This Harry Potter story was written for fun. All rights belong to the wonderful lady (JK Rowling) who gave the world Harry Potter to read and enjoy.

SLASH. While the character of Harry Potter is gay in this story, there will not be any intimate scenes – he's fourteen and that's too young to be involved in an adult relationship. In any case, he doesn't seem to think much of the adults around him.

In this chapter, Harry and his companions provide a description of the battle with the Dark Lords in the Chamber of Secrets. The government celebrates the end of the Dark Lords and afterwards Harry finds himself arguing with Lady Black about the future. He confronts his grandmother and learns she is as prejudiced as any other pure blood.

Printed Word in letters and newspapers.

{Parsel tongue conversation}

Chapter 11 Yelling and Screaming

Explanations in the Great Hall

When the elevator reached the girl's loo, the sink opened much wider than usual and Harry pulled back the grill work to allow Professor Flitwick to exit first. Then Kreature levitated the two dead Dark Lords into the loo and finally Bill and Harry left the elevator.

{Clossse with my presssence} Harry hissed before the elevator vanished and the sink returned to its normal size and shape. The three wizards relaxed for a moment and the half-goblin considered the 'trophies' from their battle.

"Lord Potter-Black, can your elf shrink these bodies?" asked Filius. "We should conceal them until they're needed. A goblin holds his trump cards until he knows what cards his opponents hold."

Harry nodded at Kreature and the house elf shrank the corpses of Dark Lord Barty and Dark Lord Snake along with his snake-shaped head to the size of small dolls and placed them into a stasis bag that he handed to Harry.

"When Lord Black dumps dead Dark Lords out of bag, they returns to normal disgusting sizes," the elf explained.

"Thank you, Kreature. Please check on Winky and listen for my call."

"Yes Lord Black," the elf said, bowing before he popped back to the Chamber of Secrets.

The three warriors in dirty battle-robes walked quietly through the deserted halls of Hogwarts. Even the picture frames were empty. They came to the Great Hall and found the door locked.

"Ditty!" called Harry when they had no luck with the door.

"Pottery-Blackson calls Ditty?" asked the elf after popping in behind Harry.

Startled and whirling around the teenager cried, "You shouldn't pop up behind people!"

"Kreature be saying it good for wizards to be surprised. Makes heartses beat faster," Ditty informed the exasperated teenager as Bill and Flitwick chuckled.

"Ditty, are there any wizards and witches in the school?" Bill asked.

The elf nodded his head. "There's be Aurors, Unspeakables, headmasters, ministers, directors, and reporters on the other side of the door. They waits for news on Dark Lords."

Ditty looked around fearfully, leaned close and quietly confided, "Ditty not know any Dark Lords."

Filius stepped up to the door and asked, "Hogwarts will you open this door for your warriors?"

The door cracked and they heard a couple screams from inside the Great Hall as the doors opened to reveal three dirty and bruised wizards, still dressed in battle-robes.

Amelia Bones led the Aurors forward, their wands ready to cast while Unspeakables approached the three wizards to cast spells and determine if they were possessed. Teams of Aurors spread throughout the school to search for the Dark Lord and his followers. Minister Diggory, Headmaster Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall, Professor Sprout and reporters from the Daily Prophet all shouted questions so quickly that Bill, Filius, and Harry were unable to get a word out for a full five minutes until Amelia shot off two bangs from her wand.

"Everyone be quiet. I will ask the questions!" she ordered.

"Now Amelia, I am headmaster of Hogwarts," said Dumbledore. "I have the most experience..."

"Be quiet 'headmaster'!" Diggory ordered. "Until Director Bones releases Hogwarts, it is a crime scene. Besides, you and your staff should be back at the Atrium trying to control those Weasley twins before the Ministry becomes another crime scene!"

"Two of my professors and one of my students disappeared last night, Minister. It goes without saying that I am going to be here to determine if they are well," Dumbledore snorted as though he were greatly insulted.

"It seemed you pushed your way to the front of the queue last night to leave," Minerva observed acidly.

"He stepped in front of everyone!" Professor Sprout declared.

"I went through the floo to help with the direction of the children to their assigned places," Dumbledore explained.

"No, you went through to find the loo and stayed there for two hours," reported Auror Kingsley. "I had to stay with you as your guard." He waved his hand under his nose to let everyone know the duty had been unpleasant.

"As I said a moment ago, 'I' will ask the questions!" Director Bones repeated. She turned to the three wizards and directed them to chairs she conjured.

"Are we under arrest?" asked Harry, surprising the director for a moment.

"No," she replied. "Do you need to be under arrest?"

"No. Last night, we defended Hogwarts in the Chamber of Secrets," Filius answered. He turned his attention to the hall and asked, "Could we at least have some tea?"

Ditty and three other elves popped into the Great Hall with tea and biscuits for the three wizards.

"Why would the house elves serve you?" Amelia asked. "We've asked for tea all morning without success."

Filius smiled. "I imagine the castle is not pleased that the faculty, headmaster, Aurors and Ministry officials deserted Hogwarts last night when there was the report of Dark Lords about."

"Well..." the director stumbled. "We had to get the children out."

"And then?" asked the Charms professor.

"How did you get the door open?" asked Minister Diggory. "We tried all morning."

"I asked Hogwarts to open the doors," replied Filius as if it were the simplest of things.

"Very well," Amelia sighed and then turned to the curse-breaker. "Professor Weasley, would you tell us what happened last night?"

"I can tell you what I saw," he answered and continued only after Director Bones nodded. "Lord Potter-Black's elf appeared in the Great Hall and shouted that her lord was fighting Dark Lords in the Chamber of Secrets and needed help. Professor Flitwick and I went with her."

"Everyone heard the elf's announcement," Filius added. "She popped both of us and into the Chamber of Secrets, where I saw Lord Potter-Black battling two Dark Lords Voldemort."

"No! Impossible! How could there be two of them? How did they get into the castle?" shouted all the same characters again.

Ignoring the shouted questions, Bill continued, "There were two Dark Lords in the Chamber of Secrets last night. Filius and I battled one Dark Lord, and Lord Potter-Black tackled the other Dark Lord."

He grinned at Harry and said, "Of course, we had to battle a Dark Lord wizard while Lord Potter-Black only fought a Dark Lord snake – a creature with a man's torso but a large snake's tail and head."

"Oi!" protested Harry. "He was a big snake!"

Filius frowned and completed the story, "Lord Potter-Black injured the snake severely and the creature charged to bite, unable to defeat the boy-who-lived with magic. But the house elf Dobby mortally wounded the Dark Lord Snake when he threw himself into the mouth of the snake and transfigured himself into marble, breaking the creature's fangs and jaw. While the snake-lord withered in agony, another of Lord Potter-Black's house elves finished Dark Lord Snake with her kitchen cleaver. Very neat work too, I must say."

"Lord Potter-Black, what can you add to Professor Weasley and Professor Flitwick's recounting of events?"

"Everything my professors said is true. My house elf Dobby sacrificed his life to save me."

"This is all a Halloween prank!" Dumbledore announced. "How could there be two Dark Lords?"

"Are you saying Dobby didn't sacrifice himself?" Harry demanded of Dumbledore, his magic flaring.

"No, of course not, Harry. I never knew that house elves were such noble creatures," Dumbledore back-peddled. "But you claim the Dark Lord was a snake creature? That is not possible."

"What do you mean?" asked Minister Diggory. "Do you think this is a hoax? If I remember correctly Dumbledore, you are the one claiming that the Dark Lord would return."

"Yes, but not this early in the school year," replied Dumbledore with such confidence that several adults took exception to the headmaster's insinuation that the Dark Lord's appearance was tied to the school year and they said so.

"If you doubt me, then let these wizards produce the bodies of these Dark Lords!" challenged Dumbledore motioning toward Harry, Bill and Filius. "They may be in league with the Dark Lord to make these claims!"

Harry looked at Bill and Filius who nodded their agreement. Standing, the teenager asked the Director of the DMLE and the Minister for Magic to step back. Removing the stasis bag from his pocket, he announced, "As Lord Potter-Black, I claim these carcasses as trophies of my hunt."

Then he opened the bag and poured out the corpses of Dark Lord Pettigrew and Dark Lord Snake. The decapitated head of the snake-wizard rolled across the floor to land at the feet of Albus Dumbledore who shrieked and fled to the back of the crowd. McGonagall turned extremely pale and Sprout fainted but three house elves appeared to catch and levitate her to the side.

The reporters from the Daily Prophet snapped pictures and shouted questions while Amelia Bones and the Unspeakables examined the bodies. Now the Hogwarts elves popped into the room and served everyone tea and a few stronger beverages to calm nerves.

After a half-hour of study and spell casting, the lead Unspeakable announced, "Without doubt, this corpse was the wizard Peter Pettigrew, and part of the soul of Lord Voldemort possessed his corpse. The other corpse is a transfigured creature that was once a giant black snake and a portion of the soul of Lord Voldemort as well."

"Lord Potter-Black, Professor Flitwick and Curse-breaker Weasley did battle and defeat more than one Dark Lord Voldemort last night," announced Minister Diggory. "The appearance of Peter Pettigrew's corpse means he was alive twelve years ago when Sirius Black was sent to Azkaban for his murder and this brings into doubt the charges against the late Lord Black."

Amelia and the Unspeakables asked to see the Chamber of Secrets but Harry declined to show it to them until after he had a few days to rest. Filius echoed his sentiment and since Harry was the only person capable of opening the Chamber, the leaders had to agree.

It was only a few minutes before Harry called for his house elf. "Kreature, gather up the corpses and take them to Gringotts. The goblins can dissect them for any clues about their magic."

"I thought the Department of Mysteries..." Director Bones began to say but ceased when Harry shook his head.

"The Unspeakables would never share their findings with me. The goblins will pay me to allow them to examine Dark Lord Pettigrew and Dark Lord Snake."

The Unspeakables rolled their eyes and politely asked for copies of the findings to which Harry tentatively agreed. "It depends on what the goblins find and what my goblin advisors think."

"You allow Ragnock to direct you?" asked Amelia.

Harry smirked and glanced at his professors who were paying attention to the question and answer. "I listen carefully to the advice of the Chief Ragnock and his counsellors."

Kreature popped out of the Great Hall to deliver the stasis bag to Gringotts.

"Hogwarts will reopen on Monday," Minister Diggory announced to the audience as the reporters began using the floo to head for their offices.

"Miss Lovegood missed out on a scoop today!" Filius mourned.

"Her father was here and we can give her an exclusive interview next week," Harry said. "She has been very kind to me and I want to repay the favour."

The headmaster walked up to the trio of heroes and looked at them with his saddest face and in a plaintive voice said, "Harry, I am disappointed in you."

"Why Albus? Because I didn't die?" the teenager asked. "Or because I brought back Pettigrew and proved you to be a liar about Sirius Black's guilt?"

"You should have trusted me to help you."

Harry did not respond to the headmaster's statement except to chuckle. The headmaster considered how to proceed with compulsion charms when Kreature popped back into the Great Hall and imposed a shield to protect his Lord Black from the headmaster's spells.

The elf asked, "Does Lord Black wish to visit his grandmother this afternoon? All other students returns homes for weekend. Lady Black asks that her grandson return home now."

Winky appeared behind Harry and whispered, "Winky leaves notes in Professor Charms and Professor Curse-breaker offices–theys be coming for supper with Lord Potters-Blacks."

She grabbed his robes and Harry winked at Filius before he suddenly popped out of the Great Hall.

"Wheres did he go nows?" complained Kreature loudly as if he were scolding a student. "Kreature teaching Lord Black to do elf's magic but he not mastered it yets..."

Then the elf popped out as Dumbledore spouted, "Wizards can't do elf magic!"

"With Lord Potter-Black you never know," Bill said confidently. "He can do just about anything he sets his mind to."

The curse-breaker sniffed his arm. "I am off to my rooms. I need a bath and some lunch."

"But I need to know what happened!" Dumbledore insisted. "You must tell me everything that happened."

"It will be in the Daily Prophet tomorrow," Filius said as he strolled out of the Great Hall, leaving Albus Dumbledore alone. "I'll see you at breakfast."

Tears and Promises

At Grimmauld Place, Harry Potter-Black stood before the painting of Lady Black as she cried.

"Please Grandmother, don't cry," Harry begged. "I am well–the Dark Lord's soul containers are dead or imprisoned in the portrait. Dobby made certain nothing..."

Mentioning the house elf's sacrifice made Lady Black cry even more and when Winky popped into the landing on the first floor and began crying, Harry put his arms around the elf. Kreature popped into the room and kept his opinion to himself while Lord Black, Lady Black and Winky mourned. Eventually he cleared his throat and caught the attention of Lord Potter-Black, Lady Black and the widow of Dobby Potter Head Elf.

"Kreature says just once that Dobby was bestest elf that ever served a wizard. Dobby Head Potter Elf sacrifices self to save his master–the dream of every elf!" the old elf said. "Kreature must spend rest of miserable life trying to be like Dobby and he promises to be teachings Dobby's elfling what a great elf Dobby being."

He snapped his fingers and the marble statue that had once been Dobby appeared on a marble plinth in a place of honour beside Lady Black's frame.

"Dobby..." cried Winky and Harry tightened his hold on the elf who finished the execution of Dark Lord Snake.

"Dobby would be very proud of all of you," Lady Black announced, drying her last tears. "The Black Family and the Potter Family are great again because of our Lord and his loyal elves."

"Lady Black speaks true," Harry agreed. "I was foolish with my trap and if not for my house elves and friends who came to fight, I could have died and released the Dark Lord on Britain."

"You will learn from this episode!" Lady Black insisted. "Ragnock will have stern lectures for you I am certain!"

Harry nodded his head as his grandmother continued, "But tonight we shall celebrate your victory!"

Celebration

Winky sniffed and drew a large handkerchief from an invisible pocket to blow her nose. "Winky makes feast for Lord Potters-Blacks victory! There be venison, beefs and goose. Winky be busy with cakes for desserts."

"Kreature has wine and beer, and champagne for the toasts!"

"I thought we invited just Professor Flitwick and Professor Weasley..."

"No's Lord Black," Kreature informed the teen. "Lady Black invited Longbottoms, Bones, Diggorys, Lovegoods, Malfoys, Greengrasses, Weasleys, and goblins to supper tonight."

Harry turned and looked at his grandmother's portrait who smiled as she explained, "I shall use this evening to mend fences with Bones and Diggory after the revelations this morning at Hogwarts, counsel with the Lovegoods about the spirit of the messages to distribute about Lord Potter-Black, and cement our alliance with the Grand Witch for your cousin Lucius."

"Why did you invite the Greengrass and Weasley families?" Harry asked his grandmother.

"Cissi says that Draco shows an interest in the eldest daughter, Daphne." She cleared her throat before saying, "Mr. and Mrs. Weasley have been invited because their son joined the battle."

Harry laughed and shook his head, "We can bear with their company for an evening so long as you are not playing matchmaker for me."

Lady Black's face turned very serious. "Winky shared the story of the veela with me and Kreature told me of the girl's father offering her to you for potion ingredients. The poor girl has been taught to use the allure to control men."

"Isn't that what the allure is for?"

"No. It is a defence," she said. "Veela are supposed to use it to protect their home and young from predators."

"I do not look forward to facing Monsieur Delacour on 12 November if he won't pay the honour debt," Harry said. "But I will make an example of him with two simple but effective spells. I intend to publicize the results of the duel to make others think twice before attempting to ensnare me."

Kreature fussed, "Lord Blacks must not be over-confidences! That makes him stupids! Theres will always be some wizard withs powers or spellings youse not haves!"

"I agree Kreature. But Monsieur Delacour is a potions master. He will consume strengthening potions, fortuna maximus, and every other potion he thinks will give him an advantage."

"He's be full?" asked the house elf curiously.

"Full enough to pop," Harry said with such simplicity that the Black Family elf stared for a long second before his face was broken by twitching lips, sniggering and giggles that grew into full belly laughs.

"Lord Blacks is smarts... All wizards will runs away from Lord Blacks if Veela Daddy explodes his pants in duel. No wizard wants his wand to explode like thats!"

"Harry? What will you do?" asked Lady Black.

"Delacour will arrive full of potions," Harry explained. "I will cast a spell that slips through all shields – a medical spell to speed up the affect of potions on the body. My opponent will have an undeniable urge to empty his bladder just seconds after the duel begins. And then his 'wand' will explode in his pants. There'll be blood and he will fall."

Lady Black shook her head, "I do not understand men!"

"I hope he settles with Ragnock," Harry said. "I'd rather not kill anyone else."

Need for Betrothal

"We must arrange a betrothal for you," Lady Black said. "It would use the magics of the three families to protect you and drive away these predators..."

"I am fourteen – a kid! I am not going..."

"Dear boy, 'betrothal' does not mean you are intimate with your future spouse. The betrothal magic won't allow you to be mistreated by whoever we select."

"Then there's no one I would consider at present," Harry told his grandmother.

Lady Black was surprised and asked, "I thought that Bill Weasley..."

"Professor Weasley is not interested and I will not force anyone to change with magic." Harry's eyes narrowed just slightly with anger. "He chose to join the fight but he is not interested in me."

"How disappointing," Lady Black said. "Perhaps one of our guests will know a suitable pure-blood."

"Not tonight!" Harry begged. "If you want a celebratory dinner, let's enjoy it without life-altering discussions!"

Kreature frowned. "Be's this same Lord Black who faced two Dark Lords last night and didn't run away? The same Lord Black who beats down father's portrait and grandparents' portraits about how they treats his mother?"

Harry stuck out his tongue at the elf and muttered, "Traitor!"

This made Kreature snort and walk over to the statue of Dobby. He leaned against the plinth and asked the statue, "Dobby musts tell Kreature what to tells the boy? Should Kreature be boxing Lord Black's ears for beings afraid of betrothals?"

Dinner Guests

The steps of Gringotts Bank were bright with lights as the guests arrived to use the goblin's floo connection to the hidden Potter-Black home. Spectators crowded the alley and the bank lobby to see magical Britain's mighty and powerful. Corralled by a little piece of rope held by armed goblin guards, reporters made note of each of the guests, their robes and jewellery, as photographers snapped their pictures.

Gringotts referred to the walk from the front door to the designated floo as 'the red carpet' though the floor was a dark blue tile rather than red or carpeted. The powerful and rich gathered once again at the home of Lord Potter-Black for a celebration – this time to mark the defeat and death of two manifestations of the Dark Lord Voldemort with the preserved corpses on display in the lobby underneath the skeleton of the giant basilisk.

To begin the festivities, Lord Potter-Black came through the floo to pose for pictures with Professor Filius Flitwick and Curse-breaker William Weasley, the wizards that joined him in defeating the Dark Lords. Within the bank, goblins viewed the memories of Flitwick and knew he and Bill Weasley had driven off the powerful version of the Dark Lord Barty. The goblins danced in the halls and their feet moved continuously while sitting on their stools counting galleons.

Another set of photos were made of Harry and Bill posed with Filius and Ragnock. Minister of Magic Amos Diggory arrived next to pose for photos with the 'Heroes of Hogwarts' as he called them.

The photos of the principals complete, Harry led the way back to Grimmauld Place through the Gringotts floo. Nod, Kreature's new apprentice elf, escorted Harry and his guests to the landing on the first floor where Lady Black's portrait waited to greet their first guests; the Minister for Magic and his family, Chief Ragnock of the Gringotts Tribe, and Professor Filius Flitwick, who stood next to Lord Harry Potter-Black.

Lady Black instructed the principals to form a reception line to greet the remaining guests; Lord Potter-Black would welcome the guest and then 'hand' them to Professor Weasley, then Professor Flitwick, and on down the line to the Minister of Magic, and finally the Goblin chief. It would be the first time that the Malfoy family would officially greet the half-goblin professor as well as the Goblin chief.

First up the staircase were Grand Witch Augusta Longbottom and her grandson Heir Neville Longbottom. Next up the stairs was Narcissa Malfoy with her husband and son, followed by the Greengrass family. Amelia Bones, the Director of the DMLE with her niece, came with their good friends the Abbots. Arthur and Molly Weasley were greeted formally but with good manners as Bill escorted his parents through the receiving line. Finally, the Lovegoods, father and daughter were greeted with great enthusiasm by Harry.

Everyone noted that Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy wore their pure-blood masks during the introductions to Professor Flitwick and to Chief Ragnock, but the words were as polite as to any other person in the receiving line and Harry felt the greetings went well.

During the dinner, several guests were invited by Kreature to spend a few private moments with Lady Black discussing different matters. Harry knew his grandmother was playing at politics and she would review each conversation with him on the morrow but tonight he paid close attention – as did everyone else – to the precedence Lady Black assigned to the individuals called from their dinner by Kreature for a private word.

No one made much of the matter when Amos Diggory was summoned first. The minister was with Lady Black for much of the first course but he did not miss the soup when the house elf provided him with a tumbler of an aged fire whiskey.

"But why would Amos go talk to a portrait?" demanded Molly of her husband and son. "What could a painting have to say that is so important?"

"It is an opportunity to speak privately with Lord Potter-Black's principal advisor," explained her eldest son. "Lady Black is the head of magical high society even in death."

"Well, he's not missing much with this first course," the woman complained. "It is cold potato soup…"

Lucius and Narcissa were invited next and they stayed for only a short time before the Grand Witch and the Goblin Chief were summoned together. It was an interesting picture to watch the diminutive Ragnock escorting the towering Augusta from the dining hall but Harry kept his attention on his manners and the excellent dinner Winky served.

"Bill, what this is meat?" Molly asked. "It is tougher than an old shoe…"

"It is venison, Mrs. Weasley," explained Narcissa from across the table. "You should cut small bites."

Molly Weasley noticed her son and husband were cutting small bites but she left the meat untouched and ate the peas after mashing them into pulp.

The final summons, just prior to serving the desserts, was for the Lovegoods. They remained so long with Lady Black that Harry called Kreature to announce the return of all the guests to the landing for a round of toasts. Luna and her father were packing away notes when Harry led the other guests back to the landing where his grandmother had just built bridges with the minister, requested support from the Malfoy couple to perhaps identify a suitable consort for Lord Black, and then spoke at length with the Grand Witch and Goblin Chief about how to word a betrothal.

When Lady Black began to hint at an announcement with the Lovegoods, Luna giggled and explained to the portrait that the betrothal of Lord Potter-Black would occur in its own good time.

"I see it in twenty or more possible futures already Lady Black. In all of them, it brings both Harry and the wizard happiness while strengthening Black, Potter and Snake. My readers in Magic Match and the American papers will love it. The Daily Prophet will not publish wild stories for once and the goblins in Gringotts will dance with happiness for many days."

"Harry needs a betrothal with a good pure-blood witch like our Ginny!" Molly announced confidently and the witch smiled thinking how she would re-decorate this house when her daughter became mistress.

"My grandson has a different preference," Lady Black said confidently and she caught the eye of Molly Weasley.

"Blood traitor thinks her bit of fluff daughter will take my place… When Gringotts sinks under the Thames!"

"If I don't burn that snake's portrait in the back yard it will be permanently regulated to the attics," Molly decided. "The entire house is decorated too sparsely …"

Lord Potter-Black's guests were assembled as Kreature and Nod passed out flutes of champagne. As the host, Harry made the first toast.

"Grand Witch, Minister, Gentle-Wizards and Lady-Witches, Goblins and Professors, we gather tonight to celebrate the victory of wizards and elves over Dark Lord Tom Riddle again. Last night, Riddle attempted to return using his soul containers. Tonight, I can tell you that with the able assistance of Professor Filius Flitwick, Professor William Weasley, and my house elves, House Potter, House Black and House Slytherin defeated and killed the Dark Lord. We put an end to all of his soul containers. Lord Voldemort can never return!"

"Hurrah!" shouted each wizard, witch, goblin and elf standing in the doorways as they took a sip of the champagne.

Then Harry lifted his glass a second time, this time higher than the first toast. "My friend Dobby Potter Head Elf gave his life to protect me during the battle. His sacrifice won us the battle in the Chamber of Secrets. So I call on everyone to lift their glass a second time to the noble sacrifice of a friend I shall never forget."

"Why are we drinking this French water?" asked Molly Weasley a bit too loud. "And why isn't Headmaster Dumbledore here? He's..."

And so the night ended with Bill's embarrassment.

Yelling at Grimmauld Place

On Saturday morning, Harry had a lie-in and didn't appear on the landing until almost time for lunch. Winky served a brunch of French toast, bacon, milk and poached eggs with enough food for the Gryffindor Quidditch team.

"What time do you plan to leave for Hogwarts tomorrow?" Lady Black asked after her grandson demolished a good portion of the feast.

"The elves will serve dinner around seven; if Kreature can pop me up to the dorm by six, I can be settled and dressed in time," Harry replied as he walked over to the ancient journal protected under the glass case.

"Grandmother, do you think Magical Society can grow and change enough to survive in the modern age?"

"What do you mean?" Lady Black asked. "Why does Magical Society need to change?"

"The technology of the muggles is progressing at such a rapid pace that eventually they will find us. They are mapping the world even now with satellites – a machine that floats above the clouds for years..."

"The aeroplanes with cameras could not see us during the muggle wars in the 40's. Why should they see us now?" the portrait replied. She waved his worries away, saying, "Revisit the idea in a few years..."

Harry nodded as his grandmother changed the subject, "The duel on 12 November; are you really confident you will defeat the man?"

"He is not a duellist or even a competent wizard," Harry replied. "His veela wife has made him feel invincible for so long, he believes it."

"And you say that many of the young wizards at Hogwarts have fallen under the spell of the daughter? Has the veela allure captured anyone in particular? How did Curse-breaker Weasley escape the allure?"

Harry frowned, not wanting to discuss Bill Weasley again. "Professor Weasley assures me that the allure can be resisted and that Mademoiselle Delacour has other 'other attributes' that attract the attention of the young men."

In the corner, Kreature snickered and muttered, "Curse-breaker means the veela's melons..."

"Then it is good you know now rather than to approach him about a betrothal and be rejected," Lady Black said. "A first crush is always bitter-sweet."

"That is what four different people have told me," Harry said tiredly. "It doesn't make me feel any better."

"But you will feel better soon," Lady Black assured him. "Stay away from him and the girl..."

"When I kill her father, she will become my ward until she graduates from Beauxbaton."

"Does she have a betrothal agreement or engagement in place?" Lady Black asked.

"Not that I know of..." Harry frowned. He walked to a window and stared at the street. "I really do not care to discuss Bill Weasley or the veela. The man fought at my side at Hogwarts and I honour him for that but do not wish to speak more of him."

"I think that is a wise decision," Lady Black told her grandson. "Do not cut ties with the talented curse-breaker."

She smiled and glided into the next topic. "Now, I understand that there are three young men in the seventh and sixth years at Hogwarts..."

Harry considered running from the room to end the conversation but then he decided to fight fire with fire.

"There's a boy in my year that might be suitable," he said simply.

"What is his name?" inquired Lady Black, ready to send Kreature on a fact-finding mission.

"Austin... Austin Bench-Carlton," Harry lied, making up the name. He thought briefly of Justin Finch-Fletchley, a Hufflepuff in his year that he did not know well. He just wanted an impressive name for his grandmother to consider.

Lady Black was silent for a moment. "I am not familiar with that family. Is he an Irish wizard per chance?"

"No, he's British. His father works on the exchange and his mother is a professor of British Literature at Cambridge."

"Is he be a muggleborn?" asked Kreature. "He be the tall boy in the Puffs, yes?"

"No, not in Hufflepuff," Harry said, shrugging his shoulders. "Austin is very intelligent and rich so I know he won't be after my money."

"There's no reason to rush into..." Lady Black paused and then suddenly ordered the Black elf, "Kreature, go find the home of this boy and investigate."

When the house elf popped away, Harry frowned and asked, "Do you object to someone you've never met simply because the wizard is a muggleborn?"

Lady Black frowned. "Yes! He is just one step away from being a mudblood! Harry, you represent three ancient family lines in Magical Britain. You have incredibly strong magic and can marry any pure-blood that strikes your fancy."

"Actually I can't," Harry told his grandmother. "If I force some wizard to marry me with a spell, potion or betrothal, I am no different than my jerk father who forced my mother to marry him."

"There will be many pure-blood wizards who will want to bond with you, Harry."

To irritate his grandmother, Harry said, "No, I think I shall pursue muggleborn wizards. They will help me keep my connection to the muggle world and it will set an example to the pure-bloods."

"No! I forbid it!" shouted Lady Black. "Stupid! Stubborn! A mudblood will ruin your chances! You have power, looks and money; Magical Britain is yours for the taking but you must keep the pure-bloods happy."

Shocked at the reaction of the portrait, Harry stepped back from his grandmother's tantrum, his face growing angry slowly.

Furious now, Lady Black shouted, "Why do I bother? Lessons, building alliances with the different families – all for nothing. You're no different than Sirius!"

"Sirius?" asked Harry honestly confused. "What does my godfather have to do with the muggleborns?"

"Sirius refused to do his duty by the Black family! He was to marry one of the Rosier girls but he refused. He said he would marry a muggleborn to freshen the Black family blood," Lady Black yelled. "Running around with that arrogant snot Potter got him locked up in Azkaban for more than ten years and then kissed by a Dementor! The same future awaits you if you keep up this stupidity about muggleborns."

There was silence in Grimmauld Place for almost two minutes as Lady Black realized what she had said, shouted, and hinted. The expression on the teenaged Lord Potter-Black's face was dangerous and suddenly Lady Black felt fearful for her continued existence.

"Grandmother – Lady Black – I find that I must thank you for the tuition this momentous day," Harry said formally before he gave the portrait a single slow nod of the head.

"Kreature, appear before me now," he commanded, allowing the Black family magic to flow from him and fill the landing.

The house elf appeared but immediately turned toward Lady Black. "Kreature says that there no be's any boy with name Austin in Hoggiewarts or all of Magicals Britain."

"Harry, you lied to me!" Lady Black declared with great surprize evident on her animated face in the portrait.

Words at the Burrow

"Mother, did you see my homework?" Ginny asked. "It was a foot of parchment on the luminous charm for Professor Flitwick."

"No, I haven't seen... Wait, here it is. Wipe that spit-up off the corner and it'll be fine," Molly said handing the slightly soiled paper to her daughter. Baby Ron was happy to have his sister and the twins at the Burrow for the weekend. George and Fred had overcome their fear of 'the baby' though neither would change a nappy.

"Tell me about school," Molly said.

"Because we've only had the Dark Lord inside the school three times now in the last four years..." Fred said.

"…to try and kill the students and professors," George chorused.

"…without success because Lord Potter-Black is there!" said the twins.

They grinned before they added, "Remember just two nights ago, Lord Potter-Black, Bill and Professor Flitwick killed two Voldemorts in one night."

"I spoke this morning with Dumbledore and he said not to be concerned about this 'Dark Lord' story. He is certain a great deal of fabrication is involved." Molly frowned as she asked, "So you're still friends with Harry?"

"Lord Potter-Black, Mom," George reminded her. "Headmaster Dumbledore never gets his title correct and it costs him."

"He will always be 'Harry' to me," Molly reminded her sons and daughter. "He'll come to visit when Ron is older."

"Why?" asked Ginny. "Ron is fourteen years younger than Lord Potter..."

"Ginny, can't you call him 'Harry'?" her mother asked.

"No," Ginny answered. "When he speaks to me, he calls me 'Miss Weasley' as any pure-blood lord would."

"He calls some girls by their names," Fred revealed. "Luna Lovegood is his friend."

"They are guests at his home and Luna is a reporter he depends on," George explained.

"Luna was still 'loony' last night at the reception," Molly joked.

"Mom, I really like Luna. Don't call her that again," insisted George. "She has the 'sight' and it affects her but she's smart and very pretty."

Molly glanced at Fred who said nothing about his brother's choice.

"George, the Lovegoods are strange wizards. You're too young to become serious. I haven't been able to match Bill with any good witch yet and I won't have you setting up house with a girl who..."

Recognizing a coming storm, Ginny took infant Ron from her mother's arms before George explained. "Luna Lovegood is a pure-blood witch with strong connections to Lord Potter-Black. It will be my good fortune if she accepts my offer of courtship in two or three years."

"No. She is not good enough..."

"So you didn't really get to talk to Bill last night?" George asked. "I told him to floo or write you."

"Bill? What about Bill?" asked Molly. "He's just at Hogwarts until Yule."

Fred moved to sit beside George. They had different ideas on girlfriends but would always remain each other's biggest defender.

"Bill has been keeping us safe from a veela at Hogwarts," Fred said.

"Bill and a veela?" Molly screeched. "A creature has designs on my Bill!"

Ginny had Ron bouncing on her knee and rather than flinching from her mother's yelling, she worked to make Ron laugh as Molly turned red and threw pottery against the kitchen wall.

"Silly Momma!" Ginny said as Ron stared and then giggled. "Silly Momma!"

"Mom, calm down," Fred said. "Bill's not serious about the veela. He's too busy with classes and everything else professors must do. It isn't like Bill was betrothed to Lord Potter-Black or anything."

But Molly was not listening to her sons and then Ginny added, "Fleur comes from a rich family, she is the eldest child, and she has no brothers."

"Then they'll move to France when she inherits and my grandchildren will speak French instead of English!" she shrieked as Ginny and Ron both continued to laugh at her.

"There'll be no inheritance," George said.

"Her father is set to duel Harry Potter-Black before the auction on 12 November," Fred explained as their mother's focus moved back and forth between the twins.

"The Frenchman will be dead and buried before the goblins start the bidding. It is an honour duel and Harry will win all the Delacour potions business," added George.

"I wish Bill was betrothed to Harry Potter-Black," Fred laughed. "Then we would all be rich."

Molly's head was spinning with the news but the only thing she seemed to understand was what she asked her children, "Betrothed to Bill? Do you mean that Harry Potter is a poof?"

"Mother, don't use that word!" Ginny insisted. "It is rude and..."

"And that word is what got Monsieur Delacour a date with the duelling pad in front of Gringotts," Fred said.

"That Potter boy is out of control!" Molly insisted. "Someone needs to take him in hand and teach him what is proper!"

"Proper?" asked Fred. "What do you mean?"

"Well… he can't be a poof… And he needs to listen to Headmaster Dumbledore. He will know what is proper for Harry to do."

George held up the copy of the Daily Prophet. "Do you mean Lord Potter-Black-Slytherin, Mother? He fought and defeated two re-incarnations of the Dark Lord on Halloween and dined with the Minister of Magic, the Grand Witch of the Wizegamot and the Goblin Chief the next night."

"They all called on him at his London home," Fred added. "Wait–you were there last night with Father. Didn't you notice everyone thanking 'Harry' for killing the Dark Lord again? That your eldest son battled the Dark Lords at Lord Potter-Black's side?"

"Oh yeah, the director of the DMLE was there too," George noted. "And the Lovegoods were the only magical folk from the press who were invited."

Molly was angry but her children were relentless.

"Despite what you allowed to happen here last summer, Harry is still a friend to us," Fred said. "He respects Ginny and treats her like girls are supposed to be treated."

"He has made all the boys behave toward the girls," George said. "If that's what a 'poof' does, then that is better than this 'greater good' Headmaster Dumbledore is always yammering about without any results."

"Potter-Black-Slytherin made sure we knew Dumbledore wanted to cancel the Quidditch season," Fred added.

"And helped us get the season restored..." Ginny chimed in as Ron gurgled and laughed. "I made Seeker on the team in my third year. I have four more years to play and may find a professional team interested after that much flying time."

"And that brings up back to the main event–leading the fight and killing Dark Lords..."

"On the same night!"

"Tell us Mom, what should he be doing differently?"

More Yelling at Grimmauld Place

Harry's voice was very calm when he asked, "Kreature, whom do you serve?"

Kreature smiled and bowed to Harry and then to Lady Black's portrait when he replied, "Kreature serves House Black."

"Bring me the portrait of Polaris Black, please Kreature," Harry said. The elf popped out and back quickly with the portrait of a Lord Black who died over two hundred years earlier. The portrait smirked at the young lord but said nothing.

"Kreature, would you obey the commands of this portrait?"

"He not be's Lord Black!" Kreature replied hotly. "He be's dead. He be's advisor to Lord Black."

"Stop!" Lady Black yelled.

"Winky, make Lady Black sleep," Harry asked. With a snap of her fingers, the little elf made Lady Black fall into a light slumber that the portrait fought; sitting in her chair, Lady Black twitched.

"Kreature, is Lady Black alive or dead?"

"She be most sincerely dead," Kreature replied. "Her whole soul is captured in picture prison by Lord Orions Blacks but she speaks her mind clearly."

"Kreature, would you follow any order given by Lord Polaris Black?"

"No! Kreature serves Lord Black, not dead paintings"

"Is Lady Black alive?"

"No..." the elf stopped himself and clamped his hands over his mouth, his eyes wide with alarm.

"Kreature, as Lord Black, head of the Black family, I give you the following order," Harry said. "If you fail to follow this order, your ears and toes will rot off, and Winky will be made head elf of the Black family."

"Yes, Lord Black," Kreature replied miserably knowing he had failed his lord.

Now Harry hissed at Kreature and the little elf shuddered, the parseltongue magic planting the meaning of the hissing into the elf's brain, {You will never look at the portrait of Lady Black again. The wardss of Grimmauld Place ssssit on your shoulders only; Lady Black doesss not announce any visssitorss again. If sshe speakss to you or givess you a command, you are to inform her portrait that you are not a bad elf who betraysss hisss massster for a dead woman, and you may tell her that her fartsss are not perfume.}

The elf frowned for a time as he studied the orders, took the wards back under his full control, and settled his magic once again. Finally, he nodded, "Kreature understands Lord Black's command in tongue of snakes."

Lady Black shuddered as she threw off Winky's spell and she stood up from the chair in her portrait. She frowned and called, "Kreature, punish that elf for enchanting me!"

The Black family elf sniffed and without glancing at the portrait replied, "Kreature is not bad elf and never betrays Lord Black for dead womans. Youse farts are not perfume."

Lady Black's screech matched any Harry had ever heard from Molly Weasley. He approached the portrait with a frown upon his face.

"You would order my elf to harm another of my elves? You would create discord in my household?"

Lord Polaris Black remained silent through all this time, planning to slip from his portrait to tell the other family portraits this juicy gossip as soon as possible. But then Kreature saw the old Lord Black listening too carefully and snapped his fingers to freeze the painting within the frame.

"I am Lady Black," she declared. "A house elf cannot attack me without punishment."

"You 'were' Lady Black but now you are dead," Harry replied. "My elf followed my commands and you attempted to create strife in my household. That is not allowed!"

Lady Black frowned but the Black Family magic was strong and she dared not disobey.

"You have served me well with information, tuition and advice until today."

"My advice will always be good!" the portrait insisted.

"Perhaps, but now I doubt you and must have other voices to advise me and tell me if your advice is good," Harry reminded the portrait.

She sneered, "No respectable portrait of a pure-blood will ever agree that marriage with a muggle-born is desirable. The mud is only necessary to strengthen..."

"Merlin! Give it a rest, Grandmother!" Harry said as his patience ran out. "I merely wanted you to stop speaking about a betrothal and you reveal you are not to be trusted. You have been independent, but no longer."

Lady Black's eyes grew wider – the boy had not been serious about a muggleborn. She sputtered and cursed while Harry shook his head.

He muttered loud enough for the portrait and the elves to hear his insult, "You're Molly Weasley with black hair and better robes."

"What! How dare you compare me to that harridan?"

"If the robe fits..."

Lady Black grabbed the tea pot on the table beside her in the painting and threw it at Harry. It smashed against the edge of her painting and Lady Black sat back in her chair, her hair escaping the pens that held it up.

Good News

"Lord Black, a visitor has arrived in the floo room," announced the Black family elf.

"Who is it, Kreature?" the teenager asked.

"Be Lucius Malfoy and he be's very excited," Kreature reported.

"Escort him here," ordered Harry.

Then he turned to his grandmother and commanded, "You will remain silent."

Turning his back on the portrait, he asked Winky. "Can you make Lady Black presentable?"

The normally bubbly elf was most solemn as she curtsied and replied, "As Lord Potters-Blacks-Snake commands."

Winky snapped her fingers twice and Lady Black's portrait was repaired except for her hair. The tea pot and table were righted, with steam rising from the spout. A plate of biscuits sat within easy reach.

"Her hair?" Harry asked.

"Lady Black be's tired and in need of a naps," Winky advised her lord. "Portraits must sleeps to renew their magics so they don't depends on lord's magic or steal magics from elveses. Lady Black's hair returns to neatness after she restses."

Harry turned as Kreature hurried up the stairs with Lucius who had a smile on his face unlike any Harry had seen before.

"Lord Black, may I speak with you?" Lucius asked not waiting for the elf to make the introduction as he made a full bow that Harry returned with half bow. Then Lucius only nodded to Lady Black's portrait and the slight made her frown though she remained silent.

"Certainly, there is always time for family."

"My wife... Narcissa told me this morning that we will be blessed with another child in a few months. Our joy has no bounds and we spent the morning with Draco decorating the nursery and speaking with our elves–they are celebrating!"

"That is happy news! Congratulations!" Harry agreed with a grin on his face to match Lucius Malfoy.

"Narcissa asked me to come to Grimmauld Place to share the news with Lord Black and ask for his permission to select a name from the family tapestry."

"With my whole heart, I grant my cousin's wish," Harry said. "May this be the first of many more branches on our family tree!"

Lucius grinned and then his face turned serious again, "Because of the soul container's presence for so many years, the healers are concerned that Narcissa's condition will be delicate during this confinement. Her healers do not want her to use the floo, apparate or port key anywhere. She will be limited to the manor until late May when the child is born."

He turned to the portrait of his wife's aunt, "Lady Black, your niece asks to be forgiven if she cannot visit for a time."

"My grandmother's portrait must rest," Harry said. "She has been very active and must sleep for a time to renew her magic. After the baby arrives, Narcissa will bring it over to meet the late Lady Black."

The portrait was already forgotten as Lucius turned back to Harry. "My wife asks that her cousin come for supper this evening."

"Gladly," Harry replied.

"We will look for you at seven then," Lucius said.

Harry reached out his hand and Lucius shook it. "Congratulations again!"

"Kreature, escort my cousin's husband back to the floo room."

The elf bowed low and Harry noticed that all of his elves bowed or curtsied as Malfoy walked by.

What to do about Grandmother?

Harry grinned when Winky brought him tea while Kreature and Nod danced on the ceiling of the landing.

"Winky, why are you so happy that the Malfoys will have a baby?"

"House elves gets our magic from our wizard families. Baby wizards mean more magic for our baby elfses." She rubbed her stomach which was swelling slightly with DJ as he grew. "Until youse has babies, all our magics must comes from you and other Black family wizards and witches. Lord Potters-Blacks be powerful wizard so all youse elves are powerful magical."

Winky grinned. "Youse babies will be Merlins powerful with the loves you will have for them."

The elf glanced at Lady Black's portrait before she whispered, "She's not understanding that loves youse has for babies is what makes them strong."

"And so Kreature and Nod are dancing on the ceiling," Harry observed.

"They dances to makes the house ward strongest," Winky said. "We's all be happy."

Harry sat back in his favourite chair on the landing and considered what to do about the portrait of Lady Black once he returned to school for the remainder of the fall term. It was several weeks until Yule and he worried she could influence Kreature or Nod, or even Winky.

"Winky, Kreature and Nod," Harry called and instantly all three of his elves appeared in front of him to bow or curtsey. "Sunday I must return to Hogwarts. Kreature and Nod will go with me as planned. Winky, what shall we do about Lady Black's portrait while I am gone?"

"Winky be's cleaning Grimmauld Place. Portrait of dead Ladys Black not worry Winky."

"But I don't trust her any longer," Harry said.

"Lords Potters-Blacks, may Kreature speak?" the old house elf asked.

Surprised that for the first time Kreature had called him 'Potter-Black', Harry nodded.

"It is be shame that young Harry Potters-Blacks must be adults all the time and nots be a child growing and learning. He's must not worry that portraits of Lady Black creates problems. Kreature says to use snake speak to puts her to sleep," the elf advised.

"No," Lady Black said from her portrait. "You do not know what that type of sleep does to the magic of a portrait! You might damage the magic! Do not listen to that elf!"

Kreature said very loudly, "Kreature is not bad elf and never betrays Lord Black for dead womans. Youse farts are not perfume."

"Make him stop saying that!" yelled Lady Black.

"Can we move to the kitchen?" Harry asked as Winky snapped her fingers and the elves and their lord appeared around the kitchen table.

"I expect we will talk here more often in the future," Harry said. "I think the parseltongue sleep is a good idea but Lady Black has a point as well. I don't know what the snake language sleep does to the magic of the portrait."

Harry stood up, "Tomorrow morning, we'll go to Potter manor and wake up James Potter's portrait. If he's damaged, I may not care too much."

"Lords Potters-Blacks be saying 'not care a great deal'," corrected Kreature.

"I may not care a great deal," Harry repeated.

Dinner at Malfoys

At 6:50 PM, Harry used his floo to travel to Gringotts. The bank was not busy on Saturday evening and he was able to speak with Clawface for a moment about the Black family properties. Promptly at 7:00 PM, Harry approached the Gringotts floo to travel to Malfoy Manor when the Greengrass family entered the bank with the same destination in mind.

'Draco can't be that serious about Daphne already, can he?' Harry wondered as he greeted the father, mother and two daughters.

"Lord Potter-Black, if you will step through first," the goblin instructed. Apparently rank was observed with the floo as well as dinner seating.

Stepping through the flames, Harry arrived at Malfoy Manor without any soot on his robes and sure on his feet – a skill he had worked on for many hours. In the floo room he was greeted by an elf that immediately escorted him to a salon where he was formally greeted by Lucius Malfoy and then his cousin, Narcissa.

Kissing her on both cheeks, Harry gave her Lord Black's blessing for the child. He paused listening to the family magics and grinned, "Cousin, your daughter will inherit the great metamorphic magic of the Black family!"

"A daughter?" Narcissa exclaimed as Lucius had to sit down. Draco was running into the room, followed by the bemused Greengrass family.

"I shall call the healers again!" Lucius insisted. "They did not detect the sex of the babe earlier."

"Lucius, the healers cannot do anything tonight," Narcissa calmly told her husband though her magic did flare as the Black family magic increased around her as Harry gifted her infant with power to grow safe and strong.

"Are you certain I will have a sister?" asked Draco. "Can you tell Harry?"

"Yes," Harry replied. "Apparently the Black family magic prefers strong metamorphic witches. Maybe the magic sees this as a defence for future mothers."

Daphne smiled, "So if Draco and I marry, our daughters might be metamorphic as well?"

"Let's not worry about future grandchildren," Lucius said, taking his wife's hand gently. "Our daughter will be the first Malfoy daughter in many generations."

Draco beamed as Harry said, "You will have many responsibilities as the big brother."

That was when Daphne noticed something strange, "Draco, your house elves are dancing on the ceiling!"

Unwelcome Visitors

The Malfoys and their guests were barely seated for dinner when Lucius and Draco rose from their seats and ran from the room. Harry was seated beside Narcissa and he saw her grow pale.

"What is happening?" he asked.

"There are Death eaters at the edge of our wards. They know where the ward stones are..."

"They've cast anti-apparition and port-key wards over us. They came prepared for this day," Daniel Greengrass muttered.

"Cousin, you must hide under my cloak," Harry said pulling the famous invisibility cloak from his robes. Noticing the fear in the younger Greengrass girl's face, he motioned her under the cloak as well.

"Remember, you can call my elves if anything happens," Harry told her before he joined the Greengrass father, mother and Daphne in defensive positions in the dining room.

Lucius and Draco returned and sealed the dining room door. "Yaxley helped cast the upgrades to my wards five years ago and he came back tonight with friends to dismantle them."

Harry cast one patronus with his oak and basilisk venom wand, the basilisk quickly disappeared into the night. "I sent a request for help to Director Bones."

With his other wand, he cast the patronus again, and this time it resulted in a dozen smaller basilisks.

"Hunt the Deatheaters," he told the shimmering snakes. The patronus figures slipped through the walls and the Malfoys and guests heard a few muffled yells as the basilisks annoyed and rubbed against the Death eaters.

"What can a patronus do to a wizard?" Daphne asked.

"Where is my mother?" asked Draco.

"Narcissa is hidden," Harry replied. "My basilisk patronus carries a spell on its scales to irritate the skin of wizards."

"Will it kill them?" asked Daniel Greengrass.

"No, but whenever they try to cast, the spell will break their concentration."

At just that moment, the dining room doors burst in and the ten Deatheaters charged into the room but were faced with powerful spells from Lucius, Draco, Daniel, and Harry. Daphne and her mother held back to provide cover for anyone wounded.

Two Deatheaters were down in the first exchange of spells, a third attempted to cast a spell at Draco but missed because his arm jerked away as he tried to scratch while casting. Lucius took the man's legs off with a cutting curse for aiming at his heir. A fourth Deatheater fired the Avada Kedavra death spell at Lucius Malfoy but missed because he had to scratch his leg and his spell hit another of the Deatheaters. Harry cast a bombard at the Deatheater and threw him into the wall where he slumped to the floor.

Then Harry threw cutting curses that cut through the wand arms of the sixth and seven Deatheaters. Without their wands, the wizards were defenceless. Lucius aimed his cutting curse higher at the eighth Deatheater and took off the man's head, and Draco took out number nine with a bludgeoning spell that splattered the man's head across the door. The tenth Deatheater turned to run but suddenly screamed when his wand arm was blow off by a spell from Daniel Greengrass.

Greengrass smirked and stepped forward to disarm the corpses or wounded. Kreature and the Malfoy elves popped into the room with the Aurors who had arrived outside Malfoy Manor. Stripping masks from the dead and wounded, Lucius and Daniel identified the Carrow twins, Yaxley, and Rookwood among the attackers.

"Director Bones sends her compliments Mr. Malfoy," Kingsley said as the Aurors identified the dead and sent their bodies to a morgue at the ministry. The four survivors, all scratching at their legs, necks and arms, were taken to St. Mungo's for medical treatment.

"Thank you for your service," Lucius told the Auror captain before he and his last men apparated away.

Harry went with Lucius and Daniel to re-configure the wards for the evening.

"I recommend Tucker & Sons for new wards Lucius," Daniel said once the protections were once more active. "They can set new stones and trim the overlaps."

"An excellent recommendation, Daniel," Lucius said though he also intended to contract with Gringotts to survey the wards and provide some surprises for the next persons who tried to violate his family's safety.

Visit to Potter Manor

The next morning, Harry rose early. His sleep had been restless and he imagined hearing Deatheaters attempting to break into Grimmauld Place several times. Lady Black's portrait had no words for him when he came down the stairs for breakfast; he called Winky and asked her to move his meal to the kitchen.

The Daily Prophet in hand, Harry walked down to the kitchen, ignoring the muttering of Lady Black's portrait behind him as he heard Kreature pop onto landing and say, "Kreature is not bad elf and never betrays Lord Black..."

After eating his breakfast, Harry called Kreature, Winky and Nod to travel with him to Potter Manor. Before they left, Kreature closed the floo at Grimmauld Place to prevent any visitors arriving from Gringotts and they popped out. They arrived outside the gates of the manor – since Dobby's death, Harry had not appointed a new head elf for the Potters.

"Winky Potters-Blacks, I name you as Potter Family Head Elf," Harry said to formally transfer the powers to her. She touched the gate with Harry and they opened. The walk to the manor house was quick – the leaves were off the trees and the fields were fallow – ploughed for next spring but now resting. The mansion stood taller with bare trees around it. Inside it remained cold and fallow as the fields.

In the morning lounge, Harry waited while Kreature and Nod retrieved the painting of James Potter. Hesitating only a moment, Harry placed his wand against the canvas and hissed, {With my presssence, I call you to wake!}

It took almost a minute for the portrait to stir but then James Potter's figure raised his head and saw his son standing before him.

"You again!" He looked about, the room – the mirrors were still covered and he could not feel any other paintings in the entire house. "So, I am punished and locked within this picture frame for speaking my mind."

Harry did not reply but merely tilted his head and gazed at James Potter's animated portrait.

"Well boy? Can you speak or has your mudblood-half been traumatized into silence by magic?"

"School has been most interesting this fall," Harry said. "We had a Deatheater in disguise as the DADA instructor and Dumbledore did nothing about it."

"A likely story..." James said dismissing the story.

"The Dark Lord came to call but I defeated him..."

"You lie! You are just a boy!"

"Do you feel refreshed from your sleep?" the teenager asked the portrait.

"I have slept too long! Leave me awake."

"And what? Allow you to order the house elves about? Let you shout and yell?"

"It is all I can do!" James said sullenly. "I am trapped here in this frame."

Harry sighed as he stood and walked to the portrait, "And you are still the same."

He hissed, {With my presssence, I command you to sssleep until I awaken you.}

James Potter fell asleep instantly and Harry directed the elves to return the portrait to the walls of ball room. He climbed the four flights of stairs to the third floor and the secure nursery. Winky joined him there as she dusted quickly and Harry went to see his mother's portrait.

He instantly recognized the difference – she had changed her position in her sleep.

"Mother!" he called trying to awaken her but the figure did not respond.

"Is Lord Potters-Black being okays?" asked Winky from his side.

"My mother has moved in her sleep!" he told his elf.

"Then she be's getting her magic building. She awakens somedays – by summers at least."

"Winky, that will be wonderful day when my mother wakes up."

The moment Kreature popped Harry back into Grimmauld Place; he went to the landing and spoke to Lady Black's portrait.

"I woke my father's portrait. The sleep appeared to do his attitude no harm. You will sleep until I awake you – next summer we can discuss some suppers for politicians and my friends."

"You need to leave me awake and with an elf to bring me..."

Ignoring her words, Harry stepped closer to the canvas as Lady Black said, "I am Lady Black..."

He pressed the tip of his wand against the canvas and hissed, {With my presssence, I command you to sssleep until I call you to wake.}

Not looking at the portrait again, Harry hurried up the stairs to his room where Winky and Nod were packing his trunk. He hugged Winky goodbye to make certain her magical core was filled, then had Kreature pop him back to Hogwarts while Nod brought his trunk.