Next week went very fast and very busy for The Grey household.
Henry and Elena were now on first name basis which they weren't even during their brief affair.
Henry called his children one by one to his study for the discussion. They all were in fragile mental stage, every child intimately familiar with death after losing family members so suddenly.
They all had loved Ginny too much and he knew it would be hard for Elena if she wanted to compare to Ginny.
Theodore was most familiar with loses, losing his birth parents at young age would do that to you. Memory charms were not all emcompossing. A discussion between Henry and his heir resulted in Teddy tentively accepting Elena for sake of his younger siblings. He was leaving for Hogwarts in few months, he didn't want his siblings to kill their father with their rowdiness. He promised to give Elena a chance and to love his new sibling whole heartedly even if he was going to be just like Jaques was, noisy and messy.
A discussion with Dorea was very different, she had already taken a liking to Elena and could be seen with her sometimes. She loved her mother too much but was wise beyond her years. She knew that her younger siblings needed to be loved and she promised to help Elena anyway she could. And love the new baby as well. She loved babies.
His twins were mischievous and pranksters like their late uncles who they now thought were pranking angels in heaven. Uncle Georgey was finally with uncle Freddy, Henry had to dim their memories a little so they won't connect present day Fred and George with their late uncles when they met. His twins accepted that they were getting a new mommy and she was going to bring a new baby in the home. They had to not play any prank on her like when mommy was with baby Jamie and Jack. They would get to play with the new baby when he came.
His discussion with Jameson was in most simple words, mommy Ginny had gone to heaven and mommy Elena was now his new mommy. A child 3 years in age didn't understand what heaven or hell was. He was content to play with his siblings and toys.
Jaques was not old enough to understand death but he was the first to bond with Elena being youngest and needing most care.
Elena was still gobsmacked from the discussion she had with Henry this morning. She was invited into his study after 3 days of her arrival and somewhat settling in his household.
Henry was entirely different than he portrayed to the world. He was truly kind and thoughtful. She had wanted to discuss how her estate would merge into his after wedding but he had declined that saying that her child would be it's heir and could even take on her name after reaching adulthood like he did with taking on his mother's name.
He told her how he was result of first marriage between Charlus Harold Potter of "The Potters" and Delilah Bell Grey, last of The Greys. He and his sister had taken their mother's name and his father had married a Dorea Black of "The Blacks" after his mother passed away after his birth.
He and his sister had retained her name and his father had managed the estate as regent till he came to age and even after that as he wasn't ready to manage such large estate. He had loved his step mother and his squib sister who wasn't rejected or Disowned like usual as that was his decision to take. She had passed away 3 years ago and had a Witch and a squib as her own daughters. Whom he had never met.
How he hadn't been contact with his sister for last many years as she was living entirely muggle and didn't wanted a contact with Black part of the family. She wasn't entirely accepted by her new step mother Dorea Potter and even more so after she was declared Squib. Their father had cared for her but that was because of obligation not like his other children, Henry and Leo from the union between Him and Dorea.
Elena got a lesson on family history of "The Greys" that day and vowed to love every child under her care as if they were her own, squib or not. She could see sadness on Henry's face when talking about his estranged sister.
Elena Wore a Beautiful set of Cream colored Dress robes with Blue trimmings and Henry wore Dress robes Blue in color with Cream trimmings. They were rushed ordered from a private boutique for their ceremony.
On the day in ministry Henry got suprise in form of The Potters. He was shocked for a second before he could mask his expression when he met James Potter and his Wife Lily Potter Neé Evans , his parents in his former life and his relatives in this one.
When he introduced himself to them he knew that he had left them reeling after introducing himself and greeting Lily as his Niece and James as his 1st cousin. They were just in the ministry to register their last Will and Testaments in case something happened to them during those times. A will took 6 months to register and process in the ministry in the times when people were going missing and turning up dead so frequently.
The Potters who didn't know they had shared blood was now struck with how closely they were related. If not for Lily's Muggle blood from her father's side they could be said almost siblings. They were after all just 1st cousin's once removed.
Henry invited them as witness for his wedding after dropping that bombshell on them. A bombshell he himself had received after studying Potter family tree after his marriage to Ginny in the future.
Well no one knew that Lily was anything but a muggle-born as everyone who could have told her had died before her coming to age and her mother had never shared her own squib status with her due to some misplaced shame. It was Lily that had received Grey estate after the death of Henry in his old timeline and it was merged with Potter family but it was thought as If that was due to the Potter relation and not Evans, as both elder potters were dead at the time merge happened and Baby Harry not even into Hogwarts.
Only after detailed study of family tree and hidden documents tucked away in corners of his vaults that he had discovered that connection. He was 2nd cousin of petunia and his own mother as well as their nephew and son. It was messed up but nothing vould be done now that little Harry was into the fold.
James and Lily were not going to tell anyone anytime soon that was clear but he had other plans even if they were cold hearted for future.
Elena was delighted to meet His remaining family even if that was due to coincidence. Henry thought that it was fate that his parents were alive to attend atleast his one wedding. They were still a bit vary of him but had accepted his request to stand as witness in lieu of some ministry Lackey.
His wedding went without a hitch and after that The potters received another bombshell on themselves after Henry declared his intentions of fostering their child if something happened to them and then fostering his children if something happened to him and his new wife during the course of the war.
It was good thing that Lily and James had not registered their Wills as it was decided that it would be prudent to discuss such matters in more intimate settings.
Henry and Elena invited them to their home the following day for evening tea and dinner with their family. James and Lily accepted after they all tooks oaths to not harm each other and their children as Time was hard and trusting anyone on just words was just plain stupidity.
Henry and Elena spent their first night in Henry's room in their townhouse after tucking children after a feast of the dinner. Children were happy after being introduced to their new mommy properly and Henry could see that Elena Cared for his children but still he won't lag behind in his duties towards their household. A blind eye could result in disaster sometimes and Elena was still relatively unknown even after all the oaths they had taken to protect each other.
Next day the children of Grey household were introduced to James, Lily and Baby Harry. After realising that this was Henry's second marriage James apologized for his misconduct previous day when he had jokingly called Elena something in jest regarding her age.
Baby harry was happy to play with baby Jaques in his playpen, Dorea minding them both as well as Cookie and Cupcake keeping an eye on all the children.
James and Lily were delighted to meet an horde of children which could rival Their friends Weasleys which led to revelation that Henry's first wife was 1st cousin of Molly Weasley neé Prewett, Virginia Grey neé Prewett.
Lily got a crash course in wizarding relationships and what shocked her most that Henry was very distantly related to The savage werewolf Greyback who had bitten their dear friend Remus when he was just a child. James calmed Lily by explaining that all the People in Wizarding world except unknown Muggleborns were somewhat related to each other.
Lily who hadn't still accepted that James had any other relation to her except that of a Husband just nodded and ignored half her mind screaming at her for marrying her cousin even if unknowingly.
Dinner went pleasently and James took extra shine on Jameson whom he declared had His looks the most and was most adorable little boy.
Lily who had gotten shock after shock was delighted by twin Red headed terrors called Miriam and Naomi and their eyes which she concluded must have came from some common relative even as they were very similar to her own and Baby Harry.
Theodore and Dorea indulged the adults by making changes with their hair and face even with their nose when asked but Potters had enough sense to not overwhelm the children even if they were fascinated with meeting three Metamorphs this close to their home.
After dinner All children were sent to the play room after Lily fussed on Jaques and Harry and declared them 2 peas in one pod with Jaques copying harry by turning his hair black and eyes green. They looked entirely too much like twins with so less than an year difference between them.
Tea was served and Henry proposed what he wanted as safety net for his family.
He said that War had already taken his majority of adults family which included his Sister and Brother in law, Lily's parents.
James and Lily understood as they too had lost Fleamont and Euphemia even if that was from dragon pox and had to close down Potter manor after performing a purification ritual to destroy the strain of dragon pox that now lingered in their estate.
They had to live in a small cottage due to that and had to get their friends help in casting wards.
Henry asked about commissiong imprinted portraits and they agreered that it was a good idea and both couples agreed to get them painted soon.
Both Henry and James were head of their own households and held pertinent information related to their family history which only they could pass on to their chosen heir.
While Henry and James discussed legal matters over whiskey, Lily and Elena bonded over tea with just a dash of whiskey over their children. Lily was surprised to hear that Elena was expecting and congratulated whole heartedly. Asking about godparents led to the revelation that Henry was withholding that till War was over so children would not feel the loss if something happened to their godparents as Teddy and Dorea's Godparents, Leo and his Wife Arielle had already died recently, who were Henry's half brother and Sister in law.
James was Feeling very elated with new revelations. Henry had not attended Hogwarts, as his parents had sent him and his half brother to Beaxbatons. James never had any cousins over growing up and it was revealed that their parents were not entirely happy with each other's choices in spouse. Euphemia was Greek by birth and had met Fleamont in Potion's conference.
Even if Henry Potter had accepted her as his heir's bride, her lack of children had soured rest of the family's opinion on her and relations had dwindled to bare minimum over years till James came into the picture. James parents were over protective over him and not entirely accepted a Black Bride after death of Delilah.
James knew some of these things were many things were revelation to him as well. They both vowed to never let such petty matters come between their family even if Henry was crying inside due to knowing the impending future.
Fawkes had told him that Death of Lily and James was written in winds and he could only take any life changing action after halloween or Fawkes who was messenger of Death and Rebirth would not be able to help him save doom of Wizarding world in near future.
When James had asked about Leo's child, Henry had said that he had no idea if child was alive or not as Whole family had perished but their was no sign of a child's body.
They grew concerned over the fate of the child whom after consulting some documents Henry said was named Leonard Moreno Potter and was should be 4 years old. Henry was yet to merge Fleamont estate he had inherited after untimely death of his Half brother and its rightful inheritor.
James and Henry decided to perform a 3 point kin finding ritual if Lily agreed soon to find if Little Leonard was alive or not.
After studying The ritual from the Book, Lily agreed to it.
Seeing as Night was growing, Henry offered The potters his Guest room but They declined but agreed to meet 3 days later after finalising the Wills and to compare them before registering and Finding Little Leonard.
Potter Household.
Lily and James Potter invited their Friend and Godfather of Son Sirius Black to their home for important discussion soon.
They had discussed, fought and agreed upon the course of action if complications aroused.
They had listed Alice and Frank Longbottom as Primary care takers then Sirius Black and Marlene as secondary as they were to wed next month and then Peter pettigrew and Remus Lupin in Joint custody. Now they had one established couple which was closely related family to both of them.
Gringotts documents don't lie and Henry had showed them every proof including Lily's mother's diary she didn't even know about. She had bought it home and cried whole night after reading her mother's thoughts.
Her momma was ashamed that she didn't had magic and guilty as she was a stranger to her own family after leaving them and couldn't help her daughter. She had lived a middle class life with her husband but she had known that her Brother won't turn her away if she introduced her daughter as a witch.
Lily Potter neé Evans was a half blood, not a muggle-born as she had thought. It didn't changed anything for her but she knew that if this came out whatever hate she received due to her status would atleast be reduced to half and he son would be one step closer to being accepted into the society.
James Potter was raised as a pure blood even if his mother wasn't as accepted in British circles as had his aunt Dorea, whom he had met only on stiffy yearly family dinners. He had even met Henry when he was very young if he jogged his memory hard enough but they had stopped coming to Potter manor after Marie Grey was declared Squib. This all was ancient history to him which was coming to his relief now.
If something happened to him, his wife and son would be cared for. Henry was a good man and clearly his household was filled with love if dinner tonight was any indication.
As much as he liked Longbottoms as his friends, they were Lily's primary friends and not blood related nearly enough to pass delicate information to. Henry already knew majority of that as he himself was half Potter even if he took on his mother's name. He knew about matters of estate and that Lily was his cousin had came as a shock. She didn't look like him at all. She sported no Potter features but the photographs of Delilal, Marie and Michael had shown him that Lily had received Grey family Eyes and looks and her Muggle father's Ginger Hair color. Whereas petunia, Lily's vile sister had her mother's blond hair color and father's blue eyes. Grey family's hair color which had skipped over Henry and His children who favoured their Prewett mother And Potter Grandfather. Everything was so complicated but James was finally happy to have some of the family back after so many recent heavy loses.
He and Lily had even discussed Leonard and His side of family. Leo was Henry's half brother and Related to his best friend Sirius Black through his mother. Leonard who was a Potter with unknown status and his responsibility as Head of the Potter family.
He had been so busy in Order of the phoenix that he didn't even spared a thought towards his nephew. They both vowed to be better after a long discussion.
He also had to manage his family affairs better if the talk with Henry was any indication. Henry had heavily stated that he was getting his affairs atleast in order one vault at a time to secure his children's future. He was going to open a trust vault for Harry but that was thought like many months in future.
Henry had Opened his eyes towards the reality. He and Lily were both willing to do more now. He would leave his job as an Auror even if he had a duty towards his country. He had already faced voldemort himself three times and next time his chances looked bleak.
Lily was also having similar thought. She was brewing potions in her home lab for various Apothecaries to pass time while caring for baby Harry. She needed to do more after seeing how dedicated Henry and Elena looked, Henry had secured his family's future by having multiple heirs. She wasn't one of those old mentality people that viewed children as only heirs but the way this war was escalating Potter family needed to strong to survive. She needed to discuss this with James.
James and Lily both discussed these thoughts a day before their meeting with Sirius and later that evening tea and dinner with The grey family.
Discussion with Sirius Black, Disowned heir of black family went as was expected. He was not keen on trusting any person remotely related to his birth family as The Grey's were. He said that Henry must have had Black family values if he was even remotely raised by Dorea Black, she wasn't a saint as everyone portrayed and wasn't disowned for a reason.
James and Lily who showed Sirius every proof but was unsuccessful. They promised Sirius that he was still on his godson's custody list if something happened to them but The Greys were going to be primary contenders and Longbottoms Secondary.
He would move Sirius and Marlene to Secondary after they wed. Sirius Black wasn't happy but couldn't do anything in fear of losing his friend in face of their relatives.
That evening Sirius was invited to the Grey family household after he took an oath a way away where Henry had promised to meet them to lead them to his family home. They were going directly by a portkey and won't know the muggle location like previous visit. Every precaution was necessary and James knew his cottage can't handle the grey family without extension charms. He had sent a patronous to Henry an hour before their meeting to ask about inviting Sirius and had received positive if Sirius took protection oath in front of Henry himself.
Henry Grey who was previously Harry potter knew that his godfather was safe. But he also knew Sirius's reckless nature and art of deception in current environment. He would test every individual he was bringing in his home himself even if it looked rude.
He okayed The Potter family and Sirius Black for visit after meeting them near leaky caldron and scanning them his senses.
After concluding that everyone was who they said and no one under imperious, they left with a portkey Henry had created. They were dropped into Hallway which held disconnected Floo connection as well.
Melon, his ever present butler took their coats and cloaks and they all went to where tea and discussion was going to be held.
Sirius thought about how different this town house was to the one his parents lived in.
This place looked cheerful and had a feeling of a loving home similar to James's home. This man was also clearly a Potter by how he moved and talked. Potter's were distinctive in nature.
As they moved forward a cry rang in the home and Henry rushed towards it leaving his guests behind.
Henry ran and arrived in the playroom within seconds and saw that Jack and Jamie were fighting over something and twins egging them on. He sent out a loud whistle and all the children stopped their fights.
He knew that Elena was busy in dining room for their guests and poor Cookie who was minding the children alone looked overwhelmed. Listening his whistle elena also came running from the dining room.
He didn't want his guests to see his children misbehaving. These people were very important to him and giving a bad impression wasn't what he wanted.
He was about to scold his children when Lily scooped jack in her arms and Jamie was scooped was James. They handled the children perfectly and Elena welcomed Sirius into their home.
Harry was deposited with Jack in his playpen and Honey was called to assist little terrors. Honey had a Mom voice which children couldn't help but listen to. Elena would develop it slowly as well when she grows into the role just like His Ginny did in another lifetime.
They all moved to drawing room for tea and Sirius had warmed up a bit seeing that James and Lily were comfortable here only after one visit.
Sirius had thought and concluded that This much children couldn't be deception and children looked sweet enough, specially those twins girls whose eyes reminded him of his own and his baby brother Reggie. He shook his head and moved with rest of them.