Hey everyone,
So this is going to be the last chapter before we get introduced to Luna and before another KH character will be joining Sora and his friends for the reading and to be honest, I am quite excited for this chapter as it will bring everything full circle for both Riku and his family as well as Neville and his family's treatment.
Excited yet,
Venquine1990
Chapter 24
Revelations And Punishments
12th of August 1995
Potter Place
Riku's POV
"Our relatives are absolutely crazy." Is what goes through my mind after I have spent the last two hours with my brother in several rooms across Potter Place and have given him and my grandmother a tour of the entire place as well as helped them to a set of rooms on the same floor as where Sora and his family are sleeping.
At first Neville had tried objecting to this, yet Sora had silenced his objections with the statement: "Hey, Riku sleeps on this floor and so should you." And because my little brother had no arguments that he could think of to counter that, did he and gran pick the rooms next to my own, which instantly adapted themselves.
Gran's was an amazing shock for Neville as it was actually a gorgeous mix of awards that our parents earned when they were studying and later working their respective jobs as well as a few pictures of their greatest achievements and several plants that Neville recognized as gifts he had given his gran as well as pictures of him.
And while I had really felt for the boy as well as worried for how shocked he had actually seemed, had I only needed a single look into his room before I had grabbed his arm and said: "Come with me." And we had spent a wonderful half an hour in Tarzan's room, swinging from the branches and studying the amazing flora.
After that we had found ourselves a calm little spot in one of the study rooms on the ground floor and I had slowly but surely gotten to know more and more about the abuse my brother had suffered at the hands of people who would rather exchange him for a total stranger than actually take the responsibility they were given.
I had, however, not just taken the boy's pain, I had also shared some of my own, telling him of what first inspired me to choose the Darkness over my own Islands as well as how much of a struggle it had been to keep it a secret from Sora that I was in love with him because I had been so stupid as to be blind to his love for me.
Yet Neville had proven me that he really is an incredibly caring boy as he had only laughed at the points where I just jested at all those mistakes of my own, not at the fact that I had been that stupid for that long. And by now I just cannot understand what could be considered wrong with the boy in the eyes of my other relatives.
"So, what do you think of the idea of reading of the future alongside us?" I then ask the question that I have been curious about since we all agreed that Neville and our gran would be staying at Potter Place for the rest of summer and the lad seems unsure as to how to answer this question as he asks: "I'm – not sure, I guess?"
And while I hate the fact that, even now, I seem to be making the boy feel so unsure of himself and bringing out the shyness bred into him by our ignorant relatives and their belief that Neville just isn't the grandson they deserve to have, do I just smile and say: "At least you will definitely be making lots of new friends."
And the lad smiles at me, his eyes proving that he is well aware of how I tried to break the tension there and I think: "Seriously, why would anyone want to force another person to hide parts of their character just because those bastards didn't believe their targets worthy of their love or even a word of praise or compliment?"
And just like with Kairi and Sora – and for a while even Roxas – do I feel the guardian within me come up and think: "I won't let them. I know Gran is taking care of our relatives, but I won't let them near Neville again. Not if they don't change their attitude towards my little brother." Yet then Neville shocks me as he asks:
"Hey Riku, why aren't you spending time with Sora right now?" And I look at him shocked as he says: "Well, you told me how much time you feel you wasted in the past believing he was the one you loved but couldn't have, so – I just assumed you would want to make up for that as much as possible. I mean, don't you?"
And I smile at him as I say: "I do, but the reason I'm not doing that is simple. I'm spending time with you." Yet the boy seems obvious to how important that is to me and asks: "But – wouldn't you rather spend it with him instead of me?" And I answer quite simply: "Nope. And besides, he would probably skin me if I did."
My brother still seems to have trouble believing me, which kind of hurts and then I decide to just break the image he has of himself thanks to our relatives as I say: "You know, you actually remind me of Sirius Black, really." And the boy looks at me with his eyes wide with shock, yet I shrug at him as I turn away and say:
"Well, think of it this way. He was a real black sheep of the family and our relatives tried turning you into one as well. Yet if you look at where he is now – bonded, freed by the Queen herself and with his sons returned to him – and where they are now – about to be scolded by our gran – I'd say you got the better end of the stick."
And this seems to do exactly what I had hoped spending the last few hours with him would do as, from the corner of my eye, I can see him sending me a true content smile, a soft aura of self-pride coming over the younger man and I think: "Our relatives are crazy, but they did turn Neville into an awesome little brother."
Sirius' POV
"You know, you actually remind me of Sirius Black, really." These words make me halt in my movement as I am searching out Sora, Harry and James to spend some time with them before the reading restarts in a few hours-time and I tilt my head back to gaze into the room in the hopes of finding out who said this.
To my shocked confusion, I see Riku and Neville standing in the study room and by the look of shock on Neville's face I can only assume that Riku was the one who tells him this, yet while I can sort of guess why the boy was told this – and while I am relieved not to be any of his relatives right now – does Riku then say:
"Well, think of it this way. He was a real black sheep of the family and our relatives tried turning you into one as well. Yet if you look at where he is now – bonded, freed by the Queen herself and with his sons returned to him – and where they are now – about to be scolded by our gran – I'd say you got the better end of the stick."
And while I can see Neville actually grow in confidence and pride at hearing that, do I smirk at the two brothers before walking on, feeling exhilarated to find Harry, Sora and James flying at the pitch we have at the back of the Potter Place grounds which is just slightly smaller than the Quidditch pitch and used for Flying practice.
Harry and James are actually teaching Sora how to use and fly the broom he is seated on and I lean back against the stand for a short while as I watch this happen before Harry shouts: "Hey dad, come join us!" Making me laugh and instantly a Potter House Elf comes to answer their Master's wish, handing me a broom.
And while I am no Potter and am definitely not on either Harry or James' level – which Sora doesn't seem to be either – do I still feel sheer elation fill me up as I get on the broom presented to me and take off from the ground, happily starting to fly laps around the pitch and in between the several obstacles around the pitch.
"Wow, I guess I'm like dad." I then hear Sora gasp and this reminds me of what I heard only minutes ago and this makes me laugh as I think: "I am trying my hardest to be an example to my son, yet without trying I am one for another kid." Before I smile at my son and say: "Hey, we can't all be Potters." And my family laughs.
Inside the House
Augusta's POV
Three men. Four women. The seven members of my family between which I switched the care for my grandson while I often took on the leading role of Regent of the Family, because the Lord in question is incapable of honoring his duties and role as Head of House and who have apparently been taking the mickey out of me this entire time.
They seem shocked to be here, at Potter Manor, and I have no doubt that they will be shocked to hear the news that, I am sure, is ringing through the Magical World as we speak, yet I have spent the last hour discussing my best course of action with Sirius as he is the father of Sora, who will soon become my new grandson-in-law.
And the decision we both agreed on is one I feel will probably punish these bastards for working so hard on breaking all of my dreams that, if nothing else, Neville would grow up with Frank's levels of honor and confidence, even though I did admit to Sirius that I often expressed this with the desire to see Frank in my grandson.
Sirius had not been happy with this and had told me: "Augusta, you shouldn't make the same mistake as Minerva is making. It's the whole reason Harry doesn't trust her and you are the only member of his family that Neville – until he grows to see Riku for who he is – actually trusts. Remember, a child's trust is sacred."
And I had agreed with the man before he had left me to take care of my relatives and then one of them, my aunt Estela, asks: "Augusta, how did you get us in here?" And I answer: "I got invited to stay here for the remainder of the summer by the Head of the family." Yet instantly I can tell that I made a mistake saying it like that.
A sense of expectation and greed actually seems to overcome my brother, father, aunt and the others and my father asks: "Harry Potter has finally taken his Heritage? Good, that will help him quite nicely." Yet I can more than easily see through him, which angers me and I snarl: "Help him – or help you, father?"
The man looks shocked and then my brother asks: "What is wrong with that? House Longbottom –." Yet I glare him silent and hiss: "Don't give me that junk, Algernon. I can easily see that all of you are planning to just overwhelm that young man and influence all his future decisions to benefit you only – which cannot happen."
I smirk at the end and my relatives look at me shocked before I say: "It cannot happen – because Harry Potter is still only the Heir of the family, while James Potter has been recognized by the Wizengamot to be alive and has taken his official role as Head of the Most Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter. And that's not all."
By now the sense of expectation and greed has fully left this room, yet I feel as if an aura of pride and smugness has overcome me and I happily snipe at them as I say: "It has been confirmed by the magic of the Wizengamot magic that Veela Sirius Orion Black is officially bonded to Lord James Potter, thus uniting their two Houses."
This actually seems to scare and worry two of my aunt's daughters as well as my brother's only son, who – because he is Algernon's son – can only inherit whatever I leave him once my own time comes and I almost feel as giddy as the first time I managed to beat Abraxas Malfoy in an official House play in the Wizengamot as I say:
"And finally, has Lord Potter happily bonded his son to the Twin sons of House Weasley as well as to a young man that seems to have taken a protective, Dominant role in the boy's life, which is apparently possible because the boy inherited his father's Veela heritage. And here comes the finest news I could have for you."
My family seems to all be feeling different emotions – some of them excitement over my potential news, others worried that I might snap at them or otherwise degrade them and others again apparently feeling disappointed to hear that Harry has been taken – and while I remind myself to report them to James later, do I say:
"Lord Black has accepted that our Riku – who has finally, at long last, returned – will be officially bonded to his own eldest son Sora, who has also returned as Sora is apparently also a Veela yet desires only Riku. Lord Black has also agreed that, unless Sora says it can be so – none of you are ever to see or meet with his mate."
And while my family had started muttering and buzzing with excitement over hearing that their Primal Heir has returned and that their family is bonded to another House that can now be officially seen as an Ancient Powerhouse, do they all turn to me with their eyes wide and their eyes bulging out of their faces at the end of my speech.
"You – you – you – Lord Black can't do that!" Algernon shouts, but I glare at him and snarl: "He can, because neither of us want any of you to do to Riku what you did to Neville." And the family looks shocked before I ask: "Who is Riku?" And the family shares shocked, confused glances between themselves as I continue:
"What is his character like? What food does he like? What are his hobbies? What crafts does he practice? What is his favorite subject at school? How does he view Purebloods and Muggleborns? What are his opinions on the alliances? How does he behave at parties? Is he good at organizing family feasts?
What does he hope to accomplish? When did he realize he was swinging for the same team? Who are his friends? What were his latest scores? What is his dream job? Does he like politics? What is his strongest spell? Who are his rivals in school? What teacher treats him right? What teacher treats him wrong? Who? Is? Riku?"
My family looks flabbergasted at my folly of questions asked and then Algernon says: "Augie, there – there is no way we could – that we could possibly know any of that." And I ask: "Is there really?" And when he nods, do I ask: "Then why did you raise Neville as if Riku was the ultimate son of this House – when you don't even know Riku."
And my brother, father, aunt, her daughters as well as my brother's son and his twin sister share shocked looks before I glare down at them and say: "Your upraising is what turned Neville into the boy he is today, the boy who might never have Frank's pride or honor. And all because you chose a stranger over him.
He was your responsibility whenever I was unable to care for him, because I was keeping our Family's head high – and you all failed, because of very, very screwed up views, beliefs and treatment. And because that treatment almost made Neville hate Riku instead of you, did Lord Black forbid you from any and all contact with Riku.
And I accepted this, because he actually showed more humanity and acceptance than I would have and made it so that you all actually have one exception to the rule. If – if and when – Sora feels that Neville and Riku can forgive you for your treatment of the former, will he approach you and will he accept you into making contact.
And that is more than I believe you all deserve, considering how you just took the mickey out of my request of you to raise the only member of my son's family I thought I had left. My husband is dead, my son and daughter-in-law are no better, my eldest grandson was missing – and I couldn't even rely on you for my youngest."
And by now do they all share an air of utter guilt and self-hate before I say: "I will probably see you all at the Grand Feast at the 31st of August, when I officially announce the bond between Riku and Sora as well as the union of Houses Black and Longbottom. Just don't think this can make you overstep your boundaries."
And with that do I leave them to ponder my words in the room, sighing in self-hate over the fact that it took me fourteen years to notice this and that, in the mean-time, the youngest member of my family had to suffer behind my back – and that I may have added to his suffering due to my own twisted views of what he could be.
"These books. I – I can only hope that they can mend the rift that Lestrange, my family and even I myself caused to exist between my grandson and me. That, after all these years, they can help me be the grandmother that Neville – and maybe Riku too – actually need." And with that do I start to wander the halls of Potter Place.
Hey everyone,
Okay, so I did check up on the Harry Potter Wiki site if there were any family members of Augusta known as canon, yet other than Alice, Frank, Neville and Algie, there was absolutely nothing, so I just created several members myself as I kind of believed that the Longbottom House could be like House Black; extremely extended.
Now, there might be a bit more detail coming up on these relatives later, but for now we are all going back to the reading of the books. And, just to appease the concern of one of my new readers, I will try and make sure that they read at least up to the Christmas chapters before taking their next break – bar nightly breaks, of course.
Hope you like this, Shelleykids,
Venquine1990
PS. That was a shoutout there, not meant as an insult. I loved our little conversation, you know. Hope you don't mind.
