A String of Hope

A/N: Harry Potter content belongs to J. K. Rowling, Lyrics belong to Panic At the Disco.

This story is in the same universe as Rewritten History, you dont need to know that one but it's similar stuff, hope you like it, and for those who say my note saying it be out soon at the end of RH, MY BAD! xoxo

Chapter 1

Harry Potter fiddled with paperclip he was supposed to be attaching a report to. His mind was fading fast although the work day was only half way done. He glanced at the report and then back at the calendar. He still had another day to finish it.

Shoving the papers aside Harry stood and left his office humming tunelessly as he strolled. He entered the lift and found it very crowded. He couldn't stand that office cuts to all departments made the aurors move up a few floors near the Department of Magical Catastrophes. The noise was annoying.

As he watched a few exited on the next level he eyed a man struggle with cleaning supplies onto the lift. It wasn't too bad now but he was clearly having trouble and his robes were soaked on one side. One of his mops slid and hit the floor. Quick as a flash Harry snatched it up and helped him onto the floor.

He had bright blue eyes and scraggly dark hair. He was tall and thin with a pale complexion. Harry knew is face but couldn't for the life of him recall his name.

'Thanks Mr. Potter. Sir.' he murmured.

'Sure thing, ah Mr?'

'Falcon Merton sir. Magical Maintenance.' he said.

'Oh yes! Weren't you in my godson's auror training class? Teddy Lupin is his name.' Harry said as they both took off the lift and walked down the main hall.

'Er yeah. I sort of knew him mostly by his name but not by his face sir.' Falcon mumbled. Harry laughed, his god son was a metamorphagus so he could change his face into anything really.

'Why the change in career?'

'I failed the background check apparently. So they bumped me down here cause I was already approved to work in the ministry.' Falcon said. He looked a tad older, almost closer to Harry's own age.

'I see.'

'I was a Slytherin you see, about three years lower then you. My family weren't all into dark arts in fact my dad refused Voldemort's followers. But I guess they just got a bad rep.' Falcon said.

'My son is in Slytherin.' Harry observed.

'Well shitty deal for him.' Falcon said and hurried off.

Harry left for home tightening his jacket against the billowing weather. It was a mixture of snow and hail and with a pop he vanished.

When he came home to Grimmauld Place he found it was a war zone between his two sons. Albus who was a spitting image of himself visually bellowed at his brother James. Who sadly was also very much in sight and action, like his namesake.

'WHERE DID YOU PUT IT?'

'NO WHERE GEEK!' James bellowed back.

'BOYS!' Harry yelled and with a flash of his wand sparks emitted making them both jump back. It was Christmas holidays. Albus, James and Lily were home from Hogwarts. That alone made it all chaotic to say the least.

'Dad James melted my magazine and chess set together!' Albus whined.

'Did not.' James said.

'Wands boys.' Harry ordered. Both boys gave their wands to their father. First Harry tested Albus's wand and found the last spell to be a locking charm for his trunk. Then when he tested James's wand he found the last two spells to be allohamora and none other then a gluing charm.

'Guilty!' Albus jeered. James aimed to kick him, but Harry pulled his eldest backwards.

'Get to your room mister.' he said.

'But my wand!' James howled.

'You'll get it back at the end of the holiday.' Harry said coldly. James glowered at his brother as he took off up the stairs.

'When's Ted getting here? He usually keeps James distracted enough with girly magazines to keep him at bay.' Albus said. He tried to pry his magazine from his chest set.

'Here let me son.' Harry said using his wand he cleaned most of the now ruined magazine off of the wooden case.

'The book you'll have to give up on, but your case is okay.' he said handing it back to Albus.

'Thanks dad.' Albus said smiling.

'What sort of magazine was it?' Harry asked.

'Music stuff.' Albus muttered.

'Like muggle?' Harry asked. Albus nodded.

'We got them to read for muggle studies. Professor Lutley let us keep them afterward.' Albus said.

'So you've got an interest in music?' Harry asked. Albus nodded. Suddenly both stomachs growled in unison. Harry and Albus shared a laugh.

'That's great son. Now lets see what your mother has for dinner!'

Soon Christmas was nearing. Harry felt his paperwork was overloading him. He finally finished seven reports due that week, double the usual amount. One report he found snug at the bottom was a MLE report, not for someone of his level, however one name caught his interest.

Falcon Merton. Tailed after father and mother were reported given information to Headmaster Snape and the Carrows during Voldemort's second war on the whereabouts of hidden non Slytherin students. The parents owned a small orphanage for wizards. His father refused legal support and committed suicide while awaiting trial. Mother had only her wand revoked and soon passed a year after of sickness. Last whereabouts of residence for Mr. Falcon was Seaside Orphanage.

Seaside now under investigation by MLE for possible child endangerment. Possible dark arts activity.

Harry frowned. He brought out a map and found the tiny little orphanage. He decided it was near enough for him to catch a subway to pick up some last minute gifts. He sent a memo to MLE and got the permission to head over for a quick peek.

The orphanage was small and dingy. Windows had bars keeping children from escaping and it had only one main entry. Harry knocked and soon found the door opening to reveal a young girl around Albus's age.

'Yes?' She asked.

'Is Falcon here?' he asked.

'Uhm no.' she said.

'May I speak to who runs the orphanage.' Harry asked primly. The girl shrugged. He noticed she wore quidditch gloves and he eyed their quality as he walked in.

'MA!' she yelled. She ushered Harry into the nearest waiting area.

'Amy for Pete sake stop your bloody hollering!' a stout woman snapped. She caught sight of Harry and stopped dead in her tracks.

'I'm here investigating accusations of dark arts ma'am.' Harry said.

'I'm Connie Bray. I run this place for the holidays as a volunteer. The real owner is gone for Christmas.' she said. She motioned for him to take a seat beside Amy who brought in drinks. He noticed an ongoing game of chess on the table resting.

'Do either of you play?' he asked.

'I do! Sort of, I'm trying.' Amy said blushing slightly.

'Wanna try me on? I'm not as good as my son but I'm not too shabby.' Amy glanced at her mother for the go to. Connie Bray nodded and poured some tea as they began to play. Harry continued the conversation as they played.

'How many children reside here?' he asked.

'Twelve boys and eight girls. Ages range from three to nine. This my girl Amy behind you helping me out. None of the kids are Hogwarts age thought they all are wizards.

'Who else works here?'

'You got me, Joyce Lewis, she deals in the right little tots. Jeremiah Pitts and I are part timers you can say and Astoria Malfoy is our healer gal.' she said.

'Check mate!' Amy giggled. Harry scowled and wiped his king of it's spot. He then turned back to Connie.

'Astoria Malfoy?' Harry asked.

'Yes and trust me, she's not your typical Malfoy.' Connie said.

'I've met her actually. Her son attends school with my kids.' Harry said. He nodded to Amy, 'She does too?'

'Yup plays quidditch and is a prefect to boot!'

'Ma...' Amy said blushing again.

Harry smiled, 'What house?' he asked.

'Slytherin.' she said her smile fading.

'Ah! My youngest boy Albus is in Slytherin. Do you know him?' Harry asked.

'Not really, I know OF him you see, he keeps to himself and hangs mostly with his cousin Rose. Were still not that widely accepted us snakes.' Amy said.

'It's a shame really.' Harry said. He stood to leave, 'before I go, Connie do you know why Falcon Merton's name pops up with this address?'

Connie looked surprised, 'Why Falcon lives here from time to time. He has been since his folks died after the war.'

Harry was surprised, 'Do you know where he is at now?'

'Try downtown London. Muggle end of it.' Amy said.

With that Harry took off.

He found Falcon indeed in the midst of last minute shoppers. Falcon was in a large army pants and bomber jacket. He was standing at a street corner with a hard case below his feet and a acoustic guitar in his hand. He played a tune and sang in a reasonably well trained voice to whoever listened.

Harry approached him cautiously.

'Hello Falcon, fancy seeing you here!' he said trying to cheeriness. Falcon jumped at his voice and stared.

'Mr...Mr Potter!' he gasped.

Harry now frowned a tad, 'I didn't know this was how you spend your free time Falcon.'

Falcon sighed, 'Well they don't pay much, I lose a lot of money to the ministry for war reparations too.'

'You were never found guilty.' Harry said.

'Yeah well neither were my parents, died before they could be. Still made my name guilty. Bet you never remembered me from school did you?' Falcon said giving a bitter laugh. Harry shook his head.

'Even as a snake I was a loner. All I had was music.' Falcon said.

'What do you want? He asked now.

'I'm looking into some claim that dark magic is being done at the orphanage you stay at. Know of what it could be?' Harry asked.

'Yeah that's be me. But it's not dark magic. They have my wand traced you see. And I've been buying out the apothecary nearly everyday.'

'Why's that?' Harry asked.

'Why do you think I look so pale?' he said, 'and that I failed my aurors exam, I cant be one of these while fighting the bad guys.' with that he rolled up his sleeve and showed a long thin scar.

'The final battle had us Slytherin's sent on our merry way but the ones that tried to go home were met with Voldemort back lash. Including some mean were wolves. I was attacked on my way home. Never been quite the same. I've been making potions and spells trying to make things better. I cant afford a home let alone bought potions.

Harry was disgusted, 'And they kept you traced for the ministry!'

Falcon shrugged, 'Not much you can do.'

'I disagree. I'll see to it you're repaid.' Harry said.

Falcon laughed, it had no emotion and nor did his face, 'Potter I don't need it. My time is pretty much up.'

'Shouldn't you be getting home to your little kiddies?' Falcon said. He bent down to the case and grabbed a couple of pounds left for him.

'You get muggle money and either spend it or trade it in.' Harry observed.

'Not very Slytherin on me is it? Falcon snickered.

'Not all Slytherin's are like that anymore.' Harry said.

'Probably not, but majority are because that's the stereotype. Your kids are probably the same, dressed head to toe in red and gold to be big and brave.' Falcon said.

'Actually one of my son's is a snake.' Harry said.

'He must be a loner.' Falcon said. He turned to leave, guitar packed up and ready to go. As he turned Harry caught him by the shoulder.

'How about I make you a deal. I'll erase your name from the report saying it was a mistake. And in return you get yourself a real home.' Harry said.

'And with what money Potter? Even today were wolves, let alone Slytherin ones have it rough getting gold.' Falcon said.

'I'm a rich man, and in desperate need for a Christmas gift for my lonesome Slytherin son. I'll buy your guitar for fife hundred galleons.'

Falcon's eyed were saucers, 'Would you?'

'I would, and another forty for the case.'

'It's a done deal Mr. Potter!' Falcon said smiling. They hurried to Gringotts right before it closed and made the exchange. Harry slung the guitar across his bag as Falcon explained how to string it to him. When they finished they turned to go their separate ways. Harry grabbed him by the arm and stopped him.

'And Falcon, my godson, Teddy? He's an airhead sometimes, actually a lot of the times, but his father was a were wolf. If you ever want to talk to someone, give him a shout and shell cottage.'

Falcon nodded, and with a pop he was gone.

Harry adjusted the guitar on his back. He hurried ignoring the time to the office at the ministry. When he arrived he wrote up an entire new report. He then hurried home for Christmas eve.

When he arrived, it was as usual chaotic. James had spelled Lily's hair glittery by "accident" and Ginny was giving him hell.

'Hey sport, I got something for you.' Harry said to Albus, who was watching the whole commotion.

The boy eyed his father warily and followed Harry into his study. Shutting the door Harry dropped the case down and eyed his son.

Green eyes met green eyes.

'I met a man you'd like tonight, he was a Slytherin like yourself. But unlike so many, he was innocent of dark magic. But treated unfairly by the ministry.' Harry began.

'Are you gonna make it right dad?' Albus asked.

'No. he didn't want me to. Even I did with the ministry to the people he's still a snake.' Harry said.

'And you will, not matter what robe you wear now, will be my son and a potter. Everyone will see you as that. So I want you to know that our own heart shines through whatever house were in.'

'I know.' Albus said softly.

'How many Slytherin friends do you have?' Harry asked.

'None.' Albus answered.

'Your fifteen and they avoid you, because of me. How many other friends from other houses do you have?'

'A couple, most say hi, it's really just me and the cousins.' Albus said awkwardly.

Harry nodded and replied, 'I know, and it breaks my heart to see people cant go beyond the outside to be friends. But this man reminds us all of how as long as you love, you live on. Try to break out of the family eh? It might do us all some good to catch a breath with someone else. Now with that being said, I want you to have this.'

He gave Albus the guitar. To say Albus was ecstatic would be an understatement.

'Are you serious? Oh man and it's not electric so I can take it to school?' Albus said. Harry nodded and watched happily as Albus took hold of the neck and held it.

'Thanks dad!' he said.

'Merry Christmas son.' Harry said.