Sir Harry J Potter GCOM

### HOGWARTS ###

After escaping from the aftermath of the battle and repairing his wand; Harry, with Hermione and Ronald, left the Headmistress’s office in a thoughtful mood. Harry was looking forward to his comfortable four-poster, but he realised that he had others to care for first. He mentioned it to his friends and they divided up, going round and finding out what arrangements had to be made. Minerva and her elves came up trumps, managing to find much accommodation, albeit some rooms had their windows missing. Those arrangements tided everyone over for the night and then, in the morning, assorted apparations cleared the grounds of many of the remaining combatants and the walking wounded.

### MALFOY MANOR ###

The Malfoy family were one of the first ones to apparate away; heading for the Manor. On arrival they were astounded to find nothing but a pile of smoking ruins and a couple of scorched house-elves who reported that Voldemort, vindictive to the last, had placed a curse on the house which would only be activated upon his death. Narcissa was in tears and Lucius grim faced but determined. Draco, having gone through so many recent tortures in that place, felt guiltily relieved. Maybe his parents had happy memories of the place, but many of his years had been made a living hell, firstly by his father’s physical strictures and latterly by Voldemort and his minions. School was much more attractive than this so-called home; so he grieved over the damage done to Hogwarts.

There was just one structure standing. That was a hidden summer-house at the far end of the jungle that their garden had become during the Dark Lord’s tenure. This used to be a younger Draco’s hideout when things became too fraught inside the Mansion. With the aid of the house-elves the family made some sort of abode there, pending Lucius’s investigation into the curse and any counter measures that could reverse the malevolent atmosphere surrounding the burnt-out shell.

### HOGWARTS ###

For Harry, the biggest problem left was that of the Weasley clan because the Burrow had been made equally uninhabitable by the marauding of successive bands of death-eaters. Even the attic ghoul had deserted.

Harry called Kreacher to come and see him.

“Thanks for your leadership of the elfin army, Kreacher, it made a lot of difference to the outcome of the battle.”

“It’s a house-elf’s duty to support his master in whatever endeavour his master undertakes.”

“Nevertheless, it was very brave of you to lead them like that.”

“Thank you Master” Kreacher puffed out his chest in pride, polished his locket and then looked troubled: “I was very worried when you didn’t return. Then some nasty death-eaters came in looking for you. Master Regulus had told me to hide if ever they came looking for him so I supposed that it was the same for you, so I concealed myself. They made some mess but eventually left; having found little of value. I tidied up and then started looking for you. You had very powerful shields.” Kreacher now sounded quite offended.

“Sorry Kreacher, but we wanted to keep the other side from knowing where we were. I think Mistress Hermione is very good at making that kind of protector.”

“Mistress Hermione is a Granger, is she not?”

“Yes Kreacher, why do you ask?”

“When I was cleaning the tapestry I found a Black had married into a Granger family some generations ago, so maybe she isn’t a Mudblood after all. I don’t think she could be if she produces such excellent magic. Maybe the fluence missed a couple of generations – I’ve heard that it does that occasionally.”

“We’ll have to look into that later, Kreacher. My biggest problem is the Weasley family. The death-eaters ruined their home and I need somewhere for them to stay. I know you had made your peace with Master Ronald, so I wondered ...?”

“Yes, Master, there is plenty of room at Grimmauld Place and I’m used to Mistress Molly’s ways from when the Order used the house ... erm ... Do you think I could recruit a few more house-elves ...?”

“Of course, but how?”

“Well ... while I was at Hogwarts I made friends with Winky ... I think that if she has a family to look after again it will help with her drink problem.”

“You go ahead, I’m feel sure Mistress Hermione would back you up; she was appalled at the state Winky was in.”

“Erm ... She won’t try to give us clothes, will she?”

“I’m your master so it would be up to me to do that and I have no intention of doing so at the moment. I think she’s altered her views a little about that; probably after she saw the drunken Winky. However, if she tries it on you must not accept and then come and tell me immediately, Okay?”

“Yes Master ... Erm ... How soon do you think the Weasleys will be coming?”

“Today if possible?”

“Very well, Master,” Kreacher pulled a face.

“Would it help if I asked Winky to be my house-elf?”

“Yes please.” Kreacher snapped his fingers and a somewhat dishevelled Winky appeared; looking as though she was suffering from a massive hangover.

“Winky, I would like you to be my house-elf, please. You would be helping Kreacher to look after Grimmauld Place and any other houses that belong to me. There is one stipulation though, that you cease getting drunk. An odd drink I have no opposition to; however, if you feel you cannot manage that and would rather sign the pledge, I would support that decision. What do you say?”

“Ooh, my poor head ... Thank you Master ... I would like to have a family to look after again ... I will try not to let you down. Will it be just you?”

“No, the Weasleys are coming to stay for some time, and then there may be other families whose homes the death-eaters have destroyed ... who knows.”

“Here, drink this.” Kreacher handed Winky a bright yellow ‘morning after’ potion: “It’s extra strong,” he added, grinning mischievously as Winky’s ears emitted steam.

The two elves disapparated and Harry went in search of the Weasleys. Hermione was with them.

“Um ... Auntie Molly ... Would you and your family like to stay at Grimmauld Place, at least until you’ve sorted out the Burrow and its curses. Uncle Arthur could go to work from there easily and it’s near the shop in Diagon Alley for George and Percy. Kreacher and Winky are getting it ready for us now.”

“Harry, dear. What a kind offer. Ron tells me Kreacher has turned over a new leaf.”

“Yes Mum, in the last weeks before we had to hide he looked after us three very well,” Ron confirmed.

“Are you sure it won’t be an imposition, Harry?”

“I get to return some of the hospitality you gave me, Auntie; I’m looking forward to having my family there.”

“What was that about Winky, Harry?”

“Kreacher thinks she should have a family to look after, Hermione, so I’ve asked her to become my house-elf, with the stipulation that she stays off the drink. I think Kreacher has a soft spot for her, so that’ll help as well. Kreacher asks that you don’t go on at them about clothes, please.”

“Okay, just to keep the peace mind, and especially if it will help Winky recover; Kreacher was very good to us once we’d undertaken to destroy that Horcrux.”

### HEADMISTRESS’S OFFICE ###

Harry had a chat with McGonagall before they left. She said that she hoped to persuade the governors to offer a return to the present seventh years who wished to take their NEWT’s and had missed them due to the hostilities.

### GRIMMAULD PLACE ###

When they arrived outside the London house, they were agreeably surprised because its outward appearance was changed; in fact the whole square looked slightly less seedy than before. Harry thought that there were more houses in the row, too. There were, however quite a number of ‘For Sale’ signs on the houses surrounding number twelve.

Once inside, the difference was astounding. The whole place still looked threadbare, but everywhere was scrupulously clean, even Walburga’s curtains could be seen to be made of a rich green velour which had been washed and carefully repaired. Harry dreaded confronting the portrait, but decided to get it over with, so he drew back the curtains. He nearly collapsed in surprise.

“Welcome, true Scion of the Black Family and now its recognised head. Welcome Hermione, one of our long lost relatives. Welcome Molly Prewett, another of our relatives many times removed.”

“Um ... Thank you ... Um ... May I call you Aunt Walburga, please? After all, you are a relation.”

The portrait smiled mischievously at Harry: “Dear Orion always called me Wally, so Auntie Wally would be acceptable, Harry.”

“Thank you Auntie. Perhaps you and I could have a chat soon. Then you can help me with Black history and my responsibilities. You know now that both your son’s opposed the death-eaters, don’t you?”

“Yes! Kreacher has told me of it and of his discoveries in the Family Tree; Phineas Nigellus has told me of your exploits in the monster’s defeat, too. Pure-blood ideals are still my moral code, but that horror of a half-blood took things well beyond the pale. I dread to think how many pure-bloods were led astray by him. I look forward to advising my new head of family.”

When they entered the tapestry room a cosy fire greeted them and Kreacher was there with coffee and biscuits. Winky was halfway up a ladder very carefully re-stitching Sirius’s name where it had been burnt out. Kreacher had obviously spent a lot of tender loving care in cleaning the tapestry, revealing two wings which had previously been so grimy as to be unrecognisable. On one of these wings the Granger connection was visible, as were various extra Potter, Evans and Weasley attachments.

Kreacher and Harry had a quick conference about bedrooms, offering Molly and Arthur the use of the main suite. With Harry taking Sirius’s old room, Percy and George were to use the one that had been Regulus’s; on the same floor. Hermione was to sleep in Harry’s old room sharing with Ginny. Charlie and Ronald were to inhabit a room on the second floor where the bathrooms were. Leaving Bill and Fleur to use the other room until Bill had sorted out his job at Gringott’s.

They spent a couple of days just recovering and enjoying the now peaceful atmosphere. With an amenable Kreacher and little to do, Harry talked to Auntie Wally and found out about the many rooms in Grimmauld Place. With her guidance they set about refurbishing the bedrooms and creating small en suite facilities for each bedroom. This meant that the two bathrooms went, being replaced by another double bedroom. Harry could, therefore, re-claim the small room Ginny and Hermione had used as a bedroom and make it into a small sitting room cum office. Auntie Wally said it used to be called the Solar, so Harry renamed it as such. Much practical wand-work was employed, installing plumbing, raising partitions and painting walls. Some rooms had to be disinfested of various gremlins and sprites. The whole house smelt better and there was no longer the lurking fear that had seemed to permeate the walls. Even the shrunken heads had had a decent burial. All it needed now were new furnishings.

Some Mondays later, when Arthur said he was going to work. Percy offered to help George sort out the shop and Charlie went with them, Hermione grabbed a reluctant Ronald and went with Kreacher to inspect the books in the library. Molly, Fleur and Winky had been in a huddle about furnishings and when Bill said he was going to report to Gringott’s Molly persuaded Harry to go with them to buy some replacement carpets and curtains. Having persuaded him she then fussed about his clothes making sure he was presentable. Because of that, he had to change into an un-creased cloak, comb his hair and shine his shoes etc.

### MALFOY MANOR ###

That same Monday a dozen Aurors managed to find a way of revealing the supposedly unplottable Malfoy hideout; mainly because Voldemort’s curse had removed most of the wards. They apparated in to the old Manor grounds and after a short tussle overcame the Malfoys; arresting them and taking them to the Ministry’s newly opened and magically hidden internment camp.

### GRINGOTT’S ###

It was Harry’s first assay into public after the battle and he was mobbed by smiling people all wanting to thank him and shake his hand. To begin with it was rather pleasant, but quite soon he found he had an aching hand and had adopted a fixed smile. On arrival at the wizarding bank the Gringott’s goblins were all beaming too, much to his astonishment. His little party was shown into a side room where a grinning Griphook met them.

“Hello Harry, Neville returned the sword after he had used it on that snake. In the name of harmony, we’re making a special room for those items which both races stake a claim to; so they can be called forth again easily.”

“I thought you’d be in a lot of trouble for helping us to break into Bellatrix’s vault.”

“I was to begin with, but then you killed that ‘V’ beast. You see; my brothers were bloodily oppressed by the Ministry when the death-eaters were in power, even worse than the tortures I was put to for helping you break in. Then things changed, Kingsley has altered the Ministry’s outlook greatly, we are to have representation on the Wizengamot and I’m one of the designated delegates. However, we’ve said that we’ll only co-operate if you, Ronald and Hermione are made members too. We know that you three will stand up for fair play, even if we don’t get everything we want immediately. I think you’d better call me by my given name of Gallus, as we seem to be friends. Now how can I help you?”

“We’re refurbishing my London Home, so I’ll need rather a lot of galleons to buy carpets, curtains etc.”

“Well now, do you want to visit your vault? It’s still rather messy down there, not just from our attempt at wrecking the place, but mainly from the death-eater depredations. However you could have some promissory notes, if that would make things easier.”

“Promissory notes?”

“Yes ... Mmm ... Muggles call them cheques, I think. We only offer them to major stake-holders and your holding has trebled since you last saw it. We have sorted out the Black investments which are now yours and so are the legal remains of that Lestrange bitch’s vaults. Quite a bit of those last were found to be illegal, by both race’s standards, but the remains of Bellatrix’s fortune has reverted to the Blacks. You now surpass the Malfoy millions, not that there’s much left after Voldie spent it all, and the Ministry is likely to sequester what remains for reparations. Any idea what will happen to that family?”

“Not really, they’ll have to be tried in front of the Wizengamot, of course. Lucius will go to Azkaban for sure; Narcissa helped me to defeat Voldie by pretending I was dead, so that will count in her favour. Draco, apart from letting death-eaters into Hogwarts has neither killed nor tortured anyone as far as I know. I don’t favour revenge as a motive for justice, so I would bet on some form of probation for him, so as to let him prove that he has truly reformed.”

“That last is the sort of attitude my brothers see is needed, so when Kingsley asks you three, please say yes.”

“No guarantees yet, I’m still sorting myself out. However I will give it serious thought and tell the other two. Now about those promissory notes ...”

### INTERNMENT CAMP ###

As soon as they arrived at the internment camp Lucius started to throw his weight around. The result was that he was separated from his family and placed in a high security wing.

Narcissa was mindful of their precarious position and cautioned Draco about adopting his father’s attitude: something that Draco had already worked out for himself. He politely thanked his mother for her advice and kept the low profile that he had already intended.

### DIAGON ALLEY ###

Bill, Fleur and Molly went with Harry; this time he put on his cloak when he got to the street, uncovering when he went inside the next shop. The moving about was much easier because the three Weasleys went relatively unremarked.

Shopping done they went to Fortescues, found a quiet booth, put up an ‘Obscurans’ charm and had lunch, finishing up with one of Fortescues specials and an argument about paying; because Fortescue wanted to give Harry everything for free.

Whilst they were eating, Arthur came in for his lunch - Fortescue having recently branched out into pasta meals – so Arthur was guided to the booth as well.

“Ah Harry, just the bloke I wanted to see. Hmm … Will you come and talk to Kingsley this afternoon please? His floo will be open to you at two o’clock for quarter of an hour.”

“Is it about becoming a Wizengamot member?”

“How did you know?” Arthur looked round furtively: “It’s supposed to be hush-hush.”

“We’ve been chatting to Gallus Griphook at Gringott’s.”

“Oh! I see … well it could be that, but Kingsley acted all harassed … quite unusual for him … so I think he’s worried about something else. A number of people are pressurising him, I think, and not just about that.”

“Okay, then I’ll floo over to his office just after two. Can’t have one of our friends getting harassed can we?” Harry chuckled and the others followed suit. “Any idea what’s happened to the Malfoys? Only, Gallus was asking.”

“They were arrested earlier today; keep it under your hat though. We don’t want vigilante groups or death-eater gangs finding out and trying to get at them. I’ll let Gallus know quietly. He’s been a very helpful contact in overcoming the goblins’ suspicions.”

There was just time to visit the WWW shop before two o’clock.

“Ah Harry,” Percy greeted him: “Could we use the garden roof at Grimmauld Place as an apparating point? We have a small flat roof on top of the shop; both of them can be hidden by roof-charms. Sirius used to exercise Buckbeak up there, so I’m told. It would be much better than trying to land on the front step.”

“I don’t see why not. Do you envisage making the window into a door?”

“No! Your Auntie said that there used to be a door at the head of the stairs so we intend to unblock it. We could even make the garden look presentable then. We had to repair the roof by climbing out of that window, because it was leaking into the old bathrooms.”

“Out of bed and into work,” added George: “And Dad could use it too. The Ministry has re-opened its Diagon Alley entrance. We’ll keep it secret - just for family and friends.”

They spent a little time looking round at the ruined stock and the inroads the three brothers had made into the repairs. Then it was time for Harry to floo to Kingsley’s office.

### MINISTRY PLUS ###

“Harry, how good to see you. I won’t shake your hand, Arthur’s told me about your many well wishers,” said Kingsley giving Harry a light shoulder hug: “I hope you don’t mind but the Muggle Prime Minister has asked to see you. I promised to have you there for half-past.”

Harry looked resigned and nodded, Kingsley chuckled: “I know the feeling well, Harry. Everybody thinks that they have exclusive rights to my time and undivided attention too. However he seems to be in a tizzy. We’ve been friends for some time, ever since I was his magical bodyguard. I’d not like him to get into trouble.”

“Okay. I understand, let’s get it over with. How do we get there?”

Kingsley turned to a small picture which had the Parliamentary grille coat of arms on it; he touched it with his wand.

“Minister of Magic coming through.”

“Prime Minister ready to receive,” came back from the picture.

“Okay Harry, step into the fireplace with me, please?” Kingsley grabbed some floo powder: “Prime Minister’s Office.”

### DOWNING STREET ###

As there were no intervening fireplaces; Harry was landing almost at the same time that he had taken off.

“You wanted to see Harry Potter, Prime Minister? Well here he is.”

“So you’re the young man who stopped all these peculiar happenings, are you? Well done!” Harry tried not to wince when he received a hearty handshake. “Please sit, would you like some tea?”

“N-No thank you Sir, I’ve just had lunch, thank you.”

“Oh! Right! Can either of you tell me where your lot interface with the Royal Family?”

Harry looked questioningly at Kingsley, who replied: “As far as I know we don’t. As you know I’m still learning about the job, so it is possible. I’ve seen no records of such, but then the death-eaters destroyed many confidential files.”

“Death-eaters? Oh yes; I remember – your bad boys. Glad to say none of them got to me, owing to your good offices, Kingsley; although that Pius chap was a bit creepy.”

“Yes; he was under Imperio, as I explained before. Now, why do you ask about the Royal Family?”

“Thanks for that reminder, Kingsley. Mr Potter, would you mind accompanying me to the palace, the Queen has asked to meet you.”

“Me?” Harry looked aghast: “Um ... When?”

“I have my audience with her Majesty this afternoon; we could go in my official car; it has obscured windows. That would not draw any attention to you. I understand that you types prefer to stay in the background. I sometimes wish I could, but it’s not in the job description.”

Harry looked at Kingsley who mouthed ‘Get it over with’.

“Okay! Am I dressed alright?” Harry asked, secretly thanking Molly for fussing around him earlier.

Kingsley nodded and the Prime Minister smiled: “Her Majesty’s used to foreign potentates arriving in funny garments. Yours are quite tame compared with many I’ve seen. I think she’ll be delighted.”