Chapter 2: Manners and Manor

Harry landed comfortably in front of a set of large wooden gates. Attached to each side of the gates were a set of stone pillars that ran off into a bigger wall, hiding the majestic cedar trees that would lie just beyond the walls. He had found that being across the pond had made him severely miss sitting under them, listening to the whisper of the branches as he fell asleep. Even now, he could almost hear them from outside the gate, that and the gagging and hyperventilating of the muggle Dave behind him.

"Pansy, shut him up," Neville groaned, making his way past Harry and through the gates. "It's bad enough we have to land on the outside of the gates."

"Why?" Pansy asked, quickly adding, "Your Grace, if I may ask?"

"You haven't been cleared," Harry replied dismissively as he made his way toward the gate. "Open," He said as he made his way through, "But now you are."

Entering found him on a narrow pathway that seemed to disappear beyond the rolling hills and scattered cedar trees. Three house-elves stood on the opposite side, one was holding Neville's bloodied robe very loosely.

"Master Harry and guest, We've been sent to transport you to the manor."

Harry pointed to the muggle Dave and Pansy, "Transport them to the cellar."

"Yes, Master." One of the house-elve's replied as they grabbed the hands of their guest. Harry felt a small hand reach for his robe and everything went black. Opening his eyes, Harry found himself in the familiar ballroom room. A long and grand room that was coated in white and gold, adorned with intricate patterns, and hosted a beautiful set of lights that highlighted the patterned floors.

"Master Harry, I'm glad to see you have arrived home safely."

In the far corner of the room, a short and ratty featured man that Harry called the Keeper of the Manor, stood with a piece of parchment paper in his hands and a house robe in his hand. He looked a bit frazzled.

"My, you've gotten even uglier, Wormtail," Neville said, stripping from his bloodied robes until he was just in his trousers and shoes. "Uglier than half of the muggles in the zone.

"Master Neville, it's an honor to have you...grace the manor," Womrtail replied, gazing at the dirty and bloody robe that Neville had dropped. His eyes darting back toward Harry, "I must apologize if you had plans with your...guests, but you both have been urgently summoned by the Emperor. The baby has arrived."

Harry's eyes widened as carefully stripped from his bloodied robes, and grabbed his house robe. "It's a bit early, is it not?"

"Unfortunately, I was given no details. I've laid out your ceremonial robes, and have prepared the floo channel for your arrival. Master Neville, I will arrange for a houself to retrieve a garb from your manor."

"As if this day couldn't get any busier, the competition has finally arrived and we have to go to court." Neville said, slipping off his shoes,"Wormtail run a bath, it's best if mother doesn't chew me out."

"Yes, Master Neville," Wormtail begrudgingly replied. "And you Master Harry?"

Harry didn't say anything as Neville sauntered past him, turning to face Harry. His brow lowered and his face was quizzical.

"You're going to go see her, aren't you?"

Harry stood stone-faced.

Neville sighed. With a resigned tone, he whispered, "She's a mudblood. She'll always be a mudblood." He moved away from Harry, and made his walk toward an exit of the ballroom. Harry watched him until he disappeared from view before turning toward Wormtail.

"Where is she?" Harry asked.

"Where she always is." Wormtail replied, opening the door to a smaller hallway. "If I had known your brother would be returning with you. I would have moved her just in case, but you know - she makes a good fuss when you try. "

"All is well," Harry said, making his way inside the small hallway, unlike the room they had left, it was bare and uninteresting. "My brother wouldn't go near the servant's quarters."

Wormtail added, "He wouldn't see his own two feet if he needed them in front of him."

"Yet, he still is royalty, so you would do well to watch your words."

"Oh - my sincere apologies, Master Harry. I seem to have forgotten my place."

Harry nodded.

"I must warn you, Master Harry. Before we enter, she's been having a rather good day which is great after the many bad ones."

Harry didn't say anything as they made their way down to a rough wooden door at the end of the hall. Approaching the door filled the space with the harmonious sounds of clanging, chopping, and a pleasant hum that filled Harry's heart with reluctance.

Wormtail opened the door to reveal a crew of house-elves hustling around the kitchen to prepare dinner. Amongst them was an older woman, she had long thick fiery red hair that sat on her shoulders, and was cutting what looked to be some sort of vegetable. Her face was wrinkled and weathered, but she still had quite a shine to them. Harry stared at her for a moment, listening to her hum, watching her happily work in the kitchen with house-elves.

The woman's slightly almond-shaped green eyes wandered up from her cutting board to his own, and her hum stopped in tracks.

She smiled fully, "Master Harry! I've missed you! Oh dear... I made you something, you must see it."

Harry couldn't help but grin. "Oh yeah?"

"Yes!" She replied, spinning around and narrowly missing a house-elf who was holding a big pot. "Master Wormtail, is it okay If I leave my station?"

"Yes, Lily. It's fine." Wormtail chuckled.

She almost squealed in excitement, rushing over to grab Harry's hand, "Master Harry, please, you must come with me!"

"Doesn't look like I have much of a choice, do I?" Harry replied as he allowed himself to be led back down the same hallway they had entered.

"You sure don't, Master Harry."

"Lily! Wait. Not down that hall." Wormtail tried to yell, to no avail as they had already made their way down the hall.

"He's right. We need to use the servant's path." Harry said softly.

Lily groaned. "But it takes so long, and no one is-"

Before she could finish the door slowly opened. Harry ripped his hands from Lily's hand as she ran headfirst into Pansy who had entered from the otherside. They both collapsed to the floor.

"OUCH." Lily said, grabbing her head.

Pansy sat on the floor, her eyes widened with surprise.

"What in the hell are you doing here?" Harry said coldly. His wand was already out and pointed toward her.

Lily rubbed her forehead. "Who are you? Is this - my gift, Master Harry? You brought someone that looks like me! "

"Lily, come here," Wormtail said, approaching from behind Harry.

Harry ignored them. "You have three seconds to tell me why you are here?"

"The muggle…" Pansy said, squirming under the wand, "He's- well- he's not doing well. It's an emergency...your Grace. I'm sorry, I didn't know how to find anyone."

"Leave it to your brother's grunts to have neither manners nor intelligence." Wormtail murmured.

Harry turned his head slightly. "Take her."

"Of course, your grace." Wormtail replied back, "Come, girl."

"But I haven't shown Master Harry his surprise," Lily whined as Wormtail dragged her away.

"Come now, Lily."

"But Master Wormtail...please, I don't want him to disappear again!"

Harry waited until her voice was distant before turning to Pansy, who still laid on the ground.

"Your Grace, My apolog-

"Crucio."

Pansy screams were amplified by the narrow hallways. Harry watched her writhe and beg on the floor until her contortions were otherworldly; drool, sweat, and tears pooled on the floor beneath her. Finally, he let go , pocketing his wand and stepping over the crying girl.

"Let's go," he replied calmly, bending down to grab her arm. With the wave of his wand, they had disappeared from the hallway and into the dark cellar. The cellar was long as it was wide with very few lights to illuminate the exotic alcohols bottles that were floating along the wall.

Pansy coughed and moaned on the cellar floor, and in front of both of them, the muggle dave sat against the restraints of his chair. He was unconscious.

Leaning forward to examine the man, Harry noticed with each breath, it sounded more like a rattle. Blood seemed to be dripping from his chair, pooling into a puddle. With the wave of his wand, Harry ripped the shirt, checking to see if there was a wound.

There wasn't one.

"We've…finally…got you... bastard." Pansy said, shoving an object into his hand.

Within seconds, the room disappeared and Harry found himself landing roughly in a dirty and dark room. He couldn't see anything for a moment, but he felt himself grabbed and blindfolded. His two arms were grabbed and twisted as people began to speak from all around him.

"I got the wand!"

"Holy shit, she did it! The kid did it!"

"Well, I'll be damned."

"Do it now."

Harry heard the two loud snaps first. A panic washed over Harry as he attempted to use his hands to send a wave of magic, only to discover that he couldn't use his arms. The panic was followed by a sharp pain that ran through his arms that was only growing.

"This will hurt a lot less if you don't move, you piece of shit."

Harry felt the hard crunch of his face as he fell into the ground, unconscious.