During the break with the Malfoys, Harry and Draco spent time playing chess, racing on brooms as Draco received a 2000 for Winter Solstice (Draco was actually good, just not able to compete with a barn swallow), and just talking. Draco also continued to teach Harry about his extended responsibilities as he will now have Cadet houses to care for, including Potter and Malfoy.
One thing Draco recommended was consulting Neville and his grandmother as Neville was destined to be an Earl as well.
Harry wrote the letter, with Draco correcting his mistakes, which were significantly less than earlier in the year.
Three days later, Harry had a response. He was invited to Longbottom hall 2 days hence.
When Harry showed the letter to Aunt Cissa, she approved.
Narcissa looked at Harry, then broached another subject, "I have something I've been working on. We are setting up a way for you to live with my sister instead of those monsters."
Harry asked, "Aunt Andromeda Tonks? Isn't she a healer?" he asked enthusiastically.
Aunt Cissa smiled sadly, "Yes, she will be here for the Winter Ball we are hosting tomorrow. Have you been concentrating on your dance lessons?"
Harry replied with a grimace, "Yes, but I usually dance with Hermione, I'm unsure about other partners."
Narcissa frowned and said, "Well that won't do. It's fine to have a preference, but you need to be polished with any female who signs your card. Lets go to the Ballroom."
Aunt Cissa then took Harry to practice dancing for a couple of hours to get him at least passable.
While dancing, she paused at a stray thought, and asked "Have you been to see your account manager at Gringotts?"
Harry looked at her "I have my own account manager?"
Narcissa now realizing the fear she had imagined, was getting angry, "Of course you have an account manager! How else can your money be managed? Where's your key?"
Harry shook his head and replied, "I don't have it as Hagrid took it back when we left Gringotts"
Narcissa now furious, yelled, "We are leaving for Gringotts! Be ready in 5 minutes!" At this point Narcissa stormed off.
Soon Harry was in his traveling robe and waiting at the floo point.
Narcissa stormed in, threw some floo powder into the grate, and commanded "Gringotts! Priority customer access!" before she stepped through. Harry repeated the instructions, joining her.
In Gringotts, they appeared in a room with 6 guards and 1 manager.
The manager curtly asked, "Business?"
Narcissa replied, "We are here to see the Potter account manager, get him."
The manager looked up from his desk and asked, "Do you have an appointment?"
Narcissa coldly inquired, "Why would we need one?"
The manager shrugged, called for a messenger, and then said to her, "It would be a shorter wait. Wait here."
Thirty minutes later a messenger goblin came to collect them and took them through many winding halls to a door marked THE BLACK. He knocked 3 times and then walked away.
Shortly, a gravely voice yelled through the door, "Get in here!"
Narcissa opened the door and walked up to a desk with nothing on it. Behind the desk sat a goblin who was obviously a manager, but there was something dangerous about his eyes. He wasn't soft.
Narcissa said curtly, "Harry Potter is here to evaluate the status of the Potter Accounts. He has not been given his key. He has not been given any statements. he has not been told his responsibilities. Fix that."
The Goblin smiled, "I do love dealing with a Black Witch, they rarely waste my time with trivia."
He turned to Harry, a mithril bowl and dagger appeared on the desk, and he moved them in front of Harry. "Bleed in that." he said with a smile.
Harry picked up the dagger and sliced open his palm without flinching. He then let the blood drip into the bowel.
The goblin's only reaction was a widening of the eyes as he watched a wizard child do this without flinching. Eventually, he said "That's enough." throwing a cloth to Harry.
Narcissa came over to Harry and said, "Permission to draw my wand?"
The manager nodded and she cast "Episkey" causing the injury to vanish.
During this the goblin said some things in his language over the bowel and it turned golden. He then took a quill, dipped it in the now golden blood and set it on a paper. It then started to write. After a while it stopped, and the goblin picked up the paper.
He stated, "Well, you are Hadrian James Potter Black. You have access to a Black trust account, and a Potter trust account. As you are Heir Apparent of Potter, we will give you an audit of your finances since there appears to be irregularities."
Cissa stated worriedly, "What irregularities?"
The manager snorted, "Someone has been making withdrawals. Not huge, because they were limited to your trust vault access, but they have also taken items from the heirloom vault...entailed items."
Narcissa quickly said to Harry, "Tell him to have all properties returned, all money confiscated, and an appropriate finder's fee of 6% billed to the estate."
Harry then said, "Do what she just said."
The goblin grinned and said "Do what?"
Harry looked at him for a moment. He then said, "Fine, I request you rescue all missing items from my Heirloom vault and any other vaults to my name. Return all moneys illegally acquired from said vaults with appropriate penalties. I expect Dumbledore is involved if it helps with the search. When I was last here, Hagrid kept me from meeting my account manager. Likely to avoid this very conversation."
The manager grinned, "What's in it for me?"
Harry coldly stated, "5%"
The manager frowned and replied, "She mentioned 6%"
Harry frowned back and said, "And that's what you would have gotten if you had taken the job then, now it's 5. Would you like to try for 4?"
The goblin sat there glaring at Harry, "Call me Skullcracker, Heir Potter. We will do it for 5% You will get the report in 5 days."
Harry countered, "3 days, I'm in a hurry."
Skullcracker countered, "3 days for 6%"
Harry replied "Done!" and offered his hand.
Skullcracker looked surprised, but quickly reached out and shook. He then said, "Go now, I have much to do."
As they were leaving Skullcracker yelled "Here!" and tossed a key to Harry. "Its your new vault key, charged to your accounts. All other keys are invalid. Out."
Narcissa after leading Harry out said, "You handled that well. Goblins care little for manners and they value direct action. By giving you a name, even if it's made up, he was treating you with more respect than most achieve."
They went back home and resumed the dance lessons. This time she had a dance instructor dance with Harry and used a cane to correct any mistakes in footing or posture.
After a couple of hours, Harry was bruised nearly everywhere, but especially on elbows and ankles. Harry never said a word of complaint.
At the end of the dance lessons, Narcissa stated, "Your pain tolerance is impressive."
Harry glanced at her and replied, "I was beaten every week as far back as I can remember, often resulting in broken bones and severe injuries. I would be fine the next morning. I spent years wishing to die as the pain would return with the next beating, the next day."
Shifting on his feet, "About my 8th birthday, something happened. I fell asleep and remained that way for 3 days. When I woke up, pain was an irritant, nothing more."
Narcissa looked at him, "Wait, you underwent your first maturity at 8? And it took 3 days? Do you have any idea of that significance?"
Harry just looked at her.
Narcissa looking irritated, explained, "Most people undergo their maturities at 10,14, and 18. It rarely happens earlier, and is a sign of great upheaval. Also the length is a sign of the depth of their family magic. The average time is 16 hours. That sneaky goblin never showed us that paper. We don't know all the family magic you can access."
At days end, when Harry was readying for bed, Narcissa came in and said "strip"
Harry just looked at her and took off his clothes. She motioned him to keep on his pants when he was readying to pull them down.
She then examined him and found no scars of any sort anywhere. With the history he described, that was impossible.
She then noted the bruises she had created in the dance lessons, realizing Draco would be blubbering with that amount of bruising.
She just nodded, "Dress for bed, I will see you in the morning."
Come morning Narcissa was at his bedside shaking him awake.
Harry woke up quickly, he cried out "I'm sorry Aunt Petunia, I will get started on breakfast immediately!"
He then realized where he was, looked embarrassed.
Narcissa hugged him, "It's OK, you are with family Harry. We won't forsake you. If I even think Dumbledore will be able to get you back to the Dursleys, I will kill them myself!"
Harry just started crying, holding her tightly.
After a time, Narcissa asked "Tell me your home address."
Harry looking confused, "4 Privet Drive, Surrey."
With a cold smile, Narcissa responded, "So the old fool, didn't protect the address. That will make things easier."
Turning to Harry, "Don't you worry, you will never go back there again."
Narcissa then stood up and commanded, "Now to complete what I started last night, get up and strip!"
He looked at her again and striped off everything.
Narcissa watched as Harry dropped his pants, standing there bare. She said, "That wasn't necessary."
Harry replied calmly, "I trust you. Do what you need to do."
Then with a fierce look in his eyes, Harry continued "Besides I need to become accustomed to being bare so no one can use it against me. I learned that after my paddling while bare at Hogwarts."
Narcissa nodded, "Interesting point, though nudity is rather common in our society. Many rituals require it. However, nudity outside the home is kept from children…prior to 2nd maturation."
She then thoroughly inspected him, and yes since he was bare, looked for signs of sexual abuse, and was extremely happy there weren't any. Strangely, it was like he said. All injuries including the extensive bruising was gone.
She grunted, "You are healthy my nephew, though don't be surprised if you repeat this with a more extensive exam. Andromeda is a Master Healer."
Turning away, "Get ready for the day." , and she walked out.
Once ready for his day, it was back to the dance studio for a review.
There was no cane this time as bruising would inhibit his performance that night. Narcissa, after watching him perform a couple of waltz and some swing stated she thought he would be acceptable.
Narcissa curtly commanded, "Go play with Draco. Stay out of the way while we are preparing for the ball. You will be ready, and dressed to receive guests at 7:30."
Harry bowed, "Yes Aunt Cissa."
Narcissa thinking for a moment, asked, "Are you prepared to receive guests as the heir Black?"
When he paused, she sighed "Fine, we will practice how you will greet people and what level of respect they will be due here in this house."
After a couple of hours she then sent Harry away again.
That evening as Harry was waiting to receive the guests, Draco said,
"Relax, we are still under the age of responsibility. Once we are 14, however, we will have to be careful. Heirs can make agreements at 14 which can be construed as binding."
Evidently it had gotten out that Harry Potter would be at this ball, so everyone was coming.
Harry spent 2 hours just receiving countless people barely remembering their names.
He did remember meeting Cedric and His father lord Diggory. They were nice.
He remembered the minister because of his ridiculous green bowler hat who had an assistant wearing a hideous pink sweater. He really didn't like them. Especially her, something was off about her.
There were a few children his age, but he wasn't able to spend time with them, making things tiresome.
He also had an interesting time when Dumbledore showed up. He thinks Draco enjoyed introducing him.
Draco said with an amused lilt to his voice, "Headmaster, my I present Heir Hadrian James Potter Black, heir presumptive of Earl Black, heir apparent Baronet Potter, apprentice Healer."
Harry just gave a half-bow saying nothing.
Dumbledore with his eyes twinkling noticed the heir ring and frowned.
Dumbledore stated with an overly-friendly tone, "Harry, my boy. I didn't know you were a guest of the Malfoy."
Harry coldly replied, "Why would you? What the Black does outside of your school is really outside your purview."
Dumbledore then gently chided, "Now Harry, I'm your guardian and must be kept abreast of these things"
Harry immediately challenged, "Did you keep abreast of my daily beatings from those muggles you placed me with? I hardly see how you can pretend to care about my welfare when you had me tortured and have been robbing me." There were gasps from those who overheard.
Dumbledore's eyes no longer twinkling exclaimed, "I have not!"
Harry coldly stated in a voice which called him a liar, "We will see, the goblins are doing an audit as we speak. If any of the potter heirlooms are missing, the entailment spells will find them. I find it suspicious that a cloak of invisibility was missing. You would think my mother would have had it to escape with me. Alas, she wasn't given the option, because you supposedly had it."
Dumbledore just nodded, and didn't say anything before he walked away.
After finishing the greetings, Harry was taken to the Ballroom. He started out dancing with his Aunt Cissa and, with her help, was able to relax and do a passable job. Afterwards he was called over by Neville.
As Harry arrived, Neville said bowing, "Grandmother, I present the Heir Hadrian James Potter Black, heir presumptive to Earl Black, heir apparent to Baronet Potter. Harry, I present to you the Dowager Countess Augusta Longbottom."
Harry bowed, kissing her hand, "Gran, I have longed to meet you."
Neville looked mortified and Augusta had fire in her eyes, "Did you think that appropriate young lord?"
Harry cockily replied, "Neville is my brother, and I am his. We are blooded shield-brothers having survived our first combat together. As you are his Gran, are you not mine?"
Neville just held his breath.
Augusta looked at this young man for a moment, then smiled and laughed, "You are so like your father. Yes. I give you leave to call me gran...in private. If anyone else was in earshot, that would have cost you a severe paddling."
Harry just smiled and bowed, "I would hug you, but will wait until we meet at your hall. Even if you did not paddle me, I'm very sure my Aunt Narcissa would more than make up the difference."
They left with Neville looking back at him and shaking his head with a small smile.
At this time Narcissa brought a woman over who had to be Andromeda as she looked so similar to Narcissa.
Narcissa introduced, "Andy, I present to you heir Hadrian James Potter Black, heir presumptive of Earl Black, heir apparent of Baronet Potter. Heir Black, I present to you Lady Andromeda Tonks of House Tonks, member of House Black"
Harry bowed and kissed her hand, "Greetings Aunt Andy, I'm looking forward to living with you."
Andy just looked at Cissa, "He even acts like James."
Cissa with an unamused look in her eyes, "I'm trying to decide if that warrants my hairbrush, what do you think Harry?"
Harry looked at her calmly, "I was told we are family, and she has volunteered to be my surrogate mother. Is an informal address that inappropriate?"
Andy just pulled him into a quick hug saying, "Leave off Cissa, Nymphadora explained to me what his home life was like. Allowances will be made...for now."
"So...are you really going to take me?" Harry asked quietly.
Looking sad, Andromeda said, "Yes, I will take you dear boy. There are no boys in my house so my husband will appreciate having a young lord to train in all those manly things you all seem to value."
Harry looked slightly confused, "I thought Tonks was an only child?"
Andy replied, "No we have another daughter, but we also have the two Malfoy daughters at our house. They are younger."
Harry just looked at Cissa.
Narcissa looking slightly embarrassed, replied "There are...complications...to the Malfoy having daughters. As they are daughters of Black, they were moved there. I visit them regularly, so don't think I wont be visiting you there too."
Harry smiled, relieved she would be visiting. Then with a puzzled look, "Medical complications? I am now an apprentice healer...so am interested to see if I can help."
Andy looked at him puzzled, "An actual apprentice...to Pomfrey? At your age? You do know I am a master healer myself?"
Harry with a grin, nodded. Andy just shook her head. It was time to talk to Poppy.
Harry danced a couple more times, before retiring. He found himself missing dancing with Hermione very much.
Later that night, in Lord Malfoys office, Lucius sat and thought how things had gone wrong. His lord was gone.
Draco was not to be Earl Black, and seemed happy about it. What to do, what to do.
He didn't notice his hand shifted over on top of an old school book with TM Riddle on the front.