Chapter 28
While Harry slept, Charles Potter went to the Safe Haven. When he arrived, everyone was celebrating. He stood on one of the sturdy picnic tables and tapped his throat with his wand.
"Sonorus. May I have everyone's attention, please?"
The Safe Haven quieted.
"Today, my grandson defeated the most feared and evil Wizard our world has ever known, and I am very proud of him."
He had to wait for the cheering to die down before continuing.
"Voldemort is dead. Over one-hundred Death Eaters have been captured, and the dementors of Azkaban have been destroyed."
There was more cheering. This was the first time they had heard that the Death Eaters and the dementors were gone.
"It is now safe for you to return to your homes. However, if you wish to take tonight to celebrate among your friends here, you may do so. If you want a fireworks display, please let me know, and I'll transport you to the beach where we had them before."
"How's Harry?" Hermione shouted from the crowd.
"Harry is physically well, but the experience was traumatic for him. It is not often that a 16- year-old boy is forced to face a monster. But despite the fact that Voldemort was a monster, to have to kill someone and have that person gaze into your eyes as he dies is something that would be difficult for anyone to experience at any age, and yet that is what my grandson experienced today. It will take some time for him to come to terms with what he had to do. He will spend the next two weeks in seclusion with his family while he heals from this trauma. If all goes well, he will be on the Hogwart's Express on September first.
"As most of you know, Harry does not like publicity. When he returns to school, the best way for you all to help him adjust would be to treat him as you normally would. He's not going to want to talk about what happened for a while. Please be patient and allow him to talk about it when he's ready."
Charles ended the sonorus charm and stepped down from the table to a round of applause. People gathered around him, thanking him for allowing them to use the Safe Haven. Before he could leave, he found himself surrounded by the Weasley family, Hermione, Neville, and Luna.
"Can we see Harry?" Hermione asked.
"I'm sorry, Hermione, but he's not ready to see anyone yet. He's taken a calming draught and is sleeping."
"When can we see him?" Ron asked.
Charles thought about it for a moment and then reached a decision. "All right. Get your things together, and I'll transport you to where Harry is. However, if it gets to be too much for him, I'm going to ask that you leave the room until he's feeling better. You may stay until the day after the full moon, and then I'm taking him into seclusion until September first."
The Weasleys and company ran to their tents to gather their belongings. Charles went to the control room and transported the group into the lounge, then went to join them.
"If you'll follow me, I'll show you to your rooms," he said. "After you've settled in, I'll let two of you go in to see him at a time."
He took the group, which included Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Fred, George, Ginny, Ron, Hermione, Luna, and Neville to the bedrooms on the 6th level of the trunk. When they had put their belongings in their rooms, they followed him back up to the parlor.
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley went into the bedroom first. When they entered, Albus and Remus got up to give them their seats and left the room. Sirius stayed seated at the head of Harry's bed, running his fingers through his godson's unruly black hair. Winky and Dobby were both seated at the foot of the bed.
"Winky go prepare dinner for guests," she said softly. "Call Winky when Harry Potter needs her."
"I will, Winky," Sirius said. "Thanks."
Winky popped out of the room.
"Dobby go help Winky. Will come back later to make sure Harry Potter never alone."
"Thanks Dobby," Sirius said, and Dobby popped out of the room.
Mr. Weasley sat down in the chair that Dumbledore had vacated, and Mrs. Weasley went to the bed. She took Harry's hand and sat down, just holding it. "Poor little boy," she said, tears gathering in her eyes. "To have to go through so much at his age."
Sirius nodded in agreement, and they sat for the rest of the visit in silence, watching Harry sleep.
888888888888888888888888
Charles spent the afternoon in the control room, transporting prisoners to ministry holding cells where they would be held until tried, and if convicted, sent to Azkaban. Bellatrix, Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle went directly back to Azkaban.
When the cells were empty, Charles removed the duplicated dungeon rooms, and then went to check on his grandson.
Harry was awake, sitting up in bed talking with the entire Weasley family, Hermione, Luna, Neville, Sirius, Remus, Albus, and his family in the portraits. He was laughing at stories the Marauders were telling about their past. Dobby sat at the foot of the bed, as if guarding him against some unseen force. Winky was in her element, making his favorite foods and pampering him as if he were a sick child. When Harry saw his grandfather, he smiled and motioned for him to come closer. Charles went over to the bed and sat down beside him.
"How are you feeling, Harry?"
"Better," he said. "Granddad, thanks for everything you did. I don't know if I could have defeated him if you hadn't been here."
Charles gave Harry a one-armed hug. "Don't mention it, Harry," he said. "That's what granddads are for. So, are you ready for another holiday?"
"Where are we going?"
"I thought we might spend the rest of the summer on Potter Island, just the family. What do you think?"
Harry grinned. "I would love it!"
8888888888888888888888888888888
The next day, Remus stayed in his room resting in preparation for his transformation, which would occur that night. Sirius had offered to stay with Harry, but his godson had insisted that he accompany Remus to the Room of Requirement so he would not be alone on the night of the full moon. Therefore, Sirius was also resting.
Harry sat in his room, surrounded by his friends. They laughed and talked about everything except what had happened the day before. The twins kept them in stitches, talking about the pranks they had pulled, and even James was laughing from his portrait.
At lunch, everyone gathered in the large dining room and ate together. The atmosphere was more like a meal at the Weasley house than what those in the trunk were used to, but it was highly entertaining.
After lunch, Dumbledore approached Harry and asked if he could talk with him alone. Harry and his great-great-grandfather went into Harry's bedroom. Albus sat on the chair he had conjured the day before, and Harry sat cross-legged on the foot of his bed.
"Harry, not long ago, you asked me if you could call me Grandpa, and I said no. I want to tell you why I said that, and why I never claimed you as my grandson before. I want you to know why I took you to the Dursleys. After I have finished my story, if you still want to call me Grandpa, then I would be honored."
Harry nodded that he understood and waited for Dumbledore to continue.
"The Wizarding world has never been prepared to fight a Dark Lord, and yet one has appeared in almost every generation throughout history. Before Grindelwald, there was another who called himself Lord Gargouille. I was, of course, a much younger man then. I taught transfiguration at Hogwarts and had a wife and two daughters. We had a small house in Hogsmeade so that I could be near my family.
"At the turn of the century, when Gargouille began to wreak havoc on our world, I was approached by members of the Order of the Phoenix. Before then, I had never heard of the Order. Later I found out that it was an ancient organization that only became active when a dark wizard was threatening our world. I, of course, agreed to join. However, there was a spy in our midst, and Gargouille found out the names of the members.
"One night, he and his followers attacked the homes of all the Order members, killing them and their families. I was working late at my office, so I was not at home when my own family was murdered. It was not until I returned that I found them. My wife, Elizabeth, and my ten-year-old daughter, Mary, were dead. Elizabeth had placed a silencing charm on Alice, who was still an infant, and hidden her in a laundry basket in the cupboard. Alice was the only survivor. I immediately took the baby to my friends, Nicholas and Perenelle Flamel, who raised her as their own.
"I was one of the few Order members left, and I became the new leader. I devoted my life to fighting the darkness. I turned my back on my child and never acknowledged her. I told myself that it was for her protection, and it was. However, it was also because I could not bear the pain of losing someone I loved ever again.
"Against my wishes, Perenelle told Alice that I was her father. I visited her occasionally, though always in secret. And after she married and had a child, I occasionally visited my grandchild, which became your grandmother. I stayed in contact with my family over the years, but no one knew that we were related. I even visited you when you were a baby, and to my chagrin, you began to call me Grandpa."
Harry grinned at Albus's look of annoyance.
"When James and Lily died, I could not bring you to Hogwarts, and I could not allow you to go with Sirius. You see, Harry, I thought that Sirius was your parent's secret keeper, and we knew that there was a spy in the Order. It wasn't until that Halloween night that we found out that it was Sirius. Of course, now we know we were wrong, but at the time, it seemed so obvious.
"I took you to the Dursleys because she shared your mother's blood, which would provide protection for you. However, I knew that things would be hard for you. I did not know that you would be mistreated and abused, though. I suspected only that you would not be loved, and in that, I thought I was doing you a favor.
"To be honest with you, Harry, I did not check on you in all those years because I did not want to know if they were mistreating you. If I knew, then I would have to do something about it. I placed Arabella Figg close by to make sure you were not in danger from them, but I did not interfere with their mistreatment of you. And, yes, I knew about the mistreatment. Arabella told me after each of your visits. I am sure that neither she nor Minerva will ever forgive me for placing you there.
"And, so, Harry. That is why I told you that you could not call me Grandpa. Not only did I not want anyone to know of our relationship, but I also knew that I did not deserve the title. After you vanquished Voldemort, I asked Charles if I could see you. He told me that only family members were allowed. It was then that I realized that I wanted to be a part of your family more than I had ever wanted anything in my life. Charles told me that I was allowed in only if I was willing to be your great great grandfather. I told him that I was ready.
"But the choice is no longer mine, Harry. Now that you know the truth about what I have done to you, it is your choice. You do not have to make it now, but when you have decided, please let me know whether or not you want me to be your great great grandfather."
Albus stood up and started to the door.
"Grandpa?" Harry called softly.
Albus closed his eyes for a moment, and then turned to look at Harry.
"I can't say that I'm not hurt and angry about what you did. I don't think I could ever do that to anyone, especially a baby. There will be times when I remember it and get angry about it, probably, but you're still a member of my family, and families have to be willing to work together and forgive each other. I forgive you, Grandpa, and I want you to be part of my family."
Harry got up, went over to Albus, and hugged him. Tears ran down Albus's face as he held his great great grandson. "Oh, my boy," he whispered. "My dear, dear boy."