(Hello everyone! I am once again back with a new installment of the story. In the reviews, many were writing, how could Harry forgave the Hogwarts students so easily?
After reading those comments, I started thinking...when did I mention Harry forgave them? It was Arthur who pardoned them not forgave them. I have clarified that doubt in this story clearly. I hope you all like it. )
Chapter 9: The Calm Before the Storm (Part-1)
November 8, 1994
Friday
Time: 12:07 p.m.
In the Last Chapter
The entire Grand Family of Pendragon, including Harry and Susan, broke into fits of laughter. Harry heard Morrighan mutter, "Oh dear here he goes again..."
Morrighan once again in his oversweet tone shouted, "Sweet dreams Dracey Poo!" This time the entire Great Hall of Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry broke into laughter, as the Harry, Susan, Arthur and rest of the Grand Family of Pendragon exited the Great Hall, laughing to their heart's content.
Arthur, Ariana, Artemis, Daenerys, Styller, Sarah, Morrighan, Tatsuya, Miyuki, Kristofer, Marylene, Susan and Harry exited the majestic castle called Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Stepping out in the open, Arthur stretched his muscles. "Ah! How good to be out in open again!" Arthur exclaimed while flexing his muscles. The Italian beauty, known as Artemis Olympia the Seventh, agreed with Arthur, "Indeed. Its good to be out in the sun once more."
Altogether, they strolled down the path, towards the gates. Once they exited, all of them came to a halt. Arthur faced Styller and Sarah Emrys, and Morrighan Le Fay. Arthur said, "Go to the ministry. Survey it as much as you can. Dig up as much information as you can about the various 'dealings' of the Minister and his lackeys and if possible other members of the Wizengamot. If required more time, you three know what to do..." All three gave him knowing looks and silently apparated from there. The rest again began walking down the path.
Harry had a weird suspicion when Arthur had said 'If required more time, you three know what to do' so he asked, "Are they going to use a Time-turner?"
Arthur stopped his pace and stared at Harry. Harry himself felt a bit uncomfortable. He asked without any hint of accusation or anger, "How do you know about Time-turners living mostly in the muggle world?" Harry replied, "Oh, my friend Hermione had received one last year to attend her classes." Arthur frowned a bit and looked at other other members of their group. Each of them had a similar expression etched on their faces. Daenerys asked, "You want to imply that just to attend classes she received a Time-turner?" Harry nodded. Arthur looked at Susan, "You knew that she had it?" Susan shook her head, "No. Harry had told me this year only." Head of Pendragons looked at Harry and said, "And when did you come to know?" Harry replied, "Umm...at end of previous school year..." He carefully avoided the Sirius Black case for the moment, not knowing what would be Arthur's reaction.
Arthur stared at the sky for some moment, thinking, and then abruptly said, "Ariana, first question we are going to ask the teachers why a third year student was given a Time-turner at all?" Others nodded at this.
He then looked up at Harry and Susan and asked, "Ever apparated?" Harry and Susan shook his head. Arthur grabbed Harry's hand and Ariana grabbed Susan's. He quickly told the two Hogwarts Fourth Year, "Don't worry, the first time apparating will make you feel very very weird, but it will be okay...alright?" Both nodded. "So here we go..."
With that all nine of them disappeared from the Scotland.
All nine of them appeared in the front of the famous British wizarding pub at Charing Cross Road. The moment Harry and Susan landed on their feet, they wanted to throw up. But a cool calming sensation washed over them that greatly calmed their senses. Harry and Susan looked around themselves and found that they were open in Muggle London, just before the entrance of Leaky Cauldron. Wait...they were out in open London...that means that they had apparated directly in front of the muggles?!
Harry and Susan panicked at appearing out of nowhere right in front of so many muggles, but...something was different... None of the muggles gave any sign of any recognition to them or anything. They just continued with their life. Harry and Susan wondered 'What is going on?' when they heard a sound that made them turn their heads and see chuckling Arthur Pendragon the Seventh and his friends.
Seeing Harry and Susan's confused faces, Arthur quickly told, "I casted a Muggle-repelling charm around us before apparating. So they couldn't see us apparating out of thin air. They won't be able to see us doing magic, even if do so out in the broad day-light." Both were shocked.
Susan, who had been raised her whole life in the Wizarding world, was shocked to the core. "WHAT! Muggles can't sees us doing magic if we apply Muggle repelling charm?!"
Arthur nodded, "Yes but there are drawbacks. We can't perform any magic on any other object. They can't see us performing any magic, but they can still see magic. Example, if you raise your wand and perform a levitating charm on a certain object, they can see a floating object in the air, but not you, the one who is performing it...understood?" Both nodded their heads with understanding. "Okay lets go inside." With that they headed inside wizarding pub.
Harry saw that the Leaky Cauldron was bustling with people inside. They all were having a tense discussion on one particular topic: Albus Dumbledore's declaration of State of Emergency and calling for an Emergency of Wizengamot at 2 p.m. They all had tense and nervous expressions, all were wondering what kind of situation arose that demanded a call for State of Emergency. Something which had not been done for last ten years.
Arthur and his group swiftly moved passed the crowd and went to the back of the pub. Arthur stared at the brick wall for some moment. Harry, thinking that Arthur did not know how to open the way to Diagon Alley tried to pull his wand and help him. But that was not required because soon, the thick brick wall parted its way by itself, revealing the path towards Diagon Alley.
Harry and Susan in a shocked tone shouted, ""How did you do that?!"" Arthur gave them a saucy reply and said, "Magic" and then strolled through the brick wall to enter the Alley. The other friends and family of Arthur just chuckled and followed him through the gate. Harry and Susan remained stunned for a while, but the moment they noticed that the group of foreign magicians went quite ahead, they sprinted after them.
The Diagon Alley was as busy as usual, with buyers and sellers, people buying magical items, merchants advertising their products. But one thing was different: the atmosphere. The usual happy and chirping alley was then filled tense and nervous air. People were having hushed conversation with themselves. Many, after walking a few metres, surveyed their surroundings as if in order to check for any ambushers. All had worried expressions on their face. And the reason was Dumbledore's call of a State Emergency.
In some shop, Harry heard, a radio was being played where the Magical Britain's only radio broadcasting channel Wizarding Wireless Network, was announcing a news:
"Albus Dumbledore, the Chief Warlock of Wizengamot, has called for a Declaration for a State of National Emergency. I repeat, Albus Dumbledore, the Chief Warlock of Wizengamot, has called for a Declaration for a State of National Emergency. An Emergency session of Wizengamot has been called at 2 o' clock, where Heads of all the Noble Houses of Great Britain, the other Lords and Ladies, and other Departmental Heads of all the Departments of Ministry of Magic has been called for a joined meeting. This is the first time since the disappearance of You-Know-Who a State of Emergency has been declared. None of the top Ministry officials were available comments. Albus Dumbledore when asked for a reason he told that everything will be answered i the meeting itself and told us not to worry. The WWN would like to request all their listeners to stay vigilant and if possible in their homes. Stay tuned listeners, more updates on the way..."
Kristofer Pendragon gave a low whistle and said, "Damn! The meeting is going to be a one of a kind!" Arthur, Ariana and Marylene Pendragons chuckled. Ariana said, "Just wait you British magicals, you all are up for a tremendous surprise! Just see what your ignorance and negligence have brought upon yourselves!" Others including Harry and Susan laughed.
Susan asked a bit nervously, "Nothing too bad is going to happen I suppose?" Arthur winking at the red haired girl said, "Just wait and see. If I tell you what is going to happen...then where will there be the fun?" Susan was still a bit nervous. "Nothing is going to happen to my Aunt I suppose?"
Arthur slowing his pace, looked at her with a calculative gaze. Then he asked, "Amelia Susan Bones, Regent of House of Bones, and current Head of the Magical Law Enforcement Department, right?" Susan with wide eyes asked, "How do you know?" Arthur chuckled, "We are not know as master Clans not for any reason. Wherever we go, do our our share of homework about that place before going." Susan uncertainly nodded. Then the Lord of House Pendragon gave a warm smile, "Don't worry, nothing will happen to her. She is an honest woman, values her moral and ethical principles, and is indeed a woman of high integrity from the reports I have read about her."
Susan's all worry regarding the safety of her Aunt was replaced with happiness when he heard the Head of House Pendragon compliment her dear Aunt. By the the time they had finished their discussion, they had already reached the Goblin Bank of Gringotts.
Harry, Susan, Arthur, Artemis, Ariana, Tatsuya, Miyuki, Kristofer and Marylene entered the majestic marble hall of the Goblin run bank, the Gringotts. Entering the bank, Arthur asked Harry and Susan to maintain a formal stance. When asked why, he simply answered, "What is going to happen next will be very important, and you have all barely ever barely paid attention to the that Ghost History Professor of yours, because his lectures on Goblins are hell boring...so..." Harry and Susan blushed. But one thing struck Harry's mind, "Wait how do you know about Binns?" To which Arthur reply not even looking at him said, "Hundred Telecasting Orbs were released not to observe you only, but other students and teachers as well. When I saw his teaching, I yawned within five minutes..." He finished with a chuckle and headed in the direction of the front most counter.
Arriving at the counter, Arthur looked at a Goblin teller, who was currently writing on a parchment. He did not even looked up to them. After waiting for a while, Arthur coughed a to garner the Goblin teller's attention, Without even looking at him and the others behind Arthur, he said, "State your business wizard." Arthur politely yet formally replied, "We wish to have an audience with Director Ragnok the Third of the Gringotts bank." That made the Goblin look at him. He sneered at Arthur and said, "Go away wizard. Who do you think you are asking for an appointment with the Kings of Goblin race?"
Arthur feeling a bit amused, raised his right fist and showed him his ring finger that contained the Head of the Pendragon Family Ring, with the Pendragon sigil: A golden coloured dragon with unfurled wings which was about to take off was neatly engraved along with the motto of the Family was sewed neatly, 'Nosce Teipsum'. Then he said with a half-amused expression, "I guess this shall suffice?"
The moment the goblin saw the Pendragon sigil on the ring, all colour vanished from his face. He looked at the ring and then at face of now smirking Arthur Pendragon. He sputtered, "You...you...all...are?" Without hesitating a moment he said, "Pendragon, Olympia, Yotsuba, Targaryen, Bones, Potter and..." glancing at Harry, "Peverell..." he finished with a smirk.
The moment the goblin heard the name 'Peverell' his eyes became so big, that it almost looked like his eyes would pop out from its sockets. He looked at each of their faces and then his wide eyes lingered for a while on Harry and then looked at Arthur VII Pendragon and said in a shaky voice, "Follow me...mi...milord..." Arthur gave a curt nod and motioned the others to follow him. Others also followed him without any questions.
After walking down several floors, travelling through various corridors with numerous twist and turns, they finally reached in front of a giant set of doors that was crafted using 24 caret pure gold. Two guards were guarding the doors with spears. the moment they saw them, they pointed their spears at them.
The Goblin Teller said, "Please wait here for some time Milord." Then he quickly spoke in his native tongue with the two other Goblin guards. After talking, the teller goblin slightly opened the door and went inside. After two minutes of waiting, he came out and motioned Arthur something with his hand. Arthur suddenly became stiff, assumed a regal posture and stood at attention.
The goblin coughed a bit, seeking everyone's attention at him, and then said in an regal way, "Presenting you, His Majesty, King Ragnok the Third, the Ruler and Administrator of Goblin Nation, Defender of Goblin Wealth and Kinsmen, and the Director of Gringotts International Bank." Both the doors opened ajar revealing a middle-aged looking Goblin, wearing a bronze armour and dressed like a warrior, with a sword in a scabbard attached to his side. He looked at Arthur for some moments, and then brought his right hand and made a fist, and banged his chest loudly and said, "Goblin Nation welcomes the House of Pendragon and their esteemed guests to the honoured Halls of Goblin Bank, Gringotts."
Arthur made the same gesture and banged his chest loudly with his fist and said, "House of Pendragon accepts the Goblin Nation's hospitality with gratefulness, and ensure not to break the guest rights intentionally. They looked at each other for some time, before each breaking into a grin. Both forwarded their hands at each other and fist bumped, like old friends!
Harry and Susan looked stunned. Both knew how unfriendly the Goblins are to wizards and how the negligence of the wizards had caused numerous Goblin Wars. But here they looked like the two were old friends!
"Welcome, welcome. Come inside." He quickly ushered them inside. It was a very large room with numerous wardrobes and shelves containing tomes of files and books. He had nine chairs already for them and asked them to sit. After they sat. Director Ragnok made himself comfortable by sitting on his throne like chair behind his giant table that contained numerous files and parchments.
Ragnok looked at the Head of Pendragons with a smile and said, "Seeing most of you all after such a long time, what I guess two years huh?" Ariana replied, "One and a half, last time we met at Vladivostok, Russia, at the International Convention of World Economic Forum." The goblin King replied, "Yes...one and a half, at that time our beloved Arthur was younger, yet matured, still the same...isn't it?" While all the other members present in the room laughed, only Arthur remained quite and blushed.
Then the Ragnok looked at Harry for a while and then at Arthur and said, "I see...so what the previous generations of Pendragons could not do in so many years, you did it within five months of taking your lordship eh? United the entire Grand Family of Pendragon. Finally..." Arthur smiled, "Well you can see yourselves." Then the Goblin King did something that made Harry and Susan feel shock to their core. He gave a genuine laugh. He said, "When I heard the news of the declaration of State Emergency, I will admit that I was truly intrigued. I wondered if another upstart Dark Lord rose in Britain or not, but I was worried for nothing!" Once again he laughed and said, "That means you are going to cause a havoc aren't you? These blood purists will now get the lesson they deserve!" He finished with tears of laughter rolling down his rough cheeks.
Arthur and the others just chuckled. He said, "Well they are indeed, up for a surprise...now time to talk about some serious issues..." Arthur formed a solemn expression. Director Ragnok was also intrigued at this. Ariana, was carrying a leather briefcase which she handed over to her twin. Arthur opened and brought out a stack of documents from it and gave it to the Head Goblin. The King of Goblins took it and started reading it.
Arthur said, "The Yotsubas, because of an request from the Pendragons, conducted a detailed investigation about Harry Potter, his life before and after entering the wizarding world..." Harry froze at this, 'Had they found out about the Dursleys? What they do to me? No way!' Arthur, from his peripheral vision looked Harry become tense, but he continued, "...and certain disparities have been found in his trust vault..." The eyes of Goblin King rose at hearing this, "...large amount of withdrawals have taken place since 31st October, 1981 till 20th August, 1994..." Arthur paused
Harry and Susan's eyes became as wide as saucers. Harry thought, 'Someone's stealing from my vault? Who could it? My key was with...'
Arthur continued, "Upon further investigations, we found out that, since 31st October, 1981 till 20th August, 1994; huge amount of deposits have been made in the vaults named: Order of the Phoenix, Molly Prewitt, and Percival Albus..." A look of absolute fury and disgust appeared on the Goblin Head's face, that greatly unnerved the two Hogwarts students, but the others remained calm and composed. "Cheating within the Halls of Gringotts! BLASPHEMOUS!" he shouted, before composing himself. Then he looked at Harry and said in a calm voice, "Mr. Potter, who had the key to your trust vault, all these years?" Harry shakily replied, "Dumbledore..."
The eyes of the other occupants of the room narrowed. "And why did he have so?" Ragnok snarled. Harry replied, "I was told that my parents had left the key with him..." A series of very flowery language escaped the Goblin King Ragnok's mouth. "That fucking bastard! Son of a fucking-cunt! I am gonna feed him to the dragons of the Gringotts..."
Arthur and Daenerys smirked, as it was the form of Capital punishment in their homeland, Avalon and Westeros.
Harry looked shell shocked at all the revelations. After cursing Dumbledore and Mollye Weasley nee Prewitt for some minutes, Ragnok finally calmed down and said, "I am going to look into this matter right now." Then with a snap of his fingers, plates filled with various delicacies and food items appeared before them. He told his guests, "Please eat and enjoy our hospitality, while I look what exactly was going on with one of our customers." With that he quickly left the room.
No sooner did he leave the room, Harry finally broke. He could not believe the fact the people trusted so much, had betrayed him in the end. Tears of betrayal rolled down his cheeks. Soon a pair of hands wrapped around him. The soothing voice of Arthur Pendragon tried to comfort him, "Its okay Harry...no need to worry...we are here...they will get what they deserve...don't worry..."
Harry tore himself from Arthur's embrace and looked directly into his amber-blue eyes and asked, "Why did they do this to me! What did I do to them? They don't even deserve forgiveness!" Arthur seeing a member of his Grand Family in such a pathetic situation, said, "Don't worry they are going to get what they deserve..." That enraged Harry a bit. He finally snapped, "How?! You said you forgave them! You are not going to punish them at all for what they did to me and Susan! They deserve to go to hell and rot! They-" Harry stopped his rant, because what he saw greatly surprised him, and added more to his confusion.
All the other occupants of the room, except Susan who equally became confused, burst into laughter. All were trying their level best to compose themselves, but could not do so. Finally Harry couldn't tolerate it anymore and shouted, "What's so funny?!"
Arthur, composing himself a bit and rubbing the tears of laughter from his cheeks, said, "Ha...ha..to think that you truly believed that I forgave them...is the funny thing...ha...ha...ha...!"
Now Harry was completely lost. 'Didn't he say "I pardon you all"?' Harry asked his doubt, "Didn't you say that you pardoned all of them?"
Arthur finally composing himself said, "Yes I said that I pardoned them..." "But then-" Harry tried to interject but Arthur continued, "...but I never said that I forgave them..."
Harry was utterly confused now, "Don't they mean the same?" Arthur smirked, "In the language of Magical law, pardon and forgiveness are totally different entities. Forgiveness, implies, forgiving someone unconditionally, but pardon in the magical world refers to, just delay in someone's punishment..." Arthur ended with a smirk.
Susan gasped. She with wide eyes said, "You are gonna a apply the Law of Veniae!" Arthur and the rest of his friends simply smirked. "Excellent Susan. I hope you don't mind any of us calling that, since we are all are going to stay in Britain, for quite a long time..." Susan nodded.
Arthur turned towards Harry and said, "Think rationally Harry. If I do bring charges against them, what is going to happen to them at the max?" Harry thought for a while and slowly said, "Life imprisonment or death sentence..." Arthur nodded, "And what great will happen to us if they do die? What great will happen if Magical Britain will be deprived of an entire generation of wizards and witches? What satisfaction will that bring us, spilling unnecessary blood? Anything?"
Harry thought for a while and then slowly said, "No...we won't gain anything..." Arthur smiled, "Exactly! Death will prove to be a blessing for them than being a way punishment. But we want them to suffer don't we?" Slowly Harry understood where Arthur was going and he smiled. He asked, "So what do you plan to do?" Arthur gave a feral grin and said, "Many things...in Wizengamot meeting you will get to see, just how much political power the House of Pendragon alone holds..." Arthur nodded.
While they were waiting, they had the food, that the host had served him. Except harry and Susan, others were busy busy doing there own stuffs.
Harry looked at the twin sister of the Head of Pendragons, reading a magazine with deep interest: Vogue Magical Scandinavia: November 1994 Edition. Harry was amazed at seeing a muggle magazine with magical tag. He knew what Vogue magazine was, seeing numerous times her aunt reading the British edition of it. Unable to suppress his curiosity, he blurted out, "I didn't know that Vogue was a wizarding magazine.
Ariana Pendragon looked up from the magazine page and said, "Hmm...ah...you see major brands of the mundane world have their counterparts in the magical world also. Sony, Nikon, Canon, in electronics... Armani, Levi's, Gucci, in clothing accessories, and so on have their magical stores, in different parts of the world..."
Harry and Susan, for the first time, ever heard of this. The Bones Heiress asked, "But...the Statue of Secrecy...?" Ariana smirked, "Only the top officials in the original muggle world stores know, no one else...so Statue is maintained..."
Harry then asked, "Then why are they not in Britain?" The auburn haired beauty gave a wry smile, "See the era in which the British magicals live. Still in Victorian era. What profit will these companies have if they think of opening stores in Diagon Alley?" Harry nodded with understanding.
At that time, a large beep, came from the direction of Arthur Pendragon. He pulled a slim rectangular case like structure, that was emitting various kinds of light and Arthur started...tapping on it? Confusion etched on Harry's mind 'What is that thing?'
After, tapping a bit, Arthur sighed, "Damn it! Just received an email from Professor Flamel, once again rejecting my idea of creating a new magical accelerator." The friends of the Head of the Pendragons looked at him like as if he had grown another head.
Ariana looked at his brother with an expression of disbelief. "You once again proposed the idea of building a magical accelerator for the Thesis Writing Competition?! How many times do we have to tell you, the school cannot provide that much money!" The others also nodded at this. Tatsuya for the first time spoke up, "Why do you need one anyone anyway?" Arthur, for a lack of better word, whined, "Hey we need it to study to the quantum fundamentals of eidos and information bodies! It is required for our thesis in Alchemy after all!"
Tatsuya said wearily, "You know I can do the exact function of a magical accelerator. Forgot I can see the eidos and information bodies with my bare eyes?" Arthur looked like a deer caught in the headlights. He rapidly blinked his eyes and then a wide smile appeared on his face, "Oh I indeed forgot! Our personal magical accelerator is sitting right in front of us! Thanks for the reminder!" The Asian boy, simply shook his head.
Harry, once again unable to hide his curiosity, asked Arthur, "What is that?" pointing at the the rectangular thing on his hand. Arthur said, "What?" and then looked at his hand and saw what it was and then smiled, "Oh! This is called a smart phone. My Apple iPhone XE 2. Brand new, ought, last month."
Harry had never seen such a weird electronic gadget ever in his life. He asked, "That is a phone? By which you can make phone calls?" Arthur smirked a bit, "Yes and much more...mails...games...chat...watching movies and web series...etc..." Harry had never heard any phone capable of doing such things. He felt like entering in an absolutely new world (well technically he was...moving on from Victorian Wizarding World to the highly advanced Modern Magical World...), so he was in a dilemma.
Arthur nodded, understanding Harry's way of thinking, so he decided to explain, "Ever heard the names of big tech corporations Microsoft and Apple?" Harry nodded, who hasn't living a fair share of their life in the muggle world. "So I guess you know the giant feud between the two of them?" Harry wryly said, "Who hasn't?"
Arthur said looked a bit sheepish, "Well...its not technically true..." Harry frowned a bit. Arthur said rubbing his neck with his bare hand, "Well...you see...actually its not true...we arranged it a bit..." Harry said, "What do you mean?"
Arthur gave a brief laugh, "Well, actually, the companies Apple and Microsoft, were never at each other's throat, actually they have a very good partnership. Both are big tech companies, and they had agreed that the first 50 years of the foundation of both the companies, Apple would dominate the magical world, while Microsoft will handle the mundane world, after that, next 50 years, vice versa. This type of contract the two companies had agreed..." He ended with a laugh.
Now Harry's head was spinning, 'Had my life has been a lie since the entire time, or did I live in a world full of lies?' Harry unsurely asked, "So all the news that we get to hear about the animosity between the two companies?" Arthur smoothly replied, "Those are just appearances that the two companies have to maintain so as not to get much suspicion in the muggle world and they are doing it excellently. In reality, that Steve Jobs guy and the Bill Gates person are real chums. Both got a diploma from the Massachusetts Institute of Technomancy (Magical counterpart of MIT- Massachusetts Institute of Technology) after dropping out from their university, and then boom! Each create a huge business empire." Arthur finished excitedly.
Harry's head was rolling now. "Aren't they muggles?" he asked. Arthur replied, "Yes they are full-fledged muggles, but they new about the magical world, so no question of breaking the Statue of Secrecy."
The boy-who-lived finally sighed, "It looks like my entire world was a lie..." The Lord of Pendragons smirked, "The same is the condition of muggleborns when they are introduced to this whole world." Harry weakly nodded.
At that time King Ragnok III returned, wearing an extremely furious expression. He had a book and a document in his hand. He shouted, "That old codger and the harpy of of the Weasleys tried to set up an illegal marriage contract between Harry James Potter and Ginerva Molly Weasley!"
I decided to leave the story here. Hope you all liked the story. Please send your reviews, how you all liked this. See you next time!