"I'm back!" Farley said, handing over a McDonald's bag.
"Bless you Rebecca, this little one has the most unhealthy cravings," Lois said, reaching for the bag. "I'll trade you a bag of chips for a letter. This came while you were out."
"That was quick" , taking the letter Rebecca headed to her office.
Farley,
I was able to track down Potter's wayward mail. As far as I can tell it is all going to a rented ministry mailbox. My contacts were able to learn that the box has been registered to a Harry James Potter since November of 1981. By 83 they had applied two extra expansion charms to the box before giving up and just adding a new box under his name when necessary. He currently has seven boxes. There wasn't any information on the original paperwork to indicate who opened it up for him. I'll do a little more digging and let you know if I find anything.
Best,
Basil
Well that answers one question. Now we just need to figure out who opened the box for him and why. It sounds like the kid is going to be opening mail until he is 60.
Putting the letter away Rebecca returned to her third cease and desist letter. She had already contacted the publishers of two Harry Potter books and was currently writing to a company who advertised in this morning's paper that Harry Potter loved their scarves. Why the hell would you advertise scarves in the middle of August?
HP-HP-
Coming up to the end of Diagon Alley Harry was interested to see what the second entrance looked like.
Before they entered The Black Snitch, the St. Martin's Lane entrance, Kingsley stopped to take off his auror robes to reveal black slacks and a red button down the same color as his robe. His escorts would fit in nicely on the London streets. The Dursleys would even deem them quite respectable.
Harry had questioned Tonks yesterday on how familiar she was with the muggle world after she made a reference to a popular TV show he had seen Dudley watching. She explained that she was also a half -blood and grew up primarily in the muggle world. Hence her great fashion sense, taste in music, and inability to fit in with snooty purebloods.
Kingsley on the other hand was a non snooty pureblood who had taken the time to familiarize himself with the muggle world so he would be able to work with muggle police.
The House of Raven Public Library's entrance was located down the street from The Black Snitch. After a short 2 minute walk the group came upon a small rundown bookshop called Raven's Nest.
The inside was bright and welcoming. The cashier's desk was located next to the entrance, and had a clear view down the center aisle which was lined with five bookcases on either side.
On the right back wall was a staircase that led up to a balcony overlooking the bookcases. Shoppers could take their books to the second floor and make themselves comfortable in fluffy chairs with cups of coffee and tea.
The fourth aisle on the left had a beautiful mural of a garden framed by ivory stone arches. Tonks quickly explained that the mural was like the platform's entrance at Kings Cross before walking into it. Harry closed his eyes and walked in behind her with Kingsley closely following.
Opening his eyes, Harry was greeted by the same beautiful garden pictured in the mural and more. The garden was filled with an assortment of muggle and magical flowers. Flying in and out of the flowers were bees, butterflies, and pixies. He would make sure to secure his wand before walking through the garden. Currently, they were standing on a white stone path. Straight ahead was the garden and to the right just out of frame of the mural was a Victorian country manor.
The manor was a deep royal blue with a brown roof and shutters and was toped off with bronze finishings. During the short walk up the path Kingsley explains to his companions how the manor was donated to the public and converted into a Library.
Upon entering they were greeted by a house elf offering to take them to any section they needed. Tonks declined saying they knew where they were going.
The manor no longer looked like a house on the inside. All of the walls had been taken out and all that remained were random columns here and there. In the front was a large circular desk with two women and two men helping to check patrons out and answer questions. Beyond the desk were humongous bookshelves as far as the eye could see. Fours bookcases in, the ceiling gave way to a flood of sunlight. As they walked into the light Harry looked up and saw eight more floors before reaching a glass window in the ceiling. The skylight was 5 aisles long and reached from one side of the building to the other. Both ends had staircases leading up to the higher floors.
Tonks led them to the back of the fifth floor which housed the legal books and study rooms. Kingsley only stayed long enough to put his robes back on and make sure they were set before heading out to look around. After putting up some security and silencing charms, Tonks took out her own book and joined Harry at the table.
Forty minutes later Harry let out a breath of frustration.
"What's wrong? Do you need help?"
"Potions is my worst subject, so I figured I would work on it first, but I don't understand anything I just read." Harry explained running his hand through his hair.
"Well you're in luck! My mom is a potioneer and despite Snape's best efforts, I passed my Newts with an O." Tonks said proudly.
Tilting the book towards her, Harry explained his problem and was happy to get an explanation that was short, simple, and didn't end with a bibliography.
With his new understanding, Harry was able to finish his essay quickly. He was really enjoying Tonk's company. She was fun to be around and was willing to explain anything he didn't understand, magical or otherwise. She didn't make him feel bad about things he didn't know.
"It must be great to have grown up with a foot in both worlds. I think my parents would have done the same with me." Harry said packing up his potions work.
"Oh definitely. I bet I would have even been your babysitter." Tonks replayed with a laugh.
"What do you mean?"
"Opps….I didn't want to make things awkward during our first meeting but I guess you should know that I am related to Sirius Black. He is my second cousin on my mother's side. I was really little when he went away but I remember little things about him." Tonks explained in a strangely serious tone.
That was a shocking revelation but Harry appreciated that she wasn't trying to keep it from him. How do you tell someone that you are related to the person who led to your parents murder?
"Can you tell me about him?"
"I don't remember much. He was close with my mother because they were the white sheep of the Black family. Neither believed in pureblood supremacy. At least that's what we thought. I'm not trying to make any excuses for him but from what I can remember, he was always nice and fun to be around. We never understood why he joined the Death Eaters. Especially if he was your magical godfather. He could have easily lost his magic for harming you. In fact my mother was shocked he hadn't."
"I don't understand. Why would he have lost his magic?"
"In the muggle world, godparents just promise to look after a child if anything happens to their parents. A magical godparent is bound to a child and if they break their vow to care and protect the child, magic will punish them. It doesn't happen often but those who have broken their vows have been turned into squibs and even killed if the offense was great enough. Considering what Sirius did, magic should have punished him."
"This is all so confusing. I wish I knew more about this." First he finds out he has a godfather walking around, then he finds out the man betrayed his parents and killed a bunch of people. Now Black not only escaped prison but magical punishment as well. What did Black actually promise his parents? That he wouldn't outright kill him because he certainly endangered him if he told Voldemort their location.
"Well you're in luck! We happen to be in the most comprehensive library in England. I'm sure there is a book about it here." Tonks said, hopping out of her seat. "Come on! Let's see what we can find."
After a bit of wondering they found a book called "Everything You Need To Protect Your Heir". The book had sections on vaccinations, making a will, household spells for safety, safely binding a child's magic, and naming guardians. While there Tonks gave Harry an old children's book about wizarding customs. She may have been a half-blood, but her mother was from an old family and wanted her to know how to interact with snooty purebloods when she had to.
Looking through the chapters, Harry was reminded that the will reading was on Wednesday and he didn't know what to expect. So they made a little detour and found a book on lordships.
HP-HP-
"Madame Bones, that thing you asked me to find, I found it."
"Come in Lightfoot, and close the door."
"We found the elf and have him in interrogation room three right now."
"How many people know you brought him in?"
"As far as I know, only Marion and I know it's here. You told us to be discreet , so we portkeyed in and took it straight to the interrogation room. Marion is with it now."
"Good,'' she said, packing up her notes and grabbing the reviewer.
Peeking into the room she saw Marion trying to calm down a highly agitated house elf. After a quick wrap on the door to announce herself, she entered with Lightfoot right behind her.
"Good evening my name is Amelia Bones and I am the Director of Magical Law Enforcement. Are you the former Malfoy house elf named Dobby?"
"Yes, Director Bones ma'am. I is being Dobby the house elf. Are you going to give me back to the bad former Masters?" He said before starting to bang his head against the table while muttering 'bad elf bad elf'.
"Dobby, I order you to stop. You are not being given back to the Malfoys. I simply would like to ask you a few questions. Harry Potter told me you could help."
"Of course Dobby will help Harry Potter's friend! Dobby will answer any questions to help Harry Potter sir!" He said, jumping around in excitement.
"Good, why don't you take a seat and I'll be right back. Marion, Lightfoot follow me."
Once they had stepped into the adjourning observation room Amelia cast a few privacy charms to make sure they would not be overheard.
"This could be a career making case for the two of you. As long as you're able to keep it under wraps until we're ready to execute our plan."
The two aurors glanced at each other before looking back at her and nodding.
"I would like you both to activate your auror vows for this case so no one will be able to question you without a lot of effort."
"Marion, you'll be in the room with me since he seems comfortable with you. Lightfoot stay here and observe. Let me know if you notice anything I should press harder on." Amelia said as she slipped a small device into her ear. "Make sure no one interrupts us or is able to observe this meeting understood?"
"Yes ma'am. I've got this covered." Lightfoot answered, all but saluting.
"Sorry for the wait Dobby. Like I was saying, I spoke with Harry Potter a few days ago and he told me how helpful you were during the last school year. Do you mind if I ask you a few questions about what happened?"
"Dobby would be happy to answer any questions you have."
"This Dobby is a reviewer. It will allow me to record our conversation so hopefully we won't have to ask you these questions again." She said as she placed the reviewer in the middle of the table.
"Dobby, can you please tell me your name again and who your former Masters were?"
" I is being Dobby the former Malfoy house elf."
"How long did you serve the Malfoys?"
"Dobby be serving the family for 26 years."
"Why did you seek out Harry Potter?"
"Dobby heard bad Master Lucius planning to put dangerous dark lordy object in Hogwarts to hurt the great Harry Potter!" He exclaimed with outrage.
The questions continued from there, what was the object, how did he plan to get it into the school, how did Dobby know it was from the dark lord, did Dobby know what the dark object would do?
Amelia then branched off into general questions about the Malfoy family. Do they have any more dark objects in the house, where are they hidden, do you know of any other illegal activities, do you know of any other plans against Harry Potter, do they have any secret rooms, are there any secret passages into or out of the house?
She wasn't going to take any chances with this case; she wanted all the details they could get before they stepped foot into that house. Lucius Malfoy would not wiggle his way out of Azkaban again.
HP-HP-
Knock knock.
"Hey Rebecca, perfect timing, come in. What do you have for me?"
"I heard back from Basil this afternoon and he found out where Mr. Potter's mail was going." Farley said handing the letter she received that afternoon over to Howards. "Someone opened up a Ministry mailbox for him in 81 and all of his mail has been directed to that box over the last 11 years."
"Do we know who opened the mailbox for him?"
"No, not yet but Basil is looking into it."
"Okay, please keep me updated on his findings. Speaking of Basil, I have him looking into Minerva McGonagall. Right now she is the only viable candidate from the Potter's list of guardians. I want to know all her dirty secrets before I think about placing that child with her. He has been through enough and he does not need another deficient guardian. I plan on grilling her on why she didn't step up to take over his guardianship and never mentioned her connection to his father. The situation seems a little fishy to me."
"I can't believe she never once even invited him for tea to catch up. She hasn't seen him since he was a baby and doesn't try to see how he's adjusting to the magical world. Doesn't tell him that she knew his father well and try to share stories since she knows he doesn't have anyone else in his life that knew him. She was obviously close with James if he named her as a potential guardian for his child." Farley said, shaking her head in disgust.
"Even outside of their personal relationship she should have sat him down as his head of house to see how he was. Professor Sprout met with us all one-on-one once during the year to see how we were doing and if we needed any advice or help." Howards said, with a small smile in remembrance of his old head of house.
"Flitwick did something similar. He only met with the first years one-on-one and after that we would have dorm meetings once a year. He would spend an hour or so with us talking about our owls, newts, career aspirations, and anything else we wanted to talk about. If we had any private issues we could go to him and speak to him one-on-one. It doesn't seem like McGonagall is doing that. Has she even responded to the invitation to the will reading?"
"Yes, she has confirmed her attendance and I just received the last response from a Remus Lupin a few minutes ago."
"Great. I spoke with June Fairweather this morning and she would be delighted to interview Mr. Potter. She's a freelance writer who works with both the Daily Profit and Witch Weekly. She is becoming well known for her one-on-one interviews with celebrities."
"Good work Rebecca. I've read a few of her articles and I like her work. Just make sure she sends over her questions before the interview so we can go over them with Mr. Potter and make sure he's comfortable answering them."
Laying out a new file Howards continued. "Now on to the class action. We have heard back from the Finch-Fletchleys and Clearwaters. However, we are still waiting on a response from the Creeveys and Grangers. If we don't hear back from them by Wednesday I think we should reach out again in a more muggle way."
"Agreed, I'll have Basil look up their phone numbers and mailing addresses."
Howards hoped the last two families would be willing to join them. This case could open the door to new muggle-born family's rights. With Harry Potter involved, they could get a lot of eyes on the case and people thinking about muggle-born rights again.
Notes:
Thanks for all the follows and reviews. Also, this Dobby thing came out of nowhere. lol
Story Recommendation: Harry Potter and the Vault of Time By: Ian Hycrest
One tiny change makes all the difference in the world. When Harry discovers a small box in his vault during his first visit to Gringotts, he is hoping for a memento of his parents. Instead, his discovery starts him down a path of intrigue and suspicion. Not sure who he can trust, Harry will have to learn to rely on himself