Chapter seven

On their following date, Harry and Sally had dinner again, then went to see a movie in the muggle world after. Again they were comfortable with each other with no awkward silent moments. Harry liked the fact he could spend time with someone in the muggle world, something he liked to do, but not have to try to explain things. Ron just couldn't understand anything to do with the muggle world, yet he didn't bother trying to learn because he didn't believe the muggle world was worth learning about. He wouldn't even visit so he could see just what the muggle world was like. Harry had asked him to see a movie with him, Ron refused.

When Harry and Sally kissed goodnight, it ended up being more passionate, without being over the top. They made plans to meet up on Monday night, after Harry's first day on the job.

Harry knew he had to find a more permanent place to live, even if he owned Grimmauld place. He was like Sirius, he didn't want to live it that old house. Kreacher was still at Hogwarts and seemed to be a lot better working there then being stuck at the old Black home. He figured he could see about fixing the place up and selling it. There was no hurry, so he decided to just forget about the old Black home, for now.

Harry spent the following two days inspecting houses for sale. Since so many died, on both sides, there were many homes now just sitting abandoned. Even though he inherited a lot from people like the Malfoy's and Lestrange's, he would never live in one of their homes. He was already working on having them sold. He wanted them cleaned and checked for any dark objects before they were put up for sale. He never found anything he liked or that he felt comfortable in, so he decided to try again the following weekend. He even thought he might see if Sally would help him.

Harry had a lazy morning on Sunday. He slept late and had a late breakfast. He went through some of the paperwork he got from Gringotts about what he owned. He was also trying to work out what to do with all his money. He was so rich he could have ten kids and they would be rich, along with any kids they had. He did plan to open a separate vault that would be used for his kids, if he had any. And if he did, he didn't want them growing up spoiled so they would end up like Draco Malfoy. He would make sure they did some chores to earn their money, but it would only be like cleaning their rooms or maybe helping by setting the table for meals and maybe putting their clothes away. He had time to think about that as he didn't think he would have kids for a long time.

Harry appeared in the garden of the Burrow. The Burrow always made him smile. He headed to the door which opened before he could knock. Molly Weasley hugged him in one of her rib breaking hugs.

'You need to visit more often Harry.'

'Been busy Mrs Weasley and now I have a job, I won't have a lot of free time.'

'You got a job?' Hermione squeaked.

Harry smiled then greeted everyone as he sat down, 'Yes, Kingsley offered me a job,' Harry turned to Arthur, 'I figured you would have told them.'

'This is your news Harry, I figured you would want to tell them.'

Harry nodded then turned back to his friends, 'Kingsley wants me to test every person working or applying for a job at the ministry, St Mungo's and Hogwarts using the Merlin orb. It will also add the scores to their personal file so it's on record.'

'He's already worked out the scores people need to be to get certain jobs. Like minister, you have to be one hundred and ninety or more before you would even be eligible. My position needs to be one hundred and eighty or higher.'

'Dad told us about Malfoy's fake scores. We're all anxious to see what our scores are,' Charlie said.

'I can do them any time. Some might be surprised, just remember, it's not me doing this.'

'We know it's not you Harry. This orb was invented by Merlin,' Arthur said.

'How did you get the Merlin orb?' Hermione asked.

Harry sighed, 'Only blood of Merlin can take the orb from his home.'

'You're bloody related to Merlin,' Ron blurted out.

'Yes, I am. He is a lot like Godric Gryffindor as his great grandson left the magical world and married a muggle woman. From then on they only had non magical children. Gryffindor was the same, all muggles. One day, a witch was born, the first and the only person who was a direct descendant of Merlin, my mother, Lily Evans. The unspeakable who did the heritage test explained that even though the family were muggles for many generations, my mother was a pure-blood. It doesn't bother me one way or another. We're all magical and blood makes not difference.'

'Right you are Harry,' Arthur said.

'How about you start with me then Harry. I was 67 as a baby, that was the last time I was checked,' Molly said.

Harry nodded, he removed the merlin orb from it's pouch then activated it. The orb floated above Molly Weasley's head.

'A respectable 152,' Arthur said giving his wife a smile, 'Bill, you next,' the orb floated over to Bill, '218.'

'Damn, you're powerful brother,' George said.

'A bit above average for someone my age.'

Charlie was 201, Percy 167, that score shocked everyone. There was also a lot of shouting.

'Let me explain,' Harry yelled. He hated yelling but it was the only way to get heard, 'Percy is a very intelligent man, one of the most intelligent I have ever met. He studies hard, we've all seen how hard he studies and how hard he works. The power level is not connected to intelligence. I read the scrolls that Merlin wrote about the orb and from what I read, Percy is an average score for his age.'

'So Bill really is way above average,' Charlie said.

Harry nodded, but Bill shrugged, 'I didn't want to make it seem like I was better than anyone.'

'Let's continue, Fleur,' Arthur smiled.

Fleur's score was 199. George was 193. 'I checked the last readings then working on how people's power will increase at certain ages. I calculated that Fred would have been between 192 and 194.'

'I can see Hermione is almost jumping out of her seat, so how about Hermione be next,' Arthur said.

Harry nodded the floated the orb over his friends head, '158,' he could see that Hermione was upset, 'Again it goes on power not intelligence Hermione. That is around average for someone your age and someone who still has to go through a couple more magical growths.'

'Seeing Bill and Charlie's, I thought I would be close to them.'

'It's still a high score Hermione and they have had one more magical growth than you,' Arthur said kindly.

'Ron, you're next,' Harry said trying not to let his nervousness show.

'I'll be the lowest, I know that, so go ahead.'

Harry nodded the levitated the orb over Ron's head, '102,' Arthur said, 'This is why I said you would not have the power to be an auror. But Harry found out that Draco Malfoy was only 79 and Gregory Goyle was 38. He was just above a squib.' Arthur glanced at Harry who nodded. Both of them knew Ron would be happy with his score if he just beat Draco Malfoy and he did.

'Well, at least I beat them,' Ron sighed, 'An auror is out, maybe I can still try out for the Chudley Cannons. You don't need to be powerful to play quidditch.'

'I think you should Ron. You're a great keeper. You might have a few years in the reserve team but you're good enough to play first string,' Harry said, giving his friend a smile.

'Okay, my turn,' Ginny said giving him a smile, 'Get on with it Potter.'

Harry laughed. Ever since he had spoken to Ginny about how they felt about each other, they realised they weren't meant to be more than good friends. Now they were close and Harry felt he was closer to Ginny than Hermione. He levitated the orb above her head.

'161,' Arthur said giving his daughter a smile.

'Now show us how high yours in Harry,' Hermione said.

'I've tested myself and I had the unspeakable test the orb to make sure it's authentic and working properly.'

'You're stalling. So it's either really high or embarrassingly low.' Hermione said.

'It's not low,' Harry whispered.

'Tell us Harry. We already know you were more powerful than anyone at Hogwarts, apart from Dumbledore,' Ron said.

'398.' He whispered.

'That's higher than Merlin's power level,' Hermione squeaked.

'Yeah, the supreme mugwump told me.'

'Do you know Dumbledore's score?' Bill asked.

'302 and that was measured when he was sixty, at his prime. That was his last official recording. Remember, Percy is about to have his second last power boost. Fleur just had one so she has one more just like Bill and Charlie have one more each. Me, Ron, George, Hermione will have three more. Ginny is about to have one then she has three more after that. But in some cases you can have another one in your fifties. It doesn't happen to everyone but it can happen.'

'Kingsley has put that in the rules so someone could go up in a department after they have their next reading,' Arthur explained.

'What is the average it will go up at each boost?' Charlie asked.

'Merlin said from the age of eleven to twenty one it will be between ten and 50 points. From then on it's average of between five to fifteen, but it can be as high as eighteen or as low as four.'

'Um, could I read the Merlin scrolls?' Hermione asked.

'Sorry Hermione, only someone with Merlin's blood can. It's part of his personal grimoire. I was able to read a few lines to the unspeakable then he did a few spells to prove their authenticity and age. Those few paragraphs were charmed so I could read them to others. I think Merlin knew they would need to be authenticated one day. The unspeakable was also able to verify how old they were.'

'But shouldn't anyone be able to read what Merlin wrote?'

'They can read the scrolls or books he released to the public, just not his personal ones.'

'Many old families have personal grimoires that only blood family to read,' Arthur said trying to placate Hermione.

'Yes, the Prewett's have one, it's with my aunt. It will pass to me when she dies, then I will pass it to Bill as he's the oldest. Any of the children can read it, but Arthur can't,' Molly said.

'I found the Potter and Black grimoires. So very different since one was a light family and one was a dark family. I haven't found the Slytherin or Gryffindor ones yet. I'm hoping there is something hidden at Hogwarts that will tell me where they are. If they are like old family grimoires, I was planning on finding out if I can copy certain pages that can be released to the public.'

'Then why don't you do that with the Merlin ones?' Hermione huffed.

'He charmed them to prevent any type of copying. I tried to write down some of the things, it vanishes instantly. I haven't found all his personal papers yet, especially on some of his spells he used.'

'Many of the old families not only have grimoires but they use charms they invented to keep homes, items and even information from anyone that is not blood,' Arthur said.

'Dinner is ready,' Molly said then began to levitate dishes off food onto the table.

'So what have you been up to since you returned from the ICW?' Ginny asked.

'Going out with my girlfriend, we're meeting up again tomorrow.'

'And who is this girl you're dating?' Hermione asked sounding upset.

'She was the muggleborn representative on the team. She did one year at Hogwarts then left. She did her magical and muggle education in Australia. She and her father just returned to England a few months ago.'

'You still haven't told us her name,' Ginny said.

'You wouldn't know her Ginny, but Hermione might remember her as she was sorted right before I was, into Hufflepuff.' Everyone watched as Hermione's brow furrowed, 'I'll give you a clue, blond hair, beautiful blue eyes and very cute.'

'I was so nervous that day I don't really remember much of the sorting.'

'Sally-Anne Perks. I'm sure you'll see her again since we are dating.'

'Have you met her parent's yet?' Ron asked.

'Her mother died when she was young, but no, I haven't met her father. We're planning that soon.'

Harry got more questions about his girlfriend before the talk went back to people's power scores.