Guardianship

Chapter 02:

Not Yet Seventeen

"Harry…" Evert whispered. "He was it, right? The man who killed your parents?"

"Yes…" Harry whispered, feeling to exhausted to hide anything anymore.

"He's tried to kill you before, hasn't he? This is not your first meeting, was it?" Now Harry shook his head.

"And he had powers… so would you then…"

"Evert, I'm a wizard. A lot of people are, you just don't notice."

"A wizard?"

"Yes."

"Were yer relatives—"

"No, they were just as normal as you are."

"But who was he, Harry? The murderer?"

"Voldemort. Everyone in the whole Wizarding World fears him. He kills, tortures, kidnaps… He would be able to take over the world right now if he wanted to…"

"What about that… prophecy?"

Harry sighed and told Evert the whole story. About Hogwarts, Death Eaters, about Ron and Hermione… Evert was being very understanding, which Harry thought was highly uncommon.

"I always knew there was something further than we can see…" Evert said after Harry had finished. "Wizards… wow…"

"Evert, don't you need to get home?" Harry asked, seeing that it was 3 A.M in the morning.

"First I think you need to call the police."

"The police? And tell them what? That some wizard came in and murdered them all? No, I'm going to owl the Ministry."

"Owl?"

Harry grabbed Hedwig from out of the car and wrote a quick letter. Evert was very surprised that they still wrote with a feather and ink and said that owling is just like sending a letter with a pigeon, what they did half a century ago.

Hedwig was only away for five minutes and five Auror's already appeared in Privet Drive, plus three Medi-Wizards. The bodies of Petunia and Vernon were taking to St Mungo's, just like Dudley except for the fact that he was still alive. He looked bad though…

Two Auror's questioned Harry and after they were finished, they told him that he needed to come to the Ministry.

"Why?" Harry asked.

"Mister Potter," one practically young wizard said, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Your relatives have passed away and you're not yet seventeen.

"And what does that means?"

"That means that someone needs to have a guardianship over you. Tomorrow will be decided who."

"But I'll be seventeen in a month!"

"Yes, but you're still underage. As I said, tomorrow will be decided whom. I'm sure that there will be lots of people who would be delighted to raise you as their son. You can be there when the judge decides, but you aren't allowed to speak."

"I can't decide who!?"

"No, Harry, you can not."

"But—"

"Please, those people will only be there to help you and even if you don't like them, you can leave after a month, but until then… it's best to keep you safe. Do you understand?"

Harry sighed and nodded.

"Are you coming than? There has been a room arranged for you at the Leaky Cauldron. Tomorrow, at 7:00 am it begins. If you want to be there, come in time."

Harry said goodbye and thank you to his new friend Evert and left with the Auror's.

-

He had received a card from the Weasley's. They heard about what happened and they will try to claim guardianship. Harry smiled at that, knowing that he might not go to some unknown family.

He was changing his clothes right now. It was 6.30 and he wanted to be there when they say who his new 'family' would be.

Fifteen minutes later, he left with two Auror's who had insisted on taking him. Not long after they were standing in the room where everything will change. (A/N: Yes, I know, I know! Way to fast, but telling everything would be so boring! Not only for me to write but also for you to read.)

"Harry!"

Harry looked and saw Molly Weasley waving to him. With her were Ron, Ginny and the now famous twins. They walked to him.

"Where's Mr. Weasley?" Harry asked when they were close enough.

"Talking to his lawyer. Harry, we'll try the best we can do to get your guardianship but…"

"But what?" he asked.

"I just looked and… we're not the only one."

"Who else is there?"

"I don't know. I didn't recognize him. But I'm going to search for Arthur. I need to sit in front with him. Will you all wait here?"

They agreed and suddenly Harry was surrounded with questions.

"What happened?"

"Heard it from dad this morning."

"Did you kill them, Harry?"

"Fred!"

"Only a joke, Gin-Gin."

"Well, it's not funny! We were all so worried."

"And dad didn't want to say us more than that your house was attacked."

"And that you're parentless."

"So then we suggested—"

"—why ickle Harrikins couldn't be our… hundred's brother!"

"And since Percy is still being the prat who he is—"

"—you can take his place."

"If we win, of course."

"If we win."

Harry laughed. "Sure, I would love to be your brother. Have you seen the other person who asked for my guardianship?"

"Nope. Only mum did. We came in five minutes later by the Floo," Ron said.

"Well, anyway, I hope you win."

Then someone asked for silence. It was exactly seven o'clock. It has begun.

Some wizard Harry did not recognize spoke.

"Case 0076757, Subject: Guardianship of Harry James Potter. Bring in the qualifies."

Arthur and Molly Weasley came in, together with their lawyer. Behind them, there was walking a man looking around 20 years old with black hair and cold blue eyes. He was walking with his lawyer, a stern-looking woman.

Something about this man was oddly familiar. At the same time, Ginny squeezed all the blood out of his arm.

"What is it?" he hissed.

"H-H-Harry…"

"Yes?"

"H-H-Harry…"

"What is it already!"

"Harry, it's Tom," she whispered.