Chapter four

Gellert Greengrass had been very surprised and quite shocked when he read the letter from Harry Potter. From what he heard, the-boy-who-lived had been well looked after by a distant relative. From what the boy had written, that wasn't true. It sounded to Gellert that the boy was badly mistreated, but he had a feeling it was more.

Gellert took some fresh parchment and began his letter to Harry Potter. Apart from taking the boy on as a client, he knew he would have a lot of research to do, but to also keep it from people like the Minister and Dumbledore. It was Dumbledore that always told everyone that he had placed Harry Potter in a safe place, that there was always someone keeping an eye on him, a witch who would never been suspected.

Gellert arrived home from his office, he went straight into the dining room as he knew that is where his wife and two daughters were. As soon as the meal was over, Gellert turned to his daughters.

'Give me your impression of Harry Potter?'

'He seemed nice, a bit unsure of himself,' Daphne said.

'Shy as well, he thanked me for the help I gave him when he was looking for a book on charms,' Astoria said.

'Do you ever see him with the headmaster?'

'Yes, Dumbledore seems to watch him all the time, but there have been a few times when I've heard the headmaster has asked Harry to go to his office. The last time that happened Harry didn't seem all that pleased.'

'You girls explained about the chamber of secrets and how the rumours went around that Harry Potter saved a girl and killed the monster.'

'Yes, some were saying it was a dragon but dragons can't petrify,' Astoria said.

'I did some research, the only magical creature that can petrify is a basilisk, but it also kills if you look into it's eyes. It said the crow of a rooster can kill it, and Hagrid's roosters were being killed. There were also a lot of spiders around the castle at the time and it mentions that spiders are scared of a basilisk. I think the rumours were true since Harry Potter is a parselmouth and the basilisk is a snake.'

'Did anything happen during your first year Daphne?'

'I know Harry ended up seriously injured towards the end of the year, he was in the hospital and missed the last quidditch match. At the start of term feast Dumbledore told everyone that the third floor corridor was out of bounds and if anyone went there they would die a horrible death. We have no idea what went on, so many rumours went around that you never know what to believe. That's why I only told you things that I knew were true.'

'Tell me about how Harry Potter looks, health wise?'

'He's shorter than all the other's our age, he was even shorter than me, but he seemed to grow a little during the last school year. He was very skinny, too skinny but I only saw him once without his robes. The thing is, I know the Potters have money but Harry was wearing these really old and overly large clothes, his shoes also had a hole in them. His school clothes and robes were all new, like his equipment, but the other clothes looked second hand. What's going on dad?'

'I received a letter from Harry Potter, right now he has asked me to represent him. First what I tell you must be kept confidential even if I cannot tell you everything as I have decided he will be my client.'

'We promise.'

'It seems he lived with Lily Potter's muggle sister and her husband, they basically took the money they received for him and spent it on their son. From what I gathered from his letter, there was a lot of mistreatment. I would say he was not looked after as he should be. The goblins have already stopped payments to those muggles and his account manager suggested he hire a lawyer, not just to help with the muggles, but to help him get emancipated. He is the last Potter, so that will be easy, but I need to do it without the Minister or Dumbledore finding out. You see it was Albus Dumbledore who told everyone he placed Harry with good people and he was cared for, that was a lie, why he lied I have no idea. So I wrote to Harry and we're going to meet the day you return to Hogwarts, it will give us all day to talk. Harry is writing to his friends to tell them that he needs a few more days, as he has a few things to do. I want both of you to write to me and tell me what the reaction is from Dumbledore, his friends and any others that seemed very interested in the boy. I want to see how they look and behave when they realised he has not returned to Hogwarts.'

'Are you saying they hurt him?' Astoria asked.

'Yes, but Harry did not go into details in his letter, he said he would explain once we spoke in person. He did say that he is not what people believe, he is not Gryffindor's golden boy, or Dumbledore's boy, or even light. He is not dark, he never would be. It seems the-boy-who-lived is like us, grey and his finally found out who to be cautious around. How he got my name I don't know, maybe the goblins gave him a list, which would make the most sense.'

'He's not like some of the other Gryffindor's who instantly hate us because we in Slytherin, Harry actually smiled at me and Tori a few times. I also heard him tell Ron Weasley that he can't just assume people are death eaters just because they are in Slytherin. He said something about a Gryffindor that was a death eater, he never said who.'

'There were a few death eaters during the first war that came from other houses. So I think I know who Harry was talking about, but I can't tell you any of this. Just keep a look out at how everyone reacts when he doesn't arrive then let me know. If all goes well then Harry should return to Hogwarts within a week or two.'

'Can you get him emancipated quickly dear? It would be terrible if he finds himself expelled and sent back to those muggles,' Victoria said.

'That will be the first thing I work on, and quickly. Since Harry is the last Potter heir it will instantly be granted, especially once I have the proof of how he was treated by his so called guardians.'

'Why would Dumbledore give him to Lily's sister when she was a muggle? Neither James nor Lily would allow that,' Victoria said.

'I'm sure they would have stated that Harry was not to go to her, but I can't be sure until Harry and I can get a look at the Potter's wills. But James was from a very old ancient family, he would never allow his heir to be raised by muggles. He is thirteen now and hasn't been taught what he needs to know, they don't have those lessons anymore at Hogwarts since most said they taught their children from a young age. I just don't understand why Dumbledore decided muggles were the right people to raise Harry Potter, who will take the title of Lord Potter when he turns seventeen, it just doesn't make sense. I know there was danger after Voldemort died but I'm sure there were many good families that would have taken him. They could have enchanted the home to keep him protected. Victoria, if all goes well, maybe you could help Harry learn what he needs, he will need help and guidance before he takes his seat on the Wizengamot.'

'I don't mind dear, and doesn't an emancipated youth have to have an adult named that he can go to for advice or help, if it was needed?'

'Yes, but I can't suggest my wife, it would not look good, I can make sure it was known that you were friends with Lily when you were students, that might help. For now we will do it without anyone finding out, if Harry agrees. But for all we know he might have an adult that could help him. I won't know anything until we talk.'

'So you knew his mother?' Daphne looked at her mother.

'Yes, we were close, Lily didn't care what people said to her about befriending a Slytherin. She already was friends with Severus Snape, which is how we met.'

'Snape treats Harry terribly, worse than anyone else. Why would he do that if he was friends with his mum?' Daphne asked.

'Severus ended up in love with Lily, she married James,' Victoria said sadly, 'Harry resembles his father.'

'He often says cruel things to Harry about his father, he's mean. I know he's our head of house, but I'm ashamed to be Slytherin when he acts like that. I stopped Draco Malfoy throwing ingredients into Harry's cauldron a couple of times. He always does and Snape lets him do it then puts Harry in detention. I feel sorry for Harry, he had so many turn on him last year just because he can speak to snakes. They kept calling him the next dark lord, even some Gryffindor's turned on him.'

'Maybe you could be a bit more friendly with him, like in the library. Show him there are people from other houses that do not like the way he is treated,' Victoria said kindly.

'I might, next time he comes in alone. Know-it-all Granger never leaves his side, I can tell it annoys Harry, a lot.'

'Do what you can for now. But it's late, you girls should go get ready for bed,' Gellert said.

The two girls hugged and kissed their parents before heading up to their rooms, where they showered and got into bed. They were allowed to read for a while, but their father liked them in bed at a decent time. Daphne was already working on ways she could talk to Harry alone, Astoria was also wondering how she could speak with Harry. She thought he looked unhappy most of the time, sometimes he even looked sad. One thing both girls thought about Harry Potter, he never did smile a lot and they only saw him laugh once, at a quidditch game. They were determined to get him to smile and laugh.