A STUDY IN RUNES

THE SECOND CHANCE

"Potter Wake up, I am leaving for the Ministry and I don't want your lazy ass lying on my couch." Daphne's screeching voice welcomed Harry back.

"Harry are you okay, you look a bit pale," Ron asked concerned.

But Daphne answered instead, "Potter is always pale, Weasel."

"I am fine Ron, just a nightmare."

"Okay, then bye Potter, Weasel, have sweet dreams, Not! I am going to Ministry to get the Port key to Heliopolis and the damned Permit to Stonehenge you asked for."

"Daphne wait, I need to ask you something," Harry asked still rubbing his eyes.

"Spit it out, Potter"

"Do you know anyone in Contract and Family divisions of the Ministry?"

"Why yes, Cho Chang is the head of the Contract Department and Lisa Turpin is the chief of Family and Marriage Division, you should know that Potter, after all, you shagged both of them during our school time."

"Daphne a simple answer was enough. Ron what is the procedure to Annul a marriage contract signed with a blood quill."

"What is with the sudden interest in Marriage Contracts Harry? We should be concentrating on the box."

"The fucking Box can wait; tell me if you know anything about them."

"Okay, chill mate, Blood quill signed marriage contracts are valid only in UK, India, China, Russia, Japan, France and Spain where they have been practised since their magical population was ruled by Magical Monarchs. The law on them is clear; both parties before entering the marriage should sign the contract after agreeing to the clauses stipulated by either side. Violations often result in very harsh punishments but in most cases are nonlethal."

"How can you annul a marriage if it is blood contract bound?"

"Potter that can be only done if one of the parties is dead and the widowed partner accepts that marriage is invalid."

"Daphne is right Harry, but it is extremely rare as even after death no Pureblood would recognise their marriage as invalid as it will lead to the death of any children conceived during the marriage if their birth was a requirement in the contract."

"Okay, what if the spouse who is alive is mentally incapacitated and can't make the decision?"

"That is quite a specific question Potter and judging by Weasel's face he also does not know the answer so let me be the one to enlighten you as my mother forced me to learn Wizarding Marriage Law. If this type of case arises than contract can be invalidated by the department of Marriage and Family chief in the presence of the contract department head on request. You have to just prove that it is the wish of the mentally incompetent signee."

"Got it, Daphne. Thanks a lot, I am going to Italy" Harry jumped from the sofa, gave Daphne a shocking kiss and threw Floo powder in the fireplace and said, "Ministry of Magic."

"That was weird right Greeny?" Ron asked stunned.

"That's a stupid question, Weasel," Daphne replied still with wide eyes and touching her lips where Harry had kissed her just moments ago.

"Mr Potter, are you sure my testimony is going to work?" Adelaide Zabini asked as both she and Harry entered the department of Family Affairs at the Ministry of Magic.

"Of course Madame Zabini, why not give this a try once, what have you got to lose?" Harry reassured the beautiful middle-aged woman.

"My reputation, I don't know where you got the information you told me, Mr Potter, but let me remind you again, this just stays between us, I only want my Celia back, so I am going along with this scheme of yours."

They both were now sitting in Lisa Turpin's office and Lisa had Floo called Cho over. Both women were shocked to see Harry but were floored when they heard Adelaide Zabini's startling revelation.

Cho was first to respond, "There is only one thing which will stop us from invalidating the contract and that is Celia Nott has a son. He will lose his life if the marriage is annulled. The Wizengamot or any Wizarding court will not approve what you both are asking on those grounds."

"What if Nott has committed crimes that require a death sentence?" Harry asked with a smirk on his face.

All three women were now giving Harry incredulous looks, but then Lisa asked, "How are going to prove that Harry?"

"Yes Mr Potter, I also want an answer for Miss Turpin's very valid question" Adelaide added with curious eyes.

"Oh that is easy, Nott is performing rituals at Stonehenge without Ministry Permits and I have information that he is going to perform a blood sacrifice soon. Currently, he is staying in a dingy inn in Glasgow.

He has also formed an illegal cult who have kidnapped Padma as we speak and want to sacrifice her on the desecrated ancient phoenix altar in the temple of Atum-Re in Heliopolis at midnight which I believe is an international crime in itself."

"The accusations I have just made are all true I swear on my life and Magic," Harry concluded his speech with an oath which proved his allegations towards Theo as he was still alive and could cast a Lumos with his wand.

Again the women were rendered speechless but then the things began to move fast as Lisa and Cho started making immediate Floo calls to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Law enforcement.

By evening Nott was in Auror custody where he confessed to his crimes under truth serum, it also gave credibility to Harry's claim as Padma was safely rescued by Egyptian Authorities who also managed to apprehend Nott's cronies Romilda Vane and Stephen Cornfoot as well.

So Nott was sentenced to Death by Dementor's kiss which Cho altered to Death by the invalidation of Magic Contract by explaining to the judge about the situation.

Currently, Harry was cheerfully enjoying his glass of Champagne alone in his house, when suddenly his vision started to blacken and he heard a woman's voice

"Well done young Mage, You will not remember me from now on, but your task to heal Astoria Greengrass would remain with you. Be the Healer you want to be, open my protected box and let the curse inside become the cure you desire"

"Potter, you really need to catch up on your Sleep, You have quite the explaining to do. Your latest stunt is all over the news" Harry opened his eyes to see Daphne and Ron standing beside him.

"My dream team," Harry thought as three of them started discussing the latest developments caused by Harry and paving the path to their next great adventure.

Disclaimer: I don't know Harry Potter

P.S: This is the Final chapter and this fan fiction is officially over, thank you Hank1967, all my reviewers and story followers.