The Foundation for the Future
by Healer Pomfrey
All recognizable characters belong to J. K. Rowling, and I am not earning anything by writing this story.
I am not a native speaker of English. Please excuse my mistakes.
COMPLETELY AU! Partly OOC. Dumbledore/Weasley bashing! It is my story, and I intend to write it the way I want it.
If you don't like it, go and find something else to read or write your own story to your liking!
#I'm sorry for coming with you, uninvited. It's me, Colin# the bird suddenly spoke up. #I couldn't help them. I could only save myself. It was so horrible.#
"Colin!" Hermione was the first to find words. "Thank Merlin you got away, dear. Will you please transform back, so we can make sure that you're unharmed?"
The bird popped his head up and down, before it left Harry's shoulder to sit on the floor. Hesitating for a moment, he finally changed back into his human form. "I couldn't do anything," he sobbed, staring at the floor.
In the meantime, Emma and Dan had joined the small group and, looking into the boy's tear-stricken face, Emma pulled him into an embrace and said, "Thank Merlin you could save yourself."
"Exactly," Harry added. "We're very happy that you managed to get away. Are you physically hurt in any way?"
"No," Colin confirmed, still crying. "I don't know how I managed to become a parrot. Perhaps with accidental magic."
"That may be, but it was very well done then," Harry said in a soft voice, glad that at least the boy had survived the attack.
"Dennis must be alive, too," Colin suddenly remembered to inform them. "He was spending the night at his best friend's."
"Oh, that's wonderful," Emma said in a soothing voice.
"Do you know where he is, so that we can go and fetch him first thing in the morning, before he attempts to return home?" Harry enquired, causing Colin to nod.
After Trulla served some hot cocoa, of which she had laced Colin's with a calming draught as well as a sip of a dreamless sleep potion, everyone headed to bed. Knowing that Colin had to be very much distraught, Harry offered that he could spend the first night on a quickly conjured spare bed in his room.
"Everything else we'll see in the morning," he promised in a soft voice.
HP
In the morning, Emma and Remus promised Colin to organise all the paperwork in the Muggle world including the funeral for the Creeveys, and Harry questioned the boy about his brother's whereabouts. Finally, he instructed him to grab his tail feathers and immediately transformed into his phoenix form. As soon as Colin held on, he flashed near the house where Dennis had been spending the night.
"Colin, since your brother doesn't know me, I'm going to wait here. We don't want him to think that he was going to be kidnapped," Harry said in a soft voice, causing Colin to shake his head in determination.
"No Harry, Dennis knows as much about you as I do," he replied, with a small smile playing on his lips. "I've told him everything. Please come with me. He'll be thrilled to meet you."
Finally, Harry agreed, and together, they went to fetch Dennis. 'We can't have them find out about the Creeveys' death and think that it was me, because I'm collecting Dennis,' Harry thought and shortly explained to Dennis' friend's family what had happened to Colin's and Dennis' parents and informed them that he was going to take them both to the boarding school that Colin was attending.
Ten minutes later, Harry was back at Gryffindor Manor with the two boys. While Dennis was shocked at the news, he was delighted to meet Harry on the other hand, and Harry was glad that breakfast was just about to begin and that Trulla knew without being told to once again mix a light dose of a calming draught into the boys' juice.
HP
They had already invited the complete Hogwarts staff for Christmas dinner, however, knowing that Colin might need help from the professors whom he knew better than the Grangers or Sirius, Harry and Hermione walked over to the castle at lunchtime to invite the teachers for dinner on Christmas Eve as well.
Dinner was held in the large dining hall together with the families, who had been evacuated to Gryffindor Manor. The decision to favour the manor over Hogwarts for the evacuation had been the fact that the manor was visible to Muggles, in contrary to the school. Amelia Bones had seen to it that all families received Portkeys that brought them to their usual spots in the Muggle world and back to Gryffindor Manor.
After dinner, Professor McGonagall asked Colin and Dennis if they had any living relatives, causing the boys to exchange a glance, before they admitted to have one distant cousin, who greatly despised their family and vice versa.
"We haven't met him as much as once, and if there's any way for us to remain in the magical world, we'd appreciate it greatly," Colin finally said, giving the professor a pleading look.
"That surely won't be a problem," Emma spoke up. "Dan and I would be willing to become your guardians, as would Sirius and Remus."
"Harry and I would be available as well," Hermione offered, smiling. "Considering that the magical world sees us as adults, it shouldn't be a problem."
"I am also willing to become your guardians," McGonagall added. "I suggest that you think about it until the end of the Christmas holidays."
"As long as we can stay together, we don't really mind," Colin replied, offering his head of house a small smile.
"You will," Harry reassured him and promised to think about hiring a teacher at Hogwarts who could teach the children who were too young to become first-years yet.
HP
Unfortunately, Voldemort did not stop his attacks upon realising that the families of all muggleborn students had somehow left their houses and began to attack random Muggle families.
"Thank Merlin he... or her... whatever... doesn't know the names of the muggleborns, who haven't registered with Hogwarts yet," Harry said to his wife. "Otherwise, Gryffindor Manor would be too full."
"Yes, that's a relief," Hermione admitted, before she pulled him into a long kiss.
"Let's just hope that we'll be able to get rid of him before the next school year," Harry added, once she released him.
"At least we've already managed to make his life more difficult," Hermione pointed out, smiling. "He shouldn't have too many followers left anymore."
"I hope so," Harry said, letting out a deep sigh.
HP
However, before the end of their second year, Harry and Hermione did not have any opportunity to meet let alone fight Voldemort. They had no idea about his whereabouts, and even if he kept attacking Muggle families, the Aurors usually were too late at the spot to capture any Death Eaters let alone the Dark Lady.
Over the months, the families became used to their new life at Gryffindor Manor, the manor's house-elves thoroughly enjoyed serving so many people, and Harry, Hermione and their extended family became used to never having the manor for themselves.
Whenever they wanted some peace and quiet, they either had to retreat to Potter Manor or enjoy a trip on the ship, to which they usually did not invite the families. The only exception had been the party on New Year's Eve.
HP
In spite of the fact that Voldemort was still on the loose, Harry and Hermione decided to spend a month in the past like every summer, and Emma, Dan, Sirius, Severus and Remus gladly accompanied them.
Just to be sure that nothing bad happened during his absence, Harry left a time travel Portkey with Professor McGonagall, asking her to fetch him if Voldemort showed any activity that would request his support.
However, McGonagall did not come to search him in the past, and Harry and his extended family enjoyed their holidays and only returned to the future on his birthday. This time, he insisted to arrive earlier than just at the beginning of any birthday party that his wife might have planned, and the small group were back just on time for breakfast.
To Harry's shock, a letter awaited him that he had not expected at all.
HP
Reading the name on the outside of the parchment in surprise, Harry exchanged a glance with his wife, before he unfolded the letter in curiosity.
'Dear Harry,
don't you feel bad knowing that Voldemort killed the Dursleys? When I placed you with your relatives, I put blood wards around their residence, which would have kept you and your family safe from the Death Eaters if you had returned there at least once a year during the summer. I know that I would feel miserable if I had caused three murders.
If you need help for your fight against Voldemort, I shall always be willing to give the help needed.
Enjoy the rest of your holidays.
Albus Dumbledore'
"The Dursleys," Harry blurted out. "It's my fault that Voldemort killed them. I didn't even know that he did."
"Harry, it's not your fault at all," Hermione said, grimly. "Don't listen to Dumbledore. You know that he's not as good as he claims, otherwise, Fawkes wouldn't have left him and come to you."
"Well said," Remus agreed. "We can ask our colleagues if there was anything in the Daily Prophet about the Dursleys, but if it's anyone's fault, then it's Voldemort's and not yours."
"It's rather Dumbledore's fault, because he brought you there and made them a target in the first place," Sirius growled, seeming ready to tear Dumbledore's letter into pieces.
Nevertheless, Harry could not easily shake off the idea that it was his fault that the Dursleys had been murdered.
HP
During the remaining weeks of the holidays, Harry racked his mind how to lure Voldemort out of his hiding spot, out to a place where he could attack him. However, neither he nor anyone from his extended family or the teachers at Hogwarts had any idea.
Apparently contented to torture Muggles, Voldemort continued to attack seemingly random Muggle families every weekend. However, during Harry's and Hermione's third Hogwarts year, he never made an appearance in the magical world, leaving Harry to wonder where he was hiding and why.
HP
Voldemort gathered her followers around himself and said in a firm voice, "As much fun as it is to torture Muggles, I want to attack the magical world. Find out which places within the wizarding world are not surrounded by wards. I expect your ideas by the weekend."
"Yes my Lady," the Death Eaters replied in unison.
"Your second task is to recruit more wizards and witches who are willing to support us," Voldemort added, causing everyone to voice their understanding.
"Very well." The Dark Lady nodded, contentedly. With that, she sent a curse to each of her Death Eaters to remind them that her orders had to have their first priority.
HP
As much as Harry wanted Voldemort to make an appearance, so that he could finish him off, he did not want to endanger anyone. Therefore, he was extremely relieved upon hearing from Amelia Bones that the goblins had once again supported the magical world with wards in order to protect that Quidditch world cup that was going to take place shortly.
Even if Harry loved playing Quidditch, it was more because he liked to fly and not because he was interested in the sport itself. Therefore, he and his extended family decided to give the Quidditch world cup a pass and rather remain at Gryffindor manor after returning from the first half of the holidays in the past as usual.
HP
After intense discussions with their colleagues, Augusta and Minerva had decided to hold the Triwizard tournament at Hogwarts during the following school year.
"I don't have a good feeling with the matter," Harry said, when their extended family sat together for dinner on the last day of the holidays. "I think they should have waited until Voldemort will be gone."
"The wards will keep everyone safe," Sirius replied, joyfully. "I think it's going to be a lot of fun, and I fully intend to come watching the spectacle."
"Oh well," Harry said, smirking, "I'm only glad that only people from seventeen years onwards are allowed to participate. I wouldn't wish to be among the champions."
HP
To Harry's amusement, the Triwizard tournament began with a surprise for everyone, when the Durmstrang students arrived at Hogwarts without their headmaster. Apparently, Professor Karakoff had travelled together with his students, however, upon their arrival he had vanished from the spot.
"Maybe he was a Death Eater and the wards rejected him," McGonagall whispered to the headmistress, who nodded in understanding.
After the welcoming feast for the foreign students, the teachers as well as five students from Durmstrang met for an urgent meeting, during which Augusta voiced her suspect and asked the students if they were willing to participate without having their headmaster at Hogwarts.
"We will participate," Viktor Krum confirmed after exchanging a few words with the students from his school. "Professor Karakoff wouldn't be able to help the champion anyway."
Ten days later, the Goblet of Fire chose Viktor Krum from Durmstrang, Fleur Delacour from Beauxbatons and the Hufflepuff Cedric Diggory as representant for Hogwarts.
HP
"I'm sick of all these wards," Voldemort shouted, casting random spells at her faithful followers in rage. "Nott, try if Hogsmeade is affected by the wards around Hogwarts. Apparate there and back. NOW!" she growled.
"Yes my Lady," Nott pressed out and apparated away in obvious anxiousness.
Two minutes later, he reappeared with apparent relief. "Mistress, I could easily apparate onto the main street of Hogsmeade," he informed the Dark Lady, who nodded contentedly.
"Very well," he turned to his other Death Eaters. "Find out when the next Hogsmeade visit for the Hogwarts students will be and we're going to really surprise them. I also want you to find someone at Hogwarts who would be able to spy for us. I'm sick of having no spy in the castle, which means not knowing what's going on," he added, impatiently. 'Too bad that the ministry killed my best followers; the remaining Death Eaters are much less enthusiastic than people like Malfoy and Bella were,' he thought, feeling extremely unhappy with his current situation. 'As if it wasn't bad enough to be stuck in a woman's body,' he self-pitied himself.
HP
As usual before the Hogsmeade visits, excitement was high in the fourth-year study room.
"We should go in small groups, so that each group can take a small group of third-years with them," Harry suggested, causing a small discussion about the matter that ended after ten minutes with the unanimous consent to assist the third-years on their first Hogsmeade visit.
tbc...
Thank you very much for your kind comments!