Quoth the Raven, Nevermore
Disclaimer: See chapter 1.
Chapter 8: Vainly I Had Sought
Amanda Kensington was a witch on a mission. Armed with two royal decrees, she headed for the wizarding world and in particular - Gringotts Bank and the goblins. Only they would have the answers she was looking for.
If she knew the goblins, they would honor the Crown's edicts. Ancient treaties came into play; that much she was sure of. They would help Amanda to set things in motion.
She couldn't very well go to the Ministry or the Wizengamot. Not just yet. Too many variables and unanswered questions needed to be addressed before she did. Someone in the Ministry did their damnedest to hide all trace of Harry Potter and, although they succeeded to a point, they had failed to follow through. From what she had discovered when she did that simple medical history, they'd never seen to his well-being. She was no medi-witch but she did know how to run a simple diagnostic spell.
No, she needed to keep this quiet until she spoke to the goblins and got an idea of what was going on. She had a vague idea who had done the cover-up; now it was just proving it.
She wasn't sure if she wanted to go against the powerful old wizard, but she would because there was a child involved. And not just any child, but Harry Potter - the Boy Who Lived.
She entered the bank and went to the nearest teller. "I wish to speak to the Potter Account Manager."
"Do you have an appointment?" snarled the goblin teller.
She pulled out the first decree with the royal seal. "This is my appointment!"
The goblin's eyes widened in recognition. "That had better not be a forgery! You know what we do to thieves."
"Yes, yes, I know. Rest assured, I did not come to remove funds. So, do I get to see the manager?"
"Follow me."
She was led into a cold, stark room lined with weapons and shields. Some looked like they had dried bits of flesh and blood on them. Amanda shuddered.
"Well, human?" demanded an aged goblin sitting behind a carved stone desk that had seen better days.
Amanda swallowed sharply as she handed over the two royal scrolls. "I am to give you these, Account Manager on behalf of Her Majesty, the Queen. She is most distressed that one of her children was found in such disgraceful condition. She has taken steps to rectify the matter and hopes that the goblins are still as honorable as when her ancestors treated with them."
The Account Manager growled at the slight to goblin honor, but said nothing as he took the scrolls and read them. The growling got louder as he pulled a dagger from his drawer and sent it sailing past Amanda's head into a hacked up door behind her.
When it embedded itself in the wood, a younger, even uglier, goblin answered. The Account Manager barked orders in Gobbledygook. The younger goblin replied in the same language before leaving, slamming the door shut to do whatever he had been instructed to do.
"Your name, human, and how did you get involved?" the Account Manager snarled.
"Amanda Kensington, Muggle Liaison Department Head. I was called in yesterday by the PM for help with a small wizarding problem," she snarked back at him as she pulled out a small folder. "Inside you will find the reasons. It may have started as a case of accidental magic, but I feel that there was a higher power involved. I suggest you take a look at the necklace the child is wearing."
The Account Manager looked through the folder then started to swear loudly and violently. Amanda shuddered again. She had dealt with goblins before on several occasions. They made her nervous. They weren't human. They had their own customs, laws and ethics and they barely tolerated humans at the best of times. However, they revered children; a child - any child - was a blessing from the Goddess. To abuse one was a crime punishable with death.
The door opened once more and the younger goblin entered, slamming a folder on the desk, then left.
0o0o0o0
It was two hours later when Amanda left Gringotts, pale, tired but satisfied. She was glad she had the goblins on her side. Their advice, for now, was to gather all the evidence but stay quiet and under the Ministry's notice.
She was informed that Albus Dumbledore had declared himself Lord Potter's guardian, but had done nothing for the boy. He had helped himself through the years to the boy's trust fund. Despite numerous attempts he hadn't been able to access the family vaults as he wasn't blood-related and didn't have pure intentions. At least, that's what the vault wards revealed.
As there were no receipts stating that the funds were used for the child in question, the goblins decided to put a hold on the account until such time as the aged wizard could provide receipts that would give an accounting of where those funds were spent.
Amanda also came away with the full name of Lily's sister and the likely suspects of Lord Potter's abuse - his "Aunt 'Tunya and Uncle Ver'on" - Vernon and Petunia Dursley (nee Evans).
Well, it wouldn't be too hard to find them in the Muggle world. She smirked; she would hate to be them when the Muggle authorities caught up with them.
Also, she had discovered the reason why Albus Too-Many-Bloody-Titles Dumbledore had sealed the Potter's Will. It told who their real Secret-Keeper was and that Dumbledore had cast the Fidelius charm himself. It wasn't Sirius Black, as everyone thought, but Peter Pettigrew who had been designated as their secret keeper. There was also information of a prophecy concerning their son.
The will also stated that under no circumstance was their son to be raised by Lily's sister and her husband.
She'd have to take the child to the Department of Mysteries to view the prophecy in its entirety when he was old enough.
Now what to do? She was sure she was forgetting something important.
0o0o0o0
Hadrian was sure he was going to be punished for making all those bubbles. He was having so much fun. He hadn't mean to do something 'freakish' but he had.
He was now clean, fed and had a story read to him! His aunt had never read a story to him. He remembered listening as his cousin had been read to and wished he was in the same room with them, but he wasn't allowed.
Maggie had even kissed him good night! The princes came to see him in the dark. They had been glad that Hadrian now lived as a human and not a bird. They hoped he would still come and play with them. Hadrian promised he would.
Queen Anne sat with him until he fell asleep, acting as his own night light against the dark. He clutched his stuffed raven, Inky, close as he snuggled into the blanket. Sleep came easily and he slept through the night, too worn out to have any nightmares.
Breakfast wasn't the morning feed he was used to as Scrapper. He had pancakes and rashers, and real milk and juice!
He even got to wear his new clothes that Maggie bought him. The Tower medic had looked Hadrian over and pronounced him fit for the most part. Maggie huffed. Hadrian was a wizard and needed to be examined by a real Healer. She would contact Miss Kensington to arrange for that visit.
Ben was in the doghouse with Maggie for making such a mess in the bathroom the night before. It was Maggie who had caught them playing around with all the bubbles. Once they calmed the child down from his fear of being punished for his 'freakishness' they managed to finish getting him clean. Her dismay at the mess had not stopped her from taking a few pictures, much to Ben's chagrin and the child's amusement.
When the furniture arrived, Hadrian could not believe it was all for him. He even helped decorate his new room! Inky took a prominent spot in the middle of his bed. His bed!
Amanda arrived that afternoon to check up on Hadrian and to take Ben to a meeting. The boy had been busy coloring on the kitchen table when she arrived. They left with a couple of pictures to show off.
0o0o0o0
The Prime Minister was sitting in her office when Amanda Kensington and Ben McIntyre entered. She waved them over to a nearby conference table where a tea service waited.
Together the three of them hashed out a battle plan for the next three months. It would not do to plan further until they got more information, Lord Potter's health being the main topic at the moment.
"I knew I was forgetting something important!" Amanda exclaimed. She quickly made a note to check with Wizarding Child Protective Services. "They should have a file somewhere on Lord Potter, and the name of his case-worker."
"Maggie wants Hadrian to have a complete physical with a Healer," Ben interjected. "I am a little leery of contacting St Mungo's. It would be all over the news that Lord Potter ran away and is living at the Tower."
"I know of a Muggle-born Healer that may help us," Amanda said, turning to explain. "As you know, Prime Minister, muggle-borns are disliked in the wizarding world by most of the pure-bloods. They are relegated to demeaning positions or just plain ignored, to the point that they leave magic behind and return to the Muggle world."
"I have seen the figures, Miss Kensington. It is disheartening."
"Well, I know of someone that fought his way through all the bureaucracy to become a pediatric medi-wizard. He's a Half-blood with Squibs for parents. He'll be glad to take on this case, and will even swear an oath of secrecy if we ask."
"Contact him. We need to know what we have to deal with as regards to Lord Potter's condition. How is the young man?" the PM asked.
"Just fine. In fact, he sent along a couple of drawings. He hopes you would forward them to Her Majesty." Ben replied as he passed over the two crayon drawings. One was of Thor in his most regal pose, and the other was a stick figure of Her Majesty with a crown on her head.
Everyone got a chuckle from the simple artwork labeled with what was surely help from Maggie, "THOR" on one and "QUEEN ELIZABETH" on the other. A small note from Maggie on the back stated: "Drawn by Hadrian Potter, aged 5."
"I will pass these on in the next dispatch box. I am sure Her Majesty will enjoy them. I imagine she is looking forward to when her grandson is old enough to send her artwork as well."
The discussion took on a more serious note when Amanda reported what the goblins had discovered.
"So Albus isn't above stealing from an orphan child, and convinces himself that it's for his version of the 'greater good'. Oh, how droll," the PM said, looking over the financial report. "Good, you put a stop to it. And you have possible names of Lord Potter's relatives. I'll get my men on it right away. Top priority."
All three shared a grin that would've chilled the stoutest of hearts.
0o0o0o0
Somewhere in Scotland, an aged wizard shivered.
0o0o0o0
A couple of quick notes.
We aren't going to do a lot of Dumbledore bashing. He will take a few knocks here and there but this isn't an evil Dumbledore. In fact, he isn't even a main character in this story. He will be portrayed as a senile old man who thinks his way is the only way and no one can tell him differently.
Second, this isn't a religious story. The Morrigan will be making a few appearances in this story but we aren't going to go overboard on theology. We do not wish to offend or anger anyone in their beliefs.
