Chapter Five

The Days and Years that Followed

Aftermath

Harry was at the Hogwarts infirmary, clutched by his Mother in a death grip, who was watching over the beds of his Father and the Longbottoms. His father was just asleep the flesh shredding curse was basically like lining a chimney with cheese shredders and then using floo powder very painful but only deadly if left spinning too long and luckily in a house there is more than enough walls to hit, after the blood replenishing potions he was as right a rain though it would leave scars. The Longbottoms were badly injured which was a shock to Harry, after all Voldemort never even got near them but Death Eaters where to block the back door so they had gone out of the cauldron and into the fire, the Order of the Phoenix had come to the rescue but all three had been badly cursed. Poor Neville had received a dark cutting curse to his right leg, being so young it did massive damage, he would have limp for the rest of his life.

The large entrance doors swung open and a softly smiling Albus came bursting in his twinkling eyes looked like a thousand diamonds, yet there was an unreadably emotion lurking in the corner of his eyes, in his hand was the daily prophet. He gave Lilly a concerned look at her unresponsive behaviour and turned his gaze to match hers.

"It's all our fault" she whispered "Why did we go… why?"

"Lilly you cannot blame yourself" her clutch tightened on her son, Albus began to fear for his ability to breath and gently removed his from his Mothers care she made to protest and he continued. "Think of how much worse it would have been if you had not been there" Lilly Potters nostrils flared she went whites and in pure anger she spun off the bed she had been seated in and stared him down.

"IF WE HADN'T BEEN THERE!" Harry jumped in the headmaster's arms for a moment he was sure his aunt was standing in front of him that shrill voice was so familiar, "IF we hadn't been there NONE of this would have happened! He was after us! He showed up for us! If…"

"Don't dwell on if's and forget to live, If did not happen, this did" and with that he handed over the Daily Prophet with an amused smile.

Harry had no idea what was on the front of the page, his mother expression turn from confused to shocked to terror and finally ending of anger. But he had a good Idea for the back was covered in a single article, Harry Potter before the boy who lived. Impressed that someone in the universe had remembered that he had live a whole year, the worst year of his life, before he survived the Killing curse he read, or tried to he really needed glasses soon, all about his last year which seeing as they had been in hiding for most of it the fact that they knew even a few small facts where amazing. Harry looked up to see his mother in tears.

"The boy who lived… how? Why? I mean I don't understand! I saw it with my own eyes but the killing curse is just that the KILLING curse what happened?" she looked up at Dumbledore teary eyed and she looked closer to eleven the twenty-one, Harry eagerly listened wondering how truthful Dumbledore would be.

Dumbledore replied softly detecting that Lilly potter was on the edge "You sacrificed yourself for you son, you were willing to die to save him"

"BUT I DIDN'T"

"It doesn't matter" he continued without changing his tone "You were going to, you would of if Harry hadn't interfered, and that protected Harry from Voldemort. He had offered you a chance to live in return for your son and you refused that cast a protection over him stronger than any curse, a protection of love"

Overwhelmed Lilly Potter sat and said nothing for several seconds and Harry watched as she tried to understand all the new information handed to her. So lost in thought he did not notice the door behind her open and Severus Snape stop mid step and stand still in the door way he had most likely expected her to be asleep. Harry noticed as did Dumbledore though he only gave hit by the way Harry was shifted in his arms.

"Why?" Harry who had been staring down Severus Snape looked towards his Mother "Why did give me the option? I'm muggle born and part of the order… so why?"

She couldn't have ask the question at a worse time Dumbledore glanced at his new Potions Professor before answering "I cannot say what his motives were" not an complete lie Lilly looked confused but decided it really didn't matter, Severus Snape slowly diapered back into madam Pomfrey's office.

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To the Harry's horror the days that past his third defeat Of Voldemort where filled with press appearances, luckily his parents seemed just as disgusted of them as he was, they like them less after noticing his reactions to them, for Harry would snuggled into whoever was holding him and tremble, though it was out of anger and not fear as they assumed. Dumbledore however insisted that for at least a few days they make appearances to show the world that they were alive and mostly unharmed; it was a moral raiser apparently.

After a week or so both the Potters and the Longbottems had retreated from all form of contact with the media for some long awaited rest. This was no real improvement for Harry, he went from the being goggled by the public who never came closer than twenty feet to being worshiped by close friends of the family who had no distance restrictions, Sirius called him boy wonder, Remus cried over him every other day, The Longbottems were both happy that Harry was marked and distraught that their son was crippled, Poppy worried, Minerva pampered and every other order member just begged to hold him, except Moody who didn't even ask for permission before picking him up and started drumming constant vigilance into his infant mind and wasn't satisfied till Harry repeated the sentence back to him.

Only Snape's sneer, Dumbledore's sweets and Peters silence suited Harry taste of relaxation. Harry would reach for only those three beside his parents, who treated him much the same as before, defeater of Dark Lord or no he was their son and they loved him no more or less than before, although James Potter threatened to disown his son every time he reached for Snape even though the black clad Professor would just sneer hard and walk away, he did not partake in the fawning of Potter and only saw the brat at order gatherings.

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November 30th 1981

It was a month to the day since Voldemorts defeat and Harry had become an intense reader of the daily Prophet, the Potters seemed to think he liked to see photos of himself and Harry didn't discourage that belief. For he never wanted them to realise he was reading and not carefully combing the pages looking for his face.

He had learned that there was a lot to learn from newspapers, an article on the Bones had revealed that they had a son earlier in the year a fact that was unknown to him due to the lack of newspapers in hiding, people who were single where now married, people who were married where now widowed and apparently people who were dead are having babies, Suzan always said she wished she had a brother.

Harry face was plastered all over the paper that was to commemorate the one month anniversary, and no new news was gathered in the actual news part of the paper, Kitten who was Harry's faithful companion was of more interest, now full grown though young at heart, Kitten was seemed to have a sixth sense into his emotions and she would always come to distract him when he was board or upset. Kitten was at the moment siting on his newspaper pawing at his nose. Harry, grateful that he didn't have a reputation to uphold, enjoyed childishly cooing back at the feline while scratching behind her ears.

James potter walked in to the kitchen spotting his son on the floor with Kitten he smiled and was thankful once again to Peter for his choice in gifts, Harry seemed happier now that he had a companion for Harry never took to the Longbottems child Neville though that might be because Harry was an active child and Neville was still trying to relearn how to walk. Pouring himself a cup of coffee with one hand he used the other to remove the paper from underneath kitten and sat himself down leaving his son to his own devices.

Half an hour later Lilly walked in still in her night cloths. "James Potter! When I say I need you to wake me up early I mean it" Her husband and son didn't even bother to raise their heads it was normal the past week or so for the red head witch to complain about needing to be awoken, she seemed to think that if she was the last to wake she had wasted the whole morning in bed. She continued her rant listing all her chores for the day while she started Harry's breakfast pureed banana and apple yum Harry wrinkled his nose and tried to remind himself that it wasn't milk.

"And what is our son doing on the floor JAMES" she then picked him up ignoring Kitten's meow of protest and place him in his highchair "Honestly James he's your son not a dog"

"I resent that" no one jumped at Sirius presence in the doorway he was at the Potters more often than not and a lot more often with Christmas around the corner. He promptly sat next to his godson, eyed his bowl of mush and stole it for his own, replacing it with a piece of toast from the table before drowning what was Harry's breakfast in one long slurp Harry giggling at his antics. That led to an argument between Sirius and Lilly about proper breakfast for toddlers "He may choke" cried one "Its toast Lilly he survived you know who toast won't kill him" bellowed the other "that has nothing you do with it he's too young" "Neville eats toast among other things" and the kitchen fell into silence to Harry utter relief.

Breakfast past harmoniously for another thirty minutes till James suddenly began choking, horror written over his face. His wife looked at him disapprovingly but before she could scold him James turned to his best mate with an apologetic look "Siri listen to this, proud parents Rabastan and Bellatrix Lestrangeare Happy to announce the arrival of Betha Laila Lestrange born in the early hours of this morning both mother and child are doing well" now Sirius was the one choking.

People who were convicted AND brother and sister in-law were now married and having kids.

The world works in mysterious ways.

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December 25th 1981

Harry wasn't looking forward to Christmas though he wasn't dreading it either, his Christmases where like his birthday children's toys bought for a child, no firebolts or invisible cloaks definitely no DADA books or foe glasses just more of the same stuffed toys and playing blocks. Harry was starting to notice he was spoiled not to the extent of his Cousin or Malfoy but still no child needed that amount of toys.

Harry knew what he was getting already not that his parents where careless with the information but because he had seen them, it had been his pet project to practice seeing magical auras again, for in his past life he had learned. Normally one learned the ability late in life for you had to be in the presence of magic for years before you can see it and most never manage to. Harry however had at the age of one been in the presence of magic for over fifty years and so he had accomplished something that was literally impossible. Being able to see magical auras was very useful it's what gave Dumbledore such an edge, it was how he saw past Harrys cloak and how he always knew who was standing outside his office. Seeing auras allowed you to detect lingering spells like a concealment spell, that's how Harry found his presents, it also told you almost anything about any person just by looking at their aura, if they were injured, if they had been exposed to or used dark Magic, if dark magic had been used on them and so on, regrettably you couldn't use ones aura as evidence because looking at ones aura was considered an evasion of privacy if you didn't have permission for said individual. That didn't stop Harry he had used it to detected many co-workers who had been imperiused.

Harry was enjoy his new found ability by being rather childish, he was picking his food apart flooding it with his magic and throwing it across the room watching it bounce of the walls and furniture leaving behind small residues of his magic behind Kitten would then eat them getting whatever small amount of magic was left all over her lips and paws, to put it mildly after ten minute's the kitchen was all spotty though only Harry noticed, Harry did hope it would fade enough for Dumbledore not to notice when he came over for Christmas lunch.

Harrys Dad has been watching him slowly empty his plate of pancakes, smiling as he son took a piece for himself before throwing a piece to the cat, and then repeat his actions he knew Lilly would scold him for allowing their son to throw away his breakfast but she was feeling unwell and was unlikely to be down before lunch to catch him. Plus he reminded himself Harry was lucky to be alive and so he should be allowed to enjoy himself a little while he could. James Potter shook his head of such dark thoughts the dark lord may not be dead but he wasn't likely to return anytime soon either it may be years before they need worry about such things.

Harry was lying on the floor playing with his crayons smiling at Kitten who looked ridiculous with her face covered in lingering magic she in turn was staring back at him flicking her tail in annoyance as if knowing what he had done to her. The walls had faded as had the paw prints so Harry was confident that his antics would remain unnoticed seeing as his mother never allowed Kitten in the kitchen when they had guests. Three loud pops indicated the arrival of the three marauders, truly glad to see them Harry jumped and "UNCLES!" he screamed before running up to each in turn and hugging the them around the legs for their hands where overloaded in presents.

Lunch time had arrived and Harry's Mum had yet to appear which was uncharacteristic of her even if she was unwell, Harry watched his Father make his way upstairs to check on her and announce that everyone was waiting, Harry spent the time studying his guest auras for though he had seem some he had never seen most of the auras that where now spotted across the table. Dumbledore's was by far the largest though it had nothing to do with one power level but with one age for auras where like rings in a tree it show you ones past if Harry squinted he imagine he could just see the thin dark line that indicated the headmasters short experimentation with the dark arts in his youth that leaded up to his sister's death, the rest of the room was less interesting the Longbottems had small amounts of dark magic left over from their ordeal with the attack on their house Neville had dark lines weaving though his leg indicating his condition, his uncles showed signs of recent battles. Peter had also come with a date, Amelia Bones to Harry's surprised, but Harry did remember that she had never married, her aura was strong but Harry had always known she was a powerful witch, Madame Pomfrey reeked of healing magic Hagrid giant magic was interesting But harry had seen it before and Minerva was much the same as he remembered her feline side still coming though her aura. Harry had no idea what his own aura looked like, one could not view their own aura it wasn't reflected in I a mirror nor did glow around your body as most Muggles believed, one aura was ones magic and one magic allowed you to view auras. Harry assumed that his aura seemed normal for a toddler because Dumbledore never mentioned otherwise, all the books he read said that an aura was cleansed when it travelled back, something about future magic not being able to affect magic in the past but it wasn't ever confirmed as no one could personally confirm their aura cleansing.

The colours where beginning to hurt his eyes and her was about to turn off his ability for lack of a better word when his Mum and Dad appeared and as she apologised for her absents Harry stared at her in shock not believing what he was seeing, as she went on to explain she didn't know what was wrong with her Harry interrupted not even realising what he was saying.

"Mum you pregnant" everyone stopped talking and turn towards him, Sirius who had been taking a drink was so shocked that he covered Amelia in Butterbeer Harry giggled at the sight and continued "Happy Christmas"

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Roughly four months latter

Harry was 'sleeping' snuggled in-between his parents on the couch his legs curled up in his Fathers lap his head resting on his Mothers still swelling belly her fingers combing through his hair, it was these moments made all the milk and embarrassment worth it the moments Harry never had. Drifting in and out Harry listened to his parents midnight chatter, mostly plans for the nursery, before the atmosphere took an unexpected turn.

Harry listened as his Mum turn to his Dad and spoke nervously "James do you think we're doing the right thing having another child?"

Huffing in amusement he replied "Lilly flower if you having second thoughts it a bit late" his hand brushed across Harry face before resting on his wife abdomen "This child" he laughed "Is coming whether you want it to or not" here he paused to look straight into her eyes "And it feels nothing but right"

She smiled and further explained "Yes but I'm afraid, I'm afraid" she continued in fear of interruption "You were a single child you never experienced sibling jealously or rivalry, I did. When I was born my sister loved me but as we aged she began to resent me, my parents, mainly my Father, doted on me I was their baby their youngest, my sister was more like my sitter. I was considered more beautiful by strangers and more intelligent by teachers. It all got beyond breaking point with Hogwarts our parents where wide eyed at my new world I went where she could never follow and she never forgave me, I don't blame her and I don't want history to repeat itself.

"Lilly" he continued to laugh "I doubt very much that we will ever have to worried about Harry feeling neglected if he was completely normal without defeat of a dark lord under his belt he would still have Sirius who would consider it a great dishonour to abandon his godson, Remus who is far too honourably to play favourites, Peter who couldn't ignore Harry if he tried and you" he smiled "Who is going to love all her children the same whether you have two or twenty"

"I'm not worried about Harry" she took a deep breath "just think for a moment just how famous Harry really is, just think it's only going to grow with time. Imagine" she said replacing James hand with her own "This one boy or girl will have to grow up as the sibling of the boy who lived the media will be interested a first but not forever, kids at Hogwarts will always ask questions about Harry, Harry is overly smart what if" here she breathed in a shaky breath "What if the world expects of this one? What if we do?"

She was close to tears when she was interrupted "Lilly flower it will all work out, the world can expect all it wants it won't matter, and we both know that Harry is a seer child, and that it's not genetic so we will know better than to expect the same from this one, he or she will be perfect, amazing and loved" the conversation drifted off into other topics before the Potters turned in for the night laying their now asleep son in his bed.

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26th of August 1983

Harry was sitting on his godfathers lap in St Mungo's waiting, his mother had gone into labour early in the morning and it was now late afternoon with no result. Harry had been sitting in the waiting room for hours, passer-by's and staff alike complemented his good behaviour but he was nearing his limits if it lasted much longer he was turning into a spoiled brat and demanding to go home to kitten. It was around 4:30 in the afternoon when Harry spotted the first interesting thing all day and that was a couple walking out or the maternity ward.

Young, beautiful, alive and a whole lot more sane then Harry had ever seen her was none other than Bellatrix Lestrange. In her arm a tiny infant, a boy if the blue was to be believed, walking behind her was husband/ex-brother in law, Rabastan Lestrange was holding a small girl who was only ten months old.

Bellatrix sensing his gaze turn his way, she glanced at Sirius and Remus sitting and Peter who was approaching the group, before her eyes flicked back to him and then his scar, sneering as she realised who he was. Harry stared defiantly back not flinching at her gaze. His behaviour attracted the attention of his uncles, Sirius followed his gaze and nearly jumped in shock before doing a double take of his cousin, his eyes then promptly narrowed and his grip of Harry tightened.

"I don't want the Potter brat" she sneered discussed the he could even think such a thing

"Then why are you here?" he replied distain rolling off him in waves.

"Your stupidity still ceases to amaze me dear cousin" sarcasm was filling the air between the two party's "This is a hospital and just because you holding a celebrity it doesn't mean everyone else is refused entrance"

"I thought you would show a little more respect for Lord Black, after all you were a black yourself once" Harry watch her eyes narrow at the mention of Sirius title, a title Sirius received after his father's death four months ago, one he got on a technicality that infuriated his family a tile he took out of spite for his brother using the excuse of depleting Death Eater funds whenever someone questioned his motives.

The small bundle wriggled in Bellatrix's arms, looking down a small soft smile spread across her lips, it was gone so fast and replaced with a sneer aimed at him Harry hoped he had imagined it, yet he saw it only moments later as her attention was drawn back to her son and she left without a backwards glance, leaving questions in her wake.

"Who do you think that was in her arms?" Remus questioned Sirius "I assume it was her son but then her daughter is only ten months old?"

"Surely that impossible" piped Peter who had returned for fetching everyone a late lunch. "Not even the Weasleys are that fertile" As peter placed down the food Harry reached out to his uncle, who eagerly took him from a disgruntle Sirius.

"One day I will steal him off of you peter, one day" He joked as Harry was passed from one to the other. "That" he inclined his head to the door that the Lestranges had left though, "was Rodolphus Black Lestrange born on 29th of June three months premature nearly died at birth" the other two looked at him oddly "What? As Lord Black, Lord to Bellatrix's maiden family I am informed of any children she may have as pure-blooded tradition requires, though they probably hate recognising me as Lord Black, they'd never break from tradition." Sirius seemed to find this information very boring and mundane but then he was raised in such traditions, "Clever trick giving him the middle name Black" Remus gave him an eager hand gesture to continue his story, "Well, as she was a Black if I have no heirs and neither dose my brother then she can have him declared Lord Black on our deaths, what she doesn't know is I've name an heir in case I do remain childless" here he smiled smugly so Remus made an impatient gesture for him to continue, "As if you don't Know Moony" he laughed "if I died childless Harry will be my default heir and can gain the title Lord Black when he turns of age, of course the Malfoys and Lestranges will try to overrule it but they will fail My mother will be disappointed to learn that she taught me well"

Remus continued to question him of pure-blooded customs never being raised with them himself, and Harry listened mildly interested as he ate what felt like his first meal in years, full and warm with nothing to do Harry slowly drifted off asleep. If he had waited ten more minute he would have been awake to see his father rush over to the group smiling declaring the birth of a little girl.

Calla Lilly Potter

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AN

Ok so the reason this is sooo late is I had to comb the internet for a really good baby name sites and then comb that for really good names.

Calla Lilly is a real type of flower that is not even part of the Lily family but they named it Calla Lily anyway don't ask me what logic they were using but I like the flower and wanted to name Harrys little sister after one but didn't want to use names like Violet (Already in use by me) and Daisy (gag vomit gag) so I thought that would be a good word play, the flower is also known as the trumpet Lily but I wasn't naming her that.

Ok so this chapter is one of three that will be TDaYtF (The Years and Days that Followed) chapters, that will cover Harrys year before Hogwarts I am worried that I'm putting too much detail into before Hogwarts but I think it is necessary as you can see Harry has unknowingly made massive changes the time line Neville's parents where never Crucioed insane, so no one who attacked them went to jail including yes you know guessed right Barty Crouch Jr DUN, DUN, DUN!

There is also still more OC to come we have herd of four and there is six more to come but some of them are only ever really mentioned in passing like the bones child he has no significant role as Suzan had no real role to play in the original time line, after all it is stupid to assume that every child that was not supposed to be born will be a major part of Harrys new life.

Please R&R if you have something interesting to say, have questions or just want to encourage me creative writing. I write faster and more often with encouragement though that may sound vain it's true.

Thanks

ANEMLP