AN: Damn, I finally managed to get another chapter done! Thank god I managed to get this done before I have to go back to school. I've been busy with real life; retail during the xmas season, pandemic, commitments, ect...
So, in prep for this chapter; it's a bit of a longer one tbh. It ended up being around 6k words, so be prepared for a lot of dialogue tbh. This is an Octavian (Tom) and Harry centric chapter, where Harry learns a lot of info about the wizarding world. It might feel a little rushed and I apologize for that.
This takes place before the Wizengmot chapter because I felt like including it would be way too much for a single chapter.
Also, in terms of this story, I'm doing something a little different. I originally planned to make Minister Fudge like canon; useless and a fool. However, I grew to like the version I created and now I plan on making him a competent Minister of Magic. I think it adds something new to this story and I like it so far.
"Does this look alright?" Harry came into the main parlor, running a hand through his hair self-consciously and seeking Barty's approval. The older wizard looked up from the newspaper and hummed, giving a nod as he stood up.
"It looks perfect. They might not even recognize you at first." Barty walked over to where Harry was standing, looking over the outfit with a sharp eye. "Are you nervous?" He asked, gently laying a hand on the younger wizard's shoulder to offer a gentle squeeze.
"As much as I don't want to be, I am," Harry admitted with a shaky sigh, running a hand through his hair again. "I'm worried that they won't take this news well and everything will backfire somehow," Harry spoke softly, biting his lips hard. "I'm worried that Dumbledore has a card up his sleeve and can send me back to the Dursleys-"
"Hey," Barty cut him off, looking into the emerald eyes with his own chocolate ones. "The Dark Lord would never let that happen for one thing, and the truth is Dumbledore has no power over you legally. He can try to do anything he wants, but it will ultimately fail. Even questing your relations to someone like that will garner negative reactions from the entire Wizengamot. He's already on thin ice as it is."
Barty was quiet for a moment, his eyes scanning over Harry's face as he spoke up again. "And even if he tried to do something, I would put a stop to it if I had to. I'm not letting you be shipped to the Dursleys even if it means exposing myself to the wizarding world before it's my time." He reached down to gently stroke the raven locks, smiling slightly when Harry relaxed into his touch.
"I…thank you," Harry mumbled, unable to look away for a moment, his anxiety finally starting to calm down at the honest words, and soothing touch.
"…I want to go ahead and give you something," Barty mumbled, pulling away and summoning a box. "I want you to have this in case you're nervous during the meeting. Think of it as one of your early birthday presents."
With curious eyes and a racing heart, Harry gingerly opening the box and immediately lit up, warmth flowing through his body as he took out the offered robe.
It was the same one that Barty would gently lay over him when he fell asleep on the sofa.
"Barty…" Harry breathed out, tears filling his eyes at the offered present. It was something he wasn't used to receiving and the gift took all of the air out of him in seconds. "Thank you…" He put on the offered robe and couldn't stop from snuggling into it, unconsciously relaxing even further.
The death eater couldn't speak as he watched the display, his chest flaring with warmth. His long fingers gently rubbed away the few stray tears that fell from Harry's eyes, his heart lurching at the reason those tears had been there in the first place.
"This means so much to me," Harry admitted, biting his lips. "I haven't had many presents growing up, and this means so much to me…thank you." He wrapped his arms around the taller wizard, smiling when arms wrapped around him in return.
"You don't need to thank me, Harry. You deserved it…those monsters you lived with didn't deserve to have you in their lives." The death eater growled out, hugging him tighter. "I can't wait until I finally get ahold of them and make them pay for everything they've put you through. No one deserves to go through that." Barty mumbled, lingering for a moment before pulling away.
"There's another gift I want to give you," Barty said with a slight smile, summoning another box that held a level of power to it that Harry immediately noticed.
"You didn't have to-" The younger wizard spoke up, surprised at the fact that he had another present from his friend. It wasn't often that he received a single gift, let alone two.
"Oh, just wait until your actual birthday. You're still getting presents on that day too, Harry." Barty smirked at the obvious flush on his friend's face, his brown eyes sparkling as the box was finally opened.
Inside lay a similar pendant to the one Harry had originally received the day he left Hogwarts. It carried the same magic from before that put him at ease. Carefully, he touched the serpentine pedant and shivered at the familiar wave of magic that washed over his body. The pendant was cold against his fingertips, but there was a warmth that pulsed from beneath it.
"It's similar to the one from before, but this one is a little more powerful. It serves as a means of communication between us." Barty pulled out his own pendant, putting it around his neck. "Do you feel my magic from yours?"
"Yeah.." Harry breathed out in awe, biting his lips at the sensation that he now recognized as Barty's calming magic. "Can you also feel my magic? How does it work?"
"I was able to use your wand as a conduit for the rune spell I used. The magic from your side is inscribed into mine, while mine is inscribed into yours. Magic feeds off our emotions, so the pendant will react accordingly." Barty focused on his magic and sent a wave of soothing emotions to the other and Harry flushed at the feeling. "This way you can always feel my magic if you're having a hard time."
Harry couldn't think of what to say, his heart racing a mile a minute at the thoughtful gift. It reminded him of the first time Mrs. Weasley sewed him a sweater with his initial on it, signaling their love of him. This was the same level of thoughtfulness, and it took his breath away, leaving him raw and open, gratitude and so much more coursing through every nerve in his body.
Barty let out a grunt of surprise when he was basically tackled into a hug that had him stumble a bit. He regained his balance and kept his arms wrapped around the younger, swallowing hard when he felt the shaking.
"Barty, thank you so much. I…I can't tell you how much this means to me. I've never had something so thoughtful like this before." Harry admitted, trying to hold back his tears as he tightened his hold, desperately keeping the tears at bay.
"You're welcome, Harry." Barty managed to get out, his heart-breaking for the wizard against his chest. Steadying his hands, he placed the chain around his friend's neck and closed his eyes, taking the time to appreciate the moment.
"It'll warm up the closer I am, and it'll vibrate if either one of us is in danger," Barty explained, letting his hand stroke the raven hair and toy with the locks. "I want you to wear it whenever you're alone. The dark lord will always protect you, but when you're by yourself…" Harry felt himself smile at the protective tone and nodded, the tears that had threatened to escape finally drying.
"I'll keep it on whenever I can, I promise. The same goes for you, Barty. I..I don't want anything to happen to you either." Harry admitted, starting to pull away to look at the death eater. "Please."
"I'll keep it on too. It's a communication pendant for a reason." Barty touched the silver snake, and Harry nearly gasped when he felt a pulse emanate from his own snake, the warmth like a beacon. "That way we both can know we're safe."
Barty flushed when arms wrapped around him for the third time that day, but he didn't hesitate to return the embrace as he smiled to himself, giving an almost inaudible sigh of pleasure.
"Lord Sayers be heres!" Winky popped to inform the duo, who reluctantly pulled away from each other to address the loyal house-elf.
"Thank you, Winky." Barty smiled a bit, glancing to Harry who was putting on a brave face.
"You'll do great," He promised, stroking the soft hair again before the two separated, with Harry heading in the opposite direction to greet Tom.
"You will stand with me the entire time. Don't think too much of the people staring at you. They will simply be in shock to see you there."
"That and my name still proceeds me." Tom snorted at that, glancing at the younger with a small smirk.
"Which will work in our favor, I believe. There are many people who follow Dumbledore for the mere fact that you seem to. Once they discover that you are your own person, they will be quick to pull away from the old man. They will see his flaws more clearly." Harry bit his lips, looking unsure for a moment.
"And what should I do about Dumbledore? I doubt he will take this very well, and I hate to think what he will do to me at Hogwarts." Tom paused at that, turning to look more closely at the younger wizard.
"My advice is to be more neutral. Don't actively go against him too much in the public eye, that way he still believes you to be for the light." Tom was quick to point out. "We can go against him in private and with those we trust, but I don't want you to single yourself out." He admitted.
"I think you should still talk about my return, that way Albus believes you're still against me and everything I stand for. If he still believes you're worried about 'Voldemort' he won't bother you too much. The last thing I want is for him to pressure you during your time at Hogwarts." Tom spoke, looking troubled at the thought.
"He's always had a habit about doing that, but I've gotten used to it. I'll have to get better, though." Harry said, chewing on his bottom lip.
"Considering you've hidden from him for almost two years, I think you're doing an exceptional job. I was in the same spot you were in my time in Hogwarts, and he was constantly wary of me. I made mistakes in my youth that I'm now ashamed of."
"Like what?" Harry questioned gently, looking at Tom who had a distant gaze in his eyes.
"I was scared of dying when I was younger. I wanted to gain immortality and never lose that. I also wanted to spread magic back throughout the world since we lost so much thanks to certain laws and regulations that no nothing about the older customs."
"It was my fear of dying that lead to the creation of items known as Horcruxes. These artifacts are imbued with half of your souls and they come to be once you do the greatest evil; murdering someone without guilt. I went too far and created so many because of that fear. It was what lead to me seeking you out when you were a baby and trying to kill you. I thought you would be on Dumbledore's side and find a way to completely kill me. I had worked too hard to reach where I was, and I wasn't going to let myself be destroyed."
Tom sighed, running a hand through his hair as he looked away.
"By splitting my soul so much, it broke my mind. It turned me insane and into a monster that was feared by all of my followers and enemies. It was the opposite of what I had once strived to do. By creating fear among my followers, even they seemed reluctant to go forward and follow me. My path down the dark arts lead me into places I never should have ventured." As Tom finished speaking, Harry spoke up.
"Barty said that you now agree with the outlawing of certain dark rituals. Is that why?" Harry asked softly, watching as Tom sighed and nodded his head, looking displeased at the answer.
"Sadly. Horcrux's are the most secret and outlawed of the dark arts for a reason. I don't wish to bring back all dark magic in the world, only the amount that was wrongfully classified as evil. There is nothing evil about dark magic, only the way it is used." Harry considered that and nodded eventually, gaining a little more courage as he felt the need to know more rise.
"What can you tell me about Horcruxes? I understand their main function I believe, but I'm still curious about it." Harry admitted. "You mentioned artifacts. What did you mean by that?"
"When you split your soul, you transfer that piece into an object of your choice. It carries part of your soul and if anything happens to you, you can use that object to bring you back to life."
"Is that how you were able to return after the killing curse redirected and hit you instead?" Tom nodded, looking proud of the younger wizard.
"Exactly. They grounded the last bit of my soul to this planet. While my body was destroyed, the objects that carried my souls were unharmed." Suddenly, Harry felt dread flash through him as he remembered his first year at Hogwarts.
"Ah, there are other ways Voldemort can return."
Dumbledore knew. Why else would that comment hold such a weight? The headmaster had a gleam of knowledge in his eyes when he spoke those words, a somber look to him that now made Harry feel more unease than before.
"Tom, how many people know you created them?" Harry asked, looking alarmed as he glanced at the older wizard.
Tom could feel the panic from their bond and frowned, trying to think of the answer.
"Bellatrix knew, as did Lucius. That was all who were aware of what I had done…why?"
"I think Dumbledore knows. In my first year at Hogwarts, he mentioned that you had other ways of returning. I was surprised that you were still alive even though everyone had told me I defeated you. The thing is, Dumbledore didn't even look surprised that you could return. It was almost like he had expected it." Harry paused again, biting his lips hard.
"Did you already transfer your souls back into your body? Is that why you aren't insane anymore?" Harry questioned, feeling more discomfort rise inside of him.
"Yes." Tom was quick to soothe, smiling a bit. "The moment my wraith left Quirrel's body, I knew that I needed to do something about my mental state. That's why I was calm when I emerged from the Cauldron after the ritual." He explained.
"Tell me, Harry. What do you remember from our first meeting?" The question caught the younger wizard by surprise, and he hummed innocently.
"Which one?" Snorting, Tom smirked.
"Your first year."
"Well, I remember you being like a parasite," Harry admitted, frowning in thought. "I also remember that you were kind of unstable. When I talked to you one on one, it was strange to be honest. One moment you were calm, the next, you were furious. The philosopher's stone was also important to you." Harry remembered, glancing at him. "One of the main things that still stands out was the offer you made me. You said you could bring back my parents if I joined you, that we both could."
"Ah, yes. I remember that too." Tom admitted, nearly grimacing at the memory of his outburst when Harry refused him. He had been crazed with anger and it had led to the inevitable destruction of Quirrel's body and mind in the end.
"I'm curious what would have happened if I had given it to you." Tom seemed to consider that outcome and shrugged.
"I honestly can't say what I would have done. As you said, I was unstable, but I think I would have spared you. I would have owed you a life debt and I would need to have repaid it."
"Life debt? What's that?" Harry asked and Tom paused, looking to Harry with interest.
"I often forget that you haven't lived in this world that long. A life debt is something created by magic. If you save someone's life, magic sees that as a contract that needs to be fulfilled and the other person is required to do something for you to repay it."
"I don't know if I like the idea of that," Harry mumbled, biting his lips. "I mean, wouldn't Aurors or healers have a lot then? They save countless individuals on a daily basis."
"No. That's their job. They are required to perform those actions. To explain in a little more detail, life debts are typically between enemies or people who have animosity between them." That got an eyebrow raise from Harry, who blinked in confusion.
"Enemies? How so?"
"The thing with most life debts, the person needs to go out of their way to save someone in danger. Imagine if I were to save Dumbledore's life. I hate him more than anything, but if I were to save him from immediately dying, he would need to repay me." Harry hummed, nodding at the answer.
"That makes a lot of sense now. I guess…" Harry paused, realizing something. "Peter Pettigrew owes me a life debt." Tom outright laughed, shaking his head.
"Dare I imagine why that is?"
"Uh…Sirius and Remus were going to kill Peter because he betrayed my parents, but I spared him. I told them I wanted him to be sent to the dementors instead. I wanted Sirius to be exonerated for the crimes that Pettigrew had committed."
"I see….that information actually helps us out. When we pass the law to give them a fair trial, we will do just that. Peter will be the one to go to Azkaban. Because of his life debt to you, he won't be able to go against your wishes."
"That's extremely useful." Harry realized, biting his lips. "It kind of makes me want to save Dumbledore that way he's required to repay me." Tom snorted again and hummed, eyes shining,
"I don't think it's a bad idea, but I also want nothing more than for him to suffer."
"If you don't mind me asking, what else did he do to you?" Harry asked, tilting his head to the side. Sighing, Tom took a deep breath and exhaled.
"I know it's hard to imagine, but I didn't always have plans to be a dark lord. I wanted to be the defense teacher at Hogwarts." Harry nearly got whiplash from that tidbit.
"Wait, really?" He looked intrigued at that, eyes wide. "You would probably be the best defense teacher to ever teach at Hogwarts…besides Barty of course." He added. Rolling his eyes, Tom smiled a bit.
"Dumbledore had always been suspicious of me from the moment I stepped into Hogwarts. I'm sure you've noticed the offhanded way he treats Slytherins." Harry flinched, rubbing the back of his neck as he nodded.
"Yeah. When I first came to Hogwarts, Hagrid and Ron were both telling me how only evil Wizards had come from that house. It was some of the reason that I ended up not wanting to…" He trailed off, something sickening twisting in his stomach.
"Harry?" Tom asked, immediately feeling the array of emotions through their link.
"Tom, do you think Dumbledore did that on purpose?" Harry finally asked, his words slow and quiet, having never considered this before. "He sent Hagrid to teach me about being a wizard, and Barty told me that it should have been McGonagall…do you think he specifically sent Hagrid because of how he views things?"
"I mean, I know after what happened between you and Hagrid, he formed a negative view of the Slytherins. I wonder if Dumbledore used that to his advantage when he sent Hagrid. In hopes that I wouldn't get into any other house but Gryffindor. Hagrid wouldn't shut up about how my parents were both Gryffindors and that evil wizard came from Slytherin."
"Bloody Merlin," Tom groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose as more damaging information came into light. "Yes. There is no doubt that he did that on purpose." Tom agreed, making Harry bristle as the younger inhaled.
"I can't wait for you to kill him once this is all over with. I hate how he tried to use me as a pawn and control every aspect of my life. It's not fair." Harry growled, eyes glowing for a moment.
"No, it's not. That was why I hated him when I was a student there. I hated that he would try to control me despite never actively taking interest in me except for when I was doing something I wasn't supposed to. He only ever glanced at me because he was afraid of not only the power and intelligence I had, but he was alarmed that I could talk to snakes."
"Because that's the one thing he can't do," Harry mumbled with a scowl. "He can't understand what we say when we slip into Parseltongue, so he would keep an eye on you because of that."
"Precisely. I imagine that's why he controlled your mother the way he did. He likely told her that talking to snakes was something only evil wizards and witches could do."
"…I hate him more than anything. " Harry sighed, feeling another deep frown form on his face. "Not only did he purposefully make me live with abusive people, but he was also controlling my life at Hogwarts." He sighed, pushing away the migraine that threatened to form at the evidence.
"I know. I wanted nothing more than to leave the orphanage I was in. He said that I had to stay there since there was no other place for me to go." Harry looked doubtful at that, scowling more.
"Do orphanages not exist in this world? Surely there can't be only an orphanage in the muggle world?" Harry looked confused as he spoke.
"Oh, they do exist now. Beforehand, no. They started to be built around the seventies when wizards realized that not everyone can be a parent. Children are generally sacred in this culture, but that doesn't mean abuse and the like are unheard of." Tom explained. "In some families, there is a bloodline curse that affects them as they get older, and the kids are forced to live in an orphanage." Tom paused, then spoke up again.
"The Greengrass family is one of the families that suffer from such a curse, as well as our family." Harry froze at that, looking at Tom in shock.
"Bloodline curse? What does that mean for us?" Harry questioned, looking worried.
"Nothing for us anymore. It only affects our mothers." Tom admitted. "The Gaunt family has suffered this for generations, it seems. I only became aware when I researched our relationship not long ago. Part of the reason your mother died is because of the curse. It affects the women who have just had children. They all die within five years of giving birth."
"How did you find the research on that?" Harry asked, growing more fascinated by the curse.
"My mom died not long after she gave birth to me, and her mom died within two years of giving birth to her," Tom spoke. "I followed the line by looking into the birth and death certificates in the Gaunt Vaults, and your mother's name was also in there." He admitted.
"Oh…I had no idea that the vaults would have things like that," Harry mumbled, biting his lips.
"You still have a lot to learn of this world and the customs. Because you happen to be a lord and heir to many titles, you have more vaults and seats. The vaults in your hands hold more than just money. Most of them hold ancient family heirlooms or books that have been passed down through generations. The Gaunt Vault has an area that holds nothing but books on the dark arts, as well as light spells. The books there are full of family spells and rituals that have long since been lost because of Dumbledore."
"What about the Slytherin vault? What does that hold?" Smirking, Tom chuckled at the need for knowledge that reminded him of one of his favorite death eaters.
"I think you should take Barty there one day. It holds books on ancient runes and rituals that he would love to read. You will have to translate the pages for him, however. Most items in there are written in parselscript." Harry looked please at that as he once again lit up.
"Really? That's so fascinating! Are some of the books in there written by Salazar Slytherin himself?"
"Of course. He has an extensive potion book volume. It was how I found the ritual to bring my body back." Harry had a light in his eyes as he learned of this.
"I take it you've read all of the books in there. You remind me of someone who also absorbs information." Harry smirked at the way Tom chuckled, the older wizard giving him a nod.
"You are not wrong. I read anything and everything in our family vaults. I grew worried after I regained my mental stability and recalled how lacking Hogwarts was in the subject of books. Besides the restricted section, the school doesn't hold hardly any books that give a good representation of dark magic, or even rituals for that fact."
"Yes…Barty told me that in ancient runes, not all of it is light or dark. There are some rituals that use runes for the purpose of bringing protection to the caster and good fortune. Yet, it also gets a bad representation for the sole purpose that blood is needed." Harry mumbled.
"Blood magic is the most misinformed and misunderstood type of magic," Tom replied, glancing to Harry. "I will not deny the fact that there are some uses of blood magic that is dangerous and harmful, but it also brings more than that." He paused. "Take the Notts for example. Their family has a hard time producing children. Helicene Nott used a blood ritual to help her carry a child, and it worked almost immediately. She had failed many times and was starting to lose hope, but when she discovered the ritual, it helped her family carry on their line."
"I...I had no idea that a blood ritual could do that. What other uses does Blood magic have?" Harry asked.
"It has been known to cure ailments and diseases that should not plague wizards anymore. The Dragon Pox vaccine was created through the use of blood magic in Australia, and since then, there have been no more outbreaks in other countries." Harry heard the deep sigh that Tom let out and sent him a questioning look.
"Sadly, it's the United Kingdom that is so far behind from the other magical communities. They have not eradicated the disease here because they have outlawed the use of blood magic. The reason other magical communities are further ahead is that they use blood magic just as often as they use other types of magic. Japan, Egypt, and South America are some of the most powerful and thriving magical civilizations because of this." Then, Tom sighed deeply. "They also don't inbreed as much." Harry tried to stop from laughing, but it came out regardless.
"So, you do agree that it's a problem?" He teased, making Tom roll his eyes again.
"I never said that it wasn't a problem. Take a look at the Crabbe and Goyle children. Barty informed me about their lack of magical power and their lack of intelligence." Smirking at the mention of the older death eater, Harry chuckled.
"And what did he say about Draco Malfoy?" It was amusing to watch as Tom grimaced at the question, his expression slipping from displeasure to annoyance.
"I was informed that the younger Malfoy is a coward who can only strike when other backs are turned." Grinning, the younger wizard recalled the events that Barty had implied. "I take it you and Draco don't get along?" Tom inquired, smirking when Harry snorted.
"Understatement, really. It started off before we even made it to Hogwarts. My first impression of Malfoy is where a lot our disagreements were founded I suppose. He reminded me of my cousin, Dudley," Harry admitted, missing the understating that flashed in Tom's eyes. "Dudley was a spoiled brat too, but that wasn't really the issue. It was the way Draco treated other people that reminded me of my cousin. They both looked down and bullied others, and both of them always had a group of people around them to help out."
"I understand," Tom spoke softly. "I had a similar issue when I was in Hogwarts." At the curious look, Tom continued. "The views in the Slytherin house were worse than they are now. With my muggle last-name, it gained the attention of those who believed I shouldn't have been sorted there in the first place. It was similar to how I was ostracized in the orphanage for being different."
"I bet they changed their outlook the moment they realized you were a descendant of Salazar Slytherin himself." Tom chuckled and nodded, a small smirk on his face.
"They practically groveled at my feet for forgiveness. I think the power might have got to my head back then." He smirked when Harry laughed again, their conversation soon dying off as they neared their destination. The pair were getting odd looks, especially Harry who just rolled his eyes.
"They're just as bad as the students at Hogwarts." Coughing a laugh, Tom's smirk widened as the by-passers started to openly gawk.
"Part of this is due to the fact that you are in traditional Wizengamot attire despite being under the age of seventeen. It's not uncommon, but it is rare." Harry mentally started to refer to Tom as Octavian now, giving a nod to the man.
"Just wait until they realize all the seats I have."
"Ah, Lord Sayre and…." The Minister nearly did a doubletake at who was beside him. "Harry Potter? How odd it is to see you here."
"I'd prefer either Lord Potter or simply Harry, Minister." Fudge caught sight of the Potter Lordship ring and blinked in shock. Umbridge looked ready to comment, but upon noticing the ring as well, she immediately closed her mouth.
"Oh, of course! My apologies, Lord Potter. I had no idea you had claimed your lordship." Fudge was quick to apologize. "I admit to being a little surprised by your appearance. We don't usually have someone so young joining us." The Minister was looking between the two wizards, his curiosity obvious. Even Umbridge seemed to look interested in why the two were together.
"No doubt. I hear it's uncommon for someone under the age of seventeen to join in on a meeting. I hope my presence won't cause too many issues." Harry said, holding back a smirk. Octavian had told him that the Minster was also against Dumbledore, so he planned to use that to his advantage. "I certainly hope Lord Dumbledore won't make a scene."
Octavian bit the inside of his cheek to stop from smirking at the reaction it gained from the others.
"As do I," He cut in. "If you don't mind, Minster, would you allow Harry and I to have a private conversation with you before the meeting starts? I'm afraid it is a delicate matter."
"Of course! The meeting isn't set to meet until another hour, so I suggest relocating to my office." Fudge spoke. Before he turned to lead them there, he handed some papers to his secretary. "Be sure to get these sent off, Dolores." At the clear dismissal, the toad-like woman flushed a horrible shade of red and stomped off.
I don't like that woman already. Harry spoke through the link. Is that the one who disrespected the Goblins?
Sadly. The elder wizard supplied, a twitch giving away his displeasure. I don't know who I dislike more; her or Dumbledore.
"Now, what was it you wanted to talk about?" The Minster asked as they entered his office, quickly shutting the door to offer privacy. "I am under the impression that it must have something to deal with you two being seen together. I will confess to being curious as to why this is." The Minister sat at his desk and Harry was momentarily surprised at the reasoning. His first impression of the man hadn't been the best one, but perhaps the minister wasn't a complete fool.
"You would be correct, minister. You see, I will be publicly announcing Harry Potter as my heir before we begin today." Fudge was unable to stop his jaw from dropping as he looked between the two.
"Oh my! I hadn't expected this." The confusion on his face was growing as he looked between the two.
"Neither did I." Octavian admitted. "When I went to Gringotts to claim the rest of my lordships, the Goblins were able to notify me about Harry being related to me, and without proper guardians." The venom in his tone wasn't feigned and Harry held back a smile.
"…without proper guardians.." Fudge looked troubled by that as he glanced at Harry.
"In order to keep it simple and avoid an unnecessarily long story; my muggle guardians were extremely abusive, yet Lord Dumbledore kept me there anyway," Harry spoke, narrowly managing to stop himself from sneering. "Despite having apparent relatives that would have taken me in." Now Fudge looked alarmed as he glanced to Octavian, who nodded.
"If you don't mind my invasive question, then how were you able to claim the Potter Lordship so soon?" Fudge asked.
"Legally, I have already reached my magical maturity because of the TriWizard competition," Harry explained. "Because I was forced to compete in a contest only meant for those of magical maturity, magic saw me as being of age, as did the legally binding contract."
"Of course.." A spark of realization flashed across his features.
"That is another part of the reason we wanted to have a private discussion, sir." The emerald-eyed wizard hummed. "I didn't just claim the Potter Lordship. I also claimed the Gryffindor and Peverell Lordships." Fudge nearly blanched, sitting straighter.
"So that must be why those seats returned after so long," Fudge mused.
"Part of the issue is I don't want the seats to go to waste, Minister," Harry admitted. "I still have three years left at Hogwarts, and I won't be able to regularly attend meetings." Octavian was quick to speak up at that.
"We came to the agreement that I would be a proxy act as a proxy for his seats and votes while he attends Hogwarts," Octavian informed. "Part of this is due to the law we talked about over lunch the other day."
"Yes. You wish to put forth a motion to give the death eaters incarcerated in Azkaban a retrial since there were apparently some that weren't given one at all." The Minister looked uncertain, but there was something else behind his eyes. "It does trouble me, thinking that we have innocent people in Azkaban. The files you provided the other day were shocking, to say in the least."
Go ahead, Harry. Octavian gave a mental nudge, and the green-eyed wizard cleared his throat.
"I am also adamant about this, Minister Fudge. I personally know of someone who was wrongly convicted and thrown into Azkaban without a trial."
"You do? Who is it, Lord Potter?" Taking a breath, Harry sighed.
"My Godfather, sir. Sirius Black. The reason we wanted to make the heirship public today is so I can get the story out. When Octavian first found me and we got to know each other, he told me of his career as a lawyer. I felt safe to tell him about the situation regarding Sirius Black. I provided the memories that we will be using today."
"This is a lot to take in." Fudge admitted, feeling almost overwhelmed with the amount of new information that was thrust upon him. "I take it you've known where Sirius Black has been this entire time?" Harry hid a smirk and Octavian felt the plan starting to fall into place.
"No, sir. The person who knows that answer is Lord Dumbledore."
"Dear Merlin," Fudge actually groaned, putting his face into his hands as he took a deep, calming breath. "Every five seconds I get damming evidence against that senile man." Snorting, Octavian crossed his legs, enjoying the rest of the dominos starting to fall. "First the issue with the breach in the ministry, now this…" Glancing at the watch, Octavian hummed.
"We have ten minutes, Minister. I suggest we prepare for the meeting." Octavian spoke up as he stood, along with Harry.
"Of course." With a wave of his wand, Fudge conjured all the needed papers for the meeting, stopping to look at the two. "I suggest you two take your seats beside me and Lucius today. You'll get a great view of Dumbledore's reaction."
Harry chuckled, realizing something important.
Fudge was certainly not a fool.