7/20/15 Edits by dianemalfoy

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Serpens was concerned when he saw Harry's eyes were red ringed and he looked like he was a bit lost. It took the older man a bit to get what happened out of him. But once Harry began speaking he not only told of that day, but partly unburdened his soul. He half sobbing, spoke of how unhappy and unwanted he had been with the Dursleys and how he had never had anyone to trust or talk to and he expressed his fears about becoming a dark lord since he and Voldemort seemed to have a lot in common. He even told Serpens about feeling frightened he would do something wrong with Nott.

Serpens held him tight till the young man cried himself out. He was sure Harry hadn't meant to reveal so much, but he was glad Harry had. Serpens knew empty platitudes would likely make the boy feel patronized, so he said nothing, just holding and petting him till he cried himself to sleep. He would do his best to help his great nephew and being a shoulder to lean on was the least he was prepared to offer.

Once Harry was asleep in his arms, Serpens carried him to his room and tucked him in. Kissing the boys forehead, he left him be.

A few hours later there was a sweet voice telling Harry to wake up. He groaned and turned away. The voice chuckled. "Come on sleepy head it's dinner time." the woman kissed his forehead. Harry scrunched it up in response. He blinked his eyes open and yawned. He looked at Lydia who was sitting on the bed looking down at him amused. "There you are bright eyes. Come on it's time to eat."

"Lydia?" He looked around "Where am I?" He was confused seeing the huge room with sea green walls, dark redwood furniture, with blue, green and cream accents.

She laughed again. "Yes I'm Lydia. Its dinner time and this is your new room here at the palace. It was originally meant to be your mother's room once she grew out of the nursery. But she was lost before then." She looked sad for a moment but then smiled at him. "Come on lazy bones, get moving."

"I am up." He half pouted.

"Just put these on." Handing him some slippers since Serpens had removed his shoes. He did so then followed her down. She pointed out things as they went. "These are Serpen's rooms. Down that hall," She pointed to the other side of the staircase. "Are where my, Sammy, and Alex's rooms are." The stairs were beautiful, twin cases that curled around the entrance hall that Harry saw earlier but didn't pay much attention to. "This is where we greet guests. The ballroom is through the double doors under the stairs. That's where your public party will be held." Going around and behind the left stairs. "This is the family side. Only friends and family are allowed down here and when there are lots of guests, special wards are activated so that they cannot access our private areas. The other side contains the formal dining room, all our offices, the tea room and many others for entertaining and even housing guests. Over here are the kitchen, informal dining room, and access to the basement. In the basement, along with the pantry and other storage areas, is the dueling area and potions lab. The music room and the first floor of the library are back up on the second floor. The third floor is mostly library and greenhouses. Well here we are."

"Wow I didn't realize how huge this place was." The informal dining room was plain but only in comparison to the rest of the richly decorated house. There were several portraits around the room and a table just big enough to seat 8 was nearly all the furniture. When Harry and Lydia entered there were already 6 people seated. 4 he met earlier, the other 2 he didn't know. One was a man that looked about his parents' age with dark blonde hair and blue eyes. The other was older, about McGonagall's age with steel gray hair that was thinning on the top and ice blue eyes.

Serpens stood up. "Sorry I didn't tell you before. You were... out of sorts. This is Lord Raoul Delacour." He introduced the younger man. "And this is Lord Javiar De'vale"

Lord De'vale stood and came over the Harry. "I am so sorry to hear the fate of the beautiful Niam. I had always hoped she was alive and well somewhere. But it is good to see you pequeño." He put his hand on Harry's shoulder in comfort. He had a Spanish accent.

"'Aviar is correct petit. Ze Perciville are like family. We are très heureux you are well. But very sad you were not raized as you should hav been." Raoul said in a heavy French accent.

Harry blushed at the concern and attention. "I... I saw that there were contracts between our families but I must confess I don't know much about the magical world or being a Lord."

Lydia chuckled and Sammy giggled. The men at the table all smiled at him. "Don't worry child, there is plenty of time to learn. For now sit and let's have dinner. Raoul can explain while we eat." Lydia told him moving them both to the two empty seats. Alexander was on one side on Harry and Sammy on the other.

Once the soup was served, Raoul began. "In ze 1200's my family was persecuted in Italy. Many were captured or killed in witch hunts. Ze Percivilles, zay saved us and took us 'ere to Greece. In payment we pledge our loyalty. Zo long az we remain loyal jor family will continue to shelter us."

The others were nodding in agreement. Once the soup was cleared and a lovely roasted pheasant served Javiar spoke. "My family were servants of the High Lord Slytherin, long before we became noble. When the monarchy, then the Slytherin family fell in the 1500's, we pledged ourselves to the Perciville's. They had always been the right hand of Slytherin."

"In other words dear cousin. The Lord Perciville, a 12 year old boy, can boss around the French Minister of Magic and the Head of the Spanish DMLE." Sammy said with a smile the others chuckled.

"Yes and no Samantha." Serpens said with a small frown. "While they are both your subjects we do not and will not use our allies in that manner."

"I would never. I'm not some crazy Dark Lord. No matter what the students say." Harry said hurt and offended his family could think that.

"We know that darling. Serpens was aiming that at you but rebuking Sammy for her uncouth words." Lydia said taking his hand. "In a public setting that statement could have been disastrous but here were are friends and family. We all understand it was a joke."

"She is correct Harricius. I'm sorry if I made you upset." Serpens told him. "And don't worry. We will all teach you what you need to know. If not by the ball then by the start of school."

"Yes ze party. My Mira wishes to assist. And the girls will be so excited. Do you have a date? My Fleur would gladly accompany you and it would not make any political waves. Or if you prefer you could take my nephew Cassinder." Raoul told Harry.

"You could take my Jose. He is a very cute submissive. Angelina would also love to help but she is heavily pregnant with her second." Javier added.

"Oh yes I will be contacting Mira, Angelina and I were planning on asking Fleur if she wanted to help as well. There's so much to do." Lydia told the men. "There are 379, Lords and their families from Britain, Greece, France and Spain. With an additional 250 in political invites. So around 630 people total."

"That... That's a lot of people. I don't know. I don't want to make a fool of myself. What if I do something stupid or freakish? What if they all hate me?" Harry asked distressed at the thought of being the center of attention in such a large crowd.

"Quiet now child." Adrian said from the other side of his wife and daughter. "We will teach you all you need to know. And you should know by now that no matter what you do there are those that will hate you, just as there are those who will worship you. But there are very few that will really know you. Those are the ones who matter."

"Adrian is right. What will it matter if you change to appease the masses and lose yourself?" Serpens asked. "It is far better to be hated doing what you feel is right than loved being someone else's puppet."

Harry looked at him for a moment, then nodded.

"Harry. There are those who will envy and try to trick you either because you are the Boy-Who-Lived, or because of your fortune and Lordships. But we will help you because we are your family." Lydia told him reaching over Sammy to take his hand. "Now let's retire to the sitting room and we can discuss the people you want to invite to your private party so far."

Once they were all seated in the same room Harry had met Serpens in, said man spoke. ""Now who was it you wanted to invite?"

"You mentioned Goblins and minotaurs." Lydia said with a smile.

"Yes. Yesterday... Wow, was it really just yesterday? ... Anyways. Yesterday the goblin's asked me to be their friends."

"What?!" everyone asked at the same time.

"How did you do zat petite? Ze goblins barely tolerate us." Raoul asked

Harry shrugged. "I was just nice and they asked to be friends. I get the impression most witches and wizards suck. They are rude and think they're better than anyone else. But the Vanor told me several magical races have been practicing magic since before humans discovered fire." There were a few blushes from the men and Lydia was beaming at him. "So I thought I would invite Griphook, who's a friend, Trilok also a friend, maybe my healer Ironfang, and King Ragnarok. Thelose and Vanor are Minotaurs that guard one of my vaults. Hagrid who was my first magical friend. Neville Longbottom, and Hermione Granger a muggle born. Neville is the one I'm going to stay with for a week or 2."

Lydia smiled. "I'm glad you are so open minded and accepting. I'm also sure Madame Longbottom can begin your training. She is a Noble Lady and is from a Noble family. You should call your friend a non-magical born. Muggle born is little better than mudblood here on the continent."

Harry nodded. "I'll ask her while I'm there. I will also have some goblin tutors while I'm at the Longbottom's. I also want to invite the Weasley family. I'm friends with Ron and the Twins. But they are poor and Ron gets jealous..." He trailed off looking away.

"Invite them." Serpens said looking Harry in the eyes. "If they are rude and jealous then they are not true friends. A true friend will understand and not judge you or think ill of you because of what you have. Look at Javier and Raoul." He gestured to the 2 men. "They sit here our friends, trusted with our secrets, even though they both know our family is much more wealthy and powerful than their own." Both men nodded in agreement.

Harry looked down. "I understand. Oh... I want to invite Remus Lupin if I can. He was friends with my parents. And all of your families as well." Harry added looking at Raoul and Javier.

"That's 9 plus how many Weasley's?"

"9. 7 children and 2 parents. 3 of them have graduated. Charlie is a Dragon handler in Romania and Bill is... I forget but he works in Egypt, the family are is visiting him this summer." Harry rattled off. "And I want to invite Hermione's parents, they are non-magical but they deserve to see and learn about the world their daughter is part of."

Lydia just nodded noting down the name on a small pad she had conjured. "Your friend Neville, his Grandmother and the Nott family will be at the ball as well."

"Along with the Malfoy's." Sammy added with a sneer.

Harry chuckled. "I can't wait. Dobby told me Draco tried to take the Black Lordship. Wait till he and his dear old dad see I'm the true heir." Harry told her with an evil smile

"Oh that's going to be great. I'll have to ask one of the house elves to record it." Both laughed at the thought of their faces.

"Now." Lydia interrupted. "Let's work on your schedule." She pulled out a calendar "Today is the 12th. Tomorrow you're meeting with Nott and going to Longbottom's. Don't forget to invite them and the Nott's to the ball. We will send out invitations but it's only polite. Why don't you come home on the 24th, that's 11 days with your friend? You can even invite him to stay with us if you like.

Your private party will be on the 31st. That night you'll have your change. The ball on the 7th of August. That gives you time to get to know Nott, the Dubear you choose and to learn what you need to know. If you want we can even plan for you to spend a few days with the De'vale and Delacour families."

"Yes, come over on the 10th, the girlz will be back from zer granmama's and you will be rested from ze ball." Raoul said and Harry nodded in agreement.

"We are going on a cruise on the 8th and will not return till the 20th. So you can come over on the 23rd." Javier added.

"Then you will have your whole last week to just relax with your awesome cuz." Sammy said throwing her arm around the smaller boy.

Harry smiled. It would be a busy summer but he was happy. The family sat and talked about politics for nearly an hour before they all headed home or to bed.

Tomorrow was going to be a very busy day... and that was if all goes according to plan.

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AN: Sorry for bad french accent.

Pequeño- Spanish for little boy.

très heureux- French for very glad

Harry and Theo meet next chapter and things don't go according to plan. :)