Harry Potter and St. Brutus's Secure Center for Incurably Criminal Boys:
A/N: Hey, updates are going to slow down, because I am busy with work, I leave at 8:30, and don't get home until 5, and then I have dinner, and have to take dog out, and I need to get ready for university. So things get pretty busy, however, hopefully the chapters will be longer. Sorry if I spelled names and places wrong, I don't have beta, and it is 1 in the morning. Enjoy!!!
Disclaimer: I don't own harry Potter, JK Rowling does, the only characters that are mine are Nick and Aria
Chapter Twenty Two: Aftermath
Snape entered the Headmaster's office the stunned form of Gilderoy Lockheart in tow. The Weasley's, except for Fred and George, who had gone to the common room were in the Headmasters office waiting nervously for some news of their daughter. They all turned and stared at him when he entered. Molly Weasley jumped up.
"What happened to Lockheart, is Ginny all right, where is she?" came out in a rush as she started to pace the room.
"Miss Weasley and Mister Potter are in the Hospital Wing, I stunned Lockheart." Was the clipped reply. Snape turned to the Headmaster, who was sitting at his desk sucking on a lemon drop.
"Now, Severus I know you don't like him, but did you have to stun him?" Dumbledore tried to pacify him.
"He attempted to oblivate Mister Potter and Myself! Apparently he did not want people to know that he was a complete fraud. Albus you knew he was incompetent. By Morgana, what were you thinking!! Sending him, he is an utter fool, and a complete waste of space." Snape tone was soft and deadly, like velvet. Most people would have flinched, but the headmaster eyes just twinkled merrily at him.
"An oversight on my part, you handled the situation well, it being what it was. But why was young Harry with you?" Albus eyes started to twinkle even more, if it was even possible.
"Mister Potter had found a note from Miss Granger that explained what the monster was, and had figured out where the entrance might be. He came with me as the information was quite useful, and he posses other gifts that were necessary. Unfortunately we got separate from me in a cave in and went after Miss Weasley on his own. I cannot tell you what happened; you will have to wait until he wakes up. They were heading towards the entrance by the time I got there." Snape explained as briefly as possible.
"I see, very well. I will have an Auror arrive shortly to arrest Lockheart for attempting to cast a memory charm without consent and on a minor. Molly, Arthur if you would like to go to the Hospital wing with Professor Snape. Mister Weasaley I am sure that your brothers would like to be informed of these events. If you will excuse me I need to floo Mirvena and Poppy." Albus decided.
Snape nodded and left, his robes billowing as he made his way to the hospital wing to check on Harry. Madam Pomfrey came bustling out of her office as they walked into the Hospital wing.
"Molly, Arthur, Severus, Albus told me you would be coming take a seat." She bustled off picking up a couple of potions and went over to them. She handed Molly and Arthur a light purple potion and gave Snape an orange one.
"Drink those. They are calming Draughts. Severus, yours is a pepper up. Let me take a look at you, you're bleeding." Poppy didn't give him a chance to protest she waved her wand over him, healing the small cuts that he had received in the cave in.
The Weasley children burst through the door and Madame Pomfrey directed them to the empty beds and handed them all calming draughts.
"How are they Poppy?" Snape asked.
"Miss Weasley is all right although she was a bit disoriented, a good sleep should set her to rights. I don't know what she went through, but she may need to talk to a mind healer. Mister Potter has a few cuts and scrapes and a broken wrist, he also had a minor concussion. Nothing that hasn't been dealt with. He also had what looked like a bite of some kind on his arm. But it seems to have healed already." Poppy informed him.
Hearing that he had been bitten Snape paled, he should be dead! He would ask Harry what happened when he woke up. The Weasleys looked either relived or worried about the youngest of the family.
"When will they wake up?" Molly asked.
"They should wake up tomorrow morning. You may as well get some sleep, I will floo you when she wakes up. Severus you should probably check on the slytherins, and go see Albus, the Auror will want to talk to you." Poppy shooed them out of the hospital wing.
Snape went down to the Dungeons and talked to the prefects briefing them on what had happened, and making sure that everyone was okay before heading back up to see Albus. By the time he entered the Headmaster's office an Auror was already there talking to Dumbledore and Mirvena.
"Ah, there you are Severus, this is Auror Shackelbolt, he has a few questions." Albus sounded entirely too happy.
"Would you mind showing us your memory of the event? It will make the process faster" The Auror explained. Snape nodded and put his wand to his temple as the Auror pulled out a Pensive Snape placed the memory in the bowl and they all dipped their wands in.
A while later they memory ended and they were back in the room. The Auror made his leave and took Lockheart back to the Ministry. With the evidence that the memory provided the trail would be quick.
Harry awoke and stifled a grone, he was in the hospital wing again! He really needed to stop visiting this place so much, this was getting sad, people would start to think that he was a rash Gryffindor if he kept this up! He didn't really intend to get into these situations, but he didn't like to see others get hurt, well at least not people he thought of as friends. He had never had friends before acquaintances and allies only, except for Nick. No, he wasn't going to think about it, Nick left, and had stopped contacting him.
"Awake I see." Madame Pomfrey bustled over to him, handing him an orange potion, a tray of food appeared in front of him.
"Eat that, and then go up to the Headmaster's office, Miss Weasley should be awake soon, she will go with you." She told him. Just then Ginny stirred and Madame Pomfrey went over and told her the same thing.
They both finished breakfast and went up to the headmaster's office, entering nervously. Ginny was quite on the way up, thinking about what Harry had done for her. Her family would have to change their opinions now! Even Ron couldn't hate them after this.
" Miss Weasley, Mister Potter, how are you, Tea, lemon Drop?" Dumbledore offered.
"No thank you" Both Harry and Ginny replied.
Mrs. And Mr. Weasley both went over and hugged Ginny she was then bombarded by her older brothers, even Bill and Charlie were there. Their parents had told them what was going off and they had both managed to get a few days off work for a family emergency.
Harry could hear Ginny reassuring everyone that she was okay. Snape just looked at him, expressionless. Professor McGonagall was also there, and it was she that called everyone to order, and pulled up chairs for them.
"Now, that we have affirmed that you are all right would you mind telling us what happened?" McGonagall asked them.
Ginny started. " I found the Diary in my school books, and started writing in it, it started writing back. At first I was impressed, and kept on writing, it wasn't until later, that I thought something was off. I couldn't remember things, and would just disappear for hours and not know where I had been. I tried to tell someone but whenever I thought about it, I started to think of other things, and forgot. I killed the chickens and painted the messages on the wall."
She swallowed and continued, pacing. "I tried to fight it, I didn't want to, I almost told a few times, but I could never say anything. I remember painting on the walls and then going to the chamber, but after that I blacked out." Ginny finished quietly, looking pale.
Harry picked up where she left off. Telling them about how he had figured out what it was and where the entrance was, he also told them about Lockheart and the cave in. Seeing Ginny, Tom Riddle's form, and his explanation, pulling out the Sais, the fight and being bit, Fawkes healing him, and coming back.
When he stopped talking most of the people in the room were staring at him in a mixture of awe or shock, he shifted uncomfortably not liking the fact that everyone was staring at him.
"Then we owe you a life debt for saving Ginny, as she is not yet of age." broke the silence.
"What?" Harry asked surprised.
"You saved Ginny's life, and as you did not put her in danger in the first place, her life is now yours. However, because she is under age, her parents may pay back the life debt instead." Professor McGonagall explained to him.
"What happens if it isn't payed back?" Harry asked.
"Then her children will pay it, or her grandchildren. It must be repayed eventually, if not to you, then to your children." Professor Snape continued the explanation.
"Okay, but I don't know what to ask." Harry was unsure of himself.
"It does not have to be payed back immediately Harry, you can take as much time as you wish." The Headmaster informed him.
"Good" Harry looked relived.
"Now, that things are settled we should head down to the feast" Dumbledore concluded.
They left the office as the Weasley's, except those that were at school flooed home. They entered the Great Hall and sat down at their tables. Harry quickly filled the other slytherins in on what happened as they ate.
"Silence please!" The Headmaster's voice rang out through the hall. Everyone turned to look at him. Seeing that he had their attention he started to speak.
"Thank you. Now as some of you may know, students were petrified by the so-called heir of slytherin. The Heir has been stopped, and in next week the Mandrakes will have matured, and the petrified students will be revived. Exams will be held one week before the end of school. That is all, now off you go." Dumbledore finished, sending them to bed.
Harry headed up to the common room answering a bunch of questions from the slytherins, as he passed by the Gryffindor table the Weasleys came up to him.
"Harry can we talk to you please?" Ginny asked him.
"Of course, come on, there's an empty classroom not far from here." Harry led them to the classroom, the other first years and Aria with him.
"We wanted to thank you, for saving Ginny." The twins spoke together but were unusually serious, at least for them.
" I apologize, for the way I treated you last year, Truce?" Ron held out his hand, unsure.
Harry looked at the slytherins, their faces may look blank, but he could read the expressions very well. Blasie had raised an eyebrow, so he was at least interested. Pansy was chewing her lip, so she wanted to see how things would go. Theo was staring at Ron, sizing him up, undoubtedly thinking of the benefits, and negatives. Millie, and Daphne were looking at him waiting for his assessment, of the situation, before they came to a conclusion.
"What's in it for us?" Aria asked quietly, looking at them intently.
"We'll stop pranking you." The twins said immediately.
"All of us, or just the first years?" Draco wanted to know.
"All of you, unless it is a holiday, and they will be just for fun, and easily reversed, they won't last for more than ten minutes." Fred stated, his twin nodding.
"What about you?" Aria looked at Ron.
"I will apologize for what I have said, and I won't say things, or insult you anymore." Ron promised them.
"Not, good enough." Harry spoke up for the first time. "You will also promise not to attack or harm any slytherins unless attacked first, you will also make a formal written apology, and state that you will not unfairly blame us for anything, or try to get us into trouble." Harry continued firmly.
"Okay, that's fair, but you must do the same for me." Harry nodded satisfied and they shook hands.
Thus the first truce formed between Gryffindor and Slytherin ending the competitive rivalry and turning it into a friendly one instead.
The rest of the year passed quickly, Hermione and the others were revived, and Ginny had finally told the Headmaster that Lucius Malfoy had given her the diary. Draco had been surprised by this. Apparently Mr. Weasley, and had gotten into a fight in Diagon Alley, and Lucius had slipped the diary into one of her textbooks. Although, when Draco sent a letter to his father, Lucius had stated that he had not known what it would do. The Malfoy's and Weasley had a family feud going, and Lucius had given her the dark artifact because the Weasleys had been the one to strip their house in the last war to look for dark artifacts.
Harry had looked into what information the Room of requirement had on the dairy, and the self-styled Lord Voldermort, apparently he had gone to Hogwarts fifty years ago, and had been awarded an award for services to the school. The Trophy was in the trophy room. Other than that he could not find a lot of information on him. Even the room of requirement did not have a lot on him. Apparently he had been a prefect and head boy, and had been the top of all of his classes.
The Room of requirement had also provided a list of all the books that he had checked out of the library. It was self updating, and it recorded whenever a book was taken off of the shelf and opened repeatedly, by the same magical signature. That way it would still record if a person had read a book and had not checked it out of the library. It was very useful, as it included a list of books form the restricted section. Harry had made a note of the books, and planed on working his way through all of them.
With any luck one would have some information on what the dairy was. There was something odd about Lord Voldermort. He hadn't died when hit by the rebound killing curse he had possessed Quirrel as a spirit. He had then possessed Ginny and almost come back to life using a diary, which stored his memory. Harry had started to look up anything he could find on memories, ghosts, spirits, possession, the killing curse, rebound curses, and ways to become immortal, or avoid death.
Not that Harry had much time to look, he was busy making plans to visit people over the summer, and he had to study for exams. The end of the year passed quickly, and soon Harry was on the Hogwarts express headed to King's cross station. Professor Snape would meet him there, and they would take a portkey to Snape manor. He was looking forward to the summer.
Harry spent the next few days settling in, unpacking and visiting the horses, he had missed then, and ws very eager to start riding again. He spent as much time in the stables as he could. Harry also went to the library to see if he could find anything about Parseltoung, he wanted to know more about it. He wondered why they cast spells in Latin, could he cast spells in other languages. He had come across a book that had spells in a sumarien ancient Greek and other languages, that were not common now, or that had been forgotten. He wondered if he could cast spells in parseltoung.
Deciding to test his theory, Harry picked up his wand, pointed it at a book, and hissed the words wingardum Leviosa. He was surprised when the book rose into the air. He cast Lumos, his wand lit up; nox, and it went off. So, he could cast spells in parseltoung maybe he could he cast them in other languages.
Harry waved his wand about to try, and stopped. He had no idea what words to use. Parseltoung had been easy, but he didn't know what the English form of Wingardium Levoisa was. If he wanted to cast spells, he would have to learn what the words meant in Latin first and then translate it. That would take a lot of work, and he had other things to do with his time. It wouldn't widen his spell repertoire, it would just mean that he would be able to cast in English. It had seemed like a good idea to start with, but he couldn't see any benefits of it now. There were other things he wanted to do with his time.
Harry wanted to know more about Lord Voldermort , how he is still alive, and how he managed to take corporal form. He also wanted to know how he managed to possessed Ginny through the diary. He would start off by looking up possessions.
Harry spent the next few weeks looking up possessions only to find out that the only way for a person to possess someone was to do it directly. This meant that Voldermort could not possess someone from a mere memory.
There was something else but that diary something odd and he did not know what it was. Looking through some of the books after left back corner where he had been told not to go came across a book on soul magic, the author mentioned something called a horocrux. However, we could not find much information on the subject. All it said was that a horocrux was an object that contained part of a person's soul.
If the diary had contained part of Voldermort soul and it would explain why he could possess Ginny, and why it has allowed him to take corporal form. This also meant that the basilisk saying would be able to destroy any other horocruxs that remained, if there were any. This was the only explanation that made any sense to him, and that explained the diary. He also knew that it was very dark magic that he was not likely to find more information on it.
Mind you he had copied down list of books that Voldermort had read in the school. Maybe there was something in it there, he would have to look through the books taken into the restricted section that would be the place that I would be the only place where he would find anything on it. If there was anything on it, somehow he did not think that he would find information like that at a school, or at least he hoped he would not.
Taking a look through the book list, he only found two or three books that look like they would have anything. One was called soul magic: the dark arts. The other one was called manipulating life: ways to immortality. With any luck one of these books would have the information that he was looking for also trying to find the books and not get caught would prove to be difficult. He was lucky that he had the invisibility cloak.
Between practicing spells in parseltoung and looking up information on Tom Riddle and horocruxes Harry found that the rest of June and the first half of July passed very quickly and soon it would be his birthday.
Wondering if he could go surprise party for Harry, Draco owled Snape. When Snape finally got Draco's letter there were only two week until Harry's Birthday. A surprise party, might not be a bad idea, and he knew that Harry was friends with the Weasley twins, and the youngest girl, as well as the Gryffindor girl, Hermione Granger, he could also invite over the Slytherin first years, and the third year Aria, they seemed to be friends. That would be twelve people, if they could all come. Now, when could he hold it? The day of his birthday was a Saturday, and he could start it around nine, and end it in the early afternoon. That would give them enough time to get ready and come over, and make sure that Harry was still sleeping.
Snape heard back from everyone quickly. Hermione, Millicent, Theo, and the Weasleys could not make it as they were out of country, although they would send presents via owl. Everyone else would be over in the morning. Snape went to talk to the house elves about food. They could hold the party in the ballroom, it would be plenty big enough for everyone. The party organized Snape now had to decide on a gift for Harry, but what? He had promised to try and correct his vision if his eyes were stable. He could always test Harry's eyes and give him a vision correcting potion. It was practical, glasses could be hazardous when flying, and dueling; and contacts could get lost easily.
Harry woke up, and went to get ready, when he left his room a house elf appeared.
"Hello, young master, you is to be going to the ballroom." The elf informed him before disappearing with a pop. Puzzled Harry headed to the ballroom and opened the door.
"Surprise!" Everyone yelled.
Harry stopped in shock, what? Looking around the room he noticed that most of the first year slytherins were there.
"What?" was all that Harry could manage still in a state of shock.
"It's your birthday party, silly" Pansy giggled at his expression, before dragging him over to a table in the middle of the room, and piling a plate with food, and shoving it at him.
The day was amazing, he had never had so much fun! They spent the day riding, playing Quidditch, dancing and playing games. He got a ton of presents, books, and sweets, Quidditch gloves, prank items, a wand holster, clothes. The best gift of all was from Severus, even if he had waited until everyone had left to give it to him.
Snape handed him a vial of silver potion. "This is an eye correction potion, if your eye sight has stabilized, then you may take it. I need to check to make sure that your prescription is stable first. " Snape pulled out an eye dropper and a small bottle of a clear solution. "I need to put a drop in each eye. If your prescription has stabilized then your eyes will go yellow, if they haven't than your eyes will turn red." He explained to Harry. Harry nodded and they put in the eye drops.
After a few seconds his eyes turned yellow. " Good, now close your eyes, and swallow the potion, wait until I tell you to open them, and do so slowly. Your vision will be blurry at first but it will clear up as your eyes adjust to the change, and the lighting." Snape continued on.
Harry closed his eyes and drank the potion; he opened his eyes slowly when Snape told him to and waited for his vision to focus. He inhaled sharply in shock when everything came into focus. His eyesight was so clear! Even with his glasses he had not seen this well, it was amazing!!!!
"Thank you Sir!!!!" Harry said happily looking around him, taking in the room. Snape smiled at him, and suggested that they have lunch, the potion would make him hungry, and tired as it worked with a person's magical core, and could be very draining, depending on how much the eyesight had changed. Harry had a late lunch, and read for a bit, before heading to bed. It had been the best day ever.
While Harry slept Snape was thinking about Harry's position in the wizarding world as the head of house Potter. He knew that the slytherins had been giving him lessons on pureblood culture, traditions, etiquette and customs as well as lessons in finances, business, and managing an estate. However, if he was to take over as Head of House Potter at the age of fifteen, which he would as the only remaining Potter, he would need to know a lot more. They would have to stop off at Gringotts tomorrow to get a financial stamen, and get his assets, and investments assessed. Harry would have to start taking them over, and learning how to handle his assets, and investments.
The next day, Harry and Snape made a trip to Gringotts.
"Hello, I would like to take at look at the state of my Finances." Harry told the goblin at the front desk politely.
"Name?" it asked, obviously thinking that it should already have been stated.
"Harry Potter." Harry gave the goblin the vault key as well. The goblin looked at it for a minute and nodded.
"Very well. Griphook! Mister Potter wishes to go over his assets, as Heir to House Potter." The goblin that he had called walked over to them, and nodded at the teller.
"Follow me, please." Griphook headed to one of the rooms, which were used for these meetings. It was about time that the Potter Heir showed, up, some of the Goblins had begun to worry. The Potters were a very old and wealthy family, and were very valued clients.
Harry and Snape entered the room, and waited for the goblin to sit down before taking their seats. Griphook snapped his fingers, and a thick folder and a small wooden box appeared on the desk.
" The folder contains information on your properties, investments, shares, liquid assets, and other assets. There is also a detailed inventory of your trust fund, and the Potter family vault as well as the black vault, although you cannot access the Black vault until you are of age, and you cannot access the Potter Vault until you are fifteen. The box contains the Heir and Head of House rings." The goblin explained to him.
"The Black Vault?" Harry asked, surprised, why was he the heir to the Blacks?
" Yes, Siruis Black, was the oldest black male and would have been the Head of House, but due to the circumstances, the account was frozen. However, as you are his godson, you will inherit the vault when you are of age." Griphook told him.
They spent the next couple of hours going over his accounts. He was surprised to discover that he had 200,000,000 gallons, the equivalent to 10 billion pounds! He was rich, just as wealthy, if not more than the Malfoy's, who were just as old and powerful as the Potters. He also had a handful of different properties:
The Black Ancestral Home, 12 Grimauld Place, London
Black Manor, Yorkshire, England
Godric's Hallow, England, Location Unknown
Potter Manor, Scotland, Location Unknown
Potter Cottage, Shannon, Ireland
None of them could be accessed without the family ring, and you didn't even have to know how to apperate to get there. All you had to do was think of which house you wanted to go to while wearing the ring. He thanked Griphook, and left; but not before setting up a tab, so he could charge tings directly to his account without carrying money around.
Harry and Snape spent the next few weeks going over the duties of a Head of House, and looking at his finances. They also visited the properties; too see what kind of condition they were in. The only one that they did not visit was Godric's hallow, harry did not think he was ready to go there just yet.
One thing was bugging Harry, he had heard about Sirius Black escaping from Azkaban in the Daily Prophet, and he knew that the man was his godfather, he wanted to know why he was in Azkaban, and why he hadn't taken care of him. After dinner he went to see Snape.
"Sir, I have a question. About, Siruis black, I know that he's my godfather, but what happened?" Harry asked quietly.
Snape sighed, he knew that Harry would ask eventually, and that he would have to be told, but he wouldn't enjoy doing it. How do you tell a child that their godfather is the reason that their parents are dead?
"Sirius Black, was your father's best friend in school, they and two other boys, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew, called themselves the Marauders, they were worse than the Weasley twins. Anyway, when your parents found out that Voldermort was after them they went into hiding, under the fidiuls charm. It allows a person to hide in plain sight, a person won't find them unless they know the location of the charm. The Secret Keeper is the only person that can tell someone where they are hiding. Your father mad Siruis Black his secret keeper. He was your godfather, and the best man at the weeding, so it made sense. What they didn't know, what no one knew was that Black was a spy for Voldermort. He told Voldermort your parent's location, and ran, he was found and cornered by Peter Pettigrew. Black killed him, and blew up thirteen muggles before he was caught and sent to Azkaban. Black has managed to escape though, and it is likely that he will come after you. Harry, you need to be extremely careful this year. Do not go anywhere alone, and no wandering at night." Snape explained the story, to Harry, and watched his reaction.
Harry's face went bank, as he took in what he was being told. He didn't know how to react, so he opted for not reacting at all. He thanked Snape for telling him, and went to bed, he had a lot to think about.
The rest of the summer passed fairly quickly for Harry, between packing, and trying to pick his electives, he only had two weeks until the school year. He had decided to take Ancient Runes, and care of Magical Creatures. He had always been good at math, so he could learn arithamancy on his own, and divination was a complete waste of time. Apparently the teacher, Trelawney was worse than Lockheart, he didn't even think that it was possible!
Harry spent the last few weeks of summer, reading through his books, riding the horses, and practicing Quidditch, for next year. They had gotten his school supplies as quickly as possible to avoid the last minute rush in Diagon Alley. Soon it was September first and harry was getting ready to go to King's Cross and start another year.
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