Authors Notes. I don't know quite where this chapter came from, it just grew.
I have decided to bring my posting day forward by one day; Fridays seem to be a problem for FF. net, I don't know about you but I didn't even get a notification that the last chapter had been posted, so I assume that none of you did either. I hope that this produces a better reaction i.e. more reviews. Thank you for your patients.
Chapter 4. The Box.
It was much to Jane's relief that the four of them found themselves back at the surgery, she couldn't remember any trip quite like the one she had just taken in the ministry car but it had been very quick.
Because they had all been away for the morning Tanya was due to take a late lunch so Hermione would have to relieve her on reception for a while, hence Harry would be alone to go with Tonks back to his room in the Grangers house. Hermione was not overjoyed at being away from Harry for even a minute but she was not going to be silly, Tonks was his guardian, she would not let anything happen to her boyfriend.
She liked the sound of that, 'boyfriend', yes.
Harry sat on the bed and his new guardian sat at the dressing table, he obviously wanted to know about the 'Potter Trust' so Tonks started telling him, "Flattery wasn't exactly the most open person I've ever met, but to be perfectly honest I think that Dumbledore had assured him that he wouldn't be questioned about the trust in the near future. The Headmaster assumed, wrongly as it happens, he probably thought that you would pick Arthur and even if you didn't, he believed that you would choose someone he could manipulate, to be your Guardian.
Instead he got me and I'm on your side kiddo.
Anyway Flattery said that there was far in excess of fifty million Galleons in cash and four properties only three of which it would be possible for you to use at this time. Who had given him this kind of information I don't know, it certainly wouldn't have been your traditional family solicitors.
There are also a whole host of holdings in companies all over the world, so in a few words, your even more stinking rich than Sirius made you.
One of the properties that you are aware of is 'Godric's Hollow'; it has been completely restored by the family elves and it is still completely unplotable. Two House Elves who have been with the Potter family for many years are currently tending the property and will happily continue to do so.
However he seems to have no real idea how you might access it, he only thinks that the key to that might be found at Potter House, this might well be the old family wards protecting your interests.
Don't forget that Remus knows a fair bit about the Potter family set up from his friendship with your dad.
Next Flattery spoke of an enormous place called 'Chateau Potter,' which is to the south of a town called 'Sarlat-la-Caneda' in the Dordogne in France, apparently he has a box of Portkeys for it but they have to be activated by a Potter. Six House Elves and about ten squibs maintain this one, apparently the house itself is vast and it also has a huge vineyard, which produces both red and white wine of outstanding quality. The wine is only distributed within the wizarding community otherwise you would have the French Muggle Ministry wanting to know where it was coming from.
The French Muggles are really weird about their plonk; anyone would think that they invented the stuff.
The other you may choose to use is 'Potter House' itself, which is also in perfect order and is located at Fairy Hill in the middle of the Gower Peninsular in South Wales. It is presently being looked after by another six House Elves who have also been with your family for many years, in his office he has a Portkey which will carry you there however this also may only be used by a Potter.
The fourth place he knows nothing about, it is simply listed as a secret residence of the Potters and I think that it is only an assumption that you can't use it, or he may be simply trying to hide even more things."
Harry thought for a few minutes and then asked, "Well you said that he wasn't forthcoming so I think that it would be quite reasonable for us to assume that he was holding back, stalling, so as not to upset the Headmaster? I wonder who the traditional family solicitors are? Why were they changed? Can we find out? So many questions and to top it all a whole bunch of House Elves for Hermione to get steamed up at me about."
"First off Harry don't worry too much about the House Elves," Tonks said consolingly. "Remus has already told me that the Potters always retained their elves with one of the original Elf-Wizard mutual benefit contracts and it will be an education for Hermione also it will be ammunition for her crusade.
As to the other, I think, no I am certain that the solicitor works for Dumbledore first and foremost so he was trying to impart the minimum amount of information in an attempt to shut me up. For the rest of it, records of the major families traditional solicitors will be in the Hall of Records in the Ministry. We can only assume that the solicitors were changed to suit Dumbledore's non-freedom of information policy, with Flattery working for the Headmaster's interest.
If matters had been left with your original family solicitors they would basically ignore Dumbledore and always work primarily for what they perceived to be in your interest."
"Can I ask you to do some things for me please Tonks?" Harry asked seriously, "Can you go to Croydon and ask the Grangers if Remus may come to dinner tonight and then to go and find Remus to get him to come here for dinner please? Sometime, I suggest as soon as practical, I think that you should go to the Hall of Records and move the Potter Trust back to my family's traditional solicitors, today wouldn't be too soon.
And I still have this box from Sirius to open."
Tonks stood up and in an attempt to lighten the mood, with a cheeky smile she said, "For the chance of a go at your body I would do anything," and she Disapparated.
x-x
For what was probably the first time since he had woken up that day Harry was alone, he picked up the box and examined it again, there was just a thin seam about a half an inch down from what he would assume was the top. As there didn't appear to be any other way to open it he touched it with his wand intending to say Alohomora but on contact with his wand the box just opened.
Inside was what looked like a heavy brass curtain ring about three inches diameter, a coil of silken cord that would be perhaps six foot long and letter from Sirius so obviously he read the letter.
Dear Harry,
It must be you because after my demise nobody else will be able to open this box.
This ring is a Portkey that will carry you and anyone else with you to what has been known for years as Black Island, it is changing families so please change the name, it is an absolutely stupid name for such a beautiful place. Might I suggest Alaw Island, (the Welsh word for Lilly), it is where I went on Buckbeak and it really is a beautiful place.
Also don't worry about where it is, even I don't know the answer to that, (Buckbeak and I had to use the Portkey) although if you leave here a midday you seem to arrive there at about three or four in the afternoon. I can tell you that it is always warm and quite often wet, so just enjoy it.
I am sorry that I am not there for you and try to enjoy yourself.
Sirius.
P.S. If you attach the cord to the ring it is a lot easier to transport several people, or a Hippogriff at the same time. S.
Harry sat there for a few minutes thinking, it sounded like he could just disappear if he wanted to, a week ago he would just of gone but now there was Hermione and where there was Hermione there had to be books and…stop thinking like that.
His mobile phone rang so he answered it, "Hello."
"Hi darling, is everything alright?"
It was she who was the most incredible in his eyes, "Yes everything's fine I'll be there in a minute."
"Hurry, I've missed you and I'm waiting for you." She rang off.
Folding the letter he put it into his pocket, then he closed the box and put it onto his dressing table, walking back into Hermione's bedroom he Portkeyed back to Croydon.
True to her word she was waiting for him and he was engulfed in a huge embrace as he arrived in the cupboard, having kissed him thoroughly she looked into his eyes and asked, "Is every thing ok?"
He gazed back at her then thinking for a few seconds then he said, "Yes. Actually everything is fine, now," and he passed her the note to read.
It did not take her long to read and assess the half dozen relevant lines and she said, "A week ago you would of disappeared, wouldn't you?"
He looked at her sheepishly and nodded, then he said, "Not any more though, nowhere without you," and with a cheeky smile he added, "and I don't know if there is a library there."
She gave him a playful slap and they wandered, hand in hand, back into the surgery.
The loving couple first asked Jane and then they went to the opticians to collect the sunglasses and goggles Harry ordered when he had had his new spectacles made.
Harry had ordered skiing goggles that he would use to play Quidditch and the young lady who was fitting them was making a great fuss and alternately calling him Mr Potter and then Harry.
When she had spent another fifteen minutes supposedly fitting Harry's sunglasses, Hermione looked her straight in the eyes and said, "Are you a squib?"
The girl looked contrite, then said quietly, "Yes. How did you know?"
"It was pretty obvious that you knew who he was," Hermione said, "and the only people who know who he is are from the Magical world. If you were a witch you wouldn't be working here, therefore it was a fairly safe assumption that you were a squib. I however am a witch and although I am not usually, if someone is trying to make a pass at my boyfriend, I can be a bitch of a witch." Hermione turned a mirror to face the girl, "Look at yourself." She said bluntly.
The girl looked at herself and gasped in horror, her face had a worse case of Acne than Eloise Midgen had ever managed, Hermione continued, "Do you want to stay like that?"
"No." squeaked the terrified shop assistant.
Hermione waved her hand and the spots disappeared, the girl looked extremely relieved and thanked her, she smiled and continued, "Think your self lucky that I am in a good mood, some girl tried something similar on him the other day but she was just a Muggle tart, so I ignored her.
You however knew exactly who he is and what you were doing, as I said, just think yourself lucky."
Harry and Hermione were out of the opticians in three minutes and he was thinking to himself that he wouldn't like to be the witch who crossed his protective Hermione, it made him feel pretty good.
After they had made their way back to the surgery, what little was left of the afternoon passed without incident.
x-x
Over dinner they had arranged for Remus to sort through Hermione's newly acquired library, as expected Remus had refused any kind of payment for doing the job and Harry had stopped Hermione arguing with him about it. While Harry was washing the dishes and Hermione was drying them she asked him why he had stopped her arranging to pay Remus for his work. Harry laughed quietly and told her that whatever they said Remus would never accept being paid, so they would just put the money into his bank account and forget to tell him.
The couple had decided not to say anything about the island, they had finished doing the dishes and they were sat on the patio with Remus, Tonks and Hermione's Mum and Dad.
Tonks said, "Do you mind if they all know about what I have been doing for you since I left you this afternoon?" Harry said that he didn't mind and so she carried on. "First I went to the Hall of Records in the Ministry and discovered your families traditional solicitors, when I contacted them they asked me to come to Llanelli to talk to them. So I went to talk to Bronwyn Evans, she is a squib but her, now retired, uncle Iago, who is a wizard, handled the Potter Trust for over a hundred and twenty years. Anyway he came to the office and found the inventory of what had been handed over to Flattery, then he and I went to see Flattery and that's when the fun started.
Flattery was a bit peeved but he handed over everything apart from three items and we would be here until midnight if I were to explain what happened next with Dumbledore and Amelia. Eventually she threatened him with headlines in the Prophet and he realised that he had to capitulate or he would have all of the old families up in arms against him.
Flattery told us that there was over fifty million Galleons in the Potter Trust, well there is actually over one hundred and thirty five million Galleons in the trust. However, Iago told me that this is more important, it is the key to the Potters power, but this bag appears to be empty."
Tonks passed Harry a black bag, but because she couldn't reach from where she was lounging she passed it via Hermione who felt it and seemed to confirm that it was empty.
Harry took the bag and it glowed as he touched it so he put his hand into it and withdrew Godric Gryffindors sword.
Jane and Matt were amazed.
Tonks took a Red and Gold box that was very similar to the one that he had received from Sirius from inside her cloak and placed it on the table, the box had a Gold 'P' in the centre of its top.
"Iago told me that you are to touch the box with what you withdrew from the bag." Tonks told him.
Harry touched the box with Gryffindor's sword and the likeness of two old wizards appeared and they were arguing.
"I am not skinny I am properly proportioned it is you sonny who is a fatso."
"I am not fat granddad. I am comfortably proportioned…we have visitors. Ahem! Who are you lot?"
Jane and Matt were dumbfounded, Hermione, Tonks and Remus were mildly amused but curious and Harry said, "I believe that you should tell us who you are first?"
"We are both your ancient ancestors and my name was Myrddin Emrys," the slimmer one offered, "although I believe that some individuals have started to call me Merlin, I don't mind either name. The juvenile podgy one went by the name of Godric Gryffindor, that's his sword you are holding so it must be you who summoned us for your initiation."
"What initiation?" asked Harry, "I'm afraid that I don't know anything about that. Oh and my name is Harry, Merlin sir."
Pondering, Gryffindor said, "It's been ninety five years since the last one, it must have skipped a few generations."
"I think that would certainly include at least my father and grandfather sir." Harry said.
Merlin said kindly, "The initiation will impart a lot of ancient knowledge and release the power that is inherent in our family, you will know things and be capable of doing things that traditionally we were famous for. Have you eaten? Because when it is over you will either be asleep or feel very tired and you will need to sleep for fifteen to twenty hours."
Harry said to the Grangers, "If I fall asleep here will someone tell the Dursleys that I won't be back for the night, please."
Matt said, "Whatever, you will spend the night here and I will go and tell the Dursleys that you won't be coming home tonight, don't worry about it."
Then, in a voice that brooked no argument, Hermione added, "And I won't be going anywhere until you are up and around again."
A golden glow extended from the Ancients to cover the heads of the six surrounding them, it lasted about half a minute and then died away.
Without preamble Gryffindor said, "We have two Muggles who are very much in love and know it, unfortunately it is against all of the rules for us to do anything to them. And we have the werewolf and the fighter who are madly in love with each other and are too nervous to say anything to each other, do you think that we should tell them?"
Tonks and Remus were looking at each other as though someone had just turned a light on and they had just seen each other for the first time.
"I think that they may have realised it, after what you just said." Merlin said smiling and added looking at Remus. "Anyway I have virtually cured the werewolf he will transform for a few hours only at the full moon, it will not be painful and he will also retain his mind."
Remus was trying to thank them but Gryffindor shushed him and continued, "You may notice that I am quite keen on love it can solve a lot of things. Now the pair with enough love to stand the world on its head, I see that you have improved her mental organisation and her powers of recall even further. She was brilliant before hand what is she going to be like now, because I can tell that you have done something else as well."
Merlin chuckled, "I have raised her magical power by two orders of magnitude, she is as powerful as you now and I have also added a dozen or so ancient languages that are all but lost in these days and they will make the learning of others a lot easier. But none of it will take effect until after she has slept.
Now young Harry, sometime after you have both slept you should touch this box with your wand and it will transport you and your ladylove to the 'Library of the Ancients', which is precisely what its name implies.
Now the Library rules; you can not write anything down about what you find there without specific permission, ever, you must remember what you learn; you are normally only allowed one visit; lastly, time has no meaning there so you can stay as long as you like and arrive back here no older and at the same instant you left. Don't worry your mind will be modified much the same way as your lady loves and you will be able to remember and recall many things easily. You will be fed, you will be able to exercise and sleep whilst you are there, they will be expecting you. A few words of advice, one for offence and one for defence, then on a completely different theme, when the time comes make lots of babies.
Now return the sword to the bag and put the bag into your pocket, it will always be there when you want it as will this box. If after the first trip to the Library you touch this box with your wand it will open and you will find a Portkey, it will carry you and whomever you wish to take with you to our original family home and it cannot be accessed by any other means."
Harry did as Merlin had instructed him then he kissed Hermione and then he told the Ancients that he was ready.
A golden glow came from Merlin and Godric, which completely encased Harry, who appeared to fall into a deep sleep almost immediately and then he floated up into a horizontal position.
Every thing remained in apparent stasis for about five minutes then Godric said, "A simple ending spell will allow him to float down onto his bed to sleep."
Myrddin Emrys and Godric Gryffindor disappeared.
x-x
When Harry awoke he was warm, comfortable, very hungry and someone was cuddling him. The aroma was unmistakeable, it was Hermione and from the deep regularity of her breathing she was asleep, this was akin to paradise.
He must have dozed off again because when he was next conscious she had moved onto her back and he guessed from her breathing that she was awake, he said, "I love you but why did you stop cuddling me?"
"It's nearly one thirty and I am starving, I was going to try to sneak away to get something to eat."
"Your Dad mentioned something about your cooking not being all it might be, would you like me to cook us breakfast?"
"Can you cook?" she asked incredulously.
"Well it used to satisfy number four, that's not saying much anyone's cooking could satisfy Dudley and Uncle Vernon but aunt Petunia is a different matter. Not that she's that much of a cook herself, unless they had visitors."
Hermione rolled over and gave him a kiss then she went across to her room to have a shower.
Fifteen minutes later she followed the aroma of bacon frying and when she arrived in the kitchen she found Tonks who was sat at the table, with a screwed up face, drinking tea, Harry was cooking sausages, bacon, eggs, black pudding, baked beans, mushrooms and toast.
"Morning Tonks." Hermione said.
Tonks said, "I have definitely been insulted, I asked handsome over there if I could help and he said that he had heard that my cooking was worse than yours, so he let me make the tea. Though I wish he hadn't it's awful."
She stood up and poured all the tea down the sink and Hermione said, "I'm quite good with tea." She made a fresh pot and it was ready just in time to go with the fry up, which was excellent.
Halfway through eating their meal Tonks said, "Sorry I forgot but these came for you two whilst you were unconscious." She handed them an envelope.
Hermione opened hers and said, "It's an invitation to Susan Bones birthday party next Tuesday starting at midday in their pool."
After Harry had read his the couple decided that they would go to the party although Harry didn't really like mixing with a lot of people, so Hermione drafted a joint reply that they both signed and sent off to Susan using Hedwig.
Tonks and Hermione washed then dried the breakfast things excusing Harry because he had cooked it; they knew full well that if either of them had tried cooking it, it would have been a disaster.
Harry asked, "Do you think that we should we go to the library now?"
"What's the hurry?" asked Tonks.
"Well the sooner we know, we know." Harry said.
Mystified would adequately describe the look on Tonks face, but Hermione explained, "That was Dumble-speak, he means, it doesn't take any real time ergo it doesn't matter when we go, so the sooner we acquire the information, knowledge, whatever, the sooner we will be able to assimilate it and put it to use."
"Should we discuss what we are going to try to learn from the library?" asked Harry.
Tonks added, "That sounds like a pretty good idea, the 'Library of the Ancients' sounds vast, it would be very easy to get carried away."
Harry pondered, "I think that Merlin was saying, 'you for defence and me for offence,' or something like that."
Hermione had a cheeky grin, "I thought he said, 'make lots of babies,' darling."
Now Tonks was grinning, "That's an idea that I can relate to, come on Harry."
"Tonks behave yourself," Hermione said still grinning, "What would Remus say?"
"That was a total shock," Tonks said suddenly looking starry eyed, "Remus and me, it was so obvious once he opened our eyes. It will take some getting used to, I can tell you."
"Back to the library." Hermione sounded bossy for the first time this summer, "Maybe we will be able to get someone to help us, they could have standard books of spells up to grade twenty, or something?"
"If you're going to get all bossy I'm not going." Harry said with a pretend pout and puppy eyes.
"Don't do that," said Tonks, laughing and turning her away then hiding her eyes, "I'll be throwing my knickers at you and Hermione will want to kill me and that would upset Remus and that would upset you Harry because I know that you don't like to see Remus upset and then Hermione would get upset be…"
"SHUT UP TONKS!" yelled Hermione and Harry together through their laughter.
"That's better," said Harry and Hermione kissed him.
"I'm sorry Harry," Hermione said, "I promised myself, when I first found out that mum and dad had moved next door to you, that I wouldn't get so worked up over books and I thought that I had been really good so far."
Harry looked at her lovingly and said, "You have been so good that I have been scared to say anything about it, we have just been having fun and it has been great. So now we had better go and look at this library."
But before they moved he gave her another big kiss.
The three of them went upstairs and the couple decided that they should go to the loo before embarking on a trip to who knew where, two minutes later they gathered in Harry's bedroom.
Tonks sat on the bed, she watched as Harry kissed Hermione again and then holding her hand he touched the box with his wand.
There was a glow but nothing had happened.
x-x
Authors Notes. I am by no means certain that I like the direction this chapter is taking the story, what do you think? I might have to end it quickly, sort of put it out of its misery and you don't really think that Merlin's magic has failed, do you?
PLEASE REVIEW
The next chapter of "H.P. Love is All You Need," will be published on Monday; lots of reviews make the writing easier.