Disclaimer: The Harry Potter universe belongs to the proverbial Duchess of Magic, JK Rowling, Scholastic, Bloomsbury, Warner Bros and some other high falutin' companies. No matter how much I whine about not owning anything related to the HP universe, other than a few fanfic plots, I do not profess to own - and would never dream of making any money off - JKR's wonderful world... Damn it!
Chapter Eighteen - Paying Long Overdue Visits
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Stepping out of the floo and into the Leaky Cauldron, Harry noticed it took his sudden appearance a long few moments before someone exclaimed, "Look! It's Harry Potter!"
That had people suddenly spinning around to look, for those with their backs to the floo, or simply looking up, for those who weren't; as Harry and Luna calmly walked from the floo and toward old Tom's bar. Old Tom, himself, was watching them come in shock.
"That's, Lord Hardwin Peverell-Potter," Harry snapped back, not breaking stride in the least. "Mind your manners."
Of course, Harry only made it about two-thirds of the way to the bar before he was practically swamped with witches and wizards, young and old, coming forward to, at the very least, simply touch him. Most, of course, wanted to speak with him.
"Mister Potter!" exclaimed one half-drunk patron, breathing fumes of alcohol almost directly into Harry's face as he stuck both his hands out in a gesture to two-hand handshake Harry's hand.
"It's Lord Peverell-Potter," Harry firmly and with a clear carrying voice, returned. But he did take the man's hand to shake it. "Please be respectful."
The man blushed slightly as he took his hands back. "M-my apologies, Lord Peverell-Potter," he softly returned.
He was soon lost in the crowd as others came forward.
"Blessed be!" exclaimed another, an older witch. "It is Harry Potter!"
"Lord Peverell-Potter!" Harry snapped back, giving the witch a short glare.
She gave a start of shock as she hurried to take a step back. However, she didn't get very far before she bumped into someone else coming forward from the now small crowd that had started to gather around him.
"Harry!" exclaimed Luna.
Harry spun around to see Luna was being unintentionally forced away from him.
Glaring at the crowd that had begun to close the ever-widening gap between he and Luna, Harry stepped through it, determinedly pushing people out of the way as he did so.
He was quickly to her side and pulled her in close.
"How dare you people lay hands on or jostle the witch I foresee as the next Lady of my Houses!" he barked, glaring around.
That had the crowd hurriedly backing off a pace or two in shock and fear.
"I see the populace of wizarding Britain has still not regained the respect they should show one another," he angrily stated. "Learn some manners, people!"
Once he could see the shame ripple through them, he said, "Now, I don't mind you coming forward to thank me or congratulate me; but you will be respectful and polite!"
"Well said," said an older wizard. Like Harry, he was wearing a small Head of House patch on his upmarket casual robes. He sported one to Harry's two.
Harry looked back and said, "Sorry. I do not believe I've had the pleasure." And offered his hand to shake.
The man gave him a wry smile back and took his hand. "Lord Smith, Lord Peverell-Potter. I was in the Wizengamot when you gave us all that little show."
Harry grinned back and said, "I hope it was entertaining for you?"
Smith chuckled and replied, "Indeed."
That seemed to be it for the patience of the crowd. They again came forward to touch/thank/congratulate him. At least this time they were more courteous and respectful; and weren't so demanding of him.
Once the last had shaken his hand and or said their piece, they moved away. That's when Harry noticed that Smith had disappeared from the room.
With a quiet sigh, he looked down to Luna and asked, "Ready for the Alley, now?"
Still tucked under his arm, she only had to look up slightly before she quietly replied, "Yes, Harry. Let's get it done."
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The two had only just passed through the still opening arch between the Leaky and the Alley when they were 'accosted' by Skeeter. Apparently, she'd awaited them right where the arch was.
"Lord Peverell-Potter," she gushed. "How wonderful to see you again."
"Miss Skeeter," he gave her a nod and went to move past her.
However, he'd only just started to move when she immediately jumped back in front of him and said, "I wonder if you'd be willing to provide an interview..."
"I gave you one, Miss Skeeter," he returned. "Today is about my girlfriend and I taking a stroll down Diagon Alley to carry out a little shopping."
Then he moved to step past her again, before she once more quickly jumped in front of him.
"Yes, Lord Peverell-Potter," she less gushed and more firmly said. "However, a lot has happened since that day. And the public has a right to know just what―"
His sudden bark of laughter shut her up in the middle of her sentence.
"The right to know?!" he scoffed. "Miss Skeeter, I don't know what dragonshit you think you know is the truth; but, I assure you, the belief the public has a right to know only applies to what goes on in the Ministry. The public most certainly has no right to know about me and my private life; it's private.
"Now, step in front of me again and I'll accept that you are trying to hinder me in my freedoms. As such, I'll put you down. Understand?"
Then, before she could respond, he again started to step around her. This time he held his nearest arm to her up to shield her from again trying to step in front of him.
She did try, but his arm held her off. And he used it to force her back out of his way while using her body as leverage to move past. His greater strength and height advantage was more than enough to accomplish it. Once he did he dropped his arm again.
As he and Luna finally slipped past, he said over his shoulder, "Stay out of my way, Miss Skeeter. You're beginning to really annoy me. Remember... squish!"
He didn't wait for the witch to respond, but she didn't try to waylay him again either.
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Once finally free of the nosy witch, Harry and Luna only managed to make it a few more steps before others started to come forward with their own well-wishes. Knowing that if he stopped he'd end up being in the alley a great deal longer than he wanted to be, Harry kept them both moving as they made their way towards the bank.
As others approached, Harry would merely give a greeting back or, when he couldn't avoid it, shake the witch or wizard's hand while continuing to walk forward. It cause them to either drop their hand quickly or start to be dragged along. None, but one wizard, tried. That wizard got dragged a couple of paces before he finally pulled his hand back.
Out of all those who were in the Alley, only a couple were either clear Dumbledore or Riddle worshippers. None tried to attack, but one - a Dumbledore worshipper - called him a dark wizard out loud. Harry ignored him; especially when he saw a middle aged witch lay into the man with her large 'carpetbag' purse, while calling him all sorts of names.
Luna giggled at the antics of both.
Harry only spent enough time in the bank, making sure his accounts were still up-to-snuff and to withdraw more galleons and converting some to muggle currency, before both again exited.
However, before they did, Harry halted them both and wryly asked, "I'm not going to be ambushed by Dumbledore's Order of the Oddball Occamies again, am I?"
Luna lightly laughed and said, "No. What members there still are, are now keeping their heads down and staying out of public areas. Almost all of them because they now know and understand Dumbledore wasn't the big hero everyone thought him to be. And they're ashamed they fell for his machinations."
With a nod back, they exited the bank. Harry still kept a wary eye out, though, looking for trouble.
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As the two started to head back up the Alley, the crowds again started to come forward and, just as on their way down the Alley towards the bank, Harry kept them both in motion so they wouldn't be blocked from moving forward. Those who came at him face-on were firmly directed to the side as he shook hands with them, so he and Luna wouldn't be stopped. It was easy to see they'd be getting no shopping down in the Alley, that day; so now planned on heading directly to Hogwarts.
It was when they were about halfway back to the Leaky that Harry spotted someone he well-remembered - Neville Longbottom.
The now young man seemed to be of two minds whether to approach or not, but Harry saw him square up his shoulders and decide to do so.
This time, Harry stopped just as Longbottom drew close.
"Lord Longbottom," said Harry, giving the man a slight head nod of one equal to another. "I hope you've already forgiven me for hitting you with all those prank charms when last we met."
Clearly surprised, Longbottom was a moment before he returned the nod, stepped closer and offered his hand as a handshake. "Of course, Lord Peverell-Potter. I understand why you did it, too."
"Yes," returned Harry, giving a firm and quick shake of hands. "I was using the opportunity, the only way I could with Dumbledore being a bastard, to show you something you needed to learn about."
"Yeah," the other replied, giving a sheepish grin back. "I'd've been toast if Vol- Riddle ever decided to stop running from me."
"You know why he didn't, don't you?" asked Harry.
"The prophecy," sighed Longbottom. "He couldn't afford he or one of his minions accidentally marking me."
Harry nodded. "It is my belief Dumbledore made sure Riddle knew of the entirety of the prophecy in order to give him time to get you in a position to face him... Riddle, I mean."
Longbottom seemed to think for a moment before he said, "I now think so, too. Thank you for making it so that I'll never have to face him."
Harry smiled and returned, "You're welcome."
He'd been worried Longbottom was going to become a thorn in his side, claiming Harry stole his chance to 'kill a dark lord'. However, it appeared Longbottom was actually relieved, if not grateful.
"Now that that particular Sword of Damocles is no longer hanging over your head," said Harry. "What do you plan to do with your life?"
"Finally seeing my dream become a reality," Longbottom grinned. "I'm finally going to be able to get that apprenticeship in Herbology I wanted, but Dumbledore denied me."
"Good for you!" declared Harry. "All of us back in Hogwarts already knew, but I think you're going to make a smashing Herbologist.
"What about a love life? I certainly hope you have no intention of chasing after the Weaslette."
"No," Neville suddenly scowled. "I know she worked hard to be seen as my girlfriend and the future Lady Longbottom; but that position, in my mind, has always already been filled by Hannah Abbott."
Then he grinned and said, "I'm actually on my way to the see the Longbottom account manager at Gringotts to pick up the Longbottom betrothal rings. I intend taking them in to our family's jeweller to have them reconditioned. I believe I'll be needing them very soon."
Harry grinned back and said, "Then congrats, Lord Longbottom. Or, I suppose, pre-congratulations."
Harry saw the old Neville for a moment there, when the other boy gave a slight and almost embarrassed smirk back and quietly replied, "Thank you."
"Well, must be off," said Harry. "I think I'd like to give a surprise visit to my old alma mater, good old Hoggy Hoggy Hogwarts, to speak with some of the staff."
Surprised, Longbottom said, "What about Dumbledore? I take it you don't want to bump into him?"
"He won't be there," said Harry. "I've already been informed that, after he was officially and formally interrogated under the effects of Veritaserum while also having a Master Legilmencer working on him, he's already stood trial before the ICW into matters raised in the Wizengamot the other day; plus a few other matters, I believe. Under Veritaserum... which, as you'd know, meant he couldn't lie... he confessed and was found guilty of all charges, including the one about the harbouring of a dark lord."
That had quite a few of the dwellers in the Alley, who had all been quietly listening-in, give gasps and mutters of surprise. Harry ignored them. Longbottom just gave a slight expression of surprise, though it didn't look like it surprised him all that much and then confirmed it with what he said next.
"I seeee..." he quietly said. "I'm not that surprised, though."
"I believe Minister Bones will be making a public announcement about that, some time today," said Harry. "You might want to keep a weather ear on the wireless or grab a copy of tomorrow's Daily Prophet."
"I thank you for the suggestion, Lord Potter," said Neville.
"You're welcome, Lord Longbottom," said Harry. "Anyways, must be off. Places to be, people to see."
Neville gave a single nod back and said, "Take care, Lord Peverell-Potter."
"And you, Lord Longbottom."
Just after the two then passed one another, Harry glanced to Luna and asked, "Hogwarts?"
"You've 'pressed the flesh' in the Alley enough," she quietly returned. "Let's go to Hogwarts."
Harry gave a nod. They simply headed back to the Leaky to use the public floo to floo-call Professor Flitwick.
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After finally getting back to the Leaky Cauldron, after yet again trying to wade through all the well-wishers who had regathered once they and Neville separated, Luna led the way to the floo.
She dashed in a pinch of the available floo powder and called "Hogwarts, Charms Office!" Then knelt and stuck her head within the green flames.
It was only about a minute before she withdrew and turned to Harry. "Professor Flitwick's inviting us through." Then leaned in closer and quietly muttered, "The password is 'Patronus'."
When Harry gave a nod back, Luna turned back to the still open connection and quietly said, "Patronus." Then stepped into the flames, disappearing as if smoke up the chimney a bare moment later.
Harry followed her through, also muttering the password just before he stepped within.
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When he stepped out of the flames into the little Charms Master's office in Hogwarts, Harry could see his girlfriend's backside almost in his face as she had bent over in front of him to give the little part-goblin Charms Master a happy hug.
He could hear the man quietly laughing at his past-student's antics from the other side of the girl, while she was still hugging him.
Without a word, Harry used his off-hand to lightly caress low-down on her bum, before then giving it a light pinch.
It had Luna suddenly snap upright with a startled yip of surprise, then wheel on him with an amused scowl. "Hardwin James Peverell-Potter!" she scolded him. "Behave yourself, you."
Harry grinned back and stepped around her to greet the diminutive professor himself.
Offering his hand to shake, he said, "Hello, Professor Flitwick."
With a happy grin, Flitwick accepted his hand and enthusiastically shook it. "Hello, Mi- Lord Peverell-Potter. Welcome back! It's damned good to see you alive!"
"It's good to be back, Professor," Harry easily returned.
Flitwick then put out the call to any of the Professors who didn't currently have class to come and join him in his office to greet a special guest. He used house elves to carry the messages.
Once done he turned back and asked, "So, Lord Peverell-Potter, it's true you've been on other planets this whole time?"
"Singular, Professor," Harry corrected. "Just the one."
"I bet the Unspeakables are just itching to talk to you about that," said the professor.
"They are," Harry nodded. "However, there's no rush for me to do that; even if they'd like to think otherwise."
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As it was a 'school day' only four of the rest of the staff didn't have classes on at that time; Hagrid and Professors Sinistra, Babbling and Vector. All four showed up; with Hagrid, as soon he laid eyes on him, almost crushing Harry's rib-cage in from the strength of his 'gentle' hug in which he'd scooped him up.
Once released, Harry gave a bit of a groan, stretched his back out a bit and rolled his shoulders.
"Yes; 'tis I!" he sighed, looking around before looking at Hagrid and smiling. "How are you, old friend?"
With watery eyes, Hagrid gave a loud sniff and said, "Oi'm good; thank you, 'Arry. Yer lookin' good, too!"
"Thank you, Hagrid," he returned.
"Lord Peverell-Potter," said a somewhat excited Sinistra, getting Harry's direct attention. "You were really on a planet orbiting the Dogstar?"
"Yes, Professor," he smiled. "If you have access to a pensieve, I can give you a copy of my memory of the night sky of the first night I was there. I know―"
"Yes, please!" she blurted, overriding Harry's response before she realised what she'd done and apologised.
Harry just lightly chuckled and waved it off. "It's fine. I understand it's the sort of thing a Master of Astronomy would near-salivate over wanting to see."
"One moment, Lord Peverell-Potter," said Flitwick, walking over a cabinet in his office.
A quick fiddle of a couple of hidden catches and a low-height hidden draw suddenly snapped open on said cabinet. He then pulled it further out, reached within and gently withdrew a pensieve, carefully carrying it over to his desk and gently placing it there upon.
Ensured it was firmly in place, the professor looked to Harry and gestured to the bowl. "If you wouldn't mind, Lord Peverell-Potter?"
"Not at all," replied Harry, already drawing his wand and raising it to his temple as he walked closer to the bowl.
A few moments later and the silvery-ghostly cotton-candy-like mass he'd drawn from his temple with his wand tip was gently flicked off the wand and allowed to settle into the bowl.
"There ya go," he said, stepping back.
All, including Luna, quickly moved to stand within reach of the bowl. Then, almost synchronised, they each dropped into it.
Harry used the time they were gone to take a better look around the office. He'd only ever been in it once before; and that was back near the beginning of his fourth year.
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When the four returned a few minutes later, Sinistra exclaimed, "My word! Two moons!"
Harry chuckled and said, "It was, upon first seeing them, that I realised I wasn't on Earth anymore, Professor. It was the only explanation."
"It would be!" she quietly said.
Flitwick suddenly asked, "Do you have time to wait for elevenses in the Great Hall, Lord Peverell-Potter? I believe Professor McGonagall would be upset she missed you, if you don't hold back."
After a quick glance to Luna to make sure she had no problems with it, Harry replied, "That sounds like a wonderful idea, Professor."
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Before they headed for the Great Hall, however, Harry asked to stop by McGonagall's class with the other three Heads of House for a quick word beforehand.
Babbling immediately asked, "Why is that, Lord Peverell-Potter?"
"I have news that I believe must be passed on to Professor McGonagall, Professor Flitwick and the other two Heads of House, first," he calmly replied.
"Is this about the Headmaster?" she near-demanded.
"It is," he replied. "However, I believe those four need to hear it first, if you don't mind."
His accompanying frown at her presumptuousness had her slightly blush and look away. "Sorry... for being so pressing, I mean."
"Understood... and accepted," he replied.
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At a few minutes before the end of class bell, Professor Flitwick sent out two messenger Patronuses.
"For Professors Slughorn and Sprout, Lord Peverell-Potter," explained Flitwick. "I've asked them to detour via Professor McGonagall's office before heading for the Great Hall.
Harry gave a nod back just before following the little man out the door, with Luna tucking her hand into his off-hand elbow as they exited.
They arrived at the Transfigurations classroom a moment after the bell went. And waited as the class of third year Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs quickly fled out and down the corridor.
Entering, it was to see the elderly professor clearing up her classroom.
"Minerva," said Flitwick, leading them within. "Look who's paid us a visit."
"I'll be just―" she began to reply, before her eyes landed on Harry and Luna and she froze just for a moment. "My word!" she exclaimed.
"Hello, Professor," said Harry, smiling back.
Abandoning her tidy-up, McGonagall hurried around her desk and over to Harry. Then she paused just a moment before throwing propriety to the wind and pulling him in for a short hug.
As she released him she happily said, "Mister... I-I mean, Lord Peverell-Potter! It's wonderful to see you again!"
Harry smiled back and softly returned, "And you, Professor."
"Not that I'm not grateful you've decided to visit us," she said. "But, what's brought you here?"
Dropping his smile, Harry softly said, "Ah! Yes." He hesitated a moment before he said, "Perhaps I should wait until Professors Slughorn and Sprout turn up. I don't want to have to explain this a second time."
Shrewdly, she asked, "Is this about Albus?"
Again he hesitated before he replied, "Yes, actually."
With a slightly pained look back, she said, "I'm sorry for the way he treated you, Lord Peverell-Potter. And for my own part in some of that."
"That's alright, Professor," he returned. "I honestly don't think you were as responsible for as much as you think."
"You suspect he used compulsions and obliviations upon me," she correctly guessed. "And you'd be right."
When he looked back in surprise, she explained, "I had myself tested immediately after that... session of the Wizengamot. Actually, the DMLE investigators insisted. The DMLE's healers and the Unspeakables detected quite a few instances where I'd been obliviated or compulsed and the only common denominator of them was Dumbledore. The Healers at Saint Mungo's, a short time later, returned to me what still remained of my memories."
"We're here," said Slughorn, as he and Sprout entered with barely a knock to announce their presence.
"Good," said Harry, seeing them.
"My word!" Slughorn softly exclaimed on seeing him.
"Alright, Lord Peverell-Potter..." started Flitwick.
Harry gave a nod and said, "I was informed, only this morning, by... agents from the ICW as to what has happened to Dumbledore."
"He's dead, isn't he?" sighed McGonagall.
Harry nodded back and replied, "They dosed him with Veritaserum and... with the aid of a Master Legilimencer... got the details of all the crimes he committed out of him, put him before the ICW on trial and found him guilty. At least one of which, the harbouring charge, has only one sentence; execution. I was advised he was executed at dawn, Geneva-time, this morning.
That had the staff softly exclaim their surprise or, in McGonagall's case, sigh in disappointment.
"It looks like I'm now Acting Headmistress," she sadly said.
"I was also advised that Minister Bones was also informed this morning," he explained. "I daresay she'll be making an announcement about that very soon; if she hasn't already.
"If the wizarding wireless is as on the ball as they were the evening after I 'offed' that bastard Riddle... and you have students here with access to a wireless and who'll have it on at the right moment... they're going to find out, some time today, that old Alby-Walby is dead.
"So, you―"
"Mister Potter!" McGonagall softly scolded. "Try and show the man some respect."
"I'm showing him all the respect he deserves, Professor," Harry firmly returned. "Actually, I'm showing him far more than I believe he should be shown. It is only my respect for you and the other staff here that withholds my tongue from verbalising exactly what I think he should be called... and that starts with 'manipulative old, white-whiskered, bum-raping... so-and-so'.
"And it's Lord Peverell-Potter, Professor," he firmly added, before she could say anything else as she appeared to be about to do. "'Mister Potter' is not the way I should be addressed; not any more."
When McGonagall looked slightly away and blushed, Harry ignored it and continued with what he was going to say. "As I was saying... with the wireless no doubt being informed of Dumbledore's death this morning, some time today, I advise you to inform the staff and students before they find out from the wireless."
With a sigh and nod, McGonagall returned, "You're correct... Lord Peverell-Potter. I'd best go and inform them all now." Then she gestured to the door of her classroom. "If we don't hurry, they're going to finish elevenses and start heading for their next classes."
She added, "You're welcome to join us... just give me a few moments to announce you, before you enter."
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As Harry and Luna waited out in the entrance hall of the school, the senior staff all entered the Great Hall.
Then, as soon as she reached the dais and instead of going to her seat at the head table, McGonagall headed directly to the eagle-sculpted lectern Dumbledore rarely used.
That almost instantly had the students and staff settle down.
She waited only for Flitwick, Slughorn and Sprout to reach and sit at their seats before she gave her throat a little clear.
"Students and staff," she said. Her voice easily carried across the Hall and out to where Harry and Luna stood waiting.
"Students and staff... The duty has fallen to me to inform you that our Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, was found guilty of serious crimes before the ICW. As a result of at least one of those crimes... the crime of harbouring a dark lord, namely Gellert Grindelwald... only one sentence applies; execution."
Before the sudden noise from the students could become too loud and she'd have trouble corralling it back to a much quieter level, she quickly continued. "Albus Dumbledore, after being found guilty of his crimes, the then recognised criminal... I have been reliably informed... was lawfully executed this very morning by the ICW."
Yet again and before the noise could become too great, she once again continued. "As such and as I hold the post of Deputy Headmistress, by school charter and bylaws I automatically become the Acting Headmistress.
"I shall endeavour to contact the School Board as soon as feasible to resolve this situation. I foresee either me being elevated to the position of Headmistress or another being soon appointed by the Board.
"Until this situation is resolved I will be continuing as Professor of Transfigurations. However, I will need to cancel my classes between now and lunch so I may have the time to contact the President of the Board. Those who have classes with me between now and lunch have a free period."
She gave that a long moment to percolate through the minds of the students before she gave her throat another little clear. That drew most of the attention back to her.
"Second announcement," she said. "As a surprise we have visiting us today magical Britain's once and now again hero, the vanquisher of the dark wizard Tom Riddle, Lord Hardwin... Harry... Peverell-Potter. Please join me in making him and his lady-friend, Miss Luna Lovegood, welcome."
Then she stepped apart from the lectern and began clapping. She was quickly joined by the staff and students.
It was into this applause that Harry and Luna walked in. Luna was once again by Harry's side, with her right hand hooked into his left elbow.
The two walked up to the head table, with McGonagall directing them to a further two seats magically added on to the end of the staff table.
As they moved to sit down, McGonagall returned to the lectern and said, "Thank you. That's all the announcements I have for you, at the moment."
Harry was thankful that McGonagall blocked students and the other staff from asking any questions when he wanted to eat.
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Of course being only 'elevenses', morning tea, Harry and Luna left only about fifteen minutes later. They stayed only long enough for McGonagall to thank them for providing the information concerning Dumbledore, before thanking her back for the hospitality of the castle. They left to return back via the floo in the Headmaster's office to Grimmauld. McGonagall escorted them to that office as she needed documents from the Head's office while she communicated with the President of the School Board.
When they got back Sirius had news for them.
"It seems I just missed you in the Alley," he started. "I was heading to Gringotts to sort out some finances."
Harry frowned in confusion and said, "I thought you'd remained on top of all that?"
"I had," smirked his godfather. "However, you killing off certain people at Black Manor... I've renamed Malfoy Manor back to Black Manor, by the way... it seems I inherited quite a bit."
"Oh?" asked Harry.
"I already knew about the LeStrange fortune, of course. I picked that up back three years ago when the LeStranges were tossed through the Veil, replied Sirius. "However, I've now managed to pick up quite a few more on top of the Rosier reduced fortune."
Harry gave a wince and said, "I take it that, when I killed Riddle's supposed Inner Circle, I wiped out a few lines?"
"That, you did," chuckled Sirius. "Malfoy, of course... the Elder House of Prince... Severus 'Snivellus' Snape's House... the Ancient and Noble House of Travers, apparently... and the Ancient House of Selwyn. Those all found their way to me, when the supposed inheritors also all died on that day.
It seems you managed to kill Lucius Malfoy almost last, who stood to inherit a lot of it, even if only no more than about two seconds after the last of the others. Apparently and even though dying close to last of the inheritors, he still inherited from the others.
"Then, when Malfoy died only seconds later, all that flowed to the House of Black as the primary and only beneficiary left alive at the time."
Harry was gobsmacked. It took him a good few seconds to work his mind around what he'd just been told, while Luna was quietly giggling at his reaction. Finally, he blurted, "Daaaammnn!"
Sirius grinned back. "Because of what you did, the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black has, far and beyond the pale, just become the richest House in Britain and one of the richest clients of Gringotts, anywhere in the world."
Harry just shook his head, still trying to wrap his mind around what he'd just been told.
He eventually asked, "And what have you done concerning those lines that have... for all intents and purposes... just gone extinct?"
Sirius shrugged and said, "I merged their fortunes into the House of Black and left the lines otherwise extant. The goblins assure me there are likely heirs out there, but they're either squibs or completely unknowing of their heritage."
Harry frowned and muttered, "Unknowing of their heritage..." Looking up in shock, he said, "It sounds like they may be hinting at illegitimate children."
Sirius's grin dropped quite a bit and he nodded.
"Rape victims?" asked Harry.
Sirius winced, but reluctantly nodded in response to that too. "That's a good possibility, yes."
"I certainly hope you intend to help them if they eventually find out what their true heritages are!" said Harry. "A heritage test in Gringotts, perchance?"
Sirius sighed and said, "I won't go out of my way to find them. However, yes; if they find out they're actually children of a House I just pillaged... then I'll make sure they're helped."
Harry nodded and said, "That sounds fair."
"Oh!" said Sirius. "And Ami... Minister Bones... contacted me via floo to find out if I knew how to get hold of you. She remembers I'm still the lawfully recognised Potter Regent, though that's something we also need to fix now that you're an adult and back."
"Did she say what she wanted?" he asked.
"Only that she wanted to talk to you, that it was somewhat urgent and that she wouldn't take being ignored as a suitable response," grinned Sirius. "She said, if necessary, she'd send out aurors to hunt you down."
Harry gave a scoff and said, "No, she won't. She's got them far too busy at the moment arresting, questioning, charging and arranging trials for all those Death Eaters not yet suitably dead."
"But you're still going to floo-call her... right?" asked his godfather.
"Of course," he sighed. "I'll see if I can arrange something for after lunch."
"Best let her know," said a grinning Sirius.
Harry just gave his unrepentantly grinning godfather a look, before silently going back to the floo.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
After arranging a time for after lunch to visit her and then holding off until after he could enjoy said lunch, Harry spent the time before the midday meal preparing the rack of memories he 'promised' he'd hand over regarding his history.
Then, after lunch, he returned to the floo with Luna to go to the Minister's office.
Stepping out of the floo in her office, he quickly said, "Susan's middle name is Amelia."
It still unnerved him to find himself facing the dangerous end of a wand when he entered a room; especially the three he was facing this time.
As soon as he said the second password, the first being just to get an open connection to the Minister's office, the wands all lowered again.
"Lord Peverell-Potter," said Bones, now coming out from behind her desk to properly greet him.
"Minister," he quietly returned with a slight smirk, while offering his hand to shake.
As she shook it, she said, "You misled me, when you were last here."
"A dissembled answer, yes," he grinned. "I did not blatantly lie, but I also did not correct what I knew to be false assumptions on your part."
She just gave a huff and turned to go back to her seat behind the desk. Almost as an afterthought as she rounded the end, she said, "Have a seat, you two."
After making sure Luna was comfortably sitting, Harry took the second chair of only two on the guest's side of the desk.
As Bones looked back at the two, Harry said, "Well; it's your meeting, Minister. What did you want to ask or tell me you wouldn't mention over the floo to my godfather?"
She just gave a minor huff and replied, "I wanted you, of all people, to be the first to know. Albus Dumbledore―"
"After being found guilty of a number of crimes before the ICW, was executed this morning," Harry finished.
Surprised he knew, she asked, "Now, how'd you know that?"
"Certain agents of the ICW paid my godfather a visit, this morning, while I was there having breakfast with him," he replied. "One of them told me."
Giving a slight grimace back, she said, "I asked them not to tell anyone until I was able to formulate a suitable message for the wizarding public."
"Albus Dumbledore was, to a certain point, a respected wizard throughout the world," said Harry. "He might not have properly earned that respect, but he had it.
"Don't forget, he was once also magical Britain's representative to the ICW and also once chaired that body as its Supreme Mugwump.
"You might wish to be the one to make that announcement, but it's not actually your place to withhold that sort of information until you're ready for it to be released. The ICW charged and trialled him; the ICW get to determine when and how that information is disseminated.
"Just so you know... the denizens of Hogwarts, staff and students alike, also now know Dumbledore was executed this morning. I think, if you don't want to be seen as withholding information the public sees as information they deserve, you'd best get on with that."
Giving another grimace of perceived mental pain, Bones raised her off-hand to massage her forehead for the moment. Eventually, she looked up, glanced at Harry then looked over his shoulder at one of the two aurors in the room. "Ask Amos to step in for a moment, would you?"
Harry heard the office door open, the auror call to someone just outside the door - 'Obviously Diggory,' thought Harry - and then Diggory asked, "Ma'am?"
"Release the information about Dumbledore right now; would you, Amos?" she replied. "It seems the story has, somewhat, already broken."
"Errr... yes, Ma'am," the man replied, before exiting again.
She looked back to Harry and said, "I wish you hadn't done that."
"As I said," he returned. "It wasn't your call to make."
She rocked back in her chair and said, "Now for the second reason I invited you to visit."
Harry could have said something about her so called 'invitation', but a quick squeeze of his hand by Luna held his tongue.
"I need those memories you said you'd hand over."
He gave a nod and withdrew the phial case he had in one of his inside robe breast pockets and placed it on the desk. "I said I'd be willing to hand it over to your aurors."
Sitting back, he indicated it and said, "The phial marked number one is when I had to kill Quirinus Quirrell in self defence in June 1992; number two is of the battle with the basilisk in June 1993 in the chamber under the school; three to five are of my life growing up with the Dursleys; number six is of what I can remember of the event that made me an orphan; and numbers seven to nine are of some of what happened while I was on Hadrian, the planet that orbits Sirius A."
"I'd also like to see the battle where you killed Riddle for good," she said.
"Not until I have a signed blanket pardon in writing and in my hand for killing all those 'fine and upstanding citizens' otherwise known as Death Eaters; his thugs," he said. "Even then, I don't think I want that made public."
"And if I promise to immediately return the memory to you?" she pressed.
He thought about that and shrugged, "Maybe. I'll have to think about it."
"I'll also give an oath I won't share with anyone what I see in the memory," she added. "I just need to see it to confirm it was actually you who killed Riddle. I really don't care about his thugs... as you call them."
He again thought about it and said, "Alright. But the memory doesn't leave my sight and you watch it in my presence. Immediately afterwards, I take the memory back."
She gave a little, almost imperceptible, slump of relief at that. "Deal," she firmly said.
"Then you'd best get out your pensieve," he said.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Once Bones had her pensieve on her desk and ready, she then gave her oath to not divulge what she'd see within the memory other than to clarify and confirm that Harry did, indeed, kill Riddle.
Then she quickly wrote up and signed, as Minister complete with Ministry seal, a blanket pardon for Harry for anything he did that day that directly led to the death of Riddle and his Inner Circle.
"I won't do more than that," she explained. "As far as I know you could be guilty of other, unrelated, crimes. I won't pardon those."
"Fair enough," he returned. "For the record, though; I do not believe I have."
Once Harry had the pardon, he called on Dobby to take it back to Grimmauld for him. Then, once the elf popped away with it, he drew out the memory of him killing Riddle, starting with his arrival at Malfoy manor, right through to a moment after killing Nagini. He directly left out how he wasn't kidnapped and taken there, nor of 'staging' the scene to look like a mighty battle had taken place.
However, he knew she'd quickly figure that out for herself.
Then she, he and Luna all dropped into the memory.
When they came out, she looked to Harry and said, "What was that silver thing you used first?"
She'd already figured out, while in the memory, that Harry had staged the crime scene later and that he wasn't 'fighting for his life' when he killed them all; but agreed he was definitely in 'mortal peril'. However, she'd also told him she didn't care about any of that and had already realised why he did it. All she cared about was whether or not he actually killed Riddle, which was the only purpose of going into the memory.
"It's called a Zat'nik'tel," he replied, directly answering her question. "It's a Peverell family heirloom I recovered from the Peverell vault at Gringotts. Please don't attempt to ask me how it works. And, no, I don't have it on me. Believe it or not, it's actually a device made on entirely another world; and I do not know which one of the many, many thousands that would be."
She just nodded back and, indicating the rack of phials, asked, "Do one of these phials contain― Ah! Seven to nine; now I remember."
Harry didn't bother to respond. He just started taking the memory of his battle at Malfoy Manor back and dropping it into a phial Luna held for him.
"Care to join me while we watch your battle with the basilisk?" Bones then asked.
"We can do that," he said. "However, it's going to take about half an hour."
"The battle was that long?" she asked.
"No," he replied. "I just included what happened before that, as it's germane to how I found out the truth about Riddle's heritage."
"Very well," she said. And reached for the phial marked number two.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
After spending most of the afternoon with Bones and going through the phials - he wouldn't go through the memories with her of his time with the Dursleys - he and Luna once again returned to Grimmauld.
"How did it go?" asked Sirius, as soon as they located him. "Dobby gave me the signed and stamped pardon, by the way."
"It went good," said Luna. "Though it took a while, as you can tell."
"Bones now has the memories she needs for the Wizengamot to award me the Order of Merlin for killing the basilisk," explained Harry. Then he chuckled and said, "She claims she nearly shit herself when she first laid eyes on it in the memory. And also believes an Order of Merlin, First Class, is not a high enough award for what I did."
"But that is what she's definitely recommending to the Wizengamot Harry be awarded," added Luna. "She also saw the memory of the event when Riddle first cast the killing curse at Harry back in October 1981."
"She, too, believes it's something my mum did, rather than me," said Harry. "However, she also believes she won't sway the Wizengamot from awarding me my 'rightful' Order of Merlin, First Class, for that event either."
"So, when's it all take place?" asked Sirius.
"She'll be calling another extraordinary sitting of the Wizengamot for some time next week," replied Harry. "There, she'll lay out the evidence.
"Oh! And she said Fudge and Lockhart have both also been stripped of their Orders of Merlin. The information Luna provided as to who really performed all those astonishing feats of magic Lockhart wrote about him doing in those books was, for the most part, all confirmed."
"For the most part?" asked Sirius.
Luna replied, "Two of the main feats were actually committed by two wizards who have since, sadly, died."
"But the others were all definitely confirmed," added Harry. "She claims that the fact even one was confirmed means Lockhart received his Order under false pretenses. Though he's currently a permanent patient in the Janus Thickey Ward at Mungo's, he'll be getting charged for that. And the gold he received for it, plus much of the proceeds from his books, will be legally taken from him and given to the folks or their families who rightfully deserve it."
Sirius gave a firm nod back and said, "I'm glad to see you're finally getting the recognition you deserve, Harry. It's been a long time coming."
"Oh, yes," said Luna. "Before we left I also called Dobby to bring over all the evidence of that mail that contained all the nasty magics directed at Harry for either killing Riddle and or his Inner Circle or bringing to light Dumbledore's crimes."
"I know," said Sirius. "He told me."
"And Minister Bones will be personally ensuring those who can be charged for it will be charged for it and, where it's appropriate, will be facing trial for it," she continued. "She's apparently quite offended people did that, let alone that they thought they'd get away with it."
"Dobby also took all the ones loaded with compulsion charms and the like," nodded Sirius. "Especially the ones that were on things like betrothal contracts. That, alone, is classed as attempted line theft and can see the perpetrators upwards from spending significant time in Azkaban all the way to being tossed through the Veil."
Harry gave a sudden wince, "Ouch!"
"It's a serious enough crime to warrant such punishment, Harry," said Sirius.
"I know," he sighed. "I can understand the reward if they actually managed to succeed, too. And that's why the punishment is so... permanent.
"Oh," he suddenly said, perking up. "How come I haven't seen Remus around much over the past couple days?"
"He's spending it at Tonk's place," replied his godfather. "With the hours Tonks is currently keeping, he's using the time to try and find more work. As such, he feels he needs to be at her place, so they get more one-on-one time together."
Harry pulled a grimace and asked, "He's still not accepting financial help?"
"Nope," replied Sirius. "Too prideful for his own good, if you ask me."
"Well, as long as he's okay..." he sighed.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
For the rest of the day, right through to going to bed except for one task Luna told Harry he needed to do first, the household spent the time still responding to mail Harry was receiving. However, it was a decently packed day, so Harry and Luna were in bed shortly after 9.00pm.
That task was to write a letter to a journalist at the Daily Prophet she knew, concerning his 'opinion' about Dumbledore's execution.
He frowned at her and asked, "Why?"
"You're not sending it to Skeeter because you're punishing her for her behaviour in the Alley, this morning. And you're writing it so the Prophet can convert it into an interview so they can print your views. You need to better explain why Dumbledore had to stand trial for what he did, how it was the ICW's choice whether or not to do so and that it was the ICW's decision he be executed; not yours."
"She's right," said Sirius. "By coming out in front with logical explanations as to why Dumbledore was executed, there's both less of a chance you'll end up copping the blame for it and for people still thinking you're supposed to be a dark wizard."
He sighed and pulled yet another sheet of parchment before himself before picking up a fresh quill. "Alright. Tell me what I need to write."
Instead of staying home with Harry and Luna that evening, Sirius had finally figured out he had no risk of 'bumping into' Dumbledore if he went out; so decided to go to a wizarding nightclub to see if he could get lucky. He'd stopped soon after he first started when he was found innocent, because someone had tattled to the old man that he was somewhere the old man could find him.
Dumbledore had then set up spies at those places to immediately report to him if Sirius turned up. And Sirius had figured out that's what the old man had done after the third near miss of getting confronted by the old goat in less than two weeks.
Now, with the old man gone for good, Sirius felt it was once again safe for him to visit such places.
Harry wished him luck and, only mentioning it to Luna, hoped the old dog 'got lucky' and scored a bed partner for the night.
"He will," smiled Luna, as she was readying for bed.
While also getting undressed, Harry paused to look back in surprise. "He will?"
Smirking back as she was removing her bra, Luna said, "Harry; he's the godfather and... practically... the actual father of the Boy-Who-Lived, soon to be known as the Man-Who-Vanquished. Your godfather's going to be able to use that notoriety to 'get lucky', as you put it, for a very long time."
Harry grinned back. "Good. I like seeing him happy."
"Now," she said, already naked and starting to climb into bed, "Finish getting undressed and hop into bed. Your godfather's not the only one getting lucky tonight."
Harry happily grinned back and hurried to strip off the remainder of his clothes. Little Harry was already beginning to firm up in anticipation.
On seeing it, Luna snickered.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ