Title: Rules for the Next Great Adventure
Ship: H/Hr – Harmony Bond, Others to be determined during progress
Rating: M – Mature
Synopsis: With Voldemort gone, Harry tries to look to the future, but the shadows of the past continue to hold him back. Making one final choice, he decides he's ready for the next great adventure, but there are some rules involved no one mentioned before.
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Disclaimer: Not mine. Props given to all who need it in Chapter One. Warnings are posted there as well.
AN: Thank you to all reviewers. If you chose to review as a guest please consider joining so I can respond directly to any questions and concerns. To all worried about this becoming a harem fic, thank you for the vote of confidence in my abilities to handle something of that magnitude. As Harry stated in the last chapter, Hermione is IT, but he understands the flustercluck his life can be at times. As of right now I have no plans to make it any form of multi fic, but I will say never say never because it's entirely possible it could happen later IF it fits the flow of the story. As always follow, favorite and review, love and constructive criticism lights the fire under me, flames do not. Enjoy.
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Key:
"Hi, I'm Harry." – Speech
'Oh my, it's the Boy Who Lived!' - Thoughts
"Avada Kedvara " – Spells/Magic laden speech
"§Speak to me oh Slytherin, greatest of the Hogwarts Four§" - Parseltongue
Chapter Seven: Home, Home on the Grange(er)
Driving to Surrey, Dan was conflicted. His restored memories of Harry and his parents were warring with the girlfriend's protective dad routine every father works on subconsciously from the instant they find out they've fathered a girl. He understood why, but there was his little princess wrapped around a boy they logically just met, and he was holding her back. Glancing at Emma, who was holding back giggles toward him, he decided to let it go as a bad job.
Emma turned to the kids and looked to Harry in concern. "Harry, is there anything we should know about dealing with your relatives?"
Harry sighed, giving Hermione's shoulders a squeeze. "Well Emma, they're not exactly bigoted… I guess you could call them intolerant. If something doesn't fit into their definition of 'normal' then theyre dead set against it. My aunt is an absolute gossip, watching and judging everyone around her for any reason to feel superior. My uncle has cemented friendships over the years with people that have risen to important positions and uses those contacts religiously. My cousin is destined to be my uncle, the cycle repeating. He is already creating his own group running things. Those connections have been an issue for me ever since I started school."
"How so Harry?"
Harry closed his eyes, taking comfort in the squeeze Hermione gave him as she whispered softly. "It's ok Harry, you're safe now."
Kissing her head he decided to come completely clean with the Grangers, let them decide what to do with him before they got the papers signed and were stuck with him.
"Well, to begin with, I was not abused, at least not physically. I was told that I had been left on the doorstep of the house on November 1, 1981 with nothing more than a letter pinned to my blanket stating that my parents were dead and my relatives were to take care of me. Growing up I thought my name was 'Boy' or 'Freak' because I was never called on by name. I learned my name was Harry on my first day of primary when the teacher called roll"
"I was given any chore possible from the instant they believed me capable and chose punishments for my failures while learning. I was not beaten often, usually only when the mistake I made caused waste, like burning the bacon beyond use or dropping a bottle of something too heavy or big for me and having it shatter across the kitchen floor."
Emma looked at him with both pain and sorrow, she looked ready to climb into the back seat and hug him as hard as Hermione was. It changed to a grin when she saw Harry's face turning red from lack of breath thanks to Hermione's hug getting tighter and tighter
"Ack, Hermione, need…air." She giggled and relaxed some.
Taking a deep breath he started the story again. "Dudley and his gang have been the reason I have no friends. Between him and my uncle I have been labeled a deviant and trouble maker. The world as a whole doesn't trust me because of their actions. I had talked to adults about the issues and any that tried to help me got in trouble. One teacher was fired for trying to help me, other people suddenly ignored the issues."
"My grades are the worst, on paper anyway. I wasn't allowed to get better grades than Dudley. The first test I did in primary, Dudley got a D and they were praising the heck out of him. I brought them the A I got hoping for the same praise and was yelled at and spanked for 'stealing' Dudley's grade. After that I hid what I knew, purposely answering questions wrong to lower my scores, the teachers knew I was smarter but lumped it in with the rest of the 'troublemaker' label I had been stuck with and began to ignore me as well. The only thing they could score me on was what I handed in."
Hermione grabbed the front of his shirt and glared straight through him. "Harry James Potter, I don't care what you had to do before but you have a new life now and you WILL do your absolute best! Understood?"
Dan saw his worries fade away with Harry's answer, which set the entire car laughing. Swallowing Harry nodded with a contrite "Yes dear" which got him a firm nod, the grin that used to make his heart stop, and a kiss on the nose that saw both kids blushing furiously.
-¥-NGA-¥-
The arrival at Privet Drive was a little bittersweet for Harry. He knew Petunia would likely hear him out but Vernon was nearly guaranteed to be a crashing boar the instant he saw him. Dan and Emma watched as Harry gathered himself and got a glimpse of the man he'll grow into as his posture straightened and his eyes grew hard. They realised that Harry had been through hell here, and would need the closure doing this would bring. They also understood he would need both of them and especially Hermione behind him while he did it.
With a final squeeze and kiss on the cheek Hermione let him go and the four of them got out of the car, heading to the door with Harry in the lead. Knocking confidently Harry waited for someone to answer. He didn't have long to wait before he was face to face with Vernon, who was quickly changing color into a building rage just on the sight of Harry, as of yet showing no sign of even seeing the Grangers behind him or Hermione beside him.
"What are you doing back here Freak. Petunia told you to never come back." Vernon tried to slam the door in their face but it was stuck, Harry having let out a trickle of his magic to hold it. Walking through the door past Vernon, once everyone was in he let the door close. Vernon was standing there, face quickly going purple, trying to decide whether or not to attack the 4 of them and throw them back out, Petunia watched from the kitchen door, just as unsure as him, but looking more worried for Harry than Vernon.
Stepping forward Harry snapped his wand into his hand, Hermione idly noticing it's not the holly wand she saw him get in Olivander's a week ago.
'Now is not the time, I can ask when we get home and this is over' Hermione thought to herself.
Harry took a deep breath and looked Vernon in the eye. "Uncle Vernon. Ten years ago I was placed here against both our wills, though I was in no bloody place to object. Aunt Petunia, I am sorry to say that Mom and Dad's will was read today, and the only mention either of you were given was a statement that I was not to be anywhere near this home or you, I was to be raised by my godparents. I know that you wanted nothing to do with me and the reason I came back today is to make sure that you finally get your wish. Mister and Missus Granger are old family friends that are willing to become my guardians. Unlike you, they are non-magical willing to embrace the difference by remembering we're still people. All I need from the both of you are a couple signatures on a muggle and magical form, they disappear to be filed with who they need to be and it becomes your choice if you ever see me again."
Vernon was conflicted. On the one hand all his Christmases had come early, he'd finally be rid of the freak, but on the other hand he knew there had to be a catch in there somewhere.
"What's the catch boy, you can't be that giving without damn well wanting something in return."
Harry sighed, relaxing but still had his odd wand in his hand. "When I was dropped off here a wizard put up protections to keep magicals that would seek to kill me away. These people see muggles like you as bugs, they'd more than likely seal the house and burn it to the ground rather than 'sully' themselves by dealing with you to get me. Once these papers are signed this will officially no longer be my home and the protections will fall. Of course, this doesn't negate the fact we're related and if any of these bastards come looking for me after finding out we're related they'll come here and I'm quite certain will kill you all without a second thought whether I'm here or not. I've gained knowledge that will let me replace the protections with my own that will block ALL magicals except those I deem safe, and at the moment there's only one I know the location of and she's standing here beside me."
Petunia chose this moment to step forward. "After all that has happened you are still willing to help us?"
Harry nodded. "Unlike some I realize the fact that regardless of how we came together the three of you are all the blood family I have left and that alone deserves to be protected."
"Please do it Harry, and thank you." She turned to Vernon with a glare that reminded Harry of the glare Lilly gave James when he overstepped his joking. "And you Vernon Dursley will keep your mouth shut. Seeing how this young man is carrying himself in the face of how we've so loosely 'raised' him, he has every right to be one of those wizards willing to swat us like bugs without a care in the world and he's willing to protect us. As we're his last blood, or at least I am, he's the last I have and I'm not about to lose that because you want to feel powerful."
Vernon paled and nodded toward her, Harry nearly chuckling at finally seeing him taken down a peg or three. Dudley was simply rooted to the spot, completely lost as to what was going on. "Umm, Mom?"
"Yes Dudleykins?"
"Does this mean we don't hate the fre…Harry anymore?"
"Yes dear, we should have considered him family from day one and we failed him, and your aunt, my sister."
Dudley frowned, thinking this statement through and Harry could almost see the smoke billowing out his ears from his overworked brain. With a final nod Dudley stepped forward and faced Harry.
"Umm, Harry? I'm really sorry about how I treated you. I know it's not really an excuse, but I was just doing like Dad said to. I don't know how much I can change about Piers and my gang, but since you won't be here anymore it shouldn't be an issue for you." Petunia had moist eyes when she saw Dudley holding out his hand to Harry, now she could see what her hatred cost her, and cost her son.
Harry nodded, taking the offered hand and pulled Dudley into a hug. "You're forgiven Dudley, we've all been played for the last ten years and now it's our turn to play." Hedwig winged through an open window and landed on Hermione's shoulder with a bark, nipping her ear in greeting.
"This is Hedwig, my owl, or in her mind I'm her human." She barked again and nodded, making Hermione giggle and the Grangers laugh. "Magicals use them for post. I'll be adding her to the protections I'm placing as well, that way if needed we can stay in contact. Aunt Petunia, had you ever gone to Diagon Alley with Mom and your parents when she had to buy her school supplies?"
She nodded sadly. "Once, before my jealousy became too much and I considered my sister lost to me. The professor with us was surprised I was able to see that dingy bar that fronted it."
Harry looked at her thoughtfully. 'Interesting, she might be a squib.' Harry thought then nodded. "Aunt Petunia, it's possible you are a squib. Normally they're non magical children born to magical families, but you are likely a partially magical child born to non-magicals. You can't cast spells, but you can access the magical world, it's possible Dudley might be able to as well." He shook his head to clear it. "Either way, at least you know where the alley is. You can post things to me from there or respond when I send something to you with Hedwig."
Petunia nodded and smiled lightly. "Thank you Harry. Did you want to put up your shield before we sign the papers or after?"
"Before would be best, that way mine will be there when or if the others fail." Harry reached into his bag and took out a small box. "These are the stones that will anchor the wards, there's six. Four create the boundary; one is the center anchor I'll bury in the basement. The last is the power stone, I'll have that on me so that I can link to the buried anchor and recharge it by coming here around once a year. It'll also warn me if you are attacked, once I have a secure place, I'll get you items that will bring you all there in an emergency"
Petunia gave him a hug and kissed his forehead. Smiling Harry took Hermione and Dudley out with him and they finished setting up the ward stones, activating them then headed inside to get the adults to finish the paperwork. With a final shimmer of magical light, Harry was now a ward of the Grangers. With a sigh all he could think was he had to leave for them to finally accept him.
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The drive from Surrey to Crawley was the most relaxing time Harry had ever spent in a car. Of course the witch cuddling him helped a lot.
Emma called back from the front, "Well, since it's still the birthday boy's day, what would you like for dinner Harry? There's several take-aways available."
"Whichever is Mione's favorite aunt Em. The Dursleys weren't all that outgoing on spending money on me when eating out. If it was take-away I cleaned up the empty containers; if they went out I was left with Mrs. Figg or the few times I was out with them I was left in the car."
Hermione's growl from where she buried her face in his chest caused his head to snap down toward her. "NEVER again my Harry."
It was a good thing Dan had at just that moment pulled into their driveway because the instant Hermione's lips touched Harry's in a chaste but loving kiss the car was filled with a golden light like the sparks from their wands a week ago at Olivander's.
Spluttering, all Dan could get out was a strangled "What the hell?!" as Emma watched on in shock, old memories coming back of a time when a weaker golden glow surrounded toddler Harry and Hermione one day she was babysitting and dismissed it as her eyes playing tricks on her.
Harry blinked when the glow faded. "Well, didn't expect to have to deal with that for a few more years."
Hermione looked up from where she collapsed against his chest, blinking in confusion with a slight frown.
"Harry? What in Merlin's name is going on? You look like you're 11 again. Why do I sound so..." The questions ended with an ear splitting scream as she saw her reflection in the glass. Scrambling back Hermione curled up, hugging her knees, eyes wild as she processed everything and slowly relaxed.
"Bloody hell Mione, you haven't screamed that loud since we met Fluffy" His jaw snapped shut after that little blunder but was rewarded with a swat to the arm.
"Language Harry. What happened to you Harry? For some reason I found I was the secret keeper for..." The sheepish look on his face was all Hermione needed for her to tackle him, sobbing as she hammered away on him. "HARRY JAMES POTTER! How dare you even think committing suicide was the answer! You bloody selfish git. You're lucky Sera told me what's going on or I'd be libel to muck it up by beating you to death myself for being so stupid." As suddenly as the half hearted beating started it stopped and he was subjected to another sobbing bone crushing hug while Dan and Emma watched on in both fear and confusion.
"Dan, Emma, why don't we take this inside and I'll explain what I can. I will freely admit this wasn't mentioned anywhere in the information I was given. Given Mione's condition I suggest Chapati Junxion, we'll take a set 2, with an extra order of cheese naan and mint sauce."
Without a further word Harry opened the car door, scooting out with Hermione still on his lap. Dan and Emma watching in amazement as this boy...no, young man, carried their daughter into the house bridal style as she snuggled up to him grasping like she was trying to hold to the side of a cliff. Sadly Harry could understand this reaction because the only things keeping him from doing the same were his mission and the fact he had no one to hold onto...until now.
Once everyone was in the house, a tapping could be heard at the window. Hedwig and four other owls flew in, Harry quickly conjuring a perch for the lot. Once Hermione was settled on the couch Harry removed the letters from everyone and offered owl treats, setting the four envelopes on the coffee table. Hedwig seeing the distress Hermione was in floated over to her and landed in her lap, nuzzling her cheek.
Dan and Emma came in just as the four owls left. Emma frowned at the open window. "Dare I ask?"
Harry sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "This will be a lot to take in, it'll be somewhat easier on Hermione now that she's joined me here. Please sit down, I'll explain what I can and please hold any questions till I'm done." With their nods, sitting on either side of Hermione, Harry began to pace, marshalling his thoughts into something semi coherent for them.
"Ok, the start of my story actually happens before I was even born. The wizarding world has seers, and it's exactly what it sounds like. Prophesy and fortune telling, the skill is called Divination and it's taught at Hogwarts. It's a joke unless you actually have the ability yet it's an open elective." Harry shakes his head, "Okay, getting off topic. Sometime in 1979 or early 1980 a prophesy was recorded that stated the one that would defeat the dark lord was coming, would be marked by him and the only way things had a chance at ending were if one killed the other." Taking a deep breath he brought the damnable words back to his mind, trying to avoid feeling the rage he did when Dumbledore finally told him after Sirius's death.
"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..."
Hermione sobbed softly at this point, cuddling into a just as tearful Emma who could only look in shock at how calm Harry appeared.
"An agent of the Dark Lord heard the first half of it and was routed, taking what he knew to his lord. When the time it mentioned came around, it was found to apply to two children, Neville Longbottom...and me. The agent was a former friend of my mother and schoolyard enemy of my father that couldn't let go of a grudge. He pointed the Dark Lord at my family, only begging my mother be spared, his enemy and their son meaningless. Halloween 1981 the prophesy became self fulfilling when another agent of his, a friend of my family and unknown spy in the group against the Dark Lord, led him straight to my family."
Harry leaned on the chair across from them and Hedwig moved to his shoulder, nipping his ear lovingly and nuzzling his cheek. Harry relaxed some and gave her a scratch under the beak, getting a soft pleased prek out of her. "The wizarding world, for some reason I only have theories of, has named me the-Boy-Who-Lived, the story classified as truth nothing more than a pile of hippogriff shite. They believe a 15 month old boy somehow had the power to shrug off a killing curse from the worst dark lord in centuries. It makes way more sense that it was something either or both my parents did to protect me, but common sense is severely lacking in magicals."
Dan couldn't help but speak up. "I'm sorry Harry, but 'killing curse'?"
Harry nodded, "It's ok Dan, when I first heard it I didn't like the sound of it either. It's incantation is Avada Kedavra, likely where the literary 'abra cadabra' came from. It is a curse that appears as a light colored green very close to my eyes, it kills instantly without leaving a mark, which is another point against my surviving it." He moved his hair and showed the lightning bolt scar, which Hermione noted was nearly completely faded away. Sitting up with a gasp she let out the first smile since arriving in her younger body.
"Harry! It's nearly gone. Does that mean...?"
"Ya Mione, apparently Death was a little too happy to finally have all of him so he wasn't willing to give me that piece back. Sera says I can still sense him and the anchors but he won't have a highway into my mind again."
This statement only confused Dan and Emma more and Harry realized he'd have to speed this up a little. With another sigh, Harry ploughed on.
"Okay, where was I? Oh yeah. Parent's dead, Dark Lord apparently dead because the story going around is I made the spell rebound on him and it did something else it wasn't supposed to, it vaporized him. I got dumped on my aunt's doorstep the very next night by Albus Dumbledore because I apparently still needed the love of family to protect me. Even more bull since I've spent the last decade clueless about my heritage because the lot of them hate anything they can't understand and I was treated poorly for their ignorance. Things have happened in this timeline that are vastly different, my aunt being one of them. Before she simply treated me with contempt while Vernon and Dudley were the more...physical."
"Anyway, my Hogwarts years, I met a family by the name of Weasley outside the portal of Platform 9 3/4, I know now a plant by Dumbledore to give me a wizarding family I could grow to trust. They and Dumbledore are truly only after the power and money of House Potter. In the other timeline Mrs. Molly Weasley and her two youngest, Ronald and Ginerva, are the only ones I am completely sure were working with Dumbledore. Until I find otherwise I refuse to blame any of the others for the failings of those three. Ron found his way to my compartment on the train and ingratiated himself into becoming my first friend. Biggest mistake I ever made because his lazy ass approach dragged me down because I was following his lead to keep him as a friend. I can't say with a certainty that I blame the two younger Weasleys. Ginerva was most likely brainwashed on BWL stories, Ron suffers from incredible jealousy and a bit of an inferiority complex for having five brothers that have either excelled or show promise."
"Then I met Hermione, she was helping another firstie, Neville Longbottom, find his lost toad. Speaking of that Mione, one of us should conjure a lockable cage for Trevor once we find him, or convince Nev to rename him Houdini." Hermione couldn't help but giggle at the grin Harry flashed her.
"Then began what had to be tests for me, all centered on Halloween every year. First year Ron was an ass and hurt Hermione, she ended up crying in a girls loo most of the day after the insult and during the Halloween feast a troll was let into the school by a different agent of the dark lord. I had to all but drag Ron with me to find Mione but the troll found her first. By some miracle we knocked it out. Looking back now it's kinda fishy that Ron pulled off the spell he was totally pants at earlier in the day just when we needed it. End of the year we had been following the clues of something odd going on in the school and the three of us went through a set of trials that were supposed to be safeguards against the dark lord getting an item that could restore him to a body. I ended up killing the agent he was possessing."
"Second to fifth year, there was always something for us to do. Second year, one of the dark lord's anchors tried to leach the life out of Ginerva to regain a body. There was a baslisk snake involved in this as well, a snake that can kill by sight and petrify by reflection. By sheer luck every affected student was petrified, including Hermione. I ended up killing this 60 foot long tall as a lorry snake with a bloody sword and took out the anchor too, saving Ginerva at the last second. Ron had been with me but the stupidity of a useless teacher got us separated and I went on alone."
"Third year my innocent godfather broke out of prison to protect me from the traitor that got my parents killed. Soul sucking dementors, the guards of the prison, were stationed around the school to catch him. Adventure number three which led to Hermione and I using a short range time travel device saved my godfather and we had eyewitness proof that he wasn't the traitor but we weren't believed, my godfather was still on the hook for the crime and they were going to let the dementors have him. Mione and I saved him while using the time device and set him free."
"Fourth year the Ministry and Dumbledore brought back an ancient tournament called the Tri-Wizard Tournament. It hadn't been run in centuries because the last time all 3 contestants were killed in one of the tasks." He kissed Hermione on the nose. " I know that because my little bookworm looked it up within a day of it's announcement." She was still smiling, but blushing at the same time which had Emma chuckling.
"It was to be for only of age students to try and negate some of the risk, meaning some sixth and mostly seventh year students. My name was entered into the magically binding contract by another agent of Voldemort, on Halloween of course. While I made it through the tournament, the true Hogwarts competitor died when he and I agreed to take the win together. That was the year Voldemort regained a physical body by use of a ritual that included my blood."
"Fifth year saw the Ministry afraid of myself and Dumbledore because we announced Voldy's return, the minister refused to believe it and denied it at every turn trying to discredit us. For our troubles we got a ministry lackey as one of our primary class teachers who was completely useless and was only there to continue working against us." Harry's shoulders slumped and Hermione got up to hug him. "At the end of that year I was tricked into going to the Ministry to recover the prophesy for Voldy. My godfather died in the battle still considered an escaped felon.
"Sixth year everything went to hell. Voldy's minions, called death eaters, gained access to the school. Dumbledore was killed after already being weakened by two of Voldy's anchors, one of which we had just returned from collecting. Fat lot of good it did since it was a fake. Hermione Ron and I didn't complete seventh year. We continued the hunt for the remaining anchors in secret while the wizarding world went to hell. The ministry fell to Voldemort, muggleborn like Hermione were rounded up like Jews in WW2 and charged with 'stealing' their magic from purebloods."
"The final battle happened at Hogwarts, May 2, 1998. The day I lost everything. We were down to the last anchor, Voldemort's snake familiar, or so we thought." He gasped as Hermione squeezed him tighter. "Need air to tell the story love. I was actually the final anchor, when he tried to kill me in '81, his soul was in tatters. A piece broke off and merged with my scar. I had to let him kill me to kill the piece of him in me. I was allowed to come back because I hadn't truly been killed by his AK this time either. I finally beat him, it was finally over, but it cost us way too much, and I blamed myself for not saving everyone. I felt as though had I simply gave myself up he could have been made mortal and anyone could have killed him."
Harry sat in the chair, rocking Hermione in his lap. "I lost the last link to my parents that day, Remus Lupin, the last living member of my father's school time group of prankster friends along with Sirius, my godfather, and the traitor. Remus's wife, Dora Tonks, who was only a month past childbirth of my godson, came out of hiding to join the fight with her husband. She died too. In the end it was all over, but the media circus calling us heroes refused to let us mourn, we had 2 stand strong to let others have their grief."
"For months after it was over, I suffered from countless nightmares, flipping through my personal book of the dead and counting each name as a failure. As soon as I could I pulled away from the public eye, then I began pulling away from my friends in some twisted survivor's guilt that only let me see them blaming me for who we lost. Eventually it got bad enough mentally I took my own life to try and end the pain."
"That brings us to now. Fate and Death were pissed off at me that everything planned went to hell...again. As a final try I've been allowed to keep the memories of my last attempt so that I can make what they planned out happen. Fate originally gifted me a soul mate, but the actions of Molly and the younger Weasleys as well as Dumbledore denied us that bond. With the kiss Hermione got me with in the car, she's activated the bond. These letters are from the Ministry and Gringotts congratulating Mr. and Mrs. Potter on their marriage."
Dan shot to his feet. "WHAT?! There is no way in hell my daughter is married at 11!"
Harry's magic began to swirl, eyes glowing AK green as he stared Dan down, his voice hard as stone. "Daniel Allen Granger, sit the hell down. I know this is a shock but I respect you enough to think that you'll think your next words carefully. This is a blessing of not only Fate, but magic itself. Hermione is literally the other half of my soul and neither of us will be complete without the other. Just because our minds are in our 20s, our bodies are still 11. Every last thing you're worried about will not happen for at minimum four more years and I have every intention of marrying Hermione in a muggle ceremony on her 17th birthday." Anything else he planned on saying was cut off by Hermione's excited squeal and a kiss no 11 year old should even know is possible.
Dan slumped back beside Emma, defeated, until Hermione ended the kiss and saw her father. Launching herself from Harry's lap to Dan's she took her father's face in her hands and turned it up to face her. "Daddy, no matter what, 11, 22, or 220, I'll always be your little girl and need my daddy. You and Mommy agreed to take in Harry because of the sweet boy in need he was, offering to be his guardians and honestly surrogate parents. This bond only means it's no longer surrogate, he truly is your son. What we're doing is important and we'll need all the love you two can give us. Can we count on you Daddy?"
Dan was completely gobsmacked at his daughters heartfelt speech, but it was the need and ghost of past pain that did him in. Hugging his daughter tight he cried for the knowledge that his little girl was forced to go through hell and he wasn't there to protect her. Harry watched this scene with a lump in his throat on the edge himself until he glanced at Emma, tears shining in her eyes and she opened her arms to him. With his own strangled sob he launched himself at Emma, the four of them bound by shared grief and fear for both a past that hasn't happened, and an uncertain future.
On another plane, three people watching this scene were in no better condition. James was left cuddling a sobbing witch and a just as heartbroken reaper. Seraphim couldn't understand why she was feeling like this after so many millennia dealing with souls, but after how many times she'd seen Harry in her office because of stupid reasons generally beyond his control, just this once it felt alright to care.
AN 2: Holy crap! 5,641 words, my longest chapter yet. Sorry for the delay on getting this out, I knew what I wanted to accomplish this chapter and it just kept growing. Next chapter will be Cliff Notes of the last month of vacation as well as finally getting to Hogwarts. Like most backstep fics there will be scenes and dialogue pulled right from the books. I plan on keeping it to a minimum but PLEASE don't bother flaming me because you think I'm using too much. If I wasn't I'd bloody well change the names, go my own way with the past plot enough to get out of JK's sandbox and sell the damn thing myself.
