.
.
Of Lords
Fawkes made a clicking noise with his beak, unsure of whether he should lighten the dark atmosphere within the room or reflect the sullen mood of his master to show his understanding and sympathy. He finally settled for a melodic note that managed to combine both.
Albus Dumbledore had just arrived back from another emergency Order of the Phoenix meeting and was carefully placing the memories into his pensieve.
Following Voldemort's attack on Malfoy Manor two days prior, there had been three such meetings where Dumbledore's spies within Voldemort's ranks divulged any information they had.
All of which were terribly miniscule and useless, Dumbledore scowled beneath his great white beard as he slowly began pacing before his desk.
Fawkes sang another note of a rather uplifting phoenix tune, but it did little to subdue the old man's impatience and anger.
He managed a partial smile at his ever-observant familiar, "Sorry, old friend, but I don't think this situation will be remedied by your wonderful warbling."
Fawkes chirped a sad note of understanding before deciding to slide his head under his wing and take a quick nap.
Dumbledore watched his phoenix familiar for a moment as a very childish annoyance from being ignored brieflly invaded upon his thinking. He was soon preoccupied with pacing once more. He had worn an actual black streak into his stone floor that those close to him accurately named the "Potter mark." Following Harry's tragic falling out with his family more than seven years prior, the boy had been his main concern, prior to Voldemort's unsurprising yet eventful rebirth.
It shocked him how little power someone with his standing in the magical world had in the muggle world. If it weren't against all Statutes of Secrecy, many international wizard laws, and everything he stood for, he would have walked in and removed the boy immediately from the muggle criminal correctional system.
Luckily he had been able to pull some favors he had with muggle judges and attorneys to regulate the amount of information the press received and make all vital information sub judice. It had been none too easy, but it was all he had been able to do.
Following the boy's arrest, Dumbledore also contacted friends, acquaintances and former Hogwarts students who resided in or had extensive knowledge of the muggle world. After several magical secrecy oaths on each individual he contacted, he thoroughly explained Harry's situation and segued usually onto his own numerous misjudgments.
Each one told him the same thing, "Law is law." Harry murdered his guardians in the muggle world, and the muggle world would then decide his fate. Any attempt by him to remove or assist Harry would be considered an act of disregard to centuries of abstruse alliances, laws, and treaties.
He stopped pacing and looked out his window on the starry mid-September night. His subsequent sigh seemed to echo around him.
If only I could go back and change it all…
Dumbledore was witness to all three of the Potters' wills and their signings: the two individual from Lily and James, and their joint one as well. In each will, it was clearly stated that Harry be brought up in the Wizarding World, in the care of one of the Light families that they listed, and was to, under no circumstance, be exposed to Lily's sister and her family.
Dumbledore, who had maintained a fairly professional relationship with both Lily and James during their time at Hogwarts, considered the request odd and most likely the result of some childhood grudge held by Petunia against her magical, younger sister or vice versa. He distinctly remembered Minerva, whose relationship with both Lily and James was much more personal than his own following their graduation, mentioning that Petunia was jealous that she had not been chosen to study magic.
The two sisters were said to rarely to have spoken, and when they did, it was usually Lily's decision to initiate communication. Minerva mentioned Lily not being made Petunia's bridesmaid, by Petunia's choice, which worsened their relationship even more.
However, Dumbledore had felt that such profound sibling animosity would be supplanted by the death of Lily and James, and also by an arcane familial instinct towards the then newly orphaned Harry. He thought that by ignoring the wills' right to be read, and putting Harry with his aunt he would do the boy more good than having him brought up somewhere in the Wizarding world, fully aware of his fame and more likely to become a snotty bighead.
He never considered the possibility of Petunia never putting her dislike of her sister behind her. The thought of someone holding a petty grudge against a dead sibling through that sibling's child had never once entered his equation. He had merely professed to all who had acrimoniously disputed his logic, namely Minerva, Augusta Longbottom - Head of a family listed in the Potters' Wills - and surprisingly Severus as well, that the boy's safety was paramount to all else and that the blood wards they would construct around the boy and his blood aunt were nearly infallible to an attack from the outside.
But any attack from the inside by one party on another would be nearly imperceptible, Dumbledore thought to himself, pejoratively admitting a flaw in his own logic.
He felt the wards around his office open to let Minerva up the spiraling staircase. The new war brewing around them had made him all the more paranoid about potential attacks on him and the school.
New wards were being put up daily, and for the first time since the creation of the school the ward stone was being moved from its slightly secure location in the Room of Requirement to his bedroom, which was under the Fidelius charm. Hogwarts was subsequently the most secure and safe establishment in England.
Before his door opened to allow her in, he called for a pot of Earl Grey tea and a plate of butter biscuits.
His thin-lipped Headmistress barely looked in his direction as she entered his office and immediately began to observe one of the instruments on a table near his massive magical telescope. The small instrument was the only one that continued to give a reading on Harry, on his safety at least. It would simple turn red if he were ever in danger. All other instruments had been either rendered useless following the magical outburst that included the murder of the Dursleys or by the Magical Band Harry was required to wear in muggle detainment.
Minerva released a sigh of relief at the dull gray color of the trinket. Dumbledore ended his pacing and took a seat to ease the ache in his left knee.
Voldemort's nearly successful attempt to break into the Room of Prophecies in the Ministry of Magic led to his return being fully unveiled to the public and a short but strenuous battle from which Dumbledore had yet to fully recover.
"Any news?" Minerva asked briskly as she conjured an exquisite and extremely hard looking Victorian chair and sat herself down in it.
Dumbledore felt her Occulmency shields fire up and her face relax before she looked him expressionlessly in the eyes. He sighed. After the revelation of exactly what had occurred to Harry and his part in it all, Minerva refused to acknowledge him outside of professional obligations, and bridled at any attempt to assuage her.
He briefly considered only regurgitating what little had been said at the Order meeting, but he ultimately decided to give her all information he had. It is indeed time to repair these destroyed bridges.
"Little. Very little, and none of the information is useful in any form." He saw a flicker of sorrow appear in her face for an instant before it was brutally hidden behind her emotional wall. "However, I have reason to believe that Harry and young Mr. Malfoy will be visiting us very soon."
She shot up in her chair. "What evidence do you have?"
A hunch and a half century of experience, "Several shopkeepers in Diagon Alley have hinted that Harry had purchased at their stores recently." Albeit prior to the attack, he added mentally.
She blinked in confusion. "Do you really think it wise to base such an assumption off of a shopping spree?"
He cracked a tired smile as he offered her a cup of tea, which she immediately refused. "He brought a set of Hogwarts robes and the books on the list for Sixth Years," he said simply.
She gasped slightly. There was a moment of complete silence in the room as both of them descended into their own thoughts.
Dumbledore briefly wondered if the bond between the two boys allowed for Harry to catch up on the material for the last five years.
"Do you think," Minerva said slowly, "that we should be concerned for the well-being of Mr. Malfoy? I am afraid that due to his family's recent fall out with the He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, some within his House might be less lenient towards him."
"I fear it is exactly those students who we should worry about. Harry is obviously quite defensive of Mr. Malfoy," he displayed his slightly distorted hand as evidence. He was very lucky to still have a hand after Harry caused the Portkey to explode, suffusing the magical backfire into his hand.
"Indeed," she said unsympathetically.
Dumbledore decided to change the subject to something that would be more in his favor. "It is very fortunate that Mr. Potter's past discrepancies will not be officially released to-."
Like a lion, McGonagall pounced, "Don't you dare try to take credit for something you had little to do with, Albus! You were too "preoccupied" futilely trying to locate and capture the boy than protect his image in the newspapers, despite what you purport at the Order meetings."
"Your inability to see pass your superfluous titles and fallacious ideas made you reticent to make the right decisions twice now," Dumbledore flinched visibly and merely fidgeted with the biscuits on the platter before him. "Luckily, Augusta had no such compunctions and used all of her resources to keep Harry's name out of the papers."
He started slightly. She reached for a cup and poured herself some tea.
"Augusta flooed me today." She paused as if she were considering revealing something confidential to him. "According to her, she received a time-sensitive and last-minute invitation from Gringotts to attend a private hearing a few days ago. Although, she had been hesitant to attend, she was told her presence was vital to the proceeding."
Dumbledore leaned forward listening attentively. "She said she was portkeyed to a room where a few people awaited her. One of the those present, Lady Malfoy, immediately swore her to secrecy on the exact matters of the proceedings and at the end requested that she use her influence in Wizarding Litigators Association to pull some strings for Harry."
Dumbledore dropped his biscuit in shock. "Did she tell you anything else?"
Minerva had the nerve to smile at him. "Only that there had been a reading of the three Potter wills and that she was reinstated as his Family Litigator until she finds someone else suitable."
Dumbledore knew that the surprises were yet to stop coming. He swallowed the painful lump that had been stuck in his throat. Finding himself the last to know for such vital information was a hard pill for him to swallow.
"What she had been allowed to pass on to me is that Harry declared Lady Malfoy neé Black to be his magical guardian, a Marner Frond as his muggle guardian, and Draco Malfoy his bond brother."
"And did she say whether he made these decisions uninfluenced?" He worried that Harry might have been subject to some minor mind control charms.
"Apparently, he did everything of free mind. The goblins are very competent in matters of befuddlement… Augusta was very impressed with the boy. She spoke highly of him as, in her word, 'a young man who will rattle the breaches of this country.'" She gave a small laugh. "He must have done some impressive things for Augusta to praise him so highly and support him so quickly."
Dumbledore sat back to process this information. For someone who has just learned about the Wizarding World, he must be impressive in the least. Harry, my boy, you are just full of surprises.
"Also, she said that Harry assumed the position as Head of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Potter with Lady Malfoy representing him in the Wizengamot." Minerva sipped a it more of her tea. "If I'm correct in my assumption, I believe Harry might have also assumed Head de facto of the House of Malfoy per the Laws of the Most Ancient and Noble Houses."
"Ah, he was attacked by Lucius while seeking refuge within their manor." Dumbledore added, to which McGonagall nodded.
Dumbledore relaxed slightly as he noticed McGonagall no longer showing signs of being angry with him. "Albus, you don't think that they are using his positions, do you? Lily and James would roll in their graves if a Dark family manipulated the Potters power with nefarious motives."
"No, Minerva, I don't believe so." He said as the clock struck midnight. "I found Harry to be a very resourceful, observant, and occult young man. I believe he would recognize and manipulation on the subtle and overt side."
McGonagall raised an eyebrow. "What basis do you have for that comment? The St. Mungo's debacle? We hadn't known the boy personally."
Dumbledore paused.
I should have told her the truth from the very beginning. "From the day that the blood wards at his family's house fell up until around seven months ago, I've visited him whilst he was in muggle captivity."
McGonagall gasped.
Albus spoke quickly. "I thought seeing the world succumb to the darkness that Gellert Grindelwald adored would be the most horrid thing of my lifetime, but I was terribly mistaken. Seeing a timid, orphaned child struggle day-to-day to survive, to defend himself, and his transformation from innocent to an Apollonian and tough-skinned fighter, and not being able to do anything to help him, might be the hardest experience I've had to live through."
"Oh Albus." She said softly.
"Observing him learn to master wandless magic alone was very exciting, I must say. It was all very natural to him despite his obvious precocity. As if Magik itself wanted him to master it." He showed his damaged hand for emphasis. "We have seen only a small sample of what this young man can and will be able to do."
"Do you think we have anything to fear from him as Alastor thinks?" She finished her tea.
"Alastor has the… gift of paranoia. While I don't always agree with what he believes, there is usually a rather strong reason for consideration." He vanished the tea set after putting his cup back. "Though I do not believe that Harry would turn completely dark as the proclivity for simply hurting others is not something he seems to possess, to assume that he would never do dark things would be equally simple-minded."
"It is difficult not to see the young Tom Riddle went I see him." Minerva admitted. It had almost slipped Dumbledore's mind that Minerva had also witnessed Tom Riddle during his time at Hogwarts.
Dumbledore rubbed his beard. "I do not doubt that Harry will dabble in that what we call Dark Magiks," Minerva gasped, "however, I do not believe he will fall prey to the hatred, viciousness, and appetite for destruction that Tom Riddle did."
"Indeed." Minerva said after a few moments of contemplation.
Both Dumbledore and McGonagall suddenly went silent. A shifting of the wards disrupted their discussion of the precocious Potter. The wards were registering two incomers in the Forbidden Forest, one who Hogwarts recognized as having resided within her walls and one who she did not.
He stood suddenly and dashed to an instrument to his right, defying his years. McGonagall jumped slightly. Fawkes started from his slumber.
The man smiled brightly and heaved a great sigh.
"Minerva, please go rouse the Heads of Houses. I believe we will be having a special Sorting tonight. I shall go greet Hogwarts newest student."
McGonagall looked at him with pure shock and confusion written all over her face. She then dashed from the room.
Dumbledore turned back to the instrument as if it had brought him the best gift in the world. "Welcome to Hogwarts, Harry Potter."
OoOoOoOoO
Three days earlier…
Harry felt indestructible as Lady Malfoy's body clenched around his member, announcing the arrival of her second orgasm of the night.
Harry let an almost primitive growl escape from the back of his throat.
The woman beneath him convulsed slightly as the orgasmic waves deluged her. Harry increased his pace and shift in order to insure that his penis brushed against that one spot that made women go crazy.
Having sex with a nurse might have been the smartest and most educational thing I've ever done.
Lady Malfoy's mouth was open in a silent "O", and her breathing was erratic.
Harry neared completion. He felt himself moving spasmodically as he lost control over how hard he was ramming into the woman.
"AH!" She cried out in pleasure. Her hips thrust upwards onto his own bringing him to his climax.
Harry collapsed slightly on top of the soft-skinned blonde breathing heavily. One of her perky, aroused nipples teasingly poked him in the shoulder.
Goddamn. Best way to wake up.
After moments of just lying there catching their breath, Harry slowly removed his flaccid penis from within her. She gave a soft moan and began to twirl his wild black hair between three of her fingers.
She pulled his hair in one direction, forcing him to face her. According to her, his untamable hair was one of things above his waistline that turned her on the most. Excluding the eyes.
She planted a chaste kiss upon his lips. "Lucius will return in three days time so I scheduled your house appointment with Gringotts today," she said. "You and Draco can be on your way to Hogwarts before he returns."
"At what time?" He murmured into her neck.
"At exactly seven minutes and twenty-four seconds after ten." She laughed softly. "Goblins schedule appointments at the most unusual times; unusual, at least, to us humans."
Harry glanced accidentally over to the single clock that stood in his room. He blinked twice make sure that he was seeing correctly. The clock gave nine o'clock as the current time.
"That can't be right." Harry rolled off of the woman as his stomach growled fiercely at them both for depriving it of the nutrients that it was supposed it receive an hour ago.
She laughed again.
When did she come into my room? At eight o'clock, maybe earlier, Harry tried to remember.
Lady Malfoy stood in all of her glowing glory, slowly donning her furry house robe and hiding her perfect body from Harry's eyes. She gave him a pretty smile.
Harry, naked and still basking in the afterglow of a beautiful orgasm, observed her openly from his bed.
"Can't we find some way to change it?" Harry moaned playfully.
"Not unless you want to reschedule it for this day eleven years from now."
Harry merely stuffed a pillow over his head and groaned.
Lady Malfoy chuckled. "You should start getting ready. You wouldn't want to be late to your own bank hearing."
Harry pulled the pillow away to blow a raspberry at her. She shook her head and exited his chambers.
Almost immediately after the door closed, Harry dashed from the bed and retrieved the book Fundamental Gneisto from where he had hidden his stolen goods.
He had barely slept last night trying to coerce the book into speaking with him again. Every inquiry was met with silence. He almost threw the book across the room, but his reasoning overrode his temper. He was sure that there was some sort of access code or trigger word.
He flipped through the book one more time. One empty bloody page after another!The book's pages were all empty, providing him with just as little information as a bundle of sticks.
"Talk to me!" He growled, shaking the book.
Nothing happened.
Useless.
He chucked the book back with the others he had stolen from Voldemort a day ago. He stood up just as he felt someone approach the door to his chambers. He made the stolen goods invisible with a charm that Malfoy had learned last year at Hogwarts.
His door flew up unceremoniously and in walked Marner fully dressed in wizarding attire.
Someone surely knows how to fit in. Marner and Marcius arrived yesterday as Harry and Draco were in the library discussing and researching their bond.
Marcius had managed to keep his and Draco's magical signatures from being noticed, however, when they noticed that wizards were spying on Marner's apartment, Marcius had dropped his wards. They hid at Marner's parents' house until Lady Malfoy, under Draco's orders, sent them an invitation to Malfoy Manor in Wiltshire.
Marner was apparently the first non-magical to ever step foot in the magical manor. He took it all in stride, managing to assimilate more quickly than Harry could have.
"Harry. Breakfast is getting col-." He stopped at the sight of his fully naked charge. "Bloody hell boy, would it hurt you to put on some clothes!"
Harry smiled cheekily. "Like seeing a penis disturbs you!" He gave an accentuated pelvic thrust with the desired consequence of making Marner blush harder.
Marner looked away, only to find Harry reappear in front of him.
"Com'on, Marner! Give your charge a hug." Harry tried to grab the man, but he ducked under Harry's arms with a yelp. Harry merely disappeared and reappeared to where the man ran.
Harry learned from Draco's few memories on the subject that he was doing something call Apparation. Draco would be learning it next year supposedly; there were supplemental lessons he could take his sixth year of Hogwarts.
Harry tortured Marner a few more minutes before Marner suddenly tripped over the rug (with a slight assist from Harry's magic).
Harry's sides hurt from laughing so much. Marner attempted to take a swipe at him, but to no prevail due to him covering his eyes as he swung.
Harry relented shortly after Marner accidently hit himself and summoned some clothes. He charmed his ears to not hear the berating that Marner was steaming his way. I love magic.
A quick glance at the clock showed that there was no longer any time for him to shower as the goblins would be arriving in minutes.
Marner left some time after he summoned his clothes, purely red in the face from spitting fire at Harry. Harry saved the memory of that event for later embarrassment.
While he quickly brushed his teeth, he browsed through Draco's knowledge of goblins. The blonde had allowed him unlimited access to all academic memories. Harry had spent most of the previous day alternating between sorting through the new knowledge and trying to get the book Fundamental Gneisto to respond to him.
Harry nearly spat out his toothpaste as he was inundated with Draco's memories of lectures and books on goblins. The curious boy had even read a book on goblin mannerisms and goblin-wizard etiquette. Yet, for some reason, he opted to not use his understanding of goblins in his past interactions with them. Instead, he - like many in the Wizarding world - treated the Goblins like servants or worse.
He must have tried to be more like his father, Harry assumed. From what Harry could gather, Malfoy senior had a particular, blatant distaste and disregard for anything or anyone he deemed lower than him or not significant enough for his time.
According to Lady Malfoy, he had missed Draco's last four birthdays due to "business". Which Lady Malfoy thinks is her husband's euphemism for sleeping with some other woman.
Harry gave himself a slight shake and tried to refocus on learning as much about goblins as he could before he was forced to meet them.
There was a loud CRACK and one of the house elves appeared behind him. Harry was somewhat used to the creatures now, but deep down he still opposed to their raison d'être. It seemed as if their sole purpose was to serve rich Wizarding families in the same manner that he had been forced to serve the Dursleys.
It's practically servitude…
Draco and his mother both ignored their presence until they needed the house elves or when the house elves did something wrong. As much as Harry wanted to ignore their presence to forget that painful stage of his life, and to preserve his good impressions of the blonds, he could not. He went out of his way to treat the house elves with as much respect as he would give anyone else, if not more.
"Master Potter, Mistress Malfoy asks that you eat a quick breakfast before the goblins come, sir." Harry tried to remember the elf's name. He was sure this was the same elf that retrieved him from his room yesterday.
"Will do, Dobby. Your name is Dobby right?" The elf's large eyes widened even more, something that Harry seriously doubted was physically possible.
"Master Potter remembers Dobby's name! Dobby is very honored, sir." The elf bowed deeply.
"Dobby, please call me Harry." Harry said. "No 'sir' or 'Master'."
The poor elf immediately started to hyperventilate. Harry put down his toothbrush and did his best to comfort the, now crying, creature.
"I'm sorry, Mast- Harry," he almost choked on Harry's name. "Never has a wizard asked Dobby to call him by his given name!"
Harry only smiled.
"Dobby will go get your break-."
"Don't worry Dobby, sir." The creature yelped in surprise. "I'll manage without breakfast today."
"But-."
"Dobby, thanks for asking!" Harry smiled, still kneeling and holding the creature by the shoulder reassuringly.
The elf nodded slowly and popped away after a snap of his fingers.
Harry stared at the space from Dobby had just stood for a moment before he quickly matted down his hair and jetted from the room.
To make finding the meeting place in the large manor a bit easier, Lady Malfoy had asked that they meet in the parlor in Harry's wing. She micromanaged the meeting to the point of telling Harry where he would sit in relation to the goblins with Marner on his left and her on his right, with Draco on her right.
Harry thought that it was rather unnecessary and ridiculous, but he went along with her plans of course. If it means we can shag whenever she wants, I'll do whatever she wants.
He skidded abruptly to a halt outside of the parlor. He inhaled deeply.
One thing Lady Malfoy instructed him to do, that he found to be quite perspective of her, was to speak little and use methods of business management he learned at Sirkins. There he had been able to scare people with one twitch. Sadly, many here were not aware of his past, but he had some advantage.
Harry pulled a string off of his robe and quickly transfigured it into a small mirror. He observed himself for a second to test his "look".
He shivered as he looked at himself. This might just work.
He returned the mirror to its original state and allowed his magic to open the doors to the parlor before he entered.
Attempting a grand entrance?
Harry blatantly ignored the blond's voice in his head and focused on the group of people and goblins awaiting his arrival. Unbeknownst to the majority of the room's occupants, he was cursing the boy with a variety of indigestible words. The blonde blushed slightly.
Draco's magic was making leaps and bounds. He was not on the same level as Harry magically, but he was getting there. He had a very healthy glow. He even managed to produce a small wandless-created fire after he and Marcius had a small argument yesterday.
The bond, they decided, couldn't be destroyed or ignored, but it could be manipulated. Apparently, there were many bonds that wizards have been using for centuries. Singe it had been necessary that the two rebond, Harry and Draco settled on Fraternitus. It was blood magic, which had been dangerous for Draco in his weakened condition, but it linked the mind and magics of the bonded – much like the bond Harry had accidentally created. It was also the safest since it was one most similar to Harry's unintentional one.
Though Marcius had disagreed with their logic, Harry managed to convince Lady Malfoy to mediate their bonding. The effects had been felt almost immediately. The constant syphoning off of his magic had ceased, and Draco no longer needed to be constantly around him. Which is good since I'm buggering his mum.
The bond allowed them to decide how much of their memories they could share with one another. Which Harry preferred, fearing castration should Draco learn about his rendezvouses with his mother. Harry had given him limited access to his past. The blonde mentioned at dinner yesterday that he had access to Harry's childhood memories and some from his time in Sirkins.
He weighed the benefits and disadvantages of appearing ignorant of goblin traditions, but he quickly scrapped that idea. He wanted the goblins to respect him and also show his respect for them.
Harry approached the head goblin, which was robed in garland and other outlandish decorum. He quickly went over everything he remembered from the books and Draco's mind, and decided last minute to do the last thing that anyone would expect of him.
He kneeled baring his hands in front of the richly decorated goblin. Generally, the wizard would bare his wand, but as Harry had none, he bared his hands, his flesh and blood. The gesture was a sign of trust building and openness, considered a sign of utmost importance within Wizarding traditions. To do so in front of a goblin, also kneeling to their eye level, put the wizard on the same level as the magical being. Something that very few wizards would dare, for fear of societal or political ramifications.
He ignored both the gasps and the sudden change within the atmosphere of the room. There was a moment of disturbed silence.
He smiled mentally.
He bowed his head in the direction of the goblins, toward the head goblin, and quoted from Draco's memory, "May Magic bless and accept my gesture of gratitude to you and your kin on behalf of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Potter."
Barely a second passed before the unnaturally warm hands of the goblin before him covered his hands. He raised his head, keeping any lines from moving on his face.
"May Magic bless my gesture of acceptance." The goblin mumbled, deeply surprised.
There was a small gust of wind between the two of them. Old Magik blessings were generally acknowledged by nature in some form. Harry smiled genuinely and broadly as he returned to his feet as gracefully as his knees would allow.
"May we begin?" He gestured to a large oak, debriefing table that he conjured before those present, eliciting a small gasp of surprise from a few once more.
That went well.
I've underestimated you, Potter. Harry glanced at the blond, so see him applauding Harry silently with his grey eyes as he along with the others sat themselves at the table.
The oldest goblin, who he had kneeled to seconds before, began, "My Lord Potter, if I may prematurely address you so highly, we are here to instate you as rightful Lord of Potter and subsequent houses: Evans, Gaunt, and Peverell. Do you accept?"
"Yes, Righteous and Honorable Lord Goblin." The goblin's eyes enlarged comically. Harry knew he was laying the traditions of goblin and wizards on pretty thick, but it couldn't hurt.
"You honor me highly, Lord Potter, please, address me as Grindclaw."
Harry smiled softly, "Only if you and your brethren will be so kind as to allow me the same request. Please address me as Harry."
The goblins all bowed their heads in respect. Harry returned the motion.
The head goblin cleared his throat; Harry was so sure he saw tears in the creature's eyes. They are really eating this up! "These proceedings are from henceforth, until dictated by Lo- Harry or myself, private." He and the other goblins murmured something in their goblin tongue.
Harry suddenly choked. It felt as if all air had been vacuumed out of the room for a moment. Around him, others were recovering as well. Everyone present verbally agreed to Oath of Secrecy. If they hadn't, Harry was sure that the goblin guard would have been removed them from the room. They eyed the black haired and auburn haired men who sat farthest from Harry, who had waited a moment too long to accept the oath.
Sirius Black - the Lord Black - and Remus Lupin, Draco supplied mentally. They were friends of your parents. Black was imprisoned for betraying your parents to the Dark Lord. He was released in my second year after they found the actually betrayer in Hogwarts, trying to resurrect the Dark Lord with a dark item he stole from my father's study. Lupin taught us my third year. He was fired out someone revealed that he was a dark creature, a werewolf.
Harry surprisingly felt little in response that information. He was interested in the wizarding prison system though. Maybe he would have a chat with Black.
He was given a stack of reports gathered from all of the goblins working on his families' accounts. He was a bit taken aback by how much he was actually worth. The others in the room waited patiently for him to finish reading before they opened his parents' wills.
Just as the presence of his parents' friends had little effect on him, the reading of his parents wills affected him less as he originally thought they would. He felt Lady Malfoy's hand on his left thigh for support, which turned out to be unneeded. They bequeathed most of their possessions, rights, and titles onto him, apologized for not being with him, professed their love of him, and wished him the best in life. Three other individuals in the room received money or such from his parents: Remus Lupin, Sirius Black, who he learned was his Godfather from the wills, and Lady Alice Longbottom, in whose care he should have been given as per the wills.
I wonder how I got left at the Dursleys then. Draco gave him a look that seemed to read his train of thought, without Harry having spoken to him through their bond
When all was read from both wills and Marner gave him a supportive pat on the back, one goblin slid a pair of heavy signet rings across the oak table.
Harry stared at them. I really belong to this world then. He inhaled deeply before he slid one of the rings onto his finger, the more manly and heavy looking ring. He assumed that his wife would wear the other as his mother had.
Augusta Longbottom leaned forward and explained to him, "When a new Head of House is named, unless he has a wife, the mother dowager or the sister would wear the ring and assist in any wifely functions."
Harry turned slowly to Lady Malfoy. "As the only woman I know and trust, would you be willing to fulfill this duty in addition to your House's obligations?"
She smiled, having predicted his actions, and held out her hand. "I acc-."
"Harry! I can't let you give your mother's ring, Lily's ring, to this dark succubine. I don't know what befuddlement they have you under, but the Malfoys are dark and are only trying to use you!" Sirius Black all but barked from across the table.
Harry raised one eyebrow, quickly summoning Draco's wand as the blonde jumped up to defend his mother's honor.
"You DARE insult me in my own house, Lord Black." She spit the last words like venom. "One would be tempting to think your mannerisms and familial love were never cultivated."
"Why you wretched wench!"
Harry used his magic to make the sound of a gun going off, startling everyone.
"I'm sorry," He smiled apologetically looking around the table. "I'm not very familiar with how things are done in the magical world, but I would prefer to discuss matters with maturity."
He turned to Lord Black and gave him a withering look. "That being said, I would be happy to surgically remove anyone from this hearing for creating a hostile environment."
"Harry, you don't under-."
"Lord Black, I understand perfectly that biases in the magical world run so deep that they can have a man defile his counsin's name in her house. What you, Lord Black, must understand is that the fair Lady Malfoy has not imparted or forced any of this bias on my in all of the short time that I have known her."
Harry waved off another response from Lord Black. "I am also confident in my own ability to see manipulation and ulterior motives. And until you have become even in the slightest bit acquainted with me, please refrain from assuming the position of expert on my life, actions, or competence."
Lord Black's mouth shut with a low click.
Harry used his magic to send Draco back his wand, reminding him mentally to take a seat, and handed Lady Malfoy the ring.
"Grindclaw, please note that, I, Harry James Potter, Lord of the Houses of Evans, Gaunt, and Peverell, Lord of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Potter, bestow on to Lady Narcissa Malfoy the title of Magical Representative for the Houses of Evans, Gaunt and Peverell and the Most Ancient and Noble House of Potter until I deem myself prepared to ascend to these seats in the Wizagemot."
A scribe goblin passed them the statement he had just decreed and a quill with which to sign it. He did so with a flourish.
"I, Harry James Potter, Lord of the Houses of Evans, Gaunt, and Peverell, Lord of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Potter, bestow onto Draco Malfoy the magically honored title of Bonded Brother."
Potter!
Oh shut it Malfoy. You knew it was coming.
No such thing! Harry saw the genuine surprise on the boy's face.
Oh… well, accept it so that we may move on.
Draco, dumbstruck, cleared his throat and said, "I, Draco Lucius Malfoy of the Noble House of Malfoy accept this with my mind and magic."
Many instinctively covered their eyes, but no customary Bonding flash assaulted their eyes.
Not indulging in anyone's curiosity by explaining that he and Draco were already bonded, he moved to his last motion.
"Grindclaw, please note, I, Harry James Potter, Lord of the Houses of Evans, Gaunt, and Peverell, Lord of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Potter, bestow on to Marner Frond all rights and privileges of Guardian in the muggle world."
Grindclaw nodded to the scribe goblin to pass Harry and Marner the contract. Once all of the documents were signed, the contracts and forms Harry had filled out simply rolled themselves up and disappeared with a small puff of smoke.
Magic. Harry wasn't sure if he would ever get used to that.
Lady Malfoy clapped her hands, summoning the house elves with refreshments and a small but elegant snack for those present. As everyone removed themselves from the table, Harry was approached immediately by Grindclaw.
"Harry, there are many investments from your parents that you need to be debriefed on, as they have lacked organization and clear direction for years. Many of them could possibly be worth large piles of galleons."
Harry waved the goblin's speech short. "Grindclaw, I trust you to do well with what I will ask of you. Would you be willing to be the financial manager to all of my accounts? The report you gave me earlier was composed by five different goblins. I would like to consolidate everything under one goblin's gaze to make my life a little easier and reduce the number of superfluous eyes on my money."
The goblin swayed slightly, almost falling to his knees. His comrades held him up. Harry wasn't aware that his suggestion would have such an effect on the goblin.
You just increased his distinction within the goblin community. Honestly Potter, you read through all of my memories, yet you learn next to nothing.
Harry's head turned in Draco's direction so quickly that his neck twitched with pain. The blonde was observing him innocently from a corner with his brother and Marner.
"Lo- Harry, I graciously accept this privilege and honor!"
"Wonderful!" Harry smiled brightly at the heavily breathing goblin before he excused himself, allowing the excited goblins to converse about him no doubt, and went over to Lady Malfoy, who was speaking with a woman he did not know personally.
"Ah Harry, Dowager Longbottom and I were just discussing you." Lady Malfoy said tapping him lightly on the shoulder.
"Augusta Longbottom, Lord Potter, I knew your parents and grandparents very well. In fact, I was once your family's wizarding litigator." Harry pressed her offered hand to his lips gently and allowed for her to elaborate further. "My daughter is your godmother. She would be here today, but she is not in a condition that would allow her to."
Harry nodded understandingly as he went through Draco's memory trying to find information on the Longbottoms. Before he had the opportunity to offer his condolences, Lady Malfoy spoke on his behalf.
"Tragic, of course. Dowager Longbottom, I believe now it the appropriate time to explain your invitation to this hearing. With all of your expertise in wizarding law, and politics, I feel as if you should rethink your early retirement to assist Lord Potter for the next few years, until he is fully aware of and has fully assumed his position in our society."
Harry saw a flicker of several things flutter across the older woman's face including the likes of anger, disbelief, and suspicion. "I have been retired for sixteen year-."
"Since the birth of your grandson Neville, how is he doing nowadays?" Harry could sense the maliciousness of the conversation, but was very uncomfortable and uncertain as to how he should proceed.
At the name "Neville", Draco's memories pulled up a pudgy, jumpy-looking boy with whom Draco had Potions lessons.
"He is faring well." The older woman retorted defensively.
"Oh how wonderful." Lady Malfoy said dramatically. She glanced quickly at the clock on the mantle. "Oh dear me, why do you look at the time. I don't wish to keep you from your grandmother responsibilities. – oh silly me, I forget that Hogwarts has already started up again. My my, do tell me, what do you do with all of this free time on your hands?"
She sipped on the teacup in her hands, leaning forward slightly. "I can't imagine how much dowager responsibilities for the House of Longbottom includes!"
"I'll have you know, Lady Malfoy-." It hit Harry what Lady Malfoy was trying to do, so he thought he might help her out a bit
"Excuse me, Ladies. Might I offer a suggestion? Why don't I just use the Malfoys' litigator? Dowager Longbottom could advise from a noncommittal position."
Lady Malfoy nodded thoughtfully. "If you insist, Harry, but I must say poor Herbert has been flustered a lot lately with the Ministry trying to pin our family down as Death Eaters."
"I'm sure he wouldn't mind the honor." Harry danced internally as Dowager Longbottom's face seemed to constrict. "Thank you for you time, Dowager Longbottom. Dobby, will show you to the floo." Dobby appeared before them, holding one hand out to the Dowager with his other hand holding an enormous, hideous red-feathered hat with a large stuffed vulture on top. Harry resisted the urge to shudder
The woman scoffed slightly, "That won't be necessary." Harry nodded, took the hat from Dobby and held it out to the woman himself.
There was a brief, unnoticeble exchange of victorious glances between Harry and Lady Malfoy as Dowager Longbottom hesitated before she slowly took her hat from Harry.
Harry frowned, however, as he noticed the grin on the older woman's face.
"Very good Lord Potter. Lady Malfoy had taught your well in these few days since your release, I've noticed."
Lady Malfoy's pristine and impermeable face was suddenly covered by a look of surprise.
"I would be honored to be the Potter's chief legal aid once more. I'll send my contract over for renewal in a few days." She bowed her head in respect, which Harry accidentally neglected to do in return due to shock.
She turned without a word and left the room.
"Well… it worked at least." Harry murmured.
Potter! Remove these imbeciles from my house! Harry ignored the stream of obscenities the blonde had in his arsenal for Sirius Black and Remus Lupin.
Harry approached the three cautiously. "Draco, your mother asked if you co-."
The agitated blonde exhaled deeply in relief. "Thanks." He bowed ridiculously low to the two older wizards, who had been, if Harry's ears hadn't deceived him, discussing the immorality of Death Eaters and their misguided children.
The two men seemed nervous in his presence, giving him the confidence he needed to speak first.
"Thank you for coming. I'm sure it meant a lot to you to hear my parents' wills."
Sirius looked slightly disgusted. "They would roll in their grave if they knew their possessions and their son were now in the hands of Death Eaters."
"Siri-." Remus warned.
"No, Moony, I can't have the best wizarding family I've ever known go to rubbish because a-." The man stopped, looking suddenly ashamed at what he planned to say to Harry.
"Please continue." Harry growled, his deepened, hard Sirkin voice returning. "I would love to know what a stranger thinks of me."
Sirius winced at the word. "I am no stranger! I knew your father, I am your godfather-."
"Correction. You don't know me, and my godfather would not have allowed me to stay in prison for seven years."
Sirius' expression darkened. "Don't tell me about prison, boy. I spent most of your life in Azkaban. Do you know what it's like th-."
Harry felt the temperature around them decrease substantially as the lights began to flicker. He felt his magic mold with his anger. The two men backed away cautiously, hands automatically reaching for the sticks that they depended so strongly on.
"I do." He said simply, relishing the flinch of the older man. "I'd be happy to exchange stories with you, Lord Black. Isn't that was godfather and godchild do?" He asked.
Remus maneuvered himself in between the two slightly. "Harry, we did not come here to judge who you associated with," he threw an exasperated look at Sirius, who was still looking at Harry with slight trepidation, "we came to meet you, introduce ourselves, and offer our services in assimilating into the magical world. If you ever have questions about your parents, us, or anything at all, let us know." Harry could tell that the man was genuine and attempting to secure a positive stance
Harry nodded slowly. "I'll keep that in mind." He said dismissing them but offering Remus an olive branch.
The man nodded and grabbed Lord Black. Lord Black looked as if he were not yet done with Harry but succumbed to the impatience of his companion.
As they left, Harry rubbed his eyes in exhaustion. It was too early to be dealing with such people.
He barely finished exhaling before there was a crash and a boom right behind him. He spun and dropped to the floor. Before him stood who was obviously Lord Malfoy, clutching his cane in rage.
Harry barely had a change to roll out of the way as a blue jet of light spun from the man's outreached cane and blew a gory hole though a goblin, who, appearing out of nowhere, had blocked Harry from the attack.
Harry's magic flared to life, tossing the man around the room. The other goblin's grabbed their dead comrade and fled from the room.
"You trolup! How dare you besmirch my house and my name by bringing the Dark Lord's enemies here." He sent a spell at the dumbstruck Lady Malfoy.
With surprising agility, she sidestepped his spell and sent one back at him.
"You dare break a Lordship contract by attacking a LORD in this manor," She growled in return.
Harry was suddenly helped up by Draco. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Marner and Marcius slip out of the room.
"The Dark Lord will deal with you!" The man hissed at his wife. He dug his cane into a dark, skull-shaped mark on his arm.
Harry barely had time to register what he was doing before the lights went out in the room, and excruciating pain burst forth from his scar.
He barely noticed the shadows shooting from the corners in which they hid. They swirled for a moment around the now kneeling Lord Malfoy before transforming into a tall, pale being with billowing shadowy robes. Harry almost kneeled in pain.
His magic flared around him, not knowing who or what to strike to revenge the pain that Harry was currently suffering from.
"Lucius," the being hissed, "you summoned me from my rest-" Harry felt as if his forehead would split open. He groaned and sank to the ground.
Draco was immediately at his side. The Dark Lord.
Harry felt fear unimaginable. He could taste the magic emanating from and constricting around the being he now knew as the Dark Lord. It was overpowering, proficient and definitely out-powered Harry's "pulse".
"It can't be-." The being said, turning slowly as if to find something.
"RUN! HE MUST NOT FIND YOU!" Lady Malfoy said. "Draco, use the wards, you are now the temporary Head of House!" There was a brilliant flash of light that went from Lord Malfoy to Draco.
Harry was given no time to digest the information, or the déjà vu to his dream from two nights before, as he was roughly grabbed by Draco. The ground beneath where he was previously seated exploded barely a second after he moved.
He suddenly found himself running breakneck speed down the hallway that led to his guest quarters.
Portraits on the walls cheered them on or jeered at them. Harry tried to ignore them in either case.
I'm throwing all of the houses defenses at him! He's still catching up.
Suddenly they hit an invisible wall. His magic lashed out without hesitation. Harry saw red. He refused to let that beast cage him. The wall disappeared allowing him and Draco to continue running.
"Dobby!" Harry said as a thought flashed through his mind. He could feel the pain in his forehead returning, which could only mean that the Dark Lord neared.
The house-elf appeared before them. Harry just about kissed the little bugger as it suddenly grabbed both his and Draco's hands. They disappeared from the hallway and reappeared in Harry's chambers.
Harry summoned all of his things to him and put the shrunken materials in his pockets. Draco watched this with a raised eyebrow
"Dobby is sadly still bound to his former Master Lucius," the elf said in a panicky, squeaky voice, "Mast- Harry's room is the only one with protection."
Almost simultaneously, the door to Harry's chamber disintegrated and splinters, a green light sped towards Harry and was captured in the chest by Dobby, who jumped in order to intercept the light.
The house elf toppled to the floor and did not get back up. Harry knew he was dead immediately.
His magic threw everything it had in one strike making the Dark Lord step backwards. Harry could see the confusion in the red, slanted eyes.
Dark tendrils leapt out of the shadows at him, attempting to either restrain or harm them.
What he hoped to be sweat began to trickle down his brow and cheeks. The pain in his scar was unimaginable, and he could feel his magic starting to protest the strain.
He grabbed Draco and followed the first thought in the blond's head as the air around him became difficult to breathe.
The Dark Lord bellowed an angry "NO" as Harry's magic swept them away to what Draco called the 'Forbidden Forest.'