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XI: Time Flies

After that first weekend in his new family filled world Harry's life developed a fairly concrete schedule. His parents were better teachers than he was used to as they limited what they taught him to what he needed to know, and the lack of homework was an added bonus. By the end of November he had learned the entire course requirement for the first term of First year, after that came the practice. James Potter, former Quidditch Captain and top flight Auror made Oliver Wood's training routines look like child's play.

He was in regular contact with Hermione, and now Neville Longbottom- apparently Hermione was tutoring him and the two had become close friends. Neither Hermione nor Neville mentioned Ron in their letters; Harry wondered if he was alright. It occurred to him that as there were people in this world who weren't present in his old one like Robyn, Poppy, Teddy, Will and Mary; so it was entirely possible that there were people who he knew in the other world that didn't exist here.

What if there was no Ron Weasley?

It took a month for the news of the only survivor of the killing curse's sudden and unexplainable vanishing act to reach every witch, wizard and squib in the world, and I do mean all of them.

Even stuck in his cell, the sanest inmate of Azkaban prison had heard of the disappearance of the Boy Who Lived. He was livid, especially when incompetent ministry officials came to ask him whether or not he had anything to do with it.

"FIRST YOU THROW ME INTO AZKABAN WITHOUT A SODDING TRIAL AND NOW YOU LOSE MY GODSON AND HAVE THE GAUL TO WALTZ IN HERE AND ASK ME WHETHER I HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH HIS DISAPPEARANCE FROM SOMEWHERE THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE ONE OF THE SAFEST BUILDINGS IN WIZARDING BRITAIN?" Sirius snarled; some small part of his glad that he didn't have a wand and that he couldn't reach his visitors to throttle them. "Merlin, it's no wonder that parents are removing their children from Hogwarts"

It was true- after Harry's disappearance droves of parents, of all blood statuses were taking their children out of the school and finding other ways to educate them. Sirius only knew that because he had talked Fudge into giving him his copy of the paper- having missed doing the crossword.

"Alright Black" the ministry official began. "You can have your trial, and if you're found innocent you have to help us find Harry Potter"

"Only if I'm granted custody when we find him"

"I don't think you're in a position to…"

"James and Lily Potter named me his Godfather and his aunt and uncle hate magic" Sirius replied in a calm conversational tone as if discussing the weather. "So I believe I am in a… ahem, position to…"

Knowing he wasn't going to get Black to agree unless he agreed, the official did just that. "Very well Black- I'll talk to Minister Fudge"

"Chloe" Mr Graham Humbert, the headmaster smiled as she entered the staffroom at the start of Lunch Break just a week prior to the end of the winter term. "Come and meet our guest speaker for today's assemblies"

He gestured to an aging man in a black suit who was holding a mug of tea. Chloe's blood ran cold at the sight of him; her fingers twitched, longing for the protection of her wand which lay in the bottom of her bag just two feet away It had been fourteen years since she'd last seen this man but he still terrified her especially as there were at least three Muggle borns in the school at present; Poppy and two brothers, Colin and Dennis Creevey- if the monster found out about them he might hurt them.

"Reverend Cockgolde" Graham smiled, heedless of Chloe's distress. "This is Mrs Chloe Black, one of our year six teachers, Chloe this is Reverend Kenneth Cockgolde"

Chloe watched as her father's eyes narrowed dangerously at the sight of her.

"We've met actually Graham" she told her superior, fighting to keep herself calm. "Long time no see Reverend… now if you'll excuse me"

She snatched her bag off its peg and stormed back to her classroom, once there she apparated to the Auror Office, needing her husband's embrace to calm her.

"I'm here to see Auror Black" she told the young blonde at the desk. "And no he isn't expecting me"

"Sorry ma'am" the secretary, an American witch apparently, gave her a sympathetic smile. "But Auror Black is married and doesn't take female visitors"

"She knows I'm married Bianca" Sirius' voice came from behind her. "She was there on the day"

"That's right Bianca" Chloe nodded as Sirius came to her side. "I was the one in white"

Bianca frowned, confused at her words

With a tired sigh Sirius explained. "Bianca this is my wife, Chloe love, this is Bianca Spellman new from New York"

Then he took Chloe's hand and led her to his cubicle. Once inside Sirius flicked his wand casting a silencing spell around the area, guessing that she wanted privacy.

"Now sweetheart, not that I'm not happy to see you but to what do I owe the pleasure of your company during my lunch break?"

"My father" she replied, shortly

"Oh" Sirius replied, it was explanation enough, Sirius had only met the man once but Chloe still had nightmares about his actions in her childhood he needed to take her mind off things. "I know you don't have a lot of time before you head back to the school but would you care to join me in the Leaky Caldron for lunch Mrs Black?"

"I would love to Mr Black" she smiled, accepting the arm he offered and the two of them swept from the Auror Office

A week before Christmas his parents spirited him and Poppy off to Potter Manor. The manor was huge and already decorated for the holidays.

"The house elves do most of it" Lily told him noting his awe. "When Robyn gets here we'll be decorating the tree for the main living room ourselves"

"It's a tradition" Poppy chimed in she grabbed his hand. "C'mon Harry, let me show you around"

Harry rolled his eyes and allowed his little cousin to tow him away from his laughing mother.

The next morning Robyn arrived, flooing directly from Hogwarts and towards nightfall on Christmas Eve the rest of the clan arrived. This was the first time that Harry had seen the whole of his family together, in the stately manor the group seemed small. The evening was spent in the living room, playing games and singing songs both magical and Muggle. Harry had never had so much fun on a Christmas eve; the last Christmas eve he'd spent (just two months earlier) he'd spent the day in Gryffindor tower playing chess with Ron; he didn't remember falling asleep, but awoke in his bed at the manor when Mary and Poppy burst in declaring.

"It's Christmas, it's Christmas!"

~V~

Next chapter, Christmas and Harry returns to Hogwarts