Chereads / Imprisoned in the Past / Chapter 7 - Chapter 7: Taking Care of business

Chapter 7 - Chapter 7: Taking Care of business

Number Twelve Grimmauld Place, London, 7/2/1982, 09:15

Harry sat at the table eating his breakfast and reading the paper with a grin, the ministry had ruled the death of Malfoy and Fudge as an accident. He had to make a late-night trip to the ministry the night before to remove the runes from the other lift but that was fairly simple, now when the magical maintenance did an inspection they would find no evidence of sabotage.

Narcissa would be pleased with the results, and best of all now he didn't have to worry about the chamber of secrets fiasco. He was still conflicted about what to do with the basilisk as it was worth a fortune not that he needed it, but it would be a lot of work and quite a problem to sneak into Hogwarts.

The elder wand and his invisibility cloak had been taken from him when he was captured by Rookwood so his stealth skills were severely limited at the moment. He didn't feel right about taking this version of himself's invisibility cloak and it was in Dumbledore's possession so for the time being it was inaccessible anyway.

As for the elder wand, he had no doubt that he was an able and powerful wizard but there was no way in hell he would attempt to duel Albus Dumbledore to retrieve the wand, he would have to settle for his Phoenix and holly wand for now not that he noticed much difference to be honest.

The Horcruxes were a problem that he had plenty of time to deal with, though getting the one out of his younger self did pose a significant problem. Getting rid of it the way his own had been destroyed was not an option since there were too many unknowns surrounding that.

Would a killing curse cast by himself even work or did it have to be from Voldemort himself?

Would he have to wait for Voldemort to gain a body using his younger self's blood to ensure his mother's protection kept him anchored to this plane?

Or would attempting to remove the Horcrux via killing curse be one of those dangers the unspeakables always warned about time travel?

"Was there a way for Narcissa to remove it like she did the dark mark? There were plenty of other Horcruxes for her to practice on, and from what he observed of the process it was possible that the same process could work for a Horcrux.

Besides these problems that he knew would take a while to figure out he had a pretty easy way to get all but one of the intentionally made Horcruxes.

He had the Locket Horcrux in the house and he was fairly confident that Bella could retrieve the cup Horcrux from Gringotts, he figured Narcissa would gladly give up the diary Horcrux that Lucius had been in possession of without much fuss, and the ring Horcrux at the Gaunt shack was easy enough to get to.

That still left the diadem Horcrux which presented the same problem as the chamber, sneaking into Hogwarts under the nose of Albus Dumbledore.

Luckily Voldemort hadn't turned Nagini into a Horcrux until ninety-four, so hopefully he could end Voldemort before then and wouldn't have to deal with that one.

"Whatcha thinking about," Bella asked pulling him from his thoughts.

"Horcruxes," Harry answered simply taking a sip of his lukewarm tea.

"Aren't you a little young to be worrying about immortality?" Bellatrix asked with a smirk.

"I wasn't planning on making any, I need to track down all of Voldy's eventually," Harry responded.

"Most of them should be fairly easy," Bellatrix said with a shrug.

"Except the one inside Hogwarts," Harry pointed out.

"So get someone to retrieve it for you," Bellatrix said as if it were obvious.

"Something to think on I suppose," Harry said thoughtfully.

"So what are we doing today?" Bellatrix asked curiously.

"I need an identity and I've been putting off going to Gringotts for too long," Harry said thoughtfully.

"Good I need to move my personal vault into the Black Vault and see what I can do about Rudy's family vault," Bellatrix said.

"Which vault is the cup in?" Harry asked curiously.

"My personal vault, do you want me to get it?" Bellatrix asked.

"Yes, the goblins will not be pleased if they ever discover what it is," Harry warned.

"Had I known what it was I never would have stored it there," Bellatrix said quietly.

Gringotts Bank, London, 7/2/1982, 14:32

He had completed his goals, he had acquired identification papers, and claimed the Peverell vault which was one of the oldest vaults in the bank. He was now officially Harry James Peverell as far as the ministry was concerned.

The goblins had forged him a birth certificate, school records, and test scores from a relatively unknown private school in Europe and had them pushed through the ministry and notarized within an hour. This had cost him a hefty fee but was relatively painless for the most part.

Harry was currently going through the Peverell holdings and was surprised that he actually had a moderate amount of gold in the Peverell family vault. The family had originally sold the land to Salazar Slytherin that Hogwarts was built upon and the two thousand galleons from that sale had been accruing interest over the last millennia at one percent it came to two hundred and forty-two thousand galleons and some change.

That was not counting the shares the Peverell family had in Ollivander's wand shop which generated a steady annual profit. The goblins had been maintaining this vault so they could use the gold to stimulate the bank if needed.

The goblins liked having large amounts of gold in the vaults of families thought extinct. In case of a financial crisis, they had money to draw from in accordance with the treaty of sixteen thirteen which gave them the right to use unclaimed gold in the event of an economic collapse.

They tried very hard to prove he wasn't a blood relation to the Peverells but after finally agreeing to test his blood they were forced to accept his claim and pass ownership of the vault to him.

"Will that be all Mr. Peverell?" His account manager Longblade asked stiffly.

"For now, but I am in the market for a quarter ounce of basilisk venom," Harry said after some thought.

"It can be found but the price will be quite high not counting the ten percent finders fee," Longblade said.

"How high?" Harry asked carefully.

"Somewhere in the neighborhood of ten thousand galleons," Longblade said simply.

"That sounds more than fair, please set it up," Harry said.

"Very well, I will owl you when we acquire it," Longblade said.

Nodding Harry stood up and left the office, when he arrived in the atrium Bellatrix was sitting on a bench waiting for him.

"How did it go?" She asked ignoring the wary looks the other patrons of the bank were giving her.

"Better than expected, would you like to have lunch while we're in Diagon Alley?" Harry asked as he led her through the door into the alley.

"Yes, can we have ice cream?" Bellatrix asked in her childish voice.

"Maybe after we have proper food, how about we eat at the 'Happy Hippogriff'?" Harry asked leading her towards a bistro-styled restaurant.

"Fine, but ice cream after," Bella pouted.

"Agreed, did you get the cup?" Harry asked as they took a seat in the outdoor seating area waiting for a waitress.

"I did, silly Bella should have never put it in the bank," Bellatrix said as a nervous waitress approached their table.

"Can I get you something to drink?" The young blond woman asked timidly.

Harry looked over the drink menu and grinned before saying, " two cokes please."

"Do you know what y-you want to eat or do you need a minute?" The waitress, Wendy according to her nametag, asked.

"A BLT and chips," Bellatrix said looking over the menu thoughtfully.

"The same please," Harry said.

"Right away," The woman replied before scurrying away to fill the order.

"Harry, what is a coke?" Bellatrix asked curiously.

Harry just grinned and said, "you'll just have to see for yourself.

Their food arrived about five minutes later pulling Harry from his watching people scurry around the alley.

" Here you go, I hope you enjoy," the waitress said hovering their sandwiches and drinks onto the table.

"Thank you, Wendy," Harry said politely making the waitress blush.

"If you need anything else just let me know," Wendy said batting her eyes at him before heading over to another table to check on her other customers.

"Little bint bats her eyes at you again and I will rip out her dyed hair," Bellatrix muttered as she took a bite out of her sandwich.

"Be nice Bella," Harry said warily.

"I am always nice," Bellatrix said petulantly.

"You are, how do you like your drink?" Harry asked changing the subject.

Bellatrix took the glass and took a sip of the fizzy drink and her eyes widened in surprise, "this is amazing what is it?"

"A muggle drink I am rather fond of," Harry said taking a bite of his sandwich.

"What?!" Bellatrix demanded rather loudly.

"You heard me, if you don't make a scene I'll do that thing you like tonight," Harry said quietly.

Bellatrix actually blushed but nodded and took another sip glaring at the glass as if it has done her a personal wrong.

After they finished their lunch and Harry paid the bill Harry lead them to 'Fortescue's Ice Cream' for a sundae.

They had barely sat down at an outside table when a little girl yelled excitedly, "Harry will you buy me an ice cream?"

Harry turned to see Tonks and Andromeda walking towards them, from the looks of it they had just left the apothecary.

"Sure Tonks, would you like something, Andy?" Harry asked.

"Yes please," Andromeda said gratefully while Harry handed Tonks a galleon and let her order for herself and her mother.

"You're spoiling her you know, Andromeda said with a shake of her head.

" Not too bad I hope?" Harry asked worriedly.

"No, it's fine she doesn't have many friends because of her metamorph abilities," Andromeda said sadly.

"She'll make friends at Hogwarts," Harry assured her.

" I hope so. Where have you two been? We went by Grimmauld at lunch and Kreacher said you were out for the day," Andromeda asked as tonks returned with their ice creams and handed her a mint chocolate chip cone.

"Gringotts it ran longer than expected," Harry explained.

"Did you finally get an identity?" Andy asked quietly.

"Yes, I am now legally Harry James Peverell though magically I am still simply Reaper," Harry said with a shrug before eating a spoonful of strawberry ice cream.

"How has your day been, Bella?" Andy asked noting her sister's grumpy expression.

"The bank was boring, then this little bint of a waitress flirted with Harry, then Harry made me drink a choke but he did promise to lick my nethers later if I behave," Bellatrix answered making Andromeda sputter into her ice cream cone.

"Mum, what are nethers?" Tonks asked loudly making Harry blush crimson and Andy glare daggers at her smirking sister.

"I will tell you when you're older," Andromeda said looking very annoyed with Bellatrix.

"Any way have you heard from Narcissa today?" Harry asked changing the subject.

"Yes, she told me to tell you that you two were invited for dinner at Malfoy manor tomorrow at five," Andromeda said looking grateful for the change in subject.

"Excellent, I have been going a bit stir crazy at Grimmauld," Harry said with a grin.

"You still haven't taught me how to dive yet," Tonks cut in after finishing the last bite of her hot fudge sundae.

Harry had gone to the Tonks home yesterday and gave Nymphadora the basic flying lesson for beginners. On the whole, she took to flying much better than Harry expected and seemed to be a natural on a broom.

Harry still had reservations about teaching her anything too dangerous, truth be told Andromeda scared the hell out of him and he did not fancy feeling her wrath should her daughter get hurt on his watch.

"I think we'll wait on that for a while," Harry said gently.

"But I can fly great, Tonks pouted.

" I think Harry would rather you didn't get hurt, Nymphadora," Andromeda cut in saving Harry from eventually caving to the girl's demands.

"Fine," Tonks pouted.

"There will be plenty of time for that at Hogwarts," Harry consoled her.

"That's two years away," Tonks argued.

"And by then you'll be the best flyer in your year," Harry pointed out.

"I received a letter from Sirius this morning, he asked me to help him prepare a room for Harry. He says that he's picking him up from the Dursleys on the eighth," Andromeda said cutting off her daughter's rebuttal.

"Good, why is he waiting so long though?" Harry asked curiously.

"Like most men he's terrified of raising a child," Andromeda said with a smirk.

"That is completely untrue," Harry defended.

"Of course it is dear," Andromeda replied patronizingly.

Before Harry could argue further a nasty yellow spell came speeding towards their table and Harry cast a shield over their party on reflex, he watched the spell slam into the shield before fizzling out.

Harry looked to the source and saw an enraged older woman wearing a vulture hat in the middle of the street, she was already raising her wand to cast again.

"Andromeda get Tonks out of here I'll deal with this," Harry ordered.

Harry had barely finished speakng when he heard a 'pop' beside him and Bellatrix appeared in front of Augusta Longbottom her wand already in motion.

"Fuck!" Harry exclaimed before disapparating and appearing behind the Longbottom matriarch his wand pressed to the back of her neck.

"Harry let me deal with her," Bellatrix said her voice deadly calm.

"Not here there are children all over this alley," Harry said before pressing his wand hard into Augusta's neck and speaking very quietly, "if you every try and attack me in the company of a child again I will kill you myself."

"You can try, this bitch destroyed my son's mind and I will have my vengeance," Augusta said lowering her wand before turning to glare into his eyes.

"I don't think you will unless you want me to force feed you one of those chocolate bars you sent to Azkaban," Harry whispered.

The woman blanched, "we'll meet again," Augusta said before disapparating her face showing her barely contained fury.

"Why did you stop me?!" Bellatrix demanded angrily they had drawn a crowd by now.

Harry moved closer to Bella before speaking, "she basically lost her son because of your dead husband, nothing would have been gained by fighting her and there are to many children in this alley."

Harry glanced to their table and saw a terrified Tonks looking their way while Andy had her wand out surveying the alley.

"Fine, thanks for blocking the spell I wasn't paying attention," Bellatrix said quietly before wrapping her arms around him.

"It's going to be okay," Harry said rubbing her back soothingly.

"I had just hoped after the trial I would have a fresh start," Bellatrix said before releasing him and heading back to her sister.

"Wow, Harry you moved so quick," Tonks said with awe in her voice.

"It's just basic combat magic, I'll teach you how to do it when you're older," Harry said taking a seat and sighing.

"I didn't see a point in leaving, Bella was drawing her attention away from us," Andromeda said primly.

"Old bat had no idea what she was walking into," Harry said tiredly.

"She looked terrified when you appeared behind her," Bellatrix said with a smirk.

"I really wish she wasn't being so rash, if a duel broke out in the alley it would have only ended up hurting an innocent bystander," Harry sighed.

The alley was packed today, there were families all over the alley having a day out with their kids.

Before Harry could think on it anymore a team of Aurors appeared and began fanning out questioning the crowd. A very familiar auror with a fake leg and a magical eye questioned a few people before making his way over to them.

"What can you lot tell me about the disturbance here a few minutes ago?" Alastor Moody asked.

"Augusta Longbottom fired a spell at my sister completely unprovoked, Harry and Bellatrix confronted her though neither cast a single offensive spell," Andromeda spoke for the group.

"What spell did she cast?" Moody asked taking notes in a notepad.

"Organ rupturing curse," Harry answered angrily..

"What's your name lad?" Moody asked.

"Harry Peverell," Harry answered.

"Right, I'll need a memory of the event from someone not directly involved, would you mind giving me a memory Mrs. Tonks?" Moody asked putting his notebook away.

"Alright," Andromeda said as she took the offered vial from Moody and drew her memory of the event from her mind and placed it in the vial.

"You lot have a nice day, Moody said before stomping off to question another lady a few tables over.

" I don't know why he's bothering to investigate, Augusta Longbottom won't be charged with anything," Andromeda said unhappily.

"No, she's very well connected I'm surprised they aren't just obliviating everyone," Harry said thoughtfully.

"That's easy, it is against the law to obliviate anyone under the age of seventeen," Andromeda explained.

"Except mudbloods whose parents refuse to enroll them into Hogwarts, ICW law trumps the ministry," Bellatrix said.

The group soon left the alley to head to their homes. The trip had gone well today with the exception of being attacked in front of the ice cream shop.

Malfoy Manor, Wiltshire, 7/3/1982, 16:45

Harry stepped out of the fireplace in the manor's arrival room. Harry was dressed in fine dress robes at Andromeda's insistence to dress formally. Bellatrix seemed to like it as she kept glancing at him appreciatively.

She was wearing deep purple dress robes the hugged her body rather nicely and came down to her mid-calf, she had mail-ordered the robes when they had returned last night as well as a pair of strappy high heels that made her close to the same height as him, and her hair was styled in an elegant knot before fell in raven ringlets down her back. Harry had to admit the look was quite sexy and he longed to run his hands through her hair.

"You're early," Narcissa said approvingly.

"I needed to discuss something rather sensitive and didn't want Andromeda to overhear, you look amazing by the way," Harry complimented making Narcissa beam at him and Bella huff beside him.

"I already told you that you look ravishing in that dress and I can't wait to take it off of you later," Harry whispered into Bella's ear making her blush.

Harry turned back to Narcissa and glanced over her form before speaking, she had on a floor-length blue gown that hugged her form tightly, her hair was in an elaborate bun with a jeweled silver comb that held her hair in place.

"Lucius had a diary with the name Tom M. Riddle stamped into the front cover, it is very dangerous and I wish to destroy it," Harry explained.

"You can help me search hos study for it this evening, if we find it you're welcome to it," Narcissa said graciously.

"Thank you," Harry said gratefully.

"No, I should be thanking you. You handled the task excellently and the ministry is even debating paying me a sizeable amount of gold for the accidental death of my husband," Narcissa said with a smile.

"It was a pleasure, I got rid of his ministry puppet at the same time," Harry said happily.

"And people claim I'm the evil Black sister," Bellatrix said in amusement.

"No you're just the least subtle of the three of us," Narcissa said with a smirk.

Before any more could be said the fireplace burst into green flames spat out Sirius and to everyone's surprise Amelia Bones.

"Oh boy, did he give you a love potion?" Harry asked Amelia in faux concern.

"Stuff a sock in it, Potter," Sirius exclaimed.

"It's officially Peverell now and stop blurting out my secrets you imbecile," Harry said after smacking Sirius on the back of the head.

"You're a Potter?" Narcissa asked curiously.

"I was at one time, now there is only one Harry Potter in this timeline," Harry said before drawing his wand and pointing it at Sirius, "Oblivi-

" Don't wipe his memory," Amelia exclaimed worriedly.

"He's kind of a security risk at this point," Harry said tiredly lowering his wand much to a paling Sirius' relief.

"Then make him take a vow of silence," Narcissa instructed as if it were obvious.

"Fine, let's get this over with before Andy gets here," Harry instructed looking at Sirius pointedly.

Sirius quickly gave the vow promising not to give away Harry's secrets to anyone from now on, before Narcissa asked, "so you're a time traveler?"

"Yes, but I will fill you in on the details later", Harry promised as the fire flared green and Andromeda stepped out followed by Ted and Tonks.

" Wotcher," Tonks said looking around the room curiously.

"Hello Nymphadora, that dress looks lovely on you," Narcissa said making the girl frown.

Tonks went to protest the use of her name but was stopped by a warning glare from her mother and instead replied, " thank you, aunt Narcissa."

Once the pleasantries had been exchanged Narcissa led the group to the dining room and they all took seats around the massive dining room table. There was classical music playing in the background as food appeared on the table.

Harry took a minute to admire the opulence of the room, a large crystal chandelier hung over the table, the cream-colored walls were decorated with landscape paintings and the large bay windows that let the sunlight shine into the room making the chandelier sparkle magnificently.

"This looks amazing," Andromeda exclaimed when the food appeared on the table.

They ate dinner in relative silence, the food was truly amazing and no one said much more than pass the potatoes. After dinner was finished Dobby appeared with a truly scrumptious chocolate gateau and Tonks looked like Christmas had come early.

After dessert, Ted and Andromeda excused themselves to take Tonks home so the adults could have a discussion. Sirius used this as an excuse to slip away as well so it was just Harry, Bellatrix, and Narcissa sitting at the table.

"So you're a time traveler the same age as my son?" Narcissa asked getting to the point.

"Yes, we were on different sides during the war," Harry answered honestly.

"And me?" She pressed.

"You saved my life right before the second blood war ended, I gave the Black property in Nice and full access to the Black vaults, last I heard you were laying on the beach," Harry said with a shrug.

"You were head of the Black family?" Narcissa asked.

"Yes, Sirius made me his heir before he died," Harry explained.

"Hmm, that is very interesting. I assume you plan on stopping the next war?" Narcissa asked.

"Yes, among other things that is the reason I need that diary," Harry answered.

"Then let's see if we can find it," Narcissa said getting to her feet and walking through the doorway.

Harry and Bellatrix quickly got up and followed her out of the dining room and up the main staircase. They walked to a door with the Malfoy crest carved into it and watched as Narcissa performed a series of complex wand movements before they heard the door's lock click and the door swung open.

"We can check here first if you cannot find it then we can check the hidden room under the drawing-room," Narcissa explained gesturing for them to begin.

Harry withdrew his wand and cast a spell he had never actually used before, "homenum fractum revelio."

This was a spell to locate Horcruxes and by the time he had found the spell Voldemort's Horcruxes had all been dealt with.

Harry felt the spell pull him towards the large oak desk on the other side of the room and hastily made his way there, the desk had two rows of drawers one row on either side of the chair but Harry followed the spell's pull to the bottom-most drawer on the left hand side.

Taking out his wand he began to scan for any traps and upon finding none cautiously slid the drawer open, laying in the bottom of the drawer was the diary that Harry remembered from his second year.

"This is it," Harry said canceling the locator spell.

"That doesn't look very dangerous at all," Narcissa commented.

"It contains some of the foulest of dark magic," Harry said warningly.

"Then take it, I will be having the ministry clear out Lucius's stash of dark artifacts in the next few days," Narcissa said.

"Thank you, Narcissa this is very important to ending the dark lord," Bellatrix said looking at the diary in disgust.

"That man if you could call him that was a savage, if I had known Lucius was involved with him I would have followed Andy's example," Narcissa said quietly.

"You're still young and beautiful, I'm sure there is plenty of time for you to ensnare yourself a mudblood," Bellatrix said with a smirk.

"Bellatrix, what did I say about that word?" Harry asked in exasperation as he pocketed the diary.

"That you hate the word and the next time I said it you would give me a bare bottom spanking," Bellatrix said excitedly.

"Good heavens, Bellatrix," Narcissa said pink faced.

"Bella has been naughty and needs to be punished," Bellatrix said in her little girl voice.

"You only have yourself to blame for this, Harry," Narcissa said shaking her head.

"I realize that now," Harry said as he followed the two women out of the study towards the drawing-room.

"I have another favor to ask of you," Narcissa said as soon as they were seated comfortably in the drawing-room.

"Another assassination?" Harry asked warily.

"No, well not yet anyway. Lucius entered Draco into a marriage contract with the daughter of Lord Parkinson and I have exhausted all of my resources trying to have the contract terminated. The man will not budge and I would prefer my son to have a choice as to who he would wed," Narcissa explained.

"How did I become your personal enforcer again?" Harry asked tiredly.

"Because you are very skilled at what you do and we shall soon be family," Narcissa answered with a smile.

"Alright what is in it for me?" Harry asked shrewdly.

"My father included a nice little cottage in Cornwall as part of my dowry if you are successful in making Lord Parkinson change his mind then it's yours," Narcissa offered.

Harry was very tempted by this, he didn't care much for Grimmauld place as he didn't have many fond memories of the place. Depending on the size of the cottage this might be a very good bargain.

"How big of a cottage?" Harry pressed.

"Six bedrooms, six and a half bathrooms with an ocean view," Narcissa answered.

"I might be interested, let me do some research into Lord Parkinson, I will give you an answer in the next few days," Harry said after some thought

"Very well," Narcissa said looking pleased.

Harry and Bella stayed for another hour or so before they headed back to Grimmauld, it was getting on ten o'clock by the time they stepped into the fireplace to head home.

Number Twelve Grimmauld Place, London, 7/5/1982, 08:56

Harry was sitting at the table reading the paper, apparently, there was a big stink about all the lifts being closed down for inspection. There was a particularly amusing piece in there about an intern on level one complaining about the long walk up the stairs every morning.

'Umbridge needs to walk her fat ass up a few more stairs,' Harry thought with a chuckle.

"What's so funny?" Bellatrix asked as she walked into the kitchen.

"I made the paper again," Harry said happily.

"What for this time?" Bellatrix asked amusdly.

"They shut down all the ministry lifts to check them for damage, the workers are upset that they have to take the stairs," Harry said mirthfully.

"That one could definitely do with taking the stairs," Bella said pointing to the photo of a much younger but still very plump Dolores Umbridge.

"Exactly," Harry agreed.

"Have you decided on what to do about Cissa's problem?" Bellatrix asked curiously.

"Oh, I'm definitely doing it, I just want to make her sweat a bit," Harry said.

"Good, this place is getting depressing," Bellatrix said as her breakfast appeared on the table

"I'll visit her tomorrow then and tell her I will take the job," Harry said after some thought.

"I hope you get this done quick so I can play on the beach," Bellatrix said excitedly.

"I'll take care of it," Harry assured her.

"Oh Harry, I am going shopping with Andy later so you have the place to yourself this afternoon," Bellatrix said matter of factly.

"Alright I might do some more research into Lord Parkinson's wards," Harry said with a shrug.

"Good, now we have a couple of hours and I have something to say," Bellatrix said with a grin.

"What's that?" Harry asked curiously.

"Mudblood," Bellatrix said huskily.