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Chapter Three: Reading of the Will

'If you don’t mind, Harry,' said Dumbledore, as stood on the opposite side of the road from the large cottage, 'I’d like a few words with you before we go inside. In private.'

They walked over to a wooded area next to the house. Dumbledore illuminated the tip of his wand, so that it glowed like a torch, and smiled down at Harry.

'I hope you will forgive me for mentioning it, Harry, but I am pleased and a little proud at how well you seem to be coping after everything that happened at the Ministry. Permit me to say that I think Sirius would have been proud of you.'

Harry swallowed; his voice seemed to have deserted him. He did not think he could stand to discuss Sirius; it had been painful to hear Sirius’s name thrown out casually by Slughorn.

'It was cruel,' said Dumbledore softly, 'that you had another parent taken away from you, especially while still so young. A brutal ending to what should have been a long and happy relationship.'

Harry nodded, his eyes fixed resolutely on the spider now climbing Dumbledore’s hat. He could tell that Dumbledore understood, that he might even suspect that until his letter arrived, Harry had spent nearly all his time at the Dursleys’ lying on his bed, refusing meals, and staring at the misted window, full of the chill emptiness that he had come to associate with dementors.

'It’s just hard,' Harry said finally, in a low voice, 'to realize I won't ever see him again, or get touching letters from him while I'm at Hogwarts.'

His eyes burned suddenly and he blinked. He felt stupid for admitting it, but the fact that he had people outside Hogwarts who cared what happened to him, and now he had one less and the post owls would never bring him a letter from Sirius again...

'Sirius, as well as Remus, represents much to you that you that you don't have elsewhere,' said Dumbledore gently. 'Naturally, the loss is devastating...'

'But while I was at the Dursleys’...' interrupted Harry, his voice growing stronger, 'I realized I can’t shut myself away or—or crack up. Sirius wouldn’t have wanted that, would he? And anyway, life’s too short...Look at Madam Bones, look at Emmeline Vance...It could be me next, couldn’t it? But if it is,' he said fiercely, now looking straight into Dumbledore’s blue eyes gleaming in the wandlight, 'I’ll make sure I take as many Death Eaters with me as I can, and Voldemort too if I can manage it.'

'Spoken both like your mother and father’s son and Sirius’s true godson!' said Dumbledore, with an approving pat on Harry’s back.

‘And now, Harry, there are only a couple more topics we must discuss before we enter the Cottage…I gather that you have been taking the Daily Prophet over the last two weeks?’

‘Yes,’ said Harry, and his heart beat a little faster.

‘Then you will have seen that there have been not so much leaks as floods concerning your adventure in the Hall of Prophecy?’

‘Yes,’ said Harry again. ‘And now everyone knows that I’m the one—‘

‘No, they do not,’ interrupted Dumbledore. ‘There are only two people in the whole world who know the full contents of the prophecy made about you and Lord Voldemort, and they are both standing right here. It is true, however, that many have guessed, correctly, that Voldemort sent his Death Eaters to steal a prophecy, and that the prophecy concerned you. Now, I think I am correct in saying that you have not told anybody that you know what the prophecy said?’

‘No,’ said Harry.

‘A wise decision, on the whole,’ said Dumbledore. ‘Although I think you ought to relax it in favor of your friends, Mr Nott, Miss Howling, Miss Runcorn, Miss Davis, and perhaps Remus as well. Yes,’ he continued, when Harry looked startled, ‘I think they ought to know. You do them a disservice by not confiding something this important to them.’

‘I didn’t want—‘

‘—to worry or frighten them?’ said Dumbledore, surveying Harry over the top of his half-moon spectacles. ‘Or perhaps, to confess that you yourself are worried and frightened? You need your friends and family, Harry. As you so rightly said, Sirius would not have wanted you to shut yourself away.’

Harry said nothing, but Dumbledore did not seem to require an answer.

He continued, ‘On a different, though related, subject, it is my wish that you take private lessons with me this year.’

‘Private—with you?’ said Harry, surprised out of his preoccupied silence.

‘Yes. I think it is time that I took a greater hand in your education.’

‘What will you be teaching me, sir?’

‘Oh, a little of this, a little of that,’ said Dumbledore airily.

Harry waited hopefully, but Dumbledore did not elaborate, so he asked something else that had been bothering him slightly.

‘If I’m having lessons with you, I won’t have to do Occlumency lessons with Snape, will I?’

‘Professor Snape, Harry—and no, you will not.’

‘Good,’ said Harry in relief, ‘because they were a—‘

He stopped, careful not to say what he really thought.

‘I think the word “fiasco” would be a good one here,’ said Dumbledore, nodding.

Harry laughed.

‘Well, that means I won’t see much of Professor Snape from now on,’ he said, ‘because he won’t let me carry on Potions unless I get “Outstanding” in my O.W.L., which I know I haven’t.’

‘Don’t count your owls before they are delivered,’ said Dumbledore gravely. ‘Which, now I think of it, ought to be some time later today. Now, two more things, Harry. Firstly, I wish you to keep your Invisibility Cloak with you at all times from this moment onward. Even within Hogwarts itself. Just in case, you understand me?’

Harry nodded.

‘And lastly, while you stay here, the Cottage has been given the highest security the Ministry of Magic can provide. These measures have caused a certain amount of inconvenience to Remus, Mr Nott, and Miss Howling—all their post, for instance, is being searched at the Ministry before being sent on. They do not mind in the slightest, for their only concern is your safety. However, it would be poor repayment if you risked your neck while staying with them.’

‘I understand,’ said Harry quickly.

'Now we best get inside, they are waiting.'

'"They"? I doubt anyone other than Remus stayed up for my return,' said Harry, though for the first time noticed most of the lights were on in the Cottage which was odd for past midnight.

'There is one more task that needs to be completed tonight,' Dumbledore said more somberly as they approached the Cottage. They were still several feet away from the door when it suddenly opened and Remus stepped out.

'Harry, you're alright!' he said as he brought his adoptive son in for a hug. Even in the two weeks since Harry had last seen Remus he had developed more grey in his hair, and alongside his mustache he was growing a stubbly beard from lack of shaving, it was clear Sirius' death was taking a toll. 'We were expecting you to arrive over an hour ago, even though I knew you were with Dumbledore I became quite worried that something had happened.

'I'm fine Moony, really, I was just helping Dumbledore with something, I though you knew,' but by the sudden glare Remus gave Dumbledore it was very clear that at most Remus knew only that Dumbledore was picking Harry up at eleven. Still, Remus opened the door wider for the three of them to enter. 'Oh, and what do you mean by "we"?'

'Wotcher, Harry,' said his cousin Nymphadora Tonks, who was standing in his foyer. She was trying to smile but Harry thought she looked pale and drawn, even ill. Certainly her appearance was less colorful than usual with her hair being flat and brown unlike her customary pixie-cut bubble-gum-pink hair.

As he gave her a hug he heard yet another familiar voice coming from the living room.

'Oh, is Harry here. We're glad you arrived safely,' he heard his aunt Andromeda say. He entered the living room and saw his aunt Andromeda sitting in an arm chair who only seemed to get more beautiful with age, and his uncle Edward standing behind her who was wearing his wizarding attire apposed to the muggle clothes he wore to his job at a muggle architecture firm. Sitting on a Sofa was his foster brother Theodore, who only gave Harry a little wave as Harry's adopted sister Canini had dozed off on his shoulder.

Seeing this specific group of people Harry now could guess what was going on, but Dumbledore soon confirmed his suspicion.

'Well, Harry,' said Dumbledore, turning toward him, 'as I am sure you have now guessed, we are all gathered here today for the reading of Sirius' will.'

Theodore nudged Canini enough that she woke up and the two siblings moved over enough for Harry to join them on the sofa, then Tonks sat on the arm next to Harry. Dumbledore sat down on the second armchair, and Remus pulled up a chair from the dinning room.

‘Normally with will readings someone from the Ministry would discuss its content with its recipients, however given that their are property within pertaining to Order of the Phoenix I volunteered to read so that no classified secrets escape,’ explained Dumbledore. ‘Before I begin I must ask if everyone is ready for what I am about to read.’

Everyone nodded or verbally said ‘yes’.

‘Very well,’ said Dumbledore and he pulled a document out from his enchanted blue handbag and began to read. ‘For Sirius Black’s portion of the Black family fortune he divided it up so that five percent is split between his cousin Andromeda Tonks and her husband Edward Tonks, five percent to his first cousin once removed Nymphadora-its a legal document Tonks it had to use your full name-Tonks, fifteen percent to his husband Remus John Lupin, and the remaining seventy-five percent is to be slip evenly between his three adoptive children Harry James Potter, Canini Cicero Howling, and Theodore Luke Nott. The gold will be transferred to each of your vaults by sunrise.’

There was a murmur of acceptance, although Harry could tell that receiving Sirius’ wealth was little comfort after losing someone they all cared for.

‘On to more personal possessions,’ continued Dumbledore. ‘Most of Sirius’ possessions were co-owned with either Remus or one of his kids so those items stay with their second owner. For possession that solely belongs to Sirius, first we have his flying motorcycle and helmet, which he has left to his daughter Canini, however she can not legally drive it until her sixteen birthday. To his son Theodore he leaves his tent and camping supplies.’

There was a pause, and before Dumbledore could even continue all eyes landed on Harry.

‘Now for the more complicated part,' said Dumbledore, turning toward Harry, 'a difficulty has arisen which I hope you will be able to solve for us. By us, I mean the Order of the Phoenix. Our problem is that Sirius also left you number twelve, Grimmauld Place, as well as everything within.'

Harry had not been expecting that, of all the things Sirius could have left him, why the house Sirius himself hated all his life. After stopping to think for a moment he now realized why this was an Order matter as Grimmauld place was there headquarters.

'You can keep using it as headquarters,' said Harry. 'You can have it,' and in his mind he thought, "I don’t really want it.” Harry never wanted to set foot in number twelve, Grimmauld Place again if he could help it. He thought he would be haunted forever by the memory of Sirius prowling its dark musty rooms alone with only Remus and the treacherous Kreature inside, imprisoned within the place he had wanted so desperately to leave.

'That is generous,' said Dumbledore. 'We have, however, vacated the building temporarily.'

'Why?'

'You see Harry,' said Remus, 'there is an older will that we are not sure if it will over rule Sirius' or not. When Sirius' mother died she specifically willed Grimmauld Place to her closest living relative, at the time that was reluctantly her son Sirius, however now that he is gone her next closest living relative would be her eldest niece Bellatrix Lestrange...'

Without realizing what he was doing, Harry sprang to his feet; the telescope and trainers in his lap rolled across the floor. Bellatrix Lestrange, Sirius’s killer, inherit his house? Andromeda also whimpered at the name of her wicked older sister.

'No,' he said.

'Well, obviously we would prefer that she didn’t get it either,' said Dumbledore calmly. 'The situation is fraught with complications. We do not know whether the enchantments we ourselves have placed upon it, for example, making it Unplottable, will hold now that ownership has passed from Sirius’s hands. It might be that Bellatrix will arrive on the doorstep at any moment. Naturally we had to move out until such time as we have clarified the position.'

'But how are you going to find out if I’m allowed to own it?'

'Fortunately,' said Dumbledore, 'there is a simple test.'

'Not so simple...' Canini mumbled under her breath.

'You see,' Dumbledore said, turning back to Harry and again speaking as though Canini had not uttered, 'if you have indeed inherited the house, you have also inherited—'

He flicked his wand. There was a loud crack, and a house-elf appeared, with a snout for a nose, giant bat’s ears, and enormous bloodshot eyes, crouching on the living room carpet and covered in grimy rags.

'Kreacher,' finished Dumbledore.

'Kreacher won’t, Kreacher won’t, Kreacher won’t!' croaked the house-elf, quite as loudly as he stompt his long, gnarled feet and pulling his ears. 'Kreacher belongs to Miss Bellatrix, oh yes, Kreacher belongs to the Blacks, Kreacher wants his new mistress, Kreacher won’t go to the Potter brat, Kreacher won’t, won’t, won’t—'

'As you can see, Harry,' said Dumbledore loudly, over Kreacher’s continued croaks of 'won’t, won’t, won’t,' 'Kreacher is showing a certain reluctance to pass into your ownership.'

'I don’t care,' said Harry, looking with disgust at the writhing, stamping house-elf. 'I don’t want him.'

'Won’t, won’t, won’t, won’t—'

'You would prefer him to pass into the ownership of Bellatrix Lestrange? Bearing in mind that he has lived at the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix for the past year?'

'Won’t, won’t, won’t, won’t—'

Harry stared at Dumbledore. He knew that Kreacher could not be permitted to go and live with Bellatrix Lestrange, but the idea of owning another sentiant being, or having responsibility for the creature that had betrayed Sirius, was repugnant. Reluctantly he said what must be done.

'Fine, I'll retain ownership of him, but again, how do we know I am the true owner of the house and him?'

'Give him an order,' said Dumbledore. 'If he has passed into your ownership, he will have to obey. If not, then we shall have to think of some other means of keeping him from his rightful mistress.'

'Won’t, won’t, won’t, WON’T!'

Kreacher’s voice had risen to a scream. Harry could think of nothing to say, except, 'Kreacher, shut up!'

It looked for a moment as though Kreacher was going to choke. He grabbed his throat, his mouth still working furiously, his eyes bulging. After a few seconds of frantic gulping, he threw himself face forward onto the carpet and beat the floor with his hands and feet, giving himself over to a violent, but entirely silent, tantrum.

'Well, that simplifies matters,' said Dumbledore cheerfully. 'It seems that Sirius knew what he was doing. You are the rightful owner of number twelve, Grimmauld Place and of Kreacher.'

'Do I—do I have to keep him with me?' Harry asked, aghast, as Kreacher thrashed around at his feet.

'Of course not Harry,' said Remus in a reassuring tone. 'You can have him be wherever you want, just as long as he's still under your ownership.'

'If I might make a suggestion, you could send him to Hogwarts to work in the kitchen there. In that way, the other house-elves could keep an eye on him,' said Dumbledore.

'Yeah,' said Harry in relief, 'yeah, I’ll do that. Er—Kreacher—I want you to go to Hogwarts and work in the kitchens there with the other house-elves.'

Kreacher, who was now lying flat on his back with his arms and legs in the air, gave Harry one upside-down look of deepest loathing and, with another loud crack, vanished.

'Well, with that settled that concludes the will reading,' said Dumbledore, placing the will back into his handbag. 'And I shall bid you all a goodnight, or more accurately good morning.'

'Not just yet,' said Remus, who now sounded tense. 'I would like a word.'

'Certainly.'

Remus led Dumbledore to the Cottage's basement which was mostly soundproof. Harry wanted to go to the door to eavesdrop but Tonks stopped him.

'He's mad because Dumbledore stretched the truth,' she explained. 'He told uncle Remus that he would be picking you up at eleven and dropping you off here, he did not mention that in between those two events he'd be taking you on some sort of mission. What was it by the way?'

'Recruiting this years DADA teacher, I think, I never actually learned what he teaches,' said Harry, he didn't want to discuss more about Slughorn incase some of it was meant to be a secret, so he changed the subject. 'Anyway, what are you going to do with your share of the gold?'

'I'm not sure, I didn't know uncle Sirius left me anything until today. Maybe I'll use it to move out of my little apartment into something nicer, I've been looking at some property in North Lincolnshire, but I didn't think about it seriously until now...'

'It is very late, I think I'm going to take your mother home now Dora,' said uncle Ted to Tonks. 'Do you want to come with us and spend the night in Bedford or wait to say goodbye to Remus and go back to London?'

‘I think I’ll go home with you guys, I-I think I need some extra comfort right now,’ said Tonks, and after they said their goodbyes it was just the three siblings left in the living room. Harry turned to Theodore who came over and gave him a hug.

‘Harry, I’ve missed you,’ he said.

‘I’ve missed you too. It’s been hard here these past couple weeks, hasn’t it?’

‘It has,’ said Canini drowsily, giving Harry a hug as well. ‘We each have had our moments but I think we’re slowly bringing each other back up. I’m glad you’re back though, and much sooner than I thought.’

‘Yeah, I was under the impression I wasn’t going to be back until the very end of August, but it seems that for the first time since I was ten I’ll be spending most of the summer home.’

‘Well, if we’re going to have more time with you, then I am going to spend my time right now going to sleep, love you Theo, love you Harry,’ said Canini as she made her way towards the stairs.

‘Love you sis.’

‘See you tomorrow.’

‘She’s also right, I’m exhausted Harry. I want to hear about your mini adventure with Dumbledore, but not until morning.’

‘Okay,’ Harry agreed, and so the two brothers went upstairs and after what seemed like a never ending day finally came to a close with a good night’s sleep.