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In This Life
Chapter 42
Settling In and Making Plans Dumbledore finds out more worriesome information
Lily had to walk to a take away and get some food for everyone; they didn't know the first thing about the Muggle world. So as usual it was left up to her, and she was already getting fed up with it. She wished she could just grab Harry and take him back and be done with it. She hadn't slept well last night; she never could in an unfamiliar place especially the Muggle world. She hadn't seen much of it since she was eleven years old and it was only during the summer.
"Finally I'm starving!" grumbled Eric getting up feeling very out of sorts he wanted to be back in the Wizarding world where he belonged.
"When are we returning?" asked James taking his breakfast from his life, and opening the plastic container and grimacing at the plastic fork he was going to use. They were using a suite so they had a table thankfully to eat at.
"Not until we succeed at talking Harry into coming with us" said Dumbledore adamantly.
"What if he doesn't want to? He seemed pretty adamant to me" said Lily sitting down as well now that she had handed out the food.
"We will get him onside even if I have to convince him after getting to Hogwarts" said Dumbledore.
"What if we just Obliviate him?" suggested James liking that idea very much.
"It affects the mind and magic when you do that James, if you want a mental son trying to defeat Voldemort then sure go ahead" said Dumbledore somewhat sarcastically. "No we need him whole and not just magically. Plus we do not know how long Sirius and Severus have known him or what they have given him"
"Those vampires' weren't normal" grimaced Lily remembering the growling coming from the copper haired vampire clutching at her son. She hadn't liked that at all, it didn't bode well for them for some reason.
"Edward Cullen you mean?" asked Dumbledore a twinkle of understanding in his eyes.
"Yes" said Lily.
"You don't think Harry's his mate do you?" asked James.
"That's just disgusting!" grimaced Eric at the thought of it.
"There is nothing wrong with that Young man! I brought you up better than that!" snapped Lily.
"It's disgusting!" snapped Eric right back obviously feeling strongly about it.
"I'm sorry you feel that way" said Dumbledore looking pissed off for some reason.
"He's just trying to find reasons to hate Harry, Albus take no notice of him" said Lily shaking her head in disappointment.
"If Harry is this Edward…Cullen's mate we have no hope in hell" said James seriously.
"Then we best hope they aren't mates" said Dumbledore shaking his head, it wasn't as if they could deal with Edward Cullen. Vampires weren't easy to kill, Dumbledore knew he could throw the killing curse and the Fiendfyre spell and it would hurt but not kill. Magical fire can be put out by vampires and magical water but anything else doesn't work. He wasn't sure what he could do in regards of those vampires' unless he promised things that wouldn't happen. He would have to choose his words wisely after the war it wouldn't matter.
"And if they are?" asked James, a petulant look on his face.
"Then we must persuade them both to go" said Dumbledore "They drink on animal blood so this coven might have a conscience"
"Pft vampires with consciences that will be the day" scoffed James.
"So what do we do? Are we going to rent somewhere or just stay here?" asked Lily as she polished of her breakfast.
"I want to go home!" said Eric before anyone could reply.
"Tough we need to stay here and here is where we will stay until get him" said Lily adamantly.
"Dad!" yelped Eric petulantly.
"Mum's right Eric cut it out its happening whether you are happy about it or not" said James.
"Indeed we might need you to get to know him" said Dumbledore; he couldn't blame his brother for something his parents did. If Eric got to know him maybe the others would let their guard down. Once that happened he could just get Eric to Portkey him out and get him to England. If he had to bind the boy to Hogwarts that's what he would do, even if it was only temporarily he'd find something more permanent if needed be. The Ministry wouldn't care, they were too badly afraid of Voldemort. He was doing what he needed to do for the greater good and they would understand and stick with him on that.
"I don't want to" huffed Eric his lips twisting in disgust.
"Do you want a home to go back to?" boomed Dumbledore unable to stop himself anymore.
"Of course I do" whispered Eric looking down perfectly contrite.
"Then we must do this, let go of your anger towards your brother and get to know him" said Dumbledore his voice back to normal. It wasn't often he lost control of his temper and Eric was always one to make it rear its ugly head. Now he could unleash it without upsetting the 'boy who lived' as he wasn't it anymore.
"Ok" said Eric he would befriend his brother just for information that they could use.
"Any way we could force him back?" asked James cautiously.
"No if he truly is adopted by both Sirius and Severus we don't have a hope in hell of that succeeding" said Dumbledore reluctantly. "Plus the American Ministry is a lot tougher than ours; Harry's been here for his entire life basically they won't agree to force him back to England"
"Why is that?" asked Lily.
"Many people fled to America during the last war, started families here and remained. Crouch tried to get them back after the war had ended many were influential families he failed spectacularly" said Dumbledore.
"Why would he do that?" asked Lily.
"There aren't many families in our world, the decrease in Wizards and Witches is worrisome" said James before Dumbledore could reply.
"But Hogwarts is always full" said Eric confused.
"Is it indeed the majority being Muggle born" said Dumbledore, the world wasn't the same anymore and it wasn't going well for them with Voldemort killing them off. Now they had lost the last black and Snape to the pile of people whom had left.
"I see" said Lily not seeing at all.
"I think it's best if we get something near to Black manor how long will that process take?" asked Dumbledore.
"It isn't straight away like the Muggle world, but if we have the money on hand it might go easier. That is if there is any house available, I might be able to get it done in two days" said Lily.
"Then James will apparate to Gringotts in America and withdraw enough money to see us through" said Dumbledore, he didn't have money to support this venture they were undertaking. He had a war to fund never mind buying houses to talk a Potter into returning no matter how important he was.
"No problem" said James frowning; he didn't like Dumbledore telling him what to do with his own money. Especially now a good chunk would be going to Eric when he turned seventeen in two weeks. His other son had also taken a good chunk of it, he had been helping fund the order too so his money was fast disappearing and he didn't like it. He hated Dumbledore assuming he would do anything but he kept his mouth shut and got on with it. If he wanted his family to survive it was important that Harry came with them to England. Harry may be his son biologically but he had no feelings for the child and didn't count him as family.
"Did you see how strong he looked?" asked Eric out of the blue.
"He did didn't he, he must work out he looks very strong and capable the Order would be impressed. Of course how strong he is doesn't matter when he probably doesn't know much magic" said James nodding his head reluctantly.
"We cannot assume anything, we do not know how long Sirius and Severus has been in his life" said Dumbledore critically.
"I doubt it's long Snape hasn't left Hogwarts only recently went missing, Sirius was now I come to think of it…was last seen at the same time Snape disappeared down to the last day" said James cautiously.
"Perhaps" said Dumbledore his twinkle coming back when he thought about the truth of James' statement.
"I'll go see an agent who can get me a house close to there" said Lily "Come on Eric" standing up she waited on her son following her.
"I want to go to Gringotts with dad" said Eric shaking his head; he didn't want to be in the Muggle world anymore than he had to.
"Fine" sighed Lily in exasperation.
Once Dumbledore was alone, he apparated out of the hotel room with a quiet pop. He found himself outside Black Manor just near the wards; he had felt when visiting yesterday. He saw two of the vampires working on some sort of car they glared at him but remained working. Smiling at them before continuing on his way, he knocked on the door.
"Ah, Severus I was about to ask for you do you mind if we spoke?" asked Dumbledore his twinkle noticeably absent.
"Come in" said Severus jerkily as he opened the door wider. He knew Dumbledore wouldn't leave him alone until he got what he wanted. It was a shame Severus no longer cared about what he wanted. Lily, James and Dumbledore would regret ever abandoning Harry, and he was going to ensure they never hurt or used him. He didn't think he would love any children he may have more than he loved Harry or Draco.
Severus led Dumbledore to a study, before sitting down in a spot that would keep Dumbledore in line of his vision the entire time. He didn't trust Dumbledore and never would, and he would be damned if he let Dumbledore pull anything on him or those he cared about.
Dumbledore cast a silencing spell not even disturbed by the fact Severus had pulled his own wand out in seconds.
"How long have you known Harry my boy?" asked Dumbledore kindly.
"Long enough" said Severus being purposefully vague.
"Why didn't you come back? How did you end up here? Were you caught as spy?" asked Dumbledore hiding his irritation at Severus' vague answers.
"Sirius asked me to come, I didn't get caught as spy but no doubt it's been deduced now." said Severus smoothly.
"And you just went?" asked Dumbledore sceptically he knew how badly Sirius and Severus hated one another it ran too deep to ever disappear.
"I didn't have a choice" said Severus bluntly, after all he had been forcefully Portkey'd something he would have done if the situation had been reversed. Not that before then he would have ever gone to Sirius bloody Black.
"Why didn't you bring Harry back, you know how important he is" said Dumbledore looking over at Severus in disappointment.
"After what you let Eric Potter become I wasn't going to allow another child to think he was better than everyone else. I told you what you were doing was going to come back and bite you in the arse" said Severus bluntly.
"So you are doing this as punishment?" asked Dumbledore relaxing marginally thinking he might be able to convince Severus.
"Not really, but after what happened to Draco I wasn't going to sit back and watch" said Severus harshly.
"He is needed Severus you have to bring him back" said Dumbledore soothingly, "Eric has changed too, after how the press was with him"
"I have no doubt he has," smirked Severus in grim satisfaction.
"Doesn't he want to learn magic?" asked Dumbledore desperately.
"What makes you think he's magical?" asked Severus smirking in amusement his black eyes almost twinkling in a way familiar to Dumbledore's usually was.
"Isn't he?" asked Dumbledore taken aback and quite rightfully and worrisome too.
"Not that I can see" said Severus lying through his teeth.
Dumbledore looked ready to have a heart attack on him, well it was no more than he deserved. Trying to uproot a child, who was unused to the magical world to defeat a mad man.
"Severus…please do not lie" whispered Dumbledore wide eyed.
"Does it really matter at the end of the day he doesn't want to go back to England or know his parents" asked Severus shaking his head in defeat.
"Do you want to see Voldemort controlling England?" cried Dumbledore frustrated.
"It's not my problem anymore, I did my part for the war more than anyone else did for certain find another spy I'm through" sneered Severus.
"The vow!" gasped Dumbledore grasping at straws.
"Is getting fulfilled I am keeping the prophecy child safe" smirked Severus in satisfaction he had found a way around the vow a few days after getting there.
Dumbledore looked stunned; Severus had worked around the vow and was doing what he wanted. He couldn't believe it; he must have looked very stupid, his jaw on the floor a stunned look splashed across his features. Damn it why hadn't he worded it differently, his spy wasn't his anymore and it made him furious worse still there was nothing he could do.
"Why are you doing this Severus?" asked Dumbledore looking his one hundred and sixty years old.
"I'm not Harry doesn't want any part in this war and I'm going to support him" said Severus "He's a child, he wont be getting trained even if you somehow wanted to Edward Cullen wouldn't allow it. He's a very possessive vampire and would kill you as soon as look at you if anything endangered his mate before he can turn him"
"Turn him? He…he plans on turning him?" asked Dumbledore, everything was going belly up and he wasn't sure what to do. He didn't know what to do with the information he was receiving and he needed to get out of there before he did something he truly regretted.
"Indeed" said Severus, arching his eyebrow, it was his mate of course he planned on turning him. That's what mates were made for, to turn and have with you for all eternity.
"I must get going" whispered Dumbledore, quickly dismantling the wards and walking out of the room. He sighed when he saw Harry and Edward sitting on the sofa watching a film. He also saw Edward Cullen snarling at him, he chilled him to the bone and he didn't care easily it was just the affect vampires had on someone. Walking out of the house he apparated once he was at the edge of the wards back into the hotel room. Visions of his world danced before his eyes, Voldemort winning without a prophecy child...everything decending to darkness.
"Lily has found a small four bedroom house five minutes from Black manor" said James later on that night.
"Is there enough to cover it?" asked Dumbledore. They didn't have to worry about buying anything; the beauty of magic is they could conjure things. They didn't last forever unfortunately so most people preferred just buying things. They hopefully wouldn't be there long enough for the magic to wear of the transfigured objects much.
"There is she has the money now and is going to pay for it" said James "Apparently the house is empty and has been for years. Someone called James Mason had lived and died there the grandson already has somewhere to live and just wants the money he could inherit from it" the trouble with small town everyone knew everyone and they knew they had to be careful about using magic.
The Potter's had no idea he had visited Black manor yet, he had no intention of telling them. Apart from answering or asking questions he didn't say anything or do anything. His mind was running overdrive on what to do, he didn't know what Severus had said was a lie or the truth. Severus had always been good at Occlumency and Legillemency which wasn't a good thing right now.
"Can I at least go to Ron's for my birthday?" asked Eric exasperated bringing Dumbledore out of his musing. He snarled silently and walked into his disgusting little room he inhabited at the moment.
"No Eric the American Ministry wont let you back in" said James for the fifth time.
"What if I floo from Sirius'?" whined Eric.
"Too long to floo" snapped James he was worried about money and he couldn't stand Eric's whining. He was nearly seventeen years old and he was moaning like an eleven year old. He didn't realize it but he had been just the same with his parents at the age of seventeen.
"How about if I fly?" shouted Eric angrily.
"You aren't going anywhere and that's bloody final go to your room!" hissed James.
Eric stood stunned in front of his father, grunting in frustration he stomped to his room and slammed the door. He hadn't been denied like this before and he hated it, damn it why did his brother have to be the boy who lived. He would still be getting his way if he was still the boy who lived. He wondered silently if his mother and father would give in and let him go surely they would after all they loved him and hated seeing him unhappy. He would have to make sure he always looked miserable and maybe he would get to see Ron for a few hours.
Will things just get worse for Eric Potter? who will catch Harry by himself first even if its just for a few minutes? will it be when the cullens are hunting? will harry still get a warning alice seeing it and edward teling him? will edward go right home or will harry talk him into staying and finishing up? will there be a portkey? or will severus have given him one? also a pendant that will stop forced apparation and portkeys working on him? will dumbledore use a spell on harry to see if hes magical so he can have some piece of mind or will i make dumbledore worry just a little longer on the state the world wll get into. R&R please oh yeah will i have horcrux's in this story or not?