Two for One

Chapter 37: 'Dark' Lords

Tom and Gellert have blocked Harry onto the couch, loudly discussing the newest set of tombs they've bought and basically summarising the entire series in the conversation, in hopes that Harry will also pick up on the information by listening in.

Because Merlin knows Harry won't touch a book unless it has pictures on it. Pictures about Quidditch.

This technique does seem to work, especially well if the boys start an argument because Harry will always pay more attention, even stepping in to mediate and thus also discussing whichever topic Gellert or Tom has picked out for this week's Educate Harry Time.

Occasionally the boys will switch tracks instead and start talking about something they'd like to know in a future sense and if they leave enough of a gap in their conversation, Harry will automatically fill it with what he remembers. Future discoveries, inventions, laws, protocol - and the boys just need to narrow down the topic to get details on individual concepts.

Harry usually doesn't know much more than if something exists, sometimes basic facts about it, but the boys are smart enough to research the details themselves as long as they have a starting point.

A polyjuice potion that can last hours, an interesting suppressant Harry calls wolfsbane, several offensive spells, an easier way to grow a few much-needed magical plants, a collection of stores that gain immense popularity and should be invested in.

Of course, they don't waste the time and effort of developing these things themselves, not after the first few they needed to gain capital for other, larger projects.

Instead, the boys will find someone to do it for them, either the original owner or someone talented enough. The discoveries advance fields and rake in money, people jump at the chance after an idea is put into their head. Sometimes it means investing in people or companies, maybe even a private deal with Gellert or Tom (or Tom's pureblood followers).

They've amassed quite the fame and fortune, usually with Harry's name if they need an actual adult to get through legal matters, but usually it's all pushed through by the Unspeakable.

"So, Gellert," Tom begins.

The doorbell rings and Harry lurches up from the couch with a mutter of 'oh thank Merlin'. Harry wrenches open the door and Albus holds up a paper bag with cream buns, a smile on his face.

=====================

Albus is not a Dark Lord in that he runs around murdering people he doesn't like. His overwhelming power is quite frankly put solely into bettering the world - be it based in Britain or other countries.

He will force the Ministry's hand in accepting laws of equality or amending older, more out of touch statues, perhaps enforcing the building of more infrastructure such as hospitals or wards, or even forcefully suppressing organisations all the way up to entire countries who try to fight each other for some reason or another.

That's not to say Albus does this peacefully, though he does try. If people don't listen he can and will threaten or blackmail or kill to get his way. He always thinks he's in the right and that his ideas are perfect with no flaws and while he doesn't refuse other people's ideas he won't wait for them to express themselves before going ahead with his...restructure.

This is rather obvious when he steps into other countries and sees barbaric practices that, regardless, are still history and culture and with whole ideals built around them - and Albus just wipes it from the minds of the entire population.

Harry points this out, just after Albus says he's not a true Dark Lord in response to a snidely muttered comment by Tom.

"I never said I was a good person," Albus admits. "It's just that 'Dark Lord' doesn't quite fit me seeing as I don't use Dark Arts."

"At all?" Harry asks in surprise. "Then how do you..." he trails off waving a half-eaten cream bun vaguely. "Terrorise people?"

Albus clears his throat. "Well I wouldn't say terrorise but, ah...there are inherently Light spells that can cause just as much -if not more- damage than Dark counterparts. They simply behave in a different way because they're powered differently. Two methods to reach the same conclusion."

Harry turns to the two little boys eating their cream buns and listening raptly. "See? You can oppress the wizarding population without your little blood rituals."

Tom sighs heavily. "It was donated blood from a hospital and we left more than enough recompense."

Gellert rolls his eyes so theatrically, his head swings with the motion. "And it was a protection ward because you keep running around trying to save muggles when there's a war starting up."

Harry tsks and looks back at Albus. "Kids, am I right?"

"I suppose so?" The Dark *ahem* the Light Lord offers up. "Though I don't remember blood rituals when I was young."

"I remember one time," Harry muses, then narrows his eyes at Albus. "Actually, is anyone in particular fighting you? I don't think I've heard of your opponents."

"No one in particular," Albus admits idly. "It's not like I have a territory to rule, so I believe I move around too much for one government -or otherwise- to set up a specific force against me."

Gellert seems positively inspired by this accidental tactic.

Albus pauses. "Though lately, I have been fending off oddly accurate ambushes and my friends have had to move safehouses rapidly." He glances to Harry. "Some of the wizards were working with muggles."

Tom tsks. "The Unspeakble sent a letter about that recently. I'll have to check in with them again."

"They tried to capture me," Albus remembers. "But I had already moved -ah- the important things to a new place a month before. It's often like they're working with old information, but they're accurate enough that I can't be sure if it is simply bad communication or if facts are deliberately being distorted."

Albus seems to hesitate. "Harry, may I ask you for a favour?"

"Sure-"

"No," Gellert cuts in over Harry. "What's the favour?"

"Nothing awful," Albus tries. "I was wondering if you could...give sanctuary to a boy I know."

"There are enough children in this household," Tom declares.

"There are enough snakes in this place, that's for sure," Harry mutters snidely.

Tom says no more because yes, he is still collecting snakes.

Gellert doesn't mind. Tom turned out to be a lovely baby brother, very intelligent and self-contained and also knows how to manoeuvre Harry appropriately. "This will be great! What's his name?"

"His name is Credence," Albus says, and doesn't give a last name.