Chapter 8 – A New Wand, Trunks and Letters.
A/N: This chapter is quite heavy, a warning to all. Thank you to everyone for reading or reviewing. Let me know if there were any good points to expand on or if there were any confusing/bad parts. As always please enjoy.
Disclaimer: I obviously don't own Harry Potter, or I wouldn't have written this. Right retains JK Rowling. I only own the detail I go into.
Before leaving the bank with my items in the new pouch, I had goblin-enchanted against theft, loss and to be weightlessness. I asked my account manager, who at the time were still going through their own account piles and the stolen money paper-pile, growing by the minute if they could form a separate report. I could submit it to the DMLE in one of my plans. I was going to form a case against Dumbledore, giving him all the charges, I could think off from the top of my head. Neglect of a magically minor, refusing action at the known abuse to said minor, stealing and providing payments through said money to monitor a mirror, illegally and damn right paedophilic. They should be enough to make the public and the Wizengamot doubt Dumbledore, I really needed to catch up on the votes and laws recently passed. If I were lucky, he would be found guilty, forced to pay a fine and if not prison, definitely lose his position of Chief Warlock, and Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Witches. Now formally deemed Supreme Mug of the I.C.W, or as I would like to think Hermione would put it, the S.M.I.C.W, 'smicw', I said out loud, trying it out on the tongue, sounded like 'smick' I thought, but I liked Supreme Mug, obvious reasons I can't personally say. I needed to find a lawyer soon.
If he lost both his positions and the respect of the public, he could soon lose the Headmaster title, he was so possessively gripping to. I mean, didn't he think Professor McGonagall was ready for a shot? And Ron thinks I like to or even try to hog the limelight? 'Oof,' I thought, that was a bit hypercritical seeing as I can now Lord Potter-Black, but it wasn't as if I jumped on the wagon for the fame or money, unlike him. I was basically forced, point blank against the wand, since my magic was tied to each family and the contracts I was under. Great, now I was thinking about Daphne and the other witch to hopefully become my wife, if I could convince her I had no say in having to be shared with another woman.
The reports that would be copied from the goblins would be sent to my lawyer I would soon hire, who would likely receive a goblin assistant to help him from the goblin perspective of things, the Goblin Council clearly contained privileges, I was happy to use for my revenge. As well as copies to the Department Head of the DLME, you know what it stands for, 'The Department of Magical Law Enforcement,' I could hear, the automated voice say when you would enter the Ministry the muggle way; the telephone box with Mr. Weasley. 'Great times, great times,' I thought, remembering how I made my way to my own trial, nearly a year ago, come to think off it. Weird how things can turn out, right? Dumbledore coming in to save me in my farce of a trial, like a hero and grandfather I needed. Now to be took to trial by myself, 'I just love the irony.' I thought.
I walked out of Gringotts and made my way to Knockturn Alley, never thought I'd say that, but I knew not to doubt the sides of magic, Dark and Light created the best balance, Grey after all. I was glad to not be looked at since my attire suited the alley, I guess I chose right today, with the dark clothes I had on. I soon found myself at the heart of the alley, in front of the address of the wander-makers' shop, nothing on the way had provided any interest other than seeing my potential family members, Draco and Narcissa leave from Borgin and Burkes, I'd probably have to look into that, I guessed. For now, though I entered to get my wand.
The shop was smaller and darker than that of Ollivanders', the air stale but humming with strong magic. I could feel as it snuck round mine, trying to feel the wizard that may claim the power it had, waiting for a master. The shopkeeper entered from the back, and the slight sting pricked my mind, as well as my charm from Luna growing cold, he was trying to read my mind. Approaching him as his eyes wandered over me, I showed him my Lordship rings and ask him, "Is this the place to get a wand for a newly emancipated, and secretive Lord, sir?" I asked, giving the wand-maker the respect, he deserved. I had read how wand-making was a secretive art, how it could die out if we didn't protect and support the little that remained.
The shopkeeper began to look surprised as he held out his hand to shake, saying, "Yes this is the place, which is the wand arm." I told him how I was right-handed, and he moved faster than I would have thought from behind the counter. He made his way into the back and came out carrying two heavy looking, thick chests with a small hole in the top, big enough for a hand. He set them down and told me to stick my right hand through the hold and hover it over the multiple items that were in there, to choose my wood. Saying I would feel which one was right, through my magic and the wood, as the elements of the wand was what chooses the wizard, not just the core, as Ollivanders' apparently believed. The look on his face showing his distaste, I closed my eyes and let my magic branch out, openly, and freely as my hand entered the box. I can't really describe the feeling, other than a warm buzz in my hand as it went over a piece of wood, while the other times, it was just cold. I was about to go back and pull the wood out, and oddly enough I felt it again, a few times actually. Grabbing the woods, I pulled my hand out and spoke to the shopkeeper.
"I'm not sure if this is right, but I felt a warm buzzing on the palm of my hand as it went over more than one." I showed him, opening my hand, and looking into his eyes as they squinted faintly, he replied saying how unusual it was but not unheard of until I opened my hand and his face whitened. He explained the four woods I had somehow managed to be chosen by, I was after all The Chosen one, Hermione would have definitely hit me right now. The shopkeeper who named himself as Nexus, identified the woods and properties to me.
"This is most unheard of, four different and distinct woods choosing you, sir. Especially these in the combination you choose. Elder wood for the base, the most powerful and rarest of woods, can provide a focal point in your spellcasting with it's massive potential of magic. Next you chose Cypress wood, as the second part of the wand, it's noticed that only the most noble can wield this wood, as the death of the user is likely to be noble in sacrifice." Nexus paused looking at the two woods and joining a small piece of them together, seeing how they would look together. Continuing, "Rowen than chose you, the best protective wood a wand can offer, a supportive wood with cypress I believe. Lastly you chose Ash, most unusual mix as the Ash wood is stubborn and refuses to part from it's master, unlike the elder wood which swiftly changes if you are beaten. Most interesting, perhaps the most interesting wand I may make." He finished looking at me with the ever-searching eyes, as if trying to see the magic I would wield with his wand. Nexus moved me to the other box, full of cores full of different kinds of power, I entered my hand looking for the familiar pull and soon found it seeing as there was only three cores to choose from. I pulled out my hand and showed Nexus, the three cores in my hand. The best thing is, he knew I wasn't just pulling out what I wanted, as the cores would remain inside the box unless they chose to be used. Ancient wand-making magic.
Seeing as I had multiple woods and cores, Nexus basically invented a new wand-making process, in the event this happened again as this was unheard of from all wand-makers, claiming it was impossible. I aimed up the unicorn hair with the wood, and Nexus explained how the unicorn was light and as stubbornly faithful to the wizard as ash was. Next, I lined up the dragon heartstring, that pulsed lightly in my fingers, the power oozing from it, I placed it next to the elder wood, and Nexus laughed. "You prove the impossible itself, sir, the dragon heartstring is the perfect match for the elder wood, powerful and changing allegiance as the wood would if you lost a battle. This means you have the base of a powerful and dark wand, and the tip of a protective and light wand, the rules of wand-making you are breaking sir, my ancestors are crying in their graves. I, however, am glad I have the challenge to build this wand." He continued, meanwhile I moved the last core, over the two remaining pieces of wood, from the base up as the phoenix feather came close to the cypress and rowan, the perfect bend of noble efforts and protective intentions. The closer the core got, however, to the two pieces of wood, the hotter it got in my hand. Soon enough as I placed it down, close to the wood the core burst into flame, for a second, I thought I had broken the wand-making rules and destroyed the core. Nexus knew though, what had happened, and his glee was unmatched to what he had started sprouting after telling me of the dark and light between my wands. This time, as he spoke the new core emerged from the flames, it looked like a phoenix feather, but it wasn't red, it was black.
Now when I say black, I don't mean Dark, I mean black like the Black family. Truly like a piece of the night sky itself, the black phoenix feather as Nexus described, was the real rarest of all materials to ever be used in a wand. There was only one case of one ever being used, and it couldn't be relied upon since only one feather had ever chosen a wizard, and the first being none other than, Merlin. The grandfather of magical Britain, basically. For the first time in my life, I actually looked like nothing could affect me anymore, my shields were beyond hiding my emotions. Which lucky was absolutely nothing. Perhaps it was disbelief or maybe it was after the events of today, like finding out I was engaged, and needed to get engaged again! 'Here I went again.' I thought.
Nexus soon and realistically jumped, and I mean jumped out of his shock, he nearly hopped over the counter even in his age as he looked at the materials he would be working with. He explained how the black phoenix feather would combine the nobility and protectiveness from the respective cypress and rowan wood to with the powerful magic of the phoenix. The wand was going to be a master, I knew only the best would now be able to beat me with that nuclear weapon in my hand. Nexus told me, the process to make the wand would be difficult, but could be completed unless I had some further designs I wanted to add, with a grin I asked what he could offer. Choosing the offered runes, one of healing for the ash wood, along with defensive charms with the rowan, – nothing like doubling up – for the cypress I then picked a focusing rune to help me aim my magic the specific way I wanted it, as well as absorb some ambient magic around me. For the last rune, the darkest and more offensive part of my wand, I again doubled up, this time choosing the offensive magic rune with my own twist on it, to have the power to also gain some of the magical core of those I defeated. With this wand, I knew Dumbledore and Voldemort stood like a mouse would to human, the power was well beyond previous imagination. For the last part in the completely different process than Ollivanders', a gem could be added to the base of the wand, including a personal design to the wand owner, holding the gem. I guess the best example would Lucius Malfoys' wand having a snake mouth as its' hilt as Nexus called it. Focusing on my core and closing my eyes, instead of letting my mind decided for me, magic did the job. I saw a devilish wolf grinning back at me, mouth agape to bite, or in order to hold the gem I would use. The gems were the easiest of the components to choose from, a simple variety of ruby, emerald, sapphire, amber and naturally a diamond and black onyx. I guess they represented the Hogwarts Houses, Light and Dark, me however I knew I wanted different, so instead I chose a swirling orb I wasn't sure was even a gem. The orb swirled similar to the prophecy I held at the Ministry earlier this summer, it shone a bit while I held it as the power condensed and let me to believe I had chosen right. Nexus refused to say anything on the gem, as it held some kind of unspoken power, 'who knows, it might.' I thought.
Upon leaving the store, with the order to return in 2 hours, I know I had some time to kill before I could visit the other store I wanted. Near the same path I had took to get here, I went back and saw Borgin and Burkes, looking in I saw a tall cabinet in the middle of the closed store, with Borgin working on some think around it. 'Maybe a charmed wardrobe cabinet?' I thought but knew probably not. I made a note of it for later use and continued past the shop and the Hag's Head Pub I both owned partially. I decided to enter the pub and have a quick butterbeer, to muse over my thoughts with. The place lacked a lick of paint and had a bad atmosphere, but I could use the privacy it gave to think. I had to do a few things when I got back to my room.
After my musings to my plans, I left the pub and made my way back into Diagon Alley, into the soon closing Mott and Blair' Trunk and supply shop. The shopkeeper looked at me before looking back down, clearly disinterested in the sale as he muttered, "Closing soon, please hurry to buy." I walked straight up to him knowing what I wanted and thought it may have been a dry day since the school run hadn't started. 'Maybe this was an advantage,' I mused.
"I'd like a trunk will all compartments available, made from the highest quality leather you have, including all the protective and defensive charms and runes on it. That can also bind it to family magic's. Do you have any?" I said confidently, as soon as I said all compartments the shopkeepers eyes rolled, but by the time I mentioned family magic's he looked curious, wondering as to who I may be. Leaving his curiosity to himself, thankfully, he didn't bother with the other makes of the trunks in front and closed the store to lead me through the back. In a spacious room, there lay one trunk. Just one. And it was beautiful.
It was made of the whitest wood I thought I'd ever see with veins of red running like blood through it. It was weir wood, a type of wood known for its ability to absorb spells, taking no damage. The wood ran along the top and some areas of the side, as it merged with the total opposite, a tough-looking black dragonhide leather, some of the best quality I had seen. The leather was tougher than any amour magic could provide. The dragon must have been mighty before it fell. The shopkeeper explained how the wood and leather combined to create the perfectly magical resistant trunk, and a beauty at one too! The inside would contain all the compartments I should ever need, ones where you could actually go inside until my old first year one. The compartments had the works, all I could actually imagine, it was like a miniature manor, from the bedrooms to training areas, the library and study rooms like the potions lab and the herbology, it was just amazing. Then there were the runes, I noticed several of them I studied the outside of the trunk, they were of protection, anti-theft and tracking charm keyed to the owner. Then there was one that stood out. The time-disproportionate rune. The ability to affect time differently in a closed environment, the user could slow or age rapidly depending on the use and skill regarding the charm.
As I looked closer to it, I saw the rune would work at a 10-1 difference from within and outside the trunk, whichever way the rune was activated. I did notice, though how unfinished the runes were for the time-disproportion. My mother had created ones like these, in a book on runic schemes she was working on, at least I think before the dots connected in my mind and I planned to make a new deal. The shopkeeper was eying me wearily as if I might try to take the trunk and run, really mate I'm wasn't that desperate. I motioned for him to come closer and pointed the time runes and how I knew it could be altered to work much more efficiently. This gained his attention. I told him I had a runic design that could improve the runes efficiency and provide it the focus point it was missing to work. He then explained how he couldn't work it out and how it had stopped him opening a new line of trunks, showing me one that looked like a 6th or 7th year trunk, with flowers on. He went on to explain how the trunks were mostly for witches to help during their 'rough week', but he had a line ready for warlocks in case they wanted the time rune as well, all that stopped him was the rune development.
The wizard looked distressed as he explained the problem with the trunks, without the new line and the money invested into the beautiful trunk, he couldn't keep the shop open much longer without selling or gaining debt from Gringotts, he didn't have his partner anymore to help him or the store out. Since his rune problem was now going to be fixed, if I gave him it first, he perked up a bit starting to open negotiations for the rune scheme. I paused him as I smiled with a hand up, telling him first I want the rune implemented into the trunk now and explained my conditions for him to use it on the others.
I knew the trunks were going to be a massive hit for witches, perhaps even for all ages, and seeing as he had no partner, I offered to become the other half Blair's Trunks. Offering to pay for the 50% shares at half price, seeing as my rune would provide the new trunk idea the needed materials to work, I thought it was a bargain he couldn't pass up on. If he didn't it was likely he would close, and if he did, whatever I spent here for the store and trunk I was about to barter for, would be well made back. He nodded, eager to have the partner to help back up the store, though worried as he didn't know me. At least I wasn't the recognisable living boy still. I then told him my second condition.
"Since this is a priceless rune that you can use on this line of trunks and others, without such the trunks wouldn't work and if they did would be at half the efficiency then with the rune. I want to name them." I paused, looking at his reaction, "The witches trunk will be called The Lily Flower Trunk and bear the flowers, while the wizard trunk will be called The Black Stag Trunk and have black painted stags around them." I finished, thinking it was a nice tribute to my mother for her rune and both Dad and Sirius for the male one. Blair looked at me, surprised I would make the request but agreed as he had no previous names yet, more concerned with the rune. Lastly, I asked him the price of the trunk, after it had been fitted with the updated rune.
"That would be 60,000 galleons, sir, but with you giving me the rune I will make it 45,000 galleons." The masterpiece of a trunk called to me; I knew I would need it sometime, but the price was still exaggerated. I decided to lower it and get him to sign the business contract I could summon from Gringotts while he was updating the rune. As he started on the runes, I used a mastermind tactic, that had been used against me myself in the past, anger.
"The trunk is quite nice to look at but 45,000 for one trunk is quite mad, sir, I'll pay 22,000 galleons." My voice the intimidating business type I used with the goblins; my tactic looked like it was working. Blair looked to me then the trunk and back at me before stating with a firm voice how proud of the piece he was, refusing to go lower than 33,000 galleons. I knew I was pushing my luck if I went any further, he was going to be a new business partner of mine and he clearly put a lot of gold and skill into the trunk. Going further would hurt either his profit on it or his pride. Just over half the original price was much better than I expected, and if he signed the papers before I paid, half would be mine again. Before he could finish the runic work, I received the prepared contract form the Goblins, neat trick I gotten for business when I has been added to the council, the paperwork was enchanted to fill itself with our terms and conditions including the prices we had agreed on already. Before he could pause and think on the contract, maybe seeing how he would lose a nice fortune in the long run but gain a small one now and half of the one he could later earn, I sweetened the deal. Asking him for his personal vault number I told him an extra 6,000 would be placed inside, his eyes lit up with the bonus gold and signed after the contract updated.
I looked over the contract before signing and added the last detail of which name the store would now change too, deciding on the Black name for Sirius and his trunk as I didn't want the Potter name to gain attention yet, I signed and the contracted was legally and magically binding. The flash altered Blair the contract was complete, he noticed the new name of his partner, the fear evident at the name before I quickly stated I was the new heir of the house. I didn't want him to know I was a Lord yet. He went to finish the runic work in a state of shock still while I went to pay the price for the shares and trunk, taking out the black band card and using the Black Vault.
I changed the copy of the rune scheme I gave Blair for the other trunks, so they wouldn't have that long of a time-disproportionate rune as my trunk. This would stop the buyers from spending too long inside the trunk, only for the designated week they wanted before the rune would stop and recharge till the next month. Blair told me he would update the trunks and have them ready before the school rush began, I grinned getting him to shrink the trunk add some keep-clean charms on it, picking it up and adding it to my dragon pouch. I tied it back to my waist just as my moneybag was and left to collect my new wand, my old one basically forgotten these past few days, being useless the past few days I would have to use it when Hogwarts began again.
Making my way through the Alley I thought about they expected profit I could reap, thanks to my mothers' rune I will point out, I should have gold flowing to my vault, my inner goblin showed itself, crackling and looking as scary as Malock would be. Honestly, I still don't know how I did it, I basically took a fortune away from the poor shopkeeper, but he knew this was still a better deal than any he would have gotten, 60,000 for a trunk was mad, no matter how good it looked.
Before I could walk down the similar path into the alley, I recognised Twilfitt and Tatting's as the more pureblood shopping area, and wanted to grab some Lord robes at least, so entering quickly, I told the assistant I wanted two sets of Lord robes, a few casual and a business robe made from the best acromantula silk or materials they thought best. I flashed both my rings to give the crests for the Lord robes while another assistant fit and measured me. Looking over the room I saw the Head of the DMLE and the Noble House of Bones, Amelia, perfect opportunity. Finished getting measured I walked over to her to begin a conversation.
"Forgive me, Lady Bones? May I have a moment for something that could interest you?" I asked so politely, shining my best little boy eyes to try and win her over, at her glance and lack of response I quickly stated what I was hoping would interest her. The look on her face as I told her I had evidence of Sirius' innocence and Dumbledore stealing from my vaults was frame worthy. Safe to say, I had her hooked on my words after I told her who I was and the truth, telling her I was already working on a report from the goblins to give her, with an invite to the will reading that would soon be public. She agreed and accepted both happily as she went to pay for her items, seeing as mine were ready I stopped her, paying both before she could say anything with my bank card. The total came up to 138 galleons for me and 47 galleons for Amelia, 185 in total on my Potter Vault. She smiled at me in thanks before turning stern suddenly, telling me not to do it again. Both of us leaving the store, I told her I would owl her anything else that came up until the reading we parted from each other, and I continued down into Knockturn.
I steadily strolled back into the heart and into the shop of the Nexus, seeing me he made his way from behind the counter. Holding the very wand, he was tasked to make, like a holy idol was in his hands. I wonder how long he was staring at it waiting for me. Freaky.
Without saying a word, he offered me the wand and looked on as I held it, unlike my old wand, that was like getting hit by a puddle of power, this was a wave, a wave that took you with it wherever it goes. This wand was too powerful, even I could recognise that, so I made the silent vow that before I would die, this wand would die with me. Not buried, snapped. If it would work or not for a different user, I wouldn't let anyone find out. My magic rose to new heights connecting with the wand, higher than the ceiling it was up to with the phoenix wand, to a skyscraper, a muggle one at that. Nexus watched sighing in contentment his work was fulfilled, seeing the vast power I had yet to control, he stood back and watched me appreciate a true masterpiece like the trunk.
The wand itself was a thing of beauty, artwork. Wand artwork, it should be called. It was like an opposite to the truck, being made from four different ranging colours of wood. Ash, like its' namesake was a light grey, a rune danced round this part in a swirl. The next was the rowan and cypress mixing in a twirling battle for the darker and lighter sides of the wand, the meeting between the two a neutral grey. The rowan and ash clashed as if to fight off the ash from claiming control. The runes carved into the wood was straight, simple lines going up and down it. The last part of the wand, the base, was clearly the strongest. The elder wood was actually trying to force itself further up the wand, as if alive, before being pushed back by the grey. The runes were eerily sketched on, these ones magically moving with the wood, making it like the runes were part of a tide. It made sense, the opposing forces resisting each other, a constant state of push and pull making the churning grey area!
Or perhaps I was just mad, a power overload when I grabbed the wand, who could tell? There was still the hilt on the wand, weird as may sound the hilt was comfortable in my palm, the wolf head not causing any problems I thought it might. The hilt made of goblin forged silver clutched its' eternal prize in a death grip, the swirling orb of grey, the unflinching eyes and sharp looking fangs around it made it a mesmerising sight, all in all. I would have to stop myself from gazing into it, in case a prophecy sprouted, as would be my luck.
"How much for it?" I snapped out of it, looking at Nexus, who replied with a sad expression, thinking how his greatest creation was going to leave. "236 galleons sir, the numerous woods, cores and runes with the gem, are about 200 and the 36 can be for my labour. Agreed?"
"Do you have a dragonhide holster, enchanted against summoning and disarming spells, invisible when I want it to be?" I asked, gripping the wand tight, until it was secure in the hide holster, I didn't want to let go until it was hidden. Nexus offered his best of the chain, at 67 galleons, "Totalling 305 galleons, please?" Offering his hand out, knowing he prefers coin, I willed the amount for him from my coin bag, before paying and leaving. A promise to never speak of him without having good intentions, I took my items with me, a smile broke out on my face, that I couldn't contain as I left the Alley and went decided to try out apparition for this first time with this new wand.
I didn't even need to speak. I had barely turned the wand in the direction of the supposed movement before my whole body turned to mush and pushed itself back together when I reached my room. I was whole. I had made it; I felt a little proud at the first-time apparition. Though I could use a little time to adjust like the portkey, it was still made me feel inside out when going anywhere. I felt a little pale though, maybe the apparition sickness I had read about I reached for my bin in case I was sick, and sitting on the bed, I felt the cool breeze and heard the hoot of Hedwig. She waited, when I turned seeing her on her perch, she looked at me and held out her leg. Once more I could swear, I heard a voice speak faintly, I just couldn't tell if it was the sickness or reality messing with me again. Hearing it again before I crashed into my pillow as I again, 'clapped out.'
"Where have you been?" I remembered hearing in the dark.
By the time I woke up in the morning, the sun was shining overhead, it was clear I had missed breakfast with the empty house from what I could hear. The quiet showed that Dudley was definitely out, Vernon likely at work and Petunia probably spying on the neighbours. I rose from the bed, my stomach and head feeling better after the long nap, I saw Hedwig quietly waiting for me to retrieve the letters from last night. I stroked her feathers softly and gave a thank you before going to shower, dress and eat something. By the time I was done and came back into my room, there was another large owl outside the window, opening it and seeing the seal of Gringotts, I myself got a grin and fed the owl a treat before opening the letter.
Dear Lord Potter-Black,
As a Friend to the People and member of the Goblin Council, Gringotts greets you happily. We write to inform you of the upcoming public reading of the Will of Mr. Sirius O Black, to be held a week today on Friday the 8th of August, at 10am.
As you know the meeting will include those set to inherit any gold or items set forth, including the members of their family to be present. Under an invitation sent on your behalf, Lady Amelia Bones and several auror officers may be present. On behalf on Mr. Black, as a deceased member of a Most Noble and Ancient House, the Press are also acquired to attend for public knowledge. We send this information with the hope you may find it useful for yourself and the People's benefit.
We look forward to seeing you, and again offer our regards at the loss of Mr. Black.
May your gold always flow, and your enemies shiver at your name.
Sharptooth, Assistant to the Department of Inheritance
Well, I believe I had a lot to do before the reading in a week. That information was useful, I was going to have to write to Rita Skeeter; informing her of multiple stories and explain how the new ownership of the Daily Prophet could find a new author if she overstepped. I was glad Amelia was invited and believed me, not officially of course until she saw the evidence, but my word.
Writing a detailed letter to Rita, I stated how awful and unjust the treatment of Sirius, an Heir to the Most Noble and Ancient House Black, was imprisoned without a trial, inviting her to will reading and to look at the records herself. Then I provided the rest of the story, how Peter the Rat was alive and betrayed my parents, how once caught the rat again escaped capture and returned to his Dark Lord. I gave a memory of Sirius in his prison clothes next to Peter, with another of Peter just before he started transforming to prove him as an animagus. I mentioned how as her boss I could easily give her a long 5-year vacation where she would be comfy as a bug if she wished as Peter will be when he was caught. Then I asked her to say an anonymous tip had sent you the truth wanting history and justice to be redone.
I moved on from Rita after giving it to Hedwig. I wrote a note to Amelia regarding what should be printed in a few days to give her some time and including a copy of the memories I was giving to Rita plus the entire confession, for her own evidence. Then I moved to a letter of Hermione, another from Dumbledore, I'd have to see what he wanted of course, and a letter from Remus? Surprising but welcome anytime for Moony. Starting in order, I picked back up Hermione's letter.
Dear Harry,
The past few days have been a little weird, I don't want to alarm you, I'm just getting a few bad headaches after taking those potions I got from Professor Dumbledore, I hope it passes soon. Luckily, I only have a few more left and I should be back to normal.
Ron's send me a few letters recently, isn't he amazing? I wish he would owl more, he said you told him you want us to distance yourselves from you because the danger was growing, he said he agrees and both of you want me too as well. Is that true? I'm not sure what to believe yet since you would tell me yourself right Harry? Just because it's getting dangerous doesn't mean I'm just going to walk away, it's you I'm worried about, especially if you leave the wards and take risks! You know we can handle the danger so if it is the grief talking to Ron, don't push us away. We both love you Harry.
I hope you are being safe inside the wards like Dumbledore wants you to be Harry, it's the safest option he thinks, even with those muggles around I believe him. I know I said to stay in the wards but if you went out already like I think you did to get me a gift, thank you, I wanted to know if you can meet me on Monday? I'll get to the Leaky Cauldron at 9am. My mam and dad want me to get owl for completing the O.W. L's, in hope of luck when they come through and to keep in contact. I can't wait to get my results, or to see you in the Alley if you can make it and give me some answers.
Love Hermione
He could see the thick, gloopy influence of the Rat running through Hermione's words, trying to make her put some distance between them? The nerve! On my magic I had never wanted to hit him so much. I pushed my thoughts aside and thought on the information, Hermione had only a few of the weird potions she mentioned from Dumbledore, hopefully I can convince her to leave them for now until Monday, if she would really be angry if I turned up there, she wouldn't have invited me at all. I can't wait for these three days to pass, but I knew I was going to be busy. I answered Hermione's letter telling her no I didn't tell Ron that and asked her to not take any more potions till I saw her in three days, there I would explain both things and couldn't wait to see her soon. Moving onto Remus before Dumbledore, I opened the letter and saw the familiar scripts of my old teacher.
Dear Harry,
I'm sorry I haven't been able to write before now cub, please forgive me. Dumbledore has some of us searching long forgotten places for the hiding places of He, the monster. I hope you aren't blaming yourself, and are trying to keep healthy? You know he wouldn't want you to become stuck on him, even though I know it's hard. I hope you had the chance to learn some of what he and I have found, the truth as much as we know but if not, I plan to tell you when I see you, I hope will be beforehand but otherwise at the will reading. Dumbledore may not have told you, from what I know so make sure to visit Gringotts as soon as you can to ask about it.
Please try and move on for Sirius Harry. I know it seems like useless words, but it really isn't your fault. I hope to find a way to see you soon, it's been far too long. Even if I must risk Dumbledore knowing. I hope you can make it to the will reading I believe Sirius left you a lot. If not, I will find you after.
As Mad Eye would say. CONSTANT VIGILANCE!
Love Moony
Remus had the canny ability to make you sad at first, and then later laugh it off, like the sadness was a passing breeze in a summer heat. He just made you laugh when you least expected it, that was his humour as a Marauder. Sirius was different, where you could laugh in a serious moment when you looked at his face, I'm sure he passed that onto to Tonks. I wish I knew what my dad's personal gift of humour was, an idea just popped into my head! The journals, I could study them after the letters I thought. Dumbledore was next, the Supreme Mug.
Dear Harry, my boy,
I trust you are well and safe inside the wards and hope you continue to stay in the refuge. I've heard some strange rumours of some activity and plans of the Death Eaters to start something on Friday the 8th August, a week today.
Please my boy, stay inside the wards where it is safe, if not for you for the others that care for you. I only want to keep you safe, all for the Greater Good.
See you in September
Headmaster Albus Dumbledore
I can't believe I was ever stupid enough to believe the garbage Dumbledore was feeing me, but now I saw how clever and failproof he must believe his plans were. The Supreme Mug strikes again. This letter, this letter right here could incriminate Dumbledore, as to knowing about a potential attack on the 8th. I mean come on, I knew he was lying to get me into stay at Privet Drive, but the real question is would the Head of the DLME believe so? Deciding to follow through from Albus, the S. Mug, I added to the note I made for Amelia, telling her I had just received it and to take it as evidence knowing she would be very interested to talk to Albus after the reading on next Friday. Writing a letter for Remus I told him, it wasn't safe for detail, but I knew what he meant and would see him after the reading, I wrote to the Headmaster and asked him what he was going to do for the attack since knew of it, wanting to incriminate him more. I had just finished before Hedwig returned, with Skeeters' reply, I let her rest while I read it and would then write to the Greengrass'.
Dear Mr. Potter,
I understand what you mean in your letter and am most sorry to hear of this most unjust imprisonment of Mr. Black and the actions of our Ministry, I promise I will be looking into it and publish my findings for the public to know the truth about the late Sirius Black. I hope the public will support the soon to be, I hope, rat-hunt for Peter Pettigrew and would like to accept the invitation to the will reading next Friday. Hope you enjoy the newspaper I will be sure to send when I am done.
Rita Skeeter
'That was nice,' I thought. Thinking how easy it was to deal with her when you knew her darkest secret unlike everyone else. I then send Hedwig off again, as a voice whispered in my head a faint, "More letters, I could have done these the first trip you know." I wondered where it came from but moved onto giving Hedwig her letters for Hermione and Remus before deciding to add Amelia in to save her more of a trip. I then started a simple and polite letter to Daphne Greengrass.
To the Heir of the Most Noble and Ancient House Greengrass.
Dear Miss Greengrass,
Please forgive me if I made any mistake in this letter regarding formalities or pleasantries, as I have not been efficiently taught the ways or rules of our standing in society yet. From that you may be wondering what my place in society is to be equal to your own.
I will try to get to the point, I recently came into my inheritance and it became clear a contract between our Houses could directly affect you and your House, so I wanted to let you know without causing massive amounts of alarm. Though my inheritance is yet to become official and I must ask you to keep this letter within your House, please let the Lord Greengrass know I hope to see him and you at Gringotts on Friday the 8th of August, after my inheritance is officially dealt.
I know we may not have spoken in the past, but I harbour no ill will against you, your family or House in anyway and hope you decide to attend the meeting to understand what is going on and my part in it.
Respectfully,
Harry Potter
God, I hoped that did it well enough for Greengrass family, they would probably curious and a little worried but at least they weren't going to be caught off guard with a Gringotts letter, telling them to come immediately to a meeting and find out their heir is engaged, in a contract from all things. I was actually pleased with the way I handled it. Now don't get me wrong, I knew I said I would try and change Draco Malfoy, but after seeing him earlier I doubt he would listen to me, not after all these years and his dad in prison after the Ministry. No doubt Bellatrix explained how me, and Sirius had fought him, in front of Draco and his mother to Voldemort. I wondered if Narcissa would follow without her husband and only her sister on his side, I guess I would have to see.
Seeing as I was now done, I opened the dragonhide pouch I had and used my new powerful wand to regrow the items I had, including the clothes and Lord robes I had got, the journals and animagus guide from Dad and Sirius', the photographs I gotten and the trunks of me and mam's. I didn't know where to begin, as I looked down at my new wand. I saw the rune carvings and different woods and thought of Sirius last year, telling me how we could be a family and how I was a good person that bad things happened too. Then I thought about what he said about the Light and Dark, everyone has some inside of them, it was how they used it that defined them. Seeing as the journals and trunks could wait, I decided to look at and enjoy the photographs I had inherited of my two Dad's and Mam that was gone from my life.
A/N This chapter was originally a mess when I left it halfway through last night, I was hating it and my life, but a few hours' sleep, and it looks much better now. Hopefully, you agree and have enjoyed reading it.
