Harry Potter: Chronicles of the Sorcerer Supreme
Disclaimer/Plot/Challenge Information/Author's Notes: SEE FIRST CHAPTER
Recommended Reads: Lily's Plan by sheltie, Fate's Gambit and FG2: The Trio Hit Hogwarts by RobSt, Trickshot, Silver King and Wands and Claws by JustBored21, Soul Scars by Rtnwriter, The Rise of the Last Potter by HPfanfictioner66, Child of the Storm, Ghosts of the Past and The Phoenix and the Serpent by Nimbus Llewelyn, A Harmonious Beginning by SeventhChordHarmony, The Harmony Bond by brigrove, H J Potter by SM wane, Adventures in Magick by PseudonymousEntity and The Last Casualties by muggledad
Key Pairing: Lunar Harmony
Other Pairings: Daniel/Emma; Sirius/Amelia; Xenophilius/Pandora; Others TBD
Normal Speech
'Thoughts'
'Mental Speech'
/Parseltongue/
Review Answers:
Jostanos: Let's just say that the band is getting back together and, as this is pre-Hogwarts, I even have plans to involve them before too long, so keep reading to find out what those plans are;
Dennisud: I've got plans for all involved: oh, and I said to another reviewer about that point, no, she won't be;
Alix33: There's an explanation at the start of this chapter regarding that point;
Tomas30903: Wow, I confess, even I missed that reference…but if there are any similarities, it's just a coincidence;
"I thought I'd never see you again, sweetheart, but here we are. And I promise you, one day, you will be that strong and able to control it so that you know the costs and the risks all the way."
"Promise?" asked Harry, holding up his pinkie finger while he looked into his Mother's eyes.
Linking her finger with his, Lily kissed his cheek as she answered, "I promise…my little Sorcerer Supreme!"
BOOK 1: A Mother's Love
Chapter 4: You've Got Some Splaining to Do!
In the end, much to the surprise of the elder Grangers – before they accepted their kids' understandable choices and, instead, helped entertain them in other ways – Harry and Hermione didn't go out trick-or-treating like other kids in the neighbourhood.
Instead, Daniel and Emma worked with Lily to give the kids a private party in the back garden, during which Lily asked the Grangers for permission to set up and ignite a fire that would burn in memory of the ones they had lost five years before. When Daniel and Emma gave the aforementioned permission, Lily also made sure to silently pray for whatever deity lived in the next life to not only watch over her living son, but hope that the soul of her fallen, unborn child would forgive both her and Harry for what had happened.
Especially since Lily also wondered, albeit secretly, if Harry was ever going to be able to forgive himself!
At the same time, as though in a bid to distract her from the dark thoughts clouding her mind, heart and soul, Lily was amused to notice the variety of sugar-free snacks and treats that were on offer for the kids.
At least, this was the way she felt, until Daniel explained about him and Emma being dentists and not doctors as Lily had first guessed when she'd heard about the surgery they worked at.
This also led to a curious, but interesting discussion about why Daniel was known as Doctor Granger, but Emma was only known as Mrs Granger, which led Emma to explain that she was, at the moment, finishing up her studies to earn said doctorate. As part of her final examination, she was being assisted by Daniel's offer of swapping alternate days with her at the surgery, so both of them could raise their loving ward and daughter, but, thanks to this, she was on her way towards earning her full DDS doctorate.
Of course, as both Grangers also explained, just because they were dentists, it didn't mean that they denied their kids the occasional sugary treats, just as long as they both knew that too much was bad for you and that you had to take care of your oral hygiene.
Amidst the warm glow of the fire, the yummy treats on offer and the warm, loving comfort of both his Mother and his adoptive family, Lily was relieved to notice that Harry soon managed to cheer up, although, at the same time, Lily had to hide her tears when she saw him kneel before the fire and say he was sorry to his Daddy and his lost sister for not being able to save them.
Once again, Hermione became his comfort blanket and, while Lily watched the two kids playing together, she wiped a stray tear from her eye before looking to the heavens where the embers were floating into the skies.
"You'd be so proud of him, Jay-Jay," said Lily, holding a hand to her heart as she told him, "He's safe…he's strong…and, despite their efforts, the fact of the matter is…whether I've been here or not, I know he was, is and forever will be loved."
The only sound that she received in response was the warm, welcome laughter of her little boy's happiness showing itself…
Supreme
The next morning, while Emma called into the surgery and explained she was closing up for the day due to family business and Daniel began clearing up the mess left from the party, Lily took a moment to look in on her son and his bonded.
Because it was the weekend, Lily didn't need Daniel or Emma to tell her that Harry would sleep in and likely stay in his room for a while.
However, when she opened the door, cracking the gap open just enough to check on him, her heart nearly melted in her chest when she saw that her precious little boy was snuggled up next to Hermione, the brunette's fingers linked with Harry's while her arm was draped around his waist, holding him close and safe.
Judging by the redness under Harry's eyes, Lily could only assume her son had been crying in his sleep, if not held off long enough until he was alone with his bonded.
Closing the door again, Lily sniffed once before she looked over her shoulder, not at all surprised to see Amelia standing there – since she had told Lily that she would come and talk to her the morning after the party – though the Director of the DMLE did have a look of abject concern on her face as she saw the steely, determined, but also warm edge to Lily's expression.
As Lily opened her mouth to speak, Amelia cut her off with a raised hand as she told her, "You don't need to say it: I know where you're thinking of going, Lily, but you can't allow your rage to get the better of you. Harry needs you here, not in Azkaban, so…"
"I'm just going to pay her a visit, Amie," explained Lily, the air of self-assurance and even belief earning a sigh from Amelia as she shook her head.
"It was a dark day when people realised how James and his little gang never stopped corrupting you," sniggered the Head of the DMLE, her eyes looking past Lily to the door as she added, "All right…I can pretend I didn't see you when I got here…but just this once. In the meantime, make sure you don't get seen: as long as it's just you and her in the room, I can waive the warnings this one time…for both of your sakes."
Here, her eyes darkened as she added, "That being said, if you tell anyone I said this, I'll deny it completely, but…between you and me, old friend, if anyone deserves to taste the sour tang of your temper for what they did to that sweet little boy, it's that rhabdophobic bitch of a sister of yours…"
Even though she was impressed that Amelia could say the full, official, name of the medical condition described as fear of magic, Lily still thanked her friend, even as Amelia added, "Go…do what you've got to do…just…please, Lil: make sure you come back to him."
"No need to worry about that, Amie," Lily told her, her eyes shining as she took a breath before vanishing with a soft pop.
Once Lily was gone, Amelia smiled and shook her head, silently applauding herself for how there was a part of her already planning to head for the Ministry to take care of some unfinished business of her own.
However, after she informed the Grangers of Lily's disappearance to run some errands – both of whom had already greeted her kindly and knew of her meeting with Lily in the first place – she also sniggered to herself as she remembered an age-old expression that was, quite possibly, even more terrifying to think about considering the source of it was one Lily Alexandrea Potter nee Evans.
A woman whose temper was as infamous and legendary as Harry's so-called title of the Boy-Who-Lived.
'Hell hath no fury over a woman scorned,' thought Amelia, stepping out into the back garden before she vanished with a soft pop.
'To quote the old caretaker: oh dear, you are in trouble…whoever would have believed those words might apply to anything to do with Lily?'
Supreme
Because of the blood connection that she shared with her target, it was almost too easy for Lily to Apparate right into the secure ward of what looked like a mental hospital, if not a round-the-clock, high-security care facility.
Judging by what she could see when she entered the room, Lily was also aware of the camera outside, but she knew that the magic in her would take care of that: after all, magic and electronic appliances did not work well together at all.
Just one of the reasons her target had developed such a strong fear and hatred of magic in the first place.
Approaching the lone, low-set bed that was set up in the corner of the room – the sight of which made her think about the stories of Azkaban's cells, which also made her think of yet another piece of unfinished business she would have to nip in the bud – Lily drew her wand and cast a few charms on the restraints, her eyes filled with pure rage as she looked at the sickly, unconscious individual lying there.
As much as she wanted to feel sorry for anyone who might be forced to end up in such a place, one fact burned through that sorrow like Fiendfyre.
The fact that this particular victim was the source of her baby's pain: this was the vile woman that had dared to lay her hands on him out of some delusional notion of revenge.
This was the woman who'd beaten Harry to a bloody pulp and nearly fractured his skull, which could have led to his death were it not for the timely, fated intervention of those two miracle workers, Daniel and Emma Granger – and their bright, brilliant and, not to mention, now-bonded-to-her-baby-boy daughter, Hermione too, of course.
Yes, as much as Lily wanted to feel sorry for them, she knew that this was the first of more than a few certain individuals that had to pay for what had happened to Harry!
Lifting her wand, Lily felt a curse dance on her lips.
However, as she began to utter the words, she stopped when the victim, her sister, Petunia's body suddenly shifted, before she let out a low, shaky breath as her eyes opened.
As she set her eyes on her sister, the horse-faced abuser's eyes widened in horror, if not disbelief before, trembling in a way that had her lower lip shaking in fear, she whispered two words to Lily.
"Finish me…"
The curse she'd been about to utter died on her lips as Lily stared, her wand pointed at Petunia as she felt the bloodlust, the fear and the fury rising.
However, as she looked at her sister, her own flesh and blood, the redhead's expression softened only enough as the image of this sadistic Muggle bitch abuser was replaced by the face of her baby boy, his beautiful smile and his warm laugh, all of which filled her mind with new warmth.
She also heard Amelia's voice in the back of her mind.
"Come back to him…"
Her words rang true, their meaning striking Lily like a bolt from almighty Olympus itself: she was to make sure that a Mummy was coming back to him…not a monster!
That was what Amelia had meant.
Lowering her wand, Lily slowly shook her head, her eyes glistening with tears of rage, hatred, pain and even remorse – though mostly for the fact that she had nearly destroyed any images of goodness she might ever hold in her special child's eyes – all of which she flat-out refused to shed in her presence.
"No," said Lily, her voice soft, but strong and fierce as she glared icy daggers at her former – as far as she was concerned – sibling, "Death would be too good for the likes of you, Tuney, even after what you did to him…what you did to my little boy!"
Taking a step back, Lily drew her wand before she cast a different sort of spell on the woman, her eyes filled with hate and loathing as she told the spiteful Muggle, "All those years…all your blind arrogance…your one-sided notions…and you never understood my feelings: well…now you will…"
"Please…" gasped Petunia, unaware of the magic hitting her as she cried, "I can't…I can't take it anymore: my son…he needs me…"
"And mine needed you," said Lily, her eyes filled with hate as she used what little power she had over the art of Legilimency – one of the few things an old friend had taught her before Fate separated them – to read Petunia's mind to see the truth for herself.
She saw Petunia being allowed to see a pale, but portly, not to mention badly-bruised individual whom Lily could only assume was her sister's son, Dudley; a boy whom Lily knew, had the situations been reversed, she and James would have loved and raised happily alongside Harry and any other siblings he had, even if Dudley didn't have magic.
As Lily scanned the surface of Petunia's thoughts, she saw Dudley screamed about the other boys being really mean to him, and how he wasn't being allowed all his toys, or to watch his shows or eat his chocolate, and how one of them was doing something called sizing him up, which left Dudley terrified to be alone in the room with said boy. She saw Dudley being admitted to St Brutus' Secure Centre for Incurably Criminal Boys after so many failed fostering attempts had reported vandalism, abuse – 98% of the time coming from Dudley to his foster parents – and even petty theft and running away because he couldn't get his own way.
Pulling herself out of Petunia's mind, Lily just scowled as she told Petunia, "I'm sorry…you actually expect me to help you…help that?"
Petunia whimpered softly, before Lily scoffed as she snarled at her ex-sister, "Well, maybe now you'll know how it feels to know that you were the one left powerless to help him, Petunia. However, unlike whatever is happening to your over-spoilt little pig of a son, mine is perfectly-happy, not to mention healthy and he lives in the warmth, love and caring support of the kindest, sweetest people I could ever hope to meet."
"He…he's alive?" gasped Petunia, earning another fearsome glare from Lily as she nodded.
"Yes…and, right now…he is waiting for me…to come home…" said Lily, unable to stop the tears from falling, even as she turned her back on Petunia, mostly so she didn't give the evil Muggle bitch the satisfaction of seeing her cry, as she went on. "So…I refuse your plea…and I also refuse to help your child…no…in years to come, my former sister, I want you to think about all that you let happen when you hurt my son, spoiled your own freak of a child and…and blamed Harry for something he couldn't control…"
"He…he murdered my…my husband!"
"He was two!" snapped Lily, her ire causing the lights to flicker, which caused Petunia to cower from the magic like the insect she was as Lily glared daggers at her sister once more. "Two years old…and you tried to murder him…your own flesh and blood…no matter how much I knew you loathed and blacklisted me…I knew I had enough goodness in me to feel sorry for you…to hope…to pray that you might return the favour, Petunia…extend the same olive branch that our parents did…but no; no matter how much you hate me, I…I could never even begin to think of doing to your brat what you did to my special little boy…"
"You…are always…going to be…a freak…and…and so…is…it!"
"Then that will be my cross to bear," said Lily, wiping her eyes before she flicked the tears against the wall nearest her as she pocketed her wand again before she looked at Petunia with a very small amount of remorse as she continued.
"Still…in spite of your hypocrisies and insults…I need you to know: before today, I have always thought of you as…as my sister, but now, for what you have done, for the pain you must now feel…and because I know that there is a bright and brilliant soul waiting for me to hold him in my arms and love him until the day he dies surrounded by all who love him…maybe even call him Daddy…I disown you, Petunia Dursley. Now…for all you have done, for what you have tried to do, you have exhausted my patience, but, before I leave you to your fate, whatever that may be, I do hope you understand that, even now, whatever's about to happen, I want you to remember…that this is me…being…reasonable!"
This, it seemed, was the last straw for the vile Muggle: freed from her restraints as she had been by Lily's magic, Petunia attempted to charge at her sister, screaming about freaks and finishing the job!
Though not before Lily Apparated out of the room, leaving Petunia to smash her skull hard against the wall, before she fell, colliding with the basin in her cell where, thanks to the collision of solid ceramic and human skin and bone, the end result was instant death for the horse-faced monster.
Strangely, when the orderlies checked the security footage, the only thing that they saw was Petunia somehow breaking free of her bonds before screaming bloody murder as she ran to the basin, thus resulting in her gory demise.
As for poor, unfortunate Dudley Dursley, he was left alone in a world that saw meaty offerings like him as treats rather than the dominant spoiled brat that he was.
Lily would never know and, even if she ever suspected, she would never care.
She'd said her piece and, as far as she was concerned, it was like the old saying went, when it came to thinking about monsters that had harmed her son.
Hanging's too good for them…
Supreme
After returning to the Grangers' house to check on Harry and see if he was up and about yet – not to her surprise, he wasn't, but that didn't stop her from once again relishing in the sight of her baby boy held in the arms of his dear friend, their warmth and light reminding her why she had chosen to be reasonable – Lily told Daniel and Emma she had one more bit of business to take care of, then she'd be free to answer any more questions they might have concerning Hermione's future as both a witch and as Harry's bonded.
This time, when she Apparated, she reappeared in front of a set of magically-enchanted gates that led up a winding pathway towards a medieval, but illuminating castle that seemed to provide a small air of awe and wonder for Lily even now, despite the rage that she felt bubbling inside of her as she walked towards the gates.
As if sensing her arrival, the gates opened and admitted Lily onto the grounds; as she walked up the long and winding path towards the school, she felt a small smile touch her face as she thought about the last time that she'd walked through those gates.
It was when she'd walked out of them as Head Girl, a graduated Apprentice Charms Mistress with a desire to carry on the work of her old friend and mentor, Filius Flitwick, or encourage the teaching of magic such as Health and Healing with Poppy Pomfrey.
Of course, marrying James and falling pregnant with her special little boy threw a wrench into those plans, but Lily didn't regret it for one moment.
Her boy was as beautiful as he was powerful and, if raising him meant giving up her dream of being a teacher, so be it.
As she reached the entrance to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Lily smiled softly at the sight of the students and the occasional staff member noticing her arrival, some of them looking surprised, as though they recognised her.
Giving them all a polite inclination of welcome, Lily made her way towards the familiar corridor that led to the Headmaster's office; as she walked, her face showed a smile of reminisce as she remembered the many times she and James – and yes, even Severus – had come here as a result of being caught out somewhere they shouldn't be.
Or, more often than not, because she was a witness, a go-between for James and Severus' rivalry for her affections.
Just as she reached the familiar stone gargoyle, however, Lily nearly jumped in shock when a female voice asked her, "Aunt Lily, is that you?"
Turning to the source of the voice, Lily's eyes widened as she found herself looking into the clear-grey eyes of a young girl that seemed to be around twelve years old, with dark brown hair and beautifully-smooth skin; she was dressed in the uniform of a Hufflepuff student and, to Lily's surprise, the girl didn't look horrified to see her.
On the contrary, she was smiling, but she did seem surprised as she asked, "You…you recovered?"
As Lily nodded, trying to put a name to a face, her eyes widened as she saw the girl's hair turn a warm, but almost-delightful shade of bubblegum pink, almost like she'd sensed that Lily didn't recognise her.
Seeing the magic on display, Lily's eyes widened as she asked, "Nemo? Is that you, dear?"
"Yes, Auntie," replied the girl, who seemed ecstatic to hear the nickname, judging by how she suddenly ran towards Lily before she hugged her warmly, earning a laugh in response from the woman as she returned the embrace, her eyes shining as she asked, "I…I can't believe it! I mean, I can believe it, because even Mum always said you'd wake up one day, but…I don't believe it. Hey, is Harry here too? Have you seen him? Oh, please say he's somewhere he can be happy; you know, Mum and Dad are always asking about him, especially since cousin Siri is…"
"Okay, okay, calm down, Nymphadora," argued Lily, earning a scowl from the girl before her hair turned a fiery shade of red that was similar to Lily's, while the real redhead let out a laugh as she ran a hand through the girl's hair, watching as the touch seemed to be enough for it to return to a normal shade of brown.
"Sorry," said Lily, tousling the girl's hair softly before she added, "I always did know that saying it was the only way to calm you down…anyway, to answer all your questions: yes, I have seen Harry, but, no, he's not here: he's currently with people I can trust to watch over him. Personally, I'm surprised Andi and Ted are asking so badly, since they were part of the guardians' list James and I made, but I think I'm about to get my answers as to why that may be."
Here, she sighed as she explained, "Also, before you say it, with regards to that dim-witted dogfather of my baby boy, Sirius I'm a big idiot Black, he's actually innocent of the crime that he was convicted for, but I think I'll save that explanation, and the arse-kicking he's owed for it, for when Andi sees him: listen…"
Placing a soft hand on the girl's shoulder, Lily's smile widened as she asked, "Why don't you go and ask your Head of House for permission to leave the grounds for the day? If she asks why, just say it concerns the student who deserved an EE for that essay on the Venomous Tentacula's healing properties. She'll know what you mean."
"O…okay," said Nymphadora, also known as Nymphadora Cassiopeia Tonks, Lily's god-daughter and someone that had always put a smile and a laugh on baby Harry's face before they'd been forced into hiding.
At the time, little Tonks had only been seven when they'd died – being born in the September, which also meant that the Tonks girl Lily was looking at now was, actually, a first-year Hufflepuff – but before then, she was a welcome guest to the house.
Her nickname, Nemo, had been one of Harry's first words and, while she'd been surprised to hear him say it, Tonks took pride in it because of what Lily had told her when she asked why he'd said it like that.
"It's a name that means Nobody and, since you can be the Mistress of Disguise, you are everybody and nobody, my little shapeshifter."
Now, though: it looked like the little shifter, aka the Metamorphmagus, had grown into a lovely little girl and, knowing her baby boy, she would even make a loving big-sister sort of figure, who'd probably also love meeting and getting to know his intended.
With that thought empowering the good feelings she had, Lily smiled before she turned and, walking towards the statue, she didn't even react when its magic was triggered, admitting her to the office at the top of the stairs. However, when she walked through the door leading into the office of the Headmaster located at the top of the stairs, she was surprised to see not only the target of her ire, but a familiar dark-haired Potions Master, as well as a stunned, Scottish Animagus and a relieved, but delightfully-familiar brown-haired man, who looked like he had gained more flecks of grey in his hair colouring than the last time she'd seen him.
Seeing her walk into the room, it was the brunette who broke the silence, "L-L-Lily? Merlin's beard! I…we…we heard the news, but…Merlin's beard! Is…is it really you?"
"Not the first time today that I've been asked that, Moony, my old friend," replied Lily, knowing that the use of the nickname would be enough to get the man's attention, just as it had done with Tonks.
Sure enough, Remus Lupin gave a teary laugh as he looked past Lily, as though expecting to see something more, before he asked in an almost-hopeful voice, "And…and my cub?"
"He's safe," answered Lily, looking past the other figures in the room – aka, her old Head of House, Minerva McGonagall and her old, if somewhat-distant, wayward friend, Severus Snape, whom, despite Lily's words to Remus, still looked like he'd seen a ghost – while she glared at the twinkling blue-eyed, bearded gentleman sitting behind the desk, her voice turning icy as she hissed, "And on that note, I think you have some explaining to do, Albus, and they'd better be good!"
"Lily," replied Albus, but his words were cut off as Lily held up a hand.
"Oh no…you don't get to do that…no, it's Lady Potter to you, old man!" snarled Lily, her eyes crackling with a fiery rage in them that was only familiar to one man; that being Severus, who swallowed hard as he looked from Lily to Albus and back again while she continued in a fierce, firm voice that even made Minerva McGonagall's leonine-like rage seem pale by comparison. "Tell me…what in the name of magic, and all things sane, were you thinking in deciding that you were going to leave my son with Petunia? We planned for the worst and hoped for the best, Albus: as Remus said, Merlin's bloody beard: you were in on it…I mean, James trusted you! I trusted you! We told you everything! We…we let you convince us that my little boy's godfather was a bad choice for Secret Keeper and you…you just went behind my back: why? Was it for kicks? Or is this because of that sick obsession you seem to have with the Greater Good?"
"L…Lady Potter," answered Albus, his voice calm while he also raised his hands, showing her that he was unarmed, "I know you might think I have betrayed you…"
"Oh, well, gee, Professor, I can't imagine why would I think that?" drawled Lily sarcastically, her eyes now looking to Remus as she added, "And, before you say it, Remy, I think you of all people shouldn't need to be told that Sirius is innocent of his crimes as he should know!"
She jabbed a finger in Albus' direction while Remus' eyes widened with horror, his own eyes now turning to Dumbledore while Lily returned her ire to the old man once again as she hissed in a menacing voice.
"Sirius…"
A whisper of magic seemed to follow this one word.
"Frank…"
Suddenly, the light in the Headmaster's office dimmed while a whisper of powerful magic suddenly filled the room as Lily continued.
"Alice…"
Over their heads, the staff saw the Headmasters' portraits trying to retreat into their frames.
"Pandora…"
The cabinets nearest Lily, as well as Dumbledore's Pensieve, started shaking violently.
"Xenophilius…"
On his perch, Fawkes the Phoenix tried and failed to let out a song of consolation and aid, compared to the fury that was present in the room.
"Andromeda…"
The door behind Lily suddenly flew open before it banged shut again and again as her ire grew and grew.
"Eddie…"
Where he stood watching with disbelief and wonder, Remus actually felt his less-welcome side retreat deeper and deeper into the brunette's soul, as though it would rather be anywhere, but in the presence of this sleeping dragon tickled.
"Minerva…"
McGonagall's eyes widened, while even her glasses started cracking, as did those around Lily.
"Filius…"
Close to where he sat, Albus noticed his Floo Gate burning brightly, the flames now casting long, intimidating shadows around the room as Lily's rage continued to rise higher and higher.
"SEVERUS!"
The Potions Master's eyes widened with disbelief while, as though her roar was the final step, the whole office became a mass explosion of parchment, glass, shards of metal, drops of water from the Pensieve and even clouds of dust from the very brickwork all around them.
And yet, to the surprise of the others, the only thing Dumbledore did was wave his wand, repairing everything with a level of ease that only could have come from a master-level sorcerer like him.
Lily, meanwhile, had tears in her eyes as she hissed at Albus, "They were all options for guardianship, chosen and agreed upon by all involved, to take charge and responsibility for my son, if anything happened to us, Albus, and you know it. Hell, James even suggested having you raise our boy because of how special he was! But, five years after the fact, I come out of a magically-induced coma and what do I find out? Let's do a headcount here: Frank's dead, Alice has gone to ground, Sirius is in Azkaban, Remus vanishes to who-knows-where, Severus has become persona non grata and even Andi and Teddy turn away my son's upkeep…and why? Because you decided that you had to arrange everything for yourself: I mean, did you even ask if any plans had been made?"
"Lily…" Albus began, but this time, he was surprised when Severus cut him off with a fierce snarl of his own, which, although he didn't say it aloud, Albus hadn't heard from Severus since after the dark night five years ago.
"I trusted you…to protect her!" said Severus, his voice laced with a moment of rage of his own as he added, "I risked my life for your sake, keeping tabs on the rumours of the Dark Lord's return and, when I thought I could finally be free of the curse and the horrors of my past, it was you that told me to keep my distance for Lily's sake!"
"Severus," Dumbledore began, but once again, he was cut off, this time by Remus.
"This…whole…time," growled Remus, actually making Severus step back in intimidation as he heard a note of the other guy's presence in the man's voice, while Remus clenched his fists as he snarled ferociously, "All this time, you knew Sirius was innocent: the whole time, Albus! And when I asked you to let me help me watch over my honorary godson, just as I'd promised James I would do, it was also you that told me it was too dangerous because of my lycanthropy!"
"Which is the biggest load of Hippogriff shit I've ever heard!" argued Lily, looking now to Remus with a softer, but still-annoyed air about her as she told him, "I know you, Remy! I know you'd never hurt Harry; hell, you'd sooner ingest pure wolfsbane before letting him get within three inches of my baby's skin to turn him."
Remus just nodded, though, as he did so, Lily thought she saw a glint in his eyes, which, for a moment, made them look amber.
"May I say something?" asked Minerva, earning a curious look from Lily, which also distracted her from Remus' glinting eyes, before the Head of Gryffindor explained, "I feel I should tell you that, like him and even Rubeus, I was there that night, Lily. I know it's no consolation, but I tried to explain to Albus that they were the worst sort of Muggles imaginable, but he argued…"
"What?" asked Lily, her eyes glowing once more as she snapped, "That they were the only family he had?"
Judging by Minerva's guilty look, Lily guessed this was either Albus' exact words or she was close enough.
This, for Lily, was the final of final straws, "His only family? For fuck's sake, you senile, old bastard: they tried to kill him!"
Her words struck a terrifying chord with everyone present.
Even Albus was as white as a sheet, his eyes shining with tears of alarm, sorrow and pain while, at the same time, Lily was aware of the door to the office opening once again.
Turning to the source, she managed a small smile when she saw Pomona Sprout, Head of Hufflepuff, walking into the office with the young Tonks behind her, the portly woman's eyes widening as she saw Lily standing there.
However, seeing the rage in her former student's eyes, Professor Sprout sighed before she shook her head sadly as she told Lily, "I should have known you wouldn't wait, dear: many of us speculated, especially Minerva and Filius, that the minute you learned of little Harry's fate, you'd be back here, but I never…"
"He's safe," said Lily, silently wondering where, exactly, her old mentor was – though she also reasoned he might be at the morning feast, since the other Heads of House were all present – while she looked back to Albus as she added, "Safe, strong, loved and cared for in ways that have been lost because of what happened that night! He…he also knows what…what became of his unborn sister…"
"Lily…" whispered Severus, but Minerva shushed him as Lily continued in a strong, clear tone. "And, as much as it hurts him, he is still able to be that brilliant, beautiful spirit of magic I gave birth to, especially since he has the loving support of a brilliant young girl who might one day become the brightest witch of her age when she joins him here."
"You…you mean he's…he's currently living with magical people?" asked Remus, earning a small smile from Lily as she shook her head.
"Actually, they're the parents of a young Muggle-born…and, yes, Severus, I see the irony in that," said Lily, earning a surprised look from Minerva, while Severus actually allowed himself a thin, amused smirk at the casual reference to their shared pasts.
Meanwhile, Albus' look of trepidation turned into one of almost-relief before it was shot down as Lily added, "Oh no, you don't! Don't you dare get any ideas about twisting this to whatever delusions you might have in your head, you senile old fool! You see, there's something I never got the chance to say, mostly because I was more-focused on my little boy's safety, but I'm saying it now! James might have trusted in your little hope for redemption act, but ever since you told me about that damn prophecy, I wasn't convinced."
"Prophecy?" asked Minerva while Lily also noticed Severus' expression turning dark.
At the same time, Remus heaved a deep sigh while Lily kept her eyes on the headmaster, who now found himself under fire from Minerva as she asked, "Are you seriously saying that everything you've neglected to do for that boy has been because of some prophecy?"
"Made by your very own Divination teacher," said Lily, earning an even darker look from Severus while Minerva was as white as a sheet, her rage showing through in her pinprick-sized pupils while her hands trembled as Lily kept her eyes fixed on Dumbledore as she pressed on, "I don't know what you were hoping to achieve in leaving him there, Albus, but I'm telling you this once and once only! If I find any reason to suspect you might be setting up my baby boy to die, just because that fraud says he must, I will make you wish you'd never been there that day…hell, I'll make you wish that you had died instead of your sister!"
Again, a blast of magic rocked the office, though whether that was because of Lily's fury, or the look of sheer horror on Dumbledore's face as Lily used the most-hurtful, most-personal comparison she could think of, nobody knew.
Meanwhile, Lily turned her eyes on Severus as she added, "As for you, my old friend, I just have one thing to say. From now on, whatever your problem is with anything that may or may not remind you of James, I want you to tell me and me alone. In the meantime, it's not official, not yet anyway, but, for now, you can think that I'm calling in James' debt over you, which means, in repayment for it, you're going to help my son master his magic and learn his craft rather than looking at him and seeing a double of James."
Here, Lily's eyes softened as she gulped hard before she whispered, "Let what is dead stay dead, Sev…if you can, I'll finally forgive you for…it!"
Severus' eyes widened as he silently wondered what it his oldest of friends was referring to – either the Mudblood slip-up when they were students or an it he wasn't even sure she knew about…not yet, anyway – before Lily looked back to Albus as she told him, "Once I'm sure Harry's ready for school, Severus will come back to Hogwarts, but you should know something now, Albus."
"What is that, dear lady?" asked the headmaster, earning a frown from Lily.
"What I've done…what I've offered you…it is me being reasonable…and that's not the first time I've had to say that this morning," said Lily, a note of pain and finality in her voice as she explained, "But this…here and now…this is your last chance with any of us, including my little boy and his extended family and friends. Whatever your reasons, they stop now! And, before I forget, I'll be taking James' cloak, the wand that rightfully belongs to Harry and anything else you might have decided to keep for his sake!"
Here, she looked to the others, all of whom seemed to know better than to argue with Lily Potter when she was like this, "It may have been five years, and he might have a new family that loves him just as much as I do, but even they know that I am Harry's Mother; no-one else and, no matter what happened five years ago, it doesn't change that fact. I decide what's right or wrong for him to know, to experience and have; I decide what he can and can't learn or who he can and can't see and only I decide what happens to anything of his, including all inheritances he's due."
Heaving a deep sigh, Lily then looked over to Remus before she asked, "Will you come back to him, Remy? I know he'd like it."
"Of course."
"Lily," added Pomona, causing the redhead to turn to face her, "I…I just thought you should know that Alice can be found at her family's estate, but you'll need written permission to get onto the grounds: she hasn't shut Neville in, or anything, but…but I know that she does keep a close eye on him in case of anyone doing to him what they've done to Harry. In fact, the only reason I know this is because Alice has discovered her son to be something of a prodigy with Herbology, just like you were with Charms."
"Thank you," sighed Lily, looking now to Severus as she asked, "Will you do me one favour before you join us, Severus?"
"What?"
"Go to the Lovegoods' home, and bring Luna and her parents to us; I'll give you the address once we're out of here," she glared at Dumbledore as she said the last part before she added, "Now, it's going to be a little less than five years before I should ever need to come here again, Albus: if you value what little faith we have left in you, I wouldn't give me a reason to break that, understand?"
Albus nodded sadly while Lily then held out her hand as she added, "I almost forgot: the cloak, the wand and anything else owed to my son: now!"
Drawing his wand from his robe, Dumbledore flicked it once and, as everyone watched, a tightly-bound bundle flew into Lily's arms, the whole thing bound with unbreakable steel wire while a written scrawl spelled out Harry's name on the top.
"At least…" Dumbledore began, but he faltered slightly as Lily glared at him once again.
"If I feel you've earned your chance, I'll keep you in the loop on his growth," said Lily, her eyes flashing with raw determination as well as the fire of a Mother watching over her child as she reminded him, "But just remember, Albus: one chance is all you're getting!"
With that, she turned on her heel and left, accompanied by a stunned-looking Tonks, as well as Remus, a furious-looking Severus and a solemn Minerva, who just looked back to her oldest of friends before she shook her head.
"I tried to warn you it wouldn't end well," said the Head of Gryffindor, her eyes fixed on Dumbledore as she added, "If I were you, I'd get Horace on the Floo and offer him his old job back: with Severus gone for the foreseeable future, we're going to need another Potions Master and Head of Slytherin House…also, I think you should cancel classes for the day while I retrieve Filius and get him to join us on this little excursion; make up some excuse, Albus…you're good at that."
The barb was well and truly earned, and, as a result, Albus was silent: in fact, he was well-and-truly quiet until the moment that the door to his office closed behind his guests, which he took as his cue to lay his head in his hands, a part of him aware of Fawkes, his faithful friend, singing a song of lament for his old fool of a friend.
Looking up at the beautiful creature, Albus sniffed sadly before he asked, "Oh my dear friend, what have I done?"
Rising from his seat, the old man felt his century's worth of age catch up with him all at once as he walked/stumbled over to the Pensieve, a part of him wanting to forget that this ever happened while another part of him mourned for the loss of faith, trust and hope that he felt inside him.
Standing over his sea of memories, Albus let a lone tear fall into the pool before he whispered, "Five years…"
As he deposited the most-recent memory into the Pensieve, Albus used his wand to call upon one of the first memories he could recall.
The image of the true power of Harry James Potter that he'd seen reflected in the newborn baby's green eyes that day in Godric's Hollow.
"I promise you, Lily," sighed Dumbledore, staring deeply into the watery image of the innocent soul whom he wanted nothing more than to protect and see ascend to true greatness, the likes of which not even he could imagine, "I will be different…for you and for your son…I will earn back your faith and, come the day, if he should need my aid, I will be here…"
Staring at the memory, Albus let another tear splash into the water before he whispered softly, "I swear it…on my sister's grave…"
The silent ripples of the Pensieve were his only response…
Wow, talk about a chapter that really didn't want to end, but now it has done, how might the future be affected, when it looks like so much is different from what we know: example – Severus is going to earn his freedom and not just be a snarky git: can he manage it?
Also, how will Harry handle not only being given the keys to the kingdom, but also a reunion with old friends, honorary sisters, big bad wolves who want to do anything but gobble him up and, especially, a long-lost piece of his future?
Keep Reading to Find Out
Next Chapter: It's time the band got back together, but their reunion leads to some very interesting surprises, chief among them being for Harry himself; also, speaking of getting the band back together, Lily and Remus have a long-overdue conversation with a stray dog who needs a good kick up the backside…
Please Read and Review
AN: References
Also, as I imagine some of you might spot certain crossover references in this chapter, let me just say that some of them – examples: Lily's parting words to Petunia, and the way her ire increased as she rolled off the list of guardians – were more for dramatic effect and not just a cheesy reference to the actress I chose to portray Lily in this story;
Besides, I wanted to show the way that, even after five years, Lily Potter's temper can and will be like the sleeping dragon tickled.
And if she's this bad, imagine how terrifying her Sorcerer-Supreme-esque son might be?
AN2: Tonks
Also, before anyone asks, NO, Tonks is NOT going to end up paired with Harry, but she is going to be, as this chapter describes her, like a big sister figure to him.
As for her age – just in case any sticklers for detail read this chapter and moan about it – I think I've worked out something nice, if not funny, for her future;
So, at the moment, Harry is six and Tonks is twelve: but her birthday is going to be September 21st – the autumnal equinox: the time of change, seems appropriate for a Metamorphmagus, no? Anyway – so, like Hermione, she's one of the oldest in her class.
Therefore, at this moment in time, she is currently a newly-sorted first-year Puff and, as time goes by, here's what happens;
Harry turns seven – Tonks turns thirteen in her second year
Harry turns eight – Tonks turned fourteen in her third year
Harry turns nine – Tonks turns fifteen in her fourth year
Harry turns ten – Tonks turns sixteen in her fifth year
Harry turns eleven and receives his Hogwarts letter – Tonks turns seventeen and becomes an adult in the magical world in her sixth year;
This gives her two years in the company of our little sorcerer and allows me to have some fun too, so I hope you enjoy the fun and all that comes with it between now and the start of Harry's time at Hogwarts;