Harry's Heritage
Disclaimer. The plot and the characters between the Harry's family and the Hogwarts Four families are mine, so is the plot. Everything else is JK Rowling's. If you want something further explained just put your e-mail in the review (which you will do) and I'll explain it there.
A/N: This chapter has been updated. I've gone through and corrected a lot of spelling and grammar mistakes. For those of you who read it before I have inserted an extra paragraph or so to explain things a little more thoroughly.
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16-year-old Harry Potter stood outside the door to Dumbledore's office. He remembered the first time he had been sent here, and how nervous he had been. Things had changed a lot. For one, he was no longer a child and for another, Voldemort was back full force. There was a strange sense of foreboding about this meeting, it had started when Professor McGonagall had come to him during Charms looking like someone had just died. Obviously not a good sign. Harry stared off into space for a moment before muttering, "Jelly beans," and walking in.
Dumbledore was sitting at his desk, the sparkle in his eyes seemed slightly muted by a look of fierce determination that he had acquired in the recently. He beckoned for Harry to sit.
"Harry, do you remember the events that took place in your second year?" he stated bluntly.
Harry was slightly taken aback by this question. Of course he remembered that year when the Chamber of Secrets had opened and its horror unleashed. "Of course I remember Professor, what of it?"
"I'm not so concerned about what happened in the chamber," Dumbledore began, and Harry gave out a relieved breath, he had been afraid that it had been opened again, "I'm more concerned about what happened after, or rather, what I told you after."
Harry stared at him blankly. What he had told him? Well, it hadn't been much, just that Godric's sword came out for people in need and why he had almost been put in Slytherin.
"Harry, I lied."
Harry felt his jaw drop open.
"Not about everything, but I left out some things and shaded the truth. I believed you were too young and under too much stress at the time to know," Dumbledore said gravely.
Harry had to take a few deep breaths before stuttering, "I-in what way?"
"It's very hard to explain so I'll start at the beginning. 1000 years ago Godric Gryffindor, Salazar Slytherin, Helga Hufflepuff and Rowena Ravenclaw founded this school."
Harry nodded, familiar with the story.
"All except for Rowena Ravenclaw married and have surviving descendents today," Dumbledore continued.
"Like Voldemort for Salazar Slytherin," Harry broke in.
Dumbledore motioned for him to wait while he continued, "Yes, like Voldemort. Harry, I'd like you to have a look at this," Dumbledore reached into his desk and pulled out a large piece of parchment. Lines crisscrossed all around but at the bottom the names: Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, Slytherin and Gryffindor were listed. "Harry, this is a copy of the Hogwart's Four Family Tree. Now I'd ask you to be very attentive while I explain what I did not tell you the year the Chamber was opened."
Harry was starting to get a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach
Dumbledore glanced at Harry's face and realized the boy's suspicion, "Let's start with Godric Gryffindor. Harry, unlike the other Hogwarts Four, Godric married a muggle. Her name was Sarah and they had two children, both girls. Godiva, a witch; and Grace, a muggle. Now at the moment we are going to concentrate on Grace Gryffindor's line," Dumbledore's hand traced the inked line until he came to another name, much further down. "From her branch out many descendents but the one I want you to pay attention to is Jessica Whipple. Jessica Whipple married another muggle named Harold Evans and had two daughters. You see, she being a direct, though muggle, descendent of Godric had wizarding blood in her. One of the two daughters was a very powerful witch, every bit as powerful as her predecessor. The other was just as magic-less as her parents," Dumbledore looked owlishly at Harry, seeing if he had already figured out what he was going to say next. "The witch daughter's name was Lily, her sister, Petunia."
Harry rocked back in his chair with astonishment, when it suddenly tipped over and left him sprawled on the floor. Dumbledore peered down at him from over the desk, a small smile on his face. "Is that why the sword...?"
"Very good Harry. The sword can't come out for just any Gryffindor, it has to be an Heir of Gryffindor. Now I have some more unpleasant news. If you would kindly resume your seat Harry. Unless the rug is more comfortable," Dumbledore's blue eyes twinkled with amusement as Harry scrambled back into his chair.
"Harry, don't do anything rash until I've finished, including shouting, fainting... or falling out of your seat again." Dumbledore's finger once again moved across the family tree until it came to rest on the base of the tree marked: Slytherin. Harry's blanched.
"Now, Salazar Slytherin and his wife Circe also had two children, a boy and a girl. The girl's name was Sevetria and the boy was Salazar after his father. From Sevetria's line," Dumbledore moved his finger to the top branches of the tree, "comes Tom Riddle, or Voldemort. Salazar the second's line is traced down to Serpentius and Zalya Slytherin. They were a very proud family, prouder and richer then the Malfoy's even. And much more famous due to their family line. They had two boys and a girl: Rodveck, Caldar and Samantea." Dumbledore's eyes became bemused. "Caldar and Rodveck were both older then Samantea and both Slytherin's to the bone. But the most curious thing happened to Samantea, to the astonishment of most and the horror of her parents, she was sorted into Gryffindor. An Heir of Slytherin, in Gryffindor! Poor girl... her parents and her brothers began to put distance between themselves and her after that and by her fourth year she only left the school for summer break, which she usually spent with her friends, "Dumbledore's eyes hardened and Harry was astonished at the mix of sadness and anger in his eyes. "Finally, in her 7th year, she was engaged to William Potter, a fellow Gryffindor. That was the last straw for her family, they disowned her, figuring they could do so now that she was to be married. That was what probably saved her life. Five years later, Voldemort went to her parents and her brothers and asked them to join him. They refused and he killed them all, even the children and wives of Rodveck and Caldar. He had no idea that Samantea was still alive and meanwhile, she was having her first and only child. They named him James, Harry, you father. Which is why you look so much like Tom Riddle, you are a Paseltongue, and most likely the reason you were almost Sorted into Slytherin." Having finished his narrative, he looked at Harry to see his reaction.
Harry was wrestling with three different shocks that had left him slack jawed. Firstly Dumbledore had lied to him, well not completely but he had kept things from him. Second and thirdly, he was related to Godric Gryffindor (which was a good thing) and Salazar Slytherin (which was not). He finally stuttered, "How professor? And why did you not tell me sooner?"
"Well, the reason I did not tell you immediately after you saw Tom Riddle and pulled out Gryffindor's sword was.well, I was afraid you would snap. You were under a lot of strain. That's why I kept it from you even after that. I was afraid if you found out who's descendent you were, you might goes as far as to brag about it, which would most certainly draw many people's eyes. Especially people like Rita Skeeter," Dumbledore said.
Harry opened his mouth to protest that he would not have bragged when another thought occurred to him. The thought froze him in his chair and was so overwhelming it seemed to pull him down into a black abyss. He pulled himself together and whispered (if did not whisper he would probably scream), "Professor Dumbledore... I know this relates to why Voldemort wanted to kill my parents and still wants to kill me. Don't lie, I know I can take it. Why. Does. Voldemort. Want. To. Kill. Me?"
Dumbledore's looked at the frightened but fierce look in his Harry's eye and realized it was the time, "I told you you'd understand when you were older, and you are older so might as well tell you. As Voldemort became secure in his power he weeded out the names of all the direct descendents of Salazar, and asked each of them to join him (he did not tell them that the price for refusal was death). Only one line agreed to join him, the Avery's, who did not know who their revered ancestor was. All the others did know and refused him, thinking he was just a young upstart. They paid with their lives. Thirty or so years after he killed Serpentius' family he learned there were two, and soon to be three more heirs of Slytherin: Samantea, James, and you. However, before he got to her, Samantea died of natural causes. A year later you were born. During that year Voldemort realized that Lily was a descendent of Godric, which enraged him. That an Heir of Slytherin should marry an Heir of Gryffindor was a terrible insult. That's not why he went after you though. The reason was you Harry."
Harry was suddenly swallowed up in a wave of grief. It was because of him his parents were dead. Voldemort may have killed James if he had refused but his mother had for him. But Dumbledore was talking again, so he tuned back into reality.
"...Your power at age one surpassed the amount that people have when they are full adults. Voldemort was afraid of you! Child of Godric and Salazar, you had inherited both their powers combined. He knew that under no circumstances would you join his side, both of your parents being Gryffindors and that even if he stole you, you would eventually learn the extent of your power and overthrow him. So he tried to kill you, and failed." Dumbledore paused before looking Harry straight in the eye and asked, "Do you know why the spell bounced off you?"
"Because of my mother, sir?" Harry mumbled.
"Harry, do you have any idea how many parents sacrificed themselves to save their children during Voldemort's reign?" Dumbledore scoffed, "That is what made you an anomaly. Many, many mother's sacrificed themselves to save their children, Susan Bones' mother for example. All those shields did was protect them from Voldemort, they didn't throw back spells like your shield did! No Harry, there are three reasons why you're shield weakened Voldemort so severely." He ticked them off on his fingers.
"The first reason is the obvious one, your mother's sacrifice. That was strong enough to protect you from Voldemort's onslaught. But even with its protection, Voldemort would have been able to remove it if you had not had other protections. Secondly, there was a rather minor protection against kin-slaying. Voldemort is a distant cousin of yours (don't worry Harry, he is not close enough for you to have any of his traits) and it is taboo to kill family members. But that is an old law, it would have only possibly saved you if you were a full grown, fully-trained wizard with many of other shields around you. The third and most important reason Harry, that which makes you different then all the rest, is a pact that goes all the way back to the Hogwarts Four. Godric, Salazar and the others made a solemn agreement that they themselves nor their descendents could in any way harm each other without death or another serious consequence befalling them. Without this pact, Salazar would have probably made attempts on Godric's life, and even the other way around."
"So it is finally out Harry, the reason you survived and why Voldemort wanted to kill you in the first place. All those three combined were powerful enough to reflect the attack. You look rather shocked, if you would like I can give you permission to have the rest of the day off, to give time for it to sink in." Dumbledore added, looking the white-faced Harry full in the eyes.
He shakily stood up, when it suddenly occurred to him, " But Professor Dumbledore, if what you said about the pact is true then Voldemort couldn't attack my mother!" he said triumphantly.
"No, Harry. He could because she threw herself in front of the blast. The Pact did not cover willing death," he said sorrowfully. "Voldemort became emboldened by his success at killing you and believed that the Pact must not apply on your Gryffindor side since it had passed through Muggle blood. Tom always underestimated Muggles." Dumbledore raised his head and looked Harry right in the eye. "Would you still like that day off?"
Harry stood up, seeming to look passed Dumbledore as he said, "Just an hour Professor. I just need an hour just to- to take it all in. May I be excused?" Dumbledore nodded and Harry made his way shakily to the door. Before he turned the knob though he turned back and said, perplexed, "Professor Dumbledore, how did you touch Godric's sword?"
"Why my dear cousin Harry, Godiva Gryffindor has many descendents all over the wizarding world, I'm one of the more direct ones. Don't tell anyone though, being a Headmaster is hard enough," his eyes twinkled merrily as Harry's mouth moved without any words coming out before turning on his heels and closing the door behind him.
Disclaimer. The plot and the characters between the Harry's family and the Hogwarts Four families are mine, so is the plot. Everything else is JK Rowling's. If you want something further explained just put your e-mail in the review (which you will do) and I'll explain it there.
A/N: This chapter has been updated. I've gone through and corrected a lot of spelling and grammar mistakes. For those of you who read it before I have inserted an extra paragraph or so to explain things a little more thoroughly.
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16-year-old Harry Potter stood outside the door to Dumbledore's office. He remembered the first time he had been sent here, and how nervous he had been. Things had changed a lot. For one, he was no longer a child and for another, Voldemort was back full force. There was a strange sense of foreboding about this meeting, it had started when Professor McGonagall had come to him during Charms looking like someone had just died. Obviously not a good sign. Harry stared off into space for a moment before muttering, "Jelly beans," and walking in.
Dumbledore was sitting at his desk, the sparkle in his eyes seemed slightly muted by a look of fierce determination that he had acquired in the recently. He beckoned for Harry to sit.
"Harry, do you remember the events that took place in your second year?" he stated bluntly.
Harry was slightly taken aback by this question. Of course he remembered that year when the Chamber of Secrets had opened and its horror unleashed. "Of course I remember Professor, what of it?"
"I'm not so concerned about what happened in the chamber," Dumbledore began, and Harry gave out a relieved breath, he had been afraid that it had been opened again, "I'm more concerned about what happened after, or rather, what I told you after."
Harry stared at him blankly. What he had told him? Well, it hadn't been much, just that Godric's sword came out for people in need and why he had almost been put in Slytherin.
"Harry, I lied."
Harry felt his jaw drop open.
"Not about everything, but I left out some things and shaded the truth. I believed you were too young and under too much stress at the time to know," Dumbledore said gravely.
Harry had to take a few deep breaths before stuttering, "I-in what way?"
"It's very hard to explain so I'll start at the beginning. 1000 years ago Godric Gryffindor, Salazar Slytherin, Helga Hufflepuff and Rowena Ravenclaw founded this school."
Harry nodded, familiar with the story.
"All except for Rowena Ravenclaw married and have surviving descendents today," Dumbledore continued.
"Like Voldemort for Salazar Slytherin," Harry broke in.
Dumbledore motioned for him to wait while he continued, "Yes, like Voldemort. Harry, I'd like you to have a look at this," Dumbledore reached into his desk and pulled out a large piece of parchment. Lines crisscrossed all around but at the bottom the names: Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, Slytherin and Gryffindor were listed. "Harry, this is a copy of the Hogwart's Four Family Tree. Now I'd ask you to be very attentive while I explain what I did not tell you the year the Chamber was opened."
Harry was starting to get a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach
Dumbledore glanced at Harry's face and realized the boy's suspicion, "Let's start with Godric Gryffindor. Harry, unlike the other Hogwarts Four, Godric married a muggle. Her name was Sarah and they had two children, both girls. Godiva, a witch; and Grace, a muggle. Now at the moment we are going to concentrate on Grace Gryffindor's line," Dumbledore's hand traced the inked line until he came to another name, much further down. "From her branch out many descendents but the one I want you to pay attention to is Jessica Whipple. Jessica Whipple married another muggle named Harold Evans and had two daughters. You see, she being a direct, though muggle, descendent of Godric had wizarding blood in her. One of the two daughters was a very powerful witch, every bit as powerful as her predecessor. The other was just as magic-less as her parents," Dumbledore looked owlishly at Harry, seeing if he had already figured out what he was going to say next. "The witch daughter's name was Lily, her sister, Petunia."
Harry rocked back in his chair with astonishment, when it suddenly tipped over and left him sprawled on the floor. Dumbledore peered down at him from over the desk, a small smile on his face. "Is that why the sword...?"
"Very good Harry. The sword can't come out for just any Gryffindor, it has to be an Heir of Gryffindor. Now I have some more unpleasant news. If you would kindly resume your seat Harry. Unless the rug is more comfortable," Dumbledore's blue eyes twinkled with amusement as Harry scrambled back into his chair.
"Harry, don't do anything rash until I've finished, including shouting, fainting... or falling out of your seat again." Dumbledore's finger once again moved across the family tree until it came to rest on the base of the tree marked: Slytherin. Harry's blanched.
"Now, Salazar Slytherin and his wife Circe also had two children, a boy and a girl. The girl's name was Sevetria and the boy was Salazar after his father. From Sevetria's line," Dumbledore moved his finger to the top branches of the tree, "comes Tom Riddle, or Voldemort. Salazar the second's line is traced down to Serpentius and Zalya Slytherin. They were a very proud family, prouder and richer then the Malfoy's even. And much more famous due to their family line. They had two boys and a girl: Rodveck, Caldar and Samantea." Dumbledore's eyes became bemused. "Caldar and Rodveck were both older then Samantea and both Slytherin's to the bone. But the most curious thing happened to Samantea, to the astonishment of most and the horror of her parents, she was sorted into Gryffindor. An Heir of Slytherin, in Gryffindor! Poor girl... her parents and her brothers began to put distance between themselves and her after that and by her fourth year she only left the school for summer break, which she usually spent with her friends, "Dumbledore's eyes hardened and Harry was astonished at the mix of sadness and anger in his eyes. "Finally, in her 7th year, she was engaged to William Potter, a fellow Gryffindor. That was the last straw for her family, they disowned her, figuring they could do so now that she was to be married. That was what probably saved her life. Five years later, Voldemort went to her parents and her brothers and asked them to join him. They refused and he killed them all, even the children and wives of Rodveck and Caldar. He had no idea that Samantea was still alive and meanwhile, she was having her first and only child. They named him James, Harry, you father. Which is why you look so much like Tom Riddle, you are a Paseltongue, and most likely the reason you were almost Sorted into Slytherin." Having finished his narrative, he looked at Harry to see his reaction.
Harry was wrestling with three different shocks that had left him slack jawed. Firstly Dumbledore had lied to him, well not completely but he had kept things from him. Second and thirdly, he was related to Godric Gryffindor (which was a good thing) and Salazar Slytherin (which was not). He finally stuttered, "How professor? And why did you not tell me sooner?"
"Well, the reason I did not tell you immediately after you saw Tom Riddle and pulled out Gryffindor's sword was.well, I was afraid you would snap. You were under a lot of strain. That's why I kept it from you even after that. I was afraid if you found out who's descendent you were, you might goes as far as to brag about it, which would most certainly draw many people's eyes. Especially people like Rita Skeeter," Dumbledore said.
Harry opened his mouth to protest that he would not have bragged when another thought occurred to him. The thought froze him in his chair and was so overwhelming it seemed to pull him down into a black abyss. He pulled himself together and whispered (if did not whisper he would probably scream), "Professor Dumbledore... I know this relates to why Voldemort wanted to kill my parents and still wants to kill me. Don't lie, I know I can take it. Why. Does. Voldemort. Want. To. Kill. Me?"
Dumbledore's looked at the frightened but fierce look in his Harry's eye and realized it was the time, "I told you you'd understand when you were older, and you are older so might as well tell you. As Voldemort became secure in his power he weeded out the names of all the direct descendents of Salazar, and asked each of them to join him (he did not tell them that the price for refusal was death). Only one line agreed to join him, the Avery's, who did not know who their revered ancestor was. All the others did know and refused him, thinking he was just a young upstart. They paid with their lives. Thirty or so years after he killed Serpentius' family he learned there were two, and soon to be three more heirs of Slytherin: Samantea, James, and you. However, before he got to her, Samantea died of natural causes. A year later you were born. During that year Voldemort realized that Lily was a descendent of Godric, which enraged him. That an Heir of Slytherin should marry an Heir of Gryffindor was a terrible insult. That's not why he went after you though. The reason was you Harry."
Harry was suddenly swallowed up in a wave of grief. It was because of him his parents were dead. Voldemort may have killed James if he had refused but his mother had for him. But Dumbledore was talking again, so he tuned back into reality.
"...Your power at age one surpassed the amount that people have when they are full adults. Voldemort was afraid of you! Child of Godric and Salazar, you had inherited both their powers combined. He knew that under no circumstances would you join his side, both of your parents being Gryffindors and that even if he stole you, you would eventually learn the extent of your power and overthrow him. So he tried to kill you, and failed." Dumbledore paused before looking Harry straight in the eye and asked, "Do you know why the spell bounced off you?"
"Because of my mother, sir?" Harry mumbled.
"Harry, do you have any idea how many parents sacrificed themselves to save their children during Voldemort's reign?" Dumbledore scoffed, "That is what made you an anomaly. Many, many mother's sacrificed themselves to save their children, Susan Bones' mother for example. All those shields did was protect them from Voldemort, they didn't throw back spells like your shield did! No Harry, there are three reasons why you're shield weakened Voldemort so severely." He ticked them off on his fingers.
"The first reason is the obvious one, your mother's sacrifice. That was strong enough to protect you from Voldemort's onslaught. But even with its protection, Voldemort would have been able to remove it if you had not had other protections. Secondly, there was a rather minor protection against kin-slaying. Voldemort is a distant cousin of yours (don't worry Harry, he is not close enough for you to have any of his traits) and it is taboo to kill family members. But that is an old law, it would have only possibly saved you if you were a full grown, fully-trained wizard with many of other shields around you. The third and most important reason Harry, that which makes you different then all the rest, is a pact that goes all the way back to the Hogwarts Four. Godric, Salazar and the others made a solemn agreement that they themselves nor their descendents could in any way harm each other without death or another serious consequence befalling them. Without this pact, Salazar would have probably made attempts on Godric's life, and even the other way around."
"So it is finally out Harry, the reason you survived and why Voldemort wanted to kill you in the first place. All those three combined were powerful enough to reflect the attack. You look rather shocked, if you would like I can give you permission to have the rest of the day off, to give time for it to sink in." Dumbledore added, looking the white-faced Harry full in the eyes.
He shakily stood up, when it suddenly occurred to him, " But Professor Dumbledore, if what you said about the pact is true then Voldemort couldn't attack my mother!" he said triumphantly.
"No, Harry. He could because she threw herself in front of the blast. The Pact did not cover willing death," he said sorrowfully. "Voldemort became emboldened by his success at killing you and believed that the Pact must not apply on your Gryffindor side since it had passed through Muggle blood. Tom always underestimated Muggles." Dumbledore raised his head and looked Harry right in the eye. "Would you still like that day off?"
Harry stood up, seeming to look passed Dumbledore as he said, "Just an hour Professor. I just need an hour just to- to take it all in. May I be excused?" Dumbledore nodded and Harry made his way shakily to the door. Before he turned the knob though he turned back and said, perplexed, "Professor Dumbledore, how did you touch Godric's sword?"
"Why my dear cousin Harry, Godiva Gryffindor has many descendents all over the wizarding world, I'm one of the more direct ones. Don't tell anyone though, being a Headmaster is hard enough," his eyes twinkled merrily as Harry's mouth moved without any words coming out before turning on his heels and closing the door behind him.