A/N: Harry Potter is not mine; this is a story of a fan.
Thank you all for the reviews. I hope you will enjoy this chapter as much as you did the last one.
(BSC 2 C16) C46 Christmas in Potter castle 1.
Albus was sitting in his office just thinking hard about what had happened only a few minutes ago. He never expected that Bella was able to let Harry appear in her mind just so that he could help her out.
He wasn't mad about it bud he realized that he would have to deal with Minerva when she heard about it. And the one thing he was sure about was that she was no longer his friend. He realized that she had become very protective of Harry, bud why that was he did not know.
He now knew he had to do something. He had to find a way to get Harry back and under his control. The longer he thought about the more he knew he had to do something with Molly and Lucius. There were the only two who were easy enough to be manipulated by him. The one thing he had to do was be very firm with Harry, maybe he had to use a little force. That way Harry would know to listen to him.
Then again he also had to be a hero to him. Harry had to see him as his rescuer, the one he could look up to the one that would always have his best welfare at hart. But the question was how to do it.
*#*
While Albus was thinking, Bella Daphne en Harry were walking back to their common room. They had just been to the office of Minerva who had returned from the Wizengamot session from earlier that day and told her the whole story.
That she would be mad was something that was for sure and something they had suspected from her, but her doing nothing about it was something they didn't understand. She did tell them that although he had threatened them and that there was nothing she could do, it was their word against that of his. Sure she believed them but who else would was her argument.
The one thing she did promise them was to talk to the others about it, you could never know what they know or what they could think of.
If you would asked them later about it, they would admit that they were disappointed at how Minerva had reacted. However they themselves could also think of nothing they could do about it.
*#*
Later that night Minerva was walking her rounds through the castle. Her mind was on the fact that Albus knew Legilimens and that he was using it on her lions. She now knew that she had to talk to Pomona sprout and Filius Flitwick about it, because there Ravens and Badgers were in the same boat as her Lions.
The Snakes however were a different thing. She was sure that half of them were helped by Severus. The other have the ones from the neutral families, they were the one in danger if she would act on what her grandson had told her.
It was while she was walking through the seventh floor corridors when she encountered Albus Dumbledore. She stopped in her tracks and just looked at him.
Albus who saw her now was looking for a way to get out but the only way was back and he knew she would be following him if he did, so better to get it over with than to run away.
Minerva just looked at him. The anger she was feeling was slowly rising up in her chest. With small steps she walked up to him and took her wand out of her pocket. What she was going to do she didn't know but she would do whatever it was that came to mind.
With a raised wand she stepped in front of Albus. "ALBUS" she snapped. "I have just heard what you did to my grandson and his friends. Now I know that you know that there is no way to prove what you have done. However I'm telling you this, I believe every word my grandson and his friends have told me. So if I ever hear that you try to read their minds one more time, there won't be enough house elves to put you back together. Do I make myself clear".
"Minerva I assure you".
"ALBUS I ASKED DO I MAKE MY SELF CLEAR".
"Yes Minerva you did but".
Minerva turned on her heals and walked away leaving a flabbergasted Albus behind her.
*#*
The last few weeks of the semester were coming along quietly. Everyone began to look forward to the Christmas break. However there still was that little payback they had to do on one Ronald Weasley. They were still thinking about what to do to him but they would do something that was for sure.
Albus Dumbledore had tried on several occasions to talk to Harry. But every time he came near them. Harry and his friends just turned their back on him and walked away. The more they did that the more Albus wanted to get Harry back under his control and the more dangerous his plans became. He was clad that he had a meeting plant with Molly and Lucius for that afternoon.
The more time went by the more Gilderoy Lockhart stayed out of site. Every time he saw Harry or one of his friends he tried to hide behind someone else or just ran away with his tail between his legs.
It was on one evening that Harry collected his friends around him and told them that he together with Bella, his grandmother and Arabella had decided to invite them all for Christmas in his castle. They did however had to go to Isabella and David first before they could go to the Potter Castle.
Time went by and it was the last day of school, only one more night to go before they were going back home for their holiday. Most of their house mates were just sitting around while Harry and his friends were packing their trunks.
Daphne and Harry were the first to be ready. They were the ones that were most organised, Daphne because it was her nature and Harry because he was raised that way.
Hermione and Susan were the next to follow. Neville and Bella were not that fast. They were messy and just tried to pile everything into their trunks. Susan and Hermione were helping them bud they still couldn't get everything into Bella's Trunk. "Harryyyy, do you think I can put some little things in your trunk because I don't have enough room in mine".
Harry heard Bella calling and nodded absentmindedly. Therefore it was then minutes later that he and Neville were sitting on top of his trunk, so that Bella could lock it under their weight. How she had gathered all this stuff he would never know and would remain a mystery for a very long time.
After many huffs and puffs they got their trunks in the common room so that the house elves from Harry could pop them away and back to Potter castle. Now the only thing left was breakfast and then they were on their way to the Hogwarts express to get them home.
*#*
It was early the next morning that the friends were sitting at the Gryffindor table. They all wanted to sleep in but the noise the others were making by packing their trunks had drove them out of the common room. The only strange thing was that Daphne walked over to a Slytherin girl and pulled her into an empty classroom, a thing that she would be repeating with the twins only about twenty minutes later. When she came back she had a smile on her face and only told them to not sit near Ron.
Bella who saw the whole thing was just looking at the twins when Ron entered the great hall. She did not know who did it but she saw how Fred. At least she thought it was Fred put a little potion into the goblet of Ron. "What did you let them put into the drink of Ron" Bella whispered to Daphne who was sitting next to her.
Daphne just smiled. "Just watch".
Ron did what he always did and filled up his plate with a mountain of food.
Bella and Daphne who were looking at him shivered in disgust when they saw how he was stuffing his mouth full of bacon and eggs while he was trying to stuff a sausage with his other hand between his teeth.
When he started to choke Daphne knew her plan would not fail.
Ron grabbed his goblet and started to swallow hard in an attempt to clear his mouth.
Within minutes Ron was covered in fur. His fur grow longer and longer. Ron was looking around him afraid of what was about to happen when he started to tremble. Suddenly there was a pop and Ron exploded into a ball of fur. He was spreading hairs all over the place and into the food of the people around him to start all over again.
When they heard a scream coming from the Slytherin Table they could see that Draco was going through the same fate as Ron was. And then to think it would last seven days and it would always happen when they would take a drink.
*#*
The journey back was quiet and peaceful. Both Ronald and Malfoy had stayed at Hogwarts so they didn't come by to bother them, even Crabbe and Goyle stayed away. So they finely had a train ride full of fun and happiness.
It was far beyond noon when they arrived at the platform of nine and three quarters. Harry knew he was with his family but something deep inside him made him afraid of what was to come. He looked around himself looking for something Albus might have done. He didn't know what but his uncle or someone else could be there to do something to him. Fortunately for him he saw Davis and Isabella standing at the end of the platform. The next thing he knew he was laying on his back looking up to the roof of the station.
"Hi Harry nice of you to let us stay at Potter castle with Christmas we are going to have so much fun".
Harry blinked and looked into two very bright blue eyes; a small smile appeared onto his face. "HI Astoria nice to see you to".
After Astoria stood up Harry was helped on his feet by Isabella and taken into a hug. There was only one word for Harry to describe his feeling. He had never been held in a hug by his aunt Petunia, he had often saw her doing it by Dudley and always wondered what it would feel like being held like that and this time he was held by Isabella in a way he had always wondered about.
He did not know why he said what he said, or if had even thought about it before he had said it bud the hug felt so good so full of love it completely overwhelmed him. He closed his arms around the waist of Isabella and Said. "Thanks Mum".
Daphne was looking at him with big eyes just like Astoria was.
Bella on the other hand had a smile on her face.
Isabella took both of Harry's cheeks into her hands and pulled his face a little up so she could kiss his forehead.
Astoria wanted to ask why it was that Harry was calling her mother mom.
Bud Daphne was way ahead of her and stomped on her toes.
Astoria screamed a little and looked angrily at her sister but said nothing while she was rubbing her toes.
Bella took the hand of Daphne and just looked at her. They didn't have to say a word to each other because they both knew how important this was for Harry.
Harry himself had mixed feelings about what he had done. He had called Isabella mum but his real mother was at Potter castle. He was going to see her later and what was he suppose to tell her.
That afternoon they were telling David and Isabella all about what had happened at Hogwarts, why Harry was calling Albus by his first name, and about a thing that was Petrifying people in the school.
Isabella did not know if it was such a good idea for Harry to aggravate Albus in that way but said nothing about it.
David was just laughing hard and yelling that he liked it.
It was just after supper time when Minerva came to get Bella and Harry. She thanked Isabella and David for taking care of them and wanted to go home immediately because she was very tired and wanted to sit down.
Isabella took Harry into the kitchen before they could go. "Harry listen to me. I know that you are doubting yourself about what you have done, and you know I can feel it. Bud I would feel honored if you would call me mom. I also know that you want to talk to your mother about it but I tell you that I didn't mind it.
Harry looked Isabella right in the eyes. He could clearly see that she mend every word and she really didn't mind it at all. But however he liked the hug he still kept thinking about his mother. How could he call another lady mum? He still had his own mother, sure she was a painting but she was his mother. Then there was that hug he got from Isabella. It had been such a good feeling. With tears building in the corners of his eyes he thought about his father and mother.
This was something he could never ever do with them.
This was something he could blame Voldemort for.
There was so much he had missed.
There had never been a Christmas with his parents.
Never a hug from his mother,
and never en kiss on his forehead from his father.
His father that would never tug him in at night,
or his mother that would never look under his bed for a ghost.
No he had an aunt that would push him instead of a hug,
an aunt that would hit him instead of a kiss.
He had a Christmas alone in the bushes.
And the tug me in was a shove in the cupboard.
He wasn't afraid of ghost.
He was afraid of his Uncle.
He would never have a mother or father's day,
the only thing he could do was go to their graves.
Then to think he never knew they had been buried.
But on the second day of Christmas he would go there,
for the first time in his life he would be able to show his respect.
He gave Isabella another hug and left for his castle.
The first thing Bella did when they arrived in the castle was running to her mother and embracing her in a hug of her own. "Mum it's so good to see you again, isn't that great Harry". She called over her shoulder.
Harry nodded and was laughing broadly. With lead in his shoes he walked over to the painting where his mother and father were waiting for him. While he was walking over to them the tears were again building in the corners of his eyes. At the moment he saw his mother the words came flowing out of his mouth. He told the how he was feeling and what he had done. When he was finished he told them how sorry he was and asked them for forgiveness.
Lilly just smiled a little and told him that she wasn't mad but happy.
Harry did not understand it and he didn't want to understand it because according to him, it was wrong. He again told them with tears in his eyes.
Lilly smiled again and told him to come and sit at the foot of the painting. She herself sat down at the bottom and looked at him with a little sorrow in her eyes. "Harry you know that I'm your mother, but I'm also just a painting. There is so much I want to do for you but the only thing I can do is talk to you and give you advice. Just like it's the only thing your dad can do. Isabella can do so much more than I can. And if you want to call her mum it is Alright with me and I will ask her to hug you twice as long just for me. Just remember sweetheart your father and I will love you just as much.
James was standing behind his wife and just nodded.
*#*
That night Isabella sat with her Husband David on the couch.
Isabella was sitting next to David and looked at him very intently. She doubted if she should tell him about Harry or if she would keep it to herself.
David could clearly see that his wife was thinking about something. He knew something had happened on the platform. It was something he had missed. So he took her hand. "Honey you can't bottle it up inside of you. You have to talk about it or it will eat you up".
Isabella smiled at him. "You are right Honey" Isabella said. "You know that I hugged Bella and harry at the platform. Well when I hugged Harry I could feel that it was his first real hug".
"What do you mean it was his first hug".
"When he hugged me I could feel his feelings. You know they are like a open book to me and you also know how his childhood was like. Well I could feel that, that thing he called an aunt never hugged him like that I even doubt if she ever hug him at all. He got so wrapped up in the hug that he called me his mum. It was not long after that, that he started to doubt himself".
David had a thoughtful look but didn't say a thing.
"I know that it don't mean much to me but for him it was everything until he started to think about Lily and I could feel that it hurt him a lot. I think he is scared that he is doing wrong by his mother. But it might be a little selfish of myself, but I liked it when he called me his mum" Isabella sighed and lay her head on his shoulder.
David kept looking at his wife and thought about she had said. "I think that you must let Harry choose and I think that I know why he did react the way he reacted".
This time it was Isabella who looked at him.
David smiled. "We are the first real Family he has ever seen. Merlin can only wonder what for a example he would have if we were all like that uncle and aunt of his" And David had to again think a little. "Honey I can only tell you" and again he had to think. "That the best thing you can do is talk to Lily about it. I think she will put Harry at ease tonight and that could only help you both in the long run".
Isabella nodded in his neck and snuggled closer to him.
The next day Isabella couldn't take it any longer. She had to go and see Harry so she did what every mother does when she wants something to happen. "Daphne didn't you wanted to go to Harry today".
"Heeuuu, Did I say that",
Isabella Smiled. "Yes you did Honey" She said very confidently with her fingers crossed behind her back.
"Okay mom but I think it was Astoria who asked you. But I like to go".
YES Isabella screamed in her mind.
It was an hour later that Isabella was sitting next to the painting of Lily and James. She had run into Harry when she had come in and could feel that everything was good. After a conversation with Lily and James she knew that everything was okay. The only thing left now was for Harry to decide what he was going to do".
While she was drinking her thee she was thinking about the day before. How differed it could be if Harry had been placed by them after Lily and James had died. He would not have gone through the misery he did and a small tear rolled over her cheek.
She was so wrapped up in her thoughts that she didn't know that she was crying until she felt the finger of Harry rubbing her tear away.
"Isabella you do not have to cry for me, I'm happy now. I have a grandmother, a little sister and the best friends I can have and best of all I have a second mother who will love me. So thank you Mum". Harry looked at her with a smile.
Isabella could not hold herself back any longer and hugged him close to her. Behind her she could hear a little sniff.
Lilly was looking at her son and hid her head in the neck of James. She was happy for her son but she would have loved to give him that hug.
*#*
The days before everyone would come to the potter Castle were coming along quietly. Tonks came by every single day to give him and Bella lessons in dueling. The spells she instructed them were simple. But they were picking them up in a very fast way she had seldom seen.
Arabella was teaching them potions because they were learning nothing from Severus.
Daphne and Astoria were there every day and were taking the lessons with them. Astoria could not join them with the spell work but she could join in when Arabella taught them about potions.
Two times a week they would practice their Quidditch. On those days Susan and Neville were there to join them.
Hermione could not be there, She had Muggle parents and could not come by so easily. Bud she would be there at Christmas.
Harry did invite her parents but Hermione had told him that she would come alone. He had a feeling that she was embarrass about her parents but he would talk to her about that when he had the time.
The day before Christmas, they were back at Diagon alley. It was that time of year when they had to buy presents for everyone and just like the year before they were walking along in groups. In this way they could switch in an hour and buy presents for the others.
Harry did had a list which had only took him a hour to buy. Bella on the other hand needed more time just like Astoria and Daphne, Daphne because she couldn't decide what to buy and Astoria because she was hanging on Harry's arm and wanted to stay there longer.
Bella took it with a laugh but Daphne became jealous when she saw her sister hanging on the arm of Harry. She could not help it and did not want it but it was happening.
Her mother Isabella felt the feelings her daughter was having and took her a little away from the others. By a window from a store she wanted to say something but Daphne was beating her to it.
"Yes I know mum. I just can't help it. I want to walk next to Harry. I want to be the one hanging on his arm and yes I'm Jealous and no I'm not going to say anything or do anything about it. Astoria can walk next to him and I will let her".
In a small voice she said "I'm sorry mom it's just that I'm in love with Harry".
Isabella looked shocked at her daughter. She knew that Daphne was in love with Harry because she could feel it. And she also knew that Harry had feelings for her daughter. The trouble however was that Harry had more feelings for Bella. And internally she was afraid that if Harry had to decide who to take he would go for Bella. She did not know how to tell this to Daphne.
Isabella looked into the eyes of her daughter. She was just about to say something when she felt a hand on her shoulder. A little irritated she looked around and saw Bella standing there.
Bella looked at her with a friendly smile and turned her eyes to Daphne.
Before Isabella knew what was happening, Bella had taken Daphne into a hug. "Daphne I'm also a little Jealous and I understand what you are thinking and I tell you this. Harry has to choose both of us or he will get none of us".
Isabella heard every word Bella had said and could not help herself to ask her about it. It was when Daphne told her what the sorting hat had told her that Harry would be a Lord of two houses. And because of that he would be able to merry two women she knew what she mend.
It was when Daphne and Bella, walked away that she had to swallow the lump she had in her throat . She knew that Harry was a Lord over three houses, would this mean he had to merry three times. Could she allow her daughter to share her man with more than just Bella and why did she think it was a good thing when she thought about Bella bud not when there could be a third person in the mix.
After a short meal in the leaky cauldron they all went back to Potter castle. There Harry and Bella would escorted their guests to their bedrooms.
Astoria didn't want any of that and was trying to pull harry to the swimming pool, while she was looking at him with puppy dog eyes.
It was a lovely afternoon that they all had together. So now and then Harry called Isabella mum but for the most of the time it was just Isabella.
And still every time Harry called her Mum, her hart would skip a beat from happiness.
In Albus Dumbledore's office at Hogwarts.
"I know it is on short nodes but I hope that everybody is ready. You all know that we have to get harry back to our side. If we cannot make that happened then we could lose one of the best chances we can get. So you are all here to go over the plan one more time. You have the bag and you will be handling the weapon".
Everyone who was standing in the office was just nodding and walked towards the fireplace, the flames became green and one after the other disappeared into the flames.
Just as the last of the green flames died out the door of the office opened.
Albus Dumbledore walked into the office and was followed by Minerva.
Minerva, who had just seen how the last of the green flames died out, immediately asked who had been in the office.
Albus said that he didn't know. But his answer was very fast like he was expecting the question.
Minerva could not help in but she immediately got a stressed feeling. And while it was Christmas she had to be there about school work. It was a conversation that would take about an hour and it started to look like it would be a very long hour.
Her mind was no longer at the meeting but at the fireplace. She wanted to know who it was that had left the office. Her feelings were telling her that Albus knew more about it then that he was saying. And everything about the situation told her that there was something about to happen to her Cub. She didn't know why bet all her alarm bells were telling her to go to Potter Castle.
Back in Potters Castle.
The whole family was sitting in the room with the portrait of Lily and James when Minerva came storming in, her eyes went from Isabella to David and slowly to everyone in the room.
It was at the portrait of Lily and James that she saw Harry sitting there on the ground, he was playing snap poker with his friends.
Arabella was sitting next to them and wanted to say something to Minerva.
Minerva ignored her and almost ran at Harry. With maybe to much force she pulled harry from the floor and pulled him in a bone breaking hug.
Lily wanted to say something to her mother when she saw how she ran at harry then she saw her mother's eyes and she held her tong.
They all let it go on for a moment ant saw how Grandmother was hugging her grandson as if life depended on it. Until she put her grandson down and dried her tears with her left hand while she started to explain why she did what she had done.
David was the first to walk to the fireplace when Minerva finished her story. He put his head into the fire with the help of flue powder. It was a minute later that he game up out of the fire and said that Augusta en Amelia would be stopping by tomorrow and the would be bringing Susan and Neville along.
The next day was the day that Minerva had to repeat her story from what she had witnessed in the office of Albus Dumbledore. It was now that Bella, Daphne and Harry had to tell them what happened to them when they were in the office.
Amelia was writing it all down on her trusted notepad and was gathering her evidence for the case she would be having against Albus, unfortunately if thinks would go on like they were going now the case may be shifted to another date, just like the case against Cornelius did, that one would now be held at the end of the year.
What was disturbing was that there was a student that was petrified and that Albus as the headmaster didn't do anything about it.
Arabella had stood up have way through the story and walked towards the Library. Everyone had looked at her when she walked away but had said nothing.
It took Arabella more than forty minutes to find the book she was looking for, before she came back. In her hand she had a very old book with a drawing of snakes all over the cover.
While she took a seat at the table she opened the book and motioned everybody to come and stand around her.
"MINI, MAXI" Arabella called out.
Two little house elves appeared in front of her and looked at her questioningly.
"Mini would you be so kind to make us a big pot of tea, and Maxi could you be so kind to get Poppy and Pomona sprout here" Arabella told the house elves.
The two house elves disappeared and she now looked at Harry. "Sorry Harry for using your house elves like that but I had to and will explain it in a moment".
Harry looked at her and told her. "Arabella this is your home now just like it is the home of Bella, so it's okay for you to use my house elves because they are your house elves to. So there is nothing for you to be sorry about.
"Thank you Harry" Was her simple answer.
There was a pop and Maxi stood in the middle of the room with Poppy at one hand and a disoriented Pomona sprout in the other.
Poppy who had been whisked away more than one time took a good look at Harry and planted herself in a chair with a cup of tea, just waiting for what she was about to hear.
Arabella cleared her throat and took a good look around the room. "I know exactly what the monster in the castle is".
Everybody was looking perplexed and expectantly at Arabella.
Arabella smiled and said. "The monster in the castle is a Basilisk; it's the king of snakes. He can kill a person with a single look or petrified them when they see his reflection.
Arabella heard the others taking a breath of air but kept looking at Harry.
Harry didn't know why she was looking at him or what she mend by it.
"Harry don't you remember, you were together with that whale of a, you know who I mean. Well you were at the zoo".
Harry nodded and got a shiver when he thought about it.
"Yes Harry, It was there when you talked to a Snake for the first time and a Basilisk is a Snake Harry. So that's the reason why you can hear a voice that no one else can hear. But don't thing that you are going dark, because people will tell you that you are. Talking to snakes is a rear but precious gift which not many people have, and it has nothing to do with becoming a dark Lord" Arabella told him.
When the others heard what Arabella was telling Harry, they all looked strangely at him.
Harry Immediately took a couple of steps backwards when he saw them looking at him.
Bella who could clearly see how they all were looking at Harry, went and stand in front of him and was followed by Daphne.
"Don't you all dare to judge my son by looking at him like that" Isabella screamed at them."I know for a fact that he is not the only one in the family that can talk to a snake am I right Lilly".
"Yes you are Isabella and it's exactly the reason why I never told anybody that I could do that. You are already judging our son by a gift he has and not by the person he is".
David looked down in shame and after awhile he asked. "So Harry you can talk to snakes. That means that you are a Parselmouth, that's a very rear gift Harry".
Minerva was as focused as always and brought everyone back to the topic at hand. "Okay we all know that the monster in the chamber is a Basilisk and that Harry can hear him. We also know that it has been living in the chamber for a thousand years. But the question is what can we do about it, because we all know that Albus doesn't share what he knows. And especially what can we do about Collin and the cat".
"Mandrake" was the simple answer Arabella gave them all. "Pomona sprout, are you growing any of them in the greenhouses this year".
Pomona sprout nodded at Arabella "Yes, as a matter affect I am, I had to, Albus especially ordered me to do it. The only problem is that they are not fully grown and that will happen at the end of the year".
Arabella again look around the room and walked over to Poppy. While she was standing next to Poppy she wrote something on a piece of paper which she gave to Poppy, while she whispered something in her ear.
Poppy gave her a nod and took Pomona sprout by the hand and told her they had to go and immediately promised her she would tell her everything when they were back at the castle.
Pomona sprout who still didn't exactly know what it was all about just walked after her when she disappeared into the fireplace.
Arabella went back to her seat and waited until the others had retaken their seat. "We now know that Albus knows about the existent s of the Basilisk. We now know this because Pomona sprout is growing Mandrake in the greenhouse".
Arabella could clearly see that everyone was now connecting the dots so to say and knew that what she was saying was right.
"Now the thing is, that Albus doesn't know that Harry is a Parselmouth. It's something we have to keep a secret especially from him. Now the good part is that I myself do have Mandragoras in my greenhouse, which will be fully grown at the end of the month".
Amelia stood and immediately wanted to go to the school and give Albus a piece of her mind.
Isabella stopped her just before she could enter the fire place and shook her head no.
"But Albus is planning something, Maybe that is what those people in his office were all about and I want to protect my Susan" Amelia almost screamed.
They all understood what Amelia was talking about but knew that they had to wait before they could give it to him.
A/N: This was it for this week. See you all again in two weeks.
Gr. Winmau.