Sensing Magic
by Teddylonglong
Please refer to chapter 1 for my disclaimer and warnings. Thank you.
'Marvolo, what happened?' Harry sleepily thought to his friend.
'I don't know. I just feel horrible, but I'll be all right. Sorry for waking you up,' Marvolo replied, sounding very much distressed.
'Is there anything I can do to help you?'
'No Harry, it's fine. Just go back to sleep.'
'Strange,' Harry thought in confusion. 'I wonder what happened?' However, the warmth of Lucy's body pressed against his stomach made him drift back to sleep, before he could further ponder the matter.
HP
Later the same day during breakfast in the Great Hall, Regina received a letter from Gringotts.
'Lady Lestrange-Prince,
this is to inform you that we at Gringotts have cleared your family vaults from all dark items, among them one object which contained very dark magic. It is now safe for you and your family to come and visit your vaults at your leisure. I shall accompany you if you wish for me to do so.
May your gold always flow and your enemies cower before you.
Buckbean
Account Manager for House Lestrange'
She handed the letter to Severus, who was sitting next to her at the only table that was used in the Great Hall during the holidays. Only five students from all houses as well as the Weasley twins had remained at Hogwarts; however, to prevent the students from feeling lonely in the big castle, the headmaster insisted that they all had to attend at least breakfast and dinner in the Great Hall.
'That's going to change once Felix will be born,' Regina thought, smiling as she felt the baby doing some kind of jumps.
When breakfast was finished, the headmaster motioned everyone but the students to remain for a moment.
'What is it now?' Regina wondered, staring at the old wizard in his light purple robes with hidden annoyance.
"As you all know, Voldemort is back, and we need to get the Order of the Phoenix together again."
Regina inwardly rolled her eyes, wondering if Severus was going to spy for Marvolo this time.
"Now, Sirius has offered for us to hold our meetings at the old Black townhouse. I have already informed everyone whom I believe trustworthy enough to join us, and I'd like to ask you all to come to this address…" He thrust a small piece of parchment into Minerva's hand, asking her to hand it to the next person, "… right after dinner tonight."
'Tell him that you can't join the Order because of your pregnancy,' Severus instructed her, telepathically, and Regina immediately complied.
"Ah but my dear, that is no hindrance at all. I remember all too well how Lily Potter attended our meetings even during her pregnancy with Harry."
To Regina's surprise, everyone began to laugh and, on her apparently bewildered expression, Minerva explained how Harry as a barely one-year-old had absolutely loved to play with Albus' beard.
"I am sorry, Headmaster, but I will not join either, at least not before our baby will be born sometime next summer." Miranda cast Albus an apologetic look.
The old wizard nodded in apparent understanding.
"Severus, will you join us?" The headmaster's voice was soft yet demanding.
"Yes sir."
"Would you be willing to spy on Voldemort again?"
Severus lightly inclined his head in silent agreement without promising anything.
'If Dumbledore only knew,' Regina thought with a combination of amusement at her husband's skill and annoyance at the whole situation caused by Dumbledore.
"Alice and Frank, what about you? Are you ready to join again?"
The Longbottoms exchanged a glance, before Frank replied for them both. "Albus, it's not even two weeks, since we've returned to normal life, and we're not ready to do anything but try to get used to everything."
"When we're ready, we'll make sure to inform you," Alice added in an equally firm voice.
HP
After dinner on New Year's Day, Severus left for the meeting of the Order of the Phoenix together with Minerva, Miranda and Remus.
Only once, Severus had been to the old Black House at Grimmauld Place, on Regulus' invitation, while they had still been students at Hogwarts. He entered the house, which still had a dark flair, behind his colleagues, inwardly groaning in annoyance, when the old Lady Black began to shout something sounding like "Blood traitors". Severus quickly tuned her out and followed the others into the kitchen, where a large group of Order members was already gathered. Lord Sirius Black was there, sitting next to Amelia Bones.
'How she could marry such a mongrel is beyond my understanding,' he thought, inwardly rolling his eyes.
Black greeted him wearing a frosty expression, to which Severus replied with a sharp nod.
There was Augusta Longbottom, who came over to Severus instantly. "Lord Prince, please tell me how my children are doing."
Severus nodded in understanding. "They're doing relatively well. Neville and Harry are helping them getting used to normal life again, and it helps that they're attending all the meals in the Great Hall together with my colleagues and me. Talking with everyone seems to make the adaption easier."
The old lady seemed to hesitate for a moment, before she enquired, "Would it be possible for me to visit them?"
"Of course." Severus' response was prompt and held no malice. "Please use the Floo to travel to the fireplace in our quarters at any time."
Finally, Albus entered the kitchen, and Molly Weasley, much to Severus' annoyance, began to make a fuss about everyone handing out cups of tea, before she placed huge plates with biscuits onto the table.
"Let us begin." Albus stood at the head of the table letting his eyes wander around the group. "We definitely know that Voldemort has returned. I am still not aware of his exact method of coming back to life, after he was supposed to die more than nine years ago; however, he is back. Apparently, he has taken on the lordship of his mother's family, House Gaunt. As Lord Gaunt, he even has a seat on the Wizengamot, and as far as I heard, he even actively participates in the Wizengamot meetings. Remus, is that correct?"
The head of the Wizengamot rose from his chair. "Yes sir."
Molly Weasley raised her voice. "Why would such a criminal be allowed to simply gain a seat on the Wizengamot? He should have been sent to Azkaban the instant he showed his face."
Remus let out a deep sigh. "Amelia, will you please?"
Amelia nodded and began to thoroughly explain everything about Marvolo's questioning under Veritaserum. "Somehow, the bad feeling won't leave me, but still, he has been questioned, and right now, we must believe his words to be the truth until proven otherwise. As to Theodore Rosier, there is evidence that he put other people under the Imperius curse as well, which makes Lord Gaunt's story even more believable."
"Thank you, Remus and Amelia." The headmaster spoke again.
"Severus, can you tell us anything about his agenda? Has he called his Death Eaters together already? Does he perhaps plan to free his followers from Azkaban?"
Severus nodded. He was prepared as to what to tell the old wizard. Marvolo and he had planned everything together. "The Dark Lord is back. He has only called his followers together once. His agenda seems to be the fight for the rights of all magical beings. I don't think that he has any plans of freeing his followers from Azkaban at this time."
He noticed that Mad Eye Moody eyed him with obvious distrust; however, he found that he did not really care. Before, the opinions of others might have been important to him; however, ever since gaining his own family with a wonderful wife and a brilliant son, his priorities had completely changed.
HP
Harry was sitting in the living room, cuddling with Regina and playing the Suikan, while Lucy was asleep next to him. 'It's so funny how I can feel Felix move in there to the rhythm of the music,' he thought, already totally in love with his unborn little sibling.
"I wished I could feel Severus' emotions and could see through his eyes like I can with Marvolo." He let out a deep sigh. "Then we'd know if everything is all right."
"Everything will be all right." Regina's voice was firm and felt soothing to his mind. "I believe that the Order of the Phoenix is harmless. It is a group, which listens to Professor Dumbledore and is simply opposed to Marvolo if I understood that correctly." She absentmindedly caressed a large bump on her stomach, before she gently guided Harry's hand to feel it, causing him to chuckle at the baby's antics. "The worst that can happen is that they kick him out, if they decide that they don't trust your father."
Harry nodded in understanding. "Do you know who else is on our side? What about Minerva, Miranda and Remus? Sirius is not I think."
"No, Amelia and Sirius probably are on Professor Dumbledore's side, and we must be careful, so that he won't realise that we support Marvolo. I am not sure about the others. Your father might have a better insight than me."
"You're much better with people though," Harry replied, smiling.
"Thank you, Harry. I am still lacking experience in the magical world, even if I was raised by a pureblood family and am familiar with the customs. I believe that it's time for you to go to bed though. Tomorrow evening, the students are going to return, and when classes resume, you're going to be busy again."
Harry smiled, happily. "I can't wait for Neville to attend Remus' lessons together with Teddy, Lucy and me. Ana and Nihil will probably at least quietly listen, too."
HP
Harry realised soon that classes together with Neville and the three elves was even more fun than just with Teddy. However, to Neville's disappointment, Misty and Poppy decided to teach Harry alone.
"Harry, we are teaching you Healing, because you're a natural healer and having background knowledge about Healing might help you in the future," Misty explained, patiently as always.
Cicero, however, allowed Neville to join them, when he taught Harry about herbs and other plants, considering how interested and also knowledgeable his friend was.
One day, Regina suggested for Neville to ask Professor Sprout if he could occasionally assist her in the greenhouses. "I know that she once said she'd love to have a student assistant, just like your father has the twins, but that there was no one with a sufficient interest in Herbology."
Harry observed, smiling, how Neville's eyes widened in excitement. "Do you think I can just go and ask her? Won't she mind?"
Regina nodded, reassuringly. "She will be very pleased. If you're too shy to just go and speak with her, Harry would surely be willing to accompany you."
"Oh, yes please." Neville cast him a pleading look.
Grinning, Harry readily rose from the sofa, closely followed by Lucy, who dashed ahead towards the door.
HP
As Regina had predicted, Professor Sprout was pleased and allowed Neville to come and join her in the greenhouses, whenever he had time to spare.
"Let's see if we can work together for a while, and if we both want it, I can ask the headmaster to make you my student assistant from your first year onwards," the Hufflepuff head told him, much to Neville's delight.
By the time they returned to the Prince quarters, Neville profusely thanked Regina and Harry for their support.
HP
Now that his various kinds of lessons had resumed, time passed so quickly for Harry that he was surprised, when Regina told him one day, "Felix is supposed to be born now any day."
Harry stared at his adoptive mother in shock. "So soon? I wanted to make a present for him, but I haven't even begun yet."
Regina chuckled. "You don't have to give him anything. You already gave him a huge present." Apparently realising that Harry had no clue what she meant, she added, "His name."
"Ahh. No, but I have an idea. I just need the help from some of the professors." Harry's thoughts went haywire, as he pondered how to best proceed. "May I go and visit Minerva for a moment? And then perhaps Professor Flitwick?"
"You may if Lucy is awake enough to accompany you. Otherwise, please ask Teddy, and see to it that you'll be back on time for curfew."
"I will. Come, Lulu."
Together, they dashed away in a speed that did not give out Harry's condition.
By the time they returned just on time for curfew, Harry was carrying a plush dog in the colours of Lucy.
"Ah, how cute." Regina smiled.
Harry handed her the dog. "Press his front paw."
When Regina pressed its left front paw, the dog said in Harry's voice, "Hello Felix." A press of the right front paw caused a melody to play, which sounded exactly like a small song that Harry often used to play on the Suikan. "It sounds like your Suikan." Regina looked at him in apparent amazement. "Very well done, Harry. Felix really is a happy baby to have such a mindful brother."
Harry smiled. "Do you think he'll like it?"
Regina chuckled. "I'm sure that he'll adore it."
"He'll adore it and drive us all nuts with that melody." Severus smirked, as he let himself sink into his favourite armchair.
If he had said such a thing just a year ago, Harry would have been terrified. However, by now he knew when Severus was joking, and he was also aware that his father had been under the influence of the twins for more than a year, and they took turns joking half the time.
"Well, you can just cast a silencing charm around yourself if you're fed up with us," Harry replied, grinning.
His parents began to laugh. "Thanks, Harry, for not putting Felix under a silencing charm, because that would be an absolute no-go." Regina cast him a stern look.
"Of course. I know that." Noticing that his vision failed abruptly, he realised that Lucy had drifted off to sleep and quickly excused himself for the night.
"He's a wonderful son," he heard Regina say to Severus, when he was lying in bed with the door slightly ajar as always.
"That he is," Severus confirmed, "and he will be an equally brilliant big brother. It's probably just a matter of time though, before he'll begin teaching Felix all the nonsense he learns from the twins from hell."
HP
Every Sunday morning since the beginning of the year, Augusta Longbottom travelled to Hogwarts to visit her children and grandson for a few hours.
"Alice, don't you mind Mother coming over every Sunday?" Frank cast her a questioning look.
Alice stared at her husband in shock. "Of course not. It's fine, especially after she stopped questioning our allegiances at every visit."
Frank chuckled. "I wonder how long she's going to remain on Albus' side, before she'll be ready to listen to us."
Alice smirked. "Don't put any pressure on her, love. I am so grateful to her for raising Neville for us. I know that he did not exactly have a happy childhood, but he is a well-educated and lovable boy. The two of us couldn't have done better. Regina told me that he was very shy when he first came to visit Harry, but that he has completely changed since then."
"He looks very happy to me."
"That he is." Alice smiled. "He loves attending classes with Harry and the elves, and he thoroughly enjoys assisting Professor Sprout in the greenhouses. Did you know that Nihil always joins him in the greenhouses? He seems equally interested in Herbology as Neville."
"Do you remember that it was my favourite subject at school?" Frank grinned broadly.
"Of course. Had Professor Sprout been of the age that she is now, you might have become her successor." Alice smirked.
"No dear, I would have had to take the mastery, before I'd have been able to teach."
Alice nodded. "That's true." 'He'd have done so then,' she thought, letting out a deep sigh. "On the one hand, I am looking forward to Felix being born soon. As Neville and Harry are so grown up already, I can't wait to be the godmother to a baby again. On the other hand, I have become used to having Ana help me around our quarters, so that I'm going to miss her badly." She shrugged. "It's not because of the work, but she's nice to talk to. I understand why Harry and Neville are so fond of their elf friends."
Frank remained thoughtful for a moment, before he suggested, "Let's speak with Harry about it. He seems to be the organiser for everything concerning elves. Perhaps, he can find us another elf or even find one for his brother if Ana agrees to become your elf. On a different note, what would you think about becoming a mother to a baby again?"
Alice's eyes widened in surprise and enthusiasm. "I'd love that. Are you ready though?"
"Whenever you are. Albus asked me if I wished to become the new professor for Arithmancy from September onwards, so that we'll have an income again and these quarters will be our permanent living quarters." When he held out his hand to her, apparently ready to retire for the night, Alice thought that he was as remarkable as he had been before their nine years of absence. 'Beautiful inside and outside,' she thought, happily. 'Just like my oldest son and godson are.'
HP
On March 8, Felix was born. When Harry woke up in the morning, he felt that Alice was sitting on the edge of his bed, and from Lucy's noises of apparent contentedness, he realised that she was cuddling Lucy.
"Good morning, Aunt Alice, is Felix born?"
Alice chuckled, apparently realising how excited he was. "Yes, Felix was born during the night. Your parents are both in the hospital wing together with Misty. Her baby Lucky was born about an hour before Felix, and your mother and Misty decided to stay in the same room together.
"Teddy!" Harry shouted in excitement. "Have you already visited your baby brother?"
"Yes, I visited Lucky and also Felix, but they were both asleep. Come, I will show you the babies."
"Aunt Alice, could you please magically exchange my clothes? I can't wait to visit Felix and Lucky."
To his relief, his unofficial godmother simply chuckled, before she waved her wand. Harry felt the magic, nodding in relief, when Lucy showed him his new outfit.
"Thank you, Aunt Alice, Lucy, are you ready?"
Without waiting for a response, he grabbed Teddy's hand with his left hand and Lucy's paw in his right hand and simply popped over to the small teachers' room behind the hospital wing, where he could sense Regina and Misty.
HP
Felix was as cute as a button but very small, and Lucky looked exactly like Teddy but was even tinier.
Poppy ushered them both into chairs, before she gently laid Felix into Harry's arms and repeated the process with Lucky. The proud fathers were hovering on the other side of their wives' beds.
"Hi Felix, hi Lucky." Harry was the first to speak. "We're Teddy and Harry, your big brothers, and this is Lucy, the best dog ever. Welcome to Hogwarts. You're both very lucky indeed."
Lucy carefully sniffed at Felix, before she gently licked his face all over and then walked over to Teddy's other side to sniff and lick Lucky. While Felix simply continued to sleep, Lucky began to cry.
"Please give him to me, Teddy. I think he must be hungry."
Harry and Teddy observed in amazement how Misty fed Lucky, and it did not take long for Felix to become restless as well. Harry observed in amazement how his tiny mouth bent to let out a small wail of apparent unhappiness.
"I believe that not only your younger brothers but also your mothers need some rest." Severus nodded at Harry and Teddy. "Let's return home for a while. According to Poppy, we may come back in the afternoon to pick up Regina and Felix.
"Teddy, we will return home, too." Cicero added.
"I will go with Harry. Our class with Remus will begin soon."
"Only in about two hours. It's only seven o'clock in the morning," Cicero informed his overexcited son, before they all took their leave allowing the new-borns and their mothers to sleep.
HP
Remus' and Miranda's son James was born just a week after Felix and Amelia's and Sirius' daughter Lily at the end of the month. While Alice and Frank were Felix' godparents, the Lupins and the Blacks had asked Severus and Regina to become godparents to their babies.
"They're lucky, because all three of them can attend Hogwarts together," Harry said, when he and his parents returned from the Black house at Grimmauld Place with Felix and Lucy, where they had visited Baby Lily and her parents.
"Harry." Severus gave him a sharp look. "Last night, Marvolo called me. He asked me for a couple of potions and invited us for the first of May to celebrate the Beltaine festival."
"Another ritual?" Harry asked in anticipation.
"Well, the Beltaine festival is another Celtic holiday to celebrate the beginning of summer, and he wants to have another ritual to pray for Felix's health and happiness."
"May I accompany you?" Harry felt excited at the idea of another ritual.
"Of course, Harry," Severus replied, gently ruffling his hair, before he carefully took Felix from Regina with the instruction to make him burp.
HP
On May 1, Severus, Regina and Harry travelled to Riddle manor with Felix, Lucky, Misty, Teddy and Lucy in tow. Originally, Marvolo had asked them to bring the Weasley twins along; however, as it was a normal weekday, Severus could not simply allow them to leave Hogwarts without a reason that would be acceptable for the headmaster.
As before, Marvolo had prepared a circle outlined by runes and candles. 'Dad, are you sure that this can't harm Felix?' Harry enquired in sudden concern for his brother. 'I know that Marvolo isn't evil anymore, but still…'
Severus returned a calming thought. 'Yes, Harry, I am certain. He explained everything to me in detail the other day, and whilst I am not a specialist in Runes, I understand enough to know that it is harmless. Otherwise, I wouldn't allow Felix or you to be involved in this.'
'All right, thanks.'
'As soon as I'm allowed to choose the elective subjects, I'm going to take Ancient Runes. This seems very intriguing,' he decided, as he watched Marvolo's preparations with interest.
Finally, Marvolo motioned Harry and Teddy to sit on the floor inside the circle and for their mothers to place the babies into their laps.
Harry smiled in relief, when Lucy made herself comfortable behind him just outside the circle to be able to show him what happened. Felix woke up by the sudden movement, when Regina placed him into Harry's lap, and opened bright blue eyes just for an instant, before he deeply snuggled into Harry's embrace. Harry instinctively began to cuddle the baby, amazed by the fact how cute he was and how much he loved him. 'I wonder why his eyes are blue,' he thought, 'considering that Severus' eyes are black and Regina's brown.' He had intended to ask his parents upon noticing the fact; however, the last couple of weeks ever since Felix had been born had been so busy that he had simply forgotten about it. In addition to his classes with Remus, Misty, Poppy, Cicero and studying together with the twins, he had spent some time every evening helping Regina to care for the baby.
He was deep in thoughts and lured by the baby's warmth to feel comfortable and sleepy, so that he somehow missed most of the ritual. Marvolo's voice was soothing, and Harry just relaxed, feeling very happy to be part of the ritual together with his finally found family.
HP
The weeks before the end of the school year passed much too fast for Harry's liking, as he and the twins were supposed to take their Potions NEWT together with the seventh-years. When he had asked why they could not take them at the end of the summer holidays like it had been the case for their OWL, Severus had informed him that the twins were going to be busy working together with Marvolo.
"What about studying for the mastery then?"
Severus sighed. "Harry, the twins are about to finish their second year. You're only going to be a first-year in September. Don't you think that all three of you have enough time to study for the mastery? Does it matter if you take it in two, three or even four years?"
"No, of course not." 'That's strange,' he thought in surprise. 'Usually, Severus is quite the slave driver. I'm surprised that he deems the twins' research together with Marvolo more important. I wished I could assist them, too.' Turning his thoughts back to the NEWTs, he thought, 'The seventh-years are going to stare at us, when we take the exam together with them, especially as we didn't even attend their class.'
He felt quite uncomfortable at the idea, before he recalled that Charlie and Tonks were among the seventh-years. 'We can just sit together with them,' he realised in relief, deciding, 'Tonight, I'm going to eat at the Gryffindor table for a change.' Ever since the twins had come to Hogwarts, he had preferred the Slytherin table. Only when either Charlie or Tonks had explicitly invited him to sit with them had he joined the Gryffindors. 'Too bad that Tonks is going to leave Hogwarts soon,' he thought. Charlie would remain as the new professor for Care of Magical Creatures, while Tonks, who had become his girlfriend by now, had decided to undergo Auror Training.
HP
To Harry's relief, the seventh-years did not make any comments on their presence during their Potions exam. Harry felt that it was much more difficult than the OWL had been; however, his father had prepared them well, and he somehow managed to not only get through the theoretical part without problems, but also achieved to brew a potion, which according to Severus looked perfect.
A week later, the summer holidays began. On the one hand, Harry was extremely excited. 'When school begins again, I'm going to be a student,' he thought in absolute delight, when he recalled that he still had to convince the headmaster to at least have Teddy attend classes with him. 'I'm going to speak with him right away,' he decided and quickly called Teddy to him, before they climbed up to the headmaster's office with Lucy in tow.
Only when they reached the gargoyle guarding Dumbledore's office, Harry realised that he did not know the password. However, when he was just about to point out the problem to Teddy, the gargoyle opened for them like by an invisible force, enabling them to step onto the moving staircase. Reaching the top, Harry politely knocked at the door.
"Come in."
Harry hesitantly entered the office, flanked by his companions. "Professor Dumbledore." He lightly lowered his head in greeting. "I am sorry to disturb you."
"No, my boy, it is a pleasure to have you visit an old man. Please take a seat," he replied, offering him a lemon drop, which Harry politely declined. "What can I do for you?"
Harry inwardly groaned. 'I wonder if he really doesn't remember that we still have an open matter at hand,' he thought in annoyance.
"I just wanted to make sure that you know that Teddy is going to attend Hogwarts together with me."
"Ah but Harry, you must understand…"
"No sir, I don't." Harry rudely interrupted the headmaster, surprised at his own courage, when help came from an unexpected source.
#Albus, you won't be able to deny the nestling's familiar his education. Remember that the nestling owns the nest we all put our beaks in.# With that, Fawkes left his perch only to land on Harry's arm, which he had stretched out invitingly, as soon as Lucy had shown him the approaching phoenix.
"Exactly." Lucy turned her head to show him the portrait of the ancient wizards, who had been headmaster in their own times. "Harry is the heir of all four of us and as such the owner of Hogwarts, as Fawkes has pointed out correctly. If Harry decides to have elves attend the school in the future, so mote it be. There is nothing that the current headmaster will be able to do to prevent it. Furthermore, I believe that it is a good idea to try it out allowing only his own bonded to attend classes for the beginning. If this works out, Harry will decide to have a contingent of, for example, two elves per year, at Hogwarts. Salazar told me that Teddy here has been taught together with Harry, so that I expect that this attempt will work out well."
"Thank you, Professor," Harry replied, smiling.
"Ah, rubbish, I am not a professor anymore, but I am Godric Gryffindor, your many times great grandfather. Just call me either Godric or Grandfather."
"Thank you, Godric."
"Thank you, Professor Godric," Teddy echoed.
Dumbledore nodded, apparently realising that there was nothing he could do to prevent Teddy from attending Hogwarts.
"What about the school fees? Will Teddy be able to pay his school fees?"
Harry nodded, firmly. "How do we have to pay them and when? What about his Hogwarts letter?"
"Please speak with Professor McGonagall about both topics." Dumbledore tiredly let his hand wander over his much too long beard. "Well, remember that you can always come to me if you encounter any problems."
"Thank you, Headmaster." With that, Harry rose from his chair expecting Fawkes to leave his arm.
However, the phoenix remained seated. #Don't forget to practise becoming a phoenix Animagus. I can't wait to go flying together.#
"Ah but Fawkes, Harry is much too young to become an Animagus."
Harry did not bother to correct the headmaster, but took his leave, not caring that Fawkes remained on his arm and accompanied them all through the castle. Only when they reached the entrance hall, Fawkes trilled a good-bye and took off.
'Well, if Dumbledore really doesn't know that I'm a dog Animagus, it leaves many options for pranks,' Harry thought in amusement, as he returned home eager to tell his parents about his victory over the headmaster.
