Authors Note: As promised, here is the next chapter.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or Disney, those rights belong to J.K Rowling and Walt Disney respectively.
Replies to comments:
Magitech: I agree, I never understood why Severus was allowed to teach, he was as much as a bully as he accused the Marauders to be.
Firebire-fenix: all will be revealed eventually. I think about how I want this story to turn out while I'm at work, and remember, Amelia always puts up privacy wards around her cubicle before she writes a letter to the goblins, and sends the mail via house elf rather than owl.
MMax: I am hoping to have Neville and Harry be closer to each other than what they were in the books, not sure which house I want to sort them into though.
Chapter 12
Filius arrives at Minerva's house at exactly 7:45, eager to babysit his honorary nephew, and when he's invited in is welcome to the sight of Harry and Neville playing with the train set he dropped off.
"I'm here Minerva, is there anything special I need to know about my two young charges?" Filius asks.
"Neither of them has any allergies, but Harry cannot have anything to eat until after his appointment, so it might be challenging keeping them away from treats." Minerva explains. "If they get tired of the toys, you can pop a movie in for them, or read them a story. There's some children's storybooks on the middle shelf of the bookshelf."
"Wonderful, so may I ask why you need to meet with the goblins before my nephew's ritual?"
"As you have probably figured out, Amelia Bones has secretly been sending the goblins information about what has been going on in the DMLE. Earlier today, she sent me a letter saying that the Death Eater trials will be starting Saturday, and because of this, we may not be able to bring our case against Albus. We are meeting with the goblins to see if we can use this to our advantage." Minerva explains, and looking at the time, notices that it's already five minutes to eight, "Well thank you again for agreeing to babysit on such short notice, but I must be off before I'm late for the meeting. Have fun Filius, I owe you big time." With that, Minerva heads out the door to appparate to the bank.
Gringotts Bank
When Minerva arrives at the bank, she notices that she's the last one to arrive. Quickly making sure that she looks presentable, she heads towards Amelia and Augusta.
"Good evening you two, sorry for my tardiness, but I had to make sure the babysitter had the necessary rules and restrictions required to look after the two boys."
"That's quite alright Minerva, and thank you for finding a sitter for Neville, may I ask who you have looking after them?" Augusta asks, happy that she didn't have to bring her grandson to this meeting.
"Filius Flitwick, he has been filled in on what I know, and when the meeting is over, he will bring Neville and Harry here so you can bring him home once the meetings over."
"Wonderful, I have a feeling he will do wonderfully, now, shall we get to Rockgrinder's office and get this meeting started?" Augusta replies, noticing it's close to 8.
"We shall, you all know how the goblins hate tardiness." Amelia replies. With that, the three of them head for Rockgrinder's office, getting there right on time.
"Come in everyone, let's get this meeting started. Now Amelia, what news do you have from the ministry?" Rockgrinder questions once everyone is settled in and offered tea and cookies.
"The minister for magic is starting the Death Eater trials on Saturday, starting with Severus Snape, and people like Bellatrix Lestrange and Lucius Malfoy following shortly after. I asked my boss if we could use veritaserum on them, but he said that it's illegal to use on purebloods." Amelia explains, taking a sip of her tea, she continues, "I asked when Sirius Black would be getting a trial, but Justin said that since he admitted to his guilt when the aurors arrived at the crime scene, he is guilty and has already started his sentence, lifelong imprisonment in Azkaban. Anyways, with the Death Eaters trials starting, are we going to have to postpone bringing Albus to trial?"
"Depending on what moves Albus makes, this may actually help us. Do you know what the Supreme Mugwump and the minister have in mind for punishments if they are found guilty?" Rockgrinder inquires.
"Either community service or a small stint in Azkaban, apparently there are, and I quote 'There's a lot of purebloods going on trial. If we kill them all, what's that going to do to our population?' That's what Justin told me yesterday, and before you ask, I found out that Justin's in Dumbledore's pocket, that's why he doesn't want to sentence anyone to the Veil or Dementor's Kiss." Amelia explains.
"It's all well and good that they want to put those Death Eaters on trial, but without using veritaserum on them, how do we know that they're telling the truth?" Augusta pipes up.
"Not to worry Augusta, I have thought of a loophole in the law, although we can't use veritaserum on purebloods, there's no law stating that we can't use it on half-bloods. Since Severus Snape is first on the trial list Saturday, we can use it on him, and depending on how well Severus sings, we can use that information to charge the rest of the Death Eaters." Amelia explains.
"That is an excellent thought Amelia, however, there is a clause in that law that you are forgetting, 'when a member of the Sacred 28 is charged with 1st degree murder, they cannot oppose the use of veritaserum.' So, like you said, if we can get enough evidence from Snape's trial, we can use it on the rest of Tom's followers." Rockgrinder explains, the smile on his face growing as he says this.
"Wait a minute, who's this Tom fellow?" Augusta asks.
"We told Minerva this the night she adopted Harry, Lord Voldemort's real name is Tom Marvolo Riddle, the son of squib Merope Gaunt and muggle Tom Riddle Sr." Axegut explains, talking for the first time since the meeting started.
"So, you mean the madman that has been spouting that purebloods are the best, and that muggleborns must be put to death, is a half-blood?!" Amelia all but shouts.
"Precisely Amelia, and that half-blood monster decided to make a horcrux, which somehow attached itself to my son." Minerva interjects.
"What is a horcrux? It seems like I'm missing some information here, could someone please fill me in?" Augusta asks.
"Horcruxes are among the darkest magic a person can delve into, we learned about them briefly in auror training. A horcrux is a portion of someone's soul, contained in an object so that that person cannot die. If Voldemort made one, then this war isn't over, just on a time out." Amelia answers.
"That's, that's, that's insane! A wizard's soul is one of the most important parts of them. Their soul holds their core, and if their soul is split, then so is their core, making them mentally unstable and possibly less powerful. But why would he attach his soul to a toddler?" Augusta says, flabbergasted that someone would dare soil themselves with such dark magic.
"That we do not know, however, us goblins have a ritual we can use to cleanse Harry of Tom's soul, which will happen at midnight tonight. Now, may we get back to the matter at hand? Bringing Albus down." Axegut explains, cursing himself for allowing them to get sidetracked like this when they're on a tight schedule.
"Yes, thank you Axegut. Back to Saturday, I honestly think we are going to have to wait and see what Albus does with the information the Death Eaters gives you guys. However, if he tries to fully pardon one of them, you guys could possibly interrupt the trial and put Albus on the stand for interfering with an ongoing case." Minerva states, "also, I noticed in the memory that Tilly showed me, Albus loves to take calming draughts, followed by firewhiskey in his tea, or straight from the bottle. Is there a way to make sure he has nothing in his system on the day in question?"
"I noticed that too Minerva, and there is a way to discreetly flush his system, simply have a trustworthy house elf swap everything he drinks, and I mean EVERYTHING with a flushing potion. A flushing potion will clear his system of any previous potions or other substances in his system. If the house elf can do this for the next three days, he will have nothing in his system that will compromise the veritaserum. If he refuses to willingly take it, you may have to take drastic measures and spell the appropriate amount directly into his stomach." Rockgrinder explains.
"I would be honoured to do that, and I have a favour to ask of you Rockgrinder, would you be willing to sit in the Wizengamont on Saturday? If I am going to be questioning the Death Eaters, and hopefully Albus as well, I will need a proxy to vote for the Longbottom seat." Augusta asks, knowing that this will also send everyone in the Wizengamont for a loop.
"I would be honoured Augusta, and this way, I can help make sure that Albus gets what's coming to him." Rockgrinder replies, making a note to inform his comrades that the Longbottoms are now a friend to the goblin nation. "Now, it is getting late, and Axegut has to get everyone and everything in place for Harry's cleansing ritual."
"Yes, that's correct, and I just received notification that Remus Lupin has just arrived in the main chamber of the bank, I had hoped that we could fine tune our plan more, but life never happens how you plan. Good evening and may your vaults overflow." Axegut says, dismissing everyone for the evening.
"Thank you for everything Axegut and Rockgrinder, may I quickly call Doc so that Filius can bring the boys to the bank? Augusta must want to get Neville home and to bed." Minerva asks.
"That will be perfectly fine Minerva, I will go grab Remus, bring him up to speed and ready the ritual room." With that, Axegut leaves the room.
"Doc,"
"Yes miss?" Doc says once he pops in.
"Doc, can you help Filius bring Neville and Harry here? It's Neville's bedtime and almost time for Harry's appointment." Minerva asks.
"Doc can do that, Doc will be back soon." With that, Doc pops away and brings Filius and the two boys back shortly after.
"Well Minerva, you now have a full-time babysitter, these two kids are absolute angels. Harry was a little upset that he couldn't have a snack, but other than that they were wonderful." Filius says once he has recovered from his trip to the bank.
"Thank you so much Filius, like I said, I owe you." Minerva exclaims, "Now Harry, are you ready to meet your uncle Remus?"
"Yes mama Minnie." Harry replies, "But I sweepy."
"I know you are sweetie, don't worry, you can sleep shortly, right now we have to go see Uncle Remus, Elanor, and a few other goblins to heal you."
"But I no have owie."
"Unfortunately, you do have an owie, but I promise you won't feel any pain and you will feel a lot better by tomorrow." Minerva explains.
"OK mama Minnie." Harry agrees. With that, Minerva and Harry head to Axegut's office to prepare for the ritual.
Later that night
Once Harry is introduced to everyone, Elanor begins to go over the plan for tonight. "Alright everyone, it is important that we get this right. Now Remus, I need you here, at the head of the ritual circle, since we will be relying mostly on your power. Minerva, I need you to the right of Remus, as Harry's mother, next, I need my co-worker Mandy beside Minerva, followed by curse breaker Rockgut. After Rockgut, it will be myself, then curse breaker Gutpuncher, and finally healer Cassie. Is that clear enough?"
"Crystal clear Elanor, now, shall we give Harry his medicine? It is nearing midnight, and the potion must take full effect before the ritual can begin." Mandy says. With that, Elanor gives Harry a cherry flavoured dreamless sleep potion, shortly after, Harry falls into a deep slumber and placed in the centre of the ritual circle.
"It is time, everyone, hold hands and let your magic flow with the intent to heal and cleanse Harry of the evil that has caught ahold of him!" As everyone is focusing on letting their magic flow into Harry, the goblins begin chanting in their native tongue as the ritual calls for. Shortly after they begin chanting, the Horcrux begins to put up a fight, unwilling to leave its host, but the Horcrux is no match for the goblin nation. After a good 10 minutes of it putting up a fight, the ritual releases Dumbledore's bind on Harry's magic, and gives the ritual the last burst of magic required to cleanse his body of the Horcrux. A dark mist leaves Harry's scar, and while Minerva is relieved that her son is healed, she knows she cannot leave the circle until the goblins close it. Meanwhile, the goblins notice that the Horcrux feels smaller than half of Tom's soul would be and worrying about what that might mean.
Once the Horcrux has been completely separated from Harry, the goblins begin chanting faster and louder, banishing the piece of soul to Death's Realm, never to be seen in the land of the living again. "In the name of Merlin and Magic, may this child be as clean as the first snowfall of the season, and as innocent as a newborn lamb." The goblins chant together, with that, the ritual circle slowly stops glowing, signalling that the ritual is over and has been successful.
"The ritual was successful, Elanor, will you please spell the antidote into Harry's system?" Mary asks.
"Right away, Minerva, once Harry has been given the antidote, you may take him home, Remus, I suggest you go with them, because I want to talk to you tomorrow about a job." Elanor states as she begins measuring the correct dosage to give to Harry.
"That would be wonderful Elanor, I admit it has been difficult for me to find and hold down a job due to my lycanthropy." Remus replies.
Once the antidote has been administered, Minerva picks up Harry, and holds her arm out for Remus to take so she can side along apparate him to her place. "There's a guest bedroom at the end of the hall that you may make your own Remus. Now, lets go home and get some sleep, we have much to discuss and a short amount of time to do it." With that, the three of them head for home for a much-needed rest.
End Authors note: Hope you enjoyed this chapter. I will be getting to the trials in the next chapter or two. Please review, I enjoy reading the comments as much as I enjoy writing this story for all of you.