Everything is J.K. Rowlings. I only claim the plot. Everything else is hers, all the characters and the magic, all of it. Please let me know what you think though, I encourage feedback of all kinds, just be nice about it!

Apologies on this chapter being rather short. I have mixed feelings about this chapter but I hope you all still enjoy it. The next chapter should be up next week.

Continue, Lord Potter

Gringotts thankfully wasn't very busy when Harry arrived on its front steps courtesy of Tobi. Swiftly striding forward, he walked to the front teller but before he could even open his mouth, the goblin spoke. "Ah, Lord Potter-Black-Peverell, your room is ready and the other two have already arrived."

Surprised, Harry quickly recovered. "Thank you. I appreciate your cooperation. Could you please see if Griphook will be available to take me to the Potter vaults afterward?"

"It will be done."

"Thank you," Harry replied with a nod of his head before following another goblin down the hall to the meeting rooms. Reaching the door, Harry readjusted his robes. The itching was more intense today and Harry hoped he'd be able to keep his temper in check. It would not do to mess up right now. Playing on the innocent, naive, card, he was wearing nice but not expensive open robes with a crisp button-up, slacks, and his Gryffindor tie.

Taking another deep breath, Harry pushed open the door. It was a simple room with straight, lightly cushioned chairs surrounding a modest square table. Harry immediately recognized the blonde curls of Rita Skeeter and only identified the other woman who sat straight-backed with a monocle by her picture. It was clear to see how she had ascended the ranks in the Auror department though.

"Madame Bones, Ms. Skeeter," Harry greeted politely when both women turned to look at him. "Thank you for agreeing to meet with me." Focusing on the women was helping distract him from the itch under his skin and so he willed all of his thoughts on the present moment.

"You can hardly expect us to decline the invitation," Madame Bones began, standing to shake his hand. An action that pleased Harry because it showed that even if she bought the story Dumbledore was telling she wasn't afraid of him. His respect grew for the woman.

"Yes, there were some pretty steep accusations made against your person, Mr. Potter," Rita chimed in, making no move to shake his hand as Harry and Madame Bones took their seats.

"Lord, actually."

"I beg your pardon?" Madame Bones questioned.

Harry flashed his ringed hand. "It's Lord. Lord Potter-Black-Peverell."

"Part of the story you shall no doubt share?" Madame Bones asked. Rita looked ready to drool at the sight of the rings. Harry gave a shy smile to pair with his nod.

"My apologies, Lord Potter, there were some steep accusations made," Rita continued, gripping her quill eagerly since the room was charmed to not allow the quill to operate independently.

Harry gave a sheepish nod, fidgeting with his tie while he did. "Yes, I read that and I'd really like to set the story straight." Spotting a pitcher of water, Harry poured himself a glass. The movement was helping quell the itch but he didn't want to appear shifty or untrustworthy with moving too much.

"So, Lord Potter, are you, as Dumbledore claimed, a Necromancer?" Madame Bones began.

"Yes."

Both women stiffened but Madame Bones remained outwardly calm and Rita swallowed hard. "Forgive me, Lord Potter, but it is difficult to believe such statements," Madame Bones continued. "There has not been one in centuries."

Harry huffed a chuckle. "That's me, I guess. Always doing the impossible. Would seeing my mark help you?"

The women nodded, seeming to hold their breath as Harry loosened his tie and undid the buttons of his shirt and pulled his shirt over to show the tattoo. There was a sharp intake of breath from both women. Harry gave a weak smile, hand ruffling his hair nervously, before starting to button up his shirt once again. The movement of the clothes gave some friction against his skin relieving the itch only minutely.

"So is what Dumbledore also said true?" Rita pressed eagerly, he noted her tucking her wand back up her sleeve but couldn't determine anything unusual happening and the rooms wards prevented anything harmful so brushed it off.

"You'll have to be more specific. The Headmaster says a lot."

"That you have killed your uncle and Hestia Jones," Rita clarified impatiently.

Harry gave a suffering sigh, running a hand through his hair, preparing for the performance he was about to give. "Yes. At least about my uncle. There was a woman that Dumbledore had with him but I wasn't aware of her name."

"Lord Potter, you realize what you are admitting to?" Madame Bones asked sadly.

"I think it would be best for you to hear what actually happened before jumping the gun too quickly."

"Very well, Lord Potter. Your story," Madame Bones conceded with a gesture of her hand and nod of her head. Skeeter had her quill poised and inked, waiting for his words.

"It all started at the beginning of the summer really. After what happened at the Ministry, Dumbledore sent me back to my relatives. I started becoming sick, feverish, nauseous. I was terrified. I thought I had some deadly illness. My relatives didn't know what to do, so locked me in my room in case my freaky magic disease infected them. And it all culminated the night before my birthday. It hurt so badly."

Harry stared at his hands as though lost in the memory of the pain and terror. "Were you not told of magical inheritances and what occurs?" Rita interrupted.

"No. Well, I had heard about magical inheritances around the school but nothing concrete since it's so rare. And Dumbledore wasn't responding to my letters for answers." The women both frowned and Madame Bones jotted something onto her own parchment. Harry inwardly cheered, the first motion to bring Dumbledore down.

"Continue, Lord Potter," the monocled woman said.

"Right. So, I woke up on my birthday and felt amazing. It was incredible. I didn't even need my glasses. So I went for a shower and saw my mark. Would you believe that I didn't know what it was?" Harry chuckled deprecatingly. "I wasn't raised with wizards and wasn't familiar with the stories. And by the time I got to Hogwarts, it wasn't mentioned except for being scary children's stories. So I had no idea. Anyway, then my uncle came in yelling for me to get out of the bathroom and when I got out he had pushed me against the wall. You must understand, my relatives aren't exactly kind and they hate magic and anyone involved with it." Again, both women frowned and Rita's hand was a blur. "So I'm against the wall and he's yelling at me about how ungrateful I am and then...I don't know. I got angry and reached out to push him off and then…." Harry faltered and ran his hands over his face. "And then he was dead." Harry made sure his voice cracked to convey his nonexistent grief. "I didn't know what was happening and then Dumbledore and Mad-Eye Moody arrived and stunned me."

"Alastor was there?" Madame Bones clarified.

"Yeah, he was there when I woke up too." Harry squeezed his eyes shut and ran his hands over his pant legs as though nervous but really it was relieving the itch that was starting to become a burning sensation.

"What happened when you woke up, Lord Potter?" Rita pressed, sounding surprisingly gentle. Maybe he was winning the caustic journalist over?

"I...I woke up and I… I was tied to a chair in some basement behind bars. It was terrifying. I was still only in my boxers and I was so confused," Harry whimpered, hands in his hair again letting his true feelings of the memory leak through. "And then Dumbledore, Mad-Eye, Kingsley, and some woman. I guess it was Hestia Jones. They all arrived and started saying how I was Dark and how they would fix me. But they still didn't tell me what was happening or why! And then they said how they would do a… a Binding, I think they called it, and make it right."

Rita gasped. "The Headmaster was going to bind your inheritance?"

Harry gave a puzzled nod, playing on his naivety of a week ago. "Yeah...I guess so. Is that bad?"

"Lord Potter, binding an inheritance will eventually kill the wizard or witch," Madame Bones explained swiftly.

Harry let his eyes go comically wide. "Bloody hell. Well, I guess that explains the next part," Harry sighed and fiddled with this tie. "Again, I didn't know what was happening and all four were raising their wands and starting to chant something and this yellow light was forming...And I just...I don't know...I got that feeling I had with my uncle and suddenly the woman was on the ground and the other three were running away calling me a Demon and then…" Harry took a faltering pause, quickly flitting his gaze between the two women before looking away.

"What happened then?" Madame Bones pressed, her voice soft.

"They Crucio'd me," Harry whispered brokenly. "They kept doing it. For days they would come and cast it repeatedly. I didn't even know why," Harry muttered, letting his eyes go wet, an action helped by the intensity of the itching that he was having to ignore.

"Do you realize what you are accusing these men of?" the Head of the DMLE breathed.

"I would swear on my magic that I'm not lying. They cast it at me repeatedly."

"Did Dumbledore cast the curse?" Rita asked eagerly. Harry opened his mouth only to pause and frown. "I don't remember...I know Kingsley and Mad-Eye did for sure….but I can't remember Dumbledore being there aside from the first time." Harry tried not to show how pissed he was at not being certain but now that he thought about the time in the basement, he had only ever seen the Headmaster on the first day. The man had just sent his lackeys to do the dirty work after that. Harry mollified himself with the knowledge that even if it wasn't an immediate takedown he was still implicating the Headmaster and that would still do damage. Slowly destroying the old man would be far more satisfying anyway, he told himself. "It was only when I was found by someone loyal that I was able to getaway. I won't release their name, I don't want potential backlash to affect them….I still don't even have my wand," Harry muttered as though an afterthought. The women nodded, though Skeeter looked disappointed at not having names or certain proof of Dumbledore. "I managed to come here to Gringotts and that's when I learned everything about my Lordships and I even got journals from the previous Necromancers on how to control my abilities and learn what I can actually do."

"Thank you for your account, Lord Potter," Madame Bones began. "I am truly sorry for your treatment upon receiving your inheritance. Fortunately, you will not face legal repercussions as those with inheritances are granted some leniency in the beginning. And given the circumstances around the cause of death, I believe that a court would grant clemency. I cannot grant you the same leniency in future circumstances. Though if legal actions are taken, you will have to face the court." Harry nodded, showing that he understood and tried to get his face to show how grateful he was. "As for your attackers, Kingsley and Alastor will be brought forth and tried for their crimes. And an investigation regarding Albus' involvement will begin."

Harry hated that Dumbledore wouldn't go down immediately but knew this information would help to begin the seeds of doubt for future usage. "Thank you for hearing me out, Madame."

"A most intriguing story, Lord Potter, and sworn to your magic too. Delightful," Rita gushed. Harry decided not to clarify that he hadn't actually sworn anything only that he would be willing to. "Now, can you give us any insight into what you've learned from the journals? Forgive us, but no one was alive when the last Necromancers were here and there are some frightful tales. Care to enlighten us?"

Harry shifted, trying to appear hesitant. "I can try. There isn't much I can tell as of yet. I've only had a week."

"Of course, of course. Anything will be better than nothing," Rita assured him, quill ready once again.

"Well, I've learned that my line, the Peverell line specifically, was Chosen and Blessed by Death, marking us as his Children," Harry began speaking slowly as though trying to recite from memory. "But only those who fulfilled certain criteria that I'm not comfortable divulging just yet. And well, we act as a liaison from my understanding between Life and Death, while also fulfilling our Masters', Death, wishes. It is true that we can take Life but we can also grant and prolong it. Necromancers provide a balance, I suppose."

"Fascinating," Rita breathed.

"And we can commune with those passed on. I look forward to speaking with my parents when I master that."

"You can speak to the Dead?" Madame Bones interjected.

"Yes, well at least my predecessors were capable and I hope to achieve the same."

"Is it possible for others to talk to the dead through you?" the stern woman pressed.

Harry tilted his head, recalling brief mentions of it in the journals. "I believe so, yes," Harry glanced at the stiff woman and remembered how she had lost all of her family outside of her niece, Susan. "When I master that skill I can assist you in speaking with your family if you wish."

A jerky nod and rapid blinks followed that offer. "Yes, Lord Potter, that would be appreciated."

"Would you be willing to extend that service to others?" Rita cut in.

"Sure," Harry shrugged. "I see no reason to not provide others with closure. I see it as being a Child of Death, part of the liaison job description," he joked with a boyish grin.

"Splendid. There will be countless people who will seek you out," Rita raved, focusing on her parchment as she wrote.

"I only wish to use my inheritance to the best of my ability and make the wizarding world better and help those in it," Harry replied innocently, this meeting was going far better than he could have hoped. He was curious to see how Dumbledore would try to twist his noble and kindhearted offer.

"Ever the Golden Boy, aren't you? I can obviously see those claims of you being Dark are absurd," Rita chuckled.

Harry played the part in ducking his head sheepishly with a blush. "Necromancers are just horribly misunderstood. I'm hoping to change those perceptions."

"And I'm sure you will," Madame Bones commented kindly. "I know Susan has always spoken favorably of you and she credits her high Defense O.W.L score to your teaching."

"I'm glad she did well. She is a dedicated, hard worker. But what do you mean her O.W.L score?"

The monocled woman frowned. "They were mailed out at the beginning of the week. Susan and her friends already have their Hogwarts letters. You haven't received your results?"

"No," Harry replied bitterly not needing to act disturbed by this news. The itching flared and he had to use all his willpower not to whimper as it did. He imagined it would be so easy to let loose and enjoy that icy fire. He shook himself of those thoughts. He had to focus, these women were not who he was angry with. "Who would I contact for that?"

"I will look into that personally, Lord Potter."

"Thank you, Madam Bones."

"It is the least I can do."

Harry gave a smile. "Would you also be able to track down my Hogwarts letter too?"

Madam Bones looked down sadly and looked uncomfortable at that request. Rita's quill was documenting the entire exchange. "I'm sorry to be the one to tell you this, Lord Potter. But you won't be able to return to Hogwarts this year."

"Why not?" Harry asked frowning. He had suspected that he might not be able to upon the insistence of Dumbledore. But now Madame Bones was saying it.

"For a few reasons. Your Lordship claims make you ineligible since the Wizengamot meets at any time it would be a distraction from your studies. It is why most don't claim their title until after graduation." Harry frowned sadly, looking at the rings on his fingers. "It's not a very known rule since the circumstances for an underaged wizard to be emancipated magically to even have the choice to claim the titles are incredibly rare. I believe it's only happened two or three times." Harry sighed but nodded. "Your inheritance would also be a factor. I know you have no malicious intentions but we wouldn't be able to take the risk of any accidents occurring. Luckily with your O.W.L results, you technically don't need to continue your education, and you can take your N.E.W.T.s privately."

This piqued his interest. He could study at his own pace. That would be fantastic. "I understand and studying at my own pace will probably be best. I...I was just hoping to be Quidditch Captain this year…" he sighed mournfully, fully embracing the troubles of a typical sixteen-year-old boy.

The stern woman gave him a fond look and gave a soft smile that took many years off her face. Harry was certain he had both women on his side now. He gave another sigh. "Were there any other questions you wish to ask?"

"No, I believe I am satisfied. I look forward to continued correspondence between us and I will see you at the next Wizengamot session," the Head of the DMLE said standing. Harry quickly stood out of respect.

Rita also stood, but Harry doubted it was out of respect for the other woman, and began packing her quill and notepad. "Yes, for the moment, this will do nicely. I hope we can have a future interview when you have progressed in your training. It's always best to keep the public informed. Now, I'm off to get this off to print in time for tomorrow's paper."

Harry waved them both off before letting out a relieved breath after the door shut. "That went pretty well," he said to the empty room. Gripping his arms Harry rubbed furiously at them, digging his fingers into his skin, trying to take away the itch and burn. He really needed to master his control soon or he wouldn't be able to have control for much longer. He hoped that Tobi would be able to get him some kind of potion to relieve this feeling or he would go mad. Taking another breath for composure, he had other business at the bank after all, Harry went to see Griphook. It was time to visit his family vaults.