The rise of the Black Rod
Chapter Three: Making the Wizengamot run on time
Harry sat in his office, at his huge desk squinted at the accounts that his secretary Mary had owl-posted rather than leave Peverell castle and brave the children here at Potter manor. There was a lot of money going out to Gringotts, setting up the orphan's accounts. And a lot of payments to builders, all for huge sums. Harry saw Breeks in the list – that must be for the schoolrooms. He nodded to himself, this financial stuff wasn't so hard. He ignored the sum at the bottom of the page, and turned to the second page. It was apparently 'income' and the numbers were very small. Hundreds of galleons in total. Harry tried not to think about that and turned the page, to see columns of numbers dancing about. Literally moving. And the general impression was that even though tens of millions of galleons had come in, millions of galleons were going out – and showed no sign of stopping soon. Black manor was, Harry admitted to himself rather a money pit. The equivalent column for Potter manor was a modest… Harry swore loudly. One point three million galleons.
Daphne cleared her throat "Harry, dear?" she asked politely – Harry looked over.
"Was there some particular reason you just said 'Fucking Hell?'" asked Daphne in casual green dress-robes, holding one of the endless books to translate in one hand, a quill in the other. She had a politely worried look on her face, and a roll of parchment in her lap.
Harry sighed "It's just – even Potter manor's needed over a million galleons spent on it this year. Black manor… it's just a hole we throw galleons into." he said.
Daphne's face lost any hint of a smile, and she asked gently "Are we still solvent, or do we need to stop renovations on Black Manor?"
"Erm" said Harry, and he thought about the state of the manor the last time he visited – two days ago. "It's getting better, it's just… there's woodworm in the upper stories, the roofs leak a little and well, nine out of ten windows need to be re-framed.
Daphne blinked "And you knew that off the top of your head why?" she asked, with the faintest hint of anxiety in her tone.
"I um went and asked questions two days ago" explained Harry, and Daphne visibly relaxed.
Harry braved the enrumpet in the room. "It's just... we're supposed to spend less, and well, we're spending more this month than last month."
"That complicated plan the Baron Peebles came up with" agreed Daphne – looking minutely cross.
Harry nodded.
"I understand about having more salt and the same amount of bacon, but… honestly it seems like being poor, but with more steps" said Daphne.
Harry exhaled. He didn't exactly understand the plan either, but it seemed to depend on he, Harry not spending all the galleons he had. And yet… he needed to fix Black manor, and Potter manor had needed all that money spent on something.
"Daphne?" asked Harry slowly "Do you know what was the expensive thing that needed doing at here, at Potter Manor? We spent a lot."
"Drains apparently" said Daphne. "More little bottoms, more strain on the drains."
Harry tried not to think about that, and like not thinking of a pink elephant, the related thought – had he really slid down the 'drains' of Hogwarts? Surely Salazar Slytherin didn't make the entrance to the chamber form the actual sewers. After all, there'd been no erm… lumpy bits.
"Harry!" asked Daphne loudly and Harry looked up from that little digression. He smiled nervously at Daphne.
"Slytherin castle has no plumbing. There are dozens of students and staff." said Daphne "Expect more drains bills – in that case building a new drainage system – and whatever that entails."
"Shit" said Harry – meaning the expense.
Daphne rolled her eyes and shook her head "Yes quite" she said in a very un-amused tone.
"In other business" said Daphne.
"Erm? What?" asked Harry.
"Mother and Father are coming for lunch today. Can you cope?" she asked.
"Do I have to wear formal robes?" asked Harry, almost joking.
"They're family Harry. No need to dress up." said Daphne, and Harry sighed with relief.
Daphne's parents came to lunch; which was overrun, as usual with children.
Harry waved in the elf-propelled platters, and was mobbed by three small children with skinned knees – he spent some time healing them up. It's Nelly and Duncan, who are squibs along with a shy six-year old Antionette, whose brown hair has a vague black family wave to it. That she has green eyes and therefore looks like closer family Harry ignores – though he notices his mother-in-law staring out of the corner of his eye. Obviously that makes him cast Antionette's two parseltounge healing spells a little louder. Erzabet winced. Harry felt pleased, but a little worried about Nelly and Duncan.
Harry got out of his chair and squatted "Nelly?" asked Harry "How did you three get skinned knees?"
"Mmm" said Nelly. Harry eyes Duncan – who's not looking anxious, well Harry doesn't think so.
"Is this bullying?" asked Harry very quietly. "Are the other children picking on you?"
Duncan musters up the courage to speak from somewhere.
"Mister Potter" said Duncan, and ran out of words again.
"Harry" said Harry, hoping the other children weren't.
"The first floor balcony" said Duncan. Harry looks Duncan on the eyes.
"What about it?" asked Harry.
"If you um jump off you land in the snow in the garden" said Duncan. "All the big kids do it!"
Harry sighed. Just children being stupid. He wondered how you cast lasting softening charms. Probably runes, and Daphne was overworked already. He looked up at his mother and father-in-law, and stood up from his squat by Duncan.
"The children have discovered you can jump off the first floor balcony and end up in the snow in the garden." said Harry, and waved at Duncan, Nellie and Antionette. "Go eat lunch, go on."
Duncan tucked his head down, and he and Nellie left, with Antionette tagging along.
"Cyrus?" asked Harry "Did you have to set up softening charms around the house? To stop the children coming in with skinned knees?"
Cyrus gave Harry a slightly dismissive look "My children were well-behaved enough not to need that" he replied. "Erzabet charmed some limited areas – keeping them out of the stables till they were old enough, that sort of thing."
Harry sat and eyed Erzabet, who looked to be taking the noise of twenty plus children poorly.
Daphne elbowed him "Eat your lunch" she said.
Harry ate up, and kept an eye on Daphne and Erzabet. Neither seemed to appreciate the noise of the mob of children.
Harry ate the salad, and started on the fish, pausing to cast a partial silencing charm on the rest of the table. The noise of children chattering muted a bit, and Daphne visibly relaxed. As did her mother, who winced.
"Cyrus I have a headache" she said quietly.
"You didn't come to Mabon" said Cyrus to Harry.
"Busy with this lot, black Manor" said Harry. "Sorry."
Daphne spoke up sharply "Dreedle!" and the small pink house-elf appeared with a pop.
"A vial of headache potion, Dreedle?" said Daphne. Dreedle nodded enthusiastically and vanished.
Dreedle re-appeared by the time Harry had eaten a cheese scone, and gave Daphne the vial, which she handed to her mother.
"So, what festivals are this lot going to experience?" asked Cyrus.
"We're doing Yule, not Christmas" said Harry "And we did a Hogwarts Halloween as a treat for the children. Net year we'll do a samhain."
"Doesn't like Samhain" observed Erzabet.
"No" said Harry. "Miss my parents rather a lot"
There was silence from his mother and father-in-law – not the children.
That night as he dressed for bed, Harry said "well, that could have gone better."
"Mummy got a headache from the children" said Daphne "They were overstimulated. They rarely see guests."
"Next time, I open with the silence explosion" said Harry.
Daphne visited her mother a bit the following week. Harry chalked that up to mending relations. And apparently she had to catch up with old friends from school, and she gave him a look at that the hinted 'who don't like you much' so Harry was left in the office, working, or making potions for the elves. He even read Hermione's notes on the coming wizengamot bills. Not that he was bored – it's just that he'd become accustomed to looking over at the couch in the office and seeing Daphne lying there, translating.
Unexpectedly, Ron dropped by, during the weekday, in Auror's robes.
"I thought you quit" asked Harry. Ron sighed "I'm back at work, Lavender's wolfsbane potion doesn't buy itself. Anyway, I came to tell you, very discreetly." Ron drew his wand and cast 'animagus revelio', and was pleased to see nothing. "Very discreetly, lock your door discreetly," continued Ron, crossing his arms, wand still out.
Harry clicked his fingers, and one of the elves locked the door. Ron stared. "Bloody hell you've got good at that" he said, too loudly.
"The discreet notification?" asked Harry, impressed that Ron didn't know how that trick was done.
"Someone's been bumping off low level Death eaters" said Ron, and Harry was unable to suppress a small smile.
"Oy" said Ron. "It's not you, is it? It's just they're intact, so not your MO."
Harry met Ron's eyes and said "I'm not killing low level death eaters."
"It's just some of them are well, were at Hogwarts with us, upper years" said Ron.
"I thought Flint got it in the battle" said Harry.
Ron nodded "Lower profile than Flint."
"Nobodies?" asked Harry.
"Not…. Exactly" said Ron, awkwardly.
"How awkward is this conversation about to become, on a scale at the bottom of, say of whose girlfriend had the nicer figure to .. I saw you wanking in the shower?" asked Harry, and Ron snorted, and couldn't help a grin, which quickly faded. "You're a prime suspect, as an accomplice anyway" said Ron.
"I'm what?" said Harry.
"Pansy Parkinson came back from America, and did the rounds of posh places, then was found in her family manor, dead. Killing curse, and the house elves have been obliviated." said Ron "Everyone, and I mean Everyone thinks it's Hermione."
"She wouldn't" said Harry, fairly sure she wouldn't. Probably wouldn't.
"That's what I said." said Ron "And so, I'm here to question Lord too-many-names. Where were you on the night of the eleventh?" Harry tried to think, what day was that.
"Last Saturday" offer Ron helpfully.
"Um" Harry thought "I was at home, had to make barrels of woodworm potion – Black Manor's lousy with it. I worked on some translations – creepy snake writing." Harry added disingenuously.
"Have you got any people who can provide alibis?" asked Ron.
"Er… twelve childcare staff, twenty children" said Harry.
"And her snootiness?" asked Ron fairly rudely.
"At her mother's. Her parents came to visit, lunch last Wednesday, and her mum got a headache from the noise. She's been placating … my dear mother in law, and visiting friends a bit. Been missing her" Harry admitted.
"But she still comes home at night, right?" said Ron.
Harry smiled slightly "'course."
Ron made some notes in an auror-issue notebook.
"How much of this officially happened?" asked Harry.
"Well, don't go telling Hermione" said Ron.
"She hasn't been questioned yet?" asked Harry, surprised.
"Lady Dagwood Granger is a trifle busy" said Ron, mimicking old Augusta Longbottom.
"Wizengamot meeting's in three days" said Harry "I'm even doing the reading. The Black Rod will be opening and closing the meeting. Everyone's been warned to be on time, but… does the office know? There might be some rowdiness."
"Wizengamot meetings are allowed to be rowdy" said Ron. "Part of our quaint medieval legal process" he added, sounding exactly like Hermione.
"If she ever hears that" said Harry.
"Oh she knows" said Ron "used to use it on her in person like."
"Too much information" said Harry, trying not to remember a certain scene.
"So not you" said Ron, folding his notebook.
"Killing curse? Never" said Harry. "Can't you know – " Harry gestured. Ron nodded.
As Harry watched his wife dress for bed, he wondered who was doing in the low-level death eaters. It did sound a bit like something the Puffs might get up to. Susan and co. had been good fighters. Not that he'd accuse Susan of casting Unforgivables on Death eaters, he thought guiltily – he'd done that himself.
Daphne snuggled up tom him in the bed, and he breathed in her perfume, and kissed her hair.
"Mmm" went Daphne, and Harry kissed her hair again "Love you, look forward to seeing you in the morning" said Harry.
"Uhuh" said Daphne, wrapping arm over Harry's chest "You just lie there like a big warm pillow" she added softly.
"How are things?" asked Harry.
"Getting better" said Daphne "shh.. sleepy."
-==0==-
Harry was woken by a finger poked into his ribs "Wake up, Lord business" said Daphne.
Harry blinked.
"Huh?" he asked, suavely.
"It's a wizengamot sitting day, and you will be late. Sir Justin's making it run to a schedule today – and you're bloody well turning up." said Daphne.
Harry found his watch. It was not even six am.
"It's early" said Harry.
"Go to the loo" said Daphne "You're having a cuddle before work."
"Oh" said Harry, and he got out of bed and walked hastily to the bathroom.
After doing a bit more than use the loo, he emerged into his bedroom to find his 'doesn't do mornings' wife, sitting on the edge of the bed in a silk bed-robe.
"Oh, you could have barged in" said Harry. Daphne shook her head and stood up "But I've already been." she said, and wrapped both arms around him and kissed him. Harry kissed back and felt a leg slide up the back of his leg, and hook around.
"Oh" said Harry.
"Yes" said Daphne, tugging Harry onto the bed.
-==0==-
Harry, wearing the stupid looking Wizengamot robes and hat, took the lift down to level nine, avoided the Department of Mysteries and took the stairs down to Courtroom four, the wizengamot chamber. The lights were bright today, and Harry casually sidled over to a nervous looking Justin, in black robes with a huge embroidered white sword front and back.
"That's new" said Harry.
"Official robes. Even older style then my muggle colleague gets" said Justin, who was, Harry noticed holding the 'black rod'. The lion-head was glowing silver.
"So, what exactly are you going to do?" asked Harry.
Justin held us a sleeve, and a very glittery silver-ish watch with many dials rode into view. It looked muggle, expensive, and clearly mechanical to work here. "At precisely nine, I'm shutting the doors. Then, the Chief Warlock will call the meeting to order, there will be a meeting until twelve, I will open the doors, lunch will be forty-five minutes, then I will close the doors, and at five thirty pm I will open the doors again, for half an hour, then close at six, opening again at nine thirty."
"What about, loo breaks?" asked Harry.
"Not my problem" said Justin. "People can vanish it, for all I care. The Rod's a bit of a blunt instrument. It doesn't do a side door. All the doors, or none."
"And you're sure you can get them to stop?" asked Harry.
"Watch and be amazed" said Justin, looking like he was about to sit his apparation exam.
Members of the wizengamot trickled in. More than usual, given that it was only – Harry checked his watch – eight am. He smiled at thinking that six was early.
It was nearly nine, Harry had spotted 'everyone' he considered friendly, and assorted vassal lords all looking irritated, when a rush of purple hatted people came in, packing out the floor level. People started climbing the stairs to their official seats. It was like a wizengamot meeting when everyone was here early to see something. Harry slouched into Slytherin's throne – the warming charms soothed his back muscles. He hadn't realised he'd strained them this morning. The visitors seats – spectators if you wanted to call them that, were not full. A few spouses, looking expectant. And a crowd of scruffy-looking journalists. Not Rita and Bozo – small mercies.
At precisely one minute to nine, Justin stood over a particular stone, that had a small hole in it, and twisted the rod with both hands. With an audible 'shnick', it was suddenly five feet long, and the silver shod base wavered into the hole.
"Attention, Wizengamot" said Justin nervously "The doors will close in one minute, and the meeting will begin. Be prepared."
The hubbub of the Wizengamot stuffing about got louder, a few people came in, and the guards who normally stood around looking formal took up posts by the door, and one nodded dramatically to Justin, who looked up. Over on the Chief Warlock's seat, Lord Ogden, in his grey-striped robes, nodded ostentatiously, his immense nose making him… well Harry thought he must be related to Snape, that was all.
Justin turned the rod and the main doors closed gently, then iron beams slid out of the walls, barring the doors. That was new, thought Harry.
Justin spoke up "The wizengamot meeting for November, two thousand and one is now in order, Lord Ogden, Chief Warlock presiding. All praise to her Majesty, Elizabeth the second, Queen of Magical Britain, Ireland, Scotland and Wales."
"Thank you Black Rod" said Lord Ogden politely, and Justin sat down on a conjured camp chair, and the business of the Wizengamot began.
Harry was hungry by twelve, and Justin stood up, without fanfare, and twisted the Black rod – the iron beams barring the doors slid back into the walls, and the doors opened.
Lord Peirce who was going on and on about why his family needed to have their monopoly of creature breeding rights for Gurdelys, whatever they were, kept talking.
"The Meeting is adjourned" said Justin loudly.
Peirce just kept on blethering.
Justin turned the rod a bit more, and the lights dimmed, and all the seats toppled out lords and ladies. Who complained – but all the sounds were muted. Lord Ogden slammed his gavel down – and that was just as loud as normal "Adjourned by order of the Black Rod until twelve forty five" said Lord Ogden. "I advise all to exploit the time, I certainly will."
Harry looked over at Justin, who was holding the Rod with a grim smile on his face.
Harry then remembered that he wanted lunch, and bolted in an undignified way.
The ministry cafe – well the roped off bit, was packed with Wizengamot members, eating hastily in plum coloured robes and silly hats.
Harry got a cheese and pineapple sandwich down, a cup of tea, and wondered about… yup. Loo time.
-==0==-
A much tired-er Harry met Justin after the meeting ended in the Black Rod's chambers. Harry mentioned that Daphne saw the not-spending thing like being poor.
"Father knows what he's doing" said Justin confidently.
"Can you explain for me?" asked Harry.
"Father knows what he's doing, I'm making it up as I go along" said Justin.
"We finished before midnight – it's a miracle" said Harry "I'm off to have dinner."
Justin hefted his red dispatch case. "Off to deliver a report" said Justin.
"In person?" asked Harry.
"Good lord no," said Justin "I leave a case with her secretary, and take an empty one. She's far too busy for a routine report."
-==0==-
Justin flooed to Hogsmeade to meet Professor Lufkin. The last week had seen a few owl-post letters back and forth, and Justin was dreading talking to some old academic. Still she apparently had found some details of the Black Rod. Justin had the 'instructions' but knowing who made it, why and when would… well it would help. And he didn't trust the instructions. They were scribbled and said basically 'open by doing this, close by doing that.'
The Three Broomsticks wasn't crowded, and he looked around at the booths, looking for an elderly witch in black teachers robes. He didn't see one. McGonagall, was thankfully not here drinking. Justin still had real problems separating Professor McGongall from McGonagall the person. Harry, jammy git that he was, had no such problems, and they had some weird comedy thing going on where Harry'd be Lord Slytherin and McGonagall would make dry remarks. And he'd married Daphne Greengrass. A beautiful – if cold looking witch with erm, obvious physical charms these days. A bit terrifying, in Justin's opinion. His eye caught a tall blonde witch in a booth – she was wearing a white robe with a blue Greek key decoration. She looked half-asleep, but in a good way and didn't have a permanently pissed off look – not that Justin would ever mention that Lady Slytherin looked like she was going to say 'off with their heads!' at the drop of a hat. Justin sighed, and went to see Madam Rosmerta.
The proprietress was waiting behind the bar, as she usually did, with a scoop-necked robe, like she usually wore. Madam Rosmerta was at least fifty, and had in Justin and Ernie's opinions been the cause of disturbing dreams to generations of Hogwarts boys.
"Madam Rosmerta" said Justin.
"Your Baronness" said Madam Rosmerta, winking. Justin sighed. He swore people did this to annoy him.
"I'm not a baron. My father is a baron, until he passes on, I am Sir Justin for formal occasions, and Lord Justin otherwise. Is that too hard to understand?" asked Justin.
Madam Rosmerta smiled genuinely "You get all up on your dignity. Your lordship." she teased.
"I'm um supposed to meet Professor Lufkin here, but I er…" said Justin, running out of plan. Harry Potter would have a bloody plan, he mused.
"Second booth on the left, white and blue robe." said Madam Rosmerta. "A little old for you" she teased.
"What?" said Justin, his head snapping over to stare at the blonde witch drinking… some sort of shandy.
"So why are you really talking to our new History Professor?" asked Madam Rosmerta quietly.
"The history of the Black Rod" said Justin. Madam Rosmerta licked her lips and poised to recount some anecdote. By the gleam in her eyes and the faint grin, a racy one.
"I've heard a hundred" said Justin, exaggerating a little. Madam Rosmerta chuckled and asked instead "What're you drinking?"
"Ginger beer" asked Justin – he'd never seen it on a list, but, he liked the stuff.
Madam Rosmerta nodded "Best to keep your head" she said.
Brave, brave Sir Justin walked over to the tall witch drinking a shandy and reading a book.
"Erm, I'm Justin Finch-Fletchy, the Black Rod" said Justin, smiling his polite meeting smile.
Professor Lufkin looked up at Justin – her eyes were deep-set and blue. Now Daphne Greengrass's eyes were blue, sort of stormy blue in Justin's opinion but these were… blue. Regular blue eyes. That blinked at him. She didn't say anything.
"I had an appointment to talk about the history of the Black Rod?" asked Justin "The erm… ceremonial sceptre, not the job. I do the job… well I've started doing the job."
Professor Lufkin took a swig of Shandy, and slid the book sideways, dumping it into a robe pocket.
"Your, er, Black Rodness" she said. Nervously.
Justin sat down opposite Professor Lufkin , finding himself hardly taller than Professor Lufkin, which was unusual. As was her not-talking-ness. It reminded Justin of that date at Hogsmeade with Mandy.
"Justin" said Justin firmly "I've used my official title once. I don't need to mention it again."
Professor Lufkin nodded a little quickly.
"And you don't need to use it." said Justin "Professor Lufkin, your letter said you'd found details of the black rod." At this point, Justin wished he'd brought the damn thing along. It had a lion on it and glowed after all… it sort of carried the conversation.
"Hmm" said Professor Lufkin, "You didn't bring it, did you?"
"It's um, official regalia, sort of. Not for um… day trips." said Justin awkwardly "And it's as long as my forearm, so it's a bulky awkward thing."
Professor Lufkin nodded "So" she said, in an accent unlike the girls from Hogwarts. "There's a catalogue of objects from an enchanters exhibition in seventeen ninety-two, and one of the items is described as an ebon rod, as long as a man's forearm, with our sovereign's lion atop it." she paused "That rather describes it, doesn't it?"
"There's a silver nimbus when I hold it" said Justin "Looks… magical but apart from acting as a sort-of wand it's just a sort -of-key to the Wizengamot chambers."
"Sort of key?" asked Professor Lufkin.
"There's a spot on the floor, where the Rod when twisted locks the doors, and if I twist it the other way, well the doors unlock and the chairs all erm… tip everyone out."
"Tip every sitting lord of the wizengamot out?" asked Professor Lufkin slowly.
"Well, not Lord Slytherin's throne, obviously." said Justin.
Professor Lufkin tilted her head "Why obviously?" she asked in a strangely precise tone.
"Well, because the throne is Slytherin family magic, and the Black Rod only controls the seats already part of the room" said Justin. "Its like a cinema with chairs that tip up, but the rod tips them down."
"Do the lords leave when the chairs tip them out?" asked Professor Lufkin "I rather expect they could stand."
"Erm… that's a second quarter turn of the Rod" admitted Justin "Turns the lights down, and mutes all speech. Which is a lot like one of Lord Slytherin's family spells, some to think of it."
"Well" said Professor Lufkin "I wasn't able to remove the catalogue from the Library, Irma can be a little possessive of older books."
Justin had to mentally rearrange that. "The book is at Hogwarts?" asked Justin.
"However" said Professor Lufkin, pulling a scroll from a different robe pocket "I copied the relevant page. Irma detests Xerographia, but it's harmless." She unrolled the scroll and turned three feet of parchment to face Justin. The writing was black ink, and writing, but… crabbed looking book Latin. That reminded Justin annoyingly much of the family records he'd spent ages reading through, and copying… with a gemino curse then stabilising with a tricky potion. The scrolls came out blue and white from the potion. This xerographia spell sounded useful.
Justin exercised his book Latin by trying to read the scroll. And mentally cursed the author, who, like so many magical authors used no paragraphs, and wouldn't draw a box or bullet points at wand-point. Still, it was old.
Justin caught a bit 'to glowwe to signify the true holder of the rodde, be it mishanded' and pointed.
"So the glowing nimbus is it identifying me as the Black Rod?" he asked.
Professor Lufkin tried to read book latin upside-down, her eyes crossed comically, and she stood up, she was actually tall, and came around the table to stand on the same side as Justin sat, and peered at the words.
"Erm, it could mean that" she said. "The catalogue's quite modern in approach, Bellamy Poiynter, the author actually listed what the objects did. Earlier authors of similar works tended to list enchantments, and runic sequences, and assume everyone was very well read."
Or Hermione Granger, thought Justin. Professor Lufkin smelt of … cats.
"Of course" said Professor Lufkin hastily "one does rather get used to that sort of thing."
Justin nodded politely.
"Unless it was Lily Potter's runic sequence" volunteered Professor Lufkin "Harry Potter published it, and Arithmancy Today's still taking letters about it. The magic is phenomenal but, what matters – "
Professor Lufkin paused and said more loudly "Is how she got to where she did, I mean it's a break-through in magical circuital design but what matters is the historical context of it – how she got to where she ended up. Speculation is rife, and since she was murdered, and their house destroyed, all her notes are gone. Poof, up in smoke. One can only assume she had notebooks. Still, it's a fantastic protection, even if one or both parents have to die to power it."
Professor Lufkin had got louder and faster and… more excited as she talked about history.
"And the recent law changes to allow sacrificial magic?" asked Justin, wondering what an actual professor of History of Magic thought.
"Well, Lord Slytherin pretty much had to, didn't he. Once he knew it was sacrificial magic, Harry Potter, the man who can do no wrong had to make sure his mother was posthumously exonerated." said Professor Lufkin. Justin blinked and thought about that. Harry Potter… even in his exaggerated Lord Slytherin persona didn't seem over-much concerned with rules. Justice… he practically bled the stuff, but rules… he'd broken so many.
"I think he's more concerned with Justice than rules" said Justin, remembering two years of DA training that had saved his life. His arm twitched, bumping into Professor Lufkin, and he wished he'd taken another potion this morning. He'd elbowed a Hogwarts Professor. Brilliant.
"Are you all right?" asked Professor Lufkin, eyeing him sideways at his twitch.
"Crucuatus curse residues" admitted Justin, "I get a bit twitchy when I think about some things."
"The ah, Professors Carrow then?" asked Professor Lufkin.
"Seventh years" said Justin "Dark arts class was very hands-on, under Professor Carrow."
"Oh how dreadful" said Professor Lufkin, and Justin looked up and over, and her chin was quivering. "Those poor students."
"What happened at the Shoe?" asked Justin.
"I've no idea, I was fired, blood-status" said Professor Lufkin, taking a deep breath and sitting back down in her side of the table. Justin went back to puzzling through the Latin.
'Opens and closes the wizengamot meetings, and passes fair as a wand for the Gentleman Usher…'
"Hah!" said Justin "Passes fair as a wand for the gentleman usher. That's me, that's the official title, Gentleman usher of the Black Rod, and it's a wand. Sort-of."
"So it's a wand that doesn't choose the wizard?" asked Professor Lufkin "How unusual."
"I think some wands can be made that way" said Justin, who'd heard things from Neville and Ron about Harry's brief ownership of the white wand. Though, come to think of it, Harry had given Daphne a white wand as a wedding present. Not the fabled elder wand – Harry had swiped that from Voldemort, and lost it in an explosion in France.
"Sir Justin? Sir Justin" repeated Professor Lufkin, sounding concerned "are you all right?"
Justin blinked and tried to concentrate – he wasn't usually one for wool-gathering. "Sorry, I was just thinking about unusual wands." he said sheepishly.
"Harry Potter, Lord Slytherin took the Elder wand from Voldemort when he defeated him." said Professor Lufkin surely "It made the myth of the Elder wand a bit more concrete. He hasn't been seen with it though."
"Broke it in France" said Justin, "He was trying to save his fiancée from a duelling injury and his wand must have been damaged- as it exploded. His hand's scarred."
Professor Lufkin sat up and suddenly looked alert "Well, you are a font of knowledge, I'll have to take notes" said Professor Lufkin, taking a tatty notebook from a robe pocket, drawing out a self-inking quill and raising her eyebrows.
"Now, if you'd tell me everything you know about what happened to the Elder wand after the battle of Hogwarts?" said Professor Lufkin. "Don't leave anything out."
Justin began with what he assumed everyone knew… and continued , explaining that he'd talked to Neville and Ron. The Gingerbeer was okay, he supposed. But the mug was empty.
"Knew them pretty well from the DA, of course" said Justin, wishing he had another drink.
"The DA?" asked Professor Lufkin, trying to get the last drop out of her glass of shandy.
Justin's throat felt dry, and he reasoned that a butterbeer would help. He stood up, and went to the bar, where Madam Rosmerta smiled – or was that smirked at him.
"Well aren't you two getting on" she said. Justin rolled his eyes "Butterbeer, and whatever she was drinking."
Madam Rosmerta nodded "eighteen sickles" she said. Justin heaved out a galleon, "Keep the butterbeer coming" he said "I'm being grilled."
Two butterbeers later he'd explained about the DA, and the year of the Carrows.
Professor Lufkin sniffled. "I got fired" she said. "Halfbloods weren't allowed to hold teaching positions, even at the Shoe."
"Oh" said Justin.
"I got a little tutoring work, spent what money I had" she continued.
Justin nodded "The war was terrible" he said.
"I hid out at the family ruin – it was never rebuilt after grandmama died, and nobody expects you to live in the chimney-breast" said Professor Lufkin.
"That sounds awful" said Justin.
"It was" said Professor Lufkin. "The old kitchen garden still had asparagus and sorrel, and Duck eggs aren't too different to chicken ones." Justin nodded.
"I never want to see another Jerusalem artichoke though" said Professor Lufkin thoughtfully, drinking some more shandy.
"Ugh" said Justin "Water chestnuts instead."
"Man after my own heart" said Professor Lufkin, sounding a little tipsy. "Winter was hard."
"Not much food?" asked Justin.
"And hard to hide the fire" said Professor Lufkin. "When your hideouts' an abandoned ruin, one of the defining characteristics is that no-one lives there. I couldn't have survived another winter, my money ran out, just in time for the end of the war, and there was a tiny bit of tutoring work again, and then Lord Slytherin sent a job offer."
Justin nodded politely. Everyone had a war story.
"So, Sir Justin, you fought in the battle of Hogwarts, how accurate are the accounts of what happened?" asked Professor Lufkin. Justin motioned to Madam Rosmerta for another butterbeer – it was going to be a long day.
...
Justin egged off in time for dinner at home. Professor Lufkin took endless notes.
-==0==-
Justin got an owl at breakfast from Harry Potter – the letter was polite, mostly informal and mostly a begging letter. 'Help me with finance stuff – Daphne's not happy' was the summary. Justin wondered how that works – Harry too-many-names Potter, wins the war, gets the worryingly pretty girl nobody noticed at school, and then… he has finance problems, and she's unhappy. So Harry writes Justin a letter ,expecting him to fix things. He already worked for the bloody Queen who wanted him to stop another war happening, but no, that wasn't enough.
Justin waved the owl off, not Potters' white one, and eyed his mother, who was looking at him expectantly.
"Well, what magical adventure is this now?" she asked. Justin frowned "Harry Potter wants more help with finance" he said, trying to maintain a positive attitude. "Not day-to day stuff – the big stuff" he said, hopefully.
"I have had an idea for a way to stabilise their economy" said Father, over the Times. Justin wondered how lucky he could get in one day.
"What is it dear?" asked Mama.
"Well, the problem" said Father, lowering the Times to the table "Is that they have a massive influx of gold. We can put that gold back in the bank, as it were, and their goblin bank can get up-to-date with sixteenth century banking practices, and loan it out. The Slytherin's will profit from the interest. Their gold will be just a security, and the Slytherin's money is probably the most secure, short of that Ministry of Magic."
"The Ministry isn't very trustworthy" said Justin, firmly. "I suppose we could have them to dinner, and you could explain over dessert?"
"Oh yes" said Mama "They are delightful, tomorrow – Francis, you could be on time for dinner?"
Justin used his perfectly ordinary brown owl to send 'Harry Potter' a letter advising that they had a dinner reservation tomorrow night. Father had wanted to dine at Neidpath Castle, which had mama rolling her eyes. It was a historic monument, and as a safety measure it was on the Floo Network, but it was, as Justin remembered, just cold and draughty. And five hours from home.
"We own a perfectly respectable castle, it would put the Slytherins at ease" said Father, eyes twinking.
"Francis, No." said Mama "It's winter and there would be snow everywhere. No."
"Justin could take us by floo" said Father.
"It would still be cold." said Justin "And we can hardly bundle cook through with all her things."
"Honestly, I don't know why we even have those floo connections" said Father "Only Justin can use them, and we can't tell the staff."
"About that?" said Justin awkwardly "Harry said, and the healers – medical types at St Mungo's agreed that the reason I can do magic is that both my parents have some of the genes for magic. It's possible you could use the floo on your own."
"You went to find out about inheritance?" asked Father, more seriously.
"And they confirmed that Finch-Fletchlys and DeGuire's have magical ancestors" said Justin. "I took the paperwork to the Magical college of arms, to get my title sorted."
"And?" asked Father, in a rather leading tone.
"Harry thinks there's some risk we will be billed, ourselves for unpaid Wizengamot levies, if our family had a seat." said Justin.
"And do we?" asked Father, all joking gone, the tone that of someone very important in Banking in the UK.
"Apparently not" said Justin "Harry did say that if we had a magical Baron they'd have fallen over themselves… and billed like Her Majesty's revenue. Not the case."
"Shame" said Father "So we're magical nobodies?"
"Cadet lines" admitted Justin. "Someone else is a more direct descendant."
"Well, good to know that our founder wasn't a wizard, I suppose" said Father, not sounding pleased at all.
"Father, he was a squib. Probably his family were happy that he did something to make money" said Justin. "The pureblood tend to throw squibs out on their ears." he made an eyebrow gesture directly to Father, who nodded meaningfully. No point mentioning that disgusting habit the nastier pureblood families got into.
-==0==-
Daphne eyed the letter in Harry's hands "But, I wore the dress I had last time we visited" she said "I'll have to go back to Harrods. Before Dinner." she sounded a little petulant – but it was good to have her back home again, thought Harry.
"Spot of Christmas shopping?" suggested Harry, waving at the children "Get them something they won't have seen from Diagon Alley?"
"You have to come with me" said Daphne "I have no idea about muggle presents."
Harry thought about quipping about the present she'd got him – resisted the urge and decided to make a reference to Dudley's present-hauls.
"We can make these ones from Santa" said Harry "It's traditional for parents to give one extra from Santa." And he didn't even mention Dudley. Those potions had really helped, he realised.
Harry, in jeans and a hoodie, with a shopping trolley, snatched up arm-loads of plush toys and tossed them into the Trolley "soft toys – can't go wrong" he said, with confidence he didn't feel.
"Ahem?" said Daphne "This isn't getting me a dress."
"Oddly, you not in a dress is one of my favourite things" said Harry, and Daphne blushed adorably. Well her neck did, anyway.
"Come on" said Harry, turning the trolley towards the lifts "Women's dinner dresses, here we come!"
Daphne settled on a squinny thing in green, that a had sort of transparent topthat, Harry realised, seeing her smiling face – made her eyes really stand out. Her gorgous eyes…
"Are you all right?" asked Daphne, fornwing.
"It makes your eyes stand out" said Harry, blinking "You have very pretty eyes, you know that?"
"really!" said Daphne, turning and settign the hem of the dress swishing "I'm taking this one."
Which apparently cost eighteen hundred pounds, dwarfing the plush toys, rubber-band aeroplanes, but not the four trampolines – which were being loaded onto a large trolley by toyshop staff. There was plenty of room for trampolines and Harry had certainly wanted to play on one as a child. Though, Dudley, being uninterested in moving about hadn't wanted one – only the racing bike got wrecked by that fat git.
Harry realised, eventually that he had no idea how Harrods could deliver the trampolines. Daphne, holding a garment bag nodded to the counter-staff and gave an address in London– "Father's warehouse" she said as an aside to Harry.
"Will that work?" asked Harry, carrying four of Harrods largest size shopping bags, stuffed with gift-wrapped plush toys.
"I'll pop over and tell father" said Daphne confidently "Same day delivery, and he can portkey them to the manor. Some of the rooms with nothing breakable in them, I think."
Harry leaned over and kissed her hair "Brilliant" he said enthusiastically.
Obviously, Harry had to brief the staff about being out for the evening – and drop off the huge pile of presents. The Trampolines, in huge boxes arrived with a thud in the front hall, while Daphne was doing her hair and makeup.
Harry felt a little guilty at making the house elves assemble them, in a mostly unused parlour, but Dreedle and company looked at the boxes and hopped up and down
"What are we doings?" asked Dreedle.
Harry opened the first box, and found the instructions – fortunately they had lots of pictures.
"Assembling these. Children can jump up and down in them, it's springy, and the – the um net sides are um… safe" said Harry, working on theory.
Harry had just about worked out how they went together, when Dreedle stood up and vanished with a pop, reappearing.
"Mistress is waiting by the fireplace" said Dreedle.
Harry disapparated, reappearing next to Daphne, once again in the green dress she'd bought today. This time, with her hair up, a small handbag and undoubtedly high heels, as she was quite tall – for her.
"We're due at six fir six thirty" said Daphne "Are you ready?"
Harry banished the instructions back to Dreedle. "I am now" he said.
-==0==-
Harry vanished the floo-soot off Daphne, and nodded to Justin, who was wearing a dark blue suit. "Sir Justin" said Daphne.
"Mrs Slytherin" said Justin. "Harry"
"Honestly" said Daphne, sounding amused. Harry looked over – apart from looking gorgeous, she also did look a little amused.
"Good to see you again, Black Rod" said Daphne. Justin blushed.
Justin stood up, and led Harry and Daphne to the same drawing room they'd met his parents in before – and they were there, although Justin's mother was dressed up in a formal gown, and the Baron was wearing a very sharp dinner-jacket that looked, thought harry, much better than his off-the-rack one from Harrods.
"Harry and Daphne" said Justin's mother "so nice to see you again. – Oh Daphne that's a nice dress."
"Just Harrods" said Daphne modestly.
"Is every dress you buy green now?" asked Justin's Father.
"Francis!" scolded Justins' mother good-humouredly.
"I would have preferred blue, but they only had it in green" said Daphne with a shrug. Harry watched the shrug and concluded that his wife had pretty shoulders.
"So, how did Justin's first attempt at running the Wizengamot go, do you think?" asked Francis.
"We left before midnight and got meal breaks." said Harry "I'm indebted to you. I still hate the meetings, but at least we get meals now."
"My father got home before mother went to bed" said Daphne "He's never done that , ever since he took up the family seat."
Dessert was crème brulee. Harry ate it, surprised at the taste. Hogwarts never served this sort of thing, he thought. Daphne picked at hers.
"I have an idea" said the Baron. "Deposits." And he explained. It actually made sense to Harry.
Daphne frowned, and asked "How does this help?"
The baron picked up the salt shaker and the pepper shaker "Remember I said you'd increased the amount of gold – and that would lead to prices changing?" he said.
Harry nodded- and saw Daphne nodding along.
"Well this way, the amount of gold is the same" he said, putting the pepper shaker down "And importantly, you make a profit from other people – so your gold stays as a security – guardeded by Gringotts, and your family reputation."
"I am the only person to rob Gringotts in ages" said Harry. Francis closed his eyes for a moment.
"Don't talk about that" said Francis.
"Can you um, write this up, so I can explain it to the goblins?" asked Harry.
"You can borrow Justin – he understands the fundamentals" said Francis. "I suppose your house is in a frenzy for Christmas?"
Which led to explaining about doing Yule and Christmas.
-==0==-
Harry went on Christmas eve to Gringotts, to do talking to Ragnok. With Justin. There were no Christmas or Yule decorations in Gringotts.
The teller oddly just nodded when Harry said he'd like to see Ragnok, and summoned another goblin to lead them upstairs.
They waited for about ten minutes in the ante-room, looking at the gold and white marble.
"He makes us wait" said Harry "It's their way."
Time passed. More than ten minutes.
Eventually Ragnok's secretary opened the door and waved them in.
Ragnok sat in his blue pinstripe suit behind his huge desk, looking bored.
"Ragnok I'd like for you , Gringotts to take all the recently minted gold out of my vault and put it in a different vault." said Harry. Justin nodded.
"Vaults cost money, there will be a fee" said Ragnok blandly.
"This vault will be owned by Gringotts." said Harry reading the notepad "And I will borrow money from Gringotts instead of spending mine."
"We will charge interest" said Ragnok toothily. He had such… pointily inhuman teeth.
"As will I" said Harry "I will expect interest annually from the special vault.."
"A complicated mess" said Ragnok dismissively.
"I will not be spending more money than existed last year. An arithmancer of finance tells me this matters" said Harry.
"So you would loan me, uh, Gringotts nineteen million galleons?" asked Ragnok.
"Yes" said Harry "We understand one another."
"I can't do this overnight" said Ragnok "I will have to consult with others. No goblin is a dragon who can act alone."