Chapter 20: A Heartfelt Gift
After the raid on Malfoy Manor, Lucius Malfoy had been arrested and charged with the crime of Possession of Multiple Dark Magical Artifacts. He had been sentenced to seventy years in Azkaban and as he was being taken away in chains Sirius looked down on him from his Wizengamot seat with a massive grin. Lucius had been escorted out and as he walked down the hall he passed Narcissa and Draco. Draco was looking smug at his 'father' while Narcissa had a look that said, 'I told you so,' on her face.
The Auror team assembled by Amelia tracked down one of remaining Horcruxes at an old Manor in Little Hangleton. The item in question was a ring that the goblins later identified as a heirloom of the Peverell House. The final Horcrux that appeared on the map, took a little longer to find, but while studying the current ones in their possession the goblins theorized the last one would likely be related to another founder of Hogwarts. So that would mean something of either Rowena Ravenclaw or Godric Gryffindor was the last Horcruxes vessel.
The three professors at Hogwarts began questioning the ghosts of the castle and after a long talk with the Ghost of Ravenclaw, Helen Ravenclaw, Minerva learned of the Diadem and how Helena helped Voldemort get it. After getting the ghost to tell her where it had been hidden she sent Remus and Severus to collect it from the Room of Requirement that none of them had ever heard of and decided to keep the rooms location and function to themselves. After two months of searching the room Remus brought the Diadem, having found it during his turn to search.
Finally all the Horcruxes that had shown up on that map were gather. Minerva suggested to the goblins rather than destroying the relics, as most of them were ancient relics of the Founders of Hogwarts; it would be better to remove the corrupted souls from each object and move it to another item then destroying them. The goblins agreed to this request since most of the objects were goblin made, they didn't want to destroy their ancestors works. With all the pieces of souls moved to random objects they then destroyed the new vessels and the souls attached before presenting to relics to Harry as it was due to the Horcrux that had been in his scar that they were even able to discover them. Harry thanked them and requested the items be put in his family vault except the small black book. When they had learned that the book had actually been a diary Voldemort used when he had been in school, Harry requested the book be burned immediately.
Time moved on and with Lucius now locked away Narcissa opened up even more with everyone, especially Severus. The two began to go out together for many public dates and even got photographed and had an article about them in the Daily Prophet titled, 'Narcissa Black moving on from convict Ex with New a Beau.' The Prophet hadn't figure out the man she was with had been Severus yet since he no longer looked the way he used to. Now free of all the potions he had once been under, Severus, while still fairly pale, looked much healthier. His hair was no longer the greasy locks he once had which Andromeda attesting that to him not caring about his appearance while under the potions he had been given.
Draco was happy to see his mother truly happy for once and because he didn't want to look like his 'Sperm donor', that was how Andromeda referred the boy's biological father, he began dying his hair black to look more like his adopted father. Narcissa told him that it wasn't necessary as she never saw him as a reminder of her former abuser, but the boy wouldn't hear it. He told her firmly he didn't want to look like Lucius and if he could find a way change his grey eyes to match his mother's, he would. The boy's mother sighed and stopped protesting allowing the boy to do what made him most comfortable.
The Granger's began coming around often so Hermione could see her new, and only friends. The girl was soon introduced to Neville, Luna, The Greengrass girls, and the Weasley children, minus Ronald. They had all welcomed the girl happily which has caused Hermione to start crying in front of them. The children had been worried about their new friend's reaction when her parents explained their daughter never had so many children want to be her friend. Luna, who was still mourning the recent loss of her mother, immediately hugged Hermione; Ginny, Daphne and Astoria joined their dreamy eyed friend in comforting the girl telling her she didn't have to be sad anymore.
The rest of the year flew by now and Harry's eleventh birthday was fast approaching. Harry was jealous when on Draco's birthday his friend received the new latest model of broom. Draco did brag just a bit, but let Harry have a turn on the new broom as well. Sirius assured Harry he would get his own broom on his birthday so the boy didn't pout for long. The Grangers had visited on a day Harry and Draco were riding the new broom around and watched with worried expression before looking to their daughter who seemed to have a similar expression.
The day of Harry's eleventh birthday came and the McGonagall Garden was once again decorated for a party. The guest list was the same as before however Mrs. Weasley was not in attendance due to having to stay behind with Ronald since after four years he was still refusing to apologize to Draco for pushing him into the fountain. Mr. Lovegood was there as well though he looked much more somber than he had at the last party he attended. This was due to the recent loss of his wife who had died during one of the woman's own experiments. He was holding himself together though for Luna's sake. He didn't want his own grief to effect his daughter.
This ended up giving Xeno, as the kids had started to call him, and Castor something to bond over since Castor's wife had also passed away while giving birth to Astoria. Lord Greengrass had been very comforting to his fellow widower having learned to handle the eccentric man's ramblings about things he didn't fully understand. Augusta, who had been friends with Xeno for years, would always swoop in and save Castor when ever Xeno would start going off the rails with one of his bizarre theories.
The Granger's had been introduced to all the parents by this time and anytime Mr. Weasley was in attendance he would question them about numerous muggle items. Today however, Mr. Weasley was being regaled the tale of how Daniel punched Lucius Malfoy in the face before putting the pompous man on his ass. "Merlin's beard!" Arthur said when the story finished. "I know I was there to see him convicted but I'd trade that moment in a heart beat to have seen this myself."
"Perhaps I'll show you my memory of it sometime." Sirius told him.
"Oh yes please!" Arthur pleaded.
"Wait you can show someone your memories?" Emma asked.
"Yes," Sirius replied, "We can pull out memories and put them into something called Pensive to view later. Helps us recall things that our brains would otherwise forget eventually."
"Oh wow!" Daniel said, "So its like how we use camcorders to record important family moments so we never forget them."
"Camcorder?" Arthur asked with starry eyes, "What's that?"
"You take this one dear." Emma said patting her husbands arm and walking over to join the other ladies which she had grown close to over their many visits.
The witches had all been intrigued with Emma's muggle style of clothing. During one of their meeting they had all gasped when even Narcissa came down wearing the 'jeans' Emma usually wore along with a green silk blouse. Narcissa had raved about how comfortable the jeans were and how soft the blouse was. The other ladies pleaded with Emma to take them shopping too. She agreed, which led to today, where all the witches in attendance were wearing comfortable muggles clothing.
Narcissa was wearing tight black jeans, a white button down cotton blouse, and black flats. Minerva was in plain denim jeans, a forest green cotton blouse, and white tennis shoes. Andromeda opted for a similar look as her sister but she wore a golden yellow button down blouse, and white circle skirt, with matching flats. Augusta however opted for a dress that almost resemble a tent with flower patterns all over it. Minerva chuckled at telling Emma, "Even with your amazing sense of style to help. Augusta is still Augusta, she has always worn the most bizarre outfits."
Andromeda leaned over, "Wait till you see her vulture hat." She whispered. Emma looked at her with wide eyes at this dreading the day she witnesses this hat.
Harry and the other five kids who would be first years this year were all listening to Fred and George as they told them about Hogwarts. Harry raised an eyebrow to them when they said something about fighting a troll to get sorted into their house, "Guys you do realize my grandmother and two of my uncles work at Hogwarts right?"
Fred looked to George, "Dang it…it worked on Ron." Fred said.
"Seriously?" Daphne said, "He bought that nonsense?"
"Oh yea he's at home now still planning how he's going to beat it." George told them.
"Oh Merlin." Neville said, "I'm looking forward to seeing his face when he realizes we just have to sit on a chair and put on a hat."
"That will be priceless!" Daphne said.
"Um, who is Ron again?" Hermione asked.
"Our younger brother." Fred and George said together.
"Oh why haven't I met him?" the girl asked.
"Weeeeell…" George looked to Harry and Draco and they both shrugged, "At Harry's seventh birthday Ron kinda went bonkers and pushed Draco into a fountain while he a Ginny were playing with Harry's new kid's broom."
Hermione tilted her head confused, "Why on earth did he do that?"
"I assume you remember meeting my biological father last year." Draco said.
"Yes," the girl replied.
"Well Ronald is under the impression that because I'm that guys son I'm exactly like him." Draco told her.
"Well that nonsensical." Hermione said.
"Exactly!" the twins said together.
"We've tried countless times to tell him how Drakey here is a cool kid but he is not hearing it." Fred said.
"Yea last time we tried he called us idiots for 'Buying into the Snake's scheme'." George said, "We stopped trying after that."
"I wonder what his face will look like if I get sorted into Gryffindor." Draco said.
"Oh my god his head will probably explode!" Fred started laughing.
"Children!" Minerva called, "Come on, time to eat."
They all came to the table as told and the party goers laughed and talked as they ate, and just like Harry's last party once the meal was done the all sand the Birthday Song and Harry blew out his candles on the cake. Next came presents. Harry had gotten many books this year much to Hermione's envy. "Geeze kid you got enough books for your own personal library." Dora had told him.
Harry stuck out his tongue, "That's what I'm going for!" he told her.
The eighteen year old laughed, "Alright well here, add this to your collection." She handed him a book that looked like a journal, "It's a collection of notes I've taken on our shared ability. Right now you can only willing change your hair and eyes. This will give you a bit of insight into how to change other things."
"Whoa cool!" he took it and grinned, "You should consider publishing this."
"Nah, lets keep it in the family." She told him with a wink making Harry chuckle.
He received his new broom from Sirius which had been most excited about. Then the last present came from Minerva. Harry took the parcel it felt really light even though the package was bulky. Harry slowly unwrapped it and something silvery and fluid like spilled onto the grass. Harry reach down to grad it holding it up. "What's this?" Harry asked.
Sirius looked at Minerva wide eyed, "You found it?" he whispered to her. She simply put her finger to her lips.
"It's a cloak Harry." She told him, "Try it on." She tells him.
Harry shrugs and swings the cloak over his shoulders and everyone, except Sirius, Remus, and Minerva, gasped, "What?!" Harry asked.
"Harry look down!" Hermione said pointing to his feet.
Harry did as he was told and his eyes widened looking back up to his grandmother, "My body's gone!"
His grandmother chuckled, "Yes its an invisibility cloak." She told him.
"That's so bloody cool!" Fred said and got popped in the back of his head by his father.
"It was your father's Harry." Sirius told him.
"Really?" Harry asked grinning.
"Yes," Minerva said, "Its been in your family for centuries." She told him, "Dumbledore was hiding it in his office. When I became the headmistress I found it in there. I've been waiting till now to give it too you."
"Thank you Nana!" Harry took off the cloak and rushed over hugging her.
She chuckled, "But don't let me catch you using it to sneak out of your dormitory at night or I will confiscate it." She said firmly.
"Yes Professor." Harry said looking up at her with a smirk.
She laughed and the party went on. The kids were taking turns hiding under Harry's cloak and seeing how long it took for the others to find them. Sirius and Remus walked over to her, "So he actually left it behind?"
"Not exactly." She said, "He didn't have a choice. My first night at the castle as Headmistress Filius told me that the night Dumbledore escaped, he was alerted to an attempted breach to the wards. Apparently Albus tried to get back in the castle but the wards refused him so everything in his office was left behind."
"I bet that pissed him off." Sirius said.
"Oh I'm sure it did." She said with a smirk.
"You honestly think Harry's not going to use that cloak to explore the castle at night?" Remus asked her.
"Oh I'm sure he will." She responded, "As much as he reminds us of Lily he is still James' son too. He's bound to stir up trouble here and there."
"He wouldn't be a marauder's son if he didn't." Sirius said.
"Just don't give him any hair-brained ideas Padfoot." Severus told the boy's godfather.
"Oh heaven forbid he has a little fun." Sirius bit back causing Severus to roll his eyes. The party ended on a happy note and everyone returned home. Harry had made plans with the Granger's to go shopping for their school things the next weekend since they all had gotten their letters. Harry smiled as his guest left, glad things were going smoothly finally, but little did he know someone was plotting something that would make Harry's quiet happy life implode.
A/N: See told you I'd explain where the cloak was. So no Dumbledork did't get away with it. Minerva had it all this time waiting to give it back to it's rightful owner. The twins have warned Hermione about their brother so hopefully she won't try what she did in the original story and help him with his Levitation charm. Its nice to see the witches so willing to accept Emma and marvel at her fashion sense.
Up Next: See what Dumbledore has been up to over the last ten years. Minerva recieves a letter from one of Dumbledore's old aquaintances.