Second Destiny
Before we begin, a note from the Author...
In a review posted for Chapter 2 of this story on 28 September 2022, website user "Arkenstone007" commented, "Ameila bones wasn't the head of the DMLE back when the potters would have made the will. Barty Crouch was. He is the one who sent Sirius to Azkaban without a trial. It wasn't until his son was caught attacking the Longbottoms - which was after the Potters died, that he was sent to international cooperation, and Ameila took over the DMLE."
I was fully aware of this situation—note that no DMLE title was used in connection to Amelia. The will simply said, "If this passage is still a part of this document at the time of the document's official Gringotts reading, a withdrawal of ten Galleons from the Potter Vault is authorized for payment for a notarized copy of this document to be made and sent to Madam Amelia Bones of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement in the hopes that she can make use of it." No "Director," just Madam Amelia Bones.
Next, I would like to address site users "LadyPhoenix68" and "Hellmyne," who each posted a review of Chapter Sixteen-X—my reply to the review posted by a site user who I shall no longer name. You know who you are.
LadyPhoenix68 said in part, "You have chosen to write a story to entertain the masses at cost to you of time and effort of which we benefit and no reward to yourself other than letting your muse run free. That you are doing in a world created by a bigot is meaningless. You are doing a good thing for people for no material reward. That is praiseworthy. I look forward to reading more chapters of the story in the future."
Hellmyne added, "I wish more people had this attitude. So many see a bad apple and think they must destroy the tree, even when then apple had been in a cupboard for weeks. Thank you for the story."
It is for people like LadyPhoenix68 and Hellmyne that I am writing this story, despite the appearance of hypocrisy in continuing to write stories set in worlds created by bigots and other unsavory characters that some people may ascribe to me. Thanks for your support, and keep enjoying this story.
Finally, I must address a site user who wrote in a review of Chapter One, "Dumbles willingly gave his life to save one miserable (a-hole), that a bit at odds with the whole 'steal his fortune' thing."
If you'll remember, in my description of the rules of the "Don't Fear the Reaper" challenge, you'll note that the plot thread of Dumbledore having a part in any or all of Harry's pre-contract deaths was merely an option that the writer answering the challenge can use at their discretion.
I have already decided not to pursue that thread further, as one of the changes the Fates made to Harry's tapestry was to not have Dumbledore work with Molly Weasley to steal Harry's fortune—the reasons will be explained in the chapter you are about to read.
With that, let the story continue...
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
The next morning, Harry and Hermione awoke to find Astra tugging at their sleeping clothes. "Uh, what is it, Astra?" Hermione said.
"Lady Malfoy, Account Manager Steelfang and a search team are waiting for you and Lord Potter in Headmaster Dumbledore's office," Astra said.
"All right, Astra," Hermione said. "Give us ten minutes to make ourselves presentable."
"Yes, milady," Astra said before POPPING away.
Fifteen minutes later, Hermione—in House Malfoy formal robes—and Harry had arrived at the door into Dumbledore's office. "Enter," Dumbledore said.
Harry and Hermione walked into the office and nodded first at Dumbledore, then to Steelfang. "Good morning, Professor," Harry said.
Hermione then turned to Steelfang and curtsied. "May your enemies' riches become your riches," Hermione said to Steelfang.
"Thank you, Lady Malfoy, but time is money," Steelfang said.
"Of course, Account Manager," Hermione said. "Shall we begin?" Steelfang nodded.
"May we use your floo, Professor?" Hermione asked Dumbledore.
"Of course, Lady Malfoy," Dumbledore said.
Hermione walked up to the fireplace, picked up a handful of floo powder and tossed it into the fireplace. "Malfoy Manor," Hermione said.
A green fire erupted into existence, which Hermione leaned her head into. On the other side of the fire, Hermione saw Honorius. "Honorius, is everything ready for Account Manager Steelfang and his search team?" Hermione asked.
"Yes, milady," Honorius said. "Steelfang is always welcome as required by his duties as Account Manager for House Malfoy; while the search team has already been added to the ward ledger's 'temporary clearance' list."
"Thank you, Honorius," Hermione said. "We'll be crossing over momentarily. Prepare accordingly."
"As you command, milady," Honorius said before Hermione returned her whole body to Dumbledore's office.
"All preparations are complete," Hermione said. "Shall we?"
Steelfang nodded, before gesturing for the search team to follow him, Harry and Hermione through the flame.
"Spread out and leave no stone unturned," Hermione said. "The Horcrux is somewhere in this mansion, as the locator spell noted."
"Wherever it is, Lady Malfoy, we'll find it," Steelfang said.
An hour later, Astra ran up to Harry and Hermione. "Milady, a member of the search team has located the Horcrux! Follow me!" Astra said.
Harry and Hermione ran to follow Astra up to the Lord's Study, where a member of the search team was pointing to a black book that was sitting on the table where Lucius Malfoy had left it.
Harry moved over to look at the book and gasped. "Hermione, look—it's Tom Riddle's diary!" he said.
"I see it, Harry," Hermione said before adding through her mind-link to Harry, "Since we're getting rid of it as early as we are in this run, hopefully nothing bad will happen next year, like the Chamber opening up."
"I hope so too," Harry thought.
Hermione picked up the diary and put it in a lead box held by the search team member, who took it out of the room. Steelfang walked up to them.
"Continue searching the mansion," Hermione ordered. "Lucius might have hidden other Horcruxes or dark artifacts on mansion grounds. I authorize you to use any means to locate them—but do not use destructive measures unless absolutely necessary."
"As you wish," Steelfang said. "I shall pass your order on to the other members of the search team."
After a few hours of searching, Steelfang approached Harry and Hermione. "Lord Potter, Lady Malfoy, we have gone over this entire property. No further Horcruxes or other artifacts were found. We will depart for Gringotts to dispose of the Horcrux in the diary," Steelfang said.
"Thank you and your team for assisting us," Hermione said. Steelfang grunted, then led the search team through the floo chamber's flames back to Gringotts. Then, Harry and Hermione used the floo to return to Hogwarts.
In Dumbledore's office, Dumbledore smiled as Harry and Hermione walked through the fire. "I presume your search was successful?" Dumbledore asked.
"Yes, sir," Harry said.
"Lucius Malfoy had a diary with the name 'Tom Marvolo Riddle" on it," Hermione said. "The locator spell that the Gringotts goblins created from the one in Harry's scar led us to the diary."
Dumbledore paled when Hermione said the name Tom Marvolo Riddle, which Harry...and by extension, Hermione...knew to be Voldemort's real name.
"I see," Dumbledore said. "Will you two require any time off from your school obligations?"
"No, sir," Harry said. "We would just like to head down to the Great Hall for dinner then off to bed for the night."
"Very well," Dumbledore said. "Have a nice evening, and I will see you two tomorrow."
"Good night, sir," Hermione said.
As Harry and Hermione walked down to the Great Hall, Harry looked at Hermione. "Hermione, when I woke up in Joanna's office after my death in the Battle of Hogwarts in my last run, she told me that in runs previous to that, Dumbledore had been working with Molly Weasley in an effort to steal my fortune," Harry said.
"What are you getting at?" Hermione said.
"When Professor Dumbledore learned that we found Tom Riddle's diary in Malfoy Manor, he did not react in a way associated with someone seeking to steal someone's fortune," Harry said as a flight of stairs slid into place to allow Harry and Hermione to continue their trek to the Great Hall. "Especially the fortune of someone who, in previous lifetimes, was being groomed to sacrifice themselves 'for the Greater Good.'"
"So, you're thinking..." Hermione said.
"Yes," Harry said. "One of the changes Death had the Fates make to my tapestry was having Professor Dumbledore not being involved with Molly Weasley's plans."
Hermione shook her head. Harry and Hermione then spent the remainder of their time walking down to the Great Hall in silence.
:TBC: