Disclaimer: No way I am that creative. Queen Rowling for the win!
"Look, I did not have an easy life. I never had an easy life. It's just way the way it is. I plan on having a good life now. I would tell you everything honestly, but promise me that none of you will fret about me. It's all in the past. We can't change time, or I would have made sure that you are all alive but I can't so we will talk about it but we won't worry about it. Do you swear?"
"But-"
"No buts, grandma. Or I won't say anything about anything."
Dorea Potter glared at Harry as he smirked. "There is the Potter cockiness. I don't know what Leonis was talking about." His grandfather said chuckling. "Fine Harry, we won't fret about anything. We are dead as it is. What can we do anyhow?" Harry grinned at his grandfather. He looked at his grandmother who huffed but agreed; his father nodded, so did Sirius but Lily looked torn. "Mum-"
"Don't Harry, it's just difficult for me. You are my baby! I was supposed to protect you-"
"And you did protect me mum. You died so I can live but no one guaranteed an easy life. You did everything you could mum. But my destiny took me elsewhere. And it's all gone now. It's been like this for two months. We are rebuilding our world; we are looking forward to peace and happiness. Something all of you fought for. Please mum, don't blame yourself or worry about failing me. You never failed me; you can't do that now either."
James put his arm around Lily's shoulder comforting her. She looked at Harry, shook her head and nodded, giving him a small smile. Harry grinned "So what do you want to know?"
"Is the famous Harry Potter dating someone or is he enjoying his fame by obliging several fans?" Sirius quipped to ease the tension. Harry blushed, ducking his head to avoid eye contact. "OH MY GOD!" Sirius shrieked "Prongsie, your son is dating someone. Look at him all grown up" Sirius said, wiping fake tears from his eyes. Harry rolled his eyes but smirked, his dad and granddad grinned at him while his mum and grandma looked positively pleased.
"Oh! Who is she?" Lily asked clapping her hands and jumping up. "What does she look like? Does she make you happy Harry? How did you meet her? When did you fall in love with her? How old is she? Tell me everything about her. My son, all grown up. Oh! This is so exciting!" Dorea Potter nodded vigorously to everything Lily said, looking very pleased.
"Mum!" Harry said blushing and grinning "Slow down. I will start with her name and then tell you all about her is that okay?" Lily and Dorea nodded eagerly. James, Sirius and Charlus looked amused and Harry laughed. Just then the clock struck three and he jumped, seriously, the clock tower was a little freaky. Before he could say anything, a loud crack told him that Sneezy was there with his tea. Harry got up and turned when several loud cracks echoed in the study at the same time. Harry now was not facing one but seven house elves and all of them were looking at him happily.
An elf wearing a pastel yellow shirt, shorts and socks stepped up. His shirt had a gold P emblazoned on the left side too, in fact all the house elves had a golden P on the left side of their shirts. The elf in yellow with black tennis ball like eyes and upturned nose bowed low and introduced himself as "Doc", the head house elf. He then went on to introduce the others, the elf with bright blue eyes, long nose and dressed in pastel green skirt, blouse and socks was "Dopey". The one with black eyes, upturned nose and wearing red shorts, shirt and socks was "Bashful", the one with brown eyes, button nose and dressed in pink skirt, blouse and socks was "Sleepy"; Sneezy stood next to Sleepy and waved merrily at Harry. The next in line was Happy with black eyes, button nose and was wearing Indigo shirt, shorts and socks. Grumpy had green eyes that reminded Harry of Dobby, an upturned nose and was dressed in deep purple shorts, shirt and socks.
Harry smiled politely at all of them but he knew that all of them were free. They were all wearing colourful, proper clothes and he wondered why they would stay at an empty manor, working so hard to keep it clean and pristine. He looked at Sneezy as he asked this question but it was Doc who answered.
"We live here by choice. We have lived here by choice for generations. Artemis Potter who lived 200 years ago was a free soul and believed in the freedom of all including house elves. He freed all his house elves but knew that forcing them out of the Manor would kill them, so he gave them a choice to stay at the Manor and continue to work but not as slaves. No house elf was allowed to wear the Toga marking an elf's enslavement. They were not bound to the Potters anymore and thus could not be ordered around. He told the elves, our ancestors, that they were servants with their own minds and consciences and they were free to treat him as an equal being too. Of course, our ancestors never agreed to treating their master as equals but we are not enslaved either. If need be and a master is being stubborn, we can easily over ride a direct order and do what we feel could benefit the master.
Your ancestors Master Harry taught house elves to stand tall and free. We stay here because we love this family, the Manor is our home and we would never leave it. From what we hear Master Harry, you treat all magical creatures with great respect, we would be proud to serve you."
Harry was fascinated with this piece of history. His ancestors were badass, challenging and breaking tradition. Hermione would be so proud to meet these house elves. Sneezy meanwhile had placed his tea, treacle tart and cherry pie neatly on the desk and bowed. Doc enquired if Harry would be staying for dinner. When Harry politely declined saying that he already had plans he nodded and told Harry that should Harry ever need him all he had to do was call his name or any other elf's name and they would appear. Despite being free, the elves of the family had saved this link with their masters. One by one the elves left with a loud crack in their wake, Sneezy hugged Harry's knees, making him promise that he will visit soon and finish the tour of the manor and disapparated. Harry turned back to the portraits when he felt someone tug his sleeve; Grumpy was standing next to Harry, blushing slightly.
"If Master Harry doesn't mind" squeaked the tiny elf, almost afraid of what he was going to say, "Grumpy would like to hug Master Harry too." Harry laughed; he could hear his grandparents', parents' and Sirius' laughter. He knelt down and gave Grumpy a bear hug. The elf looked mightily pleased; bowing again he left with a loud crack. Harry walked over, served himself tea from the steaming pot, took a slice of Cherry pie and a couple of tarts on his plate and carried it to the other side of the desk. He summoned a tiny table from the window side, and placed his plate and saucer there before settling in his chair and looking up at the portraits.
AN: R& R people.
