Mastermind
by Teddylonglong

All recognizable characters belong to J. K. Rowling, and I am not earning anything by writing this story.
I am not a native speaker of English. Please excuse my mistakes.

COMPLETELY AU! Partly OOC.

It is my story, and I intend to write it the way I want it. If you don't like it, don't read it.
Reviews are very welcome, as they inspire my muse. Thanks a lot to the kind readers who commented on the previous chapter!


'There was no Horcrux left,' Croaker replied, as he entered the Great Hall to take the body with him, only to realise that it had somehow vanished into thin air. 'I'm sure of that. The only way for him to still be around would be if he's made a new Horcrux during the last two weeks.'

'That's it then,' Ron thought back.

'Maybe when he killed Quirrell,' Croaker said, pensively. 'I wonder if we can find the Horcrux, but he probably took it immediately when he was killed. That's why his body vanished just like when Harry vanquished him as a baby.'

HP

Later the same evening, Snape informed Ron what he had heard from Pomfrey. Shortly after dinner, the pillow from the bed, in which Quirrell had rested after his encounter with the troll, had all of a sudden exploded, leaving the floor next to her office with feathers everywhere.

"He must have used the pillow to create another Horcrux, when he killed Quirrell and took over his body," he informed the Mini Unspeakable. "I don't think that it was his intention to do so though. It probably was an accident."

"One which unfortunately gave him another life," Ron said, sighing. "Thanks for the information Professor. I'll let Croaker know."

HP

Apart from Ron, Harry, Pomfrey, Snape and the Unspeakables, no one knew what had really happened to Quirinus Quirrell. Everyone else assumed that he had succumbed to his injuries sustained by the troll's attack.

"Sorry Harry, you killed Voldemort but won't even get any award for it," Ron said to his friend one evening.

"Thank Merlin," Harry blurted out. "I'm glad that no one knows what I did. I feel bad enough that I killed someone, and knowing that I'll have to do it again some time doesn't really help."

Ron let out a long sigh. "Oh Merlin, that's true. The problem is that we don't even know where he is."

"He's just a spirit now or what?" Harry asked, worriedly.

Ron shrugged. "I think so, at least until he manages to somehow get a body again, be it by possessing someone or else. I don't know."

Unfortunately, during the following months, nothing was heard of Voldemort, and, while everyone was grateful for the peace and quiet, a certain amount of fear remained.

HP

A few weeks before the end of the school year, Ron accompanied Harry to the headmaster's office to enquire if it was all right for Harry to spend the summer holidays together with him.

"No my boy," Dumbledore said in his grandfatherly voice, "you must return home."

"Hogwarts is my home," Harry replied, firmly.

"There are blood wards around your aunt's home that will keep you safe," Dumbledore insisted.

"Safe from whom?" Ron spoke up. "Surely not from his relatives, as they starve and abuse him."

"I'm sorry, Harry, but I don't think that Voldemort is completely gone, and the blood wards will make sure that he can't get to you. The last three weeks, you may stay with the Weasleys," Dumbledore said, dismissively.

"I wonder why he sends me back there," Harry said to Ron once they left the headmaster's office.

"Me too. He doesn't care, otherwise he'd have said something to my comment about starvation and abuse," Ron agreed, feeling very angry at the old wizard.

"Yes," Harry said, sighing, before he decided, "Oh well, I'll think of something, but I won't go back there."

"I'll help you," Ron promised, resolving to speak with Croaker and with the Queen about the matter. "Please give me some time to make a plan," he merely said, not wanting Harry to get his hopes up.

HP

A few days later, he first spoke with the Queen, who immediately decided that she – rather than sending her guards with the boy like during the previous summer – wanted to take the child in.

"I wish to become Harry's guardian in the mundane and the magical world," she informed Ron, causing a huge smile to spread over his face.

"Thank you so much," he replied, happily.

Smiling, the Queen instructed him to confer with the Unspeakables and prepare all the documents, so that she'd merely have to sign them for the guardianship to be transferred.

"I'll do that right away," Ron promised and popped to the Unspeakables Office.

HP

By the time he returned to Hogwarts on time for dinner, the Queen was Harry's guardian in the magical and the muggle world, the proper parchments were filed within the Ministry of Magic, however, secret and inaccessible to everyone for the time being, Ron had the instruction to pop Harry straight to Buckingham Palace upon their arrival at King's Cross, and the Unspeakables had cast a charm at the Dursleys, so that they would tell everyone asking about Harry that he had gone to visit the Queen.

"Ron, you're the best," Harry said, happily, once Ron had told him about it, as soon as they were back in their own room. "Thank you so much."

"Don't thank me, thank the Queen," Ron replied, grinning. "She was the one to quickly decide that she wanted to become your guardian. The best of all is that Dumbledore is completely in the dark."

"Yes, that's great," Harry agreed, chuckling.

"If you want, I can take you with me next Saturday morning, when I go to see her again, so you can thank her yourself," Ron suggested, looking at Harry in expectation.

"Next Saturday is the last Quidditch match of the year, Ron," Harry replied, sighing. "I can't miss that. If we win, the Quidditch cup is ours."

"Oh right," Ron replied, thoughtfully. "But that's only at eleven, and I agreed with her to visit her at nine o'clock next Saturday. So we could go before the match and be back on time."

HP

On Saturday, the Queen informed Harry that he would have his own room in the palace, was expected to attend three meals each day together with her family and was otherwise free to do as he pleased during the summer holidays.

"I'll ask the Unspeakables if they can train Harry during the summer like last year," Ron promised, causing Harry to nod, eagerly.

The two boys spoke with the Queen for about an hour, before Ron told her that they had to return to Hogwarts, because Harry had to play Seeker in the Quidditch match.

To their surprise, a smile crept on the Queen's face, before she said, "I still have my Unspeakable robes. Will you please take me with you, Ronald? I'd love to watch the match, and I only have my next appointment at four o'clock this afternoon."

Ron agreed – of course, 'You can only agree if the Queen wants something,' he thought, when he popped Harry back into their room. He immediately returned to the Palace to fetch the Queen, who in the meantime had informed her son about her absence and donned her Unspeakable robes. Ron did the same, before he popped back to Hogwarts together with his guest. Knowing that the Gryffindor stands would most likely be empty apart from maybe the first few rows, as Slytherin had to play Ravenclaw, he led the Queen up to the last row, before he telepathically contacted Hermione, Neville and his head of house asking if they'd like to watch the match together with the Queen from the last row of the Gryffindor stands.

To his surprise, not only Hermione, who absolutely detested Quidditch, but also Neville and even Snape approached them.

"Do you think it's a good idea having the head of Slytherin watch the match from the Gryffindor stands?" Snape addressed him, smirking.

"Yes sir, why not if it's in such wonderful company," Ron replied and ushered the professor into the seat next to the Queen. He was sitting on her other side and informed her in a quiet voice about the rules of Quidditch.

Half-way through the match, he swapped seats with Hermione, who could not wait to ask the Queen a whole litany of questions, which the Queen patiently answered while following the match with apparent interest.

"That was the most interesting Quidditch match I've ever witnessed," Snape said to the Queen once Harry had caught the Snitch ending the match. "Thank you very much, your Majesty."

The Queen chuckled. "I thank you for the company, Professor and congratulations for winning the match. Since I'm now Harry's guardian in the mundane and the magical world, I just had to come and watch him play Quidditch."

"Harry's guardian?" Snape asked in disbelief.

"Professor," Ron spoke up, quickly. "Please keep this information for you. No one except for the Unspeakables is supposed to know about it."

"Oh, I'm so sorry my boy," the Queen apologized.

"Don't be," Snape was the first to reply. "Thank you so much for taking the boy from his atrocious relatives, and I assure you that I'm going to keep Harry's secret."

"As will we," Hermione threw in, smiling.

With that the Slytherin head strode to the Quidditch pitch to be present, when Marcus Flint accepted the Quidditch cup from the headmaster, and Ron quickly popped the Queen back to her home.

"This was much fun. Thank you Ronald for making my often boring life so enjoyable," he heard the Queen say, just when he readied himself to pop away.

HP

Ron thoroughly enjoyed his summer holidays. Every morning, the Unspeakables trained him and Sphinx, and sometimes, Harry was allowed to join them, depending on the topic of their training. He was also allowed to spend the afternoon with them in the library, and the three friends had much fun.

Too soon for his liking, they had to board the Hogwarts Express and return to Hogwarts. Their second year began completely uneventfully – apart from some interesting hours of Defence Against the Dark Arts with a professor who was an absolute fraud.

One day, Ron spoke with Croaker about Gilderoy Lockhart. "He's written so many books about his wonderful achievements but isn't even able to fight a Boggart," he informed the Head Unspeakable, causing the Unspeakables to unobtrusively check on the professor.

One day, the headmaster announced that Mr. Brian Hamilton, a new reporter from the Daily Prophet, was going to come to Hogwarts to give Professor Lockhart an exclusive interview, and gracious as the professor was, he had allowed for the interview to take place in the Great Hall on Sunday afternoon, so that whoever wanted to listen in was able to do so.

Only when Croaker told Ron, "I'll see you on Sunday afternoon," did the boy realise that the so-called interview had been set up by none other than the Unspeakables.

"Let's attend that interview. I'm sure that we're going to have fun," he told Harry, Daphne and Tracy, when they worked together on their assignments on Sunday morning, causing the girls to cast him looks of absolute disbelief. "Well, just listen to me," he said, grinning, knowing that Harry would understand what he was implying without explanation.

HP

About half of the student body and all teachers were present, when Mr. Hamilton entered the Great Hall. Seeing that Lockhart was waiting in front of the staff table, he made his way to the front of the hall. Under everyone's watchful eyes, Hamilton waved his hand in a strange movement before finally gripping Lockhart's outstretched hand and greeting the professor.

No one but the two Mini Unspeakables present in the Great Hall had recognised the strange greeting as what it was: A spell that was solely known and used by Unspeakables.

"Why exactly have you decided to become the Defence Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts, although the position is said to be cursed?" Hamilton enquired.

"To enlarge my fame and maybe profit a bit from Harry Potter's," Lockhart replied, his expression changing from his usual – as he seemed to believe – charming smile to one of utter shock, as he blurted out the response.

"Can you tell us which of your adventures that are described in your books was the most impressive for you?" Hamilton wanted to know.

"Obliviating all the wizards and witches who did the adventures giving me wonderful ideas for my books," Lockhart responded, causing everyone present in the Great Hall to let out a collective gasp.

"Do I understand you correctly," Hamilton continued over the noise that was now filling the Great Hall after Lockhart's revelation, "that all the fights described in your books have been fought by other people, and you obliviated them all in order to collect the rewards yourself?"

"Yes" came the automatic reply.

"Excuse me, Mr. Hamilton," Dumbledore spoke up, wearing a shocked expression, "have you given Professor Lockhart Veritaserum?"

"Headmaster," Hamilton said, calmly, "please excuse my little masquerade. I'm an Unspeakable, and since our Mini Unspeakables reported from Hogwarts that their new professor seemed to be a fraud, I just had to verify this. Before the interview, I've cast a spell at him provoking the same reaction as three drops of Veritaserum. I'm sorry, but I'm forced to arrest your staff member because of his obliviation activities. I will take him with me to a ministry holding cell."

"Of course," Dumbledore replied, nodding in understanding. "Excuse me, Mr. Hamilton, but who exactly are your Mini Unspeakables at Hogwarts?"

"Mastermind and Sphinx," Hamilton replied, before he held Lockhart in a firm grip and simply popped away.

Cedric Diggory, a Hufflepuff fifth-year, stood from his seat. "Mastermind and Sphinx, whoever you are, thank you very much for getting rid of that fraud for us."

Huge applause followed his statement, causing Ron to inwardly grin. 'If I only knew who Sphinx was,' he thought, feeling extremely annoyed at her secrecy. During the summer holidays, he and Harry had asked her, however, the female Mini Unspeakable merely told them to find out by themselves. 'Bitch,' Ron thought, as he trailed out of the Great Hall behind everyone else.

HP

To everyone's relief, the Unspeakables spoke with Amelia Bones, who agreed to lend Hogwarts an Auror as the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher until the end of the school year.

As soon as on Monday evening, a new professor was sitting at the high table, and the headmaster introduced him as Auror Shacklebolt. The Auror turned out to be a brilliant teacher, and the second-years had the impression as if they learned a lot in his classes.

"Too bad that it's only until the summer," Ron said to Harry and the girls of their study group.

"Well, maybe Madam Bones will send another Auror next year," Tracey replied, giving her best friend a questioning look.

"Let's hope so," Daphne agreed, smiling.

HP

Two weeks before the beginning of the Christmas holidays, Snape called Ron and Harry into his office, offering them seats in front of his desk.

"Mr. Potter, I'd like to suggest something to you," he began to speak, seemingly thoughtful. "These are just my thoughts, and I don't know if they're correct. I just hope that the information might help you find out some more."

"All right sir," Harry replied, questioningly.

"Before you were born, your parents went into hiding," Snape began to explain. "They knew how dangerous their situation was and that the Dark Lord was after them for some reason. Thus, I can't believe that they did not leave a will." Seeing that both boys were listening intensely, he continued, "I've known your aunt from a time when we were children. Ever since I told your mother that she was a witch at the age of six, Petunia was jealous and developed a deep hatred for the magical world. Out of jealousy if you ask me. Consequently, I don't think that your parents wanted you to grow up with Petunia and her family."

"That makes sense," Ron spoke up, causing Harry to nod in agreement.

"Right after that fateful Halloween, Professor Dumbledore became your guardian and took you to your aunt's home. I've been thinking about this before, but only now, knowing that he isn't your guardian anymore, it makes sense to tell you about it. I suggest that you use the Christmas holidays to go to Gringotts and speak with the account manager of the Potter vaults. Ask him about a possible will and also about your heritage. I suppose that Professor Dumbledore did not tell you anything yet." He quirked an eyebrow at the boy.

"No sir, nothing," Harry confirmed.

"Very well," Snape continued, "I know for a fact that your father was the heir of Gryffindor and Ravenclaw, but well, go to Gringotts and get the information. I'm only aware of what I heard from your mother."

'Wicked,' Ron thought, glancing from the professor to his friend.

"Professor," Harry spoke up, seeming determined. "Thank you very much for this invaluable information. I'll indeed use the holidays to find out some more."

Snape let a hand wander through his silky hair before replying, "As you know, I'm not able to stand up against the headmaster, but if there's anything that I can do without him realising my involvement, just let me know."

"We will, Professor," Harry replied, gratefully. "Thank you very much sir."

HP

Ron and Harry decided to head to Diagon Alley in the morning after their arrival at home. It was Christmas Eve, and they both needed to buy Christmas presents, Ron for his family, Harry for the Queen and several other people at Buckingham Palace, and both of them had to find gifts for each other as well as Hermione, Neville and the girls of their study group.

'I'll also get something for Croaker and Sphinx,' Ron decided, when they arrived in a side street behind Gringotts.

"Let's go to Gringotts first. Maybe your account manager doesn't have time right away and you'll need to make an appointment," Ron suggested, and Harry – as usual – readily agreed.

"It's Buckbean, right? He was the account manager, wasn't he?" Harry recalled from their first visit to Gringotts during the summer before entering Hogwarts.

"Oh yeah, that's right," Ron agreed.

"Excuse me sir, my name's Harry Potter, and I'd like to speak to Buckbean," Harry hesitantly addressed one of the goblins who eyed him with an intimidating look.

Fortunately, Buckbean had time right away and led the children into his office. "Thank Merlin," he uttered upon hearing about the change of guardian.

"Albus Dumbledore was very wrong to make himself your guardian," he told Harry, seemingly upset. "He locked your parents' will and completely ignored it for whatever reasons he might have had."

Ten minutes later, Ron and Harry understood the goblin's anger towards the headmaster. In the Potters' will, it was explicitly explained that Harry was not to be taken to Petunia Dursley, but that either Sirius Black or Alice Longbottom were to become his guardian. In the case that they were both unavailable, the guardianship should pass to either Amelia Bones or Severus Snape.

"There's more to the story," Buckbean told the upset boys. "Dumbledore has transferred monthly stipends to five different accounts," he informed them, showing them a parchment with five names along with the reason for the transfer:

'Petunia Dursley for fostering Harry,
Molly Weasley for having her children befriend Harry and taking care of Harry during summer,
Albus Dumbledore for being Harry's guardian,

Gellert Grindelwald for helping Harry fight Voldemort,
The Order of the Phoenix for supporting Harry'

"Mum," Ron blurted out in shock.

Harry shook his head in disbelief. "Buckbean, can you please at once stop these transfers? I only wish the monthly stipend to Remus Lupin as stated in my parents will to be taken from my account."

Buckbean smirked. "Mr. Potter, I won't only stop the transfers from now on, but I'm going to revoke every single Knut that has been taken from your account," he promised.

"Thank you sir," Harry replied, gratefully.

"One more thing which Albus Dumbledore set up," Buckbean continued, "is a marriage contract between you and Ginny Weasley." He gave Harry a questioning look.

"Please cancel this if it's possible," Harry replied, immediately, looking at Ron, apologetically. "I'm sorry Ron, but I barely even know her due to being in a different year and house."

"Harry, don't be sorry," Ron spoke up. "I don't know what Mum was thinking agreeing such things with Dumbledore over your head."

Harry merely shook his head.

"It's cancelled now," Buckbean confirmed.

'How embarrassing,' Ron thought, feeling horrified at discovering that his mother had not only taken money from Dumbledore respectively Harry for having him befriending Harry, but even had made a marriage contract for Ginny with his best friend.

"Harry, I'm so sorry for what my mother did. Please believe me that I didn't know anything about it," he spoke up like in a trance.

"Ron, don't worry, I know that," Harry replied in a soothing voice, smiling at him.

"Thank Merlin," Ron blurted out, sighing in relief. "Thanks Harry."

"The reason for Dumbledore's action," Buckbean spoke again, "is that you as the Lord Potter, once you take your lordship, will be one of the most influential persons in the Wizengamot." Seeing that Harry gave him a questioning look, he explained, "You're not only the heir of the Potter family. Since Mr. Black has made you his heir, you're also the heir of the Black family. Add to this the Peverell family as well as the Gryffindor and Ravenclaw families from your father's side, the Hufflepuff family from your mother's side and the Slytherin and Gaunt families through conquest. Your victory over Tom Riddle AKA Lord Voldemort," he explained, noticing Harry's surprised look.

"That makes eight of the most ancient and wealthy families and eight seats on the Wizengamot," Buckbean stated, causing Ron to stare at his friend in amazement.

"Being the heir of all four founders of Hogwarts, doesn't that make him the owner of Hogwarts?" he enquired, making Buckbean nod in apparent amusement.

"So you see, Dumbledore probably wanted a piece off the cake," the goblin continued, "even if he chose the wrong path. "However," he continued, "there's still more to it than it seems. Have you ever heard of the Deathly Hallows?"

"No." Harry shook his head.

"Yes," Ron admitted, before he asked, reluctantly, "But they're only a myth, aren't they?"

"No," Buckbean informed him. "It goes back to three Peverell brothers, who owned the three objects known as the Deathly Hallows, the Elder Wand, the Resurrection Stone and the Cloak of Invisibility. Some people say that if the Elder Wand is taken by conquer, it then belongs to the victor, however, that's not true. As Mr. Potter is the heir of the Peverell family, all three items belong to you, Mr. Potter. Unfortunately, Dumbledore is in the possession of two of them, while at the current time, we're not aware of the whereabouts of the Resurrection Stone."

"Is there a way to get the items back respectively search for the stone?" Harry enquired.

"As to getting back the items from Dumbledore, we'll see to it if you so wish," Buckbean replied in a firm voice. "Considering the Resurrection stone, I'll have the goblins look into the matter."

"I can also ask the Unspeakables. Maybe they have a method to find it," Ron added, smiling at Harry, who returned a grateful nod, the question why he would need the three objects so badly written on his face.