Chapter 4 (ASL)

Harry had finally arrived at Nurmengard after two days of travel...

Harry quickly analyzed the wards and they were no threat to him, he easily bypassed them and concealed himself from the few Aurors posted outside; all of whom were forbidden to approach Lord Grindelwald lest they be swayed to his side like so many others had. With the Cloak of Invisibility Harry was able to enter the prison and approach Grindelwald for a conversation, that due to the security measures none of the Aurors could possibly hear. Harry revealed himself just outside of Grindelwald's cell.

"Lord Grindelwald," Harry greeted, his voice modulated and his magical signature concealed.

Grindelwald's lips briefly upturned in amusement at the outfit. "And what is it that brings you to me this night?"

"I need a teacher and you have a wealth of knowledge and experience and need your freedom... I'm sure that we can come to an agreement." Harry replied.

"Let me guess... You hate muggles and want to kill them all." Grindelwald mocked.

"No, actually. Some of their women are quite lovely and they would make excellent breeding stock." Harry replied, amusing Grindelwald.

"I'll have to decline. Kill me if you wish, but I no longer desire mass-murder." Grindelwald replied.

"Why? Muggles are at their all-time worst! Their nuclear weapons can kill us by accident, there are billions of them, and they are still advancing. There are so many diseases and plagues that the Earth itself seems to cry out for salvation! You were a freedom fighter and a rebel fighting to uplift our kind at the last possible minute! Dumbledore has doomed us!" Harry said, ranting.

"Hogwarts has become mediocre! It's ranked eighth among the schools and Dumbledore has appointed his talentless or incompetent cronies to power! Samhain is now called Hallowe'en and Yule, Christmas! He spits upon our traditions and has given Muggleborns too much power! Britain is reduced to a pale imitation of the medieval Muggle world and anyone who opposes it is labeled Dark or bigoted!"

"Ah!" Grindelwald said triumphantly. "You are one of Albus' students and displeased with his Muggle-loving ways."

"It's sad that you have yourself convinced that your actions were bad. It was a war for dominance between two species and to the winner went the Earth and all of its treasures... mass-murder was to be expected. Apparently you've become a useless and ineffectual pansy like Dumbledore." Grindelwald's eye twitched in irritation. "But you still have a purpose, Lord Grindelwald. Rejoice for that because few beings have one."

Harry ripped the doorway down and sent a Killing Curse towards Grindelwald who didn't bother to dodge...

Harry absorbed Grindelwald's soul; enhancing his power greatly, close to the Archmage level, and taking all of his knowledge, skill, experience, and ritual benefits.

Harry used his newly enhanced power to butcher every Auror there, absorbing souls, and adding power to Nurmengard's wards... Harry finished his work there by placing Nurmengard under the Fidelius Charm. He might need a prison later on and Nurmengard was ready made for that.

After killing Mykew Gregorovitch, Harry would return home to Britain, his absence having gone undetected.

Harry spent a few days detoxing from the borderline Black Magic to cleanse his magical aura and soul of any corrupting effects on him. Harry liked his good looks and he fully intended to keep them and his sanity intact. Soul Absorption was just the means to an end and to preserve any knowledge that would have been lost. Harry still might need to cull the non-magical population and he needed to be at his absolute best for that or he might just become another Voldemort. Harry didn't want that.

Harry returned to his studies and decided to take his OWLs and NEWTs in Astronomy, Transfiguration, and Muggle Studies to free up more of his time. The first was largely memory retention, the second was boring and time consuming for Harry when taught by McGonagall, and the third was laughably easy for Harry to pass. Harry took great joy in beating Tom Riddle, Albus Dumbledore, and Minerva McGonagall's grades in the Transfiguration OWLs and NEWTs. Thankfully Harry had kept his Transfiguration exam results at the top of the class; beating everyone with minimum effort, and all while still seeming bored. Harry just wanted to devote immense energy and effort to Arithmancy and Ancient Runes... they were skills that Tom didn't value as much and hadn't fully mastered.

Harry would achieve all Outstandings in his Astronomy, Transfiguration, and Muggle Studies OWLs and NEWTs. Harry had achieved 20% extra credit in Astronomy, 50% in Transfiguration, and 20% in Muggle Studies.

Soon enough Sirius Black escaped Azkaban and Harry enacted his minor plan.

"Lord Potter," Fudge simpered, having eagerly complied with Harry's wishes of a meeting with himself, Albus Dumbledore, and Amelia Bones. Fudge really wanted Harry Potter's support in his next election.

"Minister Fudge, Chief Warlock, Madam Bones," Harry returned, greeting each in order of standing. "I've recently learned that my godfather was never given a trial by the Bagnold administration and was thrown directly into Azkaban... Before you ask, I requested the trial transcripts, and no I haven't had any contact with him."

"Getting him a trial would be difficult, Lord Potter," Fudge said nervously, afraid of all the political repercussions.

"The Dark and Grey Factions will support it and I'm sure that the Light will too if Dumbledore drops some hints. Sirius' lack of trial would damage Bagnold and Crouch's reputation, not yours and if you corrected the mistake of the previous administration then it would be positive press for you and increase your odds of re-election. Only by letting this injustice stand would it negatively affect you politically." That was a very veiled threat that only Dumbledore detected. "In any case, I wish to confront my parents supposed betrayer and ask him why too get some closure. I say supposed because the lack of trial makes that at least somewhat dubious."

"Very well," Fudge agreed, seeing the benefits and having had his concerns addressed. "I'll order that Sirius Black receive an immediate trial and I will retract the Kiss on Sight order. It will require that Mister Black turn himself in or be captured though."

"I'm sure that I can outwit someone recently escaped from Azkaban and who's not thinking clearly," Harry replied. "Once the order is signed, I'll see if I can locate my idiotic godfather."

"I'll sign it right now!" Fudge agreed.

It took ten minutes but Dumbledore and Madam Bones both witnessed and co-signed on the orders. Harry simply ordered his house-elves to bring Sirius to him, shocking those assembled with the simplicity of his plan, and Sirius was trapped in a room with Dumbledore, Amelia Bones, a few Aurors, and the Minister of Magic.

"What a small world, its Sirius Black the evil Azkaban escapee," Harry commented in mild humor as Sirius cowered from Dumbledore and Amelia Bones. "So, you must have some questions... I'm your godson Harry Potter, I did not have a happy childhood due to your absence and inability to fulfill your duties as my godfather. I've gotten you the trial that you deserve and if proven innocent you may win your freedom..." Sirius kept looking at Amelia Bones' impressive bust. "I know that you've been in prison for twelve years, but the answer to your problems isn't written on Madam Bones very impressive bust."

"Err, sorry," Sirius spoke raspily as the others looked amused.

"Use your peripheral vision next time," Harry advised before indiscreetly looking at Madam Bones and then winking at Sirius and causing him to laugh.

"Perverts," Amelia commented in amusement, though she was flattered that someone so young found her attractive.

"I can schedule an emergency trial immediately, Lord Potter," Fudge interrupted eagerly, already imagining all of the donations that he would receive from House Potter to keep him in power.

"Perhaps in two days? Give Sirius time to get cleaned up, checked out by a Healer, and be presentable." Harry countered, mildly displeased by having his fun ruined, and Fudge nodded in agreement. "Plus you can ensure that the press and all of the important people are there."

Sirius was escorted out by Auror Moody and Tonks, with Andromeda Tonks having come to support Sirius.

"When did you become emancipated, Harry?" Dumbledore asked rudely, getting disapproving looks from Amelia and Fudge.

"When I was just eleven. I learned that you were the Headmaster and I understandably had low expectations of your capabilities. That was a very wise decision on my part. Having someone with your track record of questionable or outright idiotic decisions in control of my life isn't acceptable to me. That and you were a stranger to me."

"Your parents knew me and trusted me," Albus replied.

"And look where they ended up. Dead before the age of twenty-five. Your pathetic little cult of personality only used ineffective strategies and left their enemies alive. You did more harm than good. My parents could have done more good using Unforgiveables on Death Eaters as Aurors. You lost nearly half of your people because they listened to you and followed your flawed and overly idealistic advice." Harry said, amusing Amelia who had distanced herself from Dumbledore for that very reason. "Really all you did was orphan several children for nothing."

"The Ministry was more effectively waging war against the Death Eaters using lethal magic and causing fear on the Death Eaters side. All you did was take on another responsibility that you weren't suited for. War leader? You, a freaking pansy? You can't even run a school properly during peace time and wanted to take on more duties to blunder."

"In what way has Dumbledore failed Hogwarts?" Fudge inquired, poorly concealing his desire for leverage.

Harry simply repeated what he said to Dumbledore previously. "History of Magic is essentially a waste of time. Binns puts his students to sleep and he has a 20% success rate where OWLs are concerned and 5% for NEWTs. Defense Against the Dark Arts is rumored to be cursed and no expenditures have ever been made to have it uncursed. Instruction in it is inconsistent but it is largely below average. Potions has 85% less people getting their OWLs and 90% less people passing their NEWTs. It's the worst class offered there and Snape is shamefully unprofessional and has been mistreating students for years. Hogwarts Board of Governors has received numerous complaints which Dumbledore has been well-informed of and has done nothing about. Hogwarts is ranked 8th compared to the other schools like it, but no changes have ever been made by Dumbledore to fix it."

Harry used cold hard and easily verifiable facts and Dumbledore couldn't refute them.

"Dumbledore loves power too much, but he isn't so good with the responsibilities that come with the power. The students have been cheated out of a first-rate education at Hogwarts under Dumbledore's legendary mismanagement." Harry said.

"Why hasn't the Board of Governors done anything?" Fudge asked.

"Too many Dumbledore fans," Harry replied. "Don't worry... that body isn't as permanent as they would like to believe. They'll be far more dutiful soon enough... there are plans in the works that will make Hogwarts a reputable institution once more. I might contact you for some recommendations, Minister Fudge."

"Of course, Lord Potter! Anything that you need!" Fudge replied, causing Dumbledore to grimace.

"The Board of Governors-" Dumbledore began.

"Haven't been governing properly and have thus failed in their job... much like yourself. It's already a done deal unless you can locate and persuade the current Lord Gryffindor and Lord Slytherin to support you." Harry said, cutting Dumbledore off and giving him false hope.

"Then I'll find them and convince them," Dumbledore replied before leaving.

Harry snickered.

"You pranked him, didn't you?" Amelia asked.

"Yup," Harry replied with a smirk.

"The lines are either inactive or they're already on your side," Amelia realized.

"That would be telling, Amelia," Harry replied with a smile.

"You're just giving him false hope to mess with him. Well done, Harry." Amelia said with a smile.

"Thank you. I do love messing with people." Harry replied. "Did you hear about Dumbledore being pranked and dressed like a princess with his hair and beard braided? Funny event, that. People were calling him Princess Dumblina."

Fudge and Amelia laughed at that veiled admission.

Harry would return home shortly afterward, secure in the fact that he owned Fudge for the time being.

**Two days later...**

Sirius was malnourished, he had severe mental trauma, and he had many other issues that would take over six months to fully correct and even then Sirius would have a shorter lifespan. Peter Pettigrew had been captured by the Aurors to be questioned under Veritaserum and everything was set for the trial.

"This emergency session of the Wizengamot will now be called to order. We are here for the trial of Sirius Black, a trial which he was never given despite the suspicious circumstances surrounding his supposed betrayal of the Potters. Preliminary questioning has been carried out to build a case for and against Sirius Black and we will now call our first witness for questioning... Peter Pettigrew." Shocked gasps from the entire chamber. Pettigrew was dragged inside in chains, looking fearful.

"Chief Warlock, I object to his treatment," Lord Malfoy began.

"The reasons for his restraints will be clear once he is questioned, Lord Malfoy," Dumbledore said, cutting him off. Pettigrew was placed into the chair and further restrained. "Administer the Veritaserum."

Pettigrew resisted as Auror Shacklebolt dosed him, but it was for nothing and Pettigrew was given all three drops. First they used test questions about his name, date of birth, and his Hogwarts house before starting with the real questions...

"Are you now or have you ever been a Death Eater?"

"Yes," Pettigrew replied, causing shock to most of those in the chamber.

"Were you the Potter's Secret Keeper?"

"Yes."

"Did you murder the twelve muggles in while attempting to fake your death and frame Sirius Black?"

"Yes and I enjoyed it," Pettigrew replied while a smile, treasuring the memory.

"How did you fake your death?"

"I cut off my little finger and transformed into my Animagus form of a rat," Pettigrew replied. "James, Sirius, and myself were all Animagi since the age of fifteen."

Pettigrew was removed from the chair and Sirius was questioned next, quickly proving his innocence.

"Sirius Black you are hereby free to go and you will be awarded 20,000 Galleons as compensation for your wrongful imprisonment, damaged health, slander, violation of your rights, and House Crouch is ordered to hereby pay the sum of 4,000,000 Galleons to the House of Black." Barty Crouch was horrified. That decree financially ruined him and left him with just a few hundred thousand Galleons. "Finally, Millicent Bagnold is ordered to pay the sum of 250,000 Galleons to Sirius Black as compensation."

"For the next matter of business, the punishment of Peter Pettigrew," Dumbledore began.

"Chief Warlock?" Harry interrupted. "As one of the slighted houses I demand the Dementor's Kiss with no less than three witnesses, one of which would of course be yourself."

"So noted," Dumbledore said with mild disapproval.

The Dark Faction supported that, but the Light Faction and several of Dumbledore's supported opposed it, which meant that Pettigrew would be placed into Azkaban, but he would later escape in transit.

Yes, Harry was pleased with how things were going for him. He had a godfather that would hopefully not suck at the job and deserve the title and Harry may have access to the Black family library now.

Harry and Sirius arrived outside of Potter Manor and Sirius was shocked that it wasn't there. Harry handed Sirius a slip of paper with the secret on it.

"Memorize that," Harry ordered.

Potter Manor appeared in the distance to Sirius.

"Fidelius Charm," Harry explained absentmindedly. "I had to figure out how to cast it and keep Dumbledore and all of his fuckwit pawns away from me. I've cast it on all of my properties... wards are kind of my best magic."

"You don't like Dumbledore?" Sirius asked in surprise.

"Yeah... I'll explain inside," Harry replied.

Once they entered, Sirius wasted no time in prodding.

"Dumbles put me with the Dursley's who wanted to abuse the magic out of me... denying me food, giving me chores that most pre-teens struggle with at age three, and forcing me to live in the Cupboard Under the Stairs until I returned from my first year. I had to use controlled under-age magic to bully them into letting me go and it was the best day of my life. I despise Dumbledore. I've fantasized about ruining his life and making him watch hopelessly as it happens and I'm close to achieving that. I need to ruin his life for my own mental health."

"Harry... are you sure you wanna do this?" Sirius asked.

"I showed him my memories of all the abuse and his reaction was underwhelming. I didn't even see any real remorse from him and I didn't get so much as a 'I'm sorry that you were beaten like a dog and verbally and emotionally abused for a decade because I'm a meddlesome old man.' Yes, I'm definitely sure. If it weren't for my magic then I would be severely malnourished and weak."

"I-i want to see the memories of your abuse," Sirius said sadly, dreading seeing what his absence had caused.

"I figured that you might want to eventually," Harry replied, wandlessly summoning the family Pensieve.

Sirius spent five minutes viewing them, but when he was done he was horrified and in tears.

"I'm sorry, Harry! I shouldn't have chased after Peter! I should have been your godfather and protected you like I was supposed too."

"It's okay, Sirius. You were a reckless Gryffindor and made an emotional choice. You're here now, just make the best of the situation." Harry replied. Sirius nodded. "I'll let you get settled in, Tippy has volunteered to be your house-elf again while you live here."

Sirius nodded and left to get settled in.

"Don't worry. I decided to wait until I'm out of puberty to put up a bunch of nude paintings of myself, but you'll eventually see what true physical perfection is." Harry said and Sirius snorted in amusement as he left the room.

The remainder of the summer would be spent with Sirius undergoing a Potions regimen and him adding in Occlumency with Andromeda's agreement. Sirius' wand had been snapped by the DMLE back in the 1980s though and he needed a new one, so Harry offered up some of his own work; mostly wands with unicorn hair, acromantula fang, a few thunderbird tail hair wands, and some with phoenix feather. Sirius was chosen by an Ebony and phoenix feather wand and he was impressed by Harry's craftsmanship.

Harry met Nymphadora and refused to refer to her by her surname, citing that her name was beautiful. He also had to disarm her when she tried hitting him with a Stinging Jinx to the butt.

Harry was both blessed and cursed in this universe though... Sirius Black was actually rendered sterile by Azkaban. Harry had only wanted access to the library and Dark artifacts.

"So I need *five* more wives?" Harry asked. "I'm gonna be tired constantly and slowly get friction burned into a eunuch." Sirius snorted in amusement. "Bring Andromeda, Ted, and Nymphadora back into House Black. I'll ask Nymphadora if she wants to be my Lady Black, she's the only immediately viable candidate and should have the first chance. Casting out Bellatrix will soften some people up for House Black to earn their outright approval. Narcissa and Lucius are opportunists and can be left unpunished... I could remove the Dark Mark from Lucius though and offering them protection should keep the Malfoy fortune out of Voldemort's hands if he returns."

"That's a possibility?" Sirius asked.

"Well the Dark Mark's design depends on Voldemort's existence and only vanishes when he truly dies... and its still on the Death Eaters. You could offer Dark Mark removal in exchange for vassalage too, but I doubt that would be accepted." Sirius nodded.

"I'll bring them back into the family. I should have already done so after all the help they've given me. I need to get started cleaning up Grimmauld Place sometime soon... I can't just burn it to the ground since it's in a Muggle neighborhood."

"I can lend you some of my house-elves and I'll accept any books or artifacts that you don't want too," Harry offered.

"Harry are you sure that you want to master both aspects of magic; Light and Dark?" Sirius asked in concern.

"Positive. Merlin would be Dark by modern definition and I'm extensively researching matters before even engaging in risky behavior such as using rituals, curses, and other spells. Lesser Dark spells can be used without corruption; otherwise most students would leave Hogwarts as Dark Wizards. I'm just attempting to combine the strengths and traits of Merlin, Morgana, the Four Founders of Hogwarts, Dumbledore, Gellert Grindelwald, and Voldemort but without their weaknesses. I'm making excellent progress on that mission and only maintaining a theoretical knowledge of the more dangerous and immoral magicks." Harry's words served there purpose and Sirius relaxed some.

"I'll keep the books and artifacts in storage for you. You can help me with the wards during the summer holiday. But, yeah, I'd appreciate borrowing some of your house-elves. I've checked it out with Andromeda and Kreacher has let the place go and he hasn't been helpful in cleaning despite my orders so I'll need all the help that I can get." Sirius said.

Harry was pleased that the books and artifacts would be saved and hopefully one of the elves would find the horcrux and set it aside to be cleansed by him later. Nymphadora would later tease Harry about him being willing to marry her and she would be teased in return... 'If you saw me naked you'd be willing to marry me too.' Nymphadora wasn't opposed to the idea once Harry was older... she was fixated on him having to be seventeen to marry her.

Lucius Malfoy and several other Death Eaters had agreed to hear Harry and Sirius' offer out in a semi-public setting...

**Days later...**

Harry had arranged for a private room at the Leaky Cauldron for the meeting and Lucius Malfoy, Corban Yaxley, Walden Macnair, Amycus and Alecto Carrow, Avery, Crabbe, Nott, Goyle, and Snape had all arrived.

"Okay," Harry began. "You're here because I've figured out how to remove the Dark Mark and some of you are interested..."

"What proof do we have that you will keep your word?" Snape interrupted.

"I'm more than happy to remove one of yours as proof of concept," Harry countered. "But who wants to be that person?"

"Why should we remove the Dark Mark? He could return and kill us all in revenge!" Nott replied.

"Because Lord Voldemort is an alias, an anagram of his true name," Harry explained. Harry magically wrote the words Tom Marvolo Riddle and then rearranged them into 'I am Lord Voldemort.' "He's a fraud who used you all for your wealth, magical power, and resources. If he truly had a surname of note then he would have boldly boasted of it... instead he created a false name to hide behind. Knowing this and still keeping the Dark Mark would only undermine your credibility as pure-blood supremacists and open you to mockery should Tom be exposed as a half-blood. You all let a half-blood *brand you* and believed his lies."

"Accepting my offer will not only reinforce your Imperious plea and act as a public renunciation of Tom, but will also create some sympathy for the Dark Faction to build up its power even further. And you can use politics and not magical combat to increase your power... you can never beat magicals of Dumbledore, Tom, or Lord Grindelwald's caliber in combat, but in politics you can be their greatest enemy. Tom didn't care about any of you. He only wanted personal power and you to all rule in his name as his servants. You can all get revenge against him and be safe behind wards and a Fidelius Charm."

"You expect us to believe that you can cast a Fidelius Charm?" Snape asked snidely.

"Where do I live?" Harry returned and Snape struggled to answer. "If you're only here to preserve Tom's powerbase so Dumbledore can get another war to weaken the Dark Faction further, then you can leave." Snape was suddenly the target of a lot of suspicious looks... which wasn't good as a spy. "You'll want to leave now Snivellus." Sirius snorted. "Also, thanks for answering my leading questions, countering my little plot to make money, and approving my advanced studies in Potions under another Professor exactly as I wanted you too... I figured that you would help me get away from your incompetent instruction and my parents journals and basic Occlumency allowed me to prank you better than the Marauders ever did."

Snape was apoplectic with rage and reached for his wand... and then everyone else drew their wands and aimed them at Snape.

"That seems like attempted murder... perhaps I should defend myself with the help of these concerned and upstanding citizens," Harry said mockingly, making Snape very nervous. "So many witnesses to support my words. I could legally kill you and with my support base remove Dumbledore as Headmaster of Hogwarts early." Everyone's eyes widened at the words early, which implied that it would eventually happen. "Don't worry... I have something worse than death planned for you, Snivly."

"But first, I think I should defend myself against an attempted assault," Harry said and Snape prepared himself.

Snape was quickly overwhelmed by Harry's rapid spell-work and disarmed... Snape was shocked by Harry Potter's speed and spell choice and was soon being whipped by white lightning from Harry's lightning curse. Harry continued this for a few minutes until he sensed that Sirius was becoming uncomfortable. Harry just castrated Snape and then created a Portkey for outside of Hogwarts for him, sending him away.

"Dumbledore isn't going to like what you did to his pet, Harry," Sirius commented.

"I was defending myself... I have plenty of witnesses to verify that," Harry replied. "Now, who wants that mark off their arms?"

Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle, Nott, and Yaxley had all consented and had their marks removed. Walden Macnair, Amycus and Alecto Carrow, and Avery all refused to take the risk, but most of Tom's funding was cut off and those who accepted the protection signed a magically binding contract stating that they wouldn't serve Tom Marvolo Riddle also known as the Dark Lord Voldemort.

"I'll place the Fidelius Charms later, but who among you would consider supporting my new Separation of Powers Act? It's designed to force Dumbledore to choose between being the Chief Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, or Headmaster and limit him to one. However, it also limits future people, but that's a minimal risk due to Dumbledore being an oddity in his amassing power. It can be repealed later as needed." Harry said.

"Elaborate some more?" Lucius asked.

"It means that Dumbledore can only hold his minor nobility title and one of those positions, but he's losing the position of Headmaster either way. This will either weaken Dumbledore nationally or globally and allow Hogwarts' curriculum to be greatly improved to compete with the other schools once more. Naturally, any of Dumbledore's failings would also be widely advertised to further weaken him."

They all agreed. Even if some were loyal to the Dark Lord, removing Albus Dumbledore from power was a necessity.

This was a profitable summer vacation and Harry was looking forward to the upcoming school year.