9

Chapter 9: Lord and Guardian

Back in Time

Chapter 9: Lord and Guardian

Harry was walking slowly down the road towards the Manor, taking in the sight of the garden, covered in a thin layer of frost that glistened in the winter sunlight. It was stunning. However, nervous butterflies were flooding his stomach as he thought about how he could possibly tell the Black's that he was also Lord Merlin, how they would react.

How would Orion react?

He knew he shouldn't have gotten so attached so quickly, but it was hard not to. Damn Death for giving him hope for something good. For giving him hope for a family, a proper one.

He sighed shakily, running his hand down his face, clutching the folder to his chest tightly, his fingers gripping the edge of it hard enough to make his fingers hurt and turn paler than they already were.

He saw the door of the Manor open and Orion step out of his home and make his way towards him, a worried frown on his face, his eyes alight with concern as he came to a stop in front of Harry.

"Are you alright, Harry?" Orion asked worriedly, glancing between Harry's eyes and the folder in his arms.

"Mhm," Harry hummed, a small smile tugging at his lips, "Is your father still in his office? There is a lot to work through and I don't really know what I'm doing,"

"Yes, he is in there waiting for you. Although he might be in a bit of a bad mood. He fought with my uncle whilst you were out," Orion said, "Would you like me to come with you?"

"If you would like you, you may come with me, yes," Harry said with a grin as he started striding towards the Manor again, Orion was soon walking beside him with a confused look in his eyes, "Why was he fighting with your uncle? Is everything okay?"

"I don't know," Orion said, a tiny shrug moving his shoulders, "He won't tell me anything,"

They made it the rest of the way to the office in a comfortable silence, though Harry could tell that Orion had a lot on his mind, and it concerned him. But he wouldn't pry. It wasn't his place to do so. Perhaps it never would be.

He sighed a little as Orion knocked on the door to the office, Arcturus bade them to enter and Harry smiled a little at the man behind the desk who seemed to be a tad irritable indeed. Though Harry thought that maybe his news would help to take his mind off whatever was going on.

The older man looked at them both with soft eyes, although they were wrinkled at the sides, his forehead was crunched up, too, as if he was confused, and angry, but not at them.

"Hello boys, take a seat," Arcturus said, gesturing to the two chairs in front of the desk, apparently he had anticipated Orion joining them, "How did your meeting go, Hadrian?" he asked as the two of them sat down, Harry placing the folder on the desk.

"Well, it was certainly interesting," Harry said nervously.

"How so?" Arcturus said, raising an intrigued eyebrow.

"Well, I was taken to the goblin King first of all. Apparently that is the procedure whenever someone wants to claim the Peverell inheritance. Then Death showed up, to prove that I was, in fact, the next in line for the Peverell Lordship,"

"Death?" Orion said, his voice a tad higher, his eyes wide in shock, and perhaps a little fear.

Harry looked at him with a grin, "Yes, Death,"

"W-why?" Orion stuttered, still very shocked.

"To prove that I am a Peverell, and that Death, and Ignotus, too, were okay with me taking up the Lordship," Harry said slowly.

"Are you a necromancer?" Arcturus asked, a tad shocked himself.

"Yes," Harry said with a nod as the two men's eyes widened some more as they stared at him with a mix of awe and too many other things to really understand them all, "Would you like me to call Death here so you can meet him? Maybe some other people I know, too? Or is there anyone that you would like to speak to?"

"Not right now, thank you," Orion croaked out, shaking his head and shivering a little, even as he still stared at Harry in amazement.

"Understandable," Harry said with a nod, a grin on his face, "Though if you change your mind, do let me know,"

The two nodded, still rather shocked by the situation.

"The King also required an inheritance test, to see if I was able to become the Lord of any other Houses," Harry said, a tad nervous now.

"Oh, that is standard when anyone goes in for their Lordship," Arcturus said, seemingly coming back into himself as he raised an enquiring eyebrow at Harry, "Are you the Lord of any other Houses? How much work do you need to do? What do you need help with?"

"Perhaps just a little House, yes," Harry said with a nervous nod, "Though I might need help with a fair bit. Sorry if it is an inconvenience. I haven't really been trained on any of it,"

"It's fine, Harry. We don't mind helping," Orion said gently, a kind little smile tugging at his lips.

"Right, thank you," Harry said with a nod, before grinning slightly in anticipation, "Well, I am also Guardian of the Gaunt, Potter and Bones families, and Lord of the Most Ancient and Most Honourable House of Merlin,"

Two sets of eyes looked at him, wide with shock and awe again, blinking owlishly a few times.

"M-Merlin?" Arcturus said, "That means…"

"That I am now Chief Warlock? Yeah. Or I will be at the next meeting, I guess. I don't know," Harry said with a nervous nod, a shrug, and still a slight grin still on his face at their expressions, "What does it mean to be the Guardian of a House? I mean, I am the Guardian of three Houses, and I don't know what that means, what I need to do,"

He didn't know what any of it meant, or what he had to do for any of it, but he figured it might be a good idea to try and get them off the topic of Merlin for the moment.

"Merlin, Harry, really?" Orion choked out, still rather awed, and although the look sent many fluttery feelings through him, Harry was also a tad concerned that this would lead to Orion only wanting him (potentially) because of his titles, his power, his money, or whatever else, and not because he (might, one day, hopefully) loves him.

"Mhm," Harry nodded, "Is this going to be an issue?"

"An issue? Why would it be an issue?" Orion asked, confused.

"I don't know. You seem a bit… shocked, or whatever. Are you okay?"

"Of course I am shocked. No one has had that Lordship in a hundred years. Merlin didn't have children, there was no one to pass it down to, and so he decided that upon his death he would have the sole ability to decide who would take up that position. The position that he used to sit in as the creator of the Wizengamot. That means that Merlin chose you, Harry. He chose you as the one to lead the Wizengamot, and, given the extra powers of the Lord of the House of Merlin, the country,"

Harry thanked Merlin for the fact that he wasn't sipping on a drink at that moment. He would have choked.

"I'm sorry, the country?"

Harry wanted to kill Death.

He doubted it was possible, but if it was he fucking would.

"Well, not in name, but once people find out that you have Merlin's seat they will be looking to you for guidance, support, protection. You will basically have more power than even the Minister, because he will be looking to you for help also. Far more than he ever has anyone else. Merlin himself found you worthy, that has a lot of power alone," Orion said.

"Right," Harry said, "I know you said you don't want to meet him, but I- Death!" Harry said harshly, standing and turning sharply when he felt the figure appear a few metres behind him. He glared at the cloaked head, "What the actual fuck were you thinking? Why didn't you tell me that I would essentially be leading the entire fucking country when you gave me that lovely explanation about why you did it for my safety, and so that I would have an easier time of things? That doesn't sound like an easier time to me,"

"Hey, Merlin was the one that chose you, I just went along with it," Death said with a shrug, "Are you sure you want to go into this with Arcturus and Orion here?" the figure said, nodding his head at the two shocked, and a tad frightened men.

"Why me? I don't want this. I don't want to run a bloody country. I just want to make things better then live my life, for once. How can I live my life if I am too busy looking after literally everyone?" Harry growled.

"Delegate?" Death said warily, "Once things are… better, then you will have a lot less to do, especially if you set certain people to certain tasks, and make sure that things are actually running smoothly. Then all you'll need to do is attend the occasional Wizengamot meeting, deal with some correspondence, and the occasional trial. But this title does protect you… from most people. Most people are too scared of the wrath of Merlin himself to actually do anything to hurt the Lord of the House of Merlin, or their family. You'll be fine. And I said, if you need any help then you can call on me, Ignotus, and Merlin himself since you are a necromancer. All will be fine. It is just these first few months or so that may be a bit… crazy,"

"Crazy? I'm Chief Warlock at eighteen! That is already enough, I should think, but no, I will have everyone, even the bloody Minister, looking to me for help, and guidance, and protection. Plus everything else I… am hoping to do here. Jesus fucking Christ," he sighed, rubbing his hand down his face.

"I have multiple people called Jesus here that you can speak to also, if you think that will help?"

Harry glared at Death, harder than he was before.

"Or your friends and family?"

Harder still.

"I'm sorry, okay. I was just thinking about what would be best for you. You need protection, and this is the best kind that I can give you right now. And this is the way that everything that needs doing can get done quicker, so you can actually live your life for once. I know it's a lot, but… I don't want you having to spend years of your life on what needs doing. I want you to be able to move on, and find happiness. You deserve it. And yes, it is a lot, but I know, Ignotus knows, Merlin knows, that you can do it. You don't want power, yes, but it is always those who don't want it that are better with it. Because they know, they understand, how badly it can be used in the wrong hands. You know how power can be abused, and you know you aren't that kind of person, will never be that kind of person, you know how to protect people, how to care for them, and I know your thoughts, I know what you want. I know you can make this country's wizarding population safe, happy, good. And I know that, when things are easier, you will have the time to live your life the way you desire. I also know that you aren't alone anymore," Death said softly.

Harry swallowed thickly, "Okay, but you can't meddle with my life like this anymore. Nothing more like this. And if I need you, you had best come running,"

"Nothing more like this, I promise. I just wanted to protect you. Actually protect you, not like the others meddled with your life," Death said.

"I know. But if you do this again, I will find a way to kill you," he said, glaring at the being again.

"Noted," Death said with a nod, "I'm sorry,"

"I know," he did. Honesty was coming off the being in waves, "You may go now, I shall call if I need you again,"

Death nodded and vanished, the cool air dissipating with him, being replaced with the warmth emanating from the fireplace.

Harry turned back to Orion and Arcturus, sitting down again, "Erm, sorry about that," he said, fidgeting a little, nervous as he looked between their shocked faces.

"No, it's alright," Orion said, "It is rather a lot to take in, I suppose,"

"Mhm," Harry hummed with a nod.

"What do you need protecting from? And what needs doing?" Arcturus asked, his eyes worried as a questioning eyebrow was raised.

"I don't think that is a conversation for today. Right now I think I would rather focus on learning what all of this means, and what I need to do, if that is alright with you," Harry said softly.

"Can we help?" Orion said, concerned, and Harry looked at him in confusion, "With protecting you, I mean? And with what needs doing?"

Harry swallowed thickly, "I-I… if you want to, I suppose. I don't want to force you into anything you don't want to do. And… I mean, I don't know where your political opinions lie, or whatever, so I don't know if you'd really want to help me with that side of things, but…"

"Well, Death and Merlin themselves seem pretty adamant that you are, in fact, in the right. That you know what is best for the wizarding folk in this country, so I doubt it would be anything too terrible," Arcturus said, his voice back to its usual strong cadence, "They believe in you, and what you want for the country. Therefore, I think it is only right that we believe in you also,"

"Why? You don't know me. Why would you want to believe in me?" Harry said, shock blooming through him rather like the blush rising to his cheeks.

"It's very hard not to believe in you, Harry," Orion said, a small smile tugging at his lips, "We may not really know you, but we know that you are kind, and good. You have given my sister the hope she has longed for all these years, my mother the chance to help my sister. You have helped me get out of a potential loveless marriage. You have helped us begin to understand some of the things we wizards have been doing wrong over the years. And we know Lucretia's and mum's abilities in intuition are good; they trust you, they love you, they've welcomed you with open arms and have told us, many times since you have arrived in our lives, how you are strong, powerful, and are going to do good things, even though they don't know what, yet. So, we believe in you. We trust you. We just hope you will let us all help. You shouldn't have to handle all of this on your own,"

"I'm…" Harry swallowed again, not sure how this family can trust him, what the gift of intuition could possibly mean, or anything really; he had never really had many people who trusted him, wanted to help him, so implicitly, so quickly, "Thank you. Er, so, could you tell me what it means to be the Guardian of the Potters, Gaunts and Bones families?" he said, looking to Arcturus for help.

The older man's lips twitched up for a moment, "Of course, Hadrian. So, the Potter, Gaunt and Bones families all have their own seats on the Wizengamot, and are mostly in control of themselves. Although the Gaunts are… well, one of them is in prison and the others are dead, so unless there is a lost heir out there then there won't really be much for you to do there. They have their own vaults, money, possessions, homes. As the Guardian of these families, though, you protect them, make sure they are staying in line, help them with things they might need help with. They are descendants of you and your family, so you are essentially their parent, the Peverell family the parent family. In return they help you if you need help with something, they stay in line, and they support you and the Peverell family,

"It doesn't require much, really, just checking in on them, make sure that everyone behaves themselves in whatever why you see fit, if someone crosses a line then you have the right to demand punishment, if they have any Peverell family heirlooms you can require them back, or let them keep it, or whatever you would like. If they want to set up any marriage contracts then they would have to come to you to make sure you are okay with the pairing, the stipulations, and such. If they need financial help then you would be the first person they go to. If they want to set up a business, they would come to you to ask permission, or seek guidance. Or, if they already have a business, much like Fleamont Potter does, then they would have to come to you at least once quarterly to discuss how business is growing, see if there is anything you would like them to do with the business, etcetera. You would also be invited to bondings, birthday parties, naming ceremonies, and other occasions. Really, though, it is up to you how you want to handle things. You could choose to bring them together as family, or you could mostly leave them to it unless you or they need help, only doing your basic duties as Guardian,"

"So, I protect them, and help them, and in return they do the same for me?" Harry said, a bit of relief flowing through him that it wasn't something he didn't think he was capable of doing. He could learn the business stuff that was needed, but protecting people was something he had done his whole life. And it would be nice, maybe, to have some family that he could go to if needed. If he brought everyone together.

It might be good for Tom, too, if he had people that cared about him. If he knew that there were other ways to go about things. If he knew what Harry had in mind. Tom would be twenty-one, and Harry was only eighteen. But Harry had power over him. Power that Tom knows not. 

Harry shook his head a little, he couldn't think like that. The prophecy wasn't in play anymore. And Harry wasn't going to kill him, unless he absolutely had to. No, he was going to do things properly. He was going to make sure Tom knew that there was more to life, that he could have a life, a proper one.

"Essentially, yes," Arcturus said with a nod, "I can help you with the business side of things, if you would like. So you know what you are doing when you speak to Fleamont and others. And I will, of course, still help you learn about the Wizengamot, and how to manage your vaults, properties, and such,"

"Thank you," Harry said gratefully.

His mind clicked then that Fleamont was his grandfather. Or, was his grandfather, in his past/future life.

"Would you like to start now? Or would you like to take some time to take everything in first?" Arcturus asked, his voice softer.

"Erm, I would like to start now, please. I should be prepared, so that I can make a start on things," Harry said with a determined nod.

"Okay, but if you need to take a break then do let me know. It is rather a lot to take in," Arcturus said.

Harry could only nod as he allowed the man to open the file still on the desk and begin to look through it, going through what everything meant and how Harry had to deal with them in the future. Arcturus and Orion both were fairly patient with him, answering any questions he had. But he did have to stop after a couple of hours or so before his brain felt like it would implode with the burden of the information newly in it.

They went to the dining room for lunch and found Melania and Lucretia already there, chatting about something.

"How did things go at the Bank, Harry?" Melania asked, a soft smile on her face as they all started digging into the food on the table.

"Oh, erm, okay, thank you. Just spoke to King Ragnok, spoke to Death and Ignotus, put on the rings and such. Fairly simple process. Not a big deal, really," Harry said with a shrug, looking down at his plate and trying really very hard not to mess around with his food.

"Not a big deal," Orion scoffed a little, and Harry looked up to him to find his eyes twinkling with mischief, "As if you speaking to Death, and an ancestor of yours isn't a big deal,"

"I've done it a fair few times already," Harry said, a little grin tugging at his face, "And I've spoken to others, too. It's not a big deal. Being Lord of the House of Merlin, on the other hand…"

Now it was the women's turns to stare at him in shock, and more awe than they already had since they had met him.

"Lord Merlin? Really?" Lucretia said, eyes wide, and lips tugging up into a proud smile.

"Yeah, and Guardian of the Potter, Gaunt and Bones families. Honestly, it's as if people are trying to run me into the ground with the amount of work they've thrown on my poor, young shoulders," he said with a pout which caused both Orion and Lucretia to chuckle.

"Well then, Harry, it seems that we must work to make sure that you aren't worked into the ground with all your work," Melania said fiercely, "Now, eat your food. You're going to need all the strength you can get,"

"Yes, ma'am," Harry said with a nod at the fierce, motherly look in her eyes before he started back on his meal.

He was awed himself, really, at the faith that these people who barely knew him had in him. But maybe, just maybe, he would be able to do what he needed to do. With them by his side.

Hiya, how are you all today?

I hope you all enjoyed the chapter. Feel free to let me know your thoughts on everything that has happened so far and where you think the story is going, etc. or for things you might like to see as the story progresses. Even if it is just something small.

Also, I have Tumblr now. My username is marauderingpaige if you want to go and give me a follow over there. I also have one more focussed on personal life and writing, username is paigemakepeacewrites. And I have a Discord server, too, a new one! If you would like the link then feel free to drop me an email (my address can be found on my profile) or message me on social media, or join my Facebook group, and I will happily share it with you.

I have also now started writing a fanfiction for House M.D. It is an omega verse fic with House as the omega and Wilson as the alpha. If you love the show as much as I do then feel free to go and check it out. It is called Lights Will Guide You Home.

Also, I am working on some Spotify playlists for my fanfics, so if you can think of any songs you think work with the stories as they are so far, or where you think they are going, or songs that give you the vibes you get from the stories, then please do let me know and I will give them a listen, then potentially add them to the playlists. If you would like to go and give them a listen as they are now then you can find me on Spotify under the name Maraudering_Paige. They aren't that long at the moment, but we are making progress and I will continue adding to them the more music I listen to and when I have the time to do so. But still, if you can think of any relevant songs then do let me know.

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Paige xx