III
III
Wreaking Havoc!
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Chapter Seven – July 27
III
III
Tonks Residence, Wooded Circuit
Andromeda Tonks stood in the kitchen sipping her first tea of the morning when someone knocked on the door.
"Got it!" she heard her daughter yell and she quickly tumbled down the stairs.
Andromeda raised an eyebrow to her husband Ted who shrugged to convey his own confusion about their daughter's noticeable mood swings. She heard talking, the door close and two sets of footsteps come down the narrow hall.
"Good morning, Aunty Andy," the unfamiliar looking boy said.
Andromeda, recognising the voice as belonging to Harry Potter frowned. "Name the son of your first meeting of today."
The boy smirked as Nymphadora and Ted watched the by-play between the third member of their family and the new comer.
"You don't have a son, Andy," he replied. "But I think you were referring to Oliver Wood."
"It doesn't count as a meeting if I'm still in my dressing gown," Andromeda said taking two steps over to the boy and handing him her tea cup. "Make me some tea the way you made it the other day while I go and dress."
"Take your time. I decided it wasn't fair to Dudley if I had pancakes for breakfast and he couldn't eat them because of his diet."
Andromeda smiled. "Help yourself to the stove. Just be sure to make enough for the four of us," Andromeda instructed as she left the room.
"I'll go dress also," Ted declared downing the last of his tea.
"I'll sit here and sulk," Nymphadora said her pale pink hair fading to a dirty brown colour.
"You do that," Harry replied as he used his wand to summon ingredients and a pan.
Twenty minutes later, the members of the Tonks family were each digging into a stack of pancakes smothered in maple syrup.
"I don't know who you are but you can make me breakfast every morning," Nymphadora told him, her hair back to its usual bright pink. "I've got to go to work. See you tonight, Mum and Dad."
"Bye sweetheart," Andromeda called as her husband grunted around his mouthful of food. As the pop of apparition came from upstairs Andromeda turned to the extra person who had just taken her daughters place at the table.
"Yes?" Harry asked.
"May I tell Ted who you are? It would make things a lot easier," Andromeda asked.
"All I know is that you are her new high profile client who will be taking up most of her time from now on," Ted said, chuckling.
Harry dropped the illusion so that Ted could see who he really was and watched as the man's jaw dropped in surprise.
"That is pretty high profile," Ted managed.
"Aunty Andy and I have some plans," Harry said as Ted used his wand to do the washing up.
"Is this anything to do with opening up a practice in Lakeside and getting a summer house there?" Ted asked looking between the teen and his wife.
"Most certainly," Harry said sipping his tea and smirking.
"And is it anything to do with Augusta Longbottom calling yesterday afternoon?"
"She's a new client, dear," Andromeda told her husband. "But it is connected in with Harry's plans. Yes."
"Ted," Harry said grabbing the attention of both Tonkses. "Are you busy this morning?"
"Our legal practice can no longer help muggles because of the political climate," Ted said. "I was in charge of those clients. I may as well be unemployed."
"Would you mind if I have you work on some of my other ideas so that your lovely wife can remain focused on her purpose?" Harry asked.
"What did you want me to do?" Ted asked, perking up at the prospect of work.
"I need the names of the top three wizarding business in these three fields that have a muggle connection. I need the names and contact details of the owners also," Harry explained sliding over a list. "Would it be possible for you to do that?"
"What in Merlin's name are you planning, son?" Ted asked looking at the extensive list.
"A takeover," Harry said. "With the ultimate plan being to modernise the wizarding world."
"And florists do that how?" Andromeda asked looking over her husband's shoulder at the list.
"You'll see," Harry said. "Now, don't we have an appointment with Mr Wood in twenty minutes at my house?"
"Yes," Andromeda said checking the clock. "Let's move, Harry."
"Bye Ted," Harry said before vanishing before the man's eyes.
III
Potter House, Titan Place
"Mr Longbottom said you were all interested in purchasing property in Lakeside, Wales," a rusty haired man said pulling files out of his briefcase. "Approximately fifty-five percent of the town is up for sale. Sixty percent of those premises are listed with my company."
"And how long would it take to authorise the sales of these premises, Mr Wood?" Harry asked accepting a bundle of parchments as they were handed out by the real estate agent to each of the six prospective clients seated in the room.
"Everything could be done by the end of the week," Mr Wood replied. "That's if the financial transfer goes through alright."
"Wicked," the twins murmured together.
"May I ask what your small coalition is planning? Lakeside is practically a ghost town," the agent requested.
"We are trying to establish a middle ground between London and Scotland, the two main concentrations of wizards," Andromeda said. "Our group feels that our community needs to be modernised and all the different factions brought closer together - a unification of the wizarding world so to speak."
"A new wizarding area, a new daily paper or radio station will help to spread the message to the wider community," Neville said not looking up from the pages he was looking at.
"What message?" Mr Wood asked.
"Tolerance," the Dowager Lady Longbottom declared. "It is time for tolerance, Xavier."
Xavier Wood looked around and the small group as they intently studied the pages he'd given them.
"On the edge of Lakeside there is an old quidditch stadium and clubhouse. It used to be the home ground of the Lakeside Knights, a team that collapsed over one hundred years ago when the owner was killed in a werewolf attack," Mr Wood said slowly. "Maybe it is time for the quidditch league to have fresh blood? There are also a dozen old greenhouses belonging to a bankrupt herbology company that could be interesting place to visit for young children who've never seen a plant nursery. That's what my daughter says anyway. She finds the town quite charming."
"Oliver has a sister?" Harry asked looking to the twins who both nodded.
"She's four or five years older than Oliver..."
"And just as quidditch obsessed, apparently," the twins explained using their usual twin-speak.
"Very much so," Xavier admitted. "She apprenticed under me once she graduated from Hogwarts and now works as my assistant for goodness knows what reason. She's a smart girl, she should be doing something better with her life."
"She has ideas for Lakeside?" Harry asked pulling parchments from his sheaf and stacking them on Andromeda's knees.
"Thousands," the agent admitted.
"I'd like to meet her, this afternoon, if possible," Harry told Xavier before turning to Andromeda. "Do I have time to meet Miss Wood this afternoon?"
"Between three and four," Andromeda confirmed, her glasses perched on her nose and she looked closely at the pages on her lap.
"Would you be able to organise for your daughter to meet me here then, Mr Wood?"
"Certainly," the man replied a questioning expression on his face.
"Excellent," Harry answered nodding and holding out the pages he'd retrieved from Andromeda's grasp. "I would like to purchase these eight premises."
"My grandmother and I have chosen three," Neville said.
"We have chosen four," the twins said together as George handed over their pages too.
"Mr Longbottom, you and Mr Potter have chosen one of the same properties, actually..." Xavier Wood said pausing. "You all seem to have chosen the large lake house with the private dock."
"I'm happy to give it up," Harry said holding his hand out toward the twins and Neville.
"We just added it to our pile because we knew Harry did," Fred said. "We were just stirring up trouble."
"It's all yours, Neville," George said looking at the blond teen and his grandmother.
"Thanks!" Neville said smiling.
"Anyway," George said standing and shaking the agents hand. "We should get going. We have a business to run."
"If you could send the documents here when they are ready to be signed?"
"Certainly, Gentlemen," Mr Wood agreed. "We'll speak soon."
"Mr Wood," Harry began. "Would you mind removing all the sold properties from the spare bundle so I may show them to another party I think may be interested?"
"Mr Potter," the agent said quickly doing as asked and slipping the parchments over to the dark haired teen.
"Thank you," Harry replied. "If we could start on the paperwork I can have the money organised by tomorrow afternoon. But, right now I have another meeting, so if I may be excused."
The four others remained in their places and Harry walked into the hallway before using his demonic powers to take himself to the other side of London.
III
Isla Black's Apartment, Victoria Street
"Are you ready to go?" Harry asked standing beside the Lady Black's unmade bed.
"Hold on, Harry. I'll be right out!" Isla mumbled from the bathroom as the door was kicked closed.
"Take your time," Harry replied looking closely at all the photos that decorated the pristine clean room.
"Right," Isla said appearing in the doorway of the bathroom as she pulled her hair back out of her face. "Where are we going, Harry?"
"Muggle London?" the teen asked before turning to see the pale yet determined woman before him. "Don't forget we are having lunch with Aunty Andy in Titan Place. Did you sleep last night?"
"Not very well," Isla said gathering up her robes and shrinking them into her handbag as she poked earrings through her ears with the other hand. "I had a fight with one of my oldest friends last night. He called me a liar in front of everyone we worked with."
Isla looked over to the dark haired teen who was looking murderous.
"It did have a good outcome in the end," the inky haired young woman replied taking Harry's hand and dragging him out of the apartment and into a waiting elevator.
"Which was?"
"I'm over the silly crush I had recently developed," Isla said with a slightly forced smile.
Harry reflected on a moment on his one dating experience with Cho Chang. "I think I understand. How does your heart feel?"
"About the size of a macadamia," Isla replied laughing.
"Not bad," Harry replied joking. "Come, let the retail therapy commence," he said throwing up an illusion to fool everyone but Isla.
The duo laughed as they ducked in an out of dozens of stores.
"Oh," Harry whispered softly in a novelty knick-knack store. "I have always wanted one of those; ever since Mr Stevens had one sitting on his desk during fifth grade."
"What is it?" Isla asked as she watched the teen caress a black plastic sphere.
"This, Isla, is a decision making device modelled after a piece from a Muggle game called snooker. This my dear, is a Magic 8 Ball," Harry explained.
"What does it do?" Isla asked her mouth twitching into a smile.
"It makes decisions."
"How?"
Harry smiled and shook the ball. "Is shopping with Isla today a good idea?" he asked before turning the contraption upside-down to show the window cut into the base.
Isla peered into and smiled at the response. "Maybe."
Harry shook the ball again. "Should I let Isla in on my plans for Lakeside?"
"Definitely," Isla replied after reading the balls' response. "Handy."
"Yes," Harry agreed walking over to the counter and purchasing the item.
As they exited the store Harry unwrapped it and shook it. "Are there a lot of stores for us to visit before we have to meet Andy for lunch?" the dark haired teen asked before holding it out to Isla to read.
The young woman smiled and grabbed Harry's arm in response. "Yes!"
III
Dungeons, Hogwarts School
Sirius returned to Severus Snape's dungeons carrying a crate full of the best brandy he could find and he dumped it without ceremony upon the desk where the potions master was scratching away on parchment.
"Shhh!" the greasy haired man hissed holding his head. "Oh Merlin."
"No more than two brandies on a weeknight, Sev," Severus quoted plopping down in the opposite chair.
"I thought you were a figment of my imagination," Severus said removing his parchments from under the crate.
"Oh, I am. It's just Lily wants you to learn your lesson before I leave. Since we both really despise the company of the other I beg that you learn quickly so I can go back to my peaceful death," Sirius said.
"I got the message you left me on the chalk board," Severus replied holding up the pages. "I've started making plans to change the Slytherin Common Rooms. What else?"
"Lily was quite adamant that your wardrobe should consist of more than black. I understand you have a reputation of being a bastard to uphold so I am willing to compromise," Sirius said.
"That's big of you," Snape replied sarcastically, but Sirius ignored the comment.
"I won't make you buy bright colours. But I do expect you to buy new clothes in the darkest tones of blue, green, purple and grey you can find."
Snape looked up. "No red?"
"No red is being forced upon you. We can have you showing favouritism towards Gryffindor now can we?"
"No yellow?"
Sirius smirked. "I don't think your complexion could cope."
"I agree then," Severus said slowly.
"The only other thing Lily mentioned, other than your attitude, was your hair," Sirius said looking down at his knees. "Now, Regulus and James and I agreed with Lily on this. If you are ever going to find a nice woman and impress her enough to get her to agree to spending the rest of her life with you, you are going to have to cut your hair, short."
"Is that why you brought a dozen bottles of brandy with you, in the hope that you could get me drunk and shave my head?" the potions master asked.
"No," Sirius said brightly. "But I did plan on using them as incentive to make you do this so Lily doesn't kill me when I next see her."
"You and James agreed with Lily?" Severus asked.
"We always knew you had potential," Sirius admitted.
The potions master rubbed his eyes. "Why is my outside perspective coming from my deceased childhood enemy?"
"Karma," Sirius declared. "I swear Lily spoke with Karma to arrange this little prank against us."
"I can't!" Severus finally declared. "I can only do one step at a time."
"Alright," Sirius said warily.
"I can't believe... Black, will you please come and look at the Slytherin dorms with me please to give me some ideas of how to make them – better?"
"Yes," Sirius replied simply taking up a bottle of brandy, two glasses and standing. "Which way?"
"The brandy?" Severus asked.
"I thought it would be surreal getting drunk in Slytherin house with you and something to reflect back on when you are old and decrepit."
Snape frowned and opened the doors to the Slytherin Common Room.
"Wow!" Sirius said knocking the top off the bottle and pouring drinks. "Gloomy."
III
Titan Place, London
Albus Dumbledore arrived in Titan Place and the first thing he noticed was that there was a new house on the far side of the square.
Looking down at his watch Dumbeldore sighed. He was already late for his medical check up and that would put his schedule out for the entire afternoon. Walking over to the Haldir Medical Centre, the old man walked inside shoving the information about the new house back to the deep recesses of his mind for a moment when he could unravel the mystery.
III
Luigi's Restaurant, Le Boulevard
Harry and Isla arrived at the restaurant they'd selected for lunch to find Andromeda already there, sipping away at a neon green cocktail as she giggled at the barman.
"Aunty Andy!" Harry called as he and Isla wound their way through the tables. "What in Merlin's name is that?"
"It's an 'Oh Merlin, I don't know'," Andromeda said spinning around on her stool and slopping a small amount of liquid out of the glass. "Quiet delicious I will admit."
"Another round to our table, please," Harry told the barman as he led the two ladies back over to one of the booths.
"Men suck!" Isla told Andromeda shared her drink with the younger woman.
"Was he worth your time?" Andromeda asked.
"Harry's Magic 8 Ball said he was," Isla replied.
"Let me rephrase," Andromeda said smiling devilishly as the three new neon green drinks arrived. "Do you think he was worth your time and tears?"
"I'm not sure," Isla said after a moment. "But I was so angry I cleaned my entire apartment last night."
"Good girl," Andromeda declared chinking her glass against Isla's before both took a drink. "Right. I need some food."
Casual conversation filled the table as the trio ordered and waited for their meals. Isla looked over the pages of properties for sale in Lakeside and chose three for herself. Meanwhile, Harry and Andromeda ordered and drank a purple coloured 'Merlin knows' before their meals arrived.
"Right," Andromeda declared once she was half way through her bowl of pasta. "It will be a busy day tomorrow."
"Sirius' reading starts at ten," Isla said. "Everyone has confirmed they are coming."
"Everyone as in all beneficiaries?" Andromeda asked making marks against names in a thin book.
"Arthur Weasley will be there upon behalf of his family who have gone with Bill and Fleur to France or to visit Charlie in Romania. However the Weasley twins will be there in person," Isla announced. "Hermione Granger will be there. You, Ted and Nymphadora will be there..."
"I'll be there!" Harry said raising his fork as if to raise his hand. "And Remus."
"Manners!" Andromeda snapped looking over the frames of her glasses.
"And finally, Narcissa and her son will be there," Isla said with a sigh.
"Good!" Andromeda said smiling. "Good! Good! Good!"
"Why are you smiling?" Harry asked Andromeda.
The elder woman looked at each of the two younger people she was with before making her decision.
"After Malfoy was arrested in June, and Sirius was killed, Narcissa approached me to find out who the new family lord was because she wanted her marriage annulled and to be brought back into the family."
"She thought you would know even though no one knew officially you were reinstated into the Black family back then?" Isla asked.
"A lot of information passes before my eyes," Andromeda said. "And Narcissa knows that I would have received a copy of Sirius's will from a colleague somewhere for at least a few minutes."
"So?" Harry asked.
"When I couldn't tell her anything I didn't. Then when Sirius told me the information and Isla accepted me back into the family and I swore to help her I went back to Narcissa and told her there was something she could do."
Harry's mouth formed a thin line and his brow raised.
"Nothing terrible," Andromeda promised. "It's a surprise for Isla."
"That makes sense. However what I want to know is why?" Harry asked.
Andromeda looked down to where her hands were twisted together in her lap.
"Narcissa and Draco need protection from He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named and Bellatrix."
Harry looked out the window onto the street for a moment.
"You'll have to create an airtight fealty for them to swear," Isla said slowly. "And one for your daughter also so she doesn't go and tell Dumbledore about Harry."
"Of course," Andromeda agreed. "You'll consider accepting them back?"
"It depends on what Sirius wrote in his will," Isla replied, toying with her food.
"What happens if Dumbledore already knows?" Harry asked quietly. "Then I'm in trouble."
"Albus Dumbledore will not find out what is going on until we're ready for him. Then we will hit him hard, and fast," Andromeda said.
"That day will have to be soon," Harry replied fiddling with his empty glass. "Very soon."
The trio looked up as the waiter appeared by the table.
"Would you like a round of 'Merlin, erms''? the young man asked.
Harry, Isla and Andromeda looked at each other and the teen shrugged his indifference.
"What colour are they?" Isla asked looking up at the waiter.
III
Potter House, Titan Place
Harry arrived back in Titan Place by one of the large trees outside his home.
"Should not have agreed to the red one," he told himself as he walked towards his home.
Jogging up the handful of steps to the front door, Harry smiled as the door was opened by Jeeves.
"Jeeves! How are you?"
Harry laughed as the house elf pursed his lips. "Jeeves would like to remind Master Harry he is only fifteen and should not be drinking alcohol."
"Spoilsport!" Harry yelled waving to the pretty strawberry-blonde sitting on the sofa in the lounge before ducking into his office. Grabbing parchment and a muggle pen he'd borrowed from Dudley he headed back into the other room.
"Jeeves, drinks please!" Harry called before flopping down in the arm chair and then springing back up to kiss the knuckles of his guest.
"Miss Wood, please excuse my behaviour. My 'sister'," Harry explained using the appropriate air quotes. "And my 'aunt' took me to lunch and got me a little sloshed on colourful drinks. But, nevermind. You. Your father said this morning you had had some ideas for the little town of Lakeside."
"Mr Potter," the young woman said trying not to smile. "Lakeside is my dream town. As a girl I thought it quaint and fantasised about what the buildings were or could be."
"And your father also said you had some secretarial, assistant type skills. Is that true, Miss Wood," Harry asked accepting a glass of water from Jeeves.
"Please, call me Sophie," the girl said. "You have to remember that I grew up with stories of you and then my brother told me you were a brilliant seeker. What I'm trying to say is this is a little surreal for me, Mr Potter..."
"Call me, Harry," the teen said interrupting.
"Harry," Sophie said smiling. "I am confused to my purpose of being here. You bought a number of properties in Lakeside from my father this morning. My brother used to torment you at his quidditch training sessions. Yes, I have organisational skills, but..."
"Maybe I should explain then, Sophie," Harry said putting his glass down and leaning forward on his knees. "This morning, I bought an old quidditch stadium that formerly belonged to the Lakeside Knights. They were never a great team. I was planning however on refurbishing the clubhouse, the pitch and stands and creating a team call the Arthurian Knights to make it their home stadium. I need you because while I am at Hogwarts for the next few years I need someone to be the day to day overseer of the team and the complex and my other businesses. You would of course be working closely with my legal staff and the managers of all my other properties and businesses in Lakeside but that is my basic idea. What do you think?"
"I..." the young woman stuttered running her fingers through her hair. "I..."
Harry stood and gestured that Sophie stand too. "What I need is to be able to tell someone what I want and for them to have it done as quickly as possible and I think you, Miss Wood, could be the person for the job. We'd have to get you a whole army of assistants to help get the leg work done, but I need someone to head them all. If you are anything like your brother in getting people to do things, you are the very person I need. Come!" Harry said taking Sophie by the elbow and using his powers to move them across the country.
III
Lakeside, Wales
"What in Merlin's name?" the young woman asked in shock.
"Quite right," Harry said. "My apologies, I shall warn you next time we do that."
"It's fine. Is this... Lakeside?" Sophie asked.
"This will be my quidditch stadium before the week is up. Sophie," Harry said wrapping his arm around her shoulders. "I see flags in gunmetal grey, blood red and royal purple flapping in a crisp autumn wind as a huge crowd chants and screams in delight. I see state of the art, top of the range stands and underneath, no wasted space: an onsite emergency medical centre, merchandise stores, dressing sheds, food stalls, press conference room, massage tables, saunas: I want my players the most relaxed and most energetic and exciting in the league. I want little league games and I want gifted and talented squads."
"Huge banners of each of the players and you as the owner hanging from the towers," Sophie said looking out over the crumbling wooden structure.
"That's it!" Harry said excitedly spinning her around and grabbing her hand. "To the next place."
Harry held his hand up at the huge hall.
"A gothic hall, reportedly build for a choir, therefore one would expect this building to have great acoustics. Make it into a club by night, a swinging lounge by day with a hip little restaurant that serves brunch through to afternoon tea before the whole joint becomes a raging dance party again by ten."
"You'd need silencing charms. It's close to buildings with apartments or houses," Sophie pointed out.
"That's what I have you for Miss Sophia Wood! To catch those little details that will make Lakeside a generous, fun, cohesive community!" Harry said. "Listen to me! I sound like Hermione! Next stop!"
Harry spun Sophie around on a spot of lawn until they were in a formal dance pose outside a large red brick house overlooking the lake.
"Here, I see, little tables filled with adults as children run about on the grass," Harry said as they did an impromptu dance along the path. "A jazz band as the sun goes down on a balmy summer night and as the bugs come out proceedings head inside to the delightful airy little restaurant, with its simple yet filling and delicious meals that keep all the guests happy. Lazy breakfasts on Sunday mornings. Devonshire teas during the heart of winter just as the sun hits that perfect angle and the patrons on the upper floor can look out the windows and watch Lake Arthur as it shimmers in its own little dance."
"A place for staff Christmas parties, weddings, christenings, birthdays, family reunions..." Sophie suggested getting caught up in Harry's excitement.
"Oh Merlin, she's got it!" Harry yelled as his voice echoed.
"Children playing with sail boats on the shore, yacht cruises for your guests..."
"Our guests..."
"Quaint little stores with quirky things to sell..."
"Fred and George Weasley will have their joke shop..."
"A wizarding paradise for the young and the young at heart!"
"Perfect!" Harry said stopping and looking at Sophie. "For the young and the young at heart! A little town where it's impossible not to be happy."
"You think we could do that?" Sophia asked hesitantly.
"It will be done by September first! My Knights will be playing this season!"
"Muggle steel could construct the frame of the stadium quite easily. That could be started straight away, as soon as the designs are done."
"Then I need an architect and a team," Harry said. "Do I have a right hand woman, one with a vision as big as mine?"
Sophia Wood looked at Harry and smiled. "You have a deal, Mr Potter."
Harry clenched his fists in excitement before shaking Sophia's hand and kissing her on both cheeks.
"Conditions, Sophie," the young man said. "I have bought a property that will become your management centre. I will buy you owls in the morning. I will employ someone to work with you night and day on the legalities. You need to create my brand and sell it convincingly. You'll still have to check in with me on various details but it will happen. I also need to get you a team of house elves. Note to self talk to Ted and Dobby. I will also talk to Andromeda and have your contract drawn up and sent to you."
"In the meantime I start planning," Sophie said nodding. "How long before financials are in?"
"You will have an account at Gringotts Bank by the end of the week," Harry said. "I'll be sixteen by the end of the week."
"You'll be Lord Potter by the end of the week!" Sophia gasped. "Do you have someone managing all your fan mail?"
"No," Harry said shaking his head, an expression of distaste on his face.
"You'd better make another 'note to self' about that," Sophia warned.
"Sophia..."
"Master Harry?" Jeeves asked popping into existence. "You have an urgent guest in Potter House. I will go and get Mrs Aunty Andy. Quickly, sir!"
"I'm sorry," Harry said smiling. "I have to go."
"You are a busy man, Harry Potter," Sophia smiled. "I've got your back on this front."
"Thank you!" Harry said genuinely, grasping Sophie's hands to get his point across.
"Go!" the young woman said laughing.
III
Potter House, Titan Place
Harry arrived in his office before charging into the sitting room to find Andromeda with one person he didn't expect and another he didn't know. Pausing to close the doors Harry calmed himself quickly before crossing to the other side of the room and sitting in the largest armchair.
"Miss Greengrass, you got my invitation, I presume," Harry asked accepting a glass of water from Jeeves and thanking him with a small nod.
"Yes," the girl said holding onto the hand of the ancient looking man sitting on the lounge beside her, pillows stuffed behind him.
"Sir, wouldn't you be more comfortable in an armchair?" Harry asked in concern as the old man coughed.
"See, I told you Uncle Nicky," Daphne said softly fussing over the man, straightening the blanket over his legs.
"I'm fine for the moment," he replied. "Mr Potter, I am Nicholas Flamel, and Daphne is my niece, many times removed.
"My Good Sir," Harry said standing and bowing. "It is an honour to finally meet you."
"I heard of your valour against Voldemort trying to protect my stone. And then again in a secret chamber and again in the tri-wizard tournament. When my Daphne and her sister, Astoria, told me your tale this year I decided, my time was ending. I had to meet you. Your letter arriving was a fortunate coincidence," Nicholas said before breaking into a hacking cough again."
"Jeeves! Water please," Harry ordered before taking the glass from the elf to the old man himself.
Harry smiled as Daphne slipped to the floor and sat at her uncle's feet and as Andromeda moved closer to sit on another chair. The raven haired teen took Daphne's former place on the lounge.
"Young Potter," Nicholas Flamel said. "Who is this?"
"Andromeda Black- Tonks," the witch answered.
"Good," the old man chuckled. "I know that name. And she knows of your inhumanity."
Harry and Andromeda looked in shock at Nicholas while Daphne looked at her school peer in surprise.
"How did you know?" Harry asked.
"When you are as old as I, you learn many things," Nicholas replied, a thin hand rubbing his wrinkled face. "And it is time for you to learn some things, my boy. To become a hero worthy of renown, unlike Albus Dumbledore."
"Dumbeldore has contributed greatly to our society," Harry declared neutrally while Andromeda's face took on a hungry expression.
"Ms Black-Tonks, what do you think of Albus Dumbledore?" Nicholas asked turning to face the woman instead of the teen next to him. "You are a lawyer are you not?"
"I certainly am. And if I ever have my way I will be the one to bring down the slippery old man," Andromeda said vehemently.
Nicholas nodded before coughing violently for almost a minute.
Instantly at the elderly man's side, Harry held Nicholas in his chair while Daphne tried to get water down the man's throat. As the coughing subsided, Harry and Daphne stayed where they were as Nicholas gulped deep breaths in.
"Daphne, my bag please," the man requested. "Ms Black-Tonks, in that bag Daphne is retrieving there is the evidence that Albus Dumbledore murdered my wife, Perenelle and I. Each vial holds an individual, complete memory," Nicholas said as Andromeda opened the briefcase slowly and retrieved a wooden box.
"Thank, Sir," she said bowing her head.
"With pleasure," the old man replied, with a weak smile. "Use it well. Could you give the other box to Mr Potter, please."
Harry watched as he was presented with a crystal box filled with dozens of memories in glass vials.
"Why do I get this?" Harry asked holding onto the container. "What is it?"
"That is a square pensive, Harry," Daphne said softly. "Lady Ravenclaw had a spherical one but her memories kept dripping off the sides. It is rumoured that Lord Slytherin made the first square pensive. That is one my uncle made during his many years. It is a practical yet beautiful piece at no-one but the owner can access without permission because of the charmed lid."
"I can't accept it," Harry said.
"You can. I have already programmed it to work for you, and only you," Nicholas told the teen.
"Why me?"
"Because I decided long ago to help someone who really needed it," Nicholas replied. "Before she died, my darling Penny gave some of her memories to Daphne here, and some to little Astoria. This was to help the girls because we never had any children of our own. Here on my own death bed, I am choosing to give some of my knowledge to you."
"But why? I've done nothing to deserve it," Harry said.
"You have," Nicholas replied. "You constantly think of helping others. Daphne told me the stories. Harry, a man of my years can read between the lines and see truth. You have done more than enough to deserve this give."
"Yes," Harry replied, with slight confusion. "But I do things for me too. I have to survive."
"But your intentions were not for saving yourself but for rescuing your friends, your peers, yourself, the other wizarding children who deserve better and hopefully one day, your own children," Nicholas said. "You have a heart so very like your forefather, Tristan. The only son of Merlin. He was a great man, kind and generous."
"What does this have to do with me?" Harry asked.
"I am going to give you my knowledge of three different areas you would have learnt as a boy had your parents not been slaughtered by that animal of a self-styled lord," Nicholas told the teen. "It is all information you should know now and will take too long to learn, so, I am giving it to you via a memory transfer."
"Sir, you've already given me so much," Harry stuttered looking down at the crystal pensive. "I don't..."
"Oh, shut up and come here," Nicholas said chuckling before it turned into a hacking cough. "Tristan didn't know how to accept the same kindness he gave back either."
Looking to Andromeda and receiving an affirmative nod, Harry place the pensieve and the memories it contained on a nearby table before kneeling in front of Nicholas as the old man sat forward in his seat.
The ancient man smiled before placing his hands on either side of Harry's head, the index fingers touching at the base of his skull and his thumbs brushing against his temples. As the old man's hands glowed white information began rushing into Harry's brain.
"I give you, Harry James Potter this information. The knowledge of Wizarding etiquettes. The cultural knowledge of dance, musicianship and languages. The knowledge of all but forgotten spells. The knowledge of potions and alchemy. And the knowledge of how to perform this transfer yourself."
"Nicholas Henry Flamel, I accept whole heartedly, this information," Harry replied before helping the old man sit back. "Thank you."
"Pleasure," Nicholas whispered croakily.
"Thank you," Harry repeated.
"Could you use your other magic to take me home?" Nicholas asked before coughing again.
"Certainly, sir," Harry replied as Nicholas transferred the information of where he needed to go into the teens mind.
"Come," Harry told Daphne as together they held onto each other and her uncle.
They arrived in the room Harry had seen and were able to lower Nicholas straight into his chair as he drifted off to sleep, exhausted from the effort.
Harry bent and kissed the man's brow before allowing Daphne to leading him from the room and the house. As they walked across the square, the paused to sit by one of the fountains.
"He knows what you're doing, or at least suspects," Daphne said softly. "He said, change is coming and there is a fresh leader on the way."
"Those are kind words," Harry replied, flicking the water as it splattered gently in the pool.
"I will follow you. I don't want many things in my life and one of them is to live in fear. I want my children to run around and be happy. I want them to be unafraid of the monsters that ruined your life and so many others."
"He gave me a book to flip through from my father's library named after each of the four houses."
Harry laughed. "That is a very interesting book to read, Miss Greengrass. You should go back inside and begin before our little meeting tomorrow."
"What do you know, that he knows and suspects that you know?"
"I suspect that he knows what I need to know and that I know that he suspects that I suspect he knows what it is that I need to know."
Daphne looked at the teen. "And here I thought Granger was the smart one."
"I'm the Slytherin one," Harry replied. "Until tomorrow, Miss Greengrass?"
"Until tomorrow, Mr Potter."
Standing and walking away from the young woman Harry chuckled to himself. Just inside the front of his home door Harry spotted Andromeda.
"Aunty Andy, I need to speak with Ted, urgently," he said and the witch nodded before apparating away.
"Jeeves, I need to speak with you and Dobby, quickly. We have a lot to do before Dumbledore catches wind of what I am up to."
III
III
