Everything is Relative
by Teddylonglong
All recognizable Harry Potter characters belong to J. K. Rowling, and I am not earning anything by writing this story. I am merely borrowing the characters to play with them.
I am not a native speaker of English. Please excuse my mistakes.
Warnings: Completely AU, partly OOC.
"We have just suspended ten Ravenclaw students for a month and contacted their parents accordingly," Minerva explained, apparently aware of the questioning looks she received. "They have just been picked up. It might be a bit harsh, but they need to learn their lessons, and two weeks of the month are Christmas holidays in any case, so they won't miss much anyway."
"Is that all?" Petunia spoke up, causing Harry to look at his aunt with a combination of surprise and amazement.
"Three of them were prefects and have, naturally, lost their prefect status, and after their return to Hogwarts, they will serve detention with Mr. Filch until the end of the school year," Minerva continued, sighing. "I believe that suffices for the time being. If they ever say as much as a wrong word to Miss Lovegood, the consequences will be harsh," she added in apparent determination.
HP
"What I wanted to ask," Harry hesitantly changed the topic, "is how Squibs are able to surf through the Wizardnet." Seeing many questionings looks directed at himself, he added, "This afternoon, Mrs. Figg and another woman, whom she introduced as Regina Lestrange and said that she was a Squib, too, spent an hour or so having tea and cake while surfing the Wizardnet. They didn't have any problems whatsoever."
"Then at least one of them must have enough magic to do so," Sirius spoke up. "Squibs have magic, just not much." He shrugged, giving his wife a questioning look.
"Why don't you simply give them magic?" Salazar queried from the portrait, causing everyone to turn around to view the ancient wizard with apparent interest.
"How exactly would we do that, sir?" Severus queried quirking an eyebrow.
"The second magic potion," Salazar replied, matter-of-factly. "It restores their magic, thus making Squibs proper witches and wizards. Just check out my recipes. It must be in one of my later books."
Harry and Severus exchanged a glance of pure determination.
"Excuse me, sir," Petunia spoke up in a soft voice, "would this potion also work for muggles?"
"No," Salazar replied, shaking his head. "The second magic potion merely gives Squibs a second chance at magic, not muggles who did not have any magic in the first place. Muggles would only be able to receive magic by a blood transfusion from a wizard or witch with a close enough relationship, who is not a relative by blood though."
"What?" Harry blurted out in shock. "That means that I would be able to give Uncle Vernon magic?"
"Probably yes," Helga replied from the portrait. "You should ask Poppy Pomfrey to check on both of you and do this for you if you want to go through the procedure."
"Uncle Vernon, would you like to try it out?" Harry offered, smiling at his uncle.
"If you don't mind, I'd love to try it out," Vernon replied with apparent eagerness.
"For now, you're going to bed though," Petunia spoke up, casting Harry and Dudley a no-nonsense look.
The two cousins grudgingly excused themselves and left the parlour, just when Petunia reminded Harry to take Lucy outside.
"I have to take Lucy outside first," Harry told his cousin, who then decided that he would accompany them.
They quickly headed to the beach with a very sleepy Lucy trotting after them.
"That was a great day," Dudley said, seemingly more to himself than to Harry.
"So Hannah agreed to become your girlfriend," Harry replied, smiling. "Congrats Dudley."
"Thanks Harry. I'm really happy," Dudley replied, displaying happiness with his whole body.
"How're you fairing?" he then added, questioningly.
Harry let out a deep sigh before admitting, "I really don't know what to think. I can't imagine having three wives, but somehow, I almost feel as if it was expected from me. I'd like to have one wife, just like everyone else. Even if I can't easily decide on one," he added as an afterthought.
"I don't think that you have to do this," Dudley replied, seemingly pensive. "If you only want to have one wife, that'll be fine. You only have to decide, and that not even right now. Even if you make all three of them your girlfriends, you don't have to marry them if you decide otherwise. It's all your decision and no one else's. Keep cool and don't let anyone put pressure on you. Just wait and see how things develop."
"Thanks Dudley," Harry replied, feeling very much consoled by his cousin's kind words.
By now, Lucy had relieved herself, and the three headed back inside, glad to be back in the warmth of the manor.
"Oh no," Harry suddenly blurted out, stopping dead in his tracks. "If I want to make Luna my girlfriend, too, then I must sneak out to Hogsmeade again and buy another ring."
"I'm in," Dudley promised, grinning. "Let's go tomorrow evening."
Upon entering the Dursleys' quarters, they realised that a new door had been added to their rooms.
"Oh right, Mum had Winky make a room for Luna," Dudley recalled.
"Ah, that's what it is," Harry said in understanding. "We should take her with us to breakfast in the morning. We can't very well leave her to her Ravenclaw housemates, even if the worst of them have been suspended. Oh well, good night, Dudley," he added, as he opened his own door, smiling when Lucy slipped through the door before him only to jump right onto his bed.
'It would be so cool if I could give Uncle Vernon magic,' Harry thought, as he cuddled against the canine and drifted off to sleep with a small smile playing on his lips.
HP
At breakfast the following morning, the headmistress announced that ten Ravenclaw fifth, sixth and seventh-year girls had been suspended from Hogwarts for a month because of verbal abuse and harassment of a housemate. "Professor Flitwick will announce the new prefects tonight after dinner in the Ravenclaw common room," Minerva continued, before she tapped her wand against the head table, and breakfast appeared on the tables.
Even if she did not mention Luna's name, everyone sitting at the Ravenclaw table turned their heads to the Gryffindor table, where Luna was sitting between Harry and Dudley wearing an indifferent expression.
"What is Loony doing at our table?" Ronald Weasley suddenly blurted out. "She's not a Gryffindor."
Before Harry or any of his friends could do as much as react, Ginny Weasley spoke up. "But Luna is my friend and may well sit here with us. I'm not like you abandoning all my friends, just because they do things which I don't."
"Thanks Ginny," Luna replied, smiling at her classmate, who was sitting opposite of her.
"Just ignore Ronald. He's a bit stupid," Ginny replied, glaring at the youngest of her older brothers.
Harry could not help inwardly grinning. 'Go Ginny, give it to him,' he thought in amusement, feeling grateful that the girl had stood up for Luna. 'She really needs some encouragement after what her housemates did to her.'
HP
During the next few days before the beginning of the Christmas holidays, Harry busied himself searching Salazar's books for the second magic potion, of which Salazar had told him. Unfortunately, after a millennium, the ancient wizard did not remember exactly where to find the recipe. 'Oh well, as long as I find it before Christmas, it's all right,' Harry thought. 'Perhaps we can make someone really happy for Christmas, when we can give them magic.'
He had already agreed with Vernon and Poppy that he and Vernon would spend the morning of the twenty-third of December, which was the day the students would return home, in the hospital wing for the blood transfusion, and he hoped very much that it would go well. When he had asked the healer if she was sure that his blood would be compatible with his uncle's, Pomfrey had informed him that a wizard's blood usually was compatible with that of a muggle, independent of their respective blood group. 'For Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon, it would be the best Christmas present ever,' he thought in anticipation.
HP
While the Dursleys had breakfast in the morning of Christmas Eve together with Hermione and her parents, Hannah and her family, Luna and her father as well as the extended family, celebrating not only the Christmas holidays but also Vernon's newly found magic, Minerva headed to her office. There was just enough time for a floo call, before she had to attend breakfast in the Great Hall together with the heads of the houses and the few students, who had remained at Hogwarts over the holidays.
She swiftly called Arabella Figg and asked the old Squib to come through the Floo for a short discussion.
"Minerva, to what do I own this pleasure?" Arabella asked, once she stepped out of the fireplace.
"Please take a seat," Minerva offered, at the same time promising, "I won't keep you long."
Once the Squib complied, she explained, "Salazar Slytherin is sharing some of his potions recipes with Harry and Professor Snape. They only recently learned that there is a potion, the so-called second magic potion, which gives a Squib a second chance at magic. I thought that perhaps you'd be interested in becoming a witch?"
"The second magic potion," Arabella repeated in apparent surprise. "Minerva…" She hesitated for a moment before continuing, "I haven't known you as playing jokes on people, otherwise I'd doubt…" She interrupted herself before asking, "Is that really true?"
"Yes," Minerva replied, smiling, looking at her guest in expectation.
Arabella remained pensive for a moment, before she replied, "No thanks. I don't need it. I mean, I am contented with being a Squib. Wizards and witches have wronged me badly during my life, and I am happy with the few contacts that I have. However, I know that my best friend, Regina Lestrange, would probably greatly appreciate it. She'd be very happy to become a witch. Apart from her, I don't know any other Squibs."
"Regina Lestrange?" Minerva asked in surprise, admitting, "I've never heard about her. Who is she? I only remember a Rebecca Lestrange. She was the younger sister of Rabastan and Rodolphus and a brilliant student. Unfortunately, I've never heard from or about her once she left Hogwarts though."
"Regina Lestrange is ten years younger than her sister," Arabella explained, only to continue in a grave voice, "She was shunned from her family for being a Squib. Ever since she has turned six years old, she has been living in the muggle world. I am sure that she would be delighted to gain magic, even if it's too late for her to attend Hogwarts."
"Of course," Minerva replied in understanding. "How can I contact her?"
"I'll bring her here if you don't mind," Arabella replied, thoughtfully. "When would it be convenient for you?"
Minerva glanced at her wristwatch. "I'll have to attend breakfast in the Great Hall shortly, but apart from that and Christmas Eve dinner tonight, I am free. Just tell me when you would like to come, and I will be here. Please think about if you don't want the potion for yourself as well," she added as an afterthought.
"Thank you, Minerva," Arabella replied, smiling, before she excused herself, stating that she would return with Regina at four o'clock in the afternoon.
HP
"Strange that Mrs. Figg doesn't want to take the potion," Petunia said in disbelief upon hearing about the old Squib's reaction from Minerva. "She's never told me about Regina Lestrange."
"She said that she was her best friend," Minerva replied, matter-of-factly. "I have also asked Mr. Filch by the way, and he also refused to take the potion, stating that he did not want to become infested by magic."
Harry let out a snort. "I wonder why he's working in the magical world then," he quipped, causing Severus to smirk.
"That's fine," the potions master replied, matter-of-factly. "The less persons wish to take the potion, the less batches we'll have to brew. Just remember the wolvescure potion."
Harry inwardly groaned, recalling many hours spent in the lab brewing the cure for lycanthropy. Even now, they still had to brew one or the other batch of the concoction, when the hospital contacted them about more werewolves appearing seemingly out of nothing.
HP
At four o'clock in the afternoon, Harry, Severus and Poppy Pomfrey accompanied Minerva to her office to watch Regina Lestrange gain magic.
Regina arrived through the fireplace right after Mrs. Figg, and Mrs. Figg introduced her to everyone as her best friend. Harry immediately liked her. The Squib had a very friendly smile and displayed complete eagerness at the prospect of becoming a witch.
Severus quickly explained about the potion and handed Regina a small phial with a dark red potion, before he added, "This is the second magic potion. Do you have any other questions?"
"I don't think so," Regina replied, smiling, before she cast Mrs. Figg a questioning look.
"Try it," the old Squib said, encouragingly, and Regina immediately complied.
Apparently realising that everyone looked at her in clear expectation, she said, "I don't feel any different. How do I know that it worked?"
"Please allow me to cast a diagnostic spell to check your magic," Poppy spoke up and, seeing Regina nod in apparent excitement, waved her wand, only to cast the former Squib a broad smile. "Congratulations dear, your magic is at four percent, which is not much for a witch, but still a lot considering that it just only manifested now. The more you use it, the stronger it will become over time," she added, causing the newly found witch to smile happily.
"Thank you so very much," she uttered, tears of happiness leaking from her eyes. "So many years, I've been hoping for a wonder, and now, my wish became true. I am so happy."
"Congratulations, Miss Lestrange. I am very happy to see that it worked for you," Minerva spoke up, gently. "We will set up a class here at Hogwarts during the weekends or the evenings for everyone who only now became a witch or a wizard, as it is important that you learn to control and use your magic."
"I'm in," Regina immediately agreed. "I am a Biology professor at a muggle university, so the weekends would be best for me."
"Are you sure that you wish to continue working in the muggle world now that you have magic?" Mrs. Figg asked, smiling at her friend.
"Well, I have a good position, and it would be hard to find something similar in the magical world," Regina replied, shrugging.
"We might be able to provide an adequate position for you," Severus spoke up in a soft, baritone voice, "provided that you're willing to extend your research to the magical world. We might have students, especially those coming from muggle backgrounds, who would be interested."
"I'd be very happy to do so," Regina replied, firmly. "First of all, I need to study magic though."
After a short discussion between her and the two professors, it was decided that Regina should come back on Saturday for her first class of magic.
"Will you be able to buy a wand until then?" Poppy asked, kindly.
"Yes, I know enough about the magical world to be able to do so," Regina confirmed, smiling.
"Arabella, are you sure that you don't want to take the potion as well?" Minerva enquired, giving the old Squib a questioning look.
"No dear, I'm much too old for such a thing," Mrs. Figg replied in a firm voice. "I'm not working anyway, and my cats probably wouldn't like me casting magic at them. I'm happy that I'm able to communicate with them without needing magic."
'She's a little strange. Oh well, she always was,' Harry thought, recalling times, when he had to spend hours with her looking at her cat albums. 'Having Regina study at Hogwarts on Saturdays is cool though. That way, Uncle Vernon can study together with her, and perhaps, we can find some more Squibs who want to take the potion,' he thought, as he returned home together with Severus, while Minerva remained at the castle to attend Christmas Eve dinner in the Great Hall.
"Miss Lestrange would be a welcome addition to our staff," Severus uttered, causing Harry to grin. "We're in dire need of some younger teachers," he added, glaring at him."
"Of course," Harry replied, readily. "And I really like her. She seems very nice."
"She seems less of a dunderhead than some of our students," Severus agreed, sounding bored.
'That means that he likes her, too,' Harry thought, feeling amused at the older wizard's antics.
HP
Back at the manor, Harry retired to his own room to spend some time alone, before he had to attend dinner. Lucy greeted him at the connecting door to the manor and ran between his legs and around them, entering his room together with him; however, Harry did not mind the canine.
"Lulu, be quiet for a moment," he instructed her, gently caressing her fur. "I just want to spend a little while thinking about everything."
=Luna took me out onto the grounds and played with me. It was much fun, but I'm tired now,= Lucy replied, letting out a big yawn, before she let herself sink onto the carpet in front of Harry's bed, seemingly groggy.
'Luna is really nice,' Harry thought, once he made himself comfortable sitting on his bed, cross-legged. 'Somehow, I like her, but I think I like her in a different way from Susan and Hermione. I wonder what love is,' he thought. 'Perhaps, I should not give the three of them their rings for Christmas. I really need more time to think about what to do, and at least right now, I don't feel comfortable at the idea of having three wives, while everyone else has only just one.' Absentmindedly caressing Lucy's fur, when the canine climbed up onto the bed, cuddling close to him, he decided, 'I'll only give them the other gifts and not the rings for Christmas tomorrow.'
He let out a deep sigh, which was interrupted, when Lucy proceeded to lick his face with fervour.
"Who do you like most, Luna, Susan or Hermione?" he suddenly asked his familiar, not really expecting the canine to be able to help with his decision.
=That's easy,= Lucy replied, unexpectedly. =While Susan and Hermione are trying to become some kind of cats…=
"Hermione is trying to become a magical lynx,= Harry interrupted the canine.
=Anyway, a feline like Neko and Mrs. Norris,= Lucy replied, sounding disgusted, =and Susan, too, but Luna told me that she's going to try for a Freg like you and Dudley, because she wants to be able to talk to you and me.=
'That's Luna,' Harry realised, smiling, as he thought of the eccentric girl. Even if he had only known the girl for less than two weeks, he had already come to love her kindness and thoughtfulness. 'That doesn't really solve my problem though,' he thought, letting out a deep sigh that ended abruptly, when Lucy stuck her tongue into his mouth.
tbc...
Thank you so very much for the kind reviews for the previous chapter. Please let me know what you think of this chapter and what you expect from this story. Any ideas or opinions are welcome. My muse really appreicates the feedback.
Should Harry have three wives in this story or just one of them? Please tell me what you think, as I find it difficult to decide.
Next chapter: "Christmas".