Harry and his Uncles had just finished breakfast when a nervous Dobby appeared, hopping on his mismatched sock covered toes.
"Great Wizard Harry Potter and Uncles are being waited for by Wizards in Red." His squeaky voice.
"Shit. No Doubt Amelia is wanting us to come to the Ministry for Albus's trail." Sirius displayed his Marauder's smile. "Elf. Among the lost Items there should be a set of Lord's robes sized for a very young Lord. James had a set made when he was Harry's age; he left them here that summer. Lupin will need a set of Robes, sized for him. Snap to it, Elf."
Dobby vanished with a grin and a pop.
"I can't believe that I am doing this, but for the good of the Prank." Sirius morphed into Lord Black. It was a shift as complete and complex as his shift to Padfoot. "Kreature. Attend your Lord Black."
Both Remus and Harry stepped back from him. No one crowds Lord Black.
"What bad master want?" A hachet nosed Elf appeared in the centre of the room.
"Is that the way a Black Elf speaks to His Lord and Master?"
The Elf peered at the Wizard… his Eyes flew wide open, his ear fully extended, before he dropped to his knees, his head to the side, giving Sirius the best angle to take his head.
"Kreature failed his Master. Kreature is ready to Die."
"No." Harry snarled. "Kreature is Mine to discipline. Do I have to remind Kreature of the Punishment I can bring?"
Kreature paled. "Lord Black. You have Orders."
"I need Grandfather's Robes for Court. We have been summoned." Sirius held his pose.
"Lord Black bring Pain and Torment to enemies of House Black?" The Elf asked eagerly.
"That's the Idea. Was going for Fear, Wrath, and Malice first. The Wizard that stole our Heir from Us is on trial. Of course… We hope he walks out of the Ministry of his own accord. Any case after you fetch me the silk Purple Robes… you and Dobby need to clean the… Questioning room. There are a few… Questions we want to put to him."
As Kreature vanished, Harry glared at his godfather. "Why do I get the feeling that I don't want to know the questions, just the collated data from your session, and Moony is going to be caged so that he doesn't accidentally kill or mame Albus too badly to continue with the questions."
Lupin grunted.
Dobby appeared with a pop and three Elves were with him. "Tocky, Ticky, and Bob helped Dobby find the requested items. We have Lord Potter's Robes. And a silk black Robes for Professor Wolfy." a set of male twins in pillowcases of faded Ravenclaw colours bobbed for Ticky and Tocky. A female in a mimic of Albus's robes crafted from patched pale blue and lavender curtains bobbed her head to Bob.
The two adults blinked. "Bob?" They chorused.
"Yes Sirs." The Female Elf nodded.
Remus shook his head.
Sirius smiled. "Tell me Bob. Are you looking to serve a Wizard."
She looked at the man and frowned. "Sir doesn't look good. What does Sir offer Bob?"
"I am Lord Black. Master of Black. Bob would be my Elf. The current Elf of House Black is in service to my Heir." He knelt to be more eye level with her, "What does Bob need to consider to be of service?"
Bob flapped her ears and twitched her nose as the three male Elves watched her. "Bob not accept pay."
"Would Bob accept an allowance?" Harry asked. "Not paying for service but coin to spend or save for things that Bob wants. Either for Bob or as gifts for her Lords."
"Does Bob have to accept?"
"Yes." Harry answered before Sirius could open his mouth. "A witch I am linked to has a thing about unpaid service. But she recognises that family is not paid but dependents of the family gets an allowance. Dobby, a Potter Elf gets an allowance of two Sickles each month and only because he needs the money to buy gifts for Yule and Birthdays." Harry sat on the floor. "But you will be a Black Elf. The only way you leave our service is if we give you to another. Those who die in service are honoured… In the Hall of Elves."
"Master is cruel. He makes Kreature polish the wood and brass, clean the glass, and dust the heads." Kreature had returned. "He does this knowing Kreature wants to Kreature's Head on the Wall but only when Kreature Die… in service."
"Bob faces Death?" The wide eyes and raised ears of her shock was almost comical.
"Only when Bob has lived a long life." Harry smiled at her. "Bob must care for self before she can care for Sir. That means a full tummy and full sleep. You are not allowed to punish self. A wounded Elf can not be of proper service."
Bob huffed, before glaring at Harry. "What about breeding rights?"
"That's between the Elves." Harry answered. "If Bob wants a Male from another House, and needs Help… House Black will do what is needed to get the male." Harry smiled at her. "Any Elves in service to Hogwarts, St Mungo's, and the Ministry… what happens in your cupboard stays in your cupboard."
Bob nodded. "And how much Allowance is Bob to get?"
Dobby cleared his throat. "Sirs are needing to be dressing now."
"It can be hashed out later." Harry stood up. "The question to Bob, Are you up for Service. We should be back by Dinner. You have until then to decide. We need to get dressed and go."
It turned out the James Robes were too big for Harry. So he just made do with what Hermione and Susan had selected for him.
Remus dressed in robes that belonged to a bigger Slytherin Sixth year.
Sirius dressed in his Grandfather's Robes. Bob had stayed to see what she was getting into. A few Elf Charms had Remus and Sirius looking like their Robes were tailored that morning.
The three headed down to the Entrance to the Castle.
HPWQ
Hermione, Padma, and Sue were waiting for Harry to come down, when Shacklebolt and Runcorn smashed into the Great Hall and a full run. The two of them moved like rugby players moving the ball across the field.
As they arrived before Headmistress McGonagall, Shacklebolt handed her the scroll as Runcorn took up a defensive position watching the crowd of Students.
"Shit." Bones and Granger chorused.
"What?" Padma asked.
"Harry." Hermione answered.
"He is going to the Ministry in a few minutes." Susan explained.
"Attention please." McGonagall stood. "I know that today was to be the first day of Classes, but it seems that I and a few others are going to be Summoned to the Ministry today. Lupin, myself and Snape will be leaving as soon as Black and Potter arrive. Flitwick, the School is in your hands." She frowned before turning to Hooch who was nearby. "What do you say to a little public Quidditch tryouts today?"
"No school brooms… but I don't think I have an issue with that."
Ginny hearing that, jumped up and exited the Great Hall. The twins shared a look, before following her with a frown. They caught up to her as she was arriving at the Fat Lady.
Once they were inside, they spun her about. "What's got your skirts ruffed?" Fred asked.
"Tryouts. I need to beat everyone else to be the reserve Seeker!"
The twins shared a look. "Sweet." They ran for their gear … just as the Foxes entered at a run.
HPWQ
When Harry and his Uncles came down the stairs, he was met by the twitches and Hermione. He stopped to kiss Padma's cheek. "Anything I should get while I am out?"
"Books. Celtic Folklore." She smiled at him.
He nodded before he side-stepped to her sister. He kissed her cheek.
"I wish could go with you… the gossip will be stellar." Pavarti smiled at him. "If you can, I want to get Rita Skeeter's autograph."
"I will do what I can."
He stepped in front of Hermione. "Wish I could take you with me." He bumped his forehead to hers. A thought occurred to him. "Headwig delivered a scroll when I left Surrey. What was it?"
"Ah yes. Never got it." Hermione frowned. "Mom intercepted it by bribing the bloody bird. Whatever was in the Scroll, she tucked away and said I would get it for my fourteenth birthday. I would think it scared her, but she was smirking."
"And that scares me even more." Harry stepped back as the two Aurors approached. "I kinda wondered why I needed to give you a zeb-ra report."
"We need to talk."
"Bring everyone involved to the DADA classroom after dinner. We will all have things to share." Harry kissed her forehead as she stroked her head along his jaw.
The five wizards exited the Castle and the Gate. Once beyond the Wards, Runcorn hooked Lupin under the arm and followed Shacklebolt, who was carrying Potter and Black, into the void.
HPWQ
In the Atrium, the Five Wizards cracked in, in the middle of the Press trying to push past the security gate.
Harry spotted a Blonde with an overcoat brighter than the sun. As the Four Aurors, Vance and Jones having joined them, were parting the sea of the Press, Harry snagged the arm of the EoC of the Quibbler and pulled him along.
"Keep quiet and you can see the fall of the Rotfang Conspiracy." Harry hissed, as they were herded into the Lift.
"You do realize that The Director never said anything about Lovegood." Runcorn grunted.
"Yes, but I remember that you have a bone to pick with the Management of the Ministry, even though you are as Loyal to it as these two are to me. Fudge needs my support to survive but he is out on his ear at the end of the case."
"How do you know so much?" Runcorn growled.
"Four very sexy witches left me a few notes on people of interest. Your name and picture came up." Harry adjusted his ascot. "My Slytherin Witch wanted me started on the politics of the times."
"And how do you know of the Rotfang Conspiracy?"
"Those same notes. They listed you and Luna as persons of interest and your three largest conspiracies. The Rotfang, the Helopaths, and that Sirius Black really is the lead singer Stubby Boardman."
The Adult males snorted in amusement at the last one.
Finally the lift settled on the bottom floor.
As everyone exited the lift, they were caught up in the Horde of Wizengamot Members. Almost as one, the Horde moved into the Courtroom.
Shacklebolt hit Xeno Lovegood with a colour changing hex, first to the Coat, then the hair.
Lupin led Harry and Lovegood to the Potter Seat. Once everyone was seated, Harry noticed that Greengrass, (also in the files) was in the High Seat. Fudge was below and to the left
As the Clock struck the Hour, the Doors boomed shut, and Harry felt something wash across him.
Then the Grey haired Witch in a braid from last night took centre stage.
There was a vote, and Harry encouraged Lupin to vote with Ayes.
"If you hold the Seat…"
"My Steward." Harry Whispered. "I am trying not to announce my presence until the last minute. If you can print this as it happens, and do your commentary and conspiracy theories in another article…"
"Are you asking me to pad my pages?"
"Never. If you can separate the two, that way they can't just call you a whack job. You're correct in many of your theories, but not in the way your words first strike your readers."
"How do you mean?"
"This coming Hogsmeade, I will meet with you at the Three Broomsticks. A private room please, I will pay… but you will have to reserve the room."
"Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore."
The name carried across the now silent Chamber. When the man in fresh pressed robes entered the chamber, the magic suppression cuffs visible, the whispering spread like fiend fire.
Lupin leaned over. "They are all whispering about the fact that he was strong enough to wash and press his robes while wearing the Magic Suppression Cuffs."
"Probably cost him dearly." Harry grinned. "Unless it is just a glamour. Wandless and Cuffed… he must be running low on mana."
"We will see." Lupin looked at Xeno. "And remember that you are recording everything exactly. You can keep a second scroll for your thoughts."
As the regal Wizard settled into the Chair,
"Mister Dumbledore…" Barrister Hammer began.
"I think you mean Chief Warlock, Supreme Mugwump and Headmaster Dumbledore." Albus was preening in the Chair.
"No." Greengrass smirked from the Pulpit. "You lost the title of Chief when I was appointed to the Seat. You lost the Supreme when Fudge appointed a new Mugwump. And you lost the Post of Headmaster… when you failed to Sit during the Sorting." He grinned at the House Black Seat. "Sorry… but you are now bound to Hogwarts for the year. Unless you are found derelict in your duties"
Lupin surged to his feet. "Ha! I knew that you would pay for the Prank!"
Albus had turned to see the smirk fall from Sirius's face into a look of Horror, but had to snap back around to see Lupin standing in the Potter Seat.
"What are you doing here? You are supposed to be at Hogwarts! How am I supposed to influence Potter into killing himself if I can't drive him to the edge of despair while fanning the Fires of his Martyr and Hero complexes?"
The Lords and Ladies caught the words, but Albus missed them.
Remus's growl in his chest was heard around the chamber, but Harry's whispered, 'stay,' held the Beta at the edge of the Potter Seat.
"Lords and Ladies." Sirius smiled warmly. His Grandfather had a similar smile just before he gutted you and stabbed you in the back. "I must ask for your indulgence… and release this Wizard… this Great Man… this Paragon of our Society. House Black and House Lupin has an interest in the old man walking out of this Courtroom."
"I knew I could count on your mercy." Albus smiled warmly.
Then Harry stepped forward. "Yes… Kreature is very excited for you to be able to walk out of here. He is cleaning Your Room … personally… by hand. Dobby is shopping for potion fixings. Now can we get a two thirds majority on the Release of the Accused?"
A man that looked like a Dark haired Malfoy stood up to address the Potter group. "I don't know what you think you are doing, but we have Albus in that chair and we are going to wring everything we can out of and then we will start to squeeze him dry." He smiled spitefully at Albus below him. "What makes you think that we would let him walk."
"Oh, he won't be walking." Sirius still had his smile. "He will be running… then he will be screaming.,. before he dies for the last time."
"The Last Time?" The Lord asked.
"The Muggles, limited without magic, had to learn the limits of the body… and the tricks that can keep a person from passing over completely." Lupin answered. "They are limited in the art of instant healing, but they have learned things that can give Lestrange nightmares. They can do things that could even have the Dark Lord's most loyal condemning him as a fraud."
"Stupid Half-blood Elitist." Harry snorted.
"Yes Albus…" The Lord began.
"Not the old fool. I was talking about Tom Riddle, your so-called Dark Lord Moldy-shorts. All though, even his crimes can be laid at Albus's feet."
"You saying that the Dark Lord is not a Lord?"
"His Muggle Father was Landed Gentry, but his Squib Mother was only good at brewing and being beaten by her inbred Father."
"Explain."
"The Half Blood Bastard, told me himself… or rather his Memory Fragment did. His Birth name… named for his Father and his Maternal Grandfather, an elitist so strong in his belief of his own superiority he kept his family alive for years on spite, alone." Harry didn't know where this was coming from, but someone had pulled the cork from the cask, and kicked the barrel over.
Harry's wand snapped out and in perfect penmanship, wrote out the Wizard's Name in blueish white flames. A flick of his wand drove the letters to the center of the Chamber. The three names hung there, burning on Harry's Anger alone.
Tom
Marvolo
Riddle
A slice of his Wand…
The Letters rearranged themselves.
I
Am
Lord
Voldemort
TBC