DISCLAIMER THE FIRST: It is by JKR's writing alone I set my mind in motion. It is by the grace of coffee that thoughts acquire speed, the back acquires pains, the pains become a warning. The warning is that I make no money from this. It is by JKR's writing alone I set my mind in motion. Any recognizable bits from HP & the Philosopher's Stone are hers and hers alone.
PITHY STATEMENT RELATING TO THIS CHAPTER: "Holly and mistletoe, Candles and bells; I know the message that each of you tells" – Leland B. Jacobs – American Author
LAST UPDATED: 06-21-2013
XxXxX
CHAPTER FOURTEEN – YULE
XxXxX
Dr. BELL'S OFFICE, YORK – JUNE 14th 2010 – LATE AFTERNOON
"So how about we head out to dinner?" Katie asked. "I know you don't want to work during our meal but in a sense it'll only be our impressions given how neither of us was there for Harry's first holiday with the Tonks."
Luna considered it for a moment before nodding, "Agreed. I can edit out the dross since I do want to get catch up on things since I have been gone. However you are correct in that our impressions of that time will not take long."
Katie drank the last of her tea. "I know you said this really isn't a book about Harry but still it is going to be interesting to see his take on so much of this. I mean even now, years later, you notice how he rarely talks about things? How quickly he reflects the topic away when certain things come up or just laughs at whatever outlandish comment somebody makes? We both were there for most things but I still don't know how Harry thought about most of it."
Luna nodded again, "I understand. Harry has opened up so much but his thoughts of that time are still somewhat unclear." Luna's mouth quirked into a devilish smile. "Again I believe the kneazle will be in with the crups when Harry's actual thoughts about so many things comes out."
Katie smirked as well, "Yes I'm sure a lot of the pro-Dumbledore crowd are going to be in for a shock." Katie smirked turned to a frown, "Probably will shock a lot of people who liked Minerva given as I doubt Harry is going to be as gushing about her as people probably expect."
Luna sighed, "I am glad I am not the only one to notice how Professor McGonagall rarely backed Harry up. In her efforts to remain impartial, she allowed so many bad things slide when it came to poor Harry. However she always seemed to be seen, like Dumbledore, as this bastion of help and trust. I certainly never understood it given how as Deputy Headmaster she allow herself to be constantly overruled in regards to Professor Snape."
"I know. I mean sure Harry was good but there are good reasons, reasons we've already gone over, why Firsties aren't let onto the Quidditch team. Especially the boys as Harry found out." Katie said. "Yet I remember quite well that McGonagall's main reason for Harry to be on the team was she was tired of Snape gloating about winning the Quidditch Cup. While I'm sure Harry wasn't about to complain at the time but it was very much a 'sign-up or else' when it came to Quidditch after the incident with Draco."
"Well of course Harry had no competent guardian to defend himself from such things. Which is probably another reason that for all the other dangers which Harry had to deal with, things like being forced into something by the staff came to a halt with his adoption." Luna pointed out.
Katie laughed, "Well yeah; I wouldn't want to have Andromeda angry at me! She is one scary lady when she gets riled up."
Luna laughed as well, "Yes but luckily for Harry this rarely got directed at him."
Katie gave a snort, "Well with Tonks around, it's easy to get lost in whatever disaster she inevitably falls into."
XxXxX
FROM THE PAGES OF THE POWER HE KNEW NOT – HARRY POTTER
When Dumbledore announced that everyone was going to have to return home over the holidays, my heart sank. Possible death by some huge snake creature or the Dursleys? At the time I was fully alright with taking my chances with the wizard zapping snake!
Of course the excuse that the wards needed work (which may well have been true) wasn't enough for my friends and I to figure that the staff would be busy trying to catch whatever had petrified Mrs. Norris, Colin and Justin. Lilith figured it would be easier for many of the spells she figured the professors would use to work if there weren't anyone at Hogwarts but them and the house elves.
Beyond having to look forward to going back to another crappy Christmas in Surrey, I was brassed off at another casual interference by the Headmaster. The morning it was announced we all had to go home (ironically just two days before Justin was attacked), I quickly asked Hermione if she thought her parents would accept me over the break. One speedy there-and-back flight by Hedwig (through a blizzard no less) came the answer that they would love to have me over for the holidays.
However right before we climbed into the carriages to depart for Hogsmeade, the Headmaster glided up like he hadn't a care in the world and summarily ordered me back to Little Whinging. Apparently I wasn't safe in Winchester and could only be safe at Privet Drive.
What really bothered me was how presumptuous he was. Dumbledore came in, gave me an order and he (and a lot of people watching) were surprised when I didn't immediately agree to do what he asked. Never mind that it was obvious that he had spied on me and Hermione to learn of my plans. He didn't even acknowledge this when I fought him on his decision.
Oh yes, I certainly put up a fight right there in the Great Hall but Dumbledore shot down every point I made in that quiet, grandfatherly way of his when he wasn't busy simply ignoring them. Even McGonagall got into the act by getting all huffy I was arguing with the Headmaster over my own life in front of other students!
Finally a look at Neville calmed me down. He just gave a slight wink and a smirk and suddenly I knew to just shut up and agree and then go with Hermione anyway. Neville had explained to me about the concept of the Knight Bus so I wasn't trapped back in Little Whinging like I had been in the past. So I quickly switched from angry teen to sullen teen and reluctantly agreed just to get him to go away.
And I would have made a break for it that day if a rather odd letter I got later that day hadn't stopped me.
XxXxX
PLATFORM 9¾, LONDON, DECEMBER 19th 1992 – LATE AFTERNOON
"Are you sure about this Harry?" Hermione asked for about the tenth time since somewhere around York as they stepped off the express, their luggage floating behind them.
Harry sighed, "No but for some reason this doesn't feel like some trick. I mean if this was something done by the Headmaster, why didn't he bring it up while we had our row in the Great Hall? Besides it is my Aunt Petunia handwriting. I just can't, for the life of me, think of why they actually want me to come home. They have never included me in any 'family meeting' before."
"Maybe Katie is right and your Uncle is getting transferred so they have to move," Hermione said.
Harry shook his head, "I don't know but it's the best idea I've heard."
"There are my parents Harry!" Hermione said as she waved to them.
Harry waved to them too, "Well hopefully I'll call you or send Hedwig to let you know what's going on. I think I convinced Dobby to stop screening my mail and calls when I saw him last."
Hermione hugged Harry and gave him a quick peck on the cheek, "Stay safe Harry. I don't ever want to see you show up looking like you did over the summer!"
"I'll try but no promises. These things just sort of happen to me," Harry said with a apologetic grin.
"Oh you! Happy Christmas Harry!" Hermione said before moving off to join her parents.
"Happy Christmas to you as well," Harry called after her. He looked around and saw most of the people were already in the process of leaving. He had already said his good-byes on the train since he knew it was going to take him a bit longer to get off the train due to Hedwig's cage. She really didn't like the jostle of everyone trying to get off at once so he just waited and Hermione had stayed with him.
Harry had hoped to say hello to Mr. Bell and maybe meet Katie's mother but it was apparent they had already left. Katie had said they tried to leave quickly because her mother didn't like the snide comments she still overheard about her being a squib.
Harry crossed through the portal and took a moment to pet Hedwig who hated going through it. Normally he'd just let her fly home but with not knowing what was going on at Privet Drive, Harry had felt it best to bring her home in her cage.
He threaded his way through the station before he caught sight of his uncle. For some reason Vernon didn't have his usual look of disdain at seeing him. Perhaps Katie had been right and he had gotten a promotion.
"Hello Uncle Vernon; I'm sorry if I've kept you waiting," Harry said guardedly as he pulled up short in front of his uncle.
Vernon let out a bit of a grunt but simply handed him a folded piece of paper. Harry opened it up to find it read, 'Don't freak out. We don't know who is watching. Remember! Don't freak out!'
Harry looked up at his Uncle. The message wasn't in his handwriting. In fact it looked like it was written in the script he saw a lot at Hogwarts though it didn't seem to be written with a quill.
Harry looked around carefully before softly asking, "Don't freak out about what?"
Uncle Vernon grunted again, "Come along boy. I don't have all day."
Harry didn't react but he suddenly knew this wasn't his uncle! The voice sounded like him but the inflection was off and there was a bit of an accent he couldn't quite place.
Whoever it was turned and made his way towards where Harry knew his uncle liked to park. Harry kept up in silence before finally asking, "What is going on? Who are you really?"
The man looked at him briefly and with a bit of a wink softly said, "Wotcher, Harry! All will be explained in a moment."
Harry blinked in surprise and only the note in his hand reminded him not to freak out. It was Tonks! She must be using her metamorphmagus powers to look like his Uncle. That explained why she sounded like him but still had her accent.
The pair made their way out to where 'Vernon' was parked. He saw his Aunt Petunia in the front seat but didn't say anything. Was she actually his aunt?"
"Boy! Get in and be quick about it. I'm going to go get Dudley," Tonks said brusquely before going into a news shop.
Harry had to admit anyone who hadn't grown up with Vernon would probably be fooled. He loaded his trunk into the boot and got into the backseat with Hedwig's cage. "Good afternoon, Aunt Petunia," Harry said cautiously.
His aunt didn't turn around but softly said, "Try not to talk to me Harry. Since I only have a glamour on, anyone will be able to tell by my voice I'm not your aunt. Don't worry, we'll explain everything once Nymphadora gets back with my husband."
Harry's eyes went wide but he kept his tongue. Even in a whisper, he recognized Andromeda Tonks' elegant way of speaking. So the Tonks were picking him up in secret. But why?
It was hard not to ask questions but soon enough Vernon and Dudley came out of the shop. Vernon got in without a word but Dudley said, "Budge over will you Harry?" Again the accent gave away it was Tonks.
Harry cocked his head towards the Vernon in the fronts seat. She mouthed 'glamour' at him. He nodded. She must have changed into Dudley's form in the shop after meeting up with her father who was now glamoured to look like his uncle.
They pulled into the busy streets of London and for a bit the car was silent. Finally 'Vernon' softly said, "Sorry Harry. As much as I'd like to treat us all to a nice dinner somewhere, for now we need to get you under the wards back home."
"No worries. I'll take your place over the Dursleys any day!" Harry said just as softly. "But how did you convince my relatives to borrow their car?"
Andromeda laughed. It was weird hearing her luscious laughter coming out of the pinched face of his aunt. "First off, this isn't their car. It's under just as much of a glamour as Theodore and I are. As to your relatives, let us just say we made them an offer they would never refuse."
Harry couldn't think of anything which would have his aunt and uncle agree to anything from some Magicals. "Like what? What could you possibly offer them? They hate magic!"
Tonks elbowed him lightly in the ribs, "Mum and Dad took you off their hands for good. They were right happy to be finally shot of you."
Harry blinked at this. His mind sort of shut down for a moment. "What?" he finally managed to get out.
Tonks took his hand gently (which was rather creepy given she looked like Dudley) "It's true Harry. As soon as you get home and sign your name, you'll officially be my adopted brother!"
Harry's eyes went wide as he looked up to see 'Vernon' reflection smiling at him in the rear-view mirror. Again Ted's voice was soft but this time laced with affection and humor, "It's true Harry. Your aunt and uncle let us adopt you. You're free."
XxXxX
PRIVET DRIVE, LITTLE WHINGING – DECEMBER 19th 1992 – EVENING
Arabella Figg was not happy. Not happy at all.
As she surreptitiously watched the Dursleys home, her mind was going over all the events of the summer and recently. It was bad enough her friend's husband had found out she lived so close to Harry Potter and had to be obliviated. She liked David and hated for the need to have his memories erased and fake ones put into their place. While she understood the need for Dumbledore to do so, it still rankled her sense of fairness given that David was a good man and her friend's husband.
What upset her was the idea that she might have been just as manipulated by the very same person David had been. After the incident over the summer, Arabella had had odd panic attacks where she had a hard time breathing. Finally she decided she need to brave the stares and snide comments and check in to St. Mungo's.
What she thought might be some Muggle disease (squibs were a lot more susceptible to them) turned out to be her rejecting some form mind magic. The healers didn't believe it was an obliviation but more of a compulsion which she no longer could accept.
So she went home 'cured' but seething inside. Arabella had a fair idea what the compulsion had been and why suddenly she was fighting it.
She never had any problems watching Harry for the Headmaster. Frankly she had needed the money with her husband killed by the LeStrange brothers early in the war. It seemed like an easy duty given how kind and caring Lily had been. How could Petunia be much different?
The shock of seeing Harry so obviously beaten by Vernon was the trigger, Arabella figured. It had to be. She would never, ever accept the sort of abuse it was obvious to her now she had seen and let slide. She would bet her husband's tombstone that she had been obliviated early on when the compulsion to ignore any abuse she saw. From something Madam Pomfrey had off-handedly mentioned at the annual Order meeting the summer after Harry's first year, Figg knew Harry's arm had been broken when he had been very young. She was sure this was when it all started.
As she continued to watch the Dursley house she silently fumed. What possibly be so important to which would require Harry to be raised in an abusive house? While she doubted the injuries he sported over the summer were in any way typical, there where crueler, more subtle forms of abuse and neglect she had plainly seen before Harry had left for Hogwarts.
What made her feel sick is now certain comments many of the neighbors had said over the years made sense to her. With the compulsion gone, she could focus on all the times during gossip sessions she had heard other ladies mention how the authorities had been called to the Dursley house but nothing ever seem to come of it.
So not only had she been manipulated, the Muggle authorities had been as well. Again Arabella had to ask herself why?
Of course right now she had a bigger problem. The Dursleys had not left their house all day and now they seemed to be packing for holiday if the shouted question she heard from Vernon through the open, upstairs window could be trusted.
Not only had they not picked up Harry, they didn't seem to be hiding the fact they were leaving or in any great hurry to be gone before someone realized Harry wasn't there. Figg shook her head and frowned. It was as if the Dursleys felt they no longer had to worry about the Headmasters wrath.
With a sigh, Figg turned back towards her home with Mr. Tibbles trotting loyally behind her, his tail upright and his whiskers quivering.
No matter her what her concerns about the Headmaster were, Harry was too important not to know where he was. In a few moments and a pinch of floo powder, she was calling out, "Hogwarts Headmaster's office!"
In a moment the aged face of Dumbledore was smiling back at her through the green flames, "Ah Arabella! I take it young Harry has made it back home safely?"
Figg shook her head, "No. The Dursleys never left to pick him up. In fact they are packing to head off on holiday tomorrow. They don't seem to be in a hurry to leave to avoid being there without Harry."
OoOoO
If Arabella had been expecting him to be angry, she was to be disappointed as Dumbledore simply sighed. "Minerva warned me Harry gave up too easily. While I am sure he is at the Grangers or perhaps at Longbottom Manor, I do find the Dursleys behavior rather peculiar. If I may, I shall come through and check on them."
Mrs. Figg's nodded and back out of the flames. Unlike most people, Dumbledore barely felt the transition and walked out of the fireplace as if merely strolling through the front door. Stooping for a moment to pet a kneazle kitten who had seen an opportunity for some back scratching, Dumbledore finally straightened up with a thoughtful look. "Arabella, I think it would be best if I did this alone. I don't think it would be in our interest for Petunia to see us together."
Dumbledore was surprised to see an angry look cross the old witch's face, "Or Vernon for that matter."
Dumbledore looked at her and almost touched her lightly with his legilimency before realizing she was probably just upset Harry was potentially in danger because Vernon hadn't picked up him. With a twinkle in his eye his asked, "Could I put upon you to make some tea? I doubt I shall be gone that long and I find myself a bit parched after the long after-term staff meeting."
Arabella simply nodded and went into the kitchen followed by a clowder of kittens all expecting food or treats.
Dumbledore smiled at the image before casting a notice-me-not charm before exiting and making his way over to Privet Drive. He was a bit mystified at the Dursleys behavior. He monitored Harry's correspondence closely and didn't know of any going between Harry and his relatives. So how could they so blithely ignore their duty to him?
As the old wizard walked up to the front door, he could hear Petunia admonishing her son about not forgetting to pack his toiletries prior to going to sleep. Dumbledore frowned at this. Arabella had been correct; the conversation was nothing out of the ordinary and there was no sense of urgency. He rang the doorbell. He'd find out soon enough.
Petunia's reaction upon opening the door was surprising. "What are you doing here? The solicitor promised us there would be no more contact with your kind. I have a court order to prove it so go away! You've done enough to us!"
Before Dumbledore could reply to this surprising statement Vernon gave a shout and came bustling up to the door, "Now see here! We've had enough of your freakishness! We signed all the proper papers to be shot of the boy and so there is no reason for you to be here! Leave at once or I'll call the police! We have rights and a court order for you to stay away!"
Dumbledore put on his most grandfatherly face and soothing asked, "I apologize for bothering you. I was not aware of any court order. If I could trouble you to see it and see if it is in order then I shall promptly be on my way and trouble you no longer."
The Dursleys shared a look before Petunia softly told her husband she'd get it. Vernon however continued to glower at him, "I knew your lot would cause trouble no matter what that shyster said."
Petunia returned with the court order before Dumbledore had to formulate a reply to Vernon's open hostility. He quickly took the document and read it. As he did so, his heart sank. It stated that the Dursleys had legally relinquished all legal rights to Harry who was to be adopted by another family Harry was related to. In return, all Magicals would be forbidden from contacting the Dursleys in any way except in dire emergencies which might result in the death of the family.
That Harry had been put up for adoption through the Muggle courts was bad enough but it was the law office in question which made Dumbledore's heart sink: Kettleridge, Creswell and Dippet. All of the papers bore the signature of Martin Creswell. While the Headmaster knew him to be a good, honest man who had a foot in both the Magical and Muggle world, he also knew who his primary client was.
House Greengrass
Dumbledore felt cold. A Dark aligned family was making a play to adopt the Boy-Who-Lived!
XxXxX
33 HAMPSTEAD HILL GARDENS, CAMDEN TOWN – DECEMBER 19th 1992 – EVENING
"Now Martin has had his own issues with the Chief Warlock so he was just tickled to help David and I put one over on Dumbledore," Ted said with obvious satisfaction in his voice.
Harry shook his head. It was so much to take in all at once. After they had gotten under the wards at the Tonks' place, Ted and Andromeda had patiently explained their plot. Yet now, even after dinner, sitting in their spacious living room, Harry was still having a hard time processing it all.
"I'm sorry Ted, I'm still a bit confused about things like do I have to call you Dad now?" Harry asked slowly.
All of the Tonks laughed. Ted shook his head, "Harry it is really quite simple. In the Muggle world Andrey and I are now your adopted parents legally. That means we have almost as much 'control' if you like over you as your real parents would if you were a Muggleborn."
Harry nodded, "I get that. I just don't understand why it is different in the Magical world."
Andromeda smiled, "Harry you are the sole heir to the Ancient and Most Noble House of Potter. You simply cannot be adopted into another house, especially to a disgraced woman like myself and someone who the Wizengamot would see as a nobody."
"Andrey's right; there are a lot of political issues as well as inheritance issues. While we could attempt to adopt you, I can bet you Dumbledore would not allow it. While he can stop us from adopting you in the Magical world, now that we are your Muggle parents, even by adoption, means we can pick who your magical guardian is."
"That's what I don't understand. I never had a magical guardian," Harry pointed out.
"You most certainly did, Harry," Andromeda told him. "You see unless the Muggle family chooses otherwise, the default magical guardian is the Headmaster. Now the fact they have a choice is mostly downplayed. From what I've heard, Minerva mentions it in passing once and never brings it up again."
"But I'm not a Muggleborn," Harry said with a frown.
Ted shrugged, "You might as well be from a legal standpoint given that Vernon is a Muggle and your aunt is a squib. I doubt the Headmaster ever told them they could appoint a different magical guardian or that they would care to even if they knew. However now that we are standing in for the Dursleys we can decide who your magical guardian is."
Andromeda smiled like a cat who managed to open up the treat bin, "Given how Sirius Black was listed first and foremost as your godfather to be your guardian, my disgrace from my family doesn't prevent me from being able to stand in for him. Given Sirius' own status with his parents before they died makes it even more understandable that I would be your guardian. That I am also your adopted Muggle mother just sweetens the deal."
Harry thought about this for a moment and about some of the things Neville had taught him. He realized that with all the wealth, power, Wizengamot votes and the like tied up in his family that there would be checks to ensure he wasn't taken advantage of. That the Headmaster seemed to have managed it just made what the Tonks had done that much sweeter.
"So as my guardians, what can you do? What can I do now?" Harry asked.
"Well you don't really have much say other than we obviously will take your opinions very seriously until you reach 15. As the sole Potter heir, you will then have the right to chose your own magical guardian regardless. Although this doesn't mean much given how if you pass your OWLs you become emancipated with full rights to your titles and vault." Andromeda explained.
Ted waved a hand towards the stack of papers he had Harry take a look at and some to sign, "What we can do is have a lot more impact on your business holdings. How much control will depend on what your parent's will says. As your adopted parents and magical guardian we can get access to the will and finally get it probated. It will give outlines of what we can and cannot do. I do know we will almost certainly have enough control to say go back to older standing deals like the one between House Potter and House Greengrass."
"Is that why Mr. Greengrass helped you on this? To get back the Potter trade?" Harry asked.
Ted shrugged, "Certainly that was a main factor but he does seem rather intrigued about you. You apparently have made quite the impression on his daughter. I've met Daphne and she certainly is sharp so if she's impressed with you, David is going to be much more willing to help. That and David wanted to raise you after your parents died. His wife Emily was a good friend of your mother and she felt given this friendship and the fact your grandmother had been a Greengrass gave them the best claim on raising you with Sirius in prison."
Tonks harrumphed at that, "Like Dumbledore would let Harry be raised by Slytherins."
"Now Dora, you know David was a Ravenclaw just like I was. That and Emily certainly showed what Slytherins should be in regards to cunning and ambition which is probably why she and Lily got along so well," Ted chided his daughter. "Of course you're right. No matter their neutrality through both the wars, too many still see them as a Dark house simply because they tend to be Slytherins."
"That and they practice the Old Ways just as we Blacks do," Andromeda said. "Never mind the Potters often did the same as do the Abbots. Amazing how something is socially acceptable if you weren't sorted into Slytherin in school."
"Old ways?" Harry asked.
Andromeda smiled indulgently, "You'll find out on the Solstice. I'll coach you through it. Given how powerful you are for a child your age, I have no doubt you will find it interesting."
Harry nodded before turning back to Ted, "Okay I can see why the Greengrasses helped out on this, but won't this cause the Headmaster to show up and ruin their holidays?"
Both Ted and Andromeda laughed. "I'm sure he's going to try. David and I planned this out down to the day. You've been to the Headmaster's office, haven't you?"
Harry nodded.
"You know all those silvery objects? Well Andrey is almost positive that most, if not all, of them are keyed to you. So we had to cobble together some pretty arcane magic to temporarily mask certain changes from those instruments otherwise the minute the Dursleys signed away their rights to you the Headmaster would have known. The only one we couldn't mask was when you signed the document accepting us as your magical guardian. However by now David and I were sure the Headmaster knows something is up. The beauty is he will most assuredly think the Greengrasses are your guardians." Ted explained.
Andromeda poured herself some more tea from the carafe on the coffee table. Harry wasn't sure but it looked like it had somehow been carved out of ironwood. "The Headmaster is, as you said, likely to go looking for the Greengrasses. He will be out of luck given how they are taking holiday in the Viajura region of Switzerland. There is a private lodge which is under a sort of charm which makes it very difficult to get into without a paid ticket."
Harry frowned, "But isn't Dumbledore the Supreme Mugwump of the European Coalition of Magical States? I would think the head of the ECMS could get in."
Again both Ted and Andromeda laughed. "Oh David and I feel there is a good chance he will and we hope he does. Given his rather blatantly illegal dumping you at the Dursleys while keep your parent's will from being probated, him trying to force House Greengrass to give you up will put the Headmaster up to counter scrutiny. If he is deluded enough to think he can pull it off, forcing his way into the resort will mean he'll have to comment on your safety and then explain why you are much safer there." Ted said with a grin.
"He's manage it for years so what's different now?" Harry asked.
"Now the Union has a copy of a medical report detailing how badly your Uncle beat you last summer." Andromeda said with evident satisfaction of a plan coming off perfectly. If Dumbledore tries to push in the ECMS, the Union is going to get involved as an interested party given how House Potter has international companies. If Dumbledore is smart, he will simply lick his wounds and wait till your back at Hogwarts to assess how things have played out."
"But what about the adoption papers? Can't he track me here though those?" Harry asked.
Ted made a off-hand gesture, "Sadly your adoption papers have been misfiled and since the Ministry's office dealing with them won't open back up till January 6th this little mistake won't be found out till then." Ted winked at Harry, "It always pays to have people who owe you a small favor. Never let anyone tell you it is a sneaky Slytherin habit because it's how you can get away with things like this."
"By the time Dumbledore finds out the truth, it will be too late. Again, the only way he can stop it would force him to expose some of his actions which he simply can't allow to have happen." Andromeda pointed out.
"Do we have any idea why he's doing all this? Is he after House Potter's wealth or something?" Harry asked. "Or does this have something to do with Voldemort. Before I burned Quirrel's body, Voldemort made some comments which implied the Headmaster is raising me to be a weapon against him."
Ted and Andromeda shared a look, "As much as trusting anything the Dark Lord says is unwise, in this case I'm not sure he is wrong. It is the most likely explanation and one I could see many people allowing what has happened to happen. All for the greater good, you understand," Andromeda said with a pinched look.
Tonks playfully punched Harry in the arm, "Whatever he had planned, it's not going to happen. I'm not going to let anyone hurt my new baby brother!"
Harry raised an eyebrow at the spiky-haired witch, "Baby brother?"
Tonks grin seem to show all her teeth, "If the shoe fits, baby brother! We are going to have so much fun together!"
XxXxX
FROM THE PAGES OF THE POWER HE KNEW NOT – THEODORE TONKS
As confident as Andrey and I may have sounded to Harry at the time, I was relieve David, Martin and I had pulled it off with some covert help of Archibald Nutcombe in the Ministry's Records & Inheritance division. If there is one thing I learned from representing Archie's was never underestimate the gratitude you will get for taking an outlandish story seriously when everyone else is convinced you are daft. You'd think more Magical solicitors would do so but there you go.
So with Archie 'accidentally' misfiling the change in guardianship papers along with the copy of our Muggle adoption of Harry on the last work day prior to the holiday break, we covered until he found his 'mistake' and filed them while Dumbledore was giving his welcome back speech to his student back at Hogwarts.
Honestly, looking back I somehow thought Dumbledore was actually going to try to force the issue. However Andrey reminded me later that week when I was grumbling about a good trap gone to waste was that Dumbledore didn't get to where he was by being stupid. Certainly we had surprised him but he was far too canny to get dragged out into the open. He had far too many political enemies.
Plus, as Andrey also pointed out to me, the Headmaster still was part of Harry's life for 9 months out of the year. He could adjust to the new reality given how while we had managed to adopt Harry from right out underneath him, we didn't have the political wherewithal to directly challenge him for his past crimes relating to Harry. As my fellow solicitor Martin pointed out to me, for all we knew there were elements in the Wizengamot, Ministry and the Department of Mysteries who may have known all along and so been party to the Headmaster's plan.
It was easy to see Dumbledore as this Machiavellian mastermind, evilly moving people around like pawns but there might be a lot going on the world at large didn't know. Xenophilius had often pointed out how the story of the Boy-Who-Lived had holes in it given how only a 15 month old baby was the only surviving witness. So who is to say what sort of things might have been discovered by the secretive wizards of the Department of Mysteries who later inspected the bolt hole house in Godric's Hollow? Perhaps there was a good reason Harry had to stay at the Dursleys.
Not that Andrey and I cared one whit about that. There was no way we were going to allow any child to live under those conditions if we could help it. Plus Andrey, disgraced or not, took her duties as a Black very seriously and with Sirius out of the picture, she felt it was her place to care for Harry.
However as January days crept towards February, it seemed that no one was going to challenge our adoption of Harry. Indeed it was almost April when the Daily Prophet found out about it; a staggering lag on their part when it came to reporting on all things relating to the Boy-Who-Lived. To me this meant Dumbledore hadn't done a thing in regards to the adoption and none of us in on it certainly weren't going to bring it up.
So for a change, Harry's life had taken a turn for the better. He now had a family to look after him and his interests. He even had a older sister to look up to.
Of course it didn't help that that very sister also seemed bent on getting him killed!
XxXxX
GRIMMAULD PLACE, LONDON – JANUARY 3rd 1993 – LATE MORNING
"Are you sure about this Tonks?" Harry asked as he took off his helmet and handed it to his new adopted sister.
Tonks took his helmet with a nod and shrunk them both and stored them in a small satchel attached to the side of the scooter, "You bet your skinny arse I am! I've wanted to do this for ages but I figured I'd probably set off the wards in a way even I wasn't willing to try. But with you here…"
Harry looked around before cocking his head towards the scooter they had arrived on. "Aren't you worried someone saw you shrink our helmets?"
Tonks laughed, "Muggles can't see us from here. Remember the piece of paper I showed you earlier? The Black's London townhouse is under a family charm which keeps it from being seen by Muggles and most Magicals as well. It's similar to the Fidelius Charm but a lot more stable. It's been a closely guarded Black secret for centuries. Mum says if she her father hadn't given her the secret on the sly, old Walpurga Black probably would have had them murdered in their first year of marriage. It's also why Mum and Dad are so confident the Headmaster wasn't going to show up and steal you away."
Harry shook his head, "Wow! This Walpurga sounds like a right terror."
"You have no idea! From the way Dad tells it, Walpurga could be the poster child of why cousins shouldn't marry. Anyway the reason I think we can get in is you're Sirius' godson. For all Walpurga's screaming and hatred, Mum found out when doing research regarding you that Sirius is still the official heir to House Black given his younger brother died back in the war. So the wards should recognize both of us enough as related to the head of House Black to get in." Tonks explained.
"And were doing this again, why?" Harry asked. This seemed to be something up the Twin's alley.
"Because it'll be fun!" Tonks beamed before elbowing him in the ribs, "Come on Harry! Where is your Gryffindor spirit?"
"Safely stored in my trunk back at home I think," Harry said guardedly. Given what he knew of the wards back at the Tonks place (his home now; he couldn't get over that fact) he wasn't so sure he'd like to test the wards here just on his new sister's say so.
Tonks pulled him towards the front door. "Oh don't be a spoilsport. As Sirius' godson, the wards won't blast you. At worst you'll just get a bit of a shock. I know you've had worse playing Quidditch."
At the front door, which like the whole front façade seemed to have seen better days, Tonks motioned to a brass plate where a normal buzzer would be on a Muggle home. "Just press your right hand there and state that you are Harry James Potter, godson to Sirius Orion Black and you wish entry to the Ancient and Noble House of Black."
Warily Harry put his hand on the plate and repeated the words in a voice he hoped was firm.
Both tensed when there was a loud click but for a few seconds there was nothing. Tonks looked at Harry with a smile, "Let us enter the parlor the spider said to the fly!"
Harry frowned, "Not sure I like that metaphor, sis."
"Blah, blah, blah! Worry on your own time!" Tonks said as she pushed the door open and went inside.
Harry paused until he heard Tonks cry out along with a crash followed by a old woman's voice beginning to scream and curse. He dashed into the foyer to find his new adopted sister sprawled over what looked to be an umbrella stand made out of a troll let. Above her a portrait of one of the ugliest witches he'd ever seen was screaming about thieves and violators of the House of Black.
As Harry moved to help Tonks up, the portrait saw him. The wild look in the portrait's eyes went from crazy to angry. "James Potter! How dare you enter the Ancient and Noble House of Black! Filling up my boy's head with lies and your Gryffindor weaknesses! Betrayer of the blood! Potter weakling! Marrying that freak of a mudblood! Dorea should have strangled you in your cradle!"
Hearing his mother called a mudblood was enough to set Harry off, "SHUT UP YOU HARRIDAN! How dare you call my mother a mudblood! At least she wasn't an inbred bitch like you!"
The witch in the portrait took a breath (or looked like she did if she could actually breathe) as if to go into a new tirade but stopped and squinted at him. She paused a bit before saying, "Wait, you are not James Potter. No with those eyes…yes you must be the boy. The boy that brought down the Dark Lord."
Harry brandished his wand, "Yeah and I'll bring you down too if you ever bad mouth my mother again!"
"Bez not threatening the mistress, nasty Potter boy!" a gravelly voice came from the gloom of the corridor leading deeper into the house.
Tonks got up and shook her head, "So you're still alive Kreacher. Mum wasn't sure since you're pretty old for an elf especially with no one here to bond to."
Harry's eyes widened as a house elf walked into the light. Unlike Dobby, this elf was obviously old and there seemed to be an air of menace and just a bit of insanity in his eyes.
"Kreacher serves the Ancient and Noble House of Black. He would bez not dishonoring his mistress by dying! The house must bez looked after," the elf said in a tone which might sound proud if it also didn't sound affronted that Tonks would think such a thing.
Not knowing anything about house elves, Harry decided to try to befriend this one. He stuck out his hand, "Hello Kreacher; my name is Harry Potter."
Kreacher looked at the hand as it was diseased. He mumbled under his breath something Harry couldn't catch but didn't think he wanted to given how the portrait had reacted to him.
Sure enough the portrait barked out, "Kreacher, remove these two at once! They sully the proud name of Black."
Kreacher bowed his head and wrung his hands, "Oh Kreacher bez ever so sorry, mistress. The house bez accepting them. Poor Kreacher cannot bez throwing them out as they richly deserve."
Tonks looked over at Harry with a smirk, "You'd ask Dad earlier why Sirius ran away from home and stayed at your Dad's. I'm sure you can see why now."
Harry nodded as the portrait harangued the poor elf with suggestions on how to get rid of them, none of them it seemed the elf could do. "Hey Tonks, this place gives me the creeps so let's do what you wanted to do and get out of here. I think that the elf is going to have a stroke if we stay too long."
Tonks snorted at this that left Harry knowing she didn't care. He figured she'd probably heard enough horror stories from her mother about the elf and her one-time mistress.
He followed Tonks as she made her way into the house. To Harry it seemed the Blacks were heavy into a horror movie motif when it came to decorating. Finally Tonks found what she was looking for. In what looked to be a sitting room was an entire wall covered with an elaborate family tree.
Tonks gestured to it, "Now this isn't the official tree. The official House tapestry in probably in the vault at Gringotts which shows all the members of House Black, even the ones they'd rather forget."
"What do you mean?" Harry asked.
Tonks pointed to certain faces which looked like they had been hit with a hex. "See those? Walpurga blasted off anyone she didn't think fit her idea of who should hold the name of Black."
Harry tried to get a better look but the tapestry was practically unreadable with the heavy layer of grime on it. "Any chance you can clean off the muck?" he asked.
Tonks raised her wand before a thoughtful look crossed her face, "Hmm, I'd rather not chance any magic in this house if I can avoid it. Call for Kreacher; have him do it."
"Why me?" Harry asked.
"Hey, I'm only the daughter of a mudblood to a disgraced daughter in the eyes of this House. You at least are a Potter even if your mother was a muggleborn not to mention Sirius' godson. He'll probably obey you better. Just call for him and we'll see."
"Kreacher!" Harry called out tentatively.
The elf showed up with a pop, "What bez you wanting, misbegotten son of a traitorous house?"
Harry narrowed his eyes at this but didn't say anything. Instead he just asked politely, "Kreacher, Tonks here is trying to teach me more about my relatives given I was forced to grow up with Muggles and so do not know my own relatives. Could you please clean off this tapestries so I can learn about the Ancient and Noble House of Black?"
He saw Tonks nod approvingly as the old house elf considered it for a moment before a few waves of his hand had cleaned the tapestry off. With some more disparaging mutterings, the elf popped away.
Harry gestured to the tapestry, "I'm surprised it took so many passes for Kreacher to clean that."
Tonks shrugged, "House elves get a lot of their power from their House. With Sirius in prison and no one living here, there is only the ambient magic from generations of Blacks living here. Beyond being an old elf, Kreacher just doesn't have the power he should have."
Harry looked at the tapestry and quickly found his great-grandmother. As he suspected, Dorea Black's face had been blasted off. Quite a few of the more recent generation's faces were so defaced. Harry had to frown at the magical faces of Draco and Bellatrix LeStrange. It was sort of scary how closely the witch who had driven Neville's parents insane looked like her older sister.
Tonks seemed to notice where he was looking, "Yeah the resemblance is rather striking. Worse is I normally look a lot like my mother but there are too many people who remember Bellatrix terrorizing them during the war so I've fiddle with my face a bit and go with the hair like I do. Mum hates it but she doesn't interact with people like I have to especially at the auror academy."
Harry nodded at this. At least he resembled someone most people liked if all the comments about his father could be believed. He couldn't imagine having to deal with looking like a famous serial killer.
Harry's eyes roamed the portrait for awhile, seeing all the certain ways he was distantly related to people like Ron and Neville and quite a few of his classmates. Finally he asked, "So now what?"
Tonks frowned, "I'm not sure. Honestly I wasn't really thinking we'd make it this far."
Both teens gave a start when Kreacher's voice came from behind them, "The library bez an interesting place. Many Blacks bez enjoying it."
Harry looked at Tonks who just looked back before shrugging. "Okay Kreacher, lead the way if you would."
The old elf smirked and led them up a flight of stairs past sleeping portraits. Along the way Tonks pointed out that like with Kreacher, there wasn't enough magic to keep everything at full strength which is why only the most recent portrait of Walpurga was active.
Finally the elf gestured to a set of ornate doors, "The Black library."
Again Harry looked at Tonks for guidance. The pink-haired witch only shrugged once again, "No guts; no glory as you Gryffs like to say." She opened the doors only to stop with a, "Oh wow!"
Harry looked into the room and immediately saw what she meant. To put it crudely, Hermione would cream her robes to be in his shoes right then and there.
The pair carefully crept into the room and looked around. Unlike the rest of the house, the library seemed better kept. Perhaps because of the books, Kreacher felt the need to work harder on this room. Neither teen noticed Kreacher's look of satisfaction as the doors closed behind him.
"Wow Harry! You don't know enough about Magical culture to realize what a gold mine this is! My old Ravenclaw buddies would saw off their legs to see some of the tomes in here! What's mind boggling is this may not be all of it! I mean this is just the townhouse, there still is the Black Manor which probably has even more of the same!" Tonks said in almost a reverent whisper.
Harry realized Tonks was right about not knowing enough because he had barely looked at the books and instead was looking at the assortment of weapons, brooms and other items which lined the walls which weren't covered in books. The room felt like it could double as a museum of antiquities.
Tonks squealed, "Merlin! They have a copy of 'Duel of the Ages' here! Mad-Eye at the Auror Academy would give his other eye to look at this!"
As Tonks reached for the book, Harry happened to look at Kreacher to see the little elf lean forward in anticipation with a evil gleam in his eyes. "Tonks wait!"
But it was too late. The second Tonks had pulled the book off the shelf there was a wailing shriek which seemed to pierce them to the bone. Suddenly the perimeter of the room was ringed with a purple flame laced with gold. These flames didn't seem to damage anything but suddenly started to contract inward.
Harry was pretty sure this lack of damage wasn't going to apply to him or Tonks. "What did you do Kreacher?"
The elf just gave an evil laugh, "Nasty thieves bez taking things they shouldn't! Nasty thieves get their just reward! Kreacher's mistress will bez so pleased!"
With a curse Tonks dropped the book and pointed her wand at the elf.
"No Tonks! That may set off more defenses!" Harry yelled.
"Fuck!" Tonks yelled in frustration as it became apparent Harry was probably right given that Kreacher hadn't blinked when the wand had been pointed right between his eyes.
The flames were growing closer, "What do we do? Can you teleport us out of here?" Harry asked.
"Teleport? Oh apparate! I doubt it; grab my arm." Tonks said as she ran to him.
Harry took her arm and cringed given what he remember what it had felt like when Mr. Lovegood had taken him and Luna to Platform 9¾.
Tonks face scrunched up in concentration before she cursed, "Fuck again! It's not working!" She looked around and Harry could see her starting to panic as Kreacher popped away with another evil laugh.
Looking around Harry knew he didn't have much time. The flames were closing in. They blocked the door just as they blocked the windows. Or did they?
"Tonks! Do you think we can get through those windows?" Harry yelled over the roaring of the flames as they closed in.
"Yes but we can't to them! Oh my god! I've killed us! We're going to die!" Tonks wailed.
Harry gave Tonks' arm a squeeze, "We're not dead yet!" Harry gestured towards one of the brooms along the wall and concentrated his magic like he had never done before since he knew he'd only get one shot at this. With a roar he shouted, "UP!"
Tonks gave a cry of surprise as one of the brooms flew from its place on the wall to come and hover before Harry.
"Get on quick!" Harry yelled as he mounted the broom. As Tonks clambered on, Harry steeled himself. He was going to have to do the same thing Neville had to do last year. Take off with as much speed as possible. "Blow the window!" Harry yelled as he willed the broom to move and yet not move at the same time. In his mind he imagined a car with its tires spinning and smoking.
"Bombarda!" Tonks cast and one of the windows shattered with a gratifying crash.
Just as the flames rushed in, Harry kicked off. His attempted at 'revving the engine' seemed to have worked given how they shot through the air much faster than Harry had ever done from a cold start. In a flash they were over the flames and through the window to which Harry had to bank hard to avoid going past the ward which kept the home hidden from Muggles.
He managed it but also managed to crash them into the scruffy lawn in front of the house, snapping the broom into pieces on landing. For a moment neither teen did more than moan in pain. Grass or not, slamming into the ground was never fun.
Finally Harry looked at Tonks. "Sis? How about we never to that again?"
Tonks gave a tired smiled and a chuckled which quickly turned into a wince, "I won't tell if you won't tell."
Harry looked up at the window they had crashed through. He could see Kreacher staring down at them in hatred as he began to repair the window.. "That is one crazy elf. Not that I've met a sane elf so far."
Tonks grunted before groaning while examining her arm which was already red and looking to become an amazing bruise.
"Auto accident?" Harry asked. He didn't want to lie but right now telling the truth to his new parents was about the last thing he wanted to do.
Tonks thought about it before nodding, "Auto accident it is!"
XxXxX
FROM THE PAGES OF THE POWER HE KNEW NOT – HARRY POTTER
My first brush with House Black turned out to set the stage for later encounters as every one seemed to be, in some way, a comedy of errors except when it came to Bellatrix. Many people have remarked how 'normal' I am given my upbringing at the Dursleys. Frankly given the environment Sirius grew up with, I'm amazed he wasn't committed before ever making it to Hogwarts.
However my brush with Walpurga's portrait and Kreacher did give me a perspective of how people like Draco saw the world. The tapestry had laid it all out for me. Anything the Purebloods didn't like, they rejected and treated as if it didn't exist. To Walpurga Black, simply casting out her own son came as easy as blasting him off the tapestry. He didn't fit her world view and so was discarded. Out of sight, out of mind.
I would mention this quite often over the next few years to Hermione when she'd be about ready to throttle the likes of Draco, Pansy and Theo. To them Muggle advances or great deeds done by the Muggleborn simply didn't exist to them. Their worldview said it was impossible and so to them they purposely didn't see them. While this infuriated Hermione, my comments at least got her not to continually try to get people to see who were purposively blind.
In many ways the same could be said about Dumbledore's actions. He was a great man as Hagrid told me that first day. Great men don't leave a baby with abusive relatives nor do they meddle in his life. Yet that is exactly what he did and got away with it for so long because most Magicals had eyes which refuse to see what was right in front of them.
Even to this day so many refuse to see. Hopefully this volume will finally remove the blinders which have kept Magical Britain in the dark for too long.
XxXxX
Chapter 15 Preview: It's back to Hogwarts. What will strike first? The "wizard zapping snake" or Dumbledore! Canon (and the Weasley Family) takes a beating next time!
XxXxX
A/N: A little after I posted the last chapter, I went through and made a lot of corrections to bring the format of each chapter into line with how I'm doing things now. In the course of this, I made some corrections. Most are minor but I did make a major change to Chapter 2 given how it was exposition heavy and not fitting the flashback format. That and I added a scene which I think helps shows Katie's fire and determination. So you might want to go back and review the series if you haven't in awhile as I did make changes.
Andrey: One of the nicknames based off of Andromeda. I dislike a refined women like Andromeda having a nickname like Andy even if it does go well with Trixie and Cissy.
Elf Speak: As many have mentioned, fan-fiction has flanderized house elf speech pretty badly since in canon they really don't talk that bad. Still, it is kind of fun to write it that way.
Yule Rituals: I had wanted to do a bit about magical Yule. Given I am a pagan of the Asatru bent myself, I wanted to explore this. However I realized this was would end up being a drag on the story. Perhaps in later chapters I will revisit it. Besides some people might feel I'm preaching. If you are interested in it, the fic Prince of a Dark Kingdom (ID #3766574) has a lot of good pagan type stuff in it.