Missing Son

Chapter 7

Lost Potter Speaks

By Rita Skeeter

Ladies and GentleWizards, I proudly present to you the first and, so far, interview with the Lost Potter Scion, Harrison James Phoenix-Potter, the pages of notes taken during our Exclusive interview, printed below, reveal a tale of woe, pain and astonishing recovery, although honestly dear readers, what else should we expect from the Eldest of Four Phoenix Animagi and the First Magical Animagus in 800 years.

Our discussion begins in a quiet corner of the Three Broomsticks

RS: Mr Phoenix, may I say it is a pleasure to speak to you today.

HPP: I would honestly like to say the same, but we both know that I'm here to set the facts straight rather than let the Infamous Hogwarts Gossip Mill mangle my past with wild lies and myths. I truthfully and heartfeltly believe that my life is my business and no one else's, but sadly there are those in both worlds who think nothing of inventing fiction about 'so called' celebrities and members of old families, therefore I decided to perform a bit of pre-emptive damage control.

RS: Quite. Now, the story of your siblings defeat of You-Kn…

HPP: For God's sake, say his name, no point in being afraid, the Taboo doesn't work with the name of a corpse!

RS: Very well, [You-Know-Who's name is redacted for the sake of our more delicate readers – DP Editor] defeat, yet you fell not only from prominence, but apparently out of your families lives altogether?

HPP: I was Disinherited, pain doesn't begin describe what I went through, for those terrible seconds it felt like my very soul was being torn into many pieces, bathed in Hellfire, Frozen by the depths of the void…

Were I not an Animagus… I would not be sitting here today.

As it was, my magic was irreparably damaged, not so much I am unable to cast spells, I proved that during the selection, but yes… the damage is great.

RS: If I may, how did you feel about your families actions?

HPP: Betrayed… I did not have the best childhood,your fellows and the wizarding public put so much pressure on my parents they barely had time to care for two children let alone three, but I was happy.

For nearly three years I cried myself to sleep at night not knowing what I'd done… why my parents no longer wanted me…

But as the third anniversary came, so did the anger…

By that point I was old enough to think rationally about it, I could not think of anything I had done to warrant being cast aside like an old glove…

How Dare They!

So I became angry, and the anger festered… for three years I threw myself into my new life, learning Potions, Ancient Runes, Arithmancy, basic Care of Magical Creatures, Herbology, Astronomy… everything I didn't need a wand for, I studied religiously, and after that I studied the theory behind the wanded subjects until I knew it like the back of my and…

I was determined to be the best, my underdeveloped, immature little mind could only conclude that I was thrown away because I wasn't 'good enough' for them, that I didn't meet their standards…

I was determined to prove their doubts unfounded.

It took Val Royeaux slapping me so hard I saw double for six hours, while we were getting supplies for First Year, before I saw sense…

I was such an idiot back then.

True, I could probably have taken every exam up 'til the end of third year and passed, but in my determination I'd forgotten that I had a lifetime to beat the ghosts of my past, I'd forgotten how to be a kid and that I WAS a kid!

Thank God for concerned Best Friends.

As I waited to start my First Year, I realised that being angry was pointless, especially as I was on a different continent a quarter of the world away…

So I just stopped caring, I didn't give a damn if we ever met again… no, that's a lie… there was ONE person from my old family I cared about, one person I could never think badly of, even at my worst.

That was Isabella.

The rest could stay away or hang for all I cared, but Isabella held a special place in my heart…

Still don't know why, she's like that adorably cute little kitten that claws the curtain, [redacted] in the laundry and uses your leg as a scratching post but she looks up to you with those big innocent eyes and you feel like a true villain for wanting to tell her off.

Despite that, I still missed her.

When the Exchange Program restarted, I wanted to be just a face in the crowd, to not be noticed, I wanted the same during the Tournament, to keep away from my 'old' family but still enjoy the Tournament…

Then the Goblet of Fire was tampered with…

I was afraid of them confronting me, afraid of them trying to take me back, away from the family who took me in, afraid of having what was taken from me shoved in my face…

But they kept away, that threw me… why would they avoid me, true, I was avoiding and ignoring them, but still, why?

I won't deny the old longing came back in force, I'd decided during First Year I'd ask my family why if I had the chance, and depending on their answer I might try to reconnect…

Nevertheless, I refuse to just abandon Alexander and Marie, I Won't abandon them, for a long time they and their brother, sister-in-law and nieces were the only reason I would get up in the morning, they gave me hope… a reason to keep going.

Yes, I mean Fleur Delacour and her little sister Gabrielle, make no mistake, if Fleur wants to win, She'll need to earn it.

I never imagined I'd get my chance during the Fallout after the Wand Weighing.

RS: My Goodness. Now, as you mentioned, After the Wand Weighing Ceremony there was an incident involving yourself, your sister and one Ronald Weasley, the details are not for print by order of the DMLE, but could you describe broadly what happened? And the Initial 'Fallout' as you, so eloquently put it?

HPP: I was wandering the Third Floor of the Castle after the Ceremony, I was a little wound up as my second wand is custom made and fitted, unusual and frowned upon in Britain, Karakaroff had given me some flak during the inspection and though Crouch shut him down Crouch was also disapproving. Anyway, I was just walking around when I heard a commotion in a side corridor and caught a flash from a misfired stunner as I looked, by the time I entered the corridor there was no one there.

I walked down slowly, wand drawn, then I heard things, voices… I listened for a moment, then acted, blasting a sizeable hole in the wall and sending Weasel… sorry, Weasley flying… truthfully, I don't remember between firing at the wall and standing Victorious over a broken rodent, but my sister filled that gap in for the DMLE.

I immediately comforted my sister, after cutting her free, and after she was calm I took her to Madame Pomfrey, who after hearing what happened, immediately insisted on a full examination. Isabelle asked me not to leave her, so I stayed in the Hospital Wing.

I stayed with her after the exam was finished until the Aurors came, I left to lead Sergeant Yorke to where I left the rodent, who promptly cuffed him and took him to the Ministry, when I returned my statement was taken.

It was then that Ronald Weasley was Formally Charged with 1 Count of Attempted Rape.

RS: Merlin!

HPP: Oh That wasn't the best part, Dumbledore showed up the next morning to inquire about Isabella – and inform me that he was filing a 'Formal Complaint' about me using excessive, in 'Dumblespeak – Lethal, force and that I must apologise to the earlier mentioned rodent when he returned to the school.

RS: WHAT? WHAT WAS THAT SENILE GOAT *& £%^ THINKING?

HPP: Considering your previous description and his past record do we really want to know how his mind works?

RS: When you put it that way…

HPP: My reaction and that of everyone else in the room was the same, despite credible threats from both my family and the Aurors, Dumbledore is still trying to get Weasely off… er, off from the charges, I mean.

RS: The Senile, wrinkly old… Hmm, Hmm. Now, as a Vancouver student, how are you finding Hogwarts.

HPP: Contrary to popular belief, I HAVE been to Hogwarts before, during my second year I entertained the idea of transferring, despite my indifference I still wanted some connection to my birth parents.

Snivellous Snape killed That idea stone dead.

RS: [redacted, not legal to print]

HPP: I did miss Professor Flitwick's lessons though, somehow they were never boring.

The Heads of Houses, bar Snape, were excellent Teachers but it was Flitwick who stood out.

Overall, Hogwarts is a grand school, but I'll always be biased to Vancouver.

RS: Finally, how do you expect the Tournament to play out?

HPP: I honestly haven't a clue, but I don't expect to win, due to my magic being damaged the others have a clear advantage, however I plan to make them work for it, every curse breaker and aspiring curse breaker maintains a small arsenal for when he needs it. That said, I'd like to say Godd Luck, and may the better Champion win.

And there our interview concludes, Remember to keep up with the Daily Prophet Special Features for all your Tournament and Celebrity News.