Albus wasn't all bad he had good intentions. He made an error common to people of great intelligence and ability, he thought that because others weren't as intelligent or skillful he didn't need to consult them never mind that they would be affected by the decisions he would make as well. She had seen enough of his methods she didn't entirely trust him, of course the same could be said of ninety-five percent or more of the ministry. Albus talked a good talk but he was very little action.
He preferred to move behind the scenes as he put it. He talked equality for the muggleborn but there was next to no action to make that a reality. He talked inter house unity. Well if what was happening to Neville was anything to go by the Headmaster was just as much action on that topic.
Minerva was asking her to tell Neville to discard his friendship with Potter. Well it might make Minnie's job easier, but a little hardship is good for the soul. She couldn't in good conscience do that when there was the matter of a life debt between the boys, and who knew, it might be just the ticket to bring Neville out of his shell and into the sort of man he'd need to be to become the next Earl of Longbottom. Frank hadn't even gotten the chance to get comfortable with the title and take his seat in the Wizengamot before he and Alice were stricken.
Augusta pondered how could she meet young Mr. Potter. She finally decided to do something she hadn't done since her husband died seventeen years ago. Longbottom Abbey would host a Yuletide Ball and house party over Christmas. Well she'd better get to work, because a party like that would take a lot of work.
....
In Surrey, Petunia sat sipping her tea and looking out the window into the late November rain. It was lonely without the boys here. She stayed busy with her ladies aid meetings and her bridge group, but lately she was wanting more. She had taken to volunteering at Surrey General Hospital two mornings a week and had joined her local ballet studio for two additional classes a week. It was moments like this she truly cursed the name Albus Dumbledore. If it weren't for him she would have a larger house to keep her busy and she would have a child or maybe even two or three to care for. Caring for the house was so easy a half hour to an hour a day and it was done now she faced boredom until Vernon came home three hours from now.
Suddenly she noticed an owl flying in the rain. She opened the window and allowed the creature to perch on the back of a kitchen chair normally they waited on the branch of a tree outside but not with this rain. She moved to the cabinet under the sink where she kept a small container of food for them. After removing the parchment attached to its leg she put the dual dish with water and food in front the bird and stepped into the laundry closet for a ragged old towel to help dry it and then put under the bird. It would do to ease cleanup if it had an accident. Petunia had noticed however, the owls that came in general seemed to know not to do their business in her house.
The ward analysis by the goblins showed that in addition to blood based protective wards, that prevented any witches or wizard who had the intent to draw the blood of anyone who lived in the house's blood from getting in the wards included a mail ward that prevented mail directed to Harry from getting through without a special "key", and a compulsion ward to make them stay in the wards for the most part. Harry sent his beautiful snowy owl at least once a week with notes to her and to retrieve mail sent to Harry via Petunia (a simple solution to the problem) from both Gringott's and Davies, Corner, and Ogden. Usually the birds came shortly after Vernon left in the mornings but sometimes it was mid afternoon. The afternoon ones almost always left again before Vernon got home. She didn't care for the creatures except for Harry's, but she didn't blame them for the magical world's oddities. She opened the parchment.
Dear Mrs Dursley,
We have examined the holdings of various companies that were basically in stasis following the deaths of the Potters. Sadly two have gone belly up, there are five more that I recommend selling off even though it will be a loss. Four others are breaking even, that I would perhaps recommend additional investment in, I believe they could become quite the moneymakers. The rest are producing a tidy profit and are sound investments. That I believe sums up the financial aspects of what I know and am working on. By the way the goblins concur with this strategy.
That is not the limits of Lord Potter's concerns however. I believe it would be a good idea for the wills to be read during the winter break. Marchbanks, Doge, Diggle and Trent are being obstructive and by getting the wills open we can yank their teeth thus taking control of the Potter concerns. This should be easy with the help of Barchok.
The Potters have a seat on the Wizengamot. The wizarding equivalent of parliament. It is currently being held and voted by Albus Dumbledore. If as you have indicated he wasn't the Potter's choice of Guardian, that means as physical guardian for the last ten years you would have some say in who held and voted that seat for Lord Potter. Harry will not be eligible until after his twenty-fifth birthday to actually vote that seat. My firm has ties to the Honorable Tiberius Ogden, as you can probably tell from the name. He is a respected Elder of the Wizengamot who while undeniably light is a contemporary of Dumbledore, and is therefore known for occasionally taking a stand counter to that of the Chief Warlock. Furthermore the Honorable Elder Ogden was a friend of the current Lord Potter's grandfather, if we can wrest control from the Chief Warlock I would recommend asking him to vote the Potter seat as he knows the the issues before the Wizengamot best.
Please owl me the details of what Harry's plans are for the winter break as his presence is required for the will reading. Also my wife was wanting to invite Lord Potter and yourself to a solstice dinner party December 21st. It would be good for Lord Potter to meet a few of the people we are corresponding about.
Cordially, Stephen M. Corner
Petunia went to the drawer where she kept the large sheets of impervious parchment and pulled a sheet of it out in addition to her personalized lilac stationary that Harry and Dudley had given her last Christmas. She wrote her response on her stationary.
Dear Mr. Corner,
That is good news. Harry was planning to stay at school over the winter holidays as the rest of us are spending them with my sister-in-law. The two of them have never gotten along and Marge's dogs have always made Harry miserable. Perhaps however we should make alternate arrangements for him to come to Gringott's for a day, and make arrangements for him to attend your wife's party as well. Although I would be there for the will reading I have to decline for the party, I would trust you to look after him. As to Harry's family seat, I would like to meet Honorable Elder Ogden before making such an important decision.
Sincerely, Petunia Dursley
Then she took out the special pen and ink Harry had bought for her to use with the parchment and wrote: Mr. Stephen Corner c/o Davies, Corner and Ogden. She then folded and sealed the parchment around the sheet of her stationary. Before tying it back on the owl and opening the window.
....
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