Chapter 6: Training
Giggling with laughter in a lilting tone to which Harry found music to his ears, the young witch remarked, "I look forward to that."
"Good," Sirius said, "Now your mother told me you just graduated Hogwarts last year?"
"Yep, that's right, the class of 1993! Right now, I am at the Auror Academy trying to join the force."
"Really?" Sirius asked as a bit of surprise and pride was evident in his tone, "Is Sergeant Rockery still there treating everyone like a slave drive"
"Yea, that old cranky man! He is our Drill Sergeant- shouts in everyone's face, plus makes them do push-ups at the drop of the hat. Do you know him?" Tonks asked, then as if realizing something she pointed her finger at him and asked, "Wait, you went to the Auror Academy?"
"Yep, me and my best mate James went there for a bit of training as the war was starting up then. Man those were some tough days; though now that I know that bastard James had the help from his bloodline, it explains a lot. No wonder he was that grumpy old man's favorite and was the brightest and best in our group."
"So you didn't become an Auror?" Tonks asked and the ting of disappointment was clearly evident in her tone.
"Oh, we did become Aurors after we graduated. All hands were needed on deck as the war picked up. It was quite thrilling duking it out with those Death Eaters, but..." Sirius said as his mood took a downward turn. "It was also a sad and deadly time as well. Lily was always worried about James and his parents were not happy in the least bit that he left behind his duties as Heir and playing at Hitman Wizard for the Ministry."
Closing his eyes for a moment and giving himself a moment to collect himself, Sirius opened his eyes then put on a false expression of cheerfulness then uttered, "Okay, enough of my old history. Come meet my godson, Harry." he said as he waved towards the young wizard.
Harry was caught off guard as he seized by the recollection of his parents by Sirius. Quickly trying to collect himself, Harry tried to play it cool but he really had no idea what older kids thought of cool. Thus coming off as an idiot in his opinion, Harry uttered with a wave, "Hey, Warrior Princess Diana."
Giving Harry an unreadable look, Harry took it the wrong way and immediately stuttered out an apology to the gorgeous witch. "Sorry, I wasn't thinking straight, of course, you wouldn't know about..."
"Princess Diana of Themyscira," the blue haired witch pronounced, finishing Harry's sentence for him. Looking up at the future Auror in the making, Harry stared at her in shock, "What you didn't think that I would about your average witch or wizard, not knowing anything of the muggle world."
"No, not at all," Harry said ambiguously as his words carried dual meanings and he quickly racked his gaze over the Hogwart's graduate body. "I just never thought that somebody would catch my meaning you know." Harry said with a chuckle.
"Yea, being raised by a muggle-born father, there is a lot that separates you from other kids who only grew up to learn about the wizarding world," Tonks said with a nod of her head. "Anyways," she added, "Thanks for the comparison, I have never been contrasted to Wonder freaking Woman. That is a first."
"I hope you take no offense to it," Harry said, "I really didn't mean any."
Shaking her head from side to side to which it created a mesmerizing look as her hair rolled around her face and her bosom slightly jiggled. "No, it's no offense at all. I actually kind of like it. Who wouldn't want to be compared to a total badass."
"Thanks." Harry mentioned as a slightly goofy grin played on his lips.
"No thank you for the compliment."
"Yea, you know I just thought, hey she is a warrior and so is Wonder Woman, though I am not saying you guys look similar or anything." Harry persisted on awkwardly, all the while he cursed himself for not just shutting his mouth.
"Oh, so we do not share appearances?" Tonks asked in a teasing manner.
This time Harry didn't need to stammer out his response since he knew that she was just ribbing him. However, what came next was a real surprise, "Well if you do not think I look like Princess Diana let me fix that."
Right before Harry's eyes, Tonks as he knew it, slowly disappeared and in her place was a woman of the same height but a well built frame, blue eyes replaced the grey ones, and raven black wavy hair topped the head. Wonder Woman stood right before him in the flesh.
Staring at Mrs. Tonks wide-eyed seeking some answers, the woman simply smiled at him giving no response.
"What the hell just happened to you, Tonks?" Harry asked, trying to get some answers from the source. He knew that this had to be Tonks, but maybe a polyjuice potion at work though he never saw her drink one and he did not know if you could transform into fictional characters since they didn't exist. Still, this had to be Tonks right before him since she still had on her clothes though it was stretching to the limit.
"I'm a Metamorphmagus. It means I can change my appearance at will. I was born one."
"Wow." Harry simply remarked.
"Yep," Sirius said with a nod, "It is a Bloodline ability common in the Black Family though it was dormant for a while now. Nobody had that ability in nearly four generations give or take. I am surprised to see its triggered. Oh man, if I was Head of House, I would immediately be bringing you back into the family."
"Thanks, Uncle Sirius," Tonks said as she slowly changed right back to her original looks though this time with dark violet-colored hair and the same green eyes as him. "Mom was always saddened by the fact that Great Aunt Walburga removed her from the family."
Changing the topic, the young beautiful witch asked Harry, "So is Uncle Sirius really the fun and lovable guy he says he is?"
Harry had a million more questions to ask about what happened but it seemed like Tonks wanted to move on. Turning to look up at the man who was his guardian, Harry could honestly answer, "Yea, he totally is."
Before Harry and Tonks could continue with their conversation, Mrs. Tonks cut in with a loud clap and uttered, "I am glad to see that the both of you are getting along, but let's head to the kitchen so that we can get something in the both of you. Then I am sure before long you will both be getting along at the hip."
"Alright, take care dearie." Mrs. Tonks said as she rubbed his head affectionately.
"You too Aunt Dromeda." Harry stated with a nod.
"See you around, Potter." Tonks said with a wave.
"Yea, see you, Warrior Princess," Harry said as he watched both women disappear into the fire.
Once the guests where gone, only Harry and Sirius were left in the living room, Harry was about to head on up to his room in the Black family's home, but Sirius uttered a few words which stopped him right in his track. "You're interested in her, huh, pup?"
"What," Harry shouted as he felt shell shocked, then quickly going into denial, he stated. "No, no, no, I am not interested in her in the least bit."
Patting the young wizard on the back, Sirius uttered, "It is okay pup, I am your godfather and I can tell these things. Ahh, you should have been there, Witch Weekly used to call me the 'Playboy of the Century!'"
"But is it really okay?" Harry asked, once he saw no point in hiding it any longer since the cat was out of the bag. "Tonks is like my cousin three times removed."
"Ah, don't fret about that," Sirius said as he waved off Harry's concern. "As long as you guys are not siblings, you are good and even then that is sometimes contested since Wizarding Families used to practice incestuous marriages long ago. "
"Now that is gross," Harry said, as he slightly shivered in his place.
"Yea, but you know how Wizarding Families are all about blood purity. Anyways like I said before Purebloods are always related somehow in someway or form- if they really stopped to think then they would have realized that over half of them are somehow married to their own cousin, so do not let that stop you, pup because it sure as hell didn't them."
"Yea, but do I really want to be like these bigots?" Harry asked as he shook his head.
Gesturing his hands in a placating manner, Sirius uttered, "Being a Pureblood isn't the issue here. If you are a Pureblood that just means you come from a richer and more deep-rooted family, however, it is the belief that most of them carry that is the problem. So I am not saying become a muggle hating ass..."
"Like Malfoy," Harry uttered underneath a cough.
Chuckling a bit over Harry's remark, Sirius continued, "The take away from all that is you can totally pursue her, let there be no distress in your consciousness. I am okay with it as her uncle and as your godfather, and Dromeda would be totally thrilled by the fact that her daughter got back to a Most Noble and Ancient House!"
"Okay, but how do I make her like me?" Harry asked slightly convinced by Sirius's argument though maybe it was his hormones deciding for him. "I know nothing of girls, there like unto a magical creature themselves."
"You are not wrong in that remark," Sirius said in total agreement, "But did you forget that Witch Weekly used to call me the 'Playboy of the Century!' I can totally teach you everything you need to know to conquer a lady!"
'Oh boy.' Harry thought as he saw that roguish smile on Sirius's face. 'What the hell did I get myself into?'
As the days went by, one after the other Harry quickly got into his daily routine. In the morning he would wake up and practice a bit of meditation he picked up from one of the books in the Black Family's library. The book was really vague about what the meditation does for you but he felt like he had a tighter control on his magic whenever he did the exertion.
That more than anything meant more to him to whatever the book promised since he still remembered what happened in those hallways and what he did to Kreacher. He still had some outburst of accidental magic here and there; like him setting a wardrobe on fire, flooding a bathroom, creating a sinkhole, and a bunch of other crap. However, as he kept to the meditation it became less and less so he did not have to worry anyone about it.
After his meditation session, Harry would shower and brush up then head on down for breakfast. When all that was done he would go to the library where his day truly started.
Reading the material that Sirius assigned him, Harry would get to learn so much more about Wizarding history that he never got to learn in his true History class, also he would pick up on so much culture and tradition he had no idea of.
However that is not where it all stopped, Harry quite enjoyed picking up the different histories of Western powers similar to Magical Britain like the French, Germans, Greeks, Slavic, Spanish, Hungarian, Russian, American, and countries.
There were also the weird and strange powers that fell and rouse throughout magic's long and ancient history that fascinated him very much so. It was like Harry left the small confides of this great library, decrepit house, roiling country, and traveled far off to into wondrous lands; like the South Americas with their unique and separate history, Africa where it all started, the Middle East with countless layers of Empires and civilization that fell and rose, China with their powerful warlock serving great dynasties, India with their monk wizard meditation on the meaning of life.
Each and every single one of them fascinated Harry as he picked up on tome after the other. However, the wonders of the great library did not stop there.
After evening approached Harry liked to wander the stacks as he found archaic pieces of knowledge and interesting branches of magic he never heard about; like ritual magic, demonic magic, aura magic, blood magic, black arts, necromancy, voodoo magic, dark magic, shadow magic, draconic magic, dimensional magic, nether magic, chaos magic, and so much more.
Furthermore, he did not know why but there were also subject matters on Math, Physics, Biology, Chemistry, History, Psychology, Computers, and so many other muggle related stuff in the library he was quite surprised. He would be the first to admit, he never expected that from a family that was clearly muggle hating, but that did not stop Harry from sometimes picking up those books and giving it a read.
All in all, Harry found that the Black family's library was truly extensive and he soaked it all in like a piece of sponge.
Once his time in the library was done, Harry would head up for some lunch then his evening would begin.
Sirius kept to his end of the bargain and began his training in Battle magic.
Although both Sirius and Mrs. Tonks said that he would be good at Battle Magic that did not mean it would be an easy process to learn this highly respected branch of magic.
Sirius totally handed him his ass when it came to the training mats. It was obvious the man he met at the shrieking shack and the one before him were not the same two individuals. If the man wasn't running laps around him, he would be giving him quite the bashing as he tore at Harry's paltry defenses and handed him his ass.
Though that did not mean he didn't learn anything, every day he was getting better and better in the training mats as he got faster, stronger, smarter, until he felt like he could hold his own.
Some days Tonks would visit and get in on the training, those days all Harry did was watch her ass and wonderful globes bounce around, countless fantasies would pass through his mind as he imagined what she could be doing to him with those great assets. If he did not have half the mind he would already have been drooling on the floor like an idiot, but he somehow kept his cool.
In addition to the younger Tonks visiting, Mrs. Tonks also came by to check on his and Sirius's health. She also got into the habit of teaching him a bit of healing magic and potions; the one subject he struggled at Hogwarts no thanks to Sniveling Snape as Sirius likes to call him.
Sirius also kept the other half of the bargain as he got him started on the process of finding his magical creature animagus form. He had no idea that it would be a long and grueling process as each day he had to follow a certain complicated and in his mind very convoluted steps. Why the hell would he need to carry a mandrake leaf in your mouth for a long excruciating month?
The other thing Sirius kept up was teaching him about girls. Even though he found it a bit foolish and idiotic, he still somehow listened in on the older wizards lectures. Though at this point it was getting to the fact that Sirius was only talking about the women he seduced.
One big surprise Harry had was the visit of his old favorite Defense against the dark arts teacher, Remus Lupin, one of his father's best friends. It seemed like he and Sirius kept in contact with each other and having some time off from his new menial job he decided to come visit.
The one great enjoyment he had about Remus's visit was that it got Sirius in a talking mood. Those were the only moments that his godfather would open up and talk about his parents. Harry found great enjoyment about learning more about his parents and he started to form a clear picture in his mind.
First, there was his mother who kind of reminded him of his best friend Hermione. They were both very studious and excelled at school. Though there was more to his mother; she was kind, caring, compassionate, firm, furious when provoked, smart, wise, cunning, brave, well mannered, beautiful, thoughtful, and so much more.
Then there was his father, it is no wonder he and Sirius got along so well, they were both jokesters just like the Weasley twins. Though more than that he too was kind, orderly, smart, fun, commanding, chivalrous, noble, loyal, brave, honest, and a whole lot more.
On the whole, Harry had grown a lot both physically and mentally. He would not deny that some mornings he would look at himself in the mirror, and stare at his muscles and physics for quite a while. Though who could blame him as he got more and more attractive by the day. Okay, now he was sounding like he was narcissistic.
Anyways a new and much better Harry Potter was about to arrive at Hogwarts this year and he couldn't wait to see all the mayhem that would be in store.
Chapter 7: Horcrux
"Your breakfast, Master Harry Potter." Kreacher croaked out as he laid out a large spread on the kitchen table.
It seems like today will be a French-style spread; as steaming hot basket of croissants with strawberry, grape, and peach jams laid about. Pain Perdu (French toast) right off the stove were stacked up high together in a heap on a large platter with butter, berries, and syrup topping it all off.
Sweet Pain aux raisins were set to the side for later. Coffee, tea, orange juice, apple juice, milk, and Oeufs cocotte were served up for drinks. An edible flower vast fruit basket was set right in the middle of the table with fresh picking of strawberries, cherries, grapes, watermelon, pineapple, kiwi, and other sliced up fruits.
It seems like Kreacher has outdone himself just like always. Before Harry had no idea that the old house-elf was an exquisite chef. After that incident in the hallway, Kreacher has been making him breakfast, lunch, and dinner ever since.
At first, Harry thought that the little bugger was trying to get back at him by poisoning him, but as soon as he saw Sirius helping himself to the food, he knew that could not be true. A house-elf could never harm its master intentionally, the magic binding it stops that automatically from happening.
"Master," Kreacher called out in his hoarse voice, "Would you wish to move to the family's main dining hall or even its side hall? The terrace would also be lovely today as the sun is about to rise over the horizon."
"It is alright, Kreacher." Harry said with a wave as he sat himself at the kitchen table.
"But Master," Kreacher croacked, "This lowly place isn't fit for you, this table is simply the preparation table for large feast and parties."
"I don't mind." Harry said with a shrug while he filled his plate with food and took a few bites from the fruit basket. Harry knew that this house was very large and quite easy to get lost in; there were endless hallways that stretched continuously, numerous different rooms with a variety of purposes some practical and others quite strange. There were also windows in this house that look out nowhere and everywhere, stairs that went up forever, leading off to an infinite amount of floors. Harry knew that there was some sort of expansion magic at work that continued to grow the house.
Just as Kreacher was about to citate from another angle, Sirius walked into the kitchen. "Hey pup." the older wizard called out between a yawn as he poured himself some coffee.
"Hey" Harry replied through a mouthful of the wonderful Pain Perdu as syrup stained his lips.
Right when Sirius was about to grab himself some food, Kreacher moved in and slapped the older wizard's hand away. "The breakfast is for Master Harry Potter, not for you—you're a dishonor of the family!"
"Ow, come on," Sirius shouted as he waved his hands in the air, "Are we going to have this argument every single damn morning, you miserable sod? Anyway, am I your master or is it my godson?!"
"Kreacher," Harry called out, before this argument got out of hand "Let my godfather eat, please."
Turning to face the young wizard the old house elf nodded his head in assent and replied, "Of course Master Harry Potter, you are too kind to this shame of House Black," the house elf pocked ridicule at Sirius to which the older wizard growled in a threatening stance.
Somehow ignoring the hardened wizard who was barring his teeth at him, the house-elf inquired, "Is there anything else you would need?"
"No," Harry said with a shake of his head, "This spread is perfect like always, thank you Kreacher."
"You are most welcome Master." the house elf replied as he bowed low then disappeared in a puff of black misty ash.
"How did you do it?" Sirius asked in a mild tone as he once again reached for the food and started piling it on his plate.
"I do not know," Harry replied honestly. He really had no idea how he got the house-elf to be so obedient and dutiful towards him. "Maybe I earned its respect by not insulting it at every turn, and showing it a bit of kindness," Harry remarked as he gave Sirius a pointed look.
Snorting out loud at Harry's observation, Sirius uttered, "The only thing that creature respects is power and fear, you can forget all the good of heart nonsense."
As Sirius delivered those words he thought about the hallway incident and he did show a bit of power, accidental it might be and Kreacher was fearful of him, he could clearly see it in his eyes. So is that why the old house elf was so obedient towards him, he showed it its place?
Harry did not even want to think under those lines, thus shaking off Sirius's words, Harry put it behind him and tried to get back to brighter stuff. "Well whatever it is, Kreacher does make an excellent spread, and you did say he is fixing up the house and turning the old Wards back on."
"I guess your right," Sirius stated with a nod as he took a bit of his croissant, "And I also think that I can be kinder to Kreacher."
"Good." Harry said with a nod, at least something morally uplifting was coming from all this.
Losing his appetite as those dark thoughts plagued him, Harry got up and said to Sirius, "Well I am going to hit the stacks."
"Are you not going to finish up?" Sirius posed as he pointed to Harry's half incomplete plate.
"Yea, I'm kind of full already so I'll just be leaving."
"Okay." Sirius said with a shrug taking his words at face value.
Today Harry was reading about the Wizarding families ranking in Magical Britain. Just because a House has the title of Most Noble and Ancient House does not mean they are of equal ranking. It seems like Magical Britain use the same nobility ranking as regular Britain and that does make sense since Wizarding families have hereditary titles under great old Britain.
As Harry was getting to know about the structure that Wizarding families have in place, a rasping voice interrupted his reading.
"Master Harry Potter, Sir," Kreacher called out.
Turning to face the house elf who had a platter in his hand, Harry addressed him, "Yes, Kreacher?"
"I brought over some light snacks for Master Harry Potter while he is doing his reading."
"Oh, thank you, Kreacher," Harry said then welcoming over the house elf he added, "Just set them over here, I will get to them later."
"Of course Master Harry Potter." the elderly house-elf said as he got to setting up a few servings of tiny pastries like Yorkshire pudding, lemon tarts, chocolate shortbread, and coffee, tea, and milk.
"Thank You," Harry uttered once again as the old house finished placing the food, bowing lowly the magical creature was about to head out, but Harry couldn't help but call out "Kreacher why are you so loyal towards me, huh?"
Already Harry was cursing himself for asking the dreaded question, he knew deep down ignorance was best but for some god damn reason he carried on. "When we first met, you and I were not close, really you were not good to me at all. So what brought about this change of heart?"
"Master Harry Potter is powerful," the old house-elf croaked out. "Master Harry Potter knows how to treat a house elf well, Master Harry Potter is from an old, powerful family, Master Harry Potter is a perfect master," the house elf continued as his voice rouse in fanaticism. "Kreacher must follow. Mistress will be proud of Kreacher for finding a strong master."
Staring at the extremely unstable elf, Harry silently closed his eyes then opening them back up, he uttered in vacant tone, "Thank you, Kreacher. You can leave."
Sitting back in his chair Harry didn't even watch as the house-elf made the pleasant farewells, all he did was sit there vacantly, not moving even an inch for what felt like countless hours.
"Harry" somebody called out from so far away.
Turning to face where he thought the voice came from, Tonks came into view and Harry didn't overreact at all. "Hey Tonks." Harry said as he did his best to collect himself.
"What's wrong, Harry?" the spunky witch asked as a look of concern crossed her face, "I have been calling you for almost a minute!"
"Nothing," Harry said as he did not want to worry the witch with his own issues, "Nothing is wrong at all."
"Oh, I can tell when something is wrong," the young spirited witch said as she sat her sharply ass in the table before him. "Look you haven't even eaten your food," she pointed out.
Seeing that the witch before him wasn't going to leave it at that, Harry rubbed at the bridge of his nose and voiced. "If I tell you, would you just leave it at that?"
"Mhm," the plucky witch said as she thought it over for a moment, "Well it all depends what you have to share really!"
Sighing out loud, Harry just got into the heart of it, since no matter what you did you can not please witches.
"So let me get this right," Tonks stated, "that grumpy house-elf started worshiping you when you pushed him against the wall and choked him with your magic."
"Yea," Harry said with a nod, "That is basically it."
Then suddenly right before his eyes Tonks broke into laughter, and it wasn't quiet fits, but loud uproarious ones where she slapped her thighs and tears leaked from the corner of her eyes.
"What do you find so funny?" Harry asked as he was a bit aggrieved with her uncalled for reaction.
"Ahh, you are so cute when you are angry," Tonks said as she poked his checks, ignoring the looks fuming he was giving her. Then collecting herself, she voiced in a much more serious tone, "Anyways, why do you care what he thinks?"
"Did you not hear what he said," Harry nearly shouted, "I am the perfect master, I am... I am a Malfoy, a bigot, arrogant, ass."
"Are you any of that stuff?" Tonks put forth in a simple manner.
"No, but..."
"NO but," Tonks cut him off with, "You are or you aren't. It is that simple, okay."
Nodding his head, Harry uttered in a more confident tone, "I am not."
"Good," Tonks uttered as she played with Harry's hair to which he brightened up a bit. Not noticing the awkward situation that she put him in, the spunky witch continued, "Also do not listen to Kreacher, he is a ancient house elf that has long been shaped by Great-Aunt Walburga and she was a mean bitch."
Pausing to face the younger wizard, the young gallant witch spread her hands wide open and declared. "Alright come here to your older cousin and let her take all your boo-boos away."
"Hey." Harry shouted feeling indignant with the way he was being treated. However, before he could do anything the young spirited witch took him into her chest and wrapped her hands around him.
"It is going to be alright," the soon to be Auror sung as she rocked Harry from side to side, "Just let your older cousin take all your pain away."
"Mmmm," Harry sighed from within Tonks's wonderful breasts. It felt like he was both in heaven and hell at the same time as he felt those gorgeous breasts wrap around him though at the same time he was suffocating and losing oxygen.
Finally Tonks let him go and he experienced an unusual feeling as he was both glad to be breathing in and out plus saddened by the loss of her arms around him.
"So do you feel better now little cousin?" the young witch posed in a teasing manner.
"Can you please stop treating me like a little child?" Harry replied in a pleading tone. All he wanted was for her to see him as a love interest and being seen as a child wasn't helping his case.
Pinching his cheeks, Tonks teased, "Oh does our little man see himself as an all grown up adult!"
"Yes." He grated out after all he has been through if he isn't an adult then he did not know what he was because a child sure as hell couldn't have led his life.
"Prove it." Tonks dared him as she continued playing with his cheeks.
Not knowing what came over him, Harry was up from his seat and towering over the seated witch then went for her lips.
He did not know how many countless times he fantasized about capturing her full lips, but now that he did it was so much better than whatever he imagined. He could already smell the oceanic scents coming off her as he was so close to her and brushing his lips against her. Harry basked in the full scent of her and took it all in as he fully smooched her lips.
The spunky witch that was teasing him just moments before stood frozen there, shell shocked by his actions, and Harry took great advantage of it. Having enough fun snogging those luscious lips, Harry reached out with his tongue and crossed the bridge gates that was her teeth then into her mouth.
Touched upon an unmoving piece of soft flesh- Harry enclosed his own tongue around it and gave it a long, sensitive swirl. Wanting to find a bit more stimulates, Harry grasped those breathtaking orbs he had his eyes on for countless days and gave them a tight squeeze.
Moaning underneath the deep kiss, Tonks's eyes lidded close, and just as she was finding enjoyment in his ministrations Harry slowed his tongue action. Suddenly withdrawing both his hands from kneading her breasts but not before he gave her hard nipples a firm pinch, he stepped back and also removed his tongue followed by a thin line of saliva.
Groaning at the loss of both his tongue and hands, Harry came close to the shape-shifting witch ears until she could feel his hot breaths upon them and whispered, "Tell me, was that the kiss of a little boy?"
Before Tonks could even get a chance to reply, Sirius's voice echoed from the stacks. "Harry," the older man shouted as he made his way to where he was.
Tonks hurried to rearrange her clothes but there was not out of place so it was only done in mindless panic.
Though to be honest, she wasn't the only one panicking, one question kept on playing inside of Harry's head, why did he do it? If there was anyone to blame it had to be Sirius, he was the one that put all this junk in his head, but to be honest it was paying off.
For the first time, Tonks was flustered and blushing like a pure maiden that Harry nearly chortled. Plus from the side long looks she was giving him, things were really progressing along.
"Hey, Sirius," Harry called out once the older wizard came into sight. "What's up?" he asked in his most calm and collected voice.
"I finally found an answer about your scar!"
Doing a double take, Harry goggles up at the man in surprise. He knew that Sirius was looking high and low for answers about his lightning scar and he was thankful for that, but his situation seemed so unusual and one of kind he never thought answers would be found, it seemed like Sirius proved him wrong.
"What did you find?" Harry questioned as he was all attention now and listening up closely.
"I will need Dromeda to double check but I think you have a Horcrux in your scar."
"A what now?" Harry asked, having no clue what his godfather was talking about.
"A Horcrux is an object that contains a piece of a soul, thus even if one's body is attacked or destroyed, one cannot die, for part of the soul remains earthbound and undamaged," Tonks interjected in a voice barely above a whisper.
"How the hell do you know that," Sirius asked as a look of surprise crossed his face, "That is not common knowledge."
"Lets just say I've dealt with my fair share of cursed objects in my time at Hogwarts and I had a curse breaker for Defense Against the Dark Arts."
Taking her vague answer as it is, Sirius proceeded on, "What little Tonks over there said is right."
"Hey, I am not little." Tonks shouted from the side to which Harry found immense satisfaction, if things weren't so serious he would have been smiling from ear to ear.
Ignoring the young witch, Sirius just trudged on, "I think we know who it belongs to."
"Yea," Harry said as a grim look plastered his face. Even if he somehow killed Voldemort which there was no denying he would, the ass hat would still remain alive since Harry was alive. Then as if connecting a few dots, Harry finally realized what that old meddling fool was up to, he wanted both him and Voldemort to take each other out.
"Do you know the worst part," Tonks said with a sad and disgusted shake of her head, "How they are created. You have to kill an innocent soul then cannibalize."
"How could he do that- that sick fuck," Harry asked in pure revulsion of the dark wizard.
"Well," Sirius said, "There is no need for all the doom and gloom. I didn't come here with that piece of information, I found that a long time ago. No, I found a way to safely remove and destroy the Horcrux."
Chapter 8: Rituals
"So is this really going to work." Harry asked as he sat in the middle of a grand magic circle with only a white robe on. Today was the day after that Sirius found the ritual to remove the Horcrux from within him, and now they were getting started with it.
"I think so." Sirius said with a shrug as he was setting up magical ingredients at the required areas of the magic circle.
"I think so is not a proper answer." Harry replied.
"Okay, I am 70% sure that it will work out."
"Hey, what?" Harry shouted unable to believe this man, "You do know this is my life on the line. Not some joke."
"You should know by now Harry not to take Sirius serious " Lupin said from the other side of the magic circle, he was on duty of drawing out the magic circle. Today he decided to take a day off from work and come help out in this momentous occasion.
"But I'm not joking," Sirius uttered, "There is a 30% chance this might fail." At that point though, nobody was listening to the prankster wizard.
"Here you go dear,"Mrs. Tonks voiced as she stepped up to Harry with a salve in her hands. "Rub this all over your body and make sure you do not miss a spot."
"Sure," Harry answered with a nod, "But how am I going to get my back?" Harry inquired as he pointed towards his tail end that he wasn't fully able to cover.
"Yes, yes," Mrs. Tonks said with a nod, seeing his point. "Nymphadora," the older witch shouted.
"Yes mom." Tonks called back from the corner where she was helping her mother brew potions and make ointments.
"Come here and help Harry put on this ointment," the older witch commanded.
"Why me?" Tonks complained.
"Young lady," the older witch uttered in a stern voice, "Stop talking back and do as you are told!"
"Fine." the young witch grumbled out as she walked over to the center of the magic circle, making sure not to step on the chalk.
Handing the salve to the younger witch, Mrs. Tonks commanded to her daughter, "Here be of some use and help Harry get his back." With that, the older witch departed and headed back to her makeshift potion station.
"You did this on purpose, didn't you," Tonks accused as she narrowed her eyes towards him.
Unbuttoning his clasps on his back, Harry stopped at the mid way point and uttered to Tonks, "You can think whatever you want, but you need to hurry up, the ritual is about to start."
Muttering under her breath, the young witch eventually knelt behind his back and started to apply the salve. As the minutes went by, Harry took great enjoyment from the young witch long, delicate hands softly suddenly stroking all over his back.
Breaking free from the pleasure he found in massage, Harry suddenly voiced, "Are you still mad at what happened yesterday?"
Pausing with her task, the young witch seemed to be collecting herself then whispered so that she couldn't be heard which was pointless since everyone was several meters away and busy with the respective task. "Yes, of course I am. That was totally uncalled for what you did yesterday." while she resumed her task.
"But aren't you the one who dared me?" Harry inquired, turning the question on her.
"What! No, I was just teasing you, I- I did not expect you to..."
"..to kiss you." Harry finished for her as he craned his neck over and grinned at her in triumph.
"Yes, but do not say that out loud." the witch warned as she looked around to see if anyone noticed their conversation.
Ignoring her cautions, Harry pressed on, "What, are you going to tell me you did not enjoy it?"
"Ye- NO, no I did not enjoy it." Tonks nearly shouted as her face turned a bright pink-red.
"Really?" Harry asked in a husky voice barely above a whisper as he rubbed his thumb against her lips. "If you want we can try it again then see if you enjoyed it or not."
"Not in front of everyone." The young witch slipped up as a slight shiver took hold of her.
"So you wouldn't mind doing it in private?" Harry asked, smelling blood like a shark. Not giving her a chance to reply or even realize what he said, Harry removed his thumb and stated out loud, "Thank you Tonks, it seems like we are done here."
Taking the salve from her hand, Harry continued on, "Here let me take that from you, I got it from here on, you can go help Aunt Dromeda."
Gazing up at him as a cloud of desire passed through her eyes, Tonks silently got up from the floor and hurried off to her mother. Harry watched all that as a smile played on his lips, he felt giddy with all the power he was gaining on the lively witch. Harry had no idea where all this sure-fire confidence came from but maybe listening to Sirius brag about his dozens of conquests back in his Hogwarts days perhaps something really did sink into his head.
Whatever was giving him the level headed and self-assured boost he was thankful for it. The old abused Harry would never have been playing a much older girl like that and making her have the hots for him.
Quickly putting on the rest of the salve, Harry settled back into his cross legged pose then waited for the ritual to begin.
Once more, Mrs. Tonks came up to Harry and this time, she held a liquid potion in her hands, "Alright dear, we are finished with the magic circle, so you just need to drink this and we can begin."
"Alright," Harry said as he drank up the clear red potion in one gulp, "Let's begin!"
Taking their places in the four cardinal directions everyone took out their Athame then sliced their palm letting the blood flow freely to the magic circle. Then as one like everyone practiced yesterday, they shouted out the incantation.
"Ut fiat essentia reditu suo in loco
Natura loci dimittere iustis reddere
Sit enim mortuus est reditu suo in loco!"
Suddenly the intricate diagram lit up in a bright shiny golden brilliance. Not letting the light show distract them, all four participants of the ritual continued to utter their incantation.
Closing his eyes then taking in deep calming breaths Harry waited for the true ritual to begin. Abrupt a burning sensation took hold at the sight of his lightning scar, slowly the sensation spread all over his body until he felt like he was on fire from toes to his tips of his fingers.
Then the pain came. It was a great explosion of throbbing pain that a groan escaped from his lips. From his scar, Harry could feel a sort of resistance that was going on as he was assaulted from two directions both from his scar which was fighting back and the ritual that was tearing into him.
Harry's mind felt like splitting in half as he couldn't help it anymore and grabbed his skull, trying to fight back against the pain. Suddenly one gave in, Harry thought it was the soul in his scar but he couldn't be sure as the pain seemed to grow.
Biting his inner cheek to feel a bit of clear harness, Harry felt blood on the tip of his tongue. Ignoring it since it wasn't helping at all as he tried to break free from the pain. Not even realizing what was happening, Harry fell into a tranquil quiet meditation state.
Everything disappeared, the pain, the continuous incantation echoing in the background, the two forces fighting within his body until Harry fell so deep into his meditation that he reached a state he never before touched upon.
Suddenly an eye, not the two mundane ones, but a third eye he never knew he had opened!
Out of the blue, Harry could now see clearly but not in atypical sight of before. Now he see things as the way they actually are. Right now Harry could see two forces fighting right before him- standing in front of him was a pale, sickly creature humanoid in appearance dripping nauseating ichor. Then across from him was a gigantic knight in gold shining armor and its hands held a great sword and shield of the same brilliance.
Seeing the two large than life beings fighting against each other right before him, Harry was rendered speechless as all he could do was watch the battle. Gathering himself after a while, Harry got out of the stupefied state, then tried to think of something to do.
It was clear that the pale disgusting creature was Voldemorts soul, and that knight must be the manifestation of the ritual. Harry knew that he had to do something to help the knight in literal shining armor, but what?.
On the spur of the moment, Harry thought back to the hallway and how he telekinesis threw Kreacher against the wall, and force chocked him. Although it wasn't one of his brightest moments, he somehow did the impossible and performed accidental magic at his age. Harry wondered if he somehow could repeat that action, he highly doubted it but it was worth a try since he wasn't really doing anything except sitting there.
Trying to reach down for that feeling he experienced last time, Harry dug deep and tried to pull out that unique feeling. Instantaneously like the feeling was waiting to be grasped, Harry knew that he would be able to push and pull with his mind.
Shoving the pale creature in a wave of telekinesis force, Harry was able to unbalance it and as if just waiting for that moment, the knight rushed in and bashed Voldemort's soul fragment sending it flying into the air. Then following it up with two crisscross slashes, more ichor flowed from the sticking creature and causing it to shriek in pain.
Not giving the creature even time to collect itself, Harry used his telekinesis and threw the soul fragment in the air. Somehow working in sync with Harry the knight jumped into the air after the pale creature then in one downward chop, beheaded Voldemort's soul manifestation- ending the fight once and for all.
However it did not end there, once the creature's head toppled to the ground, its body slowly disappeared into pale white dust which flew at Harry at top speed. Unable to even react, the dust cloaked him and like smoke entered through his nose and mouth, choking him briefly.
Harry did not know how, but he felt memories ebb slowly into his mind. Memories of a soul he knew very well Lord Voldemort. Quickly he did the only thing he could do, use his Occlumency, and then with haste create a whole storage system for the memories.
It was like he had a computer in his mind filled with data that he could look over at any time.
Letting out a breath he did not even know he was holding back, Harry felt relief flow through his body. He didn't know those memories of Voldemort. Would he go crazy, cold, or evil, he did not know, but thankfully all was okay now.
Coming down to the ground the knight sheathed his sword and slung his shield to his back, facing Harry the being gave him a bow from its neck then was gone in a wisp of golden dust. Staring at the space in which the being of golden brilliance stood only moments ago, Harry tried to rationalize what happened before his eyes.
Shaking his head to himself, Harry was about to try to find an end to this otherworldly visual perception. However, it seemed like all the breathtaking sights were not over as of yet considering that a fiery orange serpent countless meters long appeared in the air. Sweeping down to the ground, the giant snake devoured the soul fragment lying headless on the ground in a single gulp then spiraled around high in the close chamber.
Looking fixedly at Harry who was still in his cross-legged position on the ground, Harry knew that couldn't be a good sign. Sloping down low towards Harry, the serpent opened its jaws wide and came down barreling as all Harry could see was a gaping dark pit consuming his whole peripheral vision.
Instinctively using his hands to cover himself, Harry did not feel the burning sensation he expected of being devoured by a giant fire serpent, all he felt was the cool caress of cold, stale air the opposite really of burning fire.
Opening his eyes and removing his hands and elbows from his face, Harry gazed around his surrounding. Doing a double-take Harry saw that he was back in the ritual chamber, examining himself. He wondered how the hell was that possible maybe he experienced some sort of hallucinations and he dreamt up of everything. Yet there was no denying how vivid everything he experienced was, shaking his head and putting everything in the back of his head Harry slowly got up from the cold stone floor.
This time taking in everything fully, Harry saw Tonks lying on the ground unmoving, he knew that she wasn't dead, thank god, since her chest was rising and falling in a slow constant rhythm. Lupin also laid on the ground and he seemed to be awake but in a lot of pain if the groaned and grimaces were any indication. On the other hand, Mrs. Tonks seemed fine as she sat in a meditation pose, and was taking in deep breaths and slowly letting them out. The only person that stood standing was Sirius but he seemed unsteady on his feet, but grinned at Harry when he turned his gaze upon him.
Walking over to the man who was his godfather, Harry inquired from him, "What happened here, Sirius, you all look pretty out of shape?"
"Agh, not so loud," Sirius grimaced as he clutched his head. "It seemed like the ritual took a lot out of us then what we expected," he answered once he seemed to collect himself.
"Oh," Harry said realization dawning upon him, "You guys are all magic exhausted." He read about this predicament that sometimes plagues witches and wizards; when a magic-user bottoms out his or her magic reserve they become nearly magically inept for a while and get afflicted with numerous ailment.
"You want to sit down?" Harry asked as he tugged along the wizard to a corner so that he could sit down and rest.
"I am fine," Sirius said as he waved off Harry's concerns, "We still need to get started on your second ritual."
"My second ritual?" Harry intoned, having no idea what the man was talking about. Maybe he went delirious thanks to the loss of all his magic reserves.
"Yea," Sirius stated, "I wanted to keep it a surprise but now it looks like you will have to complete that on your own."
"Okay," Harry said, stopping the man right there, as he forcefully sat him down on the ground. "I have no idea what you are talking about and you are in no shape to do anything else."
"The ritual is important," Sirius muttered as his eyes slowly lidded close, then snapping them open he insisted, "You must carry out the second ritual pup."
"Okay, okay," Harry falsely promised, "You just rest and leave that to me."
Nodding his head, Sirius's eyes slowly lidded close then before long he was dozing off.
"Your Godfather was the one who powered most of the ritual, and he had to summon a fiendfyre at the end to completely destroy the soul fragment," the voice of an older witch stated.
"So that explains that giant fiery serpent I saw in my weird vivid dream," Harry exclaimed as things slowly started to clear up.
"What?" Mrs. Tonks asked, clearly not catching what he said.
"Oh," Harry said, "I had this strange vision where there was a sickly apparition of Voldemort and a knight in shining armor plus there was a blazing serpent in the end."
"Wait," Mrs. Tonks stated, stopping Harry right there, "Could you please start from the top?" she asked as confusion and a glim of something was written in her eyes.
"Yea, sure," Harry said with a shrug, even though he had his doubts about what he experienced there was no way he could pass it off as a hallucination. Thus Harry started from the top and told Mrs. Tonks everything that happened during the ritual- who knows maybe a second mind could help him parcel out everything.
"Amazing," Mrs. Tonks uttered as awe was written all over her face.
"What's amazing?" Harry asked, as he wanted to know what the older witch learned.
"You, my dear, developed Magic Sight; a rare and powerful ability that's well sought after. Simply amazing!"
"Okay," Harry said very slowly, "But what is this Magic Sight, exactly?"
Shaking her head, the older witch stated, "The fact that you were not even trying to gain that ability, surprises me more than anything. Magic Sight my dear is as the name implies; the ability to see magic in all its entirety. Plus some side effects are that you see things as they actually are- meaning illusions won't work on you, you can see invisible creatures and objects, you can notice secret doors hidden by magic, reveal the original form of a creature or shape shifter, see into the Ethereal Plane, and so much more."
Whistling out loud at the turn of his fortune, Harry now fully realized what he truly gained during that ritual.
"Also," Mrs. Tonks continued, "the telekinesis you mentioned is wand less magic; the ability to perform magic without the use of a wand, staff, stave, or other magic implements. Also astonishing that you developed it at such a young age."
From the mention of wand less magic, Harry needed no introduction to the subject matter. He knew perfectly well about the ability to perform magic without the use of a wand. All young wizards and witches know how difficult it is and what a sign of power it is, only the best and brightest wizards and witches could perform that feat.
"Is there anything else that you experienced dear?" the older woman asked.
Shaking his head a bit too quickly in fact that it might raise some question, Harry decided it would be best to keep it to himself that he had Voldemort's memories. Having all that knowledge on dark magic, evil rituals, demonic summoning, devil contracts, necromancy, shadow magic, and so many other evil powers at his fingertips is never a good thing, and publicly sharing it with people is even worse.
Turning to face the older witch, Mrs. Tonks looked to be sure-footed on her feet but he could see the weariness in her eyes. "Are you sure you should be walking around after that tiring ritual?" Harry asked as the concern was evident in his voice.
"I am alright," Mrs. Tonks said, waving away his concern just like her cousin. In that way, they were both similar, tough resilient people who can weather any storm.
"Your godfather is right, this is the best opportunity when all burdens have been lifted off you to complete the second ritual."
"What is this second ritual?" Harry asked.
Chapter 9: Second Ritual
"What is this second ritual?" Harry asked.
"Like Sirius said he wanted to keep it a surprise- said it would be a good gift for your 14th birthday that approaches. Anyways he found a way to remove the dangerous basilisk poison in your vein and to even make it your own."
"I still do not understand," Harry said, unable to clearly wrap his head around all this.
"You will when the ritual is completed." Mrs. Tonks replied. Then suddenly calling out, "Kreacher," the ancient house-elf appeared in the ritual chamber.
"Kreacher," Mrs. Tonks repeated, "Take Sirius to his bedroom then find my daughter and Lupin proper living rearrangements."
Motioning with his head towards the house elf so that he could reinforce the older witch's order while also uttering to it. "Do as she tells you, Kreacher, no question asked."
"Yes, Master Harry Potter," the old house elf rasped and with that he first disappeared with Sirius who was long dozed off then came for Tonks and Lupin to see them safely off to bed.
Turning her gaze towards the young wizard, the mediwitch inquired, "How did you get Kreacher to follow you so well? I thought that I would have to argue back and forth with him."
"It is a long story," Harry answered with a sigh, "Maybe I will tell you another time."
Nodding her head in acknowledgment, the mediwitch went over to her potion station and came back with an ointment in hand. "Head on upstairs then go get showered and have a change of clothes, after that use this to clean your wounds and during that time I shall prepare the second ritual."
"Wounds! What wounds?" Harry asked in confusion as he touched his arms, chest, then his face which was slick with blood. "Oh," Harry simply uttered, he must have done that to himself during the ritual thanks to all the pain he was suffering.
"Okay, I will be back real soon, Aunt Dromeda, don't overtask yourself."
"That is very kind of you dear," Mrs. Tonks replied as she rubbed his head playfully, "But do not worry yourself over little old me."
"Come on, Aunt Dromeda don't belittle yourself," Harry voiced in a stern manner. "You are important to me, Sirius, and a whole lot of other people and we won't want to see you bedraggled."
"Fine, I will take it easy dear," the older witch replied as a warm smile played on her lips. "Now hurry up, so that we shall begin."
Once again sitting in the middle of the ritual chamber with a magic circle surrounding him from all sides, Harry tried to ignore the itching sensation on his face. Now that he came to realize that his face was scored raw by himself, the pain came to sharp, clear focus. He felt like scratching it some more to ease the pain, but that would only worsen the abrasion.
Taking in deep, calm breaths Harry tried to focus on something else to shun the pain.
"Now listen up dear," Mrs. Tonks called out as she came to him with a tome opened to a select page. "This ritual is all on you, there will be none of our guiding hands to show you the way, and all the magic will be drawn from you alone."
"Well those are some comforting words," Harry grumbled, this was only his second time participating in a ritual and he only heard about the particular branch of magic this summer. Thus he could honestly say this was out of his league.
"It is going to be alright," Mrs. Tonks tried to comfort him. "You have a very large magic reserve so you will not be tapered out halfway, and if you follow all the steps properly- you can make through it safely and succeed."
"Alright," Harry said, not being blind to taking risks. "What do I have to do?"
"You shall read this incantation then the ritual will begin and magic will slowly be drawn from you. It might be a painful process, but from what I can see from it, it will be well worth it."
"Are all rituals painful," Harry complained, one single round of that pure torture he went through was more than enough for a lifetime, there is no way he wanted to go back running in.
"There is no power to be gained without any suffering dear, that is the simple truth of the world," Mrs. Tonks simply stated. "Avoiding it will only confine you in mediocrity."
"Alright," Harry said, seeing no point in delaying the inevitable as he took the book from out of the older witch's hands then glanced at the passage. Nodding his head, Harry took the incantation to memory and handed the book back, "Let's get started and hope it succeeds!"
Stepping out of the magic circle only Harry was left inside, making himself comfortable Harry organized his mind and began.
"Unam animam meam facti sunt in me et bestia
Da mihi illum
Me virtus mea, ut non
Meis et omnes tremunt!"
Slowly lighting up and glowing in blood-red brilliance the blaze overtook the area and all was enveloped within it. Deciding it would be best to fall into that deep meditation state once again, Harry closed his eyes, slowed his breathing down, and cleared all thoughts away from his mind- leaving it blank and empty.
Before long Harry felt something ignite within him followed by ice creeping down to his spine. It was like the blazing yang and the icy yin were lighting up in his body. However, Harry was somewhere else at that moment as he was back into that vivid and strange vision of his.
Before him stood a Basilisk dripping acidic poison onto the ground and the sheer size of it made that fire fiendfyre he saw before look like a tiny worm right next to the beast as it looked ready to swallow the whole moon in one gulp. Right next to the serpent was a Phoenix that nearly eclipsed the sun and it burned as hot and bright as it as well.
Both creatures were gazing down at Harry as if to judge him and see his worth.
Harry did not let the fear get to him as he returned the stare pound for pound.
Suddenly chirping in acknowledgment the blazing hot Phoenix spread its wings and seemed to flow into Harry. All at once, his body exploded in a fiery conflagration as every limp, muscle, bone, blood, and organ were set ablaze. It was like somebody stuffed a minute sun in his body and he was BURNING!
Slitting its eyes towards him, the Basilisk tasted the air with its tongue and slithered closer to him.
"What are you looking at, huh?" Harry shouted to the overgrown serpent. He had no idea what his rational mind was thinking angering a planetary size Basilisk but it was like he was slowly losing himself and becoming the flame and just like the flame he was wrathful.
Hissing at him in warning, Harry ignored it and carried on in proud swagger, "You got something to say, you little bitch? I killed you once with a pointy stick all when I was wet behind the ears! What makes you think I can't do it again, huh?"
Hissing louder at him, the giant poisonous snake seemed to weight its options as it seemed both ready to strike at him and pay him back double fold of the insults leveled at it, plus also very wary of him as it remembered well how the young wizard killed it thanks to its own arrogance.
"What!" Harry shouted as he pounded at his chest in a challenge, "Come at me, I will reteach you if you need it!"
Seeing that the basilisk didn't come any closer to him, a great amount of pride that he never knew he had in such amounts overtook and he pushed the serpent over the edge. "That is what I thought," Harry called out in a mocking tone, "Somebody is too chicken-hearted!"
Not even taking a threatening stance any more the great, big Basilisk lunged at his hissing and spitting in rage. However as it came barreling in, something came in answer, the Phoenix.
Letting loose a shrill cry from out of his own mouth that sounded very much like a Phoenix cry, the Basilisk was wrapped in fiery tendrils which inched the creature closer to him. Slowly it too was decomposed into motes of green light just like the Phoenix before it and a icy sensation exploded within his body.
However this time, the cold ice was countered by a burning hot warmth until everything was balanced out in his body and he slowly came back into himself.
The first thing that happened was he came out of the Magic Sight ability and back into the ritual room.
Taking deep breaths to calm his nerves, a hoarse voice called out, "Master Harry Potter, are you okay, sir? Your hair is on fire!"
Turning to face the speaker he knew quite well, Harry was about to answer the house-elf question with an affirmative but he caught his second sentence. Feeling for his head, Harry quickly took notice that he wasn't getting the sensations associated with touching regular hair, no it was clearly the warmth of a fire.
Then the question he should be asking is why wasn't he burnt, oh, and why is his hair now made up of FIRE!
"Kreacher," Harry uttered in a worried and concerned tone, "Why is your arm slowly turning into stone?"
"Step back, Kreacher," another recognizable voice called out, stepping into the light was Mrs. Tonks who quickly commanded Harry, "Close your eyes dear, I think you have the Petrifying Gaze from the Basilisk."
Doing as he was told, Harry closed his eyes shut tight and finally realized what this whole ritual was about. He was stealing the Basilisk and Phoenix magical abilities!
"Kreacher, go get Harry a blindfold and prepare a Mandrake for me so that I can cure your hand."
Listening to the nearly silent pop, Harry took notice that the house-elf was gone to do as he was told.
"So," Harry uttered, looking nowhere in particular though pointedly addressing the mediwitch. "I get that I gained Petrifying Gaze from the Basilisk, but what is this stuff about my hair being literally made up of fire?"
"Well, it seems like you gained the Fire Physiology from the Phoenix- that would explain all that."
"So what, I am slowly going to transform into a misshapen humanoid fire form?" Harry asked as the worry was evident in his tone.
"No, dear," Mrs. Tonks encouraged, "It will take time for you to adjust and a bit of training to get a handle on all your new abilities but I am positive that you will soon make it all your own."
Letting out a puff of smoke from his nose, Harry tried to calm himself, Mrs. Tonks was right it will all be okay. Though it was quite difficult when your body was slowly changing into something else.
"Oh, you are back," Mrs. Tonks pronounce as she heard the slight popping noise of Kreacher's return.
"Now, Harry," Mrs. Tonks called out to him, "We will get started priming you up to date with all your new abilities but for now rest. You have been through a lot today."
Harry couldn't agree any more with that statement, the things he experienced today, he sure as hell will be remembering it for ages to come.
Yawning thanks in part to the older witch pointing out how tired he looked, Harry spoke to the house elf he had no idea where it was, "Kreacher could you apparite me to my bedroom."
"Of course Master Harry Potter," the old house-elf rasped as he touched Harry's shoulder and side along apparited him.
"Well if it isn't the birthday boy!" Sirius called out as Harry entered the kitchen. Today seemed like an Italian cuisine as a large Italian Brunch Torte sat in the middle of the table, a small dish of Cloud Eggs, a nice helping of Frittata Florentine, and Tiramisu Crepes for a side order- plus of course an assorted mix of beverages and drinks.
"Come on where is that smile?" Sirius asked as he pointed his fork at Harry. "You do know that you only turn-"
"-14 once in your whole lifetime," Harry finished for him as he sat down at the table. "That saying is starting to get old."
Pausing as he stared at Harry, Sirius demanded, "Alright come on tell me what is wrong?"
"What," Harry said through a mouthful of food, "There is nothing wrong. Everything is peachy!"
"You know that is not true, and so do I."
"Sirius," Harry tried to assure, "There is absolutely nothing wrong at all. You are just imagining it. In truth, I am so excited that I might look hesitant."
"It's them right?" Sirius simply asked as he nodded his head to himself.
"Who?"
"You know who, pup, those miserable animals. I knew that they would get in our way of fun today."
"It is not them." Harry shouted and in his vexation he bit into the fork and accidentally swallowed it down.
Sitting there Harry processed what just happened, he finally uttered out loud, "Sirius, I think I swallowed part of my fork," as he presented his munched upon fork.
"Do you feel any indigestion?" Sirius asked as he got up from his chair, "I can call Dromeda right now!"
"Strangely I don't," Harry said as he felt at his stomach. He knew that his stomach should be protesting but it unexpectedly felt okay.
"Mhm, I think we just found out another one of your abilites," Sirius stated as he sat back down, "Matter Ingestion. You must have gained that from the basilisk."
"Wonderful," Harry said with a sigh as he set the fork aside and picked up another one. Over the past couple days, it has been one surprise to another as he kept on finding out about new and interesting abilities he gained from the ritual.
He already knew about the Fire Physiology and Petrifying Gaze from the get go and was able to get a hold of it. Later he found out that he had Rapid Regeneration as his scratch wounds all over his face healed up the next morning, then it was Toxic Cloud after he burped out loud, plus there was Danger Intuition which he gained when he seemingly out of nowhere knew he was in danger then quickly side-stepped a falling ax. He also now has a whole host of different visions from infrared, aura to dark vision.
Oh, and he can't sing in the shower any longer since he gained Phoenix Lament and Death Song. Also he gained Veil of Shadows when nobody couldn't find him in the library where ever they looked. Now that Harry thought about it, it did explain how that Basilisk gets around unnoticed, even if it had the pipes there is no way you can't notice a several ton creature slithering around.
Plus there are a thousand other minor stuff that changed about him from Enhanced senses, reflects, strength, intelligence, durability, and a new feeling that overwhelmed him at times like wrath, pride, cunning, cold-heartedness.
Furthermore, Harry didn't even want to get started on all the other stuff that Mrs. Tonks was theorizing he might have like Poison Immunity, Extreme Longevity, Self-Sustenance, Self-Resurrection.
"Look," Harry said, getting back on track, "It's just nerves. This is my first actual birthday that is even though I do not count the one with Hagrid which was only smooshed."
"Alright pup," Sirius said, trusting Harry on this one. "Anyways, did Hagrid really do that?" Sirius asked as he leaned over and whispered like some gossip mongrel.
"Yep, he came with a flattened cake on my 11th birthday, but the surprise was well worth it when he told me I was a wizard. Best birthday gift ever! Plus giving Dudley a pigtail did help matters as well."
Guffawing out loud, Sirius remarked, "Wow, I never knew the half-giant had it in him."
"Yea," Harry said with a nod, "it really would be nice if we could invite him."
Sighing when he heard Harry's little side comment, the older wizard uttered, "You know we can't do that pup. Only the five of us can be here, letting anyone else come might alert that meddling old fool."
"I know, I know," Harry said, "I just would have liked it if my friends could have come."
"I am sorry..." Sirius tried to say but Harry cut him off with a wave.
"Do not blame yourself for a single second, Sirius, you did all you could," Harry uttered with firm conviction. "I know perfectly well the two men who are ruining my life."
Nodding in agreement and a bit of sadness for seeing his godson have to grow up so fast, Sirius tried to change the subject around. "You know our schedule today?"
"Yep, it is shopping all morning while you all prepare, then we head back and it is the surprise party."
"Hey," Sirius shouted, "You aren't supposed to know about that."
"Come on, I am not four years old," Harry stated, "I can see you all sneaking in the party supplies."
"Well, couldn't you at least pretend?" Sirius asked, "Dromeda and all of us put in a lot of time and effort to throw this party."
"Sure," Harry said with a shrug as he get back to his breakfast. "How is this for a surprise face?"
"Mhm, needs a little work," Sirius stated, "Work on it on the way back. Regardless," Sirius added, "You really need a lot more clothes, mine and regulus old clothes are getting too small on you and they are a bit faded too."
"Oh, and you can finally get out of this stuffy house, huh?" Harry asked with a grin.
"Yep, that does help as well," Sirius replied with his own grin. "In any event, we can get all your school supplies right now and get that done and out of the way. Plus you can buy yourself more gifts if you want." Then as an afterthought, Sirius added, "Do not worry about the money, I have the whole Black fortune to myself. It can last us several lifetimes and then some more. Oh, and now that I think about it we will need to go to Gringotts to make sure that inheritance is all in order."
"So we will basically be going everywhere." Harry stated with a shake of his head.
"It seems so." Sirius replied with a nod.
"Well then," Harry pronounced as he pushed his plate away and wiped at his mouth, "Let's be on our way then."
Chapter 10: Gringotts
"So where is the first stop going to be?" Harry asked as both he and Sirius came out of the side along apparition and on to a dark, dingy alley a block away from the Leaky Cauldron.
"First stop will be Gringotts. We will need to check up on my inheritance plus some other stuff that has me baffled." Sirius answered as he took out a small flask from his black leather coat pocket and drank it all down.
Shaking his head from side to side, Sirius slowly took on a whole new appearance as his grey eyes became blue, his hair blond, his face square with a strong jawline, his straight nose becoming squashed, and his frame much bulkier and wider. Sirius looked like an American football athlete from the telly.
"Let's go." Sirius said as he headed out the alley.
"Wait," Harry shouted, "Aren't you going to give me some polyjuice?"
"Why would I," Sirius answered back, "You look like a totally different person and your scar is very much faded- you really can only notice it if you peer right up at it, plus if you let your hair fall down it will totally cover it up."
"Alright, sure," Harry said as he removed his hairband, letting his hair fall all the way to his shoulder then messed around with the front until it nearly reached his eyebrow. "But do I look like a girl?" Harry asked, trying to get Sirius's opinion.
"I grew my hair out," Sirius stated as he pulled his hair back behind his ear, "And do I look like a girl?"
"Mhm," Harry muttered, not giving the quick response that Sirius was looking for, "Maybe, I guess. I am always reminded of Lucius Malfoy when I see shoulder-length hair."
"Alright, fine," Sirius stated as he jerked his hands in the air, "We will go to a barbershop near here when we are done shopping."
"Yes," Harry said as he pumped his fists then got moving towards Leaky Cauldron. "I just did not want to say anything, but..."
"Then do not say anymore," Sirius cut off with a hand.
"Okay," Harry said, "But the latest fashion sense of younger people is neck length hair."
Pivoting his head to face Harry, the older wizard asked in an affronted tone, "Are you calling me old?"
"Well, you are my parents' age so there really isn't any youth left in you."
Coiling his arm around his godson neck, Sirius started knuckling the young wizard's hair, "Oh-hoho, so is that how you want to play it, huh?"
"I was just kidding, I was just kidding." Harry answered through fits of laughter.
"You better be," Sirius stated as he let go of Harry and walked into the wizarding pub, "Calling me old. You kids sure do have a lot of guts."
Passing through the customers and passersby both wizards walked to the back of the pub and into a small, walled courtyard with a dustbin. Pressing some stones, Sirius stepped back as the wall slowly started to part and an archway opened up into a busy street.
"Let's go," Sirius said with a nod of his head as he stepped through. "Remember," he added, "To all outward appearances we are uncle and nephew."
"Alright, sure," Harry said as he followed after him. "What do we say if anyone spots me?"
"We will still keep up the facade, though me being your uncle isn't false, nevertheless you will only give away that I am your guardian."
"Cool, cool." Harry uttered, though at this point he wasn't paying attention to what Sirius was saying as he took in the sights- which never got old no matter how many times he walked down this particular street. Ducking under a low swooping owl carrying a letter, Harry watched all the wild display of magic going on as one wizard was putting on a fanciful light show another spelling the most strangest creatures. Sidestepping a goblin who barely reached his waist, Harry tried to catch up to Sirius who was a couple of meters ahead of him.
"Alright we are here." Sirius announced as he stepped onto the first level and waved his hands towards the large white marble bank.
"Well then let's head on in." Harry uttered as he climbed the steps by two or even threes. Coming up to the final landing one of the goblin doorman held the door for them, nodding his head in appreciation, Harry walked into the bank which was much cooler than the hot summer air outside.
Walking up to one of the bank tellers who turned his bald pate towards them, it addressed them with, "What can I do for you today?"
"We are here to see the Potter and Black account managers," Sirius simply stated.
Narrowing it eyes down towards them, the goblin took a glass shard from inside its dress poker and used it to peer at both of them in turn until it finally put the mirror away and replied. "Follow me then, Sirs, I will take you to both of them."
Walking in step behind the peach-green creature, they all left the entrance area and started walking deeper into the bank until they reached an office area. Heading down a wide and well-furnished hallway, the goblin came to a stop at an office numbered 26 then knocked on it.
"Yes, come in." a voice called out from inside the office.
Turning the door handle and opening the door, the goblin leading them nodded its head and greeted. "Sir Barnott, Master Harry Potter and Sirius Black are here to see you."
"Oh, hurry up and let them come in." The voice stated as sounds of organization echoed inside.
"Shite," Harry whispered, "They know you are here Sirius!"
"Don't worry," Sirius said as he waved away Harry's concern. "Goblins do not stick their neck in wizarding business unless their gold is at risk."
Widening the door for them, Harry and Sirius stepped into the office and was greeted to a plump creature with gold-rimmed spectacles seated on an elevated chair. "Yes, yes," the goblin called out in a cheery voice, "Please have a seat Master Potter and Black."
"I shall go receive the Black Family account managers," the bank teller announced to the crowd then closed the door and left.
Sitting down on the leather-bound chairs, the plump goblin turned to face Harry and announced, "Oh, Master Harry Potter how I have been trying to reach out to you or your guardian ever since that horrid night."
"I never got anything from you." Harry stated.
"No thanks to that meddling old fool." Sirius muttered with distaste.
"Whatever do you mean, Master Potter, did you not get any of the monthly, quarterly, and yearly bank statements I have been sending you?"
"NO," Harry answered with a shake of his head.
"Oh, dear, my sincerest apologies Master Potter," the lump goblin profused as he was quite a bit distressed.
"It is not your fault," Harry tried to console, "You had no idea, and I had anti-mailing spells placed around me."
"No, no, this is a failing on my part, I should have known something was wrong when I did not get a single reply back all these years. Here," the goblin said as he reached into a large stack and pulled out a binder, "This holds all the records of Financial transaction that went on the last 13 years."
Taking the binder from out the goblin's hands, Harry skimmed over it and his head immediately got dizzy as he saw all the money moving around. Closing the binder shut, Harry placed it in his lap and spoke to the goblin, "I will go look over later Barnott, right now just tell me when there any unusual transaction that I should know of."
"Mhm," the goblin said as he rubbed at his chin, "Right now at the top of my head I can't think of any. There have been the usual gains from profitable business and some which you will need to look over and think about getting rid of, but for now, I can only think about a transfer to a family named the Dursley'."
"WHAT!" Harry shouted as his eyes nearly popped over.
"Ow, yes, Master Potter, I believe that they get 1,000 Galleons each year," the goblin replied, not noticing the young wizard's outrage. (A/N: 1 Galleon equal to 25 Pounds)
"Who authorized this?" Sirius asked in a deadly quiet voice.
"Ah... Wh-who authorized it? Di-didn't the Potters do it? No, wasn't it, you? No. Who authorized?" Like a broken and confused record, the plump goblin stared off into nowhere and kept on asking itself the same question over and over.
"What the hell happened to it?" Harry inquired as he got up from his seat.
"He has been confunded," two voices replied at the same time.
Harry knew who the first voice belonged to, obviously his godfather, but for the second one, it was a first that he heard it. Turning around to face the second speaker, Harry came face to face with a grumpy looking goblin that had a permanent scowl on and behind him was the bank teller that lead them to the office.
"Gorkit, you old bastard, what is going on here?" Sirius asked as he gazed down at the goblin.
"We will need to go see King Ragnok about this then you will have your answers."
"Don't avoid the question Gorkit," Sirius stated, "It looks to me like one of your account managers has been compromised."
"You can bring all your charges and complaints before King Ragnok, other than that let's head-on." Then spinning to face the teller, the grumpy goblin uttered, "Boy, go see to Barnott and have a goblin healer check up on him."
Nodding his head in acknowledgment, the bank teller grabbed the confused account manager and lead him off and away.
"Alright then follow me," the Black family account manager stated as he moved along.
Before long the small group made it to a large bronze door guarded by two goblins wearing golden pristine armor and holding massive halberds for their size.
"State your business." the guard on the left declared.
Coming to a pause at the door the goblin spoke up, "I am here to see King Ragnok about a very important matter."
"One second," the guard on the left stated as his companion took out a small orb and whispered into it. Once the creature was done talking, he nodded his head to his companion which he nodded back and said, "You may go in, King Ragnok awaits you."
Suddenly as if by magic, of course, the large doors slowly swung open on their own volition and a large chamber hall greeted them inside.
Walking in ahead of them, the short goblin ambled into the chamber hall and both wizards followed in step. Coming up to a large throne seating a stout goblin a bit taller than his other kins, the grumpy goblin took to a knee and stayed there.
Looking to Sirius for direction when they stood before a Monarch, Harry saw that the older wizard didn't bow or anything but gave a simple nod- if anything really Sirius stood more taller and proud.
Following his example, Harry fixed the slight creases on his clothes the best he could, and stood as straight as he could. If he had known before that he would be meeting royalty, he really would have dressed his best than this regular clothes.
"You may arise," the Monarch finally spoke as the goblin got up from the floor and bowed his head.
"What is this important matter you have for me, Gorkit?"
"Your Majesty..." the goblin began as he retold everything that happened to the best of his knowledge.
"Mhm. What you told me is very worrying Gorkit, only a Sorcerer- a legendary Wizard- could do that by getting past our wards, having the spell remain active for years, and nobody being any the wiser at all."
"Your grace," Sirius uttered as he stepped forward, "I might know who it was."
"Who?" the goblin king asked as he turned to face the wizard.
"Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore!".
Rubbing his chin as he thought it over the goblin finally answered, "That would make sense, he is the only accursed Sorcerer thousands of kilometers around except for that Dark Lord. Now the question is do you have any proof?"
"No," Sirius replied, "But as you can see your grace, there has been a breach in the Potter's accounts and a transaction they never made has been done on their behalf."
Nodding his head, the goblin king turned his gaze towards the Black family's account manager and addressed him, "Gorkit see to it that the Potter family are paid back in full and with interest. Also, increase their security measures to Marquisdom."
Then turning back to face Sirius, the large goblin stated, "Although there is nothing much we can do about Albus Dumbledore, we shall still freeze his accounts for investigation matters," the Monarch uttered with a savage grin, "And for the gold, we shall personally collect on it."
"Thank you, your grace," Sirius said with a nod. "Now, I would like it if the Potter Will where to be unsealed!"
"Are you authorized to?" the goblin asked with a narrowing of his eyes.
"I am his godfather, you tell me, am I?"
"Fine, wizard, Gorkit go see if Barnott is mended and if he is, bring him to my office immediately."
Bobbing his head, the goblin account manager hurried then the goblin turned back to Sirius. "Let's head to my office, wizard, we can have refreshments there while we wait for Barnott."
Sitting back and enjoying some tea with biscuits, the door to the goblin king's office swung open, and both the Black and Potter family's account manager strolled in.
"My King." both goblins called out as they took to a knee then hurriedly got up when the Monarch nodded his head.
"Did you bring the Potter Will?" the bulky goblin asked.
"Yes." Barnott replied as he presented a golden plaque.
"Play it." the goblin king stated with a wave of his hand.
"Of Course your majesty." the goblin replied as he made some weird hand gestures and two voices that he knew instinctively where his mother and father.
"I, Lord James Charlus Potter, Head of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Potter and I, Lily J Potter(née Evans), do of sound Mind and sound Body, declare this to be our Final Will and Testimony, voiding all previous filed Will and Testimony. This Will and Testimony is dated on 31 July, 1980."
"To Sirius Black, we leave you with 100,000 Galleons, thanking you for all the joy and laughter you have brought in our lives! Don't you dare spend all our money partying and chasing women," Harry's mother added in the end and he heard his father chuckling in the background. That got a laugh out of Sirius as he smiled sadly.
"To Remus Lupin, we leave you with 100,000 Galleons, thanking you for all the wisdom and cautiousness you have brought in our lives! Fuck the system, you can life comfortably for your whole life even if you are a werewolf," this time it was Harry's father who made the remark and felt more than heard an elbow hit him in the ribcage to silence him.
"To Peter Pettigrew, we leave you nothing if we are dead, let it be known that he must have betrayed us if we have been found. Peter Pettigrew was our secret keeper," Harry's mother tried to say until his father cut in, "I will be coming for you, you rat-tailed bastard even from beyond the grave!" However, he was quickly cut off as somebody seemed to have elbowed him and his mother continued, "Let the Auror force know that Peter Pettigrew is a Death Eater."
"To..." Harry's mother and father continued as they kept on listing more and more people that they wanted to bequest a fortune to. Each and every single one of them where good friends of his parents who've done them great favors and helped along.
"In the event of our death," Harry's parents continued, "We wish to leave our son in the care of one named Sirius Black. He is Harry's Godfather and although reckless at times, he has a good heart and will do his best to take of our son."
"If anything were to happen to Sirius Black, we wish to leave our son in the care of the one named Remus Lupin. There is a separate account we opened which should deposit 5,000 Galleons a month to Remus Lupin for Harry's care."
"If anything were to happen to Remus Lupin or if he was refused guardianship of our son within the grounds he is a werewolf, we wish to leave our son in the care of one named Alice Longbottom. She is our son's Godmother and she will raise Harry just like her own son."
"If anything were to happen to Alice Longbottom, we wish to leave our son in the care of one named Amelia Bones. She is a close friend of ours and is the fiancé of a certain someone."
"If... we wish for Minerva McGonagall..."
"If... we wish for Amos Diggory..."
"If... we wish for Molly Weasley..."
"If... we wish for Pandora Lovegood..."
"If... we wish for Rubeus Hagrid..."
"If... we wish for Garrick Ollivander..."
As the list of people who Harry's parents wanted to live with went on and on, it finally reached the end.
"In the event of our death, we do not wish to leave our son in the care of any known Death Eater or the associates. Neither do we want to leave our son in the care of one named Albus Dumbledore as we know that he wouldn't give the proper care that our son requires. Nor do we wish our son to be ever left in the care of one named Petunia Dursley(née Evans) or her husband as they have a complete and utter hate for magic and anything to do with it."
"So mote it be!"
As the recording died down, silence greeted the office until the goblin king spoke up, "Was this Will carried out to the best of our abilities Barnott?"
Hanging his head low, the goblin answered, "No Your Majesty, it seems like I have been Confunded in this matter too."
If you guys want advance chapters check out my Pa/ treon
Mark_Ward
