"Let go of me you heathens!"
"Oh, shut your trap already!"
Click! Cling! Clang! Click!
The wizard guard spun the key on his fingers whilst grinning, "About time you got your comeuppance. Hope you enjoy the few short minutes here, before long you'll be begging to stay here when you're finally in Azkaban!"
The guard's cackle echoed in the room and the hallway as he left Dolores Umbridge in the holding cell. Said former secretary of the Minister was fuming in rage at the indignity that had transpired. Once she convinced the jury and judge of her innocence and returned to her post in Hogwarts, that Potter brat and his consorts will be punished severely.
"Ahh, Dolores. Lovely to see your beautiful face."
Umbridge quickly rotated to face the taunting voice. The man's face was covered in shadows, lazily sitting on top of the wooden bench in the cell.
"Don't you dare talk to me, you wretched filth!" Umbridge said arrogantly, causing the man to let out a raspy laugh that made her cringe in response.
"Oh deary me, is that how you greet an old friend?" His response had Umbridge squinting at his face as her eyes adjusted to the dark and damp cell, and her face contorted in anger as she recognised the person across from her.
"You! You're the one who sold me the blood quills!"
Robert leaned forward to let the small light from the barred window shine on his face, a sly grin on his face and a manic glint in his eyes, "Ha! I'd say it's a pleasure to meet you again, but I'm guessing you're not too happy about our current situation."
The vein on the side of Umbridge's forehead was ready to pop as she listened to the dark artifact merchant. She didn't deign to give him any sort of politeness and angrily spat back at the man, "Speak for yourself. Soon I'll be able to speak for my innocence and get out. And once I do, I will crush those who dare go against me!"
"Oh, I'd not bet on that." She clenched the bars tightly in response to his statement and glared at him.
"You see, I did you a little favour and admitted to selling those blood quills to ya'."
"You what?!" Umbridge was utterly stunned, the expression giving a great mirth to the merchant.
"Uhuh, squealed from here to next Sunday. Told them everything. Think of it as a good ol' service for being my best customer." The jolly tone he had said those words only made Umbridge more irate.
"You imbecile! Why did you do that?!"
For the first time, Robert had an expression he seldom donned. A small frown was on his face as his voice lowered to a gravelly texture, "Because once you step a single foot out there, the boss'll get ya' and make your life a living hell."
"The boss?" Robert shrugged at Umbridge's confused tone.
"The guy who gave me the stuff to sell. I sell them and I give him a percentage, of course there's a quota we gotta abide by and I was lagging behind a couple, s'why I took a risk and sold the blood quills to you. News flash, he does not tolerate any of our products being sold or used on kids." Robert stretched his neck and an audible crack resounded the room, "Once he gets you, he'll do his way with you till' you're at the final inch of your life. Then he'll let you go and capture you once you let your guard down and think that he let you off, then he'll do it again. He'll keep playing with you till' one of two things happen; he gets bored and offs you, or you off yourself."
The way he spoke with a calm tone of voice had Umbridge completely freaked out, "I will be protected, your boss will not be able to touch me."
"Heh, you think he doesn't have men on the inside? He's got more men in the ministry than you can imagine, and nothing goes past him. Trust me, even getting the kiss or being pushed through the veil is better than him getting his hands on you."
Robert laid down and rested his head on his arms as he closed his eyes, leaving a final statement for Umbridge to ponder over.
"This is your life now, get used to it."
Harry woke up and stared at the ceiling of his four-poster bed, stewing in his thoughts as his brain began waking up. He raised himself up and took a look around him; the others were still sleeping - Ron's silencing ward still up - and taking a look at the clock, he was up early. He entertained the idea of going back to sleep, it was a Sunday, but decided against it and stood up to get ready for the day.
As he exited the boy's dorm and entered the common room, he was greeted with the sight of Ginny and an unknown girl ruminating over a piece of parchment among other bunches of parchment.
"Good morning Ginny, and to you as well." He greeted both of them with a smile. Ginny waved at him while the girl beside her stiffened at his presence. Sighing internally, he gestured towards the spread of parchment around them.
"Mind if I ask what all this is about?" The unknown Gryffindor blushed, as Ginny began to explain.
"Well this klutz tripped over an invisible rock Peeves had put near the Great Lake yesterday and fell in the lake. She begged me to help her write all the assignments due on Monday. We've been up all night and we're on the final page of her Transfiguration essay." The poor girl looked horrified at Ginny's merciless explanation, clearly the all nighter had made her crankier.
Harry held off from letting out a laugh and took on a comforting tone, "Well, I'm sure next time…"
The girl speedily gave her name as Harry trailed off, "Demelza. Demelza Robins."
"Demelza," Harry nodded and continued on, "Will be more vigilant next time of invisible objects near bodies of water. Now, I suggest getting a lie in after you finish, it is a Sunday after all."
The both of them nodded and directed their attention back to the last piece of Demelza's essay. Harry left them be and made his way out to the Gryffindor common room.
As he neared the Great Hall he stopped as he saw Blaise Zabini leaning near an alcove, his head raising up as he neared towards the gloved Slytherin.
"Good morning Harry, mind having a little chat?"
Harry nodded and responded brightly, "Sure, nothing starts my day better than a talk in a dark alcove."
A small gust of air went out of Blaise's nose at Harry's joking comment. He entered the dark alcove and Harry followed suit.
"So, how are you?" Harry's brow raised at the innocuous question and replied in turn.
"I'm doing great. Do we really need to be in an alcove to ask about my wellbeing?"
Blaise coughed and replied confidently, "Of course not. But we haven't seen you since that day in the ministry and Dumbledore brought us back after he was done tearing the Ministry a new one. Suffice it to say, I don't think you or Headmaster Dumbledore will have to worry about the Daily Prophet or anyone else making any more demeaning comments about you… Other than Malfoy, of course."
"Yeah, I thought so." Harry let out a small sigh, then perked up, "And I've been wanting to ask you about that; what did Professor Dumbledore ask of you three? I didn't see you anywhere in the Ministry."
"Oh, right. Well to make a long story short: Dumbledore asked us to control the wards and keep it up and to only let anyone not on the Dark Lord's side in and out. And to let any Ministry workers in when they come trying to see what was up in the Death Chamber. He asked Daphne specifically to keep it up, since she was the only adept enough to actually understand what to do with the runes, we were there just to keep watch and transfer our magic to Daphne when she needed it."
Harry nodded along with his explanation until the end of his sentence, "Woah wait, what do you mean by transferring your magic?"
The gloves on Blaise's hand let out an audible sound as he fiddled with them, "It's just as it sounds. Dumbledore taught us a spell to siphon out our magic to Daphne when she started getting woozy from trying to keep the ward up. That blast that broke apart the ward really messed her up and it took Tracy and I to keep her afloat, at least until it all ended. Good job on that by the way."
Blaise's random compliment had Harry smiling, "Thanks. Is Daphne alright then?"
"She's fine. Dumbledore gave her time to rest up and told the other teachers of her circumstance. Tracey and I have been taking care of her." Harry sighed in relief as Blaise finished speaking.
The two boys suddenly went quiet as a group of Hogwarts students walked past the alcove.
"We should get going, better to keep up appearances now that you're in the clear. Rumours have been sprouting up you know. Apparently, you single handedly defeated those death eaters and sucked out their magic."
Remembering the spell Voldemort used and the death eaters' screams had him turning green, "Yeah, well, I'll make sure to confirm those rumours next time Malfoy decides to run his mouth again."
Blaise let out a small chuckle and patted Harry's shoulder as he left the alcove. Harry waited for a few moments before stepping out of the shadows and entering the Great Hall. His eyes
immediately went to the teacher's table. He smiled as one of the vacant spots remained as such at Umbridge's departure. Although there were two more empty spots on the table. Harry's mind wandered before he stopped himself and sat down to eat his early breakfast.
Snape entered the Headmaster's office with trepidation, news of Voldemort's demise was still fresh and only known amongst the Order. He hadn't a clue why now of all times Albus had decided to finally speak with him.
"Ah, Severus. Welcome, please take a seat." Dumbledore greeted him with his usual jovial tone. Snape nodded and took the offered seat.
"Lemon drop?" Dumbledore airly gestured towards the bowl of sweets on his table.
"No thank you, Albus." Snape declined, grimacing at the memory of eating the sickeningly sour and sweet candy, "May I ask why you have summoned me?"
Dumbledore lowered his head and steepled his fingers in front of him, leaning in, peering over at Snape over his spectacles, "As you know, Voldemort is no more. Harry has done his part and fulfilled the prophecy, at least, that is what I hope."
The implication that Snape had caught annoyed him. Trust the old man to still speak in riddles and vague non sequiturs.
"What is there to not understand? The Potter spawn has slain the Dark Lord."
"Yes, and although I still have my reservations due to Ms. Moon dealing the final blow. That is not why I believe that the prophecy is still ongoing. Tell me, Severus. How is your Dark Mark?"
Snape glared at Dumbledore, before complying with the indirect request and rolling up his sleeve, to reveal the still clear and visible Dark Mark on his left forearm.
"So, I presume I do not need to say the obvious, Severus?" Dumbledore held a steady stare as Snape rolled down his sleeve and angrily retorted back at him.
"This does not mean anything. The Dark Lord is now gone, he is as good as dead." Snape tried in vain to convince Dumbledore.
"The Veil is unknown to all of us, Severus. You know how your Dark Mark slightly faded when Voldemort had become into the wraith after his demise at the hand of Harry when he was an infant. And now after his presumed death, your Dark Mark has not faded in the slightest. Not even the death eaters who were near Voldemort when he siphoned out the magic from them had their Dark Marks faded in the slightest. We can only presume that the Veil is not the guaranteed execution we thought it is and that Voldemort may still be alive. And you know what that means…"
A cynical expression of weariness was on Snape's face as he realized that his job was not over, "The horcruxes are still at play."
"Precisely." Dumbledore solemnly admitted, "Fortunately, I have discovered two other potential horcruxes. And I request your aid to attain them."
Snape sighed and presumed as much, "Of course, Albus. Is that all?"
"Yes, we shall during the summer, when all of the students have gone home." Snape nodded and stood up to leave. But before he left, he turned to Dumbledore and asked in a small voice.
"And what of the boy?"
Dumbledore smiled and happily answered, "Voldemort struck him with the Killing Curse, then he returned."
A shallow breath came out of Snape's lungs, "So you were correct."
"It was a theory, Severus. I admit, when he did not immediately come back, I had lost my composure. I was so afraid of being wrong that I had almost done something that I knew I would regret even if it worked." Snape stilled at the vulnerability he heard in Dumbledore's voice. The expression he held was that of both relief and exhaustion, a face he seldom saw on the old man.
Snape kept quiet as he exited the office, his cloak billowing in the nonexistent wind, leaving the leader of the light to his thoughts.
"Achoo!"
Lilith cringed as Harry sneezed on his sleeves. Taking her wand out and cleaning the spot that Harry had blown his germs on.
The both of them under a tree - the same tree they had their first mock date at - with the both of them sitting side by side. It was the end of the school year and they decided to take the time and spend the little time they had with each other.
"Sorry, someone must be talking about me." Harry said, returning back to his spot and letting Lilith's head rest on his shoulder.
"If that's true, then you'd be sneezing twenty-four seven." Lilith joked back at him. A grin full of mirth made its way to Harry's face as he looked down at her.
"That's why I've got Ron and Hermione by my side at all times. Hope you're ready to clean up my snot."
Lilith let out a disgusted noise and mockingly hit him in the stomach, which only caused Harry's smile to widen even more. Then, the both of them went silent as they enjoyed each other's company, before they would soon have to part for the summer.
"How's Sirius doing?" She asked Harry.
After Dumbledore had spoken with the Minister and the aurors, led by Amelia Bones, interrogated the surviving death eaters, Sirius was subsequently cleared of all charges and was going through evaluation to become Harry's official guardian.
"He's doing well. The last letter he sent me was filled with what he's been doing and then the help he's been getting from St. Mungo's. If everything goes well, I'd have to just stay with the Dursley's for around a month." Harry said joyfully. Opting to leave out the teasing remarks Sirius had written about Harry and Lilith.
"Ugh, I still can't believe you still have to go home to those horrible people." She couldn't contain her malice in her tone at the Dursleys. Not that Harry minded.
"Hey, I don't want to go as much as you do. But Dumbledore was insistent on me returning and he only said for a month, then I can go live with Sirius for the remainder of the summer and the foreseeable future. So all in all, not a pretty bad trade."
Lilith sniffed and still held an expression of annoyance at Harry's predicament. A soft chuckle made its way out of Harry at her reaction.
"Oi, are you two lovebirds gonna go home or not!"
The couple looked down the hill to an impatient Tracey, accompanied by Neville and Luna. Not wanting to raise the ire of the Auburn Slytherin any further, they swiftly got up and walked down the hill, the group walking to the station where the train would await them.
As the group walked they came across Hermione walking alongside Professor McGonagall, her face brightened as they approached.
"Hermione, are you already grilling Professor McGonagall about school work?" Harry couldn't help but say off the bat. An affront look came across Hermione's face as she refuted Harry.
"No, I was simply having a nice chat with Professor McGonagall."
A rare sly grin came on of Professor McGonagall face as she spoke up, "Yes, a nice chat about the Transfiguration prodigy Chile Mores, and the subsequent essay assignments about him."
Her teasing was met with reddened cheeks from the bookworm Gryffindor and amused smiles from the others. Professor McGonagall decided to take pity on the poor girl and said, "Now, go along, Ms. Granger. The train is about to depart any minute now, I'll entertain any nore questions you might have through owl posts."
With a quick and quiet thank you, Hermione joined the group. Hitting Harry on the shoulder in the process.
As they entered the train and looked for a compartment, they came across one containing one Ron Weasley and Daphne Greengrass, who seemed to have been in the midst of a strange discussion.
"Dandelions?"
"They're pretty."
"Cheesecake?"
"Divine."
"Chudley Cannons?"
"I don't watch Quidditch games."
The ragtag group that barged in the conversation paid no heed to their conversation and made themselves comfortable; it was Neville who finally decided to ask Ron and Daphne what they were talking about.
"So… What's this then?" He decided to ask Daphne first, gesturing between her and Ron.
"We were just having a nice talk about my opinion on things. I truly don't know how it started, he just started saying random words and I assumed he was asking me my opinion of them."
Ron shrugged and grinned, "Honestly, I didn't know how to start talking with you so I just started saying random stuff. Thanks for playing along."
Daphne nodded at his thanks and a trickle of a smile appeared on her lips.
It wasn't long before Ginny and Blaise joined the party as well, the compartment becoming a bit cramped but no one amongst them seemed to mind. Neville, Ron, and Blaise opted to sit on the floor on top of the largest trunk they had. Harry, Lilith, Luna, and Ginny sitting on one side while Daphne, Tracey, and Hermione sat on the other.
"Hngg~ It's finally over! I thought school would never end." Tracey let out a relaxed breath of air as she leaned on Daphne, who only watched the scenery going by outside.
"It's definitely been an eventful year. An underground teaching club, a conspiracy to get a teacher who tortures their students fired, and to top it all off an adventure to the Ministry to see the most feared wizard alive meet his demise." Blaise said, as if he was talking about the weather.
"Plus, a trip to Madame Pomfrey. I think I get Harry now, I do not want to stay there any more than necessary." Ginny rubbed her stomach where the Lestrange twins' spell hit her. Luna nodded in agreement beside her.
Lilith's face lighted up, "Oh yeah, speaking of the Ministry. Apparently they've been under fire ever since Dumbledore spoke with the Minister. You can pretty much bet that Cornelius Fudge won't be coming back next term."
Ron gave a derisive snort, "Good riddance, I say. He didn't do a lick of anything good."
The conversation then shifted into other topics as the train ride continued, the group not letting a moment of silence appear. And even though Harry had gone through plenty of amazing and fantastical experiences, something as mundane as this still brought him great joy. He scooted closer to Lilith and held her hand, smiling at her as she blushed.
But all good things must come to an end, and they finally reached the end of their journey. The train ride slowed down to a halt as they reached the station.
"Huh, Malfoy didn't come for once." Ron noticed, making Hermione and Harry perk up.
"You're right." Hermione commented, as they all exited the train and down to the platform.
"Most of the Slytherins have become pretty quiet in light of what happened. Draco most of all. I don't think you'll need to worry about him anymore, with his father becoming a squib, he'll have to handle being the head of House Malfoy now." Blaise carried his luggage down and smiled as he noticed his mother waving at him.
"Well then, I think it wouldn't be an understatement to say that this has been an eventful year. I greatly anticipate what you will do next school year, Harry. Alla Prossima everyone!"
Everyone bid him goodbye as he disappeared into the sea of people. Tracey then spoke up after Blaise left.
"Me and Daphne will take our leave as well. Mom's been waiting for us in the parking lot for a while. It'll be Daphne's first time riding a car!" Tracey excitedly said, with Daphne letting a minute smile appear at her friend's exuberance, "Anyway, see you guys next time! Come on Daphne!"
Daphne waved at them as she was pulled by her energetic friend. Leaving four Gryffindors and two Ravenclaws.
"Well, I think Ron and Hermione and I will look for Mrs. Weasley and my father, they must be around here somewhere. Shall we, you two?" Luna insinuated at the both of them and they quickly got her hint. Leaving the now blushing couple, with sly smiles and grins at their direction.
"Honestly, you'd think they still believe that we haven't got together or something." Lilith said, amused at the three's behaviour. Harry agreed with a laugh and took a hold of her hand and sent a loving gaze at her.
"Well, I'm certainly not complaining."
The bustle of people around them didn't pay the two any interest, as they stood together, relishing the contact and the presence they had with each other. They were in a world of their own.
Then a blur immediately tackled Lilith, who was only able to stay up with Harry's help.
"M-mom!?" Lilith let out as she realized the woman who was currently holding her as if she would float away at a moment's notice.
"OhthankGodyou'realrightIwasworriedsickaboutyouwhenIheardyoufacedoffagainstVoldemort andIthoughtI'dnevergettoseeyouagain!" The onslaught of words that vomited out of Lilian was making Lilith's head spin as she tried to keep up with what she was saying.
"Mom, we're out in pub-"
"OhandHarryohdearIheardyouwerehitbyakillingspell! MyheartalmoststoppedwhenGordontol dmeaboutitandthereliefIfeltwhenIheardyouwereokay!" Now Harry was at the mercy of Lilian's death grip as she directed the spew of words at him.
"Now, now dear. Let's calm down and take a breather."
Lilian stopped and looked back at Gordon as he patted her in the back. She took a deep breath in and her body relaxed as she let out a shaky exhale.
"I'm sorry. I was just so worried about you two." Lilian let her hug go slack and now Harry and Lilith could breathe comfortably in her grasp.
"We know, mom. Just take it easy on the bear hug next time, alright?" A scratchy laugh came out of Lilian as she nodded. Harry awkwardly stood there, not used to such contact from a grown up before.
"So, best we leave and catch up somewhere else. Who wants some ice cream?" Gordon said excitedly, with Lilith's eyes lighting up and Lilian smiling at them both.
Harry cleared his throat and looked away, "Er, I'm sorry sir, but I might not be able to go with you all. My guardians are probably waiting for me outside."
At the mention of the Dursleys, Lilith unconsciously frowned in anger, something that Gordon took note of.
"Well, I'm sure they can understand that we won't keep you for long and we can drive you to your home safely." Without any warning, Gordon passed the hidden barrier, leaving both ladies and the boy confused. They all followed and tried to see where Gordon went, and it wasn't long before they saw Gordon speaking to one Vernon Dursley. Harry quickly went up and strained his ear to hear what they were talking about.
"-You see, I have plenty of information regarding what you do in your work and what you do at home, especially to your beloved nephew, so I think it's best you be the big man, no insult intended, and let your nephew enjoy his youth."
Vernon's volcanic expression grew as Gordon finished speaking. Harry attempted to try and calm him down before anything bad could happen.
"Fine, have him for the whole day for all I care!"
He left with a resounding huff, not even noticing Harry's shocked expression. Gordon turned around and gave all of them a giant smile.
"Looks like you're allowed to go with us, Harry. Now, let's go! The scrumptious banana split is calling my name!" Lilian rolled her eyes but held a small smile as she walked alongside Gordon to the car. Leaving a still shell-shcoked Harry and Lilith.
"A fly might go in there, you know." Lilith closed Harry's agape jaw and laughed at Harry's reddened cheeks.
"Sorry, it's just…" Harry trailed off, a small frown on his face, before it turned into a reassuring smile, "You know what, nevermind. Let's go, I think your dad's right about that banana split. I can hear it and my stomach's responding."
Lilith nodded and before stopping in her steps, Harry confusingly looked at her.
Before she surprised him with a quick peck on his lips.
"You're not alone anymore, Harry. You've got us now."
A wide-eyed Harry blinked before breaking into a brilliant smile.
He wasn't alone. So long as they were together.
Nothing could ever stop them.
The trailing rain on the window pane crawled down into the wooden window sill, seeping into the wood as the rain continued to pour. A bored man watches on, pensively waiting for a certain piece of news from one of his men. A door opened and a man in a suit quietly entered.
"Boss." The man called boss airily waved his greeting away.
"Voldemort and Potter?"
"Voldemort is presumed dead. Witnesses and memories conclude that he entered the Veil with no sign of him exiting the other side, if that's even possible. The Potter scion has been seen in King's Crossing, going with a half-blood family to an ice cream shop."
The man stayed quiet as he waited in bated breath for his boss' orders, his face clouded in darkness as the light in the room seemed to always shroud his face in shadow.
The boss let out a small hum and spoke to the man, "Good job. Tell the others to keep an eye on the Veil and on Potter. Relay every information you get."
The man nodded in understanding and made to leave the room. As the door closed, the lights from the fireplace and the window finally repelled the shadows, and his face was all but clear to see.
A face that screamed of aristocracy; symmetrical features, with high cheekbones and a long, pointy nose on the middle of his face. Everything about him seemed normal.
All but his two different colored eyes.
One was gold.
Whilst the other was red.
He smiled alone in the room.
"Time to begin the revolution."
A/N: Wow, what a journey, huh?
So first of all, I'm sorry for taking so long to post this; I was stuck in a rewriting cycle, each incarnation not being good enough in my mind, before I finally decided to just bite the bullet and post this.
Secondly, I am planning to write a sequel story! I honestly didn't want to diverge from canon too much when I first started writing this story; from both fear and uncertainty because of my inexperience as a writer. But before I knew it I had so many ideas that I couldn't help but just put them in. Now, there are some plotlines here that weren't fully fleshed out that I plan to write more about in the sequel. (I.e. Family Magic from Chapter 10) So look forward to that!
Thirdly, I toyed with the idea of making some one-shots in this universe. Fleshing out the side characters and the rules of this world; if you guys are interested in that please let me know by leaving a review! And if you don't want that and just want me to put it in the sequel please say so too!
And lastly, I have already written and storyboarded different one-shots, stories with little chapters, and a multi-chaptered story that I hinted at here. So please look forward to that as well.
And with that, I hope you all enjoyed this story. See you all in the next one! And as always, leave a review!
P.S. (07/26/22): I have created a forum! It is named "Hitori's House Of Happenstance" and it is a place to discuss my stories! If you'd like to talk about this story or any future stories I have made then please visit and open up a topic! see ya there, buh-bye!