Chapter 24

The ICW was busy, and aurors were everywhere.

"Severus Snape? You are under arrest. Please come with me. If you cannot afford one, a barrister will be provided."

The headmaster of Ecole Merlin had warned him before they came to the ICW, but Snape had not yet been able to make contact with the man or any knight or with Dumbledore.

He had vital information that had an expiration date! An attack on Hogwarts was planned, and he had no way of contacting anyone.

"Do you know Headmaster Brown?"

"That lot? Know of them, they do good work. Wishing you had joined them as a child? Not too late you know. You're a young wizard."

"You have no idea. I need to speak with him please. Can you please ask him to visit me?"

"Sure! I know you're a professor. Not a problem at all to send an owl."

The problem was that the headmaster was bouncing from Hogwarts to Rome to Paris, and the poor bird was lost!

**OO**

"Draco? Do you know who I am?" The man held up a very familiar ring. One that Magic had given him when he was a first year.

"You're Sirius Black. My father used to brag how he outsmarted you." Draco bowed. "Lord Black. I'm glad that you're okay. Truly."

"You've had time to evaluate your life?"

"Yes, and I don't like my choices very much." Draco shared honestly.

"Would you like to help? Perhaps win some respect with the knights?" Sirius offered.

Draco nodded. "The people here in muggle affairs gave me a bunch of pamphlets and stuff. I don't want to live as a muggle. Even if I don't get magic back."

"I need you to write a letter to your father as though you were still the Dark Lord. We're going to make him think that I'm the Dark Lord, and you are my heir apparent in the new world order. It will be dangerous, but I can give you a portkey that works for muggles.

"You and I are different. I was possessed by a homicidal but young Dark Lord. You had the more mature knowledgeable one. I need to be able to pass for him in order to complete this mission.

"Will you help me?" Sirius finished his request, gazing at the teen intensely.

"If I do, you'll help me get into that squib school?" Draco asked. "I mean, you'd help me gain admittance to Ecole Merlin." He added more respectfully, without being prompted.

"Yes, but if they still won't take you, I'll get you tutors, and find something for you in the magical world. You only saw the entailed Black vaults. Those were indeed nearly empty. I do have some gold. Enough to make sure that you are provided for, get a good education."

Draco nodded. He knew that without magic, he had no funds. The reality of the situation was dire, and he was about to be as poor as Tom Riddle started, but without the benefit of magic.

"What do you need me to do?" The former Malfoy heir asked.

**OO**

Briokz had never been asked to come to Paris before, and had never been to the ICW Headquarters. He was surprised to see that he was not only NOT the only goblin there, but there were several running around the building. All dressed very professionally in suits, not the hideous robes that humans insisted on wearing. Not good business that.

Sir Harry waited for him with a few others from his school. The goblin had been informed that the Potter heir was practically living here due to all of the hubble-bubble. Something about improved wards around the school.

"Sir Harry. Well-met. I haven't seen you in some time. You're growing."

"Dharma Briokz. Your help was essential in getting the marriage contract with Millicent broken. You were brilliant. And Hermione is still contracted to me. Thank you."

Harry beamed at the goblin, who nodded his head. His commission from M. Delacour was very nice for that bit of work, and the lad had written a nice thank you note. So unusual for a wizard, treating him as an equal. Harry continued.

"I asked you here, because when I was eleven, I misunderstood things. I thought that by removing the Malfoy's heir magic, that Lucius would have to remarry, and well. We had a plan, that is Neville and I and Hermione had overhead some of what was being planned, then we talked. It was…"

Harry stopped himself, realizing he was babbling.

"I made a mistake. It was wrong to punish Draco for Lucius' greed. I am very sorry. Is there anything that I can do to rescind the contract that was made when Gertie Wagner was kidnapped?"

The goblin stared at him. "You can't go back and take Lucius Malfoy's magic. Oh, come now! The broken contract means just that. Penalties invoked. There is a ritual of repudiation. Rarely used, but sometimes families will buy back magic lost in these things. It's the basis for the untrue accusation of muggleborns stealing magic from purebloods."

"Sir Knight, Heed this warning you must! You can't go back! If you give the boy his magic, you can't take it again. He would have to do something to get it bound by the law. And in Britain, that law is Malfoy gold." He muttered something under his breath that may have said 'not that there's much of that.'

"I understand sir. I made a mistake, and I need to make this right. How much does this ritual cost? I know that nothing is free with goblins."

Dharma Briokz nearly reprimanded the poor boy for swearing like that, using the free word around him. But Harry was offering gold, not that Potter had much left. Just a small emergency vault of about two thousand galleons set up for him by Remus Lupin.

"Normally, this ritual goes for as much as a hundred thousand galleons. However, the actual cost is not that much. What I suggest is this. Return a goblin made item from the Potter household vault, and provide the gems needed. We'll call it even."

Harry knew that anything truly valuable from the Household vault had been sold long ago. Other than Neville's sword and the dagger…

Harry pulled the small, wicked looking dagger from his boot. "Do you mean this?"

Briokz eyes glowed. "Yesss…that's it!"

To Harry, this was just a boot knife, its historical value lost to time, as no one wrote it down. He had spares in his kit. Not that he was going to summon them again.

He'd learned from the first time, and the second. Well, by the third really. But he had learned. And gotten good at dodging.

"Agreed. I know that these rituals are ruled by the stars, moon, and such. Tell me the best time, and I will make arrangements."

The goblin nodded. "Harry, if I could be a mentor to you for a moment, I would urge caution. That blond ponce thought the world would bow to him. Let him live as a muggle for a time first. Let him see what wizards do to muggles. Maybe he won't be so quick to follow his mother's path then."

"Don't you mean his father's?" Harry asked.

Briokz eyes narrowed. "If she is not yet on your enemies list, get her there quickly young man. I hear things. Vermin I am treated, sometimes by my own kin. She intends to kill all of your friends, especially your betrothed. All for the crime of having muggle or so-called creature blood."

Harry wrote a quick contract, simple and to the point. They both signed it, and in good faith, Harry handed over the knife of his ancestors.

"I could sell this for a million galleons to another wizard, but I won't. My great-grandfather crafted this for yours. I have not been allowed blades due to my unnaturalness." The goblin pointed to his off-hand. "Now I have a dagger of his. Thank you."

"Briokz, if you had told me that, I would have given you the dagger. I count you as a friend."

"Indeed, as I do you. I trusted you to be yourself. I could never have accepted it as a gift. Call it cultural differences."

"Right. Sorry. Need to study that more. I'll talk to you after the New Year, um, Wizard New Year. Give Draco a chance to accept his circumstances before going forward. What do you think?"

"January 21 is a good day for such rituals."

"Perfect. For what it's worth, I think that your people are wrong about you. If you ever want another job, I can find you a place. I have friends in a lot of fields, and I am happy to help you. And it will cost a lot of gold too!"

Harry's face fell, he'd never make a good goblin. "Well, not too much. Just a little. Hey! You could buy chocolate for Hermione for me!"

Briokz laughed and they shook hands before parting.

**OO**

"Lucius! I have received a letter from Draco! Listen to this wonderful news:

'Mother and Father, I am so sorry that I have likely worried you. I had to leave school suddenly with Ambassador Umbridge. She had international contacts that allowed me to finally help the Dark Lord gain a body of his own. It required a very odd ritual, and one poor minion cut off his hand, but the Dark Lord has his own body. And I no longer host him.

'He wants to honor our family at our Harvest festival. Please plan to host him at that time with our friends that Saturday November 2nd. Please do make sure that no one unsuitable is there.

'I am still weak from the ritual, and it will take time to fully recuperate. The witch in charge says I must do no magic at all before the first of the year, or I could risk shattering my core.

'I plan to attend to the party, but cannot return to school. The wards, we have heard, have changed, and I will no longer be allowed in.

'Sincerely,

Draco Malfoy, Heir to the House of Malfoy

'I am well pleased with Draco. Please give my regards to Lucius, Narcissa. I have another party to plan soon, and need your loving attention to details. People will be dying to join in. LV.

Lucius beamed, as the postscript would not have been visible to Draco unless he was marked. The barrister had never found Draco at the ICW. That was clearly a ruse. He'd done it! Of course, he'd been forced to leave Hogwarts with the wards up, and bless Dolores, she had likely smuggled him out of the country. He'd have to give the witch a present.

Narcissa's evil smile was blood-chilling. "I think that the Master is planning a post revel the likes of which we haven't seen in some time."

"Why do you think that, my dear?"

"November 2nd is the day of the dead, my lord husband. Clearly, Draco shared with him that we would be having our ball that day. What better day to celebrate our Master's return? What better way that the slaughter of muggles. And we'll hopefully have Harry Potter's carcass to gift him as well."

Lucius dared kiss his wife, and she returned it with fiery passion.

"What about Pettigrew? How is he still in the castle?" Lucius pondered, but then his wife kissed him again, and he forgot all about silly problems that didn't matter.

**OO**

He had been fasting for three days first, praying to recall his own, and not his hosts sins. And truly repented of them. He could never be an associate of the Order again, not after what he had been through. But he wanted to complete the ritual that would remove the last of the evil taint from him.

"In nomine patris et filii et spiritus sancti. Amen"

Sirius Black came out of the water, a full-body baptism, feeling free and light.

His brother, Regulus, was there to embrace him, not caring one jot about getting wet.

Lord Black didn't know where he was going from here, but it wouldn't be serving the Dark Magic like his parents, or his old family did.

He would serve the Light with his new family. With Regulus and Harry, Hermione too. And perhaps a witch of the Light for himself.

After all, the world needed more Blacks of the Light.

**OO**

Ever since getting contacted by Harry after the capture of Dracomort, the twins stopped going to classes. The moved to Rome and lived in the boffins building at the school at Ecole Merlin. They had gotten permission from their father on the condition that they never tell their mum.

They planned to go back for the last task. Their preparations needed to be done by then.

Lisa Turpin accompanied them back to Rome. She wasn't enjoying the Hogwarts experience at all, and had forgotten a lot of why she switched schools.

The castle was great, but they weren't allowed in it. Too much weirdness going on. Yeah, well. She was glad to be back, and wish she could have caught up to be with Harry and Hermione in their cohort. She was just too far behind.

"You're one of the boffins?" Fred asked.

"Yes. I was recruited during my first year here. Like Unspeakables, we really don't like to be known. It was my design that nearly killed Hermione. She doesn't know. Harry does, and doesn't hold a thing against me. Sent me ice mice to help calm down, even.

She was showing off an array of her own creations, and gave them each a mirror whose power had been boosted to allow one to talk through the wards of Hogwarts. The improved wards.

"You are one clever witch, you know!" George said, clearly impressed.

They were looking at all of the tiny potion's vials. Sir Hector had found tons and tons of empty bottles in some closet or something at Hogwarts. He got permission to take them out of the school with the other stuff, and they had been cleaned, shrunk, and repurposed.

Each one had different effects; all color coded for safety.

She liked the twins' sense of humor, but had to warn them against pranks here.

"You'll hear stories of Sister Gisele; I never had the pleasure. But the other sisters, and worse, Deputy Persephone? You don't want to make them mad. Just don't. Wait to get back to Hogwarts."

Lisa gave each of them an empty notebook for prank ideas that they came up with there that they couldn't implement. Then, it was time to get serious about pranking and got ready for war.

Remus Lupin joined them, but Peter Pettigrew had to teach. He handed grading off to assistants, and helped when he wasn't teaching.

The simulacrums, the blasting bolts, laughing gases. Elaborate fireworks.

Together, by Wednesday morning, the day before the task, everything was ready.

They'd go back to Hogwarts for the third task, and then get everything set up for the 'party' on Saturday at Malfoy Manor.

**OO**

Monseigneur Brown looked extremely unhappy about his brother leaving. "I just got you back. You need to get safely back here!"

"I plan to. Just tell Kreature that he can't kill just anyone he wants. I'm glad Draco didn't try summoning that elf when he was alone."

"Kreature was told that day. That poor elf, so devoted to the cause of evil, and I'm fighting it. It confuses him. I wish that we could go with you. Harry and I."

"Be safe, Regulus. Thanks for the anti-demon pendant. Makes me feel better." Padfoot said, rubbing it for luck.

It was time to go, or he'd miss the boat.

**OO**

Sirius Black really wished that he could have spent time with his godson before going on a dangerous mission.

They had a daily routine of talking on the mirrors, but he wanted just to spend time with the boy. Boy! Ha!

Padfoot had missed a lot in three years, but he wouldn't let it stop him from enjoying the future.

He polished his shiny auror badge that Mad-eye gave him. The spiffy red robes were more than just fashionable. Heavily charmed, they weren't body armor, but close.

Good thing he had on that under the spiffy robes.

When Mad-eye told Sirius that there were a hundred dementors waiting for pickup, Sirius had wanted to faint. He hated those blasted things.

Fortunately, 'Dolores' showed up, and had no problem getting them onto the barge.

Where it went from there was critical to the mission.

The minute that they were in Irish waters, a message was sent, and a dozen prepared knights flew out. By the time the dementors were aware of a golden cage descending on them it was too late. A few tried to escape, but were quickly herded to the trap by the Patronus wielding aurors assisting them. Sirius Black among them. One hundred demons sent back to the pit from whence they came! Wouldn't that put a damper on the Ministry budget to replace with live workers!

They flew back to Ireland, gladly pocketing a bounty for each of those monsters dealt with. The Knight Commander would be pleased with this mission. No muss, no fuss. And no loss of human life.

No one wanted to be added to the target wall that the Commander was building.

**OO**

Madame Maxine was furious. Hagrid had taken her for an evening stroll. Dragons were back. The last task was supposed to be a maze, not dragons. Something was very off.

"I'm sorry mes petites choux. We are leaving. Now. Everyone, to the carriage."

Hasty good-byes were said. She should have never, ever agreed to come here. She nominated a French auror James Matheson to be her substitute. He was looking for Gabrielle, who had gone missing the day before.

"I haven't searched the entire castle yet, but we'll find the girl." James promised.

"You will have help soon. When Fleur returns, she won't be alone. Good luck, auror."

The carriage took off, students waving from the windows.

But there was one small group happy to see that lot gone.

**OO**

"Dragons? Again?" Harry asked seeing the familiar bag.

Luna was still recovering but doing better. She had babbled something to him.

He took it as 'be careful about Death on Gold Wings' and 'beware of dragons'.

Harry honestly thought she was confused from the potions, but no, the task did have dragons. Again.

Fleur looked at the Chinese Fireball in her hand, while Cedric got the Welsh Green. Krum had the Swedish Short-snout.

"A Hungarian Horntail? Are they joking? This thing is to be put down wherever found! They are vicious, and will attack muggle cities if, no, when they get hungry enough. They can't be reasoned with! Magic resistance, spiked tails, wing tips, and head ridges. This thing is a monster!"

"Which is why we are using these beasts. They are all to be culled soon. Wouldn't want an innocent beast to be hurt in a Tournament task, after all." Crouch sneered.

"This is supposed to be about International Cooperation! You British are turning this to blood sport" Krum complained.

"Where's my father?" Cedric demanded.

Bagman paled a bit at that, but said nothing.

"Your task is to rescue your hostage before the dragon gets close enough to hurt them. They'll be chained. The chain lengthens a bit every minute out there. So don't tarry. You may bring one item other than your wand with you." Crouch said, glaring at Harry. "Scoring will be based on time and style."

"May I summon my mount during the trial?" Harry asked politely.

"If you can." The judge spit, clearly indicating that measures had been taken to block that path.

Harry was going last, which didn't bother him. He had no chance of winning with the biased scoring, and didn't care. He was here to deal with a Dark Lord. Well, one was gone. And plans were ongoing for another.

Harry first showed his sword to the judges. James Matheson looked very concerned. He approved the weapon, and the potions to be drunk in the tent. Professor Sprout also approved the sword, as did the Deputy Headmaster for Durmstrang. They also said that the potions had to be drunk there, but allowed him to share with all.

Ambassador Umbridge had shown up for a minute, but then went back to the castle. Crouch apparently was doing the scoring. 'She' looked disappointed about it.

With Dumbledore out of the country, the Herbology Professor offered to judge, and had been accepted. She was known to be very fair, even if Cedric were in her House.

The judges went to their stand. They clearly had been left in the dark regarding the tasks. Harry offered spare weapons to his fellow competitors, as well as fire-proofing potions. Both were accepted by the boys; Fleur took a potion with a small smile.

The lovely champion had appeared only that morning. She had been distant to Harry, not cold, but not coming on to him either. It was a nice change, and Harry felt much better about the situation with her now.

Fleur had a pair of new bodyguards as well. Extremely beautiful women that were armed and armored. There was an officer of the Veela queen's court in the audience. They all had told Harry that he had done well in his remit to keep Fleur safe, but he was relieved of duty. They also told him that they would be leaving the instant the task was finished.

Harry was happy that they were there, as it allowed him to concentrate on protecting Hermione.

Hermione. For the first time since taking vows, the need for vengeance started to swell in his breast. Harry took a cleansing breathe. NO! Look what happened to his godfather when Harry's parents were killed! People on that path made stupid mistakes. He would allow others, more clear-headed to provide justice.

Like Dan Granger, and his friends in the Prime Minister's office.

Harry hadn't known until recently that muggle tracking devices had been put in Hermione's shoes. They were not detectable to magic.

If Harry had known where she was, he would have stormed the castle. Mandate or no. And he knew spells to walk through walls.

He went to sit down, and look at the miniature dragon. Dangerous. He needed a plan.

There was a loud argument in rapid French, and the sound of spells and weapons. The burley aurors aimed their wands at the three wizards in the tent to make sure that they didn't move. A runner came and whispered to the brutes, and then they moved back to the entrance to the event where Fleur was, waiting to go in.

Fred called him while he was waiting in the tent, just audio no visual.

"Harry! Harry! Gabrielle has been located! She is out there tied up to a stake, and there's a dragon here! Fleur's guards tried to stop them. I hope they're just stunned, but they are on the ground. One is at least seriously injured. Oh no! I've called Charlie. You should see Sir Jerome's face. He's such a nice guy, but I wouldn't want to fight him. He looks ready to jump in the arena himself!"

"WHAT? How dare they endanger a child!" Harry stalked to the doors, worried for his friend. Charles came back into the tent now, on a path to the door. Two burly British Aurors stopped not only Sir Hector but Harry as well.

"Not your turn yet." Dawlish intoned.

"Turn! Turn! This is supposed to be a test of skill! Not blood-sport! There's a child in danger in out there!" Charles was furious. This was the last task, and their mission was nearly complete. No need to place nicey-nice with these things! These so-called people.

"There are safety protocols in place. You don't want to risk the pretty girl's magic, do you? The birds will be just fine. Now, leave walking or carried out, but be gone from here, knight!" Dawlish sneered that last, but Sir Hector stalked off.

"We'll see about this!"

Harry went back to his corner, and knelt in prayer. He didn't care about the contest!

Fred interrupted his communing with the Lord. "They've done something to the beasts hearing. She's not able to sing it to sleep again. But she's untied Gabrielle. Oh, smart! She's transformed and flying her out. They're okay! They're okay!"

Harry's heart clinched. "Fred! Listen to me. They've got Hermione! She's going to be in danger from a Horntail, and I'm not allowed my potions kit outside this tent. Can you come here now? My only chance will be to summon them. Potions, and the weapons inside."

The Potter lad was trying his best not to panic, but to quickly make a plan. Dragons! Fire and danger! They had been warned!

"Get your family out of there. As quickly as you can!"

Fred grabbed his brothers as they were setting up for the next contestant. "Let's get some snacks, guys." Trying to make it casual and failing.

Millicent came on. "We've got emergency evacuation plans in place. Draco? What are you doing…"?

A sound of spell fire. The mirror went dead.

"Millicent? Milli? Fred, do you have eyes on Millicent?" Harry asked. He couldn't get anyone on the mirror. Draco wasn't here, he was sure of it. Great! Now they had imposters in polyjuice.

Harry shouted into the non-functional mirror "Don't trust Draco Malfoy!"

Cedric looked up at him oddly. "Everyone knows that, Harry."

**OO**

Lucius Malfoy watched from the sideline, smirking, and getting ready to enjoy the next event. Only the elite had stayed to enjoy the tasks. The students were fleeing like rats.

A Carrow was pretending to be Draco with polyjuice. Severus had gotten arrested, but clearly had gotten Draco out of the ICW unhurt, if he had ever been there. Clever man. How he wished that Narcissa hadn't been so out of control, he couldn't even visit Paris or comfort his friend!

How sweet was this revenge on Potter.

He had promised the boy that he would watch his friends die, and now he would. He made sure that the pureblood girl was in the stands, but the wretched creature and the mudblood would die this day. Painfully.

And Potter might be able to save one but not both.

**OO**

Long ago, when Hogwarts was new, the British Isles were divided up, and each section had its own King. Arthur had tried, and succeeded for a time, to unite Britain.

Magical Britain stayed united while the non-magical side fell apart. Again.

But during the French revolution, the British magical authority had come to help its counterparts in France and shared their wretched fate. Any family left behind was slaughtered by assassins to eliminate the rest of the nobility. An attempt to destroy root and branch.

But one young girl escaped. A devoted wizard had heard of the massacre in France, and managed to smuggle the princess out of the castle disguised as a twin to his own babe. He and his wife cherished the little ones. So, the noble girl was raised by people who loved her, but treated her as one of their own.

She and her daughters were marked, and their enemies knew what to look for. Dumbledore and others had tried to hide the nobility, thinking that it was best to let it go. Let it die off.

One enemy had even cursed the current heiress when she was pregnant as a test. And it worked! The child was troll-like, and clearly of the lineage of kings.

And no decent person would ever marry her.

And so, the plan was for the monarchy to die was continued to this day.

A former knight had righteous plans to reignite the monarchy, establish a new line. Unknowingly including in it the very girl he needed most. Some would say guided by divine light.

There was only one problem.

No one knew how to break the curse on the real princess. The rightful heiress to the throne.

No one was trying, no one knew to try.

**OO**

Neville had returned to Britain most unwillingly, but had to attend a meeting with the Regent to discuss the greenhouses.

"Neville Longbottom, I presume?" The woman shook her head very slightly. While he didn't have Harry's ability to note all around him, Neville did catch that.

"Yes, that is who I am. Madam Zabini? Yes? I actually school in Italy, so can converse with you in that language if you wish."

"English is good for me to practice." Zora said. Spies amongst them.

"I know that you had plans to donate the greenhouses to a school. One is currently used for foodstuffs for the manor, but the rest are useless. Full of overgrown, useless things. It would be a waste of good gold to try and tame that. So, I will send them to your school as you had promised them. Maybe they will give me a discount on your tuition, no?"

"You are going to pay for school?" Neville asked. "Thank you!"

"Of course, I am! For all of the children of the house! It's part of my responsibility. Now, I purchased this device which tests magical ability."

Neville knew it, and was happy to show her that he knew of it. The score was high. Much higher than the minimum required for Hogwarts.

"I see. You are no squib, Heir Longbottom. According to the laws of Italy, you can only be removed from your House if you are. As such,…" Madam Zabini broke off when that vile woman walked in the room.

Neville's face fell as his Gran entered.

"NO! Don't do it! It's a trick! I'll prove it!" Augusta Longbottom thrust a plain rock into Neville's stomach. He knew instantly what it was. A port-key. Neville winked out of the room.

Zora Zabini was furious. "I don't understand you! Where did he go? How can you treat your own flesh and blood this way?"

"That squib is nothing! Will never measure up to my Frank! He looks just like his pathetic mother. She was a good auror, but she liked to grub in the dirt as well. He's worthless! Spineless! I thought you would have taken care of him by now!"

"I never killed anyone!"

"Well, it's a shame that you kidnapped Neville to his death then. Avada Kedavra!"

Zora dodged. The old woman's magic hadn't dimmed, but she was clearly insane. She forgot who the head of house was.

"Get her out of here!" She commanded the wards.

Madam Longbottom was expelled out the front gate. Zora patted herself, happy she had survived that and pulled up her mirror. This was an emergency, not a romance call.

"Charles, darling! Neville's been kidnapped!"

Nothing, no response.

Augusta, unable to get back in her home, debated on where to go. She'd go to Malfoy Manor, and report the kidnapping of her beloved grandson. If he died, it would be that horrible Zabini witch's fault!

**OO**

The minute Neville arrived, he was bound, gagged, blindfolded and tied up to a long-pointed pole.

"Welcome to the third task, Mr. Longbottom." Professor Babbling stated. "Don't worry, there are watchers out there. Do enjoy the view. Not that many people get so close to a Hungarian Horntail and live to tell the tale. Good-bye, Mr. Longbottom."

Near him, he could hear others. This was not a time to panic! The professor had said that this was a task. Well, if it was, then why was he kidnapped?

Neville couldn't reach his emergency kit; he couldn't move much. He couldn't see. But he could pray.

Unknown to him, he was not alone. Hermione, Joseph, and Millicent all were there.

All of the people that Harry had said were most important to him.