Author's note:

Hi!

There is the next chapter of Nobless!

I don't talk too much about Harry's twin in this one so it doesn't go too fast, but you'll know who it is in the next chapter… I try not to rush the story, but don't worry, there will be more explanations afterwards…

Enjoy!

Translator's Note:

The author would like to thank Scarlett Woman for her lovely review! And I do too!
It really is motivational to see that people want to read your work. I would also like to thank everyone who followed and favourited this fanfic, really, a big thank you to all of you guys!

Extra Note:

SNCF is a French train company, notice the pun! Society Negotiating with Chimneys Flamed would be the translation, but it doesn't work too well in English, so I left it in French, plus the full name appears only once in the entire fanfic so far (26 chapters now).

Original Author: Jin Ginkaku

Disclamer: The characters belong to the amazing J.K. Rowling. (except a few though...)

Chapter 1: A new grandfather

The day after, Harry woke up with the certainty of not wanting to be the Survivor anymore. The one to avoid because he had the ability to talk to snakes, or else, the one who was alone and would stay alone, as the only person to have ever survived the death spell. He had always be alone, being at home, where his wizard condition disgusted the Dursley, or else at school where Dudley wouldn't admit his cousin could have friends.

He had thought this could change. Really. When Hagrid had come and told him he was a wizard, a new world had opened up, and with it, the possibility to leave the loneliness that never left him during his childhood.

For a while, his life had seemed like a dream. He had two wonderful friends, funny and friendly room-mates, globally interesting and supporting teachers… and this magic! This magic so fascinating, so exciting, so bewitching… but now, he was avoided by all, and at times, even him doubted of his actions. After all, he could hear a voice in his head speaking about killing people. It wasn't nothing, even for wizards, Hermione had insisted. And now that the entire school knew he was a Parseltongue…

The young Gryffindor shook his head and got out of his bed, having a thought for the Uncle Vernon who would say he is a victim for having such thoughts. During the time he washed, he took the decision to meet Dumbledore to accept his offer. As he had thought about it the day before, he would regret his entire life if he refused, and, if it allowed him to resume a good life, already knowing the basis of the wizarding world, maybe he could finally live his life as he ever wished to…

It was passed ten in the morning when he left the Gryffindor Tower and crossed the castle's corridors now emptied from all students. Again, the feeling of being followed stroke him, and he ended up running to arrive in front of the gargoyle at the second floor. Breathless, he murmured the password, and let himself being carried by the moving stairs. He hesitated a moment in front of the office's closed door, but heard his grandfather call for him, so he entered.

"Hello Harry," greeted the Headmaster. "Have you slept well?"

Dumbledore, sat in his armchair like the day before, was looking at him affectionately. The Survivor grinned, which was enough for his grandfather to understand.

"I suppose you thought during most of the night." Sighed the old man. "Did you want to see me to elucidate a few points? This must not be easy to understand for you who know our world since a year only…"

"Well," started Harry who drew in his courage to finish, "I reflected as you asked me to, and I decided to accept your offer."

Dumbledore nodded, thoughtfully, then stood up from his seat to begin to perambulate.

"Well…" he said, "if you are as stubborn as your father, it will be hard for me to make you change your mind, especially since I don't want to myself."

They smiled to each other, while the sun flooded into the office through the stained glasses. The older of the two looked into the shelves behind the desk to retrieve some parchments, and sat back in front of Harry who stared at him with curiosity.

"Being on holidays will make your change of identity easier." Declared Dumbledore who started to explain to his grandson the process they were going to use. "I put three spells on you when I entrusted you to the Potter. The first was a simple transfiguration spell, to give you the physical traits of your adoptive parents. You will just need to drink a potion before going to bed to regain your original appearance.

The second spell is a little more complex. The truth is, you're not twelve, but thirteen years old, and so I blocked your growth to make you seem younger. The aim was that no one could doubt your origin. And it worked… the problem is that now, in order to break the spell, it will require me to take several steps, so your body can take it. As for the third spell, it was to bridle your magic. Your father's magical accidents during his childhood were very impressive, and I didn't want these events to repeat, especially in a house owned by Muggles. And it was as well so that the pressure between your magic and your body wasn't too strong. Unfortunately for you, your mother also came from a pretty strong family/environment, and I was scared the same thing that happened to Wilhem would happen to you too… Now, I found a way to reduce the pressure without necessarily shackle your magic. I will talk about this further once settled. For now, I propose you to start by making you grow up, and tonight, I'll give you the potion to give you your appearance back. How is that?"

"It's okay with me." Muttered the Gryffindor, impressed by everything his grandfather had to put in place in order to protect him.

"We can wait if you wish to." Said Dumbledore while looking at him above his glasses.

"Well… maybe just making me grow up for now… so I can get used to it." Suggested the brown-haired shyly, quickly reassured by his grandfather's nod.

"It is surely wiser. No need for us to rush. What I suggest to you, is to bring you to the Dumbledore's Domain this evening for you to settle there. There is no one at the castle, and your absence will not be noticed until the students are back to school, which gives us time to enroll you with the Ministry. However, for further security, we'll go to the Embassy of Russia, your mother's native country. In Europe, the name Grindelwald is still badly seen, and I don't want you to suffer from it…"

"So… I will not be English?" asked Harry, who's never left England before.

"No." Dumbledore replied. "The Domain where we live isn't even in this country, and… to be honest, I don't think this is the best one for you at this time. Voldemort isn't dead, he's looking for you, don't doubt this."

"Yes but, if I'm not Harry Potter…"

"England stays a threat for you." The Headmaster insisted. "Especially if one hears you're my grandson."

There was a silence during which Harry thought about the consequences of his choice. Oh, he didn't regret, but he didn't expect to change countries.

"There are some things you don't know about," his grandfather admitted, "but it's for your sake."

He then changed the subject, and ended up explaining him how his holidays would happen. Dumbledore suggested he finished this year's scholarship with a tutor to catch up his missing year, and in summer, he'll integrate a school in fourth year. He'll need to work hard, his grandfather warned, but this didn't scare him. He was mostly glad he wasn't small anymore, having been mocked and bullied during his childhood.

Two hours had passed during which they talked about his next life, and even ended up eating in the office, with a complicity that somewhat surprised Harry. He always thought his relationship with the Headmaster was privileged, but now, it was clearly different from one he could maintain with other students. But after all, he was his grandfather…

Dumbledore talked to him about the Domain, hidden in a forest in Germany and that was transmitted from generation to generation in the family for many centuries. Apparently, the family was very important in the Middle-Ages, and it's only towards the end of the XIXth Century that it lost of its prestige, quickly regained thanks to Albus who had gained the title of White Mage.

At around 2pm, someone knocked at the Headmaster's office door, and the two Dumbledore heard McGonagall's voice. The Headmaster gestured at his grandson to climb the stairs to take the door leading to his apartments, indicating him there was a hidden access that lead back to the Gargoyle's staircase. Harry followed his instructions, and quickly found himself in the second floor's corridor, under the tired eye of the Gargoyle.

"What's it for? I just opened the way…" it growled scornfully.

The young Gryffindor stepped back, and went back to the Gryffindor Tower, to pack up his stuff, because after all, he would leave in the evening. This didn't take him a long time. His school textbooks were quickly put in his suitcase, with his clothes he'll need to change if he grew up. The few items of value he possessed, that is to say, his Invisibility Cloak and the photo album from Hagrid, were put in his school-bag.

It was rather sad, thought Harry while observing the dormitory he occupied for a year and a half, to know that all he possessed could fit in a simple suitcase, knowing that his room in Privet Drive didn't contain anything valuable. He got rid of his sinister thoughts, and went downstairs with his belongings in the Common Room to play Wizard's Chess. He didn't improve much since last year, but he could kill some time, and soon, the Fat Lady's Painting opened, revealing his grandfather.

"Are you ready?" he kindly asked, taking his suitcase from him.

Harry nodded and followed him while he left Gryffindor's Tower. Strangely, he had no feeling of being followed, accompanied by his grandfather. They went down the floors to reach the Hall.

"We are going to Apparate to London, so we're not noticed by anyone." Dumbledore said, holding out his arm while they passed the huge door and stepped in the park. "Have you ever done it before?"

"Hum… I don't think so…" Harry replied, having a bad feeling about it.

His grandfather smiled to him, and once they reached Hogwarts' gate, tightened his grip on his arm. Before even understanding what was happening to him, Harry felt himself hooked by the belly, while being compressed in a narrow pipe. The next minute, he was in a street not too far from Diagon Alley.

"It's, it's…" he stammered, "It's even worse than Floo Powder!"

Albus smiled gently and lead Harry with him on the Alley, after lowering their hoods on their faces to keep anonymity. Harry recognized Flourish and Blotts, whose store-front exhibited the whole collection of Lockhart's biography, and a bit further, Gringotts, the Wizarding Bank. However, his grandfather stopped him before they reached it. They entered a small shop whose name was neatly written in golden letters. The only room only consisted of a counter with a huge book on top, and a few armchairs arranged in a waiting space. Finally, a glass door lead to the back shop, a courtyard which, from where Harry was, seemed empty. Apart from them two, there was no one in the shop whose temperature was abnormally low.

Suddenly, a ghost passed through a wall, and happily said, even if his voice sounded fake:

"Welcome to the SNCF, Société Négociatrice pour Cheminées Flambées. I am Albert, to serve you. How may I help you?"

Harry stepped back slightly, and sat in the furthest seat from the ghost while his grandfather talked politely to Albert.

«We would like to go to Germany, as soon as possible.»

Albert adjusted his ghostly glasses on his nose, and began to flick through the register.

«Hum, I can free you the chimney for Munich. If you want to go to Berlin, you'll have to wait a little longer.»

«It's perfect.» Dumbledore smiled, waving at his grandson to join him in front of the counter.

«Munich then,» the ghost ratified, and on his register, a light appeared on the map he was consulting. «That will be 7 galleons and 6 sickles.»

Dumbledore paid the required amount, while Albert looked for the right page on the register, to note down the travel, as well as the amount. The ghost then invited them to the back shop, where a rather old and way bigger chimney than average awaited them.

"These chimneys are made for long travels," Dumbledore told Harry who felt a bit lost. "They are more powerful, but require heavy maintenance. Everyone doesn't have the means to install one, so the SNCF is in charge of them. Most of the time, they hire ghosts, so they don't have to pay for life insurance, and thus make economies. This is why the shops are this cold."

They entered the hearth and waited for the ghost who arrived right after.

"The way to Munich will open in an instant. Please do not leave any luggage out of the chimney, as no refund will take place by the SNCF in case of loss. Have a safe trip!"

While Harry thought to himself that Albert seemed like a robot in the way he talked, the chimney caught fire. He jumped when he felt the flames around him, but his grandfather took him by the arm and indicated him that is was a magical and painless fire. The chimney consumed itself for a short minute, before the fire evaporated as quickly as it appeared.

The two English got out of the chimney and watched the surroundings, which looked exactly like the place they had just left. The only difference was the ghost who greeted them.

"Welcome to Munich. It is precisely 18:14. Thank you for leaving the chimney, and do not forget your luggage. We thank you for travelling with us, and hope to see you soon!"

Before Harry could react, his grandfather and him were already outside. They lead to a market aisle smaller than Diagon Alley. There was a dense crowd, which wasn't surprising for a Saturday during holidays. They didn't linger in front of the shops and quickly left the wizarding world. Reaching an uncrowded alley, they Apparated. The feeling was still as unpleasant and didn't leave straight away when they arrived at the border of a forest.

A narrow path went through the trees - larches said Dumbledore when they started walking.

"So we are in Germany…" whispered Harry while observing with curiosity the forest surrounding him.

"Yes, to the limits of the Dumbledore's Domain." his grandfather precised, who despite his age, walked with fluidity between the dead leaves, the roots, and the rocks. "It is protected," he continued without seeming out of breath, "the same way Hogwarts is. Muggles who venture into this forest lose their way, and always come back to the path that runs along it. And the wizards who would want to access it must be accompanied by a member of the family, or else they'll get lost, and there… depending on their intentions, they can end up dying, forever lost."

Harry shivered, and approached his guide significantly, vaguely wondering how many wizards died like this.

"Do not worry," softly laughed his grandfather, "you are part of the family. If you ever get lost, the forest will bring you back to the house."

The youngest stayed silent, not convinced. Their crossing lasted for about half-an-hour, during which they talked, Harry regaining his courage. His grandfather told him about the animals living in the forest, Muggles and magical species, and which protected the Domain from intruders. The path went more and more upwards, and they were forced to slow down, breathless.

"You father never saw the Domain," Dumbledore explained, while the sky started darken. "I… I never told Gellert about it, and when I saw Wilhem again, I wanted to wait for the end of the war, unfortunately… I didn't have the occasion to."

"Do you live there?" asked Harry with curiosity.

"During school time, I stay at Hogwarts, in my apartments, but yes, I come back during summer." Dumbledore replied, taking out his wand to light the way. "And during some holidays, I manage to come back too."

"Nobody knows?"

"No, I always insisted this place stays a secret," the Headmaster explained, "because of my… reputation, people have the tendency to look for me, and the Domain offers me a tranquility I do not tend to see disappear."

He stopped when they arrived at the top of the path. Harry breathed out of surprise when he saw what was the Dumbledore's Domain. The hill they just climbed completely circled the Domain of its forest, which seemed like a bowl, thus offering a pleasant feeling of safety. At the bottom of the bowl, a lake spread over several hectares, reflecting the trees' image at its surface. Finally, a building made in light stone, looking like a small castle, rose up gracefully.

Getting closer, Harry could observe the castle with more attention. The latter had two floors and had a rectangular shape, a large tower with a bright red tiled roof affixed. The windows were large, made in wood, and Harry immediately imagined well-lit and warm rooms. A vine hung onto the white rock of the facade, contrasting with the blood-like red of the leaves, which reminded of the roof's colour. In front of the castle, which Harry judged was too small to be called one, a terrace lead to the lake, which ended in a wooden pontoon where a bark was hooked.

It wasn't luxurious, the architecture wasn't even too extraordinary, but Harry instantly loved it. This place inspired trust and peace.

"How do you find it?" Kindly asked Dumbledore while he walked along the banks of the lake to get closer to the castle.

"Beautiful…" his grandson whispered, still amazed by the place's beauty.

"I must have had the same reaction," softly laughed the white mage, "Oh, it was less well maintained, and to be honest, abandoned, but it already had this particular charm…"

They arrived in front of the entrance, two wooden doors stylistically engraved. As Harry thought, the interior was as beautiful as the outside. The floor downstairs was made of rocks, the walls were in very light wood, and, because of different chimneys, the rooms were very warm. This floor included a living room, its windows offering a view on the terrace and the lake, a kitchen so big it could serve as a dining room, with a big table made in solid wood in the centre, its twin being in the official dining room. There were also fours reasonably sized bedrooms and two bathrooms.

Before he could think about it, Harry found himself exploring his new home, which seemed with each new second passed, more beautiful, more fantastic. He climbed the stairs which were in the entry, and explored his new house. The upper floors were crossed by a main corridor in their length, decorated with many old Dumbledore's paintings. In total, there were eight bedrooms in the first floor, as well as a library with an attic, which served as a study room. In the second floor finally, were the family's bedrooms, way bigger - each possessing a bathroom - and a second living room, smaller than the other one.

"As you may have noticed," Dumbledore intervened while they climbed together the last few steps to get to Harry's new bedroom "the house also has a tower, which is my office on the first floor, its access being through the library, and my suite on the second floor, big word to describe a bedroom...Ah, there we are!"

They had crossed the main corridor, itself crossing the building in its length on the first and second floors, and they stopped in front of a normal looking door. In front of it, a door twin to this one, was engraved to give the form of a moon intertwined with a runic symbol.

"Your door will decorate itself along with your bedroom." his grandfather reassured him when he noticed his look for the other door. "Come on, go in!" he kindly encouraged.

Harry obeyed and went through the door. His new bedroom was very luminous, with two windows offering a view on the lake and the forest surrounding it. A double bed sat on a side of the room, while the other was occupied by a desk and an empty bookcase. A door next to the bed lead to the bathroom, which was as spacious as half of the bedroom with its bathtub seeming like a bassin.

"Obviously, the furniture and the decoration will change," Dumbledore announced, "I will take you to a craftsman during the holidays, and if you want, I have books with interesting spells for…"

"It's beautiful," Harry cut him, his eyes filling with tears. "Thank you…"

His grandfather curiously stared at him, then smiled, sadly. This room, which at the moment had nothing so special but the dazzling view it offers, seemed to his grandson like a wonder, and this, because he spent his childhood in a Broom Closet. He hesitated, but took Harry in his arms.

"It's normal, Harry." he said while stroking his grandson's brown hair. "We are a family now."

Translator's note:

The author didn't leave a note at the end of this chapter, but I want to. I'm sorry it took so long to publish the first chapter (more than two months...), I'm sorry! I actually planned to publish two during Easter break, but I was busy preparing for an exam, and I had assignments to do before that… Anyways, I hope you enjoy the story so far, if any of you understand French and want to read more ahead of this translation, you can go read it!
Any suspicions on who Harry's twin could be so far? ;)

I'll see you next time, I don't know when exactly, but I'll work on the next chapters as soon as my schedule allows me to, since my exam is on Monday, and I have five more assignments (should be the last ones) to complete within two weeks.