Harry Listens
A/N: Thanks to my wonderful Beta, LtsHrIt4ThBoyz.
**OO**
Chapter 4
**OO**
Monday, September 21
Hedwig made her weekly mail run to Hogwarts. Neville had his two letters ready, Luna had a new note, and Ron had a brief scrawled hello sort of note with no envelope. Percy looked askance at that and conjured an envelope.
Auntie Muriel's lessons over the summer on proper etiquette and protocol for young pureblood boys were lessons that Ron did everything to miss.
Madam Prewitt didn't insist upon his attendance.
Only Percy and Ginny came. Percy, as he wanted to not make a fool of himself in the Ministry. And get some one-on-one practicals to enhance his occlumency that his father taught all his children. With both Dumbledore and Snape, these were vital lessons. Percy tried to get all of his other siblings interested, but with no luck. At least they had good reasons, sort of. Ginny? Her reasons for coming bothered Percy greatly.
Ginny came to learn how to be Lady Potter.
Percy rolled his eyes at that and tried to dissuade her. "His guardians are muggles. They won't sign a betrothal contract. If Harry is being homeschooled, which appears to be the case, then look who else is missing, dear sister. He's learning everything with Hermione."
Percy hadn't meant to imply non-scholastic lessons like how to kiss, but that's what Ginny heard and it sent her running to her room in tears.
Percy practiced his occlumency for a time to calm himself. He then wrote to his mother for advice, and when next seeing his sister, tried to explain. And apologize.
Molly was of the opinion that Harry just needed to be found and brought back to Hogwarts. That would solve everything. So far, that had not happened.
**OO**
Bright and early the next morning, Sally was eager for her adventure at Ollivander's wand shop.
The owner of the wand shop was just as creepy as every first wand recipient had ever said, coming into the shop for a fortifying ice cream after their 'ordeal'.
"Well, well. My wards have failed me for the first time. I'm not sure of your name, Miss. The gentleman with you needs no introduction. Greetings Florean, thirteen-inch cherry wood, with a fine unicorn mare's tail hair core. A beauty she was and had just given birth to a golden foal. I suspect you need a replacement wand, my dear?"
"Actually, sir, my first." Sally ventured.
"Right on the cusp are you? I wish more people in your situation would come in. Even though you were probably discouraged to come in by the lack of a Hogwarts letter, eh? Late bloomer you likely were, or perhaps stressed? Not from your father! No, wait, yes. Umm. Maybe I should just work on getting you a wand."
Cherry, elm, and hawthorn with various cores were all rejected. Unicorn seemed to be the right core, but what wood?
"Ah-ha! Eleven and a quarter inches, oak with an unusual core of unicorn horn. It's an older wand, made for a time when there were more, excuse me, the term we used to use was hedge witches or wizards. The key words being "witch" or "wizard"; a magic user not a squib by any means! Wands of this fashion amplified the magic and could make a great difference in the level of spells the witch or wizard was capable of."
Binding to the wand removed some of the fog over her ten-year-old memories. Only now, instead of remembering her kind father in her early years, it was another man. A man who wanted to kill her.
"My name isn't Sally… It's…," The young witch shook her head to clear the jumble. "Celeste!" She exclaimed happily. Turning to beam at her father, she suddenly caught sight of the ice cream maker's face. Stricken, she asked, "Oh, Father? Do you still love me?"
"Of course, my dear. I wanted to tell you, but I just couldn't. The elf changed your appearance and memories. But you are my little girl by choice, magical or not. And by those sparks, I am guessing magical."
Ollivander beamed. He had a guess as to why her magic was suddenly more powerful. The family curse was breaking down; the blood feud was ending. The jinx of no more than one magical child in a family was gone.
And this little girl likely just got a huge boost from her birth father.
Who was now forever stuck as a little stuffie for a child who was supposed to be buried in an unmarked grave. But Serena had rescued her charge, and what was buried was a transfigured pig that was put in Celeste's bed after the house-elf had overheard certain evil and immoral plans.
There used to be a time when every child was precious; whether fully-magical, 'hedgewitch/wizard', or squib. But somewhere, along the way, imps whispered into the purebloods' ears, 'This child or that child is "unworthy" of life!' And laughed at their fanatical compliance. They were destroying their own legacy; their own future!
Malfoy was not the only fool to listen to the evil whisperings, and the once-powerful families diminished and their numbers dwindled. And the same adversary whispered anew, 'Come, join me and I will make you and yours powerful once more.'
But he once again lied and laughed as he led them to their own doom.
Lucius Malfoy's green death curse would have killed the child as she slept if the house-elf had not acted. Bringing the child to the ice cream maker and leaving her alone there was a gamble as Serena could only obscure the child's memories and change her looks. She hoped that he would take her to the Ministry who would find her a home.
Serena had no idea that the kind man would offer the child that new home. Lady Magic, and the Lord himself, work in mysterious ways!
**OO**
"Feel the colors, mes petits! Feel the magic! Watch me now not just with your eyes, but your magic!" Monsieur Monroe shared. He demonstrated a new technique that Harry got immediately. No eighteen inches of parchment on the whys of the magic. Just letting the magic go into the art.
While others struggled with the concept, the Boy-who-Lived didn't. And he was already painting at a level that few achieved in their lives. And his instructors knew it and were nurturing him as one of their own children.
He and his wife taught this class, and Harry had already graduated to the more advanced students in only a few weeks.
The medium that he was using for the water made the waves appear to move, the dolphins jumping from the sea.
The wizard saw Harry smiling. "You are not sad that they cannot chitter in this? They look ready to make their happy noises."
Harry laughed. "I live near a very active and noisy pod. Not that they aren't great and all. But no, I am happy that this portrait doesn't say 'Harry, Harry' at me."
"Oh yes, they seem to be calling us to swim, don't they?" M Monroe laughed, not understanding that Harry was perfectly serious about the pod's constant entreaties! Then the teacher showed him another way to hold the new brush, and Harry beamed in joy.
"You have no idea, sir. No idea." Harry finished up that one and was asked to start a new project.
"Soon, we will talk about how to add more than animation to art and have sound. It is a fascinating topic." The instructor went to aid a floundering girl who was getting upset. Harry wanted to go help, but the wise teacher knew that her jealousy of Harry was the problem. Moving Harry closer to the back of the room, presumably to see the blooming late summer roses would prevent the other students from seeing Harry's work.
M Monroe needed to speak to Madame Maxime. Harry would soon need an advanced tutor, and better supplies than the basics the students purchased. He made copies of Harry's last three paintings, including this recently finished pod of dolphins.
The boy had real talent.
**OO**
There was no known cure for the curse on Dumbledore. He was given a few months –a year at most– to live.
The man was told to write his will. Dumbledore had thousands of galleons squirreled away for the coming war.
He needed someone he could trust to lead the Order of the Phoenix after… well. Not Minerva. She'd been defying him lately. Not Severus. How could he betray him like that?
Remus Lupin! Faithful dog. Yes. Lupin wanted to meet Harry. Develop a relationship. That was the carrot he could offer. If he could only track the boy down!
Dumbledore had delusional letters to write.
**OO**
'Dear Remus,
'I doubt you read the papers much, but Harry Potter did not return to Hogwarts as expected. Some muggle woman took over as his 'legal guardian' all very suspiciously. And one of the Black sisters became his magical guardian! Without consulting me!
'You can imagine my distress.
'I have a few trinkets that might help track him down. I know that you enjoy your time playing in that bookstore, but really. It's time to grow up and pursue your duties to Harry.
'I will of course pay you for your time, and this will give you an opportunity to get to know Harry as well.
'Please come visit me at Hogwarts at your earliest availability.
'I am suffering so from worry. Please help,
'APWBD, Headmaster Hogwarts.'
Remus had quit his job the day they rescued the Grangers. The owner wasn't happy about the situation but had been kind and let him know he was welcome back if his personal situation changed.
Playing? He'd worked hard at that job! He reread the letter and felt even more disgusted the second time through.
Remus handed it off to Sirius before going for a run himself.
Was it always wrong to kill someone?
**OO**
After getting back, Remus returned to Britain for a time. He paid a visit to Dora Tonks and her auror trainer Mad-eye Moody. Both had received similar letters.
"You best be careful, Remus. I made a copy of the one sent to the Weasleys. I can't believe he sent this to Arthur and Molly. Just to let you know, Arthur was dubious, but Molly was taken in; hook, line, and sinker!" Mad-eye commented with disgust.
"And she's never supported multiple relationships before," Dora added.
Remus read in growing disbelief, sadness, and alarm.
'My Dearest friends Molly and Arthur,
'As you know, I spent the summer trying to track down the evil muggles that have somehow usurped my legal supervision, obtained the guardianship of Harry Potter under false pretenses, and are keeping him from his rightful place in our society.
'Harry must be found.
'I am so worried. Firstly, for his safety, and now for his academics. One can only hope that Harry isn't being forced to be someone's muggle house-elf.
'Please, keep your eyes and ears open. Little Ginevra was so disappointed to not be able to greet her knight in shining armour. You do know that one day, Harry will be Lord Potter. Even if rumours of his associations come true, well. I have a secret I would like to share with you.
'Harry is also heir to the House of Black. Arcturus isn't doing well, I hear. While it would be a shame if he passed away before Harry's majority, wouldn't it benefit society if he had a pureblood spouse that could lead and guide him in this world? One who had loving, kind parents of the Light?
'You would have my support in any betrothal contract between them just as soon as I am legally made Harry's magical guardian once more. After all, we all want what is best for the young people. To be happy, and to have the right sort of mate.
'Please, keep in touch. Any thoughts on how to find the boy are appreciated.
'Your loving friend,
'Albus'
Remus twisted the copy unconsciously as if by twisting the letter, he was wringing Albus' stringy neck!
"I don't think it wise for me to be in the same room anytime soon as our esteemed Mugwump. Sirius used to tease him about that title, you know. Made him sound like he'd just been mucking about in a swamp. I know several good ones that are missing a wizard." Remus darkly stated.
Mad-eye laughed. "The boy is safe, we're well on our way to having Tom Riddle's bits all taken care of. And Albus didn't lie about Arcturus not feeling well. The man has passed on! You need anything, you holler."
"Yes sir." Remus shook hands with him and smiled at his honorary niece, Dora. This girl wasn't special just because of her abilities. There was something magical about her way of being happy all the time.
Making sure that Dora Tonks had her communication mirror, Remus left the meeting and made his way to the magical chunnel train that was using the tunnel the muggles built ahead of their official opening.
It must have been a little nerve-racking for the few squibs in the work crew who would have dreams of ghost trains running on the sides of the tunnel.
But Remus was spending too much time in Britain settling the Granger's estates, and business, and needed to get back. And away from the Supreme Swampert that was Albus Dumbledore.
**OO**
Tuesday, September 22
Harry met his account manager after school in Gringotts, Paris because it was safer than coming to Diagon Alley right now. Of course, Remus Lupin was with him.
Spurnik and BloodRage were all pointy-teeth smiles, and Sage had a new hairpin in addition to the acromantula shawl.
"Was it bad?" Harry asked, worried by their fierce looks. Dumbledore had tried to send Harry a cursed ring. Not a very nice thing to do at all. But Harry didn't know what the curse was.
"Would have killed a child very painfully in just a few hours. Especially one with no knowledge of how to stop it. Professor Flitwick is respected in several circles... Only one is for dueling. He's put an official complaint into the ICW. We suspect that Dumbledore will be dead before it gets out of committee. But we can do something. The Nation has locked Dumbledore's personal vaults and requested a list of family property that Aberforth Dumbledore wants to claim. We received his reply.
"I wanted to share this with you."
Spurnik cracked open the seal of the letter.
"To Gringotts and of course, the account manager for Harry Potter, I send my personal apologies for not gutting my brother when he was busy sc…um, busy in relations with another young person."
Harry choked as the man stopped reading the letter aloud. That sounded like something Sirius needed for his file. "Can you please give a copy of that letter to Remus here? I'm sure he won't let me read about my former headmaster and any inappropriate behavior with a young lady."
"Who said anything about a girl?" Remus shared, shocked at the letter himself. "He wants you, Harry, to have all of Albus' personal fortune in repayment for what he tried to pull. Aberforth is Albus' heir and knows the old b… um, wizard is dying. He doesn't want a knut of his brother's possessions." Remus shared.
Spurnik informed them, "Even if Albus was tried in the Wizengamot successfully, you wouldn't get more than that. It's not enough, not for this evil but it's all we can do."
The ring was cleansed and given to Harry. "This is rightfully yours as Heir of House Peverell. And no, we don't advertise that connection to You-know-who." Goldrub groused. "I want to let you know that if I ever get an opportunity to gut the man I will. Dumbledore imprisoned my client, Sirius Black, after a mockery of a trial, and he has tried to kill a child. That is the lowest of the low."
Spurnik and the others took their leave. Time was money, and the boy would need time to come up with questions about this latest attempt on his life.
Refreshments in the form of chocolate croissants, French coffee, and fresh milk were served in the conference room they occupied there.
Harry took the ring and wondered what it did. With Remus there, he felt safe, but wished he could sometimes talk to his parents.
It was good that it was just him and Remus when he made that fairly innocuous wish, as James and Lily Potter visited their son for the first time since he was fifteen months old.
And the visit changed Harry and gave him an idea of what he wanted to do with his life.
**OO**
Tuesday, September 22
Mistress Maxime looked at the letter and scoffed. This was neither clever nor cunning.
'Headmaster Dumbledore. No, you are not invited to come and visit your "apprentice" Harry Potter during the school year, even if he was attending here. I will neither confirm nor deny those rumours as the boy has the right to privacy no matter what school he attends.
'Rumours of what happened at Hogwarts last year abound. I do not blame the boy for fleeing a dangerous situation.
'I do hope that you have a safer year for yourself and your students than last year.
'Madame Maxime, Beauxbatons.'
**OO**
Wednesday, September 23
An advertisement started appearing in random places in the Daily Prophet over the next several months. The wording changed, but the basic tenet remained.
'TATTOO REMOVAL
Were you one of the unfortunates who decided to get a tattoo that you now regret? Total confidentiality and privacy. We have experts waiting for your floo call. Or come in and make an appointment today.
Your left arm will thank you.'
Flitwick's and Severus' eyes met over the paper. The Charms Professor had asked permission to go and 'find details' out so that he wouldn't break any oaths to Snape.
This was a way to weaken the Dark Lord, and more than a few that claimed imperius and who truly did repent were cleansed. Witches who had been hiding themselves suddenly sported the latest in three-quarter sleeves, or even sleeveless fashions.
In fact, there was rather a new societal trend. If one NEVER showed their bare lower arms, they were looked upon with suspicion and shunned by polite society.
This led to more and more witches getting the tattoo removed, which in turn, led to them becoming stronger magically which led to the wizards going along with the ritual as well. The 'domino effect' was well on its way.
Gringotts smiled as they profited from helping the Dark Lord's fall. Now that was true cunning!
Only a few clients suffered after not reading the fine print on the contract.
'If you do not fully repudiate the Dark Lord, this ritual may invoke the slave binding and it could steal your magic fully and/or result in your death. No refunds, no exchanges, and Gringotts accepts no liability for anyone's state of mind. Proceed with caution in freeing yourself from this enslavement link.'
For those who actually read the caveat, they were angered to find out they had been tricked into becoming slaves of a half-blood. The information on the ritual had to include the correct full name of the slave owner. When the purebloods didn't recognize it, information flowed.
For a reasonable fee, of course.
The few deaths actually helped weaken the Dark Lord even more as the slave owner's magic tried to save the slave, thus siphoning off even more of his magic core.
Tom should have designed his own custom curse in addition to the artwork. He was messing with ancient powers that he really didn't control.
**OO**
Friday, September 25
Goldrub was now the Malfoy account manager. The previous goblin in charge had not been… diligent at his job. Of course, there was a certain prejudice against Death Eaters. But still.
Sally Fortescue, working as the Malfoy Regent, was there at the bank to request to hire a goblin guard. And goblin help.
"I received the most threatening letter from Mr Goyle in regards to his rent on his cottage. It said that he didn't need to pay rent! I reviewed the contract and the history of payments, and I see that he has not been paying any in some time. I would like your help reviewing this contract, and am willing to pay for one of your lawyers to do so. I just need to find out what is going on here, sir."
Goldrub already had Dharma Briokz looking into the active contracts for the Malfoys.
"It does appear that something odd is going on. I have a letter of eviction. We won't go after past due amounts - only the current month for all tenets. He is not the only one who is refusing to pay. They cannot be supplying any sort of labor for Lord Malfoy or Lady Malfoy. There are paid farmhands who take care of the Abraxans, the planting and harvesting of grain and hay for the animals, and other farm duties. They live in modest homes in the little village near Wiltshire.
"We recently talked about this in a meeting, while working up the cost/benefit analysis. We feel it is best to handle all in-person meetings here rather than the typical tenant visit. Please, tell me. Did you think that "Sage's" and BloodRage's visit to you was a coincidence? No. We have ways of knowing things, especially when you turned seventeen, and your adoptive father added you to his vault."
Sally gasped. "The key! I had to blood bond it!"
"Indeed. A safety feature for the bank is to look a little deeper. We knew then that "Celeste Malfoy" wasn't dead and wasn't a squib! And since you were of age, no notice was sent to your blood family. We do realize that would have put you in grave danger. We did nothing with your trust vault at the time, afraid of the repercussions of such knowledge getting out. Do you wish to claim the vault now?"
"I have a vault? If it was an education vault, maybe I could take some classes? I could hire a tutor? My adoptive father is teaching me, but we are not as wealthy as some."
Sally blushed, but the Account Manager shook his head.
"You have nothing to be ashamed of. Your father and you both work for your gold honorably. Nothing wrong with that. I'll have the ritual bowl and athame brought, but only if you wish."
"But won't that make the Malfoys mad at me?"
"If we were concerned about Lucius and Narcissa, we would not offer. You have nothing to fear from Draco, as you cannot be Head of House Malfoy despite your being the eldest. If he were to die without issue, and you still had not passed your OWLs, the Ministry would claim everything in a heartbeat. Once you have at least three OWLs, you could stand as regent, and your eldest son could inherit.
"Presuming that they declare the missing Malfoys dead. Which they are not. But they are well contained.
"These people are animals, and they are wrong. You are acting properly and have nothing to be ashamed of." Goldrub concluded.
Sally was worried and confused. "I'll think about it."
Goldrub passed over a piece of parchment with the amount of gold.
"WHAT? Twenty-five thousand?"
"It is meant to pay for school and a wedding."
Sally scoffed. "Not school, uni and/or an apprenticeship or three?"
"What would a pureblood princess do with a Mastery?" Goldrub chuckled. "Wizards can be so short-sighted."
Sage, who had been there as escort and chaperone, scoffed. She was not good at pretending to be furniture.
Sally smiled at her and turned to Goldrub. "Thank you. Please prepare an investment portfolio for me to share with my father. I will of course pay the fee for it. And to summarize our day. Your advice in regards to my duties would be to send out the eviction notices and make any in-person meetings here. I would like to have Sage and BloodRage there if I could hire them."
"My lady, I would pay you to be there for Goyle's meeting." Sage offered.
Goldrub shook his head. "We just replaced the flooring in the formal meeting room. Please, no axe marks, dagger slashes, or shuriken left behind. It scares the wizards."
Sally saw Sage's smirk. "Sir, I do believe that is why she does it." Sally stage whispered. "She's very scary."
Sage shook the girl's hand as she left the room. "You know, for a hu-mon, you are not half bad. I do believe I like you."
Sally gave the goblinesse an unexpected hug. "Me too! I like you too! Stop by for ice cream anytime. I need friends like you."
Sage, completely poleaxed, stood very still, as the young lady left the bank.
BloodRage came over and spoke low. Ɠ"Someone has distressed you, my mate. Who is this walking corpse?"Ɠ
Ɠ"Nothing to worry about, my love. I have made a human friend. She…she…she hugged me."Ɠ
BloodRage looked for evidence around the area and shook his head.
He needed to get a healer over to their home soon. Something was wrong. DragonPox? A strange fever?
His mate had been hugged and there was no bloodshed!
**OO**
Saturday, September 26
Neville Longbottom reread the letter from Harry. He couldn't believe that the Wizengamot were dragging their feet on prosecuting Dumbledore when the man asked Flitwick to send Harry a cursed ring!
According to gossip, his Gran told him that Albus was blaming Professor Flitwick for 'misunderstanding' the request; that he was supposed to send it to Harry AFTER it was cleansed. Which is what happened, but only due to Filius' experience and due diligence –compulsion spells don't work on goblins (or half-goblins). As such it's difficult to prove a negative, but despite being a professor of longstanding, his memory was not good enough evidence for the blood-purists.
The backlash of seventy years of witches and wizards who felt close to and absolutely had full respect for Professor Flitwick and were not being quiet in their support of the revered Charms teacher.
No charges were coming towards Professor Flitwick, and Dumbledore had burned a very important ally.
Neville wrote to him about his studies with Millicent, and what a nice girl she was. At first, she hadn't believed about her being on a list in regards to her wand. Now, after the hubble-bubble with Dumbledore, her parents were starting to believe.
'She refuses to let me pay for it. I offered. But her parents are proud of being self-sufficient. They'll save up for it.'
Neville shook his head. He was waiting for permission to get out of there just as soon as possible. At least his gran was wavering. And paying for a French tutor. Something that many magical families did since France was so close.
It wasn't in the least suspicious.
**OO**
Saturday, October 9
Harry and Hermione went for a walk to the village together. Harry had a very important question for her. Was it too soon? He'd seen other boys noticing the brilliant brunette; very fit French boys. But Harry thought of Hermione as HIS beautiful smart girl.
He needed to get over his anxiety, his fear that was keeping him back.
"Harry! Harry! Harry! Come and play!" The dolphins called as they walked past.
"Not today, I'm talking with Hermione," Harry explained.
"Oh! You're going to mate with her? Finally! Yes! Yes!"
Harry blushed and refused to translate what they said. Dolphins were simple people. They liked to play, eat, and mate for fun. Unlike other animals, not just out of 'nature's demands'. But because.
That proved to Harry that they were people in a swimming costume of a different kind. But he didn't want them interfering with his plans right now, and they were making him tongue-tied!
"Hermione. I really like you. I…um. Well. You see. I like spending time with you…"
"Me too, Harry! I love being with you and studying. I never noticed you studying so much last year. It felt like I had to nag and nag to get you to open a book. This is a wonderful change. This has been so much fun!"
Harry was embarrassed about it but didn't want to talk about the Dursleys, much less think about them. Not now!
"Yes, well. I have new guardians, and they support me. So, well. The thing is. I think that we. I mean. I would like to be a couple with you. Will you be my boyfriend? Wait! No! Can I be your girlfriend?"
"Mate! Mate! Mate!" The dolphin chorus was not helping!
Harry cleared his throat. Again. "Yes, I would like to mate…er, no, I mean, I want to be good friends…Oh, I can't say anything right."
Harry looked ready to dive into the sea in embarrassment, but Hermione saved him. Stepping closer, she dropped the hand that she had been holding and took his face into both of her hands.
"I would love to be yours, Harry. Girlfriend, mate, boyfriend even. Whatever you want to call me. I'm yours."
She started to lean towards his lips, but the dolphins were chittering advice. Harry leaned in as well.
Their lips met in a perfect kiss that was more than the kiss they shared in the bank, but was too chaste to be a snog. Just an expression that they cared for one another.
Harry grabbed Hermione's hand and ran towards the village. The dolphins' cheers were getting annoying.
Besides, Harry had a few sickles and planned to buy Hermione anything she wanted. Even if it had sugar.
When the pair got back, Emma held out a hand and collected small coins from all of the adults. Sirius was balking at paying.
"No fair! You had inside information!"
"Who was trying to give pointers to our godson?" Remus reminded.
"Yeah, but Harry's not like James. He's much shyer. I thought we had until Halloween!" Sirius complained.
Harry shook his head. "While Halloween would have been a possible day, I mean, Hermione and I became friends then, I would rather not have that as an anniversary. In fact, can we please do something, not Samhain or anything that weekend?"
Remus and Sirius nodded. "Let's have a quiet remembrance here."
**OO**
Sage argued fiercely with her husband before storming back to the caverns for a bit. She'd come back to watch through the monitoring portrait, though. It was a Bank Rule that was saving BloodRage from sleeping in the bathtub again. No female goblins were allowed around Death Eaters. No.
Protecting Sally Fortescue was now BloodRage's remit, and the goblin guard hoped that Mr Goyle didn't mind his manners.
It wasn't fair that a muggle got to kill a Death Eater before BloodRage had a chance!
Goyle was first in the meeting room. He was warned about using his wand. Sally was next, escorted by Dharma Briokz.
The Death Eater didn't stand or offer any polite greetings. Tea was not sent in after that.
"You can't kick me out of my house!" Goyle shot out, waving a letter.
"If it was your house, and you weren't paying the mortgage, what do you think would happen?" Dharma Briokz asked reasonably.
A flood of profanities issued forth. The snarling man then said, "I don't talk to beasts like you." He then pointedly addressed Sally, "Now, Malfoy lets me stay there, and I do stuff for him."
Sally laid a calming hand on Briokz's arm. "What sort of 'stuff' do you do? I do not see you on the manifest for taking care of the animals, or farming. Do you perhaps feed the peacocks?"
"WHAT?! No! I take care of problems." Vincent shouted.
"Oh? Is that why Mrs Cattermole's husband came into the hospital with a broken arm? He said you two had a 'minor disagreement' in the local pub, and it was an accident that he was hurt. Do you cause 'accidents'?" Sally looked up from the report to watch his face.
Goyle actually looked proud for a minute. An important vote was coming up, one that was planned for the previous May, but had been delayed again and again.
"I don't have to report your illegal activities to the aurors. But you are not going to be getting any remuneration for violence from me." Sally shared calmly.
The man worked his lips silently, obviously trying to figure out what 'remuneration' meant. Dharma Briokz and BloodRage shook their heads.
Sally spoke slowly, clearly, and with no emotion. "I won't pay you with free rent for breaking people's arms. Not for vote fixing, intimidation, or anything. You received the eviction notice. Please move house today. If you don't, a team will be by tomorrow morning to pack for you. The wards will be changed and not allow you to enter. Your items will be placed in storage. You will have to pay for that. I have tried to use clear language. The house that you live in belongs to the Malfoys. Do you dispute that?"
"No! It's just. Well. Not everything I do is written down!"
The lawyer had to intervene. "If it was, you'd be talking to Madam Bones instead of us."
The man burst to his feet, pulling his wand. It glowed green, as he faced down the regent. "Fine! But I know where you work and where you live! You can't do this to the Malfoys and continue to breathe. I'm coming back! I'll kill you and your father and your…"
Goyle stopped talking as it was hard to do so when one's head was in one place and the lungs were in another.
Briokz was on his feet. "BloodRage! That waste of air continued to talk for how long before you acted? He pulled a wand in Gringotts! In front of a defenseless lady. He had the wand out for at least fifteen seconds before you took his head."
"If he had moved to aim it, I was ready. I waited for the death threat. I will face the council if needed for my discretion. But I can now legally claim the kill and the bounty."
Goyle's left arm was proof that he was indeed marked.
Sage rushed in to grab Sally in a hug. A vial of forgetfulness potion was thrust into the witch's hand as she was pulled to a different room.
"The meeting went badly, and there was a disagreement. It wasn't your fault, you were very calm and collected the whole time. You are magnificent to face scum like that and be calm."
The drug made her dizzy, but it was all Sally. "I'm more afraid of spiders. I knew what he was."
Sage goggled and looked at the girl anew. Her respect for this witch just rose a few more notches.
**OO**
Harry flew towards the store in a hurry as he wanted to still paint before dark. Hedwig had no trouble keeping up.
They reached the village on the other side of the island. The inhabitants were an odd mixture of races and cultures that had slowly migrated on and off over the last several hundred years. Many of them now worked in the tourist trade, reading palms or doing other sorts of divination work. Some helped out cleaning up the beaches where they could use magical tools right in front of muggle tourists who never saw anything.
Hedwig and Harry stopped at the small grocery store that was the goal for this trip. Harry bought himself a candy bar. And not just any candy bar.
It was a magical bar of chocolate and nuts and caramel and nougat. It was his treat for getting another O in Transfiguration.
Hedwig declined the offer of a bite and settled for an unusual colored skink that Harry summoned. Chudley Cannon orange. There were times that Harry didn't like his ability to understand magical creatures. He hadn't known that particular animal was magical until it was in the air and rather confused at what was going on.
"No! Hedwig drop it!" Harry shouted.
The owl, confused and worried she was about to be poisoned, dropped the creature quickly.
"Thanks, mon ami! I was nearly lunch!" The skink skittered back to the verdant bushes from whence it came.
"Um, sure, anytime. Um. Be well." Harry stuttered.
Harry had no interest in confession right now. He did make sure that the frog he next chose was just a frog, no special powers."
Hedwig was clearly annoyed at the change of meal plans, but Harry explained.
"If I can talk to it, I'm not feeding it to anyone. Not even you, my beautiful lady."
Humans were much too soft, the owl thought, but kept said thoughts to herself.
She raced ahead of him on the trip home. Harry's progress was much slower as he stopped to take small bites of his treat.
He didn't recognize it at the time, but had eaten it all in the subconscious worry that Dudley would steal it from him.
Harry went to the wide veranda to paint after getting back. But Hermione had already let her parents know his good news, and her mother tracked him down as he worked.
Emma hugged him and let him know that she wanted to go to the store later and get him a Marathon bar for his wonderful score in school.
Harry let her know that he bought one already.
"So? I didn't get to share it with you? Dan won't touch one, but I adore chocolate."
Hermione's nose was twitching as she came out to join them. "Did you say chocolate?"
"Why yes, yes I did. But if you want one, you have to fly. No cheating and walking or exasperating over there."
Harry smiled at Emma's jest. The woman knew more magical theory than either of them! She'd been reading their books. She was trying to remove Hermione's flying frown with her apparating joke.
"We'll go low and slow for you, Hermione. It'll be fun." Harry assured.
"Fine. You take Mum. I'll fly."
The trio returned to the village and Harry stopped and managed to find the magical skink he'd almost fed to Hedwig and introduced him to Hermione and Emma.
The three bought a few treats for everyone, and made their way back home. This time, Harry was careful about the treats he fed to an impatiently hovering Hedwig.
Harry tossed a small fish to his waiting familiar. "I didn't forget you! I promise."
Hermione laughed at his antics, but remembered that he really could talk to the magical animals.
And after they got back, and Hermione was safely away, Harry took Emma for the ride that she really wanted.
"Oh my! We'll have to come up with a new category. That was beyond 'E' ticket* level. Perhaps Zed?" Emma shakily said, walking back to the manor.
Harry didn't have a clue of what she meant, but knew that she was smiling. That was all that mattered.
**OO**
Mrs Goyle was summoned to the bank. She hadn't known about the eviction and wasn't surprised to find her husband had pulled a wand in Gringotts after hearing about it. Nor that he was executed for cause. She planned to move to her parents' house for now. Sally offered house-elf help to pack, which the new widow gratefully accepted.
"I'm sorry 'bout everything." The woman humbly said. "Don't know what Greg and I will do now."
"What did you do for the Malfoys?"
"Mostly watched out for the boys. Didn't see Lord or Lady Malfoy all summer. Greg and Draco played a lot and flew. He wrote, asking me to watch him in the big manor house. I said no. If Lord Malfoy caught me in there without permission, he'd kill me!"
The rest of the renters were now paying. It had become clear that this man was a thug for Malfoy. But it wasn't goblin policy to hurt the women and children for sins of the father, and it wasn't Sally's either.
"If we don't have legal guardianship, Draco will likely be placed with the muggles for a time until Lord and Lady Malfoy return. Instead of moving, why don't you stay? There's plenty to do on the estate. Right now, I could use an on-site manager to maintain the grounds and manor house." Sally offered.
Vincent Crabbe was Vincent Goyle's godson and was named after the man. The lad was probably going to be more relieved than sad that his godfather was gone. Mrs Goyle knew that she felt that way.
Mrs Goyle was all smiles. "You'd do that for me? After what Vincent tried to do?"
Sally shook her hand. "You are not your husband."
The woman agreed. "I'd be happy to!"
**OO**
They worked out a new contract and signed it with Dharma Briokz's help. BloodRage got to take care of a Death Eater, receiving two bonuses. One for the bounty and one for not marking up the newly refurbished room, Mrs Goyle got to keep her residence, and Sally got to keep her lunch with the help of quick-acting friends.
**OO**
"You hugged a hu-mon!" BloodRage accused his mate.
"So what if I did?"
He pulled her into an embrace. This was nice. Different, but nice. "I see the appeal now."
"I don't hug her like this!" Sage argued.
"I know." He said, picking her up, and carrying her to the back of their quarters.
**OO**
A/N Story recommendation: Marcus Kyle would like to recommend a story in honor of some Hulk things being released: Legally Speaking by megamatt09.
*For those of you unfamiliar with Disneyland's old version of tickets, you used to get a pack of tickets with your admission to the park. They were lettered from 'A' to 'E'. An 'A' ticket would get you a ride on the trolley down mainstreet, or the carousel. 'B' tickets were needed for the Jungle Cruise or the Swiss Family Robinson tree house. 'C' tickets for Mr Toad's Wild Ride or the Mad Tea Party. 'D' tickets would get you on the Rocket Jets, PeopleMover or the Skyway.
But for the ultimate thrills, like the Matterhorn Bobsleds or the Mine Train ride, you needed an 'E' ticket.
Ɠ—Ɠ = Goblin language
%-% = Phoenix speech
ʥ—ʥ = DragonTongue
ƺ"."ƺ parseltongue
₲ galleons
₰ sickles
ķ knuts