Chapter 9: Crops Time

James Potter fell on his backside staring at the bloodied and tearful form of his eldest son, unblinking and unresponsive he barely managed to swallow the nausea he felt coming.

"What have you done Frank?" he whispered unaware of the smirk that widened on Harry's face.


Laughter and voices could be heard floating in the air. The sun gently warming the face of all the people slowly strolling in the dirt covered street. Families and old friends used the warm temperature of summer to casually walk in this Sunday morning. A slight breeze was softly blowing bringing in a colder air, a reminder that Scotland was not in the South. Peace and happiness was around. Nobody so much as blinked when a loud crack resonated in a not so distant street. While it was not very common to have someone Apparate somewhere else than in the Main Street, Hogsmeade was the only Wizarding town in all the United Kingdom and nobody thought twice about it; luckily for their memories.

Harry Potter quickly put his wand away. The soon to be eleven knew it was a bit reckless of him to Apparate considering his young physical appearance but he was in a hurry and quite frankly, even with the recent set-backs, he had enough of money, magical and political power to not be overly concerned with one of the smaller laws. He knew, somewhere in the recess of his mind, that such thinking was to be prohibited. However, the way he saw it, considering his 'condition', was like a Muggle driver using his horn in a city. Yes, it was illegal, but there was no harm done, so…

Leisurely Harry made his way to a white fenced garden. Cocking his head to the left he smiled briefly before entering the garden, and after a few steps, vanishing into thin air. Or at least he would if anybody had been around to see it. As it was, Harry had just entered a nice and cozy house. There were ochre colored carpets on the floor and walls, a small table with keys overhung by a mirror and three opened doors. Harry knew the left led to the living-room and the right to a kitchen; both places most likely to be empty if the lack of noise and smell was anything to go by.

Harry hung his cloak and walked straight on, calling out "Hellooooo!!!"

Distantly a woman's voice answered "In the garden" as a man's voice boomed "In my study".

Harry glanced at a window and waved softly at a bent silhouette treating a plant of what looked like carrots. As the person rose to their height, Harry's beliefs were confirmed as Perenelle Flamel waved back at him with an energy clearly contradicting her frail body. With a soft smile, the boy turned on his heels and went upstairs in what he knew to be Nicholas Flamel's study.

As per the older man's custom, the room was dark; a roaring fire was casting light in a small corner of the room while the rest was softly lit by never-ending candles. The burgundy color of the heavy carpets was alternating between blood colored and pitch black according to the flames. Nicholas was seated behind his desk, numerous books and rolled parchments taking the entire available place but for an empty cup of tea and the head-sized leather pouch on the middle of everything else. The old alchemist, who was reclining in his armchair, was lighting his pipe with the help of a small match he soon extinguished and sent with a casual flick in the raging inferno of his chimney.

"Do you have it?" he questioned in way of greeting.

"I have it" Harry answered with a small nod of his head. From his robes left pocket he withdrew an old and battered book and gave it to Nicholas. The candles flames illuminated the title. Exposition of the Hieroglyphicall Figures by Nicholas Flamel.

Harry proceeded in moving a mess of books and manuals from a chair. "Remind me again why I had to go all over Europe and spend hundreds of galleons on a book you wrote yourself and published in the Muggle world?" he asked with a resentment he didn't bother hiding from his voice.

"Harry, Harry, Harry… Sometimes, you forget I wasn't born in England. I am French. I have a copy in French obviously, but I wasn't interested in acquiring an English copy at the time." Nicholas explained, as white smoke was slowly twirling around his face.

"And you care now because?" Harry asked as he dropped himself in the now empty chair, settling the small closed basket he was caring with him on the floor at his side.

"I'm still not overly concerned with owning a book in a foreign language - that I do master perfectly mind you – when I wrote it, but I couldn't really let it go for free now, could I?"

"I supposed you could have been a nice and uninterested old man and gave them to me for free, if you had wanted to that is..." Harry simply returned.

"Once again Harry, you just want things to go your way" Nicholas commented with a sight. "You know perfectly well I do not interfere with what is going outside of my land. And it includes nothing more than this house and the garden. You asked me for Warding Stones and quite a number actually; considering I know you have enough money to buy them if you wanted to, it can mean two things: either you do not want anyone to know about them or you want to be sure they are perfect. In both cases, it goes a bit beyond our relationship, don't you agree?"

"Fine, fine" Harry grumbled. "Is that the last one then?" he asked, indicating the leather pouch.

"Yes it is; the forty-ninth." Nicholas answered, before raising his hand to forestall any action from Harry. "However, I'd like you to stay for lunch if you don't mind."

"You know it is always a pleasure to eat at your table Nicholas." Harry returned pleasantly. His voice hardened slightly as he continued "However, I cannot help myself but find your timing very suspicious."

Flamel laughed a bit before coughing on his pipe's smoke. "My timing is anything but suspicious Harry. It would be suspicious if I were to invite you to lunch, but I am inviting you to lunch while we talk about recent events, like your picture in the Daily Prophet and Three W, MONDAY and THURSDAY, or this basket at your feet."

A heavy sight escaped Harry's nose before he nodded "Fine, I guess I had it coming. With the way everything got screwed up and-"

"Wait a minute," Nicholas interrupted "You think you screwed-up?"

"Of course I did." Harry said hotly. "I had no plan for such occurrence. I was left blind with no-idea how it occurred, how to deal with it and how not to be killed by the first wand-happy wizard I encounter."

"And you dealt with it magnificently"

"You think?" Harry wondered out loud. "Kind of remind me of Janus and my father's first meeting."

"A first meeting which was successful as far as you are concerned if I recall correctly." Nicholas supplied.

"I guess" Harry said absently.


..ooOoo..


Seeing the state of his son, James Potter had not wasted a single second. Wrapping his eldest in a Conjured blanket, he had no trouble gathering the weakly struggling boy and run to the nearest corner where he Summoned the Knight Bus and used his Auror Badge to get them dropped first thing in front of St Mungos.

The injuries looked profound and important with all the blood but James Potter knew the real issue was his son's obvious lack of memory or knowledge of anything related to magic. For a boy raised in a magical environment it was beyond abnormal. It was a sure sign of a serious illness or maybe a curse.

The night was already advanced, but James paid no attention to the calls of the on-duty Healer, nor did he notice the absence of the mass of regularly waiting sick. His feet carried him to Healer Sofia Rasiac's office. She knew Harry; she would know how to deal with this.

It was only when he was getting ready to knock on the wooden door that James realized there was no-one around, no-one to help him, or tell him what to do. His eyes began to be unfocussed and he would probably have fallen on the ground had not the door opened, flooding Harry and him in light.

Sofia Rasiac was there with a tall man in dark clothing. The stranger's face was obscured but everything about him screamed 'problem' to James. The heavy dragon scales marring the robes were scratched, proof this man was not ignorant to the business of dueling. A golden pin attracted James's eyes. A circle separated in the middle by a lighting bolt. On each side there was a face. The first with the boyhood attitude of a young man just out of his teenage years, the second sporting more wrinkles than any one James had ever seen, bar Albus Dumbledore of course, but that guy was passed being old to reach the age of ancient.

Like a candle had just been lit in front of his eyes, James could suddenly recognize the man. This was Janus, the man who had taken charge of things when Lily had been cursed. And now he was here, when Harry was hurt…

Before a single word could be spoken aloud, Healer Rasiac took Harry from James arms, pushed Janus outside of her office, and locked her door. Both men were left standing in front of each other in the badly lit hallway.

Sofia gently pulled the blanket away from Harry and muttered a few Healing Charms. The Magic took effect instantly and the injuries quickly resorbed themselves, leaving the young boy in a perfect state. With a joyous expression, he smiled and winked at the Healer before hoping to the chimney into which he sent a fistful of Floo Powder, promptly taking him out of St. Mungos and into his darkened office.

Checking the time, Harry left himself drop into his armchair. With a sight he pulled a piece of parchment, separated it in two columns, wrote 'Harry' at the top of the first 'Janus' in the second and the current time as the first entry ender Harry's name.

During the next hour, the young wizard kept adding things and scribbling them out of his parchment until he finally felt like he had a working time-line. His decision made, he took his wand (he had previously left securely in his desk's drawer) and Summoned two rolled-up parchment. The first one was very thin, probably a standard 8-inches piece. The second, much thicker, was just an insurance as far as Harry was concerned. He needed this to happen and was resigned, if need be, to offer the regular full and unedited contract for this to happen.

Harry swallowed a vial of Polyjuice and held himself at his desk while his body shifted, grew and fattened. After it was over, several flicks and swifts transformed his dreary clothes in a reproduction of Janus regular robes; except there wouldn't be any protection against curses there, but something told Harry Magic would not be involved.

Taking his Time-Turner, Harry closed his eyes and made two turns with it. The feeling of disorientation was the same as the one he had experimented with Hermione all those years ago, but he did not stop to dwell on it. A fistful of Floo Powder turned the soft fire in a raging roaring and hot fire of green flames. Knelling in front of the chimney, Harry made a call to Sofia Rasiac. He told her of Harry's imminent arrival at her office's door and how they should meet there in half an hour.

Harry, disguised as Janus, had barely explained to Sofia what was going to happen and how that he heard foot steps. The Healer opened the door to find, as Janus had 'predicted', James holding his eldest son in a blanket. In a flurry of concise gestures and movements, Healer Rasiac had Harry secured in her arms and Janus was left standing in front of a man he thought so very little of.


Janus put his hood down, revealing pale green eyes, a cleaned shaved face even at this time of the night and a skin so white it clearly had not seen the sun for quite some time. A vampire maybe? James wondered, but was quickly disabused of that notion when Janus put a warm hand on his shoulder and said "Should we go and see your family then?"

James could only nod as he was being led to a door in front of which five goblins were mounting guard. Janus put his hand on a stone that glowed lime for a brief second. The goblin nodded then snarled as he turned to James and proceeded to take out numerous instruments, from a simple measuring tape to pinches which use remained a mystery to James.

"Sorry, about that." James heard Janus say to the goblin "He has never come to see his wife since she's here."

This simple statement was like a spike going through James's heart. There was no denying it; it was the first time he set foot in the hospital since this Christmas afternoon nearly a year ago.

"It's the middle of the night" the goblin grumbled in James face.

"It's barely 11pm" Janus interjected. "And you are following human times since you took this position."

"Confirmed" another goblin said out loud. "James Potter, 27th of March 1960, husband of the patient"

James smiled thinly as he was pushed in the room. A gasp escaped his lips. His wife was awake! It looked recent considering there were more Healers and goblins around her than in the rest of the entire facility. He eyed Janus to see the man's reaction, but there wasn't any; like he was carved of stone, or like he knew already…

Janus walked to a goblin and spoke to him. James did not understand a single world of their exchange. The guttural and uneven flow of the syllables led him to assume they were speaking the goblin's natural tongue; however he understood the gist of it, when the goblin nodded and gave a stack of papers to Janus.

The enigmatic man read the curious symbols as he slowly made his way back to James.

"Your wife awoke this afternoon thanks to a combination of treatments from the goblins and Healers." Janus said, still reading. Raising his eyes to James he summarized "In a few words, the goblins Warded her body before forcing the Ward in become two separate ones. Then they separated the two Wards, one going to her head, the other to her toes; every inch left behind was cleansed by potions and spells from the Healers. In the end, they cut her toe-nails and trimmed her hair, et voilà."

"Et voilà?" James asked incredulously. "That's all you find to say? It took them a year to do that, and you look like it was a walk in the park!"

"Riiiight" Janus slowly returned. "Mr. Potter, you have to understand all those things, the Ward, the Potions, the Healing Spells, they were created for your wife. We are not talking about a Flue Cure, but of an unknown Spell destroying the basic of Magic in every cell of her body. If this Charm could be safely controlled, it would be in an entire classification of its own, much darker than the Unforgivables. This is a true break in Healing. You should be rejoicing rather than complaining about the length of time."

"I'm getting a bit fed up with you and your attitude mister Janus." James answered hotly, brandishing his right index as if it were a wand, in Janus's face. "What are you doing here, hmm? And who are you to tell me what to do? And those insinuations as the door? What do you want?"

The goblins and Healers in the room, feeling the heavy tension, slowly started to make there way out, then faster, until the door slammed behind the last of them.

Janus turned to Lily and nodded at her. "Mrs. Potter," turning back to James "Mr. Potter".

Janus made his way to a chair he turned around and sat on. He could see, the door, James and Lily in her bed. Folding his legs, Janus calmly stated his demand.

"I want to take Harry as my apprentice."

Lily just looked at James, who felling empowered by her look decided to deal with the situation in a record time. Little did he know this action would be the end of the perfect family he hoped for and the start of years of hardships, punctuated by condescending remarks and attitudes from both his wife and eldest son.

"No."

"No?"

"I swear you will never have my son as an apprentice. It's not the Middle Ages anymore. Firstly, we don't know anything about you, secondly, there are schools nowadays and thirdly Harry wouldn't be able to cope, even if he wanted to be your apprentice, something I know very well he doesn't want. I. Will. Never. Agree. Onto. This."

His piece finally said and clearly stated, James folded his arms and looked at his wife waiting for the stranger to leave him and her to their reunion. He gave a start when the noise he heard was not the closing of the door as he expected but a low chuckle.

Glancing at Janus, James's resolve started to crumble. This man was overtly laughing at him, but there wasn't a single trace of amusement in the man's eyes or on his face which remained still. Janus face, for all the laughter that could be heard, remained chilling as ever.

"I'm afraid Mr. Potter, it is not as simple as that."

"What is that supposed to mean?" James demanded.

"Nothing, you should just give it a little more consideration."

"And why should we do that?" Lily asked, a soft voice carrying through the room and evoking internal reaction to both males.

"Ah…" Janus said, clearly uncomfortable. "I'm not sure now is the best moment to speak about that."

"You're the one who stared it, finish it then! I give you two minutes before I lodge an official complain and ask for a restriction order" James spat.

"Actually, you are the one who started it, dear" Lily said as she took her husband hand in hers. "And two minutes is not a lot of time, but you have probably the right idea. Mr. Janus?"

"Very well," Janus said. "If you two want it to go that way, by all means, let's do it."

"James Potter, I have personally engaged several years of your income as an Auror in the treatment for your wife. This wasn't done in a disguised act of philanthropy. How do you plan in reimbursing me? How do you also plan in weaseling your way out of the official complains I will lodge against you? Considering the evidence I have of your parenting skills, there is absolutely no way you'll be allowed to keep your children. Their godparents will also be refused as potential guardians. And your wife will not be allowed to have three young children with her for quite a while until she is deemed fit by her Healers. Healers I would like to remind you I am paying."

James immediately pointed his wand at Janus.

"You are not taking my kids!" he roared.

"James, please…" Lily said, sensing it was not the right way to go.

"How… Excessive." Janus noted. "Mr. Potter, do you really thing cursing me will stop it?"

"Stop what?" Lily asked, her husband being too livid to utter a single world.

"Stop the fact, both of your daughters' godfathers gave me the right to educate them and never came to check on them. Stop the fact, your son, Harry, was Obliviated twice and left with your sister and her magic-hating husband. Stop the fact, your husband never set foot in this hospital since you were accepted here because he was too busy going to further up his career. Stop the fact, that without me, James, you wouldn't have a family to go back to."

"You left Harry with Petunia? You Obliviated him?" Lily asked. "You never came to see me? Or the girls?"

In front of James furious expression and Lily's pained one, Janus took the bigger stack of parchment from his pocket, knowing they were passed the edited version of the Apprentice Contract, and dropped it on the bedside table.

"This is a contract. Read it, study and sign it. The both of you and Harry." Janus said as he made to leave. "As your son's Master one of my first duties is to protect him and his familial environment. It should take care of these little glitches we just evoked."

"For your information Mr. Potter, I was looking for an apprentice for quite some times until I decided to settle in England after finding Harry. He knows me. He is the one who asked that I take care of his mother and sisters when you left him with the ridiculous notion your wife was alright. He agreed a year ago to be my apprentice. Unfortunately, the Memory Charms broke the Tracking one I had placed on him."

As a parting sentence Janus added "You will find Mr. and Mrs. Potter, I am a very good friend; and a lethal enemy."

The broken vase against the door was all the confirmation he needed to know James Potter was certainly not his number one fan.

Janus made his was to Healer Rasiac's office and entered without knocking.

Sofia was alone. "We are alone" she confirmed to Janus, as said person was busy waving his wand and checking what his eyes and Healer were telling him.

"Good." he finally replied with a sight. Sitting himself in a chair, Janus waved his wand to his face before largely opening and closing his mouth several times. "You know, those Static Charms are quite good, but it hurts like help when your muscles are contracting and the Magic stops them."

"This is why a Healer like me is against there use, Janus."

As she finished her sentence, Sofia was greeted by the tired face of a small and starved looking seven years old Harry Potter.

"So now what?" she demanded.

"Now… Now, I suppose we go back. You tell my father how close to death I was, I play the frightened child and they sign my contract."

"How did you manage to be in my office as Janus before your father arrived?"

"Come one Sofia, you are clever enough. You tell me. It's not like I have so many secrets from you."

"For starters, I wouldn't know that, would I? Seeing as their name indicates, those are secrets…" Sofia shot back. "But, I guess you just Floo-ed out of my office to yours where you used the pendant you have around your neck."

"Which one?" Harry asked innocently.

"Certainly not this small trunk." Healer Rasiac commented, before muttering to herself. "Silly thing that is."

"Hey! I'll have you know this pendant saved my life! So ok, I used my hour-glass pendant, but what for?"

"Janus… Sometimes, you really believe people to be slow. You are a personal friend of the Minister."

"Not true" Harry piped in.

"So true! I saw you having diner with him in this posh restaurant in Diagon Alley!"

"Whatever." Harry grumbled. He might have gone a little over board in gaining Fudge approval. For a few months now, the Minister and he were sort of friends. Well as much friend as you could be with a man you dislike but pretend to like very much because of his job. And there was also the added benefit of being able to slightly shift Fudge's opinions in the guise of a friend.

"Anyway, you used you Time-Turner, something I though was nothing more than a tale for children, before I saw you had one. Thus were able to be there with me to reception yourself and go and do whatever it is you did."

"You are a scary witch" Harry commented. "Too much brain power."

Sofia laughed with this distinctive musical laugh so typical of her.

"Coming from a seven-year-old who has been manipulating everyone he is in contact with since I've known him, I'll take this as a compliment."

"As you should" Harry said as he canceled the Engorging and Visual Charms on his robes that turned back to their original form of Dudley's cast offs.

"Shall we?" Harry asked, offering his arm to Healer Rasiac, once he was fully dressed.

Sofia took his offered hand and said "We shall" as she opened the door.

Immediately, Harry seemed to shrink on himself, hiding half his body in the shadows and letting her go first. They don't stand a chance Sofia thought.

Needless to say, the apprenticeship contract between Janus and Harry James Potter was signed by both mother and son in a very short time. James did the only thing he could in front of the Healer, his wife, and son's angry frowns. He signed. An hour after having sworn he would never do it.


..ooOoo..


"I still had to let go of my original plans to strip him of his family and job." Harry commented.

"Perhaps" Nicholas acknowledged. "But you were not ready for this situation, yet you managed to remember your priorities and get what you wanted. Personally I was against this little quest for revenge-"

"Yes, I know. You expressed yourself largely on the subject." Harry said grumpily.

"But then you had the possibility to use you Time-Turner."

"Hey! It was the first time I used it unplanned!"

"And you did well, Harry. You might think it wasn't so as your father refused when you were persuaded he would run to sign your contract and get rid of his son. The fact remains you had made a mistake and corrected it easily."

"Lunch!" Perenelle's voice Magically carried and amplified reminded both men.

"Let's go then" Nicholas said, jumping on his feet.

Harry got up, picked up his basket and followed the legendary alchemist toward the dining room. His emotions were mixed. On one hand, Nicholas and Perenelle loved eating and had had years to perfect their cooking skills. As such every meal was a new fascinating experience filled with wonderful tastes and great smells. On the other hand, Harry would have to explain plans he had kept to himself and face the wrath or praise of a man he considered as his moral line.

All things considered, Harry wasn't feeling too hot about this lunch…


"So Harry" Perenelle asked when the coffees were served, "how are things at home?"

"You mean those last days or in general?" the young wizard asked as he dipped a biscuit in his tea. While he did enjoy coffee, his body was too young to handle the caffeine, thus he had to restrain himself and didn't take any after noon; especially those made by Perenelle Flamel.

"Let's start with in general" Nicholas said as he passed his hand in his black beard over and again to dislodge any crumb that might be resisting gravity.

"As good as possible I guess. Mum finally gave up in finding us a new nanny, which is a really good news as far as I am concerned. The girls do not appear to care one way or another. They like coming to my office after classes even though they are still a bit wary of Janus. However they love spending time with Remus."

"And your parents?" Perenelle pressed.

Harry sighed but didn't need to be pushed as he immediately replied "Well, my father is still an obnoxious bastard-"

"HARRY!"

"Okay okay, sorry Perenelle. So as I was saying my father is still caught up in his little world. I just cannot believe mum is alright with his behavior really. Can you imagine that? I mean, sure she was angry at him for dropping me with Petunia and she gave him quite a dressing about his choices of godfathers, but still… I thought she would divorce him or leave him; at least make him sleep on the couch for a few weeks but no, she did not. She acted like nothing had happened."

"Did you consider the possibility she might not want to remember how she lost one year of her life?" Perenelle asked gently.

"I did actually" Harry replied casually before a frown appeared on his face. "But something does not add up."

"What do you mean?" Nicholas probed.

"I mean, she knows her body was suspended so she did not really loose any living time apart from the fact everybody lived through one year when she did not. She seems fine as she still mentions her work and how she deals with the results of this Charm, both professionally and in private. She usually has the last word when Rose, Daisy, and I are concerned since she deemed my father unable to properly raise us. But in a way, it seems she already knew. I mean, she acts like my father is the only one who did not know; like he is also a young child and needs to be reminded of it all the time."

"What did you expect?" the Alchemist wondered aloud.

"I expected her to tore him into pieces and leave him with nothing but his eyes to cry. Yet she did not do anything. It is like she told him 'I told you so' and it was over." Harry answered, his face showed little emotion but to the Flamels he was clearly perturbed by such action.

"Matrimony is not always pink Harry. Sometimes there are troubles and you have to live through them." Perenelle said wisely.

"Come on Perenelle!" Harry countered hotly before he could stop himself.

"Do not raise your voice against me young man!" she sharply countered.

"Sorry. It is just that I do not understand how a marriage can hold when there are so many differences between them." Harry answered a bit sheepishly before biting his bottom lips and casting his eyes downward.

"Harry… I don't want to tell you what you should think, far from it, but from where I'm standing, I probably have a more objective idea of what is going on." Perenelle said slowly. Harry wanted to counter that comment but closed his mouth as quickly as he had opened it when Nicholas looked at him.

"Your mother isn't a perfect woman. At least not as perfect as you believe her to be. And your father is certainly not a mean man. He made mistakes, it's true, but who doesn't? Had you given him the benefit of the doubt you might agree with me."

"The benefit of the doubt? Perenelle, who are you trying to convince? Me or you?" Harry said, barely restraining his voice from being snappish.

"Come on, what would you expect Nicholas to do if you had any children and you were incapacitated for a year?"

"Firstly, we don't have any children. Secondly, I don't work. Thirdly, the Elixir of Life can take care of any trouble she could run into" the man answered wisely for his wife.

"Any trouble?" Harry shot back.

"Ok, nearly every trouble since your mother couldn't be healed with it." Nicholas acknowledged before continuing "And finally, we are six hundred years older than your parents, so you can imagine we have already talked about it."

"Maybe, but still. He did not act like a father should."

"You do not know that" Perenelle said soothingly. "He might have acted like a perfect father for all we know. You said it yourself, something isn't right. Until you know what, you should reserve your judgment."

"Fine" Harry nodded, clearly not happy with the situation. "But that will not stop me from reminding it to him every day."

"And how do you do that?" Nicholas asked curiously. "I don't remember you ever mentioning any lasting punishment."

"I am not punishing him per say. I am just giving some work to my House-Elf." Harry said with a smirk.

"You have a House-Elf?" Perenelle asked, clearly surprised.

"Yes he does. No, ma puce, just… Just don't ask" Nicholas answered distractedly, his eyes never leaving Harry.

"I asked him to clean every room at night without leaving any trace of magic behind him. Of course, he does the rooms in the afternoon."

"And that is reminding your father of him leaving you because?" Perenelle asked slowly.

"Because I said I was the one doing it. I pretend it was something forced onto me by the Dursleys. They tried to make me stop but since they do not know about the House-Elf, they cannot do much. Every morning and evening, I see my father's hopeful gaze darken when he sees I cleaned the leaving-room and kitchen or his room."

"That's a bit… strange as far as retaliations are concerned Harry." Nicholas said.

"Yeah, it is but I cannot go to him and beat him into a pulp now, can I?"

"Well, you could try, but seeing as you are eleven…" Perenelle said with laughter in her voice.

Harry grumped but didn't say anything. It might have come out wrong and while Perenelle did tolerate some of his remarks, Nicholas wasn't as kind. Harry could say anything to the Alchemist and he barely got a raised voice in answer but when the man's wife was the target of Harry's irritation, things got much less convivial… Furthermore, Perenelle wasn't aware of all the facts. To her, he was a bright young boy whose Master was regularly corresponding with her husband.

"By the way, Harry" Nicholas said, effectively moving the conversation in another direction. "I thought Janus wanted to get Frank Longbottom's head on a silver platter. Yet nothing occurred. You wouldn't happen to know why, would you?"

"Ah. That." Harry eloquently answered.

"Yes that." Nicholas returned with a look which clearly indicated to Harry that he was going to answer.

"Well, it seems Frank Longbottom knows how to cover his bottom." Harry reluctantly answered. He wasn't against explaining why he hadn't done anything, but he had to be careful with Perenelle around. Add the fact Nicholas knew him very well, he was feeling a bit reluctant to answer,

"Meaning?"

"Meaning, as my father's chief at the time, he was allowed to decide where to send me and the girls, in the limits of the Law of course, but he has not exceeded it. Sure, he bribed my uncle to take me in, but as the Great Britain Pound has no value in the Wizarding world, it is not considered a bribe. Yes he did Obliviate me, but as a Chief Auror he is legally authorized to take measures in order to ensure the Secrecy Act remains in effect. My aunt knows of our world, but officially my uncle does not, so he legally did what was right. About Daisy, it is his right as Godfather, in charge of her at the time, to change her accommodations and eventually let her live with someone else."

"I thought he wanted to have a go at his family?"

"Good memory Nicholas," Harry returned with a growl.

"It's not memory Harry, you just happened to mention it twenty to thirty times to me." Flamel said jovially.

"Yes, well… He cannot do anything about it actually." Harry admitted.

"Sure, he could force a divorce onto them, but Alice would be the one devastated. She would loose her husband her son."

"You do know usually mothers are the ones who keep the children, right?" Perenelle supplied.

"Yes, I do, but it is not that simple. Neville is the Boy-Who-Lived. Everything having an impact on him is immediately put as front page of the Daily Prophet. If his parents are getting divorced, Dumbledore will step in and Frank will retain full custody of his son."

"You don't know that." Perenelle said with a frown.

"Actually he's right, puce." Nicholas interjected. "Why don't you explain it to her Harry?"

"As you know, Augusta Longbottom gave her life to save Neville when Voldemort tried to kill him." Harry started.

"What is a bit less known is that for one reason or another, Voldemort did not want to kill Augusta Longbottom. Do not ask me why. The bottom line is she offered her life in exchange for her grandson's to a man who wanted to kill him but not her. Once she had done so, Voldemort killed her, effectively binding himself since he had unknowingly agreed to her offer. When he turned his wand on the baby, he broke a vow made with magic and his body was destroyed, a sure way to kill anyone... Of course, Voldemort, being who he was, survived in some form; however, it also means, Augusta's love for her descendant gave him a protection. A protection maintained because he lives under the same roof as a member of Augusta's family: his father. In the case of a divorce, Dumbledore would never agree to let Neville loose this protection and would use his great political power to sway the votes in favor of Frank."

Perenelle looked at her husband for confirmation. His grim face and the slight nod he gave her was enough for her.

"I… I don't know what to say" she stammered.

"About what?" Harry piped as he finished his nearly cold tea.

"About how you know this. About how much you've thought about it. About so many things…" Perenelle said slowly, her face betraying how lost she felt. "I think I'll leave you to your discussion between men. Merlin knows I can hardly follow you when you are talking directly to me anyway." Perenelle said as she got up. "Now where is that wand of mine? Arrg! Nicolas!"

"Yes dear?"

"Where is this Memory Elixir you've been promising me for centuries?"

"Working on it, honey. Working on it." Nicholas answered patiently.

"You'd better, if you know what's good for you. And don't expect me to forget about it either!" Perenelle shot back as she left the dinning room, taking with her a tray full with cups and glasses.

"Ah… I love her but sometimes she drives me nuts" Nicholas said as he waved his wand and created a Silencing bubble around the room.

"Say, Nicholas" Harry probed lightly.

"Hmmm…?"

"I do not mean to sound rude or anything but you look in your early sixties, or late fifties. Perenelle looks like she is ten years older easily." Harry said tentatively.

"So?"

"I thought you were older than her."

"Older than her? Where did you get that idea from?" Flamel asked, clearly puzzled.

"Some book I read once. It said you were an opera lover, -"

"That I am" Nicholas said cutting Harry. "Have you ever heard Verdi's La Traviata? It is most inspiring."

"Nicholas, I was talking here." Harry said impatiently.

"Oh… Right, right, of course. Do continue."

"It also said you were living in Devon and were seven years older than your wife." Harry finished quickly for fear to be cut again with one of Nicholas's logorrhea. Luckily those were rare but really it was impossible to listen without dying of boredom; Harry knew: he had tried.

"Devon? I've never lived in Devon in my life! A bit in Dorset though, but Devon? This book's probably been written by some guy from Devon who had no idea where I lived. And no, Perenelle isn't seven years younger; she is in fact nearly fifteen years older. But I guess the writer wanted me to look like a regular folk of today: a younger wife, a easily accessed house, etc. He or she maybe wrote I owned a car and a Muggle credit card."

"You married a woman fifteen years older than you in the middle of the XIVth century?" Harry asked incredulously.

"Yes, I did. She was a widow back then and used her wealth to alleviate the suffering of the poor. I became immediately smitten with her. And one thing led to another, and…" Nicholas explained, his eyes toward the ceiling, clearly reminiscing of the early days of his life, before cutting himself abruptly. "But we are not here to talk about my love life back in Paris mid-XIVth century!"

"We are not?" Harry asked feebly. He knew now was the time. He was either going to leave or…

"We are here to talk about your picture in the news!" Nicholas exclaimed.

"What was this desert again? I really love it. Bitter chocolate with a slice of apricot marmalade under the icing and some whipped cream…" Harry innocently asked.

"It's called a Sacher-Torte, from the Sacher hotel in Vienna. And do not try to stir the conversation toward another topic." Nicholas said before sending two newspapers at Harry's face.

The first one was from the Daily Prophet. The second Wizarding World Wide, a newspaper recently introduced in England which apparently had managed to implement itself despite the Ministry's obvious support of the Daily Prophet.

The titles were all Harry needed to see to know. Nicholas couldn't not notice, but Harry had hoped that maybe one would overshadow the other. No such luck.


Squib or not Squib?

By R. Skeeter


Freak Accident at Janus Corp. creates stuff of Legends

By S. Juan, Editor in chief


"What do you want to know first?" Harry asked softly.

"Let's start with how Harry James Potter managed to be categorized as a squib." Nicholas stated.

"Well, it's kind of silly you know." Harry said feebly.

"Silly my arse. You fucked up Harry. How did it happen?" Nicholas clearly demanded.

Harry waved his hand sending several Charms the entire room. Nicholas raised an eyebrow when he saw the first one was to identify any human in the room, the second to kill any insect or other little bug people could Enchant to spy, the third charm was designed to stop any magic not from the identified humans of the room.

"Paranoid much?" Nicholas asked.

"Is it really paranoia if they are out to get you?" Harry shot back as usual when this question was asked to him.

Nicholas just rolled his eyes and motioned for the younger wizard to start.

"As you know I do have two magical cores that for a reason I do not understand very well are fighting against each other. In order to protect myself and allow me to use magic I wear Suppressing Bracelets. As Janus I use my older core, meaning the younger one is suppressed. When I go home I suppress the older core too."

"So you were registered as having no magic leaking of your body." Nicholas interpreted.

"Exactly. Seeing as I did die when Bellatrix Lestrange attacked me, I figure my name was erased from the Hogwarts list. Dumbledore of course came to check but I took great care in never looking at him and keeping extra calm when he was around…"

"So much that he didn't find any trace of magic belonging to you at all." Nicholas said in understanding. "But did you have to make all this ruckus when your letter did not arrive?"

"It was not me!" Harry protested.

"Harry, you are twenty-five, please keep the acting part for when you are out of this house."

"It still was not me!" Harry vehemently said. "I just asked where my Hogwarts letter was to my parents and they said I did not get one. When I asked why, my father flatly told me I could not go because I was a squib."

"I guess it didn't go too well with you. What did you do?" Flamel questioned.

"Nothing."

"Nothing? I find that a bit hard to believe" Nicolas stated "Especially with this" he finished waving the copy of the Daily Prophet.

"The thing is" Harry slowly explained "I was actually too choked to say anything. I just… remained there staring at my father, waiting for him to tell me the truth: that he had hid it or that they wanted me to go somewhere else than Hogwarts. But he did not. After several minutes I realized he was looking at me with worry. He actually believed it. I could not stop myself, I laughed at his face."

"Must have been pleased" Nicholas commented.

"Not really." Harry absently replied as he remembered it.


James recoiled as if he had been slapped.

"What are you laughing at Harry?"

"You" Harry managed to say between two bouts of laughter.

"Harry" Jamed snapped. "This is not a joke. Professor Dumbledore himself came to check as a personal favor for me and you have no magic. You can't go to Hogwarts."

"Like I'm gonna believe you." Harry snapped back. All trace of laughter evaporated as he sat in an armchair and started to think of how to get himself out of this unplanned situation.

"Lily!"

"What?" Lily asked as she came in the living room.

"Harry doesn't believe me."

"Why should I?"

"Maybe because I'm telling the truth?" James said as Lily said "Maybe because he is your father?"

"Mum, he might be my father but that doesn't provide any parenting skill. Father, you are lying."

"I am not lying, you arrogant piece of -"

"James!" Lily cried.

"Sorry Lily, it's just… I… I so wanted to-"

"I know love. I know."

Turning toward Harry, Lily asked "Why do you think dad is lying to you sweetie?"

"Mum, I don't thing he is lying to me. I know he is. The question is does he do it on purpose or is he just stupidly believing everything he is told?"

"Harry! Do not speak ill of your father!"

"Come on Lil', it must be the shock." James said in Harry's defense to the surprise of both mother and son.

"Yeah right." Harry commented as he jumped to his feet. "Or maybe, because Janus drilled so many defensive spells and jinxes in my head the last few months, I do know I can do magic."

James and Lily stared at Harry. "You mean to tell me you have already done magic?" the former asked.

"Yes sir. I have."

"Don't call me sir, I'm your dad."

"You wish" Harry mumbled.

"Maybe you could show me sweetie?" Lily supplied as she handed Harry her wand.

His hands clasped in his back, Harry refused with a sharp sign of the head. "He would be capable of arresting me for underage magic in order to protect his god Albus Dumbledore."

"I'll let you know young man that Albus Dumbledore is a great wizard, and you'd better stop acting like you know everything because-"

"James, please stop it" Lily said tiredly. "You know Harry can get under your skin with far more ease than anybody else. Stop reacting all the time or he'll keep in doing it and I can't handle the both of you when you are like that. It's also valid for you young man!"

"Yes mum"

"Yes Lily."

Father and son said at the same time, for once in agreement about something.

"So" Lily said turning fully toward Harry "Can you show me? I promise to you dad won't do anything."

"You can't promise that" Harry pointed out.

"Oh yes I can." Lily said before turning a feral eye toward her husband. "Can't I?"

Sensing the danger, James raised his hands "Of course you can Lily flower."

His hands still in his back, Harry nodded and gave a sharp flick with his right thumb de-activating his Suppressing Bracelet for his younger core. Taking his mother's wand Harry murmured "Ten and quarter inches, willow."

"How do you know that?" His father asked sharply.

"I know what willow looks like." Harry said absently.

A glint appeared in his eyes. It was the only warning James got before…

"Langlock - Locomotor MortisFlippendoFurnunculus"

James, believing his son to be a squib and pretty sure a totally untrained wizard wasn't any danger to him, hadn't even tried to move out of the curses way. Their speed had caught him by surprise and he suddenly found himself with his tongue attached to the roof of his mouth, his feet glued together, boils spreading all over his face and could feel himself sailing in the room before crashing onto the sofa.

"Right…" Lily said weakly as she took her wand back and cast a Finite Incantatem on her husband. "There must be some explanation."

"Yeah. Like Dumbledore can't handle having both Neville Longbottom and Harry Potter in the same school. Or maybe he thinks I'm not good enough to be a Hogwarts student?" Harry said bitterly.

Evidently, it wasn't bitterness that Harry felt but pure panic. Too many things happened at Hogwarts for him to go at another school. Sure his various safe houses ensured he had an address to which Beauxbatons Academy of Magic, Durmstrang Institute and several other schools had sent acceptation letters but he just couldn't see himself going to Salem Witche's Institute when he already knew the program and needed to be at Hogwarts.

Making a split decision, Harry took out the numerous letters of acceptations he had received and asked casually while his father got up.

"So… Where should I go then? Beauxbatons isn't bad, and I've heard a lot about the Quidditch team of Durmstrang. However, I'm a bit unsure about this South African School."

Lily and James stared at the stack of letters in his hands.

"Are those acceptation letters?" James asked feebly.

"No. They are rejection letters to school I didn't apply to." Harry replied.

"No need to be so cheeky." James grumbled.

"You did ask for it dear." Lily said as she went through the various letters, casting a Translation Charm here and then when required.

"The thing James, is that those letters are genuine. Which does bring the question as to why Dumbledore lied…" Lily said softly.

"I'm sure there is an explanation." James returned surely.

"I'm sure he will have one dear. But will it be any good? Because, let me tell you I won't be happy if he says he doesn't want Harry because of what happened five years ago or because he doesn't consider him to be good enough. Just look at the curses he just cast!"

"Maybe we should speak to Janus about it?" James offered, to the surprise of both mother and son.

"You hate the guy." Harry said simply.

"Maybe but that doesn't mean he can't help." James explained.

"He won't go against Dumbledore. Too much things to do at the moment." Harry returned shutting the idea down.

"Then we'll go to the Ministry and lodge a Complain!" James exclaimed like he had discovered a thirteenth use to dragon blood.

"That's got to be the worst idea ever." Harry said.

"Well, I'm your father and as long as you live under my roof, you'll do as I say!" James said before grabbing his and Harry's cloak and pushing his son in the Floo.

I got a bad feeling about that Harry thought as the chimneys were turning around him. However, time was of the essence and he barely had the time to think this thought that his bent left leg slammed on the ground propelling him in a dignified way within the Ministry of Magic.

Letting none of his internal turmoil surface on his face, Harry calmly stepped to the side, waiting for his father and praying to whatever god might be listening to him that things would remain smooth. Unfortunately, that was without taking into account James Potter's ability to find and attract as much trouble as his son; the wizard's current mood was sadly as useful as oil on fire and Harry couldn't shake his current feeling of doom.

James Potter stepped out of one the other numerous fireplaces littering the Ministry's ground floor. Putting his hand on his son's shoulder, who to his amazement didn't try to evade him, he went into line for the elevator.

"Good morning James, Mr. Potter" an elderly woman greeted them pleasantly.

"Good morning Mrs. Gretling" Harry returned politely.

"You two know each other?" James asked somewhat uselessly.

"Janus ensured I know the inner working of our government father."

"So?"

"I was given several tours in order to be able to better understand the function of each department. Including, the Obliviating Squads." Harry explained calmly.

"You have such a sweet boy James, so polite and well mannered. You must be very proud of him" Mrs. Gretling gushed.

"I guess…" James muttered puzzled, his eyes never leaving his son's form.

Harry didn't bother looking back at his father. It would be useless as James's subconscious posture screamed his thoughts. While Harry was not a specialist of the mind, he knew enough to know his father's thoughts were along the line of Since when Harry is a polite boy? or Why wasn't I informed my own son had visited my work place?

People and paper airplanes filled the lift and emptied it at each floor until James and Harry exited at the fifth, leaving behind a man with a broom nobody seemed able to control.

The International Magical Office of Law was exactly as Harry remembered it. Pale brown floor with light yellow walls and opened desks everywhere. James immediately spotted a young man alone, and disregarding the poor boy's obvious mountain of work if the barely standing piles of files were anything to go by, sat abruptly making the wizard nearly jump with fright.

"Hum… Welcome to the International Magical Office of Law, my name is Tim Jones. How may I help you?"

James impatiently waved his hand at the man's speech. "I know where I am. I am here to seek legal advice and eventually start pursuits against Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." He explained gruffly.

"Before you even start sir, I would like to point to you that the very few cases against Hogwarts were dismissed very quickly. It would take a matter of grave importance to create a workable file against the school and-"

"What about my elder son who will be passed eleven on the 1st of September, can do magic but did not receive an invitation?" James spat angrily.

"Hmm… How do you know you son can do magic, sir? Not that I don't believe you but I'm afraid I'm going to need a bit more than a father's word on that." Tim answered quietly, his face betraying his obvious annoyance in front of a classical case of a Pureblood unable to deal with a squib Heir.

Obviously, Mr. Jones was a bit surprised when a stack of a dozen letters was dropped on his desk as way of explanation. He raised his eyebrow when he picked the first one which turned to be an invitation to Durmstrang. His second eyebrow joined the first at Beauxbattons's. Finally both disappeared when the Classes of Moscow's pamphlet felt on his knees. Half of the envelops remained untouched as Tim bolted from his chair before coming back several minutes later with a very effeminate blond man in his thirties.

"Good morning, my name is Ignatus Pearson. I understand you have substantial proof Hogwarts has been refusing entrance to magical children?" he asked with icy eyes and a warm smile.

"Yes!" James nearly cried.

"I would not go as far as saying Hogwarts is refusing entrance to magical children." Harry said quietly. "Merely that I was not invited to join its students' ranks while international school did offer me a position in theirs."

Unfortunately, Pearson dismissed Harry the second he had seen him and kept his feral gaze on James's form.

"Doubts have been elevated against the current headmaster and his staff. I believe it would be best if you and I could sit and discuss this in my office, Mr….?"

"Potter" James answered as he got up to follow the man. "Wait for me." he said to Harry. Said son nodded and added "I will wait for you father."

However, the second James, Tim Jones and Ignatus Pearson were out of his sight, he jumped to his feet and run to the nearest bathroom. Congratulating himself on his less than trusting mind, Janus exited the same booth two minutes later and took the elevator to the first floor.

As usual, and unlike his first visit, Harry's way wasn't impaired. He reached the Minister's office without being stopped; a fact most would have found strange, then again Janus knew a lot of Aurors by sight and his Lordship ring gave him the same access than their badges. However, the unusual fact resided in the absence of Fudge's assistant. Harry shrugged, it wasn't like she was anything spectacular and she seemed to dislike him for whatever reason. Then again, it might have something to do with how I bit the shit out of two Aurors in front of her Harry mused.

With a knock, Harry opened Fudge's door and introduced his head into the gap.

"Hey, you are busy?"

"Janus" Fudge exclaimed after sending a few paper to the ground in shock. "Were we supposed to meet today?"

"No. I was just around and wondered if I could borrow a quill and some parchment?"

"Sure" Fudge answered as he blinked. "But don't you have any?"

"I do" Janus acknowledged, "but I hardly move around with an ink pot in my pockets"

Fudge laughed, "True, you would look ridiculous if it spilt and tinted you."

"Here you are" the minister said as he slid a parchment and some writing utensils toward Harry.

"Thanks." Janus said simply.

"So, what's the deal?" Fudge asked, reclining in his armchair.

"Bah… Nothing much, it is just my apprentice's father."

"What about him? It's Harry Potter, the Warrior, right?" Fudge questioned, suddenly interested.

"Don't Cornelius." Janus warned.

"What?" Fudge returned, raising his hands.

"I know what you are thinking. Well don't. I am doing us a favor here."

"How?" Fudge demanded.

"Well… Through his training with me Harry used magic, and I did not want him to accidentally hurt someone. I had him wear a Suppressing Bracelet."

"Quite reasonable" Fudge agreed.

"Yes, well… Due to Harry's unusual… youth, Albus Dumbledore checked his magic to ensure he could go to Hogwarts."

"He didn't get accepted?" Fudge guessed.

"And his father is getting all worked up. What makes James Potter such a good Auror has become a big problem. If I do not kill this in the egg, we will end up with the Ministry and Hogwarts discredited."

"What do you mean the Ministry? We have nothing to do with it!" Fudge exclaimed indignantly.

"No, you do not. But the Muggle-born and their supporters will be asking why the Ministry was not able to counter the Headmaster's decision." Janus explained calmly as applied his seal at the bottom of his letter.

"Hogwarts is independent from the Ministry. We can't do anything." Fudge protested.

Janus smiled as he looked warmly at the minister. "Cornelius, I know that. But then they would ask why Mrs. Hopkins did not notice Harry's lack of magical use when she sends a letter the second a Muggle-born uses magic. It would lead to the uncomfortable task of explaining why she couldn't have noticed."

"Ah… And you know how to stop this right?" Fudge said.

"If I can send this letter quickly, it should be dealt swiftly." Janus replied, waving his scroll.

"Dolores!" Cornelius Fudge shouted.

Harry forced himself to remain still as the same small pudgy pink-wearing witch he remembered entered the office.

"Janus, this is Dolores Jane Umbridge, my new Undersecretary. Dolores, please have Janus's letter delivered to Albus Dumbledore as soon as possible."

"And I mean delivered, not sent" Fudge added as Harry made his way to Toad-face… Hmmm… Dolores.

"A pleasure to meet you Madam" Janus said pleasant as he kissed Dolores's left hand in the true old Pureblood fashion.

"The pleasure is all mine Lord Janus." She returned.

Harry didn't blink, yet he was oddly pleased to see she knew how to behave. After all, she was a strong advocate of the purity of blood, it would have seemed a bit hypocritical of her not to know the ancient ways.

Harry didn't know what bothered him the most. That she was exactly what he disliked yet had to be within the Ministry, or that she was true to her own beliefs. A fact very few Death Eaters were.

"Dolores is drafting a law to control the movements of Magical Beings." Fudge supplied.

"Are you now?" Janus said silkily. "I hope you do plan in including Werewolves as well."

"But of course." Umbridge replied, a pinkish color appearing on her cheeks.

Great, now Toad-woman has a crush on me Harry thought with disgust.

"They do repulse me too." Umbridge said, mistaking Harry's frown,

"I hope we will be able to exchange ideas on this draft of your's Dolores." Janus said, schooling his face back to its neutral state. "However, I am afraid time is of the essence as far as this letter is concerned."

"Of Course!" Umbridge squeaked. "I'm on it."

"Thank you Madam." Janus said as she quickly left the room.

"She looks like a good element, Cornelius. Be careful though, she might have a bit too much drive."

"You think?" Fudge returned as he sat back behind his desk.

"Only time will tell. Only time will tell. But one thing is for sure: she is someone currently worthy of trust."

"Currently?"

"Who's to know how things will evolve?" Janus explained. "Well, I guess I must be off to deal with this tiny issue."

"You sure you'll be able to?" the Minister queried.

"When have I ever let you down Cornelius?" Janus returned briskly.

"Ok, ok. Off you go then. I'll see you Monday for lunch?"

Janus nodded and quickly made his way out of the Auror department. He entered the lift and Harry exited it at the fifth floor. He barely had the time to cross half the distance to the chair he had been occupying that the lift opened again.

Albus Dumbledore exited it, his flamboyant orange robes hurting the eyes of all those present.

"Ah… Harry. I was looking for you." He said jovially.

"Why is that Albus?" Harry asked innocently.

Dumbledore frowned. "You shouldn't use the first name of people you hardly know Harry."

"I agree with you Albus. Janus says the same thing. However, he also says, I should not let people take liberties with me on the ground I am not a teenager yet."

"Well, then Mr. Potter" Dumbledore said, loosing a bit of his warmth. "I am here to deliver your Hogwarts letter."

Harry smiled. "Don't you have a spell to perform first?"

Dumbledore blinked and remained still for a couple of seconds. "How do you know that?"

"How do you think you were warned?" Harry countered.

The Headmaster smiled benignly and waved his wand in what recognized as a surface magical scan. "Everything seems to be in order. Welcome to Hogwarts Mr. Potter" Dumbledore said jovially as he handed Harry his Hogwarts letter.

Harry took it graciously a bit saddened such a right of passage became butchered for him.

"I am not sure I will be part of your students come September, Headmaster Dumbledore." He said softly, still taking care in not looking in the man's eyes.

"Why ever not?" Dumbledore asked.

"Well, there is still the summer to go, lots of things could happen. And I also have been invited to numerous other schools." Harry said. Two days later he would curse himself for such words.

"I have a feeling you will be part of my students." Dumbledore said before turning around with and leaving Harry with a 'Enjoy your summer Mr. Potter.'


"Anyway, my father dropped the charges but I did end up in the Daily Prophet." Harry concluded.

"It was close." Nicholas commented.

"It sure was, but it ended well."

Nicholas and Harry moved back in the alchemist's office.

"You know, I'm a bit cross with you." Flamel warned.

"Whatever for?" Harry asked, clearly surprised.

"As long as you are not a graduate from Hogwarts, you can do as many masteries as you want. I told you that years ago, yet…"

"I know…" Harry sighed. "I did qualify as an Auror according to Moody though." He exclaimed.

Flamel barked a laugh. "I bet it did wonder for your fashion sense."

Harry glowered. "I have to acknowledge those boots did the job. But why are they so… colorful?"

"Stop asking me questions you know the answer to." Nicholas gently chided.

"I have absolutely no clue why they are so ugly." Harry returned.

"Harry, those boots send you a light shock in the sole when your movement makes noise."

"Don't I know it" Harry muttered as Nicholas continued.

"It is only legal because people are aware of its purpose. If they could be any color, they would be illegal because considered a Dark item."

Harry nodded. "I guess, I did know that."

"Of course you did. You just didn't think it through." The alchemist commented. "So, I thought you wanted to get your Mastery in Transfiguration…"

"Yeah… I am not working on it for the moment." Harry said clearly embarrassed.

"Why not?" Flamel pressed.

"Well… I figured, I would become an animagus before trying for the mastery." Harry started. "As you know, the best way to study the transformation and practice it, is to Transfigure one of you hand or feet, using a general spell and to try to revert back using your internal magic. The easiest it is, the most likely you are to be of this kind of animal and you refine your spell until you know what breed you are"

Nicholas nodded and motioned for Harry to continue.

"Well… It seems I am not a mammal."

"Unfortunate, but why did you stop? Birds are not mammals."

"I never said I was an avian either" Harry pouted.

"So what?"

In lieu of answer, Harry waved his wand, Transfiguring his left hand. The member lengthened and became more muscled; its color changed form pinkish to orange/pink and turned soft.

Harry used his wand to raise the appendix in the air and let Flamel see behind it.

"Suckers?" Nicholas said, clearly astonished.

"Yes. It seems I am a-"

"A Squid!" Nicholas laughed.

"An octopus" Harry corrected and crossed his arms as the alchemist kept on laughing his ass off.

"So what are you going to do?" Flamel finally said as he dried his tears.

"Wait a bit until I mentally change or am able to force my way through a transformation into a mammal." Harry shrugged.

"Make cense." Nicholas commented, before adopting a much more serious face. "Now, can I see it?"

"She" Harry corrected absently.

"She?"

"Yes, she is a fema-" Harry started before angrily sweeping his hand on the alchemist's desk and sending parchments and scrolls on the ground.

"God dam it! Can you see it? I now have to fucking deal with this. I did not ask for it."

"Maybe there is a reason?" Nicholas supplied softly.

"Reason? There's not fucking reason! I am Fate's bitch toy! That's the reason!" Harry yelled, walking in the small room.

"Well. It was a freak accident."

"I tell you what it is Nicholas. It is a pain in the ass! I can't get rid of her because everybody knows about it! I am watched by everyone in case I just turn crazy. Like I wanted this to happen! When I hurt her, I got a blinding headache-"

"You hurt her on purpose?" Nicholas asked seriously, cutting Harry's rant.

"O course not! I just did not know at the beginning. And she has been magically altered, nobody knows how to deal with her."

"But you."

"True" Harry acknowledged. "Actually, it is not like I know, I just… I have those hunches, and all of them happen to be the rights one. But I do not want her, Nicholas" Harry whined.

"It's not like you have much of a choice." Nicholas said nicely. "So, can I see her?"

Harry nodded. "Apparently she is named Ilana" he said as he took the small basket that never left his side and put it on Nicholas's desk.

"You'll have to tell me how you got her" Nicholas said, his hand itching toward the basket.

"I gave birth to her." Harry said.

"I know" Flamel said impatiently, "I mean how she became your familiar."

"Familiar" Harry scoffed. "What a stupid name."

"Well, she is going to be more acquainted to you than your friends…" Nicholas noted. "And you two are the first recorded case of a wizard and an animal to be bound to each other"

"Well, I would have gladly done without it." Harry mumbled.

"You're sure it's safe?"

"Sure" Harry said dismissively. "Her first attacking mechanism was destroyed when we got bonded. As for the second, it won't be active until she is a month old."

"You're sure?" Nicholas asked, clearly uncomfortable.

"Yes, I'm sure."

Nicholas Flamel opened the basket and came face to face with Ilana. Or rather, the big yellow eyes of a small basilisk.