Chapter 9
Remus and Harry stood up as the two entered the office. Steelgrip moved away to talk to a goblin near the door. Their eyes found Remus first as Harry was hidden behind the taller man, who smiled at the woman and greeted her, "How are you Professor McGonagall" and inclining his head towards the man, said cordially, "Snape".
The man gave a curt nod, it was clear he wasn't comfortable, and the woman gave a tight smile and said, "Shocked, Mr. Lupin. Did you decide for this will reading? And how? Harry Potter is not here and he must be the primary beneficiary…."
"…it was our decision, Professor", Lily interrupted, and the jaws of the two newest occupants of the room dropped open, in an undignified manner clearly uncharacteristic of either.
Professor McGonagall rushed forward to face the portrait from which the voice was heard while Snape stood frozen in his place, the same hopes and doubts playing in his mind that had in Remus's. Meanwhile, McGonagall had reached the portrait and gasped in shock as she turned towards it.
There were two of her favourite students smiling at her, just as paintings, but still, they were there. Her hand flew to her mouth and tears started slipping down her face and for once, she let them flow. James and Lily glanced at each other, she did genuinely care about them, not just acted like an old meddlesome coot they knew. They were correct about their decision of adding her to the will and being able to trust her with Harry. They smiled at each other as this understanding passed between them.
She managed to compose herself after a few minutes and cleared her throat and said, "I didn't know you both had a portrait".
"No one did, Professor; it was charmed to be delivered to Harry on his 6th birthday in case something happened to us. There he is", Lily told her.
A cute little boy, looking like a younger version of James with Lily's eyes, looked at her with a shy smile when she turned around, emerging from behind Remus. She spun around on her heels and exclaimed, "How is he here? Albus placed him with the muggle family! Does he know about it?"
"No, Professor and that is because he doesn't deserve to be told", James answered.
This shocked her and also Snape, he couldn't believe that James Potter, the Gryffindor Golden Boy, the one who was considered beyond reprimand by the revered headmaster of Hogwarts and who in turn, worshiped the man, was saying something bad about that very headmaster!
He stepped towards the portrait but as he went to turn towards it, his black gaze met a beautiful emerald green one and he choked on his breath. For a few minutes he could do nothing but look at the most beautiful feature of his mother the child had inherited, until he heard Lily's soft voice. "Hello Sev", she said.
"Lily", he whispered, turning towards her, and lost all the semblance of stoic calm and confidence that he always carried. "Li..Lily I am so sorry…for…for everything. For calling you what I did…I didn't mean it, I really didn't… I regretted the words the moment they came out of my mouth, but it was already too late and…"
"Severus", Lily interrupted him, "I forgive you; I know you didn't mean it, it's just that I was too hurt then because I hadn't expected something like that of you. We all were children then, as foolish as they come. Later on, when I thought about it, I regretted not accepting your apology and I didn't even apologise for laughing at y…"
"You don't understand Lily, its not just that; it was me…I told 'him' about the prophesy. It was me…I was the reason for all that. I cause your death…both of yours…", He started but was interrupted by Lily yet again.
"Severus Snape, I will accept I didn't know about that and honestly, I would have slapped you if I could for that but the fact remains that Voldemort would have found it some way or the other and also, that one doesn't need to be a death eater to know that Voldemort wouldn't have loved to take the negative answer from you. The result would have been that he would have killed you and then, numerous others in an attempt to get the prophesy and would also have destroyed the ministry if he got to know that it was kept there. I am not saying that you did the right thing by joining Voldemort or anything, not by any means, but I also know that the situation in this world was, and maybe still is, too bad for dark wizards. I know it is the only-light-magic-is-good system that is responsible for this. The important thing is, you regret what you did. What did you do? Did you go to Dumbledore?", Lily inquired as the thought struck her.
"Yes, I went to him. He saved me from Azkaban and said that I would be the spy for him when the Dark Lord returns", he told her.
James snorted, "So he has decided how he is going to use you. Before saying anything else, Snape, I apologise for everything I have done. We may have practically thrown you towards the death eater children in Slytherin. Can all of us let bygones be bygones and start afresh?", he asked.
"I agree", Remus spoke up, "and I too, am sorry for everything".
Snape nodded and said, "I also apologise for everything and yes, let's start afresh", with a tentative half-smile.
Remus, ever the peace-maker, jumped at the opportunity and held out a hand saying, "Great! Hello, I am Remus Lupin".
"Severus Snape", he said shaking his hand.
"Great move Moony, now pray tell, how am I supposed to shake hands? Do people even think about poor paintings", James moaned dramatically.
Lily shook her head trying to hide her grin and Severus turned at the sound of soft chuckle behind him and saw that it was Harry laughing at his father's frolics and mock whispered to him, "Get used to this Harry, your father is a drama queen".
"Hey! I heard that and I object. Harry don't believe on anything he tells you about me", James protested.
"Of course not, Dad", Harry replied but kept on chuckling. James eyed him and his wife suspiciously, both looked at him with 'too innocent' expressions but no one could contain their laughter after a few moments, James tried to scowl at them but soon, gave up and joined them.
Steelgrip returned, and they settled for the serious matters of the will reading and deciding how to move forward but before that, James and Lily told them all about Harry's living conditions and other things that had made them question Dumbledore; their beliefs about magic which they had already shared with their friends before they died, especially Sirius who had abhorred and given up all Dark Magic as evil because of his experience with his family even though he was born a dark wizard; their respective heritage (needless to say it shocked everyone); about Sirius (this did, too) and other things that they had told Harry. They agreed on everything including the change in Harry's residence and Sirius's trial (Snape a little reluctantly, some things take time). Finally, it was the time for the main reason they were there, the Will reading.
The goblin started:
'I, James Fleamont Potter, being of sound mind and body, do hereby declare this to be my Last Will and Testament and bequeath my worldly goods as follows:
Sirius Orion Black- 500,000 galleons; and he has been appointed as the Godfather of my son, Harry James Potter.
Remus John Lupin- 500,000 galleons; and I appoint him as the steward of the Potter estates with a salary of 15,000 per annum and the payment for every month's wolfsbane potion and an invitation to come and live in his room in the Potter Manor.
Severus Snape- 500,000 galleons and my wife Lily Potter's personal potions research journal and an invitation to use the potions lab at the Potter Manor.
Minerva McGonagall- 250,000 galleons and a request to be there for Harry, you are one adult we can trust, and teach him like you have taught us.
Frank and Alice Longbottom- 250,000 galleons
Potter Account Manager Steelgrip- I appoint him as the business advisor of all Potter business and investments.
All the rest, I give to my son, Harry James Potter.
The custody of Harry is to be given to the following individuals according to priority;
Sirius Black
Alice and Frank Longbottom
Minerva McGonagall
Under no circumstance is Harry's custody to be given to Albus Dumbledore or Vernon and Petunia Dursley.
We are hiding under the Fidelius Charm with Peter Pettigrew as the Secret Keeper. If we; I, my wife and/or my son are dead that means he had betrayed us.'
There was silence for some moments which was broken by James clearing his throat. "So, Mr. Lupin, do you agree to be the Potter steward and reclaim your room at the manor?", James asked, grinning.
Remus felt a lump form in his throat, his friend knew he wasn't able to get a stable job because of his condition and that he wouldn't take his money without earning it so he arranged that for him, and said, "I will be glad to, Mr. Potter", and the two smiled at each other affectionately.
"What is in the journal Lily?", Severus asked.
"Always the scholar Sev, more interested in potions than in half a million galleons!", Lily teased, "There are notes of all the experiments I did while at manor in it, before someone made it dangerous for Mummy to continue with experimenting", she said glancing at Harry who blushed while the others grinned. "Most importantly, it includes my research on the wolfsbane potion. I was able to create a potion with would have not only made transformation almost completely painless but the person would also retain their human senses, but it was volatile. I wasn't able to find the way to neutralise it as we had to go into hiding. Take the journal and try to complete it and some other incomplete potions, use the lab at the Manor. I will help you in every way I can", Lily said and her friend nodded.
"Steelgrip, you have always given me great advices, I would like it if you agree to do the same for my son. I have always respected goblins and I know there is no one better when it comes to financial matters. I want to ask this of all of you, would you all, please, agree to teach Harry your respective subjects? We will also teach him but you see we are somewhat restricted here", James said tapping the portrait, leading to a collective chuckle.
Everyone nodded their acceptance and Remus put an arm around Harry who gladly leaned into the touch.
/hp/
I would have uploaded this earlier but I had an exam on the 9th plus I got stuck really bad at one part, can you tell which? This will NOT be a Snape hating fic 'coz I don't hate him, I may even get lots of hate for it, but that's how I want this it to be because this story is really special to me. And Happy Indian New Year and Happy Navratri to everyone3
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I want to thank everyone for all the support, it really encourages me to improve and write more. Thank you