A/N Sorry for the long delay all, the muse deserted me and life got complicated, but I'm back now. I am in the middle of 3 weeks off and I'm fairly de-stressed. I've already got 569 words written of the next chapter.

Thanks again to Lonewolf2293 who I have been bouncung ideas off. :) Sadly, I still don't own Harry Potter and I do this for fun, not profit (well, not monetary anyway!)

Edit:11/01/2018 Thank you to Alix33 for her corrections.

And now on with the story.

Previously:

"Well, I suspect that by tomorrow the other owners won't be able to give their stock away. So, once the price drops, buy everything you can through a third party. I want 100% ownership if I can get it."

Hermione looked at Harry in surprise, "I could sense you want wanted to punish them, but why do you want to buy it?"

"I'm sure that eventually we would be able to make sure they only print the truth, but I need to own it to make sure they do it now. I don't care if they publish stuff about me, provided it's the truth and can be verified."

Hermione smiled, "The purebloods are going to hate that!"

After the meeting with Bloodfist, the couple enjoyed an ice-cream at Fortescue's and went back to Hogwarts, arriving near the end of lunch. As soon as Ginny saw them, she jumped up from the table and raced across to them.

They went to the chamber off the great hall where Harry had been sent following his name coming out of the Goblet of Fire. Harry and Hermione told Ginny everything that had happened in the courtroom.

When Ginny heard about Ron's rant and the sentence handed down, her shoulders slumped. "I know he's an idiot and I know he's guilty, but he is… was my brother. I feel bad for him."

Harry looked at her with compassion. "We understand," he said softly. Harry then explained about offering treatment by a mind healer. After a quick mental consultation with Hermione, he concluded by saying, "if the healer reports progress and a shift in Ron's attitude, I will recommend that he be paroled after serving half his sentence."

Ginny looked at Harry, a little stunned by this. She walked over to Harry and gave him a hug and. slightly teary, said, "you're a good man, Harry Potter."

Turning to Hermione, she hugged her and simply said, "thank you."

Hermione hugged her back and simply said, "it's the right thing to do."

The Headmistress called them to her office. "Can you tell me the results of the trial?"

Harry and Hermione explained what had happened in court, including Ron's rant at the end. They explained Harry's offer of a mind healer and what he would be recommending if Ron showed signs of remorse for his actions.

"Lord Potter, you are a better friend than he deserves, but I am proud of the generosity of spirit you are showing in this. It is in the finest traditions of Gryffindor. One point, I assume you will be taking into account Miss Brown's opinion before you ask for clemency?"

"Of course, Professor, although the potential consequences for Hermione would have been worse. Lavender suffered more harm than Hermione."

McGonagall nodded at that and turned to Hermione. "Lady Potter, let me once again apologise for not preventing this."

Hermione shook her head, "no need Professor. You and the staff can't be everywhere, and this really started before we came back to Hogwarts."

The headmistress nodded. "True, but I take the safety of the students very seriously."

'More so than Dumbledore certainly.' Sent Harry.

'Be nice,' replied Hermione.

"I was." Snarked Harry. Hermione felt Harry's underlying irritation with the former headmaster and couldn't deny he had a point.

After saying their goodbyes, the couple left and returned to their quarters to change and grab their books. With that done, they headed for class, showing a note from McGonagall to explain their tardiness.

Meanwhile, the Dowager Lady Zabini returned to St Mungos to see her eldest son. Although she understood why Harry insisted on an Oath of Fealty, it didn't mean she was happy about it. In the privacy of Blaise's room, after raising privacy wards, she allowed her frustration to show.

Blaise looked at his mother's expression. "What has happened mother?"

"You happened, you damn fool!" she hissed. "I have just spoken to Lord Potter. He is demanding you step down as Lord and an Oath of Fealty from House Zabini!"

"What! How dare he, that jumped up little half-blood! I'll do even more-"

"What do you mean, more?" His mother asked dangerously.

"I paid for the weasel's lawyer. He should get off with just a fine with Vail representing him. That will really irritate Potter."

Briefly stunned speechless by the arrant stupidity being displayed by her son. Lucrezia thought 'Did I truly raise a son this stupid? Doesn't he realise what could happen?'

Finding her voice, in a low dangerous tone, she said, "Do I understand you deliberately went out of your way to upset the person who decides your punishment? You went out of your way to upset the head of a Most Ancient and Most Noble house?"

"He's just an ignorant schoolboy more interested in his fitness than learning about his heritage." Blaise scoffed

"Yet he knew enough to challenge House Nott to a duel. Enough to ask us to become vassals." She slapped him. "You fool! If he finds out what you did, nothing we can do will stop you spending the rest of your life in Azkaban. We will be lucky if he doesn't declare Blood Feud on the house."

"I organised it through the goblins, they will never reveal it. I even gave the filthy vermin a small tip to ensure it." Blaise replied angrily.

"You insulted the goblins by saying they need to be paid extra to do a good job? You added to it by implying they could be cheaply bought? Merlin help you!"

"I-", Blaise started to say. His mother held up her hand to silence him.

She thought quickly. "Potter is noble, he won't back out of it if an agreement is already reached. We must act quickly-"

"I won't give up the Lordship!" snarled Blaise.

"Then you will die in prison after suffering from the dementors for years! The pureblood faction in the Wizengamot is too small. No-one will wish to go against Lord Potter anyway, he is too powerful." replied his mother coldly.

"Has it come to this? We bow and scrape to a half-blood because we are scared of him?"

"Your father and his friends thought that way and now they are all dead. Will you learn nothing from their deaths?"

Blaise stared at his mother defiantly for several seconds before slumping and nodding.

"Finally, you see sense." With that, she turned and left to make arrangements.

Blaise stared at the stump where his hand had been and thought to himself, 'I will have my revenge.'

That evening, as Harry & Hermione were eating in the great hall, a letter arrived delivered by a magnificent Eurasian Eagle owl. Harry accepted the note and opened it. The Eagle owl sat, obviously waiting for a reply.

Lord Potter,

I have spoken to my son and he has agreed to your conditions. I believe settling this matter as soon as possible is in everyone's interests. With that in mind, if you are agreeable, I would like to conclude matters at St Mungo's tomorrow evening.

Regards

Lucrezia

Dowager Lady Zabini

Harry turned to Hermione. 'Why is she in such a hurry?'

'I don't know, but if we get what we want, does it matter that much? She may be worried you'll change your mind.'

Unable to think of a reason not to, Harry wrote a short note agreeing to meet at the hospital the following evening. He also wrote a note to Madam Bones requesting she be there to bear witness.

With that they headed for the library and started on their homework for DADA. They were looking at the unforgivables in more depth at the moment and Harry had a unique perspective, being the only person ever who had been subjected to all three and was around to talk about it.

"Love, why are the unforgivables unblockable? That information doesn't seem to be in the standard texts."

"It's not, the ministry doesn't want information on them readily available. Sirius let me look in the Black library though. They are unblockable as they affect the mind, or the soul if you prefer, not the brain. Same reason that there isn't a castable shield against Legilimency. You have to create the shield using your own mind with Occlumency."

"So theoretically your occlumency shield could stop Avada Kedavra?" asked Harry.

"It's possible I suppose, that's basically what's happening when you throw off the Imperius. You are stopping an attack on your mind with the power of your mind/soul. It's more difficult as the use of a wand makes it much stronger. I doubt anything is powerful enough to stop Avada Kedavra severing the connection between Soul and Body."

"Is that what it does?"

"Yes, if you are young enough or strong enough that your body isn't relying on the soul's magic to sustain you, AK doesn't stop the body working. But without a mind/soul it fails in a few hours or days. The soul, with nothing to anchor it here, leaves."

"Then how did I survive?"

"A mother's love is a thing of the soul. Your mother effectively left a piece of her soul as your shield."

Harry again keenly felt the loss of his parents. Hermione came over and gave him a long strong hug and kissed him. 'I may not be them, but I love you too Harry.'

Feeling her love through the bond bought Harry out of his depression. 'How did I get so lucky as to have you in my life?' he sent.

'By being you.' Replied Hermione smiling at him. With that they returned to studying for a while before something occurred to Harry. "Hermione, is the power of the death curse the reason it doesn't need to go through the mouth to get to the soul?"

Hermione nodded, "The mouth is much easier, which is why Dementors have to kiss you. They don't have the power to remove the soul any other way." With that, they returned to their homework before retiring to bed.

Harry and Hermione sat down to breakfast the following morning and soon the Daily Prophet arrived. Given the previous articles, they looked at it with a degree of trepidation.

To their relief, the articles mainly discussed Ron's trial. There was even a short section about Harry's offer of a mind healer that was vaguely complimentary.

Harry snorted in amusement, 'with no editor or deputy editor and the loss of subscriptions, they are too scared to attack me.'

'I wonder when the trials will be?'

'Soon I would expect," he replied. "The ministry wants their paper of record functioning properly." He replied somewhat acidly.

'Harry, it's not all lies.' Replied Hermione.

'I know, but the articles about you and I are still slanted. As I said previously, I didn't defeat Riddle just for nothing to change.' He grumped.

'I know sweetheart. Look, we only have DADA this afternoon. Why don't we head to Gringotts before going to St Mungos and see how Bloodfist is getting on with buying it out.'

'Who are you and what have you done with Hermione?' he smirked.

"Harry, either of us could teach DADA after everything we have done in the last few years. Even I don't see missing a lesson this early in the year is going to matter. Besides, I think we wrote more about the unforgivables than anyone else is likely to and Neville or Ginny will get us any assignments.'

'Love, I didn't actually need convincing. So, who were you trying to persuade?'

"Prat," Hermione said verbally as she elbowed him gently. Ginny looked up from her breakfast and, realising what had happened, shook her head slowly. "You do realise that makes the pair of you seem even stranger."

Harry chuckled as he replied. "True, but have you ever seen me do normal?" A snort was Ginny's only reply.

Finishing their own food, they spoke to the headmistress. Knowing as well as the Potters how skilled they were in DADA McGonagall has no issues. "Please don't make this a habit as it will set a bad example for the other students if it happens too frequently."

"Thanks Professor, we won't. It's just that there is a lot going on at the moment."

"I am aware of that Lord Potter, which is one of the reasons I am allowing it." At this point her mouth quirked briefly in a smile. "I am also aware Lady Potter won't allow you to fall behind."

Harry smiled as Hermione blushed slightly. "Very true, Professor." With that comment, they headed off for classes.

Having left through the Headmistresses' floo, the pair arrived at the Leaky Cauldron and made their way to Gringotts. After exchanging formal greetings, they sat down with their Account Manager to discuss events since the day before.

"So Bloodfist, what can you tell me?" Asked Harry to start things off.

"Remind me never to get on your bad side in a business deal Harry. We now have 95% ownership in the Daily Prophet, Witch Weekly and Teen Witch. I picked up the majority of the shares for Sickles in the Galleon."

"Only most?"

"There were some small shareholders, mostly retired ministry employees using the shareholding to supplement their pensions. I felt you would not wish to hurt them, so I paid them full market value." Here he grinned showing pointed teeth, "the pureblood lords were a different matter."

Harry stood and bowed to the goblin, "Thank you Bloodfist, you bring honour to me and to yourself by your actions."

Bloodfist, despite knowing Harry well, was still surprised by this act from a wizard. He stood and returned the bow. "Thank you for your kind words Lord Potter."

Harry simply nodded in reply then said, "I am a little surprised they all sold to you."

Here Bloodfist chuckled and gave a feral grin. "They didn't, each sold to a different goblin. To borrow a term from the mundane world, they believe they have sold worthless shares to a group of greater fools."

Harry and Hermione chuckled as well. "Who holds the remaining shares?"

"A group of small investors who were reluctant to sell. You could compulsorily acquire the outstanding shares if you wish, since you have 95%."

Harry thought for a moment and said, "no, leave them unless they start to object to the changes in the paper."

Bloodfist nodded and made a note before asking. "What changes do you want to make?"

Harry had given this thought and discussed it with Hermione already.

"Right," he said with assurance. "To start with, the paper is going to print the truth without fear or favour. Any story printed as fact must have two reputable independent sources for the information. If they are writing things that could be reasonably extrapolated from the known facts, they can write it provided they make it CLEAR they are speculating.

Bigots will not be tolerated. They will treat ALL the magical races with respect unless warranted in verified individual cases. That includes Goblins, House-Elves, Centaurs and all the others.

Any reporter who doesn't like the new rules, I will accept their resignations immediately.

In the future we will be campaigning for equality for all, but don't mention that just yet."

Bloodfist was stunned by what he heard. "May I tell the Director all of this?" he said in a slightly dazed voice.

Harry nodded. "Of course, we will not keep this from our friends."

Bloodfist nodded and finally understood why the Director was so willing to help the Potters.

"Bloodfist, please make sure that tomorrow's edition announces our ownership and our policy on printing the truth. Once the trials of the staff are over, we will meet with management to explain in more detail. For now, we need to go to St Mungo's to accept the vassalage of House Zabini."

Bloodfist's head snapped up, he had heard of the payment by House Zabini to the solicitor from another account manager. Normally, this would be kept among the goblin staff, but if this represented an oblique attack on the Potters he wasn't sure what to do.

"Lord Potter, if I may ask a few minute's indulgence, I would like to discuss something with Lord Ragnok before you leave."

Realising that if he was going to explain further he would have already done so. Harry simply nodded and said, "of course."

Bloodfist hurried from the room and went to the Director's office. There he explained both the payment and what the Potters were planning on doing with the Prophet.

Ragnok scowled, "House Zabini has no honour! They seek to escape the effects of the actions against the Potters. Bloodfist, you did well to bring this to me. You cannot tell them, but as head of the Nation, I can."

With that, the pair returned to Bloodfist's office. There, after the Potters' initial surprise at Ragnok's arrival, the Director explained what had happened.

"Damn it!" Said Harry, "they can't be trusted. The Dowager sought to deceive me!" Harry's aura flared in anger and the building briefly started to shake until Hermione wrapped her arms around him. 'It's OK Harry, we know now.'

"My apologies Director, if there is any damage, please bill me."

Ragnok nodded and smiled. "Well directed anger against your enemies is appropriate, I would suggest though, that you work on your control."

Harry sighed and his shoulders slumped. "I am, but it's not getting better as fast as I want."

"Harry, it's only been a few days and you are much better than you were," protested Hermione.

Ragnok nodded in satisfaction, "A good warrior corrects his faults and you are yet young, my lord."

Harry nodded in thanks at the compliment as Ragnok continued. "May I ask what you plan for Lord Zabini?"

"He will be going to Azkaban and staying there!" said Harry forcefully.

Ragnok nodded, "Appropriate and a good lesson for those who would attack you."

After a brief discussion with Hermione about what sentence to ask for. Harry and Hermione left the bank and apparated to St. Mungos.

When they got there, Madam Bones and the Dowager Lady Zabini and her other son were already there. Blaise picked up his wand in preparation for making the vows that would give the Lordship to his younger brother. Inside he was fuming at the unfairness of this, but he couldn't see any alternative that would see him outside of Azkaban in any reasonable period of time. Again he thought, 'wait Potter, I will have my revenge.' He then began to imagine Harry under the torture curse.

Lucrezia Zabini looked at Harry and began to worry, overall his face was impassive, but there was a hard glint in his eyes.

"Greetings Lord Potter."

"Greetings Lady Zabini, I trust you are well." Said Harry, his voice dangerously calm.

Madam Bones immediately looked at Harry, her years as an Auror had trained her ears well. She looked at Harry and, unlike Lady Zabini, recognised the cold fury there for precisely what it was. She became alert and made sure her wand was easily accessible.

"Well enough, thank you."

Harry turned to Madam Bones and bowed. "Thank you for attending Madam Bones."

"My pleasure Lord Potter, I am honoured you chose me."

Harry nodded acknowledgement and turned to Blaise, giving him a look as if he considered Blaise vermin. "Lord Zabini."

"Potter!" spat Blaise.

Lucrezia flinched, now was not the time to insult Harry further. Harry seemed to ignore the insult and turned to Blaise's younger brother and said "greeting, Master Zabini."

The boy bowed and said "Greetings Lord Potter," with a polite tone and demeanour.

"Well at least one of them is so far alright," sent Harry.

'Agreed,' replied Hermione, 'he seems well brought up and polite'.

Harry turned to Lady Zabini. "Dowager Lady Zabini, before we continue, is there anything you wish to mention or discuss further?" he asked in a neutral tone.

"No Lord Potter, I feel we should complete this as soon as possible." She replied, hiding her nervousness.

"I see, so you don't think it relevant to mention your son's attempt to hurt Lady Potter and I by seeing Solicitor Vail assist Ronald no-name escape justice?"

Cold fear clutched Madam's Zabini's heart, 'Merlin, he knows!'

"L-Lord Potter. I assure-" she stammered.

Looking at her with disdain, he interrupted. "Don't bother denying it, I trust the wizard who told me implicitly." Harry lied to keep the goblins from being involved.

With that, he turned to Madam Bones, "My apologies Madam Bones, it seems we will not need you as witness. However, I do need to tell you something. I wish for Lord Zabini to spend 20 years in Azkaban medium security wing as punishment for his crimes." Harry said and then turned to give Blaise a cold look.

Blaise Zabini snapped. The medium security wing at Azkaban had Dementors nearby. While they were not close enough to make you relive your nightmares, they were close enough to take away any happy thoughts and chill you. After 20 years he would be a wreck. "20 YEARS!" He screamed. "YOU WANT ME TO SUFFER FOR 20 YEARS! I'LL SHOW YOU SUFFERING!"

With that, he lifted the wand still in his hand and pointed it at Hermione and screamed "AVADA KEDAVRA!"

A/N Ok, yes I am evil leaving a cliff-hanger like that. Feel free to burn me in effigy. :)

I solemnly swear I will have the next chapter out by no later than the end of next Monday.

As always, I live for reviews, they also help make me a better writer. So please let me know what you think.

I hope everyone is having a good new year.