Hey, Everyone! This chapter opens at Potter Manor, the ancestral home of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Family of Potter. The bulk of my version of Potter Manor/Estate and the characters of Victor and Emily are taken from "Harry Potter and the Curse's Cure" written by Dragon-Raptor(seriously, it is a "must-read"!). The groundskeeper will be familiar to anyone who has seen the 2003 movie "Van Helsing" starring Hugh Jackman.
Duncan and Margaret will both have words with Dumbledore at a meeting of the OotP this chapter as well. The old man has some 'splainin' ta do, as they say! And he better have good answers, because he needs Duncan's help! Enjoy!
Chapter 5: Welcome Home, Lord Potter.
Harry looked with interest at the finely crafted, ancient statues of griffons that stood on the stone pedestals to which the wrought-iron main gates to the Potter Estate were hinged, as if standing guard. Their jeweled eyes seemed to glow for a moment before the gates swung open of their own accord. As Margaret drove her SUV through the gate, Harry was at first shocked when he felt the strength of the wards they passed through, but then he felt an overwhelming sense of familiarity and warmth from this place. He could practically feel the history of his ancestors connect with his magical core, welcoming the wayward son. For the first time in his life, he truly felt that he had truly come home.
"Welcome to our ancestral home, Harry", Aunt Margaret said warmly, as if reading his mind. "How does it feel?"
"It feels…..like nothing I've ever felt before", he replied with a smile. "The closest thing was when I first went to Hogwarts. But this is so much more profound than that. It's like….. like I truly belong here."
"Because you do, Harry", she said, gently squeezing his shoulder. "This has been the home of the Potter line since before the Romans occupied Britain centuries ago. This is our true home. Your true home."
As they followed the main drive through the beautiful grounds, Harry wished Duncan was with them, so he could share this feeling. But he had something important to do tonight not too far from London, so it just made more sense for him to stay and meet them at the Manor afterward.
Along the way, he saw several smaller manor-houses and cottages in different places. He saw a river flowing in from the north into a fairly large lake. He had to blink and rub his eyes for a moment to be sure he was seeing right when he saw what appeared to be a sandy, tropical beach in a cove of the lake. Since they seemed to be heading roughly toward it, it became clear to Harry that he was seeing correctly; a cove that would not look out of place in the Caribbean or Hawaiian Islands!
When Margaret turned around a heavily wooded bend, Harry's breath caught in his throat as Potter Manor came fully into view. It was huge. It was clear that it had been added to and expanded on over the ages, yet as a whole it flowed beautifully, nothing looked out-of-place.
As they drove closer, Harry could see eight figures waiting patiently near the large, ornate front door. The five small ones in front were house-elves; three males, two females. The females were dressed like housemaids, the oldest male was wearing a chef's uniform and hat, the two younger males were dressed like butlers. As the SUV pulled to a stop near them, Harry recognized one of the younger males as an excited Dobby.
Behind the elves stood a smiling couple who appeared almost painfully ordinary, if a bit attractive. His dark hair was short, straight, and as impeccably neat as his butler uniform. Her soft brown hair was pinned up in a tidy bun on the back of her head and she was wearing an apron over her maid uniform. The only odd thing about them was the almost imperceptible mint-green tint to their complexion.
Behind them and slightly to the right was a hulking brute of a man, his face hidden in the shadowed hood of his long, tattered coat. He was easily at least 7 ½ feet tall and four feet wide at the shoulders and appeared to have a brace on his right/left leg.
They all briefly bowed as the smiling Harry got out of the car. Walking beside his Aunt Margaret, he approached and stopped before them.
"Welcome home, Lord Potter", they all said at once.
"Thank you. But please", he said warmly, "you can just call me 'Harry'."
"Thank Merlin you've finally returned, Sir", the butler gushed, shaking his hand. "I am Victor, your devoted butler. This is my wife Emily, your head of housekeeping. These are your family's house elves; of course you already know Dobby, but this is Turner (the other male wearing a smaller version of Victor's butler uniform like Dobby nodded curtly with a smile.), Remmy (the chef), Blinky, and Polly. The last time we saw you was just before your parents went into hiding with you."
"We mourned their deaths", Emily sniffed, a tear rolling down her cheek. "But we were overjoyed to learn you'd survived. We had expected Lord Black to return with you and raise you here afterward. We were at a loss and nearly beside ourselves with worry when he didn't. Mr. Lupin finally came a few weeks later and told us what happened to Lord Black, and that Dumbledore had told him he had hidden you somewhere safe, but did not tell him where. It wasn't until Lord Black arrived on the back of a hippogriff that we learned what became of you. Oh, we can't tell you how happy we are that you've returned to your ancestral home!"
Harry nodded in thanks to the couple, as the large man stepped forward.
"I am your groundskeeper, Lord Pot….Harry", he said in a deep, resonate voice as he bent down to shake his hand. Harry's hand literally disappeared in the groundskeeper's huge calloused hand, but what really surprised him was the heavy scar around his wrist, as if it had once been severed and roughly re-attached. Harry stifled a gasp when he looked up into the "man's" face to see another heavily stitched scar splitting his face nearly in half, three of his teeth were copper, the same faintly mint-green tint to his pale complexion, and two different colored eyes; the right sky-blue, the left hazelnut-brown. "My name is Adam. Adam von Frankenstein."
xxXXxx
After his initial shock wore off, Harry went inside with his Aunt and the others. Then he listened to Adam's story. Mary Shelley's tale was more or less true: Dr. Victor von Frankenstein was a real person; Mary's uncle. Born a squib, he turned to science and closest related form of magick: alchemy. He did indeed experiment with life and death and electricity. He succeeded in creating life from death with his ultimate creation: Adam.
"In the months following my 'birth', I learned much from my father", Adam said, lowering the hood of his coat, exposing the globe of lightning that made up the top of his skull, his brain visible inside beneath the wildly dancing voltage. "I already knew how to read and write, so he gave me unlimited access to his library, on top of teaching me things himself. He let me read his notes on my creation. Eventually, reading was not enough for me. The castle began to feel like a prison. So one day I defied my father's orders and went outside. But the few people I met fled from me in terror, though I had harmed no one, nor wished to. Only one lone little girl I met by a stream was kind rather than afraid. But when her mother came looking for her and saw me….."
"I can imagine", Harry said kindly.
"The villagers, already suspecting my father of graverobbing, stormed the castle after I returned there", Adam continued. "They killed Igor when he tried to prevent them from entering the laboratory where Father and I had taken refuge. Father tried to reason with them after they forced their way inside. They didn't listen. They mobbed him and began to destroy everything in sight, causing a fire. I wanted to fight, to save us both….when he was stabbed in the chest with a pitchfork. With his last breath, he begged me to flee. By then, the mob had retreated to escape the fire. They assumed I died in the flames, but I escaped through a secret passage, and began to wander, to find a place where I could live in peace. Along the way, a dark wizard somehow learned of me, and coveted the secrets of Life and Death discovered by my father. I spent weeks running and hiding."
"We found him in our stable in Poland one day", Victor picked up the tale. "Tired, hungry, desperate. We fed and gave him shelter. And when he told us his story, we wanted to help him."
"We had long been friends of then-Lord Robert Bruce Potter and his wife", Emily added. "We knew he would take Adam in and treat him with kindness and respect, and that Adam would be safe on the Potter Estate. So we arranged to make the journey, hiding Adam amongst the crates of goods we brought with us."
"The trip went without incident", Victor said. "But when we were just outside the gate and wards…."
"The dark wizard attacked", Adam growled. "He struck Victor and Emily with the Killing Curse. He tried to use the Imperious Curse on me, but it had no effect. So he used the Torture Curse, trying force me to obey him. But the arrogant fool got too close to me, and I electrocuted him with my voltage. Lord Potter and several others arrived then, having been alerted by the wards. I told him my story, and of the kindness and courage of Victor and Emily. I could not just let them die for helping me, so Lord Potter helped me recreate my father's work, and we brought them back to life!"
Victor and Emily revealed the small bolts on either side of their necks.
"We were grateful, and pledged our service to the Potter Family", Victor smiled.
"All of us", Emily added, gently patting Adam on the arm.
"And I have lived a peaceful and free life here ever since as the groundskeeper", Adam smiled crookedly. "I live in a cottage at the highest point of the Estate, with a large lightning-rod to collect the voltage I need to maintain my strength. My father's diary and notes on the Secrets of Life and Death now resides safely here in the Potter Family Library."
"All three of them have looked after entire generations of Potters", Margaret told Harry. "They were here for your father and I when we were children."
"Getting under foot in the Manor", Victor grinned.
"Jumping out of closets to scare me", Emily admonished playfully.
"Ugh! Don't even get me started on all the trouble they got into on the grounds!", Adam laughed.
By now Harry and the elves were laughing hysterically, while Margaret glared at the three, softened by her smirk. "We were kids! And you told us that Dad, Grandpa, and our great-aunt were the same way!"
xxXXxx
The Dark Lord Voldemort sat in contemplation, processing the report just given to him and his inner-circle by Yaxley, their spy within the Ministry. The revelations at Potter's hearing were annoying….and troubling. The failure of the Dementors to deal with Potter had been evident when they'd failed to return. Like all such creatures, they were expendable. It was their failure, not their loss, which angered Voldemort most.
Then Lucious had convinced Fudge that finding the boy guilty and snapping his wand would be for the best. However, the unexpected appearance of this cousin from the States not only exonerated Potter, but apparently this American was powerful enough to incinerate all three Dementors! Such a thing was unheard of!
Not only that, but this "Duncan Rosenblatt" could also pose an obstacle to the recruitment of magical creatures to his army. He would have to be dealt with….. permanently. And sooner rather than later.
"Fudge was prepared to 'do the right thing' concerning Potter, my Lord", Lucious sighed. "But presented with such overwhelming evidence by this cousin of his, the Minister could do nothing."
"Yes", Voldemort hissed. "Most unexpected. I knew that James Potter had a sister that had fled to America as a child. And just like a Potter to turn up when and where they are not wanted. This 'Duncan' will have to be dealt with, sooner rather than later. I want to know everything there is to know about him, since it is obvious he intends to protect the boy. And this GFMC business could interfere with my plans. I want him removed from the board, before we free our brothers and sisters from Azkaban."
"Of course, my Lord", Yaxley and Malfoy both replied. Then the door opened, and Wormtail entered with a shady, seedy-looking man.
"Ah, Bertrum Burke", Voldemort greeted the man who knelt before him. "Rise. Have you and your partner acquired anything of interest? Items or news from Knockturn and Diagon?"
"Nothing since your last purchase from Borgin, my Lord", the Burke of 'Borgin & Burke's' replied. "But I do have troubling news. Xenophilius Lovegood interviewed Harry Potter today for that ridiculous little paper of his after telling boy that he believes him about your return. I can only assume Potter told him everything he saw that night in the graveyard."
"Lucious! You told me that Fudge had control of the press, denying my return to 'prevent panic' and destroying the public's faith in Dumbledore and the boy!"
"He has the Daily Prophet following his lead, my Lord!", Malfoy assured the angry Voldemort. "As are all the other respectable wizarding publications. The Quibbler is independent of his influence, but is little more than a joke….."
"Even if only a few believe before we are ready, it could ultimately ruin all my plans!", Voldemort snarled. "Potter can identify all of you, remember!? Do you seriously believe even your silver tongue will save you from scrutiny or arrest, my slippery friend?! We must eliminate the Lovegoods and destroy the printing press and any copies already printed; tonight! MACNAIR!"
The tall, lanky yet powerful and ugly man entered and knelt before his Dark Lord, his huge axe strapped to his back.
"You summoned me, Lord Voldemort?"
"Indeed, Walden", he replied. "I have a mission for our new ally, a chance for him to prove his worth to me. It should be no problem for one with his abilities. He is to kill Xeno Lovegood, destroy the printing-press, and burn the place to the ground."
"It will be done, my Lord", MacNair grinned his crooked, yellowing teeth. "Krugurath has been getting…..irritable in his eargerness. And penetrating any wards will be child's play for a creature like him. Lovegood won't even know he's in danger before he's already dead."
"Lovegood's daughter is a pureblood, so she is to be spared and brought here if possible", Voldemort continued. "If not, you are to arrange getting custody of her immediately, Lucious. The more pureblood lines we have in our control…."
"Of course, my Lord", Lucious grinned. "And to literally kill the story before it even sees print is brilliant. But I will be prepared convince Fudge that Potter is merely, desperately grabbing at straws, just in case."
Voldemort nodded his assent as he retook his seat and dismissed the others, who left quickly to obey his commands.
xxXXxx
In the darkening dusk, a large raven flew toward a small, tilted tower of a house. Landing behind the only available cover, a moment later a man emerged and walked to the front door. He knocked three times crisply.
"Arthur?", Xenophilius recognized his closest neighbor when he opened the door. "What are you doing here so late? Please come in."
"Thanks, Xeno", the Weasley patriarch said as he entered. "There's been a troubling development; and I couldn't risk an owl or floo-call being intercepted."
"Oh dear", Xeno breathed. "What is it?"
"One of You-Know-Who's spies saw you interviewing Harry Potter today, so you could be in danger. Have you printed the story yet?"
"It's in the press downstairs being printed into the next edition right now", Xeno told him.
Just then, Luna came down the stairs, having heard their voices. She stopped on the bottom step and gaped at the visitor; her 'true sight' showing that he was not what he seemed.
"Expecto Patronum!", she cried, her corporeal hare patronus leaped from her wand and attacked 'Arthur'! "Daddy! Run! That's not Mr. Weasley!"
"What?!", Xeno exclaimed, and looked at 'Arthur' struggling with the quick-footed patronus hare, snarling as his shape changed into something monstrous. Xeno's eyes widened in fear and realization. "OGRE!"
"RAAUUGH! YOU'RE BOTH DEAD!", it roared as Xeno grabbed Luna and ran up the stairs. Krugurath charged after them. He smashed through Luna's bedroom door just in time to see them port-key away.
The ogre howled with frustration, then remembered the other part of his mission. He made his way to the basement, and smashed the printing press to pieces. When he morphed into a raven to fly away a few minutes later, the entire structure was in flames.
xxXXxx
It was close to midnight when Duncan got back to Potter Manor, But his mother and Harry decided to wait up for him. They were watching a movie on the new 60-inch LCD 'smart' TV and BluRay player Margaret and Duncan had brought with them from the States. Harry was surprised at first when he discovered the Manor and all the other buildings on the estate were not only wired properly for electricity, but that appliances and electronics worked just fine around the abundant ambient magick of the estate. Adam had apparently been instrumental in figuring out the problem and a solution, allowing the Potters to be the first wizarding family in Britain to keep pace with the advancements of the non-magical world. They wisely sold the secret to one of the companies they'd invested in, who then became contractors specializing in upgrading wizarding homes all over the world. Sadly, most of wizarding Britain chose to ignore it.
"You two didn't have to wait up for me, ya know", Duncan grinned.
"We weren't just waiting for you, Son", Margaret smiled after hugging him. "Harry very rarely got to watch TV or see movies all those years at the Dursleys, so I thought he'd enjoy checking out our huge library of DVD's and BluRay discs."
"They're brilliant!", Harry gushed.
"You think this is great?", Duncan smirked. "I can't wait to face-off with you playing games on the consoles in my room!"
"Wicked!", Harry grinned.
"But it's getting late", Margaret reminded them, the 'bed-time' implication clear. "How did your….meeting go?"
"About as well as I expected", he shrugged. "Lord Dracula and his kingdom is choosing to remain neutral. But he also warned me about a former bride of his."
"Really?", Margaret asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Wait!", Harry gasped. "You met with the Dracula?! B-but aren't vampires….?"
"Dark creatures?", Duncan finished. "Dark or light is a matter of perception, choice, and actions, Harry. 'Night' creatures is more accurate for beings like vampires and lycans. Any of them could be either 'good' or 'evil'. Remus Lupin is proof of that. Dracula and his kind do need to drink blood to survive, but they also follow the Statute of Secrecy, so they usually feed on donated blood and the blood of animals; and they are part of the GFMC. Dracula also sits on the ruling council. He and his brides heard me out, but decided to remain neutral; as they did in the last war."
"What was that about his former bride?", Margaret asked.
"Lady Elizabeth Bathory", Duncan replied, drawing gasps from them. He filled them in on what Dracula had told him about his traitorous former first bride.
"Well, if she's as bloodthirsty as Dracula said, let's hope Voldemort doesn't make contact with her", Margaret said. "But right now, it's late. We should all hit the sack. Good night, Boys."
"Good night, Mom."
"Good night, Aunt Margaret."
xxXXxx
The Order was gathering again at the Black home. Harry exited the floo using the trick Duncan had taught him, so he managed to stay on his feet. Several others were already there, and they were waiting on others; including Dumbledore.
They were catching up with Sirius and Remus, when they heard the front door. Duncan went to greet the new arrival. He grinned when he saw it was Tonks.
"Nymie", he greeted the metamorphmagis. They met as children shortly after Harry was born. They'd become fast friends and playmates. With her abilities, Nymphadora would often make herself look like Duncan so they could prank the adults.
"Dunkie", she grinned as she walked down the hall….only to trip and fall loudly to the floor half-way there. The curtains covering the portrait there flew open, and the painting of Wahlberga Black began to screech like a banshee.
"BLOOD-TRAITORS! FILTHY HALF-BLOODS! SQUIBS AND FILTHY, INHUMAN CREATURES! GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!"
"AH SHUT-UP, YOU CRAZY OLD BAT!", Duncan roared after helping Tonks up, facing the cursing portrait. "I've had enough of you! So shut your mouth and your curtains, or else!"
"HOW DARE YOU EVEN SPEAK TO ME, YOU FILTHY BEAST! OUT! GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!"
"Mother!", Sirius admonished.
"YOU STAY OUT OF THIS, YOU DISGRACE OF AN HEIR! YOU'RE THE ONE WHO ALLOWED SUCH FILTH IN MY HOUSE!"
"I SAID SHUT UP!", Duncan roared, then extended his claws in front of her face. "Or would you rather I use these?!"
"No! You will not harm the Mistress!", Kreacher screamed, leaping at Duncan. But Duncan easily caught him and tossed him to Sirius like a rag-doll.
"Hold him, Sirius", Duncan growled, his eyes still locked on the cursing portrait. "I'd rather not hurt him, but I've had enough of this shrieking oil-stain!"
"HOW DARE YOU…..!"
"Shut up or I'll burn you out of that frame, bitch!", Duncan snarled, flames in his mouth.
The face of Wahlberga Black became a mask of fear and fell silent. In life, she'd had the singular gift of being able to sense the power and strength of anyone she met at a glance. And this half-blood boy was more than powerful enough to overwhelm the charms protecting her portrait. The curtains closed slowly over the painting.
"Thank you, Duncan", Tonks said.
"Thank you, Duncan", Sirius said in heavy gratitude. "I've been trying to shut her up ever since I discovered I couldn't remove or destroy her portrait myself. My dear mother treated me like crap ever since I befriended James and Remus when we were kids; even worse after I was sorted into Gryffindor. It's why I lived at Potter Manor for most of that time."
"No problem", Duncan smirked. "If you ever have the need, tell her that I'm just a floo-call away."
"I'll make a Marauder of you yet, Duncan!", Sirius laughed.
"What a frightening thought!", Professor McGonagal moaned from the front door, accompanied by Dumbledore. "You, James, Remus, and Peter gave me half my grey hairs during your years at Hogwarts! And the Weasley twins are gaining on you fast now. The last thing the wizarding world needs is for Harry and Duncan to join those two!"
Duncan, Sirius, Harry, the twins, and Remus all laughed; and Dumbledore hid his smile behind his hand.
"Is everyone here?", he asked.
"No, we're still waiting on several members", Duncan replied. "Including a few I haven't met yet. Which works out fine. My family and I have a few things to talk to you about, Dumbledore. Speaking of, Harry is taking part in this meeting. He and his friends are the ones in the most danger."
"Very well", the Headmaster replied and followed them to the sitting room. He could only imagine the argument they had with Molly about that! Greetings were exchanged with those present and the newly arrived professors. While they took their seats, Sirius, Margaret, Duncan and Harry came together.
"Headmaster, my family and I went to Diagon Alley to do my school shopping", Harry began. "While there, we went to Gringott's to withdraw the needed money from my trust vault. We also had my parents' will read."
"Yes, I assumed you would", Albus nodded.
Just then, the floo flared, and out stepped Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour.
"Bonjour!", she greeted cheerfully.
"Sorry if we're late", Bill said. "But the goblins needed both of us to break a series of layered curses on a suspicious chest from a confiscated vault."
"Not at all, Mr. Weasley", Dumbledore assured him. "You both already know most everyone here, but allow me to introduce our newest members. This is Margaret Rosenblatt nee Potter and her son Duncan. Margaret? Duncan? May I present the eldest of the Weasley children, Bill; and Miss Fleur Delacour, both top-level curse-breakers employed by Gringott's."
Pleasantries were exchanged, but Fleur was taken aback. Duncan's aura was wild and fiery, yet almost angelically bright and pure; the closest thing to "holy" possible for a Veela. Plus, he appeared completely unaffected by her allure! Her heart and inner Veela were instantly snared.
"Fleur Delacour?", Duncan asked as he kissed her hand. "Weren't you one of the other champions in the Tri-Wizard Tournament?"
"Oui", she blushed. "I vas indeed. I owe much to 'Arry. He not only saved me during zhe third task, but he rescued my sister in zhe second task when I failed."
"Even the wizarding papers fail to do you justice", he smiled warmly, sending a quiver through her insides. She forcibly reined in her emotions and physical reactions.
"You are too kind", she blushed.
Margaret looked at Duncan with mild surprise. Ever since Jenna had broken his heart last year, unable to deal the inherent danger involved with his heritage any longer, he'd been indifferent when it came to girls and relationships. Yet here was a glimmer of his old self. She smiled slightly and figuratively crossed her fingers. Then she and her family all turned back to Dumbledore.
"Where was I? Oh, right. The Will. So we now know that you knew all along that Sirius was innocent!", Harry almost shouted. "But you let him get thrown into Azkaban anyway! Why?!"
To say Dumbledore looked shocked would be an understatement. How could he have known that? What's going on?
"I assure you I have no idea what you mean, Harry", he said calmly. "How could I have known that? Like everyone else, I believed him guilty until near the end of your third year, when you told me."
"How can you possibly think such thing of such a great man, Harry?", Molly asked sharply.
"THIS!", Harry barked, slamming his copy of the will on the table. "Look at the top of the list of preferred guardians: "Sirius Black, Godfather per the GodfatherRitual!"
"What?!", multiple people exclaimed. If this was true, then Sirius couldn't possibly have betrayed the Potters! He would have been a corpse if he had even considered it!
"I still fail to see how I could have known this, Harry."
"Don't even try, Albus", Margaret hissed. "You witnessed the will!"
Dumbledore looked down at the signatures, and was shocked to find his name written in what appeared to be his handwriting. But something was wrong. He'd never seen, let alone signed this document.
"I assure all of you, I have never laid eyes on this Will before tonight; and I will swear an oath on my magick to that effect if you wish", he said. This seemed to make them pause, and he looked closer at 'his' signature. "Look. It was signed simply 'Albus Dumbledore'. For documents of importance, I always sign my full name."
"That's true, Harry", Minerva assured him.
Margaret looked at the voided betrothal contract, and saw Albus had signed it with his full name, lending credence to their statements, and nodded to Harry and Duncan.
"So you're saying someone impersonated you and forged your name?", Duncan growled softly.
"It would appear so."
"Well, good", Sirius said, getting surprised looks from everyone. "For a while there I thought I would have to kick your arse, Albus."
"But who could have done it?", Harry wondered. "And why?"
"We'll look into it later", Margaret said. "Now I want to know what you were thinking leaving Harry with the Dursleys?! You knew it was against James and Lily's wishes, Will or no Will! If nothing else, you knew I would have been happy to take and raise him with Duncan. You could have found us easily enough if you'd bothered trying."
Dumbledore sighed resignedly, and explained the blood wards to them; tied to Lily's sacrifice to protect Harry and how the protection would only work in a place where his mother's blood resided. This made Petunia the only option.
"I was aware of the estrangement between Lily and Petunia, and I suspected his life there would not be easy. But you can heal or recover from a rough childhood, but dead is dead; there's no coming back from that."
Margaret face-palmed. "You can't possibly tell me that Harry wouldn't have been safe with us in America, Dumbledore. Between the distance, our….. obscure address, and… other factors that I know you are aware of, Harry would have been far safer and happier with us."
"You have no idea how brutally vicious they were in their abuse, Professor", Harry said, forcing himself to remain calm. "I tried to tell you, but you just insisted that I keep going back there."
"Ron and I both begged you to let Harry live with one of us", Hermione said from the door as she entered.
"Hermione! What are you doing in here, dear?", Molly griped gently. "You should be upstairs with Ron and the other children."
"Harry told me in a letter that he would be part of tonight's meeting and invited me to join him if I wanted", the smart witch said, sitting next to Harry. Molly winced slightly seeing how close she was sitting to him.
"Neither one of you should really be in here", Molly said. "You're only children! Dealing with You-Know-Who is on us adults!"
"Oh, you be quiet!", Margaret admonished her. "You're in enough trouble as it is."
"What do you mean by that?!", Molly's legendary temper rising.
"THIS!", she slammed the betrothal contract on the table and turned to Dumbledore. "My little brother and his wife weren't even cold in their graves when you brokered a betrothal contract with her!" She pointed at Molly for emphasis, making the woman gasp, instantly deflating her anger!
"How could you both decide mine and Ginny's lives like that, before we could even talk, let alone begun to live our lives?", Harry asked accusingly.
"Molly?", Arthur looked at his wife. "Is this true?"
"Wha..? Well, yes, but it's not unheard of!", Molly got defensive. "Betrothals are quite normal in our world!"
"Is using love potions normal as well?", Sirius asked. "I read the contract, it was written to allow the use of mild love potions to 'ensure the proper feelings develop between the couple'. Duncan and I both caught you dosing their drinks; not just Harry and Ginny, but Hermione and Ron as well!"
Hermione gasped.
"And let me guess, you started dosing Hermione and Ron because you saw her as a threat to your plans", Duncan smirked when he saw how quickly Molly paled at his words.
"WHAT?!", Hermione all but screamed. "You've been giving me love potions?!"
"No! Ron fancies you, Hermione, dear", Molly said quickly. "He has for two years now!"
"More like he was her age and they were already friends, making him the perfect target to key the potions to", Duncan growled. "And being your son, it was simple for you to get his hair to use. And wasn't that also around the time that both Harry and Hermione started spending the last few weeks of summer at the Burrow?"
"MOLLY!", Arthur was angry. "How could you?!"
"I can answer that", Margaret said. "I've gone over all the Potter accounts since we arrived. As 'mother-of-the-bride', Molly was given limited access to Harry's trust vault. She used it to pay most of the Hogwarts tuition for all the Weasley children."
"You told me it was an educational trust fund set up by your parents before they died in the last war, Molly", Arthur growled.
"It was the only way, Arthur! Your salary wasn't enough for the family to live on and pay for Hogwarts", she reasoned. "It doesn't matter anyway. It will all come out in the wash when Harry marries Ginny and….."
"What makes you think I'm going to marry Ginny?", Harry countered, the mild flushing draught that Sirius had slipped him and Hermione having done it's work.
A sobbing gasp came from the doorway. Everyone looked to see Ginny turn and run back upstairs in tears, almost knocking Ron over in her haste. They had been drawn downstairs by the shouting voices. She and her mother practically had the entire wedding already planned! To hear Harry say he didn't want to marry her was devastating! He was her hero, saved her life the Chamber of Secrets. The heroic Prince then lives happily ever after with his princess. Didn't he know this was how it was supposed to work?!
"Oi! What're you thinkin', mate? Breaking my sister's heart?", Ron griped.
"I'm sorry, Ron", Harry said genuinely. "But I've really only ever seen Ginny as the little sister I never had. Besides, she never loved me; she was in love with the legend of 'The-Boy-Who-Lived'. You told me yourself, your mum practically raised her on stories about me. You know how much I hate my so-called 'fame'. I'd rather have been raised by my parents in obscurity than be hailed as a 'hero' and 'savior' for something I don't even remember that cost me my parents' lives."
"It doesn't matter", Margaret said. "The contract is voided since Duncan and I took over as Harry's guardians and magical guardians before it could be executed."
"What?", Dumbledore queried in surprise, while Molly paled even further. All her carefully laid plans were unraveling! She had been grooming Ginny for years to love Harry Potter, with both stories and mild love potions along with low-level compulsions. She had to help her daughter snare Harry inescapably before it was too late, or it would all be for nothing!
"That's right", Margaret smirked. "But the question remains, why did you even do it, Albus? They were only babies at the time."
"I felt it was important for The-Boy-Who-Lived to marry a witch from a family firmly aligned with the Light", he replied, sitting back down. "A betrothal contract with Ginny Weasley seemed the best option that presented itself."
"So by your own words, Professor, it wouldn't do for Harry to marry a muggleborn?", Hermione probed, feeling a pang of irritation….wait…what?! 'Why does that even bother me?!', she asked herself, glancing at Harry. 'I mean I don't…..Do I?'
The headmaster nodded. "Such a thing would most likely increase the divides in our world", he said. "Fomenting the very dissent that enables someone like Voldemort to rise to power in the first place."
"BULLSHIT!", Duncan snarled, shocking everyone. "Scum like him only rises to power when nobody has the guts to smack him down before he rises too far! The same with the Death Eater trash who follow him! If your Order had been more aggressive in taking them down the first time, they'd ALL be in Azkaban or six-feet-under where they belong, rather than strutting around causing more trouble now!"
The strength and power radiating off of Duncan in waves made Fleur's body throb with desire. It was all she could do not to tackle him to the ground and shag him right there! Her panties were literally soaked, and she could feel a drop of her nectar running down her smooth, shapely leg, making her rather glad she was wearing an ankle-length skirt.
An unusual scent tickled Remus' nose, that of a very aroused young female. After reining in his inner-wolf, he glanced around the room. None of the women or girls the right age appeared to be…..Fleur! She was the only one who wasn't completely absorbed in the seriousness of the current topic. She was staring at Duncan with an intensity he'd never seen outside of she-wolves in heat! And she was biting her lower-lip with the effort to control herself. Most of the older men in the Order had spent sufficient time around her to control their reaction to her allure. But Duncan had only just met her here tonight and appeared to be totally immune to it. A small, knowing smile came to his lips.
"He's right about that, Albus", Moody grated from his customary corner of the room. "We lost a lot of good witches and wizards in the last war by only using stunners and the like. The scum would just keep reviving each other and hit back with brutal lethality. That's why me and a few others, like Harry's parents, stopped being so gentle. The likes of them are beyond redemption."
"Alastor…"
"Make no mistake, Dumbledore", Duncan said firmly, cutting him off. "I will show no mercy to any wizard or creature that serves that snake-faced prick. And if I get a clear shot at him, I'll kill the bastard myself."
"Brave words from a young fool with absolutely no concept of what he's up against", an all too familiar voice sneered. Snape walked in and took his seat. "Tell me, Duncan, did you learn to be that insufferably arrogant, or did you inherit the Potter family proclivity for it?"
"Don't test me, Snape", Duncan growled chillingly. "You won't like the grade you'll have to give me. Insult my family again, and Sirius and Remus will be the least of your problems."
Severus bristled, but held his tongue. These Potters were all the same! What his beloved Lily could possibly have seen in that arrogant swine James Potter was beyond him! He could have made up for his mistake with Lils and they could've been happy together, if that damned Potter hadn't gotten in the way! Lily would still be alive! And who knows how many children they could have had together? But no, he was dead and he had to see her eyes in James Potter's face every time he looked at Harry; constant living reminder that his precious Lily had loved and married his worst enemy!
"As we are now all present, and if your concerns have been fully addressed?", Albus asked. Harry and Duncan nodded grudgingly, and Margaret simply muttered, 'For now'. "Very well. Mundungus? What have you heard?"
"Word in Knockturn Alley is that the ogre what attacked the Lovegoods and destroyed their home and printing-press did so under orders", the shady little man reported. "And….I've got a name whispered in fear: Krugurath."
"This is most troubling", Minerva said. "Ogres have been extinct in Britain, Ireland, and Europe for almost a century. So where did this one come from?"
"America", Duncan growled. "They're not very common, but they can still be found in the wilds of North America, usually ruling over all the dark creatures in their territory. One named Mulgorath tried to enslave or wipe out all the benign creatures in his forest in New England a few years ago. He had an army of minions ranging from boglins to marsh trolls at his command. In their true form, an ogre is damn near as strong as a half-giant. But what's worse is an ogre's ability to shape-shift into anyone or anything."
"Sounds like an evil, ugly version of me", Tonks grimaced.
"It's worse", Margaret said grimly. "They can even turn into animals and bypass almost any wards like an ani-magis can….except for a 'Protective Circle'; an unbroken ring of special magical toadstools. Too bad it only works on certain magical creatures."
"But why would Moldy-shorts send it to attack the Lovegoods?", Moody pondered.
"I think I know", Harry groaned, his head in his hands. "I gave Mr. Lovegood an exclusive interview about what really happened that night of the third task."
"Harry, you shouldn't blame yourself", Hermione said gently, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Voldemort and his Death Eaters are afraid. They don't want the world to know he's back yet, and they desperately don't want to be outed for what they really are. They did this, not you."
"She's right, Harry", Dumbledore agreed, echoed by everyone. "What is truly troubling is that this incident proves that not only is Voldemort already recruiting dark creatures to his cause, but he is also apparently doing so much farther afield than before. This means he could also be recruiting witches and wizards who share his ideology from outside Britain as well, bolstering his ranks of Death Eaters."
The meeting went on, discussing the Dark Lord's potential next moves and their own to counter him. Then they came to Minister Fudge and his potentially disasterous determination to deny Voldemort's return and current policy of using his influence to smear Harry and Dumbledore rather than even consider the terrifying truth. Fudge was even using an obscure by-law to force the Headmaster to take on his Undersecretary as the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.
Finally, they made plans to help the Lovegoods rebuild. Xenophilius had insisted that once the Quibbler was back in business he would print the bold-faced truth and fully support both Harry and Dumbledore.
"Duncan, may I speak to you for a moment?", Dumbledore asked as the meeting broke up.
"Ok", Duncan said with an arched eye-brow. They entered a small room that had the entire Black family-tree printed on the wall. "What do you want, Dumbledore?"
"Duncan, I understand that you and your mother have…. issues with me, and that you only joined the Order to protect Harry", he replied. "But I have serious concerns about Undersecretary Umbridge's true purpose at Hogwarts."
"How so?"
"She was the rather…. unpleasant witch at Harry's hearing."
"Oh, that bitch", Duncan growled, remembering the toadish hag with the fake smile and pink collar that showed under her official robe.
"Indeed", the Headmaster chuckled. "I suspect that Minister Fudge is sending her to undermine the school, manipulate appearances to discredit me, or even try to dismiss my best teachers or remove me as Headmaster. Cornelius is in complete denial about Voldemort's return and believes I'm after his position as Minister. At the very least, I'm positive Umbridge will not teach defense properly, which could endanger Harry and the other students."
"Not good, but what can I do about it?", Duncan growled.
"Fudge is forcing Umbridge on me, but I can still hire my own teachers", Dumbledore smiled, a twinkle in his eyes. "I'd like you to come to Hogwarts and take the position teaching muggle studies, as Professor Burbage has mentioned wanting a year sabbatical to visit family and friends in the States. I'd also like you to substitute in Care of Magical Creatures while Hagrid is away."
Duncan was stunned. He and his mother had made no secret of the fact they weren't happy with Dumbledore, and yet the man was asking for his help. And accepting would enable him to protect Harry. He could also make contact with all the factions of magical creatures near the school in his role as GFMC liason. It would be easy enough to re-assign the agent who was slated for that area. But….
"All right, Professor, I'll do it", Duncan said. "But I have conditions. I still have my responsibilities to the GFMC, so I will be speaking with all the creatures around the school. Second, from what I understand, the 'muggle studies' class is more than a century out-of-date; so I will be updating it, renaming it 'Non-Magical Studies', and it must be made a required class for all pureblood and 'magick-only-raised' students. Way too many wizards and witches are underestimating and disrespectful of non-magicals, and that needs to change. Next, I'll be arranging for technology to function properly there. Finally, Harry and I will be bringing his elf Dobby with us as well."
"So Harry took him on as his bonded elf? Very good", Dumbledore smiled. "A charming and enthusiastic little chap, he was a great help at the castle after Harry tricked Lucius Malfoy into freeing him. And your conditions are acceptable. Unfortunately, I'm afraid you will have to provide any texts you might need for your updated Non-Magical Studies class. I can send you a list of students so you'll know how many you need, plus those most likely to be….. problem students."
"Thank you. I'll need to get a few things from the States as well, so technology will work at the castle", Duncan added.
xxXXxx
"Fleur, are you all right?", Bill Weasley asked with concern as they walked from the Leaky Cauldron toward the French Magical Embassy; as her father was the Magical Ambassador to the British Ministry. They had become friends since they'd started working together at Gringott's. It had taken some time until he could suppress his reaction to her allure once she explained her veela nature to him. She was always so strong and sure of herself, but now…..
"Oui. I am sorry, mon ami", she replied after a moment, as her thoughts had been locked on Duncan Rosenblatt. "Eet ees nozhing for you to be concerned, but merci. I am merely – 'ow do you say? – distracted."
"A bit more than distracted, I'd say. I literally had to steer you away from a light-pole and stop you from stepping into traffic twice. What's wrong? Worried about You-Know-Who?"
"Non", she said with a small, reassuring smile. She really wanted to discuss this with her family first, but by the time she gets there the only one likely to still be awake is her father; so she would have to wait until breakfast to speak with both him and her veela mother. But she felt ready to burst, and Bill was a friend that she felt she could trust. "Bill, you remember what I told you about what eet ees to be veela?"
"Yes", he replied questioningly. "Is it about that?"
"Oui, eet ees", she blushed. "I ask zhat you keep this to yourself, ci-vu-ple?(Bill nods)Merci. Specifically, eet 'as to do with how veela find mates. Every veela dreams of finding zheir 'perfect match', zhat one man who completes them. Zheir 'soul-mate', if you will. Most never find him, and settle for a 'good match', a man at least partly resistant to our allure who we can love and will love us in return. I 'ad 'oped to find my perfect match, or even a good one, at Beaubaton's or during zhe Tri-Wizard Tournament. When I met 'Arry I thought perhaps I 'ad found the best possible match. His aura was so….. tantalizing, and 'e was the most resistant to my allure than any ozher boy or man I 'ad ever met. And zhe magical potential I sensed within him was staggering to say zhe least, but there was a grain of darkness inside him zhat was not his own, so vile and loathsome as to be almost toxic to a veela. I saw tonight eet ees still zhere. But zhen we met 'Arry's family, and….Duncan….."
Realization dawned on Bill's face. "Let me guess: your 'perfect match'?"
"Oui! I was overwhelmed!", Fleur was nearly crying. "He was not affected by my allure at all, not even when I consciously focused eet at full-power on him! And his aura! Eet was like….. a Wild Angel of Fire! And I could tell 'e was suppressing eet, but he was most definitely zhe most powerful person in zhe room; even more zhen Professor Dumbledore! But eet was strange, more like raw power rather zhen pure magick. And 'e ees handsome, too, non?"
"Wow", Bill said, gobsmacked. More powerful than Dumbledore?! Was that even possible? Who was Duncan, besides Harry's American cousin?
"Oui. 'Wow' indeed", she said as they reached the main gate to the Embassy. "I-I do not know 'ow to approach him with this. We only just met, so 'ow can I just tell him that he ees my destined mate?! 'E will think I am crazy, or eet could frighten him away, or both. But now zhat I have found him, I cannot bear zhe thought of living without him!"
"Maybe your parents could help you figure it out", Bill suggested. "And it's not like you'll never see him again. He's part of the Order, and Harry's cousin now living here in Britain."
"Oui, zhat is true", she smiled with hope. "Merci for listening, Bill. You are a good friend."
"I wish I could be more help", he replied as she opened the gate to pass through the wards. "And don't worry; I'll keep this to myself until you're ready."
"Merci. And good night, Bill."
xxXXxx
Just after dawn, Hermione quietly slipped out of the room Harry was sharing with Ron. Like every night during their last visit to Grimmauld Place, she'd been awakened by Harry's nightmare-induced cries and moans. So again, like all those nights, she had slipped into the room to comfort him in his sleep. She nearly jumped out of her skin when a hand came down on her shoulder. She would have cried out in surprise had another hand not covered her mouth. Turning, she saw Duncan put a finger to his lips to shush her. Then he motioned with his head toward the stairs.
Down in the kitchen, Duncan started making a pot of coffee. Not even Kreacher was up yet.
"We need to talk", he said as it brewed, and he took the sugar and chocolate syrup from a cabinet. Hermione shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "I know that you often spend part of the Summer with the Weasleys, but usually spend the last week before school with your parents. So you could've gone home after the meeting last night. But you didn't. You chose to stay when you heard we were staying for dinner and the night."
"Mrs. Weasley, for all her faults, is a great cook", Hermione said, getting more nervous. "It was kind of late afterward, and I didn't feel like taking the Knight Bus so late."
"Hah! I don't blame you there", he chuckled, handing her a mug of coffee and placing the service-tray on the table. He then sat opposite her with his own mug, adding chocolate syrup and cream to it. She creamed and sugared her own coffee. "But that's not the real reason you stayed. You stayed for Harry."
Hermione choked down a spit-take, coughing for a few moments. "W-w-what do you mean?"
"Easy there! It's ok", Duncan chuckled. "You're not the only one who woke up hearing his cries every-night. At Potter Manor, there's an enchanted dream-catcher Mom and I brought from home hanging over his bed to protect him. But here? That first night, I saw you slip quietly into the room and onto his bed to comfort and quiet him. And every night since."
"He's my best friend", she sighed. "Of course I want to help him."
"Who are you trying to convince, me or yourself?"
"What?!"
"Hermione, you're in love with him, aren't you?", Duncan smiled. She slumped in her chair, staring into her half-empty cup of coffee.
"Since third year", she admitted. "But he only sees me as one of his best friends, and I don't want to mess up our friendship."
Duncan face-palmed softly.
"For such a smart witch, you can be a bit clueless, can't you?", he said. "Did it never occur to you that he might share your feelings, but hasn't acted because Ron likes you? And after last night, didn't a few things click for you? Like why Molly started having both of you visit the Burrow at the same time every Summer? Or why the last time we were here she always paired you with Ron and Harry with Ginny for chores? She saw the same connection between you and Harry that I did, and it worried her!"
Hermione face-palmed as realization set in. Duncan was right!
"My advice is to put out feelers and see for yourself", Duncan smiled reassuringly. "Then go from there."
"You…..won't tell anyone, will you?", she asked. "I-I want to handle it myself when I'm ready."
"Your secret is safe with me", he grinned. "And to prove it, I'm going to trust you to keep one of mine. Harry trusts you, and that's good enough for me."
At her confused look, he removed the ring on his left index finger. He appeared to shimmer slightly as the glamour fell, revealing his red-orange, scaly skin. The red highlights and tips in his hair became more prominent, his pupils changed from human-round to reptilian slits, and he now had abbreviated upper and lower fangs in his mouth. Hermione gasped, but didn't cry out. "W-what are you?"
"Don't worry, I really am Harry's cousin", he assured her. "Only a few other trusted people here know about me and my father. My dad is Belloc, King of the Kaiju."
xxXXxx
Author's notes: Well, now we know what Dumbledore wanted Duncan's help with, and Hermione is now in-the-know about Duncan.
To differ from the goblins of Gringotts, I renamed the goblins from 'The Spiderwick Chronicles' boglins. Other nasty creatures from other sources will appear as well. Plus, I am changing the merfolk in the Black Lake to resemble those from the TV series "Siren".
Next chapter, Duncan returns to Diagon Alley alone, and Voldemort and the Death Eaters catch wind of it, and set a trap. But who will really be trapping whom? LOL!
xxXXxx