CHAPTER 3: STUBBORN PROFESSORS CAUSING DISRUPTION
Llyn-y-Fach, as the Evans' family home is generally known, is a grand affair, like a cross between a castle and a country estate. Situated on the edge of the small Pembrokeshire village of Llangynider, it is somewhat closer to a muggle settlement than most wizarding manors, even that of the Fletcher family who are renowned as champions of Muggle/Magical relations. The fact that the ancestral home of a family traditional associated with Slytherin, albeit one on the lighter side of the house, should be anywhere near a muggle village at all is truly remarkable. It is also worth noting that unlike most magical homes, it is not obviously magical, it is without the gravity defying extensions and towering turrets that characterise most wizarding dwellings. In fact to most muggles it looks exactly like the average Tudor mansion, remarkable only for it's size and age, and certainly not for it's architectural merit. But beyond this façade is an estate, which most muggles and quite a few wizards would find extraordinary. For behind the air of muggle normalcy was your average wizarding mansion, complete with complement of House-Elves and Quidditch Pitch, as well as the other trappings of a wealthy aristocratic family.
It is to be said that by Slytherin standards that the Evans' family were neither especially wealthy nor especially aristocratic, but then Slytherin was the house that generations of Malfoys, Parkinsons, Prenelles and Potters had been sorted into. Naturally, all families change, the current Potter heir was a Gryffindor orphan who had grown up amongst muggles and was not aristocratic in the slightest, while the Parkinsons had lost half of their fortune, after getting caught aiding Grindelwald. But then it was easy to argue that the Evans' weren't particularly Slytherin either. It's certainly true, as Samuel Evans, the current heir, would tell you that there have been more Evans' in Slytherin than any other Hogwarts house, but then he's a Ravenclaw with only one sibling in Slytherin. In fact there have been more Prewitts in Slytherin than Evanses, but seeing as there has never been a Prewitt in either Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff that fact isn't quite as surprising as it first sounds.
It's also this diversity that makes the annual Summer Ball at Llyn-y-Fach one of the most important events on the wizarding social calendar, and about the only thing the Evans family is famous for. Held every 31st July, it attracts anybody is anybody from all the social networks in the wizarding world. It's also remarkable that the family don't use the occasion to show off their own offspring, which is probably how both Petunia and Lilly Evans managed to claim they were Muggle-born, when they quite patently were not, and get everybody to believe them. Although why, Richard Evans their father and a Slytherin Alumnus and their father didn't correct their lie is unknown. Perhaps it was the fact that his other daughter was busy encouraging the rumours, whilst his son couldn't care what about his sisters said.
It was this lie that was one of the root causes, of Richard Evans' current problem, a problem summarised by the name Albus Dumbledore, and the timing of this problem was extremely inconvenient, it was the day of the summer ball, and he was supposed to be directing the house-elves as they prepared for it, and whilst his wife was perfectly capable of doing the job in his place they would both have preferred that he did it. Now Richard didn't like Dumbledore and he never had, he regarded the old headmaster as an annoying, idealistic, hypocritical, goody-goody bastard, much to the agreement of most of his family. Only Lilly had thought differently, at least initially, and her son gave the impression of having similar views to those his mother original held.
"The boy is staying here, Professor," Richard shouted angrily at the old man's head, which was visible in the fireplace, "And there is nothing you can do about it." There was an air of finality about him.
"For once in your life can't you put someone's else's interest first," the headmaster said wearily, annoyed at the stubbornness of the man he was talking to, "He's simply not safe anywhere other than Privet Drive."
"Safe from who? Voldemort or Vernon Dursley," Richard hissed, "I do know what goes in that house and they treat him worse then the Malfoy's treat their house elves. If he goes back there he'll die, and not and not at the hands of the death eaters."
"The Dursley's are not abusing him, at least not anymore, and they haven't touched him until now. That Arabella assures me, and I trust her judgement absolutely," Dumbledore sighed.
Richard gave a bitter laugh, Petunia had been writing to him for years informing him about Harry out of common courtesy, a few weeks ago he'd received a worried letter explaining everything that had happened since he'd returned from school, and that he'd run away. They'd tried searching for him without success, and at one stage he'd feared him dead, until the boy's elder namesake had turned up asking that they leave the boy alone to gather his thoughts and evaluate his life. Now that process complete it was clear that Harry Potter was coming to Llyn-y-Fach to stay, only Albus Dumbledore stood in the way of what should have happened fifteen years ago.
"Harry Potter and Petunia Evans wants to see you, sir," Milney the house-elf interrupted, as she appeared in front of Richard's desk. The sixty eight year old smirked.
"Send them both here," he said to the elf, it disappeared with a pop, "Lets see what Petunia and Harry have to say, shall we," he commented, he knew that with those two behind him he had won the argument.
"The Viscount wishes to see sir and madam," the house-elf said as it re-appeared in the Entrance Hall, which Harry had been admiring, while it had been gone. It was large and very ornate, designed to be impressive and imposing. A large curved marble staircase dominated either side of the hall, with highly decorated wrought-iron railings and dragonheads as newel posts. Various doorways led away from the hallway, the most prominent of which were two large glass doors, which seemed to lead into a large ballroom. Either side of this doorway were two large banners depicting a Welsh Green breathing fire, with a legend, which Harry translated as 'In Fire We Burn'.
"The legends a dig at the Gruffudds, whose family motto is 'Fire is Victory'," Aunt Petunia had said when she had noticed Harry grinning in amusement after looking at the banner.
Following the house-elf up the stairs and along a corridor, they were led into a large office, decorated in Slytherin colours. Sitting behind a mahogany desk was an auburn haired man of about Professor McGonagall's age, with unremarkable greeny-hazel eyes that warmed slightly as Harry walked in. He stood up.
"Better late then never," the man remarked dryly, "Do come in we have a lot to discuss and little time to do it." he continued, noticing Harry's hesitation, "My name's Richard Evans, I'm your Grandfather." They shook hands. He turned to Aunt Petunia who had followed Harry into the room, "Hello Petunia," he said with an air of false charm, "I haven't seen you for a very long time. I trust you are well."
"You disowned me father," the blonde woman hissed icily, "If it weren't for your grandson, I wouldn't be here nor would I have kept in contact these past fourteen years."
"And I am grateful that you have kept in contact, for that I thank you," Richard commented unaffected by his daughter's harsh tone, "As I must remind you that I didn't disown you until after you got pregnant with that Muggle. I merely disinherited you after your expulsion."
Harry who had been looking around the room while listening to his grandfather, had noticed the head of Albus Dumbledore and was currently glaring at the old headmaster, who seemed not to be perturbed by his protégé's response.
"Ah, I see you've noticed the interloper, we've been discussing where you would be safest on and off for the past five hours. Although somewhat more off than on." Richard remarked after he and Petunia had sat down.
"So he hasn't given up on his attempts to kill me then." Harry replied harshly, not breaking the staring contest.
Richard smirked at his grandson's comments, as the subject of the criticism defended himself, "I've only got your best interests at heart, Harry," Dumbledore asserted
"My best interests do not include committing suicide," Harry growled in response. The old man was stunned, although his face did not show it, it was his hesitation gave it away, "Yes, that's right. The Boy-who-lived tried to kill himself, not a good reflection on you is it."
"I'm sorry. I didn't realise things were so bad," The twinkle had disappeared from the old man's eyes. He looked weary and old. Harry felt only satisfaction as he realised his former mentor realised his mistake and it's consequences.
"I told you, I wrote you a letter," Harry shouted, "And what did you do? You wrote back telling Vernon to carry on beating me," Dumbledore looked hurt by the accusation, "Don't look at me like that, I've seen the letter. Uncle Vernon showed it to me."
"He's not your Uncle." Petunia intervened, before there was a response. Harry mumbled an apology.
"I didn't realise he would react to my letters in the way he did. He hasn't touched you before now. I made a mistake and I'm sorry for it." Harry scoffed at this, he didn't believe the apology for one minute, "But you have to go back there though it's for your own good." Harry's glare disappeared as the thought of returning to Privet Drive, of spending a month with Vernon and Dudley, entered his head. The consequences were too horrible to imagine, one thing would was certain in Harry's mind; the result would be his death. The raven-haired boy began to shake through fear, a fear only aroused by two things: Dementors and Vernon Dursley.
"No," Harry gasped desperately as he struggled to find words amongst the fear that threatened to overwhelm him, "I can't, he'd killed me," He was hyperventilating, as images of his week in hell flashed by him; he desperately searched for a lifeline.
One was found for him, as he felt a protective arm wrap around him, "Over my dead body," a man's voice sneered, it was clear from the tone that this was no idle threat. It was the voice of his grandfather, his family, a family that was protecting him. Slowly his worries vanished, and for the first time since he was a baby Harry felt safe and loved, wrapped in the arm of someone who cared for him, someone who would defend him at all costs. The fear left him and he smiled at the man who was protecting him. There was a long pause as Albus Dumbledore weighed up his options, while faced by three impenetrable glares.
"I've had no reports of your Uncle beating you over the past three weeks. Surely it's safe there now." was the eventual reply.
Fear began to flood back only to be stopped by the safety of his grandfather's protection, "That's because I haven't been anywhere him or Privet Drive," Harry said angrily, "I ran away after Aunt Petunia walked in on me while I was attempting to commit suicide." There was another pause.
"Alright," Dumbledore sighed eventually. Harry's heart leapt at what the headmaster was about to say, "You're not going back to Privet Drive," A huge stupid grin appeared on Harry's face as he screamed in delight, the fear of the Dursley's had been vanquished. He looked over at Aunt Petunia and up at his grandfather, both of whom were smiling. It took at least a minute for Harry to calm down. "But, you can't stay here," Again the headmaster was met by three glares of annoyance.
Harry could feel his grandfather tense beside him, "My family are no more likely to betray Harry to Voldemort than your precious Order. The penalty for choosing the Dark Lord over the family is death," he sneered, "And as for my son-in-law, we have wards against Death Eaters, even if they have been lowered for the ball, tonight."
"How long will your wards be down for?" Dumbledore asked with concern.
"Ten hours," he replied, "Between seven and five,"
"I trust Sirius is still there, with the wand Mr. Olivander gave him."
"Of course, he and Remus are keeping an eye on Sam's children tonight. I think all four of them will be happy to have Harry there, even Owen."
"That should be adequate, but Harry's security is your responsibility and if you fail there will be consequences," the headmaster warned before his head disappeared from the fireplace. Richard breathed a sigh of relief, while Harry grinned. They both moved to sit down.
"Finally, his stubbornness was annoying me," Harry's grandfather muttered darkly.
"Just his stubbornness?" the grandson queried, Richard smirked.
"In this instance, yes. After all I'm not the one he's trying to manipulate," he replied, "You should have lived here in the first place, you know, despite the stupid excuses the old fool came up with." He scowled, "But it never happened and we couldn't kidnap you because of the wards he placed around you, not that they were particularly effective mind you."
"You obviously didn't try hard enough," Harry alleged bitterly.
"I don't remember all the details, but the only wards that were working were the ones disguising your location and the ones preventing you from being kidnapped, all the rest were based on familial love, which was completely absent, as you know," Richard explained with a pointed look at Petunia, "Anyway, I don't really have time to chat now. We're hosting our annual Summer Ball tonight. You should stay out of sight because some of the guests are Death Eaters and they wouldn't hesitate to kidnap you in the name of their 'precious' master, snivelling morons," It was clear that he didn't like the dark lord's followers, "It wouldn't work, but I'd rather avoid the trouble." he concluded, speaking as if the threat was far-fetched, "Trelly, show Harry to his room and then inform our guest of his arrival." he ordered a summoned house-elf, who immediately scurried off with Harry following.
Bah! Not a brilliant chapter, especially when portraying Harry. What does everyone think about Harry's grandfather? Thank You to all those who reviewed Chapter two. The reviews were much appreciated. I also want to take this opportunity to promote my other fic: The Redemption of the Deceivers. Go read it!
Lady Foxfire: I have no plans to resort Harry, the fact that he's a Slytherin in Gryfffindor is one of the major plotlines. And as for Voldemort, revenge is always a powerful emotion.