Chapter 15
The group was in the room the elves had warded so only Harry and his friends could enter. It was set up with tables on one side for studying, and comfy sofas on the other near the fire for relaxing. A tea service, and a tray of snacks were in a convenient place as well. The house-elves of Hogwarts loved to serve the Heir.
The area in the back was for transfiguration work, and there was a lone training dummy that a thoughtful house-elf had found.
Central to all four houses, it was a place that had been set aside for study and practice. A common room, so to speak.
Hermione was a little jealous of Harry having an extra class. Harry, of course, wanted to include his friends, and tried to teach them the spells that they were learning in said class. Susan and Hannah were afraid to try, but did. Their spells lasted about 30 seconds. Daphne's spells lasted about a minute, where Hermione's was about 2 minutes. Neville's would spark out after just a few seconds.
"I'm sorry Harry, really. I'm just a squib. I shouldn't even be here!" Neville was nearly in tears, and in front of the girls!
"Hey, sorry mate! Look, I can see your magic - you are a powerful wizard. Have you talked to Ollivander?
At his head shake, Harry asked for and received permission to try the wand in question.
Harry could barely perform a lumos, and it sparked out.
This left everyone speechless, as they all had seen how powerful Heir Potter-Black could be!
"You'll need to visit Ollivander soon. Do you want me to ask him to come here?" Harry asked.
"You know, Heir Black. There are a lot of students using legacy wands. It might be nice to have the wandmaker come here. Check others for wand suitability." Hermione suggested. "You said that the coalition was wanting to do more to become acceptable. Let them sponsor it and have the payback be a promise to visit one of the MC shops."
Harry gave her a quick thank you hug - in front of everyone.
"Wonderful idea! I will talk to Mrs. Johnson about Olivander today. Do you have anything planned for Saturday, Neville?" Harry asked the boy. But he hadn't heard him.
"Dumbledore checked my wand. He said it was working!" Neville was a little loud. His magic, all the normal earthy tones now had orange. "He told me I just needed to work harder. He never said the words, but he implied that it was my fault! I was a weak wizard! Useless!"
Harry asked the ladies to please excuse them, and opened the door to the library for them. And bowed them out.
Heir Black walked over to the food and made up a plate he had no intention of eating. He opened two butterbeers.
Neville came over at the sound of the butterbeers, and sat down on the table next to the serving table, swinging his legs. Harry sat next to him, setting things down to the side as he settled.
"He kidnapped me. Potioned me to forget my family. Wanted to have control of me. I just remembered a bunch of things from that day a little while ago. He tried to take my family away from me, and make me live with magic-hating muggles!" The horror of the day gripped him hard.
He looked at his best male friend and handed him a butterbeer and a plate of Neville's favorite snacks, ignoring the tears on the boy's cheeks as Neville was ignoring his.
"He stole more than money. He was afraid I was going to talk to my family's portraits. Learn my place in society. Tried to hide them from me. Took photos from the house." Tears fell harder.
"Dumbledore claimed that he gave it all to Griphook to put in the Potter family vault which is sealed to me right now. That goblin was put on trial for accepting bribes. I know he was guilty, but somehow escaped punishment, just like his master.
"There are times that I wish necromancy worked the way it should, and I could hire someone to bring him back. Answer for all he has done. And then take him to a dungeon and torture him to death. For what he did to you, to Susan, to me." Hadrian said this in a cold, cold voice. "But it would change me forever. I don't want to be a dark lord. Not like Tom Riddle or Grindelwald or Dumbledore. What I have to do is take my feelings and put them in a box. They escape sometimes, and I can recommend a good mind-healer if you need one. I need to talk to her myself. But it helps. My only comfort, our only comfort is that he is really dead. Not a simulacrum or such."
"He can't hurt you anymore unless you let him." Harry advised sagely. "Same for me."
Neville took a sip of butterbeer. Bit into a treat.
The boys just sat in silence for a time. Both of them scarred by the great man. Both sniffled and rubbed bodily fluids on sleeves instead of using the fine embroidered handkerchiefs in the sleeve pocket. Both wished they had their mothers there.
Both were very grateful for the other. So one hit the other lightly on the arm. The other pushed him off the table they had been sitting on.
Both had made a lifelong friend. Bonded in that moment a little more than before.
The boys heard the girls arguing at the door.
"He's my cousin, and I'm going in to check on him!" Daphne said, putting words into actions.
"You alright there, Neville?" Hermione asked, obviously concerned for her friend. She was not staying in the library if Daphne was coming back, after all!
"Yeah."
"Neville. You're my friend. Let's get a wandmaker out here. Let's ask Ollivander if he's willing to make a custom wand for you. If not, there is Gregorovitch. And there's a lady in Australia. Let me tell you, you don't want to make her mad! There are lots of options."
"You're going to have a custom wand made for me. But that cost hundreds of galleons!" He put his hand over his mouth.
There was more than a lack of working wand here, but the other girls were back. They really needed to start on school work.
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Could this day get any worse? Hadrian received a note to report to the Deputy Headmaster in his office at 7:30 that night. Harry wanted to call home!
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Harry waited until it was nearly dinner. He sent the girls on ahead to the Great Hall, and asked the house-elves for something for dinner delivered for the two of them. It had been a huge day, for them both, and Harry called Ares.
"Ares. Persephone." Harry drank them in as though they were water and he parched in a desert.
Neville and Harry both just took a minute to collect themselves while the adults said their hellos.
Harry told them Hermione's idea about checking legacy wands, and asked them to talk to Grandfather about it. They agreed. They then talked about the memories that had returned, and how Dumbledore had belittled Neville.
How Neville needed a new wand.
They agreed to help, and promised to talk to Mr. Ollivander right away.
Neville had spent a lot of time with this family, and trusted them. He finally unburdened himself, feeling their love and support over the communication's mirror.
The House of Longbottom was struggling financially. Neville's parents care was expensive, and while Neville was doing all he could, his great Uncle Algie was not being a good manager over the goods grown. Things would be picked, and brought in too soon, or too late if Neville wasn't right there.
He swore it was almost like the man wanted Neville's herbology business to fail!
"Neville, do you have the right house-elves to pick the plants when you are not there? Or do you have human workers that you trust?" Persephone asked.
Neville shook his head.
"We know a few ladies who are smart, looking for a job. Would you be willing to give someone without a lot of experience a chance?" Ares asked.
"Of course! They can't do worse!" Neville said.
"Let us look into it. If the wandmaker is available, maybe we'll come with him on Saturday. Help him check wands." Ares said.
There was a pop, and a couple of potions were on the table.
"Mild sleeping draughts for tonight if needed. Call me, and we'll read some more." Persephone offered. "And Neville, it will take some time, but we'll get you a mirror as well if you like."
It was the first time that Neville wished he'd sorted Slytherin instead of being a 'Puff.
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Albus wouldn't leave the man alone. He had summoned the boy!
He rubbed his arm. And prayed that what Dumbledore had just told him wasn't true. If it was…
A knock on the door.
"Come in Potter, 10 points to Slytherin for being on time."
It was 7:32. A lost firstie had stopped him, but he didn't need to explain why he was late instead of early.
"How can I help you, sir."
"What do you know of runespoors, Potter?"
"Magical snake. Very dangerous." Harry said, coming closer to the glass aquarium. There it was, and oh how beautiful!
"Hello there! What's your name?" Hadrian asked, not caring if Professor Snape learned about his interesting language skills.
"Just because it's magical doesn't mean it speaks English, Potter."
The snake clearly hissed disappointedly Harry thought. He couldn't understand the snake! What happened to him?
"I think the forgetfulness draught affected me, sir. I can't speak to the snake."
"Of course you can't speak to the snake! Only descendants of Slytherin can! Thank you for coming. I thought you might like to see it."
"Yes, sir. It's a wonderful snake. Thank you for letting me see it. Good night."
"Potter, I sent a note to Lord Black. I accept the gift. With appreciation. I'm sorry that I was not more appreciative at the time. Do you like the cauldrons you borrowed?"
"They were the best sir. Persephone sent the exact ones as replacements. Much better than the normal student ones Thank you again for the use."
"You again are welcome. You returned them cleaned and in perfect condition. Take another 10 points for being proactive about a problem. Dismissed Potter."
After the door closed, he went back to the hidden portrait.
"Satisfied?" Snape asked.
"He could have lied about it."
"No, he was trying to talk to the snake. The boy died Dumbledore. He doesn't need to die again. The horcrux is gone. You were wrong. I will not betray my oath. I will not do anything to harm the boy."
"But Severus, please! You must see reason!"
Argus Filch had a companion for another month.
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Lord Black had his people take a quiet look into Algie Westbrook, Augusta Longbottom's brother. The shop in Hogsmeade that was buying plants was doing well, and the plants were well received. Compliments for someone so young doing so well with difficult to grow ingredients.
Since Gringotts wasn't technically involved the money trail was easy to find.
The man was stealing. He was stealing from his family!
Apparently, the man was involved in some shady gambling, and accumulated some debts.
Lord Black asked for and got a meeting with Augusta, and presented his findings.
"What do you want from me, Lord Black? You now know our family's dirty little secrets. At least most of Neville's inheritance is safe from my brother."
"I wanted to know if you knew. So. You're letting the boy think he's failing at business for what purpose?"
"The boy is useless! Always digging in the dirt! If that toerag made money at his nasty hobby, it would never end! I want him to do something important - be the kind of man that my Frank was. The boy's nearly a squib as it is. He's pathetic." She huffed, daring Lord Black with her eyes to deny it.
She had never liked Neville being close with Harry Potter, but could do nothing to stop it.
"Anytime you want to relinquish guardian rights, I would happily take them. So would Ares and Persephone Black. They are raising both Harry and Cassiopia, along with any other children they might have in future. And we don't consider herbology to be a 'nasty hobby' so everyone's happy."
"And what about me? And Neville's parents? With that stipend going to you instead, what's to become of us? That's the only reason I've put up the little..." She stopped, knowing that swearing in front of Lord Black would not look well.
"I'm not interested in your home or your gold. We could work that out so you keep your allowance. But the greenhouses get moved to one of our properties along with the plants inside. Your brother will have to work, or do something else, to pay off his debts." 'No more stealing the hopes and dreams of a child, you horrible hag' he thought to himself.
"And you pay for his schooling?" She asked. Neville's parents had prepaid his tuition. If she got him to pay it, then the school would refund her the gold.
"And his supplies, and clothing and all else. He would become Harry's brother. His twin, nearly, as they practically share the same birthday." Lord Black could see the woman calculating.
"Agreed. Have your solicitor draw up the papers, and I will sign them."
Another way of her saving more gold, but Neville was more than just Lily's godson. He was family, blood family. Augusta Longbottom seemed to forget that.
"I insist on an oath that you remove nothing from the house and do nothing that reduces the value of the manor. Once Neville is of age, you become vulnerable. But that was always the case. There are several cottages that will suit if he decides to remove you from the house." Lord Black was livid - all she cared about was money! Where was her family feeling?
"Of course. My husband made a stipulation for me if I was to be removed from here."
She quickly took the standard oath promising to not steal from her grandchild. Too bad it was necessary.
"You do know that Neville's progress, or lack of same, will now reflect upon you?" Augusta sneered.
"Thank you Madam Longbottom for your time. My solicitor will be in contact with you soon."
'Just watch, woman. You've no confidence in the boy. Just watch how great a wizard he is once he gets away from you. And gets a real family.'
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Neville read the letter twice. At least he was in his dorm room, curtains pulled around him, alone for the moment, so tears could fall without anyone seeing him.
Justin and Ernie came barging in shortly afterwards.
"That was an amazing goal! They never saw it coming, mate."
The sound of a football bouncing around the room.
None of them had been given away. They all had their families. What did he have?
Nothing.
No magic, no hopes, no dreams.
Nothing.
An elf popped in. It was Dobby, who was not supposed to come to Hogwarts anymore! He was bouncing at the foot of the bed.
"Oh, Master Longsbottom! Please beg the great Master Harry Potter sir to forgive Dobby. Dobby meant no harm! You is going to be a new master to me too, and I be serving you will. Dobby have to go iron his fingers for disobeying Master Harry Potter sir, Greatest Wizard ever. Here is your letter, Jexter be waking soon, and likely try to hit Dobby back." He popped away, a parchment fluttering down.
'Dear Neville,
I hope that this missive reaches you before your grandmother's letter does. If so, do not read it! That woman is poison, full of nothing but hate!
You are to be welcomed into our home! I was so happy at the news. Hadrian has brought so much joy to my life, and I have enjoyed meeting you and talking to you. I look forward to getting to know you better through letters and visits that Lord Black is going to arrange for us.
You are loved, Neville Longbottom, do not doubt that! Even though that love is a small seed right now, with nurturing, it will grow, just like your plants.
Your greenhouses are already here. They are right next to the one that you and Harry built over the summer with the girls and we have plenty of space for more.
Amicus Spencer is your new manager, and she is so happy to see what you are growing.
Expect a full report from her soon. And she has some ideas. Just remember that you are in charge, and don't have to do everything that she wants.
Please let me know if you need anything in the way of books, supplies or clothing. Ares doesn't like to brag about it, but I suspect my house budget could be tripled, and he wouldn't blink. I grew up counting knuts and sickles, so please don't be embarrassed if you need new pants or socks. I know what that feels like.
We are looking forward to being with you at Yule. Some of your gifts will likely be gift cards for plants, so don't be disappointed. I wouldn't know a weed from something expensive.
We do have wild Griffons that roost here now and then. Wild Pegasi have been sighted, likely trying to make friends with the Bulstrode mounts. And of course there is a small herd of unicorn. The thestrals were moved to Hogwarts when Charlus died, but they belong to Harry. So, if you decide to offer some of the animal ingredients, you and Harry can spend some time gathering it. If you want to. Just letting you know.
Your rooms are near Harry's in the nursery wing. Cassiopia is the only one in the nursery right now, Ares and I will be sure to inform you boys if that changes. We are hoping for more children, just to give you fair warning.
I'm sorry to hear about your parents. Let's have a meeting with the healers to find out what's been done for them, and to talk to the head of the department to see about reaching out overseas if they haven't done so. I know American and Australian wizards work more closely with their muggle counterparts, so maybe there's something that can help them.
I'm sure all of this is a shock. Ares and I are hoping to see you this weekend. With Lily Potter being your godmother, I hope I am not overstepping my place in saying that I hope to act as her proxy for you. I know that she loved you very much, and would want you to be happy, dear boy.
Please let me know if you need anything, or have any questions at all.
With love and affection,
Persephone Black
PS Harry calls me Auntie, which you can do too if you wish.'
Neville read this note over and over as well. He took the first one, the one from his former family, and shredded it into a million pieces. He clutched the new note to his chest, as a drowning man clutching a life preserver in a storm, as new tears fell. Happy tears.
He was loved and wanted. For the first time he could ever remember.
Neville Longbottom was loved.
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Garrick Ollivander was cackling. He had begged Albus to allow him to do this years ago. But no, it wouldn't be right to the children that couldn't afford it.
That man had been on the Wizengamot! They could have changed the stipend to stipulate that a wand comes with tuition to Hogwarts or something.
A student's first wand was 7 galleons. Did anyone think that he could make a living on so little? That the government wasn't paying for most of it behind the scenes? The whole situation was preventable!
He would start with first years, but the wandmaker wasn't planning on leaving until he had checked everyone's wands.
He had a box for the burnt out wands ready.
A child needed a 'MC' pin to get a wand for free, and Lord Black was handling that issue separately.
By the end of the day, over a hundred wands had been removed that were dangerous. Unicorn hair poking out, broken tips, broken handles. It was a wonder that anyone could do any magic at all!
He had brought all of his wands with him in a portable shop trunk. Easy enough. And only a few of the most conservative, darkest families had a student who desperately needed a wand and refused to say the oath.
Hadrian had a solution to that problem. He gathered those few students in a side room.
"No one here is old enough to make a magical oath themselves. But you are old enough for promises, right?"
He waited for a verbal response.
"Who here, now having felt what magic feels like with a bonded wand, wants to continue using their legacy wand?"
One girl, a sixth year raised her hand.
"Very well, Miss, please feel free to leave." Hadrian offered, but she stubbornly stayed.
"I ask for a promise. A promise that you will step into 3 shops with this symbol. Walk in. Browse. I did not ask you to buy anything. I asked you to look. Be polite. Be quiet if you can't be polite. Three shops, and you get a free, matched wand."
The students looked at each other. Several stood up, and signed their names to the promise that they would look.
Even the sixth year girl.
The result for Hogwarts was amazing. The entire school now had perfect wands for each student. Spell accuracy increased. Transfiguration had fewer mishaps, as did DADA. Enchanting saw projects last far longer than before.
The headmistress gave Hadrian another award for Special Services to the school, and 200 points to Slytherin. The money came from Hadrian's Yule (or Christmas) gifts and birthday presents that Dumbledore had stolen and sold. He didn't ask for recognition, just wanted to help, and tried to let others know it was Hermione's idea. She got 50 points for Gryffindor.
And both Neville and Hadrian got to spend some time with the parents as they helped Ollivander match students to wands.
They had each gotten needed hugs. They were growing, but were only 12 after all. They both needed the reassurance that they were wanted after the happenings of the week.
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After getting Neville's situation settled, there were only a couple of clouds in the first term.
One came when Harry heard from the dragon reserve in Wales.
Harry had felt sorry for the friendly giant. Hagrid had once told him that he would love to own a dragon. Working with his family, they managed to find a spot for Hagrid, helping to look after Welsh Greens. The reserve was owned by the Potter family. Since it was remote, often cold, and had little socializing, they always needed people.
Remus Lupin had gone there too.
Charlie Weasley had accepted the job offer gratefully, and was doing well there. Hadrian had been glad to turn a good turn for that family. And it was close enough to floo to visit his girlfriend Dora Tonks.
Remus Lupin was the problem. The man was not socializing well with the others. And Lupin had eaten half a cow at the full moon. Harry was trying to find someone to make him the Wolfsbane potion. Severus claimed too many duties, no matter how much gold was offered. Harry would keep his people looking for a source.
The dragon reserve had requested that they be allowed to let Remus go.
Ares had a solution for that problem though.
No one in the family wanted to live in Grimmauld Place, so Lupin was hired to oversee the overhaul of the place. And then he was hired to be its caretaker.
The first modification was a safety cage that was self-locking for full moons.
The second problem was Draco.
Narcissa returned from her honeymoon, and stopped by the castle to visit with her new husband. Draco got to preen for the press, and tried to rub it in Harry's face that he wouldn't be pictured in the Daily Prophet.
Harry didn't understand the animus between them, so just pretended to cry.
"First the brooms, and now the minister. Without Gilderoy, I'm never having my picture in the paper again!" Harry pretended to throw a tantrum, tossing bits of paper from last year's assignments about.
Draco got the message, and he toned it down for a time.
Hadrian debated having the twins prank him, but didn't want to serve another detention. Moody always found out about them, and punished him twice.
Harry didn't want to have to wear the magic suppression cuffs while scrubbing the floor. Those things hurt!
Yule was a blast. Neville could now be there when Hermione was there! So there was a lot of fun.
Neville set up his rooms which had a view of the greenhouses. And the Welsh mountains in the distance. He was invited to call Lord Black by his first name or Grandfather, which nearly had the both of them in tears. Neville was a pureblood to the core though, and had bowed.
Grandfather had a new plant the next morning on the little side table near his chair. It had the magical properties of relieving stress.
Draco and Narcissa stayed at Malfoy Manor, and Harry only had to put up with them for a few short functions. Narcissa always asked if Hermione was there before coming over too, and if she had just left, she would do an air refreshing spell! The nerve!
Persephone's eyes had narrowed at that.
Ares, Persephone, Neville, Harry, Hermione, and her parents went to the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and saw MacBeth. The young ones got in a discussion about various parts of the story. The boys acted out the fencing bits.
Lord Black for his part was secretly impressed. He misunderstood the Grangers social standing. Since they had been to royal events before, and now went to the royal theatre, he thought them minor nobles.
It raised their status in his mind. Ares had to secretly down a calming draught when that subject came up. Persephone took it all with good grace, and mentioned an Earldom in the family. Which was true, just not Daniel Granger's.
And here the men thought that they owned all of the pranking talent of the family.
Hermione sometimes nagged them about doing things they would rather not do, like finishing their homework long before the end of the holiday. Harry tried to talk Neville and Hermione into giving flying another chance. On brooms or mounts. They both graciously declined. Well, Hermione glared at him and said 'no thank you'. Sternly.
Daphne stayed at home and fumed for the most part. She did go to the ministry ball, first making sure that Hermione wasn't invited.
But that's when Lord Black gave Harry his last Yule gift. Arcturus, Lord Black, escorted Miss Hermione Granger as his guest to the ball.
Hadrian hardley danced with anyone but her, and she was dressed just as well as any of the pureblood princesses there. He danced one dance with Susan, Hannah, and Daphne each, but that was it. Normally Harry danced with all of the girls. But his focus that night was on Hermione.
Harry never even noticed that Daphne left early.
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Ares and Persephone had stayed home - they detested the politics, sniping and gossiping. But if they had gone, oh what an earful they would have gotten!
This was a declaration of intent. Arcturus had posted his banner on the wall.
The whispering had not bothered the children in the least. But many tongues were wagging. Many purebloods were upset.
How the reaction would go, Arcturus could not care one whit, for he would win, one way or the other.
Magical Britain needed to change or die. Ares had foreseen it, other seers too.
The empty classrooms at Hogwarts bore silent witness. Hundreds of missing children. The unborn of magicals who died too soon. The ones who were dead due to being born to the wrong parents before getting their letters .
If the magicals of Britain would not bend to accept new magical blood, then Lord Black would pack up everything. The greenhouses, plants, elves, all of it, and move everything to Australia.
Seeing what the reaction was going to be was exciting.
Lord Black had never felt so alive!
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