18 return of the lost items
After a few more minutes passed to cross-reference the timetables, they draw his.
"Now that taken care off, is there something else you need Mr Potter?" Asked the transfiguration mistress.
"Indeed, I do." Started Alex, drawing raised brows from the professors."I don't know if you are aware, but as a guest, I don't fall under Hogwarts education regiment, that signifies no homework nor end of the year evaluation, as I only need to pass OWL and NEWT. I don't even are required to seat in all class." Say, Alex, stopping for a moment to judge their reaction.
As he through, only McGonagall seems to be aware of this, the other was surprised but keep quiet when they saw he wasn't finished.
"As it won't do me any good to not have a reference as to were I stood academically, I was thinking of ways. I still don't want to write essays that I could just copy-paste from books; rather, I was thinking of the mundane way."
McGonagall frowned her brows when she hears that he didn't want to waste time with assignments. Still, recalcitrant understand from his explanation, she was also curious as to his mundane method.
"If you are ok with it, I would like for a sort of OWL exam to be passed before breaks, based on the knowledge of the previous months. This way, while I don't give back the assignment, I could be tested on theoretical and practical with the end of the year exam as a global one. I know that it could be inconvenient for some as it would signify passing hours to create an exam, or you could also use and divide the already existing one? As professor Snape discipline is different from you, I would like to keeps the way things are done. Being able to be graded on the spot from my skill could only help me."
~~~
To say that the staff was surprised was an understatement. While he would have more free time on his hand without assignment, he would have a heavier amount of study to do for him to grasp the core of their arts.
This would also give them the time to go over his marks on the break.
Out of them, Snape was the more pleased. The fact that he could have asked the same for herbology wasn't lost to them. That he only specified potion was hinting to them that the boy was like his mother, having an interest in potions.
"Mr Potter." Start Snape, surprising some of his peers by his neutral tone. "Brewing potion is an art, the fact that you are a month and a half late signifies that. While I can't say the level of skill of this year is stellar, we are past the start of the curriculum."
"I am well aware of the shortcoming such time would signify, thankfully for me, learning the theoretical practice of Potion didn't require a wand, and ingredients preparation could be exercised with common vegetable." Answer him evenly while looking at him.
"Perhaps, a test of your skill in front of the staff would be for the best then. Should you be able to recreate potion that has been made by your peers at the start of the year, then it would assure us that you aren't as late as we could think?"
~~~
While all were curious as of his skills, from someone who had only a few weeks worth of exposure to the magical world, Snape knows otherwise. The boy words the previous day had been enough to make him know that he remembers at least his encounter with the dark lord and quite possibly hadn't forget of the magical world at all, all those years.
When he asked for a classroom on the floor level, all had been intrigued but not as much when he takes out a shrunken trunk from his pocket. Their question had been answered when he reveals a portable potion lab.
The castle potion master and the medicwitch turned both extremely interested in. While they could see that it was only a beginner lab, it would be more than enough for brewing simple potion on the spot.
Of the two Snape and Sprout, gazes turn sharps at the content of the expended lid.
"Pomona..." Started McGonagall, at the sight of the stored glass bottles.
"Yes, Minerva, those are hand-picked, not goods brought from an apothecary."
"It seems that Mr Potter cupboard ingredients are better furnished that an OWL level one, not as much as my own, put a still adequate one, may I?" ASked Snape at Alex, who was setting his lab.
"Sure."
With the boy authorisation, he starts to brose the stock, opening some bottle every odd time, giving a light sniff or collecting the tiniest amount of powder to test on the tip of his tongue. While he let nothing appears on his face, the fact that he stays quiet says everything to them.
The following threes hours, a significant part of the Hogwarts staff stay quiet at his action. While they weren't potion master on their own, they had too studied potion in their time, and few were ashamed to found that the boy skills with his different knives were above their own.
Snape on his side stays quiet the entire time looking with an intense focus on the tiniest of his moves and skills.
"Acceptable." Was the only thing he says before vanishing from the room in a billowing move of his robes.
~~~
After the shocking assessment of Snape as of his skill in potion brewing, the staff disband to vacate to their occupation, some needing to integrate a new student in their curse for now on.
Free to pass the rest of the weekend as he wished, Alex returned to his quarter, only to be greeted with a letter bearing the Gringotts seal on it.
Taking the letter and reading it rapidly, he sighs when it was only a short message explaining the debt of House Potter who needed to be paid, had been fully recovered and the rest put in the vault.
After emptying the Vaults under Bloodbones, Alex had been surprised to see that the elves were able to clear the Potter Vaults entirely. Not wanting to leave the goblins anything to blackmail him he sold the shares that the Potter still hold, as well as any land, using the money to pay.
All Houses, Manors and the like had been turned into a primary block of wood, steel and rocks, leaving only the cottage of Godric's Hollow for now, as it was under Ministerial hold. Since he wouldn't stay in this world for years, there wasn't need to keep anchors behind.
"Spring."
"Yes, master?"
"It seems that the Goblins are still unaware of our link with the Evans, send Ash to retrieve the entire content and close both accounts, Gringotts had no further needs for us."
"Yes, master!"
Popping away, the elves rapidly take care of the situations. None had liked to be linked to the goblins through any means as they would be able to use it to access additional money.
Two hours later, another Gringotts Owl delivers another letter, confirming the closure of the Potters Vaults definitively, as their previous debts had been pay. Not too long after, it was Ash turn to appears, with a letter in hand. Also from Gringotts, and coming from the Evans holding in the bank.
As the Vault had kept a minimal amount of Galleons and was of a relatively high heigh, thus lesser security, it had been only a simple formality to close the account. The fees were even waved went they return the key, the gold more than enough to pay for it.
Now, Gringotts would only hold a position of the transaction between themselves or the magical world, to Alex.
He had been amazed by the fact the link between the Potter and Evans wasn't made until he found the only copy of the document in Bloodbones archive. The goblin seems to have been aware and had been aiming at him, knowing full well the deep of his wealth.
This was another reason for Alex to want as little as possible interaction with the dwelling race.
As he had won over the holding of the Potter Vaults from Bloodbones, the responsibility of Gringotts as of the closing of those Vaults had been transferred to him. As much as the public knows, nothing happens to them and would stay like this for as long as needed.
The lack of presence of Dumbledore that morning to breakfast was explained in a special edition of the Prophet.
Sharing the first page, was his coming to Hogwarts, as well as his status as a guest. From there, it consequences it had on his years of schooling, and how it, when to, came. It was Dumbledore case. It was introduced as an extraordinary session of the Wisengamot had been called in the early hours of the morning as of this next development.
From the blatant threats on the Heir Potter, as Alex had forwarded the letter to the DMLE, the dark and grey side had torn Dumbledore apart. The situation was so bad that even his allies didn't dare to interfere in the matter, fearing the repercussion.
For then, the man had finally lost his post has chief warlock, leaving him only with his headmaster title.
During the session, a message from Gringotts had been forwarded. As Dumbledore hadn't bothered to show for his trial in front of the Goblin Council of the British branch of Gringotts, they made their own decision.
It was in front of all, and the journalist of the daily Prophet that Albus Dumbledore was made aware that he became a popper. The council has voted from compensation to the height of the threat; all Dumbledore holding were liquidated and sold.
Regretfully for him, that means that it was based on the entire wealth of the Potter, not just the trust Vault of the Heir. From this, all gold, land and business from the Dumbledore line had been lost. This would have further repercussion as even Alberforth hadn't been spared, making the goblins throw him out of his pub and close it.
As the two older men where the last of the Dumbledore line, without Heir, they were effectively banned out of Gringotts.
Left with only his things at Hogwarts and the weekly pay from his position as headmaster, the one influential leader of the light lost all standing. With his head declared extinct and his lost of his seat as a chief warlock, only his order of Merlin 1st class allowed him to attend Wisengamot session, without any political power.
Alex had gloated at that, knowing what would happen and left the majority of the gold in the Vault just for it. With Dumbles banned from the bank and out of his seat as a chief warlock, the last man that could have been able to enquire as of his finance was out, until another chief warlock was elected. Even then, he wouldn't risk anything, as none would be dumb enough to come sniffing around him that early after the election.
~~~
Being banned from the bank made popper, and threw out of his position as the chief of the British magical council, and all of it made public, crushed his past glory. It was thus a catatonic Dumbledore who returns to his office, realising that what he had under his eyes were all his holding.
Out of Gringotts, the control of Hogwarts Vaults have transferred to McGonagall, who would have a say in the finances of the castle now.
~~~
No one sees the man appears for the following week, only draw by the appeal of the outrageous amount of sweets present at the Halloween feast.
During that time, Alex had rejoined the first years class, keeping most for himself after giving the excuse of wanting to slowly adapts to the wizard methods and catch-up. Most let him be, quite understanding that he wasn't much more than a muggle-born at the time, with 6 weeks of lateness adding to his burden.
Even when professors see that he was more than quickly following, they put it on the fact of discovering the castle. What had much pleased McGonagall was the grumbles of Irma Pince, about the need to throw out the boy every day to be able to close the library.
Learning that the boy was a copycat of his mother, along with the curbed Weasley's was turning into the most relaxing year from decades.
None were all that bright, and a particular red-head wouldn't be able to stay quiet for too long.
The morning of this particular day, shortly before lunch was served, Alex enters the great hall, after class.
~~~
After having taken the habitude of sitting at a different table at each meal, he chooses the Slytherin one for this one. Taking out a pack of mixed threats for Frost, he takes out a book, and start reading as the student slowly trickle in.
Not one bat an eye at the sight of the lone boy feeding absentmindedly a kneazle hidden in a front pocket anymore, after a week. Hearing the voice behind him, he closed his book, knowing that he wouldn't be able to read properly.
"Heir Potter."
"Heir Malfoy." Say him, turning to face the young boy, and the two guards, making them realise once again how tall he was compared to first years.
"You are difficult to catch alone."
"I had not very fond memories of past attunement. If you need to reach for me, try the library, I will pass most of my time there for the foreseeable future."
"I will remember it." Nodded the albinos' ferret.
"What can I do for you?"
"My father possess few ingredients farms, you see." Boast not so subtly the boy with a slight smirk. "And since the blasted thing hadn't croak over..."
"You were curious as of what I had given to caretaker Filch, I presume." Finish Alex, seeing where he was going.
"Quite." Say the boy with some relief. 'At least he not as dumb as those two behind' Through him, while giving a fleeting glance to the two bookends more eyeing breakfast than the surrounding. "I..."
"Harry!" All turned at the loud shout, safe for the intended one, who could only grunt.
'Great, I was hoping a little more of peace.'
-It was only a matter of time.-
'I know, but I was expecting that he would understand after avoiding purposefully for a week.'
-That carrot head for yea.-
Behind his back, a lanky Ron, with grease stain on his shirt and other suspicious splotches on his right pocket, where a rat head could be briefly seen before shoved back carelessly.
~~~
"You can't speak with those slimy snakes; they are junior death eaters!" Suddenly cry him, seeing the three Slytherin with him. "Come on, mate, let return to our table!"
"Excuse me Heir Malfoy." Say Alex to the sneering blond about to say something, receiving a startled, but brief nod, before turning to the boy who just catches his sleeve, pulling it.
Hasty striking away the offending hand, he coldly says.
"First, don't touch me with those hand, I don't know where they had been, and seeing that you eat and manipulate that disgusting rodent with them at the same time, that can't be sanitary. Don't your mother hadn't taught you property, or manners altogether? We are not in a sty, and Hogwarts isn't a barn, if you didn't act civilised among your peer, I would direct you toward the gamekeeper, I sure he had installation deserving your station better.
Next, I don't remember ever knowing you, nor allowing you to address to me so intimately, so don't act like we were friends. While your mother hadn't raised you like a proper being, I will enlighten you, when you see peoples moving their lips toward each other, it would mean most of the time that they are speaking. Next time wait for them to finish before rudely interrupting them.
And lastly, It not my fault that your brain is unable to compute the fact that I wasn't sorted in the Gryffindor. As even your eyes seem deficient, watered for what I would think to be affected by your evident lack of corporal hygiene and disgusting odour, I wore only plain robes, without any crest.
As for those 'Slimy' snake you spoke of carrot head, they had shown at least proper behaviour, so start to look after your own before cursing others. If it depaints your house mentality, then, I, for one, feel grateful not to be sorted with the lion and having to share a dorm with you!" Coldly state Alex, his words clearly eared in the dead silent hall.
After needing two-second actually to understand that he had been verbally spanked, Ron short tamper reared its ugly head, extremely fast. Turning red in an awe-inspiring short time, he shouts while fumbling to catch his wand.
"You...!" Finally fetching his wand under the layers of his robe and retrieving it from his back pocket " Slugulus eructo argh!"
~~~
Seeing the boy reaching for his wand, Alex fake surprise, letting him barely finish his charm, before acting. Masterfully faking the surprise in his eyes, he takes a quick step forward, taking advantage of the feet supporting his weight, he rapidly pivoted in the interior, while his left leg bolt, harshly slamming the Mythril coated boot to strike the wrist.
"... argh!"
He hears the boy shout of pain a the same time that a dry snapping bone resound. Before Ron could nurse his newly broken wrist, he catches the limb with his right hand and pulls without management in a reverse steel grip.
As he let out other pained cries, Ron lost balance under the sudden assault, before Ale left leg to sweep his without touching the ground in between. He was twisting the limb in the boy back, while pushing all his weight on his shoulder pressing heavily between the boy shoulder blades, the two fall on the ground.
Another shout and muffled snapping sound resound, along with a brief squeak and squishing one.
Due to Alex speed and reaction, those activities didn't even last for three seconds, most of them from the fall only.
~~~
The gathered crowd could only look owlishly at the rapid escalation before they react. While the hall burst in shriek and the scrapping sound of benches, the professors finally made their presence know by a cannon blast, that while worsening the cries briefly, stunted the students enough for them to made way.
"Disperse! What in merlin happen here!"
Looking toward the sound, Alex could see the Deputy headmistress, shortly followed with the Headmaster and the other Houses Heads gather rapidly.
"Harry, what have you done?" Sigh Dumbledore in a disappointed tone, already judging him responsible. "Violence isn't the answer to my boy. I will have none other choice but give detention, while new, we can't condone such rampant use of violence... "
"I will start to listen to you after you came to clean yourself first, thief!" Vindicatively bites him back, not letting him even finish.
The surrounding people were surprised from the vehemence of his tone and his unflinching hating glare toward the old wizard.
Dumbledore seems also taken aback for a second, before responding. "I must protest; I was never one."
"Then you will immediately give me back the Heirlooms my father and family in your hand before his death. You are not a Potter; it had nothing to do between your hand!"
~~~
The crowd became shocked to discover that the Headmaster still dare to hold something from Harry Potter, more so for such item, while the man was trying to understand how the boy was aware of the cloak.
Without the stone, the boy had no reason to be 'gifted' it back, and he was counting on Alex ignorance as of it to keep it.
"How did you learn of the cloak?" Asked him, barely restraining a mental probe.
"That doesn't concern you, old man, and I say Heirlooms, not Heirloom! Don't take me for a foul, Dumbledore; the elder wand never meant to be out of the hands of a Peverell!" Latched Alex furiously.
Dumbledore faces turn ashen white with the public revelation, before hastily trying to salvage the situation.
"The elder wand is but a legend, Harry, I ..." Start him with both hands raised in a sign of non-aggression, only to be entirely shocked by the following action.
Flickering out his hand out of his sleeve in a fraction of second, and pointing. "Elder wand!" Thundered Alex in rage.
Under the eyes of all, the white ash wand immediately flees the confine off Dumbledore belt. Feeling the broken link, Dumbledore eye shrink, before hastily try to catch it mid-air.
"Icendio!" Roared Alex, seeing the disgusting attempt.
"NO!" Shout Dumbledore, seeing the wood immediately burn in front of his eyes, disbelieving that he would act like this, not even registering his blackened fingertips from the blazing flames. "What have you done!" Half indignant, half angered him at Alex, his gaze losing all warm and turning ice cold.
He didn't have the time to react when a boot sole with Mythril-coated tip and heel slam on his face without restrain, shattering his glass and leaving a visible imprint on his face after being sent back crashing on a group of students directly behind them.
"I have nothing to explain to you, thief!" Say, Alex, spitting on the unconscious man face.
~~~
The entire hall was completely frozen from the escalation of the situation. For the few knowing it, the glee of the discovery of the existence of the fabled strongest wand, before it was mercilessly crushed by the public destruction in front of their own eyes, hollowly gazing at the cinders still scattered on the floor.
Being one of the few to broke out of her stupor first, McGonagall was utterly lost as to how to process for a moment, before taking a breath and try to start by the debut.
"Mister Potter, while I strongly disapprove of your attitude, it would reflect poorly on me to jump to the conclusion, the fact, please, rapidly." Intone her with a steel voice, making few cringles at the too-familiar memories of the particular situation they hear her use that particular one.
"Very well." Responded him as cooly as a cucumber, making some double-take at the unflinching first year under the withering glare. "I was first approached by Heir Malfoy in the stead of his father?" Stoping for a second for confirmation of say party, who nodded back, still shaken from the events. "His father, concerning a personal matter. Before we could even start, we were interrupted by that." Say him, pointing with his thumb above his shoulder, to the moaning form of Ron on the ground. "After a short exchange in the aim of correcting some misconceptions, badly taken by the boy, he draws his wand and fire at me a green coloured spell. I only defended myself, by disarming and neutralising the threat, before you all arrive. After that, I was immediately verbally slandered by your Headmaster who didn't search even to understand the situation and judge me guilty. I only used the occasion to reclaim an Heirloom about the Peverell line, who I am sole and last descendant. Since the Headmaster wasn't willing to part with both, I merely retrieve and destroy say item when he attempts to steal it back."
~~~
Hearing this from the way he formulates it, she couldn't help but cringe internally, when understanding what will surely happen. Her fears were confirmed before she could even enquire for them.
"Naturally, while I defend myself from the assault, the carrot head had still assaulted the last scion of a Noble and ancient House. Since the outcome could have been my death, I in my full right to claim a blood feud..." His words immediately snatching screams of fear. " but as the British Ministry outlaws them, I will settle with charges against the boy for assault and presumptive attempt of murder. I will also naturally press charge again the Theif laying there for purposefully withholding heirlooms of a Noble and Ancient from his last remaining heir. If you would excuse me, I have letters to write; I will also call on the debts owed by the concerned peoples for a legitimate and inalterable testimony" Calmly say him, making a flash of magic surround several among them as the oath was accepted, before making his way out of the area.
~~~
'This is a disaster.' Sigh the older woman mournfully as the situation slap her disgustingly on the face as if stricken by a dead fish. 'What have you done, Albus, couldn't you leave the boy alone? Can't you see that each time your situation became worst? Merciful Merlin, you snapped out of this absurd idea of bringing the stone here before it was too late!' If only she knows that it was once again linked to the boy-who-lived, she wouldn't be that relieved.
She know perfectly that with the debt called, the headmaster had no way to slip out of this, taking into account the last time how he had stood in the midst of the Wisengamot, not a week before, she couldn't help but thought that she might need to consider for her replacement as Deputy headmistress if he was booted out of his position.
"Tripsy."
Hearing the disgruntled call of the woman nursing a three-fourth full glass of Firewishky while trying to become one with the high chair, say house-elf pop out.
"Professor kitty called for Tripsy?"
"Yes, Tripsy, Profesor kitty called for you." Sigh the woman again, taking a good helping of the second-best forgetfulness potion short of a partial obliviation. "I need you to retrieve the invisible cloak of past James Potter and give it back to his son, please."
"Tripsy do that!"
Popping out her order given, the eager little critter leaves the woman gaze lost at the crackling fire in the hearth of her private quarter, reminiscing the days of a certain spitfire redhead.
"I swear, he is just like you, Lily." The though drawing a unique tear in on her sadden face, a haunted small smile ghosting, before for emptying the rest of the glass, and faint sobs breaking at the memories of the lost soul taken too early.
