Harry Potter and The Demon Chronicles
Disclaimer/Plot/Author's Note: SEE FIRST CHAPTER
Dedication: I'd like to dedicate this story to Winged Seer Wolf: my recommended reads are Saviour of Magic by Colt01, The Rise of a Dark Lord by LittleMissXanda, Hadrian Potter: Darkness Rising and Hadrian Potter: Darkness Returns by AvatarVecna, Harry Potter and The Serpent Chronicles by ACI100, Harry Potter: Lord of Darkness by AngelSlayer135, Core Threads by theaceoffire, The Power by DarthBill, For Love of Magic by Noodlehammer, Saisei no Kuroi Ryu Sorera and Harry Potter and the Archangel by Winged Seer Wolf, Right Side of Hell by NeoMare, Harry Potter and the Tribe of Mystics by Lord of mystics and Harry Potter and the Prince of Slytherin by The Sinister Man
Key Pairing: Harry/Daphne; Neville/Gabrielle
Other Pairings: Sirius/OFC; Others TBD
Normal Speech
'Thoughts'
'Mental Speech'
/Parseltongue/
Review Answers:
Jostanos: You'll find that bit out in due course, but if you read between the lines, you might be able to figure it out before we learn the truth ourselves;
"I am your friend, Harry and, if it proves it, then…then I'll do whatever you need me to do to earn that friendship back. And you can say the same to Neville too: just like you once said you're not your parents, I'm definitely not mine…not Voldemort…not Lestrange…I am me! So…so I give you my word, as your friend and on your parents' graves that…that I am your friend and, if it came down to it, I would…I will always choose to stand with you over a monster like Voldemort and…and a bitch like Bellatrix Lestrange!"
Year One: The Demon of Hogwarts
Chapter 12: A Test of Friendship
"Harry? What happened back there? With the wolf and…and the fire and…and that magic; I mean, I thought I'd seen it all, but…but what you did, I don't…I can't…what did you do?"
Even as he smiled at the rushed way that his friend spoke about her experiences and everything he'd done, Harry couldn't help but smile, both at how this was classic Gabrielle, but also at the confused looks her words were earning them from Neville and Daphne. After heeding Severus' advice to take their discussions elsewhere, Harry had led his friends up to their little group's common room – aka the empty classroom near the library – where, as soon as he'd sealed the room with The Power, he received the stream of questions from Gabrielle.
And yet, while Neville and Daphne looked confused, the only thing Harry could do was smile before he lifted a hand, silencing the brunette as he told her, "Okay, first of all, calm down, Gabrielle. I didn't bring us all here to go through an interrogation and let you run out of steam before you had a chance to hear everything I have to say."
"You…you called me Gabrielle," gasped the brunette, earning a small smile from Harry as he nodded once.
"That is your name, isn't it?" asked Harry, looking from the blushing girl to Neville as he added, "I don't know what happened with you and her to make you do what I've done, Neville, but I can guess either him or Gabrielle's Mum had something to do with it. Now, I know who Bellatrix used to be before she took the Lestrange name and, as I said to Professor Snape, as the Heir of the Black Family, I made a conscientious decision to use that name as Gabrielle's surname. So, if you want to discuss this, we will, but, just like I'm going to start doing, I hope you can also look at our friend and see her for the bright witch she is, not who her parents might be or have been."
While Gabrielle's eyes filled with tears of disbelief and gratitude to her young friend, Harry looked back to said witch as he added, "That doesn't mean I'm going to ignore this, Gabrielle. Whether I like it or not, whether you like it or not, the fact of the matter is that you are the daughter of a man who I am going to see destroyed, one day soon enough."
Even as Gabrielle opened her mouth to speak, Harry lifted a hand, cutting her off again as he explained, "You swore to me, on the most-precious thing you could think of to ensure I believed you, you swore that you are my friend and you're here because you choose to be. You're not here for any sort of plan of his or anything to do with Bellatrix, but, as much as I believe you, I want you to consider this your only warning."
As he said the next part, Harry saw Gabrielle, Daphne and Neville flinch in fear and intimidation as a little of his dark aura bled out, emphasising the seriousness of his words as he told Gabrielle, "Betray me, do anything that makes me believe you're jumping ship, even think of trying to use what I have to share with you against me, Neville, Daphne or for your own gains and I swear to you, Gabrielle: you will never get back the olive branch I am offering you now…do you understand?"
"Y-Y-Y-Y-Yes," stammered Gabrielle, earning a curt nod from Harry as he reined in his dark essence.
"Then, for now, let's say no more about it, which brings me to the reason we're here now," added the Demon Sorcerer of Slytherin, looking from Gabrielle to Neville and Daphne as he explained, "I think…with everything that…that you've done for me, and in light of what's happened tonight, I think it's time for me to tell you guys a few home truths. But, before I do, I'm not asking for an oath or anything, but I do want your word that you won't tell anyone about this without my express permission."
TDC
What none of them knew was that, just to be on the safe side, Harry let his mind touch each of his friends' subconsciousness, slipping the same telepathic restraint onto what he was about to tell them that he had also used on Severus to keep him from saying anything about Harry's gifts.
Oh, they could think about it and talk about it with him and with each other, but anyone else would find it impossible to learn anything.
This was triply-more important for Gabrielle, since Harry couldn't begin to guess or dread what might happen if the wrong ears learned of her true identity as the daughter of the Dark Lord.
TDC
As he drew himself back to the present, having completed his task, Harry cocked an eyebrow when he saw Daphne glaring at him, even as she addressed him, "Of course, you have my word, Harry: as your betrothed, it's not really a law or anything, but we're not supposed to have secrets. I don't know what happened in the bathroom, but, when it did, I do know that I felt a…a weird sort of stirring feeling inside of me: I don't really know where it came from, but, if I had to guess, I'd say it was somehow tied to the magic that bound us together as a betrothed couple back when I accepted this on our first day in Slytherin House."
"Actually, Daphne, you're probably the only one I know won't sell me out, but I had to be sure," admitted Harry, rubbing the back of his neck as he smiled at his betrothed, "Better safe than sorry, especially since what I have to tell you is more or less a Family Secret…and, for reasons that I'll reveal soon enough, you'll find I'm not just talking about my family."
Obviously, she was still a little doubtful, hence the glare she sent him, but Daphne still nodded with understanding, even as Neville cleared his throat as he too addressed Harry, "You have my word too, Harry. Our Houses have been allies since our parents and, even without those ties of friendship, you helped turn me into a somebody rather than a dead-last. I mean, I'll be the first to admit that I've noticed and, like Daphne, I've also felt that there was something…different about you from the day we met, but I also told you that you didn't have anything to do with my sorting and you didn't. But that doesn't mean you weren't involved. In fact, the Sorting Hat told me you'd need me someday and, with what's happened, I guess that day's today. So, whatever you have to tell us, you can be sure that your secrets are safe with this Slytherin."
Although he was surprised by what Neville admitted, Harry still kept his proud, determined front up as he turned to the rogue in the group, "And what about you, Gabrielle? Can…can I trust you too?"
"Of…of course you can," Gabrielle sighed, approaching Harry before she put her hand on his shoulder as she explained, "You not only gave me back my identity; you…you also saved my life, Harry. And, more than that, you…you've given me friends where I had none and, though I'm not a Slytherin, well, not yet anyway…I hope. Anyway, you've made me feel like part of the gang. And, after what I said about being a friend with you for you and not…not my true parents, I have to ask it: what sort of friend would I be if I said no?"
"Thank you," Harry sighed, though not before he waved his hand once, conjuring chairs for the group before they sat down together.
Sat at the head of the group, Harry linked his fingers together, giving him the same proud, noble air he usually showed around anyone who wasn't a friend of his as he addressed his Court. "Okay, the first thing I should point out is that Gabrielle's not being hysterical: there really was a wolf and a fire there in the bathroom. I should know, seeing as how I caused them both."
"How?" asked Daphne, a little concerned at how difficult this could be for her and her relationship with Harry, given his confession.
If anything, Daphne was worried that it could be over before it had even begun, but she didn't want that, not after it looked like Harry had managed to return to the proud, kind and friendly spirit he was, despite the demons concerning Gabrielle and his own dark thoughts.
"Through Power," Harry replied, lifting his head to meet his friends' eyes as he told them, "My Power. It…it's kind of hard to explain, but I will say this much: it's not magic…or rather it is, but it's also something more than just simple wand waving and silly incantations. For instance, it's a force that is truly neither good nor evil, just…Power."
While the others listened with curiosity and wonder in their eyes, Harry cleared his throat as he explained, "In this instance, I used two different forms of the Power to help Gabrielle: Elemental and Shapeshifting. However, to ensure nobody else could figure out what happened, I also used Conjuration and Illusionism to make things seem like I'd used my wand on those things."
"Well, I know what three of those things are," Daphne remarked, looking to Harry with a curious, but also awestruck air about her as she asked, "But what's Illusionism, Harry?"
"To put it simply: the art of manipulating the senses to see and believe what I want them to," Harry explained, shrugging as he told them, "You could say it's part of my earlier guise about being the dark and brooding Slytherin that I was before…before you three helped put cracks in that shell. In the bathroom, however, I made it seem like next to nothing had happened and that I couldn't remember anything about it: yes, that's how strong I've become since I first started using the Power, which was back when I was ten, so I've been learning how to use this power for a few months now and, with everything I've learned, I can cast Illusions not only on the physical senses, but magical ones as well and, as you saw in the bathroom, such deception comes in handy when I'm lying through my teeth…not that anyone else needs to know that."
"Because you make it seem like you're telling the truth?" asked Gabrielle, earning a nod from Harry, before Gabrielle laughed as she confessed, "I'll admit it if they won't: that definitely sounds like an interesting power to have, Harry."
"It has its advantages," Harry chuckled, sitting back in his chair and resting his hands on the arms of the chair as he faced his friends, "But it also comes in handy when I want to present a certain front…like the fact that I'd had a sudden rush of saving-people's instinct, which was what the professors saw. Oh, and before you ask, there is one who knows aside from you three: Professor Snape."
"That's why he's not so cold towards you as he was to your Father," Neville mused, earning a nod from Harry as he listened to Neville's reasoning and question, "So…where did it come from, Harry? This Power of yours?"
"Would you believe me if I said Salazar Slytherin?"
"You're joking!" Gasped Daphne, earning a shake of the head from Harry.
"No, Daph; I'm not joking," he explained, his words calm as he told them the same story and details he'd revealed to Severus.
By the time he was done, Harry let out another yawn as he wondered to himself what it could be about telling his story that tired him out so much?
Shaking his head to clear the cobwebs, Harry explained, "I don't want you to fear me, guys: I trust you because you've helped repair damage that I thought was going to haunt me forever. It's because of my past that I present the front, or the mask, if you like, of a proud and noble Slytherin that won't take shit from anyone. And, if anyone did cross me, then I'd deal with them accordingly, such as using the lightning that I did on our first day."
"I always did wonder about that," Neville laughed, before he asked, "Is that how you did what you did to Parkinson as well? You know: after what she did to Daphne?"
"Yep," Harry replied, smirking as he explained, "Summoning and Mental Manipulation combined with the Demon's Aura, which is what I really call the dark aura of killer's instinct that you lot felt on the train before we came to school and not too long ago when I told Gabrielle what I had to say. It's also because of the Power that I can change my appearance, which is why nobody compares me to having my Dad's looks with the exception of my Mum's eyes: I didn't want to be known for them and their legacies: as is evident by my now-classic caramel-blonde-haired and amber-eyed look, I am not just their clone: I make my own destiny."
Even as he said this, Harry let his appearance return to the classic appearance he knew and favoured so much, even as Gabrielle cleared her throat before she asked, "But…what about when you changed into…into that…that thing?"
"It's called a Direwolf," Harry explained, his voice shifting into an instructive tone of voice as he explained, "In olden times, in some magical circles, it had a magical variation that was also known as a Demon Hound or Hellhound because of its ties to fire and darkness; sometimes, they were hailed as guardians of the damned and creatures of mischief and power. For me, though, it was the one thing I could use to protect my friends…well, more to protect Gabrielle: personally, I wouldn't have batted an eyelid if that troll had crushed Weasley."
"Speaking of," Daphne then added, addressing Gabrielle while Harry let out another yawn, "Don't worry, Gabrielle: we'll make sure that the prat can't hurt you again; Harry said about sending you to us in Slytherin and, as Lord Slytherin, he has the right to do that, just like he could for Malfoy."
"Yeah," Neville laughed, recalling the feast as he asked, "Speaking of the git, what did happen to him, Harry? You said that you'd dealt with him: was that with the Power as well?"
"Yes," Harry laughed, snapping his fingers once as he added, "And now, just because I'm feeling generous, it's undone, but, unlike you guys, Draco Malfoy will have no memory of it except for the knowledge and instinctual belief that he shouldn't cross me again…here's hoping he'll listen."
"Not likely," chorused the other three as they shared an amused laugh at the antics and true side of their leader and friend.
After a few minutes, however, Gabrielle swallowed hard before she asked, "Wait, Harry…you…you said Lord Slytherin gave you this Power by passing it to you from…from Voldemort?"
"I wondered if you'd heard that," said Harry, looking to Gabrielle with a calm air as he explained, "I don't know if you have it, Gabrielle, but you can consider this another reason to honour your promise to me."
"Meaning?" asked Daphne, earning a smile from Harry as he kept his amber eyes on Gabrielle before he spoke again.
"Prove to me your word really is your bond and I'll look into it, but, not only that, I'll teach you everything about using the Power, but, like anything else with me, Gabrielle, it's something you have to earn."
She didn't say it aloud, but Gabrielle did promise that she would make sure she found some way to prove to Harry that he could trust her.
And not just with his secret.
But also with her…her Father's accursed Power, which, if and when she earned the right, she would use for one reason and one reason only.
To help Harry James Potter end Tom Marvolo Riddle once and for all.
TDC
After the Halloween incident, Harry seemed to be content in spending more time with his friends and allies.
Because of the circumstances surrounding her true identity, Gabrielle was resorted into Slytherin, where she now shared a dorm with Daphne and Tracey, the latter of whom seemed to understand without needing to be told that Gabrielle was another close, personal, Inner Circle member of the Court of the Slytherin King.
With the Circle together in Slytherin, Harry's authority and power soon grew with the Circle working with the Slytherins and starting to see Harry as the one true force in Slytherin House. After the saving of another student, whom they all learned was the daughter of the oldest Slytherin Family in the world, and managing to take down a fully-grown mountain troll single-handed, as well as managing to acquire the rights to be known as Lord Slytherin, the Slytherin students all began to see Harry as the Lord that he was.
Such an advantage came in handy when the Season approached and invitations were sent out from several high-ranking Houses and Families for Christmas Balls and parties.
Harry, however, had other plans for the holidays.
Like the others, he sent out his own invites, though his were to selected members of the House and others within Hogwarts.
He passed one on to Susan Bones of Hufflepuff, more for the attention of her Aunt, who was the Director of the Ministry's Department of Magical Law Enforcement; he sent one to Parvati and Padma Patil's parents as he'd heard they were fairly well-known for Intercontinental Magical Affairs; he even sent one to Daphne's Father, with an added note stating that they would use the holidays to finalise details of his betrothal to Daphne, as well as invites to the Davis parents and Neville's Grandmother.
Harry even offered Gabrielle an invitation, but, when she asked him why, he explained, "Let's just say I would like to have words with your Muggle parents: something's been bothering me about you and them and, for once, it's not your true identity…not entirely, anyway."
Gabrielle didn't fully understand Harry's reasoning.
But she did say she would pass on the invitation.
TDC
Then came the invitation for Harry to send that he was most-worried about: Malfoy.
This was one he sent more out of putting on a neutral face with a fellow noble family and trying to repair broken bridges, if not with the heir, then the elders, especially Narcissa, whom was a daughter of House Black and Gabrielle's Aunt.
In fact, his brunette friend was the other reason for the invite, but he didn't say anything to her or Malfoy about that.
When Harry offered the invitation, using formal etiquette and proper pureblood mannerism as he spoke with authority and declaration, Malfoy had originally declined by telling Harry to go stick his invitation where the sun didn't shine, but Harry, drawing on his Slytherin demeanour, countered Malfoy's words as only a noble Lord could.
"Fine: I guess I'll just have to disband your family's marriage, using the same rights I have as Heir of the Black Family to bring Gabrielle back into the fold, only, this time, I'll be using it to set your Mother free of you and Lord Malfoy. Oh, and I guess without his back-up monetary values, your Father, Lord Lucius Malfoy, will have to become as low and un-pureblood as…well…Weasley."
"You wouldn't…" Malfoy hissed, though the cold glare that he received from Harry told him otherwise.
"Try me."
Little did Harry realise that, by the end of it, he would be well on his way to ensuring that his olive branch was never offered again.
But, as they say, everyone gets one.
TDC
After leaving Hogwarts on the last day of the term, Harry left the train at King's Cross where, after making sure the others were with him, he turned to his Court as he told them, "Okay, so I'll be more or less out of contact until the day of the Ball, but if you want to visit, just call Mixey and she'll bring you to my castle. Otherwise, see you at Christmas."
As the others took in the info, Harry surprised them, and a certain member of the Court, again when he actually hugged Daphne before he added in a softer voice, "See you later, Daphne…oh, and tell your Dad I look forwards to seeing him and discussing our futures together."
"Oh…o-okay," Daphne replied, a little confused by Harry's contact and his casual, if not cavalier manner.
As Harry disappeared through the barrier between worlds, however, Daphne's hand went to her pocket where she was surprised to find a silver necklace with a single icicle-shaped pendant hanging from the bottom.
There was also a small note wrapped around the present and, as Daphne looked up to where Harry had vanished, she unrolled the parchment, holding the present in her hand;
As I understand it, a Lord must award a 'promise gift' to his betrothed: consider this my gift to you.
With it, you'll never be in trouble as I can sense it's magic and it is created from my…gifts.
If you ever need to speak to me without others nearby, simply speak the name of my owl and press your finger against the tip of the icicle.
Until next we meet, my Ice Princess;
Harry
'How Slytherin of him,' thought Daphne as she fingered the gift, 'Using an apparent moment of contact to disguise giving me a gift: and at least now I know he values his offer to me…just what I'd expect from Lord Slytherin.'
TDC
When Harry Flamed back to Potter Castle, he laughed as he pictured the look on Daphne's face when she found her gift from him.
Contrary to popular belief, Harry wasn't a complete dunce when it came to being a truly-honourable and proud member of a betrothal agreement: not when Salazar had spent two-nights of lessons teaching him about the duties of a betrothed, both in younger years and when the betrothal was taken to the next stage – although Salazar had said he would wait until Harry was older before he gave him something called the talk, explaining about his other duties when the betrothal was turned into a marital status.
Passing through the gates of the Castle, Harry breathed in a scent of home that he hadn't really known for some time, his mannerism feeling a little different to when he'd left the Castle back on September First.
Shrugging his shoulders, Harry lifted his voice before he called, "Mixey!"
There was a soft pop and the House Elf appeared, bowing low to him as she exclaimed, "Lord Harry, you have returned: my greetings to you on the approach of the Season."
"And Seasons Greetings to you too, Mixey," Harry replied, before he kneeled down as he asked, "Is there anyone other than you and the other elves here yet?"
"Lord Harry's guest, Mr Lupin, is here, sir: says he wishes to talk to Lord Harry now that he is home, sir."
"And where are Kyrian, Serena and Zharka?" asked Harry, a little troubled about Remus' presence.
"Kyrian is patrolling, my Lord," Mixey replied, earning a nod from Harry at the expected answer, before she pointed to the house, "Serena is waiting in Lord Harry's chamber for his return: she misses you, sir; Zharka is making rounds in the Castle: he has been watching the house well, sir."
"Thank you, Mixey," Harry sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose before he cleared his throat as he added, "Now, while I've been at Hogwarts, I've made some alliances with certain people."
Here, he cut himself off as he lifted his hand, conjuring a parchment with the names of each of his alliances on the list.
Handing the list to Mixey, Harry continued, "Here are the names of those people; I've told them, if they'd like to visit here, all they have to do is summon you: will you be able to handle such a duty?"
"Mixey will do all Mixey can to help Lord Harry's friends, sir," the loyal House Elf replied, vanishing before Harry had a chance to thank her.
Making his way inside, Harry moved through the Outer Sanctum and into the Inner Sanctum towards his chamber: as Mixey had told him, Harry found Serena there, the dark-elf half-breed looking relieved and pleased to see him.
Greeting him with her a-typical bow of respect, she asked, "Welcome home, Harry: how do you enjoy life at Hogwarts?"
"How do you know I enjoy it?" asked Harry, a little surprised at the better mannerism of the half-elf.
"There's a glow about you that wasn't there before," Serena explained, earning a smile from Harry as she pointed to his amber eyes, "You seem to be healthier without losing the glow that you had beforehand: did something good happen?"
"You could say that, but, even if you're right, I have you to thank for it," Harry reasoned, approaching Serena before he asked her, "Anyway, why are you waiting for me, Serena? You don't have to act in that manner anymore, remember?"
"I remember," Serena explained, though she suddenly looked nervous, even as she watched Harry go about his business, as she added, "I…I was waiting here because, if it's okay, I…I have a request of you, Harry. It…it's something I…I've been meaning to ask you for a while; I…I would have said it last time you came home, but…but with what happened, I…I was worried."
"What?" asked Harry, genuinely interested as he unpacked his belongings, opening the window to his main chamber as he allowed Kronos to fly in through the window, the owl chirping with an air of happiness at Serena's presence.
"I…I have been trying to think of a way to thank you for your kindness to me," Serena explained, earning a faint smile from Harry as he knew he couldn't deny her that.
After all, he'd always promised he'd never hurt her and, when she needed comfort, he was there.
As he'd often wondered many times before, maybe that was where his change in demeanour had started and maybe that was how things at Hogwarts had unfolded.
Whatever the reason, Harry disappeared into his bedroom before he returned, dressed in some more-casual clothes in place of his school robes, even as Serena continued, "I didn't want to force you into something that…that you wouldn't agree to, so…so I asked Zharka and…and Mr Lupin…I mean, Remus and…and he suggested something that he said could help…given how you are when I'm around."
"What did he suggest?" asked Harry, finishing his unpacking before he waved his hand, conjuring a small meal for him and Serena, who joined him graciously as she sat down to dinner with her friend.
As both of them lifted their glasses in cheers, however, Serena told Harry what she'd learned.
"I…I was wondering if you would consider…consider adopting me as a ward of House Potter."
Suddenly, Harry sputtered and sent his drink flying over the table, coughing heavily as he tried to regain his breath before, once his airways were clear again, he cleared his throat as he asked, "I…I…I'm sorry, but…but did you just ask me to adopt you?"
"Not like a daughter," Serena explained, watching as Harry cleaned his own mess and refilled his glass, before the half-elf actually smiled as she admitted, "Given the age difference between us, even I know how weird that'd be for you, Harry. No…I meant if you could perhaps consider me like a…well, like a sister to you. Ever since…since you first defended my honour back when you found me in your bed, and when you did what you did to hunt down Greyback, I…I guess I've thought of you as a little brother and…when Remus suggested that I ask you about becoming your ward, I felt…I thought I could become more of a sister to you."
"I understand," said Harry, tapping his chin thoughtfully as he wondered how the hunt for Greyback was going.
Nobody was yet to claim the reward, so he assumed the monster was still on the run.
In the meantime, Serena blushed before she told him, "I…I'm sorry if it upsets you to…to even think of having something like me as part of your family, my…my Lord, but…well…I just wanted to find a way to thank you for everything you've done for me: I've never felt so free…so wanted."
"I see," Harry sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose before, hiding a knowing smile as he felt Serena's nerves, but also her hopes and desire, he started on his dinner, even as he asked her, "And, if I said yes, what would that mean for you? I'm not all-bad Serena; thanks to how you and the others helped bring me back out into the light…well, more the grey, but thanks to that, and my time at Hogwarts, things have changed, but how would things change between you, Zharka and Kyrian?"
"Like I said, I've already spoken to Zharka about this," Serena explained, her voice as soft as ever, though she seemed genuinely surprised by Harry's calm demeanour, even as she went on. "He encouraged me to speak my mind: I think he must have sensed the change in you before I did. As for Kyrian, I never really see him because of his duties as head of security, but when he heard about this, he said that…that I deserve a chance to…to be happy. As for…as for being a member of your staff, I'll still help in lessons and work with you, Harry, but now, in a sense, we'd be…we'd be family…kin."
"I see," Harry sighed again, finishing his meal rather quickly before he took a long drink from his glass as he continued, "How would we do it? Is it a vow or…or a parchment or…what?"
"A blood bond," Serena explained, looking over the table to Harry as she told him, "We link hands and you declare me as a member or a ward of the House as Lord Potter or whatever Lordship you choose to use to protect me. You don't have to do it, Harry, but…"
"I don't have to, but I want to," Harry replied, earning a surprised look from Serena as he addressed her, his smile now more-evident than ever as he explained his point to his closest and dearest of friends. "Serena, ever since I started at Hogwarts, I found myself thinking about how you've helped changed me: I thought I could let it go and keep myself isolated, but, since then, I've found friends, allies and even a betrothed who reminds me of you in how I vowed that no female would suffer like you did. Then, there was how you helped me with my dilemma concerning Gabrielle, who is now, herself, like a dear friend to me and someone I also want to help, if I can…and it's all thanks to you."
Serena was actually crying as Harry smiled fondly before he went on, "So, Serena, if you would like to become my ward or my sister, then just say so: as Head of House Potter, House Slytherin and House Gryffindor, I'd be glad to accept you as my kin."
"Really?" asked Serena, her answer coming to her when Harry lifted his hand and summoned a dagger to his hand.
Rising from her seat, Serena walked around to Harry and asked, "Are…are you sure?"
"Yes," Harry replied, his eyes on her as he told her, "However, you may be changed because of the Power within me; I don't know what will happen, but if you're sure about doing this, then, yes, I'm sure too."
"Thank you, Harry," Serena gasped, hugging Harry with tears of grateful emotion in her eyes as she held him: she also noticed that he seemed hesitant to do so, but soon, his arms held her and ran a hand through her light-red hair, his voice shushing her and telling her that it was all right.
"So," Harry then asked, "Which is it to be? My new big sister or my ward?"
"Big sister…please," Serena replied, earning a laugh from Harry as he lifted his hand and easily cut a small incision along his palms before passing the dagger to Serena, who did the same before the two of them linked their hands.
Clearing his throat, Harry coughed once before he declared, "As Head of House Potter and through the bonds and magic of my blood, I, Harrison James Potter, Lord of House Potter, Head of House Slytherin and Heir of House Gryffindor do hereby adopt the dark-elf known as Serena into the Most Ancient and Noble House of Potter: from this moment forwards, she is to be known as Serena Lilian Potter, my elder sister and my dearest of friends: as Lord Potter, I welcome her; so mote it be."
"So…so mote it be," Serena gasped, before she felt a strange warmth run through her body, changing her normally-light-material robes into a set of jet-black and deep red clothes that were marked with the Potter Family Crest.
When the magic left her, Serena let her hands pull away from Harry before she asked, "Is it done?"
"It is," Harry remarked, before he smirked as he added, "And, for the record, I've never had a sister or a brother…so this should be interesting."
Serena could only laugh before she left the room, Harry already making plans to provide Serena with her own chambers for her time within his, now their Family Home.
Chapter 12 and, hooray, it looks like the band is well-and-truly back together, but now, Harry has a new responsibility: can he find it in himself to actually have a family, even though he himself has never known such relations?
Also, how will others handle the fact that a half-elf is now part of one of the oldest, most-powerful families and a sibling to the most-powerful youth in Hogwarts today?
Keep Reading to Find Out
Next Chapter: It's time for a party, but if you think this is a good thing, you're sorely mistaken, as is the one responsible for turning a peaceful and wonderful time of the year into a nightmare they are going to wish they'd never brought out;
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