Chapter 2:
Harry's brain knew that Hermione was gone but his heart refused to accept it. She looked so peaceful, like Sleeping Beauty waiting for love's first kiss. He never heard the Healer come into the room and perform a few spells. He jumped slightly when she touched his arm.
"Mr. Potter?"
"What am I going to do without her?" Harry whispered, still looking at Hermione.
"Live. Live, raise your daughter, and be happy. That's what she would have wanted."
"You're right. Can you hold Lily for a moment? I want to say good bye."
"Of course." Harry handed the sleeping infant over and leaned down to gently kiss Hermione on the lips.
"My heart goes with you" he whispered, then covered her face with the sheet. He stood up too quickly and had to sit back down on the bed so that the dizziness could pass. Healer Harris frowned. She didn't like what she had just seen.
"When was the last time you ate something Mr. Potter?"
"Call me Harry and this morning. I got a piece of dry bread and a glass of water."
"That's it?"
"Yes Ma'am. My relatives don't like to feed me much. They just say that I cost them too much money as it is."
Anna's eyes narrowed. Something was very wrong here and she was going to get to the bottom of it. "Why don't we put Lily in her room and look you over?"
Too tired to protest Harry nodded his agreement and slowly followed the Healer out of the room. They went into the room across the hall where the healer laid Lily down in a sort of wooden box. Overhead several lights began to slow or flash. He assumed that it was some sort of monitor. Looking around the room, he saw a hospital bed, a rocking chair, a changing table and a door which he assumed was the bath.
"Sit on the bed please, Harry."
Harry shuffled over to the bed and sat down. He tiredly closed his eyes. He heard the healer approach him and felt the magic of her scans. She had a gentler touch than Madam Pomphrey. After several minutes the scans stopped and Harry opened his eyes.
"Well?" he asked. The healer didn't look too happy.
"I'll be blunt Harry. Why has no one done anything to help you medically?"
"I'm not sure what you mean?"
"I mean why haven't your guardians, Poppy, or even Professor Dumbledore allowed you to have the potions that would fix most of your problems?"
Harry looked at her very confused. Slowly he began to realize what she was saying. "You mean there are potions for….."
"Everything that is wrong with you. Your eyesight, your malnourished body, the Dark magic from your scars. They would all be healed and corrected. Poppy especially would know of them."
Harry was now seething. Healer Harris was right! Madam Pomphrey should have known and done what was needed. It was just another betrayal. No longer would he subject himself to her care!
"Not to mention the magical blocks you have. It's a wonder that you can do any magic at all."
Harry closed his eyes using Hermione's knowledge on meditation to help calm himself down. Somehow he wasn't too surprised to hear about the blocks.
"How many and can you remove them?"
"There are a total of 14. Two have your parent's signature while the rest are Dumbledore's. That man needs to be stopped! As for removing them, I can but it will be painful."
"Pain is no stranger to me."
"I can see that. I don't even want to know how you got Basilisk venom and Phoenix tears in your blood stream."
Harry smiled at the healer's surprise over those two things. "Are you sure? It's quite a thrilling tale."
"Very sure. Why don't you change into these and get comfortable. Meanwhile I'll get those potions and something for you to eat?" she said, handing him a set of hospital pajamas.
Harry nodded and moved to the bath to change. Once done, he saw that Healer Harris hadn't returned. He went to where Lily was sleeping. Softly he stroked her hair, feeling its softness. Once again he was struck by how much she looked like her mother. Suddenly it was too much. He fell to his knees as silent sobs and rivers of tears came out of him. The pain of losing someone else so close to his heart so soon after seeing Cedric's murder was almost too much for his soul to bear. All of his grief came out. For how long he didn't know. It wasn't until later that he realized that his magic never once got out of control.
Once he calmed down, he felt the presence of someone else in the room. A cool flannel was handed to him. It felt good against his eyes, relieving the burning and irritation from crying.
"Feeling better?"
Harry thought about the question for a moment. He did feel better. He hadn't let go like that since he was four. The knot in his chest had loosened up quite a bit.
"Yeah, I do." he said as he stood up. Healer Harris helped him to sit on the bed.
"Sometimes crying is the best way to heal."
"I haven't let go like that since I was little."
The healer levitated a tray of broth over to him. "I'd say that it was about time then. Now I have the potions and a Dreamless Sleep one for when you finish eating. It will help with controlling the pain."
Harry drank down the four bitter potions. He then ate over half the broth before feeling full. Finally he drank the Dreamless Sleep one. He barely felt his head hit the pillow before he succumbed to the potion.
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
The sounds of a shrill cry interrupted Harry's troubled sleep. Even with the potion, he still felt the pain of the magical blocks removal. He felt stiff and sore from all that his body had gone through. He reached Lily and realized that he had no idea what to do. Fortunately an assistant healer arrived with a bottle. Harry was soon getting his first lesson in feeding, changing, and holding his daughter.
Once her needs were seen to, Harry did as any new parent did. He counted her toes, fingers, and noted every detail. As he held Lily, rocking her back to sleep, he realized that his heart was lighter. Healer Harris was right. Crying had helped and Hermione wouldn't want him to grieve her forever. She would want him to live and raise their daughter to be the best that she could be, as a witch or muggle. Harry had no doubt that Lily would be a witch. He would make sure that she would be prepared for the Wizarding world better than he was. He would accept no less.
His thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door.
"Come in."
Instead of one of the healers, a tall man stepped inside. He looked like he was almost dead.
"Mr. Potter?"
"Yes?"
"I am sorry for intruding in your moment of grief but Healer Harris contacted me. She thought you might be in need of my services."
"Your services?"
"I apologize. I forget that you haven't been back in our world for very long. I am Phillip Hartford. I handle funeral services for witches and wizards."
"I honestly hadn't given it any thought. I do need those services if you can also handle muggles as well."
"I do. I understand that Ms. Potter's mother's parents were also killed last night. I would be honored to handle those as well for you."
"Thank you."
The man seemed to be trying to make up his mind about something as he stepped closer to Harry and Lily. Harry palmed his wand, not knowing what was going to happen.
"Mr. Potter I have something for you. I was the one contacted to handle your parents' remains after that awful night. As per tradition I used their wands to prepare them, as I will use Ms. Granger's for her and her parents. I then present the wands to the family as a keepsake. I have never had the opportunity to do so with you before today. Please accept these as they were meant to be. A reminder of your parents' bravery and love in protecting you." He handed Harry a slim opened box, revealing two wands inside.
Tears formed in Harry's eyes. "Thank you," he whispered.
"I will present Ms. Potter her mother's wand after the service."
"Lily will appreciate that later."
"Now to the hard part of task before us. What would you like done to honor the deceased?"
Harry placed Lily back in her bed before beginning to make some of the hardest decisions that he had ever had to face. An hour later they had reached an agreement of what was to be done. All three would be buried at Godric's Hallow. Hermione would be placed between both his parents and hers. A space was left for him between his mother and Hermione. A marker would be placed with a special glamour that would be keyed only to him and Lily.
It would read:
Hermione Jane Granger Potter
Friend, Love, Mother
Knowledge in this World is done
Go and Seek a Higher Knowledge
Another decision made was the provision that the Grangers would be buried in muggle clothing, to honor their heritage. Mr. Hartford had no problem with that. He received Harry's permission to contact Gringotts to get at least Mrs. Granger's wedding dress for her burial as they would be handling their possessions and properties.
As they discussed the details, Healer Harris arrived with a breakfast tray for Harry. He was glad that she had shown up.
"Healer Harris?"
"Yes?"
"When can Lily leave? She should be at the services."
"Tomorrow. I'd like to keep her one more night."
"Tomorrow then, Mr. Hartford?"
"Tomorrow would work just fine, Mr. Potter. Ten in the morning?"
Harry looked at the healer, who nodded. "Ten it is then. Thank you for your understanding and tact Mr. Hartford. I would have never thought of half of the things you suggested." He shook the man's hand.
"I am glad to be of service to you and your family in this hour of need. Try to have a good day Mr. Potter."
"I will try."
"Good bye until tomorrow." Mr. Hartford nodded to Healer Harris as he walked out the door.
"Thank you for sending him. I never even considered arrangements for Hermione and her parents."
"I thought that was the case. I had hoped that I hadn't over stepped my boundaries, as it were. Now that that is out of the way you need to eat. Then I'll check you for any problems. Although I think that the potions worked."
The look the healer was giving him made Harry blush. "Why would you say that?"
"One, you aren't wearing your glasses." she smirked. Harry's eyes widened. She was right! He wasn't wearing them! He could see just fine without them.
"Two, you have the body to make every witch within ten miles drool and lose all train of thought. But I'll know more later, right now eat!"
"Yes Ma'am." Harry sat on the bed. A hospital table had been brought in and he began to eat like he never had before. Twenty minutes later everything was gone. Harry was surprised. Never had he eaten so much. Not even at the Weasleys where Mrs. Weasley pushed third and fourth helpings at him.
"Finished?"
"Apparently I was hungrier than I thought. I don't ever remember eating that much in one go before."
"Good. That was a normal breakfast. That shows me that your body is almost normal now. Now just relax while I run a few tests."
Harry closed his eyes as he felt the magic of the scans run through him. He didn't open them until she stopped. Her grin said it all.
"You're just about perfect. I guarantee that you'll top off over six feet by the time you're done growing. Right now you're at five ten and weigh 185lbs. Well within your height. Considering that you're only fourteen, I suspect that you'll have a couple of growth spurts over the next couple of years. Be prepared to buy several new wardrobes."
Harry had to laugh. He was so happy that the potions had worked. "What about the blocks?"
"The blocks are gone as is all the Dark magic from the two scars. As for your eyes, yes you don't need glasses now. I believe that you will when you're older, like around one hundred or so. But by then they may have found a cure for it. So how are you feeling?"
Harry jumped off the bed, grabbed the healer in a hug and swung her around, laughing the whole time. He set her down once he realized what he had done.
"Sorry." he muttered, embarrassed.
"I'll take that as 'I feel great', hum?"
"Yeah." said Harry, still embarrassed.
"Now why don't you have a shower while I exam Lily. Then we'll talk, alright?"
"Sounds good."
Harry took a quick shower and changed into his clean and altered clothes. He came out of the bath to see Healer Harris getting a bottle ready for a fussy Lily. She handed him the bottle as he sat down with Lily in his arms. As the baby ate he tried to think of what he needed to do before the next day. Where to stay, what she needed, things like that.
"Knut for your thoughts."
"I was just thinking of what I need to do before she can leave here tomorrow."
"Can I help?"
"I have no idea what a baby needs. Can you write a list or something so I know what to get?"
"I'd be happy to. I'll make one for both muggle items and magical ones. I would suggest that whichever formula you decide on you stick with unless a healer tells you to change. It would cause Lily digestive problems if you did."
"Right, then I guess I better figure out where were going to live. I guess Gringotts will be my first stop." Lily was finished and Harry placed her against his shoulder to burp her. A couple of moments later she gave a very unlady like belch, which had Harry grinning. She got that from him too. Soon she was back to sleep and Harry made to leave. Healer Harris handed him his list. He seemed reluctant to leave.
"What is it Harry?"
"Can I stay tonight? With Lily I mean?"
"Of course. She and you need some more time together with help nearby."
He seemed to hesitate.
"What else is bothering you?"
"Hermione mentioned that she had a vision. That was how she knew that she was going to die. If the accident hadn't killed her, what would have? Was she was sick or something?"
The healer sighed. She had hoped that he wouldn't have made the connection. "What I'm about to tell you is strictly confidential, understand?"
Harry nodded.
"Hermione came to me right after she returned from Hogwarts. I ran several tests and was surprised to see that she had been poisoned."
"Poisoned? How?"
"A botched love potion. Someone was feeding it to her in small doses. But whoever made it either wasn't very good, used bad ingredients, or purposely was trying to kill her. She had so much of it in her system that if the car crash hadn't killed her she would have died within the month."
Harry stared at the healer in horror. He fervently prayed that it was someone that didn't know what they were doing as apposed to someone purposely trying to kill her.
"Did she say who she suspected?"
"I think she knew but she never gave me a name."
Harry got a look of deep concentration on his face. It had to be someone who had daily contact with her. It could almost be any body at school. He sighed in frustration.
"Don't go looking for them. Lily needs you. Trust me you won't have time to search for the person until Lily's out on her own or has a boyfriend."
A look of horror crossed Harry's face. His Lily dating? Not in this lifetime she wasn't!
The healer laughed. She had successfully got him to think of something else. Heaven help the boy who tries to date Lily Potter!
"Getting going, Dad. We'll be here when you're done."
Now Harry had a goofy grin on his face. 'Dad', he liked the sound of that word.
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Harry used the public floo near the staff entrance of the hospital. Healer Harris had told him that he had permission to use it from the director of the hospital, mostly to ensure his privacy. It was raining rather steadily, which Harry was grateful for. Thus allowing him to use a cloak to keep the rain off and help hide his identity.
His first stop was Gringotts. He needed money and wanted to see if he could exchange half of his vault into muggle currency. If he could then he would place the muggle money in a muggle bank for better access. He arrived just as the bank was opening for business. Going inside he went to the first teller he saw. That happened to be Griphook, the first goblin that Harry had ever talked with.
"Good morning, Griphook."
Griphook nearly fell off his stool. He was more than surprised to hear a wizard address him by his name. Not to mention in a polite tone as well.
"Good morning, sir. How may Gringotts help you today?"
"I need to speak with someone about getting a full accounting of my vault and making out a will."
"Gringotts can certainly help you with that, sir. Your name?"
"Harry Potter."
"Mr. Potter! I…." The shocked goblin couldn't continue.
"Are you alright Griphook?" Harry looked at the goblin in concern.
"I am fine, Mr. Potter. Thank you for asking. I was just caught off guard. If you will go down the right hand corridor to room 5. I will have your account manager meet you there."
"Thank you Griphook. Have a good day."
"You as well, Mr. Potter."
Harry moved quickly away from the counter and down the corridor to the assigned room. Inside he did several scans, disabling several recording charms and placing a couple of wards to protect himself while inside. He had no sooner finished when the door opened to reveal one of the ugliest goblins that he had ever seen.
"Lord Potter, a pleasure to meet you at last. My name is Bellock, the account manager for the Potter fortune."
"Excuse me? 'Lord' Potter?"
"That is your title. Were you not aware of it?"
"No. Was I supposed to be?"
"Yes. Your magical guardian was to inform you when you agreed to go to Hogwarts when you were eleven."
"And who is this guardian?"
The goblin looked totally surprised and then confused. "Surely you were made aware that when Sirius Black was sent to Azkaban for betraying your parents, Albus Dumbledore requested and was given guardianship over you."
"No, I had no idea."
"Something is not right! You should not be this uninformed!"
"Can you inform me then?"
"I shall try. Let us start from the beginning. You are Lord Harry James Potter, born July 31st 1980, correct?"
Harry nodded.
"You live at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, correct?"
"Only during the school term. The summer holidays I live at my aunt's home in Surrey. Dumbledore forces me to return each year. I lived there year round until I got my Hogwarts letter."
"You do not live at the school year round?"
"No, I never have. Although I have always felt that it was more of a home than my aunt's house."
The goblin frowned in concern. "It would seem that Headmaster Dumbledore has been less than truthful with us."
"Somehow that doesn't surprise me."
"You say that you lived at your aunt's home. May inquire her name?"
"Petunia Dursley."
"Lord Potter, Headmaster Dumbledore has overstepped his authority in this matter. Your parents' will specifically stated that you were never to be given to her, under any circumstances. The Headmaster knew of this order as he witnessed both wills. His violation will allow you to become emancipated immediately. Your wand will have all Ministry tracking charms removed. You will be seen as an adult in the eyes of the law. All fees for our services today will be charged to Dumbledore as a fine for his arrogance."
Harry smiled a wicked grin. "Couldn't happen to a nicer guy."
Bellock chuckled. "Now let me summarize what you own. You have three vaults listed under the Potter Family name. One contains currency. Another contains household items, such as furniture, paintings and the like. The last one contains weapons, armor, books, and potion ingredients."
"You mean I have more than one vault?"
"The vault that you visit is simply your trust vault. This will be reverted back to the Potter currency vault now that you are emancipated."
"Can I simply place it in my daughter's name?"
Bellock nearly fell out of his seat. The young wizard was not even fifteen yet and he was a father already! He knew humans were highly emotional but this was something else!
"You have a daughter?"
Harry explained, without too many details, the circumstances of Lily's birth. As well as Hermione's death, without giving any names.
"I see. You will have to allow an Heir Ritual to be performed. It will require a drop of both of your bloods. She will then be your main heir until you have a son."
"Is there no other way?'
"I am sorry, but no. As you and the child's mother were never married, this is the only way that can not be refuted by anyone."
"Can it be done at St. Mungos?"
"I will do the Ritual personally. May I stop by tonight?"
"I'll let the healer know."
"Thank you. Now I understand that you wish to make out a will? I assume that this has to do with the newest Lady Potter."
"Yeah, I figured that since I inevitably fight for my life each year. There is a need to protect her."
"I can understand that m'Lord. Now I need the child's full name."
"Lily Elizabeth Granger Potter."
Bellock looked up at the young wizard. Although the young man had given no names during his explanation of how Lady Potter was born, the goblin had heard of the deaths of Ms. Granger and her parents and put two and two together. A colleague of his was handling their wills at that moment. If the child was Ms. Granger's daughter as well, then the other goblin needed to be here.
"Forgive my impertinence, but is Ms. Hermione Granger the mother of the child?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"Ms. Granger and her parents made their wills out with us not more than a week ago. A colleague of mine is handling their effects. He needs to be here."
"Alright."
Bellock went to the door. He said something that Harry didn't understand to a guard outside before returning to the table.
"While we wait for Hammerthorn I need some more information."
"Fire away."
"Who would you like as godparents and guardians?"
Harry had asked this question himself. There was no way he wanted Dumbledore to interfere with Lily's upbringing. He needed someone who was strong yet gentle.
"Neville Longbottom and Fleur DeLacour."
"I must say an interesting choice. Whom after that?"
"Professor Flitwick and Professor McGonagall."
"Another interesting choice. I assume that you want everything to go to your daughter?"
"Yes and I want it written that Dumbledore is to never interfere with her life. If he does then he loses his magic." growled Harry.
Bellock was saved from his shock with the opening of the door. Hammerthorn walked in and sat down.
"Bellock, what does my account have to do with this?"
"Lord Potter's daughter is also the daughter of Ms. Granger."
Hammerthorn's eyes widened. He looked to Harry for confirmation. "Is this true?"
"Lily was born the night Hermione died."
"How is this possible?"
Harry once again explained how Lily was born. Hammerthorn was so surprised that he couldn't say anything for a full five minutes. A drink of some goblin ale, however, brought him back around.
"In that case m'Lord, your daughter is the sole beneficiary of her maternal grandparents, through her mother. As you explained, Ms. Granger died after her parents correct?'
Harry nodded.
"Ms. Granger as the only child of her parents inherited everything. She in turn made her unborn child her heir. She even used the name Lily for a daughter."
"What if it was a boy?"
"She had 'James' written in."
Harry could only nod.
"Given the fact that the child is not even two days old. As her father you need to make a few decisions in dealing with her mother's will."
"Like what?"
"The Grangers owned their practice and home. They also hold several shares in various muggle companies that have done very well. Most of their wealth is muggle in nature. All would be held in trust for Lady Potter. The question is do you wish to sell the properties and or the stocks?"
Harry thought for a moment. "Sell the house and practice. Place everything that is in the house in the Potter household vault and any personal items that are at the practice as well. I'd like Lily to have something from her mother and grandparents in some way."
Hammerthorn nodded as he took notes.
"As for the rest let's leave it alone for now. I would like to meet with both of you at least twice a year to discuss how the shares are doing."
Both goblins looked surprised at the request. Most wizards could careless where they made their money only that they made it.
"That can be arranged m'Lord. Is there anything that you would like us to do for you?"
Harry got an evil grin on his face. "Actually I'm glad that you brought that up. I want you to buy a couple of things for me. No matter what the cost."
The guard outside heard the unmistakable sounds of laughter coming from the room. He had to wonder what was so funny about making out a will.
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Thanks to Bellock and Hammerthorn Harry and Lily now had a secure place to stay for the next month. Who knew that the goblins had rooms to rent inside the bank? He sure didn't. Not only did they rent rooms, they offered daycare so that he wouldn't have to take Lily everywhere.
It was the goblins who helped him formulate some plans. With the help of a time turner and the knowledge that Hermione gave him, he planned on taking both his OWLS and NEWTS next week. That way he didn't have to return to Hogwarts and be under Dumbledore's control. The goblins were also going to tutor him in wards, curses, and estate management. His two future purchases would be his first lesson.
On the way out the door, Bellock handed him a card and a bag. The card looked like a credit card only it was tied directly to his vault and would work in the muggle world. The bag would have the amount he needed in wizarding money whenever he asked for it. They were tuned to his magic so that no one else could use them.
Now that he had his money situation dealt with, Harry began to go into one shop after another, buying things for himself and Lily. A multi compartmental trunk for the both of them was one of his first purchases. One compartment would be for Lily's furniture. Another all of her clothes. Another for his clothes. An extra feature was a special bookcase that would rotate for different selections of books. It could hold up to ten thousand books. He put it into use after a lengthy stop at Florish and Blotts.
He decided to go mostly magical with Lily's things. As he could now do magic at anytime now. But he still wanted a few muggle things, so off to muggle London he went. He returned two hours later very pleased with himself. He made his way to the public floo in Diagon Alley before flooing back to St. Mungos to spend the rest of the day and night with Lily.
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
It was almost ten o'clock later that same night when a high pitched scream was heard in the neighborhood of Privet Drive. It wasn't the last as several more were heard within half an hour of the first one.
Arabella Figg, squib and member of the Order of the Phoenix raised the alarm. Several Order members arrived within minutes of her call and were shocked at what they found.
All three Dursleys were laying in their lounge as if dead. But they weren't, yet. They had had their souls sucked out by rogue Dementors. Their bodies were hanging on by a thread.
Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts, Head of the Wizengament, Supreme Mugwump, Member of the Order of Merlin, First Class, and Founder of the Order of the Phoenix began issuing order like a general. Members began their search only to find several muggles had also been 'kissed' and were dead or dying as they reported in. But their one quarry was no where to be found.
"Where have gone to now Harry?" asked the old man to himself.
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
In a huge abandoned mansion, seated on a wooden throne like chair, Lord Voldemort was trying to open his connection to Potter. He wanted the boy to retrieve something from the Department of Mysteries. But he was having trouble. The boy was no longer there. It was as if they had no connection. Pushing with everything that he had, Voldemort finally felt the boy's mind. But he was stopped by the walls that protected what he sought. Then when he tried to leave, he found that he couldn't. For hours he sat in a muggle electric chair as 'Potter' questioned him. The boy showed him no mercy and in the end did something no one else had ever managed to do. He had made him afraid.
Back in his own mind, Voldemort swore he would never do that to another person again. He continued to babble as his followers looked on in puzzlement. One brave recruit stepped forward.
"My Lord? Are you alright?"
"Do I look alright?" asked the Dark Lord in a cold voice.
"No my Lord, you do not."
Voldemort didn't like that answer. "Then I guess you will have to look worse. Crucio!"
But the recruit didn't fall down in pain. In fact he didn't move. The Dark Lord however did. Standing up he began to sing and do some sort of dance that went with the song.
"I'm a little teapot, short and stout
Here is my handle, here is my spout…."