Chapter 4
It was Dumbledore and Kingsley.
Dumbledore made a move to come in, but in a surprisingly resolute voice, Dan said, "Headmaster Dumbledore, you're not welcome in my home at this time. I'm asking you politely to leave."
Undaunted, Dumbledore replied, "I have come to move Harry to a safer location. He is not sufficiently protected here."
Dan stood his ground saying, "He does not wish to leave. Sir, I'll ask you politely once again to leave."
Dumbledore did not make a move to leave. Harry had the cell phone out to call Director Bones.
Harry came around the corner with Hermione and Emma. He said, "Professor, I've been invited to spend the summer here, and I've accepted the invitation. Dr. Granger does not appreciate that fact that you ordered his home to be searched illegally. The home is under the protection of several Senior Aurors on loan from Director Bones. Dr. Granger has asked you politely to leave twice. I'll see you on the first of September."
Patronizing him, Dumbledore replied, "Harry, I cannot allow that."
Harry pushed the talk button on the cell phone.
Hermione said, "Professor, my father asked you twice to leave. Please honor his wishes sir."
"Miss Granger, you simply do not understand the situation."
"Sir, I understand that the wards protecting Harry's Aunt's house fell and the Order people who were watching the home at the time decided to leave. After they left, Death Eaters performed a Colloportus spell to seal the windows and doors while other Death Eaters ignited the outside of their home. I understand that the Dursleys were inside and were burned alive. I understand that the members of your Order tried to intimidate Mr. Dursley at the train station and he took it badly." There was no twinkle in his eye.
She continued, "Professor, I understand that Harry and I as well as my parents have been targeted by Voldemort's Death Eaters. I understand that if the wards that were at Harry's Aunt's home were due to a blood relationship, they cannot be replaced, and that said, one home would be as good as the next. Professor, with all due respect what part don't I understand?"
He smiled at her to put her at ease. "It doesn't matter, Miss Granger. What does matter is that we leave as soon as…."
Pop, Pop, pop, pop, pop, pop. It was Director Bones and five Aurors. She was not a happy person. "Senior Auror Shacklebolt, you are under arrest. Professor, have the Grangers asked you to leave?"
Undaunted, Dumbledore said, "In total, four times so far."
"Professor, are you willing to comply with their wishes?"
"It appears that you have left me with few other choices."
"Professor, here is the signed paperwork. You and any other members of your Order are specifically prohibited in contacting either the Grangers or Mr. Potter until one September unless it is for the express business of a normal school contact, such as sending book lists and the like via owl. They have made their wishes known. You will not be participating in any future custody hearings as you have been shown to have a serious conflict of interest in the matter. Do you have any questions?"
"No."
She replied, "Good. I intend to clear up the disputes regarding the Sirius Black estate tomorrow. At the conclusion, I expect that Mr. Potter will be identified as the sole heir of the estate. It is my expectation that he will not give his permission for you to allow to continue using his home as your personal clubhouse. Therefore, I am formally requesting that you remove all wards and charms that you have placed on the home by the end of this week."
Deep down, she knew that he would never do as she had directed, but he had made a career out of extending his actual authority with influence, and she rarely had the opportunity to take a few jabs at him. She asked, "Are there any questions?"
"No."
"Professor, do you intend to comply with both of these orders?"
"No."
Losing her patience she asked, "Professor, do you really want to be arrested in front of your students?"
Dumbledore knew that this was not the time to make a stand on the issue. He would try again tomorrow. He replied, "I would prefer not to. For now, I will comply with your requests. Goodnight Director. Harry, please be careful. I don't need to say the reason." He vanished. This had not gone the way that he had expected. Obviously Harry was still mad about last week. He originally expected to have been in and out in a minute or two. He was surprised that Amelia had turned up so quickly after he had watched her leave.
Amelia was shocked that Dumbledore would go to such lengths to physically have custody of the boy. Dumbledore's actions were very divisive to the light side.
She asked Shacklebolt to proceed to her office, giving him the option of being manacled or not. He chose to go quietly, escorted by four of the other Aurors.
Amelia introduced the Grangers and Harry to Senior Auror Jamie Church. She was a no nonsense woman about 35 years old. She had been in the Auror academy when Voldemort was last in power, and like the other trainees, had been in awe of the story of Harry the boy who lived. She had been a few years younger than his parents, but had been in school when James and Lilly were head boy and girl.
True to her word, Church was inconspicuous. In fact they could not see her. Like Harry's minders from the summer before, Church remained hidden, either under a cloak, or disillusioned. Dan came out a few minutes later, called for her and gave her a key to the back door to let herself in as needed.
When Arthur arrived back home, he knew that he was in trouble with his family. Molly was angry with him for not insisting that Harry spend the summer with them. Ginny was furious that he stopped back at Grimmauld place and reported to McGonagall that he had found Harry. Ron was angry with everyone for keeping secrets from him.
Arthur felt that the best thing to do was to support Dumbledore who had asked that any news regarding Harry be reported directly to him, or Minerva.
Unfortunately his loyalty to Dumbledore would come at a cost with the rest of his family. Harry and Ginny had specifically asked him not to say anything and within two minutes of leaving Harry, he had broken that trust.
Ginny knew far better than either of her parents or her brother that Harry was the sort of guy that trusted people slowly and simply shut them out of his life if they broke his trust.
Like Ginny, Minerva McGonagall also felt betrayed and used. Any fool could see that Dumbledore had used herself and Miss Tonks to do his dirty work for him. Now Tonks was facing documented disciplinary action for threatening a muggle – a black mark that time wouldn't erase unless Harry Potter himself made an appeal to the effect, or became head of the Aurors.
She viewed her own actions with disgust. She had no business going to Miss Granger's lovely home and insisting that Harry be moved to that dreadful mansion. Personally, she had been delighted to hear that the Doctors had invited Harry into their home for the summer and wanted nothing more for the young man than to see him be happy for a few weeks.
She'd previously had no idea that Lilly and James had specifically requested that Harry go to Sirius. She thought of that night nearly fifteen years ago. Likely as not, if baby Harry had been placed in Black's care, he never would have gone after Pettigrew that evening and the little rat would have been caught another day. Harry would have had a normal childhood in the care of a good man. Black most likely would have settled down and married that girl who had looked up to him.
What had given Albus the right to make those decisions? She was truly angry with him for the first time that she could even remember.
Rita Skeeter smelled a scoop. Not having seen the story in the Times about the fire at Little Whinging, she had not known that Harry's relatives had been killed until she overheard the two Aurors talking in the entryway at the Ministry. 'The orphan who lived. Orphaned again. Another notch in his tragedy belt.' She wasn't happy with any of those angles. Maybe she would try to the angle about his dodging death yet again.
Why hadn't he been in their home at the time? School was out and his relatives would have picked him up. Either he left as soon as he got home…, or he never arrived. So the hundred Galleon question was, Where's Potter?
She thought about it. He most likely remained in Dumbledore's care, especially after that business at the Department of Mysteries a week ago, or he ran off. He's too young to run off in a big way. He's probably at the Weasleys. She'd check in the morning.
No one had knocked on their door for ten minutes now, so Dan and Emma hoped that the night's excitement was over. Obviously more had happened last week than they had been told. Dan was a pretty straightforward guy and the only thing he'd witnessed from Dumbledore and his followers were half-truths and manipulation.
Tomorrow was Friday, and they didn't have any patients scheduled. Maybe they'd have an outing of some sort and talk with the kids.
Dan and Emma were about to turn in when they noticed Harry sitting on the sofa in the library.
Dan smiled at him and asked, "What are you reading?"
Harry looked up and replied, "A book on protecting your home with magic. There's some pretty good stuff in here on hiding your home against your choice of either magical or non-magical people. There's a chapter on setting up an anti-apparation zone, and here's a chapter on…" Harry grew silent.
Emma noticed the change in the young man and asked, "What is it, Harry?"
Harry looked at her and said, "It's a section on fireproofing a home. It looks like an easy enough charm and the book says that it lasts an entire year."
Dan said, "The fire wasn't your fault, Harry. You didn't set it. Second guessing yourself is usually unproductive. Maybe you could show it to us tomorrow"
Emma patted him on the shoulder and said, "It's late. Come to bed now."
Harry had virtually no previous recollection of caring parents. It felt good.
Over many years Albus Dumbledore had become quite accustomed to getting his own way. He hadn't gotten his way once today. Between the dressing down that he had received in Amelia's office, and the disciplinary action that Tonks, Arthur and Kingsley faced, his Order was in serious disarray.
He would never feel that Harry would be sufficiently protected at the Granger residence. Popular decision or not, he felt that Harry's ultimate destiny in the war outweighed his individual desire to have a good time visiting with the Granger girl.
He wondered what had really happened on the platform. He hadn't been in close enough contact with Harry to find that memory. Regardless of the initiating actions by Moody and the others, the fact remained that Harry's last remaining relatives were dead, and he needed to be moved immediately, either to the castle or Grimmauld place.
Perhaps he could be persuaded to move to a safer location if it were demonstrated that the Granger home in Crawley was not a safe place. He would have to think about that move very carefully.
Harry got up early on Friday. He went outside to do the chores in the back garden. Auror Jamie Church watched him with interest as he clipped the hedge and pulled weeds in the yard. He really did look like her recollection of James Potter when he was that age. Somehow she couldn't reconcile the image of the famous Harry Potter who was the subject of a half dozen Teen Witch poster with the young man pulling weeds mornings at six AM.
She decided to test his reflexes and see how big of a protection risk he represented. She crept up to him and was going to say hello. When she was about fifteen feet from him she accidentally stepped on a tiny twig. In a flash, Harry had his wand out and had fired a stunner at her, squarely hitting her disillusioned shape. Five minutes later she was being revived. Harry was apologizing profusely.
She smiled at him and said, "Well done Harry. You had no way of knowing that I was a friendly. You did the right thing. I'm only glad that you didn't fire anything stronger. Merlin, you're fast."
"I'm sorry, Auror Church. I've had a hard time the last few weeks."
"Cor, I'd say so too if I'd run into half of the trouble that you'veseen. So what's up with Professor Dumbledore?"
"He's had this lifelong idea that I need protecting. Maybe Voldemort is after me. He's after a lot of people. No offense Auror Church, but mostly I just want to be left alone."
"Please call me Jamie, Harry. I understand your desire to be left alone, but that probably isn't in your immediate future. Besides Voldemort and crew, a lot of other people want to be associated with you, have their products endorsed by you, or have their daughters or grand daughters date you. That's just the way it is. You may have been shielded from much of that earlier on, but it's real. You'll have to be the judge of your friends and acquaintances real intentions. I'm sorry."
Harry replied, "Don't be. People have been staring at my scar either awestruck, afraid, or insanely jealous since I've been eleven. That's one of the reasons that I like Hermione. She sees me, just Harry, and she likes me anyway. She's my best friend."
"She's a lucky girl," said Church.
"No, I'm the lucky one," replied Harry. "She always stood up for me when no one else did. She's put herself and her family at risk by being friends with me. She took me in when my uncle left me at the train station."
"Maybe you're good for each other," said Church.
Slightly embarrassed at her words, Harry replied, "I need to go make breakfast now. Can I get you anything?"
"Coffee if you have any."
"I'll make some, said Harry. "Cream, sugar, or black?"
"Black, please."
Harry went in, started the coffee and put the cinnamon rolls that he had started the previous evening in the oven. When the coffee was done, he brought a mug out to Jamie, thanked her for helping them, and went back inside. He reread the chapter on warding an area.
Fortunately, the next person to get up was Hermione. She was wearing a pair of tan shorts and a high necked top. She seemed to have spent a bit of time with her hair. Harry poured her a coffee and they sat together in the library.
Harry quietly asked her, "What were your folks told about the Department of Mysteries?"
She thought about it for a moment. Based on the little that they'd asked, they either knew every little detail and had elected not to bring it up, or had been told next to nothing, and didn't know to ask. She replied, "Probably nothing. Why?"
Harry thought about Dumbledore and didn't put it past the old wizard to try to use that as leverage to regain more control on him. He replied, "If they knew the details, there would be less leverage for the professor to use. I've got enough secrets to share with you as it is."
She looked into his emerald green eyes, as he raised his gaze and looked into her bright brown eyes. She smiled at him for a moment, appreciating his attention. She asked him, "Are you OK with talking about Sirius?"
Harry weighed the words that her parents had used last night. They didn't seem like judgmental people. The best that could happen with full disclosure would be that her parents would be better prepared to deal with the dangers that were there. As Auror Church had mentioned, whether someone had been shielded from them from the dangers that existed and knew about them or not, they were real. In the worst case, they could react badly and make every attempt to withdraw their daughter from the wizarding world. Given that Hermione had already been licensed to practice magic, the move would be almost moot. In the middle ground, they could easily chuck him out of their home, recognizing the risk that he had brought into their lives.
Gryffindors charged ahead. Harry said, "Let me get breakfast started first. We should tell them everything."
At breakfast, Dan and Emma asked Harry if he had a passport. Harry smiled, and said "Other than Hogwarts, the farthest I've ever been is a few trips to London. The Dursleys never took me anywhere. They either left me in my cupboard, or at Mrs. Figg's house. Director Bones could get me one." Emma didn't understand the comment about the cupboard, but would ask Hermione about it later.
The cinnamon rolls were delicious. Emma brought a couple out to the Auror who was outside as well as another cup of coffee.
Dan asked if Harry wanted to go visit Sherwood Forest and see Nottingham castle. Harry thought that sounded fantastic, Hermione liked to ride in the car and it would be a good opportunity to have a discussion.
They finished their leisurely breakfast. Harry went with Dan when he went to the BP petrol station. Harry felt better about himself wearing his new clothing. They returned and were introduced to Auror Connie Hammer. She was a no nonsense woman who looked like she'd been classmates with Moody, except that the years on the job had been kinder to her. She had fiery red hair, her sharp blue eyes were her own and all of her body parts appeared to be original equipment.
After greeting the Grangers, Director Bones introduced her to Harry. She looked him over, gave a smile and said, "Stone the crows. It is you. I'm pleased to meet you." She shook his hand. "Good work last week with Macnair and Malfoy. Tis a shame that Bellatrix got away to hurt someone again. She's a mean one. I helped Moody take her down the first time. It was a bloody nightmare." Harry nodded in agreement.
Dan showed her around the yard and his home, and then they left for the day. They got on the M4 motorway and began the outing.
After they had been in the car for a few minutes, Emma made his job a lot easier, saying, "Hermione mentioned that you wanted to tell us a bit about yourself." Harry looked over at her as she ran her finger across her chest, smiled at him and nodded.
For nearly an hour, Harry told them of his life, beginning with the little that he knew of his parents, Halloween 1981, being taken to the Dursleys, and growing up there. He talked candidly of the abuses that he had taken at the hands of his uncle and cousin. He mentioned living in a cupboard off of the kitchen, being the Dursleys' house elf and finally being rescued by Hagrid when he was eleven.
He talked about their adventures at school, beginning with what Hermione still thought of as the most romantic moment of her life, being rescued from the clutches of a twelve foot Mountain Troll.
As he moved through the years, Emma and Dan sensed a darker tone in his words. There was less of the beauty and wonder of the magical world like meeting unicorns and more of the darkness of the politics. They sensed that the pure blood attitudes held all of the trappings of wealth and power with none of the compassion for the betterment of mankind. Silently they ached as he told of the constant insults that their daughter had endured at the hands of a few. They swelled with pride when he told them of Hermione's kindness to the elves and willingness to help other students
Harry told them of his Godfather trying to assist him in his fourth year, living in the hills outside Hogsmede. He told them of the tri-wizard tournament, and the different tasks, ending with the rebirth of Voldemort. He told them of the events of the last year – The DA, the attack on Mr. Weasley, and the events in June.
Finally Harry came back to the lighter aspects of the wizarding world including the Nifflers, Christmas with Sirius, playing Quidditch, spending time with Hermione, Ron, Neville and Ginny. He tried to balance out the wonderment with the danger.
It was a lot to absorb. Much of the story was new to Dan and Emma, some had been retold from a different perspective. What came out was they were spending the summer hosting a young man of rock-solid character, who obviously thought the world of their daughter. It also came out that there was very real danger within that world, and the boogey men in question wore black robes and white masks.
"They probably stole the idea from Halloween," quipped Dan, trying to lighten the mood.
"Huh?" asked Harry.
"Those American horror movies where the evil bloke runs around in the hockey mask killing all of the young girls."
Harry had seen parts of one of those movies. The difference was these killers were all too real and to a large extent, he was the ongoing target.
The time spent at Nottingham was interesting. Harry wondered if one of the evil characters of the Robin Hood legends might have been a dark wizard, or simply a mean spirited person. They had lunch in the Manor Lodge Pub. The waitress jokingly told them that the building was haunted. They all laughed about it with the waitress. They were having their lunch when Hermione spotted one of the Hogwarts ghosts; the fat friar coming through the wall. Hermione poked Harry, who nodded at him.
Hermione looked up and said, "Friar Tuck, I presume?"
The Friar looked delighted and floated over to her, saying, "It's good to see you again, Miss Granger, and Mr. Potter. I spend my summers back at my native home, making noises and helping the locals." He waved at them. "I'll see you in September."
Dan had felt something cold but had been unable to see the old Friar. He asked, "What was that?"
His brilliant daughter smiled and replied, "That was Friar Tuck. He spends most of the year in the castle, and comes here for the summers."
Harry nodded at Emma, shrugged his shoulders and said, "Magic."
They walked around Nottingham for a bit longer until it was time to go. On the way back, Dan asked, "So how do these civil wars within the wizard world get resolved?"
Hermione replied, "They typically end with the death or assassination of the dark leader in question. The goblin rebellion of 1742 ended when…"
A few minutes later Harry added, "Hermione has a good point. Professor Dumbledore ended the reign of Grindelwald in 1945 by defeating him in a Bavarian castle."
"Right," said Hermione, "and the first reign of Voldemort ended in 1981 when he was defeated by…" she realized that she had created an awkward moment for her good friend.
"Me," finished Harry.
"But how?" asked Dan
"And why?" asked Emma.
"A month before I was born," said Harry, "Professor Dumbledore was interviewing for instructors when one made a magical prediction, called a prophecy. It went like this:
"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches…
Born to those who have thrice defied him, Born as the seventh month dies...
And the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have powers that the Dark Lord knows not…
And either must die at the hands of the other, for neither can live while the other survives…
The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies."
Harry finished, saying, "Professor Trelawney made that prophecy."
"She's nothing but a fraud," scoffed Hermione. She was both awed by his words and unaccepting of their origin.
"Maybe," said Harry, "but my parents and Godfather among others were killed over that Prophecy. One of Voldemort's spies heard the first two lines and told it to him. Voldemort believed it. My parents had previously been involved in three skirmishes with him. After I was born, he went looking for me. They'd gone into hiding, and were staying at their summer cottage that was under one of the charms that I was reading about, the Fidelius charm. The man who knew the secret betrayed my parents and gave away their location."
Harry took a small piece of rope from out of his pocket. "Apparently they'd thought of everything except having an emergency portkey like Director bones gave us. They must have had no way of escape. A wooden house wasn't worth dying for." He was silent for a moment.
"Anyway, when he attacked me, the protection that my mother had charmed me with somehow rebounded the killing curse that he'd fired at me and it hit him. It ripped the spirit from his body, effectively ending the last war for eleven years." He pointed to his forehead. "His curse marked me with this scar."
"Apparently Dumbledore believes the prophecy. He's been interfering with my life ever since. He's been bending laws and rules ever since to keep me under his thumb."
Harry continued. "So learning of the magical world has been a double edged sword for me. It got me out of living in a cupboard and sleeping on an old crib mattress. I've met some wonderful people and made some fantastic friends, but I've had people gawking at me since the first day that I stepped into the Leakey Cauldron." Tears welled in Emma's eyes as Harry told his tale. In every sense, she could feel his pain.
Harry took a breath and finished by saying, "That said, I'd like you to reconsider your offer to have me stay with you this summer. I thought it would have been kept quieter, but it looks like I'm destined to be the centerpiece in some sort of strange custody battle. I don't want to place you in any more risk than you already are."
Emma squeezed Dan's arm. They knew what they had to do.
Dan said, "Thank you Harry. From you and because of you, we've learned more about the magical world in the last few days than the last five years. You gave us full disclosure, a concept that your professors seem to have forgotten about."
Emma joined in, saying, "You and my husband share some common traits. In your own ways, you're both incredibly brave people. You're both kind and gentle at heart. You're both pretty straightforward men. You both have a determination to use the gifts that you were given and make the world a better place because of it." Harry listen as she spoke.
"Dan was born to be good with his hands and has incredible eye-hand coordination. As a result, he makes a fantastic dentist. Auror Church told me that you have the fastest reflexes of any human she's seen and that you set her straight this morning when she tried to sneak up on you at six when you were trimming our hedge."
She finished, saying, "Harry, there are bad people out there that would like to hurt Hermione whether you are here or not. To answer your question, I feel much safer with you by our daughter than away from her. We're pleading with you to stay with us and help keep her safe. In return, we'll do everything that we can to provide you with a comfortable, normal, loving home. We will help you anyway that we know how. That said, Dan and I will leave the final decision to Hermione."
Hermione had been listening to Harry tell his life story. He'd filled in the details that she'd consciously or unconsciously omitted telling her parents over the years. From the time that she'd been in the second grade until Halloween of her first year at Hogwarts, she'd never had a true friend. She'd come to recognize that much of that had been her emerging powers as a witch and her passion for learning, but it was real. Before she knew Harry, she'd lived a very lonely life.
She didn't know what her feelings were towards Harry. They varied from moment to moment, but there were some constants – kindness, respect, generosity and loyalty. They were true friends. She didn't know if her other feeling were love, lust, or simply a fifteen year old girl's hormones raging through her body, but she knew that her world was a bigger, brighter, happier place with Harry nearby. She knew that she would curse anyone into goo who tried to take him away. "Please stay." She gave his wrist a squeeze.
"That decided," continued Emma turning around and facing the two, "I do expect you both to follow the house rules." We share in the chores. I'll do the laundry and the bathrooms. Harry will do the cooking and Hermione will vacuum and dust. Dan will cut the grass and take care of the autos. Harry, if you insist on puttering out in the garden, at least let me help." She smiled at him for a moment.
Putting on a more serious face, she said. "I don't expect to catch you to together studying all of the time. There are outings to the mall, movies, the zoo, and trips to go on. Harry needs to learn to swim properly, learn a bit about golf and tennis, theatre and such."
She finished saying, "Tomorrow we will make appointments for visits to the optometrist, and you both should have your teeth looked at. Now that you both have your licenses, we were hoping that you could show us a bit of magic. It can't all be about fighting, is it?"
They both shook their heads.
Emma asked, "Harry, did your aunt and uncle ever teach you how to ride a bicycle?"
Harry shook his head.
"Hermione, please add that to your list."
Unable to wait any longer, Dan, asked, "You really talked with Friar Tuck?"
Hermione replied, "Loads of times. He is the house ghost for Hufflepuff house. When Harry and I were in our second year we got invited to Sir Nicolas de Mimsy Porpington's 500th deathday party. They'd invited ghosts from…"
A few minutes later Emma smiled and said, "We're home."
Albus Dumbledore had other ideas for Harry's summer.
Chapter 5
Death Eaters Attack Again – Boy-Who-Lived is Missing
Story by Rita Skeeter
Earlier this week the home of Harry Potter's last remaining relatives was destroyed in what has been allowed to become a far too common occurrence. A group of Death Eaters sealed the home and ignited the outside of the home.
Diligent research by this reporter revealed that the inhabitants of the home were alive, as the muggle fire and police departments had reported several frantic calls for help from Harry Potter's Aunt. The first call was received at 6:17 PM and the last call at 6:22.
Embattled Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge had been unaware that yet another attack had occurred and reportedly was conducting a business meeting at the Old Course at the time. This reporter believes that a call for a vote of no confidence is eminent.
Nymphadora Tonks felt terrible as she read the article. She had been sent home on a three-day suspension and hadn't left her flat. The Dursley house must have been torched while she was reporting that the wards had come down.
Had she been wrong to report back to Dumbledore? Strictly speaking their assignment had been to guard Harry, not a home. She was in so much trouble at work. Director Bones took a very hard line on abuse of power situations. She had been up for a grade advancement review in six months. She was certain that this suspension would gut those chances. Either way, she would be glad to get back to work tomorrow morning.
Saturday evening Dumbledore was meeting with Amos Diggory. He was an Order member and one of the leading choices to be named to succeed Fudge should a vote of no confidence be passed.
The process had three related parts that had to be well coordinated. Any of the department heads could initiate and circulate a petition to take a vote of no confidence. Of the fifteen departments and sub-departments, a simple majority would be required to pass the petition.
If passed, the combination of the Wizengamot with sixty members and the department heads would vote. A two-thirds majority was required to pass. Making the overall effort easier were the recent arrests at the Department of Mysteries. Lucius Malfoy had been a particularly influential lobbyist.
If failed, tradition called that the department head that initiated the petition would resign from the ministry.
The fact of the matter was that Fudge, while an adequate peacetime steward had no tactical skills to wage an effective end to what could quickly become an all out civil war within the wizarding world.
While unfortunate in of itself, the attack on the Dursleys could sway a few votes if framed within the context that the ministry had insufficient manpower to wage war against the Death Eaters. Manpower that Fudge had refused to authorize despite two documented requests.
Dumbledore was certain that he had the necessary votes within the Wizengamot. He was less certain of the department heads. Certainly Arthur, Amelia, Amos, Mafalda, Miranda, and Croaker could be counted on. Edgecombe, Wiss and Michaels could most likely vote for Fudge/against him. Dumbledore did not know which way Wallace, Johnson, Turnbull, Grant, Drummond, or Holly Bruce the new head of Magical Sports would vote.
He had six votes, and needed eight with six undecided. He wanted to be certain that the department head vote would go at least ten-five before asking Arthur to risk his career and author the petition. What he really needed was a well-known well-respected outsider to take a public stand against Fudge. What he really needed was Harry Potter.
He decided to call a special meeting of the Order that Sunday evening.
Things at the Weasley home had only gotten worse in the last day. Ginny had written Fred and George a letter regarding the scene at the platform, the subsequent attack at the Dursleys and her father going to check on Harry. She was so angry with her father for ratting out Harry's location to Dumbledore.
Molly wasn't sure that Arthur had done the right thing either, but supported his decision in front of the children. She so wished that Harry had come to them for help. She still wasn't positive of Hermione's motives with Harry after the articles that Skeeter had written several years ago.
She thought, 'He must be so distraught over Sirius' death'.
"Eight diamonds," bid Dan looking across at his partner Harry, who had bid seven on a wing and a prayer. Dan picked up the joker, left bower, and two diamonds in the blind, leading him to question what had caused Harry to bid in the first place. Then again, he had originally raised Harry's bid based upon having only an Ace and king of hearts, so his hand hadn't been rock solid either.
Dan reflected that Hermione had been so much more enjoyable to have home this summer than last. They were actually talking with each other about things as opposed to her politely answering any question that they had thought to ask. He didn't know how much of the change was due to Harry being there, or perhaps his daughter was just getting older, but either way, it was a pleasant change.
Dan reached over to collect the eighth trick and accidentally spilled his coffee, knocking the cup unto the carpet and breaking it.
"I'll get a rag," said Emma.
Hermione said, "I'll get it." Carefully pulling out her wand and pointing it, she said, "Repairo." The cup was as good as new. "Scourgify." The coffee stain was gone. With a flick and swish of her wand and the words, "Wingardium Leviosa," the cup was back on the table in front of her astonished father.
"Well done," he said.
His daughter beamed at him. Without a license, she had never been in a position to show her parents what she had been learning at school. Harry sat at the table, smiling at his best friend, as she was having one of the best moments of her life.
"Can you show us something else?" asked Emma, equally interested.
Hermione looked at the pencil that they had been using to score the game and transfigured it into a cricket bat.
"Brilliant!" said Emma.
"Magic," replied Harry. "Hermione is every bit as good in the practical parts of magic as she is with the theory."
Hermione gave a small laugh. "Harry, I only wish that were true. You were a more powerful wizard by your third year than I'd ever hope to be. You're leaps and bounds ahead of me there. Not in books and school tests, but in actual application." She looked at him meaningfully.
"What do you mean?" asked Dan who was amused watching the two together.
"When we were learning transfiguration or charms - the sort of things that you just saw, I would be the first to be able to demonstrate them. Once he learned them, Harry's would always be the best. I could fix tea cup first using the Repairo spell, but now that he knows it, Harry could probably use it to fix an entire house. When he was fourteen, Harry had trouble learning a summoning spell, but once he knew it, he summoned his broomstick to come to him from almost a mile away."
Deep down, Harry knew that the young lady with the pretty brown eyes was right. Even Ollivander had seen it five years ago. He did possess a lot of raw power, but was short in the theory. He suggested, "Maybe we should practice together, now that we can."
Emma looked at her best friend, winked, and knew that he was thinking the same thing. "You two can sit up and discuss your plans. Dan and I are going to bed. Goodnight."
"Goodnight," said both teens at once.
"So according to the book, it's all legal to use, provided that you're using the charms on your own home, or you have the owner's written permission to perform them," said Hermione in an I'm sure of my facts voice.
Harry grew introspective for a moment. 'That's what she meant. Sirius hadn't put them on his home. The professor had. One condition had probably been heaped on top of another and Sirius had become imprisoned in his own home.'
"Harry?"
"I was just thinking about Sirius. Professor Dumbledore warded him inside his own home. His last year wasn't much better than the other twelve that he spent in prison, except that his bed was more comfortable and the taunts from Snape about not helping were more personal."
Hermione listened in patient silence, looking at her friend encouragingly. Harry had never talked about Sirius since his death, and probably needed to.
Harry continued, "I think he was happier in our fourth year living in that cave than he was stuck at that house. The only time that I saw him happy was last Christmas when he knew that he'd have a house full of people."
"He had you there Harry," she added. "You were the bright beautiful spot in his life. You were his hope for a happy future Harry. All he wanted was for you to be happy doing whatever it was that you were doing. I'm sure he was delighted to watch you having fun drinking half of the pool the other day." She lightly touched his cheek and smiled at him.
"Maybe, but Dumbledore was so busy worrying about his safetythat he forgot to consider that he'd taken away his happiness." Hermione wasn't sure if Harry was talking about Sirius or himself.
Harry continued. "It's no wonder he insisted on going that night. Nobody likes to be locked up in their room. I didn't. I didn't deserve it either." Hermione saw the tears welled in his eyes. She put her arms around Harry.
"Did it happen often?'
"When I was eight, they locked me in my cupboard after school for a month. I had accidentally apparated away from a bunch of bullies. They wouldn't even let me out to use the toilet. I never did anything to deserve it. Why didn't he come and rescue me? He knew bout it."
"Who?"
"Dumbledore. When my first school letter came, it was addressed to me at the cupboard under the stairs. He knew that's where they kept me. After my first year at school, they locked me in my room for over a month until Fred and George rescued me. I was sohungry. Tears were flowing down his cheeks unto her shoulder."
Harry wiped his face with his wrist and said, "Until your mum took me to Harvey Nichols, I'd never had a pair of jeans of my own that fit me. All those times I was in Dumbledore's office he had to have seen that my trainers were full of tape. He could have helped me."
She kissed his cheek. "Harry, we'll burn all those old things tomorrow. I never minded. Ginny or Ron never minded. I'm sure that Cho never cared. Pavatti didn't mind. I'm not minimizing what you're saying and I can't even imagine being locked up in a little cupboard, but don't confuse wealth with personal worth. You were my best friend when you didn't have five quid in your pocket. I never cared. I felt bad that you didn't have nicer things to wear, but I never thought less of you as a person."
She hugged her friend and said, "I'm sorry that professor Dumbledore allowed that to happen to Sirius, and I'm especially sorry that he allowed those things to happen to you. We can only guess at his reasons, and we don't have to agree with them. Please believe me when I say, I'll never let you go hungry for anything." 'I love you Harry Potter, and I'll take care of you.'
"Thanks. I'd do the same for you."
"It's late Harry. Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
Minerva, Arthur, Tonks, Kingsley, Moody and Lupin sat together at the Order meeting on Sunday night. Individually they felt guilty for their actions and especially the deaths of three people, damage to careers, or estrangement from family. Minerva was as angry at Dumbledore as she ever had been. She felt that she had been a part of the worst crime against Harry – stealing him from his rightful guardian, Sirius Black all those years ago.
The events and revelations of the last week had not simply been a case of rationalizing that the end justifying the means. In reality, the Order was in real danger of disintegrating.
The members had been led from one bad decision to another. Each had been well meaning, but few had withstood the light of day. An unbiased observer might ask if they had been following Dumbledore as blindly as Riddle's followers had been following him.
Dumbledore told the members that Harry had been found and that he was currently in the care of several of the Senior Aurors. Molly asked about his future living arrangements.
Dumbledore replied, "Indeed, that shall be the topic of a hearing with several of the family placement justices on Monday morning. I have petitioned that Harry become a ward of the school for this and next summer. I believe that would be the best move for his safety."
Remus Lupin, who owed so much to the professor, wondered if the good professor wasn't a victim of not invented here syndrome when it came to Harry's safety. He had talked with Arthur before the meeting and was delighted that Harry had been invited to stay at a home where he was welcome.
Dumbledore continued, "On another matter, I believe the time has come for Cornelius to be replaced with a leader who can better guide the wizarding world through its current dilemma."
The same unbiased outsider could see that Dumbledore was hoping to implement a change in the wizarding government. Some would call it a vote of no confidence led by a man respected by most in spite of his personal eccentricities, Arthur Weasley. Others would see it as a bloodless coup masterminded by Albus Dumbledore.
When the papers were signed and routed on Tuesday, it would be Arthur Weasley whose livelihood was on the line. If Dumbledore had to wait a week to secure Harry's safety in order to get his endorsement of Dumbledore's other project, he would be patient.
After the meeting he asked Severus to meet privately with him back at his office in an hour. He found out that Kingsley's hearing was to be held Monday afternoon. He had been charged with illegal search, trespassing and abuse of power against a muggle. If found guilty, as he surely would unless the Grangers specifically dropped the charges, Shacklebolt would be fined and dismissed from the force.
Dumbledore had no worry that the Grangers could be talked into dropping the charges. He would simply mention that the selection for the next year's Head Girl had become a little closer than previously assumed due to the yet unreleased OWL scores. It was obvious that Hermione had begun her quest for the Head Girl honor the day that she had received her first year letter. Surely they wouldn't let a small indiscretion from a well-meaning Auror cloud that future. Besides a Head Girl distinction might be worth an extra hundred Galleons a month in her first job offer. Her parents were hard working professionals and would appreciate the significance of his offer.
He would take care of everything. He always did.
On Monday morning Harry woke up at 5:30, showered and got dressed. He made coffee and brought some out to Auror Church who was outside. Harry went back in, and reread the book on protecting homes.
As he went out to bring her another cup, he received a message from an owl.
Mr. Potter,
Your presence is requested at Gringotts on Monday 8 July, at 9:00 AM. Your legal status will be reviewed and you will have some documents to sign regarding the Sirius Black Estate.
The presence of Miss Hermione Granger is also requested at the same time. If they wish, her parents may attend. If you wish, you may also bring a legal representative, though that is not necessary.
When you arrive, please ask to see head goblin Ragnot.
Best wishes,
Amelia Bones
That was three hours from now. A few minutes later, Emma came out and greeted Harry and Auror Church. Harry showed her the letter that he received. She said, "Dan and I don't have any appointments before 1:30 this afternoon. We will be more than happy to take you. If you would like, we'll attend."
Harry nodded. "Thank you. I think there might be a lot of money being discussed. It really won't change things. I didn't earn any of it."
"Harry, no one earns those sorts of things, they just happen. I'm sorry that you have to keep going through these things, but I want you to know that Dan and I'll help you in any way that we can. OK?"
Harry nodded and said, "Thanks."
They arrived at the Leakey Cauldron with fifteen minutes to spare. Auror Church agreed to accompany them to Gringotts and wait for them in the lobby. They made their way to Gringotts. Harry was wearing a nicer set of gray robes that he had. They were shown into one of the conference rooms. Seated at the table were Ragnot, Remus, McGonagall, Dumbledore, Director Bones, and three others that Harry had not met.
Dan, Hermione, Harry, and Emma, nodded and said hello to everyone and they sat down together.
Ragnot said, "There are two items of business this morning. There is the reading of the now undisputed Will of Sirius Orion Black, and a custody hearing for Mr. Harry James Potter. First to the Will." He produced a parchment and began reading.
"I Sirius Black, indicate that this is my final Will, dated 7, May 1996.
To Minerva McGonagall, I leave twenty five thousand Galleons. Please use a bit of the gold to make certain that the Gryffindor team members all have decent brooms. I wish you the best.
To Albus Dumbledore, I leave one Galleon, and Kreacher. You took away my last chance at happiness fifteen years ago. You let me go to prison for twelve years knowing that there was every likelihood that I was innocent. You made me a prisoner in my own home. I have forgiven you for Azkaban, but I will never forgive you for the other. I hope that you think long and hard about the justice in your actions. People need freedom of choice.
To Remus Lupin, I leave one hundred thousand Galleons. You have the gold. There's no giving it back. May you never suffer or want for anything again my friend. Please keep an eye on Harry and help him when he asks you to.
To Hermione Granger, I leave twenty five thousand Galleons. You are a brave, beautiful, remarkable young witch of exceptional loyalty. I hope you remain best friends with Harry for the rest of what I hope are very long lives together.
To Harry Potter, I leave all of my personal property, and the Black estate. If there is someone that you believe that I missed, feel free to pass a bit around. Please keep most of it. Someday it might come in handy. I'm sorry that I wasn't here to watch you live your life. Please do what you need to do, and never lose sight of brilliant witches who truly care about you. I have papers signed that would authorize your emancipation as an adult. You have the funds, you have the maturity, and in my opinion, it would be best for you. Harry you don't need another guardian. You don't need to be stuck living with your horrible relatives. You need your friends and you need to be tutored by the finest experts that gold can buy. Kick his arse when you are done from Lilly and James. I wish you a long and happy life. Love Sirius.
Ragnot handed Harry several papers, detailing the sizeable holdings.
Ragnot said, "Mr. Potter, you can review the documents and sign them later in the morning. The next item is in relation to your status. Wizengamot judges Wallace, Barclay, and Ferguson will review your options and consider your request."
A woman about Molly's age spoke. She looked like a slightly older version of Emma Granger. "Mr. Potter, my name is Diane Wallace. This is John Barclay and Taylor Ferguson." Harry shook the two witches and the wizard's hands. She continued. "It is our stated bias that the wishes of a child's parents are nearly sacred and should not be tampered with without extraordinary reason."
Harry looked at her and nodded.
Judge Ferguson asked, "Where are you currently living, Mr. Potter?"
Harry replied, "I was invited to spend the summer with one of my school friends and her parents. They invited me and I accepted before anything had happened to the Dursleys."
Amelia cut in. "Excuse me, Judge Ferguson. Professor Dumbledore, do you have any business related to this hearing?"
Harry replied, "He can stay. He's a great wizard. I may not agree with his advice, or always follow it, but I would like to hear it."
'There is hope,' thought Dumbledore. "I have petitioned the Wizengamot to have Harry become a ward of the school with Professor Minerva McGonagall to be responsible for Harry well being until he reaches the age of seventeen. It is my belief that Harry should be immersed in the wizarding world culture where he doubtless will become a prominent member. It is also my desire that he receive additional protection from the dangers that continuously face him, and not to expose Miss Granger's parents to any undue danger. Harry has rather unique safety requirements."
He hadn't gotten the reaction that he'd hoped for from the Grangers. He had expected that they'd push Harry out of their home at the mention of danger to their daughter. Instead they just sat there, politely looking at him. 'They simply didn't realize the level of threat that Riddle represented'.
He continued. "It is my belief that the current dark lord, Tom Riddle known as Lord Voldemort will need to be defeated not by my generation, rather by Harry's. The followers that Riddle is currently recruiting are not of my generation, but Harry's."
Dan asked, "Is there a conscription into your world's military service – the Aurors, as there is with the Queen's military?"
"Certainly not," said Bones somewhat ruffled. "It is an elite, all volunteer organization."
Dan continued, "Could my sixteen year old daughter join such an organization this afternoon if she choose?"
Bones had never considered such a request. "Possibly an exception could be made. I understand that she has exceptional intelligence. Normally we wouldn't accept a candidate until they were eighteen. Dr. Granger, what is your point?"
Dan smiled a bit. He should have been a solicitor. "My point is that by your own rules, the professor's concerns over Harry's activities this summer are almost moot. Surely you weren't planning on teaching him assassination techniques this week were you Professor?"
In truth, Dumbledore hadn't planned anything for Harry for the summer, though it had now become obvious to him that that was exactly what was needed. He responded, "There is much to learn." Minerva scowled at him.
Emma asked, "Professor, would you be so quick to send your own grandson off to war?"
Dumbledore replied, "I was largely responsible for ending the war with the last dark lord, Grindelwald."
Emma would not be sidetracked so easily. "I'm not discounting your achievements, professor, but you really didn't answer my question."
Dumbledore admitted that she had a point. "I would not. I would find a way to ensure his happiness and if necessary, provide him with every skill and advantage available to ensure his success."
Dan was truly angry at the man, but held it in saying, "With all due respect Professor, you have done neither of those things for Harry Potter. I cannot train Harry or Hermione to be soldiers or an assassin if that truly is their destiny as you have predicted. I can provide them with a loving home during the school holiday and Director Bones has done much to ensure their safety."
Judge Wallace cut in. "This is indeed an interesting discussion, but it is somewhat off-track from topic.
Minerva was livid. Dumbledore had never mentioned her taking Harry on as a ward. Sirius was right – people need a freedom of choice.
Judge Wallace looked at Minerva. "Professor McGonagall, is it your formal request that Harry be placed in your custody until he is seventeen. Is it your belief that Harry would be safest with you?"
She gave Dumbledore a last look and replied, "It is your Honor."
Wallace continued. "Harry, do you believe yourself capable of handling your own personal and financial affairs?"
Harry asked, "Will my answer affect my eligibility to continue my education at Hogwarts?"
Wallace replied, "The seven year education is available to all witches and wizards demonstrating sufficient ability who are able to afford the tuition, room and boarding fees. Your position as a student is open to you whether you are a ward of the Ministry, under guardianship, adopted by a family, or living independently. You must have a very full pensive to have considered such a point."
Harry smiled at her. "To answer your question, yes I do. I largely trust that my financial affairs are in order as far as Gringotts is concerned. I have some decisions to make regarding the properties, but I'm certain that I will seek and receive good advice before making any decisions regarding sales of any of the properties."
He took a sip of water and continued. "As I said, the Grangers have repeatedly offered to let me stay at their home for the summer. I would like to do that. They have provided me with a room of my own and clothing to wear. They've taken the time to get to know me, and I sincerely appreciate their generosity. If there are expenses that I should pay for the Aurors who are guarding the home, I will gladly pay them."
Wallace smiled at him. "That is very responsible of you to offer, Harry. Given your contributions to the wizarding world, I see no need to assess you anything for the summer. So it is your formal request to become an emancipated wizard in our society and be responsible for your own actions?"
"Yes Ma'am. However, I do appreciate the offer that Professor McGonagall made. It was very generous."
"It is indeed. You are fortunate to have two very attractive options."
Dumbledore could see where this was going, and elected not to argue. He wasn't looking to possess Harry, simply lead him to follow his way of thinking. 'I should have charmed the doors so Black couldn't have gotten out. This was so foreseeable and disrupts so many things.'
The three judges conferred for a few minutes than came back. Judge Barclay asked, "Mr. Potter before we announce our decision, do you have any other questions?"
Hermione, Dan, Emma, Amelia, Minerva, and Albus all had Harry's best interest in mind. Each was praying or silently hoping that theirversion of best interest would be chosen.
Judge Wallace looked at Dumbledore and McGonagall and smiled