A Little Left Behind
Narcissa ensured Harry and Lyra were both settled in and returned to the study. She took a bottle of vintage wine and a glass and poured it. A piece of parchment appeared along with a quill and a bottle of ink and Narcissa started to write down notes about her observations in meeting Harry, along with a few letters she would have to send.
Lucius appeared in front of her. Wordlessly, Narcissa conjured another wine glass and offered the bottle to Lucius. Lucius took it and poured himself an overflowing glass before joining his wife.
"You got the boy from his relatives?" Lucius asked.
"The boy's name is Harry," Narcissa said. "Given that Harry's uncle called him boy, it would behoove you not to call him that in his presence if you want to cultivate any positive relationship with him."
Lucius nodded and made a mental note of that.
"I never thought that we would run into a situation like this," Lucius said. "Dumbledore would have had us believe that the b…Harry was safe…secure…informed."
"And yet he was left ignorant and was left with his relatives who mistreated him because one could not get over the fact her sister was a witch and the other is just an ignorant lout," Narcissa said while putting down a note. "The only saving grace is, if you can call it that, is that they were afraid of acknowledging his magic."
"I did manage to get some concerning information out of Hagrid," Lucius said. "The boy's uncle mentioned in his deranged ramblings about trying to stamp it out of him."
"Trying to stamp it out of him?" Narcissa asked coldly.
Lucius nodded. He was glad not to be at the wrong end of his wife's rage at this point.
"If they knew a little bit more they may have taken steps to make Potter resentful of his magic," Lucius said. "And it would have blown up in the faces of the ignorant Muggles. And you did meet them."
"Unfortunately," Narcissa said. "They are the type of Muggles which would suggest it's better we don't mingle, for the sake of our mental health if nothing else."
"The worst kind?" Lucius asked. "Even Hagrid said that."
"What is Hagrid's fate?" Narcissa asked.
"Probation," Lucius said, almost bored. "The Board refuses to act against Dumbledore in any large way. They were displeased with Dumbledore breaking protocol, but at the end of the day they're not going to do anything."
Probation was useless as far as Hogwarts was concerned. The Care of Magical Creatures teacher, Kettleburn, had been put on probation hundreds of times, and had not been any closer to being fired. The man did not have many of his original body parts back.
"How could Dumbledore allow this to happen?" Narcissa asked.
"We both know the answer," Lucius said. "He wanted to bring Potter to his lowest, so he would be grateful for any kindness."
Narcissa pursed her lips.
"My cousin made Harry his heir," Narcissa said.
"Sirius Black?" Lucius asked.
"Yes, that cousin," Narcissa said.
"And yet he betrayed Lily and James Potter to the Dark Lord," Lucius said. "I have to admit, I never once encountered Black under the service of the Dark Lord and I found myself shocked at his betrayal of the Potters as much as those in Dumbledore's camp."
"And yet he was sent to Azkaban," Narcissa said. "But, he was legally the Head of the House of Black. My aunt never quite grasped the fact that blasting someone off of the family tapestry in an act of drunken rage meant they were never legally disowned."
"Which means you have legal standing to take custody of Harry," Lucius said. "Unless Dumbledore presents a will and…I feel that his placement of Harry with those Muggles was not done legally."
Narcissa took a second to consider what she could do.
"The only one who might be able to legally contest it is my sister, Andromeda."
Lucius knew they were stepping in some very dangerous territory here, given the tension between Narcissa and her sister.
"Write to your sister," Lucius suggested. "Inform her what is going on."
"I haven't spoken to her in eighteen years," Narcissa said. "After she ran away with Tonks. Mother was raging that she got herself knocked up by the Muggleborn Tonks, when she was promised to Mulciber. Bellatrix and I were both put under lockdown after Andromeda bolted, until our marriages were due to occur."
Lucius just offered a sympathetic nod.
"You should write to her, if anything, she would be sympathetic to Harry's situation and furious about what Dumbledore did," Lucius said. "She does have a strong sense of justice, so she would put her personal feelings aside."
"I'm surprised you would even suggest me writing to…your associates would call her a blood traitor, wouldn't they?" Narcissa asked.
"Yes," Lucius said. "But, there's allowances that can be made. I'll be blunt, Harry would have been better off brought up as a Weasley, then being brought up with these Muggles. At least he'd know who he was and why that's important."
"They really have made a negative impression on you, if you think a Weasley is a good option," Narcissa said.
Between the few pieces of information Lucius got from Hagrid and what he read through Narcissa's general mood.
"Write to my sister, to Amelia Bones, our attorney, and also to Katerina Zabini," Narcissa said.
"Why to Zabini?" Lucius asked.
"Lucius, the less you know, the better," Narcissa said curtly.
Twelve years of marriage made Lucius understand when to not ask any more questions. This was one of those times.
"Master Harry Potter, sir, should be eating everything on his plate. It is a perfect balance of the five food groups and Dobby is telling young sir that he must keep up with his meals for he is a strong and powerful wizard, and we should be all grateful that Master Harry Potter smited the evil He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named!"
Harry entertained the possibility this would be a dream. However, he never would have conjured up anything quite like Dobby, the Head Elf of the Malfoy piled an extraordinary amount of food on his plate and to be honest it smelled delicious and made Harry's stomach growl.
"This is just too much," Harry said. "You didn't have to do it…"
"Dobby thinks this is just enough," Dobby said.
"I could have fixed my own meal," Harry said.
"No, sir, it's Dobby's job, and Dobby hopes that master Harry Potter will try the food, for Dobby has worked hard for it all morning, to get it perfect," Dobby said.
"Just eat it, Harry," Lyra told him. "You'll never have to cook another meal again."
"Wait, you don't cook your own breakfast?" Harry asked.
"I can't even make toast," Lyra said.
"Toast is easy…Dobby this is really good."
Harry had to remind himself that Dudley was not going to swoop down in a fit of piggish rage and swipe all of his food.
"Sir is pleased, then?" Dobby asked. "Dobby did well?"
"Dobby did great," Harry said.
Dobby squeed in excitement.
"Why don't you sit down and have something yourself?" Harry asked.
Lyra just groaned and shook her head. Dobby gasped.
"House elves are never to sit down for the family meal, sir, not when there is work to be done," Dobby said. "Dobby could not even think about sitting down!"
"Harry, house elves live to work," Lyra explained. "Live to serve. It's what they like to do."
"So, they do this all for free?" Harry asked.
"House elves have no use for gold like you and me," Lyra said. "It's an insult to offer them wages. And to offer them clothes is the gravest insult. That means that the house elf has failed his family and is disgraced. Most wither and die due to their shame."
"That's awful," Harry murmured.
"It's just how they are," Lyra said "But, they're very happy with their work."
"Are you happy, Dobby?" Harry asked.
"Dobby is happy that Harry Potter is happy with Dobby's work," Dobby said. "Dobby must finish Master's morning tea, he likes it just right before he heads off for business."
Dobby moved off and Harry watched him. Lyra just reached across the table and gently touched his hand.
"I didn't know," Harry said.
"I know, but you'll learn," Lyra said. "It's a symbotic relationship between house elves and their families, house elves would just cease to be if they were all freed."
"And at least once a generation, someone comes into our world, thinking they know better, and they attempt to change how things are, by applying their Muggle values to our magical world."
Lucius turned up at the table. Dobby presented Lucius with his tea and Lucius drank it.
"Slavery is a depraved and disgusting practice," Lucius said. "But, to compare the relationship between house elves and their families and those who are enslaved, is ignorance at best. There are people who come into our world, and they do well for themselves. You would not know if they were born from non-magical blood, unless you dug into their heritage. Your mother, Lily, she was one such witch."
Harry nodded, intrigued about what Lucius had to say. Lyra looked bored, as if she heard this countless times before.
"But, there are others who think we are backwards and need to be told how our world should work," Lucius said. "They feel like they need to muddy up the waters. They feel like our world should change to adapt to their ideology and they have a smug sense of moral superiority. There's a name for these people."
"Mudbloods," Lyra murmured.
"Disgusting term, given that certain individuals in our world have expanded its original definition to include all Muggleborns," Lucius said. "The term as it was intended was to refer to someone who thought they knew better, when they came into our world. They did not even try to adapt. They wanted the world to adapt to them. They wanted to muddy our society with their ideals, hence the term Mudblood."
Lucius grew serious.
"It's not a word I want to hear either of you, saying," Lucius said. "Is that clear?"
"Yes, Mr. Malfoy," Harry said.
"Yes, Daddy," Lyra said.
Lucius finished his tea and Narcissa joined them for breakfast.
"You will never have to return to the Dursleys," Narcissa said.
"Really?" Harry asked.
Dare he hope.
"I've sent some owls and we will be looking into your placement there," Narcissa said. "It was done illegally. Dumbledore had no right to send you there, without a letter. And you have a godfather."
"A godfather?" Harry asked.
"Yes," Narcissa said.
"Why didn't he take care of me then?" Harry asked.
"He was sent to Azkaban, the wizarding prison," Narcissa said. "Sirius Black, he was your father's best friend. And one of the most infamous prisoners of Azkaban."
Harry recalled Lyra mentioning Black in her tirade about dark wizards coming from Slytherin, as an example of a dark wizard coming outside of Slytherin. And that man was his godfather? Harry did not know how he felt about that. And he was once friends with his father? That did not make any sense.
Then again, Harry really had no idea what sort of person either of his parents were.
"Sirius made you his heir," Narcissa said. "Which gives me a legal claim to your custody. If you would want me to take you in?"
"If you want to," Harry said. "If you can't…I'll have to understand."
Ten years at the Dursleys taught Harry to keep his expectations low, therefore disappointment could not come.
"If you're going to live here, I better give you the grand tour of the manor!" Lyra yelled. "Come on!"
Lyra grabbed Harry by the hand and practically dragged him from the table.
Narcissa just shook her head. Hopefully her daughter did not wear the poor boy out.
"You've got a swimming pool and everything?"
Harry looked at the swimming pool which stretched on for miles. It looked rather deep.
"We can go for a swim sometime," Lyra said.
"Actually, I can't…I've never learned how to swim."
Lyra just looked at Harry like she could not process such a thing. She was about ready to ask if his relatives wanted Harry to drown. However, Lyra was savvy enough to understand the answer to that and it made her hate those Muggles even more.
"You should learn," Lyra said. "Someone could push you in the Lake at Hogwarts, and kill you. And it would look like an accident."
"What are the chances of that happening?" Harry asked.
"You wouldn't want to make it easy on you," Lyra said. "For every person who likes you and is grateful that you defeated You-Know-Who, there's a lot of people who want you dead. You need to keep your eyes open when you're at Hogwarts."
Harry just frowned. Kind of cynical of his new friend.
"Daddy's taught me a few spells to defend myself," Lyra said. "There's people who…would want me dead as well."
Lyra closed her eyes. Harry had no idea what to say.
"I can teach them to you, as well," Lyra said. "You should know them like I do."
Lyra took out her wand and Harry did likewise.
"How did you learn these when you didn't have your own wand until yesterday?" Harry asked.
"I used my grandfather's old wand to practice," Lyra said. "It never feels right. Ollivander's right when he says you don't get the best results with another wizard's wand. But we both have our own wands."
Harry held his wand.
"The first spell is the leg-locker spell. The incarnation is Locomotor Mortis."
A rather attractive dark haired woman sat down across from Narcissa Malfoy at the table at Malfoy Manor. Roberta Selwyn, their family attorney, had listened to what Narcissa said.
"I'm rather curious to how Dumbledore managed to get away with sending Harry Potter to his Muggle relatives," Selwyn said when Narcissa finished her story. "We all were told that Harry Potter was being kept in a secure location."
"Where he would be happy, healthy, and informed," Narcissa said. "All lies as I've proven."
"Hagrid is an accessory and anyone else who was involved in placing Potter on that doorstep," Selwyn said. "And at the time, Millicent Bagnold and Bartemius Crouch would have had to have been involved, due to their positions in the Ministry at the time."
Narcissa figured as much.
"Your petition will go through without a hitch," Selwyn said. "And Amelia Bones will be furious when she learns of what happened. It shouldn't be too difficult to get Fudge to bend on the matter. Dumbledore's the issue, but if we force discovery on the will, that could open up Dumbledore an entire other mess of charges regarding Potter's false placement with these Dursleys. And if he is being mistreated…."
"Abused," Narcissa murmured.
"Yes, abused," Sewlyn said in disgust. "Allowing Muggles to abuse a wizard. It's disgusting. Dumbledore really would bring us down to their level, to make himself look morally superior."
Narcissa nodded in agreement. She noticed another owl returning back. She half expected this one to come back unopened. She looked at the letter and offered a smile.
"My sister," Narcissa told Sewlyn. "She actually responded."
Out of the corner of her eye, Narcissa saw Lyra fall over, her legs and arms bound together.
"Just a moment," Narcissa said.
It occurred to Lyra Malfoy that she should have learned the counterspell to the full-body bind before she had Harry put it on her.
"What happened?"
"Mrs. Malfoy, we were practicing spells and Lyra taught me the full-body bind spell, and I don't know how to undo it," Harry said.
"Just breath," Narcissa said. "It's a simple countercharm."
Narcissa waved her wand, but found herself unable to do the spell on her daughter. She tried four times to do so, and found herself unsuccessful.
"Let me try it," Harry said.
Harry performed the spell and Lyra bounced up to her feet, in surprise.
"Oh, there's really no way to land properly with that spell," Lyra groaned.
"The two of you shouldn't be practicing spells without adult supervision," Narcissa told them.
"It was my idea," Lyra said. "I just thought that Harry…should be able to defend himself in case…well one of the older students tried something."
Narcissa's expression softened.
"I understand," Narcissa said. "But, don't do it unless myself and Lucius aren't around."
"Sorry," Harry murmured.
"No, I understand why Lyra thought it was necessary, and you shouldn't apologize, but it's dangerous to perform spells without someone watching you that knows better," Narcissa said.
"Why couldn't you get the body-bind off of Lyra?" Harry asked.
"I'm not sure," Narcissa said. "Hit me with the stunning spell."
Narcissa was going to test a theory she was going over in her mind.
"It's Stupefy, Harry," Lyra said promptly.
It was also a fourth year charm.
"And once Harry stuns me, try and revive me."
"Are you sure?"
Narcissa nodded. Harry lifted his wand. It took a half a dozen tries before Harry could send up anything but sparks.
"STUPEFY!"
A bright red light rippled out of Harry's wand. Narcissa felt the full blast of power hit her. It was like Harry's magic forced its way into her and shut her down.
Lyra looked down on her mother in shock. If she did not know it was a stunning spell, she would have thought her mother was dead.
"Rennervate."
Nothing. Lyra decided to try again.
"Rennervate!"
Nothing again. Lyra's arm started to shake and her breathing got more heavy.
"Rennervate! Rennervate! Rennervate!"
Lyra almost screamed. She must have used this spell a dozen times. She looked at Harry in shock.
"Rennervate," Harry said.
Narcissa's eyes opened and Harry extended her hand to help her up.
"Alright?" Harry asked.
"I'm fine," Narcissa said. "Such power for someone so young…if you can train this magic properly, I shudder to think what you're capable of."
"Is it the wand?" Lyra asked her mother. "Or something else?"
"I think that's enough for today," Narcissa said. "We should teach Harry the counter spells before he performs any more spells on us. Because he's the only one who could undo the charms."
Narcissa turned and returned to the house. Harry had no idea what to make of what happened. He turned to Lyra.
"You're pretty powerful," Lyra said.
"Surely someone would have been able to undo the stunning spell, right?" Harry asked. "Eventually."
Lyra shrugged, she had no idea.
"I haven't shown you my collection of Chocolate Frog Cards!"
Word of the scandal involving Harry Potter reached many in the Ministry. Lucius avoided fueling the rumors. The boy…Harry, he had his rights trampled on enough, without having his privacy invaded. He found himself face to face with a gray-haired man with yellowish eyes. Corban Yaxley, a sleazy gentleman to put things mildly. Lucius always counted his fingers after shaking hands with Yaxley.
One could never be too careful.
"Rumor has it that Harry Potter is a guest of Malfoy Manor."
Lucius knew it would be unable to keep this a secret for long, especially with the legal proceedings regarding Harry's placement with the Muggles.
"Yaxley, the guests of my home are a private matter," Lucius said.
"Of course, but I'm astonished that Dumbledore would allow such a thing," Yaxley said. "I'm certain that his camp would accuse you of plotting to kill the boy."
Lucius just grimaced. Yes, and there was a lot of ignorance on both sides, from Dumbledore's camp and the Dark Lord's former followers who avoided Azkaban. Lucius held no malice towards the Boy-Who-Lived. Curiosity as to how he managed to do so at such a young age, naturally.
The Dark Lord said all of the right things at the right time. And Lucius when he was younger believed the Dark Lord fit the agenda of the old families. Towards that last year, the Dark Lord gave Lucius plenty of evidence that he did not have their best interests in mind.
"Another Mudblood has died," Yaxley said.
Lucius adopted a neutral expression. It had been a common story in recent years of Muggleborns dying before they even entered Hogwarts.
"Who?"
"Eight year old girl, her parents were convinced she was possessed by the devil, and they tried to exorcise the demons out of her," Yaxley said. "And it killed the child, when her body broke down trying to defend herself against the painful process the Muggles put her through. Killed the parents and a priest as well."
Yaxley looked almost gleeful at a child being killed. Lucius had done some terrible things in his life, and was not perfect, but there were lines which he hated having to cross.
Admittedly, having a daughter gave him a slightly different perspective than if he had had a son.
"Another child, abused because they have gifts," Lucius said.
"Just one less parasite sucking up magic," Yaxley said. "Parkinson wants to push through the Muggleborn Protection Act based on these recent incidents."
Lucius heard of Edward Parkinson's Muggleborn Protection Act. Remove any children who manifest magic in a Muggle home and relocate them into a special institution run by respected purebloods. More people were supporting it and support might skyrocket if this news regarding Harry Potter's treatment would cause a further groundswell of support and it might actually have enough support in the Wizengamot to pass.
They would all disappear. Or trained to walk the streets of Knockturn Alley.
"Do you think it would pass, Yaxley?" Lucius asked.
"I don't know, Malfoy," Yaxley said. "Of course, with the Muggles popping off their own diseased spawn, they're doing us all a favor."
"I have afternoon tea with the Minister," Lucius said.
"Of course," Yaxley said. "Continue to cultivate that relationship."
Lucius did have tea with Fudge. Although he was grateful for the excuse to get away from Yaxley. He made his way to the lift and made haste to head to the Minister of Magic's office.
It had taken a couple of weeks before Narcissa managed to convince Andromeda to visit her at the Manor, after writing back and forth. Narcissa acquired temporary custody of Harry at least for the summer months. There would be a hearing in the coming months.
Andromeda and Narcissa sat down, face to face for the first time in almost two decades. Narcissa hoped that the awkward tension would fade. She had almost given up hope of this reconciliation happening.
"Thank you for coming to see me," Narcissa said. "It means a lot to me."
"It does to me as well," Andromeda said. "I regret what happened. I loved Ted, but our mother never understood that. Marriage was just another business transaction for her."
"She didn't," Narcissa said. "At least Lucius and I turned out well."
"Yes," Andromeda said. "Bellatrix on the other hand…"
Andromeda left her words hanging. Neither needed to say anything more.
"So, what has been going on with Harry?" Andromeda asked.
Narcissa explained all of what she found out regarding Harry's situation. Andromeda's expression darkened the more she spoke.
"Fucking Dumbledore," Andromeda swore.
"My sentiments exactly," Narcissa said. "I believe and Lucius agrees, the sooner any threat of Harry returning to that toxic environment is removed, the better it is."
"Lucius better not be playing games with Harry," Andromeda said.
"Lucius won't have any legal authority over Harry," Narcissa said. "I'm petitioning for his custody…and I would suggest you do the same."
"Why?" Andromeda asked.
"You have more of a right than I do," Narcissa said. "You are older. Harry should have gone to live with you with Sirius indisposed. Dumbledore disregarded the succession laws."
"I can't believe that happened," Andromeda said. "Sirius, I mean."
Narcissa nodded, it was hard to believe. Perhaps they should have seen something like that coming. Something felt wrong about Sirius turning out to be the Dark Lord's spy, but perhaps Sirius had been more twisted them any other Black could be through history. Even Bellatrix did not have that level of sadism.
"I can't believe Dumbledore either," Andromeda said.
"I should have known better," Narcissa said. "But, I didn't."
Andromeda agreed she should have questioned things more. The last couple of years of Voldemort and the years that followed were a chaotic mess to say the very least.
"How is your daughter?" Narcissa asked. "Nymphadora."
"She's doing well, first Auror recruit in nearly ten years," Andromeda said. "Still hates her name."
"It's a perfectly lovely name," Narcissa said.
"So I keep telling her," Andromeda said. "She was really excited about getting her Potions NEWT. The Potions Master didn't make it easy on Nymphadora. She described the experience as surviving storming the gates of hell."
"Ah yes, Severus Snape and his wonderful personality," Narcissa said with a sniff.
"Don't worry! You'll get a Morgana someday!"
"I swear, someone is hoarding them! And when I find out who is doing it I'll…hello Mum!"
Lyra and Harry made their way down the steps to view Narcissa and Andromeda downstairs.
"Hello," Lyra said to the unknown woman at the table.
"This is your aunt, Andromeda, my oldest sister," Narcissa said.
"You're not like my Aunt Bellatrix, are you?"
"Lyra!" Narcissa said reproachfully.
"No, no one is anything like your Aunt Bellatrix," Andromeda said. "You must be Lyra. It's a pleasure to meet you, dear and…"
Andromeda stopped and locked straight onto Harry's eyes.
"Harry?" Andromeda asked. "I'm sorry, you look just like James. But, your eyes are just like your mother's, Lily's. I'm Narcissa's sister, Andromeda Tonks."
"Well, obviously, you're sisters," Harry said. "Both of you are really pretty."
Harry took Andromeda by the hand and kissed it, which Andromeda gave a respectful smile for.
"You've been teaching him the basics," Andromeda said.
"Here and there," Narcissa said.
"Bit thick," Lyra said. "Quite a few might see through that."
"So, you knew my parents?" Harry asked.
"I was acquainted with your father through my cousin, Sirius," Andromeda said.
"Ah, yes, the infamous Sirius Black," Harry said. "Been hearing a lot about him."
"None of us saw it coming," Andromeda said. "But, you're a lot like your mother, even if you look more like your father. Eyes are the window to the soul."
"I've never seen a picture of them," Harry admitted. "So, I guess I'm going to have to take your word for it."
Andromeda's expression softened. Harry acted like he was not bothered, but Andromeda was good at reading people. That's what made her a good attorney. And Harry hadn't yet mastered the art of masking his emotions.
"I have pictures, if you would like," Andromeda said. "I can make you an album of pictures of your parents, if you really want me to?"
"Seriously?" Harry asked.
"You should know who they are," Andromeda said. "It's your right."
"I just can't imagine growing up and never seeing a picture of my parents," Lyra said. "The Dursleys are dickheads."
Harry cracked a smile. Andromeda looked not bothered. Her daughter said worse when describing a newborn puppy, so hearing coarse language was not something that shook her even more.
"Lyra," Narcissa said reproachfully. "And where did you hear that word?"
"Mr. Avery said that about Mr. Goyle when he was over playing cards with Daddy," Lyra said.
Narcissa was going to have a talk with Lucius and ensure that he put stronger privacy charms during his "card games."
"Harry, I want you to show Andromeda what you can do," Narcissa said. "Stun me, but this time, I'm going to defend myself."
"A stunner?" Andromeda asked. "Narcissa, he's not even a first-year!"
"Stun me and Andromeda can try to revive me afterwards," Narcissa said.
Narcissa stepped into the center of the room.
"STUPEFY!"
"PROTEGO!"
The spell struck the shield and blasted through it like a hot knife through butter. Narcissa landed to the ground with a shatter.
"Getting knocked on your arse by him is something you never get used to," Lyra said. "For the record, I let you stun me."
"Only about half of the time," Harry said. "And I block all of your spells at least more."
Andromeda made her way to wake up Narcissa, but she could not.
"Harry! She won't wake!"
"Yes, because Harry needs to wake her, Auntie," Lyra said.
"Let me try his wand."
Harry handed Andromeda the wand. For a second it appeared Narcissa stirred, but then she went back under.
"That's interesting," Lyra murmured.
After four more failed attempts, Andromeda passed the wand to Harry, who woke up Narcissa in a second. They explained what happened.
"I almost succeeded with his wand, but I didn't come close using mine," Andromeda said.
"You have to feel his power, Andi," Narcissa said. "I've never seen anything like it before. Not from one so young."
"Does Lucius know you're doing this?" Andromeda asked.
"He knows I'm teaching Lyra and Harry how to defend themselves," Narcissa said. "That's all he needs to know."
"Try and block me," Harry said. "I need to practice breaking through them."
Harry blasted Andromeda unconscious with one stunning spell. Lyra tried, Narcissa tried, and they both tried with Harry's wand, but nothing.
"I've seen nothing like this in any of the books I'm allowed to read," Lyra said. "In the family library."
"There's nothing like this in the books you aren't allowed to read either," Narcissa said. "I've already checked."
Harry woke Andromeda. Harry helped her out.
"Your first time always leaves you a bit sore and shaken," Narcissa said. "It gets better with practice."
Andromeda gave her sister a queer look.
"Not remotely what I meant," Narcissa said.
"Would the spell wear off eventually?" Andromeda asked.
"By my calculations, brain death would occur from lack of oxygen before the spell wears off," Narcissa said. "Although, with practice I feel that Harry can train himself."
An eleven year old child who had a stunning spell which could put someone to sleep forever. Andromeda was not sure how to feel about that one?
"What about multiple wizards working at once?" Andromeda asked.
"Likely, but they would have to be the sum of Harry's FMP," Narcissa said.
"FMP?" Harry asked.
"Full magical potential," Lyra said. "You don't normally measure that until after you go through your first maturity on your fourteenth birthday. It's when your age gate spells generally fade."
"I'll give you that talk later," Narcissa said. "Before you head to Hogwarts."
The album Andromeda put together had been quite nice and had given life to people who were just phantoms in Harry's life, his parents. Harry's owl, Hedwig, had just gone out hunting. Lyra had been on her latest quest to find the elusive Morgana chocolate frog card, and thus had retired to her room for the evening.
Harry flipped through a book on magical mind arts that Mr. Malfoy had recommended it to Harry when browsed the library. And Mr. Malfoy was right, it was interesting. Harry found the section about detecting mental attacks to be quite interesting.
The thought of anyone poking around in his mind without permission made Harry's skin crawl. Harry slowly learned how to do the exercises that the book recommended to fortify the mind.
He got a headache.
There was something here that should not be. But how could that be, it's all alone? Whatever it was, it was in pain and anguish.
"Who are you?" Harry whispered.
The headache faded when Harry got out of his mind. It traced his finger down the lightning bolt scar and closed his eyes before jabbing at it.
Something screamed out in Harry's head and he screamed out constantly.
"HARRY!"
The door sprang up and Narcissa rushed in, and Lucius followed a half of a step behind his wife. Lyra walked in and looked concerned, holding a half-eaten chocolate frog in her hand.
"It's fine," Harry said.
"No, it's not," Lucius told him firmly. "You were screaming. We could hear you from downstairs."
The pain stopped. Harry gently put a hand to his lightning bolt scar.
"Harry?" Narcissa asked. "Talk to us."
"I was doing the mind exercises," Harry said. "I could hear someone in my mind. And when I tried to go in further, it was screaming."
Harry took a deep breath.
"I'm not insane," Harry said.
"You're not insane," Lucius agreed. "But, you're cursed. Extremely powerful dark magic. Dumbledore, you imbecile."
The fact Harry did not wither and die raised a lot of questions.
"Harry's not going to die, is he?" Lyra asked. "He can't die."
Lyra held onto Harry, looking rather scared.
"He won't die," Narcissa said in reassurance. "Lucius, what is it?"
Lucius performed a series of diagnostic spells. While not a trained healer, Lucius knew a lot of dark magic and how it worked.
What he was dealing with, was some unprecedented territory.
"Three souls, one body," Lucius said. "Well, two souls and a small fraction of a third."
Harry had no idea what to make of this. Narcissa and Lyra looked scandalized as well. Lucius had been furiously writing a lot of complex equations, many of them which didn't make sense.
"I don't know how Dumbledore missed this," Lucius muttered. "No one can be this ignorant."
"Lucius, where are you going?" Narcissa asked.
"To Azkaban," Lucius said shortly.
Narcissa glanced at what Lucius wrote down and it clicked in her mind.
"Horcruxes!" Narcissa yelled. "That son of a bitch!"
Narcissa rushed from the room which left Lyra and Harry baffled.
"What's a Horcrux?" Harry asked.
"I don't know," Lyra said. "Please don't die."
"I'll be fine."
"Will you? I've never seen Daddy look so pale. And Mother looked like she was going to throw up."
Lyra held onto Harry tightly, almost as if she was afraid he would fade away.
"I'll be fine, Lyra," Harry said calmly.
"You'd say that if your head was on fire."
Harry could not bring himself to argue.
To Be Continued.