Disclaimer: I don't own them, sadly. Doesn't keep me from wishing I did, though. All I own are some OC's and what passes for a plot. Sigh.
A/N: I am astonished that I received a full ten reviews in the first twenty-four hours this tale was posted. It normally takes me a week to get that many! I love you guys!
As I mentioned in the last chapter, I don't know yet if I will be including slash or not. I do know that this is going to be one of the only Harry-centric fics that I've written in which Harry is straight. If slash does show up, it won't be Harry. It will likely be a background relationship, if at all.
This chapter is going to recap what has been going on at Hogwarts since Harry wasn't there, as well as cover explaining magic and Harry to Harry's muggle friends. I'll apologize now if this is somewhat tedious. It had to be done, though.
In response to a review, Harry's training won't be at Hogwarts - at least, not entirely. This is mainly because Harry still wants to finish his muggle education, not to mention he'd be the oldest-ever first year! He might show up at Hogwarts from time to time, in order to get some tutoring in specific areas, but he's not going to be an actual student there. Oh, if you're wondering if Ron, Hermione, and any others will show up... Keep reading. I might be able to surprise you. Grin.
Chapter Two: Changes
Albus Dumbledore breathed a sigh of relief when he received notification that Harry Potter had signed the paperwork transferring his parents' estate into his name. Thank Merlin. I do hope that Remus will be able to convince him to leave his family... We will need him, and soon.
The Headmaster's thoughts drifted over the events of the last six years. The summer before Harry was supposed to come to school, Dumbledore had received word of a plot of Voldemort's desire for the Sorcerer's Stone, and had hidden the stone in the bowels of the school. His plan was to keep it where it was safest, unfortunately, he hadn't foreseen the fact that one of his teachers was hosting a parasitic dark lord. Quirrel managed to get as far as the final trap before Dumbledore realized what was going on. The shade of Voldemort abandoned his host during the ensuing battle and the ex-professor was still in the long-term unit at St. Mungo's. The stone was destroyed at the insistence of Nicolas Flamel. Dumbledore still mourned the loss of his former mentor and friend. Looking back on it, he should have known something was wrong with Quirrel when the man fainted after announcing the troll that Halloween. He had been distracted by Hermione Granger, though. The poor child spent two months in the hospital wing, recovering from the brutal attack.
In what would have been Harry's second year, Gilderoy Lockhart accepted the Defense position. Dumbledore had read the man's work and had been impressed with what he had written, though he could barely stand the man in person. It wasn't until after the dueling club fiasco that he knew the man was a fraud. Severus was the one that pointed out a few inconsistencies between what Lockhart had said he'd done and his actual skill level. The man was in the middle of a fifty-year sentence to Azkaban for numerous uses of the obliviate spell without proper Ministry approval. Issues with DADA professors aside, that year was also the hardest on the school. They lost three students. Hermione Granger, the victim of the previous year's troll attack, had managed to figure out that there was a basilisk loose in the school. That information was too late to save Penelope Clearwater, Hannah Abbott, or Colin Creevey, though. And it was only quick action on the part of Fawkes that saved Ginerva Weasley's life when she was possessed by the shade of Tom Riddle. She, too, was still in the long-term care unit at St. Mungo's. Unfortunately, with no way to open the chamber where the basilisk denned, it was still a potential threat to the school, though it seemed to have fallen back into hibernation when no further demands had been placed upon it. That year was particularly dark, and it was only the unwavering support of the majority of the parents of the students that kept him in his position as Headmaster.
The following year was mostly quiet. The only thing unusual was the execution of a hippogriff that had attacked Draco Malfoy early in the year. Remus Lupin had made a most excellent DADA professor, however Severus nixed the idea of Lupin returning the next year by making it public knowledge that Lupin was a werewolf. Dumbledore had almost fired the potions master over that little incident.
In what would have been Harry's fourth year, Hogwarts hosted the Tri-Wizard Tournament. Though a chaotic time, no one died, there were no executions, and no long-term stays in the hospital wing for any of the students. Cedric Diggory had been the Hogwarts Champion, but the victory went to Victor Krum. Amazingly, Hermione Granger and Victor still communicated regularly, after she had agreed to go with the Bulgarian to the Yule Ball that year. Dumbledore would be very surprised if the duo didn't eventually marry. Alastor Moody had also made an excellent DADA professor, though he couldn't be talked into returning for another year.
Dumbledore had almost been unable to locate another DADA professor the next year. It was only after hearing that the Ministry would appoint one that he managed to talk Kingsley Shacklebolt into taking the position. Looking back on it, Dumbledore admitted to himself that the Ministry appointee probably would have made a better choice. Kingsley, though a great person, was more strict that Severus was in the classroom, and there were no fewer than fourteen students that spent more than six days in the hospital wing that year. Shacklebolt seemed to have difficulty realizing he was training children, not potential aurors.
The year that just passed was quite probably the quietest of the last six years. There were no student hospitalizations, no deaths, nothing whatsoever out of the ordinary. He had received a DADA professor from the US, as a part of an international intellectual trade. Five witches and wizards from the UK were exchanged with five US witches and wizards. The only comfort Dumbledore took in the entire exchange was that he knew, going into the year, that the DADA professor was only there temporarily. He spent much of the year trying to track down someone to fill the post after the American left. Thus far, he hadn't had much luck. Aside from that, Dumbledore had also been informed that he had to produce some proof that the Boy-Who-Lived, did indeed still live. Dumbledore couldn't help but wonder how things would have been different if Harry had attended Hogwarts.
His thoughts returning to the present, he mused on the information he had received from his contacts, who were whispering of sightings of Lord Voldemort on the continent. Despite the quiet at the school, Dumbledore couldn't help but believe the wizarding world's reprieve was almost up. This is but the calm before the storm...
Harry awoke early the following day. His alarm clock indicated it was only six. He couldn't fall back asleep, however, so he got up and dressed. He pondered the keys for a moment, holding them in his hand. I really could go live with them... I want to finish school, and it would be a lot easier there than here... Not to mention Remus or someone will probably be teaching me magic, and I know the Dursleys won't want to have that in their home. I'm sure Dudley would be ecstatic to have his second room back... The only problem will be getting them to want to part with me... I'll have to ask Remus what the galleon to pound conversion is. I think, if I've as much money as I assume, I'll be able to fulfill both the Dursleys' dreams and my own in a single sitting.
Harry noticed a folded piece of paper on his desk with his name on it. He picked it up and read the note.
Harry,
Sorry to leave so suddenly last night, but you were tired enough that I doubt you'd have been much use to further discuss matters.
Should you decide to take Mr. Kellerman's generous offer, we will need to discuss things with him and his wife. After seeing the relationship you have with your coworkers, I think you will likely want to tell them, as well. Despite the current Statute of Secrecy laws in place at the Ministry, I think this can be covered under the 'familial disclosure' clause. The law doesn't explicitly state what defines a 'family.' If anyone tries to press the issue, I do know a solicitor of some repute that delights in taking on the Ministry.
I know you must have at least a thousand questions for me, and I promise to answer them all to the best of my ability.
See you at work,
Remus J. Lupin
Harry re-folded the note and tucked it into his pocket. He made up his mind. Regardless of what the Dursleys wanted, he was going to get out of No. 4, Privit Drive. The mention of family in Remus' note made him realize that was exactly what he thought of his boss and coworkers. He'd felt that way for some time, but hadn't really realized it until that moment. He glanced at the clock and saw it was still only six-thirty. He nodded to himself, there was still time.
He didn't normally work on Fridays, but the Dursleys didn't know that. Every day, whether or not he worked, he left the house at eight and didn't return until sometime after seven. Petunia and Vernon didn't care, so long as all his chores were done and they kept getting his paychecks. The fact that he wasn't around for lunch or dinner cinched the deal, so-to-speak. Harry loaded his backpack with the few things in the room he felt he couldn't leave behind, including his gifts from the day before, as well as the gifts he had been given at Christmas. He left most of the clothes; though he had altered them to fit him, they were still rather worn-out. Harry knew how much he had saved from his job, and also knew that even if the actual money he had inherited wasn't as much as he thought, he would surely be able to sell the properties for some decent money. He wasn't going to be spending the rest of the summer in Dudley's cast-offs.
With his meager packing finished, Harry took the time to pen a quick note to his relatives. He smirked and left it on the kitchen table, taped to a box of cereal.
In the early morning light, Harry jogged the few blocks to the Kellerman house. He had visited them several times over the last two years, as he had Nigel, Tim, and Mike. The lights indicated that his boss, at least, was awake. He took a deep breath and knocked on the door. After a moment of waiting, the door opened to reveal Mrs. Kellerman.
"Harry! What a nice surprise. Come in, come in. Did you want some breakfast?" Jennifer was a rather energetic woman with long, curly brown hair that was starting to grey at the temples and light blue eyes.
"Thank you, Mrs. Kellerman. I'd love some. Is Mr. Kellerman home?" Harry followed her to the kitchen.
"Yes, he is. Allen should be down any minute. And how many times do I have to tell you to call me Jenn?" She smiled at the teenager. "Now, you sit down and help yourself to some food."
Just as Harry was filling a plate with eggs and toast, Allen wandered, yawning, into the kitchen. "Good morning, honey, I was wondering if..." He caught sight of Harry. "Oh, hey Harry. Nix the question, dear, he's right here." Jennifer laughed and poured her husband a cup of strong coffee. Allen sank onto a chair and gratefully took the coffee from his wife. "Thanks, hon." He turned to Harry. "Decided to take us up on our offer?"
Harry bit his lip, "Maybe."
"Oh, posh." Jennifer shook her head, "There's no 'maybe' about it, Harry. You're coming to live here and that's the end of it."
Harry sighed, "There's some stuff you need to hear before I come here, though. Do you know how to get a hold of Remus, Allen?"
Allen nodded, sipping his coffee. "Of course, but what does he have to do with you?"
"A bit, actually. He knew my parents, and-"
Jennifer interrupted, "That's quite alright, Harry. If you would rather live with-"
"Mrs. Kellerman... Jenn. That wasn't what I was going to say." Harry sighed again, things weren't quite going as he had planned. He met Allen's questioning gaze, "Just call Remus, please?"
Knowing he wasn't going to get much more out of the boy, Allen nodded. "Should I close up shop for the day?"
Harry shrugged, "I don't know. I don't know how long this will take."
Allen scooped up his cell phone and car keys. "I'll just kip over to the shop and post a notice. I'll also leave a new message on the answering machine. Did you want the guys over, too?"
Harry thought for a full minute before nodding slowly. "Beatrice and Ashley, too, unless Bea has other plans." Harry wasn't about to tell Mike without including his wife and daughter, too.
Forty-five minutes later, everyone was crowded in the smallish parlor of the Kellerman house. Allen, himself, showed up with Remus. Remus didn't own a car and Allen had swung by the hotel he was staying in to pick him up. Remus met Harry's eyes, "I see you got my note."
Harry nodded. "That I did. I think it's a really good idea. I left one for the Dursleys this morning before coming over here. I think we'll be lucky if the police don't show up before noon."
"What? Police? Harry, what's going on?" Jennifer asked, concerned.
Harry chuckled. "It's not like that, Jenn. I just let them know not to expect me back. Ever."
The entire room laughed at that. Tim broke the following silence. "Come on, kiddo. Why did we all just get a day off of work?"
Harry smiled a little, "I don't think you'll be able to duplicate this, Tim. Remus, if you will?"
Remus nodded and stood up, "Demonstration?"
"Wouldn't hurt." Harry watched as Remus pulled out his wand, then turned his attention to the people assembled.
"Hmm... What to do..." Remus muttered.
"Um... Lupin? You alright?" Nigel asked.
Remus ignored the question and grinned when he spotted a china figurine on the mantle. "Ah-ha!" He strode across the room and picked up the figurine of a girl in a flowing pink dress. Without preamble, he dropped it on the marble hearth. Jennifer gasped in outrage, but before she could start in on a tirade about guests and valuable statuettes, Remus just pointed his wand at the fragments and intoned, "Reparo." The collected assembly gasped as the fragments flew back into their original form. "Wingardium leviosa." The figurine, which, in Harry's opinion, had only been improved upon shattering, floated back to its location on the mantle.
Remus turned to meet the astonished gazes of Harry's surrogate family. "How'd you do that?" Mike asked.
Harry answered, "Magic."
Remus grinned again and launched into a small lecture that proved, once again, why he never should have left teaching. "Harry is correct. You've just witnessed a practical application of magic. Harry is a wizard, as am I. Harry should have spent the last six years attending a school where he would learn to use his skills, however the Dursleys kept him from the education he needed. After some training, he will be able to do what I just showed you, as well as a whole lot more.
"Unfortunately, it is highly unlikely that any of the rest of you are able to do magic. Magic is hereditary, and though a dominate trait, rather like brown eyes, it is very rare; more like the genes that determine if an individual has a widows' peak in their hairline. Occasionally, a witch or wizard appears in a family where no one else is magical; much like you can sometimes see a person with blonde hair in a family where everyone else is a brunette, but it's doesn't happen very often. In most cases, this is what's known as a 'double dominate' showing, meaning that both the magical and non-magical genes have been passed on through the generations with the trait that the physiology of the individual can handle manifesting. It takes a certain mental state to be able to handle magic. On the flip side of things, there are times when a non-magical child is born to an all-magical family. Such persons are known as squibs. Though conclusive evidence is lacking, it has been theorized that such children are the result of an interruption of magical flow in the body of the mother during pregnancy. Going back to the eye analogy, it's like the enzyme imbalance that causes a child to be born with one blue eye and one brown.
"Insofar as Harry and his living here is concerned, there are some things about his history and status in the Wizarding World that you will need to take into consideration. Firstly, Mr. Kellerman, Mrs. Kellerman. You must be prepared for odd happenings around the house. My second piece of information is for everybody. The Wizarding World is, by necessity, not something that the wider world is aware of. If you feel you cannot handle keeping Harry's abilities secret, please let me know right now. Your memory of the morning will be altered so that you do not remember it at all, or you can choose to remember something else instead." Remus paused, looking at each of the people present in turn.
When no one spoke up, Remus continued. "Once I've finished, I will give everyone another chance to walk away and forget it all. You'll understand in a minute." He locked eyes with Harry. "Much of what I've yet to say centers all around young Harry here. Unless you'd rather I'd speak with you in private?"
"No, Remus. I'd rather they knew, whatever it was." Harry motioned for the man to continue.
"Very well." Remus began to pace the room. "About thirty years ago, a man surfaced in the Wizarding World. He started talking to people, other witches and wizards, pressing to pass laws regarding the control of the muggle-born population. 'Muggle' is a term for a non-magical person born to non-magical parents. What this man was proposing was nothing less than genocide for all muggle-born witches and wizards above the age of three. Those children that had been recorded at the ministry as being magical, yet not a part of a magical family, were to be taken and fostered to pureblood families. These children, as well as half-bloods - those wizards who had one parent that was a muggle or muggle-born themselves - were to be given the most menial of jobs in the society. Fortunately, he was unable to get these laws to pass, however he had acquired quite a following, primarily of the pureblood aristocracy. When it became apparent that he would be unable to get these laws to pass legally, he and his supporters began enforcing them, illegally. His primary goal in this was not to maintain the secrecy of the wizarding population, but to make it easier to allow for the annihilation of the non-magical world."
"Pardon, Lupin, but what's this got to do with Harry?" Nigel asked.
"I'm getting to that. Over the years, attacks against muggle-borns and half-bloods grew more frequent and more violent. Then, shortly before Harry was born, a seer made a prophesy during an interview with Albus Dumbledore - Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Now, you're probably familiar with those card-reading frauds that are on the late-night telly broadcasts, and you've also likely joined what I just said about a prophecy to that mental picture. Please don't. Though most of the branch of magic known as Divination is rather... imprecise at best, prophecies themselves may as well be carved in stone. They are a genuine glimpse of how the future will pan out. In any case, this Dark wizard heard part of this prophecy and targeted the two families to which it could be applied. One of the families was Harry's.
"On the night of October 31, 1981, the Dark Lord used the killing curse against James Potter and his wife, Lily. The circumstances of Lily's death created a very strong protection charm on her son, Harry. When the Dark wizard attempted to cast the killing curse on Harry, the charm caused it to rebound on the caster, ripping him from his body and casting his spirit into a state of limbo. It is believed that the Dark wizard will return. He was - and still is - a very powerful wizard. When he returns, though, it is likely he will try to pick up where he left off and try to kill Harry again." Remus sighed and slumped into an armchair.
"Question." Jennifer said, "Rather, two questions. First, what is the prophesy? Second, what can we do about it?"
"To answer your second question first, there's not much you can do. Most of it is all up to Harry. As to the first... It would be best for you not to know. I will tell Harry - he needs to know - but it's best for you not to know. Just in case."
Mike scrubbed a hand across his face. "This 'Dark wizard' got a name?"
Remus nodded, "Yes. However, as most people in the wizarding world are too scared to say it, he's most commonly referred to as 'You-Know-Who' or 'He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.' The name he was born with was Tom Marvolo Riddle. He now calls himself 'Lord Voldemort.'"
Beatrice snorted, "He should have called himself the Lord of Bad Anagrams."
Remus quirked an eyebrow, "How's that?"
Beatrice, a tiny woman with a vaguely Asian cast to her features, just grabbed the notepad from the table by the door and scribbled something down. "I love anagrams. Taking the letters from one set of words and mixing them up to form new words. See?" She handed the paper to Remus. On it were the words 'Tom Marvolo Riddle,' below which was written, 'I am lord Voldemort' with little lines running from each letter in the first row to where it was moved in the second row.
Remus chuckled. "I wonder if anyone else has ever noticed that?"
Harry had been silent until this point, merely content to watch the others' reactions. A thought suddenly occurred to him. "Remus? You said that when this Voldie-fellow cast that curse at me, it rebounded and hit him, right?" Remus nodded. "So, that's what gave me the scar?" Remus nodded again. "And he was - I believe you said - 'ripped from his body?'"
"Yes, Harry, that I did."
Harry frowned for a moment, thinking. He met Remus' eyes once more, "If that's so, then what do I have to worry about?"
Remus sighed and shook his head, "Harry... Though the vast majority of our world believes him to have been vanquished forever, there are still many of us that remain unconvinced. The primary supporter of this stance is Albus Dumbledore."
"I know you said he was the headmaster of that school," Allen interjected, "but, why does he believe that? Does he have some sort of proof?"
Remus stood up again. "Albus is... The single-most respected wizard in Britain. He is over 150 years old, one of the strongest wizards since Merlin, himself, and quite intelligent and accomplished in areas other than his age. He is readily accepted as the Leader of the Light and has fought more evil in his lifetime than most people can conceive of. He fought his own dark lord back in the '40's. When he says that Voldemort is going to return, personally, I see no reason to distrust the information. He wouldn't be so convinced on something as shaky as a hunch or a belief."
Tim shrugged. "I believe that you believe in the man; we can all see your conviction when speaking of him, but... Have you seen any proof yourself? Ignoring what he may have said, do you believe this man poses a threat to our Harry?"
Remus smiled at Tim's endearment. "Unfortunately, I have. He branded all his followers with his personal mark. It's a skull with a snake crawling out of the mouth and forming the symbol of eternity just below the skull. All the followers have this mark branded on their left forearm. I know one man who, in his youth, had been blinded by political rhetoric and took the mark, becoming one of the Death Eaters - the Voldemort's supporters. After seeing firsthand some of their forms of 'entertainment,' he wanted out of the organization. Of course, with a man like Voldemort, no one just leaves. The Death Eater eventually turned to Dumbledore to try to make amends for his grievous lapse in judgement. He ended up spending the next few years spying on his former master, risking his life so that the Light might have information. This man's mark, though faded over time, has never gone away. As the mark is branded with magic, had Voldemort died, the mark should have completely disappeared. As it has only faded, the only assumption we can make is that he's still out there, biding his time, trying to find a way to rebuild his power."
The room was silent, save for breathing and Ashley's soft snores. Harry broke the silence, "Wow... I don't really know what to say, Remus. This is all a bit much to take in, you know?" Harry stood up and stretched. "Was there anything else that they needed to know, or should we talk privately for a while?"
"I think that would be best, Harry. However, would I be amiss if I requested a little time to regroup?" He smiled at Jennifer, "And a glass of water would be most appreciated."
Jennifer had the decency to blush. "I am so sorry! I just got so caught up in the mystery and your sudden demonstration, and the explanation... I've been completely neglecting my duties as a hostess. Please forgive me."
Remus shrugged. "No problem."
"Does anyone else want anything?" Jennifer stood up, tossing her hair back over her shoulder.
"Some tea wouldn't hurt, Jenn, maybe some coffee, too. I don't know about anyone else, but I missed breakfast." Tim said.
"Certainly. I think I've got some biscuits around here somewhere..." Tim followed Jennifer into the kitchen.
Allen looked at Mike, Beatrice, and the sleeping Ashley. "Why don't you lay her down in the den? The sofa in there is more than comfortable." Beatrice nodded and murmured her thanks as she did just that. Now addressing Mike, Allen smirked. "Looks likely that all of you will be around all day?"
"That's a fair assumption, I'd say."
"It's a beautiful day..."
Mike grinned. "Steak, burgers, or ribs?"
"I was thinking burgers, crisps, maybe some salad. Some ice cream."
Mike gave a mock-salute. "Aye-aye, cap'in. Back in an hour or so." He ducked out the front door.
Allen motioned for Remus and Harry to follow him. He lead them to Harry's room on the second floor. As his house was part of the same development as the Dursleys' residence, it had originally been built with the same blueprints. However, in the twenty years the Kellermans had been in residence, Allen had made some modifications to the general layout. What would have been Dudley's bedrooms in the Dursley household had been combined into the master suite in the Kellerman house. The 'second' bedroom had been converted into a dressing area/closet and large bath. The other two bedrooms remained unchanged, aside from the carpet and paint. On the first floor, Allen had also added an enclosed back porch, as well as his den. The garage even had a small addition to it for Jennifer's gardening supplies; her roses had won four consecutive national awards.
Harry and Remus were led to what Harry realized would have been his aunt and uncle's room at the Dursley house. Allen smiled at Harry as he opened the door. "I know it's kind of sparse right now, but when we were talking about taking you in, Tim mentioned you like to paint and Mike said it would be a good idea for you to pick out your own furniture and whatnot, to make the room really yours." The room had white paint and bare floorboards, no curtains, and the only furniture was a roll-away cot and a card table with a couple of folding chairs. "What's here is just to hold you until we can go pick out what you want."
Harry had to swallow the lump that formed in his throat. He had the same little tingle in his fingers that he got when faced with a blank canvas in art class. He had been offered something that was to be made completely his. No broken toys, no boxes of hastily-stored brick-a-brack, no locks other than the one on the inside of his door. Explicit permission to be himself. He shakily sat on the cot, trying desperately to make the tears that wanted to escape go away. He coughed to clear his throat, "Thank you," he whispered, though his voice still managed to crack a little.
Allen tactfully ignored the emotional display, "I'll be downstairs if either of you two need me."
Remus pulled one of the folding chairs over to Harry's bedside. "You going to be alright?"
Harry nodded, "Yeah. This is all... Just a bit much, you know?"
"I can see that. You sure you want to continue our discussion?"
Harry nodded, wiping at his eyes. "Yeah. I have some questions that need answered."
Remus chuckled. "I imagine you do."
Harry stared at the blank white wall for a moment, gathering his racing thoughts. He took a deep breath. "First question, what is the exchange rate on wizarding money?"
Remus couldn't help it, of all the questions Harry could have asked, that one was the last he expected; he broke down into true laughter. Once it subsided, he gasped, "Sorry. Wasn't expecting that. The actual amount varies from day-to-day, much as it does between countries, but for the last couple of years, it's been right around five pounds to the galleon."
Harry did some quick calculations in his head before his eyes threatened to pop out of his skull. "But... but..."
Remus snickered. "Your father was a very wealthy man, Harry. You are his sole heir."
Harry was gobsmacked. He'd heard of businesses that owned that much money, but not a single individual. Some small part of his mind, though, was grinning in glee. He'd be bound to buy the Dursleys off now. Once he had gathered his wits, he asked, "I know the Dursleys will leave me alone if I can make it worth their while..."
A positively mischievous glint glittered in Lupin's eyes. "Why do I smell a prank coming?"
Harry grinned. "Because that's what I intend to do."
"What do you have in mind?"
"Do you own a suit?" Harry detailed what he wanted to do to the Dursleys.
When Harry had finished, Remus smirked, "Remind me to tell you later about the Marauders." He leaned back in the chair. "What other questions do you have?"
"Will you be the one teaching me magic?"
Remus nodded, "Primarily. There will be others that might come in from time to time to show you something that either I'm not that skilled at, or that you need more instruction in than I am capable of bestowing."
Harry leaned back against the wall. "Will I get to meet other witches and wizards my own age?"
"Possibly."
"Why only 'possibly?'"
"Because it's not something that's been planned as of yet. I'm sure you will eventually, but I wouldn't count on it until after Christmas, at the earliest."
Harry nodded, "Fair enough. Next, will I get to see that school you mentioned? And are there other places just for witches and wizards?"
Remus grinned. "As to the school - likely. Other places? Definitely. If we get done here reasonably early, we can go visit Gringots in Diagon Alley. Let you have the chance to withdraw some cash. While there, we'll also want to stop by Ollivander's for a wand and get an owl from Eyelops'. All of the shops on Diagon Alley have owl-order catalogs. Makes getting things a lot easier."
"Why's that?"
Remus sighed, he had known he wouldn't be able to hide this topic for long. "Two reasons, really. First, Diagon is in London, so it cuts out unnecessary travel. Second... You remember what I said about the night your parents died?"
"About the curse rebounding off me?"
"Precisely. Well... That's made you somewhat of a... legend in the wizarding world. You're famous. Though no one has seen you since you were eleven years old, it's likely you'd be recognized. If it weren't for the fact that you have to personally be there to choose a wand, I'd recommend that you never stray to Diagon at all. Though most people don't want to believe Voldemort will return, his followers know that if he does, your death would be a massive 'gold star,' so-to-speak, on their record."
"And this prophecy you mentioned?"
"Do you want it verbatim or just the gist of it?"
"Just the gist, please."
"Essentially, it boils down to something to the effect that since Voldemort picked you out of the two possibilities, you have some 'power' he doesn't, that you have the capability to defeat him once and for all, and that either you have to kill him, or he will kill you."
To Remus' surprise, Harry merely nodded. "I was kind of expecting something like that. You can't get the good without the bad, right? Good thing: Shut of the Dursleys forever. Bad thing: People I've never met want to kill me. Good thing: I finally have a space of my own. Bad thing: There's a really evil guy wanting to take over the world. Good thing: I have money. A lot of money. Bad thing: My parents had to die for me to get it. Everything balances out in the end."
Remus was more than a little shocked at Harry's attitude and it showed. "Seriously, Remus. Every good thing in the world is balanced by something not so good. Ah! Another example. The Dursleys and the Kellermans. Dudley and you. Is what I'm trying to say making any sense?"
Remus nodded. "It's a remarkably mature attitude for someone only days into being seventeen."
Harry grinned lopsidedly, "It's still true." Harry changed the subject, "Back to Diagon Alley, though. When will we go and how long will it take? I don't fancy sleeping on a cot tonight."
Remus returned Harry's grin with one of his own. "Shouldn't take more than an hour or two, and we can go whenever you're ready."
"Just let me tell Allen." Harry bounced to his feet and out of the room.
Remus shook his head, bemused. One thing's for sure, at least life won't be boring around Harry!
While Harry and Remus discussed matters upstairs, the other adults in Harry's life were discussing the amazing tale Remus told, as well as his astonishing display of magic. Tim, Nigel, and Beatrice were debating known scientific theories that might be applicable to the bit of magic they witnessed in the parlor, while Allen and Jennifer discussed Remus in the kitchen, and Mike was out gathering things for a simple barbecue lunch. Ashley slept on in the den.
After letting Allen know what he was doing, Harry rejoined Remus in his room. "So... How are we getting to Diagon Alley? I know how to drive, but the truck is over at the shop, and it still needs to be registered."
Remus grinned. "There won't be a need for that, Harry. Wizards have other means of travel. There are several magical ways to get from point A to point B. The most common is floo travel. Fireplaces are connected to a magical network, much like muggle telephones, though not all fireplaces are or can be connected to the system. It's rather dizzying, but the safest way for children and people with injuries to travel magically. The floo network can also be used like a video-phone, solely for communication. Since you've not applied to have the fireplace here hooked up to the floo, we obviously won't be going that route. Another common method of wizarding travel is flight. Mostly broomstick flight - yes, like all the storybooks say - but since neither of us currently own a broom, we can nix that thought, eh? You might want to pick one up after you've had a bit of time to get used to magic in general. Your father was quite a flyer in his day, and said that there was nothing better to blow off steam than a good flight. Portkeys are also quite common, but they're regulated by the Ministry. The last method is only slightly less common than floo. It's called apparation. To apparate from one location to another can be likened to teleporting in science-fiction. And that, Harry, is how we will be getting to Gringots."
"Does it hurt?"
"No. Though the first few times you experience it, it can be somewhat unpleasant. The feeling goes away after you've done it a couple of times. Since you're new to magic, what we'll be doing is technically called Side-Along Apparation, or piggy-backing." Remus stood in the middle of the room. "What this means is that I'm the one doing all the work, just taking you along for the ride. Stand here," he pointed to a spot on the floor in front of him.
Harry hurried to the indicated location. "Do I need to do anything?"
"It's best the first time if you close your eyes and relax." Harry followed the suggestion. He felt Remus' hands on his shoulders before suddenly feeling like he was being compressed into a tiny sphere and squeezed though an elastic tube. "Very good, Harry."
Harry cracked his eyes open and stared in shock at what was definitely not his new room. "Wow... Though I can see what you mean about it being a bit unpleasant." Harry was trying to look in all directions at once. There were people wearing normal clothes, people wearing robes, people wearing cloaks, and all manner of strange folk he had never seen before wandering hither and thither on their errands.
"Come on, Harry. We have to get out of the Apparation Zone before we inadvertently splinch someone."
Harry allowed himself to be pulled towards a white marble building. "Splinch?"
"It happens when someone tries to apparate without the proper concentration. They end up leaving parts of themselves behind. Takes forever and a day to correct."
"Sounds painful."
"It isn't. The parts left behind are still attached to the rest of the person, but magically, rather than physically." Remus nodded at a smallish figure wearing armor next to the doors of the marble building.
"Where is this?"
"Gringots. It's run by goblins. Don't stare, and if you're addressed directly, be respectful."
"Sure thing." Harry had just enough time to read the inscription by the doors before following Remus inside. He grinned at the rhyme.
They made their way to a rather bored-looking goblin. "Business?" he asked.
"I need... No, my companion needs to make a withdrawal from his account and transfer some funds into muggle currency." Remus spoke to the goblin rather quickly, his words almost blending in with one another.
The goblin peered first at Remus and then at Harry. "Do you have your key?"
Harry panicked momentarily, "Um..."
Remus interrupted, "Yes, I've got it here." He handed a small key to the goblin.
The goblin ran a finger over the tines and nodded. "Griphook! Vault 687."
Another goblin approached, "This way."
Remus and Harry followed the small figure. Remus was trying to hide his smile at the upcoming cart-ride. By the time the cart pulled to a stop at Harry's vault, however, he wondered if it had been worth it. Harry, never having ridden a roller coaster before, was experiencing the newbie reaction to such a trip. He was pale, shaky, and none too stable on his feet. "You alright?"
Harry nodded. "I'll be okay, Remus. Just warn me next time, eh?"
Remus nodded and handed Harry's key to the goblin. Griphook opened the vault and Harry's jaw dropped. He had known what the paperwork had said about his money, but it was altogether something else to actually see a pile of gold and silver. Remus handed Harry a drawstring bag. "Go ahead and fill this. We'll stop in the lobby to get some of it converted to muggle money on our way out. You may want to get a Gringots access card."
Harry looked up from filling the bag, "A what?"
"It's a debit card for your vault. Gringots has a partnership with Chase-Manhattan for wizards that deal with the muggle world on a regular basis. The card can be used at any stores that take Master Card. It only costs a couple of galleons a month to maintain."
Harry nodded, "Makes more sense than running around with a large supply of cash."
"Precisely."
Half an hour later, Harry and Remus left the bank. Harry had three new keys on his key ring and a brand-new debit card in his wallet. Their next stop would be Ollivander's. Harry was having a hard time reining in his excitement. A bell dinged as they opened the door to the wand-maker's domain. Harry grimaced at the dark and dusty room, piled high with boxes.
"Ah... Mister Potter. We meet at last, though I had expected to see you much earlier."
Harry jumped and whirled around. He saw an old man with flyaway hair and large, unnerving eyes. "S-sir?"
The man glanced towards Remus, "And Mister Lupin. What a pleasure. 12 inches, Cedar and phoenix crest-feather. Still serving you well, I presume?"
"Yes, yes it is. Thank you."
Ollivander turned back to Harry, "Well now, Mister Potter. Which is your wand arm?"
"I'm right-handed." Harry said as the shopkeeper withdrew a ribbon tape measure and began measuring his arm. It took him a moment to notice that the man had walked away and the tape was measuring him on its own.
An hour later, Harry felt as though he must have tried every wand in the store. "How much longer is this going to take, sir?"
Ollivander 'harrumphed' and met Harry's gaze with his own piercing stare, "As long as it takes, Mister Potter." He wandered back into the stacks of stored wands, muttering to himself. He paused partway down an aisle, a whispered "I wonder..." floated back to where Harry stood with Remus. The shopkeeper reappeared carrying yet another wand box. "Try this one." He handed it to Harry.
Harry picked up the wand and felt a tingling creep up his arm. He waived it experimentally and was rewarded with a shower of golden sparks. Ollivander's voice interrupted Harry's enjoyment of bonding with his wand, however. "Curious."
"How's that?" Harry asked.
"As Mister Lupin can attest, I recall the specifics of every wand I have ever sold. What I find curious, Mister Potter, is that the phoenix who donated the tail feather that resides in your wand donated only a single other feather. That feather resides within the wand that gave you your scar."
Harry quirked an eyebrow, "So?"
Ollivander smiled eerily, "Perhaps you should discuss this with your companion. That will be seven galleons."
Harry hurriedly handed over the money, eager to leave the shop and the creepy old man behind. "Now we're to get an owl, correct?"
"Right. Eyelops' is over here." Remus led the way.
They were in the shop for a total of six minutes when a snowy owl landed on Harry's shoulder and hooted. "Hey there." Harry smiled at the owl.
The clerk wandered over, impressed. "That's the first time she's responded to anyone since she was an owlet."
"She's beautiful." Harry reached up and petted her soft feathers.
"She's nine galleons. Cages, perches, and dishes are over there," the clerk pointed to the back of the store. "And you can find owl treats on the carousel by the register."
"Thanks."
Remus led Harry to the perches. "You'll want a perch that is big enough for a visiting owl to rest on, as well as one that will fit in with the furniture you want to get."
"Thanks, Remus. I don't know what sort of furniture I want, though." He turned to the snowy owl on his shoulder, "What do you think, girl? It's your perch..."
The owl hooted and fluttered off Harry's shoulder to land on a pole-style perch that wasn't much taller than Harry was. It was made of a light yellow wood with a light carving of leaves decorating it. Remus quickly located a food and water dish that would attach to the perch without any issues, as well as a bronze travel-cage.
When they finished at Eyelops, Remus apparated them back to the Kellerman house, directly into Harry's room. While Harry set up his owl's perch and filled her water and food dishes, Remus checked his watch. It was only one o'clock. "Harry?"
"Hmm?" The teen looked up from petting his owl.
"Did you want me to go and... ahem... talk with the Dursleys this afternoon?"
Harry shook his head, "No. Wait until tomorrow. Is there any way I can legally get my guardianship transferred to the Kellermans?"
Remus nodded. "Yes. It's not that difficult. I just need to pop over and talk to that solicitor I mentioned before and get some forms that need to be filled out. What it amounts to is that you'll be declared an emancipated minor. Since the wizarding world recognizes adulthood a year sooner than the muggle world, it's actually a common practice. All we'll need is to get the Dursleys to sign the paperwork."
Harry grinned. "That shouldn't be too difficult." He went back to petting his owl. "What should I name her?"
Remus looked at the bird for a long time before answering. "What about Hedwig?"
"Why that?"
Remus shrugged. "She looks like a Hedwig."
"What do you say, girl? It's a pretty name for a pretty owl." The owl hooted and nibbled at Harry's ear. "I think she likes it."
The rest of the day passed in a blur of barbecue fun. Harry showed off his Hedwig, much to the bird's delight. She collected copious praise and soft pats. Remus was asked to demonstrate various magical charms and explain a bit on the theory several times. He made fast friends with Ashley when he conjured an ever-blooming yellow rose for her. Finally, however, everyone had to depart for their homes. Beatrice left, grumbling about her sunburn.
Harry was up in his room, trying to decide what sort of furniture he wanted, when Jennifer and Allen cornered Remus in the lounge. "Did you need something?" Lupin asked.
Allen and his wife exchanged a look. Jennifer broke the silence. "Allen tells me you're currently staying at a hotel."
Remus nodded, "It's only temporary."
She grinned, "That's right. You said you'd be teaching Harry about his magic. Allen and I think it would be a good idea if you stayed here."
Remus bit his lip. How to explain this? "I don't think that would be a good idea."
"Why not?" Allen asked.
"Well, for starters, I was only staying at the hotel until I had managed to locate Harry. Of course, I didn't realize at the time I'd end up with a temporary job - thanks again, by the way. I do plan on continuing on at the shop until Mike is recovered."
"Don't worry about it. But you've managed to get off topic." Allen mentioned.
Remus sighed. "It's just that I've got this... problem. I can get into a lot of trouble if I knowingly put people in danger."
Jenn crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow. "You're being cryptic. Explain. Now."
Remus knew he'd have to be forthright with Harry's friends. He had planned on letting Harry know, eventually. He swallowed and searched out that lauded Gryffindor courage once more. "I suffer from lycanthropy. It's not a good idea for me to stay here."
"Lycanthropy?" Allen's brow furrowed in concentration. "Where have I heard that before?"
Remus shook his head. "I'm a werewolf."
"A werewolf? As in howl-at-the-full-moon werewolf?" Jennifer asked.
Remus nodded. "Yes. I was bitten when I was a small child. I've lived with this curse for just over thirty years. The Ministry is rather ruthless when it comes to werewolf regulations. I have to have a safe location to transform on the night of the full moon each month, or else there can be severe penalties. Fines. Possible time in prison. And if I ever managed to infect someone? That's a death sentence."
Allen shrugged, realizing that even with the events he had witnessed that day, there was still a lot he didn't know. "Let's look at this logically, shall we? You're to be Harry's tutor. Harry will be living here. You have a disease that requires some consideration. Where have you been going to transform before? Could you still go to that location on the nights of the full moon?"
Remus nodded, "I could. I know that Albus said I can continue using that location for as long as I needed."
Allen smiled. "Good. Next question: Can someone catch this lycanthropy if you're not transformed?"
"No. It's only communicable through the bite of a transformed wolf."
"Again, good. Last question: Is popular culture correct about the silver allergy?"
"Yes. Unfortunately. Most of the time, contact with silver just leaves me with an itchy red mark where it touched my skin. However, for the day before, of, and after the full moon, silver can make my skin blister and burn."
Allen and Jennifer exchanged another of those looks that only couples seem capable of. "Then it's settled. Why don't you pop back to your hotel and grab your things? The guest room is yours for as long as you need it." Jennifer's tone allowed no room for argument. Remus reflected it would have been like trying to argue with Molly Weasley.
While Jennifer was making sure the guest room was fitted with fresh sheets and properly dusted, Allen knocked at Harry's door. "Come in."
"Evening, Harry."
"Hey Allen."
"What are you up to?"
Harry was sitting at the card table, reading through a stack of catalogs. He was using a green highlighter to indicate objects and books that sounded interesting. "Window-shopping, so-to-speak."
"These from those wizard shops?"
Harry nodded. "Yeah. I'm not sure what a lot of this stuff is, but I'm sure Remus will be able to explain it all to me."
Allen decided to let the werewolf tell Harry that he'd been invited to stay, too. "Did you decide what you want to do with your room, yet?"
Harry smiled. "I think so. I got the idea from Hedwig's perch." Allen's eyes admired the beautifully carved piece of workmanship. "And I drew these." Harry handed Allen a stack of pencil sketches.
Allen looked them over, impressed with Harry's drawing talent. "Wow, kiddo. These look great. I'm a little jealous. I can't draw a straight line without a ruler and a level. Most of what you've got here can be picked up either here in town, or just over in London. We should be able to get the majority of this done on Sunday."
"Really?"
"Yeah. The wood flooring is what will take the longest, but there's also the walls... I'm not sure what kind of help I'd be with that..."
Harry laughed. "Don't worry about the walls. All you'll need to do is help put on the base color. I'm going to paint the rest myself. If that's alright?"
"Not a problem, Harry. This is your room. Ultimately, only you have to be happy with it."
A/N2: There you go, another nice and long chapter. Don't get too used to the fast updates, though, I tend to start off strong and then peter out after a couple of chapters. Please remember that if you have anything specific that you want to see in upcoming chapters, leave me a review and I'll make sure you're mentioned if I use the idea. Thanks for everyone's support, I love hearing from you all.