Chapter 17- Now let me tell you
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Days later a totally irate Sirius Black was now stocking a street of London with his girlfriend Amelia Bones. Sirius had let Hagrid, under Dumbledore orders, take Harry Potter while he went to hunt the traitorous Peter Pettigrew. A next day he found out that Harry was now dead so he had gone after Dumbledore but was stunned and turned over to the DMLE. Everybody knew he was the secrets keeper for the Potters and they had almost thrown him into Azkaban without a trial. Luckily the Potters had given him a copy of their Will showing that he was Harry's godfather and it was Peter Pettigrew who indeed betrayed the Potters and was the Potter's secrets keeper. Of course having Amelia as a girlfriend and confidante didn't hurt. To further increases Black's ire was that the Daily Profit was reporting and the people were celebrating The-Boy-Who-Had-Lived, Neville Longbottom.
/Scene Break/
Originally the Greengrasses checked to see if there were any missing children reports. There were no pleas in the paper over a lost child since the paper was all about The-Boy-Who-Had-Lived, Neville Longbottom. The Greengrasses were not about to turn the child over to an orphanage.
/Scene Break/
It had been roughly nine years of happiness for the Greengrass adults. They had found a strange boy who fit in with their equally strange daughter. Not that the second daughter wasn't strange but she was more of a difficulty to handle and required a lot more attention. At first they were going to name the boy Jonathan but the first time they use the name the boy shook his head and said Harry. Very odd for a child only a year and a half old. Daphne and Harry were inseparable and were usually wrapped around each other most of the time. While polite and obedient children they had very little to say most of the time. At least Daphne's friend Tracy Davis was able to get between them every once in a while. By the age of two the parents had given up attempting to separate the kids even in their sleeping arrangements.
/Scene Break/
By the age of ten nothing much had changed. The children were still polite, obedient and did their schoolwork. But then there was that silly trunk and the phoenixes. All attempts to open the trunk by the Greengrass parents had failed. The trunk could not even be lifted nor removed from the room. Another oddity was that one or both of the phoenixes would pop in at the oddest times just to sing.
"It's time for you two to visit the Goblins and ask for an inheritance test." Hedwig informed.
"Well, well, look whose talking and not sitting around like a stuffed vulture."
"There was nothing that could be done until now and many things will not be able to be dealt with for a long time. Have patience and deal with what you can at your own pace. The first thing you need to do is open the trunk, its contents will be self-explanatory."
Daphne and I opened the trunk which causes us to start dancing around in joy and ended in a good snog. In the trunk was my Wandnesttons wands, Goblin belt, plastic explosives with detonators, my focus ring and my Goblin knives. Daphne of course found her wand and her special toys. There were a couple of things that caused some concern.
"Daphne I know we were never raised together in our previous lives so there are those little things we don't know about each other. What I'm trying to get at is this invisibility cloak and marauders map shouldn't be here. I didn't get these items until I was in Hogwarts so does this mean we were thrown back in time in the same dimension or are we in a different dimension?" It was the same question we had bandied back and forth for many years while my familiar Hedwig looked at us like we were stupid with her beak firmly clamped shut.
"You do bring up an interesting point or two. If we were sent back in time we have already changed the timeline so things will be happening differently. If we are in a different dimension thinking about any of this is only going to give us a headache."
"I think we best be asking Fawkes. Wherever we are, am I The-Boy-Who-Lived and if so where's my scar and glasses. Last time the Goblins removed my scar and glasses, damn this is all so confusing.
"Fawkes where the bloody hell are you?" A large ball of fire illuminated the room.
"Are you two ready to go to Gringotts?"
"Fawkes are we in the same dimension and just back in time?"
"That is correct hatchlings."
"With that answer it means that timelines are already all screwed up!"
"That hatchling is one of the reasons why you are here. Grab a tail feather we need to be going."
As we were walking up the marble steps of the bank Daphne and I were chatting mind to mind as if we were talking to the phoenixes.
"Daphne, do you really want to go through all this again? Should we just grab pile of money and run?"
"Do you really want to run? Do you think they will let you, or will they just bring you back kicking and screaming?"
"OK! Decision! I for one have just stopped worrying about timelines. Let us louse up their lives this timeline as they did to us in the past, screw the timelines!"
"You mean screw up the timelines as they did to us in the future! Daphne giggled.
At first I didn't realize how easy it was too upset, everything. Daphne and I walked up to the nearest teller and I've course asked for an inheritance test. I never thought twice about how I asked, as I asked in Gobbledygook, the Goblins native language, I just did. I'd been years around the Goblins in training and reading their books in their library. That's when the Goblin fell off his chair. Maybe upsetting the timeline was going to be fun.
The goblin led us to a room to wait for one of their specialists.
"You know this inheritance test cost you hundred galleons." An older goblin had just strutted into the room.
"I'm sure my vaults will more than cover that expense." I followed the goblins instructions and of course was expecting the titles. The titles of Lord Potter, Lord Gryffindor, and Lord Peverell were not surprising. The title of Lord Slytherin and Lord Smythe raised an eyebrow but the six other titles were definitely a shock.
Another shock was when Daphne took the test and registered as Daphne Potter, bond mate of Harry James Potter. I wanted to jump up and yell, "jackpot!"
"Might I ask if this bank handles Muggle estates and money?"
"Yes we do Lord Potter, Barclays Bank is our major contact point."
I explained the correlation between Riddle, Gaunt, Slytherin and Voldemort. They assured me that I would have access and control of the Riddle estate within a week.
Daphne and I were bonded so that made us emancipated in most areas. I made sure to cancel all access to all my vaults except for myself and Daphne. The next hurdle was my new name. I opened a new vault, under my new name, filling it with tons of galleons and procured credit cards for both of us. Since we were short on time I asked them to arrange for us to take our OWLs. After providing a number of galleons I ensured the testing would be taken within the bank and not the Ministry. I walked out of the bank with Daphne on my arm with a smile on my face. That smile ended quickly when Daphne said...
"Now all we have to do is break this all to our parents."
/Scene Break/
Daphne and I spent the next couple of days discussing how we were going to tell her/our parents. How does two 10-year-olds tell two adults... Oh were bonded and emancipated... This is Harry Potter whose worth millions of galleons... Oh and Voldemort will be coming back in couple of years as he is not dead... And as an afterthought, the great leader of the light Dumbledore is a conniving and manipulating ass who can't be trusted. So if you don't mind we're going to Gringotts every day for a week to take our OWLs again since we been sent back in time.
There was a lot of yelling and screaming and Daphne had to disarm her parents before they could cart us off St. Mungo's long-term psycho ward. My transforming into a Phoenix and showing them my Petronas did help. The lightbulb finally lit when it dawned on them that there two untrained ten year old children were performing advanced magic with wands kids were not supposed to have. Firewhiskey was liberally consumed by half of those sitting at the table.
/Scene Break/
Ragnot was harder to see but mentioning the goblin prophecy got us an audience with him. It didn't take long for him to come on board and arrange the documents for our new names and enrollment into Hogwarts.
The OWL testing came and went and of course Daphne and I got O's or O+ on the areas that we tested. Of course with the Goblins galleons when a long way in ensuring that our test results would be well hidden but retrievable should we need them.
"You know Harry it's odd to be sitting here celebrating our owl results in this ice cream parlor across from the bank. I kind of miss fancy dinners at the Dragon Breath restaurant with a nice glass of wine."
"Yeah and I'm going to miss my Firebolt and being on the Quidditch team. But as we've discussed before, both of us got to keep a low profile. While we could go to the Dragon Breath we would probably draw attention. We don't need people nosing around because two ten-year-olds can afford the prices at that restaurant."
"I know Harry. I have no wish to repeat our lives as we did before and I still think we should grab the money and disappear."
I wasn't sure I wanted to pick up that discussion once again. I got saved by the arrival of Fawkes.
"Hatchlings, we know your feelings but we must insist that you remain at Hogwarts until after the third task of the tri-wizard tournament. Finishing that school year would be best." And again in a ball of flames Fawkes didn't wait around.
"Come on and splurge, have some more ice cream Mrs. Potter. I start my serious exercise routine tomorrow so I'll need the energy. Besides, just think of all those nice little letters will be sending out in a couple of months. How bad could school be if we keep a low profile?"
"It's not a bad idea Mr. Potter. I think I'll start drafting these letters while you're out running around doing your macho exercises."
/Scene Break/
I always had been a skinny runt this time around I planned on changing that so I hired tutors. While I still had all my knowledge and skills my body was brand-new and was basically out of shape. While I've been doing some routine exercise I was now getting to an age where it would really count physically. Exercise was needed not only to dodge spells but to last more than a minute in a real fight.
"You know you're always talking about keeping a low profile but requesting marriage quarters at Hogwarts?"
"I'm not sure you're not going to be sorted into Slytherin and I'm not going through that Draco marriage contract garbage again. Besides how are you going to feel with me spending my time in a different common room?"
"Well you could always threaten the sorting hat like you did last time."
"No way am I spending my free time in the same common room with Draco."
"So Harry, isn't it's about time we sent off those letters."
"You're right let's flash to Gringotts and have them sent them out so the goblins can certify who got the letter and when."
"Harry I still think we should send this out to more people."
"The Ministry of Magic and the Head of the DMLE should be sufficient. Even with the limited letters there is a chance that the information could get out and Dumbledore erases all his scheming. If Dumbledore learns of our letters it will be the people who are supposed to protect us who let the information slip."
The letters read:
To whom it may concern;
We are a couple of concerned citizens who heard that Severus Snape is acting as a professor at Hogwarts and is a Death Eater. With our concern on high we consulted a seer. I'm afraid this year at Hogwarts will be horribly dangerous. We would recommend that this information be kept secret and acted upon fully least these dangers take a different path. The break-in at the Goblin bank will be on an empty vault because the Sorcerer's Stone was moved to the third floor of Hogwarts. The first trap is a Ceberus and is such a nice trap for schoolchildren. Now if you do nothing, just wait to Thanksgiving. You will find that Professor Quirrell, who is possessed, will turn loose a fully grown mountain troll within the school. As the Muggles say, the ball is in your court.
The Golden Trio
/Scene Break/
"I don't see why we had to get here early. The trains not going to depart for another half an hour."
"First we have a compartment with an excellent view of the platform. Then you do want Tracy to know which compartment you're in. Of course there is always the fun of watching the Weasley's last minute arrival..."
"Oh please! Don't let Ron sit with us or he's going to get glued to us, well you."
"How about Draco, he was quite taken with you at the last Malfoy ball." After Daphne slapped my shoulder I pointed out the window.
The Weasley's had made it onto platform early. Daphne was now in a full-blown laugh and I could only shake my head. Ginny Weasley was firmly attached to the arm of Neville Longbottom. Neville's other arm was waving to the crowd. Ron Weasley's hand was attached to Neville's shoulder while his other hand was pumping the air as if he just won the Quidditch match. Behind them waddled a puffed up Mrs. Weasley was a huge smile on her face. The twins had gotten to be the porters for all the Weasley luggage.
"Harry isn't Ginny Weasley a year behind us?"
"Well you are right but this could be anything. This could be special dispensation from Dumbledore because Ginny is now Neville's girlfriend or it could be a timeline shift."
"Well she's definitely getting on the train. I don't believe Voldemort could peel Ginny off Longbottom right now."
/Scene Break/
Since each student's name was entered into a special book upon their birth and since the school letter was addressed to Daphne Greengrass we hoped her name changed to Potter would go unnoticed at least for now.
Professor McGonagall called, Greengrass, Daphne and the hat said, "SLYTHERIN"
Professor McGonagall called, Longbottom, Neville and the hat said, "HUFFLEPUFF!"
Professor McGonagall called, Potter, Harry and the hat remained on the stool. The Hall just assumed that the unknown student had failed to show.
Professor McGonagall called, Slytherin/DeSpion, Harold and the hat said… "You two are going to drive me into kissing Snape. You going to tell me what is going on? This is the second time you guys have been through here and your wife is not saying beans."
"Sorry Hat but it's all classified."
"Well if that's how you are going to be then all I can say is,
"SLYTHERIN"
I headed to my new house table after sitting next to Daphne I whispered in her ear, "Isn't that Brill the way the phoenixes blocked the hat reading our mind?" Daphne just nodded.
Professor McGonagall called, Weasley, Geneva and the hat said,
"SLYTHERIN"
Daphne leaned over and whispered in my ear, "I think there is going to be some unhappy people tonight with this sorting." I just nodded.
Most important part of the welcoming feast was the chatter about death on the third floor. As the welcoming feast started to break up I headed over to Professor McGonagall find out where our private quarters were located. She was so far the only one here at Hogwarts that knew I was married, not even to whom. She was to receive all the necessary documentation upon my arrival which was now.
"Where do you think you're going! Get back with the first years!" Snape snarled.
Wasn't happy saying it but, "I'm sorry sir I'm just going to ask the Professor to show me where my private quarters are located."
"Well you don't get private quarters so get back with the first years."
I shrug my shoulders and followed the first years back to the Slytherin common room. After we had arrived Snape made his long speech, "First years will meet here tomorrow morning at 6 AM. That's when I will inform you about the house rules, now get to bed."
Since the jerk was finished I headed toward the exit to go find Professor McGonagall but I didn't get too far before Snape yelled, "Where the hell do you think you're going?"
"I'm going to see Professor McGonagall about my private quarters."
"I told you that you do not have private quarters!"
"You're wrong…" That seemed to freeze everybody in the common room.
I didn't continue because Snape charged at me and was quite obvious he planned on physically laying hands on me. I raised my left hand and used a mild 'Depulso' from my focus ring to push him back. But this was Snape…
You arrogant little snotty nosed incompetent, how dare you use a spell on ME! He drew his wand and I was astounded, he fired off a 'Reducto' curse. I stepped out of the way of the curse as I fired off a silent 'Diffindo' and yelled 'Stupify'. Snape did not move fast enough and the curse cut his wand arm off just below the elbow as my second spell soon sent him to the floor. By the time the first curse struck I had my wand out as a couple of the older students decided to take me on so I summoned their wands. The only spells the students heard from me was 'Stupify' and that came from when I used my focus ring, the 'Expelliarmus' came from my wand as I pointing it around the room. I hoped in the confusion that all my wand waving would keep my silent casting over looked and thus keep my focus ring a secret. There was going to be enough problems with them wondering at me casting those spells at my age.
"Will one of you jerks put a tourniquet on his arm. You! Pick up his wand and his arm and one of you older students levitate him up to the hospital wing! Come on Daphne we need to go see Professor McGonagall about our private quarters."
"I'm sorry Mr. DeSluipen but the Headmaster has declined at your request. So you'll need to return to your common room."
"Ah! But you see that wasn't a request and my name is Lord Slytherin."
"I'm afraid my hands are tied. You'll need to see the Headmaster."
"Well! Use the floe and get his buns down here, this is been a long day."
"Again I'm sorry but the Headmaster was quite adamant and do not talk to me like that!"
"Very well I expect that both of our enrollment fees will be returned as we shall be seeking our education elsewhere. Come Daphne will need to seek lodging before we see the Daily Profit tomorrow morning. Imagine the headlines; 'Founders heir refuses education at Hogwarts'."
Dumbledore was down in McGonagall's office as fast as Fawkes could flame.
"My boy, what seems to be the problem?"
"First off I'm not your boy I am Lord Slytherin and Heir to one of the Founders and your refusing me private quarters, ridiculous!"
"I believe that you will find that you have been misinformed. The things you claim could not possibly apply to a first year. I will be contacting your legal guardian in the morning but in the interim I suggest you return to your common room or should I call your head of house to escort you there."
"Look dufus! I have no guardians as I'm an emancipated Lord. As I said to Professor McGonagall, no private quarters, then where out here. Besides I put Snape in the hospital wing before I came up here. You really should explain to your Death Eater that trying to striking a Lord is damn stupid."
"My boy…"
"Come on Daphne apparently he has no grasp on the Queens English."
"Perhaps we could come to a compromise. Let's say I provide private quarters for this evening and you provide proof of being an emancipated Lord."
"Yes a compromise would work, let's say you provide private quarters until you check with the goblins. I do not like my word being questioned."
The private quarters were quite adequate.
/Scene Break/
"Come on Lord sleepyhead I want some breakfast beside wanting to see what kind of trouble Lord Slytherin can get into today."
"I thought you had been around me long enough to realize that 'Trouble' was one of my middle names. Care to join me in the shower my lady."
"And what could you do besides scrub my back? I can't believe it's going to be nigh on five years before we get to anywhere close to being back to normal."
"Yeah I can't wait till the hormones kick in either. Well, give me five minutes and I'll be right back."
Our quarters were down by the teachers' quarters so it was a fair walk to the Great Hall. Daphne had hold of my arm so we both were content in each others company; it was a good start to the day.
We just sat down and start putting some breakfast on our plates when McGonagall's crystal tapping started…" The Headmaster wishes your attention."
"Yesterday evening the sorting hat confided in me that it had made a mistake in one of the sorting's so I would…
He was interrupted by me laughing out loud as I beat on the table. I took a breath and said, "Why that platitudinous old faker, he's going to resort Longbottom into Griffindor." About then I was almost falling off my seat in laughter. I did get many nasty looks but what did I care. The hat resorted Neville and Ginny into Gryffindor, or at least that's what Dumbledore said.
Daphne and I had potions and Snape as our first two hour class. Daphne suggested that since we were going to be treated like Griffindor's that we should sit with them. Oh! The looks we got.
Madam Pomfrey always seemed to be able to heal anything so Snape unfortunately returned to the classroom.
"You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion making, if you aren't as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach…" Snape was expected to attack or slandered me in some fashion but instead he went after Daphne. Well he tried.
As he finished his opening sentence he glared around the room stopping at Daphne. That's as far as he got before all hell broke loose. Fawkes flamed in dragging in Dumbledore by the back of his robes. Hedwig flamed in settling on Daphne's shoulder. Daphne pointed at Snape and yelled, "You Bastard! Get your kicks from mind raping first year female students? Somebody call an Auror!"
"I'm sorry miss but I'm sure you really don't know what you're talking about. I completely trust professor Snape. I'm sure you don't want to upset your parents by making a frivolous accusation."
"Again Dumbledore you do not understand. Daphne falls under my house protection as my wife, so I must insist you call an Auror." I stood and approached the professors.
"My boy, I'm afraid I can't let you do that, you…"
"Very well, Snape I challenge you to a duel in the Great Hall do you accept."
"I'm afraid I can't let you do..."
"Oh shut up old man! Snape you accept the challenge from an emancipated Lord or are you going to Snivel away?"
"Why you arrogant little's snot you definitely need your betters to teach you…"
A number of gasps were heard as I said…"Why do Death Eaters try and talk you to death? Do you accept or not?"
"Oh I accept, today after lunch in the Great Hall. I'm going to enjoy tearing you to pieces you little…"
"Yeah, yeah we've heard your monologue before. Come on Daphne you shall have a new instructor for this course by next class." We started leave the classroom.
"My boy you must listen to reason Professor Snape has many years of experience on you. Professor Snape will simply brush aside your simple spells and you will become injured if you were foolish enough to continue."
"Daphne how many times have I told him to call me Lord Slytherin? The poor old man is definitely losing it." Daphne and I then headed to the Great Hall.
"Harry do you think is was really wise to provoke the jackass; you know he is unpredictable to say the least."
"Of course he will do his worst but were still in the same timeline as we were before and there are two prophecies that say that only Voldemort could kill me. I could be hurt but do you not think that the owls are not flying this very instant? Hogwarts professor is going to seriously duel a first year, somebody is going to ask why. This will get out and Dumbledore is going to have troubles. In fact maybe we should write a letter.
"This time Harry we need to also send it to the Daily Profit.
To whom it must concern;
Our previous letter to the Ministry was really concerned about the safety of students at Hogwarts, today after lunch a Hogwarts professor is going to be honor dueling a first year. It's the why that's important. It seems that same Hogwarts professor attempted to mind rape a first year student and was caught but the headmaster would not call for an Auror.
The Golden Trio
Hedwig the Phoenix was dispatched to the Minister, the DMLE and the Daily Profit.
An hour or so later dinner started and so the rumor mill hit high gear. What was funny was that Draco had to keep his mouth shut or run afoul of Snape. One of the golden rules was that no Slytherin would embarrass or insult another Slytherin in public. On the other hand court was being held at the Gryffindor table. Neville Longbottom had Ginny Weasley sitting next to him. She was laughing and hugging him at every given chance while her brother Ron was in a constant "steal as much attention as he could" mode, along with any food within his reach.
"Harry are you not nervous?"
"Not really. All my exercising this summer's got me into pretty good shape and has increased my stamina. And while I'm not going to show them my human flashing capability I can use little bit of it to dodge his curses. So, not really nervous, just a bit terrified."
Just then the door so the Great Hall opened and Madam Bones entered with two Aurors.
Dumbledore jumped up, "Madam Bones it's a pleasure, might I ask what brings you here at our fine learning institution?"
"I have received information of an attempted mind rape has occurred at Hogwarts and I wish to speak with that student." Daphne raised and waved her hand. It was one of the Aurors who saw this and pointed it out to Madam Bones.
"I think to be best if we conducted this interview in my office." Dumbledore phrased this as if giving an order rather than a suggestion. Madam Bones waived it off and headed over to where we were sitting.
"Please have a seat Madam Bones I'm sure Daphne here has an interesting tale." Before she could answer I flicked my left hand and wall of silence surrounded us. Madam Bones took a seat as her to Aurors headed off the approching Dumbledore.
"Very impressive magic for a first year, please explain what happened in your own words." And so we did.
"I'm afraid there is not much I can do legally but we can hang around for your duel. Rules of etiquette and all that."
