AN: So, here we have another chapter done! I am so happy that I finally got it published. I don't know when I will get to work on it again. I have finals and final projects all coming up soon, so I will be stretched very thin. Not to mention I work as well, so there is that to deal with as well.
Anyway! A fair warning is that this is an extremely long chapter. This one chapter was essentially 8000 words, and that's a lot more than I usually do for one chapter. I apologize for the sheer length of this. Usually, I try to organize it better, but I had a hard time ending this chapter lol.
However, we will have two boys being really sweet to each other and *looks around* one of them might start to crush soon. Depending on if I make this another slow burn. But knowing me, I set myself up for this too often, lol.
Please enjoy the chapter and leave a review if you enjoyed it, or noticed anything incorrect. I didn't edit this one as much as I normally would.
Also, for those who are wondering about "Taking His Life Back" Have no fear, I plan on working on that one as soon as I can. I haven't had the time to write as much as I would like to, so I've had to prioritize certain stories over others lately. I'm also taking part in a Big Bang on a discord server for Danny Phantom, so a lot of my time has been spent on that story.
Don't be too nervous, Harry. You'll do fine. Tom mumbled through the link, making Harry relax further as they finally stepped through the threshold with the Minister, entering the lit courtroom and watching as others took their places.
There were some people he could recognize in the room, such as Lucius Malfoy and Amelia Bones. Others, he wasn't so sure about. They vaguely looked familiar, and Harry had to wonder if that was because he attended school with children, or grandchildren, considering the age of some members.
He and Octavian walked with the minister, taking their place at his side. Lucius was quick to join them as well, seeming to be momentarily surprised at Harry's appearance before the blonde formed a wicked smirk.
"Ah, Minister! Most of the Lords and Ladies are here. We're still waiting on a few individuals, but it won't be long until we can start." Umbridge spoke up in an obnoxious voice, one that Harry had to resist from grimacing at. It sounded self-imposed, and the younger wizard hated every second the toad-like woman dared to open her mouth.
Octavian wasn't faring much better if the twitch in his right eye was anything to go by.
I bet you regret this now. Harry joked, which earned him a fond huff and internal chuckle in response.
Oh, you have no idea. He admitted, the disdain for the other woman clear as day, especially when she sent a look to Harry that made Octavian narrow his eyes. Umbridge missed the dark look, too busy trying to suck up to the minister as she rambled on about mundane events.
Octavian felt his lips twitch when the minister sent him a look, rolling his eyes as his secretary carried on without a care, unaware that her words were falling into uncaring ears. He wasn't one for displaying pity, but the dark wizard could not help but feel sympathetic for the man.
At one point, he shared a similar view of the Minister with Harry. He had believed Cornelius Fudge to be an incompetent fool who was unable to adequately perform his duties. Now he and Harry both knew better. Fudge was a Slytherin through and through, and it was starting to become rather obvious to Tom the more they interacted.
That same sentiment wasn't returned with Dolores Umbridge, who was quickly accelerating on his list of people he despised. Even though he was extremely powerful and could easily cover up killing her, she hadn't done too much to warrant death, besides annoying him.
His entire reputation of murder and torture had been ill-founded, thanks to Bellatrix and the Lestrange heirs. That and his own mistakes in his youth that had sent him over the edge. The cruelty of their actions had labeled all Death Eaters as evil, and all as guilty, even if they had merely been a follower. Just the connection had many locked away.
All because of three of his followers, and his own actions. He had doomed his followers to over a decade of incarceration in the worst place imaginable.
You think too much, Tom Harry cut in, feeling the guilt filtering through their familial link. I don't know exactly what you're feeling guilty about, but I have a hunch. You must be feeling bad for those who have been locked away in Azkaban. Sometimes Tom forgot how bright and perceptive Harry could be at times.
I understand why you feel guilty. I would feel the same if I were in your shoes, but you're not the sole blame for this. You weren't yourself at the time and you shouldn't continuously blame yourself for that. The fact that you have come all of this way to ensure their freedom is true enough. The blame in all of this doesn't lie at one person, but many people. Harry finished, making the dark lord inwardly sigh.
You are too insightful for your age. Came the joking remark, but it was slightly subdued. You are correct, though. The blame in this lies in more than one place. He could feel Harry's agreement as the younger wizard spoke up again.
To me, a lot of that blame falls to the Order, and Crouch Sr. As an overseer of the trials, he should have ensured everyone is given a fair trial. The fact that they were incarcerated just for being death eater is an indicator of the corrupt system. No matter the circumstances, everyone should be guaranteed the right to defend themselves. Innocent until proven guilty. Tom nearly smirked at that, glancing at him from the corner of his eyes.
I think you would make a good lawyer one day. Tom admitted, making Harry flush at the praise. Either that or a curse breaker. You have an aptitude for sensing magic, like me.
It does come rather easy for me. Harry admitted. Under the right guidance, Barty has opened a world of possibilities for me. It might be the way he teaches the subject, but ancient runes and the dark arts have quickly become my favorite subjects. Now that I'm away from Hogwarts, I feel like nothing is holding me back.
Tom could feel the slight pang of sadness from Harry, and when he glanced at him, Harry got the hint.
Sorry. The only reason it makes me feel bad saying that is the fact that Hogwarts was honestly my first real home. Before then, I was told that I was nothing but a worthless freak who would never have friends. Hogwarts taught me differently. Twitching at the word freak, Tom sent a wave of understanding through their link.
I understand. Similar to you, Hogwarts was my first home as well. The orphanage was a place of torment for me, and I never viewed it as my home. At Hogwarts, I felt a sense of belonging for the most part. Of course, I still felt separated from everyone else, but not at the level I felt in the muggle world. Dumbledore was a huge reason for the divide I felt at Hogwarts. When Tom finished speaking, Harry waited a few moments.
I'm sorry you had to go through that, Tom. I feel bad that Dumbledore made your days at Hogwarts even worse for you. It was bad enough that you had a horrible life in the orphanage, but he singled you out at school too, which was supposed to be your sanctuary. Only Harry noticed the small twitch of Octavian's lips.
It's alright, Harry. I worry that he plans on doing the same to you from here on out, but if these plans go well, that won't be too much of an issue. Now, I believe the rest of the people are filing in. Tom ended their private discussion, making Harry all too aware now.
As more people filed into the room, Harry could feel eyes on him and silent whispers that made him want to slink away into the shadows like Snape often did. A calming pulse of familiar magic came from the pendant and he immediately relaxed, thinking about Barty and Sirius.
By doing this, he would be helping them, and countless others become free once again. Those who were wrongfully indicted would once again be able to walk if they got enough votes that are.
Something was telling him it wouldn't be a problem. Perhaps he would be able to use his celebrity and public appeal to change their minds. He knew how Dumbledore would vote, and those who were loyal to him, but maybe his presence would change the outcome of many things.
"That's Harry Potter." He heard someone whisper from the crowd, unaware of the direction it had originated from. There were more whispers now, the confusion and gossip growing louder and louder until Fudge stood straighter and sent a chilling glare to the crowd.
"We are adults here. I think the gossip of a lord should be reserved for our own private time, and not during official meetings." Harry watched as Octavian formed a smirk at that, a vindictive gleam in his eyes that was meant for those staring at them.
"I would prefer if you referred to me as Lord Potter during this time," Harry spoke up, effectively shutting up everyone in the room with his clear and level voice. "As I have claimed the Potter Lordship, I find it fitting to be referred to as such." There was a mumble for apologies from around the room, the quiet once again returning as everyone filled in.
One of the last to make an appearance was Lord Dumbledore, who once had entered the room, was gaping in shock at what was in front of him.
He had been looking for Harry for weeks once he had discovered the boy wasn't with the Dursleys. Every letter he had sent was soon returned to him, unopened as if Harry hadn't even received it.
And yet, the teenager was here at a voting meeting for Wizengamot in traditional attire, standing beside not only the Minister and Lord Malfoy, but Lord Sayre.
A man that Dumbledore grew suspicious of the more he became vocal about the need for change. With the way the other wizard spoke about laws and changing how magic was viewed, Dumbledore knew he would be nothing but trouble for the light.
"Harry-" Dumbledore began but was shot with glares from many people in the room.
"Lord Potter." Harry corrected, a hidden gleam in his eyes that only Tom and Fudge noticed. "I claimed the Potter lordship, Lord Dumbledore." Harry used the official name, making the elderly wizard flounder for a moment, looking quite shocked and unprepared at the turn of events.
"Ah, I see. I apologize then, Lord Potter." Dumbledore swallowed his pride, wanting to make amends as fast as he could. It seemed to work because the glares were soon gone and the Minster was standing up, along with Amelia Bones.
"Today is the voting day among our members, as well as a day we introduce Lord Potter into the meeting." Amelia sent him a comforting look, which Harry was quick to return. With a wave of her wand, numerous papers were being placed in front of all the members, most coming from Octavian and Amelia herself.
"We are also adding new seats for said votes," Fudge waved his own wand, and Dumbledore felt himself grow wary when many new seats started to glow. "After decades of being unused, the Gryffindor, Potter, and Peverell have been claimed by Lord Potter."
Dumbledore couldn't breathe, his heart-stopping for the briefest of seconds at the information. It sent his heart into the pit stomach, bile threatening to raise at the new number of votes Harry had.
Harry, who was seemingly independent now.
It shouldn't have bothered him. Harry was as light as they came. There was no way he would be using those votes to agree with Lord Sayre or the minister. The Gryffindor was likely discovering the customs of the wizarding world and wanting to push forth the agenda of Voldemort's return, and how all dark arts needed to be banned.
His denial quickly crumbled into dust.
"And not only that," Octavian stood next to Harry, placing a hand on his shoulder. "After looking through my family vaults, I have discovered that Harry is a distant relative to me. Because of this, I have claimed him as my heir to the Sayre, Slytherin, and Gaunt houses."
Something was wrong, terribly wrong. Cold sweat was running down Dumbledore's back at the list of lordships and heirships, the secrets he knew starting to be unleashed.
Did Harry know the truth about his heritage? Or was Lord Sayre merely making Harry his heir to all the titles for appearances?
But there was a sense of comradery between them that told a different story. The two appeared to be comfortable with each other, standing close and sending each other looks at certain times. All of this made the churning in his stomach increase tenfold, his worst fears starting to bleed forth.
The plan that he had so carefully crafted was starting to crumble around him, and Dumbledore felt fruitless to it all as more worry formed inside of him the more he thought.
If Harry had managed to claim the Lordships and heirship of the numerous titles, then it meant something more worrisome than all.
It meant that the teenager had likely gone to Gringotts and performed an inheritance test, all the ugly truths of his life being revealed to him.
Dumbledore felt deathly numb, his face pale as he watched how proudly Harry stood with Octavian, even nodding along with some of what the minister was saying.
How could this be happening? When had so much changed? His thoughts were spinning in an endless cycle, his mind in turmoil as each second passed, things getting worse and worse for him.
One thing that was still looking up was the fact that Harry didn't appear to be hateful or disrespectful towards him, so maybe the younger wizard hadn't gotten an inheritance test at Gringotts and had merely been able to receive the lordships thanks to the help of his apparent guardian.
"The law that has top priority is in the hands of Lord Sayre," The minister began, speaking in a clear voice that made everyone look to him. "If you will notice on the sheets that were passed out, there is a concerning matter that needs to be addressed as soon as possible." The Minister nodded towards Octavian, giving the man the floor.
"It has come to my attention after returning to magical Britain, that there seems to be a lack of specific laws for those incarcerated." He began, looking extremely displeased. "After looking through the dates, I have found that there have been many inmates that hadn't been given a fair trial at all," Once he was done speaking, someone spoke up.
"What has this got to do with anything? Things have been that way for over thirteen years, and everything has been fine." Octavian gave the Lord a look, raising an eyebrow.
"And do you think it's reasonable for innocent people to sit in Azkaban when they weren't allowed a trial at all? Is it not the job of the courts to give everyone a fair trial, regardless of what side they appeared to be on?" A few slid back at the words, grimacing at the venom that was slowly seeping out.
"If they were not given a fair trial or a trial in general, why are they incarcerated?" It was Harry who spoke up, effectively gaining the attention of everyone, even those who had ignored Octavian. "In the Muggle world, they have a process of being innocent until proven guilty. What right do we have to say people are guilty when we did not give them a trial in the first place?" The Minister smirked as the words registered across the room, looks of concern filtering across their faces.
"We have numerous people who are in Azkaban at this very moment for being thought to be Death Eaters. They were placed there for the simple fact they were on the opposite side in the war, even if they hadn't done anything to warrant being locked up in the first place. They looked at the mark on their forearm and threw them in jail for that, despite there being another role in the war." Harry continued. "Was the Order of the Phoenix, not an illegal organization? How were they allowed to participate in the war even if it was against the law for civilians to join?"
Murmurs began to fill in the room, and Dumbledore paled at the way the wizard spoke of the supposedly secret organization. To his surprise, there were mumbles of agreement through the room, and his heart was sinking into the pit of his stomach.
"What if I were to tell you that we now have evidence of someone being innocent, and having to reside in Azkaban for over a decade?" It was the Minister who spoke up, and the people in the room were quick to the draw, their eyes wide. "and not only that but having been granted no trial at all?"
There were gasps of astonishment, even Lucius furrowed his brows in concern, curious about who the supposed person was.
"Who is it? Who was granted no trial and was innocent?" Amelia Bones demanded, standing from her seat, and looking thunderous.
"My Godfather. Sirius Black." Harry explained, giving a nod to the minister who waved his wand, a pensive appearing in the middle of the floor. With another wave of his wand, he charmed the memories Harry gave him to appear in the air, the scene being watched by everyone.
As it ended, people were covering their mouths, eyes wide as they recounted the information. How a Lord of the Black family had wrongly been shoved into a prison for a crime he hadn't even committed.
"As you all witnessed, Sirius Black was sent to Azkaban immediately. He was never given a trial. Instead, he was apprehended and immediately sent there. If he had been given a fair trial, this entire case could have easily been solved with the use of veritaserum. Instead, my Godfather had spent over a decade locked away for the careless actions of the court before it."
"Bartimaeus Crouch Senior was ruthless in that regard." Lady Longbottom spoke up, to the surprise of many light members. "If this is the case, then that means there are at least a dozen or more people in Azkaban who were never given a fair trial. He stuck them there for merely being a death eater."
"Yes, that is part of the issue," Octavian said with a deep frown, sighing. "It appears that Crouch Senior had overseen many of the trials and convicted them. He used his own biases to toss them into a hellish place, just because of their association with Voldemort." There were shudders of distaste as he spoke the forbidden name.
"I may not agree with what the man stood for, but does that mean we should all condemn his followers? The ones who only served in his ranks and did not do much else? Do we have the right as Wizards, to simply lock them away for being on the wrong side of the war? Does that make us any better than them?" Harry asked, making everyone hold their breaths. "Do they not deserve the same rights that we do? To receive a fair trial, to be proven innocent, and to be guaranteed the ability to defend themselves? Why should we obstruct that?"
"I second." Octavian breathed out, feeling the power and conviction from Harry's words. From the looks of the other members, they appeared to agree, even many who were supposedly loyal to Dumbledore. "Good job," Octavian whispered through the bond, trying hard to keep his tone praiseful, and not let the other feel how awestruck he truly was.
"Thank you," Harry responded in kind, feeling pride well in his chest at the gentle praise. He could see Dumbledore looking at him, and the younger wizard had to stop from grinning evilly at the man who looked beyond worried. "Dumbledore doesn't look happy."
"Not in the slightest." Octavian agreed with vindictive glee, his amusement being felt from the bond in waves upon waves.
"I agree as well," It wasn't the minster who spoke up next, but rather, Amelia Bones, who looked thunderous. "This will be a severe issue for the ministry, and we should handle it as cautiously, and swiftly as we can. Depending on how many innocent individuals we have incarcerated, the government will have to pay a hefty fine to settle their disputes."
"Yes," The Minister agreed, looking unnerved at the mention of all the mistrials they would need to reimburse. "The longer we wait, the longer they sit there and suffer. We need to fix the mess that Crouch Senior left us in." There was a collective sigh from across the room, many of the individuals looking displeased at the mention of the horrid man.
"There is other news we wish to bring," Octavian spoke up, clearing his throat. "It involves the fact about the death eaters being given no trial." At the confused mummers, everyone looked to the man beside the Minister with interest. "And it is directly related to Crouch Senior." Even the Minister looked surprised at this but gave him a wave to continue.
"As many of you are aware, I am a lawyer in my spare time. It is how Lord Potter told me about his Godfather. Sadly, Lord Potter isn't the only one to contact me about similar matters." Octavian continued, taking a breath. "It appears that we have another who was wrongly accused and placed in Azkaban for crimes he did not commit. Like before, Crouch Senior was the overseer of the trial and placed them in Azkaban, even though they were not tried separately."
"Who was the convicted person?" Lord Malfoy asked, leaning forward as he listened to his leader talk, knowing he would need to egg the conversation on for more effect.
"His son. Bartimaeus Crouch Junior." The number of gasps that went through the room was from all sides, even the light.
"Yes. I remember." Someone spoke up, but Harry had no idea who it was. They didn't look familiar enough for him to place a name with. "I was present for the trial, and it was not a pretty sight."
"Would you care to explain?" Octavian supplied, raising an eyebrow when the man nodded immediately
"Crouch Junior was captured along with the Lestranges. Bellatrix Lestrange was unhinged during the trial and it took many Aurors to settle her down. She was screaming and confessing HER guilt in the matter. That was all it took for Crouch Senior to place all of them in prison."
"Yes," Octavian added, frowning. "Everything Lord Cassander said is true regarding Crouch Jr, sadly. His father took the guilt of one person and threw the rest of them into prison because of her."
"While I agree that this is a bad thing, what can we do about it?" Lady Longbottom said, looking pensive. "If I'm not mistaken, Crouch Junior died a year within his stay in Azkaban. There is little we can do about that." At the hums of agreement, Octavian sighed deeply.
"As a lawyer, I keep the nature of my clients confidential and do not disclose their privacy. However, I will need to be completely honest in the nature of mine." He waved his wand a replaced the memories in the former pensive, looking grimly at the audience.
"My client is none other than Bartimaeus Crouch Junior."
"Pardon me!" There was an uproar in the rooms, many of the light wizards standing up in dismay, while others were too surprised to move a muscle.
"SILENCE!" The Minister placed his wand to his throat, his voice booming across the rooms and shutting everyone up in seconds. "If you would please let Lord Sayre continue without jumping to conclusions!"
"Thank you, Minster." Octavian gave a bow, turning back to the others with a silencing look of his own. "As I was saying, Bartemius Crouch Junior contacted me, wishing to clear his name. He was placed into Azkaban because of his father, who did not listen to his cries of being innocent."
"How did he escape from Azkaban in that vase? How long has he been free?" There was a look of fear and Harry rolled his eyes inwardly.
"His freedom is thanks to his father." At the deathly silence of those words, Octavian continued.
"Crouch Junior's mother was already dying, and if we all remember, Crouch Senior had access to Azkaban. They used Polyjuice on his ailing wife and replaced her with his son. If you go to the grave where Crouch Junior was supposed to be, you will find Lady Crouch underneath instead."
"That bastard put his own wife in there." There was an angry scowl from members and Octavian grimaced
"I'm afraid it gets far worse from here. Apparently, Crouch Senior placed an illegal imperious curse on his son for over ten years and hid him in his home."
Now, everyone, including Dumbledore was pale.
"He had Crouch Junior under an imperious for that long?" Lord Dumbledore asked, and Octavian ignored the urge to glare at the man, but simply nodded instead.
"Yes. As you can imagine, Crouch Junior has been through too much. He wished to remain in the dark about this until the right time. You can imagine how the public would react to a 'known' convict walking down the street." Octavian placed folded his hands, his eyes subtly scanning the room to gauge their reactions.
"My client agreed to have his information disclosed, in hopes, it would push the law further along," Octavian spoke calmly. "I have his permission to share these memories, which he provided a few weeks ago."
After watching the memories, everyone, including Dumbledore looked disgusted, heartbroken, and even resigned.
"That poor Wizard." Amelia breathed out, shaking her head in dismay. "That settles it. We need to gather all the death eaters who were not granted a trial and do a re-trial. How many others are there?"
"I agree. This is very worrisome indeed. Thank Merlin Crouch Senior never ran for minister." Fudge said in all seriousness, looking around as everyone nodded in agreement. To Octavian's surprise, Dumbledore had nodded in agreement as well. "Do we have any objections to passing this law into effect? That we give a retrial and reimburse those who were wrongfully incarcerated?"
"I don't have an objection, but I do have a concern. How will Wizengamot handle this? Nothing of this caliber has happened before." Lady Sparrow spoke, her silver eyes tinted with concern. "In all of this time, there has never been a retrial in the past hundred years."
Harry carefully frowned at the information, glancing to 'Octavian' and trying to get a confirmation. At the subtle nod, the younger wizard spoke up.
"Perhaps that needs to change?" His words were crafted carefully, his tone smooth and clear. "Other court systems have a separate court called an appellate court. I don't see why Wizengamot should not have one."
"As we have witnessed, there is a flaw within our courts. It is not necessarily our fault, but those who left us in the mess." The Minister spoke up. "An appellate court might be necessary, considering we do not always require the use of a truth serum."
"Yes. The damaging evidence was an eye-opener for all of us, I believe." There weren't any shaking heads or utterances of denials. "The Ministry will provide lawyers and attorneys for the defendants…which will be those considered to be death eaters." Amelia Bones declared, sharing a look with the Minister. "Our first two retrials will be Sirius Black and Bartemius Crouch Jr."
"Are we all in favor?" The Minister asked, addressing all the individuals in the room. "Of passing a new law to create appellate courts, offer retrials, and exonerate Black and Crouch?"
"How will we get into contact with Black or Crouch? Do we merely request their presence?" Octavian hummed, quickly answering the question.
"While I can reach my client, they will receive an additional summon from the ministry. The process of requiring individuals would proceed as normal." Octavian explained, giving the floor back to the Minister.
"Now that it is settled, how do we vote?" The Minister questioned, holding up his wand.
As everyone lit their wands in agreement, even Lord Dumbledore's wand was glowing in the midst.
At the whopping landslide, Harry couldn't stop the excitement from growing in his chest. Two of the most important people in his life were going to be exonerated for crimes they hadn't committed. They would be free to walk amongst the public and no longer have to hide. They could get back to their lives and start anew.
"You are pleased," Tom spoke through their bond. "I am surprised to see Dumbledore complacent in this matter." Harry thought about it as he scanned the crowd, meeting the gaze of his headmaster. He kept his shields up, nearly sneering when he felt something trying to press into his mind.
"He might be complacent, but he's still a manipulative bastard." Before Tom could admonish him for the foul language, Harry growled through their bond. "He tried to force his way into my mind." Tom narrowed his eyes, turning to give a cold stare to Dumbledore, taking great pride in the way the man seemed to shrink back. "I also considered that he didn't vote against it because he knew it wouldn't matter in the end. I'm not sure how much weight his seat has, but I doubt it holds as much weight compared to ours."
"How very right you are, Harry," Tom commented, holding back a pleased smirk. "The Dumbledore name used to hold more weight, but now it merely holds a single seat or two. Nothing compared to an Ancient and Noble House."
"Thank you, Lord Sayre and Lord Potter," Fudge came up to them as the meeting drew to a close, having a moment to himself since Umbridge was pestering someone else for the time. "I look forward to having the two of you in Wizengamot again. It's a shame you must return for Hogwarts in September, Lord Potter. I think your insight is most helpful." There was a teasing gleam in those warm eyes.
"I've found the law to be extremely interesting and useful," Harry smirked, only to stop when he saw an approaching toad-like woman.
Something about her made his skin crawl with unease. It reminded him of Dumbledore, in a way. His magic prickled with apprehension, and Tom was the first to notice it. He laid his elegant hand on Harry's shoulder, giving a gentle squeeze.
"I constantly find myself in awe of his bright ideas," Octavian spoke, keeping his hand on his heir's shoulder as Umbridge approached. "Secretary Umbridge." Octavian gave a curt nod. "I must apologize for the short notice, but I have a meeting with a client shortly. Lord Potter and I will have to leave soon."
"Of course, Lord Sayre. We don't wish to keep you from your duties." There was a horrible smile on her face that made Harry resist the urge to grimace, his magic itching to release itself the longer she remained nearby. Her look turned to him, and it took all his willpower to not shudder in displeasure. "A pleasure to meet you fully, Lord Potter."
"Likewise," He responded in kind, giving a polite nod as he turned away from the horrid woman, preparing to walk back with Tom.
However, a presence stopped that from happening.
"Ha…Lord Potter." Dumbledore corrected his slip up, trying to corner the younger wizard and his apparent guardian.
"Lord Dumbledore." Octavian turned to face him, painting a look of cool indifference on his features. "While I generally appreciate conversing, I do have an appointment I must see to." And it was true. He did have an important meeting to see to after he dropped Harry off at Crouch Manner again. "I must ask you to make this quick, please. I don't wish to leave my client waiting."
"Yes, yes. I won't keep you long.." The elder wizard was quick to pacify the pair. "I wanted to speak with Lord Potter, for a moment." Harry withheld a sigh, aware that there were eyes on him. Lucius had moved past him and was talking to Tom, nodding along with whatever his guardian was saying.
"I admit, I am surprised to see you here." Dumbledore began in his grandfatherly voice, speaking with false pride. "..I have had a hard time getting ahold of you this summer, my boy. Is everything alright?" Holding back a scowl, Harry formed a faux smile.
"Everything is wonderful, sir. Octavian has proven to be a wonderful magical guardian. I appreciate all that he has taught me." He couldn't see the fond smile that formed on Tom's lips, but Lucius had witnessed it.
"Well," Dumbledore cleared his throat, looking slightly displeased. "I am glad that you are doing fine, my boy. I am pleased that you have stumbled into this opportunity. Clearing your godfather's name will be a wonderful opportunity." The words were subdued, as if Dumbledore were trying to tell him a secret. "I am sure that he will be ecstatic to hear about the change."
Harry nodded, holding back a frown. "I need to get ahold of Sirius and Remus after this, Tom. I think Dumbledore is trying to plan something."
"I sense it as well. Perhaps he will use this law to gain their favor? Sirius Black and Remus Lupin are kept out of these affairs. I wouldn't be surprised if Albus would spin this entire event around. He might claim to have suggested the law, in order to secure their allegiance."
"I did grow quite concerned when my letters did not reach you," Dumbledore added, pulling Harry from his thoughts. The younger wizard nodded, putting on an innocent face.
"Must be the wards, sir." With a twinkle forming in the headmaster's eyes, Harry nearly gulped.
"Perhaps…are you staying with Lord Octavian, Lord Potter?" Before he had the chance to answer, a hand was placed on his shoulder once more, cutting him off.
"I am sorry to interrupt you, Lord Dumbledore. However, we must take our leave now. My client will be arriving soon, and I can not waste more time." At the polite, yet commanding tone, the elder wizard took a step back.
"Of course. I apologize for taking up your time." Harry felt relief wafting through him as he was finally able to get away from the headmaster.
"Perfect timing," He whispered once he was alone with Tom.
"I was not going to let you spend another moment asking those invasive questions." The Dark Lord commented. "It was bad enough that you had to meet Lady Umbridge. I did not wish to subjugate you to someone just as horrible." Snorting, Harry smirked.
"It really is a mystery on which one is worse."
"Indeed. I hope that we will never have to find out."
Harry returned that sentiment, but in the back of his mind, he knew something was going to occur.
Sirius, I'm so sorry for not contacting you sooner. A lot has happened in the past month, so much that I don't think this will be enough to inform you of all the changes. I want you to know the complete truth because I have kept a secret from you and Remus for about a month now. Again, I am sorry about this. I want to tell you, but right now won't be the best time.
I want you to know that I'm safe and no longer live with the Dursleys. I haven't lived with them all summer, and I'm sure you know this by now. Dumbledore has probably told you that I am either missing or that his letters can't reach me.
Again, I am so sorry that it has taken me this long to reach out to you, and I'm sorry if I caused you or Remus to worry about me.
But, this brings me to important information that I need to share with you. It's about what I have been doing the past few weeks. Sirius, you deserve to live a life where you are free to walk in public. And Remus, you and Sirius both deserve to know about the deceits and secrets I have uncovered.
We can talk more about meeting up at a later time. For now, I want you to know this;
I have claimed the Potter Lordship and helped pass a law in Wizengamot to give those who weren't offered a trial, a fair one. I provided my memories of what you had gone through, and the law was passed unanimously. No one voted against it.
Because of your innocents, you will be exonerated soon. The Ministry will provide you a summons and request your presence.
I wanted you to know this, and know it came from me doing this. If Dumbledore tells you otherwise, do not fall for his words.
Feathers, a mischief-managed marauder.
Harry swallowed his suddenly dry throat as he finished the letter, which was secured tightly with various spells and enchantments. Not even Dumbledore would be able to reveal the contents of this letter.
"Hey, girl. I need you to deliver this to Sirius and Remus, alright?" Harry cooed at her, rubbing her beak slowly. She chirped happily and took the parcel, letting Harry open the window for her. As soon as it was open, she bolted out to deliver the message.
"Harry?" The younger wizard looked up in time to see Barty walk into the room. A smile quickly formed on his face and he stood up, hugging the death eater tightly. His excitement resurfaced, unable to help himself.
"I can't wait for you to receive your summons." The green-eyed wizard admitted, looking up at his friend with an even wider smile.
"I have you and my lord to thank for all of this," Barty mumbled softly, letting his finger gently brush the ebony fringe. "I am surprised he was able to pull this off so soon."
"He had a lot of help from Lucius Malfoy and the Goblins. I'm sure he has other high-status followers that made him acclimate easier."
"I believe he may have an unspeakable or two that follow him," Barty admitted, regretfully pulling his hand away from the curly mop of hair. "But we are forgetting one of the most important things about him. He was made a dark lord for a reason. His ability to charm people is one of his most powerful weapons." Barty snickered, making Harry chuckle.
"The only person I don't think he can charm is Dumbledore. He didn't look pleased when the announcement was made…" Harry trailed off. "I do worry that Dumbledore my piece certain information together. All things considered; he is still a genius. It won't take him long until he becomes suspicious."
"Yes. I would find it suspicious as well. The Dark Lord suddenly returns, and then there is a new wizard who has claimed the Sayre Lordship, as well as the Slytherin and Gaunt." Barty frowned, seeing the potential flaw.
"Not to mention the family relation I have with Tom. 'Octavian' has also claimed me as his heir too, which will create more suspicion in Dumbledore." Harry huffed, thinking of all the issues they could have.
"Thankfully, you had a clever lie that night." Barty suddenly smirked. "If I am not mistaken, you told Dumbledore that The Dark Lord returned as a monster, snake-like and with bright red eyes." Chuckling at the description, Harry nodded.
"That's how he would have ended up if Wormtail had botched up the ritual. I have a feeling Dumbledore was expecting Tom to return that way, so I deciding to reaffirm his misbeliefs." Harry flushed when Barty gently tapped his forehead.
"I know I've mentioned it before, but I do love your mind, Harry." Flushing a bit more, Harry snorted.
"I can't take all the credit. Tom helped me fabricate the story." Harry shrugged. "Which reminds me," Harry suddenly smiled. "In honor of the law going through, I wanted to do something special for you."
"Special for me? Harry," Barty huffed in fond exasperation. "I'm the one who needs to do something special for you." The death eater breathed out, reaching forward to ruffle his hair, lingering for a moment.
"You've already done more for me than anyone else has," Harry responded in kind, looking away for a moment. "Not that Sirius or Remus didn't try, but you were the one who finally tore down the prison cell I was in. As much as I love Sirius or Remus, they were still under Dumbledore's thumb too much at the time." Harry paused. "And even then, I'm not sure how much Sirius or Remus supports the idea of the dark arts."
"I don't remember much about Sirius Black from my school days. He was about two years above me. I was friends with his brother, however." A sad look passed over his face, but it soon vanished just as quickly. "His brother was a death eater." At the new information, Harry nearly dropped his jaw.
"Really? Sirius doesn't talk about Regulus much." Harry admitted, a thoughtful expression crossing over his features. "What happened to him? Sirius doesn't talk about it."
"I don't know the full story," Barty confessed sadly, looking torn. "He disappeared one day, without a trace. The Dark Lord couldn't even find him."
"…is it possible Regulus left on his own accord?" Again, the torn look was on Barty's face and Harry frowned, moving closer. "Barty-" Arms wrapped around him and pulled him against his chest desperately.
"Regulus was bright and full of wonderful ideas, but he also suffered from the pressure his mother placed on his shoulders. He didn't agree with many of the ideals of the Death Eaters, and he especially…" He paused, almost tightening his grip on Harry. "He especially hated the Dark Lords' plans revolving around you. As soon as the Dark Lord admitted to needing to attack a baby, Regulus never acted the same way."
"He refused to follow someone who would endanger the lives of magical children. He wanted to improve their life and wellbeing, especially after the hell he endured from his own family." Barty laid his chin on Harry's head, sighing. "He, like myself, was one of the most loyal followers up until then. He rightfully drew the line." Another sigh.
"I haven't seen him since then," Barty confessed. "We have all assumed the worst since it has been over thirteen years since he was last seen." Slowly, the death eater began to pull away from the younger wizard.
"…you almost defected." Harry realized, and Barty grimaced.
"Yes." He replied, sincerity flowing off of him in waves. "When the dark lord announced his plans, I almost left his ranks that very night. However, I knew I would be unable to do so. It was either stay a death eater and follow a man that was slowly becoming a monster or go back to a man that was already a monster."
"I'm sorry, Barty. You had nowhere else to go…" Harry reached to take the sleeve. "For what it's worth, I'm glad that he is gone now. Filth like him shouldn't be allowed to exist."
"It's okay, Harry. I do miss Regulus, though. He was one of my only friends in Hogwarts." Barty spoke fondly, finger brushing against the hand holding onto his sleeve. "If he is alive, I hope he is happy, wherever he ended up."
"I can make a trip to Gringotts tomorrow to find out? I've been informed that Vaults will have family birth and death certificates."
"Harry, you don't need to do that. It might be best if some things are left unanswered." Harry opened his mouth to make a rebuttal, but Barty cut him off. "So, what was that special plan you had in store for me?" Barty smirked, making Harry flush.
"Your favorite dessert is sticky toffee pudding, yeah?"
"…did you make me my favorite dessert?" Harry flushed more, chuckling a bit in embarrassment as he nodded.
"Yep. It's been a while since I've needed to bake or cook anything, but I do enjoy it." Harry tugged Barty into the kitchen and waved his hand. Soon enough, a delectable sponge cake emerged from the oven and landed on the counter. "Lucky for you, I've made this enough to know the recipe by heart." He joked, turning around to get the plate and silverware. He missed the look of adoration that passed on Barty's face as he turned around.
"Harry, you didn't have to do this.."
"I know, but I wanted to surprise you. You're always doing nice things for me, and well, I wanted to return the favor? Besides," Harry trailed off, flushing to himself. "You deserve nice things too, Barty." As soon as the embarrassed flush was gone, the green-eyed wizard was turning around and handing the plate to Barty.
"I just hope you like it," Harry admitted, holding back another flush.
Cutting the cake delicately, Barty transferred it onto the plate as carefully as he could. "If your cooking is anything like your presentation, I'm sure it will taste fantastic." Unable to keep his flush down, Harry chuckled.
"I made it pretty just for you," He teased back, earning a fond chuckle.
And when Barty took the first bite, he nearly dropped the plate in surprise. The sweetness hit his tongue immediately, bringing him back to when he was a child. The toffee sauce was a nice counteraction. It was sweet, but not overly so. There was even a hint of vanilla that made the delectable flavor have a hint of smokiness.
"Harry," Barty swallowed the piece. "It seems I've uncovered another one of your many talents." Flushing at the praise, Harry shrugged.
"Just wait until you try my bread-and-butter pudding. That dish is one of my signature desserts." Harry teased, smiling to himself when he was pulled into a warm hug.
"Thank you," Barty mumbled, the raw emotion making Harry's heart flutter.
"You're welcome." He responded, pressing closer and breathing in deeply.
So what if the scent of his friend made him melt further into the embrace?