Harry and Hermione's Unexpected Family Ties
**OO**
A/N: Thanks to my wonderful Beta, LtsHrIt4ThBoyz.
**OO**
Chapter 13 Restorations
"Mushi!" Aufrer called. He liked the boy, he really did. The old man had seemed so benign, but hadn't he been warned by both the lad and his father? Well, godfather?
Trying not to panic, and being mindful of the other traps still in place, the Mamelukes desperately started trying to find another way inside.
**OO**
"Well done for getting us in. I am only doing this to keep the others safe, my boy. No need to fear for them." Albus tutted.
The Headmaster looked at Harry, but the boy looked away. He wasn't testing his mind shields against this man again. They were better than last time, but he was very good at this skill.
"Harry, if you tell me where Miss Granger is going to school, I will give you the fidelius password, and tell you where your property is."
Why would he betray Hermione? Ever? Was this like getting his family cloak back as a Christmas gift? No, it was worse, taunting him, tempting him with his own property to put another in danger. And he felt like he was in deadly danger. Albus Dumbledore was a powerful mage, and far more experienced in warfare. Harry dared not just start attacking him.
"I'm sorry to disappoint you, Headmaster. There are a finite number of schools to visit. Why don't you just go look?"
"I merely wanted to try and encourage her to come back. So bright, and clearly, Draco Malfoy has a crush. I know that you were with the girl last year, but she moved and Sirius had you evading the law all summer. I merely wanted to write to her."
"Hermione? And Draco? How would you get them in the same room, much less dating?"
"There are ways. Your mother accepted your father's suit after all."
He angrily looked into the Headmaster's eyes, and just like with Ginny, performed accidental legilimency.
He saw everything. His plans to match her with Draco Malfoy of all people to add to his fortune as he was sure that she was Harry's beneficiary. Of course he planned Harry's death, and now Harry saw how. Worse, he planned for Hermione to be nothing more than a broodmare for the blonde ponce, a life unfulfilled of all her potential!
The moment passed quickly, and Harry pulled away, unseen. Unfelt.
Harry was now incensed and feeling very uncomfortable being alone with this man. He turned to try and open the door. The lock bit him, lightly, but Harry's finger was bleeding. He had a feeling that trying more would cause the consequences to escalate. Harry now knew that the blood ward would only end with the creator's actions.
Or this man's death.
"Let's get this done and get away from here. You did lock us in." Harry shared in a quiet voice.
Harry was looking around. Magic was still so wonderful to him. The place was dilapidated and looked like a small single room cabin from the outside. It was not extremely large, but was still bigger on the inside.
There weren't as many traps here. There were active ones on the windows, and there was one next to the fireplace. A deadly one, with a deadly prize.
Harry didn't believe the Headmaster was telling the truth about giving him the password to his lands even if he did reveal where his girlfriend went to school. But he couldn't get out the door, and neither could he feel Daisy near him anymore.
At least Hermione wasn't here for this adventure. And Bill was a much better companion than Ron for this, no offense to his friend, but he wanted to get out of there alive so he could see his Hermione again!
So, if Harry wanted to join his friend in their 'happily ever after' he needed to survive the next few minutes.
He could see Commander Zahur and Aufrer at the window, trying to find a way in. Tense, unhappy. Seeing them triggered a thought.
Wait! His school portkey. It worked from anywhere. Aufrer's friends wouldn't like Harry showing up at school unannounced on a Sunday. It was usually a day for cleaning and whatnot. The guards' one day off a week. Unless someone ported in. Then they would be notified.
Harry made no move, but just looked around. "I don't see any more traps except those in the hearth. What do you see?" Trying for a casual tone when his magic was building and he wanted away from there.
The Headmaster too was looking around, not stepping further than the front entry. His benevolent mask slipped first into a smirk seeing the Mamelukes outside. They could never get in. Then his expression changed to naked greed and longing, eyeing the mantlepiece.
Whatever was in the fireplace was something that he knew about, and had long desired. There was no hiding his interest.
"Can you see the password?" the headmaster eagerly stepped forward.
Harry slowly pulled out the school emblem, and prepared his wand. He hadn't been disarmed.
"Yes sir, Would you like me to say it?" Harry asked.
The man was focused on the prize at the fireplace "Yes, my boy. That is very much what I'd like you to do."
So Harry did. Say the passcode, followed immediately by the portkey phrase.
Just as Albus levitated the ring out of the niche and flung it towards where the boy was standing; hoping Harry's seeker reflexes would cause him to catch it, but the lad's wand had hit the portkey. Harry had left the building.
The magic bubble that had formed around the young mage flung the ring right back at the person who had thrown it.
The compulsion was too strong, and the man made a fatal error.
**OO**
Harry never got to see the look of horror on the man's face. A new mask - one of revelation. That all of his plots and plans had come to naught. That this day was his last. He tried to call for help, but Fawkes didn't come. He tried to apparate, but he'd have to disable the wards, and he had no power to do it.
Pain, anguish. The boy had defeated him with no effort on his part at all, and now everything he was hoping to happen was dust, dust, dust.
Just as much as he would soon be.
**OO**
The shriek inside was terrible. Truly awful, but no one could dispel the magic on the front door.
The Mamelukes had been surveying the tiny shack, trying to find an alternate way in. The glass was powerfully warded, and they were afraid to try anything too intense for fear of hurting their charge inside.
Then the screaming had started.
Commander Zahur and Aufrer transfigured their swords into sharp axes, and began hacking at the weakest part of the shack's walls with a will.
Using magic to be heard over the screaming and sound of the frantic men trying to get in, Daisy shouted, "Master! Master Harry no longer being inside! Him going! Him afraid, very afraid. May Daisy go check on him?"
That stopped both Mamelukes in place. They were willing to risk their lives on a death ward for Harry. Not for the wizard who had put him in danger repeatedly.
"So that's not Harry screaming? Thank God!" Sirius fell to his knees in relief. He was torn; part of him wanted to activate his own portkey home. But they were so close! "Thank you, Daisy! Yes…"
"Daisy, wait! Check on him and get word back to us?" Bill asked.
Daisy turned to her Master first.
"Yes! Please do! Go!" Sirius begged.
The elf nodded and popped away.
The Mamelukes took one look inside through the windows into the shack, and immediately portkeyed back to the school.
Bill and Sirius were trying to break the wards on the doors, but it was something none of them had seen before. Old magic. Blood magic.
If Severus had been there, they might have saved this old wizard's life. But without help, it was useless. The guards that left had no loyalty to the 'great' wizard.
The shrieking was getting less. Good! The wards were weakening.
But it was too late. By the time both of them, working together, got them partway down, they fell.
"That's not a good sign." Bill stated firmly.
They waved the door open. The headmaster, who had clearly died a horrible death, looked like a mummy. Desiccated and black.
"The ring! Look at his hand!" Bill yelled in warning.
Was the curse still active? The man who worked in the ruins of Egypt had heard of this sort of terrible dark curse, just had never seen it.
**OO**
Hogwarts
The wards of the school descended on their chosen successor with the Headmaster's death.
The witch would do a good job for the school as she'd had Hogwarts' support from the first day she'd stepped into it.
Severus, as one of the Heads of House, felt the change immediately. He called for his elf.
"Dittany? Can you feel where Bill Weasley is now?"
Severus knew the old man was dead as his confusion was gone that he had been cursed with this morning. Hiding from him. Blast the man.
"Yes, Master Severus. Him not far."
"Take me there, and then find Narcissa and let her know where I am."
He grabbed a bottle of venom, just in case this turned out to be a horcrux hunt after all.
**OO**
Little Hangleton
Bill was happy to see the potions master. "Hey! So you aren't sick after all? Why am I not surprised that Bumbles lied to us? He paid the ultimate price for you not being here, by the way."
Severus scanned the blackened mummy dispassionately. The artifact on his hand was the source of death and more.
"Where's that blasted animeter! We need to destroy the ring, and I would rather not risk basilisk venom on the corpse." Severus stated.
As much as he thought they were all safer with this man dead, he would prefer not revealing to aurors that he had yet more basilisk venom available. Not for a long time. Bill waved his wand as Sirius used the device.
"The curse was one time, it appears. But I think we should be very careful in case it recharges." Bill stated.
Sirius wanted to get back to Harry but was needed here. "Be careful. There's a compulsion on the ring. Mind shields, full power!"
"The horcrux reads as powerful. This had to be the second one made. Good! There's only one more." Bill stated.
The ring was summoned by all three who floated it outside. Sirius was getting very nervous, but Dobby popped in.
"Tis a long way to travel. Daisy is resting after trying to keep up with our young master. Master Harry apologizes for running away and has a memory for you to be watching. Here are your glasses, Master Bill. With thanks from Master Harry.
Casting a stasis charm at Headmaster Charcoal, "Before the body is destroyed, I want to send it to the aurors. Lord Black, you were an auror, is there someone you trust?" Bill asked.
"Sure. Moody." Sirius all of a sudden remembered James' elves. "Samuel? Juniper? Livy? Any Potter elf? Can you come here please?"
A half-dozen elves appeared and came up and gave Sirius a hug. They were all free elves but the family feelings were still strong; they'd stayed working for the Potters even after being released from their bonds. Until the Headmaster sent them to work for Hogwarts.
Sirius conjured a lead coffin and levitating the large briquette into it, he told the elves, "I need this taken to Master Auror Moody. Tell him that I am under oath, but this much I can say. Albus was alone in a shack while I was outside of it. When we finally broke down the door, he was dead, with a cursed ring on his finger. I am here now; I am not letting the Department of Mysteries play with the ring like a toy."
Once the body was gone, they all breathed a sigh of relief. Had the Headmaster been possessed or something?
Dobby got to stay and watch as the horcrux in the ring was destroyed. They thought they had floated it far enough away from the shack but clearly not.
The diary did not have the same booby-traps as the ring. The diary's creation had apparently greatly eroded the man's sanity and increased his paranoia exponentially.
This horcrux being destroyed created a foot wide crater, and sent all of them to the ground. The shack was obliterated in a storm of shattered glass and broken splinters.
Even if Moody figured out where Albus was cursed, there was no evidence of anything left. The horcrux in the ring was utterly destroyed, as was the ring itself.
Fully, finally.
There was only one horcrux left. Harry Potter's famous scar and the only one who had suggested just killing Harry was dead.
Frighteningly and fully dead.
And everyone there knew that the Headmaster's plan all along had been to kill Harry once they had the last horcrux.
Sirius wept tears even as he was comforted by elves that he had forgotten existed.
**OO**
AMA, Cairo, just after portkey engaged
Harry arrived at first in Headmaster ibn Auda's empty office, but an imp took him to the guardroom the Mamelukes used for training. They were all magical, but they also drilled in various weapons.
A tall, dark skinned witch came out, her uniform slightly different from the men, but she was clearly one of the guards. Harry had never seen her before.
﷼"What are you doing here, child? Are you hurt?"﷼
His eyes were wide, and Harry couldn't get his lips to move.
Daisy showed up and got his glasses from him. Dobby popped in to check on Harry and wound up taking those.
She had been expending magic, trying to get to Harry and was now exhausted. Dobby was torn for a moment, trying to decide what to do, but Master Harry had an adult tending to him. He made his mate a little nest under where his long-admired friend was.
Dobby could tell that Harry had faced great danger yet again, and had, once again, been granted the ability to save himself from it.
Tired? Yes. Magically? He was fine, and Dobby saw no obvious cuts or bruises. Some battles were more mental than physical though. He would return to Master Sirius and let him know that Master Harry had arrived in one piece and was being tended to, but first, he wanted to make sure that Master Harry was tended to.
"Mistress Hermione's family being at Black Villa near here. Master Harry going home soon?"
The woman didn't need the elf's help to see the signs though, and summoned a potions kit and blanket, and got him onto one of the benches in the corner. She wrapped the blanket around him, cast a warming charm, and got him to sit and sip a calming draught.
"I want the healer to see to him, but yes. We'll see him home. You may go if you have need."
With Dobby's help, Daisy curled up under that bench after seeing the witch there to attend to her master. Harry shared his blanket to cover her, expanding it accidentally with his magic. Then Dobby popped away.
﷼"Did someone try to kill you again, Mushi? Yes, I know your nickname. I am Aufrer's mate, Yara."﷼
Harry blinked slowly at that. Aufrer was married? Of course he was. The guards had to, in order to have more little Mamelukes. It wasn't like they just came from a bazaar.
﷼"You have been giving water to my people in the desert. Thank you."﷼ Yara stated softly.
She brought him a cup of that liquid to sip after the potion.
Harry spoke in English, hoping she could understand him, "Why? Percy has a plan. Has had a plan since he was disembodied. I'm the key to getting us both a future. Why would he take that away from Perce? Or Penny? Or me? Why?"
The witch didn't have a clue of what he spoke of, but Aufrer and Zahur were not far behind.
"We were not inside the shack. Mushi? Talab Black? Can you tell us what happened?" Zahur asked, the most kindly he had ever spoken to Harry.
It startled him enough to give voice to some of his jumbled thoughts.
"The ring. The color, it was cursed. The glasses made it look like death in a tiny container. He flung it at me. On purpose. To thwart the whole plan!
"I don't think that was very nice." Harry concluded, shaking his head.
The guards around him chuckled darkly. Harry was gaining some height with his ongoing nutritional needs being met, but neither James nor Lily had given him the genetic materials to be as tall as one of these people.
But they had given him a Mameluke's stout heart.
Aufrer and Zahur explained a bit of the story to their people now assembling, not naming names or quests. The guards were smart enough to know there was more to the story.
But only Yara saw that Harry wasn't unhappy for just himself. He was caught in the horror of what would have happened to his friends.
The Grangers were contacted, and an odd group walked the boy to his home. Aufrer carrying the sleeping Daisy in his arms. How many guards did it take to escort one young magical home?
There, the medic, a young man who swore at Harry under his breath, gave him a sleeping draught while Emma fussed over him.
After most of the guards had left, Hermione snuck into his room, and held his hand. He'd been there for her, every time she'd needed him. She would be there for him now.
The report they were given was garbled, but Harry had dodged death. Again.
She smoothed his ruffled hair. Her gentle touch, her magical presence, did more to help him than any of the potions, as he fell into a healing sleep.
Aufrer and Yara spoke in low tones with the Granger parents. But there was no way they were leaving the exhausted youth alone with muggles and an underage witch for his only guards. Even under the now formidable family wards on the home.
**OO**
Sirius was expecting the call, and had already received permission to add Moody to the horcrux hunt group. The need for secrecy was gone; now it was time to keep both himself and Harry out of Azkaban.
Moody and Bones were both called into Auror Command. Auror Moody's 'gift' from Sirius Black was most unusual, to say the least.
Mad-eye's Patronus began with, "What in the…?" It was strange hearing a patronus 'chuckle', "An I dinna get ye anythin'! Get yerself in here!" the patronus finished gruffly.
Sirius looked at Bill and Snape, but the curse-breaker waved him off, "Go on, I've got a return portkey for the professor and I. Call if you need backup!"
Sirius waved Dobby over, and Sirius apparated them both directly to the Ministry of Magic, where Amelia and Moody were waiting in his office.
"Hello, Auror Black. Do you have something to report?" Director Bones' tone was dry as the desert.
" I didn't want to become an international fugitive just because I was there at the time of Albus' demise." The animagus turned to the family friend who was clearly very tired. "Dobby, why don't you sit for a bit and rest. That was quite a long trip for you too." Dobby was too tired to argue, so sat down where he was.
"So, I was already planning on coming in. I have my own memory, but we really need to collect Harry's just as soon as possible. He'll have more answers than I will, unfortunately.
"At least now, I can safely invite you to my home." Sirius offered, and proceeded to give an abbreviated report of his morning, starting with visiting Godric's Hollow Cemetery, the report that the Headmaster had hidden Potter lands from Harry, Albus trying to seal Harry into an unknown place, from where Harry porkeyed away, and that's when the headmaster started screaming. His own wards prevented him from being rescued.
Sirius decanted his own memory and handed that over. "I swear on my magic I did everything I could to rescue Albus, and did nothing to cause his death."
Amelia nodded, "Thank you for that, Sirius. This is going to cause a lot of questions. I am going to ask you your opinion. Just based on some things that have come out in the last couple of years. Was Dumbledore trying to kill Potter?"
Sirius scratched his pointed beard. He'd begun shaping his facial hair in the local Cairo custom for school. "I believe so, Amelia. And there was no reason for it, despite what anyone might say."
Moody nodded at that. "Aye, I'll go with you to talk to the boy. Ye know it's best to nip any of the rumors in the bud as much as possible, Madam Bones."
The woman nodded. "That poor child. Has he ever just been allowed to mourn his parents on this day?"
Sirius waved Moody over to join them using a portkey home."Mourn? Until he got his school letter, he had been told they died in a car accident. James! You know what a good driver he was." Never mind how difficult it was to kill someone magical like that.
They landed in the living room. Sirius made quick introductions but he needed to see Harry and make sure he was alright. This visit had been delayed long enough as it was.
Dan shared that he was in his room. While Dobby checked on Daisy, Sirius snuck in to see Harry. Hermione, a book propped up on her lap, was asleep in the recliner next to his sleeping godson.
He put a blanket over the young witch, brushed Harry's hair back, and went to see to his international guest. At least until Harry woke.
Moody was already telling tales to the muggles, and enjoying a nice tea that Emma put together.
Sirius and Harry had long ago made hand-waving plans for this day if it ever came to it. Now that the danger of Dummiedore prying into anyone's minds was past, it was time to include Dan and Emma, and most especially Hermione. They needed to know what came next. Just in case.
Dumbledore's thoughts that Hermione was Harry's beneficiary if he should unexpectedly pass away was not wrong. Well, her and Sirius Black, but Albus could in no wise benefit from anything from Harry ever again.
**OO**
Now was not the time to tease the teens. Daisy awoke when Harry did, and popped Hermione to her room there at Black Villa so Harry could change before facing the coming interrogation.
More than once, Dan and Emma had gone off for a week to practice dental care while traveling with the Bedouin, leaving Hermione to stay in the Black home. There were even special wards so that Harry couldn't enter her bedroom. Not that Harry knew about them. No one told the Granger parents the reciprocal wards had been left off Harry's room.
Padfoot had been responsible for that, and planned to reveal this 'defect' at an appropriately embarrassing moment, but knew that they were not yet needed. Harry hadn't encountered the wards yet - he'd never tried to get into her room. The animagus was looking forward to the time if he ever did try. But that was a prank for a future day.
Harry came downstairs, and was introduced to the Master Auror who had trained his father. Harry beamed at the man who might have stories of James Potter.
"Thank you for your patience, sir. I will be happy to share the memory of today. I'm sure that Sirius and the Mamelukes would like to see it as well."
A short meeting was planned to watch the memory with Mad-eye, and answer any questions that anyone had.
Aufrer was already there and Zahur was invited. A revived Daisy and Dobby were busy in the kitchen making a late luncheon for the travelers. Yara returned to her duties at the school after wishing Harry well.
Sirius produced the Black family pensieve.
**OO**
The memory was clear, and since it came from Harry, it included all of the extras that he had seen through the enchanted lenses.
Moody swore when he saw a man who had been teaching school children fling a ring that clearly had a compulsion charm and a death curse. What was worse, was seeing what Dumbledore's plans for the boy were and for Harry's girlfriend.
A lad of thirteen? Sure, he was a teenager, and likely pressed some buttons now and then, but he'd done nothin' to deserve death.
And the Granger girl; had Dumbledore only just decided to become a marriage procurer or had he been manipulating young couples for decades? Was this a revelation of previous plots, or just trying to goad Harry into doing something stupid?
The Mamelukes were sharing in their own tongue that the wizard got off lightly.
"But what about the dark magic in your brow?" Moody asked. "Do ye have a plan fer that?"
Harry nodded. He explained the plan to everyone. His family deserved to know.
"Dumbledore wanted to take that away from us. Berk. I wish I could say I was sorry he was dead, but I can't!" Harry declared.
Moody closed his notebook, and stood. He extended his hand to Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived. Prophecy? Who was this Dark Lord named in it? He wouldn't be surprised to find it was Albus Dumbledore, of however many middle names he'd acquired over the years.
"Yer a good lad, and I find nothing to charge agin' ye in this matter. Albus committed suicide. Take care of Fawkes if he visits ye. I don't know where he'll go now. I'm proud to have met ye, lad."
"Everyone thinks that Moldy is gone. Sir, one way or another, Moldy will be gone soon. If I live through it, great. If not, I'll have died for a greater purpose. But please. Either way, please keep this secret." Harry begged.
"Aye Potter. No need to upset normal folk for no reason. You're putting him down before he can rise again. I know the theory well enough. Without any anchors, the leftover spirit, wherever it is, will fade. Nothing left to hold it to this plane of existence."
Commander Zahur and Aufrer had been mostly silent but they shared looks now with a kindred spirit. They silently concurred with his conclusion, and were happy to have met this man.
After shaking hands with everyone, the auror left.
The Mamelukes took their leave shortly after, but not before making arrangements to meet Heir Black to travel together. Both wanted to come with Harry when he returned to Hogwarts.
**OO**
A state funeral for the old wizard was never going to happen after the events of the last few months. The public had not forgotten the deaths that he had something to do with. Perseus Black was a pureblood, even if he was more a hedgewizard and magically weak, Sally-Ann Perks was a schoolgirl. They had not been forgotten by the public, and Dumbledore's private notes on the Wizengamot arguments for the dementors coming to Hogwarts revealed his disdain for the entire House. So what if Black blood was eliminated? It was for the Greater Good, and the man had shed no tears, even when an innocent was killed.
Aberforth donated the body to the Unspeakables just to save himself a few knuts for a burial. Unfortunately, an eager new intern removed the stasis field before his boss had said to. Just trying to help.
The man who had tried to turn Harry into Cinderella was less than chimney sweepings.
If only Hogwarts continued some of the more advanced classes, the incident might have been prevented.
Harry did get a letter from Amelia Bones asking for an in-person interview. Some follow up from his meeting with Moody. Right. She could have it too.
If he survived the next step.
**OO**
November 2nd, All Souls Day, Hogwarts Chapel
It was time. Harry's family was informed. Penny was informed. Arthur was informed, and brought not just Percy's body in stasis but an Unspeakable with him: Croaker had been planning on bringing an eager new intern with him, but was still a little miffed with him.
After hugging Dan and Emma, Harry turned to his guardian.
"It's going to be alright, Sirius. I have known about this for months. I just couldn't tell anyone. It was a secret secret."
Sirius had no smiles today. He was clearly worried about James getting his son back early, and didn't know what to say. The man hugged him tightly, and told him to come back. He had class work.
Then he turned to his reason for everything he did, lately. His lady. Hermione was trying not to cry and make it worse for Harry. They embraced for a moment; each trying to convey the depths of their feelings for the other before separating for their individual rituals before the main one.
Harry broke the silence first, "This, my love. This is what Dumbledore was trying to destroy. And every other good thing! Percy told him last summer. I know, because he told me in my dreams what the plans were. But Dumbledore refused to listen, refused to believe it was possible. Or was just determined to kill me.
"Do you know he tried to get me in a marriage contract with Ginny? Molly loved the idea. Arthur, not so much, mostly because he wasn't raised with such contracts. Molly apparently knew me when I was just a babe, as I and Ron had played as tots, and she truly cares about me. But Albie couldn't create a legal contract as he didn't have the authority.
"He didn't care about Penny, Percy, or their future family. The children waiting to come down to Earth. Dumbbells had plans for you too, my love; he didn't care about your future! He would have destroyed you, me, us for his vision.
"I have more than 'homework' to come back to…I have you!"
Hermione kissed him on the lips and made it count! Harry reciprocated with equal passion.
"I have every reason to come back right here, Hermione."
They reluctantly parted to change for the beginning portion of the ritual.
Harry went through a cleansing ritual first, and then was brought into the chapel of Hogwarts dressed in a simple, white tunic. Hermione, also dressed in white, knelt on one side of him. Sirius, dressed in soft lamb's wool had gone through his own cleansing ritual but he had never been so afraid. Not in battle. There was nothing he could do here besides hold Harry's hand.
Percy's body, also garbed in white, was placed on a cot on the floor, and Harry laid down on a similar cot, beside Percy.
Arthur was there, but due to the distress of the ladies, he had not asked either Penny or Molly to be there. Hermione thought he was making a mistake, but didn't want to make a fuss when Percy's ghost showed up.
"Where's Penny?" Percy asked.
The Friar left to find a certain Ravenclaw Prefect. After a rushed ritual, the girl, smiling, clad in white and barefooted, was as lovely as any bride with her streaming blonde hair.
"Percy?"
"Hold on to me, love. All will be explained. Just hold my hand. You and Father. Either this will work or it won't, but do not despair. Have faith."
It was time.
The Ritual began.
**OO**
Percy and the Friar were suddenly back in the Office to see Gideon.
"And word of your death has not been made widely known? I see. Clever of Arthur. Such a nice man.
"The word is given, people. Proceed as planned. All but the smallest bit is contained. It cannot return to the other soul shards. We will not allow it."
Flashback to just after Hermione was revived from being petrified, and Percy had his first meeting at the Office:
In the waiting area, everyone clapped for Percy, and one man shouted,"Good death, my boy! Well done!"
The Office door opened, and a being in white offered his hand.
"Greetings, I'm Gideon, pleasure to meet you Mr Weasley." There was a long golden trumpet standing in the corner behind a cluttered desk. "Please sit, sit. We have a lot to go through here.
"Percival Ignatius Weasley. Future Head Boy of Hogwarts, marries Penelope Clearwater, five children, two wizards, two witches, and one squib son. Not bad, not bad. All raised with love. Oh look: Fabian, the youngest and the one without magic, has a magical granddaughter. Congratulations."
"But I'm dead, sir, am I not?"
"Well, we like to call it mostly dead. You see, you saw a bit of the basilisk directly. But the Office wanted to talk to you, so here we are. Your father had a dream about keeping your body in stasis. Arthur is a good man, and listened."
"Penny is so sad…"
"And will be so for a time. But the difference is this. You can still have that life together, just delayed a bit, or you can go on now. Dying a hero. Posthumous Order of Merlin, First Class, all that. But this mission is not without risks."
The heavenly clerk cleared his throat, "Do you remember Scabbers?"
"My old rat?" Percy asked.
"That is actually a man, a wizard animagus, who betrayed the Potters. His destiny is to go on, help find the Dark Lord's wraith and give him a new body. Totally makes a mess of the potion, so the body is…um. Without either gender. Good minions are so hard to find. He kills your friend Cedric, a whole bunch of other good people, helps enslave or slaughter muggleborns and muggles…are you getting the picture?"
"Yes sir!"
"Well, Peter Pettigrew has a major fork coming up. If he was taken out now, the number of people saved? It's really hard to count that high."
"How can I help?"
"Good man. You'll be what we call an 'Influencer.'"
The celestial being explained about the horcruxes and how they had to be defeated.
"The ritual to remove the last bit of this dark lord from Harry Potter? You'll encourage your parents to let the curse-breakers use your body."
"But I thought I was going to need it." Percy complained.
"You are. And you will. You have all of your soul. Now, if you take one half to the seventh power, what do you get? A very tiny amount, less than one percent; significantly less than one hundred percent. In a fight of possession, you will win. And you have what we call home-field advantage."
Percy's eyes got very big. "Seven? We need to find seven of these things. But they could be anything, anywhere"
"Five to locate actually. I think that once someone with intelligence finds out about Harry's passenger in his head, you will be able to find help to gather up the rest. Like I said, this won't be easy."
"But I'll get to be with Penny, if she still wants me?" Percy confirmed. "After all this?"
"Didn't I mention that you can visit people in their dreams?"
Percy returned to the castle that night, explaining what he could to his love. This was going to be a difficult quest, but an essential one for the safety of the wizarding world. And if he got to spend time with Penny, it was worth it.
The main trouble that he had initially was trying to convince Headmaster Dumbledore of the viability of the plan; how waiting to destroy the last horcrux, inside Harry, was essential.
Dumbledore never lied, and he never believed. He couldn't. His plans would be in ruins if Harry survived.
End Flashback
**OO**
Lily's eyes really were a vibrant green. James Potter's hair was black, and full and wavy.
"The curse didn't carry here, my son." James shared at Harry's glance at his hair.
"Of course not. This is…am I?" Harry didn't know what to say.
"Dead? Not really. Your soul needed to be in a safe place while Percy finished his work. Did you know that his birthday is at the end of July?" Prongs asked.
"That stupid prophecy. Sirius said I should ignore it." Harry wanted to rip his no longer cursed hair out.
"James! Percy's birthday is November 3rd." Lily lightly slapped the back of his head.
"I'm not allowed to tease my son?"
"Harry, I'm so proud of you, and your studies and everything. And you have a fine girlfriend. But you are allowed to date other girls." Lily encouraged.
"Give it up Lils. Curse or blessing, we Potter men find the right girl early, and won't give up until they give in."
"So you weren't… potioned or coerced into liking my dad? That's good news."
Lily's eyes were suddenly clouded with a negative memory, "Well, I'm not sure if I would term it 'forced'... Albus did something alchemical? Charm? Whatever it was, it didn't necessarily feel coercive, I was so focused on my studies and being Head Girl and NEWTs that I probably would have continued ignoring and dismissing your dad, as I had been for the first six years.
"I'm not saying the manipulative old beggar was right to do so; no, never that! But had he not, I'm not sure I would have agreed to date your father. Now, who said anything about liking him?" Lily's eyes were full of mirth.
"Hey! I'm right here you know." James pouted.
The couple shared a sweet kiss, then each hugged and kissed Harry on the forehead.
The family had a nice visit. They talked and talked. They shared a bit about Dumbledore's fate, a person they were not happy with in the least. School, hopes and dreams. Lily complimented the Grangers, individually and collectively several times.
Bless Emma for being a mother to her son when she couldn't be there.
The feelings of love and family were so strong, Harry was tempted to stay.
There was a young man with naturally curly hair who looked familiar. He was staying well back from the family group. When Harry looked up, the man turned away.
"Please sir, I think…Dan? Oh no!"
"No, not Daniel. I'm Richard. Richard Granger. I wasn't trying to interrupt your reunion. I just wanted to see the young man who'd stolen my great-granddaughter's heart."
"Sir, Hermione loves you so much!"
"And I do her. Please. Let her know that I got home just fine. She's been worried about that. And tell Dan his father and I are catching up. Good times. Good times."
Richard faded away, and Harry turned back to his family.
Seeing the elderly man looking so young had Harry looking around for other family.
"Where are Grampa Charlus and Gramma Dorea?"
James looked down and frowned. Lily and James were the only ones 'officially' allowed to talk to Harry, but Richard had snuck in. Lily started to say something, but James shook his head.
"I'm sorry, Harry. We're not supposed to talk about it."
Harry nodded, feeling that there were people on the periphery that he had only glimpsed in the Mirror of Erised. He felt it. He was being summoned back. They all felt it.
"Tell Padfoot to teach you a few more pranks. You need to catch up." Prongs gave his son a warm hug. "I love you so much. I'm proud of you, my boy."
"You come back to us in a hundred and fifty years or so. Bring your lovely wife. But live Harry. A full and happy life." Lily advised.
"I will."
"Tell Padfoot and Moony I miss them, and am glad that the rat got justice. And Dumbledore. We don't blame them for anything. Send them our love." James asked.
An angel stepped forward and addressed the lad. "You may stay, or return. It is your choice. But it's time."
Harry embraced his parents again. "I'll return, but only because I do have something to live for. Marrying Hermione and having a family. But I do want to be with you again."
Another round of hugs, and Harry was suddenly gone.
"We did good work there, Lils. You still like me, a little?"
"I'll think about it, Potter. I just might. A little."
She grabbed his hand, and went for a walk. Harry's little sister Rose was playing with the other children. She knew he'd be sad if he saw her, so she stayed away. This time.
But someday, she'd meet her big brother. Riding a dragon? So cool.
"Daddy? Can I have a dragon?"Rose asked, eyes full of hope.
James smiled, hoping that Harry could help his parents one way or another so that they could all finally be reunited here.
**OO**
"You're not the Potter brat! Where is he?"
While Harry was having a lovely family reunion, Percy was mentally reviewing the best tactics and battle spells. His shield was ready.
Lord Voldemort, eyes a fiery red, serpentine body, slits in place of a nose, was clearly not impressed with the current Head Boy.
"You're the one I have to defeat? But you're so…so…" Percy struggled to find words to describe his vision.
"Terrifying? I know." The wraith was smug.
Percy fought to avoid rolling his eyes at the pathetic thing, "Short. Tiny."
The being looked to be about four inches tall. Was he allowed to punt an opponent in this sort of contest? He'd seen bigger garden gnomes. Was thurling a battle tactic here?
The high squeaky voice showed his opinion of that, using language that would have had soap bubbles coming out of his mouth if his mother was around.
"Yes, short. And Powerless. I can see auras. It's a magical gift. You have enough for maybe one or two spells. Well, let's duel then."
Percy made a proper salute and bow and went to the ready. Was this dark lordlette going to bite his toe?
If his opponent had chosen any other curse, he might have had power for two. But choosing the Killing Curse? Not smart.
Percy stepped aside, and wondered if this was a real fight or not. He cast a blasting hex, and the Dark Lord vanished in a burst of dust.
Was it really that easy? Or was this all a dream?
**OO**
Gideon had no trouble tracking down the last bit of Dark Lord. The trial was already held with the major part of the broken soul. There was just a minor amount to deal with.
Killing an innocent and showing no remorse by killing more? Seven times just for this morass. Not to mention the death and mayhem orchestrated by this being.
"Tom Riddle? You are hereby banished from the presence of the Lord forever more. Should you decide to repent, at some future date, then pray with all of your might, mind and strength. Without repentance, you have no hope of redemption."
A portal opened, and the smell of sulfur filled the air.
"What? I can't die! I have plans to rule…"
"Go tell that to your new master."
A demon showed up, holding up a hand to shadow his eyes in this being's presence.
"Horcruxes? Idiots. But it does get us more innocents murdered." The demon chuckled, dodging the lightning from the fingertips of the angel.
"Begone with your charge, dark one. And do not return." Gideon spat.
"Our lord rules here on Earth, foul creature of Light! You know this."
"Ah! But only for a season, and your time is nearly gone. Now, begone."
Unable to resist the higher power, the demon swept up the remaining bit of his charge and returned below.
He was about to join the man who made him into a dark lord. 'For the Greater Good' was the best lie ever.
He was a bad one, they both were, and torturing them was going to be fun.
**OO**
The minute the final ritual was done, Harry's family moved him to a room nearby so as not to disturb the Weasley family. To them, it appeared that Percy was still busy being dead, and they didn't want to intrude on their grief with the Black family happiness in progress.
Unspeakable Croaker shared, "He's waking up, Arthur. Just as you said. Oh, you could have been one of us, you know."
"But who would protect the muggles if I was an Unspeakable? No one really cares. Well, maybe Perkins." The Weasley patriarch pointed out.
Percy woke up chuckling as his eyes fluttered open. Penny squeezed his now warming hand, unsure of what to do, but then found herself pulled down to him as he kissed her, held her close, stroking her blonde hair.
Arthur turned to his friend, "Croaker, go escort my wife here, please. I didn't warn her, so explain it will you?"
"This is my reward for keeping Percy's body hidden and in stasis? Keeping his death out of the paper? Keeping any hints from my fellow Unspeakables? This is how you treat me for all of this?" Croaker exclaimed, his voice getting higher and higher.
"Of course, Arthur. I did bring my potions kit." The man's demeanor change with that last sentence made Arthur laugh. Which was the whole point.
Penny laughed at his antics through her tears, and she gave way to allow access for her future father-in-law to get a hug.
The Unspeakable left to go get Molly while the father gathered his son up in a warm embrace. Unbidden tears came.
"We thought we'd lost you. We thought we'd lost you."
"I'm back? Oh! It was just a bad dream. I thought that I was helping to fight Voldemort." Percy blinked in confusion. Was that tiny being him?
"You said his name!" Arthur gasped.
"Well, his real one is Tom Riddle. A dark lord should have a more appropriate name, so he made one up."
"Flee from Death was the best he could do? Clearly not a Ravenclaw." Penny opined.
"Let me through! I get called for an assignment up at Hogwarts, and then I'm not allowed in!"
"Healer Greengrass?" Percy asked.
"Was it the blond hair? Ugly green robes. No, it was the handsome face. Yes, I am me, and you are my patient. Now, let's check you out." The healer declared.
Arthur cleared his throat, as the blond man winked at his coworker. "I meant that I would check him over. He'd been petrified extra well I heard."
The battery of tests went well, and the matron came to the chapel.
"Marius! I heard you'd passed your exams. Well done." Poppy enthused.
"That was a decade and a half ago, madam, I am just here for a special house call. Croaker asked me to come."
Professor Flitwick came in to check on his apprentice. So, Percy was back. Well. Flitwick had something to say to the no longer ghostly Head Boy.
"You hurt her after this and I will end you." The half-goblin growled. This past summer had not been easy for his apprentice, and the goblin was most protective of those he considered family.
Percy eeped but stood. "I swear I will do my best not to earn any such ire, sir. Penny is my heart and my future!"
Even Heaven approved of them, not that he remembered much of that.
The couple hugged and kissed again, "I thought it was going to take years! Years! And you're back." Penny sobbed.
"I'll explain later, if I can. I don't really know, now that I think about it." Percy admitted, memories of the Office fading quickly other than a very young, beautiful grandmother Cedrella wishing him well.
Penny laughed, and cried, and kissed him again.
Mrs Weasley was brought in along with the rest of his siblings at school. Bill watched with happy tears in his eyes - it had worked! It had really worked! And Charlie was portkeyed in a short time later.
The family was escorted to a large guest suite of rooms to catch up, but Percy never stopped hugging Penny to his side throughout the visit.
**OO**
Just moments before Percy woke:
Hermione saw his eyes moving yet still closed, and tears started leaking in relief.
"Harry!"
She pounced on the prone boy, kissing him for all he was worth, before Sirius gently squeezed in to help him to his feet.
"Dad says to give you his love. They got to go to Dumble's trial. Very scary stuff there. Did you know he got my parents together?"
"You're alright!" Sirius held him, barely keeping his emotions in check.
"I am. And I have messages for you and Moony from Mum and Dad that I feel I should give sooner than later. Mum really likes you Hermione. You don't look like her, but you and she are brilliant, bold and clever. I also have a message for you and Dan from a relative."
Emma was next for hugs, clearly relieved to see him alive and well. His scar was already looking fainter.
The healer came over then.
"Marius Greengrass, pleasure to meet me, I know." The man teased. He used Lockhart's cadence perfectly. A few scans, and he handed the animeter over to Sirius.
"I don't think I'm doing this right. I'm not reading anything." Marius stated.
Sirius brushed away his own tears of relief. "That's because there's nothing there. Which is a good thing. No, a wonderful thing."
Percy and Harry met in the hallway for just a moment. Percy was being floated on a cot, just because, and Harry squeezed his nearer hand.
"Well done, mate. You did it! For both of us! And now I get to live up to my title. Thank you."
Percy squeezed back, knowing that he and Harry now had a special bond of family for their unique experience. "Thank you, Harry, and don't forget. That's my title too. I don't turn eighteen until tomorrow."
"Wait, you and Sirius have the same birthday?" Harry looked at Padfoot in shock.
Healer Greengrass shook his head as Percy paled. "Excuse me, I need to get my patient into a quiet room, and I would appreciate it if you could refrain from killing him with words, Heir Potter."
The cheery man winked, and Bill patted his shoulder. Sirius put his arm around Harry, quietly chuckling.
Harry's family left to walk up to Hogsmeade together. They were staying in the village, and knew that visits with the Weasleys were in their future. But for now, they just wanted to be with one another.
And Harry had a few memories to share before they faded away.
**OO**
Headmistress Office, Hogwarts, Tuesday morning
"Headmistress? There's a gentleman asking to see you with no appointment." Mayhew Weatherby stated, giving her the choice.
The poor wizard had had a difficult career as he advanced, first being a secretary for Crouch, in the International Cooperation office for a few years, then later for Fudge.
After Fudge sent dementors to the school, the man quit in disgust, and went looking for a job. Narcissa got him one.
The clever blonde witch who hired him recognized talent and snatched him up quicker than Victor Krum to a snitch and put him to work assisting the heads of the castle.
"Is it? Please. Please…is it really him?" the headmistress begged. She'd heard the elves' whispers, but the family, all of the family, had disappeared with their children for the night.
"It's Percy Weasley, ma'am." the wizard confirmed.
"Show him in! And thank you."
"I'll call for tea." Weatherby promised.
What a gem that man was. The Headmistress stood, taking long strides to greet the non-ghost at the door.
"You were brilliant! You did it! Thank you! Bless you!" The woman squeezed his hand.
"No offense, but you aren't McGonagall!"
"Narcissa Prince, Headmistress, so nice to see you, Percy!" she laughingly introduced herself. She and Severus had a very short engagement, and had gotten married in the garden at Prince Manor back in September. They were planning to have a public ceremony, possibly at Yule, but with his grandfather's health, had eloped early so he could attend.
"No, I am not. Now that that is cleared up. Yes. You are Head Boy this year, if you want it. You've been doing well in all of your classes so far. Well done. And there will always be a position here for you if you want it."
"But the school, the school is really coming along – so different from just a year ago." Percy complimented.
"The Headmaster put me in charge at the beginning of the year, and never rescinded that order. The Castle looks to me. And I look after the castle and students. All clear, now?"
"Much, I think. I've been busy being dead for a time. No, not dead. I was Projecting my spirit."
"Spirit walking. Yes. If anyone ever does a deep investigation. Spirit walking after being petrified by the basilisk. I truly am glad that you're doing well, and have recovered."
"And Ginny too. Tom got her trying to kill Penny and Hermione."
"Please don't tell her this, but I have eyes on her. Just in case she slips. She's going back to Luxor next year. I suggest you go as well. I'll happily cover the charges."
"Thank you ma'am. And thank you for your support." Percy nodded.
She curtseyed to Percy, "Thank you, valiant warrior, for your work. Congratulations."
That boy deserved an Order of Merlin! As did Harry Potter.
On impulse, as the Head Boy turned to leave, she grabbed him up in a warm embrace.
"You are just so brave! You did it! You killed that monster. The Hat had only one choice of House when it came to you." Narcissa hugged him again.
Bemused at the change in the normally formal and cold lady, Percy gave her a crooked smile.
Penny was waiting for him in the Head Boy's room. They had some…studying to do. And cuddling. He loved his mother but he was certainly glad that she had headed home with Bill and Charlie.
**OO**
Wrerx had seen the memories of when the Grangers went to the bank originally, and compared them to the beads and false key turned in. Similar, but these were facsimiles of ancient magical beads. No memories, no stories, and the key recovered was just a simple copy with none of the underlying magic of a real Gringotts key.
Doing that should be a death sentence on its own, but Wrerx had more than one reason he wanted to kill the young witch. Just because she had dared touch goblin treasure.
**OO**
The life stone on Narcissa's desk for Tom Riddle was black. That life stone had been Lucius' reason for everything he'd done to poor Ginny Weasley, trying to get his master back.
Harry would no doubt be in for a visit as well. At least she hoped so.
Portrait Dumbledore was wrapped in a black bag that contained silencing charms. The others were disgusted that a headmaster would try to kill a student, no matter the reason.
Especially one who had spouted "second chances" for serial killers and terrorists. It wouldn't be until Colin Creevy was a fifth year, but a picture of Dumbledore, looking wise and serene but unable to talk was successfully mounted on top of the portrait.
Harry might have helped with warding the enchanted frame that kept him from escaping. Or speaking. Only occasionally breaking wind if anyone complimented him.
Really stinky wind.
**OO**
Mualim Flitwick received a very interesting letter from Gringotts Cairo.
'We have received word that the key is still in play. Apparently, along with the copies of the original beads, it was just a poor copy of the key. Be here for the vault opening. The secrets to opening that dig site might be there, it is our last hope.'
He tapped the 'yes' rune for accepting the unusual invitation. So, the key hadn't been lost after all.
Very interesting.
**OO**
A/N: Thank you DannyBoy2K for your suggestion. Edit done.
A/N: Story recommend: Your story recommendation here -
**OO**
A/N: Story recommendation by kind reader nintschibintschi: A Daphne Harry story Novocaine by StardustWarrior2991
s/13022013/1/Novocaine
**OO**
A/N: Story recommendation by kind reader Jlm638 second recommendation is When the East Wind Blows by ProfFrankly. In a nutshell, Mary Poppins is a witch who rescues Harry and raises him. Pre-Hogwarts and a bit open ended, but good.
s/13004571/1/When-the-East-Wind-Blows
**OO**
ƺ parseltongue
₲ galleons
₰ sickles
ķ knuts
Ɠ Goblin language
﷼Arabic language
Dhareef al-Siddique - O & D professor
Taliba female Student. Talab was the male form.
Mushkila, trouble
Edited 3/3/2023 after review. Thanks folks!