A/N: Well, I know it's been a few days, but I needed to make a couple changes to this chapter, because of some inconsistencies I found later on in the story. It should be more regular now. Also, Chapters 1 and 2 of Albus Potter and the Approaching Darkness are up, they're around half the length of the chapters in this story, and I think they will continue to be so I can update it as often as possible. I also started working on a One-Shot. I'm not sure what the name of the story is going to be yet, but it'll focus on a prank war that Teddy and Victoire had with James and Fred II in the year prior to this story.
Disclaimer: I STILL DON'T own Harry Potter, what a bummer.
Harry walked through the gates of Hogwarts, more nervous than he'd been since he had come here for his first year. This time he was also arriving alongside a pack of excited children. He stopped by the memorial on his way into the gate, placing a small bouquet of flowers into a stone vase that stood in the front. One of those flowers, it turned out, was a fake wand, charmed to look like a rose when someone tried to use it. He left this one in honor of Fred, it was a kind of tradition for him to leave one of them each time he entered the gates. I'll have to use the floo from now on. Harry thought, realizing that if he left one each day it would cost him a small fortune.
He led the children up the stairs into the castle, and to the gargoyle that guarded the Headmistress' office. "Well this is awkward, I don't know the password." Harry said, looking fairly confused. Just then, an unlikely savior appeared in the form of Draco Malfoy.
"Hello, Potter." His former nemesis said, in the same drawling voice Harry had learned to hate during his school years. Harry had gotten over his hatred of Malfoy some time ago, though, and smiled at him.
"Malfoy," Harry said, nodding. "I don't suppose you know the password. I've got some late arrivals that need sorting." He motioned to the children behind him.
"So, these are our new American visitors." Malfoy said, shifting his attention to the children. "I would introduce myself now, but you lot look like you have somewhere to be. The password is Gillyweed." He said the final word facing toward the Gargoyle, which sprung to life and moved aside, revealing the hidden staircase to the Headmistress' office.
"Thanks," Harry said, leading the children up the stairs into an office he had spent quite some time in during his years in Hogwarts. The differences between the current headmistress and Albus Dumbledore were evident in how the office was organized. Where Albus' office had been, well, slightly cluttered. The way it was set up now, Harry could clearly see that everything had its place.
"Professor Potter, you're early." Came a voice that was oddly soothing and stern at the same time. Harry turned toward the sound and got his first glimpse of Headmistress Rebecca Undercliffe. She was a shorter woman, that carried herself as though she was a giant. Harry noticed that a large puma stalked behind her as she glided down the stairs from her study. "These must be our new students, I am Professor Undercliffe, the headmistress. We'll have to get you sorted, I will return shortly with the sorting hat. Harry, I understand you require the services of Albus and Severus. They are expecting you," She motioned for Harry to follow her into the study.
As they entered the study, a chorus of voices greeted them. It seemed that all of the portraits in the room were talking at once. Over the nearly deafening sound of the portraits, Headmistress Undercliffe shouted. "That's enough!" The voices quieted and Rebecca's voice was calm once again. "Professor Potter, as you all know, requires assistance from Albus and Severus. Anything that any of you hear here today, is to be kept as a secret, even from me. Until such a time as he decides to disclose the information." The former heads of the school all murmured their assent, and the headmistress retreated back down the stairs, holding the sorting hat and closing the door behind her.
Harry looked around the study, noticing the 'sleeping' form of Headmaster Black. He turned to where he knew the latest headmasters' portraits were hanging. Albus looked more relaxed than he ever had when Harry was in school, and Severus was scowling, as always. "Young mister Potter." Snape said, even though Harry knew that Snape didn't hate him, his voice still made Harry's skin crawl. "I was told that you had need of me, what is it then?"
Harry waited a moment, hoping that Albus would take over the conversation before he had to tell his story. After it became obvious that Albus wasn't going to speak until Harry told them his story, Harry launched into his story, starting with the attack at the restaurant and ending with the thing in his home that had caused Ginny to attack him. After he finished his story, Dumbledore and Snape both looked much more concerned than interested.
Dumbledore pondered the new information for a moment, before asking "Where, if I might ask, did you come upon the dog?" Harry told him. "I believe, Harry, that you may have come to the wrong place entirely. Luna, as usual, may know more than she appears to."
Harry didn't disagree, Luna always did seem to know more than anyone gave her credit for. She had been the only one to suggest a solution to the question of the final horcrux just before the battle of Hogwarts. Harry determined that he would be making another trip to Diagon Alley soon. For the present, though, he still needed answers from the two portraits before him. "Professors, do you have any idea about why the form in my house would've taken my face?"
"Possibly just to throw you off of your game, Potter?" Snape said, "It almost worked too. If your daughter's pet hadn't jumped between you and that curse, we wouldn't be having this conversation right now. The important information from your story is that it used my voice when speaking to you."
"How is that any more important than the face?" Harry said, moderately annoyed at the lack of interest from his former headmasters.
"I believe what Severus is trying to say, is that because it used his voice we can now infer that whoever is doing all these things doesn't have all of the information. They still think that you hate him, so they used that voice to bring those emotions to the surface." Albus spoke in a voice reminiscent of the first time he had told Harry about the Horcruxes. "I believe that, whatever this creature is, it was created by the same type of magic that spawned the dementors. It would explain why the pup, Strike I think you called it, used something that looked similar to a patronus to expel it from your home. It would also explain why it used your face, and Severus' voice, both of those were meant to bring out negative emotions in you. Which, if I'm correct, is what it was feeding on."
"But then why did it use Ginny?" Harry asked, he couldn't even begin to contemplate everything that Albus Dumbledore was telling him, but he had to understand how Ginny fit into the entire situation, so that he could keep her safe.
"Isn't it obvious?" Albus said, a sad look on his face. "Because being out of control is Ginevra's largest fear. I assume that stems from her incident in the chamber during her first year at Hogwarts. One of my more spectacular failures, to be sure. A student was opening the chamber and I didn't even think to check the Gryffindors, the heir of Slytherin in Gryffindor was just too ironic. Of course, we know now that the heir was never physically at the school that year, but I digress. How has she been since the attack?" Dumbledore asked, his usual calm expression returning.
"As well as can be expected, she's asked me to teach her how to use Occlumency." Harry said, causing Snape to laugh maniacally.
"You? Teach? Occlumency? Young Ginevra will struggle to keep a first year out of her mind with your instruction, I suggest you send her here, or at least use my second portrait to help you with the instruction." Snape said, still laughing rather smugly. He motioned to a second frame with the same black backdrop as his, but with no current resident. "I can move freely between these two frames. If you put me in whichever room you plan to do the lessons in, I will be able to help you instruct her. I assume you have become a capable Legilimens. You did have more of a proficiency for that than occlumency if I recall correctly."
After several more minutes discussing Ginny's instruction, Harry agreed to bring the other frame for Snape to his office, where he and Ginny had agreed to do the lessons. She's going to love this, Harry thought, imagining the shocked look on his wife's face when she heard Snape during their first lesson made him chuckle, but the impending hex that was sure to follow that look concerned him.
He walked out of the study, after promising to keep the former headmasters informed of any new developments. He was greeted at the bottom of the stairs by five excited children. He found out shortly that the twins, Ian and Ryan, were placed in Gryffindor along with Susan. Their brother Michael was placed in Hufflepuff, alongside Payton, who was also going to be a second year. Jared, who Harry hadn't really seen as much as the others, possibly because he was shorter than Payton despite being two years older, was placed in Ravenclaw. It made sense to Harry that they were so separated, being stuck together on the run may have made them close, but they were still different people and were raised in different families.
"So, I'll go ahead and show you to your common rooms, we'll start with the Hufflepuffs. Yours is closest." Harry said, leading the way. He led them down to the ground floor of the castle, explaining anything he could along the way. They got their first look at Peeves the Poltergeist just before they reached the entrance to the Hufflepuff common room. He tried to drop a large pot of scalding hot water on them, but Harry had seen it coming and conjured a shield that shot the water back toward him. "All right, Peeves?" He asked, listening to the poltergeist curse and fly in circles above their heads, spitting water in all directions. They continued to the door into the Hufflepuff common room. "Well, go on, knock." Harry said, gesturing towards the iron knocker on the door.
Payton and Michael both moved toward the door, but as soon as their hands touched the iron, they disappeared. Harry was impressed, the old Hufflepuff common room was almost entirely unguarded. Just a simple lock to keep out the other houses. They continued to the Ravenclaw tower, where Harry offered to help Jared with the riddle, but his offer was declined. "I can figure it out," he said, determined.
Harry led his final three charges to the Gryffindor common room, where the same portrait of the fat lady hung covering the passage. Upon seeing Harry, the woman in the portrait beamed, "Harry Potter? How good it is to see you again. Come to visit young Albus, or to scold James?"
"Neither, ma'am, just came to drop off three newbies." Harry said, returning the smile. "We don't have the password, though. Do you think you could let them in just this once?"
She looked at Harry for quite a while before saying, "I can't, security at the school has been top priority since, well, you know. You." Harry understood, and was about to call for James with a patronus when Neville appeared around the corner, carrying a potted plant that looked strangely like a person.
"All right, Harry?" He said, nearly dropping the plant as he almost ran over Susan, who had been blocked from his sight by the plant in his hand. Before Harry could respond, Ian shot a question toward Neville.
"What's that?" He said, Harry couldn't blame him, the plant had far too many human characteristics.
"Well, that's the thing, I have no clue." Neville said, "just found it in the greenhouses this morning. It doesn't move, whatever it is." He said, poking it with his wand to prove the point. "I'm bringing it to my office to decide whether to send it to an expert, or try to figure it out myself. What're you four doing outside of the common room? Not just visiting the paintings I'm sure." He said pointing to the fat lady, who was currently attempting to juggle fruit, much to the delight of Susan.
"We don't have the password, these three are your new Gryffindors." Harry responded. Neville lit up.
"Well why didn't you say so?" He nearly shouted. "I'm professor Longbottom, head of Gryffindor house. The password's Prince of Persia" He said, before noticing the confused looks on all of their faces and adding, "It's a muggle video game. I got a little bored over the holidays."
Even as he was explaining it, the picture frame swung open, revealing a sight that brought back a flood of memories for Harry. The common room was almost exactly the same as it had been during his Hogwarts years. He ushered the children in, and followed them through the passage. He noted that getting through the hole was much easier when he was younger. He looked around the room and after a moment, found what he was looking for. Albus and Rose were sitting on one of the small couches, each with a book in their lap, waving their wands at it. Harry was just about to walk over to them, when he heard the voice of his oldest son groan, "Oh no, they must have sent an owl home already."
Harry turned to see James' head on the table, with Fred laughing in the chair beside him. This could be fun, Harry thought, putting on his best angry expression. "Yes, and your mum sent me here to tell you off! What were you thinking? No, don't answer that, I already know the answer! You weren't thinking! How could you, you're lucky we let you stay another minute at this school after what you did!" He made it nearly to the last word before the façade broke and he started laughing, James looked utterly confused at the change of expressions. "No, the school hasn't contacted us about you yet, and I assume they won't need to now that I'm working here." The revelation brought a gasp from all of the Weasley children and his two sons.
They all spoke at once, so before they could calm down, Harry raised his arm commanding attention. "I won't get in the way of any of your mischief, Merlin knows I got into plenty myself. Just make sure nobody gets hurt, or you'll have to deal with your grandmother."
Victoire spoke next, "Are you teaching?" She asked, Harry nodded.
"I'll be taking over fifth, sixth, and seventh years' Defense against the Dark Arts classes. So be ready for a bit more work." Harry laughed, "These are your new housemates. Ian and Ryan will be joining the sixth years, and Susan here will be joining as a fourth year. They're from the United States and they've been out of school for most of the last year, so help them catch up on how things go around here as best you can." Harry said, to all the children in his extended family. "Now, then, I should probably go set up my office and classroom before Neville gets done with his new mystery and comes looking for a drinking buddy for the night."
Harry left the room, nearly bumping his head on the edge of the portrait hole. He probably wouldn't be making many more trips into the common room if he could help it. Getting a concussion wasn't high on his list of things to do this year. As he walked into the classroom he had been assigned, he noticed two things. One, that someone had already set most of the equipment for him, and two, Ginny's patronus was galloping toward him from the far end. He was startled for a moment, but regained himself when Ginny's voice spoke from the horse's mouth. "Get Home, Something's Happened." The horse shimmered and disappeared, its message delivered.