Beware My Power
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WhiteElfElder: I think you forget her most delusional means of screwing the pooch – her big mouth;
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To all fans of this work – old and new – remember that everything that follows is now brand-new content, so I hope you enjoy it
"Partially because, while I've said that, for now, I only trust three people to wield wands in my house, soon, it'll be five…and that five should be coming right…about…"
As if on cue, a loud crack sounded in the passage, revealing two blonde bombshells, both of whom rushed to Harry's side as they stood protectively on either side of him, one kneeling down to hold Harry close to her warm body, while the other hissed icily at the apparent intruders, revealing two white wings in the process, while her body became an inferno of blue fire.
"Fleur!" exclaimed Hermione.
"And Gabrielle; the Delacour Sisters, new and improved," said Ron, earning a scoff from Harry as he held Gabrielle close, while he saw Fleur waiting, as though judging whether any of these freaks would be a threat to her master.
"Be honest, brother: did you honestly expect me to spend the summer entertaining the Order without something to make sure the sleeping dragon stayed asleep after all the shit the shepherd's had me deal with? I mean, no offence to you, Mia, or you, Gin, but as the brightest witch of our age has said herself…I've got a thing for blondes."
Chapter 5: Disorder of the Phoenix
"So, Harry's in here…alone!"
Even Harry could have predicted the sour-faced look that Molly gave when Sirius showed them around the house, pointing out where they could and couldn't go, before indicating the guest rooms and the master chambers, namely those belonging to Harry, as well as a second that Sirius smugly pointed out as he noticed Molly's glowering expression.
"And this room is for Ron and Hermione; across from Harry's, but far enough away to know he wants or needs privacy…can't think why," laughed the Black Lord, earning snorts of amusement from the Not-So-Golden Trio, while the Twins rolled their eyes and Ginny smirked curiously.
"So, we're one floor down and Harry gets the top floor to share with his friends," said the youngest redhead, earning a uh-huh from Sirius, before Ginny gestured to their last guests. "And does that include Fleur and Gabrielle? Mum obviously didn't know they'd be bunking with us."
"Why would she need to know anything about anyone staying here? This isn't her house," argued Hermione, earning a curt nod from Harry, as though saying he couldn't have put it any better himself.
"And what about you, Sirius?" asked Molly, as though she believed she'd seen the flaw in the plan. "As you said, this is your house, but you're letting Harry take the Master Bedroom: maybe he should bunk with Ginny…"
"Well, not that you'd know this, even though you sheltered the real traitor and murderer for twelve years, Molly," argued Harry, earning a red-faced glare from the aforementioned woman, as the young sorcerer smiled wolfishly. "But, as I learned myself from Sirius' own mouth, thanks to twelve years of illegal, wrongful incarceration in lovely Casa D'Azkabana, Sirius developed a seriously-incurable case of insomnia, so he doesn't sleep and, even if he does, it's in his Animagus form, which, frankly, can take his place in front of a comfy fire or even at the foot of my bed if he needs it."
"As long as there's not a tie on the door handle, pup, I might accept that invitation," chuckled Sirius, tousling his boy's hair as he added, "Also, Ginny, last time I checked, you're a girl, yes?"
Ginny nodded.
"Therefore, I'm sure you won't mind sharing my guest bedrooms with Fleur and/or Gabrielle, both of whom aren't out to prank you in your sleep, make you into their little guinea pigs or…I don't know…try and regain some apparent bargaining chip about money you may or may not owe them to start their businesses, even though they happily let people place wagers on your life because of a Tournament you wanted nothing to do with!"
Fred and George suddenly felt like first-years before the sternest, scariest Professor they would ever meet as Sirius glared daggers at them, while Harry shrugged dismissively as he remarked to nobody in particular, "Oh, I knew there was something else I'd meant to talk to some people about."
"Promises made in voice only mean nothing, kiddo," said Sirius, sneering at the rapidly-darkening expression on Molly's face. "Trust me, I know."
"And since you didn't make any magical pledges, contracts or…"
"Oh, will you just shut your damn mouth, you insufferable Mud…"
"OSCAUSI!"
Sirius and Harry both fired off the spell that shut Molly up, leaving her scrabbling at her now sealed lips, before Harry shook his head as he asked, "I suppose you're trying to call my bluff, you insufferable control freak, but, in case it wasn't obvious by the fact I have a very strong aversion to that word, let me make it crystal clear: never use that word in my house, in my presence or aimed at any member of my family!"
"Um…Harry?" asked Sirius suddenly, flicking his wand at the squealing redheaded matriarch, who seemed unable to do anything, but scream, even muffled and muzzled. "I can't undo the spell."
"You say that like it's a bad thing," said Harry, turning on his heel before he added, "Also, Molly, and you too, Ginny, for reasons that exist between the three of us and nobody else needs to know anymore than necessary about, if they don't feel comfortable bunking with someone they don't know, there is more than enough room in my bedroom for spare bunks and even sleeping bags for Fleur and Gabrielle…if you don't mind?"
"Not at all, 'Arry," said Gabrielle, moving past the shocked Ginny, where she took his hand as she added, "We would gladly accept your 'ozpitality while staying in your 'ouse."
"Is it weird that, even with the French accent, I can't help but think of Hagrid talking when she's speaking?" muttered Hermione, earning a soft laugh from Ron and Harry, while Gabrielle blushed.
"Um, last time I checked, Mia, my brother-in-all-but-blood finds your quirks just another thing that makes you adorable, so is it so wrong to imagine me doing the same for my dear Angel Gabrielle?"
The way he pronounced Gabrielle's name, putting Angel in front of it, made Hermione smile as she realised what her brother, and lord, was really up to inviting the mature-looking female into his room, even if Fleur would be there too.
And, judging by the envy that flashed across Fred and George's faces, as well as the outrage and horror that crossed Molly's, she wasn't alone.
BMP
"So…um…what happened to Molly?"
"She learned the hard way why it's sometimes better to be seen and not heard," drawled Harry, sitting at the head of the table in the kitchen, having finished the tour with Sirius and co – and laughing when Hermione's eyes nearly fell from her skull at the sight of the Black Library, accompanied by a moan from Ron as he realised where he would be spending most of his time in her company – before returning downstairs to finish laying down the law with the rest of their visitors.
In the kitchen, he'd been met by Tonks, Remus and Arthur, the latter of whom noticed his wife's still-reddening features, as well as her lack of mouth, hence the question he asked Sirius – though it was Harry who'd answered.
"Personally, to quote another over-compensator, I see no difference," added Harry, earning flinches from his friends, which made him laugh as he knew they were reacting to his less-than-flattering impression of the least-liked member of the Hogwarts Staff. "I know, guys, I heard it; I regretted it as soon as it came out of my mouth."
"Just please don't try and impersonate him again, brother," laughed Ron, looking from Harry to his father as he asked, "Speaking of that slimy git…"
"Ron."
"Hey, as far as I'm concerned, Ron, and everyone else, can say whatever they want to in my house, Arthur," argued Sirius, earning a firm nod from Harry, before Sirius looked to Hermione as he added, "And that goes double-double for cussing and bad language too, Hermione, so I hope you'll be able to adapt, especially since you and Ron are also sharing a room."
"I've shared a Tower with him and the others for years, Sirius," laughed Hermione, patting Ron on the cheek, earning a light blush from the redhead as she shrugged dismissively before she added, "What can I say? I've gotten used to it."
"And to finish what Ron started, I'll ask it," said Harry, looking around the table as he asked, "Speaking of the slimy git who claims to be on our side, but even a deaf, dumb and blind man can see he isn't, where is his so-called master? Where's the know-nothing, get-a-kid-to-do-all-the-hard-work because I can't be bothered Grand Poohbah, Albus Dumbledore run off to now? Let me guess: lemon drops are on sale?"
Molly tried to move, though not before Remus and Sirius blocked her path, the latter growling at her, "That was your last warning, Molly: next time, you're out of here…and besides, he makes a good point. Albus made such a song and dance of getting in, so where's he gone?"
"He said he had to make preparations," answered Tonks, a part of her surprised, but also relieved, to see the power base being formed by her distant cousin, as well as the handsome rogue who seemed to be the actual master of the house – meaning Harry – while Sirius was the face of the Family, even if only because Harry couldn't, or couldn't be bothered to take charge himself and handle such mundane affairs.
"For what?" chorused the Trio.
"Huh," said Fred, sharing a perplexing look with George, "Do you think we look that creepy when we speak in unison?"
"I'm saying nothing, Gred," argued George, before he looked back to Tonks, "What they said!"
"He's putting the house under the Fidel…"
"FUCK THAT!"
It was only her muzzled voice that stopped Molly from actually being able to do anything, but scream at Harry for speaking so crassly about the guy she thought shat out rainbows and pissed real gold.
Harry, meanwhile, rose up and shook his head, his green eyes glowing as he asked, "Does he honestly think lightning won't strike twice? He tried that pile of shit with my parents and look what happened to them? And who's going to be the Secret Keeper, Arthur? Let me guess: Snivellus?"
"Harry, I'm sure…"
"Arthur, remember where you are and to whom you are speaking before you finish offering whatever butt-kissing platitudes you were about to dish out to my pup and heir to this household," growled Sirius, earning a worried look from Arthur as the Black Lord added, "For the record, having been the victim of that charm's casting, I also agree with Harry about the risk and reaction to the suggestion to cast it, which I can't help but notice Albus did not discuss with me or Harry, both of whom I also remind you all are the ones that own this house. So, again, since you didn't answer my boy, you'll answer me: who is going to be the Secret Keeper? Snivellus? Fletcher? Maybe your damn wife…who had better sit the fuck down and now before I kick your arse out that door for how you're continuously thinking of attacking my boy for speaking his mind?"
"I heard Shack saying that Albus was thinking of being…" began Tonks, but, just as Harry himself had said, as soon as she said it, she regretted it.
Before Tonks could take back what she said, she gasped, as did everyone else when the contents of the table, which had been laid out for tea and biscuits for everyone, suddenly cleared as a wave of Accidental Magic swept through the kitchen, sending the hot tea flying into Molly's lap, while Arthur was covered by milk and even the twins got a face full of biscuits.
Curiously, none of Harry's allies, or Tonks herself, were hit by the rubbish – though Remus did cast a shield to stop Ginny, Fleur and Gabrielle getting hit by the crockery – as Harry shook his head again, "He just can-not help himself, can he? If he thinks he's going to be defending my house from anyone, and getting first say on who gets to waltz in and make themselves at home like they own the place, he can go fuck himself! Sirius…as Lord, do I have your permission?"
"Do it," said Sirius, earning confused looks from everyone, bar Remus, who face-palmed himself, as though he knew what was coming.
Raising his voice, Harry declared to the room, and the house, "As Heir Apparent to the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black, I, Harry James Potter-Black place the whole household, and every property in our name, on immediate lockdown! No Portkeys, no Apparition, no elf nor phoenix can penetrate these wards without my permission, or that of my successor and progenitor, Lord Sirius Orion Black: so mote it be!"
"So mote it be," chorused Sirius, Remus, Ron, Hermione and even Fleur, Ginny and Gabrielle, while Arthur, Molly, Tonks and the Weasley Twins looked on in alarm, if not disbelief as a sound akin to shutters, or a portcullis, slamming themselves closed filled the house. At the same time, a wall of bricks appeared over the fireplace, shutting off access via that way and, as Harry watched his house go into lockdown, he also felt the wards, as well as the access of the Elves, limit themselves greatly.
Indeed, it felt like Grimmauld Place had suddenly been sealed inside an impenetrable dome, and the only ones who had the keys were Harry and Sirius, the latter of whom smiled slyly before he spoke to the closed-off household.
"As Lord of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black, I, Sirius Orion Black, being of sound mind and body, without duress of any way, shape or form, do hereby surrender all power of authority over the lockdown to my son and heir, Harry James Potter-Black, so mote it be."
"So mote it be," chorused Harry and his allies, causing Harry to glow with blackish-coloured magical light as all power transferred to him.
Once the light, and the sounds of the triggered lockdowns, all died down, Harry looked to the purple-coloured face of Molly Weasley, while Arthur and Tonks looked like deer in the headlights, as the Master of the House addressed the only rogue left in his home.
"Put your face straight, Weasley: I warned you that you were not in charge here, so why would I allow the other control freak to have any here?"
"Or, again, you can choose to ignore Harry and get out," said Sirius, before he smiled knowingly as he added, "But remember, Molly: you're not Harry's Mother, and never will be, and thanks to the Tournament, he is now an emancipated minor. Also, in case it wasn't clear from Ginny's brave declaration out there when you turned up, your youngest children have chosen to stand with Harry, so they won't be going anywhere; ditto Remus and I and, of course, let's not forget the two beautiful ladies who come from across the Channel."
"Not to mention these two demons are adults now," added Remus, indicating the shell-shocked Weasley Twins, "So not only do you no longer hold any power over their choices; you should also hope that their loyalty to Harry as both the guy who's saved their siblings so many times over, but also as a teammate and honorary brother through their House being like their family isn't more powerful than whatever they may, or may not, feel towards you and your desire to control every second of every minute of their day-to-day lives."
"You also have no power over Hermione, or Remus, not to mention dear Dora," added Sirius, indicating his cousin, who was still in shock at the fact that Sirius had surrendered full power to Harry, who now lounged in his seat like a normal teenager on his summer holidays. "So, as far as I can tell, the only one who'll be going anywhere with you is Arthur and, remember, Molly, both Ron and Ginny owe Harry debts, both of life and honour, from their Hogwarts times, and he can and, I suspect, will use them to make sure you lose them too…so, exactly what weapon do you have left to use against my pup, other than the voice that we still can't return to you thanks to our weirdly-overpowered Oscausi Hex?"
Before Molly had a chance to squeal out an unintelligible answer, a barrage of knocks came from the front door, earning a curious look from Harry.
"Huh…not even five minutes: good thing I didn't put money on it."
"Shall we answer?" asked Sirius, earning a pout from Harry as he shook his head.
"Nah…we've got more important things to think about; for example, I apologise to Dobby, Winky and Kreacher for ruining the delicious-looking spread they'd laid out for us to welcome our uninvited guests…if you guys forgive me…"
The words were no sooner out of his mouth before the spread returned to its former delicious-looking appearance, earning a warm smile from Harry as he raised a goblet, "Thanks you guys; take the rest of the day off and rest up if you want to. You've earned it."
Everyone bar Molly then began tucking into the food.
Though the redheaded matriarch did keep glaring daggers of hatred and self-deluded desires of punishment at the content-looking Harry, tapping her goblet demandingly as she waited for him to realise the bleeding obvious.
It wouldn't be until every bit of food and drink had been picked clean before Harry remembered her sealed mouth.
And, even then, he just hummed.
"Don't worry, Molly: the Dursleys used to starve me for days on end, and, well, no offence meant…not much anyway, but you're so much fatter than I am, so I doubt one missed meal is going to kill you."
BMP
"THAT ARROGANT, INSUFFERABLE BRAT! WHO DOES HE THINK HE IS LOCKING US OUT OF THAT HOUSE?"
Albus could only smile as he heard Severus vent the frustrations of almost the entire Order as they were forced to reconvene a gathering at Hogwarts, in the Headmaster's Office, where the Potions Master didn't bother holding back.
"I'VE BEEN SAYING IT FOR YEARS! HE IS JUST LIKE HIS FATHER, BUT NO! YOU WON'T HEAR A CROSS-WORD AGAINST YOUR PRECIOUS SAVIOUR! WELL, NOW YOU HAVE EVIDENCE: THINKING HE GETS TO MAKE THE RULES WHEN HE IS NOTHING BUT A SPOILT, PETULANT LITTLE BASTARD WHO SHOULD HAVE BEEN BITTEN AND TURNED BY HIS FUCKING COUSIN! AT LEAST THEN HE WOULD HAVE BEEN OUT OF OUR HAIR!"
"Aww, Snivellus; I didn't know you cared…"
Suddenly, every head in the room looked up at a portrait that was meant to hold a former Hogwarts Headmaster, namely one Phineas Nigellus Black; now, however, it held an image of Harry and Sirius, both of them smiling amusingly as Harry waved mockingly at the assembled members of the Order, all of whom were left speechless by what they were seeing.
"H-H-H-Harry?" asked Albus, looking from Harry to Sirius and back again, "H-H-How…how's this…how are you doing…"
"Funny thing about Lockdown Magicks, Albus, my boy," drawled Harry, his eyes twinkling like the old buzzard's as he explained, "Did you know that it also affects portraits who have twins in a non-Black property, turning them into a sort of one-way communication mirror that either Lord Black, meaning this handsome devil, or his heir, meaning yours never-gonna-be, can use to speak to anyone who may be plotting and spitting their dummies out on the other end because the cool kids booted them from the VIP section…that's you, by the way, Snivellus; screw you!"
"POTTER!"
"Potter-Black, actually, Mr Spy Who Fucked the World," argued Harry, chuckling softly as he added, "And, personally, you can thank your one-third master in his golden toilet seat there for this. You see, a dear distant relative with a forbidden name might have accidentally dropped the bombshell that Albus here was planning to seize control of my house, without mine or Sirius' permission, I might add."
"I was going to tell you," said Dumbledore.
"After you repeated history with a half-baked Fidelius Charm that meant you could decide who could and couldn't come to my house, you mean?" asked Sirius, patting Harry on the shoulder as he added, "Something you might have neglected to tell me when you decided a few Order members could come and hang out before my boy, I don't hesitate to add. And, just out of curiosity, Albus: when would Harry have been told the secret?"
"My guess? Sometime after my birthday, most-likely when the situation called for it," said Harry, scoffing at the dumbfounded look on Dumbledore's face as he explained, "Which reminds me: that crap you told me about blood wards? I have it on the best authority out there that there are no such wards, which also means I was never safe there and, thanks to your bullshit, my family is dead…or as close as could be."
Here, Harry clutched Sirius' hand as he asked, "So why do you think I would just sit back and let you threaten another family of mine, just so you can make yourself feel important?"
"Potter, you are…"
"Snivellus, hush, brain thinking, mouth fucking talking," insisted Harry, looking now to Snape with a cocky, confident air as he added, "Also, more than anyone, and yes, I include the red muzzled mutt here, but more than anyone else, you will NEVER get the right to come into any home of mine, unless it's to mount your head on my wall and use your abnormally-large nose and the rest of your ugly mug for darts practice!"
"Damn!" laughed Daedalus Diggle, earning a scowl from Snape, "I knew you didn't like him, Severus, but, apparently, he loathes you!"
"I'm sorry, Mr Bows to Me in a Shop and Does Fuck-All else," argued Harry, sneering at the awestruck look on Diggle's face. "But have you met this guy? You could notice his funeral and look in the open casket and you'd still hate him on sight. Why some snake-faced bastards keep you around, Snivellus, I'll never know; then again, I suppose they need someone to be the expendable one who won't even see war's end. More than likely, Tom will end up killing you because you've become a hindrance to his plans…maybe even for being all that stands between him and ultimate power. And what then, Snape? Will you cry like the cowardly baby you are and say oh Potter, you have your Mother's eyes?"
As Sirius scowled at the impression, Harry laughed, "Please don't tell Ron and Hermione I actually did a second bad impression of this prat, Sirius."
"No promises."
"Harry," said Dumbledore, looking up at Harry with disappointment and the same sagely air he'd always used to make the boy follow his orders. "I know you may not understand what's happening, and obviously you are still traumatised by what you allowed to happen to the Dursleys, but…"
"Um, Albus?"
Turning, Dumbledore saw Kingsley Shacklebolt indicate the portrait, "He's gone…you're talking to a blank canvas."
Albus' eyes widened: impossible!
He was looking Harry in the eyes and, if it was a mirror, the boy would have been compelled to listen.
However, when Dumbledore saw the canvas again, he did indeed see that it was blank…
For a few seconds longer, anyway, before a message appeared on the screen in ghostly-coloured writing;
GREETINGS
YOU HAVE REACHED THE HOME OF THE GREATEST SORCERER IN THE UNIVERSE (AND HIS GODSON)
IF YOU WISH TO LEAVE A MESSAGE AT THE BEEP, YOU'RE OUT OF LUCK!
SO, INSTEAD, HERE'S OUR MESSAGE TO YOU
STAY AWAY
AND, REMEMBER, OLD MEN WITH CONTROL FETISHES, WE HAVE FRIENDS OF YOURS WHO CAN SUFFER JUST AS EASILY
PAYBACK
IT REALLY IS A FEMALE DOG
OH…SPEAKING OF: SNIVELLUS, HERE'S SOMETHING YOU DON'T KNOW
LILY NEVER FORGAVE YOU!
"BLACK!"
Before Dumbledore could stop him, Snape was out the door…
BMP
BANG!
"Who would…wait! Severus?"
"Apologies for my unannounced arrival, my Lord," replied Severus, bowing low to the Dark Lord, while trying, and failing, to hold back his fury at having to leave the Order, which would likely threaten his plans to deal with all his so-called Masters at once. "But I have some interesting news concerning Black; news that might allow you to have the Black Family wealth in your hands by Christmas!"
"I…see…" rasped Voldemort, before Severus' heart turned to ice when he heard something he did not expect.
"And would this news have anything to do with your limp noodle growing limper-still because you heard the truth about my Mum, Snivellus?"
Severus' head snapped up…
And what could have only been described as a mass of blackish, glowing tentacles enveloped his vision, accompanied by the sound of the one kid he hated more than any other.
"I can't believe how easy it was to get you to come to me, my snivelling little snack…now, let's see just how sweet vengeance really is!"
So, we have a NEW chapter to this once-edited adventure and, boy, talk about the blind leading the befuddled: Snivellus walked right into a trap set by a Black to help a Potter again, but is he just dessert now or does Harry have plans to give the git more than just deserts?
Also, with the Black house in lockdown, and Molly officially defanged with nobody coming to help, can Harry have something rarer than surviving the Killing Curse – namely, a quiet, normal summer?
Keep Reading to Find Out
Next Chapter: Harry, Fleur and Gabrielle discuss the sisters' choice to serve their demonised Lord and Master; also, Sirius hosts a rare meeting that even he would never have seen coming, if not for the Devil sitting on the throne of the Black Family;
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