Chapter 22-Whats new

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Surprisingly I found a number of qualified and honest individual who I put strategic places before they could again declared me evil or a Dark Lord, these were the people ran the Ministry and yelled at the Wizengamot. Oh I did my own bit of yelling at the people to make things work but over all I had to make a few speeches, look pretty and attend some balls.

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And the years pass:

I thought it was hilarious, here I wasn't even 40 years of age and I was a political has-been. At least I was able to retire and slip into "obscurity". The house elves have had a gazillion little ones and in my own ways I'm not far behind. All the little ones kept me quite busy. I should be happy for the next 200 years playing uncle, father and grandfather. By that time I should be able to figure out where to go hide and under what name. Any new Dark Lords would be totally the Ministry of Magic's problem. Now where did I hear that before?

/Scene Break/

Harry Potter's name and even his magic itself, had passed into legend. It had been 300 years since the battle of Hogwarts and if anyone asked no one could say where and when Harry Potter had died. After all no one lived forever.

This night was one of Harry Potter's favorite nights, it was Halloween. In THE graveyard under a full moon some of the descendents of Death Eaters were in the process of performing a demonic ritual. They wished to bring back the Dark Lord to life and power. After all they had been raised by their relatives telling of the great tales of power and a lost era of glory.

Where the tombs were obtained from or what the ritual itself consisted of was of no importance as a demonic fire erupted from the ground around a chipped marble statue. Voldemort rose amidst the flames. On each resurrection Voldemort looked less and less human and this time was no exception. His skin seem to barely hang on to his bones and it appeared bloated and blotchy. He appeared more inferi that any thing else, his red eyes scanned the surrounding area.

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Daphne, Gabby and I were sitting at the table underneath a huge umbrella when Hedwig flamed in to perch on one of the vacant chairs. Hedwig's personality and not changed much over the years as she stared at me. I knew there was something up when Fawkes flamed in next Hedwig.

"Okay guys which one of you has the good news and which one of you have the bad news?"

"The bosses say that you and your wives are going to go back to Hogwarts as seventh year students." Fawkes mentally sent.

Hedwig then sent, "Your old buddy Voldemort is back and is looking for you lover boy."

Daphne beat me in replying, "No! Harry is not going; he finished that jerk 300 years ago. So whoever is running around calling himself Voldemort is the Ministries problem."

"I'm sorry but he was recalled from purgatory and you are the only thing on his mind. The idiot's that had called him back don't realize they made a pack with a number of demonic entities. If Voldemort wins the demonic forces will be allowed occupy your world. Only ending this Voldemort will stop that from happening."

"But you are putting all of the children at Hogwarts at risk." Gabby was deftly stating the obvious.

Fawkes just shook his head and continued, "This is not a semi-rational Voldemort but a demonic Voldemort. His existence was terminated at Hogwarts by Harry Potter who was at Hogwarts so Voldemort will be heading for Hogwarts sooner or later in search of Harry Potter. Right now he's preparing."

The outcome was a foregone conclusion so the planning started.

/Scene Break/

We had not been to London England in very long time. Once people started noticing that we were not aging we disappeared to our island. Most of our time was spent visiting America or Australia and soon it became a habit not to visit England. Time flies, crawls, but it keeps moving and I would probably be laughed out of town if I tried to introduce myself as Harry Potter.

We had lived off the Barclays credit card or just walked into a local branch to withdraw our fun money. The Elves kept our trunk full of galleons from the hut in the back yard. I had also obtained my deeds and properties after my conviction was overturned. Now we need to go through Gringotts to get the paperwork filed showing our new identity and be enrolled in Hogwarts.

As we entered the Leakey Cauldron, "I can't believe this place is exactly the same as I remember it, only the people are different." Daphne was clearly astounded.

As we entered Diagon Alley I had to comment, "This is really strange! We get this train that goes faster than a Firebolt and get a driverless taxes that hovers off the ground. Have they even applied a coat of paint to some of the shops since we left?"

"It does seem like the magical world likes to be centuries behind everybody else in the world." Gabby giggled.

We entered Gringotts: "Master goblin I need to claim a vault or two and establish a good amount of paperwork." The goblin nodded and I was led into a back-office.

"We need to check your identity, and this will reveal much about you beside your name." He places a piece of paper on the desk, and gave me a small knife. "Please prick your finger and let three drops fall onto the paper."

The paper glows golden for a second, and then words begin to form on the page: HARRY JAMES POTTER Family: JAMES TIBERIUS POTTER, LILY MARIE POTTER nee EVANS. Heir to: POTTER family, BLACK family, GRYFFINDOR family, SLYTHERIN family, PEREVELL family. Abilities: WANDLESS MAGIC, ANIMAGUS.

I've never seen a goblin turn different shades of color after he snatched up the paperwork and read its contents. He jumped up and ran out of the room minutes later an older goblin entered into the room clutching that same document.

"I am Bank Manager Bloodlust! Would you care to explain this? Our test does not make errors but you cannot be Harry Potter!"

"Its good meet you bank manager Bloodlust and I am indeed the one and only Harry Potter. If you have the time one day I would be happy to sit down and explained the whole thing but I guess you can sum it up as, well, my wives are immortal."

"For a story of this magnitude I have the time would you care to follow me to my office?" And so we did. As we explained our lives the bank manager had his people completing numerous tasks such as enrolling us into Hogwarts and establishing identity documents. As we left the bank I was now registered at the Ministry as Lord Harry James Perevell.

/Scene Break/

We rented a room at the Leakey Cauldron while goblins and house elves were busy completing multiple errands. While goblins were establishing the many Ministerial permits in our names we had no place to live. Time would have ravaged unmaintained buildings. Grimmauld Place had long since been leveled by the British government for a new housing project. Our elves were currently working on a cottage that we had just purchased in Hogsmeade Village.

"So what's on the agenda for the rest of the day and what do you all suggest we do tomorrow?" Daphne was already organizing and preparing a schedule.

"Well since we can't find a raw steak I opt for Chinese this evening." Gabby grumbled.

"I think we ought to take care of our school supplies tomorrow since were here in a alley. The elves will transport what we purchase to our cottage so we should be settling in to our new residency by tomorrow afternoon. I'd also like to swing by and take a look at Hogwarts while we are checking out the village. It would be smart to know the lay of the land when Voldemort comes calling." I recommended.

"I think we need to see if we can get into Hogwarts or at lease talk with the Headmaster. I'm assuming he knows that Voldemort is running around. If he doesn't we need to enlighten him." Gabby added.

/Scene Break/

After typical English breakfast we departed our cottage and took a leisurely stroll to the gates of Hogwarts. The exterior of Hogwarts looked exactly as it did many years ago. While the magical world as a whole was backwards we kept tripping over innovations. After 300 years some things just had to seep into wizard society. We push the red button on the call box and few minutes later a grumpy old man led us to the Headmaster's office.

"Yes Headmaster I am going to be a seventh year student here in the coming year. I was wondering if you were a aware of the current status of Voldemort…"

I had forgotten about the portraits but was reminded by a scream from Elizabeth Burke as she fled from the frame. As we turned to face the portraits I heard, "Harry?" from Professor McGonagall, as many of the portraits started yelling. There came "Lord Black?" from Phineas Nigellus Black and..."Potter!", Still arrogantly sticking your nose in areas that don't concern you!", from Severus Snape. Dolores Umbridge and Albus Dumbledore I ignored.

After wave from his hand and the portraits were silenced, "I am known as Headmaster Granger. You appear to be well known in this office for a new student."

"Headmaster, I cannot tell you how many times I have been dragged into this office for some of the most bizarre of reasoning. My stated purpose here today is to find out if you are aware of the current status of Voldemort."

"There have been unsubstantiated rumors but I say, at the least, any information in this area is definitely below your pay grade as a student."

"By any chance would you be related to a Hermione Jean Granger?"

"Why yes my grandmother. How would you come to know that information?" It was like his name and bushy hair wasn't a good indicator.

"I'm afraid that information is below your pay grade headmaster. But I will give you some information, Voldemort and his minions will be attacking Hogwarts in the near future. Come on girls we have some sightseeing that needs to be seen to and Professor McGonagall you're welcome to stop by our marriage quarters for a chat."

/Scene Break/

Since no one had information or at least was willing to give out any information so we would just have to wait. Voldemort was not stupid to come charging in by himself so as before he would have to amass an army. Questions were just how many would be stupid enough to join him, how much of his last life did he remember and just how powerful was he in this resurrection? The girls and I had lived through the last centuries and we were still finding inventions we had never seen before, had Voldemort kept up?

By now the Headmaster had probably grilled his portraits of ex-heads of Hogwarts. The question is whether he would believe any of what he was told. Every time I thought about it I chuckled to myself. But in any case, I figured there was at least one more trip to the headmaster's office that would come due when school opened.

"All right girls school starts next week and the big question is do we look up any of our old friends descendents? At least our children don't go to school at Hogwarts so that's one problem where not going to enjoy."

"I deftly say no." Daphne asserted, "All it will do is raise questions on how we know or why were asking. I for one would prefer our history remain unknown."

"I agree with Daphne but that's assuming the Headmaster doesn't rat us out. I'm still not happy with putting the students at risk with us at Hogwarts. The students are not much more than sacrificial goats in Voldemort way." Gabby look like she's was ready to start throwing fireballs so I recommended we head out for pizza.

/Scene Break/

On September 1st and as with tradition, we entered platform 9 ¾. The steam belching Hogwarts express was still being used so we grabbed a compartment at the end of the train and settled in. We only had two visitors and both of were Perfects. At first the girl stopped by was curious who we were as she had never seen us before. The guy I think was more interested in ogling Gabby than anything else.

The sky was relinquishing its hold on the last streaks of multi-colored daylight as I looked through the compartment window, watching the landscape of northern Great Britain as it was flying by at a considerable pace. Hogsmeade station would be coming into view in a very short time.

I had never seen so many students nor professors in my entire time at Hogwarts. There was at least a thousand students. All trying to get to their seats at their appropriate tables. I was sure a great number of them had not ridden on the train. After the first year's were sorted it became our turn and I thought while chuckling, the hat was going to have a heart attack.

"What are you doing here? You should be dead! Great Merlin! Voldemort is coming back? Oh you're more worried about Hogwart's defenses. The old wards are still around but they have added a few new wrinkles. Where to put you?"

"EAST WING marriage quarters! NO House assigned for Lord Perevell and family." That got the Hall whispering as we sat at the closest table.

AND of course after the feast was over, "Lord Perevell I would like to see you in my office at this time."

As we were walking to the Headmaster's office, "Well at least he is not calling me Harry my boy, which by itself is a good sign."

As we approach the gargoyle I realized that we didn't know the password but the gargoyle leaped out of the way.

"Lord Perevell I thank you for coming so quickly. I must apologize for my abruptness at our first meeting but I have subsequently had some discussions."

"Apology accepted Headmaster. What can I do for you?"

"I was quite amazed at the number of portraits in this room that were not overly kind in their description of Harry Potter. I wish to assure you that that information will remain in this office. Also, since your departure many years ago, that new technology has been added in the defense of the school. I must however keep the exact information on the defenses a secret. But I assure you they are quite adequate."

"Headmaster I am still being kept a mushroom in the dark from a plethora of sources. I have no information other than Voldemort will in the future be attacking Hogwarts." I turned toward the portraits which to my surprise were silent.

"There are all under a silencing charm as I was surprised to find how adamant some of them were in describing what they considered your deficiencies. I assure you I find them quite petty. Should you have the time I would love to hear your point of view of some of the stories my grandmother had to tell of your adventures here at Hogwarts."