LordDarkFluff: I'm genuinely happy with ur comment cause I thought I was being too obvious. It's good to know some people can't tell if this has anything to do with Merlin.

As always: no spoilers from me but feel free to theorize.

I still don't have regular access to my computer (I'm posting from my brother's) so no guarantees of new chapters till the 10th of February when I get back home. This is unedited, not even grammarly, so read at ur own risk.

"I see," Mrs Tonks' expression gave little away as to what she might be thinking, though her husband was openly frowning down at the table.

"I have Ms Chang from Slaughter and May looking into a way to execute their wills, but our efforts will refocus on Harry's guardianship if we find someone with any claim as his magical guardian, since one will be necessary for any sort of healing procedure and I don't want him walking around without any immunity to magical diseases," Michael explained.

"So you'll just sign him over to a magical guardian?" She raised one brow, but her tone didn't change from mildly curious.

"Of course not," Michael shook his head, "Harry is under my care, I'll be vetting any possible guardians and working with them," and he can hardly be signed over to someone that doesn't exist to the muggle government, he muses, not that he would do it either way.

"What if I were to obliviate you of this conversation and claim custody?" Mrs Tonks posed but made no movement to reach for any wand that Michael could see.

"If you believe it to be the right course of action, and that you could get away with it, then go right ahead," he refuses to falter in his answer, knowing he has notes of the meeting in at least three different places and Ms Chang was entirely aware of the date and time, awaiting any news from him as soon as it was done.

Michael had no illusions that wixes were any more trustworthy than the average person he dealt with, which is not much at all, and was entirely aware of the dangers of dealing in this brand new world that opened up before him, so faltering at the first idle threat was not in his plans.

The witch traded a look with her husband before turning back to him with a small smile, shoulders falling slightly from the tense stance they'd settled into from the moment he told them he had Harry in his custody.

He passed her test, then.

"Good, Mr Wright. You'll need that spine if you plan to continue meddling into wizarding affairs, especially regarding Mr Potter," Mrs Tonks offered with what Michael identified as reluctant approval, "do you have any other candidates for his magical guardianship?"

"There are other options," Michael informed, not seeing any harm in being open about it, "The Black family have the strongest claim, but I would prefer if it did not go to Narcissa, as helpful as she's been so far. Cassiopeia Black would be another option but I have been unable to get in contact with her and Arcturus Black."

"You may as well discard the last two. Grand aunt Cassie is never in the country and Arcturus locked himself in the Black castle and hasn't come out in years," Mrs Tonks explained, leaning back slightly on her chair, "Narcissa would be a decent option, but you're smart to keep her husband's hands far away from any influence on Mr Potter. Malfoy will use anything as a piece in his political games."

"I take it this is you volunteering?" He can't help but ask once she's done shooting down every other option he had been able to come up with, and only after convincing the goblins that Harry's status as Sirius Black's godson and his own status as his guardian entitled him to information on the Black family. They wouldn't part with monetary information, of course, but it wasn't too hard to get a couple of names of extant members of the family.

"We would need some time to discuss it," Mrs Tonks pointed out, "even if we don't end up housing him, it's still a big responsibility," she added with a knowing look.

"Dora would probably enjoy someone to play with during holidays," Mr Tonks added, seemingly more at ease with the possibility than his wife.

"Of course, we can keep in touch until you're able to come to a decision, and this will also hinge on Harry's opinion. I won't put responsibility over my ward in the hands of anyone he doesn't agree with," he agreed, "so I suppose this meeting is adjourned."

"Yes," Mrs Tonks nodded and they got to their feet, letting him lead the way out of the meeting room and to the elevator.

"Feel free to tell your daughter about the possibility of becoming a younger child's magical guardian, but let's keep names out of it, shall we?" He offers as they wait for the elevator, earning himself an amused look from Mr Tonks and a considering one from his wife, followed by a nod.

They had no choice, of course, since anything discussed in the meeting was magically bound not to be discussed outside of it. His allowance was the only thing making them able to talk about the subject with someone else, and they all knew it.

Magical contracts were fun like that.

6th September 1988

Dear Harry,

School sounds fun, I have tutors every other day and no one to suffer with, so a class with so many people would be nice even if they're muggles. Father says muggles are dumb, so you must be the best in class!

I don't have latin but I am learning french, since we have a vacation home in France, and football doesn't sound half as fun as quidditch but I suppose we could teach each other. When will Mr Wright let you come to the manor?

Best wishes,

Draco.

7th September 1988

Dear Draco,

Muggles aren't dumb! They're just as smart, they just don't have magic but they have science and it's a lot of fun too, almost like magic but not really, I'll have to show you. Hermione is the best in class, but I'm right behind.

Tutors sound fun, what sorts of things do you learn? Do you get to do magic? That would be so cool! Mr Wright says I can't come over yet, because of classes and his meetings, but maybe later! Can you tell me more about the dragon place?

Sorry if this letter is a bit blotchy, Mr Wright is having me practice with a quill.

Kind regards,

Harry.

8th September 1988

Dear Harry,

If you say so, I guess I'll have to see. Who's Hermione? Is she your friend? Did you tell her about me? I told Pansy we're friends but she doesn't believe me, maybe when you come over I can invite her and then she'll have to believe it.

I have etiquette classes and magical history, as well as beginner potions and magical theory. My godfather teaches potions, and he's the best! I don't get to do magic yet, but mother said I can practice with her wand once I'm ten.

There's a dragon reserve in Romania, it's not the only one but it's the biggest one and father gives them money sometimes, so he says we could get to go there anytime. I'm going to ask my father to ask Mr Wright if we can go, then we can see them up close. I bet they're bigger than the manor.

Your writing needs work, but it's not too bad.

Best wishes,

Draco.

10th September 1988

Dear Draco,

Hermione is my best friend! She really likes books and she's super smart, but I can't tell her about you since she doesn't know about magic. Is Pansy your best friend? You talk about her a lot.

You're so lucky! I only get to read about that stuff, but Mr Wright says I could get tutors later if I really want to learn. Potions looks like fun, kind of like cooking but with lots of gross stuff. Mr Wright doesn't have a wand so I guess I'll only get to practice when we go to Hogwarts.

I hope Mr Wright says we can go, I can't wait to see real dragons! Do you think we could fly on them?

Thanks, I'm working on it.

Kind regards,

Harry.

September 13th, 1988

"It's likely unaffiliated with the Advocates to the Wizarding World, so your best bet is settling the guardianship first and then enquiring about it at the bank, sometimes wills are left with the account managers and I don't have the authority to look into that since I'm hired by a third party," Chang explained as they sipped some tea in her office to discuss her findings, thankfully in the morning which meant Harry was occupied by school. "I took the liberty of looking into his current guardian and there doesn't seem to be any record of a trial for Sirius Black, unless it's been sealed from public access, which is still a possibility."

"That's… something," Michael settles on with a sigh, "I talked to Mrs Tonks and we'll probably start the process of guardianship change to her if they get along well enough, but I still want him to stay with me for as long as he wants to."

"You realize any wizarding court will laugh you out of it for trying to keep him if she changes her mind, right?" Chang warns, not from a place of malice but simply wanting to be realistic, which he understands.

"I know, but a good contract will buy me enough time to pull something else out of thin air," he shrugs, it's the best he can do for now.

"Only you, Wright," Chang chuckles a little incredulously, "I'll start on the guardianship papers then, the transfer should be easy enough if I keep it simple, barely needs to pass through the ministry except for a signature or two so there's no reason for any red flags on their end yet."

"Good. I'll need to figure out a discreet healer to work with once that's done, but I suppose Mrs Tonks might have a better idea on that end," Michael mused, "what about the other paperwork I sent you?"

"Already registered, number seventeen Cherry Tree Lane in Chelsea is officially registered as a magical household. You're lucky the wards made it so the ministry didn't have to verify it, Wright. That could have been a complete mess," she shook her head and sent him a disapproving look, but he only replied with a satisfied smile, "don't get cocky, you don't know half of what you need to know about wixen laws and regulations yet. Speaking of, did you talk to Treves?"

"We're talking," Michael nodded, but didn't offer anything else. He wasn't about to discuss his contract termination with the current competition, no matter that she was also the one that might take him on after the fact.

"Alright, fair enough," Chang conceded, not about to pry. "You should come over for dinner sometime," Michael only stares at her, probably long enough to become uncomfortable, "Don't look at me like that, kid. I've got a ton of books you'll have to read through and my daughter is only a year older than Mr Potter, he might appreciate another friend in the know. Let me know when you sort out a floo connection and we'll schedule a little playdate, how's that?"

"Sorry, yeah, sure," he agreed after a moment. Why not? He'd been so used to seeing Ms Chang as some force of nature in court that the fact that the older woman had a family and a daughter at home went completely over his head for a second. Harry did need more friends in the wizarding world, Draco was a good penpal from what he heard from his ward but Michael didn't think he was the best of influences. "Right, floo, I need to get on that. Do I need to worry about the ministry?"

"They'll just verify the address is a wizarding house and open a connection, squibs can work the floo so just don't let them see Mr Potter and you'll be fine," Chang assured, "They'll probably assume you know how to work it or leave you in the dark on purpose so I'll mail you the instructions on how to lock it down and open the connection when you've got it sorted."

"Thanks," he said in clear relief, slumping slightly in his chair, "there's just so much work to do."

"Don't tell me it's too much for you, Wright?" She raised one brow, the challenging tone clear.

"Nah," he smiled and shook his head, thinking of the little boy at his home that was learning to ask for things and so excited about any minor hint of magic, "It's worth it."

Ms Chang out here calling our boy out XD Mike baby ur being too confident, be careful, I'm always one step away from writing angst.

I'm currently visiting my two younger brothers (one of which is eight) and I realized I may have some trouble writing kids this age but then again I'm purposefully infantilizing Harry slightly at some moments since he's slowly being allowed to be a kid, and Hermione is just precoious and well-read, and Draco has had etiquette shoved at him since diapers, so I guess some variation in characterization should be fine in this instance.

I now have to get ready for a ten-hour car ride so wish me luck in surviving the boredom.

If anyone got the reference I put in this chapter, u have good taste in movies.