The Cameliard Estate

The home of the young Black (and Potter) family was vastly different from that of the Dursley's. They lived on the far outskirts of Cameliard Village, an all wizarding village near Cornwall. The village was rich with wizarding history dating back to the time of King Arthur and Merlin. It was completely hidden from Muggles, non-magical people. Muggles of course had heard of Cameliard due to some of King Arthur's descendants being squibs (children born to magical parents with no magic of their own) who had shared stories of their family as fairytales. However, since muggles couldn't find Cameliard, it eventually turned into a mythological place to them.

The house where Jane's family now lived in was in all actuality more of a manor or a small castle. It was known as the Cameliard Estate. It had three floors and a cellar basement. The Estate had been passed down through the generations in Jane's family. The village was also once owned by Jane's family on her mother's side, the famous ancient and royal house of Le Fay, until one of Jane's ancestors sold some of the land and property to build homes for other wizarding families.

Unlike the Dursley's house, the Estate showed many signs of change over the course of the last 8 years. Jane had not planned on raising her family in Cameliard. However, Albus Dumbledore insisted she choose a more secure location due to the rampant loyal Death Eaters seeking revenge for their fallen master. The Cameliard Estate was secluded and hidden away even from the nearby wizarding village. It was also well protected with ancient wards. However, because it had not really been used in decades, Jane had it restored and renovated before moving her family in.

8 years ago the drawing room was dark and dimly lit. It held old and slightly moldy furniture. Now it was brightly lit with a gold candle chandelier. The room was filled with expensive and comfortable white and gold furniture. The room held many portraits. Some new and some old. Above the fireplace stood an old beautiful portrait of Queen Guinevere. Another wall held a newer photograph of a young James and Lily Potter dancing on their wedding day. Unlike in the photos in the Dursley's living room, every portrait and photograph in the room moved. And a few of them even spoke.

At that moment however, every picture in the room, whether they could speak or not, watched as two of the four current occupants of the room argued back and forth with one another.

Jazlyn Black stood arms crossed glaring stubbornly at her Uncle Remus. She had some of the best traits from both of her parents. Her hair was light brown like her mother and was lustrous and perfectly wavy like her father. Her eyes were grey like her father's. She was barely 10 years old but she had the same aristocratic beauty and slightly haughty look that came from her father's side of the family. But at the same time she also had her mother's elegance and grace.

"Oh come on it's not that bad!" Jazlyn insisted.

"Not that bad!?" Remus said incredulously while trying to keep his temper. "You snuck out to the village. By yourself. Without telling anyone!"

Before she could respond there were two identical snickers coming from behind one of the ornate couches. Both arguers looked in its direction.

"That's enough boys," Remus sighed. "Come on out."

Two identical 7 year old boys came out grinning wildly and plopped themselves down on the couch they were just hiding behind. It wasn't hard to see that they were Jazlyn's younger brothers. They looked almost exactly like their father. They both had the same hair and same eyes as him. It would be difficult for most to tell the two of them apart. But Jazlyn easily could. Her mother and Uncle Remus (sometimes called Uncle Moony) could tell who was who most of the time. They often slipped up though when the two boys, Caelum and Caspian, tried to switch places. Jazlyn prided herself being able to spot the difference between them even then.

As soon as the boys were settled Remus turned his attention back to Jazlyn.

"When your mother finds out-" He started before Jazlyn decided to take the risk of interrupting him.

"But Mother doesn't really need to know does she, Uncle Moony," Jazlyn said in a cheeky voice that told Remus he was somehow about to be blackmailed by a 10 year-old.

However before she could try the fireplace flared to life. Instinctively Remus reached for his wand before relaxing when he saw who it was. The first to stumble through was Harry, who was quickly followed by his sister. They ended up falling into a small heap on the drawing room floor.

"Harry! Avalon!" Jazlyn exclaimed in shock before rushing forward to help them up. "What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be coming later?"

Harry simply groaned in response as he stood gripping his head and taking off his glasses, which were now broken. The fireplace lit up again behind him and he quickly stepped away so he wouldn't get crushed again. But he didn't need to worry as Jazlyn's mother and Mary McDonald stepped through in a much smoother manner than the two children before them.

Remus who was in the process of dusting helping Avalon dust herself off, glanced at Jane.

"What happened to the car?" He asked.

"Left it in London, I apparated to the Dursley's. I thought it'd be faster. It seemed urgent. Apparently it wasn't that bad, they were just being dramatic."

"What happened, Mommy?" One of the twin boys, Caelum, said from over on the couch.

Before Jane could respond, Mary spoke up.

"Wow it's looking like the Weasley's over here." Mary said looking at all the children.

It had been a surprise to all of them when they found out that 8 years ago Jane was expecting twins. Remus had showed up one day to find her near hysterics after finding out she was pregnant with two kids and not just one. Because while Harry was at the Dursley she still had to worry about 5 children, Jazlyn, Avalon, the twins, and Sarah Potter (James's sister). Now the number of children permanently at the Black household had lowered to four since Sarah had moved out on her own after graduating from Hogwarts. But looking around the room, it was still pretty chaotic. There were two children covered in soot, another one seemed to be trying to sneak away along the back walls, and two more were bouncing on the couch. Remus all but moved in to help after Jane's continued insistence. He helped as much as he could. But sometimes he would go out and try to find odd jobs to work because he didn't want to feel like an added burden (even though he knew he wasn't). Mary came as often as she could but not nearly as much.

Jane gave Mary a halfhearted glare. Before telling her twin sons about the magic that Harry performed at school and everything that happened at the Dursley's.

While she spoke, Harry and Avalon caught on to Jazlyn's attempt to sneak away. In a silent agreement, Harry rushed off with her, although he didn't know why she was trying to get away. Meanwhile, Avalon made an extra fuss over her ruined soot covered uniform to keep Remus Lupin's attention.

"Well it seems today was full of trouble" Remus responded with a sigh after Jane finished her explanation.

"Why? What happened here?" Jane asked. She took in the scene in front of her more clearly now that she had picked up one of her sons, Caspian, who had been climbing all over her. Remus was wearing a light coat and looked as if he too had just come home. She had originally thought that perhaps the children had been playing quidditch or something outside, but after Remus's statement she wasn't so sure. She noticed that her daughter and Harry had slipped themselves out of the room. And if that didn't scream guilty of something she didn't know what did.

"While I was helping these two clean their mess from lunch, Jazlyn snuck off to the village." Remus said.

"She what!" Jane exclaimed before marching off after her daughter.

"Wow Lupin," Mary states nonchalantly. "You have become quite the nanny. Oh how the mighty Marauders have fallen."

"Shut it, Macdonald," Remus glared.

—

Later in the evening, as all the children were preparing for bed, Jane went into Harry's room. His room at the Cameliard estate was drastically different in comparison to his room at Number 4 Privet Drive. For starters it was much larger. It was on the top third floor next to one of the twins' rooms and at the end of the hall just before the entrance to the guest wing. The walls were blue and white. His bed was set in the middle of the back wall. A large poster of his favorite quidditch hung behind his head. Closer to the entrance of the room was a little sitting area with a chest full of toys and the walls were lined with white shelves and wardrobes. Moving photographs of his parents sat on the shelves or hung on the walls. Harry also had his own bathroom.

Harry was currently in the process of climbing into bed when Jane knocked on the door before coming in.

"Goodnight, Aunt Jane," Harry said thinking she was just there to tuck him in.

"Thank you, Harry," Jane said before settling herself into the blue armchair next to his bed. "But I actually wanted to talk to you a little bit more about today."

Harry sighed as he sat up in his bed.

"I told you it wasn't my fault!" Harry whined. "I didn't mean to use magic."

"I know Harry." Jane said reassuring the young boy.

"It's just Dudley!" Harry continued to complain. "He hates me! And he's so mean! And Aunt Petunia never listens. She just keeps thinking that he's perfect. And Uncle Vernon just encourages him."

Ah there it was. Just what Jane had wanted to talk to him about, his life at the Dursley's.

"I understand Harry. Do you like living with the Dursley's?" Jane said.

"No," Harry grumbled. Eyes cast down.

"But you know why you need to live there right?" Jane asked him.

"Yes," He grumbled again. "Because of my parent's protection I need to live with someone who is related."

He sat up and swung his legs out from under his blanket so that he was fully facing Jane. Then he raised he voice a little louder.

"But aren't you related to Dad?" He asked. "You were his cousin, like me and Dudley right? Why can't I live with you like Avalon?"

Jane remembered the last time he asked that question. It was a little bit after he started at that muggle school and met other children with siblings. All of them of course lived together. Petunia had called Jane saying that Harry had come home crying because the other children said that Jane must not want him since he didn't live with her.

Heartbroken, Jane explained to him a little bit more about his parents' deaths and how in the Wizarding world he was known as "the Boy Who Lived". (This was of course done against Albus Dumbledore's wishes. But Jane didn't care.) Harry had accepted the answer that it was because his Mother loved him and that he needed to stay safe. Despite being only 5 at the time he was incredibly bright. Jane knew that Harry knew how much she loved him.

However, now that Harry was older, Jane knew that it was time to make use of the deal that she made with Dumbledore the night he had left Harry on the Dursley's doorstep.

"Well," Jane started carefully. "Do you remember what I said about what Professor Dumbledore thought?"

"Yeah," Harry said dejectedly. "He thinks it's more Mom's protection than Dad's and because Aunt Petunia is more related to mom than you are to dad."

Jane nodded.

"That's correct, my dear boy." She said. "However, you know that I personally suspect that your father's protection is just as good."

Harry looked up and Jane inwardly thought it was adorable how his face lit up slightly but hesitantly.

"Well I've been thinking. Especially after today. And if you would like, I think I can talk Professor Dumbledore into agreeing to give having you live with us a try. What do you think about that?" She asked him with a small smile.

"Really?" Harry said excitedly.

Jane simply nodded in response.

"Yes please!" Harry jumped out of bed and climbed into her lap to give her a big hug. He then pulled away with a small frown as if he just thought of something.

"What's the matter?" She asked as she held him carefully and looked him gently in the eyes.

"What about…" he started and trailed off a little thinking carefully about what to say next. He didn't want to offend Aunt Jane and make her think he didn't want to live with her because he did. Jane just waited patiently so he could collect his thoughts.

"What about Aunt Petunia?" Harry whispered quietly.

"What do you mean?" Jane prodded carefully.

"I don't want to leave her." Harry said. Then he rushed to say his next thoughts. "She's not so bad, but I don't like Uncle Vernon and Dudley that much. They're so mean sometimes. But I feel bad for Aunt Petunia."

"That's very sweet of you, Harry," Jane said. "I'm sure your Aunt Petunia appreciates that. But you can still see her. She'll still need to take you and Avalon to school and I'll pick you up in the evening, like I do with Avalon. Does that sound good?"

"Hmmm." Harry said thoughtfully. "Ok then I think I like that idea."

"Alright then," Jane smiles at Harry and brushed a finger on his nose. He giggled and hugged her in response. "I'll talk to your aunt Petunia and Dumbledore. You'll probably be staying there for maybe another week while we work it all out ok?"

"Ok, Aunt Jane." He responded.

Jane picked him up and tucked him into bed. She kissed his forehead and wished him a goodnight. She turned out the lights and closed his door. After stopping by and wishing goodnight to the other children, she quickly made way to her office. She called her cousin, 19 year old Sarah Potter, and asked if she could stay with the children for the night. Mary had her own family to care for in the evening so Jane never really asked her to come during that time unless necessary. She couldn't call on Remus as it was nearing the full moon. And Jane didn't want to waste a second. she had a few visits she needed to make after all.

An:

This won't be the last time we see the Dursley because like I said they are still unfortunately important.