The Rowthan Heir
Disclaimer – NONE of this is mine that you recognize.
Summary: My name is Harrison Jacques Rowthan. Until I was nine, my name used to be Harry James Potter. I was born in 1977 to my 18 year old parents (at the time) Lily and James Potter. When I was five, the Earl of Rodan - Lord Edmund Rowthan - decided to use some obscure family law to make me his heir. We are the last of his blood relatives who are magical, descended from Ignotius Peverell - keeper of the Hollow. My mother has ignored me ever since in favor of my younger brother Jacob.
Did I mention that Jacob is thought to be the Boy Who Lived? I suppose not, but he is my brother and I guess that I have some sort of obligation to watch out for him - even if we are the heirs of the Potter and Rowthan families. Jacob was born in 1980 and I am a little over three years older than my younger brother. I remember Voldemort's laugh, his face, and what he did.
You see, Jacob might have the title - but both Voldemort and I know who REALLY stopped him on October 31st of 1981.
This is my seventh year at Durmstrang Institute of Magic, I am friends with my fellow Quidditch Star - Victor Krum to his fans but he's Vic to me - and I have been with my girlfriend Katarzyna Dmitrova for the last two years but we have known each other since we met our first year.
The Tri-Wizard Tournament is about to begin.
Chapter 7
" talking." Bulgarian
"Talking." English
They appeared outside of the Burrow and waited for the others before they all went up the drive where Mrs. Weasley saw them and ran out to meet them.
"Oh Boys!" she exclaimed as she hugged the twins. "I can't believe those awful things I said about your OWLS!"
'OWL?' Harry mouthed to Bill questioningly over Mrs. Weasley's head.
'I'll tell you later.' Bill mouthed back and Harry nodded before Mrs. Weasley released her hold on the twins and saw Harry.
"Harrison!" she exclaimed and moved to hug him, so Harry was all but forced to lean down to accommodate the 20 cm shorter woman. "I haven't seen you for years! That one Yule letter a year simply doesn't do!"
"Hello Mrs. Weasley, it is truly a pleasure to see you again." he said as he bowed his head respectfully.
"Ever the gentleman, hopefully you might be a positive influence on these boys." she said smiling even as Fred and George stuck their tongues out at Harrison from behind their mother's back.
"I can only hope." he replied amicably as Bill and Charlie shot him a glare. It was clear that Percy was in favor for the possible lessons in manners but the rest of the crew didn't want to have to sit through the multitude of hours of lessons that Harrison had ever since primary.
"Now dear, I know you must be hurting. Let's get you inside dear and I'll take a look at it."
Harry's eyes widened and he shot a "help me!" look to Bill (who grinned) and Percy who just shook his head. Percy had always been amused over the way Harrison grew uncomfortable when someone showed concern for him - although he hoped that Harrison's fiancée proved to be the exception to that rule.
"Mum," Percy spoke up. "He had ice on it all night. I'm sure the swelling has gone down."
Bill and Charlie broke out Cheshire like grins when they saw the look cross their mother's face - and the near panic that crossed Harrison's.
"Swelling! Harrison Jacques Rowthan, you get inside right now!" she ordered with her hands on her hips.
Harrison's eyes widened, he knew that look on her face (even after 8 years since they'd last seen each other). "But-"
"Now dear." she insisted as she pointed towards the house.
Harry nodded and began to limp inside with Bill following.
"I thought your middle name is James?"
"It was, it was changed to Jacques when I became the Rowthan heir. Lord Edmund's father was named Jacques." he explained as Percy came in behind them into the kitchen.
"Trying to get away from the twins?" Bill asked as he leaned against the sink.
Percy shook his head, "No, Mum. I can't believe that she would fawn over the twins like that."
Bill shook his head, "Perce, you know Mum. She's constantly after the twins for one thing or another and with what happened... She would have done the same with any one of us."
"I guess so. But why them!"
"Percy, just be glad that you aren't the one she's going to be watching like a hawk for the next few days." Bill reminded his younger brother with a valid point. He remembered the last time he'd been injured - Hogwarts his 7th year, chasing down Peeves when the staircase moved while he was just about to get to the landing. He'd been in the hospital wing for a week before Christmas Holiday and then their mother wouldn't let him get up off of the couch for much more than going to the loo.
"Besides," Harry inserted. "You shouldn't go looking for a problem when there isn't one. Don't overthink this."
"And your advice for Fred and George?"
"Laugh mate. They prank for the same reason I do. Sometimes everyone just needs a chance to laugh- even you."
"You think so?"
"Name the last time you broke a rule."
Percy opened his mouth to reply but closed it when he couldn't think of anything. "You might be right Rowthan."
"Of course I am." he said smugly as he sat down on a chair at the table, used a wandless to pull out another chair and conjured a pillow and put his ankle on it.
Percy went to the fireplace, tossed in some Floo Powder, and had a nice chat with a frazzled Healer who told him - in no uncertain terms - that unless it was life or death to not bother calling again until tomorrow.
Mrs. Weasley came in just as Percy got his head out of the fireplace. He saw the look on his mother's face, coupled with the look of desperation as it crossed Harry's face and smiled as he left the kitchen to go upstairs. "I should probably go into work. Merlin knows we'll need every one there today." he said, ignoring the glare Harry sent his way.
"Be sure to keep watch, people'll send Howlers!" Harry called out as Mrs. Weasley tapped his ankle with her wand. "OW!"
-HJRP-
By the time Percy got home, his robes were charred and his ears were ringing. He found Harry sitting on the porch with his ankle propped up on an ottoman and a set of crutches within arm's reach.
"Have many Howler's delivered?" he asked innocently.
Percy glared as he sat down and Harry passed him a glass of lemonade. "Thank you."
Harry nodded and sat thinking for a moment while the slightly older teen swallowed a few sips of the home made lemonade. "Percy?"
"Yes?"
"I talked to Fred and George today and they seem to be of the opinion that you are more than merely respectful of one Bartemius Crouch. Why is that?"
"He is a great wizard." Percy defended.
Harry sent him an incredulous look, "A Great Wizard?"
"Yes."
"So, a Great Wizard is someone who would throw my godfather in jail without a trial because he bore the Black name?"
"What? But, anyone who knows Mr. Black knows he wouldn't support the Dark Lord – it's laughable." Percy said with more than a little surprise.
"Sirius spent three months in Azkaban before they finally gave him a trial. Crouch used to be the Head of the MLE, Percy. The Trials made sure that he isn't anymore."
"What happened?" Percy asked, knowing that there was more to the story than Harry was telling him.
"He put over a dozen people into Azkaban – Sirius spent the longest time out of them – and Crouch even put his own son in Azkaban."
Percy groaned, he was definitely going to have to ask for a transfer. The Deputy Head of the International Relations Department was looking for a new assistant after all… "That's it. I'm putting in for a transfer."
Harry grinned and held up his glass of lemonade as a salute, "To transfers?"
"To transfers!"
-HJRP-
The next morning Hedwig came though the window with a letter for Harry from Victor and Katarzyna.
He carefully pushed his plate aside and offered his owl a piece of bacon, which the snowy took without pause, and opened the letter.
LETTER SPACE
Dear Harrison,
I know Hedwig will deliver this letter true but I still worry. I know you are well and that you are safe.
Please write back. The papers are filled with enough speculation as it is. Where are you? Are you well?
When the screams began, Victor came to the tent. We decided that it would be best if we went to Rowthan Manor, as it was the only plan we made if we were separated. When you did not arrive, we became concerned.
Reply soon,
Katarzyna Dmitrova
LETTER SPACE
Harry sighed in relief, knowing Katarzyna was alright lifted a weight off of his shoulders, as he put the letter down.
Percy, sitting next to him caught the last line of the letter 'Katarzyna Dmitrova' but couldn't make out the rest of it as it was written in what he could guess to be Danish. "Good news?"
Harry looked at Percy and smiled, "Very much so, Katarzyna is alright."
"I told you." Arthur said as he seemed to know what Harry was about to ask for and gave him some parchment and a quill.
Harry nodded his thanks as he penned a reply.
LETTER SPACE
Dear Katarzyna and Victor,
I am at the Burrow in Ottery St. Catchpole with Will's family. I am glad to know that you are safe.
I received a minor injury when I foolishly went back to our tent. I am going to St. Mungo's tomorrow.
I am glad you are safe.
Harrison Jacques Rowthan
LETTER SPACE
An hour later a rather haggard Hedwig returned to the Burrow with an exceedingly short letter. It was even in English.
LETTER SPACE
Harrison,
Could we apparate there?
Vic & Kat
LETTER SPACE
"Mr. Weasley?" he asked as he put the letter down.
"Yes?"
"Katarzyna and Victor were wondering if they might apparate here."
Arthur turned to Molly, "Dear?"
"It's fine with me, love." She said calmly.
"Up for one more trip Hedwig?" Harrison asked his faithful feathered friend.
She'd looked at him as though he insulted her and took off as soon as she had the letter.
It was not two hours later that Katarzyna and Victor arrived at the Burrow. Kat looking lovely in light grey trousers with a wide leg and a high waist, with a fitted white shirt with long billowing sleeves and Victor who looked green and even more round shoulders he'd been before they'd met and started lifting weights and going to the gym in the Quidditch practice arena in Aytos. He also looked like Katarzyna and Lady Rowthan refused to give Victor a hangover draught.
"Vic!" he yelled loudly – grinning as he winced – before he turned to Katarzyna and said her name with utmost reverence.
The lot of them met on the porch where Katarzyna kissed him lightly, mindful of his injuries.
"We were so worried! We did not know if you were safe!"
Harry nodded and hugged her with his good arm. "I am just thankful you left before the Dark Mark was set off."
Katarzyna hugged him and nodded into his neck, "I was scared for you. When we heard about the Mark, it was as though…"
Harry closed his eyes and involuntarily thought of the night Voldemort came to his house and cast all three Unforgiveables on him. Even at the age of four, he was able to throw off the Imperius, but the Cruciatus nearly sent him into a coma. When he realized that Voldemort meant to kill his brother, he stepped in the path of the Killing Curse – and he lived. "I am fine, a little worse for the wear but I am fine."
Kat nodded as they walked up the path, "Mr. Weasley and Percy had to leave for work but there are still six Weasleys for you to meet."
They walked to the door where Katarzyna paused. "Do you intend to introduce us?" she asked.
Harry almost looked insulted and replied. "Of course I do."
Mrs. Weasley smiled softly before she went to the door, "Come in dears!" she said as she ushered their group inside where seven Weasleys were – including Will.
"Weasley family, may I introduce you to the lovely and talented Katarzyna Dmitrova. Katarzyna meet Charlie, the illuminating Mrs. Weasley, and you already know Will of course-"
"Bill." The Curse Breaker insisted again.
"Miss Ginerva Weasley."
"Ginny, please." The thirteen year old red haired girl with her long wavy hair and oval face, who clearly took after the Prewitts in her looks, said from by the unlit fireplace.
"Ron, Gred and Forge or Fred and George depending on who you ask and … that's it for now."
Kat smiled, "It is wonderful to meet all of you."
Then Victor came in – like Harry he was still wearing his World Cup ring – and looked around.
"Vic meet the Weasley bunch and the enchanting Mrs. Weasley and brats meet Vic."
The Weasleys grinned at his introduction compared to Katarzyna's.
"Just Vic?" Charlie asked with a grin.
Harry shrugged. "He can catch a snitch but…"
Vic turned to him. "I can 'catch a snitch' better than you any day!"
"Oh really?" Harry asked in English with a raised eyebrow.
Victor nodded.
"Fine, next game we play – we switch. I'll be Seeker and you be Chaser! First game of the season, heck the preseason so you don't wreck our undefeated record!"
"Deal! But you don't ruin our record! Keep an eye out for gold!" Victor said as they shook hands and it became clear that the two were serious.
Will shook his head, "Harry sit down. You've been putting enough weight on your ankle."
Kat looked at his ankle, "Are you even going to ask for help with that?"
Harry grinned sheepishly as Percy pulled out a chair.
"Sit, I will make a potion." She said as she quickly pulled a notepad from her white leather shoulder bag and wrote out a list. "I need to get a few things."
Harry nodded as she walked out fo the house and apparated once she was outside of the main yard, where they'd originally apparated into.
Vic moved over to the only person in the room who could speak Bulgarian. "She will raid my supplies, won't she?"
Harry nodded, "Of course she will and you were the one to re-stock your supplies for the game."
"You do not think she will take my supplies, do you?"
Harry shrugged, "At least you have enough time to re-stock your supplies."
Victor lightly groaned, "You owe me."
"I owe nothing."
"Yes, you do."
"No, I do not."
"Yes, you do." Victor retorted as Fred and George walked over to them.
"So, Harry…"
"How'd you get…"
"Two Quidditch Players…"
"As friends?"
Victor frowned, "Ve are… room… mates?" he said with the exaggerated accent that he used around people he was not comfortable with. His English improved substantially when he got comfortable.
"Not dormmates?"
Victor shook his head.
"At Durmstrang we have two people per room. It is not like Hogwarts that way." Harry explained.
The twins nodded.
"We had to get along and then we both started arguing about Quidditch when we both started to understand what the other was saying. It was probably amusing to our classmates for me to be arguing about Wales's defensive strategy over Latvia's offensive strategy."
By early afternoon, Katarzyna was back and brewing a small potion on the stove. A truly modern approach that she appreciated over sheer flames. It was obvious that she knew what she was doing, she had vials of odd sorts of liquids, powders, dried herbs and on the table she had chopped up and prepared ingrediants laid out in the order that it would be added to the potion.
Victor and Ron ended up playing an intense game of chess after Harrison helped break the ice and let Victor marvel over 150 year old marble chessmen that had been in Ron's family since Victoria reigned over Muggle England.
Oddly enough, Fred and George had been willing to do whatever Katarzyna asked of them, especially when she was willing to give them a few tips regarding Potions as well as answering any and all questions they had about the artform.
Harry frowned when he heard about their OWLs. The twins were brilliant – anyone with half a brain could see that but it was evident that their mother was disappointed.
Bill, Charlie, and Harry talked politics with Arthur while Percy sat nearby doing paperwork – occasionally adding in a sentence or two.
Mrs. Weasley made tea for everyone in the mid-afternoon.
"So," she said as she passed the tea around. "How did the two of you meet?"
Katarzyna and Harry looked at each other lovingly.
"He was the shy boy from Britain."
"And she was the exotic Russian from Denmark."
Mrs. Weasley smiled softly and sent pointed looks to her children as though to say 'this is what I want from you.'
Bill grimaced – it was hard to date in the middle of the desert.
Charlie ducked his head – there was no way he was going to tell his mother about Ruby.
Percy blushed, he and Penny were only friends.
The twins and Ron didn't care while Ginny wished that Jacob Potter would look at her like Harrison looked at Kat.
-HJRP-
They left that evening, Ron could smile and wave to Victor (especially after Harrison and Victor autographed his programme) and Mrs. Weasley made Harrison promise to write.
Harry told the lot 'see you later' as they left and shared a grin with Percy as he did so.
CHAPTER END!
