SEVERUS SEES EVERYTHING

by The Calming Draught

Severus notices how Harry Potter is being led around by his well meaning friends and he doesn't like it. He wants the boy to make his own decisions. How does he help? Slash but not Snarry. read the story to know the pairing.

Severus saw everything. He was an observer. That is how he was a valued spy after all. But it did not mean whatever he saw benefitted him always. But he observed nonetheless, and sometimes, intervened even if it did not have anything to do with him.

Right now, he was seeing one Harry Potter being jostled around by his 'well meaning' friends and godfather. It was the summer after his third year and he has been living at Grimmauld Place for a while after the World Cup fiasco.

It galled Severus to see how this boy could stand up to him defiantly but his so called family and friends ordered him around like he was a small child or worse their personal slave. They say 'Sit Harry' and he sits, they say, 'Harry keep quiet' and he would go as quiet as if he wasn't there. It was as if… Severus did not know how to say it. But he was worried.

Now you would say why was he worried, he never cared before. That wasn't true. He cared. He knew everything, his home life, his insecurities, the reason Harry hated him, everything. But he could not do anything except pester Albus. His hands were tied by his spying duties. Moreover, Black was now filling his ears against him.

What astonished him was the way Harry's face would turn sour when Black would call him names like Snivellous. Of course Severus knew Harry hated bullies as he had suffered under one for a long time. He hoped the whale of a cousin was improving after the scare he gave him sometime last Halloween.

But the current situation was getting on his nerves now. Well meaning suggestions and advices were well and good but this house elf like personality had to go. He wanted, needed Harry to be his own person, not a mindless drone. He made a decision, consequences be damned.

Without anybody being the wiser, he mixed a simple time delayed sleeping draught of his own creation into the pumpkin juice as well as the wine to be served during dinner. He knew Harry and the know-it-all much preferred orange juice during the vacations as they did not get any during the school year. So, the adults indulged them in this one thing. Not that they would have if it was only Harry. Hermione had a way with getting everything she wanted and Severus hated her with a passion. She was not as good a friend as everyone thought.

So, after everyone was fast asleep and likely won't wake up till late morning, as everyone had imbibed the drinks in copious amounts (of course Severus had spelled his own single glass of wine to exterminate the potion, he was THE Potions Master after all), Severus crept up to the girls' room and spelled the potion into the body of one muggleborn bitch, he meant witch.

Then he went to the boys' room, which was being shared by Harry, Ron, and the twins, a bit congested if you asked him, to find Harry and the twins awake. He panicked. He saw the twins drinking at least three glasses of pumpkin juice each. How were they awake. He went for his wand but before he could pull it out, one of the twins said,

"Please relax professor. We know you mean well and we are on your side, well Harry's side actually."

"We told as much to Harry," the other twin said, "but he won't trust us on that one."

"Why do you trust me? God knows I haven't given you a reason to."

"Well, like you, we observe. There is nothing that misses our eyes. And we have been observing since last year, since he came to the Burrow for the first time." The first twin, Fred said.

"We are not saying our parents are doing something. They mean well, we know. But there is something missing. We need to find it out." Continued the second twin, George, as they always did.

For the first time, Harry spoke up, "Why do you want to help me professor, if you want it that is."

"Yes, yes I want to help you. God knows I am blowing my cover with this but it doesn't matter. I am not as non affected by your plight as I may have led you to believe. It was important. Trust me I will tell you when the time is right."

"I trust you, I don't know why but I do. Even if you have been a right bastard towards me. And I trust Fred and George's judgement. They have never led me to the wrong path. I trust they would nit lead me astray now also. So what do we do?"

"First thing, we need to get to Gringotts to check for enchantments. They are the best for it. You have never met your account manager I presume?"

"No, I haven't. I don't even know if I have one."

"Of course you would have one. You are an heir of a most ancient and noble house. That is why we need to get to Gringotts. It is after all open 24 hours. That is why I gave them that sleeping draught. It would not be suspicious." He turned to the twins, "How did YOU get around it by the way?"

"Oh, we just pretended to drink it but banished it from our mouths after taking a mouthful." Said Fred

"And we are coming with you," added George.

"Fine, let's go. We will have plenty of things to discuss after that. I cannot blow my cover after all. We will have to move around it."

So they took the floo directly to Gringotts. Severus thought it was really careless of Black not to block the floo before going to bed, but he was not the smartest fish in the water was he?

When they reached the teller, who was blessedly free, as there was not a single wizard soul in the bank, they were quickly directed to the Goblin Prince's office instead of a manager's. Now Severus was curious and the rest confused. Their confusion increased when the Prince said,

"Finally, you are here. We were afraid you would never arrive. We have been sending missives since you turned ten but all of them came back unopened. Please sit. We would first do an inheritance test."

Dumbly, Harry sat on the offered chair while the others gathered behind him. Harry was presented with an athame and a bowl and was asked to drop seven drops of his blood into it. He cut his thumb with just a wince and the blood dripped into the bowl as he counted. After seven drops, he quickly pulled his hand back and Severus healed it without wasting a moment.

An inheritance potion was added to the bowl, stirred clockwise seven times and them poured into a parchment on a tray. The parchment slowly soaked the potion and little spidery writings appeared on it, as if it was trying to cramp as much information on the single sheet as possible.

Severus, Fred and George peaked from behind Harry to read the parchment over his head. Harry's head was reeling, reading all the things written on the parchment.

Name: Harvey Jameson Potter-Peverell.

Father: James Charles Potter-Peverell

Mother: Lilith Rosa Potter-Peverell nee Evans

Godfathers: Sirius Orian Black, Remus Lupin, Frank Longbottom, Goblin Prince Ragnarok

Godmother: Alice Longbottom, Minerva McGonagall, Goblin Healer and Prince's consort Liliana

Titles

From Father

Heir to Ancient and Most Noble house of Potter

Heir to Most Ancient and Most Noble house of Peverell

Heir to Most Ancient, Most Noble and Sacred house of Gryffindor

Heir to Most Ancient, Most Noble and Sacred house or Merlin

King to be to Most Ancient, Most Noble, Most Sacred house of Pendragon

From mother

Heir to Most Ancient, Most Noble and Sacred house of Hufflepuff

Heir to Evans estate and properties

Through conquest

Heir to Most Ancient and Most Noble house of Gaunt

Heir to Most Ancient, Most Noble and Sacred house of Slytherin

Heir to Riddle estate and properties

Through Godfather

Heir to Most Ancient and Most Noble house of Black

Master of the Grimm Reaper

Through gifts and grants

Heir to Most Ancient and Most Noble house of Fawley

Heir to Most Ancient and Most Noble house of Shafiq

Heir to Most Ancient and Most Noble house of Surrivan

Heir to Most Ancient and Most Noble house of Moringo

Heir to Most Ancient and Most Noble house of Zenzibar

Controls

Obedience Potions (Keyed to all adults; by Albus Dumbledore; Age of administration: 3 years)

Obedience Potions (keyed to Weasley family and Hermione Granger; by Albus Dumbledore; Age of administration: 11 years)

Non-obedience Potion (keyed to Severus Snape, Slytherins, and school rules; by Albus Dumbledore; Age of administration: 11 years)

Non-Self-Preservation Potion (by Albus Dumbledore; Age of administration: 11 years)

Blocks

Magical Core: 70%

Parselmagics: 98%

Seer Sight: 100%

Mage Sight: 100%

Memory retention (Natural eidetic memory) : 85%

Natural healing: 50%

Horcrux bond: 90%

Natural Occlumency and Legilimency: 100%

Animalia attraction (natural familiaris) :95%

Multimagi and metamorph abilities: 98%

There was deathly silence in the chamber as they read. Horror filled their minds. So many blocks and controls? Was he even himself anymore?

"What do you mean by gifts sir?" Harry asked the Goblin Prince.

"Call me Ragnarok Harry. I am your godfather. As for the gifts, these are the lines who were either closely related to one of yours or just wanted to give their inheritance to someone they thought would mind it well, before they died out. There were many such families who were wiped out during the first war, so lots of them took such precautions."

"About that, how are you my godfather and how did I never know?"

"You must understand that most wizards consider us as lesser beings, but your mother, she was different. She had not come into the bank with the preconceived opinions of the Wizarding world. She was polite and compassionate. I suppose your father was not happy with her choices but she had a fiery temper if someone said something derogatory to someone she considered friend or family. Liliana and some others who knew your mother are on the way here to meet you. We have been trying to track you for more than 12 years now"

"Oh! Well, she was right though. You are no less than any human. You, you protect our money and cure the sick and defend your people like any other good human would do. My mother was right to befriend you." And Harry gave him a shy smile.

Ragnarok laughed good naturedly, "You are just like her you know. Ever so polite and unburdened by the opinions of others. Now about the controls and block. Do you want to remove them?"

"Yes please."

He was ushered into a ritual room while the others waited behind. It took about two hours to cleanse Harry, and another two for him to enforce his natural occlumency shield and make a space for the soul he was carrying with him. Severus was going to be so astonished to see his mindscape. His godmother, Liliana, who was there during his purging process, helped him.

By the time Harry came back, he was dead tired but they had one more business to conduct.

"Now, let us get your heir rings." Said Ragnarok, "These will protect you from any more enchantments and above all, they will be invisible to anyone you don't want to know. " and cheerily, he took out all 15 heir rings. Out of these, only the two muggle ones will be visible. The Evans one had to be charmed to look nondescript. It was gaudy and flashy.

Harry took each magical ring first, which was each adored with a precious stone, inlayed with the House's coat of arms. Harry chose to wear the gifted heir rings on his right ring finger and all five merged together. On the left ring finger, he placed Merlin's heir ring as it was the highest in power and position. On his left middle finger went the founders' rings which again merged together. Then, on the left pointer, He placed the Potter and Peverell rings which again merged together. For the Gaunt ring, which was de-cursed and the soul that came out of it merged with the one in his scar, was placed on the right pointer and it promptly vanished. This was the only ring that gave him a certain rush of power and a warmth settled over him.

The Riddle family ring was a black band made out of pure onyx, as if carved out of a single stone; no base or other metal used. The entire circle was engraved with celtic knots. Ragnarok cast preservation, strengthening, anti-summoning, anti-theft, and protection charms on it. Next was the Evans ring. It was a broad platinum band with five emeralds embedded on it, the centre one the biggest with the size reducing on either side. It was beautiful yet manly and Harry loved it. After the charms though, it looked like a simple silver band, absolutely nondescript, nothing to look at twice. Only Harry could see it's real beauty.

Spending some more time with his newly discovered God parents, who provided him with a charmed diary and a charmed locket to protect him and contact them without fear of being discovered and without the correspondence being redirected again. It was an hour before dawn when they returned.

"How will we explain why I want to just sleep the day off to everyone?" Harry asked. They had decided to pretend nothing happened and he was still under the influence.

"Well, we did plan for it when we were waiting for you. We discussed it with Professor Snape too. We have been experimenting our new creation, puking pastilles, and nobody knows about it yet as we have not had any fun with it."

"Unlike what they think," George continued, "We do not give untested stuff to our siblings. They are not our Guinea pigs. We just never corrected their assumptions."

"So, you are going to have one," Fred picked up where George left, "and puke in front of them and we would say you have been doing it all night and we have been taking care of you. Then Professor Snape would feed you the antidote, saying it is anti nausea potion and you should rest and we all three would sleep the day off."

"But before that, you would send McGonagall your revised choice of subjects." Severus said, "Your memory retention, that means indirectly your intelligence was blocked. I think he did it so you would not be beaten for scoring well after that first year. Anyhow, if that was the case he should have remembered to unlock it when you came to Hogwarts. So, now you will take Arithmancy, Ancient Runes and Divination as your additional subjects and tell her you will read the rest on your own. Trust me, go to Hagrid in your free time and you will learn far more than that Grubbly Plank can teach you. No more slacking. The twins will help you revise the last three years worth of studies and catch you up with the first year text of Arithmancy and Ancient Runes. You will enjoy it I know."

"Okay. So far you haven't led me astray so I will trust you. How will I get the first year books of the two subjects?"

"I will get it to the twins tomorrow without looking suspicious. Now, write that letter to McGonagall before everyone wakes up and you get a chance to sleep finally."

So Harry did. He wrote a letter to McGonagall, sent it with Hedwig, after petting her for quarter of an hour, and went down to the kitchen and had a hearty breakfast. They needed something in his stomach to puke after all.

Just when Molly was climbing down the stairs, Harry rushed past her to the washroom, puking his lungs out. Worried, Molly went to see, only to find her twin boys helping him out, rubbing his back, holding his hair out of the way.

"What happened?" She asked, when they finally came out.

"He has been puking since around 3 AM in the morning mum. We were waiting for Professor Snape to wake up. He always has some emergency potions at hand doesn't he?"

"Yes, yes he has. Come let me make some chamomile tea for him. It will hold till Severus awakes."

Not two minutes later, Severus entered the kitchen. Molly immediately latched to him and first demanded then requested him to provide some stomach soother for Harry.

Of course Severus grumbled and pretended it was a huge mountainous burden on his head but gave Harry two potions, one the antidote which he said was the stomach soother and another a nutrition potion as Harry had likely lost a lot of food vomiting.

This soothed Molly and Severus quickly left for his quarters at Hogwarts before Black or Lupin could come down. He did not want to see them more than was necessary. He cared about Harry, yes, but not his entourage, now except the twins of course.

After the potions, Harry and the twins slept the entire day off, but not before the twins put to use another of their new inventions, a recording ball. They placed it, or rather stuck it, to a strategic corner of the kitchen wall from where the entire room would be visible. This ball would record the audio and video of whatever went on in the kitchen. It was charmed such that if anyone lowered their voices, it would zoom in on them. Even if they put up a silencing spell, they would be able to lip-read what was said.

Another one was placed on their shared room and yet another in the girls room when they were still in the kitchen. And with that, the three went to sleep, carefree that they would still come to know everything that was said and done in their absence.

When they woke up, late at night, Molly was there to give them something to eat. They did eat what was given to them. Molly handed over Harry's letter. They could see that the seal was broken and then stuck back with muggle glue. Harry noticed it and saved the information for later. It was from McGonagall. She had accepted his choice of subjects and said she was proud of him. He would have to give a test at the beginning of the term for both Arithmancy and Ancient Runes to get admitted in those classes as he had not attended it last year. Harry was okay with that. There were still 6 days left for school and the twins promises to help. With his eidetic memory now, he was sure he would ace the test.

When they trudged back to their bedroom, Ron was fast asleep and there was a shimmering bag on Harry's night stand.

"I guess those are the books Professor Snape promised to bring you. It is under a disillusionment charm I guess." Fred said.

Harry nodded and opened the bag. Sure enough, there were nearly 20 books inside, shrunk to fit. The twins hit Ron with a sleep spell, locked and warded the door and began to peruse the books. Thirteen were family grimoires of the families he had inherited from. One was about muggle business. Another of estate management. It looked like they were from his different vaults as they had stamps from Gringotts.

The next set of books were pre-Hogwarts beginners Arithmancy and Ancient Runes along with the last year's text books and a book on occlumency and Legilimency. Guess he needed to get the Black Family Grimoires on his own, if he wanted to know the Grimm Reaper and the master business.

"I think we should start Arithmancy tomorrow. Today you should read the book on occlumency. It will help you to use your eidetic memory better and you will learn what is necessary to pass the exams faster." George said to him.

Harry agreed of course. He was thinking the same. So, shrinking and putting the books back in the pouch it came from and storing it inside his trunk after the twins recast the disillusionment charm, Harry settled down to read the Occlumency book.

The basic, Harry found, that Liliana had already taught him when she was helping him sort the rush of memories. An hour later, Harry was in his mind, making his defences. He created a hut, just like Hagrid's. It was to be the house for the people living in his mind. There were three right now. It was surrounded by ivy and other climbers and hanging branches, and looked a beauty from outside.

Nearby, was another house which belonged to Harry. It was not a modern house , more like a stone age castle but it was bigger than the guest house. In it, were passages, long winding passages, with many doors leading to many memories. Each room contained a part of Harry's life. In the east wing was his childhood, a door each leading to the Dursleys, Mrs Figg, his primary school, the kind lady in the public Library, his neighbours who turned the other way when he was being bullied etc. Some doors were left empty to confuse anyone who reached till here.

The West Wing was for his school years and summers. They were separated by year, like, first year, summer after first year etc. Then there were duplicated memories with names, Ron, Hermione, Twins, Weasleys, Dumbledore, Snape and so on.

The north wing he had kept for his studies and had made it such that it would be easily accessible to him. There he kept the memories, whatever he could recall at least, of all his studies in the muggle as well as magical world. He would re-do his muggle studies too, next summer, when he had enough time. Now he needed to catch up on his wizarding studies. Each door, which was labelled for this wing, went to a specific subject. Inside the room were floor to ceiling shelves, where he would store the information in the form of books.

The South wing was left empty for later. Only Harry knew how to reach a specific wing in his castle and anyone else who breached his defences and reached the castle, would be lost in the false corridors and dead ends. If they breached his high iron wall that he was going to built that is. Before leaving for today, he visited his guests and wished them well, who wished him good luck cheerily. His sleep after that was peaceful and undisturbed.

The twins woke Harry up early the next morning. Ron was still asleep but they had a mission to accomplish. Harry needed to pass his tests. They started with Arithmancy and Harry picked it up pretty quickly as it was very similar to muggle mathematics, a subject he loved. By Lunch, they had completed the Pre-Hogwarts Arithmancy and were going to shift to the Pre Ancient Runes book before catching up with last year.

Harry could feel the eyes of his friends on him but the twins rebuffed their efforts to distract Harry. They could not understand why they were trying to distract him. They should encourage him instead. Then they remembered Snape calling Hermione a bitch and Ron they knew was plain lazy. It was something to think about later.

They locked and warded the attic again, where they had taken to studying since the morning, and began to instruct Harry on Ancient Runes, who listened with rapt attention. They continued quiet past dinner, when suddenly a pop sounded, startling them.

"Young heir must eat." Grumbled Kreature, surprising all three of them. He was not an affectionate elf and had always ostracized Harry. Come to think of it, he often grumbled that Muggle loving master never taught his heir anything. And he grumbled at blood traitor Weasleys but never the twins directly whereas he never refrained from calling on Ron for eating like a pig and called Ginny a stupid bint and sometimes slut below his breath. Harry had caught that once.

Was it possible that he could feel the enchantments gone and that Harry was now working hard to come to his full potential? Anyways, he was not going to see a gift horse in the mouth. They accepted the food, which was for three people not one, and began to eat while Harry recited what he understood in between bites.

Without their noticing, their glasses of pumpkin juice for the twins and pineapple juice for Harry kept filling back and they helped themselves to at least three servings. Guess Harry's appetite was increasing to compensate the starvation he had endured during his early years.

When they came down at about quarter past eight, everyone was gathered around in the living room, including Professor Dumbledore.

"Harry, you have been studying all day today. It's summer, what has gotten into you?" said Ron.

"Oh! I have just decided that I have slacked enough and I want to make my parents proud. So, I have been preparing for the new school year, completing my homework and when the books arrive I will be studying ahead a bit."

"Oh Harry that's great. But why so suddenly?" there was something shrewd in Hermione's voice and eyes. The twins looked at each other, and came to the conclusion that they would discuss this later.

"Not suddenly. I have thought about it for a long time. Just when the twins offered, I took it."

"What did these two trouble makers offer you Harry?" asked Molly.

"That they would help me revise the last three years worth of my courses I have slacked in and then help me this year if I need it."

Everyone went silent for a few moments. As for Dumbledore, he did not speak anything but his eyes twinkled in a manner that said he would be potioning Harry again. They needed to contact Professor Snape.

Before Harry could leave for his well deserved rest, Sirius said, " You no longer spend time with me Harry."

"I thought you would be proud Sirius that I want to make my mum and dad proud and am working hard for it. I did not expect YOU not to support me in that." That jibe would have hurt. Harry was letting his inner Slytherin come out and play after all. The twins snickered as they reached their room. Before Ron could come and persuade Harry to come down and play exploding snaps with him, they got into bed and began their meditation. For anyone else, it would seem that they were fast asleep.

The next morning, and the morning after that, the trio locked themselves in the attic before anyone was even awake. This time they did not come down for lunch too and studied till well after dinner. Kreature of course fed them all three meals, with different types of juices for Harry. Harry diligently completed both the subjects' first year course within those two days. The third day, they started with revising Harry's first year course. It only needed that uninterrupted one day as Harry remembered most of it. He only needed to pay more attention to Potions but now it came easily to him. Yes he won't be a Potions Master, ever, but he would not fail his exams any more.

Professor Snape had also sent the Pre-Hogwarts books for all the subjects, which was easier with Harry's eidetic memory and increased intelligence now. By the time they boarded the train, Harry had done all his summer homeworks, caught up on all three years of his studies, including Arithmancy and Ancient Runes and also Muggle Studies (which was sorely lacking). He even began to love history when it was not only about goblin wars recited in monotone. He would ask his goblin God parents for their version of goblin history when he got a chance. As it was, their conversation via the charmed diary was interesting and often enlightening.

The only thing Harry could not do was read ahead of his fourth year books. But he had the full day of journey. He would read ahead at least in Potions and Transfiguration. They were the strictest teachers. As it was, Ron did not like him not playing with him the whole ride and he huffed and puffed and yelled that he had changed and did not care about their friendship anymore and then left him to find Dean and Seamus. Harry did not even raise his head from his Transfiguration book.

All this time, Hermione kept looking at him sceptically from her own book. After some time, she could not hold herself and said,

"Harry, do you think you would pass the test required to get into Arithmancy and Ancient Runes?"

"Yes. I have prepared."

"Those are difficult subjects."

"I know."

"Why did you change your mind?"

"I expressed my reasons quiet clearly Hermione. There is nothing not to understand in that."

"I know but it's still weird you would do that. You never showed interest before."

"I did not have a reason before."

Before Hermione could say something else, which was seriously grating at Harry's nerve, the twins entered and sat down on either side of Harry, and he began to question them on some of the things he did not understand. He was currently at the second chapter of the Transfiguration book and he intended to study till the third chapter at least before moving to Potions. Hence, the rest of the ride went studying. Harry's friends were getting frustrated. He was not reacting to anything they said.

When school finally started, Harry gave his all in his studies, often ignoring Ron's pestering to play. He did play with him and all his housemates, which irritated Ron to no end, he wanted to keep Harry and his fame all to himself. His other housemates now felt comfortable to come to him to talk or play or just sit together to do homework. It was not the case before, he noticed. Nonetheless, he was happy to be surrounded by people who did not mind him studying or urging them to study and complete their homework with him.

Hermione on the other hand, was finally showing her true colours. She was jealous that the teachers now paid him more attention and gave him more points. If Harry thought this year would be peaceful, he was going to be proved wrong very soon.

The entire school was decked in festivities when it was time for the foreign students to arrive. When the Goblet of Fire was taken out, Harry had a very, very bad feeling. He shared this with the twins. The twins promptly set a recording globe in the room with the goblet. On the day of the name drawing, Harry was disheartened to see that even after the combined efforts of Professor Snape, who always loomed near the Great Hall corridor, where the goblet was situated, and the tracking the twins did, he was still in the tournament as a fourth champion, which was not even possible. There were three schools and hence should have been three champions only. He had to proceed with as much dignity as he could muster.

When he reached the common room and Ron accused him of being a cheater and a traitor, he snapped. The entire evening, the other two Heads of schools accused him of what not. Now Ron too. So he snapped,

"So you think I put my name into a competition where participants twice my age have died? Have you even read about the tournament? Well I have. The last time the tournament was held a MAGE was killed. A MAGE after his magical maturity. Do you think I am THAT suicidal? Well to be honest I. Am. Not. Suicidal. And if you remember it were you who told me that the twins are brewing aging potion to enter the age line and we should try it too. Do you remember what I had said? I am not interested in such a dangerous tournament. Remember that? If even after this you think I did it to myself… then I am sorry you should not be talking to such a traitor."

And he stormed right out the portrait hole, followed by the twins. They found him at the top of the astronomy tower, staring silently towards the stars. It was the only subject he was still struggling with. But he was studying hard for it too, and professor Sinistra, seeing his efforts, was helping him. This galled Hermione even more. But she was a jealous bitch, more so than Ron, they had discovered.

The twins flanked him on both sides and hugged him tight.

"Why are you both here? Don't you think I cheated?"

"Of course not. Whoever gave you the Idea?" said George

"And we came to be with our favourite person in the world." Fred added, answering his first question. It warmed Harry whenever the twins cared for him like that, it always had. He had first felt that warmth when he had seen Fred flying the Ford Anglia outside his room window when they had come to rescue him, and the feeling continued to grow. He hoped it was mutual.

The next morning, when Harry entered the Great Hall, everyone was whispering. He groaned but did not say anything. They would not understand. But he was wrong.

As he sat at the Gryffindor table, he was flanked by not the twins this time but by his yearmates in Gryffindor. They silently showed him their support and Harry smiled a relieved smile. The next moment, Cedric, Krum and Delacour approached him. He tensed involuntarily. But he did not need to worry.

"Potter. We heard what happened at your common room yesterday and we are really sorry that you are being forced to compete against your wishes. We also know you will have to compete if you do not want to lose your magic. We promise not to antagonize you. And we are grateful you did not give US that dressing down last night." They smirked and left a dumbfounded Harry behind.

"What just happened?" he whispered to Neville, who was sitting to his left. Neville just patted his shoulders and pointed to his plate, which was filled with healthy food and a glass of mixed berry juice sat beside it. It was then that he realized that he had not done anything so far after coming to school, not picked up his laundry, not tidied his bed or desk, and had been getting fruit juices every meal. Guess Kreature had taken a shine to him, because so far only he knew what he liked or did not like. He will talk to him later.

Just as the breakfast was ending, four Aurors led by whom Fred told them were Madame Bones, the head of DMLE, and Rufus Scrimgeour, head of Auror Corps, proceeded to the head table. They spoke to the headmaster in soft tones and led their DADA teacher , Alastor Moody with them. Harry looked towards the twins and they had a mischievous sparkle in their eyes. Harry needed to talk to them, alone.

When he had a moment, he dragged them to an unused classroom, and ordered them to start speaking.

"Oh don't get so peachy. We just got around to get our hands on the recording of the Great Hall when the Goblet was placed there. We saw our dear Professor Moody entered sneakily, deceiving even our own resident spy, and placing your name in the goblet, then placing a strong confundus on the cup." Said Fred.

George continued, "We took the recording to Professor Snape, he wrote an anonymous letter, stating about the devise and also sending our devices with the recording and how to use it to Madame bones and Head Auror Scrimgeour. The rest is history."

"Woa… . You did all that without me knowing? You both are great."

And the two preened in the praise.

The next day's newspaper was explosive. Turned out the man they arrested was not Moody but a convict Barry Crouch Jr. His father, Barry Crouch Sr. had rescued him from Azkaban, placing his polyjuiced wife there, who died shortly after due to her illness, and Crouch Jr. was declared dead. Instead, he was ensconced in Crouch Manor, under Imperius but had broken the curse recently. He was the one who had cast the Dark Mark during the Quidditch World Cup with the help of his House Elf. Both son and father were now arrested.

The Auror Corps and the DMLE had also invited the inventors of the globe to come forward to patent the model, so that the DMLE could use it. No details were given as to what globe they were referring to but the ones they appealed to understood. That was enough. There was a certain gleam in Professor Snape's eyes which Harry did not know bode well for him or not.

As the first task approached, Ron tried to talk to Harry, but he was mostly ignored. Everyone in the house was ostracizing him about not supporting Harry. Harry did get the information Ron was about to use to get back to his good books though. The twins came to know from their brother Charlie that the first task would be Dragons, and that he was providing the dragons. The twins even manage to get a few books on Dragon lore from him. Of course they had to promise to device something for him to disillusion him while trying to clear the broken dragon egg shells. He had a lot of burn marks because of them, and Charlie had a faith in his brothers' creations like no one in their family had.

Harry being the noble hearted person he was, told the other champions to research about dragons. He did not share his own books of course. He was noble, not a fool.

Harry was the last one to be queued to face the dragon, the deadliest of the lot that was brought. Sometimes he just wondered how he got himself into such situations. Anyways, in one very old dragon-lore book, which was not given to him by Charlie but sent to him by Ragnarok from his own Merlin vault (legends say that Merlin was a dragon whisperer), he discovered that a dragon whisperer or any of his descendants can speak to dragons through their mind. No language was required, though Dragons were distantly related to giant serpents so parseltongue could be used. So for that, he had asked for the help of Professor Snape to polish his Legilimency. Even though he was a natural at it, he needed initial training. Then he could depend on his instincts to proceed.

The legilimency training was another episode of his life he would not forget. The face of Professor Snape was oh so pensive worthy.

Flashback

"Okay! You already know to pull up your defences. I have tested your occlumency shields. They are strong after you did what I asked you to. Now, for Legilimency, I will show you how to enter someone's mind. When I ask for permission, you will analyse my motives and grant permission accordingly."

With Harry's nod, he entered his mind with a whispered Legilimence. When he asked for permission, Harry analysed his motives. Feeling no maliciousness, he let him enter.

Once Severus was on the Meadow, both the guest house and the castle visible to him, he said to no one in particular,

"It is here or rather the mindscape of the dragon, which mostly looks like a meadow or forest clearing, you will be able to talk to them. Now, I am sure you can hear me. Try to reply without speaking in the physical state. Just think aloud."

"Okay Professor. Is it working? Am I audible to you? I think I am not speaking aloud."

"Very good Ha…" Before he could continue, a nearly 17 year old boy ran out the guest house saying,

"Harry? Is that you? Have you come to meet us?"

Severus was shocked into inactivity. Then, slowly, he intoned, "Who.is.he? And what does he mean by us?"

"Ah… Why don't you come inside? It's a long story." Harry led Severus to the guest house, where he saw four other men of varying ages but who had such similar faces, it looked as if one was the older or younger version of the other.

"Severus. Fancy seeing you here." Said the oldest of them.

"Who are you? What is this treachery? How are you inside this boy's head?"

"Hold your horses child. It is a long story. Be patient. Harry trusts you, so we shall too. We are the living soul pieces of Tom Riddle, aka Voldemort."

"What?????" Severus grew pale, very, very pale.

"Again child. Hold your horses. You have always had a bad habit of coming to conclusions. Now they are often right, but just sometimes they are wrong too. Just listen to us."

"What is there to listen? You are sitting in the head of the child you tried to kill and now you are poisoning his mind aren't you? Or have you not started yet, trying to gain his trust are you?"

"Now now. Sit quiet or we shall silence you for the course of our explanation. There you go. Wasn't difficult to shut up was it? Now, Voldemort, that is, our alter ego, made Horcruxes to be immortal. He did not count on the consequences though. You see, when you split your soul, the best part, most human part of your soul detaches first. That would he this child of 16 here, he is pure love. Yes, Voldemort WAS capable of love once. He loved his mother dearly and had a few friends he loved. He even admired Dumbledore and his capacity to forgive. But with the first Horcrux, that died, and he began to resent his mother for being weak. That got attached to Harry in his second year when he destroyed his diary Horcrux, though it became dormant like myself for obvious reasons.

This 17 year old boy, just stepping into maturity, he attached himself to Harry when the Gaunt ring was cleansed. Tom made that horcrux when he killed his father and his entire family. He lost his sympathy for others' pain and suffering for it. That is why he doesn't hesitate to punish his own followers and never did for that matter. He lost his sympathy at quiet a young age, before leaving Hogwarts even.

This 30 years old man came in when Harry touched Salazar Slytherin's locket for the first time. It was in that howel he was living in before he returned to our home, Hogwarts. He just wanted to be close to the other worthy pieces of Riddle's soul. He is his ambition, not world domination but to become someone great, someone people will look up to. Yes, that was once what Tom wanted.

This 40 year old here, we directed Harry to get to him in the Room of requirement. He is Riddle's comradeship. Once Riddle lost it, no one was his comrade but followers who would follow his every whim. He used to have some allies before that, Arcturus Black, Abraxas Malfoy and the like. They all became branded slaves. It was after this Horcrux that he designed the Mark.

And lastly me, 55 years old, the wisdom that he lost when he murdered this child's parents in cold blood and attacked an unarmed mere child. That was an unwise decision wasn't it? He still has his knowledge but is knowledge any good without the sense of right and wrong? He did not intend for me to separate but I was rather desperate. Everything good was already gone. We are only missing another good he had within him, mercy. That is in Bellatrix's vault as far as I remember. Once Harry has collected him, we would ask the goblins to perform a ritual to relieve us to the next life with our mother.

Now do you have any questions?"

"Ahh… that is to say… I am… I don't know what to say."

"Don't worry Severus. Harry is safe. We will always look after him, though we cannot protect him, seeing we are just in his mind. But he is a kind soul. That is why we were able to attach to him without causing him or us any harm, without the use of any rituals. This is not possession Severus. This is his capacity to love."

"I know he has a huge capacity to love as well as forgive, and I am grateful for it. I will take your leave now. He needs to prepare for the farce of a competition that he has been forced to participate in."

"All the best for helping him Severus. Do come to visit again."

"Yeah… Ah… Bye."

After he came out, Harry had asked coyly if he liked the 40 year old Tom Riddle's smouldering eyes on him. He had blushed and dismissed him promptly. God it had been a long time since he was laid if he was getting turned on by the stare of a soul piece.

End of Flashback.

The entire stadium stared at Harry as he stared at the eyes of the Dragon, and after ten minutes of staring, he just moved around the dragon, picked up the golden egg, came to the dragon, let her smell it, huff and moved on back to the tent. The dragon went back to sitting near the nest, and wrapping her tail to keep it protected. The entire stadium was in an uproar and he got the highest marks among the champions, 28,with 8 given by Igor Karkaroff, that jealous spoilsport.

Later, Harry sat in Severus's office with him and the twins, narrating his experience of those 10 minutes inside the mind of a dragon.

"You would not believe what I saw. Did you know Dragons were sentient beings? They can understand people's motives. They do not mind light dark or grey wizards. They just should be caring enough for them, understand them, or at least try to. Most often than not, wizards with dark or grey cores care more for what they call creatures. And they love Charlie by the way. He is the most devoted dragon handler they have ever met. They love him as much as he loves them. They asked me to convey that. They said he would be happy. Oh! And I am tasked with teaching him to talk to them. It won't be in words of course, as Charlie is not a parselmouth but they could talk in disjointed pictures."

"Woa!!! That's amazing Harry. I will arrange a meeting. Charlie will be ecstatic. Now we have to think of this screeching thing."

"Oh! They told me that too. She showed me a memory of Bagman talking in front of them. I just need to open it below water. I opened it in the common room to get rid of the people coming all over me, as if my personal space doesn't matter."

"Owww… you never complained when we came all over you Harry love?" and the twins began to run their hands all over Harry, who shivered involuntarily.

"You both are different."

"How so?"

They had to stop as Severus seemed to have a coughing fit. Guess he was trying to get their attention subtly but that didn't work so he had to resort to coughing his lungs out.

With red faces, they left for the prefects bathroom whose password the twins had wrangled from a very annoyed Alicia. If they did some other activities apart from listening to the clue in the egg (*cough*snogging*cough*), who are others to judge? They were all hormone driven teenagers.

The planning and research for the second task took a back foot when the Yule Ball was announced. Harry, along with the other three champions, had to open the ball. Being the highest scorer of the first task, he was to lead the first dance. The month leading up to the ball was hell for Harry. Every Gryffindor girl, first to seventh year, asked him to be his partner. He turned all of them down. He had already asked the ones he wanted to go with and been said yes with a toe curling, groin igniting kiss. Everyone was going to be just so shocked to see his partners, yes partners, during the ball.

Harry did not know about Ron but he heard Hermione had secured herself a date for the ball. Now, usually, this ball would have been for fifth years and above, but him being a champion and still in his fourth year, the other fourth years were also allowed to attend.

As soon as the door of the Great Hall opened to admit the Champions, several jaws dropped. Harry, with his head held high, walked in with the twins, both the twins, one in each arm. When the music started, George graciously bowed and left the dance floor. Harry and Fred danced as if they were meant to be in each other's arms. As the first song ended, Fred graciously handed Harry over to George, who was waiting eagerly for his turn. The second dance was as magical as the first one.

In the chaos that was his fourth year, what with his renewed vigour for his studies and this crazy tournament, Harry allowed this one day to himself, to love and feel loved, to enjoy, to relax. Of course come tomorrow morning he was about to get a letter, or a howler from Molly, but he hoped he did not. Instead, he was praying for a miracle and blessings from the older Weasleys. It was not to be.

The next morning, Harry ensconced himself in an unused classroom with a thick book on the merpeople and a copy of Hogwarts: A History. The twins had promised to get something to eat from the kitchens and join him to find something which would help him to hold his breath for an hour under water. True to his prediction, a few moments after the breakfast started at the Great Hall, Errol flew to him with a red envelope. Harry opened it against his better judgement. He wanted to know what Molly had to say.

"Harry James Potter" it began, "How dare you pull that stunt yesterday. You as well as I know you are not gay and are going to go out with Ginny. Now she is crying her eyes out because you are seen hanging around her brothers. You.will.fix.this. NOW."

And the letter burst into flames just as the twins entered.

"Oooo… what was it that our mother wanted to say?"

"That instead of you, I need to date Ginny and to fix the mess I have created. I can see if I was still under the influence of the potions I would have complied."

"That's nasty… Don't worry about it. By the time you graduate, we will have our own flat somewhere so you won't have to face them if they are still this antagonistic."

"Thanks Fred, George. I am glad you guys helped me and I found you. If not for Severus I don't know if this would have been possible. Both Ron and Hermione are trying to give me subtle commands as it is. I try to misinterpret them and do something entirely different, to keep them off our backs till this whole fiasco is over."

"If not me, someone would HAVE come to your rescue. I am not doing anything worth such consideration."

"Oh shut up Severus. You know you love the attention."

"That I do. Here, I got you another book about merpeople."

And they researched the entire day, with the twins taking breaks to bring them food, snacks and drinks. In a few days' time, the others would leave for yule holidays. The second task would be upon their return. Harry was staying in the castle this time, as were the other champions. They would get free reign of the biggest library in Britain after all.

The worst part was, Ron was staying. The twins were staying too, that was a positive. That evening, when Harry returned to the common room, he was ambushed by Ron.

"Mate, are you dating my brothers?"

"Yes Ron I am. Do you have a problem?"

"But… but I thought you were straight?"

"Are you a homophobe?"

"Oh my god no!!! Three of my brothers are gay. How can I be a homophobe?"

"Great, then you should be congratulating us."

"But you were to date Ginny."

"When? I never knew you could TELL me whom to date. Last I checked you were neither my mother nor my father. Even they wouldn't have had a say in whom I dated."

Ron could not speak a word. Harry realized in hindsight that he had clearly defied him. Thank god Hermione was not around otherwise she would have caught on by now. They will come to know now nonetheless. He needed to inform the others. Just then, someone said from the back corner of the room,

"Well done Harry. And congratulations for taming the untameable poltergeists of the Weasley Family."

"Percy! Thanks! What are you doing here?"

"Oh! I have been chosen in the team that is going to Bulgaria for a delegation, to observe only of course. I am still apprenticing. Won't be there for Christmas so came to visit all four of them before I left. Merry Christmas to you too Harry."

"Merry Christmas Percy. I am glad at least someone is happy for us."

"Let me guess, mum sent a howler. Harry, this is your life, and the twins'. You and they can do whatever you want, date whoever you want. Just remember, don't break the rules."

"That's so you Percy to tell us not to break rules in the middle of a congratulations."

They all sat in front of the fire while they waited for the others to come. Percy said his older two brothers also won't have any problems. They just needed to reach out. When the twins and Ginny arrived, they had a nice, warm and cozy evening in front of the fire, Harry squished between his two boyfriends. Even Ginny's glares could not spoil the happy mood Harry was in after talking to Percy.

When school started again, everything, their bonding, their relaxed enjoyment of each other's company took a back foot as they frantically began preparing for the second task. Fred had suggested a bubble head charm but George argued that gillyweed would be a better choice as it would help not only to breath under water but also the fins and paddles that would develop would help him swim faster and see better under water.

Severus, without raising anyone's suspicions, passed a book to Fred, where they found a potion made with gilly weed which would save Harry from the pain and discomfort that comes with imbibing gilly weed directly. It would take an hour to brew and two days to sit, so they started immediately, as the second round was just in three days.

As expected, Harry broke the surface of the water first, with Fred in hand. Actually, Harry was the first to come back WITH the captive. The French Champion was already on the platform, weeping. She had been injured by the grindylows and could not retrieve her sister. Helping Fred to the platform, Harry dived back in, amidst protests from his boyfriends that the potion would lose potency soon.

Krum came out next, with Hermione in his arms, but there was no Harry to be seen. Everyone grew worried, Delacour's cries became louder, until there was silence, deathly and quiet. The little Delacour had breached the water but there was still no Harry. As Severus was stepping down the breaches, with every intention of jumping into the lake, masks be damned, a body flew out of the water and landing on the platform in an artful arc, but there was nothing artful in the bloodied body of the boy who lived.

Harry spent a full week in the hospital wing, recovering from the bites and slices the grindylows gave him from their sharp teeth and shaper dagger like nails. Everyone came to meet him during this one week, The Weasleys, though Molly Ron and Ginny did manage to show their contempt over the decision of his love life, The Delacours, turned out they were quiet influential politically in France, even the Krums, who were again an influential family of Bulgaria. They all wished him well or thanked him for saving their daughter in case of the Delacours. In the dead of the night, Severus came to visit, hidden from all prying eyes. Fred and George did not leave his side for even a moment all week.

Nothing really happened after Harry left the hospital wing. All exams except OWLs and NEWTs were cancelled. Though Harry had studied hard, he was glad for the reprieve. He could hide his intelligence for another year. Though he had not particularly attempted to hide his intelligence this year, his friends were oblivious of his improved study habits because of the time he spent in research for the tournament. Next year, he would take his OWLs and he planned to excel in them.

The champions were told What the last task would be. a very elaborate maze was being built in the quidditch field. At the centre of this field, The Champion's cup would be placed. The first one to touch the cup would be the winner. Somehow, Harry had a very bad feeling about this. His instincts told him that this was something the polyjuiced Moody would have tampered with.

Nonetheless, he prepared himself for whatever would come. He also was determined to be the one to take the cup. If it was indeed a trap, he did not want another to get hurt. The thought of the prize did not hurt either.

The last task took place a week before the school was to break for summer, after the completion of the OWLs and NEWTs. It was as difficult as could be. The entire maze was filled with difficult challenges, like Acromantulas, a Sphinx, Blast ended Shrewts, Cerberus, and even a giant snake that Harry talked his way around easily. But that was not all, the maze itself moved as if it was sentient. At least twice Harry saw an open turning ahead of him but it turned into a dead end in front of his very eyes.

When the cup was finally in front of his eyes, Diggory turned a corner nearer to the cup. He had not noticed Harry yet, so, without thinking from his noble Gryffindor heart but his Slytherin brain instead, Harry stunned him and grabbed the cup alone. He could have shared the glory with him, they could have taken the triwizard cup together, but there was a voice nagging at Harry that the cup was a danger and for him alone, whether it was his instincts or his hidden seer ability, he did not know, but he did not ignore it.

As soon as Harry touched the cup, he felt a pull behind his belly button and next thing he knew, he was sprawled on his back in a weird place. He got up to look around. It was a graveyard, a family graveyard. He read the inscribed words on the nearest headstone, Thomas Riddle II. Hell this was Voldemort's father's grave. He panicked when he saw wormtail come out of a dilapidated house with a bundle in his arms. That could not be anyone other than the evil remains of Tom Riddle III aka Voldemort. The good in him was with Harry.

Before wormtail could do anything, Harry spread his palm out and accioed the cup to him. As suddenly as he had come, he vanished, but not before hearing a shrilling cry of frustration from the bundle in wormtail's hands. He landed in front of the maze with the cup just as Bagman was leading Diggory out. Was he in the graveyard for only such a short period of time? It felt like so long. He decided not to say anything about his small detour. It did not feel right to tell them anyway.

He accepted the prize and the prize money of 1000 galleons. He had plans of how he would be spending, or rather investing it. But it would have to wait until he could visit Gringotts. He would have to be careful. He would be going to his relative's house this summer again. He needed to work out a plan with Severus and his twins.

The beginning of summers was not unpleasant at all. Dudley had mellowed down a great deal. He mostly ignored Harry and stayed away from home even. Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon also left him alone. They did not even ask him to do any chores. To Harry it was only for the good. He spent this time going through the Grimoires that Severus so kindly had brought to him but he did not have any moment to peruse them yet. The first Sunday of the vacation, Harry left home early, at the break of dawn. Severus was to meet him outside the public Library, and they would apparate to the bank together.

At the bank, they were again directed to Ragnarok's office, where Liliana was also present. Without thinking, Harry went and hugged Liliana. They had often talked at length when Harry had a moment. She always replied when Harry wrote in his charmed diary. As it was, they had several plans for him this summer.

"We have secured a house at the back of the public Library. You must have noticed it today." At their nod, Ragnarok continued, "To muggles, it will look like a run down ramshackle like they see the leaky. We have added a ward to make it look spooky to scare off even the most daring of kids. That is where you will have the lessons we have planned. You will return every night of course. The blood wards need to recharge. Though, a drop of your blood should also do."

"I will better drip a drop of blood and not worry about it falling and alerting people we do not want to know yet."

"Good decision. Now, you said something about a joint account and investments?"

"Yes. I want to put my triwizard winnings in a joint account in the name of Fred and George Weasley and myself. I would also like to invest the money in three businesses, one muggle and two wizarding, 400, 300 and 300 galleons each. 400 galleons in Microsoft. I have found that muggles are crazy about technology and this is something that will not crash for a long time. If it does, we can always remove it. The two wizarding one will be 300 in the firebolt company, I know it is new but I AM a seeker and I know what they are planning will be big in the future. Another 300 in the Potions Ingredient Greenhouse that Mr. Shritscrew wants to built, that you told me about. I hope it picks up but this is purely on instincts that I am doing it. Am I making sense?"

"Very good sense indeed. Mr and Mr Weasley will have to sign a few papers but that can wait. As you are one of the beneficiaries, we can open the account immediately. Let me get the paper works."

After the paper works were done, during which Harry softly conversed with Liliana about the healing classes he wanted to have and the seer master they were arranging for him and the Mage that was going to help him discover his powers and sight, Ragnarok turned to Severus,

"Was there something you wanted to add to this meeting Professor?"

"Yes actually. There are two things out of which one concerns Harry. I wanted to know that as Harry has been forced to participate in a tournament meant for of age wizards and witches, will he be considered of age now? Will you please check it?"

"Very clever of you Mr Snape. As soon as Harry informed us of his predicament last end of October, we have been looking through the contract and any loopholes there in. We also know about the matter of entering one Bellatrix Lestrange's vault. And you would be pleased to know that your suspicion was correct. If Harry so wanted, he could claim his Lordships and emancipation and ask for a regent of his choice to handle his affairs when he is at school."

"That is great. What do you think Harry?"

"I think I should take up the Lordships. I know who I want as my regent."

"Very well. Let me give you the Lordship test and we shall bring the rings out."

Harry needed to spill only three drops of his blood this time and the parchment had his Lordship claims.

The parchment read as such

Name: Harvey Jameson Potter-Peverell.

Claims

From Father

Lord to Ancient and Most Noble house of Potter

Lord to Most Ancient and Most Noble house of Peverell

Lord to Most Ancient, Most Noble and Sacred house of Gryffindor

Lord to Most Ancient, Most Noble and Sacred house or Merlin

King to Most Ancient, Most Noble, Most Sacred house of Pendragon

From mother

Lord to Most Ancient, Most Noble and Sacred house of Hufflepuff

Lord to Evans estate and properties

Through conquest

Lord to Most Ancient and Most Noble house of Gaunt

Lord to Most Ancient, Most Noble and Sacred house of Slytherin

Lord to Riddle estate and properties

Through Godfather

Lord to Most Ancient and Most Noble house of Black

Master of the Grimm Reaper

Through gifts and grants

Lord to Most Ancient and Most Noble house of Fawley

Lord to Most Ancient and Most Noble house of Shafiq

Lord to Most Ancient and Most Noble house of Surrivan

Lord to Most Ancient and Most Noble house of Moringo

Lord to Most Ancient and Most Noble house of Zenzibar

"Ah… Ragnarok, how is he the Lord of the house of Black? Sirius Black is still alive."

"Actually, Sirius Black was partially disinherited. He would have been reinstated if he had taken up the Lordship after he came out, but he never did. We did send him a missive saying goblins did not get involved in Wizarding affairs and it was no matter to us that he is a fugitive. He did send a reply that he will never claim the Lordship of that vile house. Stupid if you ask me."

"And what does it have to do with Bellatrix's vault oh dear godfather of mine?"

"Oh child, Bellatrix is Sirius's cousin. Once you take up Lordship, you will be able to enter her vault as her Lord as this was the vault that was given to her as dowry."

"That's great. Let's do it."

Within the next hour, Harry had reclaimed the last Horcrux of Tom Riddle, all his good parts, disinherited Bellatrix and on the advice of Severus, reinstated Andromeda Tonks. Why Sirius had never thought of doing it he would never know. Bellatrix's vault full of gold and jewellery now belonged to Andromeda. Ragnarok will send her a missive later during the day.

Severus wanted Harry to do the ritual to free the good soul of Tom Riddle immediately but Harry said he needed to have a discussion with them. He would make a decision later in the week. As of now, he would start his training the very next day. As for the Lordships, he did not want anyone to know yet.

A week later, after discussions with both Liliana and the soul pieces within him, they decided that Tom no longer wanted to start his next best adventure. He wanted to live and love, which he never got a chance to do before. So, about fifteen days of rigorous preparation, as giving a soul a new body was no mean fit, they again met at Gringotts. Severus waited nervously outside, this time with the twins, who had somehow evaded their mother saying they are visiting Lee. It was easy for Severus to pick them up from there. They had already signed the papers for the joint account and investments, and were now waiting for Harry to come.

About three hours later, Harry emerged from the ritual chambers, and very dramatically announced,

"Gentlemen, and gentlemen, presenting my heir primary for the Gaunt and Slytherin line, Theodosius Meridin Gaunt."

While the twins clapped, Severus's mouth was suddenly very dry at the sight of the 30 something man standing in front of him with his wavy ash blonde hair and clear blue eyes, as deep as the oceans. This man was nothing like the Dark Lord he remembered, even from his early days.

"Severus, you will catch flies." And Severus's mouth snapped shut as he glared at Harry.

"Okay okay… don't kill me now will you. I have a lot to do as it is."

Harry explained that Theodosius, who likes to be called Tom, is now absolutely separate from Voldemort. So, if Harry, as Lord of the house of Gaunt and Slytherin, disinherits Tom Marvolo Riddle, he will not be affected. So, Harry did.

The disinheritance pulls out any family magics from the body of the one being disinherited. Right now, according to the ritual masters, Voldemort was living on the family magics. His own magic was destroyed when his own killing curse rebound on him when he went to kill a baby Harry. So, if Harry disinherited him, it was more than likely he would die. Well, Harry knew a way to confirm.

"I think he has found shelter in the house near the Riddle family graveyard. We could check."

"I will go." Severus Volunteered.

"Let me come with you." Said Theodosius, looking straight at Severus, his voice do warm it sent tingles down Severus's spine.

"Okay." That was all Severus could utter. His mind was not really working.

Severus returned with a rat trapped in a cage and with news that Voldemort was really dead and the foetus he was able to create for himself was now buried in the family graveyard, finally dead and at peace.

Madame Bones and Auror Rufus Scrimgeour were called for an emergency meeting where they were introduced to the creator of the recording globe. The goblins were requested to create a patent and a contract which they gladly did. Pettigrew was handed over to Madame bones, where Theodosius explained that he was from a bastard line of the gaunt family, and had come to look for his family home where he found this rat burying a foetus. He was actually a man of course but when Tom, as he liked to be called, confronted him, he turned into a rat and tried to run away, but Tom caught him with a netting spell and brought him to Gringotts, to his first acquaintance here, and was directed to the Prince's office, where he met these lovely people.

In about a week he read in the daily prophet that Sirius Black was emancipated and certain amount of gold was given to him as compensation of his unjust imprisonment. He was recommended to go to a mind healer. It was not the only thing that came out in the trial of one Peter Pettigrew. It also came out that Voldemort was finally dead and not coming back. Now Harry could live his life on his own terms as Voldemort's death won't be connected to him and he no longer will be hailed a hero, even if it was he who ended the Dark Lord.

He continued to train under the goblin masters as well as the Mage that they had arranged for him. Severus dropped by occasionally to test his progress in his muggle subjects as well as his potions and other Hogwarts courses. Harry had taken to reading about Law and Wards also. He had become pretty ambitious after unlocking his intelligence.

A week before school was to start for his fifth year, he asked his goblin godfather to summon Dumbledore. Dumbledore was shocked to see Harry sitting there, waiting for him.

"What is this about Harry? Why are you here instead of your Aunt's house?"

Harry did not say anything, just slid a parchment across the table to him. Dumbledore paled when he saw his misdoings written plain on the paper.

"So, Dumbledore, you are the reason I was abused and pushed around all my life. I could have been dead before I reached Hogwarts you know. A few times it was so bad I did not even want to survive. Let me tell you this, if you try to come near me ever again, a copy of this will be sent to the DMLE and another to the Daily Prophet. You can answer them at your leisure after that. As for my aunt, I don't know where she is. The house belonged to the Evans estate, as did several neighbouring ones, which I found Vernon had gifted to get some favours. They have all vacated the premise on the order of the new Lord of the Evans estate. I don't know where they went and I don't care if they are even alive."

"Harry, how can you say that? How can you be so callous towards human life?"

"The same way you were towards my own life and mind and behaviour. I am sure you will not be the only one in trouble if this comes out. Molly, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Sirius did like to push me around like a good puppy doing the bidding of its master. The only ones who showed me true love and compassion are the twins, the older Weasley kids, Arthur, Severus, and Remus. And they are the only ones allowed in my life. You messed up real bad this time, and got caught. How embarrassing."

Without waiting for the scolding which was sure to come, Harry left the office, never to look back again.

YEAR 1998

"For all the people gathered here to hear my graduation speech, I am glad that I finally finished my school. You know why I am glad? Because today I have decided not to hold back anything. When I first entered the school, I was an abused, starved, scared child. My classmates may remember that I was smaller than you all and had trouble to stomach anything big for sometime after I returned from my starvation each summer. Here at school, I made some friends who loved to push me around as they liked. To many well-wisher's disgust, I let them. When I was almost 14, I discovered I did not do it on my own free will. I was potioned to blindly follow certain individuals and hate certain others and also to give a damn about my own safety.

Yes that is true. And who helped me discover it and get rid of it? None other than Professor Snape, Severus to me, because he is more of a father to me than anyone has ever been. You would say why was he so nasty then? Well that was a mask. He was a spy for the light side and he needed people to hate him to work effectively. But after Voldemort was declared dead, you yourself have seen a change in his personality.

I have finally, after years of being love starved, found a family. Arthur, Bill, Charlie, Percy, my loves Fred and George, Severus and his fiancé Theodosius here, who likes to be called Tom, and Uncle Remus. Of course there is Aunty Andy, uncle Ted and my beautiful cousin and now aunt Dora, and a beautiful Nephew on the way. And I have made some very great friends here at Hogwarts which I am sure will be by my side all through my life, who never cared about the fame that came with my name, Neville, Dean, Seamus, Luna, Padma, Collins, Justin, Cedric, Oliver, Lee, Ernie, Draco, Millicent, Tracy and Theodore. I guess my insane study habits since my fifth year led me to befriend so many Ravenclaws and the ambitious Slytherins, once I made them believe I am not deceiving them. It's natural to doubt when you have been ostracized for being ambitious all your life. Percy made me see it actually. Thanks Pers.

Whatever hardships I endured during these seven years, I am a better man for it and I won't change anything for the world. I hope all our futures here after are bright and colourful. As the muggles say "Let's conquer the world"."