Yes, Master Harry," replied the elf with a little bob of his head before he disappeared with a light crack.
He was back moments later with the tea serving before disappearing again.
The other four sat and waited for Matthias to return. When he suddenly pulled his head out of the liquid, Harry almost dropped his saucer.
Matthias blinked a couple of times, before turning to look at Hermione and Harry. "Well, that's a surprise."
Harry nodded as Matthias sat back, deep in thought.
"How is it that we are unaware of all this happening?" Matthias asked. "You'd caught Pettigrew... and I know it was Pettigrew because I knew him when he was a student here... why have we not heard anything yet?"
"Then that takes us to what happened after that," said Harry, sitting forward again.
Harry then stepped all four Greengrasses - Daphne had not heard the full story before - through what happened after the confrontation in the Shrieking Shack. All three older Greengrasses interrupted, at times, to clarify a few points. Harry was happy that Hermione was able to answer many of their questions.
In concluding, he said, "So, no one will believe three school kids, Remus is a werewolf and considered a dark creature, Snape won't say anything because he despises Sirius... Padfoot... and wants to see him Kissed, when we spoke to the Minister about what we knew he brushed us off and still demanded the Dementors be brought in to see my godfather Kissed rather than admit the truth. Even Headmaster Dumbledore couldn't get the Minister to see reason and at least get my godfather a trial, because it would make him look like a fool to the wizarding public."
With a sigh of his own, Matthias said, "And I'm guessing the favour you want to ask of me is to see to it that Black gets his trial."
"In part," replied Harry. "The favour I want to ask of you is to organise for me a solicitor to represent both my godfather and me in all legal matters. There are other issues as well that we simply cannot discuss with you as yet."
Matthias was nodding along as Harry spoke. Then he said, "I can do that. You'll need a solicitor who has political clout, is experienced in criminal trials, can liaise directly with the DMLE, and won't take being browbeat by Minister Fudge."
"Plus," Harry continued, "I need him, or her, to be able to go after the publisher of those books about me for using my name and image without permission, has experience in matters relating to libel... especially with the publishers of those books and the media... and is, above all else, scrupulously honest; and known for being so.
"As soon as it becomes public that Sirius is being represented by a legal firm or individual, Fudge is going to directly attack through slander myself, Hermione and Ron, at least; probably even Professor Dumbledore. I want him slapped down if he tries to go that route."
Matthias sat and thought before he frowned and muttered, "He would."
After they sat for a few moments to let that bit of news sink in, Matthias shook himself a little and said, "Now, you said you were going to tell us why you showed us those names on the school Honour Roll, and the award for that young Mister Riddle."
Harry smiled and said, "I was just going to tell you about it. However, that was before you showed me what a pensieve was and what it could do. How about I give you the memory of Ron Weasley, me and Professor Lockhart heading down into the Chamber of Secrets to rescue Ron's little sister, Ginevra Weasley? It's related."
"How long?" asked Matthias.
Already having thought about it, Harry immediately replied, "About an hour. But, it's a very intense hour."
"Fine," said Matthias, after a few moments. "However, I think we'll display this memory above the bowl, so we can all watch."
First, Matthias scooped the memory out of the bowl and showed Harry how to return it to his mind. Once Harry was satisfied it was back, Matthias then took a much larger memory out. This time the mass gathered on his wand tip almost like silver cotton candy.
Once Harry was satisfied it was all out, Matthias withdrew his wand and allowed the mass to drop into the bowl.
This time, instead of dropping his face into the liquid, he used his wand tip to activate a couple of runes. And the image played out in an almost ghostly fashion above the surface of the bowl.
The memory started with Harry and Ron cornering Professor Lockhart in his office, forcing him to accompany the two at wand point to the girl's bathroom on the second floor. It went through the opening of the entrance leading to the Chamber, Lockhart's attempted mind-wipe of both boys, the collapse of the tunnel roof, and Harry going on alone and opening the inner door to the Chamber proper. Then the talk with Riddle's 'shade', the battle with the basilisk - where both girls immediately went to Harry and nearly cut off the circulation to his fingers holding his arms so tightly from either side - Harry being wounded, Fawkes's tears, the destruction of the diary and Riddle's shade, Ginny waking up, and Fawkes carrying them all back up to the bathroom.
When it finished with Harry, Ron, Ginny and Lockhart meeting Professor McGonagall in the bathroom, the others sat there in stupefied silence for a few moments.
Matthias shakily called one of his house elves and practically demanded a glass of firewhiskey for himself and Deece. Both adults downed the fiery concoction without a further word.
With steam coming out of his ears, and a light burp of flame, Matthias sat forward and almost moaned. Daphne walked over to Deece and, sitting alongside the woman, they cuddled each other.
"Y-you were twelve," Matthias softly said.
"Yes," replied Harry. He then pulled his wand and, with almost a mutter, cast, "Expecto Patronum!" His patronus, Prongs, surged forth from the tip of his wand into the fully corporeal animal shape of an adult stag.
Prongs moved around the room a little bit before returning to face Harry. The almost solid white and glowing shape effused a feeling of love to all in the room.
"Thank you, Prongs," Harry smiled before banishing the charm.
Looking to the others he asked, "Feeling better?"
"Merlin, that was a powerful patronus," said Deece. "Thank you, Harry."
Harry just smiled in response with a tiny shrug.
.
.
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