Hey everyone,
So I got a little emotional last AN, but I also have good news to those that have been readers of me for the longest time. Preventing Trouble – a story that had a good 50 chapters and over 1000 pages – is getting a rewind. I am rereading the story, making Story notes to make sure I don't forget stuff and am correcting errors.
Now the story will be edited regarding the CR parts as they – like my other CR stories – will have the story title, chapter and page number in them, but no JK content as I want to give this story another try. I had a good two and a half of all the JK books added into the story before it was deleted and I want to try again.
Okay, look forward to that,
Venquine1990
PS. Check Chapter 01 for Challenge details
Chapter 04
Questioned Loyalties
Hermes' POV
Ditching the girl that, in so many ways, has and would have hurt the son of my father – who has also grown onto me as well over the years – into the dungeons of father's special little project, do I happily speed out of her small cell room, lock the door in a way only a child of mine could open and leave the bint where she belongs.
I then speed up my pace to get the second part of what Father asked of me for today done and move over to Athena, who – for once – is waiting near Poseidon's Home Temple as Poseidon has the magical ability to change even a single drop of water into Veritaserum, something Athena's ability will help with greatly.
The two are both waiting here and when I arrive, do I only have to say: "Father is leading his son around." For the two of them to nod, understanding that now, it's their turn to prove their loyalty to young Harrison by making sure that – unlike the four Weasleys – his other friends are still indeed loyal to him and his cause.
The two of them take a hold of me and I fuel my feet with my own special energy, speeding up my pace like a Firebolt and shooting across the American Continent, passed the Atlantic and over to Great Britain, where it takes me only a few more minutes to reach and enter Grimmauld Place, a place Harrison will never see again.
Arriving in the kitchen, where everyone bar Sirius, Molly, Ginny and Ron are still pacing and worrying over Harry's fate, do I feel highly amused at the fact that I got here before Old Dumbledore did and then Athena gathers everyone's attention by clearing her throat, making all those around us look up in shock.
"Have none of you noticed that you have members missing? Surely you may not have seen Hermes take them, but you must have seen them disappear, did you not?" The wise Woman then asks and the werewolf known as Remus Lupin – who really doesn't have much of my loyalty to him – asks: "What do you mean, Hermes took them?"
And I answer: "She means that I took them. I am Hermes. Son of Zeus and God over Travelers, Tricksters, Merchants and any and everything else the Gods created but didn't care to keep. And before any of you ask, I took them on orders of my father and by taking them, did I bring justice to both Harrison and Sirius."
"What do you mean, Justice to Sirius? Is he –?" The young Granger girl asks and I answer loftily: "Released of all charges? Yes, yes he is indeed." Shocking everyone in the room and making me realize that this was not the answer they were expecting. I shake my head and ask: "What, you thought we want him dead?"
Making the group cringe before Poseidon mutters: "It's almost as if they expect him to die." To which another cringe rings through the room before the young Granger girl says: "You – well, you can't really expect us not to. I – I mean, the Ministry's after him and You-Know-Who as well as he knows killing Sirius will hurt Harry."
"And anger Zeus, not that that half-blood knows that." I mutter at the end, shocking and confusing those around me before Poseidon steps forward and says: "What happens to Sirius is not why we are here. We are here because we have gathered evidence that the other three that were taken have been committing acts of treason.
We have them arrested, have allowed for two of them to be sentenced by the Ministry and have taken the last of them to our own home, where she will receive punishment from all of us when the time is right. In the mean time has my brother asked for us to make certain that none of you have any intentions to follow their paths."
"What do you mean by that? Why would anyone want to commit treason? Betrayal is the sole reason Harry lost his parents in the first place. Why would anyone here want to have him go through that again?" The Granger girl asks and I answer: "Because they are as greedy and selfish as Pettigrew when he committed his crime."
Shocking the girl before Athena also steps forward and says: "Harrison is a child that is under all of our protection and while an Ancient Prophesy prohibited us from making direct contact with him for the past decade and a half, has that time passed and have we all vowed to do our best in order to give him the life of a God."
And only then does it seem to click with the Granger girl who we are as she gasps in shock and whispers: "Impossible." To which I raise a playful eyebrow and ask: "Are you sure? What is the one thing we are all known for?" And when the girl answers: "Your – immortality." Do I know that she is convinced of the truth.
Athena then walks over and says: "Hermione Jeane, you have never truly accepted Ronald Billius as your friend, have you child? You always felt your hackles get raised and felt on your guard around him, am I right?" The girl nods and Athena smiles as she says: "You have good instincts, child, for he indeed was not to be trusted."
"Ron betrayed Harry?" Young William then asks in pure shock and I painfully answer: "Played him like a fiddle, sadly enough. Constantly led him down the wrong path, made him belief only what Ronald wanted him to believe, kept true loyal friends away, riled up students to go against him – the works, really."
This makes everyone look at me in shock and then one of the twins asks: "But what about mum –." And the other goes on: "And Ginny?" And Poseidon answers: "They played along. The three of them, along with your traitorous brother, have been conspiring against Harrison since his first return to Wizarding Britain."
"HOW?" William and the twins ask as one and Athena answers: "They used a Mother-Son-Daughter spell to each have some form of control over Harrison. Your mother gained illegal entrance to his Vaults, your brother got to manipulate his actions and beliefs and your sister got to make him feel as if she was his only life partner."
"Like a Love Potion?" Hermione then asks and I remember that she, along with the bint, had been told by the nasty woman how she had used Love Potions as a teen on the day they left for their third year, making me nod in agreement with her as I answer: "Like a Love Potion, indeed, only one that cannot be retraced through blood."
The girl looks shocked and devastated and then Lupin asks: "And now you're here to see if we agree with their methods?" But Athena shakes her head and says: "We're here to make certain none of you will follow them. Harrison already knows of the traitors, we are here to see if there are more he should be informed of."
The man nods and asks: "And have any of us ever given you any reason to believe so?" His eyes alone proving me that the man is silently fuming with our unspoken accusations, but then I ask: "Do the words I'm certain we will meet again very soon. Perhaps ring a bell with you, Professor?" Making sure to sneer the last word.
The man cringes and Athena says: "Those were your words on June 25th, when you left Hogwarts because Snape betrayed your secret. However, it took you a full year before you contacted him again and even then it wasn't out of your own initiative as you just volunteered to escort him here with a group of people he didn't even know."
The man cringes again, the anger and signs that proved he felt insulted now gone from his stance and he sits down before Athena turns to the rest of the group and says: "In our eyes the only ones who are clear of any suspicions are Arthur William Weasley, Sirius Orion Black and those who have yet known Harrison for more than a year."
"Even Hermione?" The twins then ask in shock and Poseidon answers: "She allowed for her trust in authority to overrule her loyalty to her friend when she believed the Firebolt Sirius gave Harrison to be cursed. If she had just taken Harrison apart and told him her fears, he would have surely handed in the broom himself."
The twins look at each other in shocked silence at this, while Hermione turns white and lowers her head before I decide to lighten this place up – as the place is dark enough by itself – and I say: "Hey, cheer up. This is only to test you out. We're not accusing, we're just wary. We just care for Harrison as much as the lot of you, is all."
This makes some smiles appear on the faces of those in the room and then Athena says: "Would Nymphadora Tonks please leave the room. She is the only one who has not known Harrison for more than a year and is therefore on our list of observing. All others will be questioned to see if our wariness is guaranteed."
The pink haired woman grumbles at this and asks: "What about Bill?" And the Female Goddess quickly answers: "William met Harrison last summer, spend a good fortnight in his presence and was present himself on the day of the Third Task." The woman grumbles and leaves the room before Athena turns back and says:
"I will now make certain that none of you can say a single lie. As some of you know am I the Goddess of Truth. However, to make matters a little more comfortable for your wizarding people, will my – partner – Lord Poseidon use his powers over the water to turn your water goblets into Veritaserum, which you may drink if desired."
This makes many of those around us look at the man with wary relief – which is quite the interesting combination to see on their mortal faces – before Hermione proves her strength as she says: "I want to go first." Making almost everyone in the room look at her with either shock, pride or a combination, which is on Athena's face.
Hermione's POV
That Ron betrayed Harry is something I kind of have been able to see coming for a while, but that it has been happening without me noticing is definitely something that makes me feel awful as a friend as I obviously thought too high of Harry's friendship with Ron, which blinded me to the truth for all these years.
Now I just want to prove to the most powerful beings in this plane of existence that Harry does indeed have a loyal friend and while the way that they constantly call him Harrison makes me wonder what else they know of their friend, do I gather my Gryffindor Courage together as I strongly tell them: "I want to go first."
And while I wonder why the others in the room look shocked at me over this, do I feel warmed by the shocked pride with which I can almost feel Athena gazing at me. The female Goddess is the first to respond to this as she nods and asks: "My powers or Poseidon's, dear?" And just that last word calms me enough to say:
"Both please, Lady Athena. I want to make certain that no one here will ever again doubt where my loyalties lie." Now all those in the room, which consists of Lupin, the twins, Bill, the gods and myself, smile at me in pride and then I see Poseidon aiming one of his hands at my goblet of water, which makes the water shine softly.
I take a gulp and feel the magic of the amazing Water God filling me, the water itself actually reaching my stomach before I can feel the magic separating from the fluid and entering my own blood stream, which in turn makes me feel the magic surging through all the parts of my body and reach out to my toes, fingers and my very brain.
I shudder softly at feeling this and then Poseidon asks: "Who is the one person you will dedicate your life's loyalty to?" And instantly do I feel the magic moving again, from my brain, my blood and my heart over to my vocal cords, where air breaths against them as I open my mouth and strongly answer the man: "Harry Potter."
Making the man smile before he turns to the rest of the group and says: "And that is all that we will do. We will allow you to either swear under Athena or drink of my water and then ask only that one question. Depending on your answer will we decide if you are worthy of joining us in our plans for Harrison's future."
And this alone, this simple yet effective method of making sure my friend will never be betrayed again makes me – while I can almost feel the effects of Poseidon's magic lessen within my bloodstream, let out a relieved and happy sigh, happy that – at last – there are truly people in power who wish to help my friend out in life.
Poseidon's POV
When the young girl answered the question could I almost feel how sensitive she was to the magic I added to her water and this makes me very intrigued with the young female sprout. A girl as Intelligent as Athena, who has Hestia's caring heart and an amazing control over Hecate's gift of Magic is truly something special.
This was something the Gods and I had long ago agreed on after Harrison had defeated the Mountain Troll and saved the young girl's life and while I have no doubt that some of her loyalty may stem for this long-passed rescue, do I still feel very proud and grateful to the girl for her unwavering loyalty to my nephew.
I then look around the table, somehow feeling relieved that there aren't that many people around here at the moment as Zeus had already deemed most of the Order up for observation, yet I know that the chore set on my and Athena's shoulders is yet to be complete, as there is one other location that we both wish to visit.
Hogwarts school. Zeus himself had not really seen the use in this, yet Athena had voiced my thoughts when she said that we should – at the least – determine who would be worthy of keeping in contact with his son and who should be considered a forgotten memory of the child's past life, making the King of Gods agree on our task.
Personally I want to question three people that I feel have a lot to make up for and part of me almost feels giddy over the idea of letting Severus Snape know that he has been bullying and tormenting the son of a God, the prospect of his reaction to this making me wish we could speed up the process of our current task at hand.
I then focus on said task and ask: "Who else wishes to drink of my water?" And while a small – immature – part of me wishes to snicker along with the Weasley twins over this question, is Lupin the next to raise his hand, my beliefs of him not that high seeing what he caused on the day before Harrison's actual birthday.
Zeus and I had indeed been watching over both young Harrison and Sirius at this time as we had both wanted to go down to their realms and unite them as a birthday gift to the child, yet we had both seen how Sirius had lost the debate against Lupin and how the man had lost hope of convincing his friend, making him fall asleep sadly.
Zeus himself had been furious at the werewolf and I hadn't been much better as I just didn't feel as if Sirius should have let this decision be based on the judgment of someone who couldn't even come true to his own words regarding the child, yet Zeus and I had agreed that the punishment for this would come after the reunion.
I then look at the man in question, knowing that – regardless of his answer – he will be coming along with us if only to be punished for his stupidity and enchant his water like I did Hermione's, making sure to add a little more power in order to fight any possible inner defenses the man may have thanks to his Lycanthropy.
The man drinks down the water and when I can feel its magic coursing through his blood, do I again speak the same question as I asked the young Granger girl: "Who is the one person you will dedicate your life's loyalty to?" And to my own personal doubt does the man answer strongly – with a hint of a growl: "Sirius Black."
And while I wonder in what sense the man could mean this answer, do I accept it nonetheless, sharing a look with Athena that makes me know the woman too will be questioning the werewolf later on as to see how this loyalty exactly runs in the eyes of this cursed man before I allow for the magic to leave the man's bloodstream.
The twins are then the next to raise their hands, beating their older brother, and the last in the room, with only a spare few seconds and I enchant both of their waters, the two turning and smashing their goblets together as they chorus: "To loyalty." Making all of us smile at them as they drink down the entire goblet in one go.
I again feel the magic activating, the twin sense giving me a slight minor headache as it seems to go through both bloodstreams at the same time and when I am certain that the magic has reached the required parts of their bodies, do I again ask: "Who is the one person you will dedicate your life's loyalty to?"
And the answers shock me as the one on the left answers: "Harry Potter." While the one on the right answers: "Harrison Black." Making silence ring through the halls and actually making the twin on the left look at his brother in sheer confusion, while my two cousins and I all silently wonder one thing: "How does he know?"
Cliffhanger? I don't think so!
George's POV
The one thing that has always set me apart from my twin brother. A secret I have only unraveled myself a few years ago, when Fred and I discovered that Sirius Black was Harry's godfather and out for his life. Something that only started making sense after I found out, this summer, that Sirius was actually an innocent man.
Never in all the years I have known of it, did I think I would reveal the secret to anyone but Harry himself and when I discovered that Sirius was innocent, did I silently decide to just leave the secret where it was, in my heart, and leave the chance of revealing the truth to the actual parent himself, Sirius Black.
Yet now, thanks to Poseidon's magic water and my younger brother's stupidity is the secret out on the table and are the two people who deserve to know that I have uncovered this secret the most not even in the room with me to hear it. To say that I – George Fabian Weasley – feel like a royal bastard would be an understatement.
Yet while I had tried to sync in the same words as my brother, had I been unable to do this and had the words Harrison Black escaped my lips instead, making even my own twin look at me in confusion before the Gods make confusion grow in my own heart as Athena asks: "How is it you know about that, young man?"
And instantly I answer in retort: "How is it that you know about that, My Lady?" And Athena is just as swift in her answer: "Harrison is my nephew, born of Zeus and Sirius and sired by them in orders of a Prophesy spoken by Phoebus Apollo exactly one century ago, that Apollo himself felt to be reborn sixteen years ago."
And while the news that my little pseudo-brother is actually the son of the King of the Gods shocks me, does another gasp draw my attention away from this news and does it make all of us – bar the Gods themselves – turn a confused eye at where the sound came from, all of us seeing a white as snow Lupin standing there.
"He told you. He tried telling you, yet you didn't believe him. the day before the child's birthday, did he not take you apart to tell you this? Did he not try and convince you with hard-proven facts?" Athena then asks the man himself and while he remains white with shock, does he nod at her constant questions nonetheless.
Personally I feel highly shocked and insulted that the man knew the same thing I did and that he did nothing but deny the truth and then Poseidon asks me: "So, how did you find out?" And while I again wish that Harrison and Sirius were in the room with me to hear this, do I allow for the magic within me to influence me as I say:
"It was in January 1994. Freddy and I were getting more and more curious as to why all the adults were sure that Sirius Black was after Harry, so we decided to each do our own Potter history research and while Fred surreptitiously questioned a few teachers and portraits, did I use a special Weasley ritual to find out more.
I used it to trace back Harry's line and mine and see where it met, but through it, did I find out that Harry's birth name was Harrison Juno Black. It shocked me and made me research who gave him this name. When I found out it was Black, did I want to confer with my brother, only for Fred to tell me about the supposed betrayal.
I decided to keep my information to myself until I knew more, yet didn't hear anything new until this summer. I did wish to let both of them know that I knew, but when I started to get to know Sirius for who he was, did I feel it wrong for me to be the one to reveal this secret as I could tell it meant so much to him.
I decided to let him be the one to reveal it and now, do I admit that I feel highly saddened by the fact that I cannot reveal this tale with the two people who deserve to hear it the most present." I then end my tale, Fred's eyes still on me and still wide with shock, while pride is now shining in the eyes and smiles of the Gods and Goddess.
"Then you will be happy to note that my brother has claimed his son and that he, Sirius and Harrison are currently at Olympus, in Zeus' own private temple, probably checking out the new rooms and tools Zeus brought and build into the temple while we waited all last year. They are home, they are together, they are safe."
And these words from Poseidon are exactly what I want to hear, what makes me feel teary eyed despite the shock that is almost tangible in the room around me and, while hoping that the Divine forces can do what even Dumbledore could not – protect my pseudo little brother – do I whisper back to the man: "Yes, I am happy indeed."
William's POV
I always knew that, at some point in their lives, the twins would find something that would set them apart, but for it to be a secret about Harry's heritage had never been on my list of possibilities. Still, I know that I am the last of the entire group here to be questioned and I quickly decide to dispel the room from its shock as I ask:
"Is it my turn yet?" Everyone looking at me and the twins and Lord Hermes letting out small smirks as they recognize my subtle little way of getting everyone out of their stupor, before Lord Poseidon sends a goblet of water – which I know he already charmed – my way. I take the goblet, raise it and take a few gulps.
Then, like with many of the spells that I have experienced and fought in my time as a Curse Breaker, do I feel my body responding to the magic of the Great Lord of the Seas, my very blood getting filled with the man's magical essence and my heart and mind, somehow, merging themselves together with only a single need.
I hear the same question as that Lord Poseidon asked Hermione, my brothers and Lupin, yet I already know I will not give out the answer they want to hear as I just don't know Harry well enough to give that answer. Therefore, do I silently hope and plead that my father has already been questioned as I loudly answer: "Arthur Weasley."
The others in the room now also look worried, but then Lord Hermes smiles and says: "Good answer." Making Lupin look at him as he says: "Arthur has already been tested. Not on grounds of the water test, but different. He was tested, by being present when my father spoke of the crimes committed by your family.
When he chose to support and stand by Harry, without even uttering a single word in their defense, were we certain that he was a good man at heart and that father had been right when he said that Arthur was the only Weasley worth being in our presence. When he was there he did not defend them, he only asked for their crimes."
These words relieve me of the worry I feel in my heart and then Poseidon waves his hand, making the magic leave my frame before he says: "Your Brother Charles will be under the same Rights of Observation as the Rest of the Order. The only other Mortals who will receive this test are the teachers of Hogwarts school."
Then Athena steps forward and says: "Now for some other, more important news. The second reason we felt you were needed to be tested." Which instantly makes all of our eyes turn to her and makes me wonder how a second reason could be considered more important than a first as I take a seat alongside my twin brothers.
Athena's POV
I know I confused some of the mortals around me, yet I feel that I can rightfully stand behind what I said. As the school is something I have been wanting for my own Demigod Children for the longest of ages do I know that both Poseidon and Hermes understand why I find this secondary reason more valid than the first.
Still, while a Goddess of Knowledge, does my powers over the truth and Justice make it so that part of me finds both reasons of equal importance to Young Harrison, even if in the eyes of the bigger picture the number of reasons should be switched around. I then suddenly realize that I am – again – mentally rambling and say:
"As you now know, Zeus is Harrison's father, chosen by Fate through Phoebus Apollo and partner of your – recently released – convict Sirius Black. He was, also by Prophesy, forced to keep his distance from Harrison, but while he was allowed to protect and guard from a distance, was this rule to be applied for 15 years.
Those have now passed, but in the last four have father, the other Olympian Twelve and I seen Harrison go against monsters and problems that he should have been protected from were Hogwarts to ever truly live up to its name as Safest Place on Earth. Because of this, did father decide that Harrison is not to attend Hogwarts anymore."
This, obviously, shocks the entire group and Hermione asks: "But then what of the trial? Did Harry lose?" But I shake my head and Hermes answers: "Father got both him and Sirius a release. That, and Athena didn't exactly word that last sentence right. She meant that Harrison is not to attend the British Hogwarts anymore."
Everyone looks at me and my brother in shock and Poseidon says: "For the last year has father collected all kinds of trinkets and doohickeys that he believes Harrison and Sirius will enjoy while they reside on Olympus, which they will be doing quite a lot as he ordered Hephaestus to build a second Hogwarts there as well."
And with that do Poseidon, Hermes and I drop a bombshell that I just know will – if it had been possible – shock the mortality straight out of the four people currently present, making me feel almost giddy at the thought of how this news will be received by those most proud of their jobs: The Hogwarts School Faculty.
Okay, that was long!
Long, but amazing! Of course I could have done a simple little test and made them all have the same answer, but I just couldn't do that and that has several reasons. One, the twins are both meant to fall for a Demigod that has a different parentage like FredxAthena Demigod and GeorgexDemeter Demigod.
Two, Hermione is supposed to be the one friend Harry will come to rely on as he helps her accept the life of the Divine and she helps him accept the life of a family man – from a child's point of view as Harry will naturally have some hardships when it comes to accepting that people actually care and worry for him.
As for William, while he had been around Harry a few times, is the total amount of time spent between them not even a full month, so I doubt any real bond could have been forged, even if there is the fact that the twins probably wrote Bill about Harry all the time. Bill doesn't really know Harry, so there is no real loyalty.
Okay, enjoy,
Venquine1990
