Harry walked out from the bank and looked at the alley. He wasn't sure why but every time he came there it seemed to change. He knew it was not the street but he who had changed but there was still this sense of nothing ever being the same for him. People looked at him no longer as Harry Potter, but as a powerful lord.
Head up and chin high he walked through the streets and headed to Flourish and Blotts. "Is Felix here?" he asked the store clerk curtly.
The man bobbed nervously at the presence of Harry. "Of course my lord, I will fetch Mr Flourish for you. Would you also like to see Mr Blotts as well?"
Harry had never met the other owner so he gave a brief nod. "If both are present, I would request a chance to speak with both men if they are available."
The man disappeared and soon returned with Felix and another man he realized must be Blotts. "I am Thomas Blotts, Lord Black-Snape."
Harry shook his hand briefly. "I hope I have not put you out requesting to speak with you. I prefer though dealing with you in our dealings."
Felix ushered Harry into the backroom as before. "Of course. We are honoured for the business you have given us and we'd happily offer our services."
Harry looked at the stock area. "As you have used my name I know you're aware of my husband's identity. I'd like to enquire after the remainder of his books."
Felix smiled. "I should have suspected when you purchased the others. I apologize but some have been purchased but we've managed to keep a few."
Thomas nodded towards the books. "The more dangerous and valuable ones we knew you'd be needing, we managed to keep in our possession."
Harry was a bit surprised. "What do you mean you managed to keep a hold of? Who is it that purchased the other books?"
Felix looked uncomfortable. "Normally we would not give out personal information about one of our customers."
Thomas cut him off. "But since your husband and you have proven such good customers, we will allow you to know that it is Albus Dumbledore."
Harry had no idea why Dumbledore would but he'd find out. "I will take the books you have kept and I hope you can provide me with the names of those he bought."
Felix nodded and handed him a list. "I assume your husband will be able to tell you why Albus may have been so anxious for any of these books."
Harry wondered if it had anything more then Albus trying to do anything to slow Severus down. "That I assume he will. I should be going. Are the books ready?"
Thomas handed him shrunken bags as he handed over the money. "I have included a list of other books your husband might be interested in us obtaining."
Felix nodded. "Your husband asks from time to time for us to recommend books that come our way. I'll assume you are in contact with your husband often."
Harry inclined his head. "As you are aware my husband is a fugitive and thought dead by many, but I'm certain I could get a hold of him if required. I'll pass it on."
Harry left the store and knowing that he had drawn enough attention from the bank and the store he decided it was safe enough to return to the house. He didn't want it too look like he was making a show of it. His interest was peeked now about the books and why Albus might have been so anxious. When he got home he looked up from his papers and he looked as surprised as Harry by the news.
He looked at the books Albus had gotten. "I think that the books were just taken by Albus in some attempt to get at me. These particular books have no importance."
Harry nodded at the bags. "Flourish said that he hid the books he knew were more important for you. He was certain he got the ones you'd need the most."
Severus ran his fingers down the list of books they could get for him. "I'll ask you to send an owl on a few of these. Some will be more useful then the lost."
Harry was just relieved his husband was not worried over the books that had been taken. "You're confident that there is nothing to be cautious about?"
Severus reached out and pulled Harry in for a warm kiss. "I promise you, there is nothing to worry about."
Harry sunk down into a chair across from him and went to work on some of his studies that Minerva had sent for him recently. Susan and Luna would be arriving the next day and Harry was anxious to speak with them. His mind kept wandering from his studies, still worried about what was about to go down.
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Harry was thrilled the next morning when he came down into the kitchen and found that his husband was having tea with Susan and Luna as well as Amelia who had accompanied her niece to the meeting
Luna and Susan both stood and hugged him. Luna smiled. "Glad to see you're doing better brother. You were still so pale when we left the manor after you woke."
Harry returned her smile. "Thank you for helping wake me. I am grateful that you two would risk your safety for me. "
Susan took her turn to hug him. "You're more then just Lord Gryffindor, you're a brother to us. We're happy to have you back. And for the news of your daughter."
Harry's face always lit up at the mention of his daughter. "She is growing strong with her Uncle. Hard to believe we will be parents in just over four months time."
Luna beamed at the thought. "You will make wonderful parents the two of you. Just more incentive for us to make sure tomorrow goes well."
Susan agreed. "We need to make sure that Albus is not able to regain the school. He gains too much control when he is able to run the school. Too much influence."
Harry knew they spoke of the influence over you minds, getting new followers. "We need to ensure the student body is not corrupted into joining his little army."
Harry and his order had left the school alone since they had taken over. They did not want any of the students to become involved in the war. If they chose to enter it after they were done school, they couldn't stop them but for now they wanted the students to have the chance to be just that, students.
Harry sighed. "We have eight votes between us on the counsel, as well as Amelia's, Minerva's, and three others I have been assured. Thirteen out of thirty five."
Severus nodded. "If all of the lords take their seats you will have less then half of the votes. You will need to work to convince the others."
Harry wasn't sure how easy this was going to be. "Do you really think we'll be able to convince the other lords to vote on our side?"
Severus nodded. "Albus has never had fans among the lords. The lords are sticklers for traditions. The school founders are an ancient tradition."
Amelia agreed. "You simply need to keep calm and remind the others of the founders' rights and of your powers as a member of the wizengot."
Susan turned to Harry. "You will do most of the talking though Susan and I as well as Aunt Amelia will be there with the others to back you up in this."
Harry was a bit shocked by that. "Why me? I have never been the best public speaker. I know I am lord Gryffindor but this is not the school where I'm head."
Luna spoke. "But you are the one who right now is holding six seats which not only makes you the most powerful of us but of any of the others on the counsel."
Severus added. "And you know what to do. Remember just do as Lucius would do. Your Malfoy act will impress people there more then any where else."
Harry smiled. "Then I guess the job is perfectly suited for me, after all Lucius did say before I left that I was a better Malfoy then he was, in using his persona."
Severus kissed his husband. "There is your usual confidence. And I think a bit of your insufferable Gryffindorness added to it, might just be useful here as well."
Harry had never thought his husband would ever utter such a thought to him. "You're actually telling me to be a Gryffindor?"
Severus smirked. "I know how odd it seems to be to hear that from my lips but if it will help you win the day."
Severus and Harry spent the rest of the day talking strategy with the three women and when Harry went to bed that night he was feeling slightly more at ease but he was still not sure that he was ready to have the pressure of having the entire day resting on his shoulders alone. He hoped he'd be able to pull this off.
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The wizengot met in a huge room done in gold and obsidian down in the very heart of the ministry of magic. Most of the lords were already gathered and as the hour struck, Cornelius Fudge stepped forward. He was not a lord or a member of the counsel but he was still to lead the session.
He looked around and noticed the empty seats but he had to start. "We have been summoned to hear the demands of Albus Dumbledore, former leader of our body."
Albus stepped forward. "I have come to plead the case to have myself returned as headmaster of the school of Hogwarts which I was wrongly removed from."
One of the lords stepped up. "We all know that the founders have had you removed as if their right. Why should we consider returning you too your place?"
Albus smiled. "The founders' heirs can only run the group as four. With Lord Slytherin a fugitive out of country and Lord Gryffindor in a coma, this is not possible."
A lady stood up. "Have you not heard the word that Lord Gryffindor was spotted only recently in Diagon Alley."
Dumbledore turned to the woman. "That is lies. And even if they were not just rumours, Lord Slytherin would still be out of commission."
A voice rang from the room. "Unfortunately for you Albus, you're wrong. I was in Diagon Alley and I now stand before you."
Albus turned towards the voice. "Harry? I had heard you were a quivering little vegetable."
Harry laughed. "You would know why wouldn't you but you heard wrong. And forget that as Lord Gryffindor Potter Black-Snape I have a place here."
Albus snorted. "Three seats, a real worry there. And it does not change the fact that Lord Slytherin is not present."
Harry handed forms across. "My husband has named me Lord Prince and Slytherin in his absence, as well as having gained Lord Malfoy to the list."
Albus looked down at the papers. "Prince and Malfoy is one thing but Lord Slytherin is by blood. He can't simply pass his title. It does not work that way."
Harry smirked. "Do your history. He is Lord Slytherin because I gave him the title. I was the true heir and in his absence I am again. Lord Gryffindor and Slytherin stands before you Albus."
Luna stepped forward. "And Lady Ravenclaw."
Susan stepped in between the two of them. "And Lady Hufflepuff."
Harry smiled at his two companions. "And I can assure you Albus that you will not regain control of the school."
The entire room went into an uproar over the news that had just been revealed by the newcomers and Fudge tried to calm down the noise but he was having no affect. He wasn't too anxious to stop it; he was quite enjoying watching Dumbledore suffer again. He was hoping to see Dumbledore put in his place once again by this man.