A/N Finally here, the next chapter, I'll hold all notes for the end.
10 Rebuilding
Three days later, Harry and John found themselves in London riding the elevator up to the Business floor of the Moretti compound. Upon entering the lobby, Luca and Neville were asked to wait while John and Harry were shown to the second elevator up to the penthouse.
The ride up was bringing up memories of the times spent with friends and family up in the pent house when he was younger. The main one was the Christmas before he was arrested, when Luca had insisted that John and Harry come with him to the Boxing Day celebration that Al was throwing. With a smile, he remembered seeing Al's first daughter, 15 month old Alexia, for the first time and how she had immediately taken to him and clung to him almost all day, fussing whenever he set her down or tried to hand her off. He had never been around young children before, but it had felt natural for him to spoil and play with the young girl. Al's wife, who had been about six months pregnant at the time, had joked about sending her home with Harry, as she had never seen her daughter so content and well behaved before.
As the doors opened, Harry was hit with the quiet and stillness that was a sharp reminder that Alexia and her entire family were gone and would never return.
As they stepped out, Harry took a deep breath to steady his nerves and prepared himself for what was to come.
What was to come? Harry asked himself for the hundredth time since the funeral, something that he also had asked John one way or the other at least half that number of times too. However, if John knew something, and Harry knew that he knew at least something, he denied to give Harry any real information on what was to come. He had caught John and Luca discussing something very serious several times, however once again, had never learned anything from them, both too sharp to not notice someone watching them. Daphne had joked that it was like catching a glimpse of what it must have been like with a ten year old Harry running around, sneaking around, trying to get a glimpse of what the adults were up to.
Daphne, gods, while it only had been one week since that party and the following morning when they had finally come together, he already felt like this is how it was meant to be. She had been the rock for not only Harry, but for Luca and Cassie also. The first day after the tragedy, Cassie had never left her uncle's side, both too lost without the other to function. After that, Daphne spent most of her waking hour tending to them, able to get the two of them to open up some and get Cassie set in her room. After the first day, in which Cassie had barely said a word after the news that her parents had passed, Cassie had taken to Daphne just as Harry had predicted. She had opened up and spilled random stories of times with her parents and favorite memories, while Daphne laugh when needed, and hugged her and cried along with her when needed. And no one could control Luca like her, he always listened to her, weather it was a comment about it not being his fault, or a command to not drink another shot, she was always there, and he always there. And every night, she would come to their room and confide her fears to him, and listen to his concerns as they held each other in their bed.
She really was something.
Harry was brought out of his musing when they rounded the corner and came face to face with the Don and his other son, Vito. The Don smiled a smile that never reached his eyes and patted John on his arm before taking Harry's arm as support and smiled up at him, similar to how Harry had assisted him at the funeral. Vito stepped forward and smiled slyly at Harry and offered his hand to John.
For a split second, Harry saw the animosity that had plagued these two flash between the two men before John took his hand and shook it. Harry had only met the man once before, and on that occasion, he had remembered the two getting into a fist fight before Al and Luca pulled them apart. The common consensus was that Al had always been the one to think thing through and use strategy and cunning to accomplish his goals and used violence last. However, Vito was more the Sicilian of the two boys, and was extremely cold in business and put value on pride, honor and respect. He didn't hesitate to resort to violence and anger. While John didn't necessarily like him, John did respect him. After the fight, the two made up, and much blame was put on the amount of alcohol that the two had consumed, and the fact that they were both too bull headed for their own good. In short, Harry knew that Al was much like his father, while Vito was like his uncle.
The four moved to the den and positioned themselves around the table there, John and Harry on one side, the don and Vito on the other. Finally the Don broke the silence. "There is no use hinting around the topic and approaching it slowly and cautiously. It is time to put all cards on the table and get down to business. As of this time, all of us are equal, none more important than the next." He looked directly into Harry's eye's and fixed him with a look that spoke more than words could reveal, they spoke of pride, but also regret and sadness.
"Harry, you are young, so very young. It pains me to have to burden you with this at this point in your life. A time when you should be young and happy, chasing girls and parting with your friends. But I know that is not you. Even before your incarceration, you were older that your years, and could shoulder responsibility better that grown men three times your age. I knew at a young age, you were a leader that was meant for great things. I have always pictured you growing into a position in my organization, a place of leadership and power. When you were taken from us I at first wept, then I raged. I was ready to tear this country apart, this world apart, to free you. If John is my son, and I view him as one, than you are my praised grandson. I was planning a spectacular strike, leveling the path to your prison and tearing it apart brick by brick. But we never could, cooler heads convinced me to leave it in the hands of John, and I was pleased when news of your freedom reached us. However, on the night of your party, I saw it, the prison had not destroyed you as it does so many young men, as I had feared it might destroy you. But I saw the strength and confidence that rested beneath you, and I was so proud at the time. I think I also saw what part of where the strength and confidence came from and what could bring it out ever more. That women of yours, Daphne, she is special, she brings out the best in you. I believe she is a part of what transformed you from a good man into a great man. Maybe I am just an old sappy man, or the fact that we Italians are just a passionate person, but I liked her and know you need to keep her close, you two together are so very powerful."
He took a deep breath and paused, looking back into Johns face. Harry knew that the two old friends were silently communicating. Eventually, John just nodded and took a deep breath.
"We are leaving this country, is has taken too much from us, and it is time. In light of this, we, that is John and myself, have decided that it is time to move up plans. John is expanding his family, in a way, and taking over Alessio's business and territories. When I step out of this country in five days, the Moretti family will be finished with this damned island that has taken so much from me forever. Some of Alessio's crew have requested to stay here, having families that do not want to move, and I respect their wishes. If the new head will want them to stay on, I will vouch for them and let them stay. Harry, I want to create a new family with you at that head. Naturally, you will be closely to the Bishop family as you two are like father and son, or two best friends, or both at the same time. However you will be your own head, your own boss."
Harry was god smacked, he couldn't do that, he was too young, too weak, to inexperienced. "Sir, I am honored, truly, but I think you expect to much, I couldn't do this."
"Bull shit!" to Harry's shock, it was Vito that had spoken out for the first time, "Harry, I do not know you all that well, but I know one thing when I see it, is that you are a leader, someone that has the power and calm to make the hard decisions and lead people to victory. I also see the power and determination that lies beneath you, and it is just waiting to be pulled to the surface. I have discussed this with many people close to you, John, Mr. Longbottom, Luca, and my father to name a few. Most of them, those not in this room actually, were extremely tight lipped and protective of you, to tell you the truth, fierce really. But that alone spoke volumes. I believe everyone that knows you, really knows you, would do anything for you, and would die for you. I hope one day, I could get to know you like that. If you were not my alley, my family, I would fear you. With the right people supporting you, you would be almost unstoppable."
"Harry," it was John this time, "I feel that I know you the best, as the Don said, you are my son, brother and closest friend. I know that you can do this. This is meant to be."
Harry, was floored, the confidence these men were giving him was unbelievable. Could he do this? He thought what Vito had said, and images of Daphne and Neville flashed into his mind. With them, a new golden trio, a darker trio, maybe he could. Still in his own world, Harry barely realized that the Don was patting his hand. He looked up to see the Don watching him with sadness etched all over his face.
"Please consider this my boy, I hate to put such a burden on one so young and good, but I know that you can do it. I would like you to move to London, this building is now yours. You need to bring that Doc of yours, like I said together, you are great. I also admire that Neville, he is like a young Luca, I think you would be good with him too. I need Vito too much back home, I am too old and fear that I do not have the strength to head my Italian operation much longer, and he will be taking over soon. If you agree to this, than we will still support you any way we can, guns, advice, anything short of men and you will have it."
Vito leaned forward, a cold look on his face, "Not only could you do this Harry, but I know you could also help me out too. I want, no, need revenge for my brother. For my nieces, uncle, sister-in-law, and everyone that died, avenge them. Find them and destroy those who did this. You could do that, I know it. And I will be forever in you depth for it."
Harry looked at John, and without a word, Harry saw the confidence in him and knew there was only one choice, and that John would support him the entire way.
Looking into the Don's face, Harry nodded, "Yes sir, I will make you proud." Looking into the cold eyes of the man he both feared and respected, "And Vito, I will avenge those lost to us, but not for you, for Al, for Cassie, but mainly, for Alexia."
Vito rose and walked around the table, held out his hand to Harry. Harry rose and shook it, only to be pulled into a hug, Vito whispered in his ear, "And that is exactly why I know that you are perfect for the job."
A/N Well hello again, sorry for the delay, I really struggled to write this one and my new job has been keeping me busy. Once again, I do not see this story being abandoned, I will finish this one. Originally I planned on all kinds of dialogue and in the first draft, it was much longer, but it just felt heavy. I really hope it is acceptable and not too short, and finally, many have what they wanted, a Don Harry, of Don Potter. Ok, that just isn't right, just Harry than from now on. Next up, Harry getting his crew together and maybe a little bit of action, I have had this one planed out for a while, so it shouldn't be a long wait to make up for the long one for this one. Once again thanks for reading and please review.
Oh yeah, I have started working on a different project that I started way before this one again. Originally, it was going to be a massive story, but now I think it is just going to be a one shot, a very long one shot about 9k words now, with maybe a sequel eventually to pick it up where I initially planned it out. I find when I am having issues with this one; it helps to work on that one as it is very different. Anyways, I think I may be posting that one soon, so look for that one. It is way different than this one and is basically a Ron/ Hermione story, something I actually do not read, but for some reason it came to me and I had to write it. So look for 'The Death of Harry Potter' in the hopefully near future. No hint in the title there about what it may be about, huh?
Finally, I just started to re-reread Aspirations, by megamatt09, again and it is a great Harry/Ginny story, check that one out if you need something to hold you over. Also, I am getting into 'The Ring of Gold' by KevinVoigt and so far it is good too. Both are Harry/Ginny, but I am kind of getting into that again, besides, I think it is official and I have read every Harry/Daphne, hell, every Daphne story that is T or M and completed on this site, so I had to go back to the Ginny. Besides, redheads are my weakness.
Later, Tugs.