Chapter 88 - Ch. 88 Summer's Events

With my orders given, it was now only a matter of time until the wave I wanted to create right now happened.

It will take time. The books need to be read, tested, proven and then praised. Following that will be its spread, then recognitions, and fame.

'The with the quality of the books, the advertis.e.m.e.nt I've paid for in the papers, and the time needed for journalists to get more information, I estimate that around Christmas they'll bust down my door.' I thought to myself as I'm working.

As I agreed with my friends before the break, I sent them my results and received theirs.

'I think I might have helped them a bit too much' the thought went through my head as I chuckled.

Christian got two O+ for Care of Magical Creatures and Herbology. EE for potions, Divination and History of Magic. But O for Charms, Transfiguration and Defense Against the Dark Arts.

James was one subject better, with O+ in Charms, Transfiguration and Ancient Runes, due to his passion for enchanting and spells in general. EE in potions and Herbology. But O for Arithmancy, History of Magic and Defense Against the Dark Arts.

Victoria had the best grades aside from me, with O+ in Charms, Potions, Transfiguration and Arithmancy. And O's in Defense Against the Dark Arts, Ancient Runes, History of Magic and Herbology. I was extremely proud of her achievements.

All of them were still shocked that they made a new grade just for me, but they've been my friends for years now, they know it's completely reasonable. From their point of view anyway.

Christian though would now be teased relentlessly due to him having the 'worst' grades amongst us. The reason lies in the fact that he excels in things outside the classroom. He's the best combatant from my three friends, even if Victoria has more power and spells, he has a true sense for fighting. He's one of, if not, the best athletes at Hogwarts and has been receiving offers from professional teams already. He is a trained and experienced survivalist, and knows how to really use his knowledge of plants in the wild. And he has actually faced the creatures learned about in Care of Magical Creatures.

James, Tory and I know all this. Christian knows we know. It's all just good natured fun and competition between the four of us.

On a side note, James has been getting employment offers as well. Businesses involved in enchanting have been trying to get the guy, especially broom makers. Because he was officially announced as a participant in making the Blackbolt, they've really been trying to get the me and him. He's rejected these offers because he believes he isn't good enough to truly do this. So I've arranged something unique for him. I gave him an opportunity to learn a path to making artifacts and learning a totally different way to enchant objects: Goblin smithing. This was difficult, but they've agreed, due to my relationship with them, to test James. If he fails that's the end, but if he passes he must make an unbreakable vow to never disclose any techniques taught to him by the goblins. Everything else will be up to him.

Tory has said that she's making progress on figuring out what's really wrong with her mom. She thinks that it wasn't really a bad curse that's got her this way, since the trauma is actually more similar to the Longbottom's case than any existing curses effect. She's been keeping me posted, but that discovery has been making me think of very bad possibilities. But I've sent her books on mental traumas, psychological injures, brain damage and some muggle medicine books to use as reference. Tory will understand the uses of these materials. Although she still believes that being from an old and established house does allow you to be better, that is only if of actually use the ressources available and put in the proper effort to be better. And I've taken her out to experience the muggle world repeatedly, so she understands that they have made great progress and are not to be underestimated anymore.

And apparently, Christian is going to meet Newt Scamander this summer, since his parents are avid animal and nature lovers they've known the famous man for a while, and now they want to introduce their prodigious son to him. This should be an amazing opportunity for him, simply because Scamander is The magizoologist. He literally wrote the book. So I hope he can learn a lot from the man.

Anyway, time moved on.

Harry's birthday was celebrated with us this year and gifts from his friends came in.

Ron was in Egypt, his family still won the Daily Prophet Draw and decided to use it to visit their eldest who works as a curse-breaker for Gringotts over there. It always struck me as odd. The man has 5 children attending school, forced to make do with second-hand everything, but he blows all the money on a trip to see another son. That was in the original story anyway, so he's lucky i started my fund and got Ron a proper wand, still not sure how that bit with Lucius needing to compensate the man has gone though. The good thing about this is that I won't have to do anything and Sirius would learn about Peter as he did in the Canon. But, poor Percy isn't Head Boy this time around because of little old me, who's still got the badge. So he's stuck as prefect for his last year, hence less smug in his pictures.

Ron still sent over a Pocket Sneakoscope, something that is actually pretty useful to have around. It inspired me to enchant my heir ring to detect disguised or untrustworthy individuals later because of it. And you'll be pleased to know it laid on the table doing nothing around my family and I.

Hermione had a family trip to France, and said she was envious of Ron due to the history of the country he's in. She sent over an entire broom servicing kit, with instructions and everything. It made the kids eyes light up.

On the subject of brooms, when he found out I had made my own alongside another by a partner, he really wanted to try the two brooms. I told him it would really make any other broom he's ridden feel worse in comparison, but he was adamant. I think that's the most excited I've ever seen him, followed by the most d.e.s.i.r.e he's ever displayed. He really wanted one. Unfortunately, they were insanely expensive and after I explained why he understood. So he's never asked for one, he's too good of a kid, plus if things go right he'll get one anyway.

Back to presents, I got him a proper dueling wand sheath. Enchanted to be just like mine. Susan got him a plant which is supposed to help others relax, Amelia got him some new clothes, and Tilly made his favorite foods. Hagrid sent him the infamous Monster book of Monsters. It tried to snap at Harry when he wanted to open it cautiously, but I firmly grasped it and stroked its spine to calm it down. I then taught the kid how to treat the informative little creature in order not to have any issues with the thing.

The Golden Trio also agreed to meet at Diagon Alley for the last week of the Holidays, which he actually looked at us before we reassured him it was more than fine and agreeing.

Everyone also got their Hogwarts letters and supply list around the same time as Harry's birthday, so shopping was planned to be done soon as well.

Then the news of the most hated criminal still alive, Sirius Black, had escaped from Azkaban. No one but me knew how he escaped, but everyone was in a frenzy. They still considered him to be Tommy boy's right hand and the reason behind the deaths of Peter Pettigrew, James & Lily Potter, as well as over a dozen muggles. So they informed the muggle government about the man's escape and a manhunt was started for him.

No one would find him of course, due to his nature as an illegal animagus, but they were turning Britain inside and out.

Aunt Amelia has had a lot of pressure put on her as the head of DMLE, and has been stressed for a while now. She has been very relieved that she knew exactly where Harry was and that he would be safe in the house, especially with me around. She knew my skills and so did most of the senior Aurors. Her worry was that Sirius would still very much like to try and kill Harry for his 'old master'.

But unfortunately for Harry, some time later, he learned Vernon's sister Marge was coming to visit. He had actually been lightly traumatized by the horrid woman. He had written to me about what to do and if he could come over, but I had to reject him this time because he couldn't be away from that house for so long. So I gave him the advice to head to the Leaky Cauldron ahead of his friends if worst comes to worst. I would go and find him if it comes to that, but he should try to tough it out for the week.

I knew it wouldn't end well, but I also knew it was my chance. My chance to meet Sirius Black. So I got Oliver to prepare and keep an eye on Harry with extreme vigilance, and wait for the man to appear. No killing or maiming was permitted. The man was innocent and he trusted and respected me enough to obey the order that went against his own knowledge. I simply asked him to bring Sirius to our fully secured base. The true heart of my forces and be kept there. They knew he was an animagus and his form, so everything was prepared.

As predicted, Marge was a horrid human being as well. Resulting in the funny bit of unintentional magic causing her to swell like a balloon.

But being very scared of what he just did, worried about the Dursley's reactions and that he believed to have gotten himself in a lot of trouble at the Ministry because of using magic, he ran after taking his things. He remembered what I had told him and also how to use the Knight Bus, so he properly flagged it. But it did not arrive until he saw a large black dog, staring at him intently and when the bus suddenly arrives it had disappeared, so he boarded the train and left.

On my side of things though, I finally got the message I was waiting for from Oliver: Black has been capture as per your orders.

I immediately stood up and dressed myself properly to meet the man. I wore a proper black three piece suit, modern muggle style not wizard, with a red tie, before changing my appearance to Micheal Folster's. I still couldn't reveal my identity, but I believed I can say Aedan Bones has a relationship with him.

'Time to meet the infamous prisoner of Azkaban then.' I thought as I used my private portkey to go to The Fortress, the companies heavily fortified headquarters.