Chapter 15 – Halloween and the 1st of November ~~~~~Power of Ancestral Magics~~~~~

Hogwarts, Scotland

With the ousting of Umbridge from her post of High Inquisitor, Hogwarts gained back some of the usual joy and happiness that it usually had. Over the month of October, several different things wrong in the school were discovered that were quickly rectified. Between all the changes and the schoolwork, itself Harry and most of the students never saw the end of the month approaching until it was there.

Harry had been surprised at just how fast the remaining three weeks of October passed, before he knew it, it was the last week of October and they were brewing potions in his tutoring class at last and his defense tutoring had moved on to sixth year work. His other classes had started working on larger more innovative and dangerous projects that Harry had to keep reigning himself in on, as he also delved farther into the family Grimoire as well. He found many a lost branch of magic hidden in the family tome, even as he discovered why his family had hidden said magic away.

To Harry the end of October had come too quickly, and it was once more the hated day of October 31st. However, Harry couldn't help but think to himself that for a Tuesday it was not all that bad. His assignments for the week are already done, and he was fully prepared for whatever the day sent at him. Harry dressed in a completely black ensemble was therefore, surprised to see Sirius waiting for him, as Harry walked into the Great Hall, that morning.

"Hey pup, I have a few surprises for you. To start with I've pulled you out of school and have several different things on the itinerary for the day. Yes, the grand opening went fine last night we can discuss it more tomorrow. Eat your breakfast, we need to head on out."

Confused Harry did as he was told and ate his breakfast ignoring the cheers of several of his fellow Gryffindors around him saying "Happy Halloween". As Harry and Sirius stood to leave the great hall Draco, Viktor and quite a few others, approached him causing a silence to overcome the hall.

"My condolences, my sweet on this most disheartening day. May your day spent in memory, honor your family well." Viktor said as he handed Harry a fully in bloom black mourning rose. The other heirs echoed Viktor's sentiments and handing Harry a black rose as well before Harry and Sirius silently left the hall.

"Neville, I don't understand what that was?" Hermione asked carefully considering her words.

"They are honoring Harry's parents today, the 14th anniversary of their deaths. It's a big deal both because of the rank of Harry's house and the age he was when they died, not to mention that is also Samhain. No one did such a thing before because Harry never showed knowledge or the want to honor the old tradition. However instead of his normal clothes Harry wore all black today symbolling that he was honoring his parents' deaths. It's a pureblood thing that I'm sure Professor Abraxas will explain if you so choose to ask him."

"Thanks Neville" Hermione responded Neville nodded before also rising. "Wait why are you in Black as well?"

"I'll be attending some Rites with Harry later on today, honoring the alliance between our families and the fact that both our fathers were godbrothers, as both Harry and I are godbrothers. The relationship between our lines, such that it is, makes it expected that I would mourn with him." Neville responded.

"I didn't know you were godbrothers." Ron said.

"Most don't realize that most Lords of our houses are, it keeps the alliance strong." Neville answered before also leaving the Hall.

~~~~~Power of Ancestral Magics~~~~~

Godrics Hollow, England

After leaving the Hogwarts grounds Harry took the offered arm and allowed Sirius to apparate the two of them from the Hogwarts grounds to Godrics Hollow.

Harry's first stop was at the house he had previously only remembered in his nightmares. He entered it and went through every nick and cranny inside it that he could find, letting the memories of his parents be refreshed in his mind, as because of his occlumency old memories flooded back to him to be sorted. Harry let himself get lost in the memories still holding the roses in his hands. It was a good two hours before Harry and Sirius left the house for the graveyard. Locating the graves of Harry's parents, the two spent time alone at the graves talking to Lilly and James before being joined by Remus and a few others and finally leaving Godrics Hollow around 2 o'clock, headed towards the manor.

Once arriving at the manor, after eating a late lunch with friends and family, Harry spent a few hours along with Neville going through purification rituals in preparation for the intense ritual he would undergo that evening. Once he was finished Harry called Mimsy. "Mimsy, thank you for coming so quickly, has the great hall been prepared for tonight?"

"Yes, Lordsy Potter, the feast table has been set, the altar has been built. The circle has been arranged, your guests have arrived, and the maze adorns the lawn."

"Thank you Mimsy, that will be all, is there anything I need to know before I go down." Mimsy shook her head and popped away and Harry walked carefully down the stairs still dressed in all black. As he and Neville, walked to the ballroom where the guests waited, they talked about a few things.

"Hermione was very interested in the celebrations to take place tonight, and as you weren't at school you missed a chance to see Dumbledore spitting mad. Professor Malfoy is hosting a Samhain celebration on the Hogwarts grounds and any and all students are invited. When he announced it at lunch Dumbledore's masks fell, his anger was felt throughout the hall. The ICW investigators still at the school also reprimanded him for it, saying it wasn't very respectable for him to lose his temper like that."

"That is interesting, and slightly unnerving, an angered Dumbledore will make mistake's but it could also make him more dangerous." Harry responded.

"We'll, take care of him together, Harry, are you ready for tonight?" Neville asked.

"I think so, either way we must go forward." Harry answered.

"Speaking of moving forward, Marcus, and Tyler, you've become awfully protective, of them the past few weeks, since they entered your care." Neville commented.

"Well, Tyler, is currently heir of house Slytherin, and has placed himself through the protectorate section of the bloodline act under my care, he's Voldemort's third cousin or something like that." Harry answered.

"I assume that the ability to speak parseltongue has allowed you to bond, but what about you and Marcus?" Neville asked.

"Marcus is different, and a story all his own." Harry answered pausing by the doors to the ballroom. "My great-grandfather Charlus, had believed that each of his immediate blood brothers died without issue, during the war with Grindelwald. That wasn't true, his younger brother, Marcus, was seeing a witch at the time of his death, unbeknown to him or his siblings he had sired a son, that went to Hogwarts listed as a muggleborn, after being adopted by a muggle family. His age made him younger than my aunt, but older than my father. He graduated, several years before my father entered Hogwarts, but waited several years to settle down. He married the year the last blood war ended and sired Marcus in late 1981. He perished a month before Marcus's birth, in a murder that is still unsolved today. After his birth his muggle mother remarried a muggle, and neither treated Marcus properly." Harry explained.

"Making him, as a direct descendant of the male line, your heir." Neville answered.

"Yes, until I have children of my own." Harry replied as together they walked through the doors and into the Hall, walking past the row upon rows of tables with full place settings, and to the center of the hall where Sirius and Harry's other guests stood waiting. Sirius quickly handed both steaming cups of fresh apple cider, before introducing them around. As the clock stuck eight on the dot, Harry and the others gathered around the altar as Sirius began.

Sirius stepping over to the table of food filled a plate before returning to standing before the fire. "On this day we honor you the dead, in your life you taught us much, but it is only in your death that we can understand all that you have taught us. To James Potter I called you brother in life for we were closer than my own brother and I." at this as Sirius dropped food into the flames, the flames that had previously been lit now showed the face of James Potter as Sirius so often remembered him. "You taught me to laugh, you showed me the love of a home and I will always remember that. Lilly Potter nee Evans you taught about love and what true honor was, you showed me a path that could be walked different than those pushed at me by others you were a true sister to me and I will never forget you." Sirius dropped more food into the fire, it shifted to show Lilly's face. The fire would cycle through the faces of those that would be honored with offerings and words by different people throughout the night.

"Regulus my brother, in life we were not as close as I would have liked, but you were still my brother by blood. Things would be different if you were here and I hope you understand the path I am guiding the house of Black down. You will always be remembered by me and mine." Turning away and towards the crowd Sirius addressed them now. "I have many more to thank however due to time constraints and the amount of people here we ask that you only call on three people this night as we do wish to cast a full circle as well tonight. I thank you for coming and ask that you enjoy this Samhain feast. The circle is scheduled to be cast at ten, enjoy." With that people got plates and approached the fire, Harry and Neville as tradition dictated waited until last. Spending the hours watching others honor and thank those who had gone before, while talking quietly to each other, and to others, until shortly before ten it was there turn.

"James Potter you are an enigma to me. You are my father, yet I do not know you, as you were taken from me before I could know you. With my name you honored the house I was born into, yet until this year I did not understand the meaning of my name, as I did not understand who the men that embodied the names I carry were. I may miss you greatly, but I also honor that your sacrifice lives on in me." As Harry spoke and made his offering, power could be felt throughout the room, a power that was steadily growing.

Neville spoke up and gave his offering next. "James Potter you were my godfather you were taken from us before you could fully embody that title. Yet as I stand here today beside your son, my own godbrother I hope that wherever you may be, that you are laughing besides those of our line that have gone before. May we as godbrothers honor your legacy and through you the legacy of our Houses."

"Lilly Potter nee Evans you are my mother and your sacrifice has never been forgotten. I may not have been raised knowing of your sacrifice, but I understand now what a sacrifice it was, and for that I live my life in honor of that sacrifice. May I make you proud." Harry spoke again giving a sacrifice from his plate again.

Neville once more followed him as they would do one more time. "Lilly Potter nee Evans you were my godmother and you sacrificed yourself for my godbrother and my house will never forget that. In that sacrifice you allowed us to stand together though we are not three you have allowed us to be two and for that I and my house honors you and your sacrifice."

"To House Longbottom I give my final offering." Harry once more spoke giving the remaining food on his plate as offering and shocking those behind them. "The House of Longbottom has long honored my own house and for that I give it thanks for standing both beside my brother and for aiding him in his time of need for that I thank thee and give thee honor that the House grows and prospers still in all that it does."

"To House Potter I give my final offering." Neville spoke giving the remaining food on his plate as offering and once more shocking those behind them. "The House of Potter has long honored my own house and for that I give it thanks for standing both beside my brother and for aiding him in his time of need for that I thank thee and give thee honor that the House grows and prospers still in all that it does."

With that said the two young men nodded and set their plates aside and picking up two bowls each they walked into the circle as the clock struck ten P.M. Walking into the circle, they stood side by side facing North. Neville spoke first

"From the North we call the element of Water will you please now join us?" with that he set the bowl in the northern section of the circle, and placed the brown candle that had been sitting there in the bowl before then lighting it. The two the turned to face east and Harry spoke next.

"From the East we call the element of Air will you please now join us?" with that he set the bowl in the eastern section of the circle and placed the yellow candle that had been sitting there in the bowl before then lighting it. The two then turned to face the South and Neville spoke.

"From the South we call the element of Fire will you please now join us?" with that he set the bowl in the southern section of the circle and placed the red candle that had been sitting there in the bowl before then lighting it. The two then turned to face the west and Harry spoke

"From the West we call the element of Earth will you please now join us?" with that he set the bowl in the western section of the circle, and placed the candle that had been sitting there in the bowl before then lighting it. The two then turn away from each other and knelt back to back and Neville placing his last bowl he had on the floor in front of him, placing a white candle inside it and lighting the candle then spoke

"Life the giver of all things we call to you know and ask that you join us." Harry then continued placing his last bowl he had on the floor in front of him, placing a black candle inside it and lighting the candle then spoke "Death that is the end of all things we call to you know and ask that you join us." With that both rose and first checking that each candle instead of having the traditional reddish orange flame now had a flame the same exact color as the candle, spoke in unison saying. "We thank thee for coming great one's that we may find favor in your eyes. We ask for a blessing if thou so see fit to give on that in the time to come, we may honor still the ones who have gone before." With this the two then turned towards each other pulling the ritual daggers then cut each other's fingers just enough that they bled. "In exchange for this blessing we give a sacrifice, of our blood and our magic, to even the scales that the offering be a blessing and not a curse." With that the two turned the hand with fingers now running with blood over and allowed a dozen drops of blood each to fall into each of the six bowls containing the candles. They then stood and dismissed those they had summoned with reverence and care.

Stepping out of the circle they both felt as if they had just done a full five hours of spell casting although they both knew no spell had been cast. It was then that they were surprised however, as the circle they had just exited began to act strangely. The runes that had been inscribed earlier shifted and changed, the candles that had been blown out earlier in the dismissal of the elements were once more lit. However instead of the colored flames that had been seen earlier that had corresponded with the candles and elements themselves, the flames were now all black. Inside the circle a black mist was quickly growing, as it grew it condensed into two figures. One was dressed all in black, covered in a cloak so that only the outline gave away what it was, the other was a girl dressed in white, standing awkwardly, as if she wasn't sure what she should be doing. A voice came from the taller figure who had extended a long arm with a boney finger pointing towards Harry.

"You have honored well your roots this night, as you will often in the times to come. For that and for the honor you have shown me, in being sincere in your summoning of me, I will give you a gift and a boon. This child was your sister carried by your mother at the time of her death, for this night I return her to the land of living. I would give you the parents you so desire but the curse that struck me down forbids me from doing so." The hand then shifted to point at Neville. "You to have honored me well, though the honoring of me is not in your blood for that I give you a boon. Release your parents' bodies young one and mourn at last for they crossed over with me long ago, all that remains is shells nurtured by magic and the hopes of a child. It is time to move on, for them and for you."

Looking at each other in unison the boys spoke, "Thank you lord death you have honored us this day." The figure nodded and faded away, leaving two boys to come to terms with what had occurred. Harry spent the rest of the night well into the wee hours of the morning with his sister, who just before sunrise turned to look at Harry with an air of finality around her.

"Harry, Mum and Dad love you and said to tell you that they were proud of you, but that there is more going on than you think. You need to visit the department of mysteries and have a blood prophecy search. It will bring forward any prophecy that pertain to you. You must remember that a prophecy can usually be broken as easily as it is made, except if it is a prophecy that pertains to a convergence point, some things simply must come to pass. I can only give you one more warning or I tempt the punishments of the fates. Your main enemy will neither be our parent's killer nor the meddler, he has yet to reveal himself but is well known to our recent family past. I love you, big brother and look forward to watching you turn into the man you are destined to be." With that Alexia Potter faded as the morning sun rose.

~~~~~Power of Ancestral Magics~~~~~

Ministry of Magic, London, England

Sirius had flooed the headmaster this morning that they would not be returning to school until tomorrow and had left shortly before noon to be on time to the opening of the over a month long fall Wizengamot session that went from the first of November until the Friday before the solstice which happened to also be the last day of school. Emergency session could be called on any day of the month-long winter break except on the days leading up to, the day of, and the day after the holidays. For this Wizengamot sessions could not be called the 20th, through the 26th and the 31st through the 2nd. As school and the Wizengamot did not resume until the 15th of January this meant that student had two weeks off before the new year began and the two weeks after it as the train took students back to school on the 13th, to allow students to have a few days to catch up with friends about their holiday break and settle back in before school started.

Harry, and Neville walked into the Department of Mysteries in the ministry around the middle the afternoon on November 1st. For them the day had already been a long one, they had made the stop by St. Mungo's, in the wee hours of the morning after Alexia had faded, for Neville to release the accidental magic he had cast on his parents during his childhood. At such point they had immediately died. Neville had needed the mornings rest to help begin the grieving process. It had been past noon when they had again risen for the day.

Looking down at his watch Neville asked, "It's just about 2:30 do you think we should go ahead and start, or should we wait for Sirius?"

"I think we should go ahead and start Sirius could be a little while longer if you remember he did say that the session for today was supposed to be over by two but that if something came up, he would be longer, let's go."

"And where might you to be going in a restricted zone of the ministry, let me escort you to schoolboys back upstairs why don't I." A smooth voice cut in behind the two, who promptly turned and had the man at both wand point for Neville and blade point for Harry, who had automatically drawn a family blade from the bracelet where it was stored in miniaturized form.

"Well I do say that this will teach you to sneak up on Lords of the realm in such a manner again Williamson, come Heir Longbottom, Heir Potter let us go to my office. I am head unspeakable Croaker and will be happy to help to noble peers in any way I can. Williamson you can go read the manual on not taking people by their appearances again and come see me when you are done with that, your assumption that these two were mere schoolboys would have gotten you killed if they had had a mind to do so." With that both Neville and Harry put their weapons away and followed Croaker down to his office. "So, what can I do for you boys today?"

Looking at Neville, who nodded Harry then turned to the man and said. "We would both like a blood prophecy trace performed please."

"A blood prophecy trace huh, sure you don't just want a prophecy trace done. I just turn here to the ledger and search your names a then press a finger on all the prophecies that have your name on them. It's a lot simpler and doesn't require all the…" Croaker replied.

"We asked for a blood prophecy trace, and as we are both," here the both flashed their rings at Croaker, "full Lords and heads of house no paperwork needs be filed for permission from either the minister or from the Wizengamot, now please do your job." Neville said sternly brokering no argument from Croaker as he pulled two separate pieces of parchment out for the two, to quickly cut their fingers and place three drops of blood on. After the blood had been absorbed by the parchment writing appeared.

Croaker picked up the two and his eyes went wide. "Well you both have several prophecies that pertain to you only one given recently in the last twenty years, one other given about 65 years ago during the rise of Grindelwald and the others were given long before that. Which ones would you like to hear?" his voice was wavering at the end.

"We will hear the most recent two and the rest we will take copies of to listen to on our own later, and before you protest, I am well aware of the full rights of the elder houses. As these prophecies were found by a blood trace, they pertain to us in some way as such we are entitled to copies to refer to at our pleasure of all the prophecies listed." Harry answered him after confirming this with Neville.

"Very well" Croaker answered and quickly found said prophecies in the ledger, summoned them and made the copies one set for each boy as he had been told. Before taking up one of the orbs. "This is the older of the two you have elected you hear, it was named when it was made public years ago the Grindelwald prophecy, and is classified as a broken prophecy by many, although the records on this orb do not say as such." With that said he placed the orb onto a stand on the side of the desk and a voice spoke from inside the orb.

Beware, my children young and old

For in this time danger has woken

One comes who desires an empty throne

And war shall he wage in all our land

War to shake the foundations of Albion

War that in the end he shall lose

But war that he shall also win

For defeated shall he be in battle

By a champion chosen by the land

But his greatest desire he shall see

Beware, my children young and old

For in this time danger has woken

But a champion to shall soon come

From a line thought lost forevermore

"Grindelwald's greatest desire was to see the throne at Camelot, or the death of every ancestral line in the world if he couldn't, he never achieved either before he was imprisoned by Dumbledore, its why that prophecy is classified as broken. Did it come up in your search Harry?" Sirius asked from the doorway. He looked a bit haggard as he entered and took a seat.

"Yeah it did, which is slightly unnerving combined with everything else." Harry said looking slightly shaken.

"I agree with Harry, but let's listen to the other prophecy and then we can return to the house and talk about it."

"We have a lot more to talk about than just the prophecies boys, but I get what you are saying." Sirius answered.

"Very well," with that Croaker switched out the orbs. "Now this one last I checked it back in May was still showing as active, it is now showing as deactivated, but furthermore as broken and the deactivation date was July 31st." With that this orb too played the prophecy.

The one with the power to vanquish the dark lord approaches…

Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies…

And the dark lord shall mark him as his equal, but he will have the power the Dark Lord knows not…

And either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live if the other survives…

The one with the power to vanquish the dark lord will be born as the seventh month dies… (JKR OOTP)

"As I said before this one has as of July 31st been marked as deactivated so it's not something you have to worry about." Croaker answered.

"Well now that is illuminating whatever did you do to deactivate the prophecy between us." A silky-smooth cultured voice came from the once more open door behind them as the Minister of Magic, Lord Malfoy and others entered the room. Harry and the others turned, and Harry and Neville were momentarily stunned before almost going for their weapons only being stopped by Sirius's voice.

"Lord Le-Fay my apologies I have yet to have had time to inform my charges of certain changes in the political arena. If we may take our leave, I will be certain to do so."

"Of course, be certain to inform your young charge of all the legal ramifications of this as well." Lord Le-Fay answered his wine-colored eyes following Harry as the three left the room, and Sirius apparate the three to Potter Manor. After they had landed Harry pulled away from Sirius spitting mad.

"SIRIUS, YOU HAD BETTER START EXPLAINING…" Harry shouted no longer able to keep his anger in check.

"Silencio, if you would be silent a moment, I will be more than happy to. His appearance would be one of the reasons the Wizengamot session went long today, if you will both sit quietly and allow me to explain I will remove the silencing spells. But I need your silence as it will take some time, I would prefer we get through it tonight as it hits the papers tomorrow morning and is going to hit Potter Industries and Dockyards very hard once it's made public, and that is not to start on the political ramifications of his appearance." At both thier nods he removed the spell and sat down across from them.

"As we discussed yesterday the only thing that goes on the first day of a full open session like those that happen in the fall, winter, and spring sessions, is the introductions of new heads of lines. The houses that took on protectorates through the fund you recently established, all had votes added to their counts as they were the votes of the lower court. Not an overall exciting day but the session still had enough to it that I knew it wouldn't take all afternoon but couldn't say exactly how long it would take and said as much."

Taking a break for a sip of water he continued. "We were done just about, with all the business I thought would happen by about 1 PM. Then Lord Malfoy stood and asked for the doors to be sealed and a partial secrecy charm to be cast as to keep the secrets of the high families. This was done and he produced documentation from Gringotts that someone had gone through blood Rites at the fall solstice September 21st, he then produced documentation of the Albion laws regarding such actions. More specifically Lord Malfoy produced the law regarding crimes committed by someone before they had undergone blood rites. As in the erasure of said crimes for them and all those sworn to serve them, the law still stands on the books as it is an Albion law and only changeable by a king."

"All crimes Sirius?" Harry asked exhaustedly, all anger now gone.

"Yes pup, all crimes" He answered.

"I'm sorry why is that so important, and who was that at the ministry Harry? He seemed to scare you, that's why I almost went for my wand."

"It was, it was…" Harry stuttered not wanting to say it out loud.

"It was Lord Slytherin, the previously speculated heir of Slytherin. Now known to be the Lord of Slytherin, Gaunt, and the Lord and Head of House of the Ancestral House of Le-Fay."

"You have got to be kidding me." Neville said not quite shouting but close.

"It's worse than your thinking Neville." Harry said.

"What do you mean Harry?"

"All those with the mark have been acquitted by that single action, all the death eaters, even those with previous sentences in Azkaban have all been acquitted, even the Lestranges. Furthermore, you can't even declare blood-line feud for their previous actions without also declaring against the house of Le-Fay and that would include all the vassals of said houses which is almost half of the wizarding families that existed at the time of the last King."

"Harry's right but it does happen to get worse." Sirius interjected.

"How in the world can it get worse?" Neville snapped.

"The house of Black is also sworn to the Le-Fay line, not the Evanshade as previously believed. Furthermore, the Royal House clause is also in play. Le-Fay is an Albion sired ancestral house, in an Albion that has been without a king for five centuries. If he holds his title for a full year without a house either rising to the titles of Ancestral or that of Utmost, he gains the title of King, excluding of course the re-emergence of the Pendragon line, though the heir would have to have gone through blood Rites." Sirius answers him.

End Arc One – Power of Ancestral Magics, Birth of a King