GENERAL DISCLAIMERS:
I do not own the Harry Potter universe nor anything related to the Harry Potter universe. If I did, I do not think that I would be struggling to pay off college now nor would I be working two jobs. Any resemblance to ideas, names, thoughts, theories or situations in another story written on any fanfiction site is purely coincidental.
As this is a work of FANFICTION, I lay no claim to the benefits, fame or monetary compensation owed to Warner Brothers, and JK Rowling.
This is an alternative universe (AU) writing. I understand that the portrayal of characters that I offer up for your reading is not cannon. I humbly ask that you keep that in mind when you are reading my work.
I would also like to state that this is an answer to a challenge put on by the last of the pendragons at FFN.
EVERY CHAPTER HAS BEEN CHANGED. PLEASE REREAD THE PRIOR 9 CHAPTERS.
Chapter 10
Harry Potter and the Lords Lament
The Burrow
Late Morning of Harry's Birthday
Hedwig fluttered through Hermione's and Ginny's bedroom window with the goodie box firmly attached to her leg. In the box was a dress that Hermione had been fitted for before she ventured to Grimmauld Place earlier this summer. A midnight blue spaghetti strap dress with a deep v neckline that was fitted to the waist and then flared to her ankles. Hermione had begged and pleaded with her mother to be allowed to try on the dress but once it was on, she had to have one for herself. Hedwig had already dropped the box on Hermione's bed when she entered in time to see the owl wing out the window.
Ginny bustled into the room that they shared while Hermione was at the Burrow. She flopped onto the bed and let out a deep sigh. Hermione giggled, she knew what had Ginny sighing. Hanging from the wardrobe door was the dress that Ginny had worn to the Yule Ball. The dress was tattered and stained, remnants of the amazing time that she had. It was not up to par with what anyone else would be wearing at the party. The girls spent the next four hours fixing the dress. They removed the collar and top layer of tulle. Hermione showed Ginny how to dye the fabric the muggle way. The girls selected a deep forest green with black lace and detailing.
Realizing that they had missed lunch Ginny and Hermione went downstairs to hear yelling in the kitchen, a quickly becoming commonplace sound. The Order had taken to meeting at the Burrow, mostly since Sirius had confined them to the basement level of Grimmauld Place. Sneaking toward the kitchen they listened from the stairs.
"This is ridiculous! A child is leading us around by the nose." A professor's voice that they were very familiar with snarled.
"He is going dark... even his friends say so. There will be no saving this boy if we don't act now. He needs to go back to the Dursley's."
"They treated him the way he needed to be treated." Ginny's eyebrows shot into her hairline.
"Headmaster Dumbledore is right." There was a pause as most of the room filled with murmurs. "We need to find Harry and take him back to his family. They will be the best at keeping him from going dark."
"Let's plan to move him back within the next two days." Dumbledore said, looking over his half-moon glasses at those gathered at the Burrow's table.
Hermione grabbed Ginny's arm to keep her from going into the kitchen. They backed slowly up the stairs and returned to their room. Ginny had tears running down her face. The girls began putting their bags together to go to see Harry and Neville. Midway through filling their bags Fred and George came into the room.
"You leaving?" George asked.
"We are going to the birthday party." Hermione answered not looking up from her suitcase.
"When do you want to go?"
"My floo time is 5 pm into the main house."
"Our arrival time is 5:30 in Anasirone. I guess that is the closest town to his house." Fred said, reading over the twins' invitation.
An hour later the twins and the girls were ready to leave. The four of them were heading down the stairs with bags on their shoulders. Mrs. Weasley, was standing at the bottom of the stairs letting a few of the 'guests' leave the house.
"Where do you think you guys are going?" Molly asked with a fake smile on her face.
"To Harry's birthday mum." Ginny said with a smile.
"I don't think so. There are things here that need to be done. Besides, Harry is going back to his parents soon. I doubt there will be a party tonight." Molly had an odd twinkle in her eyes as she spoke.
"Da said we could go. What do you mean that there might not be a party tonight?"
"Well your father isn't here right now. I've decided that you flooing to Grimmauld Place isn't the safest thing at the moment."
"But…" Fred slapped his hand over Ginny's mouth as she began to speak.
"Yes Ma'am. We'll just go back upstairs." Fred answered pulling Ginny backwards up the staircase. Upon reaching the landing in front of her room Fred released Ginny. Hermione watched as Molly walked back into the kitchen and set to making dinner.
"How are we going to get out of here now?" Hermione asked sinking to the floor.
"Well she only told us that we weren't allowed to go to Headquarters. She said nothing about going to Anasirone. We'll just leave without her knowing."
"How we gonna do that?"
"One at a time of course." George said matter of factly.
"Ginny, you and Hermione will go down stairs and hide your bags by the fireplace. Ginny distract mum until Hermione gets through. Once she's gone we will distract her so that you can get through." The girls nodded.
Hermione took both of the girls' bags and sat on the sofa in the family room. Ginny took a deep breath and skipped into the kitchen to distract her mother. Hermione grabbed both bags and stepped into the fireplace. Ginny's distractions must have failed because Mrs Weasley stormed into the family room screaming about how the kids were negatively affected by being around Harry. Hermione took a chance and threw some floo powder at her feet and sped off to Harry's house. She prayed that Ginny and the Twins were okay.
The Keep, Anasirone
The squeal caused the hair on the back of Harry's neck to stand on end. He shot Daphne an apologetic look for ending their dance and pulled her behind him, eyes searching for Kiley, Neville and the problem. With a flick of his wrist his wand appeared in his hand and he approached the doors. The squealing grew louder and the edges of the doors began to rattle. As if they were slammed open by a giant the doors flew open and ricocheted off of the wall. The whole Keep began to stir; magic that had been asleep was waking to rise in defense of the Family Potter.
Curses died on Harry's lips as he saw the twins barreling down the hall on their brooms, beaters bats in hand and smacking a large, glowing, ball between them. The ball was emitting the squealing sounds. As it got closer the ball took on the shape of a dragon that roared and spit fire. Behind him he felt Kiley and Hermione come forward, followed by Neville and surprisingly, Draco.
'A firecracker... they set off a firecracker... in my house.' The twins smacked the ball one more time and it shot towards the ceiling where it would bounce from wall to wall, a shower of harmless sparks every time it hit something. The music returned the guests all went back to dancing and Harry stormed towards the pair of Marauder wanna-bes.
"What in the seventh circle are you doing? Firecrackers in the Keep!" Harry seethed as he got into their faces.
"Happy Birthday Harry." Fred said.
"Yeah, Happy Birthday." George added.
"Thought that we should..." The twinspeak began.
"Give you an amazing show..."
"I mean you are our..."
"Best investor."
"Cut it out boys. Ya scared half the people here. And I'm pretty sure I know have to go smooth things over with the villagers before they decide to serve you up, suckling pig style." From the corner of his eye Harry could see figures standing in the shadows just outside of the ballroom.
"Harry, old buddy, old pal..."
"You wouldn't let them harm us would you?"
"If I hadn't recognized you two morons, I'm sure that the wards would have ripped you to shreds before you crossed the threshold." The magic of the Keep slipped from its defensive mode and into the deep sleep that it had been in. There would be some explaining in the morning but until then he was going to have some more fun. Behind the twins, barely inside of the door, Ginny stood in a flowing green dress. Neville seemed transfixed, he walked towards her and took her out onto the floor to dance. "Daphne, another turn around the dance floor?" She nodded, her eyes flicking warily from the twins to the firecracker and back again.
They danced for half an hour more before Harry and Neville cut their cake, opened a few presents and thanked everyone for attending. It was well after midnight when the partygoers began to wander off towards either the floo or the cars waiting out front.
Harry sat at the dining room table, elbow on the table, head resting on his hand. Kiley waltzed into the room, a smile on her face and a bounce in her step. Five minutes after they had settled at the table Hermione, the twins and Neville wandered into breakfast, sleep in their eyes and biting back yawns. Harry nodded to one of the elves and piles of food appeared on the table. Owls had already gone out with the pre-written thank you notes to everyone that attended.
Kiley hummed to herself as she buttered a few muffins before dipping them in cinnamon sugar. She smiled as she munched away on the muffin. Harry stared at her in disbelief, shook his head and then went back to his breakfast.
"What's got you all smiles?" Hermione asked as she sat down with a plate of eggs and toast.
"I think she had a good night." Neville answered as he reached for a pot of coffee.
Kiley blushed. "I had an amazing night."
"Did Malfoy behave himself?" Harry asked.
"Very much so. He was very gentlemanly." Kiley flushed a light pink. "He asked if he could call on me."
"Here at the Keep? Chaperone needed or would you like him invited over when there is a group here?" Harry asked, knowing that the answer would set the tone for how he needed to treat the budding relationship.
"I would like to invite him over the next time we have a group afternoon." Kiley said not looking up from her plate.
She's laying it out there for you. It's your chance to sink or swim their relationship. She also knows that everything goes through you now.
Shouldn't she be allowed to give me her input?
In private. You can call her to the study later and discuss things. Right now you are in public. As her male guardian she can't argue with you in public.
Its Malfoy though.
Yes and the Malfoys are just as old of a family as yours. There are twelve Most Ancient Families that were enobled by the King. Three stand for the 'light', three for the 'dark', three for the 'grey' and three for creatures.
And the Malfoys stand for the dark.
But the Malfoys still owe allegiance to the crown. You need to speak to Draco. See where his head sits. There are many ways for him to be 'saved'. In the mean time... answer Kiley.
"I think that he would be a fine addition to our afternoon gatherings. Would you like to write him or should I?"
"I will if you don't mind? Any particular way I should word it?"
"No," Harry paused, "but, I would like to speak with him as soon as possible." Kiley nodded and skipped from the room.
Hermione waited for Kiley to ascend the stairs before she spoke. "Are you sure that having him here in a social aspect is a good idea?"
"She is right Harry. Inviting him here on a regular basis leaves you open for attacks from the Dark Lord." Neville chimed in.
"Malfoy won't do anything. I think he actually likes Kiley. Anything is better than Pansy." Their conversation was interrupted by Squeaks appearing at Harry's elbow. She handed him an envelope and disappeared once more. "Well this is unexpected." Harry turned the envelope over in his hands a few times. Taking a deep breath he broke the wax seal on the back and opened the letter. After reading it once he passed it to the rest of the table.
Dear Mister Potter,
I know that your birthday has just past, so happy belated birthday. Your Aunt and I hope that you had an amazing party.
I've read the file that your mother left for me. I would like to meet with you this week, if possible. Perhaps Tuesday at noon at the Italian Restaurant on Mason Avenue.
Respond as soon as possible please.
Baron Davenport
"Umm, Harry, do you have idea who this man is?" Hermione asked, eyeing the envelope.
"I believe that he is my uncle. My Mother's older brother."
"I thought that Aunt Petunia was your only family left?" Hermione questioned.
"So did I." Harry stared wistfully at the page. "Mum left be a box of information when she died and inside was a letter to give to him. She wrote that she was adopted by the Evans' family and that she was a hundred percent sure that he was related to her."
"Are you going to meet with him?" Neville asked.
"Yes. I want a family more than I want to survive a year at Hogwarts."
"Harry, Baron Davenport isn't just any old baron. He is a baron in his own right, but he is the only living son of the Duke of Ross, Duke Seneson. If you can claim familial bonds to the dukedom then you will have feudal seats in both the magical and nonmagical worlds."
"I know Hermione. I'm Lord of House Potter, Baron of Anasirone, both by courtesy. I've inherited people's lives. They depend on me for their survival and to be their voice when they have none."
"Harry, you will be amazing." Neville tried to assure his friend.
"I hope you're right Nev." Harry reached for another scone before leaving the dining room for his office. No one saw him for the rest of the day.
Tuesday
The Keep at Anasirone
The Tuesday following the birthday party dawned clear and warm. Harry had dressed in khaki shorts a button down green short sleeved shirt, while thinking about the upcoming meeting with his Uncle. He sipped his coffee slowly, as to not speed through his few peaceful hours. Hermione and Kiley had tried to tempt him out of his office with food, music or flying. Nothing had worked so the girls sat in one of the parlors near the foyer waiting for him. Out the parlor window Hermione noticed a silver and black Rolls Royce pull up the drive. Tonks knocked on the door frame before she entered the parlor.
"I'm not sure I'm wearing this right." Tonks motioned to the ear piece that she had hanging from her shirt collar. Tonks had toned down her look to look like a member of a private security team. She wore a dark blue pants suit with silver buttons, clipped to her lapel was the Potter Family Crest. Hermione tucked the earpiece into its proper place and checked the wires that ran down to the unit belted to her side.
"Who is on the other side of the earpiece?"
"Remus will be listening in from here. The muggle security room will have audio of what is going on."
"What good is audio when you can't see anything?" Hermione asked.
"The wizarding security room will have a picture that you can see." Tonks fussed with the hem of her jacket. "I think that Harry might want some privacy anyways. This may be the only chance at a family he has."
When Harry finally emerged from his office he had changed clothes into a dark gray suit, the breast pocket was embriodered with the Potter family crest. He hugged Ginny and Hermione, kissed Kiley on the forehead before joining Tonks by the waiting car.
AN: Okay... Back from my vacation... quit my second job... gotten my health and the Real Life under control... should be able to write more often... Deepest apologies to all those faithful readers out there.