Disclaimer: As I stare out my barred window, wrapped snugly in my straight-jacket, I think about the wonderful series I created about the wizard boy Harry Potter and the magical world in the UK. Ahh! The memories of the hours I spent writing the books and rolling around in my billions of dollars! Okay, in reality I'm not crazy, but I also never wrote the HP series. I don't have billions (I'm more of a hundred-aire college student). I don't own anything associated with the HP world (except the little fanfic creation below). And, I'm DEFINITELY not JKR!

Author's Note: I apologize for the long break between updates. It's been a very stressful and busy time for me between school and work. I haven't given up on this story, but my mind has been on my writing fiction classes lately. It will probably be awhile between updates until Christmas break. I'm not sure what's going on right now. I still need to work on this story. I thank all of you for being so patient with me. I have felt guilty about abandoning this story, but I'm trying to get back into it. So, thank you for staying devoted to this story. You are better than I. So, here's chapter eleven.

Chapter 11- Welcome Home

Harry felt the end of his floo call coming close and braced his hands in front of himself to prevent himself from falling on his face and breaking his glasses again. Just as he landed, he closed his eyes and rolled on the cold floor. When he had finally stopped, he opened his eyes to see a high ceiling above him in white and with very decorative crown molding throughout it. He slowly rose from his position on the floor to see that it was a creamy pink marble color. He noticed several doors leading everywhere from his location, so he guessed he was in the hall. Just as he was admiring the intricate crown molding everywhere, a door to his right flew open and an elderly woman who bore an expression to rival Professor McGonagall's marched out.

"Who goes there?" she ordered in a stern and shrill voice, "Who dare enter the Noble House of Potter without permission?" Harry gulped hard as she caught sight of him. With her hands on her hips, she glared at him.

"Who are you?" she demanded.

"I-I'm H-harry Potter," he stuttered as she approached him, her piercing blue eyes studying him with scrutiny.

"Do you have any proof that you are, in fact, the only son of James and Lily Potter?" she interrogated as Harry shuffled on his feet.

"I have my wizarding and apparition licenses," he answered, pulling them out of his pocket and holding them out for her. She eyed them but didn't take them from him before turning her gaze back to him.

"Anyone under the effects of Polyjuice could have those," she gave sternly.

"I don't have any other proof that I'm who I say I am," he began quietly, "I don't know what else I can give you to prove I'm him. I'm sorry." He turned toward the fireplace and reached for the Floo powder, hoping no one else was on their way to his Manor. Just as he pulled out a handful of the powder, the woman called him back.

"One moment, young man," she started, "There is a way to prove that you are who you say you are." Harry turned to her and waited for her questions. She approached him until she was only a few feet from him.

"Tell me what you know about your father," she ordered as Harry nodded and thought.

"He was the Gryffindor Seeker during his schooling at Hogwarts."

"Everyone knew that."

"His best friend was Sirius Black."

"So?"

"They, along with Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew, comprised the four Mauraders," Harry continued as the woman nodded and him and waited patiently, "James was Prongs, Sirius was Padfoot, Remus was Moody, and Peter was Wormtail. And they called Severus Snape 'Snivellus' at school." The woman's piercing gaze struck Harry as odd as she stared at him until finally blinking a few times and nodding.

"Welcome Home, young Mr. Potter," she started, "I apologize for questioning who you were. But one must take safety precautions." Harry smiled and nodded.

"I am Margaret Beecher," she began as she curtsied for him, "You may call me Maggie. I am the Head of Housekeeping at Potter Manor. I have been with your family for nearly forty years."

"It's nice to meet you, Maggie," Harry started, "How many are there here?"

"There are five of us, sir," she answered.

"Please, call me Harry," he responded, "Do you mean there are five servants?"

"Yes."

"What about house elves?" Harry pressed curiously, "A manor this large must have house elves."

"Oh, yes, sir," she began, "There were a great many house elves at Potter Manor. But your grandfather, Wulfric Ignatius Potter, freed them nearly thirty years ago. He asked them if they would rather stay at Potter Manor and be paid or if they would rather go to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and be paid there. While a great many wanted to stay here, they wished to stay under enslavement. But, your late grandfather forbid them to stay unpaid. Professor Dumbledore convinced the former headmaster to allow the Potter Manor staff to work at Hogwarts for wages. So, they all went to Hogwarts to work." Harry nodded as he looked around the hall.

"Would you like to tour your home, sir?" Maggie asked as Harry remembered something.

"Not right away, Maggie," he began, "I need to floo my friends first. They're waiting for me at Diagon Alley."

"Of course, sir," Maggie replied, "I shall go to the servants' quarters and gather the others while you place your floo call. We shall wait for you in the library. You can take either hall from either side and reach it, for it is the central room of the Manor." Harry nodded and turned back to the fireplace and threw some of the powder into it.

"Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes!" Harry called out as he stretched his neck into the fire. Instantly, he felt the familiar pull of his head through the fire as his head made its way to the twins' shop. Just as suddenly as the sensation had started it stopped and he was faced by six eager faces.

"Harry!" Hermione called out with a grin, "Is everything alright?"

"Yes, come on through the floo," he remarked as he pulled his head out of the flames and his head made its way back to Potter Manor. As he safely returned to his kneeling position in front of the fireplace of Potter Manor, he saw the green flames burst with life and Ginny tumbled out of the floo, knocking Harry back to the ground.

"Oh!" she remarked as she stood up and offered him a hand, "I'm sorry, Harry." Harry smiled and stood from the floor, shaking his head and standing away from the fireplace so he wouldn't be knocked over again.

"It's okay, Ginny," he replied as one by one the rest of them came through the floo and looked around the hall like Harry had done. As soon as Mrs. Weasley stepped out of the flames, Harry sighed and looked around.

"Right," he started, "Maggie said she would have the servants gathered in the Library for us when we all got here."

"Harry!" Hermione scolded, "You now own slaves! I demand that you free them immediately! Those poor elves!" Harry chuckled and shook his head.

"No, 'Mione," he started, "I don't own any elves. It turns out that my grandfather freed them ages ago and they all went to Hogwarts to be paid by them." Hermione blushed and closed her mouth as Harry motioned them down the hall. As soon as they turned, Harry saw the open door to the Library and they all went into the room. Immediately, Harry heard Hermione gasp in delight; Harry nearly did as he saw the opening in the ceiling that revealed the three upper stories of the Library.

"Oh no!" one of the twins started, "We'll never get Hermione to leave this room." She shot them a scornful look as Harry noticed Maggie and the other servants standing in front of the shelves.

"Mr. Potter, sir," Maggie began as she and the other servants curtsied or bowed, "And his friends. Welcome to Potter Manor at Number 10 Meamhair Lane in Godric's Hollow."

"Please, call me Harry." Maggie nodded and turned to the other servants.

"May I introduce you to your servants," she started as she motioned to the four other servants, "Edgar Stowe, Colin Campbell, Eliza Smith, and Harriet Biggins." Harry nodded to all of them and smiled as he looked at his friends.

"May I introduce my friends and the closest people I have to a family," he began, "Ginny, Ron, George, Fred, and Molly Weasley, and Hermione Granger."

"It's a pleasure to meet you all," Maggie announced, "Please make yourselves at home. Mr. Potter—Harry—would you like to tour your home now?" Harry nodded eagerly and motioned the others to join him as his eyes twinkled merrily, savoring the moments spent in his family's home.

o-o-o-o-o

"Wow, Harry!" Hermione exclaimed as she stepped out of the fireplace at Grimmauld Place, "Your home is gorgeous!" Harry grinned as they sat down at the table in kitchen of Grimmauld Place, reliving the adventure they had all shared when they explored Potter Manor. Though Ron and the Weasley twins had been impressed by the two full-size Quidditch Stadiums, Mrs. Weasley had loved the large and immaculate kitchen and Baroque-style garden. Hermione, of course, had been ecstatic about the immense Library that opened up on each of the four floors of the house and an open-airy feeling of it as it had a balcony overlooking the ground floor on each level. Ginny and Harry had both enjoyed the complete house, with its formal Dining Room, separate Breakfast and Tea Rooms, the eight studies, the sixteen guest rooms, the three master bedrooms, parlors on each of the four stories, the Portrait room, and the Conservatory. But, everyone was impressed by Potter Pond—which was as large as the lake at Hogwarts—at the end of the garden in the back of the Manor's land and the forest surrounding the Manor and on the lands that Potter Manor owned.

"It was wonderful, Harry," Mrs. Weasley commented with a smile, "Thank you for including us in your tour of your home." He smiled at her as she turned to the others and sighed.

"Alright, you four," she began, "Take your school things to your rooms and put them away." Ron, Hermione, and Ginny raced out of the room with their packages to put them away, but Harry stayed behind to talk to Mrs. Weasley. Slowly, he stood from his seat and cleared his throat.

"Mum," he started as she turned back to him curiously, "Can I talk to you for a moment?" She nodded and sat down at the table with him and he joined her.

"What's wrong, Harry?" she asked as he stared at his hands.

"I-I want to turn over Potter Manor," he started, "to you and Dad. I want you to have it." Mrs. Weasley smiled sadly at him as she shook her head.

"Harry," she began, "as much as we love you and care for you, we couldn't allow you to do that."

"Why not, Mum?" he questioned as he looked up at her, "I want to give it to you since the Burrow was destroyed because of me." She smiled as she placed a soft hand on his.

"Harry, dear," she explained, "The Burrow was destroyed, but it wasn't because of you. You-Know-Who knew our family was involved in the Order, and that's why he attacked our home. No one blames you for what happened nor do we expect anything from you." Harry sighed dejectedly as his shoulders slumped.

"But," he started, "What am I going to do with both houses? I mean, I want to give you something for everything you've done for me over the years." Mrs. Weasley smiled at him and stood from the table.

"Harry," she began, "We did those things for you because we cared about you, not because we felt we deserved anything in return. Having you in our family is more than enough for us." Harry nodded and looked at the table before looking back at her, a twinkle gleaming in his emerald eyes.

"If you won't take Potter Manor," he began, "Then, please, take Grimmauld Place as my gift to you." Mrs. Weasley opened her mouth to decline when he cut her off.

"Please, Mum," Harry resounded, "It's the least that I can do for you and Dad as well as the rest of the Weasleys. I won't know what to do with both properties, let alone the funds in my Vault. It will please me more if you will take Grimmauld Place and make it your home. I won't take no for an answer." Sighing, Mrs. Weasley closed her eyes and nodded.

"Alright, Harry," she gave, "I will discuss your offer of Grimmauld Place with Arthur tonight. But, I refuse to take your family home from you. One day, maybe not tomorrow but in the future, you will be happy you didn't get rid of Potter Manor." Harry nodded and grinned at Mrs. Weasley before jumping up from the table and hugging her.

"Thanks, Mum," he whispered as he let go and beamed a large smile at her. She smiled back, her eyes glassy with fresh tears.

"Thank you, Harry," she responded, "Seeing you with that smile on your face is worth more than all the galleons in the world." He smiled warmly at her as she released him and sniffled slightly.

"Alright, Mister," she started with a smile still on her face, "Take your things to your bedroom and put them away. And then let the others know dinner will be ready soon." He nodded as he raced upstairs and put his things away before knocking on Ron's door. As he entered the room, he found the three other teenagers lounging around the room. Immediately, Hermione jumped up and stared at him seriously.

"What took you so long?" she asked as he smiled at her, "What did you stay in the kitchen for?"

"I needed to discuss things with Mum for a moment," he answered as he joined the others on the floor, "She said dinner would be ready soon."

"Is everything alright, Harry?" Ginny pressed as he grinned at her.

"It is, now," he answered as they bombarded him with questions that he refused to answer. Soon, they gave up and headed downstairs for dinner where they found Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Aunt Petunia, Dudley, Fred, George, Professor McGonagall, Remus Lupin, Tonks, Jane and Theodore Granger, and Professor Dumbledore in the parlor, all eager for dinner. As one, they all sat down at the table and began different discussions. Fred, George, Mr. Weasley, and Mrs. Weasley discussed the shop and the wizarding world while Aunt Petunia and Dudley asked them questions about the magical world. Ginny, Ron, and Hermione discussed school while Jane and Theodore asked them what their classes were like. Harry listened to their conversation for a moment until Professor Dumbledore called out quietly to him.

"Harry," he started, "After dinner, I would like to discuss some things with you in the study." Harry gave his mentor a searching look before nodding and turning back to his supper, hoping no one overheard his plans. He noticed Ginny giving him a searching look from the other side of Ron, but he ignored her gaze and eagerly waited for supper to finish. As soon as pudding was over, Harry rose from the table and carefully made his way to the study where he found Professor Dumbledore and Remus Lupin waiting for him. After he closed the door, Professor Dumbledore muttered a spell and pointed his wand at the door, which Harry guessed was to keep eavesdroppers from hearing the conversation.

"Harry," Professor Dumbledore started, "The house on Privet Drive has been completed already, and the separate account for your aunt has been established. And the new house for the Grangers is complete." Harry nodded as he looked down at his hands before looking back at his mentor.

"I was wondering if it would be possible to hire a private tutor for my aunt," he pondered to the wise wizard, "so she can learn more about the wizarding world." Professor Dumbledore and Lupin exchanged looks before Lupin cleared his throat.

"What do you mean by that, Harry?" the werewolf asked as Harry looked to him.

"I wish for her to be tutored on being a witch," he answered, "I wish for her to have her talent trained by a qualified witch or wizard so she can learn to be a witch. A proper witch."

"I think that can be arranged, Harry," Professor Dumbledore remarked, "Do you have anyone in mind for tutoring your aunt?" Harry stared at Dumbledore determinedly, willing his mentor to use legilimens. The wise wizard obliged and raised his eyebrows as both he and Harry turned to the weary werewolf. Suddenly, Lupin's eyes grew as he shook his head.

"Y-you don't mean you want me to teach her," he replied as Harry and Professor Dumbledore smiled at him, "I can't teach her. I mean, how? Where?" Professor Dumbledore straightened up the papers on the desk in the study and looked back at Harry as Harry cleared his throat.

"I think it's quite obvious," Harry started, "You can have her travel to Grimmauld Place every day or teach her at Privet Drive. I think it would be easier to teach her here since the basement can be accommodated for Potions and other classes. But, you can stay here—free of rent—and get paid to teach her, starting with first year. Think of it this way, Remus: there will only be one student to teach, and I'm pretty sure that she'll be eager to excel in her classes." Remus sighed and slumped forward.

"I think we can work something out," Remus remarked sadly as Harry frowned.

"Remus," he added softly, "You don't have to do it if you don't want to." Remus forced a smile and shook his head.

"I think it will be nice to teach again," Remus began, "Granted the pay is well." Harry chuckled and turned to Professor Dumbledore.

"I'll leave it to you, sir, to decide on the pay," he answered, "I expect nothing less than what he was paid at Hogwarts." Remus shook his head and stared at Harry in fear.

"Harry," he started, "I was joking." Harry looked at him and smiled.

"But I'm not," Harry started. Remus rose from his seat and headed for the door.

"Well, if I'm going to be paid for teaching again," he began, "I guess I should talk to my pupil and arrange times. And I believe a trip to Diagon Alley would be in order." Harry nodded and handed Professor Lupin his money bag.

"Please," Harry remarked, "Make sure that you get everything for her first year, including a wand and several books. I think whatever is in the bag should be enough. If not, ask Professor Dumbledore to get you more money from my account." Lupin smiled softly and nodded before bowing to them and leaving the room. Harry turned to Professor Dumbledore and sighed.

"Harry," Professor Dumbledore started, "Is something wrong?"

"No, sir," Harry began, "But there is something I would like to discuss with you after school starts in one of our regular sessions."

"Of course, Harry," Professor Dumbledore offered with a curious smile, "Until then, I'll leave you to your studies and your thoughts." Harry nodded and left his mentor with many thoughts running through his mind and many worries traveling along with them.

A/N: I know Potter Manor wasn't that interesting in this chapter, but it was difficult to list the four stories without making it sound too immature. Just so readers know, I have house plans for both Grimmauld Place and Potter Manor drawn out for this story. My mother swears I should go into Architectural Engineering, but my Geometry sucks! I think I'll stick to writing instead! Anyway, I'm not going to list my appreciation for everyone that has added me because it's been so long since I updated. I will say this: thank you to everyone who read this and enjoyed it so far! I promise I will attempt to continue this story. For more details, please visit my author page. Thanks! MALD