Harry Potter and the Unlocked Runic Potential
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A/N: Thanks to my wonderful Beta, LtsHrIt4ThBoyz.
Thanks to Alix33 for her input as well.
Disclaimer: Harry Potter is owned by JKRowling. We are only playing in the sandbox.
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Welcome to the Fireside.
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Chapter Twelve - Diacritic Dumbledore
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With this many people to investigate, it was decided to put all of the criminals into cells and call for the trials to start mid-January. That would give the prosecution time to prepare.
Even Tom Marvolo Riddle was going to get a fair trial, with a barrister provided if he could not afford one.
If Fudge had been in charge, that little detail would have been completely ignored. The Dark Lord either would be allowed to escape or sent directly to Azkaban based on his gold reserves alone.
~~ooOOoo~~
Albus was a different story. Not that he wouldn't get a fair tribunal, but they were worried his minions might try to get him out of gaol. Which is why Bumbles was being held in secret cells in the Department of Mysteries for security purposes. Only a few knew where he was being kept, including Unspeakable Croaker. And Dumbledore had no fans amongst them for some reason.
The prosecutors were compiling additional questions to ask the seemingly insane wizard.
Of course, the biggest question to start with was asking why kidnap Miss Granger in the first place?
"My original plan was to get Harry to put a cursed ring on, and then let Severus use the blood from the cursed boy to doom Tom. But Harry's been so stubborn and getting worse. The girl was more malleable and was excellent bait to get Harry out of the castle, away from his security. This was vital to the protection of our entire society!"
The old wizard volunteered, "I knew Lucius was trying to bring Voldemort back. He'd contacted Severus, who couldn't overcome the power of the dark mark. He started working on the potion this past summer to allow Tom to get a body back.
He explained everything in great detail, all too happy to brag.
"I didn't know how to remove the curse other than allowing it to attack someone. If I put on the ring, it would have disabled me! I needed, no, need to be strong to face Tom! To kill Voldement.
"Of course I was sad about the girl being hurt but I have to look at the bigger picture. I knew Severus could cure her, as he is so very talented. But we were attacked. It isn't my fault my perfect plan was thwarted. Now, we need to act quickly."
That led the demented man to start demanding to be allowed out before their world went down in flames. Only he could rescue them. They needed to hurry up and release him as Voldemort would now have a new body and would be slaughtering innocents. They needed to allow him to protect their society; bring his century-long leadership skills and experience to defeat this renewed dark lord.
But the aurors questioning him just ignored his demands for release and focused on asking questions about his centers of control.
What good would it do them when only he could understand how the movements of the cogs and wheels meshed like the finest of Swiss timepieces? He was the master here!
Even with Albus' attempts at obfuscation, they learned much. Alastor and Croaker, helping there, consulted afterwards. Albus was dangerous - even Algernon had found himself nodding to some of the old wizard's rhetoric.
A pair of goblins grabbing Albus coming out of the interrogation room wasn't expected by most. But they only grabbed him to head back into said room and then only for a short time. A stone rune, a miniature arch, was thrown against the door as it shut. Abrupt but honorable creatures, goblins. Was one of them female? And the other, such vivid green eyes. No, don't ask, don't even look.
Alastor had been expecting them. They spoke in a very strange dialect before bowing and leaving.
The aurors shrugged, and hauled Albus away to his cell where he cried but spoke not one word aloud. The constant complaints to be released, demands for better accommodations and better food stopped. He answered all questions in a calm and exact manner and no longer fought the investigation against him.
No one noticed that Dumbledore too was now bearing a lighting bolt sigil and the language the supposed goblins spoke was actually ancient Egyptian but when given writing materials to send a letter to a barrister, Albus confessed to all his crimes.
He revealed things he'd stolen from Charlus, James and Harry Potter, as well as the location of Hogwarts treasures that he'd hidden here and there.
He shared his plans for the wizarding world in general and how he used the school to keep magicals as ignorant as possible. History, Potions –until recently–, and especially DADA. It was all deliberate to keep the populace in line.
Hogwarts' dungeons were revealed to have hidden runes affecting the teaching there. Dumbledore didn't know the DADA curse had been removed and of course, he'd fought the change to History class but had been overruled by the ever-so-corrupt Board that had "faux" death eaters on it!
Albus admitted he had started to carve some new runes on the second floor but he kept on being discovered. The floo control had been overcome by the castle but had been kept in check for years by his overpowered spells like the ones he used at the Burrow.
The special alchemical potions, so very tricky to brew, have been highly illegal since the conflict with Grindelwald. All of his stock was now gone, the last used on the presumably dead Granger girl. And no, he really wasn't sorry about her death.
He'd promised her healing but he'd been kept away from helping her. That wasn't his fault now, was it? He repeated on parchment, he was needed to face and defeat Voldemort now that the prophecy had been fulfilled. It was his destiny to face Tom. He would accept his due accolades and awards later but putting down this dark lord was imperative and when would he be getting out?
Nothing was said to the criminal about Hermione's health but when the now former headmaster heard Harry was still alive, he was very upset, and began plotting. Severus must have saved Harry! That boy! How dare he rebel after all the favors Albus had done for him! But not one word of complaint escaped his lips. All went into his desperate writing.
Each parchment was stained with tears, some thinking they were tears of repentance or remorse. But they were wrong.
They were tears of anger, frustration, and knowledge that the Dark Lord Harry had won. Temporarily as Potter would fall once he was out of here. At least Albus had killed his witch. That would teach him!
He bragged about that action in the next letter. And did manage to - politely - request he be allowed out to defeat both Tom and Harry. Please?
He hated saying please and ground his teeth some more!
~~ooOOoo~~
After the questioning of both of the real dark lords, Tom and Albus, they found out Albus had already destroyed the last remaining piece of Tom Riddle. He kept the stone, which he asked to be returned to him, again politely, but had thrown the ring into the fiendfyre he'd cast.
The highly illegal and very dark spell that he admitted to casting as though talking about doing the laundry. It was necessary so why the fuss?
All of the horcruxes were now identified and either destroyed or cleansed. Or in the case of the snake, dead. What were those strange holes? Not piercing charms, no magical signature. They were lucky the area was so well monitored when the headmaster lit his 'little fire'.
It took quite a few specialists to constrain the fiendfyre and even more to get it put out. The shack and many overgrown acres were a complete loss. The obliviators would blame it on a Guy Fawkes bonfire that got out of control. Not everyone had Neville's wonderful Muggle Studies teacher who knew that rebellion was celebrated the month before, on the 5th of November, though there was plenty of treason discovered.
The stone had been given to Harry as part of his belongings, but it was confirmed to be his as the rightful heir of House Peverell.
Albus had not one tear of remorse for his actions, only anger at being chained just as strongly as Severus had been. But that was different as it had been necessary.
He wasn't even sad for the thought of killing a student.
~~ooOOoo~~
Spurnik, on the other hand, was most distraught over the situation Miss Granger had been in. He had apologized profusely to Dan Granger, Hermione's Head of House and to both Heir Potter and Lord Black. He'd honestly thought the headmaster had fought against Riddle for all those years. By telling Smelly Plots about the soul-jars, the goblin felt like it was his fault that Hermione had been put into danger.
Spurnik had a special gift made for her as an apology. She accepted the lovely goblin-made jeweled comb for her abundant locks. The legacy piece meant she was an honored person within Gringotts now.
The rest of the treasures of Hogwarts that had been stolen over the years were now returned. Things that the headmaster had 'borrowed' from Houses Bones, Black, Potter, and more were discovered amongst them. They were also returned to their rightful owners.
Harry and Bill were with the deputy and the Potter account manager to discuss what to do with the Hogwarts Legacy treasures: Hufflepuff's cup, Slytherin's locket, Ravenclaw's diadem, and a recently recovered item of Gryffindor's.
"Do you realize how valuable this is?" Spurnik queried. It was a wonderfully ornate goblet made from a graphorn's horn. Godric's drinking horn trimmed in gold, set with rubies. The stand alone was worth a fortune.
"Yes, yes I do. Which is why I've commissioned a copy made by a witch who is a master in Transfiguration. Mistress in it. Whatever." Harry smirked at the Deputy Headmistress.
"Bill and I talked about this already. Until I learn warding, I want to wait to store it at the school. I'll put it in a small vault with the other Hogwarts legacy items until I can figure something out. I don't want people breaking into Hogwarts to steal it. It would put students in danger."
Bill suggested "We could always make a special display in Gringotts? Perhaps a small charge to see these treasures while standing in the queue?"
"And split the money with Hogwarts? Fifty-fifty?" Harry asked.
Spurnik shook his head, "No, goblins honor honesty. We'll keep the twenty percent, per standard, the rest to the school."
Minerva smiled at Harry, "Most kind of ye, but remember, we are adding new classes soon. Warding is one, so we could look into getting help for guarding yer treasures."
Bill agreed."That works. And we'll make sure that everyone knows the copies are at Hogwarts, not the originals."
"But we'll want the Sword of Gryffindor back." Spurnik grumbled.
Bill laughed. He doubted the goblins could keep it if Harry really needed it.
Harry was thinking similar thoughts, "As long as I can borrow it for the next troll, basilisk, or other magically-resistant creature, we have a bargain."
Bill agreed. So did Professor McGonagall.
"We have a bargain." The goblin smiled. Really smiled.
Harry called for refreshments as Fawkes brought Harry the sorting Hat and they had a brief sip of goblin ale to celebrate the contract signed.
The Potter lad knew people were curious as to what had happened to the death eaters and in particular, to Moldy. He didn't want to lie but he didn't need to tell the whole truth either.
Knowing Bill would be heading to the castle very soon, the lad saluted him as Fawkes responded to Harry's call. He asked for him and the deputy to be taken to the antechamber for a quiet entrance. Then, Harry returned to Hogwarts with Professor McGonagall in true style.
Flaming into the Great Hall? Harry was going to have a talk with Padfoot. He was corrupting a phoenix to play pranks? Just no!
Little did he know his godfather was already there and most…somber at the moment.
~~ooOOoo~~
Sirius was worried about Narcissa. It was nearly the Yule holiday. Lucius was arrested and sitting in a holding cell. He had no gold for a barrister and Lord Black had declined the honor of helping to retain one for him.
Now Lucy wanted to claim family ties? As if! The man had bribed people to suck out Harry's soul for the Dark Lord! Before that, the man had bribed people to put and keep him, Sirius, in prison and then send dementors when Sirius didn't die in Azkaban. He had hired multiple people trying to kill both himself and his godson!
Then, on top of those crimes, Lucius had the audacity to accuse his wife of infidelity.
Did Lucius not understand the minute Sirius was free, he had hired one of the best legal minds available to look for ways to get his cousin out from her marriage to Malfoy? He was a slimy, evil git! But he had to investigate the claim all the same.
Sometimes family magic was such a pain.
He didn't know about Remus and Narcissa continuing to date after school. He thought it had ended when it hadn't. However, what Lucius accused was impossible.
"I'm forced by my master here," Sirius pointed to his House ring, "to ask if you have broken your marriage vows?"
Narcissa had perfected the upper-class snort that accused him of being a berk without words.
"While I have deep, emotional ties to someone else, I have never acted on them since being forced into marriage. Fortunately for me, the consummation of such wasn't in the contract. Just an heir."
Sirius goggled at that. Witch's magic. He didn't ask and didn't want to.
"I'm sorry if this subject hurts you, but Lucius' life is forfeit for his actions. After your mourning year, do you plan to search for a new companion?" Lord Black asked.
"As Lord Black, you could try and force me into another contract or prevent me from marrying the wizard I love."
"I would never prevent your happiness. I will not." Sirius promised.
"Then give me leave to mourn for only a short time." Three months was the minimum time socially acceptable, usually for a wizard, or a witch with young children but the clock started from the time Lucius was captured in an act that would result in the death penalty. "Yes. A wedding on the Spring Equinox. If he accepts my proposal."
"May I ask who this lucky wizard is?"
"You don't know? Remus!" Narcissa rolled her eyes. "I don't want Malfoy manor. I'm taking out a few personal items and packing Draco's things. The portraits are worthless, mindless snobs of the highest order. Take it back, burn it. I'll never live there again."
"You don't want it for Draco?"
"Can you not see the difference between Harry and Draco? One was raised with nothing and is caring and kind. Draco is self-centered and spoilt. My fault, in part, I know. He looks down on the Weasleys instead of seeing their true wealth."
Sirius was suddenly very aware of how stuck up he'd been in school. Remus hadn't been nor had Peter.
He rubbed his heart.
"I'm sorry. I should have been there for you. For you both. Can you forgive me?" Sirius asked.
"Yes, of course. But I want to live simply. I don't want to have two hundred pairs of shoes. Who needs that many designer shoes? Some of them I haven't even worn!"
Sirius got that look again.
Narcissa waggled her finger, "What are you thinking?"
"I know a seventh year prefect that has been very helpful to Harry this year. The amulet thing. Oh no! Dumbledore stole it! If that old man had just left Harry alone, he'd have been wearing an amulet! Peter wouldn't have needed to die!"
"Sirius? Are you sure he would have been able to charge it? From what I heard, he was tied up. Pettigrew saved his life."
Padfoot stood and paced. "Regardless of what happened, Peter is now a Marauder and back on the map along with Leo, Nightsong, and Flipper."
George's animagus form was a magical orca who liked to sing in moonlight. Fred's animagus form was a dolphin. They were reflected in their patroni. Not all people's forms did but theirs did.
Not very useful in a landlocked area of Scotland but showed Fred's nature of being playful, intelligent, and a bit of a prankster. Orcas were very family oriented as was George.
"Back to shoes. Focus, Sirius. You want to give her my shoes?"
"Shoes, dresses, gowns. She's very clever but like Peter and Remus, was born to a family of limited means. She doesn't need a fortune. She just needs a chance."
"I'm not opposed to donating the clothes, but Dalia wants to do jewelry. It's her sister and her best friend Parvati who want to do fashion. They could take these things and remake them. Inexpensive fancy clothes for those witches just starting out. Perhaps even share shop space in the shop you bought for Miss Brown."
Sirius suddenly looked happier, for the idea of helping others and helping Narcissa move on, "Of course you know these witches better than I. I just don't want elves or helpers banishing things that might be of use."
Narcissa laughed. "As long as no one knows the source so as to mock me. Some of the things purchased were just…ridiculous. And no, I bought very little of my own."
Lucy deliberately bought her horrible things? What a berk!
~~ooOOoo~~
Amelia was exhausted and gratefully accepted a cup of tea from her secretary. So many! Far too many secret minions had riddled the Ministry.
No wonder it had almost fallen before.
Fudge's nephew John Dawlish being marked surprised her more than it should. Fudge didn't hide his blood purist leanings, rather used them to appeal to the 'common pureblood.' Hah!
And the Floo department! Only the juniors, too young to have been old enough to gain a mark were free of taint if not free of prejudice. Why hadn't she or anyone else noticed this? Perhaps she too had been influenced but by whom? Riddle or Dumblemort?
Amelia made a note to ask the dark one just that question. Were she and Moody the only people who had truly been fighting back in the day? Or just the only survivors of what others called 'Light'?
She looked at her calendar. She'd been invited to the leaving feast the next day along with many other parents. They were celebrating Yule and the ending of a terrible time at Hogwarts.
What a mess! Ogden was doing a good job as interim minister and was working on new oaths and new laws for the Wizengamot that would prevent such an overt takeover of their government. He was including new legislation that would not only allow but encourage more muggleborns to be welcome as shop owners, teachers, and Ministry workers. It was a start but they both wanted fresh blood in some of the empty seats coming up.
She might have inherited the current situation, but she planned to try and recruit Moody as an academy teacher and get decent aurors trained up. They had volunteers filling the gaps for now, but a new day was dawning. A dark mark free new year.
Sipping tea, she tackled the next problem, grateful she wasn't responsible for the prosecution of all those in custody.
~~ooOOoo~~
Sirius was going to be returning to the castle for a few days now rather than later. "I like the Boxing Day concept but we have plans in Egypt. Perhaps next year." Sirius explained to Narcissa.
Yule had come to Hogwarts. Bill was here for a couple of days, so Molly and Arthur had joined them there with Professor McGonagalls blessing. Charlie was even coming for dinner, thanks to Fawkes.
Harry had all of his presents ready. The new headmaster was coming at the start of term, so for right now, it was just the professors he was familiar with, and for the most part, got along with.
Most of Harry's presents, given on the Winter's Solstice, were simple. Small amulets of protection, sweets, and a few books. Narcissa cooed over the Opal-eye wand holder. No more wands in pockets for her!
Sirius loved the matching one to Harry's own.
Marissa joined them there too and enjoyed the stack of tiny books that would be enlarged when she got them back to Egypt. They were copies of some of her favorites from Bill's library.
Dalia stopped by when monitoring the students at the feast and slipped a gift to Bill; it was a man's torc and suggested that Harry could enchant it for him. He gave her a book of ancient Egyptian art that was perfect for her business. They shared a real hug before she moved on.
Hermione's squeals of delight with her gift had given the potions teacher a clue as to why Sirius wasn't staying until Boxing day; Harry had invited her and her parents for some exclusive time in the Library of Alexandria.
Draco was giving Miss Lavender a simple but one-of-a-kind necklace he'd ordered through her older sister.
Lucius would have sneered at approving such a match. Narcissa was not Lucius.
Lavender came from a solid middle-class pureblood home. She had intelligence and social skills like her sister, as well as an interest in politics. She wanted to go into fashion.
In addition, she was vivacious, blonde, and had stayed to help first and second years before she found out Draco was staying in the castle that first Hogsmeade weekend.
She was a good friend and potentially more.
If Draco still had a fortune, he would be sought out by the Greengrasses, Parkinsons, and others.
Now he was free to choose with his heart, as was she.
And the best part was this; Lavender liked him before when everyone thought him wealthy and Heir Black. And she still liked him now; no wealth, no title (Lucius had sold it and the seat), no legacy.
Narcissa would be monitoring the situation. And perhaps invite Lavender and her sister to a Paris fashion show this summer.
~~ooOOoo~~
Harry asked for a quiet word with Narcissa and they went to the antechamber. "You have been dealt a very unkind hand. I want to help. I inherited a small house in Hogsmeade that has several floors. I think it would make a nice home for a small family. It even has a potion's lab.
"My father was your cousin. I, Harry Potter, stand as his proxy and offer shelter to you and your son. Please accept."
Harry didn't get all of the words right but the sentiment was noted. And appreciated.
"I have a holiday home in Paris. I will accept this if you accept my invitation to stay in that townhouse when visiting France."
"I've never been abroad except to Egypt but Hermione has a grandmother in that city. I've always wondered if she came from a wizarding family."
"With that hair? Reminds me of my sister who is very magical. I suspect so." The witch opened her arms for a real hug. "Bless you. Jamie could be a bit of a berk at times but he and I always got along well. This is exactly the sort of thing he'd do."
"I know you have Maizy but Dobby? Can you please join us?"
The little elf had been invited to the holiday and really perked up when he'd been told they were spending time with Sirius' cousin Narcissa.
"Mistress 'Cissa? How Dobby has missed you." Dobby bowed low.
"Oh Dobby! I thought you were…" There was another hug and Dobby glowed.
The sincere wish to be reunited, one with another, was heard. Their magic reacted.
"I'm so sorry! I wasn't trying to hurt or enslave you, dear one. Do you want to be free?"
"Dobby no wanting to serve wizards who hurt. Can yous be setting Dobby free when you go to Avalon?"
Harry could understand this. Dobby didn't want to belong to Draco. It made sense.
Harry bowed and kissed Narcissa's hand; he put the house keys into Dobby's. "I wish you both well."
The pair were sitting on the sofa, speaking softly and too rapidly to follow, catching up since last June's events.
They needed to find another helper for Bill's tent. One who could cook well. Dobby was the best cook and a kind soul. If a bit hyper.
~~ooOOoo~~
After leaving Hogwarts, Bill, Harry, and Sirius spent some time with the Longbottoms. Marissa was helping Hermione and Emma with shopping, getting ready for the trip to Egypt.
Neville tried to remain the proper pureblood but after the introductions were done, the boys went off to the greenhouses leaving the matron to entertain the wizards.
"I trust you've had a good Yule so far?" Augusta asked.
"Very much so. While she won't be attending the trials in January, or starting until they are well over, I wanted to let you know that Narcissa is now the voting proxy for House Potter on the Hogwarts Board." Percy was thrilled to be heading to the 'Mot after the NEWTs were done.
Narcissa would be voting the Black seat once the death eater trials were done and both the Potter and Black seat on the Board of Governors; while Percy would be taking over from Moody for the Potter seat in the 'Mot once school was out for the summer.
Alastor Moody had detested the 'Mot with every fiber of his being, but being there had made the death eaters nervous. And that made him happy. He'd be the Potter proxy yet for a time.
"Neville has no interest in the 'Mot either. Of course, neither my husband Gerald nor my son Frank did either."
"No mother. You're the political animal in the family. Which one, I'm still trying to decide." A man's voice seemed to come from the wall. They walked around and saw a portrait previously unnoticed.
"Frank! Oh, it's so good to see…hear your voice!" Sirius wanted to shake his hand and settled for the pureblood greeting of gently tapping the frame with his wand to donate a bit of magic.
"Is that you Black? I've seen pictures of Harry. What do you know? I just wanted to thank him for the research to help Alice. I was tortured by the cruciatus curse. But I think Crouch did something else to her. Perhaps you could hire Moody or a different curse-breaker to look into it. For me?"
Bill had been introduced but only his name. He asked, "Who inherited the Crouch library?"
"Wise questions as Junior was quite the bookworm. Mother? Did you inherit it?" The portrait of Frank Longbottom asked.
"I should have, as it was my home growing up, but neither Barty liked me for my political stance. My strong political stance." She gave her son a deep look of sadness, concerned it was her fault her child had been targeted. She put guilt aside, concentrating.
"Fortunately for us in this quest, Neville did inherit. We'll ask him when he gets back. Clive is making his favorites for tea so they will return."
The wizards laughed at that, and they talked about the Board's plan for the school and what support she needed there.
"Honestly, with Albus gone, the opposition will be little for the improvements we want. The Potter account manager has some of the gold invested wisely for Hogwarts to continue this legacy into the future."
"So, bringing back Enchanting and Wards?" Bill queried.
"They will be returning just as soon as we can find competent professors for them." The witch shared.
Sirius and Bill stated together; "Let me check into it."
They shared a look and burst into laughter.
"Not a word to Harry now. I want to surprise him with this good news." Bill requested.
Frank laughed, "The Marauders strike again."
~~ooOOoo~~
The account manager for House Crouch was a very grumpy goblin who had not yet called for a will reading.
"Barty Junior is still alive. If you don't believe me, ask him. He's in a holding cell." The goblin grumbled. The Ministry's tricks declaring a person dead didn't work on goblins!
Neville looked at his Gran. They were looking at this all wrong. Barty had cursed his mother, Alice, and was still alive. Bellatrix cursed his mother and was alive.
All four of the terrible miscreants, at this moment in time, were all alive.
Neville bowed, "You are correct. Please, here are a few galleons for your time."
The being grunted and bowed a bit to the young heir and more deeply to Augusta, "Your mother's things have been withheld from you but when the heir is not just reported dead but actually passes on, I think you will find a few pieces you thought lost."
"Thank you. Good day."
The pair walked from there to the nearest auror substation, "We need to speak to Alastor Moody regarding the testimony of Barty Crouch, Jr."
Normal spells used latin phrasing combined with magical power. These words were a new kind of spell that saw the pair of Longbottoms escorted to the DMLE, given nearly drinkable tea and not too terrible of scones.
They needed a Dobby. Desperately.
~~ooOOoo~~
Marius Greengrass and Alastor Moody soon joined them as did a harried looking Director Bones.
Neville stood and bowed as she entered the room, "It's a long story, but my father's portrait awoke and shared information. My mother was attacked with different spells than he was. Bill wasn't here and didn't hear about Barty Jr being alive. He was suggesting using their library.
Moody swore. "All of them are alive, for the moment. We need Potter."
"We were running errands in the Alley. If I may have permission to cast?" Neville asked.
He'd finally gotten it to work. A patronus badger flew from his wand and Neville sent the short message away. The adults were just looking at him.
"What? I wanted to go to Hufflepuff when I was sorted and felt I could do well there." Neville admitted.
Harry and Bill were soon there. "Sirius is around here somewhere. There's a development?"
"Crouch Junior is not the only one alive who attacked Mum. All four of them are." Neville shared.
"Alastor? Can you please stay with these people? Mr Potter? Will your command thing work through a mirror? I don't want you going to Azkaban." Amelia asked.
Harry shivered. Without Hermione? No! Nor with. Just no! "We can try."
~~ooOOoo~~
It took a bit of time but Barty and Bellatrix finally confessed to what they had done to Alice. Both laughed it had taken so long to be caught out but the 'dangerous' auror, Alice Longbottom, had been removed from duty for twelve long years.
They counted that as a win.
Harry fought his temper and didn't just tell Bella to 'drop dead'. Tommy-boy hadn't killed Marius that way. Would it even work?
Alice's recovery wouldn't be fast or inexpensive, but Healer Greengrass not only knew what to do, he had now had a suspicion there were other 'incurable' cases out there, waiting to be solved.
They'd been asking members of the gittle club about murders and such. Not unique and obscure dark magic!
Harry gave new suggestions to the aurors for dealing with the former death eaters. Make sure the criminals didn't leave anyone alive lingering under a curse!
~~ooOOoo~~
Yule may have gotten off to a rocky start but the rest of it was peaceful. After enjoying a bit of time with his family, Bill was happily back at work in Egypt. Harry was beyond happy to be there with him and have access to better books. Now this was a library!
Sirius was already spending all day on Fridays here with Marissa, so it was very easy for him to convert that to spending the rest of the holiday there in Bill's tent. Marissa slept in her own tent but spent time, when not on the jobsite, here in the library tent.
Dobby was missed by the team but Sirius had hired a free elf to be Bill's new cook. He and Pepper seemed to be in gentle competition to see who could feed Harry the most.
Sirius watched Harry explain a grouping of slithering snake runes to Marissa, her dark hair matching Harry's. The busy pair looked up. "What?"
Lord Black waved an elegant hand, "Nothing dear, nothing at all." But he knew she was the one for him. Knew it deep down and was glad they were going to marry.
As all good things do, the holiday came to a close, but Harry planned on being back for Easter. He no longer had to worry about creepy headmasters or evil plots. The dark one would get his fair trial and then Voldy would truly be Moldy.
His life was truly looking up!
~~ooOOoo~~
Draco had had a miserable Yule. His father was in holding, but with the crimes he had committed, he knew Father was going to be executed. He had been allowed to write him a letter but no visit. That was supposed to be for his benefit. Several other Slytherins were in the same boat.
Adrian Pucey said it best. He was happy for his mother and sister but it was hard. He felt helpless. And that's how Draco felt.
First, he'd had to walk through the manor making sure everything of his was packed.
He had been told by his mother the place belonged to House Black. He just didn't understand at first what that meant. When he was an adult, he couldn't live here anymore. And now, they didn't have the gold to support the expenses of a manor. They had to move out.
The Malfoy lands, such as they were, would be going to the Ministry unless great mercy was shown.
He wasn't expecting Mercy. Or Hope. Or Joy. But then Lavender came by and his blues fled.
Harry Potter. The former enemy had given his mother a small cottage in Hogsmeade. The stable where he'd kept his Abraxan was bigger than it, but his mother had also wanted a simpler life all his growing years.
"What kind of work do you want to do when you're older?" Lavender asked.
He pulled out a badge he made, 'Beware Slytherin's Flying Snakes' then pushed a button 'Danger in the Skies!'
"That's quite clever. Are you going to make and sell them for all of the houses?"
Make? Sell? He had a bit of gold, and was getting an allowance now from Lord Black. It wasn't huge, enough for a couple of butterbeers, snacks, and lunch on Hogsmeade weekends. He could make gold? On his own?
"I could use some of my allowance to pay for materials and make badges to sell?" Draco asked, "Is that allowed?"
"Why not? That's how Dalia is working, making jewelry for sale." Lavender shared.
"But, but…my father never worked…"
"I know, sweetie. Some people take other people's money, others earn it honestly. I'm so sorry. You're going to be just fine. Just give yourself time to adapt." The vivacious witch hugged him then asked. "So, what are the Gryffindor badges going to say?"
He started to tease 'Potter Stinks' but didn't want her to think he was serious about that.
"Will you help me?"
"Absolutely. Let's start with the mascots of each house and go from there. I like the Slytherin one. Oh, and you can make new ones for each game. 'Defeather the Eagles' or something."
Draco was absolutely stunned. His father had stolen his legacy but it didn't matter because he could make more!
What a concept.
~~ooOOoo~~
The start of the new term had another grand feast open to all students and parents. Bill, here for just dinner, was seated next to Harry of course and this time Prefect Dalia was able to sit and enjoy the feast. She accepted the invitation to sit with them.
The new headmaster, a wizard from Bern, Gunter Brand, was finally introduced to Hogwarts. His reception was joyous, with cheers and applause, all of the students and most of the adults on their feet to welcome him.
Bill had shared this was always the plan but now, Harry would truly be safer at school.
Those involved in international quidditch shouted, "Gunter BRAND!" just like they would when 'Igooooor BRAND' was announced. All cheered, letting those not in the know he had a professional quidditch player son.
The short but powerful wizard smiled at that welcome, nodded politely to the staff he'd gotten to know via mirror during the first term, and took his place at a regular chair that was nothing like the throne which had been removed at his request.
A new day dawned for Hogwarts just as a new day was dawning for the Ministry.
~~ooOOoo~~
The head of the DMLE had made sure the people guarding those in the cells were muggleborn and half-bloods with no sympathies to the dark. But she needn't have worried.
Those few remaining unmarked sympathizers had fled the country upon hearing of all of the arrests. There was no one remaining who wanted to help the criminals being held.
Director Bones was tired but took the opportunity to talk to one of the 'innocent' death eaters who was already freed. Something of his had been recently found that should have been sent to him long ago.
She slid him the parchment and key that had been in the property room since this man's grandfather had been arrested, given a fair trial, found guilty, and sent to prison where he didn't last long. "I've checked with the goblins. This is yours. Enjoy. And thank you for coming in." She then squeezed his hand, "I feel terrible that despite your pleas for help, I failed you. I humbly ask forgiveness."
"We've been fighting blindly, Director Bones. You are indeed forgiven. I just hope to never be enslaved again."
The woman nodded and the man headed to the bank.
The lord's ring would be in the vault, magic not allowing someone convicted of a crime to keep it. Severus was surprised the vault key hadn't been stolen but it was of House Prince so perhaps there were more protections on it than he knew.
~~ooOOoo~~
Severus was not seated in the visitor's gallery to watch over the trials. No, he was now in the Prince seat. His grandfather would not be pleased, having a mere 'half-blood' there, wearing the ring that declared to everyone he was now Lord Prince. Ha!
Black sat in his own seat. Narcissa wouldn't be allowed to sit in judgment of her husband even if she felt he deserved it: Too close to breaking the oaths she'd been forced into. The Malfoy seat was no longer in the family but she wouldn't stand as proxy for anyone during this time.
Mad-eye had only one real issue in judging today. He had a grudge against Lucius Malfoy for the whole basilisk incident. Fortunately, Harry's memories would be presented today.
On the child endangerment counts alone, Malfoy would be tossed into Azkaban for life. Hiring minions to try and kill Lord and Heir Black to clear the way for his son to inherit? Ultimate line-theft charges and would be either a death sentence or life in Azkaban. Trying to bring back Lord Voldemort or Tom Riddle or whoever he was in order to overthrow the government? Treason. One of the few ways to earn a noose in muggle Britain.
He had eaten his last meal on Earth, his next would be in the dark place, hopefully next to Dumbledore, eating marmite sandwiches* if it was up to Moody.
~~ooOOoo~~
The Trial of Dumbledore, as the headlines declared, was a closed meeting. Only sworn Wizengamot members, representatives of the crown, and a few high officials from the ICW were in attendance. No outside visitors were allowed but the trial was broadcast on the WWN.
It appeared that Albus had been a bad boy for a very long time.
Worried it would be uncovered, Harry freed the man just before his trial. Moody might have been with him and let the old wizard remember said mark as a dream. It had been a temporary ploy to make sure the man actually faced justice and didn't get spirited away by his friends.
The evidence against Albus was overwhelming. The trial would be only addressing a few of the more recent crimes. Dumbles was allowed to enter his plea: Not Guilty, and why he thought he wasn't a criminal. After all, everything he did, he did for the betterment of wizarding society.
Wasn't that exactly what Grindelwald claimed?
He was found guilty of the top crimes he'd been charged with: Attempted murder of minors in his charge, kidnapping, willful endangerment of minors in his charge, and treason against the Crown (helping bring back You-Know-Who).
Albus grew very angry at finding out it was only attempted murder.
"The Granger chit lived? How? That's impossible! No! NO!"
Any hope he had at mercy met with a metaphorical blasting curse as all eyes looked upon him in horror. Some hadn't wanted to believe the testimony but that rant sealed his fate. He was sentenced to the Veil.
Harry hadn't attended but Sirius was there. Hermione was family to him now and honestly wished he, as Lord Black, had the right to put the wizard down himself.
Severus was allowed to approach Albus to inform him the Dark Lord was indeed vanquished. And no, the dark one hadn't been running around willy-nilly killing off the last of the nobility as the former headmaster had desired. Albus tried to deny it but saw the truth in the Potion Master's eyes. And the filled seats, in the 'Mot itself, bore witness to the fact as well.
Lord Greengrass was there indeed as were several others he'd hope to see put down.
Then Minerva was there and had a personal memory orb that she thrust into Dumbledore's hand. Filius had charmed it to stick there until the memory was finished. It forced him to watch as the new headmaster was warmly welcomed. Albus ground his teeth at the vows Brand took before being installed as the new administrator. One could feel how happy the castle was with its new Head. No! Hogwarts was his!
Dumbles tried to break the orb but she just summoned it to her hand when it had played through, not once, but twice. The man seen both Harry and Hermione and their minions in the memory and now wept for all he'd lost and failed to do. He had lost everything!
Convicted, he had only Death to look forward to.
Bill was allowed to accompany the small group taking Albus down to the Veil. Of course the old wizard tried to call for Fawkes. When she arrived, Bill was worried for her safety as aurors pulled wands. But all she did was drop something into the redhead's hand before landing on his shoulder, rubbing her head against his cheek. She then turned her tail to the old wizard, gave his robes a new decoration, and flew off.
What in the world had the phoenix been eating? So hot!
She had dropped off the amulet Sirius had enchanted with Bill's help but thought too cruel to implement. Well, Fawkes didn't didn't think it was. The curse-breaker put the solid bracelet on the man's wrist.
Dumbledore started crying: he suddenly was feeling pain, hunger, loneliness, rejection and loss. These were not feelings of empathy towards Harry, not in the least. The old man was incapable of that so very human emotion; just look at how he'd treated a young Tom Riddle! He could have, so easily, prevented the creation of that dark Lord; instead he did everything he could to turn the broken young boy into one!
Albus was suffering as though he himself was living through the torture he'd deliberately inflicted upon the child. The enchantment prevented the old man from escaping the punishment by using occlumency so his final moments were spent with some of Harry's earliest and sharpest feelings.
After passing through the veil, the newly young man expected peace. But that was before his Guardian showed up looking angry. Very angry.
~~ooOOoo~~
My apologies to anyone who loves the sticky, brown brewery-leftovers that make up this filling but I feel that Marmite being served to those who don't like it deserve it.
A/N: Story recommended by Millie072: Harry Potter and the Family Business by Red Phoenix Dragon. A grand bash on AD
https/s/9607710/1/Harry-Potter-and-the-Family-Business
A/N: Story recommended by csheila: Rise of the Dark Lady Hermione (adopted)
Started by Clell65619's Boneyard, chapter 2 and finished by dunnelos (one of our favorites)
https/s/11642988/2/The-Boneyard
https/s/11774986/1/Rise-of-the-Dark-Lady-Hermione-adopted
Thank you everyone for your recommendations.
~~ooOOoo~~
ƺ parseltongue
galleons
sickles
ķ knuts
Ɠ Goblin language
Copyright: The original books are all owned by JK Rowling and her associates. This piece is the intellectual property of the writer VashonBeader and her beta LtsHrIt4ThBoyz and is not to be used (or sold) elsewhere under any other name.