Chapter 9

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The next day's Daily Prophet had an article describing the attack on Persephone Black. It also offered a G10,000 reward for information leading to the murderer(s) of a wizarding baby. Unlike the muggle world, a child was considered a person from the moment of conception. Someone interfering with that precious life, especially in such a clear-cut case of attack, would be charged with murder.

Harry didn't ask how the interrogations had gone at breakfast. Ares had spent the night at the hospital, but had come home for a warm meal, a quick shower and a change of clothes. He didn't want his godfather to do anything that might earn him time in the same prison he had escaped from.

Persephone had awoken, found out about the attack and its aftermath, and asked for time to be by herself. She wasn't a weepy sort of lady, and Ares wanted to give her space to cry over their baby without feeling like she was under scrutiny.

Only potions and magic stopped his eyes from showing how many tears he had shed, how many more he wanted to shed at the loss of his son.

But she did ask for her husband to come back so that they could support each other. She clearly didn't blame him or the staff for any lack of protection.

Lord Black declared to Hadrian and Ares that his next meeting at Gringotts would be about one of two things. The knowledge of the person or persons behind the attack, or the permanent dissociation with Gringotts for both Potter and Black families.

Arcturus had found out that money from the LeStrange vault had been used to pay the attackers. Gold put into a new 'anonymous' vault. With no one from that family alive, Bella's vault was supposedly locked down until Draco's majority.

Someone had successfully bribed a goblin. Was it theft? Another family member hitherto unknown? He had gotten as much information from the low-level thugs that he could. It was time to take the questions to Gringotts.

Lord Black had sent his account manager memories of the interrogations, and everything that he knew for fact about the case. Let the goblins make the next move. But Arcturus wanted answers.

Acturus asked Harry if he would be willing to go with him to meet with Ragnok. Harry knew that the main reason was that Harry was fluent in Goblin, and wanted to be able to try and reach an accord. He didn't ask for Ares to come along as he needed to get back to his grieving wife.

Sending elves in the middle of the night to quietly empty their vaults of all but a few hundred knuts each gave them more than a little bit of bargaining power. Yes, Harry risked everything in the Potter family vault, but there was no gold in there, therefore useless to goblins.

Goblins felt all smelted gold belonged to them, no matter whose vault it was in.

The Lord and Heir of House Black were shown to an opulanent meeting room, and offered wizarding beverages. Harry noted that another tray had a foul-smelling sludge-like mud-looking semi-liquid in three cups, along with some dried beef sticks, and a small bowl of what appeared to be eyeballs from a small creature.

While Hadrian could play the pureblood heir to the hilt, sometimes he was just an 11 year old boy. He saw the goblin snacks and inwardly gave them the pre-teen cool award of 'Gross!'.

Armed guards entered the room first, and then Ragnok stalked in. Both wizards stood to their feet. Lord Black bowed, if a little shallowly, but Harry gave the leader of the goblins a deep and respectful bow.

With a wave, he invited the wizards to sit, and the tea tray floated over.

Acturus put up a hand, the universal symbol for stop.

"In my culture, it is against protocol to break bread with an enemy. I do not now consider you to be one, but one of your people is my enemy for certain. Depending on the outcome of this meeting, you may wish to side with that goblin."

"Wise words, my Lord Black. However, I have reviewed the memories that you sent to me. I have two gifts for you." The goblin handed Lord Black a brief, concise interrogation report. Goblins felt wasting time was almost as bad as spending gold foolishly. "Again, I am uncertain of wizarding culture. How do you view your heir? Is he a boy or a man?"

"Hadrian is considered a boy in my culture, your majesty. And yet, he is here in case of need with language."

Ragnok looked at the boy wizard as though he were a Pegasus for sale, evaluating him. He switched to his native language.

"You truly speak our tongue? Your grandfather was wise to warn us of this before our meeting."

"I don't get a chance to practice it much outside of my extra charms tutorial, but yes, I learned a few years ago from a former curse-breaker. It was how we grew to know one another."

"Your mother?"

"Yes, my adoptive mother, in a sense. The one who was attacked. The one who nearly died." Harry tried to dampen his feelings of loss right now. Persephone was in so much emotional pain right now, but she had done nothing wrong.

"We consider our women sacred, which is why they do not work in public. Not around wizards, anyways, where someone might be rude."

"Our family is small, we try as family will honor and protect our witches. It pains us when we fail."

The goblin nodded at the boy. His accent was quite good, if a little Egpytian, and said so.

Ragnok switched back to English. "My gift is a severed head. Would you like to see it?"

Now, Harry Potter was not your normal boy. He was well traveled, his family had exposed him to many cultures and norms.

He personally thought it would be beyond fascinating to see such a sight.

His grandfather nodded, and the head of the goblin that had betrayed their family for money was gifted to them. Unsure of what to do with it, thanks were given, and an elf was called. After the screams died down around the room, and Harry was given permission to conjure a bag for the head, a different and sturdier elf was called, and the room was back to a tense silence.

"Now that you know who the mastermind was of the plot, what will you do, my lord?" Ragnok asked.

"There are eight graduating muggleborns this year. I had planned to sponsor four, and hoped that others would step up. My plans have changed. I will sponsor all eight unless Harry wants to sponsor one.

"At least two, Grandfather, from the Potter account. Not as wealthy as you, yet, but this should be a good investment." Hadrian remembered the witches from his first train ride. Their food was delicious after all!

"Two then, and I will do six. I will make sure that everyone knows that the former LeStrange fortune is now being used to sponsor muggleborns."

"Won't this just cause further problems?"

"If violence starts, it won't be from me. Persephone, Ares, Hadrian and I are all committed to a non-violent solution to the problem." Acturus claimed.

The goblin turned a laugh into a cough, and Acturus subtly pointed to the boy next to him.

"As much as feasible, of course." Acturus said. "I will not commit murder, nor do any forward action against anyone. Wards, runes, arithmancy, potions - all of these can be used to protect, and we will. We will protect our world, and help it grow."

"You do realize that by storing an illegal device in her vault, that we should impound the entire amount?" Ragnok explained.

"But we informed you years ago about the possibility of such a thing. Bella had not made a will, so it had to go through the Wizengamot. Only now is it coming to light that Lucius tried to bribe his way into a false inheritance for his son."

"Do you think he knew what the cup was?" Ragnok asked, "Or how to resurrect his master?"

"Severus knows of three possible rituals. He feels that allowing them to go forth, with a minor change to prevent the entity gaining full power is the way forward. For me, I don't know. I spend my days researching this topic."

"Do you think that we have found them all?"

Harry answered that one. "There's at least one at Hogwarts. We're getting close."

Rognok pulled a file, and changed topics in goblin fashion.

"Are you going through with the Spencer concubine contract?" The goblin asked.

Harry sounded out the word. He'd read it somewhere. "An engine that makes aeroplanes fly higher than the prop kind? Are we investing in muggles?" He didn't sound happy about that.

Ragnok gestured, and a guard stepped forward.

"It's nearly feeding time. Do you want to help feed the dragons?"

Harry looked very excited, but Acturus frowned.

"Do you swear on your magic that you aren't feeding Harry to the dragon?"

The guard burst out into laughter, and the others followed.

"It's an old joke, but still funny. Truly, the boy will enjoy it very much. I swear on my magic I will do my best to keep him safe, or die trying. And no one is stupid enough to hurt one of Ragnok's guests."

Harry bowed to the goblin king, and bowed to his grandfather. Trying not to skip in excitement, he started rattling off questions at a rate that would have made Hermione proud.

As soon as he left the room, Ragnok started again.

"The Spencer concubine?"

"Yes. I have a manor house that is rarely used, and recently remodeled. It would house eight or ten women and their children. I'm working with the DMLE. These are muggle women. I don't want Hadrian to find out they have been violated by wizards. The children are likely magical. If not, I will set up a house in the muggle world in a similar way - give them a home, food on the table, a name for the children. What I don't want to happen is ANY magical orphan going out into the world to be abused. That is how we got the last few dark lords, and Dumbledore certainly tried to do that to Hadrian Potter-Black."

"And if we find muggleborn or half-blood women?" The goblin asked.

"They will likely want their own home. I have several properties of my own. Hadrian has land in Wales, Scotland and Ireland - much of it farmland that is leased out to muggles, but we could put up a house or three without issue.

"Will you tell me what you plan on doing to House Malfoy?" Ragnok asked.

"The Malfoys were respectably wealthy when they came to Britain. They then stole money and a Wizengamot seat from House Weasley in some sort of scam about gambling debts about 150 years ago. You likely have access to the records better than I. The blood-feud between them started then, and had not yet ended."

While the Weasleys weren't his favorite family, all of the current members carried Black blood through Septimus' bride. Which was why Acturus had been bound to help them, one way or another.

"I didn't see this betrayal coming. Lucius was key in thwarting Dumbledore only this last summer. I need to find out what Narcissa knows and supports. My response will vary. If she is innocent, she can keep her home and her son. If either of them were involved in this, I will gladly bathe in their blood. Again, I will state that I will go after none who are living and keeping the laws of the land. But come after me or mine? They will not live long, and the torture they suffer will make their deaths sweet."

Ragnok walked over and handed the man a mug of tea, and grabbed a mug of kloh for himself. Tapping the beverage containers together in salute, they drank.

Hadrian came in looking very happy, and Ragnok popped an eyeball into his mouth. Then held the tray to the boy.

"Picked fire salamander eyes? Goblin delicacy."

Harry popped on in his mouth just like Ragnok had, and the man roared with approving goblin laughter.

Ragnok really, really like Hadrian and Acturus, and wondered if they were part goblin somewhere.

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Two days after the attack, figuring that more than enough time had passed, Lucius himself activated the portkey that would bring him to where the now frozen thugs should be.

He had sworn he wouldn't have them killed after all - and they had arrived safe and sound on land,

As he landed, far more gracefully than the minions had ever done, he looked around. A nearby penguin looked at him curiously. The flightless bird had never seen a human before. Lucius pulled his wand to kill it, lest it be dangerous, but stopped himself when he noticed the nearby Gringotts bag.

This was his purpose after all. Retrieve the bag and key, and destroy both, well not the gold inside of course.

Leaning down to pick it up, his world suddenly went dark.

He woke, somehow knowing that he had been obliviated after talking for a long time. His throat was sore, his mouth dry.

The chair that he was bound to vanished suddenly, and he dropped to the cold ground. He pulled his cloak around him, but the warming charms were failing against the bitter cold. He went to draw his wand, but couldn't find it.

He saw in front of him a note, and recognized the writing.

'If you had continued as you started, you would have been well rewarded. You didn't, and because of prejudice, you decided to try to resurrect your Dark Lord. The wizarding world doesn't need that, and this family doesn't need a kin killer. There is a wizarding tent with a few supplies in it nearby. It will keep you alive long enough to repent of your crimes. You have been sentenced to death, Lucius, for killing my great-grandson. Blood of my blood. I won't give you another chance to kill Hadrian.'

Lucius shook in fear, anger and cold. He found out about Weasley! He found out about his plans for the mudblood Granger that had distracted his son! What if they grew up liking each other? It was one thing to take a witch to his bed, Lucius could agree to her being a concubine, or even a consort. But to marry? Lord Black had given a verbal blessing on her marrying his heir, and Lucius intended that heir to be Draco, not some jumped up son-of-a-mudblood.

Acturus had found out about the LeStrange vault, which meant that anyone who was willing to help him, and who knew where he was right now was dead.

He held his hands in his head. He saw the tent in the distance now, the note must have caused it to appear. Part of him just wanted to die here, now, of exposure. But he knew he would get up, try to make provisions last, and slowly die of starvation.

Lucius got up, and with as much dignity as he could, walked to his execution like a man.

He just wished that he could have said good-bye to his son.

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Narcissa and Draco were invited to Potter Manor for tea. Their cups were dosed, they were interrogated, and obliviated, all very professionally, very smoothly.

Neither one was guilty of anything worse that harboring a lingering prejudice against muggles (one that most wizards shared) and against muggleborns (something that Lord Black and his coalition was trying to fight).

Narcissa had been hard hit by Draco's letters home. It was one thing in the abstract to accept muggleborns into society, to buy their wares in their shops, to talk to them.

Draco had written about his admiration of a particular girl. Bringing such a girl home to meet his parents? A potential girlfriend? To be sure years from now, but a bride? What about the children?!

She just couldn't stomach a mudblood giving birth to HER grandchildren, and had started to write her son about a muggleborn's proper place in society. Servants, shop-keepers, assistants, late-night workers at the ministry. Jobs no one who was anyone important would want.

She looked over at Hadrian, who was now losing a game of chess to Draco. They were both such good Black had asked her permission to buy a very expensive and very exclusive broom for her son.

Such a sign of favor was good. While she didn't want anything bad to happen to Hadrian, he was of several very old lines, and powerful to be sure, he did seem to attract trouble. Besides, if he decided, Hadrian could step down as head of the Black House, and let Draco lead it.

Lord Black came into the room, followed by Ares and Persephone. Cassiopia was in Lord Black's arms, as Ares was supporting his wife. The boys stood in respect to both the lady coming in, and their head of house. As soon as Ares had helped his wife sit down, he took his daughter into his arms, and joined Persephone on the comfy love seat.

"It's not Yule yet, but today is supposed to be our last fine day for a time. As a result, I have some early gifts for you. They are rewards for your fine reports from school. Excellent work should be rewarded." Lord Black called for the elves.

Dobby proudly handed his case over to the Great Harry Potter sir, while Jexter handed an identical case to Draco.

At his nod of permission, both boys opened their cases.

"A Nimbus 2000!" Draco cried out, but then looked confused. "Wait, the broom is different. What is it?"

"It's the 2001, Draco. Early release. Expect to see a photographer out on the pitch. They are going to want your pictures in Quidditch Monthly."

Draco beamed at that news, while Harry swallowed his initial scathing remark he wanted to make. Seeing Draco happy was more important than his own feelings.

"Well, my throat is still a little sore, so may Draco answer any questions, my lord?" Hadrian asked with a bow.

"Of course. Now, off with you. Ares and I will be down in a moment to supervise."

Both young wizards, with grins wide, took that as a dismissal. With far-too-quick of bows to be polite, they nearly ran for the pitch.

At least they didn't fly in the house!

"Narcissa, would you like to join us, or stay here and take tea with Persephone?" Ares asked kindly.

The woman knew her husband was missing. But she wasn't a widow yet. Most families had magical ways of knowing that. Not that she knew he was in mortal peril.

Lord Black really, really didn't like people hurting his family. His punishment was just but cruel. "We can watch the boys from here. I have been feeling chilled all day. I'd rather sit near the fire, and play with the baby."

The ladies rearranged themselves, and a human servant, an apprentice healer in the pale ugly green garb was brought in to be in attendance in case of need. She had a tome with her, and tried to be nearly invisible in her chair in the corner, her monitoring charm doing her work. Lord Black wished that Hermione Granger could be here as well, but the girl didn't enjoy flying at all. And he wouldn't be able to invite her without inviting her parents.

There were some lines that he wasn't crossing. He'd happily kill them, and foster her himself, but he wasn't going to let muggles in his house! Well, in his heir's house.

Ares and Acturus sat in comfortable conjured chairs, and watched the boys fly. The quidditch pitch stands hadn't been improved since the '20s when Dorea was still very young. Not comfortable at all. They sat back, and admired the new brooms, and the skills on display. Both boys were clearly very happy, and they were both very, very good.

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Yule was a quiet one. The small family was not above using Persephone's attack to avoid parties that would rather not attend. Harry danced attendance on the woman who was Mother in his heart. She was physically doing better, but it was hard burying her child. Though the body rested near Hadrian birth parents, he knew that the child's spirit was safely above.

Safety was clearly heavy on the adults minds. Harry was gifted a handsome wrist watch that contained communication crystals that would inform the family he was in danger. He just needed to tap, and a security elf would find him, and then bring aid.

It was two days before school was about to return that Narcissa had gotten notice that her missing husband was dead. His body had been found in a remote area near the mountains that were visible from Hogwarts. Snowblooms, a rare and expensive potion ingredient had been reported blooming there on the Solstice. The day he disappeared.

He must have survived for a time, but somehow his wand was snapped. Without a wand, or supplies, and the bitter cold…

A funeral was arranged quickly, and it seemed like half the wizarding world had come. Narcissa and Draco, dressed in pure white, had received the condolences stoically.

Draco looked a little lost, but hadn't been close to his father. He missed the thought of him more than the person who he had been.

It was traditional for a widow to wear some kind of white, a scarf or veil for a year, a child would wear white robes for a month. Family would wear them for a week.

Dumbledore spoke briefly to Narcissa, and her eyes blazed. She spoke in low tones, but they carried throughout the hall.

"You're happy that he repented of his crimes, and can do them no more?! Is that what you just said? My husband was a victim of his father's imperius curse, a good man! Leave now, before I have my staff carry you out!"

"I only meant..." Albus too many names didn't get a chance to finish. Human bodyguards formed up, and he was escorted out of the building.

"The nerve of that man! Judging my husband. Oh, Lucius!" Narcissa, who had kept dry eyes throughout the event, was now in tears.

Draco and Hadrian shared a look.

There would be payback for the wizard that caused a Black witch to cry.

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The train ride was far different than the first one. Harry and Daphne waited together quietly. The heir to House Black still wore mourning white, as did Daphne. Her sister, Astoria, had been betrothed to Draco when they were both infants. That made Daphne family, though Harry thought that he wouldn't want to be betrothed to Daphne. He had never said anything to anyone else except Grandfather about it. Both knew that there was a perception in the wizarding world that they had an understanding. Lord Black let it stand as it solved other headaches.

Daphne had tried to get him to play being her husband when they were little. He would run away. It seemed like all of the witches wanted to marry him. He wouldn't mind being betrothed to most of the witches he knew. Hermione would be a good choice. What about...then he cringed.

Well, Miss Bulstrode, but she was spoken for by the Goyle's.

Neville joined them, as did Justin. Hermione was trying to build bridges with her dormmates, and had written to Harry saying that she was planning on riding most of the way with them. She did, however, accept his invitation to lunch. Neville perked up at that. He wanted to ask Hermione to look over his holiday homework.

Harry looked at the boy. Surely he wasn't interested in Hermione as more than a friend. Right?

Draco entered the compartment wearing not only the white robes of mourning, but the ones that indicated that he was the Head of House Malfoy. That was in slightly bad taste, but it made sense to Harry.

The boy had always been a bit jealous of Hadrian for any attention that wasn't sent Draco's way.

In respect to custom more than anything, everyone stood, and bowed to the Malfoy heir. He nodded regally, and requested that his friends sit.

"How is your lady mother?" Hadrian asked, truly concerned about her, especially after the way that Dumbledore treated her.

"Better. Father was likely trying to find a very nice gift for either Uncle Severus, I mean Professor Snape, or one of his friends who brews potions. It's going to be odd for a time. All of Father's friends have written to me. Some have sent presents."

"Astoria sends her regards, Draco. She was sad not to be allowed at the funeral." Daphne relayed.

Wizarding custom had those below Hogwarts school age as too young to attend. They would be home with nannies.

"What I don't understand is why the house-elves couldn't find him!" Draco demanded.

Harry looked at him with narrowed eyes. He decided to keep his counsel to himself on that one. He suspected that the elves didn't have enough power. And why should they push themselves to find a man that abused them?

"Has anyone heard who is going to be the new DADA professor?" Daphne asked, hoping to steer the conversation to happier topics. And clearly wanting to share gossip.

They had had a series of aurors, including Alastor Moody come and teach them. Mad-eye, as he insisted Harry call him, had even given him and a few of his friends private lessons, acting as though he didn't know Harry all along. The man loved aged muggle brandy, and the Potter cellar had quite a lot of it. Not that any would survive to Harry's majority the way that Grandfather Black drank! Might as well use it for bartering.

No money changed hands, and elves delivered the stock, security sealed enough even for his paranoia.

"I heard it was a personal friend of Professor Dumbledore's." Daphne confided. "As in personal."

"Ewww." All of the boys intoned, catching her meaning.

She brushed invisible lint from her robes.

"I don't know if the man can teach or not. I guess we'll find out. At least with Harry's donation, we have decent brooms for flying class."

Harry blushed at the attention. "My father was a really good chaser. He could have gone professional if he'd tried. But he was too busy fighting the wrong way in a war. The donation was to honor him."

Draco looked up. "That's brilliant Potter. Everyone knows that there's a curse on the Defense job. I'll get Mother to hire a curse-breaker. Then hire a really, really good, young professor. It can be in honor of my father."

Everyone murmured agreement to the idea. "That's a great idea, Draco. My gran will likely know some good curse-breakers who aren't red-heads." Daphne offered.

Draco nodded, understanding that House Malfoy would never hire a Weasley. But it was if thinking of them summoned them, and the youngest boy was at the door.

"I know what your father did to me you creep!" Ron exploded into the room. "Put me under the Imperius to attack Potter! I'm really sorry you were hurt Harry, I want us to be friends again. Of course, that won't happen if you're cuddling up to death eater scum like Malfoy. You stay away from me, and away from my friends, you snake!"

Harry decided to handle this. He spoke in a very soft voice. "Mr. Weasley, I'm not sure any of us understand you. I feel that you are upset, angry. Maybe the train isn't the best place to deal with this. Why don't I give you some butterbeers and some snacks to go share with your brother Percy."

Harry tapped a crystal on his wrist while he was talking. He wasn't surprised to see one of his bodyguards open the door.

"Heir Black." The man asked.

"Mr. Weasley is lost. Can you please help him find his family. Here, Mr. Weasley, with my compliments."

Harry had shoved a half-dozen bottles, and several treats into one of the carry-alls hanging in the wet-bar.

Ronald Weasley started to object, but Daphne cagedly opened up one of the chocolate bars like the ones just packed, broke off a piece, and ate it.

"Oh, Harry, that's really good! May I have one too?"

Mr. Weasley grabbed back the rest of the bar, and off-duty officer Auror Stevens took the boy away.

Harry scattered snacks on the low table in front of them, and pulled out butterbeers for his friends. Soon, they were settled, and sipping fizzy drinks.

"Harry, what in the world was he talking about?" Neville asked. "You and he being friends? He sniped at you the entire time he was at school. Then he tried to kill you. Blaming Draco's father, Lucius Malfoy for his attack on you?"

Harry tried to send a reassuring look to Draco. "I guess it's the blood feud. He's blaming Lord Malfoy just because. That was really weird. I hope you know that I don't believe a word he said, Draco. You are my cousin, and my friend. Family comes first, you know."

Draco nodded, and reached for one of the Honeydukes finest chocolate bars.

"Well, thanks for getting rid of the prat. He was going for his wand, did you see?"

Everyone nodded. Percy stopped by, and whispered in low tones with Harry, who rolled his eyes.

"Prefect Weasley. If your brother attacks my cousin, I will help defend Draco. The aurors will then have to collect your brother with sponges in order to bury him. I will not put up with those kinds of threats. Why is he allowed back to school if he is so mentally unstable?" Harry asked in an even tone, he was not angry, not yet.

Percy wasn't going to let any firstie get away with that."Mental? Mental? You are the one that is mental, being friends with that, that piece of excrement!"

"Do not raise your voice to me, Mr. Weasley. I will be seeing my Head of House to talk about your behavior."

Now Harry meant Professor Snape, but Percy thought he had meant Lord Black.

The boy paled, and left the carriage.

The rest of the trip was quieter, with only a few friends popping in. Most saw the white robes, and knew to leave them be.

Harry thought it very odd how some people were acting. He wished he could have his bodyguard in school, but Dumbledore wouldn't allow it.

Harry had to sleep sometime. At least he had Dobby now.

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