Hey, Everyone! This chapter Harry goes to the Ministry for his hearing/trial, but what is this 'evidence' that Duncan has that he's so sure will clear Harry of all charges? LOL! I'm NOT tellin'!
Then Harry, Duncan, and Margaret head down to Diagon Alley to Gringott's to take care of some long overdue 'family business'. Enjoy!
Chapter 3: Hearings and Wills
The next morning Duncan was in the Ministry, just leaving the Department of Magical Law-Enforcement with his 'evidence', when Tonks ran up to him.
"Harry's hearing has been moved up!", the auror said urgently. "It starts in a few minutes!"
"WHAT?!", Duncan snarled. "Is Harry….?"
"Arthur is getting him there, but you need to hurry with your evidence! The Wizengamot is using the hearing room at the far end of this level on the right!"
"Thanks!", Duncan growled. He pulled Harry's Invisibility Cloak from his coat pocket and loosely covered himself and his cargo. Then he extended his wings and took to the air. The ceilings were high enough for him to fly above all the human traffic below. However, the cloak prevented him from flying at full speed. Damn that Fudge! Then he smirked, thinking of the stroke the Minister will have; not just from his testimony for Harry, but over his other purpose for coming to Britain!
When he reached the door, he could hear voices within, and Dumbledore was about to enter. Duncan landed and opened the cloak.
"Ah, Duncan", the old wizard greeted him. "I'm glad you made it. Put on the cloak, follow me, stand at Harry's left shoulder and wait until the moment I call you."
"Fine", Duncan growled. "I'll follow your lead on this. But we're gonna talk afterward, old man."
Albus nodded in agreement. He might need Duncan's help if what he suspected about Minister Fudge's intentions beyond this hearing was correct.
xxXXxx
Harry was nervous as he sat in the chair in the center of the room, Minister Fudge looking down at him from the "judge's bench", the entire Wizengamot in the gallery behind and to the sides of Fudge. Harry had entered alone, as Arthur Weasley was not allowed to accompany him beyond the door. Fudge banged his gavel, calling the hearing to order.
"Disciplinary hearing of the 12th of August into offences committed by Hadrian "Harry" James Potter, resident at Number 4 Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey. Interrogators: Cornelius Oswald Fudge, Minister of Mag…"
"Witness for the defense", a familiar voice called out, cutting him off. Fudge looked up in surprise, as Albus Dumbledore walked calmly into the room to stand at Harry's right shoulder. Harry was visibly relieved. Fudge resisted the urge to scowl. The time and place of the hearing had been changed specifically to avoid…. "Albus Percival Wolfric Brian Dumbledore."
"You got our message that the time and place of the hearing had been changed, did you?", Fudge smiled falsely. He knew no message had been sent.
"I must have missed it", Dumbledore replied, playing Fudge's little game. "But by a happy mistake, I arrived at the Ministry three hours early. Charges?"
"The charges against the accused are as follows:", Fudge adjusted his glasses and read from the parchment on his podium. "That he did knowingly, and in full awareness of the illegality of his actions, produce a Patronus Charm in the presence of a muggle. Do you deny producing said Patronus?", he pointedly asked Harry.
"No, but…."
"And you were aware that you were forbidden to use magick outside of school while under the age of 17?", Fudge cut him off.
"Yes, I was, but…."
"Witches and wizards of the Wizengamot….", Fudge cut Harry off again. Under the cloak, Duncan was seething at Fudge's obvious attempt to railroad his cousin. Boy, was he in for a surprise!
"I was only doing it because of the Dementors!", Harry rushed before Fudge could continue. Murmurs went through the gathered witches and wizards.
"Dementors?", a blonde witch in black robes asked, her interest piqued. "In Little Whinging?"
"That's quite clever", Fudge said, attempting to regain control of the hearing. "Muggles can't see Dementors, can they, boy? Highly convenient."
"I'm not lying", Harry urged. "There were three of them, and if I hadn't…."
"Enough!", Fudge stopped him. "I'm sorry to interrupt what I'm sure would be a very well-rehearsed story, but since you can produce no witnesses, nor evidence of the event…!"
"Pardon me, Minister, but as it happens, we can", Albus interrupted with a twinkle in his eye. He reached over and pulled the invisibility cloak off of a scowling Duncan. The young man looked intimidating, his emerald eyes almost glowing, his toned body cloaked in his black, crocodile-skin duster.
"I was there", Duncan growled. Then he tossed two charred, dead Dementors on the floor in front of Fudge's podium. A wave of gasps went through the crowd. "And here's your evidence! I fried them myself! The third one is down at the DMLE office, undergoing a magical autopsy."
"W-wh-wha-Who are you?!", Fudge sputtered. He despised surprises!
"Witness for the defense. My name is Duncan Xerxes Absalom Belphegor Rosenblatt", Duncan smirked. "Harry is my cousin, I was on my way to see him when all this went down."
"*hup-hup!*", a rather toadish woman chirped. "Excuse me, young man, but do you truly expect us to believe that you actually killed three Dementors? Something that, as far as we know, is impossible?"
"You have the evidence right there", Duncan smirked, pointing at the charred remains on the floor. "And considering how you've stubbornly chosen to remain 150 years behind the rest of the world, I'm not surprised that you didn't know they can be killed. I'd be more than happy to testify. Harry and I are also more than willing to submit our memories to a pensieve as evidence, or even take Veritaserum."
"Very well", Fudge relented, having no choice. "Take the stand, Mr. Rosenblatt."
Duncan winked at Harry as he stood from the chair so Duncan could sit. Harry went to sit in the empty side of the gallery.
"Please describe the attack", the same blonde from earlier asked.
"As I said, I was on my way to see my cousin", Duncan began. "Then the storm suddenly rolled in. Up ahead, I saw three cloaked, black figures flying over the road. Two split off and headed to opposite ends of a tunnel under the highway. I picked up my pace, just in case there was someone in trouble. Then I saw first one of the figures, which I could now identify as Dementors, driven out of one end of the tunnel by a Patronus, then the other from the other side. I saw them regrouping with the third when I saw Harry helping his muggle cousin—with whom he's resided most of his life!—out of the tunnel and turning toward their home on Privet Drive. The Dementors tried to sweep in from behind them and attack again. Fortunately, I was close enough to intervene by then."
"Now look here", Fudge chuckled dismissively. "Dementors don't just wander into a muggle suburb and happen across an underage wizard. The odds are astronomical."
Duncan growled deep in his throat, and started to stand; only for Dumbledore to put a restraining hand on his shoulder.
"I don't think anyone would believe the Dementors were there by coincidence, Minister", Dumbledore stated as Duncan sat back down.
"*hup-hup!*Excuse me, Professor", the same toadish woman chirped; a condescending, phony smile plastered on her face. "I'm sure I must have misunderstood you. Dementors are, after all, under the control of the Ministry of Magick. And it's so silly of me, but it sounded for a moment as though you were suggesting that the Ministry had ordered the attack on this boy."
'That bitch is baiting him', Duncan scowled to himself.
"That would be disturbing indeed, Madam Undersecretary", Dumbledore replied smoothly. "Which is why I'm sure the Ministry will be mounting a full-scale inquiry into why the three Dementors were so very far from Azkaban, and why they mounted an attack without authorization."
Duncan may be angry at the Headmaster, but he had to admit that the old man dodged that trap artfully.
"Of course, there is someone who might be behind the attack", Dumbledore added, stepping toward Fudge to speak softly. "Cornelius, I implore you to see reason. The evidence that the Dark Lord has returned is incontrovertible."
"He's NOT back!", Fudge hissed adamantly.
Harry saw the slump in Dumbledore's shoulders, and could imagine the look of disappointment on his face. Albus turned and walked back toward Duncan in the witness chair, careful not to step on the charred Dementors on the floor.
"In the matter of Harry Potter", Albus spoke up to address the whole room again, "the law clearly states that magick may be used before muggles in life-threatening situations."
"Laws can be changed if necessary, Dumbledore!", Fudge barked.
"Clearly", Albus agreed with an edge of sarcasm. "Has it become practice to hold a full criminal trial to deal with a simple matter of underage magick?"
The members of the Wizengamot murmured and glanced at each other, considering not only his words, but Duncan's testimony and the evidence of the dead Dementors right before their eyes. They had also been previously unaware that the muggle involved was one that, as a family member Harry lived with, already knew about magick; so the Statute of Secrecy had not actually been violated.
"Those in favor of conviction?", the blonde member from earlier called for a vote.
Fudge, the toadish woman, and a few older members raised their hands.
"Those in favor of clearing the accused of all charges?"
Nearly every other member raised their hands, with two abstaining. Fudge looked around and saw he was fighting a rising tide.
"Cleared of all charges", Fudge said resignedly, striking his gavel before rising to leave.
"A moment, Minister Fudge?", Duncan called with a smirk.
"Yes, Mr. Rosenblatt?", Fudge replied with an indulgent tone, sitting back down.
"Since we have the Wizengamot here anyway, I can inform you all of my official purpose for coming to Britain", he said, pulling a document from inside his coat, and presenting it to Fudge. "I am the duly appointed liason for the Global Federation of Magical Creatures to your Ministry. The ICW recently ratified recognition of the GFMC, and have ceded all governing of Magical Creatures and Beings to them."
"WHAT?!", Fudge shouted. "Impossible!"
"This is outrageous!", the toadish woman sniped. "Creatures simply cannot possibly govern themselves! They need us to contr….. 'guide' them properly. This must be a very bad joke!"
"I assure you, ma'am, it is not", Duncan smirked. Several others looked as outraged as Fudge and his undersecretary, most were shocked, but a few nodded as if they approved of this development. "The proper documents were filed with your Ministry, and the Goblins of Gringott's weeks ago. Didn't you get the memo?"
"The GFMC has been little more than a joke for decades", Fudge chuckled derisively. "So how can this have happened? What could have possibly changed?"
Duncan grinned wickedly, knowing this would blow them away. "The Kaiju Kingdom recently decided to join the Federation, and King Belloc himself now sits on their ruling Council."
Fudge and his faction blanched so sharply one might think that all the blood had been banished from their veins! This couldn't be! Aside from the occasional rampage and the brief 'Human/Kaiju War' that ended just over 20 years ago, the kaiju had always kept to themselves. Being so powerful, they rarely concerned themselves with the rest of the world unless provoked. Even as lone individuals, the kaiju were so powerful as to be virtually unassailable. And as their existence was already known to the whole world, the Statute of Secrecy didn't apply to them. With them joining and backing the GFMC, it's no wonder that the ICW caved! Fudge could just imagine how smug the Goblins of Gringott's would be now, as one of the races that founded the GFMC!
"*AHEM!*What exactly does this entail, Mr. Rosenblatt?", Fudge asked, still both terrified and seething.
"As GFMC liason, any serious matters, business, or problems with Magical Creatures and your Ministry are to be brought to me", Duncan told them. Harry and Dumbledore were struggling to hide their smiles. "You are to defer to my judgement in such matters. I will consult with the Council if required to resolve them. Several GFMC agents will be coming to Britain within the next few weeks to make contact with all factions of Magical Creatures that reside here, some of which I will contact myself. After all", Duncan smirked smugly, "we wouldn't want some Dark Wizard recruiting an army of Dark Creatures, now would we?"
Fudge was trembling with rage; his face a red, almost purple shade that Harry had only seen on his Uncle Vernon before. He wanted nothing more than to tear up and crumple the parchment in his hands and throw it into the nearest fire, but it would do no good. This American had said it was already filed with the Ministry and Gringott's, and was ratified and backed by the ICW! If he refused to comply, the British Ministry could be censured by the ICW, have sanctions put on them, or worse; the GFMC could take more active, possibly violent steps. Fudge had no illusions about the outcome of such a war, especially if any kaiju got involved!
"Very well", he said with a clenched jaw. "If there's nothing else, we are adjourned."
The minister banged his gavel, then rose to leave.
"Duncan, that was brilliant!", Harry said.
"Thanks", Duncan smiled. "It felt good knocking that pompous jackass down a few notches."
"Professor?", Harry called out as Dumbledore began to leave. Duncan cut off the Professor while Harry caught up. "Thank you for your help."
"Of course, my boy."
"I told you we needed to talk, old man", Duncan growled.
"And indeed we shall, but not now", Albus said apologetically. "I will speak to you and your mother at the next meeting in a few days, I promise you. But right now I must return to Hogwarts immediately. Take care. Both of you."
"Come on, Harry", Duncan said after the Headmaster left. "My mom is meeting us at the Leaky Cauldron, from there we're going to Gringott's, and then we hit Diagon Alley for your school shopping."
"But Gringott's isn't open for another two hours", Harry replied. "So how….?"
"The Goblins agreed to see us before they open for regular business due to the circumstances", his American cousin grinned.
"Brilliant!", Harry beamed. "Let's go, then."
xxXXxx
"Uuuugh", Duncan groaned as they entered the Leaky Cauldron, feeling a bit queasy. "Is the Knight Bus always like that?"
"Yeah, unfortunately", Harry replied, not feeling much better than Duncan. "But you have to admit Stan, Ernie, and Hedd-Mon are real characters."
"I almost hurled my breakfast", the half-kaiju groaned. "And in my case, that clean-up would require haz-mat suits and disposal."
"That's why I floo-ed here instead", Margaret smiled sympathetically at the boys as they joined her. "I see the Knight Bus hasn't changed from when I was a girl. Sit down for a few minutes and have a couple of butter-beers to settle your stomachs. We've got plenty of time."
Ten minutes later, the three of them were walking down the busy Diagon Alley. Margaret wore a hooded, cloak-like teal outer robe over her muggle clothes.
xxXXxx
"All hail Duncan, Crown Prince of the Kaiju Kingdom, Slayer of Astaroth the Brutal", all the goblins in the lobby of Gringott's Wizarding Bank intoned at once as they stood and saluted when he entered with his mother and Harry. "And all hail Margaret, Queen of the Kaiju Kingdom."
"Thank you. We are honored by your warm welcome", Duncan said loud enough for all to hear. "May the blood of your enemies coat your blades and their gold fill your coffers."
With that, they all returned to their duties; although a few bore smiles at his response. Harry was a bit confused. Duncan smiled.
"We're trying to keep my true identity and nature a secret for as long as possible", Duncan told him. "But the Goblins insisted on proper protocol in greeting me, so they agreed to see us when there would be no other witches or wizards here."
"But at the hearing, you were willing to let us both submit our memories, or take Veritaserum", Harry recalled, confused. "Either could have exposed your wings and fire-breath."
"And if it meant clearing you, I gladly would have, secrecy be damned", he told him. "But I figured Fudge wouldn't risk undermining himself by insisting it go that far."
"It was a risk we were willing to take for you, Harry", Margaret added warmly. "But it was a calculated risk. We bluffed, he folded."
They walked up to the Senior Teller's desk, and Harry recognized the older goblin as the same one he'd first met with Hagrid on his first visit.
"Excuse me", Margaret said politely, and the grizzled goblin looked up from his work. "Will you please inform the account manager for the Potter Family Account that we've arrived for our appointment with him?"
"Of course", he replied in the gravelly voice Harry remembered. He snapped his fingers, and a junior goblin by his side nodded and left. "Griphook will inform him and return momentarily to escort you."
"Thank you, Senior Teller Blood-Axe", Margaret replied.
"It is a pleasure to see you again within these walls after all these years, Mrs. Rosenblatt nee Potter", he chuckled roughly. "And gratifying to know that you have lost none of your manners nor respect. And young Mr. Potter. I have not seen you since just before you started your first year at Hogwarts, but your victories there have impressed the Goblin Nation."
"Thank you, Sir", Harry replied evenly. "But they were not without….. cost."
"No true victory is, Mr. Potter", the old goblin said, then lowered his voice. "Remember, young wizard; that which fails to kill you only makes you stronger. Wear your scars, both in body and spirit, with pride and let them motivate you to ultimate victory."
"I will, Sir. Thank you, Sir", Harry replied as Griphook returned. "May your enemies fall as your fortunes grow."
"May you enemy's armies dwindle as your investments reap even greater profits", Blood-Axe grinned.
"Account Manager Gold-Reaper will see you now", Griphook said. "Follow me, please."
"Hello, Griphook", Harry smiled warmly at the goblin leading them down a hall. "It's good to see you again."
"You remember me?", he asked with an arched eyebrow.
"Of course", Harry said. "Why wouldn't I?"
"Most witches and wizards wouldn't bother", Griphook replied. "They tend to simply demand expedient service in their banking business. It is gratifying to know that you are carrying on the Potter Family tradition of respect and patience."
"Well the cart-ride down to my trust vault was unforgettable", Harry chuckled. "I nearly lost my lunch. And you helped me figure out how many galleons I would need for my school things and some left-over for pocket money."
"You gave me a galleon for my advice", Griphook shrugged. "A fair price. Here we are."
Griphook opened the door, then stepped aside for them to enter.
"The Potter Family, Account Manager Gold-Reaper", he announced dutifully.
"Thank you, Griphook. You may go", the goblin behind the desk replied. He appeared to be about the same age as the Senior Teller. He had a scar that stretched from above his left eyebrow, across the bridge of his long nose, to halfway down his right cheek; and half of his left ear was missing. "Please be seated."
"Good morning, Gold-Reaper", Margaret smiled. "The last time I saw you, you still had both ears. You only grow more distinguished with every battle-scar."
"Hah! You always were a flatterer, Margaret!", he replied with easy familiarity. "Another account manager challenged me for the Potter account just before young Harry here returned to the wizarding world at age 11. He took my ear. I took his sword-arm at the elbow. He'll spend the rest of his days as a low-level accountant for the minor families and muggle-borns. What can I do for you today?"
"I'd like you to administer the Blood-Inheritance test for Harry and we need to finally open his parents' wills", Margaret told him.
"And I've brought some…..raw materials, that we'd like to commission your best craftsmen to use for some special-orders", Duncan grinned.
"Of course", the goblin nodded, as he opened a drawer in his desk and rifled through it. "I was rather surprised that Harry did not ask for me when he was first brought here when he was 11. By the time I'd heard he was here, he'd already gone. Ah! Here we are."
He pulled out a large scroll and a ceremonial knife, and laid them on his desk in front of Harry.
"We shall begin with the Blood-Inheritance test, Mr. Potter", he said, unrolling the scroll. "Take the blade and cut the thumb of your dominant hand. Then let seven drops of your blood fall upon the scroll. Seven drops, no more, no less. Then we wait a few moments for the results to appear."
Harry did as instructed, watching as his blood seemed to disappear into the parchment. He withdrew his hand after the 7th drop fell, and the cut healed itself.
"As for Harry's first visit when he turned 11", Margaret began as they waited for the results of the test, "He was, unfortunately, raised by Lily's magick-hating muggle sister and her family, so he didn't know about you. Deputy-Headmistress Minerva McGonagall normally brings the muggle-born and muggle-raised new students into the magical world for the first time, including coming here, as you well know. But apparently Headmaster Dumbledore sent Rubeus Hagrid for Harry instead. Hagrid is a good-hearted and trustworthy man, but he's not exactly the sharpest tool in the shed. Why Dumbledore sent him instead, we don't know yet; but we're going to find out."
"I see", Gold-Reaper said thoughtfully. Just then, blood-red words began to appear printed on the parchment. "Ah! Here we are."
Blood-Inheritance Test
Name: Hadrian "Harry" James Potter.
Father: James Charlus Potter.
Mother: Lily Marie Potter nee Evans.
Living Blood Relatives:
Margaret Dorea Rosenblatt nee Potter – Aunt; Guardian/Magical Guardian.
Duncan Xerxes Absalom Belphegor Rosenblatt – Cousin; Guardian/Magical Guardian.
Petunia Jane Dursley nee Evans – Aunt; muggle.
Dudley Vernon Dursley – Cousin; muggle.
Inherited Titles:
Heir Apparent Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Potter* – by Blood, Father.
*Most Ancient/Most Noble Houses: Peverall, Gryffindor, and Emrys merged with Potter Line over the ages.
Heir Apparent Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Ravenclaw – by Blood (Line previously believed broken and lost), Mother.
Heir Designate Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Black – by Will, Godfather.
Heir Apparent Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Slytherin – by Conquest, Defeated Previous Lord and champion.
Heir Apparent Most Ancient and Noble House of Gaunt – by Conquest, Defeated Previous Lord.
Betrothal Contract: (Voided due to change of Magical Guardianship)
Bride: Ginnevra Annabel Weasley.
Groom: Hadrian James Potter.
Brokered: Nov. 10, 1991
Signed: Molly Elisabeth Weasley nee Prewitt – Mother of Bride.
Albus Percival Wolfric Brian Dumbledore – Magical Guardian of Groom. (Voided)
Magick:
Core 70% bound, childhood safety-bindings, should have been removed at age 11.
Parceltongue, long dormant legacy of Black Family via paternal grandmother Dorea Potter nee Black.
Natural Occlumens, locked (source unknown).
Natural Legilimens, locked (source unknown).
Natural Ani-magis Potential, form unknown.
Familiar, snowy owl "Hedwig", unusually intelligent.
"I don't understand", Harry mused. "Some of this doesn't make sense. How can my Core be 70% blocked? All my teachers, except Snape of course, keep telling me that I'm one of the most powerful of my year, and surpass some higher years."
"It would appear that the childhood safety blocks that your parents put on your core as an infant so you couldn't accidently harm yourself or others were never removed", Gold-Reaper said. "That means in reality, your are actually far more powerful than anyone knew. One of my fellow goblins can help your aunt remove those blocks and locks on your abilities before you leave here today, if you wish."
"Of course", Margaret nodded. "Thank you."
"And if Voldemort is the Heir of Slytherin and Gaunt, I haven't defeated him. So how…?"
"Apparently, Magick itself saw his near-death from his encounter with you as an infant as a defeat at your hands", Margaret guessed, then scowled. "And in your second year, you killed that thousand-year-old basilisk in Slytherin's Chamber of Secrets."
"A basilisk?", Gold-reaper repeated in awe. "How big?"
"I'd say at least twenty meters long, maybe a bit bigger", Harry estimated. "Why?"
"Whoa, Cuz!", Duncan said, impressed. "Even I would have trouble with something like that!"
"It helped a lot that Fawkes, the school phoenix, blinded the thing", Harry said humbly. "But how is that important now?"
"Because basilisk parts are exceptionally rare and sought after!", the goblin said. "And to be that big, the magick within it would preserve it for up a decade before it would start to decay! A specimen like that would be worth millions of galleons. And since you killed it, it is yours by right of conquest. We goblins would be glad to render the body down for you, for a fair price, plus some of the meat; and sell it off for you?"
"Sure, I don't see why not", Harry said. "I would like to keep at least a small amount of anything from it that could be useful as ingredients and such, though. Dobby?"
The free house elf appeared at the call of his name.
"The Great Harry Potter Sir calls Dobby?"
"It's just 'Harry', Dobby", Harry chuckled. "You're still living at Hogwarts, aren't you?"
"Yes, Dobby's is still helping at Hogwarts school, Great Harry Potter Sir."
"Do you think you and the other elves could magically bring the dead basilisk in the Chamber of Secrets to the rendering room here at Gringott's?"
"Oh Dobby cans do it just himself!", Dobby squealed happily, then took a calmer tone. "But can the great master Harry Potter sir do something for Dobby in return?"
"Sure, Dobby, if I can", Harry replied, wondering what Dobby might want from him. "What do you need?"
"Dobby would very much like to being bonded as the Great Master Harry Potter's elf?"
"You want to be my elf?", Harry asked, confused at Dobby's eager nod and hopeful eyes. "But I thought you wanted to be a free elf?"
"Dobby was happy to be free of old, cruel master", he said. "But we's elves needs to be bonded to a wizard or witch to keep our magick and survive. Hogwarts's magick has kept me all theses years, but can't forever. And Dobby knows the Great Harry Potter Sir will be good, kind Master."
"What he says is true, Young Harry", Gold-Reaper said. "A masterless house elf will eventually wither away and die. Their life-force and magick are tied directly to the maick of the witch or wizard they serve."
"Well, all right, Dobby", Harry said. "If it's what you really want….on the condition that you have the freedom to leave my service at any time you choose."
Dobby jumped and cheered for joy, then took Harry's hand. Harry felt his magick connect with Dobby and the elf seemed to shiver with heightened energy. The bond formed, he popped away…..only to pop back moments later.
"Big snakey is below in the goblin caves, Great Master Harry Potter", he grinned.
"Thank you, Dobby. And just 'Harry' is fine", he chuckled. "We'll call if we need you. For now, you can go to Potter Manor."
Dobby nodded with a big smile and popped away.
Margaret smiled. Harry had a way of attracting the oddest, yet best of people. Then, while Gold-Reaper was explaining that Harry would not have access to the Gaunt or Slytherin vaults until he turns seventeen, she noticed something else on the nearly forgotten parchment.
"What's this about a betrothal contract?!", she growled.
"They made that contract just days after my parents deaths?!", Harry hissed.
"Now we know why Molly was so sure when she you were 'as good as' her son!", Duncan snarled. "How could Dumbledore do this? And why?!"
"It matters not", Gold-Reaper smirked. "Since your Magical Guardian was changed before the contract could be executed, it is null and void."
"It-it just irks me that Professor Dumbledore and Mrs. Weasley were trying decide our lives for us before we'd even begun to live!", Harry huffed. "When my parents weren't even cold in their graves yet!"
"We'll deal with both of them later", Margaret said firmly. "I'd like a copy of that contract before we leave, if I could?"
"Of course", Gold-Reaper nodded. "Now I believe you wanted to open the Will of the late Lord and Lady Potter as well?"
With a snap of his clawed fingers, a metal lockbox appeared on Gold-Reaper's desk. He unlocked it with a gold key and opened it. He withdrew a scroll from within, and several keys.
"Would you like me to read it to you aloud?", Gold-Reaper asked. "Or would you prefer to read it with your own eyes?"
"I'd like to read it myself please, Gold-Reaper", Harry said evenly. The goblin nodded knowingly and slid the scroll to the boy. Taking it, Harry took a deep breath and let it out in a slow sigh. He felt the reassuring hands of his aunt and cousin on his shoulders. He smiled at both of them in thanks for their support, and unrolled the parchment.
After all the legal 'sound mind and body' jargon at the beginning, his parents left a message for him, telling him of how much they loved him and had no regrets if they were killed protecting him. Their words brought tears to his eyes, as well as his aunt and cousin.
Then came a detailing of the family investments showed that the Potter Family owned shares in multiple businesses, both magical and muggle. These included 35% of the Daily Prophet and their magazines Witch Weekly and Teen Witch Weekly, 25% of the Lovegood owned newspaper, the Quibbler, as well as multiple businessess in Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade. The investments were bringing in about two million galleons to the Potter accounts per year. Hmmmm, maybe he had enough influence to get the Prophet to back off him and do some actual investigative reporting?
Then he came to the section of bequeathments. He was surprised to find that his parents named some of his classmates, leaving them sums of galleons and books or items to a few.
Harry's breath hitched when he reached…..
We leave the remaining sum total of the Potter Family assets to our only son, Harry. This includes the titles to the family investments, the contents of the family vaults, and the properties (and contents therein) owned by the family:
Potter Manor, the Ancestral Estate.
Potter Cottage, Godric's Hollow(in disrepair).
Potter Island, the Caribbean.
Chatteau Potter, Nice, France.
Potter's Cove, Maui, Hawaii.
Diamond P Ranch, Baja, California.
Harry will have immediate, full access to all assets at the discretion of his guardian(s) until he reaches the age of sixteen. At which time he is to have full control and assume the mantle of Lord Potter, with all the rights, privileges, and responsibilities thereof; including choosing a proxy to sit at his behest on the Wizengamot until he reaches majority and can assume the seat himself.
After we were married, we learned that Lily was apparently the descendant of the long-lost line of Rowena Ravenclaw, one of the founders of Hogwarts. As such, the contents of the previously sealed Ravenclaw vault in Gringott's was transferred to the Potter main vault; with the exception of the Ravenclaw Family Grimoire. That book now shares a shelf in the library of Potter Manor with the Potter, Peverall, and Gryffindor Grimoires.
We choose the following as Harry's Custodial and Magical Guardians in order of preference. If an individual is no longer living or otherwise unable, the next name in line will become Harry's Guardian:
Sirius Black – Godfather per the 'Godfather Ritual', family friend and ally.
Alice Longbottom and her husband Frank – Godmother per the 'Godmother Ritual', family friends and allies.
Margaret Rosenblatt nee Potter – Aunt, residing in America at time of writing.
Amelia Susan Bones – Family friend and Ally.
Pandora Lovegood and her husband Xenophilius – Family friends and allies.
Andromeda Tonks nee Black and her husband Ted – Family friends and allies.
Pierre and Appoline Delacour – Family friends and allies, France.
Under absolutelynocircumstances should Harry be raised by Lily's spiteful sister Petunia Dursley nee Evans and her magick-hating husband Vernon!
That last line drew scowls from all three. Harry could have grown up with Neville or Duncan or Susan or Luna or even Dora! His parents clearly knew the Dursleys would not care for him properly and had lined up several good wizarding family friends and allies to raise him; anyone but those hateful Durleys! Why in Merlin's name wasn't this will read at the time of their deaths?!
By signing this last Will and Testament, we vow that everything written here is true and honest.
James Charlus Potter
Lily Marie Potter nee Evans
Witness: Albus Dumbledore
Gringott's Official Witness: Gold-Reaper the Third, Potter Family Account Manager and Vault Keeper.
"Damn you, Dumbledore!", Margaret yelled angrily.
"What is it, Aunt Margaret?", Harry asked.
"He knew Sirius was innocent all along!", she screamed. "Going through the 'Godfather Ritual' means he'd be dead if he even tried to betray them! But Albus and Bartemious Crouch Sr. just threw him into Azkaban without a trial!"
"We'll deal with him in a few days", Duncan growled. "Gold-Reaper, could we have a copy of the Will as well?"
"Of course", the goblin nodded gravely. "These keys are for all the Potter Family Properties. They also act as port-keys to them, and they are clearly marked. And since your guardianship has changed, I assume you will want to end the payments to your muggle Aunt and Uncle?"
"Wait! What?!", Harry yelled. "What 'payments'?"
"The day after your parents' deaths, your then-Magical Guardian Dumbledore arranged for monthly payments of one-hundred galleons to the muggle bank account of Vernon Dursley earmarked for your 'food and care'. Were you not aware of this?"
"No. I wasn't", Harry hissed through grit teeth. "All those years. All those years of abuse, saying I was a burden, making me feel worthless! Practically starving me while they stuffed their gobs! Working me like a slave! Showering Dudley with expensive gifts and clothes while tossing me his tattered cast-offs! Making me sleep in a cramped, musty cupboard under the stairs for ten years! And all the while they were getting money from my inheritance!"
"What?!", Gold-Reaper roared, standing. To goblins, there was no crime higher than the abuse of a child, no matter the species. "Are you saying they not only used the money earmarked for your care on themselves, but they abused you as well?!"
"Verbal, emotional and physical!", Harry cried, standing and turning, pulling up the back of his shirt to reveal the many scars. Margaret gasped and embraced her now crying nephew, while Duncan joined Gold-Reaper in growling angrily. "Although the beatings mostly stopped once I started Hogwarts, the rest only intensified due to their utter hatred of magick or anything remotely 'abnormal' as they saw it."
"This is an outrage!", Gold-Reaper snarled. "I will see to it that the full weight of Gringott's is brought to bear on these scum! Fraud! Theft-of-funds! And abuse of a child! I'll see to it that Vernon Dursley is completely ruined financially, demanding full repayment with the highest interest we can levy! And then I'll have his head on a pike!"
"Gold-Reaper", Margaret interrupted the goblin. "Leave the criminal abuse charges to us and the muggle authorities. Trust me, that will hurt them far more than marching on them, axes swinging. I already have a plan to make it as publicly humiliating as possible, forever shattering the phony façade of 'upstanding normalcy' they cherish so much. But feel free to pursue the financial legal actions against them as brutally as possible."
"*nyurgh*Very well, Margaret, as you wish", the goblin reluctantly agreed. "As Harry's legal and Magical Guardian, that choice is yours. Please do keep me in the loop of your plans?"
"Of course", Margaret shared his wicked grin. "I'll even send you memories of the looks on their faces."
"*ahem!*I take it that you'd like to withdraw some funds to do young Harry's school shopping today?" Gold-Reaper asked in a calmer tone. "Griphook will assist you with that once one of our healer/curse-breakers removes all the blocks and bindings on your magick."
"Thank you, Gold-Reaper", Harry said, bowing his head slightly in respect.
"Yes, thank you for all your help", Duncan said, then turned to his mother. "You two go ahead. I'll catch up in a few, after I discuss those….comissions with Gold-Reaper here."
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Author's notes: Why yes, Dudley! That is the sound of justice coming! LOL!
A lot of info comes to light! How will Minister Fudge react? How will Voldemort react when he learns that Harry has a mysterious new ally, and that ally will also be working with Britain's population of magical creatures?
Duncan's croc-skin duster resembles the one Colin Farrel wore in his role as 'Bullseye' in Marvel's "Daredevil" movie of the early 2000's.
Long reviews and suggestions are welcome as always! No flames, please.
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