Chapter Thirty-Five: Meeting the Parents

Two days after Christmas, Harry decided to go to Diagon Alley. Upon arriving, Harry was able to quickly find a store that sold trunks.

"How may I be of service, young sir?" asked the elderly witch from behind the counter.

"Yes, I am looking for a multi-compartment trunk, preferably lockable," responded Harry.

"Absolutely, follow me please," said the witch.

Harry looked at a dozen different trunks. He finally settled on one that was to his liking. It had a white exterior and interior. It also had nine compartments: five bedrooms, a bathroom, a library, a den, and an empty compartment. Harry paid forty galleons for it and left for home thoroughly satisfied. It was a good thing he chose to return at that time.

"What do you think you're doing here!" bellowed Ron, his wand trained on the other boy in the room.

"I've already told you, I was invited here by Potter. How else could I know this Manor existed?" retorted Draco Malfoy as attempted to remain calm.

"Why would Harry do that?" snapped Ginny.

"For reasons you cannot or will not believe," replied Draco.

Ron suddenly snapped and sent a curse at Malfoy. Just as Harry appeared in the den, Blaise deflected it. Harry calmly assessed the scene and stood between the two groups: Ron, Ginny, and Hermione on one side with their wands pointed at Draco and Blaise. Draco had drawn his wand as a simple unheard threat.

"Harry? You're protecting him? After all he's put us through?" asked Hermione, clearly shocked.

"Yes, and if you would please lower your wands, I will explain why," said Harry as all the guests lowered their wands, "Both Draco and Blaise are here by my invitation. You know why Blaise has been invited. I think that it's time you knew why Draco is here. Draco shared his concern of becoming a Death Eater with me when he asked me to allow Blaise to come here. He has been passing false information to his father about me. He has also relayed me the information about the pending attack. Is it safe to assume that since you're here, the ritual was to be held today?"

"Yes, it was. Due to be blatant disappearance, I am sure that I will be disowned. I don't care; I don't need my father's influence anyway. Although, I think I may be in need of a new name," chuckled Draco.

"No, keep it as an insult to your father," suggested Harry, "I'm asking all of you, please, no fighting."

"I won't if he keeps his mouth shut," said Ron as he lifted his wand back up as a threat.

"Then you have nothing to worry about. Over the summer, I was enlightened about my past… defects. I realized that most of my former beliefs were not about me being superior; no they made me the opposite. The prejudices I held only made me inferior. At least, they would have if I was still blind. The beliefs I held were those of murderers and criminals. I refuse to do that to people. I've seen the other end of it. I refuse to become a monster," said Draco with conviction.

Hermione placed her hand on Ron's arm, who, in turn, lowered his wand.

"I owe you all apologies for the things I've said to you all over the past few years," said Draco, "I sincerely hope you all can forgive me. However, I will not try to prove myself to you. I'll have a hard enough time proving myself to myself."

The room was quiet for a minute.

"I, for one, accept your apology," said Harry, "Please, tell me what you know about any Death Eater activity."

"As I've already told you, the ritual was supposed to happen tonight. Should the new Death Eaters prove to be successful, they are given the Mark of Morsmordre, or the Dark Mark. There are going to be three new recruits attempting to join one of the three circles: Crabbe, Goyle, and Andrew Nott. Their fathers are all in the inner circle, along with Professor Snape," said Draco.

"What's Nott like?" asked Harry.

"He's build along the lines of Crabbe and Goyle but he has a mind of his own. The Dark One prefers his followers to be submissive. I have a feeling that Nott will be questioning orders in the beginning and fall victim to the Cruciatus a number of times," said Draco, "For their initiation test, they have been told to kill a family, an American one. I believe the daughter attends Hogwarts. I don't know the surname, though."

"The Smith's?" asked Harry as all the color drained from his face.

"Yes, that's them," said Draco assertively, "Do you know them?"

"You could say that, they live down the street," said Harry, "I've got to go get them and bring them back. They'll be safe here."

'Katie, are you with your family?'

'Harry? Yeah, why?'

'There's no time to explain. I'll be there in a few seconds.'

"All right, who wants to go with me, just in case I need some support," asked Harry.

Everyone stepped forward.

"Right, let's go," said Harry, "Just focus on Katie's presence."

Instantly, Harry and his friends were in a small, quant den.

"Who are you?" asked a man as he stood from his chair.

"I'm a friend of Katie's but right now we have got to get you and your family out of here, you're in danger," said Harry quickly.

"Katie, can you come in here?" called Mr. Smith.

"Yes, Dad," called Katie as she walked into the room, "Harry, would you care to explain that warning?"

"You're in danger," said Harry.

Abruptly, a bright green light filled the house.

"Mr. Smith, you and your wife must apparate to Seven Griffin Lane, its right up the road. That's my Manor, you'll be safe there," said Harry, "Draco, how many Death Eaters should be coming?"

"I can't be certain but I think that it's safe to assume about six," said Draco.

"Okay, everyone pick a Death Eater and get rid of them as fast as possible. If you run into any trouble, call for help," said Harry.

A sudden sound rang through the house. Harry registered it to be the door being broken down.

"Let's get to work," said Harry as he led the charge into the front room.

In the room was three tall and wide Death Eaters, two standing behind the other. When the saw the group charging at them, they stopped abruptly. Harry could see their eyes widen from behind their masks. They quickly turned back to the door and ran away as fast as their hefty legs could carry them. One of the Death Eaters raised their wand and the Dark Mark disappeared from the sky.

"That's a new one, even for me," chuckled Harry.

"No wonder they followed me all those years… they're a bunch of cowards," said Draco, flabbergasted.

"You're safe now, Katie," said Ginny.

"Don't be so sure, there may be others," said Harry.

"Even if there is, those three are in for a world of pain," said Draco.

"Pain beyond reckoning," said Harry, "I've been on the receiving end and it's a place I'm not in a hurry to return to. Is there anything you need, Katie?"

"Just let me get my school stuff and some clothes," said Katie.

"Hurry," said Harry as he turned to the Weasley's and Hermione, "I want you three to return to the Manor and bring back the Smiths."

"What makes you trust Blaise and myself?" asked Draco after the trio disapparated.

"Blaise has yet to give me a reason to distrust him. You… I can't explain. Voldemort won't trust you now. I remember an old saying that muggles have: Any friend of my friend is a friend of mine. In this case, it would be the enemy of my enemy is my friends… for now," said Harry as the Smiths reappeared.

"We asked your friends to stay at the Manor, just as a precaution," said Mr. Smith, causing Harry to eye him suspiciously.

'Ron, Hermione, Ginny?'

Silence.

'Katie, I don't know who they are but they aren't your parents. I think they're under the Imperious Curse. I can't get through to the others and I'm not getting any signal from the Gauge Spell. Stunners on three?'

'Yeah, they've been acting weird this week, this could be why.'

'THREE!'

"STUPEFY!" yelled both Harry and Katie.

"Potter! What did you attack them for?" asked Draco.

"These aren't Katie's parents," said Harry firmly, "Now quiet, I need to speak with Dumbledore."

'Professor.'

'Yes, Harry.'

'This morning, Draco Malfoy arrived at my Manor. He told us that there would be an attack on Katie and her parents. When we arrived at their home, three Death Eaters entered and cast the Dark Mark. Upon seeing us, they fled. Before the attack, I had Katie's parents apparate to my Manor. Soon after the attack, I sent Ron, Hermione, and Ginny to bring them back. However, only the Smiths returned. I tried to contact them but they didn't respond. I believe that the Smiths have been placed under the Imperius Curse. Could you please come and help sort out this mess?'

'Certainly, I'll be there momentarily.'

Sure enough, Dumbledore was standing next to Harry two seconds later. He walked over to the stunned Smiths.

"Umperio," said Dumbledore quietly as he knelt over the Smiths, "Enervate."

"What… where am I?" asked Mr. Smith.

"What happened to us?" asked Mrs. Smith, "The last thing I remember was opening the door."

"It would seem that you have been placed under the Imperius Curse by Voldemort or his followers," said Dumbledore, "Do you remember anything about the people who were at the door?"

"No," said Mrs. Smith.

"The last thing I remember is Anne walking into the den with her wand raised," said Mr. Smith.

"I see," said Dumbledore as he stood.

"Why would someone do that to us?" asked Mrs. Smith.

"I believe that this happened because of me," said Harry as he stepped forward.

"Who are you?" asked Mr. Smith.

"I am Harry Potter," said Harry, "I am the mortal enemy of the man formerly known as Tom Riddle. Fifteen years ago, he killed my parents in this very town. He turned his wand on me but his spell backfired, stripping him of his powers and body. Just about every year for the last six years, I've had to struggle to survive through some kind of encounter with either him or his servants. That man has since been resurrected. He goes by the name of Lord Voldemort."

"So, you all think that it was definitely Voldemort who did this?" asked Mr. Smith, "Why would he attack us if he's after you?"

"The families of all my friends are either in the Order of the Phoenix, the group who fights against him, or are protected by them. Your family is not. I met your daughter this year and we quickly became friends. I ask that you stay at my Manor for the time being. It won't be safe if you stay here," said Harry, "There are few people these days that you can trust. And by the way, it's nice to meet you."

Harry looked at Dumbledore as if he was expecting Dumbledore to argue against the living arrangements.

"If the Smiths agree, then it should be fine," said Dumbledore.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith exchanged a look.

"How long do we have to pack?" asked Mrs. Smith, "And it is nice to meet you too, Harry."

Two hours later, the Smiths were all settled into Harry's Manor and fast asleep.

A/N: Due to growing speculation about the origin, it has been asked that I place a disclaimer in my story. Having read 'Harry Potter and the Power of the Heart' after a number of people have told me that it is too close to be a coincidence, I concede to the possibility of reading it. I have read a great number of stories before writing this and it is indeed possible that I have read it. So, SmallvillePotter, here is your disclaimer.