Concrit is Love.
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The end of August brought the Hogwarts letters triggering concern from the Weasley adults the moment they saw the book list. Lifting the deserted papers from the table Percy perused them before handing them to Charlie. "I'll drop Defence, I'd rather take Herbology." He said firmly.
"Two sets." Charlie looked up interrupting his parents whispered argument. " They can't need all the books all the time. The twins can have Bill and I's old copies of The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 4)
"They need a book each, Charlie." Mr Weasley explained looking pained at the cost. Huddled together at the end of the Ginny, Harry, Hermione and Ron worried.
"Four sets then." Charlie answered. "We don't need six sets of Lockharts story books. I would be objecting if it was six copies of his Guide to Household Pests or Compendium of Common Curses, Jinxes and Hexes. They're well written, easily accessible and engaging books on subjects within the second and fourth year Defence syllabus."
Charlie's comments seemed to be the final word for Mrs Weasley sent Ron running across to the Rookery to collect Luna and her trunk before cracking a dozen eggs in to pan, passing Hermione a spoon to stir the oats and rich milk of their porridge and sending Percy, the twins, Harry and Ginny up to get all the trunks. Once the trunks were set in the living room she served vats of scrambled egg, toast and porridge to the table and left to pans in soak to check what else would be needed.
Contentedly munching on their breakfasts she called them individually into the living room to try on school clothes and explain how this stain or tear got there. Writing down in separate columns what she needed to buy and what could be reused. She ended with a pile of robes to short for Harry or Hermione to exchange with Mr Edgecomb and a long list of new books and robes that she would need to buy. Examining the twins and Hermione's wands with their attached notes she declared that they would accompany her and Tonks and Charlie would mind Ginny, Harry, Luna and Ron.
Edgecomb's Emporium hadn't changed a bit in the year since they had last been there. Hermione and the twins lounged on the same battered cart with the same tired collie sleeping underneath waiting for Mrs Weasley to call them in.
Mr Edgecomb again unrolled his bundle of wands and this time called Hermione forward first. "I have some new vine wood wands little Miss Weasley. Give them a twirl."
She felt through the wands getting none of the explosive results of last time but none of them felt even as right as the one she already had until the last wand, with a light slash she painted a rainbow across the wall. "This one I think sir."
"A good choice Hermione," Mr Edgecomb said, "Vine wood and dragon heartstring. Not the best match but lots better." He took her old wand from Mrs Weasley and gestured for the twins to come up, "Now boys, your mother says puberty is wrecking havoc with your wands. So you don't blow my shop up we will start with Alder and Rowan wands." As he spoke the wands rearranged themselves the light twisty vine wands replacing themselves with straight pale rowan and rich alder.
The twins arranged themselves a separate ends each picking up a wand waving it observing the often destructive results and replacing them on the table. When they had reached the other end of the row Mr Edgecomb coughed. "Twinned wands then."
The wands rearranged themselves leaving only four. Two dark stubby ones that made Hermione uncomfortable and two long ghostly pale ones. As one the twins picked up the two ghostly ones and there was the light tinkling of broken glass around the shop. Replacing the wands their hands hovered over the short stubby ones before being withdrawn quickly. "They don't feel right." The twins said in unison.
"Blackthorn and Thestral tail hair, not right for you at all." Mr Edgecomb agreed. "I'm afraid Molly I cannot match your sons. I can only suggest you make an appointment for them with Master Oakwood early. I will of course purchase their used wands off you."
Mrs Weasley nodded looking pinched and herded them back to the Burrow, the new robes and books distributed between them. "You'll all have to come to the Alleys then." She said about half way home. "We'll be able to get all but the Wands and the Lockhart books from Beggars Way or Diurn Alley. Lockhart's books will have to be Flourish & Blotts and the Wands with be from Master Oakwood's shop on Oblique Wind."
The knowledge that they would all be taken to the Alleys made them giddy and Mrs Weasley snappish. Finally exasperated fuss Mr Weasley sent them outside with instructions, "Don't go further than the orchard and don't come back until dusk."
By some unspoken agreement the twins and Percy headed towards the pond herding Ginny, Harry, Hermione, Luna and Ron with them. Their cat greeted them by winding through their legs and tripping them over; when Percy sat with his book, quill and parchment their cat settled himself in Percy's lap purring.
"Come here Ginny, Hermione, Luna." Percy called opening the book. "This is an introduction to Ogham runes. You can use them to find a creature's name." They sat around him petting their cat. Interested, Harry found himself drifting away from the rough football game the twins and Ron were playing with no discernible sides or rules. "All you need is a piece of the creature," he held up a tuft of their cat's fur, "some water," Luna cupped her hands in the pond and brought them out dripping. Percy dropped the tuft of fur into the small pool in her cupped hands, "a quill," Hermione twisted the quill under their cat's nose and then dipped it in pooled water. Ginny obviously guessing what was coming next smoothed the parchment over the ground, "some parchment and a will." Hermione placed the quill over the parchment and released it. They sat studious interest on their faces watching the quill scratch out the angular runes in shimmering ink, sometimes orange, sometimes green.
When it was finished writing Luna opened her hands letting the remaining water splash on to the sun parched soil and the quill fall to its side. Opening the book to a table of rune meanings and placing it on the ground so that they could all see Percy began pointing out the letters, "Eite, the feather which marks the beginning," he pointed to the first symbol, "Coll or Hazel, which is said k followed by ruis, the elder, said r and úr or heather said u, then iodhad, the yew, said i, and coll again followed by sail or willow which is said s and uath, the hawthorn, said h. Ailm or the white fur said a and then nion, the ash said n is followed by coll and sail and ended with eite thuathail, the reversed feather that marks the end." His voice had a lecturing tone but he paused at each rune giving them a chance to look at it on the parchment and read it's meaning in the book.
A pencil had emerged from Hermione's pocket and she had written each sounded followed by its meaning down the page. "Kruikshanks," she read down.
Ginny picked the pencil up, "Cruikshanks, as the scots would spell it or Crookshanks as we would."
"What do you think?' Luna asked him. He batted away her wet hands and twined around Harry's legs until he stumbled and sat down to properly adore him. "Do you think we'll be allowed to keep him?"
Ron squawk and the twins yell distracted them from their peaceful discussion of the history and modern uses of Ogham rules while the newly named Crookshanks demanded attention. When they looked up a small hairless creature with bat like ears was standing over Ron who lay sprawled on the ground, the twins unable to reach him. "Get mum and dad!" Percy ordered pushing Hermione and Luna to their feet before standing and attempting to approach the creature. "What are you doing here Elf?" he asked in a fair approximation of Professor McGonagall's 'I'm trying to keep my temper' voice. "This our property you come here unbidden and harm the rightful inhabitants of this place. I demand you speak Elf!"
"I is Dobby." The elf said his tone squeakily defiant, "And I is not having permission to tell yous who Master is! I's to speak with Great Harry Potter Sir."
Harry stepped forward to announce himself but Ginny and Percy grabbed him. "Speak what you must speak Elf and leave our property!" Percy responded.
"I's to speak to the Great Harry Potter Sir!" Dobby yelled. In his agitation the twins were shoved further from Ron who writhed as though pained but couldn't move away or make a sound.
"He is present Elf." Mr Weasley said arriving with Charlie and Tonks close behind. "Speak what you must Elf and leave our property!"
Tonks slid round behind Dobby and pulled the twins around to the front. When she had finished the circuit she was panting, sweat dripping from her brow as though she had run a marathon, her hair flickering between todays neon blue and a mousy brown. Dobby glowered all the while. "I's to speak to the Great Harry Potter Sir." He said.
"Elf you will speak now or you will leave our property unspoken." Mr Weasley said his wand out.
"The Great Harry Potter Sir must not return to Hogwarts." Dobby said.
"Is that all Elf or do you have a reason?" Mr Weasley sounded unimpressed.
"If the Great Harry Potter Sir returns to Hogwarts he will be in mortal danger." Dobby said trembling. "Their is a plot to make most terrible things happen at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."
"I said do you have a reason Elf!" Mr Weasley took a step closer to Dobby.
Dobby shook and bend to smash his head against the ground. "Dobby cannot say what plans." He squeaked grudgingly. He smashed his head against the ground again, "Dobby cannot say who plans." With a scowl he flicked his fingers flinging Ron towards Percy, Harry and Ginny. "They is dark plans. They is not about He Who Must Not Be Named." With a crack he disappeared.
"Beds." Mr Weasley said shooing them towards the house. "The kneazel can come too."
Mr Weasley spent breakfast with his head in the fireplace arranging for Perkins to cover him at work and apologising to his boss. "I'm sorry Amelia," They heard him say, "we had a house elf trespass within our wards last night. I need to arrange an emergency renewal of the wards, possibly a complete overhaul."
"Not at all, Arthur." Madame Bones' clear voice responded. "I saw the report this morning. Let me know when the warders are coming around, the investigative team want to check the wards and entry point over."
"Thanks, Ameila." Mr Weasley said, his shoulders slumping with relief.
"Are your lot going to get their Lockhart books today?" Madame Bones asked a contemptuous twist to her voice with the words Lockhart books.
"Yes and new wands for the eldest three." Mr Weasley answered.
"Try and get there early this morning." Madam Bones advised, "He's having a signing."
"Thanks for the warning." Mr Weasley said, Mrs Weasley chiming in from behind as he stood. "Are you already to go?"
They all nodded assent standing eagerly. Mrs Weasley looked them over with a critical eye, sending Luna upstairs for a longer dress and robe for Ginny, the twins to put on a shirts that clashed less with their robes and Harry to, "change your trousers and bring those back down I'll see what I can do about them."
When the were all dressed to her approval she gathered them together around the fireplace, "We'll be travelling by Floo," She said. "Harry you'll be travelling with Arthur, Hermione you'll be with Percy, Luna with Charlie, Ron and Ginny you're together as are you Fred and George."
She took the round earthen jar from the fireplace, opened it and threw a pinch of green powder into the fire. The fire immediately roar with green flames. With a secure grip on Harry Mr Weasley stepped into the fire and called out, "Diagon Alley."
Surprisingly the flames didn't hut although only slightly tickled and securely held by Mr Weasley Harry rather enjoyed the spinning and seeing the different fireplaces whizz by. They slowed and with a practiced step Mr Weasley drew them from the fireplace to stand in the Leaky Cauldron. He moved to a large table nearby indicating the Harry should sit. It seemed to take no time for Percy and Hermione to emerge, or Charlie and Luna to follow them. There was a slight delay before Ron and Ginny stepped a little less gracefully from the fireplace and then a longer delay before the twins tumbled cheerful out followed immediately after by Mrs Weasley.
Mrs Weasley was scowling in a way that suggested she wasn't really as annoyed as she was trying to pretend, with firm hands she gathered them together so that Ginny, Harry, Hermione, Luna and Ron were caught inside a ring made of Mr and Mrs Weasley, Charlie, Percy and the twins. They were steered down the street at breakneck pace with only gangly Ron having any idea where they were going. It was a surprise to see themselves in Gringotts when the circle opened up for Mr Weasley pull Harry out. "Mind your manners Harry," Mrs Weasley told him as he passed her, she absently tapped his head with her wand and he felt the familiar magic wash over him settling his hair and clothes.
Mr Weasley marched up to the counter. "I need to see someone about Mr Potter's vault."
"Do you?" The goblin at the desk asked. "So do lots of others."
"I'm Arthur Weasley," Mr Weasley said, "Mr Potter's guardian."
"Well now," The goblin looked less disinterested, "If you and Mr Potter would lay wands on this parchment someone will help you."
Mr Weasley tapped his wand once on the sheet of parchment the goblin had procured from a draw under the counter, with a nod he indicated that Harry should copy him. The moment Harry's wand touched the parchment ink spread out across the parchment like a spiders web. Shocked Harry removed his wand; the ink wiggled and twisted until it had rearranged itself into letters.
'Harry James Potter, born 31st July 1980, died -
Parents: James Charles Potter, born 27th March 1960, died 31st October 1981
Lily Potter (née Evans), born 30th January 1960, died 31st October 1981
Guardians: Arthur Weasley, Born 6th February 1950, died -
Molly Weasley (née Prewett), born 30th October 1949, died -' The parchment read.
The goblin nodded once at the sight and called another goblin forward, "Do you have Mr Potter's key, Mr Weasley?" The new goblin asked. Harry thought he recognised him from last August.
"It was not supplied to us." Mr Weasley said his voice slightly acidic. He refused to say more until they were led in to a austere meeting room. "I will require a current statement for Mr Potter's vault along with a list of all transfers made since the 31st October 1981, Griphook." He said as soon as they were seated on the hard high backed chairs. "We will not be pay for ordinary accepted service."
Griphook bared his teeth, "A suitable guardian at last." He said. He went to the door and barked out harsh clattering constants. In very little time a bundle of scrolls were shoved into his hands which he promptly dropped in front of Mr Weasley. "I will take you wife to your vault," he said. "When I return we will speak of Mr Potter's finances."
The parchments full of numbers and names Harry didn't recognise were dull and the room bare of anything but a tall table and the chairs. Harry occupied himself spinning his wand and making it shed multicoloured sparks into the air while Mr Weasley hummed and took notes.
It seemed to take a very long time for Griphook to return and settle himself in a chair. "There will be no transfers from Mr Potter's account accept his Hogwart's tuition and the 5 galleons a year guardian stipend stipulated by the ministry until he is 17." Mr Weasley began.
"Biannual now he's over eleven," Griphook interrupted.
"That's acceptable." Mr Weasley replied continuing, "You will withdraw all keys currently issued and issue a new key to myself to hold until Mr Potter's majority. You will investigate who authorised the payments made from Mr Potter's account."
"Withdrawing the keys will be 3 sickles per key and the new one 5 sickles," Griphook said. "The investigation will be free of charge pending confirmation of who's approval was used. Full costs to be deducted from Mr Potter's account if the authorisation was legal."
"3 sickles for the new key and a fixed cost of 1 galleon for the destruction of existing keys." Mr Weasley countered. He waited for Griphook to nod before continuing, "A set fee of 25 galleons for the investigation whether the approval was legal or not with 20% of the recoverable funds going to Gringotts."
Griphook nodded eagerly his quill streaming across the parchment in front of him. Once finished he handed them to Mr Weasley who made a few changes and returned them signed to Griphook. "You can collect the key tomorrow. Pleasure doing business with you, Arthur."
Mr Weasley waited until they had left the bank before explaining. "Griphook and I both knew some of the transfers where legitimate and some where not. By agreeing a fixed cost and a portion of the recovered funds you make it profitable for him investigate the people who stole from you. Otherwise it would have been more profitable to look at the obviously legitimate transfers such as your fees and school equipment and declare that all the transfers were legitimate."
Harry saw Hermione and Ginny nodding thoughtfully next to him as it all still seemed rather wrong and decide if he ever needed to deal with Gringotts he'd take Mr Weasley or one of the girls.