Hey everyone,
So this chapter is probably going to be both very short and very touching and heartfelt. It will focus on Ariel and Hermione getting their check-ups by Andy – with the magic of Potter Place give Ariel a nice surprise – as well as on the Chasers coming to Potter Place and them seeing the bond between Harry and his mates.
Hope you enjoy,

Venquine1990


Chapter 39
Health, Talks And Reports

14th of August 1995
Ariel's Chamber, Potter Place
Hermione's POV

I know that I owe everyone an apology, but ever since we discovered the Heartstamp Spell have I been pretty darn sure that I was under it. Because of that did I have to fake my shock, but not my fright when Riku brought up this possibility and I actually felt a little better about myself in the time he was checking my heart.
I was also grateful for the fact that it finally got revealed as it made it easier for everyone to see the difference between the me in the book and the real me. And they have been giving me much better admonishments and advice since, yet that doesn't change things now. And it doesn't take away the concern and fear I feel.

"Mrs. Tonks, can I ask you something?" I ask, if only to keep my mind distracted by sating curiosities instead of focusing on the spell in question. The woman turns to me as we walk over to Queen Ariel's room and I try to hold back on whimpering as I ask: "Did you do Harry when you did, because he was asleep at the time?"
Yet the woman seems confused and says: "No, because the three of you – you, him and Sirius – seem to be the worst affected." Which makes me wince and King Erik asks: "Why do you ask, Hermione?" And this time I do whimper as I cry: "Because the spell is trying to force me to give up on this, to fight you lot with all I have."
Which shocks the three and Queen Ariel asks: "This spell can affect and order the affected around – even with the caster dead?" And yet Mrs. Tonks doesn't seem to know, but I do fight every instinct, both natural and magical, when I see her draw her wand. And I let out tears of silent relief when she hits me with a Stunner.

A little while later

I feel myself being in a different position from how I was when I was last conscious, but I also feel other things. I feel mental strength that I haven't felt in years, I feel assured in my bonds with my friends in ways I have actually never felt before, I feel I can trust in the decisions of not just others, but my own as well.
This makes me sigh relieved and I hear Mrs. Tonks say: "Thank you for your words, Hermione dear. I never knew that the spell could continue ordering people around after the caster died, that it would make you fight me in removing it or that removing it while the person is out cold actually gives a boost to the person's self-esteem.
Yes, I checked that just before I woke you up." This makes me turn to her voice with a smile on my face and I whimper: "Glad I could help. But, considering how this keeps tiring you out every time you do it, how are you going to be able to help Sirius and the others?" To which the woman smirks at me and strongly states:
"Simple, by not telling them unless they tell us, the way you did." And while I don't like this method, as it involves keeping secrets from my friends, does the woman lie a hand on my shoulder and say: "You can tell Harry this, dear. But only if you're sure he will keep it a secret from others that I have yet to apply treatment to."
At which I mutter: "So I keep it secret until we finish the next chapter." And while I don't say why, do I not need to as the woman already knows that there is nothing Harry will keep secret from his father, especially not if it concerns the man's own health. Yet I don't like this and decide to just ignore it for the time being.

So instead, I sit up, realize that I am in the bed the King and Queen obviously share and turn to seeing them sit on a shared sofa near my bedside. "Have you –?" I ask and Mrs. Tonks shakes her head as she says: "I treated you, rested, did a check-up to see what potions could still be affecting you and wrote out a recipe of medicine for you."
At which I nod, the idea that I might still be controlled in some way not one I want to think of and instead I ask: "Do you want me to leave while you –?" To which, while I can tell that the woman would rather finish up with me first, she just says: "Only if either of them doesn't want you here. Otherwise, you can stay."

"You need your rest, dear. And it sounds like you can use some positivity. You can stay." Queen Ariel tells me and King Erik asks: "Ariel, how can you be sure it's going to be good news?" To which the woman shrugs and says: "A Mother's instinct – and the fact that we arrived after that woman got taken care of, really."
Which makes her husband turn red as he mutters: "Good point." And the three of us giggle and laugh at this before I sit up and watch in fascination as Mrs. Tonks runs her wand over the Queen, who has her top pulled up to just underneath her bra to make it easier for the woman. Yet Ariel does seem to be slightly wrong in her beliefs.
Mrs. Tonks works for a solid 17 minutes, yet falters for a second at the 12 minute mark and then seems to change her spell work for a few minutes before she mutters: "Well, what do you think about that?" Yet she doesn't let us question her and just goes back to where she seems to have left off before she faltered in her spell chain.

And when she's done, does she tap her wand against the upper arm of her spare arm and say: "Well, I must say that is something I never expected to see happen." To which a frantic Erik asks: "What? What happened? Is something wrong with my daughter? With our Melody?" But Mrs. Tonks astounds us all as she says:
"Only if you call the fact that your daughter can change into a mermaid at will something wrong." We all look at her with wide eyes and open mouths and Ariel asks: "Wait, she can – what?" Tonks nods and says: "I was astounded myself, but I did notice it. When I did a spell to check your daughter for inherited abilities, this popped up.
Though it does seem that the ability was dormant until you came here. I can only imagine that the magic of Potter Place, especially the magic that has been cast off from the Center Stone all this time, has been slowly but surely making the ability a more active one. If it hadn't your daughter would still be able to do this, but with help."

At which I mutter: "The same help that transformed Ariel into a human at the end of the movie. The magic of her father's trident." And while Erik seems astonished that I know this, does Mrs. Tonks nod and say: "That sounds quite plausible, yes. I would advice you to keep your daughter close to water the first few months.
Considering how this ability is now active, there is a high chance she will do this through accidental magic and with the power levels I was able to sense in you when I checked your health, Your Highness, there is a very high chance she will perform her first bout sometime within the first four to six months of her life."

"Wait, she's a witch? Our daughter's – a Muggleborn?" But to this Mrs. Tonks shakes her head and says: "No, I would sooner call her a Half-blood, Your Majesty. Simply because your wife is – in our world – known as a Siren, which is indeed a Magical Being. Though I can't say for sure if the little princess will have a core as well.
Your wife just isn't far along enough for me to know that. To be honest, if I had done this yesterday, I wouldn't have even been able to cast the ability spell. Yes, just one day can make a difference when it comes to heath spells like that." The king nods and asks: "Anything else we should know? Any potions Ariel might need to take?"
To which Mrs. Tonks answers: "Mostly just the set that is prescribed to every pregnant witch or wizard. Calming draughts, a few Dreamless Sleep potions, some potions against stomach ache and nausea and of course plenty of Pain-relief Potions. Trust me, if my scans so far are any indication, you will need them the next month or so."

At this we all wince but then Mrs. Tonks turns to the King and says: "However, considering your wife's ability, the ability growing stronger within your daughter and the kind of character I have seen her to have these past few hours, I can tell you one thing. Do not Mollycoddle her or treat her like someone infantile or invalid.
I will make sure your wife gets all of these potions and I will keep giving her a check-up every month, but even with the pain she will probably go through in her muscles the next few weeks, you will need to support her, but also motivate her to keep moving. I've studied Siren mothers and let me tell you one thing, Your Majesty."
And the look that is now on Mrs. Tonks' face makes it very, very clear why she comes from the Most Noble and Most Ancient House of Black as she looks dark with dread and pain before she says: "Siren mothers that don't to rarely move – have a larger chance of birthing a stillborn child. Let – your wife – exercise – or lose your daughter."

And these haunting words make me glad that I'm currently lying in bed, but also make me wish I was still out cold. And yet the look on Erik's face calms me down as he's obviously furious that Mrs. Tonks would suggest he'd do anything to lose his daughter. Yet then the woman says: "I recognize an overprotective husband when I see on."
And instantly I realize that the woman was just giving out an empty threat. She was doing her job by providing her patients with all the information they needed, regardless of it being positive or negative, and was making sure they would not, subconsciously or unknowingly, do anything that could harm their progress in health.
And while this makes me lower the hand that was near my throat when the Healer told the King of what could happen if he let his over-protectiveness get the better of him, do I also now hate myself. "I shouldn't have procrastinated in hearing what my illness was. Dang, that was stupid of me." And I sigh in defeat at this.

At the same time
At the grounds
Harry's POV

Even though the book is nothing but dreadful and dreary chapters, even though Luna has just told us that, if not for the books, Fred would have died, even though Luna has told me that the 35% change of the future hasn't saved my dad's life just yet, do my feelings, my being and how I feel inside not reflect any of that.
I feel stronger, calmer, better, happier and more loved than I have ever felt. I also feel more confident about the friends I have made and more assured that I can entrust them with my secrets without fearing that they will abandon me. And the need to compare everything to the Dursleys only to consider them better is utterly gone as well.

And the best of it all is that I feel certain of the bond I have with Fred, George and Lea and feel ready to really play an active role. To not just be the one to receive the positive, romantic treatment, but to give it back as well or to start a romantic interaction or conversation. I feel confident that my future with them is 100% a guarantee.
And the same can be said for my bond with my parents and my newfound brother, but at the same time do I also feel like the happiness I feel over his return and the positive influence he's had on my life has been increased by ten if not twentyfold. And all fantasies I have about my future family now happily include him.

"Wow, who are you and what did you do to Harry Potter?" I then hear someone ask as I am standing next to Lea while Fred, George and Kingsley are using the shed with Floo-network connected fireplaces to bring Alicia, Angelina and Katie here and I notice that it's Alicia who asked me this question as she's already here.
The other two then also come through and while the twins send the girl a smile that is both teasing and has a bit of a warning in it, do I just shrug and say: "I'm right here, Ali. Something wrong with that?" Shocking the girl as I would normally start to stutter and ramble out excuses and explanations if someone asks me this.
"Dang, you guys have been dating for how long now?" Angelina asks as she hears this and the twins answer: "Since the 7th, Angie.""Only a week? Dang, you guys are good.""It's what happens when you decide to date pranksters." The twins happily chorus as they come to stand with me and I decide to prove and further amplify this.
I happily wrap my arms around both of them and then pull each of them down one at a time, the two starting to shine like fireworks as I plant a loving kiss on one cheek each. "Okay, you guys are good, but you're not that good! What else is going on?" Katie then asks and the twins sigh as they chorus: "It was worth a shot."

But then I say: "It is still slightly thanks to them that I am like this, though. But you are right, Katie. Let me make a long story short. You know of Molly and Ginny, you know of my brother and my parents and you know probably know that my father is related to Andromeda Tonks, who is a brilliant Healer and Mind Healer.
Well, it was my father from which I got my Veela inheritance – I am an Empathic Veela, by the way – and it was Alastor Moody, the real Moody, that discovered that Molly Prewett put me under a Heartstamp Spell, which Mrs. Tonks got rid off just a few hours ago. The Heartstamp is like a medium Dark version of the Imperius.
It does give the caster the ability to order and influence the target however they desire, but it doesn't take the target's free will, beliefs or other stuff. In other words, I was still me, just – less me and a little more and more her puppet.""Even with her dead?" The girls ask shocked and I say: "Not sure, the spell was still active though."

The girls look at me shocked and then Angelina shakes her head and asks: "So what did the spell do to you, exactly?" To which I shrug and say: "It broke my confidence to pieces, made me more gullible to others, worked on my hormones, made me more secretive than even one with my upraising would be and made me doubtful to trust adults.
I have issues with that, but the spell seems to both make it easier for me to rely on those issues and still try to fight them. Long story short, they make it harder for me to heal from what the Dursleys did to me – and easier for her to make it look as if she and Ginerva were my only way out of that kind of life and illness.
Though to be honest, I wasn't her worst victim, that was my dad." This shocks everyone and I growl: "She was using the Heartstamp Spell to keep him indoors, in a place that is a mental hell to him and to make him give me advice he never would have given had he been himself. She tried using it to break the bond between us."
But then I turn dark and pained and tears start to gleam in my eyes as I whimper: "Yet, at the same time, she used her spell on me to try and make me consider dad more and more important to me as time went on. She wanted him dead, but she also wanted to use his death to emotionally break me. To break the last of my spirit."

Everyone looks at me, the twins in raging fury over their former mother's actions and the Chasers in shock that this was happening – or could have happened to me – and because of what Luna had us discover earlier, do I cling to Fred, needing to feel him close in order to remind myself that these plans are no longer going to work.
Yet as I do this, do I notice the twins share a dark look with each other and I ask: "What? What is it?" "It's what you just said, about Sirius dying and what she wanted his death to do to you." Fred mutters and George growls: "We think she might have had another – an ulterior – motive behind that sick desire of hers."
I look at the two of them and Katie asks: "What could be more sick and twisted than using a father's death to break his son?" And yet it seems Lea is onto the two as he says: "Using that broken state – to bind said son to a person he would, by destiny, never be meant for." And while the girls gasp, do I realize that he's right.

"Ginny. She was in on –." Yet then I suddenly sense something and turn around, looking through the open door outside and think: "What the heck was that?" And I leave the small garden shed, allowing the strange sensation to guide me around the house and over to the front gates. And arriving there, I feel like grabbing my wand.
Percy is casting small stinging hexes at the gates, obviously meant to draw the attention of whoever is connected to the wards and while I wonder why mum hasn't been alerted to this, do the twins suddenly step forward and pull out their own wands. They look at me and I sigh but nod, taking their silent message to stay behind.
"You can't." Angelina suddenly says and we turn around as she says: "Harry is Heir Potter. He's the one Percy tried to get here. This is his property. If you arrive before him, it will be seen as a slight to his rights as Heir. You can be behind him as guards, but not ahead." And the twins grimace but listen to her advice nonetheless.

I then move on and when Percy spots us, he instantly seems to take down some kind of ward – which I can only assume is keeping his magic from being spotted by Muggles – before he puts his wand away. And this, while they keep their guarded expressions, makes the twins do the same, yet I also notice that Lea seems to have hidden himself.
"Heir Prewett." I state, having heard from my mum what Mr. Weasley did and while Percy cringes at this, obviously having hoped that I wouldn't know of it, does he say: "Greetings, Heir Potter. I come with news that, I felt, needed to be shared with you and my – ahem – my former father at poste haste. It concerns Molly and Ginerva."
This instantly makes the twins put a hand each in their robe pockets where their wands are, but Percy raises his arms and says: "I just want to report. I got the news from the Auror team that has, on orders of Madam Bones, been searching Weasley and Prewett Property for further evidence of crimes and felt I needed to bring the report myself.
I have no inclination to follow her works or support her cause. What was discovered sickens me and makes me want to bring an end to the House of Prewett right now and forever." Which really doesn't make my concerns for all this any better, but it also makes the twins return their arms to their sides, away from their wands.

"You are aware that your former brother Ronald wishes no more interaction with you and that he is still very much against what happened at your previous meeting?" I ask, if only to make sure I can't be held responsible if the two were to meet and Percy nods as he says: "I am. I just want entrance to the grounds, no more.
I will, after that, wait here until a room has been provided where I can give my report. If this, possibly, is one with an active Floo, I will use that right after to take my leave." At which I nod and turn to the only tree standing on this side of the Manor. And the way that the leaves blow in an unseen wind tells me everything.
I pull out my wand and use it to touch the top of the border gates as I say: "I, Harry James Potter, give permission to Percival Ignatius Prewett to enter the grounds of Potter Place as well as the walkway to the room chosen for him to give his report in regards to the investigation of Molly Anne and Ginerva Molly Prewett."
The gates shine, but strangely enough remain closed. Yet Percy expected this and to my amazement does he pass through them, his body moving through the metal as if it's made of air or water. Yet he stays standing on the other side and then shocks us as he pulls out his wand, only to reach it out to us, as if offering it for us to take.

"I am well aware that I am not trusted among those living in this residence and that my presence isn't fully welcomed here. I offer my wand as a sign that I wish not to seek conflict with anyone residing in this location of Ancient Blood." Percy tells us and I share a look with the Chasers, who nod, before I take the older boy's wand.
I make sure he sees me move my hand and put it in the pocket of my blue sweater before sensing yet again something new. I turn around and Percy says: "Your mother summons you. He probably expects you to guide me to the location of our meeting." And while I wonder how he knows this, do I not question it either.

I turn around and with the twins behind me, Percy behind them and the Chasers behind him do I move inside and instantly take the third door on the left that actually leads to a staircase downward. And this reminds me of what mum asked Moody to do when we read of Professor Umbridge and our first day of classes in my Fifth.
Feeling like an idiot for having forgotten this, I whisper to the twins: "We're checking out my family inheritance room once this meeting is over." And the twins give off very soft grunts, just loud enough for me to hear and know they agree with my plans. I then follow the sense down to the floor below and turn right instead of left.
And while I really want to turn my head towards where I know all these treasures are, do I focus on the task at hand. We move past several doors and finally, after about a dozen or so, take the one on the right. Yet before entering, do I knock and wait to open the door until I hear my mum's voice say: "Come on in, son."

And while I feel a strong sense of dread over what could come out of this meeting, do I open the door and let the others in. Yet Angelina, Katie and Alicia keep standing outside and Angelina says: "We'll wait outside. Consider us back-up if you need a comforting arm or warm hug or something." At which I send them a grateful nod.
I then close the door and turn around to Percy, who says: "Lord Potter, Lord Weasley, Lord Black." And the fact that he says the title of his former father without any spite, anger, hatred or resentment in his tone makes me think: "Yeah, we're going to need that hug later." And makes me take a step closer to my three mates.
"Percival, you have a report from Amelia and the Department of Magical Law Enforcement that you wish to share?" My dad asks and Percy nods as he says: "Yes, Lord Black. As you know, Madam Bones was sure the story of former Lady Prewett and Ginerva would get leaked sometime between now and September 1st."

At which I think: "Because she has been taking her kids to the station every year." But I don't voice it as I don't want to have anything cause for Percy to be distracted. "Well, because of this, she wanted to have a clear, cookie-cutter closed and shut case as she called it for when this would happen, so she went into a full investigation.
Nothing that belonged to either House Prewett or House Weasley was left unchecked and I know William has been present for this the entire time to ensure that, if something is found that is Family Private, it gets treated with the respect that it deserves. However, this only counted for anything found in regards to House Weasley."
"Or in regards to Gideon and Fabian. Surely Amelia remembered that." Mr. Weasley frowns and Percy nods as he says: "Yes, William was left in charge of that investigation. No Auror, Hit-Wizard or other Ministerial member was allowed to touch, reach out to or even show an intent to reach for said items without his permission.

And while William and I shared the thought and belief that Molly Anne cared for and respected her brothers too much to defile their legacy by using it for her evil schemes, were we both proven wrong. In fact, it is now the belief of the DMLE that Molly Anne used that belief to hide everything there." This shocks me and Lea asks:
"She hid all the stuff she used to hurt House Potter, Weasley, Black and others in their legacy?" But while I can tell from his tone how he thinks of this, does Percy shake his head and say: "They found her entire game plan in their legacy. To make matters worse, she put it – in between the lines written in both their wills."

All of us look at the boy with looks of horror and shock and the lad nods as he says: "William actually dropped the will when he found this out. And it gets even worse. She erased the parts of the will gifting stuff to Charles, Lord Weasley and the twins and replaced those texts with her game plan and changes she made over the years."
"She wrote them out of her brothers' will?" I ask, horrified and disgusted that the woman would do such a thing to her own kids and Percy nods as he says: "Lord Weasley was written out a month after the will released, Charles in the summer of 1991 and the twins in the winter of 1989." Which disgusts me and the twins speak up:
"Dad just to prove she cares nothing for him.""Charlie when he went to work with Dragons.""And us when we proved her we take our love for pranking a little too seriously for her liking." And while I hate how apathic they sound over this, does Lea ask: "Is there any chance they can still get that inheritance back?"
Percy nods and says: "The Goblins actually always keep one copy for themselves. They will need Lord Weasley to visit them, but when he does, they can release the copy and give everyone the bits they deserve." This makes us all sigh in relief and makes me smile at my mates as they really do deserve their shares.

"So, what about her game plan? Do you know it?" Lea asks and Percy turns white as he nods and says: "That's why it was decided that I should bring you the news. At first William wanted to do so, but when he read what her plans were, he could no longer bring himself to do it. He's even going to seek counselling for it."
At this the twins and Lea move to stand closer to me and dad pulls mum closer against his side as Mr. Weasley grimaces and says: "Do you have it on you?" And Percy shows him a group of scrolls that has been shrunk and it being held together by a single ribbon. His former father nods and says: "Just tell us the worst bits."
At this Percy grimaces and says: "The worst, in my opinion, are the fact that she actually had several reports of the Potter-Black relationship actually going back to the supposed wedding of Lord Potter and the late Lady Potter as well as a few others, though those are all reports of her actions of the past. Her future plans –."

And as if he was there, as if he was sitting with us when Luna told us of the picture that got whited out, does the former Weasley brother make me feel faint with horror and fear as he turns to where I am standing. But it's not me he's looking at. It's not me that makes tears of horror shine behind his rimmed glasses.
The lost brother of the Weasley Clan is looking at the boy who, if not for my brother and his friends coming back from the past, would have been lost to death. And the fact that this was something planned out by my mate's own former mother makes me turn around, actually push past my mates and run out the door, tears streaming.


Oh Harry,
Okay, let me make one thing clear. THIS WAS NOT PLANNED! I know, in the movies and books, Molly really does grieve her son's loss, but you have to remember that she is as dark and crazy as the potential love-child of Bellatrix Lestrange, Dolores Umbridge and Voldemort himself. And doesn't that give you nightmares?
Shudders in disgust,

Venquine1990
PS. WHO HAS SEEN AVENGERS INFINITY WAR? I want to write a piece about Thanos and what I want to see happen to him, but I don't want to reveal spoilers. PLEASE LET ME KNOW!