Hogwarts Castle: The Last Day of School
The next few days of school were exhausting. Harry and his friends only spent one night in the Hospital Wing. Since none of them had any serious injuries they had no reason to remain there. The school was all abuzz. Rumors about what happened with Professor Quirrell were circulating throughout the school. Harry had become even more popular than before since he fought to protect the Sorcerer's Stone. Because of this Harry took to hiding in either the Library of the Lord's Quarters.
The last quidditch game of the year between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw went off without incident. Professor McGonagall tried to talk Harry out of playing saying he needed to rest but he refused, and thus Gryffindor won the Quidditch Cup. Their win put Gryffindor squarely in the lead for the House Cup as well. Daphne frowned since Slytherin was in last place mostly due to Malfoy and his cronies for constantly getting points docked.
Whilst hiding in the Library Harry began investigating Eve. It turned out his familiar was actually called a Blizzard Serpent which were said to be descendants of a ice dragon. The book explained that a Blizzard Serpents fangs held the power of its ancestor, the Ice Dragon who instead of breathing fire breathed ice instead, so what ever a Blizzard Serpent bit would freeze. The book also went on to say that because Blizzard Serpents were descendants of Ice Dragons they could grow to an alarming size, the largest on record had been fifty-six feet long.
When Harry read this out loud to Hermione and the others they all gawked. "So…Eve could reach the that size or possibly even bigger?" Hermione said looking at the little snake who was coiled up on the table.
"I thought your uncle said she was a normal albino snake." Neville said recalling Harry's fifth birthday when Harry received Eve as a gift.
"Well according to uncle Sev he assumes the man who sold Eve to him was unaware of her true breed." Harry said.
"Wow…what an idiot he had no idea he had a rare creature in his shop and sold it for the price of a regular snake familiar." Daphne chuckled, "Well his loss is your gain. She such a magnificent creature and she's strong."
"Yea I'm definitely very lucky." Harry smiled as he use a single finger to stroke his familiar's head gently.
The last night of school ended with the End-of-Term Feast. Harry sat with his fellow Gryffindors while Daphne was forced to sit with the rest of the Slytherin's fortunately she had found at least one friend in her own house a kind half-blood girl named Tracey Davis. She wasn't very popular amongst the other Slytherin's because she was a half-blood but Tracey didn't mind them. She would later befriend Daphne after seeing she too was isolated by the other Slytherin's as well. The two became fast friends and gave each other someone to talk to during these feasts when Daphne had no choice but to sit at her designated table.
When the feast ended the announcement of the winner of the House Cup was announced and due to their hefty lead of course Gryffindor was the winner. The entire hall aside from the Slytherin table erupted with applause. Daphne and Tracey both clapped quietly to themselves earning them glares from their house mates.
When the feast concluded Harry, Hermione, and Neville joined their fellow Gryffindors in the Gryffindor common room to celebrate their win of the House Cup. The party went well on into the night eventually Professor McGonagall had to come to put an end to the celebration and escort Harry and the other two back to the Lord's Quarters.
Finally the day came for all Hogwarts students to board the Hogwarts Express and return to the homes for the summer holidays. Harry stood in front of the scarlet steam engine dressed in his muggle attire. His hair was tied back in a low pony tail while the front was loose and covering his scar as he usually wore it. He was soon joined by Neville, Hermione, and Daphne. "Ready to go home Harry." Neville asks.
"Oh yea I was under the impression my school life would be quiet and simple but no it was one annoyance after another. I'm looking forward to a quiet summer vacation." Harry responded.
"I'll say I mean first the troll, then the forest, and then the whole ordeal under the trap door." Daphne said naming of the events of the year, "I want peace and quiet." She groaned.
Hermione chuckled, "Well I for one am going to miss school. All the amazing classes, homework, the exams. Good thing I got summer homework to occupy my time." She said giggling.
"I swear 'Mione you are the strangest twelve year old I've ever met." Neville said causing everyone to giggle.
The group boarded the train finding an empty compartment and gathering in. The train took off and Harry sighed, "Finally I'm going home." He said quietly leaning his head against the window
The train ride back to London was quiet and peaceful. Mot even Malfoy bothered them. Harry had leaned his head against the window and napped most of the way whilst Hermione went over her homework schedule with Daphne, and Neville skimmed through one of his Herbology books.
The train ride went by smoothly, soon they arrived at Platform Nine and Three Quarters. Harry was shaken awake by Hermione, having slept the whole way. The group gathers together their things before exiting the platform. Upon stepping onto the platform the group was immediately surrounded by their parents. Hermione's and Daphne's mothers were searching them over for wounds. Neville's grandmother was doing the same to him.
Lily was simply hugging her son tightly, "Mom?" Harry said confused.
"I'm so sorry sweetie…" She said crying, "I'm sorry you had to see him again."
Harry could feel his mother's sadness and hugs her back, "I'm okay mom…really." Lily slowly releases him looking at his face. Harry puts on a serious face, "Mom…Uncle Sev said there was something you and dad needed to tell me."
Lily sighs, "Yes sweetie…well talk at home. When your Uncle Severus and father join us at the manor…Come lets go."
The entire group returns to Potter Manor after Harry's friends dropped their things off at their own homes. The group was outside in the garden. The parents were enjoying tea and chatting at one end of the table while Harry and his friends all sat at the opposite end looking over some of their assignments they had to finish over the summer Holidays. A few hours had gone by then two loud cracks were heard. Everyone turned to see James and Severus begin walking up to them.
"Hello everyone." James said as he walked up to Harry and kneeled down placing a hand on his head gently petting his son's head. "You did very well Harry I'm proud of you."
Harry smiled a bit at his father's praise, "Thank you, But there is something you wanted to tell me right dad?"
"Yes." James stands and moves to the head of the table taking a seat. "Before that…" he looks around at their allies at the table, "The information I'll be giving Harry regards many things we've discussed amongst ourselves. However it is has come to our attention that just sharing the information between us adults is not nearly enough. Lily and I have decided to allow Harry to receive all the same information we've shared with you all."
"James are you sure about this?" Castor asks.
"Indeed." James says, "The danger he faced while at Hogwarts this year proved that more knowledge would have had things go much smoother, and so we will be telling our son everything…however your children can be left uninvolved. So if you wish for your child to be kept out of this I ask you take them and leave this table now I will insure Harry does not share the information with them."
The table was silent for a moment when Frank Longbottom stood up, "Lord Potter, I appreciate your concern. However House Longbottom has sworn allegiance to House Potter. Neville is indeed young but he is also strong and loyal. He been protected by Harry many times when they much younger when he grew older and more confident made a vow in front of me and his mother. He swore a to protect Harry as his sworn brother. So with that in mind I shall allow Neville to hear everything as well."
Frank retook his seat and looked to his son smiling proudly. Neville nodded, "I will do my best dad to honor your words." Neville said.
Frank patted his son's head, "I know you will."
Castor stood up next, "House Greengrass is aligned with House Longbottom through both the alliance and through the betrothal of our heirs. Unfortunately because of todays society and the fact that they were both born girls, neither Daphne nor Astoria can take control of House Greengrass. So they will be subjected to this ridiculous patriarchal society. Daphne is betrothed to Neville and will join his house. My hope is that Astoria will find someone she loves who will be willing to play the role of head of our house while allowing Astoria free reign. With that said Astoria is still to young to be brought into this I will ask she be left out until she joins her sister at Hogwarts until then." Castor looks to his wife who nods and stands.
"Come 'Stori let us go inside." Drusilla said to her youngest daughter. The girl pouted but obeyed her mother following her inside the manor.
Castor then looked to Daphne, "As for my oldest I will let her decide." He looks down at Daphne, "Join this fight or follow your mother and sister inside." He tells here calmly.
Daphne sighs a bit, "Thank you Daddy for giving me the choice." She smiles and stands, "Neville and Harry are both my friends…if they are going to be fighting I will join them by their side not only as Neville's future wife but also as his and Harry's friend." She gives a slight curtsy and returns to her seat along with her father.
James smiled, "I appreciate your loyalty and I'm sure Harry does as well." He then looks to the Granger's, "Dan? Emma?"
This time both parents stood, "As you all know Emma and I are muggles and we don't fully understand wizarding society." Daniel said.
"We have gain some knowledge over the years but we are still very uneducated." Emma said replied. "Hermione however is a witch and therefor part of your society."
"And if we know our daughter as well as we think we do, she will not take kindly to being left out when her friends are in danger." Daniel said with a smirk as he glanced at his daughter who was looking at him smugly.
"We will allow Hermione to participate if only to give her more knowledge to better protect herself and her friends." Emma said.
Hermione hugged her mother's waist, "Thank you."
James smiled, "Very well. Now that everything has been decided Severus…you have the floor."
Severus stood and walked over to the side of the table the children sat. "Alright children this may be very hard for you to understand, but I'd like you to pay attention and try to follow along ok."
The kids all nodded at their teacher, "Yes Professor." They all said.
"First I want you to understand this." Severus began, "I once died at the hands of Voldemort."
The children gasps, "Died?" Harry exclaimed, "But you're hear right now!"
"Yes let me explain. I lived a life once before. In this life Harry's parents were dead, and he was raised by his mother's muggle relatives. Neville's parent's had been tortured into insanity by Voldemort's followers leaving him to be raised by his grandmother." The children sat their wide eyed.
"Mom and dad were dead? How?" Harry demanded.
"In my former life the night Voldemort attacked you as a baby. Your parents were betrayed by someone they thought was an ally. Voldemort came after that traitor sold them out. Your parents refused to surrender you to him and with just the two of them they were no match for him and both of them died…" Severus explained.
Harry's eyes looked absolutely horrified "But why wouldn't I have been left with Uncle Sirius he's my god father." Harry asked.
"Because in his anger Sirius went after the traitor Peter Pettigrew." Severus told him, "In my former life Sirius tried to avenge your mother and father but before he could Peter tricked him casting a blasting curse into the ground and severing his own finger before transforming into a rat and running away. The blast he made killed twelve muggles, Pettigrew left Sirius to take the blame and he was thrown in Azkaban."
"Azkaban?!" Neville shouted.
"That's the wizard prison isn't it?" Hermione asked.
"Yeah…" Harry looked as if he was processing all of this information.
"Because of this Harry you were left in the care of your mother's sister and her husband, but they did not treat you well." Severus told him. "When it came time for you to go to Hogwarts they attempted to stop you. But someone was sent and brought you to school. In your first year you experienced the same encounter you had this year only in my last life only you, Miss Granger, and Ronald Weasley went down the trap door."
"Wait Ron?" Harry said confused, "Why would Ron have gone with me?"
"Because in my last life you and Mister Weasley were friends." Severus told him.
"You can't be serious?" Harry said, "He despises me and actively makes fun of my friends and you. I can't stand him."
"Well Harry in my last life you had no friends before you came to Hogwarts…Mister Weasley was the first person you befriended in that regard you believed many of the things he told you."
"So…if that was the case then I not only hated you but also all Slytherins." Harry said glancing to the Greengrass'
"Well truthfully in my last life you and I were not on good terms to begin with." Severus said nervously.
"Why?" Harry asked flatly.
"Um…" Severus looked to James and Lily who nodded to him. He sighed, "Harry the thing is when your parents and I were in school your father and I didn't get along. In my last life after he and your mother died I had no one to direct my grudge against so I took it out on you." He looked down ashamed. He was sure the boy would no longer look at him as an uncle.
"But this time around your on our side right?" Harry said .
"Of course…" Severus said.
"Okay we'll just forget that ever happened." Harry said. Severus looked at the boy shocked, "Its not like I have any memory of that life you've never treated 'me' poorly."
Severus smiled, "Thank you Harry."
"You'll always be my Uncle Sev so no need to worry." Harry told him with a smile.
Severus smiled and prepared to continue but Hermione interrupted him, "Professor," the girl began, "you said you died in this last life can you explain that please."
"Very well Miss Granger." Severus said seeing the look of curiosity in her eyes, "First I must explain at the end of your fourth year Voldemort returned. I had been working with Dumbledore as a spy in Voldemort's ranks."
"Wait…" Daphne spoke up, "You were a Death Eater?"
"At one point yes…" Severus sighed, "However in my last life just before Voldemort killed Harry's parents I choose to side with Dumbledore."
"I see." Daphne said thinking about what she just heard.
"As I was saying." Severus said, "Voldemort returned and I was working as a spy. In your fifth year Voldemort exposed his returned by making an attack on the Ministry, then in your sixth year he planned to have Draco Malfoy kill Dumbledore. However…Dumbledore had been aware of this and to spare Draco the pain of becoming a murderer he order me to do the deed. So at the end of your sixth year at the request of the Headmaster I ended his life."
"Any chance of a repeat on that one." Harry said jokingly. This statement caused a few of the adults to chuckle.
Lily however did not find it funny, "Harry!" she scolded him.
"Sorry Mom." He said.
"You may feel that way now but in your last life Dumbledore was like a fatherly figure to you so you despised me. Through you didn't know I did it on Dumbledore's order." Severus said.
"Hmmm." Harry thought about that, "I find that difficult to believe."
"Dumbledore guided you in my last life which made you admire him." Severus told him, "But Dumbledore never told you that was part of his plan so you thought I did for Voldemort and in turn despised me."
"I guess I can understand that." Harry said.
"During your sixth year Dumbledore taught you about certain artifacts that Voldemort created to insure he would not die. So the summer of what should have been your seventh year you Miss. Granger, and Mr. Weasley began hunting these items. While Voldemort took over the Ministry."
"What were these items?" Neville asked.
"He created Horcruxes." Severus said earning a gasp from Neville and Daphne.
"He actually made one of those?" Daphne said.
"Not just one he made six." Severus said.
"He really is a deranged individual to do that." Neville said.
"What's a Horcrux?" Hermione asked.
"It's a dark artifact one creates by splitting their soul through murder and binding to an item to prevent their death indefinitely as long as they have one they can never truly die." Daphne said.
"How do you and Neville know about them?" Harry asked.
"My father has taught me about many dark rituals in order to enlighten me of the atrocities Death Eaters and Dark wizards do." Daphne said.
"My Gran taught me about that kinda stuff too, she said it wass better to know what kinda of evil things were out there than to live in the world blind." Neville said.
"A very interesting approach to education." Severus said. "Back to the matter at hand. Harry, Miss Granger and Mister Weasley began hunting these Horcruxes and destroying them. One of the last one was at Hogwarts the three of you went there to track it down. Voldemort followed and an all out war broke out on Hogwarts ground. During this war many of your allies fell. Remus, Fred Weasley, and many others. Then Voldemort killed me over a petty matter even though he never discovered my true allegiance. When I died I found my self floating in a dark void forced to watch my life in reverse. Suddenly the area lit up and a spectral being appeared and gave me a chance to change the past. The being then sent me back into my twenty year old self with all my memories intact and since then I've been doing everything I could to change the past. I save Harry's parents with the help of Sirius and others, I worked with them to help save Frank and Alice as well, and I've also been working with everyone to destroy the Horcruxes, now there are only three left.
"So we just have to destroy those and Voldemort will be toast right?" Neville said excitedly.
"That is the general idea yes." Severus said.
"That's all well and good…" Harry said, "But all those people who died…there has to be a way to prevent that."
"That's one of the main reasons I took the job as Minister of magic Harry." James said. "One of the biggest reasons all that death occurred was due to the minister in Severus's last life. His name was Cornelius Fudge and when Voldemort return he adamantly denied it and refused to prepare people. So I took the job this time to prepare and build the Ministry up to prepare for that. But there was another person who caused many deaths as well."
"Yes, this man not only orchestrated your parents deaths in my last life." Severus said, "He also saw to it Sirius went to Azkaban, and kept vital information to himself instead of sharing it. This resulted in Harry growing up in an abusive home, the death of Sirius and Remus as well were due to this man's negligence."
"Who is he." Harry asked a glaring look in his eye.
"All of this hardship came about due to the meddling of one man…Albus Dumbledore." Severus said.
A/N: And this brings and end to Harry's first year at Hogwarts. I'd like to thank everyone for your support of my first legit fanfiction. At this time I'd like to announce that this story will be on a temporary hiatus while I begin another fanfiction. I hope all my supporters will be paitent with me while I get this new Harry Potter Fanfiction off the ground. This fanfiction should be back again in a few months and I hope everyone will look forward to my next Fanfic I will have released within the next few weeks. Please be on the look out for my next stab at Harry Potter Fanfiction titled, "The Potter Matriarchy". See you all again soon!!