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.
When Petunia, Vernon, Dudley, Harry and their girlfriends met with Tom on Sunday evening, the old man managed to shock them to the core.
"During the last few months, I've been trying to live as a muggle; however, it's not really fun," he spoke up. "I miss my magic. I know that I did bad things, and I probably wouldn't do them again. At least that's what I believe now." He let out a deep sigh, before he continued, "Many years ago, I have made some anchors, which would allow me to return to the world after dying." Apparently realising that everyone looked at him in shock, which he had to assume that it was because they did not know about his Horcruxes and not because they exactly knew about the state of them, he explained, "I split my soul into parts and made these anchors, which is how I returned after Harry defeated me seventeen years ago. If anyone, for example Harry, killed me now, my next Horcrux would automatically activate, and I'd be a full-fledged wizard again."
"I'm sorry, Tom, but I'm not going to kill you," Harry replied, horrified. "Why would I? I'm not a murderer, and I don't believe in the prophecy anyway."
"You don't have to," Tom reassured him, smirking. "I can easily find others who would be willing to do so. Leaving my Death Eaters, I've made many enemies, who are not as honourable as you."
"Tom," Harry replied, shaking his head in annoyance. "I'm sorry to say this, but your Horcruxes have all been destroyed by the Unspeakables." 'Oh well, at that time, I wasn't an Unspeakable yet, but he doesn't know about it anyway,' he thought, looking at his muggle great uncle in expectation.
"Is that so?" Tom asked in a surprisingly calm voice and, seeing Harry nod, replied, "Oh well, then killing myself is out of the question. I guess that is the reason for Nagini vanishing all of a sudden then?"
Harry merely nodded.
"Grandfather," Dudley spoke up, hesitantly, "Dad, Hannah and I are going to open a branch of the Whizkidz at Diagon Alley on the first of August. Would you perhaps be willing to work together with us? You know enough about the Dursley Banana WOS 3.0, and it's not so very different from the WOS 3.2, which we are currently selling in the shop."
"What would I have to do?" Tom asked with apparent interest.
Dudley shrugged. "You'd have to explain to the customers how the computer works and how to operate the Wizardnet. I can place a special version of the Banana into the shop with a version of the Wizardnet, where no magic is needed to operate it. Just don't tell any possible customers about it, as the normal version needs magic. The one, which I'm going to install for you is much more complicated to program, and we're not going to sell that version."
"Thank you, my boy, and I happily accept the offer," Tom replied, smiling.
'Oh Merlin, he really has changed,' Harry thought, feeling grateful to Dudley for making such an offer to his grandfather. 'Tom is already 71 though, not so young for a muggle. I wonder if he'll be able to live as long as a wizard, considering that he doesn't have magic anymore,' he mused, wondering if there was a residue of magic like in the case of Squibs.
HP
Dudley and Hannah were the first of the friends who married. Their wedding took place on the beach of Hogwarts Manor at the beginning of July, and only the extended family attended the ceremony. Afterwards, Dudley and Hannah went on a short honeymoon and returned on time to see to all the preparations for the opening of their shop on the first of August.
The next large event taking place at the manor was the double wedding between Regina and Severus as well as her sister Rebecca and Artemis.
"It's good that Severus finally got over the loss of you and found someone nice," Minerva whispered to Lily, as they observed how the two grooms kissed their brides right after the ceremony. "All this time, he wore nothing but black, and only recently did Regina manage to convince him to wear blue or green robes."
"Oh no, I feel really sorry for him," Lily whispered back. "We already separated back in fifth year though."
"Yet…" Minerva replied, giving her a pointed look.
"At least Regina is really nice. I like her," Lily said, smiling.
"She's going to become our colleague," Minerva informed her. "So far, she has been a professor for Biology at a muggle university, but we convinced her to accept the newly founded research position for combined magical and muggle research."
"Are you planning any more changes of personnel at Hogwarts?" Lily asked, curiously.
"Apart from hiring you, James, Petunia and Regina?" Minerva asked, smirking, only to add, "Several. Hermione is going to become the Transfiguration professor, and I want James to become the Gryffindor head, considering that he's going to have much time for the students with only the Flying classes to teach. Pomona is going to retire, and Neville will be her successor as Herbology professor. I still need to find someone as Hufflepuff head though. Filius will teach History of Magic and remain the Ravenclaw head for the time being. Harry is now my deputy headmaster, and I'd like him to teach Computer Studies as a subject, but due to his work as an Unspeakable, he might not have enough time."
"Perhaps my father could work together with him," Lily suggested, pensively. "Ever after we came back, he has taken great interest in the computers and has been pestering Petunia and Vernon with questions almost constantly."
"I'll ask him then," Minerva replied, seemingly contented to have found a new victim.
"Oh Merlin, that's a lot of changes," Lily said, while they queued to congratulate Regina and Severus.
"There might be more," Minerva replied, grimly. "Perhaps you can all help me convince Rose to teach Muggle Studies and Rebecca to become the Defence Against the Dark Arts professor."
"Is the position still cursed?" Lily enquired.
"We believe so, considering that it was Tom Riddle, who cursed it, and he's still alive," Minerva replied. "Harry asked Hogwarts though, and she told him to just introduce the new professor to her and she would see to it that he or she could remain on the position for a long time."
"Oh all right, then it's worth convincing someone who is really good," Lily replied, smirking.
"From everything I heard, Rebecca must be brilliant," Minerva confirmed.
"Well, I can't say anything else, considering that she managed to save our lives right under Voldemort's nose," Lily agreed, just when they reached the end of the line, and Minerva turned to the first wedding couple.
"Congratulations, Regina and Severus," Lily repeated her old mentor's words. "I am very happy for you."
"Thank you, Lily," Regina replied. "I am very happy to have you back and to get to know you," she added in a soft voice.
"Thank you dear. I am happy, too," Lily replied, smiling. "You look both very stunning," she added in a smaller voice. "Severus, this green is absolutely fitting for you," she whispered, before she wished them all the best and proceeded to congratulate the other couple.
HP
During the following weeks, Harry asked an architect who worked in the Unspeakables' office for assistance and with the architect's as well as Hogwarts', the elves' and Artemis' assistance changed unused parts of the castle into the retired teachers' home as well as a combined nursery and primary school.
On August 1, the new professors began to work at Hogwarts, while Poppy, Rolanda and Sybill Trelawney moved into the retirement home, however, made it their task to care for Lily Sophia, who with 21 months was still the only child in the nursery.
"She'll surely soon get company," Harry quipped.
"Probably, after three weddings and considering that your mother is already pregnant," Minerva agreed, crisply. "Harry, I've spoken with your grandfather," she then added, "and he's willing to become your assistant if you accept the position of the professor for Technology."
Harry stared at the headmistress in annoyance. 'And she always called Dumbledore a meddling old coot? It's not as if she was any better in that hindsight' he thought, incredulously. However, he contented himself to reply, "Minerva, you could have been a Slytherin."
Pondering the matter, which he had already excessively considered during the last few weeks, since Minerva had first mentioned her request, for another moment, he finally agreed.
HP
As he prepared himself for his classes, glad that Sirius and Remus taught Paul everything that he needed to know about computers and the Wizardnet, a sudden thought popped up in Harry's mind.
'When I'm going to be a professor, I can't have a relationship to a student, but Luna is only a seventh-year,' he realised and interrupted his preparations to ponder what to do.
'I need to decide what to do anyway,' he thought. While the matter had not completely slipped his mind, he had pushed it to the back, uncertain what to do. 'I need to decide on one of them,' he thought, 'but the question is how to tell the two others without hurting their feelings. In any case, I need to do something as soon as possible,' he resolved, deciding to ask one of the adults for an advice.
He pondered whom to ask for a while. 'While Sirius is a bit reckless, and my father doesn't seem so much different, Mum seems to be quite reasonable,' he thought and decided to go and ask his mother for an advice. He found Lily in the hospital wing, where she was working together with Poppy with the intention to take over from the older witch at the end of the month.
"Do you have a few minutes for me sometime later on?" he hesitantly asked, causing his mother to nod with an expression of pleasure.
"Sure," she replied, smiling.
"Go right away," Poppy spoke up. "As you've been my apprentice for a long enough time, you know well enough how everything works here. Your son has missed you for a long time, and I'm glad that you can be here for him now."
"All right, thank you, Poppy," Lily replied and ushered Harry out onto the grounds.
They walked half-way around the lake, before they decided to sit on one of the benches, from where the castle looked exceptionally beautiful in the sunshine.
"Mum, I need an advice," Harry hesitantly spoke up. "As you know, I have three girlfriends."
Lily's expression changed to exasperation. "Usually, people have one girlfriend," she said in a soft voice. "Is there a reason why you have three?"
"Yes," Harry replied, sighing. "The reason was that I was the heir to three families in addition to the fact that I can't decide on just one of them. The problem is, however, that while I am still the heir to the families, there is no way that I'm going to be the lord of any of the houses in the near future if at all."
"Because Dad and James are back," Lily commented, thoughtfully. "Will they both accept the lordships though?"
Harry shrugged. "I suppose so," he replied, sighing. "The question is how to tell the girls that after giving them promise rings a few years ago that I can't marry them?"
"Are the girls all right with such a solution?" Lily enquired, gently.
"Yes," Harry replied, "they're even talking things among each other, and Susan helped me greatly by explaining things to Hermione. Luna is a Seer and knew everything. I didn't even have to explain anything to her." He explained how he had met Luna and about his current problem.
Lily remained thoughtful for a moment, before she replied, "Please wait and let me speak with your Dad and my Dad first before deciding anything. Let's continue this conversation tonight."
"Thanks Mum," Harry replied, feeling very much reassured by his mother's help in this matter.
HP
Later the same day, Lily took him aside. "Come and help me prepare Dorea's room," she instructed him, and Harry quickly followed her into his parents' rooms.
"Paul and James have both decided to not accept any lordships but leave everything to you. Just because Rebecca suddenly brought us back, which is fortunate enough, it doesn't mean that all your plans should be void now," Lily informed him in a firm voice.
Harry shook his head. "No Mum, I can't accept that," he protested, sighing.
"You will," his mother replied, smirking, "as your father and grandfather have already set their minds. Neither of them has any interest to engage in policy, which they would have to do if they accepted the lordships. It's your turn now, son."
"All right," Harry said, pensively, "if you're really sure."
"I am," Lily replied, smiling. "I wouldn't want to be the lady of two houses anyway." She remained thoughtful for a moment, before she added, "Considering that Luna is still a student, I believe that it would be for the best if you were engaged by the beginning of the school year. Have you decided which girl you want to marry for which family?"
Harry let out a small scoff. "Good question," he quipped. "How in the world am I supposed to decide such a thing?"
"Men," Lily sighed, shaking her head in apparent annoyance. "In some ways, you're just like your father, even if I get the impression as if you were much more reasonable in many aspects. Oh well, I suggest asking your girls. Meet with all three of them at once and discuss the matter, so that they'll all have the same chances to choose the family they wish."
"But should I ask them to become my wives together?" Harry asked, uncertainly.
"If it's like you said that they were talking together and discussing the matter among each other, you could discuss this together, too," Lily replied, smiling. "Good luck for that discussion. Your three girls are very headstrong, each in her own way. Don't misunderstand me; I like them all and believe that they're very good for you, but they know what they want, so you won't have much choice, especially when they gang up on you."
"That's true," Harry agreed, chuckling.
HP
Since Susan was already working full time at the Whizkidz in Hogsmeade, Harry chose Saturday evening for his conversation with the girls. He asked the elves for dinner for the four of them on the beach and invited the girls accordingly.
"This is a beautiful idea, Harry," Hermione spoke up, looking over the sea and the waves that were twinkling in the sunshine.
"Fantastic," Luna added, wearing a dreamy expression.
"Does it have any specific reason?" Susan enquired, looking at him in apparent curiosity.
"I was wondering if the three of you wanted to become my wives," Harry said, hesitantly, glancing from one to the other in apprehension. "I'm sorry, on the one hand, this is something that I should ask each of you in private, but…"
"That's fine," Luna was the first to reply. "It still involves all of us together."
"That's true," Susan agreed, and Hermione nodded her consent.
"I'm sorry, but I need to ask you to wait a year," Harry continued, "as I wish Luna to finish school to not have her humiliated by her classmates because of this."
"Of course," Hermione replied, smiling at the youngest of them.
"No problem," Susan agreed.
"Thank you," Luna added, seemingly happy.
"If you all agree to marry me, there will be one Lady Slytherin-Hufflepuff, one Lady Gryffindor-Ravenclaw and one Lady Potter, but I don't know who wants to become the lady of which house," he continued, giving the girls a questioning look.
The three girls remained quiet for a moment, before Hermione broke the silence.
"As you know, I am muggleborn, and for me, it does not matter much if I am the lady of one of the famous, ancient magical families. I'd be very happy to become the Lady Potter in the future."
"Considering that Luna is in Ravenclaw and I was in Hufflepuff, I suggest having Luna as the Lady Gryffindor-Ravenclaw, while I would like to marry into the Slytherin-Hufflepuff family," Susan spoke up, smiling.
Luna did not comment, but looked outright happy, and Harry nodded, contentedly. "Thank you all so much for your input," he replied, feeling very grateful towards his three girls.
"Thank you, Harry," Luna spoke up, as she eyed the sandwich with salmon in her hand. "This is delicious," she added, smiling.
HP
The Whizkidz shop at Diagon Alley was as much a hit as the main branch in Hogsmeade, and Dudley was glad that his grandfather came to assist on a daily basis. After all he had heard from Harry about the so-called Lord Voldemort, he had not expected too much, when he had invited the old man to assist in the shop. However, a month after the opening during the summer holidays, just when most of the Hogwarts students did their shopping, he had to admit to himself that Tom was diligent, reliable and friendly to the customers.
Tom even seemed to enjoy himself. No one was able to recognise him, as not many people except for his Death Eaters had seen him after his resurrection, and most of his Death Eaters were residing in Azkaban. Dudley also had the impression that the loss of magic made his grandfather's skin age faster, so that he looked older than a year ago, when Dudley had first met him.
'His assistance here exceeds my expectations by far,' he thought, when he readied himself to return home with Hannah and his father.
HP
Harry and Paul had agreed that Harry, who had years more of experience with the devices than his grandfather, should teach the classes, while Paul would oversee the practice time, which was set for each year in addition to the classes.
Outside of class, Harry tried to spend as much time as possible in the Unspeakables' office, where Team 5 was in addition to their usual tasks specialising on modern digital devices. Together with his team members and using his experience with the computers, Harry made mobile phones work in the magical world, something which he decided to include into his classes at Hogwarts, at least for the students from fifth year onwards.
'For Christmas, I will first equip the whole family with mobile phones,' he resolved, as he charmed one of the muggle devices and decorated it with a dark blue cover with twinkling stars for Luna. 'No, I'm going to put their Animagi forms onto the back,' he then thought, deciding to give the blue phone to Lily. 'For Luna, it should be light green with a Freg on the back,' he thought, as he reached out for the next in the pile of muggle phones.
"What are you doing?" Regulus enquired, looking at the light green phone with the dog on its back.
"Making Christmas presents for the family," Harry stated, matter-of-factly.
"In October?" Regulus queried, quirking an eyebrow. "My, you're early."
"Well, with all the work with classes and Unspeakable work and tasks as the deputy headmaster, I never know in advance how much time I have," Harry moaned, "so I thought I'd better begin quickly. "Add an energetic three-year-old goddaughter and a soon-to-be-born baby sister to the tasks…"
Regulus grinned. "Oh well, I just hope they won't make me godfather for Lily Sophia's brother," he replied in apparent annoyance. "The kids are annoying enough without being godchildren."
"They're not annoying," Harry replied, rolling his eyes. "Perhaps we should find you a wife, so you can have some children for yourself."
"No thanks," Regulus replied, rolling his eyes at his younger teammate.
HP
It was in the early morning of Halloween that Dorea Rose Potter was born. She was the spitting image of her mother with bright red hair, and the Potters decided to make Rebecca and Artemis the godparents.
"Without your assistance, she wouldn't even be alive," Lily said, teary-eyed, as she handed the baby to the new born godmother.
"Thank Merlin everything worked out," Rebecca said, smiling, as she gently cradled the baby close. "Hello little Dorea," she cooed, chuckling, as the baby held her finger in a firm grip.
"You're surely going to make a great mum," Harry quipped, knowing that Rebeca and Artemis were of the same age as his grandparents would be if not for the time travel.
Rebecca shook her head. "With your family growing more and more, I believe that I'm needed in the Unspeakables' office besides teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts. Who else would be ready to save them all the time?" she replied, only half jokingly.
"Well, with Tom as an obedient muggle now, I think we won't need any saving soon," Harry replied, grinning.
Little could he know that times might change faster than expected.
tbc...
Thank you so very much for the kind reviews for the previous chapter. My muse really appreicates the feedback.
Next chapter: "Death Eater alert".