Disclaimer: The Harry Potter universe belongs to the proverbial Duchess of Magic, JK Rowling, Scholastic, Bloomsbury, Warner Bros and some other high falutin' companies. No matter how much I whine about not owning anything related to the HP universe, other than a few fanfic plots, I do not profess to own - and would never dream of making any money off - JKR's wonderful world... Damn it!
Chapter Sixteen - Another Horcrux is Found
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Harry was in his room trying to focus on studying, just for something to do but not being very successful about it, when an elf popped in with a note, handed it to him and left again.
Opening it, he saw it was a short note from Madam Bones informing him Dumbledore was now staying in custody and would not be released until Monday afternoon after lunch.
Setting aside his book he happily left his room and went downstairs. He found Hermione in the kitchen talking to Dobby.
"Hi!" he said.
As Hermione turned to him, Dobby popped away.
"You're suddenly chipper again," she said. "What's caused that?"
He handed her the note and let her read it.
Finishing, she looked at him with a grin and said, "So, Dumbledore's 'on ice' for the next three days."
"Yep!" he nodded. "Which means, we can go for our walk."
Hermione's face fell a bit and she hesitantly asked back, "Can we delay that until tomorrow morning?"
Confused, Harry frowned and replied, "I don't want you to think I'd force you to do such a thing, Hermione. So, if you want to simply delay the walk, take a walk with me tomorrow or simply cancel it completely, that's fine."
Relieved, she smiled back. "Thank you, Harry. Dumbledore's attempt to get in past those wards you had set up has me a bit spooked. Now, I'd just like to talk with my Mum for a bit. It's been ages since we had a decent chance to catch up for a 'girl talk' session."
"You don't need to explain it to me, Hermione," he gently smiled. "It's alright."
After he left, he wondered again what to do. That's when he decided he should be writing some letters while he actually had the chance.
Heading up to his room and checking Hedwig was available - she liked to sit on a branch of a tree in the Grangers' back yard - he pulled out his spare parchment, quills and ink, carried it to the small desk in the room and pulled the chair to sit.
Mentally going over what and to whom he needed to write, he set to work.
His first letter was to his Gringotts Account Manager. After Sirius had told him he had taken material back to the Tonkses to work on there, he thought he should ask his account manager if he could do the same. Knowing the goblins appreciated brevity, he wrote accordingly.
~ # ~
Account Manager Tinderwick
for the Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter
London Branch
Gringotts
Tinderwick,
In order to more rapidly bring myself up to speed with the accounts of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter, please cause to have copies of the financial records of the House set aside for me for the relevant fee, of course.
I shall endeavour to collect them, or have them collected on my behalf, and complete what documentation I previously caused to be uncompleted when last we met. Once completed I shall see to its return to you with due haste.
I include a drop of my blood on this parchment to prove my claim.
.
Harrison 'Harry' James Potter
Lord of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter
Heir Tertiary of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black
~ # ~
After he finished writing it, he read through it before he signed it. Then he used a penknife the Weasley twins had given him to poke the tip of his ring finger on his off hand; deep enough to draw a drop of blood. That drop he then allowed to drop onto the parchment next to his signature.
Done with that letter, he turned to the window to find Hedwig sitting on the window ledge looking at him through the glass.
As soon as he opened the window she immediately glide-hopped onto the desk and turned to him.
After offering her an owl treat - accepted - he tied the folded up parchment to her ankle and let her go.
Once she'd flown off he made a start on his second letter. This one to Neville.
~ # ~
Neville Francis Longbottom
Heir Apparent of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Longbottom
Longbottom Hall
Nev,
Hermione and I arrived safely at her home in Wimbledon.
It's a huge place I'd put on a similar scale to a small manor house. Six bedrooms, four with ensuite bathrooms; a small set of quarters for servants, though the Grangers employ none; all spread across four floors. The servants' quarters are currently being used by the aurors Madam Bones stuck me with as a break/rest room. Of course, there are also the kitchen, laundry, parlour, entertainment room, an office for Wendell and Monica, small library, that sort of thing.
Hermione's room sits on the top floor and is comparable in size to our dorm at Hogwarts. Connected to that she has her own ensuite bathroom and a small room that her father converted for her to a study room. In there she has a small desk with four bookcases; one of which her father added lockable doors to so she can put her Hogwarts books in and lock close (in case anyone but a Granger tries to peek inside). Of course, all bar the 'Hogwarts' bookcase is over-full with books also stacked on top of them.
I'm in a guest room down one floor on the same floor as her parents' master bedroom. Yes, I have my own ensuite, too. It's not as big as Hermione's, of course, but I'd say it would be about three-quarters of the size of our dorm. So, to me, it's huge!
Hermione's parents, Wendell and Monica, are wonderful people. They've made me feel completely welcome. But they do ask a lot of questions. I think that's where Hermione gets it from.
Both are what are known in the muggle world as dental surgeons. That means they are Healers who focus pretty much entirely on fixing teeth - there are no teeth repair potions in the muggle world. But, I've also found out they have 'after hours' jobs as well.
Wendell is what is known as a Justice of Peace. That means he can make decisions of a legal nature. He is something like a Chief Adjudicator, but only for cases where the punishment does not exceed a fine or six months imprisonment. Anything requiring more punishment than that he has to refer on to a higher court.
And Monica is a Commissioner of Declarations, which means she can sign and or witness legal documents that require someone 'of good standing' to sign or witness. That then makes the document an 'official' document as it pertains to muggle law.
As for me, I'm really enjoying it here. I've never felt so relaxed living in someone's home. And I'm including The Burrow in that.
I hope, for your sake, your grandmother allowed you to return back to Longbottom Hall for the duration of the school being closed. Which is why I've addressed this to Longbottom Hall, even though I know Hedwig will find you no matter where you are, and have not been made you stay at Hogwarts. That would suck without everyone there or something to do.
If not and you're bored out of your mind, as a suggestion only you might want to ask Professor Sprout, now that she's been released by the DMLE to return to the school, if you can help her out in the greenhouses. I know you love that sort of thing and she might like the company.
Hoping you are well,
Your Friend,
.
Harrison 'Harry' James Potter
Lord of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter
Heir Tertiary of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black
~ # ~
Again checking it over to make sure he made no mistakes, he grinned in pleasure and signed it simply 'Harry P'. It was quite a long letter and he hadn't meant to write it so long. But, once he started, felt like writing as much as he did. The previous couple of days had been full of new things, so he had quite a bit he could write about.
Once done he'd send it once Hedwig got back.
Sitting there for a little while he then thought about to whom else he could write.
That's when he had a thought. He really needed his own law-wizard and he only knew of one. And, since he was 'family', thought to write to him to ask him to take the job as his law-wizard; or recommend someone else.
~ # ~
Mister Edward Tonks
Law-wizard
.
Mister Tonks (or should I be addressing you as Law-wizard Tonks?),
I found myself quite impressed with how you defended the case of my godfather, Sirius Black, in his trial a few days ago. It was also impressed upon me that I may very well need to retain a law-wizard myself.
As well as being my godfather's law-wizard of choice, I ask that you also consider to be mine.
I have no idea if I have one already or not and, if I do, then they haven't done a decent job of letting me know that. So, if you consent to be my law-wizard of choice - or whatever the title would be - then your first job will be to fire whoever it is.
If you do not believe you will be able to be my law-wizard due to some conflict of interest or some other such legal requirement, I ask that you help me out by letting me know of other law-wizards that you trust and who could do the job.
Thanking you in advance for your consideration of my request,
.
Harrison 'Harry' James Potter
Lord of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter
Heir Tertiary of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black
~ # ~
Harry didn't know the man's address other than Sirius said 'the Tonkses' place' whenever he mentioned them. So, knowing Hedwig would be able to find him no matter the address, he left it blank.
'No, hang on,' he thought, giving himself a mental face palming. 'I can ask Sirius via the mirrors'.
Setting the letter aside, he collected the mirror from where he left it downstairs on the coffee table in the parlour and returned with it to his room.
Sitting back at the desk he held it in his offhand and whispered across it, "Padfoot". Then waited.
A few seconds later the mirror blurred for a moment before Sirius's smiling face appeared. "Miss me already?" he asked.
"I have a couple of questions for you," said Harry
"Cast," replied his godfather. That was the wizarding world version of 'Shoot'.
"Firstly, do you know if the House of Potter has a law-wizard of choice?" he asked.
Sirius immediately frowned in confusion for a moment as his eyes seemed to lose focus. Snapping back he replied, "They must have. All Houses at our level do. However, I cannot for the life of me remember who it was. Secondly, the official term is 'Law-wizard of Record'."
"Well, it doesn't matter who it was," said Harry. "Whoever it was is soon to be fired, anyway."
"Probably wise," said Sirius.
"Next, is Mister... is Ted Tonks now your law-wizard of choice... of Record, I mean?" he asked.
"Yes, actually," replied Sirius. "He agreed to that a couple days ago."
"If he's your Law-wizard of Record, can he also be mine?" next he asked.
Sirius shrugged and replied, "I can't see why not."
"I'm writing him a letter," explained Harry. "I'll ask him myself. Which brings me to my next question, how do I address him and what's his business address?"
Surprised, Sirius replied, "Hang on a minute and I'll get his business card." Then his mirror got put down face up on something - Harry could now see nothing but ceiling in the mirror - as he heard his godfather rummaging through parchment.
He was back a few moments later as the mirror got picked up again.
"Here it is," said Sirius looking at something 'off mirror'. Edward Tonks, Law-wizard. 15B Diagon Alley. London."
Harry quickly wrote that down on a scrap of parchment before he returned to looking at the mirror. "Thanks for that, Sirius."
"Anything else?"
"No, I think that's it," replied Harry.
"My turn, then," said Sirius. "I know about Dumbledore's attempt to get into the Granger's home. I've let Madam Bones know I'm adding the weight of the House of Black to pressing charges against the old man for trying that."
"Really?" asked Harry, surprised by both pieces of information. "Thank you. I'll give that information to Wendell and Monica."
"Actually, I'd like to do that myself," said Sirius. "I'd like to come and visit you early this evening, just to make sure for myself that everything's alright. But, if I don't bring Andi with me this time, she'll skin me alive."
"Come and bring her," Harry immediately replied. "Wendell and Monica have already told me you both have permission to come over to visit. They both also know cousin Andi's a Healer."
"Got a time for me?" asked his godfather.
"Ummm... be here at... 6.15pm. And expect both of you to stay for dinner," he replied. "Dress is casual slash office work clothes. They don't stand on ceremony here."
Sirius nodded and said, "I'll let her know."
"If there's a change to that, each of us will immediately let the other know in advance, right?" asked Harry.
"Yeah, pup," replied Sirius. "Will do."
"Anything else?" he asked.
"Nope! See you at 6.15. Mirror off!"
Transferring his scrawl of Ted Tonks's business address to his letter to the man, Harry made sure it was dry before setting it aside with the other letter waiting to be sent.
However, if Sirius was coming over with cousin Andi, he'd just hand it to her and ask her to pass it on.
Then he went looking for Wendell and Monica; or either.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
As the two hour mark since she'd sent her note to Trelawney passed, Marchbanks waited a further fifteen minutes. On exactly the fifteen minute extra mark she summoned a house elf.
"Where is Sybill Trelawney, at this time?" she asked.
"She be in her tower, Lady Headmistress," the elf promptly replied.
"Is she up and dressed?"
"Yes, Lady Headmistress."
Indicating the chair sitting ten feet in front of her desk and facing her, set there for when Trelawney was supposed to have arrived on time, she firmly ordered, "Go get the woman and pop her into that chair. Right now, please."
"Yes, Lady Headmistress," replied the elf with a short head bob before it popped away.
A few moments later, Sybill Trelawney appeared in the chair before her desk and promptly fell out it. Then vomited on the floor.
Marchbanks frowned at her and vanished the vomitus.
"Get up, Miss Trelawney," she firmly ordered.
Trelawney groaned and slowly moved to her hands and knees before using the chair to try and stand up. She wobbled a fair bit and, not even letting go of the back of the chair until the last moment, dropped into it.
"W-where am I? W-why am I here?" she querulously asked, peering around through her overly large and thick spectacles
The reek of sherry was like a miasma about her.
"You are in my office, having been brought here by a house elf on my specific instructions," replied Marchbanks. "You are drunk."
"Sherry helps me to open the inner eye to the wonders of the second sight," the witch slurred. "Without it I am unable to provide true depth to my predictions, the cards are not as clear, the crystal is murky."
"I do not care," said Marchbanks. "It is a breach of the code of conduct for Professors to be inebriated during school hours. Personally, I believe it is a breach of personal ethics for a professor to ever be so effectively intoxicated.
"As such, I do not even need to give you a warning for your conduct. You are fired. Your employment as a Professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is immediately terminated for cause."
As Trelawney sat there, stunned and now feeling even more sick than a few moments ago, Marchbanks called for a house elf.
"Yes, Lady Headmistress?" asked the elf as soon as it popped in.
"Please go up to the Divination Tower, pack up Miss Trelawey's personal effects into a trunk and bring it back here," she directed. "Miss Trelawney is no longer a staff member of Hogwarts."
"But... what am I to doooo?" whimpered Trelawney. "Where am I to go?"
"You claim to be a Seer," said Marchbanks. "Employ your gift and figure it out."
The elf was back a few seconds later with a tan trunk with brown trim and an overly large handbag.
"Is that all of it?" asked Marchbanks.
"Yes, Lady Headmistress," nodded the elf.
"Thank you," she said before turning to face Trelawney again.
Indicating the trunk and bag she said, "There are your personal effects. You may use my floo to leave. I do not want you staggering like a drunken prostitute through the corridors of this school on your way out."
Heartbroken and sobbing, Trelawney left via the floo about fifteen seconds later. Her destination was the Leaky Cauldron.
"Good riddance," muttered Marchbanks.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
When Harry went downstairs to the main floor he couldn't find anyone, but did hear the sound of a television showing a football match from down on the lower ground floor.
Heading down there, he found Wendell watching a game on the telly in the media room. One of the aurors was also in there and looking at the telly in some level of shocked confusion.
Harry quietly asked him, "Not seen a television before?"
The auror blinked once before turning to Harry. "Seen one, yes," he replied. "Not one as big as this, though. Or seen this game Doctor Granger's watching."
"It's called football," said Harry. "It's also called 'soccer' in places like the United States - MaCUSA. It's one of two national sports the British muggles focus on and is about par with the magical world focusing on Quidditch.
"This one is played across the winter half of the year; while the other, cricket, is played across the summer half."
"Oh, bloody hell, Ref!" Wendell suddenly exclaimed, quickly leaning forward in his armchair, staring at the telly. "That was a blatant trip! Yellow card, the wanker!"
When the screen focused more closely on the referee having a verbal go at the so-called tripper, it was to see the man suddenly snatch a yellow card a little bigger than a playing card out of his breast pocket and hold it up showing it to the sideline.
"Yes!" exclaimed Wendell. "That's what I'm talking about!" Then he leaned back again.
"See?" smirked Harry. "Like Quidditch."
When the programme broke for an advertisement, Harry came around the armchairs until he could be seen by Wendell.
Seeing him, Wendell looked up and asked, "Come to watch some football, Harry? Take a seat."
"Actually, I've come to let you know Sirius is bringing cousin Andi, the Healer, to come and see me this evening. I hope you don't mind but I suggested they come for dinner. I'm sure I can stretch it out so there's enough for everyone."
"Actually, Lord Potter," the auror spoke up. "We aurors are going to have to beg off, if you don't mind. Shift change this evening is at that time."
"Then it sounds like you've cooked more than enough," said Wendell. "They're both more than welcome for dinner."
"Thank you," said Harry. "In that case, I need to get back to the kitchen for a bit, just to check on how the roast is coming along."
"Have fun!" said Wendell, just as the programme restarted. His attention already back on the screen.
As Harry was heading up the stairs he heard Wendell cry, "C'morrrrnnnn Gunners!"
Harry wasn't a fan of the game. But, that was because he never had the chance to be a fan. He could only watch television while at the Dursleys when the Dursleys were out. And, even then, he found far more interesting things to watch. He was a fan of documentaries.
Of course, he was never allowed to go to a game, either.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
After checking the roast - it was coming along splendidly - he decided to preheat the oven for the cobbler pie and start preparing the vegetables.
Once he was done peeling and cutting he prepared a baking tray, using a thin layer of cannola oil in the bottom of it - he never used lard or cooking fat when baking vegetables, if he could help it - and laid within it the carrots, potato, sweet potato and onion wedges on that thin layer. Once satisfied, that went under cling wrap with a stasis charm to stop the vegetables drying out.
Satisfied the oven would now be hot enough, in went the cobbler pie.
Cleaning his hands and wiping them on the little hand towel Monica had hanging from the door handle of the pantry, he turned back to look about the kitchen and frowned at the now dirty dishes - the cutting board, peeler and vegetable knife. He hated leaving them, but he'd promised Dobby he wouldn't do the dishes.
Giving a muted nod of satisfaction to himself, muted because of the dishes, he called Dobby to clean up.
The elf popped in, looked at all the dirty dishes, grinned at Harry and said, "Thank you, Master Harry!" And set to work.
Harry rolled his eyes, sighed and left to head back upstairs.
His earlier efforts at letter writing had got him in the mood to write more.
"The twins next, I think,' he thought. 'Then I think I need to write to Angelina, Alicia and Katie to apologise to them for rudely pulling out of the Quidditch team. I hope they understand I said what I said in the heat of the moment. But, I stand by my word.'
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Harry was partway through writing what was probably his fifth draft of a letter to the twins when his mirror vibrated.
So it wouldn't leak everywhere, Harry put the quill down with the tip on a scrap of parchment. Then he picked up the mirror and said, "Padfoot." And the image cleared.
"Slight change of plans, Harry," Sirius immediately said. "Andi asks if Ted can come, too."
"Sure!" said Harry. "I'll check, of course. But, if you don't hear back from me, he's more than welcome.
"I think he and Wendell might hit it off, too. With Ted being a law-wizard and Wendell being a Justice of the Peace they can compare issues of dealing with the law between the two worlds."
"Next, if you have dinner scheduled for six-thirty, Andi wants to know if we can arrive earlier," said Sirius. "She wants to examine you before we all sit to eat."
"How much earlier?" he asked.
"At least half an hour before dinner," replied Sirius. "She wants about ten to fifteen minutes to examine you, plus the extra time to discuss with you your treatment."
"That'll be fine, too. Best make it... quarter to six? Dobby can set the table and serve tonight," he replied. "I'll let the Grangers know of both the time change and the extra guest for dinner."
Sirius grinned and said, "No 'Dora, though. I think she's on duty with the aurors, tonight."
"That's alright," said Harry. "I'll meet up with her another time. Besides, I don't want to impose too much on the Grangers with having four guests.
Sirius appeared concerned and asked, "Are you sure it's alright to bring Ted?"
"As I said, I'll ask," said Harry. "Right now, as a matter of fact. If it's a problem I'll mirror call you right back."
"Alright. Thank you, Pup."
"Not a problem," returned Harry. "Mirror off!"
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
It turned out it wasn't a problem. Wendell said he was even looking forward to speaking to someone who was the magical world's equivalent of a solicitor. He actually wanted to know why wizarding Britain didn't have JPs when it was a law on the books from well before the Statute of Secrecy was implemented.
Just to have the chance to try it, Harry cast a messenger Patronus with the message 'Wendell's looking forward to talking law with Ted'.
He was pleased to see his stag give a nod and charge off, so assumed it worked. He promised himself to check with Sirius when he arrived.
Noticing the time, Harry quietly exclaimed, "Shhhyte! I need to get the veggies on!" And scrambled to pack up what he was writing and hurrying downstairs.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Right on 5.45pm Harry and the aurors stiffened as they felt multiple magicals cross the ward boundary. He was in the kitchen, at the time, giving a last check of the roast and the browning of the vegetables. He'd also just put the shucked corn and green peas to steam on the stove.
"Dobby!" he called.
"Yes, Master Harry?" asked the elf.
"Right," said Harry. Indicating each he said, "The lamb is practically ready, the veggies are browning in the oven but are essentially cooked, I've just put the peas and corn in the steamer on the stove and the cobbler pie is done and set aside.
"I haven't made the lamb gravy yet, so that's your job. And the table still needs setting. There'll be eight for dinner, tonight. The aurors aren't joining us."
The elf gave a serious nod back and said, "Dobby be taking cares of it, Master Harry. Yous go an' greet your guests."
"Thank you, Dobby," he returned, stripping off Monica's flowery apron and making sure he was presentable.
He never noticed Dobby using elf magic to disappear a stain off his hip where he must've nudged something. It was probably when he 'hip bumped' the wall oven drop door to knock it closed. A bad habit he'd picked up.
He'd just left the kitchen when he heard the knocking on the front door. However, with the aurors in the house, none but them were permitted to open it if there was a magical known to be in the visiting party. So he had to wait back with the Grangers.
When the Tonkses and Sirius came into the parlour, Sirius made the introductions. Surprising Harry after seeing him in action in 'court', Ted was actually quite affable. Andi, however, appeared relaxed but it was evident to Harry at least that she was a great deal more focused.
After handshakes and where Wendell matched Sirius's first introduction to Monica and kissed the back of the knuckles of Andi, which pleased her, the woman wasted no time in focusing her attention on him - Harry.
"Lord Potter―" she said.
"Harry," he shot back.
"Not this time," she shot back herself. "Lord Potter, is there a room I can borrow so I may examine you?"
"Yes; but, before you do..." he spun to stare at Wendell and said, "Doctor Granger; because of it being discovered Madam Poppy Pomfrey was under loyalty potions and never even realised it, may I please have your permission to have Healer Tonks here quickly examine your daughter, Hermione, for traces of loyalty potions and the like?"
"Harry!" exclaimed the girl. "There's no need―"
Surprised at the question, Wendell's eyes widened for a moment as he heard Monica gasp. He immediately and firmly replied, "You do."
Harry spun back to Andi and said, "Hermione first, please."
"You suspect?―" she began.
"Yes," he firmly replied. "And for the same reason. Hermione's been by my side, almost since my first day in the school."
"Harry, I'm not under any sort―" Hermione tried again.
Andi had already spun towards her and, in quite the firm voice, said, "Miss Granger..." cutting Hermione off. "As there is a reasonable chance you may be under such a potion based on evidence already gathered, as a Master Healer I am legally within my right to ignore your permission and simply examine you. The examination will not be invasive and, as with all such examinations, will be covered by my Healer's Oath. Please, come with me."
"Sorry, Hermione," Harry said a little contritely. "But, it won't harm you and I wouldn't put it past Dumbledore to have tried."
"Better safe than sorry, sweetheart," said her mother. "Isn't that what you told me, yesterday?"
Hermione looked to her mother for the moment as if the woman had stabbed her in the back. Eventually she gave a huff and snapped, "Fine."
"My room," said Harry. "It's closest and has its own bathroom, if you need it."
Hermione gave him a glare and stomped off towards the stairs.
As Andi followed, Monica called, "Next floor up, first door on the left."
Once they'd gone upstairs, Wendell sighed and asked, "Harry, you don't really think―"
"Not one hundred percent, buuut..." he replied, then shrugged.
Everyone was a little tense for the next ten minutes until Andi came back down, alone. Monica, seeing her alone, immediately shot up the stairs.
Looking directly to Wendell she asked, "Doctor Granger, a moment of your time?" Her expression was quite closed but her eyes showed anger.
Wendell took one look at her face, glanced to the stairs and without a word indicated for her to follow him. He went out the door that exited into the rear hallway, with her following.
As they walked out, Sirius quietly asked Harry, "What made you suspect?"
"Pomfrey," he quietly replied.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Monica led Hermione down the stairs a minute later, as Wendell and Andi walked back in through the other door. Wendell appeared a little upset, but Harry was thankful it wasn't directed towards him.
Hermione was shaken but seemed otherwise okay. She immediately came over to Harry and hugged him. "Thank you, Harry," she quietly said.
"I take it there was something there, then?" he asked.
"Traces of a mild loyalty enhancement potion," she replied. "Very old."
"Do you want to tell us who?" he asked. "Or, would you prefer not to?"
She hesitated only a moment before she replied, "Healer Tonks said it was for two people; one with white hair and another with red hair."
"Dumbledore and, probably, Ron... or, Missus Weasley," said Harry.
"That was our thoughts, too," she said. "As the traces were only in my fatty tissue now, they no longer have any effect on me. It's just knowing―"
"Yeah, I get that," he said.
"Harry," called Wendell. When Harry glanced to him he said in a clearly grateful voice, "Thank you."
Before Harry could respond Andi got in first.
"Lord Potter," she said, just as firmly as her expression reflected. "I'm now invoking Master Healer privileges on you, this time. Upstairs."
"Cousin Andi!" he mock exclaimed. "Inviting yourself into my... boudoir? And in front of your husband, to boot!"
Harry felt Hermione relax and give a little snort of amusement. Relaxing her a little was his intent.
Andi redrew her wand, but wasn't pointing it at him, for the moment. "Get!" she firmly ordered.
As Hermione stepped away to give him freedom to move he gave her lower back a quick rub before he walked towards the stairs.
"We shouldn't be too long!" he declared. "After all, I am only fourteen!"
He heard his godfather give his own snort of amusement. As he climbed the stairs he looked back at a now following Andi and, with a slightly warbling voice, loudly begged, "Please be gentle! It'll be my first time!"
"Upstairs, you scoundrel!" she barked.
That was it for Sirius, at least. Harry heard the old dog give a quick bark of laughter, but also heard a couple of nervous chuckles and giggles from others. He was thankful one of them was from Hermione.
Once the two had climbed the stairs, Wendell said, "You know all that was for our benefit, don't you?"
Ted grinned back. "Of course."
Looking to his daughter, Wendell closed the gap between them and gave her a hug of his own. "If I ever get my hands on that old―"
"You'll have to wait your turn," said Ted. "I'm led to believe the line is quite long."
Hermione quietly said, "Healer Tonks... Andi... said the potions were designed to enhance my loyalty towards Dumbledore and Ron. She also said that the traces were old, probably dating all the way back to first year.
"I think they were used to... cement... my loyalty to him and friendship with Ron. It was probably discontinued once he believed my loyalty to them both was established."
A little brighter, she said, "But, at least the examination also showed I wasn't under any other potion or charm that shouldn't be there."
"Shouldn't?" her father immediately asked.
"Yes, Daddy," she returned, while blushing a little. "Shouldn't."
He was about to push until he saw the direct look with slight smirk his wife gave him. And, knowing that look, decided he didn't need to know, after all. That 'look' promised him she'd answer; but, once she did, he'd realise he really didn't want to know, after all.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Up in Harry's bedroom and current examination room, Harry was lying on an examination table that had been conjured from his desk chair. And he only knew that because he'd immediately noticed upon entering his chair was missing.
"Hop up and lie down on your back," she'd said.
As Harry made himself comfortable, Andi was setting up her parchment and auto-quill system.
"Nice trick with that nonsense coming up the stairs," she said, as an aside.
"Hermione was upset and people were a little tense," he said. "The muggles have a saying, 'Laughter is the best medicine'. I thought it would help."
As she worked, she said, "We have it too, but it's potion instead of medicine. And, you were right."
Once ready she stood to his side and said, "I need you to lie still. The better you hold still, the more accurate the scan."
"Yes, oh great and wonderful Healer lady," he said. "I am but your―"
"Shut up!" she distractedly snapped.
Harry shut up.
As he watched her she had her wand over his feet and was slowly casting as she moved up towards his knees. As she paused there a moment she glanced to the auto-quill and parchment for a moment before continuing. Her gestures now seemed more assured.
As she worked higher she was frowning a little and Harry saw when she paused a little at his left knee. That was the one his uncle Vernon broke when he was little. Her frowned deepened a little before her expression suddenly switched to closed off. Then the casting began to again travel 'up', with her gestures almost subtly a little more firmer.
When her gestures reached his hips and hands her expression darkened as she cast extra over both his hands. Her eyes were flashing with anger again and she'd started to purse her lips.
She stopped when she reached his inside right forearm and appeared shocked to her very toes. It was where the basilisk bit him. She quickly cast a rapid series of charms over the area, paused, checked the parchment, looked him in the eyes and moved on. Since telling him to shut up she'd not said a word; either by incantation or conversation.
As she continued to move up her eyes were again thunderous with her making even firmer wand movements. Harry could now see her grip on her wand was almost white-knuckled.
Finally she reached his head. A flick of her wand and his glasses vanished. And she was carefully scanning his eyes. Then she moved up to the scar.
Almost instantly she froze. And Harry saw her expression, at first puzzled, suddenly morph into fury. She whirled to and stared at the parchment as the quill wrote upon it.
Once the quill stopped she stared at the parchment for a long moment before she suddenly spun back and very quickly cast a series of long wand movements over his scar again. Harry even felt his scar prickle a little when she did that.
She took half a pace back and let fly with loud invectives. "I'm going to kill that whiskered fucking arse. Just he wait until I get my hands on him. Dead man walking, he is!
"That's it!" she declared, spinning about and starting to head for the door. "I'm gonna rip his fucking beard off and strangle him with it!"
As it became clear Andi was storming out, ready to carry out her 'deed' right at that moment, Harry muttered a quick, "Shyte!" quickly scrambled off the table and made to chase after her.
By the time he got to his feet, she'd already gotten the door open and was crossing the landing heading for the stairs.
"Help!" he yelled, running after her.
"I'm gonna practice all those Black curses on him I was taught growing up!" she declared. "Fucking geriatric, brain-addled―"
The top of the stairs was as far as she got before Harry tackled her by way of his right shoulder into her waist and carried her the extra two paces along the landing, to then slam her by her back into the wall next to the twin doors into the master bedroom.
He'd just accomplished that when he heard feet thundering up the stairs.
"Let go of me, child!" Andi practically screamed at him. "Dumbledore needs to die and I'm the one who's going to have the privilege of doing it!" She was weakly beat on him and kicking him a little, though half-heartedly.
"Not going to happen, Andromeda," he loudly declared, weathering the thumps and kicks she rained on him and just holding her in place.
"What the hell?" said Wendell.
"Help me stop her!" called Harry. "She wants to go kill Dumbledore!"
"Ummm..." said Wendell.
"Andi!" exclaimed Ted.
"Andromeda Venus Tonks née Black!" Sirius suddenly barked. "Heiress Primary of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black!..."
Harry felt Andi suddenly freeze in place.
"... You will cease this unworthy behaviour, immediately, and CALM DOWN!" continued the firm and loud voice of Sirius.
"My Lord!" she immediately returned. "Yes, My Lord!"
Harry then felt Andi relax a little where he was holding her and her hands then come to rest on his upper back, side by side.
"Alright, Pup," said Sirius. "You can release her, now."
Harry hesitated a little before he slowly relaxed his grip on her about her waist. He felt her drop about four inches to the floor when he did so. He had no idea he had her up off her feet.
Thankfully, to him, she didn't try to suddenly attack him or break past.
Once Harry backed off a pace and a took a step to the side, Sirius asked, "Now, Andi; what happened?"
She suddenly tensed and began trying to both yell and choke on her words at the same time.
"Andi!" cried Harry. "Healer's Oath!"
She instantly stopped, took visible control of her emotions again and more calmly replied, "I'm sorry, My Lord; I am not permitted to tell you due to my oath as a Master Healer."
Turning to Harry, he asked, "Lord Potter?"
"She found something that both horrified and angered her to do with my scar," he replied. "However, she was clearly quite upset about something even before that."
Sirius glanced between the two and asked, "Harry, can you permit Andi to tell me? It'll require your verbal assent."
Harry looked around at basically everyone, even all three aurors who were standing on the landing with them, and replied, "In private." Then gestured to his bedroom and said, "Back in my room. Just us three."
Sirius gave a firm nod and said, "Fair enough." Turning to look at everyone else, he declared, "Alright! Fun's over! Harry, Andi and I will be down in a few minutes."
Wendell was the first to react. He turned to everyone else and said, "Alright, folks; this is now an issue of private medical information and none of us need to know. Back downstairs, please." Then started shooing people down.
Harry heard Hermione put up a bit of complaining about how she told Harry what had been done to her, but she obeyed.
One of the aurors held back and repaired the wall where Harry had rammed Andromeda into it. It had left a 'dent' in the plasterboard.
As Wendell was following everyone else down, making sure they didn't stop and try to come back up again, Harry walked back into his room. He wanted to know what that parchment said, especially the last couple of lines.
Without touching it or the hovering quill, he read, 'Soul fragment. Possible attempted possession. Possible Horcrux ritual. Identity: Tom M. Riddle.'
'Oh, shit!' he thought.
As he heard Andi and Sirius come in he whirled to them and said, "Close and lock the door. And throw up your best privacy wards."
As Sirius gave a nod back and turned to do just that, Andi said, "Step away from that, Lord Potter. Most of that you won't understand, anyway."
As Harry moved away from it, Andi deactivated the quill and set it aside. Then she picked up the parchment and re-read at the least the bottom of it.
With a sigh she leaned back onto Harry's desk and waited until Sirius had finished with the wards.
Once he was done, he turned back with a very concerned look on his face.
"Alright," said Harry. "Master Healer Tonks, I, Lord Harrison James Potter, hereby give you my permission to tell Lord Sirius Black what you discovered while examining me. As I say, so let it be written."
With a muted flash between Harry and Andi she relaxed even more.
"I'll start with the worst," she said. "Harry has a soul fragment embedded in the skin or against the cranium behind that scar of his.
"I'm unsure if it's because of an attempted possession that failed and then left the fragment behind, or if it's because someone tried to make his scar, for whatever reason, into what's known as a Horcrux."
Sirius gave a major start of shock and drew a gasp.
Visibly getting himself under control, he looked to Harry and asked, "Remember when I told you about those... 'artefacts'?"
Harry nodded.
"They're called Horcruxes," replied his godfather. The man was looking quite grim.
Harry closed his eyes and propped himself against the examination table. "Damn!" he firmly muttered.
"You've come across one of these before," said Andi to Sirius. She worded it as a statement, rather than a question. "How?"
"I can't tell you that," replied Sirius. "People we don't speak about have me under an oath of my own."
"But, you clearly know what one is," she said.
He nodded.
"The identity of the fragment is a give-away, too," said Harry. "Tom M Riddle."
"Oh, bloody Hell!" Sirius muttered while screwing his face up in emotional pain.
"You know him?" asked Andi.
"Yeah," said Harry, when it didn't look like Sirius would. "Tom Marvolo Riddle is the birth name of the one everyone refers to as 'You-Know-Who', etcetera."
Andi blurted in horror, "If that's the case, then―"
"Then he's still... 'out there'," Harry completed. "Yeah, he is."
He waited a bit. And, when he saw that she'd processed that, he said, "That's how he came to be possessing Quirrell in my first year and a first year Gryffindor student in my second."
"Andi," Sirius gently called to her. "No one must know! Those who don't speak have made this subject an Official Secret of Wizarding Britain."
"Bugger that!" she exclaimed. Glancing at Harry she looked back at Sirius and declared, "I'm getting that thing out of him!"
Sirius declared right back, "You'll get no argument from me on you doing that!"
"Me neither," said Harry.
"The question is, how?" asked Sirius.
"That's my job," said Andi. "I happen to know the cursebreakers of Gringotts come across them occasionally; and very occasionally one of them manages to get him or herself possessed by one.
"I'll contact one of their Master Healers, who I know has already dealt with one such case and find out how he got rid of it. We'll find a way."
"Sounds like a plan," said Harry. "I'm happy with that."
Looking to Sirius he said, "This is one of those... artefacts... I'm not going to be telling the Unspeakables about."
"I don't blame you and neither am I!" Sirius vehemently shot back. "They're just as likely to toss you through the Veil of Death than try to find a way to get it out of you."
Harry nodded and said, "Right. We have a plan for that." Turning to Andi he asked, "What's next on the Healing Harry Potter Programme?"
"That circle-shaped scar on your upper right forearm," she replied. "How?"
"Basilisk bite from a one thousand year old basilisk out of the Chamber of Secrets, followed by three or four tears willingly provided by a phoenix dripped directly into it about three minutes later," he immediately replied.
"Then there's not much I can do about it," she said. "Nor, I think, do I want to.
"The basilisk poison, neutralised by phoenix tears, has now provided you a significant level of protection against most poisons which are a venom or contain a venom of some form - snake, dragon bite, spider, doxie, you name it. However, for that protection you'll have to put up with the scar."
Harry nodded and said, "Then I'll keep the scar; it doesn't bother me. Next?"
"I also need to update your medical files to include how you're now protected against such. There are some healing potions that contain a venom of some form; which means those potions will either not work, will be diluted or will be contra-indicative... will work against... your health."
"Fair enough," he said. "Next?"
And they worked through it.
Andi had initially thought they'd only need a half hour. In the end, they spent over an hour, closer to an hour and half, on Harry's medical issues before returning back downstairs.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
When they came back down, Wendell asked, "That bad, huh?"
Harry shrugged and smiled back. "It looks like I'm going to be on quite a few potions for a while."
"Quite a few?" asked Sirius. "Harry's going to be carrying around his own mini-apothecary for a while. Then reached out and ruffled his hair.
Harry sheepishly grinned back.
Hermione, no longer able to contain herself, asked, "What was all that about earlier?"
"Hermione!" her mother instantly scolded her, but the girl appeared defiant.
"There's some dark magic associated with my scar that Dumbledore should have had removed immediately after he had Hagrid pick me up from Godric's Hollow," he replied. "I'm lucky in that it's remained contained there."
Indicating Andi, he continued, "Andi got upset because it might well have not. And, if that was the case, it might have caused me great harm."
Andi gave a snort and muttered, "Damn that goat-raping buggerer, Dumbledore."
That's when Harry noticed Nymphadora Tonks was there, too. He hadn't noticed her before because she was in auror uniform.
"Tonks!" he exclaimed. before he noticed Ted and Andi also look at him. "I-I mean... Nymph-"
"Don't you dare say it, Lord Potter!" she barked.
Harry heard Andromeda sigh and exasperatedly say, "Really, Nymphadora!"
The girl appeared to sulk a bit, but glared back. Harry was instantly reminded of Hermione. It was the same look Hermione had just given when she was being defiant with her own mother.
"Well, I just can't call you 'Tonks'," he replied. "Not considering the company we're in. Nym or Dora?"
"Dora," she sullenly muttered back.
"Dora, it is!" he declared. "So, what brings you here? Are you one of our on-site aurors, this evening?"
Before she could respond, Monica replied, "No, Harry. You miscounted."
Turning to her he asked, "Hunh?"
"You said eight for dinner?" she smirked. "Try counting."
Harry immediately counted heads and realised his mistake - three Grangers, him, the two Tonks adults and Sirius; that made seven.
"Oops!" he sheepishly returned. "I overcooked again, didn't I?"
"When we found out Andi and Ted's daughter would be home on her own - and being reminded of just how fast magicals can get about the place - I invited her," she explained.
"I've heard about your cooking," said an eager Tonks. "I'm looking forward to it."
"Well, we're late to sit to eat," said Harry. "If everyone can move into the dining room I'll go to the kitchen...
Dobby suddenly popped in, looking at Harry. "Dobby already be serving, Master Harry."
Harry looked at him for a moment before he turned back and said, "As I was saying, if we can all move into the dining room..."
That had people chuckling.
And Dobby popped away again, with a satisfied smirk on his little lips.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ