Turning around and moving back into the office, Corvus dropped himself down onto a chair and pulled his girlfriend into his lap, holding her as though he was scared she would disappear. "This is… this is all too much Mione." He said, burying his face into her shoulder. "So much has been done, not just to me but to Neville. It's just… it's all too much. I don't know if we can survive anything else." He finished in a rough voice.
Hermione wrapped her arms around Corvus's neck and held him just as close, understanding and sharing in his pain. "I know, it seems like the world has just turned upside down in the span of a few hours, and in reality it has. It hasn't even been twelve hours and already so much has come to light. Things that will require time and effort to come to terms with and move past. It is completely understandable that you're overwhelmed right now. We all are, but you and Neville seem to have drawn the shortest straws. You both have been slapped in the face with harsh truths and will have to learn how to live with those truths." The brunette said softly, resting her cheek on the top of her lover's head. "But you have people, maybe not many people, but you do have people. You have me, Luna, Neville, and even Dobby. And those same people, and you, will be there for Neville. We will figure out where to go from here. We will work together and we will survive. I promise." She whispered the last as if making a solemn vow.
The two sat there for what seemed like ages until several goblins entered the room carrying various bags and boxes.
"The items you required Lord Black." The tallest among them said, giving a small bow before moving back toward the door and leaving the two alone once more.
"We'll need help managing these…" Corvus began then paled slightly. "Oh no!"
"What?!" Asked Hermione anxiously.
"Dobby!" the young Lord called.
Within seconds a crack reverberated through the office and there stood the small little house elf now bound to him. "I'm so sorry Dobby!" He said sadly. "In all of this… chaos I… well I sort of forgot." Corvus said, shame coloring his voice.
"Oh Mr. Harry Potter Sir!" the little creature squeaked. "You no bes sad over Dobby! Dobby is being in the lobby guarding master and is missy and his Nevvy's things!"
"About that Dobby." Corvus said, a little of his old nervousness shining through. "That isn't my name."
"What is you saying?" The little elf cried in distress. "You is being Master Harry Potter Sir! You is being the greatest wizard who ever is being living! You is Dobby's master." Dobby ranted.
"Dobby, look at me closely." He said, trying to get the creature's attention.
After a moment the elf did was he was bid, taking in the sight of his master and seeing the changes. "What has being happened to Master Harry Potter Sir!?" Dobby cried and ran forward.
"I'm not Harry Potter, Dobby." He said with a sigh. "I never have been."
"Dobby is… Dobby is not being understanding…" the house-elf said in confusion, almost on the verge of tears.
"I'm not Harry Potter, Dobby." Corvus repeated. "I never was. This was all Dumbledore's doing. When we arrived here and I was blood tested to claim my lordship I found out that I'm not Harry Potter. My name is Corvus Antares Black. James Potter wasn't my father, he was my uncle. Harry Potter was my cousin. He died that night in Godric's Hollow and I lived. Dumbledore apparently decided that since Harry was dead I would take his place." He tried to explain the confusing and complicated situation to the little elf as simply as possible. "I… I am the son of Regulus Black and Evangeline Potter, James Potter's sister. I'm not the son of James and Lily Potter. I don't know how I came to them but they blood adopted me, that's why I looked so much like my da…. Like James." He said, catching himself on the word 'dad', noticeably choking on the word and correcting himself.
"But you is still being you!" Dobby said excitedly. "You is still being the great wizard who stopped He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named!"
"Dobby, why don't you sit down." Corvus said, slightly frustrated, though he wasn't sure how much was the elf and how much was the whole situation.
"See!" Dobby cried, his big bulbous eyes glistening with tears. "You is still being you! You is still being a great wizard! You is still being good! You is still being the noble master Dobby swore to serve!"
Corvus stopped what he was about to say. For some reason, the little house elf's words hit home with him. He had heard Hermione's and even Neville's reassurances that he was still the same person but this little creature who was so unflinchingly loyal, still had faith in him.
"So you're not… you're okay with me not being Harry Potter?" he asked tentatively.
"Oh yes sir! You is still great! You is still noble! You is still being doing the good things you has done!" Dobby cried. "You is still you even if you is not being called Harry Potter Sir!"
"Thank you, Dobby." Corvus said, with a bit of a relieved sigh. He couldn't pinpoint why Dobby's acceptance meant so much to him, but for some reason it did.
"I told you as much earlier." Said Hermione, a bit exasperated. "Did you not believe me that you are still you no matter the name?"
"I did, it's just…." He broke off, unsure how to put to words how he was feeling. "I feel like I've lost who I am. I feel like I've lost everything that made me who I was. I don't even know who I am anymore, Mione. This… this revelation for want of a better word has torn away everything I was and left me completely bare." He tried to explain.
"Then find out!" Hermione exclaimed. "You've always said that you wanted people to know the "real Harry". Well… here's your chance. You can leave all of the expectations and the title, and everything that comes with it in this office when we leave and just be you. Just be Corvus. Figure out who you are and be that person. This could be the best thing that's ever happened to you. Think of it as instead of ripping away who you are, it set you free from a life that was never yours." She said encouragingly. "It made it possible for you to live a life that is yours; yours, and no others!" she finished passionately.
"How are you so smart, Hermione?" Corvus asked, a small smile playing on his lips before he caught his brilliant girlfriend in a deep kiss. "Thank you." He whispered softly as they parted.
A throat cleared behind them causing all three occupants of the room, wizard and house elf alike, to jump at the sound.
"Whilst I am glad that you are calmer now, we have more to discuss before you depart, Lord Potter." Ragefist said as he made his way back to his desk.
"Where is Neville?" Asked the two Gryffindors in unison.
"Lord Longbottom is currently unconscious in the next room. The ritual took much out of him and he will have a long road to recovery, which is one of the many things we need to discuss before you take your leave. He will need constant care for the next few days. The ritual weakened him severely, though his body was already incredibly weak thanks to the combination of those two vile potions. He will most likely sleep through the next few days, then after that, he will need assistance doing even the smallest of things. He will have to relearn to use his muscles and limbs. He will have to work to build up the strength that he should have had. I highly suggest you find more help, though I do not doubt the abilities of your house elf, Lord Longbottom will need around the clock care for the next several weeks." Ragefist finished, looking saddened at the state of such a young lord.
"I will look into it as soon as we reach our final destination." Corvus said with a nod, understanding how serious his friend's condition currently was. "And his core?" he asked, almost regretfully.
"We were able to reverse the binding, however, there are some complications." The goblin answered. "He has been using only a tiny portion of his core to fuel his spells in school. This was only possible because the potion was intended for use on babies at birth before their cores can fully begin to form. He must have been given the potion sometime after his parents were… out of the picture. His core had already begun to form and thus the potion was not quite as effective. The spells he produced while at school were on the weaker side, yes?" At this, both teens nodded. "As I thought. He will not have had access to his full range of magic. This means he will need to relearn to use his magic. Similar to the rehabilitation his muscles will need in order to move properly, so will his magic need a sort of rehabilitation. His spells will have more power than before and he will need to learn control all over again. Or more accurately, for the first time. He has always had to fight to use enough magic, now he will have to learn how not to overpower things." Ragefist finished explaining.
"So in essence, Neville is physically and magically almost like a newborn baby and he will need to relearn to walk and use his magic." Said Corvus.
"Essentially, yes." Answered the goblin. "Which is why I suggest acquiring more help, be it house elves or another wizard or two you feel you can trust. Though be warned, he is extremely vulnerable right now and his magic is wild and raw. It will lash out viciously if threatened in any way. Take care with him for the next few weeks until he returns to his usual self and his magic settles."
Corvus nodded, though Hermione suddenly turned to the elf in the room. "Dobby, is Winky still in the school kitchens?"
"Yes, Missy Grangey!" Dobby squeaked excitedly. "Winky is still being in the kitchens at Hoggywarts! And she is being off the drink now. She is being a very good elf."
"Do you think she would possibly be willing to join us? To help look after Neville?" Hermione asked, though her voice gave away just how little she liked the idea of having yet another house elf.
"Ooooh yes, Missy Grangey!" Dobby said nodding vigorously, his bat-like ears flopping all around. "Winky is being happy to serve a family. She is not liking the heady sir very much."
"Do you trust her Dobby?" Corvus asked, putting in his main concern. "Can she be trusted to be with us and not betray us to Dumbledore or anyone in the ministry?"
"Yes Master Harry Potter Sir." Dobby said, before quickly correcting. "Master Black Sir!" He squeaked anxiously. "Dobby is sorry sirs."
"It's fine Dobby, it's going to take a lot of getting used to on my part too." Corvus said. "I've thought I was Harry Potter for as long as I can remember. It's confusing to me too." He added gently. "if you trust her, go get her and bring her here quickly. I want to get this over with before we head out. I want no one outside of this room except Luna knowing where we're going."
Dobby nodded and disappeared with a crack.
"While we wait for your elf to return Lord Black, let us conclude things." Ragefist said, picking up five black leather folders, one several times larger than the other. Handing the first and largest one to Corvus he spoke again. "This is your banking records, including the family portfolios of all the houses for which you hold the Lordship. From this, you can see any and all transactions occurring in your vaults, records of businesses in which you hold shares, and any other stocks, bonds, and trade agreements. It also has vault balances, asset lists, and property lists." The goblin paused as he handed the second leather folder to him. "This is Lord Longbottom's banking portfolio, it holds all of the same information as your own family portfolios, though obviously, he has less to manage than yourself." Handing the third folder over he spoke again. "This is all of the paperwork you signed claiming your lordships. This one is Lord Longbottom's lordship paperwork." He handed over the fourth as he spoke the last half and then held up the last two folders. "This is copies of all of the blood test results, banking statements showing the embezzlement from your accounts, basically all of the evidence we have collected here tonight. One is yours and the other is Lord Longbottom's." the goblin said, indicating which was which. "I will continue to send you evidence as it is collected, though I will do so through your elf so that an owl cannot be intercepted." Ragefist finished as Corvus took the last folder and tucked all six into the book bag that Hermione had grabbed before they left the common room what seemed like years ago but had only been a few hours. "Normally I would not hand over another's account information but Lord Longbottom gave permission before the ritual began and asked for you to have the power to make any and all decisions for him whilst he is unconscious."
Before any more could be said, a crack reverberated through the room and two house-elves appeared before Corvus, one bouncing in excitement and the other anxiously wringing her worn tea towel.
"Master Black Sir!" Dobby cried in his squeaky voice. "Dobby has brought Winky as requested. She has agreed to serve the most nooooble sir!"
"Winky." Corvus called in a soft but firm voice. "What has Dobby told you?"
"Only that yous is being needed another house elf to help, Mr. Harry Potter Sir. Dobby is being saying it is important and most secret." The new elf said in a scared high pitched voice.
"This is true. Though there is more to it than that. Will you be willing to make an unbreakable vow to keep your silence before we tell you the situation? I want you to know what you are signing up for before you are bound to my family. I want to give you the chance to say no but I have to protect what's mine at the same time." He said, trying to be as even spoken as possible.
"Yes Sir!" said the female elf.
"Hermione, will you bind us?" Corvus asked his love.
"Yes." She replied shortly. Corvus knew they would be having a very very VERY long discussion about this later, but he was thankful she was holding her tongue for the moment. "Thank you." He whispered to her.
Moving from his place on the chair under Hermione, he knelt on the floor in front of the small elf and took her hand firmly, yet carefully in his own.
"Will, you, Winky the house-elf, swear on your life to keep what you are about to be told a secret and not reveal in any way, whether it be speaking, writing, or even thinking, the information given to you without the permission of Corvus Antares Black, formerly known as Harry James Potter to the public?" Hermione asked, holding her wand over their clasped hands.
Winky gasped but nodded, speaking the words fearfully to seal the vow. "I will."
"And will you, Winky the house-elf, swear on your life to keep the knowledge of the disappearances of Corvus Antares Black, formerly known as Harry James Potter to the public, Hermione Jean Granger, and Neville Longbottom, from the institute known as Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry a secret from any and all in the event that you decline the offer to serve without the permission of Corvus Antares Black, formerly known as Harry James Potter to the public?" Hermione continued.
"I will." She squeaked.
"And will you swear on your life to deny any knowledge of this meeting if the offer to serve is declined without the permission of Corvus Antares Black, formerly known as Harry James Potter to the public?" Hermione finished.
"I will." She said, each affirmation having drawn another glowing thread from the brunette's wand. Finally, with the last vow from Winky, their hands glowed and then the threads of light seemed to sink into their hands.
"Thank you, Winky." Corvus said, gently squeezing her hand before releasing it and returning to his previous chair, and pulling Hermione once more into his lap.
Over the next half hour, he explained everything to Winky; Hermione's pregnancy, their escape from the castle, their fears about both sides of the war, what they had discovered about Corvus's parentage, what had been done to Neville, and the rituals to cleanse both of them. At the end of the explanations, Winky happily agreed to serve the Black family and as he had done with Dobby, Harry bound her to him.
"Now as to where we'll be going, Luna said we should go to the place of power for the three brothers." Corvus said, pulling out the folder containing his family portfolios and shuffling through to find the lists of properties from each of his lordships. "She specifically mentioned a place of ancient family." He recalled, pulling the list out and scanning down it, smiling when he saw the name he was looking for. "Peverell Manor. She's fifty steps ahead of us." He shook his head and tucked the parchment back in its place and replaced the folder in the bag. "We need to go now. I'm sure sunrise is close, I wouldn't be surprised if it had already come and gone."
"You have thirty minutes until sunrise, Lord Black." Ragefist said as he came from behind his desk, holding a blank sheaf of parchment. "I will enchant you an undetectable portkey to your new home, seeing as only the goblins know where Peverell Manor is located, per Ignotus Peverell's final instructions. You can go through and then the elves can bring young Lord Longbottom and your purchases to you as they will be able to pass the wards to reach their master once you have tied the wards to you." The goblin explained. "You must go now, however, I have a few last things for you. First, the rings of Lordship for all of your estates." He handed Corvus an ornate box crafted in dark ebony wood with gold filigree. "Each is in its own ring box bearing the crest of the family it represents. Included is a book on proper ring-wearing etiquette, though I am certain Lord Longbottom can assist you with them. Here are his rings as well." A smaller and less ornate box made of oak was passed to Harry next, both boxes joined the leather folders in the book bag.
"Here are the keys to all of your vaults and properties, each is tagged for your convenience." Ragefist said as he passed an obscenely large ring that overflowed with keys to him before handing him a second and far more sparse ring of keys. "And here is Lord Longbottom's keys."
The goblin handed him a black velvet pouch. "Here is the gold you requested from your vault." And another tan leather pouch was handed over. "And the gold Lord Longbottom requested." The pouches as well as the keys were also dumped into the rapidly filling bag.
"I will send you a missive within the next couple of days to return here at a prearranged time. I'll call for your house-elf and have him bring you. You need a new wand, you as well as Lord Longbottom, due to the change in both of your magic and that is not something that we goblins could shop for in your stead nor was there time to send for a wandmaker to craft you one. This appointment will take place after hours and here in this office so as to avoid any chance of being seen out on the street. The wandmaker will also be bound to an Unbreakable vow for your safety. This will be done with Heir Longbottom as soon as his body and magic heal sufficiently. The goblins who handled your shopping also included any and all catalogues they could find for your convenience. Anything you wish to purchase. Fill out the order forms and have your elf bring them directly to me. I will owl order them to be delivered here and then your elf can pick them up. Again, this is not something we would normally do but your secrecy and safety are paramount. Do not worry about including money, the funds will be taken from your accounts here."
Pulling out three more folders, these much thinner than the last and looking more like a pouch, they were handed over as well with an explanation. "I have taken the liberty of having these created for you just in case of emergency. There is one for each of you and are labeled accordingly. Inside you will find a card that will work just like a debit card that is linked to your accounts. Just tap it with your wand or index finger if you are proficient in wandless magic and specify which account you want the funds pulled from. There is also a passport and photo ID under your names, your new name for you Lord Black, as well as a blank one for you each to fill out with the alias you choose. The instructions on how to do so are included. These are in the event that you need to disappear into the muggle world and cannot return to Gringotts. I have also included copies of Birth Certificates, school, and medical records, as well as driver's licenses. If you need them for another country, send a missive through your elf. They will hold up under magical or muggle scrutiny. The address listed on the documents is an apartment in Muggle London that is owned by Gringotts. If you need to purchase things from the muggle world, you can have them shipped there and they will be delivered to you via your elf as with all purchases delivered here."
Corvus and Hermione were astounded at this gift. They hadn't thought of it, hadn't even considered that they might need something like this and were truly touched that Ragefist had gone so far above and beyond to help them. This was more than the Rites of Sanctuary required, this was a level of protection they hadn't dared to consider, let alone hope for. Both were speechless as Corvus took the folders and tucked them in the bag with the rest to be sorted later.
"Inside here." Ragefist said, handing over white velvet pouch. "You will also find a necklace for each of you. This is an emergency portkey that will take you to a Gringotts warded safehouse. In the event that these become necessary use them and a goblin will be with you at a moment's notice to bring you here safely as soon as the doors close for the day."
Handing over a parcel wrapped in black cloth and secured with a silver ribbon. "Letters from your parents, both sets. They were left in your vaults for you. I thought it better you read them in private." The goblin said respectfully. "Finally, once you get settled and look over your familial assets, if there are things you wish to retrieve from your vaults, you can send your elf with a letter with your request and we can pull the items and send them back with the elf. Money can be withdrawn this way as well because we can verify the house-elf's magic and assure that they are acting on your behalf."
"Thank you Ragefist." Corvus said, his voice a bit choked up as he reverently took the spall package of letters and tucked them into his pocket. "Thank you for everything. I cannot begin to thank you or repay you."
"You owe me nothing. It is my utmost honor to give aid to the last heir of the line of Le Fey. You have been wronged, even within these walls and it is my honor to right even some of those wrongs. What you achieve in the world will be repayment enough." Ragefist said seriously, an unusual about of respect in his voice. Goblins never showed so much respect to wizardkind and Corvus was truly touched and felt overwhelmed as he took the portkey.
"I appreciate it." Were the last words Corvus Black spoke before the portkey whisked him and Hermione away