Hey, what's up everyone. This chapter is definitely not picking up where the last one left off. I hope you've enjoyed the story thus far. Thank you the support and now without further ado, on with the story!
How It Should've Been
Chapter 3: Back Home
15 Years Later (August 1996)
"Remind me why we're back in Britain again?" Alex questioned as they walked through the airport.
"Remind me why you took a plane again?" Sirius snapped.
"Enough you two! I don't care that you fought, you've been at each other's throats for days! That's enough, it's dumb to begin with." Harry blurted out finally having enough of having to hear them fight every time they within five feet of the other. He had been stuck in the middle during the flight and was stuck in the middle now.
"You don't even know what we're fighting about!" Sirius stammered from Harry's left.
"Seriously? How the hell would I not know what you're arguing about? You've been practically screaming at each other for days not to mention the fact that you also almost destroyed the house! I'm sure half the plane knew what you were arguing about." Harry retorted dryly.
"We're not that bad!" Alex protested. Harry stopped causing the other two to stop and look at him.
"Honestly, Dad you're what 37? And Alex, you're...? Actually, how old are you?" Harry stopped what he was saying to ask.
"Um." Alex paused trying to think about it.
"Wow, you don't even know your own age." Sirius remarked. Alex sent him a glare.
"I lost track considering the fact that I've been immortal since 21. It didn't seem important." She justified.
"33!" Harry interrupted figuring it out. "Anyway, you're both in your thirties so can you please not act like your three." He finished before walking towards baggage claim, leaving the two standing there looking after him.
"He's right." Sirius said suddenly.
"Seems like he always is." She commented. They turned to look at the other.
"Truce?" Sirius offered, extending his hand.
"You better be planning to pay for my new motorcycle since you set the other one on fire." Alex warned.
"And you better plan to redo my bathroom since you completely flooded and electrified it." Sirius countered.
"Deal."
"Deal." The two shook on it and went over to baggage claim where Harry was waiting for his bag.
"To answer your question Alex. We're back because of Dumbledore and his insane law." Harry told her once they approached.
"What is it exactly again?" She questioned while Sirius moved over to a different belt to get his bag.
"Well, the law is that any Lord or Lady in the ruling Wizengamot has to be in Britain for the Summer Wizengamot to retain their titles. It's idiotic and is just an attempt to throw Dad out of his rightful power."
"Remember his reaction when he got the owl?" Alex recalled.
A Month Earlier
Sirius was in the main office when a Gringotts bird from the Britain branch landed on the sill. Alex and Harry were in the training room, practicing. They were sparring with dual Dao swords, exchanging strike for strike. Alex defended a strike and retaliated when the shout rang threw the house.
"WHAT THE F*CK?!" Sirius's shouted, clearly angry. His shout caused the two to glance at each other before dropping the swords and sprinting out of the room, and up the stairs to Sirius's study. Taking the steps two at a time, they made short work of the distance and entered the office barely thirty seconds later.
"What happened?" They asked in unison when they throw the door open. They heard a glass smash, looking to the left of the room they saw shattered glass on the ground from a thrown shot glass. Whatever happened had Sirius pissed off.
"Look at this." He cried outraged, extending his hand with a paper in it. Stepping forward, Alex took the letter and began reading it with Harry reading over her shoulder.
Lord Black,
We find need to inform you of a new development pertaining to your lordship of house Black. As per a recently passed Wizards law, on each year, Lords and Lady's must be in attendance of the Summer Wizengamot to retain Lordships and Ladyships. We have taken upon ourselves to inform you as your status as lord is important to all.
To ever flowing gold,
Ragnok
They finished at relatively the same time and Alex placed the letter down on Sirius's desk.
"Great, guess we're going back to Britain." Sirius said without his usual sarcasm or wit.
"Dad, we knew we'd have to sooner or later." Harry told him trying to make it seem better.
"What about you?" Sirius asked directed to Alex.
"I'll be around." She assured him.
"How could I not remember? You almost cut off my arm." Harry teased.
"It's not my fault you got scared by the shout and moved, almost impaling yourself." She defended, laughing.
"What's this I hear about impaling?" Sirius asked as he came back over with his bag. Alex and Harry shared a glance before replying in unison. "Nothing." They assured him. Harry turned just in time to grab his bag before it went to go through again.
Sirius and Harry had a suitcase each along with a duffel while Alex just had a duffel and a sling bag. Now with all of their bags, they left the Heathrow airport and entered an empty alley before Harry and Sirius apparated out and Alex disappeared in arcs of blue lightning.
The three appeared at relatively the same time in Potter Home. A home of the Potters that had been in Britain almost as long as the Potters themselves. When Sirius had received the news requiring the return of himself and Harry to Britain he was angry, he knew Dumbledore would try to get Harry back to Britain but trying to take away what was rightfully his? That was unbelievable, but here they were. Back in Britain, after fifteen years, they were back in Britain.
After arriving in the house, they did a sweep before claiming which rooms each wanted. Then the three unpacked somewhat in their rooms before returning downstairs and meeting in the kitchen which had an island that Harry sat at while Sirius stood across from him and Alex stood to the left leaning against the wall.
"Dad?" Harry started hesitantly. Sirius looked up from his notebook, expectantly. "Well since we're going to be here for a while, how about I go in Diagon Alley? You know, get the lay of the land?" Harry suggested. After fifteen years living mainly in New Zealand, Harry had lost most of his British accent and acquired a mostly New Zealand accent with only a hint of his British origins, except when he was mad. If he was mad than his British accent came through fully.
"Uh, I don't think that's such a good idea Harry." Sirius told him reluctant to actually think about it while Alex just watched the conversation.
"Come on dad. And hey, Alex will be with me." Harry persisted.
"What now? I never agreed to-." She was cut off by Harry.
"I'll even wear my necklace." Harry threw in. Sirius looked at him for a second before turning to look at Alex.
"You'll be there?" He questioned. Alex looked to Harry, where she could see him asking her to go along with it.
"Yeah, I'll keep him safe." She assured Sirius. Sirius turned back to Harry, looking at him, before sighing and nodding.
"Okay. But remember, dog tag on at all times." Sirius told him sternly. Harry nodded before going back upstairs to his claimed room to change.
"You know he can take care of himself, right?" Alex questioned once Harry left the room.
"I know but being here just gives me a bad feeling. I don't like that he has to finish growing up here." Sirius shook his head looking after Harry.
"Whoever said he had to finish growing up here?" Alex asked confused. Sirius glanced at her before removing a paper from his inside coat pocket and handing it to her. It was the Gringotts letter but there was more on it now.
Lord Black,
We find need to inform you of a new development pertaining your lordship of house Black. As per a recently passed law, on each year, Lords and Lady's must be in attendance of the Summer Wizengamot to retain Lordships and Ladyships. We have taken upon ourselves to inform you as your status as lord is important to all.
Also, as legal guardian of Harry James Potter, we find need to inform you of another law that has been recently passed. All members of Wizengamot must have NEWT levels based on that of British standards and grade. Any out of country NEWT will need to either be converted or retaken.
To ever flowing gold,
Ragnok
"Oh shit." Alex muttered after reading the new paragraph.
"Exactly. I hid it before because I didn't want him worrying." Sirius explained.
"Well that was stupid. He's the one that's going to have to go to Hogwarts even though he already graduated." Alex reminded slapping Sirius over the back of the head.
"You don't think I know that?!" Sirius exclaimed. "I have to floo Minerva."
"Wait, why can't Harry's be converted like the letter said." Alex asked quizzically.
"Because I did a little bit more digging into the law. Apparently, Brazil, Australia, America, Canada, and New Zealand NEWT scores cannot be converted." He explained.
"Well, talk about being sh*t out of luck there." Alex remarked.
"It's not about luck, it's about Dumbledore. He proposed this law and had it passed. He assumed we'd be somewhere that speaks English. He just didn't know where, and those are some of the major English speaking populations." Sirius explained.
"What year will he have to be in?"
"Sixth with the rest of his age group since that when NEWT Years start." Sirius answered.
"Why did he do this for NEWT's and not OWL's? Like why would they still transfer? That doesn't make any sense." Alex inquired.
"I have no idea why Dumbledore does the things he does. Maybe because Britain's standards for NEWT's have fallen over the last years and he doesn't want Harry to know too much? I mean, he doesn't know Harry already graduated." Sirius guessed.
"Well, either way, you have to tell him. You can't just say, 'hey we're going to the store.' Then take him to the train station and shove him through the wall and onto the train."
"Why not?" Sirius shrugged.
"Oh, maybe because he would literally kick your ass?" Alex retorted dryly.
"Fine, fine. I'll tell him. Just don't get caught today, okay?" Sirius asked, his eyes begging.
"Don't worry. You know me." She smirked before leaving the room to change clothes.
"Yeah, I do, that's exactly what I'm worried about." Sirius said quietly after she left.
"I HEARD THAT." Came a shout from the hall.
"NO, YOU DIDN'T!" Sirius shouted back.
Barely ten minutes later, Alex met with Harry in the living room, now wearing navy blue with white accents joggers, with all navy low top converse, a white shirt along with her navy-blue leather jacket. After greeting the other, Alex grabbed Harry's shoulder and both disappeared in a whirl of flames before reappearing in an alley right beside the Leaky Cauldron.
Before leaving the alleyway, Harry removed his necklace from his pocket and pulled it over his head, transforming it into a persona he had used many times throughout his lifetime, Ryder Cage. He went from emerald green striking eyes to a steel grey and his hair went from jet-black short and spiky to a light brown undercut. His grey skinny jeans, all black converse, white t-shirt and black slim bomber jacket stayed the same. After sending a nod to Alex, they left the alleyway and entered the Leaky Cauldron.
Harry having never been there, looked around and observed the people and surroundings. The pub was packed to the brim with people all milling around, people were shouting and animals were either meowing or screeching. After having enough of the environment, Harry exited the pub as quickly as possible in search of the Alley with Alex right behind him. Exiting a door of the pub, they arrived in front of a brick wall.
"Now what?" Harry asked exasperated, not thrilled with having run into a dead end. Alex's eyes roamed the wall before widening. She knew what wall this was.
"Kid, take out your wand and hold your arm up." She commanded while he sent her a dubious look. She gave him a look that screamed 'do it'. Listening to her, he removed his wand from his inside jacket pocket and extend his arm. Alex moved over to him and grabbed his arm around the forearm, before pulling him closer to the wall.
She closed her eyes and when she opened them again the irises were gold. Harry noticed it, he had seen her do it before. A few seconds later, the gold irises faded back to emerald green. Now she guided his arm to the pattern needed on the bricks to open the wall.
After she was done, she pulled him back and away from the wall as it began opening. With the wall fully open, they could see people milling around, kids running.
"Guess Sirius didn't tell you how to get in?" Alex guessed.
"Seems so. Guess he was playing to my lack of knowledge in the matter." Harry muttered as he moved forward into the alley. Alex grinned following behind him. They weren't there for any particular reason, just to look around. They made their way down the alley, chatting and looking in store windows.
"It's odd." Harry said randomly. Alex's head turned to face him as they walked down the alley.
"What is?" Alex asked curious.
"How different Britain feels, while at the same time not. Does that make any sense?" Harry asked as they turned towards a store.
"It does. Even though you've never been here you feel a connection to your heritage. No matter how much you love home or how different Britain is. You still feel a connection here however small." She said before pausing as they pushed through the people to get closer to the shop. "It was the same with me and New York, you know?" She said causing Harry to turn around and face her while he was standing on the steps into the shop.
"Really?" Harry asked skeptically.
"Yeah, I just felt at ho-." Alex started only to be cut off.
"Excuse me." Came a voice from behind Harry, causing them both to turn around and look to the door. A girl about Harry's age with blond and silvery blue grey eyes was standing there waiting for them to move so she could get through. Once Harry turned, he looked at the girl and wound up looking her in the eye. A flash of electricity went through her eyes when their eyes met. Alex hadn't seen it as she wasn't looking but Harry had and upon seeing it, took off down the alley, running back towards the entrance.
Alex, shocked by the movement looked after him, before her head whipped to face the girl. Looking in her eyes similar to Harry, she saw an arc of electricity in the girls eyes. Coming to the same conclusion Harry had, Alex took off after Harry, making her way through the people and trying to get to the entrance of the alley.
What neither of them realized was that both of their eyes had also changed. Harry's had wisps of fire appear for a few seconds while Alex's eyes glowed emerald green for a split second. The girl was also shocked and she ran down the steps and went after them. All three of them had understood what it meant. They were all running around people, pushing through groups, all to get out of the alley.
Harry reached the exit first and he ran through the still open bricks, with Alex hot on his heels and the girl right on hers. After clearing the alley, they ran through the pub and out of it. Turning left, they rushed into the alleyway that they arrived in and was Harry in the lead stopped as he waited for Alex. Seconds later, she ran in to the alleyway and continued running, putting a hand on Harry's shoulder, wisps of lightning arced around them as they disappeared. The girl, was right on Alex's heels when she turned the corner. So, when Alex reached Harry, it gave her enough time to dive into them just before they vanished going along with them.
The three vanished, in arcs of blue electricity.
So sorry to leave it there but I need to put a cliffhanger in every now and then. Anyway, as always, hope you enjoyed. Happy reading! -DS
