Disclaimer: No money is made of this, that's why I am poor.
Warnings: This story will have slash, violence
Beta: Angelhitomie
True to tradition Harry stayed up and waited for midnight to come. Ever since the wards around Privet Drive had fallen, he had not spent this night alone. Usually Ginny had been up along with him, and they had spent the time together, enjoying that Andromeda would make sure that Teddy didn't burst in on them.
But tonight Harry sat by the window, aware of how alone he was in his room. The house's three other occupants were in their beds, presumably asleep. So the likeliness of any of them finding out that he was up and about was slim to none.
Wrapping the quilt closer around his body, Harry had his eyes on the moon on the clear sky. In a few days the moon would be full and he and Severus would find out what it would be like to have two werewolves running around in their backyard. It seemed like it would be quite an experience.
It almost meant that it was nearly a month since the latest addition had been added to their family. Funny, before they had taken Severus along to their home, Harry had thought that it would just be he and Teddy for the rest of their lives. Now he couldn't imagine a future without any of them.
Somewhere in the house a clock rung and Harry stifled a sigh. "Happy birthday to me." Hopefully, the next year would not be quite as eventful as this one had been, he could do with some peace and quiet.
"You know, I can accept that there are things you don't wanna talk about, but I would like not finding out about this kind of stuff simply because I needed a leak," drawled a well-known voice right behind him.
Not having heard anyone enter the room Harry lashed out before he could think about what he was doing. The quilt dropped to the floor as he stood with his back to the window and flames spouting out of his fingertips. Luckily, Fenrir ducked under the flames or Harry would have had a grilled werewolf in his room. The fire died out the moment they touched the walls, the wards absorbing them and gave a satisfied hum at the added energy. He hadn't been aware that wards could even give of any kind of feelings.
"Damn it, Fenrir, don't snuck up on me unless you want to give me a heart attack!" he warned, pushing away from the window as Fenrir picked himself up from the floor. Considering where the man had been, Harry supposed he should be thankful that Fenrir at least had bothered to put on pants. Last time he had found him up, Fenrir had been stark naked, which had resulted in a stern talk about modesty and young impressionable minds. Harry really didn't need Teddy to go through another phrase where his godson refused to wear anything. And when accidental magic was involved, it had been near impossible to ensure that Teddy stayed clothed when they were out in public.
"Yeah, it wouldn't surprise me if you managed to heal from that," grumbled Fenrir, though he did look curios about the matter. Great, now he could look forward to be scared to death because Fenrir wanted to see if he could be revived afterwards. "But that still doesn't explain why you haven't told me that it was your birthday. The boys'll be disappointed that they missed it."
Harry blinked slowly, feeling more than a little weirded out by the fact that he seemed to be scolded by the older man. "For a long time, this was my only way of celebrating it. I was mostly kept busy doing the day and by the end of it, I would be so tired that I fell asleep when I was alone."
For a long while Fenrir was silent, and Harry found his attention drifting out of the window. At least, it had been so until Hagrid had knocked the door in, since then there had always been something that had stopped his relatives from going too far, though they had tried very hard to work their way around what they viewed as an obstacle.
If not for Hogwarts, he would have been forced to run away, or Harry wasn't sure he would have lived long enough to walk out of the door the legal way.
"Hey, what are you doing? Put me down!" Harry found himself swept up in the arms of Fenrir, who paid no mind to the wizard's struggles as he closed the curtains and stepped away from the window.
"As you wish." With a yelp, Harry was unceremonious dumped on the unmade bed he hadn't laid on since this morning. Harry was already rolling, fully intending to get to the other side of the bed where he could face Fenrir, when a hand on his shoulder hindered his plans. It didn't hurt but the grab was tight enough to stop further movements unless he decided to use something a little more drastically.
"What the heck do you think you're doing?" snapped Harry as Fenrir laid down against his back, the duvet pulled up to cover them both as they laid close in the bed. The warmth made Harry's body relax, he hadn't realised how chilled he had been by staying by the window in nothing but his nightclothes.
"I believe that some people call it cuddling," Fenrir deadpanned loosening his grip enough so Harry could move around and get comfortable. Lying on his back wasn't much better but at least it allowed him to look at Fenrir without wringing his neck at the same time. "It's an effective way to keep you in bed, so you actually might get more than a just a couple hours of sleep. Don't try and deny it, your magic can't fool my senses." For once, there was no jeer in Fenrir's voice, if Harry did not know any better; he would say that he was really being cuddled.
Huffing Harry gave in. "Fine, but keep your hands above waist level." He warned, eyes already starting to drop. Now where he was in bed, he was feeling tired and it did not seem like Fenrir intended to let go off him anytime soon.
"I don't mind, there is still plenty of things for me to touch here."
Harry drove his elbow into Fenrir's stomach, not a very effective attack due to their positions before he rolled onto his side with his back to Fenrir. It wasn't that he was ignoring the other, Fenrir had showed that he had Harry's back when it counted, so he could be comfortable showing it to him.
In the following silence Harry slipped off to sleep with a blissful sigh.
)00(
Something was burning.
Realising that the smell wasn't the beginning of another nightmare, Harry went from asleep to awake in a matter of seconds. With his heart working its ways up his throat, Harry flipped out of the otherwise empty bed and flung the door open.
Out there the smell was more prominent, convincing Harry that it was not just the remains of a dream. Unless this was a new and very convincing nightmare, if so Harry dreaded for how this would play out.
A quick check proved that the three other bedrooms were empty of their occupants, and after checking the bathroom, Harry was left with no choice but to descend downstairs where the smell of something burnt was much worse.
Harry made no attempt to be quiet, not that he had done so running around upstairs, until he skipped to a complete stop once inside the kitchen.
Severus and Teddy were already sitting by the made table, both oozing of amusement as they watched the room's third occupant. Perhaps there was also a touch of concern in the way Severus had seated himself at the edge of his chair. Harry could understand their feelings as he found Fenrir by the stove, making what looked like a very strange dance as something from the smoking pan fizzled. Still only dressed in pants, Fenrir's chest and arms were unprotected, and he cursed loudly when something hit his skin. The curse words had Teddy covering his ears, though by the wide grin he wore, his godson was soaking up every word he heard.
"I would prefer it, if you didn't use that kind of words around the boys," he said, stepping up next to Fenrir. Whatever had been in the pan, it had been reduced to a smoking, burnt clump of unidentified material. Harry poked it with a finger, jerking it back when the mass actually hissed at him.
"It's harder than it looks like," grumbled Fenrir and stepped aside when Harry nudged him softly, completely ignoring the comment. "I'm used to a redder version when I've had to cook for myself." It certainly wasn't blood they would taste if anyone dared to take a bite of this, but the attempt might cost them their teeth. Harry took the spatula from him and shooed Fenrir away to join the boys. He could make breakfast faster if he didn't have someone hovering around him.
A short time afterwards they were all seated around the table, the usual array of food laid on the table. From the missing bacon Harry had finally figured out what Fenrir had been attempting to cook.
"Oh, biwdie!" Teddy broke the comfortable silence and nearly leapt out of his chair when an owl swept through the open window. Before the owl had a chance to land or drop its burden, Fenrir reached up and snatched the bird out of the air. The owl gave an indigent screech at being manhandled, but Fenrir' big fist stopped it from flapping its wings in an attempt to flee. "Biwdie, biwdie, biwdie," Teddy cheerfully chanted, not failing to add his part to the noise.
"Teddy, birds, and owl especially, are not something for you to play with. Fenrir, please let it go, I'm sure the owl is just here to deliver the letter it carries." He was thankful that Severus at least was keeping quiet. Seated between Fenrir and Teddy, Harry felt that his eardrums were close to bursting at the noise. "Hogwarts' owls are generally too well mannered to try and steal someone's breakfast. It's the ones from the Ministry you have to be wary of." It was hard to say who was pouting the hardest, but Teddy creased his chanting and Fenrir let the bird go, albeit both were doing it reluctantly.
The moment it was free to move, the owl dropped its letter in Severus' lap and took off through the same window it had entered through, before Harry could give it a peace offering. He doubted that they would be seeing it here again, but it was not like Hogwarts was short-handed on owls anyway.
Harry couldn't quite keep the scowl off his face as he eyed the letter in Severus' hands. While he had known that the summer would not last forever, Severus' return to Hogwarts had been pushed out of his mind. He didn't like the thought of Severus going there, for being the supposedly safest place in Great Britain, Hogwarts was rather unsafe. Unfortunately, pulling Severus out of school was not an option at the current time. The boy needed his O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s if he wanted to pursue a carrier in the Wizarding World. And there was a great amount of things he couldn't teach Severus, Potions being one of them.
So Severus would have to go to Hogwarts, no matter how much the thought irked Harry. He would simply have to come up with a way to be alerted if something happened to his boy, no doubt that Dumbledore would prove to be uncooperative. And the run in with Sirius had reminded Harry that other students could be a danger to Severus.
With a beaming smile Harry looked over his family. He would find a way to keep them all safe, it be from Dumbledore, the Ministry or meddlesome Dark Lords, it would not matter. He just had to find a way to make sure that they would be safe even when they were away from the Sanctuary.
Spearing a piece of toast with his fork, Harry chewed, ideas already popping up. He would have something figured out for when Severus had to go to Hogwarts.
"You need stuff, right?" Fenrir gestured to the letter, his words barely understandable because of the food in his mouth.
Severus looked down at the letter in his hands, his lips pursed into a thoughtful frown. "Yes, I― there are some books I need for this year's courses. Most I can get from Lucius, though our usual trade won't work with him having graduated. The rest I can probably get in the second-hand store next to Flourish and Blotts."
Dropping his fork Harry leaned across the table and snatched to piece of paper. He studiously ignored the spluttering teen as he sat back and read through the list of requirement, not the least surprised that Severus was taking Arithmancy and Ancient Runes. "The books we are getting from Flourish and Blotts. Then you need new writing tools and stuff for your Potions kit." He lowered the paper and sent his oldest a speculative look. "New robes'll probably be a good idea." Severus had grown, no more than an inch or two, but it was enough to be noticeable. He still had some way to go before he would get as tall as his adult self had been.
Fenrir brought his hands together, the noise getting the attention of the three other males around the table. "That's good. You three go and do that after breakfast, there's some things I need to take care of." Harry wondered if he should speak up. The last time Fenrir had left for so-called business, it had indirectly led to their boys getting kidnapped.
But Fenrir was a grown-up man and had survived on his own so far, surely he could get through the day without getting into trouble.
Somehow, Harry found it hard to believe that.
)00(
"Severus Tobias Snape, do you have any idea of how worried I've been? I came home to find that you'd left and your dad wouldn't tell anyone where you had gone, not even when my dad threatened to call the police. No owl, no letter and not a single explanation of what happened. You could have been dead, taken by those Death Eaters, kidnapped by slave-traders and sold to some exotic place where I wouldn't have been able to find you!" Harry stared worriedly at the tall, red-headed spitfire, who had stomped into their way, not sure if he dared to blink in case she should disappear. Dressed in a buttoned up white shirt and a long, dark blue skirt, she didn't exactly look like the type to trap up and start yelling at people on the street.
Being friends with Hermione had taught Harry one thing, if one didn't intervene early on, she could go on for hours. Typically, she would end with a subject that had absolutely nothing to do with what had set her off in the first place. "The fault lays with me, I believe." Green eyes, so much like his own that it hurt to look into them and not see any recognition, looked at him for the first time. "Severus is a part of my family and things have been a little hectically, so getting an owl completely slipped from my mind." Not that he had felt inclined to get another owl after Hedwig had given her life so he could survive.
But his words had no calming effect on the girl. "It's been weeks. The least you could do was to pop by and tell me he was alive!" She placed her hands on her hips, completing the picture of a disapproving mother, and Harry nearly couldn't speak for the clump in his throat it created.
"In case you hadn't noticed it, there is a Dark Lord hunting Muggles and those related to them. I'm not putting my family in danger by taking them somewhere they might be targeted. And Teddy is a Metamorphmagus, taking him out there when he's no proper control over his abilities," ―as if to prove his words Teddy's hair changed into the familiar blue mohawk he so adored― "is non-negotiable without the right preparation, and even then there is no guarantee that he'll be able to keep the Status of Secrecy." Once, when Teddy had still been a baby, Harry had brought him along to Muggle London. The outing had been cut short when Harry had found himself holding a baby with mocha coloured skin.
The air seemed to deflect from her and a faint red shade dusted her cheeks. "Oh." She blinked and seemed unsure of what she should do now where she had said her piece. Her silence didn't last for long. "I'm sorry about what happened to your mom."
Harry couldn't help the small flare of jealousy inside him when Lily flung herself at Severus in a hug worthy of Hagrid. He shouldn't be jealous of Severus for something so banal. His mother was hugging Severus and burrowing her face into his hair. All Harry could do was stand there and watch them, while trying to absorb as much details about her as he could. It was the first time he saw her alive, even if this version of her was not his mother.
And looking at those two Harry realised that Harry Potter might never come to be in this universe.
The realisation didn't bother him as much as it probably should have.
When they parted, Harry made sure that his face showed no hint of what he had thought. Both were looking a little flustered and Harry knew he better speak up, less he wanted his snappish attitude from before to form a lasting impression on his mother's mind. "Harry Grey, the adult responsible for Severus and Teddy here." He offered his free hand, inwardly whooping in delight when she took it.
"Lily Evans, sir, Severus and I have been friends for years. It's good to know that he got away from that place, thought I would have liked to receive a warning." Apparently, Lily could be like a dog after a bone, and Harry got the feeling that he would be hearing for this of a long while.
Severus was busy straightening his robes, erasing all signs of the hug. "What are you doing here alone? Usually Mr or Mrs Evans don't let you come to Diagon Alley on your own."
Lily's face darkened for a short moment before the emotion was gone and she was her cheerful self again. "Dad is at work and Petunia threw a fit, so Mom made me promise not to stray and they'll be back in four hours." And Harry had been running around on his own here when he'd barely been thirteen. His grandparents sounded like the protective kind, so they would probably have nothing against what he had in mind.
"Why don't you come with us? We need to get Severus' stuff anyway and I would love to learn about one of his friends," he offered, aware that the suggestion was not as innocent as he'd made it sound. He wanted to know more about Lily, to create his own impression of what his mother might have been at this age.
"Why not? And as a punishment for worrying me, you get to carry my purchases," declared Lily as she hugged Severus' one arm close to her chest. He bore it in silence for five second before shaking his captured arm to indicate that it was enough body contact, and Lily let go of him with no protest. "Thank you, Mr Grey. My mom worries about letting me go off on my own. But when Petunia acts up, they give in to her demands. I think they feel bad because she doesn't have any magic." She sighed, making it clear that it was not the first time she'd had to give that explanation. He could see where Petunia had gotten her way of raising Dudley from. Spoiling someone was just a way to compensate for their lack of magic. It was just a shame that it was the wrong way to do it.
"Instead of worrying about that, why don't we get the shopping started, unless you need to go to Gringott's first?" Harry nodded towards the bank they had just exited. There had been a bigger amount of Galleons in the vault than he had expected to be, and when he had tried to discretely ask the goblin about it, all he had gotten in reply was an unhelpful eye-roll. Perhaps they should swing about the shop, as their only income Harry had the feeling that it was the right place to get his answers.
If Harry had thought that going to Flourish and Blotts with Hermione could be bad, it was nothing compared to now. The moment they stepped into the book store, Harry lost all three children. It was probably not so bad, he was pretty confident that they had enough sense to stay within the shop. Still, he better went looking for them.
In the very back of the shop was the section for Dark Arts, a young couple had decided to exchange spit and Harry quickly pulled away, thankful that he had not found Severus there― Those books might be behind wards that stopped curious people from picking them up without the shop assistant's help, and they belonged more in the light grey category than being actually dark. But they were enough to get his boy interested, and if that happened, Harry knew that Severus was resourceful enough to find more.
Teddy was in the children's section, entertaining a group in his own age with changing his hair colour. Harry stood out of sight and watched them with a small smile. It was no use trying to hide his Metamorphmagus abilities, and Harry didn't want Teddy to think that it was something to be ashamed of. The questions were bound to come at some point, Andromeda had explained how the ability was connected to her side of the family. But plenty of Purebloods had blood of a Black running in their veins; it was not like they could keep track of them all. Well, he would worry about that when the time for it came.
Satisfied that Teddy was not getting into trouble, Harry drifted away, he still had two more to find. Deciding that it was easier to start from one end and make his way from there, Harry went to the back again. There were less people in this part of the shop, if either of the teens were here they would be easy to spot.
The pair had left their hiding place when Harry passed the section again. He was however not prepared for the one who stepped out from their and into his path. "Are you stalking me ore something?" Were the first words that left his mouth. Harry had his knees slightly bend, ready to jump into action if he needed. If not for the people around them, he would not be bothering to ignore his instincts when it came to this man.
"No, I have more important matters to do. I am here for a book." He waved said item, angled so Harry couldn't glimpse the title, but the small book looked rather old. If not for the shop they were in, Harry would have suspected something atrociously ritual that required the blood of a newborn. "Meeting you here is merely a pleasant surprise, Harry."
Harry shook his head, refusing to try and understand what Voldemort might be playing at. "No matter what, he refused to participate in it. "To you, the name is Hadrian, no Grey, better yet just don't talk to me and we'll be perfectly fine." When Harry tried to step around him, he found Voldemort mirroring the movement and continually blocking his way. Going back would mean he met a dead end; at least here there was a chance of moving should Voldemort do something. With the people around them Harry counted that it wouldn't be happening.
But with a little luck, Voldemort's errand meant that the man didn't want to attach attention. "You know, for this to work, you have to stand still so I can be on my oh so happy way." Preferably to somewhere that would get them far away from Voldemort, especially the children. Voldemort was already aware of Severus and Teddy's existence. Lily didn't need to become more of a target than being a Muggleborn already made her.
"Our last meeting was cut short by your departure, our conversation was not over."
Harry had to rake his brain to remember what the man was talking about, it didn't help that the tingling in his scar seemed so prominent with Voldemort's closeness. Or perhaps it was the man's focus on him. Harry really didn't intend to stay around long enough to figure out which one it might be. "Funny, to me it seemed like we were done. Now, if you could leave me alone, it would be nice." Though, Voldemort and nice didn't fit into the same sentence now where he thought about it.
Voldemort smiled, the amused expression not reaching his brown eyes. "That is what I am talking about. You have been on the defensive the whole time, I am very good at reading people, have I done something to offend you?" Voldemort leaned in, his hot breath fanning Harry's face as the younger wizard stepped back, cursing himself for showing a reaction.
"Maybe I just don't like you, ever considered that? Some people go along as well as fire and ice would, even without knowing a whole lot about the other part." Harry bit out, managing to duck around Voldemort who suddenly seemed deep in thought. That man was beyond strange, especially when he wasn't trying to kill him.
He paused upon hearing Voldemort's next words. "That sounds rather bigoted to me. If you do not know me, how can you decide to hate me?"
Voldemort was wrong, Harry did not hate him. As long as the man stayed away from his family, Harry really couldn't care less about him.
Turning his head enough to look over his shoulder, Harry was silent for less than half a minute. Amazingly, no one seemed to have taken notice of their conversation, but he couldn't count on it staying so. "Believe me, I know more than enough about you, Gaunt. Leave my family alone and I won't be forced to take actions. You'll regret it should it come that far." Now Voldemort had gotten the warning, it would be up to himself whether or not he heeded it.
Grumbling in annoyance, Harry burrowed his hands deep into his pockets, mostly so he wouldn't set anything on fire by accident. Now he really wanted to find the children and get the heck out of there. Being in the same building as Voldemort was not good for anyone's health or sanity.
)00(
It could not be, could it?
Glamoured eyes followed the form until it turned around a corner and Harry disappeared from sight.
Voldemort slipped the book back into its proper place, bypassing the Ministry approved wards that was supposed from doing so on a whim. Compared to the wards many Purebloods preferred when it came to protect their heritage and values, those were a child game. The book had served its purpose by giving him an excuse for being in the shop.
With hands clasped behind his back Voldemort let the privacy wards he had raised when stepping in front of Harry fall. The best way to ensure that a conversation was not interrupted or overheard was by making sure that no one knew it was going on in the first place.
Leisurely Voldemort followed Harry's route, intent to get out of the shop so he could get to his original reason for coming here.
Normally, he was good at ignoring inclinations. However, when he had spotted Harry along with a group entering Flourish and Blotts, Voldemort had found his feet carrying him the same way. It had only been logical to confront Harry when he had spotted the wizard wandering around on his own.
And what a good thing he had done so.
Three words.
When people wanted to compare opposites, they used Slytherins and Gryffindors, or fire and water as their examples.
Ice and fire were not often used. Had it just been a coincidence, or had Harry been trying to catch his attention? Hinting that he was the one behind the icing of Abraxas' study?
Giggling and small squeals drew Voldemort's attention to a group of girls by the Divination section. As one the girls, sixth or seventh years, looked up and at him. One of them looked down at the book they were sharing, and Voldemort picked up the words 'tall and handsome' before the rest was drowned in their squeals. He flashed them a smirk, satisfied at their reactions. All he had done was placing a glamour on his eyes, the rest was him, but after the run in with Harry, it felt good to know that he could manipulate people without even trying.
There was no room for a third player in the game of chess between him and Dumbledore, and Harry had already proved that he would not settle for being a piece. Such humans were best to get rid off before they caused trouble in the ongoing game, but he supposed that he still had his uses. The stunt from the party hinted that the maker of the ice knew something about the Elemental which Voldemort did not. It would be best to have him watched and then take him out when the Elemental had been located.
Spotting the three Greys in the line for the checkout, Voldemort's smirk grew. Harry had a youth on each side of him, the red headed girl was not one he recognised, each of them carrying their own stack of books. The child was clutching Harry's arms, the one with the same strange hair colour as the Lord Grey. Either he coloured the child's hair or it was a family trait which Voldemort had not heard of before.
As he stared Harry reached up and rubbed his forehead, more specifically where that scar of his was located. He was frowning absentmindedly, as if his thoughts were somewhere far away. The hand dropped swiftly and Voldemort left the shop before he could be spotted seeing as Harry made no attempt at being subtle as he checked his surroundings.
Heading towards Knockturn Alley, Voldemort mulled over his observations. He had a few hours to kill before Wanda would come to meet him to deliver her report, plenty of time to ponder on the mystery Harry Grey seemed to be, and what he was supposed to do about him.
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"I could have paid for it myself." Despite her grumblings Lily took another bite of her scope of ice cream.
Harry shook his head at Teddy's offer of a spoonful of ice cream for him to taste. "Nah, we invited you along, so it only makes sense that I pay, right Severus?" He asked the teen who had been quiet since he had been dragged out of the apothecary.
Twin pair of green eyes turned to said wizard, who had his nose buried in one of his newly bought books. '1001 Poisons' was not the kind of literature which Harry was too happy about buying, but as both teens had pointed out, several of those in there, would be taught at Hogwarts. This way Harry at least had an idea of what Severus learned about. And if Severus became a Potions master, he would probably get to brew much worse than recipes from a legal bought book.
The teen looked up, rather displeased at having his reading time interrupted. "Don't pull me into it, both of you are stubborn people," he informed before returning to his book, not even looking away from the small script as he took a spoonful of his ice cream.
"Sev, don't say such things," scolded Lily with a blush as Harry leaned back in the chair and watched the pair.
It was nice seeing them like this, young and carefree as they were supposed to be. He hoped that the oncoming war would not get to change that. He would hate to see such a bond broken, which would hurt Severus and in turn Harry. No, it would be far better if the days could be like this, nice and fun, and with no Dark Lords in the vicinity.
Harry drummed his fingers on the table, his mood darkening. Not for a moment did he believe Voldemort's excuse for being in the shop. If there really had been a book he needed, he would have sent one of his minions to fetch it. So Voldemort was in Diagon Alley and Harry's curiosity bid him to find out why. If not for his company, Harry would already be off and trailing after the man. But as the responsible adult, he couldn't do that and it was not like he could bring them along either.
He paused at the thought before determined shaking his head, that was definitely not a possibility. Besides, he had promised himself that he would not be included in this mess of a war unless he was forced to. His children should not risk growing up without him being there for them.
"Mr Grey, Sev tells that you own a shop." Harry blinked, turning the words over in his head before he concluded that there was a question hidden somewhere among there. The way the two teens shared a look made Harry wonder what they had been talking about while his thoughts had been drifting.
"Yeah, we can go there afterwards." He needed to talk with Jeffrey anyway. The man had been working full time since Harry hired him, taking over the shop and running it like he deemed fit. He should at least check to see if Jeffrey was still alive. Otherwise he might get an enraged fiancé out for his blood.
After the children had finished their snacks they went to the shop. The crowds were fairly thin as they wandered through Diagon Alley. It was the lull of lunchtime; no doubt that it would be busy again later.
Harry pushed the door open, unprepared for the loud voice that met them before they had stepped fully inside. "Young mean, I hate to resort to threats, but if you do not get me in contact with the owner, you'll end up with some very sore ears. And I have no need for those modern spells to make it happen." Jeffrey leaned as far back as possible while still staying on both feet. The counter was the only things separating him from the elderly, frail looking woman wielding her umbrella like it was a sword.
Not sure of what he had walked in on; Harry called out, hoping that he could stop the situation from evolving into something ugly, "Hey Jeffrey, mind showing the children around?" Jeffrey looked positively delighted when Harry spoke up, never taking his eyes of the woman as he edged along the walls to get to them.
He was almost bouncing when he came to stop in front of them. "Sure thing Hadrian," chipped Jeffrey, either obvious or simply ignoring the way Harry scowled at the name. Why couldn't Draco have chosen something a little less stuffy? "Come along small stuff, we'll start where it all begins, way back in the workshop." The trio was ushered along and Jeffrey sent a brief look over his shoulder. Harry was incapable of reading its meaning. Either it meant 'better you than me' or 'sorry for leaving you with the dragon'. It could be both, most likely that since Jeffrey still wanted to be paid for his work.
One thing Harry had learned was that things, people included, seldom were as they looked. Though, if he hadn't witnessed her treat Jeffrey, he might have been inclined to believe what his eyes were seeing. She seemed more like the grandmother who offered you sweets than the kind that twisted other people's ears.
His arms loose by his sides, simply because she looked the part, it didn't mean that she was harmless, the wizard watched her through half-lidded eyes. "Is there a reason to why you're harassing my employee?"
She might just been wanting a special made jewellery. But for all Harry knew she could be Nagini in disguise sent by Voldemort to assassinate him, despite Harry wasn't sure what he had done to warrant that this time around.
Then again, last time all he'd needed was to be born and suddenly he had had a Dark Lord out for his blood. "Perenelle Flamel, dear. I am here to apologise on the behalf of my husband seeing as he is unlikely to get up and act like a real man in this century. He's gotten rather slow here on his old days and stubborn is something he has always been, but I love him all the same," she spoke and moved with a speed that convinced Harry of his previous observations. This was no simple old lady, as if the name had not been enough of a hint.
Pinching the bridge of his nose, Harry tried to hold the oncoming headache at bay. He was aware of her waiting for his response. Damn it, but Harry had hoped that Flamel had gotten the hint and would stay away. Maybe he had, but it didn't do much good if the wife showed up in his stead. Those two suited each other, both were headstrong and Harry couldn't see how they lived this long together without butting heads. The fights between them had to be a spectacular view. "And what do you want from me?" He finally relented, hoping that she would leave now where she had said her piece and he could go on with his day.
Harry was hit by a feeling of ominous at her suddenly pleased expression. At least she had stopped twirling her umbrella, now simply holding it securely between her two hands. "How about you and your family come over for dinner? That will give us a chance to get to know each other, and you two can talk out your misgivings," she offered with no hesitation, sounding like she had meant to give the offer right from the beginning.
That was enough to set Harry on an edge as he dropped his hand. The Flamels were the kind of people he wanted to avoid. Their reputation wasn't bad; the problem was the sheer size of it. Neither did their connection to Dumbledore help. As highly as Harry had once thought about the headmaster, he couldn't ignore that the man had tried to remove Severus from him. All because Flamel had gone off rambling about things he had no idea of.
Wondering how much time he had left before Jeffrey couldn't distract the children any longer; Harry glanced towards the workshop and frowned. He was pretty sure that Jeffrey had shut the door when they had gone to the back, but now it was standing slightly ajar.
Deciding that it was nothing to worry about, Harry tilted his head and calmly watched the witch. For a woman at her age, she stood tall and looked completely calm while she waited for his response. With such a long life she was ought to have experienced a great deal of things, how many times had she had to bend her neck and apologise on her husband's ways?
Great, Harry was actually starting to feel sorry for her. "I guess that one dinner won't do much harm, Mrs Flamel." He gave in with slumped shoulders. At the very least it should annoy Flamel, a small payback for the trouble the man had caused. Besides, if things went for the worse, nobody had said that they would have to attempt it again.
"Just Penny, dear, there is no need for such formality between us." She swung her umbrella, as if waiving away protests which Harry hadn't bothered to voice. "You are much too thin." The way it was muttered made Harry believe that it wasn't meant to be heard and he took a few steps backwards. Experience with Molly Weasley had taught him that cheek pinching usually followed. If he wasn't careful, he risked getting care packages. They had been heavenly sent when he had been forced to spend the summer with the Dursleys, but after he and Ginny had moved together, it had seemed rather purposeless.
It had warmed his heart to know that Mrs Weasley had taken the time to make them for him, though in the end she hadn't been there for them. Harry supposed that the grief over losing another child, her youngest and only girl, had been too much.
He shrugged again, knowing that it didn't help anything to dwell on those things. "Genes' fault." That, and growing up in the Dursleys oh so loving care. But it was easier than to explain things she didn't need to know.
The witch didn't seem convinced by his two words explanation, but luckily she dropped the subject. There was no point in discussing his childhood, especially not with a stranger. "How about tonight?" Already before she'd finished speaking Harry was shaking his head.
Even if he didn't put much weight on his own birthday, he preferred to spend it with people whose company he enjoyed. The Flamels did not include in that group. "Nope, what about the day after tomorrow?" That should leave him with enough time to mentally prepare himself, but not so long that he might start his questioningly lacking sanity.
Considering the things he had been doing since coming here, Harry supposed he was well past the point where he could do that.
Penny smiled like it couldn't have suited her better if she had suggested it herself. "That is good with me. Just Apparate to Godric's Hollow. Our house is to the left of the church, you cannot miss it. Shall we say around five-ish? And bring along your whole family, I will make sure there is enough to keep them all well feed." She reached up and patted him on the cheek; at least it was not the pinching which Harry had feared. But she had gotten close enough to touch without Harry really taking notice of it. "I need to get home, so greet your children from me; I look forward to properly meeting them. Oh, and bring my apologies to the young man, I wouldn't actually have twisted his ears. See you in two days."
The moment she left Harry swept over and yanked the door fully open. Quickly he jumped aside as four people tumbled in, apparently having not been prepared for that. Severus ended at the bottom of the pile, with the two others on top of him and Teddy wrapped around his legs in a manner Harry's wasn't sure how his youngest had achieved. "You're done with the tour?" asked Harry as if there was nothing wrong with having people sprawled out on the shop's floor.
"Do we have to go?" There was definitely a whine in Teddy's voice as he wiggled free of the mess of limbs, black and red hair a worse mess than it usually was. The other three were silent as they too got back on their feet. If they were interested in the answer, Harry could see no sign of it. Severus seemed indifferent, and Lily was blushing – probably because she had been caught eavesdropping – Jeffrey wore a dopey smile, as if he hadn't been caught red handed as well.
Kneeling Harry grinned wickedly as he ruffled up Teddy's hair, and though his godson protested, his expression soon enough matched Harry's own. "Sure we do, and you can act like a true hellion to the old man, just make sure that Penny doesn't catch you." Harry promised as Teddy whooped. "So, Jeffrey." Harry drawled as he stood. "Since you seem to have the time, why don't you tell me how business has been doing?"
"Things have been crazy, I tell you. The last few days lots of people have been in and out of the shop, buying stuff and asking questions about your family. Don't worry, I didn't say anything, figured it would be stupid since I like it here. But they've been persistent." He grumbled. "Lots of Blacks and Lady Potter has also been by a few times. If it weren't because they brought something, I would have asked them to not bother coming back already."
"That's good," said Harry, at loss of what else he could say. It was great that the shop was doing well and Jeffrey seemed to enjoy it here. But he could do it without people running around and trying to get information.
Were the Blacks coming here on Voldemort's ways, or because he had dared to threaten the heir of their family? It was doubtful that Sirius had decided to rattle about what Harry had said to him at the party. That didn't seem like something his godfather would do. Then again, Harry couldn't claim to understand this version of his godfather.
He was certain that they hadn't come here for the jewellery. Facts were that both the Blacks and the Potters were filthy rich, it was doubtful that they needed more jewellery than they already had stored away somewhere. But that didn't seem to stop them from buying more.
As Ginny had said, it was one of the things about women neither of them understood.
Jeffrey nodded vigorously. "Yeah, if they keep coming like this we'll be sold out by the end of next week. Can you send more, and how about taking requests? Some of the ladies want some pretty specific things, I think you can earn well on it if you make it an option."
By then Harry had conjured a quill and some parchment to write down Jeffrey's suggestions. "How do you find your job?" He asked as he crossed the last topic.
"After Hogwarts I took a business degree. I love people and selling things, this is ideal for me. You're basically letting me run the shop as I please; I hadn't thought I would get such an opportunity before I was at least eighty."
Jeffrey was happy with the arrangement, which was all Harry wanted to know. Especially since it meant he could spend less time behind the counter. "I've some at home ready for use. And if you write those orders down for me, I will see what I can do about them." They might as well make use of the opportunity the attention on them gave. Harry intended to make a good profit on this business.
)00(
A few hours later the group of four was standing on the Muggle side of the Leaky Cauldron, waiting for Lily's mother to pick her up. They were getting looks from passers-by, either because of the array of bags around their feet, the way Teddy was bundled up despite the sun beating down on them – thanks Merlin for cooling charms or Teddy would have had a heatstroke by now. It could also be because of the robes they wore. With the robes opened so the Muggle clothes beneath them were visible, they looked like a strange fashion of coats.
Staring straight ahead Harry hoisted Teddy slightly up. His godson was starting to get heavy, in a few years he wouldn't be able to pick him up like this, and Teddy wouldn't want it either. The thought had Harry hugging Teddy closer, that was far off in the future, for now he would simply enjoy that Teddy was willing to accept his touches and return them the way he did as Teddy hugged him back.
"There they are!" Lily exclaimed, pointing at a slightly beaten, baby blue car that parked not far from where they stood.
A tall, fiery red headed woman stepped out of the car. Her blue eyes found them and Harry got the feeling that they were being analyzed and judged. He would probably have done the same if he found strangers with Severus.
Before she reached them, Harry found himself smiling; it's easy to see where Lily had gotten her looks from. "Hello ma'am, the name is Harry Grey. Since Severus and your daughter knew each other, I figured it was okay she was with us instead of wandering around Diagon Alley on her own." They shook hands and even if it was only a brief touch, Harry could tell from the rough skin on her hands that she was a hardworking woman.
"Cataleya Evans, may I ask what you are doing with Severus? We've been looking for him all summer, even if his father has refused to report him as a missing person."
"As you can see, here he is. Hale and whole."
Harry wouldn't claim to be surprised that his words were ignored. The woman dropped his hand and stepped in front of Severus. The teen bore her silent scrutiny, and Harry used the opportunity to watch her more openly. He wasn't sure what to think of her. She was the alternative version of his grandmother, and the way Severus didn't protest when she reached out and patted him on the shoulder hinted of some sort of bond between them.
At the same time, Harry wasn't sure if she had done anything to remove Severus from Tobias after his mother's death. Then again, Harry personally knew how good children could be at hiding abuse. The Evans might not have been aware of how bad things had been at Spinner's End.
Damn, but it was hard to be mad at someone who evidently cared for one of his boys.
"And that means that Severus live with us until he's at least seventeen or he decides he's better off somewhere else," Harry finished his explanation and slung his free arm around Severus' shoulder, pleased that he wasn't trying to get away despite the public setting.
Both red heads were staring at Severus, waiting for him to confirm the tale. Harry almost huffed as he let go of Severus to better hold the bored Teddy who was trying to get rid of the cap Harry had pulled own over his hair. "I get the opportunity to make the potions I want, as long as I do not blow up the house and there is an adult nearby."
Severus' words seemed enough to Lily who jumped forward to hug Severus, and Cataleya must be taking hints from her daughter, because her whole demeanour seemed more relaxed now where Severus' well-being had been confirmed.
Their cosy get-together was interrupted when the car honked. Harry nearly hissed when he spotted Petunia in the passenger seat, just as dour looking as the last time he had been so unlucky to lay his eyes on her. The girl's eyes widened near to the point of being in danger of popping out of her head when she spotted him. Even if she didn't know who he was, she must remember him from the night he had come to their house, and she realised that Harry was a wizard. And unlike her sister, Harry was allowed to use magic whenever he liked to. That was ought to make her think a little before she closed the door in someone's face the next time.
He hastily wiped the grin off his face when Cataleya turned back to him, quite sure that the three others wouldn't rat him out, and she looked tired. With a daughter like Petunia, Harry wasn't surprised. She had been horrid as an adult, and with hormones raging her body, Harry preferred not to think how she might be now.
"It has been nice meeting you and Severus is lucky to have Lily as a friend, she's a wonderful girl." Harry meant every word of what he said. It was good to know that not all members of his family had been jerks, though Dudley had improved after moving out of his parents' house.
Cataleya parted her lips, but whatever she planned on saying was drowned out when the car horn went off again. With a dark scowl she grabbed Lily's hand and lifted half of the girl's shopping bags, helped by the weight lessening charm Harry quickly cast on those. "It seems like my oldest is getting impatient. If we do not meet again, then perhaps we will be seeing you all on September first?" She was already strolling towards the car, if Harry's guess was correct, Petunia was in for a talk about manners and interrupting when the adults were conversing. Mayhap his aunt hadn't been as spoiled as Harry first had been inclined to believe.
But Harry still didn't like the girl and he pitied Lily for being her sister.
As the car pulled out Harry watched Petunia gesture wildly, several of those in their direction. Well, whatever she was telling he doubted that it was anything damning, it was not like he had done anything to her.
"So, ready to head home?"
Harry crocked an eyebrow when both his boys shook their heads. He followed along when Severus led the way back to the Leaky Cauldron, curious to see what the boys might be up to.
)00(
Owls weren't meant for this kind of travelling concluded Harry as they appeared in front of the house. Hoping to spare his eardrums Harry held the cage at arm's length, grimacing at the loud screeches his ears were bombarded with.
If not for Teddy's insistences that it might get lost, Harry would have let the owl fly free when they had stepped out of the shop. Seeing as the boys had bought it with their own money, he figured it would be no harm to let Teddy get his will.
Severus eased the cage out of his hand and stroke the owl with one finger through the bars. Harry watched them as he placed Teddy down, the child running inside with an excited yell, half worried that it would bite off the finger. But the bird quietened down, not without giving him the stink eye. It held a grudge for the flare of heat and small flames that accompanied his preferred way of travelling.
The wizard grinned as he returned the look, they would get on fabulously.
Teddy came running out from the house, nearly stumbling over the front step in his hurry. "Hawwy, Hawwy, Fens in the kitchen." His godson seemed more excited than panicked, but considering how both had watched this morning's attempt on breakfast, Harry did not find the fact calming.
Already feeling the urge to groan Harry was glad that there was no sign of smoke. Fenrir had already proved that he was useless in the kitchen less it was to set the table. "Right, better go and make sure that he doesn't manage to poison us." Flicking his wand their levitated groceries followed him insides, trusting Severus to be able to take care of the owl on his own. It certainly didn't look like he would have trouble with the creature.
The sound of hurried feet told him that both following without Harry having to look over his shoulder to confirm this.
As Teddy had said, Fenrir was in the kitchen. But instead of rustling around, he was seated by the table as if he had been waiting for them to arrive. Spread out on the table were several white, flat boxes with a green picture of a man and an oven on the lids. A careful sniff of the air revealed a smell that Harry recognised. "Pizza?" He asked, needing to know if he really smelt what Harry thought he did.
"The pups were against the idea of me hunting down something, so this was the next best thing." And Fenrir did look disappointed that he hadn't been allowed to do that. Harry, on the other hand was careful to keep the relief from showing on his face. The thought of coming home to a half skinned animal was not an idea which he preferred. How Fenrir could make pizza sound like a second best to that proved that he did really not understand the other's way of thinking.
"Did you pay for it?" He asked cautious, still trying and failing to imagine Fenrir inside a pizzeria.
"I've done this lots of times before. It's easier than getting something eatable from the Wizarding world and they usually give a good discount too." While Harry could see the sense in the first part of the statement, the latter had probably more to do with Fenrir's looks than the Muggles being kind. His hands alone looked enough to split a person in two without breaking in sweat.
He had barely sat down before Teddy was in his lap, throwing small arms around him. "Happy biwthday Hawwy."
The wish was repeated when Severus placed the cage on the table and Harry stared at the bird with growing dread. "You gave no warning, so I asked the pups to pick up something for ya while yer were off." He was looking away, almost as if he was nervous for what Harry would say about the gift. Or he wasn't too happy with the boys' choice.
"Thanks," said Harry without taking his eyes off the owl. It took some effort to push the word through his suddenly tight throat. He hadn't had an owl since Hedwig, not one he could call his own. Now it seemed like he wouldn't have a choice in the matter.
Reaching for a piece of pizza before the two werewolves would devour it all, the four males all winced when the owl let out a loud screech.
One good thing about Severus going back to Hogwarts was that he would be able to let the owl travel between home and Hogwarts.
Bloody nuisance.
As promised another chapter, I hope you enjoyed reading it.
!IMPORTANT READ THIS!
Okay, I have gotten a lot complains over Voldemort not realising that Harry is the one he searches for, here is what I have to say to you:
To those who complains about Voldemort not recognising Harry as the Elemental, go back and read chapter one again. Wanda describes him as someone to the short side, slender and with green eyes. A lot of people could fit that description. Teddy's hair was blond because of the meeting with Draco, nowadays he's more often dark haired due to the people in the family, or whatever colour he feels like having. At no point were names or such mentioned.
So why should Voldemort think that Harry is the Elemental? Even with the higher than normal temperature, there are plenty of strange people in the Wzarding world, for all Voldemort knows, Harry has some strange warming spell.
And before anyone decides to start complain about the Flamels living in Devon and not Godric's Hollow, well I don't know about you people. But so far I've lived five different places and I am nowhere near their age.
By the way, thanks for showing concern for when I was lost in the woods. I ended waiting for a little over two hours before being found by my friends. Later we called the pizzeria and found that they wouldn't have brought a pizza for me if I had called. Not unless I ordered for 100 DK. We did end having pizza for dinner that night.
That is it for this time, hope to see you again next week.