Unforgiveable Jinx
Magical Britain reacts to the news of the second death of the Dark Lord. Remus and Sirius find Bill and Harry to congratulate them. Molly and Arthur attempt to get Sirius to denounce the arrangement of Bill as Harry's 'battle shield' but are cursed in parseltongue and returned to the Burrow. The extended family and friends vacation at the Black Chateau near Nice for the whole of July.
Bashing Dumbledore and Weasleys. SLASH. Harry is gay but only 14 so just look for him to be watching how adults react to the news.
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.
Printed Word in letters and newspapers.
{Parseltongue conversation}
)(*****)(
Scene Break: FreedomThe owl that delivered the Special Edition of the Daily Prophet to the Burrow knew better than to linger. After it deposited the paper on the dinner table in front of the Weasleys, the bird hurried back out the same window. Molly looked up from her tea as Arthur scanned the headline and front-page pictures.
"What is it dear? Did something happen at the tournament?"
Arthur nodded, "Apparently, Harry Potter was kidnapped during an attempt to resurrect He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named."
"Are our children okay? What happened?" she asked rising from her chair and coming to his side to look over his shoulder at the photo of Harry Potter and William Weasley with their faces, hair and robes still dirty from the battle.
"THAT'S BILL!" she shrieked when she could focus on the picture. "What did he do?"
Grabbing the paper from her husband, Molly shouted out parts, "William Weasley joined battle against the dark lord… Graveyard battlefield… Death Eaters!"
"Oh, my poor boy!" she moaned and Arthur slipped the paper from her hands to read the entire article.
Arthur further reported, "The Aurors took Peter Pettigrew into custody at the graveyard. At the ministry, they gave him a trial and he confessed to betraying the Potters and the muggles. He was thrown through the veil."
Reading the rest of the article, Arthur paused for a moment before saying, "Minister Fudge pardoned Sirius…"
"Pardoned Sirius? That makes him Potter's guardian." Molly's brain worked feverishly for a moment before she asked, "Can Sirius void the debt? Can he free Bill from Slytherin?"
"I don't know," Arthur said. "Bill would have to be the one to ask for freedom."
"Nonsense, I'm his mother and I'll send Sirius a howler!"
"Molly, perhaps we should ask to see Sirius. A howler might be too demanding…"
"Of course, I'm going to demand that Sirius make the Heir of Slytherin free Bill!"
"But maybe if you're in front of him, it will be more effective," Arthur argued.
)(*****)(
With a copy of the Special Edition of the Daily Prophet in his hand, Remus Lupin bounded up the steps of No.12 Grimmauld Place and through the door without stopping. As soon as he set foot inside, Mrs. Black began screaming but he ignored her and ran into the kitchen.
"Padfoot! Padfoot, where are you!" he called, searching the rooms downstairs. When he couldn't find Sirius in the kitchen, salon, or library, he quickly returned to the entry hall to find his boyfriend coming down the stairs.
"Moony?"
"You're free, Sirius!" Remus announced. "Bones and Fudge just announced it at the ministry; Harry captured Pettigrew earlier tonight. Peter was tried, sentenced and executed this evening."
Mousy, the new house elf at Grimmauld Place, popped into the foyer and said, "Kreature takes Mr. Bill to help Mr. Heir Harry and Dobby. Theys all be at the Ministrys of Magicals."
The werewolf grinned at the elf and then at Sirius before he said, "Harry and Bill defeated the Dark Lord when he attempted a resurrection tonight. They captured Wormtail and the ministry gave him a trial and he confessed everything."
Sirius sat on the stairs and stared at Lupin as if his lover had lost his mind.
"How… Moony, what happened?"
"Harry happened! He and Bill defeated the Dark Lord and his minions when they tried to resurrect him tonight."
"Harry! What the blazes… Where did Dumbledore get lost this time!"
"Dumbles is in St. Mungo. He was mauled by the sphinx in the tournament and has lost his mind apparently," Remus told Sirius.
"Where is Harry? I want to see him – is he hurt?"
At that moment, they heard the floo whoosh and hurried to the floo room. There they found Bill with Kreature but without Harry or Dobby.
"Did Harry come here?" Bill asked.
"No," Sirius replied. "We were just getting ready to go find him ourselves."
Suddenly concerned, Sirius demanded, "Where did you lose Harry?"
Frowning Bill snapped, "I didn't 'lose' him. We were at the ministry and I said we should come here to see you, when suddenly he turned pale, called Dobby and disappeared."
Sirius summoned Dobby but the little elf did not appear. Bill asked Kreature and but the elf couldn't find Harry or Dobby. Beginning to panic, Bill and Sirius began muttering while Remus called for Winky.
"Mr. Wolfie calls Winky," the little elf said as she curtseyed to the three wizards.
"Yes, Winky. Can you find Harry and Dobby?"
"Theys be at Hogwartes infirmary," she said. "Mr. Heir Harry Potters-Black-Snakes is very sad. He thinks Mr. Bill Curse-breaker not likes him anymore."
"What?" asked Bill. "Not like Harry? Why?"
"What happened?" Sirius demanded.
Bill thought back to the duel and explained, "Harry and Tom Riddle's homunculus yelled at each other in parseltongue. Harry was saying…"
He stopped talking and stood there with his mouth hanging open. "He thinks I would…"
Bill shook his head and said, "I can't explain anything else until after I talk to Harry. Winky, you can't pop me over to Hogwarts with the elfling coming soon. Kreature can you take me to the infirmary?"
"Kreature takes Mr. Bill Curse-breaker, now," the house elf said and popped them out.
Sirius frowned at Winky who popped out, and then at Remus who stepped closer and whispered, "They'll send for us shortly. Bill is not going to hurt Harry."
)(*****)(
Harry lay in his regular bed in the infirmary, tired and scared. His family magics fought him about doubting Bill but the teenager continued to worry. The matter of the dark lord had been successfully dealt with; it only required being kidnapped, stabbed, and threatened with death three times by the homunculus of Tom Riddle – and the 'Dork Lord' had repeatedly cast the jinxed AK and Crucio spells that left him dead.
When the Dark Lord failed to rise from death after the third time, Harry felt safe to send Dobby to Amelia Bones and ask for her help with Barty and Peter. The DMLE Aurors popped into the graveyard within two minutes of sending Dobby to Director Bones – much better response time from any call for help to Dumbledore or the professors at Hogwarts!
In the graveyard, Director Bones heard his testimony and Bill's confirmation without judgement. Two Aurors fainted when they found the corpse of the homunculus and all of them were shocked into silence when Harry asked Dobby to bring the bound but very much alive Peter Pettigrew into the light of the fire burning under the cauldron. The fresh corpse of Barty Crouch, Jr. was the final surprize.
Bill apparated Harry to the Ministry while Director Bones ordered the Aurors to apparate Pettigrew, and both corpses back to the ministry where she summoned Cornelius Fudge from the lacklustre celebrations at Hogwarts. The students were celebrating the victory of Cedric Diggory in the tournament, but the adult wizards and witches were all discussing the misadventures of Headmaster Dumbledore; relations with France de Magic remained strained since the incident with the little girl in the second task only compounding the problems with the rest of Europe after Krum's death in the first task.
Dumbledore was absent from Hogwarts; the old wizard had been transported to St. Mungo's against his wishes but Madam Pomphrey made the decision to send him – his physical and mental injuries from the sphinx were not easily healed in a school infirmary.
There was a brief discussion of waiting a day or two before conducting Pettigrew's trial – Fudge and Bones hesitated to take such step without Dumbledore's presence, but Harry and Bill pressed the director and minister to rush the trial for Peter Pettigrew once a quorum of the Wizegamot was summoned.
Bill warned the two officials, "If you wait until next week or even tomorrow, Dumbledore may interfere and let Pettigrew off with a slap on the wrist while keeping Sirius Black on the run!"
Watching Fudge's face grow pinched with the implication of Dumbledore's interference, Harry dangled a 'carrot' saying, "However, if the DMLE and Wizegamot give Peter a fair trial with truth serum tonight, and my godfather is pardoned, both he and I will endorse you for re-election in two years when you stand for re-election."
Cornelius Fudge understood the threat within the boy's offer; 'screw this up and I will endorse another wizard for Minister of Magic!' The trial proceeded as planned, the traitor confessed his actions under the truth serum and was taken to the Department of Mysteries for execution. Peter Pettigrew did not fight the veil – he appeared to welcome death.
After witnessing Pettigrew being thrown through the veil and then sitting on the podium for the news conference, Harry looked at Bill who hissed, {It's over! You have destroyed Voldemort! We need to go see Sirius and Remus with the news.}
Suddenly Harry remembered that he revealed the secret of his mother's parentage to Tom Riddle in the graveyard with Bill there…and his tutor understood parseltongue now! Feeling weak and sick on his stomach, Harry leaned back against the wall as Bill was distracted for a moment by Director Bones.
'I shouted in parseltongue about being Tom Riddle's grandson and Bill heard it all!'
Worried that Bill would turn against him, Harry called Dobby and asked the little elf to take him to the infirmary at Hogwarts. The student parties in the common rooms of the four houses continued and Harry wanted nothing to do with them. Tomorrow, the term would end and what he hoped would be the beginning of the best summer of his life would be worse than returning to the Dursleys.
)(*****)(
There was a loud pop as Kreature appeared in the infirmary with Bill Weasley, and Harry noticed the stern look on the face of his tutor.
{Why did you leave me at the ministry?} Bill asked in a hiss. {We were going to Grimmauld Place to give Sirius and Remus the good news when I look around and you'd disappeared.}
Harry refused to look at Bill for a moment but then he stiffened his back and said, {You heard…}
{I heard you tell off the Dark Lord and I saw your magic defeat him,} Bill replied.
{But… you heard that he was my…}
{Harry Potter! Do you think that secret makes me afraid of you? You will not become a Dark Lord,} Bill said, staring into Harry's green eyes.
{Are you sure?} the scared teenager asked. {He was my grandfather.}
{I met your Grandfather and Grandmother at Potter Haven. That wizard in the graveyard does not have any hold over you or your future.}
Harry frowned, not daring to hope. {My family history is not pretty. Are you sure you don't mind being the tutor to the grandson of the Dark Lord?}
"I'm very sure," Bill replied in English. "Besides, you've met my Father and Mother. They are hard to ignore but you have thus far."
Harry smirked, "Arthur and Molly Weasley just have bad days."
Bill came over and sat on the bed now while looking Harry in the eye. "We are to be a team and that requires us to trust each other."
Nodding Harry agreed. "Thank you for coming to help me in the graveyard. I was scared but determined not to let him escape."
"You were incredible!" Bill said. "The Dark Lord was afraid of you!"
Now Harry looked pensive and asked, {Do I tell anyone about…?}
{Only tell your children when they reach a suitable age…like 40,} Bill joked but Harry nodded in agreement. At that moment, Kreature popped into the infirmary again with a smiling Sirius in tow.
"Harry!" shouted the animagus as he crossed the space between them and hugged his godson, lifting him from the bed. Dobby returned with Moony who grinned and joined the celebrations. Madam Pomphrey came out of her office and simply shook her head before she closed her door and headed for bed.
"Nothing will take you from us now!" Sirius swore. "Dumbledore is in Saint Mungo's and you can come stay with me and Moony at Grimmauld Place this summer."
He glanced at the curse-breaker and begrudging said, "And with Bill…"
Harry grinned, "Yes, Sirius."
Remus placed one hand on Sirius's shoulder but addressed Harry, "I think you should plan to leave Hogwarts tomorrow morning without telling anyone – Dobby can deliver a note to McGonagall once you are outside of the castle's wards. Harry can write to his friends this summer."
"Why?" Sirius asked Moony.
Bill nodded. "Remus is right. Fudge is agreeable tonight but tomorrow the minister might decide he wants the Boy-Who-Lived-and-Conquered under his control."
"But I don't want to be locked up in Grimmauld Place all summer," Harry said.
"And we won't… We'll let them think we're in Grimmauld Place when we're really relaxing in France," decided Sirius.
"France?" asked Harry. "But Bill has to work…"
"And you will play and rest on a beach this summer," Bill said. "Sowsbreath will let me work at the dig in Switzerland."
"What are the goblins doing there?" asked Harry.
"Gringotts is building a large complex in the southern Alps along the French and Italian border. It's to be a bolthole in case of problems with wizards or muggles."
"There's a Black family property – an island – just off the coast of Nice where we can spend the entire summer as long as Heir Black gives us permission," Sirius said with a grin. "I imagine he will be glad to grant his dogfather use of the house."
Harry grinned and nodded, "So granted."
Sirius and Mooney returned to Grimmauld Place while Bill settled down in an infirmary bed next to Harry's bed. He glanced up just a few minutes later to find the teenager fast asleep. Bill set his wards, scheduled his guards, and then went to sleep himself.
Scene Break: Disappoint the ParentsThe following morning, Harry woke at dawn and he spent many minutes thinking about the coming summer vacation. He realized that he was tempted to fall asleep again but he heard Madam Pomphrey moving around outside the curtains already. Apparently, she made the noise on purpose because Bill woke shortly afterwards and smiled sleepily but didn't talk much. Winky popped in with tea for Poppy and breakfast trays for Bill and Harry.
After eating, Harry called Dobby to bring parchment, ink, and quills to him in the infirmary. He wrote short letters to Neville and Luna telling them he would be in touch. He wrote a longer note for Madam Pomphrey thanking her for her care this past school year and an equally long note to Professor McGonagall thanking her for her care as well.
He and Bill discussed how to word the ending and decided to write: I'm leaving this morning for Grimmauld Place in London. I'll spend the summer with my godfather. Give Cedric all the attention he deserves at the Leaving Feast as winner of the tournament.
Dobby quickly delivered all the letters before Bill led the way to the floo and together Harry and his curse-breaker left Hogwarts in the flames of the fireplace. They arrived at Grimmauld Place before Sirius and Remus woke so the two marauders were surprized and pleased to find Harry working with Winky at the stove that morning, cooking breakfast. Bill had gone to his room to shower and dress for work but he returned to join them for the meal.
"The south of France will be full of happy muggles and magical people, Harry. I expect you to behave as a gentleman this summer!" Sirius insisted. "I am too young to be a grandfather!"
"Am I too young to be a brother?" Harry asked. "When you and Remus marry this summer, you can contract with a carrier through Gringotts. Next year there'll be a baby to keep us busy all summer."
Sirius narrowed his eyes and said, "Yes, a pup to care for next summer. You'll discover how much work a baby is and resist the temptation for an early family!"
"Give it a rest you two!" Remus insisted. "Wedding – yes. Baby – yes, but for Merlin's sake, be nice to each other!"
Bill grinned. "Harry, when your family fights, it's like a walk with the unicorns."
They'd left the floo open and when they heard the whoosh of flames, all four wizards drew their wands while the house elf guards turned invisible and took their positions around Harry and Bill.
"Bill! called the voice of Molly Weasley from the hallway. "Bill, are you here?"
"I smell breakfast," Arthur said behind her as they suddenly appeared at the door of the kitchen.
"You poor dears, let me fix you something…" Molly said before she was suddenly in a chair with chains binding her and gag in her mouth. She glanced to the side and saw Arthur in the same condition; angry of course, Molly turned red and began to kick her feet.
"Molly and Arthur Weasley," Sirius announced. "Guests remain in the floo room until invited into another room in the house. We were not expecting guests this morning."
"Father, Mother, why are you here?" Bill asked as he removed the gags but didn't release them from the chains. The guardian house elves appeared next to Molly who screamed because the nasty creatures were so close.
"Bill! Get me out of these chains!" Molly demanded. "We came to check on you and to speak to Sirius! Why are we prisoners? You can't touch a ministry official and his wife!"
Arthur tried to explain, "Bill, we saw the special edition of the Daily Prophet last night and we wanted to speak to Sirius. He'll be the official guardian for the 'heir' now."
Looking confused, Bill waved toward Sirius who stood behind the table between Harry and Remus.
"And?" Sirius asked as Remus rose from his seat and moved closer.
"We want you to release Bill from being Harry's battle tutor," Molly said, glancing uneasily toward the teenager. "You're head of the Black family and 'his' guardian. You can release Bill from the duties. Harry will be safe with you and at Hogwarts… After all, he's got three more years in school!"
Bill stepped closer to Harry's side as soon as his parents began to speak. Remus placed a hand on Sirius's shoulder to support his fiancé. Harry took a deep breath – would this ever end?
Winking at Harry, Sirius let out a deep breath and said, "That's a very 'serious' request Mrs. Weasley. So, you believe that William is not strong enough to protect and tutor my godson in battle magics and duelling?"
"What?" Molly screeched. "Well, no… Bill's strong… Your godson doesn't need a battle tutor! He's just a child."
"A child? Back at Christmas you wanted to betroth Harry to you daughter and she's a year younger than Harry. And you wanted them married next summer with a bun in the oven before the start of the school year!"
The newly freed man shook his head and said, "Ambitious mommas are very dangerous. I think Harry needs Bill as his tutor and guard."
Molly's face continued to turn red as Remus cast a silencing spell on the witch to allow Arthur to speak.
"My son was trapped and tricked into this contract by Heir Slytherin and Albus Dumbledore!" Arthur insisted. "It is not fair to him! He deserves the chance to be free."
"But Mr. Weasley, would you have given Harry the same option if he was betrothed to Ginervaia – Grassioola – Ginrummy?" asked Remus, purposely making fun of their daughter's name to aggravate the parents.
"Harry would denounce the Slytherin name if he was betrothed to Ginevra," Arthur insisted.
"And the damn Black family too!" Molly shouted breaking the silencing charm. "Ginny would have saved Harry for the light! Her baby would have been a proper Heir Potter without the blood from Black and Snake."
"Enough!" shouted Bill. "You cannot enter this house and insult Heir PBS…"
"No! He's supposed to be betrothed to Ginny so she'll inherit when Harry is killed by He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named!" shouted Molly.
"Merlin's beard, Molly! Didn't you read the paper?" asked Remus. "Harry killed Voldemort last night. The Dark Lord is no more!"
"Are you sure?" asked Arthur. "Dumbledore said…"
"Dumbledore said that the Dark Lord could only be vanquished by Harry Potter," Bill said, pointing at the teenager. "I was there and I saw Harry vanquish Voldemort."
"What does Dumbledore say?" asked Molly. "He's the one who knows how Harry has to kill Voldemort!"
Bill gave up trying to convince his parents that the Dark Lord was dead.
"Dumbledore is in the ward for insane wizards at Saint Mungo's," Sirius replied. "I am certain he has a lot to say but no one is listening to him."
"Insane?" asked Arthur.
"Who locked up Dumbledore? Who's going to run the government and Hogwarts?" asked Molly.
Now Remus, Sirius, and Bill shouted, "Enough!"
Molly fell silent for a moment and she noticed that Harry had his wand pointed at her. Her shriek made the windows rattle as she shouted, "The snake is cursing me! He'll petrify me again! Don't let him hurt me, Bill!"
There was a hiss and Molly fell silent though her mouth continued to move.
"What did you do to my wife?" demanded Arthur before seeing the look on his son's face.
"Father, since you refuse to speak civilly to Heir PBS, I suggest you take Mother back to the Burrow and then find your way to the ministry. I have provided all the money I intend to give you," Bill said. "Do not bring…"
{Molly can never enter a home owned by the Potter-Black-Slytherin family again,} Harry hissed quietly. {She has no respect for the Black or Slytherin family names.}
Bill glanced at Harry and asked, {How did you do that?}
{A Potter-Black-Slytherin parsel-mouth can a curse with every word,} Harry explained.
"He's enchanted Bill! Bill speaks snake now!" Arthur shouted. "Help me, Sirius! Save my son from that evil…"
{Father! You may not speak evil of Harry again!} Bill hissed and Arthur's mouth shut. Molly was wailing silently and rocking her chair back and forth, trying to get free.
"Dobby," Bill called.
"Yes, Mr. Curse-breakers Weasleys?" asked the head elf.
"Please have the elves deliver my parents back to their home," Bill said. "Treat them gently and release them from the chains once they are in their own kitchen."
Bowing to the powerful tutor for Potter-Black-Slytherin family, Dobby snapped his fingers and the couple vanished from the kitchen at Grimmauld Place.
"We are leaving Britain for the summer!" Sirius swore. "If that's how family acts, think how badly our enemies will act…"
Seeing the looks on the faces of the others, Sirius asked, "What did I say?"
Remus explained, "We don't have any enemies left. Harry got rid of all the bad guys!"
They returned to their breakfast but shortly after sitting back down, Remus began chortling. "When Molly asked, 'Who locked up Dumbledore?' I thought I would explode. The look on her face was priceless…"
I don't know," said Sirius. "I was thinking that 'Grassioola' might make a good name for a daughter…"
Remus growled and Harry laughed aloud, finally dispelling the gloom after the visit.
"I want that floo changed to connect only to Gringotts!" Bill said. "Anyone who wants to visit must come through Gringotts where the ill-intention wards catch the…"
"Idiots, malcontents, Weasley trouble-makers… shall I continue?" asked Sirius.
Bill growled at Sirius, "Name me a member of your family that you are proud of! Or one who will even speak to you?"
"Ouch! The curse-breaker scores against Padfoot," Harry declared. "We have Bellatrix in Azkaban, Cassiopeia under the doctor's care in France…"
"Enough! I surrender!" Sirius conceded.
Bill glanced at Harry before rising from his chair, and said, "Sowsbreath expects me on time so I must run. I'll ask to work at the dig in Switzerland for the next month and we can leave in a day or two."
Sirius watched his godson quietly as the boy finished his meal and rose to help Winky with the dishes. Remus remained buried in the Daily Prophet as Sirius cleared his throat, "Harry, can I use some of your elves to prepare the house in France."
Without looking up, Harry said, "Sure. Call Dobby – he's in charge of all the elves."
"You know it is not necessarily a good idea to let just anyone give commands to your elves," Sirius suggested carefully.
Winky giggled and Harry smiled at his littlest elf indulgently. "People keep telling me that. So, Sirius, try to give Dobby a dangerous command and see what happens."
"No!" interrupted Remus. "Don't! I'd hate to spend the day at Saint Mungo's while they put you back together."
"Nothing bad will happen to Sirius," Harry assured his godfather-to-be. "He's on the 'keep safe' list."
"You have lists?" Sirius asked as Dobby popped into the room.
"Mr. Dogfather calls Dobby?"
"Dobby, I want you to set Grimmauld Place on fire and burn it to the ground!" Sirius said, watching to see if Harry reacted. He didn't notice that Dobby was looking at him for a long moment, before throwing one hand up as flames erupted all around the room. Remus began casting the aguamenti charm, spraying water everywhere but most of it seemed to hit Sirius.
Winky laughed as Dobby snapped his fingers and the flames vanished. There were no scorch marks, no soot, and no smoke. There was a wet wizard, wet floor, and wet table cloth.
"Dobbys not able to follows Dogfather's orders. Dobby is sorry," the head elf said without any sadness in his voice for once, and he arched an eyebrow while staring at Sirius.
"That was…" sputtered Sirius.
"Amazing!" shouted Remus. "Your house elf was able to evaluate the command against a set of parameters and independently decided to make flames appear and scare us both while…"
At just that moment, Winky gave a little sigh and Dobby grabbed her to keep her from falling to the floor.
"What's wrong?" asked Harry, stepping closer to his house elves.
"It's be time for elfling Trudys to be's born," Dobby said as he popped out with his mate.
"Winky and Dobby will become parents today!" Harry exclaimed as he finished cleaning the kitchen.
Once done, he sat with Sirius and Remus at the table before suddenly saying, "I just realized – I'm free! I'll never see the Dursleys again. I can stay with you guys forever!"
"Well, at least until you marry and start your own family," Remus said.
"No. Harry will stay with us forever. We have large houses so there's plenty of room for all kinds of babies," Sirius insisted. "But today, we should send elves to get the house in France ready."
"Dobby and I sent a team of elves to Nice before you came down," Harry explained. "They'll have the place clean and stocked with foods before we arrive."
Then Harry asked, "How long before Winky can come with Trudy? I don't want to leave them behind in London."
"Dobby can move them safely," Sirius said. "He's the head elf so he can draw on more of the family magic and move a baby safely. The family magic ensures the safety of new-borns because wizards used to attack other families when a baby was born. They thought the family would surrender because the infant could not be moved through the floo or by portkey. House elves use a bubble of magic to protect the infant."
Harry asked, "Can I take Grandmother and Grandfather on holiday?"
Sirius looked confused for a moment. "You want to take Uncle Fleas and Aunt Euphie's portraits to the island for the summer?"
"Sure," Harry said. "Why not?"
"I've just never heard of anyone…" the man sputtered as he realized Harry would always have different ideas.
"Dobby can bring them here later today and I'll ask them if they want to go."
)(*****)(
The first elf with the Potters-Blacks-Slytherin family magic was born that morning. Harry sent birth announcements to Bill, Neville, and Luna via Mousy, the Grimmauld House Elf and when Bill returned to Grimmauld Place that evening with take-away for supper, he found Harry seated in the kitchen holding the new-born while Dobby danced on the ceiling and Winky rested on a cot near the stove.
The portraits of Lord Fleamont Potter and Lady Euphemia Potter (nee Black) hung on the kitchen wall where they could take part in the conversations that evening. They declined to change climates for the summer – something about their magic being set in British country air, not the coastal air of southern France. After a pleasant visit, Dobby took the portraits back to Potter Haven to sleep for the summer.
The next morning, Dobby carried invitations to vacation on the island to Luna Lovegood and her father, and to Neville Longbottom and his grandmother. The three families spoke on the floo and arranged for the Lovegoods and Longbottoms to join them for the month of July. The entire party would return to Britain on 27 July to prepare for the birthdays for Neville and Harry, as well as the shift of power in the Wizegamot.
As head of their branch of the Weasley family, Bill needed to be present for Percival and Penelope's wedding on 5 August; the understanding currently was that Charlie and his wife and infant would not attend, but William, and the twins would be there. No one knew if Arthur, Molly, Ronald, or Ginny would attend.
Two days later, Grimmauld Place was deserted except for the house elves who popped in occasionally for a missing article of clothing or a particular book from the Black family library. In the weeks that followed, several people bounced off the floo – including Molly Weasley, Kingsley Shackelbolt (Auror), Vince Proudfoot (Auror), and Dora Tonks (Auror).
Lucius Malfoy and his family remained at home while Narcissa contemplated the child growing in her womb – a daughter for the house of Malfoy.
Cornelius Fudge and Amelia Bones convinced the Board of Governors to appoint Minerva McGonagall as the new headmistress for Hogwarts. The reports from Saint Mungo's were hopeful for Dumbledore's eventual release but the medical staff agreed he should never be around children again.
The Daily Prophet observed a week of silence to allow the Boy-Who-Lived-And-Conquered to rest but then they began to ask where he was.
)(*****)(
Scene Break: Vacation in NiceHarry's lasting memory of the first week on the island was the sunshine sparkling off the water in the morning from his bedroom on the eastern side of the house. There were memories of Bill, Sirius and Remus chasing him in the surf at the end of a hot day, of riding muggle bicycles around the island, and learning to snorkel. Remus and Padfoot were lazy and napped often under the shade of the olive trees. The Boy-Who-Lived-And-Conquered had potions to take and creams to be rubbed onto his scars that were fading in the bright Mediterranean sun. There were daily lessons in duelling and fighting with Bill, the expert assassin-trained curse-breaker.
The second week of vacation, Bill returned to work and used a portkey to travel to Switzerland every morning to work in the 'big dig' as the goblins called it. He didn't talk about his work and tried to make it back to the vacation house in time for dinner or snorkelling each evening. Remus started Harry on his summer lessons in runes and arithmancy, while Sirius rounded up the important articles from all the European newspapers – magical and muggle. Harry was pleased when the Longbottom and Lovegood families arrived; with Neville and Luna, he was a regular teenager during the day. At the end of the second week, Instreams used the floo from the Gringotts in Florence to visit and review Harry's three accounts for the past month.
Under the tutelage of the adults, the three teenagers began an intense regime of duelling with charms, shields, and spells. A healer came to the house each afternoon using the floo from Florence to attend to the injuries from broken bones, cuts, and bruises. Bill, Neville, Luna, Sirius, and Remus duelled with Harry every day and after a week, Augusta noted the improvements in her grandson, his girlfriend, the godfather and his wolf. Harry encouraged them after each day's exercises with reviews of their moves and suggestions for improvements. At Bill's urging, all three teens began learning Goblin fighting methods as well – charging the enemy and tackling him when possible.
"Wizards fear physical contact!" Bill told them. "Pump up your aura, yell and charge – they'll run like nifflers caught in a Gringotts vault."
)(*****)(
On a pleasant Tuesday, Lady Longbottom took the three teenagers to Rome to visit the magical museums. Harry went incognito with a glamour provided by Bill – he looked like a blue-eyed Potter with a strong 'notice-me-not' charm. Unfortunately, the small group ran into Susan Bones and Hannah Abbot in the Imperial Rome Magical Museum. The two girls were on vacation with Janus and Abigail Abbot and while the adults discussed the upcoming start of the Wizegamot session, the two Puffs immediately began to bully Neville and Luna just out of the hearing of the grown-ups.
"Where's your smelly snake?" Hannah asked. "Isn't he around to protect you?"
"Won't anyone else vacation with you?" asked Susan. She sneered when Neville's face grew red and his wand popped out of the holster on his arm. "Well, go on, curse me. I am so scared of Plantboy and his Lunatic!"
Returning to the group after studying a painting depicting the death of the last magical emperor of Rome, Harry heard the conversation and lost his temper; he cancelled the glamour in front of the two girls, hissed loudly without any meaning to the sound, while Hannah and Susan ran screaming back to the Abbots. Attracted by the noise, Lady Longbottom took one look at her three teenagers before motioning for Neville to lead Harry and Luna further into the museum. Once the teens were out of hearing, she spoke sharply to Mr. and Mrs. Abbot, and promised Miss Bones that a letter would be sent to her aunt that afternoon.
"Mr. Abbot, this juvenile behaviour by your daughter and her friend grows tiresome. Eventually their words will move someone to challenge them and I hope their wands are as sharp as their tongues," Augusta said.
She glanced at the girls before she reminded the Abbots, "The boy they disparage so publicly is the wizard who defeated Voldemort several times and then killed him. He killed a basilisk – you've seen the photos of the beast, haven't you?"
The Abbots remained silent as Augusta continued, "Miss Bones will lead your daughter into a dangerous situation I am certain."
Sniffing dismissively, the dowager added, "I don't think either of them would last a minute on the duelling platform."
"Neville and Lunatic aren't so hot," Susan said, ignoring the crowd that had gathered; an Italian newspaper reporter caught the whole story.
Augusta snorted and replied, "Stupid girl. Who do you think the Heir is sparring with this summer? Neville and Luna are his friends and he is training them in shields, pranks, and cutting spells. They have mastered many spells and charms this summer. Duel them at your own risk!"
"Lady Longbottom…" Janus tried to interrupt but the lady held up her hand.
"Mr. Abbot, at Christmas, I imposed on Heir Potter-Black-Slytherin to provide you with an invitation to the auctions and he arranged introductions to American and Canadian wizards looking for business partners in Britain!" she said coldly. "If this is how your family repays such consideration, I am ashamed that I urged him to build bridges with you!"
She glanced at the two girls again and said, "But I do not repeat my mistakes!"
)(*****)(
The next morning, seagulls delivered the local papers; there were few owls among the small islands along the southern coast of France and the wizards depended on local birds with varying degrees of success. Remus cast a translation spell on the Italian papers first and growled when he read the articles reporting the words of Susan Bones but he smiled after reading Augusta's reply. The previous evening, Lady Longbottom spoke quietly to everyone at the dinner table about the incident; Bill and Sirius both were offended that the niece of Amelia Bones would speak – continue to speak – in such a manner to Harry and his friends.
Bill returned to the island at lunch with the Daily Prophet – copies were forwarded to the big dig each morning through the floo system.
)(*****)(
Heiress Bones and Friend Taunt
The Boy-Who-Conquered in Roman Museum
Heiress Susan Bones (niece of Amelia Bones, Director of the DMLE) and Hannah Abbot (daughter of Janus Abbot of Abbot Potions of London) were observed bullying and taunting two fellow Hogwarts students yesterday afternoon at the Imperial Magical Museum in Rome. Miss Bones (Hufflepuff) and Miss Abbot (Hufflepuff) taunted Heir Neville Longbottom (Gryffindor) and Miss Luna Lovegood (Ravenclaw). Suddenly, Heir Potter-Black-Slytherin (Gryffindor) appeared in front of the two Puffs and the two young witches screamed(!) with fright before seeking shelter behind Miss Abbots parents.
Lady Augusta Longbottom who chaperoned the three teens on the museum excursion, expressed her displeasure to hear young British witches speaking in such a manner to classmates. She promised to speak to Director Bones personally at some point in the future and expressed the opinion that the girls should guard their mouths before they were challenged to a duelling platform where they would be required to prove their magical abilities.
We are reminded of the story from Australia earlier this year where Ambassador Delores Umbridge was killed in a duel against a local witch. Ambassador Umbridge called the first generation witch a vulgar term several times until the witch took exception to the ambassador's speech and challenged her to a duel. At first Umbridge substituted her Auror guard, Jonas Dawlish, but after he was easily defeated, the local witch renewed her challenge, making it an honour challenge. She decapitated Ambassador Umbridge in the first thirty seconds of the duel. Minister Fudge sent the British Ministry's deepest apologies to the Australian witch and government.
The Daily Prophet wonders if perhaps Director Bones would enjoy a tour of duty in Australia with her niece in tow?
)(*****)(
Amelia Bones slammed the Daily Prophet down on her desk and the look on her face was dangerous enough that no one in her office would speak. At breakfast, she'd received a formal letter from Lady Longbottom deploring the public behaviour of her niece and ending the alliance between their two houses – an alliance that had lasted for four generations. At one time, Amelia had hoped to betroth Susan to the Longbottom boy or at least contract for a few children with him to continue the Bones family in Britain.
Now, with the newspaper photo of her niece and Hannah taunting Neville Longbottom and Luna Lovegood with Harry Potter approaching from the background, the only wizards who would contemplate an alliance with the Bones family were charlatans or thieves. She closed her eyes wondering how long she could hold onto the post of Director of the DMLE before Fudge banished her from Britain as the ambassador to Australia.
'Was Susie under a compulsion again?' she wondered but knew the Abbots would have checked immediately.
)(*****)(
In the second week of July, just before the wedding of Percival Weasley and Penelope Clearwater, the minister questioned Percy if he had seen his brother and Heir Potter that summer. The new undersecretary man admitted that he had not visited with his brother since the end of the school year.
"Bill is coming home for my wedding in two weeks," Percy replied. "Our honeymoon is scheduled for three weeks after the wedding so I haven't taken any time off from work this summer."
Cornelius nodded and asked, "Might I have an invitation to your wedding then? I have not received any replies from letters sent to Heir Potter-Black-Slytherin all summer and I must speak with him."
"Have you sent them to his godfather, Sirius Black?" Percy asked. "I think Black and Remus Lupin are handling all of Heir Potter-Black-Slytherin's correspondence now."
"Really?" the minister asked. Auror Dora Tonks reported the boy handled all his own mail. The members of the Order of the Phoenix who remained free of the goblin dungeons included only the youngest members who had not been included in Dumbledore's 'payment' schemes.
"All his mail goes to Gringotts. If there were tracking charms or other enchantments on the letter, the mail wards at Gringotts just shred them," Percy said. "Or at least that's what Penny tells me."
"Penny?" asked Cornelius, wondering if any Aurors were competent. No one had prepared him with accurate information regarding Heir Potter, Bill Weasley, Percy Weasley, the man's fiancé…
The gossip mill at the ministry still ran ripe with stories about Amelia's niece who had verbally accosted Augusta Longbottom's grandson in that museum in Rome before running off scared by the appearance of Potter-Black-Slytherin from thin air according to the newspaper reports. The girl and her friend needed lessons in manners!
"My fiancé, Penelope Clearwater. Penny is studying law at Gringotts. We were head boy and head girl our seventh year at Hogwarts."
"Mr. Weasley, when you return from your honeymoon, I have to find a place for you in my office. You are the only person in the ministry who seems to be informed properly informed!"
"Thank you, minister," Percy replied. "I would be pleased to work with you."
)(*****)(
The night before their scheduled return to Britain, Harry asked Bill to walk with him along the shore after dinner. The moon would rise soon and the island night would be quiet with a silver crescent moon rising after sunset.
"How far are you planning to 'walk'?" asked Sirius, hopeful of an invitation to run along the beach in the evening.
Remus growled. "Padfoot change into the dog and go with them for a run. But when you get back, you will shower before getting into bed tonight! I can't stand sand or dog hair in the sheets!"
In only a few minutes, the two wizards and their large dog wondered down the beach. Bill threw a rubber ball ahead of them on the beach; Padfoot was unable to resist chasing the ball to retrieve and beg for it to be thrown again. The curse-breaker added a spell that made the ball glow and whistle to drive Padfoot into frenzy.
The 'dog' was off chasing the ball when Bill asked, "So, tell me what's bothering you."
Harry gathered his thoughts and explained, "The incident with Bones and Abbot makes me think that Hogwarts will not be a welcoming place for me this fall. The parents love me for ending the Dark Lord but my classmates think it's still a game. They hate me."
"I doubt they hate you; they just don't care for your company." Bill grinned in the moonlight and said, "Which only proves they're idiots."
Harry nodded at his tutor before he said, "Would you be upset if I did not want to go back to Hogwarts? How would it affect your training plans?"
Bill was surprized by the question and asked, "Where do you want to go to school? I doubt Beauxbâtons or Durmstrang would welcome you."
"No, I want stay here and have Remus as instructor of my classes. He's a certified teacher in muggle Britain so I can have regular classes and still sit for my Owls next spring."
Harry knew Bill's silence meant he was considering the idea and making arguments for and against the idea in his head.
"The only negative is that you'd be far away in London," Harry said.
"Well… Sowsbreath was bemoaning the fact that I've been very effective here at the 'big dig' and I would be wasted back in London breaking curses on dark objects for the pureblood families selling their treasures."
"Huh?" asked the surprized teenager.
"The goblins want me to stay here in Italy. They offered to provide international portkeys any weekend I needed to return to London or Hogwarts for lessons. I was considering accepting the position because you'd be at Hogwarts after 1 September."
"So, you wouldn't be against the idea?" Harry asked with a grin.
"No, and I think you should invite Neville and Luna to stay with you. I can find a good potions instructor through Gringotts, Sirius can teach you history, while Remus can handle Charms and Defence. Between Remus and myself, we'll have you ready for Runes and Arithmancy exams in the spring as well."
"That seems like a life-time away!" Harry said as Padfoot ran up with the ball in his mouth again. Harry picked up the ball, covered in dog slobber, and pitched it down the beach. The Grim took off, his paws throwing sheets of sand into the air behind him that threatened to blind Harry and Bill.
"Your studies will keep you busy and there's riding bikes and brooms around the island."
"And excursions to museums!" Harry remarked. "Maybe we should go to the museums in Egypt next time but only while Hogwarts is in session!"
)(*****)(
When they returned to the house, Harry presented the idea to the others. Neville immediately accepted and looked at Luna who asked to speak privately with her father. As father and daughter left the room to discuss the idea, Bill noticed that Augusta frowned.
"This will create problems for the ministry," she explained. "The Boy-Who-Conquered shunning Hogwarts will be a slap in the face to Magical Britain."
Neville argued with his grandmother, "No one did anything to stop the shunning of Harry the whole of last year. When he helped after the dragon killed the Quidditch player in the first task, Dumbledore, the professors, and the kids all ignored what he had done. The Puffs and Claws were the worst but even the Lions were cruel."
"What about Slytherin students?" asked Remus.
"They're all afraid of me," Harry replied. "Except for Blaise and Patsy, the Slytherins run from me; afraid I would hiss at them and turn them into real snakes."
Sirius had a short laugh that he smothered under the glare of the other adults in the room. When Luna and her father returned to the room and Mr. Lovegood gave his permission for his daughter to remain at the house so long as a suitable female chaperone was added to the 'faculty'.
Bill nodded. "I am certain Ragnock can find us a potion mistress to take up residence at Ecole Noire for the coming school year and provide instruction to three students who are eager to learn potions."
"I like the name, 'School Black'," Sirius crowed. "Now, I have a school named after me."
"How do we handle this announcement?" Augusta asked. "We dare not spring this as a surprize on 1 September. There'd be too many questions in the Wizegamot where your power is new."
"Do you know if Draco is returning this year?" Remus asked Sirius and Harry. "Have the Malfoys indicated whether their son will go back?"
"There's another reason not to go back," Harry complained. "Draco is…"
"…your cousin," Sirius said.
"…son of your future spokesman in the Wizegamot," Augusta said.
"…sorry excuse for a wizard," Bill added before he wilted under Augusta's glare.
"Young people have no perspective on these matters," she explained. "Some flies you swat with a bludgeoning spell. Others you lure into your trap with sweets and candies before you drop the door on their only escape."
Remus spoke up, "After Harry moves all his votes and new allies and vassals into the centre, there'll be a few days before Percy's wedding. He can inform Headmistress McGonagall the same day that Chief Witch Longbottom lets the minister know that her grandson, his betrothed and Harry Potter have decided to matriculate overseas this school year."
"Cornelius will have to go to a dictionary to look up 'matriculate'," Augusta remarked. "But then it'll be in the Daily Prophet and everyone will have three weeks before 1 September to grow used to the idea."
"The Hogwarts budget…"
"The budget is fine," Augusta said. "The audit pulled enough wealth out of Dumbledore's vaults that we have paid a curse-breaker to remove the curse on the DADA position, exorcised Professor Binns, and bought new brooms for all the Quidditch teams and all flying classes."
"What happened with Professor Dumbledore this summer anyway?" asked Neville.