Here's the next chapter!
And I can promise you here and now it will be brilliant with a capital B. Nate the Werehog and I worked on discussing this chapter for almost an entire evening and I'm just positive that our hours of discussion and agreements have resulted in a chapter we can be proud of to have written.
Still, the final decision lies with all of you, so I ask of you. Please, tell me what you think. Just press the review button and leave a review for me and my co-author. Even a single line or two of appreciation or telling us what you liked about the chapter will do. So please, read the chapter and review
And of course, enjoy,

The Venquine
Co-author: Nate the Werehog

Chapter 11
Confrontations and agreements

Dumbledore's POV

21st of July 1991

It's almost time for the one thing most of my coworkers and I have been waiting for in the past 10 years; Harry James Potter, James and Lily's son, returning to his role as Hero of the Magical World and accepting his place as a First year student in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Unlike usual years have I already made sure Harry's letter is written and I know, even if she won't admit it herself, that Minerva has written the letter with great anticipation and joy. Now a grumbling Severus, an exited Pomona, Filius and Minerva and I myself are heading for the Magical Quill to address Harry's letter.

The Owlery at Hogwarts of course has this small room where students can relax, but at the other side of the top floor is also a hidden room, disillusioned from both the in as well as the outside of the room and from there out, once the envelope has an address, a House elf will give the letter to a Hogwarts Owl to deliver.
I personally have the letter in my hand as I cast the required spells to open the wall hiding the room and happily lie the envelope on the small wooden desk the quill uses to write down the addresses. The magic around the room activates and the quill quivers before moving to lie and move around the parchment.

But what it words shocks me as I had expected Privet Drive 4, Little Winging, Surrey. Instead I and my colleagues read Harry Potter Bedroom XIII II Fairland's Estate. I look at the envelope shocked and take it from the desk before a House-Elf can take it and turn to my evenly shocked colleagues.
"What does this mean, Albus?" Pomona asks and she goes on: "Could he be taking a holiday or something?" But I shake my head and say: "It's almost on the other side of London, no way would the Dursleys take a holiday that far from home. Not with the Blood Wards active around their house."
"But then, what could it be?" Filius asks and the man suggest: "Could he be visiting friends or something?" Again I shake my head and say: "Arabella has told me that Harry constantly kept to himself. That he has no friends. No, this calls for a personal visit to investigate what caused this change of address."

Severus grumbles and I say: "I know you don't like this, Severus, but seeing the raising Harry has gotten he could just as easily be in your House, so it's only fair for all of us to go and visit him. Let's just hope we can convince the child to never more go that far from home and the blood wards again."
My co-workers nod and I softly pat the quill in thanks as Minerva and I always do after it's done signing all the letters and then Minerva, Filius, Pomona and Severus follow me back out of the room, the magic sealing the room once again, down the staircases and out of the Owlery, on our way to Harry's new address.

24th of July 1991

Unfortunately enough does it take us an entire day to find Fairland's Estate and then another two to find the House Harry was supposedly at according to the letter as Fairland's estate does not seem to have any streets or street numbers. Still the small town is quite fascinating and the residents are most kind.
Unfortunately enough does the address on the envelope not change as the days pass and my suspicions that Harry has, for some strange reason, moved grows with each day. Then finally do we find the house and to my shock, do I sense a form of magic that seems quite equal to the Blood wards I felt at Privet Drive years ago.

I look at the majestic house in front of me and try to walk to the front door, but some kind of magic, one I have never before felt in this world, seems to keep the door locked. Then suddenly, just when I have my hand on the doorknob, a strong voice says: "It won't open. You can't get in that way."
I turn to the right of the building and see a broad-shouldered man of the mid-thirties, perhaps end thirties, with black hair that is styled into distinctive dreadlocks with one of them tying most of the others into a ponytail and 4 thinner dreads dangling around his face, two on each side of his face.
The man has bushy eyebrows and very thick sideburns that hook around his cheeks, parallel to his violet eyes. And finally are there flesh tunnels with earrings through one of the holes. The man is leaning against the right side of the building, just around the corner and seems quite content there.

Still his looks are quite intimidating, especially together with the dark black robe, boots and gloves he wears and the way his eyebrows cast a shadow over his violet eyes, making them seem almost dark purple. I wonder who he is and see him walking towards me, while Severus already has his wand aimed at the man.
The man stops and raises a thick eyebrow before raising his left hand and making a small wave motion with his hand, actually causing a powerful wind to blow Severus' wand out of his hand. The man keeps moving his hand, this time in a bow-motion and the same wind blows Severus' wand into his own hand.
He then looks at it as if having never seen something like it before and I wonder if Harry could be visiting Muggles, but then he says: "Now that you're no longer threatening the owner of this house, I suggest you walk through here and meet the rest of my family. I do believe it's my son, Harry, you want to see."

I shake my head and together with Minerva and Pomona I ask: "Son?" But the man ignores our question and moves his hand again, this time summoning a dark swirling mass of energy in a strange arch as if it's an open, darkened door to another location. He then turns back to me and my colleagues and says:
"Once you're ready to face the music, let me know and step through. If not, leave our property." And with that the man walks through the door as if the Dark Energy – that is still amazingly different from all other forms of dark energy I have felt over my life – isn't dangerous to him.

I look at the four Heads of Houses and Severus says: "I don't know about you, but I'm getting my wand back." I nod, wanting to know if these people have adopted Harry without knowing about the Blood Wards and what that magic is that I sense and that feels so familiar. And so the five of us walk through.
The inside of the dark energy door is actually amazingly nice with a pink and blue interior and moving signs going all around, while a large green door with black swirls is seen on the other side of the room. My colleagues and I walk through, me amazed at the fact that the room doesn't feel dark at all, and pass through the door.
We pass through and enter a large white room with raised dais and gigantically high pillars. We ourselves end up on the exact midst of the dais and looking around I can't find the man that has Severus' wand anywhere, but then Pomona gasps and I look at her, seeing her looking up the pillars around us.
I look myself and to my shock the pillars aren't pillars, but incredibly high chairs, each of them ending at a different height, yet still the lowest of them is at least 30 feet above the ground and almost all of the chairs, except two, has someone with a black cloak and a black hood sitting in them.

I too want to aim my wand at these men, but have learned from Severus' mistake and then one of them, this one sounding female, asks: "Aren't you going to pick up that little wand of yours?" And I see Severus' wand lying at his feet. The man slowly bends down as he keeps glaring at the woman.
But the woman seems not affected by the death glare, which slightly makes her gain my respect and I scrape my throat, but the man in front of us raises a hand and says: "Silent Hero, lower our chairs if you please." And a man to the far right, almost to the south-west of where we stand, moves.

All five of us move to keep him in our sight, but he only lowers his hand and to my shock all the chairs indeed lower, defying my theory of these people being Muggles and making me wonder how this man can use a wandless, non-verbal shrinking charm. The man lowers the chairs further and are finally eye-level with us.
Then the first man, the man requesting Silent Hero to lower the chairs, speaks again and says: "Come, little Child of All." And what seems to be the smallest and youngest of them all, the boy sitting opposite of the man just speaking, gets up from his seat, walks around us and sits down on the man's lap.
The two then both lower their hoods and the man speaking has long silver hair that seems to reach about mid-back and of which parts fall over his shoulders and with one spike on the top of his head. He has a tanned skin and orange eyes. But the younger boy shocks me as it's none other than:

"Harry?"

Minerva asks and the boy nods before Pomona asks: "Harry, what are you doing here, child?" But before the child can answer, does Severus scathingly ask: "And what's with the black, Potter. Surely your father would greatly disapprove." Harry glares at my colleague, but another man answers and says:
"Actually his parents, and grandparents I might add, are greatly proud of him and his adoption into our family and Organization, thank you very much. And I do believe that answers both your questions." And with that, while Severus glares at the man in question, does this man too lowers his hood.
The man has platinum blonde hair that is, like the first man's hair, quite long – although I know I can't really speak with my own long silver white hair and beard – and reaches quite past his shoulders, while two slightly shorter bangs frame his face and currently slightly hide his rather large and bright green eyes.

The five of us look at him shocked and Pomona asks: "Wait, adoption?" And Minerva asks: "Grandparents?" To this yet another man, this one sounding younger, aims first at Pomona and says: "Yes, adoption and proud of it." Before aiming at Minerva and saying: "And yes, little Child of All's grandparents."
This man too lowers his hood and I see that he seems to be no older than halfway through his twenties with dirty blond hair that has an interestingly odd mullet-like style with several individual bangs falling over his face. He has an easy grin on his face and seems to lounge in his chair as he looks at us with his blue eyes.

Then Filius asks: "Why do you call Harry Child of All? And are you all going to answer our questions one by one before lowering your hoods or something?" And the man next to where Harry sits says: "That sure was what we were planning, yes." And like his comrades his hood is lowered onto his shoulders.
This man has an Elven-like appearance, but that is mostly because of his ears and his up-turned eyebrows. He has golden eyes and dark black hair tied into a large ponytail with several gray streaks going through it. But what actually pulls my attention away from all his outlooks are his injuries.
He has an eye patch covering his right eye and I wonder if his eye is completely taken out by something or if it's just damaged and no longer able to make him see. The other is a large jagged scar going from his left cheek to just under his right eye. I wonder how this man could be this hurt and keep my eyes on him.

But then my attention is drawn away to someone just to the south-east of us and the man, having quite the deep voice, asks: "So, you're here for Harry's acceptance letter to Hogwarts, am I right?" I turn to him, just as he lowers his hood, but while inspecting the man's looks do I keep my eye on the other man too.
This man has quite the interesting hair color as his long hair is frayed blue and framing his face, though slicked back in wild spikes at the top and at the back of his head, it reaches down to his mid back and is cut slightly neater than at the front. His yellow eyes come out all the better thanks to the scar on his face.
The scar is exactly between his eyes and is x-shaped with one side reaching up to halfway up his forehead and the other side reaching down to just under his eyes. And finally does his hair, like that of one of the earlier men, have two bangs lying down to just under his armpits, accentuating his thin face.

I nod at the man and say: "Yes, I have it right here. And if you don't mind me asking, but why is Harry living here and why did I not hear anything about this adoption?""Oh, sorry." The woman who spoke first says in the same scathingly and we look at her as she too lowers her hood.
The woman has bright blonde hair that is slicked to the back of her head and about jaw-length long, with two strange strands styled like antennas flowing just above her head and still pushed to the back. The woman has the frame of an hourglass and yet her green eyes show me she is all but weak and fickle.
She then goes on and says: "I didn't know it was a Headmaster's duty to look after the lives of all his future students." Before laughing mockingly, effectively angering Severus who runs at her with his wand drawn and shouts: "STOP MOCKING DUMBLEDORE, YOU CRAZY BLOND-HAIRED BIMBO!"
But the woman huffs and sticks a finger into the air, smiling evilly and this makes me shout: "Severus, watch out!" Making the man stop just before a wall of lightning bolts surrounds the woman, obviously conjured by her and the blue-yellow knives suddenly between her fingers that have the same sign as the one on the floor.

My Potions Master looks shocked and then the person sitting next to the woman lowers his hood and at first the hair color makes me believe this is too a woman, but then I see his face and see it's a man. Still his features are quite feminine and I look closely as to distinct which gender this person is.
The man has shoulder-length hair that is rose pink with ruffles. His eyes are blue and his lips pale pink. He has an elegant frame, but strong shoulders and while this makes me wonder if the frame hides his power like it does the woman do the shoulders finally prove to me he is indeed male.

The man raises a hand at the woman and she huffs, making Harry actually walk over to her. Pomona and I want to stop him, but she smiles at the boy and happily hugs him tight, making me wonder how quickly this woman can change her emotional state and whether or not she is safe for the child.
Then the man speaks and says: "Allow me to introduce my partners in parenthood and myself. I am Marluxia and his fine young lady next to me is Larxene, the only female of our Organization and since the 11th of may Harry's mother in his heart and by law since Christmas last year.
The others you have been spoken to are Xemnas – he aims for the silver-haired man – Xigbar – the dark-haired man – Xaldin – the black-haired man we met outside – Vexen – the platinum blonde long-haired man – Demyx – the younger man – and Saïx – the blue-haired man.
And the others are Lexaeus, Zexion and Luxord." The man named Marluxia motions for the last few people with their hoods still up and we look as they one by one lower their hoods and all I can say is that the three of them could not look more different from each other even if they tried.

The first is not only the one to have lowered the chairs, but also obviously the strongest, something that had already been visible thanks to his bulky shape, but is now all the more visible, thanks to his square chin, straight nose, sharp cheekbones and finally thanks to the strength shown in his blue eyes.
His hair is auburn red, actually reminding me and my coworkers of Lily Potter, yet the style is quite different and so is the length as his hair wouldn't reach further than his jaw-line was it not slicked back into messy spikes sticking out the back of his head, actually giving it a look of flames.

The second man seems only slightly older than Demyx and has steel-blue hair sports messy bangs covering up his right eye, while his left one is clearly visible and has a bright-aqua color. His hair might be long at the right side of his head, on the left it's shorter, but still long enough to slightly cover his ear.
But while the man is obviously older than Demyx does he also seem smaller than the man and upon closer inspection of the group, do I see that only Harry has a smaller stature than the man named Zexion, making me wonder if the man is really end twenties like I am currently suspecting him to be.

The final man actually makes me wonder how well he'll do in Ravenclaw as he seems to have all the features required for a librarian or a doctor. The man has blond hair which is very short and worn in a Caesar-cut. The man's short beard and mustache, shaped like a goatee, are also blonde and further strengthen my belief.
Still the man does not fully represent the perfect image of a studious librarian, scientist or doctor as his blue eyes are both playful as well as observant and he has five silver piercings; four helix piercings in the shape of two hoops on each ear and one shaped like the sign on the floor hanging from his left ear.

I look further around the group once again and then Lexaeus makes a small table grow out of the symbol on the floor and makes five chairs, quite like the one he sits on, appear behind each of us. We sit down, Severus still looking at Larxene furiously and Xemnas is the first to speak as he says:

"Let's get down to business."

I nod and say: "Thank you. I would like to know why you adopted Harry and why you didn't leave him with his relatives like I did years ago because of the Blood wards his mother left him when she died for him." The man smirks at me and Vexen says: "Ooooh, so that's why you did it, huh?"
I turn to him and he says: "You will find, old man, that those wards have been moved and with us moving from Privet Drive # 5 to here, the wards moved with us. They have also been strengthening over the years and that is because little Harry got with us what was kept from him with those monsters, for lack of a better word."

I look at him with shock and then Xaldin spats: "For lack of a better word? Monsters is a soft way of calling those bastards, really. Tell me again why we didn't bloody well –." But then Larxene, with her hands on Harry's ears, spats: "Xaldin, language. Think of our son's precious ears, will you?"
The man grumbles and Zexion says: "We explained you time and time again why we didn't press charges, Xaldin, especially now that Harry has moved here with us to Fairland's estate. We did not want Harry to ever again come in contact with those people, which is exactly the reason we moved."

The man sighs and says: "You're right." He then stands up and walks over to Harry, softly petting the boy's hair making me look shocked as his wild looks would have never made me guess he could hide such a caring side under his hard exterior or that he could feel so deeply for the boy in question.
The boy who actually walks with him to his seat and happily, with a wide smile, hides himself in the thick embrace the man gives him as he pulls Harry deeply onto his lap almost making the two of them seem like one being, especially with how the black cloaks blend into one another perfectly.

Then Saïx says: "As you can hear from our Whirlwind Lancer, are the people you left our son with all but acceptable guardians and were we quite willing to get them send to jail when we send Child Protection Services on them last Christmas, forcing them to let Harry go and allowing us to adopt him."
I nod, while wondering just how bad the treatment could be to make these people react like this and then Severus huffs and says: "As if anyone would do anything but pamper spoiled little Potter." But then, to my shock, a large waterfall flows down on him, disappearing a second later and leaving behind a set of pictures.

Then Demyx says: "And that was just because you really need a shower, dude. Man, I was waiting for that!" I look at the relaxed looking young man shocked and Zexion says: "Don't think us weak, strict or anything else you see from our exteriors, sir. We are experts of hiding what we feel in our hearts."
"And if you want proof of our decision to take Harry away from there, look at the pictures. They are the same as the ones we used to convince the CPS to give Harry to us." Vexen tells us, having his fingers crossed on his lap. Severus spits some of the water out and snorts, but I take the man's advice and take a look.

The first picture alone is enough to make me gasp, my eyes to widen, my face to be drained from all its color and for me to realize how wrong I was in thinking that harry could have a good life with Petunia. The picture is of Harry working in the garden and his hair is pushed to the side, showing terrible scars.
Some of them are small, circular and blackened reminding me of those things Muggles call cigarettes. There are also fading marks around the sides of the boy's neck that actually look like fingers and I instantly fear for Harry's life. Not wanting to see more, but knowing I have to I look at the next picture.
This one is again of Harry working in the garden, but this time he is not wearing a shirt that seems way too big for him. But when I look at the marks, scars and welts, some of them opened and bleeding slightly others closed, all over his back I almost wish he still had that shirt on.

I take a deep breath, now having Pomona sitting next to me and having her hand on my arm as she asks: "Albus, are you alright?" But instead of answering, do I hand her the rest of the pictures, not sure if I can look at anymore and now realizing that yes, these people did the right thing adopting Harry.
The woman gasps as she looks at more of the pictures and just looking at the first of them, showing Harry with a stream around his lower arm that clearly shows that someone has pulled some kind of fabric or perhaps a rope around Harry's arm just way too tight, leaving that stream as a scar on his skin forever.

She looks at one picture after another, but seems to stop after three and gives the rest of them, another ten, to Minerva, who is able to look at four pictures before handing the last six to Filius, obviously trying not to cry. Filius must have been worried and shocked as he instantly hands the pictures onto Severus.
Severely hoping that the man can see past Harry's outer looks enough to see the abuse that is almost too visible to bare on those pictures and I think: "Please, Severus, please. See the abuse you always wanted to protect Lily against. Please see that Harry has suffered as much as you have."
I look at the man's facial features closely and while his sneer remains on his face throughout him looking at the pictures, can I see his emotions and strength crumbling in his eyes and do I see the black lashes hiding small tears, the length keeping them from falling down his cheeks and blowing his cover.

He then sighs and lies the pictures away, making me summon them all together and lying them, face down, in the centre of the table. I then turn to the man named Xemnas and say: "I – we – cannot thank you enough. When I left Harry with those Muggles, I wanted a loving, safe environment, one Harry didn't get to have."
The man nods and asks: "And your decision regarding Harry's living environment?" I look at the boy, still seated in Xaldin's lap and happily seems to have a silent conversation with the man while I had looked at the photos. Xaldin sees me looking and, probably because of my placement of Harry with those Muggles, he turns mad.

Xaldin's POV

Remus had told us this week would most probably be the one where Harry would get his letter and because he didn't want to see this Albus Dumbledore fellow until he had sorted things out he had promised our child's dad he would sort out, the man had promised to come back after Harry's birthday.
Now the man is indeed here and because we had agreed that every day one of us would be awaiting the man, I had been the one to be leaning against the side of our house when Albus Dumbledore, a man I recognized from Remus' description, arrived together with two men and two women.
I had lead them inside, my fellow Organization members and me had talked to them a little and introduced ourselves and finally had Demyx shown them the same pictures we had used for the Child Protections Services. Dumbledore had been clearly shocked, but now I see him looking at me and my son.
This instantly makes me wonder whether or not the man has changed his mind concerning those Muggles, but while the man does admit to have made a mistake, does the look he shoot at my boy make me still wonder what he will do next. Fearing he will put my child with other people, I glare at him.

"Listen, old man, you know we moved. You know we adopted Harry. And you can tell by the Blood wards and the smile on his face that he is happy here. He is not! Going back to those monsters!" I spat at the man as I pull Harry close, actually summoning one of my lances in case the man tries anything.
My son looks at me shocked and hugs me just as closely, making me focus on him and not on what the man tries to tell me. This makes me call off my lance and it again disappears in a small whirlwind and I happily restart to pet my baby's hair, my heart wanting to keep Harry close no matter what.

Harry's POV

The whole conversation is one I just don't want to have, but there is still a reason I am letting it continue and that is to make sure Mr. Dumbledore does not decide to take me away or even think of sending me back to – I shudder as I try to think of the name and decide not to think about any them anymore at all.
Instead I focus back on the conversation, happily sitting in my daddy Xaldin's lap and am just in time to feel daddy Xaldin pull me even closer onto his lap and spat at the man exactly what I am mentally begging him not to do while going so far to even summon one of his Lindworm Wind Lances.

I quickly hug the man closely, trying to push my body to merge with his and this makes daddy Xaldin calm down enough to call back his lance. He then hugs me tightly and daddy Xemnas smiles at me in pride for my actions, before he turns to the Dumbledore man and his people and says:
"Mr. Dumbledore, as you can see have we really grown to love Harry with all our Hearts and we can assure you that he is our Light and that he is Our Child of All. We all love him dearly, want only the best for him and will fight to our final breath to get that done. So just listen to us and don't take us our son."

The elder man nods and says: "I do admit to now sense a power that I earlier on believed to be quite equal to the Blood Wards that came around Privet Drive #4 after I brought Harry there, but I never suspected them to be the same Blood wards. I can also admit that I can sense how much stronger they are now.
So, let's all agree that Harry is best off here, that you are obviously the ones destined to raise him and get to the issue my colleagues and I are here to discuss. Harry's placement as a student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." But this makes my last nerve break and I shout:

"NO! NO WAY!
I AM NOT LEAVING THEM!
I AM NOT GOING TO YOUR SCHOOL!"

And with that I run out of my dad's embrace, past my and mum's chair and out of the room, straight for my own and using the power of Wind and Illusions to throw a field of Invisibility over myself as I cower in the left back corner, just under the brilliant window I often sit in at the end of my training sessions.

Marluxia's POV

I had been able to sense Harry's discomfort over the Hogwarts issue ever since Lupin had told us he would be gone until Dumbledore had come to visit and I wonder what it is exactly that bothers him about going to the same school his honorary uncle, parents and grandparents have also studied at.
The answer is given to me as Harry's resolve not to show his discomfort and bask in the joy Lupin shows snaps and he shouts about not leaving us to go to the school Dumbledore offers him placement at. I can see how this negatively effects the greasy haired man's opinion, but feel relieved with the answer to my question.
I stand up and say: "Forgive our son, I have seen his discomfort concerning this issue grow over the last week and it seems he just couldn't take it any longer. Please understand that Harry still has fears of losing us forever and that, going to a school for a long part of the year, strengthens that fear."
Four of the five around the table and I say: "I'll go talk to him now. Superior, why don't you try and find a compromise that can make both our parties happy and can comfort Harry enough to accept the invitation." My Superior, Xemnas, indeed nods at this and I leave, already knowing where to find my son.

But entering his room and finding it empty confuses me until I see some kind of shiver in the air in the left back corner of the room. Letting a small row of flower petals brush over that part of the wall, I bump against a magical shield and when the object under it lets out some giggles, I smile in relief.
A sigh is heard and Harry throws off the powers hiding him, powers my senses recognize as those taught to him by Xaldin and Zexion, and the child mutters: "I am not going." But all I do is sit on the bed and softly motion him to sit down with me. He does as asked and I wrap an arm around him.
Reluctantly, showing signs of still needing to heal, the boy leans into my embrace and I whisper softly: "I know why you fear going, child. But don't forget the first lessons we've taught you after your initiation. Those powers do not belong to this world and so cannot be stopped by the people living here.

You can transport yourself to us whenever you want and if you think we are going to lose sight of your co-ordinations, you really don't know us well enough yet." The boy lets out a small smile and I say: "And right now, our Superior is talking to Dumbledore and I am sure he knows the same facts.
You can bet your Keyblade, little child, that he will let Dumbledore agree to letting you have a constant contact with us and that you are to continue your Keyblade training, which in turn will give you all the more excuse to be around us and for us to come to you at least three times a week."
Now the boy smiles widely and I pull his face towards mine with his chin and say: "So why don't you go and explain your fears to Headmaster Dumbledore and accept that letter he was so kind as to come and bring to our door personally, alright?" Harry nods and with my right behind him he leaves.

He goes back to Where Nothing Gathers and like Xaldin taught him does he hold his hands in front of him and bow as he says: "I'm really sorry for my outburst earlier upon your first visit to our household, Headmaster. Excuse me for showing myself as a bad host to you and your fellow co-workers."
The elder man smiles at the boy and says: "That is quite alright, Harry, your father Xemnas has just shown us how he is able to transport in and out of locations where Anti-Apparation wards are active." I feel as confused as my son and he asks: "Anti-Apparation, Sir?" And the smaller man answers:
"A Ward is like the Blood Wards around your house, Mr. Potter. They protect one's household or something magically important like a vault or a school from certain dangers. Apparation is the wizarding ability to move from one location to another in less than a second's notice."

Harry nods and I can tell that the mental lessons with Vexen and Zexion have really helped as Harry is obviously willing to learn as much as possible and is also obviously able to understand and remember more than he did when he first came here, something which seems to really excite the little man.
The smaller, plump woman then says: "Where are our manners? I am Pomona Sprout, Mr. Potter and I, hopefully, will be your Herbology Teacher at Hogwarts." This makes a large smile appear on Harry's face and I smile too as I remember how much Harry loves working in our large backyard.

The woman seems to realize the same as she happily smiles back at Harry and then the stern woman speaks and says: "I am Minerva McGonagall, Mr. Potter. I am Head of Gryffindor, one of the Four Houses at Hogwarts and will be your Transfigurations teacher. Pomona is Head of Hufflepuff."
Harry nods and asks: "Are there any differences in the Houses, Mss. McGonagall?" And the woman answers: "Professor McGonagall, Mr. Potter and yes. Gryffindor is the House for the Brave, Hufflepuff for the Loyal, Ravenclaw is the House for the Smart and Slytherin is the House for the Ambitious."
Now Harry tilts his head slightly and ask: "Why have two Houses for practically the same thing?" Shocking the five in front of me, but making Vexen and Zexion smile and I know they figured the same as Harry did, while I have to go over the description another few times to understand what the boy means.

"Practically the same, Mr. Potter?" The smaller man asks and Harry says: "Of course. Courage is to do what you know what must be done, but you can't do it if you don't want to and to want to do something is to have Ambition. So why have to Houses that together hold the foundation of doing something?"
The five are again with wide eyes, but Harry seems confused at their shock and asks: "What, it's just a logical point of view? WHAT?" He asks agitated as the five teachers keep looking at him as if he's grown three extra heads, making him obviously feel uncomfortable and making him blush.
Then the greasy-haired man says: "A Millennia of hatred and competition and one brat thinks he can throw away years of history. As arrogant as his father I'm telling you." But while I can see how Demyx again wants to flood him, does Harry ask: "What? When did I do that? What did I say that was so wrong?"

And the smaller man says: "You said nothing wrong, Mr. Potter. You just showed us that we actually never really had a reason to take the rivalry between Gryffindor and Slytherin for granted as you are quite right. Their top-most qualities are indeed the foundation of someone doing something that is right.
It will be a pleasure to have you at Hogwarts, Mr. Potter. I can tell you will bring in a fresh, welcome and quite the logical wind of change to our school, one I believe is a few centuries over due. Allow me to introduce myself; Filius Flitwick, Charms professor and Head of Ravenclaw House."
Harry smiles shyly and says: "I don't want to go to school to change your ways of living, Professor. I just want to make my parents and grandparents proud, learn more that can help me be a good Keyblade Wielder and continue my training with my family." Words that make my partners and I smile.

Filius' POV

Harry's words really set me to think about everything I know about Gryffindor and Slytherin and everything I have experienced about the two Houses since I myself went to Hogwarts in 1913. The child really has an intelligent mind that seems to actually excel his mother and still he is as shy as a bird.
I also feel fascinated by the people who have adopted this young genius and ask: "Mr. Potter, can you please show me this item that your father and you call a Keyblade. I must admit not to have heard of it in any of my studies of the last 70 years at the least." The boy seems reluctant and looks at his parents.
The accepting nod of the man named Xemnas seems to be exactly what Harry needs to be convinced and he raises his arm, his face turning stern and focused and before my eyes a weapon of which the likes I have never seen appears in the hand of the son of my most favorite student ever.

The handle is white with a smooth, circular, dark indigo guard that fully surrounds it, the top of the guard decorated by 3 magenta diamonds of which one is at the base of the blade and the other two on either side of this one. This in total makes the handle look beautiful and still well-guarded and easy to handle.
The shaft of the blade seems rather short and has a dark indigo color. The head and teeth of the blade, actually making the blade look like some kind of key, are compromised by a dark indigo cross with a magenta diamond set in three of the four arms, leaving the arm opposite the teeth bare.
A white ring connects all four of these arms with a cross. The token at the end of the handle is triangular and quite resembles the head of the blade as it's dark indigo colored with three magenta triangles and one triangular gap decorating it. All in all the Keyblade is a beautiful, impressively looking weapon.

I look at the Keyblade with admiration and fascination and Vexen says: "Very good, Harry, now show us that which you studied without a proper tutor." I see the boy nod and he makes a few simple motions with his arm first, obviously trying to make his weapon feel like another part of his arm.
He then raises his arms, entwines his hands over the handle of the blade right above his head and moves his head from looking at the blade to looking straight ahead, before he closes his eyes in concentration. I wonder what the boy will be showing us, wonder what he could have learned and then see something incredible.
Small signs of red, like miniscule diamonds, shine all around the boy, floating around him but staying at their place. The diamonds seem to grow and become small embers, before turning into real small fires, floating about 10 inches from the boy's frame. Then, his eyes still closed, Harry actually makes them twirl around him.

My co-workers and I look absolutely flabbergasted as no one has ever been able to control fire like that and then Xemnas says: "As you can see, does Harry's Keyblade allow him certain powers over the elements. He has already mastered Healing and Fire and is currently struggling with the Ice Element."
I look at the man and he says: "Each of my fellow parents has control over one element and with our blood-adoption over the child have we been able to give him easier access to his Elemental Abilities. Our goal is to first have him master the Elements of the Keyblade and then the additional ones."
I feel shocked at this and Albus says: "Of course, that is why the Blood Wards are so powerful now. They are fueled by multiple hearts that are all connected to Harry's and that all enjoy his love for them as well as sending him their own." This makes me smile as it allows Harry exactly the future I know Lily wanted for her son.

I then turn to the only man who has not yet introduced himself, but Severus just scowls at the boy and I can tell that Harry looking like James and being as talented as the late Gryffindor makes it impossible for my fellow Head of House to see the difference between James Potter and his son.
I shake my head and say: "Mr. Potter, seeing his own refusal to introduce himself, allow me to introduce you to Severus Snape, Potions Teacher and Master Brewer and Head of Slytherin House. I'm afraid his refusal sterns from a grudge and passionate hatred he shared with your late father."

And while Severus glares at me does Harry again surprise me with his witty intelligence as he asks: "But why should that affect me, Professor Flitwick? Why would he show me such disrespect by not introducing himself for hating someone I never met?" I shake my head at these words and see Severus gawking at him.
I myself smile and he asks: "What? I never met my dad and never will be able to, seeing how Voldemort killed them during a time in my life I can no longer remember? So why should his grudge with my dad affect his future as my teacher?" Severus turns slowly red as he hears this and I snicker, knowing Harry's right.

"Words of youth are words of wisdom. You clearly show that, Harry dear boy." Albus then says and Minerva goes on: "I guess it's already quite clear where you'll be, Mr. Potter. Congratulations, Filius. Seems your wish will still come true." Making me smile as I had always wished to be the Head of Lily's child.
Then Harry bows again and asks: "Sorry to ask, Professor Flitwick, but what exactly was your wish?" And I happily answer: "To have at least one of your mother's children in my House. She was after all my favorite student, even if we Heads are, rightfully, not allowed to have any favorites."
Then Pomona says: "And besides, you don't need to bow to us, Mr. Potter. Who exactly taught you that?" And Harry answers: "Daddy Xaldin did. He learned it while living in Ancient China." And I see him winking at the man, as if they share a secret joke that only they know about.

Pomona's POV

Harry really is a brilliant, observant little fellow, but I can already tell he cares more for what he feels than for what he thinks and believe that the decision of where Harry will be placed isn't set in stone just yet. I then turn back to the boy and ask the question I know is on all of my co-workers' tongues:
"Well Mr. Potter, do you accept our invitation?" All of his parents and his future teachers look at him, Severus obviously still trying to progress the boy's last questions and I can tell that even his parents want to know whether or not he wants to go and that they will accept whatever he decides.

Harry looks around, from one face of his parents – I can personally barely believe that one child can have so many – to another and then he turns to Albus and asks: "If I decide to accept this invitation, then that means I can still use my powers as a member of this family, right Professor?"
Albus nods and Harry goes on, obviously wanting to make clear promises before accepting anything, which only proves to me further that he wants to decide with his heart and not with his mind and he asks: "And I can use the Dark Transport and the Dark Portals to get home whenever I get homesick, right?"
Again Albus nods, while I can tell that Minerva gets a little agitated and Filius excited and the boy takes a final breath, before he asks: "And I can still let my family come to Hogwarts so I can continue my Keyblade and Organization training and become a prideful # XIII II, right Professor Dumbledore?"
Again Albus nods, his eyes showing his amusement at how hard Harry tries to secure himself for when he gets to Hogwarts and then Harry spares another glance at his parents, all the men and the single woman smiling or gazing at him lovingly and encouragingly and then he turns back to us

And nods.

And that's where I leave it!
BRILLIANT! Absolutely Brilliant! I knew the chapter would be good, seeing all the discussing and agreeing on parts that I did with Nate the Werehog, but for it to come out like this – WOW! This went way better than I expected and I never actually expected for this idea to go this well!
Nate, if you think things should be different or that I forgot something, please add it and let me know. We'll soon discuss what will come next, but I don't want it to be Harry's trip to King's Cross or only Harry's trip to Diagon Alley. So let's get together and discuss what else we can add into next chapter.
Okay, enjoy,

The Venquine
Co-author: Nate the Werehog