Chapter 5:
Aberforth Dumbledore just had the busiest morning in recent memory. Like his well-known arse of a brother, Abe. as he liked to be called, took his responsibilities very seriously. That he was pulling the rug out from under his pompous arse of a brother was just that cherry on top.
Walking towards the Leaky Cauldron he reflected on what had gotten him to this point. After all he was just minding his own business when the Granger girl called him over and invited him to lunch to discuss an opportunity. How the girl knew that he and Al didn't get along, he didn't know and didn't care. This was a chance he couldn't refuse.
Just as he was reaching the entrance into the Leaky, the one he was seeking came rushing out, pulling one of the Lovegood girl with her.
Abe noted that Granger was fit to be tied and that he wasn't the one she was irate with. He watches for a few seconds as the Lovegood girl tried to calm Granger down, His eyebrows nearly went into his hairline at the kiss the little blonde bestowed on the other.
'So that's the way the potion flows.' he thought. He then saw his other charge, Potter, was looked just as irate as Granger but more deadly clapping at the girls. From what he had learned over the last couple of years, Potter was not what anyone expected. But seeing the boy firsthand he had to wonder at what Al was playing at.
He would ponder that later. More important things need to be discussed with the three since they were here.
HLHHLHHLHHLHHLHHLHHLHHLHHLHHLHHLHHLHHLHHLHHLHHLHHLHH
Hermione walked through the opening archway, muttering under her breathe about irritating meddling red head harpies, dragging poor amused Luna along for the ride. But enough was enough.
"Mione."
The witch in question didn't hear as she continued to mutter.
Luna tugged her hand harder and harder until Hermione turned back to face her. Luna said nothing, just grabbed the other witch and planted a scorching kiss onto her mouth. After a few moments she felt Hermione calm down enough that she could let go. Clapping was heard as both witches turned as saw their wizard making the noise. That he looked just as angry as Hermione was telling.
Before anyone could say anything, their magical guardian walked up to them.
A smirk graced the face of their Magical guardian. "As amusing as this display is we need to talk."
Harry answered the unasked question. "We have a safe place where we won't be disturbed or overheard. Will you trust me if I take you there but not reveal where there is?"
Abe looked at the young man whose life he controlled for now. There was no deceit or lie in his face, Just determination to keep himself and the girls safe. "Do you need an Unbreakable Vow?"
Harry searched his face for any signs of deceit. "No but then you won't know much about the location. You might want to close your eyes for a few minutes."
Told from Abe's point of view:
Abe closed his eyes as Potter reached for him and grabbed something from around his neck at the same time. What he didn't see was the girls grabbing their portkey that were a chain around their necks, The beauty of these portkeys were that once Harry made them, he then configured them to each of their magical signatures so that no one else could use them.
Abe felt his felt his feet hit the floor of someplace quite gently. As portkeys go this one was rather good.
"You can open your eyes now."
His eyes opened to a very comfortable sitting room. Both girls he noted we headed it a round table off to one corner, while Potter went through a swinging door. He followed the girls to the table and sat in the offered chair that the Lovegood girl indicated. Within a couple of minutes potter returned with a fully loaded tea cart. Unfortunately for his ears both girls let out a high-pitched squeal.
"Harry! High Tea! Just for US!" gushed Hermione. "You know how much I love you High Tea menu!"
Luna just drooled and seemed incapable of speech.
Abe noted as both girls followed Potter VERY closely as he placed the tiered platter of sandwiches and cakes, two pots of tea, and the accessories that went with such. He had to admit that it looked very tempting.
"Mr. Dumbledore, help yourself." said Potter as he held the hands of the two girls back.
With a smirk, Abe purposely took his time selecting from the array of offerings. Once done, the girls descended almost like vultures while Potter poured the tea asking him how he liked his cup. "Thank you and call me Abe."
For nearly ten minutes there was no talking, just eating and slight slurping. It was Lovegood who broke the silence.
"Harry?"
"Hum?"
"Did you put toast in the middle of the sandwiches?"
"Yeah."
"Why?"
"I read it in a Victorian cookbook. Seems that's how it was done for a time. I just wanted to try it."
"Well keep it in cause it makes the rest almost puffy in contrast."
Hermione didn't say anything just nodded her head in agreement and reached for another sandwich. Abe had to admit that he had never had such a splendid tea before. But now it was time for business.
"Thank You for the tea Potter but I do need to speak to all of you about a few things."
"The floor is yours sir."
"First things first, I assume Ms. Granger told you about the Guardianship change?"
"Yeah, Thank You for that."
"Not a problem. It was actually quite an easy thing to do."
"How so?"
"Simple, Al never official filed the paperwork to do so. Everyone just took him at his word and left it alone."
Three mouths gaped open.
"You mean to tell that the High and Mighty Headmaster, Supreme Mugwump, Chief Warlock of the Wizengament didn't file ANY paperwork claiming guardianship over ME!?"
"Not one form."
Abe learned a few new swear words for today's youth statement. He almost started laughing as it was Granger who was saying them. Not that Potter and Lovegood were silent. Lovegood was going over was of rendering his brother down to feed the Thresals. Potter was muttering how he would use his brother's beard in several different was to off him.
"When you're done, I'll continue."
A couple of minutes later all was silent.
"Now let me back up slightly. I first went to Ted Tonks, a Barrister to help me. Both of us went the Ministry to see what had to be done to overturn my brother's claim. That's when we found out about the nonexistent guardianship. So, with Ted's help I completed the forms for all three of you, in triplicate, and went to Gringotts after that where I gotten an even better surprise."
Potter's eyebrows rose up into his hairline. "And what would that be?"
"As you know Albus told everyone that he was your Magical Guardian, and everyone accepted that statement as fact. Now here's the rub. The account Manager for the Potter family didn't follow protocol and let Albus do what he wanted."
"Like what?"
"First, instead of 500 Galleons a year for being a Guardian, he paid himself 5000 a month. Second, he took a total of 10 years tuition already, Third, he signed a Betrothal contract between you and the Weasley girl with her mother as the other signee, penned towards the end of you last term. And finally, he tried to get into the Main Family Vault but was denied as only those of Potter blood can enter that Vault."
Funny enough it was Granger again who started muttering about interfering old goats. Abe had to smile at some of things she was saying. He was going to need a pensieve to remember some of her suggestions. Potter however was looking at him hard.
"You brought that up on purpose. So, I have to asked what you did do to fix it just so you can tweak his nose in it?"
Abe scowled. "Of course, I fixed it. I don't want to be your Guardian any longer than I must. Not because I don't like you but because I just want to be left alone, but someone needs to knock my brother off his high horse occasionally.
Now first things first. Gringotts upper management doesn't like it while their lowly people do something that will ruin their reputation. That said, the old manager is gone and a new one, slightly high upper has taken his place. Albus has been shut off from your account and has been notified that your fees to Hogwarts are paid in full for the duration of your school years. The extra three years have been re-imburse from the Hogwarts School fund, directly the Potions fund, where it seems that most of said money was going to anyway, into a separate vault which I will give you the key to when we're done talking."
If Potter's eyes could get any hard, they would would have been made of stone.
"That old goat gave MY money to the GREASY GIT of the DUNGEON to buy POTION INGREDIENTS!?" roared Potter. It took both girls minutes to calm the boy down and stop glowing.
"Yep."
Potter closed his eyes and was trying to control his rage through a breathing technique that both girls seemed to be talking him through. Abe did not start again until Potter opened his eyes.
"As I said that is now taken care of. Al and company fill be getting notice tomorrow morning, so be prepared for a confrontation on that at the very least."
Potter nodded but said nothing.
"Now Al also didn't do his "Duty" at your guardian."
"In what way" asked Granger.
"Did Al ever tell you and levels that an Heir goes through?"
"No"
Abe sighed. "Depending on the House, an Heir receives their Ring at a certain age. Then at certain ages the 'power' of the Heir increases until the become the Head of The House. Understand So far?"
Potter nodded.
"Al was supposed to give you your Heir ring on your 11th birthday. He did not. As you are now 13 that should have been your 'booster' been you didn't get it because Al still had the ring with him."
Potter looked like he wanted to go all the way to Scotland and strangle the man. If the Lovegood girl wasn't sitting on his lap the by just might have. Abe withdrew a small box and slid it across the table to the boy.
Potter looked at him, then the box, then him again before slowly opening the box and putting on what was the Potter Heir ring. Lovegood fell off the boy's lap as said boy began to levitate in the air. A red glow surrounded the boy a good five minutes before the boy slowly sank back down into his chair. His eyes suddenly opened almost closing them again in pain. Granger ran off and hurried back with Abe assumed was a pain relief potion.
"That was a rush and man does my head hurt." he moaned and then drank the potion in one go. Abe watched as the boy's hair suddenly stood on end, emitted smoke rings, before falling back down again. He sighed in relief.
"Gringotts recalled everything that Al took or so called 'borrowed' from various places that he could get into. Like the house in Godric's Hallow where I assume is where he found the Heir ring on your father. He'll get that notice in the morning as well.
Now I set to right everything that I could with Gringotts, including your statements that were being redirected back to Al. But I can't do anything about the Betrothal."
Potter nodded and said "But I can."
End of Abe's point of view.
Hermione looked into her beloved's eyes. "How?"
"Abe said that DUMBLEDORE signed it along with Weasley's wife, right?"
"Yes."
"According to the Potter Family Charter that the ring just downloaded onto my brain, he can't because he's not the Head of the Potter family. I this instance only I can sign them. Did you bring the copy with you?"
Abe just smirked and handed over a sealed roll of parchment.
Harry grabbed it and went over to the fireplace that conveniently lit itself. With a grin he threw the roll into the fire where it burned rather quickly. The grin remained as Harry turned back towards the others. "If it was a real one it wouldn't have burned."
Luna let out a giggle that soon had the rest of them laughing heartily.