Chapter 10
Heir Black knew through family magic that Draco was hurting badly. He decided that his cousin needed cheering up. And he sent off a letter that he allowed the owl to take.
It wouldn't do after all to keep all of his correspondence secret from the headmaster.
The morning following their return to Hogwarts, the flying instructor swooped down on the group of friends heading to class. She waved a shiny publication with moving pictures.
"A Nimbus 2001! Two of them in the school next year! Heir Potter-Black, please, you must allow me to try to get the ban on first years having their own brooms here lifted! I need to see that broom!" Professor Hooch declared vehemently.
"I shudder to think of all of the people that could be hurt if first years without proper supervision went flying. Proving that their flying skills were a small percentage of what they claimed. Instead, I suggest that you look in your office, madam, for a Yule gift from me."
"I don't understand. I just came from there." She wasn't lying.
"Then the package has been delayed. My apologies. I do not want to spoil the surprise madam. Please, if you have not received a gift from me by the end of the day, please let me know tomorrow at breakfast." Harry requested.
That was odd. It was a crime to tamper with mail. The headmaster reading his mail was one thing. But this? What was going on now?
And Harry was trying to avoid the horror of horrors.
Publicity.
Draco might like to shine in the press, but Hadrian had nightmares about the Fifth Estate ruining his reputation, telling people that he and Daphne were already secretly married, or any number of horrific things.
The odd questions he had faced at the Ministry ball proved that they were all vampires of a sort that didn't shy away from feeding on children. He didn't know what half of the things meant that they asked. He was grateful that Auntie Amelia was there to give them her patented glare of death. And remind them that while Heir Potter-Black was friends with many witches, and not a few wizards, he was 11.
The press scared him like dementors terrified others.
He much prefered to be in the shadows, planning cunning pranks, invisible.
Hadrian wished his family's invisibility cloak hadn't been stolen. It apparently had been a very different, powerful kind of invisibility. It sounded perfect.
-00-00-00-
Madam Hooch talked to Harry the next day. Still no package. He requested a meeting with his Head of House and her to talk about the situation.
Neither wizard liked the way her eyes gleamed when Professor Snape invited them to his office.
Hers had portraits. Gossipy ones. His did not, and he had an excess of privacy runes. One would think he had something to hide.
Professor Snape indicated to the lad he was to begin.
"As you know, the Slytherin team has been forced to accept new rules of conduct while playing quidditch. As a result, half of the team has been permanently banned from playing." Harry started.
And hadn't the new rules caused a stink! But Lord Black had stepped in addressing the governors directly and said that ignoring the situation was ruining many good players' chances of going professional.
That Lord Black managed to imply that the Board of Governors were allowing baby death eaters to thrive had Hadrian applauding the man when watching the memory.
But the ruling had been tested at the next game. And as promised, several players from Slytherin were now banned. Replacements players had been easy to find. Good ones too. But none came from wealthy families, and they were all flying school brooms. Old but still going, and very slow.
"I gifted a Nimbus 2001 to Professor Hooch. I thought she could test it out. I was hoping to get her approval in giving the Slytherin team members new brooms in honor of Lucius Malfoy, a governor of the school." Hadrian stated.
"But I haven't received it!" Professor Hooch whined.
"Exactly. And I had it delivered by the company. I don't know what happened to it. I have requested more information from them, and received this letter."
Harry turned over a letter the letter that clearly showed it was received by a Hogwarts elf the day it was due. It had the elf's name and everything.
Hooch turned her hawk eyes to Harry, and he gulped.
It really was a shame about his age.
-00-00-00-
Percy Weasley had a decision to make. A big one.
Did he side with his family or with the Ministry?
Yule break versus Christmas break.
Hadn't Lord Black been very generous with his family? Weren't the twins staying out of trouble (for the most part)?
The problem was his mother. While his father had put his foot down about the family displaying manners, she only gave lip service to him. And he was the head of the house!
Percy had reacted badly to Heir Black on the train, and was now worried that his bad behavior would prevent him from getting a job.
There was nothing for it. He wrote an apology letter to Harry Potter, and asked for forgiveness. He offered no excuses. That he was defending his little brother was obvious, even if said brother was clearly in the wrong.
And wondered to himself if the heir to two houses wasn't wrong.
Maybe Ronald was just a little mental.
-00-00-00-
Ares Black looked at the letter that Warden McKinnon had sent. Remus Lupin was being released, and had been a model prisoner.
Of course, Ares had cheated, and used Harry Potter's elf friends to secretly send chocolate to his best friend. And real food. And more chocolate.
And while he would have loved to go meet himself when he was released, he had to send an emissary. His loving wife needed a task and here was the perfect opportunity. It would help them all. A project.
Find a job suitable for a werewolf that he could do and not endanger anyone around him.
Persephone had said yes with vervor of someone who had been drowning, and found a bit of flotsam to grab a hold of.
They had a large library at Potter Manor. She had a generous allowance that she mostly put in her personal vault and reinvested, not that she would need to use her own money for this. But she was a confirmed bibliophile and would be happy to contribute if said offerings were insufficient for their quest.
Persephone held her husband's hand as they perused an old career guidance book that had been published in 1901. She snuggled in close.
Ares sniffed for the third time.
"It wasn't your fault." She told him.
"I shouldn't have let you go alone." Ares stated firmly. "I should have been there to protect you."
"And been killed in order to get you out of the way so that they could kill the baby. Then I would be mourning you both." Persephone reminded him gently. "Our baby was the assassin's target, and with the bounty offered by the Black family, the perpetrators will be caught and prosecuted love. Justice will be ours in the long term, you know."
Arcturus had informed the couple that 'spies' had found out some information about the attack, but not in time to prevent it. He had shared some of the truth, just not all of it. Not with her.
Ares said nothing. He would not lie to the woman who held his heart and his secrets. He leaned in and kissed her gently.
He did not shout his declarations of affection, but showed them in little ways. Her favorite tea waiting for her in the library, a wrap newly warmed with a charm carefully tucked around her in the large room that was a little chilly.
She had turned back to reading and gasped.
"What about this one? It might do for the giant that you and Hadrian have a soft spot for as well." Persephone suggested.
"Half-giant." Ares reflexively defended. Hagrid had not just been a wonderful, kind soul at Hogwarts to him and his friends, they had fought who-know-who together. A comrade in arms. Ares would trust him with his life.
The wizard once known as Sirius Orion Black III carefully read the job description and requirements.
He let his second gentle kiss tell her that he agreed with her perfectly.
-00-00-00-
Lord Black just stepped out of Amelia's office. He was checking in every few days on the progress of finding Persephone's attackers. He was there for show, of course, he had taken out the trash himself. No one needed to know that justice had been served.
On the rocks, so to speak.
The Minister of Magic was waiting.
Lord Black stopped, and nodded to the man. "Lord Ogden. I hope that I didn't keep Amelia from you too long."
"Black. Not at all, I'm actually here to see you. Heard you were about. I wanted to ask you where young Hadrian was during the break from school."
Politician. Didn't say Yule or Christmas, and reveal his feelings on the matter.
"While he visited his aunt several times in St. Mungo's, and attended the Ministry Ball, he mostly stayed at home." "Attended a private funeral, but I will not bleed in front of you. You are far too cunning a man' he thought to himself.."Complained about the weather, and wondered why we don't have a covered pitch."
"Muggle inventions. Quite right to keep such things from our society, even if they would be handy." The man said in an off tone.
What was going on here? "Do you think that he pulled a prank? I don't know where the boy gets these things." Arcturus said, happy that his occlumency was beyond reproach.
"Prank? Somewhat." 'If you think cold-blooded murder a prank. Being a Black, you likely do.' Odgen thought but didn't say.
"If he has offended, I can apologize on his behalf. If it is larger than that, perhaps a gift? Not that I can offer you better whiskey than you already have in your cellars." Lord Black offered.
"No, but thank you. I'm not positive the boy was the one responsible. If I had proof…" 'He would already be in Azkaban. How do you hold a mage who's worried about losing control of his powers and killing people?'
Ogden left without sharing his thoughts, but his actions made it clear he was not happy with the scion of House Black.
-00-00-00-
Hermes flew into the Great Hall, attracting attention. Harry wished that he could just gift the owl to Draco, but that would cause more problems than it would solve.
It was an affirmative answer to his request. Good. Lucius had been allergic, after all, or at least so he said.
"Please take this order form to The Menagerie after you've rested, alright, girl?"
The owl looked offended at the offer. As if such a short flight would impair her! She held out a foot, and was soon away.
Daphne, sitting near him as always asked him if he were buying someone a gift.
"As a matter of fact, I am. A little surprise to brighten up a friend's day." Harry said.
Daphne was nearly bouncing in her seat in excitement. Harry had a catalog, and they had gone over the different offerings together. At her oohhh, he agreed that the white kitten with blue eyes was perfect.
She was so excited! This would prove his interest in her if he bought her a pet! Maybe it would even be her witch's familiar!
-00-00-00-
Severus Snape had a problem, and his name was Harry Potter. No, the child studied, did well in his classes. And he could never prove that the boy had pulled any pranks except for one at At Hallow's Eve. But since that honored Lily, the professor had chosen to ignore it.
Lucius was dead.
Other than a portkey, keyed to the area, and had a return for home, nothing had been found. Besides the broken wand, and a rude attempt at shelter from the cold. His magically warmed clothing charms had failed..
But why not apparate? Severus didn't need a wand to do that. Some wizards did though.
The potions master wanted to dose Potter and find out all of his secrets. Had he killed Lucius? If so why? Hadrian always was polite to Draco. His godson was suffering from the loss of his father and hiding it not at all well.
Severus did not like not knowing things. It was one of the reasons he made such a good spy. His need to know.
At least some good was coming from this. The 'misplaced' broom was found, and Slytherin would soon have not 7 but 14 brand new Nimbus 2001 brooms. A gift in honor of Lucius Malfoy. Only possible because of Harry Potter.
If the boy had killed the man, why turn around and spend Potter gold to honor him?
Maybe it was a, no, he wouldn't even think the word.
Prank.
-00-00-00-
Ron Weasley had calmed down, and apologized to Harry for his rudeness, and asked if they could be friends again.
Heir Black had looked at the boy. It seemed like a sincere offer.
"I'm very sorry Mr. Weasley, I really don't remember being your friend. Not even when we were younger. However, if you wish to try to build a friendship, I would accept that. You are kin to me after all. We are meeting in the library after class today. Please be welcome to join us."
"It's just going to be you and Hermione, right Harry? Not any of the other snakes are coming?" Ron asked in what he hoped was a polite tone.
Harry kept his temper. "My friends from my house, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff are all coming. A veritable zoo if you will. I must admit that I haven't learned how to speak to magical badgers though."
Ronald's laugh was long and far too loud. "Good one, Harry. But maybe you could leave the Slytherins out."
"Mr. Weasley. We meet at that time on Wednesdays. You do not have to accept the invitation, but you are invited. I must be getting to class."
"See ya later, Harry. I'll bring my chess board!"
-00-00-00-
Hadrian asked Percy to come to the library. He really didn't have a good feeling about this.
The friends set up. It was the history project that they were going to work on. The professor was allowing them to pick their own groups. It had to have 3-4 people, everyone contributes, group grade based on effort and product.
Harry was working with Daphne, Susan and Hannah. He wanted to work with Hermione, but Neville and Justin had already called dibs, and Sally-Anne had asked to join in.
She was so shy already, Harry didn't want to hurt her feelings by asking her to bow out.
Ron showed up with the promised chess set, and began to set it up right away.
"Mr. Weasley. We often play quiet games in a classroom near here when we are done with our work. Please, let us begin the project first, and then you can show us your prowess at chess. Fred seems to think that you are the best in the school."
The boy scowled, but put the game away.
Draco showed up with Pansy and the bookends. Everyone at the table stood for him except Ron. Oh, this wasn't going to be pretty.
"Draco, since I invited Mr. Weasley here, and you four are working together on the project, could you please work at the table that I reserved for you?"
Harry pointed to a nearby table for four.
"I did want to sit with our friends, cousin. Perhaps Weasley and all of his friends could go sit over there."
Harry winced. Heir Malfoy was pointing to the humiliating time-out chair in the corner that Madam Pince used for students who talked too loud. It was one seat. No table. No room for anyone else.
"Draco, that's not nice!" Hermione defended.
"He doesn't need your approval, Miss Granger. In fact, some people shouldn't be allowed to be in the same room as someone as lofty as Lord Malfoy." Pansy sniffed, turning adoring eyes to the boy whose arm she clutched.
Draco looked pained just then. He was an Heir, not Lord yet, but the robes he wore declared him so. Harry saw for the first time he regretted his wardrobe choice, but likely felt he couldn't change it back now.
Harry felt bad for his cousin. Miss Parkinson had switched targets again. Good for Harry, bad for Draco.
"Miss Granger is a friend, Pansy. If you can't be nice to my friends…" Draco started to warn. But his raised voice had gotten the attention of the librarian.
"Shhhh! We'll get kicked out, and then how will we research anything!" Hannah warned in a whisper.
Sally-Anne looked afraid, and Ron looked red. Uh, oh, here it came.
Harry put up a silencing bubble around the boy, and scanned the library for his brother. Where was the prefect?
There he was, storming towards them. In a fit of anger, cast a finite.
"I saw you cast that on my brother!" Percy declared, loudly.
"...jumped up son-of-a-death eater!" Ron finished at a yell. He seemed to not notice he had been silenced.
Madam Pince pointed a finger to Ron for the Chair. She glared at the rest of the group and pointed to the exit door. The youngest Weasley in Hogwarts accepted the punishment with ill-disguised ill grace.
At least she allowed them to take the books they needed with them.
Harry shook his head. He was going to get into trouble for this, he just knew it.
He wrote home by house-elf before dinner, and waited for his Hogwarts Head of House to order him to his office.
-00-00-00-
Daphne had dressed up a bit, and had asked an older witch to give her a light makeup charm. She discovered that Harry's gift was to arrive during dinner!
And there it was! A cute little white fur ball was peaking out of a basket. A very nice looking wizard held the basket. When he spotted Heir Black, he walked over to him and bowed.
"Thank you for getting the permissions in advance, sir. It made everything much easier. And where am I delivering this?" The former 'Puff asked. His magical animal business was thriving due to Lord Black's help with the Wizengamot and some startup gold.
Daphne blushed, and stood saying "I believe that basket is for me."
Harry just looked at her. Were all girls insane some of the time?
"I apologize, Miss Greengrass if I misspoke about the cat. It's a gift for my cousin. If you want to give it to him, you may. You did help me decide which one, after all."
With flaming cheeks, Daphne just shook her head. She couldn't believe it! Why was the boy treating her like this?
Draco stood and came over. "You bought this for me?"
The little meow was as cute as the kitten. Draco picked up the alabaster feline who rubbed it's cheek on Draco's face.
"He's beautiful Harry. Thank you, cousin."
The man behind them coughed. "He's actually a she, Heir Malfoy. I've got a small brochure of pet care, but my shop also has classes available during the school hols. Please feel free to owl or floo with questions or concerns."
He bowed, and waited a moment to see if he was needed. Draco dismissed him with a pureblood wave, and went back to snuggling the cat.
To all of the purebloods, it was a message. Hadrian cared about Draco, and supported him in this dark time.
To Daphne, it sent a message that Harry wasn't interested in her as a girlfriend. Now to be fair to Harry, he was only 11. He wasn't trying to hurt her feelings. After all, she invited herself to his shopping and not just jumped, but pole-vaulted to conclusions.
To the entire Weasley clan, it was a message. Draco is family. Draco is favored.
The lines were drawn just a little bit more.
The gift was just unfortunate timing, as Harry was truly willing to try being friends with Ron.
But only the twins would ever really be willing to be close to Hadrian after that display.
To the purebloods in the hall, it said that while Heir Black would be polite to the Weasley's that he viewed Draco as close kin. And would honor and protect him.
To Dumbledore, it was a sign. It was beyond time to act, regardless of the boundaries that the Board of Governors or anyone else had put on him.
He would not allow Harry Potter to associate with Death Eaters, or become the next Dark Lord!
-00-00-00-
After dinner, Harry went to the Gryffindor table and asked Hermione if she had time to go for a walk.
The girl quickly agreed. Harry offered her his arm, and they left the Great Hall together, portraits gossiping as they passed.
Harry explained what had happened with the catalog.
"I'm really sorry that I hurt Daphne's feelings like that! I'm not allowed to spend that much without my guardians' approval. I couldn't have bought Daphne a cat like that. Ares would have said no."
Harry found a little alcove that had a cushioned bench seat, and stood until Hermione was settled. He then sat himself, and pulled out the animal listing catalog that seemed to be the source of the trouble. He watched Hermione interact with the selections. Various parents' pictures and breeding possibilities were grouped together. Listed probable outcomes, with magic and potions helping to 'pick' the chosen animal.
"Oh, this is amazing magic!" Hermione declared, then saw the pricing." Yikes!"
"Buying a girl a gift this expensive? I'd have her parents thinking I was interested in a betrothal."
"Do magicals become betrothed so young?" Hermione was curious.
"Sometimes younger. Look at Draco. I think he was about 3. And Astoria was literally a newborn. Something about a trade deal, I think." Harry expanded.
"Oh my. So you can't buy her one to make up for the mistaken communication, for two reasons. And you're worried if you don't that Daphne is going to be mad." Hermione surmised.
Harry agreed with her.
"Maybe you could just write her a note saying that you're sorry for the miscommunication? No gift required?"
"Gifts are often given for insults and such. We really need to expand the MC books better." Harry whined
"MC?"
"Muggleborn Coalition. My grandfather's and my political agenda. So that people like my mother aren't hunted by people like Abraxas Malfoy, Lucius Malfoy's father.."
Hermione squeezed the arm she was holding onto in understanding. Her best friend and his family were doing everything they could do to protect people like her. She looked into his green eyes for a moment. She wanted to say something. But how do you thank someone for something so big?
Movement caught her eye, and she turned back to the catalog. She sighed in contentment.
"Ohhhh, look. Isn't that the sweetest thing?." Hermione continued to look at the page. "Oh, look at that cat! It's not going to be available until summer, but isn't it wonderful?"
Harry looked and couldn't agree less. The thing looked as if it had run into a brick wall at speed. Speed of a Nimbus 2001 that was. But he had already hurt one girl's feelings tonight.
"He's really something, Hermione. One of the more expensive ones though."
And this was the scion of two wealthy houses saying that word.
"I know. I shouldn't have looked. But cats. And moving pictures of cats. Hard to look away."
"Maybe that's how I can get out of it. 'You were obviously drawn to the cats.' Thanks Hermione. Maybe I'll have to buy you one, you know, as a thank you."
They smiled at one another. Friendship, true friendship was something that Harry had longed for, and rarely found. He had found it here though.
"If you do, I want that one, please. In the orange tawny. And thanks Harry. For trusting me to talk to you. It's wonderful having friends that trust me." Her tone was light. She clearly wasn't expecting a present.
Harry would be making another order soon, even if it wasn't ready until August.
"I trust you with my life, Hermione."
Harry leaned over and kissed her cheek just as they arrived back at the Gryffindor common room portrait.
Hermione gave him a warm hug, and waited to go in until after he had moved away a bit.
No reason to start up the war again, after all.
-00-00-00-
Harry decided that a handwritten note to his school Head of House explaining what had happened in the library was the best way to deal with any trouble. Professor Snape called him into his office, and asked for a memory.
Harry really didn't want to get Draco into trouble, but complied.
"Sir, my cousin just lost his father. His family has a long-standing blood feud going. He really isn't responsible. And he never used magic against anyone."
"Ten points to Slytherin for defending a classmate. Now, let's see if what you told me matches. I know of no first year that could modify his memories so quickly."
Professor Snape was clearly unhappy.
"I do not see why Weasley would pursue this of his own accord. I do believe that the Headmaster is playing games again. If he does contact you, or send for you, call for me to attend with you immediately. Is that understood?"
The professor always treated him like he barely had two neurons to create a synapse! Honestly! He studied science, maths, biology, history (which he dislike intensely) as well as all of the normal school subjects. He was not stupid! Harry did the only wise thing he could.
Bow his head, and say "Yes, sir."
"And another 10 points to Slytherin for trying for school unity. It's very clever of you to make allies in all of the houses. Very cunning."
'Great. I never get points for my work or my skill from you, but I get points for being a snake. Maybe even a slimy one at that.' Harry grumbled to himself on the way back to his common room.
-00-00-00-
It wasn't until the next day that Harry was summoned to the Headmaster's office. Hadrian requested that Professor McGonagall stay with him until Professor Snape was there, and she nodded.
Thank goodness for his watch! He could hardly use the mirror in front of Ares' old head-of-house and say 'Padfoot' without spilling carefully managed beans.
Not seeing Ares or Grandfather Black, Heir Black, requested respectfully that his family be contacted.
Dumbledore refused.
Harry, following orders from both his Heads of House, school and family, turned, and went towards the open door. It suddenly shut and locked with a loud BOOM.
The noise woke the Phoenix sleeping near the window. He became airborne a moment, flew over to look at Harry, gaze in his eyes, and then land on his arm. Harry becamed lost in the moment, and the world went away.
Harry felt loved, and felt that this wasn't the first time seeing this magnificent firebird. Had they met when Harry was a baby? The creature chirped very sadly as though in pain. Harry petted it, promising himself that he would help this bird if he was being abused here. His magic flared at the thought of anyone hurting a magical animal.
This of course, made him really look around. The door was magically locked and warded. As Headmaster, Dumbledore controlled the school wards. His magic flared a bit more realizing he was locked in.
"Headmaster! Lord Black gave us implicit rules..." Professor McGonagall started, but then she was suddenly asleep.
Harry's magic started to build yet more. This was it! He was to be the Headmaster's pederast, and there was no way he was mucking out any stalls of any horse - winged or otherwise! That was servant work!
"Harry Potter. I need to talk to you. It's important for you and Ron to rebuild your friendship. Especially after what Lucius did to him. Yes, the boy attacked you, but he was forced to. The Imperius curse was cast on him, forcing him against his will. It's important to make the right friends, friends that can help you face challenges. Teach you how to play chess. Teach you about real wizarding families, and help undo all of the damage, all of the brainwashing that has hurt you.
"I need to give you a gift -something your father left with me. I need us to work on building a good mentor-apprentice relationship so that you can learn magic the right way..."
The tapping on the crystal that Harry started when McGonagall first started escorting Harry finally was answered.
There was a loud banging on the door.
"Dumbledore! Dumbledore! I said the stinkin' password. Now open up! You've got two minutes, or I start flooin' everyone I know!" The voice said.
"Who are you?" Dumbledore asked, the guardian hadn't told him who it was.
"Ares Black!"
Harry smiled. The crystal had worked. Of course it would take time to get here.
Having a family was wonderful! Having a loving and powerful family was beyond amazing.
Dumbledore hissed, and reevervated his deputy. He opened the door, and smiled.
"Ares Black! What a pleasure! I've been wanting to meet you!"
"You have met me. Several times. At formal wizarding events where you act more shamefully than any muggle I have ever heard of. I don't know why this backwards, benighted country hasn't dealt with you, but in Australia, we don't put up with Dark Lords." Ares' Aussie accent was very much in attendance.
"Dark Lord? Surely not, I am the Leader of the Light!" Dumbledore declared, with more than a bit of hurt in his voice.
"Did he injure you? Or worse, did he touch you? Make you feel unclean?" Ares demanded.
"I thought for sure he was goin' make me his pederast, but I would fight him if he tried. No way am I getting dirty like some scummy muggle servant!"
Ares Black's magic flared. "You were told to stay away from Harry!"
"And I don't want to be friends with Weasley either! He's crazy! You are both crazy!" Harry said, his magic building even more.
"And you should give me my property back. Ares, he said that he has something of my father's!"
Ares grey eyes burned. "There are several Potter artifacts missing - from his home and from his vault. You had unfettered access for five years. We can't get you for theft of money, due to you declaring yourself guardian. But you are under the law to return property, and you know it! And you're late - you had until January 1st."
"I just wanted him to have it as a Christmas gift!"
"The real Christmas is in the Spring - the Savior was born in the spring. Yule is celebrated at the beginning of winter. So you wanted to give me my own property as a gift?" Harry's magic was boiling.
"I was telling young Harry the importance of…"
The headmaster chose a very bad time to raise his wand.
Now, in fairness, he was just going to open a drawer, and float out a cloak. But without asking permission, a common courtesy, Albus Dumbledore just pulled his wand.
Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore was above bowing to others, he was above Lords and Ladies and titles. He was above standing up when a lady entered the room.
He truly felt that power should be worshipped, since he was the most powerful, he should be at the pinnacle, so he ignored the holidays, the customs, the rules that helped society function.
He was above asking a child for permission to cast a spell.
And in that moment, Harry's magic struck. Defending Hadrian against a powerful mage who had proven himself many times to be the enemy.
And in that moment, Ares' magic struck, striking to protect his godson, striking to protect the Heir of the House, striking to protect the boy that he loved as much as he did his daughter. His son.
And in that moment, Hogwarts took back the wards, the protections normally offered to the Headmaster of the school. No one raised a wand against a Founder's Heir without the school attempting to help.
Dumbledore's wand went flying, and Albus himself went tumbling backwards towards glass windows that would no longer keep him inside the castle, for the glass was no longer there. They were broken into even smaller pieces than the original grains of sand from which the lovely windows had been made.
Harry caught the wand with a flurry of sparks, and watched in horror as the aging headmaster tumbled backwards.
Ares was already moving, trying to prevent disaster, but no one could move fast enough. While Harry tried to get his swirling magic under control, there was not enough time to go from Hadrian's magic protecting him from the old wizard to using said magic to save the elderly man.
The phoenix circled the room, the only being currently able to help, and he did nothing but ride the currents of magic, singing the entire time. After a long moment, there was a flash of light, and the phoenix blazed into a fireball, and landed at the base of his perch. There, after a moment, was a little chick, newly born from the ashes.
A new portrait hung on the wall. Headmaster Dumbledore was sleeping and wouldn't wake for anywhere from a few days to a few weeks.
Harry looked in panic at his godfather. The aurors might question Ares with truth serum!
Professor McGonagall was also looking panicked.
"Mr. Potter, I feel that it is in your best interests to put the Headmaster's wand away in a box, rather put your new wand away, and have your elf take it home before we call the aurors."
"Call for Amelia Bones, directly please." Harry asked, looking and feeling sick.
She shooed both man and boy over to the loveseat, while she flooed for Madam Bones.
Ares put his arm around Harry after he sent off the nearly acquired wand. It felt powerful. More powerful than his own, even though his Olivander wand carried one of Fawke's feathers.
The chick peeped, and feeling sorry for it, Harry went over and picked it up. He petted and cuddled the little chick who soaked up the affection greedily. Harry then summoned a Hogwarts house-elf, and asked for phoenix chick food.
They would know what to bring.
Amelia showed up mob-handed. They took Professor McGonagall aside. The only thing all three left out was Harry winning Dumbledore's wand. Otherwise, they told the story as it happened.
Mad-eye Moody looked at the desk. It took a little time, but he finally opened the drawer that Dumbledore had been going to open.
Inside was a beautiful cloak that looked as though it was made of rain-water.
"That's James Potter's invisibility cloak!" Amelia Bones claimed.
No one noticed that Ares was biting his tongue. He had been about to make the same claim, and open up all sorts of questions of why he would know about it.
"Go through that desk thoroughly Mad-Eye. There might be other Potter treasures in there. Here, Hadrian, I don't see this as evidence, well, except for theft. But I can't take someone to trial who is..."
"Dead. I'm very, very sorry ma'am."
"You've worked on control for a long time. Dumbledore was behind so much pain in your life, and we predicted that if he ever cornered you, your magic would protect you. Violently. He was warned repeatedly to attack you was to invite his death. You'll see no charges against you."
She took a deep breath.
"Do you think that you can keep this quiet? I would really like some time to deal with this. Do you want to go home?"
Harry thought about it. "I need to tell Lord Black. I know that you say I won't be facing any charges, but we should let my solicitors know. I could face at least a public inquiry in the Wizengamot. I can swear that I wasn't trying to kill him. I was trying to save him." Adding 'after my magic pushed him out the window ledge' didn't seem helpful.
After all the horrible things Dumbledore had done to Harry, to die when trying to give him a gift just seemed ironic. Harry wasn't laughing, and didn't think he ever would. But it was just odd.
After the investigators had questioned them again, and swept the office a final time, Amelia was quite distraught.
"We've found books here from the Bones' library. Edgar must have lent them to Albus. Why hadn't they been returned before now? Bags of gold, all carefully labeled. This I do have to take in as evidence, but you will be getting yours back, Harry. I've instructed Professor McGonagall to ask the elves to gather up any of your other belongings or treasures in the school. I'll be contacting Griselda Marshbanks. She should be able to act as Headmistress until we get this all sorted out."
"And do we get to keep Professor Quimbly ma'am? I hope?" Harry said. The man had been as good as Flitwick.
"Yes, I believe so. Hadrian, I'm so sorry this happened. Is there anything else at school that disturbs you? I mean in a dangerous way?"
She was asking nicely if his magic was going to be killing anyone else anytime soon. Love you too Auntie.
"No ma'am. The Weasley boy, Ronald, is very confused. I sent a letter to Grandfather about it last night. I doubt he's had time to respond yet. He's the only one who might be an issue. That I know of."
She took off her badge for a moment, and excused her aurors. Once they were gone, she pulled the boy into a hug.
"It wasn't your fault!"
"Thanks, Aunt Amelia."
"You're staying?"
"Yes. I just wish that Prince was still alive. I would love to cuddle him right now."
On cue, Ares gave him a warm hug, and promised to be in touch soon. He patted his pocket where he kept his communication mirror. Harry had received the twin at Yule, and was looking forward to using it again to call home.
The woman smiled at the two, and escorted them out. Ares turned left, and was gone. A Slytherin prefect was waiting for Harry.
"It's nearly time for dinner. Professor Snape sent me to find you."
Both boys bowed to the head of the DMLE and headed to dinner.
Hadrian knew that the news would get out. Eventually. In the meantime, the elves had taken care of the man's remains. The staff remained in the dark. There was really only one problem: There was a little 'cheep' in his pocket.
Fawkes hadn't wanted to stay in the empty office. It appeared that Harry had a new friend.
Harry would never forget to feed or water him, that was for sure.
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A/N - small changes for the chapter. Thanks to the readers who pointed out a few minor flaws. Homemade chocolate chip cookies to johnworm and Varisha01. Please keep the comments coming. It helps me improve the story.
Harry knew that the cloak isn't destroyed, just missing.