Harry Potter and the Refugees of Time
Chapter 2: Why Me?
Disclaimer: I do not own anything to the Harry Potter franchises or empire, not do I own anything of the Russian empire, although we do have a nice replicate Faberge egg. No money being made, no claims of ownership, nothing, squat
Rating: K
Synopsis: AU, Post-Hogwarts from Harry's POV. No shipping.
A/N: Thanks to senawario for catching spelling errors.
August 17, 2018 (continued)
The Home Secretary looked at me and rhetorically asked "Lord Potter, I understand that you have several country estates which could be used to house our guests as they get, shall I say, resettled. Is this true, and would one or more be available for this use? We can work out details for compensation later".
I nodded, and then said "Before we proceed any further, there is one house-keeping detail we have to address."
The HS scowled at my interrupting his train of thought, but looking at over at Hermione, Luna and 'C' who were all nodding, said "Proceed." This was not a request.
I looked toward the family seated in the room with us. "Sir, Madame, ladies and gentleman, from what you have stated, I understand that you all have witnessed Father Grigori's healing on young Alexei. Am I correct in this understanding?"
The ex-Tsar nodded, glancing at his family. "It is."
I asked, "You also witnessed my use on my wand to assess the magic in your talismans?"
Again, a nod from all the family.
"You also witnessed mention of my being a wizard and being in touch with the Goblins Bank?"
Another nod.
I turned to Luna and Hermione, and asked "Can you please provide the appropriate documents?"
The two smiled and nodded, and Luna pulled out seven small cards from her purse. Approaching the family, she passed a card to each person, and said "Please press your right thumb over the grey square."
As each did so, Grand Duchess (as was) Olga exclaimed "It shows my picture, and states my name in Russian! There is also a disclaimer that I am aware of magic and this has been certified by an agent of the International Confederation of Wizards!"
Her father said "Mine is in English!", while his wife looked puzzled and asked "Why is mine in Danish then?"
Luna smiled and said "Your name and picture will automatically update to whatever appearance you currently have, and whatever name you choose to use at the time you need to show the card. It also will show text in whatever language you, or the person you show the card to, is thinking in at the time. It is valid throughout the world, and so can be used wherever it needs to be used."
The FS and HS looked at Luna angrily, and FS asked "what is this malarkey all about?"
I looked towards the two Very Important Persons, and asked "Would you both please look at your identity cards?"
They pulled out their cards, and to their surprise, noticed similar declarations on their security IDs, which they had never seen there before.
I added "Although your own photos will not update, the information only appears in the presence of magical people, whether human, or others such as the Goblins, centaurs, and so on. If it was not there, I or other agents connected to the ICW would be obliged to remove the knowledge of whatever magic you had witnessed from your minds. Not just recommended, but obligated under risk of extreme penalties. I should warn you that the Ministry's obliviators are often a bit over-zealous in the performance of their application of this law."
As the VIPs looked to start blustering, I noted "The International Statutes of Secrecy overrides many other treaties and has been signed and acknowledged by all the monarchs of the United Kingdom and its preceding component countries since it was originally adopted as a secret clause to the Magna Carta in 1215. It was proclaimed to protect the separation of the magical and mundane worlds, for the protection of both, at times when witch-hunts were not uncommon. Retaliation on either side by the other had to be prevented. The last civil war among the magical communities of Britain were in part sanctioned because the terrorist organization was violating the Statute by attacking and murdering mundane citizens. Had the British magical forces not prevailed, the ICW would have taken action, and a part of our country and most of the magical population would have been obliterated. Remember what happened to Pompeii."
"As you two gentlemen are must be aware of magic as part of your functions of offices, you are entitled under the Statute to know about magic and to keep this knowledge. Even knowledge of the Statute's very existence is covered under its restrictions."
The Home Secretary smiled towards me, and said "I think I see now about the security clearance issue. I had not known the implications. However, returning to my earlier question, would one or more of your properties be available to provide some hospitality? We are afraid that with the prevailing presence of CCTV cameras and paparazzi, housing our guests in the centre of London may no longer provide adequate security. Are your properties secure?"
Surprisingly, Luna giggled. The look of shock on some others reminded me of this strange young lady I had befriended years ago. She smiled and added "The war bunker under 10 Downing Street should be so secure. I believe Harry has layers of wards underneath a Fidelis charm, plus his house-elves are very protective."
Smiling, I agree. "Yes sir, they are secure."
As I was facing the officials, I did not see which princess grumbled "Wonderful. Another prison!"
As I turned and was about to say something, Hermione quietly said "Madame, if you really prefer, we will release you into the general population with our best wishes. However, the seers from our Department of Mysteries have estimated that you and your family would be attacked with deadly force within two months. Because your talismans are so unusual, they have no idea whether they would all activate together or separately, and you all would be in a similar situation another hundred years from now. We have been requested by your 'cousins', as you put it, to provide sanctuary and some way to have you safely re-enter society. If you wish to reject this offer, I am sure She will understand that you wish to save us the inconvenience."
You could hear the capitalization of the pronoun. You could also hear the distain in Hermione's polite statement.
"We will endeavour to arrange for acceptable identities and official documentation for you such as drivers' licenses and passports, as well as finding ways for you to occupy your lives once you no longer require or want our assistance. You will be welcome to leave our environs then, or now, as you wish. Once you leave us, you will probably never encounter any of us again, depending of course on what occupations you happen to choose."
After the family looked to each other and reluctantly nodded, the Tsarina turned towards me and asked sharply, "So, who are you really, and why would you be assigned 'our hospitality'?"
I smiled. "Sadly Madame, I have been wondering the exact same thing."
She scowled slightly and look to her husband. He nodded and stated "We all have lived for most of our lives under the watch of protective details. I also know, from my limited military training, that every army has its sharp-shooters and assassins, and every secret police and spy agency has its assassins as well, ever since Julius Caesar was killed. Your own double-zero group are Britain's elite assassins, so why in the world would you be on protection detail. That requires a completely different skill set. The one is much more active than the other, and more of a covert nature. A protection detail needs to be more obvious to the miscreants to be effective."
"Also, you are addressed as a Lord of the Realm, and obviously are extremely wealthy. Not exactly the kind to volunteer to go hunting or get shot at."
I nodded. "Sir, I see your points. I really do. I mentioned the magical civil war that occurred throughout my early life. By way of explanation, perhaps a bit of my personal history."
"It actually started some years before I was born. A very powerful wizard decided to rule the world, and as a side venture attempted to attain immortality, which is a violation of all the laws of nature, and specifically, magic. He called himself a Dark Lord, and reflecting his quest for eternal life took the name Voldemort, meaning 'Flies from Death'. He claimed to be descended from a famous wizard and was of pure wizarding heritage. The first was true, but the last was a lie."
"However, the lie was believed, and he gathered a large number of followers who thought that, being a pure wizarding blood themselves, they were the pinnacle of creation and should rule by right of birth, and they called themselves 'Death Eaters'. Many were rich aristocrats, but the majority were just common thugs. As such paragons of existence, they thought themselves immune to all laws, and were torturing and murdering any that they felt were less than them, either being non-magical, what we call mundane or muggle, and any of supposedly lesser bloodlines or who rejected their dogma. These they called blood-traitors."
"My parents were among those who rejected their doctrines, and my mother was from a non-magical family, so for these reasons and others, they were targeted. They were also successful and influential, so were at the top of the target list. Shortly before I was born, a prophecy was made implying, according to the interpretations of many including the Dark Lord, that I was the only one who would be able to stop him permanently. He killed my parents and tried to kill me, but something happened which is still unexplained, and his body was destroyed. However, because of his dark rituals for immortality, his spirit was not killed as well at that time. Because I survived the event, I was labelled 'The Boy who Lived' and books were written about me being the saviour of the magical world. The books were complete fabrications and rubbish but because of them, I was famous, and became a target for all the surviving Death Eaters."
"Through wealth and influence, that is, bribery, blackmail and threats to important families, most of his followers were pardoned for their crimes. I was hidden from the magical world for my protection. Years later, I was re-introduced to the magical world, and immediately became a target again. At least once a year at my school, there was an attempt on my life which, obviously, I somehow managed to survive. In my last year of school, the Dark Lord attacked the school with all of his forces and in the battle I had to kill many of his followers, and eventually Voldemort himself. Those of his followers who survived the battle either fled the country or went to ground."
"However, the most vicious remaining Death Eaters found that they had lost their positions of power and wealth, and like all bullies, decided it could not possibly be due to their own fault or actions. Obviously, someone else had to be blamed to their fall from grace, and they decided that I and my friends were the ones who had to be responsible for their loss of status. After a couple of peaceful years, they started to attack again, killing a number of my friends and family. Lady Hermione's husband was murdered, as was my eldest daughter. For about ten years I was forced into battles where I had to kill in order to survive.
For most of my life, all I wanted was to be left alone to live my live. This seems to have been unacceptable to many who wanted my fame, my status or my money, and were ruthless on how to accomplish this.
Whether it was good or bad, I got to be very good at killing. Some of the Death Eaters were those among the magical aristocracy and because of this, under wizarding law I gained a lot of wealth and property by Right of Conquest. That's how I became rich. I didn't need it, and didn't particularly want it, but there it is. I took a lot of the money and set up orphanages and restitution plans for victims of the Death Eaters, and that attracted some 'official' attention."
Now that I was rich as well as famous, many of these old families decided it was my 'duty' to marry one of their daughters, or at least provide stud service to, as they put it, strengthen the bloodlines. Of course, their families would be in charge of all decisions, and the bank accounts. There were other offers of a sexual nature, both female and male with similar conditions attached. When I rejected all of these 'offers', there were threats, which escalated into challenges to duels to the death with the winner claiming all the assets of the loser. Being of 'pure' wizarding blood, they expected to be the winners; they were wrong.
"In a number of battles, the Death Eaters decided that it was intolerable the non-magical Queen should have any authority over magical people, and attacked some of the royal family. I managed to put a stop to that fallacy, permanently, and that is why I hold a title. This also brought me to the attention of the Secret Services. As I had found that a quiet domestic life was becoming less attractive, not to mention less likely, so like many warriors who come to hunger for the taste of battle, I signed up."
"Thinking about it now, I think I may have an explanation of why I was chosen to work with you and your family. I have read about the long history of secret societies in Russia, because at various times I am tasked to deal with those who are still there. For most of my life and I gather yours, there were those who decided that I was a threat, and that I needed to be killed. Like yourselves as you are now, I was considered a deadly threat merely because I existed."
One of the princesses scoffed, and remarked "Great, we get pity from a broken soldier. How much of this do we need?"
I looked at her, and responded "My Lady, if you wish, I will leave you to wallow in misery and despair, as you seem to prefer at the moment. You may want to descend into being miserable, or disappear into a cloud of alcohol. I really don't recommend it. I've been there, and done that, and meanwhile every now and again someone tried to kill me in the midst of a hangover. I will help if I can, but I will not force you to accept help. Life is too short to waste your time and mine where it is not wanted."
"From what our best seers have predicted, you can reject our offers, and go out on your own. They expect that your family would soon lose you within a couple months, either through another time shift, or into the dregs of the population. In the military, they refer to it as biting the bullet, putting up with the temporary pain for a better future. I won't call it 'the greater good', as that phrase has been thrown in my face for half my life, and never with honest intent."
"I can promise you that I can 'out-grouch' you any day of the week." Smiling I added, "Are you up to that challenge?"
"I recognise that your pride does not allow you to accept charity, nor should it. However, if you accept the offer of hospitality at one of my properties, you will actually be doing me a tremendous favour. You see, I have been assigned this task, and if I fail at it, I will be required to write a lengthy report detailing how, due to my tragic incompetence, I was not up to the confidence my superiors place in me and why I should be fired from my duties. And I would really hate to have to write such a report. As it is, I have to write one every couple of months. Okay?"
Even the princess who had complained smiled.
Grand Duchess Anastasia nodded, and announced "Now that my sister has been shown the error in her ways, can we move on to where we are going to stay, and how we are going to live, and when are we going to eat and when we can go shopping. I'm hungry and I want to get some new pretty underwear. This military issue stuff they gave us is getting really tired!"
Her mother turned to her and scowled. "Daughter, we do not discuss such matters in front of gentlemen, and certainly not strangers!"
The young woman smiled at her mother. "Mama, I know you want to live as if nothing has changed, but we have all seen the modern fashion magazines. They advertise things that under Papa's reign would have had them arrested for distributing pornography." She then covered her mouth as if to whisper to her mother and in a mock-whisper said "I fear you will be very upset ti find that they even allow women to vote."
The ex-Tsar laughed. "As you can see, my children are more eager to explore their new world than my wife and I. I believe that to do so, we will need to find ways of supporting ourselves. As our financial support is no longer what it was, and our presence here is not to be revealed, I gather we may need to speak with your Goblin friends, and come to some understanding. I don't really know who or what these 'Goblins' are, or how they can help, but I gather they may be critical to our situation."
I nodded. "I think that can be arranged. I will ask for an appointment with my account manager and financial advisor, whose name translates from their language as 'Honeblade'."
At their surprized expressions, I continued "Goblins are a proud warrior race, and their names reflect this. They react rather poorly to the way most wizarding treat them. Through treaties which I think are prime examples of how stupid most wizards are, they are in charge of all our banking due to their extremely effective security systems. They are in essence a separate sovereign nation, with banks, or embassies and consulates if you will, in all major cities throughout the world."
"They are our bankers, but also specialists in security systems, and the final arbitrators of property, family trees, wills and inheritances. I have managed to gain their respect, in part because I give them my respect. My history also weighs in my favour. I must warn you that they are not keen on offering charity or me spending my assets on what they call 'unprofitable' ventures."
"I must also warn you that their people have their own forms of magic, different than what we use. Other peoples also have their own magic. For example, I did not recognise the spells that your Father Grigori invoked with your talismans, and I suspect his Siberian monastic order have their own forms as well. You may see some magic you might not see anywhere else. If you react in any way other than with surprise, you may not like what they say."
The man smiled, and tossed something to me. "What do you think they will say to this? We have more."
I caught the small green item he tossed to me, and my eyes widened as I thought I recognised an unflawed emerald of at least two hundred carats.
One thing I did not tell them was that I did not really trust them. Seven people I had never seen before claimed to belong-lost aristocrats, and they did carry some magical talismans. However, I have known too many cases when people claimed to be who they were not, and using Polyjuice or glamours, getting away with it.
One of my teachers used to call for constant vigilance, before he was killed in a really stupid operation cooked up by a master manipulator. In my occupation, trusting people was a quick way to killed. When people demand you trust them, that's when you watch your back even more.
Trust was something that had to be earned, and could be compromised on short notice. Over my life, I found very few I could always trust, and only about four in the room with me were on that list.
This group, of a supposed family, had managed to infiltrate the highest levels of our government and society by virtue of their claims. If they were not who they claimed to be, they became a major security threat, and it would become my duty to kill them.
A/N: Throughout the 1800's and into the 1900's, there were a number of secret societies and revolutionaries in Russia whose one common position was that the Tsar must die. In 1881, the Tsar Alexander II was assassinated.
It has been said that there were so many secret societies, and so many police informants, that some meetings broke up when it was found that every attendee who was present was a police spy.
There was a rumour that Nicholas' great-great grandfather, Alexander the first, had tired of being the Tsar, faked his own death (of typhus) and become an Orthodox monk. There were sightings that reported a monk who bore a strong resemblance to the Tsar and whose signature was suspiciously similar as well. Don't you just love conspiracy theories?
Some recommendations:
Harry Potter and the Distaff Side, by Clell65619 (I hope he finishes it some day)
When Is It a Contract, by Aealket
There's Always a Way, by S'TarKan
