Hello lovelies!
I have once again returned with a long awaited new chapter
I am so sorry that it takes me so long to update and thank you all
so much for your continued support. It means more to me than I can say.
I love you all!
I hope you enjoy!
There is so much more to come, I promise! I finally have tons of ideas.
This is just a little bit to let everyone know I'm back up and running.
As usual, I unfortunately own nothing.
Upon returning to Ragefist's office, the three Gryffindors took chairs opposite the older goblin.
"Now, down to the remainder of your business Heir Black." Ragefist said as he looked over some papers that hadn't been there when they left. "You stated when you came in that you needed to make withdrawals, and restrict activity on your accounts. With these new developments and the results of your blood tests would you be claiming your lordships as well?"
Looking over to the other two, he thought for a moment. "What would happen if I claim them?"
At this Neville spoke up. "You would be taking responsibility for all of your lordships, including the accounts and lands that go with them. You would also be claiming your seats on the Wizengamot, which is a mixed bag. Dumbledore would no longer have access to them but if you were to attend a meeting or trial, your identity would be made known as well as exactly what all seats you are claiming." The Longbottom Heir explained to his friend as simply as he could manage, well aware of how overwhelmed he must feel at the moment. "Ha…Co…Um" Neville stumbled with a sheepish smile. "I would recommend claiming your lordships, all of them. Do not let Dumbledore wield your political power any longer. You can also hold off on attending Wizengamot meetings until we figure some things out, most of them are just regular checkins anyway to go over any new law proposals, though new laws will not be passed without you there as all members or their representative must be in attendance for proposals to be passed." He finished.
The newly transformed boy nodded his understanding and turned his attention back to Ragefist. "I will claim all of them."
"Very well, Heir Black. This will also emancipate you and make you a legal adult." The goblin said before laying out a rather large stack of forms and placing a quill that he was very well acquainted with on top. "This is a blood quill, it will use your own blood to sign the papers making them magically binding."
"I'm aware of what it is." He said with more than a little disgust gracing his voice. Picking up the loathed object he went to sign his name and then paused. "What name do I sign?" He asked, confusion and a slight edge of pain could be heard in those few words.
"That is entirely at your discretion, whatever you wish your legal name to be. This will also effect any changes of name you wish to be made." Ragefist said.
He turned to look at Hermione questioningly. "This is your choice. I love you unconditionally no matter the name you go by. This is a choice you must make for yourself, just know that I will love you as Corvus just as much as Harry." She answered the question she could see in his eyes. "A rose by any other name." She said softly, and at that he smiled.
"I have spent far too long living the life of a dead person. I want to be my own person, not the ghost of my cousin." He said firmly, making his decision, before turning and signing his full name as Corvus Antares Black over and over on each of the documents of lordship.
"Very well, Lord Black-Potter-Le Fey-Peverell-Gryffindor-Slytherin-Ravenclaw, you are officially the lord of seven houses, the most lordships one person has help since the time of Merlin." Said Ragefist, picking up the papers that had just been signed and setting them to the side.
"Wow that is such a mouthful." Said the newly christened Corvus. "How about just Lord Black for the sake of time and ease of remembrance." He finished.
"As you wish." The goblin said with a nod. "Now on to other matters, while we were performing the ritual I had another goblin collect all of the information available on your account. It looks as if several people have had access to it over the years, namely Dumbledore who has made several large withdrawls on what seems like a fairly regular basis."
"I would like to put a stop to that immediately!" Corvus burst out. "How much has he taken from me?"
"These figures show that as of last week he had taken a total of eight hundred thousand galleons from your accounts. Not one, as that would have raised suspicion but he seems to spread his withdrawls out over several of them and sited that they were for your upbringing and care."
"I want it all back." Corvus snarled. "Every single knut that man has taken from me. Since not a single bit of it was ever actually used on me. I was left with muggles and wore my fat cousin's cast-offs and slept in a cramped cupboard under the stairs. Hell, even my first Hogwarts letter was address to 'Mr. H Potter, Cupboard Under The Stairs" he fumed.
Ragefist, who had smiled in vicious delight at the order to recover the stolen money, was visibly shocked by what the young man had revealed. Then the malicious smile returned even wider. "That makes this a legal matter and goes far beyond embezzlement." He said to the new Lord in front of him. "This is also a case of neglect, both physical and magical."
Corvus snorted. "I was definitely neglected but mostly by the muggles relatives I was left with."
"Ha-Corvus." Neville said, stumbling once more but recovering quickly. "This is about Dumbledore's neglect as well. No magical child is to be adopted out or fostered by muggles no matter their blood relation, especially not a magical child of the sacred twenty-eight. You should have been placed with a magical family of similar status, a noble house, so that you were taught how to tend to your lordships. Dumbledore, as your self-proclaimed magical guardian was to see to this. Actually he never should have been your magical guardian to begin with because he is not a noble in his own right, he only sits on the Wizengamot with your seats, which with this information, he has done illegally." Turning to Ragefist, Neville asked angrily, though his ire was not directed at the goblin. "How has this happened? This should have been caught and not allowed to continue! This is tantamount to line theft!"
"Exactly." Said Ragefist, an utterly vicious look in his eye. "Dumbledore's list of crimes seems to grow longer and longer the more information that is given. I will personally investigate this matter and see that it is made right and he is charged. Lord Black, would you provide me with your memories. I know this is quite a lot to ask but it will aid in getting your losses returned as well as support the charges I plan to lay at that meddlesome old fool's feet."
Corvus froze for a moment then nodded warily. "What memories will you need?" he asked.
"I hate to point a light on this, especially as you've just rid yourself of the physical reminders but I saw the scars before you entered the pool. I know abuse when I see it. I will need all of the memories of your abuse, ever single act of cruelty the ones Dumbledore left you with inflicted upon you." Ragefist answered and for the first time he sounded regretful, as though he truly did hate to force the young man to remember his worst moments.
"If it will help take that man down and keep my family safe then yes." Corvus answered. "How do I give them to you?"
Ragefist stood at his agreement and walked to a cabinet and pulled out a pensive, bringing it to sit on his desk out of the way of all the papers yet to handle. "Just put the tip of your wand against your temple and think of the memory and then gently pull your wand away and drop the memory into the pensive."
"Mate." Called out Neville as the other young man stood to do as instructed. "Might want to include memories of all the dangers you have faced at Hogwarts while you're at it. That definitely has to prove him unfit for the post of headmaster at least."
With a nod of agreement, he began transferring memories into the pensive. It took much longer than anyone was expecting, the silvery strands of memory seeming to be unending. Finally about fifteen minutes of Corvus adding memory after memory into the stone bowl, he put away his wand and returned to his seat.
No one commented on just how many horrible memories he had to give. No one mentioned the feelings of horror at what could have possibly been happening to this boy at the hands of his muggle relatives.