Chapter 3:
From the moment he had woken up something felt off. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but something was niggling at his mind, telling him that something wasn't right. His private apartment at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry looked the same. His seat of a golden throne like chair felt normal. Breakfast, served by the house elves, was excellent as usual. But the castle, that held the school, seemed as if it was distracted, which was unusual, but it was sentient so unusual was expected.
As it was a day at the Ministry of Magic, specifically a Wizengament meeting, he didn't head to his office, but went directly out of the castle and apparating to the building in London, making an entrance, just like he had planned.
But his entrance was spoiled by the arrival of a someone dressed head to toe in black. A hooded cloak concealed the person's face, but the power radiating off them was staggering. He, Albus Dumbledore, someone who held several titles, was being ignored in favor of the stranger who seemed to know exactly where they were going.
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Head of the Department of Mysteries, code named Croaker, was sitting in his office, when he felt the wards that surrounded the department recognize someone who was, as far as he knew, dead. Filled with curiosity he stood and felt the wards tell him that this person was heading in his direction. He retook his seat and waited.
There was no knock. One minute the door was closed the next it was open, with a figure in black standing in its threshold.
'Spirit' had returned.
The older man had pulled his wand prior to the man's arrival but didn't seem to deter the man.
"Come in and shut the door."
He did just that. Croaker gestured to the open chair, but the man declined. Silence filled the room. Croaker finally started the conversation.
"Since I was the one that I recruited you and gave you your code man, I need to see if it is really you."
The man pushed back to hood to reveal that he was in fact James Potter.
"Spirit? What Happened?"
"Where's Grim?"
"He's in Azkaban for betraying you."
"He didn't. The Rat did."
"According to the arrest report he killed the Rat and 13 muggles as well."
"That makes no sense. What about the trial?"
"There wasn't one. Bagnold, Dumbledore, and Crouch claim to have a tribunal and convicted him, sending to Azkaban on the quiet. No one asked a thing about it, and no one has looked to deeply into the situation. They left no paper trail. I asked all of them shortly after it all happened and was told to leave it alone."
The look on Spirit's face told him that he knew all of this, somehow, but also more. But Croaker needed to know what had happened.
"Now I repeat. What happened?"
"Lily."
"Lily?"
Spirit nodded and began pacing the room.
"Lily created a ritual. One that should have seen both of us return to 'living' within hours of being struck by the Killing Curse."
"I knew I should have recruited her" muttered Croaker.
Spirit stopped and smiled slightly. He obviously remembered the last time his boss tried to recruit his wife. The man couldn't sit for a week due to the transfiguration that she had done. Neither had told him what his arse had been transfigured into and he was still dying to know. It seems that memory was replaying for Croaker because the man was squirming in his seat.
"I think she made her wishes clear on that point."
"Yes, she did. But continue please."
Spirit then told him about everything that had happened since 'waking up'.
The story was remarkable and scarcely believe it, but the proof was standing in front of him.
"So now what Spirit?"
"I set the world on edge." A sharklike grin filled the face of the man who came back from the dead.
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As the Chief Warlock arrived at the Wizengament chamber, he noted that several people were standing in small groups, whispering to one another. That wasn't unusual. What was unusual was the fact that Lucius Malfoy was glaring at the Black family seat instead of sitting in it, lording his control over the voting block as he usually would.
The sound died down as the vain wizard tried again to sit in the seat only for the seat to tip itself up and send the man to the floor. Several chuckles of covered laughter followed the dumping as the gossiping started up again.
'It would seem that the Black seat has been taken over by someone else. I wonder whom?' thought Albus. Those thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of Fudge and his under-secretary Delores Umbridge. As they tried to take their usual seats of Gryffindor and Slytherin, both of them were also dumped, just and Lucius had been. His eyebrows rose up. Some sort of power shift had happened. The whispers of others went up a notch as they all watched as the seats in question made the two fall harder and further each time they tried to seat themselves. No one noticed the man in black arrive and sit in the Potter seat. Especially one Albus Dumbledore.
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James Potter smirked to himself as he watched the chaos of his reclaiming his heritage and the Black regency. It was almost as good as a prank. One that he felt Sirius would have loved to have seen. Perhaps a pensive memory later would work. It might help Padfoot with recovery. Looking around he noted that no one had noticed that he had slipped in and took his seat. People were completely clueless sometimes. A slight grin formed as he saw that even the vaulted Albus Dumbledore hadn't noticed his appearance nor that had lost his control over the voting block that he once held on to. This was going to a session to remember.
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While watching the Minister, his toady, and Malfoy try over and over to take 'their' seats, the chief warlock banged on the gavel block to open the session, which threw the three into a shouting match as they claimed that the session couldn't open as they couldn't take their seats.
"Obviously the family magic of those seats has accepted another. That's how they work. So, find somewhere else to sit so that the rest of us can get on with it!" stated Tiberius Ogden.
"That isn't possible!" whined the Minister. "The Ministry has always controlled the Founder seats!"
"Well obviously not anymore! So, sit down and shut it!"
"Lord Ogden, This body cannot be legal if we cannot join it as per usual." stated a smug Umbridge. "As the we are the 'Ministry' we must be able to be seated as usual. I feel that this session must be postponed until this issue is resolved. I demand an investigation into the tampering of the Ministry's right of usage of the Founders seats!"
She looked around for support only to find none.
Before she could continue on her tirade, the gavel came down again, starting the session, forcing herself, the Minister, and Lord Malfoy into the visitor section. It was humiliating.
It was then that the Chief Warlock noted the man in black seated in the Potter seat. A seat that he controlled. This was not to be. The only one who had a claim to it was only five and in the hands of muggles. Whomever it was had been accepted by magic. But as far as he knew there were no other Potters. Harry was the last. His eyes widen. Harry also was connected to the Black Family. It seems that the man in black was the root of the trouble from earlier.
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It took all of his control to not start laughing. Dumbledore had finally noticed him. And he didn't look to pleased! He could hardly wait until the old goat found out whom he was. This was better than pranking!
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People began to whisper as the noted Dumbledore was staring at someone. It was then that the collective of the Wizengament noted that there was an actual person seated in the Potter Family seat. The whispers soon died down and silence reigned. Finally, someone close to the Chief Warlock cleared their throat, startling the man into action.
"This session the Wizengament of Britain is now open. Those with new business please light your wands." said Dumbledore, staring at the cloaked man. The stranger's wand lit up. No one else did. Everyone wanted to know whom this stranger was.
"Very well. Please state your name and business with this body."
The stranger stood. Magic was rolling off the man in huge quantities. A hand reached up and pushed back the hood, revealing the man under it. One James Potter.
"If you insist. I am James Edward Charles Potter."
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Gasps, cries, yells and utter mayhem descended into the room as Dumbledore and Potter stared at each other. It was Fudge who broke the staring contest.
"NO! NO! NO! THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE! AURORS! ARREST THIS IMPOSTER!"
Potter raised his hand. All noise stopped. He reached into his cloak and removed a scroll.
"I repeat that I am James Edward Charles Potter. I have claimed my titles. I have verification of this from Gringotts."
"What titles?" yelled out an unknown person.
"Duke of Wales, Duke of Gryffindor, Viscount Potter, and Regent to the Black of Blackmore and apparently Regent Baron of Slytherin."
Chaos descended once again.
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Dumbledore was in shock. This was not possible. He had checked the body of James Potter himself. No! This man was an imposter and he, Albus Dumbledore, would expose him as such. He noted the titles the man used. Lofty ones. Powerful ones. He had no idea that the Potter family was so well entitled. Once this imposter was dealt with, he would claim himself as Regent to all. Harry was quite young and would have to die when Voldemort returned. Those title would then pass to him as he would be Regent. No one else had the political insight like he did.
Now was the time to expose this imposter.
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Dumbledore was not the only one thinking along those lines. Both Fudge and Malfoy had similar ideas. It would seem that whoever controlled the Potter boy controlled their world. Both would see about finding the brat right after the session.
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James Potter smiled at the absolute chaos. A Ministry flunky came over to get the scroll from him and hand it to the scribe of the session. The poor man paled quite rapidly and when Dumbledore demanded the scroll, handed it to him rather shakily.
Now it was Dumbledore turn to pale. For the briefest of moments, James saw the anger over the loss of control, but it was gone in the next moment. Most had missed it, including himself if he had not been watching for it.
Everyone watched as Dumbledore placed his wand on the opened scroll. It gave off a golden glow, showing that it was indeed valid. Twice more Dumbledore did the spell as if he refused to believe the results. But the Scribe of record had already entered the original results into the records books. Finally, Dumbledore handed the scroll to the Scribe and looked down on his new menace.
"Lord Potter" he began to say.
"Your Grace, Chief Warlock."
"Yes, of course. Your Grace. Is there anything else you wish to present this body?"
"Several things."
"Oh?"
"First, I have been reunited with my son and heir and we are not pleased with the situation that he was found in." James stated as he stared directly at Dumbledore.
"That particular problem will be dealt with, but it brings up why was MY will not brought forward and executed by this body?"
"I had that document sealed my boy."
"Your Grace." James interrupted with clutched teeth.
"Yes, of course, Your Grace. As I was saying I sealed it for young Harry's protection."
"HIS GRACE!" thundered James. "YOU! YOU DECIDED TO SEAL A VALID WILL THAT GAVE EXACT DIRECTIONS AS TO WHAT WAS TO BE DONE AND YOU THOUGHT THAT YOU HAD A BETTER SOLUTION! ISN'T THAT RIGHT?"
The rest of the Wizengament held its collective breath. Many wondered what the will had actually said, to the point that Dumbledore had messed up. But the young lord wasn't finished.
"Tell me! Tell me right now! Why didn't you follow it?"
"My boy"
"YOUR GRACE! FORGET AGAIN AND WE WILL CROSS WANDS OLD MAN!"
Several gasps were heard. No one, but no one challenged Dumbledore. Ever. It was suicide. But James Potter was no slouch.
"Yes, I am sorry, Your Grace. Old habits and all."
"Then you had better learn some new ones. Now I want an answer."
Dumbledore sighed. This was not something that he wanted everyone to hear. But there was no doubt that was why the boy, for that was what James was to him, wanted. For what purpose remained to be seen.
"You must understand the chaos from the attack on your home caused. Everyone knew that Sirius Black was the secret keeper to the Fidelius Charm on the cottage. The Ministry was in disarray. Then the Longbottoms were attacked and disabled. I decided to seal your will and place the child with family on his mother's side. I place some wards and monitors on the home so that I could keep and eye on him. Due to his celebrity status, I thought that being away from the Magical community would let him have a normal childhood."
"But you knew better is that it?" James asked shaking his head.
"Let me tell you something, Chief Warlock! YOU WERE WRONG!