Chapter 8: Before Spring Term Part I: The Day Before the Trip
When Archie left Glamrod Castle after the Noble House Council meeting, he went to the Ministry of Magic to pick up some new floo powder for the sitting room of the Great Mansion and to set up an international portkey for himself and Veronica. Since there were a few days left until the spring term, Archie thought it was high time that Veronica saw the US properties that the Andrews family owned. Walking to his private lift, he looked at the lift attendant. "Department of Magical Transportation please, Michael." He said. "Of course, Your Grace." Michael said, bowing slightly before pulling the lever to take them to level six. When they got to level six, the lift stopped, and Michael opened the door. "Level six, the Department of Magical Transportation including the Floo Regulation Authority, Broom Regulatory Control, Portkey Office, and Apparating Test Centre." He said.
Stepping out of the lift, Archie first headed to the portkey office and smiled waiting in a small line. When it was his turn, he stepped up to the desk. "Name?" The witch sitting behind the desk asked. "Lord Archibald Andrews." Archie said. "Domestic or international portkey, Your Grace?" The witch asked. "An international portkey please." Archie said. "Where will you be traveling and will you be traveling alone?" The witch asked. "The United States and no, I'll be traveling with my wife Veronica." Archie said. The witch nodded. "Very well, I'm assuming you'll be leaving tomorrow morning and returning before the start of spring term?"
Archie nodded, and while he was going over the details of where the portkey was going, a small flash of heatless black and gold flames flashed before his eyes and he opened the note that appeared in his hand. It was from Veronica. "Got the floo powder love, no need to worry. Lodge Manor had some extra powder and my dad was willing to give up a pot, I know you have other business to attend to today, so I'll see you at home. Love- V" The note read. Archie smiled, that was one less thing to do.
The witch smiled. "Now, your portkey will leave the Ministry for the Office of Magical Customs at MACUSA at 7:00 am and then, after your processed through you'll be able to apparate to the Andrews Ranchhouse in Dallas. Please arrive at 6:45 if you wish to leave on time." She said. Archie nodded and bid the witch goodbye before heading back to the lift. "Where to now, Your Grace?" Michael asked. "Level 1 please, I have a meeting with Minister Bones." Archie said as he stepped into the lift.
When they arrived at Level 1, Michael opened the lift's gate and announced. "Level 1, Minister for Magic and Support staff." He said. "Thank you, Michael." Archie said as he stepped out of the lift. Walking to the Minister's outer office, the Minister's Secretary Cynthia Hawksworth looked up from a stack of parchment she was reading and smiled. "Ah, Your Grace good to see you! Let me see if Minister Bones is ready for you." She said as she ducked into the Minister's office. After a few seconds, Cynthia popped her head out. "Minister Bones is ready for you, Your Grace." She said.
Walking into the office, Archie smiled as Amelia got up and bowed. "Your Grace." She said. Archie returned the bow. "Minister Bones." He said before sitting down Amelia following shortly after. "Now, what I wanted to talk to you about Archie is that we've found out that several of the bills that were brought forth before the Wizengamot's Legislative session were from Dolores Umbridge. While you voided law books 4-7, we found out that the laws that were brought forth had a caveat that stated that only the Minister and the Senior Undersecretary could repeal those laws, for some reason when Arthur and I tried to void the laws as the caveat said, we couldn't." Amelia said pulling out the Minister for Magic's copies of the laws. Looking at the laws, Archie frowned and pulled out his wand placing it on the laws.
"I, Archibald Emmanuel Andrews-Black-Gryffindor-Ravenclaw-Hufflepuff-Slytherin-Le Fey-Emrys-Peverell as Duke of Gryffinsmore hereby void these laws, as they contradict the first three law books and the laws of Merlin." He said. Archie and Amelia watched as the laws tore themselves up. "You also needed the approval of the Duke of Gryffinsmore." He said. "Is there anything else, Minister Bones?" Archie asked.
"Actually, Arthur had something to talk to you about. I believe he knows the whereabouts of Peter Pettigrew." Amelia said as there was a knock on the door. "Enter." Amelia said. Arthur Weasley walked in with a cage in his hands. In the cage, was a rat with a missing toe on his paw. "Well, Well, Well Peter Pettigrew. Arthur, how did you manage to catch him?" He asked. "Ron still had him in the cage when he came home, and I realized that he had a missing toe on his paw and realized that I had a wanted criminal in my home. When I explained to Ron that Scabbers wasn't Scabbers he agreed to let me take him." Arthur said.
Taking the cage from Arthur, Archie stood. "I will take this criminal to Director Scrimgeour and Director Moody myself. Amelia, Arthur please have a wonderful day, I shall see you at the next Wizengamot meeting." He said before taking his leave. Stepping onto the lift, Archie looked at Michael. "Level two please, Michael." He said. Michael nodded and the two started their decent.
Once again, when the lift stopped Michael opened the lift gate and announced. "Level two, the Department of Magical Law Enforcement including the Improper Use of Magic Office, Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office, Auror Office, and the Wizengamot Administration Services." He said. Archie stepped off and walked to Director Scrimgeour's office. The secretary looked up and stood. "Your Grace, I was not aware Director Scrimgeour had an appointment with you today." She said.
"Actually, I don't have an appointment with him at this time, however I need to speak with him as soon as possible as it is a matter of utmost importance." Archie said. The secretary nodded. "Let me see if Director Scrimgeour has a moment." She said as she ducked into the office. After a few seconds, instead of the secretary popping her head out, Rufus Scrimgeour walked out to greet the young lord. "Your Grace, Esme tells me you have something important to speak with me about." He said bowing slightly.
Archie held up the cage. "This is Peter Pettigrew, I want him thrown into a cell with the strongest anti animagus wards you can place and questioned under veritaserum. I am trusting you to inform the clerk in charge of criminal dockets in the Wizengamot Administration Services office to add the trial of Peter Pettigrew to the docket of the next Wizengamot meeting which, if I remember correctly is the day before the start of the spring term at Hogwarts." He said
Scrimgeour nodded and sent a patronus to Mad Eye Moody to meet him in the holding cells. "Will you be joining us, Your Grace?" He asked. "Unfortunately, I can't. I must go and inform Ragnok of the claimant to the 25,000 galleon reward for Pettigrew's capture and I must go home and pack for my little trip to the US with Veronica tomorrow." He said. Rufus again nodded. "Then I shall send you an owl with the memory of Pettigrew's questioning and a transcript for your records." He said.
"Thank you, Rufus. Don't worry, I'll take care of adding Pettigrew's trial to the docket of the next Wizengamot meeting" Archie said before walking over to the Wizengamot Administrative Services office to speak with Edgar Marchbanks, the clark of record in charge of criminal dockets to be brought before the Wizengamot and the grandson of Madam Marchbanks. "I just wanted to inform you Edgar, that Peter Pettigrew has been captured. Please add his trial to the docket for the meeting on the 4th." He said. Edgar nodded and left to do just that.
After that business was out of the way, Archie walked back to the lift and went to the atrium so he could apparate to Gringotts. Arriving in the VIP apparition point, he walked to a teller. "Good morning, Teller Sharptease may your gold grow and your enemies fall before you and beg for mercy. Would you see if Chief Ragnok is available for a quick meeting?" He asked the goblin. "Of course, Your Grace." Sharptease said getting off his stool and walking to Ragnok's office. After a few minutes, a goblin guard came and escorted him to Ragnok's office.
"Archie, how are you today?" Ragnok asked as Archie walked in. "I'm good, Ragnok thank you for asking. I just came to inform you that Arthur Weasley is to receive the 25,000 galleon reward for the capture of Peter Pettigrew. Also, I'd like for you to take 50,000 galleons from the Andrews Family vault and put it into the Weasley Family vault." Archie said with a smile. Ragnok nodded. "Is that all, Archie?" He asked.
"Also, I wanted to find out if there were more properties in the US then what was in the account ledger." Archie said. "Yes, there's a small manor house overlooking Bourbon Street in New Orleans and then there's an apartment in New York overlooking Times Square. Those two were a heavily guarded secret from those who were not friends of your family or those not of Andrews blood. When Grindlewald was gaining support from pureblood supremacists in the United States, he decided to seize any properties in Louisiana and New York he could get his hands on, so when your great grandfather was Lord Andrews, he sealed Humbleblossom Manor in New Orleans and Apartment 225 at Mountain Manor Luxury Apartments in New York City." Ragnok said.
Archie nodded. "Well, Ragnok if there's nothing else I'll take my leave. I trust that you will keep me abreast of any and all issues regarding my accounts. May your enemies beg for mercy and their gold fill your vaults." He said. "And may your enemies tremble at the sound of your name." Ragnok said. Archie left and apparated back to the Great Mansion to a hub of activity.
The elves were seeing to packing both Archie and Veronica's things for their trip to the United States. "Mitsy, I take it that I won't need to worry about packing?" He asked. "Not at all, Master Archie we've got it all taken care of." Mitsy said. Archie smiled and went to his office and looked at the portrait of his great grandfather Vicktor Andrews. "Granddad Vicktor, is there anything I need to do to unseal Humbleblossom Manor and Apartment 225?" He asked. "With Humbleblossom Manor, all you have to do is press the Head of House ring into the head of the griffin that adorns the gate and the manor will unseal, as for the apartment, you'll say this phrase to the building manager, the phrase is the dark eve is in progress, he'll take you up to the apartment and unlock the door that'll unseal the apartment. I suggest that if this Voldemort character does come back, you seal both again to prevent him from seizing the properties." Vicktor said.
"I doubt that Voldemort will do what Grindlewald did, Dad we don't even know if he'll try and garner support from the US purebloods like Grindlewald did nor do we know if he'll return." Balderich said. "Well, Balderich I refuse to allow my great grandson to take that chance!" Vicktor said. "Antioch, is there anything I need to know about any of the other properties the Peverell family have?" Archie asked. "No, not that I know of however, you may want to call Pipley, she's the head house elf of the Peverell family to find out she'll know for sure." Antioch said.
"Pipley!" Archie called. A small pop was heard and Pipley appeared and bowed. "What can Pipley do for you Master Archie?" The little elf asked. "Is there anything I need to know about the Peverell family properties minus Peverell Manor?" Arche asked. "All properties be well looked after, Master Archie and all of the Peverell elves be working hard to keep all Peverell properties ready for guests." Pipley said.
"Excellent, Veronica let's head to bed we have a big day tomorrow." Archie said walking to Veronica and walking up the stairs.