Title: Wisdom From The Dark 13
Author: Jyrnn
Spoilers: All four books. Wait, can't say that now can I? Okay, PS, CS, PoA, and GoF. I'll probably pilfer whatever bits I can from The Order of The Phoenix. Incidently some of it can fit. Thank you J. K Rowling. Well except the part about Sirius.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter nor any of its characters. They are the sole intellectual property of J. K. Rowling and Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. I gain no monetary reward for this exercise and do not intend any copyright infringement.
Summery: A child has suffered enough, an intruder encounters unexpected resistance, and the careless words of Voldemort have the most unexpected results. Harry Potter is about to take a stand.
Chapter 13: Block Not His Path
As soon as he read the article regarding Sirius in The Oracle, Harry immediately summoned an elf to get his trenchrobe from his suite. While he waited for the elf he removed his glasses and flicked them quickly. This action caused the lenses of his new glasses to tint; one of the many features of his new eye wear. With a loud crack the elf popped back into existence next to him with his black dragon hide overrobe. Nodding with his thanks and his dismissal he deftly adorned himself in the heavy robe. Then he started walking. He didn't run. Running implies undue recklessness and a sense of desperation. Harry merely walked very quickly and very briskly. No one got in his way because all noticed the look of determination behind his dark glass veiled eyes. Striding quickly with a palpable resolve in his aura all went to great lengths to get out of his way. In a manner of moments he was at the public fireplace. Flinging Floo Powder atop the blaze and crying "Marduk's" he barely waited for the fire to turn green before he steeped into the fire pit. The opulent atmosphere of The Pillar gave way to the musty, narrow entry hall of Marduk's law office. As was his custom he was hurled with violent force out of the fire place but this time he landed on his feet and keep walking.
*The large door is in my way. That won't do.* With a flick of his wrist he used his snugly harnessed wand. Loudly Harry proclaimed "Alohamora" in a tone that dared the door to remain closed. Both oak doors ripped apart and there was the sound of twisted metal as Harry's spell abused the hinges. The impressive tapestries and busts did not interest Harry right now. What was important was that his godfather was being held captive. He just keep walking. A very flustered Jean Paul accosted him in the foyer, obviously not recognizing Harry with his new accessories and clothing. He gave a very perturbed "Monsieur" but stopped talking when Harry lowered his spectacles marginally and brushed his spiky bangs away from his famous scar. This revelation did little to soothe the clientele gathered in the entrance awaiting there appointments. They didn't matter to Harry, any distraction was incidental and irrelevant. He started walking again despite the placating gestures Jean Paul was making.
He took the staircase two steps at a time and ignored the calls of the Frenchmen behind him. The calls stopped, either because Jean Paul gave up or he was getting security. Jean Paul didn't matter to Harry. The man, as pleasant as he was, was incidental and disruptive to his current course and therefore a liability. Time was the enemy right now and so was anyone that wasted precious seconds. Climbing another flight of stairs in a handful of heartbeats Harry took the left and stopped at the arched door before Marduk's office. Instead of blowing this door open with the Unlocking Charm Harry opted to take a cleansing breath. It came out ragged and in a rush. Frustrated that he could find the focus he sought Harry lashed out at the marble wall to his right. The wet impact of his flesh hitting stone jarred his impatience. The pain that followed consumed the anxiety he had been feeling and forced him into a calmer state of mind. Steeling himself Harry rapped lightly on the door.
A voice called from within. "Come in Monsieur Potter." Swiftly Harry opened the door a little and slipped inside, closing I behind him. Once inside Harry recognized the familiar setting of Marduk's spacious chambers. However what was different was that one of the two leather chairs before his desk was occupied. Sitting there was a attractive women of some 30 years garbed in a muggle business suit. Her dark hair was clasped tightly in a bun behind her head and she hugged a leather portfolio to her chest. A well-plucked eyebrow rose questioningly at him as he marched towards Marduk's desk. "Valerie may introduce Harry Potter, successor to the Orchard Conglomerate. Monsieur Potter, this is Valerie Falkirk, my partner and chief of the firm's eastern branches." This information seemed to impress the woman and she stood up.
"It is a pleasure to meet you Mr. Potter." Her English was touched with the same Slavic influence that had plagued Viktor Krum's speech though without he mangled syllables. "It is quite serendipitous that we should meet like this. Martine and I were just discussing your account. I understand that you plan on join us in Bulgaria. We will, perhaps, be seeing very much of one another." She extended her hand and after he shook it, made moves to vacate the office.
Tentatively Harry called out. "Wait." She turned and looked back at him with an expectant gaze. "I have a legal issue that needs to be resolved immediately. I am sure that if you Monsieur Marduk could conclude it with relative ease." She nodded her acquiescence and walked back to her seat. Certain that he had the undivided attention of his legal counsel Harry paused for a breath and removed the paper from where he stuffed it in his right pocket. He looked back at the grandfather clock squirreled away in the corner. The clock read 9:07 am, London time was an hour earlier. "Have you both had opportunity to read The Oracle this morning?"
"Ah that murderer Black has been caught, yes?" Marduk ventured. He had read the paper but was wondering what his client was getting at. Falkirk nodded her agreement with this thought as well.
"Yes Sirius Black has been caught. That much is common knowledge now. What is not known is that he actually innocent of all charges and that he is my Godfather." His legal council merely blinked at this. "He did not kill those Muggles nor did he slay the wizard Peter Pettigrew. The latter is something that profoundly regrets. He was framed you see. The proof is that Pettigrew is alive and responsible for the return of Voldemort." The name caused them to flinch slightly, not because they feared it like the British but because of the chaos the man had brought to the world twenty years ago.
Weakly Falkirk uttered, "He's back?" Riddle's reach apparently spread into the nightmares of continental Europeans. That was disconcerting. Silently Harry cursed his ignorance to events of Voldemort's Rise and the death of his parents. Marduk simply nodded silently. He was staring intently at Harry.
"This is all truth isn't it? Black is innocent?" the French lawyer queried.
"I'll take Veritaserum if it would convince you or any one who asked. However if Sirius is extradited to Britain he'll receive the Dementor's Kiss without question." In a low tone Harry added, "He didn't even get a far trial the first time. I know what that's like." The last escaped his lips in a bitter tone."
A light of compassion dawned in the eyes of Marduk and he quickly scrawled a note. He whistled a piercing note and his tawny owl flew from his perch to the desk. The text was in a different language, seemingly German. He understood the signature though: Henrik. Marduk was writing to his other partner. Falkirk noticed this too. In her haste and excitement her English lapsed.
"Vhat vas tat?" She asked.
Marduk waited for his owl to exit the office before he responded. With a languid stretch he settled back and beamed a small smile. "I have asked Wilhelm to sandbag the Black case. At least until we get there. Interested in a trip to the Hague Valerie?" asked Marduk innocently.
***
A heavy fist beat on the door and a harsh voice commanded him to shut up. All and all, the Dutch prison was far more comfortable than Azkaban. He was resting on a clean cot and not a wet, dank floor. It was quiet, lacking the crashing of the waves and sobbing of the inmates that echoed about the Isle of Azkaban. The only downside was that the guards didn't speak English but well, then neither did the Dementors. Sirius would take a surly, burly native of the Netherlands than one of those soul-sucking fiends any day. Not that it was up him though. It wasn't exactly the Four Seasons but what could he do? He was a prisoner after all. The manacles chaffed his wrists. Sirius supposed he could "go dog" but that would ruin the element of surprise. There was little doubt that he was being monitored. It would be best to wait until they moved him before trying a daring escape. For not the first time during a stint of incarceration Sirius wished James was here. *No one could pick a lock like James Potter.* That sentiment brought the usual racks of guilt that any thought the Potters inflicted upon him. After that came the standard rage towards Peter and then the guilt at failing Harry. It was a common cycle that Sirius' psyche had perfected over fifteen years of imprisonment.
Suitably depressed Sirius began thumping his foot against the concrete wall. Not hard, just enough to break the tedium. From that he graduated to counting grooves on the ceiling and then to whistling old folk songs. His tune did in mid-blow when the slat covering the speech grating. Wasn't the guard this time, it was that prosecutor who was trying to get him extradited. He seemed upset. How interesting. "Black, visitors. Your lawyers." All Sirius could think was *What Lawyers?*
***
The Dutch Ministry building was situated deep in the Hague. In the close quarters no muggle would notice an odd flow of traffic. Like most magical districts it was buried beneath the twists and turns of abstract urban planning. For one brief instant Harry swore he walked into that bizarre staircase room from the movie Labyrinth. Eventually the trio made it to the imposing edifice of the Dutch Ministry. The building itself was situated in the bowels of the Hague about two miles from the surface. For a moment Harry considered questioning the purpose of rain spouts this far under ground but thought better of it.
A tall man in set of black robes greeted them from the entrance. "Guten Tag Mein Herr Marduk." greeted then man who was presumably Wilhelm Henrik. "My associates have descended upon the building with all the documentation they could raise at such short notice. " The imposing man grinned a sharks grin and continued, "The Dutch Prosecutors and English Liaisons can't quite deal with eighty two separate motions at once. I trust this is what you meant by 'stonewall'?"
Marduk's laugh bubbled up from depths of his belly as he realized what his partner had accomplished. "As always Wilhelm you exceed all expectations. Monsieur Potter here is, no doubt, grateful for your efforts on his behalf. Introductions will have to wait for a more suitable time. Our business here needs immediate attention since out client almost shattered my door with haste. Come let us enter." The three legal titans walked in formation with Falkirk and Henrik flanking Marduk. They strode up the stairs into underground government building with Harry trailing slightly behind them looking just a little bit sheepish.
The front door opened automatically before the party as they marched into the Dutch Hall of Justice. The only way to describe the scene before them was that it was one of bureaucratic chaos. Para-legals and office workers were scrambling to resolve the ambush Henrik had perpetrated. Yet all paper shuffling and background noise ceased as Marduk, Henrik, and Falkirk came into view. Then someone screamed "All three of them!" Another fainted. Many swore. Apparently Harry's lawyers had quite a fearsome reputation in legal circles. An associates in drab grey anxiously directed them out of the main work area and to the holding area. Gulping he pointed at an impressively fortified interrogation room. "He's in there." Gasped the man before he hurried away.
End 13
Author Notes:
Well Sirius' fate is in the capable hands of Marduk, Henrik and Falstaff. I figure he's safe with their formidable legal prowess and Harry's recently acquired fortune.
To my reviewers I must bow and offer my most profuse thanks. That means you all: Nighttime Sunshine, peeweepotter Relle, AJaKe, cricket, sil, Zaln, Lady FoxFire, Them Girl, fan, Otaku Freak, Saiyan Seker88, bostonian, ADJ, Webster, Star Mage, Lilybee2003, ZeonReborn, gallandro-83, Paul, pablo5280, Imaginaryfriend, Destruxion, kapies, rosie. Bill Weasly, Myrddin Ambrosius Jr.book worm, litine, GREENDAY 9829, Elessar, Jason Gregory, Renee Fay and Rachel A. Prongs. You feedback is greatly appreciated and if I have missed anyone you have my apologies. I consider all of you suggestions.
Author: Jyrnn
Spoilers: All four books. Wait, can't say that now can I? Okay, PS, CS, PoA, and GoF. I'll probably pilfer whatever bits I can from The Order of The Phoenix. Incidently some of it can fit. Thank you J. K Rowling. Well except the part about Sirius.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter nor any of its characters. They are the sole intellectual property of J. K. Rowling and Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. I gain no monetary reward for this exercise and do not intend any copyright infringement.
Summery: A child has suffered enough, an intruder encounters unexpected resistance, and the careless words of Voldemort have the most unexpected results. Harry Potter is about to take a stand.
Chapter 13: Block Not His Path
As soon as he read the article regarding Sirius in The Oracle, Harry immediately summoned an elf to get his trenchrobe from his suite. While he waited for the elf he removed his glasses and flicked them quickly. This action caused the lenses of his new glasses to tint; one of the many features of his new eye wear. With a loud crack the elf popped back into existence next to him with his black dragon hide overrobe. Nodding with his thanks and his dismissal he deftly adorned himself in the heavy robe. Then he started walking. He didn't run. Running implies undue recklessness and a sense of desperation. Harry merely walked very quickly and very briskly. No one got in his way because all noticed the look of determination behind his dark glass veiled eyes. Striding quickly with a palpable resolve in his aura all went to great lengths to get out of his way. In a manner of moments he was at the public fireplace. Flinging Floo Powder atop the blaze and crying "Marduk's" he barely waited for the fire to turn green before he steeped into the fire pit. The opulent atmosphere of The Pillar gave way to the musty, narrow entry hall of Marduk's law office. As was his custom he was hurled with violent force out of the fire place but this time he landed on his feet and keep walking.
*The large door is in my way. That won't do.* With a flick of his wrist he used his snugly harnessed wand. Loudly Harry proclaimed "Alohamora" in a tone that dared the door to remain closed. Both oak doors ripped apart and there was the sound of twisted metal as Harry's spell abused the hinges. The impressive tapestries and busts did not interest Harry right now. What was important was that his godfather was being held captive. He just keep walking. A very flustered Jean Paul accosted him in the foyer, obviously not recognizing Harry with his new accessories and clothing. He gave a very perturbed "Monsieur" but stopped talking when Harry lowered his spectacles marginally and brushed his spiky bangs away from his famous scar. This revelation did little to soothe the clientele gathered in the entrance awaiting there appointments. They didn't matter to Harry, any distraction was incidental and irrelevant. He started walking again despite the placating gestures Jean Paul was making.
He took the staircase two steps at a time and ignored the calls of the Frenchmen behind him. The calls stopped, either because Jean Paul gave up or he was getting security. Jean Paul didn't matter to Harry. The man, as pleasant as he was, was incidental and disruptive to his current course and therefore a liability. Time was the enemy right now and so was anyone that wasted precious seconds. Climbing another flight of stairs in a handful of heartbeats Harry took the left and stopped at the arched door before Marduk's office. Instead of blowing this door open with the Unlocking Charm Harry opted to take a cleansing breath. It came out ragged and in a rush. Frustrated that he could find the focus he sought Harry lashed out at the marble wall to his right. The wet impact of his flesh hitting stone jarred his impatience. The pain that followed consumed the anxiety he had been feeling and forced him into a calmer state of mind. Steeling himself Harry rapped lightly on the door.
A voice called from within. "Come in Monsieur Potter." Swiftly Harry opened the door a little and slipped inside, closing I behind him. Once inside Harry recognized the familiar setting of Marduk's spacious chambers. However what was different was that one of the two leather chairs before his desk was occupied. Sitting there was a attractive women of some 30 years garbed in a muggle business suit. Her dark hair was clasped tightly in a bun behind her head and she hugged a leather portfolio to her chest. A well-plucked eyebrow rose questioningly at him as he marched towards Marduk's desk. "Valerie may introduce Harry Potter, successor to the Orchard Conglomerate. Monsieur Potter, this is Valerie Falkirk, my partner and chief of the firm's eastern branches." This information seemed to impress the woman and she stood up.
"It is a pleasure to meet you Mr. Potter." Her English was touched with the same Slavic influence that had plagued Viktor Krum's speech though without he mangled syllables. "It is quite serendipitous that we should meet like this. Martine and I were just discussing your account. I understand that you plan on join us in Bulgaria. We will, perhaps, be seeing very much of one another." She extended her hand and after he shook it, made moves to vacate the office.
Tentatively Harry called out. "Wait." She turned and looked back at him with an expectant gaze. "I have a legal issue that needs to be resolved immediately. I am sure that if you Monsieur Marduk could conclude it with relative ease." She nodded her acquiescence and walked back to her seat. Certain that he had the undivided attention of his legal counsel Harry paused for a breath and removed the paper from where he stuffed it in his right pocket. He looked back at the grandfather clock squirreled away in the corner. The clock read 9:07 am, London time was an hour earlier. "Have you both had opportunity to read The Oracle this morning?"
"Ah that murderer Black has been caught, yes?" Marduk ventured. He had read the paper but was wondering what his client was getting at. Falkirk nodded her agreement with this thought as well.
"Yes Sirius Black has been caught. That much is common knowledge now. What is not known is that he actually innocent of all charges and that he is my Godfather." His legal council merely blinked at this. "He did not kill those Muggles nor did he slay the wizard Peter Pettigrew. The latter is something that profoundly regrets. He was framed you see. The proof is that Pettigrew is alive and responsible for the return of Voldemort." The name caused them to flinch slightly, not because they feared it like the British but because of the chaos the man had brought to the world twenty years ago.
Weakly Falkirk uttered, "He's back?" Riddle's reach apparently spread into the nightmares of continental Europeans. That was disconcerting. Silently Harry cursed his ignorance to events of Voldemort's Rise and the death of his parents. Marduk simply nodded silently. He was staring intently at Harry.
"This is all truth isn't it? Black is innocent?" the French lawyer queried.
"I'll take Veritaserum if it would convince you or any one who asked. However if Sirius is extradited to Britain he'll receive the Dementor's Kiss without question." In a low tone Harry added, "He didn't even get a far trial the first time. I know what that's like." The last escaped his lips in a bitter tone."
A light of compassion dawned in the eyes of Marduk and he quickly scrawled a note. He whistled a piercing note and his tawny owl flew from his perch to the desk. The text was in a different language, seemingly German. He understood the signature though: Henrik. Marduk was writing to his other partner. Falkirk noticed this too. In her haste and excitement her English lapsed.
"Vhat vas tat?" She asked.
Marduk waited for his owl to exit the office before he responded. With a languid stretch he settled back and beamed a small smile. "I have asked Wilhelm to sandbag the Black case. At least until we get there. Interested in a trip to the Hague Valerie?" asked Marduk innocently.
***
A heavy fist beat on the door and a harsh voice commanded him to shut up. All and all, the Dutch prison was far more comfortable than Azkaban. He was resting on a clean cot and not a wet, dank floor. It was quiet, lacking the crashing of the waves and sobbing of the inmates that echoed about the Isle of Azkaban. The only downside was that the guards didn't speak English but well, then neither did the Dementors. Sirius would take a surly, burly native of the Netherlands than one of those soul-sucking fiends any day. Not that it was up him though. It wasn't exactly the Four Seasons but what could he do? He was a prisoner after all. The manacles chaffed his wrists. Sirius supposed he could "go dog" but that would ruin the element of surprise. There was little doubt that he was being monitored. It would be best to wait until they moved him before trying a daring escape. For not the first time during a stint of incarceration Sirius wished James was here. *No one could pick a lock like James Potter.* That sentiment brought the usual racks of guilt that any thought the Potters inflicted upon him. After that came the standard rage towards Peter and then the guilt at failing Harry. It was a common cycle that Sirius' psyche had perfected over fifteen years of imprisonment.
Suitably depressed Sirius began thumping his foot against the concrete wall. Not hard, just enough to break the tedium. From that he graduated to counting grooves on the ceiling and then to whistling old folk songs. His tune did in mid-blow when the slat covering the speech grating. Wasn't the guard this time, it was that prosecutor who was trying to get him extradited. He seemed upset. How interesting. "Black, visitors. Your lawyers." All Sirius could think was *What Lawyers?*
***
The Dutch Ministry building was situated deep in the Hague. In the close quarters no muggle would notice an odd flow of traffic. Like most magical districts it was buried beneath the twists and turns of abstract urban planning. For one brief instant Harry swore he walked into that bizarre staircase room from the movie Labyrinth. Eventually the trio made it to the imposing edifice of the Dutch Ministry. The building itself was situated in the bowels of the Hague about two miles from the surface. For a moment Harry considered questioning the purpose of rain spouts this far under ground but thought better of it.
A tall man in set of black robes greeted them from the entrance. "Guten Tag Mein Herr Marduk." greeted then man who was presumably Wilhelm Henrik. "My associates have descended upon the building with all the documentation they could raise at such short notice. " The imposing man grinned a sharks grin and continued, "The Dutch Prosecutors and English Liaisons can't quite deal with eighty two separate motions at once. I trust this is what you meant by 'stonewall'?"
Marduk's laugh bubbled up from depths of his belly as he realized what his partner had accomplished. "As always Wilhelm you exceed all expectations. Monsieur Potter here is, no doubt, grateful for your efforts on his behalf. Introductions will have to wait for a more suitable time. Our business here needs immediate attention since out client almost shattered my door with haste. Come let us enter." The three legal titans walked in formation with Falkirk and Henrik flanking Marduk. They strode up the stairs into underground government building with Harry trailing slightly behind them looking just a little bit sheepish.
The front door opened automatically before the party as they marched into the Dutch Hall of Justice. The only way to describe the scene before them was that it was one of bureaucratic chaos. Para-legals and office workers were scrambling to resolve the ambush Henrik had perpetrated. Yet all paper shuffling and background noise ceased as Marduk, Henrik, and Falkirk came into view. Then someone screamed "All three of them!" Another fainted. Many swore. Apparently Harry's lawyers had quite a fearsome reputation in legal circles. An associates in drab grey anxiously directed them out of the main work area and to the holding area. Gulping he pointed at an impressively fortified interrogation room. "He's in there." Gasped the man before he hurried away.
End 13
Author Notes:
Well Sirius' fate is in the capable hands of Marduk, Henrik and Falstaff. I figure he's safe with their formidable legal prowess and Harry's recently acquired fortune.
To my reviewers I must bow and offer my most profuse thanks. That means you all: Nighttime Sunshine, peeweepotter Relle, AJaKe, cricket, sil, Zaln, Lady FoxFire, Them Girl, fan, Otaku Freak, Saiyan Seker88, bostonian, ADJ, Webster, Star Mage, Lilybee2003, ZeonReborn, gallandro-83, Paul, pablo5280, Imaginaryfriend, Destruxion, kapies, rosie. Bill Weasly, Myrddin Ambrosius Jr.book worm, litine, GREENDAY 9829, Elessar, Jason Gregory, Renee Fay and Rachel A. Prongs. You feedback is greatly appreciated and if I have missed anyone you have my apologies. I consider all of you suggestions.