Harry was desperate to find more firewhiskey today. He had been living on empty for the past few weeks, and his elves were no help to him. He was nearing the library when he found a broken bottle. "FORCEDYME!" he yelled angrily.
A pop was heard behind him and he turned to see his elf standing there with a worried expression. "y-y-yes?...m-m-master Harry p-p-potter?"
Harry sighed. Of course these elves would be scared and he would feel sorry for them. "What happened to this bottle?" he asked irritably.
"Forcedyme is not knowing sir," the elf replied in the same weak voice.
"Forcedyme," Harry warned, "I know you had something to do with this, what happened?"
Forcedyme looked around nervously. Harry's gaze began to narrow, which made the elf more nervous. "F-f-forcedyme is not knowing sir," the elf repeated.
Harry sighed, "Well how did this happen then?" He was beginning to lose his patience.
The elf began to quiver before bursting into tears. "Forcedyme know sir! Forcedyme knows!"
Harry felt his sympathetic side starting to kick in. "Why did you do it?" he asked calmly.
"Forcedyme was only trying to look after master's best interests!" the elf said through his sobs, "Worried for master, we were! Worried that master would become too indulged in his lust for alcohol!" The elf ran over to the wall and started banging his head, "Bad Forcedyme! Bad bad Forcedyme!"
Harry walked over and pulled the elf away from the wall by his shirt (if you could call it a shirt). "Forcedyme," he said, "I appreciate that you are looking out for me, I really do. All of you have been so good to me. Just tell me Forcedyme, have I really become that dependent?"
Forcedyme didn't know how to respond. No one had ever asked him such a personal question. "Begging master's pardon, but Forcedyme does not understand."
Right, I'm talking to an elf
"I need you to tell me if I have become so leanient on alcohol to the point that you start worrying for me?"
Forcedyme nodded. "Forcedyme understands sir. Should Forcedyme tell the other elves the same?" he managed as he regained himself.
Harry nodded, and Forcedyme disappeared with a pop. Harry looked at the broken bottle and laughed. Damn, I really am such a drunk bastard if I worry a house elf. Harry continued into the library where he found towers of bookshelves with a glass dome at the top. He saw Kreacher dusting off the study tables and Harry was pleased to see and/or hear that he had stopped mumbling about blood purity under his breath. He turned to see a hall between the stacks, and decided he ought to familiarize himself with his abode.
He passed the fourth stack when something caught his eye. He turned to see a book with a lightning shaped symbol on it that looked an awful lot like his scar. He took a closer look, and saw the words Potter written in gold letters.
"Brillare?" he called, signalling a pop
"Yes master?" Brillare's squeaky voice responded to his right.
"What is this?" Harry asked pointing at the book.
"This book is the full codex of the Sacred Twenty Eight sir," the elf responded.
"The Sacred Twenty Eight?" asked a skeptical Harry, the elf nodded, "Then why does it say Potter on it?"
"The Potter family was a well respected pure blood family for centuries sir. At least, up until master Harry's mother had married into the family. Brillare found her quite charming," the elf explained, "Each family had a codex of their own, this one is the Potter codex, but unlike the others, the Potter family was much wiser than the others, and so the Potter sorcerers at the time were able to charm this codex into containing the information for every bloodline that married into each family."
Harry looked back at the book. At least that explained what it was, but why the lightning bolt? "What is this symbol here?"
"The Potter family crest, sir," the elf responded.
Harry looked at the elf with wide eyes. The family crest? His scar was the family crest? No that couldn't be, his scar was from the third unforgivable curse. He took the book from it's place on the shelf, and opened it. He saw a whole catalog of names. This must be the whole list of Potters from the very beginning. He kept flipping through until he found the name that he was most curious about, James Potter.
There was writing next to the name, The East Wing Hall. Harry's eyes widened. If he was in the east wing hall, then all he had to do was...no it couldn't be that simple, could it?...unless...
Harry didn't finish the thought. He immediately ran for the east wing hall dropping the book on the counter top in front of the shelves.
When he found the east wing hall, he saw it aligned with portraits. He sprinted down the hall until he saw the familiar face of his father. He looked much wiser than the James he saw in Snape's memories. He seemed to have aged with the portrait and could almost come off as a wise mentor, only without the beard that most mentors have. If Harry could touch the painting, he would've probably held onto it for as long as he could hoping to take in the father's embrace that he had so longed for.
"Harry," a voice called. Harry looked up to see the portrait of his father looking down at him. "Son, welcome home."
Harry's eyes began to tear. "Dad," he said through a light sob.
"It's alright son," James Potter replied, "Albus at Hogwarts told me everything."
Harry looked up again. "How much? How much do you know?"
"Everything," James replied. "I want to know that I am very proud of you. You've truly shown that you are the most talented and gifted wizard the Potter family has every spawned."
The father portrait and the son being just talked. "Dad," Harry said after a while, "Can you come to the living room with me?"
"Yes," James replied, "I will meet you downstairs in ten seconds."
Harry hurried down to the living room where he found his father in a large portrait above the fireplace. "Can we talk here?" he asked.
"Of course," James replied just as stoic as he sounded in the hall.
The odd father and son resumed their conversation. Harry told his father everything. He told him about his rough life growing up with the Dursleys. He told him about Hagrid taking him away to Hogwarts. He told him how he met Ron and Hermione. He told him about his adventure trying to find the Philosopher's (Sorcerer's if your like me and from the US) stone. He told him about feeling cut off from his friends the following summer, then learning that Dobby was intercepting his letters. He told him about Ron, George, and Fred- whom he felt wounded about -coming to rescue him from his abusive home in the flying Ford Anglia. He told him how he met Ginny- whom he felt even more wounded about - and how shy she was. He told him about missing the train and flying the car to Hogwarts- James got a real kick out of that. "I probably would've taken the car for my first year," he said - and then crashing into the whomping willow. How he was hearing the voices in the walls. How everyone used to think he was the heir of Slytherin- James howled with laughter at this. He told him about the chamber of secrets and discovering Voldemort's past.
He then told him of Sirius' breakout, which brought tears to James' eyes as he thought of his old friend. How Harry had met Remus, which also brought tears to James' eyes as well as Harry's.
To sum it all up, Harry had told James everything that he had been through for his entire life, making sure to leave out no details.
James in turn, told Harry what Harry had been dying to know since discovering his father's portrait. "I'm assuming you're wondering how this is possible?"
Harry nodded
"I am merely a portrait that can speak as a Hogwarts portrait, but due to Albus' intellect, I've been able to think and speak as you do. I am of course not your father in the flesh, but Albus thought it enough that you would need me at some point in your life. And I can see he was right. As per usual," he answered some of Harry's questions but there was more.
"Why didn't Dumbledore bring you to the ministry? If you were there, you would've been able to save Sirius from Azkaban," Harry demanded.
"We tried son," James responded, "but the ministry thought that Albus had charmed the portrait to only speak on his behalf. Even if I was at the trial, he would've overruled my testament."
Harry nodded, it made sense, but there was more. "How much did Dumbledore tell you?"
"He told me what the true extent of the prophecy was. He told me that eventually you had to die, and I could barely stand it coming from him. He then told me what Snape was doing, and I have felt guilty every day since learning. He told me what he was sending you off to do. He then told me that there would come a time when you would need me, and that you would be lead here. I doubted him for some time, but he was right again. It's almost scary the amount of times he's been right." This made Harry chuckle. He had to admit, it did sound scary after thinking about it.
Harry asked, "What did Dumbledore want you to tell me? And what is that codex in the library?"
James took a breath. "This will be awfully hard to explain," he said, "you may want to sit down." Once Harry made himself comfortable, James started to explain. "Harry, that codex is the reason Dumbledore wanted you to come here. He wanted me here to explain it to you. That codex contains the all the bloodlines of the sacred twenty eight. Ever since meeting your mother,the sacred twenty eight became a myth to me. I devoted my life to finding more good in this world.
"When I married your mother, I thought that it would be a light in the world as we continued to fight. Her sister and brother-in-law didn't take too kindly to me," this made Harry chuckle as he thought back to everything his uncle had said about his father, "they thought I was a racist because of it, whatever that means." This made Harry chuckle as he knew what the muggle's perception of discrimination was. "I kept trying to find more like her, pure, caring, loving, giving, everything we'd like ourselves to be. I later learned what Potters once stood for, and I was driven to obsession to bring that back into play, but then when we had you, and we heard the prophecy, our lives as we knew it were over, Sirius and Remus took the worst to it. Once we learned what the prophecy truly meant, we went into hiding trying to shield our hope from He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Obviously, that attempt had failed, and it turned out to be suicide.
"Afterwards, Albus brought my portrait here, and told me to wait until you come here. It took you long enough." Harry smiled at his father, he really was friends with Sirius. "Anyways, the codex we have here is the last one in existence. I have tried to solve it's clues from here, in attempts to find where a worthy man or woman could take on the responsibility of what Potters had once been, but it only lead to dead ends. I was starting to think that all light had disappeared with the Death Eaters."
After James had finished, Harry had one last question. "Why is the Potter crest in the shape of my scar?"
"The family crest changes each generation," James explained, "It is meant to be a beacon of hope to those who have none for themselves. That is why it has changed to your scar, your scar has become a symbol of hope to all those around the world. He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named didn't scare only Britain, Death Eaters gathered all over and corrupted every last government they could in the Northern Hemisphere. After his downfall, you became their savior, the one they had put their faith into. You became a god to them, although, I have always believed there was one God, and I'm pretty sure he didn't have hair like that." Harry laughed. This would be his response whenever someone referred to him as a god.
"So that's the last task Dumbledore has left me?" Harry pressed, "To take on the role of the protector and guardian of the world?"
"Yes," James replied. "I know it seems unfair that even after saving the world, he demands more, but as a Potter, you have a responsibility. The Potter motto has always been that if we have the ability to do good things, we have a moral obligation to do those things, and an obligation isn't a choice, it's a responsibility. That is why the Potter family crest is now in the shape of your scar, the Family crest of the Potters means hope. And we cannot allow the hopes of everyone to fall."
Harry looked at the cackling fire. Why did it always have to be him? It doesn't seem fair. "I'm just a kid," Harry said not looking at his father, "I'm just an orphaned kid, I'm not all powerful."
"That is where you're wrong son," James replied, "I could not have gained the talent you have because I grew up around magic."
"Then I'm just as powerful as a muggleborn?" Harry asked.
"No," James replied, "a muggleborn wizard however talented they are, were not born with magical blood in their veins. You on the other hand, had magical blood, and the talent from your mother. The muggle sun is younger, and brighter than the magical sun. Your cells have drunken it's radiation, strengthening your muscles, and senses. The muggle gravity is weaker, yet it's atmosphere is more nourishing, you've grown stronger than anyone could have imagined."
Harry stood up and looked at his father with wide eyes. "So I'm invincible then?"
"Not entirely, every being is still restricted to the laws of nature. If you're pierced, then you will feel it's effects, and it may be fatal, and you do have the weaknesses, and the diseases that all humans possess," James finished.
Harry thought for a moment. This was definitely a lot to take in. 'So now I'm the most powerful, rich, and sought after wizard in the world? I just want to live a normal life. But I guess that will never happen as long as evil exists. Wherever there is light, there will always be shadows,' he was thinking to himself. He assumed his father could hear his thoughts, but it didn't matter to him.
"So in other words," Harry began, "I am to bring the best of both worlds together, and maybe, I could drive out the last of darkness?"
"Yes," James replied, "I know it's unfair, but yes."
Harry sighed. "Why is it always me?" he whispered to himself. "If I can't live the life I want, can you show me how to become the guardian of the world, or whatever I'm supposed to call it?"
James chuckled, "Albus called it the Man of Steel. I don't know where that came from, but it sounds better than guardian of the world. Yes, I can show you some, but most you will have to learn for yourself."
"Where do I start?" Harry asked.
"Why don't step outside for a minute, and think about what I told you. I suspect you'll be thrilled," James said smiling.
Harry went outside to catch some air. He did feel lighter after really concentrating on his weight to the earth beneath him. He heard his father's words about what he was capable of echoing in his head. 'The muggle sun is younger, and brighter than the magical sun. Your cells have drunken it's radiation, strengthening your muscles, and senses. The muggle gravity is weaker, yet it's atmosphere is more nourishing, you've grown stronger than anyone could have imagined.' it seemed ridiculous, but he could feel it. 'The only way to know how strong, is to keep testing your limits.' With all his might, he jumped into the air, and to his surprise, he must've been almost half a mile off the ground. He could see the beach just twenty miles away, and he could see the grass green hills that surrounded Lionheart Manor, as well as the hills that reached the sand and rocks of the beach.
When he touched back down, the ground around him exploded as if a bomb had gone off. He immediately jumped back into the air and landed on the warm sand of the beach in the setting sun. The sand clouded his vision as he tried to rub the rock particles out of his eyes.
He steadied himself and remembered what James had said to him. '...You will give the world an idea to strive towards. They will stumble, they will fall. But in time, you will lead them to greatness. In time, they will join you in the sun.' He felt the sand curling around his fists as he put his knee to the earth. He felt the gravity growing weaker, and felt the air becoming less of a need, and more of a refreshment. He shot off the ground, but this time, he kept going higher.
Harry put his arms to his side, hoping to soar higher, only to find that instead of dipping back downwards, he was maintaining his altitude. Not only that, but he was soaring.
Never had he ever felt more free. He couldn't even feel the cold of the air whipping his face, all he felt was the freedom rising in his heart. He arched his back and felt the air curving around his body, he saw the sun disappear from his view, as it turned into a light blue sky with purple clouds, then that turned into the upside down image of the beach.
Harry straightened himself and found himself staring straight into the blue ocean. Harry turned onto his stomach and felt himself in a glide as he saw the water stopped drawing closer, but was now at the same distance.
He tilted his head upwards to be facing ahead of him, and was now staring at the land drawing closer and close beneath him. He smiled as he watched the country side beneath him change from the rocky sand, to the green meadow hills, and to the woods surrounding the green hills.
He then looked upward to see the sky with it's sunset views. It appeared almost as if it were beckoning him. He managed to stop himself by straightening his body right side up, and shot his legs straight as if he were jumping, which shot him upwards as he felt the wind whipping at his face.
He felt the air growing thinner, but it didn't take a toll on his breath, it didn't even feel like he needed to breath.
He kept shooting higher and higher and higher, until the light blue of the sky started to darken into the void of space, and he could see the dotted stars filling it. He didn't feel his conscience leaving him, he felt just the same as he did on land. He then looked to his sides to see that he was no longer within the atmosphere of the earth. He turned around and allowed his legs to relax, which stopped him from shooting any further, he wasn't sure how he was able to halt himself in space.
He looked down at the earth with it's vast oceans, and green lands. He looked to see the continent of Europe with a few clouds circling over it. He then turned his body around and shot his legs as if he were jumping which sent him descending into Earth's atmosphere.
Harry was traveling so fast, that his momentum had lit the ozone layer particles on fire. He could only feel the heat from the burning particles for a second, before the cool of the oxygen calmed it.
Harry crashed down into the earth on his feet, which caused the whole ground around him to rattle and explode within a miles radius.
Harry looked to his right and saw the familiar structure of Lionheart Manor. He ran, but felt that he was running much faster than he was normally. He looked around him and saw that he was running about as fast as he was flying.
When he finally arrived at the Manor, he saw all nine of his elves staring at him and slowly began to laugh. Confused, Harry looked down and saw what was causing a ruckus. The burn from the ozone layer had burned all his clothes off, and he was naked.
"Shall Kreacher fetch master Harry's clothes," Kreacher asked through his cackles.
A/N: Another chapter! What did you guys think of it? I hope that the scene with James and Harry was done right, if not, please let me know! For know, REVIEW! They really help me improve my writing!Good luck and God bless!
-TheTrueHufflepuff