Chapter 4
Harry Potter woke in a strange bed but in a familiar embrace, which was the only thing that prevented him from freaking out. Then the memories flooded back and he grinned, "We're out of Hogwarts!"
"Yes we are," Hermione's voice came from her usual spot on his neck, "good morning love."
"Good morning beautiful," he responded automatically, kissing her before they both sat up and looked around. The room was huge. "Wow."
"This must be the master bedroom. I guess since it's your house that makes sense," Hermione said thoughtfully, looking around the room. It was a warm room with yellows and reds throughout. "You must have had Spanish relatives."
Harry smiled. "I like the colors. Very warm."
Hermione slid out of bed, "Come on, let's check out the bathroom." Harry quickly exited the bed and after some adjustments followed his girlfriend into the bathroom.
Sirius Black woke and yawned before bringing his arms around his bedmate. "Good morning Sirius," he felt lips on his and smiled before finally opening his eyes.
"Good morning Daniela. I'm really sorry for our first night together being interrupted."
"Sirius I'm a curse-breaker for a global bank who has often had some of the most dangerous assignments imaginable. If I was upset about it trust me, you'd know it." Sirius grinned at her words and she kissed his cheek, "However if you wish to make it up to me my back does need to be scrubbed." Sirius didn't need to be asked twice. He was out of that bed before Daniela was.
Harry and Hermione wandered around the house before breakfast, trying to learn the layout of their new home. The library wasn't as big as Hermione would have liked but the house was impressive. "I wonder what my other homes look like," Harry said.
"If they're anything like this I look forward to seeing them," Hermione said, "though I hope they have bigger libraries." Harry laughed. Hermione had relaxed alot since they became friends, and a bit more since they became a couple, but her love of books would never die. Harry found it very attractive.
They found their way to the kitchen where they saw Winky in-between Dobby and another male elf. Dobby had a rolling pin in his hand while the other elf had a large wooden spoon. "What's going on?" Harry asked.
"Elveses is being bad," Winky said, "they is not listening. Dobby and Winky is caring for Mistress and Master and Raffy is caring for house and Harry Potter's godfather."
Dobby and Raffy both dropped their weapons upon seeing Harry and Hermione and both bowed their heads. "I guess that takes care of that then," Harry said. "Winky's in charge of all Potter house elves."
Winky stood that much taller at Harry's words and looked at them, "Can Winky gets fabrics to make her a special uniform?"
"Of course Winky," Harry said, very aware Hermione was trying hard not to laugh at the scene they'd just witnessed and how the elves were reacting. It was taking all of his willpower not to laugh. It was just so comical. "Just take whatever gold you need from my account."
"We're definitely out of England for good now so Winky if you have to order these two boys around to arrange for that to happen by all means, do so," Hermione said.
Winky saluted them both, "Winky will make breakfast. Raffy, you is making sure the Grangys finds dining room and then making ups the beds. Youse can clean kitchen after breakfast and go get groceries for house. Dobby, you is going to takes Potter moneys out of Gringotts and into big bank."
Dobby and Raffy both nodded and popped away to do their duties. Harry and Hermione exited the kitchen, "I seem to attract strong, determined women who have no problem bossing boys around," Harry said.
"Must be your soap scent," Hermione said, making Harry laugh.
The Grangers entered the dining room first. Not wanting to put off the conversation that had been stalled last night Dan immediately spoke, "Why don't you tell us about why you two started sleeping together?"
So they explained how the first night had happened and all about Harry's scar, his nightmares, and their theory about the two spells combining with some unforeseen consequences. Dan and Emma listened patiently throughout, asking questions when they needed to clarify something. At the end of it they felt they had a handle on the situation. "When you two decide it's time to be intimate can you promise us you'll be safe?"
"Of course," Hermione said. "Mum we know. Sirius already talked to us about magical contraception and he offered to get it or even make it for us."
"He said when I saw him again and we had time he'd teach me the contraception spells until they 'bleed out my ears'," Harry added.
Dan nodded his approval of that. "That's very comforting for us," he said. Emma nodded her agreement and they settled for talking about what they'd do now that they were in Spain as they waited for Sirius.
Sirius entered about five minutes after they'd concluded their talk. A beautiful woman was with him, "Harry, Hermione, this is Daniela Ramos. She's a cursebreaker with the global wizarding bank, Katabisi."
"It's a pleasure to finally meet you both. Sirius has told me so much about you. He thinks very highly of you two," she shook both of their hands.
"These are Hermione's parents, Dan and Emma Granger." She shook their hands too before sitting down next to Sirius. "How'd you sleep?"
"Great but I think it was Hermione who caused that, not the house," Harry answered, earning him a kiss on the cheek from his girlfriend.
Hermione asked, "What happens now? Harry's house here means he probably has some sort of status in Spain but my parents and I don't."
"The Spanish magical government gets along much better with the non-magical side than Britain does. They've agreed to arrange for you all to have temporary visas until we decide if we're staying here or leaving Europe altogether," Sirius explained.
"What about when Dumbledore realizes we're here?"
Daniela gave an evil grin, "Magical Spain and Britain get along about as well as a cat and a mouse. They have no influence over here and the Potter family has citizenship in each country they have a house in. Magical Europe has much more lax issues regarding residency and citizenship. It dates back to Grindelwald and WWII. Britain is the exception; most of the continent regards them as still being in the dark ages."
"She's like your own personal Hermione Sirius," Harry said, making Emma and Dan both choke on their coffee before laughing through their coughs. Hermione raised an eyebrow at her parents and then at her boyfriend, who smiled at her, "I've always loved your massive knowledge. It's saved our lives more than once and when you're reading a really interesting book you chew on your lip and it makes me want to kiss you."
"Smooth talker," she said before giving him a quick kiss.
"You should take notes from your godson," Emma said to Sirius.
Sirius scowled and Dan chuckled, "Don't worry Sirius. Put Harry in a room with another girl and he's useless. He's only that smooth because he's been her best friend for four years."
"I'm just honest with Hermione," Harry said, blushing.
"They're just teasing you Harry," Hermione said, hugging him and glaring at her parents. "We'll just have to put up with them. We've certainly been through worse than two muggle dentists."
"We're sorry dear," Emma said. "It's very tempting to tease the two of you. Harry's the first friend we've spent any real time with and on top of that he's your first boyfriend."
Hermione's hand was holding Harry's and she leaned into his ear to whisper, "Only boyfriend." Harry smiled at that and they ate breakfast all together while Daniela told them about the magical schools of Spain.
That day Harry was taken shopping with Daniela and Emma, Sirius going along to pay for his godson's wardrobe. Dan and Hermione, meanwhile, went to the magical ministry to get their visas and arrange for tours of the schools. Daniela had arranged for someone to be there to meet them and unlike the British Ministry of Magic, Spain's was visible and accessible to non-magicals. It looked like quite the normal government building. "Hermione and Dan?" They looked to see a woman who looked alot like Daniela, if a bit older. "I'm Daniela's mother. Welcome to Spain."
"Thank you Señora Ramos," Hermione said.
"I truly appreciate you helping my family, Señora Ramos," Dan said.
"Please call me Isidora, Dan," she smiled. "It is our pleasure. My Daniela is very taken with this Sirius and he is devoted to the two teens in his life. Plus now I can talk to you, young lady, about this man my daughter is so infatuated with."
She smiled at the woman and nodded. "The visas just need some personal information. Did you bring the passports?"
"Yes and my wife's drivers license too," Dan nodded.
"This way then," she led them down a hall toward the lifts.
Harry did not like shopping. But when Daniela suddenly mentioned Hermione would like something he found himself very willing to try it on. And he definitely liked having clothes that fit him properly for a change. He was sure Hermione would too. When they finished shopping they returned to the house, where Dobby was waiting to report that his Gringotts account had been transferred to Katabisi.
Finding himself without Hermione for the first time in a while, Harry wasn't exactly sure what to do with himself. He sat in the gardens, gazing out at the view. They weren't in the city of Madrid, more on the outskirts. Sirius sat down next to him, "You okay?"
"If it weren't for Hermione, Sirius, I'd have died facing that dragon. And all of Hogwarts would have cheered."
"I remember Lily always trying to get your dad to pull his head out of his arse. He was so stubborn. And of course I was right beside him doing stupid pranks and trying to be the center of attention. Get all the girls, get all the attention. That was what we wanted."
Harry looked at his godfather, "What's that got to do with Hermione?"
"You're smarter than James," Sirius said. "James would have done the tournament, Harry. And Lily would have stood there on the sidelines terrified with a nervous Remus while I cheered like an idiot for him. I love your parents but they weren't perfect. James would have seen the tournament as an opportunity for the spotlight. Not for girls; Lily was the only one for him. But he wanted the glory. He wanted the spotlight. And the tournament would have given him that. His health, his future…he wouldn't have even thought about that. James thought…well I did too, actually…we thought we were invincible. Superhuman. That we'd live forever. I think that's why I really freaked out when your parents died. My first thought should have been you. Lily's first thought would have been you. But mine was that my best friend, my brother, was dead. And I wanted Peter dead."
Sirius squeezed Harry's shoulder, "A bit off track aren't I? Look, Harry. To be honest I needed a Hermione in school. If I'd had that girl of yours, I would never have abandoned you that night. Don't ever let her feel underappreciated."
Harry looked at Sirius, confused. "Sirius, Hermione would never let me let her feel underappreciated. Besides, she's the first person to say she loved me. And she shows it every day. The little touches, the kisses, the snuggling late at night. Hermione is amazing. I was thinking more about how ridiculously wishy-washy Hogwarts is. One minute everyone wants to be my friend, the next I'm public enemy number one. And people who claimed to be my best friend, people I trusted, joined in on the fun of attacking me and the only person to have my back was Hermione."
Sirius nodded in understanding. Harry continued, "This morning it was turned into a joke but I think Daniela really is like your own Hermione, Sirius. How did you two meet?"
"I went to the bank to find curse-breakers. She was the one who came to speak to me."
"She's nice," Harry said. "And alot like Hermione in the very best ways."
"Is there a wrong way to be like Hermione?"
"Not that I can think of," Harry answered. "You should see some of the games and activities she thinks up to teach me spells and lessons. If Daniela's half as great as Hermione you better never let her go Sirius. Even just half of Hermione is better than all of anyone else."
Sirius suddenly felt a rush of wind as Harry, who had stood up, was tackled to the ground by Hermione. Letting the two kids snog seemed a good idea. He re-entered to find Dan and Emma talking about what Dan and Hermione had learned that day at the Ministry. "It's hard to help a kid who has his priorities straight and his life in order," he said.
"Hermione's been that way since she was around six," Emma smiled. "And then when she found out about magic she changed her plans around a bit and simply went on."
Dan smirked, "We used to tell our friends she had an old soul. She never had time to play or wanted to hang around kids her own age. Not that we didn't try to get her to; in the end Sirius we just let her make her own decisions. We're here to support her and love her. It's what we're best at."
Sirius sighed, "Even though I grew up when Voldemort was in power, I still had a childhood. Not a great one at times but Hogwarts was a safe place. To think it's fallen so far…"
"You didn't want to believe it," Emma said knowingly.
"I believed them at their word. I knew they wouldn't lie about the things that the Gryffindors were doing to them. But I kind of hoped that the teachers just didn't know about it. I thought if they did, they'd put a stop to it. They'd protect them. Instead McGonagall protected her other Gryffindors. The entire cowardly and traitorous lot."
"Hermione mentioned that Harry's parents and their friends were all Gryffindors. I can imagine how hard that is for you."
Sirius just nodded. Lily and James had died for their son to have a good future. That good future existed solely thanks to the girl he was currently snogging. Everyone they'd expected to help Harry had betrayed him. "I hope Lily gets her hands on Dumbledore in the afterlife. That would be glorious to watch."
"What do we do if that…man," Dan stopped himself from cursing but just barely, "tries to come and get Harry?"
"Well first he'd have to get into Spain and that will be very, very difficult for him. If he appears here he'll find himself meeting an array of goblins, aurors, and vampires. They'll arrest him as there's a warrant for his arrest. Dumbledore would never bow to their demands but he'd have no choice. Either get arrested or try to kill them all. The latter would destroy his reputation even in England and the former doesn't appeal to the old man. I did learn things in the Order. Just never knew I'd have to use them to protect my godson."
"Hear that Harry? I'm not the only one who should have been a Slytherin."
"Better a snake than a lion," Sirius said, turning to see the two teens in the doorway. "Enjoy your snog?"
"We did," she said, pulling Harry along with her. "I actually wanted to talk to you privately Sirius. If you don't mind."
"Sure," he said, "How about I show you around the library? Raffy has the books organized and I've found some ones I think you'll like. They're very rare." Hermione nodded and with a smile to Harry followed Sirius down the hall.
"I'm supposed to give you the 'don't hurt my daughter' speech, Harry," Dan said. Harry paled. "Oh please son, we both know Hermione would hurt me far more than I would ever hurt you if I even tried. Think of this as more a 'ask a father any questions you've ever had but have been afraid to ask' talk."
Harry's color returned and he blushed, "I'd actually like that sir."
"Come on what say we find that game room Raffy told us about?" Harry nodded and they walked off, Emma smiling as they did.
They had barely entered the room when Hermione cast a privacy charm and spoke, "Sirius I want to apologize for Harry."
The Marauder had not seen that coming. "What for?"
Hermione sighed, "You were trying to offer support to him and apologize for running after Pettigrew that night. And also mourning the loss of your two friends, his parents."
Sirius was caught surprised and couldn't respond. Hermione sat down, "Sirius I love Harry with all my heart but you need to understand that Harry doesn't really…well, deal with emotions unless confronted with the need to. I don't suppose he told you how we became a couple?" Sirius just shook his head. Hermione nodded, "Halloween after the whole fiasco with the cup but before he left to go deal with those people," she barely stopped herself from calling Dumbledore and the Ministry something derogatory, "Harry looked at Ron and me and swore he didn't enter his name. But we couldn't respond before he left." Hermione bit her lip, "After Harry returned to the tower you could feel the anger there. It was palpable. I tried to reassure him but he went up to his room pretty quickly and not feeling like being on the receiving end of Gryffindor's anger I went up to my dorm. Ron and Harry had a big argument in their dorm about how Harry was just stealing all the glory as usual and Harry just snapped. He told Ron off and stayed behind his curtains on his bed. Eventually the dorm fell asleep but Harry stayed up. His thoughts were of whether I would believe him. After all, Ron didn't. His best friend had betrayed him." Hermione's frown became a soft smile, "Then Harry did something typically Harry. Impulsive, dangerous, and a bit stupid. He flew to my dorm window, his guess was lucky fortunately, and knocked. I opened it stunned and he asked if I believed him. I did and he started to go on about how he wouldn't have known what to do if even I didn't believe him and to shut him up and calm him down, and admittedly show him just how much I liked him, I kissed him."
Hermione smiled, "Harry had the biggest grin on his face afterwards. When I told him we'd see each other again in the morning he made me promise I'd kiss him again. When I stepped off the stairs the next morning Harry was there and kissing me. Then he asked me to be his girlfriend."
Still smiling Hermione grew serious again, "I'm certain that until I kissed him Harry had never, ever considered the possibility that I might like him too. And if anyone else had questioned me like Harry did about whether I really believed him I'd have been offended but, Sirius, Harry needs to be reminded that he's not alone. He has always felt alone and I think until me he never felt like he actually needed another person or like he was needed. Not like he knows I need him. I don't want the hero; I don't want the famous boy with the scar or the killer of dark lords. I just want him. The shy, occasionally awkward Harry who doesn't know how to ask for help when he needs it or how to accept it unless it's from his girlfriend and he can kiss me in gratitude."
"I wasn't clear enough?" Sirius asked.
"I think it'd help you if you realized that you know Harry's parents as James and Lily, friends. Harry didn't even know their names for over 11 years. He thought they were deadbeats for most of that time."
Sirius finally caught what Hermione was saying, "Me talking about them at school must have been weird to him. I'm talking about complete strangers."
"Harry was a year old when they died. Memories of them with him would please him to no end as I'm the only person who's ever loved him. And don't beat around the bush about apologies or helping him. In England Harry was often thinking about how we could include you more into what we were doing. He wants you to feel needed by him but he doesn't know how to do it."
Sirius sat in thought for a bit before he smiled at her, "Harry's right. If Daniela is even half as great as you then I'm holding on with all my might and never letting go."
Hermione returned the smile, "If it helps her mother wanted to know what you were like and I said you were a good man who never stopped fighting for what he believed in. And after some other things I think I convinced her you're worthy of dating her daughter."
"Thank you Hermione," Sirius hugged her, "I think I know how to talk to Harry now."
Chapter 5
The morning that Harry and Hermione woke in Spain, Hogwarts woke in much the same state. Although minus two students and two house elves. Not that anyone was aware at breakfast. Ron Weasley enjoyed the wide array of food. He had a great position in Gryffindor since dumping Potter and Granger. He finally had something none of his other brothers had. He was popular and seen as a leader of Gryffindor. Even older students respected him.
Gryffindor was united as one under him. Even his twin brothers were giving him respect. It was more than Ron had ever dreamed. Ron looked around the table. No Potter or Granger that morning. They must eat somewhere else. That suited Ron just fine. It was hard to do anything to them in the Great Hall with so many eyes on them.
From Ron's perspective, they were never good friends. Harry was rich but the gifts he gave weren't lavish. He was famous but never exploited his fame. And second year when Ron had stuck by Harry not being a dark lord or the heir of Slytherin Ron had learned how much it sucked being on the bottom of the Hogwarts popularity ladder. It had also shown him that Harry and Hermione didn't care about things like that. They were more concerned with the truth than being popular. Ron just wanted to be the center of attention and popular. Word that he'd told Harry off for being a cheater had elevated his status in the house. From there Ron had just started to pile it on. Getting in Harry's face and doing things to him made him more popular and Ron just kept it up, hungry for the popularity that followed each action.
Honestly, Ron wasn't as pleased about some of the things they'd thought about doing to Hermione. Some boys had thought about cornering her in the hall once and doing things to her that Ron thought amounted to sexual assault. He drew the line that time. Instead some girls had roughed her up. Or at least, they'd tried to. Hermione hadn't exactly laid down and taken it. The girls had returned with various injuries; a black eye, two girls had broken arms, and there were some obvious hexes like boils and pimples. After that it'd been decided that hexing from a distance was safest when it came to punishing Potter and Granger for betraying Gryffindor.
When Potter and Granger weren't in class that day Ron wondered if they'd decided to hide like the cowards they were. He wouldn't have put it past them. His only concern was that if they were hiding he couldn't show off in front of Gryffindor.
Ron Weasley, though, wasn't the only one to notice that Harry and Hermione weren't in Hogwarts any longer. The point counters did. Magically Gryffindor's hourglass emptied out as every point Hermione had scored that year (and the considerably less points Harry earned) all vanished. They went from first place to last place. It was that sudden change, actually, that had Albus Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall looking through the point records that evening.
They had to draw up the student roster to confirm what the records said. Hermione Granger and Harry Potter were no longer listed as Hogwarts students. Dumbledore searched for their student records to find that those were gone. Vanished. It was as though Hogwarts had chosen to erase their very existence from the castle. Dumbledore looked at McGonagall, "Who is Miss Granger's guardian?"
"The same as Mr. Potter's guardian," McGonagall answered.
Dumbledore blinked, "That's impossible."
"No it's not Albus. I saw the files myself when I wrote the letter about putting the two teens in another house. They share the same guardian- Sirius Black."
Dumbledore blanched at the name. That was impossible. Escaped from Azkaban or not there was no way he could be Harry's guardian. The letters regarding Harry were to go to the Dursleys as their name was on file but, courtesy of a redirect ward, they would end up with him with no one the wiser. The only way Sirius Black could be listed was…"What was the address?"
"Madrid, Spain," she answered.
Dumbledore rubbed his face. There was no way that Sirius should have even been able to leave England. How the devil did he leave the country? He took comfort that the two teens couldn't have left the country. They were probably just trying to run off or something. They'd be found easily enough. He'd arrange for some friends in the aurors to find them quietly without anyone aware they'd run away.
The very first time Harry had seen Gringotts he'd been amazed at how grand and opulent it was. His first time in the Spanish branch of Katabisi was far different. Unlike the Ministry of Magic in Spain, Katabisi was not in Madrid sitting as a regular building in a very muggle area. It was in the magical quarter of the city, a quarter that did not resemble Diagon Alley in the slightest as it was so much larger and spacious. In the Alley everything was cramped into place. Stores seemed to be almost on top of one another.
That wasn't the case in Madrid's magical quarter. According to Daniela, who was an excellent guide as they walked to the bank, hundreds of years ago a non-magical architect who had designed things for the king of Spain had been tasked by the same king to create a whole settlement for the magicals of Spain. Vampires, werewolves, goblins…they in particular needed their own place to live and be separated to, in some cases, protect the populace. However, aware that magical creatures were still his subjects, the King had wanted a beautiful settlement for them to live in. He had reached out to a magical bank that a magical advisor had told him about; Katabisi, a bank based in Italy that was just beginning to spread its interests across the globe. Concerned about Spanish ships also traversing the globe for the first time he made a deal. He would fund their visits to the New World, Africa, and Asia by letting them journey with his ships. In exchange they would ward the Spanish ships to protect conquistadors and traders as they crossed the seas and build a branch of their bank in Madrid, where the werewolves, vampires, and goblins would all always find work if they needed it. The settlement would be built around the bank itself.
Katabisi had agreed and from that point on Spain's magical and non-magical side were more united than anyone might have imagined. There was a Statute of Secrecy eventually passed when the ICW formed about a hundred years after the Spanish king's arrangement with Katabisi had been created. Spain refused to join when ordered to sign the statute and separate the magical settlements within its borders from the non-magicals.
With Italy they were the only two countries to refuse to sign the statute and refuse to bow to the whims of the mostly powerless ICW. They were joined by other countries as those countries formed. The United States was the first country in the Americas offered citizenship in the ICW. They refused outright; English influence was all over the ICW and the ways of the magical world in Britain were the reason many magicals in the United States had left in the first place. They shaped themselves after Italy and Spain's approach to magic. Inclusive but not intrusive.
The U.S. proved to be the forerunner for the Americas as even countries who might dislike Spain after colonization very much appreciated the magical settlements that had been set up when they arrived. Magical settlements and Katabisi featured in every single country that refused ICW participation and no country within the Americas was part of the ICW.
Magical settlements weren't 'protected' by wards and secrecy. There were magical squads within the governments devoted to dealing specifically with crimes committed using magic but magicals were quite integrated within non-magical society otherwise.
Katabisi had profited greatly from its work with Spain, Italy, and much of the world and had certainly never been permitted in England. It was not sanctioned by the ICW because of its employees primarily being vampires and werewolves (though they hired humans too, they were a minority; globally speaking vampires and werewolves were 69% of its employee makeup while 10% was goblins, leaving the humans with the remaining 21%. Many goblins had gone into mining in the New World and those that remained with the bank became craftsmen mostly). In each of Spain's colonies their arrangement with Katabisi had held and just carried over as the new governments formed. Katabisi even offered lessons held to the public on controlling your inner wolf through sheer will.
Harry hadn't been sure what to expect out of Katabisi after the story Daniela had told. When they arrived he was amazed. The walls of the bank, made of stone, told the story of its growth through pictures. Daniela gave Sirius a kiss and said goodbye to them as she headed off to work. A vampire approached them, "Mr. Potter it is a pleasure to meet you in person," he said, bowing politely to the young man. "And Mr. Black, you'll be pleased to know that we have finished moving all of your funds and have demolished Number 12 Grimmauld Place. We've even found a real estate company looking to buy the space to rebuild a house."
"Excellent," Sirius grinned. "I hated that place."
"I would like to know if you have a preferred individual to meet with regarding the Potter and Black accounts."
"I'm fine with any vampire," Sirius answered, "but maybe you could find a younger vampire to deal with Harry? And they should expect Miss Hermione Granger to be sitting in on all meetings."
The vampire's eyes shifted to the young woman, "Yes of course. I will make sure they are aware. And I think I know just the vampire, though trusting such a large account to a young vampire is most unheard of."
"I think they'll get along better with a younger vampire, one who might understand them a bit easier," Sirius said.
"If you can wait for a bit I will see what I can do," the vampire bowed again and left the group.
Sirius looked at the teens, "They're much different from Gringotts. Nicer and with a better understanding of the non-magical world."
Harry and Hermione nodded, gazing around the bank's interior. A few minutes later Sirius was off doing business with a vampire regarding his accounts and the two teens found themselves being approached by a vampire who looked younger than all the others they'd seen, "Hello Mr. Potter, Miss Granger. I'm Raphael and I'll be your accounts manager."
"It's nice to meet you," Harry said.
"This way please," he led them into the bank and to an office. They sat down together in chairs while Raphael moved around the desk and sat down. "I'm not completely up to date on the Potter accounts, so I apologize if I can't answer some questions."
"That's fine; I never knew I had more than my Gringotts vault," Harry said, "Sirius says that I should learn about just how much I have so I just wanted to request a full accounts summary." Harry took a deep breath, "I also want to make out a will Raphael. Can we do that?"
"Certainly," he nodded. "What do you have in mind?"
"It's simple. If I die Hermione gets everything," Harry said.
Hermione's eyes bulged. "Harry…"
"Don't try to talk me out of it Hermione," Harry said. "There is no one I can even think of wanting to give any of all this money I apparently have to other than you. Sirius is rich so there's no point in giving him any of it. You're my best friend, my girlfriend, and I love you. You'd do more good than anyone else and I want to know you're taken care of if anything happens to me."
"You're very stubborn Harry."
"It works in my favor in this case," he smirked. Hermione smiled softly and nodded her acceptance, Harry kissing her and squeezing her hand in gratitude.
Raphael watched the pair, amused. Mr. Potter would be an interesting client. This was his first account that he would be handling by himself. "First we'll go through the accounts already on file. One thing I do suggest, Mr. Potter, is combining the various accounts all into one."
Harry nodded his head. Raphael filled out a note and sent it off by placing it in a bin marked 'outgoing'. It vanished the minute it made contact. "Your family was very wealthy, and had many investments in England that have been untouched by the goblins in Gringotts. I would suggest we take action immediately regarding that."
"What kinds of investments?" Hermione asked.
Raphael pulled out the list, "The Daily Prophet, several apothecaries, a couple book stores," he handed the list to Hermione, "I'm sure those names make more sense to you than they would me."
Hermione scanned the list quickly. "Harry you have controlling interest in alot of companies in Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade."
"Sirius Black has a similar situation in many of the companies you have about a third in, giving the two of you the majority there as well."
Harry frowned, "What's that mean?"
Hermione looked at Harry, "It means that if you and Sirius wanted to, you could crush the magical economy of Britain."
"Really? How?"
"If you cash in on your investments they have to pay you for your shares and then they stand there without all of their profits. They keep taking in profits but I'd wager they haven't been paying you any dividends."
Raphael nodded his head, "Records show that dividends have been paid to other investors but not to the Potter or Black families. Not since the death of your parents."
"I've just been screwed over right and left by magical Britain since their deaths," Harry sighed. He pulled Hermione into a hug and she returned it, letting him gather himself together. She could feel his anger and sorrow and all she could do was hold on.
He took a few minutes to gather himself before he spoke, "Hermione? What if we pulled all of our investments out?"
"You and Sirius?"
"You and me," he said, smiling warmly at her, "If they are ourproblems then it's our wealth. For better or worse, yeah?"
She kissed him, "Harry I love you."
He grinned and slid his arms around her, "I love you too Hermione. What do you think of my idea?"
"That depends on if you're thinking that Voldemort isn't dead and the best way to cut off his return is to cut off his funding by bankrupting magical Britain," Hermione said.
"That was exactly what I was thinking. You must be rubbing off on me."
Hermione blushed at that and when Harry realized the double meaning he turned beet red. Raphael laughed at their discomfort, "Oh I'm going to love working with you. This is fantastic."
"You like the idea?" Harry asked.
"I am Italian by birth but I became undead before WWII and Grindelwald," Raphael explained, "I remember Grindelwald's attempt at world domination quite vividly. Voldemort I never had the pleasure of meeting but I've heard he tries to court vampire covens. And I can assure you I'm aware of many dark lords and their attempts to become immortal. Grindelwald tried it too by seeking the Deathly Hallows."
Neither teen knew what those were but that was irrelevant at the moment. "How long would it take to force them to hand over the money owed to me?"
"Katabisi would deal directly with Gringotts, so no time at all. We could strike quickly if you wished."
Hermione bit her lip in thought, "We should talk to Sirius about it tonight."
"Yeah," Harry nodded. "Then we can decide if we're doing this or not."
Raphael nodded, "Just send me your owl if you want me to take action. I will prepare it so that we can take act immediately if you wish to."
"That'd be great," Harry said. "Thanks."
Dumbledore could keep the public from knowing that Harry and Hermione had vanished, but he couldn't keep it quiet within Hogwarts. There was joy throughout Hogwarts at the news. Gryffindor in particular was elated until they saw the hourglass point counters. Hermione and Harry were the primary point-gatherers of Gryffindor, especially when you considered how many the twins lost on a regular basis. Hermione's constant point-gathering overwhelmed the twins' losses of their other classmates' efforts and had them in first place. They fell so behind the other houses that getting even third place would be impossible.
The one thing Gryffindor hated more than anything was losing. And Harry and Hermione leaving Hogwarts meant that they were definitive losers. Rather than accept the blame themselves for chasing Harry and Hermione out, they targeted Ron Weasley. Ron, who had been so proud of his role as leader of Gryffindor and lead the campaign against Harry and Hermione, found himself Gryffindor's new target.
Fleur Delacour sat with Viktor Krum, discussing the tournament. "I do not want to die, zertainly. Zey did not say anyzing about such dangers to us."
"No they didn't," he agreed. "Perhaps we should work together? Life is preferable to death."
"I think that would be best," Fleur nodded. "Who knows just what might happen next in this stupid tournament. Perhaps we should look into zese rules more closely."
"Da," Krum nodded.
Sirius' first thought upon hearing Harry's idea was that his godson wanted revenge. Once he heard their reasoning he was very proud of him. That was brilliant. And impressed upon him just what kind of person his godson was, not seeking revenge but to prevent the return of Voldemort. "I think it's a good idea Harry," Sirius nodded. "I think we should do it." Harry grinned and got out pen and paper to write to Raphael to go ahead and take care of their shares in Diagon Alley.
After one week in Spain Daniela had them return to Katabisi, where they headed down into the curse-breakers offices. Daniela smiled at them, "Harry, Hermione, welcome to the curse-breaking department. These are the experts we've gathered." The experts were introduced to them and Hermione was impressed. There were experts from several continents including Asia, Africa, and South America. They all scanned Harry's forehead and listened to his symptoms and various observations before Harry's role had been completed and they were sent back to Potter Estate.
Hermione sat down next to Harry on the couch, "At least they're taking this seriously," she said, rubbing his arm encouragingly.
Harry frowned and sighed, "Yeah but I just…what if they can't get rid of my scar and whatever is wrong with me?"
"Well since I'm the only way to make your scar loses its power I guess you'll just have to be stuck with me forever," Hermione smiled. Seeing that her words didn't offer Harry any comfort she grew serious, "Harry even if others do, I won't stop looking until I figure out how to help you. I promise you that."
Harry gave her a small smile and she pulled him into a hug, "Thanks Hermione. This trusting other people to help me stuff is really hard. I mean with you it's easy but even with Sirius and your parents I always feel like I'm just waiting for the rug to be pulled out from under me. Everyone betrays me. Everyone but you."
"I'm just the first to never betray you Harry. I won't be the last," she promised. After Ron and Hogwarts Hermione worried that Harry would never trust anyone other than her again. She knew he was trying but seeing how hard it was for him, and admittedly how scared he was that he'd just be betrayed again, made her want to go back to Scotland and kick Ronald Weasley's arse up and down the length of the British Isles.
"I love you Hermione," he said, pulling her into a hug.
"I love you too," she whispered, kissing him. The kiss swiftly became a snog which the two teenagers enjoyed as Harry felt the constant negativity in his head vanish as he lost himself in the arms of the girl he loved.
Chapter 6
Let's see, what to say about this chappie. Well, Britain learns what Harry did. Rita Skeeter does what she does. The Grangers get a crash course in magical economics (sort of), Voldemort learns what Harry did, Dumbledore is flummoxed, and Harry and Hermione have an awkward teenager moment. If you think it's weird, I'm relieved I'm not alone. But it felt surprisingly realistic to me so I was pretty pleased with it. Oh, and Daniela talks about Harry's scar. And there's some other stuff too. Lots of words. Happy reading!
P.S. Bold Italics mean newspaper article. :D
P.P.S. I looked it up on dictionary sites and villainization is actually a word. You might think I meant vilified, but I assure you that I did not. Vilified is too soft of a word for what Britain has done to Harry in this story; So villainization was used instead.
The morning after Albus Dumbledore had given Kingsley Shacklebolt and Nymphadora Tonks orders to find Harry Potter he entered the Great Hall for breakfast feeling pretty confident. In no time Harry would be back under his control. Then he got the newspaper. And he paled. And then his fears were proved real when owls descended on the school. The exclamations that followed confirmed the contents of those letters. He held his head in his hands. The headline of the Daily Prophet said it all:
Potter Puts Powerful People in Peril!
By Rita Skeeter
Late yesterday evening Gringotts and much of magical Britain found itself served. Served with papers relating to a lack of funds being paid to the Potter accounts from investments throughout Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade over the past thirteen years; through a no-doubt oversight by the incompetent goblins of Gringotts Wizarding Bank, these investments were all pulled with the companies required to pay not only that which they owed but the current value of those shares. Added to this was the complete removal of the Potter vaults from Gringotts.
A vampire with Katabisi Bank had the following to say: "Mr. Potter had come to the conclusion that if these investments weren't paying out dividends then obviously those companies weren't doing very well at all and asked to sell off all the useless stock in Britain and instead invest in muggle companies that were obviously better managed."
The Potters were one of the oldest remaining families in Britain and their investments were very large and vast. Harry Potter's actions have sent magical Britain's businesses into a tailspin as most businesses did not have adequate cash reserves on hand. Immediately we will see prices grow as businesses seek to recoup the losses faced from Potter's dirty, underhanded actions. That doesn't even begin to cover the rise of costs at Gringotts as the bank finds itself without a large portion of their funds.
Prestigious families like the Malfoys find themselves facing financial ruin as their investments are flat-lining and stocks are losing their value rapidly. Some have also sought to pull out of these companies in the wake of Potter's treachery however that has proved to be impossible or a complete loss in terms of finances.
More will be reported as this story develops; one thing is certain. Harry Potter has destroyed our most prestigious organizations and people. Such an arrogant, greedy young man brings great shame to his great lineage. Obviously this is what happens when you're raised by muggles. We must choose our heroes wisely and Harry Potter is not a hero. He's a despicable, treacherous villain.
Raphael sent Harry an issue of the Daily Prophet and he laughed as he read it, handing it to Hermione to see her fight back her own laugh. "I want to give Raphael a tip for his quote," Hermione said, wiping her eyes at Skeeter's article. "That was fantastic."
"Well you're definitely not a hero now Harry," Emma said. "Not to them."
"I wasn't before we left either," Harry said. "But this just cements it. I'm not going back. If Voldemort returns it's on them. I've taken away all of the money he used. The vampires did the calculations and none of his supporters are in any position now to fund his cause."
"It gets better because the most valuable things they own now are possessions and even they are worthless. Most of the old families have manors and mansions but they can't sell them because they wouldn't get any money for them from magicals and because of the Statute of Secrecy they can't sell to muggles," Hermione explained, "any home that had or has powerful magical wards on it is not permitted to be sold to muggles. They used that law to prevent muggle encroachment but it's really going to turn into magical isolation."
Dan nodded at that but he knew Harry had homes in Britain too, "What about your homes in Britain?"
Harry waved it off, "Katabisi emptied them of all family heirlooms and belongings and the house elves have work in other properties of mine. They're leveling the homes and since none of them, including Potter manor, had wards on them they're all able to be sold."
Emma was surprised, "How is that possible? Sirius was safe at the manor wasn't he?"
"Yes but the ward was on the grounds, not the house. The Statute of Secrecy doesn't mention the grounds being warded because outside of Hogwarts and magical settlements no one does it. I mean, think about it. Why ward your entire property and then have to walk so far to get out of the wards to Apparate or portkey when you can just ward your house and step outside the front door? And sometimes those areas have to be encroached upon or else they'd find themselves at war with non-magical governments over land rights," Hermione answered.
"Very slick of your relatives, Harry," Dan said with a smirk.
"The Potters were very international when it came to their practices. Of all the pureblood families in Britain, the Potters are the least inbred. And keep in mind 'pureblood' has been eschewed to include creatures and squibs over the years when convenient," Harry smiled. "Even muggles and muggleborns. They just choose to ignore those people or even blast them from the family records. Sirius' mother was one to do that."
"This Skeeter certainly has a sharp tongue."
"She's a gossip writer," Harry said. "Unfortunately, she doesn't grasp that and thinks she's an actual reporter. In case you can't tell from this piece, she's not."
"This house is warded and Raphael took care to send redirect wards to Albus Dumbledore," Hermione smiled, "so he'll get any hate mail addressed to Harry. We already know he did that to keep Harry in the dark about his money and homes. Why not return the favor?"
"That's so Slytherin," Sirius chuckled. "They didn't report that you'd left the country."
"True but Katabisi isn't permitted in England so the only way to even contact them would be for us to leave the country," Harry said. "You weren't mentioned at all, Sirius."
"A pity," Sirius said. "Though they probably don't know the connection."
Daniela read the article, "I'm glad that you left Britain Sirius. Just from this it's obvious how outrageous they are."
"Oh it gets worse," Sirius promised. "Personally I'm glad Dobby suggested Spain. It led me to you," he said, smiling warmly at her. Every night since Harry and Hermione had moved into the house with her parents Daniela had stayed over. She was a fixture at their breakfast table and dinner table. Harry enjoyed having Daniela around. She was great at talking to Hermione about their research on his scar and how that was going and in general just magical advances and research. Harry knew that Hermione's favorite class was Ancient Runes and Daniela being a curse-breaker really appealed to his girlfriend.
To see Sirius so obviously smitten with someone was surprising to Harry. Based on what little he knew Sirius had been a bit of a player with the ladies. But Harry could see just how devoted Sirius was to Daniela and it was not just impressive but encouraging to see that Azkaban hadn't ruined his chances at happiness. "I have to get ready for work," she said, kissing Sirius, "want to help?"
"Always," he said, getting up and ignoring the knowing smirks in the dining room as he followed his lover upstairs.
"Even when I know no one in the country I'm surrounded by strong women," Harry observed.
"I still say it's your soap," Hermione smirked. Harry laughed and kissed her cheek.
Throughout the British Isles Harry Potter was a name being cursed and written hate mail. Howlers carrying curses and dangerous potions and poisons were sent out. Voldemort was in awe of the lad, though. What he'd managed to do was more than Voldemort himself had ever accomplished. Harry hadn't killed his enemies. He'd buried them. Alive, no less. It was impressive.
Voldemort sighed. There was no coming back from this. Harry Potter had outplayed him. He had made himself the ultimate villain of the magical world and nothing would bring him back from that. Of course, Harry had also crippled Voldemort. Lucius Malfoy and others could no longer fund his cause. However Voldemort was an optimist and the thought that he could kill Lucius Malfoy the double-crossing idiot was very, very appealing.
The first act needed to be getting a new body. Harry Potter was no longer an option and Barty Jr. wasn't magical any longer. He definitely didn't want Pettigrew, though. The Longbottoms were in St. Mungo's and easily accessible. They had been moderately powerful. He dispatched Pettigrew at once.
Viktor Krum and Fleur Delacour were often seen in one another's company. Mostly because they were working together, not that they told anyone about that. "So we go through ze next two tasks togezzer," Fleur said. "I zink zat ees best."
"Da," Krum nodded. "I do not vant to end up like Diggory." Cedric was still in St. Mungo's. It was expected he'd remain there through Christmas. In fact, it wasn't even known when he would return though both champions had learned that he was required to compete in the next task. That such injury didn't remove you from the tournament had never been explained to them and they were both horrified with that knowledge. Helping one another out would not put them in Cedric's position and should they win splitting their winnings 50/50 was more appealing than their parents accepting them posthumously, although they weren't expecting to win. They just wanted to survive, graduate from school, and leave their respective countries who had seen fit to trap them in this tournament. Fleur's father had been irate and was already arranging to get them out of France and to Italy as soon as possible.
The Krums were far poorer than the Delacours but Fleur had asked her father to get them out of Bulgaria, lest Viktor find himself blackmailed by the country in order to keep his family safe. Claude Delacour agreed and had arranged for Viktor's father to get a job with his company and they would be moving soon for business. Fleur and Viktor did not have to return to France and Bulgaria after the tournament; nor would they be. They would take a joint portkey to Italy and be done with the whole thing.
First they had to survive the remaining tasks. That was what they had to work on. So long as they weren't competing separately they would be able to help one another. They had to unlock the egg's secret but they were working on it. English was not their first language so it added an extra hurdle for them to get over, translating the message.
Harry was content beyond words. The Grangers had gone out for some holiday shopping, Sirius had taken a list from both Harry and Hermione for gifts for her parents and each other (the Grangers were getting them something for Sirius), and that meant that the two teens were home alone. Such freedom meant that they had been able to snog one another without any worries about being interrupted and they had immediately gone to the library to take advantage of their private time. "Hermione?"
"Yes Harry?" She sighed.
"Do you…um…do you," Harry was rather surprised he couldn't actually say what he wanted to. He and Hermione shared just about everything. He licked his lips as he felt her look at him in confusion about his sudden inability to articulate his thoughts. He tried again, "Do you ever masturbate?"
Hermione raised an eyebrow, surprised at his question. Harry proceeded to explain himself, "I mean, that first shower we shared nude…that was…that was really awkward," Harry concluded, "but really…exciting…at the same time and since then we haven't done that and I was just…I mean I won't be that way again I reckon I was just so stressed out and…"
She loved Harry, she really did, but a master orator he was not. And he was about to dig himself into a hole for no other reason than he was too flustered to say what he wanted to. "Harry love, shut up." He did immediately. "Now I suppose I should ask this since my boyfriend who blushes at the words penis and vagina just said masturbate before dissolving into nonsensical sentences. Why are you asking me?"
Harry stared at her. How could she not… "Well it's just…our snogging gave me a…surely you've felt it before! I have one every morning…a few times it's been pressed near…." Harry gave up the attempt to speak. It just wasn't working out.
Hermione certainly could feel his erection pressed against her, both in those mornings Harry had alluded to and the times they'd snogged. She just wasn't that bothered by it. And she didn't see what he would want to talk to her about it for unless he wanted their relationship to become more intimate, "Harry are you implying you want me to give you a handjob?" Harry went scarlet and blustered and shook his head vigorously in denial. "Do you want me to give you a blowjob?" At that question Hermione was concerned that she'd broken her boyfriend. Harry's face drained of all color and his mouth moved but no words came out.
She sat up from her comfy position snuggled into him, "Harry I don't know what the point of this conversation even is. To answer your only question to me that I could understand, yes I masturbate. I have a whole collection of dirty books I use to provide me with proper imagery should my imagination not be enough help. And to answer a question you better never ask me," she continued, glaring at him for a brief moment before smiling, "You're always the man in my fantasies."
Harry was aroused and befuddled. Befuddled because he really did think Hermione might have broken him and aroused because his beautiful girlfriend fantasized about being with him. Harry managed to speak finally, "That shower is what I use for mine," he said quietly, hoping she didn't think he was weird. "I mean, when your chest was pressing into me…"
"Breasts, Harry," Hermione corrected, "I think you'd be less awkward if you used the words more instead of dancing around them. Maybe you need to see my dirty book collection."
Harry tried to focus on that. "Do you get weirded out by my erections?"
Hermione smiled. That was his concern. She shifted so that she was straddling him at his waist while he lay on his back. She could definitely feel his erection, and she leaned down and kissed the corner of his mouth, "Harry I'm quite glad to know that I can make you so aroused and excited. That whether we're ready for it or not, both of our bodies are hungry for each other is both comforting and exciting."
"Why comforting?"
"Because it means we're compatible in every way," she explained before kissing him again. "Now I think we should have a celebratory 'avoided a potential relationship landmine' snog."
"I concur," Harry said. That sounded brilliant. His girlfriend's genius had no limits it seemed. He quite liked that.
Winky sighed. Being head of the Potter elves was great responsibility and she was proud to be in command and help her family. But Dobby and Raffy were very similar in their hero-worship of Harry Potter and they often fought. Winky had taken over caring for their mistress and master because the two boys were always fighting about it. Dobby was assigned to their finances and the Grangers while Raffy took care of Sirius and the house.
The boys were again arguing about Harry Potter and who was the better elf to serve him (between the two of them since Winky had already made it clear that she was in charge and you didn't want to cross her) and Winky was sick of it. "Dobby, you should tells Raffy about how Master Harry saved you from bad family."
Dobby looked at his friend, confused, before lighting up at her suggestion. He loved telling that story. Raffy was looking wide-eyed, "Harry Potter-sir is saving youse?" Dobby nodded and began to tell the story, Winky shaking her head at the two boys' antics. Maybe this would make them get along.
While Winky and Hermione both had some boy trouble that morning, Albus Dumbledore could only wish his problems were so minor. While his problems centered around the same boy, they were much more severe. The fact that Harry contacted Katabisi meant that he had left the country. Dumbledore had much sway with Gringotts given his positions. He had nothing with Katabisi. He'd always considered it a lesser bank; after all, it wasn't even permitted in England because of its connections with dark creatures.
Because of his connections, Katabisi was unable to contact vault holders on English shores. That meant that Harry had left England and was not in a country friendly to the ICW, which placed him firmly out of Dumbledore's reach. He thought he could use the Grangers to get Harry to return but not only had the girl gone with Harry but the Grangers had somehow managed to leave too.
That was just one problem, though. His other problems centered around Harry's actions. All of the hate mail directed at Harry had somehow been forwarded to him. Dumbledore had always sent Harry's letters that he had redirected in his office, which was where those letters had gone. His office, when he'd finally entered it, had been in shambles. Headmaster portraits were severely damaged with two of them destroyed beyond recognition. Dumbledore's various knick-knacks and gadgets were destroyed from the fires, curses, and explosive potions that had been sent in the howlers. Part of Dumbledore wondered if this had been arranged by Harry. The magic was beyond his capabilities, he was certain.
He was absolutely stuck. What was he to do? He certainly couldn't get Harry out of whatever place he was in. They were outside of the ICW's reach. Dumbledore was utterly baffled at what to do. Harry had not reacted at all as he had expected. Harry was supposed to be alone, friendless, and afraid. He was supposed to compete in the first task and miraculously survive, thus earning him the praises and plaudits of his peers. Harry would again be accepted and learn that you must always forgive others for their indiscretions against you.
The damnable Hermione Granger had got in the way. She had somehow figured out how to get Harry out of the tournament and in so doing put the other champions in harm's way. Obviously the Hungarian Horntail was for Harry; young Mr. Diggory had suffered because of Harry's refusal to compete. Harry's actions regarding the tournament and now his family fortune meant that he would never be a hero again. He was a villain.
If Dumbledore had been more self-aware, he might have realized that Harry Potter had been a victim his entire life. First at the hands of Voldemort and then at the hands of Dumbledore. And that this sudden villainization was merely because Harry had finally refused to be the victim anymore. But Dumbledore put all the blame squarely on the two teenagers. They should have just gone along with things.
Ron Weasley had laughed hard when he'd learned that the Malfoys were broke. Even cheered for what Harry had done. Slytherins had found themselves broke. Then the letter came a few days later. The Ministry of Magic was downsizing given their sudden lack of funding as people scrambled for what little remained of their fortunes. His father's position was in jeopardy, especially given the Chamber of Secrets and flying car incidents that had blemished his record. Ron was no longer cheering. His dad could lose his job and all because of Harry bloody Potter. The bastard.
Draco Malfoy was too scared to be angry. The Malfoys lived off of their vaults and investments. Had since they'd come to Britain. He'd always expected to not work. Just use his money to make things happen that would earn them more money. Instead his father's investments weren't worth more than a few sickles. This would not be a merry Christmas for the arrogant, entitled Slytherin.
Harry yawned as he settled into his bed. Christmas was fast approaching and he was set for a good one. For the first time in his life, Harry felt like he had it all. Hermione was his girlfriend, his godfather was free and there for him, and the Grangers were really great. The Grangers had Katabisi dealing with their bank in England. Their house had been packed up and shipped over to Spain and he knew that the Grangers were for now content to stay at Potter Estate, in part because they were so close to Hermione, who was not leaving Harry's side anytime soon, and the house offered everyone the privacy they needed. He was done with Britain. That felt good to say and think. The bathroom door opened to reveal his Hermione and he smiled as she slid into the bed and then into his arms. "You look happy," she said, smiling. A smiling Harry was hard not to smile about.
"What's there to be unhappy about? Sirius' brilliant girlfriend has a team of the best looking into my scar, Sirius is free and able to live life finally, and I have my beautiful girlfriend in my arms in our bed."
"Well when you put it like that I suppose I can see why there's a smile there," Hermione teased, leaning up to kiss him. "You know the British press will flay you."
"They did before; now's not any different. The press is part of the reason Voldemort rose to power in the first place. Look at how they refer to known death eaters. 'Prestigious families' and all that malarkey. They're murdering bastards and they're lofted as individuals I've wronged," Harry frowned, "they were fully behind the plan to murder an infant and killed plenty of people, magical and muggle alike. They never were made to pay for their crimes. But I'm the bad guy for hurting their purses. Something that's perfectly legal. Why should my money pay for them to belittle, bully, and hurt me?"
Realizing she'd accidentally sent him on a tirade Hermione kissed him to shut him up. Harry groaned into her mouth. "You shouldn't Harry. I think you did the right thing. We're all much happier here and they all built their own destruction."
Harry smiled at her words and nodded his agreement. Magical Britain, truthfully, wasn't very big. Grindelwald's terror and then Voldemort's reign had led to just two magical settlements still existing; Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade. Like the Weasleys, most magical families lived in the countryside in their own houses far from town. Harry had learned all about countries dealing with damages to buildings and economies post-war in muggle school. But where countries rebuilt and grew, governments helping their citizens, magical Britain had withdrawn and shrunk. It had abandoned two magical settlements, destroying them and leaving them for muggles to claim. As far as Harry could tell it was because the wealthiest families hadn't wanted to spend money rebuilding. Sirius said that the old families liked to sit on their money and the investments had begun to happen far more when they wanted to avoid Azkaban.
Daniela Ramos, girlfriend of the suave former-Marauder Sirius Black, sighed as her lover gave her a massage. "How are things going with Harry's scar?"
"It would be fascinating if it wasn't so sad that it's stuck to Harry," she answered. "Sirius no one has ever come across anything like this before. But we're developing some theories."
"Like what?" He asked.
Daniela remained silent for a moment, her eyes closed as she enjoyed the massage before speaking, "We know that love is involved. Hermione's love for him is stopping that thing from harming him particularly when she's affectionate with him. I think it's because both spells rely on hate. Voldemort certainly thrived on hate, so a horcrux spell would as well. And the killing curse is pure hatred."
"So Hermione's love is stopping Harry's scar from playing on his fears?" Sirius asked.
"Oh her love is doing more than that. Imagine I fill a glass bottle half-full with olive oil. I then put a cork in it. No more olive oil can get in and none of it can escape."
"Olive oil is hate?" Sirius guessed.
"It is," she smiled. "And yet it is more than that. Horcruxes generally make the people around them feel hatred. Feel anger, distrust, afraid. Yet do you feel that around Harry?"
"No. Never, actually," he said, thinking back to when the teens rescued him on Buckbeak. The hippogriff had joined them in Spain only to walk away free thanks to the government. Buckbeak was at present enjoying the grounds of Potter estate.
"Because Hermione, like the cork, prevents it from releasing," Daniela smiled. "She is both protecting Harry from it and protecting us as well."
"Wow," Sirius said. "But how do you use that to get rid of it?"
"We're working on several theories. Not all of them will pan out, of course. All of our work is theoretical because Harry's case is one of a kind. I will say this though. Voldemort was an idiot."
Sirius chuckled before asking, "What do you mean?"
"You create a horcrux after a kill. That he'd begun the ritual before he'd killed Harry meant that when they backfired because of Lily Potter's love and sacrifice for her son that idiot of a Dark Lord became vaporized. He obviously had other horcruxes, otherwise he'd be dead. He certainly couldn't use Harry as a host. Lily prevented that. And now Hermione's taking care of the killing curse/horcrux thing in his head."
"But she can't expel it?"
"Well she might be able to do that but do you want me to tell your godson he needs to shag his girlfriend in a special runic room on the floor on top of runes that amplify love with no blankets, no bedsheets, no birth control, and three wizards and witches in the room watching to verify the results?"
"Not particularly," Sirius answered.
Daniela smiled, "I didn't think so. That's still an option but we all agreed that it would be our last resort. I want their relationship to go at their own pace. If they want to shag tonight they should get to do that."
"Not without telling me to get them birth control," Sirius growled.
"Actually Hermione asked me," Daniela said, making Sirius' eyes widen. "Really Sirius, you shouldn't be so surprised. What teenager wants to ask their guardian for protection? She came to me and I brewed it for her. And since you know that my best classes were Potions and Runic Wards you cannot say you're surprised."
Sirius just nodded his head, "Are they…active?"
"I think Hermione was of the opinion it is better to be safe than sorry. I agree." Sirius did too but Daniela had quite the task on her hands of distracting her boyfriend from going to 'check up' on the teens after that. A task, it turned out, she was quite able to handle.