Chapter 2 – Explanations in the owlery
Harry walked into the Great Hall just as the last first year was joining the Ravenclaw table.
"The headmaster will be with us all shortly" Professor McGonagall told the hall of students, "Until then, enjoy!" She said and the food appeared on the tables.
"Finally!" Ron Weasley words could be heard above the gasps of the first years at the appearance of the feast of food before them. "Oh! Hi Harry. Was it good or bad news?" Ron asked.
"Bad, all bad!" Harry sighed as he grabbed a bunch of chicken legs on a napkin and swallowed down a goblet of juice without even sitting down. "Neville, can you come with me to the owlery right away. I'll tell you what its about on the way! Its really important."
"I guess so, Harry!" Neville replied.
"I'll see you guys in a bit. Save us some food Hermoine. Keep it away from Ron!" Harry said as he and Neville were headed towards the doors.
Heading towards the owlery, Neville asked, "Harry what's this all about?"
"I was just up in Dumbledore's office, Neville!" Harry said, "Snape and Malfoy were there too. Seems Draco's coming into his veela powers."
"Malfoy's a veela?" Neville exclaimed.
"Part veela at least and he has decided I'm his life mate!" Harry said as both boys just entered the owlery.
Neville gagged, "But you're a guy!" he spluttered.
"I know and I don't swing that way but it seems Malfoy does!" Harry sighed.
"Oh Merlin!" Neville replied with a look of horror on his face. "What did you do?"
"Well, Malfoy tried to use his veela powers on me but I have been practicing a technique called occlumency all summer that blocks the mind to all sorts of intrusions and I had luckily shielded my mind before entering, so it didn't work. The stupid prat passed out after trying so hard."
"You can ignore a veela? Wow!" Neville replied.
"Wasn't easy. Dumbledore and Snape seem to be affected too and I know they are both masters of the art of occlumency. I think the fact that I totally detest Malfoy helped a lot. The mere thought of..." Harry shivered in disgust.
"So why did you bring me to the owlery?" Neville asked.
"Neville, what do you know about the Veela laws?" Harry asked.
"Oh you mean... Oh Merlin Harry! Malfoy can force you to become his mate even if you can resist his powers!" Neville replied shocked.
"That's right! If I am formally declared his mate, I will have no choice in the matter. No rights, no appeal." Harry said.
"What are you going to do?" Neville asked in a panicked voice.
"Well luckily I actually found out about all this at the start of summer and I have had a few months to prepare?" Harry said quietly to Neville motioning him to a small out of the way alcove where they could sit and talk without being easily overheard. Harry added a number of silencing and privacy charms for increased security. "You see I snuck out and went somewhere at the start of summer I wasn't suppose to go. I needed more books to study. I found out a lot of things I wasn't suppose to know, Neville."
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Harry stood in Grimmauld Place carefully observing the place making sure there were no hidden watchers. Harry had gotten good at sort of sensing where his hidden watchers were over the last summer and now he was sure that no one was watching either him or Headquarters from the street. Harry thought to himself, "The headquarters of the Order of Phoenix is at Number 12 Grimmauld Place." The hidden house popped out in front of him and silently went up to the front door. Harry was about to try to open the front door when it flew open and he stumbled inside. Harry was then almost bowled over when a small body crashed against his legs.
"Harry Potter has come to visit Dobby!" the small elf shouted loudly as he wrapped his arms around Harry's legs.
"Sssh! Dobby! I don't want anyone to know I'm here." Harry frantically whispered as he quietly shut the door.
"BLOOD TRAITORS! Fifth!" the portrait of Mrs black screamed.
"Great!" Harry said, "So much for sneaking in!"
Dobby immediately let go and said, "Bad Dobby!" The little elf would have bashed his head against the wall if Harry hadn't retrained him.
"Don't Dobby!" Harry said quietly, "Who else is in the house?"
"Only Winky, Harry Potter. Winky and Dobby be volunteering to clean Harry Potter's house." The elf said proudly.
"My house?" Harry asked shocked.
"Harry Potter's Blacky be leaving Harry Potter house and all money in his will. Dobby is sorry that Harry Potters Blacky died." Dobby said as his eyes filled with tears.
"Thanks Dobby." Harry managed to choke back. "I don't want the house or his money!"
"If Harry Potter not be taking Blacky's house and money, they is going to bad Malfoys!" Dobby said with a tone of hatred at the mention of his former owners.
"Well if that's the case I suppose I'd better keep them." Harry replied to the delight of the elf.
"And Winky and Dobby be cleaning Harry Potters house till it be shining!" Dobby said happily. "Come look!" Dobby grabbed Harry's hand and dragged him towards the kitchen. Harry was impressed. Gone were the dirty walls and ceilings. They had been scrubbed clean and freshly painted. The mouldy carpets had all been removed and the floorboards polished to a mirror finish. New rugs were placed around and all the furniture was likewise cleaned and polished. In the kitchen Winky the house elf stirred a large pot of stew. Fresh baked bread lay on the side table cooling. Seeing Harry, the little elf squealed.
"Look, Winky, Harry Potter has come to visit!" Dobby announced happily.
"Hello Harry Potter." Winky said somewhat shyly.
"Hi Winky. I think you and Dobby have done a wonderful job on the house. Thank you." Harry told the little elf kindly.
"Winky is pleased Harry Potter likes his house." Winky said wistfully.
"Winky, what is wrong? Don't you like cleaning this house?" Harry asked puzzled by the elf's behaviour.
"Oh no, Harry Potter Sir. Winky is happy to clean house for Harry Potter. Winky does not deserve to clean house of good masters. Winky is bad elf." Winky replied with a sniffle at the end.
"Nonsense, you and Dobby are the best elves I know Winky. I am the one that is honoured by you cleaning my house." Harry said and seeing the small elf was about to object he quickly changed the subject. "That stew smells wonderful. Don't suppose I could have some, could I? I'm starving."
Winky caught between the unexpected praise and Harry's desire for food, went with the simpler task of feeding the hungry wizard. Harry soon had a bowl of stew and a plate of fresh warm bread richly buttered placed in front of him.
"Hmmm this is good." Harry said as he hoed into the stew. "Why did you make so much of it?"
"Many peoples is coming this afternoon for big meeting Harry Potter!" Dobby told him. "They will be surprised that Harry Potter is here!"
"Ah! I was hoping you two wouldn't tell anyone I was here today?" Harry said.
Dobby looked uncertain and Winky looked positively horrified. "Dobby must tell Headmaster, Harry Potter. Headmaster is Dobby's employer and Dobby must tell him everything." Dobby said in a breaking voice.
"Oh! Well I'm guess I about to get into a lot of trouble then but don't worry its not your fault." Harry said dejectedly. Dobby and Winky looked at each other uncertainly. Then Dobby suddenly brightened.
"Dobby and Winky could keep Harry Potter's secrets if Harry Potter was Dobby's and Winky's Master!" Dobby said. Winky gasped and her eyes widened.
"But I thought you liked being free Dobby. I don't want you as my slave. You are my friends!" Harry said shocked at the offer.
"Dobby likes being free of bad masters but Dobby would like more to be elf for good Harry Potter! And Dobby would then keep his master's secrets from everybody." Dobby said proudly.
"Winky, how do you feel about this?" Harry asked.
"Winky would be honoured to be elf for Harry Potter." Winky said bouncing up and down looking hopeful.
Harry considered the pros and cons of becoming the owner of the elves. It wasn't something he had considered before but he knew both of the elves would like it to happen and he knew he would do everything he could to see they were treated as his friends and not as slaves. In a way Harry thought they would become part of his family. Yes he'd think of this as adopting them, not as owning them.
"Well, Hermoine's going to kill me but okay you can be my elves but there are conditions." Harry said.
Both elves began dancing around each other happily. "Wait to you hear the conditions!" Harry said smiling. The elves stopped dancing and waited for Harry to continue.
"First I am paying you wages!" Harry said and when both elves were about to objected, he held up his hand to stop them. "You will need wages as you are both to buy your own clothes. Nice ones! So you have to have your own money for that as I can't give you clothes without freeing you." Both elves seemed to eventually accept this. "The wages will be twice what you are receiving at Hogwarts."
"You will have time off to do things for yourselves." Harry continued. The elves were now looking mortified.
"You must not tell anyone you are now my elves. You must pretend to still be free for now. It may mean telling some people lies. It is part of my secrets you have to keep for me. Can you both do that?" Harry asked uncertainly.
Both elves nodded yes.
"You will not call me Master or anything like that. You can call me either Harry Potter if you wish to be formal or just call me Harry when we are alone. I consider you members of my family now and not my slaves."
The elves eyes went even wider.
"If I should be killed..." Harry said and had to hold his hand up again to silence the elves gasps of horror, "If I should be killed you are to consider yourselves free again instantly. You are not property to be inherited by anyone else. Do I make myself clear?"
Both elves nodded again but looked even more horrified.
"Okay! If you agree to all that how do we proceed? Do you know? Because I don't!" Harry asked at the nods of agreement from the shocked elves.
"Dobby and Winky be joining their magic to Harry Potter and swearing oaths of loyalty and serve to the House of Potter and the House of Black."
"House of Black? Why the house of Black, Dobby? I know you said Siri... Sirius left me the house and his money but..." Harry replied surprised and found he had great difficulty naming his beloved godfather.
"Harry Potter is Sirius Black's heir, Harry Potter! It says so in Sirius Black's will. The Headmaster says so to greasy Professor Snapey. Headmaster is saying that Harry Potter not be told. They is not knowing Dobby is hearing, Harry Potter. " Dobby said.
Harry stood there stunned. "Why is Dumbledore keeping this from me? Because he always does keep everything from me!" Harry thought to himself in disgust.
Seeing Harry standing perfectly still, the elves began chanting in a strange language. Harry felt himself affected by the words and becoming warm. It felt good. Soon Dobby and Winky stopped chanting and Dobby said, "Now you must be accepting Dobby and Winky into your service Harry Potter."
Harry was brought back to the present by Dobby's words and not to sure what to exactly do said, "I, Harry James Potter accept Dobby and Winky into the house of Potter and the house of Black on the terms and conditions previously stated. Welcome to the family of Potter Black, Winky, Dobby." With those words Harry felt something slide into place in his mind.
"Hey! I think I can sort of sense you guys in my mind!" Harry said gasping.
"Yes Harry Potter, " Dobby said happily, "Masters is always seeing their elves in their minds. If Harry Potter wants Dobby or Winky, Harry Potter need only be thinking and they be coming to him to serve."
"Oh! That's good then." Harry said happily.
"What does Harry Potter want his elves to do?" Dobby asked carefully.
"Nothing at the moment. I did just pop in to pick up any books from the library here that might be good to study for duelling and stuff." Harry replied.
Dobby looked scared. "All books is being packed up and sent to Hogwarts, Harry Potter! Headmaster is saying Harry Potter is not be having them."
"Bloody Dumbledore!" Harry spat out, "They're my books aren't they! Sirius left them to me in his will didn't he? Do you know Dobby?"
"Dobby not knows for sure Harry Potter but will is in library with other papers." Dobby cringed away from Harry as he replied.
"Dobby, I am not angry with you. I am angry that Dumbledore does not tell me things he should and does things like this without asking. I should go read the will. " Harry said to Dobby's visible relief. Harry went up to the library and saw the crates of books sitting on the floor next to the now empty shelves of the library. Inside he fumed!
Harry went to the desk and amongst the pile of papers was a document titled the last will and testament of Sirius Orion Black. Harry wept as he read it. Sirius had not only left Harry everything he owned but also named Harry his heir and successor as the head of the Black family. Sirius had specifically left instructions that Harry be told everything in his will at the earliest opportunity. Next to the will was a letter addressed to Harry himself in Sirius messy writing. It had been opened and obviously read by someone else.
Harry picked up the letter and started to read:
My dearest Harry,
Well I have gone and done it properly this time, if you are reading this letter. I have kicked the bucket, shuffled off this mortal coil, snuffed it, in other words I have died. Don't weep for your old godfather too much Harry. Just think of the mayhem and chaos your father and I are now causing on the other side. Together again! Ah just think of that my boy. Of course your parents are going to give me a right hiding about being stupid enough to get myself locked up in Azkaban for all those years and leaving you at the mercy of those rotten relatives of Lily. But I hope I have made up for it a little bit in the last few years. I want you to know Harry, that I have been honoured to have played a part in your life, if even for the short time that fate gave us both. I do not regret a single moment of it.
Right with the mushy stuff now out of the way, I have a few things that need to be said.
1. I don't know how I died but I hope it was in a glorious deed of daring do and not slipping in the bathtub. But knowing you as I do, no matter how I died, you will be blaming yourself for it. So let me just say, IT IS NOT YOUR FAULT! I am the adult, (despite some opinions to the contrary), you are the adolescent! No matter how you were or were not involved with the circumstances of my death, it would have been my decision to be involved and as we live in dangerous times I know the risks better than you do. So once more I say to you IT WAS NOT YOUR FAULT. And if you think it was, I am going to be very mad at you. So don't!
2. I never confused you with your father. Okay maybe a bit at the first and occasionally when I was depressed but I know you are your own man and it was my great pleasure in being part of your life. I think of you as my own son if you want to know the truth. I am sure Lily and James understand and I will be telling them just how proud they should be of our (all three of us) son. You really are extraordinary kiddo! Don't let that greasy git ever tell you otherwise.
3. If Dumbledore hasn't told you of a certain prophecy by the time you read this then go find him and don't let him go until he does. Beat it out of him if you have too because you need to know it. I put a rather interesting truth jinx on Dumbledore to force him to tell you in case of my death but it may not work with him, so you might have to drag it out of him personally. That man just loves to keep secrets even when he shouldn't. The prophecy is not a good thing but you have to know. Just remember one thing. There is no fate expect that which we make! Decide what you want to do and then go do it and to hell with whatever some old seer said. Life has a way of working out. Live first Kiddo because life won't give you a second chance.
4. Don't trust Dumbledore too much. He has his own agenda and refuses to divulge much about it to anyone else. At times I think he has gone dark himself in some ways. He is beginning to act like everyone should follow his orders without question and that is not a good sign. So be careful what you tell him and about what he tells you.
5. I left you everything I could possible leave you. I know you don't want it but don't let it go to my other relatives whatever you do. I can't leave anything to Tonks and her mother due to their disinheritance from the Black family, lots of legally binding claptrap and so forth in the family trust prevents it. I don't think you should offer to give them anything because I know they are both too proud to take anything that looks like charity. They may be a bit put out by it at first but hopefully they will get over it in time. Give them some time and blame me for doing this if it helps. Use the inheritance to give yourself a better life. Both your parents and I would want you to do that. Spend some money on yourself kiddo. That's an order!
6. You asked about what you saw in Snape's pensieve. I couldn't tell you much about that because I swore a wizard's oath to keep it secret till my dieing day and I have. But guess what, my dieing day is past so here's the full story! Snape deserved everything he got that day and more. Your father and me may have made it look like an arrogant prank but it was really retribution for what the greasy bastard had done earlier that very day. You have to remember those were dark times. The first war was well under way and people were dieing fighting the Dark Lord and death eaters every day. Hogwarts was little better with the pureblood elite just itching to take the dark mark. They strutted around like they owned the place. Occasionally they committed acts so heinous against other students that some sort of retribution was called for. Lots of the staff were turning blind eyes to this behaviour to avoid being targeted by the death eater parents of the students. Snape had been one of several to rape a Hufflepuff girl that morning. What we did was extract a little payback. He deserved far more but we could only do what we could. Once your mother found out the circumstances of the prank she hugged and kissed your father on the spot. That's what started their whole romance! Your parents were the finest and noblest people I have ever known except for you. Never doubt them again.
7. Play a few pranks on the greasy git for me! He deserves everything he gets. Don't ever trust him at all! His conversion to the light is either a convenient self-serving act or a complete ruse. Either way I'd bet my last knut he'll swap sides back to the dark dork before this is over. Watch your back around him! I don't know why Dumbledore trusts him. There is something going on there I don't understand but it feels very wrong.
Well, that's about all I got to say kiddo! I know you'll make us all proud, you already do! Last thing I got to say is to tell you to find that special girl in your life and have lots of little Potters running around causing all sorts of chaos. If it turns out you like boys that's okay too. You can still have kids apparently according to some muggle stuff I read about. Anyhow find that special someone and spend the rest of your life being happy. (Or I'll kick your butt when you get up here!)
With every ounce of love,
Sirius Orion Black
A.K.A. Padfoot
A.K.A. Snuffles
A.K.A. the greatest lover the world has ever known!
Mischief Managed.
P.S. Don't forget, prank the greasy git! Have a look in my Gringott's vault for some ideas.
P.P.S. IT IS NOT YOUR FAULT! Don't make me say it again!
Harry wept and laughed as he read the letter, hanging on every word. It was so like Sirius to make a joke about everything, even his own death. Harry pressed the letter to his chest and just sat for a few moments with his eyes closed picturing a dog and a stag bounding through a heavenly setting. He wondered if his mother would be there frowning in disapproval or would she join in the fun. She'd join the fun, Harry decided smiling. His heart ached with the desire to be with them. He knew it was not to be for now but in a strange way he knew that someday he would join them. And he would do everything he could between now and then to make them proud of him. He opened his eyes with a new resolve. Finally he looked down onto the desk at the envelope again.
"How dare someone open this letter and read it before me!" he thought to himself. "Who would dare do this?" Harry was now incandescing with rage! This was a violation beyond anything he had ever known. If he found out who...
"Dobby!" Harry called and the elf popped into existence in front of Harry Potter. "Do you know who opened this letter?"
"Headmaster was looking at those papers Harry Potter. Dobby saw him open the envelope and read the letter when Dobby was bringing tea." Dobby replied.
"I see!" Harry replied and the words were like ice! "Thank you Dobby. Thank you very much indeed."
If Dumbledore had been in the room he would have been lucky to escape with his life. Harry Potter was murderous. This was the final straw. Harry would never trust the old bastard again. Dobby waited in front of Harry Potter uncertain what to do.
"If I take this letter and will Dumbledore will know I have been here! DAMN!" Harry swore as he realise he couldn't keep the letter that was now precious to him.
"Dobby can make copy of documents Harry Potter!" Dobby said proudly.
"Oh can you? Here try these Dobby." Harry said handing Dobby the will and the letter from Sirius.
Dobby waved his hands over the letter and another exact copy popped into existence next to it. He did the same with the will and although it took a little longer a copy also appeared.
"Why did the will take you longer to copy Dobby?" Harry asked curiously.
"Lots of wordies Harry Potter. Wordies is hard to copy." Dobby said.
"Oh I see. So if I asked you to make a copy of one of these books you couldn't do it?" Harry asked grabbing a thick book from the nearest crate.
"It would take a long time Harry Potter, and Dobby would be very, very tired after making copy." Dobby replied warily looking at the thick book in Harry's hands.
"Could you make a copy of the book without the words? Just the ones on the spine and only blank pages inside! Would that be easy or hard?" Harry asked.
The little elf grinned, "That would be easy Harry Potter." And with that Dobby took the book and waved his hands over it. Another book looking exactly the same appeared next to it. Harry picked it up and studied it. The title on the spine was the same, the worn cover was the same but it contained only blank pages.
Harry smiled. "Dobby how long would it take you to copy every book in the crates like this?"
Dobby looked around at the massive crates. "Several hours Harry Potter."
"Could Winky help?" Harry asked.
"Oh yes Harry Potter, but Winky has to watch stew or it will burn." Dobby replied.
"I can look after the stew. This is what I want you to do Dobby. I want you to unpack the crates and copy every book and put the copies into the crates. Then we will have to somehow hide the originals until I can take them away someplace safe. " Harry said "I'll go down and watch the stew while you and Winky get it done."
"Harry Potter could use Mad Eye's old trunk to take books away." Dobby suggested. "Mad Eye be putting it in attic saying it give him bad feelings seeing it. Dobby is asking if Dobby can have it to live in and Mad Eye be saying yes. Dobby not need it as Dobby now part of Harry Potters house."
"It will be a bit big to carry by myself Dobby." Harry said unsure.
"No Harry Potter, trunk can be small with touch of a finger. Dobby show!" Dobby replied and he popped out, and then in a few moments back with the trunk. Dobby touched a spot on the lid and the trunk shrunk to a small box that would comfortably fit in a large pocket. Dobby pressed the spot again and the trunk returned to its large size.
"Looksee Harry Potter," Dobby said as he inserted a key into the seventh lock and opened the trunk to the room sized compartment that Mad Eye had been held prisoner in for almost a year. Plenty of room for books! And no matter how much inside trunk, not heavy at all!"
"I guess there would be plenty of room too. Okay put the originals in there. I'll go send Winky up and you can get started. Don't tire yourselves out, just get done as many as you can for now." Harry replied and taking the first book with him.
Despite Winky's complaining that looking after the stew was elf's work, Harry stood stirring the stew pot while he read the book that Dobby had already copied. It was on magical signatures and their recognition.
"So this is how Dumbledore knows someone's at his office door." Harry thought to himself after he had read the chapter on sensing magical signatures. "That's probably how I can find my watchers too. With the instructions in this book it will even be easier. Ahhh the next chapter is about suspressing your signature. I have got to try that next time I visit the old mans office and see if I can give him a nasty surprise. Serves him right for what he's done!" Harry read on intently as he stirred the stew.
A little before noon the last thing Harry wanted to hear came to his ears, the sound of the front door opening and voices from the hall.
Winky and Dobby popped back into the kitchen. "They is early Harry Potter!" Dobby said.
"Shit! I have to hide!" Harry said realising he now could not make it out of the house without being discovered.
"In here Harry Potter!" Dobby said as he opened the side cupboard. Harry frowned and thought to himself "Is there some cosmic joke going on about me and cupboards?" but he still quickly bent down and climbed into the cupboard. There was a small mesh covered grill in the door that Harry could see out off.
Kingsley Shacklebolt strode into the kitchen and said, "That stew smells wonderful. Let have some then!"
Winky hurriedly got Kingsley a bowl of stew and some bread and Kingsley was soon seated at the kitchen table eating heartily. He was joined by more Order members and eventually Harry heard the sound of Dumbledore's voice coming his way.
"Oh shit!" Harry thought for a second, "He'll sense me for sure! What did the book say? Suppress all your magic back into your core. Clear your emotions. Calm blue ocean, calm blue ocean..." Harry was attempting to follow the instructions he had just read for all he was worth.
"How is everyone today!" Dumbledore said cheerfully but then he stopped and looked around the room. He shook it off and sat down.
"Anything wrong Headmaster?" Snape's voice asked.
"No for a minute there I thought I sensed Harry nearby but its gone now. Perhaps he is thinking about us here at headquarters at the moment. It was strangely insubstantial."
"I am due to relieve Dung on his watch after this meeting Professor. I could check on the boy if you want!" Hester Jones offered.
"No, that won't be necessary. Its best that Harry not have any contact with us at the moment." Dumbledore replied. "I have my reasons!"
Hester looked uncertain but didn't argue.
"Let me just send the elves off and we'll begin the meeting. Dobby you and your friend are to take the books from the library back to Hogwarts. Put them into one of the storage rooms near the school library. Oh and all the papers on the desk in the library you can burn before you go!"
"The papers Headmaster? All the papers? Burn them?" Dobby asked as he hopped nervously from one foot to the other.
"Yes, all of them. Now do as I have ordered you!" Dumbledore said in a short tone of voice. Dobby nodded and popped out with Winky. In a few minutes Dumbledore announced, "They've gone! So to business. I'll listen to individual reports first."
Harry, still trying hard to keep his magical signature suppressed, listened to the many reports Order members gave. He learned more about what was happening than he had ever learned before. He now knew about the attacks taking place. What death eaters were suspected of taking part! What pitiful efforts Fudge and the ministry were trying to undertake to meet the threat. And worse of all, what the Order was doing in trying to confront the death eaters, which was absolutely bloody nothing! Besides from gathering intelligence the order might as well not have bothered. Dumbledore it seemed was content to play a waiting game. Harry guessed what Dumbledore was waiting for. Him to kill Voldemort! Luckily Harry's strangely emotional morning had left him somewhat emotionally numbed, which helped him keep from losing control on his efforts to suppress his magic. He concentrated hard on maintaining a sense of detachment from what he was hearing. He would remember everything said but not react to it now. He put his reactions to it all off for later when he was alone.
The meeting wore on and eventually people were leaving. Dumbledore stayed speaking to a few of the last to leave. Soon only Dumbledore and Snape remained.
"Why are you having the books taken to Hogwarts?" Snape asked.
"Best not to leave them here. Harry and his nosy friends may come across some information in them that we do not wish them to have. I'll allow Madam Pince to sort through them once she returns in September to see if any could be added to the Hogwarts library. The rest I'll have burnt by the elves." Dumbledore replied, "There it is again! That strange presence I felt earlier..."
"Calm blue ocean, calm blue ocean..." Harry thought to himself in the cupboard.
"It's gone again." Dumbledore said.
"Perhaps it's the mutt's ghost!" Snape said derisively.
"No Black is gone for good, Thank Merlin!" Dumbledore replied.
Dumbledore was looking around again, Harry saw. "Calm blue ocean, calm blue ocean..." Harry thought to himself in the cupboard again trying to push down both his magic and his emotions.
"Strange... But never mind." Dumbledore said, "I sensed that you omitted something from your report Severus. Is there some information about the death eaters that you did not wish the others to hear?"
"The Dark Lord's condition is far worse than is generally known but still he should not be underestimated." Snape replied warily.
Dumbledore nodded thinking for a moment. "Harry seems to have done more damage than I thought during the possession at the Department of Mysteries."
"It's a pity you did not take the opportunity to end them both at that time, Albus" Snape replied coldly.
"No Severus you must trust me. That was not the way." Dumbledore replied placing a reassuring hand on the potion Masters shoulder. "Let us return to the subject of Tom's current health."
"The Dark Lord has commanded me to brew the strongest healing potions known. While I can make them less than optimal, he would not be fooled for long with any attempt to make them totally ineffectual and would instantly know if I attempted to poison him." Snape said.
"No, you can not risk your cover. Brew the potions and only do what you can safely to slow his recovery for now. Do you have any idea of the time he will take to regain his full strength?" Dumbledore replied.
"At least several months and with his most senior death eaters in Azkaban except for Bellatrix Lestrange, he will be somewhat limited in his actions. He has ordered the continuation of the random attacks on muggles and the muggleborns but has had to postpone a number of other plans for now." Snape said.
"Then we have time to prepare. Let us use it wisely. This is good news but why so glum?" Dumbledore asked.
"There is another matter I need to discuss with you Albus. One not related to my duties as a member of the Order but as my duties as a godfather for young Draco." Snape said stiffly.
"It seems that following treatment for spell damage that occurred on the Hogwarts Express at the beginning of summer, a dormant characteristic Draco inherited from the Malfoy line has become dominant. In short Draco Malfoy has over the summer become a functional veela." Snape sighed.
"Oh dear!" Dumbledore exclaimed. "I believe it was Lucius's maternal grandmother who was the Veela."
"Yes! But it gets worse!" Snape replied, "Draco requires his life mate as soon as possible. Narcissa being without the usual assistance of her husband has asked me as Draco's godfather, to arrange their union."
"If you require some time off from you Order duties, I am sure that can be arranged, Severus." Dumbledore replied in a comforting tone.
"That won't be necessary Albus. You see for some inextricable reason Draco has chosen Potter as his life mate." Snape replied dragging his fingers through his greasy hair in frustration.
Dumbledore was silent for some time before replying, "I am sorry Severus but I don't think that would be in our interest..."
"As I informed Narcissa, Albus. But she insists I put it to you. She also offers a dowry for the hand of Potter." Snape said earnestly.
"This is not a matter of money, Severus. Harry is the heir to two vast fortunes, not that he knows it." Dumbledore replied.
"Two fortunes? I knew the Potters were extremely rich but what other... Oh! Black's money! That can hardly be as significant as the Potter's fortune." Snape said.
"Sirius made young Harry his full heir last year without my knowledge. Harry, has for all practical purposes, been adopted into the Black family and as Sirius was the controlling party of the Black Family Trust..." Dumbledore replied.
"Great Merlin, Potter controls the Black Family Trust! Lord knows what he will do with that kind of power! His arrogance will be..." Severus Snape said in a horrified tone.
"He does not know and I intend to ensure he never knows." Dumbledore stated. "I will utilise the resources of the Black Family Trust in Sirius's name as I have the Potter fortune using Harry's name."
"You forge their signatures? If the goblins ever find out..." Snape gasped.
"They will not. That is one of the reason's I keep Harry away from Diagon Alley and Gringotts in particular. He will remain ignorant of his wealth. He has more than enough in his trust account vault to pay for his school things. I pulled a number of strings in the past to ensure the Potter's will was never executed and will do so now to ensure Sirius's will is not enacted. Luckily without a body, Sirius will remain legally alive and a fugitive for years to come. The goblins will not expect him to attend personally and will accept any written and duly signed instructions regarding the Trust." Dumbledore said.
Snape sat there shaking his head in disbelief. "So you control both fortunes!" Snape replied.
"Yes, so you can see a dowry is of little use..." Dumbledore said.
"The dowry is not money Albus. It is something far more valuable. The complete financial records of Lucius Malfoy's dealings." Snape replied.
"I don't see..." Dumbledore started to reply but Snape interrupted him.
"You do not understand Albus. Lucius Malfoy oversaw the entire financial structure of the Dark Lord and the death eaters. Every hidden account, every bribe, every payment, every safe house, every purchase is detailed in those records." Snape replied.
Albus Dumbledore was stunned.
"Yes, Albus with that information we could strike a massive blow against the Dark Lord's organisation. It would be crippled for years to come." Snape replied.
"And you are sure this information is trustworthy?" Albus asked.
"I believe so Albus. Narcissa has always given Draco anything he has wanted and this is the price she is willing to pay. It is also clear she at least suspects my role as your spy but she has not passed that information to her sister or the Dark Lord. I would already be dead if that had happened." Snape said tensely. "She has offered a unique dowry but the price is Potter!"
"You do not sound happy with this offer, Severus. What is the matter?" Albus replied looking at the clearly agitated man.
"What is the matter, Albus!" Snape exclaimed, "My godson decides he wants to be the life mate of that brat Potter and you ask what is the matter!"
"It is better than losing Draco to the Dark Lord, Severus." Dumbledore replied, "But this may even work in our favour."
"You can't be serious!" Snape stated.
"Oh but I am. Draco could wield great control over Harry with his veela powers. With your influence over the young Mr Malfoy it would give us a great advantage in keep Harry under control. I am afraid after the events of last year Harry has become somewhat rebellious and demanding towards me. He insists I share all information regarding himself with him immediately. That would present us with considerable difficulties in our future plans."
"The brat should be made to do as he is told!" Snape sneered.
"With Mr Malfoy's control he would!" Dumbledore replied calmly, "Yes I believe this may be a godsend to our plans all round. It is certainly a better option than the thrall laws."
"The thrall laws!" Snape said surprised, "You were considering making Potter a thrall to the prophecy?"
"Yes, if the current difficulties I face with Harry were to increase, I would have no option but to consider more direct forms of controlling the boy. The thrall laws although extreme would allow me absolute control over Harry. But the disadvantages would be the prophecy would become known to the Minister." Dumbledore replied.
"And Voldemort would know shortly after that idiot Fudge opened his mouth." Snape said nodding.
"Yes. I was going to see how this school year progressed before I decided on a final decision regarding the Thrall laws. But now with your news of Draco's choice of mate, a whole new range of possibilities have emerged." Dumbledore said happily.
"But the mere thought of Draco having to spend his entire life with that... that BRAT!" Snape replied.
Dumbledore ignored the outburst and asked, "Do you think Harry's occlumency skills are capable of blocking Draco's Veela powers?"
"No! The brat was hopeless as I told you. The minute Draco looses his power at Potter, Potter will be grovelling at his feet." Snape said in disgust.
"Excellent!" Dumbledore replied nodding happily. "You may inform Narcissa Malfoy that her offer is let us get back to Hogwarts. And Severus, not a word about this to anyone! We will get Draco and Harry together the minute they arrive back at Hogwarts! It is all for the greater good!"
"Calm blue ocean, calm blue ocean..." Harry thought to himself in the cupboard.
Harry stayed in the cupboard for a long time trying not to lose control of his rage. He knew he had to wait to be sure that the house was empty again before letting go. Finally after about half an hour of silence he crawled out of the cupboard.
"Dobby!" He called and the elf appeared. "Did you do as the headmaster asked?" Harry said hoping against hope.
"No Harry Potter, Dobby is Harry Potters elf now. Dobby is not having to follow headmaster's orders. Dobby is thinking Harry Potter is wanting all papers. Dobby be not burning them. Dobby be putting then in trunk with books for Harry Potter to take home." Dobby said holding out the shrunken trunk. Harry took it as he said. "Thank Merlin, Dobby! That's excellent Dobby, really excellent. I can't tell you how much it means to me that you saved all those things. "
"Dobby is so happy to be Harry Potters elf. Harry Potter is greatest wizard to ever live." Dobby hoped up and down in joy at Harry's praise.
"I'm glad too Dobby but remember, no one can know you and Winky are my elves yet. It's a secret!" Harry said.
"Dobby knows. Dobby and Winky pretend to still work for Headmaster till Harry Potter says so. No one find out till Harry Potter tells everyone!" Dobby replied nodding.
"That's good Dobby. Now you better go back to Hogwarts before you are missed. I have to get to Gringotts and get Sirius's will enacted and find out about my parents money. Then I have to get back to Privit Drive without getting caught." Harry said. Dobby popped away and Harry headed for the front door with the shrunken trunk Dobby had given him safely in his backpack.
8888888888888888888888888888888888 END OF FLASHBACK 88888888888888888888888888888888888888
"So I have read every book ever written about Occlumency and have been practicing it all summer like mad. Seems to have paid off just now! So that's the first hurdle out of the way." Harry told Neville, "Now for the next one I am going to need your help, Neville."
"Anyway I can Harry. What do you want me to do?" Neville asked eagerly.
"What do you know of the traditional formal courtship practices of the wizarding world?" Harry asked.
"Gran's always going on about the old ways... You can't mean to announce your intention to wed under those?" Neville asked horrified.
"Precisely! Think of it Neville. Draco will have to prove he is the most eligible partner for me and the process is excruciatingly complex and slow. And with the right help it can be drawn out for a long time. That's why I need your help. The House of Potter has no one in it but me and the House of Black has no one I can use either. So in short I wonder if I could impose on you and borrow your Gran as my Matriarch of Proceedings!"
"Merlin! Harry you are out of your mind. Do you have any idea what you are asking? Gran would kill for the chance to do something like this. Are you really sure?" Neville asked not believing Harry would really go through with it but Harry just nodded yes so Neville with a disbelieving shake of his head continued, " Okay! I'll write to Gran and ask her. She is going to flip! Just don't say I didn't warn you!"
"Thanks Neville. Don't forget to mention that this will screw with Malfoy's and Snape's plans. I believe your family owes them both some payback! " Harry said.
"Yeah! She'll like that!" Neville said as he began writing on as piece of parchment Harry had given him.
"And perhaps she could find you a bride at the same time Neville!" Harry said grinning maliciously.
Neville's head shot up and he glared at Harry. "Mention one word like that to my Gran, Potter and you are dead meat!" Neville said forcefully.
Harry just laughed as he pulled out a small pensieve he had purchased over the summer. Harry began pulling out memories with his wand.
"Harry! What are you doing?" Neville asked as he watched what Harry was doing.
"I'm just extracting a few memories of the meeting in the headmaster's office to send to one of the school governors with my complaint, Neville. Actually you should look at it before I send it. You'll love it!" Harry replied.
It wasn't long before Neville's and Harry's letters were written and Neville was inside the pensieve watching Harry punch Snape right in the face.
Neville emerged and simply said, "Brilliant!"
"Who should I send it to, do you think?" Harry asked thinking about the various school governors.
"Send it to Madam Bones, Harry. She's one of the school governors and a real stickler for the rules. She is also head of Magical Law enforcement and might bring Snape up on charges too!"
"Excellent Neville. I remember her from my trial last year. The one with the monocle." Harry replied.
"Yeah she's Susan Bones' aunt and guardian. I know Susan likes you, being in the DA and all. So hopefully Madam Bones will back you too." Neville said.
"You know Neville a lot of people underestimate how brilliant you really are! Now lets send these and get back to the feast. I'm starving!" Harry replied and soon two owls were on their way from Hogwarts carrying letters that would have profound outcomes for the entire wizarding world.