9TH July
Harry paced around Griphook's office like she had done for the past three days.
"Ok," she muttered. "Something is seriously wrong."
Griphook raised an eyebrow but didn't comment.
"So, considering the unpopularity of the stupid law, there are talks about getting it repealed?" Harry asked, incredulous. "Why are they delaying? Nobody bloody appreciates being told who to marry!"
"From our sources, it's the pureblood factions that still remain. Not surprising since they are realising how watered down their family magic's have become with inbreeding," Griphook grumbled at the end. "But from what we hear, Dumbledore is being spectacularly ineffective at speeding up the process. He's good at acting effectively honestly but if you look closely enough he' very obviously delaying the repeal."
Harry paced more.
"He's scheming something. I know it. And whenever he schemes, it's never been good for me."
"You believe it's a trap for you?" Griphook asked blankly. "But this affects your entire nation's youth."
"According to your information, none of the others are being rushed at all to marry immediately. The Ministry is giving them a few months to find partners before they will be forced into bonds. But Dumbledore is insisting on me getting married to that ferret before the school year restarts," Harry told Griphook. "He's fishy."
"Still to endanger the futures of so many youngsters to get something out of you?" Griphook frowned. "If you're really correct, that man is even more despicable than I thought. And obviously desperate to achieve something."
She scowled as she paced.
"This man put me through tests since I re-entered the magical world when I was eleven, not caring about the other students' safety while he did that! Philosopher's stone, Devil's Snares, Basilisks, deadly tournaments!" Harry threw her arms up, annoyed. "I won't be surprised if he's this vile indeed."
Harry turned to find Griphook choking on his drink which he had evidently been taking a sip from while she was ranting. She waved her wand quickly, clearing the goblin's airway.
"You alright?"
"Basilisks?" Griphook asked incredulously, eyes shining a strange mixture of concern, greed and strangely envy. "How big was it? How old? How old were you? How did you fight it? Do you want to sell it? Is this how The Sword got imbued with basilisk venom, witch?"
Harry blinked at the rapid questioned fired at her.
"Figures," she thought.
Being a member of a warrior race, plus a banker in profession, Griphook of course cared more about the glory of defeating a beast and trying to earn profits from its carcass.
"It's was during my second year at Hogwarts, the beast was at the very least fifty years old, I almost died due to one of its fangs scratching me but a phoenix saved me with its tears, yes this was how the sword got basilisk inside it because I used to it kill the snake and honestly, as long as Dumbledore is Headmaster for Hogwarts, I'm not sure I can access the carcass without tipping him off."
Griphook deflated at the last bit but there was some serious respect in his eyes for her suddenly.
"You defeated an ancient beast at twelve years old, witch," Griphook nodded approvingly. "You prove as a worthy warrior, Miss Potter."
"Thanks?" Harry replied, a bit confused at the proud look in Griphook's eyes.
But Griphook wasn't listening. He had diverted his attention a random blank parchment.
"I should certainly mention this to the others. This will very much help sway the rest of those in the Nation who are wary of you to our side," Griphook muttered, scribbling something down vigorously.
"Say do you mind going over to our Nation's healers for a test to prove you have basilisk venom in your blood? Evidence is critical to proving a point."
Harry blinked.
"I – I'm healed though?" she told Griphook with a weak smile.
Griphook shook his head.
"Venom as potent and magical as the Basilisk's doesn't disappear from your veins after injected. Neither does Phoenix tears. Both should still linger in your veins, neutralising each other."
Harry squeaked. Griphook ignored her horrified expression.
"So?" the goblin prompted.
"Sure," she replied weakly. "Test away."
"You have been abused, child," Redreef grumbled, voice coated in disgust.
"Well," Harry started, trying to defend or deny herself. She stopped at the goblin Healer's unimpressed stare.
"I've been abused," she muttered despondently.
"Would you like us to remove you from your home?" Griphook asked seriously. "We can always eliminate your relatives."
Griphook was rather disgusted to say the last word. Harry smiled at the goblin gratefully.
"That's the nicest thing anyone's offered me," she told the goblin sincerely.
Griphook pinked and turned away at her touched look, much to his fellow goblins' amusement.
"But my relatives have become decent this summer," Harry replied miserably. "We've even started to mend bridges between us, though I doubt it'll ever be not awkward. I'm afraid there isn't any point in eliminating them now."
"We could always do subtle things?" Riptooth – the goblin guard who had been entrusted to follow them while Harry was brought into deeper Gringotts territory – piped up. "Things like bad days, tripping while walking, eating spoiled food once a week, etc."
Harry blinked.
"You can do that?" she asked, surprised.
"Sure," Griphook replied. "We're capable of illusions, as you know from how we've helped your Muggleborn friend. So, getting near enough to jinx the muggles without getting caught is easy."
"You people deserve way better than the wizarding world," Harry replied honestly upset that the goblins' talents and skills are not common knowledge or freely allowed to be shared due to wizards' bigotry.
The goblins blinked in surprise at her and all three of them turned a bit pink. Harry missed it all due to how invested she had become in grumbling about the stupidity of the wizards and witches.
"Harry! Harriet!"
Harry stilled turning around to find twin sets of redheads calling after her. She tensed.
Dammit it all. No one from the light or dark was supposed to spot her! Especially not in Knockturn Alley! She thanked her lucky stars at least no one was around her for the moment to hear the twins call her name.
"How the hell are they so sure it's me anyways?" she grumbled internally. "I'm bloody wearing a hooded cloak!
She sped up her walk, wanting to leave the twins behind. What they were doing in Knockturn Alley, she didn't want to know. Probably scouring for some illegal potion ingredients for their latest tricks.
She cursed when a hand grabbed her and she was promptly dragged into shrouded alleyway, hood forcefully pulled off.
"What do you want?" she snarled at the two who caged her against the wall when she felt a privacy charm being placed around them.
"Talk!" Fred retorted back from her left, voice firm. "We want to talk to our friend."
She rolled her eyes.
"Oh, friends are we now?" she snapped back. "Where were you lot when you dear parents came to break the news of shipping me off to Malfoy?"
The twins grimaced.
"We weren't let in on the decision, Harry," George told her from the right. "Do you honestly think we want you to marry Malfoy junior of all people?"
Harry scoffed.
"Oh, I don't know. Your parents seemed pretty okay with the idea. Funny because I always thought Weasleys hated Malfoys."
"Harry, we don't support it!" Fred insisted. "We never did!"
"Funny, I never heard you lot letting me know of this silent support," she drawled.
"We've been sending you letters all summer!" George replied earnestly. "When you didn't reply, we even tried to visit you at your relatives!"
"There are new bloody wards there, do you realise?" Fred scowled. "Threw us off metres away when we tried to approach No. 4 Private Drive."
Fred rubbed his left hand to soothe a phantom pain.
"Broke a lot of our bones it did, the blasted things," he grumbled.
Harry blinked shocked. She was certain the twins weren't lying.
"That's why no one wrote this summer," she muttered. "The letters weren't going through."
"Damn right they weren't! You didn't honestly think we all abandoned you did you Harriet?" George asked seriously.
Harry gave a bitter smile.
"It wasn't that hard after your parents themselves did it," she muttered back softly.
The twins, with how close they were, heard it all the same. Their eyes softened.
"We're sorry about them, Harry," Fred whispered. "What they did to you wasn't right."
"Oh, I don't know," Harry mumbled. "Wanting to protect her youngest children at least from the law doesn't seem wrong from a mother's perspective."
And it wasn't. What Molly Weasley did, accepting to stay quiet in Dumbledore's decision for Harry's future, in return for protection for her youngest two from the Marriage Law, was not unexpected from a mother as devoted as her.
So why did her action cut something deep in Harry's chest so much?
"You are part of the family," George replied back sternly, diverting Harry's attention back to their conversation. "She shouldn't have done that to you!"
"I am not your blood," Harry replied calmly, the pain in her chest anchoring her emotions.
It would not do for her to lose emotions in this place.
"You don't need to be blood to be family, Harry," Fred replied softly, voice tinged with sadness.
"But it obviously matters which part of the family you choose when there is blood involved," she replied back evenly.
"Harry –"
"Don't bother," she cut in sharply. "I'm not in the mood for debates. Why have you dragged me over?"
"We've been sending you letters," George repeated.
"None of which I received. We've established this already Weasley," she retorted coldly. "Get to your point now."
Fred and George reeled back slightly at her hostile demeanour, shocked. But they did reply.
"We wanted to help," George started. "We know despite what the adults were spewing that you won't ever be happy with being forced to married Malfoy."
"Glad to know some people have some sense," she drawled.
The twins' lips twitched up ever so slightly despite her icy tone.
"We wanted to offer to take Malfoy's place if you want us to," Fred told her seriously.
Harry stilled.
"You shouldn't be forced –"
"So that's what you want to offer?" she snarled pushing them both back violently.
Caught by surprise, both of the twins stumbled back.
"Harry –"
"A chance to warm your beds instead of Malfoys?" she snapped, emerald eyes flashing dangerously.
Her magic swirled around her, angry.
"Do I look like a whore? To be passed on to one person to another?" she snarled. "First that stupid Ministry, then Dumbledore and your parents, along with that traitorous wolf! And now you too? You want me to wear a walk down the aisle and carry your babies like my sole bloody purpose is to produce babies?" she snarled.
"That's not what we –"
"I don't want to hear it anymore! I'm not allowing any bloody person to cage me any longer!" she snapped. "This blood world ruined my childhood, took my youth and now it wants the rest of my life too?"
Harry growled.
"Not happening!"
"Harriet –"
"Just shut up!" Harry shouted at the two.
The twins quietened down reluctantly, eyes pained and shrouded in sadness.
"You offered, didn't you?" she asked them. "Well here's my answer: No!"
"Harry don't trap yourself with Malfoy in your anger –"
Harry fisted Fred's robe collar with a snarl, silencing him as she pulled him roughly forward.
"Trap? You think I'll willingly let myself get trapped by that albino ferret?" she asked icily. "Not bloody likely Fred Weasley."
She pushed the redhead away, watching stonily as his twin caught him before he could fall.
"He's not going to stay happily married with me for more than five seconds, if I can help it," she told the twins who were watching her with concern in their eyes. "And if I can't help it at all in the end well –"
Harry fished out a chain hidden under her robe collar. A small crystal vial was attached to it. Inside it, a sickly green liquid swirled about.
The twins paled at the sight of it. Harry smirked.
"Recognised it, have you?" she asked, twirling the vial in her hands carefully. "Rather potent this one is. One drop is more than enough to kill a baby giant. I have a whole spoonful in this."
Harry's eyes gleamed, a maniacal glint shining in them.
"If I can't help it at all, I assure you Fred and George Weasley, I won't be there to find out how being trapped with that ferret will be like. I'll long be on my way to meet my parents. And nobody will bloody stop me!"
"Harry –"
"Meet you at the wedding Messrs Weasleyes," she told them frostily. "Or perhaps you'll visit my funeral instead. Who knows?"
Harry called forth her wand and slashed it violently downwards, vanishing the privacy charm around them.
"Harriet –"
Harry didn't bother listening. She shot a secrecy spell each at both twin.
"That is for neither of you to blabber about this conversation or the fact that you've met me here," she snarled. "Don't bother finding a way around it. I'm not above destroying anyone in my way now."
With a parting glare, she twisted the Head of House ring on her finger and vanished away, leaving the Weasley twins alone in the alleyway.
"She's hurting Freddie," George whispered brokenly into the silence surrounding them.
Fred drew his brother into a comforting hug.
"And it's all because of the stupid adults trying to interfere in her life again!"
"I know," Fred replied grimly.
George pulled away from his twin after a while.
"We're not going to leave her hurting, are we?" he asked seriously.
"Of course not," Fred replied with an indignant look.
"Good," George replied. "Then let's get moving. We've got schemes to plan."
10th July
"That conniving bastard!" Sirius snarled.
The man conjured his fortieth teacup and shattered it, leaving it to pile up with the other broken ones.
"Son of a bitch!" Sirius cursed.
He conjured another teacup. Then shattered it.
"I'm going to cut off his dick and feed it to a goat," Sirius scowled.
Harry watched as another teacup was conjured to join its violently broken kin, hiding a smirk behind her hand.
Sirius had been woken up two hours ago and brought up to date with what's going on. Her godfather was not fully healed but the goblins had manged to charm an amulet to help him organise his messed-up thoughts and emotions due to Azkaban's influence. Give or take five years, they were confident Sirius would have sorted his brain out and could remove the amulet to function like a sane human being without its aid.
"Though there may be some insanity always clinging to him," Redreef had muttered initially.
Harry had shrugged at that. She didn't mind as long as Sirius wasn't completely cuckoo.
Plus, she was just glad that her godfather was actually on her side, without compulsions influencing him. Sirius had spent the first hour since waking up grovelling at her feet, much to her amusement and – alright she'll admit it – approval. She had forgiven him the moment she realised Sirius hadn't betrayed her trust out of his own free will. But it was nice to have the man apologise. She still remembered his face breaking the news of his approval to marry her off to Malfoy without her input.
"Evil, manipulative goat!"
Harry watched as cup number seventy-two joined its ancestors in all its broken glory. Sirius had started to charm them all to plead for mercy in voices that sounded eerily similar to one Albus Dumbledore's.
"I'm going to tie him up and leave him near a pack of wolves during the next full moon, that bastard!"
Harry smirked.
"He's your godfather alright," Griphook muttered from beside her. "He's already given us twenty excellent ideas to either mutilate or murder someone in the span of ten minutes."
"I suppose this is where I get my crazy from," Harry replied back with a serene smile.
If she felt Griphook shudder slightly, Harry didn't comment.
