Harry Potter and the Heart of Power
Chapter 13
-Harry-
Sighing softly he worked to breath in and out slowly, still trying to quell his anger from his Potion's 'lesson' which he had left ten minutes ago. Hearing a sigh he felt Susan's hands run through his hair before she began to rub his temples and pulled his head onto her lap causing him to look up into the sky, watching the clouds go by as Susan hummed softly, "Calm down Harry," she whispered as she massaged his temples and ran her fingers through his hair "just relax. I'm here for you.".
"Thanks Su," he said gratefully as he took her hand and kissed the palm softly "I don't know what I'd do without you.".
"Luckily you won't have to find out," Susan said warmly as he felt his eyelids grow heavy under her ministrations "because I don't intend to let you go.". Smiling gratefully he drifted off to the sound of Susan's humming and the feel of her fingers going through his hair. The sound of a camera going off woke him up as he blearily cracked open his eyes to see a grinning Amelia Bones pocketing a camera while he could practically feel Susan's blush from his spot on her lap.
"Well isn't this just adorable," Amelia cooed with a grin "are you two ready to go or do you want to keep cuddling. I'm good either way.".
"Auntie!" Susan exclaimed aghast as he sighed and sat up, pulling his friend and crush close as she hid her face in his shirt.
"Really Amelia?" he asked exasperatedly "Must you torment Su like this?".
"I'm the closest thing Susan has to a parent and it is a parent's job to embarrass their children." Amelia confirmed with a happy nod as he sighed in exasperation. "Wait a minute," Amelia said with a small frown as she pulled out a pocket watch "why are you two out here? I thought you were supposed to be in Potion's class for another twenty minutes.".
"Snape happened." He said with a small cowl before recounting what had occurred during the lesson, as well as the Slytherin Head of House's other actions throughout the week, to Amelia who was understandably furious.
After seeing the head of the DMLE take in a deep breath to calm herself she gave him a firm nod "I'll help make sure this is brought before the Board of Governors," Amelia promised "we'll also have to try to keep Lucius Malfoy away as the man is one of the few people alive who genuinely likes Severus Snape.".
"Hold up," he said as he stood up, pulling Susan with him as she laced her fingers with his "someone actually likes that scum bag? Either you're joking, Lucius Malfoy was more messed up than I thought, or that man is smoking something he shouldn't be.".
"Or all three." Susan said with a small giggle.
"Or all three." He agreed as he kissed her cheek as Susan let out a small eep and buried her face in the crook of his neck while Amelia laughed happily.
"Anyway onto a more important matter." Amelia said as they passed through the Hogwarts gate and approached the ward line where Amelia could help them dissaperate.
"And that would be?" he asked as he felt them pass through the wards, Susan looking at her aunt curiously.
"Can I get one of those wonderful shirts I've heard you've been selling?" Amelia asked with a smile as he and Susan laughed before Amelia grabbed their shoulders as they disappeared with a crack.
Landing at the entrance to Diagon with a gasp he stumbled and caught Susan who almost fell to her knees, "Don't do that while we're laughing Amelia!" he panted wide eyed, the feeling of dissaperating while laughing not being a pleasant one.
"I don't know what you mean." Amelia said with an innocent grin while Susan scowled at her aunt.
"Anyway," he said shaking his head "I'm going to head up to my apartment. Ragnok said that he found a few things when going through the Potter vaults that he thought I should know about and that they were already brought up to my place. I'll see you two tomorrow?".
"Of course." Susan said with a grin as she hugged him tightly, an action he happily returned.
"Don't forget what I asked you to tell your Aunt." He whispered into her ear as she shivered at the feeling of his breath blowing across her skin. Seeing her nod he turned to say goodbye to Amelia, the beautiful woman hugging him like a little kid much to his irritation and her obvious amusement, before the two red haired beauties disappeared with a crack and he turned to head over to his Casino and enter his apartment.
Seeing Anastasia's law firm he decided to swing over and see what the plan was for tomorrow, pushing the door open as a chime rang throughout the store, "Can I help you?" the girl behind the desk asked him with a raised eyebrow as he nodded.
"I have a law suit scheduled for tomorrow and I wanted to speak to my attorney, Anastasia Malfoy, to ensure that I knew what the plan was for it.".
"Lord Potter?" the girl asked with a look of understanding in her eyes and, once he showed her his head of house ring, pointed down the hall. "She's in her office and doesn't have any other appointments scheduled for today. I assume you already know the way?".
"I do and thank you for your assistance." He said with a grateful smile which was returned in kind before he walked down the hall.
Stopping in front of Anastasia's office he rapped his knuckles against the wood, getting a rather stressed reply of "Who is it?" from the other side of the door.
"Why Ana," he said with a merry chuckle "it's your favorite client.". The second the name 'Ana' left his lips he heard the sound of moving feet before the door was yanked open and he was pulled inside. "Happy to see me?" he asked with a mirthful grin as Anastasia forced him down onto a seat.
"Do you have any idea how stressful the past week has been for me?!" Ana demanded as she poured them a couple glasses of whiskey.
"Fudge or Lucius?" he asked as he set the glass down on the table and walked behind the beautiful Malfoy woman, slowly massaging her neck and shoulders as she let out a happy moan, the knots built up over the past week vanishing under his ministrations.
"Both," she groaned "Fudge is trying to find different ways to impede Lightning Strike Enterprises to 'deter us' while Lucius is trying to rally support against you in the Wizenagamot.".
"We have the law on our side and, more importantly, the court of public opinion," he reassured the woman as he continued his massage "as I'm going to ensure that Natalie is there to write an article for the Daily Storm and with our new cameras that actually have the words behind the image for the loop it will make it even more damning should they try anything during the trial.".
"Good poin-oooooh!" Anastasia moaned loudly as he dealt with a particularly large knot, slumping down into her seat with a sigh "Than you Harry, I needed that.".
Smiling he leaned down and kissed her cheek "No problem Ana," he assured her "I'm happy to help. But is there anything else I need to know about for tomorrow?".
"After the trial they're likely to open up the floor to any movements from the various Lords on the Wizenagamot seeing as it will be a full gathering." Ana said thoughtfully "You and 'Lord Peverell' will also be there to cast any votes but your own votes will be abstained from the law suit. Yours due to the fact that you're the one committing the suit and Lord Peverell's as he is technically your 'Guardian' even though you were emancipated.".
"I still find it ridiculous that they have a full Wizenagamot vote for a law suit," he snorted "but then again most of the Politicians in this world have the mental capabilities of a gold fish so I shouldn't really be surprised.".
"Fair enough," Ana said with a small chuckle "well your case is scheduled to begin at eleven tomorrow morning so be ready for it. Other than that I assume that Ragnok told you he found some items in the Potter family vault that are waiting for you back at your apartment?".
"Yeah," he said with a nod as he finished giving the massage, getting an upset groan from Ana by doing so "I'm gonna go over there and check them out.".
"Alright then," Ana said with a yawn "I think I'm going to head home and turn in early, get a good night's sleep.".
"Alright Ana," he said as he gave her a hug "sweat dreams.".
"Thanks Harry." Ana said with a smile before spinning on her heel and disappearing with a crack.
Walking back out of the Law Firm, and waving goodbye to the secretary at the front desk, he walked over to his Casino and walked right through the doors, the guards saluting him as he entered before they had to quell the angry people outside who complained about a 'snot nosed brat' getting in, his guards quickly pointing out that he owned the place.
Walking through the rows of slot machines and poker tables he nodded in greeting to his various employees who happily greeted him with 'Lord Potter' when they saw who he was, gaining the attraction of several customers at the business before he entered into the elevator to go up to his penthouse apartment.
Getting up to his condo he opened the door, taking in the appearance of his 'home' with a calm grin as he walked in and found an envelope waiting for him on the table by the door.
"Harry," he read out "when going through the contents of your family vault we discovered a copy of your parents will that wasn't confiscated and sealed by Albus Dumbledore after your parents death in nineteen eighty one. Dumbledore was able to declare himself your Guardian by doing so but lost that right by putting you with your Aunt and Uncle and not seeing you for nearly ten years leaving your guardianship to your blood relatives who, in turn, emancipated you thus allowing us to 'unseal' the will. Inside it lists several bequeaths, which have since been distributed to the appropriate parties, as well as a list of possible guardians. Neither the Dursleys nor Dumbledore were on the list so that may be an advantage you can use in court. Finally we found a pair of Wizard's Paintings made of your parents that were given sentience about a week before their deaths which are now hanging up in your room. Enjoy and good luck with the law suit, Director Ragnok.". Shakily he set down the letter, barely even glancing at the will, before he quickly moved towards his room. He felt that he was long overdue for a conversation with his parents.
AN: Next chapter we have the law suit and after that things are going to really start to pick up in this story. I have several things planned for the upcoming chapters and there are a few points I'm changing as well. A little 'gift' for all you loyal members of the Legion, the creature that comes in on Halloween…won't be a troll.