9 The hearing.
Hermione shrugged, "I doubt Tonks will get inspiration, Harry, she just started her night shift, patrolling Diagon Alley, and isn't your Pego worshiped enough today? Susan and Hannah worshiped it four times, didn't they?" she removed her pajama top, "I would not mind some attention to my body though, my periods will be over tomorrow or the day after. Now suck my tits, Harry, because soon you will be fucking this bitch."
I chuckled, "More dirty talk from Mum's books, Hermione? Do I have to call you my Slut? Or, come here you Whore, so I can fuck your Udders? Does that turn you on?"
Hermione thought for a bit and answered, "Not really, I don't like to be called a whore. Slut, slag, tramp, or your bitch I can live with. Whore or Cum Bucket or names like that are turning me off. Udders are a definitive NO! I guess I am a soft porn girl."
"There is a name for that? Where is that book?" I asked with a smile, "Come, Beautiful Slut, I need a nipple in my mouth, I bet watching Hannah and Susan letting loose turned you on, you could have had a turn too, you know."
Hermione straddled me, "No, they had you for an afternoon, I can have you the whole night, I could wait for it, Now suck it, bastard."
Yeah, we need to work on our dirty talk, my years under the stairs made me a bit weary of using dirty talk, where is the line between dirty talk and insults? I have a bloody lot to learn. Sucking Hermione's tits was fun, Susan's tits… HUGE! They were quite sensitive too, it didn't take long for Susan to reach the top, she even came twice when I did a titty fuck. Where was I? Bloody hell? That bimbo is singing on her wrecking ball again?
Xxxxx
Afterward, we cuddled and discussed the Life Debt situation, Hermione commented, "Maybe that explains why Dumbledore can get away with everything, the whole of Europe acknowledged that Dumbledore saved them from Grindelwald, his Order of Merlin First Class confirmed that debt, his position as Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot and the supreme Mugwump gave him authority over the Wizarding World."
Hermione looked at me and speculated, "Maybe that made him think he was responsible for leading the Wizarding World and it was normal for him to make the tough decisions. After all, he is the leader of the light, he knows what is best. That he is breaking some laws is because those laws are flawed and needed to be broken to serve the Greater Good."
I sighed, "And people believe him because he is smart, a headmaster of a school is smart by definition, isn't he? Coupled with his two other jobs he can declare that the earth revolves around its axis because he made it so. Maybe it is not a real-life debt, but it made people feel they were indebted to Dumbledore for vanquishing Grindelwald, and he abused that as much as he could. That is why he is signing all his correspondence with all his titles and professions, to remind people of his achievement and positions."
Hermione hugged me, "Let's talk about it with the grown-ups tomorrow, I am sleepy now. Good night, lover."
I bet if I say 'good night Horny Slut' that won't go down well, I'll settle with, "Good night sweetheart." Way better going on her smile.
Xxxxx
Dobby woke us up, "Master Harry, Mistress Hermi, Brekkie is ready, Doggy Father and Clumsy be waiting for you."
At breakfast, Tonks complained, "Brat! I know it was you! You stirred a Doxy nest. No, you poked a Dragon Den! Those bastards from the dark faction are kicking up a storm, we had to protect Aunt Narcissa and her spawn, Malfoy Senior is in St Mungo's with severe Cruciatus damage. What did you do yesterday?"
I shrugged, "We cleaned our accounts up, House Black had some defaulters that forgot their payments after Gramps died, yesterday was repo time. Oh, and I might have told them it was Lucius' fault a lot of their offspring have a Life Debt to me."
Hermione commented, "That is debatable, Harry, why doesn't the Wizarding world have a life debt to you for vanquishing Voldemort in 81?"
I thought about it, "Dumbledore cashed in on that debt. He removed me from the Wizarding world, so they could not show their gratitude, I never got any mail, that way Dumbledore controlled that debt. More so when he demanded Guardianship over me and controlled where I would be raised."
I dug in deeper into the Potter debt, "Those Harry Potter books convinced the public that their debt to me was paid because I lived a happy life in a castle with a lot of friends having lots of adventures. People also regarded their debt paid when I accepted their gifts and letters without even a thank you note. Fuck that, you snob! That is what they are thinking about me."
Tonks, "Well, a lot of them are not happy with Malfoy, he was a drooling mess when he portkey'd in St Mungo's, and Narcissa is in protected custody with her brat, she claimed the Lords of the dark Faction invaded her home."
I grinned, "I doubt that Malfoy Mansion will survive Tom's anger at Lucius's second fuck up. Getting the Malfoy Vaults drained, and losing the Black fortune, coupled with all the loans we called in, that is a major blow to the Death Eaters and Lucius took the worst of it."
Sirius laughed, "They probably blame Dumbledore for that, Snape hasn't proved his loyalty yet and I doubt he will be useful for Tom now that Dumbledore's club is disbanded."
Tonks yawned, "Well, I have one more task to do, Hermione, I have to escort you to St Mungo's for that examination with Lady Abbot. So eat up fast."
I said, "Use the floo, Dual apparating sucks big time. I puked my breakfast out when Moody took me to Bones Manor."
Tonks shrugged, "Moody does that all the time with rookies, he makes the trip as uncomfortable as possible. Ah, Sirius, here is the morning Paper, the Brat made the headlines again."
I snapped, "The Brat will start calling her the Bitch from now on. I am famous, I always make headlines don't you know? Boy Who Lived and all that crap?"
Tonks rolled her eyes, "Boohoo, I am famous, I am pitiful, come here, I will change your nappy and sing a lullaby!"
"Oh yeah? Then I hope you can metamorph your vocal cords because right now you sound like a crow." was my response.
"You know it is not too early in the morning to kick your ass, Brat," warned Tonks with lightning in her eyes.
"Then you better be prepared to get yours slapped… on your bare buttocks! Bitch!" I shot back, "No, you might enjoy that… auwah! That was not a stinging hex, you crazy woman! What is wrong with you?"
Tonks bit at me, "You are what's wrong, Brat! Say one more time I am into that, and you will feel what it is like for real."
Sirius was reading the paper, totally ignoring the fight between me and Tonks, the tosser did not even defend me against that Ogre. Hermione was ignoring it too and enjoyed her breakfast, I have no support at all against the Bitch.
Sirius commented, "Amelia's and your visit to the Daily Prophet helped to change their tunes, pup. It is quite refreshing. They even printed the names of the ones who forced them to write the way they wanted. It is no surprise that Fudge and Malfoy are in the Top 5, along with Dumbledore, Umbridge, and Nott."
Sirius turned a page and said, "Ah! They printed your medical examination… and a report of the DMLE was leaked too. It is not an official statement, the investigation is still running, they are not allowed to publish it yet."
Sirius grinned: "I am mentioned too, it is finally getting out that I never had a trial, and… ah, the Blood adoption is mentioned too," Sirius got a bit worried, "Harry, now they will know who called in all those loans."
Sirius skimmed the rest of the article, "I bet this is Moody's doing, he is not happy with Dumbledore and is dragging his name through the dirt. Yes, there it is, hosting a Death Eater for a whole schoolyear polyjuiced as his best friend at Hogwarts… Senile or criminal, Dumbledore can choose which one he prefers."
I shrugged, "I bet both, his Greater Good made him insane. Worship a man long enough and he will start to think he is a God or its messenger."
Tonks yawned again, "I don't care, Hermione, when you are ready we will leave, you can return through the Floo. I have a date with my bed."
I coughed, "With your hand."
Tonks glared at me, "At least the neighbors won't keep me awake this time."
I chuckled, "You wanted to hear us, you perv, you know the silencing spells too, I bet you were rubbing it raw."
Hermione stopped the bickering, "I am done, Tonks, and Harry? Tonks? Can you be a bit nicer to each other? You are family, you know."
Hmm, she is right, I better tune it down, "OK, Hermione, I will be nicer to Cousin Tonks."
Tonks looked up, "Huh? That is all it takes to tame that Brat?"
I snapped, "I will be nicer to you when you do the same, Bitch! Or I will be the one taming you!"
Hermione rolled her eyes, "I see, this is a lost cause. Tonks, I am ready."
Xxxxx
When they were gone, Sirius commented, "I suggest you let Dora win a few arguments, Harry. First, she is older than you, second, she is family, one of the few we have left. Third, we have to live with each other for decades, if you let this fester it will break this family apart."
Sirius looked thoughtful as if he remembered something, "You are using Dora to vent your anger and frustrations. I used to do that on Snape, he acted as a git, and I used that as an excuse to torment him like I was tormented at home."
He looked at me, "I realized that when you called him out for being a bully like his father bullied him. It is a vicious circle, isn't it? The phrase Like Father like Son is common enough to have some truth in it."
Sirius sighed, "We better make some appointments for a mind healer, Harry. Ten years in a cupboard and thirteen years in Azkaban have messed us up. We have to face our past or our future will suffer for it. Dora has some inner demons too, being a Metamorphmagus made Hogwarts not a happy place for her either."
I groaned, "You are right, Sirius, Tonks was an easy target to vent on, and I let it escalate, I will apologize when she returns."
Xxxxx
An hour later Hermione and Tonks returned, Tonks decided to wait until the examination was finished. Before Tonks could say a thing, I said, "Tonks, I am sorry, I vented my frustrations out on you to make me feel better. You are my family and you deserve better than this. Can we start over?"
Tonk's face went through a lot of emotions, then her shoulders sagged, "I was doing the same with you, Harry, I used that bucket of cold water as an excuse to be angry at you. Then you overturned my view on life, what I thought was good turned evil, and you were easy to vent on too. We can start over if that is what you want."
I asked, "What do You want, Tonks?"
Tonks shrugged, "Did you ever try to scream out all your frustrations on a cliff or at a beach? It makes you feel better for a while, I used you to be my cliff or beach."
That is food for a mind healer, I asked, "So, just to be sure, if I am your cliff, I can use you to be my Beach?"
Tonks nodded, "I can live with that."
I grinned, "Then, my Bitch, go to bed and pretend to stand on my cliff when you scream rubbing yourself and thinking of me."
Tonks scoffed, "I have better fantasies than dreaming of you, Brat. I bet I had better shags than you too."
I nodded, "True, I never had one yet, not for much longer though. Goodnight, Tonks, dream of me, will you."
Tonks shook her head, "Better not, that would be a nightmare. Later, Brat." and went upstairs.
Hermione looked at a slack-jawed Sirius and asked, "What just happened? Did they agree to keep on bickering?"
Sirius came to his senses, "I never expected that outcome, I wanted those two to stop fighting, not make it worse."
Hermione sat down and reported on her examination, "Harry, Sirius, I was a mess, there were traces of long-lasting compulsions and potions in my body, most prominent was a loyalty potion keyed to Dumbledore. Mrs. Abbot called Moody in and let him collect some Half-Bloods to find traces of that potion."
She laughed bitterly, "Being a Mudblood, I have no rights, it was not reason enough to get him arrested. It would not raise a pure blood's eyebrow if news got out about that potion."
I hugged her, "We are going to change that, love. We just have to get more pull in the Wizengamot."
Hermione shook her head, "With what? Your Potter-Longbottom Alliance? Do you think McMillan or Smith will move a finger for muggleborns? Who else do you have? Bones and Abbot, that is not enough, Harry, not even with House Black. It is the whole mentality that is messed up."
I groaned, I was trying to avoid that direction of this story of my crappy life, "Sirius? Is there something like the right of conquest?"
Sirius nodded, "There is, that way you can claim that carcass of the Basilisk for example."
I asked, "What about the last Heir of a house that wants to eliminate the last surviving Heir of an enemy House but gets killed instead? Can that Heir Claim that enemy House as a right of Conquest?"
Sirius swore, "Like the Heir of Slytherin trying to eliminate House Potter?"
"Slytherin and Gaunt, Sirius," I corrected him, "He is the last surviving Gaunt too."
Hermione asked, "There must be books about that, do you have any about Noble customs, Sirius?"
Sirius nodded, "Mother forced me to read them, I never got past page ten before I was bored out of my mind. I'll get them for you."
Hermione said, "I'll ask Susan and Hannah to come over and help."
Xxxxx
The rest of the day was spent on researching stuffy old customs, it is amazing what Magic can do, the Goblet of Fire is a good example, how can that cup decide who is best at Magic? Is it possible that the Goblet is enchanted to let Magic choose the best candidate from the names that are in that Goblet? That would make a lot more sense than letting a Goblet pick someone.
Susan found something interesting, "The heirs need to be sworn in at the Wizengamot before they can claim their Lordship, the oath to claim the Lordship includes a part of loyalty to the crown. Strange, I read the oath I need to say when I claim to be Lady Bones, that part is not in it. When did they change that Oath?"
Sirius said, "That book is the oldest, it is from the time the Wizengamot was founded. Something must have changed that."
Hannah speculated, "Probably at the witch hunts and the statute of secrecy, a lot of high nobles were eager to poke that to gain power. That was also the time Britain changed from Christianity to Protestants. Although both religions were active witch hunters."
An hour later, Hermione remarked, "That Oath to the Crown was still included in the eighteenth century, this book is from 1784, made to include the changes the American Revolution brought along. It said only Wizards that live on the British Islands need to swear to the Crown from now on."
She looked up and asked, "What if that oath is still required? When did they drop that part? I doubt the crown would allow them to drop that part of the Oath."
I asked, "What will happen when someone makes the original Oath again? That would start a riot, don't you think?"
Sirius commented, "Look in books from around the First World War and the Grindelwald War. I think those two Wars started the Pureblood movement."
An hour before Dinner, Susan said, "I found it! In 1946 the loyalty line was made optional due to the high losses the Wizards suffered being conscripted into the war. A comment on the sidelines said that most of the dark faction refused to swear that line from after the first war."
Susan stood up, "I have to go home to check something, we have books that record all the major laws that are voted at the Wizengamot. Such a change must have been recorded if it was voted on. Dobby? Can you take me home please?"
Xxxxx
At dinner time Susan returned, she reported, "I checked from 1940 to 1950, no such change is voted on according to the books. This means that the part of Oath to the Crown is still required to be a valid Oath."
I asked, "I swore to accept the ring with all its duties and benefits. Does that mean I automatically swore loyalty to the Crown?"
Sirius nodded, "That ring is at least eight hundred years old, pup, it must be included."
Kreacher popped in, "Dinner be served in twenty minutes, young Master, yous be cleaning up first."
When we went to our room to freshen up, I knocked on Tonks's door, "Tonks! Dinner is ready in twenty! Stop doing unspeakable things!"
Ah, I heard a lot of swear words, she is awake. I heard Hermione say to Susan and Hannah when they walked into her room. "I'll explain it…"
Xxxxx
When dinner was over, Hermione said, "Enough research, the ballroom and music room are cleaned, so we are going to dance."
"Uhm, Who are you? What have you done with the real Hermione? The real one would never discard her books." I joked.
Hermione huffed, "The real Hermione does, Harry, to turn what she read into practice, and she wants to dance."
Susan grinned, "So do Susan and Hannah, but you better change your Music box, we got an earful when we came home an hour late and we had to explain why."
Hannah huffed, "Mum gave me a hard time over it when I said I slept in the same bed as Harry. She gave me another version of the Talk… with pictures. Harry, no kids for me the first ten years, some of those pictures were nasty."
Tonks followed us to the Ballroom to watch the show, an enchanted piano that desperately needed tuning played a Waltz, and I was counting, in myself, one two three, one two three, turn the other way… no... that was not it, "Tonks! Stop bloody laughing! Do you think you can do better?"
Hannah, who was in my arms softly said, "Harry? At the moment everyone can do better, you forgot half of what you learned yesterday."
I smiled at Hannah, "What happened after that is burned into my memory, honey."
Tonks's voice interrupted, "I heard that! What happened after that?"
I rolled my eyes, "Boyfriend-Girlfriend confidentiality, Tonks! Maybe in a few years, you will get that far."
Tonks mocked, "Holding hands and a kiss on the cheek doesn't need confidentiality, Potter, it needs pity."
A blushing Susan shouted, "More dancing, less bickering!"
Tonks did dance with me, trying everything to make me miss my steps, when she inflated her boobs I said, "Nah, Tonks, Susan's are bigger and better." Hah! That made her trip on her own feet.
Three hours of dancing is enough, we retreated to a small salon and discussed our homework, like normal teenagers, at least I think that is what normal teenagers do. I still have to get used to this betrothed situation, I mean three at once?
Xxxxx
Sirius came into the room, "Harry, tomorrow after lunch, we are going to have a visit from the Greengrasses to discuss the marriage contract Narcissa made with them."
I groaned, "Great, I don't even know Astoria, I can hardly remember what she looks like."
Hannah, said, "She is a copy of Daphne, only a bit friendlier."
Sirius shrugged, "It does not matter what she looks like, we need them to be friendly, they are leading the Gray faction of the Wizengamot. Amelia is preparing for Dumbledore's hearing, that way she can force my trial to happen. At the moment there are too many that want me dead or kissed."
I sighed, "I'll be a good boy, Sirius. I don't want to blow this up."
Susan asked, "Sirius? What are the chances for that contract to go through?"
Sirius answered, "About 75%, Susan, much depends on what Miss Astoria wants," Sirius took the book from under his arm and gave it to me, "Nobles At War, a rule book written by Mercury Atlas Black. You will find what you are looking for in there."
Susan, Hannah, and Hermione started reading, there was no room for me, so I enjoyed the scenery, three pretty girls were doing their best to help me out… I call that an improvement, last year I could only count on Hermione. Ron was dead weight.
Xxxxx
The next morning Tonks was pounding on the door, "Stop wanking Brat! It is time for breakfast."
Still sleepy I sighed, "I prefer Dobby to wake me up, Tonks is too bloody brutal."
Hermione snuggled a bit closer, "Five more minutes please."
At breakfast, Sirius announced, "The date for Dumbledore's hearing is set for next Saturday, Amelia will use that to present you as Heir Potter and Heir Black to the Wizengamot. I signed the papers to make her your Magical Guardian for House Black, I also allied myself with the Potter Longbottom Alliance and gave Amelia voting rights for House Black until I am a free man."
I nodded, "That gives us four days to prepare. That should be enough."
Xxxxx
The Family Greengrass was led into the Parlor by Sirius, he introduced us, "Lord Greengrass, may I present you my Partial Blood Adopted Son, Harry James Potter, and his future companion Hermione Granger. Harry, Hermione, Lord Cyrus Greengrass, of the Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Greengrass, Lady Ellen Greengrass nee Davis, Heiress Primary Daphne Greengrass, and Heiress Secondary Miss Astoria Greengrass."
Sirius looked at Lord Greengrass and asked, "Did I get it right? It has been ages ago that I had my etiquette lessons."
Lord Greengrass nodded, "It will do for now, Lord Black." Lord Greengrass studied my face, "Good day, Heir Potter Black, I must say that a lot of stories about you contradict themselves, I am curious which ones are true."
I smiled at him, "Good day to you all, well, Lord Greengrass, I can already tell you that those Harry Potter books are fiction, I never saw that castle I was supposed to live in," I shrugged, "I grew up with my muggle Aunt's family. If you ask Madam Bones she can explain what spells Dumbledore casts on her house to let them hate me. If you are curious about my real life, I have a set of memories you can look at. Although they are not child appropriate."
Lady Greengrass asked, "Why are they not child-appropriate? If you lived through it, it can not be that bad, can it?"
Sirius said, "Believe me, it is That bad, Heiress Bones and Heiress Secondary Abbot had nightmares for several nights after watching them. Alastor Moody had nightmares of them."
I presented them a rack with fifteen vials, "NR 1 to 15, in that order, Sir. Let your daughters watch at your own risk."
Daphne said, "Father, we have to watch them first to form our opinion, we can not negotiate without viewing them first."
Ah, the future Lady in Training? "Kreacher? Can you bring the Pensieve, please? Thank you. Well, Miss Greengrass, vial 7 will give you a good idea of what I am. Miss Astoria, I strongly advise you not to see that memory."
Hermione said, "I am not going through that again, I will keep her company."
The three Greengrasses, Sirius and I entered the Memory of the Basilisk, from Fraudster to grabbing Fawkes tail feathers. The two cool-faced women lost their cool when they saw Basi enter the hall, they screamed and whimpered the whole time until the Diary was stabbed. Lord Greengrass was cursing when he heard the dialog of spooky Tom and more when he saw what came out of that Diary.
We came out of the Pensieve, two Calming Draughts were ready for the women, without a word they drank it in one go. Sirius and Lord Greengrass did the same with a glass of Fire Whiskey.
I innocently asked, "Do you want to see the ritual of how Tom got a new body? It is almost as exciting as this one, NR 13."
Lord Greengrass shook his head, "I will watch them with Lord Davis."
Hermione spoke up, "Lord Greengrass, we discussed that Basilisk kill. What if that Basilisk came in the Great Hall at dinnertime? By killing it did Harry get a Life debt to him from all the students?"
Lord Greengrass thought for a while, "That is up for discussion, Miss Granger. The fact that the monster lived in the Chamber of Secrets for so long without hurting anyone said it doesn't. Also, you cannot say for sure what Riddle's plan was going to be. I doubt he would set that Basilisk free, more likely he would sneak out of the castle looking for the original."
He took a deep breath and continued, "We cannot deny the possibility that Tom would send the Basilisk as a diversion to escape, he had it out in the castle four or five times before. I can say that Hogwarts is indebted to you and our whole community."
He stood up and looked at Sirius, "You can count on it that this memory is shown on Dumbledore's hearing, Lord Black. We will return tomorrow, by then we have a better picture of the situation."
When Daphne passed me by I softly said, "Sweet dreams, Miss Greengrass, although I suggest a Dreamless Potion for tonight."
10 Ringed.
Daphne stopped briefly and said, "Thank you for preventing my sister from seeing that Memory, Heir Potter. That was considerate of you."
I bowed my head in acknowledgment, "Even when I can not prevent you from seeing those Memories, I strongly advise you to avoid watching them, Miss Greengrass"
Daphne shook her head, "I must, Heir Potter, I need to know."
"Fair enough, we will speak again tomorrow," I said, "Good day, Miss Daphne, Miss Astoria."
Astoria gave me a small smile, "Good day, Heir Potter." and followed her parents to the Floo.
Xxxxx
I sighed, "My execution is delayed by a day, I doubt Daphne is going to be a happy camper tomorrow."
Sirius came back into the room, "Well pup, you sure made a big impression with Lord Greengrass. He recognized that Diary for what it really was. I could tell that he was worried."
I looked up at Sirius, "There is one more thing that has to be done… as a matter of fact, two more things. Can you ask Moody to help me out tomorrow after breakfast? There is a Ring that needs some Acid, and maybe a Tiara too."
I thought of something, "When those dementors sucked something out of my scar, the connection with Tom went away. Do you think I can still talk to snakes?"
Sirius raised his wand, "Serpentsorta!"
A big Python appeared on the Salon table, §What the fuck? Where am I?§
§We are sorry to disturb you, my Father called you here to test if I still can speak the serpent's tongue. He will send you back this instant,§ I answered.
§You better hurry, speaker, it is almost feeding time at the Zoo, I don't want to miss a fat rat.§
At my sign, Sirius canceled the spell, I commented, "That will be in the news tonight or tomorrow. That Python came from the Zoo."
Sirius swore, "I thought that spell conjured a snake, not summoned one from another place. Well, the damage is done, I doubt someone would believe it when a snake disappeared for twenty seconds and came right back."
He turned to the door, "I am contacting Moody."
Hermione stood up too, "And I am contacting Susan and Hannah, they are waiting on a report of this visit. It affects them too."
I got up too, "I have to prepare for tomorrow, if you need me I am in my room."
Xxxxx
It is time I gave my cloak a good investigation, a Hallow that Moody can see through? I think not! "Dobby? Ah, Dobby can you bring that wand here please… thank you. Oh Dobby, can you see that there are spells on my cloak that are not supposed to be on it?"
Dobby took the cloak in his hands, "There be many fibers with spells on it, some spells are on cloak, Master Harry, Dobby needs to remove them?"
Carefully I asked, "Can you see the difference between the original spells and the ones that have been put on it later? Oh! Are there listening spells on it? Has that old coot been listening to me and Hermione?"
Dobby nodded, "Dobby can, old spells are too difficult to remove, Dobby can see when the spells were put on the cloak, Master Harry. There be nasty Spells on the wand too, Master Harry. But Master Harry need not be worried, Dobby silenced the trunk, Dobby is keeping Master Harry's secrets."
Of course there are, they were in Dumbledore's paws for years. I gathered my thoughts, "Dobby, thank you for guarding my secrets, you are the best. Can you remove all spells from the last twenty years from my cloak and remove all spells from the wand from the last hundred years? Tell me when you can not remove a spell."
Dobby needed an hour to get the last spell out with the help of Uncle Kreacher. "There be some bad spells on the Cloak and Wand, young Master," reported Uncle Kreacher, "Kreacher be bringing the book with spells, so Master can remove them."
Kreacher popped back in my room with an old book, "This be from the Lord's private library, Young Master."
The Book 'Thousand Ways To Remove Spells, Hexes and Curses' by Apollo Aries Black showed the detection spells, and the spells for removing the Curses. The book was more than five centuries old and was loaded with interesting Spells, Hermione had to drag me downstairs for dinner or I would have missed it.
Xxxxx
At the dinner table, Sirius reported, "Moody agreed to come here tomorrow morning, he has time until noon, he told me that he is meeting old buddies."
I grinned, "He sure is pissed at Dumbledore, those memories I showed him at Madam Bones must have shook him awake."
Hermione said, "He is stirring things up so that Dumbledore will have less or no support at the hearing. His interviews in the Daily Prophet are doing a good job at it. All he needs is one big dirty secret to get him off his pedestal."
Hmm, I can provide that, I'll have a talk with the old man tomorrow. Maybe a visit to Bathilda Bagshot is in order. Tea and biscuits with Aunty Bathilda, and talk about the good old days when Gellert was visiting.
After dinner my nose was back in the book, this book is a goldmine! I took the elder wand and cast my first diagnostic spell on my trunk and its contents as a test. That thing was loaded with tracker spells! Well, dispelling them was good practice. One by one all my stuff got dispelled.
A diagnostic spell on my cloak showed some complicated spells, according to the book they are a blood tracker and a link to an artifact, probably to one of the gizmos in his office. Some complicated trackers from a century ago, yeah give a kid that cloak when he goes to Hogwarts that is asking to get it stolen or lost.
After a few tries I removed them all except the oldest tracker, that one was blood-related, I can use that. I took my old wand out and diagnosed the Elder Wand, the same Blood tracker and link to the artifact popped up. I had to use a lot of force to get rid of both.
To be sure I had everything, I double-checked all with the diagnostic spell. Even myself and the clothes I wear. Hermione was my next target, when I entered her room, she was doing homework… nah, she did that weeks ago, just studying I guess.
"Hermione, I just found some good spells," I said, then I started explaining, "I just found out that my invisibility Cloak was tampered with, there were a lot of trackers on, Dobby dispelled all he could, and I just finished the rest. Hermione, there were listening spells on it."
That high-pitched scream was heard halfway into London, Sirius stormed into the room, "What happened? Did you get hurt, Hermione?"
Hermione raged, "That old pervert had listening spells on Harry's trunk!… Aaaaarggg! On my trunk too? I pluck that old man's beard!"
I tried to calm her down, "Dobby silenced my trunk, Hermione. Dobby? Did you silence Hermione's trunk too?"
Dobby popped in, "Yes Master Harry, Dobby is keeping Mistress Hermies secrets too."
Hermione hugged Dobby, "Thank You! Thank you Dobby, you are the best Elf we can wish for."
Hermione studied the spells like a zealot and insisted on doing the dispelling herself, she raged, "It is impossible that the old man did everything himself, he must have helpers to do all those spells… McGonagall! I bet it was her!"
I chided her, "Professor McGonagall, Hermione."
If looks could kill… I would be badly hurt at least, Sirius commented, "That old man has major mental problems. I wonder who he is listening to besides you both? What do you think, Harry? Bones, Abbot, Longbottom, McMillan, Smith? The Potter Longbottom alliance."
"I'll pop over to Susan with Hermione and find out," I said.
Xxxxx
We arrived by Floo, my landings were everything except graceful, but at the moment that was the least of our worries. Hermione told Susan about the listening charms on her trunk and stuff… the Scream was heard a mile away.
Susan fumed, "Check my trunk but don't remove anything, Aunty needs to know about it, that old meddler will know what it means to mess with me!"
That old meddler knows not to mess with a Bones, Susan came out clean, Susan gasped, "He is afraid to mess with Aunty, but not… we have to go to Hannah's place!"
A floo later, Hermione casts the charms on Hannah's trunk and her stuff in it. Two tracking Charms, a charm to neglect events, and a listening Spell. When the parents were called in and shown proof of the spells.
Lord Abbot said, "I cast one of those tracking spells, Trunks are easily misplaced, but those other spells need to be investigated by the DMLE, they did not show on my detection spell, yours must be more powerful."
Hermione nodded, "One out of Lord Black's library. Wait until I get my hands on that old pervert. Morgana knows on whose trunks he cast them on."
It was late at night when we returned home. The DMLE took our statements and noted the spell down that detected them. We got in bed, cuddled a bit, and fell asleep.
Xxxxx
Tonks stood beside my bed and poured a glass of ice-cold water on me, "Ah, now you know how refreshing ice-cold water feels in the morning. Get up, brat, and be glad it wasn't a bucket of ice water."
Cursing, I rolled out of bed, "You crazy maniac! You better lock your door or I'll be the one hosing you down!"
Tonks teased me, "Are you threatening an Auror to invade her bedroom and hosing her? Define Hosing, Brat! You know, if it is something indecent, I can arrest you."
I growled, "It is definitively going to be something wet!"
Hermione groaned, "Not this early! Five more minutes, Tonks, go to your bed, Harry, take a shower."
Xxxxx
It did wake me up though, when I came down, Moody was eating breakfast, Sirius already explained yesterday's happenings, including the Greengrasses.
"What do you need me for Potter?" he asked.
"Well, Moody, when that Dementor sucked something out of my scar, I got some knowledge, like what that Diary of Tom Riddle was and the Locket here in Sirius's house" I explained, "I know the location of two more that we can reach today. I need some expert help with one though. Did you visit Little Hangleton recently? I bet you did."
Moody huffed, "Of course I did. I checked the graveyard out where the ritual took place, all evidence was gone."
I thought for a bit and said, "This might be a bit risky, now that the Malfoys are out of the picture, he will have to move to another location. With his other Death Eaters under investigation for violence against Malfoy, he could have moved back to Riddle Mansion. My target is the Gaunt shack, less than a mile from the Riddle Mansion."
Moody looked up from his breakfast, "What are we looking for? One of those foul things?"
I nodded, "One of those, yes. The problem is that I need it whole, not the ring, but the Stone with the coat of arms on it. The other one is at Hogwarts, we can only enter that if Dumbledore is not home."
Moody asked, "How would you know if he is there or not? Do you have some kind of trick for it?"
I nodded again, "A trick, yes, I have a map that Sirius made with my dad and Lupin, I got it in my third year. Yesterday I removed the tracking spell and Listening spell from it. Dumbledore was having fun at our expense."
"Let's go then, times a waste." was his response the naffer did not let me finish breakfast.
Xxxxx
"If you are planning to let me puke, then I am going to shove that peg leg up your arse," I warned Moody.
"Who told you? Blasted Tonks couldn't keep her trap shut, did she?" Grumbled Moody, "Well, this one is my spare leg, blasted Junior ruined my good one."
We apparated on a dirt road, close to the cemetery, not puking this time. I looked around and said, "It has to be on the road to the Riddle Mansion, probably heavily warded. Can your eye detect that?"
Moody nodded, "If we search long enough we will."
An hour later we found the place behind a hedge, getting in was easy, §Make way for Lord Voldemort!§ does it all the time, a narcissist loves to hear his own name, so it was not that hard to guess.
At the shack, I stopped Moody, "Moody, that diary had a compulsion to write in it, that locket wanted to be around someone's neck, whatever is in there has some nasty spells on it, do you have dragon hide Gloves? No? Here is an extra pair."
Although I know the spell to cancel that withering curse, I learned that yesterday. We entered the Shack, every two paces I demanded access for Lord Voldemort until I reached the fireplace, according to the book it should have been underneath some floorboards.
Moody pointed at a board, "There is Magic underneath that floorboard, Potter, stand back."
A few slashes with his wand exposed the box with the ring, the compulsion smashed into Moody, he opened the box while I called out, §Dispel! Dispel!§ getting rid of both compulsion and withering curses.
Moody closed the box and said, "That was close, Potter, I was ready to remove my gloves and donned that ring."
I opened my map and checked if Dumbledore was at Hogwarts we were in luck, Fawkes was in the office and Albus was out. Moody was impressed by the Map, "Nice spell work for fifth-year students."
I smiled sadly, "How do you think they got it keyed into the main wardstone? I bet they got some help with it, don't you think so?"
The old man just sighed. When we left the Gaunt shack, I reactivated the defenses to cover our tracks. On the road, I called for Dobby, "Dobby? Put this box in a safe place in our house and return to Hogsmeade when I call you."
"Hogsmeade, Moody," I told him. He grabbed my arm and apparated me there. "Now what, Potter?"
I shrugged, "Well, there are several secret passages into Hogwarts. The twins have been using the one that leads into Honeydukes basement. Now here is my question, do you think the Honeydukes never spotted them going in or out? It is a logical spot to store your stock, isn't it? That place should be warded against thieves is it not? Why would they allow them to go in and out?"
I pointed something else out, "Unless they have an agreement with Dumbledore and tattle on the trespassers to him. If they find something missing they could get it back from Dumbledore and the old goat has blackmail material. What do you think the odds are for alert spells on the other side?"
Moody cursed, "Alright smart mouth, how do you suppose to get us in undetected?"
"Dobby! Hey, Dobby, can you get me and Moody in Hogwarts on the seventh floor at the come-and-go room?"
A pop later, "Thank you Dobby, can you come with us?"
Dobby happily nodded, "Dobby can, Master Harry."
I paced three times before the wall focusing on the room of lost things, at the third passage, a door appeared, quickly we went inside and I let the door disappear. Moody looked dumbfounded at the piles of junk in the room, no, not a room, a stadium.
I said, "Here is your haystack, now we need to find a needle. We are looking for a Tiara, the one from Ravenclaw."
Moody shook his head, "That will take ages, Potter how do you suppose we will find it?"
I explained, "Tom Riddle only returned once to Hogwarts, to ask for a job. So he had a small window of time to hide it here. The Chamber of Secrets was too far away and he could not risk exposing the secret entrance, Dumbledore's office is on the seventh floor too, this place was closest,"
I speculated, "He would not go far in and place it in a recognizable spot, for example in the center passageway with an easy-to-remember marker. Like a statue."
Moody thought for a bit, "That makes sense, Potter, let's hope Voldemort still had his senses when he put it here. I take this passageway, you take that one."
"Dobby," I called out, "we are searching for a tiara that has the same foul magic as the locket, Diary, and that Ring. Can you help us find it? Call us if you do, don't touch it."
Dobby nodded eagerly, "Dobby will find it, Master Harry." and Dobby popped away.
Two hours later, Dobby found it. I summoned a dragon hide bag to put it in, I checked my map, "I think it is time to go home, Dumbledore is outside the door… no we better wait, if he keeps on pacing before that wall he might find this room."
Moody commented, "He must have other ways to track you, are there paintings that have a view on this corridor?"
I said "We need to divert his attention to somewhere else, can you send a message patronus to Madam Bones and let her send one to Dumbledore to call him in or something like that? No, to Sirius and let him say I am in trouble at the Gaunt shack. That will get his panties in a twist."
A few minutes later Dumbledore was gone, "Dobby, get us home please, you did an excellent job today."
Xxxxx
We went with our loot into the basement, I explained the ring, "That ring is the Peverell Lordship ring, but it will only hold when the two other items are in his possession too. The problem is how to get Tom out of it without damaging it."
Moody offered a way, "The only thing that will work for sure is the killing spell, it removes the soul from your body, it will do the same with a piece of soul in an artifact… in theory."
Sirius commented, "I have to be the one that cast it, or the Wards will punish the one who cast it. It is me or Harry. So I will do the Spell."
"Try it out on the Tiara," I suggested, "if the Tiara survives the spell we can do the ring, otherwise we need to find some other way…" I thought of something, Apollo Black's 'Thousand Ways To Remove Spells, Hexes and Curses'! I called out, "No, wait! I have a book with powerful spells to remove nasty curses, let me look it up and try some of those spells out. We have a few days before the hearing. If I don't succeed, Sirius can destroy them on Saturday morning."
Sirius sighed relieved, "That is good, casting that killing spell is taxing on your magic, it corrupts you."
"I will find a way," I comforted Sirius, "then there are two left unaccounted for, Helga's cup and Nagini the Snake"
Kreacher popped in, "Lunch be served in twenty minutes, Young Master, needs to wash and change dirty clothes."
Moody cleaned himself with his wand, "I better get going, I am meeting some old friends on the continent."
Crap! I forgot about Bagnold! We lost too much time in the RoR, meh, I'll take the risk, "Moody? What if Dumbledore committed other crimes? Grindelwald for example, they are about the same age and Dumbledore avoided confronting him until it was certain Grindelwald had lost. What if Dumbledore and Grindelwald knew each other? What if Dumbledore did not kill him but hid him away from the rest of the world? That explains the need for Dumbledore to steal money from everyone to keep Gellert locked up!"
Sirius chuckled, "Are you driving that paranoia a bit too far pup?"
I shot back, "It isn't paranoia when they are out to get you, Sirius! Would anyone believe me if I said you were innocent? Would anyone believe it that Dumbledore set me up to get tortured?"
I looked at Moody, "I bet Gellert is locked up in Nurmengard in a tower under Fidelius… let me try something…"
I took a piece of parchment and a quill, I wrote: 'Gellert Grindelwald is locked up in the tower in Nurmengard Prison'.
I grinned at Moody, "Show this to the guards in Nurmengard."
"Impossible!" shouted Moody, "It can't be! How in Merlin's name are you the secret keeper from a Fidelius of a Castle on the Swiss border? Black! I felt something shift in me. I have been to Nurmengard, this piece of paper changed something in me. I am leaving!"
Well if I know the Fidelius secret from Grimmauld Place from Rowling's books, then I know the Secret from Grindelwald's prison, after all, Tom Riddle found it. A cheat? Nah, not that anyone can prove. I went upstairs to take a shower.
Xxxxx
The Greengrasses came back to discuss the Contract, there was no trace of the cool and virtuous expressions anymore, Daphne and her mother had haunted looks in their eyes and Lord Greengrass was acting nervous. Astoria was unaffected but confused by her parent's strange behavior.
We settled into the Parlor with a cup of tea and Biscuits. I said, "By the looks on your faces you saw them all?"
Lord Greengrass nodded, "We did, Heir Potter, we did. Your life was one big nightmare, I am actually surprised you are still sane. My Brother-in-law Lord Davis noticed that you are set up for slaughter. My daughter remembered you saying that Miss Bones and Miss Abbot had nightmares from it, so yesterday we contacted Madam Bones to talk it over, she told us the medical report in the Daily Prophet was true for once."
He composed himself, and continued, "She also said that You are going through with Miss Bones's contract for House Potter," he turned to Sirius, "Soon you will have your trial and I see your Lord ring on your finger, what about the Contract Lady Malfoy made as Regent Black between my Astoria and Heir Black?"
Sirius sighed, "The years in Azkaban tainted me, I doubt I will be a good husband or even a good parent, I ran away from home to escape all this. The only reason I am Lord Black is for Harry, once he is mature enough he will take over from me."
Sirius looked me in the eyes, "Once you are Lord Black I will leave Britain, there is a tropical island that is calling out to me. I want to forget the hurt and pain I went through here."
Sirius turned serious, "What does Miss Astoria want? What does she expect or hope? Isn't she a bit young to be courted?"
Astoria protested, "I'll turn fourteen next month! That is the proper age to start courting!"
I asked Daphne, "Miss Daphne, what will the reaction of house Slytherin be when they find out your sister is betrothed with the Boy Who Lives in Gryffindor? Will they go easy on her, or is she going to be an easy mark?"
Stiffly, Daphne answered, "There should not be any difference, Heir Black. Purebloods don't interfere with betrothal contracts."
I nodded, "True, but I bet you saw Memory NR 13. How many sons of the men who kissed Voldemort's feet are in Slytherin? What will they prepared to do to get in Tom's good books? Tell me, is your sister going to be safe?"
Tears started flowing when Daphne shook her head, "No, she will be in mortal peril, so will I be in mortal danger."
Lord Greengrass said, "We talked it over last night, my daughters speak fluently French and will enroll in Beaubatons in September if the contract still stands. We thought to transfer it to Malfoy, but I heard his days are numbered. Lord Black calling in outstanding loans in default has upset a lot of men we saw in memory NR 13."
"Father," protested Daphne, "You know Tracey can't speak French! I can't leave her alone in Slytherin!"
"There is Ilvermorny in MACUSA," Hermione pointed out, "there must be one in Canada and Australia."
Lord Greengrass shook his head, "MACUSA is anti-British, they will be bullied, Canada and Australia are too much connected with Britain. In the last war, it was starting to flow over to them. My girls will not be safe there."
I asked, "What if I invoke the debt from killing the Basilisk? Would that help?"
Lady Greengrass commented, "For that to happen everyone has to acknowledge that there is a debt. Anyone can declare they killed a Basilisk at school and call in debts, the proof must be shown to the people before they act on it."
Sirius said, "That will happen Saturday at the Hearing. But my question is unanswered, What does Miss Astoria want?"
When everyone looked at Astoria, she blushed, "I thought I was going to marry Draco, now I don't know anymore."
Daphne cut in, "There is no way Astoria will be able to cope with the emotional baggage that Heir Potter is hauling on his back! Astoria is a girl who wants to be pampered and loves the attention. Are you prepared to attend balls and social gatherings, Heir Black? The Yule Ball told me enough, you danced only once with Miss Parvati and moped the rest of the evening."
Hermione commented, "We are teaching him how to dance, we started two days ago."
Daphne shook her head, "That does not erase the rest, Miss Granger, the problem stays, we can not escape that contract, Lady Malfoy put too many restrictions on it, and so did my Father in response."
Hermione carefully said, "Hogwarts, A history has another solution, not one we are going to like. Harry can marry Susan, Hannah, and Astoria, that way he can demand Married quarters."
"Hmm, Hermione? I am bloody fifteen years old! I am just getting used to having girlfriends, why in Merlin's name do I have to marry?" I protested.
Hermione looked at me, "To protect their lives, of course, besides, Hannah and Susan turn sixteen this year, even Muggles marry at that age."
I glared at her, "Yes they do, when they are pregnant!"
Astoria spoke up, "I don't want a baby yet!"
Man, we are talking in circles, it is clear nobody wants this marriage to happen, and there is no escape from it.
I asked Lord Greengrass, "Would your Daughter be willing to marry me if she saw all those memories?"
Lord Greengrass shook his head, "No, she would have nightmares for weeks and be scared to death of you. She led a sheltered life, she would not cope with it."
Daphne sighed, "There is one solution we have not discussed yet."