Chapter 30 : Skeeter's Secret
I do not own Harry Potter
Author's Notes:
1) Yes, Yes, I know you would like to see this story conclude before the end of this decade... I'm trying, I promise!
"Good afternoon, everyone. Thank you for coming" greeted Andromeda "I'm sure all of you have a few questions" she remarked, eliciting scattered laughter from a room of about about a score of journalists and cameramen, mostly from England, though she could also make out a couple of international reporters... they might just break into America with this one, she thought to herself. "We'll go left to right"
"Thank you, Madam Tonks... Mr Potter, Jenny Adams, Magical Eye. How have you come to inherit the Black Headship despite not being... well, a Black?"
"Thank you for the question, Jenny" replied the boy in question "Now I may not be part of the "main" family, but I was always in the line of succession thanks to my grandmother - Dorea Potter nee Black... Lord Arcturus named me in the line of succession after Regulus Black"
"Pardon me, Mr. Potter, but that sounds most peculiar" voiced someone from the room, as cameras flashed and quills scribbled furiously, making Harry feel a little uncomfortable.
Sensing his discomfort, Andi took over immediately. "To quell any doubts, we'll be releasing a memory and testimonial left by the late Lord Arcturus, but rest assured, Harry's claim to the headship is completely legitimate...next question"
"Rita Skeeter, Daily Prophet - Could you enlighten us on how, and why you expelled Draco Malfoy?"
"Unfortunately, no, Ms. Banks" replied Harry "That's business private to House Black and I'm bound to not disclose it" he answered neutrally
"Isn't it a fantastic coincidence that you just so happen to not get along with Mr. Malfoy and deprive him of scion ship presumably the first chance you had, all the while keeping it a secret?"
"Absolutely not" Andromeda interjected immediately "the decision was made several weeks ago, and in observance of the oldest of practices. We will not be taking any more questions on this matter."
The next question was about future plans, for which the proxy gave her well rehearsed answer of opening talks with all of their allies, but remaining with the greys. She then elaborated upon the new 'manifesto' of their bloc, while putting special emphasis on DMLE reform, knowing the department had gotten lax over the previous decade and Voldemort's return an imminent threat.
For the rest of the conference, Harry spoke up every now and then, but left most of the heavy lifting to Andi, who handled the questions well as far as he could tell. They left for Grimmauld Place after a surprisingly orderly affair.
THE DAILY PROPHET
PAGE 1
Boy-Who-Lived Usurps Black Headship, Immediately Consolidates Power
by Rita Skeeter, Daily Prophet Senior Correspondent
Stunning events unfolded at the December 23rd Wizengamot Session. As an unassuming was rocked by the announcement of severe charges against Lord Lucius Malfoy, filed by longtime business associate and rumored close friend, Benedict Greengrass. The part of most note however, was the second complainant - House Black!
Years of speculation and all but inevitability surrounded Draco Malfoy (14), on inheriting the Headship of House Black. But as it turns out, that is not the case! Wizarding Britain found out yesterday that is in fact Harry Potter (13), forever known to us as the Boy-Who-Lived, is also Heir Primary of the Black Ancient Family. That's right, dear readers, the same boy
An unknown woman skimmed through the newspaper as a bored Rita Skeeter filed her nails.
"So?" asked the Daily Prophet's star correspondent
"What about this?" the stranger pointed to an excerpt from the piece
While it is still unknown exactly when, or indeed, why & perhaps most importantly, HOW the decision to excommunicate Lord Malfoy and his son was made, as the new Acting Head found himself bound by the family charter to protect family affairs, one thing is for sure - with this move, the Potter Heir has consolidated power, eliminating potential competition from within, as well as securing the Headship to within the favored political ideologists. This act has only served to add more fuel to rumors of hunger for power from the BWL, emerging after similar radical and unexpected moves over the summer, which yours truly thoroughly documented over her editorials, now readable as a single memoir -Potter's Paradigm Shift. Perhaps a sequel should follow.
"Ah, that" said Rita as she pushed her cat-rimmed spectacles to the bridge of her nose "I still need Cuffe's approval, you know?" she answered with a sourness "I can't be seen favoring Potter too much, Cuffe's a DE sympathizer... I do redeem him though"
Also worth noting however, is the reason for the expulsion. What could the Malfoys have possibly done to allow for them to be liable for such actions? Could there be some weight to Benedict Greengrass' allegation of willful misrepresentation & fraud? Or perhaps is there a more sinister secret, forever buried under weight of the ancient laws?
"Fair enough" conceded the other person, before putting a sizeable satchel full of Galleons on Rita's desk.
"Pleasure doing business with you" said a Rita frothing at her payday, as her visitor left without another word
A few days ago, at Grimmauld Place
Madam Tonks,
Something to help with our surprise. Found it in Lord Arcturus' inventory.
Grimjaw
"So, what is it?" asked Andromeda to Ted, who was examining the item to which the letter was attached
"Its... a holocron I think... but its signed off in Arcturus' blood... it's a testimonial!" he exclaimed realizing the meaning of the seal "...You think?"
"One way to find out" said Andi as she waved her wand to activate the cuboid-shaped device. A smoke began to emerge, eventually materializing into a specter of her grandfather Arcturus Black. He looked like she'd always seen him - a mane of white hair, a neat beard, an aged face marked with lines across the forehead, sharply arched brows and a somber expression. A few seconds after appearing, the specter began to speak
"Following the death of my only son, Orion Black, I have been forced to think about my own mortality.. not the least because I am over a century old or the sobriety war brings to all our conscience... I shall keep the message short. In the event that my grandson, Regulus Arcturus Black dies without an heir or there lie no active head or primary heir of family for over a period exceeding 10 years, I proclaim Harry James Potter to be the next Scion-Primary of House Black, who shall inherit the Lordship of this family to the exclusion of all others. If he so accepts, he shall be Harry Potter-Black, and I give him my blessing to carry forward the legacy of this great house."
Present Day
"They've received grandfather's draft of the line of succession, Daily Prophet just confirmed" informed Andromeda as she sat down for breakfast with Sirius, the only other person present as Ted was at while Dora and Harry were still asleep. "Andi?". "Yes, Sirius?" the eldest of the 'Black sisters' answered as she poured herself a glass of orange juice
"Something doesn't add up about him... ya know, Arcturus"
"Like what?"
"Oh come on" exasperated the Marauder "Tell me you don't find all of this weird... First, he cuts himself off for no reason at all, then, we just HAPPEN to find a testimonial from him which makes it easy for us to have Harry publicly claim his heirship... not too much information like Regulus' letter that we can't publish it, but not too little so as to leave it vague. Just right given our circumstances"
"You're reading too much into this" sighed Andromeda "Grimjaw found it while looking to help build our case.. It says in case Regulus is unable to inherit, Harry will take the headship"
"No!" jumped in Sirius "Conveniently leaves out any mention of me, but doesn't disqualify me either, just says after Regulus, it's Harry... Now people THINK Regulus was first in line, but obviously he knew that wasn't the case... he makes Harry only first heir, not Lord. The entire phrasing conveniently leaves room for me to still be able to claim the lordship, but just in case I'm unavailable, say, by incarceration he let's Harry take over. The only thing he didn't account for was that Regulus decided to leave it to Harry too. Otherwise it all fits in too well! "
"What are you suggesting, Sirius, he suddenly became clairvoyant? Well, why didn't he act better, then. What's the meaning of all the vague messaging? If he was all-seeing. then shouldn't he have known Regulus would turn back? Or are you suggesting you'd somehow get locked up after he dies?"
"Look" he grunted "I'm not saying it means anything... but surely it's worth checking out? Where did he go after he left us? Maybe that place has some answers"
"You're welcome to go look in every property we own. I have way too much on my table to help you with this wild goose chase" declared Andi
"There has to be someone he talked to..." the animagus said more to himself than his cousin "Anything else at Gringotts, anything he left for me?"
"Wha - ok" conceded Andromeda, knowing how resolute Sirius could get "I'll ask Grimjaw if there's something, ok?"
"Thank you, Andi... I know it doesn't make sense to you... but I knew him, truly. This is just too out of character"
"Benedict says Rita's been paid for" the proxy changed topics "Says she's done what she could while Cuffe's still her boss"
"I was thinking" began Sirius, waiting till he had the other's full attention " do you think we could, you know, get Skeeter fully on our side?"
"We can try paying her off, but even if she somehow agrees to always favours us, we've still got Cuffe to deal with"
"No, no - what if Cuffe wasn't a problem anymore?" he proposed tentatively
"How so?" replied Andi, intrigued by his tone
"...What if... we started our own paper and made her the Chief Editor"
"Sirius-"
"Why not?!" a fired up Padfoot pushed "We've got the money, with a name like hers we could get to a solid start. You know how important media is, think about it!"
"I am" she replied simply, surprising the marauder, who was expecting to have to persuade her more. Both fell pensive as they mentally began working on the road to this potential goal.
"Why would she take the risk, though? Cuffe's gonna retire in a few years, the seat's hers then..." pondered the dogfather
"We need to make Skeeter an offer she won't refuse"
"Well then, you're in luck" voiced Harry from the archway
"You got something good?" asked Sirius with a smirk
"Very good"
And that's a wrap!