Bab 62: Chapter 62: "Guardianship Troubles"
After returning to the Black Castle from their trip to Gringotts, Sirius had to quickly head back to work. He had only planned to take a half-day off, but their visit took longer than expected because Harry spent extra time choosing a wand. This meant Harry would have to wait until Sirius could return to discuss how the Blacks planned to protect him from his parents, who still legally had control over him.
With some time to himself, Harry decided to examine his new ring. Heir rings from wizarding families are known for their powerful magical abilities. Not only do they offer protection from being arrested without cause, but they can also detect if someone is trying to read your thoughts if you've been poisoned, or if there are other dangers nearby. The most important feature of the ring is its ability to choose the rightful heir of the family. Harry found these rings fascinating, especially since they were made a long time ago by skilled enchanters, a craft that is believed to be lost.
Harry looked forward to the day he could claim the Lord's ring, which would give him access to the Potter family's secrets, their manor, and their wealth. However, he knew he had to wait until he was 17, when wizards come of age before the ring would even consider him for the position of family lord.
The rest of the day flew by as Harry got back to his studies. Despite being far ahead of other kids his age, he felt compelled to keep pushing forward.
That evening, after a hearty dinner, Harry sat down with Sirius and Arcturus to have his questions answered.
Arcturus started the conversation by asking Harry if he ever wondered why they allowed him to pursue his studies so aggressively, far beyond what is typical for children his age.
Harry was caught off guard by the question. He hadn't really thought about it, assuming it was the norm. "I just thought that's how it was supposed to be," Harry responded. "Finish one thing and move on to the next. I was under the impression all kids from ancient families started their studies early."
Sirius clarified that while it's true kids from their kind of families start learning early, they usually only cover the basics at first. "It's rare for someone your age to delve so deeply into their studies," he said. "A little bit of studying before Hogwarts is fine, but diving into advanced magic can be risky for someone still growing."
Arcturus then encouraged Harry to consider why it might be dangerous for children to engage in magic beyond their age level.
As Harry pondered this, he realized the risks of performing advanced magic with an undeveloped magical core. The potential damage to his magic channels, possibly preventing him from ever using magic again, was a chilling thought.
Arcturus explained further, "That's why I had you practice each new spell you learned repeatedly, even after you seemed to have mastered it. It wasn't just about getting the spell right but also making sure your magical pathways were strong enough to handle the spells' demands."
Harry recalled feeling frustrated by Arcturus's methods. He had started his magical education at seven, hoping to quickly advance through his lessons given his previous life's knowledge. However, four years in, he had only completed coursework equivalent to five years at Hogwarts, a slower pace than he had expected. This was because Arcturus had him practice each spell many times before moving on, which Harry had assumed was preparation for silent and wandless casting. Only now did he understand the real reason was to ensure his safety as his magical abilities developed.
The magic core inside every witch or wizard acts as a reservoir for magical energy, which they use to cast spells or draw upon the ambient magical energy around them. When this reserve is depleted, they experience magical exhaustion and must rest to replenish their energy before casting more spells. Moreover, the magical channels or veins that run throughout a wizard's body are crucial for distributing magic to where it's needed for casting, whether through a wand or directly from the hands for wandless magic.
As a wizard matures, so do these magical channels, becoming more capable of handling larger flows of magic. However, if a wizard attempts a spell that requires more magic than their channels can safely manage, it could cause serious damage, like rupturing these channels and possibly rendering a part of their body incapable of magical function.
Understanding this, Harry felt grateful for Arcturus's careful guidance. He appreciated having a teacher who knew so much about magic and prioritized his long-term well-being.
If it hadn't been for Arcturus, Cordelia, and the others, Harry might have attempted spells that were too advanced, risking his future as a wizard.
Sirius reassured Harry, "We're family, Harry. We'll always look out for you." He then explained they had been working on a solution for the legal guardianship issue from the day they found Harry. They discovered several potential solutions, but most were not suitable.
Arcturus explained one option was to challenge the guardianship in the Wizengamot, which could have legally separated Harry from his parents based on their actions. However, this would publicly expose everything that happened to Harry, something they wanted to avoid to protect the Potter family name and Harry's privacy.
Another possibility was seeking asylum in another country, but that would require giving up Harry's rights in Britain, conflicting with his goal to restore the Potter family's reputation.
The best option turned out to be early emancipation, which required Harry to pass his OWL exams. There wasn't a minimum age requirement for emancipation—just passing the OWLs in the required subjects would suffice. Given Harry's advanced magical abilities, they were confident he could easily pass these exams.
However, one complication was that emancipation typically requires the consent of the current legal guardians, which in Harry's case were James and Lily Potter. This initially seemed like a significant hurdle, given their current guardianship rights.
But Sirius had a plan. "Since I'm your legal godfather, we thought we might use my consent as a way to get you emancipated," he explained. "However, this could alert your parents and give them a chance to object. So, we need to act quickly and quietly to make sure everything is settled before they can intervene."
Harry was curious about what he needed to do next. "So, how do we make this happen fast?"
Sirius assured him, "You don't need to worry about anything. All we need is for three members of the Wizengamot to sign off on your application for emancipation. Arcturus will use the Black family's vote, Amelia will use the Bones family's vote, and we just need one more. With a little persuasion, finding a third supporter shouldn't be too difficult."
Harry suggested, "What about the Longbottoms? Could they help?"
"That's an excellent idea," Sirius agreed. "They're not as close to the Potters and Dumbledore anymore, so they might be willing to support your application, especially considering the debt they feel they owe you."
Arcturus added, "If for some reason the Longbottoms can't help, I'm sure we can secure the third vote another way. But it's better to avoid involving too many others to keep this matter as private as possible."
With the plan laid out, all Harry needed to do was pass his OWL exams. "Should I take all of them?" Harry wondered, feeling confident in his ability to excel.
Sirius advised against it, suggesting, "Just take the minimum required subjects. It's better not to draw too much attention to yourself, and you don't want to limit your options for Hogwarts and beyond by completing all your OWLs now."
Arcturus agreed, "It's important to balance your achievements so you can still have a normal school experience. Excelling in a few subjects will suffice, and you can focus on making friends and enjoying your time at Hogwarts."
Feeling relieved and excited about the future, Harry decided to follow their advice. He would choose three subjects to focus on for his OWLs, taking the exams in December during the school holidays. This would not only secure his emancipation but also allow him to continue his education and life without the shadow of his parents' legal control hanging over him.
With a plan in place, Harry felt a renewed sense of purpose and optimism. The thought of gaining his independence and moving forward on his terms filled him with determination. Thanks to the support and guidance of Sirius, Arcturus, and his other mentors, he was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead with confidence and resolve.
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