Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
A/N: Warning – This chapter has character death.
The Thing About Contracts Is …
Chapter 7 – Once More Into the Breach
February 24, 1995 - Hogwarts Grounds - Black Lake
Albus Dumbledore looked stunned, "Sirius?" was all he managed to sputter out.
The old Marauder grinned a maniacal grin, "In the flesh Albus."
"But where is Mr. Potter?"
"For your sake I hope he's still breathing. Either way Albus, he's free from your meddling."
"Severus is still his Magical guardian."
Sirius smiled through his worry for his godson, "I don't think so Albus. Harry didn't participate today. He didn't even show up. Even you know that the contract will have its due."
The magnitiude of the whole scenario began to dawn on the Headmaster, "Sirius! Do you realize what you've done? Harry is probably without magic now. I fear you've doomed us all."
Sirius rounded on the older man, "No, Albus! If anyone has doomed us it was you! You chose to believe a damn prophecy! You decided it meant the Potters and Harry! You sentenced Harry to a brutal childhood! And YOU moulded him to be the martyr you thought you needed! Well Albus, after that last bomb you dropped on the boy, he figured it was better to put this place behind him as quickly as possible - dead or alive."
"But the prophecy ..."
"Screw your prophecy old man," Sirius interrupted, "Harry doesn't believe it and neither do those who truly care for him. You put the blinders on your own eyes and refused to see any different interpretation once you got it into your head that it referred to the Potters. Because of that, you destroyed Harry's childhood and almost destroyed my life. You even broke the law by ignoring the Potters' last wishes. Trust me Albus, once Harry - if he survived this - is far enough away from you I will be back. Harry may have signed a contract agreeing to only disclose information he learned from you to certain people, but I'm under no such restrictions."
Dumbledore was stunned into silence by the threat from the head of the House of Black. This could spell trouble for him that he had to avoid. Once again he silently cursed the blasted contract that Harry coerced him into signing. If it wasn't for that contract he would never have disclosed his beliefs to the boy a couple of days ago.
His thoughts were interrupted by the sudden appearance of Dobby who was holding a Gringotts envelope.
February 19, 1995 – Hogwarts – Headmaster's Office
"Good morning Albus," Harry said politely as he walked in just before 9:00.
"Harry, what a surprise," Albus said hiding his increasing dread, "I wasn't expecting you this morning since we haven't had meetings like this in a while. In fact, I was just leaving for another appointment that …"
"You will have to cancel or forfeit your magic," interrupted Harry before the master manipulator could continue. Harry didn't feel like having his bullshit meter tested so early in the morning.
"Ah, yes. There is that," Albus slumped and sat back down at his desk. "What do you wish to discuss this morning?"
Harry checked his watch, "I think we'll wait for Al. You are looking a little pale Headmaster. Fancy a spot of tea while we await Mr. Dewey?"
Albus nodded and called for a house elf to bring tea for three. It was ready to pour just as Al arrived. He greeted Harry warmly. The two had conversed many times over the past few months and Al was very impressed with how the young man handled himself.
"OK, now that we are all here I'll get started. Albus, so far we've found out the truth about my godfather and that led to him being exonerated. I found out more than I ever wanted to know about your history," Harry could not suppress the shudder here, "and I found out that you set up my family and sentenced me to the childhood from hell because of a very narrow interpretation of a prophecy from a crackpot. And, hmm, I'm forgetting something, … Ah, yes, you put blocks on my magic and obliviated me several times. Is that about right?"
"Well, I don't agree with the way you have interpreted the events. You have to look at the bigger picture."
"Ah, my interpretation of the events? That's a laugh Albus, seeing as we got here because you chose to interpret events your own way without considering the bigger picture." Albus started to respond and Harry held up his hand, "It's water under the bridge right now Albus. What I really want to know is if you really believe in this prophecy, why bind my magic? Why keep me out of the magical world when I'm not in school? Why aren't you training me do defeat the bastard when he pops up again?"
Albus tried the gentle, grandfatherly tone, "Harry, as I said before, I wanted you to have a normal childhood and not have the weight of the world thrust upon your shoulders."
"No, instead I had the Dursleys thrusting their weight upon me," Harry muttered to himself before addressing the lunatic in front of him, "So, how did you plan to prepare me to defeat Tom Riddle?"
The words, "I didn't." left Albus' mouth before he had a chance to stop them.
"Excuse me? You aren't planning on preparing me to defeat Riddle?"
"No."
"So, what are your plans then?"
"Harry, you must understand, there is more a stake here."
"Albus, I will ask you once more. What are your plans for me to face Riddle?" Harry paused and a look came over his features, things were starting to fall into place but it was when he looked up again that his suspicions were confirmed.
Tears rolled down the old wizard's face and he appeared to age, "Voldemort must kill you."
Harry took a deep breath. And another. The old bastard still had the gall to have tears. "So your plan was to have me magically weak and seeing you as a saviour and grandfather. Someone I could trust."
Albus nodded, "You must allow Tom Riddle to kill you in order to make him mortal again."
"OK, now you've lost me. How does my continued survival make him immortal?"
Albus fought the contract until he actually felt his magic starting to wither, "Tom created horrible abominations of magic called Horcruxes. He used murder to split his soul and stored it in containers. The diary you destroyed in the Chamber of Secrets confirmed my suspicions. I'm still trying to ascertain how many he made. However I did a revealing spell on you. I suspect the night he murdered your parents he was going to create another but when his spell on you backfired, his soul split anyway and attached itself to you."
"So you wanted me to go out and willingly sacrifice myself to Tom Riddle to save the world?"
"It's the only way."
"Oh, cut the bullshit Albus and admit to yourself it's the only way you considered. Have you researched removing this thing from me without killing me?"
"I have and as far as I have found there has never been a Horcrux in a living human. There is no way known to destroy a Horcrux without destroying the vessel containing it."
"Did you consult the elves, goblins, dwarves, or centaurs?"
"No, why would I?"
"To be thorough idiot! Take the goblins for instance, don't they have some of the best curse breakers in the world?"
"But that would mean telling others about the Horcruxes!"
Harry looked over at Al with an incredulous look in his face and then back at the old man behind the desk, "Um, yeah. That would be the point. Get help to find and destroy them. Hopefully save my life?"
"No. This information is too important, I can not risk it getting back to Voldemort that we know."
"So, instead of confiding in others in order to collaborate and share our strengths to defeat this evil. The great, wonderful and magnanimous Albus Dumbledore decided that only he could know about these and spent an entire decade preparing a child to grow up to sacrifice themselves willingly."
Albus remained silent.
Harry got up to leave but he had one last thing to say to the Headmaster, "Albus, according to the contract you are my Headmaster until I stop my formal magical education. However, once I have, expect there to be a reckoning for what you have done for your Greater Good." With that he left the office.
Al got up and walked over to the floo. He turned back to the Headmaster, "You know Albus, you had better hope there is no afterlife when you die. If there is there will be many pissed off Potters waiting to give you the welcome you so richly deserve."
Albus heard the floo flare and his office went silent again. Harry's reaction was predictable however when the time came, he was still convinced the boy would do the right thing.
February 24, 1995 – Hogwarts – Gryffindor Fourth Year Boys Dorm
It was 5am as Dobby silently woke Harry.
"Thanks Dobby. Is everything ready?"
"Yes, your dogfather is waiting by the gates."
Harry impulsively hugged his small friend. "Thanks Dobby. I'll meet you down there."
As the small house elf silently popped out, Harry quickly dressed and took one last look around the fourth year dorms. He didn't bother packing anything since Snivellous bought everything he had at school and he really didn't need those memories around. Carrying his shoes, he quietly padded down to the empty common room and went over to the window where Dobby had left his Firebolt. Harry put on his shoes, opened the window, got on his broom and left Hogwarts for the last time.
In a few minutes he was down behind the Three Broomsticks and hugging his godfather.
Sirius looked at him, "Are you sure about this?"
Harry nodded, "Yes, I can't stay anymore."
"You don't know for certain whether Snape will take the brunt of the TriWizard Contract. It could be you, him or even both. Magic is pretty peculiar on this and I don't know if anyone has ever defaulted on something like this after changing legal status so many times. And then there's that damn Horcrux too …"
"Griphook is looking into the Horcrux. Like you told me, he wasn't even surprised Riddle made them. Its like the Goblins already knew."
Harry smiled confidently. It was more for his godfather than an actual reflection of how confident he felt inside. The two hugged again. Harry stepped back. It was starting to get light. He looked at his godfather dressed in Hogwarts robes.
"You look, … strange. Like someone who never grew up."
Sirius smirked, "who said I ever did?"
"Do you have the polyjuice?"
Sirius held up the canteen, "Right here. I've even figured out the right timing."
He grasped a bit of Harry's hair and with a weak cutting charm pulled it away and put it in the canteen. He looked at his watch and took a swig. Harry watched as his godfather shrunk slightly and became a twin of himself.
"Well, this is weird."
"You're telling me," Harry-Sirius said. "You never told me all parts of my body would shrink. It's enough to give a man nightmares." He said to Harry in a teasing manner.
"Hey, you old dog. Keep you hands to yourself. Now remember the plan."
"I know, fly up, look like I passed out studying and get there just before the task starts. I've got it. Don't worry. Let me do the worrying."
He mounted the broom just as Harry took Dobby's hand.
"See you soon Harry."
"Good luck Harry."
One Harry Potter flew back to the Gryffindor tower while another disappeared with a house elf.
The small clearing behind the Three Broomsticks was quiet again.
February 24, 1995 - Hogwarts Grounds - Black Lake Mermish Village
The mermish village leader checked the strange timepiece that the mouth-breather named Dumbledore had given her. The long pointer had made almost one full circle since the task began. About a third of a turn ago, three of the contestants had retrieved the three females tied up in the centre of their village. The male remained and there was still a quarter turn left before they were to return any unclaimed mouth-breathers.
The male was an enigma. He was completely immersed and had been for hours however his hair remained dry - it seemed to actively repel the water. In addition there was a continous stream of bubbles which kept the strange robes the mouth-breathers wore in constant motion.
The village leader was stirred from her thoughts by a bright light that knocked the merpeople back as soon as the stick completed one revolution. When her sight returned, she saw the male thrashing and trying to undo his bindings. The merpeople were not sure if this was still part of the task and relaxed when once again the male became inert after several moments.
She looked at the timepiece again and was relieved the stick only needed to turn a little bit more. She avoided contact with the mouth-breathers but the old, bearded one had promised her to restock the lake with different species for them to hunt. She took solace in that the bubbles had finally stopped emerging from the robe.
February 24, 1995 - Hogwarts - Seventh Floor
The small figure stood outside the Room of Requirement. The second task had just started which allowed him to sneak into the deserted school undetected. He pulled a golden cup adorned with a badger motif out of his carrying bag and muttered a long unintelligible phrase. The results must have been positive because he nodded to himself and entered the room he had requested.
Nearly forty-five minutes later he emerged holding the diadem. He reverently put it in his bag and made his way out of the school shortly before the task was supposed to end.
Smiling a wicked smile, he passed through the gates and disappeared. When he returned to his home, he put the diadem in a special chest beside a peculiar ring and a silver locket. From the trip to get the ring, he knew one of the two remaining Horcruxes was still in Little Hangleton. It was most likely the snake. Surprisingly, Griphook confirmed the identity of the last one just a few days ago. With the diadem safely stowed away, he went back to his research on how he could save the boy and get rid of the Horcrux.
February 24, 1995 - Padfoot's Pound
Harry had groaned a few weeks ago when he'd heard the name Sirius had chosen for his new residence. He'd arrived just after 5:30 and was immediately greeted by a visibly nervous Luna. They had spent the early morning taking a long walk hand-in-hand around the vast property that was part of the Pound.
They talked quietly as they strolled pausing only to share sweet, soft kisses. Both were too nervous to allow themselves to stop - the walking helped keep the nervous energy at bay. Neither broached the subject of what could happen later as Harry deliberately missed the second task. Instead they focused on their plans and Harry was amazed at how quickly Luna was catching up to him. It looked like everything would work out as long as they got past this morning.
At 9:15 they made their way back to the house. Remus and Xeno were there waiting for them. Harry went to his room and lay down to accept his fate. Luna would be at his side the whole time.
The unwritten nature of the TriWizard contract was such that they did not know exactly when the breach would be determined and the penalties enforced. After 9:30 passed without ceremony or effect, everyone tensed up and waited for the next hour to pass. Harry and Luna lay quietly with her head resting on his chest listening to his heartbeat.
At 10:25, Harry started to feel discomfort throughout his body. He shared one last kiss with Luna and then implored everyone to back away. None were sure if there would be a backlash of sorts. Luna refused to leave his side and held onto his hand as she sat in a chair beside the bed.
As the clock struck 10:30, Harry convulsed once in extreme pain and, just as suddenly, his body went slack and settled into the bed. Luna was in shock as she looked into his lifeless eyes. The TriWizard contract claimed its price.
February 24, 1995 - Gringotts Bank - Diagon Alley Branch
Griphook had just come through very busy couple of months. Ever since he received the request from his now favourite client, things had been getting better for him. He had a large, active account to manage and his favourite client looked to him for advice on how to creatively send the message to certain wizards and the British Wizarding public in general that they can just go to hell.
This morning was a somber time however. Not even the Goblins could predict the effect of breaching the TriWizard contract. Normally it would have been the boy's guardian at most risk. However this was Harry Potter and he was considered an adult at one point and even brought the contract into force unknowingly when he participated in the first task. On top of that, the boy had magical blocks and a parasitic soul fragment to deal with. The best legal and curse breaking minds at Gringotts had met over the weekend and no one had any idea what would happen to the boy this morning.
Griphook wished that they would have had more time to deal with the Horcrux, but the curse breakers had never seen anything like it and estimated it would be months before they may have a recommended course of action.
He was stirred out of his reminiscing by changes taking place to Harry's guardian contract with Severus Snape. The expiry date had just filled itself in with today's date and time. Severus Snape was no longer Harry Potter's magical guardian.
As agreed he immediately called for Dobby and sent the appropriate pre-written missive from the pile in front of him. As Dobby popped away, Griphook sat back and wondered how his client was faring. He nervously kept an eye on Harry's will to see if magic would bring it into force today as well.
February 24, 1995 - Hogwarts Grounds - Black Lake
Dobby faced the Headmaster holding out the envelope, "Headmasters Dumbles sir, Dobby has letter for you from Griphook." Albus took the envelope from the small house elf and Dobby produced another letter and looked around, "Dobby also has letter for master Harry Potters G3."
Albus looked quizzically at the elf who continued to look around, "G3 Dobby?"
"Yes sirs. It's what Harry Potter calls his Greasy Git Guardian."
Both Sirius and Hermione could not stifle their laughter.
"Severus is still in the lake Dobby."
"Dobby thanks Headmaster Dumbles," and the little elf popped away.
Albus shook his head and opened the letter. He paled as he read:
Dear Mr. Dumbledore,
As per the terms of the magical guardianship contract between Severus Snape and Harry Potter enacted on December 31, 1994, it is my duty to inform you that one or more of the stated cancellation clauses went into effect as of 10:30 am February 24, 1995. Based on the cancellation instructions stipulated in the contract I have alerted my client's legal firm of Dewey, Cheatham and Howe to file emancipation papers with the Ministry of Magic. I have also attached a letter signed by my client on December 30,1994 as witnessed by his legal counsel.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our Customer Service department.
Thank you,
Griphook
Potter Family Account Manager
Albus was shocked. Something had happened to Harry so that he no longer needed a Magical Guardian. He nervously read the second letter.
Dear Headmaster Dumbledore,
If you have received this letter from Griphook I am no longer bound by the terms of the Magical Guardian contract. As an emancipated minor I hereby inform you of my decision to immediately withdraw from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Griphook has been instructed to withhold any pending payments and cancel any and all automatic transfers.
Since this ceases my formal magical instruction, I would like to remind you that the contract between us is still in force and I expect your meddling in my life to cease.
I wish you a happy and pleasant life as I strive to achieve the same for myself.
Sincerely,
Harry James Potter
The devastating implications to his plans were just starting to become apparent to him when the merpeople unceremoniously dumped Severus on the dock and left. There were two things that Albus noticed right away - Severus had an envelope stuck to his robes and he hadn't woken up as soon as he emerged from the water as he was supposed to.
Unkown - Unknown
Coming back to consciousness, Harry paused before he opened his eyes. Physically he thought everything seemed fine so he focussed on his senses. He was lying on something hard and it felt like he was naked. There were no recognizable smells or odours, and the silence was only broken by something wailing.
Thinking that it would be best to just go ahead and face the afterlife he opened his eyes. He looked around and closed them again.
'OK,' he thought, 'either I'm dreaming or the powers that be are having me on.'
He opened his eyes again and shut them just as quickly.
'Think, Potter, think. Why would you be here. I know - this was one of the coolest places you've ever seen. But it's not real. Or is it? I guess there's no way to tell, so why not look around.'
He opened his eyes and got up. "I wish I had the appropriate clothing ... Or any clothing for that matter." he gasped as the exact clothing appeared in front of him so he put it on. Two minutes later a short person dressed like an Imperial stormtrooper set out into the Death Star hangar holding the Millenium Falcon.
Over in one corner he heard raspy breathing. What he found when he went over was a tiny creature about the size of a baby in a familiar dark armour making mechanical raspy breathing noises. This place was definitely very strange. Hoever it was cool to be in a place he kept remembering from one of the movies that he had watched with Luna.
Luna. A wave of sadness passed over him as he realized he'd never see her again.
He was stirred out of his melancholy by a voice which asked him, "Aren't you a little short for a stormtrooper?"
Harry spun around and was face to face with someone he had only seen in pictures and a certain mirror.
"Mum?"
Lily Potter smiled and nodded and held her arms out to her son. As he ran over, the armour morphed into his favourite outfit that Luna bought him so he could feel the embrace of his mother.
After several tearful moments they stepped back from each other.
"What are you doing here Mum? Where is this? It looks like the Death Star."
"Well, it is. Sort of."
Lily went on to explain how Harry was at a crossroads. He could board the Millennium Falcon and pass on to the next adventure or go back to Padfoot's Pound and his current life. The choice was up to him.
"But how did I get here? The contract wasn't supposed to kill me, just remove my magic. And even then, I thought Snape would bear the burden."
"He did. And so did you - well sort of. Let me try to explain. Severus Snape was at the bottom of the Black Lake where Albus put him when he lost his magic. He drowned trying desperately to release his bonds. That's actually where your Father is right now. You see only one of us was allowed to talk to you. Your father asked me to come while he and the rest of the Potters prepare a welcome of sorts for Snivellous."
This revelation caused both mother and son to wear an evil grin.
"But what happened to me.?"
"Well you see that mini Vader over there?" When Harry nodded she continued, "That son is the nasty parasite on your soul and magic."
"The Horcrux."
Lily nodded, "Yes. And since that bit of soul was from a wizard of legal age, the contract claimed its magic. However since the Horcrux was layered under the blocks that Albus cast,the soul fragment had to rip through those blocks as it was destroyed since it can't live without magic. The shock and pain from that brought you here to the edge. Whether you go on or go back, the Horcrux still needs to be destroyed. You can ..." she stopped as Harry spun around quickly and sprinted towards the little piece of sith. She was going to give him options for destroying the Horcrux when he suddenly jumped 25 feet into the air and as he performed a flawless front flip at the apex of the jump a light blue beam seemed to appear from his hand. With a loud hum, the beam severed the Horcrux in two as he landed.
He ran back over with a huge smile on his face, "That's by far the coolest thing I've ever done."
Lily looked around, "You need to make your decision son."
"I so much want to stay with you Mum, but I don't want to do this to Luna. Besides, I don't want to be the last Potter. Who would keep Padfoot in line?"
Lily hugged her son and said, "We knew this would be your choice. Go back to her now. Tell Luna and Xeno that Selene sends her love. She's helping your father plan the welcome party. She also wanted you to tell Luna to look behind the first earrings they made and for Xeno to - and I quote - 'extract the pointy hat and say yes for Merlin's sake'."
After giving his Mum one last tearful hug, Harry headed towards the exit. Just before he walked through he turned back to Lily and asked, "Was all this real or just an figment of my imagination?"
Lily just responded, "Yes to both." with a smirk as the entire scene faded to black.
February 24, 1995 - Padfoot's Pound
No more than 5 seconds after he died the life came back to Harry's eyes and he took a deep breath. Luna pounced on him smiling with tears of joy as Harry wrapped his arms around her. He whispered soothing words into her ears. Taking stock of his own condition, he felt lighter and more free and his magic was coursing through his body. He had never felt so invigorated.
He took a deep breath and realized for the first time he was now truly free. The master manipulator was out of his life and he was out of the spotlight of Hogwarts. He was pretty sure the Horcrux was gone so mouldy Voldie was no longer his problem either.
Harry didn't quite know what to make of the near-death experience he just had but it didn't matter right now. With the world of Magical Britain for the most part behind him he could focus on his future plans with Luna, Xeno, Padfoot and Moony.
Right now He just wanted to take a break and enjoy a few days with his girlfriend. After that there were the preparations for their new life and a visit to Gringotts to finalize things with Griphook and Al.
A/N - Hi everyone. sorry for the delay but my Mom has been pretty sick in hospital for most of the summer and between that and work I haven't had as much chance to write.
I know this chapter was shorter than some of the others, but the story is pretty much finished with the exception of the epilogue - of course I have to include one of those. Now I do have some ideas of what I think I will put in the next and final chapter. However if there is something you really want answered, please review and let me know so I will make sure it's covered.
Thanks again for reading. I'm not sure whether my next post will be the final chapter here or the next one in Power He Knows Not. However I think I'm ready to continue Pureblood once this one is put to bed.f