Disclaimer is in chapter 1. So apparently Tenhawk has resumed posting fanfiction on one of his own sites ( t . evancurrie . ca ) and on patre on (username tenhawk).


"Oh. My. God." Hermione gasped out, staring at the not shadowy lit basement.

Xander just grinned, slapping Harry on the back, "I think you have a dungeon, Harry."

Harry, for his part, just looked around as he walked across the stone floor, looking at the heavy doors… with bars… and various evil looking equipment propped up in various places.

"Wh… what were my Family doing?" He managed to gasp out finally, shaking his head with a feeling of creeping horror.

Xander shrugged, "I'm just guessing, but since your family has a hereditary Knighthood, I'd bet that they had to deal with a lot of stuff for the Crown back in the day. Maybe they held prisoners for the Crown within the Magical World?"

"Huh. You think?" Harry blinked.

"Well, it's either that or your grandparents were freaky," Xander grinned as he hefted some shackles from where they were hanging on the wall.

"Oh damn it, I was trying not to think of that Xander!" Hermione grimaced, covering her ears.

Harry sighed, "Let's… let's just go upstairs."

Xander cackled behind them as he followed the pair up the stairs that curved along the wall, leading back up to the main floor.


Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Albus Dumbledore sighed contentedly as he popped a lemon drop into his mouth and settled in for the afternoon's work. The school year was quickly coming up upon them once more, and with that he looked forward to seeing the year's crop of new children.

He had, mostly privately, taken great amusement in Minerva's complaints about this year's parents' trip to Diagon.

Her ranting about the young Mr Harris had truly been rather epic, after all.

Still, Albus could see some of her complaints, though he strongly suspected that if he were to initiate an investigation into the boy's activities, everything of note would turn out to be all nice and legal.

Truly, someone is providing him with well positioned advice, Albus chuckled as he began going through some paperwork.

Given the boy's connections, of course, that came as no particular surprise.

Narcissa alone was an expert at maneuvering through high society, though Albus would dearly love to know exactly how that connection had come to be in the first place. He had checked into the boy after the first year, when the child proved himself somewhat more involved than most, but certainly found no links to the Malfoy family.

It could be through the Black's, he supposed, but even there he didn't know how that link would have come to be, at least not until Sirius had escaped and been portkeyed to the Americans.

Alas, Albus chuckled as he signed another parchement with a practiced flourish. Perhaps someday I'll ask him myself.

He wouldn't mind spending some time chatting with the child, just work done with wands was utterly fascinating and he would love to know how it was that the boy used two wands at once. ICW certification aside, that spoke well of the boy's skills.

After finishing another bit of paperwork, Albus reached for something only to frown as his usual early afternoon tea wasn't where it normally sat.

How curious.

"Dippy," He called, looking around.

It took a bit longer than usual, but the reliable Elf appeared with the casual popping sound that markled elf teleportation.

"Yes, My Dumbly Sir?"

"Could you see what is keeping my tea, if you please?" Albus asked genially.

Dippy shifted, staring with something akin to horror at the empty spot on the desk before he nodded furiously.

"Dippy will see to it, this will not be happening anymores!"

"I'm sure it won't," Albus smiled easily. "I'm not angry, I would just like my tea."

Dippy nodded again, his whole head shaking wildly, then he vanished with a extra loud popping sound.

Albus shook his head as he dipped his quill in the ink pot and got back to work.

Elves are such strange beings, even after a lifetime of knowing them.


Potter Keep.

"Well, this is nice," Xander said casually as he sat on the end of the parapet, legs overhanging the stone as he looked out over the land beyond.

"It really is," Hermione said, sounding tired but happy as she leaned on the stone next to him.

Harry just nodded, though his attention was split as he went through some of the more recent mailthe Elves had brought to him.

They'd worked their way up through the tower, mostly just exploring but also occasionally having to give the Elves instructions on what to do with various pieces of mail. Most of the letters and such, Harry had asked to have ordered from most recent to oldest, while anything containing food or other items that spoiled were disposed of while keeping any cards or the like that had come with them.

Thankfully that handled most of the backlog in a way that let the Elves pack the rest away without filling the entire keep floor to rafters.

It still left a lot of non-perishable gifts that had left Harry torn. He didn't want to throw away anyone's gifts to him, but he didn't exactly have much need for stuffed bears, toy broomsticks, or baby scale golden snitches… though, Harry had to admit he kinda liked the latter couple things.

Still, after conferring with his friends, Harry had elected to just leave that stuff for now, at least until he'd spoken with Andromeda. There was probably a right way to handle it, of course, which he just had no idea about.

The view, though, from the top of the tower was something he had to agree was spectacular.

This region of Southern England was known for majestic nature views, and the tower seemed to have them all in site from one angle or another.

"It's weird," He said, looking out. "We can see everything, and everyone, but no one even knows the Keep is here."

Xander just nodded, "Yeah it's a trip."

"Your parents, or grandparents," Hermione said, uncertain as to which group had done it, "whichever, they were brilliant, Harry. They donated land to the government to form a protected area that ensures that the Muggles won't ever build up this area. Your home is secure in a way that many Wizards can only dream of being."

"You've got that right," Xander said, "it's not as spectacular as Three Angels or anything, but it's a damn cool solution to the problem. The normal government is going to protect your home, basically forever cause governments don't easily give up land once they get it in their grip… and even if they tried, you could just sue them to get it back since it's only a lease."

Harry just shrugged happily, "I don't know about all that, but I do know that I'm getting this place properly fixed up, even if I have to do it myself."

"Planning on living here?" Xander looked over.

Harry nodded slowly, "Yeah. I think so."

"Sweet."

The three sat in silence for a while longer before Xander got up, standing on the edge of the block, hundreds of feet over the hard ground below.

"Honestly, Xander, get back from the edge at least," Hermione rolled her eyes.

Xander just chuckled and hopped off, stretching as he looked around the battlements.

"You know, I really like my junkyard and the apartments we built under it," He said, "but Harry, this tops it. You need any help fixing it up, let me know. I think it'd be fun."

"Will do," Harry said, leaning back as he set aside his mail. "But first I have to deal with ministry, don't I?"

Hermione and Xander exchanged glances, expressions growing a little more concerned.

"Most likely," Hermione nodded glumly. "Have you heard anything new?"

Harry shook his head, "No. Andromeda hasn't contacted me yet, but they're going to try something, you know?"

"Yep," Xander said simply. "but you've got a few cards you're holding back. You'll be fine, man."

"He's absolutely right, Harry," Hermione said earnestly.

Harry nodded slowly, "I guess."

"Just, don't take your wand to the ministry," Xander warned. "Hand it off to Andromeda, or Hermione, or someone else you trust. If they want to snap my Left Hand, let them and laugh when they do it."

"I don't want them to snap any of my wands," Harry grumbled.

"Don't blame you, but if what's his name is influencing the Malfoy's then he's got his hooks into the Ministry. Assume the worst, Harry," Xander told the other teen. "but don't forget that it's not really the Ministry or the people behind it, they're being led around by the nose."

"Doesn't make it right," Harry grumped.

"No, it doesn't, but it is what it is," Xander shrugged. "Worry about right and wrong when you can do something about it. Until then, just worry about who your enemy really is, right?"

Harry nodded, "Right."

"Well good, with that settled…" Xander looked around, grimacing, "Are we really going to be walking back?"

The other two looked out over the distance between them and the closest Knight Bus stop that they couldn't even really see in the distance.

"I really don't want to, but what are the options?" Harry sighed.

"I got a bike," Xander grinned.

"Xander! No!" Hermione shook her head, "We are not fitting three people on that monstrosity!"


"I can't believe I let you talk me into this!" Hermione wailed some time later as Xander guided the bike almost due east, with just a little lean to the North, heading for London through the darkening sky.

She was wedged in between he and Harry, clearly not enjoying the ride nearly as much as the pair of them were, but Xander just laughed at her for it. The sky was clear, mostly, and they were making good time.

"I can portkey to Harry's," He said over his shoulder, "but it would be a rough ride, and I don't know where the local wards are so we'd have to get some altitude. Otherwise, we'll have to tool around until we find a landmark you guys recognize."

"Portkey!"

"I'm good with flying around, honestly."

Xander rolled his yes, "You two decide between yourselves. I think that's London's lights up ahead anyway."

The sky was darkening by this point, and the roads below were lit up with the headlights of cars speeding along to the destinations.

Xander stayed low and fast, passing cars below like they were standing still as the city skyline began to take solid form up ahead of them.

"Surrey is up ahead," Hermione called, pointing over his shoulder. "Turn a little more to the South!"

"You got it!"

Xander supposed that Hermione must have given in to Harry's desire to fly around a bit more, since she didn't mention the portkey again but instead called out directions as they got closer to the burbs.

It took a few turns here and there, and a couple backtracks, but they found Little Whinging with relatively little difficulty… considering that they were flying well over the street signs and such, and within a half hour or so Xander brought the bike in for a landing on the street outside Harry's Uncle and Aunt's home.

The rumble of the bike died out as he kicked the stand down in the driveway and they disembarked.

Harry looked like he'd just finished a game of Quidditch, much to Xander's amusement, as he got off and practically jumped around with all the adrenaline hyping him up.

"That was amazing!" Harry grinned, "I need to get one of these."

"I'll check with Sirius," Xander waved off that as a concern. "the only real question is whether you want him to build one for you, or wait until you can visit each other and build it together."

That caused Harry to pause, mind buzzing with the very idea.

"That would be all kinds of amazing," He admitted after a moment, "but I don't know when I'll get the chance."

"That is an issue. Still, think on it," Xander said.

"I will, thanks." Harry said, before taking a breath and looking to the house. "I guess I better go in."

"Don't let them get to you, bud," Xander said firmly. "If they mess with you too bad, just get out and give me a call on the spellphone. Got it?"

"Yeah. Got it. Thanks."

"Anytime." Xander promised, before glancing at Hermione. "you ready to go?"

She nodded, looking over to Harry, "If you need anything, you call us Harry. Promise me."

"Alright, alright, I promise."

"Good… ok," Hermione said, "good night, Harry. I'll see you soon."

"Night, Hermione. Xander, be seeing you."

"I'll be around," Xander grinned, straddling the bike again as he kicked the engine into life.

The roar filled the air as Hermione reluctantly got on behind him.

Harry watched them roll out into the street and roar off before he looked again at the house behind him, all lit up in the clear night, and sighed deeply before he started trudging to the front door.