Title: Unusual Inheritance
Feedback: Constructive feedback appreciated, flames unappreciated
Spoilers: None
Rating: R
Disclaimer: I do not own Hermione, or Susan, or Su Li, or Tracey, or... I would buy them all but I am broke.
Summary: While staying at the Leaky Cauldron after his 'incident' with Marge, Harry finds out that he has an unusual inheritance. One that could change the course of his life forever.
Jean Granger and William Granger looked up confused when the front Doorbell rang, but Hermione seemed more contemplative than confused. It was the Saturday before Hermione was to go back to Hogwarts and, as was their tradition, they were spending a quiet day with Hermione. Jean got up and answered the door to find a boy and two girls around Hermione's age. The boy and one of the girls were dressed in smart clothing, similar to what a parent would get their child to wear to the Theatre or Church, with the boy wearing stylish square cut glasses. The second girl, who looked to be of Asian origin, was dressed in dark, slightly loose clothes and had a sword at her waist.
The boy stood strait but with a touch of nervousness, while the girl without the sword was carrying an elaborate box in both hands. Jean was about to call the police about the sword when she noticed that the hilt and the top of the scabbard were bound in thin wire, which would not delay someone much in drawing the sword but it would be obvious that they had drawn it.
"Misses Granger, my name is Harry Potter." The boy said, diverting her attention from the sword. "These are my… associates, Miss Abbott and Miss Li. I am a friend of Hermione. May we come in?"
Jean took a second to process the statement, then the boy's name registered. This was the Harry Potter that Hermione always wrote about in her letters from school.
"Of course." Jean said, stepping back to allow them to enter. "We're in the living room."
The quartet walked into the living room where Hermione was curled up next to William.
"We have visitors." Jean announced. "Mister Potter and…"
Jean cut off as Hermione had jumped up and almost bowled over Harry as she gave him a flying hug.
"Harry!" Hermione exclaimed. "Hannah. Su. What are you all doing here?"
"We need to discuss a few things with your parents." Harry said.
Hermione gave him a calculating look for a few moments before nodding. The three Grangers settled down on the couch, Hermione nestled in between her parents. Harry and Hannah took two of the single seat chairs, Hannah carefully cradling the box on her lap, and Su positioned herself standing behind and to the right of Harry's chair.
"As you are no doubt aware," Harry began, "I have been Best Friends with Hermione for the last two years. Recently I have come into the majority of my Inheritance, and have taken up Head of House status, though not Lord status of House Potter. Basically, I am Magical Nobility and, as Head of House, I am entitled to Retainers to advise me. Miss Abbott here is my Chamberlain and Miss Li is my personal Bodyguard and Security Advisor."
"While it is interesting to know this about our daughter's Best Friend." William Granger began. "I don't see why you are telling us this."
"I have asked your daughter, and she has agreed, to be my Maester." Harry replied. "Hermione is not only the smartest person I know, I also implacably trust her judgement. This is not just a position of trust, it also provides the protection of House Potter for both Hermione and yourselves."
"What does that mean?" Jean asked.
"If I may." Hannah said, getting a nod from the Grangers. "It means that all of your family will be considered to have the same status as Mister Potter. It will open a number of doors for Hermione that would, unjustly, be closed to her in other circumstances. It will also give you a greater legal status within the Wizarding World. House Potter is also now responsible for your safety and, as such, you will be provided with these."
At this, Hannah opened the box on her lap without lifting it, to reveal to the Grangers what lay within. Inside lay four items, grouped in pairs. Each pair contained a necklace with a crystal pendant and what looked like a leather-bound wallet. One set was clearly designed for Jean as it was a delicate looking necklace and the wallet was in a feminine style, while the set for William had a heavier chain on the necklace and the wallet looked more like a men's credit card wallet.
"The necklaces will provide you with protection from several basic spells, including stunning and memory modification spells, as well as allow you to see and access areas like Diagon Alley or, if necessary, Hogwarts that you usually can't find without Hermione's assistance." Harry explained. "They will last up to six months before they need to be recharged. Hermione will be able to do it whenever she comes home for breaks or over summer, though the more often they are recharged the better. In an extreme emergency, they can act as a means of instant escape by means of a Portkey, via a verbal cue that you can establish or change any time it is charged. They will take you to a safe place but while I am at Hogwarts it will be deserted, and if you do use them to escape they will not work at all until they are recharged, but if you need it then don't hesitate."
"We will see about establishing a notification system at the safe location if the portkeys are used." Hannah mused.
"What are the wallets?" William asked.
"Magical Identification." Harry said. "They will then identify you as being under Retainer Protection of House Potter. Add a drop of blood to both the Identification and the crystals and they will bond themselves to you. The identifications will automatically register themselves with Magical Law Enforcement."
"Be aware." Su interrupted, speaking for the first time. "There are corrupt and bigoted elements within both the Ministry and Magical Law Enforcement. If they do not recognise or refuse to accept the identification, then use the portkey. Better to be safe and alone in the safe house than potentially under attack or dead at home."
Jean and William Granger went to Hannah's chair to have a look at the protection items and Harry stood to, again, be tackle hugged by Hermione. Su did not move at the brunette's charging approach as she was both a sworn retainer and 'Hermione Hugs', at least the ones she gave Harry, were famous at Hogwarts.
"Thank you. Thank you. Thank you." Hermione babbled into Harry's chest. "I knew you would protect them, but I never expected this much."
"They are your parents." Harry replied simply.
In short order the necklace crystals and the wallets were linked to Jean and William Granger, the emergency Portkey passwords set and the visitors left the Granger's residence. The Grangers settled down on the couch once more, this time Hermione snuggling into her mother's side, as the elder Grangers tried to process the information they had just received and Hermione was just happy that Harry had done so much for her parents, and annoyed at Ron for insulting them so much. If the redhead insulted them one more time…. No, she would not think about Ron, instead she will just be happy with how good a friend Harry was. And glad she had sworn service to Harry.
Deep in the bowels of the Ministry of Magic, a magical quill lifted from its holder of its own accord and wrote two entries into a large leather bound Tome that recorded Muggles under the protection of Noble Magical Houses. By Ministry regulations, the tome was to be checked every Monday morning, like clockwork, but as the last time an entry had been entered into the Tome was several centuries prior, the regular checks were not upheld. In fact, no one would check that particular Tome for another seven years.
Luckily, for the Grangers at least, there was another quill in the Ministry that was linked to the unchecked one. This one made its records on a simple stretch of parchment. This quill resided in the office of the Director of Magical Law Enforcement, and had done since the current Director, one Amelia Bones, had taken office, so Mr William Granger and Mrs Jean Granger being under Retainer Familial Protection of House Potter were the first entries on the parchment. Director Bones was in her office when the Quill made its two entries. A smile crept over her face as she read the entries.
'So, Potter has taken the Granger girl as a Retainer.' Amelia thought to herself.
Amelia had over thirty dedicated Assets tasked solely to finding out what happened insides the halls of Hogwarts, not including three Agents inside said halls and her own Niece Susan who was a student. Naturally she knew about Harry Potter and Hermione Granger and the majority of the rumours about them and Ron Weasley that circulated the school.
She would have moved on some of the intelligence prior to Susan's First Year if she could have, but attempting to conduct any operation that related to Hogwarts was more difficult than getting a funding increase for her Department or turning the Minister's pink loving Senior Under-Secretary into a Dog person. Amelia did, however, have extensive files on quite a number of Hogwarts Students, either as potential DMLE recruits or potential future criminals or threats to the Magical Community. Potter and Granger's files were both firmly in the potential recruit's section.
Amelia quickly penned a note to the Dispatch Office that no action by any department, be it relating to Underage Magic, request of Obliviators or investigation by Aurors, was to occur at the Granger's address without her being personally briefed and authorising it. Of course, she just gave the address and did not mention who lived there to the Dispatch Office. That would magically prevent the Floo System or Official Ministry Post Owls from contacting that address, as well as Ministry created Portkeys. It would not stop Apperation, but most responses were done by Floo or Portkey anyway.
'This will be interesting.' Amelia thought to herself before turning back to her regular parchmentwork.
TBC…