A/N – Thanks again for all your comments. It seems a lot of you like Tonks as much as I do.
Chapter 13 – The Name is Tonks, Not Nymphadora!
As the sun rose the next morning it found Albus in his office sending out a number of owls to get his plan in motion. He had been up since 4am writing letters to various witches and wizards. He was going to have to pull a lot of strings to get his plans in place. He wasn't too worried – the entire wizarding world owed him and he was not above collecting over and over again.
Once the owls were gone, he decided on an early breakfast before he got ready to head to London. The Wizengamot would have to make a decision today if he had any say in it.
Tonks had been thinking all night. There was something not right about this whole situation and she had not been able to come up with any possible explanation that would make it right. She needed to see Remus sooner rather than later.
As soon as Mundungus showed up, she briefed him about her night watch (leaving out her doubts) and apparated back to her flat. She took a quick pepper-up potion and floo-called Remus.
"Wotcher Remus, are you there?" Tonks voice said from his hearth.
Remus looked up from his Breakfast, "Good morning Tonks. Had breakfast yet?"
"Nope."
"Well come on through. I would enjoy the company."
His fire flared green and Tonks came tumbling through. Remus had a soft spot for the young Auror but that was as far as he let himself get. He had reconciled himself to the fact that he would be alone due to his furry little problem.
Tonks sat at the table across from Remus and helped herself to some breakfast.
"Tonks, are you OK? It looks like something is bothering you."
Tonks was unsure. Since Sirius' death, Remus had seemed to become the lone dissenting voice in the Order when it came to Harry. If there was anyone she thought she could trust with her worries, it would be the last of Harry's parents' closest friends. Still, she was nervous as she began.
"Remus, I'm worried about Harry. He's just lost his godfather, and for some reason Albus keeps him locked up and isolated. It's just not right. All I've ever received form Albus is talk about 'The Greater Good' but he overuses that and I find it extremely patronizing."
"I spent all of my watch last night trying to come up with a reasonable and logical explanation as to why Harry is being kept isolated from his friends and the world. The disturbing part is that I came up with a number of logical and plausible reasons but none of them fit my idea of 'The Greater Good'. Remus I think I'm losing my trust in Albus as a leader."
Remus looked at Tonks and was deep in thought. He was trying to think about the next words he would say. He knew Albus was starting to lose confidence in him since Remus publicly voiced his displeasure with Albus' treatment of Harry. He came to a decision.
Tonks was growing more and more nervous as she looked for some response from Remus. As she had talked his expression had hardened and now it had been over a minute since she finished talking and he still had not said anything. She got up to leave, "Remus, I'm probably just being paranoid forget …" she was stopped by a hand around her wrist and she looked into the werewolf's eyes seeing a softened expression.
"Tonks, please stay. I'm sorry but I was lost in my own thoughts. You know I've been critical of Albus for the exact same reasons but I'm also careful to whom I give my trust. Tonks, I apologize but I had to decide whether you were here for the reasons you said or if you were here as some sort of loyalty test of Dumbledore's."
Tonks started to say something.
"No, please don't interrupt. I know that you are not here at the request of Dumbledore and that you are probably just as scared of me informing Dumbledore, as I am that he sent you here. What I'm trying to say Tonks is that I trust you." With that he released his grip.
Tonks processed what he said and impulsively hugged him. Remus tentatively returned the hug but backed away a few seconds later. Neither knew that the same certain thoughts they had passed through the others mind as well.
With both of them more relaxed and a bit embarrassed they sat back down. Remus asked Tonks, "I'm meeting someone who shares our concerns for lunch. Would you like to join me?"
Tonks smiled cheekily, "Remus, are you asking me out on a date?" She lengthened her eyelashes and batted them at him.
Remus sputtered, "Um, well, what I mean is…"
Tonks laughed – it was funny to see a werewolf blush, "Interesting. I didn't expect that reaction," she thought. "Remus, I'm just teasing." He started laughing too. Tonks continued, "Yes, I would like to accompany you and meet this person."
Remus said, "I just need to let him know."
Tonks watched as Remus called his Patronus – she thought it was a small dog – and proceeded to tell it something. It went bounding off.
"Interesting patronus – a puppy?"
"No – it a wolf cub. This one is fairly recent. I don't have too many happy memories with my condition, but the cub appeared shortly after I got to know Harry. Sirius and I took to referring to him as our cub since he was our best friends' only child."
A few minutes later a large stag appeared and in a familiar voice replied, "We'll see you at noon."
Tonks was wondering whom this stag belonged to when she realized she now knew of a place called 'Potter Manor'. Her eyes opened wide and looked at Remus.
He smiled and shook his head at the unasked question. "It's his story to tell. In the meantime, what do you want to do?"
"Well, I was wondering if you could tell me about your school years with Sirius. I've heard rumours and he told me a few things. You guys were called the Marauders right?"
"Yes, however if I'm going to let you in on this I insist you call me Moony."
They smiled at each other and talked the whole morning.
/Scene Break/
Harry woke up refreshed that morning. He really didn't have to worry about going back to Privet Drive anymore. His elves were taking turns turning lights on and off and keeping watch for Dumbledore. He got up and got ready for the day.
Hermione was just leaving her room as he finished and they shared a 'good morning' hug and kiss and walked down to breakfast together holding hands. When they entered the dining area they saw that Luna and Severus were already there.
"Good morning Luna, Severus," Harry noticed the empty coffee cup on the table, "where's Tom this morning?"
Severus was still not used to using his given name, "The Dark … He is already down at the guesthouse we will be using. This morning we will be preparing the ingredients for the potion and should be ready to start brewing this evening."
"OK. Remus Lupin will be coming by for lunch today – now, now Severus we all need to put our pasts behind us and get along," Harry said in answer to Snape's grimace and then continued, "I'm going to let him read the whole document. After that, if he's OK with it, I'm going to bring him down to meet Tom."
Severus looked at him, "Do you think it is wise?"
"We need to get Moony fully into our plans as soon as possible. If he's not fully on side after reading the documents, I'll show him the orphanage memory we showed you last night. But I see your point, if I don't think he's ready to meet Tom, I won't force him to do so."
Severus nodded stiffly. Just as he was getting up to leave, silver shape which looked very much like a puppy cam bounding in the room and stopped in front of Harry.
"Harry, Tonks came here to talk to me today. I really think she needs to talk to you – all of you. Do you mind if she joins us at the Manor for lunch?" said the puppy in Moony's voice.
Severus looked at Harry, "This might complicate matters."
"Or, it could help us out a lot. If Moony thinks she should be coming here then we should hear her out and make up our minds."
Harry conjured his Patronus and asked it to send the reply, "We'll see you at noon," to Moony. As soon as the stag was on its way, Harry asked Jeeves to get the Manor book and added Nymphadora Tonks to the list.
"Severus, can you please let Tom know of our plans for lunch and also that we may be stopping by around 3:00? Also you both know that if you require anything, please feel free to ask any of the house elves."
Snape thanked Harry and left. As he was walking across the grounds to the house where Tom was waiting for him, he reflected on the past 24 hours. He still had a tough time comprehending the reality of the situation. Harry Potter and Tom Riddle were now allies against the Pureblood families aligned with the self-proclaimed 'Leader of the Light'.
He also realized how his 'betrayal' of Lily had been a set-up from the start. He was not the Order's spy in the Death Eaters, why would two sides of the same organization require a spy. No, he was the half-blood scapegoat – playing the double agent and also making half-blood and muggleborn students miserable while favouring the purebloods who he secretly hated with a passion. "Well," he smiled with his thought, "that's one thing that is going to change come September."
/Scene Break/
It was almost noon when Albus left the Ministry. He had managed to get what he wanted. The special sitting of the Wizengamot had listened to his unusual request and it had been granted. Once that was completed, it took him no time to get Minister Fudge and his Undersecretary on board as well. Now he just had to visit Gringotts with the document he had in his hands.
Unbeknownst to any of them, Percy had heard the entire conversation. In his position as Fudge's assistant he was always pretty much treated as invisible unless wanted for some task or errand. It had never really bothered him since it came with the territory, however at this moment he realized it was a godsend.
He wasn't sure about what it all meant. "Maybe Audrey and the twins might be able to make something of it," he thought.
/Scene Break/
Arthur Weasley looked at the clock and made his way from his office to the lifts. He was meeting the twins, Percy and Audrey for lunch. Anyone who knew Arthur would have noticed that he was not his normal self. No, Arthur had a very serious look on his face, as he was deep in thought.
So many things had changed over the past month that he had trouble coping with it all. Percy had come back into his life from his self-imposed exile. That lovely girl Audrey was responsible for it and he was happy his son had found someone he loved and who loved him back. Arthur liked Audrey right away and saw how good she and Percy were for each other.
The twins had opened up their shop and by all reports were doing a spectacular business. Even the Prophet's business section reported that Zonko's sales were down this year. Arthur had never worried about the twins. Their marks may have not been the best at school, but that was because their brilliance lay elsewhere. If they had been tested for their potions, charms and transfiguration ability based on their own inventions Arthur was sure they would have received top marks with distinction on their NEWTS.
He knew that the twins had their heart set on a shop since before they went to Hogwarts. Sometimes he was frustrated by the fact that he could not have helped them along further – Molly was dead-set against it and besides, there was not enough money – but yet somehow they had managed to find enough to open up the shop. Arthur suspected that a certain Mr. Potter had provided them with the initial investment. The timing around the end of the tri-wizard tournament that was followed by a summer where the twins made great leaps and bounds with their business was not lost on him. When you added the facts that Harry nearly threw the money back at Fudge and the twins uncharacteristically bought Ron a new set of dress robes, it pointed to Harry.
Harry – there was an enigma. Arthur liked – no loved – the young man. He was like a seventh son. That Harry turned out the way he had was a miracle in and of itself. He had met the muggles that Dumbledore had placed him with and heard rumours and stories about his life there from Ron and Hermione. He still didn't understand or agree to Dumbledore's reasons for putting him there. Blood Wards or not, if half the stories he heard were true, the boy would have been safer at Malfoy Manor. However instead of being hardened and hating the world, Harry was a very shy and loving person. His loyalty to his friends was such that he would have made the perfect Hufflepuff. He had befriended Ron and through that friendship Ron had been able to chart a course out of his older brothers' shadows.
At age 12, Harry had cemented his bond with the Weasley clan when he had faced a millennium-old Basilisk alone and defeated it to save Ginny. There was nothing the Weasley's could ever do to repay Harry for that – not that he would ever ask for anything in return. Arthur too, owed a life debt to Harry – just last December, Harry had been able to warn the Order in time to save his own life.
Arthur's thoughts led him to thinking about the fight the kids had at the DoM. Fourteen Death Eaters versus 6 students – two of them still in fourth year. They were lucky any of them came out alive let alone all alive and – with the help of the Order – capturing twelve Death Eaters. Even Fudge arrived in time with Ministry Aurors to see Voldemort leave.
However there had been a cost. Bellatrix killed Sirius and Voldemort had possessed Harry. All of the students had been injured to some degree but their different reactions to the effects of the battle made Arthur think.
When he had seen Harry in the school infirmary, he saw a distant sunken look in his eyes. The double trauma of losing his godfather and being possessed by Voldemort had taken their toll on the boy's psyche. But he was more concerned for his friends than himself and kept constant vigil over Hermione's bed while she recovered.
The reaction he did not expect came from his own family. Molly was livid when she found out. She blamed Harry for the injuries sustained by the other children and had even gone so far as to say, "The boy even got his own godfather killed."
Arthur had thought that it was just the heat of the moment, but she had not softened over the past month since the battle. The other troubling part of this situation was that Ron and Ginny seemed to agree with her. As far as he could tell, neither had talked to Harry or the other three students since the battle. Albus seemed to agree in part with them and thought that Harry should be isolated from his friends over the summer to allow him to sort out his priorities and learn from his mistakes.
Then there was this marriage contract. Sirius had never mentioned to him anything about an arranged marriage between Harry and Ginny. But yet Albus had the proper documents signed by Sirius. Ginny's agreement was also a surprise since she had been vehemently Anti-Harry. However Arthur had a soft spot for his daughter and he could not find it in himself to refuse her plea for him to sign it.
All of this left Arthur in a confused and conflicted mindset as he walked into the Leaky Cauldron. He looked around and saw the twins along with Percy and Audrey already deep in conversation. Audrey had seen him and greeted him with a genuine smile. She waved him over to the table.
The boys all looked up and smiled, "Dad!"
Arthur smiled too, "Hi sons. Hello Audrey."
"Hello Mr. Weasley."
"Audrey, it's Arthur."
He sat down with them and caught up on the small talk. He could see that the twins were in their element running the shop. He had never seen them put so much energy and focus into any other thing they had ever done. And Percy, you just had to look at him to see he was in love and that Audrey was as well. He was proud of these boys and the way their lives seemed to be headed.
Arthur could sense however that there was an undercurrent of tension around the table from his boys. He was wondering how to broach the subject when Percy spoke up.
"Dad, did Mum mention I went to visit her at the Burrow yesterday?"
"No. She didn't mention it. How did it go?"
"Well, at first it went alright. She seemed happy to see me and was pretty excited at first when I told her about Audrey. But then," Percy hesitated. Arthur noticed that Audrey squeezed his hand tighter. "But then she got really angry when I told her that Audrey was muggleborn. She started going on that there would be no mudbloods in our family and that she never wanted to meet her. I've never heard Mum act like that. What's worse is that Ron and Ginny backed her up. To tell you the truth Dad, I've never felt so hurt in my entire life."
Arthur was stunned. Molly acting like a blood purist? Ginny and Ron too? He had never felt so ashamed towards part of his family. Before he could say anything, Fred spoke up.
"We had a strange visit to the Burrow yesterday evening as well. You see, Hermione and Luna dropped by our shop yesterday."
"And asked why our brother and sister were being prats."
"So we went home last night."
"While you were out."
"And tried to talk to Mum and the two prats."
"We found out that Ron fancies that he'll be Hermione's boyfriend."
"Which is strange since he hasn't talked to her since she was injured."
"And even stranger after Percy's experience because she is a muggleborn as well."
"The other thing was their reaction to Harry. "
"Yeah, they blamed him for the fight at the Ministry."
"For getting the rest of them injured."
"Even for getting Sirius killed."
"They even suspect he's a dark wizard."
Arthur and Percy looked at the twins incredulously. Arthur said, "Harry? Dark? How could they say that after all he's done for our family?"
Fred continued, "Well, we asked the same question. Mum explained that Dark Wizards do that sort of thing to keep people's confidence while they grow in power."
"Honestly Dad, we're not sure what to think of the three of them right now."
"I mean we had to beg Harry to teach us last year."
"The DA was the best education we ever had at Hogwarts."
"Where else would we have learned the Patronus charm and been successful?"
"Harry has never done anything to make us doubt him."
"And now Dumbledore has him locked away with that family again."
"If we are forced to choose sides, we've already made our decision."
Surprisingly, Audrey was able to follow the twins' normal rhythm of alternating speech and said, "Let me get this straight. Harry Potter, your brother and sister and three other students fought off Death Eaters at the Ministry of Magic. All of them survived with injuries and the only casualty was a man named Sirius who if I understand right was Harry's godfather. Now Harry is being isolated from his friends by the Headmaster of his school, and some those friends actually blame him for everything? Sound more like he is being set up for something."
The rest of the table went silent. It was sobering to hear the situation put that way by someone who had never been part of it.
Arthur looked at his sons and Audrey. "Fred and George get back in touch with Hermione and see what you can find out. I'm going to have a talk with Molly, Ron and Ginny tonight. I'll also try and talk to Albus tonight at the order meeting."
"There's one other thing Dad," Percy said. "Dumbledore was in the Minister's office this morning." He went on to explain what he had heard. The others were shocked by what they heard. Once he was done, they were ready to go – each even more determined to carry out their task.
As they walked out of the Leaky Cauldron, Audrey looked at Percy and said, "He is being set up."
/Scene Break/
It was nearly noon when Harry greeted Moony and Tonks in the entrance hall. Tonks looked like she had a thousand questions but Harry assured her all of them would be answered soon enough.
Over lunch with Hermione and Luna, Harry explained about the letter from Sirius and the will reading on Monday. Tonks laughed a number of times as he described his recent dealings with Dumbledore and especially the oath he got last night.
Harry for his part noticed the little glances being shared between Tonks and Moony. He noticed because they were the same glances shared between himself and Hermione. He smiled inwardly and thought of something that may help them along.
Once lunch was over they retired to the sitting room. Tonks looked over at Harry, "You've told me about getting adopted, getting the Black and Potter inheritances, having this manor and outsmarting Dumbledore but, there is still something else, and it's not the fact that you're now dating Hermione."
Harry shook his head, "How did you know?"
"It was not 'if' but 'when' you two would get together. In fact, Moony does this mean I won the pool?"
Remus nodded.
Harry shook his head again and continued, "But to answer your question Tonks, there is more. Sirius and my mom also left me some information. This information fundamentally changed the way I saw the wizarding world."
Moony leaned forward, "How so?"
"Let me ask you a few questions. Tonks, ever wonder why you were the only Order member hurt at the DoM? Ever wonder why Death Eaters only send killing curses at non-Pureblood enemies? As an Auror, have you ever wondered why you are only authorized to incapacitate a Death Eater but not use more lethal curses? Remus, ever wonder why the laws regarding werewolves were enacted when for the most part you are only really dangerous one night per month?"
Both Tonks and Remus slowly nodded. They had never stopped to think of things in that particular manner. Hermione produced a stack of papers.
Harry said, "Sirius left me these papers which begin t explain everything."
Tonks and Moony started reading. Within a few second Moony just looked at Harry and blushed. Tonks kept on reading. She finally looked up, "How did Sirius know I felt this way about Remus?"
Remus looked at her, "What? No, this is a spell that Sirius put on the parchment. Harry didn't give us permission to read it so it shows the reader in an erotic story. Did you really mean it?"
"Yep. I do like you. And this section right here looks interesting – it requires a lot of flexibility though."
Remus started to blush even more.
Harry did not want to see where this was going since it looked like Tonks was ready to read it out loud, "I give Nymphadora Tonks and Remus Lupin permission to read the entirety of the documents in front of them."
Tonks looked down and the story was completely gone. "Hey, I was reading that!" She turned to Remus and winked, "Guess we'll have to write our own."
Remus sputtered, "Um, yes, well, let's read what this says now."
Harry, Hermione and Luna watched on as Tonks and Moony read the papers. They observed as two more people had their long-held beliefs irrevocably changed. Once they were done, Tonks looked at Harry. "Is this true?"
Luna responded, "Yes, as far as we can tell it is. A number of things have happened to us over the past few days which further reinforced it."
Remus spoke up, "The prophecy mentioned 'the four' and Lily and Sirius believed it to be the heirs of the four founders. Any ideas there?"
Hermione spoke up, "Harry, Luna and myself are three namely, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw respectively. We've confirmed that."
Suddenly it dawned on Remus who the fourth was, "You can't involve the heir of Slytherin! YOU KNOW WHO HE IS DON'T YOU?"
Harry said, "Remus, calm down. Yes we know who he is."
Tonks looked a bit confused, "Who?"
Luna said very plainly, "Tom Riddle."
Remus was not getting any calmer, "YOU MEAN LORD BLOODY VOLDEMORT!"
Tonks' eyes went wide, "You are kidding aren't you? Harry, he murdered your parents, he has tried to kill you a few times, he"
"He was manipulated worse than any others. You two read about the conspiracy. Here, I want both of you to take a look at this memory," he pointed towards the pensieve in the corner, "Once your are done we can continue."
Remus and Tonks went over and entered the pensieve. The other three had seen the memory from the orphanage and Tom had even provided some memories from before and after Dumbledore's visit to complete the picture.
It was nearly an hour before Tonks and Remus returned. Tonks brushed away some tears, "That bastard," was all she could say.
"If you are talking about Dumbledore, then I completely agree." He nodded to Hermione.
Hermione produced an old book. "This may be the only existing copy of Hogwarts – A History from before Dumbledore's modification occurred. You are free to read it, but to summarize, there are a few key things that Albus changed – The four founders were close friends until their deaths, Slytherin House used to accept all students equally regardless of blood status, and the house structure was not as rigid as it is today. In fact students from all houses had places to meet and exchange ideas. Muggle studies were actually taught by muggles or muggleborn. Dumbledore altered the history to set up the rivalries of today."
Remus shook his head, "This all makes sense." Tonks nodded in agreement as he continued, "but it still doesn't change the fact that you have to work with Riddle. How will you even contact him?"
Harry took a deep breath. He wasn't sure how they would react to the next bit of news, "Actually we already have. He's currently in one of the guesthouses working on a potion with Severus."
"Severus Snape? He's Dumbledore's spy!" Tonks exclaimed.
"He was Dumbledore's spy." Harry started explaining as he waived off their interruptions, "Look, none of us are purebloods here. Dumbledore isn't the leader of the light. He's the leader of the purebloods. The whole idea is to show that muggleborn and half bloods like Tom and me can't be trusted. In order to fight back and expose this we have to trust each other."
Remus shook his head, "It's so much to absorb at once."
Luna walked over in front of Remus and Tonks and took their hands into hers, "We know that and we would not have told you if we thought we couldn't trust you. Look into your hearts. Look into your past. Think about what you've seen and heard since you arrived and tell us what you believe."
Tonks absorbed Luna's words. She thought about the past few hours, about her thoughts last night about her life. She remembered her school days and how she kept to herself. Her mother had confided in the Headmaster when she got Tonk's letter that Nymphadora was a metamorphagous but that they wanted it kept secret. Andromeda did not want her daughter singled out. It was barely a week into school when two Slytherin sixth year boys cornered her and asked her to change for them. She spent the first few years shifting forms continuously to fool people and in the last two years started wearing the shocking hair colours and standing out once she knew she could defend herself. It was this need for self-defense that drove her to be an Auror. She never knew who revealed her secret in first year, but she was pretty sure of it now.
Remus was also going through his own soul-searching. So many events in his life now started to make sense. He remembered with bitterness how Albus had gotten James and Lily to trust Peter and suspect that he may have been the spy for Voldemort because of his condition. Albus also cited this condition whenever Remus had wanted to assume custody of Harry. Those laws regulating werewolves – Albus had done nothing in his position to stop neither them nor the amendments that made them even stricter.
Tonks answered first, "I'm with you. Thank you for trusting me enough to tell me."
Remus piped up, "Harry, you've always been like family to me. My friends risked their lives and eventually ended up dying because of this conspiracy. I cannot be anywhere in this but by your side." He stepped up to Harry and hugged him.
Harry looked at them. "So, shall we take a walk and see what Tom and Severus are up to?"
/Scene Break/
Albus walked out of the Director's office quite content. The Director had been resistant to his requests but had finally relented once he was presented with the directive from the Wizengamot and Minister of Magic. Now that the preparations had been made it was only a matter of time. By Sunday night Harry Potter would be firmly in his control once again.
Director Ragnok was relieved when the Headmaster finally left. He had never gotten along with this particular wizard since the Goblins had never bought the whole 'Leader of the Light' crap. No, there were no absolutes in the world and anyone who tried to live along those absolutes was either being deceived or was extremely deceptive. Ragnok felt pretty sure he knew which category Dumbledore fit in.
He summoned Griphook to his office and explained this unfortunate turn of events. Together they sent out all of the required notices by owl except one. That one they would deliver personally.
/Scene Break/
Harry was surprised by the appearance of Ragnok and Griphook in the entry hall just as they were about to go see Tom and Severus.
He bowed slightly, "Ragnok, Griphook, to what to I owe this unexpected pleasure?"
Ragnok bowed slightly to Harry in greeting, "We are here on both an official and unofficial capacity."
Harry smiled, "Come in then. Let's talk in the sitting room." Harry led his guests into the adjoining room and bade them to sit. Hermione came sat beside Harry – OK cuddled up beside – and Luna, Moony and Tonks also joined them.
Ragnok began, "Our official capacity is to inform you that the Black will reading is scheduled for this Sunday, July 8 at 3pm."
"Why the change?"
'The Supreme Mugwump petitioned the Wizengamot and the Ministry of Magic to get it changed. His reason was that twofold – firstly you are officially without a guardian until one is either named in the will or by the new Lord Black. Dumbledore has petitioned to be your new guardian pending the consent of Lord Black."
Harry was seething, "I see. The old coot is really pushing this time."
"The second reason is that Dumbledore has received permission to insert an arranged marriage contract into the will. He convinced the Wizengamot that Sirius had been planning it with Albus before his death. Something about giving you something – or more correctly someone – to live for."
"And just who am I supposed to marry?"
"Ginevra Weasley."
Hermione was the first to speak up, "Harry is not going to marry Ginny!"
Harry added, "Who approved of this marriage?"
"Well, it looks like Sirius did sign the papers, however it looked like the parchment had traces of a confundus charm on it. He may have thought he was signing something else. There are also the signatures of both of Ginevra's parents."
"Is there any way out of it?"
"Well, the new Lord Black, is the only person who can cancel the contract since it was ratified after the last Lord Black died. Seeing as you are also a Potter, Lord Potter could cancel it as well, but officially there is no Lord Potter – yet."
Then it dawned on Hermione. She turned to Harry, "Just think, Dumbledore does not know about the first will reading or your blood adoption. As far as he is concerned, Draco Malfoy will be the next Lord Black. He's not worried about Lord Black disagreeing with any of his plans because you would be miserable if they went ahead and Draco would just approve them. Director Ragnok, when must the wedding take place?"
"The day following Miss Weasley's fifteenth birthday."
Hermione continued, "Just what I thought. He wanted to get you married before you turned seventeen and got the Potter inheritance when you became of age. As Lord Potter you would be able to cancel the contract."
Harry finally subdued his anger long enough to get it. "But the old coot doesn't know that I'm now Harry Potter-Black and both Lord Potter and Lord Black. Oh, this will be precious. Ragnok, can you please see to it that my emancipation, blood adoption and two sets of head-of-house papers are filed with the Ministry at …"
Griphook spoke up, "May I suggest 2:30pm on Sunday?"
Harry smiled, "Yes, 2:30 pm sounds fine." He turned back to Hermione, "I guess Dumbledore never read my note closely. I only gave him permission to act on my behalf at the will reading on the fourteenth."
He turned towards the goblins, "Ragnok, Griphook, we have a lot of things to prepare in the next 48 hours. First of all, I know this may be asking a lot, but can we have Grimmauld Place completed by Sunday noon? I will pay the premium required and can also ask my house elves to help out if you need."
Griphook answered, "Harry, as soon as we were informed of the change, we made plans to have the work completed. It is all taken care of."
"Thank you. Ragnok, do you have a list of the people invited to the reading?"
Ragnok handed Harry the list.
Harry asked, "May I add names to this?" Ragnok nodded and Harry added a few names. He showed the rest and they nodded and smiled. "I will also come by on Sunday morning and with my decisions on what everyone on the list will receive."
Both Ragnok and Griphook smiled. Those not used to Goblin smiles usually feel a shiver run up their spines.
"One more thing before you leave. I am inviting a few friends and their families over for dinner tomorrow. I would be honoured if you would accept my invitation to join us."
Ragnok bowed, "I cannot remember the last time a wizard lord invited a goblin to a social occasion. Griphook and I will be here at 5:00."
Harry smiled, "Perfect. Thank you gentlemen."
With that the two goblins went back to the bank.
Harry talked to the rest of the people there, "Let's go see Tom and Severus. We have to plan for Sunday and we don't have much time."
A/N – There was a lot I wanted to get into this chapter so it has turned out to be the longest one to date.
Over the next two weeks, I will be away from home at a conference so I might not be updating this regularly again until mid-April. I'll try and get as many chapters done during this time as I can, but I'll be pretty busy. The next chapters will have to cover the fallout of the news, the big dinner on Saturday and, of course, the will reading.
I want to thank everyone who has sent me suggestions about characters and which side of the fence they fall on. I'm glad that you seem to be as interested in where this story is going as I am.