HP : THE TRAUMA AND CHOICE

The Monday after Harry returned from his trip to Diagon Alley with Hagrid, an unknown eagle owl swooped through Harry's window. It landed on one side of Hedwig's stand and imperiously offered its leg to Harry. Harry offered the new owl a treat then untied the message.

Dear Mr. Potter,

As you previously requested I have located both the solicitor for the Potter estate as well as arranged interviews with several reputable solicitors. I would like to make the proper introductions for you. Are you available this Thursday for introductions around nine in the morning?

I hope to hear from you soon.

Your cousin,

Narcissa Malfoy

Harry quickly penned a message back.

Dear Mrs. Malfoy,

I can meet you at nine a.m. in Diagon Alley in front of Gringotts. I'll see you then.

Harry Potter.

That Thursday, Harry got up early and caught a muggle bus into London. The Knight Bus was more convenient in terms of entry and exit but it was uncertain what time that bus would get anywhere. The muggle bus, while requiring a bit of a walk on either end, was certain to arrive in London by eight a.m.

Plus he was Harry-sodding-Potter and he might just have to blast stupid Stan into oblivion for joining the Death Eaters. Or being stupid enough to later join the Death Eaters. Whatever.

Harry got to Gringotts before nine a.m. Mrs. Malfoy arrived precisely on time. She then led him up and down Diagon alley and the alleys connected to it for several hours, introducing him to solicitors. His favorite was a middle-aged no nonsense solicitor with sharp gray eyes and her pale white-blond hair up in a bun. Ms. Bones was the first to make Mrs. Malfoy sit in the waiting room on confidentiality grounds.

"Will anything I tell you stay a secret?"

"Yes, unless it involves an ongoing crime or the possibility of someone death."

"You won't tell Mrs. Malfoy?"

"Of course not."

"Or Professor Dumbledore?"

"No."

Harry nodded. "And no one can magic it out of your head?"

"All legal representatives are required to master the art of Occulomency. In addition every member of my staff required to demonstrate some proficiency with Occulomency. Any matter handled by this office will remain confidential."

And Dumbledore had the gall to say that only Professor Snape could teach Harry occulomency?

"I'd like for you to be my solicitor."

"I thought Elphias March of Goodwin, March, and Thompson was handling the Potter Estate."

Harry straightened. "He's not looking out for my best interests! He's letting Dumbledore pretend to be my guardian and loot my family vaults! Dumbledore left me with muggles who starved me and locked me in a boot cupboard for the last ten years. And he knew they were doing it!"

Ms. Bones' eyes narrowed. "Are you certain?"

"Yes." Harry dumped a handful of letters addressed to the boot cupboard on the table as well as the one addressed to 'The Floor' of that wretched little hut.

Ms. Bones pursed her lips.

"And he took my father's invisibility cloak from my vault. And a box of letters my parents left for me! And he's been making monthly withdrawals from my vault but I'm still dressed in rags and have broken glasses and living in a cupboard. Well, my relatives let me stay in my cousin's second bedroom after Hagrid told them that I'm going to Hogwarts and yelled at them for they way that they treat me." Harry paused for a beat then deliberately added, "Even though they tried to beat my magic out of me."

Ms. Bones jerked. Her eyes lit with the sort of fire that Professor McGonagall had during the siege of Hogwarts.

"If I were your solicitor – and I make no promises yet – what would you wish me to do?"

"Make Albus Dumbledore return my invisibility cloak, my letters, and my money and return me to Sirius Black who is my appointed guardian. He would never have let any of this happen to me."

"Sirius Black betrayed your parents and killed thirteen people with a single curse."

"He did not!" Harry said as hotly as if he really were fifteen and arguing with Mrs. Weasley in the Blacks' kitchen. "He wasn't their Secret Keeper! Peter Pettigrew was! Pettigrew gave my parents to Voldemort!"

"After Sirius Black finished with him, the largest piece left of Pettigrew was a finger."

"What if it was a trick? What if he knew some sort of magic that no one else knew that he could do? What if Pettigrew used that magic to get away but killed those people and left that finger to frame Sirius?"

Ms. Bones eyes narrowed. "Do you have proof for any of this?"

Harry hesitated for a moment. It was tempting to say "My dad said 'Damn you Peter!' when Voldemort attacked!" or "I remember Wormtail gloating to my parents about Voldemort's eventual triumph!" but what if they expected him to testify under veritaserum?

"I remember some of the night Voldemort came" Harry admitted as all the blood drained from Ms. Bones' face. "But I don't remember Peter Pettigrew being there. Just Voldemort and my parents. But I don't remember everything from that night – just – just their deaths. And when Voldemort cursed me with Avada Kedavra."

Ms. Bones was pale and shaking. Her lips were even a bit blue. Her knuckles and fingernails were white and red from her grip on her desk.

"We could find Peter Pettigrew" Harry offered hopefully. "And I bet one of my dad's old friends would know if Peter knew any special magics. Sirius would know for sure!"

Ms. Bones closed her eyes and took several deep breathes. When she opened her eyes, they were firm and solidly set.

"Mr. Potter provided that my firm has no conflicts of loyalty I will be your solicitor. I'll handle your complaint against your estate's manager. I'll look into your complaints against Dumbledore. And I'll quietly see what can be dug up about the matter of Sirius Black."

Harry grinned with relief. "Yeah? Thanks. Are we done here?"

"Except for the matter of the fealty oath." At Harry's confused frown she smiled slightly and added, "I have to give it to you. Mr. March should have given it to you when the Potter estate passed to you."

"Oh."

She pulled a slim scroll from one of her desk drawers. "Please read over this while I perform the conflict check. Then we will discuss my retainer fee and perform the fealty oath."

Harry nodded. "Sure. Thanks again."

"Don't thank me yet Mr. Potter."