Chapter 13
My young black-haired cousin
Narcissa's POV
The last chapter along with the comments from Arabella and Harry has me quite worried, but I brush it off like I always do. "Okay." I then say, gaining everyone's attention and I say: "I know the new daddies want to learn more about their son's life, but I think, seeing how we now all see and despise that fat whale – I mean, that fat Muggle."
This makes some students snicker, the first and second years having trouble holding back their snickers longer than others and while Sirius and Remus send me grateful, playful smiles themselves, do I go on: "It would be best if we let someone else read. And still, I want to know of my nephew's life, so I'll read."
Everyone nods and Andromeda, my long lost sister, who I swore I would get back in contact with once our parents were dead, had it not been for Lucius' reputation, smiles and says: "You were always the best to hold a straight face where others lost their emotions, Cissy." I smile at my elder sister and walk over to the elder squib lady.
She nods at me and sits down, shooting an angry glare at a still white Dumbledore and I think: "It's one thing he kept that poor boy from his true family. But that he did it, while knowing there were no Blood wards." I give him my best sneer, one filled with all the anger I felt since the discovery of this madness and start to read.
The Vanishing Glass
Nearly ten … the owls.
Now Harry scoffs, his tone as haughty as when Lucius speaks of Muggleborns or the Weasley Patriach and says: "The neighbors changed more than they did." And Hermione asks: "Were they that structural?" And Harry says: "Hermione, structure was all those Muggles had. To them it was like this; no structure, no living."
And then with a voice that is so void of emotion it would have had more feeling if it came from an Inferi, he says: "Everything is always structured. Every minute of every day. Is it not, we die." And then he looks at the girl, who almost openly shivers and says: "And that's been my life for ten years. Nothing else."
This makes me worry for the boy, but then the thought he had raised a personality behind the backs of those crazy people calms me down and when I remember what I promised the boy about his future, do I think: "Those lessons will have no structure at all, except for times and what to read." I nod at myself and read on.
Only the … his mother.
Harry looks from me to the students and asks: "Anyone not understanding a word there?" And a timid Hufflepuff first year, who seems to be gathering more courage than I thought she had says: "What are a bicycle, carousel and a computer game?" And Harry first smiles at the first year, making her blush, but smile back and then he says:
"Well, where we have brooms, they have something similar in use, but different in looks. The bicycle has a few, okay, a lot of differences, even if it's used for the same means. It's made of metal for one, instead of wood. It comes in many different colors and sizes. It has wheels and steps where we have just the broom and peddles.
And well – I guess the best thing is if Dean draws it and then I enlarge the picture and show you what part of the bicycle is used for what." Everyone nods and Dean Thomas smiles at Harry, before he quickly grabs some drawing equipment and about three minutes later Harry enlarges a picture of something I have never seen before.
Harry then aims his wand at one part, where some kind of fabric is pulled over a straight pole of metal and he says: "This is called the steering wheel. If you want to go straight, you just keep it like this. But if you turn it to the left or right, your front wheel, this one."
He aims at the wheel under the – so called – steering wheel and says: "Will turn with it and with that make the bicycle turn to the left or right. Then there's the seat." And he aims for another part, this one also covered and then I realize it has the perfect size for someone to sit on. I look at this shocked and Harry goes on, saying:
"This one's of course easy and is meant for the rider to sit on. The metal you see behind it, over the back wheel has four purposes. It can hold carry bags, a child's seat, hold a friend – I'd put something soft on the metal first – or say keep your bag. And then there's the back wheel." He quickly aims for the wheel at the end of the picture and says:
"This is to keep the bicycle in sync, to make sure it can stand up straight without falling over the front wheel and to give extra speed to the rider. For, you all see this string of metal here, right?" And we all nod as he aims for a chain wrapped around the midst of the wheel and around the circular piece of metal in the middle of the picture. He then goes on and says:
"This is because of your steps, those are these. You put your feet on them, like you put your feet on the peddles of a broom, and the more you turn them, the more this metal turns and the more this wheel turns, making you move. Like the wheel of a car turning over the road. If it turns, the car moves. So if you use your steps, you let the back wheel turn and you ride a bicycle."
The purebloods nod and Astoria Greengrass asks: "So you can stand on those steps and the bicycle won't fall down?" And Harry answers: "Only if you're holding onto something or if you're cycling. Else it will fall, unless you use this metal bar here." And finally he aims for a small thin metal bar I barely even noticed before.
The Purebloods nod and Astoria asks: "And a carousal?" To this Harry shrugs and then seems to think for a few minutes, before his eyes widen and he asks: "What are the favorite creatures of you and your friends?" The girl looks confused and Draco says: "I like wolves, Pansy likes seals and Blaise likes Hydras. Don't ask."
Harry nods and says: "Alright, now imagine statues of those creatures, with poles holding them onto two giant round plates, one above their heads one below their feet. The poles hold the statues just slightly above the ground and there are seats embedded onto the statues for you to sit on." The students nod and Harry says:
"For money, Muggles use these things to have fun. Their kids sit on some of these things, a man controlling the round plates makes them turn on their spot, like a spoon turning in a pot or kettle, and the poles makes it feel as if you're really riding those creatures. Add a little fun music and you have a carousal." My son and his friends look shocked and Blaise asks:
"So Muggles have a turning device, made out of two plates, poles and statues of animals, and they use that together with music to make their kids think they're riding those animals?" And Harry says: "Or carriages, motorcycles and that kind of things. It's all to make kids have fun and enlarge their imagination, really."
My son and his friends nod and Draco asks: "And that video thingy?" And while I can barely believe my son said thingy, which makes Lucius turn his eyes skyward, does Harry says: "Just think of it as a combination of pictures and games. You see a picture of something, whether or not it's real and you can play it like a game.
You can really do all sorts of things. Shoot aliens, save princesses, dance, race, play card games, anything." Everyone looks shocked and Harry says: "It's like playing exploding snap, without touching the cards. You don't get the chance to be burned and still, through the devices they use to let you play the game, you can play it."
The students look shocked and even professor Burbage looks shocked and intrigued and Hermione asks: "Harry, how do you know all this?" Harry shrugs and says: "I had to constantly watch Dudley do it. I pick things up that are repeated a lot." The girl nods and while wondering if he was ever allowed to play, do I read on.
The room … she screeched.
Harry shudders and so does Severus, making the boy look at him and asks: "Heard that before, sir?" And the man, who became Lucius' surrogate brother due to how my husband worried for his homestate and life, says: "She always used that voice when she shouted at Lily not to use magic or tried to chase me away."
Harry shakes his head and says: "I heard of people who never change, but that takes the cake. No wait, there is one thing that did change." And Crabbe asks: "The person?" And Harry says: "No, the voice. She's an adult now, so her voice is even worse." Both shudder again while some of the students laugh at the comment and I read on.
Harry heard … his back, trying not to move his right arm too much or to lie on those wounds that – sometimes – tended to open up again and tried … she demanded, her shrill voice so suddenly shocking him from his thoughts, he accidentally moved his wrist wrong, making him wince.
Nearly." Said Harry, trying to move the wrist back into a position it hurt less.
"Well, get … Duddy's birthday."
"Brother dear." One of the twins says solemnly, his face the epitome of urgency which makes Molly look at them in shock, even if I saw the same expression on their faces before the meeting and he says: "I seriously don't know what's worse. That Harry, our – then – 10 year old brother, had to cook or that ridiculous nickname."
The other brother nods, while many other students and a few adults now look as if the first voiced their thoughts and says: "I truly agree, dear brother mine, but the words I heard of Harry's wounds and wrist do still worry me a little – lot – more." And Ron and Hermione mutter: "You got that right." Making the other twin smile at them.
But I myself too feel worry as I wonder why Harry hurt his wrist and even more how he knows how to move his wrist in such a manner it won't hurt too much. "Doesn't that speak of experience with similar wounds?" Is a worried thought that enters my mind, enhancing my need to look after my family and I read on.
Harry groaned … have forgotten? Dudley better be kept busy, because Harry really didn't want a repeat of last year or when they were six. Harry got … for socks, finally getting his wrist to hurt less and not using it to cloth himself. He found … them on.
Ron shudders, which makes me wonder where his fear for spiders actually came from and the twins ask: "Surely you're not still scared." But Harry says: "Yes, he is. Scaring a three year old like that scars them for life, like how Voldemort scarred me for life. And trust me, the next book will prove just why he fears spiders so much."
The two nod, while I feel the almost undeniable need to open the next book and quickly check it for clues that can give answers to all the hints Harry has been giving about it. But I suppress this need, wanting to know what has happened to my cousin even more and with a strong face and voice, do I continue reading.
Harry was … he slept.
My voice stocks in my throat as I realize what I just read, my stoic mask falling and my eyes widening, while a silence rings strong enough to make a hair falling sound like the roar of a nesting mother Dragon, none of the adults or students making another comment as everyone looks at me, their expressions mirroring mine.
I silently repeat this sentence in my mind, the written words almost printing themselves on my retina as I keep myself to that one sentence; that one sentence that proves just how much my little cousin suffered. But then I tear my eyes away from the book, wondering why no one has shouted yet and see the Great Hall before me.
The heads of the students are all at me, all of them with wide open mouths and their eyes almost falling out of their sockets while the teachers are slowly turning to the white face of the Headmaster, one face even more furious than the last – and Severus' scowl winning the cake – while at Gryffindor table – my nephew has vanished.
I shake my head, wondering how that could have happened as I didn't sense any spellwork going on while reading and ask: "Where's Harry?" Everyone instantly turns to the spot where the boy was sitting – except for the teachers who are still glaring at Dumbledore – and they realize that Harry has really disappeared.
Sirius is the first one to react and jumps up frantic, but halfway in his shout of HARRY, we all hear a loud Oomph. We all look shocked and Remus, who seems to try and use his understanding of the situation to temper his anger, says: "Drop the cloak, Harry." And a silvery kind of material falls off of a now visible Harry Potter.
But his pose worries me. From falling off his mum's lap, the boy has amazingly fast moved himself in a position where his legs are pushed against his upper body, his hands are over his head and his head is against his chest, perfectly protecting every part of his body, while his eyes are looking straight ahead without really seeing anything.
The boy whimpers and softly cries, tears falling down his eyes as he looks straight under the table without seeing the feet at the other side of it, but while Remus holds back Cedric and Viktor – actually shocking me as I had expected him to do something – does Sirius sit down cross-legged while facing Harry straightly.
I wonder what the man's on about, but after about ten minutes of Harry whimpering and lying like that, he slowly retracts his arms and Sirius asks: "Want a hug?" And a timid Harry seems to crawl over. Sirius first hugs the boy softly and then tightly, whispering all kinds of sweet nothings I know he will try and make true for the boy's sake.
Then using a tone I once – and only once – heard his father use when he wanted to make something clear he says: "Anyone asking my son about this, bothering him about this piece of his past or thinking he doesn't trust him or her because he never told, don't. You'll be in trouble, not only for bothering my son, but for having the guts to try."
Remus then goes on and says: "Harry, our son, already made clear before that his youth was so bad he tries to often forget he even had one, just to forget what hell he had to go through. This is a good piece of evidence that he has gone through hell and that he has a right not to be questioned about that." And finally Sirius says:
"And anyone wanting to demand Harry explain this one further, just because of his fame or scar and who has the stupid belief he can demand it of Harry, because to that idiot he is just the Boy-Who-Lived I say – you don't mess with a Black, especially not a parental one. Are we clear?" Everyone nods and Sirius whispers:
"We'll talk later. You need to tell someone and then you can get a Muggle shrink, who can help you get over your past, okay cub?" Harry nods timidly, still trembling and Sirius says: "Remind me to really check any shrink we try." But then Andromeda asks: "Why a Muggle shrink? Why won't you let me help Harry get over this?"
Sirius looks at her and then whispers: "You're too close to our family." Draco and Lucius then stand up and walk over to the Gryffindor table, shocking everyone, but Lucius says: "No one harms a Black, whether he's named Black, Potter or Malfoy." And Draco says: "And Blacks stick together, especially when a fellow Black is hurt."
The Gryffindors sitting close to Harry smile and those sitting next to Remus and Sirius shove over a little to make room for my two favorite men. I smile at them, knowing how important family is for them and then Harry breaks my heart. As Sirius sits back down, still holding onto Harry softly, he asks: "So, you still want me?"
And he first looks at Sirius and Remus, then at his friends, then at Cedric and then finally at Viktor. Instantly Sirius tightens his hug and whispers: "You're my son and you've always been my nephew. Before and after you went to live with those – for lack of a better word – monsters." And Remus adds: "We all love you, Harry. We really do."
And all of those sitting around the boy nod, Viktor even standing up to lean over the table and softly kiss Harry's forehead lovingly, making the teary boy smile at him, while I can already tell that Viktor's opinion means a lot to my nephew. He sits back down and whispers: "My confession will always count, обичам."
Then the teachers, who have been constantly glaring at Dumbledore throughout this scene, probably not even noticing anything happening as they must have been trying to keep their anger at bay for the sake of the students and their guests, start to speak to the man and Professor Flitwick is first, his squeaky voice slowly rising.
"A cupboard under the stairs, Albus? You allowed them to raise him in a cupboard under the stairs? You actually left them with people who are capable of doing THAT to their family. To Lilly's family? To her own son?" These four words make the man cringe more than the rising voice of the man and then Flitwick goes on:
"Have you forgotten everything Lily did while in school? All the charms she so quickly and amazingly well got the hang of? All those students she helped, not caring about the Houses they were in or the situations they were dealing with? How she was chosen as Prefect and Head Girl solely for her good heart and need to help others?
Lily was the most brilliant student we ever had and that you, the man that put her only son with those, those – I don't even have a word for them – for reasons you don't even dare to confess, have the guts to ignore that and let her only son be treated like that – after all she has done for just about every adult present in this HALL!"
Dumbledore raises his hand and Minerva, of who I know is hurt more because of her invinite loyalty to the man, says: "You can't defend yourself from this one, Albus. The entire Wizengamot was against you putting Mr. Potter at that house, but you denied them every single opportunity to fetch him or even check on him.
You knew, Albus! You knew they were the worst Muggles imaginable! You knew how much they hated magic and everyone who had and used it! You knew how they treat our people and still you put an infant, the son of two people who trusted you with their lives, there – TO ROT, ALBUS! YOU LEFT AN INFANT TO ROT!"
The man is now mumbling, his eyes wide and his entire frame screaming his fear and Severus states: "You swore! You swore me into an oath I would do everything to protect Lily's son, without growing too close to him to make sure the Dark Lord would believe I had stayed loyal which would in turn provide me more chance to protect him better.
And in return no one would ever know how much I still love my first best friend and the only friend I had since youth. In return you swore to me you would openly care for the boy and protect him! You swore nothing would ever happen to him while under your care! YOU SWORE YOU WOULD PROTECT HIM, ALBUS!
I believed lies! I kept my distance! I allowed a grudge I long ago got over to be my reason for a hatred I never felt for that lad to be shown! I MADE THE ONLY PROOF I HAVE LEFT THAT I WAS ONCE LILY'S FRIEND THINK I HATE HIM, BECAUSE YOU SWORE ME INTO A SECRET PROTECTION OF HIM!"
Everyone is shocked that Severus never hated Harry Potter and that he hates himself and Dumbledore for a fake hatred show he portrays and then suddenly Hagrid stands up, his eyes ablaze with fury. He walks over to the man and says: "I'll handle him." All teachers nod, while Amelia and Kingsley seem reluctant as they too nod.
Dumbledore is now really scared as no one has ever seen Hagrid this angry and without pulling any kind of wand or other weapon, Hagrid grabs the back of the elder man's collar and pulls him up, with his other hand grabbing the back of the man's long robe. He then walks over to the doors of the Great Hall and opens them slightly.
To my shock, he throws Dumbledore into the hall and the magic of the spell lets the man float just 3 inches above the ground. Hagrid scoffs and says: "Hopes he gets a harsh landing when time runs again." Before closing the Great Hall doors and leaving back for his seat, while Minerva vanishes the great seat of the probably ex-headmaster.
Then finally Amelia stands up and says: "I just want to let you all know that you can write down all that angers you about your ex-headmaster and that you can, when time is active and the books are done, curse the man to your heart's delight as long as my colleagues and I can take a recognizable Albus Dumbledore to court later."
Everyone nods and I think: "And seeing that there will be 2 days between every book we'll have plenty of chances to curse that family-breaking child-abuser." Then I remember that everyone has to be present at the reading and shrug thinking: "We'll just throw him out once we've read a paragraph or two." And with that I continue reading.
When he … racing bike.
"Is a racing bike like a bicycle?" A 3rd year Gryffindor asks and a boy I know is named Creevey says: "Yeah, it's almost the same, just a different model, really. It's like brooms. You have school brooms and race brooms." The 3rd year nods and Harry smiles at the Creevey boy, making him smile back widely before I read on.
Exactly why … punching somebody and he had his irreparable elbow to prove it. Dudley's favourite … very fast.
"What do you mean, irreparable?" Sirius asks concerned and Harry says: "Dudley once made me fall completely wrong and I broke my arm so bad, the sling the nurse gave me couldn't even get it fixed right. The bones grow slightly over each other, making the lower arm bones stick out over the end of the upper arm bones."
Harry sighs, while Madam Pomfrey is now white and mumbling about possible healing potions and his friends look shocked as he says: "My elbow is more a cross of bones than four bones connected together by a joint. Because of the sling and my chores my elbow joint got broken off and since I was 7 ½ I haven't had it anymore."
We all look shocked and Madame Pomfrey says: "But Mr. Potter, the Skele-grow." Yet the boy shakes his head and says: "I checked to see if it affected my injury the morning after. Something kept the potion from working. Here see." And to my shock he turns the bone in an impossible angle. "HARRY!" Sirius shouts and Harry nods and says: "See what I mean."
Sitting back down and unhappily rubbing his elbow. I myself can barely believe that the boy is really able to move his arm in such a position and that he has for years been able to move his lower arm without the joint connecting it to the upper and then, while again understanding my father's hatred for Muggles, do I read on.
Perhaps it … green eyes.
"You have your parents' looks, that's for sure." Sirius smiles at his son and then he says: "But now that you're our boy, we'll be sure to leave some of our own traits in you, son." Harry smiles with small tears streaming down his face, while the teachers don't seem to know whether to be scared by what they hear or touched by what they see.
I can't say I can blame them, even though I only spend three of my school years around my cousin and I think: "If you mix Harry's attraction to danger with the mischievous mind of Sirius Black." And instantly I pity the teachers even more, which makes me snicker inwardly at the prospect of the next few years as I read on.
He wore … the nose to make him listen if his uncle gave him a chore to do. the only … of lightning.
"You actually liked it?" Ron asks shocked and Harry says: "It annoyed those idiots. Made them even more mad at my – as they called it – abnormality. And it was something I had that Dudley couldn't take from me." His best friend smiles and while feeling awful that he seems forced to see good things in life, do I read on.
He had … had said.
"Car crash?" Filius asks shocked and then he, Severus, Sirius, Remus, Amelia, Alastor, Hagrid and Minerva all shout: "CAR CRASH?" And Sirius shouts: "Lily would never have wanted Harry anywhere near a car! It took me a crying, sleepy 3-month old Harry to make her finally accept my motorcycle for Merlin's sake!"
But then Harry whispers: "If you think that's bad, you're going to hate the third book." And Sirius asks: "Why would I hate the one book I finally appear in?" And Harry, his voice almost cold with enough anger to make a shiver run down my spine, says: "Because Vernon told something even worse to his sister and she believed it."
"Do I want to know?" Remus growls, the werewolf obviously quite close to the surface and Harry says: "Let's just say it's the whole damned reason I blew her up in the first place." This makes Ron burst out laughing and he says: "Still can't believe you actually did that, mate. Stays bloody hilarious." Before I read on.
"And don't ask questions." This had been followed by a swing from a spatula.
Don't ask … the Dursleys.
Now the teachers turn heads to each other, some of them with wide eyes and others starting to look guilty for some reason and Aurora Sinistra says: "So that's why he never asks questions in my class. Even Crabbe and Goyle do that. I always thought he was just stubborn and like his mother, but this makes a whole lot more sense."
The other teachers nod, the three Heads now looking really guilty for not realizing this and I see that they, many Ravenclaws and the Granger girl are furious at this rule as if it's some kind of blasphemy not to ask questions. I too feel furious as that must have also cost him his education when he went to Muggle school.
Uncle Vernon … morning greeting. It was a relief to Harry, because else his morning greeting was a punch to the back of his head or three minutes with his head in the sink filled with dishing water.
This absolutely infuriates the entire room, even my Snakes and I know they consider it a terrible crime to treat the last of a Noble line like that. I look at the boy and then Amelia asks: "Mr. Potter, you do know that next to the Three Unforgiveables there are 5 other things that are considered instant lifelong in our world, right?"
Harry shakes his head, while being held by a thin lipped Sirius, who obviously tries to hold himself back so he can be there for Harry and Amelia states: "A Lifelong sentence is given to someone if he or she abuses, neglects, starves, rapes or kills a minor." The boy looks shocked, but also whitens at the last two and I fear the worst as I read on.
About once … the place.
"Just like your father, grandfather and great-grandfather." Sirius smiles, speaking softly and with a steely tone hidden in his voice. But it seems as if Harry has heard the tone as I see his small body tense, which his new mother of course feels him do as Sirius then tries to keep the tone out of his voice, gulps and says:
"Your mother even claimed that in the last month of her pregnancy, she could already sense you would grow that kind of hair. Even that first little tuft of hair she cut off to save was messy." The angered tone slowly recedes and gets replaced with a reminiscently, loving tone, showing that the man really cares for his son.
Harry smiles at the man and asks: "What happened to it?" And Sirius sighs as he says: "It was destroyed. Lily kept it under your crib to make sure she could easily reach for it if you gave her something new like your first tooth or something. It got destroyed together with most of your crib when he attacked you."
Harry looks hurts and Sirius holds him close. Then the boy whispers: "Will you continue that?" Sirius looks shocked and Harry says: "I can't give you one of my teeth, I'd like to keep those. But we can cut off some hair, right?" The man smiles and holds his son close again, whispering: "Right, we can. I'd like that." I smile at my family and read on.
Harry was … a wig.
This makes many people laugh and Harry snickers, obviously not wanting to ruin the moment with his mum. Sirius also shows a large grin and Remus says: "I don't recall Lily or James ever comparing people to animals." And Sirius says proudly: "They didn't. That's just something our little boy likes to do." Harry smiles widely at him and I read on.
Harry put … table over, wanting to leave the room before Dudley decided to rant out on him, like he did last year when the birthday cake had the wrong kind of chocolate.
Aunt Petunia … all right?"
"This is the worst kind of parenting I've ever seen!" Amelia cries out, her shrill voice proving her anger as she is usually just as well capable of hiding her emotions as I am and she voices my opinion perfectly as I have been wanting to comment on the terrible behavior of mother and child for the last three paragraphs.
Then Hermione asks: "How did you not turn out like them, Harry?" Harry shrugs and says: "I guess that was the only good part of their bad treatment; it made me want to be nothing like them." And the twins and Ronald chorus: "THANK HEAVENS FOR THAT, MATE!" I nod, together with quite a few others and read on.
Dudley thought … hard work. Harry knew Dudley had trouble with all kind of school stuff as Harry was always the one handing in their homework – and pray to the Gods if his name was above the homework with the best score. Finally he … thirty … thirty …"
"He can't even count that?" Almost half of Ravenclaw asks and the Chang girl asks: "How old is he?" And Harry says: "He was one year and five months when the book began." And the girl asks: "ELEVEN?" Harry nods and I read on, disgusted by how this terrible boy has turned out – and blessing myself with a cousin like Harry.
"Thirty-nine, sweetums." … nearest parcel, stomping Harry on the arm as he found a seat close to the presents, "All right … video recorder.
"What is all that stuff?" Blaise asks, confused and slightly disturbed, probably by the weird names and Harry says: "The Video camera is like a photo camera only it stores more than one picture, a little like a Pensive stores memories." Blaise nods and asks: "So a mechanical device to store memories on?" Harry nods with a smile and says:
"Yeah, and airplane is just as mechanical. You've seen those things that fly in the sky and carry a lot of people, right?" The students nod and Harry says: "Well, Muggles make toys out of those things, figurines of them so to speak and then use a small device to control them – little like how the Mobilicorpus charm moves objects."
The Purebloods nod, Blaise and a few others looking quite interested so far and Harry says: "And a VCR. Well, that's actually just a device on which you can watch movies. What those are I won't even try to explain. We'll have to make a school trip to a cinema, because to explain that concept, we'd be busy for days."
The Purebloods nod, while I look at Lucius and see his mind working on what he can do with these new products and loving how my husband has taught himself to see profit in anything and everything, do I hear Filius say: "We'll discuss the school trip and how to organize it later, Mr. Potter. Lady Malfoy, please read." I nod and read.
He was … ever owned.
"Sorry about that, Mrs. Figg." Harry says timidly, but the woman shakes her head and says: "It was my work, Harry. I had to stay there to keep an eye on you for Albus and to make sure I could keep on doing that, I had to make it seem as if you didn't like it with me. Although I think I overdid a little." The woman ends with a small smile.
Harry nods, smiling back at her and says: "You could have after all told me you knew where I came from after my first. Would have been nice to have someone to talk to about what happens during the school years." The woman smiles and says: "Well, you're always welcome, Harry." The boy smiles and I read on.
"Now what?" … a slug.
Harry often thought they were the slugs as their life just seemed to drag by, making it the most boring time ever, if he wasn't chased down, put to chores or punished.
"What about …a lemon and Dudley hit Harry with his remote control airplane while Uncle Vernon threw a full plate of bacon at him.
"A full plate of bacon?" Susan screams and Harry, who's tone is much too casual for me not to worry even more as he says: "Don't worry, I dodged the plate. And most of the bacon." This still worries me because of what I read earlier and I ask: "Didn't you just fry that?" Harry doesn't answer and that makes my worries peak as I read on.
"And come … weren't listening. Neither were they paying attention to him and Harry quickly smuggled the bacon that was frying his forehead into his pocket,, ripping off a piece to eat it, fearing the rest would be his dinner.
"I suppose … he wanted.
"That's disgusting!" Draco spats and he goes on: "That boy is the first born. He should be taught manners and etiquettes, not how to behave like an overgrown baby." I nod, while knowing it wouldn't have mattered as I am really starting to understand what my cousin mentioned earlier about the Muggles' illusive thinking and read on.
"Dinky Duddydums … around him.
Now many students burst out laughing, the twins almost falling off of their seats and Ron turning red as he hides his face in his hands on the table, but Poppy shouts: "STOP IT!" Everyone looks at her shocked and she says: "It might sound funny and hilarious, but this is nothing more than another case of terrible parenting.
Such a nickname is a blatant show of disrespect to her own son and him growing up. She's humiliating him and that often is the whole reason why people start to become bullies." I nod, knowing it was a particular reason why Sirius did with the Slytherins and Ronald asks: "So you appro-." But he gets silenced by the Granger girl and she says:
"Of course she doesn't approve of that brat's bad behavior. She just doesn't want us to laugh and pester him like he pestered Harry. She wants justice and us laughing at his ridiculous nicknames won't bring that justice any closer." Ronald nods, while many of the older students now look down in guilt and I read on.
"I … don't … mother's arms and used the remote control still in his hand to let the airplane hit Harry on the back of his head, making him hit the table with a nasty bang.
This absolutely infuriates me and, knowing that Dumbledore will no longer be able to hindrance me when it comes to my cousin, do I say: "Madame Bones, I know those Muggles are no relatives of mine, but young Harry is and for all the suffering he had to go through under the hands of those monsters I want them punished."
The woman nods and says: "It's clear that boy has been raised against our laws and even with him being a Muggle, a Muggle abusing a minor wizard is still a great offense. Lady Malfoy, I will be working on this case and they will be justified for all they have done to young Mr. Potter, you can be assured of that.
Auror Tonks, write down everything that can be considered one of the five crimes and report your reason behind it and the paragraph of which you have heard it from." The young Auror – my niece – nods in anger and grabs a piece of parchment, quill and ink, quickly unscrewing the ink bottle and writing like hell as I read on.
Just then … hit them. His favorite part of this – if it concerned Harry – was pulling their arms back far enough to hear a breaking crack.
Everyone growls, the Gryffindors close to Harry almost sounding like lions as they growl together and Madame Bones says: "Scrap the Dursley family. I'm going to investigate that entire neighborhood. They'll all be questioned. Mrs. Figg, would you mind coming with us to testify and point us to the friends of Dudley Dursley?"
The woman smiles, her eyes shining with a need for vengeance and says: "I have always believed the Dursleys to be the worst that ever happened to that neighborhood, not to mention Mr. Potter. It'd be my pleasure to bring them and all of their own to justice. Would be a good payback too." I look confused at this, but read on.
Dudley stopped … his life.
"That's not entirely true, you know." Sirius then says and Harry looks at him while I wonder how the man can speak so calmly after what he just heard and he says: "Sure, you never went to this zoo thing when you were a baby, but Lily and James did once bring you to Hogwarts to show you where you would go to study later."
"What does that have to do with this?" Harry asks confused and he then suddenly rears back, fear in his eyes, which makes me know this reading is affecting him, but Sirius just hugs him and says: "Well, when you went there and visited Hagrid a lot of the more friendly animals suddenly came out of the forest to come and have a look at you.
You played with Bowtruckles, a few friendly pixies and a baby Hippogriff, if I remember correctly." The boy looks shocked and while I love the chance the man has to bring up such happy memories, does Ronald ask: "So Harry always had a special bond with animals, did he?" Sirius nods and says: "Yeah, I guess he did."
He then snickers with his eyes closed, obviously lost in that very memory and says: "James was so ecstatic when he saw you play with that Hippogriff chick. He called it a sign you'd be an amazing flyer. I swear that guy was obsessed with letting you like Quidditch." To which a sudden voice says: "Only better."
And when everyone looks at the closed doors, they see a tall young man with a well build and burly body, with brown hair that softly slides over his head and around his ears and with almost madly gleaming brown eyes, who wears a dark blue shirt with a shield symbol on the front of his shirt and a pair of black shorts.
Everyone looks shocked as they must all wonder how he got here and the boy answers our curiosity as he says: "Some voice told me that one of the readers of this Time Reading Spell was permanently suspended from reading and that it would be best if I came to replace him. Don't really get it, but I don't really care either. Hey Charles."
The second-eldest playfully glares, while the teachers and those around Harry seem most relieved with this change of readers by the Time Reading Spell and then the Gryffindor Quidditch team hugs the man and Harry says: "Good to have you here, Oliver. Let me get you caught up." But Wood holds up his hand to stop the boy and says:
"I received memories of what has been going on here while Mrs. Malfoy read and hey –." He then stops, crouches down a little and whispers: "Did you really steal the heart of Bulgarian's Star player, Viktor Krum?" Harry blushes slightly and says: "I might have. We're taking it slow at the least." The boy smirks widely and says: "That's my Seeker."
Making Harry and the twins hit themselves on the head, while two of the girls groan and the last, a dark-skinned girl with long brown hair and with brown eyes asks: "Oliver, what does Harry's possible relationship have to do with Quidditch?" But the boy looks at her as if she's mad and she shakes her head, as if used to this behavior.
I myself am a little confused by his behavior and then he sits down, madly smiling when he shakes Viktor's hand, slapping Cedric on the back to congratulate him, while there is strain visible in his smile at this and dreamily smiling as he greets Fleur, obviously easily influenced by her Veela nature. I shake my head and read on.
His aunt … until Christmas."
"Cupboard?" Wood asks confused and Harry shrinks again, Sirius pulling him closer as Remus, who's voice proves he has yet to accept this unforgiveable fact, explains: "Those blasted Muggles that our new cub was raised with thought it right to put our little cub in a Cupboard under the Stairs and make that his bedroom."
The boy looks at his ex-defense teacher in pure shock, having taken a seat next to him and then looks at a slightly trembling Harry, who is held softly and is intensely petted by Sirius and suddenly he whitens as if remembering something he just then regrets. This makes me wonder what the boy could have said or done and I read on.
"I'm not … them happen as he was always punished –whether it was something strange or if something just went wrong in the Dursley's life.
Once, Aunt Petunia …it off.
"What? Really?" Nymphadora perks up, smiling widely at my nephew and Harry nods and with a voice proving he still worries over possible bad reactions to the story as it sounds quite timid asks: "Yeah, why?" The girl shrugs and says: "Just a hunch. Have you ever done that before?" Harry shakes his head and then Sirius says:
"Hey wait a minute." Everyone looks at him as he almost shouted at the end and then he turns to face his beloved and asks: "Remus, remember all those times James was alone with Harry and that he would then come to us, stating Harry didn't have Lily's eyes but his own and that we would then think he had just been looking in a mirror."
"YES! I KNEW IT!" Nymphadora shouts, punching the air happily and then she says: "Harry, you've got a latent Metamorphmagus ability." And all Harry does is ask: "I have a latent what?" And the girl closes her eyes, her face scrunching up as her hair grows, shrinks and then changes from pink to ocean blue and back to pink.
Everyone looks at her, some of the guys drooling after she shows them a certain hair color, others looking at her as if she's lost it as she says: "A latent Metamorphmagus ability. It means you can change your appearance at will. If you focus on that and work on that ability, you might even be able to hide that scar you so want to get rid of."
This time it's my cousin who shines and perks up and asks: "Will you teach me? You seem quite good with it." The girl shrugs and says: "I am. It's a born ability. You just have to train really hard." The boy shrugs and says: "No problem, I've been doing nothing but for the last four years." The girl snickers and I read on.
He had … so quickly. And talking had not been easy with how his aunt had chased him into the cupboard with a frying pan and his uncle had later grabbed and pulled his hair before giving him three punches in the face and throwing him back in.
Another time …orange bobbles).
The angered tension in the room at the punishment is released as all of the girls and quite a couple of men all shudder. Then, while several of the Beauxbattons girls and some of the other fashionistas of Hogwarts start to whisper together, does Severus say: "Seems Potter wasn't the only one in that house who needed a pair of glasses."
But Harry shakes his head and says: "Aunt Petunia just doesn't have any fashion taste. Unless what she wears was fashion somewhere in an ancient past." Some of the students snicker at this as the man asks: "Does she still have that hideous salmon pink dress?" Harry's answer; another wild shudder and a nod. I giggle at this and read on.
The harder … the chimney.
"What does the book mean as usual?" Remus growls and Harry says: "I'm sure the book will explain. I'm – nothing." He quickly ends, his face white and his head hidden in Sirius' chest. Sirius feels shocked, but then he hugs the boy and I wonder what more could be in the book that could scare that brave boy like this.
I look at the book and think: "Seeing the effect the reading about those Monsters has on the boy I can't wait until we get to the Hogwarts chapters." And when I look up I see that this thought is shared by many, if their curious faces are anything to go by. I sigh, feeling worried for my little cousin and continue to read on.
The Dursleys …in mid-jump.
Severus shakes his head and Minerva asks: "You know what he did, Severus?" The man nods, gaining everyone's attention and Harry even pulls away from Sirius a little to better look at my friend and, while it's quite obvious that he is losing himself in his memory, does he say: "I lived near Lily's house and so often saw her perform magic.
One day, when she was 9 ½ years old, Lily and Petunia were playing at an abandoned playground and they were both swinging. Lily knew of her talent, without knowing it was magic and so she swung higher and higher and at the highest point let go and flew down, landing amazingly softly. That was the day I told her that she was a witch."
Everyone looks shocked and Severus says: "Dumbledore always used the words you were more like your mother than your wo – your father to annoy me and make me despise you even more, I see that now. But he was never lying when he said that." The boy smiles at his Potions Teacher and a small smile is his reward as I read on.
Uncle Vernon had heard from the headmistress herself that Harry would only have to spend a few days in detention, but the man had made a drama and scandal out of it and Harry had been expelled at the tender age of 6 ½.
Luckily his teacher, Mss. Crenson, had liked Harry and Harry had been allowed to still visit the school with the excuse he was visiting his old teacher, who then secretly taught him all she taught her class that day.
But that had ended on the 24th of November, a day Harry to this day wanted to forget. He shuddered and thought: "Had it not been for Erica, I –." But he shook his head and focused on stepping into the car.
Everyone looks worried, some eyes almost as wide in fear as when we read about Cedric and Harry being kidnapped and Sirius asks: "Harry, what did that last part mean?" But Harry shakes his head frantically, his eyes closed and his hands over his head as though expecting shouts or hits or something of the like.
I realize that that is exactly what the boy is expecting and my heart goes out to my nephew as I fear for what could have happened. Then Sirius hugs the boy again and whispers: "Please, just tell us – Remus and me – one day, alright?" And Harry nods and says: "One day, I promise." I smile at the small family as Remus hugs them both and I read on.
But today … cabbage-smelling living room.
"Harry!" The Granger girl scolds her friend and while Sirius sends her a strong look to make sure she won't start ranting as now is just not the time, does Harry look at the woman in apology, but she says: "Hey, I bought as many cats as I had neighbors to make sure no one realized what was really going on with you and me.
It's just not easy to take care of a house and over 20 cats." Everyone looks shocked and Harry asks: "You had a cat for every house in Privet Drive?" The woman nods and says: "Yes, but – oh, I should have realized it – Albus forbid me to let my cats into your house. Other houses he didn't care about, but my cats were not to enter yours."
Everyone glares as that makes things more than crystal clear. Dumbledore knew the Dursleys would abuse Harry Potter and knew that Child Abuse was one of our highest punishable crimes and so he let someone keep an eye on the poor boy without letting her get close enough to find out what was happening to him at home.
I growl at the idea that the man can even think of doing something like that as I have – during my youth – heard plenty of rumors of what abuse can do to your magic and only the sound of a furiously scratching quill calms me down enough to read on, as I know my niece will do everything she can to make Dumbledore pay.
While he … favorite subjects.
And Harry didn't really care about this, because if Uncle Vernon wasn't complaining or working – Harry would be in trouble. This morning …was flying."
He hoped his uncle would coo over that like he constantly praised and cooed at Dudley if the boy talked about wicked dreams, but then realized – it was him who had the dream.
Uncle Vernon …Piers sniggered, while uncle Vernon grabbed aunt Petunia's food bag and hit Harry over the head with it.
"I know … said Harry as uncle Vernon continued to drive and gave the bag to Dudley, who continued his dad's work. "It was … said anything as he avoided a nasty sling to his head. If there …dangerous ideas.
"Should we watch cartoons, Harry?" The twins ask, their smiles excited, but their faces serious making me know they're trying to distract Harry and Harry laughs and says: "Only if you intent to use them on Dudley and the others. Not if you plan to use them here, I like to keep Hogwarts standing and you're dangerous enough without them."
The boys pout and Harry says: "I'll just check the cinema information and see if I can find a good film starring cartoon characters." The boys perk up widely and Sirius says: "And we'll take that film too. If it's as funny as it sounds, you should definitely go to one. Merlin knows you deserve something to laugh about." Everyone nods and I read on.
It was … ice lolly.
"Dirty bastards." A lot of people growl, while other insults are also heard throughout the Hall and then Kingsley, his deep baritone voice sounding calm and tranquill as he says: "At least we have another witness. That woman must have wondered why Harry got such a cheap ice-cream and the others the more expensive stuff."
The others nod and then Granger says: "But a zoo is visited by a common 2500 000 people a year. There's no way that woman would remember Harry." To which one twin asks: "Are you nuts, Hermione?" And the other says: "Harry's unforgettable." Harry blushes at the praise and the smiling face of his new mum confirming this and I read on.
It wasn't … wasn't blond.
"HARRY!" Sirius shouts and Harry looks shocked as Sirius sounds really angry at him and Sirius asks: "Has me being a Dog Animagus and Remus being a werewolf taught you nothing? Haven't you learned anything from Care of Magical Creatures?" The boy looks as confused as I feel and Sirius, his tone wavering as he speaks, spats:
"Don't insult creatures like that. That's a terrible insult to that poor gorilla. What has that ever done to deserve that?" The boy shakes his head a minute and the Thomas boy is the first to start snickering as soon the entire hall laughs at the joke. Sirius smiles at the Hall and then pulls Harry into another hug and says:
"Just pulling your wand, kiddo. No need to look like that." The boy laughs and says: "You shocked me, Sirius." The man shrugs and says: "Hey, I have to keep you alert, don't I? If I want you to work at the best of your ability and be the best you can be and all?" Harry nods and I smile at the eagerness in my cousin's tone as I read on.
Harry had … hitting him. He was after all finally offered a chance to heal the wounds and painfully sore muscles he's gotten over the last week and he didn't want them hitting something that still hurt, as they loved to do – like his softly burning wrist.
Everyone now looks a combination of furious and worried, the teachers sitting closer together as they whisper for ways to use their subjects as punisments and Sirius mutters: "Harry, after this we'll either let Fawkes bring in a Potter or Black Family Healer, or you'll allow Madame Pomfrey to do a full physical on you."
The boy nods and says: "I'd like the second, Sirius." I myself feel a little worried and hurt at that as the Black Healer had been amazing for me during my pregnancy with Draco, but on the other hand can I understand that the boy would rather let himself be examined by someone he knows and thrusts than a complete stranger and I read on.
They ate … the first. He of course had been careful not to sit anywhere near Dudley or Piers and had even asked Uncle Vernon if he could have a table to himself. To his shock he had been granted this, but he realized it was a benefit to both of them – he wouldn't get punished and they got to pretend he wasn't there with them.
Harry felt … man-crushing pythons – wanting to break the snakes free and let them chase Harry and – as they called it – other losers around.
This makes the Gryffindors sitting close to Harry, together with Cedric, Viktor, Fleur and my family, glare at the book, obviously furious that anyone would try to put an animal on Harry and Hermione says: "Don't worry, it's impossible to do that. Those snakes are deadly strong, so the glass is at the least three to four layers thick."
The group nods and a small First year Slytherin asks: "I know there's snakes there, but are other House creatures there too?" Harry nods and says: "A zoo is actually nothing more than a large park where people can see animals in their natural environment and where endangered animals – like the white tiger – can live safely."
Everyone nods and the same first year asks: "But why are white tigers endangered?" And Harry kindly explains: "The fur of a Siberian or white tiger is known to be extremely thick, warm and beautiful. People hunt them down for it and many of their natural environments all over the world are being destroyed for firewood and other material."
The students look shocked and Harry holds up a piece of parchment and says: "Even this is made of wood and that comes from trees in rainforests and other areas that are being cut down, thus making it harder and harder for animals to live as their living areas and natural environments grow smaller." Everyone's disgusted and I read on.
Dudley quickly … fast asleep.
"Reminds me of a certain rat we used to have." The twins chorus and then while Remus and Sirius seem to try and hide a sudden anger, does Ron look at Harry and asks: "Is this that snake you set on your cousin like you told us?" All of us look shocked and Harry laughs and says: "Yep, although I might have over exaggerated that little story."
His friend smirks, obviously thinking that whatever his friend did was well worth the story and asks: "Then what happened? Did you let him fly into the tank or something?" Harry shakes his head and says: "Just wait and let Mrs. Malfoy read. You'll see." Ronald looks disappointed and I read on, feeling curious about what happened.
Dudley stood … snoozed on. Harry made sure to stand far to the back, intending not to get a look at the snake until the group was gone. Still there was enough space between uncle Vernon and aunt Petunia – who quite despised animals – for him to see the snake from afar.
"This is …the house.
"You actually thought you had it better than a snake? While you were the one being abused and all?" Granger asks shocked and Harry says: "Hey, I was used to it, it didn't even seem like abuse to me back then.""How could it not?" The girl asks shocked, but I already know and hate the answer as Harry answers:
"It wasn't to me because I didn't know any better. I had barely ever seen other families behave together and all I saw was those Muggles, kids at Primary school and Mrs. Figg." The girl looks shocked at this, while I hate how my little cousin lived more isolated than Sirius did while in Azkaban and Harry says:
"Hermione, I had only been around kids till I was six. For the rest of those ten years all I knew were Mrs. Figg and my own hellhole that I had to call home." The girl nods, while I hate how everytime Harry mentioned his home he calls it a hellhole and while wondering how no adult could have caught onto that, do I read on.
The snake … It winked.
"That's impossible. Snakes don't have eyelids." A Ravenclaw Sixth year shouts indignantly and his friend, who is small enough he seems to be a year younger says: "No, but they can move their eyes amazingly fast to check all of their surroundings. Maybe the snake was just doing that and it looked like a wink."
The Ravenclaw nods and Ronald says: "And don't forget that Harry's Parsletongue. It might be the magic making it look like the snake was winking. That too could be a possibility." The Sixth year nods, while the twins smile at their little brother's theory and Harry shrugs and says: "Don't care really. Both are good to me." I agree and read.
Harry stared …to Brazil?"
"Harry, did you even realize you were talking to a snake?" Ronald asks his best friend, his raised eyebrow proving he is just teasin the boy and Harry says: "I did, but I was used to strange things happening and believed that endangered species that had learned to survive differently, like the snake, were amazingly intelligent.
I guess I just thought that, after hearing all those people talk, the snake had, at the least, grown intelligent enough to understand us." The boy looks shocked and Harry snaps: "I was ten! Give me a break, will you?" His best friend smiles, while the twins snicker at the playful banter between them and I read on.
As the … concrete floor and he felt the bones in his elbow scrape together painfully, while a small welt on his back opened up slightly thanks to the thin shirt and the rough floor.
What came … had vanished.
"That is an amazing amount of Accidental Magic." Filius says and Pomona goes on: "Especially if you count in the fact Mr. Potter didn't even know he had the ability to perform magic." The other teachers nod, while Minerva mumbles: "An entire glass. He vanished an entire window." Harry blushes at the praises and Poppy says:
"I'll be sure to check his magical core when I do that physical. It could be that there is a lot of suppressed magic that is released whenever Mr. Potter feels a high emotion and else gets suppressed." To this, while the other teachers now look at her worriedly, does Harry state something that shocks and worries me and says:
"No wonder regular school spells are so hard unless I'm doing exams." Everyone looks at the boy shocked as he has his head down and his lips pressed together and Minerva says: "You have a point, Mr. Potter. Your parents were both highly talented and showed it more in classes than in other things – except pranks of course.
It could be that Poppy and you are on to something that could explain why your situation seems the exact opposite." Harry nods and then Sirius, who was still holding onto him, hugs him a little tighter and says: "I don't care if you have an opposite reaction to school and other forms of magic. I just hope you're wrong about that suppressed magic."
I nod at him as I can still clearly remember the many times my father called Bella, Andy and me together to explain us why we should always be proud to show our magic and why hiding it was a dangerous and wrong thing to do and while I know that Sirius got the same speeches from Orion Black, do I read on.
The great … the exits. Quite a couple of them hit Harry in the ribs and legs and apologized swiftly as they kept running, but there were so many cases of it that Harry ended up twisting and curled up in pain on the floor, unable to get up because of his injuries.
This makes Sirius hug Harry closely, obviously into the book and worried and Viktor quickly stands up to take a seat next to the man, wrapping his arms around the two – just like Remus. Harry's other friends also look worried and all of the Quidditch team and Weasley family – excluding Molly of course – have gone to sit with them.
Harry smiles at all of them and says: "Don't worry, all those wounds healed overtime. You don't even see them anymore." And Hermione, her voice almost choking up with worry asks: "And they don't open up anymore either?" Harry shakes his head at his best friend and everyone sighs in relief before I continue reading.
As the … some food as he didn't want to worsen the punishment he's just come back from.
After calming down and having taken a brandy Uncle Vernon had renewed his anger, had taken Harry out of his cupboard and over to Dudley's second bedroom – the punishment room in Harry's eyes. He had tied Harry down and thrown books at him, together with other broken toys. He had then used his fists to open up old wounds and further break Harry's wrist.
And finally had he taken out his cigarette lighter and undone his belt, hitting Harry's open back with it 40 times – as was custom with heavy punishment – before using the lighter to scar the belt wounds, making sure the skin inside and the torn blood veins would heal, but also that the skin could not fill up the welts and streams on Harry's back.
He had then shouted Harry's hide full, calling him worthless, a freak, a waste of his time and space, the evidence his parents were useless and that he'd be better off dead with them before grounding Harry and taking him his blanket as he send him back to his cupboard.
Everyone's furious, some of them angry enough that their magic is almost becoming palable and others cursing under their breaths and I don't know what made them more furious; the hits, the throwing, the insults or everything together. I myself think: "This is worse than when my sister sends a Cruciatus curse at one of her victims."
Then a tearful Hermione asks: "Harry, af-after all that – how – how could you have – have grown to – to – be who you are?" Everyone looks at Harry, their friends teary-eyed with worry and a slight hint of pride and while he has his head down, does he say: "You'll understand soon enough. Just read on." I nod and do as he asks.
He'd lived … his forehead.
"You survived the Killing Curse?" Many of the younger students shout, while many of the older students ask: "You actually remember that?" And Harry, his voice hollow and almost dead answers: "Yes and yes. And why shouldn't I? If my life had been as miserable as described, would I not try and remember happier times?"
The students nod and Harry says: "As I said before, I've gone to know more and more about my life before those Muggles. At first, yes, it was only that, but ever since I came into the Magical World, especially since Third, have I come to remember more and more." The students nod, while I feel for the boy and read on.
This, he …the house.
"Mr. Potter, we should have told you this in your first year, but we suspected that you did know your parents and that you had pictures of your own." Minerva speaks to the boy, her voice clogged up and proving that this terrible reading is too much even for her mental defences and he turns to look at her as she says:
"After your parents' death a lot of us remembered the wonderful time we had with them as our students and Albus allowed us to use our memories and his Pensive to make pictures of your parents. We used a secret room, known only to the teachers, to make a memorial to your parents and put all of those pictures there."
Harry looks shocked, his eyes wide with wonder about the possibility of such a room and Filius says: "Once the time starts running again, we'll bring you there, Mr. Potter. You'll be the only one allowed." The boy looks at his teachers with teary eyes and Sirius hugs him softly with a large smile on his face as I read on.
When he … only family.
"If only –." Draco mutters, but Lucius shakes his head and says: "Son, it would not have mattered. Even with my growing connection to Minister Fudge, it would not have mattered as the Adoption centre would have investigated our entire family and would have found Sirius to be your mother's second cousin.
His wronged sentence would have kept us from taking Harry home." And Draco asks: "But we could have fought for at least visiting rights, right?" But this time Remus is the one shaking his head and says: "I was James' closest friend, but Albus was Head of the Wizengamot and the Adoption centre listened to the word of the Wizengamot.
He denied me those rights year after year and even brought in a vote to have all of Harry's mail and inheritance be sealed away until further notice. I don't think he ever undid that unanimous vote." To which Harry asks: "So some stranger is now in charge of my mail and inheritance?" To which Amelia instantly says:
"I will look into it at once, Mr. Potter." Harry nods, his eyes wide with both worry and an obvious wonder about what could be in those letters and what his inheritance could hold and while I feel furious that Dumbledore thought it right to keep an Heir of an Ancient family from his birthright, do I keep my anger down and read on.
Yet sometimes … buying anything.
That had resulted in being the first time uncle Vernon used both sides of his belt as punishment.
A wild-looking … closer look.
"Talk about disgustingly rude behavior." Draco growls and says: "It's all fine and dandy if they get to meet their hero, but what happens with his mind if they do and then vanish they don't even care about." This makes quite a few Purebloods look down and I realize they did the same but from afar. I smile and read on.
At school … Dudley's gang. And that had been before he was expelled and before he had sworn never to return or visit Mss. Crenson again.
This worries me and while the hall is dead silent yet again, do I think: "What on earth happened that year?" But part of me doesn't want to know and I walk over to my family, leaving the book open and not caring about it as every member of my family is now more important. Especially my young black haired cousin.
