Greengrass Manor
Greengrass Manor was nothing like Harry had imagined it to be. He had felt that the place would be like Potter Manor but it looked like a house that had been lived in. There was a homely feeling in it and he felt welcome.
They had arrived in front of the heavy oak wood gates which were adorned with the Greengrass crest. At Daphne's touch, the gates opened inside noiselessly and they walked in. When they reached the entrance chamber of the manor, an elf appeared before them, "Can Dipsy be taking master's cloak?"
Harry looked at the elf in amazement before giving his cloak to her. As the elf disappeared, Daphne led him to the parlour where a girl was sitting.
"Tori, how was your day?" Daphne asked of the girl who looked up. She was exactly like Daphne except she had blond hair and brown eyes instead of brown hair and blue eyes like her sister.
The girl looked at Harry and said indignantly, "You could have told me that you are brining Harry Freaking Potter home today, Daphne."
Harry cleared his throat, "My middle name is James."
Daphne snorted while the younger girl said, "Irrelevant."
"Tori, behave. I have told you that Harry is a friend", Daphne said sternly.
"Yet you never told me that you are bringing him home", she said.
Daphne sighed, "Alright. It was a mistake. Now Lord Potter-Black this is my younger sister, Astoria and Astoria, this is Lord Harry James Potter-Black."
Astoria shook his head, "Feels good knowing you after having studied at the same place for four years. I am Astoria Greengrass, 5th year Ravenclaw."
"A pleasure, Ms. Greengrass", Harry said.
"Astoria, please leave us so that I can talk to Harry here", she said and the younger sister stood up grumbling.
After Astoria was gone, Daphne asked Harry, "So Harry, how about some answers?"
"I remember my promise", Harry said, "Ask your questions. If I am not comfortable, I won't be answering those questions though."
She nodded, "There have been a lot of rumours about you over the years, mostly fuelled by those books that were written with you as the hero..."
"What books?", Harry could not resist asking. He knew he was mentioned in some books but he had never seen even one of those books.
"There were a series of books with a young wizard called 'Harry Potter' who lived in a castle, rode hippogriffs, had pet unicorns and was taught by Merlin."
Harry snorted, "Really? I haven't seen even one of those books."
"Trust me those books were so popular at a time that every child was read those stories at bedside. Many witches used to dream that they would grow up to marry Harry Potter. Many in fact wrote love letters to the boy-who-lived hoping he would answer them. I am sure you would have seen some if not all of those letters."
"I never got any letter", Harry told her, "In fact, I never got a letter by an owl before I got my Hogwarts letter."
"But how is that possible?" she asked, "I myself wrote letters to you on your birthday in childhood..."
She caught herself as she realised what she was saying and Harry chuckled, "You wrote letters to me for birthday?"
She said embarrassedly, "Yes, I did write a few letters to you on your birthday and hoped to get an answer every year. I eventually stopped writing when I never received an answer to any of them."
"That and the fact that Tracy crushed so hard on you that Daphne didn't wanted to come between her friend and you", said Astoria from doorway before running away from the spell sent at her by sister.
Harry uncomfortably asked, "What was she telling about Tracy?"
"Umm... Tracy crushed on you but being in different houses she could not work up her courage", Daphne told him, "That and the fact that she was a half-blood in Slytherin, she had to stay aloof of Gryffindors if she wanted to avoid trouble."
"And I thought they all hated me", Harry said.
"Not everyone hated you, Harry. You never noticed the looks that girls gave to you? You had admirers in every house. We just kind of stayed aloof of open displays."
"Interesting."
"So, those answers. There were rumours that you had made Quirrell disappear?"
"Going to the hard questions first?" he chuckled.
"Alright. Quirrell was not what he seemed to be. You remember he always stuttered, seemed to suffer from lack of confidence and kind of afraid of his shadow?"
She nodded and he continued, "So, it turns out that he was not what he pretended to be. When he started teaching defense to us, he was already being possessed by Voldemort who was after the Sorcerer's stone which was being kept in school for safety. He wanted to get the stone and Dumbledore had made it a mission to stop from coming back. The Flammels had entrusted Dumbledore to keep it safe and Dumbledore kept it in the castle for safekeeping and to lure Voldemort. I guess he wanted to capture whatever was remained of Voldemort and may be getting him the Dementor's kiss or something. We found about it and decided to take the stone for ourselves to keep it safe from falling into Voldemort's hands. Well I had thought that Snape was after it but it turns out that Quirrell was."
Daphne's eyes were spread in surprise, "And how did you reach the stone? I mean there must have been protections around it."
"There were some protections but we were able to cross them. There was a Devil's Snare, Keys charms to fly, a troll, a giant chess set which Ron defeated, a troll, a potions riddle and then the Mirror of Erised."
"Most of them are hurdles that a first year could cross, Harry. I think Dumbledore would have kept protections that would keep Voldemort harried."
Harry shook his head, "I know. I thought the same thing at that time but now it makes sense. Dumbledore was acting like a hunter who was going to trap someone. Now a hunter would not put traps that anyone cannot cross but he would keep tasks that would look simple are not. The Potions riddle was purely based on logic then one had to play with the giant chess set. The last hurdle was the Mirror of Erised in which Dumbledore had hidden the stone."
"What is Mirror of Erised?" she asked.
"A very dangerous artefact. It is a mirror which shows people's greatest desires to them but that is only an illusion and not a reality. Many a great wizards have lost their minds, their peace under its illusion. Now, Dumbledore had enchanted the mirror so that anyone could see the stone in it but only those wanted to save the stone could get it. Voldemort could have stood there and waited all night but he couldn't have got the stone."
"Was that the reason that Dumbledore gave you all those points at the end of year?" she asked.
"Yes."
"We hated him for that. I get it now that he was justified in giving those points to you but he could have given them before the feast started."
Harry smiled in remembrance, "It was a fine night for us that someone recognised our efforts."
"You didn't tell me what happened to Quirrell?" she said.
"My mother's protection is in my blood and it saves from any attack. Quirrell tried to choke me but burned away due to that protection."
Daphne was horrified, "I had no idea that you had to face that at the age of 11."
Harry tried to divert the topic, "That was nothing compared to when I killed the Basilisk."
She swatted him on his hand, "Don't talk like that, Prat."
Harry grinned, "I didn't know that you can swear."
"She reserves it for special people", said Astoria peeping from behind one of the walls of the chamber and ducked away as Daphne turned to her.
"Don't mind her Harry", said Daphne, "Now tell me about your enmity with Professor Snape. I mean I know he was a sullen, hostile bloke but he seemed to loathe you and Longbottom for some reason."
Harry snorted, "Snape liked to get his dander up by just seeing us. I mean he hated me since I was born just because I was James Potter's son. It also did not help that he liked my mother and she married his arch enemy. There are some other reasons that I cannot tell right now. It is something that is the reason behind me and Neville becoming orphans at the end of the first war."
She nodded, "There is something that has been bothering me Harry. I mean I understand you grew up with your muggle relatives so you don't know anything about your station in our society but did you never think that since you were so famous, you would have got letters from your fans during your childhood? And I can guess that you never got a letter from anyone but surely the quarterly account statements from the Goblins were sent to you."
"I never got around thinking like that. I mean I had friends, I was happy for the first time in life when I came to Hogwarts so there was no reason for me to think about those things. As for account statements, there is someone who has to answer these questions."
"Who?"
"Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore", he said, "he owes me some answers even after his death."
"But Harry, isn't he, you know, dead?"
"He is. But he has a portrait in Hogwarts and I want some answers from him."
"I can come with you, if you want", she offered.
He nodded, "Sure. I will need your help. I'd have asked Hermione but she is not here and since you know this stuff, I would like if you'd come."
She nodded and Daphne's elf appeared before them holding a bottle of Firewhiskey and two tumblers, "Dinner be ready soon, Mistress."
The elf popped away and Harry asked her, "You drink Firewhiskey?"
"Yes, it helps with the nightmares", she said trying not to look at him.
"What happened?", he asked.
"My father. He was the leader of the neutral faction and Voldemort was trying to recruit him. Last year, when we went to Hogwarts he told me that he was going in hiding but they somehow got him and killed him. Before that, Tracy was killed with her entire family by the death eaters."
"I am sorry, Daphne. I had no idea", he said.
"But now we all are trying to move forward thanks to you", she said.
"So firewhiskey can make you nightmares go away permanently?", he asked.
"No but it makes me forget them or my cries would keep Astoria awake at all times", she said.
Harry nodded and opened the bottle with a flick of his wand pouring generous amount in the tumblers and handed one to her, "Cheers!"
"Harry, do you have nightmares?"
Harry smiled ruefully, "I have a lot of them, Daphne. I still see Cedric dying from the killing curse cast by Peter Pettigrew, I can see Sirius falling through the veil, Dolores Umbridge torturing me with that horrible quill of hers, I can still see Dumbledore falling over the Astronomy tower, I can hear the cries of my friends in my ears as they died in the Battle of Hogwarts and I still see Dobby dying in my arms."
"I never realised that you have faced so much pain in your short yet significant life, Harry. I don't think that anyone who has not known you in Hogwarts would even know about it. Why you never said anything?"
"Because I already had so many things to do on my hands without having to people come to me and pity me every time I was in public. I would have been content to live my life normally after the war but alas! It is something of a wistful dream I guess. The ministry workers have started treating me as one of their own but every time I am in Diagon Alley, I am mobbed."
She asked, "Does it ever get easy?"
"No but you become used to, I guess", he said.
"Okay, enough talk. Now finish your drinks quickly so that we can eat in peace", said Astoria who had entered.
"Tori..."
"Don't TORI me, Daph. It is already getting late and I am sure that Lord Potter has to go home or you intend for him to stay?"
It was innocuous in itself but Harry coloured visibly, "You are right, Ms. Greengrass."
I know you, Potter
The next day, Harry woke up with a pounding headache and his own bed at Grimmauld Place. As he woke up, Kreacher apparated in the room, bellowing in his bull frog voice, "Master is awake. Master be hurry or he will be late to the ministry."
Harry jumped out of the bed, gratefully accepting the hangover potion given to him by the elf and ran in the bathroom. When he came out, he remembered that he had not a single nightmare the last night and he could not remember how he had come back.
He joined Andromeda at the dining table, who was frowning at him, "Andromeda, what is the matter?"
"I did not like what you did last night, Harry", she said sternly.
"What? What did I do?"
"You can home barely hanging with Kreacher and you were drunk as a skunk", she said, "And then you scared Teddy. If I see you so drunk another time, I will leave Grimmauld place at once."
Bits and pieces of the last night came to his mind and the more ridiculous toasts that he and Daphne had proposed of which "Dumbledore's beard, Minerva's Tartan cloak" and "Snape's greasy hair" were the ones that he remembered. He remembered that he was in no condition to apparate or floo and had called Kreacher who brought him back. Beyond that he had no recollection.
"Sorry Andromeda, it won't happen again", he said.
"Harry, I understand you are in the age where these things are pretty common but try to keep things under control. If news were to go out about it, people would ridicule you."
He nodded, "I promise it won't happen again."
"Good now get going to the ministry. The minister has already flooed twice and asked for you. I want to hear about yesterday when you return in the evening."
At the ministry, he was directly sent to the office of the Minister who was eagerly waiting for him.
"Kingsley how can I help?", Harry asked.
"Harry, we never got to talk after the Wizengamot session. Thank you for keeping me in the position of the Minister of Magic", Kingsley told him.
"It was not my doing alone, Kingsley", Harry told him, and "Everyone wants you there because you are able to do it."
"Harry, the Weasleys have applied to foster a child."
"What?", Harry asked in wonder.
"Yes. Arthur was here just before you and he told me that Molly want to foster a child under their roof."
"And can they?", Harry asked.
"Yes. They are more than qualified, Harry. Besides they are not asking to adopt any child but merely to foster them in their home. Fostering can be allowed if we find that the family can provide for them."
"And what do you want me do with it?", Harry asked.
"Harry, I want you to think what I should tell them. Do you think they can foster a child and provide for all of its needs?"
"If you honestly ask me Kingsley then they took me in without asking anything. Ron, Fred and George brought me to their home after having rescued me from Dursleys in the middle of night and since then they have looked for my welfare. They treated me as one of their own which went as far as gifting me a watch on my 17th birthday as per the tradition. They readily joined the Order, fought with death eaters and lost a son for all of us. If they are not the worthy candidates then no one else would."
"I will approve their request then", Kingsley nodded in affirmation.
"Ron will be stoked for find a new sibling", Harry said and Kingsley laughed heartily and then adopted sombre demeanour.
"The real reason that I have called you here is because we have finalised the date for the death eater trials", Kingsley said.
"When will they start?", Harry asked.
"After two weeks", Kingsley told him, "We are going to face some troubles down the road because we would be hard pressed to find anything to incriminate many of them."
"Why don't we shove Veritaserum down their throats and get them to confess their crimes?, Harry asked.
"Veritaserum is a potion that can be used only in controlled measures", Kingsley explained, "its use is extremely regulated and even the light faction had its reservations in allowing it to be used freely. That was one of the reasons that we could not use it against the death eaters during the last war."
"I will see what I can do about it", Harry told him, "Who is the first to be tried?"
"The Malfoys are slated to go first", Kingsley said, "What did Narcissa Malfoy wanted from you though?"
"She wanted immunity for her husband and son", Harry told him, "But I told her that it can't be done. Her husband's crimes cannot be pardoned at all. He has committed so many of them that I cannot bring myself to ask for forgiveness for him. Her son though is another matter. He jumped into the thick of things without thinking things through and then got cold feet when he realised what he was in for. He brought the death eaters in the school but he could not kill Albus Dumbledore. He was young and he had the pressure of saving his family from Voldemort. He carved under pressure but then he got cold feet. Slimy ferret he may be but he lied for me on one occasion and then his mother lied for me to Voldemort."
"So you are saying that we should let him go with a slap on the wrist?", Kingsley asked.
"No, I am not saying that. But sending him to Azkaban or any prison will serve no purpose to us. We can still punish him like taking away his wand for a couple of years, sentencing him to community service, forfeiting his fortune and the likes."
Kingsley smiled, "A great idea, Harry. Alright I will let you defend the boy in front of the Wizengamot."
"But... But why me?"
"The wizengamot would be lenient to him then only if you were to ask them."
"Alright", said Harry, "Now can I leave?"
"Yes you are free to go", Kingsley said, "Since you cannot sit on the Wizengamot for these trials you will act as an Auror and would be called to give your statement when required by the Wizengamot. I guess you will be called in when we are trying Dolores Umbridge."
Auror Offices
All the recruits were standing before the Head Auror Gawain Robards who looked angry, "New instructions from now. All f you will report to the office before 6 in the morning. We are going old school and installing the regime which existed during the first war. Aurors have been known for their fierceness and their ability to deal with anything. It is what I intend for you to become."
He then pointed to Dean, "Thomas, what is the first rule of being an Auror?"
Dean spluttered, "Uh... do... do your duty?"
"Wrong. Constant Vigilance. That is the first lesson that you learn when you train to become an Auror. When these death eater trials end, those who wish to join will be sent to the advanced training in the Auror Academy which will go for three years at the end of which you will be inducted into the Auror corps. From now, every day that you are in this office for training you will expect to be attacked just to test your alertness to your surroundings. Is that clear?"
"Yes sir", said all the recruits and then Robards dismissed them except Harry, "Potter, I want to talk to you."
Harry stayed behind and when everyone was gone, Robards turned to him, "Potter, there is something that you have got to do for me."
"What can I do for you?"
"These new recruits and many of our own Aurors respect you. I mean yes you are man-who-conquered and that trope that the Daily Prophet spouts everyday but from what I have known you are more than that."
"What do you mean?", Harry asked, clearly not able to understand what he meant.
"I have been watching you since you returned to the Wizarding World. I have followed you closely enough to know that you have done things that ordinary wizards can't do. Your adventures with the stone, the business of the Chamber of Secrets, your patronus, the ordeal that was the third task of the Twiwizard tournament, the year when Umbridge was stationed at Hogwarts, Dumbledore's death. Everything that you have been through in school is known to me except what Dumbledore taught you."
"And how do you know?", Harry asked him apprehensively.
"I am an Auror, Potter. When a year old child manages to vanquish a dark lord that none can beat, it is obvious to become interested. Because at that time no one knew if you weren't going to become the next dark lord. I wanted to be prepared if the worst case scenario unfolded. Unknown to anyone, I have been following your movements through school and I was always tempted to come and offer my help at times but that would have raised several issues. Dumbledore actually caught me in this and I had to assure him that my intentions were noble. From what I have seen, you are a true leader and you inspire loyalty in them in such a way that no one else can. I won't remain in this office for much long. Sooner or later, I will be the head of DMLE and then I will need someone capable here. Of all these Aurors that I have, Proudfoot is most able of them but he is only good at taking orders and following them but what it takes to be the Head Auror is the ability to make the hard decisions if it comes to it. I know you have a lot of options available for you in matters of employment and that you have so much money that you can choose to live off on that income alone. However, I ask of you to stay beside me and help me change things. We already started bringing these changes when and Kingsley decided to recruit Muggle-borns in the Auror force. Kingsley plans to make changes so that the top positions of the ministry won't be reserved only for pure bloods but can be taken by half bloods and muggle born too. In all these centuries that we have existed, do you know that we had only one muggle born minister and he had to resign because of the pressure exerted by the pure blood supremacists?"
"I didn't know. So what do you want me to do?"
"I know everyone sees you as Dumbledore's successor and it is a given considering the relationship that you and he shared but I seek to groom you as my successor in this position. I will train you to the best Auror that you can be. Do you accept my offer?"
"I will think about it, Gawain. It is a lot to think about. Is there anything else you want me to do?"
"Yes, I have prepared the schedule of Auror duties throughout the trials. I am putting in charge of the entire operation. Being the Head Auror, it is upon me to conduct the trials and so I will not be able to do this task. Proudfoot will be assisting me with my duties as Assistant Prosecutor. I will send the schedule to you this evening."
"Okay. What I am to do today?"
"I am getting a team of wizards ready. We are going to escort some unspeakables to Azkaban Prison."
"What are they going to do at Azkaban Prison?", Harry asked.
"Kingsley is going to call for an Emergency Session of the Wizengamot the next week to seek their permission to install security measure other than the dementors. He feels that the Dementors are not reliable guards and we need to have some other way."
"And what we will do with the Dementors?"
"That is what the unspeakables will try to find out", he said.
Longbottom Manor
When Harry returned from Azkaban Prison, he was tired. Being near the Dementors for so long was draining for him but those fiendish beasts had kept their distance. A team of 5 unspeakables had gone with them and they had conducted all sorts of experiments at the prison to determine what they could do to increase the custody of the fortress without needing the dementors at all. A couple of them had been probing some of the open ground of the other side of the prison where there was a graveyard. The ministry had decided that the graves present there would have to be dug out and the remains to be disposed. After that a pit will be dug to imprison the Dementors there.
When he was finally free in the evening, all the members of his squad i.e. Dean Thomas, Seamus Finnigan, Harry Potter, Proudfoot and Neville had been allowed to go home and take the next day off.
As they were on the way to the Atrium, Harry said to Neville, "Your gran would be awake right now?"
He nodded, "She does not go to sleep until I have returned from the Ministry. Why?"
"Kingsley is calling a session of the Wizengamot next week. I wanted to talk to her about it."
Neville grinned, "Oh Gran is going to be so vexed."
When he flooed to the Manor, Augusta Longbottom was sitting at the dinner table and she smiled when she saw the duo, "Welcome Lord Potter. Is there a special reason for this visit?"
Harry told her all about what Kingsley had told him during the day and in no time, her nostrils were flared and she looked like she was shaking with rage, "Thank you for letting me know. I will deal with him appropriately. As it happens, we have a motion to put to the body."
"But you are not going to get him out of his position as the minister, are you Gran?", Neville asked nervously.
"No. We didn't place him there to remove him at first mistake, Neville. What I am going to do is to tell him to behave."
"There is something else that I have been thinking about", Harry said.
"What is that?"
"Veritaserum is a controlled substance that is regulated by the guidelines of the Ministry. But we also know how effective this potion can be. I know there is good reason that it can't be used with abandon but why can't we use it on the hardened death eaters? I mean we use it on a few of them and they will rat out many others."
She smiled, "That is a good idea, Lord Potter. So what do you want me to do?"
"Madam Longbottom, how about we put a motion before the Wizengamot that we will allow its use on some of the death eaters even though very sparingly?"
"That will solve a lot of problems for us, Lord Potter. I will think about it. We will need to call a meeting of our allies soon."
With that she stood, "I am going to retire for the night, Neville. Don't stay up for too long."
When she was gone, Harry turned to him, "Do you have any fire whiskey around this place?"
Neville grinned, "I am sure some can be found around this place."
Needless to say, Harry did not return to the Black townhouse that night.
Black Townhouse
The next morning, Harry returned to Black Townhouse and Andromeda was in sour mood, "Where have you been?"
"What happened?", he asked worriedly.
"We were worried. You went to the Ministry and then you didn't return home. You didn't send a message or something. I tried Kingsley and he told me that you had left the ministry at time. I flooed the Weasleys and even Daphne but there was nothing."
"Did you try the Longbottoms?", he asked.
"No. You were at the Longbottoms?"
"Yes, Andromeda. We were discussing some urgent business in light of the upcoming death eater trials."
"Harry, if you are running late or have no plans of coming home any night then please drop me a line or two."
"I am sorry, Andromeda. I will keep that in mind."
"Now tell me how is Potter Manor."
A dreamy look came on him, "Potter Manor felt like home. I mean something was there that made me feel welcome just like Hogwarts. It was like the house itself was overjoyed to see me. And now I feel..."
"Harry do you want to live in Potter Manor?", she asked clearly.
"Andromeda, I do want to live in Potter Manor but I can't leave you alone without anyone to look after", he said, "And I get to see Teddy everyday that I am here."
"Harry, we are not going away. We are pretty safe here. This place is protected by a Fidelius Charm and no one can enter the house anyway until you tell the secret to them. You can visit us anytime you want."
"There are a few things that I need to do before I can go. I will need at least one house elf because the manor is so big and I am but one wizard. And I am not sure where I can get a few elves."
She laughed, "Why don't you go and ask Minerva. I am pretty sure that Hogwarts have some house elves that she can give to you."
"Do I have to bond them with me?", he asked.
"Of course. Why?"
"Is that not slavery? I mean they do all of our work in exchange of nothing."
She chuckled, "Spoke like a muggle born, Harry. House elves share our magic and it sustains them. Without a bond they can die. They need magic to feed on and remain healthy."
"You can setting one free can kill them?", he asked.
"Yes. That is why they are so scared of being given clothes. However, if you want then you can get a house elf and pay them for their services not as wages but like money to splurge on themselves. That way, you technically will not be making them a slave and they won't have to die without magic."
"That means I will have to go to Hogwarts, today", he said standing, "I will be down in an hour."
"Hello Harry", said Daphne Greengrass who had just stumbled out of the floo.
"Daphne, what brings you here?", he asked.
"I had received a message from Elder Longbottom and it mentioned some agenda for the meeting today evening at Longbottom manor. I thought I would come and see if Andromeda got a similar invite."
"I saw an owl enter the place about an hour ago but since it was in the name of Lord Black and Lord Potter, I did not deign to open it."
"Andromeda, will you please open those letters and tell me what is in it?", said Harry, "We are going to have to discuss the agenda before we go to Longbottom manor."
He then turned to Daphne, "I am going to Hogwarts to meet Minerva McGonagall today and hopefully to talk to Dumbledore's portrait. Will you come with me?"
"I would love to, Harry but are you sure you want me along? I mean he may talk about some private things also."
"There is nothing private about my life that I haven't already told you. Besides he speaks in such riddles that I guess I will need someone to understand it. Usually Hermione did it for me but since she is not here, will you come with me?"
"I will be glad to come with you", she said.
"Before you go Harry, Hagrid sent 5 Snowy Owls yesterday. I am baffled at where did he find so many."
Harry grinned, "They are Hedwig's children. Apparently my owl had a more colourful life than me in Hogwarts."
Hogwarts
Harry Potter boldly walked up to the office of the Head Mistress and no one stopped him on the way. It helped that he wore his expressions in a mask and the workers were busy in carrying out the routine maintenance work.
The gargoyle which guarded the Headmaster's office hadn't been installed yet so Harry had no problem in taking the ascending stairs to the office. Inside he could hear many voices at once and when he knocked all the voices went silent and McGonagall's voice came, "Enter."
Harry entered and found that the office was empty except for the Headmistress who had replaced Dumbledore's chair with one of her hard back ones.
"Harry and Daphne", she said rising, "Welcome. I was about to send for you."
"What happened, Professor?", Harry asked.
"Lately I had been wondering if you will return for repeat year. I know the ministry is offering for you to take NEWTs at the ministry at the end of August but I had kind of hoped that you will come. And I have kept the Head Boy badge for you."
"Professor, as tempting it may sound but I am not returning. In the last month or so I have learnt a lot about my station in life and my duties that I can't take time away from them. I would love to become the Head Boy as my father was in his day but I don't think I can spend a year in the castle."
Her countenance was dimmed for a minute, "Do you know anyone who will be returning for final year?"
"Professor, from what I know only Hermione has shown any interest in returning for the next year."
She nodded, "I had received a letter from Ms. Granger about a week ago and I have decided to make her the Head Girl. If none of you boys are returning then I will have to give the badge to someone from Ginny Weasley's year."
"That will not be too bad, Professor. I mean if things were right, they would have been the senior most class anyway. And any returning student can do without taking the additional burden of being the Head Boy or Head Girl. Hermione, however, would just love it."
"So what is the reason for your coming here?"
"Professor, actually I visited Potter Manor a couple of days ago and I find it to be too big for one person to clean and manage. I thought maybe you have a couple of House Elves that I can bond with myself. I am even ready to pay them for their services though not directly calling it as wages."
"I will see what I can do, Harry. Anything else?"
"I wanted to talk to Professor Dumbledore. There are things that I have to ask him."
Dumbledore's portrait, which was feigning sleep, woke up, "Of course. I think it's about time."
Then the portrait turned to Professor McGonagall, "Minerva, please step outside so that I can talk to Harry. There are things that must be discussed between us."
"Are you sure, Albus?"
"Yes, Minerva."
After Professor McGonagall had left, Dumbledore started speaking, "I take it that you are comfortable with Ms. Greengrass hearing everything that will be said here?"
"Yes Professor."
"So, I can guess some of the questions which are coming to your mind. Firstly, you are here to talk about your inheritance, right?"
"Yes. You could have at least told me. Why did you keep it from me?"
"When I sent you to live with your uncle and aunty, my primary concern was for your safety. The only person that could be trusted had been arrested on charges of betraying your parents. Other than him there was no one else that I could take you to. Since you were living with muggles, I could not reach out to you to teach these things. In those ten years I had no contact with you except watching you from afar and taking care of you. When you returned you were so happy being with your friends and every year there was some new problem in the school so I just could not take time for you."
"That sounds like an excuse, Headmaster", said Daphne.
"Observant as ever, Ms. Greengrass but I had no occasion to help him learn these things. Also he was trying to make his own name apart from the fame of the boy-who-lived and I could not interfere with that. He would not have been able to take his seat without reaching 17 either. I was also not his parent or guardian so I could not make those decisions for him. I did the best that I could in my limited capacity. I hope you will understand the limited choices of an old man."
"It's water under the bridge, Headmaster. The Goblins told me that they have been sending letters to me over the years. Why I never got one?"
"Hundreds of owls going to a muggle house would make it very suspicious, don't you think? And what if someone sent you a curse or a port key through a letter? To avoid anything from happening, I put a mail ward on you. Due to the presence of the ward, many letters which were otherwise harmful never reached you. Thousands of letters which were fan mails or love letters written by little girls were also sent..."
"Surely you are joking. No one would write such letters to me", Harry said incredulously.
"No, he is not", Daphne said, "Even I wrote some of them and so did Tracey and Astoria."
"You wrote love letters to me?", Harry snorted, "I mean why and your parents did not object to it?"
Daphne blushed hard and Dumbledore chuckled before answering, "To them, it was a child's indulgence. They knew that you were a mere boy and that nothing would ever come out of it. However none of those letters have been thrown out but they are being kept in a room in the dungeons. Minerva will have them delivered to you, if you so desire."
Harry cringed, "Please, I don't need to read the fan mails however I would like to see if there was any useful letter in those piles."
"Understandable, my boy. Also, I would recommend for you to see Professor Bethsheda Babbling before you leave for today or you can wait for a few days when it will be broken by itself."
""What do you mean?"
"The ward was set to expire on your 18th birthday. Since it will be your birthday in a month, the ward will expire by itself. You can always choose to get it broken by yourself."
"Professor I have received letters from many people", he said, "How did those letter get to me then?"
"I had it tweaked when you returned to our world. I allowed exceptions for those who were your friends, family and for ministerial correspondences. That is how you have been receiving letters from friends and family."
"So, what about the letters from the goblins?"
"The Goblin correspondences were duly returned to the Bank every quarter by me and I told them their Chief that due to your condition, you could not handle those finances by yourselves. I also told them they can invest your gold to make it grow but every such investment was to be checked with me beforehand. All the money that your investments generated has been deposited in your account for the last 17 years."
"Head Master, what about those Harry Potter books? I mean the writer must have needed permission to write those stories and publish them?" Daphne asked. It was something that had just came to her all of a sudden.
"I was contacted by several persons who were interested in writing story books featuring the boy-who-lived. I was publically known as your guardian which I am not but the Ministry made it sound so. I allowed one of them to do it after he had given me very good deal on those books. He consented to share 30% of the profits with me which in last 17 years has been a small fortune. The royalty alone has been somewhere in the neighbourhood of 2 million Galleons. It has been going in a separate account and the key of the account has been left with my brother Aberforth. The account is bringing you a decent sum every day. If you take my advise I would suggest you to write your adventures and publish them as next in the series."
"I am not in favour of it, Head Master", Harry said vehemently.
"Harry, everyone deserves to know the truth. They deserve to know so that there cannot be another Tom Riddle. I am not asking you to tell them everything but tell them enough so that Wizarding World would know of its folly. You are a leader now and you must take steps to make sure that another Tom Riddle does not arise again. There will be lot of resentment against the pure blood at the moment and in coming days for the muggle-borns will feel that they are being given preferential treatment. There has been resentment but with your victory they will become vocal and that can lead to problems. It will be upon you to make sure that it does not happen."
"How I am supposed to do this?", Harry asked, "I mean I am not you."
Dumbledore chuckled heartily, "My boy! It took me 30 years to learn the qualities of leadership and even then I was afraid of the power. You know I was very reluctant to take these mantels that were thrust upon me but the needs of the society forced me to do so. I know it may seem injustice to you Harry but sometimes we should not complain."
"I will see what I can do, Professor", Harry said, "My next question is that why you never told me of my family History? I mean you definitely knew about my family because you had been following the Deathly Hallows, then why?"
"You have to understand Harry that there has never been any information available about your family in public domain. No one ever knew how many members were in your family. In fact, I haven't ever met someone who has seen the Potter Family tree. It was only when you father arrived at Hogwarts that I knew your grandfather Fleamont was the only son of house Potter before James was born. I only remember that there was a small notification in the Daily Prophet when your grandfather had married. When you became my charge, I tried to find more about your family and I found the connection of the Hallows but other than that, there was nothing significant that I learnt. Even then, I only knew you were related to Ignotus Peverell when James showed me the Invisibility Cloak for the first time."
"Are... are you saying Harry is related to The Ignotus Peverell?", Daphne asked nervously.
"Yes, Ms. Greengrass", he said, "The Potters are the only direct descendants of the Peverells. Ignotus's granddaughter married Hardwin Potter and they the lines were assimilated. Since then the line has been unbroken."
"Wow", she said softly, "I never knew that the Potters were so ancient."
"Does it changes anything?", Harry asked.
"No. The Peverell line was assimilated in Potters about 800 years ago. So I don't see why it should change anything' said Daphne, "however is the tale about the three brothers true?"
"That is the matter of perspective, Ms. Greengrass", said Dumbledore, "But I won't deny that often there is some truth behind stories."
Harry opened his mouth to say another word but Dumbledore beat him to it, "There is another thing I need to tell you about, Harry and then I am going to sleep."
"Sure Professor", said Harry.
"The Basilisk that you killed in your second year. Shortly after, Professor Snape and I went down there with Fawkes and we rendered the beast. It sold for quite a great amount but we left the fangs because we thought we may need them sooner or later. The sale price of the beast i.e. 10 milling Galleons has been deposited in the same account where the royalty of the book goes."
Harry was over whelmed, "Thank you Professor."
"Anytime my boy", said Dumbledore, "Now Mr. Greengrass I would like it if you can visit me some other time also. I like to have simulating conversations."
When they returned to the Black Townhouse, Daphne asked, "How are you feeling?"
"Dizzy. The old man has not stopped looking for me even from the grave. I mean I already had so much gold that I had no idea about and now he has given me much more."
"I have often heard that Dumbledore favoured you. But today I found it was wrong", she said and he raised an eye brow.
"When we saw his portrait, its eyes brightened like he had seen someone very dear. Usually we get those expressions on seeing people we love. The tenderness with which he spoke reminded me of my grandfather. Albus Dumbledore really loved you like a grandchild."
Harry nodded, "He loved me but he often hid things to protect my feelings. I wish he had not done that. But I still have a question left unanswered."
"What question?"
"What do I do with all this gold?", he asked exasperated.
"I am sure you will think of something", she said.
Waiting for a moment, she continued, "Harry, have you seen this neighbourhood from the outside?"
"No. Not really. I mean generally, I apparate in the park and then walk inside the house."
"We have a bit of time before we have to go to Longbottom's. Let's take Teddy and go for a walk."
"Walk?"
"Yes. I want to see this neighbourhood."
So they went in the neighbourhood. The area around Grimmauld Place looked deserted. All the buildings in the neighbourhood were of the Gregorian era and had that feel. However, it looked like the area had fallen into disuse as other area grew more affluent. Grimmuald Place might have been a wealthy area once but now it was not. Many buildings were vacant, the windows were boarded up and it looked like they had not been lived in for a long time.
"Harry, this is a pretty area and we can use it for the magical community", she said.
"But how? I mean what do we do for it?", he asked.
"We will need to buy all the buildings in this area. There are several and once we have done so, we can present a motion for identifying areas within London as reserved for magical community. The muggle liaison department will work with the ministry and find a way about it."
"But I don't know anything about buying a building or the likes", he said.
"Do you have a solicitor?", she asked.
"Solicitor?"
"Yes Harry. Every family has a lawyer who is on its payroll and deals with all this grunt work. Do you have one?"
"No, I don't have one. What about yours?"
She said with distaste, "My solicitor is in a cell in Ministry holding cells right now awaiting his trial."
"Oh. You don't know anyone else?", he asked.
"Not off the bat", she said.
"Then may be Andromeda knows", he said, "I will ask her."
"Now it is time that we take Teddy back home and leave for the Longbottom Manor", she said, "It won't be amiss to be present before the appointed time."