The next two days passed in a frantic daze of carpet cleaner chemical induced hallucination for Harry. It wasn't as complete of a waste as he thought it would be though as he managed to pocket a few of the more interesting items. Notably a few old seals that caught his eye and a Locket he felt oddly drawn to. He also had plans to raid the Family Library, but he rarely got the chance to slip away as Ron and Hermione always seemed to be nearby.
If Harry wasn't so sure that they were incompetent he might've thought it was planned that way by the Order. Unfortunately however he knew exactly why they were following him, he had made the extreme mistake of mentioning some of the dreams (more like visions) he had been having to Hermione. To another person their worry might have been touching to Harry it was just annoying.
Fred and George weren't really much help either. He had suggested to them that the several tons of valuables they were throwing in the trash might actually be sold to somebody and used to fund the joke shop they never shut up about. They had taken his advice to heart but now seemed to think that made him a partner in their little venture. Harry found their drive and entrepreneurial spirit admirable but they really put a crimp in his own plans to loot the house.
It was however on his third day at Grimmauld that a rather unexpected event took place. He had of course been expecting Dumbledore to want to talk to him at some point, but it had never occurred to him that the professor might choose the moment when he was cleaning the third floor toilet to do it.
"Good morning Mr. Potter," Dumbledore's voice came from behind Harry as he was bent over the toilet seat.
"Jesus Christ!" Harry exclaimed jumping up,
"Sorry to startle you Mr. Potter," Dumbledore eyes twinkled with an amusement that on anyone else would have been obscene but on the old man seemed natural.
"No problem sir, I haven't quite been myself lately," Harry said milking the whole dark lord returning thing for all it was worth.
"Quite understandable my dear boy, I was wondering if I might steal a moment of your time?" Dumbledore asked politely.
"Of course professor."
"Ah, lovely now if you'll follow I do believe there's a study somewhere on this floor that might be more appropriate," Dumbledore said as he led Harry out into the Hallway. "So have you been keeping up with your studies Mr. Potter?" Dumbledore asked.
"Yes of course sir," Harry replied even though he hadn't touched a school book since leaving Hogwarts.
"Excellent! Far to many students forget that the summer is the best time to learn. During the school year there are so many stresses that it amazes me any of you learn anything but during the summer you are free to pursue any subjects that interests you. I don't know if you know but some of my best work has been done during the summer," Dumbledore rambled on deal further as he was prone to do. Harry nodded and said things like "of course," and "yes sir," when it seemed necessary but for the most part he ignored the professor.
out.
"Ah here we are," Dumbledore said s he opened the door to another dreary and depressing room that barely contained a desk and two chairs. "Do sit down Harry."
"Thank you professor," Harry said pulling out his chair.
"I'm sure you are wondering why I called you here?" Dumbledore said with a guarded expression that seemed to suggest he wished he was somewhere else.
"Well the thought had crossed my mind yes," Harry said as respectfully as he could manage.
"Well Harry I don't believe I've been completely honest with you," Dumbledore said in a pained voice.
"Sir?" Harry asked in a confused voice all the while thinking 'oh this should be good.'
"It's really more of a lie of omission on my part," Dumbledore said a bit of guilt creeping into his voice. "Well you see your parents in their will named several people who should manage their affairs in the event of their death, I happened to be the senior surviving trustee. And so I took it upon myself to manage your finances."
"Why didn't you tell me," Harry said purposefully injecting a little anger in his voice to make his surprise seem real. Though in reality it was all an act he was already well aware of the arrangement having made some discreet inquires in his third year. In fact the only really surprising thing was that Dumbledore had told him at all.
"Well I did consider it you understand, but I couldn't think of a proper time to tell you to be honest. I couldn't have expected an 11 year old to be capable of grasping the complexities of money and at that age what real need did you have of the knowledge? A 12 year old would have been only marginally better then the year before and…," Dumbledore took of his classes and rubbed his eyes in obvious distress.
"You are no doubt beginning to see my great problem," he continued after a moment of rest. "I often times forget just how intelligent you are, I have no doubt that you would've been capable of understanding what was required of you as a thirteen year old but I did not tell you. I don't know why, maybe I didn't want to burden you, or maybe I was just an old sentimental fool. The exact reason for my error is of no consequence though I have resolved to make it right." A note of hope and indeed finality began to creep into his voice even his chin seemed to lift up a little as if he had crossed some major hurdle.
"How sir?" Harry asked knowing that what ever else the day might be it wouldn't be boring.
"I have arranged a meeting with people who will be able to bring you up to date on your finances and legal positions," Dumbledore said. "they will be telling you many of the things I wished I could, but I understand that any statements that come from myself would be suspect after having hid the knowledge from you for so long."
"My finances haven't been the only thing you've been keeping for me professor," Harry said calmly.
"No your right it isn't the only thing I've hidden from you is it," Dumbledore sighed and for a moment looked everyone of his 114 years. "I suppose you are right it is far to late to keep any secrets, but this is not the time or place to tell you what you must know," Dumbledore paused and for a second Harry was about to interject but he continued. "I trust the inhabitants of this house with my life but this is far too important a matter to discuss where others might hear. Come to my office the night after you arrive at Hogwarts, we will have much to discuss no doubt."
"Of course professor," Harry said scarcely able to believe his luck.
"Now Harry I must be going I have some rather grave business to attend to with Nymphadora," Dumbledore said looking as sad and decrepit as a… well, as sad and decrepit as a 114 year old man should look actually.
"What's wrong?" Harry asked.
"I have no doubt you will hear before the day is out, but I fear it is not my secret to tell," Dumbledore replied as he stood up.
"Yes professor," Harry was more then aware of just how far he could push the old man, and to be honest he had already gotten more then he had ever hoped for when the conversation started. Though he couldn't help but be surprised that Dumbledore had seemingly out of the blue adopted some mediocre sense of secrecy.
"Thank you Harry," Dumbledore said as Harry opened the door for him, "and do remember your escort should be here at three."
The next few hours couldn't have passed fast enough for Harry he had tried discreetly for nearly two years to try and get access to finances beyond his trust vault to no avail. Say whatever else you would about Dumbledore but he had certainly hired a scrupulous accounting firm. All he had been able to confirm was that there was a much larger Potter estate any details had been shrouded behind a veil so thick that even Percy's friends in the Treasury couldn't come up with anything concrete.
When his escort did finally arrive Harry couldn't help but think that he might've been better going alone. It didn't surprise him though that despite his apparent need for atonement Dumbledore was still up to his same old tricks. The only possible reason Dumbledore would've assigned such a useless wizard as Dedalus Diggle was to make sure Harry didn't do anything foolish. The excitable and middle-aged wizard couldn't have been expected to stand up to a mugger much less a Death Eater.
Despite the fact that Dumbledore had very clearly given him a babysitter instead of a guard Harry didn't even bat an eyelash. He had been handed a major victory on a silver platter, if the worst he had to put up with was Diggle then he was still ahead by miles.
"Pleasure to see you again Mr. Potter," Diggle said holding out his hand clearly attempting to keep his nerves under control. At their previous meetings Diggle had been overwhelmed to say the least, but since he was trying to be professional Harry decided to humor.
"Likewise Mr. Diggle," Harry said as he took the man's hand while wondering if he sounded nearly as pompous as he felt. "Er… Mr. Diggle," Harry said when the man seemed unable to let go of his hand apparently basking in the presence of a celebrity.
"What…oh," Dedalus said coming out of his daze. "Right well we better be off."
"How are we going, not flying again I hope?" Harry asked feeling slightly worried at the prospect of another long distance ride.
"Oh no, no thankfully Mad-eye hasn't got his paws into this plan," Dedalus said as he walked towards the fireplace. "Just the Floo network this time luckily, after you Mr. Potter."
"What's the destination?" Harry asked as he grabbed a pinch of Floo powder from the Jar above the fireplace.
"Didn't Dumbledore tell you, Er…. I think Appleby and Glazebrook," Dedalus said looking very full of himself for having remembered.
"Right," Harry said eyeing the fireplace nervously, the last time he had been in one hadn't turned out well to say the least. Added onto that his escort's apparently unreliable memory, he wasn't all that keen to try the Floo a second time. Still his pride wouldn't let him show his fear, so he advanced on the fire "Appleby and Glazebrook!" he yelled once he had thrown his powder and stepped into the fire.
It felt just as Harry remembered, vaguely like a giant vacuum cleaner had been turned on right above his head. He did his best to avoid the urge to throw up until he reached his destination. Luckily he was successful in keeping his lunch down, unluckily however he tripped upon exiting the fireplace and ended up sprawled in an undignified sooty mess on the floor of an expensive looking waiting room.
"Oh dear!," cried a middle age witch who was seated behind a receptionist's desk. "First time," she asked as she got up and went to check on him.
"Second," Harry wheezed trying to clear the soot out of his mouth.
"Happens to everyone I'm afraid," She said as cast a cleaning charm on his robes.
"Thanks," Harry muttered just in time to see Diggle walked out of the fireplace as if it was the easiest thing in the world.
"Right-o, good trip Harry?" Diggle asked without even a trace of irony entering his voice.
"Lovely," Harry replied hoping that the man wouldn't notice the pile of soot he had left on the floor.
"Jolly good,' Diggle said in his usually cherry voice, "Arthur said you might've had some problems."
"What can I help you gentleman with?" asked the receptionist forestalling anymore inane chatter from Diggle.
"Right we're Mr. Appleby's three-thirty," Diggle said happily.
"Right let me see," the receptionist said before walking to her desk and pretending to look in the appointment section. In reality she was well aware that Harry Potter was coming but she knew from experience that famous didn't like that much. This turned out to be a rather lucky break for Harry as she noticed a small discrepancy that others might have let slide. "And what was your name?" she asked looking straight at Diggle.
"Dedalus Diggle at your service Madame."
"Well I'm afraid that you won't be able to meet with Mr. Appleby," she said calmly.
"B-but we have an appointment," Diggle spluttered.
"No I'm afraid you don't Mr. Diggle, Mr. Potter does but I can't allow you in due to binding confidentiality agreements."
"I was told to escort the Harry Potter! Here by no less a person then Albus Dumbledore himself!' Dedalus said as pompously as he could.
"Which has no bearing on this firm's prior commitments to confidentiality," the receptionist replied calmly.
"It's quite alright Mr. Diggle," Harry said hardly able to believe his luck, he could get a lot more done without one of Dumbledore's idiots sitting in on the meeting.
"I'm supposed to be protecting you!" Diggle sounded a little too much like a toddler throwing a tantrum for Harry's taste.
"If I have to fear for my life inside my own solicitor's then where can I be safe?" Harry pointed out.
"Oh very well," Dedalus sighed in defeat before walking over to a plump looking chair and picking up a copy of Witch Weekly.
"Now If you'll follow me Mr. Potter, Mr. Appleby has been waiting for your arrival. The receptionist said leading through a door behind her desk, up two flights of stairs and through prosperous looking corridors to a subdued looking office that to look out over what appeared to be Diagon Alley.
"Mr. Potter!" exclaimed a middle aged wizard in what appeared to be the Wizarding World's version of a business suit. "I'm Horatio Appleby, and let me say to finally meet you is a great honor," the man said while getting up and reaching out to shake Harry's hand.
"Likewise Mr. Appleby," Harry said shaking the man's hand.
"Where are my manners?" The man exclaimed. "Would you like something to drink tea perhaps?"
"Tea would be nice, thanks," Harry replied.
"Right, Gloria would you mind getting myself and Mr. Potter some tea?" the man asked the receptionist. "Well Mr. Potter let me say that I had the extreme honor of knowing your parents of knowing your parents, and let me say that I've never met more generous people, salt of the Earth they were."
"Thank you Mr. Appleby it is nice to here you had a good opinion of them," Harry said hoping they could get the formalities out of the way as quick as possible.
"Lovely people like I said, but I suppose we best turn to business. I would like to start off by renewing are firms confidentiality agreement," he said producing a quill and a sheet of parchment from a desk drawer.
"Is that really necessary?" Harry asked wanting to get right to the money.
"No not really, everything in the contract is already covered by client attorney privileges, but I feel that signing a contract helps to put the client's mind at ease. I don't insist upon it, but as your solicitor I recommend it rather strongly."
"Very well," Harry said reaching for the contract and the quill provided. "Wha-" Harry started when he put the quill on the paper he felt a sharp prick on the back of his hand.
"Aw… yes," the solicitor said, "I should have warned you all contracts signed in our world are quite literally signed in blood."
"Why," Harry asked completing his signature.
"So that in the event of any contract dispute it can be verified that the signatures are real. There's also the whole symbolic importance of blood, but that hardly needs to be mentioned," Appleby continued in a offhand fashion.
"Well in any case back to business, as Dumbledore no doubt told you I compile reports from all the managers and agents of the Potter estates and make the day to day decisions necessary for the operation. In addition I keep a barrister on staff to represent you should you be taken to court."
"Managers and agents, how many people work for me?" Harry asked.
"Well that really hinges on how you define 'work for you' and 'people'," Appleby responded with a small smile. "Under the strictest definition of both those categories seven, two of which are Land agents, two attorney's, a stock broker, an accountant, and of course the Regent Mr. Dumbledore."
"Well under the loosest definition?" Harry asked as the receptionist returned with tea.
"Counting house elves as people 17," Appleby said before taking a sip.
"What do they all do?"
"One land agent manages a plantation in the Bahamas which is where the 10 house elves work. And the other one manages about 12 tenanted farms and other properties in the South of England,"
"Plantation in the Bahamas?" Harry asked eagerly.
"Yes founded in the early 1700s by your Grandmother's family, Dumbledore is thinking of selling it though, hasn't turned a profit in nearly five years," Appleby said with a sigh.
'To bad a house in the Bahamas would've been nice, no real loss though' Harry thought to himself. "What about the farms?"
"Ah yes those," Appleby's voice very clearly said he loathed them. "Your Mother let them out on 100 year leases, I advised her against it but she didn't listen to me."
"Well what's wrong with that?" Harry was confused by the man's sudden hostility.
"The renters are-, were those made homeless during You-Know-Who's reign, and your mother out of sympathy gave them rather nice deals on the place to say the least," Appleby said uncomfortably.
"How good of deals?" Harry asked though he was beginning to see where this was going.
"All told they bring in around 7,000 galleons a year, which isn't enough to cover your debts as I'm sure y-."
"Debts!" Harry interjected angrily.
"Oh Merlin!" Appleby said shocked, "Dumbledore didn't tell you?"
"He didn't say anything to me about any debts," Harry said his blood beginning to boil.
"Yes well you are rather deeply in debt I'm afraid," the solicitor said biting his lip in a fit of nerves.
"How deep?" Harry asked desperately trying to stay in control of his emotions.
"140,000 Galleons, give or take a few hundred," the solicitor said before glancing swiftly in the floor in a clear effort to be somewhere else.
"How much is that in pounds?" Harry asked hoping that he had gotten the math wrong.
"Roughly 700,000 pounds," the solicitor said nervously.
"ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING!" Harry yelled.
"No I'm afraid not Mr. Potter," Appleby replied just a little pity creeping into his voice.
"Jesus Christ!" Harry said angrily, "how?" he asked completely stunned, everything he had heard said the Potter estates were massive.
"Well as I said your parents were very generous people, they donated heavily to a wide range of charities. The War Orphan Center, Red wand, refugee relocation, local hospitals, Saint Mungo's, the list goes on I'm afraid, Appleby finished mournfully.
"Your telling me my parents gave away more then they had?" Harry was in complete disbelief.
"No that was only one of very, very long list of other reasons your in this mess right now," Appleby said with a pitying look.
"What other reasons?" Harry asked though he knew by now that the answers wouldn't be good.
"I really don't think that's necessary," Appleby said sheepishly.
"I do," Harry wasn't apple to keep a threatening note from entering his voice. 'If it was Dumbledore I'll kill him,' Harry thought with the complete certainty that anger usually gives someone.
"If you insist Mr. Potter, but remember I will tell you only the verifiable truth, and I beseech you not to shot the messenger," Appleby replied with a martyred sigh. "Your father was addicted to gambling and rather bad at it for one who practiced so often. I can remember one instance where he lost nearly 5,000 galleons on a trip to Monaco," he said with barely concealed disgust for the habit.
"Then there was your mother who was regarded as one of the budding young socialites of her era, of course such thing's always come with a price. Original paintings, designer clothes, antique furniture, expensive food, and even more expensive wine. "
"Your joking?" Harry said in complete shock, this was one side of his parents he had never heard of.
"I'm afraid not, added onto all that your father thought he was something of a property developer. He went and bought 700 acres of Florida swampland that we still haven't been able to sell. And then he tried to start a casino with some friends, unfortunately the 'Marauder's Tahiti Bungalow' went bust less then a year after he died."
"Good lord," Harry said thoroughly defeated.
"My thoughts exactly," Appleby said also sounding depressed "in all my years I have never witnessed such a perfect storm of fiscal irresponsibility, and they were such nice people as well. What a shame…" Appleby finished lamely. "I do wish I could offer you something stronger then the tea, but underage drinking laws being what they are…"
"Well what have you and Dumbledore done to correct the problem?" Harry asked starting to come back to himself.
"Dumbledore has done more then me, but in any case we liquidated as much of your assets as possible. Sold a few of the farms that hadn't already been rented, got rid of underperforming stocks etc… but there really wasn't much we could do you understand." Appleby said with a little bit of guilt creeping into his voice.
"Dumbledore lobbied rather effectively for you at court, and he got your current vault setup. It took a special order from the Lord Protector, but as long as the money contained in that vault doesn't go over 20,000 thousand galleons then it's tax exempt and can't be seized by debt collectors. Though keep in mind anything above 500 Galleons that you buy with that money can be seized as payment of debts," Appleby said mournfully.
"How long would it take for me to pay it off?" Harry asked mentally preparing himself for the answer.
"If you were to put no further strains on your finances…" he paused to think "a decade."
"Good god," Harry said softly, to the eternal relief of Mr. Appleby who had been expecting another outburst.
"Can I just file bankruptcy?" Harry asked desperate for a way out.
"That wouldn't be advisable, you see the punishment for someone defaulting on debts is too be shipped to a penal colony in Canada. A truly horrible fate as I'm sure your already well aware," Appleby replied with a small shudder.
"Normally you would've already been subject to this already but Dumbledore was able to get an order from the Protector banning your deportation. Unfortunately any declaration of bankruptcy would remove your protection. Besides by declaring bankruptcy you immediately lose your peerage," he finished apologetically.
"My what?" Harry's voice was in complete shock now.
"Yes, yes you could surrender it within 48 hours of conviction, or the House would vote you out on it's o-"
"No not that," Harry said in annoyance, "I have a peerage?"
"Oh Dumbledore didn't tell you about that either?" Appleby asked. "Oh why do I even bother to ask, of course he didn't, bloody man."
"You see after you defeated You-Know-Who, there was a strong feeling in the Ministry that you deserved some sort of award. The money originally promised would've just gone to your creditors, so they decided to create you the 1st Viscount Potter instead," Appleby looked relived to finally be giving some good news.
"Given my finances I would've preferred the money," Harry said before draining his tea hoping against hope that it would magically turn into vodka.
"Yes I was rather of the same opinion," Appleby said with a small smile "but Dumbledore felt that a peerage had more long term benefits."
"You mean he was looking for another vote he could influence?" Harry said bitterly. His thoughts when it came to Dumbledore were on a rollercoaster ride, first he would do something nice for Harry like the vault. Then he would destroy all the confidence he had gained with something like this.
"Well I imagine the thought had occurred to him," Appleby said with a frown "but I genuinely belief he had your best interests at heart."
"So what does the peerage mean? can I just go in and sit on the Wizengamot or something?" Harry asked rebounding quickly. Hoping against hope that he could turn the disaster around.
"I'm afraid not, you see you are not yet the Viscount," Appleby explained.
"But you just sai-" Harry began before being cut off.
"Yes well although letters of patent are in existence naming you the Viscount Potter, they have to be presented to you or your legal representative by the Lord Protector after you come of age. Then you or more accurately your patent needs to be approved by the House of Lords, for you to be seated."
"So it's useless?" Harry asked hopelessly.
"None at all for the moment I'm afraid, though I imagine you'll be very glad for it when you do come of age," Appleby said sympathetically.
"Well what else is there?" Harry asked just wanting to get out of the office even if it meant going back to Grimmauld.
"Well there is the matter that I gather prompted Dumbledore to arrange this meeting, the Black Family inheritances," Appleby said picking up a folder from his desk.
"Er… what?" Harry asked confused the last name he had been expecting to hear was Black.
"Yes Sirius named you as his chief beneficiary, or rather he named your parents which is roughly the same thing given their present state," Appleby tried a weak and ultimately inappropriate joke.
"What exactly does that mean?" Harry asked to disguise his sudden pang of guilt. He had obsessed about what he had done that night for months, and the more he thought about it the more he realized he had fucked up big.
"Simultaneously a whole lot, and not much at all. The Black Family although not in debt weren't nearly as rich as they used to be," Appleby said with a sigh. "After all the other people named in the will received there money you barely got a 1,000 Galleons. However he did give you two major asset, a manor in the middle of London, 12 Grimmauld Place."
"Dumbledore is already using it," Harry said a note of anger creeping into his voice.
"Er… yes as I was going to say, Dumbledore is currently renting the house at well above the established going rate for the area," Appleby replied in a placating tone. "He's actually doing you a favor by using it," he mused.
"Fine, fine," Harry said hoping to get the outburst behind him, "what was the other asset you were talking about."
"Ah yes, even though Sirius didn't name you as such you are responsible for carrying out some of his unfinished business once you come of age," Appleby said with a small smile lighting up his face.
"Meaning what?" Harry asked confused.
"Once you come of age you will be in charge of deciding the succession to the House of Black, and therefore the Barony of Scilly."
"What!" Harry said shocked, "I thought they had procedures for that sort of thing, automatic succession and all that?"
"The Barony of Scilly is passed on through the English Law version of Male preference primogeniture. Which means that the eldest surviving male issue of the title holder inherits the Barony. And if there is no male issue then a daughter is also acceptable. As you already know Sirius had no sons or daughters, so the title would go to his uncle Cygnus's children. However Cygnus had three daughters, Bellatrix, Andromeda, and, Narcissa," Appleby finished with a grin.
"So that means it goes to the eldest one right?" Harry asked confused.
"No under the Law daughters no matter the order of birth inherit equally, and as I'm sure you know it's impossible to split one peerage into three," Appleby explained with a chuckle towards the end for no perceivable reason. "Now under the old system that would mean that the title went into a state known as Abeyance. Which means that they essentially waited until one person could represent the claims of all sisters."
"That would take centuries!" Harry interjected.
"Precisely!" Appleby exclaimed, "so the Wizengamot passed the Peerage Acts of 1920, which stated that the Regent of a family could appoint the heir when an Abeyance occurs."
"But Sirius couldn't have named me as the regent?" Harry asked confused he probably hadn't even been born when the will was made.
"No but he gave your Father the right to settle any outstanding legal matters, that right passes to you once you come of age. And according to the Millington Peerage case that means that you are the de facto regent in the absence of anyone appointed to that place," Appleby said triumphantly.
"That's good, then," Harry replied being cautiously optimistic, "who do I choose between?"
"The choices are Bellatrix Lestrange, and Narcissa Malfoy."
"That's not really much of a choice," Harry pointed out.
"Well there is the third option, they have a sister who was disowned for marrying a muggleborn," Appleby said reaching for a file. "You could as regent reclaim her, and then declare her the Baroness."
"Well who is she?" Harry asked eagerly, with anyone luck he could bribe her to his side with the peerage, and worse case scenario she would be better then a Death Eater.
"Andromeda Tonks, currently residing in Manchester one issue Nymph-" Appleby began.
"Nymphadora Tonks," Harry finished in a state of shock.
"Why yes… How did you know?" Appleby asked surprised.
"Fate loves me… or maybe hates me this one really could go either way," Harry replied with a shrug.
The rest if the meeting proceeded upon what can be considered normal parameters for such a meeting. Various facts and figures were discussed, and one or two items of value that Dumbledore hadn't sold were mentioned, but nothing of any further note was gone into at any great depth so I'll avoid boring you with the details.
When Harry returned to Grimmauld Place he couldn't help but notice the rather subdued air in the kitchen, which was surprising considering it was backed full of Weasleys. "What's the matter?" Harry asked confused.
"It's Tonks some muggle tosser went and shot her parents," George said a little bitterness had entered his voice.
"Her mom's alive, but her dad…" Hermione began before abruptly stopping.
"Jesus!" Harry said before collapsing onto a chair, his shock only partly feigned. Unlike the others however he already knew full well who was responsible and he had to say that Voldemort had done a masterful job with this one. Harry seriously doubted anyone in the order (including Tonks) would defect because of the murder but it would sap the moral of the Order pretty damn bad. 'Live by the muggle die by the muggle,' he thought to himself.
A/N Wow I wrote 3,500 words in a day that's got to be some personal record.
Also as long as I'm typing a long author's note I should apologize for what I realize is a very boring chapter. But now that I have the a lot of the groundwork cleared up I can finally get on with the story.
Also let me clear up the whole Lord Protector references. The Lord Protector is an elected monarch with no real powers basically the modern British Monarchy but twice as impotent. I'll probably go into this in much more depth at a later point but at the moment you really only need the basics. Just assume that whenever someone says the Lord Protector did this or that, they really mean that the Minister told him to do it.