Snarltooth, the representative for Gringotts, was setting in courtroom three waiting for all other parties to arrive. It had been decided to hold the verification at the Ministry after Lord Victor Whitehall had sued for custody of his possible grandchildren. Already the Pureblood fanatics had rallied behind him showing their support and demanding the Potter children be placed with the last remaining magical family they had left. It had come as a shock too many to learn that Lily Potter, one of the most well-known Muggleborns of her time, was in fact a Halfblood.
The old Goblin was setting at a big solid, round, silver table placed right in the middle of the courtroom. The Table Of Wealth was an old relic of the Goblin Nation that dated back almost two thousand years. It was the object that kept a detailed record of Gringotts oldest clients. Their where various ruins carved along the edges and across the middle to complete this task. It had only been used twice in the last three hundred years to confirm lineage. Once to settle a dispute between two women that said their sons should inherit their father's money. Both boys had been born outside of wedlock and both mothers claimed their sons where the rightful heirs. It turned out the oldest boy had no claim as the wealthy lord was not his father and the second time was to make sure a Muggleborn Witch was really a Muggleborn Witch. One of her Professors at Hogwarts thought she might be his when some irregularities with the girl's magic had made themselves known. Turns out she was his daughter after all.
Courtroom three was a very wide and round room with six rows of benches built into the walls. The benches where full of reporters from all over the world eager to be the first to report on the story. The only other people who would be allowed into the room today where the Ministry representative, Judge Hawthorn, Albus Dumbledore as Harry Potters magical guardian, Victor Whitehall and his legal team, the American Lawyer Edward Winslow, and finally Harry Potter himself. At noon everyone else joined Snarltooth in courtroom three.
To say Harry Potter was nervous was an understatement. Two weeks ago, someone discovered that he had a twin sister. Eleven days ago, Dumbledore had dropped by unannounced to explain this all to the Dursleys. Then nine days ago, the other shoe dropped. Someone discovered that his mom and aunt were only half-sisters. They discovered he had a living wizard grandfather named Victor Whitehall. After Dumbledore explained this, he told the Dursleys that he would represent them in wizarding court so they could retain custody of Harry and gain custody of Willow. His relatives were not happy about this. After a much-heated argument, the Dursleys threw both Dumbledore and Harry out saying they wanted nothing to do with their freaky world ever again. Albus had taken Harry back to Hogwarts where he remained until today.
Harry had done his own digging into Victor Whitehall. He had written a letter to both Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger asking for whatever information they knew or could find. What his best friends had to tell him wasn't good. His grandfather had possibly supported the Death Eaters and given them money for their cause. Harry also found out he had three uncles who had fought and died as Death Eaters. Perhaps the sadist thing was Harry wasn't sure who he wanted to live with. His abusive Aunt and Uncle Dursley or his possible Death Eater grandfather.
There was also the fact that he had yet to meet his sister Willow. All he could find out about her was that she lived in California, she had been attacked in her home, her adopted parents where dead as a result of the attack, and she was unconscious in a hospital. Harry would rather be with his sister than here in courtroom three.
Albus Dumbledore was not a very happy Wizard. He couldn't believe what had happened. At first, he believed there was some mistake. How could Lily be Whitehall's daughter? It didn't seem possible that the Dark Wizard would ever have a relationship with a Muggle. However, Whitehall's testimony while under Veritaserum proved that Lily's mother had been with Whitehall on many occasions. It wasn't until after she became pregnant with her second child that she broke it off and ended the affair. Victor had never once suspected the child was his because of the precautions he had taken. It would seem those precautions failed.
The Dursleys had no desire to fight for custody of Harry or Willow so Albus was hoping to have both children placed in his care. It was not idea, but it would keep them safe from their grandfather and his so-called friends. If failing that, he hoped to at least retain guardianship of their magical rights. In the Magical World not only did you have parental rights but also magical guardian rights.
Some legal proceedings needed an underage Witch or Wizard to have someone represent them who possessed magic. This is not a problem for Purebloods and Halfboods as they usually have a parent that is magical. In the case of Muggleborns, who live in England anyway, the duty of magical guardian falls with their Hogwarts Head of House. Albus had been worried that Minerva McGonagall, the current Gryffindor Head of House, would be unable to give Harry the legal aid that he needed. He was able to persuade Professor McGonagall to hand over her legal rights regarding Harry. As long as Albus retained those rights Victor could not make any changes to Harry's life regarding school or marriage without Dumbledore's consent.
Both Harry and Albus took sets directly across from Snarltooth with Harry being on the right of Dumbledore. To the right of Harry sat Edward Winslow with a pail woman dressed in an old blue dress from the eighteen hundreds. She had long black hair and dark blue eyes. To the right of her closes to Snarltooth sat a woman all in pink that looked like a toad. This was the Ministry representative Dolores Umbridge. To the left off Dumbledore sat Judge Argus Hawthorn dressed all in black robes. He had long thin white hair, a mole on the left side of his nose and cold hazel eyes. Between the Judge and Snarltooth sat Victor Whitehall and his barrister Marcy Goodman.
Marcy Goodman was a woman in her early forty's, she had the start of crow's feet at the edge of her sky-blue eyes. Long brown hair kept in a tight bun on top of her head and robes of dark gray with light blue trimming and a single gold bracelet on her wright wrist. She had represented Victor Whitehall since her father, Adam Goodman, retired seven years ago. She had never lost a case.
After everyone was seated Judge Hawthorn began the proceedings. " I would like to think all of you for coming today. This will be a little unorthodox in terms of how we would normally conduct such legal matters, but I fill this is the best way to conclude this business easily and efficiently. Today we will be verifying the possible identity of a young American Witch who may or may not be the daughter of the late Lord James Potter and his wife Lady Lily Potter. We will be also verifying the origins of Lady Potter to determine if she was in fact the daughter of Lord Victor Whitehall. We will also be deciding both custody and magical guardianship of Harry Potter and his possible sister Willow Potter. Know to avoid confusion Attorney Edward Winslow is not technically licensed to practice law her in England but since this is a legal case for only blood status and custody, we will allow it. I do have one question for you Mr. Winslow. I know who that woman is but not why she is here? Would you please explain why she is present?
"At the moment your Honor that is irrelevant." Eddie explained. "After we have concluded all other business will that question be relevant. This will tie into a small problem involving Willow Potter's legal status in England. I ask that we simply see to the blood verification sir.
Judge Hawthorn was not entirely happy with this answer but moved on. "Very well, the court recognizes the representative of Gringotts, Goblin Snarltooth. You may proceed with blood verification."
Snarltooth looked at Edward and asked. "Did you bring a sample of the girl's blood with you and can you authenticate it?"
Edward pulled a small potions bottle from his breast pocket. He held the bottle in his left hand and held his wand up with his right. "I, Edward Carl Winslow, do so solemnly swear on my magic that this blood was taken from the finger of one possible Willow Potter." There was a flash of light from the tip of Eddie's wand as the vow was made. He then used his wand to levitate the bottle to Snarltooth proving his statement true.
The Goblin took the bottle and poured it out on a ruin to his left. He then looked to Harry and asked. "Can you please provide a sample of your blood Mr. Potter?"
Harry looked to Dumbledore who smiled down at him reassuringly. Albus grabbed an empty bottle from his pocket and thin sliced the tip of Harry's right index finger open with his wand. He filled the bottle, healed the finger, then handed the vial to Snarltooth. The vial was then emptied on to a ruin at the right of Snarltooth.
The Gringotts representative then began to draw ruins on the table with his fingernail. Everywhere he marked a glowing white ruin was left behind. Finally, he drew a large circle around his work and set back to wait. The wait was not long and soon both samples of blood burst into pure blue flames.
"Let it be known that on this day July, 1 , 1993 I, Snarltooth of Gringotts, do so confirm that Willow Potter is in fact truly the daughter of Lord James Potter and Lady Lily Potter, as well as the twin sister of Harry Potter." Snarltooth said. There was a flurry of quills as the reporters began to write. Judge Hawthorn looked around the room waiting for them to finish.
Harry Potter looked across the table at the two burning flames. Before him was magical proof that his sister was real. He knew she was since Dumbledore came to private drive and told him but now there truly was no denying it. Looking up at Whitehall Harry couldn't help but fill nervous. If this man truly was his grandfather thin what would happen to him and his sister? Looking to the American Lawyer he saw the pale woman looking back at him. He could have sworn her eyes glowed yellow as she gave him a chilling smile.