Chapter five

Ron was in his room when he heard a tap at the window, he hurried to let Hedwig in. She dropped the letter on the bed then flew off straight away. Ron thought that was strange, normally Hedwig would rest or wait for a response.

"Dear Ron, I won't be on the Hogwarts express, there are a few things I need to do before I return to Hogwarts. I can't tell you what they are, it's not that I don't trust you, I do, but there are others I don't trust. I know you might have your mum trying to find out where I am, even Dumbledore will probably question you. Hermione definitely will and then she'll run straight to an adult. I don't want to put you in that type of situation, you're a good friend, I wouldn't do that to you. Just know I'm fine, I'm not in danger, I'm not being held by the Dursley's and I haven't been kidnapped. So you know it's really me and I'm not under duress, only you, Fred and George know what the twins saw in the cupboard. See, it's me, I'm fine I just need to sort some things out. I'll see you in a week or two, I shouldn't be longer than that, your friend, Harry."

Ron sat there staring at the words Harry wrote, 'Strange, but I definitely know it's from Harry, I also know Harry doesn't like Dumbledore, but he would never tell me why. Maybe it's because of Dumbledore that he lives with those muggles,' Ron shrugged then stuck the letter in his top drawer, under his jumpers, then changed his mind, his mum might find it, so he crawled under the bed and pulled up the broken floor board and stuck the letter in the hole. Harry had told him about the loose floor board at the Dursley's, it's where Harry hid a lot of stuff, that's what gave him the idea to do the same.

Harry and Sirius spent the last couple of days getting to know each other. They had taken their memories that they needed to show Gellert Greengrass, copied them then replace them in their heads. If they needed the original memory, they would show them.

Harry waited until he knew the Hogwarts express had left before he asked Sirius if he could apparate him to the muggle town of Bristol to meet his lawyer. Sirius took Harry by side-along apparition, he made sure his godson was safe before returning to the castle.

Harry only had to walk a short distance to find the café where he was meeting Mr Greengrass. He was early, but he wanted to make sure no one saw him. So he sat at the back of the café, ordered a cup of tea then waited.

It was only five minutes Harry waited when Gellert Greengrass headed his way. He wrote in his letter what he looked like so Harry would recognise him.

'Good morning Mr Potter.'

Harry shook the man's hand, 'Good morning sir, and please, call me Harry.'

'Harry, I am Gellert, let's sit and get started.'

'I was surprised when you suggest this place and where it is.'

'Meeting clients here for the first time works better in places like this, especially if they don't want to be seen, which I'm sure you don't.'

'No, I don't, at least not yet. I found out about the Potter ancestral castle, that is where I'm staying. There is a full staff of house elves, so I'm being looked after. It's actually strange to have someone looking after me, even if they are house elves.'

'Yes, what you wrote in your letter, to tell you the truth, it shocked me. We all heard you were supposed to be well cared for and safe.'

'Neither is true, I thought if you needed them, I can show you a few memories of some of their punishment.'

'Since we want this emancipation done quickly, memories would be the easiest option. Now the Department of Magical Orphans are bound by magic so they cannot speak about the children they have to deal with. It mainly started so adopted children could not be found by the birth parents if they changed their minds, but it works for us as well.'

'So do you think I'll have any trouble?'

'No, I don't, you are the last Potter, the only heir to a very old and ancient house. It is not right that you were left with muggles. Can you tell me, if you know that is, why he chose muggles and not a magical family even if they are family?'

'He said he used my mother's sacrifice to create wards of some kind, but I have to remain with my mother's blood, her sister. He said it's all based on blood and love, my mother's love saved me that night. The trouble I have with that is other mother's would have done anything to protect their kids so why did those children die and I lived. Sorry, it's something I've always found curious.'

'You don't need to be sorry, it is very curious if that is what you've been told. I know my wife and I would stand in front of our daughters if they were in danger, so it does make me curious as to why you survived. If they were based on blood and love, then they would have failed, what you wrote told me that your aunt did not love you so those wards would not have set. But that is not why we are here and I'm sure we could speak all day and speculate as well. We are here to get you emancipated and to make sure those muggles are prosecuted for their treatment of you. Now I'm sure you've worked out that we will need a lot more meetings before I can take those people to court. For now we will be concentrating on you having rights over yourself. We have two weeks to get everything organised before you return to Hogwarts.'

'I also have two other problems, but they can wait, even if they are important. Once I don't turn up at Hogwarts I'm bound to have half the ministry looking for me along with Dumbledore and his Order of the Phoenix. I sent a letter to Ron, made sure I put something in that only he and his twin brothers knew so Ron would know I wasn't kidnapped or anything.'

'Very wise, I'm sure most will think of that first, especially with the news of the escape from Azkaban.'

'Yeah, fudge told me about that, it's one thing I need to speak with you about and some proof to go with it.'

'Let me tell you this, I do not believe he is guilty, yet I only found out recently he never received a trial. I checked up on it when I heard he escaped. So I will take on that case as well, but again we will have to be careful. The Minister and others at the Ministry will not come away looking very good once the evidence is brought to light so they might try to stop it.'

'We thought if you could speak with Madam Bones, maybe organise a trial but without Dumbledore finding out and maybe even if it could be kept quiet from Fudge. We know that might not be possible, we just want him to have a fair and safe trial.'

'Keeping Dumbledore in the dark will be easy, he is headmaster, working, so he is busy at the school will keep him from the Ministry. If Amelia and I can keep the truth about whose trial it is from anyone finding out until the last minute then neither man will find out. Fudge doesn't always take part in the courts, only when he knows the Ministry will win which makes him look good. After today's meeting I will give you a port key that will bring you into my office and take you home again. I find it's the easiest way to meet clients, especially when they don't want it known they are seeing a lawyer. I know you don't like Fudge, not many people do, but it sounds like you are not too fond of Albus Dumbledore.'

'I'm not, if he's supposedly the most powerful and wise wizard around then how is it that I almost died a few times in my first two years at Hogwarts. Also, he doesn't stop teachers from being a bully, I mean Snape is really cruel yet nothing is ever done, he just gets away with it. His class could put a student in hospital if not killed because he allows his Slytherin's to get away with anything. Me and Neville Longbottom have had stuff thrown in our cauldron's where they either explode or start letting off fumes, then he blames us yet he knows it's one of the snakes, usually Malfoy.'

'Yes, Daphne, my daughter explained how it is in that classroom. When I was a student there the potions class had charms around it to stop any type of sabotage of any potion. That was done due to how dangerous some of the ingredients are. Is that the other problem you wish me to work on for you?'

'Yes, if you could, I'm not even sure there is anything you can do.'

'You can sue Professor Snape for neglect and verbal abuse but also for placing students in danger. If he is found guilty then he will lose his job as a teacher. I do find it unusual that Albus allows such treatment, he normally likes to protect his students. Yes I know he is big on second chances but it seems that has changed to Snape and not the students. Well, as I said we have a big day, so let's get started.'

'Um, I can afford to pay you which I only just found out but how exactly do I do that?'

'That is another problem I wish to speak with you about, how little you know of this world. For now I will tell you that when you need to pay for anything but you do not have the amount on you, it's a simple process of signing the bill then tapping it with your wand. When you buy your wand it links to your magical core, so your vault will automatically know you are the one organising payment.'

'That's great, thank you Gellert,' Harry grinned then watched as this wizard lawyer took out a normal muggle pen and a large a4 size book and began to write. Harry liked this man and knew he would help not only him, Harry, but he would also help with Sirius and his problem with Snape.