The next day, Harry entered the Potter Manor dining room to find the Marauders waiting for him for breakfast.
"Morning champ," James greeted him as Sirius and Remus smiled at him warmly.
"We were waiting you for to get started on breakfast," said Sirius.
"Harry, I don't want you to freak out or anything but I hope it's alright if I brought you to St. Mungo's for a medical check-up this morning," said James, choosing his words carefully. "Just a regular, routine one," he quickly added.
"But why? I'm fine, dad. There's nothing wrong with me," Harry said frantically.
This was precisely what James feared. He didn't think anything was wrong with Harry, but Harry had spent years being ill-treated at the Dursleys. He couldn't help but fear if the Dursley's ill-treatment had left any sort of damage on him.
"There's nothing wrong with you, son," James said quickly. "It's just a regular check-up since I'm sure the Dursleys hardly ever took you to see a doctor. My parents took me for a regular check-up every year. Any injuries that you sustained at Hogwarts were only ever looked at by your school matron. You were never looked at by a proper healer," James tried to reason.
"But ..." Harry was still skeptical but at least seemed to be pondering over it.
"Harry, it's just a regular check-up. It's common for healthy people to get regular check-ups. Dumbledore obviously didn't concern himself with whether you received proper medical treatment," Sirius prompted.
"Speaking of regular check-ups, shouldn't you both get one along with Harry?" asked Remus.
"Why?" asked James and Sirius in unison.
"You've both been in Azkaban for almost 12 years. Aside from the terrible Azkaban food, I bet you both haven't been looked at by a proper healer there either," said Remus.
James and Sirius exchanged looks, knowing Remus was right.
"Alright Remus, we'll get our check-ups done, but only with the condition that you get one too. I know you haven't been to a healer in years either," said James.
"Oh alright," Remus relented, bemused.
"Harry, please at least do it for my peace of mind. Your uncles and I are getting our check-ups done too," James appealed.
"Alright, I guess it's fine," Harry finally caved.
"After our check-ups, we'll visit Godric's Hollow to visit your mother's grave and get some of our belongings from our house at Godric's Hollow," said James.
"Are you sure we'll be back in time for Ratkin?" asked Remus.
"I'm sure we will. Ratkin's only coming over in the evening," James shrugged.
"Who's Ratkin?" asked Harry.
"Our family proctor," said James.
"Proctor?" asked Harry curiously.
"Proctors are the equivalent of lawyers in the wizarding world. We're going ahead with filing our case against Dumbledore," James explained.
"Oh. No wonder the word sounded familiar. I've read it in classic books," said Harry.
"So, what exactly is our goal with Dumbledore? Are we getting him chucked into Azkaban, removed from Hogwarts, or is it just a warning?" asked Sirius.
"Depends on how he responds to our lawsuit," James shrugged.
Harry and the Marauders were in Healer Bentley's office at 's, waiting for their test results. Doctor Bentley was the Potter's family healer. Healer Bentley came in with their test results. Fortunately, he already knew about Remus' lycanthropy, so Remus's test results were not a surprise to him.
"Mr. Potter and Mr. Black, you're both pretty much in good health but your bodies are a little weak from all those years you spent at Azkaban. I advise body building to get in shape," said Healer Bentley.
James and Sirius had gotten skinny from their days at Azkaban.
"The same goes for you Mr. Lupin. From your results, it seems you have been skipping meals. You need all the strength you can get for your condition," said Doctor Bentley.
James and Sirius felt a pang of regret. They knew Remus had a difficult life when they were in Azkaban. James had previously been supporting Remus before he went to Azkaban. With his bestfriends in Azkaban, Remus found it hard to find a job due to his condition and had to resort to working various odd jobs to get by. This resulted in him having no choice but to skip meals.
"Mr. Potter, your son is basically fine, but he is slightly malnourished. Fortunately, the basilisk's venom had been completely removed from him. His broken arm, while healed by his school matron for the most part, still needs further strengthening. Unfortunately, there is nothing I can do about his scar. My biggest concern is that his test results show something dark residing in him through the scar. Our tests can't quite figure out what that dark thing is," said the healer.
"His headmaster says he has a part of Voldermort in him through the scar. Isn't there anything that can be done to remove whatever dark thing that resides in him," asked James apprehensively.
The healer flinched at the mention of Voldermort's name.
"Unfortunately, nothing can be done about it at the moment. But, fortunately he doesn't seem to be in any immediate danger from it," said Doctor Bentley.
James resolved to figure out a way to remove whatever dark Voldermort part that was residing in Harry.
Healer Bentley gave Harry a bone strengthening potion to strengthen his previously broken arm that was regrown with skele-grow. Aside from that, he cast a charm on his eyes that improved his vision and cast a spell on his glasses to change its' power to suit his improved eye power. Harry had just gotten knew, trendy glasses, courtesy of his father. He still needed glasses, but his vision was significantly better. Unfortunately, there was no spell to give him a completely clear vision. The Marauders and Harry were all prescribed with basic strengthening potions, calcium potions and vitamin potions.
After the hospital, they visited Lily's grave at Godric's Hollow. There were graves for both, James and Lily. Sirius and Harry were particularly furious to see a grave with James's name on it.
"Let's rip this darn grave apart. That old coot. How dare he let a grave be made in your name knowing full well that you were still alive?" said Sirius, enraged.
James got rid of the grave with a flick of his wand, and the grave spot next to Lily's grave was left empty. They can bury me there after I actually die, he thought. James magically conjured white Lilies for Lily's grave. They stopped by the graves of James' parents and grandparents before heading to the Potter's Godric's Hollow home. The Godric's Hollow home was significantly smaller than the Potter Manor, but was still quite tasteful and elegant. It was particularly painful to walk in the master bedroom, where Lily died and to look at the spot where her body was found. They collected a few stuff from the house before heading back to the Potter Manor.
Hector Ratkin, the Potter family proctor was at the Potter Manor hall with the Marauders.
"My sincere apologies, Mr. Potter. Dumbledore convinced me that he was acting in in your son's best interest and for his protection. That's why I never contested your son's placement with your will. That and the fact that he was placed with his mother's own sister which I did not see any potential harm with," said Ratkin.
He handed the will to James.
Part of the will stated in regard to Harry's guardianship:
In the event that they are both unable to perform their parental duties, James Henry Potter and Lily Anastasia Potter leave the custody and guardianship of their son, Harry James Potter to the following people in the following order, according to their availability.
1.) Sirius Orion Black
2.) Remus John Lupin
3.) Peter Jeremiah Pettigrew
4.) Luke Andrew Potter and Danielle Frieda Potter
The guardian of Harry James Potter would also be the guardian of the Potter's assets and Gringott's Vault until Harry Potter is of age. This does NOT include Vault 687 at Gringott's Wizarding Bank as it is a Minor's saving vault that allows Harry Potter to have unlimited control over the vault at any age.
"So, do we have a legit case against Dumbledore, Mr. Ratkin?" asked James.
"Indeed, we do. Your will clearly states that Harry's custody should have gone to Sirius Black. With Sirius Black in Azkaban, it should have gone to Remus Lupin. He can state Remus's lycanthropy and Peter's betrayal as reasons for them not getting custody. However, by that logic, Harry should have gone to your cousin, Luke and his wife. Nowhere in your will does it state Albus Dumbledore or the Dursleys as potential guardians," said Ratkin.
"But will the court be able to tell the difference between the real will and the fake one that Dumbledore produced?" asked Remus.
"There are ways to detect forgery. Mr. Potter's testimony should also count significantly as it is his will. This, along with proof that Dumbledore used his influence to extend the prison sentences of Mr. Potter and Mr. Black should hold up a strong case," said Ratkin.
"We'll also have a child-endangerment case with Harry's ill-treatment at the Dursleys, won't we?" asked Sirius.
"Yes. But it would require young Mr. Potter to testify about his treatment at the Dursleys. This would be a negligence case rather than an endangerment case. However, evidence of the dangers that Harry Potter and his schoolmates faced during his first two years at Hogwarts would be a strong child-endangerment case against Dumbledore. This would question his running of the school and his position as Headmaster," said Ratkin.
James, Sirius and Remus looked satisfied.
=to be continued=
I hope this chapter is ok. This is more of a placeholder chapter, but the events are definitely essential.
Next chapter: Harry decides to enhance his magical and dueling skills with the help of the Marauders. And Dumbledore receives a surprise lawsuit. The Potters run into the Malfoys (possibly or maybe the chapter after next).