Harry put off heading to Prince Manor until after the memorial. He told his brother it was because he needed to focus on the memorial. Fred knew in part it was true so he let it drop. But he wasn't about to allow his brother to run away from things either. Harry had come to him as he wanted to face what was ahead of him. He was relieved his brother had come to him. There had been a time when Harry would have tried to face it alone. In all the pain the final war and the last year before that had caused it had made Harry stronger. And showed him that he needed to let some people in. He would be with Harry when he went to Prince manor and whatever he needed Fred for. He had sworn not even to tell his twin for now. The day after the memorial was his day off from the shop and he would need no excuse to be away from it.
The morning of the memorial Harry's mind was on nothing else. He was headed back to school for the second time since the war. Part of him had once considered a career there. He had only seen auror due to the war. But that would never happen with Albus. And his thoughts were to play.
Remus came down with Teddy when it was time to go. "Today."
Harry turned to look at him. "The last one."
Remus looked down at his sleeping son. "The second hardest."
Harry came to his side. "You don't have to go you know."
Remus shook his head. "There are a lot of people I loved being honored."
Harry was reminded the monument was for the heroes of both wars. "My parents and Sirius would agree."
Remus knew he was right. "They would understand if you didn't go as well."
Harry sighed. "I am expected to give a speech."
Remus shook his head. "Albus."
There was a knock at the door. "Am I interrupting?"
Harry turned to see Ted in the door. "I didn't expect to see you until later."
Remus handed the baby to Ted. "Ted offered to take Teddy."
Ted nodded. "I can't…..I knew you would both be going."
Harry hugged the man even with the carrier. "We understand."
Ted sighed. "I wish my wife did."
Remus bent and kissed his son, and then looked at his father in law. "Thank you."
Ted went to leave but he said. "I am trying to get her to back off."
Ted loved his wife but in many ways he was like Arthur. Both men didn't always agree with their wives but they often held their tongue. Both men were married to strong women who didn't often take advice. Ted may never have totally approved of Remus but he was not like his wife. He thought that Remus had been a good man for their daughter. He didn't see fighting Remus for the baby would cause anything but pain in the end. He reminded his wife that if Remus won the case that he could cut them out of Teddy's life all together. She seemed so sure that they would win. He didn't and not simply as Remus had the money and backing of his godson. But that would help out as well.
Harry headed off with his dad to the school. He knew Teddy would not come to school with them but he hadn't been expecting Ted. He had thought Winky would have stayed with the baby. Winky had worked for Harry and Remus since Dobby had died. Kreacher had faithfully served Harry for months but they wouldn't trust him with a baby. But Ted had offered to take the baby as he wasn't up to the memorial.
When they got to the school Harry saw the monument by the water. "No surprise he put it there."
Remus knew what he was thinking. "He would want to erase memories of that."
Hagrid interrupted them as he came their way. "Harry. I was disappointed when you didn't visit when here the other day."
Harry ignored the look from his dad as he hugged Hagrid. "I am sorry Hagrid. Its just been busy."
Hagrid moved to come with them. "You will have to come soon."
Remus looked at his son. "The other day?"
Harry didn't want to go into anything. "Nothing."
Molly smiled when they joined the group. "You are just in time."
Harry looked at the gathered family and others. "So many."
Everyone who was involved had been invited to come. There were those who had fought and others who had simply lost their loved ones. The ministry had been ordered not to send media for the event though. Harry saw many of his school friends and members of the order who were there. It still pained him to look at the Weasleys who were now a family of eight and think of Ron who was no longer among them. Hermione was with them and the partners. Fleur and Bill, the twins and their girlfriends. Percy who was finally reunited was accompanied by Penny. He saw Neville and Luna with her dad and his Gran. Like Ted, Xeno was one who they had thought had died but he had survived.
Harry was reluctant but he had agreed to give a speech. As he stood on the stage though next to the monument he almost fell like he was above his body watching and hearing the words. The words sounded like someone else was saying them.
After the service he looked at the monument and to his shock he saw Severus' name. "Next to my mother."
Albus had come up behind him. "It seemed fitting."
Harry turned to look at the man. "I should have known."
"You were the one who had him buried with her." Albus reminded him.
Harry smirked. "Before I knew."
A voice drawled next to him. "I assume this is yours."
Harry turned to look at Lucius. "And this is?"
Lucius handed him a box. "The order of Melin he just received."
Harry refused to take it. "Your son can have it."
Lucius reminded him. "It goes to his next of kin."
Harry looked to Draco and back. "We know who he gave the things to which mattered to him."
Draco had a gloating smirk. "Then it is fitting you have. He wouldn't have wanted that."
Harry took the box in anger. "I will put it in his stone like the others."
Lucius went to leave. "He was wrong about you."
Harry stopped him. "What do you mean by that?"
Lucius turned back. "That you were too much a noble lion. There is a bit of snake in there."
With that the man left and Harry was left standing and watching him. He was reminded that the hat had actually thought to make him Slytherin. He had begged it to put him in Gryffindor. He wondered if it was a sign of his paternity. He looked at the Weasleys and he knew houses were common in a family. There were exceptions of course like Sirius and Andromeda had not been Slytherin. He wondered if his so called father would have claimed him if he had been in his house. He shook away the thought. He was a lion and he wouldn't change that.
Remus came over and broke him from his thoughts. "Molly and the others are waiting. We are meant to have lunch."
Harry had known Fred would not let him put it off and deep down he didn't want to. He needed some kind of answers though he doubted they would really help. The only people who truly knew were all dead, his parents and his so called father. Even the Malfoys had not known about him. He was such a horrid little secret that his parents had not even told their closest friends. He knew Lucius was to Severus, as Remus would have been to Lily. Heck even Sirius had never known the truth about him. He didn't comprehend hiding such a secret from all of them.
Fred was surprised when he was asked to meet Harry at the graveyard. He had come to place the medal in the headstone. He had done the same with the medals he had been given for his parents and Sirius. He hadn't needed to keep them. His own was in a vault.
Harry stood and looked at Fred. "I guess its time to go."
Fred sighed. "It's not your execution. You can wait but we both know it will bother you."
Harry brought out the papers. "The bank said that the ring will be able to take us there. But which one."
Fred looked at the papers. There were four homes in the UK. "That looks like the main manor, your best choice."
Harry took out the ring from his pocket. "A painting can't be too hard to find."
Fred went to take his arm. "Do you even know his name?"
"My so called great-grandfather?" Harry asked. And when Fred nodded. "I never asked the bank."
He was surprised to get an answer. "His name was Tiberius."
Harry turned to look at Lucius. "I am starting to think you are stalking me."
Lucius gave off a near laugh. "Don't flatter yourself Potter."
Harry went to leave. "If you will excuse me."
Lucius stopped him. "Wofty."
Harry turned back. "What?"
"The name of the head Prince house elf. You may need help."
"And you know I am going there how?" Harry snapped.
"Is it not why you are wondering his name? Or have the deeds in your hand?"
Harry snapped the file shut. "How do you know? I thought he had never been."
Lucius shrugged. "My father and your Unc…Cicero Prince were colleagues."
Harry smirked. "I should have known. Cicero, Tiberius…..Lucius. You all like your stuffy names it seems."
Lucius couldn't deny it. "Severus."
Harry did note that his grandmother had chosen to follow what seemed a family tradition. Other then using her muggle husband's name as a middle name for her son. He wondered if he would have been something like Flavius if he had been known. Draco escaped it but that was his Black blood showing. And his name was little better. The tradition would die with him Harry was quite certain.
Harry went to leave. "When did she die?"
Lucius stopped. "Eileen?"
"When did she die? I know Cicero died when I was eight."
"You were ten." And when Harry shot him a look. "Eileen was disinherited, why Severus inherited the title."
"And him?"
"Drunk himself to death when we were in school." Lucius of course knew who he meant."
Harry put the ring on. "I guess no family reunions."
Lucius reminded him. "Severus was like you, he considered his friends to be family."
Harry activated the charm on the ring. "Don't be holding your breath on a family dinner invite."
Lucius stood watching with an odd glint. "Never say never."
Harry and Fred were pulled away before he could respond. He found himself standing in front of a huge manor. "May not be so easy."
Fred agreed as they headed inside. "Only slightly smaller then the school. We do know the name of the elf."
Harry grumbled about not thanking Lucius for anything. "Wofty."
An elf appeared and looked at him. "Who be you?"
"I am Lord…." Harry took a deep breath and tried again. "I am the grandson of Tiberius Prince."
The elf bowed. "Welcome home Lord. Wofty and other elves welcome you."
"I was wondering if my grandsire had a painting."
The elf bobbed. "Master follow me."
Harry was surprised when he was not led into a painting gallery of some kind. He was led through corridors into what looked like a library. The home may have been smaller then the school, but the library could compete with Hogwarts any day. He was surprised when he found a painting hung above the fireplace. He was reminded that Wallburga's was alone but then again it was not at the main manor. He expected a gallery. The elf told him the password and confirmed there was a gallery. But that the master had insisted he be hung here and not in the gallery.
Harry woke up the painting with the password. He whispered under his breath. "Here goes."
Fred heard him. "He really can't be worse then her."
The painting woke up and looked at them both. "Worse then who boy?"
Harry cut in. "Tiberius Prince?"
The painting shifted his attention to Harry. "Indeed. Who is asking?"
Harry groaned. "Great seems a family trait."
Fred nudged him. "Perhaps you should answer."
Harry looked at the man. "My grandmother was Eileen."
The painting eyed him. "You are the boy?"
Harry was confused. "The boy? You know of me? I was under the impression you died before I was born."
Fred thought. "The Uncle?"
Harry kept his eyes on Tiberius. "I was told my…..didnt know about me until after his Uncle died."
The painting confirmed it. "My grandson made a visit once shortly after the death of my son. With my wayward daughter in tow."
Harry was confused. "They were here?"
Tiberius motioned. "Their paintings are in the gallery."
Harry was shocked. "He has a painting."
Fred knew why he was shocked. "The school never made one before he died. They didn't have his essence. It couldn't speak."
Tiberius informed him. "I assumed since he was to be Lord Prince his painting should hang."
Harry demanded. "You called me the boy."
Tiberius agreed. "He told me he had a child. That you may come one day."
Harry had to ask. "Why? You disinherited Eileen. Why am I lord Prince? No other family?"
Tiberius motioned. "Distant relatives of sort. You will find a tree over there in the family book."
"Then why?" Harry demanded.
"The family law."
Tiberius explained that the family law stated that if someone married a muggle they would lose their place. But it did not require the heirs to be removed. In the past the children would have been removed out of spite. But Tiberius could admit that Eileen had been his favored child. And he had known that Cicero was never likely to have children. His son was a cool and sometimes sadistic man. He worried his son may join the dark. He ensured his daughter's children would follow him. His son may not have gone dark but other members of the family had.
Tiberius motioned to a box on the desk. "That is for you."
Harry picked up the odd box from the desk. "What is this?"
The man wasn't sure. "Your father left it here for you."
Harry traced the lid but found it locked. "How do you open it?"
Tiberius shrugged. "That is for you to figure out."
Harry looked at the man. "You told me the box was for me. I need to open it."
"Then you must sort out the riddle yourself."
Harry grumbled. "You said his painting is here. I will just ask it."
The man called out before he left. "The painting is asleep."
Harry turned back. "I have the password."
"Its not the same one."
Harry grunted. "Damn him."
"He said his son would know how to open." Tiberius explained.
"Maybe his godson. He had no son who knew him." Harry turned and stormed out.
Tiberius looked at Fred before he left. "He is far more like his father then he thinks."
Fred tended to agree. "Not that I will tell him."
Outside Harry was standing looking at the box. "Damn him and his bloody riddles."
Fred looked at the pattern. "You said it yourself, there is one person who knew…."
Harry cut him off. "I am not about to ask a Malfoy for help."
Fred thought he was being plain stubborn but he held his tongue on it. He had to agree with the painting on his observation of Harry. There were definitely some shared characteristics between Harry and his real father. Though he may have been more Lily and marauder, when Harry was upset, he could do a fine impression of the potions professor. But the stubbornness would not help in this matter right now. If Harry really wanted the answers, he was going to have to seek aid from someone who may know. And the answer seemed clear enough.
For now Fred didn't force it. "Maybe Bill can help. He is a curse breaker at the bank."
Harry was relieved. "Anything to keep me from having to ask Him."
