AN: I think that since we are three chapters in I get to ramble a bit.
First of all: I do not own Harry Potter.
Also thanks to all of you who followed, put this story in your favourite list and reviewed. One reader mentioned that the first chapter was too short. The length will be more or less around 2000 words/chapter, since I want this to be a thriller. Review and tell me what do you think of the stile and story so far.
Soldiers Carry Out Orders Not Question Them
"That letter was the first...so he doesn't know if we are his parents or not? Poor boy," Lily said.
"It's how this works ok, you tell some poor newlywed girl she just became a widow. You tell a boyfriend the love of his life died, some poor mother her child won't return home. All so they can protect the country and keep us all and themselves safe," Sirius said.
"So it was ok? Is that what you are saying?!" James said.
"No! Of course not Prongs! Adults have a choice they know and understand the consequences of what they do! These children didn't have that. All that Harry knows is what's written on that letter and whatever they taught him in training and that won't help him in a normal life."
"The letter...the letter also said that...that boy had to attend psychological counselling," Lily said.
"Yes I remember passing that law, I just didn't know..." James said.
"The Ministry wants to make sure they are fit to rejoin society without being a danger to others of themselves," Dumbledore said.
"A danger how? They are children," James said.
"Highly trained children that had seen and done things no child should Prongs. Those things leave a mark in your mind."
"So he might need treatment?" Lily said.
"Those sessions are just to make sure they adjust, but if the psychologist finds anything wrong with them they'll get the treatment they need, the Ministry will pay for it."
"Will he be prosecuted for his actions?" Lily said.
"Prosecuted? Why?" James said.
"James...black ops are...secret for a reason..."Lily said.
"Oh, Oh, oh God, then Harry..."
Sirius nodded. "The Wizengamot asked my division to look into it, so far we have not been able to link that group to any crime."
"There are those within the Ministry that want to prosecute them," Dumbledore paused. They all shared a look. They knew who this people were. " But even if Sirius did find something, the Wizengamot is of the opinion that they should get a full pardon since they were manipulated."
"Why should we do next?" said Lily.
"I want a paternity potion to confirm it," James said. Silence met him. "Look we owe it to him. If we are not his parents...we can't let the boy believe that...they fooled him once."
"Very well then I'll go ahead and make sure Saint Mungo's has the potion," Dumbledore said.
"What now?"
"Why wait Lily? The sooner the better."
Alexandra eyed the boy in front of her. Was he really her brother? They had not said anything about her dad only about her mom. Did that mean she had had a kid before meeting her father? No, if he was Harry then he was her older brother and they shared both parents.
Her gaze tore him apart like a puzzle. There was a bit of her dad on his face although his cheeks were more like her mothers, his nose too. The little hair that had started growing on his head after an aggressive haircut was similar to her father's, darker but there was no denying it.
He had her mom's eyes it was evident, yet her mother's were like the flames beneath a shimmering potion, and his were...cold...and hard, like emerald stones before polishing. Could it be then that he was her brother? Maybe it was just a coincidence.
She eyed the letter her parents had left forgotten in the floor by the door. She had to know.
She looked at Harry from the corner of her eye. He seemed more interested in the apple pie than her but she had to be careful he had flipped in a second before. She hurried and got hold of the letter. Her heart pounded on her chest, adrenaline invaded her blood. She spun around expecting Harry to grab the letter. She jumped back but no one was there. Harry was still enjoying his piece of pie.
A note slipped from her grip but she recovered it midflight to the floor.
You are expected to empty your bunk and allotted closet space before 1100. It said. Her mom had taught how to read time the way Aurors wrote so she knew it meant 11:00, she had no idea if it meant AM or PM though.
"Charming," Alexandra said and let the note fall on the table. Harry didn't even notice it.
The second page had much more text and was signed at the end by the Minister of Magic, Amelia Bones. Alex read it.
Mr. Potter,
It is with my personal deepest regret that I have to inform you that you have been a victim of the vilest of scandals the Wizengamot and the Ministry of Magic has known. Although everything is not clear at the moment rest assured my administration will stop at nothing to get those responsible to justice.
It is, unfortunately, my duty to inform you that you were kidnapped and declared dead when you were but mere hours old. You were afterwards put in a black program; neither the Wizengamot nor other relevant ministry structure controlled or had knowledge of.
As a result you were deceived and made to see and do thing no child should.
Although the Ministry of Magic, the Wizengamot and Magical Britain appreciate and thank you for the service you did to your country at such tender age. This administration cannot, in good conscience, continue to support such program.
I hereby revoke all your privileges and duties as a member of the armed forces.
You will, henceforth, no longer be considered a member of Magical Britain's Armed Forces, and will, in the eyes of the law, be a minor until the time you turn seventeen. Once you reach the age of majority, you may freely chose to join any national armed forces if you so desire.
For this reason your operational vaults numbers 050, 312, 812, 1111 and 3214 and its contents have been seized by the government. In fair compensation of your service you will receive 1000G for each service year, counting from the day of your kidnapping. The funds will be transferred to vault 2201, however since you are still a minor you won't be able to access your vault until you turn 17. You may, at you own discretion, appoint an account manager.
To ensure your adequate integration in our society you are required to attend psychology counselling until such time as the assigned psychologist considers necessary. Failure to comply with the sessions will result in a sentence of no less than a year in Azkaban. You will receive more information in due time.
Finally, hoping to give you a proper future in our society the ministry has, on your behalf, appointed an entry exam at Hogwarts. It will take place the 20th of August at 09:00 at Hogwarts castle. You will be given more details on site.
Of course you are free to pursue you magical education somewhere else but the Ministry of Magic hopes you chose to continue your magical instruction in Britain's finest magical institution.
We expect your reply no later than the 15th of August.
The Ministry of Magic and I wish you the best of luck in life Mr. Potter.
Here the first page of the letter ended. The second page didn't seem to belong to the same document although it was also signed by Amelia Bones.
Dear Mr. Potter;
It is with great pleasure that I write to you to let you know we have been able to track your family through your birth certificate and that they are alive. As of this moment your closest relatives are:
Mother: Lily Potter (nee Evans) (photo enclosed).
Father: James Potter (photo enclosed).
Sister: Alexandra Potter (photo enclosed)
They currently reside at number 9, Godric's Hollow. England
They will be notified and we highly advice you to contact them since they will be your tutors for another year.
With my best wishes for you and your family.
The Minister of Magic.
Alex threw the pages on the kitchen table. "I don't buy it," she said.
"Neither do I," said Harry.
"Then why are you here?"
"My orders were to contact the people on this address, soldiers carry out orders not question them."
"Soldiers can question and disobey orders, the international laws passed by the ICW after the war against Grindelwald and subsequent trials says so." Alexandra blushed under his stare "What! It's my father's fault, ok!
"I was not aware of that."
"But the letter said you are no longer a soldier, why did you come here? you don't even know for sure if they are your parents."
"They gave me the order while I was still a soldier. Besides...the ministry now considers me a minor so I didn't have any other option."
Except sell myself as a gun for hire in Knockturn alley and I don't fancy working for my enemies.
"Sorry if that bothers you."
Alex stepped back startled. "No, it's not that... They never recovered you know. They had me and love me very much, but, when it's yo- Harry's birthday I can still see their pained looks.
"There are no pictures of him...I suppose they didn't have time to make one. They never talk about him, they wouldn't have much to say, you know, but I know they go to visit him at the graveyard every week. They take turns so I don't notice but I'm not stupid."
Harry remained silent. He didn't know if he should say anything.
"What...what would you do if it turns out that they are not your parents?"
"Well, the letter said they were my legal guardians, we'll have to look into that and then I'll leave."
"Search for your parents?"
"No."
"Aren't you curious? I mean, I would be curious; if my parents aren't yours then who are your parents."
"I never knew them, and if I think about it I don't have much of an interest in knowing them now, whether they are those people in the other room or some strangers."
"Then why did you come? Never mind, you came because of the letter right?"
Harry nodded. "That and I need the whole mess with my vaults fixed If I want to start over."
"But doesn't it bother you? Being all alone?"
"During missions there is only you and the target, so it doesn't worry me that much."
"Did you like it? Being a soldier?"
"I l-" Sirius, James and Lily exited the room talking among themselves.
"Alex honey we need to go to St. Mungo's with Harry, but don't worry I already called Alice and she'll be here any minute."
"Why? did something happen? Did someone get hurt? And where's Dumbledore?"
"Nothing happened but we want to give this boy a paternity potion so we can get this cleared up."
"I want to go," she said.
"I'm sorry honey but you can't it will be too crowded and it has not been planned."
"I want to go!"
Alex...!" James said.
"If it's positive and he's Harry then he's also my brother. Don't I have the right to be there and know?"
"Oh, honey. We have been talking with Sirius and Dumbledore and... Please don't get your hopes up," Lily said. Saying it out loud hurt. it reminded her that she couldn't get her hopes up either.
"But, mom!"
"Don't worry we'll be back in no time," James said.
"But...don't you think it will be too...intimidating? The only kid, surrounded by so many adults."
Lily doubted Harry was the least intimidated by them, but, this could also be a good time for them to know each other if he was their son. and if he wasn't she supposed the kid could use some normal company after...whatever he had been though.
"Fine. I'll let Alice know. Go grab your coat."
"Yes!" said Alex.
She sprinted away silence fell "Um, James I'll go first and make sure the room is safe. Harry goes next, then Sirius, then Alex and then you," Lily said.
"Are you sure that's a good idea? He hit you not an hour ago!"
"Yeah, Lils you sure you could handle another blow to your ego?"
"Shut up Sirius. It'll be alright James it will only be a few seconds and I'm sure I'll be ok as long as I don't try to stun him." Saying it out loud stung, she the best recruit in her promotion had to restrain from trying to stun a tied sixteen year-old.
Alex returned cloak on her arm.
"Ok, remember I'll go first, then Harry, Sirius, Alex and James," Lily said. They lined up in front of the fire place. Lily pointed her wand at the logs on the fire places, red flames jumped from her wand and started licking the wood. The logs crackled under the fire's assault.
"I love to watch mum cast silently, dad can't do it," she said in Harry's ear. It seemed their little talk meant they were friends now. That or the fact that he might be her older brother. Lily threw a pinch of floo powder and the fire turned green not unlike his eyes.
"St. Mungo's," Lily called. The flames consumed her and she was gone. Harry stepped towards the fireplace. Alex grabbed his arm and pulled so his ear was levelled with her mouth.
"If it turns out we are family do me a favour and give mum and dad a fair chance, they are great." Alex let go of him. Harry stepped in and after calling his destination was gone too.