A Very Merry Unbirthday To Me

(AN: 10 points for your house if you can recognize the source of the title for this chapter. Also to those who have asked if this is a repost, not exactly. I started it here under the title so what but took it down after about 6 or 7 chapters and moved it to HP Fandom to work on it there. All my WIP's can be found on HP Fandom. I only post completed works here at FF. )

words and more words = Ginny the dog speech & thoughts

A Very Merry Unbirthday To Me

The irritation Molly Weasley was feeling rose up another notch as she and her husband stepped into the meeting room at Gringotts and found there were a number of people already there. She recognized a number of them as being from Dark and borderline Dark families, including Narcissa Malfoy. She wasn't really surprised to find that they had kept things that rightfully belonged to innocent children, but she didn't belong here. She had nothing that belonged to the Weyland family. The tiara that Dantes was trying to take from her rightfully belonged to the Prewitt family. Her family would never have kept anything that didn't rightfully belong to them and she wasn't about to let anyone take away the last thing she had to remember her Great Aunt Muriel by.

She was also very annoyed that the place they were supposed to meet Mr. Dantes had been changed from the Ministry to Gringotts at the last minute. According to what Arthur had been told by Josiah Weems, the court clerk, when he asked about the change, Mr. Dantes had requested the change saying he would prefer it to be held somewhere where he would have immediate access to reliable information regarding the condition the Weyland properties were supposed to be in as well as an accurate assessment of their value. She was going to have a few choice words to say to that young man about the deliberate insult he'd given to her husband and the other honest people who worked at the Ministry, by implying that none of them could be trusted to tell the truth or do the right thing. Arthur was the most honourable man she knew.

As she tightened her grip on her squirming daughter, Molly growled, "I can't believe I have to come here and defend my right to keep my property. I intend to end this farce right now."

"Now, Molly, dear, we'll get it all sorted out." Arthur tried to calm her down as she started pushing her way through the small clusters of people gathered in the room.

The last thing they needed was for Molly to lose her temper, because if she tried to run over this Mr. Dantes like an angry troll, it would just confirm in most people's minds that her family had indeed kept items that rightfully belonged to the Weyland children, when their father had been shown to be innocent. Having known the Prewitt family for years himself, he was certain that there had been a mix-up and that was all, even though they could find nothing in any of the records that had been saved when the Prewitt family home had been destroyed that proved Molly's claim to her Great Aunt Muriel's tiara. The Prewitts were well-known defenders of the Light and that was why they had been one of the main targets of You-Know-Who during his first assault on the wizarding world. They would no more keep something that didn't belong to them than Albus Dumbledore would break his word.

Ginny let out a yip of pain when her mother squeezed a little too hard. She had gotten a brief sniff of Harry's scent before he vanished from the Great Hall the night he turned her into a dog and her new senses were telling her that her Harry was in the room. She needed to go and find him, so she could be with him. She would show him that no matter what form she was in, she would be loyal to him from now on and that they belonged together and she would allow nothing to separate them.

"Sorry dear," her mother apologised as she absently handed Ginny to her father. "Arthur, you stay here, while I go and settle this matter once and for all."

Molly Weasley's voice was very penetrating and got the attention of those seated at the table near the front of the room, as she pushed past the court clerk who was trying to keep these proceedings orderly.

A young wizard with dark brown hair and hazel eyes who was seated at the table, met her gaze for several moments, before saying to the room at large, "And here we see a fine example of an adult Gryffindor. Impatient and certain that everything they do is just and right."

"Young man," Molly snapped, "your parents should have taught you to respect your elders."

"Madam, I do respect my elders, when they don't act like impatient five year olds who refuse to wait their turn."

Molly bristled, but before she could say anything in return, he turned his attention back to Mrs. Malfoy. "It would seem madam, that this woman is in a great hurry to return my family's property to me, so would you mind if we postponed our discussion of which Malfoy property will be taken in compensation for the Weyland estate near Avebury that your husband sold?"

While Narcissa Malfoy just wanted this whole humiliating episode over and done with, so that she could get back to trying to find a way to get the spell on her son undone, she wasn't about to miss the chance of seeing Molly Weasley, well-known advocate for doing what was right, taken down a few pegs. When she'd first heard Molly Weasley's voice she'd been very surprised. After all who would have thought that a member of a well-known Light family like the Prewitts would keep something that didn't belong to them. Wait until my friends hear about this!

Rising gracefully to her feet, Narcissa turned to give Molly a look of stunned amazement. "I don't mind waiting, though I must say that I am surprised to see you here, Molly. I mean who would've thought that a Prewitt would keep something that didn't belong to them."

Narcissa paused for a moment as if in thought and then continued, "but then again, maybe I shouldn't be all that surprised, considering the actions of some of your children."

"You are misinformed. I have nothing in my possession that belongs to anyone else. I am here today to get this mix up sorted out." Molly countered stiffly. She knew that Narcissa was referring indirectly to Percy, who had been condemned to death, though the Wizengamot had yet to decide on the method of execution, given that Harry Potter had destroyed all the Dementors.

"Mrs. Weasley, you as the Muggles would say, are wading in de Nile." The young wizard spoke up before Narcissa could make any further comments. "But since you are in such a hurry, madam, please be seated."

Once Molly was seated before the two wizards and the goblin, the dark haired young wizard was given a folder by the silver haired older one. It took Molly a few moments to place where she had seen this silver haired wizard before. He was Alexander Boet the solicitor who worked for Potter and who had been successful in getting the legacies given to them by Sirius Black revoked.

"I thought you were working for Potter, Mr. Boet. Considering what he's been having you do, I wouldn't have thought you would have time for another client." Molly spoke curtly to the silver haired solicitor. She was still furious with Potter for turning her little girl into a dog, not to mention the possibility of her being expelled if they couldn't prove that the statements she'd made in the Great Hall were lies.

"Who I work for is none of your business, Mrs. Weasley," Boet countered just as curtly.

"Molly Weasley nee Prewitt, who my solicitor is has no bearing at all on why you are here today." The younger wizard interrupted firmly before Molly could say anything further to Alexander. "I am Liam Dantes and you are here to return a goblin made tiara that was given to my great grandmother Annalysse Weyland by her mother Malynda Carric. This tiara was given to Muriel Prewitt in reparation for my great grandfather Gareth Weyland's supposed crimes against her. Muriel Prewitt never returned the tiara to his family when it was finally learned he was actually innocent of the crimes he was accused of after he was KISSED. The fact of his innocence was widely broadcast in the wizarding world, which means that you cannot claim she didn't know given she never has lived in the muggle world. So where is my family's tiara?"

Molly found it hard not to squirm under Dantes' cold gaze. The man could give Snape lessons in 'The Stare'. Gathering her resolve, Molly told him firmly, "I dispute your claim of ownership of my family's tiara. My Great Aunt would never have kept anything that didn't belong to her."

"Do you have proof that anyone in the Prewitt family prior to Muriel Prewitt owned the tiara?" Liam was certain of what her answer would be.

"No," Molly was annoyed that he wouldn't take her word about Great Aunt Muriel's character. The Prewitts had a well-earned reputation for being honest in all their dealings. "The Prewitt family home was destroyed by the Dark Lord and most of my family's records went with it."

"Very convenient," Everyone in the room could hear the sarcasm in Dantes' voice as he pulled a clipping and a piece of parchment from the folder in front of him. "Fortunately, I do have proof of my claim."

He set a clipping containing a picture of Great Aunt Muriel when she was younger and wearing the tiara on the table in front of Molly. Then he laid a parchment document with a lot of Ministry seals on it beside the Daily Prophet article. Next he pulled a shrunken portrait from his pocket and restored it to full size. One of the Goblins waiting behind the table came forward and took hold of the frame, so that the person in the picture would be able to view the proceedings.

"Hello Grandmother Carric," Dantes greeted the woman in the portrait warmly.

"Hello Liam, dear," the woman responded just as warmly.

The witch in portrait, from what Molly was able to see, was dressed in wedding robes that were popular about a hundred years ago and she was wearing a tiara that looked like Great Aunt Muriel's and she was studying the group in the room with great curiosity.

"That portrait proves nothing." Molly refused to back down. "Great Aunt Muriel could've had a copy made of that one."

"Preposterous!" Malynda Carric's portrait snapped. "Craftmaster Abalock's pieces were all original and as far as I know never copied."

"That is true," the goblin seated at the table spoke for the first time. "Craftmaster Abalock was and is highly revered among our jewelsmiths and even now fifty years after his death, none of them want to attempt to duplicate his work because they feel they couldn't do it justice."

"Now madam, given the evidence I have to back up my claim that the tiara did belong to the Weyland family, you either need to produce proof that the tiara was in the hands of the Prewitt family, prior to Muriel Prewitt, or admit publicly that your Great Aunt violated her precious ethics and stole from children." Dantes' face was an unemotional mask, but his voice conveyed the level of contempt he felt for someone who would do that.

Molly was silent for several minutes before repeating yet again, "I have no proof other than my knowledge of my Great Aunt's character and the Prewitt family's reputation for honour. I know as certainly as I am seated here that Aunt Muriel would never keep anything that didn't belong to her. Nor would my family have allowed her to do so."

Tapping the Daily Prophet clipping and then gesturing toward his great great grandmother's portrait, Dantes commented. "It would seem the Prewitt family's honourable reputation is about as reliable as the Daily Prophet's reputation for truth."

Leaning back slightly in his chair, Dantes folded his hands in front of him and continued a smirk on his face. "Reputations are very fragile things…. Easily made…. and just as easily destroyed. Harry Potter the Boy-Who-Lived has experienced that first hand. I doubt that a year has gone by since his entry into the wizarding world, where he hasn't either been treated as a saviour or the next Dark Lord in training, depending on the whims of the Ministry, the Prophet, or the public at large."

"Don't you dare compare my Aunt to that vicious boy!" Molly flared up. "He has done nothing but bring harm to my family!"

"Oh really?" Dantes drawled sarcastically. "It was my understanding that your family did far more harm to him. After all it was testimony from your son's Percival and Ronald as well as testimony from your daughter Ginevra, that insured that he was condemned to Azkaban when he was in fact innocent"

Molly knew there was no point in denying the truth of that, since Potter's trial had been very public, so she said, "My Aunt wasn't a thief."

"But she was madam," Dantes tapped clipping of Muriel Prewitt wearing the tiara. "And I want what she took from my family back."

Still convinced that he was wrong, Molly told him, "I don't have it."

Dantes' expression became even colder as did his voice. "If that is true then you have a problem madam. There is the matter of compensation due to my family for the item from the Prewitt family line that you and your children are the sole remaining members of. If you no longer have my property and you are unable to get it back, then I am within my rights to seize any property you and they may own. And if your family's goods and chattel do not equal the value of the tiara which is currently valued at 2,500,000 galleons by the way, then I can seize you and your children as indentured servants until the balance of the debt is paid off under the old laws that are still on the books at the Ministry."

Molly gasped unwilling to believe that this young wizard would make her family slaves over that tiara.

As if reading her thoughts, Dantes commented, "You're probably trying to tell yourself; 'he wouldn't be that cruel to my children'. What was cruel madam was your Aunt's failure to return the Weyland children's property."

The room around them was now silent as everyone waited to see what Molly Weasley would do.

The silence dragged on until Dantes said, "Well madam, are you going to return my property, or do I begin the process of seizing your family's assets. And since I already know that even including the business begun by Fredrick and George Weasley, you do not have enough in goods to compensate me, should I also begin the process of indenturing you and your children under the old but still active compensation laws?"

Molly said nothing for quite a while, finally realising that because she had no physical proof of her claims this uncaring wizard was going to legally be able to steal one of the last remaining pieces of her family's history. Finally she told him, "I will need to go and get it."

"No you won't," Dantes told her. "I don't trust you, Mrs. Weasley. If you leave here, there is nothing to stop you from getting your children and leaving for good."

Molly glared at the impudent wizard. "How dare you accuse me of wanting to do something so dishonourable?"

"I am not the one who failed to obey an order from the Wizerngamot to bring the tiara here today." Dantes interrupted before she could get started. "Tell your husband where it is and he can retrieve it for you. His reputation for honesty is well known, even if his judgement is sometimes poor."

Molly started to protest, but Dantes' tone was implacable "You have no choice. Since you have finally admitted you still do have my property, either send your husband to get it or go to jail. Your going to jail will have one other result it will broadcast far and wide the dishonour of the Prewitt family. I have no doubt that there are some who would thoroughly enjoy hearing about it, especially after the lies your son Ronald and you daughter Ginevra told about the Boy-Who-Lived at that travesty of a trial he had last year."

Defeated, Molly went over and spoke with Arthur for several minutes. He nodded his understanding and handed Ginny back to her mother before leaving the room.

Narcissa Malfoy had retaken the chair in front of the table and since all the other available chairs were taken, Molly had to stand there, holding her frantically squirming daughter.

"Ginny please hold still." Molly requested, "or I may accidentally drop you."

Ginny whined. How could she make her mother understand? Harry's scent was stronger here so he had to be close by. She had to find him. She needed him to change her back so they could be together the way they were meant to be. She was certain she could make him understand that she never meant to hurt Luna, just warn her off. Harry would forgive her once he knew she'd done it out of love for him.

############

It was about another hour before Arthur returned with the carved wooden box that contained the tiara.

Still furious that she had to give up a precious family heirloom, Molly stormed up to the table and slammed the box down on it just as Dantes was finishing up with a young man who had handed over a set of enchanted swords.

"There's the tiara!" Molly growled as she tightened her hold on a now wildly squirming Ginny.

Dantes took the box without comment and handed it to the goblin to have the contents verified.

"Understand this, Dantes," Molly leaned forward until she was almost in his face, "I intend to get my family heirloom back! There is proof somewhere and I will find it."

Ginny started barking at the dark haired wizard Harry! Harry, my love, I'm here for you.

"Ginny hush!" her mother admonished her.

Dantes' eyebrow rose "You named your dog after your daughter? That must get very confusing when she's at home."

You know perfectly well who I am , Harold James Potter! Ginny barked You also know what you did to me and you're going to undo it right now!

"It is the correct tiara, Mr. Dantes." The goblin spoke up before Molly could say anything further.

"As if I would try and pass off a fake." Molly snorted as she fought to keep hold of Ginny. She didn't know why her daughter was acting this way, but she wasn't about to put her down so she could be trampled or kicked.

"I believe our business is concluded madam." Dantes didn't bother to respond to her comment.

"For now," Molly countered, "I will be back for what is mine."

Dantes ignored her and gestured for the Wizengamot's clerk who was organizing these proceedings to bring up the next person.

##########

"Hey Gred," Fred called his brother out of the back room.

"Yes, brother mine." his twin appeared a few moments later, his arms full of inventory to refill several bins.

"Any idea who he is?" Fred pointed to the dark haired man in a set of expensive robes who was carrying a clipboard. "He's been looking around and poking his nose into things for the last thirty minutes, but he's not buying anything. Think he was sent by our competitors?"

After depositing the items he was carrying in their bins, George suggested. "Shall we ask him Forge?"

"Ah the direct approach, sneaky and unexpected." Fred gave his twin an evil grin. "Let's."

Since they were between waves of Christmas shoppers the store was practically empty.

Once he and George had taken up positions on either side of the man, Fred commented loudly, "Gred, I wonder what nefarious business this gentleman could be up to in our shop."

"I have no idea Forge, maybe he would care to enlighten us as to why he is here."

"Actually," the man commented without looking at either of them, "unless one or both of you are the other two partners in this business, then what I am doing here is none of your business."

"Well we are the owners," Fred told him surprised that he knew that they had a silent partner. "I'm Fred Weasley."

"And I'm George Weasley." His twin introduced himself. "Now what business brings you to our fine establishment?"

"I am Liam Dantes and I am debating on whether or not to buy the one-third share that Mr. Potter owns in your business." The dark haired man told them calmly.

Fred was stunned by the news. He hadn't thought Harry was angry enough at the wizarding world and them in particular to sell his share of the business he'd helped start, at least not without talking to them first. "And why would Harry want to sell his share of our company to a total stranger?"

The hazel-eyed man looked at him for the first time. "He told me he no longer wished to be partners with someone who believed he could kill a friend…"

"We never thought he killed Neville!" George protested.

"Well from what I was told, he never heard otherwise from you before, during or after the trial." Dantes commented dryly. "Why was that?"

Fred and George seemed to hold a long silent conversation with their eyes, before Fred admitted slightly embarrassed, "our Mum slipped us a mickey."

"It was enough dreamless sleep to keep us out for three days." George put in seriously. Normally they wouldn't have been so open with a total stranger, but this might be their only chance to get a message to Harry and get him to talk to them. They just had to convince Mr. Dantes they were telling the truth so he would tell Harry.

"Dad took it a step further." Fred added just as serious as his twin. "He used his contacts at the Ministry to insure we couldn't get in to see Harry before the trial and had us put on the 'No Access" list at Azkaban so we couldn't get into see him afterwards. I guess he knew we would try and get in to see Harry while he was still able to think rationally. We had wanted to tell him we believed he hadn't killed Neville."

"When we finally did get to see him a few days after he got out of Azkaban, he was so angry at our family." George continued the thread of the tale. "He had good reason too, most of our family had betrayed him and he thought we all had. Fred and I haven't been back to the Burrow since Mum slipped us that mickey. We don't consider it home any more since they were all so willing to turn against Harry that way after all he'd done for us."

"About the only members of the Weasley clan we see any more are Bill and Charlie and that's mostly because they stayed neutral on the subject of Harry's guilt or innocence." Fred added, not wanting this man to think badly of them. "We had figured on giving Harry time to cool off and then we'd tell him our side of the story. Even thought to take a magically binding oath that what we were saying was true."

"And why would you do that?" Dantes seemed genuinely surprised and curious. "Just to keep him from selling his part of your business?"

"Because we want our brother back." The twins said in unison.

Then Fred explained, "Our parents, Ron and Ginny may have thrown Harry to the wolves, but we didn't. He may not be our brother by blood, but he is in every other way that matters."

"Even if he tells you he never wants to see you again?" Dantes inquired.

The twins didn't look pleased by that idea, but George finally told him. "If he hears us out fairly and then still wants us to leave him alone, we will."

"Mr. Dantes, please tell him what we said." Fred requested. "Ask him to hear us out before he sells his share to you. Please."

"I'll think about it." Dantes refused to commit himself. "Good day gentlemen."

######

"You're sure that demonic brat isn't going to suddenly show up?"

It was the third day in a row that Marge had asked her brother that and he was beginning to get tired of giving her the same answer. "I'm sure. He's spent every Christmas at that school of his since he started going there."

Marge sniffed. "I'm sure that his kind don't understand the significance of this holy time of year. I have no doubt they're Godless, the lot of them. Probably Satanists."

Marge looked calmer now. "I still don't understand why you took him in Vernon. What if he'd corrupted Dudley with his foul and unholy ways?"

"I told you, Marge," Vernon tried to keep his face impassive. "Some of his kind wanted to kill us. According the letter that barmy old coot Dumbledore left with him, as long as we kept him, his very presence with us would hide us from them."

"But you put your soul in peril, Vernon." Marge pointed out as she had a number of times before.

"Our souls weren't in any danger," Petunia countered stiffly. "We go to Church every Sunday. Our souls couldn't be in safer hands than His."

They heard the front door open and close, then instead of Dudley's voice calling out that he was home from his night over at Piers Polkiss' they heard an unwelcome vice call out, "Aunt Petunia, I'm home."

At Harry's appearance in the kitchen doorway, Marge whimpered and her eyes rolled up as she fainted and hit the table with a thud.

"What are you doing here, boy?" Vernon was furious that his family's plans for a nice quiet Christmas were being disrupted this way. "I thought we were finally rid of you."

"How could I not spend at least one more Christmas with my loving family before going to seek my way in the wide wide world." Harry countered cheerfully, then he patted Vernon on the cheek. "Don't worry Vernon, you'll only have to put up with me today and tomorrow."

When it looked like Vernon was going to take a swing at the unwelcome young man, Petunia put her hand on his arm and shook her head. Remembering a little of what she had heard years ago about magically binding oaths from Lily the few times they'd talked before she'd finally rejected her sister as a freak, Petunia asked, "Do you swear on your magic that after tomorrow we will never see you again?"

Harry shrugged, "While I can't swear that you will never see me again since I won't be leaving Great Britain and it is possible given this is a small island that we could run into each other, I will swear on my magic that once I depart here tomorrow, I will never come to your home unless asked by you. Also that I will never voluntarily approach or speak with you, though if you approach or speak to me, I will respond. Will that do Aunt Petunia?"

Since she couldn't conceive of a time when she would ever want to see or speak with Lily's child again, Petunia nodded.

Harry solemnly repeated the oath she had agreed to. As he felt the oath take hold, Harry wondered if she would be grateful later for the exceptions he'd put into it or not.

"I've got some business to take care of," Harry told his Aunt and Uncle, "But I just wanted to let you know I would be back later to celebrate Christmas with you."

Vernon snorted at that. "I hope you don't expect us to buy you a last minute gift?"

Harry's face was an expressionless mask as he asked, "Why would I expect anything from you? You've made it clear all my life you would be happier if I were dead. Well, fortunately that is one thing I don't not intend to oblige you with. However if things go the way I expect, this will be the happiest Christmas I have had in a long time."

Harry vanished, leaving his relatives to ponder his final words.

########

In London, Harry approached the office of Myra Armstaad and Associates. Alex had recommended her as a good solicitor for purely non-magical legal matters and he had found her services invaluable.

Not only had she helped him locate and purchase his new home, she had found two of the best and most discreet investigators to check into some personal matters for him. Now if everything went as planned then either tonight or tomorrow, two very explosive long overdue bombs were going to be dropped on some very deserving individuals.

"Good morning sir,' the receptionist chirped brightly as she checked the appointment schedule for today. Since it was Christmas Eve the schedule was very light and there wasn't a scheduled appointment for another two hours. "Do you have an appointment with one of our solicitors, sir?"

"No, I don't today." Jessica Moore the receptionist almost visibly melted at the velvety smooth voice that went so nicely with the handsome face and nice looking body. "My name is Liam Dantes and I'm a client of Ms. Armstaad's. I was hoping I might be able to speak to her about a matter she is handling for me before I leave for the Christmas holiday."

Briefly Jessica wondered if he would like some company, because it sounded like he was going alone. With a mental wrench, she pulled her thoughts away from fantasies of what the man might look like naked and told him, "give me a moment sir and I'll find out for you."

After a quick call to Ms. Armstaad's office, she led him down the hall to her office. "Here you are, Mr. Dantes."

Once the door was closed, Harry dropped the glamour he was wearing and heard Myra say, "You've made another conquest."

Harry shrugged, not really worried about it.

"It's a good thing the office is closing early today." Myra continued teasing him. "I doubt I'll get any more work out of her today since she will be mooning over you."

"I was kind of surprised to even find you open today." Harry told her. "I just wanted to double-check and make sure that everything was going to go off without a hitch."

Myra understood at least a little of her client's nervousness, having heard some of the stories about the parties involved. This justice was long overdue. "Ben heard from his contacts that it will probably happen on Christmas day since they want him off-guard. As for the other matter, since they only received the converted bank records a few days ago they might show up tonight or tomorrow. They won't care if it's Christmas when it involves fraud on this scale. I still can believe they never reported any of it."

"I've never thought they were that bright, besides it fit into the image they wanted to project to the neighbourhood." Harry smiled a nasty sort of smile as he imagined the reactions of those involved. "And has the press been notified?"

"Yes, but I'm sure they will check their sources first before going out, but the local press at least should be out there." Myra assured him.

"I just hope nothing alerts them at the last minute." Harry didn't want this particular project spoiled.

"Given they've been getting away with it this long, they probably aren't too worried about it." Myra commented. "They'll probably expect it to be fixed just like all the previous problems, not realising that they won't involve themselves in something like this."

Harry sighed relieved. Even though Myra had very little contact with the Wizarding world due to the fact she was a Squib, she still knew more about how things worked than he did, including how the magical government might operate in a situation like this.

"Thanks Myra," Harry gave her a genuinely warm smile. "I hope you have a Happy Christmas."

###########

To say that Dudley was upset about having his cousin in the house once more, even if only for a couple of days, Petunia knew was an understatement. Fortunately for her son, he had chosen to work his frustration out at the gym, the day before, otherwise her nephew might've done something, he wouldn't have regretted to Dudley. He'd made it very clear over the summer that he wouldn't tolerate any more of Dudley's tantrums.

To make up to her lovely son for his tolerance toward Harry's presence in their midst once more, Petunia had gone all out for this Christmas dinner. She was pleased to see that Dudley was enjoying her efforts. Clearly her nephew's presence on this special family day hadn't spoiled his appetite.

Marge had chosen to eat in the kitchen instead of sharing the table with them and Petunia personally thought it was the wisest decision she could've made. She had never said anything to Vernon about Marge's drinking, putting up with it and her because of the remaining Dursley money that they were supposed to be getting when she died. She knew from experience that once Marge had a few drinks in her she was unable to control her mouth. Petunia also knew without a doubt that if she were foolish enough to insult the boy or his parents, he might do something worse to her than he did a few years ago and this time they might not be able to get those freaks to undo it, especially if they were as scared of her nephew as he seemed to indicate.

Vernon on the other hand, Petunia could tell was barely restraining himself. Petunia knew that he wanted to knock Potter into the nearest wall. The only thing stopping him was the pledge her nephew had given her. She had explained to him that it was binding on the boy's magic and he would never be able to come near them again or come into their home without an invitation. Well, she reflected grimly, and the fact that Potter could turn him into a bug and step on him, crushing him to death.

"Very nice meal, Aunt Petunia," Harry complimented his aunt halfway through dinner, seemingly unconcerned by fact he was about as welcome in their home as a dog with fleas. "A pity I missed your cooking all these years."

Vernon's knife and fork hit the plate with a loud clatter and he turned to glare at the unwelcome intruder in his life. "If I'd had my way you would be missing it now."

"Now, now, Vernon, think of what your Vicar would say if he could hear you now." Harry chastised the beefy man. "It's Christmas, remember. The season of Giving."

Before Vernon could think up a suitable response, the doorbell rang. Vernon glanced at Petunia silently inquiring about the identity of the caller. Petunia shrugged. A quick glance at Dudley showed he wasn't even paying attention to the door, so the visitor wasn't for them.

The doorbell rang again and was followed quickly by a knock. Vernon turned on Harry and growled. "Friends of yours perhaps, boy?"

Harry looked at him calmly, not responding to the 'boy' taunt. "I have no friends around here. You and your misbegotten family saw to that. And those few I would call friends in the magical world," he enjoyed watching Vernon purple at the 'm' word, knowing that he couldn't do anything about it, "wouldn't come here."

The doorbell rang again followed by more strident knocking.

Stomping to the door, Vernon growled, "Probably somebody collecting for something and thinking they won't get turned away because it's Christmas."

He fully intended to show that person the error of disturbing his meal, but was brought up short by the sight of police uniforms on two constables standing in his doorway and the large police van out in front of his home.

Police Constable Danforth and his partner Police Constable Sallick recognised Vernon Dursley from the photos they had of the man. They knew from the Chief that this was a man that no charges seemed to stick too and most of them had revolved around the nephew who lived with them, usually accusations of abuse of one type or another though the accusations were quickly retracted by those who had made them, up to and including a teacher who had been summarily transferred but the school's Headmaster after her accusation had been withdrawn. The Chief had suspected he had to be high up in organised crime and it had appeared his son was going the same way until today. Earlier this week something had made the Chief's day. A pair of investigators at the request of their employer had dropped off rock solid evidence of Dudley Dursley's criminal activities. There would be no getting out of this for either him or his gang of thugs. They finally had an airtight case against one of the Dursleys.

"How may I help you, officers?" Vernon finally growled, though his tone was respectful.

Determined to do everything by the book, so there would be no procedural errors that would get the boy off later, Danforth identified himself. "I'm PC Micha Danforth and this is my partner PC Dennis Sallick. Are you Vernon Gilbert Dursley?"

"I am." Vernon confirmed then asked again. "What can I do for you officers?"

"And is this also the residence of your son Dudley Malcolm Dursley?" Sallick asked.

"Yes he lives her with his mother and I," Vernon was beginning to get a little worried. Why would they be asking about Dudley?

"Is your son currently at home?" Sallick wanted to know.

"Why do you want to see my son?" Vernon demanded, blocking the doorway. "Has one of the neighbourhood brats accused him of bullying them again? My son would never hurt anyone younger than him. In fact he's been known to protect them from bullies."

"The matter we need to see your son on is police business, sir," Danforth told Dursley. "May we see your son please?"

"Not without a warrant," Vernon bristled annoyed that they wouldn't believe him when he said his son hadn't done anything wrong. "I know my rights and my son's…."

Vernon shut up as one of the constables handed him the warrant for Dudley's arrest.

"And now may we speak to your son?" Sallick stepped closer to the doorway, forcing Vernon to step back and allow them to enter.

Hearing sounds in the dining room, the two constables headed there. Silence fell on the room as they entered. Petunia had stopped in mid-word her one sided conversation with her son.

Spotting their quarry seated at the table, they moved until they were on either side of him. As soon as they were within reach of Dudley, the senior Constable, Danforth announced, "Dudley Malcolm Dursley, you are under arrest for extortion and assault upon a number of individuals…"

He continued listing the young man's rights under the law as Sallick gestured for Dudley to rise. Dudley initially refused, until Sallick applied a pressure hold to the hand holding his fork that while not ultimately harmful was very painful.

"Stop! You're hurting him!" Petunia cried trying to get between the policeman and her son. "My son never hurt anybody! You've got the wrong person!"

"Madam, I would suggest you back away or you could wind up being arrested as one of his accomplices." Sallick told her as he pulled Dudley's fat wrists behind him so they could be handcuffed together. Their regular handcuffs wouldn't fit. He had to resort to the zip ties they used for people who couldn't fit the cuffs. "We've already picked up four of his confederates. Mr. Dursley is the last and at least one of the other four has implicated your son."

"And I tell you, you are wrong!" Petunia snapped as Marge came in to see what the commotion was all about. "My son would never hurt anyone."

"These pictures tell a different story, madam." Danforth showed her a few of the less offensive pictures of Dudley and his gang threatening children and young teens. "I would suggest you find your son a good solicitor."

Marge picked up one of the pictures that Petunia had dropped on the table and looked at it. "It could be an altered photo. I know someone near home who does it for a living. Constable, you have the wrong person. I know my nephew and I will vouch for his character. He would never do this. He has no reason to. We provide him with everything he has ever wanted."

"And maybe that's part of his problem." Sallick muttered softly, before saying in a louder voice. "That will be for a judge to decide, madam."

"Mummy! I don't want to go!" Dudley burst out crying like a child as the officers led him toward the door.

He tried to drag his heels hoping the men would give in just like his parents always had. That had an undesired result as the man who'd gotten him out of his chair applied that painful hold again and it quickly put an end to his resistance.

"Darling," Petunia promised, "Mummy and Daddy will be there as soon as we contact Mr. Parkinson. You won't be there long. Be brave my darling boy."

Danforth wanted to throw up at the drivel coming out of this woman's mouth. Her son was a grown young man, not a baby or a child. The expression on his partner's face as they continued to drag Dudley out showed he was trying to contain his laughter at what Mrs. Dursley had said.

Harry stood off to one side taking everything in. He would be storing this event in a pensive as soon as possible. He made mental note to find out when Dudley's trial would be. He wanted to see it and as long as he never went near his relatives then his oath would be kept.

Vernon put down the phone. "George, said there won't be any hearings until after Boxing Day and we won't be able to arrange bail until then."

"You mean our baby has to spend two whole days in jail!" Petunia looked furious. "I won't have it Vernon! You must have some connections that can get him back home tonight!"

"They are all out of town until after the first." Vernon told her.

"You can get him out of jail!" Petunia whirled around and looked at Harry. For the first time in her life she was glad there was a magic user in the family.

Harry pointed to himself and asked, "Me?"

"Yes, you can get my baby out of jail!" Petunia insisted. "You know he's a gentle boy who would never hurt a soul."

"You are deluding yourself as you always have Petunia." Harry told her surprisingly calm. "You're willing to make a deal with the devil right now to save Dudley, but I will not use the thing you've made quite clear you despise me for to get your son out of the trouble he's made for himself, even if you got down on your knees and begged my forgiveness for all the wrongs you have done to me in my life. Your son is a bully and has been since he was little. You both taught him by your treatment of me that it was okay to beat up on those who were smaller or weaker than he was. He and his friends used to engage in a game called 'Harry Hunting' and if they found me they would beat me to a pulp. Once I was gone to Hogwarts, he would pick on the children in the neighbourhood. You and Vernon never disciplined him when his bullying and assaults were reported to you so he learned from that was that he would never be punished for anything that he did wrong. He also learned that you would always excuse it or buy his way out of whatever trouble he'd gotten himself into."

A few of the curious neighbours who had come over to see what was going on and had congregated near the open front door had missed the first part of Harry's speech but they applauded for the last part.

"Get out of my house!" Vernon roared.

The neighbours scattered like startled birds, but they didn't go very far, just to the next door neighbour's yard.

As Vernon started to slam the door shut a pair of men in dark suits walked up to the door and asked, "Are you Vernon Dursley of Number 4 Privet Drive?"

"Yes," Vernon sighed, wondering what else could go wrong today.

"Mr. Dursley, I am Mr. Parks and this is Mr. Lyle. We are from Inland Revenue and we have some questions regarding the returns you have filed for the last seventeen years."

Seeing the curious neighbours were still near enough to overhear, he waved them inside and after closing the front door brought them into the sitting room.

"Vernon, who are these men? What do they want?" Petunia was worried more trouble might be about to visit her beloved son.

"They claim to be from Inland Revenue and want to discuss our returns for the last seventeen years." Vernon told her. While his face didn't show it, he was worried that they might have found out about the money he'd been paid for taking in the Potter's brat. He'd never told his accountant about it preferring to use it for their trips and things for Dudley.

"Why would Inland Revenue suddenly want to talk to us?" Petunia demanded of the two men standing in her living room. "You be better off going after those who avoid trying to pay their taxes. We pay ours every year and personally I think they are way too high as it is."

"Pet," Vernon tried to hush her.

"My husband is an honest man and he pays all the taxes he owes." Petunia ignored him. "I don't work so there is no other income coming into this house to account for."

"What about the money paid to you and your husband for the care of your nephew, one Harry Potter?" Mr Lyle wanted to know.

"Me?" The young man leaning up against the wall spoke up in surprise. "They received money for taking care of me!"

"And who are you, sir?" Mr Parks asked, pulling out his notebook.

"I'm Harry James Potter." The dark-haired young man identified himself. "I'm her nephew, the one your companion was just talking about."

"I take it from your reaction that you didn't know about them being paid for your care?" Lyle spoke up quickly.

"No, sir," Harry was smiling inwardly though he kept a shocked expression on his face. "My Aunt and Uncle always dressed me in my cousin's cast-offs and I never received birthday or Christmas gifts from them. Just out of curiosity how much did they get for taking care of me?"

Mr Lyle pulled a notebook out of his briefcase and checked it. "From the age of one year old to the age of six, they received a thousand pounds a month to provide for your care. From the age of six to the age of eleven they received three thousand pounds a month. From the age of eleven to now they received four thousand pounds a month during the summer months."

He looked at Harry questioningly as if wanting to know why they weren't paid for his care for the rest of the year after age eleven.

Harry obligingly told him, "I went to a private school in Scotland that was paid for out of a trust left me by my parents. My parent's bank handled everything having to do with the trust, until I inherited it recently. I didn't even know about the trust fund until I started school when I was eleven. So you're telling me that the Dursleys received almost…" he did some rapid calculations in his head, "a quarter million pounds for my upkeep and they never spent a penny of it on me! They always made it sound like I was stealing their life's blood with the little they did provide me."

Harry turned on his Aunt and Uncle. "How much of my money went to that junk you bought Dudley every year and that he promptly destroyed? How much of it was spent on those trips you never took me on? You know the ones you left me with old Mrs. Figg for!"

Neither of them answered him. There was nothing they could say that wouldn't implicate them further in front of the Inland Revenue agents

"Well, Mr. Durlsey, I think this confirms the information we have and is enough to order a full audit of all your personal and business finances for the last twenty years. I would suggest you start getting all your records together Mr. Dursley. You will receive a notice about when you will need to appear in our offices in London. I would suggest bringing your accountant and possibly your soliticor." Mr. Parks announced as he and his partner moved toward the front door.

Harry bowed slightly to his Aunt. "Lovely dinner Petunia and I very much enjoyed the show as well. A pity we won't be able to do it again."

He made it as far as the doorway and had it open before Vernon finally lost his temper. "This is all your fault!" Vernon bellowed and grabbed Harry, swinging him around as he stepped out the door. Whether he intended it or not, Vernon's attempt to turn Harry around knocked him to the ground.

Catching sight of the neighbours still chattering away in a nearby yard, Harry decided to stir the pot even more, especially if the press were still there. "You claim it's my fault that you decided to steal from me! Oh give me a break! You are the one who decided to steal a quarter of a million pounds that my parents left in trust to provide for my care while I lived here. You make out like I'm a penniless orphan to the neighbourhood, so they'll look down on me. You let them think I'm ungrateful for all the good things you provided for me and that I destroyed them when it's actually Dudley who destroys everything he touches!" He noticed that some of those selfsame neighbours were looking at the ground ashamed of themselves. "Tell me Uncle! What did you and your family ever provide for me, except your leavings, beatings, and hard labour from the day I turned four years old? You tell the neighbours I'm a criminal when you, Aunt Petunia, and your precious Duddikins are actually the thieves. You stole from me and you expect me to be grateful that you did! You expect me to take the blame because your crimes are now coming out into the open. Well I won't! You created this situation and now you'll have to figure your way out of it. I can tell you this, it's not going to disappear by magic."

Harry felt compelled to deliver one last parting shot. "By the way your sister is broke and up to her eyeballs in debt. I know this because I managed to acquire all her debts. Be sure to tell Marge she will be hearing from me soon and that we will be having a long talk and tell her I expect her to be sober."

Vernon stormed out the door after him and caught sight of the neighbours standing in the next yard and quickly went back inside slamming the door.

Harry looked over at the slowly growing crowd of neighbours and grinned before heading off whistling. His job here was done.

#############

The twins were just sitting down to their Christmas dinner at the Leaky Cauldron when someone in a hooded cloak approached their table.

The person within the cloak said, "I understand you wanted to speak with me."