Harry wasn't surprised that his eyes also needed some treatment. From the few stories and photos of his father, he knew that James had worn glasses, despite having grown up with loving parents. The goblin healers, though, didn't seem content. "Somebody sabotaged your eyes, deforming the eye cavity and weakening your eye muscles. It was all done by spells, but they're too old to leave any identifying residue."
"How can you know it was done by spells, then?" Harry asked.
"There's always a sign left, even after centuries. We can detect the magic, but not the caster or the exact spell, although that doesn't matter much. The potion will correct the problem even more easily than one caused by other forces. We shall also cast a spell to help it focus where most needed."
Harry had to rest with his eyes closed while the potion corrected his eyesight. That didn't prevent him from getting the full report about all that was found during his treatment. With Hermione, Sirius and Marlene around him, he listened to the report given by the head healer.
"We first tackled the scar, actually — the dark entity within it. We needed to do that before removing the binds on your magic, as that entity was leaching your magic and getting access to more would have made it more difficult to remove. It took several hours until it was done. The entity, a shard of Voldemort's soul, was very tenacious and was trying to use as much of your magic as it could to stay there. We eventually expelled it from your scar and caught it in a crystal for later studying and destroying.
"We then removed a multitude of monitoring, tracking and tracing charms cast on you, all by the same caster. Luckily, their range is quite limited, so the caster couldn't get much help from them in finding you unless he was within a few miles from you. At larger distances he would only find the general direction, far from exact, and an indication of 'far'. Removing the bind on your mind was trivial too.
"We were then left with the binds on your magic. Considering what happened when such a bind was removed from your mate, we had a multitude of shields, both magical and physical, erected around you, and when we finally reached that part, they proved barely adequate. Some of our team got quite a few bruises, but nobody was severely hurt and they will all be alright within a day or two, at most.
"We have also written every spell charm and bind that we found. You will see the details in the documents we'll give you before you leave.
"The rest wasn't as exciting. The bones that needed repair were re-broken in a controlled manner and healed to full strength. Our potion also took care of some internal damage that beating, undernourishment and neglect caused you, mainly before reaching Hogwarts. It also made you quickly grow to your full potential for this age. We've adjusted the clothes that you were wearing when coming here, but we suggest you buy a new wardrobe. You may also expect to need more food for a while since you need to fill your larger frame. We couldn't do it just with potions. We expect you to have another growth spurt or two before you reach your adult proportions."
Harry could hear Hermione scribbling furiously, writing down everything of interest. She then asked, "Is there anything we can do, legally speaking, about what Dumbledore did to us, especially the binds?"
The goblin sighed. "Our British brethren may know some more, but I suspect they will give you the same advice, namely — use the services of a good lawyer. Human laws are much more complicated than goblin ones and some people use that complexity to do things that should be illegal yet the loopholes in the laws make them nonpunishable. From what we heard of Dumbledore, he may be just that type. Only a very good lawyer may be able to bring justice to such a person. Then, there's also another way, if you can lure him into goblin territory. Harming any of our largest account holders is a crime that goblin law punishes quite severely. You'll still need a lawyer to pass the information to your local bank in a way that can prove Dumbledore's crimes enough to arrest him."
Sirius spoke next. "Aren't you acting in contradiction to the treaties by giving such advice?"
Harry couldn't see the goblin with his eyes closed, but he was sure the goblin was smirking. "The treaties you are thinking of are between the British goblin clan and the British Ministry. Since we're in France, they are irrelevant. Besides, I wasn't expressing any official position on the matter. I was just answering a patient's question about the legal implications of medical data and expressing my personal views. I believe these are allowed even under those treaties."
Sirius barked some laughter. "Well said, master healer!"
–..–
By the time they returned to the Delacour villa, everybody was preparing for sleep. The Delacour family still wanted to hear a bit before retiring for the night. Marlene got many compliments for her restored appearance and Harry got about the same for his clear forehead and his new physique.
"We need to help you buy a new wardrobe," Fleur said. Harry dreaded the implications of that glint he saw in her eyes when saying that. Seeing all the females nod and the adult males cringe worried him even more.
Whatever they had in mind, though, was not scheduled for the morning. They spent the next morning at the nude beach, enjoying the views and also giving some while tanning, swimming or just playing on the beach. Harry had a feeling that Hermione clung to him more than usual, seeming much more possessive of him. He wondered why. It didn't occur to him that the treatment made him look more attractive to the girls and young women on the beach.
After returning to the villa, they all took quick showers and got lightly dressed. Hermione and Fleur grabbed Harry. Sirius and Claude looked apprehensively at him, but were tackled by their own mates to come along. Gabby just giggled and walked behind Harry.
It then turned into one of the weirdest experiences Harry had ever had. While Marlene also enjoyed getting a few new clothes, Harry got most of the attention. They dragged him from shop to shop, had him try a multitude of garments in each and selected very few for him to buy. Luckily, only Hermione insisted on accompanying him into the underwear section, where she insisted that he buy not only boxers but also briefs and even two thong-like pants. Harry wasn't sure what she had in mind. Weren't they enjoying each other fully nude? Why even bother with those flimsy pieces of cloth?
And yet, when they finally returned to the villa, Harry didn't think it was a waste of time. It was tiring and frustrating, at times, but he managed to buy a full new wardrobe, suitable for the summer there and also in England. A few items could even be used in the winter, but he was sure he'd need to buy some more clothes in Scotland for the winter. He didn't look forward to that shopping.
–..–
Harry still remembered the goblin's advice. He sent a message to Andy with all that was found during the treatment and asked her to check what could be done under wizarding laws or, if that proved too problematic, under goblin law. He had a feeling that he would choose to let the goblins judge Dumbledore. They wouldn't mind his big words or his "greater good" and wouldn't treat him differently than any other wizard. He wondered if that wouldn't turn counter-productive, though. While Dumbledore surely had a lot to answer to, he was rumoured (Or was he behind those rumours? How could Harry know?) to be the only wizard that Voldemort was afraid of, Harry wasn't sure it was true, but then, without Dumbledore, who was certainly a powerful and talented wizard, Voldemort would feel more confident in his ability to conquer and Harry would be put under much more pressure to vanquish the Dark Lord, as he'd already done once. (Or was that twice, already?)
He needed to think some more about that and also consult with his wife.
Just thinking of Hermione as his wife made him feel some warmth in his heart. He felt like their love for each other was growing stronger each day. It felt good to love and be loved, he thought.
–..–
Andy replied two days later.
"It may take me a few weeks to check all the legal and ethical aspects of the situation. Still, I fear that Dumbledore's position and fame may make it impossible to achieve any justice in a wizarding trial. He would use any trick he knew and any legal or illegal way to make the Wizengamot dismiss the charges. I think we need to handle this differently, even if we eventually decide to apply for goblin justice.
What I suggest is to use your control ofthe media to your benefit. I can pass on the relevant information, of course, but it may be more beneficial if we make the reporters do the investigation themselves. I'm sure that Dumbledore had done much worse during his long life than merely cast some binds on students. I even have some information, although it's not fully verified yet. It's still good enough for somebody like Rita Skeeter to start an investigation. Where it may lead, we can only guess.
Please send me your thoughts about this and any instructions on your decision."
Hermione, who read the letter along with him, smiled with evident mischief. "Dumbledore's greatest asset is his fame. If he loses that fame due to his misdeeds becoming public knowledge, he will certainly lose much of his influence. That may eventually allow us to bring him to justice even in front of the Wizengamot, although I wouldn't count on it."
Harry smiled understandingly. "Neither would I. The man is quite slippery. I've already noticed how he turns things when asked something he doesn't want to answer. He makes a long tale, giving out no real information and avoiding the topic altogether. I just can't understand why people trust him so much."
"Well, he's supposed to be very wise. Living so long, he surely learned a thing or two," Hermione said.
"But is that true? He seems to have some ideas that he wants to fit reality to, disregarding whatever doesn't fit his ideas. Can such a man really learn? Is he still capable of learning at his age? The way I see it, he probably makes the students look up to him, using any means he can use, and they keep that attitude after graduation." Harry was no longer a devout admirer.
He then thought a bit and added, "I think that he used such methods on my parents too. Why have they even stayed in that house, that was only protected by a Fidelius, when they could stay in any of their other possessions that had much stronger wards? Some are out of Britain, giving even better security. He also borrowed the invisibility cloak, making my father more vulnerable. Wasn't that done with a purpose?"
Hermione gave it some thought and frowned deeper. "It certainly looks that way, now that our blinds are removed. I doubt he'd ever admit to the true reasons he acted that way, though. All we can do is guess."
Harry took another look at Andy's letter. "Do you think we should do anything to push the Prophet to action about Dumbledore?"
She gave it some consideration. "No, certainly not yet. I'm sure that whatever Andy gives them will make the reporters act."
A thought popped into her mind and made her smile. "You remember the beetle I captured after the last task, don't you? It was actually Rita Skeeter in her animagus form. I still keep her safely, for a beetle. I'm sure she'd like to return to work. We may set her free after she gives a vow to never publish lies and to verify all the facts before publishing. It may even make her a respectable reporter, you know."
Harry smiled. "We should also make sure that she'll get no pay for her 'vacation', even if it was somewhat forced. After all, you gave her lodging, food and drinks, didn't you?"
Hermione chuckled. "Of course, dear. Now, shouldn't we go to bed?" The way she moved her body made her intentions very clear.
"Sure, honey. Lead the way, please."
There was no more talking for quite a while, although some groans and moans could be heard. Well, only inside their room. The silencing charms worked well to keep the sounds unheard by others.