Harry Potter and the Guardians of Power
Usual Disclaimers apply, folks – If you think I own these characters, why don't we set down and discuss some investment ideas that I have.
AN: Please review and thanks especially to those of you who have reviewed every chapter and added this story to your favorites list.
AN: Author's page has been updated 11/20/2005
Chapter 25: Gerbils and Goblins and Werewolves, Oh My!
Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, was sitting at his desk on Sunday morning, whistling to himself in happiness. Fawkes and his lady friend Carus were grooming each other and trilling happily on the perch in the corner. Carus had been here so often lately that Albus had expanded Fawkes' perch to accommodate the two phoenixes. He didn't even mind that he was doing the bane of his existence, paper work. If he didn't keep up with it, it could pile up and bury him in a matter of days. But today, nothing could put a damper on his spirits.
He had his 'boys' back and in much better condition than he had ever expected, he was so pleased to be able to share his feelings openly with Severus, and he was even more pleased that Severus had been able to share that love and even expand it to include Harry! He was certain he would be able to obtain formal adoption papers for Harry to surprise Severus with soon. Harry's guardianship had officially reverted to Sirius when he had firstly; been cleared of all charges and then secondly; the horrific treatment of Harry at the hands of his Aunt and Uncle had been brought to light. Thankfully, Sirius had been convinced that Harry needed Severus as much as Severus needed Harry.
Remus had been able to convince Sirius that he was essential for Harry's well being as a trusted Uncle and confidant, and could play almost as large a role in Harry's life as Severus, but would not often have to be the 'bad guy' as a parent must truly be. Sirius was very happy with that role; 'fun Uncle' fit him much better than 'mean father'. He had signed the paperwork for Severus to legally adopt Harry after spending a quiet hour talking to James and Lily in Harry's room yesterday evening while Severus and Harry were still busy with the celebrations in the Great Hall. Now the Ministry just had to approve, and he could present the paperwork to his two boys.
Albus still shuddered every time he was reminded of the testimony given by the Dursleys under Veritaserum. He had thought after his years of being an auror that Alastor Moody could no longer be horrified by something one human did to another, but he had been proven wrong, unfortunately. Thankfully those two had been removed permanently from his Harry's life. The Dursley boy would be much better off in that group home for troubled teens that the muggle authorities had placed him in after his parents disappeared so suspiciously one night while he slept obliviously. Maybe the intensive help he received there would prevent him from becoming another Vernon. He sighed, but then again, perhaps it was already too late. The boy was exactly what he had been raised to be by his parents. But even these morose thoughts couldn't put a damper on his happiness this morning.
The dueling competition yesterday had been a tremendous success, he had a flood of congratulatory owls waiting for him this morning, and more importantly, several groups that had been sitting on the fence before had offered to join forces with them. Several European nations were sending aurors to assist and the merpeople and even the Australians would be allying with them. Oh what a glorious day!
He placed a parchment on the completed pile and was reaching for another one when his pendant from Rita grew warm. He touched it and asked, "Phoenix rising?" the answering "From the ashes." assured him that it was indeed Rita.
"Go ahead, child, you have something to report?"
"Tom had an inside report of the duel at Hogwarts by ten o'clock last night. You have at least one spy at Hogwarts or someone who came to watch. He was furious at the power that Potter displayed. He also cursed several followers when he first found out that Potter and Snape were both there and in excellent health! Apparently no one had reported on their return before now, so I suspect it was someone visiting."
"He needs some potion that Snape apparently made for him on a regular basis and it's very important that he find someone else to make it. They don't know Eric is at Hogwarts, they are going to stake out his house to see if he returns. There will be two men there starting tomorrow night, and there are three followers who will be sounding out people in Knockturn Alley tomorrow looking for new recruits."
"When he called his followers last night, there were only about 45 or 50 who answered and when he asked where the others were, no one knew. He is beginning to have difficulties in recruiting new followers, and the ones that he does have are becoming very restless. I was listening to several in the local Muggle pub after the meeting and they all wanted to find a way to get out, losing Potter again and in such a spectacular fashion and then having him rescue Snape with him; has left many of them wondering if he is as powerful as he claims."
"The steady loss of his followers, his constant cursing of his troops and the lack of any tangible rewards are making many of them question how long to stay by his side. He has lost his entire inner circle, and they were the ones to keep the rank and file in check. And now, no one knows were they are; or what happened to them, they are starting to panic and desert him like the rats that they are."
"He sent everyone out to search for his missing followers and to try to recruit new members, and then he went to bed and talked to his snake. He told her about his problems, he misses Wormtail in that respect, he doesn't have anyone yet close enough to replace him."
"I think if we keep picking them off in twos and threes, he won't be able to replace them. He can apparently still draw a little magic and energy from his captured followers, but very small amounts and he doesn't know why, it's frustrating him."
Albus smiled, his day was going even better, "Excellent work, Rita, I think your plan is a good one. The more followers we can pick off and put away, the weaker he will be. And I suspect his recruiting is going to be even more difficult after the morning papers are received later today. The kind of wizards that are drawn to him are the kind that flock to power, they have no loyalty to him personally or to each other. Go get some sleep and contact me if you need to. We will have people very visible in the Alley and someone will pick up those sent to Eric's house. Goodbye, child, and keep safe." The pendant lost its warmth and he dropped it against his chest once more, humming to himself as he turned back to the staggeringly high pile of parchments on his desk.
Severus woke up that morning feeling refreshed and remarkably relaxed. He wondered if Hogwarts had visited him in his sleep. Oh well, he showered and dressed carefully in dress robes to show honor and respect to the goblins they would meet that afternoon. He was surprised to find Harry already dressed in magnificent deep emerald green dress robes that were embellished with gold, sitting in front of the portrait of Salazar Slytherin deep in a discussion of potions. He sat down next to him and patted his leg in hello.
Harry didn't stop his discussion, he just clapped his hands and a spread of breakfast foods with cutlery and two plates appeared on the low table in front of them. Severus grabbed a pumpkin scone before Harry could eat them all and merely raised an eyebrow at the boy.
"Oh, apparently Dobby and Winky are now our house elves. They can cook here or just bring up food from the kitchens. Dobby doesn't cook, he cleans and does laundry, but Winky is a very good cook if you can keep her away from the butter beer. You only have to call them or if they are expecting it, clap your hands like I did."
"We have to live with that maniacal House elf? Who decided that?" Severus snarled as he fixed his morning tea. He thought he might kill the overly exuberant Dobby some morning before he got his tea. He was definitely not a morning person.
"Hogwarts herself, so I don't think we can argue and win against her. Do you?"
Severus resigned himself, "I suppose I can get used to him, if he doesn't spend all of his time telling me how great and wonderful you are."
Harry laughed, "No, I had Hogwarts give him a little talk about that, and now he's too afraid to make the castle mad at him to disobey! So what time do we have to meet the goblins? And can we go shopping before then?"
"I thought we would go and make a visit to your relatives this morning, have some lunch at a wonderful little Muggle restaurant that Albus has been raving about, and then we can spend the rest of the day on Diagon Alley, after our meeting with the goblins. I know you haven't been allowed out in several years, but no one will recognize either of us now, and without the dark mark, Tom has no way of tracking where I am at all."
Harry thought the idea of Vernon Dursley meeting Severus Snape might be a lot of fun. He had come to grips with his fear of the man over the year in the past, Rowena and Helga had made him talk it all out and finally convinced him that it had never been his fault, he had never deserved it; it was absolutely wrong how he had been treated. Vernon should be the one embarrassed and ashamed, not Harry, who had been just an innocent child. Harry had forgotten they had been added to ''gerbil land' so he thought they were going to Privet Drive, but he found he really didn't mind. The demons had finally died.
Harry wrapped Severus tightly in his arms and jumped them to the street just outside 12 Grimmauld Place. He concentrated upon the memory of the parchment from Dumbledore telling him of the address and the grimy old mansion appeared. The two walked inside and Harry turned to Severus and grinned, "Can I blast old Mrs. Black, Dad? Can we ask Sirius if I can?"
"We're supposed to meet them in the kitchen so I suppose we might. I can't think why he wouldn't let you; I know everyone else has tried everything they could to get rid of the old lady. Albus thinks her dark magic is so permeated throughout the house, that the cleaning efforts are useless with her here."
Harry ran completely silently to the kitchen, stealth lessons with Godric paid off in some unusual places; and startled Sirius and Remus, who were drinking tea companionably at the scarred old table. "Hello, Harry! We didn't hear you come in. How are you today? That was a spectacular finish to the duel last night, but I think you have been holding out on me!"
"Sirius, can I blast your mother of the wall? Can I, can I?"
All three men laughed at Harry's exuberance, "Be my guest, I for one, would think my birthday came early to be rid of that hag. You can blast that dreadful tapestry too if you like." Sirius was grinning in anticipation. He wondered just how strong Harry really was, and if the child could remove his mother, something even Albus Dumbledore had been unable to do. The four moved quietly out into the entrance hall and Harry motioned the three others to stand back. He formed an air shield around them and then centered himself and brought up his full powers.
Harry was glowing so brightly that it almost hurt to look at him directly. He stood tall and proud, then with a wave of his arm he threw back the curtains on the portrait. Mrs. Black opened her eyes, preparing to scream obscenities at the vile filth that had disturbed her when she caught sight of the powerful teen standing in front of her. Sirius knew he would cherish forever that memory of his mother, totally speechless for the first time in her life.
Harry raised his right hand, called upon his air elemental power and fired a shot of lightening directly at the wall. Never having managed to even say a word, the portrait shriveled into a black charred crisp and fell off the wall; taking the plaster and the entire wall behind it to the floor, revealing a heavy oak door behind where the wall with the portrait had been. The whole house shivered, the ugly dead house elf heads popped and crumbled, Kreacher came running out of the basement, screamed once and simply disintegrated into dust.
The almost palpable feeling of dark magic and depression that permeated the old house disappeared in a dense fog of evil black that seeped out through the cracks around the windows and under the doorframes, and dissipated. The house shuddered, still and calm once again. It now felt just like a house, any other house, neither good nor bad. The ancient evils, the oppressive darkness of centuries of the Black family, were gone.
Sirius had collapsed in a heap onto the floor in shock; Remus knelt beside him and was trying to help his best friend to stand up. Severus tried to go to Harry who was just standing frozen in the hall, but he was stopped by the shield. He called softly, not wanting to startle his son, "Harry, Harry, child, are you all right?"
"Yes, Dad, I was just making sure all the pockets of dark magic were gone. I moved the truly vile books and anything else I found into the basement, they will need to be destroyed soon, but I cast a shield around them so their evil can't seep back into the walls. The tapestry is with them. Dobby, Winky?"
With a pop the two little elves appeared in front of Harry. "How can we help, Master Harry?" Dobby was bowing fast enough to make his ears wiggle, Winky was standing behind Dobby, trying to hide from sight. "Can you two help Sirius clean up this house now that the dark magic is gone? And do you know any house elves that have been put out of service that would like to come and work here?"
"Yes, sir, Dobby and Winky is most pleased to help Master Sirius. And we is knowing several elves that is put out because their Master is being killed by the evil ones. Are you wanting Dobby to bring them here to help? They is being most pleased to find a new home!"
Harry looked at Sirius who had managed to regain his feet, leaning heavily on Remus, still looking a little gobsmacked. Sirius nodded weakly and Dobby disappeared with a loud crack. Winky bowed at Sirius and quivered, "Winky is going into the kitchen to begin cooking for Masters. If Masters agree?" Harry snickered, Dobby was beginning to wear off on Winky; she would never have spoken up at all last year. He nodded and waved away his shield releasing the constrained men.
Sirius motioned to Remus and Severus to follow him as he walked to the previously hidden door. He placed his hand on the family crest carved into the wood and stated his full name. The door glowed blue briefly, recognized him and opened with a loud creak and a puff of dust. It reminded Harry a lot of his vault at Gringotts. Piles of galleons, precious jewels and family heirlooms lay crammed into the chamber. The walls were not visible behind the piles of gold, but it didn't seem to be much bigger than his old bedroom at the Dursleys.
Sirius just shook his head, "I think you found the missing Black family treasure, Harry. My great, great uncle was against the family traditions of the dark arts, and he had spoken out once too many times against the others. He thought they would come after him and he was right. His younger brother, my great grandfather murdered him right here in the house, but they could never find the treasure after he died. I think you solved the mystery."
They closed the door and all four moved to the kitchen to discuss what had just happened. They had just started eating a wonderful tea when with a very loud crack; Dobby reappeared with three other house elves in tow. "Master Sirius, this is Nippy, Grip, and Toby. They is not finding a new house after the evil one killed their family. Their family was always fighting on the light side and now they is having no home but is wanting one, but only one that is fighting the evil ones."
Sirius looked them over and nodded, "I am willing to take you into my employ, but I want no servitude. You would be bound by the same restrictions against revealing any of the house's secrets and you will be unable to tell anyone where this house is located. Do you accept employment?"
They all three nodded, ears wiggling madly, "Oh yes, Master Black, Dobby is explaining the work that you is doing. We is bound to keep all of Master's secrets and help in the fight against the evil one in any way we's can. We will be paid a galleon a week, have one day off and wear clothes without shame. We's agree and wish to say thank you kind Master. We will be getting to work cleaning Master's house now." Each one bowed to Sirius and kissed the back of his hand, sealing the bargain in a glow of golden light that enveloped both Sirius and the elf. Each then popped out and left the four men and the two house elves in the kitchen.
After finishing their tea, Remus and Sirius led Harry and Severus up to the old ballroom on the third floor, joking about the royal tour of 'gerbil land' the two were going to have. They were all looking around in amazement as they went up the stairs, the elves and the destruction of the dark magic in the house were already making more of a difference than all of Molly Weasley and the rest of the Order's cleaning had made in the past year. It wouldn't take the five elves long before the mansion was totally unrecognizable.
Harry had run ahead of the three men, and started laughing so hard his sides hurt and he had tears running down his face after taking just two steps inside the large room. The entire outside wall of the ballroom was covered in a giant maze of muggle gerbil habitats, connected and interconnected with what looked like miles of colorful tubing that was over 20 feet long and 8 feet tall with hundreds of gerbils running around and chasing each other.
Severus just stood behind Harry, his hands on his son's shoulders as they shook in merriment. Severus couldn't help himself, the boy's pure delight was contagious and soon all four were laughing heartily.
Sirius finally gained enough composure to step up to the gigantic contraption and started to show off features like a proud father. "The males are in the yellow and white habitats and tubing, the females in the clear and pink. The teenagers, who are all male, are in the green, none of them interconnect, but we don't think they have figured that out yet with the way we have them twisting and wrapping around in a maze. Old Lucius spends all of his time trying to find a way into Draco's compartment, but they don't connect anywhere. We had to put Bella into her own container, it doesn't attach with anything else; she tries to bite the others. This purple section over here is your aunt and uncle. Your aunt likes to run in the wheel, but your uncle doesn't do much except eat and watch the others."
Remus walked over to the purple section and, pulling out his wand, muttered a complicated unlocking spell. He reached behind the habitat and pulled something yellow out, then reached in and pulled out the fattest gerbil that anyone had ever seen. He did something in his hands and then bent over and placed a round gerbil ball on the floor. Sirius started laughing again, as Remus called "Buckbeak, it's time to help Harry's uncle get some exercise." If a gerbil could look panicked, this one did. He started to run in his little gerbil ball. Buckbeak stood up from his place in front of the main habitat and ran towards the yellow ball. He batted it back and forth like a football and then took off running after it as it rolled across the floor. He caught it up in his wicked sharp beak and shook it back and forward several times before flinging his head sideways, throwing the yellow ball across the floor and running after it again.
Sirius and Remus were laughing so hard, they had tears running down their cheeks as they explained, "We thought we would help him get started on a daily exercise program. You know, help him loose some weight, get in shape, that sort of thing." Sirius choked out between laughs.
Remus managed to add, "And Buckbeak really loves him!"
It took quite a while for the four to regain their composure and they would still break out in giggles every once in a while for no reason after they had returned Vernon to his cage, where he collapsed in exhaustion, giving them little gerbil glares.
Harry and Severus walked the two men to the outside of the front door, still talking about improvements they could make in Vernon's daily exercise program. Harry and Severus waited until they were all on the front step outside of the house, and Remus and Sirius had said goodbye before Severus turned to Harry and asked him, "Do you want to disguise me now?"
Harry nodded and waved his fingers at Severus turning him back to exactly how the 'potion' had made him look. Sirius was opening and closing his mouth in astonishment when Harry quickly morphed himself into baby Harry, reached to be picked up by his dad, and the two disapperated quickly away from the stunned men. Harry thought he could hear Sirius' roar of outrage and a peal of bright laughter from Remus when they disappeared, but he wasn't positive.
The two appeared in a little used side alley in Muggle London, not far from Diagon Alley. Severus looked down at the grinning two year old in his arms and couldn't help asking. "Did you remember the camera, Harry?" He set the baby down and watched in affection as the boy morphed back to his normal self and then changed Severus back to his normal appearance. Harry nodded, flicked his fingers to make his infamous camera visible once more and placed in into his robe pocket. The two then transfigured their robes into muggle style leather jackets.
The two headed into a small Muggle restaurant several blocks from the Leaky Cauldron that had excellent pizzas for Harry and fantastic seafood for Severus. They were surprised to find Albus Dumbledore sitting in a back booth, apparently waiting for the both of them.
"Ah boys, how was the visit to see the gerbils? I trust you had some fun this morning." At the identical mischievous grins, he just twinkled and added, "I hope you took pictures, Harry." As Harry was sliding in to be between Severus and Albus, he nodded and brought his camera out of his shirt pocket. He and Severus were wearing trousers and button down Oxford shirts under their transfigured jackets. Albus asked Harry to take some pictures of their lunch to add to his photo album and Harry was happy to flick his fingers and make the camera float and disappear from sight.
As Harry finished off the last of his pepperoni pizza and stole the last of his father's poached salmon off of Severus' plate, Albus cleared his throat nervously. The two sitting beside him looked at him questioningly, and then both raised one eyebrow. They looked so much like father and son in their expression that Albus instantly relaxed and brought out a fat sheaf of parchments from inside his jacket. He separated them into two stacks and handed the first to Severus. "Happy Birthday, child. I know your birthday was on the ninth, but we were unable to get these completed in time, and I don't think you will mind them being a few days late."
Severus was curious when he opened the roll and stunned when he found adoption papers granting him full legal rights to claim his son forever. He blinked hard at the sudden moisture behind his eyes that threatened to fall, reached over and hugged Harry, handing him the papers. He then stood up, walked over, and sat beside Albus on the other side of the booth, pulling the man into a grateful hug. "Thank you, Albus, these mean so much to me."
Albus looked hesitantly over his glasses at Severus and handed him the second set of parchments. Severus opened them to find official documents proclaiming Severus Snape to be the adopted son and rightful heir of Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore with all rights and privileges granted therein. He was stunned and speechless. Harry looked up from the papers he was still trying to read and looked at his father and Professor Dumbledore in amazement. They were hugging in public and each man had a few tears glistening on his eyelashes.
Severus just handed the papers to Harry without saying a word. Harry scanned them to find them nearly identical to the ones declaring him Severus' son, except the names were different. In a flash, he realized what the papers meant and threw himself at the wizard now sitting between him and his father and grabbed him in a joyous hug. "I love you, Grandpa!"
Albus pulled a quill out of his pocket and told the two, "Severus, if you sign first; your name officially becomes Severus Tobias Snape-Dumbledore. Then the paperwork for adopting Harry can be signed with that name, making him officially Harry James Potter-Snape-Dumbledore. Otherwise, he is not my grandson and secondary heir. If you wish it my child, you have not given me your answer yet." But Dumbledore's eyes were twinkling and the corners of his mouth were twitching, as if he had no doubt what the answer would be from both of them.
Severus grabbed the quill out of his father's hand and signed his new full name with a flourish on both sets of parchments, making sure to sign his adoption papers before signing Harry's. He handed the quill to Albus to sign and seal the parchment which he did promptly. The parchment rolled up and disappeared in a pouf of gold sparks. Albus explained, "They are now legal and recorded and cannot be challenged or changed by anyone. When you have signed the ones making Severus your father, they will also flash to show they are legal and recorded."
Harry took the quill and signed his full name, he hoped he didn't have to use the whole thing too often; there almost wasn't enough room on the line. The parchment rolled and flashed leaving a feeling of great happiness within his chest that he had never felt before, not even when Severus had adopted him a thousand years ago.
As Albus removed the notice me not charm he had cast before bringing out the parchments, the wait staff all gathered around the table and sang 'Happy Birthday' to Severus, bringing him a large raspberry and chocolate cake with a single candle in the center. Severus felt so happy he didn't even think once of killing the old man because of the public humiliation. Albus hoped he wouldn't remember Harry's camera for quite a while.
Albus had walked the two back to the Leaky Cauldron and left them, returning to finish more paperwork at the castle. Harry changed their appearance once more, it hadn't been necessary at the restaurant, and they entered Diagon Alley, just in time for their appointment with the goblins.
Harry always felt in awe when he entered the lobby of Gringotts, and today was no different. He followed his father to the account management desk and looked around in curiosity. He had never had cause to enter this part of the bank. Severus gave their names to the clerk sitting on a high stool, and the goblin put down his fancy quill and led them directly back to a large very plush office. He knocked on the door discretely, turned to them with a bow and announced, "Manager Bodred will see you now." He opened the door and then shut it behind them. Harry morphed back to his normal appearance and changed his father back to the age that he really was before entering the office fully; to stand directly in front of the elderly goblin.
Harry bowed to Manager Bodred and said, "May your gold always flow and your interest rates be high, Manager Bodred." speaking in perfect Gobbledygook. Harry found his lessons with the Founders paying off once "If it pleases you, I can translate for my father; he is unable to speak your delightful language." To say the goblin was shocked was an understatement, he knew of very few wizards who even bothered to learn any gobbledygook, let alone spend the time and effort to perfect the difficult guttural accent.
Manager Bodred answered the young wizard standing in the proper stance of a young child to an esteemed elder, "Your diligence and understanding grant us great respect and value. I thank you for your deference, Lord Potter-Snape Dumbledore. But I am quite fluent in English and have done business in your language for many years." He turned to Severus and bowed low, "Your son honors you with his obedience to proper etiquette, and the knowledge he demonstrates brings tribute and glory on your house, Lord Snape-Dumbledore." He politely didn't notice their shock at the use of their full names or the titles they had been bestowed. He motioned them to be seated and began to explain the holdings they now had after over a thousand years of investments.
"The Four Founders of Hogwarts and even Merlin himself have left vaults for you which have been held in trust for the last one thousand years. They were substantial at the time they were set up and they have grown even more through the ages. There is also a vault tied to a real estate transaction which appears to have your names and signatures on it signed in 996. Wait, I don't need nor want to know how that was done, it is not necessary for us to understand these matters, we simply remark upon them. My paperwork states that you will each present a key, my Lords?"
"If I might be so bold as to inquire, how do you know our full names, the formal adoption papers were filled less than an hour ago, and why do you address us both as Lord?" Severus was curious.
The venerable old goblin smiled slightly, "Our paperwork is self updating, any change in status is instantly translated into our files, and Lord James Potter passed the title to his son, Harry, though I understand he has never claimed it. Merlin himself has designated young Lord Potter as his heir, granting him the title High Lord, and Salazar Slytherin has left paperwork officially disproving Tom Riddle's claim through a bastard line and has proclaimed you to be his descendant and rightful heir, therefore you are also a Lord in your own right. The official paperwork became valid when you stepped inside my office and is even now being filed with the Ministry. I assume it will be common knowledge by the first printing of the Daily Prophet tomorrow or the next day, depending upon which clerk has been bribed sufficiently. Now if I might see your keys, my Lords?"
Severus and Harry both reached inside their dress robes and handed over identical ornate golden skeleton keys. "Good, good, that's taken care off. The land in question has been maintained for you and the lake contained within the property has been magically sealed off to prevent contamination or draining. All is in order, if you can sign these documents, I will send for a goblin to escort you to inspect your vaults. If there is anything else I might help you with, either today or in the future, do not hesitate to contact me at any time."
Harry hesitated only a moment before asking again in gobbledygook, "Would it be possible to have Griphook escort us. He has helped me in the past and I liked him."
Manager Bodred grinned, which was a very frightening sight to be sure, and agreed eagerly. It was only a matter of minutes before the two wizards and Griphook were traveling rapidly underground on their unusual rollercoaster system. Harry grinned at the sight of two gigantic dragons guarding the lower levels as they went deeper and deeper into the very bowels of the caverns under the bank.
Severus was more shocked to find their vaults were numbered one, two, three, four, and five. Each one they investigated seemed to be filled with treasures of the past and stuffed to the ceiling with golden galleons. Severus looked at Griphook in astonishment, "How much is here, all together in the vaults?"
Griphook bowed and stated, "The exact value changes constantly, but all together there is more gold in these vaults than any other family depositing gold with Gringotts. I can have Manager Bodred send you an itemized statement of the individual values within several days if you like?"
Severus merely stood there looking at the goblin for signs that the being had made a joke, but then again, goblins never made jokes, ever! "Uh, Griphook, uh, that will be acceptable. Is there a way for us to make purchases without carrying large sums of gold?"
"Of course sir, they will be ready when we return to the surface."
Harry and Severus filled generous money bags and attached them to their belts under their robes and rejoined the goblin for the trip to the surface. As they left the entrance to the underground vaults, Manager Bodred himself held out what looked like muggle credit cards. "Just present these to any shop, muggle or magical, and the proper amount will be deducted from your account. These can also be used for owl post orders, just press them on the order form and it will be taken care of. Thank you gentlemen for doing business with Gringotts; may your gold always grow and your interest be favorable." Bodred bowed and turned away leaving them standing in the lobby of Gringotts, still a little stunned at everything that had happened that day.
The men spent an enjoyable afternoon together, each spending far too long choosing potions ingredients and books, which they had found they both loved with a passion. The mental block that Harry had from childhood, of deliberately not being smarter than Dudley had been overcome with the help of Merlin and Helga, and the teen found he really did love to read and learn things almost as much or even more than Hermione.
And of course having a photographic memory didn't hurt either.
The two argued over whether or not Harry really needed the newest racing broom for just casual riding, since he would no longer be playing Quidditch, until finally Harry won by explaining that the only way he could give a good broom to Ron was if it just happened to be his 'old' one; and then he would have a good broom to loan to Ginny Weasley, who would most likely be their new seeker. Ron would never accept the gift of a new broom, no matter how much he needed one to play keeper for the team. Severus grumbled about buying a broom to help Gryffindor beat Slytherin, but Harry looked down and finally admitted; he felt so guilty for having to leave the team in the middle of the year that he had to help them in some way. Severus ruffled his hair and then threw in two sets of new Quidditch gloves in Gryffindor colors without complaining once. The brooms they had made in the past were wonderful, but they didn't have the newest charms and were really no better than the old school brooms at Hogwarts, especially for Quidditch.
Harry stocked up on owl and even phoenix treats at the owl emporium, and they both bought parchment, quills and inks as well as new cauldrons and potions equipment.
Loaded down with packages, the two headed back to Hogwarts in time to put everything away before dinner was served in the Great Hall. Severus had to be there as the Head of Slytherin house for most dinners and for lunches it would be more convenient to just eat with the others, so they decided that they would only eat together on weekends until school was out. Harry would spend the week in the Gryffindor tower, only leaving if he and his friends needed a quiet place to study or practice dueling. Now that the tournament had spotlighted Harry's abilities, Severus planned on approaching Albus…no, his father, about Harry passing his N.E.W.T.'s so that he would be able to teach instead of wasting his time in 5th year classes.
Severus smirked to himself, Albus had cautioned them not to make the adoptions public knowledge for a while yet, but Severus didn't think the old man would be able to keep it a secret. As much as he wanted to announce to the world from the top of the astronomy tower that Harry was his son, he imagined it was much worse for Albus. He wondered what the Weasley twins would give on odds as to which one of them would break the news first.
After all the excitement of the duels the previous day, dinner that night was calm; that is for everyone except Filius Flitwick. He thought he must be losing his mind, or he had been stunned much worse than he thought yesterday. He had reached for the pumpkin juice to pour a goblet full, picked up his fork and found his plate totally empty. He distinctly remembered filling it with a lovely slice of lamb with mint sauce, steamed rice and fresh broccoli, but now it was empty. Confused he filled his plate again, had a bite of tender lamb, and reached for his goblet to have a sip. It was empty.
He looked up and down the tables, but no one seemed to be paying him any attention. He reached for the juice once again and found, after filling his goblet, his plate was once again inexplicably empty. He looked closely at the student tables, but saw no one with a wand out. He checked his plate and goblet for spells or hexes and found nothing. He shook his head and looked at the platters in the center of the staff table. The lamb was now all gone, so he dished up some steak and kidney pie, and without stopping once, he ate every bit of it. He reached for his, once again, empty goblet, filled it and drank it down without it ever leaving his hand.
He got up and left shortly after that, still shaking his head in confusion, missing the large group of students sitting at the Gryffindor table that were trying so hard not to laugh.
In Dumbledore's office the next morning there was a veritable deluge of owls waiting patiently for his attention, and one very ugly buzzard, sitting off to one side, aloof and looking in derision at the hooting owls. Dumbledore removed the parchment from him first and the big predator flew out the window, drawing in his huge wingspan to fit through the small opening.
Albus opened the parchment to find an astonishing missive from the head goblin of Gringotts Bank, Head Director Bodred. The goblins were mysteriously offering to freeze the accounts of known death eaters and to keep a close tab on suspected ones to make sure funds weren't being funneled to Voldemort. He had never expected such cooperation from the long time adversaries of wizards, the most he had hoped for was neutrality.
Head Director Bodred was also bringing back curse breaker Bill Weasley to become the chief liaison officer between the goblins and the wizards. Albus could just imagine the joy in the Weasley household when Molly found out her son was being transferred and promoted.
He unrolled his copy of the fatter than usual Daily Prophet and found a full color, moving spread of pictures of the duels that Harry had won the day before. Albus thought he might frame the one of Harry and Severus battling with their glorious long swords. The power and expertise displayed showed through even in the picture. The banner above it proclaimed A New Champion for the Light! The rest of the paper was devoted to a series of each of Harry's victories. The last full page picture showed the final sequence of blasting curses that had felled him, but luckily it stopped and reset just as he fell to the floor, stunned and bound. That picture he would definitely not be framing for the wall. He chuckled and wondered if Harry would hide in his new chambers all day rather than face his classmates.
Severus had insisted that Harry attend all his classes as usual, if he could attend classes in second year when everyone thought he was petrifying people and was the heir of Slytherin, and then last year when everyone thought he had placed his own name in the Goblet of Fire, he could certainly tolerate a little hero worship. It wasn't as if none of them had actually seen the duel after all, he said sarcastically. Harry had to admit the man did have a point.
The first intuitive brewing class had met on Monday morning and everyone who had been selected to attend was flabbergasted at the change in teaching style from Professor Snape and how much they had learned in a single double class period. Neville hadn't blown anything up, and the atmosphere in the room was considerably more relaxed than anyone could ever remember a potions lesson being.
Professor McGonagall had just had the eight teens practice changing back and forth into their animagus animals while she worked with the rest of the class. She kept casting a calculating look at Harry whenever she thought he wasn't looking and Harry knew she would be cornering him soon for a full explanation. He wasn't sure what he could tell her.
Charms with Professor Flitwick that afternoon was going very well until the Professor finished lecturing the class on clothes cleaning charms and sat at his desk to drink a cup of tea. He was still feeling a little rattled from dinner last night. At breakfast he had dished one item and eaten it all, and then dished the second item and finished it all, and nothing had disappeared. So he had decided that it had just been something he had imagined. He poured the hot water into his teacup and went to dunk the teabag when the teabag grew legs and arms and ran away to hide under a stack of parchments.
Professor Flitwick cupped his hand down to catch his errant teabag. He picked up his now perfectly normal teabag. He inspected it closely and could find nothing out of the ordinary. He checked it for spells or charms, and finding nothing, he dipped it towards his cup once more. This time it screamed and blew up, throwing little bits of tea all over his face and robes. Professor Flitwick dismissed the class early and went to go visit Madame Pomfrey.
On Tuesday, Care of Magical Creatures was only notable for the fact that Hagrid kept looking wistfully towards the forest as if expecting the dragon from last week to return. He had to keep reminding himself that the class was discussing thestrals, not dragons but otherwise the class was as normal as Hagrid's classes ever were.
That afternoon, Professor Lupin pulled Harry aside as he entered the classroom and warned him that any 'unusual' happening in his History of Magic class would be severely dealt with and would begin with a detention with Mr. Filch. His eyes glinted and Harry was reminded that the full moon was tomorrow, and it was better not to mess with a werewolf the day before a full moon, so he sat quietly and took copious notes.
Harry's last class on Tuesday afternoon was a practical Defense against the Dark arts class, and he wasn't looking forward to facing his godfather. The last thing he had heard on Sunday was a roar of outrage as Sirius realized that there had been no 'potion's accident' and that he had been had, royally!
Harry had avoided meeting Sirius' eyes as they ate in the Great Hall, and he had been using his magical senses full out to read the aura of people around him in the halls. He wasn't sure who might want to ambush him during passing periods, and he was taking no chances, so he had been able to 'feel' whenever he was getting close to Sirius or Remus in the halls and quickly ducked the other way.
But there was no way to miss him in class, and Harry tried to slink in the back of the classroom without being noticed. He considered altering his appearance, but then he would be counted absent and Sirius would probably notice a boy no one knew in the back of the room. He plastered his most innocent expression on his face and looked at his godfather with trepidation. Harry sank into his seat; the black look on Sirius' face matched Severus at his worst before they went to the past!
Harry's classmates looked between Harry and Professor Black and back again. Ron and Hermione looked sympathetic, Neville looked petrified and several of the DA looked ready to leap up and protect their friend before they thought better of it, if Harry couldn't handle it, no one could.
Sirius stood at the front of the classroom and called, "Mr. Potter, I need someone to demonstrate a new hex. Please come forward and stand here." He turned to the class and explained how the new binding hexes they were going to learn were dependant upon the strength of the wizard or witch casting them, and the stronger your opponent, the tighter the bonds needed to be. He smiled at Harry as he made a complicated wand movement and Harry found himself shrinking into a little box. Harry just blinked a couple of times, focused and stood up, unfolding as he released the binding.
Sirius wasn't smiling the second time as he repeated the casting, this time Harry just pushed his magical core out to his skin and the spell had no effect. Sirius walked over and muttered in a whisper to Harry, "How can I demonstrate to your classmates if you don't show them how the spell works, hmm, baby Harry? Perhaps I had best ask Professor Dumbledore down here to demonstrate it. I understand he is really looking forward to having a rematch against you!"
Sirius' frustration was showing in his voice, though nothing was visible in his face. Harry shook his head and meekly answered, "No sir, I won't counter the spell. It won't be necessary for Professor Dumbledore to come down here." Sirius was smiling again as he demonstrated, over and over again how to successfully cast a box binding spell.
Severus and Harry had bottled up the 'Potter's Potion' into twenty individual dosing vials and taken them up to their new quarters after the last class on Wednesday afternoon. They had invited Professors Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Flitwick; as well as Madame Pomfrey, Minister Bones and an observer from the Department for the Care and Control of Magical Creatures, as well as Sirius to observe the cure of lycanthropy when Remus Lupin was given the vial of 'Potter's Potion' that evening at the rise of the full moon. They would all be arriving at 6:30 since the full moon was scheduled to rise at 7:03 p.m. that night.
Harry didn't know who was more nervous that evening, Remus or Sirius. He and Severus had already observed the potion's success before, so they were not nearly as nervous as the two Marauders' were. Severus had verified with the portrait of Sal that the man had indeed been cured, as had many more before Sal could no longer brew the cure because the ingredients were no longer available. He had expressed great regret at being unable to cure any more, but had taken comfort in being able to help those that he could.
The Room of Requirement in their chambers had provided them with a much more comfortable area than the dungeons of Merlin's castle for this treatment, though the cage looked much the same. The room had even provided a picture frame for James, Lily and Salazar Slytherin to participate. Remus had taken the old Wolfsbane potion for the previous two days as Severus had instructed so he knew he would be safe to be around even if the cure didn't work.
Remus was almost afraid to hope that he would be free of the curse. It had ruled his life for so long, he was unable to find employment, marry, raise children or any of the other things that he so longed for. Everyone else was in place, sitting in comfortable arm chairs around the cage.
Remus sat on a spacious cot wrapped in a warm, loose sack like covering that would keep him warm all night, no matter how much he thrashed. Harry had warned him that the cure was very painful and that as soon as he regained consciousness, they would have a pain reducing potion and a headache potion ready for him, but he would have to be awake and aware enough to ask for them. Harry handed him a small goblet with a measure of stinking, smoking potion and instructed him that he would have to drink it all and drink it in one go, right at the rise of the full moon.
Remus gave the boy a strong hug and kissed him lightly on the cheek, smiling and murmuring, "Wish me luck, Harry. If this works I promise to get Sirius to forgive you for that awful prank with baby Harry!"
Harry hugged the soon to be former werewolf and answered, "Good then, because I know it works. See you in a little while, Uncle Remus." Harry turned and walked out of the enclosure which the observer from the ministry locked and double checked. Sirius stood beside Harry and gripped his hand, without even knowing he was doing it. The first beam of the full moon shone through the 'window' and struck Remus on the side of the face. Severus and Harry both shouted, "Now!" and Remus tipped the goblet up and drained it in one long gulping swallow. He gagged, dropping the now empty goblet, and quickly fell down on the soft mattress, shutting his eyes against the pain raging through his thin frame. As it had in the past, the shadow werewolf rose in a black cloud out of Remus, howled, and then exploded in the bright moonlight, the dark fragments dissolving in the bright light of the moon. No one said a word or moved as they waited and waited. A full half hour passed before Remus started to stir and moaned softly.
Harry moved to the door of the cage and softly called, "Remus, you need to wake up now." Sirius joined beside him, tears of joy running down his still gaunt face, "Moony, Moony, buddy, time to wake up and take some potions. Come on buddy, you can wake up for me." Remus opened his eyes, the full moon shining directly into his face and glanced down apprehensively at his body. He raised his hands in wonder and amazement. So softly that only Harry and Sirius could hear he repeated over and over, "It's gone, I'm free, I'm free…" He sat up, grabbed his head and moaned.
Harry opened the cage with a wave of his hand so that his father could take in the potions for pain, Harry and Sirius right behind him. After swallowing down the pain potions, Remus grabbed all three of them in a rib crushing hug, tears streaming and whispered, "Thank you, thank you… I owe you my life and if there is anything I can ever do to repay you, just ask."
The cage disappeared and with a quiet "Dobby, now." from Severus, a table full of drinks and refreshments appeared and the group gathered to shake hands and to celebrate Remus' freedom. The observers left at around eleven p.m., the ministry promising to provide papers for Remus by the end of tomorrow declaring him cured of lycanthropy and planning a press conference for the afternoon to help Remus, Harry and Severus announce the development and method of disbursement of a cure.
Harry thought to himself, that this is one time he will be more than happy to be in the papers. The other nineteen doses, plus however many more Harry and Severus could brew in the next month would be available through a lottery of names; to any werewolf who submitted their name to the ministry for the cure before the next full moon. It would take many months, and no one actually knew how many werewolves there actually were, but hopefully there would soon be no more.
Professor Dumbledore excused Harry from any classes the next day and so Harry, Severus, Remus and Sirius spent most of the night in front of the fireplace talking amicably between themselves and the portraits hanging over the mantel.
AN: Wow, that was eighteen pages and just over 9,000 words in Word; aren't you proud of me. Good thing I am a fast typist, and my family and former bosses call me the 'walking dictionary'.
AN: I will be out of town over the Thanksgiving weekend so may not post until next week. Happy Thanksgiving for anyone who celebrates it!