Chapter 8 –Panic call

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Since I had Potions first thing in the morning I was able to keep an eye out for Snape. Since Snape couldn't 'apperate' into Hogwarts he had to walk from the front gates and enter the main door. So when I saw him returning early the next morning I 'faded' to the Headmaster's office to eavesdrop.

"Albus the Dark Lord has always been paranoid but right now there are no words to describe him. I ended up brewing a couple of potions he wanted and I got out before he killed me accidentally. He swears he killed Potter but there is no body as he says Potter faded away. Any strange or sudden noise gets a deadly curse throw at it; so far he has killed ten of his followers. He swears that Potter is trying to kill him. He also is going after the prophesy in the Department of Mysteries in the near future as he feels it hold the key to Potter's death."

I entered in line for the potion classroom as Snape was leaving Dumbledore's office. I was thinking that maybe I was winning, Voldemort thinks he killed me and he wants the prophesy to find out how to kill me? Talk about being 5150. (Mentally/Emotionally disturbed person, police jargon). My thinking of the Perp was interrupted only to find Draco and Ron exchanging pleasantries.

"You're nothing but a slimy snake."

"If you weren't a Weasley I might hire you to shine my shoes, everyone knows you need the money you're so poor."

Much to my amusement Draco seemed to have it in for Ron instead of me today. Ron of course was too stupid not to fall for the taunting in front of Snape's doors. Sure enough Snape appeared and Ron got house points deducted.

Again it was strange that none of the class tried to sabotage my cauldron but Ron was a different story. The Slytherins went after Ron's cauldron as Ron retaliated by tossing something into Draco's potion. Snape was about to go after Gryffindor and Ron when Draco's potion exploded. That causes the Slytherins to draw their wands and start a volley of curses at Ron. The Gryffindor were obliged to respond and curses flew among exploding cauldrons.

Daphne and Hermione were noted as being smart and they abandoned their stations and hid behind my shield. The shield was one of Riddles super deluxe shields which stopped just about everything. The three of us slipped out of the disaster as teachers started to arrive. Half the class was in the hospital while the other half were in detention.

/Scene Break/

"Mr. Potter see me in my office before the lunch break." It looked like Dumbledore was going to interrupt my free period.

I looked at Minerva and she gave me a nod so at least she hadn't been memory charmed yet.

We headed up to the Headmasters office after Minerva's class was released and took our seats in front of the Headmasters desk.

"Mr. Potter have you ever been to the Department of Mysteries? Dumbledore started directly this time.

"That's a possibility as I have been in many areas of the Ministry,"

"I am referring specifically to the Hall of Prophesies."

"Oh the one with all the glass balls, no never had the opportunity." I smiled knowing he knew I was lying.

"By any chance Harry do you know anything about an organization called PJ&H?"

"News to me, are they a new band?"

"Nothing for you to worry about I just thought you might have heard the transfer students talking."

"Nope I'm not popular right now."

"Very well you may head off to lunch."

I found out what was going on when I entered the Great Hall and Hermione was waving the Dailey Profit at me from the Gryffindor table. "Harry didn't you say Sirius Black was your godfather?" That got everyone looking my direction.

The story read that he-who-must-not-be-named was back and had been sighted at the Ministry while twenty Deatheaters were in the Hall of Prophesies. Sirius Black was the only fatality and had fallen thru the veil of mysteries. The paper referred to page two as they had the Dark Lord opening the prophesy and what it contained. I chuckled to myself as I had put that prophesy in there when I retrieved the original. It also appeared that Dumbledore or someone had put in a camera to record everything if the prophesy was disturbed or taken. I was glad that was done after I did my little adjustment to the prophesy.

There was Voldemort tapping his wand to a globe and a miniature Harry Potter popping up and saying something. They had subtitles as while they had moving pictures it was too expensive to make them talk in the newspaper, it read, "Sorry Tom I got here first. Watch your back as I may be behind you now or later. Boo, you're it stupid." The scene stopped just after Voldemort jumped and spun to see who was behind him. The paper went on to talk of a massive duel between him and Dumbledore with a few pictures of a destroyed atrium. PJ&H was not mentioned which made me happy. A Gringotts owl interrupted further talk as everyone around me was waiting to here what Gringotts wanted. I read the message, smiled and left the hall. My actions to the owl should cause some interesting rumors by dinner time.

/Scene Break/

"Griphook how's the gold flowing?"

"Extremely well Harry and more so because of recent events."

"Do I dare ask?"

"You're one of the main parties in the will of one Sirius Orion Black."

"Yes I read about him falling thought the Veil and that he was supposed to be my godfather."

"Yes and he included you in his Will which is to be read next Monday at 10AM. He further directed us to give you this letter. We have had instructions from him in the last few months to sell everything that was worth anything in his vault. This letter was to be received by you as early as possible before the Will reading."

"I thought that the Ministry confiscated the vaults of convicted Deatheaters?"

"They do but Lord Black was never tried nor convicted of anything. We here at Gringotts only allow vault confiscation when we have received the proper papers which are issued by the Wizengemot."

Of course I opened the letter. It was interesting, odd and insane. For someone I never met the letter read like I was his life long-lost child. He wrote that he never betrayed my parents. That the betrayer was in fact Peter Pettigrew. That he loved me and the Will was his last Marauder prank. The letter rambled on from making no sense to suddenly changing and became serious. The last part was a direct order.

"Griphook what does the will say?"

"Sorry Harry but the contents are only to be released at the will reading when his wishes become legally binding."

"About being legal, is there any way to contest the Will or make it null and void?"

"No Harry Sirius Black was never deemed not in his right mind so the will is not contestable. The only way that the will can be contested is if there is something illegal contained within like paying someone to kill another."

"Thanks Griphook you have left me with a lot to think over. Till next Monday, may you gold flow and your enemies die a horrible death."

/Scene Break/

I had a lot to think about and a few questions for Minerva. Minerva said that Sirius Black was the ultimate in pranking during his stay at Hogwarts as a student. I learned that he was my father's best friend and that Black never did anything that didn't end up in a pranking of someone. It appeared he now wanted to play his last prank. As I 'floed' to Gringotts, for the Will reading, I decided that while it was tempting to ignore the letter that I would indeed obey his last order. That is what was bugging me, not a request but an order?

"Mr. Potter what are you doing here?" Dumbledore was a surprise and apparently had arrived early to harass Griphook.

"Professor McGonagall and I are here for the will reading obviously." I grinned while Minerva and I took seats at the table.

Dumbledore looked like he wanted to ask more questions but a number of people entered the room. I recognized the girl from Privet Drive that changed her hair color every other second and what appeared to be her mother. Draco swept into the room with what looked to be his mother.

Griphook took a seat after Director Ragnok entered and sat at the head of the table.

"We are here to officially read the will of one Lord Sirius Orion Black. The will contains all the proper legalese and many personal comments. Does anyone care if we skip to who gets what? Copies of the will are obtainable after this reading. "Good let's get right to it then."

"Nymphadora Tonks a bequest of twenty thousand Galleons. Andromeda Tonks a bequest of one-hundred thousand Galleons; Minerva McGonagall a bequest of fifty thousand Galleons; Harry James Potter bequest has been the deposit in his family vault; to Albus Dumbledore a bequest of Grimmauld place and an elf called Kretcher."

Director Ragnok took a deep breath and continued as he knew there would be troubles coming. "Now for establishing the heir and the Head of House, Lord Black has offered the Head of House Black to Harry James Potter."

Draco shot out of his chair like mini Blast-Ended-Skrewt screaming foul with other foul words and threats. His mother and an axe positioned at his neck got him quieted down. I then stood.

"Director Ragnok if it pleases, I would like to decline being the Head of House Black and relinquish the status of Heir and Head of House Black to the next in line."

"Very well Mr. Potter please sign this document refusing the Lordship of House Black."

After I signed Ragnok continued, "In order of succession Draco Malfoy is now offered the title."

"You dam right I want the title and all that money. Potter you are a fool, you just turned down millions of Galleons."

While Draco had more to say and did, Ragnok said, "That concludes this will reading. Lord Potter if you will accompany Griphook, I wish a word with you in my office."

/Scene Break/

"Lord Potter, thank you for coming. There are a few areas that need to be discussed. First we have had to escort Dumbledore out of the bank as he insisted on attending this meeting. Griphook do you have the ledgers?"

"Yes Director right here." Griphook put a large tomb in front of the Director.

"Yes, I thought so. Lord Potter our Lord Sirius Black has done his prank as he liked to call them but you need to be warned."

"Director please just call me Harry and I knew there was going to be problems when he ordered me in his letter to turn down the Black Lordship. The Potter vaults have enough Galleons in them to keep the next five generations of Potters happy so I complied. Who is going to be added to the list of my admirers?"

"Ragnok chuckled and started, "First Sirius Black put twenty million Galleons in your vault as a gift or bequest which cleaned out the Black Vaults except for a marriage contract and several outstanding debts. Secondly he recalled his donations of one-hundred thousand Galleons annually to Dumbledore's club, the Order of the Phoenix. This action will leave his club without funds. He also canceled all of the Potter financial support for that club as your Guardian/Godfather just before you became emancipated."

"Well that doesn't put anyone new on the hate Harry Potter list but could you tell me about the marriage contract?" I smelled a story.

"I'm sorry Harry but that's private as far as how much was paid or why the contract was drawn. I can tell you since the appropriate part has been filed with the Ministry that it's an ancient contract that is now active with House Black and House Bulstrode."

I was shocked, frozen still shocked that I turned that down. Then it started as a giggle and broke out into a full-blown, fall down, laugh. When I calmed down "Oh Sirius what a prank" giggle, giggle.

"What's so funny Harry?"

"Millicent Bulstrode is a junior Deatheater and built like a Rugby Scrum front rower."