A/N: This chapter has been beta read. Thank you, PhoenixProngs.
Chapter 2 – Discussions, Decisions and Childhoods
On the next day, as well as the following months, the headlines of the most popular wizarding newspaper in United Kingdom, the Daily Prophet, were all about the death of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named by The-Boy-Who-Lived. Wizards and witches were celebrating the end of the war, so excitedly, to the point of Muggles noticing strange happenings: strange clothes, sighting of owls, shooting stars in the different cities of Britain…
In Scotland, there was a couple who wasn't celebrating. They have lost their son and daughter-in-law, leaving their fifteen month grandson an orphan. The baby reminded them very much of the loved ones lost in the previous day. The boy had untidy jet-black hair like his father and bright green almond-shaped eyes like his mother. The baby's name was Harry James Potter and his grandparents were Harold and Juliet Potter.
The couple were in Potter Manor, in the middle of a Scottish forest. The manor was like a castle, really big. It had three floors, a basement, a dungeon, a Quidditch pitch and gardens. The third floor had only bedrooms, each one with a large and soft bed, a bathroom, comfortable sofas, a desk and some Muggle objects. The second floor had a very extensive library with some rare books, a large duel room, a small gym and two bathrooms. The first floor had a room connected to the Floo Network, impossible to trace, and it was the only room where was possible to Apparate and use authorized Portkeys. This floor also had a majestic living room, a fantastic dining room, a kitchen ready with Wizard and Muggle objects and one bathroom. The basement had a potions lab with all the required ingredients. The dungeon was the only part of Potter Manor that was less beautiful and dirtier, because it wasn't used for a long time. The Quidditch pitch was outstanding and it was equipped with the balls for the game and several broomsticks. The gardens were beautiful, with different ornaments and a fountain.
The night after the attack, Harold and Juliet were sitting together in front of the fireplace, in the living room, while Harry slept in the nursery. They were worried about what the future had in store for them.
'I have serious doubts that Voldemort is dead. Juliet, do you remember the prophecy James and Lily told us?'
She sadly nodded, 'Wasn't it something like the one who could defeat Voldemort would be born in the end of July and his parents had faced at least three times… Voldemort would mark him as an equal… The one who can defeat him would also have a power that Voldemort doesn't know and… one of them would die at the other's hands… Was that right?'
'Yes, it was. As you said, Voldemort would mark the only one with the power to destroy him, so I think yesterday he only made that mark.' Harold told to his shaken wife.
'So the war isn't over… This is just a war's break… Honey, how long will it take for Voldemort return?' the red haired witch asked slowly.
'It can take months or even years…' He said sounding older than his sixty-one years old. 'But Harry will be ready when Voldemort comes back. I'm quite sure our grandson will be in the middle of the next war.'
'How can you be sure of that? Longbottoms's boy is The-Boy-Who-Lived, he's the one who can destroy Voldemort.' Juliet said and did not want to believe what she was hearing, because she wanted to protect Harry.
'It was a big confusion… When Voldemort disappeared, we left as quickly as possible. Harry and Longbottom have scars, so the one with the power to defeat Voldemort is one of them! It doesn't matter what the Wizarding World believes…
'I just don't want to believe, Harold... But you're right.' Juliet spoke and started crying for her grandson.
'Darling, I'm scared too, but we need to protect Harry.' The wizard tried to appease his wife. 'He has to start training at a young age. He must learn how to control his magic, how to duel, about potions and also have a good physical condition.'
'Fine, but don't dare to forget Harry is a child. We and his godfather have to tell him stories about Lily and James and he has to play as the child he is. Harry should have a happy childhood, it can't be just training. Are we in agreement, my dear?'
'Yes, we are. We will live here. Potter Manor is unplottable and has the best protections of all Britain. Harry's godfather can live here too and I'm sure Milly and Benny will want to help us.' he finished talking in a playful tone. 'Come on… We need to sleep, we aren't young anymore and it will help you with recovering from that Cruciatus Curse…
Some hours before the Potters went to bed, as did Neville, Alice and Frank were talking to Dumbledore, in Godric's Hollow.
'Frank, I'm glad to know you have already recovered from the Cruciatus Curse.' Albus said with a grandfather's smile on his face.
'Yes, one night in St Mungo's got me recovered.' Frank said quietly, maybe too calm, because then he spoke angrily. 'But how did You-Know-Who find us?'
'Albus, wasn't the Ministry protected?' Alice asked him in the same tone of her husband.
'Alice, Frank… The Ministry was carefully protected, but the party wasn't secret, was it? And you are Aurors, so it was obvious that you would be there.' Albus answered them with his light blue eyes shining.
Suddenly, the sound of a door opening was heard and a confused Sirius Black, short of breath, entered in the living room.
'Hey! P-Peter disappeared! He hit me with a S-Stunner and tied me to a chair. I, I saw the D-Dark Mark in his arm. Peter b-betrayed us.' Sirius growled really fast.
'Mr Black, please, calm down…' the oldest wizard tried to say.
'Sirius, are you sure? Peter can't be a Death Eater, he's a weak man and he is loyal to us… If Peter was a Death Eater, what would Voldemort see in him?' Frank asked disbelieving.
By the end of the day, all Britain, Wizard and Muggle, was searching for Peter Pettigrew, The Traitor.
In the next years, the Wizarding World lived in peace. Though most of the Death Eaters and Dark Arts supporters went to Azkaban, like Bellatrix Lestrange and Peter Pettigrew, others died, like Evan Rosier and Wilkes, and the remaining managed to pretend being innocent, like Lucius Malfoy and Avery.
Every day, the Daily Prophet had articles about The-Boy-Who-Lived and his family. The Longbottoms were more famous than ever. Everyone knew the name of Neville Longbottom. Young wizards dreamed of being friends with him and young witches dreamed about their marriage to The-Boy-Who-Lived.
At that moment, the Longbottoms's popularity was increasing again. After all, The-Boy-Who-Lived would be eleven years old the next month. Everybody was waiting for his grand birthday party and to see him get ready for his first year in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
After the Longbottoms found out about the betrayal of The Traitor, they had moved to Longbottom Manor, on an island in the northern part of Scotland. Longbottom Manor wasn't as big or beautiful as Potter Manor, but it was still enchanting.
'Frankie, did you send the invites?' asked the brunette witch. 'Everything must be perfect for our Nevie's birthday.'
The couple Longbottom was preparing the birthday party for two months now. Alice stopped working after the attack, so she could devote all her time to prepare for the party and fulfill all her sons wishes for his birthday. Neville was a little chubby boy with dark blonde hair and spoiled by everyone. His parents would give him whatever he wanted, and when the Auror Sirius Black visited him, he would bring him presents. Furthermore, owls were always bringing him letters with gifts from grateful wizards. Only Remus didn't bring him anything, because he disappeared while travelling around the world, nd he probably died.
Alice didn't work, but Frank did. He held an important position in the Auror Office. But being famous became more important to him than his job.
In other part of Scotland, Harry Potter was lying in his bed thinking about his life, 'Why? Why are they training me? That's it! On my birthday they will tell me. Yes, they will…'
'Harry, breakfast is ready. Hurry up!' Milly entered in his bedroom and told him.
Milly and her brother Benny were house-elves. But the Potters didn't treat them like dirty slaves, Milly and Benny were part of the family. They wore clean and nice clothes, paid one galleon per week and had one day off weekly, since they wouldn't accept more than that.
Harry was just a child, but looked very attractive. He was tall for his age, had some muscles, wore contact lenses instead of round-rimmed glasses, which allowed people to see him bright green eyes, and his hair was still an untidy jet-black. Harry also was funny, intelligent, brave and stubborn.
The month had passed and Harry was preparing to face his grandparents and godfather. While celebrating his birthday, in the living room, the boy changed the topic of conversation, 'Granny, why are you training me?'
Juliet Potter for a moment was speechless and after looking to her husband she said, 'Harry… do you remember how your parents died?
'Yes. Dark wizards murdered them. Wasn't it?' Harry asked confused.
'No… It was like that, but the dark wizards were the Death Eaters and their master.' Harry's godfather told him.
'I don't understand. Aren't the Death Eaters in Azkaban? And didn't Voldemort die?'
'Harry, not all the Death Eaters are in Azkaban, some of them walk free… And we don't believe Voldemort is dead.' Harold told to his grandson.
'Oh… Then where is Voldemort?'
'Hidden, somewhere in Albania.' Harry's godfather spoke.
'That isn't everything, is it?' Harry questioned, still not realizing where they wanted to go with that.
'You're right, Harry.' Harold praised him and smiled.
'But before we tell you, please, don't be mad with us. We were going tell you sometime this year.' Juliet added.
And that was how Harry learned about the prophecy and became more determined to train. Now, he wanted revenge.
The day before, there was the Neville's birthday party. The Longbottoms invited lots of wizarding families. Neville received more presents and became more arrogant, convinced he was better than anyone, just because he was The-Boy-Who-Lived.
It will definitely be fun to see Neville Longbottom, The-Boy-Who-Lived, during his time in Hogwarts.
A/N: For any doubt here is the prophecy: "The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches… born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies… and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not… and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives… the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies…"
Different manors, different childhoods: Harry trained and Neville spoiled. What does the future awaits them?
Throughout the story we'll learn what exactly Harry's training was.
Does anyone have suspicions about who is Harry's godfather? He is a character from the books…
Thank you, Darkwill0w, for notify me about some mistakes and their corrections.
