Chapter seven

It only took just over a week for Gellert to have Harry's emancipation granted. Once the people in the Department of Magical Orphans saw just two of Harry's memories, it was signed instantly. Naturally as Harry was only thirteen, he would need an adult to provide advice and guidance. Also if Harry found himself hurt, unconscious or unable to speak, then the adult would be the one to give or refuse treatment, depending on the situation.

Harry had written down that he would like that person to be Arthur Weasley as long as Mr Weasley did not listen to advice from Albus Dumbledore about Harry. Harry just hoped that eventually Sirius would get his name cleared then Sirius would be officially Harry's guardian even with the emancipation. Harry knew he was too young, that he would need some type of help from an adult and he would rather it be his godfather than any other. Gellert didn't mention his wife, he knew he would eventually get Sirius Black's name cleared then Harry would have his godfather.

When Arthur had been summoned, he had been surprised by the emancipation then he felt honoured that young Harry asked for him. Once he explained how this worked, that he would not be Harry's guardian but would be the adult to give guidance whenever Harry needed it, he signed instantly.

Gellert had spoken with Arthur for a few minutes, to explain more about Harry's situation and why he wanted to be emancipated. He knew it was Dumbledore and the Ministry that approved of Harry living with his muggle relatives, even when they could not understand a magical child. So Gellert really pushed to Arthur to keep the information from others, not his family but others, until Harry was ready to allow it to be known. Gellert also handed over a letter that Harry had ready for Arthur if he agreed. Then the lawyer left to begin working on a few other problems for Harry Potter.

'So before you head back to Hogwarts, I will tell you that one of my associates will be taking all the paperwork to the muggle courts within the month. It should not be long after that when you will get a letter about the court dates. Now even though Mr Johnson will be handling that case for you, since he is a muggleborn and knows how muggles can be, I will be with you as well.'

'So what do you think will happen with them?'

'Our research and investigation has come up with a lot of proof of child neglect, we have statements from a few of your old school teachers as well as some of the neighbours who actually said they never saw you do anything wrong even though they were told you were a delinquent. Mr Johnson had one of his helpers use magic to get inside the house, we needed proof of your captivity before they removed the evidence. I was told what was found inside the cupboard under the stairs, you never mentioned that.'

Harry sighed, 'I didn't want anyone to know I was kept in a cupboard. Until I went to Hogwarts I thought it was normal, really, for kids that lived with other people and not their parent's. But the Weasley's were really good to me, they treated me like they did their own kids. I started to listen to all the other kids about their home lives and I even heard a few kids that lived in homes for orphans say how they were treated and where they slept, in rooms and beds. So that will come out as well?'

'You are still a minor, so all the information brought out during their trial will be sealed. But as you know Harry, with our magic, it's not always possible to keep things quiet.'

'I know, at least I can hope no one finds out, but I'm also warned in case it does get out.'

'Maybe we'll get lucky, now on to Snape. Since I am a Governor, I took all the information then put in my request. They agreed, well, one didn't but he was overruled. So we have sent a subpoena to the staff of Hogwarts, every complaint by a student about any teacher must be relinquished. They have all heard from their own children but they needed a complaint from others. Just so you understand, any complaint is magically added to the book so it can't be accidentally lost, or deliberately erased. When we have all that then we can work on what we can do with Snape. My daughters have agreed to give statements about how he behaves. They feel ashamed by their head of house and they do not like his treatment of students from other houses.'

'I'll have to thank them when I get to Hogwarts, I only spoke to them a couple of times, usually in the library. It's the reason why I contacted you and not lawyers that has kids in other houses. When everyone found out I was a parselmouth, so many turned on me, called me the next dark lord. I got hexed a lot, even hit and spat on a few times. Some of the lawyers on the list had kids who were aggressive towards me last year. But I remembered Daphne and Astoria, how nice they seemed, I even remember Daphne give this really cold look to Snape when he kept saying things to me, about my father. I was told why, how Snape loved my mother she married my father.'

'Yes, but also your father and his friends did often pull pranks on Snape, to be fair, they pranked a lot of students from all houses, but Snape did cop the brunt of their pranks.'

'Yeah, he told me, but it wasn't me, I'm just a kid, I didn't even know my father.'

'Yes, he turned into a bitter man who can't let go of his hatred. Well, hopefully once I get the information on how many complaints that man has had, then he will no longer be at Hogwarts.'

'He knows his potions, but he just won't teach us. I wanted to do really well in potions, I found out my mother was brilliant at potions, it was going to be my way to honour her. I already got seeker on the quidditch team, so I figured I made my father proud. I wanted to do something to make my mother proud, something that she was good at, like my father was good at quidditch.'

'Then we have more to work for,' Gellert said then he asked Harry to speak about every encounter with Severus Snape, it was being recorded by a memory ball, it would be presented in court, if needed.

Harry finished packing his new trunk with everything, the elves kept telling Harry it was there job. Harry had to explain to them that he was just so used to doing things for himself, but he finally moved back and allowed the elves to do what they do, look after their masters.

'Gellert will keep us both informed, you need to get Peter as quickly as possible.'

'I will, I might not do it tonight, I wouldn't want anyone to become suspicious. I can't tell Ron, not until after you're trial, he might not believe me.'

'It would be hard to believe.'

'Are you going to be alright, here, alone and not being able to go out?'

'Yes, this place is big enough to keep me occupied, besides, I need to refresh my memory on a lot of spells that I haven't used in twelve years. Your grandfather's old wands works well for me.'

'It will be hard for me to research at Hogwarts, but I was wondering if you could use the books here. You see,' Harry lifted his hair off his scar, 'I get the odd twinge in this, it actually hurt because of Quirrell and Voldemort. One time when I felt it was in the great hall during dinner, Quirrell was looking at me. At the same time I got pain, Snape grabbed his arm where the dark mark is.'

'Okay, so there is some type of connection to Voldemort, what exactly do you want me to research?'

'The link or connection to the dark mark, if I felt pain and Snape did, then maybe I could use my scar in some way to make them feel pain. I mean Dumbledore believes he never died, and I saw his spirit so he is sort of out there. If he returns then his death eaters that weren't caught will join him again. I just figured it might be worth looking into. I already had two runs in with Lucius Malfoy, I could see straight away he wants Voldemort back.'

'Since you're situation in unique we might not find anything in books, we might need to work on our own spell. This would need time, so research into the dark mark is first, then we can try a few things when you return for the holidays. Have you ever just concentrated on your scar and Snape at the same time, sort of like seeing if you can connect to him or even see if you can make him feel something.'

'I never have, but I only thought about it when I first stayed at the Leaky Cauldron. But I'll work it when I can because he might not be there for very long, hopefully.'

'See what you can do and I will from here, now you better go, or you'll miss your first classes.'

Harry still felt a little strange having an adult, like a parent care about him, but he did like it when Sirius hugged him.

He stepped out of the fireplace into the Three Broomsticks. Rosmerta saw who arrived inside her pub.

'Mr Potter, why aren't you inside the castle.'

'I couldn't start straight away Madam, I was wondering if you could send word to the school that I have arrived?'

'Of course, sit down, it will take a few minutes before they come down to allow you through the gates.'

Harry sat at the table, he watched as Madam Rosmerta spoke to someone in the fireplace. He wondered if it was Dumbledore or McGonagall, even if it was one of the other teachers.

'Mr Filch will be down shortly.'

'Thanks, could I get a dozen bottles of Butterbeer to take with me?'

'Of course,' she gathered up the bottles, Harry packed then in his trunk then handed over the money.

'Thanks Madam Rosmerta, I might see you on the Hogsmeade weekends.'

'I'm sure I will,' Rosmerta watched young Harry Potter leave before going back to her bar. She knew she would soon would be overrun with hundreds of students from Hogwarts, not to mention, the teachers as well.