Chapter 27
Hackblade was still going through a thorough investigation through every living client's vaults. So far, he had discovered ten false accounts, thirty cases of theft, and forty cases of fraud, all linked to Dumbledore. The man had been using the Muggleborns' personal vaults and given them restricted access to Hogwarts' charity fund instead. The charity fund was supposed to be for homeless minors. Dumbledore had also been lying to every staff member that had been working at Hogwarts since he became Headmaster about their income. The old man was in deep trouble.
He was glad that Bones hadn't responded about the old man, because he was adding more and more crimes to the pile.
The door burst open and the Shacklebolt's accountant, Fierceblade, barged in, followed by a pale Kingsley Shacklebolt.
"Your majesty," Fierceblade panted, "Dumbledore-"
"What did the old fool do now?" Hackblade growled. Kingsley handed him a piece of parchment -- the man's Magical Aura Test.
He scanned it and snarled quietly. "Have you had a cleansing, sir wizard?" he seethed.
"Not yet," Kingsley rasped.
"Take him to get cleansed while I finish this," Hackblade told Fierceblade, gesturing to the remaining vault information.
Goblin and human left.
Hackblade rubbed his forehead and picked up the next file.
Regulus Arcturus Black.
Urguut bladav?
"Harshstabber," Hackblade called. His secretary opened the door and gave him a questioning look. "I thought I told you to retrieve information for living clients."
"Problem, your majesty?" Harshstabber asked as he went over to the desk. Hackblade handed him the file, and the goblin blinked at it before opening the file.
"Ah," Harshstabber said, returning the file. "He is alive, but also not."
"What?" Hackblade took the file again.
Regulus Arcturus Black
Status: Inferi
Bladav!
"Get me Deathriser!" Hackblade demanded, and his secretary bolted. Ugh, Inferi. Disgusting magic.
He checked the last three files and rubbed his forehead.
Rabastan Lestrange/Bellatrix Lestrange Nee Black
Status: Imperiused (A.P.W.B.D.)
Rodolphus Lestrange
Status: Imperiused (A.P.W.B.D.)
Lord Bartimaeus Crouch Junior
Status: Living
"By the beard of my enemy!" Hackblade complained. He tapped the spot on his desk that would summon goblins. "AURASAVER!"
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For the Greater Good:
1. Get Slytherin-Prince's trust back
2. Find Voldemort's Horcruxes
- Diadem (speak to Helena)
- Slytherin's locket (safe at Grimmauld)
- Hufflepuff's Cup (unknown)
- Peverell Lord Ring (unknown; check Gaunt shack)
- Nagini (with her master, must be second-to-last)
- Diary (unknown)
- Dark Lord's brat (Malfoy Manor)
3. Remove goblin's research
4. Remove goblins if at all possible
5. Stop Moody/Crouch from teaching children Dark Arts
6. Steal more ingredients from Severus for the Armortentia
7. Kill Black and/or Lupin
-Lupin: Greyback? Imperius and then Obliviate Severus?
-Black: Bellatrix Lestrange
8. Study Neville (in case the Dark Lord's brat cannot be Savior)
9. Add two of Dark Lord's brat's friends to Imperiused list
10. Talk to Molly about laced fudge/sweater
11. Why are Granger and the two youngest Weasleys speaking to Slytherins? Have the compulsions failed?
12. Remove demon menaces if possible (Imperius? Compulsions? Poison? AK?)
13. Learn how Dark Lord's brat found out about laws
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Fawkes had had just about enough.
His job -- along with Tenebris, Slytherin's Basilisk, Corwen, Ravenclaw's eagle, and Wist, Hufflepuff's badger -- was to protect and guide Hogwarts' children, as well as to advise and aide the Headmaster.
Unfortunately, Corwen and Wist had gone missing around the time Dumbledore had stolen the Headmaster position (Flitwick was supposed to be Headmaster), Tenebris was dead, and his hatchling was trapped in the Chamber. Fawkes was forced to follow the old fool, who had put Hogwarts' children and heirs in danger for decades.
He had to do something.
And suddenly he remembered: the fire demon.
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Charlie Weasley was scratching underneath Norberta's chin when a familiar phoenix suddenly appeared on his shoulder.
"Fawkes!" he said in glee, stroking the bird's beak. "I missed you." He suddenly noticed that the bird was carrying a piece of parchment. "What's up?"
Fawkes trilled.
"He's done what?" Fiery wings exploded out of Charlie's back, eyes turning orange.
The phoenix trilled again.
"I'm going to set his beard on fire." Charlie calmed down as Fawkes spoke again, wings disappearing in a cloud of ashes. "All right. I think you should take that to Darky, though. I can't do much from here."
Fawkes gave him an irritated look.
"Oh. It's time, huh?" The bird responded with an eyeroll. "Cool. Get the goblins to remove Bill's blocks, would ya? And I think my siblings and dad need a cleansing, too."
The phoenix crooned in response and disappeared.
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Voldemort jumped when Fawkes appeared in a flash of fire, dropped a list on his head, and disappeared again.
"BARTY!"