Chapter 5 – Law and Legacy
~~~~~Power of Ancestral Magics~~~~~
Harry woke the next morning feeling refreshed. Last night he had spent quite a bit of time speaking with Alrick, Edward and Corsair about putting plans and several ideas into action. Chief among them the plans for the Potter wealth. He might have been flying half blind into his first meeting with Sharptooth, but he had been more prepared for his second meeting. It had been how he had known that he could pull the Potter fortune for attempting to forcefully take the goblin made Potter family heirlooms, some of which had been in the family before they had moved to Britian.
Harry shook his head to clear his thoughts he had a lot to do today. But if he didn't eat Breakfast and get started on his day, he would never achieve his goals. As Harry got in the shower, he couldn't help but think with a small amount of melancholy that that was one thing his Aunt had taken pains to teach him. Quickly showering he then got dressed and headed downstairs for a quick breakfast before asking Mimsy to escort him to the master's study.
Once arriving in the master's study, he quickly removed several memories from second year placing them in glass jars to be stored in, he than quickly wrote a letter to the dwarves, regarding rendering and selling the basilisk. After sending the letter and memories with Hedwig, he wrote a letter to Sirius informing him of what had recently happened and that he had not been removed from the wards, he ended with an invite to visit and to bring those he thought trustworthy.
After his letter writing was done, he picked up the how-to book on how to work the shelves behind his desk. After reading he quickly summoned the Albion law books from the Head of House Library. Last night James had spoken of the levels of laws in Albion, and Harry felt like he needed to know more. Picking up an older book on the levels of laws written about 350 years before he began to read.
In technical traditional terms Albion has only three levels of laws. The common law, laws put in place by the lords to govern their own lands and not applicable everywhere in the kingdom; traditional Albion law, applicable everywhere in the kingdom; and high law also applicable to everyone and everywhere, these laws even bound the king's actions.
High Law was difficult at times but where the absolute laws of Albion. These laws included fair trails for all those of Noble birth to take place before their peers and king if necessary. Other laws in the High law, was the succession ordinance, throne laws, and several other things. To change one of these laws or add a law to this category took a full council vote passing of ten of the thirteen votes, for both the Kings Council and the Crown's Council. The Kings Council advised the King as the Crown's Council advised the Crown Prince. The unchanging makeup of these laws made them rather absolute.
The traditional Law was the regular law that was uniform throughout the land. These laws could be changed much more easily and were often referred to as the Kings law or the laws of Albion. These laws were varied but kept an empire as large as Albion running smoothly.
The last category of Common law was more depending on the lands you lived. Albion was separated into several different fiefs. With a lord to rule each fief. Different lords placed laws in place in their own lands to keep the peace, and moderate order. Depending on the area you lived in the laws may be different. Common law was very fluid.
However as straight forward as these laws were in times past, with the fall of the Royal family and the rise of the ministries and the ICW this has significantly changed. High law is still in place though rarely mentioned, and even more rarely enacted. As it was enforced by the King and the two council's today it is more relegated as reference material with no true relevance to the common era.
Though the traditional laws of the past kings are still obeyed. This set of laws have been divided into several sections. There are the olde laws which are the original laws set down by the kings and the new laws set down by the ICW. The statute of Secrecy is one of these new laws.
Of the common laws, what once was the responsibility of the lands lord is now the responsibility of the individual ministries of that country. These laws have become known as Ministerial laws and are different depending on the Ministry of that area. Ministerial laws cannot stand contradictory to traditional or high laws.
Outside the realm of the traditional laws that are Albion wide was the fourth set of laws disregarded today by the common people – the Noble laws. Many view them as simple rules of etiquette not realizing that there are punitive punishments set up, for those that disobey. These are not laws that govern just Albion but many of these laws govern the wizarding world in its entirety. These are the laws of honor duels, boons, debts, and such things as these. These are the laws that govern the entitled nobility of our world and the relationship these houses have amongst one another. They rarely change and though they were once kept by the Ancestral houses are now kept by the Utmost houses.
Harry stopped reading and thought about what he had read. Turning to several other books that pertained to the High, and the Noble laws he spent the morning forcing himself to read them, hoping to find a kernel of knowledge in them to aid in the future. The pad of paper asked of Mimsy and quickly fetched for notes was quickly filled with more summoned as Harry focused on his task rather than the recently discovered betrayals.
At noon Harry stopped and stretched, setting his papers full of notes aside. Mimsy quickly popped in with lunch which he quickly ate. After which Mimsy brought him his most recent mail, the letter from the dwarfs was the first to catch his attention.
Dear Mr. Potter
This is your notice that the dwarf clan of Switzerland, have finished our preparations for rendering the basilisk. When you are ready please send the beast with several elves and we will begin the rendering process. From the memories you sent us, we have assumed that this Basilisk is approximately 40 to 50 feet in length and approximately 10 feet in diameter. Taking this into consideration we recommend that once the serpent has been rendered. That we separate the auctioning of this beast into several different auctions. A minimum of at least 10 auctions, by our estimations, as to not oversaturate the market.
If the Basilisk is larger than expectations these numbers may need to be reevaluated. However, we would like to confirm the first auction to be on Wednesday, August 9th.
Thank you for your business.
Barrowscroft Banking Management
Harry nodded and wrote a quick reply confirming the first auction before pulling out the marauders map. Harry knew that there was an ICW meeting today but he wanted to make sure that Dumbledore was not at Hogwarts. Noting that the only two people seemingly in residence at the moment were Filch, and Flitwick, he closed up the map and quickly fetched the Potter Invisibility cloak. Returning to the office he quickly located the Hogwarts Portkey he vanished.
~~~~~Power of Ancestral Magics~~~~~
Hogwarts Castle, Scotland
Harry arrived outside the Hogwarts words without fanfare. He quickly made his way through the castle before arriving at Myrtle's Bathroom. Opening the sink Harry paused and called for stairs, descending the stairs he quickly found himself at the cave-in, casting a strong reparo he continued, and passed through the second gate with little fanfare. Summoning several house elves he had them pop the Basilisk to the dwarf bank with ease. Wondering around feeling as if he was missing something, he eventually levitated himself up into the mouth of Slytherin that had not been closed after he had killed Tom.
After travelling down the pipe, a ways he found himself in an open room with a nest. Surprising Harry was the three eggs lying in the nest along with the two dead basilisks on the far side of the room. Summoning his elves, he had them take the two dead basilisks to the Dwarfs as well, and the eggs back to his study at Potter Manor.
Done with his exploration of the Chamber he activated the Portkey, assuming as Dumbledore wasn't able to sense the threat in second year that the Chamber was beyond the reach of the Hogwarts wards. Returning to his study at Potter Manor he placed stasis charms on all three eggs before setting them aside, he would decide what to do with them later. Now he was going to explore.
Pulling up the map of the house and the list of rooms in storage he located a room that made him curious. Stepping into the Hall of Portraits both lived up to his expectations and was a disappointment. Harry stood forlornly in front of his in front of his parents' frozen portrait.
"It was a violent death, front what I've heard child, it may be a decade or two before they awaken. Especially with the manor on lockdown until now." Harry jumped as one of the portraits further down in the room spoke. Turning to look at the portrait Harry was rather stunned by the people he saw. Glancing towards the bottom of the two groups of portraits his eyes widened.
"Now perhaps you can tell us who you are, young man?" One of the gentlemen asked.
"I'm, I'm" Harry started stuttering.
"Yes, boy get on with it." Snapped portrait farther down the room. "Good gracious, let us hope your not the next heir Potter. You would fail before you even began." Shocked then angered by the man's words Harry focused, straightened his back and called the family magic around him.
"I am the current Lord Potter, Haldris James Potter, son of James and Lilly Potter." Harry answered. "I had hoped to at least be met with common courtesy, perhaps to even gain some words of wisdom from those who have gone before me. It is a pity that as far as I can tell you are a prideful lot and…"
"Now see here boy," The cacophony of voices from several of the older portraits was silenced by one of the eldest one's.
"Merry Met, Lord Potter, I had wondered after you told me of your relocation when you would find the Hall of Portraits."
"Merry met, Guardian." Harry responded as silence fell throughout the room. Sobs from one of the first portraits to catch his eye. "Grandmother what's wrong, please stop crying what's wrong?" Harry almost begged not wanting to see her crying. The man from the portrait beside hers entered her picture and began comforting the woman as the Portrait labelled Charlus Potter spoke.
"She is merely weeping over your pain, young one. Admiraldis, spoke out of turn though he is merely married into the family so do not mind him. You addressed James in a manner befitting your station. Your grandmother weeps for what it means that you call him Guardian. Now sit and tell us of the world and how we may help you." Harry calling an elf, having it bring a chair, before thanking it and relaxing into the chair. Telling his predecessors all they needed to know to better aid him in the coming months. The news of an Aunt and cousins that weren't Petunia and Dudley warmed his heart, causing him to quickly write summoning invitations for the family, with the guidance of Charlus and Fleamont Potter. The excitement was tampered by learning the reason why his aunt was almost two decades older than his father and that her grandchildren were his age.
Mimsy fetching him for supper was the only thing to call him away. After dinner he returned to the hall and spent much of the night listening to tales of the history of the house of Potter, its victories, and defeats. As Harry climbed into bed his mind swam with the stories.
~~~~~Power of Ancestral Magics~~~~~
Potter Manor, Whales
Harry woke the next day and excitedly got up and showered excited to once again visit the hall of portraits. So, it was a very surprising sight to walk into the dining room to spell fire. Quickly taking in the situation and understanding what had happened took a moment. On one side of the room next to the other receiving door was Sirius, the twins, Bill and Charlie, on the other was his three guards and two of the house guards. The groups were rapidly exchanging spell fire. Remembering a comment made by one of the previous Lord Potter's Harry focused on his Lordship ring and using the ring shut off the ability to use magic in the room. Seeing the spell fire abate Harry rushed past his guards and into Sirius's arms.
"Siri, I have missed you." Harry exclaimed, tears running down his face.
"I've missed you to pup." Looking up Sirius focused onto Alrick. "I wasn't secret keeper, didn't even have a trail, take veritiserum if that would settle your nerves for you Alrick."
"No, need," Harry interjected. "Sirius Orion Black is both my Godfather and my Blood adopted father. The Black family magic would have executed you if you had attempted to have me killed in such a way."
Alrick looked surprised. "Well, I guess that is true, I'm sorry I think we all overreacted a bit." Alrick said a bit sheepish.
Harry merely nodded and greeted his guests, before asking if the meal could be served. Throughout the meal Harry felt warm inside despite the teasing from the four Weasley brothers. Looking at Sirius he realized what it was and smiled, so this was what it liked to have a family.
Later after the Weasley brother's had left as to not call attention to the fact that Sirius was not at Grimmauld Place. Harry spoke with Sirius over both the Potter Lord Heirship status and the Blood adoption.
Showing Sirius, the ring Harry replies. "I'm not heir Potter. I'm Lord Potter."
"How?" Sirius questions.
"Umm well," he fiddles with the collar of his shirt before pulling it down so that Sirius could now see the mark just below his collar bone. The mark looked like a tree but with gold markers all passing through the branches into the trunk of the tree. All in all, it was an icon mark, the lines ran like water down from the branches of the tree to its base. Ancestry runs down his Grandmother, Melody had said while descendants run up, even if both Rites mainly did the same. For all its faults the house of black could honestly say that the calling of either Rite in its descendants could be counted on one hand though he suspected between Harry and Neville that that little fact may have changed.
"Oh, pup the Rite of Ancestry, I'm sorry I should have been there."
"It's ok Dad, it's ok, I got to meet the first James Potter he was a Roman Centurion. I also met Michalis Malfoy nee Potter; he was a bearer like me. They all have cool things to teach me." Harry said brightly his emotions changing quickly. "I was more interested in the fact that you blood adopted me, making you sort of my dad to."
"Oh, pup I wasn't there for so much and then never expected you to want me to be your dad." Seeing Harry's hesitance and his surprise, he continued. "It doesn't have to change anything, you don't have to call me dad."
"I would love for you to be my dad Sirius, but James is dad and I feel like you should have your own name, not Dad, I don't feel comfortable with that yet, but maybe something like Paddy. A mixture of both Daddy and Padfoot." Harry tentatively answered.
Sirius gripped Harry in a hug as he answered. "Of course, pup." As he held Harry the to spoke of recent Betrayals, and many other things. Sirius watching Harry as he walked him through his emotions, loving the fact that his son needed his dad, at the same time hating why it was happening, he had never intended to ever be the sole father to Harry, let alone the sole parent period, but he was and expressed his willingness to help Harry with anything he needed. He wished he could be a bigger help, but with his fugitive status it was rather impossible. Alrick promised to bring up his case with some of his ICW contacts if all did not go well and they failed to get Sirius a trail on the 10th.
After Sirius arrived the day and the next passed quickly. With Sirius not leaving until Monday morning with a promise to return on Wednesday. There was to be an Order meeting that night and Sirius would be expected to be seen throughout the day, and the next to throw off any suspicion of anything being amiss.
Harry spent most of Monday reading, going over the Potter finances and dealing with the basilisk eggs.
Receiving the letter from the dwarves of the about the basilisk and being notified as to the amounts rendered from the carcass, Harry accepted the offer for the Swiss Dwarves to in a joint operation with the Nomes hold 20 different auctions selling of 50% of the Basilisk. With one auction every 3 months for the next five years, and approximately a million to 5 million galleons being added to the Potter vaults after every auction he new that the Potter house had no monetary issues to concern itself with. However, looking at the numbers a regular 20 ft Basilisk yielded after being rendered Harry had decided concerning the Basilisk eggs.
Now a Basilisk like any snake grows initially very fast and after a decade is considered full grown at 20 ft. In the first two years of its life it will have gained approximately 15 ft of its 20ft length with its more magical aspects developing as it grew the last 5 ft in those remaining 3 years. All together a basilisk took approximately about half a decade to raise and was worth at that time easily a million to five million gallons. Studying the map of the manor and its land. Harry allowed the eggs to Hatch and seeing as he had a single male and two females, allowed them to be placed in a remote are of the property, that he then warded off. It may take two decades but he would have a nice basilisk farm going on that would net the house of Potter income for centuries.
The invites to the first auction went out on Saturday afternoon. One Wednesday Harry woke to a letter from Ragnok, the manager of the Rome branch and High King of the Goblins. Traditionally each goblin branch in each country was under the authority of a specific Goblin clan who's head was called king. With almost over 200 branches worldwide the over 100 clans had one or two branches apiece. Ragnok as High King headed the Rome branch as the Camelot branch was locked down. From the Rome branch all the fees and costs were set for all Gringotts. Though the British Gringotts itself did not have to worry about the Dwarf or Nome banks the other Gringotts branches and Rome as the head branch did as most countries did not have the treaties the British Goblins did. Many of the European Branches only relied on the Albion treaty of 1018 to hold the Goblins, to their word. In that treaty the Goblin's where given the right to bank in Albion but not exclusively and part of the Bank would be owned by the Pendragon line, along with the Goblins being forced to swear fealty to the Crown.
As the Goblins considered Basilisk meat a delicacy, it had been mentioned to Ragnok, whether he would be attending. Discovering he had not been invited to such an auction had angered the Goblin and he had written the dwarves who had informed them it was the seller who had cut the goblins out refusing to sell to them. Discovering said clients name had seen the Goblin High King writing Harry.
The kings letter was illuminating when the meat was enquired about, was informed of the stipulations behind the sale and informed of the reasons why it could not be sold to him. He had immediately launched an investigation and discovered that the British Goblins had been colluding with several wizards and had ultimately committed treason to the crown, the treasonous Goblins where being hunted down. However this left gaps in Gringotts Britian's upper management therefore, Ragnok's son Griphook and several other Goblins wishing to join a new clan and have a greater opportunity for more wealth, where given permission to do so, with Griphook as the new king of the British Goblin Clan. As the gravest of these errors had been done to the House of Potter, the house was offered in recompense a few free services and the gift of an increase of a further 5% ownership of Gringotts which surprised Harry as house Potter owning any shares of Gringotts's at all had not been on the reports he had received.
It was revealed that the Gringotts shares being hidden from Harry, was one of the various treasonous acts committed by the former Goblins of Gringotts. For that and other things they would be given the traitor's death, however rather than face their face some of them had escaped and were now being hunted down to be executed. As such Harry transferred some of the family's wealth back to Gringotts, in exchange for all the vaults convenience fee's being free for the next two centuries, or his death whichever happened last. However, feeling distrustful of the Goblins Harry only returned half of what had previously been in the Potter vaults and had placed the rest into both the Nome and Dwarven banks.
On Wednesday Sirius returned and he and Harry spent the day together learning about each other and putting everything in place for the following day. As Harry went to bed that night curled up in his Paddy's arms he was all smiles well prepared for the coming day.
