Chapter 88

Yes, but I only want to keep enough to pay for your services," replied Harry. "The rest I want to eventually set aside for a Foundation in my mother's name to aid muggleborn in getting their start in the wizarding world. My direct instruction for this is, 'Bleed the mongrels dry!'

"I also want an article to appear in the Daily Prophet, Teen Witch Weekly and Witch Weekly that decries the nonsense written in those books as the sheer fantasy they are. My life was... is... nothing like that. It's led to people believing things about me that are patently untrue."

With a sigh, he said, "My bondmates and I will soon be spending time, in part, talking about my life to date. I actually have no interest in telling people about my life. However, I've now been convinced that clearing-the-air about it can go a long way towards healing the psychological and emotional damage I've sustained since that dreadful Halloween night.

"Do you want Daphne and I to write it all down for you, Harry?" Hermione softly asked.

"Yeah," he sighed, looking to both bondmates. "But, let me get it all off my chest, first; on Friday. Then, we can go back and you two can write it all down, alright?"

"Alright, love," she replied with a similar verbal nod from Daphne.

"I also want another notice, on another day, that apologises to the wizarding world for my not responding to all the letters, gifts and the like that have been sent to me these past thirteen years," Harry requested. "Albus Dumbledore, it seems, felt the need to intercept my mail and redirect it to a storeroom, here, in the castle. I only found out about that a few days ago. And it's going to take me a very long time to go through it all and start answering folks back."

"He intercepted your mail?" asked Pentridge, with an angry little moue.

"He did," nodded Harry. "And he didn't tell me he was doing it, either. It wasn't until I screamed at him enough about how I was supposed to be everyone's hero, and yet hadn't heard a word from any of them, that he finally relented enough to show me where it's all being stored. There're literally shelves upon shelves of it all."

"We could go after him for that," she frowned.

"We could," replied Harry. "However, I think it was Dumbledore more doing it, as he said, to protect me from those who would attempt me harm using the mail system; rather than him just wanting to deny me my mail. Sure, there might have been that involved, too. However, I have no proof that was his leading reason.

"What I have impressed upon him already, however, is that I am not too happy with him for doing it, and then not letting me know the mail was there during my first year, or since. He's had ample time to hand it all to me, and didn't. If he continues to do it... or does it again... you have my permission to go after him with, as the muggles say, both barrels."

"The mail redirection should have been removed by now, Harry," said Daphne. "We should begin our plans for moving it and begin going through it all after this meeting."

Harry nodded back and said, "You're right. Thank you, Daphne."

"Alright," said Ackerman. "Is that all you have for us, Mister Potter?"

Checking with his bondmates, who both nodded back, Harry said, "Yes, Sir."

"Good," said Ackerman, as he and Miss Pentridge began to put all their notes and writing implements away. "I'll have a retainer contract sent to you for signing some time after Monday. I'll mark where you need to sign. Once it's signed, so long as you don't make any changes... and I recommend you don't... the contract will automatically be filed with the relevant authorities. It will be replaced by your own copy before you."

Once the two solicitors were packed, the five stood and walked to the door. Ackerman and Daphne removed the various charms and locks before Ackerman opened the door as if to step out.

As soon as the door opened, they saw Dumbledore standing on the other side frowning.

He took one look at Harry and said, "Mister Potter, I assumed I would be invited to any meeting you would have with others, other than family, within my school."

Stepping out, Ackerman asked him, "And why would you make such an assumption, Mister Dumbledore."

Switching to sternly look at Ackerman, Dumbledore said, "I prefer Headmaster Dumbledore."

"Really?" Ackerman asked with an almost predatory smile. "If you are making such enquiries as Headmaster, then you are abusing your position and authority of that title. Are you sure you want to be referred to as 'Headmaster', rather than 'Mister'?"

Dumbledore scowled back but, instead of answering, began, "Loco parentis..." before Ackerman smoothly cut in.

"... Would be the responsibility of Professor Filius Flitwick, as his assigned Head of House, Mister Dumbledore."

Dumbledore scowled deeper before he chose to ignore the man and turn back to Harry. "Mister Potter, I should have been made aware you were entertaining visitors before they were allowed onto school grounds..."

"I sought permission from, and was granted such permission, from Professor Flitwick, Sir," Harry smoothly replied. "I believe that was the correct course of action, in this instance. Was it not?"

Without a word and a small scowl, after a long moment Dumbledore spun about and stalked off down the corridor.

"Controlling, manipulative old..." muttered Harry before Hermione cut him off.

"Harry," she lowly scolded.

As they all filed out into the corridor, Ackerman asked, "Is he always like this?"

"When it comes to me? Yes," replied Harry.

"Keep me appraised, then," said Ackerman.

The three teens escorted the two solicitors back to the main doors of the castle before bidding them goodbye.

As the two walked back up the main driveway, Harry asked his two bondmates, "What next?"

"Let's go find a classroom somewhere near the seventh floor we can use to sort your mail," replied Hermione.

"Good idea," said Daphne.

And the three headed up stairs.

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