August 20, 2004

Clay gives me a look. "Am I right to assume you are referring to the, pardon my French, pile of shite Skeeter wrote?"

I smile. "Good to know you are informed Clay but yes, this morning's article is part of it."

"I'm a reporter Ms. Granger. It is my job to stay on top of things."

"If only every reporter could be like you. But I promised you some tea." I flag down a waiter.

I wait until the waiter refills my cup and makes a new one for my companion.

"While I do want to talk about today's…mess, I'm more worried about the long term impact my stay in Great Britain will have on my international endeavors."

Clay took a sip of his tea. "You wish to have a pristine presence in case you need to escape."

"In short, yes." I wave my hand around. "Even when I first stepped foot in Diagon Alley I was not welcomed. Brits say things have changed but I'm aware that nothing truly has."

"Thank you for trusting me with this but I still don't see what you want me to do. Brightest Witch of the Century or not I will not lie for you."

I stop myself from rolling my eyes. "I want a reporter Barclay, not a mouthpiece. Britain may not recognize your talents, but you are a respected correspondent for major newspapers in the rest of the continent.

"On paper, I want to hire you to be my publicist and the sole source of information Great Britain has about me. Unofficially I'll be feeding you nuggets of information for you to make a series of investigative reports on the Blood Wars."

I see the interest shining in his eyes. No one had covered the Blood Wars. It wasn't talked about in polite company and neither side had let anything slip of their involvement. The British public was more than fine with pretending it never happened at all.

"So what do you say, Mr. Wallace? Exclusive access to me and my daughter in exchange for pulling the curtain back on the bloodiest armed conflict in this country?"

The next edition of the Charms Journal would feature Evangeline and me on the cover page. In mid-September the Wizengamot would begin the Autumn session, opening the floor to public discussion. Now having left Barclay with the address to Wool's Orphanage and the name Tom Marvolo Riddle, I had most of my ducks in a row.

Let Skeeter incite riots, her and Barclay would generate enough interest, enough international outrage, that I'll barely have to lift a finger to ruin her. International news reporters would do that for me.

If Skeeter and Britain want to tear me down to the global public, I would bring them down with me.

My feet carried me down the familiar path to Flourish and Blotts. It had been ages since I visited the place where I began my magical excursion and would be a good way to find a good book and unwind before mentoring Hogwarts students became my main task.

"Mistress Granger. Overlord Ragnarok would like to speak with you."

Suppressing a sigh, I say, "please tell the Overlord that I need to make a quick stop to the bookstore but that I'll soon be there."

The goblin nodded and went back to its post at the bank. I had to jinx myself, didn't I?

Doing as I promised I walk into Flourish and Blotts and grab the most recent British law books on sentient beings I could find. I had a feeling it would be my table topic with the bank president-slash-Overlord.

I didn't dawdle in the bookstore. The faster I dealt with the goblins, the quicker I could deal with the rest of my preparations to go to Hogwarts.

I stood in front of a bank teller at Gringotts a few minutes later and waited to be taken to the chamber where I would meet the Overlord. A familiar voice behind me made me turn around.

"Hermione?"

"Bill, hello." I greet him. "Working today?"

Bill grabbed my arm and pulled me away from the teller and deeper into the bank. "No offense but why are you here Hermione?"

"Overlord Ragnarok wants to meet me," I answer.

He gave me a once over. "You don't know."

I raise my eyebrow. "Know what?"

"Harry walked out on the family yesterday."

"What?" Oh, God. What had I done?

"Dad gave Harry an ultimatum. Recognize Evangeline as his daughter or become persona non grata with House Weasley."

I grip Bill's arm so my legs wouldn't give out on me. "Harry left the Weasleys?"

"Hermione this is not your fault. Harry is the one who decided he couldn't give a shite about his own flesh and blood."

I stare incredulously at Bill. "Don't you understand Bill? I dropped a bombshell on him and now you're telling me I took away the last family that he had left."

"Hermione you didn't hold dad at wand point and force him to force Harry's hand. It's not your fault."

"You don't know that!"

"Curse breaker Weasley. Mistress Granger. Overlord Ragnarok is ready to see you, Mistress Granger."

The goblin's voice cut through our argument. We were still in view of the main hall but no one seemed to have caught on to our argument. Bill didn't say anything, unsettled and standing stiffly.

I ignore him and nod to the goblin. "Please, lead the way Teller Silverclaw."

The goblin pretended he hadn't witnessed my distress and completed his duty as a pseudo tour guide through the halls of the bank. I was grateful for the silence and used it to pull myself back together. No longer would I let my emotions run rampant in public. It had happened twice already. I could not let it happen a third time.

The goblin stopped in front of a golden door and motioned me to go in. "Overlord Ragnarok is inside. I will remain outside to escort you back to the main hall."

I thanked the teller and entered the room I had been taken to. I bowed to the bank president. "Overlord Ragnarok. Did you miss my presence that much that you decided to call me back so soon?"

The goblin offered a tight stretch of his lips, a smile for goblins as I had come to learn, and motioned for me to take a seat. "Not quite Mistress Granger. The reason I called you here is for more personal business."

I crack a small smile. "Now I'm getting nervous Overlord. What personal business do I have with the bank that requires the attention of the bank's ruling leader?"

"House business Mistress Granger." My smile freezes in place. "Or more specifically, House Potter business."

"I'm not a Potter," I reply automatically.

"But your daughter is." Overlord Ragnarok staples his fingers together. "Gringotts has received an owl from Lord Potter. He has effectively named Miss Evangeline Granger as his Heir and you Mistress Granger, as Regent of House Potter in case something was to befall him."

I fall back on my seat. There was no way out of this situation. Harry bloody Potter had named me his Regent. I could rebel all I wanted to and the Family Magicks would leave us alone. But the protection that House Potter gave was…No other name could open door or safeguard Evangeline like a name attached to King Arthur's. I would do anything to protect my loved ones including ruling House Potter to keep my daughter in a stable position and that fucking bastard knew it.

"What do I need to do?" I ask instead of letting out a long list of expletives.

Ragnarok waved his hand and a stack of papers materialized in front of me. "I had assumed you wouldn't refuse Lord Potter's offers."

I accept the papers and give him a wary smile. Ragnarok was more concerned about continued profits from the vaults than anything else. "I might disagree with Harry's methods, but I do my best to give my daughter a good future. Her being Heir presumptive of House Potter only reinforces that."

"A most profitable choice." The goblin agreed.

"Miss Evangeline's appointment as the Heir is left to the discretion of the Head of House and family magicks. The position of Regent, however, comes with paperwork to bind the Regent into representing the House values while acting and ensuring the best interest of his or her charges."

I grab the blood quill that had been left oh so conveniently in front of me. "Where do I sign Ragnarok?"

Claws fleeted over the stack of papers and stopped now and then to point at the places in need of signatures while rattling off the basics of what I was putting my blood on.

When the last page had been signed I silently look at Ragnarok to see if there were any other pressing issues that I needed to address. "Any other changes to my accounts?"

"No Mistress Granger. We will file the paperwork and both of you will receive a copy by days' end. Your account manager will conduct a full audit to learn the extent of your wealth in case you do become Regent and wish to keep your finances separate from that of House Potter."

I nodded and stood up from my seat. "If that's all then have a good day Overlord Ragnarok. May your coffers be full."

"And may your enemies fall swiftly on your blades Mistress Granger."

Silverclaw walks in and escorts me from Ragnarok's office to the main hall. The silent walk forces me to ponder about every new wrench that had been thrown in my way since I arrived in Britain. Bad public opinion, hostile relations with the Weasleys, Evangeline's relapse, and now being Regent to fucking House Potter if Harry dies. That was all I needed now, to inherit control over a Noble House if their Head was a suicidal man.

Damn it.

What if Harry was suicidal?

Was that why he named me Regent? In case he offed himself?

Was Harry Potter fucking suicidal?

I nod stiffly at the goblin and make my way outside to an apparition/floo point. I set my floo on the floor and call out Longbottom manor.

"Hermione you're back!"

I briefly look at Luna. "Where's Evangeline?"

"She's in the greenhouse with Neville? Is everything okay?"

"Harry named Evangeline his Heir," I say flatly.

"That's good! It means he's trying to mend bridges-"

"He walked out on the Weasleys last night because of that very reason and now he's naming a woman he claims to hate regent? He's not mending bridges."

"He just walked out? But Harry adores the Weasleys!"

"I don't know nor do I care but Evangeline deserves to meet her father and with term almost starting I want to get it out of the way."

Luna frowns. "I don't think today is the best time. Skeeter's article and the events from last night will still be fresh on his memory."

"He might be suicidal." I finally spit out. "He's had his entire world turned upside down in less than twenty-four hours."

Luna crossed her arms. "Hermione you're exaggerating. Yes, Harry might be upset, but suicidal? Not after claiming he wanted custody so passionately last night."

"If I'm wrong great, we discuss visits, if I'm right then Eva snaps him out of that funk."

Arms wrap themselves around me. "Hermione, what happened?"

"He named me his regent." Luna pauses. "He named me his Regent Luna."

The full weight of the word fell on me. Being Regent to a House was more than just managing affairs until an heir came of Age. It was putting your family in the hands of another but even more than that it meant placing your legacy in someone else's hands.

"Hermione…"

"I don't want him to die Luna. He's my best friend. I gave up everything for him."

"Mama!"

Luna and I let go of each other. "I knew I felt your magic, Mama."

I press a kiss to her dark mop of hair. "Hello, Sunshine."

Evangeline smiled and I bend down to her level. "Say baby how would you like to come with me to meet your father?"

My smile begins to die down with her growing frown. "I don't wanna see them! They're mean and called you bad names."

"The Weasleys won't be there, it'll just be Harry and us."

"Just him?"

"I hope so."

"Okay. I'm going to get ready."

Evangeline dashes away leaving me alone with Luna again.

"Do you know where you're going?" She asked.

I nod. "He's left the Weasleys and I can still remember Grimmauld place so I assume he went there. If he's not I'm sending a Patronus after him."

"I hope you find him and find some closure."

I look away from the hope in her eyes. Luna more than anyone had been arguing for reconciliation. "We'll see."

Eva comes back and I pick her up. Together the three of us walked outside the anti-apparition wards.

When I re-opened my eyes I immediately notice the changes that had happened in the street. Houses had been renovated or altered but the street maintained its high-class feel.

Gently I place Evangeline's feet on the ground and grab her hand in my and knock on Grimmauld Place Twelve.

The door opened and a pair of emerald green eyes met mine.

"Hello, Harry. Won't you invite us in?"