Avian Anarchy
by Teddylonglong
All recognizable characters belong to J. K. Rowling or Disney, 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, magically powerful Harry. Dumbledore/Weasley bashing.
Fawkes fluffed his feathers, before he informed the others.
#The old grumpy one had two reasons to do his stunt against young Tom. One was that he was afraid of anyone becoming more powerful than himself. He was afraid that Tom and recently also Harry would be too powerful. His only reassurance was the Elder wand, which Harry chose to destroy a few years ago. The other point, however, was the main reason why he acted against Tom: Jealousy. He was jealous of him. Jealous, because Tom was Minnie's lover. He held the position in Minnie's heart, which he wanted to occupy himself. How often has he asked you to marry him over the years?#
Minerva stared at the phoenix in disbelief, while Harry translated for the others.
"He asked me at least five times," Minerva admitted, "but I always refused."
"So that's what the whole matter was about? Why he made Ariana and me suffer for more than five decades and killed hundreds of people? Jealousy, because I was Minerva's boyfriend?" Tom spoke up in clear anger, as he approached Minerva, Hedwig and Fawkes.
Santa rose from his chair. "Come on, let's go home and continue the discussion at home. We still have to check the screen to find Dumbledore."
Everyone agreed, and a short while later, the sleigh left the parking slot behind the Leaky Cauldron to return to the North Pole.
HP
Severus, Annika and Dudley greeted them in apparent excitement.
"We've watched everything and already searched for him on the screen."
"Where is he?" Lily cast Severus an impatient look.
"He's hiding in his family home in Italy."
"It shouldn't be his home anymore, considering that all of his belongings now belong to Tom."
"Then maybe Tom needs to go and claim it as his belonging." Severus smirked, when Tom cast him a look of pure disbelief.
"Tomorrow, we'll gather a group of Aurors and accompany you," Sirius promised, who had joined them together with Amelia and Andromeda for the evening.
"Thank you, Sirius. I appreciate it. Will we be able to simply kick him out of the house though?"
Sirius gave him a sharp nod. "We will. We have a good relationship to the Aurors in the Italian Ministry of Magic. I will just send them a Patronus, when we'll arrive."
HP
Unfortunately, Toms' and the Aurors' excursion to Italy was not successful to say the least, as they were unable to make out the building.
"The old coot must have put it under the Fidelius charm," Moody growled, before they boarded the sleigh to return to Britain.
When Tom returned to the North Pole and told everyone what had happened, he was extremely disappointed.
"At least, his manor shows up on the screen here, so that Merlin can watch him from his portrait."
Merlin in the portrait gave Santa a reassuring nod. "Of course. I will inform you, when he ever leaves his manor."
However, to everyone's disappointment, Dumbledore did not move from his manor during the following months.
HP
In spite of the fact that Dumbledore had managed to flee from his imprisonment at Azkaban, his trial had multiple consequences.
Minerva took over as the temporary headmistress; however, emphasized that she would only do the job until the end of the school year, as she would rather remain the Transfiguration professor, the head of Gryffindor house and the deputy headmistress if necessary. "Competing with Severus about the Quidditch Cup is too much fun to simply let it go," she quipped, glancing at her colleague, who smirked.
"Don't relax yet. You're only going to win the Quidditch Cup this year, because Harry is absent from Hogwarts. Provided that he's going to attend Hogwarts again from September onwards, Slytherin will beat Gryffindor in every match during the next two years."
Harry grinned in amusement at the two teachers' friendly banter, which he could observe at every opportunity. "It's my plan to return to Hogwarts."
"Tom." Minerva turned to the wizard, who seemed to slowly return to his former self. "I know that it was not by your own will that you had to cast it, but would you please remove the curse from the Defence Against the Dark Arts position, so that we can finally hire a proper professor for the post?"
Tom stared at her in apparent shock. "Oh Merlin, yes, of course. I completely forgot that Ariana, eh, sorry, Dumbledore, made me cast such a curse."
"Do you want me to flash you to Hogwarts?"
Tom cast Lily a grateful look. "Yes please." As soon as Lily transformed into her phoenix form, he grabbed her tail feathers and they left in a small splash of ice, only to return fifteen minutes later. "It's done. I hope that it worked."
"Thank you, Tom." Minerva cast him a grateful look. "Now, whom to ask as the new Defence professor?"
"Is there any chance I could get the position?"
Minerva let out a deep sigh. "Tom, I know that you would be an absolutely brilliant candidate for the position, but in fact, I was wondering if you'd be willing to become Albus' successor as headmaster?"
Tom stared at the Gryffindor head in shock. "Me? The headmaster? After all that I did?"
"You did not do it. You were forced to do it." Harry's voice was firm. "Minerva, I believe that Tom would make a good headmaster, and for the Defence Against the Dark Arts position, I'd recommend Alastor Moody if he was willing to teach again. He was the best DADA teacher we ever had."
"I agree." Luna smiled, giving Tom a dreamy look.
"Tom." Santa spoke up in a firm voice. "Do you wish to forget some of the things you were forced to do?"
"Tom, do it," Harry advised the older wizard, giving him a compassionate smile.
"Santa?"
"Merlin?" The brothers exchanged a glance.
"I believe that Minerva should also lose some of the memories of what Tom was forced to do by Dumbledore."
Tom cast the brothers a hopeful look, before he stared at Minerva in silent plead.
From the corners of his eyes, Harry saw that the Marauders all nodded at the older witch, reassuringly.
"Very well then. Minerva, Tom and Ariana, please accompany me to the North Fir Tree. Everyone else, please give them some space and remain here. Ariana, do you wish for Luna to accompany you?"
"Yes please, and thank you, Santa."
HP
When the small group returned from the North Fir Tree a little less than an hour later, Minerva and Tom were holding hands, and Luna was walking arm in arm with a young-looking corporeal Ariana, who looked outright happy.
"I guess congratulations are in order?" Merlin grinned broadly.
"Ariana, will you remain here on the North Pole and study for your OWLs together with Luna and Harry, provided that they're allowed to leave their school and return to the workshop to meet with you and that you wish to attend Hogwarts for your sixth and seventh year?" Minerva looked from Ariana to Merlin.
"I'd love that. Would that be all right, Professor Merlin?"
Merlin nodded, reassuringly. "Considering that Luna and Harry have already finished their project for Concealment Magic, they will have enough time during the weekends. I suppose that Santa and Claire will also be willing to teach you."
"Of course. It would be a pleasure." Claire gently pulled Ariana into a hug. "Ariana, do you want Santa and me to become your guardians, or would you rather ask Aberforth, who is your closest relative?"
"No, I don't want anything to do with my brothers anymore. If it's not too much trouble for you, I'd rather accept your offer."
"It's no trouble at all," Claire reassured her.
"Please decide in which subjects you wish to take your OWLs. Now, Tom, would you be wiling to take over as headmaster right away instead of from September? I promise that I will take as much time as you need assisting you."
"Of course, my dear." Tom smiled, before he pulled her into a passionate kiss, causing the young people to applaud in amusement.
"That's enough." Minerva's mouth was stretched to a thin line; however, she was unable to hide the small smile that appeared on her lips. "I believe that it's time for us to return to Hogwarts then."
HP
Seeing that Merlin set to returned to the SAMS, Santa quickly followed him outside. "Are you all right, old man?"
The ancient wizard returned a grim smile at his brother, who was just two years younger than himself. "Of course, Baby brother. I am happy for Minerva. She has been waiting for him for most of her life. It must be like a dream come true for her. For my part, I am just happy to be alive, having my own school and brilliant company here on the North Pole. I feel extremely blessed having a brother such as you, who is willing to help whoever needs your help."
"You have all the time of the world now. One day, you'll find the right witch for yourself." Grinning, Santa turned around and only after Merlin had entered the school building changed into his secret Animagus form, before he went for a long walk in his polar bear form.
HP
The remaining weeks until the end of the school year at the SAMS passed much too fast for Harry's and Luna's liking. School ended on May 31, and Harry received certificates in Concealment Magic and Laser Magic. According to Merlin, they were equivalents to the NEWTs in the subjects that could be studied at Hogwarts.
"Somehow, it's a pity that we have to return to Hogwarts." Luna cast Harry a sad smile, when they left the SAMS for good and returned to the workshop after seeing their former classmates off.
Harry looked at the girl in concern, when a sudden idea crossed his mind. "Luna, why don't you take the OWLs together with us? You've studied together with Ariana and me, so it shouldn't be a problem for you."
A small smile crossed the girl's face, before she asked, "Do you think Professors McGonagall and Riddle would agree? I don't belong into your year."
"Why not?" Harry returned a challenging look. "Because of your age? What about Ginny Weasley?"
"Well…"
Harry glanced at his wrist watch. It was almost five o'clock in the afternoon. "Please excuse me for a moment. I'll go and ask Minerva." He transformed into his phoenix Animagus form and flashed right into the founders' quarters at Hogwarts, only noticing the additional weight as he left.
"Sorry." Luna cast him a sheepish look, when they arrived. "Your back feathers were just too inviting. They have the same emerald colour as your eyes, which I love so much."
"It's all right, dear." Harry smiled at his girlfriend. "I'm always happy to have you with me. Now, shall we go and see Minerva first?"
They found the deputy headmistress in the headmaster's office together with the new headmaster.
"Luna, Harry. Are you missing Hogwarts so much that you return to attend the remaining of the school year?" Tom smirked.
#Busybodies.#
"Fawkes, behave yourself," Minerva reprimanded the phoenix.
"You know, as Harry is a phoenix Animagus, he can understand you," Luna said, smiling at the badmouthed bird.
"No sir." Harry cast the older wizard a mock glare. "We really had a good time at the Selective Academy of Magical Sciences. We came to ask for a favour though. Luna would like to take her OWLs and go right into sixth year together with my friends and me."
"Would that be possible?" Luna cast the headmaster and his deputy a pleading look.
Minerva and Tom exchanged a glance, before Minerva finally nodded. "If you manage to pass your OWLs, I don't see a problem with it, considering that you've already studied together the whole school year." She glanced at the time display on the ceiling. "Why don't you attend dinner in the Great Hall? Your friends would surely be pleased to see you."
Harry and Luna exchanged a glance before casting Minerva a grateful look.
"Thank you, Professor."
"We'll do that."
HP
Dinner at the Slytherin table was a funny affair, and Harry and Luna almost regretted that they could not simply stay at Hogwarts for the last three weeks of the school year.
"Oh well, we'll be back for the OWLs next week anyway," Harry said, matter-of-factly.
"We'll be glad to have you back on the team next year," Draco said and informed him that Severus had instructed him to discuss with Harry if he would be willing to become the Quidditch captain for their last two Hogwarts years. "If you won't take the position, I'd take it, but I'd rather continue being a prefect."
"I don't mind being the captain." Harry shrugged.
"I'll tell him then. Should we have try-outs before the end of the school year?"
"If you don't mind overseeing them?" Harry quirked an eyebrow.
"We'll do that," Ginny promised from the other side of the table.
HP
Harry, Luna and Ariana took their OWLs at Hogwarts together with Harry's friends, and to their relief, it was not overly difficult considering to what they had studied on the North Pole.
"I think I failed History of Magic." Ariana looked at them, wide-eyed, when they returned to the North Pole.
"Does it matter?" Harry cast Luna a questioning look.
"I don't think so, as it isn't one of the core subjects." Luna smiled at their friend.
"It's sad though, as I am most interested in History of Magic. I would even like to take my NEWTs in History and perhaps teach the subject at some time."
"You could replace Professor Binns at Hogwarts. Even in our time, he was already a ghost and a horrible teacher."
The three students stared at Lily in surprise. "Right, Tom could simply dismiss him," Harry replied, thoughtfully, noticing that Luna was once again wearing her knowing smile.
HP
During the summer holidays, Hogwarts' headmaster and deputy headmistress married on the North Pole with only the white animals of the North Pole and their enlarged families as guests. The rest of the magical world only got to know about the matter from a large article in the Quibbler, the magical newspaper edited by Luna's father.
Two days later, the Daily Prophet reposted the news – with a large photograph of the happy couple decorating the front page.
HP
Albus Dumbledore was sitting in his family home in Italy. Fortunately, the house belonged not only to him but also to his siblings, so that the ownership had not passed to Tom Riddle. The Fidelius charm made sure that not even his brother or the ghost of his sister were able to enter the building. Together with his trustworthy house-elves, he was able to lead a comfortable life. One of the elves popped to London to buy the Daily Prophet for him on a daily basis, so that he was able to keep himself updated concerning his home country.
On this day, the headline of the newspaper almost made him choke on his lemon drop.
'Hogwarts' Headmaster Tom Riddle and Deputy Headmistress Minerva McGonagall Married'
He felt all of his 150 years, as he slumped down in his seat in devastation. 'All my actions of all these years were in vain,' he thought, as he tried to suppress the tears that welled in his eyes. 'She was supposed to be mine, not his. Perhaps, I should have seen that he was killed instead of having him kill others.'
HP
During the wedding party, Tobi, the yeti and their former professor for Concealment Magic, addressed Harry and Luna. "Would you be interested to work on the mastery in Concealment Magic? I could teach you during the holidays and give you assignments, which you can do while at Hogwarts, so that you could take the mastery exam at the same time, at which you finish school."
Luna immediately happily agreed, however, Harry remained pensive for a moment. "As much as I'd love to take the mastery, perhaps, it would be more reasonable if I took the mastery in Laser Magic. If we, for example, wished to teach at Hogwarts or some other magical school, only one professor for each subject would be needed."
Tobi smiled. "Oh well, considering that you probably wish to work at the same school, this seems a reasonable decision."
Luna agreed, and the two decided to work together in both subjects in any case. "I already have an idea for a superb project," Luna informed him, causing Harry to stare at her, wide-eyed.
tbc...
Thanks to the kind readers for your feedback for the previous chapter and to my kind FB friends for their encouragement! Please let me know what you think about this chapter.
Next chapter: "Anarchistic Avians".