Polish, but lived in Paris during the early 1800s. It is now played in London and other concert halls around the world."
They sat and talked while listening to Chopin until 10:30, when Harry took out his flip-phone and called Hermione. They were up and about, and told them to come over when they were ready.
When the four finished their tea, they gave the Weasleys a quick tour of the ground floor, where Molly fell in love with their kitchen, and met Winky. Next, they proceeded out the rear entrance, across the patio, and out onto the huge rear lawn. Harry pointed out the property that he owned, the gardens, and the fields across the road in front of the manor. Finally, they walked back upon the large stone patio that stretched the full length of the huge manor, and walked to the west, where they went down a set of steps, and followed a path through a copse of trees that ended up at a wall with a gated doorway, which they passed through.
On the other side of the wall was a huge teak planked patio, and a long swimming pool with lounge chairs sitting everywhere. However, neither of the Weasley's had been to Ron and Hermione's since they moved into the "Garden House," which was a five bedroom house beside the pool. The entire wall of the house, facing the pool, was all glass, with every room having a sliding door that opened onto the patio. The two small bedrooms at the front were used as an office and a library.
Harry and Daphne walked to the far end, and gave a knock on the glass door, which was quickly opened by Hermione.
"There you all are," Hermione almost squealed. "I've been wondering when you would arrive."
"Hello Hermione," Molly warmly said, and gave her a hug, then proceeded to smother Ron with one, making his cheeks go red.
Ron turned out to be the largest of the Weasley brothers, who now stood over six feet, and weighed about thirteen stone. Charlie couldn't hold him a light.
"Mum, Da, grab a seat," Ron said, showing his parents and the Potters to the living area beside the dining table. "We were just getting the meat ready for the barbecue."
Molly wasn't having that, so she rolled up her sleeves and headed back to the kitchen. Hermione and Daphne followed her, and both thought that they might learn some new skills, which they did.
There seemed to be a ton of fresh ground beef, which Ron had just picked up from Dennis Creevey, as well as several packages of buns, cheese, tomatoes, and onions. The reason why, was that George, Angelina, Percy, and Audrey would be coming, as well as Bill and Fleur with little Victoire. On top of that, Andromeda would be coming, and bringing Teddy to keep Victoire company.
Arthur sat down on one of the huge, over-stuffed, leather sofas, and asked about who owned the several white stucco buildings behind the Garden House, which caused Ron to stare at his lap with a sheepish look.
"Those are my outbuildings, Arthur," Harry explained, "which are the carriage house, and my warehouses."
"Warehouses?"
"Yes, for my rum business," Harry replied. "I have a small pot still in one of the stone buildings at the manor, too."
At this, Harry heard someone drop a pan in the kitchen, which made a loud crash.
"RUM!" Molly shouted, who then stormed into the living area pointing a wooden spoon at Harry. "What did you do Harry James? If I find out that you've done something illegal..."
"Calm down, Molly," Arthur sighed, as he quickly and sheepishly glanced at a confused Harry.
"Why yes, rum," Harry replied. "My grandfather invested in a sugar, molasses, and rum business in Jamaica. The company had quit making rum is the sixties, but now we're bringing it back. I thought you knew, you know, about my Thunderball Rum brand?"
Molly, who was somewhat against people drinking a lot of hard liquor, plus its connections to organized crime with illegal stills and bootlegging, looked to be building up a head of steam, so Harry quickly cut her off.
"That is what funds the DOCS," Harry ploughed on, "plus makes Daphne and I money on the side, and it's totally on the up and up. It's now being sold in the muggle and wizarding world."
"Mum," Ron said, while shaking his head, wanted his mother to drop it. An amused Hermione and Daphne were watching the scene with raised eyebrows. Neither were brave enough to say anything, as both knew that Molly saw Harry as her child.
"I sell 'light rum' Molly," Harry continued, "which is not usually drank straight or neat by itself. It's used for cocktails, and combined with different mixers. It's used more than dark rum now, especially after I showed Tom and Madam Rosmerta how to make muggle mixed drinks like Piña Coladas and Mojitos."
"Harry!" Molly scolded.
"What?" Harry asked, as he looked around the room. Surely Molly didn't have a stick up her bum about this, Harry wondered, when she drank wine and mead herself. "Minerva even keeps a fifth of Scotch in her desk drawer."
"Well, that's beside the...," Molly spluttered. "What with all those children running under foot..."
"And?" Ron drawled out. Harry, Daphne, and Hermione thought that Ron did a very good impersonation of Severus here, which set all the young witches and wizards off to sniggering.
Just as Molly started to say something else about a still being next door, and wondering if it was legal, the sliding door to the dining room opened, and in stepped George and Angelina.
"What did I miss?" George asked, as he looked at the scene.
"If I catch you, Harry James..." Molly said, while pointing the spoon at Harry again. "If there's anything illegal gong on, you'll hear from me! Is that understood?"
Harry grinned, but nodded.
"What did you do, Harry?" George asked this, as he was looking from Harry to his mother.
"Nothing George!" Molly exclaimed, gave a harrumph, and stormed back into the kitchen with, now, four young witches following her.
If Molly ever found out about the underhanded deals that they made with Draco and Blaise, Harry thought, then lord help him. Ron would catch hell too.
When everyone had arrived by 12:00 PM, they all went outside. Ron got the large gas barbecue ready, and the witches brought out the burgers and toppings. Harry became the official bartender, and made a few drinks, though Molly was watching, as well as passed out much of the small batch ale and soda that he kept stocked.
The party had started, though it was still too chilly to take a swim, unless they turned the pool's heater on. That didn't stop the Weasleys and Potters from having a fine cookout, as the cheeseburgers and fresh French fries, which they called "chips," were consumed, while everyone sat around the deck and spoke of work, and what was to come. This was where Harry informed everyone about he and Daphne's trip to the mainland the next day.
Harry told them that he and Daphne would be taking an international portkey to Mürren, Switzerland, the following morning. Once there, they would be staying in a suite at the Hotel Eiger, and that they would then apparate on to Nurmengard, in Austria, for some DOCS business after checking in. After their visit, they planned on taking the lift up to the Schilthorn, and eating at the rotating restaurant. Later, they would spend the night back at the hotel, and take the portkey home at 1:00 PM on the 24th, arriving back in the UK at 12:00 PM.
"Better you then me," George said, who was acting like he was shivering from the cold. Molly, Angelina, Hermione, and Fleur wanted photos, so Daphne would take their digital camera, and print them out for everyone.
Everything wound down by 7:00 PM, and everyone chipped in for the cleanup. The Potters walked the elderly Weasleys back to the manor for a nightcap of mulled mead, and watched them floo home. Tomorrow would be another day for the two married agents of intrigue, and it would be a long one.
-=QE=-