After everyone had settled into the armchairs, manager Gryboyad began:
Mister Potter, I have two pieces of news for you. I thought today I would inform you of the sadder one, but you came and made my duties easier - and, seeing interest in the visitors' eyes, he continued. – As your manager, I was contacted from St. Mungo's with the news that your godfather, Sirius Black, died during the night from physical, but above all – magical exhaustion. His attending healer wrote that when he was admitted to the hospital, he was exhausted, ill, with a fever, but everything was all right with his magical core. Infusions and potions improved his condition so much that he showed signs of recovery. Then, into the hospital ward, without the permission of the Chief Healer of Mungo's, the Supreme Mugwump of the Wizengamot intruded, saying that Black had been released from Azkaban without being questioned and that he, Dumbledore, intended to ask the patient several vitally important questions.
We have been informed of this sad fact, - said Petunia, exchanging glances with Harry, silently taking the initiative of the conversation upon herself. By giving the management of the exchange of news to his aunt, he gained the advantage of watching the process from the side. – The head of the DMLE, Madam Bones, told us about it yesterday, but she spoke only of Sirius's condition worsening after Dumbledore's visit.
Yes, that is how it was, - the goblin frowned. – But you were not told that he locked the door of the ward, drove out the healers and all the medical staff, fenced himself and Black off with protective spells, and remained inside with him for five-ten minutes, no more. After he left, Black regained consciousness and managed to say only, I quote – "In it up to my neck, now not even Merlin will help me. But Albus was late – hahaha – by a whole ten years ... kheh, kheh, kheh ..." and passed out.
The goblin fell silent, waiting for comments, but none followed either from Potter or from those close to him. The other boy, Potter's cousin, was not even listening to the conversation, but was staring at the weapons of manager Gryboyad's ancestors hung on the walls. The collection was impressive in itself, but the moment was not appropriate to go into the details of the interior, so everyone remained silent, in tribute to the dead stranger, Sirius Black.
Mister Potter, your godfather, long ago – in September of the eightieth year, in the second month after your birth – wrote his will, in which he named you as his sole heir until his own children were born. Since, for obvious reasons, he did not have children, you inherit all his property. In this folder are all the documents of Sirius Orion Black, including the baptismal contract between your parents and Black himself. The contract is signed with the blood of three adults – his and your parents', as well as your blood.
What do you mean by that – the blood thing – manager Gryboyad? - asked Mrs. Dursley, intrigued by the news of her nephew's enrichment.
This, Mrs. Dursley, means that Black would never have been able to betray the family of his godson.
I see, - Petunia said and thought, then asked the goblin the most important question in connection with this news, not hoping that she would like the answer. – And tell me, manager Griboyad, who among the wizards could have known about this baptismal contract?
Oh, many people could have known! – answered the goblin. – For example, those who were witnesses at the christening - Professor Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall, Arthur Weasley, Mrs. Bishop from the Department of Registration of Magical Marriages, Births and Adoptions at the Ministry of Magic, and anyone these people decided to tell. Practically, anyone could have known.
Hm, - Petunia said with a smirk so sharp that the goblin felt uneasy, and then looked at the boys one after another. In response, they began nodding their heads with identical gestures and smirking conspiratorially too. – And tell me, dear sir, - she asked in a sweet little voice – did you mention TWO pieces of news, or did I mishear something?
After silently rummaging in the metal cabinet behind him, the goblin took out a new, even thicker folder of documents, slammed it on top of the desk, and only then answered.
Yes, that is so. The thing is that last autumn your relative, Arcturus Sirius, Lord Black, also died – your godfather's paternal grandfather – the cousin of your grandmother, Dorea Violetta Potter, née Black. Mister Potter, are you following my explanations? – manager Gryboyad barked and thereby pulled Harry Potter out of the stupor into which he had fallen after the listing of relatives and all the abracadabra. Then he took from the folder a parchment beautifully decorated with monograms and seals and handed it into the hands of his attorney, rising from his place.
It was the Black family tree, a branch of which turned out to be he himself, Harry. Curiosity gnawed at him and, unable to resist, he asked a question:
What next, respected Gryboyad?
In his former will, after the death of his son, Orion, Arcturus Black declared his grandson, Sirius Orion Black, his heir. Do you follow my thought, Mister Potter? – seeing an affirmative nod, the goblin continued. – When your godfather was sentenced to life imprisonment in Azkaban, Lord Black wrote a new, final will. Here it is.
The beautifully decorated folio passed into the hands of the dark-haired boy and he began to read aloud:
I, Arcturus Sirius, Lord Black, being of sound mind and sober memory, declare my last will. The next Lord Black after my death will be:
My grandson, Sirius Orion Black, if the Wizengamot court proves his innocence in the case of the betrayal and subsequent death of our relative, James Ch. Potter, and his spouse, the murder of Peter Pettigrew and twelve Muggles, and the injustice of his sentence to life imprisonment in Azkaban.
My cousin's great-grandson, Harry James Potter, grandson of Dorea and Charles Potter, son of James Charles and Lily Rose Potter, if:
My grandson, Sirius Black, was punished justly;
My grandson is acquitted, but imprisonment in Azkaban has affected his reason and he is unable to cope with the duties of Lord Black;
Slave bindings have been cast upon my grandson, Sirius Black;
My grandson, Sirius Black, has died before leaving his heirs – his own, adopted children or godchildren.
Together with the title, all my property passes to my heir – movable and immovable, see Appendices 1,2 and3, seats in the Wizengamot and the Board of Trustees of the Ministry of Magic, Gringotts Wizarding Bank, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the International Confederation of Wizards.
Heir, from now on the well-being and prosperity of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black are in your hands.
Do not associate with the families of Blood Traitors. Guard your honor, the honor of the family, the purity of the heart and the Strength of your Magic.
May the House of Black endure through the ages.
Arcturus Sirius Black.
The news of the death of his godfather's friend saddened Hermione so much that she did not allow him to apologize for the ruined plans of the trip to some island to rest, but she did not miss the chance to drag her parents and the whole motley company into the bookshop.
An enormous crowd had gathered there, above all, dressed-up little witches from five to one hundred and five years old, who were pushing, swearing and calling one another all kinds of unprintable words. The whole fuss was because of a huge poster hanging from the roof of "Flourish and Blotts" and covering all the windows of the building facing the street.
On the poster was a golden-haired man of indeterminate age in a lilac robe and with a sparkling white thirty-two-toothed smile.
Seeing the face on the poster, Hermione blushed and, sighing, informed the others:
This is the famous hero of the entire magical world, Gilderoy Lockhart. I learned from the Prophet that this year he will be our DADA professor. We are lucky, today he is giving out autographs. I also want to get an autograph.
Hermione, it seems to me that there is no need to jostle with the fans of this dandy, he himself, on his own feet – figuratively speaking – will come to us at Hogwarts.
No, you do not understand! This is that very Gilderoy Lockhart who wrote seven books about his adventures ...
I know who this "hero" is, he is a former Unspeakable from the "Obliviators" department. Former, because he was fired for abuse of authority, Hermione!
That is not true, those are all the words of his envious people. He fought alone with a werewolf, with a vampire, with ...
Yes, yes, - Dudley, who had been silent all day, interrupted. – I look at his manicure, at the little lace on the front of his shirt, and immediately imagine how he fought a werewolf – he ran away, having soiled his pants.
Dudley Dursley, how do you know such a thing? And how can you say such filth about the most beloved magical novelist in the British Isles?
The girl did not notice the sudden drop in the temperature of closeness from her classmate and his relatives. Petunia suddenly became like an ice statue, her eyes narrowed, examining her like a bug under a lens.
Hermione's parents turned pale with shame, how else. Their daughter was allowing herself the behavior of a market woman – all-knowing, lecturing, shameless. Dr. Granger grabbed the bristling girl by the shoulder, turned her toward himself, lifted her face to his with his other hand and, looking into her eyes, uttered only one word in a low voice trembling with anger:
We are leaving.
The brown eyes of the stunned girl filled with tears of resentment.
But why?
We will talk at home. Say goodbye to our friends, apologize for your last outburst, and let us not speak any more in front of such a crowded public.
She is incorrigible, Harry. – said Petunia, looking after the departing Grangers. - I do not understand why you bother with her so much?
I have a Life Debt to her. But I fear that at this pace, she herself will reduce it to nothing. But she is good-looking.
She is not the only one so good-looking in the world.
Yes, but she is new blood. I will not give that new blood to anyone else.
____
[Please leave a few reviews and Power Stones]
The work on patreon is now complete.
If you enjoy my work, you can Support me at:
[email protected]/cw/Phoenixfic