~EDITED~
Disclaimer: I'm not J.K Rowling, so the characters do not belong to me.
5 Years Later
Ten year old Harry Potter had never felt so excited in his short life. Looking back, he did not think he would even be a little excited in life after his parents almost abandoned him in favor of his famous twin Thomas Potter but fate was not too cruel to the child and instead being practically adopted by his grandparents and finding friends that actually liked him and had the same tastes and distaste(for his twin) as him was clearly good for him and a lot of positive changes in the young boy.
The reason he was chipper today was because it was the day. The day for happiness. The day for joy. The day when he and his best friends start their formal schooling.
Contrary to popular belief, pureblood students did not start learning when they joined Hogwarts when they were eleven. Rather, they started a year early. The children who started early were future heirs of prominent houses and had much more to learn than the muggleborns who would start next year. It was also done to ensure that their child did not embarrass their family name by being ignorant about what was being taught.
Back then, the child was home schooled in the basics of the subjects and while it was illegal to buy a wand, it certainly was not to use his ancestor's wand and the heavy wards that surrounded the manors made it impossible for the Ministry to detect underage magic. Besides the Ministry wouldn't dare to accuse heirs of powerful family of a crime and it was generally ignored as long as the magic was only performed behind doors and away from prying muggle eyes.
Then a few housewives got together and decided that it was beneficial for all of them if their children studied together. The young heirs could make alliances early in their life which convinced the fathers while the mothers felt that making friends early would ensure a happier school experience for their young darlings.
Hence, ideal minded families would hire tutors for their heirs in a pre-decided location and would formally begin the child's education. The tutor's fee was equally split amongst the families and sometimes, members of one family would teach for free. This process began when the children turned ten, since it would give them ample time to learn and forge friendships.
Not all families were invited and this was no open group. The Lords didn't trust their heirs with anyone except heirs of his allies and like-minded individuals only. It would give the enemies of many houses an open invitation to either kidnap or in extreme cases kill their heirs.
Harry couldn't shake off the smile that seemed to have been plastered to his face. He finished his morning rituals and dressed in appropriate clothes for a boy his station.
Even though Thomas was the more famous one, his grandfather didn't feel he was entitled to the heirship just because the boy had a fancy mark and an even fancier title(his words) and made Harry the official heir of the Potter family which James didn't knew as even if James was acting lord or know as lord potter in the public everyone knew Charlus held the power so James argued telling that Harry has ran away he might be dead on which Charlus simply told "if he is dead Thomas would get the lordship" on which James agreed . Charlus knew that never would Thomas get potter lordship.
Dressed in an emerald green cloak and formal attire consisting of a black shirt and tie, charcoal pants followed by polished shoes, Harry stood in front of the mirror and observed himself. He had inherited his father's messy black hair, the Potter's curse, and after much difficulties and cosmetics, had to managed to tame his hair. He had liked his hair to be messy but grandmother Dorea absolutely forbid him to look like a common hooligan and made him comb it sideways. Draco and Rigel had snickered when he changed his hairstyle but today he had to stick with formalities. His emerald green eyes scrutinized himself, looking for flaws in his attire. It was extremely important he look perfect since would be representing the Most Ancient and Noble House of Potter and did not want to disappoint his grandfather. As the man said, first impressions are for life.
Satisfied, and mentally snorting at the time Draco would take to get ready, he made his way downstairs passing through the halls of Potter Castle that housed so many of his happy memories. He shuddered what he would have done without his grandparents but quickly decided against thinking somber thoughts. Today was not the day to frown and think about what-ifs.
His grandfather taught him the basics of the mind arts, and after discovering that he had a natural affinity for them [he knew because of Gringotts test], began tutoring him in Occlumency. When Harry had questioned why he couldn't learn Legillimency also, his grandfather had explained that his mind needed to mature more before he could thrust his awareness into someone else's mind and suggested he practice only Occlumency for now.
His mind shields were incredible for someone his age and while they were far from indestructible, he could hold on until he could break eye contact. He also made full use of the side effects of Occlumency which enabled him to clear his mind and control his emotions.
He arrived in the informal dining room to find his grandparents both seated for breakfast and the Head Elf Rago who was serving his grandfather, who was as usual absorbed into the Daily Prophet while his grandmother was sipping tea. She noticed him entering and her face split into a wide smile "Who's this handsome devil? My my, the girls don't stand a chance with you Harry ."
"Grandmother!" Harry whined, who could feel his face become hot and imagining the ridicule he would get if Rigel got wind of this, he quickly cleared his embarrassment and took a seat. Rago gave him a bow and asked "The usual Master Harry ?"
"Yes please Rago."
"At once, Master Harry ."
Breakfast proceeded silently, with the occasional ruffling of the newspaper and chinks of china. Harry polished down his breakfast(toast, eggs and milk) with the grace of a pureblood lord which earned him a smile from his grandmother.
She cleared her throat and Charlus looked up and smiled "Ah Harry all done. I suppose we have a little time left and I wish to speak to you about some matters. Come, let us move to my study."
A little confused, Harry dutifully followed his grandfather to the Lord's study and stood at attention before his grandfather took a seat behind the enormous claw footed mahogany desk and took a seat when his grandfather nodded towards the chair.
While his grandfather was busy waving his wand and enacting the privacy charms of the room, Harry surveyed the room that always managed to awe him even though he'd been here a thousand times. Generations of Potter Lords had left their own personal tastes to the huge circular room and it had always felt homey to Harry .
There was a large window to the side which allowed sunlight to flood the room. Against the wall, there was a huge bookcase containing the favorite books of the current Potter Lord for his leisure reading. Currently, it was crammed with law and warding books. There was a huge elaborate marble fireplace to the right above which there was a gigantic muggle painting of the first Potter, Rictus Potter. There was a blood warded safe hidden behind that painting which his grandfather had shown him once.
In all, the room sang out to him and it was one of his happiest memories when his grandfather had fondly placed him on his lap when he was four and promised him that one day he would sit in the very chair as the Potter Lord. He would rule over the Potter lands as was his right as firstborn and there was nothing James could do about this since Harry was born seven minutes earlier than Thomas who was born just before the stroke of midnight and the laws of inheritance was the same for everyone, even for prophesized toddlers.
Harry snapped out of his thoughts when his grandfather cleared his throat and addressed him "Heir Potter."
Immediately, Harry snapped into heir mode. This was no longer his grandfather addressing him but the Lord of the Potter clans. He immediately bowed his head deeply and uttered "Lord Potter."
Charlus surveyed his heir for a second before speaking "Today you begin your first step into the world. You are going to begin your education and slowly step into your duties and responsibilities as heir of Most Ancient and Noble House of Potter. I hope you are aware that your days as a child is over?"
"Yes Lord Potter. I accept my role as the heir to this great house and I promise to bring honor to this house while making sure I do not disgrace to this house." Harry said in a formal voice, gulping slightly about his new responsibilities.
"I have utmost faith in you my heir. In fact, I didn't call you to remind you of your duties but instead give you your birthright." Charlus said and smiled when he saw the curious expression on his heir's face.
He cleared and spoke "It is every heir's right to represent the family they are born into and as a heir of a Most Ancient and Most Nobel House, you represent centuries of culture and traditions. While we were warriors when we established Wizengamot, swords and other weapons were discarded in favor of wands. But it was not forgotten by few famillies. While it is frowned upon to carry swords and other weapons, it is certainly not illegal and for few houses, namely Blacks and Potters, and few others it is a birthright my child."
"why only few families" Harry asked
"Ah you'll learn all this in your history and politics classes. I accidentally let it slip but pay no heed. Back to the topic, me and Lord Black were awarded Baronship for our services in the Grindlewald war and we have decided to make a statement through our heirs."
"I don't understand grandfather." Harry was utterly bewildered.
"I will explain everything when you are old enough Harry . Do you trust me?"
"With my life."
"The trust me on this. This is for the good of the Magical World and for the future of all houses. Now come." Charlus said, waving him towards the fireplace. Charlus waved his wand and the painting slid apart, revealing the vault. Even Harry who didn't know much about wards could feel the lethal power of the wards even at that distance.
Charlus conjured a flawless silver dagger, and laughed noticing the open mouth shock his grandson and said fondly "You will be able to do this one day Harry . Transfiguration after all runs in our blood."
'I sure hope so.' Harry thought, mouth still hanging in awe and winced as his grandfather sliced his palm without even a grimace and held the bloody palm in front of the wall.
At once, there was a flash and the Potter family Totem, a Dragon screeched into existence and judged the blood on Charlus 's palms and after a moment, screeched its approval and vanished. The wall behind the fireplace faded to reveal the Potter family vault and his grandfather ventured inside.
Again, Harry was left was speechless even though he'd seen this procedure many times and again felt his respect rise for his ancestors.
His grandfather had once explained some, if not all the security measures to open the vault. The first invisible requirement was that the dagger for drawing blood must be conjured. An intruder would come prepared with a knife and the magic would immediately recognize it but wouldn't react, luring the intruder into a false sense of security. When Harry had questioned what difference a conjured knife or a purchased one make, his grandfather had laughed and said "Magic Harry . While the metal is same, the conjured one is purely made from your magic and that makes all the difference in the world."
The next one, hidden among the nastiest wards and curses was that once the magic of the vault determined it as an imposter a false vault would open and once the imposter made it inside, pure Darkness would be waiting for him. When questioned further, grandfather had shivered and said he would learn it later from the Family Grimoire when he was fifteen.
The sounds of his grandfather's approaching footsteps snapped Harry out of his thoughts and when he looked at it, Harry couldn't help but stare open mouthed.
Charlus held an ornate scabbard that was ivory in color with jewels studded on it but that was nothing compared to the sword when Charlus drew the sword from inside. It was around 20 inches and was made of a dark metal. It's wicked sharp edges glinted in the morning sun and the pommel was decorated with a griffin head with a small golden beak and ruby red eyes. Harry gasped when he saw the runes etched on the flat of the blade. It ran along the entire length of the blade and glowed red weakly with a power of its own.
"This is Bloodlust. While I am unaware of who is this sword's creator is, this sword has seen a lot of blood and the sword has absorbed the power in the blood as its own. This is no ordinary sword anymore. This is a very rare Potter Family heirloom. "
"But grandfather, what if I lose this priceless sword?! What if I accidentally cut myself?! What if I can't lift it?! What if I use it against Thomas?! "
"Easy lad. I would never be foolish enough to give a sword that could hurt my own grandson. The runes etched on the sword binds the sword to our bloodline. It will never hurt anyone with our blood and hence rest assured you can't hurt Thomas or yourself unless it's a formal duel. The runes will also ensure that no matter where you lose this sword, it will always return to you and once you bond with this sword, it will fit.. Tell you what, why don't you see for yourself?"
Harry nodded eagerly and his grandfather handed him the sword. He had expected it to be very heavy but it was impossibly light. Charlus conjured a silver dagger again and nicked his grandson's finger and blood started flowing. Harry knew he had to work on his occlumency when he couldn't stop a wince from showing.
"Here Harry , smear some blood on the first rune here." Charlus instructed, pointing towards the first rune in the sequence, a rune shaped like a thunderbolt. Harry gasped as it was exactly similar to the cursed mark on his twin brother's forehead.
Charlus nodded gravely "Yes, that mark. It is the Sowilo, a rune signifying, in simple words, power. Your brother indeed has some divine power... but that's neither here nor there." Charlus added quickly, seeing the crestfallen look on Harry 's face as it became apparent that his brother was indeed special.
Harry smeared the blood on the rune dejectedly and suddenly the runes flared with power. Harry yelped, as his mind was suddenly assaulted with a strange magic and he had the strangest notion that he was being judged and he stared back defiantly at the strange magic in his mindscape.
The magic seemed to nod and disappeared in a dazzling show of light and Harry staggered as his mind was bombared with the knowledge on different styles and stances of using the sword. Harry , using his Occlumency skills, quickly caught all the information and before it could clutter his mindscape, put it in a separate folder and imprinted his magic on it so that it was protected and he could examine it later.
"Harry are you okay? Talk to me son." Charlus asked worriedly as his favorite grandson swooned and looked as if he was about to faint.
The dizziness vanished as suddenly as it came and Harry gasped "I know grandfather. I know it."
Charlus looked even more worried, as the unexpected magic seemed to have rendered his grandson insane. Seeing his grandfather's expression, Harry rolled his eyes and said "I'm fine. The sword's magic seemed to judge me and as soon as I passed some sort of test, it exploded and I suddenly have the knowledge on how to use the sword."
Charlus mused "well, I certainly didn't expect that. Go ahead Harry , show me what you can do."
Harry looked at the sword and to his shock, it seemed to have shrunk and fit to him perfectly. It looked like it was custom made to him alone. It was around half its original length and the runes seemed to have been compressed which was now glowing merrily.
Calling the sword fighting folder into the forefront of his mind, he gave a experimental slash and to his surprise, it was very clumsy. It was nothing like the graceful slashing that he knew he could do but his body wasn't responding to that. He gave another stab, a lighting fast accurate one in his mind but a slow, sloppy stab was all he got. He growled in frustration.
"No need to growl Harry ." Charlus chuckled. "This makes perfect sense actually."
"Well?" Harry demanded.
"Just because you were granted the knowledge does not mean you will be phenomenal instantly. Like all the masters in their fields, you must practice and incorporate that knowledge into muscle memory. Makes sense?" seeing Harry nod tentatively, "In simple words, you must practice and practice until your mind and body are one. Thanks to your occlumency your mind is sufficiently ahead but your body needs to practice."
"So I won't be able to use the sword until I train?" Harry asked calmly. He of all people knew that nothing was free and if it was, then it wasn't worth the effort in the first place.
"Exactly lad. I think we can add swordsmanship into your training now." Charlus said, mentally analyzing the advantages this would bring to his grandson.
"We need to find someone who can train me. While it is easy to train here, how can I train when I leave for school?" Harry asked, a thoughtful expression on his face.
"Let me worry about those details lad. Nothing is impossible, not when you are a member of Wizengamot and also hold power in the Board of Directors " Charlus smiled crookedly and Harry smiled back, thinking about the outrageous power his family held in their world.
"Another thing I wanted to talk to you about Harry ... well this topic is quite... sensitive. Do you swear to hear me out and won't judge me till you hear the entire thing?" Charlus asked, a unnoticeable nervousness in his voice.
Harry was puzzled "Of course I will grandfather. Why would I judge you? After all, you have done nothing but good for me. Tell me what is this all about."
"I wish for you to build alliances with other Noble houses only and do not interact with muggleborns."
Silence.
"Um, okaaaaaay. Not judging, but aren't you sounding a tiny bit like... a blood purist grandfather?"
Charlus hated to see the guarded expression on his grandson's face but he had to do this, for the good of his grandson and the world as a whole. He took a deep breath and said "Harry , you know I never believed in the garbage that muggleborns steal magic and make us weaker, and have never supported views which demand that we ban them from our world. They have the gift of magic just like the rest of us."
"But through the years, times have changed Harry . While you remained as a child, the world has changed drastically and it will be political suicide if I do not mention these to you myself. It will not look good if the heir of Potter is clueless when he should be fully aware."
"Why should I be aware of this grandfather? Unless I was oblivated, I have never taken part in blood supremacy debates." Harry asked, the last part with a bit of sarcasm, which brought a smile upon Charlus 's face.
"I shall get to that part in the end. Let them give you the basic details which you will be expected to know. While the Wizengamot has and always will uphold the concept and principles of nobility, the same cannot be said for the Ministry. After your twin brother defeated the Dark Lord, the Dark faction was caught off footed and this gave the Light an advantage which Albus Dumbledore seized. Using the new found influence and power, he immediately had the Minister of Magic, Millicent Bagnold removed and appointed a muggleborn Steven Banks as the new Minister."
"Okay, a muggleborn Minister. That is bad?" Harry asked, baffled. His whole life, he had never expected to have such a conversation with his grandfather.
Charlus grew somber. " Harry . The current Minister is an absurd fool at best and is trying his best to hoard riches and power for himself and his kind. He is least concerned about the magical world. "
Harry stared at him. "Then kick him out for Godsake. Don't you have enough influence to call for a vote of no confidence or something?" It was that simple in Harry 's head.
Charlus smiled at his grandson and said "I wish it was that easy Harry . There are a lot of factors that is playing its course in our legislation and I will not bore you with details. At least not until you're older." He added when he saw that Harry was about to open his mouth. Seeing him nod reluctantly, he continued "The basic reason we cannot remove him is Dumbledore." And Harry was surprised at the barely disguised venom in his tone.
Seeing that Harry was still quiet, Charlus continued "The main reason I began this topic is to warn you to stay away from Dumbledore. I know I might seem a bit controlling but I do not want you to interact with him my son."
"As you command." Harry bowed, agreeing without hesitance. "I'm no muggleborn who's enamored by the great 'Leader of the Light' grandfather." Harry said with a snort.
"That's good to hear Harry . I'm sure Lords Black and Greengrass have instructed their heirs to avoid contact with him also. But since our family's idiot is close to him." Charlus sneered. "He will invite you to have teas to question you about your mysterious disappearance and I want you to reject his invitations if it does not regard academics. If he insists, be carefull for time being until we tell him about our secret. Yeah we are going to reveal this on the right time that you were with me." Charlus finished with a maniacal sneer.
Harry excitedly asked his grandfather when would he reveal he was very excited for the reactions. For which he replied " wait for right time. But till that time stay away from him"
"I know Lily and James adore him and that's more than enough reason for me to stay away from him." Harry sneered back and Charlus was taken aback at the anger he voice held when he spoke of his parents but he really couldn't bring himself to change the child's views when he himself was disgusted at the level his son and daughter-in law had fallen.
"Harry , when you visit Lord Black's Manor, do you follow the rules set by Lord Black? Do you open doors that the Lord Black has expressly forbidden you and little Rigel to open?" Charlus asked suddenly, intently observing his grandson who looked shocked at the suggestion.
"Of course not! Even though me, Rigel and Draco play a variety of pranks, we stay away from the forbidden corridors that Lord Black has warned us not to visit. It is improper for a guest to openly disobey the laws set by the guests."
Charlus hid a smile at his grandson's words
"Now that that's taken care of, let's get you to the school." Harry 's eyes suddenly ignited with excitement as the new phase of his life was about to begin.
He couldn't wait.
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