A/N: Okay, a slight manipulation in regards to Godric's Hollow. Thank you, I have checked the Harry Potter Lexicon site but all they could verify is that Godric's Hollow is not in Wales. Also, I am aware that the Potter family lived in a cottage there, but for this story to work, I have changed the cottage into a rather large estate. After all, since his parents did indeed leave Harry with a fortune at Gringotts, it wouldn't be too unlikely.
Chapter Nine: Godric's Hollow
Harry decided to take the next train to Godric's Hollow. He needed the time to reflect. "How could I explain this to everyone back home? Three missing years..." he thought glumly.
It was late at night before the cab finally dropped him back to the estate. Rather than to disturb the whole household, he went straight to the servant's quarters.
One of the servant elves that Harry did not recognize answered the door. After introducing himself, the elf told him to wait outside while he cleared the matter with his superior. Harry was able to overhear the elf talking to Dolby on the downstairs telephone, "He said his name is Harry. Harry," he repeated, "I'm sorry Dolby, but that's what he said."
After a few moments, the elf got off the phone and went back to the door, "Dolby says he'll come straight down, sir. Step inside please and have a seat," he offered, "If you'll excuse me for taking precautions sir. Being late and all," he apologized.
"That's quite alright." Harry replied, having a seat on the chair. "Is Mr. Weasley at home do you know?" he asked.
"Yes sir" the elf hold him, "Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, The twin Weasleys, Miss Weasley, Mr. Black and Mr. Lupin are all here."
"Really?" Harry raised his eyebrows, "Everything alright up at the house I hope?"
"Haven't you heard sir?" he asked, "Old Mr. Potter died Sunday. The funeral was today sir."
Harry lowered his head.
The elf looked at him curiously, "Was he a relative of yours sir?"
"He was my father." Harry shook his head grimly.
Lowering his head, the elf muttered, "I'm sorry," and left the room.
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The next morning, the Weasleys, Sirius Black, and Remus Lupin gathered into the dining room for breakfast, discussing Dolby's surprising news of Harry's appearance last night.
"I don't feel very much like eating, but still," Lavender Weasley said, "I must say, I think it's most peculiar. Three years of complete silence and he suddenly comes back from the grave with this cock and bull story, and at the very moment, the will is to be read," she insinuated derisively, "Very conveniently if you ask me."
"My dear, you talk about my best friend as if he were a fraud." Ron retorted defensively.
"And who's to say he isn't?" she snapped.
"You seem to forget that Dolby's seen him," he said plainly.
"Yes, in the dark," Lavender argued, "Dolby was probably half asleep."
"Isn't this argument a waste of time?" Sirius interrupted the couple, "We should see for ourselves in a moment, and with all respect to Lavender, I think I should be able to recognize my own godson."
"Morning everybody," Ginny chirped loudly as she entered the dining room. "Where's Harry?" she inquired, looking around the room.
"Shhh!" Ron hushed, "He's not down yet. Besides, we're not all deaf you know."
"I'm sorry; I'm just dying to meet him," she said enthusiastically, lowering her voice, " It's all so romantic, like one of the thrillers at Flourish and Blotts. 'Back from the Dead' or 'The Case of the Disappearing Auror.'"
"Yes, or 'Three Years in Darkest Amnesia'" Lupin chimed in.
"Three years!" Ginny gasped "Think of it! Where do you suppose he's been all that time?"
'That's just been what I've been asking," Lavender added callously, "In Azkaban, for all we know. Didn't Dumbledore say positively that the will was writing ten years ago?"
"Yes, and I gathered the estate is divided equally among all of us." Ron informed them, "Except for the two business interests and this house, which naturally fall to Harry and me."
"Naturally," Sirius nodded.
Just then, Fred and George strolled into the dining room. "Morning everyone!" they said in unison. "I say, have you heard the news?" Fred asked.
A small muttering of yeses fills the room.
"With the hold of the various business interests," Ron continued, "I can say with optimism-"
"Merlin! Sausages!" George exclaimed, eying the plate of sausages on the table.
"But of course, if the whole thing is going to be treated as a joke---!" Ron rose from his seat, losing his temper.
"Sit down Ron!" Lavender commanded, "No joke to me! That is, supposing it really is Harry, who suddenly turns up like a, uhh, like a."
"Like a bad knut?" Harry finished for her.
The group turned around and froze, shock to see Harry standing by the doorway.
Ron ran over to meet his friend, "Harry! So delighted to see you!" he exclaimed as he embraced him.
"Welcome home Harry!" Sirius and Remus both cheered and approached him with a hug.
"So nice to see you again!" the twins said in unison.
"You remember Lavender," Ron turned to his wife and introduced her. She nodded and gave him a courteous how-do-you-do.
"And I'm Ginny," she announced eagerly before anyone could introduce her. "I'm Ron's younger sister."
"Well, how do you do Ginny?" Harry shook her hand politely, "Now please, sit down, all of you, I'm afraid I'm upsetting your breakfast."
"Here's a chair! Next to mine!" In a flash, Ginny grabbed him by the arm and lead him to his seat, "What can I get you?"
"Now now." Harry protested, chuckling at her eagerness, "You go on with your breakfast, and I'll vouch for myself." He helped himself to one of the sausages on the table.
"Go ahead, my dear boy," said Sirius, "We're all absolutely delighted to see you back!"
"By the way, my dear fellow," Ron informed him, "Dumbledore's reading the will today. Its ten years old, so you won't be done out of your share, which includes the house I understand."
"Really," he replied, taking a bite of his breakfast.
The room became quiet. Harry looked around the table to see everyone staring at him, Ginny being especially attentive. He sighed, "Well, I'm sure you're all waiting for some sort of explanation, but I really haven't got one. That's what lost of memory does to you, " he explained, "Dolby's told you all I know. I was in Liverpool yesterday morning. Why or how, I have no idea. I've been knocked down by a taxi and came to in an apothecary's shoppe. Before that, I can't remember a thing. Last thing I remember was our division enclosing in at the Riddle house, and that was three years ago. Those three years have been a complete blank to me. I don't know what I've done, or where I've been. I found a little money in my pocket, and this key." He took the shining object out and showed it to them.
"The key to your house?" Ginny suggested.
"Ah, if I knew that, I would know where I belong." Harry replied without taking his eye off the key.
"You belong here Harry." she assured him sagely.
"Yes? Ah, yes, of course, this house." Harry looked up at the ceiling. "Well, I hope you all come to think of it as home, come whenever you like, stay as long as you care to."
"I shall come." Ginny told him happily, "Often. I'm awfully glad you're my brother's best friend."
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After breakfast, all of the guests started to leave. Harry stayed by the door to wish them farewell while the house elves loaded the cars.
"Harry! Take care, old chap!" Fred shook his hand.
"Goodbye!" George waved as the twins stepped in the car.
"Hey Harry!" Ginny rushed out towards him, "I've come to say goodbye."
Lupin and Sirius followed soon after. "Goodbye Harry! We are all so relieved to see you back." Lupin told him again before getting into his own car.
"We must get together this week," Sirius added, getting into the passenger side, "I'll give you a ring later on. Goodbye."
"Goodbye," Harry called back to them as their car drove off.
"Let's sit down, shall we?" Ginny suggested, glad to finally have some alone time with Harry. She tugged his arm over to the bench nearby. "Ron and Lavender are always late," she giggled. "Aren't you going to be terribly lonely all by yourself in this big house?"
"Perhaps," he answered, "Why?"
"Only, when people are lonely," Ginny explained, blushing, "they are rather apt to marry the first woman who comes along. It doesn't do you know."
"Oh it doesn't eh?" Harry chuckled.
"Never," Ginny stated as a matter of fact.
"Not once in all your years of experience?" He posed sarcastically.
"Well, I'm only a year behind you."
"I'll keep you in mind," he said amusingly.
"Will you?" Her eyes shone with a glimmer of hope. "I know you're laughing at me, but please don't do anything rash in the mean time because," she took a breath, "because, well, I do like you, awfully, from the very first moment I saw you."
"Well, I'll have to think it over." Harry smiled.
"I've said it, and I mean it." Ginny continued, "Anyways, don't you think I can come over during the holidays? To take care of you of course."
"Ginny!" Ron called out before Harry had a chance to answer.
"Here I am!" she yelled back. She turned back to Harry, "You'll write to me of course?
"Oh alright," Harry hesitated for a moment, "If you want me to."
Ron and Lavender finally made their way out of the house. Lavender politely forced a smile as Ron shook Harry's hand once more, "I'm so glad you're back!"
"Come along Ginny." Ron opened the car door for the girls.
"Bye Harry!" said Ginny excitedly, before getting into the car, "Thanks for asking me to visit you during the holidays."
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That evening, Harry paced back and forth holding his key in the den when Dolby walked in.
"Will you be dining at home sir?" Dolby asked.
"Yes."
"Alone sir?"
"Yes," Harry responded, "There's no one else is there?"
"Well, I thought you might like to ask Dumbledore to join you," suggested the elf.
"No Dolby," he shook his head, "Thank you."
"I'm afraid you'll be very lonely in this great house sir," Dolby pointed out ,"May I ask, sir, have you any plans for the future?"
"No, but I might go back to school. I never got my degree you know." Harry thought aloud, "I might take a fling at writing. I always wanted to do that if you remember." He crossed over to his father's portrait above the fireplace. "I wonder what he would have liked me to do."
"I think he always wanted you to carry on where the Potter's left off sir," Dolby answered plainly.
"Well, Ron is the head of the Potter's Conglomerate now." Harry reminded him, "In any care, I'm not a business man."
"Have you ever tried sir?"
"No." he muttered, "not really."
Harry felt the key in his pocket once more, lost in his thoughts, "I wonder what I was doing in Liverpool."