A/N Wow, I'm floored. I've never had so many people marking my story after the first chapter...
Thanks for the reviews as well.
I have written a number of chapters, but not the whole story yet. It is rather fast paced and will probably be around ten chapters long or so. I'm not going to write all of Harry's school years, just what is needed for the story to conclude. And a nice epilogue, of course
Chapter 2 – Setting the stage
Longbottom Estate, 19.06.1989
(Remus)
As I arrive at the Estate I knock on Madam Longbottom's door. A house-elf opens the door and greets me kindly.
"Hello. My name is Remus Lupin, I wonder if I could speak to your mistress, Madam Longbottom."
"I is having to ask her, sir, please to wait here for an instant."
A few minutes later I can see Madam Longbottom come into the entrance hall. I get up from my chair and greet her respectfully.
"Mr. Lupin? My elf tells me you would like to speak to me?"
"That's right, Madam. Are you willing to give me some of your time?"
"I think so. I remember you – weren't you one of my son and daughter-in-law's friends?"
"That's correct, Madam."
"And the most level-headed one, if memory serves me right. Please come through and take a seat in the drawing room."
As the house-elf brings a refreshment I start to tell the Longbottom head of house Harry's story. She listens intently and asks some questions. I finish by showing her Harry's two most important memories. I tell her how Harry has taken down the memory spells from me and how I have found out a few horrible truths in the process. I show her a copy of James and Lily's wills, in which she is named as a possible guardian for Harry.
"I've never known about that!" she exclaims.
"That's what we thought. The wills were never executed because Dumbledore had them sealed. We don't know what his reasons were for that, but one thing is sure. Dumbledore is trying to set up Harry for something. We know that Voldemort is not dead, that he can come back, but he cannot do so alone. If any of his former followers are desperate enough they will seek the spirit out and will learn they can resurrect him. They only need to follow the rumours that he's in Albania and they will go there and find him. We have a fighting chance though, because we know what's keeping him alive and how to fight it. We do need allies though and we need possible escape routes."
"Escape routes?"
"From Dumbledore. He's our primary enemy for the moment. We don't know what his intentions towards Harry are, but the fact that he imprisoned the boy with his abusive relatives and claimed he was safe there does not leave me any doubts that his intentions are not conducive to Harry's health. He's the last of the Potters, the last of the Gryffindor line; I personally would not like to see that line to be ended by a so called 'light' wizard."
"I agree with you. Would you let me in to your plans?"
"If you would be ready to actually take on the position of Harry's guardian until Sirius can be freed from Azkaban you would help us incredibly. That's one way. Or if you would be ready to assume a more active role in the Wizengamot and help us bring Dumbledore's true colours to the open you'd be helping us even more."
"Hm. I'm afraid I am not a really good guardian. I do love my grandson, but I cannot claim to be a very effective parent, I lack patience and my ability to show emotion is limited. Neville knows that, he can live with it, but your Harry sounds like he's been abused, I don't think he'd be very happy here. Were is he at the moment?"
"We've seen the goblins at Gringotts and have been able to go to Potter manor, which is unplottable and completely hidden. He's safe there and there are a few house-elves still around who look after him now. But before we can come out to the open we have to convince the Ministry to accept a new magical guardian. I would prefer to have Sirius' name cleared, but for that to happen I have to get a reliable contact at the DMLE, and one placed up as high as possible to present our evidence."
"If it's only that – let me get you in contact with Amelia Bones. She's the head of the DMLE and let me assure you, if she smells any kind of injustice she'll be on it like a bloodhound."
"That would be absolutely great, Madam Longbottom. If she listens to us then I think we stand a great chance."
"Let me send her a quick message with my house-elf. She'll be by in a moment or two."
I'm left to wait and about fifteen minutes later Madam Longbottom enters with a well dressed middle-aged woman carrying a monocle.
"Mr. Remus Lupin, I presume?" she asks.
"Yes, Madam, very pleased to meet you."
"Likewise, Mr. Lupin. Augusta would not normally call me away from my office as urgently for no reason, would you tell me what your issue is?"
"Yes, thank you. – I start with a question, Madam. How much do you know, off the top of your head, about the Sirius Black case?"
She looks slightly taken aback.
"The Sirius Black case? That's ages ago! I was only a lowly Auror back then, studying law. I do remember that he was caught on the scene of the crime and that he was tried very quickly, sent for life to Azkaban. That's really off the top of my head though, so there's no guarantee that I would have my facts correctly. Why do you ask?"
"If you had a look into his file you would probably notice that there was no trial at all. It was Dumbledore who testified that Sirius was the Potters' Secret Keeper, but as you have seen in Harry's baby memory, Madam Longbottom, he knew that it was actually Peter Pettigrew who was the Secret Keeper, it was Peter Pettigrew who was the traitor and it was most probably Peter Pettigrew who killed the Muggles. The last thing I can't prove before we have found Pettigrew or before Sirius can be questioned under Veritaserum. But I bet every single Galleon in Harry's considerable fortune that he's still alive."
"Didn't they find only a finger?" asks Madam Longbottom.
"They did. But they also didn't know that Peter Pettigrew is an unregistered Animagus. And his form is a rat."
Both women stare at me in shock.
"An Animagus? A rat?"
"A rat. Can you imagine how easy it would have been for him to leave behind a finger and vanish somewhere in his Animagus form? Rats can vanish almost anywhere! What's more you have seen him in Harry's memory, backing up Voldemort…"
"That I have," Madam Longbottom confirms.
"So you have called me here to roll up Sirius Black's case again? If he really never received a fair trial then that will have to take place. I dread to think we have thrown someone into prison for life without a trial."
"Madam, it is of the utmost importance that these procedures have to pass in as much secrecy as you can muster."
"Explain to me why we have to keep this secret?"
Once again I launch into the explanation of Harry's future memories and show her his past ones. At first she doesn't believe me at all, but then I tell her a few things she probably knows about Dumbledore.
"Okay, let's say I have a look into the file quietly. What would you suggest? And why in secret?"
"We need a Ministry approved guardian for Harry. If you see here, these are James and Lily Potter's wills. The possible guardians they name are Sirius, myself – but you might know that I am a werewolf and you can imagine the public outcry if I were to become Harry's sole guardian – Minerva McGonagall and Madam Longbottom here. We need to get Harry out of Dumbledore's clutches to be able to do what we intend to do. Sirius has to be questioned and we have to find the rat – according to Harry's future memories it poses as a pet for one of Arthur Weasley's sons, he said it was Percy. We need to get it and force him to show himself…"
"What are your intentions? What do you mean by 'to do what you intend to do'?"
"Have you ever heard talking of an item called a Horcrux, Madam Bones?"
"No. What is this?"
"It's what makes Voldemort immortal until we have found all five Horcruxes he's made. A Horcrux is a container to house a fraction of one's soul. As long as that soul fraction is somewhere in the living world the person with the Horcrux cannot fully die. It is the reason why Voldemort can be resurrected if only one of his former followers gets the idea of wanting him back."
"But they're all in Azkaban, aren't they?" Bones interrupts me.
"Madam Bones, you do not in all honesty think they've all been caught, do you? You cannot be that naïve?"
"Well, call me naïve if you like, but I know how many trials we had back then…"
"Yes, and I'd estimate about 98% of those trials were bought. Do you really think Lucius Malfoy was under the Imperius?"
She blushes.
"Well, my personal impression is certainly a different one, but he was acquitted. Without fresh evidence we cannot roll up a case anymore."
"Pour down some Veritaserum into his throat and you'll have him spilling many of his secrets! They're all ugly, believe me. And while you're at it do the same with every one of the other Death Eaters who claimed to be under Imperius. Not one of them was! They're all still there, and they're all in the open, still spreading their horror racist views and bringing through ugly laws that cripple anyone who they can't otherwise get rid of. Madam Bones, if you think we're living in peace you're wrong. We live in a semblance of peace at best."
"Okay, okay, let's get back to those – Horcruxes?"
"Yes. To make one you need to commit a cold-blooded murder and follow that up with a horribly dark ritual. It will split your soul in half and place that half in the container. We know that Voldemort has made five Horcruxes for sure, maybe a sixth one. It was certainly his goal. Not that much is left of his soul; probably he couldn't make another one even if he tried after that sixth."
"Do you know what and where they are?"
"Yes, we do. But it is something we will take care of. You needn't worry about the Horcruxes, Madam, they're our project. We can get each of them without much of a fuss, but it will take a few years to get to each. Remember that Harry had to search for them once before, he not only knows where they are, he also knows what protects them and what not, we wish to accomplish it as quietly as we possibly can. Voldemort may only be a spirit somewhere down in Albania, but I'm sure he's keeping an eye on things and will know a lot about what's happened here. If he gets wind of what we're doing we're doomed. Harry remembers that he managed to possess a Hogwarts teacher who passed his forest in Albania and that said teacher brought him right into Hogwarts, just when Dumbledore had the Philosopher's Stone hidden at the school. Coincidence? I think not. In Harry's former life, he and two friends at school saved the Stone from this very teacher and Harry forced Voldemort out at the danger of his own life. When he decided to end his own life and was sent back, he knew that he wouldn't want to be a pawn in Dumbledore's hands anymore. I think he has his priorities right. Forewarned is forearmed, but it doesn't mean we don't have to be careful to a) repeat the mistakes or b) make new mistakes!"
"I can see your point. If it's true what you tell me about those Horcruxes… they sound like a horrible thing!"
"They are a horrible thing, Madam. Not only are they outlawed as you can probably imagine easily, they have been almost completely forgotten. Unfortunately Voldemort, back in the days when he was still at Hogwarts and his name was plain Tom Marvolo Riddle, was able to wheedle it out of Horace Slughorn how to make them. As far as Harry knows he made his first Horcrux when he murdered his parents in 1944 or there about. And believe me, that wasn't his first murder."
"It wasn't? But – he was still at Hogwarts!"
"I can tell you that he murdered for the first time when he was in his fifth year – in 1942."
Both ladies shudder.
"What? What kind of a kid was that?" Bones asks.
"Obviously one that didn't have much of a regard for his fellow humans."
"Tom Marvolo Riddle, you say? Why do you know that?" she asks on.
"Another one of Harry's memories. It seems that all Dumbledore did in his sixth year was telling him back-story of Voldemort, not a word on how to destroy the Horcruxes. – But, I want to stress that my personal foremost interest is to keep Harry out of Dumbledore's clutches, and away from his abusive relatives. My second interest will be to help him working out the Horcruxes."
"Why must it be him? Couldn't he ask anyone else?"
"He could, but I think we have the best means of performing well. He has the advantage of already having done it…"
"How would he go about it? He's around nine years old! He's not even allowed to do magic legally yet."
"You force me to give you a high amount of information that's dangerous to share, Madam. The main reason I've already given you – he's done it once already – at least his older self has done it, and another reason would be that there's a prophecy, which we think is rubbish, but which unfortunately Voldemort believed. It was the reason why he went after Harry in the first place. Harry was one of two children who could have been meant by the prophecy, but once Voldemort had marked Harry with his failed Killing Curse the other child was safe."
Madam Longbottom looks decidedly green until I mention that the other child is safe. Harry has told me that the other child that might have been meant was Neville, her grandson.
"Are you sure about that? Dumbledore was very secretive about it and always tried to keep his cards close to his chest. We were all very frustrated with him, you know. We felt that something with this ominous prophecy was off."
"According to Dumbledore Voldemort only knew the first half of the prophecy, the one which says that the one who can vanquish him approaches. He knew the stipulations, but not the most important part, the bit about him marking the prophesised as his equal. Had he heard that part as well he would probably not have run out and tried to kill the One while he was still a baby. It was his downfall, but it was also clear to Dumbledore that this wasn't the end of Voldemort. In this context, it's clear to me, too. Though I only understood why he's not dead when Harry mentioned the Horcruxes. As long as he's but a spirit, he can't be killed, even when his Horcruxes are gone. He will come back, but we want to get rid of the Horcruxes before we let him. And then he will find his definitive end at once. If Harry has to do a bit of magic when he shouldn't actually do that, heck, that's the least of our trouble. It's the future of our world that's at stake when push comes to shove."
"I can see that. – Mr. Lupin, do you think I might talk to Harry once? I'd like to learn to know him. He sounds like an incredible young man."
"He's a wonderful soul, Madam. He's been abused ever since Dumbledore dumped him on his relatives' doorstep. Dumbledore never even cared about checking how he did! Harry has lifted numerous compulsion and obliviation spells from me before we could even start to talk. It's the reason why we haven't contacted Minerva yet, because if he's liberally used compulsion and obliviations on me, he's definitely done it with her even more often! In fact, Harry said that he's frequently obliviated not only Minerva, but also Filius Flitwick and Pomona Sprout. Probably Poppy Pomfrey, too."
Now Madam Bones and Madam Longbottom gasp.
"What did he gain from that?"
"Loyalty. It seems that he has used his position to secure a teaching position for his pet Death Eater who has turned spy for him, Severus Snape. Snape has also been made head of Slytherin house and he seems to run roughshod over every student that's not in Slytherin. Dumbledore is using his obliviations so that Minerva, Flitwick and Sprout don't run to the Board of Governors to complain about the miserable teacher. But that's most probably just one of many other reasons. A really horrible thing I know about him is that he has forced the bond with his phoenix, Fawkes, by using a binding spell and loads of compulsion spells on the bird. On a phoenix! What kind of a light wizard would do that? He feared the loss of his image with the rest of the magical world if his phoenix decided to leave him. And Fawkes definitely did want to leave him."
"How do you know that?"
"Fawkes told me. He showed Harry and me images yesterday and he answered a few questions with showing us more images. Very powerful birds they are, the phoenixes."
"Oh dear… that is bad!"
"Madam Bones, may I invite you to Potter manor so you can meet Harry? He's very able to prove to you what he claims. You speak with him for a few minutes and I'm sure you'll see what I saw – that he's the true thing. No nine year old who has been secluded for eight of those nine years talks like he does and knows what he knows. I strongly believe, you will see it, too."
"I would like to do that, but I have no idea where it is, Mr. Lupin!"
"Oh, if you trust me then I'll apparate you."
"In this case, yes, please."
"Thank you for your hospitality, Madam Longbottom, and for the time you have given me. It is a great service, even if you don't know it yet."
"You're welcome, Mr. Lupin. I hope things can be solved to your satisfaction. If what you say is true then we need you badly. I wish you all the best in this enterprise."
"Thank you. I needn't tell you how vital it is not to speak to anyone outside of us of these things. The knowledge of Horcruxes is certainly buried well within people like you and me, but let anyone of the darker nature hear about them – who doesn't already know – and they will be off like a rocket to make some."
"Rocket?" both women ask.
I laugh – purebloods who hardly ever get to hear news from the Muggle world.
"Very, very fast Muggle flying objects. They reached as far places as Mars with some of them."
"You mean they travelled to Mars?" Madam Bones asks, flabbergasted.
"No, they didn't travel, but they sent moving objects within the rocket to examine the surface of the planet. To find out what kind of chemical elements there are and the like. But they did already travel to the moon – that's only 280'000 kilometres, they can reach that in about three days."
"We couldn't do anything like that, that's for sure!" Madam Bones admits.
"We never are curious enough about sciences, Madam. We only study things when they're magical and magic basically shoves science to the sides. We would be unbeatable if we combined our magic with their science. Keeping Muggle-borns out of everything leaves us getting more and ever more behind."
"I think you might be right. We must talk about that sometimes, Mr. Lupin. It seems you know a lot of this?"
We take our leave from Madam Longbottom and while we walk to the gates of the property to apparate I tell her a bit more about the Muggle sciences, especially how they could help us to advance potions or other objects of study.
"But the main problem in our ignorance is that we don't even want to know what they know. Very few of us follow newspapers from the Muggle world, because, let's be frank – even light wizards and witches hardly believe that they could learn from the Muggles. And thus, we allow the purebloods to run roughshod over all of us when we could use so much and learn so much! The last hundred years have been very busy for the Muggles. Not only the invention of cars has brought them forth, but especially the use of electricity for almost everything allows them to invent machines to do things almost as miraculously as magic, albeit not quite as fast. Apart from the instantaneous manner of magic, they're not really behind us anymore, they would think our way of life very antiquated. And they're right."
"Are you a Muggle-born, Mr. Lupin?"
"No, but the fact that I'm a werewolf makes it very difficult to find work in our world, Madam, the many different opportunities that the Muggle workplace offers makes it much easier for me to find work without being discovered. Naturally, you need to have skills and you need to learn their ways of life. I am perfectly suited to live in both worlds and combine them with ease. Before my friends died, I held a number of jobs in the Muggle world. After their deaths – well, I became one of the victims of Dumbledore's and his obliviations. He set me up as a writer for several scientific magazines."
"You seem to accept this, but when you say that you can't find work in the magical world it makes me blush for the way some creatures are excluded from it. I am ashamed that some laws have gone through the Wizengamot that deliberately impoverish people for such things as your condition."
"Madam, I have had to learn to accept these things since I was bitten when I was just five years old. Had it not been for my parents who cared for me even more after the bite I would have probably become what most people think of werewolves. And that's the problem. Create even more laws that puts us out on the street unless our families support us and we'll run wild even worse every full moon. On the other hand – it's also a direct consequence of all the purebloods who bring through such laws. I find much less prejudice among Muggle-borns and half-bloods."
"Food for thought. Thank you, Mr. Lupin. – Well, here we are – apparate me, then!"
I take her arm and side-along apparate her to Potter manor. She smiles and turns to me when we arrive there.
"Oh, now I remember! What a delightful place it was. I used to come here to visit Charlus and Dorea. As you know Charlus was an Auror, too."
"Yes, I know. Well, let's get inside then."
When we get there, Harry comes running and I find myself hugged around my middle and the little boy proves that even with his 35 year old mind he's still a bit of a boy.
"Oh Remus, there you are! I was so worried! They could have had you arrested on the spot or something, I'm so glad you're back home! – Oh!"
I hug him back and he straightens and looks at Amelia Bones, but then his face breaks into a smile.
"That's a great idea, Remus! – Welcome to Potter manor, Madam Bones, it's a pleasure to have you here."
"Likewise, Mr. Potter. Since you know me by name I expect you have spoken to me in your former life?"
"Yes, I have. I was also a year mate at Hogwarts with your niece, Susan. I can see that Remus told you. I trust you if he does. I trusted you in my former life, unfortunately not enough to actually come to you directly with some problems, and when I finally thought of you they had already killed y… - oops…"
Madam Bones actually laughs.
"I know I would be one of the first they'd get rid of if they ever get active again. Would you give me some time? I have cleared my scheduled meetings today to give this the necessary time."
"I would love to. Please step into the great hall here, in spite of the name it's a homely enough salon. Any refreshments?"
"Not right now, thank you."
As soon as we sit, she looks over to me and says:
"I can see why you trust this young man, Mr. Lupin. Boy and man combined, it seems to be a delightful combination. Now would you tell me your story, Mr. Potter? From the time you started your schooling…"
"Yes, I would."
Harry tells his story in as few words as he can muster, and she listens to every word he says, interrupting occasionally to ask some questions.
"I believe you. It sounds impossible, but I know that already the way you speak – no nine year old would talk like that. So where do we start?"
"By turning a blind eye if you hear of some former Death Eaters having accidents. Deadly ones. It could happen to some Wizengamot members even. Maybe especially to them, because they are everything but conducive to progress in our world. In fact, Voldemort's second reign forced us all much more in the open, because they were acting worse than Muggle terrorists. At the moment, most people believe that Voldemort is completely gone. We wish to eliminate the Horcruxes quietly so that this belief becomes truth. But that also means that we have to give our world the opportunity to move on, to progress. Ever more regulations regarding Muggle-borns or half-bloods will do nothing in that regard. We need to break some of the old influence to allow the newer ideas some space to develop. We don't have to have radical changes within weeks, we need to let them mature gradually, so that the magical people have time to accept things. They're not supposed to become scared of them; they're supposed to learn to use a more open-minded view of the world around them. It would mean a great advance.
"You were one of the first to be killed in that war I saw with Voldemort. But one of the worst things is that he just has to call and all of his former followers, those who were tried, but acquitted as well as those who were never caught, will come right out of their hiding places and act just as they did in the last war. They will go right back to torturing, murdering and changing everything for the worst. Only this time they will set up camps for the Muggle-borns, where they systematically start murdering them. Not without having a little bit of cruel fun with them, raping the girls and women, torturing everyone and keeping them alive for a little while, repeating the processes over and over. It becomes an ugly world if we let Dumbledore let things happen the way he did in my former life. Think about it – you are killed and leave behind Susan the same way I am left behind – the last to carry on the name. If we are killed, guess who gets our fortunes? They have not only tortured and killed; they've also stolen what they could reach."
"You're painting a frightening image, Mr. Potter," Madam Bones says and shudders visibly.
"I do, but not for no reason. As I understand the history in his first attempt he met with a lot of opposition, people were standing up to him and the Ministry may have trembled, but it didn't fall. This time he'll simply brush the Ministry aside and set up a puppet Minister who will do his bidding – Pius Thicknesse may not be a marked Death Eater, but he sympathises with the pureblood ideas. He is an old pureblood fanatic after all. And not only the Ministry goes down with hardly any fight at all, he manages to get Hogwarts, as well. As I have been told that at least was never conquered the last time."
"My word! I can see how that would turn this country into a dark and horrible place."
"Can you see now why I need a guardian who is approved by the Ministry, why I have to get out of Dumbledore's hands? I need to have a little bit more time to solve the Horcrux puzzle and then we can avoid all the horrible images I've just painted. I can put memories in the Pensieve for you to see that would give you nightmares for the rest of your life, Madam. And I haven't seen it all, believe me. While so many Muggle-borns were snatched up and tortured in the camps, I have been after the Horcruxes and only heard about something here and there on the underground wireless. It was awful, it was evil, and it was indescribable."
Bones looks like she's thinking of something. She stares at Harry.
"You just mentioned something of a 'marked' Death Eater, Mr. Potter, would you please elaborate?"
"Find the Dark Mark on the left forearm of a person and you have a marked Death Eater. Voldemort put this tattoo on his followers. It's not a simple tattoo, it's a form of the Protean charm, it allows him to summon them and probably contains a tracking charm as well. All he had to do is press his wand against the mark on the arm of one of his Death Eaters and they were summoned to wherever he was."
Madam Bones' eyes and mouth have gone big and round by the time Harry's explanation is over. But even I am astonished. We never knew that!
"You're saying that every person who has this Mark is a tried and true Death Eater?"
"Yes, precisely. The Mark can only be put there by Voldemort and everyone who has it is a Death Eater on their own free will. Most of them don't see that they enslave themselves to Voldemort at once. He has absolute power over them and while he sends them to mete out their own brand of cruelty, he treats them no better than any of his enemies. The slightest suspicion of disobedience can cost them their lives. There is a reason why many of the pureblooded idiots who were in his service keep it nice and quiet these days. Believe me; they know not to go running back to him now that he's out of it. Most of them are as scared of him as we are."
"I can see your reasoning. – Mr. Potter, this has been most enlightening! Thank you for giving me all of this information. I shall be on Mr. Black's file this afternoon and report back to you what I have found. Is that alright with you?"
"It's perfect, Madam. It was a pleasure to see you again and in your usual high spirit. I was a friend of your niece and she was quite a formidable fighter in the end. I hope she won't need to become a fighter this time around and I hope to become her friend again!"
"Susan is quite a talented witch. And a very nice girl, too. You already know that she's lost her whole family when she was your own age. I have taken her in and she's been living with me. It's been sad to see so many orphans ten years ago."
"There would be many more if we allow Voldemort to be brought back. I have to tell you that it was the rat we're looking for, that has caused all the grief. Would it be possible for you to establish a contact with Mr. Weasley? If we can get to the rat openly we'd have fewer problems."
"Can he send an owl here?"
"Errol would find me here."
"Well, I can ask him to contact you, that's no problem."
"Thank you, Madam Bones."
We accompany Madam Bones to the door. I explain to her that she can now come back on her own if she needs to.
"Very good. And owl post would reach you as well then?"
"To those who know and those we allow, yes."
"Excellent. I have some work to do then, thank you, gentlemen, it's been a pleasure meeting you!"
Phew. What a formidable ally! I can only thank Madam Longbottom again for bringing her in. The head of the department as well, we couldn't have hit any higher save the Minister himself. And our current Minister is a blundering idiot with too much greed for his own good.
Harry rubs his hands.
"Now then – let's get started on those accidents. What do you say? Start at the top?"
"Definitely the most important one, but I would leave that one until Sirius is free. Or, wait, no, we can do it. I have to contact Andromeda to ask her to take in the kid if we manage to get rid of the parents…"
"Wouldn't she be notified in any case?"
"I suppose she would but there's no reason not to be proactive, is there? I haven't seen Andy in a long while anyway; it'll be good to talk to her again."
"Very good."
Ministry of Magic, 08.07.1989
(Remus)
We have had so much to do in the past month I don't know where to start telling the story! First of all, it was fascinating to see Amelia at work. We have talked a few times more and fast become friends, the three of us. She went back to her office from our initial conversation and had her staff look for Sirius' file. When she saw how little it contained she was livid! There was his wand – untested as it turned out, a few written up testimonies from Muggles who were subsequently obliviated and a swatch from Peter Pettigrew's robes. She couldn't believe it that there was no transcription from the trial, and when she began to dig she quickly found out that there never was as much as even a hearing. Crouch had simply declared Sirius the second in command to Voldemort and thrown him for life into prison. The Daily Prophet had happily lapped up the sensation and the people believed it.
It's now two weeks later and we can take Sirius home! He is a wreck and a shadow of his former self, but if there's one thing I have vowed besides getting rid of Voldemort, it's that I will restore my lover to his former inner and outer beauty. Well, the inner beauty is still there buried under endless Dementor attacks, but essentially, he protected his good memories by becoming Padfoot.
Finding the rat and getting the trial on the way has had consequences for Bartemius Crouch senior who is sacked for his involvement in Sirius' sentencing. He would have gone almost free if he hadn't blabbed something about his son while he was under Veritaserum. He was found guilty of keeping his son under a constant Imperius at his home. Sirius said during the investigation that he thought the kid had died in Azkaban, but in truth, his mother was buried there under the guise of Polyjuice potion. Crouch had them switch places and taken his son home. Since everyone knew that his wife was terminally ill he informed everyone that she had died. They buried an empty coffin!
Not to mention that his son went straight back to Azkaban and the father was sentenced there for life as well. The law does say that the use of an Unforgivable earns you a life sentence after all. I think if there's one thing Amelia learned from our conversations it's to actually take the law seriously and to make use of it where it helps the light side. No more sparing suspected Death Eaters from their rightful sentences. No more corruption.
Sirius' trial is spectacular! Harry has told Amelia of the Priori Incantatem phenomenon he had encountered with Voldemort's wand. He told her that by using that she could bring forth all spells ever cast from that wand. When Pettigrew had finally been captured and forced to show himself we found he still had Voldemort's wand. Harry suggested that it should be used in a demonstration in court how the Priori Incantatem worked – would make for a good show, he said, and Amelia had grinned and agreed that this would be a great idea.
She has asked Ollivander to testify, and questions him, with an eye on the judge and the Wizengamot members in the panel:
"Mr. Ollivander, when we consulted you about Mr. Black's wand you informed us of a procedure that would allow us to prove what spells were cast with the wand. What is this procedure?"
"It is called Priori Incantatem. It's when two brother wands are used one against the other to duel. They won't work properly. One of them can force the other to spit out all spells that were ever cast with the wand."
"I have never heard of this before, but I'd be ready to test it. We have here a wand that has been used to cast Unforgivable curses. Mr. Ollivander, we thank you for kindly procuring a brother wand of this one. I have asked two of our Aurors to cast an aggressive spell against each other."
She gives one of the wands to each of the two Aurors, one of them is Kingsley, the other is Hestia. They put a small bit of distance between each other and both cast a disarming spell. The effect is immediate and stuns everyone. I look up and see Dumbledore sitting there in the audience; he looks like he is quietly seething.
But the wands are now shooting bright golden arrows of light and there is immense phoenix song. Obviously, Voldemort's wand has a phoenix core. Hestia holds it and she doesn't fight Kingsley as he forces the beads of light into the wand.
The first spell that comes out is of course the botched Killing curse on Harry. Nothing further happens, just the typical green light of Avada Kedavra. The next is Lily, but this time we can see how a shadow like figure of Lily comes out of that wand. She looks up at Hestia and Kingsley and her face brightens! We can't hear what she says, but obviously, she makes Kingsley and Hestia grin as they nod and hold on. Then James comes out. And after them spell for spell leaves the wand, some of them terrible curses, some of them simple everyday spells, some of them Killing curses. For every Killing curse, the shadow of the person killed comes out of the wand. The shadows mingle around Hestia and Kingsley and spur them on not to stop.
It takes two full hours until the spells are all out of the wand. A whole mass of shadows are in the cage of light and the phoenix keeps singing. It brightens up everyone in the room, but many of the people who are in the audience also see loved ones who have died years ago coming to life for a short while.
Lily's shadow steps up to Kingsley to tell him something and he nods, then he breaks the contact between the two wands. The light cage – and the shadows – vanish in a minute. Kingsley and Hestia are both extremely exhausted and hand both wands back to Amelia. She stands up and turns to the judge and the Wizengamot:
"As you have seen it was clear that there were numerous Unforgivables cast with this wand, numerous people have been killed using it. Mr. Ollivander, you have been able to procure a brother wand also to Sirius Black's wand. I have found his wand in his file, and it has been untouched since its confiscation. To prove that he has not cast any Unforgivable curses with it and no destructive spells either would you please tell us whom these demonstration wands belong?"
"Yes, this is the wand I have sold to Tom Marvolo Riddle, in 1938. You know that I remember every wand I've ever sold. This one is yew, thirteen inches and contains the single feather of a phoenix. The other wand containing a feather from the same phoenix remains unsold to this day."
There was murmur and I expect many people would think they wouldn't want that other wand. I wonder if it will still react to Harry as he said it did in his former life.
"Very well. And these two?"
"This one is the wand I sold to Sirius Black in 1970. It is made of white oak and contains a section of a dragon heartstring. The other wand is yet to be sold."
Ollivander is allowed to leave his stand and Amelia turns around.
"You have heard that this wand is indeed Sirius Black's wand. It will now be tested in the same way as Tom Marvolo Riddle's wand."
What a genius she is. People have seen who was killed with this wand, they now know whom the wand belonged to and that his real name is Tom Marvolo Riddle. A quick glance in Dumbledore's direction tells me that he looks even unhappier that this is now public knowledge. Why ever does he want to hide this from people? Because of the Horcruxes? Well, you'll be out of it soon, old man. Unless you have a Horcrux of your own and a person who knows how to resurrect you we'll make sure you'll be gone. You're old enough, anyway.
Amelia gives Sirius his wand and hands the other again to Kingsley. There's no phoenix song of course, but the rays of light and the dome is the same exactly. The regurgitated spells do not contain a single Unforgivable curse, let alone a blasting hex at the end.
Harry was right. It is an extremely powerful demonstration and after that, there isn't the shadow of a doubt left. Sirius' compensation is discussed immediately and part of it is the custody over Harry.
As we make our way out of the Ministry Dumbledore is there of course and hisses that Harry should be returned to his relatives immediately for his safety.
"You must have lost your minds presenting Voldemort's wand to the public! He's not gone forever and what do you think he'll do when he gets back?"
I smirk and pull the infamous wand.
"He'll look for this. And no, you can't have it. It's going to where we are going – with Harry. You have had your say as long as Sirius was unavailable, Albus, but now you're out of the picture. If you so much as come near Harry in the next years we'll have you arrested for harassment. Is that clear?"
"Perfectly. I'm glad you are thanking me in this way for the chance to come to Hogwarts, Remus, and for all my help in the past years."
"Emotional blackmail won't help you this time, Albus. I've had my guilt trips, but I've been woken up from the nightmare you caused me. No more meddling, old man. Goodbye!"
I apparate my family away, but not to Potter manor, because it might be that he's caught us with tracking spells while we were talking. I find one, not only on me, but on Sirius and Harry as well, for good measure. I strip them off, then we move on to the manor.
"Remus, I saw mum and dad coming out of that wand again. Could we go and visit their graves, please?"
"Yes, we could, Harry. Right now? Sirius might want to see them, too, you know."
"Yes, right now," he whispers.
"Off we go!"
I apparate them directly inside the gate at Godric's Hollow's cemetery, where James and Lily were buried. What I didn't expect to see are the bodies of several of Voldemort's victims that have come out of the wand just hours before. We run to the graves and find a very disoriented, but very much alive James and Lily right outside of their graves.
"Mum! Dad!" Harry screams and starts to run.
Sirius and I follow him on the spot. James looks up, looks at Lily and then at the boy who comes rushing at them. I don't believe my eyes! They're back! They look so alive I'm almost losing it! Did Harry know that from his former life?
We reach them just as Harry falls into his mother's arms. He sobs and cries, and thanks her over and over for saving his life and sacrificing hers and at the same time he chides her for not saving herself. Lily's reaction is typical. She tells him off for being silly and asks:
"Do you think he would have really let me live after that? I'm a Muggle-born witch, silly little button. He'd only been in less of a hurry and tortured me for a bit of fun for him."
That only makes Harry cry harder. Lily looks up and asks:
"What the heck are we doing here? Why are there gravestones with our names? What the devil happened to you, Sirius, you look deader than we seem to be!"
James and I can't help it, we break out and laugh loud and long and hard. I haven't had this much reason to laugh for a long time. Seeing Sirius being freed an hour ago was already making me giddy, putting one over Dumbledore was the next step and now finding this huge surprise is almost too much.
Though trouble is already at the horizon, as at this moment said Dumbledore steps into the graveyard and can't believe his eyes. James and Lily try to get up, but are obviously unable to do so, I conjure stretchers for them and send a Patronus message to Poppy Pomfrey to come here quickly and bring as much strengthening potion along as she can.
Good old reliable Poppy turns up minutes later while Dumbledore takes a beeline in our direction. He doesn't receive the reception he's expected though. James, quick of mind as he is, tells us not to allow Albus any approach at all.
"Haven't we just told you to stay away from us, Albus? You have cost James and Lily their lives, you have cost Sirius almost eight years in Azkaban, you have cost Harry eight years of constant abuse and emotional distress at the hands of Lily's sister and her husband, haven't you caused enough grief for us yet?" I growl.
"Calm down, Remus, how could I know that you would come straight here?"
"I don't care, but unless you have some relatives or friends here, who you could help out, leave us alone."
"I would agree with Remus. If I had a wand right now, I'd curse you to hell and back, Albus Dumbledore!" James says behind me.
Dumbledore is taken aback and actually does move away. At that moment, Poppy comes close and asks:
"What, by Ceridwen, has happened here, Remus? – I can see how you would need strengthening potions…"
Beside James and Lily there are about half a dozen people who have crawled out of their graves. I'm speechless. There is certainly a direct relation to the Priori Incantatem on Voldemort's wand. I quickly send another Patronus message, this one to Amelia to bring in Aurors and mediwitches and –wizards. All we have to do is keep Albus away. Poppy throws a questioning glance at us and I whisper in her ears that I would like to meet her in the evening at my parents' cottage, which she knows very well and if possible, to bring Minerva along.
We watch as Lily and James gobble up the potion Poppy has brought. She's crying happily, looking around and wondering what could have happened. As we look over the others, who are still spread over several paths Amelia comes in with a few Aurors and tells us immediately that the medical people will follow soonest.
"What is going on here? Merlin, Mr. and Mrs Potter! You are alive! What a miracle happened here?"
"We believe it is in connection with the Priori Incantatem, Amelia, but Harry didn't know about the phenomenon either. – Harry?"
"I have no idea. When I encountered it against Voldemort, I had to stop after mum and dad came out, but if they ever came out of their graves, I wouldn't know anything about it because I never saw them! I can't believe it! It's just a miracle! Wouldn't put it past the old man if he put them out again immediately."
James and Lily look consternated, so we inform them immediately that we would tell them everything as soon as we were able to leave the place.
"Okay," James accepts.
Amelia has Poppy check the two up quickly, give them a bit of potion and telling them:
"There's not much more than to tell you to take it easy and start up slowly. You have not used your muscles for many years so you'll have to build them up slowly. I'll see to it that you get the potions you need."
"We'll get brewing, Poppy, thanks. But you're welcome to come and see us, of course."
"I'll see you tonight in any case. The meds are turning up now they don't need me."
"In that case, come with us directly. We need to take them home!"
I'm creating a Portkey for us all and moments later, we say goodbye to Amelia and vanish to Potter manor. James and Lily stay on the stretchers for the moment, and when the house-elves get wind of more people arriving at the manor they all get excited beyond anything!
"Master James! Mistress Lily!"
Sally jumps Lily's stretcher to hug the beloved mistress and Lily just laughs, obviously giddy to be back in her place. The house-elves bring something a bit more comfortable so that James and Lily can half sit, half lie in the great hall, while we all take a seat around them.
Sirius sits next to me and when I put my arm around him, he immediately snuggles closer. He doesn't know about Harry's future life yet, he's only seen him with me at his trial. My head turns as I ask everyone to quiet down for a moment.
"I think a lengthy explanation is called for, but that will be Harry's show. If possible don't interrupt, please, I suppose it will be hard enough for him to tell it yet another time."
James and Lily look even more consternated, if that's at all possible, so Harry doesn't beat around the bush and jumps into his explanation. I hear it for the umpteenth time in the meantime, but I can feel how Sirius next to me tenses up every time Harry mentions something else that worked against him. His parents are speechless, even Lily. Lily usually has a comment on everything and sometimes it's a very sharp comment! If need be she's a tough cookie.
Once Harry reaches the end talking about his future life James, Sirius and Lily need a moment to stomach it all.
"Love potion? She caught you with a love potion?" Lily asked, hardly believing what she hears.
"She did. You can be assured she won't even get close to me once I go to Hogwarts. What's worse is that they also dosed Hermione with the love potion and that Hermione, insecure as she was in these things already, never knew what to do about Ron, she didn't love him, of that much, I'm sure. How would a brilliant woman like her see herself bound to a lazy bum with – as she once called it – the emotional range of a teaspoon?"
"Hm. If I hear you right then you would have naturally rather chosen Hermione?" Lily says, grinning.
"She sounds brilliant, Harry," says James.
Poppy is floored, too. She has come along and only now remembers that she should mother over James and Lily. The house-elves have prepared their bedroom in the meantime and neither of them minds to go back to sleep. They are certainly tired, but will probably wake up in a while to get something to eat.
It's been a massive shock for all of us. Even a massive positive surprise is taking a toll and once James and Lily are off to sleep, we're left almost as exhausted. Sirius looks up at me and asks:
"What was that?"
"I don't know any more than you do, Siri."
"Not that I complain, but – it is just incredible."
"It is. I'm still floored."
Poppy comes back from giving them a more thorough examination. She beams.
"Nothing wrong with them, just the muscle disuse. Now let me look at you, Sirius!"
She gives him a thorough examination as well and declares him basically healthy, but repairs his teeth, which are in an ugly old state and then recommends a couple of nutritious potions that would be good for all three of them.
"Good. We'll brew those as well. Now, Poppy, there is something very serious we have to talk about. How do you feel about Albus Dumbledore?"
"Why do you ask such a question? You were always good friends with him, weren't you? He's just about the greatest wizard alive on this planet…"
I grin. Then I hand Harry my wand and say:
"Here, cub, would you do the honours?"
"Yep. Please, Madam Pomfrey, I'll cast some spells on you, and none of them is aggressive. I only have to lift some of the headmaster's administrations on you…"
And he weaves the wand in fancy patterns, murmurs and casts several spells, which all serve for only one thing – ridding Poppy of her false memories, obliviations and compulsion spells. When he's done, she shakes her head and looks at us, horrified.
"Albus?" she asks, tentatively.
"Albus," I confirm.
"I would never have noticed! I feel so abused! How could he do this to me? And he did it to Minerva, too? Is that why you asked me to bring her?"
"Yes, Poppy, that is why. Could you bring her here later on? She should know how she's been misused."
"Of course! I will contact her, she's at her place in Norfolk at the moment, but I can pass at her place, out of Albus' reach. By golly, I'm so angry! I hope I can hide my anger!"
"I suggest you get your rusty Occlumency up to speed, Poppy!"
"My Occlumency is perfectly up to speed when needed, thank you very much, Sirius! I trusted the old man! He'd never have caught me if I had even had an inkling of his deception. But I trusted him!"
"A feeling that's very familiar to me, Poppy, believe me," I say.
With that, Poppy leaves us temporarily only to come back half an hour later with Minerva McGonagall in tow. I get up to greet the Professor, Sirius straight in tow.
"Hello, Minerva!"
"Hello, everyone. What's this I'm hearing about a trial for Sirius Black?"
I smile as I pull her close for a hug. She's not the most affectionate of persons, but Minerva has a great heart, so sometimes you have to force that out a bit.
"Yes, Minerva, he's been acquitted today. He's never had a trial in the first place, and I'm sorry to say it was because of Albus' testimony. And, I have to add, he actually committed a perjury with giving that testimony. We know that he knew that Sirius wasn't the Potters' Secret Keeper."
"Merlin, I had my doubts about the whole thing, but there's always been a bit of a hazy memory in my head about it."
"And that's why you are here. He's interfered a lot with your head, Minerva. Let us introduce – or rather re-introduce you with Harry."
"Hello, Harry! It's nice to meet you again."
"Hello, Professor! It's nice to meet you again, too," he says with a cheeky grin.
Minerva is taken aback.
"You remember me?" she asks.
"Harry, stop being cheeky! Minerva, you have to know something about Harry first, he isn't just little Harry, he also has his 35 years old self inside of him. We can show you the Pensieve memory of Harry, telling us his story – did Poppy tell you the other good news, Minerva?"
"About James and Lily? Is it really true? I can hardly imagine. It's a miracle!"
"Yes, it's true. They're currently upstairs in their bed, resting. Obviously, we'll have to do some research about this and see if we can find something about this phenomenon. Maybe we'll never understand," I tell her. "Will you stay for dinner?"
"I'd be happy to! I'm on holiday after all."
Harry takes my wand and places his memory in the Pensieve. We take Minerva along and when she sees James and Lily there, looking quite well already she breaks in a brilliant smile, not something to see often in Minerva.
She is reasonably impressed with Harry's tale of course and watches him clear Poppy's memory and Poppy's face after being cleared. When we return to the living room, she drops on one of the armchairs with a sigh.
"If he did that to Poppy I stand no chance that he hasn't done it to me. I'm known as a tough woman, but I think I'll have a good long cry over this."
"I think we should free you from those spells as quick as we can, Professor, you have the right to your own mind!" Harry says, grabs my wand again and starts checking her over.
She tenses, I'm not sure if she's scared to be at the wandpoint of an untrained nine-year-old or because she fears how much she has been forced to forget. Harry sighs as he finds ever more spells layered over spells.
"Professor, I could probably get these down, but I think it would be better if it would be possible to call in Professor Flitwick. We can also free him then. It would leave us with Professor Sprout, but I suppose we can send her an owl."
"Stay here, Minerva, I will go to Filius. I'm sure he'll come immediately," Poppy says.
I call over James, the house-elf, and ask him to bring us some tea. He comes back only minutes later with a rich tea. He wants to serve Harry first, but Harry simply points over to Minerva. The little elf turns around quickly and serves Minerva. She picks up the cup he offers and nibbles on a muffin. We talk about what she's seen in the Pensieve.
"I don't know where to start with my indignation. I know the Weasleys, I have known the parents at school, both have been in Gryffindor, I know the oldest three and expect the next two to start in fall, and all three of the boys are extremely nice or good workers, I can't for the life of me imagine how any one of them could be this cruel, Harry! And that you had to go through all of this – Dumbledore?" she whispers.
"Most of it is Dumbledore's doing, but I suspect the love potion idea was Molly Weasley's. She mostly intended to give her daughter the Potter fortune. I certainly fell for it. I have to say that she, Ron and Ginny are the ones I despise; I got along perfectly with Arthur, Bill, Charlie, Percy and the twins. Even Percy, who was a real prick for a time."
She shakes her head and looks at Harry sadly.
"Well, I suppose we have to see the good side of it. You don't have to go through all of it again; you know what to watch out for."
"That's exactly how I feel, Professor."
Poppy comes back and brings not only Flitwick, but also Professor Sprout along. We grin and she apologises:
"I'm sorry, I thought I might as well bring Pomona over as well. I have given them a rough idea of what the story is."
"Hello, Professors, welcome to Potter manor," I say.
"Hello, Remus, Sirius, and you must be little Harry Potter then," Filius greets us and then also greets Minerva.
"Yes, Professor Flitwick, though for the moment it is not about me, it's about what Albus Dumbledore did to you all. I have been able to clear up the spells placed on Remus and Madam Pomfrey, but the many spells placed on Professor McGonagall are slightly above my abilities. I thought you might be able to help, better than I can," Harry says.
"Please tell me what you have found – it speeds up my own assessment."
Harry gives him a quick tour of the spells he's found and even little Filius' usually cheerful face blanches.
"Dear me! That's awful! Let me get to work then."
Filius works hard for the next half hour and he slowly seems to take down those many spells. Pearly drops of sweat start to show on his forehead, which Poppy gently removes with a towel. As Filius gets down deeper into the layers of obliviations, Minerva slumps in her chair and starts to cry for good.
I get up, sit on the lean of her armchair and pull her into my arms. She actually returns the hug. I feel her tears starting to flow.
"Let it out, Minerva! Even tough women have the right to let their feelings flow sometimes," I whisper.
Sirius gets up, too, and goes on his knees in front of Minerva.
"You have certainly not deserved any of this treatment, Minerva. We're with you all the way, hang in there," he whispers and takes her hands.
Filius quietly continues until he finally drops his wand arm and takes a deep breath.
"I think I have them now… Mr. Potter, if you would kindly check me up, I'd be most obliged."
"Dear Professor, I think it is time for dinner, I suggest we do it right afterwards, would that be all right?"
"Yes, certainly."
"Then I would like to just inform the house-elves that we would be ready to have dinner in a moment. Madam Pomfrey, would you kindly have a look how my parents are doing?"
"Gladly, Harry."
Harry hurries out and we stick to Minerva for another moment. Finally, I help her up and show her to the nearest bathroom to give her the opportunity to freshen up. She hasn't been able to say even one word yet. When she returns she says:
"Thank you very much, Remus. I can't tell you how much it means to me that I have my own memories back! I feel so used, so violated!"
"You have been violated, Minerva. It will take time to get over it, and there's no use to confront Dumbledore with it – he'd just attack you again as soon as you turn your back. We probably have to get down and speed up our actions against Dumbledore."
Her eyes grow wide.
"You had plans to work against him? Are you crazy, Remus?"
"No, I'm not, but we talk about it at a later date, right now, may I accompany you to dinner?"
"Thank you, Remus!"
I lead her to the dining room where the others already start to assemble. Poppy actually brings James and Lily down, who are already responding to the first dose of their restorative potion. They look astonished to see three Hogwarts heads of house among the diners. As we take a place in a casual manner, I place myself next to Sirius and stand up for a moment.
"I feel like I have to say a few words. Less than three weeks ago, I sat in my parents' cottage, and an owl came with a message from Harry. When I read it, I was quite surprised to find out that I had practically forgotten about a boy named Harry Potter. He asked me to write to him and give him my address. When I replied with my address he apparated in front of my house. He then told me this incredible story about having lived already for 35 years and finding that his life had led him into a complete horror. He decided to end it all and just leave it all behind as he saw nothing left to live for. He chose to pass through the Veil of Death at the Department of Mysteries. Imagine his surprise when he couldn't actually pass on to the beyond because he wasn't already dead when he went into the Veil. He was given the choice to return to any point in his life already lived, to change what he thought necessary to change. He went back to being nearly nine years old.
"That's the short story. What happened in his former life is worth to be written down in a book of horrors. He has seen things that certainly make us cringe at best. I have decided to help him to achieve his goals for a better future – not only for himself, but for all of us. The first thing he did was freeing me from a few only too well placed memory charms and compulsion spells and he showed me who had placed them there. I was appalled! I wouldn't have thought it possible, but he proved to me that the man we all thought was one of the greatest wizards to ever grace this earth, a beacon of an upstanding, good wizard – Albus Dumbledore, had abused me this way. This man has lied to us all. He has used us, abused us and, as Minerva just called it, violated us all in some way or another. We have him to thank for Voldemort, and if it were for him we'd have him to thank for Voldemort's repeated nibble at the power.
"Harry already made some significant changes to his original timeline, simply by writing to me. He's helped free Sirius by giving us hints about Peter Pettigrew's involvement. Together he and I have planned our next steps. They will sound horribly harsh to you, but I have seen the reason why they must be. We have decided to undermine the Ministry's authority in an area where it has completely lost the plot after the fall of Voldemort: catching, trying and actually sentencing Death Eaters. We plan to capture and despatch of all the Death Eaters that have been acquitted and we will also capture and despatch some that were never tried. These Death Eaters will vanish in the next months, quietly and without any traces. We plan to actually eliminate them one by one and before they really realise what has happened they'll be gone.
"We have designs on several members of the Wizengamot in the same ruthless way. And we have decided to bring down Dumbledore. We'll not follow the Gryffindor path for this but rather take him on like some really cunning Slytherins. And it will actually happen before the new term starts.
"When we have achieved all of this we will be ready to bring back and eliminate forever the plague of our youthful years, Tom Marvolo Riddle, the self-proclaimed Lord Voldemort.
"These, in short, are our plans. We do this to have a reason to go on. To find that even in this horribly twisted magical world there will be changes that will accommodate more than just purebloods and their agenda, to finally integrate everyone with magic in some way or another, according to their specific needs, be they witches and wizards, house-elves, werewolves or whatever.
"Three weeks ago my only problem was to have enough to eat the next day. I hardly knew who I was, where I was, what I did. I certainly wouldn't have dreamed to sit in a circle of wonderful people here at Potter manor as I do tonight. It's a blessing to see you all."
I have talked myself into a bit of a frenzy, but when I finish they actually all applaud me! They seem to understand what Harry and I have drawn up to do. While we eat, we discuss more details. James and Lily want to know why the teachers are here and when they hear the reason for their presence, they seethe along with us about Dumbledore's presumption.
Filius and Pomona promptly follow Minerva and Poppy in their own indignation, and when James and Lily add their bit about how Dumbledore knew, who their Secret Keeper was, our shared indignation reaches boiling point.
"I'm now convinced that he has an agenda. He practically seized my child before it was even born!" Lily cries.
"Have you also heard his reasoning about the 'Greater Good' ad nauseum?" Harry asks.
"You bet!" about five of us reply.
"Well, we're now doing the same, but we'll pull out once we've reached the important things and only help the magical community to heal from then on," I suggest.
"Exactly the right thing. I was going to ask you if you would help me to contact Hermione even before we go to Hogwarts, Professor McGonagall, but of course now that we have my brilliant mum, we can wait… though I do miss my best friend."
"Remember that you will have to earn her friendship first, Harry," Minerva cautions him.
A brilliant smile shows on his face.
"And it will be great to do that! Just like me, she's never had friends before and this time she'll hopefully sit with me on the Hogwarts Express. We'll have so much to talk about! Because there's lots we have in common, you know, and I'll make sure to have read Hogwarts, A History this time. I'm sure it's still going to be her bible when she learns about going to Hogwarts."
"She has no friends?"
"None. Though the reason why she hasn't any friends is different from mine. She's simply too brilliant. She's way ahead of everyone and all of her schoolmates either used her for her notes or homework or ridiculed her for her study habits. Hermione hides behind books. She finds peace in them and escapes from the cruelty of the other children. And then she came to Hogwarts only to find the same kind of prejudice, plus another one added to the mix for her origins in a Muggle family. Not many people understand her. Girls don't like her because she has no interest in girly things and boys don't like her because she keeps telling them off for not doing enough homework. But when she's coming out of herself, she's the best at scheming and planning. She's a great organiser! And she can be great fun, too."
"Does that sound like Moony to you, Padfoot?" James asks with a grin.
"Entirely. We also had to pull him out from behind his books at first," Sirius confirms.
"Methinks I'd like to meet the girl that seems to have ensnared my son so profoundly," Lily throws in, but she seems quite amused as well.
Harry blushes. He starts to stutter for a bit and then just shuts up. And blushes even more. All the adults around start to laugh, but I remind him:
"Harry, we're not laughing at you! It's just very funny to see you now. I know you're horribly embarrassed, but don't worry about it. Things will fall into place!"
It is a long evening still. James and Lily have to take their potions and go to bed. Sirius is quite exhausted, too. He follows them. I have taken the room we used to share when he was still living with the Potters. I send him up there and tell him to help himself to any of my nightclothes.
"I suppose you'll have to pass at the Ministry with James and Lily, to have them reinstated as living people. For Harry there's nothing that changes, he hasn't been in possession of his family vault yet after all, has he?" Minerva says.
"Not really. We did take out some money for his new wardrobe, but that's about it. More clothes shopping will have to be done tomorrow for James and Lily. They can't go without clothes any longer."
"As long as you take it easy. They should sit as often as possible during your shopping trip," Poppy reminds me.
"I'll see to it, Poppy."
The next few days are really exhausting. As there have been some 200 and something people who have been resurrected all over the country, the Ministry has a sensation to contend with, media going crazy and St. Mungo's is quite full of short-term patients who all need to be checked over.