Chapter Five: Off to Egypt

The Ministry of Magic was not what Harry expected. It was a large, noisy, bustling government building hidden beneath London. Luckily, with so many wizards coming and going no one paid him any attention. Even so, Harry had been happy to not be wearing his signature glasses or have his trademark scar on display. It felt good to be incognito in the wizarding world. Harry stopped to register his wand at the wand check station, his old holly and phoenix feather wand, not the new one. He was done being stupid. Harry rode the crazy elevator to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. After a frustrating five minute wait, he was led into Madame Bones's office where she sat behind her desk speaking to two men. Files were scattered across her desk as she and the men poured over them.

"Mr. Potter, as you can imagine after yesterday's revelations, I'm extremely busy."

Harry placed the photo he had found on the cluttered desk and pointed to Peter.

"Peter Pettigrew is a rat animagus. You said when he died all they found was a finger. My friend Ron Weasley has a pet rat missing a toe that's been in the family for years. When I first met Ron, he told me the rat belonged to his brother first. Odd that an ordinary rat lives long enough to be passed between siblings."

"Merlin." A dark skinned black man with silver hoop earrings in his ear pulled out a file on the desk before rifling through it. He spread out a copy of an old Daily Prophet with the Weasleys on the cover. Ron had sent the same clipping to him before he left the Dursleys. On Ron's shoulder was Scabbers or Pettigrew. "This is the paper Minister Fudge gave Black when he toured Azkaban. Black would've clearly recognized Pettigrew. If Black really did the bonding ritual, then his instincts to protect Potter would've gone into overdrive. The guards reported he kept repeating 'he's at Hogwarts' in his sleep. What if Black hadn't meant Potter like we assumed but Pettigrew?"

Harry shivered. It had just occurred to him that he'd slept in the same dorm with Pettigrew for two years. It's amazing he was still alive. Harry shivered again, as it felt like someone crawled up his skin. He looked down and saw a beetle on his arm. He squealed like a girl and tried to slap it. It flew away and landed on the desk. Harry's hands were flapping around as he went to try and smash the bug that freaked him out so much, just as his palm was about to connect with the thing, the bug transformed into a woman with glasses and frizzy blonde hair. She tumbled off the desk and fell on the floor fear making her tanned skin flush pink.

"Ms. Skeeter. Well this explains a lot," Madame Bones, quipped drily.

The other man quickly removed the woman's wand and placed the protesting woman in restraints then led her out the office. Harry looked to the two in confusion.

"Rita Skeeter," Madame Bones said. "Reporter for the Daily Prophet, she's best known for unearthing classified information and twisting it into sensualized stories to rile the public. As an unregistered animagus who used her form to obtain classified documents, she's looking at five to ten years. Harry, you sure know how to create chaos. I haven't been this busy since the war."

Harry smiled ruefully. "The Weasleys are in Egypt right now. If Pettigrew knows about Sirius's escape, he's probably scared witless, what if he escapes before they return to England? We should get him now."

"We?"

Harry glared at her. "This concerns me most of all. I'll stay in the background and everything."

Madame Bones looked at the other man who shrugged. She sighed. "You're responsible for him. Assemble a team."

Harry beamed at the tall man. "You are officially the most awesome person ever and as a reward when we get done, you can take me to get my ears pierced like yours."

The man gave a deep rumbling laugh and held out his hand. "Kingsley Shacklebolt."

"Harrison Potter."

"Men." Madame Bones snorted.

Watching Kingsley, a head auror, put together a team and brief them was awesome. If it weren't for Potter Corporation, he'd definitely think about becoming an auror. It was wicked. Then he realized that Potter Corporation had a private specialized security force and figured he could get some action learning and working with them. Harry gazed around at Kingsley's team as the man briefed them about their mission and noticed that one of the younger aurors with bright pink hair burst into tears when they were told Sirius Black was put in jail without a trail and was most likely innocent. Once the briefing was over, he went up to her.

"Do you know Sirius?"

"He's my cousin, my mother was a Black. Mum says he's the only one in her family she could stand, the rest disowned her when she ran away and married my father who's muggleborn." She looked at him curiously. "Who are you?"

"Harrison Potter." Her eyes flicked to his forehead. "Scar remover."

She laughed and held out her hand. "Nymphodora Tonks, call me Tonks or die."

Harry laughed. "Weird names must be a pureblood thing. I just found out that Dad wanted to call me Han Solo but Mum put her foot down."

"Wish my dad did the same," she mumbled.

"Hey, we're cousins I think. My grandmother was a Black."

She beamed and draped an arm around Harry's shoulder. "More family would be great."

Soon they were able to finish legalese and get an international port key to Egypt. The strange port key travel lasted several minutes, much longer than the last time he used his Lord's ring to get to Castle Potter. Harry guessed it was because this was an international trip. While the rest of the team landed gracefully, he and Tonks landed in a tangle of arms and legs, which made the other aurors, laugh.

They both blushed and lifted themselves up when Kingsley stretched out his hand. "Next time pedal your feet before you let go. It helps smooth out your landing."

Harry nodded and looked up at the white limestone hotel that looked strangely beautiful sitting in the middle of the desolate desert and trailed after the group. Luckily Cairo was only an hour ahead of London so while it was hot, the sun had gone down and he didn't feel as if he were about to collapse with heat exhaustion. They found the Weasleys at the swimming pool in the back of the hotel. Harry stayed back with the others as Kingsley approached Mr. and Mrs. Weasley and pulled them aside. Ron gasped when he saw him and rushed over.

"Harry? You look different. What's going on?"

Harry shook his head. "I can't say."

Ron's face turned red at being denied, and Harry prepared himself for the explosion, an explosion that didn't come. Harry supposed that was because of the aurors standing next to him. The rest of the Weasleys were looking around warily but before they could say anything Mr. and Mrs. Weasley and Kingsley approached them.

"Ron, where's Scabbers?" Mr. Weasley asked tensely.

"Scabbers?" Ron asked shocked into responding without thinking. "He's in the room. He hasn't been feeling well so I left him in a cage Bill conjured for me."

"Stay here," Kingsley told him and Tonks. They both opened their mouths to protest and both stopped and sighed when they saw the look on Kingsley's face.

Kingsley swept away with the rest of the aurors leaving him and Tonks at the mercy of the Weasleys. He thought Kingsley got the better deal.

"Harry dear," Mrs. Weasley began the moment the aurors left.

"Mrs. Weasley," he said firmly cutting her off. "I cannot talk about it."

"Tonks?" A Weasley brother Harry hadn't met piped up, Charlie he presumed because this brother had a muscular build and burns on his arms. Charlie looked at Tonks expectedly.

"Harry's right. I know Weasleys and patience don't mix," Tonks said making Harry snort. "But keep your questions until later."

Harry looked at Tonks and lifted an eyebrow. She laughed and ruffled his hair. "Don't worry cuz my virtue's safe. Charlie's an old boyfriend, we broke up when we realized we were both eyeing the same men. We're best friends."

"Okay, can't have anyone messing with my big cuz."

Tonks laughed.

"So Harry," Fred said in a deceptively casual voice. "How's your summer been?"

"Awful at first, but it got better once I blew up my Aunt and ran away from the Dursleys."

The boys laughed.

"Harry!" Mrs. Weasley screeched.

"Yes, Mrs. Weasley?"

"That is not-"

Harry sighed, not in the mood for a lecture right now so he cut her off before she could get winded up. "Mrs. Weasley she called my father a drunk and my mother a whore. She's lucky that's all I did," Harry answered his voice like steel.

"Well," Mrs. Weasley sputtered. "As long as you're okay. Where are you staying?"

"I was at the Leaky but I ran into Madame Longbottom yesterday and she invited me to the manor. I've been hanging out with Neville." He sighed. "I should've went back with him, I missed dinner, and I'm starving."

"Then you'll eat with us," Mrs. Weasley said firmly. "You're too thin."

She wandered off and soon they were all sitting around a large circular table, Harry made a mental note to find one for his house. They ate dinner and Harry had taken his potions, which got curious looks from the Weasleys. It was hard to avoid their not so subtle demands for answers and he was ready to jump into Kingsley's arms by the time he came back.

"His identity was confirmed. I sent the prisoner back with rest of the team for questioning."

Kingsley looked to Harry and saw how tense he was, from the look on his face Harry could tell Madame Bones had told him some of what happened during their meeting at Gringotts and knew about his fears regarding the Weasley family.

"Molly, Arthur, can I talk to you for a moment a lot has happened in the last couple of days."

"Of course," Arthur said.

They walked out. Ron who was sitting next to him scooted a little closer to him. "What's going on," he whispered.

Harry looked to Tonks desperately who sighed. "Ronald's rat Scabbers is unregistered animagus by the name of Peter Pettigrew." Everyone gasped. "Depending on how the interrogation goes, there is a chance that Sirius Black was not a Death Eater like everyone assumed and Pettigrew was the Death Eater instead."

Bill scowled. "An innocent man would not spend twelve years as a pet rat."

"Exactly," Harry answered. "Sirius Black was my godfather and I have a lot riding on the outcome of his interrogation. That's why I kinda bulldozed my way here."

George beamed. "You can leave those muggles."

"I'm leaving them anyway. Dumbledore had no right ignoring my parents' wishes and leaving me there. He kidnapped me. He also blocked my mail. I had no idea who I was or what I own."

"You didn't, not at all?" Bill snapped. "You haven't received any mail? What about your Gringott's statements?"

Bill looked furious. It was then Harry remembered that he worked for Gringotts and had taken some of their oaths.

"I never received one. I didn't even know my name was Harrison."

"You never told him Ronald?" Bill growled at Ron.

Ron flinched at the glare his brother sent his way. "I thought he knew."

Bill rolled his eyes and stared at Ron as if he were disgusted with him. Harry bit back a smile. So all the Weasleys weren't what he'd been afraid of.

"I did," Ron insisted. "I assumed he didn't talk about it because he couldn't access it or anything until he turned seventeen."

"Bill," George said softly. "It wasn't just Ron, it was us too. We saw things that didn't make sense, but we didn't push it like we should have."

"Why not," Charlie rumbled.

"You two skipped the country the minute you graduated," Fred accused. "You haven't been around. Ron is always last, he always gets the leftovers. He's between Percy, and his genius and ambition."

"Genius?" Percy interrupted smiling.

"Oh be quiet," Fred snapped. "You're a prat, but you're a brilliant prat, and you'll succeed at whatever you decide to do, you're just being stupid and settling for the ministry because that's what Mum wants and you saw how she harassed Bill and Charlie. I've never seen someone so smart, be so stupid."

Percy's smile could've lit up the darkest night. Harry figured he hadn't gotten many compliments from his siblings. "I'll ignore the name calling and accept the thinly veiled praise in your rant."

"Anyway," George continued loudly. "Ron has Percy then us always causing mayhem on one end and Ginny, the girl that mom dotes on who gets whatever Mum can give her."

"No, what? I'm not spoiled," Ginny huffed.

Ron, Percy, Fred, and George just stared at her with identical expressions of disbelief.

"Ron always gets the short end of the stick. He's insecure and angry that he's insecure and to make it worse his best friend is Harry Potter, which just increases his insecurity. It would never occur to him that Harry has it worse than him because Harry has money. To Ron, money fixes everything." George shrugged. "We've stayed out of his way at Hogwarts because his friendship with Harry and Hermione were the first things that were really his and we were happy that he was finally thriving away from us."

"I'm a bad friend?" Ron asked Harry horrified.

Harry grinned and bumped his shoulder. "You're a great friend. I've been an idiot as well."

"Sorry," Ron truly looked remorseful and Harry felt better than he had since this whole mess began.

He laughed. "I never had friends before either. I was afraid to make you and Hermione not want to be my friends anymore and was willing to do anything to keep you as friends so I just agreed with everything and never stuck up for myself when I disagreed."

"So you'll all stop acting like idiots now?" Bill demanded.

"That's asking a lot," Fred said.

"Not for someone who needs startup funds for their business," Bill countered.

Fred and George sat up and goggled at their brother.

"Ace your O.W.L's and I'll give you the bonuses I've been saving up. It's about three hundred galleons."

"Bill, no—"

"We can't, you –"

"—need it for your future."

Harry's head swiveled between the brothers. "What business?"

"Weasley Wizard Wheezes, our joke shop we've been creating products for."

"Oh. Well if you give me a sample of your inventions and I like them I'll give you one thousand galleons for 25% of the business when you pass your O.W.L's."

"Are you serious?"

Harry shrugged. "Why not, if you're good it'll be a great investment for me.'

They looked at Bill who nodded.

"We'll take it."

They reached over and shook Harry's hand.

Kingsley, Mr., and Mrs. Weasley returned and the Weasley's sat down looking very somber except for the annoyed glares Mr. Weasley occasionally shot his wife. Kingsley passed him and patted him on the shoulder; Harry followed him away from everyone. When they found enough distance, Kingsley waved his wand in a complicated pattern, and when Harry arched an eyebrow, he grinned.

"Privacy wards. I questioned them under veritaserum, a truth serum. Mr. Weasley knew nothing and thinks of you as his son's friend. Mrs. Weasley was looking for you at King's Cross that day as you expected. Dumbledore told her Hagrid forgot to tell you how to get on the platform, but she didn't tell Ron to befriend you. That was all him." Harry let out a relieved breath. "She did tell Dumbledore the twins concerns about your living arrangements and he told her he'd take care of it. She believed him. She believes a little too blindly in Dumbledore, but so do half the population in Europe, I even did before this became known. I think your biggest concern with Mrs. Weasley is that she's a mother who believes her only daughter can do no wrong. Ginny is her darling. Ginny has a crush on you, so Ginny should have you, no matter what." Harry grimaced which made Kingsley laugh. "If you suddenly grow feelings for Ginny Weasley, I'd be concerned that she did something, but other than that she's okay. More so now, I think Arthur was disgusted by what he heard today and will be keeping closer tabs on his family. I hope you don't mind but I told them you're seeing a mind healer and that Ginny needed to do the same after the events of last year. I also told them they could make a strong enough case against Lucius Malfoy for him to foot the bill, because he's going to be heavily fined if not outright jailed for slipping Ginny that diary."

Harry nodded. "I hope he pays. Archblade told me that since I killed the basilisk it's mine. Once I sell the parts, I can split the proceeds with everyone who was affected."

"That's a good idea. You are a good person Harry."

Harry flushed. "I'd like to find out what's going on with Pettigrew."

Kingsley nodded. "Me too."

They returned and said their goodbyes. Harry got a big hug from Ron and the brothers. Bill surprised him though when he took him aside.

"Are you okay? Is there anything you need help with or are confused about?"

Harry suddenly realized why Ron idolized his oldest brothers.

"I'm okay. I met Ragnok," Bill's eyes widened. "My old case manager is gone and my vaults are being audited by my new manager who has been looking out for me and answering my questions. I think it's because of me he's gone from being a cart driver to the Potter account manager."

Bill laughed loudly. "Smart move. He'll be loyal to you; his whole clan will be loyal to you as you just elevated their family's status, which is as important to goblins as it is to wizards. Well, they'll be as loyal as a goblin can be. If you get confused or ever need help with something or someone, send me an owl.

"Thank you . . .. Bill, Kingsley told your parents, but I think you should know as well. I've been going to a mind healer and I think Ginny should too after last year. I've just started, but it's really helping me and I wasn't possessed by a teenaged Voldemort like Ginny was."

A determined glint came into Bill's eyes. "I'll talk to my parents about that and the life debt we all owe you for saving Ginny's life."

Harry gasped. "Life debt, no . . .."

"Look them up and then come and talk to me. I wouldn't be surprised if the whole school didn't owe you one."

Harry groaned. "You've got to be kidding."

Bill laughed and ruffled his hair. "Read up on it. I might have been a foolish Gryffindor but the world has told me that knowledge is power."

"Or as Archblade, my account manager told me many times, I can't afford to be stupid. Thanks Bill, it was great meeting you."

When he got back to the manor, after a quick trip to the Department of Mysteries to retrieve the prophecy, which was anti-climactic as the prophecy was pretty much what he'd been expecting, it was after nine. Harry felt like he'd been an awful guest, moreso when he saw the spread of fruit, bread, cheese, and juice awaiting him. It looked like May had been by too because he saw the blueprints and a design booklet on the table as well as a note saying the meeting he'd requested had been set for tomorrow morning at nine. Harry wanted nothing better than to sit and delve into the blueprints, he was too curious to see what the home looked like, but he refrained. He knew if he sat down now, he'd never get up again so he went to the bathroom and cleaned up and put his pajamas on before sitting at the table to start eating the snack left for him. After years of not having regular meals, it seemed that all he did now was eat, eat, eat.

"May?" he called softly feeling stupid wondering if she could hear him. "Are you busy?"

May immediately popped into the room smiling broadly. "Of course not, Master Harry."

He looked at her suspiciously. "Are you sure?"

"May was helping with Dobby. May only ever saw Potter House Elves before, he's a weird one. May will never doubt father again on how other house elves are treated."

Harry couldn't help laughing at the expression on May's face, it was then he realized how young May was at least for a house elf. "I think Dobby would be unique no matter what happened to him. How did things with Archblade go?"

May beamed back at him. "Archblade found the vault where your mail had been hidden. It was one of Dumbledore's, which gave Ragnok an excuse to seize his vaults and do an audit of his accounts. We now have all your mail since you were a baby in a special room in the castle and are checking it for traps, poisons, and the like before going sorting it by year and person."

"Do we have enough elves for that? Or people? Do you need help?"

May looked affronted at the very idea that she and the Potter elves couldn't handle something. "We're using it as training for the younger elves and Dobby. They're very happy, they never get to do stuff this exciting, especially when they find a trap." Harry rolled his eyes, deciding not to comment on what house elves thought as fun, he supposed it was a cultural thing. "Your new mail goes there too. I'll sort through that and send it with Hedwig in the morning. She's annoyed that I've been bringing you things instead of her, so prepare yourself."

Harry couldn't help it he began giggling again. There was a quiet knock on the door and Neville poked his head in, smiling and walking in when he saw the expression on Harry's face.

"You're in a good mood. I was worried."

Neville sat down and began snacking.

"It went well. May can you make a note that I need to research life-debts. I'm a little overwhelmed right now, but it needs to be done in the next couple weeks." May pulled out an organizer and made a note. Seeing her do that gave him an idea. "Hey, can you do or find someone to research on how to make normal everyday muggle products like the telly, phones, computers, work and be accessible in a magical environment? Look at what's being done and who's doing it? Ms. Ellis of Potter Corporation may know something. Speaking of that, she said she wanted to meet me soon; can you set up a meeting tomorrow at Potter Corporation after the contractors? I'll need you there for both meetings. Oh and I have a luncheon meeting with aurors Kingsley Shacklebolt and Tonks at Chaser's Cafe. It's going to take a while." Harry looked at Neville. "Wanna come? They're going to take me where they got their ears pierced then I was going to go out in the muggle world and get some clothes."

Neville made a face. "Not interested in the piercing, but the muggle clothes sounds fun as long as you don't make me buy the stuff you wear. I like the clothes Justin Finch-Fletchley wears on weekends though. Those look cool." Neville said with a grin.

May looked between them. "I'll call Harrods and arrange for a personal shopper for you both tomorrow afternoon. Master Harry, I suggest you just focus on getting what you'll need for the rest of the summer as you'll be getting bigger once you finish your potion regime."

"You're right. I'll need wizard robes too, but I can hold off on that until my height and weight even out." Harry titled his head and looked at Neville thoughtfully. "Since I'm not going back to Hogwarts, I want to have an end of the summer party," he looked at May. "Maybe at an amusement park, maybe see how much it is to rent one out for a day, probably the Sunday before the Hogwarts Express leaves? Sunday will probably be less busy for the park and I think the wizards would get a kick out of it."

May nodded taking notes. "How many people?"

Harry looked to Neville who shrugged. "Hermione, the Weasleys, the Quidditch team, all the Gryffindors of our year and Padma. Who do you suggest Nev?"

"I'm friends with most of the Puffs our year, plus Daphne, Tracey, Theo, and Blaise in Slytherin. Theo's father was a death eater but Theo's not like that."

Harry shrugged. "Okay, I trust you." He turned back to May. "I'll get a list to you soon, just remind me. I think that's all May. Thanks you've been awesome."

May popped out all smiles.

Neville grinned. "And you were worried about not being a good businessman."

Harry looked confused. "I did what I usually do, ramble out whatever idle thoughts pop up inside my head."

"Yes, but instead of having Hermione ignore you or only research what she thinks you should focus on, you finally have someone whose job it is to pay attention to all your mad ramblings and make sense of it," Neville said with a laugh.

Harry stuck his tongue out at Neville and threw one of the pillows in his face. Neville laughed and caught it.

"Is your Gran mad? I haven't been around at all. I feel like a bad guest."

"She understands. She knows you're trying to make up for twelve years of misinformation, but she does want to tell you about the governors meeting. She made me promise to let her tell the tale."

"That good?"

"Gran was in her element. She did what she does best; intimidate everyone into doing her will. I take it things went well with Ron? I don't think you'd be in such a good mood otherwise."

Harry grinned. "Yeah, you were right about Ron and his insecurities."

"Of course I was."

Harry snorted and bumped into Neville's side before continuing. "Families are a mystery to me. I always saw the Weasleys as a poor but perfect family, but they're not. To see them so raw and the flaws was an eye opener. I understand more about why Ron is the way he is more than ever, Percy too. I have a feeling Bill and Charlie are going to take a firmer hand with their younger siblings."

"That's good. It's kind of a well-known joke that once they came of age, Bill and Charlie purposely took jobs as far away from Molly Weasley as they could. Mrs. Weasley can be overbearing, very loving, but overbearing."

"See, this is the kind of insider stuff I'm missing out on."

"Now that your mail isn't tampered with you'll start getting the invitations to the boring pureblood parties and get the gossip."

"But I'm not a pureblood."

Neville shrugged. "You're Lord Potter, and the Boy-Who-Lived, and the wealthiest wizard in Britain who can trace his lineage back to the founders, which few families despite their posturing can manage. For all Draco's bragging, the Malfoy's can only trace their British roots to the 1600's when they came to Britain to escape the witch hunts and before that they were a non-noteworthy wizarding family from France."

"While you are descended directly from British royalty." Harry grinned. "Swear to me that you'll send me the pensieve memory when you confront Malfoy with that fact the next time he starts in on you. Please!"

Neville flushed and grabbed some fruit to munch on. "You're a bad influence."

"Thanks," Harry grinned.

He unraveled the blueprints; to his surprise a color, 3D like projection of Potter Hall appeared floating before them. He could switch through and see what the house looked like when it was originally built including furnishing, other remodels, as well as what the home looks like in its current state. With Neville's help and the design book he'd been provided, he redesigned the twenty-nine bedroom mansion to include some proposed design choices.

"What do you think?" he asked grinning at his new house.

"It looks like it was designed by two thirteen year old boys who inhaled too many potion ingredients."

"Wicked huh," Harry laughed and Neville snorted. Harry ignored him. "We kept the murals and all the architectural details though. It's Victorian, yet modern."

"With a lot of mad potioneer thrown in," Neville said dryly. "Before you start buying furniture, check your vaults. It's a common practice that whenever you do a redesign you store the old pieces in your family vault. The old families are all pack rats. You'll probably find some great antiques, glass, and pottery that will go great with the place." Neville yawned and stretched. "I better go to bed. My fencing instructor floos in at five and if I'm not on form he makes me run laps around the manor until I pass out."

"That sucks mate, but you look good. You lost all your baby fat."

Neville grinned. "Yeah, hopefully I'll get enough courage to ask Hannah Abbot to Hogsmeade this year. Nite."

With a wave Neville left, Harry turned out the lights with the exception of the lamp by the bed and crawled underneath the covers with his Dad's Hogwarts journal. To Harry's surprise, his father was a bit of a spoiled brat aka Dudley and Draco Malfoy with a bit of Ron and his all Slytherin's are evil rant, which is weird considering his mother was a Slytherin. The more he read, the more disappointed he became with his father. Some of the pranks he pulled on Snape were downright cruel. Why had he picked on Snape so mercilessly? The only reason Harry could see his dad and his friends picking on Snape was he was in Slytherin, was smarter than them, and best friends with his mum. It seemed his dad was determined to make his mum notice him, because she was the only girl in their year who didn't giggle and act silly around him. He would've felt sorry for Snape if it wasn't for the fact that he'd turned around and did the same thing to Harry when Harry hadn't done anything to him. Harry was disappointed in his father, but he supposed it would be hard to be a decent person and not a complete berk when you grew up in a castle and had hundreds of house elves at your beck and call. He did appreciate that his father in private was a great friend and great to his personal house elf who to his surprise was Jouri. His father did little things for his friends and loved ones without their noticing like secretly restocking his poor friends' quills and parchment and giving out useful birthday gifts like clothes and the next year's school supplies so his poorer friends wouldn't struggle. Maybe he stopped the bullying and his mum saw the better qualities of his dad? To Harry's surprise even with the goofing off, his father finished his first year 5th in his class. Harry decided it was definitely time he took his studies seriously and the best way to do that was to review his books from the first two years of Hogwarts. With that though in mind, Harry fell asleep just before James Potter began his second year at Hogwarts.

The next morning Harry woke up at six, read the first couple of chapters of his meditation book, practiced the techniques he learned then got up and got dressed, grabbing his first year's defense book and his book bag before making his way downstairs. A house elf guided him to a smaller informal breakfast room and Harry found Madame Longbottom sitting at the table sipping tea and reading the paper.

"Good morning ma'am."

The formidable matriarch looked up and her rapier gaze raked him from head to toe. "You look better, less likely to find a rooftop and pitch yourself off it. Have you been taking your potions?"

"Yes ma'am." It took everything in Harry not to fidget under Madame Longbottom's gaze.

"Good."

Harry went to the sideboard and filled his plate with food he remembered was on his nutrition plan. Just as he was about to sit, Neville slinked into the room and dropped in his chair, eyes bloodshot, exhaustion written in every line of his body. Feeling guilty because it was his fault Neville had gotten to bed late, Harry grabbed Neville's plate and went to the sideboard filling it with things he remembered Neville liking from Hogwarts and placed it in front of him along with a strong cup of coffee.

"Thanks mate," Neville mumbled and drowned his coffee in one gulp. Harry laughed and got him another cup before he sat down himself and dug into his breakfast and drunk his potions.

A regal owl flew in and went around the table before landing on his shoulder. He took the package from the bird and gave it a piece of bacon before the bird flew away. Inside the package was a letter from Archblade that just said 'Ignorance is not bliss.' The package was subscriptions to the Daily Prophet, London Times, New York Times, and Magical Times the American Magical paper. He started with the Daily Prophet and gaped.

"PETER PETTIGREW CAPTURED, SIRIUS BLACK INNOCENT," "LUCIUS MALFOY ARRESTED FOR PLANTING A DARK OBJECT ON A MINOR!" "ALBUS DUMBLEDORE, SEVERUS SNAPE, AND POPPY POMPHREY SUSPENDED FROM HOGWARTS FOR FRAUD AND CHILD ENDANGERMENT!" "RITA SKEETER ARRESTED FOR BEING AN ILLEGAL ANIMAGUS AND OTHER CRIMES!" "MINISTER FUDGE AND DELORES UMBRIDGE UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR FRAUD AND CORRUPTION." Even though he knew most of this, it was still shocking. He scanned the articles and gaped at Madame Longbottom.

"That must have been some school board meeting."

She nodded regally. "The full board, staff, and several aurors. Everyone took confidentiality oaths. I started the meeting by stating your intention to withdraw from Hogwarts and why. I shared the memories of your poor introduction to the magical world, your lack of medical care, which is standard for muggleborns entering Hogwarts, and the lack of care generally shown to you during your time at Hogwarts, especially for someone of your rank. We also discussed the bullying by Severus Snape of his students, Dumbledore's manipulations your first two years, and most of all you not even knowing Lily or James first names nor your proper name or your role in the wizarding world. Most were ready to send them to Azkaban, but unfortunately, Dumbledore had enough supporters that they only got a suspension. The new Defense professor who incidentally was one of your father's best friends, Remus Lupin, punched Dumbledore in the face, breaking his nose. Apparently, he's been writing and trying to find your location for years but couldn't because of the wards Dumbledore set up around the Dursley's. I expect you'll receive a letter from him soon. I think the only reason he took the teaching position, was to find a reason to get close to you."

Harry nodded pleased that at least someone had been looking for him.

"Will they get off? Dumbledore, Snape, and Pomphrey, I mean. I was so sure that was enough for Dumbledore, especially to go to jail."

She sighed. "Dumbledore has a lot of political pull. I think it'll slow him down but not put him out."

Another owl flew in the window and came towards Harry in the same manner as the previous owl only this snowy white owl was very familiar to Harry. He grinned at Hedwig, but squeaked and rubbed the back of his head when she purposely slammed her wing into him. She landed on his shoulder and rapped her beak on his skull.

"Come on Hed, don't be like that. It's not like you didn't know where I was. You probably knew better than me."

He received a cold stare in return.

"Yes, that is the point. It's not my fault you're flying the skies at all hours." He gasped. "You got a man don't you?"

An indigent hoot was heard.

"Well what was I supposed to think, you're not getting any younger."

His head was nipped again.

"Okay, so you're not old, but that was unfair because I didn't say you were old just that you—"

A warning hoot.

"Okay, okay I get it. I'll stop as long as you stop blaming me and tell me what you were really doing?"

Silence and stillness. Green eyes met yellow ones for several seconds before Harry burst out laughing.

"Oh you were at Castle Potter establishing dominance weren't you? Did you win?" Hedwig cocked her head and peered at him with beady eyes. Harry pouted. "It wasn't a stupid question, Hed." Silence. Harry sighed. "Okay, I bow down to your awesomeness, Hedwig the most fearsome owl to ever fly the skies. May I have my mail now my queen?" Eyes narrowed. "Really? You are such a drama queen."

Gently stroking Hedwig, Harry lifted her off his shoulder and set her down in his vacated chair before he went to the sideboard and got several rashes of bacon. He came back to the table and stood before Hedwig cutting the bacon and feeding it to her by hand. When Hedwig deemed she had enough she held out her leg for him to take his mail before lifting off.

"Love you Hed."

An answering hoot was his reply. Grinning, Harry happily sat down and read the missive from May before he realized how quiet it was. Harry looked up to see Madame Longbottom staring at him incredulously and Neville giggling.

"What?"

"Nothing Harry, Gran's just in shock, it'll pass in a moment." Neville's giggles increased. "And yes Gran that was normal."

Author's Notes:

*You guys are awesome. Thank you for all your support. It's what keeps me going. I appreciate you.

*To clear some things up on how this story will work without spoiling events. This story is canon until the summer before Harry's 3rd year at Hogwarts. Harry is 13 now. It'll go until right before his 15th birthday. As of now Mori is 15 and hasn't entered Ouran's high school section yet. According to how the Japanese school system works he and Hunny are in their first couple months of their last year in the middle school section, but their appearance is getting closer and closer which you'll see how they'll tie in, in the next chapter, when things will become clear!

*Hope you liked it. As always all mistakes are my own and I don't own Harry Potter or Ouran High School Host Club.