The Manager of Dogwood's was happy to accept Harry's order of three tons of dragon dung and four tons of potting soil. Harry signed the slip and imprinted his Lord Potter ring. Until that order came in, Dogwood's was thinking of selling the shop and leaving… but a six month payment for a week's work… the Manager and the owner were rethinking everything.
As Harry limped back to the tent-manor, he cast his mind back to the Night he walked out of the Castle…
[Flashback]
October 31, 1995
Hogwarts Great Hall.
Hogwarts has betrayed me for the last time. I will recognize it as Holy Ground and that it is Neutral Ground. But I am no longer required to stay." He dropped his robe on the floor. "Dobby, collect my things, and meet me at the Gates. My Mates are welcome to come, but I will not be allowing my betrayers to join me."
As he strode from the Castle, he could feel the adrenaline wearing off, as the pain in his head and leg were fairing and his hands started shaking. When he arrived at the Gate, twelve trunks were waiting with four elves.
Harry dropped onto his trunk, as Greengrass caught up to him. Pushing him to his side, she inspected the deep cut on his thigh, and cauterized it, rather than 'epskie' it. She then pulled him upright and inspected the slash down his face.
"I sometimes envy your Luck, Potter." She hissed, she wiped the blood and black pus from his face. "Not only are you unlucky enough to not dodge the ribbon cutter completely, but just enough for it to slash your scar and drag it to your chin, while missing your eyes completely." She waved her wand back and forth before his eyes, watching as he tracked its tip. "I would even bet that you see the castle behind me right now."
"Yeah…" Harry frowned, "so what?"
"Harry, the ribbon cutter slashed your glasses." Hermione huffed. "Really… Boys, what are we going to do with you?"
Bones arrived about then, "Tully, we are going to the Oustary now. I don't want to use my Portkey because it will cause Auntie to panic. The other Elves are welcome to help, but I doubt Greengrass or Longbottom will need their elves after tonight."
The darkness claimed Potter.
LBDLP (FB)
Harry awoke to hear Greengrass and Hermione arguing about how best to care for him. Greengrass was saying that she had passed her Apprenticeship Application test. Hermione was just a know it all who read something about just about everything.
"Library." Harry groaned out.
"What?" Asked the younger Greengrass sister.
"Library." Harry said again. "We will need legal coverage. Shit hit the fan tonight and Hermione and I are easy targets. We need something to protect us when the winds change."
Hermione bolted from the room.
"Where is she going?" Davis asked.
"Did you not hear him? She is going to ask where the library is." The elder sister teased the other girl. "Well Potter, good news, I have stopped the bleeding and cleaned you up. But the damage to your leg is deep and I do not know enough to try fixing your face. Do you have a Private Healer?"
"Pomphrey."
"You would think Lord Potter would have a Healer." Younger Greengrass.
"Would you trust me?" Eldest sister asked. "I could ask Mother, but I know a Healer Witch that would owe you a boon. Healer Tonks was a daughter of House Black. You are the Heir of House Black…"
" Call them both." Harry spoke softly. "I don't think Pomphery did anything malicious, but I spent too much time under her care, and Dumbledore keeps too many secrets."
Daphne nodded and left the room.
Harry leaned back and allowed the darkness to reclaim him.
LBDLP (FB)
Healer Tonks had just gotten the pink witch put up for the night, which included stabilizing her and bandaging her arm. There was no longer a hand, and it looked like there never will be one again.
She was writing up the report when there was a knock on the door. Using the handle she opened the door to see Healer Greengrass standing there with a frown and a Gladstone bag.
"Yes Elle?"
"Hey Andi, just got a message from reseotion that you and I are requested on a House Call to Bones Manor. The funny thing is, they included a codeword that involves my Daughters."
Andromeda grabbed her healers bag and followed the younger mother to the Private Floo in the Doctor's Lounge.
As they exited the Floo into the Parlor, Daphne in her Apprentice greens was waiting beside a slightly tipsy Director Bones, as two redheads and a blonde were playing a game of Dragon Poker and sipping tea.
"Daphne." Elle was just ending her shift as was Andi.
"This way, Healers." The Apprentice led the way to the medical wing, "Patient is a 15 year old male, a laceration across his face and a deep laceration across his Right thighs. I know enough to stop the bleeding and clean the wounds, beyond that, I don't trust my knowledge or skill. A fourth Witch was trying to help, and while I respect her knowledge in general, I fear that she was too close to the patient to make a rational decision. When he told her we would need legal coverage and to check the library." she snorted something under her breath, before continuing to report to her superiors. "When I explained my shortcomings as a Healer and asked about his personal healer, he named Pomphery, and when I mentioned you two as my advised choice, he said to call you both. He says he does not believe that Poppy is acting out of malice, but expects something is not right with his health care at the hands of Dumbledore."
"Just who is in there, Daughter."
"If I am right, my Lord and Husband." Daphne turned to look at the Witches on her heels. "Heir to the House of Black, Harry Potter."
Andi looked at the girl, before pushing past her into the room. Two witches sat on the bed beside the door, watching a lad face down on the next bed, his head turned to the right. Elle was a step behind her.
As Tonks made a bee line to the lad's side, Elle sent 'Tori and Tracy out of the wing, as Daphne followed Andi.
"Tracy, call your Mother, tell her what's going on. 'Tori, Call your Father. Tell him to come."
Then the two Healers and the Apprentice began the process of scanning, recording, and healing the injuries of the boy.
What they found scared and awes them.
LBDLP (FB)
Hermione looked up from the tome before her as the blonde dropped an even heavier tome across from her.
"What have you got there?"
"The answer to your issue. I am told that you will find the answer on page 573, paragraph 4, line 3."
"What does it say?"
"No idea. What you're looking for is not the same as what I am looking for."
The thick dusty book was pushed in her direction.
Hermione sighed, before looking at the earliest treaties regulating the thickness of cauldron bottoms. She sighed again, marked her place and traded books. The fading embossed cover read, the rights and responsibilities of Lords of Light And Dark. Flipping to the page, finding it having to do with Dark Lords and Wizards as named by the Wizard's Council and/or Ministry… The Paragraph spoke of the Right of Self Rule… and line three: 'A Dark Lord and his Vessels are not beholden to Ministry Decrees and only to the Law and dictates of the Sovereign Royal.'
"Luna, exactly when did the Ministry declare Harry a Dark Wizard?"
"August Twelfth." The dreamy blond answered in an airy tone.
Hermione flipped back a few pages and found the legal definition of a Dark Lord.
'A Dark Lord is a Wizard Leader that has fallen to the Darkness by way of the following means;
Consorting with Dark Creatures and Wizards
Performing Dark Rituals
Studying and Practicing Dark Arts'
The list went on.
As much as she hated it, Professor Lupin counted as a Dark Creature. Sirius Black was listed as a Dark Wizard. And the ritual to reform Tom was a Dark Ritual that Harry was a part of.
He was a Dark Wizard, and she followed him, as did ten others… and they did so of their own free will.
There was no deception or coercion. Just blind faith that Potter was a better man to follow than Albus Dumbledore, Tom Riddle, or Cornelius Fudge.
She smiled. "Where is everyone?"
"Daphne Greengrass is with Harry Potter. The twins and Lee are at the Leaky Cauldron. Longbottom is lost in the Greenhouse, and everyone else is in the Parlor." The blond stopped her scribbling and stood, pushing her chair in. "Dobby, Would you find Heir Longbottom and tell him he is needed in the Parlor. Bring the book, Hermione."
The two witches exited the Library wing and returned to the Parlor. Hermione was a little surprised to see Astoria and Tracy there as well as Madam Bones.
Neville entered the parlor at a jog, his arms full of herbs and roots. The Elves were quick to take them away.
"Okay. I have an answer to a few of our problems. For those who are of age, We are simply following our Dark Lord, Harry Potter. For those of us not of age," Hermione paused to glare at Ginny, "We will need parental permission to follow Harry. As the book Does not say how big a following must be, just that a Dark Lord needs a following and must be named a Dark Wizard by the Ministry, we are officially following our Dark Lord Potter. Director, before we move further forward, are you a follower of our Lord, Albus Dumbledore or the Minster? I need to know how to classify you."
Amelia looked into her tea cup. "House Bones follows Potter, if for no other reason than he is the best option of those listed. I noticed that you did not list Lord…"
"Riddle." Ginny spat. "His name is Tom Riddle, and he is a half blood Bastard. In every concept of the word."
"Yes." Ami smirked, "Him. I will give you and Lord Potter a week to prove to me that you are the better option." She shakely set her cup on the table, and staggered to her feet."I had a busy day today and I believe I will have one tomorrow. I am going to bed before I risk any of my vowes. Good night all." She staggered out of the room.
"Okay, first things first, Ginny, Luna, you will need to write your Fathers and get parental consent. I say Father's, because I know Molly is going to throw a wobbly." She turned to Neville and Hannah, "Not completely clear on your situation, but better safe than sorry. We don't need the Ministry to have a way in. And holding a minor against their will or the will of their consenting adults, would be a breach of Queen's Law."
"Gran is not a Follower of either Albus or Cornelius." Neville grinned,"I am stating that I am for Potter, and I will challenge her right to decide before the Wizemgomot if I have to."
"Father will do as mother says, and she will follow Auntie if I explain it right. I will go see them in the morning." Hannah smiled at the group.
"Okay, by the book, I found three things that Harry is guilty of that classify him as a Dark Wizard, one, he Consorts with Dark Creatures and Wizards." She breathed deep. "His uncle's in always but blood, are classed as both. His Uncle Lupin, we better know him as Professor Lupin, is a werewolf. His Godfather and Uncle Black is listed as an escaped prisoner and murderer. But we have seen proof that Black is not guilty of the crimes he was accused of. Second, Harry was part of a dark necromantic ritual. His blood was used to revive Tom Riddle. And third is a bit shaky but we were taught the unforgivables in DADA last year."
She sat in Amelia's chair, "these Three things, plus being named Dark Wizard by Fudge, and being declared of Age by both the Committee of the Triwizard Tournament and Fudge's courtroom case, Harry is Lord Potter. He just needs to get his Ring. As a Dark Lord he is able to ignore Ministry Decrees and Laws. He only must bend his knee to the Queen and the Queen's Law."
"Are we sure we want him to declare himself a Lord?" Bones asked. "That is just the first rune stone to tip."
"More like the third." Neville crossed his arms, "Fudge sent his Toad to Hogwarts and she tortured an Heir of two Ancient and Noble Houses. This is in addition to everything since Harry's name was entered into the Goblet of Fire."
"Let's not talk about his issues with Dumbledore." Ginny snorted. "My time stalking that boy allowed me to see the changes in him and the root of those changes. He himself doesn't know half of the shit that Mother and the Bearded Bastard are up to."
"So, the instant Harry declares himself Lord Potter… the shit is going to hit the Fan and we as his followers will be down wind." Hermione sat stiffly. "Options."
"Declare war on the Ministry." Luna declared.
"No!" Sue cried out. "Declare himself exempt from Ministry Law and Decree. Let the Ministry declare War on you. Keep perfect records of all outbound press and the like. Do not move against the people directly."
"Make a statement that cannot be overlooked, but that the Ministry can legally yell fowl." Tracy spoke up. "Before we can plan that, we will need to know what assets are His to put into play." She worried her lip. "Daphne is going to be upset with my leaking this information. She is bound by blood contact to consort to House Black. Lord Malfoy had her Father over the barrel in a bad way. Thinking Draco was the Heir, Malfoy locked in the terms so only the Heir or his Regent could alter the details."
"Potter is also contracted to House Bones." Susan spoke up. "But every time I tried to get close, Weasley would run me off."
"Ron?" Ginny asked, "Yeah, Mom has a contract for me as Lady Potter." She shook her head, "But I asked Sirius last summer, and he said that the contract is not worth the parchment it is written on."
"If the Healers let him out tomorrow, it would be a good idea to head to the bank in the morning." Tracy smirked, "He should have a Pureblood Slytherin with him as an advisor. No offense, but they are trained from the cradle to find the loopholes in these things. He has five in this house right now. I also know a pair of twins that are watching him. The only reason they stayed is because their aunt and uncle are known Death Eaters and did not think they could get close enough to join his Harem."
Luna chuckled, "What are the odds, Harry is being pursued by all three sets of twins from Hogwarts."
The Witches stared at the Ravenclaw as Neville just started laughing. Everyone now stared at Neville.
As the hefty Hedge Wizard caught his breath, "Only Harry could throw a temper tantrum, walk out of the School, and half the witches his age love him for it."
Hermione snorted.
LBDLP (FB)
Healer Tonks stripped every charm, hex and curse she could, leaving only the Mother's Blessing and the Core Wrap untied so he could learn control of his magic from the twenty percent he was using to ramp slowly up to his full gifted power.
Healer Greengrass was slowly guiding her daughter and apprentice through the steps of healing the boy before them. They were knitting the severed muscle tissue back together, the hard way so Daphne would know how the spell would work when they cast the quick spell.
Once Daphne had shown enough pursition in the task, Elle had her do it the quicker way. Once they had finished the leg, they inspected the slash down his face. While the spell used just a ribbon cutter, somehow it was reading as a curse scar. Daphne showed the Healers her kerchief, stained with his blood…and a black pus that she said came from the scar on his forehead.
They used Essence of Dittany to seal the scar as much as they could, but the lad now had a groove running from his hairline to his jaw. It skirted his eye socket, but increased his rugged looks.
When they were done, they left the wing, heading to the Parlor.
As three witches walked in, Astoria stood and asked her mother point blank, "Mother, Would you allow me to Follow Lord Potter?"
Elle raised an eyebrow, "Why do you ask?"
"As a minor, I need parental permission to join the Cause. When Milord takes up his rings, I want to be at his side."
Andromeda rced back on her heels. "You said rings?" She turned to look at Daphne, "And you said…"
Daphne glared at Tracy, who tried to look innocent and in doing so, was found guilty. "Between my Copy of the 'Peerage through the Years', and a copy of 'Bloodlines and Beyond', I was able to decipher that Sirius Black was Named Heir to the House of Black, and then Lord Black in 82. He never took up his rings, but he had an Heir not of his Body, but of his Blood. Harry Potter. I am Contracted to the Black Heir at the time of my sixteenth birthday. That was a week ago."
"How can Black hold his Titles… they would have been stripped during his trial." Lady Greengrass asked.
"He was never tried." Hermione spoke up. "Back in 94, we as in Harry and I confronted the real betrayer and murder… Peter Petigrew. He cut off his own finger to frame Sirius and escaped through the sewers. We think Dumbledore had something to do with Black being sent to Azkaban without a trial, so He could have a say in where Harry went as a child."
Lady Greengrass lost all her colour, "Daphne watch over Tori and Potter. I need to have a few words with your Father. I will be back before my shift tomorrow." And she stormed to the Floo and vanished into the green flame.
Healer Tonks handed a scroll to Susan," Give this to your Aunt in the morning." Turning to look at Hermione, "Harry Needs to be watched tonight. We have him a dreamless sleep potion, but I think he could use a friend in the morning. I leave everything in Healer Greengrass and her Apprentices hands. Good night." She Vanished into the Floo.
Hermione stood. "Alright, we have a basic plan for tomorrow. Daphne will escort Potter to the Bank, with or without her Mother, and advise the blockhead in matters of House and Ring. As his Contracted, she has a say in House Black matters. Understand that Our Lord Potter has more than the one House to Bring to Order. Luna, contact your Father in the morning. Ginny, I will have a letter for Moony and Snuffles in an hour. I believe your Parents are still at Headquarters, have your letter ready to go by then. Hedwig will take it with mine."
"I will Floo home in the Morning." Abbot spoke up.
" As will I." Neville stood tall. "A word of warning to those who will be watching over Potter tonight, he has nightmares. He also talks in his sleep."
Hermione nodded, before turning to Susan. "So, dear 'Hostess with Mostess', Where are we bedding down?"
Susan looked around the room. "That depends. Are we wanting private rooms or to sleep with our Lord. We have the rooms, but I think Greengrass and Granger are going to be sleeping in the Medical Wing."
Daphne pinked, before drawing on her mask. "There is room for us all…"
Abbot shot a look at Sue.
Sue shook her head. "As much fun as it would be to have a slumber party in the Wing… Tully has been busy this last hour, preparing the rooms."
"A compromise." Hermione offered."We take the rooms she has made up for us, but we sleep in the Medical Wing to watch over Harry. As an incentive, I will tell you how he saved me back in first year."
"Tully!" Sue surged to her feet, "We need our rooms now!"
LBDLP (FB)
TBC