Sir Harry J Potter GCOM

### INTERNMENT CAMP ###

At the internment camp Draco was called into a comfortable room with a table and two aged Aurors sitting at it. He was surprised to be offered a soft chair and a cup of coffee. The questions they asked were gentle but searching. Draco felt he had nothing to loose by being truthful and revealed the threats and pressure he had been subject to, in order that Voldemort could gain access to Hogwarts via an unconventional route. He also revealed his surprise at being rescued from the inferno by Harry.

“You realise, Mr Malfoy, that you owe Mr Potter a life debt, don’t you?”

“Hmm ... Yes, I suppose I do. That’s going to be awkward - we were bitter enemies at school.”

“Perhaps things have changed - bitter enemies don’t normally rescue each other, do they?”

“No ... Hmm ... if I were in a bad mood I would put it down to Gryffindor misplaced idealism, but perhaps I might be wrong.”

“That’s exactly the sort of thinking the new régime wishes to encourage.”

### BUCKINGHAM PALACE ###

Harry wondered what he had let himself into when Kingsley flooed away and the Prime Minister ordered his car. Whilst on the short journey the PM told Harry about basic court etiquette and the business of shaking or kissing hands.

They arrived at the Palace, driving into the inner quadrangle. There, one of the equerries met them and conducted them courteously into the receiving room. Harry, by this time, was having the jitters and wondering if he could apparate away before Her Majesty met him. The pair stood waiting, with the Prime Minister slightly in front of Harry. The Queen entered and, taking his clue from the PM, both of them inclined their heads. She was followed by Prince Charles.

“Your Majesty, may I present Mr Harry Potter, whom you indicated that you would like to meet.”

“Thank you Prime Minister. Good afternoon Mr Potter! Thank you for coming to the palace.”

Harry shook the outstretched fingers lightly, as he had been instructed: “Good afternoon Your Majesty.”

“I would be most pleased to have a talk with you privately, Mr Potter. However, affairs of state must be dealt with first. Would you mind accompanying the Prince of Wales to one of the sitting rooms? I shall join you there shortly, once the Prime Minister and I have concluded our usual business.”

“Um ... Yes Ma’am.”

“Come along young man. You can explain to me some of your happenings whilst we wait for Mother to join us.”

“Okay, Your Royal Highness.” Harry inclined his head towards the Queen: “Ma’am!” turned and followed Prince Charles from the room.

The Prince avoided any serious conversation as they walked along the various corridors, instead he chatted about the various pictures on the wall. This helped Harry to relax a little. They turned a corner and the Prince opened a door, indicating that Harry should enter first. Harry’s first shock was that there were moving portraits on the wall, and his second shock was Albus smiling down at him and winking.

“I take it you know this gentleman, Mr Potter?”

“Yes Sir. He was my headmaster at school. He also gave me a secret task to finish - one that he started and was severely injured carrying out.”

“Do you agree with that, Albus?”

“Yes Sir and he did it admirably.”

“Don’t forget Hermione and Ron, Headmaster; plus Neville chopping up the snake.”

“No Harry, I won’t, but it was your leadership that inspired them.”

“Fighting with weapons, I understand, having been put through various military training courses,” put in Prince Charles. “Fighting magically is something new; although Albus has tried to explain things to me. I must say that Mother only revealed the secrets of this room to me fairly recently. Tell me about Neville and this special sword, please.”

Harry launched into a description of Nagini and what the snake contained, eventually revealing his own role in the battle - mainly due to the Prince’s skilful questioning. Then the Queen arrived and both men stood. Harry inclined his head as he had been instructed. Once the Queen was seated the other two sat.

“Well now Mr Potter. Dear Albus has revealed to me the part you played in saving our nation from some of the worst horrors since the Second World War. Perhaps now you realise why the PM is wondering how I get my information magical without using his contacts.”

“Yes Ma’am. I recognise Phineas Nigellus as well; he’s one of my ancestors via my Black family connections, so I’m told.”

“So you have a reasonable pedigree then.” The Queen chuckled.

Harry blushed: “Um ... N-no ... I wasn’t ...”

“Mr Potter, don’t get so uptight, Mother has a peculiar sense of humour.”

Harry looked at the smiling Prince, and relaxed slightly, but he still gripped the arms of his chair tightly.

“I think I will come straight to the point Mr Potter. Albus was our advisor in things magical, having been appointed when he was about your age by my great-great-grandmother. What I propose, is to appoint you as his successor. Hence the reason for Charles being told about this special room, as you would become his advisor in turn when I join Albus in the next world. The duties are not onerous - a monthly regular meeting sufficed us, didn’t it Albus?”

“Yes Ma’am, plus an occasional special. Harry, please say yes. You’re the only one I would trust fully to carry out this role.”

“Um ... Me? But I’m still at school. The Headmistress is likely to offer us an extra year because of the hostilities.”

“I was in much the same position when Queen Victoria prevailed on me, so it’s nothing new.”

“Um ... Not much choice, have I?”

“No, not really; however I know you’ll carry it out well.”

“Um ... What about this Wizengamot thing that Gallus Griphook mentioned?”

“I believe that goes with the job, Mr Potter. We award you with a title which they cannot refuse.”

“What about my three helpers, Ma’am?”

“That could be arranged as well. You would head up the Order of Merlin. Latterly, Albus was my Grand Commander, Severus a Commander, and I am ashamed to say Lucius was a knight. Although, once convicted he will lose that right. If my small knowledge of Arithmancy serves me, you have a trio including you and then four others - thus threes and sevens.”

“If it’s Arithmancy you talk about, Ma’am, then Hermione is the one who knows. Although I agree that sevens and threes are potent numbers, so she says.”

“Would you see her as one of your inner cabinet then?”

“Yes Ma’am along with Ron ... Oh ... Ronald Weasley, Ma’am. He was the other one that the headmaster trusted to carry out our task.”

The Queen looked at Albus who nodded his agreement.

“Very well, so, Mr Longbottom would be one of the other four knights?”

“Yes Ma’am, if that’s alright by you?”

“It is!” The Queen chuckled: “Now there are three more to be appointed. I imagine that you have accepted then?”

“Yes Ma’am, I imagine I have.” Harry hoped his smile did not show his dismay at allowing himself to be steamrollered yet again.

“Then we had better make it formal and you had better kiss rings.”

Harry dredged up the PM’s advice and knelt on one knee. The Queen extended her hand and Harry kissed the ring. He felt the slightest magical tingle as he did so.

“Rise up Sir Harry James Potter, Knight Grand Commander of the Most Noble Order of Merlin.” The Queen handed Harry a golden signet ring.

“What me?”

Again the Queen chuckled: “Yes, you, Sir Harry. Now what about your other three advisors?”

“Do they have to be humans, Ma’am?” Harry saw the Queen looking slightly askance. “Um … there are other sentient magical beings, Ma’am; like goblins and elves for instance. Our group wants to integrate them more into magical society and thus end eons of hostility.”

“Ah yes, I see, in the same way that I am Queen of different races in the Commonwealth. Do they speak a different language?”

“We converse in English with them, Ma’am, so I don’t know.”

The Queen looked at Albus’s portrait.

“It’s rather like Gaelic in Scotland Ma’am, a minority culture but practiced by aficionados.”

“Thank you. I see no real objections Harry, if you think that would be helpful.”

Harry noted the Queen’s dropping of the ‘Sir’ and wondered what it meant. “Um ... Ma’am ... How secret is this group?”

“Just yourselves, myself, Charles and the Duke, plus your portrait predecessors, of course. I find it quite fascinating to talk to Aelmond, over there. He was William the First’s advisor. It helps me to keep the long term view and temper some of my government’s rash knee-jerk reactions to political pressures.” Again the Queen chuckled. “Your investiture will become public, at least in your world it will. It will be seen as recognition for services rendered. However the other role is not to be advertised, I like to have more than one channel of communication available to me, apart from my government’s official views. The PM does not know, neither does he need to; although he might guess. So … About your other three?”

“May I talk with Hermione and Ronald first, please, Ma’am?”

“Of course, a very wise decision. It might be an idea to think about someone who is a reformed member of the other side, you know. It might help to bind your society together.”

“Yes Ma’am, thank you. How do we arrange meetings, please?”

“Talk to Albus, I have another magical portrait of him, which I suggest you take with you and display in your work area or meeting room. I doubt anyone will suspect why it’s there except that he was your mentor. What say you?”

“Thank you Ma’am.”

The Queen showed Harry the magical door from that room to the Palace apparating area – which was only available to the ring holder and anyone he or she side-alonged.

### INTERNMENT CAMP ###

Draco was surprised at the treatment of his family as prisoners. The harshness that he had endured in Voldemort’s court was not there. Admittedly they were confined, but there was a régime that treated them as humans and allowed them an amount of personal privacy. However those that might have plotted evil things were kept separately from each other. That included his father, who was still ranting and raving about his imprisonment. Narcissa, on the other hand, accepted her incarceration. As well as meeting other less vociferous wives, she and Draco had a daily chance to chat together about things domestic and personal. Draco was also lucky in his allocated cell-mate – Gregory Goyle.

### GRIMMAULD PLACE ###

At the London house Minerva had apparated over to share dinner with them; so Harry kept things to himself. Minerva helped him to enact the ‘Master of the House’ spells. Naturally Harry included the Weasley clan and Hermione as observers. One amusing sideline was that all the items Mundungus and the death-eaters had stolen suddenly repatriated themselves in a pile on the tapestry room floor. Kreacher was overjoyed and restored some of the more tasteful ornaments to their rightful places. Minerva and Molly had a small pile of objects to cleanse of dark spells; but this time it was with Kreacher’s full co-operation.

Harry, Ronald and Hermione repaired quietly to the Solar, where he told them the gist of his interview with the Queen, and about Griphook’s urgings. Ronald was all for it from the beginning and, from being dubious, Hermione was talked round by both of the males. Then Harry told them about including Neville and his ideas re other races.

In the middle of their conversation Minerva popped her head round the door.

“I shall be going in a few minutes Harry; I wanted to ask you all to return to Hogwarts to complete your education; Kingsley’s going to teach DADA but wants you to be his assistant. He’s also asked me to release you for certain important meetings. I gather you three are to be asked to become members of the Wizengamot. It needs young blood and fresh ideas, so don’t turn the offer down please?”

“We were just discussing that, thank you Headmistress, and had come to a common opinion that we should do so, too.”

“Good! Thanks for telling me, now I can arrange your schedules accordingly. Oh ... Sorry ... I had assumed that you were returning.”

Harry and Ronald looked at Hermione’s eager face and knew they could not disappoint her or Minerva; so Harry replied in the affirmative. They wished her goodnight and she apparated from the roof garden.

Kreacher appeared, asking if they wanted a nightcap or other refreshment.

“Just the person we want to talk to,” said Hermione eagerly.

Kreacher’s face fell and he looked at Harry pleadingly.

“This is much more serious than clothes, Kreacher.” Harry smiled encouragingly: “Please sit down with us.”

Kreacher looked even more worried and chose the hardest seat he could find, sitting on its very edge.

“You’ve heard about the Muggle Queen, haven’t you?”

“She’s our queen, not just for the Muggles; didn’t you know that Master?”

“Sort of! That makes things easier for me to say. What if the Queen wanted you to become one of her advisors?”

“Me ... Master? Why?”

“Recognition for services rendered in defeating Voldie, and as a trusted representative of the elfin race. You would be part of a very select group which includes us three, and Master Neville.”

“It’s not my place to advise such an august personage, Master.”

“It is, if she asks you, and we intend to recommend you.”

“I must obey my master.”

“I would rather that you accepted it for yourself, Kreacher; just like you took it upon yourself to lead the elfin army.”

“That was to defend my master.”

“So you would not defend your Queen then?”

Kreacher looked puzzled, and then he appeared to be having a long conversation with himself. Eventually his agitation abated:

“If my Master defends her, then a dutiful elf must do the same. Yes Master, I will become her adviser as long as you do.”

“Good, I’m pleased you accepted. In future you are to call us by our given names as we are to become equals and fellow knights; now Hermione has something to ask you.”

Kreacher looked worried again.

“It’s not about clothes, Kreacher. It’s about you becoming a member of the Wizengamot and representing the elves there also. The Queen will bestow a Knighthood of the Order of Merlin upon you, so that will automatically make you a member of the Wizengamot along with Gallus Griphook the Goblin from Gringott’s.

“That’ll be six Mist … Erm … Hermione, who’ll be the seventh, to make up the Arithmancy?”

“Not sure yet, Kreacher, Her Majesty suggests a reformed death-eater, so maybe we’ll have to see what happens at the trials.”

“I think you’re going to be very busy with the advisor role, how about recruiting a couple more house-elves,” Harry suggested.

“Thanks for reminding me Mast … Erm … Harry. I don’t know if you know, but Voldie cursed Malfoy Manor and a couple of them escaped, Grouchy and Huppert would like to return to the Black house if possible.”

“Do you think they’ll behave themselves?”

“Oh yes! They hated it there, especially with Voldie in charge. They went with Mistress Narcissa when she was married. The curse has voided their connection to her somehow, so they’re neither free elves nor attached ones. I’m afraid they’ll take to drink, in the same way that Winky did.” Kreacher winked at Harry and looked slyly at Hermione.

“Well Hermione?” Harry asked, quietly admiring Kreacher’s Slytherin ways.

“Erm ... Oh dear ... At least they’ll have a reasonable home here, won’t they Harry?” Hermione gave him a stern look.

“Of course!” Harry adopted a wide eyed innocent look: “Is there anything more Kreacher?”

“Not at the moment, M … Harry. I’ll bring you your hot chocolate,” Kreacher again winked covertly at Harry and popped away.

“Thanks a lot,” Harry said to the space Kreacher had just vacated.

### THE SOLAR ###

Later that evening two slightly scorched house-elves were brought into Harry’s private lounge by Kreacher.

“Harry, these are the two house-elves I told you about. This one is Grouchy and this one Huppert.”

Harry looked at the cringing elves: “I am not like your former Master, Grouchy and Huppert. I do not believe that cruelty brings out the best in anyone. I know from personal experience what it is like to be a badly treated and starving servant. You will be treated well here and I hope you will respond by helping Reeve Kreacher to maintain our house in good order. I understand that there may be other houses as well, but we will sort those out when the time comes. Are you happy with that arrangement?”

“Us? Being asked if we are happy. House-elves aren’t meant to be happy, just serve.”

“You can do both, you know, Huppert.”

“Yes Master, if you tell us to, we will.” Grouchy fixed an unconvincing grin on his face.

Harry sighed. “I think you’ll have to find out for yourselves. However I expect you to obey Sir Kreacher and Winky, as she is my housekeeper. Do you understand?”

“YES MASTER!” they replied together.

Then Huppert looked up shyly at Harry: “Hmm … Master …? Did you just call a house-elf ‘Sir’?”

“Yes! Kreacher is to be a Knight of the Order of Merlin and therefore a Fellow of the Wizengamot.”

“But we house-elves cannot be members of the Wizengamot it’s against the law. We know our place. We know about a Reeve being the house-elf in charge but not a knight.”

“The law has been changed and Sir Kreacher’s place is as a Fellow on the court’s benches by my side.”

Slowly Harry got the two timid ones to open up; mainly by telling them of his time as an unpaid and ill used servant to the Dursleys. He also sorted out why Kreacher was calling Harry by his first name.

As various family members wandered in and out they were introduced to the new elves. They stayed chatting until Kreacher took the elves off to see their newly appointed quarters under the stairs.