Harry stirred as she slowly became aware of the world around her once more. She groaned as she stretched her arms up above her head, releasing the stiffness that had claimed her limbs after being still for so long. Her eyes squeezed shut, in a vain attempt to block out the bright golden sunlight that shone onto her face through the open curtains.
A pleasant sigh escaped her as she turned herself over onto her stomach, luxuriating in the soft bedding that she found herself tucked in. The sheets felt like fine silk against her rough fingertips. The mattress and pillows, she noted blearily as she opened her eyes to see where she was, were softer and more comfortable than even those she had slept on at Hogwarts.
Once her eyes had adjusted to the light, Harry sat up to observe her surroundings. I feel very relaxed, she noted. For finding myself in a place I've never seen before. Perhaps I was given a calming drought? Or perhaps it is an additional effect of the potion the goblin healer gave me. She nodded. That seemed the most likely solution. Now, where am I?
She slowly leaned back against the headboard and reached for her wand, which had been placed right next to where she had awoken on the ever so soft bed.
Harry thought back to what happened before she passed out. She remembered the healer, the meeting, and the portkey that brought her to her new home. How had she ended up in her bed again? She very dimly remembered a small, squeaky voice issuing orders as she had slipped into unconsciousness. House elves. Of course.
"Hello?" Harry called out, inwardly cursing at the sound of her voice after an untold time of disuse. After a moment of no response, she cleared her throat and called out once more, her voice much clearer than before. "House elf?"
A sharp pop sounded through the room as an excited house elf appeared at the foot of her bed, dressed in what looked to be a very fine cotton pillowcase that was turned into a toga for the diminutive little creature.
"Mistress is awake!" the elf cried in its squeaky voice. "She has been sleeping for a very long time. Topsy will get the Mistress her breakfast immediately!"
And with that, the elf disappeared with another sharp pop.
Harry sighed as she relaxed once more. The elf had recognized her as the mistress of the household. That meant that Death had pulled the magical strings that she needed to succeed in this time.
With a third sharp pop, the excited house elf reappeared, holding a heavily laden breakfast tray with almost every breakfast food Harry could imagine.
"Topsy did not know what the Mistress would prefer for breaking her resting fast, so Topsy and the other elves prepared a bit of everything that we could think of."
"Thank you Topsy," Harry said, and Topsy's eyes widened in further excitement. "Now," she started before the elf could go on a rant. "First things first. How long was I asleep?"
Topsy nodded, his large batlike ears flopping in his excitement. "Mistress has been asleep since she arrived at about 7 yesterday afternoon. It is currently half eleven on July 29th."
Harry nodded, carefully chewing on a slice of orange before speaking. "I wish to know the state of the household. How many elves are here, who is in charge, and once I am dressed for the day, I would like a tour of my new home."
"Of Course Mistress Peverell," Topsy bowed low, his large ears practically touching the floor for a moment. "We are numbering only three house elves Mistress, but we are all able and happy to be working for such a powerful mistress once more."
Harry nodded as she slowly chewed her food. Dobby and Winky had informed her several years ago that elves sustained themselves through utilizing the flow of magic through wizards familial lines; allowing the elves to utilize that shared magic, and for family members to access the elves services without requiring a direct order of obeyance. It was a rather efficient codependent relationship that was healthy for all parties involved as long as each had basic respect for the others' existence.
Topsy continued chattering excitedly as Harry began to eat slowly. "Topsy, Jenny, and Minnie has been keeping the house ready for your return these long years. We felt control of the family magics shift to you when master Leo passed on, and we has waited so long to see and serve you once more, Mistress Vulpecula."
Harry set her fork down, wiping her mouth on a napkin. Death and Time had done a good job she had to admit. "Thank you Topsy," Harry said. "You and the other elves have done well to serve so dutifully in our absence." Topsy's eyes shone with tears of pride as he listened to Harry's every word. "Now, I must prepare myself for the day. You are to go about your duties. Send one of the others to guide me around the house when I call. I wish to reacquaint myself with each of you while I can."
Topsy bowed low once more, his ears brushing the plush carpet at his feet. "Of course Mistress! But before Topsy goes, what would you like for your breakfasts first thing in the morning?"
Harry paused for a moment before responding. "Small vegetable omelet with toast, a couple strips of bacon, and a small bowl of fruit."
Topsy nodded once more and disappeared once more with a final pop.
Harry sighed, relaxing back into the veritable mountain of pillows for a few minutes. The silken sheets felt so luxurious against her skin. Never had she slept in such splendor. Even at Hogwarts. Especially not since she had spent the last year of her life on the run, and so Harry decided to appreciate what she could while she could.
Eventually, despite dozing on what felt like clouds, Harry rolled out of the smooth sheets, and set her feet on the plushly carpeted floor. Another luxury she had not experienced in what felt like forever.
She pushed herself off the edge of the bed and fully stretched, feeling her muscles pull and several joints pop back into place after being still for so long. Yawning once more, she gazed around lazily, and noticed three doors.
One stood slightly ajar, leading to what appeared to be a light colored bathroom. She padded towards it slowly, making sure that her wand was securely tucked into the pocket of her nightgown. No use leaving it around for anyone to pick up. Even in her own home it was best to be ready for anything. 'Constant vigilance' as Moody had loved to scream at them.
The bathroom lit up as she opened the door, illuminating a rather spacious bathroom with a separate shower stall, and a bathtub that looked like a small swimming pool. Turning to face the sink, she finally caught a look at herself, as she started to brush her teeth.
She looked very much the same as she did at fifteen last time. However, this time she seemed to have a slightly rounder face, and what she could see of her figure was filled out a fair bit more than she remembered. Harry recalled how much she had bemoaned being as thin as she was at 15, silently cursing the other girls for developing while she remained thin as a rake and flat as a board until almost half way through her sixth year. This time it seems that she was starting from a body that hadn't suffered the starvation of the Dursleys.
A thought struck her and she pushed up the sleeve of her nightshirt. The scar left over from fighting the basilisk was still there, but in looking closer at her hands and forearms, she noted that all of the smaller, almost invisible scars that she has acquired over years of abuse and neglect from the Dursleys were gone. Including the mass of stretched and warped skin on the outside of her upper arm and onto her back from where Petunia had tossed hot bacon grease onto her. A 'proper' punishment for the freak burning the bacon one time too many.
"I thought," a voice spoke behind her, and Harry's eyes shot up to see Time sitting against the edge of the tub in the mirror. "That you would appreciate a fresh slate." time looked rather sad as she said this, completely contrary to how she had been the last time they had met.
Harry nodded slightly, fingers slowly tracing the expanse of newly smooth skin.
"Unfortunately I couldn't get rid of everything." Time's eyes lingered on the basilisk's mark. "But regardless, I thought that if any, you would appreciate the marks that you fought for, rather than the ones inflicted upon you."
In the mirror, time stood, appearing to approach. Harry watched as she bent over and kissed the now smooth shoulder. She shivered slightly. Time wasn't solid as she appeared, and as Harry turned, she saw that Time didn't seem to exist outside of the mirror.
"I suppose," Harry took a breath. "I suppose that you're correct." another pause lingered in the air between them as she marveled at the mostly smooth skin and lack of constant pain that she had grown so used to. "I also have to wonder, why nothing was done about them in my old timeline, what with me ending up in the hospital wing so often."
Time darkened, her iridescent dress literally so. "Unfortunately that was Dumbledore. He received notification every time you were treated about your scars and suspected abuse. And every time, he obliviated that poor mediwitch. Towards the end she was starting to lose her marbles. Even if she had survived the war up to that point, she would have been mostly useless. The human mind is not built to be routinely erased, and Dumbledore was doing this to her every time that she came across signs of abuse."
"Every time?" Harry felt disgust welling up in her throat and had to fight to keep her breakfast down.
"Every time. It was his political agenda. Every abuse case reported goes through the Ministry, they kept track of the numbers as governments like to do. However, the numbers of abuse cases have been increasing over the years, as more 'muggleborns' are brought into the world. Many muggle religions generally do not like magic, nor her practitioners. Even more hate the idea of others having power or abilities that they themselves could not achieve. And so it's against his political agenda to allow those numbers to be reported, because they have been used against his position by the pureblood supremacists to show that muggles are less than human and should be disposed of. He is right in one way. All humans deserve the chance to live and become the best versions of themselves. But sacrificing the welfare of children for some political game is-"
"It's horrific," Harry choked, fighting back tears of anger and shame. The man that she had trusted for years had been complicit in her abuse, and the abuse of so many others. "Can I do anything to stop it? Nobody should have to go through any of what I've seen and felt."
Time nodded sagely. "Politics. Unfortunately, most of the problems that need to be fixed will need to be taken care of in the political ring rather than a fighting ring."
Harry wiped her eyes, squared her shoulders and nodded. "I suppose it's about time I let loose my Slytherin side," she said with a wet chuckle. "Gryffs never knew when to fight with their words rather than their wands."
Time lightened back to her usual shiny self with a laugh. "That's been true since the beginning of the school. Anyways. I suppose You ought to get going soon. You have a house to become acquainted with, and a letter to send." she gave a conspiratorial wink at Harry's confused expression. "Lord black could be a very valuable ally, but he is not known to be an overly patient man..." Time stepped forward and pressed her lips to Harry's forehead. "I know you'll do amazing things Vulpecula Harriet Potter Peverell. Be well." And with that, Time shimmered out of existence.
Harry groaned. She had forgotten about the Blacks. And apparently a formal apology would have to be sent at minimum. She hadn't expected to need to play politics so soon after waking. But, as Time hinted, time is of the essence, and the blacks could make her life very difficult should they wish. With that thought, she shucked her clothes into the hamper, and stepped into the shower, thinking about how she ought to address Lord Arcturus Black.
Harry emerged from the shower half an hour later with much more manageable hair, and with a rough idea of how to address Lord Black. Her position, she thought as she padded over to the next door off the main room, was made much simpler by the fact that she herself was the official head of the Peverel family. Despite her age.
As expected, the next door opened up to a surprisingly well stocked closet. Rolling her eyes at how ostentatious some of the outfits were, she selected a rather simple set of light colored trousers and a dark shirt. A cardigan would ward off any chills as she and her hair dried. Selecting a pair of comfortable looking loafers she felt ready to take on the day.
"Jenny?" Harry-no. She had to stop thinking of herself as Harry. Harry was dead. She was Vulpecula now. Vulpecula called out experimentally.
A tiny house elf appeared before her with a crack. "Missy Vulpecula is calling for Jenny?" The house elf was small even for house elf standards, and the large expressive eyes were rimmed with tears.
"Yes Jenny. It's lovely to meet you."
With that Jenny burst into tears "Missy calls Jenny by name and speaks so kindly! Jenny is so grateful to have such a kind Missy caring for us and providing for us!" Jenny sobbed.
Vulpecula knelt down in front of the sobbing elf. "Please don't cry Jenny," Vulpecula asked softly, dabbing at Jenny's tears with a hastily grabbed handkerchief. "I understand that it's an emotional day and I will never forbid you expressing your emotions. But please. I can't get to know you if you're crying."
Vulpecula's kind words seemed to have the opposite of the intended effect as Jenny's tears and wails seemed to intensify for a moment before the tiny elf finally got ahold of her emotions.
"My apologies Missy. Now. What did Missy call Jenny for?"
Vulpecula tossed the now soiled handkerchief into a nearby hamper and grabbed a new one. "I was hoping you might be able to show me to the study please Jenny," Vulpecula stated as though nothing had happened. "I have a formal letter to write and send and I'm hoping to find some proper stationary there."
"Yes Missy!" Jenny squeaked and bowed so low that her nose touched the floor. "The old master Leo's study should have proper stationery yes! And also several months' backlog of correspondence from other families, yes. Missy will have to address those soon Topsy has said to Jenny. So we elves has made sure that there be plenty of proper stationary for yous and ink. Just this way please Missy"
With that Jenny grabbed Vulpecula's hand and almost dragged her down the corridor and down a flight of stairs and through several other hallways to a dark wood office with walls lined with an amazing assortment of books and treasures.
"Stationary should be in the desk. If Missy be needing anything please call Jenny or Topsy or Minnie. We is listening for yous to call!" Jenny bowed low once more and disappeared with a crack.
Vulpecula slowly walked around the ornately carved mahogany desk and sat down in the soft black leather chair. She inhaled deeply, taking in the scent of old books and fresh ink. She opened her eyes and forgot to breathe for a moment as her eyes were drawn upward.
The ceiling was charmed, much in the way of the ceiling in the great hall, to show the sky outside. However this seemed to be a variation in which it exclusively showed the stars, shining and glittering down upon her.
It took a second to locate the constellation that she had been named after, but as she did the stars in question seemed to glow brighter in recognition. They shone bright, seemingly in acknowledgement that she was looking at them before fading back to their normal luminosity in the sky above.
"Thank you," Vulpecula whispered, gently wiping away a tear that had escaped her now overfull eyes. She blinked a few times and sniffed to clear her eyes and nose in a not so ladylike fashion before clearing her throat and clapping her hands together brusquely.
"Right then." She said, opening the bottle of ink that had been left on the desk. "It's time we get down to business shall we?"
Formal stationery was, as described, in the flat drawer under the writing surface of the desk, along with a few fancy quills. Beneath the stationary was a few sheets of plain parchment which Vulpecula used for drafting a letter for Lord Black. Once she was satisfied with her work she committed it to the stationary and signed it with a flourish befitting her station.
To the Most Venerable Lord Black,
I must sincerely apologize for the unseemly events at Gringotts the other
day. As I am sure that the goblins have informed you, the events of my appearance and my state of health upon arrival were unexpected and unplanned.
I must also enquire as to the health of your heir. I have been informed that he was in the unfortunate position of ending up between me and the floor. He has my utmost gratitude for saving me from more serious harm, no matter how unintentional.
I also much apologize for any physical or emotional harm that may have come to him in the event and its aftermath. Should House Black seek any recompense for damages sustained I am quite willing to discuss with you appropriate repayment.
May Magic look upon your family favorably,
Lady Vulpecula Peverell
Satisfied with what she wrote, she tied the parchment into a scroll with a dark grey ribbon and stamped it with a silvery wax seal depicting her family crest.
Just as she was wondering where the owlery was, a sooty gray owl with bright, familiar golden eyes flew through a small round window that she hadn't noticed before and alighted upon her shoulder. The owl barked in greeting and nibbled her ear affectionately.
"H-Hedwig?" Vulpecula asked breathlessly.
The now sooty owl preened Vulpecula's hair and cuddled up to her head, enveloping her in the now dark wings.
Between the tears that now clouded her vision and the wings obscuring most of what she could still see, Vulpecula was sure that she saw Death smiling in a dark corner of the room. She blinked and they had disappeared from view, but a soft whisper drifted through her mind.
'A small gift. One who refused to leave you behind. At least one loyal friend in this lonely world.'
'Thank you,' Harriet thought back and kissed her beloved companion on the beak, giggling as she received a loving nip on the nose in return.
"I missed you too Hedwig. You look different but you're still the most beautiful owl i've ever laid eyes on in my entire life."
Hedwig's chest feathers puffed up with pride as she hooted that 'Of course she was the most beautiful. How could any other compare to HER? No matter what feathers she wore.'
"I hate to send you somewhere so soon after reuniting with you," Vulpecula started, softly stroking the bird's plumage. "But this is extremely important correspondence which I could not trust to anyone else in the world. Could you please take it for me?"
Hedwig nibbled on Vulpecula's finger one last time before taking the end of the ribbon in her beak and winging her way out the small round window once more.
Vulpecula watched her go and wiped the tears from her face. Taking a calming breath she looked at the small golden clock on the mantle above the lit fireplace.
Half past 3. Perhaps it's time for some lunch.