I need a beta reader for this fic and Clan Potter. Anyone interested?
Harry's eyes fluttered open as he woke. He sat up in the bed and surprised to see where he was. He was in his room at Bones manner. The room was sparsely decorated with only a few photos of his parents and a few of him and his friends. Harry hopped out of his bed and saw he was in his pyjama bottoms. "Bradly!" Harry called out. The house-elf took a bit longer than usual, but when he did arrive, he brought Sirius.
"Hey Pup." Sirius greeted his godson, as he came to embrace him.
"How long was I out?" Harry asked as they separated.
"Four months." Sirius said solemnly.
Harry looked up at the Marauder in shock. "F-four months?"
Sirius began creaking up and soon the room was filled with his howls of laughter. "Ha ha ha! I really had you going! Ha ha ha!"
"Ass!" Harry spoke as he glared at his godfather with his arms crossed.
Once Sirius managed to control himself, he spoke up once more. "You've actually been out for three days, Pup. Poppy floo called me and Amy on the night it happened and managed to persuade her to let us take you and Susan home to rest."
"Is Susan still here?" Harry asked.
Sirius nodded in response. "Yeah, her ear's still a bit sensitive, so keep your voice down when you see her, alright?"
"Alright."
"Good. Let's get some breakfast down ya."
Harry opened the door to the dining room, he came face to face with a beaming Susan Bones. She instantly pulled him into a tight embrace. "Hey, Susie." He softly greeted with a grin.
"It's good to see your finally up." Susan beamed. as she held him tighter.
"Susan. You're hurting me." Harry gasped.
"Sorry Harry." The auburn-haired witch replayed as she let go of him. As they separated, Harry saw the scar left on Susan's ear. Without a word, he gently brushed her hair aside and saw that it actually started at her jaw. Harry had no idea that the cut actually went this deep.
"It's not bad, is it?"
After breakfast, the pair went upstairs and got ready for the day. Sirius had told them that he would take them back to Hogwarts tomorrow. After they left the room, Sirius soon followed and floo called Amelia and Mirror called Andromeda. By the time they were showered and dressed. Sirius, Amelia, Andromeda, Alastor, Nymphadora and Crocker were waiting for them.
"How did you all get here so fast?" Susan asked.
"We've been on standby since the incident." Crocker answered.
"It'd be better for us to actually see what happened, rather than have him explain it to us." Alastor mentioned, before looking to Amelia. "Do you have your family's pensive?"
"It's in the study." Amelia answered before wordlessly leading the way to said room.
Once Ameli's lead them into the room and takes out the pensive, Andromeda approaches Harry. She placed her hands on her shoulders and crouched down to his level. "Okay Harry, I'm going to teach you to copy memory, so listen closely." When Harry nodded she continued. "First, place the tip of your on the front of your temple..." Harry did as Andromeda instructed. "...Focus on the memory you want to copy, from start to finish. Replay it in your head a few times..." Harry closed his eyes and focused. Soon Harry nodded that he was ready. "...Now focus a little of your magic into your wand and slowly pull it away. You'll know you've done it right because you'll feel a little tugging sensation..." Harry did feel a faint tugging as he pulled his wand away from his head. Once the tugging sensation stopped, he opened his eyes and saw a whisp made of light dangling from his wand. "... Just drop it into the pensive, by tapping the top of your wand." Harry dropped the memory into the pensive and the others drew closer to the magical object. "Do you want to watch it with us, Harry, or would you rather wait?"
"I don't mind seeing it again." Harry answered quietly. Andromeda was relieved that he was not shying away and was amused when Susan moved to hold his hand. The group dived into the pensive and the memory began. During the memory, both Harry and Susan had their duelling skills judged by the aurors in the group.
Everyone left the pensive with a grim expression. "Voldemort." Moody growled.
"He has more than one Horcrux." Croaker thought allowed.
Moody growled. "So that's how the bastards still alive."
"Wait, you knew he had a Horcrux!?" Sirius asked in shock.
"Do you remember the article Mikelson did on Tom Riddle?" At everyone's nod, Croker continued. "The curse breaker was a unspeakable. Once he brought it back we destroyed it. Apparently, he has more than one." His face turned to disgust as he said the final sentence. Croker suddenly whirled his head to face Harry. "I need to look at your scar."
Harry looked startled. "Erm, okay." He answered.
Croker approached Harry and took his wand out of his robes. "Please step aside Ms Bones." Susan reluctantly stepped aside and Croker began his scans. He started with the standard spells used by healers. "Nothing so far." Next, he used the ones that were for more advanced cases. "Huh, interesting." After that, he drew some ruins around Harry's scar and then hit it with a spell. "Aha!"Croker cried out in triumph before his expression became mellow. "That's not good. But it could be worse."
"What is it?" Andromeda asked fearfully. Afraid she already knew the answer.
"It appears a piece of Tom Riddle's soul is lodged in Mr Potter's scar." Croker announced.
Harry turned pale and began to feel dizzy. Crocker placed a hand on Harry's shoulder to help him keep his balance. Multiple gasps rang throughout the room. "He's a Horcrux!?" Sirius all but yelled.
"Not exactly. The soul shared is weak and dormant. And while it is embedded in his magic, it is also stuck there." Croker answered as he continued to study the scar.
"Neither can live while the other survives." Sirius quietly quoted the prophecy.
"Can you remove it?" Amelia asked hopefully.
"Mmm, maybe." Crocker announced. "I'll have to do some research before I can answer. In the meantime, I don't think you will have to worry about it while Tom's still a wraith."
No one liked his answer, but no one knew what else to do.
The next day.
The floo in the hospital wing of Hogwarts roared to life and, Harry and Susan stepped out and were greeted by a smiling Albus Dumbledore. "Harry my boy, might we talk about what happened the other night?"
"No, you may not!" A voice roared from the fire and out stepped Amelia Bones. Dumbledore blanched at her arrival. "Harry has already given me his statement and that is more than enough." Amelia's tone was firm and left no room for arguments. "Harry, Susan and the others will have enough problems with the students pestering them. They do not need their headmaster joining in."
"My apologies. I was merely curious." Albus tried to sooth the guardian.
"And I'm curious as to why you kept a Cerberus behind a door any first year could open." Amelia retorted. Dumbledor winced at the comment. After Amelia found out about the incident. she sent a ministry task force to investigate the third floor. Harry found the chessboard particularly insulting. The result was a particularly black mark on Dumbledor's record. "Now if that is all. These two..." She motioned to Harry and Susan "...haven't had breakfast yet."
Dumbledor's mood instantly changed. "Ah yes, breakfast, the most important meal of the day. We must not dawdle if we want to get there before the pancakes are gone." Dumbledor responded, returning to his grandfatherly facade.
Amalia rolls her eyes before crouching down and pulling her two wards into a hug. "Try to stay out of trouble for the rest of the year you two." With that Amelia left and the two students were led to the great hall.
Upon arriving at the great hall everyone began staring at them. Harry noticed Susan tense up and slipped his hand into hers, and calmly lead her to Hannah at the Hufflepuff table. Eyes and whispers followed the pair as they did their best to ignore those around them.
"They back."
"What happened to them?"
"Bones has a scar."
That one caused Susan to tense up again and harry gave her hand another comforting squeeze.
"Where?"
"On her left ear."
Susan clenched her eyes shut tight to try and block everyone out.
"Bones has a scar."
"Bones has a scar."
"Bones has a scar."
"Bones has a scar!"
"Susan!" Harry's voice snapped the red-headed witch out of her trance. "We can go to the kitchens if you want?"
"No." Susan shook her head lightly. "I'd rather just get this over with." Harry nodded and they both sat down, with Susan being sandwiched between Harry and Hannah.
"Oi, Bones. Let's have a look at your scar!" Ernie Mcmillan called from the other side of the table.
"Oi, Mcmillan!" Ernie looked at Harry, who had called to him. "Piss off!"
"Or what?!" Ernie challenged.
"Or I'll do it for you." Harry tone was cold as he glared at the Puff sat at the other side of the table. Mcmillan glared back at Harry. Minutes past until Harry got bored cast a stinging hex at Mcmilla's hand, causing him to flinch away. Mcmillan returned his glare to Harry, he found the Potter to be smiling at him. Mcmillan looked away to talk to Justin, while turned to face Susan.
Susan gave Harry a grateful smile. "Thank you, Harry."
"Wouldn't be doing my job if I let everyone bother you." Harry answered back with a toothy smile.
Meanwhile with Dumbledore.
Albus watched Hary from his throne. Harry was still far too aggressive for his liking and the likes of Amelia and Sirius kept him out of Dumbledore's reach. Something would have to be done about that. Perhaps Voldemort could be used to help him with that. In the meantime, he will have to be content in gathering information and trying to be the first on the scene of an incident.
He may have to manufacture a few himself. But not now. Not until he has another scapegoat to pin it on.
Later that day.
"I think we should all join Harry and Su in their morning exercises." Hermione announces.
"Think you keep up?" Su challenged Hermione.
"Don't you both do a lap around the black lake?" Tracy asked.
"Two." Su corrected.
"We've been doing two laps since we got back from the Yule holidays." Harry decided to elaborate.
"No way in hell can I do two laps!" Tracy exclaimed.
"Language!" Hermione responded hotly.
"The fuck are you on about?" Tracy responded.
"Tracy!"
Tracy just smirked at Hermione's annoyance.
"If you're actually going to start exercising, start small and build yourself up. I made the mistake of throwing myself into the deep end and was sore for the rest of the day." Harry advised. "So who actually wants to start exercising?"
Hermione's hand immediately shot up.
"I'm in, one scar's enough." Susan answered with her iron will on full display.
"I want in too." Neville announced with a determined expression.
Tracy shrugged. "I might join for the odd run."
"I struggle to get to breakfast on time as it is, so I'll pass." Hannah answered sheepishly.
"Apparently regular exercise can help your magic flow, so I'll give it a try." Lilith responded.
"I suppose it can't hurt until I can swim in my family's pool again." Daphne commented.
"Fine. But if you pass out, I'm leaving you there." Su announced stubbornly.
A few days later.
Tracy was gently shaken awake by Harry as the history of magic "lesson" came to an end. She looked to her left and saw both Daphne and Lillian were packing away their drawings. Lillian had been casually drawing since her brother got her some coloured pencils for her fifth birthday and had decided to continue the hobby in the class. Daphne had become interested and had soon joined in. Harry would either re-enforce his occlumency shields or read whichever book he had taken from the library. And Tracy would nap.
As the group left the classroom, Padma called Tracy, causing the Slytherins to turn and face the Ravenclaw. "I just want to talk to Tracy for a moment. It won't take long."
"You guys go ahead, I'll catch up." Tracy dismissed the other Slytherins with a friendly smile. Once they were out of hearing range, Tracy turned back to Padma. "So what's up?"
"Well, I'm going to meet up with Pavarti and Lavender later, and I would like you to come with me." Padma responded nervously.
"Why me?" Tracy asked.
Padma felt a pain in her chest as she answered in a saddened tone. "I thought we were friends."
"Of course we are! I was just wondering why you're aking me instead of Su, or Hermione, or even Daphne?" Tracy quickly responds.
"Oh. Well, I asked you because you're the most social of the group." Padma responded. She was far more relaxed than she was before.
"I am? What about Susan, Hannah and Lillian?" Tracy questioned. She knew that the majority of their group were generally content with sticking to themselves and only talking to one another, but she didn't think she was the most social of the group.
"They're all really shy around new people and my sister and Lavender can be a bit... overwhelming." Padma answered delicately.
"You mean they talk a lot." Tracy stated with a grin. She had seen the pair lose countless points for talking during lesson, much to Hermione's displeasure.
Padma stifled a giggle. "Yeah."
"So where and when are we meeting them?" Tracy asked.
"We meet near the lake after lessons." Padma answered.
"Cool."
Later.
Tracy was arriving at the black and saw the other three girls were already there. Tracy had told the other Slytherins in the group what she was doing. "Hi Tracy!" Lavender Brown greeted her enthusiastically.
Parvarti looked at her friend gobsmacked. While Padma placed her face into her open palm.
Tracy had cringed at the greeting. "Hey." Tracy replied in a deadpan tone, as she sat on the rock next to Padma.
"So what's it like in the Slytherin common room?" Parvarti asked as soon as Tracy sat down. Trying to get the conversation back on track.
"Dark, damp, and miserable. You can tell Snape's head of house." Tracy answered calmly.
"Is Draco better or worse in the common room?" Lavender asked.
"He was worse until Harry took him and all of his goons down singlehandedly. He lost a lot of respect for that, and most Slytherins just stay out of the way now." Lavender and Parvati looked at Tracy in shock, while Padma watched on amused as she had already been told the story.
"He beat Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle?" Parvarti asked in shock.
"And Nott, and Parkinson, and Bulstrode and Zabini." Tracy answered with a grin.
"How?" Lavender asked.
"Harry's really quick with a wand and used Malfoy as a shield." Tracy answered. "It was awesome." She grinned.
As they swapped from one conversation topic to another, Tracy noticed that Padma mostly remained quiet throughout the entire thing. Tracy repeatedly brought her into the conversation but she seemed to always give short answers. Eventually, it was time for them to head for dinner. Parvarti and Lavender lead the way while Tracy and Padma lagged behind.
"Why did you go?" Tracy quietly asked Padma. Tracy may be lazy, but she was observant. She had noticed that Padma was the least enthusiastic of the four about their little get together.
"I like spending time with Parvati." Padma answered blankly.
"But did you enjoy yourself?" Tracy questioned.
Padma opened her mouth to answer, before closing it and giving her answer more thought. "No." Padma answered with a sigh. "I didn't. I don't get how they can keep talking about the same things over and over."
"But?" Tracy urged Padma to continue.
"But she's my sister. I don't want to grow apart from her." Padma responded, by now they had reached the great hall. "Can we drop it, I don't want anyone to know?" She asked nervously.
"Sure." Tracy sighed. Tracy, like Lillan and Daphne, wanted to be a healer. But she didn't feel comfortable being just an ordinary healer, but she didn't know what type she should be. Lillian wanted to become head of her family home/orphanage. Daphne wanted to push the boundaries of healing magic. And Tracy? Tracy wanted to be a mind healer. That night she had written a letter for Andromeda requesting her to help teach her.
When it was reported to Dumbledore, brushed it off as them knowing each other through Tracy's mother. He ha finally decided on his next test for Harry. It was far simpler than his last.
A few days later.
Today was the day Susan and Amelia would morn being the last of their family. The 9th of March. As promised, Harry stood by her side. The pair had just arrived at Bones Manner. Sirius and Amelia were waiting for them at the floo, wearing black as Harry and Susan were. Susan and Amelia pulled each other into a teary-eyed embrace. Once the two had separated, Sirius was shocked and hart warmed when Susan suddenly hugged him. Amelia did the same with Harry, which made the Potter heir smile.
"Is everyone ready?" Amelia asked. Once everyone said yes, they made their way to the Bones family crypt at the back of the manner. The top of the archway held golden Bones family crest, but other than that it had no decorations. Just before they reach the entrance, they stopped and Susan turned to face Harry. "The crypts protected by a blood ward. Only members of the Bones family can go inside." Susan told him apologetically.
Harry gave Susan a reassuring smile. "I'll wait here for you."
Susan gave Harry a quick kiss on the cheek. "Thank you." She said quietly, before briskly making her way to the crypt. Much to the amusement of Sirius and Amelia.
Harry finally came out of his shock as the Bones witches entered the crypt a brushed his finger across where he was kissed. Sirius chuckled. "Not bad pup. Not bad at all."
Meanwhile.
Susan and Amelia silently walked through the crypt. Pass the eternal resting places of countless past members of their house. Amelia would silently stand in front of the crypts' of her brothers, where they laid with their respective wives and reminisce. She had long since ran out of things to say.
Susan slowly approached her parents final resting place. As if she was afraid that it would crumble to dust if she moved too fast. "Hi Mum. Hi Dad. I know you've been watching over me, like James and Lily watch over Harry, so I'll skip the recap this time.
I just want to say that I'm really grateful that you made that insurance contract with Harry. At first, he was really quiet and a lot of his smiles were fake." Susan looked saddened as she remembered how closed off Harry was at first, but Andromeda had helped him understand that some people could be trusted. After a moment of silence, Susan perked up again. "But he's really nice when you get to know him. And it's sweet how protective he can be. I like it most when he's protecting me." Susan confessed with a blush. Amelia stifled a chuckle from behind the young witch.
"I'm scared. Finding out what Dumbledore was doing was bad enough, but knowing that V-Vol- known that he's alive is even worse. They're both after Harry because of some dumb prophecy, and I want to help him, but I'm scared I won't be good enough."
"You will be Susan." Amelia reassured her. "You are a strong and determined young woman, as long as you put your mind to it you will succeed."
Susan wrapped her arms around her maternal figure. "Thank you, auntie."
Amelia gave her niece a proud loving smile. As did the spirits of their relatives. The most ancient and noble house of Bones would rise again.