Ramblings and Dribbles

by WolfgangNH

This is a posting of ramblings, dribbles, one-shots, unfinished ideas or other stuff I just don't think deserves it's own storyline. Some I plan to finish someday, others are what they are. This is mature reading for some posts. Some items may be well developed, others are not yet, and may never be. There will many different pairings, and sometimes none.

40. Fudge's Folly

Fudge's Foley

-oOo-

Rambling and Dribbles: A dribble that I hope some enjoy.

Disclaimer: The world of Harry Potter does not belong to me.

Notes:

· Okay, Harry's trail goes horribly wrong start of 5th year. Harry is expelled and told that the potters are to leave England within the week. Harry's want is snapped and taken out. In a move of desperation Bill Weasley says Harry Potter will not need his magic bound due to him being accepted to Beauxbatons. (Fleur family is on the board of governors there) this enrages fudge who wanted the potters wealth as well. Harry then is immediately taken to France by bill

· Harry is taken in my Fleur's family who feel they owe him a debt. While there he sees gabi again who looks just like fleur if not more beautiful with violet eyes.

· Harry only received one letter from Sirius who informed him that her gave custody over to the Delacours to arraign him being a French citizen.

· And promises he will see him soon

· Harry still upset he couldn't say good bye to Ron and Hermione (especially Hermione whom he wanted to tell her his feelings) Harry spends the first summer if his life treated normally. Gabi quickly becomes a close friend. And sees Fleur as an older protective sister.

· Discord

Harry is taught French by a spell Fleur created that allows him learn French while being translated to English. (Enchanted bracelets Harry invests 5k in gallons on it ) on Harry's first day at school he is shocked to see Hermione there

· She's says " sis you think I'd let you go without me"

· That's all I got

· My thoughts is either a Gabi, Harry and Hermione or just Harry and Hermione with gabi being a sister like to Harry

With Harry out of England Sirius calls in all the black debt crippling Lucius money. When this happens Voldemort makes enemies with the goblins who now take an active role in taking out Voldemort

The lead goblin summons Harry to the French Gringotts to offer him a chance for the warrior's ritual

-oOo-

Chapter 1

-oOo-

August 16, 1995

London, England

Harry felt stunned as he watched the pompous minister give him a small smirk. "All those that find the accused, Harry James Potter, guilty of violating the Statute of Secrecy?"

He tried to yell, but the silencing charm on him wouldn't let him say a word. The protest to silence him had died quickly when Madam Bones had been forced to recuse herself as an ally of House Potter. Three other of the judges left because of ties to his house he had never known about. He had thought he was going to win with how the woman was defending him before her House had been threatened with sanctions for trying to skirt the law.

When he had protested that was when the smug looking pink toad had ordered the Auror to silence and bind him.

He watched in silent dismay as hands went up. Red balls of light hovered in the air. There were twenty-five members left, and nineteen red balls. A hard pit formed in his stomach as he realized what that meant.

"Those who find him innocent?" Fudge enquired. There was a definite smugness in his tone.

Not one wand went up.

Why didn't he have any representation? Wasn't he allowed a solicitor, or something? But since he had walked in the minister, his toad and Malfoy had steamed rolled over anything he said. Madam Bones had been the only ray of light that had been quickly snuffed out.

"Those that find the accused, Harry James Potter, guilty of violating the Reasonable Restrictions on Underage Magic. This will be his third event on record," Fudge added.

Again, nineteen red balls of light.

"And those that find the accused innocent?"

Again, nothing.

Harry knew what was coming. The letter from Dumbledore had said everything would be good. That this wouldn't happen. Where was Dumbledore?

"The final charge. Those that find Harry James Potter guilty of Sedition Against the State for inciting unwarranted fear and panic, raise your wands now," Fudge said. There was a malevolent gleam in Malfoy's eyes and the pink toad looked like she was about to eat a particularly nice fly.

Nineteen red orbs.

Harry didn't know what Sedition Against the State was worth, but he doubted it was just a snapping of his wand.

"This Wizengamot finds you guilty of all charges lain before you," Fudge said with a satisfied smile. "As you are underage, this court will have the death penalty and time in Azkaban. It will impose the following penalties. A hundred thousand galleon fine. Should you not have the funds readily available then all properties, vaults and other levies shall be seized by the Ministry of Magic."

Harry felt his heart thrum inside his chest. He knew he only had about twenty thousand in his vault.

"The Aurors shall escort you to Gringotts to assess your fine."

"As a convicted criminal, you are no longer eligible to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. As such, your wand shall be snapped and burnt the moment your business is done at Gringotts. Once your wand is snapped your magic shall be bound, as you are no longer a wizard. As a half-blood of an ancient House, you will not be obliviated." There was a hint of a satisfied smile on the ministers face. "Lastly, you shall be exiled from these shores. Within five days you shall leave these shores or the reprieve against the dementors shall be lifted," Fudge said.

The pink toad looked like she was about to have an orgasmic experience at the words.

Harry wanted to rant and rave but knew he couldn't do anything.

Fudge took out a round stamp that was about two inches across. He slammed it into several sheafs, waived his wand to make copies, and then stamped those copies. "The orders of confiscation, the fine and the levy when the fine can't be paid."

"Aurors, take him away," Fudge said after one of the Aurors walked up to the podium to retrieve the copies.

Harry saw the look of ultimate triumph on Malfoy's face. He gave a loathing look to the man before the two Aurors grabbed him under his arm pits and lifted him up. He fought it for a moment before realizing the uncomfortably tight grasp on his upper arms wasn't going to lessen.

He was frog marched out of the courtroom. Dumbledore stopped pacing. "Harry! What are you doing here? Your trial doesn't start for another two hours?"

Harry gave a hateful look to the man. He had trusted Dumbledore. He had trusted him every year. And Every year the man had let him down. He wanted to yell at the man but was still silenced.

"Harry? Where are you taking him?" Dumbledore demanded.

"Albus, they found him guilty. They are taking him to Gringotts to assess his fine and then snap his wand," Mr Weasley said as he rushed by Dumbledore to follow him.

"That can't be. Arthur, stay with him. I need to talk with Cornelius."

As much as Harry loathed the man right now, a small part of him cheered at the ice cold tone that Dumbledore had just use.

"He's already left courtroom," Mr Weasley told him.

"I will take care of this. Don't let them snap Harry's wand," Dumbledore ordered. Harry was getting far enough away their voices were fading. They started up the stairs to the ninth level.

"He's been expelled. He can't keep his wand," Mr Weasley said.

Harry closed his eyes. He was about to have his wand snapped, anything he still had from his parents ripped away from and his magic bound. He figured once that was done it would be just best to go stand in the middle of Diagon Alley and start insulting the Death Eaters and Voldemort. It would be the quickest way to end his pain.

His head slumped as they carried him to the elevators. People looked at him. He didn't look up to see the looks of horror, pity and joy on various faces as the lift went up. For some reason it stopped at every floor. The gasps just added to his growing melancholy.

When he was carried into the atrium, Mr Weasley finally caught up with them just before the Aurors turned. He was ripped through the aether between things, feeling like he had just been squeezed through a straw, and not a noticeably big one at that.

When the world rematerialized, he lost the breakfast that Mrs Weasley had made for him this morning.

"Can't even hold it in. You are pathetic, Potter," one of the Aurors said.

Harry looked up to realize they were on the far end of Diagon Alley. He was going to be marched much of its length to get to Gringotts. He closed his eyes and bowed his head again. The insults, cries of despair and even a few people that tried to find out what the Aurors were doing did nothing for him.

It wasn't until he got to the steps of Gringotts did anything happen to give him any glimmer of hope.

"What are you doing with this child, wizards?" a gruff voice questioned.

Harry heard the sound of clinking armour. He looked up to see the seven security guards that typically stood on the steps moving to block the Aurors.

"Out of our way, goblin. We have a ministry order to assess a fine and confiscate anything else when he can't pay it," the Auror that had spoken before demanded.

The goblins partially unsheathed their weapons. The one in the centre, the largest and nastiest of the seven, gave a snort of amusement. "I would see this order."

The Auror sneered, took a threatening step forward. That caused him to put Harry down. The other Auror still had a vice grip on his left arm. "This isn't your concern, goblin."

The goblin in question nodded his head. Harry heard noise, as though weapons were levelling above them. He looked up to see eight goblins holding crossbows. They were all pointing towards the Auror. The Auror, as though realizing that he might be out numbered, took a step back. He made a show of pulling a scroll out of his robes. "Here."

The goblin didn't move. After a moment, the Auror took the two steps it would require to hand the goblin the scroll. The goblin took it, undid the Ministry seal then read through the five parchments in the file.

"I see the orders, but I fail to see why you are manhandling this boy," the goblin stated.

"He is a criminal," the Auror said.

"By the Ministry standards. You are on goblin lands now. We have yet to make a decision on this, but will comply with the Ministry demands," the goblin said. "The boy is to walk into the bank as a wizard though."

The Auror scoffed. "He's a wizard," the Auror said.

"Wizards have wands and walk in under their own power, wizard," the goblin retorted.

"He is a criminal. His wand has been confiscated," the Auror stated.

"Not according to this. His wand is only to be confiscated after he can't pay his fine and is not enrolled in a school. Are both these conditions met?" the goblin asked with a sneer.

"Merlin-be-damned, bloody goblins," the Auror said. "He is a criminal."

"Either the boy walks into this bank as a wizard, you leave, or I make a pin cushion of you if you press forward," the goblin said. It's teeth were visible. Anyone that had sat in Binn's class in the last three hundred years would know that is a dangerous sign.

The Auror took a step back. After a moment, he nodded over his shoulder.

"On your feet, Potter," the man next to him said. "Take this."

Harry's wand was pressed into his hand.

"If you try anything, you are dead," the first Auror threatened.

Two of the goblins drew swords. "You threaten magic on our lands?"

The Auror rose his wand. Even Harry knew that was a most deadly thing to do. The leader bared his teeth more in a blood lust filled smile. "Just use any magic, wizard."

Realizing that this scene was now gathering quiet a crowd, the Auror looked around. He looked to curse at himself before lowering his wand. "Come on. Take us to a teller."

There was a disappointed look on many of the goblins. The one in the centre held out the scrolls. "Take care of your own business, wizard. I am not teller."

The Auror scowled as he took a few steps forward, snatched the parchments out of the goblins hands and then pushed between them. Harry followed. He gave them a slight bow. "This wasn't my doing," he said apologetically, realizing then that the silencing charm had finally lifted.

"It is not you that offends us, child," the goblin said. Its beady black eyes were looking at the Aurors.

The Aurors were just as nasty to the teller, until they were let into an office. Inside was a goblin in a clearly expensive suit. Two sets of armour were behind his desk. One was rather flashing and adorned with golden designs. The other was more utilitarian and clearly made of goblin steel and silver. Four security goblins stood to one side.

"That are you do in here, wizards?" the goblin behind the desk demanded.

"We are escorting the criminal," the Auror that was pushing to start a goblin rebellions said.

"You have escorted him here. Gringotts will take over his safety until the orders are carried out. You may wait outside the door," the one behind the desk ordered.

"We are not to let the criminal…"

The goblin behind the desk banged a knife on the table as he jumped to his feet. "You date question the honour of Gringotts and Rotgnasher? I can gut you here and now and the Ministry can do nothing about it, Wizard. Now, stand outside the door. Once we have assessed the fine, we shall present you with the outcome."

The Auror looked ready to argue until the four goblins along the walls drew short sword and small shields. The noise was very distinctive and echoed in the large office. "Come on, Avery. We can wait in the hallway."

Harry swallowed. So that was Avery. Harry now understood the man's hatred of him and the goblins.

"Fine. I will hold you personally responsible should he escape," Avery threatened.

"Gringotts will compensate the Ministry should he escape our justice," Rotgnasher said.

Harry was still standing when the door closed behind him. Rotgnasher picked up his knife. Harry was unsure what was about to happen to him before the goblin pulled back his waist coat and slid the knife into its sheath.

The others did the same and then took up easy stances along the wall.

"Take a seat, Mr Potter," Rotgnasher said. He straightened out his suit before sitting back down himself.

Harry sat in the cushioned wooden chair before the desk. "Are you going to kill me?"

"Not today, Mr Potter. I am actually representing your godfather, who sent us a letter of intent a few days ago. It seems that you made some powerful enemies. What did the Wizengamot decide?" Rotgnasher asked.

The parchments had been left on the desk. Rotgnasher reached over and took them. Harry sat there, eyeing the goblins on the side. They didn't look threateningly at him or even look ready to do anything except stand against the wall.

Rotgnasher snorted after a moment. "You made some bad enemies, Mr Potter. I can work with this though. First, because of your participation in the Triwizard Tournament last year, the Ministry's conviction for Underage Magic is doesn't stand. You have been partially emancipated by the Ministry. You are recognized as an adult when it comes to magic, but still a child when it comes to your inheritance and rights under the ministry," Rotgnasher said.

He took a parchment from a draw.

"What does that mean?" Harry questioned.

Rotgnasher raised a single finger to tell him to wait. He then picked up a quill and started to fill out slots on a form. After a moment, he took the third sheet from the Ministry. After looking it over once more, he reached back into the draw, pulled out two stamps. He put a red stamp over the Ministry's stamp. There was a blue glow and then the Ministry stamp faded. He then stamped a Gringotts seal on the same parchment and then signed under it.

"That is taken care of."

"What just happened?" Harry asked.

"I just confirmed that magic recognizes you as emancipated. That means you can cast and use magic as though you have already passed your age of majority. It also means you do not need any OWL's to keep your wand. This order is now illegal on goblin lands," he said, pulling out the fourth page in the pile. He repeated the process. Again, the Ministry seal glowed blue and faded.

"Now, we have to deal with the more serious issues. Your expulsion from Hogwarts cannot be overturned. You did technically break the Statute of Secrecy, even if it was your cousin. That allows the Department of Education to uphold this expulsion. And the Sedition charges are technically true as well. You have incited panic, whether what you say is true or not, and it has caused issues for the Ministry against its mandates to maintain peace," Rotgnasher said.

"I don't have a hundred thousand galleons," Harry said, the sinking feeling that had started to lessen tightened again.

"No, you do not have a hundred thousand galleons in your trust vault." Rotgnasher took out a book from the same draw he had already been pulling things out of. Harry watched as the goblin thumbed through it, as though knowing it would say how much he had. "You currently have eighteen thousand, nine hundred and fifty-six galleons in your trust vault. If that was all the money had at your disposal, then the Minister would be able to claim you family vault. Fortunate that your godfather authorized any payment needed for a fine."

"Oh." Harry blinked. "There is a family vault?"

"Yes, Mr Potter," the goblin said patiently. He took another form out of the draw and began filling it out.

"What's in it?" he asked, still trying to wrap his head around the fact he had more gold or stuff in the bank. More importantly, "Can I see it?"

"Unfortunately, you are considered a minor still as far as finances and inheritances. You are not allowed to enter the family vault until you are seventeen," Rotgnasher said. "As far as what's in it, the ledge says various heirlooms, books, jewellery and just under two-million galleons."

"Bloody hell," Harry said. That was unexpected.

"If you would just sign this, I will be able to confirm the withdrawal from the family vault," the goblin said. He pushed the form and the quill to him.

Harry read through it quickly, then signed the form.

Rotgnasher took the form and a letter that Harry hadn't noticed before. His hand moved under the edge of the desk and a moment later a section of the wall behind the desk opened. Another goblin came in, took the parchment and note, then left.

"So, the only item left is your exile. What are your plans, Mr Potter?" Rotgnasher asked.

Harry was having a challenging time processing everything that has just happened. "Uhm," he said intelligently.

"Well, I have a few options, if you would like to listen," Rotgnasher said. The goblin leaned back in his chair and crossed his hands over his chest.

"I have five days, right?" Harry asked.

"Yes, but it would be best if you would leave today. The first option I have is that Gringotts could facilitate a transfer of your holdings to another Gringotts bank, or one of our brother clans in Europe. I would say though that Gringotts does have the best returns on investments and the best security record. When your items are transferred, it would be advisable for the client to oversee the transfer," Rotgnasher said.

"Where else does Gringotts do business?" Harry asked.

"France. Austria. Portugal and Sweden. We have brother clans in France, Italy and Denmark. Any of them would be easy to set up new vaults in and would only cost a one-point-percent transfer fee. Any other clan or wizarding bank is a five percent transfer fee," Harry was informed.

It was a no brainer to go to the one of the branches that Gringotts or their brother clans had. "I think I will stay with Gringotts," Harry said.

"Very good choice. Do you know where?"

"Ah, I don't really know anyone outside of Britian… oh, wait, Fleur Delacour. I heard she is working for Gringotts now," he said, hoping he might be able to talk with her.

Rotgnasher sat forward to take another book from his open drawer. "Fleur Delacour. Do you know which branch she might be working for?"

"Not really. I just heard she was dating Bill Weasley now and that she was working for Gringotts," Harry said.

"Ah, Master William Weasley?"

"I think so. He's a curse breaker for you," Harry said. "Most recently was in Egypt but was back in England for a bit."

"Yes, I know of him. Earwig, go tell the Cursebreakers that Mr Weasley is required here. If there is a Fleur Delacour in the branch, have her come as well," Rotgnasher said.

One of the goblins along the wall gave a small snarl before going out the same wall panel as the other one had done.

Harry was looking at Rotgnasher. "I don't mean to be rude, but why are you helping me so much?"

"Well, Mr Potter, you are not a small account holder. Most of our clients hold maybe a tenth of what you do. Your godfather is technically head of the Blacks, even if the Ministry won't recognize it. The Black vaults are lower than the Potters and hold more profit. When one of our top members requests our help, we are willing to provide it for the right fee," Rotgnasher said.

"So, Sirius is paying you?" Harry asked.

"Yes. If things work out the way he outlined, this will be quite profitable for use and the Black accounts. Now, will you be accompanying the transfer of your vaults, or do I need to lay out the other options?" Rotgnasher said.

"What does that mean to go with the transfer?" Harry asked.

"Our mine carts and tracks go more places than just the vaults below London. You would go with the team that will unload your old vaults, transfer, then load your new vaults. For now, you will still need to maintain your trust and family vault separately, but you can petition your new country for full emancipation once you arrive. I assume you will need immigration documents?"

"Yeah, probably," Harry said.

Rotgnasher nodded before taking out a few more forms. They had just about completed them when the panel opened behind Rotgnasher's desk. The guard came back in, and a tall redhead and blonde were forced to duck their heads as they followed.

"Arry!" the blonde woman said. Harry got up to let her hug him as she came around the desk. "What is going on? I was pulled away from my lessons to come here. You are in trouble?"

"Hey, Harry," Bill said. Harry had to reach around Fleur to shake his hand.

"Ms Delacour, I will remind you that you are on bank time," Rotgnasher said.

Fleur straightened up. "I apologize, Head Account Manager," she said.

"Now, Mr Potter here has been exiled as a convicted criminal," Rotgnasher informed her. Fleur's hands when to her mouth in surprise. Bill furrowed his brow but kept quiet. "He has requested to have his vaults transferred to one of our French branches. He stated that he knew you two. As a valued customer, I think he was hoping that you may help him find lodging and a place to go once he is in France."

"Mon dieu! This is 'orrible. Of course, he will have a place to go. I need to contact maman and papa. Gabrielle will be thrilled to see you again. She still talks about how you pulled her out of the lake," Fleur said with a gleam in her eye, even though Harry could tell how concerned she was.

"Very good, Ms Delacour. You should have a few hours as Mr Potter is going to oversee the transfer of his funds. Do you know which branch you prefer, Mr Potter? He have a small branch in Calais, but the branch in Marseille is larger and the vaults go deeper," Rotgnasher questioned.

"He will go to Marseille. My family is not far outside of the city," Fleur said before Harry could say anything. "It would be better for you to be closer to your money."

"Uhm, sure," Harry said, feeling very thankful that he would have somewhere to go.

"Harry, does my father and Dumbledore know about this?" Bill asked

"Mr Weasley took me there this morning, and Dumbledore saw me being hauled out of the courtroom," Harry said a little bitterly. "I don't know if Sirius know, Bill."

"We'll take care of that, Harry. I'll swing by and get your trunk and everything. Head Accountant Rotgnasher, may I request a few days off to make sure Mr Potter is settled?" Bill asked.

"You and Ms Delacour may escort Mr Potter. Mr Black is paying for all expenses and your expenses over the next few days will be met as part of the resettlement fee," Rotgnasher said.

"Bill, one of us should go with him. I need to contact my parents," Fleur said.

"I need to go get his stuff. Harry, if I am not back by the time you leave, I will catch up with you in France. I'll be there when you get there," Bill told him.

"I will ensure that maman and papa are there, and you will have a bed for as long as you need," Fleur promised.

"Very good. If this is settled, I would like to complete these forms and then send the paperwork to Marseille to process," Rotgnasher said.

Soon, Harry was being led out of the panel door. The corridor on the other side wasn't as wide or tall as the main one. There were a new goblins hurrying through, obviously on some errand or something important.

As they followed one of the goblins to the carts, Bill fell in next to him. "Harry, what happened?"

"Honestly," Harry said, rubbing the back of his neck, "I don't know. One minute I'm supposed to go to the Underage Magic office for a hearing. Next, I know, we were told to go to Courtroom ten. There were all these people in red or plum coloured robes. Malfoy," he said with some heat, "was there talking with the Minister and some toad faced women. Next I know I'm being charged with breaking the Statute of Secrecy, Sedition and illegal Underaged Magic."

"For fighting off dementors?" Fleur questioned.

Harry scoffed. "I wasn't even able to say that. Fudge just kept spouting off questions. Half of them I didn't even get to answer. Someone named Madame Bones tried to let me answer and she was booted off for being my ally. What the bloody hell is that all about? They acted like I was supposed to know. Next I know they are voting, found me guilty, levied a hundred-thousand galleon fine, exiled me, expelled me from Hogwarts and wanted to snap my wand."

He was breathing hard as he finished. The anger of everything was finally catching up with him.

"They can't do that," Fleur said.

Bill scowled. "If Malfoy was involved, I but you they could.

They got to the cart, and one was waiting for them. "Listen, Harry. Stay with the goblins. Don't leave them. Don't leave the bank in Marseille unless it is with me or Fleur. No matter what anyone says. I'm sure Sirius will want to come too. I'll do what I can. The Order is not going to be happy with this."

"I will be there when you get there," Fleur told him.

"Alright," Harry said.

"Are you coming, child?" the goblin in the minecart asked impatiently.

"He'll be right there," Bill said. "Do you want me to tell anyone anything?"

"Tell Sirius that I'll be waiting for him. Tell Hermione I'll be alright. She's probably worrying herself sick right now. I'll write to her as soon as I can. Let Ron and everyone else know I'll be fine," Harry said. He hadn't thought about what exile had really meant for him until now.

"I am not being paid to wait all day," the goblin snapped.

"Fine, I'm coming," Harry snapped. He had a quick hug from Fleur, a hand shake from Bill, then was zooming through the catacombs and caves that was the underworld of Gringotts.

When they stopped, Harry had to get out at the end of a large platform. There were a dozen vault doors on each side. A train of eight carts was parked before them. A half dozen goblins were frantically going in and out of a vault. He watched as chests, bags and wooden crates were being loaded and strapped down. There was far more here than he had thought.

Next to the door was a pile of canvas bags, each with a G1,000 on the them.

"Can I help?" Harry asked.

"Stay out of the way, child," one of the goblins hauling a crate told him.

Harry put up his hands. He managed look into the vault, number one-hundred and three. It was mostly empty now. Two other goblins were packing a few more things into crates. He had to pull back when a crate just missed his face. The goblin snarled at him.

Harry stepped back. Six of the seven flatbed carts were full when the last goblin came out of the vault. He shoved a small stack of parchments in his hands. "The list of all items. You are to ensure they all arrive when you get to your destination."

"Thanks," Harry said, looking down at the sheets.

"Come, child. It is a six hour journey and I would like to make it for dinner," the goblin on the front cart said.

"Six hours?" Harry asked.

"Did you expect we could just portkey all this there?" the one that had handed him the manifest asked in a disbelieving tone.

"Well, I had hoped," Harry said. "Can I go to the bathroom first?"

The goblin just snarled at him.

-oOo-

About the same time…

London, England

Bill apparated to the small park in the centre of the run down rowhouses on the north side of London. He looked around before quickly moving to the building that only certain people could see. As much of a rush he was in, he entered the door and the hallways as quietly as possible. Meeting his thrice removed Aunt for the first time a few weeks ago was not an experience he wanted again.

Even from the hallway he could hear the loud voices from the kitchen below. Thankfully the doors at the top and bottom of the stairs muffled the voices enough not to wake Walburga Black.

When he opened the kitchen door at the bottom of the stairs, he found his father, his mother, Ron, Ginny, the twins, Sirius, Hermione and Remus.

"What the bloody hell do you mean my godson has been exiled!" Sirius was roaring at the top of his lungs.

"He was ambushed by Fudge. I've never seen an underaged wizard tried before a full tribunal before," his father was saying.

"Where was Dumbledore! He said he would take care of this! I knew I should have gone," Sirius bellowed.

Apparently, his father had only just told them.

"Dumbledore got there late. Fudge changed the time and place," Arthur said.

"I'll hand the old goat loving son of a bitch's bollocks by his own beard!"

"Sirius, that is enough. Arthur what are we to do? Where did they take him?" Molly asked.

"They apparated before I could catch up with him in the atrium. I don't know. I went to Gringotts, but couldn't find him," Arthur said.

Bill spoke up now. "Harry made it to Gringotts."

Bill watched as everyone reacted. Sirius stopped raging. His father and mother looked relieved. Hermione more worried.

"You saw him then?" his father asked before anyone else could.

"Where is he now? Why isn't Harry with you?" Hermione shot out.

Bill looked at his watch. "He will be on his way to France soon, if he's not already left Gringotts."

"France! Why is he going to France!" Hermione screeched almost as loudly as his mother screaming, "He can't go to France!"

Sirius looked relieved, with Bill thought a little odd. He had to deal with the frantic female first.

"What do you mean he is going to France!" Hermione demand. She stood up and advanced on Bill looking frazzled. He could feel her magic rising and see her hair doing so too.

"The goblins reviewed the Ministry's verdicts. They found he was partially emancipated, meaning they can't bind his magic or take his wand," Bill explained.

"That wouldn't stop them," Sirius said morosely. "Did the goblins help him? Was he taken to Rotgnasher?"

"He was, Sirius. They couldn't overturn the violations of the breaking of the Statute of Secrecy, or Sedition against the State. Harry is exiled," Bill told them.

"No!" Hermione said in a strangled voice. She collapsed into a chair. Sirius let out a long breath as her mother didn't look to know what to say for once. "He's been expelled then too."

"Yes, but Fleur thinks she can get him a spot at Beauxbatons for the fall and she had offered her families support for him," Bill said. "Harry is emptying all the Potter vaults and moving them to France. Hopefully by now they are on their way and out of Ministry hands. Fudge and others won't be happy with this though."

Sirius gave a little laugh. "The dirty little blighter did it. Well," Sirius said with a clap of his hands as he stood. "As much as I love all this, I need to go pack."

This seemed to get his mother out of her stupor. "Pack? What do mean pack? Dumbledore said you have to stay in the house."

"With Harry out of the country, I don't have any reason to stay. I'm sure I could get the French Ministry to give me a trial if all the Black vaults were moved as instructed. If anyone wants to join me, you are more than welcome," Sirius said with a grin.

Hermione had tears in her eyes. "He is really gone? My parents wouldn't just let me go to France like that."

"I can take you by their place before I get my ferry," Sirius told her.

"You can't leave," Molly told him.

"Sirius, as much as I think you should go to Harry, I am sure the Aurors will be all in a tizzy over this and looking for all possible routes for Harry to get out of the country," Arthur said.

Hermione stood up. She wiped the tears off her face. "I'm coming with you."

"I'm afraid no one is going anywhere," the calm voice of Dumbledore came over Bill's shoulder.

Bill started, not having heard the man even open the door the kitchen.

"Oh, Albus, can you believe this? Harry has been exiled," Molly wailed.

"Yes, I have been made aware and Cornelius has scampered after getting what he wanted," the man said. Bill felt a chill go down his spine at the tone of Dumbledore's voice. This was a man of great power and had been greatly upset. "Arthur, where is Harry now?"

"Bill said he's on his way to France," Molly said.

Dumbledore regarded him. "You saw Harry? How is he on his way to France?"

"That would be me," Sirius said with a cheeky grin. When Dumbledore turned his cold eyes to Sirius the man went on. "I've been in contact with my account manager for a few months. Had him take on the Potter account as well. I had offered to pay him if he could find any way to get Harry off if things went pear shaped, then get him to a safe place as fast as possible."

Dumbledore just stared at the man for a long moment. He looked ready to curse Sirius. After a moment, Dumbledore closed his eyes and then pinched his nose. "Harry can't leave the country. The Potter's and him are too important."

"Then maybe you should have done something about that years ago instead of sending him to his relatives," Sirius shot back. The man was looking belligerent. Bill had never seen this side to him. Yes, Sirius had been moody, morose and manically happy when Harry or others were around. This was a man ready to fight the most powerful wizard known next to You-Know-Who himself.

"Fool of a man," Dumbledore said. "You are not to leave this house. Where is Harry now? I must go retrieve him and bring him back. He will have to stay here until this can be resolved."

"Harry has been expelled and exiled. He can't stay here. He would go stir crazy in weeks," Hermione said. "I want to go see my parents."

"I'm afraid it is too dangerous for you to leave the house, Ms Granger. You must stay until September first," Dumbledore told her. He finally let go his nose and opened his eyes.

"You can't keep me here," Hermione said angrily. "If you won't take me then I'll go myself."

She moved to get up and move out of the room when Dumbledore ordered. "Sit. Down." There was a huge amount power in the man's words and Hermione seemed to fight it for a moment before she took a seat. There was a mutinous look on her face.

"This is my house, Albus. I will decide who comes and goes and who is allowed here," Sirius said angrily.

"You will stay here. I will retrieve Harry and he will stay here as well. I expect him to be on the Hogwarts Express with Ms Granger and the others," Dumbledore said. There was no congenial old man, just and angry one with the power to enforce his will. His parents were looking at Dumbledore very apprehensively while not saying a thing.

"You can't do this," Hermione said defiantly.

"You will find I can, Ms Granger, as your magical guardian. As for your house, Sirius, you are right, but the wards on the outside of the house are not controlled by you. If you dare to leave you will find it a most unpleasant experience," Dumbledore said. He turned to Bill. "Where is Harry now?"

Bill rarely felt scared, but he did in this situation. He doubted that all of them together could take on Dumbledore in his current rage. "He was accompanying the contents of the Potter vaults to France. They should be on their way by now, knowing the efficiency of the goblins," Bill said.

There was a flash of… panic… before the man's rage took over again. Bill found his hand reaching for his wand, unsure if the man was about to curse him or not. After a moment, Dumbledore took in a deep breath. The more placid expression that he usually showed people came back.

"Thank you, Bill. I'm sure you did everything you could to ensure Harry's safety. I will take it from here. Which branch is he going too?" Dumbledore asked.

Bill didn't want to say but knew he had too. "Toulouse. He's been instructed to only leave with Fleur or myself and the goblins will enforce that."

Dumbledore gave him a look as though he knew more than anyone else and Bill was being a naïve school boy. "I'm sure the goblins will bring Harry to me. How long before he arrives?"

"Five or six hours," Bill told him.

Dumbledore gave a single nod. "I have time to go back to the Ministry then get to France. Rest assured, everyone, I will have him back this evening and everything will work out."

With that, Dumbledore turned and was back up the stairs to the entry hall before anyone else could say a thing. Hermione let out a sniff. "He can't do this, I'm going to see my parents," she said defiantly.

"Hermione, if Albus is your magical guardian, he can," his father said softly.

Sirius spat on the floor. "The man is no longer welcome in this house."

There was a feel of great power, power greater than Dumbledore's, coursing through the very foundation of the house. Bill had only felt wards this powerful two or three times. He knew they were there, but they had never been turned on before.

"Hermione, we will find a way to get out of here and join Harry. Bill, tell me the goblins have assured him safe passage."

"They have. What the bloody hell was that all about?" Bill said angrily. Now his fear response was falling, he was extremely upset.

"Dumbledore thinks he's the only one that should be in charge of Harry. If you excuse me, I need to go figure out how to escape now," Sirius told him. The older man looked murderous.

"Am I really stuck here?" Hermione said.

"You are safe here," his mum said.

"You are for now. Give me a few days and I'll figure something out. We aren't abandoning Harry," Sirius told her. "Bill, thank you."

"Sure, anytime," Bill said.

His father came up to him. "Bill, will Albus be able to get Harry?"

"Not without starting another rebellion," Bill said before looking at his father. "I need to get his stuff and go, dad."

"Harry will be back later, Bill. Take a seat. I'll get lunch together," his mum said.

"Mum, Harry will be waiting for me. Even if Albus is there, Fleur and I will have to get him, and I don't want him back here. The two Aurors with him were Death Eaters dad. I don't think they were just going to let him go," Bill told his father.

Arthur nodded. "Do what you have too, Bill. We'll make sure things are good back here."

"He is not going anywhere. Albus said he would take care of this," his mum said in her no nonsense tone.

"Mum, I love you, but stay out of this," Bill told her. "I'll let you know what is going on when I know."

"That is no way to talk to me, young man," she started to scold.

"Molly, that is enough," his father said in a sharp tone. It caught them all a little by surprise. "Let us know as soon as you can."

"I will, dad," Bill assured him.

"Bill, could you take Harry a letter?" Hermione asked.

"I'm out of here in about five minutes, so if you can write one in that time," Bill told her. She scrambled out of the room. "Where is Harry's stuff?"

"Third floor. He's sharing a room with Ron," his father said. Bill nodded and left the kitchen.

-oOo-

Chapter 2

-oOo-

August 16, 1995

London, England

Cornelius looked unbelievingly as the goblins that were moving one hundred bags of 1000 galleons from the cart, through the main lobby and out to a cart in the alley. Eight guards stood around the cart as a dozen Aurors eyed the fully armoured goblins.

One of the blighters in a smart business suit had just come up to him as he demanded to talk with a bank manager. He should not be doing this himself, but the Aurors that were supposed to be escorting the boy had made a royal mess out of this.

"Are you the bank manager?" Cornelius said curtly.

"I am the former Potter account manager. I was informed you have questions about the closed account?" the goblin said.

Cornelius sputtered. "Former manager… closed! What is the meaning of this! Potter was sent here to authorize the funds for his fine!"

"Mr Potter did authorize the funds. They are currently being loading into a cart to hand over to your Aurors. Here is the statement," the goblin said, holding out a clipboard. "If you would sign for receipt, the Ministry can take control of the funds and forgo the expense of a goblin guard to the ministry."

His mouth moved a few times. "The expense! That is not the full Potter vault value. It can't be."

"It is the hundred thousand galleon fine, minus four hundred galleons for the moving fee and another three hundred for the guards, but again, if you want to sigh to ownership for the ministry, you can forgo the guards," the smug little thing said.

"This is impossible. I was assured that Potter didn't have that much in his trust vault. How did he get that much?" Cornelius said.

The goblin before him narrowed his eyes and the guards around the lobby all pulled to attention. "May I ask how you would know how much Mr Potter had in his trust vault? Did Mr Potter tell you?"

Fudge was so agitated he didn't realize his mistake. He waved his hand. "There is no way he had a hundred thousand galleons in his trust vault. Just no way. Lucius assured me he didn't. I demand to know how the boy paid for this and where he is now."

The goblin before him was starting to show his teeth. The Aurors behind Cornelius shifted uncomfortably.

"I assure you that Mr Potter had the funds and did not break any treaties or laws to provide the ministry with his fine. I would know how you know what was in Mr Potter's trust vault?" the goblin demanded.

Cornelius bristled to be talked to in such a way. "Listen, goblin, you will tell me how Potter came up with his money and where the rest of the value of his vaults are. Then you will have Potter here. Now."

The goblin fully bared his teeth. The guards moved and the ringing of swords were heard in the lobby. The goblins moving the bags of gold all stopped and looked to the goblin before him. The tension thickened I the air and the minister shuffled his feet as he suddenly realized where he was standing.

"Listen, wizard. The internal affairs of our clients are confidential. Mr Potter is no longer a client of this branch and is now outside our jurisdiction to retrieve him. According to the verdict handed to us, Mr Potter was to be off British soil within forty-eight hours. He is off British soil. If you wish to do anything with him, you will need to find Mr Potter and petition his new country. As for your demands, I must decline. As I said, Mr Potter and Gringotts followed all treaties and laws. Now, if you and your Aurors do not get out of this bank, you may find it difficult to do any other banking here in the future," the goblin warned.

Cornelius, in his panic to get hold of Potter's wealth, had just made a major misstep. He had promised Lucius and a few others a cut of the proceeds, while half of the confiscated funds would go to the Ministries coffers. The hundred thousand galleons of the fine, which should have been impossible to pay with Potter unable to get into his family's vault, should have been twenty or thirty times that. There was no way he could pay out all that he promised to have the support of Lucius and others to get rid of Potter, who he saw as his biggest political rival in a few years.

Cornelius swallowed as a few guards advanced on them and the little blighters with the gold bags stepped further back. He took a step back towards the doors. His guards were ready to fight but hadn't drawn their wands yet. To do so inside the bank could see all their heads roll.

After a moment, he gave the goblin as stern of a look as he could, which wasn't much with how scared he felt at the moment. "I will have answers. You will be hearing from the Goblin Liaison office."

"I look forward to it, wizard. Now, get the rest of this gold out of the bank. Bloodfoot. Triple the price of the guards. I want them to go to the Ministry lobby and ensure this all handed over to the right people," the goblin ordered.

"You can't do that!" Cornelius blustered.

"Quadruple it. I will not have us blamed for the ministry not receiving its fine," the goblin said, before spinning on his foot and stalking away. Cornelius retreated as the guards moved forward again and the other goblins moved to stack the last of the bags in the cart.

-oOo-

August 17, 1995

Outside of Toulouse, France

Harry had been laying in the bed he had been given for a while now. When he had first woken up it had still been dark out. The house had been silent, so he decided to stay in the guest room of the Delacours.

Yesterday had been a whirlwind of activity and emotions.

Due to an idiot minister, and the right hand of Voldemort he had been kicked out of his country. He was sure he had gotten lucky that he had been taken to the goblins instead of the Auror office or elsewhere. If the Ministry hadn't been trying to get his vaults, then he would have most likely already been before Voldemort and dead.

Instead, he was enjoying the fluffy bed, cool sheets and the sun filtering through the heavy curtains drawn over the windows. A door opened and closed in the hallway. Soft steps went by his room. Figuring that the house was finally getting up for the day, he decided to get up himself.

As he did, he crumpled the single sheet that Hermione had given Bill. He picked it up to read it once more.

-o-

Dear Harry,

Bill and Mr Weasley have told us what happened. Please stay safe and out of trouble. I am working with Sirius to find a way to come to you as soon as I can, but Professor Dumbledore has forbid us to leave Headquarters. As soon as I can, I will come to you, and we can figure out what you can do.

Be safe.

Love,

Hermione

-o-

It was the shortest letter he had ever gotten from her. The script was slightly sloppy, as though she had written it in great haste. What bothered him more was the content. Why would Dumbledore forbid them to leave Headquarters? And why would she be coming to him? Wasn't she safer with the Order than with him? He wanted to write her back, but Bill had said he wasn't sure when he would see her again and getting messages to her or Sirius could be hard for a bit.

He folded the letter and put into the pocket of his trousers when he was done getting dressed. Bill had gotten his trunk, so he had some changes of clothes. After seeing how much he had in his vaults yesterday, and knowing he would never be going back to the Dursley's, he wondered if he could ask Apolline or Alain to get him some new clothes?

The Delacours had a nice house on the edge of a small village that was surrounded by farm land. Being at the top of a hill, Toulouse could be seen far in the distance. Inside, the Delacour's lived on three upper floor, with the ground floor being a small patisserie that was run by a middle-aged couple that sold to Muggles and wizards alike. The smells of the breads and treats were already all over the house.

He made it down the narrow steps to the first floor. The back stairs came out in the kitchen. He found Apolline fiddling with a small cappuccino machine. "Good morning, 'Arry," she said in her heavily French accented English.

"Good morning," he replied.

"Seet. I will get something for breakfast in a few. Did you sleep well last night? Cappuccino?" she asked.

"Ah, as well as I could, I guess," Harry said. He knew he hadn't fallen asleep until after midnight and was awake by four. "I've never had a cappuccino."

She turned to look at him disbelievingly. "Neve'! Sacre bleu. That is sacrilege. I will fix that this morning," the woman told him.

Harry had to smile. So much of Gabrielle's more bubbly and outgoing personality was her mother. Fleur was more like her father: rather reserved but still enjoying a good laugh.

"Sure," Harry said. "Can I help?"

"You are our guest. You can help tomorrow, if you want," she told him.

He sat in a chair and watched her move around the kitchen at just past six in the morning. Soon the machine was working away, and she moved to take out an assortment of cold items. After a few, she took out a few bills and placed them on the table. "If you go down to the patisserie, you can get some fresh pastries and bread. Gabrielle and Alain love eclairs and Fleur their croissants."

"Uhm, I don't speak French," Harry reminded her.

"That is alright. They speak English," Apolline said.

"Anything you like?"

"Anything," she said with a small smile.

When Harry got back, he found Fleur, Alain and Apolline sitting at the table. They all had small cups of cappuccino and were talking. There were some fruit, jams and cheese on the table. "Ah, he returns with the treasures," Alain said.

"I suppose we can keep him then," Fleur said with a smirk.

"You were the one that invited me," Harry snarked back as Apolline got up to help with the baguette and box. She put them on the counter before cutting the bread and putting the pastries and croissants onto a platter.

"Are they still warm?" Fleur asked with a little excitement.

"Oui," her mother said handing her a croissant. "Eat up, Harry. I think you have a busy day ahead of you."

Harry looked at them curiously. "I do?"

"Oui. I was able to get you an appointment with Madam Maxime," Alain said as he took a long piece of the baguette that had been sliced in half and put a generous amount of jam on it.

Harry blinked. "Already? I only found out yesterday I was expelled and exiled," Harry said.

"'Arry, you did a great favour for this family when you rescued Gabrielle. The least we can do is help you back. Madam Maxime is extremely interested in talking to you after seeing your performance last year," Alain said.

"And the fact that I said Voldemort is back and Cedric died?" Harry asked dubiously.

Alain waved his hand before taking a bite of his baguette that had a generous amount of jam on it. He chewed a few times before replying, "The French do not have a good opinion of Minister Fudge and the papers here think he is going after you and Dumbledore. The Ministry will want to talk with you, and most likely request your memories of that night to clear you, but I don't think it will be anything to worry about."

"Oh," Harry said. That was different.

"Now, eat up, then go get changed into something better," Apolline told him.

Fleur had a smirk on her face. Harry gave her an exasperated look. "I told you that my family would help."

Harry returned her smile now. "I can't say thanks enough. Is Bill coming back today?"

"William is at the bank making sure your accounts are settled and has been asked to overlook the transfer of all Black accounts. He might be by later," Fleur told him.

Harry grinned. "Oh, that will twist Fudge's knickers."

"Language, please. Gabrielle doesn't need to hear that when she is up," Apolline told him.

Fleur rolled her eyes and Alain looked amused. "You know Gabrielle knows more French swears, mon belle."

"And whose fault is that?" Apolline said to Alain.

"Grandmama's," Fleur said out of the corner of her mouth.

Alain laughed. Apolline sighed and said something in French as though she agreed with Fleur. Harry gave an uncertain grin. If this was what family was like he hadn't experienced anything like it yet.

-oOo-

Later that day…

London, England

Hermione was sitting in the library with Sirius. Mrs Weasley had been hounding them all last night and today to listen to Dumbledore and allow him back into the house. Sirius had opened the door on the man's face about noon time to let the headmaster know he wouldn't be allowed back into the house until Sirius and Hermione were allowed to leave.

The stormy look on the man's face matched the stormy feel of the house as the wards responded to the man's attempt to gain entry. Sirius was still smirking to think of how Dumbledore had been blasted from the door step to land across the road in the mostly dead grass of the small park in the centre of the neighbourhood.

Hermione was too busy worrying about Harry to really be concerned if the man had been hurt or not. She was digging through books on wards to see if they could find a way through them. Sirius flopped in a chair next to her. "Any luck?"

"If I know what they were, but I don't know how to check that. When Bill gets here, I'll ask him to teach me," Hermione told him.

Sirius huffed. "I can't believe that I'm stuck in my own house like this. I hate this place and I hated my parents."

She gave him a sympathetic look before turning her attention back to the book she was reading. The few identification spells she had learned in Ancient Runes couldn't identified what Dumbledore had cast, only detect that there were some powerful wards surrounding the house.

Sirius moved to look at the title of the book. "Hmm, I thought I had some other better books on runes."

"There looks to be a few missing off the shelves in the section I found this one in," she told him.

Sirius frowned. "I know I told people they could look in here, but not that they could take whatever they want."

Hermione snorted. "You mean like how I've seen Mundungus taking some things from the waste bags?"

Sirius shrugged. "If it went into the bag, I really don't care."

She frowned as she went on reading. "There has to be a way out of this." She was determined to get to Harry.

Sirius looked to be in deep thought for a moment before he suddenly stood up. It startled her at how fast he took off. "Where are you going?"

"A possible way out. I need the twins to get Molly out of the kitchen," he told her. Intrigued, she was split for a moment to follow him or keep reading. She figured if she kept reading it would double their chances.

About twenty minutes later the house shook as an explosion echoed in the hallway into the library. She screamed as the chair she was balancing in suddenly tipped over backwards. A second later, there was something screaming through the hallways. It was a high pitch, long piercing scream. She rushed to her feet, her hand rubbing the back of her head, to see what happened. The painting in the hallway a floor down could be heard screaming, then it would be drowned out as another whistling screech echoed through the house. She poked her head out to dug in as fast as she could. A firework sped down the hallway, just about taking her head off.

"FRED! GEORGE!" Mrs Weasley bellowed over the noise.

The twins ran down the hallway. They were laughing maniacally. Sirius was hot on their tale. He grabbed Hermione's arm. "Time to go," he told her.

"Where are we going?" she asked, having to duck another firework.

Sirius was laughing at the chaos. He pulled her into a room, shutting the door most of the way as two people ran up the stairs. "When I get my hands on them…" Mrs Weasley said angrily. The stumping steps of Moody followed her.

"Down the hall, last room," the man said. He turned briefly to look at them before following Mrs Weasley. She wasn't sure if the man agreed with Dumbledore or not but had been told to stay here to keep them here.

"What about our stuff?" she said.

"You have your wand?" Sirius questioned.

"Yes." She had made sure it was on her since Harry had come back to Hogwarts after the graveyard.

"Then you we can replace everything else. Time to go," he said, pulling her out.

They rushed down the stairs, having to doge a daisy wheel that was zipping around the house. Mrs Black was screaming as one of the fireworks had caught her frame on fire. "Burn you bitch," Sirius bellowed at her.

Hermione hurried as fast as she could behind Sirius. There was a thick layer of smoke in the kitchen stairwell and the kitchen looked like a bomb had gone off. Scorch marks were everywhere. Many of the shelves and fine China on them were smashed and scattered all over the floor and table. Sirius rushed over to a wall half way down the kitchen. "I know it's here somewhere," he said, his hands running over the wall and the shelves that were left.

She coughed. "What are you looking for?"

Sirius let out an exclamation of joy as something clicked a section of the wall opened. "A way out," he said cheerfully. "We don't have long. Come on."

She blinked, then followed. "Where does this go?" she asked.

"The old shed it the back garden, but that was bricked off years ago and I doubt Dumbledore thought about it," Sirius said. The wall closed behind them. Sirius let his wand. "No using your wand. This brings us outside the main wards."

She nodded, still coughing as her lungs tried to clear the smoke out. It wasn't a long passage. It ended as a rusty, wrought iron circular stair that they rushed up. At the top, Sirius had to cast a few cleaning and repairing charms before the hinges on the trap door opened. They stepped out into an old garage. Two dilapidated carriages filled up two stalls, and a third looked like it once had a horse but had been abandoned for a century. She looked up to see part of the roof missing and only the grey sky of a fuddy London day looking down at them.

Sirius moved to a door between the two stalls. He had to clean the window to look out it. When he did, it looked out onto an alley between two rowhouses. "Right, are you ready to run? We need to make it to the street and then we can apparate to your parents. Unless you want to go straight to Gringotts?"

"I can't just run from them," she said. She loved her parents too much and leaving them behind was too dangerous.

He nodded. After a few attempts, he managed to pry the door open. "Right, here we go then."

They took off to run down the fifteen meter long drive. She felt it when they fully left the wards. Sirius let out a whopping laugh. Dumbledore hadn't know about this and hadn't warded it. They burst onto the sidewalk on the street behind Grimmauld Place. She didn't have any time to understand what Sirius was going to do before her arm was grabbed and she was suddenly being sucked through a straw. It was an extremely uncomfortable feeling.

-oOo-

That evening…

Hogwarts, Scotland

Albus was rubbing his temples. In the last thirty-six hours everything he had planned and worked for almost fifteen years had unravelled. Three of the instruments that usually whirred, puffed smoke or danced vibrant colours on a side table were now molten slags of junk. He knew that Cornelius would try to pull a trick like he had yesterday, but he had been an hour later than he expected to be at the Ministry, and due to the scared prick, Harry was now gone. More importantly, the protections that Harry had from his mother and relatives were now gone. As was the blood tracker and health monitor.

The protections were his larger concern.

He knew that the blood protections that Lily had enacted were keeping Harry safe from Voldemort. It was also keeping the horcrux in the boys head from getting too powerful. The last thing he could afford was for Harry to go dark from that taint. It was even more catastrophic than the boy being banished from the country…

Though, Cornelius was starting to learn how large of a mistake he had made.

Dumbledore had walked into Gringotts shortly after Cornelius had almost started a new rebellion. It had taken him hours to calm the goblins down. By that time, it was getting late, and by the time he had made it to France, Harry had already left. He didn't know where the Delacours lived, and he didn't have time to track him down as a new emergency had come up.

Fawkes had flamed to him with a note from Minerva. The board of governors was having an emergency meeting he needed to get back immediately. Again, it had taken hours to calm them down and not sack him. Somehow Lucius Malfoy had gotten them into a frenzy about students leaving the school, and he had to assure them that wasn't happening.

By the time he had made it back to his office, it was past two in the morning. The dawn came way to quick, and he had left for Grimmauld Place before the Daily Prophet had been delivered. If he had still been in his office, the Ministry, not Grimmauld Place, would have been his first stop.

Instead, he had let his temper get the better of him as the petulant Black was keeping him out of the Orders Head Quarters. The man couldn't understand that he was keeping him and Ms Granger there for their safety, especially after what had happened yesterday. If anything happened to them, then Albus knew that he would lose Harry.

His chest still hurt where the lightning bolt had hit him in the chest when he tried to overpower the wards. His back and rear end were almost equally as soar from where he landed. As he lay in the middle of the rowhouses, the owl from the Daily Prophet had finally found him.

Ministry exiles Boy-Who-Lived! Mob gathers at Ministry!

The headlines had shown the crowd that had gathered overnight to protest Harry's banishment. After rushing to the Ministry, he was just in time to keep Fudge from letting the Aurors loose on the crowd. The man wanted then all arrested and tried for treason. The hundred that had gathered in the atrium would have set off a larger revolt if that had happened.

Again, he lost half a day to settle things and see the people disperse.

A fuming Fudge had stalked away.

His rubbed his temples more as he thought about the fight he had had with the Minister, who had accused him of helping Potter escape and take his vaults with him. The man hadn't liked it when Albus reminded him he was the one to exile Harry and Harry just did as was told.

His last headache had come when he finally made it back to Hogwarts. Molly had been trying to get hold of him for hours. Sirius and Ms Granger had managed to escape. He figured Alastor would be able to stop it, but the damnable twins had made enough of a ruckus the old Marauder and the girl had managed to disappear. Something had hadn't been realized for hours.

By the time they had found out, and then checked on her parents, none of the Grangers, nor Sirius Black, were anywhere to be found. It was obvious that they had left their house quickly, but they had left, and he had no way of tracking them down.

Without those two, he had a feeling that getting Harry to come back would be a much harder task.

As the fire flared green in his office, he felt his headache grow.

"Albus," the voice of Arthur came to him.

He moved over to the fireplace after a moment, his old knees protesting the movement to kneel down. "Yes, Arthur?"

"I wanted you to know. Bill just came by. Sirius has moved all the Black assets out of the country," the balding man said.

Albus let out a long sigh. Could this get any worse? "When did this happen?"

"Today. Bill is being transferred to France. He let us know before he knew Sirius had run," Arthur said. "I don't think he was supposed to tell us."

"Thank you for letting me know. I will go see the goblins again tomorrow," he said.

"Albus, what are we going to do? Harry has to come back, but he can't with the Ministry after him," Arthur said.

"I am aware of the situation. Don't fret. I will see him return soon," Albus promised.

Arthur nodded. "If we can do anything, let us know."

"I think your family has done enough, for now," he said, a hint of annoyance with his children coming through. "For now, just stay at Grimmauld Place. I will call a meeting tomorrow at another protected location."

"Alright, Albus. Until tomorrow," the man said and pulled his head out of the fire.

Albus slammed his fist into the mantle after getting up. "Damn it! Bloody Merlin's balls!"

If Sirius had somehow managed to get all his assets out of the country, that was even worse. They needed the funds that the Potters and Blacks had for the coming war. No one else in the Order had funds even close to what those two have.

-oOo-

About the same time…

Wiltshire, England

Lucius sat in his study. There was still a finger left of the amber liquor he preferred in the glass on his desk. He had been staring at it for the last fifteen minutes. This whole scheme to get Potter out of the country and to claim his vaults and other assets had blown up in his face. The boy had escaped somehow and paid a fine that he had no means to pay. The ministry should have confiscated everything that Potter owned, and Fudge had promised him a quarter of it all. According to his sources in Gringotts, that should have netted him well over six-hundred thousand galleons in both hard currency and heirlooms. Instead, he was looking at nothing, especially since the goblins had escorted the fine themselves.

Now he owed the Dark Lord over a half million galleons. His accounts could handle that, but it would put a large dent into his liquid funds. A large enough dent that we would have to pull out of the expedition to India. That was going to be four ships to bring back millions of galleons worth of potion ingredients, luxuries and slaves. The three-hundred thousand he was due to put into the expedition for a fifty-percent stake was now impossible. The Dark Lord would not take 'I don't have the funds right now' as an answer.

Until his other two investments came in within the next month or two, he would be low on liquid assets. Low enough he might need to reign in Narcissa's spending. That was a conversation he wasn't looking forward too. She could make his life almost as unpleasant as his Master.

His only saving grace was that the Dark Lord was not here right now. He was gone for a few days on the Continent. Lucius wasn't even sure if the man knew they Potter was gone as well? The frustrating thing was because of Fudge's ineptitude, the three contacts he had in Gringotts had been found and killed, so he couldn't find out where the boy went.

He was pondering what to do when a tapping came at the window of his study. He turned to see a black owl on the ledge. He scowled at the thing. Didn't it know it was late?

Opening the window, the owl held out it's leg, not even trying to come in. He looked at the envelope and crinkled his brow. It was from Gringotts.

The owl squawked at him and took to flight the second the letter was untied. "Bloody thing," he cursed after it. He turned the envelope over to break the seal.

-o-

Dear Mr Malfoy,

Gringotts is informing you that you are no longer recognized as the steward of House Black or House Lestrange. As such, the five leans that you have taken out against the Black accounts, and the two against the Lestrange accounts, have come into default as of 14:00 this afternoon. Both accounts have been closed and no longer can count as collateral against the credit that has been extended to you.

Your outstanding lean on the accounts comes to G 2,310,423, S 5, K 12 as of close of business today, August 17, 1995. Per the terms of the agreement, payment in full, plus a twenty percent early foreclosure fee, shall be due by the end of August. Full amount due by this time will be G 2,772,508, S6, K15. If all debts are not paid by midnight of the 31st of August, 1995, then all assets in the bank shall be seized and Gringotts will put leans against all other accounts the Malfoys have with Gringotts.

Until all leans and debts are settled, Gringotts is enacting the Treaty of Eighteen-ninety-three and will only allow an allowance of up to one thousand galleons a day to be withdrawn from any vaults or accounts controlled by Gringotts.

Hoping that you are having a good day,

Rotgnasher

Senior Account Manager

Gringotts – London

-o-

Lucius blinked stupidly at the paper for a moment before he felt a white hot rage blast through him. "Those rotten, blight pestered, pustule picking, snot rag munching…" he started to say as he crinkled the parchment in his hands. This was just preposterous. He had been named steward of both houses with both Sirius and his brother-in-law convicted and in prison. What mistake had the little meat sacks done to send out this tripe?

Deeper down his anger was masking the absolute fear he felt. If this was true, then he was soon to be broke. He had under a million galleons in his vaults right now. There were almost two million invested around, but he didn't think he could recover that within the next few weeks. No, he knew he couldn't, and then meet the Dark Lords demand for the galleons that Lucius had promised him.

Looking at the mantle, he could see that the main account desks at the bank would be closed by now. There was always a goblin manning the counters, but he wouldn't be able to talk to anyone with the rank he needed until morning.

Slamming the letter on the desk, he sat heavily in his chair, downed the last of the scotch in his glass, and then filled it almost to the brim. He would nurse the rest of this bottle until morning. Then he would bang some heads together at the bank to resolve this farse, then he had to find Harry Potter. The boy owed him. The boy owed him more than he could ever know…

-oOo-

Later that night…

Dover, England

Hermione was leaning against the railing as the ship pulled away from England. The boat had moving for ten minutes now, and they had cleared the break wall. Soon they would pass the last the land that was England.

A slightly tall man with deep brown hair, chocolate eyes and a little stubble joined her. She didn't look away as the docks grew smaller and another ferry was going into the port. The man was looking at the island they had both been born on. "You know, I haven't seen this side of England in almost twenty years."

Hermione gave a wan smile. "Did you ever miss it when you were in the Navy?"

The man seemed to think about it for a moment before saying, "Until I met your mother, not for a moment. It was too exciting to see other ports. I always loved the smell of the sea and there is nothing more thrilling, or terrifying, than to be at sea when the waves are ten meters tall and you are cutting through them on a destroyer."

"I can only imagine," she said. "How's mum?"

"Sitting inside. The Dramamine is working, but you know how much she hates to travel like this," her father said.

Hermione leaned her head against his shoulder. "Thank you," she said. She had been surprised how easy it had been to convince them to leave. It was almost as though they had expected it… which after their discussions when she got home with what happened at Hogwarts, she maybe shouldn't have been that surprised.

He leaned over to kiss the top of her head. "Hermione, a house is just a house. It's the people that are in it that make it a home. I don't know if you mum realizes we have probably left for good, but if this keeps you safe, I will run to the end of the earth with you and Jane."

"Part of me feels like a coward to be running," she admitted. She had fought for four years to have people at Hogwarts accept her, then for years before that in primary school. It felt like she was letting them win to go chasing after Harry.

"There is now dishonour is retreating to regroup and live. From what you say, it sounds like it is going to get extremely dangerous for you and I don't want to get a letter or that professor lady showing up one day to tell us something really bad happened to you again," he said.

She sighed. "I know. I just wish I knew where he was."

"We will find him. You said you can send him an owl once we get there?" he asked.

"I should be able too. I only know of the magical district in Paris though," she said, remembering visiting it last summer with her parents.

"Well, we will head to Paris then," he told her.

She watched the land pull away as they left England behind them. Her father moved to put an arm over her shoulders. In the growing darkness, it was only the lights of buildings that could be seen. "It will be alright, pumpkin."

She let out a big sigh. "I hope so."

As they watched the lights grow smaller, a white speck in the night came at them from the dark. She started before she recognized a familiar bird. "Hedwig!"

-oOo-