A/n hey everyone here is the next chapter! hope you all like it!
"Wow" the three students gaped at seeing their new place of residence.
"Yes the Lord's quarters are rather impressive it has been quite some time since they have been opened." Minerva said as the young ones gazed around the common room. It was fairly large with several couches and chairs gathered round a large fireplace. On the other side of the room sat a large table with a alcove covered in bookshelves and on the far wall from entrance was a spiral staircase leading up to the second floor which overlooked the first. "Up the stairs on the far right will be Mr Potter's room, Misses Patil you two will be sharing the room on the far left. Please note that the bathroom is shared between the two room and do use the appropriate locking charms to prevent any... incidents." Wll three blushed at the implication. "Well I will leave you to settle in. If you need anything please call for Dobby, he volunteered to be the house elf for this suite, quite enthusiastically I might add. I will be returning latter in the evening for a lesson with you Mr. Potter with a special gift I think you will like. Good day to you." she finished before turning to leave the young companions to explore the room.
"Wonder what she meant by that?" Padma said as her sister inspected the couches.
"I don't know but from the look in her eye it was something important." Harry replied
"Well I think we should spend some time together before Harry has to have his lessons with the Professor. Why don't you continue telling us your adventures Harry? I remember you telling us about Dobby and what happened during our second year but what about third?" Parvati interjected. these storytelling times were one of the ways they got Harry to open up. they never asked questions until the end and always waited for him to go at his own pace. So far they had covered first and second year and a little bit of the summers between. The Dursleys was a subject that was usually avoiding and neither sister pushed knowing that it would be better to let him open up on his own.
And so Harry began telling them of his third year. Of blowing up his uncle's sister, his first encounter with the monster book of monsters, both of which the girls found entertaining. The girls were fascinated by his patronus training and what it spoke of his power. According to old Indian teachings the patronus is one of the ultimate forms of soul based magic, the purest representation of positive emotions such as love and happiness. But Harry's seemed to draw more from sorrow than love, when asked what memory he used he said it was his mother's voice.
As the hours wore on the three ended up on the couch together, Harry between to two girls as they embraced him. He started to break down when telling him how close he was to losing Sirius, to losing his only family. their response besides hugging him was to tell him. "You do have a family, we are your family." and he believed them.
"Speaking of family, Mr. Potter I believe it is time for you to learn more about yours." Professor McGonagall said from the entryway of the room. The occupants had not heard her caused the girls to jump and Harry start sputtering embarrassed as he stammered to the professor who seemed to be holding something.
on one of the walls by the study corner of the room Minerva hung what seemed to be a painting but the painting itself was all black. "This is the present I had for you Mr. Potter, something that was entrusted to me by your grandmother I had honestly forgot it existed until this holiday and it will be very helpful in teaching you about the Potter family." she tapped the frame with her wand. "Mr. Potter, Harry, may I introduce to you Dorea Potter. your grandmother and at one time my best friend."
the portrait lit up with a castle background, the castle seemed to be almost embedded into the mountainside it was on. the surrounding rocks a rich and deep red but that was not the focus of the painting. In the foreground was a woman who appeared to be in her mid forties with angular aristocratic features and wavy black hair contrasting to alabaster skin. her eyes opened to show a mix steely blue and violet as she scanned the room.
"Minnie! to be honest I am surprised it took you this long to remember I gave you my alternate frame."
Parvati giggles slightly. "Minnie?" she whispered to her sister.
"Now Minnie Charles and myself have been locked up in Redcliff for nearly two decades with the guardians telling us that James and Lily were dead and Sirius was in prison." her gaze hardened "Now you are going to tell me what happened and where my grandson in. So I will ask you this one last time. Where is my grandson?"
"He is right here Dorea," Minnierva said as she motioned to Harry gobsmacked at the living portrait. "And he is the very reason I remembered your frame. I have been tasked with teaching him about the Potter family and his status in our world."
Dorea tilted her head slightly at this. "Tasked? It is not that I do not approve Minnie but I think there are some things you must explain to me first. What happened to Sirius? and the Longbottoms? or my niece Andromeda? Who has been looking after my grandson?" she paused noticing the two other witches in the room sitting next to Harry. "And who might you two be?"
"I am Padma."
"And I am Parvati."
"Ah Samesh's daughters. I was aware that my son was in talks with your parents. Lily was hesitant about it before she was assured that it wouldn't be as binding as some other contracts like what happened to her friends my other two nieces." Dorea smiled before it faded thinking of the fates of her family. "This brings me back to my question however as to who was looking after my grandson."
"Dursleys." Harry mumbled "I grew up with my aunt and her family."
"Dursleys." Dorea spat. "I only met them once at your parent's wedding and I can honestly say they are some of the most vile people I have ever met, who in their right mind would send you there is beyond me."
"Dumbledore said that the blood wards there would protect me, but they never helped against them." Harry said looking to the floor.
Dorea's features softened "we will speak of this another time Harry. When you are ready to. For now why don't you tell me more about yourself. If my memory serves you would be in your fourth year now?"
And so the two spent time talking Harry learned much about his family and his grandmother. Padma went to do some reading while Parvati went to gossip with Lavender. Minerva left the two alone to talk. it was a long afternoon and Dorea was very very upset over many of the things that Harry had endured and also very proud of how he handled himself and the man he was becoming. she had the same thoughts about the tournament that he did, that it was a deathtrap, but she vowed to help him as much as she could.
"You spoke about your nieces before? who are they? do I have more family?" Harry asked. for a boy who grew up alone and wanting to be accepted the thought of having an actual family was so enticing,
"Yes, yes I did. I was born Dorea Black before I married Charles Potter. Though I married a pureblood lord, A duke no less, I never bought into the blood purity teachings that they fell into. of all of them Regulus, Sirius's younger brother was the only one who did. He died however shortly before I did. My nieces however looked up to me alot, the oldest Andromeda ran away with some muggle born wizard names Ted Tonks. They had been sweethearts for a long time but her parents were going to sell her off with a marriage contract, she escaped that fate but her sisters did not. Bellatrix, or Bella as she liked to be called was the most protective of her sisters. A regular spitfire my husband used to say. She and Sirius were such good friends as well as rivals both trying to become a better duelist then the other. The contract her father forced her in stripped her of her will and turned her into something she was not. And Narcissa the the youngest was best friends with your mother the two of them were always studying together and getting back at the boys when they pulled one of their pranks. But when she was sold off to Malfoy she became so cold. I miss them a great deal." She sighed thinking of what had become of her family.
Harry was once again surprised, not only was he actually related to a witch as infamous as Bellatrix Lestrange but he was also related to Malfoy his school rival. "Wait what do you mean a duke? We are nobility?"
"Why yes Harry" Dorea smiled at her grandson. "The Potter lord is known as the Duke of Redcliff, the very castle that sits behind me in this painting is the Castle Redcliff. I guess this is as good a place as any to start telling you about your heritage." she then began to teach her grandson all she knew of the Potter line as well as a few stories from his parent's childhood to raise his spirits. Occasionally Minerva would chime in or take over the lesson but the rest of the afternoon blurred together as they talked and by dinner time Harry knew much more about his family then he ever did before.
Harry walked down to the great hall his mind still sifting through all that he had learned. he was the Duke of Redcliff, actually had his own castle, that was guarded by dragons no less.
"Harry!" he heard someone call his name turning he noticed Cedric walking up towards him. "Hey Harry I just wanted to thank you for the heads up you gave me about the dragons for the first task. If you hadn't have told me well I don't know what I would have done."
"It's no problem Cedric." Harry replied
"Have you figured out your egg yet?" Harry shook his head "Well honestly I think a nice long bath might help you figure it out. Bring the egg with you and maybe your two girlfriends eh? Oh the password is pine fresh by the way." Cedric finished with a smirk and a wink leaving a blushing Harry.
Dinner passed much as it had for the days leading up to the ball with Harry sitting between his two fiance's. though the hall was a little less crowded than usual many of the students took the train home for the remainder of the holiday break earlier in the day. Harry however was focused more on what Cedric had told him. Sure the hint about the egg was great but the intimacy he implied with Harry and the twins is something he himself struggled with. Having never known such intimacy or being loved much at all made him rather nervous and shy but he really wanted to move forward in their relationship. Now he had a goal and his drive would not let him fail.
Now he just had to work up the courage to ask the girls to bathe with him.
