THE TIME ANOMALY
CHAPTER FOUR
Disclaimer: I own none of it. I happily let Rowling have all of the items, as she invented them - I praise her ingenuity in coming up with them, as I doubt I have sufficient imagination to make up my own (though I could (maybe) if I tried).
The next day James inquired as to Remus financial situation, to which Remus hastily replied that he did not require any assistance, although he did not much enjoy the work he was doing at the moment. James knew that Remus just didn't want to accept charity, so he and Sirius generally had to disguise it as a job offer or some such thing.
So he offered Remus the position of being his liaison with the wizarding world, as he heartily did not wish to show his face in Diagon Alley or the Ministry of Magic for fear of the press if they recognized him. However, he risked a trip to see Madam Bones and inform her that Remus was to be his communication with her in the event that somthing should come up that could not be discussed via owl.
His next important business was to visit Gringotts, to inform his account manager that Remus should be given responsibility and full usage of the Potter vaults, and also to enquire how business had been transacted in his 'absence', since magically he had not been dead, although he had left a body behind, and his will (which was filed with the goblins) would not have activated since he was not magically dead. Also he had to find out if anyone had bothered to inform Harry that he had a vault full of gold sitting in Gringotts.
He debated with himself what disguise to use, as there was no direct access to Gringotts through Apparating or the Floo. Everybody had to walk in, and as most of the businessplaces of Diagon Alley had wards against Apparition, it was almost impossible to Apparate in Diagon Alley without details about where the wardline was, and it was usually injurious to health to try to Apparate inside a warded area. James resigned himself to his usual disguise of light-brown hair and altered features. Polyjuice wouldn't work either, because the goblins did not like such concealments, and Polyjuice interfered with their identification system.
So as he walked cautiously through the Alley, he kept to the shadows and kept his head down.
James approached one of the goblins and asked to see Griphook.
"And who are you to request that?" the goblin sneered nastily.
"I would prefer not to reveal my true identity, but if you would tell Griphook that Mr Evans wants to see him, I think he'll let me."
As some wizards had set-up code-names to avoid encounters with undersirable people, this request did not often come as a surprise. The goblin grumbled and called another goblin to tell Griphook that Mr Evans was on the way, and escorted James to Griphook's office.
"Griphook, may your gold ever flow," James greeted Griphook.
"Only the Potters ever took the time to learn the goblin greetings!" Griphook laughed. "But you always outdid the rest of them,"
In addition to the code-name, James had set-up a fake greeting to show they were who they said they were. They were both fast friends, and Griphook generally did not show the cunning the goblins usually displayed with James. The real goblin greeting was a bit different.
"This is my friend and, henceforth, representative, Remus Lupin. His code-name is Moony until we can come up with a better one." James introduced them. "Remus, this is Griphook. He is the Potter account manager. Griphook, I trust Remus implicitly, and if he calls at Gringotts on my behalf he should have full access to the Potter vaults until I say otherwise," with a wink that told Griphook it didn't matter if it wasn't James business. "I do not care to show my face in Diagon Alley anytime soon. Remus has a charmed mirror that we can communicate with - " he demonstrated the mirrors (he had gotten his own back via Remus from Dumbledore). " - for the more tricky transactions."
"Those mirrors are genius. Can I have one?" joked Griphook.
"Certainly. I anticipated your request, actually. This way I can know if anybody tried to rob my vaults."
Griphook looked surprised, but accepted the mirror.
"Now for the more important issue. My son - Harry - did he come to the bank this year?"
"He did. I took him down to his trust vault myself. He was with one he called Hagrid. You know him?"
"Oh yes, but why was he escorting Harry?"
"I know that his godparents were incapacitated, perhaps he has been living in the care of Dumbledore or one of the other professors at Hogwarts?"
"That's a good assumption. I'll ask Dumbledore."
"He did seem so utterly awed by everything magical, and he'd never been in before. I saw him reading the 'Thieves Beware' poem on the front door, and as they walked in, Hagrid mentioned how 'As I said, yeh'd be mad ter try an rob it'. Now that I recall, Hagrid was the one with the key, not Harry. Harry...he didn't know about your Galleons and Sickles. He seemed to have been aquianted with the Knuts very recently, as he admired all of them. He asked countless questions. Also, Hagrid took something very unique for Dumbledore from vault 713. That same vault was robbed later, but as it was empty nothing was taken."
"That was that vault?"
"Yes. He wouldn't let Harry know. 'Top secret. More than my job is worth to tell you that' he said. Harry was also wearing Muggle clothes - several sizes too big - deep, set-in grass stains and all sorts of other kinds of stains. Also, no one ever claimed his guardianship."
"That's all very odd. Lily's sister was a Muggle, he might have been living with her. I doubt Dumbledore would put him there, however, as she really hates magic and everything to do with it. I'll speak to him."
"Is there anything else you'll need?"
"Just to get some money out of the vault and look at the Potter holdings. Thanks for telling me all that about Harry, Griphook."
"No problem at all," Griphook said as he led them out of the office. James got a bagful of money and handed it absentmindedly to Remus with directions to get an owl.
"I was surprised when the will didn't activate," Griphook remarked presently, as he led them out of the bank.
"I just got launched forwards in time ten years. Odd, isn't it?"
"Very."
When James got home that afternoon, he found an owl from Madam Bones.
Mr Potter,
There are no records of Sirius Black's trial, meaning
that there never was a trial. I have started the process of
enticing the current Minister to get a trial organized. His
main priority is making his public approval rating stay as
high as possible. I will alert you if I have anything of note
to tell you.
I can renew your visiting Azkaban licence whenever
you want. Send Mr Lupin over to get it, I'll trust him on your
behalf.
~~Amelia Bones,
Director of the Department
of Magical Law Enforcement
(DMLE)
James assumed the owl was still around to receive a reply, so he wrote an answering letter and tied it to the owl's leg.
Director Bones,
I have received your intelligence and appreciate your
haste to ensure proper justice is served. You are an intelligent
pick for the position of Head of the DMLE.
When I heard that the moron Fudge had become Minister,
I was highly incredulous. But such habits as you described
suit him perfectly and I am not much surprised. Please
continue to send me updates on the case.
I forgot to tell you previously, but I like to set up a code-
name, just in case. Mine is Mr. Mark Evans, Remus' is Moony
until we come up with a better one. I will send Remus to get
the licence for me to use. I know it will be hopeless asking for
one for Remus, as he is a werewolf and it wouldn't be accepted
anyway.
They have already moved Sirius to a location with fewer convicts
as, for one he has not received a trial, and for two, it would be unfair
to the rest of the inmates from the high-security wing to receive
withdrawals from the Dementors for a couple hours every few days.
~~James Potter,
Head of the House of Potter
The owl fluttered off with a hoot. Therew as a knock at the door. James realized that the letter writing and reading had taken a long time.
"Moony! You know better than to knock! Just come on in, I got a letter from Bones." He handed the letter to Remus as he let the owl he'd purchased out of its cage.
"Interesting. Of course, we already know Sirius never got a trial, but it's nice to know we have got a good Head of the DMLE. Did you reply?"
"Yes, her owl was waiting. I told her good job and keep it up.
Later, as JAmes and Remus sat on the couch, James had a thought.
"Hey, Moony, do you think Harry would want to become an Animagus?"
"Depends. What sort of boy is he? Is he magically powerful, does he like pranking, it all depends, James, on what sort of boy he is. We would have to wait a few years before commencing training - if you'll remember, it took us until fifth year, which I found was because our core had to settle a bit - but mostly we'll have to meet him to know for certain."
"I hope, at least to have him by the middle of December, so he can spend Christmas with his dad, Uncle Moony and Padfoot."
"Why don't you work with Dumbledore beforehand? A meeting with Dumbledore would take up a while, and we wouldn't have enough time to spend with Harry if we did both in the same day. Aquaint Dumbledore with the facts of your life and get imformation out of him, and meet Harry ASAP."
"Merlin Remus, where do you get these ideas from?" James asked, astounded.
"They just pop into my head, I suppose."
"Don't sell yourself short, Remus! You're a genius."
"If you say so."
"No, really, why else were you made prefect?"
"You were Head Boy."
"And no idea why, Remus, no idea why." James said, shaking his head bewilderedly.