Chapter 18
Dumbledore's portrait was most insistent. Deputy Headmaster Snape could care less. He had served two masters - one who wanted to kill and dominate, and hold control of the world through fear. The other who claimed to have a higher standard, but often used secret assassins, had no problem lying and manipulating others to do his bidding, and stole from anyone he could in order to fund his own little private army.
That, and it was much easier to ignore something with magical earplugs.
That blessing was taken away with the opening of the outside office door.
"Severus Snape!" Minerva waved her hands. He could read lips very well, and reluctantly took out the noise cancelling devices.
"My apologies, Madam. How may I assist you?" His baritone voice held no sneer this evening.
"I was wondering if you were going to allow me to expel the Flint lad finally. I don't care about last chances!"
Severus pinched the top of his nose. "What, pray tell, as the idiot done now?"
"Not only did he attempt to hit Miss Greengrass, when Mr. Potter, Mr. Longbottom, and Miss Granger went to defend their friends, he tried to, but it was, argg! I'm telling you Professor Snape, send him home! Now! If I have to deal with the Sassenach, you won't like what I do!"
The headmistress had wanted to expel the Flint boy over the Greengrass contract, but Snape had objected. The boy hadn't created the mess, just gotten caught up in it.
Potter she had said. Looking into whatever was going on was better than listening to Dumbledore's reasons why Harry should be raised by muggles, or why Harry should take Divination next year, why his friends were all wrong, or any number of other things.
"Go to sleep, Albus." Snape said, and waved his wand.
Momentary bliss. What had that little miscreant done now? And he didn't mean Flint.
-00-00-00-
Earlier
Harry's group of friends were headed to the library. He wanted an alibi for when Marcus' prank went off.
It had taken a while to set up and today was the perfect day to use it. He had paid the twins ten times their normal rate, but it was worth it.
The only problem was, the twins had seen his map.
"My father was a prankster." Harry admitted.
"No way! Was it Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot or Prongs?" George asked.
"Wait! How did you know? My map doesn't have..." Harry said.
"I solemnly swear I am up to no good." Fred intoned, and opened the map that Harry just closed.
"Mr. Padfoot, in Honor of Mr. Prongs, with loving affection for Mr. Moony, and now including Prongslet, present the Marauder's Map, Next Generation.
"No way!" The twins said together.
"Your father was Prongs?" Fred asked gently.
"Yes."
"So who are the others?" George asked.
"I'll tell you one day but not today. How do you know the Marauders?"
"We found the map..." George started to explain.
"And figured out how it worked." Fred finished.
"Alright, let's get this new invention tested!" Harry said, excited to be able to get some of his own back. The idea was projecting an illusion, but he needed help.
The group had just gotten settled in the library. Daphne had several days to make up, Harry had missed only one day of class, though hadn't slept well the night before, being in a dungeon and all. Their peace was destroyed by Marcus Flint.
"Mr. Flint, you are breaking the law. You are not supposed to go anywhere near Miss Greengrass or Mr. Potter." The librarian pointed to the door. The chair was for minor offenses. This boy was a walking major offense. To her. To Magic.
"I know it was his fault, and he's going to pay!" Flint growled.
"That will be 20 points from Slytherin, and if you don't leave immediately, I'll make it 50!" Madam Prince threatened.
"Make it 1,000. I don't care, now get out of my way!" Flint then pulled his wand, and fired it at the table where Harry and his friends sat, and charged at them.
Books, papers and quills went tumbling into the air. Marcus tried to grab Daphne's arm, and punch her in the nose, but Hermione was quicker. She had her ever-present overfull bookbag, and smacked him hard in the face.
The group then ran back towards the stacks, but Marcus Flint was not stopping. He came after them with everything he had.
His nose dripping blood, he threatened the bookworm with death and worse, and called her the M word every other sentence. The swears really weren't worth recording.
There they were, behind a table, just standing there!
She yawned at him. "Please come up with something a bit more original. I know it's hard for your tiny inbred mind but please. You'll have time to research new words in the library. After all, it's going to take you 4 or 5 more years before you can graduate."
"Why you little M.."
"You came unarmed to a battle of wits, and blame me? I'm not the one whose father is also my grandfather, my brother, my cousin, and my aunt's half-trained monkey."
"I'm pretty sure that you have his genealogy chart wrong. At least some of it." Harry commented. "But you weren't wrong about the monkey part. Liked that."
Flint raised his wand again.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you." Neville said, in a sing-song sort of way. "You won't like it."
But Flint was incensed. This little second years thought that they could backchat him? They needed to be taught a lesson.
The spell hit the floor to ceiling glass and as designed, reflected it back to the person. Flint had never seen a tele before. And he had been talking to a large one. Had never even heard of it. But the Weasley twins, with the help of Harry, had developed a screen that had perfect sound and images. It looked like the group was right there. Only they weren't.
Earlier, Harry and his friends had gone one way, Flint the other, and now. Now Marcus Flint had his spell reflected back on him.
Sometimes though, Hadrian proved that he was only 12. He forgot about the consequences of that much magic in a room full of books.
Several rows of bound material were on fire.
Hermione's reaction was priceless. She hit Harry for not thinking, and went out with water blazing from her wand to go and rescue the helpless books.
Daphne's reaction was similar. Gape at Harry for the audacity of the idea, and go help Hermione save the precious books on fire.
Neville just looked at his brother. "So what did you do to Flint?"'
Harry snorted. He quickly went through a mental list. 'I burned down his house, stole the girl he wanted from him and gave her to you, destroyed his reputation in the Wizengamot, so he'll likely never work in the ministry, and filled all his pants with chocolate pudding that smells really, really bad.'
"I'm not really sure why he was upset. Have to ask him when he comes to."
"Mr. Potter and Mr. Longbottom. Do you have anything to do with the library being half on fire, and half flooded?"
At least the twins had gotten the screen down and were safely hidden under Harry's cloak. And silenced. He was sure that they would be laughing.
The depth of coldness and the Scottish Brogue announced the Headmistress.
The boys looked at each other, and gave a gallic shrug. "Not us, ma'am. We watched Marcus set the library books on fire. The girls objected, and they were trying to put the books out. I don't think they meant any harm though."
Hermione was standing on Marcus leg, Daphne on his hand.
"Not much harm." Neville added helpfully.
-00-00-00-
What had gone wrong? The boy should be a squib! Or dead, if he couldn't live without magic. He trusted the agents involved. The growing-more-dangerous-each-day mage was clearly hurt.
Next would be another chance, and this time, he wouldn't fail.
-00-00-00-
After that, with Marcus Flint expelled, school calmed down a bit for Harry.
Heir Black was surprised that he didn't serve any detentions for the library thing. Madam Pince had to spend a few days in the infirmary after having a seizure of some sort after the 'incident', but she never seemed to hold anything against him.
And Hermione and Daphne were her heroines.
The Hogwarts house-elves soon had everything put to rights. They were secretly very pleased with Harry for all of the extra work. But they would never tattle on him!
The public study group had grown. Sally-Anne Perks had been coming semi-regularly before this, but now it had both Patil twins, Susan and Hannah, Ernie and Justin, sometimes Dean and Seamus from Gryffindor. Draco would come at times.
Justin had given Harry a chocolate frog, and invited him to play football. He had been down for Eton before he got his Hogwarts letter, and several of the Hufflepuffs liked to play.
Harry counted it close enough for a formal apology, and happily added Justin and his friend Ernie to the group.
Harry kept trying to recruit more boys as all of the girls kept eyeing him like candy. Even Daphne!
No, the only thing that was odd for the rest of term was Valentine's Day. He of course had gotten his friends little things, and most of his allies a small something. He gave Hermione a box of chocolates and a white rose openly this year. And more cat toys.
Daphne had received a signing Valentine (completely muggle of all things - Ares had found them), a small heart shaped box of Honeydukes chocolates that held more than it looked like, and a single pink rose from Neville.
No, it was the red-headed girl that kept trying to talk to him all day. Finally the Gryffindor firstie burst out with it.
"I think that I would make a great Lady Potter." The girl said.
"I am sure that many of the witches here would." Harry said gently. No reason to make a girl cry after all. "I am sorry if this hurts your feelings, but I am not ready to be betrothed."
"But Mother said that you can have up to four wives. And I want to be Lady Potter." The girl actually stomped her foot in emphasis.
He looked at her. Same color hair as the twins, same milky complexion, same eyes, but with a twist. She was looking at him as an obstacle or an object.
She didn't see him as a person at all.
"I thank you for your interest. Right now, I am pursuing my educational goals. I have asked my grandfather Lord Black that I not be betrothed until I am in my 20's. Now, if you will please excuse me, I need to get to class."
After that, she had followed him everywhere, and somehow got some of her brothers involved in chasing him down!
He had run from them, and was in the seventh floor corridor, and saw he was trapped. Thinking 'I need to get away' while trying to find an empty room or something, a door just popped open. That was odd. Was this the hidden room that had once held one of the items that Ares and Grandfather had been looking for? Something that the elves helped with last year?
The room shimmered and shifted as he entered, and when he did, the door disappeared behind him, leaving a bewildered 'Ginerva Weasley' on one side of the corridor and a equally bewildered set of twins on the other.
-00-00-00-
"Darling, we should tell the boys. Harry could tell I had gained some weight. They aren't stupid." Persphone advised.
Ares looked to Lord Black. He shook his head.
"Love, I do understand. But while Lucius was the agent behind the attack that killed our…" Ares had to stop, and take a breath. "We don't know he wasn't manipulated. His father had put him under the Imperius. That was proven. However, he would have willingly joined the Death Eaters. We know that too. It was a good plan to keep heirs out of Azkaban. Is Abraxus even dead? Or did he just run away?"
Lord Black looked at his fingernails. Oh.
"I do not feel it wise to reveal your condition at this time. However clever the boys are, things like this get out." Lord Black said.
"Fine." Persephone said. "It's a great prison. Really." She got up so fast that her chair knocked over, and she stormed from the room.
A wave of a hand, and Ares had the chair upright again.
"I'll promise to take her to muggle Paris this weekend. No pureblood likes France that much, and none I know of blend in there."
"You just want to go visit your magical mouse." Arcturus accused.
"Guilty." Ares smirked. Looking at his watch, he tried to gage when it would be safe to approach his beloved. He did love her, but a woman growing a baby? Lots of emotions involved, and guilt was no small part of it. The 'if only's' were hurting them both.
-00-00-00-
Harry Potter was grinning.
He went exploring in this huge room. He was using his Mage Sight everywhere, and what an Aladddin's cave of wonders!
He had found old, worn out enchanted mirrors still in bright gold settings, old desks that had been cast aside for newer models, and ancient tapestries of families long dead.
He had found the perfect base for his year-end enchanting project - and oh the prank he planned with this one!
In enchanting, conjured materials were harder to work with than transfigured materials that were harder to work with than plain, made objects.
In this room were many, many objects, just waiting for an enchanter to bring them new life!
He cackled. Grinned. Cackled. Grinned.
He decided to keep this room a secret. He put his hand on the castle, knowing it was sentient, and asked permission to use the items in this room. The glow he felt flowed into him, and Fawkes swooped into the room, singing.
He took that as a solid 'yes'.
Fawkes was free of the bound from Dumbledore, and had visited Harry after he was able to fly again. But he hadn't been seen much.
Taking a few of the items, and especially the large oval object, he packed everything in an abandoned truck with the initials SOB. He piled the six year books aside while thinking that somebody's family didn't love him. Then he found a notebook clearly written by a dictaquill that called to him. He put that back into the trunk he was storing objects into.
A laughing Harry Potter checked the map to make sure that the way was clear, when a door appeared in a different spot. Going over there, the door opened to the dungeon corridor further in and down from the Slytherin common room.
Magic was wonderful!
Thanking the castle, and marking the spot on the map with a touch of his wand, he struggled to put on the pureblood mask that was expected, and skipped to the common room.
-00-00-00-
Minerva McGonagall had never had a better year. Marks were up in all of the classes, behavior problems were well down, due to Severus, no doubt. He was ingenious when it came to devising horrid detentions.
Career counseling for the second years had gone off without a hitch. Dumbledore always protested it being in second year, but if children chose the wrong electives, it could make a huge mess of their later job choices.
Harry disappointed the healers from St. Mungo's trying to recruit him for curse breaking. Yes, he was taking all of the right classes for it, but his love was enchanting, and he didn't see that changing anytime soon.
Albus was currently 'enjoying' a time out in Filch's office. The portrait had to be in someone's office, and the staff took turns. It fed off the ambient magic of the castle, and a bit from the people coming and going.
Needless to say, Albus spent quite a bit of time sleeping when he was in Argus' domain.
For the first time in many, many years, parents were invited to view their students' work. Professor Flame had his students showing off their alchemy skills, Professor Quimbly had a small dueling exhibition for the upper years, and Harry's favorite class was involved as well.
Professor Ricci of the new enchanting class had set up a room and invited parents and guardians to a display of the student's work. These were the year end projects. He hinted that something special was in store for the Headmistress.
Walking around the room, Minerva was very impressed. Some of the items had been working for days already - without failing - and these were just third year students for the most part. Ares Black, a man who just looked too similar to Sirius Black for Minerva's comfort was standing with young Hadrian. They both bowed at her approach.
"Your professor is quite pleased with you, Mr. Potter. He says that you have a gift for me? Something for the office, I believe he said?"
Harry pointed to the wall. A large oval was draped.
"I present to the Headmistress of the school, an enchanted communications mirror." Hadrian said, removing the cloth, and spent a minute or two whispering the password so softly that no one heard it.
The headmistress gasped. It was beautiful. The mirror itself was ancient, that she could tell. The scroll work was so ornate, it had to be of goblin origin. But the surface of the mirror shimmered like sunlight kissed water.
"And how do I use it?" She asked.
"I'll give you the password written down, so no one else can access it. To talk to people, they will need the satellite mirrors. You give these to people you would normally floo. There are only six right now, but I can add more. I thought you might like one in the infirmary, one for Professor Snape's office, one for whoever you contact in the ministry, you know, things like that. I have given one to Amelia, and she's standing by to show you. You just say her name."
"How extraordinary! Amelia Bones!"
"Hello Headmistress, this is something else, isn't it? Did you know that James helped invent these? He wrote Professor Ricci, who published his work back in 1980. James could have taught enchanting at Hogwarts. Bless Hadrian for following in his footsteps."
"At least he's not following his father in all of his footsteps. I can see you and talk to you as though you were here!"
"Harry gave me a small set to use for the auror squads. Very efficient communication."
Amelia turned, opened her door. It was clearly the auror bullpen, there was Auror Shacklebolt walking up.
"Boss, we have a situation, something about a muggle in a police box that's been enchanted..."
"I have to run. Please, contact me again anytime. Mirror off."
Minerva watched as the mirror turned back to its soothing water-like surface.
"A hundred points to Slytherin Mr. Potter, and I will see that you get an award for Special Services to the school." The headmistress turned to the professor. "How long do you think that these will work? Another week or so maybe?"
Professor Ricci laughed. "The set that James Potter made me still work fine, though they are smaller. By the strength test done, I estimate no less than 200 years. Maybe a bit more."
The test showed permanent, actually, but he didn't want to be the cause of the lady going to the infirmary for the day, so he hedged the numbers a bit.
Ares beamed, and pulled Hadrian in for a warm hug. Just then, there was a buzz, and Ares pulled out a much smaller version of the mirror.
"Ares Black! This is all your fault. If you ever come near me again, I'll rip your lungs out." Persephone threatened.
A different face appeared, in ugly green robes.
"Mr. Black, I presume? What a clever device! You had better get to St. Mungo's. Your son has decided to come a bit early."
Hadrian knew it! He knew! Persephne had been hiding, and now she was having a baby! Ares did say he wanted to talk to him and Neville in private later. Now the secret was out.
Ares paled. And tried to go in three directions at once. Then tried to apparate from Hogwarts. Spinning, Harry grabbed him before he could fall. He called for an elf, and two appeared.
"Dobby, go home, please. You are not well. Jexter, take Si..Ares to St. Mungos. Love you, and give my love to Persephone!"
Harry didn't know why he slipped, he never called Ares Sirius at home. Sometimes Padfoot, but never Sirius.
"I was wondering why your aunt was not in attendance. What about Lord Black?"
"He's on a trip right now. I sent him a present a few months ago, and he said that he's trying to find something special for me. What he doesn't seem to understand is that he gave me a family. What more could I want?" Hadrian said.
Minerva looked at James' son. Despite being raised to be the Scion of two wealthy families, young Hadrian was not anything like James or even Sirius was at that age. He was helpful to his fellow students. He was thoughtful of those around him. And while he could play the pureblood prince to the hilt when it was appropriate, he never displayed the arrogance of Heir Malfoy, or really any of the other heirs of his house.
And while she was suspicious of the boy being behind some of the pranks at school, it had never been proven.
"Oh, Headmistress, I should explain that I used an old enchanted mirror as the base, which you guessed. My spell work is obviously the communication part. I tried to remove the other, you can ask the professor. But it was such a beautiful mirror, and it's just the password that is the issue." A small bit of balm was all that was needed. Holding tear filled eyes up to the professor, he asked in a small voice. "Can you please, please not be mad about how to get it started?"
Minerva broke all protocol and took Harry into her arms in a warm embrace. "Of course, my dear, dear boy! Have no worries about that! It can't be that bad."
"Why don't you wait to open that in private madam? I would be happy to try to change it later. We just didn't want to ruin his project before this event. He can re-enchant the mirror if I manage to affect it." Professor Ricci requested.
She nodded, had a house-elf move the mirror to her office, and didn't think about it again until after dinner.
She came into her office, and sat, and saw that the mirror had been installed in a convenient place. The satellite mirrors, and instructions for all waited next to it. She picked up a parchment who had "READ ME FIRST" in bold letters at the top.
She walked over to the ornate communications device and started to read aloud. "Mirror Mirror on the wall..."
'I'm going to give detention to the little bugger for the rest of his time at Hogwarts!'
She started laughing, fully convinced she had been successfully pranked. And no proof of wrongdoing on the cunning, clever little Slytherin second year. She poured herself a small glass from a special bottle.
"To James Potter, your spirit of fun lives on, my lad. You are sorely missed." And drank it down in one go before giving into very, very girlish giggles.
-00-00-00-
House Black rented the new Convention Hall in Diagon Alley for the official betrothal party for Neville and Daphne.
So much more secure than letting strangers into their wards! Discreet hired security was mixed with visible goblin guards. Anyone starting anything wouldn't be allowed to finish it.
The ballroom could hold 1,000 guests, and the entire Wizengamot was invited. It was one of those functions. If one didn't go, it would be viewed as a snub on House Black.
And if House Black didn't invite everyone, it would be viewed as a snub as well.
The guests were told in advance that this was a celebration of the betrothal, and that requested that gifts be withheld until the wedding.
No one was saying that Persephone and Ares had gotten into a huge fight over this event. She saw it as a huge waste of gold as Daphne was never going to keep the commitment to Neville. That the House should look to Hannah Abbott or Sally-Anne Perks, or Padma Patil to find a nice girl who actually liked the boy.
-00-00-00-
Earlier -
"She still wants Hadrian! You can see it in her eyes love! We're going to have to watch her when she is older. I wouldn't be surprised if she tried to slip something to our son."
"Love, it's going to be alright. Crushes come and go, I've seen this with British betrothals. It will work out, you'll see."
"My family could live for a year on what we are going to throw away!" She declared.
"Your family? The one you grew up in or your current family?" Ares asked.
"Both! Together! Collectively!" Wasting gold was just wrong! She was positively goblin when it came to that.
"But it's good for the economy!" Lord Black came in. "And it won't affect Black coffers that much. Be at Peace. You know, I did forget to give you the customary gift."
An elf was called, and the nanny was requested to bring the young wizard down to them.
"Gift?" Ares asked.
Arcturus waited for the child to be handed over to his parents. Lord Black held out a key. "Harry wears the Peverell family ring, and asked me to give this to you. Your son will one day be Heir Black. We don't want to announce it too soon. Harry Potter is heir to more than one dead line. And wants the wizarding world to grow. Your son will be the Black Heir after I am gone. But your second son could be Black, Peverell, Potter, or even Slytherin."
The man once called Sirius Black held his baby son.
"This vault has a gift of G100,000 for the lad. Even if something happens to our other investments, and everything burns to the ground, he will have enough to rebuild."
Persephone just gaped. That was more than a king's ransom!
She was handed a second key and a bit of parchment.
"I cannot bear a child of my own, such a gift is only given to witches. But it is a singular, impressive gift. Please know that you have brought joy to this old man with this priceless gift. I cannot repay you."
She opened the note. 'G50,000'.
"No one of us can tell you how to invest or spend that gold either. So please, don't be upset by the pittance being spent on Neville. And if the marriage does not happen, then we will deal with that later."
"I didn't marry Ares for money, sir, and I don't feel comfortable…"
"Give it all away to St. Mungo's if you don't want it." He told her.
"WHAT! NO!" Persephone believed in the kind of charity where one was given a hand up not a hand out. What the Black family had done for many, many people in their little community.
"It's customary for when a witch gives birth to an heir, love. Just accept it." Ares informed his wife.
"I will think on how best to use this gold. Thank you for the generous gift." Persephone said, relying on manners ingrained since birth.
Lord Black nodded. She would do well as a Lady Black if Ares ever had to take the reins. And she was doing a splendid job raising the children.
She was well healed from delivery. The baby was named after his father's real name. And was staying well out of the public eye, as much as possible. Hadrian was an adoring older brother, and spent at least a half hour every day holding him, reading to him. Harry looked forward to the time when Sirius was older and they could play together with toys that were made just for the baby.
No doubt, Ares had foreseen it all.
-00-00-00-
Back to the Betrothal party -
The request for no gifts was relief to the few Dark houses that were refusing to take advantage of the money making opportunities. Many formerly poorer Houses were becoming respectively comfortable now. The Weasley's were making huge strides.
Lord Black allowed Hadrian and Neville to invite all of their year-mates as well. Hadrian begged Persephone to take Emma and Hermione shopping for a new dress for Hermione for the event.
Mrs. Black had readily agreed, as she needed new robes. Dressing Emma in one of her summer robes to be less conspicuous, the ladies all went to the designer that was a new graduate sponsored by House Potter.
The boy would make a fortune after Persephone let it slip where she got her dress.
Soon the event of the season was upon them, and it was time to get dressed up.
-00-00-00-
Many knew that Neville "Mr. Green Thumb' Longbottom and Miss Greengrass were interested in herbology. There was a table overflowing with homemade gifts of cuttings, seeds, and small plants. Nothing inappropriate for a very young couple's betrothal party. And since it was not purchased, nor returnable, it wasn't considered a gift.
Harry had new dress robes, as he had grown so much over the last term. At nearly 13, he was getting taller, though the girl he liked was still taller than him.
When Hermione entered the hall with her dormmates Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil, Harry's jaw dropped. Sally-Anne Perks was just behind them, and Dean was clearly asking her for a dance.
"You look very lovely tonight, Miss Granger, I do hope that you will dance with me." Heir Black bowed, and kissed her hand.
Hermione curseyed, and Harry broke protocol by leaving the greeting of the guests to go dance with his friend. Three times in a row.
He then put up with dancing with three girls during one song, and then went back to Hermione.
Daphne danced one dance with Harry, and had to go to the ladies' room after doing so. Persephone went and gave her a potion. And glared at her.
Harry spent the rest of the night dancing, alternating between Hermione, and other girls near their age. He had to as he was heir of the house, and they were hosting the event.
Neville didn't mind dancing, and was actually good at it. He wasn't clumsy, and was slowly gaining confidence.
The only hiccup of the night was when his grandmother and her brother stopped by.
"I didn't know that you were interested in girls. Thought you might marry a wood nymph perhaps, or something worse like that mudblood that's always hanging about. Stinking up the place. You must be used to the smell by now though."
"You are as lovely as you have always been, Dowager Longbottom. I have other guests to greet." Neville said, turning away.
Clawed hands reached for his arm, twirling him around, and smacking him across the face. But Neville was not without help. A goblin security guard came up, looked the woman up and down, and said something in his native tongue.
Harry, who had been about to intervene on his brother's behalf, went red.
The woman was escorted out of the hall.
She had been warned to be on her best behavior. That didn't cut it.
"What did he say to her?" Neville asked.
"Are you sure you want to know?" Harry countered.
Neville did his head tip and nodded.
"He was wondering how much he could get for selling her for food meat. That a sow like her would either fetch a slippery sickle, or would be completely worthless. Me, I'm going for worthless. Too bitter to eat."
Neville had just taken a sip of butterbeer, and Harry had perfect timing.
Both boys laughed, while the house-elf waggled a finger at Harry for being naughty. But only after he had cleaned up the mess.
-00-00-00-
Harry had a different kind of summer. They didn't travel like they had previously, though Ares and Persephone, with the babies and nanny, did take him, Neville, Hermione, Susan, Hannah, Ernie, Justin and Daphne to the magical part of EuroDisney for a couple of days. Hannah's and Ernie's parents came as additional chaperones, and the group had a wonderful time.
It was Neville's first summer where he was encouraged and supported by family to do whatever he enjoyed. The girls were over often, Hermione happily used the Granger's floo that was directly tied to Potter Manor.
Of course, Harry visited Hermione's house too. Or was that Dan's trains?
With Narcissa being so racist about Hermione, Draco never came over to fly anymore. A wild flight of Pegasi was sighted a couple of times, clearly looking for the friends that sometimes flew there.
The family also went with just boys, Harry, Neville and the Weasley twins to the muggle side of EuroDisney for a few days. Persephone stayed home this time, and Ares had them stay in the muggle resort there.
The twins got to see more tele, which was a very, very bad thing.
Hadrian set up a large outbuilding as an enchanting workshop. He had been working in one of the many studies of the manor, but after affecting the gravity on the room above him, Persephone banished him and his experiments out of the house.
He hadn't meant to interrupt a bath! It was just water! And besides, technically it was HIS house, so why was she so mad?
But he said nothing, and sheepishly moved all of his stuff outside, with the help of the elves.
Dobby was getting stranger. He would pop in with hot chocolate for Harry, that Harry would try and drink, and the elf would spill it all over everywhere. Then he would bring a snack, and it would be a repeat of the chocolate.
Harry had banned him from his worksite after Dobby destroyed three objects that Harry had ordered and gotten in the mail. And they couldn't be fixed as Dobby had sent pieces hither and yon. And they were expensive!
The elf was a menace!
Neville worked just as hard, but in the greenhouses, and built yet another one.
One great adventure was when Ares took Harry and Neville camping on the extensive grounds. There were looking for some cuttings of some plants for Neville and Professor Snape. They also wound up finding Pegasi feathers, unicorn hair of different types, and all sorts of animal leavings.
But it was being outside, no pressures or expectations of society. They held a belching contest, that they were sworn to secrecy about.
In other words, the boys of House Black had a lot of fun.
And Harry had tons of new ideas and supplies for his new prank notebook. All for free, and completely untraceable.
All thanks to the hidden room and a stranger's lost trunk.
Hadrian never tried to figure out the initials SOB, or who they might belong to.
Ares found it hilarious, and swore to himself to revel it at the worst possible time.
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Lord Black finally returned. He looked haggard, old. He brought all of the wizards of the family together.
"I'm so very, very sorry. I should have hired more help. I lost two curse-breakers in the last month alone. I should have done more to protect the family."
He centered himself. "I'm dying. I took a blood curse. There's no cure..."
Hadrian looked at the man. His normal strong black-lit magic was not just spotted, but covered in mold. Fast growing mold. There was far more green than black!
Harry rushed to his grandfather's side. He had been reclining on a sofa, and had him lay down flat. Harry put his hands on his grandfather's head, and pushed with his magic. It pushed back. He tried again and again. The curse was eating magic! Growing stronger the more he tried.
"I didn't stop you from trying Hadrian as I knew you must. You wouldn't believe that you couldn't unless you tried."
It was eating his magic!
He pulled out a mirror, and called Mad-eye. It took forever for him to arrive, at least five minutes, but Harry was frantic while waiting.
"I brought them, but you know that they planned on making you a squib, right?" Moody asked, but Harry grabbed them and ran to his grandfather.
In his hands were magic-suppressing cuffs. The cuffs that the Flints had used on Hadrian when they kidnapped him.
"This might not work, but I have to try." Hadrian explained
.
"My boy, I am dying. You cannot do worse."
Putting them on gently, Harry pushed a bit of his magic into the cuffs to get them activated.
The cuffs started to eat the magic in Lord Black's body.
Alastor caught on to what Harry was doing, and set up a monitoring spell.
"The timing is tricky lad." Mad-eye said.
"I can see it, sir. I'll know." Harry explained. He didn't like to talk about his magical gifts. Moody nodded in understanding.
When there was only a small pulse of black light, only a small bit of magic left, did Harry remove the cuffs. If he gave his magic too soon, it would revive the curse. Three, two. Now.
Hadrian removed the cuffs quickly, and pushed his magic with all his might to refill his grandfather's dangerously depleted core. The man was so pale, his breathing so shallow, for a moment, everyone there thought him dead.
Breath. Pause. Breath. Pause. Breath.
And then slowly, slowly, the black light of his grandfather's magic grew. The moldy green of the curse was gone.
A healer bustled into the room.
"Of all of the irresponsible things! You were supposed to stay in bed Lord Black! You were not released from my care!"
"I wanted to say goodbye to my family. Give the wizards some final instructions..."
"Which should have been done at the hospital! You've now seriously compromised how much time..." Her wand appeared to be malfunctioning. She stepped to the side, and hit her palm several good wacks until sparks came out, and went back to her patient. Nothing.
She turned and stared at Harry.
"James Potter was a prankster too! This is your doing! What did you do to my wand young man! This isn't funny, this is very, very serious business."
"No, Healer, your wand is not pranked, but it is his fault." Ares said, valiantly ignoring the Sirius joke potential. "Harry healed him. Hey, Hadrian, maybe we should get you to look at the Longbottoms."
The joke fell flat, as Harry had secretly tried at Yule. The nerves could be fixed, and were. But his godmother was lost in her mind. Harry didn't know how to heal that.
The healer that Harry didn't know used diagnostics on others to prove to herself that her wand was working.
She stopped, and went over Neville twice.
"You've an infant binder on you lad. That should have been taken off before Hogwarts. Would you like me to do it now, since I am here? And my services appear to be otherwise useless."
Lord Black was still very weak, but Ares stepped forward.
"I'm the lad's legal guardian. I'm sorry Neville. Of course we should have had you in for a check. Please, give him his potions if he is behind as well."
Dragon pox was no fun, much easier to swallow down something nasty but effective against preventing said disease.
.
Removing the binder caused a gold-filled bloom of magic.
"Oh wow Nev! Your magic - it's all Gryffindor!"
The healer pulled out several potions. "You're newly his guardians, yes? I think I read something at Yule about it. Well, this will have to be reported. He's had none of his potions at all, nothing since he was a baby. You'll have to stay quarantined here at home for the next two weeks, young man. No sneaking out to fly either!"
"May I go to the greenhouse?"
"Oh heavens yes! That is so good for young people's magic! Really, every young child should have a dozen plants or more to care for."
"Really? I didn't know that! You should write a paper for Herbology Monthly, ma'am." Neville suggested.
"Umm, oh, yes. Quite. Well, I'll be off."
"Please, healer, have the office send a suggested donation to Gringotts. It will be met. And here's a gift for you personally for taking time to see to Lord Black and Neville in our home." Ares handed the witch a small bag that clinked nicely.
"Well, my, how generous! Thank you, Mr. Black. Now, Mr. Longbottom, I shall return in two weeks to check in on you, but don't hesitate to floo if I'm needed beforehand." She turned to Mr. Potter. "And you, young man. Do stop trying to put St Mungo's out of business, hum? And bless you for saving Lord Black's life. I never in my dreams thought I would see one of your adventures myself. I do hope that I am mentioned as the 'gorgeous young blonde witch out doing good at all hours, forsaking her own needs in pursuit of health for others'.
That was a quote from the latest book. Remus Lupin had lost his job on the dragon preserve after he ate some of the food stocks for the dragons during the full moon. He was now working for Ares on various projects, and continued the Harry Potter adventures where Gilderoy left off.
Ares barked a laugh. "I'll have to send a letter to the author ma'am. May I know your first name, and may we use it."
"Hildegard. And I would be delighted."
Hadrian just laughed as the witch said her farewells. The woman was clearly in her 70's, and while her hair may have once been blonde, it was now grey. It was perfect for the story books.
He had been monitoring his grandfather who was looking better by the moment.
"Thank you, young Hadrian. Now, let's have our talk before we have any interruptions.
As I had been saying, we are in the pursuit of components of a dark ritual that could bring back the dark lord. Track them down, and destroy them."
"Did you find something?"
Lord Black shook his head. "I was too late. And someone must know that we're looking. They left that trap that killed people and nearly killed me."
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