H P Boy who livesYear 7- Summer
Chapter 26
Merlin's Miracle
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What does that chapter title mean you wonder? Well read on to find out. You will find that unlike JK, I have a heart. I prefer to reward rather than take away everything away. The last two books in the series were the biggest let down of my life and I take great pride knowing that my very original saga shines in a beacon of white light instead being drowned in nothing but darkness.
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Trista Melanie Monet was putting the finishing touches on her latest masterpieces. She was an eccentric young woman of twenty, with chocolate brown hair, and huge expressive cornflower blue eyes that were magnified by huge coke-bottle spectacles. . She stood only five feet four inches tall and seemed to live in her painter's robes.
"I'll be with you in a few moments. Just need to touch up these paintings." She called to them, as they entered the Great Hall.
There were six easels set up around her with six floating paintbrushes that set about attacking various canvases with paint.
Hermione, who had never seen a Wizard World portrait being made, walked over to see how it was done. These works were clearly all about the four of them. There was one of her and Harry and their first kiss under the beech tree. Draco and Ginny kissing under the stars at the celebration. Her in her princess clothes. Harry in his prince clothes. One of the two of them smiling in their royal clothes, and her favorite was of the four of them smiling for what she remembered was a picture for Uncle Albus and Aunt Minerva. "These are really quite amazing Miss...?"
"It's Trista Monet and thank you, my lady." Trista curtsied.
Harry walked over to the two of them. "No bowing or curtsying is necessary. We're just Harry and Hermione at the moment. When I'm not wearing the crown I'm not in prince mode." He took in her creations and his eyes widened in surprise, she had captured moments in time. "These are amazing just how many were you commissioned to do?"
"It really depends on the client. This series is called The Four Hearts and it isn't even close to being completed..." She was clearly very shy around strangers. "I brought these to show you my work."
"Four hearts?" Draco and Ginny also went to look at the paintings.
"Oh, look Dragon for once you're doing something in a painting besides frowning." Ginny kissed his cheek.
"I want that painting." Draco growled.
"Hey buddy. I like the one of Hermione and my first kiss, but we didn't commission her to do the art." Harry pointed out the obvious.
"Actually, I did and when the set is done each of you will get a painting with other members of the family. I asked for an entire galleries worth of them, so this is only a sample of Trista's 'Four Hearts collection'." Stephen stood in the doorway of the Great Hall.
"You mean a whole gallery of paintings of us as we are now?" Hermione frowned.
"No this is going to be a diverse collection of paintings. You see I have baby pictures of all of you. I have this one where Sirius was watching over a one-year-old Draco and brought him over to play with the three of you." Stephen smiled.
"Wait a second are you telling me that Harry, Hermione, and Neville were the three kids I played with as a baby?" Draco remembered those times as some of the happiest in his life then they all went away.
"Another puzzle piece falls into place." Harry thought aloud.
"There's this one picture where the two of you first met Ron at yours and Neville's first birthday party. Molly, Lily, and Alice were all friends. I wanted it to be an interesting collection, so half of it will be called The New Marauders. That part of the collection will be about various events in yours, Hermione, and Ron's lives. I have ones of the four of you versus Fluffy during first year, Harry in his first Quidditch game catching the snitch, Ron and you rescuing Hermione from that troll, or Hermione having a one-on-one with Hagrid. You name it I have snaps of it." Stephen found himself hugged by Harry for the first time in sixteen years.
"Thank you Gramps that this came from you means everything to me. That you're the main source of the saps from the scrapbook means even more." Harry blinked back tears.
"I love you kiddo. I would give you the world if I could." He hugged him back.
Trista wanted to capture that moment in a painting and began furiously sketching sketch after sketch of the two of them. "I'll call this one reunion."
When all was said and done, it took nearly two hours for her to be satisfied with the sketches she would use for the Order of Merlin portraits. It looked like she was thinking of doing at least half a dozen or more of them. They were all allowed to break for lunch and that left time for Harry and Hermione to spend time with Wills and Kate.
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The four of them were having a picnic lunch on the lawn.
Hermione noticed that, they had a visitor at the castle gate. "Isn't that Uncle Andrew?"
Wills glanced over at the gates. "Uncle Andrew does know of the Wizarding World, but no one knows that I'm here."
"Hermione's right that does look like your Uncle to me." Kate arched a brow at Wills.
"It sure does." Harry agreed.
"Someone has to find out and it might as well be me." Hermione got up and walked over to the gates. "School is currently not in session and admission to the grounds is for guests with invitation only. Do you have one on your person?" She arched a brow at her cousin.
Andrew couldn't believe that Hermione was now a beautiful young woman. "Hermione Anne you know very well that I'm here to see Wills." Andrew smiled at the cousin that was more like a niece to him. "Oh, you look stunningly beautiful by the way."
"Why thank you cousin, but Wills isn't taking any callers today." Hermione smiled sweetly at him through the Iron Gate.
"I've always been Uncle Andrew to you and I don't give a tinker's damn what that pain in the arse nephew of mine wants. Now open this gate!" Andrew was slowly losing his patience with her.
"Uncle Andrew have you ever really noticed how much the two of you resemble each other?" Hermione chose that moment to speak her mind.
"He happens to be my nephew, it happens, now open the gate."
"I mean he looks like a cross between you and Aunt Diana. I really don't see a trace of..."
Harry pulling her into his arms and kissing her into silence interrupted Hermione's theory.
"Angel mine, go over there and keep Katie company." He let her go and she blinked up at him with adoring eyes.
"You... It's not possible...You're the actual Harry Potter...that means that Hermione is..." Andrew could not believe who was standing in front of him.
"I'm Hermione Granger from the books silly. They aren't fiction, in fact that's Hogwarts, and we do go to school here." Hermione babbled on. "Harry is my betrothed, he did vanquish Voldemort, and we are at peace in our world. He's the next Half-Blood Prince, because he's a direct descendent of Merlin, who was the father of King Arthur, and Harry's first grandfather. His Grandfather Stephen Pendragon is the reining King of our world." She took a few seconds to think of what to floor him with next. "Ron and Luna died in the final battle of sixth year and we are about to receive the honor of Order of Merlin first-class in an hour or so. Oh and I think that you and Wills here were given the shaft, because all cousin elephant ears can do is shoot blanks." Now that she had spoken her mind, she marched back over to the blanket, and sat down by Kate.
"Please tell me that she didn't take her special medicine." Wills groaned.
"She's taking the Wizarding Worlds version of PMS medicine and the side effect to it is that she blurts out anything that's on her mind." Harry shrugged his shoulders. "I'm Harry Potter by the way."
"Andrew Windsor and its nice to meet you. Are you sure that you want to take on marrying our Ducky?" Andrew grinned.
"Oh, he's sure all right. The two of them are most definitely soul mates." Wills grinned. "Ducky thinks that father isn't my true biological father. She believes that he's been sterile since the accident before he proceeded with his plan to make England love him by marrying my mother under false pretenses. This would mean that they used other means to insure that I was born." Wills wasn't smiling anymore he was dead serious.
"William what you're saying is ludicrous it would mean..."
"That they used a perfectly medically safe way for me to be born. Then he acted like he was the proud papa not once, but twice." Wills growled bitterly.
"Would you open this gate, so we can have this conversation face-to-face instead of through iron bars?" Andrew had lost all patience with this whole conversation.
Harry walked over and opened the gate. "I don't believe it, she's right again." Andrew's mind was so open now that Harry could easily read him without even wanting to. "Is she never gonna be wrong?"
Andrew stepped onto the castle grounds and almost jumped when the gate slammed ominously closed behind him. "Look, I will admit that I secretly have some of my boys stored just in case an accident ever caused me to not be able to have kids. I did see the medical report after the accident and it got me thinking about one day having my own kids. So I had a secret back up plan and thank god, I never had to use it. I had two beautiful daughters with Sarah." Andrew paced the lawn in front of them.
"You did this before my parents got married?" Wills temper was on slow boil.
Andrew raked his fingers through his hair is frustration. "Look, he basically took a beautiful woman and destroyed her bit by bit and I hated every second of that. She was my friend and what they did was horrid. They chose your mother because she would make the perfect heir to the throne. It doesn't mean there was some grand scheme to insure an heir."
"You were always there for me Uncle Andrew and Dad was only there for me when it meant a good photo op with the press. I got hurt and you rushed to my bedside and to father I wasn't worth his time. You have always been a part of Harry and my lives. How do you explain why he did that? Mum raised us not dad and when we were old enough for him to handle they took her completely out of our lives! That gave father the opportunity to play the perfect widower and act as if he was raising us! He will do anything for a photo op just to insure that he would be the next on the throne!" Wills was almost shouting at him.
"William, you will lower your tone! Don't lecture me on my brother's actions! I know what kind of man he is! What being around his mistresses brats did to you and Harry! My god Wills do you have any idea what kind of ramifications we're talking about if..." Andrew was cut off by Wills next tirade.
"I know that it's true! They murdered my mother! I have files to prove it! They murdered my mum! If they can get away with that anything is possible!" Wills had hot angry tears burning in his eyes. "The Men in Gray murdered my mother! They let her die! I took it upon myself to find out what really happened and even had files sent to me from a trusted source! They ordered them to take out my mum, because she was going to remarry...god they couldn't allow that...because of his religion...She was so happy and they killed her." Wills fell to his knees and cried.
Andrew knelt in front of his nephew, "Why didn't you tell me what you had found? What was sent to you?"
Wills looked up at him with fear in his eyes. "I don't know who I can trust. If the MIG were to find out what I was up to or that I have files that prove that mum was murdered...they could hurt someone else that I love. My god Uncle Andrew they were given the order to kill my mum and it came from the upper monarchy. This means... God I don't even want to think about what it means. I can just imagine what they would do... Threaten Katie, Harry, you, or Aunt Sarah and the girls. I'm the only one that counts seeing as I'm the heir to their precious throne. I just couldn't risk them, you, or anyone."
Andrew pulled out his mobile, but found that it no longer was in-service. "How does one make a phone call in this magic world of yours?" He arched a brow at Harry.
"The thing is that in Hogwarts nothing electric works, but there is one exception to the rule that being my tower." Harry knew that it was frustrating to not be able to communicate with the outside world.
"Son if you're late for this ceremony you can kiss all fun good-bye for a while." James appeared in front of his son.
"Bloody hell that's a..." Andrew stared goggled eyed at James.
"My father's ghostly form and as usual he's being a pain in my backside." Harry rolled his eyes at his father.
:That does it young pup you need a crash course in minding your elders! I haven't done anything close to this in over a thousand years and it's stretching several rules, but then the more that I think about it you really do need this!: Merlin snarled.
:What are you growling about...I was just trying to help Prince Andrew and as for that crack about dad, I wasn't serious. I mean I respect...: Harry was now standing nearly eye to eye with his very much alive father. "DAD!!" Harry wasted no time giving him a fierce bear hug.
James hugged him back just as fiercely, "Yes son I'm alive, but how is this even possible?" He couldn't believe that he was able to touch let alone hug his son again.
"First-grandfather Merlin heard my comment about you being a pain in my backside and took it seriously. He said that I needed a crash course in minding my elders and now you're alive." Harry was so happy that he could barely speak and he wasn't about to let his dad go.
:James, Lily, Jenna, Anastasia, and Sirius are now all alive. I am sorry, but I couldn't include Ron or Luna or the others it just wasn't within my power.: Merlin sighed. :I hope that you can live with that.:
:Mum, Dad, Auntie Jenn, Grams, and Uncle Sirius all alive again? I will not make you regret that you did this for me. Ron and Luna would have been great, but this is beyond anything that I could ever have wished for. Thank you for giving me my family back.: Harry found himself being hugged by his Mum.
:You are very welcome young pup. I am merely trying to assure that a prince of sound mind, intelligence, compassion, and discipline ascends the throne. That and after undergoing those sixteen long trying years of off and on hell you truly have earned this.: Merlin growled hoarsely.
"James we're alive again, but how?" Lily wasn't about to let either of them go.
"It's a gift from First-Grandfather Merlin." Harry could barely talk he was so happy.
"Harry! You're not gonna believe this! Uncle Sirius, your Aunt, and grandmother went from ghost to living in front of the entire council!" Draco and Ginny ran out of the castle towards them.
Hermione was shedding happy tears. "Merlin gave him a gift after he mouthed off to his dad again...He said his dad was a pain in his backside and then flash he's alive again."
"That's the same thing that happened up at the castle." Ginny panted.
"Nothing like this has ever happened. The whole council is in some sort of session to figure out why this happened. When you die that's it your dead." Draco was just a floored by this as everyone.
"I don't care about the reason. My family is alive again." Harry looked over at Wills and Andrew. "Sorry it might be a while longer, but then I'll take you up to the tower."
"No hurry we have all the time in the world." Wills blinked back tears. "You have no idea how lucky you are to have this given to you."
"Oh yes, I do Wills and I'm not going to blow it either." Harry vowed.
"I love magic." Kate walked over to snuggle up against Wills.
"Magic nothing that was a bloomin miracle from god." Andrew finally found the ability to speak again.
"Consider this a miracle from a god who wishes to see magic thriving in the world again." Merlin appeared in front of all of them in all his glory. "Sixteen years of hell this lad has undergone, to assure peace, and magic thrive. So in turn, his fallen family members shall now be revived. They shall be free to live long fulfilling, happy lives."
"That's not possible." Andrew gaped slack jawed at Merlin.
"This comes from a father who had nary the sense to realize his own sons around him. You lad have been duped by the ones who you call mother, father, and brother. Nay will you be able to live in the public eye as how you should be, but elsewhere you and your own will know the truth and be able to be as a father and sons should be. Look into thine heart and the truth you will surely see." Merlin arched a silver brow at Andrew.
"I will bloody well ruin my brother for this. I will get the DNA proof then blackmail them into submission. Therefore allowing you to be able to chose who you wish to marry, and make your own choices. Harry is going to have more free choices as well. I'm going to focus on getting him off his drinking, smoking, partying, and whatever else he's into these days. You are going to finish what you started at the University and will attend training in your choice of military branch on weekends. This will be the start that is going to assure that you are next in line for the throne; in oh five years or so if mother stays her course. Kate my dear you look smashing as always and by the looks of it I believe welcome to the family is in order." Andrew noticed what was going on between Wills and Kate and smiled.
Wills pulled Kate even closer to him. "I think I can live with that after all I already have a pilot's license and Katie would hurt me if I even thought of dropping out."
"You bet your royal ass I would." Kate stood on tiptoe and kissed him.
"I see that my work here is done, so back to the ring I return." Merlin vanished in a flash of brilliant spectra colored light.
:First-grandpa you aren't leaving me are you?: Harry felt like panicking.
:Not a chance young pup. You are stuck with me. I am however going to take a nap for a while.: Merlin yawned.
:Good because I have much to learn from all of my elders.: Harry sighed in relief.
:That you do young one that you do...: Merlin chucked tiredly and then went to his nap.
James could hear the silent conversation between first-grandfather and grandson and chuckled. "You see son once that ring goes on your finger you're stuck with him."
Harry's attention focused intently on his dad. "I got this gift from you?"
"That's right son, you got that from me. Now that I have a second chance, we have all the time in the world to catch up and see what else you got from both your mother and I." James reached out and ruffled his hair. "So you think you need the goatee do you?" He touched his sons chin.
"Hey, it's not that bad of a look!" Wills growled.
"I can remember you going through the mustache phase." Lily smirked. "Or was that the pirate look that you were after?"
"You liked it well enough." James pulled her into his arms and kissed her thoroughly.
"Dad does Aunt Jenn still run at you full blast and tackle hug you?" Harry noticed that Jenn was racing right towards them with Sirius chasing after her.
"Jamie!" Jenna shouted.
"Don't look now honey, but your sister is about to tackle hug you, and I don't wish to be put in harms way." Lily broke off the kiss and pulled her and Harry to safety. "Trust me baby you need to move."
James didn't have time to react he turned around just in time to get tackled by his sister. "Yeah, some things never change."
"Hey Prongs, is it me or are we still twenty-two?" Sirius grinned down at him.
"It's not you. This brat is eighteen and the three of us are at least in our early twenties. Which means that you need to marry this brat and the sooner the better." James tickled his baby sister in the ribs, so she would get off him.
"Hey, that's Princess Brat to you big brother." She stuck her tongue at him.
"I think that I can manage to plan three weddings. After all this is a fresh start for all of us, so a triple wedding is in order." Anna and Stephen strolled hand in hand over to them.
"It's a miracle that we have the family back." Stephen blinked back happy tears.
"Not really it's Merlin." Harry and Hermione winked at them.
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Chapter 27
Twin trouble
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I do not claim any of JKR's characters only that I love being able to create my own kind of mischief with her beloved characters. I do not claim any other things that are owned by other companies that I may mention once and a while in the stories...Although the original characters and ideas are mine and I loved creating them. So please review if you wish but try not to flame me too badly.
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Cindra 2004-2008