Unspoken
by Teddylonglong
Please refer to chapter 1 for my disclaimer and warnings. Thank you.
On Saturday morning, Paws, Dove and Rudi had their first Occlumency lesson with Whisker, while Connie was studying with Lorenzo.
When Whisker finally arrived, more than thirty minutes late, he apologized profusely, muttering something about the headmaster being an old coot, who tended to keep the staff for ridiculous reasons at the most inconvenient times.
"Ah, I really don't look forward to having to meet him on a daily basis for the next seven years." Harry groaned.
James cast him a glare. "Wait and see. Our Hogwarts years were the best years in our life."
"I hope that we're going to have even better years, now that the war is over in this time." Lily smiled.
"Now, as to the topic at hand," Artemis sighed, "does any of you have any experience with Occlumency so far?"
"No." He received a triple response.
"I thought so. However, to keep your secret safe, it is important that you master this skill as soon as possible, and Harry needs it to protect his mind from possible intrusion by Professors Dumbledore and Snape."
"Snape?" Harry stared at the man who was so much more than his uncle and colleague in surprise.
"Is Snievelus teaching at Hogwarts now?" Harry noticed that his father's expression changed to one of absolute disgust.
"He is the Potions professor and Head of Slytherin, and he somehow seems to hold a grudge against Harry in spite of the fact that he has not met him since he was a baby."
"Too bad that I can't go to Hogwarts in my real form and tell some people off." Lily let out a deep sigh. "He actually was my friend, and even if Harry looks very much like James, he is still my son as well."
"That's easy." James grinned. "Lily, remember that you're not only a Potions but also a Charms mistress. Perhaps, you could develop a charm that allows you to pop into portraits. Then you could travel to Hogwarts through portraits and give them a piece of your mind."
"From one of the portraits in the headmaster's office." Artemis chuckled. "I'm sure the two of them will get the shock of their lives."
Lily nodded, grimly. "I'll do that."
Harry inwardly grinned. 'That's going to be much fun. Maybe, Hogwarts won't be so bad after all.'
His Occlumency lesson was bad, however, and ended with the realisation that he had to practise a lot, if he wanted to be proficient by September 1.
HP
When he met with Connie in the afternoon, she was strangely quiet.
Harry eyed her in concern. "Everything all right?"
Connie sighed, which was extremely rare for the always happy girl. "Yes. I don't know if you remember that Lorenzo told us years ago that as your soulmate, I might be able to tap into your magic and use it. But that only works when several spheres are in special positions to each other, which only happens once in a few years."
Harry perked up. "Oh, wow, that would be brilliant."
Connie shrugged. "Yes, it would be, but we still don't know if we'll get it to work. If my research is correct, the spheres might be in that specific position in about four years' time and remain there for about a year. Lorenzo promised to check the data, but even if that's correct, I still don't know how to do such a thing." She grinned broadly and seemed to be back to normal, when she added, "But believe me, I'll do my best to achieve that."
"So, you'd be able to do magic, but only for a year?" Harry frowned.
Connie nodded. "Better to have a year of magic than no magic at all, and according to Lorenzo, your magic is so overflowingly strong that you won't even notice if I tap into it."
Harry grinned. "Of course. Help yourself if you can."
"Thanks. Oh, by the way, I've thought of something." Smirking, she changed the topic.
"Knowing Sirius, he will probably throw a temper tantrum upon seeing your birth parents, because he won't believe that they're them."
Harry rolled his eyes in annoyance, however, could not help admitting that she had a valid point.
"Anyway, I thought that they should perhaps wear their necklaces to look like their new selves but perhaps make them realise who they are by what they say and how they act? A small masquerade so to say?"
Harry chuckled. "That sounds like fun, at least for us. Will you suggest it to them?"
Connie nodded, grinning mischievously.
HP
The following day was Easter Sunday, and when Minerva, Amelia, Giselle, Sirius, John and Remus arrived for breakfast at Regina's and Harry's house, they were introduced to Rose and Jamie Smith.
"I thought this was a family meeting?" Sirius stared at the young couple, wide-eyed.
"It is." Regina smiled. "Trust me, Rose and Jamie belong to the family."
"In which way?"
"Sirius." Harry groaned. "That's for us to know and for you to try to find out."
"Well said." Artemis smirked.
"Let's have breakfast. Rose and Jamie, I hope you don't mind that Dolly, my trustworthy elf, will sit at the table with us."
"That's fine of course." Rose smiled.
'That's only for show,' Harry realised, considering that his birth parents had already taken dinner together with them twice. He noticed that Remus suddenly blanched visibly, when he took his seat between Regina and Jamie.
"Excuse me for asking," he addressed Jamie and Rose, who was sitting on Jamie's other side, "but are you magical?"
"Yes, we are." Rose smiled at the man who did not know that he was one of her best friends.
'He looks as if he had already figured it out,' Harry realised. 'But how is that possible?'
'I think he knows because of his werewolf instincts,' Connie replied to his unasked question.
"You look as if you were about our age, but I can't recall having seen you at Hogwarts."
"Remus, is this questioning time? Here, have a scone. They're brilliant." Sirius grinned. "As unsettling as it is that we don't know why they seem to keep secrets from us, it's Easter Sunday, and Dolly has prepared an amazing breakfast for us."
"Thank you, Sirius." Dolly grinned in obvious happiness.
Harry observed in amusement how Lucy's head was perched on his father's lap, and James patiently fed her a couple of small strawberries, before he proceeded to gently caress her ears.
"All dogs are the same, brilliant at feigning that no one ever feeds them," James quipped, glancing at Sirius, before he absentmindedly let his hand wander over his forehead to brush his hair out of his face, although in its present form it was much shorter than in the original.
Harry followed his gaze, only to realise that Sirius' face took on a stony expression. "Harry?" His godfather's voice was dangerously quiet. "Did you somehow manage to make dead people alive again?"
"Sirius." Amelia groaned. "Please behave yourself."
"Oh my, that was faster than expected." Connie chuckled.
"Jamie and Rose?" Sirius stared at the couple, who looked as if they were about the same age as him, in apparent disbelief. "Jamie, tell me, what is the activation phrase of the Marauders Map?"
"I solemnly swear that Padfoot is up to no good."
Sirius jumped from his chair, wearing a horrified expression. "How?" he all but shouted. "You were dead! I saw you! It was the worst moment in my life, and the Dementors made me relive it all over. How?"
Everyone stared at Lily and James, when they slowly took their invisible necklaces off and resumed their usual appearances.
"I believe that the 'How' is for Harry to explain." Lily nodded at him, smiling encouragingly.
Harry inwardly groaned upon realising that everyone stared at him in apparent surprise. Or was it curiosity? 'Probably both.'
"I did some research with the help of Nix and Archie. We combined time sliding with an elixir that prevented them from dying. Nix and I went to the day before they were killed. We gave them the elixir, and when everyone thought they were dead brought him to this time. Does that make sense?" he asked, tentatively.
"It sounds like a story out of a fairy-tale book, but as we can see, it apparently worked." Amelia smiled. "Very well done, Harry."
"Thank you."
"Where is Susan, by the way? Why did she not come with you?" Connie efficiently managed to divert the attention from him, causing Harry to send her a silent 'Thank you.'
"She is spending Easter together with her best friend, Hannah. I suppose that you'll see her again next Sunday."
"That's good. I really like Susan."
"Me too," Harry added, smiling. "And I'm glad that I know someone who is going to attend Hogwarts together with me. I hope everyone will be as nice as her."
"I still can't believe it. Harry managed to time travel and save you from being killed?" Minerva stepped around the table and pulled Lily into a bear's hug. "It's too good to be true. What are you going to do now though? How are you going to explain that to the magical world? For everyone here, Harry is the boy who lived, the hero who rid the world from Voldemort and an orphan."
"I don't mind that he gets the fame, even if he deserves it for a completely different reason," James replied, grinning. "We have joined the Unspeakables and outside their office, we are just Rose and Jamie Smith."
"Excuse me?" John cast him a questioning look. "What if all wizards and witches recognise you as easily as these two?"
Minerva shook her head. "They won't. These two have been James' best friends ever since they met on the Hogwarts Express at the beginning of their first Hogwarts year. They know him much better than anyone else. I believe that not even Professor Dumbledore would be the wiser if he met them."
"Artemis is trying to teach us and Harry Occlumency, just in case," Lily spoke up.
"That's good. I don't think Albus would randomly try to read people's minds, but still."
"He doesn't suspect that Harry isn't living with the Dursleys anymore, does he?" Rebecca cast the older witch a concerned look.
"No." Minerva chuckled. "Poppy and I occasionally instigate a fight with him about Harry's situation, but he seems to be completely unconcerned."
"Does Poppy know?" Artemis quirked an eyebrow.
Minerva shook her head. "I've only told her once that he is safe but that I couldn't tell her more, and she accepted that." Turning to Harry, she explained, "Poppy Pomfrey is our Healer at Hogwarts and has been my best friend from our first-year onwards along with Rolanda Hooch, the Flying instructor."
Sirius turned to Lily and James. "This elixir you took, does it make you immortal then?"
Harry shook his head. "No, if they want to be immortal, they'll have to take the elixir…" He glanced at Connie. "Was it once a month or once a year?"
Connie smiled. "Once a month."
"Well, if Voldemort is really going to come back some time, which is what Albus wants us to believe, and apparently which is why he is so keen on having Harry on his side due to the prophecy between him and Voldemort…"
"What?" Rebecca interrupted Minerva. "What prophecy?"
Lily let out a deep sigh, before she informed the extended family about a prophecy that had been made shortly before Harry had been born.
"Easy Lils, Harry has efficiently worked on making it questionable by bringing us here, and I promise you now that the Unspeakables will do their best to destroy Voldemort's plans if he's really alive. We have some competent members in our team."
"Please do everything to keep my Harry safe." Connie cast James and Lily a smile, which did not really reach her eyes. "It's too bad that I'm a muggle."
Lily returned a sympathetic smile. "For a muggle, you're keeping up extremely well. I haven't ever heard of a muggle who is an Unspeakable, let alone one who completed their Potions NEWT."
"Thank you, Lily."
HP
After breakfast, Harry invited Lily and James to try out the Paws & Turtle Double broom, and after slight hesitation from Lily, stating that she was not overly fond of flying, they went flying together, while everyone else took turns using Rebecca's and Artemis' as well as Sirius' and Amelia's brooms.
After more than two hours, Lily and James finally descended to the ground. "That was the best thing ever!" James seemed over the moon with joy, and Harry quickly decided to make a broom for his birth parents at the next opportunity.
"Now, tell me everything about that broom. Who made it, where can we get one…"
"Slowly, James." Sirius chuckled. "Artemis, will you explain?"
Artemis nodded and explained about the deals that his colleague Archie had made with the owner of Nimbus.
"Has he made an exclusive contract with that company?"
Rebecca and Artemis exchanged a glance. "I don't think so," Rebecca replied, slowly. "As Harry's and Connie's magical guardian, I signed the contracts, but I don't think it was an exclusive contract. I can look it up later on. Why?"
"Remus, Sirius, what do you think about opening a broom shop at Hogsmeade selling Harry's and Connie's brooms? Harry and Connie, what do you think?"
"I'd like that," Harry replied, somehow feeling excited at the idea. "Connie?"
"Sure."
"Perhaps, Connie and Harry could join you at the shop from time to time and speak with the customers to hear what other features they might want for their brooms?" John spoke up.
"That's a fantastic idea." James nodded, seemingly happy.
Minerva let out a sigh. "I'm afraid that while Harry is at Hogwarts, he won't be allowed to get away from the school, and the Hogsmeade visits will only take place from third-year onwards."
Harry shrugged. "I don't really care if I attend Hogwarts, not if they lock me in like in a prison."
"Harry!" Regina scolded him, lightly. "Hogwarts is not a prison."
"At least you'll be able to attend the Unspeakable meetings and see me on a daily basis," Connie added, smiling, unaware of the frown that Minerva sent in her direction.
"Harry," Minerva addressed him in a soft voice. "Please remember that I am the deputy headmistress and Transfiguration professor and must behave in the same way towards all students. No one must know about our relationship, and I cannot treat you differently from everyone else. Therefore, whatever you do, please be careful that I won't get to know about it. Moreover, whatever you do, please see to it that no one will miss you, or you'll have things to explain to the headmaster or whoever is going to be your head of house."
"I will. Thanks for the warning, Granny Minerva."
"Perhaps, it might be better for Harry to not become a Gryffindor then, considering that you're also the head of Gryffindor." Connie smirked.
"Too bad that you can't attend Hogwarts. I am sure that the Sorting Hat would sort you into Ravenclaw."
Connie nodded. "Thanks, Granny Minerva. I think so, too."
Minerva smirked. "You strongly remind me of one of the muggleborn girls I visited last September. Hermione Granger."
"Will she be a first-year this year, too?" Connie asked with apparent interest.
"Yes." Minerva smiled. "Shall I contact her and set up a meeting with her? Would you be interested? I can imagine that she would be extremely happy to get to know the two of you. Just prepare yourselves that she is going to ask what seem to be never ending questions."
"We'll be ready, Professor." Connie grinned in obvious excitement.
"Yes please," Harry echoed.
HP
From that time onwards, Harry was wondering how he might be able to see Connie, especially when his wife told him that she was going to do all the theoretical parts of his studies together with him. However, he was careful to not ask any questions in Minerva's presence.
Minerva, however, had not forgotten her promise to Connie and him and contacted eleven-year-old Hermione Granger, who immediately returned the owl carrying a long-winded response written in maculate handwriting that clearly displayed the girl's interest and excitement at the prospect of meeting a future classmate.
When Regina suggested inviting Hermione along with her parents to one of the Sunday family meetings, everyone agreed, and Rebecca provided Minerva with a Portkey for the muggleborn to use.
"Thank you so much for including us in all these events." Giselle smiled. "We'll be happy to meet the Grangers and be able to talk about magic with other muggles."
HP
On the first Sunday in July, Harry and Connie were sitting on the sofa cuddling with Lucy, while they impatiently waited for the Grangers to arrive, while the adults were enjoying another cup of tea after breakfast in the dining room.
'They're probably glad that we left,' Harry thought in amusement at Connie's evident excitement. He grinned, when Lucy let out a warning growl at the overexcited girl, who played with her ears too wildly for the canine's liking.
"You know that she's not a morning person," Harry commented, chuckling.
"Is she a person at all? Sorry, Lucy. Do you want some chicken treats?"
An instant later, the canine jumped from the sofa and dashed into the kitchen, sitting in front of the cupboard, where the dog treats were kept.
Efficiently distracted, Harry did not realise how the time passed, and all of a sudden, their Granny Minerva arrived together with a girl and two adults by a Portkey right in front of the fireplace. An instant later, Regina entered the room to welcome their guests.
HP
When Regina and Minerva ushered the Grangers into the dining room to introduce them to the family and have some refreshments, Harry and Connie kept Hermione in the living room, where Dolly served large portions of ice cream for the three of them as well as a small bowl of fruits for Lucy.
Noticing that Hermione stared at Dolly in apparent bewilderment, Harry gently introduced the elf.
"Hermione, this is Dolly, our family member. She is a house-elf and absolutely brilliant at housekeeping. Dolly, this is Hermione, one of the students who is going to go to Hogwarts with me."
"Hello Hermione." Dolly smiled at the girl. "I am happy to have you here."
"Hello Dolly. I am sorry if I was staring at you. I've never seen someone like you before. Thank you very much for inviting me here and for the ice-cream. It looks delicious." Hermione remained pensive for a moment, before she said, thoughtfully, "I think I read something about house-elves. I don't remember where, but I somehow thought that they were mere slaves.
Connie shook her head. "No. Dolly is our friend and family."
"Artemis told me that they employ about three hundred house-elves at Hogwarts. I hope they're all as nice as Dolly," Harry said, smiling at the first elf he had ever known.
Harry and Connie immediately liked Hermione, although she kept them on their toes by asking one question after another.
'Thank Merlin Connie is so patient,' Harry thought, when Connie and Hermione discussed the four houses of Hogwarts in every possible detail.
"Lulu, shall we leave the girls here and go flying for a while?" he addressed his familiar, gently caressing her ears.
Hermione's eyes narrowed. "Your dog can fly?"
Connie chuckled. "No. Harry has a broomstick for two people. If you wish, you can go on a ride with him. It's great fun."
"Show me."
Together, the three children and one canine headed out into the garden, where Harry offered Hermione a trip on the Paws & Turtle 1.
"Please let me watch first," Hermione replied, seemingly frightened. "I've read about flying on broomsticks, but I never knew that there were some for two people."
"Just watch." Connie eagerly mounted the passenger seat, which Rebecca had attached to the blank wood for better comfort.
Hermione sat on one of the benches, which Remus and Sirius had built, as there were often family members watching the others fly, smiling when Lucy sat in front of her and eagerly licked her hands in quiet approval. Apparently realising that Harry and Connie had much fun, she hesitantly agreed, when Connie offered to take turns flying with Harry.
'Remember to go slowly and don't do deep dives,' Connie instructed him, as he took into the air with his guest.
'I know,' Harry thought back. "If I go too fast or too high, tell me," he instructed Hermione, who returned a broad smile.
"It's fine, Harry. I love it. How do you learn to ride a broom? Is it difficult?"
"No. For learning, my normal broom would be better though. I can help you if you want to try it out. We should ask one of the magical adults to watch though just to be sure that nothing happens."
"Thanks for your thoughtfulness. I'd love to try it out. Can Connie fly?"
Harry looked at her in surprise. "Ah, no. Connie doesn't have magic, and flying affords magic, which is why I invented this broom."
"You what?" Hermione all but shouted. "Connie is a muggle, and you invented this broom by yourself to take her with you?"
Harry let out a deep sigh. "Hermione, you must keep quiet about everything you hear here, all right? It is very important."
"I will." Hermione seemed sincere.
"If you were an adult, they'd make you swear a witch's oath to keep our secrets." Harry shrugged. "Shall we go down, so you can try out my other broom?"
"Oh, yes please."
'Connie, can you please fetch any of the magical adults to watch Hermione trying to fly for a moment?' Harry thought to his wife, who dashed away instantly, while Lucy went on a rampage through the garden.
A few minutes later, Rebecca, Rose, Artemis, Jamie and Sirius taught Hermione how to ride a broom, while Harry took into the air with Connie flying on Hermione's left side and Remus with Regina on her right side.
Harry noticed in amusement that Hermione's former expression of anxiousness made space for an expression of pure joy.
HP
The Grangers only left in the evening together with everyone else, after promising to accept the invitation of joining them again the following Sunday using the Portkey, which Rebecca had provided for Hermione.
Only Rebecca and Connie remained. "I really like the Grangers, and I believe that they're a good addition to the extended family, especially for the kids and the Coxs. However, with Regina, Harry, Connie, Dolly, Artemis, Remus, Sirius, Amelia, Lily, James, Giselle, John, Hermione, Emma and Dan…"
"… and Lucy!" Harry all but glared at his aunt.
"Of course." Rebecca smiled at the canine who was lying on the sofa with her head perched on Connie's lab, lightly snoring. "Anyway, I believe that our extended family is now large enough, especially as Lily, Amelia and I are all expecting babies in July."
Harry let out a gasp. After Rebecca's failed pregnancy almost a year ago, the topic had never come up again. 'I hope everything will go well this time,' he mused, just when Connie voiced the same thought.
"I can't wait to become godmother to three babies."
"Me too, although it's too bad that I won't be able to see them, while I'm at Hogwarts."
"Don't worry, little one." Rebecca gently ruffled his hair. "We'll think of something."