Chapter 2:
Behind the public face of the Nation, what wizards and witches call Gringotts, a small section was in a flurry of action. It had started the previous night when an alarm went off. No one in living memory knew what this alarm was or did. Those connected to the account that was connected to the alarm had been working straight for two days now and were no closer to solving the problem than when it started. The King of the Nation issued a 'black-out' on the event.
The goblin in charge of the account had been placed in solitary when the King reviewed the account. Fury was the least prominent emotion that the being felt. He couldn't order the goblin's death until all the misdeeds were accounted for. And there were many.
Several orders were issued concerning other accounts. Namely the Black's and the Dumbledore's. Those account managers were awaiting their King's pleasure.
But just as said King was going to address them, a variable arrived, making the alarm grow silent. A variable that should not be among the living.
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With a cloak that cover his features, James Potter strode into the bank of the Nation. In his arms was his heir, Harry, who had laid down on his Da's shoulder and looked slightly around. Following the wizard were two house elves. Both elves wore the best quality tea towel and were sparklingly clean.
As the wizard walked across the lobby, people scurried to get out of his way. So much so that one stepped away from the teller that he was about to address so that this wizard could get his business done. Due to the privacy bubble that the goblins build into the podiums, the person who moved had no idea who the wizard was. He didn't have to wait long as a group of four axe wielding Goblins arrived to escort the Wizard to wherever he needed to go. He then went about making his own transaction.
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The King of the Nation was surprised when a lowly courier arrived with the news of the arrival of what everyone assumed was a dead man. But as soon as said man stepped into the office, the alarm that had been sounding for two days suddenly silenced. The hooded figured bowed his head but said or did nothing. The king returned the head bow. Then the figure pushed the hood down.
There stood the man who was known as James Potter, holding a miniature of him, which the King assumed was the Heir, Harry. The King gestured for the two to sit. He noted that two house elves took up positions behind the wizard. An interesting development.
"How may the Nation help you today, Wizard?"
"I ask that the nation preforms the Acknowledgement Ritual so that I will have proof as to whom I claim to be."
"You do know that if this Ritual is found that you have lied, your life is forfeit."
"I do."
"Then whom do you claim to be?"
"I am James Edward Charles Potter, Duke of Wales, Duke of Gryffindor, Viscount Potter, and Regent of the Black of Blackmoor."
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James let out a sigh as the Ritual confirmed his identity. It also showed that he was Regent to the Barony of Slytherin. Harry's defeat of Voldemort had transferred that title to him, thus giving him another vote to change things. Now came the boring part.
"Your Grace, what can the Nation do for you?"
"I need documentary proof that I am whom I say I am. I plan to take my place within the Wizengament."
"Easily done."
"I wish to have my heir publicly recognized by the nation."
"Again, easily done."
"I also wish to use one of the boons that the Nation owes the Potter Family."
Several gasps of breath were heard throughout the room at that statement.
The King raised his hand for silence. The Potter family had been instrumental in the existence of the Nation when the Magical community was first forming. In fact, the nation owed the family a total of seven boons. The fact that this man was calling one in was historical.
"How may we help?"
"My heir needs medical attention. He has suffered at the hands of so-called family."
"We would gladly impale them for you!"
A cruel smile filled the wizards face, causing the King of the Nation to shiver.
"I already have a plan to deal with them."
"We will gladly look the child over, but this is a small thing for the recall of a boon."
"I believe that something happens to my heir that night. My elf, Mimsy says that dark magic radiates from the scarred area. That is what I wish to be looked at. I do not trust anyone else with my heir and his health."
"We will be happy to do so."
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Vernon Durley was confused. First his freak of a nephew had gotten out and wandered off. He hadn't wasted time searching too hard. Just enough for the authorities to not suspect him. Then there was a letter from some bank that he had never heard of telling him that all deposits that had been made to him for care of the freak, were to be paid back in full by the end of the month. He put it from his mind. They knew nothing. He had used the money on his son. The freak didn't need it. Now he was being called to the owners' office. A first he thought that he was going to get a promotion, But the looks that he was getting were not those of jealousy or anger but of smugness and glee. No something was not right.
The moment he entered the reception area, the senior assistant hurried to the office door and opened it. He stepped through and felt the door close behind him.
Mr. Grunnings was seated behind his antique desk with a slight frown on his face. Another man, tall, and dark haired faced away, looking out the window.
"Dursley?"
"Yes, sir."
Mr. Grunnings looked towards the other man, stood and said as he left the room "He's all yours."
Vernon Dursley was starting to get nervous. He tried to clear his throat a couple of times and was just getting ready to ask what was going on when the man turned around.
James Potter stared back at him.
"You! You're dead!"
"Rumors of my death have been exaggerated."
"Then how did that little freak end up with us!"
"Someone did what they wanted, not what Lily and I had stated in our wills. But that is neither here nor there. It is your treatment of my son that I want to discuss with you."
Vernon puffed himself up. He had nothing to ashamed of. The boy was a freak! Nothing more nothing less.
"What about it! We didn't ask for the little freak! He was left on the doorstep like an unwanted bit of rubbish. Petunia made the mistake of picking the thing up, activating whatever that old fart placed on the freak."
"Oh, I know what the old man did. But that doesn't explain the fear, health, or personality changes that you forced on my son. Also let's not forget the money."
"I didn't ask for the money!"
"No but you didn't send it back either. Instead, you used it for your own son, spoiling him so rotten that even at his tender age he's one of the worst bullies ever seen."
"How I raise my son is not your concern!"
"You're right. It is not."
"So? What is this about?"
"Retribution."
That one word had the massive man sweating.
"You see, I own a majority share of this business, thanks to Lily. She insisted I buy all the available shares in case Petunia needed help."
Vernon's mouth opened and closed several times. If had known that he would have demanded the shares while had had the freak in his hands. The thought of all that money slipping through his fingers was maddening. He could use this to his advantage! But something had to give his thoughts away because of what he brother in-law said next.
"I have had some thought of what I could do to you and your family for what you have put my son through. Ruin you, have you arrested, so many options. But I finally decided on the perfect punishment."
Vernon sneered. There was really nothing the man could do.
James Potter smiled a cruel smile at his former brother in-law. "You seemed to think that you are above punishment. However, you will get one. You will be frozen in your current position. No promotions, no bonuses, no company car, no sales trips, nothing. Your assistant will now be a male or you will not have one at all. Never again will a female be at your beck and call in this business. Ten percent of your wages will be in repaying my son's account. Another ten percent will go into a trust for your son, which you nor Petunia will have no control of. Your son can have access to it when he's twenty-five."
Vernon shook his head in disbelief. But James Potter wasn't done yet.
"Your sister, Marge, will have her dog breeding business shut down due to cruelty to animals. She will never again be allowed to breed or owns any animal again. If she does, its' jail time. Harry was never afraid of dogs before. It took a great deal of coaxing for him to say why."
He should have known that Marge siccing Ripper onto the boy would come back to haunt him. But at the time it had been amusing.
"I will tell you that if you think that leaving this job will get you out of my punishment, all I can say, try it. You'll find that all of this will be in your permanent record, No one will hire you after they find out what you have done. But if you do leave, you will not be allowed back. Have a good life. I doubt that I will see you again."
James Potter walked right past him and left the office. Mr. Grunnings returned.
"I need your decision Dursley."
There was really nothing to decide. He had no options.
"I'll stay."
"Then get back to work."
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The past week had been a very odd and frustrating one for Marge Dursley. It had started out with a random visit by the local humane society. That led to a visit from the police, with an order to seize all of her dogs, including Ripper, and issue her a summons before a judge.
Furious at the treatment that she had so far received, she went alone. No barrister, no friend, because she didn't really have any, no witness, or character witness. Nothing. She faced the judge alone, venting her fury at the treatment of herself and her dogs.
But the judge silenced her with a look. In one swoop she lost everything. Her dogs, her livelihood, were taken away, most destroyed due to their aggressive nature. Ripper had been one such victim of that. She was then barred from owning another animal. The fines involved took nearly all of her savings. She had a few pounds and her house.
On the way home she vowed to get everything back. Right now, she needed to contact her brother, Vernon, and arrange to stay with him and his family until she could get back on her feet.
The call didn't go as planned. Vernon told no. Her own flesh and blood had told her NO! Well, she would see about that. A quick sale of her home for less than half of what it was worth and including all of the furnishings, she boarded a train to Surrey and her brothers' home.
But her troubles were just starting. The taxi dropped her and her bags off at her brothers home only for her to notice that someone else was living there. The new homeowners called the police, which had her being escorted to the local station.
The phone call to her brother didn't end like she wanted. Apparently, Vernon was in a spot of bother at work, which had led to downsizing his home, as well as moving closer to his job. Their 'new' home only had two bedrooms, no lower floor, a very small garden, and no garage. He had no room for her. She had nowhere to go, little money, and no employment. The police, at least, drove her to a rather cheap lodging house. She had no idea what to do, where to go, or whom she could turn to.
Fate decided as Marge Dursley got very drunk that night and fell out of her room window, breaking her neck, killing her instantly. What little cash she had paid for her burial, leaving nothing for her brother to get himself out of his own hole.