DISCLAIMER: That part of this world and those characters you've seen before belong to their Creator: JKR. The rest is mine - although I cannot quit my day job as I make no $$$ from this…

A/N: A few words on Family Wards before we continue. The Family Ward was outlawed over two centuries prior and its effects are not well documented (as any writings on outlawed magic are banned). It has several layers of defensive Wards and is similar to many legal wards, except it is easier to set up, next to impossible to break and does not require ward stones. It's most significant effect is to make others forget things. If you wanted to harm the family prior to the Ward being erected, you would forget all about them. If you had no ill feelings, but knew about them, you might remember if asked, then forget. If you were trusted and trustworthy before, the Wards will not affect you. The Wards could not be tricked by any magical artifice. Placing the Imperius Curse on a family member would not work. And as stated before, the Ward protects the family from magic even if they are far from their home.

Oh, and the Wards generally do not work on children - unless they mean to harm the family. Thus a child would remember the family even after the Wards went up. However, should said child tell and adult, they will not believe the child. Thus, if Draco knew where Harry was before the Wards went up and told Lucius afterwards, he'd probably get a beating for lying to his dad and making up imaginary enemies. The Ward breaks slightly when each child "come out" into the greater world - almost always when they start Hogwarts or a similar school. Still, their home or homes remain impregnable to enemies…

I leave you with this because these details are not necessary for the story, but were important in developing the world wherein this story occurs…

CHAPTER NINETEEN: A HOMECOMMING

SATURDAY, JUNE 4, 1988 - ST. BARTHOLOMEW'S CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, LONDON, U.K.

"Harry! Clarice!," Hermione practically shrieked with excitement as she entered their room, "we're going home today! We're going home today!" Hermione had a huge and excited smile on her face until she looked at the others. Clarice was sitting with Harry and crying and Harry looked concerned. Hermione's face fell and she pouted. "Don't you want to leave here?" she asked. "Don't you want to be my friends?"

Harry looked at Hermione. "Of course we do," he said. "It's not that at all, Hermione."

"I want my Mum," Clarice wailed. "Why? Why'd she have to die?"

"Clarice's Mum was buried last week," Harry explained. "The Nurse just told us and she's upset 'cause she could not say goodbye."

"I want my Mum!" Clarice wailed.

"I'm so sorry," Hermione said. "I - I guess I forgot that…" She then took a seat next to Clarice and pulled the crying girl into a hug.

"I - I'm so scared," Clarice cried as the Grangers walked in. They kept silent for the time being.

"Of what, Sissy?" Harry asked sharing the hug with Hermione.

"I w-want to … I want to live with you guys, but…"

"What?" Hermione asked softy.

"I'm afraid if I do - if I do I'll forget all about Mum and Daddy! I'm afraid you all will w-want me to forget!"

"Hush," Hermione said. "We would never do that."

"You loved your Mum and Dad, didn't you, Sissy?"

"Uh huh."

"Then we expect you to remember them - always and forever."

"You do?"

"Of course we do," Robert Granger finally said as he walked over and picked the little girl up into his arms. "We won't let you forget them, Little One," he said softly as he gently rocked the still crying girl. "Never."

"I'm being stupid, aren't I?"

"No Clarice. You're being quite normal under the circumstances. We understand. We all want you to be happy, but we know how hard this is for you and can understand if you feel sad now and again."

"Thank you," she whispered burying her head into Robert's chest.

"So, are you ready to leave then?"

She nodded into his chest, afraid to let him go.

_____________________________________________________________

"A mini-van?" Harry asked as the Grangers stopped in the car park.

"Like it?" Hermione asked. "Daddy bought it earlier this week. Our other little car is too small for all of us so…"

"He didn't have to do this for us," Harry said.

"Nonsense, Harry. Daddy always does what's best for the family. Right Daddy?"

"Spot on as usual, Princess," Mr. Granger said. "Now go on and get strapped in. I'll see to little Clarice here."

After they all were strapped in, Harry watched out the window as the car turned onto the street and began driving through the streets of London. It was Harry's first time to see the city and he was enthralled by the sights. He had no idea where he really was and did not really care.

"Daddy," he heard Hermione say, "this isn't the way home."

"We're not going home, Sweetie," Mr. Granger said, "not directly."

"Where are we going?"

"Shopping."

"Shopping? For what?"

"Well Dear," Mrs. Granger said, "Harry and Clarice need new clothes. All they have is what they are wearing and that won't do at all."

"It's okay," Harry mumbled.

"No, it's not. You're going to get proper clothes. You can also pick your own bed linens, pajamas, bathrobe, towels and such." She said it in a voice that allowed for no real debate.

"I've never been shopping before," Harry said.

"You've never been?" Hermione asked.

"Nope."

"Now Hermione," Mrs. Granger said, "he's not some doll you can play dress up with."

"Mother," Hermione replied in exasperation.

"It's okay, Hermione," Harry said. "I won't mind if you help."

"You won't?"

"Nope."

Hermione seemed to squeal with delight.

Saturday became a day of firsts for Harry. It was the first time he had ever been to a store of any size, much less one as large as the one the Grangers took him to. He had the first new clothes he could remember and they were his and not some of his overweight cousin's ratty hand-me-downs. He had his first pair of new trainers and first real pair of shoes. The Grangers actually bought him his first toys, some little airplanes. They were not planning to but decided to when Clarice seemed transfixed by a huge stuffed lion on a self that they bought hoping to put a smile on the girl's face. It worked. She named the lion "Leonard."

After clothes shopping, the Grangers took him to a McDonalds, the first time he ever went there. It was in fact the first time he had ever been to anything like a restaurant. Then there was more shopping. Sheets, blankets, pillows, towels and other assorted items, again things Harry had either never had before or had never had such good ones before.

It had nearly been a case of sensory overload for Harry. It would have been but for Hermione. Except when he or she was in a changing room, she never left his side and actually made the day fun for Harry. True, she was a bit pushy about his clothes and he mostly bought what she picked out for him, but he had to admit that she seemed to know what she was doing. He new he would not have picked as well had it been left up to him. During the car ride to his new home he thanked her for the wonderful day causing her to blush furiously, a reaction he was beginning to like a lot.

It was late in the afternoon when the new mini-van pulled off the motorway at Laughton in Essex. Harry, of course, had never been there before. He was thinking of asking Sensei if he had been there in the prior timeline, but for now he merely looked out the window as Hermione described the various sights. Before long, they turned onto a residential street called "Willow Way."

"This is it Harry," Hermione said. "This is my street!"

In Harry's opinion, the houses here were huge. Certainly, they were both larger and older than any he had seen in Little Whinging. The lots were much larger as well and the plantings seemed older and far more varied. They soon turned onto a driveway and Hermione pointed to his new home. It was a very large, two story brick house. It looked like a mansion to Harry.

"You live here?" he asked.

Hermione nodded.

"It's huge!"

"Don't be silly, it's not that big," Hermione said.

"Bigger than the last house I lived in," Harry said. "A lot bigger really."

"Do you like it?"

Harry nodded.

"I'm glad. Now let me show you your room, Harry."

She took his hand and practically dragged Harry towards the front door as Harry was still trying to comprehend the concept of his own room. He soon was following eagerly. They dashed in the front door and flew up the stairs so fast that Harry hardly saw any of the ground floor. They turned down a hall and she stopped at the first door on the right. She opened it and turned to Harry.

"Go on," she said, "this is your room."

The room was larger than any bedroom he remembered from Privet Drive. Against the wall where he had entered was a large bookcase. There was a bed in the corner with a night stand to one side and a large window looking out over the front yard. At the foot of the bed and against the wall was a trunk. Opposite from the bed there was a desk with a chair, a dresser and another door.

"Where's that door go?" Harry asked as he marveled at the room.

"Your closet, of course."

Harry walked up and opened the door to an empty closet.

"There's no bed in there?" he asked with some surprise.

"Why would one there be, Harry? That's where you hang your clothes."

"I slept in a small closet at my Aunt and Uncle's," Harry said meekly.

Hermione took his hand and squeezed it. "That's horrible, Harry," she said softly with tears in her voice. "But that's not what's gonna happen here. This is your room. That is your bed."

"It's," Harry chocked, "it's a bit much."

"Nonsense. And if you must know this is the smallest bedroom in the house. Used to be mine, before…"

"Before what?"

"Before Mum and Dad agreed to take you and Clarice home with us. Clarice and I are across the hall. Want to see?"

"Can I?"

"Of course. Come on!"

SUNDAY, JUNE 5 1988 - 16 WILLOW WAY, LOUGHTON, ESSEX, U.K.

Harry had fallen asleep much earlier than usual for him the night before. He barely made it through the Star Trek episode without falling asleep on the couch in the living room. Mrs. Granger had mentioned something about it being a long day and how, given his past, he might have been a bit over stimulated as in having done and seen far more than he was used to. Whatever the reason, Harry was asleep in his new bed practically as his head hit the pillow.

The problem with going to bed much earlier than usual was Harry awoke much earlier than usual. It was barely sunrise, about 5:00 in the morning and he was wide awake. He did not want to lie in bed anymore, even as comfortable bed as his was. He also did not want to wake anyone up. He found his way to the bathroom and showered and brushed his teeth before heading downstairs. When he reached the ground floor, out of habit he went strait to the kitchen. For years it had been his chore to cook breakfast for his relatives. He was looking through the pantry and refrigerator to get an idea as to what ingredients would be available when it struck him that, perhaps, it was not his job to cook for the Grangers.

It might not be his job, he thought, but it was something he actually enjoyed doing if for no other reason than since he began cooking almost three years ago, the Dursleys left him alone when he was at the stove or had a knife in his hand. He believed he was actually pretty good at it and wanted to say thank you to his new family for all they had done for him so far - and for his sister. He noted that the Grangers did not have any frozen breakfast, but they did have the basic ingredients for what he had in mind. He would just have to make it all from scratch. He found a step stool to reach the counter and all the burners on the stove, took a large knife and began cutting potatoes at the cutting board. Arguably, preparing the potatoes would take the longest.

By 7:30 he was cooking. In one frying pan he was cooking bacon. At the same time, he was making toast. Once the bacon was done, he began frying the potatoes in the bacon fat - something not particularly healthy, but quite tasty. Soon, there were five plates each set at the table, each with a stack of buttered toast as Harry turned to the rest of the meal followed by five more plates on the counter, each with a generous helping of potatoes and four strips of bacon. The pans were off the stove and soaking in water in the sink as Harry worked on the final element - stuffed omelets.

The stuffing had been a bit of a poser at first. Finally, he had noticed fresh strawberries and goat cheese in the fridge and an idea hit him. One day, he had made a similar omelet for himself at the Dursleys when they were out and it had been marvelous. A dozen eggs had already been whipped in a bowl, ready to hit the pan. A clean frying pan was heating on the stove with butter. The strawberries went into a blender, along with some orange juice and some sugar - not too much, Harry thought. You can always add more, but taking it out was too hard. He was going to create a puree, even though he did not know what that word meant. It was the whine of the blender as he made his stuffing that caused the others upstairs to begin to stir. It was the smells of the food that then got them to begin to wake up.

Hermione and Clarice were the first to make it down to the kitchen. By then, Harry had finished two of the omelets. One would be his, as he had tasted it to make sure it was what he wanted. He was working on a third one when the girls entered. Fortunately, Harry heard them coming.

"Harry! What are you doing?" Hermione asked.

"Cooking breakfast," Harry said watching the omelet on the stove.

"Why?"

"'Cause I always do," Harry shrugged.

"But Mum doesn't … Oh, Harry! She's gonna be upset."

"Why?"

"'Cause you're too young to cook!"

"Been cooking since I was four," he replied.

"It's not allowed!"

"Well, I didn't know that, did I? Besides, I wanted to say thanks to your parents and this is what I know how to do."

"Still…"

Harry took the pan off the stove and plated the third omelet and then placed it back on the stove and poured in the eggs for a fourth one.

"What are you doing Harry?" Hermione hissed.

"Got two more to go," Harry said. "Now please, don't pester the cook!"

"I'm not pestering! I'm warning! Mum's gonna be…"

"HERMIONE!" Mrs. Granger's voice could be heard from upstairs. "I've told you NOT to cook!"

"Can't be Hermione, Love," Robert's voice laughed. "Doesn't smell like stuff's on fire. It smells wonderful!"

"It's not me, Mum," Hermione called back. "It's Harry!"

"Snitch," Clarice laughed. "It does smell marvelous, Harry."

"Naturally," Harry said somewhat smugly as he plated the fourth omelet. The Grangers entered the kitchen as Harry began working on the final omelet.

"Harry?" Rose asked. "What are you doing?"

"Making breakfast," Harry replied without taking his eyes off the last omelet.

"Why?"

"'Cause I always do - or did. Ever since I was four. My Aunt taught me the basics, but I've read and studied and figured out a bit on my own."

The Grangers gasped.

"You don't have to, you know," Robert said.

"Wanted to," Harry replied. "Woke up early and wanted to say 'thank you.' I like cooking. It was the only chore my relatives made me do that I liked, I guess because I'm good at it and they left me alone when I was cooking."

"Ask permission next time," Rose said.

"I will."

"So," Robert said as he took a deep sniff. "What's on the menu?"

"Toast, bacon, breakfast potatoes and stuffed omelets," Harry said.

"Stuffed with what?"

"A strawberry sauce and goat cheese filling," Harry replied. "Quite tasty."

"I don't remember having any of that in the pantry," Rose said.

"You have the ingredients."

"You mean you made this from scratch?"

Harry nodded as he added the filling to the last omelet. "Whole potatoes," he said, "fresh strawberries, eggs, butter, bacon, goat cheese and a bunch of other useful stuff. Coffee's done brewing," he added as he began the finishing touches. "Oh, I do have left over strawberry sauce in case you want something on your toast other than butter." The pan came off the stove and the last omelet slid onto its plate. Harry then turned off the burner, gave the pan a rinse in the sink and placed it to soak. He then began to do something with the red sauce he had made. The others watched as he seemed to use a spoon to put some on the plate. Once done, he began to carry the plates to the table.

"I don't like eggs," Hermione said with disgust in her voice as Harry placed a plate in front of her.

"Me neither," Clarice moped.

"Try it?" Harry said, a little hurt.

"NO!" they said in unison.

Harry watched as the two adults did try it.

"Oh my God," Rose said. "This is amazing!" Harry could tell by the expression on her face she was not humoring him.

"Mmmmm!" Robert added. "Tastes like cheese cake! You girls should give it a try."

They shook their heads in protest.

"Harry spent a lot of time on this and it's wonderful," Rose said. "Just give it a try, please?"

Harry moved next to Hermione and cut a piece of her omelet. "Please?" he asked. "You can close your eyes if you wish. Please?"

Reluctantly, Hermione complied. Carefully, Harry placed the fork in her mouth with a piece of his omelet on it. She closed her mouth and for a moment looked like she wanted to gag, but then… a huge smile formed on her face. "It's wonderful," she said softly. "It's amazing! Clarice, you do need to try it!"

Clarice did, tentatively at first. As soon as she found the stuffing, she smiled and began to devour her omelet. It seemed the breakfast disappeared in minutes.

"Can you teach me this?" Rose asked.

Harry was taken aback. No one had ever asked him something like that before, and most certainly not an adult.

"Sure," he said, "if you want."

"I hated eggs," Hermione said. "Not Harry's though. Can you make anything taste good Harry?"

"Try me," Harry said.

"Liver?"

"Eeeww!" Clarice complained. "That's just nasty!"

"Can be," Harry agreed. "Most people over cook it. Easy to do - make it nasty that is. Over cooked, it's like eating rubber. You have to pay attention. But done right, it's like eating buttered meat. Really nummy. Cooked right with onions - of course - and a decent sauce … better than a steak really. I'd love a chance to try it with a red wine reduction. Read about that, but never had a chance. My relatives always bought super sweet wines and that's not what any decent chef would use. They call for dry red wine."

"Merlot?" Rose asked.

"Yeah, I guess. Something like that."

"Want to give it a try tonight, Harry?"

"Sure!"

"Liver tonight," Rose announced.

"Eeeww!" the girls wailed.

_____________________________________________________________

Harry and Rose returned from the market just around lunch time. Harry had what he thought he needed for what he was now calling "Every Child's Most Hated Meal Finally Done Right." Rose agreed to do the dessert. Harry conceded he was terrible at that. As they walked into the house, Minerva McGonogall arrived.

"Been shopping?" Minerva asked.

"Harry's gonna teach me some cooking tips and I am going to teach him some baking tips for dinner."

"Cooking tips?"

"You should have been here for breakfast, Minerva. Harry made it from scratch. It was amazing. Got my daughter and Clarice to eat eggs, he did. If his dinner is half as good, he could open his own restaurant someday!"

"So," McGonagall said suspiciously, "what's on tonight's menu then?"

"Liver, asparagus and potatoes," Harry said. "And a salad. You want to try?"

"It might be worth it," Rose added.

"Erm, I guess," McGonagall said.

"We have enough, Harry?"

"Seem to," he said. "I was planning to pre-cut the liver anyway so I suppose I can - er - make it work for six."

"We got time before we have to get started?"

"Few hours. Depends on when you want to eat."

"Seven?"

"Plenty of time then. We should begin prepping at four but can wait until five. If we begin at four, I can take you through the thing. At five, I've gotta bust ass - sorry - to get it done."

"We'll shoot for four then," Rose said. "Can Hermione and Clarice watch or help?"

"If they want to," Harry said.

Cooking lessons from a seven year old, McGonagall thought, he must be good. "Can I watch?"

"Don't pester the cook and you can," Harry said.

"I won't."

"And stay out of my way too!"

"I will."

"Then you can," Harry finished.

"You don't have to begin now, do you?"

"Few hours."

"Then, if everyone is here, I guess it's time for this weeks lesson?"

Rose gathered up Hermione, Clarice and Robert and they all soon had seats in the living room as Sensei appeared. He checked on the homework he had assigned each of the children and announced he was pleased with their progress and assigned them one more exercise for the upcoming week. He then turned to McGonagall and said: "So, and how was your week?"

"Very interesting," McGonagall replied. She pulled a few sheets of parchment from her bag and began glancing through them. She then pulled out three letters and handed one to each of the children. "First of all, by fortuitous circumstance I was able to meet with Professor Hirayuki Genda, the Dean of Admissions for the Watanabe School. Those letters are your acceptance letters for this summer's term beginning June 30th. Gringotts is expediting the passport applications for Clarice and Harry. The tuition is pre-paid for all three of you. Once you receive your passports, you will also receive your plane tickets to and from Japan. You will fly out on June 28th and return on July 30th.

"I also looked into Harry and Clarice's financial situation. I have a complete ledger of their estates with me. Each has a trust fund for their education and other expenses valued at over twenty-million pounds…"

"Bloody hell," Robert exclaimed. "That's their trust fund?"

McGonagall nodded. "It apparently has been very well managed, as had the estates they will attain upon their majority. The trust represents less than five percent of the value of their entire estates. The total estimated value of each of their estates is around six hundred million."

"Bugger!"

"Robert!" Rose scolded.

"Sorry. It's just that…"

"Yeah," Rose agreed.

"Is that a lot?" Harry asked.

"Let's put it this way, Harry," Robert said. "You two are easily among the richest people in Britain."

"Wow!"

"Just don't go on any spending sprees," Rose added.

"There were some irregularities," McGonagall said. "First off, it appears that the Dursleys were robbing Harry blind."

"What?" Harry asked.

"How?" Robert added.

"Dumbledore gave them limited access to Harry's trust to pay for Harry's upkeep, health, education and the like. He also provided Harry's Uncle with one of the Potter properties outside of London. Vernon Dursley's sister has been living there rent free since 1982. It seems Harry's Uncle withdrew the maximum amount from Harry's trust each year - a total of over three hundred thousand pounds."

"I never saw a penny!" Harry protested. "All my clothes were my Cousin's cast offs! The only reason I got glasses was the school required it and my Uncle was furious at having to spend that money!"

"We know, Harry," McGonagall said in as soothing a voice as she could muster. "Gringotts has a non-magical solicitor's firm on retainer to deal with these kinds of problems. They will file suit against the Dursley estate and initiate eviction proceedings against the remaining Dursley. Both cases will be brought by the Potter Foundation, which does exist. The Foundation provides tuition assistance to the vast majority of the Muggle Born students who attend magical schools in Britain and is technically the sole beneficiary of the Potter Estate should there be no Potters left."

"In other words," Sensei said, "no one will catch wind that Harry and Clarice are alive?"

"That is the idea," McGonagall agreed. "Next, you should know that Harry and Clarice have property. The Potters maintained a residence in London - a large house just across from Hyde Park. There's also Potter Manor in Devonshire. There's a large house at St. Andrews in Scotland - apparently one of Harry's ancestors was a golf fanatic and when Harry and Clarice are older, they have membership."

"I've died an gone to heaven," Robert said.

"Robert plays and has been dying to play the Old Course," Rose explained.

"In addition, there's a place in Paris, a Villa at Cannes and another Villa on the Mediterranean Coast of Italy."

"Bugger me!" Robert exclaimed.

"ROBERT! CHILDREN!" Rose shot.

"Sorry Dear, but I was not expecting this at all. Harry? Clarice? You should know we knew nothing about this at all. We took you in because you both need a home, not because of your money and we don't want you to think you owe us anything at all. Although, if you want to, we can consider spending holidays at some of these places."

"I'd like that," Harry said. "My Aunt and Uncle never took me anywhere."

Clarice merely nodded.

"And the amounts are not the worst of it," McGonagall said.

"How so?" Robert asked.

"Between Gringotts investments and their combined investment properties both residential and commercial, their estates are each expected to earn about sixty million this year alone."

"Ten percent?"

"Or better. Most of the Ancient and Noble House Potter lands, which includes VERY expensive properties in London's financial district have been in the family for a thousand years or more. No mortgages. True, the estate does have to pay taxes, but the rents more than make up for it. Truth be told, their land holdings are worth more than those of the Muggle Queen, and make a profit to boot. The account managers have done an admirable job with the estate. Then again, a good year for the Potter Estate is a good year for the Gringotts goblins and goblins are a profit driven race of beings."

"I don't understand any of this," Harry complain.

"Harry," Sensei said, "one day you will. Remember what I told you. You cannot learn everything in one day. Much of this will take time. Just listen and learn what you can from it and more will make sense later. More important, you don't have to learn this all today. My coming back so early means I don't have to force feed you this. You will have time to learn and to understand before you have to do anything much with this knowledge.

"You and your sister are quite wealthy. The Potters always were. But they also gave back. Through the Foundation, they've spent billions over the centuries to educate Muggle Borns and promote harmony between the magical and non-magical worlds and more. In my timeline, I would eventually use those billions in the near futile hope of either preserving the memory of the human race or sending me back to prevent the end of the world. That is what one should do with such wealth. Pick a cause. Don't rely on governments to fix the present or future."

"Ancient and Noble House," Hermione asked, "what's that?"

"Sir Galard Potter was a Wizard Warrior who sat at King Arthur's Round Table. He never made it into the Arthurian Legend because his line did not die out and made sure it was kept out of the histories. But he was one of the Arthurian Knights. His Great-great grandson Sylvester was head of the first true Britannia Council of Magic, the ancient forerunner to the current magical government of Britannia - today's Britain and Ireland. 500 heads of families formed that ancient council. Of those five hundred, only twenty-three still hold the title of Ancient and Noble House - those who had male descendants of the same name down through the nearly twelve hundred years. All the others died out in time or lost their titles under our law. When he's older, Harry will be Lord Potter - a title few in our world can claim and he shall be entitled to a hereditary seat in our legislature and on our court."

"And what of Clarice?" Hermione asked. "She's a noble too, right?"

"My Hermione always said we were centuries behind our non-magical kin in regards to the women in our world: centuries ahead in terms of education, but centuries behind in all other respects. Daughters of magical parents are still sold or offered into arranged marriages. Women can only arise to our Wizengamot - our legislature and courts of law - because there are no men left in their family line to hold the office or they are appointed proxy. The most gifted person I knew in my life was my Hermione and she was held back by her gender - and by the fact that all thought she was Muggle Born. That too is politically a second class person in magical society even though there really can be no rational basis for either distinction."

"So I am not noble," Clarice said.

"You should be," Hermione said.

"But she's not," Sensei finished. "Were it not for the Potter Will that gave her half the Estate, Harry would have received it all."

"Might explain why they're both so bloody rich," Rose huffed. "Prima Genitor!"

"What's that?" Hermione asked.

"Very old law," Rose said. "Only the oldest son inherits anything."

"Oh. Doesn't seem fair if you ask me."

"Never was," Rose agreed.

"One day," Sensei said, "I hope you three will be able to change that."

"Anything else on their finances they need to know?" Robert asked.

"There are thirty magical residential properties with tenants who have failed to pay rent since the last Lord Potter was murdered. But, there's nothing we can do about those Death Eater dead beats and their supporters now."

"Why not?"

"Only Lord Potter can ask for the rents or order their eviction. Harry and Clarice's father never took title. He either too busy fighting a war or was in hiding. Harry cannot claim the title for some years yet. Eleven at the earliest. Besides, to claim title he must admit he lives to our world…

"Which will invite the machinations of the Old Man who stuck him with the Dursleys in the first place," Sensei finished. "No, best not go there now." The tone he used indicated this topic was closed for the time being. "And what of Sirius?"

"Sirius?" Harry asked.

"Your's and Clarice's godfather," Sensei said. "The one who should have seen to you when your parents were killed had he not been locked away in prison for a crime he did not commit."

"Oh yeah."

"You were right about the rat," McGonagall said. "It was Pettigrew, the real criminal. He gave a full confession and was arrested Monday. He's been sentenced to life without parole. It seems Millicent Bagnold, our Minister for Magic had already reopen Sirius's case just recently. As a result of the confession, Sirius was transferred to St. Mungo's Hospital for rest and rehabilitation and such. Couple of months and he should be a free man again. He's been exonerated of any criminal activity."

"That's wonderful," Sensei said.

"He wants to see Harry and Clarice."

"He won't try and take them from us, will he?" Hermione asked.

"I'm pretty sure he realizes that would not be in Harry and Clarice's best interests. Besides, legally he cannot. I was named your magical guardian while he was still in prison. As I was one of the designated alternates under the Potter Will, he cannot force me to turn you over to him. But he wants to become part of Harry and Clarice's lives and I do agree that could be a good thing."

"Why?" Rose asked.

"He's a wizard. He's wealthy enough he does not have to work. I cannot be with you all the time and there will be times that the children may have to enter the magical world. Sirius could act as their guide and minder when they do. Moreover, with Sirius helping them, I can more or less return to my previous schedule. While Dumbledore may have no memory of Harry and Clarice, if I were to spend too much time away from Hogwarts during the school year, he might become suspicious."

"I think we should meet him," Harry said.

"Why?" Hermione asked.

Harry shrugged. "He was close to my parents. I'd like to get to know him a bit I guess."

"Next Saturday perhaps?" McGonagall suggested. "I could take you to St. Mungos."

"That sounds like an idea," Robert said cautiously.

"Well," Sensei added, "if your venturing into the magical world so soon, might I recommend swinging 'round Diagon Alley? There some books I'd like you to get for the children."

It was agreed that they would do that following their visit to Sirius.