The Bonds That Tie
Harry had thought it was a little odd that if a decision was made on his future, along with that of Tom Gaunt, formerly known as Voldemort and Tom Riddle, and the death eaters, that he had to make an appearance at the ministry tonight. It could have waited one day. Either way, Harry was not expecting to be told that there was a tie on the votes to either send Tom and his followers to prison, or leave them out, but on some form of punishment for past crimes. The shocker was that of Harry being told he had the power to swing the vote to either side.
"You said you found several families, so who else besides me has voting power. I would think it would be unfair for me to play with other people's lives here. You know where I'd swing my votes, and I don't want anyone calling it biased because I'm technically sided with them." Harry questioned.
"The empty seats we have past names for and unsure of remaining family members are Black, Potter, Peverell, and Prince. I think we have Slytherin too, but not sure how that one works out since there is no seat for Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, nor Ravenclaw." Alastor stated. "The problem, Potter, is that what you've been told was worded wrong. The votes, at current, are set enough that they should be sent to prison for life and Voldemort, getting the Dementor's Kiss."
"However…" Amelia put her hand up to Alastor. "When Albus was imprisoned; he lost his power as Chief Warlock and the seats he controlled, which were Potter and Black. Those were active seats he was using under guise of your magical guardian." She told Harry. "Therefore, while the votes do favor for prison…It's an unfair vote because Potter, Black, and these other three seats were not accounted for."
"I believe those lines died out. The ones for Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw, but Slytherin's hasn't." Harry said calmly.
"You're certain of this?" Amelia stared at him calmly.
"Considering I'm Lord Slytherin," Harry held up the ring. "I'm quite sure, Madam Bones. And heir to that line is Tom Gaunt, formerly Riddle." He informed. "I also, then, fill the seat of Peverell too considering it's absorbed into Potter through marriage." Harry added.
"Explain?" Kingsley asked.
"Tom and I descend from the Peverell brothers. I descend from Ignotus through marriage, Tom from Cadmus. My line is that Ignotus had a son, who had a daughter that married my ancestor, Hardwin Potter. Tom's line is that Cadmus's line crossed with Salazar Slytherin, which then crossed into the Gaunt family. Tom because the Heir of Slytherin, however, because I've defeated him on more than one occasion; I was granted lordship upon turning sixteen last year. Tom still sits as heir, but I'm Lord Slytherin. And to clarify, the Gaunt's were a pureblood family and Tom's mother was Merope Gaunt." Harry explained lightly.
"Well, he's not wrong. And he's got the Potter and Black seats too." Kingsley commented. "But who is Prince?"
"I believe that belongs to my mate. Severus Snape's mother is Eileen Prince, another pureblood line and Severus sits as an unclaimed lord because his mother was disinherited for marrying a muggle." Harry informed.
"How exactly does he have the Black seat?" Gwain Robards, Head Auror for the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Harry knew he got promoted when Scrimgeour became Minister of Magic.
"Despite his imprisoned status, Sirius Black was Lord Black and he blood adopted me the night my parents died, which set in motion me coming an adoptive son, but his legal heir. When Sirius died, I became Lord Black and claimed the title at sixteen along with Potter and Slytherin." Harry stated. "Not that it matters because one of my ancestors married Dorea Black, who was paternal aunt of Cygnus, Walburga, and Alphard Black, great aunt of Sirius and Regulus Black also Bellatrix Lestrange, Narcissa Malfoy, and Andromeda Tonks." He stated. "I have the family tree if you need to see it. Might be shocking to see just how many people are connected under the Peverell's." Harry pulled a sheet from the inside of his jacket and unfolded it for them.
"That is…Quite impressive." Amelia looked over the parchment. "But either way, aside from Severus Snape, you are sitting as lord of these houses that means you have taken up the seats for them. The votes belong to you. Even if we don't use the Prince seat, your four seats are enough to swing the vote to either prison or outside punishment."
"You know I won't agree to send them to prison if they're all trying to start over under the new movement, Madam Bones. Most of them have families of their own and as someone who grew up without family, I couldn't do that to my friends." Harry remarked. "Or family and you can clearly see that I'm related to a fair few of them. What was the decision on the out of prison punishment?"
"That hasn't yet been set, we wanted the decision made on how to handle things first." Robards muttered.
"Well, you said my votes make the swing. I vote they get punishment outside of prison to pay their transgressions against the people." Harry folded his arms.
"What do you suggest?" Amelia asked.
"Me?" Harry arched a brow.
"Yes, what do you think would fit a proper punishment for things they've done in the past?" Alastor leaned on his staff.
"I believe there should be service to the people. Volunteer work in Diagon Alley? Perhaps opening an orphanage for magical children and let them run it? Supervised, of course. There are plenty more kids out there who lost their parents to war, or living in abusive homes. So many that Albus just ignored, like Tom and I." Harry offered. "Put a trace on their wands, ensure they're not casting anything dark. If they do, deal is off and they serve time in Azkaban?" He added. "House arrest and curfews? Home when not working, can't leave between certain hours?" He continued. "There's hundreds of ways to punish fairly while also giving them a second chance in society. Not for nothing, but Tom would be a fantastic Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts. His knowledge base would be exceedingly good. It's what he wanted some years ago, tried to apply, but Dumbledore denied him."
"I think the orphanage idea could be used later on when we've seen some improvement in people skills before they get access to children." Kingsley stated.
"Severus is the one who told me that he gets students all the time who have trouble at home, stuck with relatives who don't want them. Don't want to go home. Narcissa gave me the idea of giving them a safe haven. She adores kids, and Lucius supported it. Alice was on board too. So were some of the mothers to my friends. The women alone could run it, if you ask me." Harry informed. "Mind you, that's just Slytherin students. I couldn't tell you for the other houses unless you talked to Minerva, Pamona, and Filius."
"Work, wand tracing, and curfews seems reasonable. The orphanage idea can be hashed out later." Amelia said calmly. "What of those who have enough money not to work?"
"That's why I said volunteer work. They wouldn't get paid for it, just helping out. Like paying a debt to society." Harry told her. "You could have some here too. Lord knows the ministry needs fixing…" He added. "It could be a muggle parole. They avoid prison and a chance to better their lives under strict conditions. If those rules are broke, they get taken away for whatever time of the new crime. Not old, it wouldn't be fair to keep them locked up from something over ten or even two years ago." He shrugged.
"I like Harry's idea. It is fair…" Amelia nodded. "How long is this…Parole?"
"However long you want it to be to see that they've changed and won't go back to their old ways. Muggle parole is early release from prison, and on parole for the remainder of what would be their prison sentence." Harry mentioned. "Given all the work that's already gone into the movement, I would find it fair to set the time at a year, for now. Then add more time based on reports from those who worked with them, or release them entirely from all charges. Or just some of them, see how it goes. But a year sounds like a good start."
"In agreement then?" Robards looked to the others.
"More than fair. But as added precaution for wordless and non-verbal magic, perhaps we should enchant restraints against dark magic for them to wear. Don't muggles have those for criminals. Ankle bracelets, to monitor people?" Kingsley questioned.
"Those are more or less sensors worn to ensure people on house arrest don't leave their homes, or the range of which they were allowed to be within. But the idea is viable, if you can enchant bracelets or some form of jewelry to monitor the magic output?" Harry stated.
"We can. You can be the one who watches over them," Robards scoffed. "Since you've voted them to not be in prison, then it should be on you if they mess up. As well, if they screw up, you should suffer their punishment in prison too. No one is above the law. And they stay with you,"
"Fine, but remember I have school in a month…I won't be home except holidays, so I believe Narcissa should be appointed my stand in." Harry informed calmly. "Remus can help too; Merlin knows he has a hard time finding work as a werewolf…"
"Very well." Amelia agreed. "Give us a list of who you're housing, we'll create the monitors…You will place them and explain the terms."
"Gimme a quill and parchment," Harry asked. "Also, Tom refuses to go by anything except Tom Gaunt. He requests if that can be updated in his persons file, much appreciated." The vampire added.
"We'll take care of it." Amelia assured.
Doing as asked, Amelia gave Harry piece of parchment and then a quill with inkpot. Harry began to write down the names of the death eaters residing with him. When finished, Amelia took the sheet and Harry sat back while the small group across from him worked to take care of the monitoring pieces. Harry just wanted to get back to the others; he was missing the party they put together for him and Harry never really got to enjoy his birthday because he was always at the Dursley's over the summer. The only good year he probably had was end of third year going into fourth. First and second were at the Dursley's. End of fourth was Cedric being killed and Harry ending up a vampire, and end of fifth was Sirius being killed. Now all this, seriously, did he ever catch a break from nonsense? Likely not, he should be used to it.
It didn't take much longer until Harry had the objects enchanted to not only monitor those on parole, but also they would act to put a trace on the wand to watch for dark spells. All of those were shrunk down and in his pocket. After a little more discussing, Harry thanked Amelia for everything, promised to be in touch about his movement and then departed to return home.
. . .
Appearing in the great room, Severus was first to hug Harry, grateful that he wasn't locked up. "Calm yourself, love. I'm perfectly fine." Harry comforted his husband.
"You were gone so long…" Severus muttered.
"Lot of things needed to be handled." Harry told him.
"Y-You're not going to prison, are you?" Hermione frowned.
"No, I'm not." The vampire admitted.
"A-Are we?" Theodore Sr. wondered.
"Not unless you royally screw up the deal I worked out to keep you lot out of prison…In which case, if you do mess up…Not only do you go to prison, but so will I." Harry warned.
"Alright, you've got our attention, Harry…" Tom stated. "Tell us what magic you worked that we didn't end up arrested and in Azkaban because they had no problem sending my followers there after the first war."
"And they had no hesitations to doing it again if not for the fact the deciding votes belonged to me." Harry informed. "In fact, you were voted to get the Dementor's Kiss while the rest were going to get Azkaban for life."
"Eternally grateful for whatever strings you pulled to make it so that did not happen." Bellatrix chimed in.
"As it stands, and Amelia put it; there was more than enough that I did to get myself locked up and for once…It was my fame as the boy who lived that kept me out of Azkaban. Despite all I did, I still broke a lot of rules to make the movement we were aiming for possible. And we did stop Dumbledore. It was feared among the Wizengamot that if I ended up jailed for technically defeating Voldemort and Dark Lord Dumbledore as most are dubbing him now…There would be a riot. No matter how I achieved the goal, it happened without bloodshed and saved people in the long run. So my fame, for once, saved my behind. And for once, I didn't argue it because everyone knows how much I hate the fame." Harry stated.
"Fair," Pansy shrugged.
"At the same time, the other reason I'm not being imprisoned is because they know they can't hold me there. More or less, they have no way to stop me as a vampire. The binding cuffs won't stop my normal vampire ability, and I can apparate through anti-apparition wards, plus turn into a bat." Harry shrugged. "However, the rest were voted to serve their time in Azkaban. Everyone who had a part in the first war, and second until it was revealed that Dumbledore was behind the creation of Voldemort. Those who were broken out during their sentences." Harry continued.
"So how did you swing it?" Ron questioned.
"While there were more people who wanted prison time served, there was a fair group to almost tie it off as a vote to let them go free and have a second chance. The problem was that votes were missing because Dumbledore had been Chief Warlock and had a share of seats he used in that time in voting. With Dumbledore gone, those seats were empty and those belonged to me. I alone hold four seats in the Wizengamot. Potter, Black, Slytherin, and Peverell." Harry said. "Peverell, for Ignotus, became Potter with the marriage between his granddaughter and my ancestor Hardwin Potter. And Peverell, on Cadmus, became Slytherin at some point or another." He explained.
"I hold Potter by birthright, and Black through more than one connection. One was through Sirius adopting me, and another was through the marriage of Dorea Black to Charlus Potter, and they had a child too. Again, don't know where all that went in the tree but…It means the Potter and Black lines intersected aside from blood adoption." Harry paused. "There were also two other Potter's who served on the Wizengamot, and not sure where they are in the tree either. But there was a Ralston Potter from 1612 to 1652. And then a Henry Potter, who I know was Fleamont Potter's father, who served from 1913 to 1921."
"And Fleamont Potter was your grandfather," Tom recalled from when Harry went over the family tree.
"Exactly." Harry nodded. "So, the deal here with keeping you out of prison is that you still have to serve a punishment. I got it as fair as I could, but I'm not the minister of magic…I don't have that much power politically."
"We'll take whatever, but anything is better than Azkaban." Antonin commented.
"I got them to agree to a muggle idea of punishment that avoid prison. In the muggle world, prisoners can be released from their sentence early and return to the world as reformed on what is called a Parole. It gets a prisoner out of their sentence early, but they serve the rest of the sentence on parole. The idea behind this is that it gives the prisoner a chance to rejoin the world, start over from their life of crime. But parole comes with rules to be obeyed or you end up back in prison…" Harry revealed.
"Following so far…" Rodolphus said slowly.
"At current, your paroles are starting at one year long. That means a full three hundred and sixty-five days of this punishment with conditions to abide. However, if after a year…Bones or the aurors feel you're not ready to join society as free people; they can extend it." Harry stressed. "Also, during this year…If you do anything resembling criminal activity, parole is off and you go right to Azkaban. But only punished for the new crimes, they cannot lock you up for anything from the past."
"What are the conditions?" Tom pushed.
"You have to do volunteer work in Diagon Alley. It's like having a job, but you don't get paid. Instead, you're volunteering your time to pay back society for things you've done. That, though, is for those of you who can live comfortably without a job to get money from. Those who have to work to survive can actually work for a place and make money. Second thing is that you have a curfew, that means all of you have to be inside your stated residence between…I think it was set at 9:00 pm to 9:00 am. Those twelve hours, you cannot leave the place you're at. If you step out, for anything, without permission…It counts against you and you will get arrested and held at the ministry to undergo a small hearing to determine whether you not abiding the curfew was acceptable reasoning or not."
"Okay…" Some said.
"Third, you unfortunately have to go back to having a wand trace. This is because they want to ensure you don't use any dark magic. Fourth, you'll be required to wear monitoring pieces that are enchanted to let the ministry know if you're attempting wandless or non-verbal magic to get around the wand trace, or if you step out between curfew times." Harry stated.
"Is this all?" Alecto inquired.
"The last thing is that your residence…Has to remain my house during parole because I've been placed in charge of you. It means I get the reports of your progress regarding volunteer work, how you conduct yourselves with the public…Everything. It comes to me and I keep a record to show the ministry in a year's time that they use to determine if your parole will be longer or not. The only files I don't need to get are from anyone choosing to do volunteer work at the ministry itself." Harry enlightened. "However, they know I'm going back to school in a month, and those reports have been elected to go to Narcissa, who will pass them onto me. She's in charge while I'm away, but I have permission from the ministry to leave campus on the weekends to come home and check in. Your volunteer work is set at fifteen hours a week, so doesn't matter how many days you work, if you've done fifteen; you're free to just be here as long as you are behaving. You can wander the Alley or move about London. You can't leave the country either."
"Not as bad as we thought it might be. It's not bad at all…" Lucius mentioned.
"No, not really…Totally doable." Francis agreed. "More than fair."
"It's a miracle!" Bellatrix immediately hugged Harry. "Thank you."
"You're welcome, Aunt Bella," Harry chuckled. "Oh, and Tom…I can swing you working alongside Severus at the school for Defense Against the Dark Arts. You'd be…An assistant to him, demonstrations and such. If you want."
"Harry, I greatly appreciate that." Tom said calmly.
"Your curfew perimeters would be reset for Hogwarts, altered for the times we're on breaks over the next year…" Harry said.
"Did you ask about the idea we had, sweetheart?" Narcissa wondered.
"I did actually. I brought up the whole orphanage for magical kids in bad situations. Amelia loves the idea and says that once we get things hashed out, she'll bring it to the Wizengamot for final approval." Harry smiled.
"Wonderful!" Narcissa beamed.
"When does this…Parole start?" Corban wondered.
"Tonight. I've got the trackers with me." Harry brought them out of his pocket. "You can wear them on your wrist, or ankle. Your choice, but once they're on…They don't come off until the ministry breaks the enchantment. Remember…You screw this up, and it's not just you who gets thrown in prison. Robards stated this was my idea so if you mess up, I take responsibility for it and share your imprisonment." He reminded.
"You stuck your neck out for us to stay out of prison. We won't risk you, Harry. You have my word." Tom promised.
"Ours too." The others agreed.
So one by one, as people chose how to wear their monitor piece, Harry would get it attacked and a golden strand would appear around the circle keeping it secured and warded from tampering. When everyone was set, Harry looked around.
"Well?" Hermione asked.
"What?" Harry blinked.
"Back to celebrating your birthday, mate?" Ron laughed.
"Party on." Harry smiled.
And so the party resumed with someone turning the music back up and the good time returning.