Chapter Text
August 15, 1995
London, England
Cornelius Fudge sat in the chair next to the podium. He nervously licked his lips as Chief Warlock Nott tried to get the members of the Wizengamot under control. Many were standing and yelling. He was only happy that this was a closed session. If the media was about to find out what he had to say today, then he had no doubt that he and many of the members here would be out on the street.
“ORDER!” Nott bellowed with the use of a sonorous charm.
Getting the elder Winchester Nott elected to Chief Warlock after they had deposed of Dumbledore had been the last good thing he had done. With the death of his son, the elder Nott had come out of retirement until his grandson could take over the Nott seat in the Wizengamot. He was the only one really holding the core of Cornelius power together now that Lucius Malfoy was dead. That control seemed to be waning as unwelcome news upon unwelcome news kept piling up.
“I will have order,” the man bellowed again, and the crowd started to calm.
“We need to declare war on the goblins!” someone yelled out. He looked around to see a red-faced Harold Parkinson. The boy had just turned twenty-one and taken over his father’s seat. Another victim of that disastrous night. Cornelius knew that it was somehow Potter’s fault, but there was no evidence.
“That is enough! This is a chamber of decorum and law. Do not act like some uncouth muggle, boy,” the chief warlock chastised. “I will not put up with anymore dissonance until the floor is open for debate. If everyone is ready, I call this meeting of the Wizengamot together. Today is a legislative matter.”
Cornelius took a handkerchief out of his pocket and padded his head.
“We are gathered due to the unprecedented events that are causing unrest and malcontent. The minister,” the man said with some disdain, “the Head of the DMLE and the Head of the Goblin Laison Office have prepared reports of what is known. Minister Fudge, I will hand the floor to you to tell us of the meetings you have had with the goblins the last few days.”
Cornelius got up and put the ridiculous purple tricorn hat on his head as he stepped up to the podium. Murmuring and unkind faces met his awkward clearing of his throat. “Lords and Ladies, I have been meeting with the top accountants and heads of Gringotts for much of the last three days and I am afraid I do not have much good to report.”
“The goblins are foreclosing on my family’s estate! We have lived there for six generations,” Lady Yaxley yelled at him.
“ORDER!” Chief Warlock Nott bellowed.
The older woman, again another one that had to come out of retirement recently, huffed and sat in her chair, glowering at Cornelius.
Cornelius lifted his hat to pat the sweat off his forehead again.
“Minister, please just cut to the chase,” Nott ordered.
“Yes. Yes, of course.” He swallowed. “I do not know all the details, but I can confirm the identities of the vaults that were closed by the gnomes and some of the issues that have come from it. I do not know what has happened with Lady Yaxley.”
“Which vaults!” Lord Corner called out.
He swallowed again. “All Potter and Black vaults have been closed and transferred to Switzerland. The goblins have been contracted to close out all business, properties, alliances and contracts for the Potter and Blacks. This includes any illegal stealing, selling or seizure of property and valuables that any illegal regent or other person or body have done since nine-teen eighty-one.”
He had expected the room to explode in noise. Instead, he noticed many worried or stunned faces. What he had not expected was a cackling laugh from his right. Everyone turned to look at the elderly woman.
“You find this funny, Longbottom!” an angry Lord Parkinson yelled.
“I find this quite amusing, yes. I do believe that I spoke against naming a regent for the Potter scion last fall and now he has found a way around you,” she said. “Amelia, I know enough. Are you staying?”
“I think have heard enough as well,” Bones said, standing up. “Chief Warlock, I would like to pass my vote for this session to Lord Patil.”
“This is most unusual to procedure, Bones,” Nott said.
“I would pass my vote to Lord Patil for this session as well,” Longbottom said. She held her arm out and Bones took it.
This caused a kerfuffle that took some time to calm. When it did, Lady Malfoy stood. “Chief Warlock, I propose the Wizengamot pass a law freezing all Potter and Black assets and recall the illegally stolen wealth from the gnomes. I am the last one of Black blood that was not disowned by the last Lord Black.”
Cornelius cleared his throat. Everyone turned to him. “The goblins said if we do that, then they will rebel. Sirius Black was not disowned and named Harry Potter as his heir and regent. It was Potter that closed all Black vaults and accounts. The goblins allowed it because the Wizengamot never convicted Sirius Black…”
The angry outburst wouldn’t be easily quelled. His heart sank as he watched eight more members, all related to Bones and Longbottom, stand up and quietly leave. They had all spoken out against Dumbledores annexation of the Potter estates and had spoken their support for the Potter brat. Cornelius and others had seen the promises of wealth from Dumbledore. He feared for his life when everyone realized that the goblins would take back anything Dumbledore had given or sold to them…
-oOo-
Same day…
Hogwarts, Scotland
“Let us through the gate, wizard,” the burly goblin demanded.
Dumbledore stood just inside the gate of the school. Most of his staff had wandered down here over the last twenty minutes as he had tried to reason with the goblins. Hogwarts wards were calling out for protection, even though he wished to keep this quiet. They all stood by him as they looked at a host of goblins. The last twelve days had seen everything unravel and now he was being asked to let in this rabble to ‘collect items’ that don’t belong to the school or others.
“Manager Toothfang, I assure you that there is nothing in Hogwarts that belongs to the Potter or Black families. Everything in possession of the school has been either legally bought or donated. I see no reason for you and your companions to enter the grounds,” he said back in an even tone. He had to admit that there was more of an edge to it than he meant there to be, but he had sat with Cornelius much of the last three days to prevent the idiot from starting a rebellion.
The goblin curled his lip. “That is for my audit team to discover, wizard. Let us in or we will find a way in. Or do I declare you oath breaker and call for our king to dissolve the current treaties?”
“Albus, you must let them in. Hogwarts is a signatory of the treaties,” Filius said in his squeaky voice.
Internally he wanted to snarl at the little man. He didn’t care that Hogwarts was a signatory. There were things that he needed. “There is no need to do that, Toothfang. I am also aware that Hogwarts is a signatory to the treaties, and I am not violating any of them when an unlawful order is presented without the backing of the ministry.”
It was a fine point, one not specified in the treaties, but one where he knew that the ministry had to approve of any seizures of lawfully obtained property by the goblins. It applied the other way as well, but no wizard had ever been fool enough to try it against the goblins.
“Gringotts does not need ministry backing when the items were unlawfully taken. We are also to assess the condition of the beast felled by Harry Potter in the spring of nineteen-ninety-two. Now, open the door and let us in,” the goblin demanded.
Albus felt a little bit of fear go through him. “Until you have a proper order from the Ministry, the gates will remain closed.”
“Albus, are you sure you want to push like this?” Filius questioned.
“There is nothing that was obtained illegally, and the beast was never claimed by mister Potter. Return with a proper order and you will be let in,” Albus told them.
The goblin sneered. “According to Mister Potter, he was never informed of his rights, a responsibility of his guardian and a violation of goblin law and treaty to not do so. I do not need a ministry order to enter for this violation.”
“Albus, you told me that he donated the basilisk to the school,” Minerva said.
“I am not giving up the ingredients that I have,” Snape said.
“We will claim everything that rightfully belongs to our clients. Do you refuse to open the gates?” Toothfang demanded.
“This is an illegal seizure of lawfully obtained items,” Albus said. “The gates will remain closed to you.”
Filius shifted uncomfortably before stepping forward. “Headmaster, I respectfully give you my notice to terminate my employment. Per contract, I will stay for the required two weeks. Manager Toothfang, I will not stand in your way and ask for recognition of my non-resistance.”
Albus blinked. He was already trying to fill one position. “Filius, that is not necessary.”
The diminutive man looked up to him. “Headmaster, I will not be part of this blatant violation of treaty, and if it is true that you did not inform mister Potter of his claim over the basilisk, then you and whomever helped you are going to face goblin law, not to mention the Wizengamot. Manager Toothfang, do you recognize my non-resistance?”
Toothfang had a small smile. “I recognize your non-resistance. You will have your two weeks by contract. If you are still on Hogwarts grounds twenty-four hours after your official termination, you will be considered complicit.”
Filius slammed his right fist over the left side of his chest. “Very well, Manager Toothfang.”
Albus did not like the look Filius gave him before starting back up to the castle.
“This is the last time I will request entry, wizard,” the annoying goblin said.
“I must decline your request,” Albus told him.
“So be it. You have twenty-four hours before we return,” the goblin told him. The host turned. Many of the goblins gave them toothy smiles. Albus was concerned, but he couldn’t let them in. There were to many important items in the school, and they did not give him a list of the items they were searching for.
“Albus, what will happen if we don’t let the goblins in?” Pomona asked.
“Nothing. The treaties do not allow for illegal seizure of heirlooms and belongings by goblins against wizards or wizards against goblins,” he assured her.
Minerva was frowning. “Ye're meddlin' wi' bonfires. If they come back wi' warriors, ye'll hae my resignation.”
He looked at his transfiguration professor and frowned. He could tell she was agitated as her brogue came through. “I assure you, Minerva, there is nothing to worry about. I’ll go over to Gringotts once I visit the ministry.”
“Minerva, is this as serious as I think?” Pomona asked as he turned to walk back to his office. He needed a few things before going to see Cornelius.
“It's mair serious than ye ken, Pomona. I shallnae bide fur a siege an' risk losin' ma accoonts or or get a taste of goblin justice,” Minerva replied.
He walked faster. He had to stop this before he lost most of his staff. Severus fell in besides him. “Albus, you told me Potter donated the carcass.”
“As his guardian, I signed off on it,” he replied.
Snape made an angry hissing sound. “I’m going to lose all those rare ingredients because you are an old fool. I have used some of them already.”
“Severus, there will be no need to worry. I am sure this will all be cleared up. As Harry’s guardian, I have full rights,” he assured the man.
Severus nostrils flared. “I must report to the Dark Lord again tonight. I am unsure when I will return.”
“Very well. I assume you have a new potion to try?” he enquired.
“There is no potion that will have him recover. Are you sure you do not want me to eliminate him?”
Albus sighed. “That would not be ideal. He needs to have a body for Harry to finally defeat him.”
“And you are sure that the diary and that ring you found are the only ones?” Severus enquired.
“I do not see him tearing his soul into more than three. It wouldn’t make sense. The arithmancy says that one’s magic and sanity will start to suffer,” Albus replied.
Severus had an unreadable look. “He isn’t sane. Do you think he would care if the arithmancy said it was safe or not?”
“I am sure that he would not go that far. No one has ever split their souls more than once, let alone twice,” he replied.
“I hope you are right. It still means we need the boy,” Severus said with some disdain.
“I feel confident he will soon return. Moody and Remus are on his trail,” he replied.
Severus walked besides him for a moment. “You believe he is in Switzerland?”
“I am positive. He’s had his fun and been able to have a small adventure but will understand that he has a duty to complete back here,” Albus said with certainty. He had made sure that Harry would feel a duty to save everyone.
“I think you put too much faith in Potter.”
“And I think you put too little. Now, if you excuse me, I must see to my other duties today,” he said as they reached the doors. He felt the privacy charms fall when they walked through the doors. He had important things to do, the least of which was to prevent the fomenting goblin rebellion and keeping them out of Hogwarts.
-oOo-
August 23, 1995
Altdorf, Switzerland
Harry grinned to watch a young a girl and her brother waiting for the train. They were the only ones on the platform. They were playing a game he had seen some of the other children play in the town of Grenobles. He just hadn’t expected to see it on the muggle train platform.
“One. Two. Three. Go!” the girl said. She draped her hand over her fist. The boy held up three fingers like a hat.
“I win!” the girl exclaimed.
“I have the witch!” her brother cried out. He was a good two or three years younger.
“I have the gnome. Gnomes always wins,” she declared victoriously.
“Victoria! You can’t play that here,” a haggard looking woman said as the train pulled into the platform.
Harry heard Auror Bellevue chuckle at the young siblings as they were dragged a little further down the platform. “I remember getting into fights with my sister over that game.”
“It looks like rock, paper, scissors,” Harry replied.
"Harry!" a bushy hair girl exclaimed. She had a bag slung over her shoulder that bounced wildly as she hurried down the platform.
"I'm not going anywhere, Hermione," he said playfully before she crashed into him. He made a small 'oomph'. "One of these days you're going to knock me over."
"Oh, hush," she said into his chest. "I've been so worried about you."
He hugged her tightly back. He was used to being separated from her from previous summer or winter hols, but he couldn't hide from himself how much he had missed her the last few weeks. He closed his eyes to hold her in his arms, leaning his head against hers as she held him tightly.
Someone cleared their throat.
Harry opened his eyes and moved them to look up. A smiling Doctor Granger was standing next to a stern looking Doctor Granger. He stood up. "Uhm, hi, doctors Granger," he said.
"I see she found you," Mrs Granger said with a small laugh. Hermione let him go and he reached out to shake her mother's hand.
"I never really got to say thank you for your help," he told her.
She moved to take him into a hug. He tensed, like he always did when anyone, but Hermione touched him. "I'm glad to see you are good. I know your owl has found us to let us know you're alright, but Hermione has been so worried."
"I'm fine. I swear," he said to see Hermione roll her eyes at him.
When she let him go, he held out his hand for Mr Granger. "It's good to see you again, sir."
The man's stern demeanour lessened. He put her trunk down and reached for Harry's hand. "Please don't call me sir. I had enough of that in the military. It is nice to meet you again." They shook hands, Harry trying to meet the sudden firm grip. "I assume you haven't gotten into any trouble lately?"
Harry gave a little grin. "The Aurors makes sure I stay out of trouble. Though, we should get back to Grenobles. Some people tried to pick me up the other day."
Mr Granger frowned as Harry indicated the man not far behind him. Hermione picked right up on what he said though. "What do you mean some people tried to pick you up?"
"Let's get a taxi and I can tell you," he replied. The train station was in the valley and a few kilometres from the old walled town and school. He leaned down and took one side of the trunk. Mr Granger took the other side and they moved towards the road.
"Harry, who tried to pick you up?" Hermione demanded as she followed him.
Harry gave her a grin. "Moody and Remus showed up. Remus is staying with me for a few days, hope you don't mind, but Moody had to be arrested."
Her mouth moved a few times. "What! Professor Moody tried to kidnap you?"
"Yep," he said.
"Are you alright? Nothing bad happened?"
Harry shook his head. "No. They showed up outside the school when I was done with my tests the beginning of the week. Remus was happy to see me. Moody tried to grab me and use a portkey. Auror Bellevue stunned him when the portkey failed. Apparently, there is a portkey ban inside the town and school of Grenobles."
"I thought you said you haven't gotten into trouble?" Mr Granger questioned.
"I haven't. That was just something interesting," Harry replied.
Hermione looked around. "You don't think anyone else will try, do you?"
"I doubt it. Remus has told me what is going on back in Britain," Harry replied with another grin.
"It's awful. I've been getting the Daily Prophet, though its usually a few days old. Have you seen that Fudge is facing a vote of no confidence tomorrow or that the goblins have besieged Hogwarts?" she asked.
"I'm glad we got you out of the country," Mrs Granger said. "There isn't anything like that here, right?"
Harry shook his head. "No. It's been quiet here. The local wizards get along well with the other races, and they don't seem to care about your blood status. From what I understand, that was part of what Grindelwald used during the Great War to press his 'Greater Good'. The Swiss didn't like that, so eliminated all the laws that divided people by blood and race. You should see what the gnomes can do, Hermione. I'm hoping I get into the advanced Runes, Technomancy and Arithnomancy classes. They use engineering with magic and have robots and all sorts of stuff. Though, I would like to get away from using steam like they do," he said with passion before becoming pensive.
She just stared as him as his Auror guard hailed a taxi.
"It's wicked. And the testing the last week hasn't been that bad either. I find out Monday what classes I qualify for, but I've already decided I'm dropping Magical creatures. I want to do something with magi-engineering. The gnomes offer masteries and there are a few workshops that the gnomes don't run. Maybe I can start my own business? You know that there is a rune chain that allows electrical items to work around warded areas? Think of everything you can do?"
When he looked down at her, he wasn't sure exactly how to interpret the expression she was wearing. Something about it brought out something tingly in him, as well as concern because he hadn't seen it before. "Hermione?"
He wasn't prepared for her to suddenly dart forward, go on her tip toes and have her mouth crash into his. It was a little awkward, but when she pulled back, her face was red with embarrassment while he just looked at her with a wide-eyed dumbfounded look.
Mrs Granger held her hand out to her husband. "I told you."
The man grumbled as he put a fiver in her palm. "She’s still only fifteen. She's too young."
Mrs Granger chuckled. "She'll be sixteen in less than a month. Besides, she's been pining after him for years."
"Hermione?" Harry said as Auror Bellevue took the trunk out of his hand to load it into the boot of the taxi.
“I want to see Grenoble,” she told him, moving swiftly for the taxi.
“Hermione?”
Her mum slipped an arm around his. “Why don’t you show us where you’ve been the last month.”
“Damn, I thought I had another twenty years,” Mr Granger grumbled under his breath.
-oOo-
August 24, 1995
Hogwarts, Scotland
Seething didn’t begin to describe how he was feeling. For eight days now a host of a thousand goblins had been outside the wards of Hogwarts. Having posted legal recourse for their actions, the Wizengamot was in an absolute deadlock with most of the Bones alliance having walked out and the others facing their own issues with the goblins and that he had not been able to leave the castle since the goblins had set up their camp, he was livid at the inaction of the ministry and the letter he held in his hand from the Board of Governors.
Looking down towards the main gates from his office, he could see the blue energy of the wards fending off the little sodding curse breakers. If they were there for much longer, he felt they would penetrate the wards.
When the knock came at his door, he snapped, “What is it!”
The door opened to let Minerva in. “Albus, did you receive a missive from the governors?”
“Of course, I did! The cowards have instructed me to let them in,” he retorted.
“And do you intent to do as the governors want?” she questioned.
His lips pursed. How the hell had everything come down so fast? The boy had been under his control and beaten down not twenty days ago. How the bloody hell were they to beat Tom without Harry Potter and Albus Dumbledore leading him to his fate?
“I either bow to their wishes or let Hogwarts wards be breached for the first time in three hundred years,” Albus said bitterly. “Inform Severus that he is to get all his supplies to the front lobby. Minerva, I will need to collect several books that were gifted to you over the years and have Pomona, Filius and Poppy report to me.”
He didn’t see Minerva’s eyes narrow. “Ye handed me lifted goods?”
Albus wasn’t in the mood for her temper or heavy brogue. “I gave you items that came into my hands through fully legal means. The goblins claim otherwise. As soon as I can get this cleared up, I will return the books.”
“Whit be thae legal means? The goblins dinnae get sae riled fur legally obtained goods, Albus. Ye ken hoo they feel aboot thievin' bastards,” she replied.
“I am no thief!” he said angrily as he turned to her. His power flared some. “James Potter and others said they would help in any way they could. I have never taken more than I should or needed to reach our goals. I am no thief.”
She stared at him for a long time. “I doot James didna mean for ye tae tak' as muckle as it wad tak' tae get the goblins this birlit. And whit aboot the basilisk? That should be nae problem tae gie that ower.”
“That is none of your concern, professor. The list of books I need for you is here,” he said, flicking his wand. A sheaf of paper came out of a pile and flew towards her. She snagged it out of the air.
With an angry snort out of her nose, she looked at the list. “Feckin' Merlin and the saints! This is half ma advanced books!”
“Just retrieve them. I will make sure you get them back,” he ordered.
Her nostrils flared as her lips puckered. “Scunnert Sassenachs aye muckin' up ma bonnie lands. Ma giein' up will be oan yer desk within the 'oor.”
His temper flared again. He couldn’t understand half of what she was saying when like this. “Enough, Minerva! I will expect you to be at your post as expected on September first.”
“Nae wi' ye the castle! Ye can let the rest ken aboot whit ye nicked.” She spun on her heels and slammed the door when she left.
“Merlin’s bloody ball sack!” Albus yelled. It took a few minutes before he calmed enough to lift his wand. With the foul mood he was in, it took three tries before his phoenix Patronus flared into existence. “Severus, to my office. Now.”
The majestic bird flew out in a flurry. It looked as angry as its caster.
-oOo-
The same day…
London, England
Cornelius sat in his office. He knew it would be the last time. The protesters were still in the lobby. Goblins had besieged Hogwarts and had the legal authority per treaties and the ICW to do so. They even had bloody observers from the ICW to ensure they didn’t break any treaties as their curse breakers tried to break into the school!
Looking around at a lifetime of politics, he was trying to figure out when it all went wrong? How had a thirteen-year-old school kid brought down him and most of the purebloods in only twenty days?
As he looked at the small amount of scotch left in the decanter, he found himself wanting more. Ever since Lucius had died in that graveyard, nothing had gone right for him.
When a knock came at the door, he waved his hand as though the person on the other side could see him motion to come in. After a moment, the door opened. An equally haggard looking man from the Magical Law department stepped in.
“Minister, you wanted that report on the issues with the goblins,” the man said.
“Just put it there,” he said, waving towards a pile that was over three feet high on his desk. “So, is the ICW supporting all the foreclosures?”
“I’m afraid they are all legal. Fifty-five foreclosures, one hundred and eighty-three evictions and five hundred and seventy-two loans. About half of that is from the Potter and Black estates and contracted by the gnomes with the goblins. The other is from bad business deals with many of the Wizengamot and old families,” the man said.
Cornelius sighed and poured the last of the decanter into his tumbler glass. “Thank you, Scotsbee.”
“It’s Southerbee, minister,” the man said with a little annoyance.
Cornelius waved his hand. “It won’t matter soon. The vote is in an hour. Can you tell my secretary to get an elf up here and pack my office?”
The man frowned. “Very good, minister.”
He walked out, leaving the door open. Cornelius sighed again. He was about to get up and close the door himself when a terribly angry woman stepped into the room. “Lady Yaxley, what do I owe this pleasure to?”
“You can get off your lazy arse and get to Gringotts! I refuse to let those little monsters take my estate. They gave me a notice today that they will begin proceedings to break my wards tomorrow if I don’t hand the estate over to them by eight in the morning,” she just about hissed in her anger.
“And what would you have me do?” he asked dispassionately.
“You march down there, with all the Aurors you have, and get them to stop this. The Wizengamot passed a law yesterday forgiving all the debt from those deals that Lucius Malfoy bound most of us too. Do you have any idea how much that man cost my family!”
Cornelius could take a guess. He had never heard the term pyramid scheme until a Muggleborn in accounting had let him know what it meant a few days ago. From the sounds of it, Lucius had been running such a scheme for years, embroiling all his allies, the ministry and him personally. If the statement he received yesterday was true, he had only a few thousand galleons left to his name, not the almost two million he had expected.
“I can guess what Lucius Malfoy cost you. It would appear he cost a lot to many of your allies. There is nothing I can do though,” Cornelius told her.
“You can get the Aurors to Gringotts and blast it to the ground then get all our gold out of their vaults,” she snapped.
He looked up at her. “With what Aurors are you talking about, Lady Yaxley?”
“All the Aurors of the DMLE. A few hundred wizards should be able to bring those beasts down,” she stated rather imperiously.
Cornelius couldn’t keep him his snort of derision. “If only we had that many Aurors.”
“Poppycock. Of course, we have that many. When my husband sat on the seat, we kept over three hundred on the active rolls,” she stated.
He gave a dark chuckle. “That may have been so, but part of Lucius’s schemes was to reduce the Auror core to fifty-five Aurors. Those were laws and budget cuts all his allies voted for. In the last week that has shrunk to twenty-five. If you noticed, I don’t even have a guard anymore. They are all in the lobby, Diagon Alley or Hogsmeade. So, I ask again, Lady Yaxley, what do you expect of me?”
She stood there stock still. “You lie!” she accused after a moment.
“If only. I assure you I am being rather truthful right now,” he told her. “If you don’t have anything else, I would like to enjoy the last time I have in this office.”
“Why, I never!” she snapped. “I’m going to press for charges once you are voted out of office.”
He nodded. “I’m sure many will want too. For you, for me, for many here, this is the last week of what I thought was the true power of the purebloods. I never believed in all the dogma that most of Lucius and his allies espoused, but purebloods were always on top. I don’t see any of our allies lasting past the debt collection at the end of the month.”
He toasted her before knocking back the mouthful of scotch he had left.
She was bristling with anger. “I swear, I will seek my vengeance on you and everyone that has brought the Yaxley family so low.”
He snorted. “I might be scared, madam, but like many of us, you won’t have the resources to do so for much longer. I would suggest you go and pack up anything you don’t want those little menaces getting.”
She huffed before storming out of his office.
Cornelius looked at the empty decanter and empty glass, wishing both were full to the brim. When one of the ministry’s elves popped in, he told it to pack his office as he got up and dressed in his Wizengamot robes for what he was sure to be his last time.