Disclaimer: J. K. Rowling owns the Harry Potter Universe all other claimants to anything to do with the H.P. story are simply hangers on to her glory. I thank her for allowing us mere mortals to play in her world and I promise that while I have Harry in my care nothing bad will happen to him. I will leave that to J.K.R. herself in her books.
LOVE CONQUERS ALLChapter 2 Revelations
A few days later the paper announced.
The Daily Prophet Tuesday 2nd July 1996
Lucius Malfoy Guilty! Life in Azkaban!
Lucius Malfoy has been the first of the accused Death Eaters captured in the Battle of the Ministry of Magic to be put on trial.
He has been found guilty of one hundred and twenty seven counts of using unforgivable curses and of being a Death Eater. His wand has been broken. All his money and property including Malfoy Manor, has been confiscated, the redistribution of his wealth is underway but it is going to take a long time to put in order. Lucius Malfoy has been sent to Azkaban for life.
It is also reported that his son Draco Malfoy has been taken into custody and at this time it is not know what fate is awaiting him, he is to be charged with numerous counts of Knowledgeable Collaboration.
Cornelius Fudge is due to be tried in a few days and what fate is awaiting him no one knows, it is now believed that his punishment will be extremely severe.
The Daily Prophet Thursday 4th July 1996
Cornelius Fudge Guilty! Seventy-Five Years in Azkaban!
Today we have reports of the trial of Cornelius Fudge, the disgraced ex Minister for Magic. He has been found guilty as charged of ninety two offences, including multiple counts of taking bribes in order to pervert the course of justice, also thirty six counts of wilfully promoting the cause of the He Who Must Not be Named. As a consequence all his money and property has been confiscated. He has also received seventy-five years in Azkaban and his wand has been broken. The redistribution of his assets, to those he has wronged, as was the case with Lucius Malfoy reported here on Tuesday, will take some time to expedite. (A full report appears on Pager 17 and 18.)
Else-where, there were a few lines in the middle of a much longer article, these indicated that people like Draco Malfoy could not expect to come to trial for at least three or four months. It looked to Harry, as though Draco was going to miss, at least, the start of next term. Harry thought that Draco could well have his wand broken, but he found great difficulty in feeling much sympathy for any of the Malfoys.
The next day Harry received what appeared and turned out to be two Hogwarts owls, he removed a slim letter from the first and a thicker letter from the second he gave both the owls a drink and some owl treats then they set off back to their home.
He opened the thinner letter first, it was his OWL results, he counted them, he counted them again, he had three each for Charms and Defence against Dark Arts, Two each for Transfiguration, Herbology, Care of Magical Creatures and Potions, how had he received two for Potions, he also had one for Divination. He had fifteen, maybe he wasn't as thick as he thought he was, that was another worry off his mind, he could continue dreaming of his rather nebulous ambition of becoming an Auror.
His summer was definitely looking up.
Opening the second letter he took out another envelope and a piece of paper, it had HOME written on it so he turned it over, You will be collected on the eighth of July at 9.45 a.m. it was signed Albus Dumbledore, this side had OUT written on it he was pretty certain that it was a Portkey and he put it away safely.
He opened the second envelope and took out a high quality piece of parchment. The words, McMahon, Blaine, Zebrine and Knott. Solicitors to the Wizard World (Muggle business can be undertaken.) were inscribed, boldly across the top.
The letter read, Mr. Harry James Potter is required to attend the above offices on the eighth of July nineteen ninety six, at ten a.m. on the occasion of the reading of the Will of Mr Sirius Black. He now knew what the formal dress robes were for and he recalled that all members of the Order had to make Will's.
He had just finished writing to tell Hermione how he had done in his OWLs when an owl arrived from her, it looked like she had reused the school owl. He made it wait while he read her letter, and added a note to the end of the letter he had already written to her, it read 'I have just received your letter, Congratulations, is this a record?'He sent the owl back to her she had achieved nineteen OWLs.
So he wrote to Ron and Ginny telling them how he had done and sent Hedwig off to the Burrow, later when Hedwig returned she had a letter from Ron it said that he was quite pleased that he had received twelve OWLs and listed them. He also congratulated Harry on his results and on the bottom was a note from Ginny congratulating him on his results and asking him if he was going to spend any time at the Burrow this summer?
x-x
On the eighth Harry was ready by nine thirty, he had told Hermione and the Weasleys about the reading of Sirius' Will and told them both that he would ask Dumbledore if he could come to the Burrow after he had finished with the Solicitors. In the hope that the Headmaster agreed to him going to the Burrow he put out some casual clothes, he was looking forward to another day away from Privet Drive.
There was a knock on the front door and he started down the stairs, his aunt had opened the door and invited Tonks in, after greeting his aunt she said. "Wotcha Harry, you look smart."
"You look smart yourself," he replied. She also was also wearing smart dress robes and her hair was shoulder length and straight but it was bright peacock blue and as usual, she was carrying her bag.
"We better go up to your room again green eyes, we're due off in a few minutes," she said. The pair went upstairs and Harry asked her if she would put his spare clothes in her bag, she did and added that she always kept some in there herself.
Harry picked up the Portkey that activated after about a minute and it deposited Tonks and him in the solicitor's waiting room, which to Harry's surprise already had three people in it. In addition to Harry and Tonks there were Professor Dumbledore, Remus Lupin and much to Harry's surprise Arthur Weasley.
Harry greeted everyone in turn and Harry congratulated Mr. Weasley on being made acting Minister of Magic and told him that he hoped that it would soon become permanent. Then Harry asked Professor Dumbledore if it would be possible for him to go to the Burrow after the Will had been read, the Headmaster told him that it would be all right provided Tonks was willing.
Tonks told them that today was one of her days to keep an eye on Harry and she was happy with the idea, so Professor Dumbledore modified their Portkey and told them that they could travel by Floo from this office to the Burrow after the meeting and straight home from there.
Presently a house elf came out and called them into the conference room, they all went in and were joined by Mr, McMahon who shook hands greeting everybody by name. They all sat around the large conference table and the solicitor summoned a large envelope and the elf brought in a folder, ink, quills and a small black box. The solicitor opened the envelope and started, without preamble, reading the Will.
"To Remus Lupin, I leave the House of Black namely, number twelve Grimmauld Place, complete with all furniture and fittings, to do with as he sees fit, also the sum of One-Hundred Thousand Galleons." Remus looked sad and said that he would sooner have Sirius back, Arthur said wouldn't we all and there were murmurs of agreement. The solicitor had taken some papers out of the folder, he signed them in several places and passed them to Remus showing him where to sign and then they were passed to Professor Dumbledore and he was asked to witness the signatures.
The solicitor continued.
"To Arthur Weasley, in recognition of the love and friendship you and your family have shown to my Godson Harry Potter. I leave the sum of Two-Hundred and Fifty Thousand Galleons." Arthur was speechless and everyone around the table was smiling happily, Harry was really delighted.
"To Albus Percivil Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, for works against the Dark Forces. I leave the sum of One-Hundred Thousand Galleons." Dumbledore just gave a small smile and nodded.
"To my favourite cousin Nymphadora Tonks I leave the sum of One-Hundred Thousand Galleons and the request that you please look to the interests of my Godson Harry Potter."
Tonks looked at Harry and said, "I will do that for you kiddo, with or without the money," and she looked away with tears in her eyes.
"Finally to my Godson, Harry James Potter I leave the residue of my estate, together with the contents of the safe box being held by Messer's McMahon, Blaine, Zebrine and Knott. Solicitors. I would suggest that it would be nice if you made sure that our friend Hermione was provided for, for the rest of her school time." Mr. McMahon passed Harry a small key and the small black box, Harry simply put the key into his pocket.
"I am sorry to ask sir," said Harry quietly, "but I do not have any idea what the words, 'the residue of my estate' actually mean?"
"In this instance they mean that you get what ever is left which in this case Mr Potter they mean that you are to receive Approximately, One Million Eight-Hundred and Fifty Thousand Galleons, give or take a few. We can't be certain until all the other beneficiaries and any bills are taken care of," the solicitor said smiling at Harry.
"Then is it possible for you to open an account in the name of Miss Hermione Jane Granger and deposit one-hundred thousand Galleons in it, from the residue?"
"Of course we can do that for you and all of the accounts will be credited by start of business tomorrow," he said and then he stood and shook Harry's hand and said, "It was very nice to meet you and I will see you again in about a year Mr Potter." Mr. McMahon then shook every one else's hand, saying goodbye he left.
Harry turned to Professor Dumbledore and asked what the solicitor had meant by his parting words, the Headmaster smiled at him and said, "First I would like to say that, that was a very nice thing you just did for Miss Granger, Harry, but the answer to your question is, on your Seventeenth Birthday you will inherit the Potter Trust, which I might add, is many times more than you have received today and you will have to come here again for that. But I would also advise you, that you should come here again quite soon to make yourself a Will, you are now quite a wealthy young man."
The party started moving out to the reception room, saying their goodbyes the first to leave was Remus Lupin he gave Harry a hug, then having promised to see him very soon, he 'Disapparated'. Arthur looked like he was still in shock and said that he would go to the Burrow and wait for them before returning to work he shook Dumbledore's hand and he 'Disapparated'.
Harry asked the Headmaster if he were to be allowed more freedom following the events at the Ministry of Magic. Dumbledore replied that he would certainly be allowed a little and that Tonks had the Portkey that would take them to the Leaky Cauldron and he could move around with her, if she had the time, but he was not to go anywhere on his own.
Then Harry said very seriously, "I think that I need to learn to kill him sir."
Tonks stared at Harry incredulously as did the Headmaster, who after some consideration said, "I think you do. Tonks, can you and Arthur contact me shortly, I will be at Headquarters, but advise him, privately first, of what Harry has just asked from us."
Dumbledore looking rather tired 'Disapparated', Tonks and Harry also departed, via the Floo Network to the Burrow.
Harry arrived at the Burrow straight into the arms of Mrs Weasley, who gave him a kiss on the cheek as they hugged each other.
"Hi Hermione, Ginny, Ron," said Harry.
Mr Weasley told Harry that he had told the others nothing yet so let's all go into the lounge to talk. After Mrs Weasley had released him, they had all sat down and Harry put the small black box on the coffee table.
Mr Weasley started and said, "Sirius left us Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Galleons, because we've been nice to Harry," all four jaws dropped.
"He left me One Hundred Thousand Galleons to keep Harry safe," said Tonks.
"But he only left me One Million, Eight Hundred and Fifty Thousand Galleons, and this box. Because I was his Godson." Harry said, "Oh, and I have spent some of it already."
There was absolute silence for about two minutes and four voices started talking at once and the volume was rising.
"Hold on, Quiet!" shouted Mr Weasley above them all, "Right, now Molly you go first."
"We didn't look after Harry for this money, we have to give it back."
"That would be quite difficult dear," said Arthur
"But…"
"But nothing Mum," Harry interrupted, there were gasps and Molly, Ginny and Hermione looked shocked.
"You called me Mum!" Molly said, in a hushed voice.
"I'm s'sorry Mrs Weasley," stuttered Harry, "but you have always treated me like a son and I can't really remember my own mother." Harry said blushing.
Molly came over and gave Harry a big hug, "I would be proud to have you call me Mum if you want to. Now what were you saying Harry."
"Well, if you give the money back, the solicitors will only give it to me, because I get the residue of the Estate and really I don't need it."
"Is that true Arthur?"
"Yes it is dear and you have to think of Sirius' wishes. Oh and Harry would you please call me Arthur from now on, if you want to of course," he said.
"Well," said Molly thinking for a few seconds, "then I guess it's new robes for both of you this year," she said smiling. Turning to Harry she continued, "So what did you already spend some money on young man."
Harry stared at the floor, looking extremely embarrassed, then Arthur told them all what it had said in the Will and what Harry had done about it, they were all looking at him dumbfounded.
Tonks broke the silence, "Arthur, can I speak to you in the other room for a second."
"Yes of course," he said and they both went into the kitchen.
Everyone was still looking at Harry then Ginny said with a beaming smile, "What on earth are we going to do with you Mr. Potter?"
"Not a lot," said Harry, forcing a grin.
"I don't know how to begin to thank you," said Hermione blushing, she came over and sitting on his lap gave him a big hug and kissed him on the cheek.
"Then there is no need to even try, but you could keep doing that if you really want to," he said smiling and blushing profusely but he forced himself not to look away.
Hermione looked at him wide eyed, suddenly she found herself drowning in his beautiful emerald green eyes, why hadn't she noticed before? She did force herself to look away, "Ginny and I are going upstairs for a few minutes," she said pointedly and she dragged Ginny up stairs.
In a few seconds Arthur and Tonks came in from the kitchen and told them that they had to go and see Professor Dumbledore.
"All you Gryffindors are to stay in the house until one of us returns," Tonks added.
Harry quickly asked, "Can I have my change of clothes before you go please Tonks?" she took his casual clothes out of her bag and gave them to him and with that she and Arthur both 'Disapparated'.
Ron turned to Harry and said, "I have had a few letters from Parvati, would you mind if she joined us a bit over the summer?"
"Of course I wouldn't mind, I like Parvati when she's away from Lavender, together they are to giggly and Lavender has a big mouth."
"You can say that again. That was nice what you did for Hermione, you like her a lot don't you?"
"Mmmm." Harry replied then blushing profusely, he picked up his casual set of clothes and having asked permission, went up to Ron's room to change into them.
Hermione and Ginny came back down stairs at the same time as Harry did, Mrs. Weasley had gone out into the kitchen to make something to eat, as it was two o'clock and no one had eaten anything since breakfast. Ginny sat in one of the chairs and Hermione sat next to Harry on the sofa.
"Hermione, I have just asked Harry, but would you mind if Parvati joined us sometimes over the summer and do you think that I should start taking Muggle Studies?" asked Ron.
She thought for a bit and said, "Of course I don't mind if Parvati joins us and really you, Ginny and Parvati should learn more about Muggle ways and culture, but I don't think that any of you need to take Muggle Studies. I'm sure that Harry and I, oh, and Tonks if she's around can teach you all you need to know. I can bring some books, NOT school books, but stories." She added quickly seeing the look of horror on Ron's face. "If we could go over to my place you could listen to music, watch TV, maybe even go to the cinema and see some films. I have a personal computer at home, you can learn about that and the Internet, how to use a telephone, oh all sorts of things."
"It's alright for us three," said Harry, "but what about Ginny? We've just finished OWLs but she's just starting hers, she has homework to complete."
Ginny went bright pink but her face was alight, Harry was making sure she was included in their plans. "Well I've done most of it already and if I can't get it done here I can always bring it over and finish it there."
"Where is this 'there' Ginny?" Tonks asked walking into the room and sitting down. Molly followed her with a huge plate of assorted sandwiches that they all immediately started eating.
Swallowing a mouthful of cheese and Marmite sandwich Harry said, "We were thinking it would be useful and fun, to teach Ron, Ginny and possibly another girl called Parvati Patil about muggle culture, Hermione thought that her house would be the best place to do it and we wondered if you might be able to help us to organise it?" Harry was fluttering his eyelashes at Tonks and she hit him playfully.
"Well," said Tonks, "first let me tell you what Arthur and I have been discussing with your Headmaster and let's see where we can go from there. Between us we have been reorganising some things and setting other things in motion and this is how things currently stand.
I have been relieved of all regular Auror duties and appointed Harry's full time chaperone whenever he is out of Hogwarts on holiday.
The Floo Regulation Board have connected Hermione's grate and I have been given some spells to teach Hermione so that she can connect and disconnect her home fireplace to the Floo Network if she wants to. These spells will work from home and from any other connected fireplace, so she can travel around in relative safety and close her fireplace when she is not using it.
Also the decree for underage magic has been repealed as of now, that will be in a special edition of the Daily Prophet this evening and now the only restriction on your performing magic is the same as everyone else, 'Magic must not be preformed in front of Muggles' and that applies to all of us anyway.
I have also been asked to teach you all some OIDS spells, Auror warfare spells, it stands for Offence In Drastic Situations. These are very powerful spells, we don't know if you will be able to cast them yet, but we will have to go to somewhere pretty remote to practice and if you do learn them you are not to use them except in the most dire circumstances, some of them would level this house, so be warned. So now where do we want to go from here?"
Hermione explained what they had been discussing and Tonks was keen to go along with it, all of them realising that they could easily integrate what they wanted to do with the programme proposed by Tonks.
Molly collected the dirty crockery and went out into the kitchen to wash up and think about an evening meal. Harry gave his dress robes to Tonks she put them in her bag and went up stairs, herself to change, when she came down Tonks had her pink hair again, jeans and a T-shirt, then she took Hermione out to the kitchen fireplace to teach her the Floo spells.
Ron asked, "what about the box Harry, do you think that you should open it on your own?"
"Yes I think that I should, can I go up to your room?"
"Of course you can mate." Ron replied, so Harry took the box and went up to Ron's room and sat on the bed.
x-x
He just sat on the bed for a few minutes thinking then he took the key out of his pocket and pulled the box over to him, he sat looking at it for a few more moments before opening it, there were only three things in it, a key that was similar to his bank vault key, a slim dull silver coloured ring and a letter.
He picked up the letter first and started reading it.
Dear Harry,
If you are reading this it means that I have probably done something stupid and got myself killed. Whatever it was you are not to go blaming yourself for it, as I know you most probably will try to do. Get someone nice like Hermione (he started in surprise) to take your mind off of me, I know she will want to help, anyway I don't want to rabbit on so let me tell you about the ring and the key.
First is the key, it is for Gringotts vault number seven one four, only take people you trust with you when you go there you might be surprised at some of the things you find there, nothing bad I promise.
Next the ring, as you might guess it is a magic ring and I believe it is called 'The Ring of Merlin', it has been kept within the Black family for hundreds of years, I do not know exactly how long.
It is believed to have been made by Merlin himself and it can only be used for good purpose, if you can put it on it is supposed to disappear, quite useful no-one would know that you were wearing it. Legend has it that it did many things but I have only heard of two of them. What they do I do not know, they are MERLIN AMLYGU and MERLIN DIM HUSLATH as I said, what they do I do not know.
I have never dared to try to put the ring on because the Legend also states that if it were to be used, 'not for good purpose' then the caster would die, sounds a bit extreme to me. Be very careful with it.
As I said before do not blame yourself for my death and take care of yourself.
All my love,
Sirius.
As was his normal way he totally ignored the dire warnings from Sirius and he tried putting the ring on, it jumped back into the box, Harry looked mystified for a moment then shrugged. He contemplated the morning for a few minutes more and then he folded the letter and put it back in the box, he compared his own Gringotts key with the one from Sirius, they were easy to tell apart so he put them both back in his pocket, he closed and locked the box again then went back down stairs.
He arrived at the lounge just when Hermione and Tonks returned from Hermione's house.
"Oh you've looked in the box, are you going to tell us what was in it?" asked Tonks.
"There was a letter and a key to a Gringotts vault," Harry told them, "the letter didn't say what was in the vault, but it did say that I was not to blame myself for his death and I was to get someone nice, like Hermione, to help take my mind off my troubles."
"It didn't?" said Hermione smiling and at the same time turning scarlet, "I never thought he noticed anything."
"He probably just noticed the way Harry kept mooning at you," said Ginny "he hasn't been able to keep his eyes off you since before Christmas, even when he thought he liked Cho Chang."
Harry blushed and to change the subject he asked, "How did your Floo thingies go?"
"Oh fine we've both been to my house and back just to check, but I will have to get some Floo powder." Hermione sat on the sofa next to Harry.
"I suggest we all meet up tomorrow, at ten in the Leaky Cauldron, I'll come by yours and pick you up Harry," said Tonks.
"Will it be all right if I ask Parvati if she wants to come with us?" asked Ron, they all said that that would be fine and Ron charged upstairs to send an owl to her.
"Well I better go and check with your mum that it's alright for me to organize your time," said Tonks and she went out to the kitchen, purposefully. Ginny followed her to see if she could help her mum, this left Hermione alone with Harry who was looking a bit nervous.
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