The Potter Will(s)
Harry strolled along Diagon Alley, he needed to get his wand but he had found himself standing outside Eeyelops Owl Emporium. He hesitated when he caught a glimpse of snowy white feathers. Feet moved of their own accord as he walked into the crowded shop. He reached out as his heart ached for his old friend. ‘Hello my beautiful lady.’ He looked around and spotted a board looking staff member.
‘Yeah don’t get too close to that one she bites.’
‘Oh I don’t mind, I’ll take her.’
‘Your parents know where you are kid?’
‘Since they’re dead. No. They probably don’t.’ He set the correct number of galleons on the counter, picking the cage up he walked out and headed for Ollivanders.
He needed his wand, probably should have done that first but he hadn’t and now he wondered how long it was going to take to find his wand this time. Or if it would be the same wand. Entering the shop he checked Hedwig had food and water and set her carefully down as he waited to be ambushed by the wand maker. He barely paid attention as the pale haired wizard extolled the virtues of his parents wands and finally began pulling boxes of wands out for him to wave. The pile of rejected wands got bigger and Ollivander grew more excited until finally he pulled out the eleven inch holly and phoenix feather wand in it’s dusty box. Picking the wand up Harry expected the same red and gold sparks and was as surprised as the wand maker when nothing happened.
‘Oh you are a tricky customer Mr Potter.’ His voice breathless with excitement.
‘Yeah, I really thought that one was going to do it.’
‘Never mind, we will find the wand that will choose you, I’ve never failed yet.’
He scratched his head before coming back with a box that he set on the counter. ‘We just need to go back to basics.’ His excitement rising. ‘Pick though the blocks of wood and select the one you feel the most pull towards. Don’t think about it Mr Potter, trust your intuition and let it guide you.’
Harry closed his eyes and rummaged his hand though the blocks of wood until one felt warm to the touch. He pulled it out and placed it on the counter.
‘Curious, seems holly was the right wood but the core was not. I had expected the phoenix feather to be a better match.’
Harry smiled. He was starting to get an idea as to why a feather from Dumbledore’s bird was no longer a match for him. He watched as Ollivander shrugged and took the box of wood back, returning with a roll of leather that he carefully rolled out.
‘See what your intuition draws you towards this time.’
He slowly ran his hand over the proffered options but nothing happened. He opened his eyes and shook his head. ‘I’m sorry, none of them so much as sparked for me.’
‘Oh no Mr Potter, this is not a bad thing at all.’ He rolled the leather up and came back with a smaller roll of black leather and laid this on the counter like he was presenting his prize winning jam at the county fair for judging.
Harry found himself reminded of Luna in the old man’s manner and wondered if they were related. He kept his eyes open and ran his hand slowly over the odd looking contents laid out before him. The only thing that caught his attention was a long silver black hair but the reaction wasn’t strong.
Ollivander noticed this and rocked back on his feet. ‘I do have something else to try. My grandfather liked to experiment with rare cores and I have more of his old things in the back. I’ll be but a moment.’
Harry shook his head as he watched the wand maker seem to hop away. ‘Are all wand makers crazy you think, Hedwig?’ He knelt down and reached into the cage to stroke her feathers. ‘Once we are finished here it should be long enough that I can let you fly home.’ He rose to his feet to find the vibrating Ollivander setting a dusty wooden chest on the counter. The lid was removed and Harry saw six crystal vials lying in velvet lined slots. This time Harry didn’t have to think as he pointed to the vial at the very end.
Ollivander clapped his hands and did a little hoping dance. ‘Oh that is very curious Mr Potter. But we need to put the holly together with the two cores and check it is correct.’ He cleared the counter and sent the discarded wands back to their boxes with a wave of his hand. Rolling out a piece of raw silk he carefully laid the holly block next to the silver black hair and the crystal vial. ‘Well go on.’
With a slow wave Harry held his hand over the three items and smiled as silver stars danced beneath his hand.
‘I have never heard of a wand with thestral hair and basilisk venom for the core. It would seem you have been touched by death Mr Potter.’
‘More than you could imagine Mr Ollivander. Will it take long for the wand to be made?’
‘I could not rush the creation, combining the cores alone will be a precious exercise. You will have your wand before the start of term but it may take me at least two or three weeks.’
‘You can leave word with the Potter account manager at Gringotts when it is ready and they will arrange payment for your time. I would also like a wand holder, something that will resist the wand being summoned by others, and a wand care kit.’
‘It will be done Mr Potter.’ He watched the unexpected young man as he picked his caged owl up and nodded a goodbye.
Harry walked towards Gringotts, stopping outside to let Hedwig out of her cage. Giving her the address he let her head home and carried the empty cage into the white marble building where he was shown to his account managers office. Bill Weasley was summoned and walked in carrying a caged rat.
‘I trust that is an animagus proof cage.’
‘Oh it is, and I took your advice and gave him an owl.’ He set the cage on Hookfang’s desk. ‘I was more than a little surprised you were right Lord Potter. But if this is who you say it is, then my family owes you a debt.’
‘You have given your brother an owl, if you feel you still have a debt to pay, buy him a new wand so he isn’t using someone else’s and I will consider it done. Oh, and I suggest you learn French.’
Goldsword laughed as he heard Lord Potter’s requirement of a debt be paid in such an odd way. The look of utter confusion on the usually unflappable Mr Weasley’s face was an added bonus. ‘Mr Weasley I would suggest you take our young lord seriously, he is indeed beloved of Lady Magic and she looks after the ones she favours.’
‘She considers all with magical blood to be hers.’ Harry added.
‘Ah yes but she likes you Lord Potter. You can go Mr Weasley.’
‘She must do with how much trouble she is putting Ollivander to just to make me a wand.’ Harry muttered as he watched Bill leave the room.
He pointed to the caged rat.
‘Where are we at with getting my godfather a trial? And is there something I can use to capture the shade of Riddle when I free him from the idiot Quirrell. Or do I need to wait for him to regain his body before I can be done with him.’
‘We can give you a crystal to capture the shade and one of your lawyers is currently yelling at the Department of Magical Law Enforcement for being unable to provide the trial transcript for the conviction of Sirius Black, a Lord of a Noble House no less. Although he has still to claim it.’
‘And the Longbottom’s?’
‘The Dowager Longbottom and Heir Longbottom will be present for the reading of the wills. It will be offered to them once that is completed if it is convenient to bring up. We have also begun retrieving a number of items that belong to the Potter accounts and were identified as not in the vaults where they should be.’
‘He has my invisibility cloak which I most certainly want back before Yule.’ Harry sat back. ‘Who else is invited to the reading of the wills?’
‘Remus Lupin, Seveus Snape and Minerva McGonagall will be present. Andromeda and Edward Tonks are named but both are currently occupied. Sadly the owl that was sent to advise Dumbledore, is often known for getting addresses wrong and unlikely to arrive in time, I fear it is time for the bird to be retired. And Mr Pettigrew is, as we are aware, somewhat indisposed.’
‘What happens once the wills are read?’
‘If specified they will be published in the Daily Prophet.’
‘You know what’s in them?’
‘I do not, but what I remember of your parents, Lord Potter, you have more of your mother to your actions than your father. Although it is your grandmother, Dorea Black Potter who you truly remind me of. Regardless, my expectations of amusement are high.’
‘I can only hope not to disappoint.
Goldsword laughed. ‘Oh I think there is little chance of that.’
‘You said one of my lawyers was yelling at the DMLE, I have more than one?’
‘Of course, one is dealing with your godfather’s legal issues and another is looking into the use of your name in the Adventures of the Boy Who Lived books.’
‘Good, no one should be making money off my name. It is hardly likely a child of less than two years of age is so significantly magical he would be capable of surviving that particular curse anyway. I know there was a war and people are scared but really? Not when my mother was such an exceptional witch.’
‘People were desperate to believe Lord Potter. Any right thinking person should be able to rationalize how unlikely it was that you alone defeated Riddle.’
‘I blame the inbreeding.’
‘We both know there is truth to that sentiment. But it is time to head though for the reading of the wills.’
Harry looked at the cage, with a wave of his hand, wandless and wordlessly a stasis charm settled over both the cage holding the rat and his owl’s cage as they shrank and he tucked them in his satchel.
‘And you wonder why they think you managed such an impossible thing.’
‘We both know my magical core is older than eleven. Last time I was this age I certainly wasn’t doing anything without a wand.’
Harry followed Goldsword and Hookfang into the meeting room set aside for the reading of the Potter wills. He took his seat as others entered the room, nervous about finally hearing his parents wishes he had to hope they never intended to send him to the Dursley’s. He looked up as the Dowager Lady Augusta Longbottom swept into the room, resplendent with her stuffed vulture hat just as her grandson had once described. Neville however looked nervous and not at all like the brave young man who had stood up to Riddle and taken the head of Nagini. He needed to help his friend find himself and he swore to Lady Magic that he would do all he could to make it happen.
Once the last person was seated a wizard Harry didn’t recognise rose to his feet.
‘I am Johnson Smyth and a representative of Smyth, Tonks and Smith, the Potter lawyers. I thank you for being present today for the reading of the wills of Heir James Charles Potter and Lily Rose Evens Potter. The wills are being read at the direction of Lord Henry James Potter.’ He took his seat as noise broke out around the table.
Harry noted the derisive snort of Snape and filed that away to deal with later.
‘As Mr Potter was declared deceased first his will, will be heard first.’
It was hard for Harry to listen to his parents voices when previously he had only heard them in death. He barely paid attention to the individual words and found himself toying with the transcribed copy in front of him.
‘I, James Charles Potter, do say this is my final will and testament. To my son Harry, I am so sorry if I did not live long enough to see you grow.
In the event I precede my wife Lily in death I leave everything to her with the following exceptions.
The cottage and farm in Wales named The Rock Garden, I leave to my friend Remus Lupin. May he find shelter in her walls and have room enough to grow as many vegetables as will make him happy. Please tell my son stories of our adventures, I’m sure Pads will just tell him lies.
To my friend and brother Sirius I leave my most prized possession, my son. And all my muggle music records. But Harry gets the t-shirts. As his godfather I expect you to encourage him as you know I would have. And for the love of Merlin, buy him a decent broom, you know he will want to fly.
To out secret keeper, Peter Pettigrew, I leave my fire whiskey collection and enough money to buy a decent broom. 500 Galleons should do it. We’ll finally get you to fly my friend.
To Albus Dumbledore, sorry, you have too many names to write them out in full. For preforming the fidelius charm for our family, I leave you my grandfathers walking stick collection. You always said they would go well with your robes.
To my former head of house, Minerva McGonnagal, I leave a copy of the journal I kept while on my transfiguration journey to become animagi while I was at Hogwarts. It contains my notes and research. And a catnip plant, if there isn’t one in my garden I leave you 10 galleons to purchase one.
To my friend Frank Longbottom, his wife Alice and their son Neville, I leave the contents of my mother’s greenhouse at Potter Manor. I know how much you envied her collection of snap dragons Frank, and I can only imagine your son will be the same. The greenhouse was placed under stasis and preservation charms so even if I forgot to water everything it should still be alive. Alice, you know you are Harry’s godmother, please be the mother he will need if Lily is gone too.
To my son Harry, I leave the contents of the Potter Heir vault, available once you receive your Hogwarts letter. This will be 500,000 Galleons and my old Potter family cloak along with a few books you might find helpful. I also leave you my band t-shirts and the Lordship when you come of age or in the event of both mine and Lily’s death if circumstances arise that you need to be independent of adult interference. If Lily is gone before me you get the vaults and Potter holdings, if she lives, you will get them in the event of her death or once you take your Lordship.
In the event Lily and myself are both deceased, Harry is entrusted to the care of his godfather, Sirius Black or to his godmother, Alice Longbottom. In the event neither are able to take care of him and the ministry is too backwards to let Remus Lupin take custody he is to be entrusted to Andromeda and Edward Tonks. You may look surprised Andi but you always were Sirius’s favourite cousin so I trust you with my son if Sirius can’t be there for him.
Along with guardianship of Harry, both magically and physically is a stipend of 100 Galleons a month for his care if required. You will need receipts, sorry but my mother would never forgive me if I did not make that a stipulation. In the event any additional expenses are required this can be applied for to my Gringotts account manager who has a full and comprehensive list of what is acceptable as additional expenses. Harry’s guardian as specified in my will and that of my wife Lily Potter should I die first, is the only one with proxy rights to vote for the Noble House of Potter until Harry reaches the age of seventeen.
Under no circumstances whatsoever is Harry to be placed with Lily’s sister, Petunia Doris Evens Dursley. The woman hates magic and is not to be within one hundred yards of my son, ever. Really. We have a restraining order against both Petunia and Vernon Dursley in both the magical and muggle worlds so it’s like, a legal requirement and everything.
I also consent to my will being published once read in accordance with the customs of the Noble House of Potter.’
There was silence when the voice of James Potter faded until the Dowager Longbottom turned to Harry and asked a single question.
‘Lord Potter, who has raised you these last ten years?’
‘Dumbledore placed me on the doorstep of my aunt and uncle. That would be my Aunt Petunia, and Uncle Vernon. The ones that were forbidden to be within a hundred yards of me, apparently. Perhaps that explains why I was kept in a cupboard.’ Harry placed his Hogwarts letter envelope on the table so she could see the address.
‘A cupboard?’ Snape sneered as he snatched the envelope up before turning to McGonagall. ‘Did you know this.’
‘Oh I told that fool they were the worst sort of muggles.’
‘I would ask if you followed that up with any sort of welfare checks Minerva but the address on the boy’s envelope would suggest not.’ Augusta Longbottom snapped.
Johnson coughed. ‘We have the will of Lily Potter to be read next. We can look at what criminal charges are appropriate when that is concluded.’ He consulted his notes. ‘It appears there will be several avenues to be investigated.’
Harry held a hand up. ‘Sorry Mr Smyth, but was I correct in hearing that Pettigrew was my parents secret keeper and not Sirius Black as reported? And that Dumbledore was not only aware but preformed the fidelius charm? I find it interesting that there is more outrage of the address on my letter than for a man wrongfully locked in prison. Or that he was denied a trial by the very head Mugwump who had in fact preformed the fidelius charm in the first place. But please, let us hear my mother’s will.’
Johnson hid his grin as he activated the next will to prevent further comment. He just wished Andromeda was here to see him in action but she was probably still yelling at the DMLE or even the Minister himself by now. He had also updated the linked journals all partners of the law firm carried to let her know who the secret keeper had been. Along with the name of the wizard who preformed the charm. And he could always provide her a copy of the memory for Yule. She wasn’t the easiest witch to shop for.
‘I Lily Potter, full name being Lily Rose Evens Potter, do, in the event I pre-decease my husband leave him my possessions and the care of our son, Harry.
With the following exceptions.
To my childhood friend, and the first person to tell me I was a witch, Severus Snape. I leave the notes and formula for the potion we were working on for the healing of scars caused by spell damage. I know we had it at the end but it still needs peer review. It is in the vault my parents opened for me, the Evens vault. Everything was put in stasis in the red trunk.
To my best friend and the godmother of my son, Alice Longbottom, I leave you the red cloak you always admired. I also leave you my muggle cookbooks. Please teach our sons how to bake and don’t let Frank near the kitchen when you do. Sorry Frank.
To Sirius Black I leave my record player to go with the collection of records James wants you to have. Although you probably already have it so I’m not sure why I’m even saying that.
To Remus Lupin I leave my Sherlock Holmes collection. Please share our love of reading with my son. And to make sure you can have all the books you want, I leave you the gold in my personal vault, in the name of Lily Evens. At last accounting there was thirty two thousand galleons so if you don’t want to become a Welsh vegetable farmer, you can buy the local bookshop or something.
To Dumbledore, sorry, but James is right, you really do have too many names. As the one who preformed the fidelius charm to keep us safe, I leave you my mothers collection of knitting patterns and any wool and knitting needles in my possession and in the Evens vault at my death.
To Peter Pettigrew, our secret keeper, I leave the paintings in the Evens vault, you helped me choose them and I feel it is only right you should have them now.
To my son Harry, in the event both your father and I are deceased, I copy his sentiments regarding your guardianship.
Harry is entrusted to his godmother, Alice Longbottom. And to Sirius Black. If they are unable to take Harry, and the Ministry gets rid of the draconian laws, Remus Lupin is to take custody otherwise he is to live with Andromeda and Edward Tonks.
As noted in James’ will there is a stipend of 100 Galleons a month for his care if required. In the event any additional expenses are required this can be applied for to the Gringotts Potter account manager who has a full and comprehensive list of what is acceptable. Receipts are required.
Harry is not to be placed in the care of my sister, Petunia Doris Evens Dursley and or her husband, Vernon Dursley. She may be my sister but she is not to be within one hundred yards of my son. I have no expectation she will want to be that close to him but there is a magical and muggle restraining order against both Petunia and Vernon Dursley. In the unlikely event none of the named guardians is available I have a cousin in America, Jean Grey who should be contacted to take Harry.
To my beloved Harry, I wish you all the love a mother can and I hope I am wrong in feeling you will be hearing this too, too soon. Know that you are loved and no matter that expectations anyone else has for you, you are your own person. You choose the path your life will take. Even if that doesn’t make you a Gryffindor should you attend Hogwarts.
According to James, I have to give my permission for this to be published in the Daily Prophet, as is tradition for Potter family wills. I give permission for my will to be published.’
There was silence in the room and Minerva McGonagall felt her face lose all colour. She had failed to protect the son of her former students. She turned to Harry and felt the room grow cold at the pure fury in brilliant green eyes that reminded her so much of his mother. She began to speak but he held a hand up.
‘I do not want to hear your excuses Professor. I am very much considering my options of schools in any country other than England or Scotland. I would not recommend you say a single word.’
Harry knew that was not the sort of thing an eleven year old child would say but he was struggling to contain his magic and fury. Wanting to save that for the meddling fool that deserved them. He wasn’t supposed to know that Dumbledore used the excuse of his aunt being his blood relative to support the blood wards on his childhood home to protect him. But it didn’t stop him wanting to strangle the man with his own beard. While he recognised there was more to be gained in not going after Dumbledore yet, any remaining hope in the man’s good intent was lost the moment he learned who had preformed the fidelius charm. The knowledge that the older wizard knew who truly was responsible for the death of his parents and of the innocence of Sirius Black left him reeling. His mother’s revelation of an American cousin however, was what left him exuding fury as it spilled into the room.
‘When will my parents wills be published? And what guarantee is there of authenticity in the publishing of the wills.’
‘The Daily Prophet has a binding magical contract in place to publish a full transcript of wills when given permission, and there is no room for alterations of any kind Lord Potter. The consequences would be. Severe.’ Johnson replied.
Harry nodded. ‘Thank you, please see to it with the assistance of Gringotts that my parents wishes are honoured.’ He turned to the witches and wizards sitting in silence and smiled at Neville. ‘Hello, I’m Harry, I take it you are Neville?’
With a nervous swallow Neville nodded. ‘That, that’s right.’
‘No one has explained to me where your parents are and I do not wish to cause offense in asking.’
Augusta Longbottom placed a hand on her grandson’s arm. ‘That will not be necessary Lord Potter.’
‘I admit to being unfamiliar with the wizarding world, since my aunt and uncle kept me in a cupboard and lied about how my parents died. I would like to spend time with one of my future classmates if I may.’
Snape looked down his nose at the boy. ‘You do not look like a child kept in a cupboard Mr Potter.’
‘Lord. Potter, Mr Snape.’ Harry looked to Goldsword. ‘If you would, please provide Mr Snape with a copy of the healer’s report.’ This had been arranged earlier and he knew the report excluded mention of the horcrux. ‘I received healing from the goblins and was restored to the form and height a child my age with adequate nutrition should be. I assure you, I am taller than I was a few days ago. It’s almost like magic.’ He watched as the roll of parchment that was significantly larger than one would expect for an eleven year old was handed to the professor. He took little satisfaction as what colour there was in the potion master’s face drained with his reading. The others looked on horrified at how long the roll was as it was laid out in full on the table.
‘Severus?’ McGonagall demanded.
A wand waved over the parchment was followed by an unasked question directed at the boy who nodded. He almost wished he had waited to ask for healing. Only almost. He’d rather enjoyed waking up with no pain and being able to stomach normal sized meals. He saw the threads of the diagnostic spell cast over him and watched as a list began to appear in golden floating letters in the absence of parchment to be copied to. McGonagall’s gasp was not the only one to follow while Harry waited for the words to fade before speaking.
‘Does that satisfy you Mr Snape?’
The potion master sighed and nodded. ‘I regret I knew your aunt and she was a singularly unpleasant child who it seems did not improve with age or motherhood.’
‘It is fair to say she did not.’ Harry agreed before turning back to the Longbottoms, ignoring the impatient werewolf on the other side of the table.
‘Dowager Lady Longbottom, Heir Longbottom, I would like to speak with you if I may. I am confused by this world of magic and my place in it. I was told I was able to claim my lordship but don’t know what that entails.’ He blushed, not something he’d previously considered doing on demand but it seemed to be helping. Slytherin was looking more and more likely. ‘I would appreciate having one familiar face at Hogwarts, if I still decide to go.’
Minerva McGonagall was unable to hold her tongue. ‘But you must go, your name has been down since you first preformed magic as a babe. Your parents would expect it.’
‘I’m pretty sure they expected to be beside me when I got my wand too.’ He snapped. His emotions bleeding out, he was after all, still a seventeen year old boy in his eleven year old body. And he was angry at what he had learned today. There was no remaining good will in the oft quoted greater good preached by the absent headmaster. And he wasn’t looking forward to going through puberty again.
Not put off she continued. ‘And I wonder why Albus is not here.’ She looked to the lawyer and goblins. ‘He was informed of the reading of the wills was he not. I am sure he could explain his actions in trying to protect Mr Potter by placing him with his aunt and uncle. The wills hadn’t been read so he couldn’t have known about the aunt and uncle.’
‘We sent him notification, it is not our fault he has not chosen to be here.’ Goldsword smiled. ‘And I am sure if he had checked with your department of the Welfare of Children, he would have discovered the custody arrangements made for Lord Potter. Even we goblins know this to be the correct process for orphans.’
‘It also does not explain why Lord Black has not had a trial, and ended up in Azkabahn when Dumbledore preformed the fidelius with Peter Pettigrew as the secret keeper.’ Johnson pointed out. He was a lawyer after all, and why should the client have all the fun.
‘Even I can admit to finding that curious.’ Snape drawled. ‘But there is the question of the muggles and Pettigrew himself being blown up by Black.’
The werewolf in the corner finally broke down. ‘I am so sorry Harry, I didn’t even question why Sirius ended up in jail or where you were.’
Snape sneered at him. ‘Now you care.’ Watching with glee as the man folded in on himself.
Harry tired not to roll his eyes and reminded himself that he had plans as he smiled at the Longbottoms. He saw the flicker of hope in Neville’s eyes and reaffirmed his commitment to bring his friend out of his shell. He was looking forward to seeing what discovering his inner strength now would do for the boy who also lost his childhood to the delusions of a madman scared of death, and his cult like followers. He made a note to track Skeeter down and get her on the trail of Tom Riddle. Like Dumbledore, the man needed to be brought down publicly before his legacy could be stopped and before the magical world could begin to heal.
Looking at her grandson Augusta Longbottom softened. ‘I believe I can help you Lord Potter, and it would be good to resume the friendship between our Noble houses. It does not do to let a Lord be so inadequate in his education.’ She glared at Minerva as she said that before turning back to smile at the boy. ‘Perhaps you could call on us tomorrow at ten. Do you have access to a floo?’
Harry nodded.
‘The floo address is The Long Abby. I expect you promptly at ten. We will take tea and begin to discuss what you will need to know.’
‘Thank you.’ Harry knew he was going to regret the tedium of the politics but it would benefit him so he accepted her invitation.
Neville showed a glimmer of the wizard he was capable of being as he spoke up. ‘I would like to know more about the healing the goblins where able to do if they can fix that.’ Pointing to the parchment he squared his shoulders back and looked at his grandmother with more bravery than he thought he had. ‘I think they might be able to help.’
Harry nearly fell of his chair and wondered if Lady Magic hadn’t given the boy a push.
‘We will talk about that at home.’
‘I may not know the background but I can confirm.’ Harry offered. ‘The goblin healers, if asked, can heal things witches and wizards can not. For a fee.’
‘You would do well to remember Lord Potter, call it your first lesson as a lord. There is always a fee.’ Dowager Longbottom stated simply. She nodded to the others before turning to Neville. ‘We will discuss this later. If we are no longer required, I will instruct my staff to expect the contents of the greenhouse once that has been confirmed.’
Harry reached out to Neville once more. ‘It was nice meeting you and I look forward to seeing you tomorrow.’
Neville nodded and followed his grandmother. ‘I, it was nice meeting you too.’
Snape rose to his feet and adjusted his long, tightly buttoned sleeves. ‘If I am no longer required I have things to attend to that are more important than watching a crying wizard.’ He indicated Lupin with his head and looked to the goblins. ‘The bequest can be placed in my vault once the will is actioned.’
‘You will be informed when this is done.’ Goldsword looked to Hookfang who nodded.
‘Very well.’ Snape swept out of the room, robes billing out behind him.
Harry watched him as he walked away and wondered how he did it. He hadn’t felt any magic being used and wondered if it was a case of practising how he walked.
McGonagall rose to her feet. Jolted by the revelations and feeling less confident. ‘I too must return to Hogwarts.’ She peered down her nose at Harry. ‘I do hope we will be seeing you there Lord Potter.’
‘I will think about it.’ Harry replied. More convinced than ever that this time he would not be sorted into the brave house of lions, musing for a moment if that made it a pride. He coughed to hide his laughter and mentally shrugged, it would be interesting to see the reactions that would follow his eventual sorting this time around.
That left him with Remus Lupin. And Harry waited to see what the sobbing man, wizard and wolf was going to do. Probably try and refuse the gifts given him by the dead friends he no doubt felt he had let down.
Amber eyes turned as if reading the mind of the son of his friends.
‘Harry, I can’t accept.’
Harry cut him off. ‘It’s Lord Potter and you will not disrespect the gifts my parents deemed worthy of you. If you must, I ask you to light a candle to Lady Magic, to my mother and my father and thank them instead of turning down something you clearly seem to need.’
Lupin nodded. The steel in the boy reminding him of Dorea Potter, his friends mother who had taken him in and given him the warmth of a home whenever he needed it. He understood a little more why her son James had done the same with literally giving him a place to call home.
‘Can I ask where you are staying? Not with your aunt and uncle I hope.’
Harry snorted. ‘And now something thinks to ask that question.’ He shook his head and heard the soft chuckle from the Gringotts branch manager. He turned to the goblin. ‘I am glad you were entertained.’
‘Always.’
Harry turned back to Lupin. ‘My godfather named me his heir, in the absence of a conviction he is still my legal godparent. I am staying in the London Black property.’
‘Alone?’
‘There is an elf. Mr Lupin. I am hardly alone.’
‘But Dumbledore said there were blood wards at your family’s home.’
‘He probably told you I was safe, all evidence to the contrary.’
‘He said I couldn’t see you because of the blood wards, why would he lie about that.’
‘That is a very good question.’ Harry felt the hardness within soften. ‘You tried to see me?’
Lupin nodded, wiping his face on a torn sleeve. ‘I tried to find you for years until Dumbledore told me you were safe and I needed to stop.’
‘Told you it would lead the cult of what’s his face to me, didn’t he.’
‘Yes.’
‘I may not have grown up in the cult of Dumbledore but everything I’ve learned since getting my Hogwarts letter a few days ago is suggesting that wasn’t a bad thing.’
‘It’s not a cult.’
‘Do you know what the definition of a cult is?’ Harry asked, genuinely curious if he knew.
‘Well it’s a group, usually religious types with a crazy leader.’
‘That’s one idea. Excessive devotion to a charismatic leader who manages the beliefs of his or her followers. Followers who certainly don’t question their leader. Is another definition.’
‘Sounds like he who must not be named.’ Lupin agreed quickly.
‘Also sounds like Dumbledore. Coming from a muggle upbringing and all.’
‘That isn’t true.’
Harry cut him off. ‘What do you call ignoring the law and placing me in an abusive home? Of trying to suppress my parents wills and preventing them being read. Of denying you the home and money my parents wanted to leave you. I imagine it would have been most helpful to have had that in the last ten years. Or leaving an innocent man, innocence he knew beyond doubt, in prison.’ He decided to twist the knife a little more, he was an angry young man who just looked eleven. ‘I bet he even has a catchy slogan he uses to justify his questionable decisions. One that if anyone questions gets them a disappointed look of grandfather knows best.’ He found himself enjoying the seeds of doubt he could see seeking the fertile ground of Lupin’s bruised conscience. ‘Sounds like a classic definition of cult leader to me.’ Harry sighed, this was unplanned but felt right. He blamed Lady Magic. ‘Perhaps I should be asking if you have somewhere to stay?’
‘Well.’ Lupin began.
‘If it would make you feel better and as long as you promise not to go running to Dumbledore to tell him, you can stay with me at the Black property.’
‘Oh, ah, if it wouldn’t put you out.’
‘Even if you only stay long enough to collect the keys to your new home and reassure yourself I wont burn the house down or something. Not that I would, god knows Petunia had me cooking since I was tall enough to reach the stove standing on a chair. And there is the house elf to make sure I have clean clothes and food.’
‘I need to collect my things .’
‘That’s fine, I need to speak with my lawyer, you will probably be finished before I am.’
‘I will come back here then.’
Harry was struck by a thought. ‘Do you have a bank vault Mr Lupin?’
‘Oh, ah, yes.’
‘I’ll see how quickly my mother’s gift to you can be transferred over.’
Goldsword stepped forward. ‘Perhaps Mr Lupin can go with Hookfang to arrange that now.’
‘Oh, thank you. Yes.’
Harry watched with a faint frown as Lupin was lead away by the Potter account manager. He waited for him to leave the room before turning back to the lawyer and Branch Manager.
‘Well that was interesting.’ He pulled his satchel onto the table and withdrew the caged rat. ‘This is Peter Pettigrew, in his animagus form Mr Smyth. Perhaps you can see to it he ends up in the right hands to get my godfather released.’ He removed the charms cast earlier.
‘You really aren’t a normal kid, you know.’ He picked the journal up and added to his earlier message.
‘Oh Lord Potter is well aware of that.’ Goldsword laughed in that rasping way goblins laughed.
It left Harry looking discretely for the knife in his back but he didn’t voice his thoughts.
‘Back to my earlier question, how soon will the wills be published?’
‘Copies are automatically sent to the Prophet once they were finished being read. It’s part of the magic used to record them.’ He scratched his head. ‘Earliest is tonight if they decide it’s worth running a special edition and they have enough to pad the paper out with. If they want even more dirt they may wait a day or two. They have to publish within three working days.’
‘I would be willing to speak with a reputable reporter who isn’t known for sensationalist lies. Actually.’ He looked at Goldsword. ‘Who owns the paper, can I buy it or a controlling share?’
‘I can look into that for you Lord Potter. For a fee.’
‘Of course. If you could have that investigated. Although I’d rather not use my name to do it, can I start a company for investments? I know the muggles do that sort of thing but do wizards?’
‘Of course and do you have a name for your investment company Lord Potter?’
Harry considered this a moment then smiled. ‘Vindicta Mea Est or just Vindicta if that’s easier.’
Johnson Smyth thought about this and thanked his grandmothers insistence of lessons in Latin. Honestly surprised it wasn’t a language offered at Hogwarts given how many spells are based on variations of the language. ‘Vengeance is mine?’
Harry smiled. ‘Yes.’
The goblin and lawyer exchanged glances and both shrugged.
‘We have a standard contract for setting an investment company up Lord Potter, it will take but a moment to provide you with one.’
Harry looked at Johnson. ‘You a contract lawyer?’
‘I am.’
‘Good, you can look at what they come up with and tell me if I should sign it or not.’ He looked back to Goldsword. ‘Do I need to set a vault up or just fund it from the Potter vault?’
‘There is a provision within the Potter main vault for investments we can access. With the company name on the documents no one else will know whose vault the money comes from.’
‘Good, and have you completed the audit on my vaults?’
‘There is a few further details to check now the will has been read.’
‘You want to make sure there really is 500,000 galleons still in my heir vault.’
‘Yes.’
‘If any payments were going to the Dursley’s I’d like that reviewed, they sure didn’t spend money on me they didn’t have to. My fat spoiled cousin with his thirty plus birthday presents maybe but not me.’
‘Do you want to press charges against your family? I’ll need a copy of the goblin healing report but that should be enough to charge them in the Wizengamot and work up an equivalent for the muggle courts.’ Johnson asked.
‘You know what, yes.’ Harry decided any shade he could throw on Dumbledore’s endless protestations of his having to stay with his family for the wards my dear boy. The better.
‘I am surprised the twinkly old man hasn’t turned up by now if I’m honest.’ Harry wondered how long it would take before the headmaster turned up on his doorstep to try and guilt him back to Privet Drive. Back to being the obedient little weapon to be raised for the slaughter, for the greater good. He frowned.
‘Have you thought of something else Lord Potter?’ Smyth asked.
‘Dumbledore has a saying, for the greater good. I know he isn’t the only one who said that.’
A student of History, for all the damage Binns had done in his time at Hogwarts, Smyth nodded. ‘You are right, it was the slogan used by Grindlewald.’
‘The same crazy mad man Dumbledore is famous for defeating.’
‘The same.’
‘I need a personal assistant.’
‘You are eleven years old.’ Smyth found the child puzzling. ‘What could you possibly need an assistant for?’
‘To research Dumbledore and his involvement with Grindlewald for starters, they were, friends.’
‘If you let her publish what she finds, Rita Skeeter is actually very good at investigating. She just likes to make things sensational, thinks it’s her thing or something.’
‘So I shouldn’t fire her when I buy the Daily Prophet, fine but if anyone prints anything about me that I haven’t verified, I’ll fire them and burn the place down.’
‘Nope, not a normal child at all.’ Smyth muttered softly. He debated warning his sister, he suspected the kid was going to end up in her house if he did go to Hogworts.
The door opened and a goblin set a folder on the table before Goldsword and left.
Opening the folder Goldsword checked the contents before pushing it across to Smyth. ‘The contract to establish Vindicta Mea Est for your review.’
With a nod the lawyer read the contract and nodded. ‘This is a very standard contract to establish the investment company, Vindicta Mea Est 1991.’
Harry smiled. ‘I have one or two other investment opportunities I wish to explore. But that can wait for now.’ He accepted the offered quill and signed his name.
Smyth took a copy of the contract, collected the cage holding Pettigrew and made his farewells. ‘I need to get our little friend to Andromeda so we can get your godfather exonerated Lord Potter.’
‘Thank you.’ Harry watched the lawyer leave before turning to Goldsword. ‘Please arrange to purchase a controlling share of the Daily Prophet for Vindicta and I will work on a list of other investments I would like explored.’
‘I look forward to the interesting times you will bring us Lord Potter. And as promised.’ Goldsword placed the now cleansed locket on the table along with a small metal chest. ‘The locket is free of the abomination so I return it to you.’
Harry nodded. ‘The chest?’
‘When you open it, the crystal within will pull the shade in. Do not open the chest until the shade is free of anyone it is possessing or has begun leaving them. Once this is done bring it to us and we will destroy the remaining pieces.’
‘Am I going to be told if I ask how.’
Goldsword shrugged. ‘We on occasion encounter horcruxes in our work in ancient tombs. Any one of our curse breakers can identify and deal with such trinkets. But if you wish to be present when it is done, you are welcome to observe. You do amuse me Lord Potter. I find that most refreshing in a wizard.’
Placing the locket and chest in his satchel Harry grinned. ‘Oh I plan to make things very interesting Goldsword. And the ring in the Gaunt shack? I want the stone from the ring.’
‘A team is currently looking into the wards and I expect they will have success before you catch your train to Hogwarts. Or shortly there after.’
‘The Diadam I’ll be able to get once I’m in the castle, which will just leave the diary. Unless either of us comes up with something to get it from Malfoy, I’ll have to wait for summer next year when he puts it in the cauldron of Ginny Weasley. And there is the basilisk to deal with.’
‘We have time to consider options Lord Potter.’
‘Do I want to ask what this is all going to cost me?’
‘I’m insulted you wish to talk money now when we have not yet concluded our contract.’
Harry smiled. ‘I doubt that very much.’ He heard the door open. ‘Looks like I have to go back to being a kid again. I look forward to increasing both our riches.’
‘As do we Lord Potter.’ Goldsword smiled as he rose to his feet and followed his client from the room. Handing him off to the sad werewolf he nodded as they headed for the line of public use floos. He honoured Lady Magic, but it was the Lord of Chaos who provided him the best entertainment. And profit. He was still a goblin.