Time Skip, warnings for mentions of child abuse.
Chapter Five: Tides Turning:
Delphi looked at herself in the mirror. She liked what she saw, she saw a young lady of fifteen years of age, tall and shapely, she had decided to have her hair black with grey eyes as that felt comfortable now. Most people knew she was partial metamorphmagus but they did not care and the reason for that was the fact that metamorphmagus mated for life and to only one other. She had her eye on Harry and he on her, in fact they were betrothed, something that could be broken by either if they wished. Neither did and both were happy with the arrangement.
Right now Harry was working on a horribly abused little boy who was going to survive. His parents were right by his side, they were not the abusers here. They were muggle, yes but their son had magic and they were pleased with that. His uncle had not been and had kidnapped the child and tried to "beat the magic" out of the poor child. Beat was too mild a term in what he had done to the poor child. When Mark Evans had been found it was not clear he would survive, and if not for Mrs. Figg (who had reported Harry's aunt and uncle) he would not have got the care he was now getting.
Delphi turned from the mirror and headed into the infirmary at Hogwarts to find Harry seated by the bedside of the boy. The boy was wrapped in bandages to lesson the scarring and he was sleeping peacefully. His mother was tucking another blanket around him with a worried look on her face. His father was trying to remain strong but the pain on his face was there for all to see. His parents liked magic, as scientists and religious ones at that they saw it as both a gift and an energy source of some sort. Their son was not evil or bad, just a young mage who needed to be trained up.
"How is he?" Delphi asked, "I wish I had my OWLs done, then I could really help."
"You have helped, professor Snape made sure that your potions were the ones used." Harry said, "you have a real talent for healing potions."
"He did, oho how did they work?"
"Very well, he is not in pain and the trauma though bad was caught soon enough. The bandages are so that he does not have scarring from that monster." Harry said, "what will help most is his parents are here."
"I still don't know how my former brother could be so evil." Marcus Evans said.
"It's not your fault, he just knew how to charm everyone." Prudence replied. "what matters most is we are here now for him."
"That is right, he should wake soon" Pomfrey said walking up.
It was true, little ten year old Mark stirred and woke and looked around with tired blue eyes. His brown hair was hidden by bandages but Harry was grateful he did not need to have that shaved to take care of Mark. He saw his parents and looked fearful for a moment, but then when his dad patted his shoulder and his mother held his hand he relaxed. He knew this was not a dream and they were really here for him. He smiled a bit and tried to move but found he was too tired to do so. He did not feel any pain and relaxed as he realized he was safe. He saw others here in the room too and wondered where he was and who they were.
"I am matron Pomfrey, this is healer in training Harry Potter." Pomfrey said.
"Hello, I worked on you, you were in a right state but you will be fine." Harry said.
"Delphi is a potions mistress in training, she makes medicine." Pomfrey said, "the dour scary looking man coming in is potions master Severus Snape."
"I am glad to see you looking better." Snape said.
"He said I was bad." Mark said, "said he was going to beat the evil out of me."
"He was evil." Marcus said, "you are not, you have a gift, and one I would like to learn where it came from."
"Yes it is a gift, you can use an energy we do not know for good." Prudence added.
"Quite, you have loving parents." Snape said, "and next year I will be a professor of yours."
There was a knock at the door and a young man with dark skin the same age as Delphi came in. Mark grinned at him and tried to sit up but Dean Thomas shook his head and walked up. With a flourish he took out a small model of a Hogwarts toilet complete with toilet seat. He had made this himself and he placed it reverently on the nightstand next to Mark. Mark grinned and laughed, and Snape glared at Dean who gulped on seeing the scary potions master there.
"It's not a real one sir." Mark said, "and well I wanted to cheer up my cousin."
"Cousin?" Harry asked.
"Yes, Dean's dad and I are brothers, he was adopted when his mother could not fully care for him. She got sick and died of cancer, his father died in the troubles." Marcus said "saved my dad's life and so we took in David Thomas."
"He adopted me, most don't know unless they ask." Dean said, "I look a lot like him, Mark I thought you were gone for good, I am sorry about what happened."
"He will go away for life, I will see to it myself." Snape said. "Now I have work to do."
"You mean little children to scare." Harry shot back.
"And yet I don't look like I stuck my finger in a light socket." Snape countered.
"Yea, yea, I take after my grandfather with hair and my maternal grandmother with my eyes, she had lovely eyes." Harry said.
Harry never spoke of his parents and no-one else did really. Why would anyone want to after what they did? No Harry was so like all four of his grandparents and those who knew them on both sides and met Harry said the same thing. Something went wrong with the generation between but Harry was more than fine and even Dudley. Harry had met with him and away from his parents he had turned out okay. He was strong, healthy and planning on joining the Royal Marines right after he finished his A levels and turned 18.
He was nothing like his parents and had been adopted by a strict but loving family. His name was now Dudley Jonathan Fallows. He went by DJ now and actually was a DJ in his spare time. He kept half the money earned and gave the other half to a charity he started for orphaned and disadvantaged children. Away from his parents he had blossomed and turned into a decent sort, though he still had teased Harry on meeting Delphi. It was good natured teasing and Harry saw he meant no harm by it. He wrote to Harry every day now and both were good friends, something they should have been growing up but for Dudley's parents.
"Mr. Potter you sir are a brat." Snape said.
"Thank you professor, I do try my best." Harry said and Mark giggled at this, "yea he acts all tough but he cares. He teaches potions and has to be all scary and strict to keep all of us alive in his classes."
"Hermione is starting to apprentice this year too, already took her OWLs the menace." Snape said, "she is too smart for her own good and well Ron Weasley adores and is intimidated by her. I swear they are not a match I would have seen but there it is."
"They are still young, only fifteen." Harry said.
"Well I am too, but we already know we are for each other." Delphi said.
"True, but those two act like they hate each other at times." Harry said.
"They don't, this last Christmas Ron got her a book on ancient charms, cost him a pretty knut let me tell you." Dean said, "and Hermione got him a Chudley cannons cloak." Dean said, "they know but refuse to admit it."
"Well I will buy stock in popcorn." Harry said.
The door opened again and the headmaster entered and walked up to Mark. He looked sorrowful and took the two parents aside and spoke to them quietly. They looked surprised then smiled and nodded their heads. Dumbledore smiled and walked to sit by Mark who looked at him curiously. He found he liked the aged headmaster and knew the man liked him too. The headmaster took out his wand and in short order there on the nightstand was food, not all sweets but there were plenty of those. There was toast and an egg, tea and potted shrimp sandwiches. Mark's eyes got huge and a gurgle let everyone know he was very hungry.
"Yes you can eat and should." Dumbledore said, "I would be honored to have tea with you and your parents."
"Thank you sir!" Mark said, "thank you so much!"
"You will be going to Hogwarts, and I would not mind to be your magical protector if I may?" Dumbledore said.
"Could you be grandpa?" Mark asked.
"Well he will be your headmaster." Prudence said.
"And he has duties." Marcus chimed in.
"I would not mind." Dumbledore said, "in fact I have adopted Harry as such and a few others, yes that would offer more protection."
Dumbledore had left all his offices but for headmaster of Hogwarts long ago. He felt guilty about letting down so many that should not have gone dark. He even felt like he should have done more for Tom, but then he was not the headmaster at the time. If he had been would that have made the difference? No matter, he was here, and taking care of his children for they were. He held them to high standards, praised them when they did well and when they did not he gently reprimanded. Many a hardened student had turned around (not all) and had renounced the dark arts and all they stood for.
The dark arts were seductive and dark really was not the best term for them but it was a term used since Egypt was in her height of glory. Selfish was a better word for that kind of magic was all about forcing others and things to do one's will. It was not working with and shaping building and growing but all about power. Dumbledore himself had once been tempted by it but had thrown off that temptation and repented. He still had to hunt down Grindlewald and at the end of the day kill him. He finished his tea and headed out to see Neville.
Neville was now a strapping youth strong and gaining power each day. Voldemort was back but weak, so very weak as Neville had given his blood willingly. He had few followers and hardly anyone wanted to join him. Sirius was with Neville as he was willing to work with him. Harry and Sirius could hold a polite conversation but things would never progress from there Dumbledore feared. Sirius was too badly hurt, however Harry did get along with the new Lord Black Regulus. Sirius wanted nothing to do with his family and though he had the same last name he was not part of that family.
Yet today Dumbledore did not see Neville in the chamber where Neville trained. He saw Moody headed in and Dumbledore glanced up. Ah so young Longbottom had got over his fear of heights. Dumbledore walked over to speak to Sirius and acted as if he had not seen anything noteworthy. Moody for his part looked a bit upset as he scanned the room and did not find his student. Neville opened up with a few spells and he got Moody two times before Moody got him. Sirius looked shocked as he looked up and saw the young boy-who-lived up in the rafters. It was not something a Longbottom was known for but then Longbottoms were inventive and Neville was living up to that.
"Oh very clever lad." Moody said, "very clever, no' what will ye do? Ye are trapped."
"Am I?" Neville said grinning, with a shimmer he was gone and Dumbledore blinked and then smiled, a illusion several timed spells set up and Neville was somewhere else. "Find me if you can."
"Oh this is more like it." Moody said, "ye are a Longbottom fer sure. Now where are ye?"
"Right here old man." Neville said and he was, "hello."
Moody shot spells at him and they did not hit. Confused he turned only to get slammed by several spells, and the real Neville walked up wand out and aimed at him. Moody laughed and realized he was not going to get anything on the lad before him. The whole being on the ceiling should have tipped him off but it had not. Moody grunted, his way of showing approval of how far Neville had come. Voldemort might not have followers yet, he might be mortal now but he was still very dangerous.
"That was very good, ye could go against th' dark well now." Moody said.
"I hope so, how is the kid that Harry is healing up?" Neville asked.
"He is healing nicely." Dumbledore replied, his parents are loving and kind and I am honored to have them here."
"Even though they are muggles?" Moody asked.
"The witch hunts started out as a way for muggles to stop magicals from ruling them but turned into a war against women as we all well know." Dumbledore replied "all in all magical or not, humans are a rather evil and cruel lot."
"Aye and we call goblins savage, they don't do torture, they kill quick and kindly, and have a reason fer it. We humans don't." Moody said.
"Yet there is good." Neville said, "I see it everyday."
"Yes, there is good, but I can't always see that." Sirius said, "I wish I could."
Dumbledore felt for Sirius, he was not a bad man and he tried so hard to be around Harry. Yet the pain ran far too deep for him and so it was only a cordial relationship, it would never go beyond that. Sirius was too damaged for that. However, Remus Lupin was catching up with Harry. It had been Harry who had reached out when he found out about Remus and they were good friends. Sirius had retreated from much of the world and though one of the best defense professors Hogwarts had ever had he had little else in his life.
Neville was doing the best he could, he was more than ready to take on the evil dark lord Voldemort. Soon, he would have to face him again but Neville had far more to live for than the dark dork (Harry came up with that one) did. He had family and friends and most of all people who loved and cared about him. He enjoyed the close friendship he had with Harry, Longbottoms and Potters went back centuries with friendship, a friendship that was broken by what James did but rekindled with Harry and Neville.
Sirius picked up a cream puff from the table and took a bite and he turned into a canary. Neville was sure those puffs had been okay but they had not. After Sirius molted and turned back to human he stormed out wand out to get someone. Dumbledore smiled, hopefully this would help Sirius out as he was so sad and angry all the time. He felt something and thought it best to head out. It was a good thing he did as he found Fred and George Weasley with wands out battling, no it was a prank war with Sirius Black. Ah, madness was fun sometimes, oh well someone tried to get Severus, he had to stop this.
"I will end you for that Black!" Snape said as he started to cast spells at Sirius.
"Oh come on, you need a laugh!" Sirius countered, "your hair was ugly anyway, pink is much better."
"Oi!" Fred said, "You don't go after our professor Snape!"
"No, not sporting at all!" George added, "we shall join professor Snape.
"Three on one, well, I guess you need help old friend?" Remus said standing by Sirius.
"I could use some help, yes." Sirius said.
Dumbledore watched as the teams were formed and the battle really was on. He knew he had to end this as it was getting a bit out of control, and there was Minerva heading into battle. He came right behind as she was scary even to him. She made her presence known and all five stopped their battle at once. She did not care for excuses and was not going to deal with any of that. No, when she was done she left the men there a bit worse for wear as it were. Sirius then did something he had not done for years, he laughed.
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So yes, a new character and I did the time skip as the story picks up later and Harry and Delphi were growing and learning. Mark is going to be a presence for sure, and his parents support and love him. As stated before Sirius is not bad and he is starting to heal here slowly.
Anyway, do review, it is how I get paid.