THIS FANFICTION IS CURRENTLY BEING REWRITTEN AND UPDATED.
THINGS HAVE BEEN CHANGED AND I WOULD RECOMMEND REREADING THIS TITLE IF YOU HAVEN'T IN A WHILE.
THANK YOU FOR READING x
[START]
Define 'Normal'
Chapter 22:
He was the physical representation of a shrewd business man crossed with a curmudgeonly grandfather. His smiles were small and rare, wrinkled face marred with deep frown lines. His eyes were a dark hazel, beady and sharp.
One should never make the mistake of calling Fleamont Potter a self-made man.
The Potter family was centuries old and well known for members (every other generation) aggressively expanding the family's coffers. But what he had done with the skills and knowledge he had cultivated was still an impressive feat; a simple hair-styling potion forged into a fortune and a multi-national cosmetics conglomerate. Majority shares sold into foreign ownership, allowing the man to quietly (and just a bit smugly) earn himself an easy retirement of luxury on his fortune and continued dividends.
Perhaps, understandably, one could understand the incredible pride the shrewd, yet kindly, man possessed. Sat behind the very desk he'd built his empire in, sequestered away in the Manor home that generations of his family (himself included) had been reared within.
That pride is what Albus Dumbledore clenched his teeth at from the other side of the desk, what Severus Snape sneered at from the door and what James and Lily Potter had been wary of as they hovered on either side of the headmaster,
"I can't believe you brought him here." Euphemia Potter, hands fidgeting with the tight bun of her white and grey hair as she levelled a harsh glare at Lily. Both women stared each other down, back straight and chins up,
"I apologise that it had to come to this, Euphemia." His voice was gentle, hands clasped in his lap as a contrite smile settled on his face.
"Do not address me by my first name, Dumbledore. You were not given permission." Her voice was ice,
"And do not lie to my face, Albus. You are not at all sorry for invading my home with your ridiculous demands." Her husbands snarl was somehow colder, "You're 'sorry' that we aren't falling in line."
Albus shook his head slowly, his smile transitioning to a gentler frown,
"It is regrettable that you think so lowly of me. I truly am sorry to impose upon you like this, and I would not if there were no other option."
"We have given you the other option, Albus." Euphemia huffed, nails drumming a beat into her lap, "We are not dropping the wards around our grandson, we are his guardians and the law is on OUR side here."
Dumbledore shook his head at her,
"Laws can be changed if necessary." His tone was cheery, in a way that dripped of artificiality. All but Snape bristled a bit,
"Quoting Fudge? I never thought I'd see the day." She sneered her reply, not at all perturbed at Dumbledore's disappointed frown.
"You should refrain from the ugly facial express-" A low, lazy drawl from the greasy haired Potions Master, interrupted by a sharp SNAP. A House Elf stood in the place of the black robed man, outstretched arms returning to fold across his chest as he looked over at the elderly couple with an expression of both indignation and smug victory,
"Dobby be's removing the rubbish as requested, Lordsy and Ladyship." He offered a short bow that was met with a pair of small, tender grins,
"Very good, sweetheart."
"Yes, thank you Dobby."
Lily, after swatting her husband upon seeing the satisfied smirk on his lips, spoke up,
"Be that as it may, Harry is a danger to both himself and others."
"If that is the case, let the Ministry know, so they can investigate." Fleamont was almost bored, a hand flicking dismissively towards them.
"You know we can't do that." James sighed, lips twisting into a pout as his father leaned back in his chair. A loopy smirk upturned his lips as his eyes glittered,
"Then we appear to be at an impasse." "You want us to give up our grandson and will give us no reason to do so…"
"…Perhaps you would be more agreeable if we were to give you some more information."
"Professor!"
"It is unavoidable." Unconcerned, he waved off James's incredulity, "If your parents are reluctant to acquiesce with our requests without a just cause, a just cause is what we must give them."
Dumbledore quirked a brow at Fleamont, not missing how intense the stare he was giving had become. Neither did he miss the silent conversation taking place between both couples, sharp glances and glares substituting words. He allowed himself a small smile, warm in the face of their trust and knowledge of one another, bittersweet to the aged man.
His explanations came when their undivided attention was his once more…
"This is your problem, Albus." A low growl after a bout of silence was broken by a sharp, explosive sigh, "Information you have NO RIGHT concealing only becomes available at your convenience."
Euphemia's expression was strained, morphing from thunderous to something akin to heartbreak. Blinking back tears and periodically shaking her head, her husband reached a hand out to take her pale shaking palm into his own.
"I… admit it is one of my innumerable faults." Nothing further was said, Dumbledore radiating a gentle remorse as the room slipped into a heavy quiet. Fleamont, for the first time, disregarding his audience in order to focus on silently soothing the heartache of his wife,
"Is that your excuse?" An eventual croaking question, rattling up her throat and at odds with the steely firm stare she held her child and his wife under,
"Wha- I'm sorry?"
"Do NOT play games with me, Lily." Euphemia folded her hands over each other in her lap, her expression just shy of murderous, "Is this… Horcrux business your excuse for your atrocious treatment of that little boy?"
"Have you really accepted our scorn all these years, thinking that we weren't owed this information?" There was a pain in Fleamont Potter's voice, disappointment and pain. He shook his head harshly and levelled James and Lily with a severe glower, "Do not misunderstand, Jimmy. This changes nothing. We aren't handing Harry over to you."
SLAM!
On her feet, Lily screamed her next few words, leaning over the desk she had slammed her hand down upon,
"Come on! You can't just-"
"Lower your voice." Neutral and even, Fleamont relaxed in his seat but stabbed his son with his gaze.
James's voice was lower than his wifes as she stood seething,
"He is a vessel for You Know Who. As long as he lives, Voldemort will never truly be dead."
The elder Potter couple gawked at their son for a time, before his father's expression transitioned from baffled to unreadable,
"Are you really asking us to lower the protection wards on Harry so you can murder him?"
There wasn't a reply. James and Albus had the decency to lower their gaze, refusing to meet the murderous and incredulous gaze of the elder Potter's.
Lily held it however, the only sign of her discomfort the way her nails dug so harshly into the backs of her hands,
"We… have some methods that may serve as effective ways of killing the Horcrux without killing him." Her heart hammered in her throat as she shakily addressed her in-laws. Dumbledore sweeping in as she faltered,
"You must understand, Harry is a one of a kind phenomenon. There is no record of a Living Horcrux anywhere.
"Can you not just leave him be? Let him live his life and allow the Dark Lord to just die when he does?" A note entered Fleamont's voice here, akin to a crack in his voice.
"That is an option."
All eyes fell on Dumbledore, a range of baffled expressions, "And it is one that I intended on discussing with you anyway."
He was given a silent order to explain himself,
"Ideally, for Harry's sake, we could destroy the Horcrux and allow him to live a life free of its taint. However, if our methods do not work, then only his death would ensure the thing would pass on."
"So-"
"If you would please allow me to finish."
The silence he was allowed was tense, a weight pressing down on all those present until the Headmaster deigned to break it,
"We still need to observe Harry here. We need to know to what extent, if any, the Horcrux is influencing him." His tone was grave, "If he is in danger of being wholly possessed by the shard of Voldemort's soul, then we must take precautions. For his life and those of others he may interact with…"
"And you have suggestions I presume?" Euphemia straightened her back, Dumbledore ignoring the way she glowered down her nose at him,
"Of course. All coinciding with the twins upcoming birthday…"
[TO BE CONTINUED]
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AND TO EVERYONE, THANK YOU FOR READING x