A/N: Harry Potter and his world belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Brothers and anyone that has received licensing rights. I am grateful she gives us the privilege of playing in her world.

A/N2- Kelwin asked if there will be much action- for the first third to half of this story, it is meant to be more mundane and political. As things progress through fourth year and above, I do plan conflicts and action, largely due to the changing political environment. It just may be a slow build until things start getting to that point.

A/N3: Repost to fix a detail in the end scene discussion... 28 Jun 21

-oOo-

Chapter 3

-oOo-

February 6, 1994

Hogwarts, Scotland

It was Hermione that finally found him hours later. "Harry, here you are! People have been frantic to find you," she exclaimed walking out the stairs at the top of one of the towers on the Quidditch pitch. They weren't supposed to be up here on non-game days, but he needed a private spot.

"Hermione, not now," he told his friend.

She looked slightly out of breath and had been looking to say more, but stopped when she saw him. "Harry, what's wrong? Have you been out here all day? Your cheeks look white."

Harry rubbed his hands together. It was a cold February day. At least the stands blocked most of the wind. "I needed to get out."

She frowned. "Did you eat lunch? It's after three."

His stomach grumbled for an answer. He was used to not eating, but he almost never missed a meal when at Hogwarts. He was feeling cold. "I haven't been hungry."

The look she gave him said she didn't believe that. "Come on. Professor McGonagall and Professor Lupin have been looking for you. If we go see them I am sure we can get a cuppa."

Harry got up as she pulled him up. "Hermione, my father had a sister."

She stopped, her hand still in his. Standing up he realized how cold he was and shivered. Hermione blinked at him for a moment. "What do you mean your father had a sister?"

"Neville's mum is my aunt," he replied.

"Why wouldn't Neville tell you this?" she asked after a moment.

He shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know. Professor McGonagall said Neville's parents were tortured into insanity and are still in St. Mungo's. As if that isn't mental enough, Sirius Black can't kill me either," he told her.

"Poor Neville. You shouldn't worry about Black trying to kill you. Dumbledore and others won't let him," she stated, looking frightened.

"No, he can't kill me," Harry pressed. "He's my godfather."

"We already knew that Harry. He betrayed you and your parents," she started.

He shook his head. "You don't understand, Hermione. He can't kill me. He can't do anything that would harm me. He's my godfather."

She eyed him for a moment. They didn't call her the brightest witch of their age for nothing. "Being a godfather in the magical world isn't the same as in the Muggle world, is it?"

He shook his head again. "Daphne said it's like an unbreakable vow." He went on at the confusion on her face. His body was starting to shake. "If Sirius Black did anything that would intentionally hurt or kill me, he could lose his magic or die."

"You are frozen. Lets get you inside and we can talk more," she told him after a moment.

They started down the stairs.

"Harry, Sirius Black took the unbreakable vow?"

"He took the godfather's oath. My parents will said he did. My dad's sister is my godmother."

She stopped on a step for a moment and he took a few more before turning back.

"You said your parents didn't have a will."

"I received a copy today," he told her.

He saw the understanding in her eyes, as though she suddenly put it together why he had hidden. "Do Professor McGonagall and Professor Lupin know?"

He let out a breath. "They received their own copies and Professor Lupin read mine."

She bit her lip. He could tell she wanted to ask him about it. He started to walk again and she fell in step with him. She waited until they were walking back up to Hogwarts. "What else did it say?"

"Sirius Black is my godfather. I have an Aunt Alice. Neville is my cousin. They left everything to me. Someone named Peter Pettigrew was our Secret Keeper." They knew what that was from Hagrid. "Oh, my mum had a cat named Jingles," he added.

"Jingles," she giggled nervously. "Who names a cat Jingles?"

"My mum," he told her with a quick smile. "Professor Lupin said I used to chase her around on a broom." Harry hadn't shown anyone the album Hagrid had made for him.

She whipped her head to him. "How would Professor Lupin know that?"

He swallowed. "My parents, Sirius Black, Peter Pettigrew and Professor Lupin were all friends. Professor Lupin said he was there the day I was born."

She gasped. "Why didn't he tell you this? Why didn't you know before coming to Hogwarts?"

He looked down at his feet as they walked across the hard ground. "I ran out before he could tell me."

They walked a few more feet before Hermione suddenly wrapped him in a bear hug. He 'omphed' at the sudden contact. Most people he shied away from if they hugged him. From his best mate, he found he actually had missed it from the times they weren't talking. He wrapped an arm around her and she stiffened for a moment before tightening her hug.

She must have picked up on his reluctance. "Do you want to go back to Professor Lupin or to Hagrid's?"

He let her go and she stayed close. He put a hand behind his neck. Smoke was coming from Hagrid's hut. Looking up at the school there was smoke coming from many chimneys.

Hagrid's sounded like the better idea. He turned towards the castle though. "Professor Lupin still has my copy and some other letters. I should get them. How about Hagrid's tomorrow?"

"We have classes tomorrow," she reminded him.

"Oh, yeah."

"Let's go find Professor Lupin," he sighed. The man was the last person he wanted to see right now.

When they walked back into the school through the practice field, he wasn't too surprised to find Professor McGonagall there. "You found him, Ms. Granger?"

"Yes, ma'am," she told the Professor.

"Why don't you go find Weasley and Longbottom and let them know. Potter, if you would come with me," she said a little kinder.

Hermione gave him a sympathetic look and walked off towards Gryffindor Tower. "Come up to my office. There is someone you should talk with."

"I was hoping to get my stuff from Professor Lupin," he told her.

She reached into a pocket in her tartan robes. "Professor Lupin left this with me as he needed to leave for a bit."

Harry took the proffered envelope and stuffed it into his pocket.

Up the stairs and to McGonagall's office where a woman with a square jaw, red hair with wisps of white and a monocle was waiting with a man in red robes. Harry recognized the robes as Aurors robes. Men that accompanied Minister Fudge over the summer had dressed like that. He paused for a second before McGonagall pushed him in.

"Potter, this is Madam Amelia Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Amelia, Harry Potter," McGonagall said in her short clip.

Harry eyed the Auror. He was wondering if the Ministry had decided to charge him after all. Of course he hadn't done anything since blowing up his Aunt Marge, but he still thought about it at times.

The serious looking woman reached out a hand, which Harry ignored at first.

After a second, she followed his eyes. "Robards, go stand in the hall. You are not in trouble, Mr. Potter." The woman looked to be trying to reassure him, but it didn't really.

"You were one of the people in my parents will," he said, grasping at the only thing he could.

Her serious expression fell as Robards left. He was uncomfortable having both women here.

"Maybe we should start again." She held out her hand. "Madame Amelia Bones. I am your father's third cousin."

He tentatively reached out his hand. "Nice to meet you," he said as politely as he could.

She shook his firmly before then taking his other hand. Harry tried to take it back but her grasp was firm. After a moment, she nodded. "A pleasure to meet you, Scion Potter. Your father would be pleased you finally received that ring. "

"Amelia, I think he is still in some shock," Professor McGonagall told her.

"Why would he be in shock? He is the last remaining Scion of a prestigious bloodline and he should have had this a year ago," Madam Bones stated.

"Two years ago. Potter is thirteen and until today I was unaware he was to inherit what he has. I thought James had renounced his Lordship," said McGonagall.

The woman stared at the Professor before looking at him again. A frown came over her face. "Scion Potter, how old are you?"

"Thirteen. I don't understand what you are talking about," he told them. He understood about Scions now from Neville, but this sounded different.

Madam Bones didn't look pleased at all. "You just barely look twelve. You did grow up with one of James's relatives? I know Augusta couldn't take you because she wasn't blood related. I know the Tonks, but I think there were a few other more distant relations."

Harry shifted in his chair. Looking down at the floor, he muttered, "I live with my Aunt and Uncle."

At Madam Bones confused look, Professor McGonagall spoke up. "He grew up with Lily's sister. Albus said that was what the will said and that they were his last family left." His Professor looked rather upset. "I remember warning Albus about leaving him there. They were the worst type of muggles imaginable."

"Is this accurate, Harry," Madam Bones queried.

"Yes, ma'am." There was a moment of silence as he looked at the floor.

"Harry, who is your Magical Guardian?"

He didn't know. After a moment, McGonagall answered, "Albus is listed as his Magical Guardian as being a muggle-raised."

The woman's eyebrows knitted together. "And he was his Guardian the night Harry was left at his Aunt and Uncle's?"

"I do not know. The records only show Albus as such since Harry accepted his letter. It wasn't discussed why there wasn't another Guardian. If the will hadn't been opened, like I thought it had, I can understand now," Professor McGonagall stated.

"What is going on," Harry asked them. "Am I in trouble or do I have to go somewhere else?" He couldn't keep the slight hint of hope out of the last.

For the first time Madam Bones eyes turned truly soft. "No, Harry, you aren't in trouble. There are some things we need to work out and I will have some questions for you after I get done interviewing some more people. Minerva, can I have permission to take him to St. Mungo's?"

"Why would you want to do that?" Harry questioned.

Madam Bones eyes looked at him as though seeing things that others hadn't. He didn't like it. "Harry, would you wait in the hall for a few?"

"Can I go back to Gryffindor tower? Dinner will start in a little bit."

There was a look between the women. "Go find your friends for a bit and have dinner. Please find Professor Lupin or I if you need any more help in understanding the letters you received today."

"Sure, Professor," he said. All he wanted to do was find another corner no one would find him in and look at everything in the envelope. What he needed was his invisibility cloak but it was in his trunk. His stomach growling told him he needed to eat first. Hermione wouldn't like it, but he would have to slip away again later. He was still upset with Ron and hadn't talked with him yet.

He was out of Professor McGonagall's office and halfway down the hall before Hermione suddenly called, "Harry!"

He stopped and she stepped out from an alcove. "I wasn't sure how long you would be and you looked like you needed a friend."

Harry let a small smile come to his face before he grew serious again. "I don't know what I need, Hermione," he told her truthfully.

She looked uncertain. "Are you alright?"

"I guess?" It definitely sounded more like a question.

"Would you like to talk?"

His stomach grumbled again. He had only eaten half his breakfast and nothing for lunch. "I would like a sandwich," he told her.

"Let's go drop our stuff off and then go to dinner." She looked uncertain for a moment. "Would you like to get your invisibility cloak as well? I can help you read the will."

Harry let out a breath. Maybe he did need someone. Hermione offering him the help made him feel better.

"Sure."

-oOo-

Later...

Hermione had helped him avoid everyone as they took some food from the Great Hall and found an abandoned classroom. After talking about it for a while, they snuck back to the common room and Harry had gone up to their dorm. The curtains were all drawn on his bed. The letter and will was on the bed before him and he sat crossed legged. Hermione had told him that the other letters looked very personal.

That was what he was looking at. Seven letters, all addressed to him. Some with notes for an age for him to open them at. There were two different hands.

Five of them were a messy script that looked like they had been written in haste. It reminded him of his own messy writing.

Two of the letters were a much nicer, elegant script. He wasn't sure if he was willing to open them.

The door to the dorms opened. "Harry, you in there," Ron's voice asked from outside his curtains. They all had a rule that if the curtains were closed, they didn't open them unless it was an emergency. Harry didn't say anything.

"He must be asleep," Seamus spoke up.

"Yeah. Yeah," Ron responded sounding disappointed.

He listened to them get ready for bed and talk amongst themselves. Harry put the envelopes down and picked up the will again. Professor Lupin had seemed surprised at the signatures on the will. He hadn't mentioned that to Hermione, but she had picked up on it. The first witness was someone Harry knew, the other was Neville's mother. He wasn't sure what to think of that. If Dumbledore had known about the will, why would he leave him with his Aunt and Uncle?

-oOo-

February 7, 1994

Hogwarts, Scotland

Harry was quiet. He had been most of the day. Hermione was by his side. Ron was too, but it wasn't the same anymore.

"What happened yesterday," Ron pushed for the hundredth time as they walked out of lunch.

"Harry doesn't want to talk about it," Hermione responded in her imperious tone she got at times when she knew something you didn't.

"But he told you," Ron accused.

Hermione glared at Ron. "This is something that Harry will talk to us about when he is ready."

"He can tell me!" Ron exclaimed.

"Ron, just drop it!" Harry burst out. "I have to go to my study session. Hermione, are you coming?"

Ron looked uncertainly between her and Harry. "What study session? I was going to take you to the pitch this afternoon."

"I have a study session with some friends," Harry told him. Harry mistook the startled expression on Ron's face for the fact he was going to a study session. He could give Ron that much.

"But we're your friends? Hermione always helps us in the evenings," Ron said shaken.

"I am not doing your homework," Hermione scoffed.

"I didn't ask you to do it. You just always check it," Ron looked taken back.

"No, Hermione checks it and then usually does half the work for us. I am not doing that anymore," Harry told Ron.

Ron had stopped walking to stare at them. Hermione and him stopped a few feet away to look at their friend. "She just adds the facts we miss," Ron stated.

Hermione went to open her mouth but Harry spoke first. "Ron, Hermione only puts in what we are supposed to have. I am done doing that and the study group won't help me if I don't at least try. Personally, I am starting to like the exceeds expectations and outstandings I have been getting."

Hermione turned to him. They were friends again, good friends, but Harry hadn't shown her how his grades had improved without her. "You are getting exceeds expectations and outstandings? In Defense?"

Harry looked a little abashed at the way she was looking at him. His practicals were usually high grades, his essays and tests, not as much. "I haven't made an outstanding in Potions, Astronomy or History of Magic yet, but I have in everything else. I also haven't gotten below an EE in anything for weeks now. Snape hates me too much to give me an outstanding."

Hermione looked shocked but pleased. Ron was just shocked.

"Who are you studying with," Ron asked.

Harry wasn't sure he wanted Ron to know. He knew Ron's opinion of all Slytherin, no matter who they were. "A group of friends," he replied.

"Harry, we're your friends," Ron stated.

"I can have more than just two friends," Harry retorted.

Ron looked really shaken. "But, we are your best friends."

Harry snapped at Ron. "Best mates that accuse others of sabotage and get upset when they are only trying to protect me? Best mates that always get into fights and blames the only one that helped us until now to get better grades? Or a best friend that never apologizes for anything they do?"

Ron wound up at those accusations. "It's a bloody Firebolt! Hermione had no right to tell McGonagall! They stole it from us and we were only lucky to get it back just before the match this last weekend! What would have happened if you didn't have that? You beat Cho because of that broom."

"I would have used the Nimbus 2000 I just bought and I have beaten Cho on a Nimbus 2000 before," Harry countered angrily.

"Ron, it is not your broom. The Firebolt is Harry's and we didn't know if it was safe to use," Hermione added bossily.

"But it's a Firebolt, Harry," Ron said, ignoring Hermione.

"I don't care," he retorted. Deep down he cared a lot, but that wasn't the point right now. "Hermione was only looking out for me!"

"So you just forgave her, just like that," Ron accused. "It was Christmas day and it was taken from us, Harry."

"Unlike you, Hermione apologized and we talked about it. And it is my broom," he said rather possessively. He owned so few things and the Firebolt was the best of them, next to his father's invisibility cloak. The clock bell rung the half-hour. "If you excuse me, we are now late for our study group."

Harry turned and stalked away.

"Harry, wait for me," Hermione called behind him. When she fell in besides him, just about jogging to keep up with him, she stated, "I really am sorry about what I did."

He huffed. "You were only trying to protect me."

"I only wish Ronald would see that. He really is being a prat," she groused.

Harry didn't pick up on her words except he wasn't sure what he wanted Ron to see at the moment. When they made it to the library, Harry sat heavily in a chair across from Daphne. Tracey and Neville were talking about their Herbology essay. Hermione sat less huffily, but she was upset with Ron also.

"You're almost ten minutes late," Daphne told them as he took out his stuff. He was so far behind at the moment and his worry that Daphne would not want to keep studying with them when he told her he still hadn't completed the Herbology or Potions essay due tomorrow made him more upset.

"We were detained," Harry snipped at her.

"Harry," Hermione admonished. "Greengrass is not the one you are upset with."

Harry huffed and looked up at Daphne. She didn't look pleased with him. After a moment, he closed his eyes, took a few breaths and calmed down. He tried to remember the way Neville was teaching him to speak when in certain company. "Excuse me, Heiress Greengrass. I did not mean to be rude. It has been a trying few days and I am upset that I still have not completed my work for this group and for other things going on."

His anger came out a little at the end to think of Ron and for how raw his emotions were still from yesterday.

She held his eyes for a moment. The hard gaze she usually held softened some. "I will accept your apology," she stated out loud. "What work have you not completed?"

"Potions and Herbology."

"Then we will focus on that to start. If need be, we will use our time Wednesday to find a room to practice," Daphne told him. "Now, where are you?"

Daphne got up and moved her chair to the end of the table so she could sit next to him as he took his potions essay out. He missed the looks Tracey and Hermione gave them. Daphne didn't seem like she was going to scold him and he visibly relaxed. "Can I try to complete it before we talk about it?"

She nodded. "Of course, Harry," Daphne soothed in a whisper.

"Thanks, Daph," he responded equally as quietly without thinking.

Tracey's brow disappeared into her hair line. Hermione looked flummoxed. Daphne had a small amount of colour come to her cheeks.

He let out a breath and the anger he had at himself and Ron seemed to melt away. Daphne took whatever she was working on and started on it again. Harry opened his potion, herbology and ingredient books and worked to complete the essay.

Daphne looked at Tracey when she cleared her throat and returned an even look to her friend. Harry flipped to find the potion they were supposed to be working on and picked up with the importance of the counter-clockwise motions after adding the carrow root. After a moment, Tracey and Neville picked up where they had been and soon Hermione was involved in the conversation.

After a little bit of not making much progress, and him flipping through his herbology book to find why it was important to harvest tentacular venom on a full moon when Daphne reached into her pocket in her uniform trousers. Her clenched fist reached over his parchment and he looked at her. "Maybe it will bring you luck," Daphne said. When she pulled her hand away, he looked at the snitch he had given her Saturday.

For the first time since Saturday a smile teased at his mouth. The wings spread and lazily flapped. When he touched it with his finger, the wings furled up. He rolled it back to her. "I think its luckier where it was."

She was wearing her mask, but he didn't miss the way her eyes shone. After a moment, she reached up and took it. "If you ever change your mind, just ask, Scion Potter."

"Thank you, Heiress Greengrass."

After that, his focus was much sharper and by the time they left about an hour before dinner he had completed all his work and they had reviewed all their reports. Harry was in a much better mood. Daphne and Hermione had even complimented him on his Potions and DADA essays. As the three of them walked up towards the tower, it was Neville that broached the topic that Hermione seemed to be bursting to ask.

"When did Greengrass give you permission to call her by her first name?" Neville asked curiously.

Harry looked at him. He had probably done it a dozen times when he hadn't been thinking or they were talking quietly together about the work. The rest of the time it was Heiress Greengrass. His neck felt a little warm and he shrugged. He hadn't told Hermione about yesterday morning and he wasn't about too. He just got his best mate back and he wasn't going to chase her away. "I don't know. I didn't realize I was doing it." It was a half-truth.

"Are you feeling better," Hermione asked tentatively, as though expecting him to blow up.

"Yeah. I was able to get my work done and you only made one correction on my charms essay," he told her.

She eyed him. "You are sure you are feeling alright? Especially, you know," she said significantly, causing Neville to look at them curiously.

His good mood deflated some. After a sigh, he responded. "I just need time. I don't know what it all means."

"You can ask Professor Lupin or Professor McGonagall. Or, you know," she nodded to Neville.

He shook his head. "Maybe tomorrow," Harry told her.

"If you need to talk without me, you can just ask," Neville told them, sounding offended.

Harry closed his eyes and stopped. Hermione looked a little guilty when he opened his eyes. Neville had continued on, looking upset. "Neville," Harry called out. "Neville, wait!"

Neville stopped. "What?" Neville asked snippily.

Harry regarded the larger boy. He didn't want to be rude or fight any more today. "Neville, did you know your mum was my godmother and my father's sister?"

"Yeah," Neville responded.

"Why didn't you ever tell Harry?" Hermione asked.

"Harry didn't seem to want anything to do with me, so I figured you were just trying to ignore me like everyone else," Neville said a little dejectedly. "Half my family thinks I'm just better than a squib and not many want to be around me. What was one more cousin ignoring me?"

Hermione frowned. Harry just looked at him surprised. Had he been like his cousin? No, Dudley would have bullied Neville. Instead, Harry had ignored him, much like he had been before Hogwarts. "Neville, we never meant to ignore you. I didn't know until yesterday."

"What do you mean one more cousin," Hermione questioned.

Neville looked confused. "Forget it, Hermione. Harry, you didn't know my mum was your father's older sister? Gran said that was why she was made your godmother."

Harry just blinked at Neville. "Neville, until a few weeks ago I didn't even know my parents' middle names, let alone I had other relatives."

Neville looked a little shocked. "How didn't you know their middle names?"

"Probably the same way I thought they had been killed in a car crash until the day Hagrid came to give me my Hogwarts letter," Harry replied.

Now there was confusion. "Why did Hagrid give your letter? Mine came by an owl," Neville questioned.

"Mine by muggle post before Professor McGonagall showed," Hermione stated.

Harry snorted. "Oh, my letter came by owl. As did the few thousand or so that came after the first one."

"I don't get it? Is that a joke?" Neville questioned.

"No. It was my relatives," Harry replied.

Hermione looked really concerned. "You really mean it was lots of letters, don't you?"

Harry had never told them about why Hagrid had to hunt him down on his birthday that year, only that he had. "It was definitely hundreds, maybe not thousands. My aunt and uncle wouldn't let me see a single letter aside from the first one that had my name and address. It was taken before I could even open it. Owls kept bringing more and more letters for days. Hagrid had to find us at a light house to give me my letter."

They both looked at him. Neville looked incredulous, as though he couldn't tell if Harry was lying or not. Hermione had a hand to her mouth, showing no doubt his story was true.

"God, Harry. How bad is it living at your relatives?" Hermione asked aghast.

"I don't want to talk about it," Harry told her.

"Gran always thought you just grew up with a distant relative of your father's. She said one time she tried to get custody of you, but was denied," Neville told him.

Harry just shrugged, trying to keep his anger down. "Aunt Petunia is my mother's sister."

"Harry, have you ever told anyone?"

"No. And I'm not going too. Come on. I want to get back to the common room," Harry demanded before walking towards the Gryffindor common room.

"He's being serious, isn't he?" Neville asked Hermione.

"Harry doesn't lie," Hermione responded.