Harry had finished studying his school work for the time being and was now with Sirius going over his estate. He had money but was not really wealthy, in fact he saw a few problems as he looked over the statement sent by the goblins. He had the Potter estate, it was smaller than the Longbottom estate but he still had a small hamlet of five magical homes, a working orchard and farm, a herd of cattle, sheep and goats. Still that was not what worried him, he seemed to owe taxes on a good piece of land to the north, in fact not far from Hogwarts only twenty miles in fact. He found to his dismay he owed back taxes and in order to pay them he would lose all monies made this year on his estates and it would drain most of his vault. He looked up as Ron came in the common room with Hermione and before he could put the papers away Ron saw them and looked them over.
Discover moreRead Graphic NovelsFiction genre guidesOrder Fresh PastriesFan fiction booksWatch Classic Cartoons"Bloody hell Harry I thought you were loaded!" Ron said then realizing he was rude, "I am sorry, it just."
"No it's alright, though I do need help in figuring out how to pay my taxes it seems." Harry sighed.
"I will give you the money." Sirius said, "I am your guardian."
"No Sirius, I cannot allow you to do that." Harry said as Ron looked over the property that was causing all the trouble.
"Harry you know the world cup is coming to England next summer right?" Ron said.
"Yea Remus, er professor Lupin told me." Harry said.
"You could rent out this land here, I bet you have caves for the pitch, lots of other nations built their Quidditch pitches in large caves so the muggles can't find them. If you can get the ministry to agree to this you could claim part of the monies on the tickets, rents for the land for the pitch and tents and even after you hired security let's see how much you would make."
Discover moreFan community platformMobile app developmentStory writing softwareExplore Top AudiobooksMobile app marketingRon took out some parchment and everyone watched him in awe. Here was Ron a young man who hated to read and study going over sums as if there were no tomorrow. He put up several sums adding up rents, percents of the tickets going to Harry, took away the costs of the security and the taxes he owed and showed it to Harry. Hermione and Harry were staring at him in shock never knowing that Ron liked anything to do with any type of studies. Ron looked at them and blushed as he was embarrassed by his talent.
"Ron mate where did you learn to do sums like this?" Harry asked.
"Well I like sums, they are so easy to do, I don't have to think when I do sums." Ron replied.
"Why then did you not take Athermancy?" Hermione asked.
"Didn't really feel the need to, I want to enjoy Hogwarts not study all the time, besides I already know all they teach in Athermancy." Ron replied.
"Hmm yet you just solved Harry's problem for him." Sirius replied, "well, once he sends out a letter to the minister offering his land use for a fee."
Sirius knew that many of the old families had a steward to take care of their properties and monies. The Malfoys did as had the Blacks before the spiritual decline of the house and the murder by Cygnus Black of the last Black steward for an imagined offence. He wondered if Harry knew the ancient customs of house Potter and was going to remind him in a tactful way when Harry spoke up.
"Sirius I did not see a steward here," Harry said turning to Ron, "Ron if you would like I would like to hire you as my steward, I don't have a house or much money but I would be honored if you would say yes."
"I-I would be honored, but why not Hermione?" Ron asked looking amazed at what his friend was offering.
"Because I am not good at sums, not like you are." Hermione said, "I don't know everything!"
"Don't I have to apprentice for that as well?" Ron asked.
"Yes, you will and I have just the man for you, Robert Dawlish, not the Auror, no Robert has brains." Sirius said, "you will still go to school but he will teach you what you need to do. He will be glad to know you have your first assignment."
"First assignment what is that?" Ron asked.
"Making sure that the Potter estate gets the monies needed to pay the taxes." Sirius replied.
" I can do that, but how?" Ron asked.
"Well first you will need a new set of dress robes and then you along with Harry and I will go and speak to Fudge about moving the Quidditch world cup."
"But I can't afford new robes!" Ron protested.
"Well as Harry's steward he is responsible to make sure you do look good." Sirius replied. "As you take care of his lands he takes care of you."
"Oh well than if that is part of the job." Ron said relieved this would not be charity.
"It is part of the job and part of your first payment right Sirius?" Harry asked.
"Bloody hell wait until I tell my parents!" Ron said grinning, "they will be so proud as no-one else in the family is going to do this!" Then his face fell a bit, "this means I have to study though doesn't it?"
"Just remember you are making money while you study, that will help." Harry said.
"True that." Ron said grinning.
Remus had come in as Ron was talking with Harry and being offered a very high honor. Remus knew that Ron always wanted to be his own person and coming from a large family as he did that was not very easy. But now all his insecurities and self doubt had left in an instant. He had thought he would become an Auror because that is what was expected but now? Well he could do so much more good as a steward to an ancient house, he might even have a chance at getting elected to the Wizengamot! He now had an honorable post as steward to the ancient house of Potter and as Harry was a noble, a baron in fact he was part of one of the very few Wizarding families who were part of the nobility. To be a steward to a family like that was a very high honor indeed.
Sirius was an Earl and the Greengrass family were dukes and duchesses and Severus Snape was truly a half blood Prince through his grandfather on his mother's side and on his father's side he was a baron. His father had not known about his ancient title but Severus had found out and had the title of Baron in England. He was a prince because of his grandfather who, before he was exiled was prince of Rimini before the unification of Italy. When the small magical community in Rimini had had enough of the Moretti family they had forced them out. They had come to England, changed their last name to Moretti- Prince (Severus's mother had shortened that to Prince as she hated her father and family) and Severus, half blood as he was, was truly was a prince, though there was no power or money with that title. Remus knew all this of course and was happy for Ron.
"You are very smart and would do well to remember that Ron." Remus said, "I am glad you will be working with Harry."
"Yes well he is a baron, from the war of the roses, his ancestor helped create the Tudor house ending a war that had gone on for over thirty years." Hermione said.
"Well I am not going to flaunt that around." Harry said blushing.
"You should mate, you could make a lot of changes." Ron said getting more comfortable speaking out and showing he was smart as it was clear he was going to be part of a noble family. "Not just because you survived the killing curse but what your family means to the Wizarding world."
"You really do have brains." Hermione said clearly happy by this turn of events.
"Yes he does, just needed a bit of motivation to use them that is all." Remus said then added as he could not help it, "hey Padfoot did you know that Severus is actually a prince a real prince?"
Seeing his good friend sputter and stammer at that was funny, really funny to watch. It meant that Severus did out rank Sirius and of course Remus had to let his dear friend know before Severus told him. Severus may not have money from his titles and had to make all his money on his own but he knew he was nobility impoverished as his mother had told him he was really a prince growing up poor in Spinner's end. Remus smiled as Sirius thought what this meant to him and Harry just grinned at the look on his godfather's face.
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It was a cold winters day that Remus headed back to Hogwarts battered bleeding but victorious. He had sent the new minster a gift of Grayback's head (telling him what it was before he would open the box of course). He had got this chance and taken it on his own, hearing that Grayback had called a counsel of the werewolves Remus had showed up and challenged him. Grayback accepted the challenge and the fight was on. It was brutal and took several hours but Remus won and the werewolves now recognized him as leader. He headed to his rooms and removed his blood soaked clothing letting Dobby draw him a hot bath (as Harry was taken care of by the Hogwarts elves Dobby was allowed to serve Remus and did so happily). Remus got in the bath sighing as the potent healing potions started to take effect.
"Good heavens Moony what happened to you?" Sirius asked seeing the gashes and wounds on his friend slowly starting to heal.
"Oh I challenged Grayback." Remus said tiredly.
"Master Remus should be more careful, not end up in such pain, Dobby sad when master Remus in pain." Dobby said as he gently started to tend to Remus's wounds handing him potions to drink as needed. "Master Harry told Dobby to take good care of Master Remus but Master Remus runs off to fight evil Grayback and could have died!"
"I agree, what were you thinking?" Sirius said sitting by his brother in blood.
"Getting the other werewolves on our side." Remus said, "I er ate his heart and sent his head to the minister, should be getting a reply probably in the morning."
"Well instinct can be a real bore, what did it taste like?" Sirius asked his friend.
"Horrible, I spewed once I left." Remus said, "guess this means I am head of a pack of werewolves now and that terrifies me."
"I will help you through this, you know that right Moony?" Sirius said.
"I do, thank you Padfoot."
Dobby finished with Remus's wounds and they were healed up enough for the werewolf so he could dress in his night clothes and go to bed. Of course being a werewolf meant he healed up very quickly and did not scar, he had not scarred since before he was bit in fact. The only scars he had were where he was bit and scratched before the curse fully took him. Silver too would cause him to scar but as he stayed away from it he was fine. Sirius helped him to his bed in the bedroom and tucked his friend in glad he could help him. Then he went over to his own twin four poster bed and lay down hoping to sleep this night.
Sirius could have had his own rooms in the castle but it was best for him to be with someone who could help him with his nightmares. Poppy wanted him to sleep in human form as much as possible so his mind could fully heal yet he could not sleep alone. Enter Remus who had the house elves bring up two twin beds and remove the large king from his bedroom. If Sirius had nightmares he could be there for him to help him. This was working well for Sirius as his nightmares became less and less and he started sleep through the night. He curled up under the warm covers sighing at the luxury of a nice soft bed and wonderful sheets and pillow and lots of blankets and comforter over all.
"Good night Moony." Sirius said.
"Good night Padfoot." Remus said sleepily.
Both wizards were fast asleep in minutes and it was Sirius who was up early before Remus. Normally, except after a change Remus was up bright and early but not today. Not after his fight the night before, he was not expecting the minister of magic to actually storm up to Hogwarts and demand to see Remus Lupin. Dobby had to wake up the still sleepy werewolf who got dressed and walked yawning up to the headmaster's office. Only to find himself thrown to the wall with the minister's wand at his throat, he was awake at once smiling sweetly at the minister while Dumbledore was protesting at the treatment of his defense professor. Scrimgeour was in a very bad mood, he was not amused to get the head of Grayback first thing in the morning and he was going to show Lupin just how upset he was. He snarled at Remus his yellow eyes glowing in rage.
"Good morning minister how are you today?" Remus asked.
"You dare ask after what you sent to me?" Rufus Scrimgeour snarled at him.
"Ah well I had a right to kill him you know and I am the new ah leader of the werewolves I thought would be grateful to get a good tame werewolf as leader?"
"You are dangerous and could turn the students!" Scrimgeour snarled throwing Remus across the room.
"No sir, not any more the Americans made a vaccine as of last year, the students were all vaccinated by Severus this year!" Remus said picking himself off the floor glad he had found out about the vaccine and told Severus about it. "I am sure you received yours as well sir."
"If you are not going to arrest my defense professor I must ask you stop abusing him." Dumbledore said sternly.
"Fine but I am watching you wolf you step out of line and I will personally have you whipped with a silver tipped whip!"
Scrimgeour let go of Remus who smoothed down his robes and took a seat. He looked up at the minister, a tall stocky man with a mane of grizzled tawny hair and yellow eyes behind small round glasses. He had a lion-like face and Remus caught an image of Scrimgeour as a lion Animagmus, surely he was not? Scrimgeour left limping slightly from an old battle wound, as he did so and Remus turned to Dumbledore. Dumbledore was looking at him waiting for an explanation.
"Ah well I had a right, he had a death note over his head." Remus said, "now we might be able to get the rest of the werewolves on the right side."
"I see, you know how I feel about killing Remus." Dumbledore said.
"Is his life worth more than a child's?" Remus said, "I don't like killing either headmaster, but there are times when there is no choice, when one is at war there are those that must die. Would you rather have them suffer in Azkaban or be merciful and send them to judgment in the next world by God?"
"As long as you do not make a habit of killing or send grizzly packages to the minister of magic." Dumbledore said.
"Well it was better than sending it to Severus, though he might have thanked me after he turned me to ash." Remus replied smirking. "May I go back to bed sir? I am still very tired."
"You may, lemon drop?" Dumbledore said.
"No thank you sir." Remus said politely.
He left the office, went back to his rooms and fell onto the bed fully clothed and was back asleep in an instant. Dobby came and with a wave of his and covered the wizard with blankets and closing the curtains so he could sleep as long as he needed to.
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Yea so I made Snape a prince, it sounds impressive but really it is not, he has no power with his title or money at all. Still he can have fun with his title and this is the back story I created with his potions book. He is also a Barron and there is a village in England that is named Snape… Black is a noble and that makes Draco one as well and Lucius is but only by marriage to Narcissa.
Anyway many noble and common families have had the problem of paying taxes, I wanted Ron to have some brains, but not the bookish kind. Yes he will still be the Ron we love and adore, but much more secure and happy. I took the liberty of making him good at sums and Harry needed a steward for his lands. This will take care of Ron's feelings of insecurity at not being good enough for his family and always in the shadow of Harry. Here he has an honorable job that will make him quite a bit of money.