A/N I am not JK Rowling nor Rick Riordan
I am continuing this story and as per lilyemma's request there will be no bashing
Chapter 11 – This is serious!
Harry Potter waited for Sirius' call from the future. He'd been expecting a call before the end of the month.
"Harry, how are you?"
"Still in James' body," Harry said. "Where have you been?"
"Researching what you asked us to."
"And?"
"We couldn't find the information."
"You'll both have to go to Albania."
"I'm going to attend the Wizengamot tomorrow. Voldie has been busy. We have to strike against his allies in the Wizengamot as well as removing Dumbledore from power."
"Sounds like we now need Dumbledore to stay where he is."
"You're changing your tune, Harry. Why do you want us to go to Albania. It will be like looking for a kneazle in a snow storm."
"I'm responding to the situation. We know that Dumbledore told Quirrell to go to Albania to look for Moldie. You'll have to do that. Moldie likes using the Imperious and Obliviates."
"Thanks, Harry, now I have to re-write my speech and then take Remus to Albania looking for Imperiused officials and obliviated officials."
"This is serious."
"Yes, I am. We'll go to Albania, so you can hold your hippogriffs. Hermione liked the gift."
"She should be able to tell what I've changed, by comparing the version she has with the last version I bought for her. Arcturus and Charlus are starting their Wizengamot offensive, tomorrow. Charlus to get the Potter seat back for House Potter. I've marked on my ordnance survey map, where the Riddle graveyard is in Little Hangleton. That was where he was brought back. I think the ritual went bones of the father, arm of the willing servant and blood of an enemy. The Rat's got a silver hand and arm, now."
"I see. I am familiar with the rebirth ritual."
"Voldie failed in my second year to return. He put himself in to a diary that was draining the life out of Ginny Weasley to make himself solid and alive once more. I stabbed the diary with a basilisk fang and the shade vaporised and a black mist rose out of the diary."
"You've succeeded in scaring me, Harry. I need to delay a day or two, whilst I hit the Black Library. I'll be in touch with what I find out. Talk to you later, Harry."
Sirius had switched off. Harry was unhappy. He wanted to talk with his godfather. The Polyjuice making was going really well. He was making enough for several hours for someone either as the Slytherin or as James Potter. His defence classes were going really well. As a result, an uneasy truce had descended over Hogwarts.
Sirius had come up with a scheme to make he and Harry blood brothers. He'd been eavesdropping on some Muggleborns. The procedure was to cut their right hand palms join the two cuts together and say some words and that would make them blood brothers. Remus said they'd need to let him source dittany for the cuts and learn the spell to heal the cuts before they did the ceremony. Since it was Muggle, it had to be a ceremony, because only wizards had rituals. Peter called Remus an old woman, which instantly convinced Sirius and Harry to do what Remus suggested. Harry had to research the words they'd use. Eventually, they were ready and the four gathered for the ceremony, rather than the brainstorming for pranking that they'd have done instead. Once the ceremony was completed Sirius declared he and James blood brothers. Harry wasn't sure if he and Sirius were blood brothers or that James and Sirius were blood brothers. His older self was no help. He had no idea Sirius and James had done this blood brother oath thing. Of course, a Muggle ceremony couldn't binding on wizards, could it?
Harry's training with the three demigods had become more complicated. After a particularly testing session, Harry had kissed Annabeth full on the lips and she hadn't broken away. Percy had stormed off and Clarisse was left with the trying task of keeping Percy from leaving Hogwarts. Although, she'd intellectually accepted that the three should stick together, she didn't really care enough to really try to persuade Percy to stay. Harry and Annabeth had a really good time kissing.
It was Annabeth who told Percy to grow up and stop being jealous. She and James really liked each other and if he was really a good friend, he'd be happy for them.
"Look, Annabeth, you want to dress this up however you want. I thought we had an 'understanding'. I was wrong. You want to play around with some guy who is 40 years older than us in our own time, you go right ahead. I'll know that you like the older guy, when we do return. I'm not forgetting this. You know this is Harry, not James."
"You're forgetting we've a giant snake to kill and that will take all of us to do."
"Sure, according to Harry. You hardly spar with me anymore. You have no idea what he really looks like. If you're like your mother, you like Harry's mind and James' tongue down your mouth."
"It's not like I'm stopping you having a fling with any of the Hogwarts girls."
"Is that what Harry is, a fling? Why would I want anyone else, when the only girl I love is you?" Percy stalked off, to find a training dummy to cut to shreds. Harry tipped back the hood of his invisibility cloak. Annabeth started. Harry had heard the whole thing.
"Harry," Annabeth began.
"It's alright Annabeth. Even when I find someone I love, there are others around who get hurt. I can accept that, just. I have this 'saving people' thing. I'm happy with what we have now. Let's enjoy the moment."
The pair kissed. Harry folded the invisibility cloak over them both. Whilst they were invisible, Clarisse could hear the groans they were making. Back in camp, pretty much everyone was intimidated by Annabeth. Percy had never had any competition for her, until now. There had been Luke Castellan, but that had ended badly, when it turned out Luke was a traitor. Harry was the first boy she had dared trust to show her feelings for and she was healing a hurt she didn't know she had. If Harry thought she'd go easy on him in sparring, he'd have a rude awakening. All Harry had to do was survive the sparring session with Percy the following morning. Clarisse knew Percy would be really trying to kill Harry.
Harry did survive his sparring session with Percy. He gave as good as he got. He enjoyed his breakfast. He gave his full attention to his lessons. If he were just Harry, twenty years hence, he'd not pay attention, for today was the day Lord Charlus Potter went after the House Potter seat on the Wizengamot.
At 2pm, Lord Arcturus Black walked into the Wizengamot and took his seat. Dumbledore almost fell of his. Black rose.
"Chief Warlock, I informed you and the secretary of this body that I would be attending today and no longer need my proxies. I am, like yourself the holder of the Order of Merlin, First Class and hold a seat in my own right in that capacity, in addition to my own House seat. Please explain to me why there are two people claiming to be my proxies, in this chamber."
"An oversight Lord Black, I do assure you."
"An oversight? Would the secretary please quote my correspondence?"
"As secretary to the Wizengamot, I can confirm that Lord Black did inform this body of his intention to attend in person and that the two proxies were dismissed from that function."
"Could the secretary please explain to me and member s of his place, how they have managed to attend today?"
The secretary looked through the attendance cards. "They are invites issued by the Chief Warlock."
"Could you confirm that the Chief Warlock received my notice of attendance?"
Once again, the secretary consulted his notes. "Yes, the Chief Warlock did receive your notice."
"I am most upset. The two who attended can now attend Azkaban for six months as is the lot for any attending without proper claim."
Aurors escorted the two out of the chamber and they were taken to Azkaban.
"I now call the session to," was as far as Dumbledore got, as Lord Black spoke again.
"There is a House missing from our ranks that should be present."
"House Potter was stripped of their Wizengamot seat for falling foul of an Act passed in 1919."
"As the Chief Warlock is well aware, House Potter was awarded the title of Noble and Most Ancient House by the monarch of the day. The monarch of the day did not remove the House from our number. The Act under which the spurious act was enacted is itself treasonous. We remain subjects of her Majesty. I took it upon myself to write to Her Majesty. To summarise Her Majesty's reply, she directs us to remove the Act from out Statute Book forthwith and restore House Potter to our number."
There was intense chatter. Dumbledore allowed it to continue. He looked dumbfounded when members of the Light agreed with both propositions. He was even more astounded when all the Dark faction agreed, as well.
"The 1919 Act is removed and House Potter restored to this chamber. As Chief Warlock, I shall act as Proxy for this meeting for House Potter, as there is now no time to summon Lord Charlus Potter."
Lord Charlus Potter made his entrance. "Did someone ask for my attendance. How splendid. I, Lord Charlus Potter, do hereby claim all Wizengamot seats belonging to House Potter, by right of inheritance and conquest."
The Potter seat threw Dumbledore off it. The seat cover was ripped in two and the seat removed to its traditional spot. Lord Charlus Potter said, as he walked to his seat, "You were sitting in my seat, Dumbledore. Does that make me Chief Warlock?"
There was general laughter throughout the chamber. Dumbledore spluttered. Up and down the land those listening to the Wizarding Wireless news and that included Hogwarts were agog at what they had just heard. Harry, as James, was receiving congratulatory back slaps from long numbers of Hogwarts alumni. Dumbledore finally called the meeting to order. He hoped no-one had noticed that the proper form had not been followed for either motion. Unfortunately for Dumbledore, Lord Black had already had the Queen's letter read into the statute book and thus it was done by royal decree and motions of the Wizengamot. That hadn't been used in centuries. It was even older than Dumbledore. The first order of business was the election of magical Britain's representative to the International Confederation of Wizards (ICW). Dumbledore had been unopposed for years. It was an open nomination, which meant that nominations could be made at the relevant meeting. That was today.
Dumbledore was duly nominated. He hadn't even left the Chief Warlock's seat, so used to being elected unopposed. He was about to declare his own victory, when Lord Black spoke.
"There is a man who had been an ambassador for our country for the last decade and a half. His exploits on the sporting field are the stuff of legend. As a beater for Wimbourne, he has been acknowledged one of the best this country has every produced. I refer to Ludovic 'Ludo' Bagman. I nominate him as our representative to the ICW."
"Is there a seconder?" Dumbledore asked.
"Indeed, there is, Chief Warlock," Lord Potter announced. "Ludo was a household name in 1972. He very nearly won England a famous World Quidditch Cup, by knocking almost all of the Mongolian team off their brooms. It was very sad news that his career was ended by a bludger to the knee earlier this year. It does, however, open up this exciting new opportunity for him to serve his country."
Regent Augusta Longbottom took over the Chair as Acting Vice Chief Warlock. Dumbledore looked to be in total shock. Sensibly Lords Potter and Black had persuaded Ludo Bagman not to say anything. When it finally came to a vote, the dark faction voted for Bagman, as did the grey factions. Bagman looked shocked to have won the vote 32-18. He managed to stutter out a few words of thanks before being escorted out of the chamber. Dumbledore looked shell-shocked. He was out of a job. He was no longer Supreme Mugwump. He couldn't hold the position as he was no longer this country's delegate to the ICW.
The agenda went through after that as Dumbledore hoped with Light and Dark winning alternate items. Dumbledore believed he was keeping the balance, by doing this. Lords Black and Potter voted in consternation. Life was being made harder with the items the Dark was passing. They would have to review the laws passed and determine which needed to be removed.
The final main item was Amelia Bones, as Head Auror, making a plea to allow her aurors to use the Unforgivables. Naturally, the dark faction was opposed. Hardly surprising since they we the ones who would be on the receiving end, whilst dressed in their Death Eater garb. Dumbledore said that it was unnecessary. At that point Lord Black rose to speak.
"Albus Dumbledore would say that. If one side uses stunners and the other killing curses, the one using stunners is going to come off worse. I remember Albus Dumbledore quoted as saying that he was just a school teacher and not suited for war. He had no time or care for what muggles did to each other as long as wizards and witches stayed out of it. That was at the beginning of what muggles call the great War or the War to end all Wars. Our Aurors must be supported on this." The vote was close, 27:23 in favour of the motion.
Dumbledore was saddened that bystanders were going to get killed as a result of the vote. He knew only too well what the cost could be. Barty Crouch Senior, the head of the DMLE looked like Christmas had come early. He had a conversation with Lords Black and Potter. They suggested practical ways wizards and witches could defend themselves using foe glasses, dark detector and sneakoscopes.
Lords Black and Potter did finally get to spend time with what was their faction, now. There were 14 others who now stood with them. Many had previously stood with Dumbledore. Those who were members of the Order of the Phoenix resigned, unsaying their oath of allegiance. The lack of allowing a firm response had been the straw that broke the camel's back in ending their support for Dumbledore. They began to review the laws that had been passed during Dumbledore's tenure as Chief Warlock. There were issues with the 'creatures of near-human intelligence'. Treaties with the Centaurs and Merman that Dumbledore had negotiated on the grounds that they were on land owned by Hogwarts. Punishments that could be meted out to house-elves had become much more dangerous for the house-elf to endure. There was rumour that there was a colony of werewolves in the Forbidden Forest. It was as if that was where all the werewolves were intended to end up. Giants had been hunted to extinction. Dragons were being raided with greater frequency, all thanks to The Twelve Uses of Dragon's Blood that Dumbledore had authored with Flamel. Dumbledore's Alchemy Mastery paper. A bit flimsy Lord Potter thought for a Mastery in Alchemy. Lord Black knew that Flamel had failed Dumbledore on the work. It was nothing more than a research paper, containing no Alchemy in its pages. Lord Black believed that Dumbledore had stopped Hogwarts teaching Alchemy on becoming Headmaster, in revenge. Flamel had been teaching at Hogwarts for 110 years, so he may have wanted a change of scenery. Lord Black was not in the habit of believing the best of anyone, least of all Albus Dumbledore. Their review of the Laws had disturbed him deeply. Little by little the rights of the Muggleborn were being eroded. The election of the Muggleborn in 1962 had been a wake up call to the Purebloods. The Muggleborn were discovering their true power and certain families were none too happy, especially the ones that preyed upon Muggles and Muggleborn.
Lord Black had not wished to lose power to the Muggleborn, but he did not wish to see them enslaved or driven from the wizarding world. He still didn't. Unless somebody was faking their pureblood credentials, every department head now came from a pureblood family. Halfbloods could expect to be passed over for promotion and could only aspire to deputy level. Muggleborns couldn't expect to reach even senior level. It was a monumental waste of talent and contributed to the Ministry's general incompetence and venality. Even the rights won by squibs in the late 60s had been neutralised.
Lord Charlus Potter thought the biggest surprise was Harry's revelation that Lord Voldemort or You-Know-Who was Tom Marvolo Riddle, the son of Merope Gaunt and Muggle Tom Riddle. This man was the self-styled leader of the Pureblood movement. Dumbledore knew this and hadn't shared the information. Lord Potter pondered as to who else might know. Ollivander must have sold him his wand. Hagrid probably knew. Those who went to school with Riddle and were now part of his inner circle, they knew. Riddle had claim to the seat belonging to House Gaunt, a seat that was currently being voted by Albus Dumbledore. Potter had a very dangerous plan in mind: to get Riddle his House Gaunt seat back in the Wizengamot. Dumbledore was denying a member of a Noble and Most Ancient House, his seat. Charlus certainly felt a certain degree of kinship. He had some research to do. Then there was his nephew, passed over for Prefect in favour of Remus Lupin. The name seemed familiar. More research. He'd involve Dorea. If there was anything in either area of interest, he'd enlist Lord Black's assistance. Both were standing for the governor of Hogwarts positions that had opened up, quite unexpectedly. It would be the middle of the month, when they'd gain access to Hogwarts records.
Charlus spoke with Dorea about Riddle and Lupin. Dorea actually knew about Riddle. He was a student who was Head Boy in 1943 and won an award for services to the school – Dorea was dismissive about the Ward. Lupin senior had been very anti-werewolf and then Greyback had attacked the family. Then he'd returned and killed everyone. That's when Charlus had bought the house to protect it for any surviving Lupin. That was the first question Charlus had to resolve. Was this Remus Lupin the child who was attacked? How many other families with children attacked? What happened to the money that House Potter had paid for the property? What had happened to Tom Marvolo Riddle that made him turn into Lord Voldemort?
Charlus Potter and Arcturus Black sent out some 200 letters to the families of those with offspring at Hogwarts. They were campaigning to bring Hogwarts back up to the standard and curriculum it enjoyed when they were students. They believed that Muggleborn needed to know the traditions and etiquette expected of wizards and witches. That was something Hogwarts used to do very well. Nowadays, it doesn't make Muggle Studies compulsory for Purebloods and Half bloods or Wizarding Customs and Culture for Muggleborns. The papers published their manifestos in full. The election was conducted through the pages of the wizarding press and on the broadcasts of the Wizarding Wireless news.
Charlus was able to discover that Remus Lupin was indeed the child attacked and that Wizarding Child Services placed the boy on the werewolf list. Wizarding Child Services used the money paid by the Potters to fund Remus Lupin's education at Hogwarts. Records showed 10 other children attacked, five of whom were Muggleborn and the other five Muggle. None of the Muggleborn were offered a place at Hogwarts.
The Wills, Bequests and Genealogy Department was less able to help Lord Charlus Potter, when it came to Tom Marvolo Riddle. The details as to his mother and father were missing. It was only by chance that the Muggle orphanage where he was born was found. Charlus was given the piece of paper.
Charlus put on his best Muggle clothes. He had last worn these in War against Grindelwald. He hoped he would pass as Muggle. He was only 30 years behind Muggle styles. They couldn't changed that much. He knocked on the Orphanage door. A nun opened the door.
"Good afternoon, Sister, I'm chasing down some information. Unfortunately, we suffered a fire and lost some information about some of out charges. We managed to recover most of it, but nor much about Tom Marvolo Riddle, save that he was born here."
"Ah, I remember that devil child. We had our own fire. He was the prime suspect." From the nun's words, Charlus doubted that there was any other suspect considered. "He bullied the other children. We never could find a family that wanted him. Do come inside, whilst I search the files from that time."
Charlus made his way into the parlour and sat down, whilst the nun searched through dusty files. She pulled out quite a thick file.
"You're in luck. The Diocesan Bishop took the file out the night of the fire. He was concerned about the young man. He was going to recommend the young adult be placed in care. Father Tom Riddle of Riddle Manor, Lower Hangleton; Mother Merope Gaunt, also of Lower Hangleton. The file notes thata locket with the letter S was sold and the proceeds used to care for young Tom. There was some nutter, dressed much as you are arrived on Tom's 11th birthday, delivering a letter inviting Tom to some boarding school. He destroyed the wardrobe containing all of Tom's possessions and clothes. They had to be replaced.
The file notes that Tom complained each Summer that he had to come back here, rather than be allowed to stay at the school for summer."
"Thank you," Charlus said. "You've been most helpful. I don't suppose you have any notes as to why the Bishop was recommending care?"
"They would have been kept with the records."
"Would have?"
"The Bishop, staff, house and records were destroyed when a V2 landed on it and exploded. That was not too long before the war ended."
"Thank you for your help." Charlus rose and left the orphanage. The file itself would have told him nothing he didn't already know about 'Tom's' personality, thanks to Harry. Later that evening, he talked over what he had discovered with his wife.
"What will you do about Tom Riddle?" Dorea asked.
"Simply ask what happened to the brilliant student, Tom Marvolo Riddle. I shall look though the records of the Wizengamot to see what, if anything, he had to say whilst Hogwarts' Head Boy."
"Smile to his face, preparing a dagger for his heart. How very Slytherin of you, Charlus," Dorea complimented him. Charlus smiled. "I'll be up 'til late composing the letter to the Daily Prophet," Charlus complained.
"I'll not wait up, dear." Dorea rose and went upstairs to sleep.
Harry read the Daily Prophet with more interest than he had in his own time. Twenty years on and it was just a Government mouthpiece printing made up stories about him, in the main. The headline that caught his eye was 'Vanished'. Lord Charlus Potter was speculating on what might have happened to Tom Marvolo Riddle. Head Boy and a wizard who had achieved the same results, almost, that Albus Dumbledore had. Could the man be the rumoured, long lost heir to the Lordship of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Gaunt? Lord Charlus wondered if Dumbledore had kept Tom in the dark and not returned a seat he was voting, deliberately.
The next move was Moldyshorts'. That was Harry's considered opinion. Would Tom accept a position on the Wizengamot and the chance to peaceably influence the future of Wizarding Britain? Harry expected several hundred letters defending 'The Great Man Dumbledore' and calling Lord Potter every name under the sun.
Harry had his own 007 work to do. He was going to assume the identity of a seventh year Slytherin that Pettigrew was suspected of meeting and who was allegedly 'marked'. It was Harry's older self that captured the Slytherin student, got all of the information out of his mind, hidden away for an hour and off to meet with Pettigrew. About 10:30 Pettigrew showed up.
"Hello, Herbert. Could you please choose a more secluded place for our next meeting?"
"You don't have to come to these meetings. I don't want any of you friends come looking for you and finding me. I daresay that would go well for you either. What have you got for me?" Harry thought he'd done a decent job, so far.
"There is nothing to tell. James and Sirius are preparing a prank. A big one they're going to pull on Slytherin. I don't know all the details, yet. I should know, next meeting."
"You haven't told me anything. Nothing to make me believe you're an effective spy."
"I want to be on the winning side. I want fame and fortune. I KNOW Remus Lupin is a werewolf."
"Yeah? So do we."
"Potter's spending time training with three exchange students. None of us are invited, along."
"We Do want to KNOW what he's doing," 'Herbert' said.
"How has the information I've previously supplied, gone down."
"You're still walking around, breathing. The Dark Lord wants to know what Dumbledore's plans are. That's the only use you have."
"The deal was I'd spy on Gryffindor and tell you what the House is planning. It wasn't to spy on Dumbledore."
"You've told me that you have no news about your friends. Information about Dumbledore is what we want, now."
"There's no way I can get close enough to Dumbledore."
"Crucio," Harry exploded, using Herbert's wand. Pettigrew doubled up in great pain.
"Very well. I shall do my best. Same place, same time, next month."
"We'll see how good your best is then. I shall contact you in the usual manner to let you know when and where."
Pettigrew scurried off. Harry laughed and made his way back to Herbert. His older self put the conversation that Harry had just had with Pettigrew into Herbert's mind. Herbert seemed very pleased with how things had gone. He would let his other marked Death Eaters know how he'd put the fear of the Dark Lord into Pettigrew. Pettigrew belonged to the Dark Lord, now. He would receive the Dark Mark over Yule at Malfoy's Manor. Herbert sauntered off back to his dorm, well pleased with his night's work.
Harry was devastated. Here was a friend of his father's planning on betraying him. The only way Pettigrew could get into Dumbledore's office was by using his Invisibility Cloak. Harry was loathe to let the rat touch it.
Back in the dorm, Harry was asked, by Sirius, when the big prank was going to be played on the Slytherins.
"Sirius, I think Friday evening is the right time to do it. We have enough time to doctor the soap the Slytherins will be using in the house-elf store before it gets put out for them. It will cause them to all smell like girls and be in Hufflepuff colours."
"I'll be on my rounds, Friday, so I can let you in," Remus said.
Pettigrew was sweating. There'd be no way the Slytherins would believe he didn't know about this, done as it would be so close to his meeting. In truth, Sirius had already doctored the bars of soap. Friday's little jaunt would be part two. Magic to remove the effects of the soap would be applied by members of staff and so a little surprise had been added for that attempt. Every member of Slytherin would declare their deepest, darkest secret. A Pensieve would be used, namely Dumbledore's to record them. Pettigrew was delighted when Harry said that would be his job, using James' invisibility cloak to go in and get it. His friends, thought Pettigrew, so open and trusting. He lay awake for a while laughing. Had his friends believed him to be loyal, they would have believed him to be laughing at the thought of the prank. They did know Pettigrew was a traitor.
As Harry had predicted, the Daily Prophet had a great many letters calling Charlus Potter every name under the sun. 50 letters expressing the view that Albus Dumbledore would have been delighted to have introduced Tom Riddle to his inheritance. Harry guffawed, loudly. He took out his quill and parchment and recorded the 50 names. He was not surprised to see Molly Weasley's name on the list. He read her letter. Name calling was one thing. Molly's howleresque phraseology was quite another. He'd have to send a letter, like James Potter would have.
Dear Daily Prophet,
My name is James Potter, nephew of Lord Charlus Potter, deprived for so many years of our House's rightful seat on the Wizengamot by Albus Dumbledore. Molly Weasley describes Albus Dumbledore as the greatest living wizard since Merlin. Did she the magic that Merlin performed? How did she remain alive so long? How did she keep her looks? These are questions that a teenage mind probes.
Would a wizard who was the reputed equal of Merlin need to wear clothes that were probably out of date in Merlin's day? Albus Dumbledore has done what exactly? That's right, he failed his Alchemy Masters. He defeated Grindelwald, who is no-one knows where. He is the reputed owner of the Death Stick taken from Grindelwald. Everyone has read that the Elder Wand cannot be won in fair fight. Does this mean that the story Dumbledore told was untrue? Was Molly Weasley there to record it all? The greatest headmaster Hogwarts has ever known? She should compare Hogwarts' record to the other 10 international schools of magic, as well the record of Hogwarts under Dumbledore with those of every previous headmaster or headmistress.
The insults she spews about House Potter require satisfaction. She can retract her statements or face the music.
In truth,
James Potter