Of Horrors and Philosophy…

"Are you ready yet?" asked Nyssa.

"In a few minutes" Harry replied. "I'm going over a few things with family magic – I'd show you what, but you'd get hurt"

"Okay" Nyssa said as she returned to the living room and watched the TV. What she didn't know was that, whilst shopping with Hermione, Susan and Hannah, Harry would be at Gringotts doing a few back handed deals that were sure to get the Purebloods going completely insane with fury. Whilst Harry would be taking all of the money, properties and lands the family had, it was the name he had in mind.

#

"My Lord" a Goblin bowed low in respect, "How can I help you?"

"I have business with your King – I would speak to him"

"He is not in his chambers, but I can take you to them"

"Then do so" Harry said with an air of impatience. "I do not like standing in the presence of traitors"

"My Lord, what do you mean?" asked the Goblin as he led Harry down a corridor to the main offices.

"Despite the peace between our two peoples, and the work I have done on your behalf, it is distasteful to find myself in the midst of people who did not fulfil their obligations under old and honourable terms"

"What do you think we could have done?" asked Ragnock as he heard the last part of the discussion. "The Dark Lord's forces were strong – there was nothing we could have done"

"You could have tried. Are you telling me that you were more concerned over money?" Harry stared at the Goblin with distaste.

"Are you sure you do not have Goblin blood in you?" Ragnock laughed as he waved Harry to a seat. The old argument was something of a running joke between the pair of them.

"Sure enough, you little midget… Anyway, got some paperwork I need sorting out" Harry pulled out a packet of folded parchment and tossed it on the table. "I want everything for one Galleon, one Sickle and one Knut taken out that vault and put into mine. I want you to pull as many Goblins as is needed off other jobs to get it all shifted over, then have them check the request to make sure it is all perfectly legal and watertight"

"What about the girl?" asked the leader of all Goblins.

"We'll sort that bit out later" Harry said. "Right now, she is shopping with some of the others for clothes for the wedding… That's going to cause a hell of a lot of trouble"

"Oh? And this isn't…?"

#

"Harry, do you think I should really marry you?" Nyssa asked as they sat under the stars in the garden at Awdry Manor.

"I think so, but its up to you… We both know its something we've wanted for a while, you just have to learn not to call yourself Mrs Potter in the normal world for a few more years to come"

"Am I going to be in danger without magic?" Nyssa snuggled up to him.

"Maybe, but you carry that Portkey with you, you have a few magical devices in case it doesn't work and you have that small pistol" Harry hugged her gently with one arm. He had debated about giving her a gun, but reasoned that any Purebloods that attacked her would be confused by the gun for enough time for Nyssa to get the hell away and get help.

"Mmm… Do I really have to go to that meeting tomorrow?"

"I'm afraid so, but it will be worth it to see the looks of horror on their faces" Harry smirked. "I told you that there are many prejudices against Muggles, Nyssa, and they will be expecting for us to play by their rules. By making them think that until the last possible moment, we make them utterly confused. If they try to stop us, then they go against a thousand years of law and tradition – so they've got to agree to it"

"But didn't you once say that they would still have to vote to allow me on the council?"

"You mean the Wizengamot, but yes… There must still be a vote to allow you to actually sit whenever you like – not just the full meetings"

"Can you make it happen?"

"Should do" Harry rubbed his chin in contemplation. "I control the voting for seven houses either by inheritance or by conquest, Susan and Hannah will vote my way, Hermione will do the same… Add in a couple of people that I went to school with, and we've more or less got a majority vote"

"Why will Hermione vote? I thought she was a Muggle Born witch" Nyssa ate a sandwich as she finished talking.

"After the end of the war, when awards were being handed out and honours given, Hermione was granted the right to have a House which was instated at the rank of Most Noble. Forget that for now, have you decided what you are going to wear for tomorrow?"

"I thought about wearing my school uniform with one of your old robes draped over the shoulders – kind of like a Judge does" Nyssa traced a finger lightly over Harry's knees. "I'm doing all right, aren't I? I'm not going too fast or skipping important things am I?" she asked hesitatingly.

"No" Harry smiled and spent the next few minutes gently kissing the teen and showing how much he loved her for herself and for how she brought him happiness – happiness that he so badly needed in his life. The kissing turned into snogging and then, finally, into a loving session of sex under the stars…

#

"ALL RISE!" an usher called out. "All those with business with the Wizengamot are called forward. Members must take their seats"

"So far so good" Nyssa muttered. She left Harry's side and walked around the long curved bench and then back up it until she reached a certain spot. Taking a deep breath, she pulled back the high backed chair and sat down in it. Almost at once, the near entirety of the bench started calling for her arrest and removal from the chambers.

"There will be no removal" said Harry loudly. "That seat is hers to sit in for as long as she wants"

"Will she be taking that seat often?" asked the new Chief Warlock, a small man named Charles Orrock.

"Yeah – its hers now" Harry shrugged. "I decided that I had one too many seats and so I sold it to her"

"How much for? And she's a Muggle" Orrock reminded him.

"How much for is none of your business, Chief Warlock. The Ministry has been notified of the changes for the seat of the Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Black. All of the titles, vaults and fealties owed to the Black family are now hers to do with as she pleases. As for your second point, I know she is a Muggle. The old laws, covered in dust as they are, make no allowance for disqualification no matter how many former members of this body tried to make it so. Not only is she a Muggle, but she is also my wife to be – if I want to give her a present early, then I shall bloody do so. Also, please treat Nyssa with the same respect as you would have me give yourselves"

"And if we do not?" asked a woman.

"Then I shall duel you and kill you"

"You think you could kill me?"

"I did the last bastard that pissed me off…" Harry fiddled with something on his hip and then flamboyantly brought up the Sword of Gryffindor to rest on his lap – putting both feet up on the bench desk at the same time. "Kingsley was never even a sweat to take down" and he played with the sword before turning sharply to stare at the woman. "I took down Voldemort four times before I finished him. I took out the remnants of his armies, I nearly singlehandedly destroyed the Dark Wolf rebellion, eliminated the Vampire Clans that stormed our lands… What have you done?" but there was only silence. "Chief Warlock, the papers are filed as required so they can be retrieved, but I suggest that we confirm the new Lady Black and get on with this stuff – I have to be at work in two hours"

#

The Press, being the Press, freaked out badly at Harry's "selling" of the Black Seat to Nyssa and demanded it be taken off the both of them and given to somebody worthy. In the end, although it was after a week of saying nothing, the Ministry released a counter statement which said what Harry had done was quite legal and that any attack on Nyssa would be dealt with swiftly and firmly. As for Nyssa herself, she was enjoying having nearly all the Purebloods having to bow to her and more or less follow her instructions. Seats had been moved around the Wizengamot chamber so that Harry, Nyssa, Susan, Hannah, Hermione and a few other close friends all sat together – to show off that they had a massive power block that would crush their enemies.

"I'm curious to think how this is possible" said Nyssa. She was sitting in Harry's rarely used office at the Ministry going over a case that she was sitting in judgement over.

"Mind control can work in many ways" Hermione said to her.

"I know that, Hermione, I've read some of Harry's old school texts, but they tell me that there should still be traces of magic…" Nyssa shook her head. "This is complicated" she said to the others.

"Its part of my world, Nys" Harry shrugged. "Mind you, I agree that it sounds odd. I can't understand how he knows he killed the family but has no knowledge of doing it… Yet his is the only magical trace there"

"Could he have wiped his own memory?" asked Nyssa.

"It's possible, but why would he?" asked Susan.

"So he could claim he never did it" Nyssa was beginning to suspect something.

"Well the investigating team shows they could not detect any spells apart from the ones used to torture and kill his family" Hannah looked at the notes before her.

"So, the next question is if we have the right person in custody" Hermione frowned. "There are a few spells to lock somebody into a form… I wonder if false memories were implanted and there is some poor bloke sat in the cells for a crime they never did"

"Well it wouldn't be the first time the Ministry has done that" Harry replied darkly.

"Get one of your magic doctors to do a test or something" Nyssa shrugged. "I don't know much about magical law, apart from what Harry has taught me, but surely everybody is entitled to a fair chance"

"They are now…" Susan stood up and left the office to find a Healer.

"I wish I had something easier to start with" Nyssa let her head droop. "I don't want to kill a person"

"Pushed through the veil is confusing… Some think you just get sent to another dimension" Hermione argued.

"Not helping"

"Sorry"

"All this legal stuff needs changing" Nyssa said. "I mean who sends people for a minor offence?"

"Its something I always tried to change" Harry got her into a one handed hug. "With us all voting as one block, we might be able to change things for the better. Anyway, do you still want to go out tonight after we finish here?"

"Yeah – can't wait to get the hell out of here" Nyssa sat up again and pulled some parchment towards her. Harry was left thinking that perhaps a quiet night in was more in order…

#

"… and your vote, lady Black?" asked the Chief Warlock.

"Sir, I am afraid that I refuse to vote" Nyssa sighed. "I can not say he is not guilty, yet I can't prove he is either. Whilst the evidence would suggest either possibility, its not clear which is more true. Therefore, Chief Warlock, I must abstain"

"So noted" he replied. "We face a problem… There are equal numbers of people who have voted one way or the other – only Lady Black's vote would turn it either way. Madam Bones of the DMLE has asked she hold Mr Thomas pending more investigations. In the absence of any other issues, I so order it. Take the prisoner to the cells"

"No" Harry said. "I will look after him and deliver him back here when he is wanted or needed. This man stood beside me in battle, he is my friend and I will not leave him undefended and alone"

"This is most unusual"

"What is unusual is the fact he was almost sent through the veil without that much questioning and without the knowledge of the DMLE head. Was this supposed great body of people going to carry out a secret execution?" Nyssa spoke up – confidence springing up from somewhere inside her.

"Lady Black, this man killed people"

"So has my husband to be, yet you don't seem to want to throw him in prison" the teen replied. "Now, we're going to take this bloke with us, we're going home and we're going to prove him innocent of all charges" she rose from her seat and looked over the witches and wizards before her. "If this is your supposed justice, then maybe Harry is right"

"About what?" asked the Chief Warlock.

"Maybe you weren't worth saving" and she walked away followed by Harry and the tall black man.

# # # # #

"What the fucking hell is going on, Dean?" Harry asked the moment they arrived at the Manor. "You better tell me now or I will end you"

"I honestly don't know" Dean replied as he sat in an armchair – completely confused and distraught. "One minute I was at home with Melly and the kids… Next thing I know I'm banged up in a cell with charges against me. They said I more or less confessed, but you know as well as I do how the truth potions can be 'fixed'… Even if I am proved innocent, what the hell am I going to do? Melly and the kids are gone, the public are against me and I've been sacked from my job doing wizarding portraits"

"Alright, alright – we weren't friends just to throw it away like this. Tell me everything you remember" Harry sighed.

"I already have – there is a gap in my memory. The last thing I know is there was a sound like something hitting the door gently and then I'm facing Susan and her lot"

"You had the standard wards up?"

"Yeah – plus a few extras the Goblins gave me at a low price"

"Keyed to you?" Harry asked.

"Yeah – to me" Dean looked to Harry with tear filled eyes. "You won't let them do anything to Melly and the kids will you? I want to bury them myself"

"I'll see what I can sort out" Harry promised his friend. "Do you know if they took your wand?"

"I presume so… They've not said one way or the other, but then again I was being kept in detention and never got much news"

"Well I have got work in half an hour, so you'll have to stay here" he looked at the defeated man in front of him. "Can I trust you to behave right and not do anything stupid?"

"Yeah – I want to live so I can find out who did this to Melly and the kids" Dean sighed and drank heavily from the glass Nyssa pushed at him.

"For medicinal purposes" she said to Harry's raised eyebrow. "I've fixed a room up for him, and I have your bait box packed and ready"

"Always looking after me" Harry smiled.

"Somebody has to" Nyssa stood on tiptoes, kissed his forehead and then went into the kitchen to start dinner.

"She's a good lass by all accounts" Dean said.

"I'm lucky to have her" Harry shrugged. "Are you going to be alright here? I mean if you do something stupid, Nyssa will have to call the Healers in which will take time"

"I meant what I said… I want to find these bastards"

"Are you sorted for money?"

"Only what the DMLE gave me back from when they took me in. Not allowed back into Gringotts until this is all over"

"I'll get you your money – the Goblins will never cross me"

"Oh?"

"We have an agreement"

"Can I use your phone? I need to let Seamus know what the hell is going on"

"Its in the hallway" Harry gestured towards the hallway behind him. "I'll be back this afternoon and then we'll go out for a drink"

"I thought I was under house arrest" Dean frowned.

"You think anybody is going to say anything?" Harry laughed. "It took a squad of Aurors to take down just one Muggle… There isn't enough Aurors and Hit Wizards in the whole of christendom to stop me" he looked at the time. "I have to be going – help yourself to anything but the poisons and the sharp knives" and Harry picked up his bag and portkeyed away.

#

"You seem distracted, Harry" Thomas said as they puffed along the line with a train of coal wagons.

"I am" Harry replied as he took a rest from firing. "I've got a friend who is in a lot of trouble. The problem is that he doesn't know what happened that caused him to be in trouble"

"Oh" the engine was silent for a few moments. "Why doesn't he know? Did he have an accident? Last time one of us engines had a big accident, we had to send Henry to a place called Crewe on the Other Railway"

"He had an accident, Thomas, but he has lost part of his memory"

"Has he checked behind the fridge? Driver says he lost his keys and found them behind the fridge"

"Its not that simple"

"Is it a magic thing?"

"Yeah"

"Is it a magic fridge?" and Harry snorted.

"If only it was that easy" he said.

"You can take a rest now, Harry" said the Fat Controller. He was driving Thomas in order to keep his competence up on the railway and had picked Harry as his fireman so he could freely talk about magic,

"Thanks… This has been one hell of a week for me" he propped up his shovel and sat on his seat in Thomas's cab.

"So I've heard – you think he's innocent?"

"I wouldn't have stuck my neck out like this if I didn't" Harry shrugged as the Fat Controller pulled back on the regulator a little and slowed Thomas for the next stopping point. "I believe that he said he didn't do it, but the magical signature from his wand shows he cast the spells and only him and his family were inside the house at the time"

"Could whoever did it turn into somebody your friend?" asked Thomas.

"Only through highly controlled potions" Harry replied as Thomas slowed more and more as they approached the goods yard. "After the last great magical war, the making of those potions was highly restricted to our version of the police"

"Botheration… I've got a signal against me" Thomas noted. Harry and the Fat Controller looked forwards and saw the engine was right and, with skilled practice, they brought the train to a halt. After the Fat Controller had climbed down to walk to the SPT to find out what the matter was, Harry's phone started ringing and he fished it out his pocket and accepted the call.

"Harry, its Nyssa. Your friend won't wake up and is shaking all over. I called that Doctor woman of yours, but she doesn't know what to do"

"Is he saying anything?" Harry asked as he glanced at his watch – he had two hours to go until his shift was over.

"Just asking for flowers"

"Flowers? Look, I'll try to get home as quick as I can… Use the Floo to get in touch with Hermione and Susan and let them both know what's happening – got to go" and he said goodbye as the Fat Controller climbed back onto the footplate.

"The signaller says that his panel shows we've got a clear road ahead, but the signal itself shows danger"

"Proceed at Caution?" and the other man nodded.

"I bet its naughty boys from the school nearby" the Fat Controller said as he busied himself at Thomas's controls and started them moving at a very slow speed.

"They are always cutting the wires from the signals – I wonder why they do it" Thomas said.

"Because they are very naughty boys… I've talked to their Headmaster, Thomas, but Mr Dursley doesn't seem to want to do anything about it" the Fat Controller told the engine.

"Dursley? I used to live with people called the Dursleys"

"Maybe they are related" Thomas said. "It might be nice for you to see them if they are your family"

"Not really, my friend"

"What about sending your friend to Crewe? Its where we sent Henry"

"Humans do not work like that" Harry said sadly.

"I know… When we have worn out parts, we get them changed for new parts. It's a shame you can't do that with humans" Thomas was quiet for a moment "I miss my old drivers and firemen"

"A wise woman once told me that everything has its place and everything has its time" Harry said. "You engines could run on forever"

"I wish we didn't" and Harry glanced at the frowning Fat Controller who shrugged.

"But you have good times all the same, right?" he asked. "I mean you remember all of them"

"But sometimes they forget me" Thomas shuddered in his frames – something he never did unless he was utterly depressed or frightened. "I remember they brought one of my old drivers to come and see me from the old drivers' home… But he didn't seem to remember me at all – even when I sounded my whistle like we used to do to scare Gordon sometimes. He just sat in a wheelchair pointing at me and demanded to know who I was and why I had a face. He looked really thin as if he hadn't been eating at all and eating is what keeps people going – just like engines and coal! People told me it was because he wasn't thinking right anymore. He seemed to sort of remember something when they let him sit in the cab when we did some shunting of coaches. He must have been really tired, though, because he died the next day"

"Ah, I see" Harry cringed and wondered how to explain to a steam engine what Alzheimer's Syndrome was.

"Sometimes I think forever is too long"

"I think so too" Harry replied.

"I wish I could talk to the Thin Clergyman" Thomas went on, "But he got so old that he was worn out and died too… Harry? Sir?"

"Yes?" they both said at the same time.

"Can engines die too?"

"Great…" groaned the Fat Controller, "I'm driving an existentialist"

"No you're not" said Thomas a bit happier, "I'm a tank engine"

A/N:

So, what could this "flower" be? Will Dean be proven innocent?

What about a Muggle now leading one of the old families?

As for Harry and the Fat Controller's discussion at the end with Thomas, I was thinking that his drivers and firemen over the years must have retired – perhaps one of them suffered with a mental illness. Thomas clearly thought he was there to be cheered up, but how can you tell a very wise steam engine with the occasional thinking process of a child about mental illness? I dearly hope I have written that part well…

As always, reviews please

Regards,

Pixel