The Scourge

Interlude (Part V)

-August, 1996 through August, 1997-

Albus P. W. B. Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Order of Merlin (First Class), Grand Sorcerer, Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards, and NO LONGER Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot was not having a good year. He had felt a change coming when he was notified by Gringotts that his accounts were being audited in early August of 1996.

Now, he had not been worried about the audit, of course. He had nothing to hide. He was merely utilizing his resources as he saw fit. And he saw fit to utilize the resources provided by one missing Harry James Potter. The boy’s trust vaults had allowed for him to enjoy a better way of life and provide for those who worked tirelessly for the greater good. He knew he was doing the Light’s work. He knew that Mother Magic would look upon his actions and bless him accordingly.

No, he was not worried at all.

Well, maybe a little.

He had to wonder why the audit was being performed now, of all times. Why did they wait so long to look into his (obviously above board) financial practices?

It was only 11 months and 27 days until he was able to completely take over the Potter accounts. He had spent months (read: about 30 minutes panicking about what to do) looking for Harry James Potter. He had tried every (read: none, really) avenue in order to find him. He had contacted everyone he knew. (Nope. He mostly sat there eating his lemon drops and waiting patiently while he raked the money in from Harry’s trust vault.)

He had tried.

What more did the wizarding world and Gringotts expect him to do? If the boy was not found by his 17th birthday, he would be listed as officially dead and Albus would be able to take over everything legally. (Read: illegally, since he stole the guardianship… the whole thing was semantics, really. No one need worry their pretty little heads about that.)

He knew the boy had not been found. He knew it. Severus, his most trusted spy, would have let him know immediately if Harry was captured or found by Voldemort.

His boy Severus could always be counted on. He had made sure of that with a little subtle guilt and pressure regarding the loss of his best friend Lily. Although, Albus did not really consider it much of a loss since the fickle woman and her husband were trying to defect from the greater good. Luckily for him, he was able to figure it out and save any potential kerfuffle with the Light side by showing them the error of their ways. He was even able to spin little Harry’s story by giving him the smallest little curse scar.

Yes, that prophecy idea was a stroke of genius. Too bad the boy had to up and disappear. He didn’t even stick around end up being raised as the child of prophecy to take on Voldemort in an epic final battle. (Selfish child.) Albus would just have to make sure that his substitute savior, Neville, was ready. If only Harry had stayed in the wizarding world, Albus sighed to himself, this would all be so much easier.

It was so frustrating when people ruined his perfect plans.

Ah, well, it was all no matter. The audit came up clean (although troubling) and he still received his regular stipend from the Potter trust vaults.

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Another issue that he had not expected to arise was a distant Potter relative showing their face in Wizengamot. He couldn’t be a legitimate relative. Albus would know. He had researched the entire Potter family before he killed discovered them dead. But here this man was, showing up in Wizengamot, claiming the proxy vote for the Potter seats as a relative.