The next morning Harry came down and knocked on Cassandra's door. He had a basket of food pressed on him by Zinnia and they only had an hour before they were due at the ministry. Harry was shocked when Cassandra opened the door. "Whoa."
She self-consciously put her hand to her hair. Yesterday Mrs. Dursley had taken her to a hairdresser who had cut her hair from where it touched the floor when she was sitting into a pageboy that was just past her collar bone. She had also gotten her a muggle wardrobe. She had gotten what Mrs. Dursley called basics: dishes, pans, cleaning supplies, and linens. There had also been a stop at a muggle bookstore where she bought four books one on budgeting, one on homemaking, and two cookbooks. Cassandra figured she now owed Harry two months of work. She had spent her graduation gift money on her new look and that was as far as it went.
Mrs. Dursley had loaned her the money for all the stuff for her flat. She was somewhat embarrassed to realize Mrs. Dursley had brought her own linens from home so she could sleep on the sofa. Cassandra had insisted that Mrs. Dursley take the full size bed in the bedroom and slept on the sofa herself. Taking a shower had been interesting she had first froze herself then scalded herself before figuring out how to adjust the water temperature because it didn't automatically come out of the spigot at a comfortable temperature. She saw the basket of breakfast Harry carried and almost cried with relief. She really hadn't looked forward to trying to figure out her muggle appliances yet and they hadn't gone to a grocery last night. "I look ridiculous."
"No, actually it suits you. You could probably go even a bit shorter but you'll want to keep it trimmed. If it gets much longer it makes your face look long."
"Come on in. Your aunt is almost ready. It's good you brought food cause there's nothing here."
"Cassandra you know where the Ministry of Magic is Right?"
"We'll just use your floo."
"But my aunt can't, she's muggle."
"I hadn't thought of that…"
"Fortunately you don't have to. Mrs. Corner made sure I knew where to go. Thank you for bringing breakfast Harry." They sat down and swiftly ate the breakfast the elves had made. Thirty minutes later they were at the ministry.
Horace Ogden met them along with both Felicia and Stephen Corner. The men led them to a consultation room where they went over the custody case. Then the men lead Petunia and Harry to the courtroom while Felicia asked to speak with Cassandra a moment.
After the door closed Felicia spoke, "Are you taking advantage of Harry's good nature?"
Cassandra considered how it might look from an adult's perspective. "I don't intend to, but I suppose it looks as though I am."
"Are you willing to take a magical oath that you will keep all his business private?"
"Yes. Mrs. Corner, I know I come from a family that you and Harry's other trustees would rather he have nothing to do with. But I'm an almost squib and this job with Harry means I don't have to marry Jasper Houghton. I will do everything in my power not to do anything to mess this up because I find the alternative unacceptable. If that means making an oath so be it."
Felicia looked at the young woman before her. Felicia pulled out the paper that contained the oath that everyone that worked at their firm was required to give. She penned a small change to it making it to harry not the firm and its clients and handed it to Cassandra.
Cassandra read it then pulled her wand, "I, Cassandra Minionette Yaxley, swear on my magic," She added a phrase not on the paper. "and my life, to hold private all information about Lord Harry James Potter that I learn in the course of my duties," and she added a second phrase, "and do my utmost to look after his best interests."
Felicia was startled Cassandra had added two phrases to the oath she wouldn't have asked her to make. "Why?"
"Because Harry giving me this job literally saved my life. I would have rather died than marry Jasper Houghton, and someone like me doesn't have many options."
"I see. Harry's aunt is less than comfortable in the magical world. It would be helpful if you would play liaison so she didn't have to come to the magical world as often."
"I can do that."
"All right then we'll join the others once you fill these two forms out."
In the courtroom Harry was surprised that everyone except Perseus Davies and Felicia were in the room he was quick to make introductions for his Aunt. He started with the highest ranked person first. Lady Augusta may I present my aunt Petunia Dursley, Aunt Petunia the Dowager Countess of Longbottom."
Petunia was of course at least a little impressed. Lady Longbottom had an imposing demeanor that commanded respect. "Lady Longbottom. May I thank you for your interest in my nephew, I also want to thank you for inviting him to stay last Christmas."
"Your nephew Mrs. Dursley has many sterling qualities, and I dare say you have done well by your sister in your raising of him."
"Thank you Your Ladyship."
"Elder Ogden may I present my aunt Petunia Dursley. Aunt Petunia this is the Honorable Elder Tiberius Ogden."
Petunia blushed lightly when Tiberius raised her hand to his lips for a brief salute. "May I echo Gussie's compliment. You have done well by young Harry here."
As he finished his comment, the court clerk, McGonagall, Dumbledore, and the Judge filed in. Everyone sat down as the court was called to order.
"So we are here today to determine the matter of custody for one Lord Harry James Potter." The judge intoned. "His parents' wills stated that custody should first go to his godfather, who at the present is incarcerated in Azkaban Prison, then to his godmother who is in St. Mungos' Janus Thickey Ward, then to Minerva McGongall. However instead of being placed with Professor McGonagall the boy was placed with his maternal aunt. Where he has resided until attending Hogwarts this year. Due to the irregularities in this case. A change in guardianship was filed by the boys muggle Aunt and a magical trustee board, denying Professor McGonagall custody. Would either side like to add anything to this summation?"
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