Harry Listens
A/N: Thanks to my wonderful Beta, LtsHrIt4ThBoyz. Who is again cleaning up after me, making suggestions, and writing in whole sections. I keep saying that she is a co-writer.
**OO**
Act 1
Chapter 1
**OO**
Harry Potter's first year at Hogwarts wasn't easy. But the being known by some as Voldemort made a huge mistake.
He killed unicorns to drink their blood. And thought that only Quirrell would suffer the consequences of that action. But the being once known as Tom Riddle was wrong! He would now lead a cursed life due to drinking unicorn blood that was not freely given.
And the consequences of killing a being of such pure innocence would be dire.
**OO**
June 20, 1992 - two days after Hogwarts Express returned
The smells of a luxurious lunch for the Dursleys came up the stairs torturing Harry as they were meant to do. Then there was a pop. Hopefully the loud tele aimed at the table would hide such a noise.
Harry was panicked that this funny looking being –calling himself Bobby? Or Dooby or something– was going to do something BIG and LOUD and get him worse than a beating. But he'd popped into his room, which meant…
Harry grabbed him, one hand over his mouth. "Look, if you get me beaten, I will never speak to you again. You clearly admire me. So instead, let's be friends, yes?"
"Yes, Master…" was muffled by Harry's hand. Harry stretched, reaching, until he had Hedwig's cage holding his suffering familiar in his other hand.
"Get us out of here, and take us somewhere safe to talk."
A second later, after a soft pop, Harry let the elf go.
"Please! Free my friend! She's had no food or water since Hogwarts!"
Hedwig, feathers all ruffled, was letting him know in words most fowl that she did not request a ride via HEE and next time, she would like to fly all on her own, thank you very much.
"Dobby, I can't do magic here, would you…"
"Master Harry cans be. We are under wards. Powerful magic."
"Wait! Does that mean that ponce Draco can…of course it does. I need my wand. That lock is coming off the cage."
The white owl barked her agreement with those orders.
Before Harry could do anything, the lock turned to sand and trickled away, and the door was opened.
Harry's beautiful Lady launched herself from the opening and landed on her boy's shoulder; stroking his face like a cat and giving soft preks and cries of thanks and comfort.
Their reunion –owl and boy– was emotional: Harry stroked and soothed her and kissed her head while tears leaked out of his eyes. He spoke to her in low tones and told her that she was free to hunt now, and she should go do that, "I'm going to be right here, Hed. I have a feeling that this fine elf that freed you is going to help me too, so you go on." With a final kiss, Hedwig launched herself at a nearby fountain for a drink of water.
'What the…?' Wiping his eyes, Harry finally looked around to see where they were.
He was surrounded by soft rolling hills to the right, the smell of the sea in his nostrils. Ahead of him, a cliff and the ocean. What a spectacular view!
To the left, a small circle of stones that reminded him of Stonehenge, only in miniature.
Behind him was the rubble of an ancient castle. There were magical wards here, like Hogwarts. Much more powerful than the ones at Privet Drive.
'You must go back, it's the safest.' Dumbledore had said.
Harry snorted. He was never going back to the Dursleys.
And if this little being was right, Harry wouldn't return to Hogwarts!
A fun train ride home with lots of laughter had not prepared him for his greeting upon his return. In fact Fred or George had tried a new stink bomb on him, but Harry had turned it off before it went off. He had a homecoming present for Dudley; but the Dursleys had their own plans.
That latest beating had been brutal. It started the minute he was barely through the door. The hard push sending him into the stair handrail hadn't just broken the wood. Harry was sure he had a cracked rib that still hurt two days later. The belt had broken skin on his back, bum, and legs. He'd then been tossed into his room and locked in. No food or water since then.
Feeling thirstier and weaker by the moment, Harry started to head for the fountain, explaining to the being, "Thank you for taking me here. I feel safe here, but I don't recognize this place. You don't have any water with you, by chance?"
The being snapped his fingers, and a crystal goblet of cool water was in his hands.
"This where Master Charlus and Mistress Dorea lived when they was alive. Master Harry born here. Dobby used to be belonging to Mistress Dorea. She gave me to Mistress Lily. But she, when she died, I went back to Master Arcturus. We couldn't find you then. Dobby so sorry, but Dobby loving Master Harry, care for him. Master Arcturus sent me to help Mistress Narcissa. Oh, her husband so mean and nasty to Dobby."
Dobby realized what he said, and started to run to bash his head on the stone.
"Stop! Don't do that!" Dobby stopped for a moment, Harry thought quickly. "You might hurt the stonework there!"
They did look a little unstable, but that's not why Harry called out.
Dobby stopped and shook himself. "Dobby almost spoke badly of Mistress' husband."
But the elf had obeyed Harry.
"Dobby, are you MY elf?"
"Master Harry, be putting your hand on my head. Master Arcturus being dead now. You be Heir Black. But Mistress' Husband wants to be killing you! NO! Dobby canst allow!"
Harry put his hand on the elf's head. The magic engulfed them for a moment. Dobby grew in height a few centimeters, as did Harry. A feeling near his ribs felt like something popped, and it hurt very badly.
Harry felt more powerful after a few minutes than he ever had, and Dobby clearly looked better.
A snap of fingers and Dobby had conjured a chair for Harry, an umbrella protecting him from the light rain. Hedwig returned just then and landed on Harry's lap; swallowing the third of three tasty mice she'd found. Hedwig turned to Harry just as she seemingly 'slurped' down the tail of her meal, with a very tired look.
"Go to sleep, Hed love," Harry told her, lightly stroking her head and back. Hedwig turned her head around backwards and fell asleep just as Harry's stomach let out a massive growl.
"Master Harry being hungry. Can Dobby buy a tent for Master Harry to stay here in wards? Safe here."
"I don't have my key, Dobby. Wait. Hagrid has it. He kept it when we were done at the bank."
Dobby closed his eyes, and a little gold key appeared in his hands.
"Dobby knows where we can get used explorer tents. Dobby be back with tent and food."
After ten minutes, Dobby returned with a bundle that looked like a tent. He popped away again and returned with a nice meal from the Leaky with a butterbeer.
Dobby began explaining about the bundle he'd brought back, "Master Charlus ordered this, paid for it so man couldn't sell it. Honest merchant, waiting for you to grow up and come pick it up."
Harry carefully moved Hedwig to perch on the back of the chair, while Dobby showed Harry how to set it up himself if Dobby wasn't there. It didn't take long.
Carrying a sleeping Hedwig, Harry went with Dobby for the '5-knut' tour. Harry would explore the place thoroughly later, but for now, he was hungry and Hedwig wasn't a small bird! Dobby conjured a luxurious bird stand and Harry gratefully settled his lady on it.
The tent was amazing. The entrance had a sitting area with furniture to the right. It had a nice ceiling fan, and something about it told Harry it was meant for hot weather.
There was a huge kitchen and eating area. Several bunkrooms. Library. Master bedroom with an amazing ensuite and several regular bedrooms with their own baths as well in a separate corridor, like this was the family wing.
"Thank you for picking up the tent, Dobby. Now, wait. Where's your food?"
"Dobby eat later, must warn Master Harry."
"No, go buy another two or three meals at the Leaky. This is the first time I've eaten since Hogwarts, and I'm starving. You look hungry too. We'll share a meal."
Bursting into tears Dobby did as was asked, but also stopped by the grocers that all house-elves used and placed a large order in order to stock the pantry. He quickly returned with more stew and fresh bread. Dobby served himself vegetables but saved the meat for Harry. He did take a chunk of the fresh bread.
Harry waved him to a seat next to him at the table. "Dobby not allowed to sit next to Master Harry like a friend!"
"Well, I don't know you well yet, but you got me away from my relatives. That makes you a friend in my book."
Harry was concerned when the little being burst into tears again, but it was clear these were happy ones.
The elf finally sat, and they spent the next few minutes in companionable silence, just eating.
The minute that Dobby was done, he was ready to prove himself to his new Master.
"Oh! Master Harry! How can Dobby else be serving you?"
Harry thought for a moment. "Maybe when the people where I used to live are asleep, you know, later tonight? Can you please pop back and rescue my trunk for me? Do you think you could get that out of a locked cupboard? Oh, my photo album and cloak are there too in my room, hidden beneath the floor under the mattress. Those are the most important. That would be amazing."
"No need to wait. Dobby can be invisible and quiet, quiet."
Dobby popped away for just a few minutes and brought his school things, photos and cloak. Then a different elf popped in with a huge box of shrunken food. She offered to stay and help put it away too.
Harry came over to help like the expert he was, and everything was soon sorted out in the kitchen. This was going to be amazing - having new food to fix, and a friend to share it with.
Harry offered the grocery elf a tip, but she shook her head and popped away.
Harry helped himself to a bottle of water. And offered one to Dobby while he was at the magical version of a fridge.
"So Dobby, what was this danger you were warning me about? My friend Hermione, well, her magic is something special. And there's Ron and the twins. Percy is old enough to take care of himself, but what about Neville? Honestly, that boy seems afraid of his shadow, but his magic? How can someone who feels powerful be so, I don't know. Well, pathetic in his spells? He needs some help, that's for sure." Harry was really worried about Neville and his situation over the summer. In some ways, it sounded worse than what Harry faced as they were adults with magic.
"There be plots, Master Harry…"
"Dobby, I'm sorry to interrupt, but can you please speak as clearly as you can?"
Dobby nodded. "Mistress Lily taught all of us elves how to speak proper English. I will try. Old master did not like it. But Dobby, no I will try."
Dobby cleared his throat. "Old bad master wants to kill you and other students like your friend Mistress Mione. Oh, Bad Master paid money to find her house. Not finding yet, but Harry Potter must warn his friend."
"DOBBY! Don't you think you should have said that first?"
"Oh no! Dobby should punish himself!"
"No, can you go and get the Grangers? No, wait. Would they be able to track her here?"
Dobby turned his head as though 'listening' to the wards.
"Dobby knows a way, but Master Harry not liking the solution."
"Will it work to hide her? Her family?"
"Oh yes! Most certainly."
"I love it! Now, I don't know where she lives. I have her phone number. Hedwig's been locked up, so I haven't been able to write to her yet."
Dobby's ears drooped, but Harry had an idea.
"Dobby? Can you take me to the Leaky Cauldron? There's gotta be telephones near there, right? Charing Cross Road."
"Dobby can!"
Harry looked down at his clothes. He really looked like a street rat, but there was no time. He quickly started rifling through his now unlocked trunk. He might not be great at magic, but he wasn't going anywhere without his wand.
"Master doesn't like his clothes? Dobby could fix them up for a time. Enough to visit Master's friend."
Harry found the wand and held out his arms.
"Go for it."
**OO**
Not knowing when they'd be back, Dobby shrank the tent and pocketed it. It worked like a magical trunk and not only would Hedwig be safe inside, but it wouldn't need to be re-set up. Handy that!
Harry took his only muggle money, the fifty pence piece from Christmas, with them for change for the phone. But the scarred man at the used bookstore next to the Leaky Cauldron refused it and offered him the use of the phone to make his call.
There was something familiar about this man. Harry instantly liked him. Trusted him.
"Are you? I mean. Excuse me, lad. Might you be Harry Potter?"
Dobby was hidden, of course. But didn't start shaking or pulling on him. A signal of danger. So Harry nodded.
"I am. Let me guess. You can see the pub next door?"
Aunt Petunia had complained about Lily disappearing into a doorway, and she couldn't find it until Professor McGonagall had taken her hand. You apparently had to be magical to see it.
"Indeed. I'm Remus Lupin."
Harry extended his hand for shaking, and the man took it. The wizard's magic reacted to the touch. Reacted to Harry by surrounding him in warmth, like a hug from an uncle who liked you.
Very different from the beating of an uncle who despised you. Harry had never felt loved at Privet Drive, and this person here loved him. Harry could tell.
With tears in his eyes, Lupin made a suggestion. "Why don't you make your call. I'll write down my phone number. I have wanted to visit you. I tried sending you some pictures directly when Hagrid asked me for copies of them. They were sent back saying that you had enough. That didn't ring true to me."
Harry scoffed. "You think? I mean, you're right. I know nothing of it, and would love to chat with you if you were able to send pictures of people. You might be able to identify some of them."
Harry had a sudden thought. This was an adult. Who could use magic! If he'd meant harm to Harry, Harry would have been killed right then.
"How do you know me, sir?"
"Well, I made friends with your mother on the train to Hogwarts. We were prefects together for three years, as well as studying and practicing ma…studies.
"In addition, your father and I shared a dorm room at school for seven years. I'd like to say more. I get off in 15 minutes, and I would love to talk with you if you could wait for me." Lupin loved having a job where he could have a couple of days off for the full moon with no issue. He worked with others during the day, but Remus had to be gone before dark and the owner returned. Not that it was an issue so close to the summer solstice.
Harry looked into kind brown eyes. He now recognized the man from one of the pictures. This man was telling the truth. He'd danced with his mother at their wedding like he was holding his sister. With love but without romance. He'd laughed and joked with his father.
And Harry could really use some adult-type help right now.
"There's a plan to hurt my friend. Who's a girl, but well. Argg. I don't know how to explain it to her parents, as they are…they can't see the old pub. Dentists."
"Why don't you call, and ask if we can come to visit. We can take the Knight Bus to a couple of blocks away or the nearest store to them. We don't want to get off right in front of their house in case we are tracked. In fact, the safest thing to do would be to have them come to the Leaky."
He made a call.
"Mrs Granger? This is Harry Potter. I don't know what your family's plans are tonight. I have something very urgent to share with you. Could you come to…
"Mr Lupin? Is there a nicer restaurant than the Leaky Cauldron?"
"There's a great Indian place just a few doors down. Tell them to come to Byron's Bookstore and we'll walk from here."
"I'd like to take you to dinner. Can you please come? It's very important."
Emma Granger was no fool. This boy had been in Hermione's letters home on and off for the first two months of school, and then constantly after that. This boy had given her a book, a nice bookmark, and a lovely pair of earrings for Christmas.
For an eleven-year-old? That showed her that he really, really liked her daughter. Not a chocolate or even a bit of sugar in the gift.
"You know you didn't need to give her a second bookmark on the train. The first was sufficient."
Harry paled. That was it, they were tracking her! Remus' sharp hearing had him reacting.
"Mrs Granger? Do you have gas cooking? If not, something to start a small fire? If so, burn that second bookmark right now. People are trying to track you. I don't mean to cause fear. Please, Harry and I want to help. Can you gather up a few things for overnight? I'll be there in two minutes to escort you here."
"Who are you?"
"I'm Remus Lupin, a friend of Harry's parents. And some very bad people are angry that Hermione did better in school than their children."
For some reason, Emma believed him. Both she and Dan had go bags as they were on the list of potential foster parents. Sometimes, that meant traveling at a moment's notice, and they were prepared.
While Hermione threw things into a knapsack, Emma burnt the new bookmark which didn't want to light at first. And once it did? Whew!
Talk about a bad smell.
There was a knock on the door, and it was Remus Lupin and Harry Potter.
Hermione, coming down the stairs, saw Harry and glommed onto him.
"Harry! What's going on?" Hermione demanded. She could feel something was wrong.
"I think we should summon the knight bus and get out of …
The doors, bursting open from the back garden wasn't Avon calling. Lucius Malfoy's hair was recognizable even with the black robes and scary bone mask.
"Well, well. What do we have here? I should have expected guests. Well, you gentlemen get to die, and I get to bring the females home. They need to learn a lesson about respect for their betters."
Remus was impressed that Dobby grabbed the ladies first and popped away while Harry threw the prank stink bomb that Fred had tried to set off in their cabin on the train.
He kept it to use on Dudley, and never had the chance.
Remus raised a shield, but knew that if Lucius cast the killing curse, he'd need to summon or conjure a barrier.
Dan leveled the silenced Ruger in his hand. He didn't warn or plead or bargain. He pulled the trigger. The man in the bone mask had pulled his wand and aimed it at both his queen and his princess. Then threatened them all with death and worse.
Lucius, watching the ladies disappear suddenly, was distracted and angry. If he had noticed Dan at all, he completely dismissed the muggle as irrelevant. The stink smoke pooled around him, as the bullet entered the man's chest with a small thump.
The sound of the wizard falling to the tile floor, mortally wounded, was louder than the gunshot, but was still not enough to disturb the neighbors.
It appeared that Harry Potter's warning that they were in danger was real.
Dobby returned and, seeing a dying Lucius Malfoy, went over and kicked his former master hard.
"Dobby is free from Bad Master forever. Torturer. Murderer. Devil."
Dobby snapped his fingers and Lucius was transfigured into a small stuffed white peacock –which also served to put the dying wizard into stasis– that was quickly put in his pocket. "Dobby take care of bad master. Bury him as toy in his daughter's grave who didn't get a Hogwarts letter." Dobby popped away.
**OO**
House-elves were forced to speak pidgin languages by their masters who didn't like to be reminded how much their gene pool had turned into a cesspool. House-elves were powerful and intelligent.
Dobby knew that if Draco inherited now, the vicious Narcissa Black would use the family fortune to expand their criminal enterprises, and she would become a Dark Lady far scarier than the Dark Lord ever was.
With Lucius missing? And without the Will engaged? She would be locked out, having only her monthly stipend allowed. New opportunities would be lost. Businesses would be foreclosed due to non-payment of bills. Rents would go uncollected. All because Lucius was still alive.
Disaster would come to House Malfoy long before Draco's seventeenth birthday. All because of a smart house-elf who knew the ways of wizards and wanted to help his Master Harry by eliminating this threat to him.
**OO**
Dan cleared the weapon, reloaded it, and re-engaged the safety. His hands shook only a little. All of his time in the military prepared to take a life if needed, but until this moment, he had never done so.
Remus spoke to him. "We'll join the ladies, and get you looked at sir. I'm so sorry this happened. I'm sorry that we weren't faster."
Dan looked at him. "Without your warning, that man would have killed me, and kidnapped my wife and daughter. I will thank you, just, um. Maybe not right now."
Dobby returned, and Remus asked him to take Harry and Dan, while Remus shrank the Granger's bags, and they made their way to Gringotts.
**OO**
Hermione was crying and shaking. "How could he just walk in like that?" She asked her mother.
Dobby had dropped the ladies off at the bank, and asked for them to be given tea, calming draughts and be taken care of by a hostess until he returned.
It was a phrase that would hire female goblin bodyguards for both Hermione and Emma.
The two guards looked fierce in their armor and their weapons did not look like the cheap knock-offs sold in castle gift shops in London. Or the fantasy shops.
Emma held out her hand for shaking, and both shook it without reservation.
"I'm Emma Granger, and this is my daughter Hermione. May I know your names?"
The taller of the two green-skinned women shook her head. "We don't share with outsiders. No offense meant." She was tall for a goblin - taller than Hermione.
Emma thought she had read that in something of Hermione's. With as important as goblins were to the Wizarding World, one would think that better books would be available, and not a little bank pamphlet on 'Essential Goblin Customs for Those New to the Magical World.'
"I have read about this. So, I am going to give you temporary nomens for the evening. How about Charity and Chastity."
The two looked at each other. The daughter appeared to be a firstie or rising second year, did not have a wizard sponsor of any type, and was clearly trying to be respectful.
"Our customs are different. For us, being of worth, and working hard is very important. No dole for us. So Charity is not a good name for a goblin if you did not mean to offend."
Emma paled. "No! Of course not. Um flowers. Lavender, no, Sage! What about Sage?"
The goblin nodded her head. Just because she knew of a house-elf of that name meant nothing. There were witches with the name. It was her cousin's turn to object.
"With such a low birth rate, any female that did not accept a mate by the age of thirty or so would be counseled by what you call the King of the Goblins. He would find an acceptable mate, even if he had to offer himself. We rarely have families who have more than one spouse, but in a situation where none was found, it would happen."
Emma gulped. Reading about trios had put her off the Wizarding World and that was before Mr Malfoy invited himself to their dinner party.
"Ah. So Chastity is as bad as Charity. Again, no offense meant. What about Heather?"
She nodded, and Emma wrote down what they were wearing, so she could keep it straight. They looked like twins to her eyes except for the height difference. Fortunately, their armor had unique accoutrements that helped her distinguish between the two.
"So, would you like to talk about what happened? In our culture, we discuss attacks. What we did, or could do better next time. It helps." Heather offered.
Hermione nodded. "I should have had my wand on me, but I packed it in my bag." Not that she could have done much yet, she thought to herself.
She pointed to the knapsack now at her feet. At least she had the magical focus with her. Too bad that humans relied on such things. It was evident, looking at her hair alone, the girl was a powerful young witch.
Hermione proceeded to share the warning of both house-elf and wizard, but she wasn't there when Lucius was killed, well, appeared to be, so they were waiting on pins and needles to hear from their menfolk.
BloodRage, a goblin guard wearing magnificent armor, came in, and 'Sage' turned a bit green, which was blushing to a goblin, but just moved behind Emma.
Behind him came Dan, Remus Lupin, and Harry, along with a visible Dobby.
"Harry!"
Hermione rushed to the boy, grappled him into a hug and went to kiss his cheek. He returned the warm hug with interest, but turned his cheek and their lips met.
Dobby cheered, and not one but three elves popped in to clap and just as suddenly disappeared.
As they kissed, there was a sudden pulse of magic that made the torches flare, and released the clip that held Heather's hair back.
She grabbed it in confusion, but the moment passed, and she was able to use a wandless spell to stick it in her hair again. Something had disrupted the magic holding it there.
Harry grabbed his ribs in pain with one hand, as the same kind of snapping happened again that happened when he and Dobby were bound together. With the other, he grabbed his forehead that began oozing a black ichor.
Harry's accompanying cry of distress broke the kiss and Hermione loosened her hold slightly but the appearance of Harry in obvious pain made her cry out to the adults in the room, "Help him, please! Something's wrong!"
Heather and Sage shared worried looks, but BloodRage was already at the door, hitting the rune that would summon help.
"Harry? Harry! Speak to me, love!"
Dobby rushed to help support the swaying young wizard, and between him and Hermione, they lowered him to the floor where Hermione placed his head on her lap. Tears started to leak from her eyes.
Spurnik, Harry's account manager, came in with a human in ugly green and another goblin that Harry didn't know.
The healer rushed to Harry, casting spells as he came. "That monster!"
He shared in goblin that Harry had had some dark residue left untreated in that scar until just recently.
Spurnik realized there were several ladies present and closed his mouth quickly before he could start swearing.
To save time, Spurnik went around the room and introduced everyone except the bodyguards. Emma introduced 'Heather' and 'Sage' to Dan, Remus and Dobby just as though he were an equal, if shorter.
BloodRage's eyes met the goblin of his personal interest and mouthed 'Sage?'
She glared at him. "Ɠ I will kill you slowly. Roast certain body parts first if you ever mention this in the caverns. Perhaps using said herb on your meat? Ɠ." She threatened in the goblin language.
His humble bow was all she needed. Ha!
Perhaps the lout could be trained, and next time, she would accept the boar's head. Her father, Spurnik, approved the match after all.
Her mother didn't, but then, no one in the caverns in London, Cairo, or Lyon had met her approval. There was one from Paris, but her mother had waffled, and he had bonded to another. Which pleased her greatly as she wanted BloodRage.
Feeling better, Harry began to sit up, –but not leaving Hermione's side– nodded to all of the adults and told them about his busy day, leaving out the shooting.
"When I got home, there was a letter from our loving Headmaster that he had sent, by owl of course, to my ever so loving Aunt Petunia." Harry's sarcasm switch was in the "full-on" position. "In the letter, he states that I should not be blamed for Quirrell's death.
"These people hate me, magic, and everyone with magic. Their reaction was as predictable as it was despicable."
Harry knew that he had to show them. It was counter to everything in him, but he had begged Dumbledore to stay at Hogwarts, to keep him safe.
Dobby risked his life to try and save Harry! It was clear that if Lucius had found out about Dobby's warning, he would be dead.
Harry stood and looked an apology at Hermione; taking off his shirt was the hardest thing he had ever done.
Hermione gasped and burst into tears, and knowing that her hug had likely hurt Harry, cried out, "Oh, Harry, I'm so sorry!" and turned to her mother for comfort.
Harry hugged Hermione, in her mother's arms, and whispered words of comfort in her ear.
Emma reached out and, carefully, wrapped an arm around the child's shoulders. She avoided the recent evidence of a lashing. Emma gently brought him into the motherly embrace being provided.
The healer swore in his native Arabic. A rattled hilted dagger reminded him that there were goblin females present and he immediately stopped, apologized, and went to work.
BloodRage looked ready to slaughter the animals in need of death, and his soon-to-be mate known there as Sage looked ready to fight at his side.
"What is this danger? Is the school safe now, with Malfoy's death?" BloodRage asked intelligently.
Remus looked at the guard. "We never said anything about killing anyone."
Sage snorted. "You are here and alive. That clearly means that the wizard was incapacitated or dead. This man here, called Dan, stands like a warrior. A warrior who has recently taken a life in defense of others. It is not easy to kill. It shouldn't be. But taking a life to protect one's family is not a crime. Well, it shouldn't be. When you get a chance, you might want to change your clothes and burn them, and thoroughly clean the leather shoes. Burn the cloth ones. Those droplets could be used by the enemy's family to track you down. And they would not be gentle."
The healer was attending to the injured lad during the discussion. Harry's ribs were shifted, and he could suddenly breathe easier.
"He's recently lost two bindings but one more remains. Doesn't the healer at your school do a health-check? This should have been caught."
The healer gave him a pain potion and asked permission to release the third binding as it was preventing him from learning other languages easily. A rare talent.
Harry was still bruised, but looking better for the healer's ministrations.
Remus had been talking in soft tones with Dobby while getting information.
"I have learned several terrible things just now. The danger to Hogwarts exists. Dobby went to one of the Potter elves working at Hogwarts to warn them first before coming to Harry. No guesses for how well that was received."
"Umm. Hogwarts is the safest place? Well, if that's true, why couldn't I STAY THERE? It wasn't like I would take up a bunch of space. And Hogwarts has plenty of food."
"They should! They likely still grow it on your land and greenhouses. Your father hired me after school ended to harvest plants and animals for Hogwarts. It's what the Potters did to support the school in addition to their philanthropic endeavors." Remus shared.
Spurnik scowled at the talk of charity. At least it was for a children's school! Even goblins supported education. And health.
Harry tilted his head. "Good deed doers? My parents? Wow! That's a lot better than being drunks on the dole. Not that I believed the Dursleys."
Remus growled again, and BloodRage stopped him from leaving.
"Oh no, if anyone gets to kill them, it's me!" BloodRage claimed.
"Well, I could help. Right?" Remus asked.
"Of course. I'm part of the Potter banking consortium. You are a true family friend."
Spurnik gave him a sharp look. "We've talked about this before. Just because the Potters own businesses and have wealth does not mean that they own the bank. You are assigned to the Potter family when a personal guard is required."
"I like my words better, Spurnik! Besides, taking out these muggles is certainly warranted, and Remus Lupin is honor-bound to help."
Harry, even under potions, objected to that. "They are miserable people who try to blame me for their misery. Don't. Killing them would be a mercy. No. It is far worse that they have to live with each other. My disappearance? They have two choices. Report it, or not. If they do, police will come and find blood evidence everywhere. In the cupboard under the stairs, Dudley's second bedroom, the kitchen, everywhere. My disappearance will be noted."
His plea was not working to calm Remus or BloodRage for some reason.
"I'm out of there, and I'm not going back. If I hadn't left with Dobby, Hermione would be... Dobby, I want you to give yourself a raise."
"Dobby? Dobby being paid?"
"Well, I don't know what your rates are, but of course. I mean. You're helping me. You're not my mum. Of course, I'm going to pay you."
Emma smiled. She knew that house-elves were treated like slaves in this culture and approved of the moral code on display here.
"Harry, look. I've got a bit saved up. There are other magical schools. If Dobby tried to warn Dumbledore and he's doing nothing, we can't fight that. Even You-know-who didn't go up against him." Remus had allowed the great wizard to keep him from his godson. No more! He would do his best for Harry from now on.
Harry, concerned for others, asked, "We've got this incredible tent that'll house hundreds, er, dozens… Well, I don't know how many, but a LOT, but where will we go? What about Ron? The Weasley family?"
Spurnik spoke up. "We do not know what Lucius' plans were. Did they involve other Death Eaters? We don't have enough information. As for where to go, Mr Lupin. Gringotts is aware of your relationship to Harry Potter, and knows that you were co-godfather along with Sirius Black, and Peter Pettigrew. Black was convicted of his murder, but we know that it was Pettigrew's oath that took his life. The Pettigrew trial of Sirius was a travesty. A travesty! The man was bound and gagged, not allowed a defense, accused by Lucius of killing several key people, and the body of Pettigrew had not a mark on it. Except for we know there was a masked Dark Mark on his arm. So how does a blasting curse kill without blood? Short answer - it doesn't.
"We believe that this was part of a plot so that Draco Malfoy could inherit. You see, his mother Narcissa was born into the House of Black. So, if you are going to leave the country, we beg you to take Sirius Black with you. He is unfairly imprisoned." Spurnik concluded.
Dan looked at Dobby. "This Narcissa? Could she be in on the plot to hurt my daughter or whatever is planned for Hogwarts?"
Dobby shook his head wildly, and ran for the nearest wall. Harry stopped him, and pulled him in for a hug.
Hermione had listened carefully to everything said and raised her hand like they were in class.
Spurnik smiled. Rarely were magicals so respectful. "Yes, Miss Granger?"
"I have an idea, sir. But I'm going to need some polyjuice and a woman's outfit in Narcissa Malfoy's size."
"Hermione?" Emma asked.
"Well, if her husband has disappeared, don't you think that 'his mistress' should let Narcissa know where he is?"
"What?" Heather exclaimed. How did this child know that the scum had a mistress? Oh wait, she didn't. But it gave her an idea for revenge. The woman had done 'favors' for Gringotts from time to time. Some might call her a 'woman of negotiable favors.'
Heather went over and consulted with the brightest witch of her age.
"Mr Spurnik? Can you please ask Narcissa Malfoy to come to the bank?" Hermione asked.
"Ohhhh. But you can't attack her here." BloodRage warned.
Hermione and Harry's eyes met.
"Can I offer her tea?"
**OO**
After a short discussion, and the hiring of an 'expert consultant' a plan was made.
**OO**
Narcissa Malfoy was not happy that her husband wasn't home yet. Getting a floo-call from a beautiful woman at this time of night to discuss his whereabouts was not what she wanted to be doing.
She was met at the entrance of the bank by a remarkable looking woman who was clearly younger.
"It's a little cool for an alfresco tea, but I don't want you to be attacked if you go for your wand in the bank."
Narcissa was led to a warmed outside table in front of the ice cream shop. A waiting house-elf served tea. She was handed a card.
"I have been hired by Gringotts as a courier of sorts. I want to give you some information and ask a question."
"You claimed to be here regarding my husband."
"Yes indeed. Well, you see. He planned on killing a muggle tonight, and capturing the muggleborn's mother and the little witch."
"So?"
"Were you informed of this?"
"I would hardly admit such a thing in public. Where is your dictaquill, Rita?"
"I'm not Rita Skeeter, though she does seem to be remarkably well informed. No, I just wanted to let you know that Lucius won't be coming home for a few years. I expect you'll see him for Draco's seventeenth birthday."
"WHAT? He can't!"
The muggle drugs in the tea did not show up on Narcissa's scan and she finally drank some. Bingo.
"I'm so very sorry for you. Truly."
Narcissa fell asleep. She would wake, dressed in Sirius Black's robes having no knowledge of the last twenty-four hours.
Sirius Black, dressed in drag –not for the first time–, but in this case, dressed appropriately for her/his sex, made it back in plenty of time.
The family then made its way to a Black property in the Seychelles. They might not stay there permanently but they would make decisions on where to go from there.
The village proper was on the far west of the island, but Black Manor, and the family compound, protected by ancient magics, was on the far east of the small island. There only packed footpaths and cart-tracks. In this modern world, the locals either apparated places or used muggle bicycles.
There were some lovely bungalows on the property outside of the manor itself, but the tent would come in handy for any guests that Harry might decide to invite or for future adventures.
Dobby welcomed Serena and introduced her to everyone there, and Sirius refreshed her bonds to House Black.
Hedwig was quite happy to see her boy again and perched on the pillow of the bed in the room he chose as his and 'groomed' the lad and crooned until he fell asleep. She then perched on his headboard to guard her bondmate against all comers!
**OO**
Story Recommendation: joerandom "And All Those Left Behind." I am so enjoying this story!
And self-promotion time - Defeating Dark Lords, Inc. Omake Files. I dare you to read chapter 2.
Just don't drink and read it. Don't read it at work.
**OO**
Ɠ—Ɠ = Goblin language
ƺ"."ƺ parseltongue
₲ galleons
₰ sickles
ķ knuts