A sense of familiarity washed over Harry as they appeared in front of the Flamels' house.
Or rather, his house now.
Nicolas placed his hand on the door knob and Perenelle gently guided him inside as the door clicked open. Harry closed his eyes as he felt the waves of magic suround him.
" You okay? " Perenelle asked after a minute.
Letting out a shaky breath, he opened his eyes. Harry nodded at her reassuringly. He hadn't been here since Perenelle and Nicolas started coming over to Kaia instead. He'd almost forgotten how it all felt. It was like being submerged in a pool, only the magic was denser—like wading through syrup rather than water.
" I'm fine. " He smiled at her. " It's just a bit overwhelming." Perenelle patted his arm comfortingly. Honeslty, it wasn't just the magic, the whole situation felt overwhelming.
Harry smiled at them, ignoring the ball of tension in the pit of his stomach as he felt Nicolas stand behind him, his hand gently landing on his shoulder. " Welcome to Flamel Manor, your new home. "
Harry's smile threatened to split his face apart.
Flamel Manor was an old house. Harry would often find pictures or paintings dating back to the 1300s lining the walls, even the occasional suite of armour along the halls.
He hadn't really noticed during his visits but the Manor was huge. It seemed to stretch for miles—he needed five hands to count all of the rooms—even though he was certain he could see all four corners of the house when he stood outside the front door.
During his visits he had only grown familiar with the living room, and the patio. And as much as he loved the gardens, there were rooms that made him never want to leave.
The library was one of them, Harry was sure he hadn't even seen so many books in a single room before. The potions lab, which was a hidden room in the basement that Nicolas showed him was the second. With the ingredients that lines the shelves and the gold cauldron that lay smack in the middle of the room it practically screamed magic and wizardry and Harry couldn't be more excited.
But the kitchens was without a doubt his favourite room. Harry had found it on his second day exploring the house and it's millions of rooms. The kitchens were a cosy place, and it was almost always filled with house-elves. Honestly, they were kinda cute with their floppy ears and huge eyes.
The house elves, in turn, seemed to be wary of him. At least they were. After one burst into tears when he thanked it for a glass of water he was pretty sure they liked him now.
House elves weren't the only ones that were strange in this house. Perenelle and Nicolas were acting...differently. Harry would occasionally find Perenelle staring at him with a funny smile on her face, and at times Nicolas seemed to forget he was there, instead staring at him like he had never seen Harry before in his life.
Life with the Flamels was strange and different in general. Perenelle was a mother hen who fussed over him the second he breathed too deeply and for someone who was used to having to clamber for even a speck of attention it felt weird. Like it was wrong somehow that Perenelle was giving him so much attention-that she cared so much for him. Harry wondered when she would snap out of it and realise that there were more important things she should be paying attention to.
That wasn't all that changed. Harry could feel himself getting used to the magic around him-the magic that lined the paintings, that ran along the walls of the house-he could feel it slowly fade into the background like white noise-ever present static that buzzed in the corner of his ear. Meanwhile, his lessons seemed to be getting more and more magical. Everyday Perenelle and Nicolas would take him out for lessons. Before, Perenelle usually brought him to forests where they spent time picking plants, now they would spend most lessons in the greenhouse, caring for various magical plants. Similarly, he spent most lessons with Nicolas in the potions lab, or in the library.
Setting his book down, Harry rested his head on the table, his eyes closing. He had been researching the Herbicide Potion for hours. He opened his eyes slowly, letting his gaze wander over the books that lay sprawled open across the table. He wondered what Micheal and David were doing right now. He turned his head to check the time. It was five o'clock. Micheal would be preparing for his study session and David would be making a snack. Harry smiled lightly. A Nutella sandwich, like every Thursday.
Slowly, his thoughts drifted to the Dursley's. Dudley was staying with Marge, and he'll stay with her for the next ten years or so until Petunia's sentence ended at the very least. He wondered how they were doing in prison. A part of them hoped that they weren't doing too well, and another part of him wondered if they felt bad for what they did.
Probably not.
Harry sighed.
If he was being honest, he didn't feel bad either. He couldn't summon up a speck of remorse for getting them arrested, and he didn't want to either.
He'd do it again in a heartbeat.
" What are we doing here again? " Harry asked as they dodged through the crowds, not bothering to hide his stare as he watched the witches and wizards push their way through Diagon Alley.
" We're here for Gringotts, remember? " Nicolas grunted as he tried to make his way through the crowd, frowning at the snobby lady who scoffed at him as walked past. " Purebloods, " he grumbled.
Harry nodded, his eyes wide as he watched a green-robed witch shove an entire cauldron into a small black bag. A ripple ran down it, as if the bag had just burped.
Gringotts, the wizarding bank, lay just ahead of them. It's marble pillars towered over the other shops. Nicolas almost pushed him in, narrowly avoiding the crowd of people heading their way.
" Is it always like this? " Harry asked when they entered the bank only to see the long queues that winded down a vast marble hall. Much like the rest of Diagon Alley, it was packed. People were everywhere—queueing in front of long counters that stretched through the hall, some were being escorted by Goblins to what Harry could only assume to be the vaults. Goblins lined the hall, armed to the teeth with a large axe and more daggers strapped to their chest than Harry could count.
" It must be tax week. " Nicolas let out a long suffering sigh and guided him to the shortest queue.
Literal hours seemed to pass before it got to their turn. Nicolas raised his hand, a golden ring on his index finger flashing in the light. " Good afternoon, we have an appointment? " The goblin glanced down at his book, before he he nodded his head and gestured to a goblin on the right.
" Grosgur will take you to your appointment. " The goblin moved forward, guiding them out the hall. As they walked down dim twisting passages, the only light coming from torchlights above them, Harry could see why Gringotts had such a fortified reputation. The place was a maze—one that only the goblins could weave through.
Eventually, they stopped in front of a huge silver door. Grosgur knocked, his fist pounding the door so hard Harry could see it shake slightly.
An old goblin opened the door, his silver hair matching the door. He peered up a them through small half moon spectacles, before nodding at Grosgur. Grosgur stepped back as the goblin opened the door wider to let them in.
" Appointment for Nicolas Flamel, " The goblin stated monotonously. Harry absentmindedly wondered if he needed a career change. The door slammed shut as soon as they stepped inside, drowning out the echo of Grosgurs footsteps.
Books lined the walls from top to bottom. In the first half of the room there was a normal, if extravagent, golden desk with two chairs in front of it. In the second lay a mini shiny cauldron. The desk was pile with stacks of papers that were halfway to the ceiling, swaying threateningly.
The goblin took his arm, firmly guiding him to stand in front of the cauldron. Harry could see a translucent potion sloshing and bubbling inside, a purplish tint around the edges where the light hit it. " The potion is ready, " the goblin drawled, handing him a plain dagger. " However we will need some blood to complete the process. '
Harry flashed Nicolas a wary look. Blood was a powerful magical component. And goblins were cunning, ruthless creatures who wouldn't hesitate to use the their enemies blood against them if the situation called for it. Harry didn't doubt that.
Nicolas only nodded. Harry took a deep breath and lifted the tip of the dagger to meet his finger, grimacing as he sliced the tip open to let a few drops of blood fall into the waiting cauldron. He never did like seeing blood.
The potion hissed the second his blood touched the surface, silver smoke wafting upwards. The goblin swooped in, soaking a piece of parchment into the mixture. He disappeared into a backdoor, parchment in hand.
Harry looked down at the knife in his hand, and with a disdainful glare, wiped the blood off the knife with the hem of his shirt. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Nicolas flash him an approving glance.
A sudden bang echoed throughout the room, forcing him to look up with a jolt. The goblin entered the room, and motioned for them to sit on the chairs in front of the desk.
Harry strained to see the goblin over the mountain of papers, just barely managing to see the top of his head bob up and down.
A wrinkled hand emerged through the small gaps in between the papers, the piece of parchement rolled between two fingers.
Harry took it after a second of hesitation. Feeling the goblin's gaze burn into his head, he unrolled the paper. It was completely dry despite being soaked a minute earlier, and he watched in fascination as words bled into existence when the injured tip of his finger touched the parchment.
Name: Harry James Potter-Flamel
Date of Birth: July 31st, 1980
Parents:
Lily Potter neé Evans (deceased) - Mother (biological)
James Potter (deceased) - Father (biological)
Perenelle Flamel neè Pinon (alive) - Mother *(through blood adoption)*
Nicolas Flamel (alive) - Father *(through blood adoption)*
Godparents:
Alice Longbottom neè Fortescue (deceased) - Godmother
Godfather: Sirius Black (alive) - Godfather
Titles:
Heir to the Noble and Ancient House of Potter
Heir to the Noble and Most Ancient House of Flamel
Heir to the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black
Heir to the Noble and Most Ancient House of Peverell
Vaults:
Vault 100
Vault 687
Vault 711
Vault 820
Properties:
Potter Manor
Godrics' Hollow
" Blood adoption? " He asked Nicolas as he scanned the paper, eyes landing on his parents' names. Lily Potter neè Evans and James Potter. Deceased.
He lightly ran his finger over their names, smiling at the memory of the small family in his snowglobe. Lily and James.
" It's just in case anyone tries to take you away from us, " Nicolas answered, his tone light but Harry could hear the worry seeping into his voice.
His head snapped up. " Like who? "
" No one, " he said in a soothing tone. " It's just a precaution. "
Harry frowned. Nicolas was obviously keeping somthing from him but he let it go for now. Nicolas could be stubborn when he wanted to. He would bring it up again later.
" What do they mean by heir? " He shifted, letting Nicolas see the parchment.
" There's the lord, who's the head of the family, " Nicolas explained, " and the heir, who will eventually become the lord. " He smiled at Harry, ruffling a hand through his hair. " Imagine it like a royal family. I'm the King, " He said as he raised his hand to rest it on his chest. " And you're the Princess. " He clapped him on the back, ignoring the deadpan stare he received in return.
Harry rolled his eyes. Sometimes Nicolas was more of a kid than he was, and he's ten.
" But don't worry about all that, " Nicolas stated seriously. " You're just a kid, worry about lordships when you're older. " Then he turned his attention to the goblin.
Harry turned his attention to the parchment. Harry James Potter-Flamel sounded kinda nice, he thought as he looked up at Nicolas, who was currently haggling for a lower price with the goblin. He hoped Nicolas wouldn't be too stubborn, the goblin was starting to eye the dagger with a glint in his eye and Harry didn't want to lose a dad so soon.
He reeled his thoughts back in.
A dad. Huh.
He looked at Nicolas fondly, a small smile on his face. A dad.
Harry sat in his room, hands clutching the wooden box in his hand reverently.
He had a wand. An honest to god wizarding wand.
" Curious... Very curious...I remember every wand I've ever sold, Mr Potter. It so happens that the Phoenix feather whose tailfeather resides in your wand gave another feather...just one other. It's curious that you should be destined for this one when it's brother gave you the scar."
Harry batted Ollivanders words away, choosing instead to focus on his new wand. The whole brother wands with the Dark Lord thing? Just a coincidence.
But you know what isn't a coincidence? He was going to be learning magic. Wand-waving, spells and curses magic.
Harry couldn't be more excited.
So what if he had the brother wand of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named? He was sure that someone out there had the brother wand of Grindlewald. It didn't mean anything.
It wasn't important.
A wand was just a wand, after all.
He kindly ignored the small traitorous voice in the back of his mind that whispered, " the wand chooses the wizard. "
A wand was just a wand.
Harry opened the box and took his wand out, lifting it to eye level.
" Lumos, " he murmured.
The tip of his wand shone brightly, lighting up the room.
Time skip: ~1 year
Date: 20 July 1991
" Perenelle! Nicolas! " Harry shouted, running down the twisting halls of Flamel Manor.
He waved the letter in his hand, narrowly dodging the suit of armour that stood just around the corner. He grimaced as his elbow connected with a small porcelain base. Quick as a whip, his wand was in his hand and the vase was steadily moving through the air to rest back on the dresser.
" I got it! I got my letter! "
He turned, running to the kitchen as fast as he could. The smell of garlic and chicken roasting in the oven hit him as soon as he entered.
Harry scanned the room eagerly, beaming when he saw Perenelle surrounded by house elves, her hands white covered in dough.
" Perenelle! " She laughed as he crashed into her. " I got my Hogwarts letter! " He announced, waving the letter in her face excitedly.
She wiped her hands on the blue apron tied around her waist. Bending down, Perenelle pulled him close.
" Congratulations, Harry! "
Harry grinned, and carefully opened the letter.
Mr H. Potter-Flamel
The Heirs Room
Flame Manor
51 rue de Montmorency
" We should celebrate. " Pernelle turned away from him, untying her apron as she told a House elf to go fetch Nicolas.
A loud squawk caught his attention. Looking up, Harry saw a brown owl perched next to the open window. It shook it's feathers, as if it was almost annoyed by the lack of attention it was receiving.
Harry walked over to it, frowning at the identical address on the letter, written in red ink in the fanciest font he'd ever seen in his life.
Tearing it open, he furrowed his eyebrows, saying, " Beaxbatons? "
Perenelle walked over. Taking the letter, she scanned it quickly before passing it back to him. " Beaxbatons is the French magic school , " she explained. " I didn't think they'd send you a letter, although I guess I should've seen it coming. " Shooting him a look, she said, " We are in Paris after all. "
" What do I now? " Harry asked, looking between the two letters.
" You'll have to choose which school to attend, dear. "
Harry set the Beaxbatons' letter down without a single thought, keeping his Hogwarts letter close to his chest.
He was going to be a wizard, just like his Mum and Dad; Hogwarts would help him do that.
So Hogwarts it was.
Nicolas entered the kitchen with a loud bang. He beamed at Harry, his grey eyes shining.
" Congratulations, Harry! " He exclaimed, holding a gigantic ice cream cake. On queue, small fireworks exploded above him, red and blue flashing through the air. Two house elves— Mipsy and Tam— spun around in the air like ballerinas, waving firecrackers around gracefully as they soared through the air.
Tam snapped his fingers, and plates lined up one by one in front of the cake.
Harry laughed as a plate soared over to him. Raising his cake to Nicolas in a silent toast. Perenelle and Nicolas mimicked him, cheering loudly. Around him, house elves followed until all he could feel his bones vibrating.
He leaned into Perenelle, watching the fireworks with a contented smile.
A/N: Oh my god guys Harry finally got his hogwarts letter! I've been waiting for this day since I started writing the first chapter, I just love something about the scene where he gets his letter in the book and movie. As you may or may not have known, i rushed quite a bit to make it to this chapter and i'm so happy that we're finally here.