"I would not wish to become a thief." Dumbledore sighed as he sat down again. "But how did the story come to be twisted so much?"
"That happened long ago, shortly after I took possession of the sword." The Sorting Hat began to tell the tale from the information that it knew. It would be a lengthy tale if the Hat told everything of it's nearly one thousand years of existence. For the sake of saving time though, the Hat would only tell the Headmaster what related directly to the sword.
Harry met Penny in the Great Hall and the two of them were quickly on their way towards Hogsmeade. The village came into view after a short ride on one of the carriages. Sirius was waiting for them at the Three Broomsticks as planned.
"Your associates are already in the private room Harry." Sirius said in an imitation of a personal secretary.
"Ha ha, Sirius." Harry deadpanned. "This is important, so behave?"
"If I must." Sirius chuckled and Penny stifled her giggles at the antics between Godfather and Godson. The trio made their way into the private room of the Three Broomsticks. Waiting for them was Drad Erdunn and his father King Drasurd Erdunn.
"A pleasure to see you again, Erdunn." Harry greeted the Dwarf he knew. He got a nod back from the Dwarf in response. "It is good to meet you King Erdunn."
"Not much of a King without a mountain, lad." Drasurd replied with a tired look on his older face. "Why have you asked to meet with me? Your letter was rather vague."
"I have something that belongs to you, King Erdunn, and I believe it is more than time that it was returned to you." Harry answered as he unwrapped the Invisibility Cloak from the sword. Both Dwarves jolted when the sword was revealed and Harry presented it to them.
"Lad, no, Harry Potter where did you find this?" Drasurd asked as he slowly stepped towards the blade.
"Inside the Sorting Hat if you can believe it." Harry replied. "Was defending the school last year, almost died to a Basilisk, the Sorting Hat arrives with a Phoenix and gives me the sword. It's a long story, honestly."
"The sword my father forged." Drasurd murmured quietly as he looked the blade over. "It's been so long."
"Careful with the blade, King Erdunn, I might have accidentally given it a Basilisk Venom upgrade by accident." Harry informed the elder Dwarf.
"How the hell to you give it a power like that accidentally?" Drad questioned and Harry turned to look at the confused younger Dwarf.
"Shoved it through a Basilisk's head and it got coated in the venom." Harry explained sheepishly. The teen Artificer was pretty sure he felt Penny's eyes staring into the back of his head. "But I return this to you, as it should have been long ago."
"Thank you, Harry Potter." Drasurd spoke as he picked the sword up and held it before his eyes. "The Line of Erdunn has hope once more." The sword suddenly glowed and the inscription on the guard that read 'Gryffindor' changed until it spelled out 'Erdunn'. The rubies in the guard almost seemed to have fire in them as the sword's innate Magic synced with Drasurd's Magic. The 'Claiming' was a sight to behold and when the Magic died down the sword almost looked brand new. It gleamed with a light that had never been present in all the time Harry had it in his possession.
"Haven't seen a smile like that on your face in ages, father." Drad smiled at his father. Indeed, Drasurd had a smile on his bearded face, to Harry it looked like the weight of years had suddenly left the Dwarf King. The elder Dwarf switched the Sword of Erdunn to his left hand and extended his right hand out to Harry. Harry returned the gesture, expecting a handshake, only to find his forearm grasped. Realizing what Drasurd was going for Harry clasped his hand around the Dwarf's much thicker forearm.
"From this day forth, Harry Potter is a brother to the Dwarves of Erdunn, if ever you need our aid you have but to call on us." Drasurd intoned and Harry felt a shift in his Magic. On his forearm a small symbol had appeared. Harry surmised this was a Magical Rite of some kind. The mark was probably the Emblem of the Erdunn Line of Dwarves.
"I am honored, King Erdunn." Harry replied and the two released each other's arms.
"Welcome, Brother Potter." Drad grinned at the teen and Harry grinned back.
"Pleased to be a part of Erdunn." Harry responded.
"Is there anything you need us for at the moment, Harry?" Drasurd questioned the Artificer.
"Actually, I had a business proposition for the Dwarves of Erdunn." Harry informed them. Seeing both Dwarves were interested Harry continued. "I recently got my first professional commission. The DMLE wants to make one of my items standard issue to their Aurors. They've put in an order for five hundred of them and I simply can't fulfill that by myself."
"We would need a place to work, if what you need done is blacksmithing and rune work." Drasurd replied and Sirius stepped forward.
"Already taken care of, King Erdunn." Sirius gave a small bow. "I've purchased a large building in Diurn Alley that can be used for blacksmithing and as a workshop. It even has a storefront for direct sales to walk-in customers."
"Sixty-forty in your favor Harry, I'll not hear another word." Drasurd had a light in his eyes that showed a surging of emotion. Harry was fairly sure that emotion was Hope, a newly rekindled Hope for the future of his people.
"Alright, but we'll renegotiate for an even split in ten years." Harry agreed. He wanted the Dwarves to have the appropriate compensation for their time and skills after all.
"Very well." Drasurd chuckled along with Drad.
"I'll show you the plans for the items I'd like you all to make. You can also make your own items and sell them in the storefront. All the profits of those sales are yours to do with as you please." Harry told his new business partners.
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