Harry Potter Morgendorffer: Helen versus Dumbledore Round One
DISCLAIMER: Daria is the creation of Glen Eichler and is the property of MTV Viacom. Harry Potter is the creation of JK Rowling and is the property of JK Rowling and Warner Brothers. I own neither, and neither expect nor deserve financial compensation for this work. I am writing for my own amusement and for ego gratification.
It would gratify this writer's ego greatly if you wrote a nice review.
Rated T for language. There are grown-ups talking.
Harry Potter Morgendorffer*Harry Potter Morgendorffer*Harry Potter Morgendorffer
Helen's telephone rang a couple of minutes later. It was the receptionist from downstairs.
"Mrs. Morgendorffer," she said, "there is an Alban Doubledoor here to see you."
There was a silent pause and Helen could here conversation in the background. "Albus Dumbledore," a male voice corrected.
It sounded like the old wizard. So coming here drew him out of the woodwork, thought Helen. If I rattled his cage, too bad.
"Tell him I'll come down to the lobby in a couple of minutes and meet him there," Helen said to the receptionist.
She decided to take the staircase and walked down the stairs to the main floor.
Albus Dumbledore looked like he was dressed in a three-piece suit. An illusion, Helen thought. Hogwarts was in session and she doubted that Dumbledore had had time to change. The Hogwarts headmaster was not happy to see her.
"Madam Morgendorffer, what are you doing here?" he asked, tension in his voice.
"I'm here for a business conference," Helen replied with a thin smile. "Gringotts wants me to host a seminar on Goblin—Human interactions in the workplace and I agreed to chair the panel."
"And why, for Merlin's sake, did you bring your nephew?"
"Because of questions concerning his parents' estate," said Helen, her eyes narrowing.
"Professor, for the last seven years I have been attempting to get some sort of grasp of my Great-great grand-nephew's financial affairs," said Helen. "I have not gotten any satisfactory answers. I have been ignored, put off, given the run-around and I am damn sick and tired of it."
"I have cared for the boy almost eight years. I take my responsibilities seriously, and I intend to see that he is provided for when he goes off to school and then when he moves out on his own. This much obstruction leads me to wonder just what is the state of his parents' estate and how well it has been managed, or mismanaged as the case may be."
"I have already begun to consult with lawyers back in the US about my legal options. I may well begin to see about legal options here in the UK."
Albus Dumbledore looked at the angry auburn-haired woman facing him. He could not afford this distraction. He had pressing business with the Wizengamut, placate Hogwarts' Board of Governors, and prepare for an upcoming international conference. He did not want a potential lawsuit on top of his other problems.
"So what do you want, Madam Morgendorffer?" he asked.
"I came here to gain control of my great-niece's and her husband's estate," she said.
"Madam, surely you realize that these matters can continue to be handled here in Britain by capable hands," he said.
He found himself facing Helen Morgendorffer's angry glare, an expression that was as formidable as those of some of the witches he'd dueled with during the Grindelwald War.
"Professor, I believe that my time working for Gringotts Southwest has taught me far more about estate planning and their management than what most wizards twice my age over here know. I also know where to go if I need to consult with the proper financial or legal advisors."
Professor Dumbledore began to be concerned. Madam Morgendorffer was not going to back down. Further, she had strong arguments in her favor if she chose to make her case known in public: she was not only an employee of Gringotts Southwest, but she also had legal custody of Harry Potter, her custody being confirmed both by both MACUSA and the American Muggle authorities.
. "Madam Morgendorffer, the last thing we need is a public row," said Professor Dumbledore.
"I do hope it's not necessary," said Helen. "Did I tell you that I met Linda Hecho of Tex Arcana at a party once? She's quite a writer. She told me about some of the people who work for the Prophet."
"How do you wish to settle this, Madam?" he said.
"Quietly. At Gringotts. Monday evening," said Helen.
"Agreed," said Professor Dumbledore. "Until then, Madam." said Professor Dumbledore.
Professor Dumbledore left the lobby and went into the men's restroom. Helen heard a popping noise and then remembered that while Professor Dumbledore might have apparated back to Hogwarts, he might also have apparated into her hotel room and made off with Harry. She headed for the staircase and scurried upstairs.
To her relief, HJ was in their suite.
"HJ, good. You're all right," she said.
"Mom, what's wrong?" said HJ.
"I just went toe-to-toe with a wizard," said Helen. "You're going to have to stick close to me this weekend."
-(((O-O)))-
Helen thought that her seminar went well. She'd done a good job of relating of not only how she'd come to work for Gringotts Southwest, but also of stressing the point that humans working for Goblin businesses should show the courtesy of learning Goblin manners and customs.
Mr. Speedicutt, a Goblin panelist, related the difficulties he'd had introducing Helen to Goblin mores, gave Helen some credit for adapting, and then went off-track into an anecdote about Gringotts Southwest edging out a No-Maj Atlanta bank in acquiring the assets of a failed savings and loan.
The seminar ended, and the panelists stood up in their chairs. HJ had had to sit in the back, as did Straight-Edge, Speedicutt's son. They soon grew bored. Electronics didn't work that well at the site, so hand held-video games were out of the question. They did try to adapt, and played several rounds of a graph-paper version of Battleship. Edge won three out of five games and had just finished sinking the last of HJ's capital ships when his uncle caught him and made him stop. The erstwhile Admiral of the Ocean Sea had been removed from the conference room and HJ was reduced to reading a book to pass the time. He got up and walked over to Aunt Helen.
"A very interesting talk, Ma'am," said an earnest young wizard who'd been listening to Helen and the other panelists. Helen thought he looked very young; a kid who'd either just gotten out of high school or a freshman at college.
"And you are?" said Helen.
"William Weasley, Ma'am," he said with a smile. "Everybody calls me Bill."
"Hogwarts?" said Helen. He looked young enough. She didn't think that he'd had any schooling in business. Most of those were at least out of college.
"Yes, Ma'am, I've just graduated," he said. "I'll be starting as an apprentice curse-breaker."
One of the British Goblins had a brief conversation with Mr. Bloodworth in rapid Gobledygook, then said "Bravo, Madam. Tell me, did your family used to collect heads?"
Helen knew that the Goblin could well be serious. Fortunately, she'd suspected that she'd be fielding questions like these and remembered some of the less-savory heirlooms from her father's side of the family that she'd seen growing up in Virginia.
"Not for several centuries, Sir," she replied. "One of my father's ancestors did take scalps. I remember finding some of them when I was much younger."
HJ's eyes bulged. Aunt Helen had never told him that story.