Chapter 8:
Albus Dumbledore arrived by floo into his private rooms at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry where was the current Headmaster. He was physically and mentally exhausted from arguing with Cornelius Fudge, the current, Minister of Magic, or his order to place Dementors on the outside perimeter of the school thanks to the escape of one Sirius Black.
How Black had escaped from Azkaban was anyone's guess as no one ever had done so before. Trust Black to continue to do what he did with dramatics. But that was a problem for another day. Right now, he wanted his dinner with a large helping of dessert and then a nice soak in the bath with a book. Maybe a mystery.
Call for a house elf and giving the order for a tray to be brought, he made his was into his private bath to refresh himself. When he came out a few minutes later the tray of covered dishes was waiting on the small table, smelling divine. Removing the cover from the tray revealed a dinner of roast chicken, roasted potatoes, green beans that had bits of bacon in them. A small pot of gravy was on hand, as well as basket of rolls. A pot of hot tea laced with honey and for dessert, one of his favorites. A tart lemon mousse with candied lemon. Grabbing the napkin, he sat down in front of the tray and savored every bite.
Once he was finished, he threw his napkin onto the empty tray, before moving toward a bookcase, selecting a book and went to soak in his bath. An hour later saw him going to bed not knowing how much his world had already changed.
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Harry woke up to warmth and snuggling on both of his sides. Given their ages, nothing really happened last night. Mostly snogging as it was decided to wait until they were older. Luna was insistent that they wait until all of them were fifteen as there was a ritual from her family that did something when done at that age and if the participants were virgins. While that sounded good and all, hormones had a way of kicking in. But according to her it only meant penetration sex. They could still do pretty much anything else just not the final act. Harry hoped that they could last that long as their previous sex life was highly active. A small smile graced his face as he remembered. Extremely active. This was not going to be easy. Hard in more ways than one.
He crawled quietly and slowly out of the bed. Years of practice had that down to a science to where he didn't wake either girl up unless he purposely wanted to. This morning he didn't want to. He then padded off to his wardrobe and into the bath.
Ten minutes later he quietly returned to the bedroom and glanced at the bed. He smiles at the picture of his two love now cuddling each other in the place where he had previously had been. Reluctantly he left the room and used the stairs in the sitting room to return to the room where the trunk was.
Glancing around the room he saw that nothing was different which meant that Tom had refused to do what Molly had demanded. He'd have to give him a nice tip.
"Dobby."
The elf suddenly appeared. "Yes, Master Harry."
"Can you take me home?"
"Of course, Master Harry." Dobby grabbed his Master's hand and popped them back to the entrance hall of the Sanctuary.
"How goes the cleaning?"
"Just great Master Harry. Dobby is finding something outside that Master Harry needs to see. Dobby shows Master Harry."
Intrigued Harry followed the elf outside to the garden. The garden never got much attention in the previous timeline as neither Dobby or Winky were well versed in it and although he was, he really didn't like it as that was one of the biggest chores that he had at the Dursleys. Luna was a natures child and tried to do a bit here and there but with the war on it wasn't that important.
The two walked through the garden towards a cop of trees, oak by the look of them. A small footpath was their destination. As he walked along, Harry could almost feel the ancient magic waking from its long slumber. The Wards were getting strong as he walked. Even now they were stronger than the had ever been in the previous lifetime.
'If only I had taken the time to explore, we would have held out longer in the end' Harry thought to himself.
Five minutes later the duo arrived in a clearing of sorts. The trees had grown into a canopy that shaded the clearing. But it was the miniature village that seemed to shock Harry the most. It looked like if you had taken a medieval village and had shrunk it down to child sized then that was what was before he eyes. They needed repair and all, but it was a sight. As Harry looked the scene over further, he noted that one of the houses had smoke rising from the chimney. That was where Dobby was headed towards. Harry could only follow. (Think of Hobbiton from Lord Of The Rings only above ground)
Dobby knocked on the door, which surprised Harry but before he could ask what was going on, the elf disappeared inside. There was nothing for it. Harry got on his hands and knees and crawled through the doorway,
As Harr was too tall to stand up, he simply maneuvered himself to sitting on the floor Indian style. He was surprised to see Dobby speaking to two other elves and what looked like a child elf who was string at him from behind the smaller of the other elves. (Think Baby Yoda cute) Dobby seemed to be trying to calm them down as they looked like they were ready to take flight out of fear.
"Perhaps if you would tell me what's going on then we can see what's what?"
"Master Harry This is Ducee." Dobby said indicating the larger one. The elf then pointed to the smaller one. "And this is Snowy.' This elf nodded he head towards Harry. "The elfling being called Briny."
"Pleasure to meet you."
The two adult elves eyes grew very wide at being address as such. Harry swallowed down the laugh that was threatening to bubble out. He looked to Dobby for an explanation.
"Ducee and Snowy is freed elves now. Dobby be thinking that Master Harry coulds bond with them."
"Are you saying you need help Dobby?"
"No Dobby bes just fine Master Harry but Dobby does not like dirt. Garden is dirt to Dobby but if Master Harry orders Dobby Dobby will fix garden."
"You know that I won't do that. So, I assume that Ducee and Snowy are garden elves?"
"Only Ducee. Snowy was an elf who stocked a bookstore."
Harry got the feeling that was more to what was going on. But Dobby looked so hopeful that Harry knew he was going to do it no matter what. He let out a sigh that had Dobby grinning.
"How do we do this?"
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Albus Dumbledore was seated on his golden throne in the Great Hall of Hogwarts, enjoying his full English breakfast and his customary tea with honey. As it was September 1st, everyone was up early so that finishing touches could be done before the students arrived. He was rather surprised to see Severus Snape, Potions Master and Professor of Potions to the school approaching him. Normally the dour man only ate in the Hall when the students were here.
"Headmaster, there seems to be a problem with my ingredient order."
The look of Severus' eyes told him this wasn't about the school supply.
"Let's head to my office and see what I can do to fix it." he replied wiping his mouth with his napkin. Nodding to the other professors at the table he and snape left the room am made their way to the Headmaster's tower.
Albus led the way into the office but stopped short, seeing the carnage for the first time.
"Headmaster? Is something wrong?" asked Snape from behind.
Instead of answering Albus moved slightly out of the way saw that the other man could get a good look as to what had happened.
"What happened?"
"I am not for certain."
Albus moved quickly to the table. He saw that every charm that was tied to Harry Potter was melted. A diagnostic charm showed that the Betrothal scroll destruction cause the fire, which destroyed the trinkets that held the charms. Something that should not have been possible did. He would deal with this after he dealt with Severus' problem. He moved to his chair behind his desk and sat down. He looked up to see Severus pacing.
"Calm down my dear boy and tell me what the problem is."
"I placed an order last night for some special ingredients for as I was getting low on a few after the last terms fiasco. Marius replied that since payment was refused by Gringotts that the order was cancelled! How am I supposed to make anything without the ingredients!?"
"Calm down. I'll contact Gringotts and see what happened and get it straightened out. I'll let you know when you can reorder. Give me a day or two."
"Fine but no more. My life is one line here!" stated Snape as he stormed out of the office.
Shaking his head at the antics of his Potions Master, he turned his attention to the mound of correspondence that was piled of his desk. The charms on the piece of furniture sorted his mail by importance and date. Three piles awaited him. One for school related issues, another one from the Ministry, and the third was from Gringotts. This is what he opened first hoping that it explained Severus' problem. Yes, it did and more.
'To Albus Dumbledore:
This letter is sent to you so that you may know that the new Guardian for the Heir to the house of Potter has reviewed your tenure of said Heir and has made changes to your previous commands.
Also, as you failed to let the Heir receive his correspondence from our bank a fine of 100,000 Galleons has been deducted from your personal account, which is also your only account.
This fine is permanent.
Razorclaw
Account Manager for House Potter'
"No! This was IMPOSSIBLE! He was Potter Guardian! He needed to get the Ministry to straighten this out!" he shouted out loud. As he stood, he dropped the letter back onto the desk, and was getting ready to move to the fireplace when his eye caught the Ministry's letters. He opened to the top to find that there was an emergency Wizengament meeting called for 11am. He put that one down and opened the second one.
He read: 'Dear Sir,
This message is to inform you that the Guardian of the Heir has been assigned and said person has completed all forms and duties to his new charge.
Thank You
Flora Mannings
Wizarding Family Services'
Albus Dropped this letter as well. He needed to get to the Ministry fast and reverse this mess. He practically ran to the floo and threw in a handful of floo powder. When the fire turned green, he stepped in and shouted, "Ministry Of Magic!" and disappeared in a swirl of fire and ash. He never even noticed the missing phoenix.
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The bonding of Ducee, Snowy and Briny was rather simple. They simply placed a finger on him and stated that they would serve House Potter until they were released of died. Briny had to be prompted by his mother, which Harry found adorable. Then it came down to duties. Ducee would be Head Elf for the Outside. This would include the gardens, greenhouses, and Sherwood Forest. Dobby would be Head Elf of the Inside. Think of him as a butler of the house. Snowy would serve under him as Head of the Library. She would catalog and maintain the Potter Family Library as well as update it regularly. Snowy was practically glowing with that order. Harry found out that it was rare for an elf to know how to read so Snowy was respected by the other elves just a little bit more than normal.
As for Briny, Harry had no clue what to do. So, he followed his instincts. He told them that Briny was to help all three as much as he could so that the elfling could choose for himself what he wanted to do when he grew up. But he hoped that if all else that Briny did learn to read but that it was not an order only a hope. One, by the looks of it, his parents would encourage. Smiling he crawled back out of the cottage and out into the open air. The elves followed him out and Dobby led them back to the house and into the kitchen.
"Alright, Ducee as Head of Outside, I would like you to repair the garden and the greenhouse."
"Yes, Master Harry."
"I also over the next year or two add at least two more greenhouses. The new ones will be for growing foodstuff. When those are complete the old greenhouse with be strictly for potion ingredients. Is that understood?"
"Yes, Master Harry. What flowers does Master harry wants in garden?"
"Whatever you decide Ducee. Maybe something that goes with where we are, like woodland or meadow flowers. Something that won't contrast with Sherwood."
"Ducee understands."
"Excellent. Before I leave, I'll give you and Snowy a bag to buy things for your areas."
"Master is most kind."
"Snowy you know what I want right?"
"Master wants Snowy to repair any book that needs it, to organize and catalogs all books, and to buy any books old or new that master does not have."
"That's right. Also buy a few children's book so that Briny can start when he wants."
"Master is most kind."
"You're welcome. Dobby I'm going down to the Cave. I'll be right back."
"Yes, Master Harry."
Harry left the kitchen and made his way down the hallway leading to the door. Doing the sequence, he opened the door and made his way towards the Cave of Wonders as he called it in his mind.
He refilled his bag and made three small one, one of which only contain a few knuts, but he thought that Briny might want to learn about money as well. Just as he was turning to leave, a door that he had never noticed before opened on its own. Knowing that nothing in the cavern would hurt him, he went through it and walked into an armory. But what an armory!
Weapons of all kinds Hung on walls or placed of shelves. Each had a label. Harry went over to a set of staffs. One said, 'Little John', the other 'Friar Tuck', a crossbow with 'Will Scarlett' was the clincher. He had found the Merrie Men's weapons! He laughed with childish glee. For once acting his bodies age imagining himself as part of Robin Hood's most famous band. Then he saw it.
On the far wall, hanging on two pegs was the infamous long bow. Beside it a quiver of arrows. Slowly Harry went to the weapon and softly touched it. Robin Hood's Bow and Arrows. As his eyes went over every inch of the weapon, he saw a label laying on the shelf. The ink was still legible.
'This bow will always find its target and the arrows will return to the quiver, cleaned and ready for use.'
Harry hesitated for a second before grabbing both, noting that both shrunk down to fit into his pocket. Now that was convenient. As he turned around to return to the cavern a pair of daggers caught his eye. A matched pair both looked small and delicate, but sharp. The label said that they belonged to Lady Marion. He grabbed those too so that he could give one to each of his girls. A set of bottles on the shelf next to the daggers drew his eyes next.
They were potions, suspended in a stasis field made by Geoffrey Potter. Most were to help wounds and such, but one caught his eye. 'Health Restorer'. The back explained that this potion would heal all wounds that the drinker had, even old ones. Without thinking, Harry snatched the bottle off the shelf, opened it, and drank it.