Blood of the Enemy
Chapter 1.
Ottery St. Catchpole, UK Potter Residence 15 June 2025 6:00 AM
Harry Potter, Head of the Department for Magical Law Enforcement, was having an excellent morning. Well, to say that it was an excellent morning is to really play it up. It was excellent for an exact one hour and thirteen minutes.
He got out of bed. He ran his fingers through his still mostly black and unruly hair, however it was now peppered here and there with grey bits throughout. At 44 years of age, and being an Auror, now; for more than half of his life, he had seen more than his fair due of stress on the job. Where was I? Oh yes, the morning still in the beginning stages, and still in the process of starting off in the right direction.
Harry wandered in a sort of a deliberate stumble. That is what one does in the early morning hours in purposeful pursuit of the facilities. Doing so automatically, eyes still closed. He managed to eventually make his goal. Next, having slept sans clothes as one is want to do during comfortable weather, he took aim, he shot and scored. He enjoyed the little victory, but flushed the fruits of his effort.
Harry took his shower, and shaved, before returning once again to dress for the day. The minutiae of events that occurred was strictly unmentionable.
The house was eerily quiet, just how he liked it. Both James and Albus Potter had already graduated Hogwarts by now, and Lily; his daughter, was on the cusp of completing her seventh and final year of Howarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The house was empty because everyone else had already started with their lives, and for the other unmentionable, well, let's just say she has earned her hyphenated moniker of She-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.
Harry made himself a quick breakfast of eggs, bacon, tomatoes, and a bit of toast. He sat down, and was about to tuck in when the family post owl flew into the room to deliver the morning's edition to the Daily Prophet. This was the singular event that triggered a perfectly ordinary day to become anything else but, and quickly heading towards disastrous.
Delphini Riddle dead, succumb to Dementor exposure, age 28
I don't think that it comes as a shock that periodically we have prisoners whom die while incarcerated on Azkaban Island. It does happen from time to time. Ms. Riddle was incarcerated just five years ago after the callus murder of Craig Bowker Junior, a Slytherin fourth year by usage of the killing curse. Miss Riddle was believed to be the only living offspring of our last Dark Lord formerly named Tom Marvolo Riddle who used the moniker Lord Voldemort, and more common referred to as either He-who-must-not-be-named or You-know-who. Ms. Riddle was also the alleged daughter of the infamous Bellatrix Lestrange(née Black). Without further confirmation of that it is believed that she is survived by her two aunts Narcissa Malfoy(née Black) her son Draco Malfoy and grandson Scorpius Malfoy, and Andromeda Tonks(née Black) and her only grandson Edward Lupin, as well as He-who-Conquered Harry Potter who is the Lord of the Most Honorable and Ancient House of Black. We here at the Daily Prophet give you our heart-felt condolences during this troubling time.
Harry read the article three times. It took that long for things to register. Another chapter of his life had closed, and before he could give it any more than a passing thought, he was distracted by a voice coming from the floo.
"Harry! Harry Potter are you there?" He heard the unmistakable voice of his very dear and long time friend Andromeda Tonks calling from the other room.
"Andi, is that you?" He quickly replied knowing that had he not it would only to worry her even more.
"Oh thank Merlin, you're there. I'm coming through." Andromeda says frantically, and quickly enters through the floo into the living room of the Potter's home. "Have you seen it?" She says, holding up her copy of the Prophet in her hand.
"I've just finished reading the article" Harry says, opening back the doorway that leads into the kitchen ushering her to follow in his wake. Andy leads the way into the kitchen, takes a seat at table, and looks expectantly at Harry. "Cuppa?"
"Yes dear. It's a bit early for anything stronger I should think." Andromeda replied.
Harry busied himself grabbing the kettle, filling and sat down awaiting the familiar whistle indicating that the water was ready He sat down at the table across from Andy and immediately noticed the remaining post sitting still unmolested atop the table. He noticed the familiar return address of Dewey Scroom & Howell, the law office of his estranged wife's solicitor. Grabbing it, looking at it resignedly before passing it over to Andromeda.
Andi looked briefly at the envelope before sighing deeply. She knew that this was a long time coming. The divorce was all but done, cut and dried.
Harry and Ginny had resumed their relationship immediately following Hogwarts. Harry had done his best to make things work, but had gotten lost in his work. Eventually, he used that as his escape. Longer and longer hours were spent in pursuit of justice; and in that pursuit he lost sight of his wife and children.
Ginny lost sight of her marriage pursuing her own dreams with the Holyhead Harpies. Fame came with that pursuit, and with it she devoted more and more time to the sport of Quidditch. She also neglected her husband and children. Eventually, that career came to an end as it was expected with age. However, being a star chaser with a professional Quidditch league turned to an immediate opening as a sideline coach, and later reporting for the Sports section of the Daily Prophet. With that fame came action on the side in the form on a former flame, Michael Corner. He had also served as her agent and publicist. None had been the wiser.
Marriage woes seemed to take a back burner to the news article, this morning. There had been an unfortunate death in the very small family. That needed to be handled.
"So." Harry started looking across the table at Andy, not knowing how to start the awkward conversation dealing with funeral arrangements for her recently passed niece.
"We need to take care of her… funeral, I suppose. We're it. Her family." Andromeda stated somewhat ill at ease about the entire need for the conversation. She had no love left at all for her sister, never mind her choice of bedroom companions, but this was her niece.
"A Black funeral, then?" Harry quietly asked looking at her, and seeing her nod in confirmation. He continued. "What exactly does that entail. When Sirius died we didn't have a body to bury. I've never been in this situation."
"We'll have to get the keys to the Black family crypt. They'll be in Uncle Orion office in the family home at #12 Grimmauld Place." Andromeda stated worriedly.
"Andy, it has been more than a quarter of a century since I've stepped foot inside there. Ginny refused to live in it. It has to be a total wreck. Even more so than when I last saw it, and it was God awful then."
"If there were any other way, I'm sure that we could…" She started.
"Fine." Harry said interrupting her, earning himself a reproachful look from Andromeda. "Sorry." He said quickly.
"It's fine, dear. Stressful time." Andy said, but the kettle started whistling, and Harry was up quickly to remove it from the heat.
"We'll just have to be prepared." Harry said while he was removing the kettle. He selected Orange Pekoe Ceylon Tea for the morning and added the tea leaves to the pot. Looking at Andy now, seeing the expectant look in her eyes, Harry realized that he had briefly lost his train of thought, so continued. "Summer before my fifth year I stayed there, and we spent most of that time cleaning the place without magic."
"Without magic? Why in Merlin's name would you have to resort to those tactics?" She asked, genuinely curious.
"Mrs. Weasley…" Harry started, and stopped when he heard Andromeda's snort of amusement.
"Say no more. Molly's always been a bit of a harpy." Andi sniped with an intentional pun. "I can imagine her imperial orders already."
"Yes, well, I only brought it up because there was a Doxy infestation, as well as a Boggart, I believe. So, when we get there, we had best be on our guard. It's been a while since I last faced a Boggart. I'm not looking forward to it. The last time I had faced one it took the form of a Dementor." Harry said while pouring the tea.
"We should best be on our guard then." Andromeda said, while taking the letter from the law firm in hand and reviewing it.
It was all very standard when it came to divorce. The division of assets was amicable to Ginny. She was getting the Potter Residence to be renamed at a later time. In addition to that she was getting a very generous lump sum payment of 100,000 galleons for a nice quite divorce. Andromeda had remarked to Harry that he was being far more generous than she would have been if she had been found in similar circumstances, but he would hear nothing of it. He had been unfaithful to her in his own way. Not with another woman, although the only other woman whom had been a regular part of Harry's life that was that was only distantly related to Ginny through her paternal grandmother was herself, but due to his job. Sighing to herself, she nodded once before looking up and seeing Harry's familiar green eyes looking at her inquisitively.
"Well, is it what we agreed to?" He asked worriedly.
"Unfortunately so, although against my warnings to you. She wasn't worth what you're paying out. Considering her extramarital liaisons." Andromeda replied.
"Well now, what are you waiting for? Hand it over. Might as well get it over and done with so that we can get on with our more pressing concerns, yes?" Harry asked, and she had passed over the dissolution of marriage documents to Harry.
Harry quickly looked over it before looking down at the signature blank. Andromeda reached into her purse and produced a very familiar looking black quill. Harry recognized it for what it was. The first time being introduced to it in his fifth year at Hogwarts; a blood quill, or more commonly referred to as a contract quill. Scratching his name along the literal dotted line, Harry immediately winced seeing the identical copy of ever line he wrote etched briefly in the back of his hand. Signed and dated he handed the paperwork back to Andromeda who glanced at it, verified that it was indeed signed and dated.
"Congratulations, you're officially a single man, again. Once this gets out, it'll only be mere moments before you're back on top of the most eligible bachelor list with a slew of honeypots looking to woo you with they charms." Andromeda quipped.
"I'm nearly 45 years old, Andi. I'm a bit long in the tooth, and a far cry from desirable." Harry answered dryly.
"You are selling yourself short, as per usual dear." Andromeda said honestly. Taking her tea cup in her hand, she downed it in one go. It had time to cool down enough, and that was usually how she did away with her tea in the early morning.
"Come on now, let's tackle Grimmauld and make sure we can find those keys." Harry said, standing up and holding the entry way from the kitchen back into the sitting room.
London, UK #12 Grimmauld Place, 15 June 2025 10:00 AM
Exiting the floo at Grimmauld, Harry was immediately greeted by Andromeda, who had reached out, caught his hand and prevented him from having his usual tumble disaster. The first thing that Harry noticed was the overwhelming smell of decay. It was much more noticeable that any time that he had been here previously, however, he had also mention that it had been more than 25 years since that time. He could clearly smell the mold and mildew in the home. However, he also recognized that it had gotten so bad that he could also detect that that smell in itself was old. Most of it had died away long ago.
"Thanks for the assist, Andi." Harry quickly said, and meant every word. Harry never quite got the hang of magical travel. Apparition was the least bothersome of the three methods. The other two being the dreaded floo network, and portkeys. He was utterly pants at both.
"Anytime dear." Andromeda said. Looking around the room, now, Andromeda was overcome with sadness. The magic of this place was almost entirely good from disuse. She had only ever had an occasional pleasant memory of the place, and that had been reserved to the deepest recesses of her memory to back to her childhood well before puberty had hit her or her sisters.
Harry could clearly see that Andromeda was overcome with melancholy. He was feeling it himself. He didn't know why he went along with Ginny's idea of the Potter Residence when he had a perfect opportunity to live in the city, and a home more than large enough to accommodate their needs, but he had and this was the result of that choice.
"Andi?" Harry said quietly, but the emptiness of the house still carried his words effortlessly.
"Hm?" She answered.
"Let's get to the office, yeah? I don't quite trust the quiet of this house. We still need to very much be on our guard."
"Sorry. Agreed. Best not to dawdle." Was Andromeda's response, and she took the lead.
Going by memory proved to be somewhat effortless. She knew this house as well as she knew her own reflection. That did in no way mean that the shape and condition of the house in its current state that she moved within without a certain healthy measure of caution. The floor boards beneath her feet held many new creaks and groans that accompanied the familiar ones. The familiar sounds came almost at a death's cry. As she grasped the banister to head up from the basement level to the first floor, the knob, in fact, came loose in her hand.
"Better let me take the lead, yeah? You can redirect me, if I happen to remember incorrectly?" Harry said while, overtaking her from her left to take lead in the quest for keys.
"Very well, Harry. The door to the office is in the library, immediate left once inside the door." She said as the continued walking at what she hoped would be a second to a last time on the staircase. They would have to trudge back down the stairs on their exit, and she was not looking forward to the hazard that it would be presenting.
Upon entering the library there was the unfortunate familiar fluttering of wings that came from the stacks that flew for greater shelter towards the tattered draperies that covered the grime covered windows.
"Immobulus!" Was shouted in tandem by the pair, and the doxies froze in the air in mid-flight.
The two of them immediately turned towards the office door, tried the doorknob, but found it either locked with aid of a key or disabled due to age and neglect.
"Alohomora." Harry said quietly, and he heard a familiar clicking which signaled the lock had been disengaged. However, upon attempting to enter the door, it only opened partially, the swelling of the wood grinding against the floorboards. Harry put forth some vigorous shouldering of the doorway to push it the rest of the way open, already resigned to the fact that he wouldn't attempt to close it again once the search was over.
Upon entering the office, Harry noticed that; while the interior of the rest of the house was quite dusty,, this room was completely pristine and unmolested. The room contained a large oak desk with a wingback leather chair facing towards the door. Windows to the right of the room let in what little light could bully through the grime coating their exterior.
Harry immediately moved around the desk taking up position behind it and began checking the drawers when he heard the clearing of a very male throat coming from behind him.
"Just what is it that you are search for, young man?" A male voice asked from behind Harry, who immediately.
"Harry, allow me to introduce you to Arcturus Black III, my great-uncle and former Lord of the House of Black." Andromeda said.
"Your former great-uncle, outcast." The portrait of the late Arcturus sniped back testily.
"In more ways that just one." Andromeda whispered.
"Speak up, girl!" Arcturus demanded. "Why have you intruded upon my office. A place that you never would have dared entered were I still alive?
Harry was watching the byplay between Andi and the painting, and was frankly sick of it already.
"We're here for the crypt keys to bury one of the last of the Black line. We'll be leaving you shortly thereafter." Harry said quickly, evidence of his fraying nerves in his tone.
"Last of us? Just how many are remaining?" Arcturus asked worriedly.
"That still carry the name, none. That have the blood diluted through others carrying other family names. None of your directly line, assuredly. Orion's children died childless. Harry, here, was your grandson's godson and left everything to him, and he's a Potter." Andromeda stated plainly, and quickly.
"Charlus and Dorea's ken?" Arcturus inquired, the eyes of the painting staring straight at Harry, now.
"Not directly, no. Charlus and Dorea were James' uncle and aunt. Henry disappeared altogether after their funeral in 79. I assume he had succumbed to a deatheater attack. Fleamont and Euphemia were Harry's grandparents." Andromeda answered.
Harry cleared his throat loud enough to stop the conversation dead. "If we can get back to the task at hand. Where are the crypt keys, Lord Black?" Harry inquired.
"Impatient whelp!" Arcturus complained, glaring at Harry, but relented. "Center drawer."
Harry pulled open the center drawer, but saw no keys. He turned to face Arcturus to let him have at it, and saw the smirk gracing the portrait appearing as if patiently waiting for Harry to let him have it. Just as Harry inhaled in preparation to do just that, Arcturus continued as if he had simply impregnated the pause in his unfinished sentence.
"… beneath the false bottom. There's a knob just in the front to pull it up to reveal what's below." Mirth clearly reflected in the eyes of the painting.
Harry found the knob, lifted it, quickly located the key ring, but it was not the only thing that took his notice within the confines of the drawer. Sitting beside the keyring was a small wrapped box. A small card was attacked to the box in Sirius Black's familiar script addressed to him. Apparently, a gift that Sirius had never had the opportunity to deliver. The next thing within this drawer was another letter addressed to himself. This one was shocking, indeed, for it was in his own writing. He quickly snatched up this letter, and noticed a similar letter addressed to Andi, also in her familiar script. They had corresponded numerous times over the years, so her handwriting was easily recognized.
"Andi?" Harry said, worriedly, and once he gained her attention, handed her the letter.
"Odd that I don't recall actually writing this." She said as she ran her hand across her own familiar handwriting, immediately recognizing it to be hers.
"Nor I, mine." Harry said back to her showing her his own envelope.
Harry turned the letter over in his hand. The first thing that he noticed was the familiar red wax seal across the back of it clearly indicating to him, at least, that it had in no way be compromised, nor read by anyone but the sender. Second thing, the envelope was rather thick. He, apparently, had a lot to convey to himself.
Harry broke the seal on the back of the envelope and carefully took out the folded parchment within. He gently unfolded the letter. The first thing he noticed about the letter was that on the first page there wasn't all that much written on it, and automatically started reading:
Harry,
It is odd writing a letter to myself, but I find that I must. Obviously, I've made a trip to Gringott's to get Nott's Time turner. We're going to need it. Please disregard that sound…
At this point, Harry noticed a rather jostled sound coming from the room next door, the Tapestry Room. He looked up towards Andi, and noticed that she was doing much the same thing as he was with the letter in his hand. So, he continued reading just the first page.
What you will find in the room next door will be rather alarming. It was for me, as well. As you read this, I'm sure that you've already concluded that we have formulated a plan. That will be covered in the follow pages. For now, simply wait for Andi to indicate when she's ready to proceed, and follow her lead.
Meanwhile, Andromeda was reading a letter of her own, and she knew it was from herself immediately without any doubt.
Andi,
Calm yourself, and read. Harry is about to learn along with you that Delphini Riddle was no Riddle at all, but a riddle in and of herself.
The Dark Lord used Harry's blood to fashion a body for himself. His body had been destroyed in 1981, after all. In fashioning that body, the last component of the ritual used was 'Blood of the enemy forcibly taken you will revive your foe'.
Your niece is Potter's child born of line theft. This will break him thoroughly. Keep your head about you. It may not be evident at first, but keep an eye on him, and continue to be there for him as you always have been. I'm sure that you can reason out that we have used a time turner. Once Harry has calmed down he will attempt to rush out in Gryffindor fashion. You MUST stop him from doing so.
This is our opportunity as well as his. As I am writing this letter to you, I have already talked sense into the man. We'll go back just before the Battle of Hogwarts and Harry will rescue the child while still a baby. While he is doing that we have to strike for ourselves as well. We must save Nymphadora at all costs. This is our one and only chance to save our baby, but that isn't all.
In the next room, you will discover quite a mess along the wall, as well as a wardrobe from Sirius's old room sitting in front of a portion of the tapestry blocking Bella, Cissa and us. This was placed there on purpose to obscure casual observance of the existence of the child. Harry's ex's work, obviously. She even attempted to blast names off of the tapestry. Obviously, she failed since Harry never did put on the Black signet ring. Didn't you ever wonder why they decided to build a new home rather than stay here?
I am getting off subject. There are a few things that we will want to do aside from aiding Harry. We need to plan for our success, and hopefully our future. You need to do the following.
Once you get home. Call the Hargraves Lansdown firm. They're a muggle investment firm that was ironically enough established in 1981. Set a meeting with one of their brokers to gain a list of the best investment payouts for 1998 to present. Do it under the pretense of a research project for Teddy.
Prior to leaving, you'll want to be making a sizable withdraw from Gringott's. Proper preparation prevents poor performance, after all. We'll need the initial investment capital to secure our future.
Lastly, remember when the man standing next to you was just a wee one, and when Nymphadora was first introduced to him. He showed the same signs then. He hasn't since. You will need to take him to Saint Mungo's for a full diagnostic. The kind that the Aurors would have overlooked to see why in the decades since knowing him that he hasn't manifest a single change. My thoughts are: James and Lily put up a block on the ability or Dumbledore had done it to the boy prior to shipping him off to Lily's sister. It'll be helpful in what we have in store for him. He has been there for you when you have needed him most, and has served as a proper Godfather for dear Teddy. I dare not write the words, but you know.
To the present, in the next room remember the wardrobe. I've placed a vial of memories in there for you. Simply withdraw the memories and place them back in your head. This should work, and you'll have a certain level of foreknowing that you lack presently.
As I close this letter, I have already made these preparations. It is your job to repeat the process and ensure our success.
Ever vigilance.
Me
Andromeda read the letter in her hands and absorbed the words. There was no need to re-read it. She had already committed each word to memory. She looked up at Harry now, and noticed the look of concern. She smiled gently at him, now, and thought to herself that he had indeed become the man she had hoped he would eventually need to be.
"Come on. Let us see what that noise was about, shall we?" She asked, and upon his nod, she led the two of them from the office, through the library, into the hallway, and finally into the family tapestry room.
It was indeed a mess, and from the look of it, it appeared to have been an orchestrated bit of chaos. There were rather larger bits of destroyed furniture haphazardly strewn throughout the room. The remnants of the table and chairs from the kitchen, pieces of destroyed couches, and loveseats. The most obvious that was there, however was Sirius's wardrobe that conveniently sat in front of the portion of the Tapestry which hid her portion of the family tree.
Patiently and through deliberate intent, the two of them waded through the mounds of detritus until they found themselves facing the wardrobe. Of course, they could have simply banished as much of what was in the room as possible, but that could have unleashed more doxies, or any number of magical pests in the open, which is exactly what they had wished to avoid. Magic has its many uses, but also its time and place and impatience was not something that would have served their purpose at the moment.
"On your guard, Harry. Wand at the ready!" Andromeda said solemnly, reaching for the door to the wardrobe, seeing that Harry had taken those words to heart.
Constant Vigilance was one lesson Harry learned through life and not just the random mad shouts from the likes of Alastor "Madeye" Moody, although his paranoia often had served him well until the unfortunate end. Today, however warranted, proved unneeded. Upon opening the door, there proved to be no threat. There was a single expected vial containing memories which Andromeda quickly reached into and pocketed.
"Let's get this pulled free from the wall so that we can see what's been so cleverly attempted to be hidden away." Andromeda said, already knowing what they would likely find, and readying herself mentally.
Once pushed away, Harry was the first to turn around. It took him a moment to take the tapestry in. At first it did not register that he saw his name on the tapestry in that location when by all rights, if at all, it should be closer to Sirius, or even Charlus Potter whom he had discovered the summer of his first year when he first been introduced to this room but it was here.
The first thing that Andromeda noticed wasn't on the tapestry, but Harry's reaction. His eyes which were usually an open book to her lost focus. The next thing that she noticed was that he quit breathing. There was no sudden intake of breath. Just simply stopped, and stared forward. Without warning tears formed, held on his lower lid for just a bare moment before cresting and spilling over his cheek. She didn't realize when he finally started breathing again until he spoke.
"The last thing…" He said barely above a whisper, but it was clearly articulated even if his speech had been deeply emotional. He had to take a moment to calm himself before he resumed. "The last thing that she had said to me was that she only wanted to see her father. I told her no. She then asked me to… kill her. Let her die. Had I any idea that she was actually…"
Andromeda watched as Harry approached the tapestry in front of him. She watched as he reached out and ran his fingers along the threads which combined into her likeness among the branch. She looked at the face among the branches and even there she could see her white hair with blue tips, and emerald green eyes. Delphini Amaryllis Potter 1997 June 30 – 2025 June 14 it read beneath the name.
After a few moments, Harry straightened up. Looked at his watch and noticed that it was approaching noon. He was already formulating a plan of action. First, he knew that he had one of Theodore Nott's time turners stashed in the Potter family vault. So, that was obviously a priority. Second, as he looked at Andromeda, he immediately recognized that whatever his plans were to be, then they obviously had included her. That needed to be flushed out. Long ago were the days of flying by the seat of his pants.
"Andi, we…" Harry started.
"Need a plan." She finished his sentence for him, and when she saw his acknowledging nod of agreement continued. "Future me had a few ideas. Let's discuss at my place. You do have to make other living arrangements, but I think we now have other priorities."
Bristol, UK Tonks Residence 15, June 2025 8:00 PM
"Tell me about Henry Charlus Potter, please?" Harry said while seated at the kitchen table across from Andromeda.
"Well, for starters. He disappeared shortly after Uncle Charlus and Aunt Dorea died from Dragon Pox. That was back in 1979. The last that I saw of him was at their funeral. He was my age. Looked quite a bit like you, to be honest, except for the eyes of course. His father, Charlus, had hazel eyes like most of the Potters. However, Henry inherited aquamarine eyes much like his mum."
"That certainly paints the picture of what he looked like." Harry said, putting emphasis on looked.
"Give me a moment?" Andromeda asked, and upon a nod of confirmation.
She disappeared from the kitchen, and Harry could hear her make her way upstairs. After a few moments, she returned carrying what appeared to be a rather old photo album. She resumed her seat, quickly thumbed her way through the photos until she reached the page that she was looked for, and turned the album around. Harry looked down and immediately recognized the people in the pictures as being Andromeda, Ted, a very young Nymphadora, Lily, James and Harry in just about every picture on this particular page. When his eyes reached the photo that she was pointing at, he just blanked out for a moment. There sat Tonks holding little Harry. What was altogether normal about the picture was the fact that Tonks hair was cycling through all the colors of the rainbow. What he hadn't expected was that he was mimicking her color for color.
Harry looked up at Andromeda, now, shocked. He had no words. Unfortunately for him, the only memory that he had of his childhood before the Dursleys was courtesy of contact with Dementors. He had seen and collected pictures from that time before with his mum and dad, but they had always just been pictures.
"What?" Harry said. He was at a loss for words. They simply wouldn't come.
"Harry, James was family. Distant but still family. That he immediately became friends with Sirius on his first trip to Hogwarts did mean that on occasion we spent time together as a group. That Sirius and I were both outcasts for certain decisions, shall we say, made my contact with the others less and less but both Sirius and James stayed in contact with me. I frequently looked after you before your parents went into hiding. Harry, you're a metamorphmagus, just like my daughter."
"I see it. Hard to believe. Well, not really. I've never really had to take all that much time away from my daily routine to go for a haircut." Harry said, looking still at the pictures between the two of them.
"And since I have been around you more often, I've never really seen you do any of this…" She said, pointing at the same picture that Harry seemed so focused on. "Since then. I'd like to run some diagnostics on you. I have suspicions, but I would like to confirmation."
"Sure. Go ahead. I am curious myself." Harry replied.
After a few waves of her wand and incantations, she confirmed a parental lock had indeed been placed on his ability. She could only assume that was James and Lily's decision since they had moved to Godric's Hollow, a village that was still very much a mixture of both magical and muggle inhabits.
"Confirmed." She said with a slight frown.
"Can you remove it?" He asked, and as quick as a blink Andromeda had her wand in hand carving ruins into the air surround Harry. It was much like the fire script spell he remembered Tom Riddle using to write his name in the air to reveal his name to be Tom Marvolo Riddle.
"Already done!" She replied with a grin. "Now keep in mind of something please. Nymphadora never had the block on her metamorph ability, and neither did Teddy either. Because of that, their levels of control of that ability would have always been much more fluid. That is because they had always had access to their gift. You'll be behind the learning curve, but I've helped them. We'll get you up to scratch, too, Harry!"
"OK, that's one thing to concentrate on at a later time. We really need to plan. Come up with a strategy of what we're going to do, what we even want to do, and what do we want to accomplish." Harry said.
Andromeda reached into her pocket to retrieve the memory vial. She uncorked it, pulled the strand from the vial with the tip of her wand before looking directly at Harry, and said, "Wish me luck."
"Good luck!" He said with a hopeful grin.
Andromeda placed the tip of her wand to her temple and the memory were returned to her as if she had been her future self. It was as if she was living every moment of her future self in fast forward. She also knew that she and Harry were about to depart from the tapestry room, plans worked out and solidified. Not only the plan that she would work out with Harry, but her own plan to save her only daughter, and perhaps so very much more.
Harry watched worriedly as Andromeda placed the memory into her head. As she brought the tip of her wand to her temple, she closed her eyes. He was slightly alarmed when he saw she sat ramrod straight up and her eyes began to rapidly move behind her closed lids, but he then relaxed when he saw the worried lines on her face relax, and her slight frown widen into the most serene smile that he could ever remember seeing on her face. When her eyes opened there was a light in them that he never recalled ever seeing in them. There was a certain confidence in them, and she seemed to feel at ease before she spoke.
"I know what we're going to do, now, Harry." She finally said to him.
"And?" He asked sort of hesitantly.
"Where's that package that Sirius left in the drawer for you?" She inquired.
Harry reached into his pocket. Looking at the small box. It was gift wrapped with paper that had fluttering snitches about paper, and a small bi-folded atop it. It was an obvious Christmas present for him as Harry recalled seeing the same paper used Christmas of his fifth year. It's hidden location had probably slipped his mind. He opened the small card and read:
Harry,
Wear the mantle well, son. It's fitting that you should have it.
Love,
Sirius
Harry handed the short note over to Andromeda, removed the paper, opened the box to reveal a large white gold ring with a rather large onyx for a stone in the center. On the right side of the band was the black coat of arms: A shield gules over argent divide by a sable inverted chevron. A vest arm brandishing a sword on top of the gules amidst or stars, and three sable raven on the argent. On the left hand side was the Potter coat of arms: Sable a fesse ermine between three cinquefoils argent.
Harry turned the ring over in his hand a few times and when to put it on his left ring finger, when a hand reached over and stopped him. He looked questioningly towards Andromeda.
"You're a single man, now, Harry. Until you re-marry, if that is what you would want to do, the ring should go on the same finger on the opposite hand." She explained, and he made the quick correction sliding the ring onto the correct finger.
"Better?" Harry asked.
"Much, my lord." She replied.
"What?!" Harry asked incredulously.
"It comes with the mantle. The ring signifies that you're the lord of the Potter-Black family. Your crests on the sides indicate that. Sirius had the ring crafted for you to replace him as lord of his family."
"Bloody hell!" Harry said, turning slightly green at the implication.
"Indeed, but relax. It works in well with our plans to come, I assure you." Andromeda quipped.
"How so?" Harry asked. He had a lot of questions, and Andromeda seemed to be more than apt to supply answers that she already had.
"Well now, as we discussed early in regards to Henry. Seems to me to be a perfect cover identity for you while were back in the past, doesn't it? We'll get you up to speed on morphing. All you really need to do is slightly adjust your eyes and cheek bones and them you'll be a ringer for him. As it stands, right now, I'm only slightly younger than what Aunt Cassiopeia was when she had passed, and there was no funeral for her at all in England. We look similar enough for passing scrutiny."
"So, identities covered. I think it would be best to go to the former residence of Euphemia Rowle. Check it out, and get an overall idea of how we plan to enter the place. We need a detailed location of which room was Delphini's, as well. Let's plan the entire operation from entrance to exit, like a standard Auror sting operation."
"Harry, it's good to think of this as a proper job. If you have this planned right it should go altogether smoothly. There are a few other things that we should do as well. Keep in mind that we will need to find this little operation." Andromeda had hesitantly changed the topic, but funding was key to getting them where they need to be.
Harry had the Potter and Black accounts, now, but if Harry was to start a separate identity apart from his own, he couldn't pop off to Gringott's and make withdrawals from the accounts of Harry James Potter as Henry Charlus Potter-Black, accounting would be a nightmare. He understood what Andromeda was saying, but there was a nagging thought that kept popping up in his head. There seemed to be a sense of finality of this trip.
"Andi?" Harry asked, attempting to gain her attention, she looked at him somewhat distractedly. "Why haven't you asked me to go further back? You know, not only to save Delphini and Nymphadora, but Ted as well?"
For a few moments, she looked as if she was going to answer him immediately. She started and stopped, and then really looked at him before answering. "Harry, I said my goodbyes to my Ted 27 years ago. I made peace with losing him. In the intervening years, between then and now, I have filled my life with that of my grandson… and you. You've been a wonderful father to him when he couldn't be with his own. You were so much better a role model for Teddy that Remus could ever think of being, and I believe Teddy knows that in his heart, that while Remus fathered him; sired him actually, you are his dad. Anyway, what I really meant to say is that the hole left in my heart by dear sweet Ted had already been filled. Like you, with Delphini, the hole left in my heart left by my Nymphadora hasn't ever filled. It hurts horribly, her absence. That needs to be righted, and I think this trip will do that."
Harry stood immediately from the table, rounded in and wrapped Andromeda in a hug. Not one like Mrs. Weasley, nor even Hermione. Now was not the time to be crushed, nor smothered. Just a comforting embrace between two very close long-time friends who mourned the loss of those children who went ahead before they really should. He wasn't sure how long that hug had lasted. It had as long as was needed, but when it was over he wiped away her tears before wiping his own.
"A fine pair we are." He said, looking at her. "We get them back. We'll right some wrongs, and we'll stop moronic meddlers who don't understand the ramifications of meddling with time, after we fix some things that had been broken."
Ottery St. Catchpole, UK Granger-Weasley Residence 2025, June 16 5:30 AM
Hermione Jean Granger-Weasley Order of Merlin 2nd Class Minister of Magic woke up in her expansive bed to the loud timber-like rumbling coming from her right side. She quickly grabbed her wand, silenced the alarm spell that she had placed upon it; last night, like every night. She pointed her wand to her immediate right and silenced the noise coming from her husband, Ronald Weasley; as well, for good measure.
Hermione was not one for dawdling in the early morning hours. She was a busy woman running Magical Britain, after all. She quickly exited the bed making an immediate course for the adjoining bathroom to before her morning ritual. No, that was not a magical ritual unless you consider washing off the lethargy of the night so that she may be clean and wide awake to face the tasks set before her.
She exited the bathroom, having perform her ablutions, and set herself forward towards her closet. She initially considered wearing what appeared to be a lime green witch's robe for the day, however immediately discounted it being reminded of the bowler that Cornelius Fudge had worn during his stint as minister whilst she were a student at Hogwarts. She had immediately decided on a deep maroon, instead. Got dressed and went down stairs to prepare breakfast for her husband.
The start of her morning was normal. It was routine, just the way that she, both liked and expected it. Just as the waft of sausage and bacon reached the upstairs, she could hear Ronald stumbling out of bed, and making his way downstairs.
"Mornin' Love." Ron said, while mid-yawn and stretch, still clad in his evening pajamas. "That smells wonderful!"
At 45 years of age, Ronald Bilius Weasley had never once changed the way in which he approached meals. That was ever evident in his expanded horizon. Ronald had indeed gone up quite a few trouser sizes since his youth. He approached this morning's breakfast was no different. As soon as the plate was brought to the table he tucked in with gust and vigor.
Hermione, preferring a lite breakfast, herself only had a bird's nest(A piece of toast with the center cut out with an egg fried within the bread). She sat across from Ronald at the kitchen table while she spent time nibbling on her breakfast. She sipped her morning tea while waiting for the morning post, noticing the prior morning's Daily Prophet still sitting atop the table. The article about Delphini Riddle accompanied by her mugshot glaring at her accusingly as if to say, 'I know what you did'.
Ron looked up from his, now, empty plate and noticed Hermione's line of sight. He has his own measure of guilt about the girl himself. Not about Delphini nor her incarceration. She committed the crime murdering that poor school boy, and she attempted to bring back You-Know-Who after all. No, by her own actions she deserved what she got and more. However, Hermione was not one to do things without his knowledge and he was full aware, and felt his own measure of guilt about what Hermione, Ginny, and he had done to cover Delphini's origin, and that wasn't much.
Ginny had attempted over and over again to blast both Bellatrix and Delphini off of the tapestry. That should have been all there was to it. Mrs. Black, Sirius's mum had blast his name off of it. Hell, she had even blast Andromeda off of the bloody thing. Harry had inherited everything that Sirius had owned. As Harry's wife she should have been able to do it herself, but each attempt at a blasting hex had fizzled out right before spell contact of the tapestry regardless of being one quarter Black on dad's side. Failure. She failed spectacularly. Their last resort to trying to resolve the issue had been to collect the broken furniture and various detritus, and loaded it all into the tapestry room as a means by which to dissuade Harry or anyone else who might come into the home from discovering the horrible truth.
After loading up the room with various waste and junk, the name could still be seen from the doorway, so Ron's brilliant idea was to get Sirius's wardrobe and strategically place it in front of that portion of the tapestry. Harry would have no inclination to see her name there anyhow. It was utterly foolproof.
Ron smiled to himself at the plan that they had formed after the war had been won, and just after Harry had signed his life away to the Weasley family in the form of those sacred matrimonial bonds with his adoring sister.
That smile that graced Ronald Weasley turned to a smirk before turning to a look of concern when he looked up to see the look of concern on his wife's face. Worriedly she was biting her lip still staring at the paper.
"Love?" Ron said quietly to her. When that didn't work, he reached across the table, gently took her hand, and squeezed it lightly. "Hermione. This will blow over, and we'll be in the clear. Harry will never find out. Trust me?"
"Ronald, I just…" Hermione started but just could finish.
This was the very first time that she actually thought about the ramifications of the action she took in hiding this information from Harry. While Ronald, Ginny, and she had made a promise not to mention this small act of betrayal, and they had stuck to it. Even when they were faced with dealing with Delphini's misguided idea to resurrect her so called father. They never mention it. She felt the burden.
The burden that ultimately weighed on her was that omission of this information from Harry had cost greatly. He had been her first friend. Of course Ronald had quickly became her second, and the love of her life, but Harry had actually been a friend to her longer. She betrayed that by hiding an orphan who in all actuality was not one at all. She had rationalized, aided and abetted it.
In the end, her action had killed that friendship dead. Morning it now, trying to make up for it was just too little too late, and righteously so. Hell, if she could put on a time turner, she thought to herself, she could go back and talk herself out of ever going through with this plan, but after Delphini's arrest she had accompanied Harry to the Death Chamber in the Department of Mysteries and watched Harry chuck it through the veil herself.
"Tempus." Hermione said.
'The hour, now, read 7:45 AM.'
"Ronald, I need to head to the office. I'm running late!" She said alarmed. Rushed past him, but turning quickly back around for a quick kiss before running back upstairs, grabbing her bag, running back down.
"Ministry of Magic, Minister's Office!" Ron heard her yellow from the main room as she disappeared through the floo.
Hermione Granger-Weasley's day was anything but pleasant. Nor was her day in anyway carefree. With the prior day's announcement of the demise of Delphini Riddle, she found herself, at times, double and triple booked. When lunch came, in fact, while her husband attempted to interrupt to grab a bit to eat in between his daily hours at Weasley Wizarding Wheezes, Hermione found herself booked with a full on meeting of Ministry Department Heads all in favor of putting together an event celebrating the demise of the former Dark Lord Tom Marvolo Riddle's bloodline's ending. This in no way helped to ease the guilt that plagued her knowing that the bloodline was only marginally connected to the House of Gaunt.
The latter half of her day was an onslaught of more of the same. The department heads had reports of varying people being arrested for drunken and disorderly conduct in celebrations throughout the British wizarding world. It was all very much in poor taste.
Finally, the hour was at hand and she could see that this day was coming to an end. She found herself clock watching, as it were. The second hand on the clock in her office was clicking heavy, ever so slowly, as watched clocks often find themselves doing. Just when she reached the first of the final ten seconds, seeing an end of this tumultuous day, came a firm familiar three tap knock on her door. Hermione sighed resignedly, placed her back down on the corner of her desk, navigated expertly back around and once again found herself seated firmly unendingly in her comfortable chair.
"Enter!" She said exasperatedly, looking towards the door and seeing an unexpected yet easily recognizable face of the man who was the source of all of her worries and heavy levels of guilt.
"Got a minute for me, Minister?" Harry asked, as he walked into the office carrying a rather large stack of paperwork with him. Hermione, seeing that paperwork, knew that this meeting would be many things, but short was not one of them.
Harry walked into her office with a smile on his face, traversed the expanse of the minister's office and took a seat directly across from her only blocked by her desk. The resulting thud that sound as part of him placing the mammoth stack of forms on her desk. Hermione looked at the stack, seeing labels sticking out in varying localions within the stack indicating places that she was expected to sign. There were more than enough of them to ensure that her hand and wrist were to be cramped by the time that she finished.
"What is all this, exactly?" She asked.
"This is the results of many of the more traditionally dark families being publically attacked through rather rambunctious lighter folks throughout Diagon Alley, Knockturn Alley, and even Hogsmeade. They seem to think that a death is worthy a party, and I'm not referring to a wake. There seems to be a lot more frivolity for a certain death than even was reported after Tom's original demise." Harry said as matter of fact, all the while that Hermione was signing and flipping pages.
"I suppose that it is a big deal for a lot of them. An end to an era." She said as she flipped to the last page to be signed noticing that it was different. Deceased prisoner release form for one Delphini Amaryllis Potter.
Hermione couldn't breath. She couldn't move. She had already read the name after she had signed the form. She raised her head to look at Harry, now, and the look in his eyes was anything but friendly.
"Harry, I…" She started, but was quickly interrupted.
"Harry?" He asked.
"Yes, well, that is your name."
"True, but calling me that as opposed to Chief Auror Potter, or Mr. Potter, or even simply Potter is preferred. Harry, Madam Minister Granger-Weasley, is strictly reserved for people who fall under the category of friends. Honestly, the look that hit your eyes when you came across her true name clearly indicates that it was not the very first time that you had seen it in that form."
"Listen, Harry…" She started again.
"Chief Auror Potter, Mr. Potter, or simple Potter if you must, please, Madam Minister Granger-Weasley." Harry repeated in a monotone voice looking at her much as he would anyone whom he would come across in his line of work. When he recognized that she would start talking again, not really want to play the name game all evening, he spoke up, "You and I have been… acquainted for 33 nearly 34 years. We've swapped stories, and you are well aware of what my life was before and during Hogwarts. It is a safe assumption that you know more about me than your husband or his sister. Madam Minister, did you happen to read the detailed report in regards to upbringing of the deceased?"
"I may have skimmed over it after she was sentenced." She said warily.
"Delphini Riddle age 23 at the time of arrest. She was housed by Euphemia Rowle shortly after the time of her birth. She never attended Hogwarts. Home life was rather unpleasant. Upon investigation of the residence, had it been in the muggle world, should have been condemned as uninhabitable. Her room, much like my first room was a boot cupboard. Unfortunately, there was no sign that it had been in use in quiet some time, but evidence collected at the scene clearly indicated that the room had been lived in by her. Said evidence include blood, urine, and fecal matter."
"Stop, please!" Hermione was sobbing, now.
"Madam Minister, would it be a safe assumption that one could draw that if the biological father had been made aware of said child at the time of discovery that said child's home life could have been very different than the one that she had been faced with? That being raised in a home in which she was wanted, needed; in fact, and yes, loved would have been made all the difference in the world, Madam Minister?"
Hermione Granger-Weasley was sobbing openly, now, and could only nod her head as a means by which to respond.
"Madam Minister, do you recall the last words of the deceased on the date of 1981, October 31st when she begged to see her alleged father? Do you recall her response to when I, in fact, told her no?" Harry asked her with lifeless dead eyes. All she could manage was the shake her head back and forth frantically in response. Harry sighed heavily, and said quietly, "The deceased when denied simply said, 'Then, kill me'."
At that very moment, again, came a quiet knock on the door, and peering inside was the recognizable face of one Andromeda Tonks.
"Good evening, Minister Granger-Weasley." Andromeda said before directing her next question towards the other occupant in the room. "Harry, are we ready to go? It is going to be a bit of a ride to get over to Azkaban. We need to get under way." Andromeda said quickly before looking between himself and the Minister.
"Yes, Andi. I was just getting to the point to where I was going to insist that the minister accompany us to the island so as not to hinder us in our acquisition." Harry said to Andromeda before turning, now, to the Madam Minister. "I really must insist that you come with and see the fruits of your labor."
Azkaban Island, Somewhere in the North Sea 8:00 PM
There was really no getting used to being on Azkaban Island. No matter how many times that Harry had been here throughout his career. Approaching the island was a daunting trip. It really didn't matter what time of year it was that you traversed the sea, the wind was biting cold. Accompany that with the fact that the water was always choppy. You arrive cold and damp as a prisoner.
Harry Potter, Andromeda Tonks, and Minister of Magic Hermione Granger Weasley's trip across the sea was as miserable as could be. Warming charms be damned, the level of hostility underlying the obvious betrayal that Harry felt that been perpetuated against him by his former best friend only added a layer of misery to the trip.
Upon arrival to the island, it was discovered that the efficiency of the ministry wasn't limited solely to the mainland. The island hadn't bothered doing anything at all with the body. They identified that she had expired, noted the time, but left her within her cell until someone, anyone further up the pecking order could manage to be bothered to be seen doing something. It most certainly wasn't going to be the Warden, Too far up the pay scale for him to be bothered getting any of his guards near the Dementors unnecessarily.
"So, you just left her in her cell?" Harry asked, annoyed.
"Not a pressing health concern, is it?" The warden quipped back, and pointed at the minister.. "You've got the forms signed by her, so pluck up your Gryffindor courage, walk on down and grab the corpse, yerself!" He finished.
"Just give me the bloody keys, and keep your people out of the way and safe, yeah?" Harry asked, dripping with anger, holding out his hand. The warden complied.
Delphini was a high profile inmate, being the alleged daughter of the Dark Lord Voldemort and the infamous Bellatrix Lestrange. As such she was interned to the lowest levels of the pit within Azkaban prison. The biting cold outside the prison held no comparison to the cold that was the inside courtesy of the Dementors. Walking down to the lowest level required that Harry, Andromeda and Hermione Granger-Weasley had to have their Patroni deployed during the entire trip down.
The Dementors, for the most part, kept themselves at bay for the whole trip. Once they reached the bottom, finding the correct cell was relatively easy. This level only housed the captured death eaters, chiefly among them was the recently re-captured Rodolphus Lestrange unfortunately for him. Passing by his cell, Harry noted that he was a twitching foaming mess. Good riddance to bad rubbish, he thought.
Further down the hallway more than ten cells separating her from her step-father was a sight that would live forever etched deep with the psyche of, both, Harry James Potter-Black and Andromeda Tonks forever. Inside the cell was the body of Delphini Amaryllis Potter. Considering that her body was frozen in position facing upwards in what appeared to be an arch of agony, none of the witnesses could say that she was peacefully rest. Every muscle in her body was flexed and strained against an invisible obstacle as if she was clinging to it for either salvation or to keep it at bay. Her once vibrantly white hair with blue tips was now lifeless. Any fat reserves that her body had carried had long been exhausted well before this day.
That was bad. Worse even that any of the three of them could have possibly thought, and the, still, present three Patroni illuminated it in such a way that they light and shadow cascading alone the contours of her tormented body. That was center stage to the scene. It wasn't only the site of her like this that was the worst.
When the finally unlocked the cell, to assess her, prepare to leave with her in tow with as much respect, and dignity in death. What was hidden in the shadows on the walls was sudden vivid in the light. In that moment, something broke inside Harry James Potter-Black, utterly. Written on the walls in neat small perfect script over and over, again and again, were three words.
Save me, Daddy!
A/N: Harry Potter is not mine, but I'll mold some sand in Jo's sandbox. This story has been on my mind for a while. I'm thankful for Cursed Child because it provided a canon outlet for Time travel. I hope that you enjoy the ride. I'm going to go back and work on my other story: Time, Mr. Potter. Please read, and review.