"Talking/Dialogue"
Thoughts
'Quotes'
Writing/Text
Tom/Diary
LINE BREAK
The Burrow
Friday
August 21, 1992
Harry's time at the Burrow was what he felt summer break should be like, compared to the confinement he experienced living with the Dursleys after the house elf fiasco. A time to relax and enjoy the days, not having to worry about making it to class on time or rushing to finish assignments. On a Friday afternoon, Harry decided to spend some time alone, the orchard of the Weasley family giving more than enough shade to protect his skin as he laid down on his back, eyes closed in contentment.
It was with great reluctance that Harry stood, dusting himself off before making his way back towards the house. After the emotional event that transpired with him and Mrs. Weasley, he decided he wanted to do something for her to show how much he appreciated the kindness she had shown him. Deciding on doing something had been the simple part, figuring out what to do had been harder to decide, before Harry settled on helping the woman in the kitchen. That is where he was heading towards now.
Then convincing her to let him help in the kitchen took a lot of effort. He thought back to yesterday evening when she had finally caved in. Harry had made one last desperate attempt, his eyes conveying his intentions, knowing the effect they could have on her. Something she picked up on after giving an 'okay', throwing him a knowing look.
Reaching the back door, Harry was about to push it in when someone swung it open. Ginny stood in front of him with wide eyes, lips parted, and whatever she had planned to do outside forgotten at the sight of him. He reacted first, moving to the side and out of her way with what he hoped was a kind smile.
"After you." Harry spoke to her.
His words snapped her out of whatever daze she had been, a quiet squeak leaving her as she dashed towards the garden, avoiding his gaze. She vanished into the garden, away from his line of vision, and he could only stare in puzzlement at where she had once been.
"Don't mind her, Harry. Ginny will have to grow used to you being here eventually." The words of the girl's mother turned his attention back towards the doorway. She beckoned him inside with a wave of her hand.
"Now then, I'm going to start making some eggs and sausages." She told him as they stepped into the kitchen, handing him peached colored apron that he quickly put on.
"I sent Ginny to the garden to fetch some potatoes and carrots- "The sound of the backdoor opening drew both their attention, as Ginny made her way inside carrying a basket.
"Do you think this is…enough…mom?" Ginny hadn't noticed him when she began her sentence, her voice falling into a whisper when she did.
"Set it on the table so I can look over it." Mrs. Weasley told her.
Ginny didn't immediately start moving towards the table, only taking a forward step after inhaling deeply. Even then, her legs seemed to shake as if the floor was made of jelly. When she finally placed the basket down on the table in front of her mother, she glanced at him before rapidly look away.
Mrs. Weasley looked down at the vegetables in the basket before nodding in satisfaction. She looked at Ginny.
" You and Harry will begin peeling the potatoes and the carrots." She started speaking, giving her daughter a look in response the shocked looked that appeared on her face. "I'll be starting on the sausages, and when you are done, I'll be showing you how to roast them, alright?" She waited for them to show they understand before walking to do her own thing.
Harry looked toward Ginny, who seemed to shrink into herself. He realized she wasn't used to being around him, so he figured it was up to him to take the lead.
"We should probably wash these firsts, before we start peeling them." He kept looking at her, looking for any type of response, finally getting one when she nodded stiffly. Grabbing hold of the basket, he took it over to the sink, the Ginny following quietly behind him. Harry started washing them one by one, handing them over to the girl who separated them into a pile for potatoes and for carrots.
"So…are you excited about going to Hogwarts? "Harry asked, wanting to break the silence, starting to feel slightly uncomfortable.
A nod.
"Did you have a subject you look forward to learning?"
Another nod.
Reminds me of the snake at the zoo, the way she just bobs her head up and down. He couldn't help but compare the two experiences. I'd much rather be talking to a snake right than to suffer through this.
Harry struggled to come up with another question, before taking a shot in the dark, hoping it struck.
"Do you like quidditch?" At that, Ginny's head snapped up, meeting his eyes, before looking down again.
"…yes…" In a voice so low he nearly didn't catch it, she spoke to him, the first time she had ever done so.
Yes! Progress! Harry screamed in his mind, having something to build on.
"So, you like quidditch…do you support the Chudley Canons like Ron?" The look of disgust was all the answer he needed before Ginny spoke for a second time.
"They suck…and have since 1892…" She still spoke in a small voice but now had a small grin as she said that before continuing. "I like the Holyhead Harpies."
He started peeling the skin of the potatoes, Ginny doing the same for the carrots. Feeling a bit more relaxed now that she had spoken to him, she raised her head a little, giving him a smile that he returned. She surprised him when she spoke up again.
"Other than me and Ron, only Fred and George keep up with the league." She saw the question Harry was about to ask and added. "They support the Tutshill Tornados, though they do because it drives Ron mad. He thinks they're jumping on the bandwagon."
"That does sound like something the twins would do." Harry noted with a grin. "What about Bill and Charlie?"
Ginny tucked her hair behind her ear, which were red along with her cheeks, as she turned slightly towards him.
"They both just like playing quidditch, not really getting drawn into any of the teams. Bill was always more into his studies wanting to become a Curse Breaker, and Charlie…has his dragons."
Harry remembered his first year at Hogwarts, having to smuggle Norbert out in the middle of the night with the aid of Charlie. From the sounds of it, the second oldest Weasley had a single focus in his life. What really drew his attention was Bill had wanted to be, having never heard of such a thing.
"What's a Curse Breaker?" It's sounded cool.
Something Ginny thought so as well if the way hers eyes gleamed were any sign. She opened her mouth to answer.
"Not anything you would want to do, dear." Mrs. Weasley cut in, a disapproving frown on her face. She threw a sharp look at Ginny, who had made to say something in reply. "Now if you're done peeling, bring them to me."
They took the peeled vegetables over to her and watched as she showed how to cast a simple chopping charm to an audience of two, one bored and one fascinated. Once chopped, Mrs. Weasley placed them on a pan on the stove, having them start to roast, before turning to face them.
"You can take a break now, Ginny, I need to speak to Harry for a moment." She told her daughter, who didn't hesitate in heading towards her room, muttering a shy 'bye' to him as she did.
It's an improvement from the squeaks at least. Harry commented to himself.
"First, I want to thank you for not growing frustrated with her, she's not normally like that. Around her brothers, she tends to be more outgoing and confident." She told him. "Now, do you remember the conversation we had, the one where I promised to get in touch with someone?"
Harry nodded, holding his breath.
"I sent them a letter that same day, asking if it wouldn't be too much trouble for them to meet you. They're reply arrived just this morning, along with a letter for you." Mrs. Weasley reached into the front pockets of her apron, pulling out a sealed envelope, handing it to him. He reached for it slowly.
"Why don't you take a seat in the living room to read it, I'll make sure no one bothers you."
Harry went and sat down on the large couch, back towards the stairs, as he read the front of the envelope.
Harry J. Potter
Ron's Bedroom
The Burrow
Ottery St. Catchpole
Turning it around, he gently broke the wax seal, pulled out the folded parchment, and began to read.
Hello Mr. Potter,
My name is Andromeda Tonks née Black, and I am the great-niece of your grandmother, Dorea. I was rather surprised to have received a letter from Molly, as while we attended Hogwarts around the same time, we were never particularly close. So, I was curious for the reason why she had elected to contact me.
She told me of your desire to learn of your grandparents, of which apparently know very little of, and I hope to rectify that. If you wish to meet, simply tell me Molly, and we will arrange a date to bring you to my home to meet.
It is my hope that you take agree to meet.
Sincerely,
Andromeda Tonks
Harry finished reading the letter, before leaning back on the couch, staring off into space. He had no doubts about what his decision would be, the chance to know more about where he came from too tempting to pass up. Standing up, he made his way back into the kitchen to let Mrs. Weasley know.
She turned her head at the sound of his footsteps, her wand in one hand as she waved it from side to side, a pan in front of her responding to her motions.
"I want to meet her." Harry declared.
"I thought you might." Mrs. Weasley reached into her front pockets again with her free hand, pulling out another letter, handing it to him. "I prepared a response ahead of time, could you hand this to Hedwig, I'm afraid Errol is still too tired from his first trip."
"Will do, Mrs. Weasley." He grabbed the letter and started heading to where he had last seen his owl, before stopping.
"Thank you…it means a lot to me." Harry hoped the words conveyed just how much gratitude he had towards the woman, and by the gentle look she gave him, she understood.
"Now, go find that owl of yours and come back here. I'm about to serve lunch."
He didn't need any more encouragement, walking out the backdoor and heading towards the orchard. Last time he saw Hedwig, she had been sleeping in one of the thicker trees that blocked much of the sunlight. Heading towards one of the bigger trees, it turned out he didn't need to go and find her as she flew towards him. Hedwig seemed to have sensed that Harry wanted to send a letter and sought him out herself.
"Hey girl, have a good nap?" He asked her once she landed on his outstretched arm, rubbing her gently on the feathers. She let out a hoot that he took as a 'yes', smiling at his first friend. He raised his arm, the one not currently in use by her, and showed her the letter in his hand.
"I have a letter here for you to take…yeah, it's to someone called Andromeda…she's someone that can tell me about my grandmother…her name was Dorea." Hedwig took the envelope with her beak, rubbing her head against his shoulder, before taking off.
"Be careful, Hedwig." He told his owl, watching as she flew off into the distance. He started walking back towards the Burrow once he could no longer see her.
LINE BREAK
The Burrow
Saturday
August 22, 1992
The following morning, after once again waking up at the crack of dawn, Harry quietly slipped out of the bedroom he shared with Ron, before making his way downstairs. Hedwig hadn't returned by the time he had gone to sleep, and he wanted to check if she had returned by now. He could hear the Weasleys saying their goodbyes before a whoosh of the Floo signified he had just missed Mr. Weasley, just a single flight of stairs before Harry reached the living room.
Mrs. Weasley turned towards the kitchen when she caught sight of him at the bottom of the stairs, jumping slightly. She composed herself rather quickly, opening her mouth to speak.
"You're up early again, dear." She commented as she smiled gently at him.
"Wanted to see if Hedwig had made it back yet." Harry told, the concern for his owl evident in his voice. At that, Mrs. Weasley's smile grew bigger.
"She got here not too long ago." She gestured towards the kitchen as she walked, wanting him to enter. "She came bearing a response."
Whatever Harry had planned to say died on his lips once he caught sight of Hedwig on the windowsill, the owl's amber eyes firmly on him walked towards her. He checked her over, any worry he had leaving him as she looked to be in good health, only tired.
"She's a sturdy owl, that one. Made the trip to London and back in a single night." Mrs. Weasley commented, earning a puffed-out chest from Hedwig, who seemed to sit up straighter at the words, drawing a chuckle from Harry.
"You said she had a response?" He asked her.
"Andromeda wants to meet you tomorrow. Having it on a Sunday gives the both of you more time to talk and get to know one another." She explained the other woman's reasoning to him.
Still, to meet her so quick…'The hesitant look on his face prompted Mrs. Weasley to speak.
"If that's too soon for you, dear, when can always rearrange to another time."
Harry shook his head. Who knows when that might be, Hogwarts begins again in two weeks.
"No, going tomorrow is fine. How am I getting there?" Harry wondered, hoping it wasn't by Floo.
"The Floo."
Darn.
"She wrote down her address in the letter, also putting down the time she expects you to step through to her side." Mrs. Weasley folded up the letter, having nothing else to tell him.
Not having an idea of how to spend the rest his morning, Harry asked Mrs. Weasley if she minded telling him about her family, to which she seemed delighted to do. That's where he found himself on a Saturday morning, listening to her as she told him of the antics of her twin brothers, the rest of the household still asleep.
"They loved to annoy my Uncle Ignatius, almost every encounter ending with him looking for his wife Lucretia. I remember on one occasion, after they had switched every piece of silverware my aunt and uncle owned with a miniature version during the night, when our parents had them watch over us."
Harry could sense the joy in her voice as she told him the story, nearly on the verge of laughter. They reminded him so much of the twins!
"The very next morning, when he had gone to grab a cup for his morning tea, he found cups no bigger than a berry." At that, Mrs. Weasley lost the small control she had over her giggles, Harry laughing along with her.
Once she could speak again without giggles, she continued. "He knew immediately who the culprits were, not that Fabian and Gideon hid the fact very well. They had been standing in a corner, watching the whole time. He took them directly to his wife, telling her "Only a Black could control those two hellions."
Harry let out a bark of laughter at that.
"How did she react?" He couldn't help but ask.
"She looked right at him after a moment and said "This Black is capable of other acts as well." My uncle apologized at once at that.
They both laughed again before a near total silence filled the room, only the sizzling the bacon being heard as it cooked. Harry noticed the faraway look she had in eyes, reminiscing of the moments she shared with her brothers.
"They remind me of Fred and George." He voiced his earlier thought, jolting Mrs. Weasley back to the present. She gave him a sad smile, before summoning a plate from the cabinets, filling it with food.
"They were named after them, to keep their memory alive. Something they more than do, no matter how much they frustrate me." She looked towards the ceiling, to where the room of the twins likely was before her eyes drifted to another spot. "Percy, as well. I gave him the middle name of my uncle, Ignatius. Family is something to be cherished, past or present."
She looked away from the ceiling at that before walking over to place the plate of breakfast in front of him, which he thanked her for.
"Which is why I want to help you in whatever way I can, dear. I want you to find people you can cherish, a family you can find your own."
Harry didn't know how to respond to that, settling for a nod. Mrs. Weasley placed a hand on his shoulder in understanding, not forcing a response, knowing he likely didn't have the words.
"Go ahead and eat, Harry." She walked away at that.
He chewed on his food, deep in thought, all of it centered on learning as much about his own family as he could. His desire grew in intensity, no longer wanting to know but needing to know something. Anything. He just wanted to know more.
Tomorrow couldn't come quick enough.
LINE BREAK
The Burrow
Sunday
August 23, 1992
Harry sat on the big couch in the living room, staring anxiously at the clock on the mantle of the fireplace, as it neared 10 o'clock in the morning. This clock did show time in contrast to the Weasley Family Clock that hung up on the wall, that one replacing the numbers with sections, telling of various states of being of the family. Right now, only the markers for Ginny and Mrs. Weasley were under the HOME section, with the rest of them being under TRAVELING. Mr. Weasley had taken Ron and the twins with him to Diagon Alley to get a bit of shopping done, the boys wanting to visit the quidditch shop.
Harry assumed that both Bill and Charlie were traveling due to work.
5 minutes to go. He thought, a bundle of nerves from the moment he had woken up. Mrs. Weasley had served him a plate of breakfast that he had hardly eaten, wrapping it up for later when she noticed his lack of appetite.
He was startled out his thoughts when he heard footsteps coming down the stairs, making him stand up and turn around.
"It's almost time for you to go, Harry." Mrs. Weasley said as she walked around the couch to where he was standing. Once she caught sight of his face, her face softened a touch. "No need to get so nervous. Andromeda is a kind woman. She'll do you no harm."
Harry took a deep breath, before muttering. "Just don't know what to expect, is all."
She nodded at that before guiding him towards the fireplace, opening the container for the Floo powder.
"Now remember, clear and understandable when you step into the flames. Only do so when they are green, alright?"
Harry nodded, reaching for the powder and grabbing a handful, before stepping back and tossing it in. The flames turned green.
"Tonk's Residence!" He stepped in, hoping that he had spoken clear enough. He wasn't too keen on returning to Knockturn Alley anytime soon.
His vision was filled with the green flames in an instant, his body felt like it was spinning, robbing him of any sense of direction that he may have had. This time he made no attempt at keeping his eyes open, just waiting to be spit out. At least he hadn't eaten breakfast.
In what seemed like ages to Harry, he finally exited the Floo, stumbling as his feet met solid ground. He took a moment to re-orient himself before slowly opening his eyes, hoping he was at the right place.
Harry had landed in another living room, far different to the one at the Burrow. He noticed immediately that it was twice the size, with walls that were white in color and stretching up higher up than at the Burrow. The furniture consisted of beige sofas, one large and one medium, with a coffee table in between. A cough drew his attention away from taking in the room.
Standing at the door of what looked to lead to an office, stood a smiling woman, dressed in witches' robes, navy in color. The first thing Harry thought as he looked at her face was, despite having a rather aristocratic face, she had a kind look to her, visible in the lady's light brown eyes. Her dark brown hair had a wavy nature to it, framing her angular face delicately, accentuating her high cheek bones and delicate lips.
"When I heard such a clumsy exit from Floo, for a moment I had thought my daughter had come home early, before recalling that I had someone visiting soon." The lady walked towards Harry, who could only stand there awkwardly, not knowing what to do. He tried to smile at her as she stopped in front of him, earning one in return.
"It's nice to meet you, Harry. My name is Andromeda Tonks, and I was the great-niece of your grandmother, Dorea. We are second cousins, meaning we shared the same great grandparents."
Harry's eyes widened in shock. "We're related?" He couldn't help but ask.
"You'll find that a lot of the wizards and witches are related to one another, however distant that may be. Come, let's continue the conversation in the tearoom." Andromeda led him towards a different doorway than the one she had come from, one similar in style to the living room. She gestured to one of the seats around a small round table, letting him take a seat, which he did so stiffly, before smoothly taking her own.
I feel so out of place in front of her. He couldn't help but think.
"I was rather surprised when Molly sent me a letter, even more so once I read it. She wrote of your desire to learn more about your family, commenting that you know very little beyond your parents."
"I didn't even know their names." He wanted her to know just how little he knew. His admission caused her eyebrows to raise slightly in surprise.
"Truly?"
Harry nodded. She pursed her lips into a thin line, looking away briefly, gathering her thoughts.
"Then I suppose I should start. Earlier I mentioned that we shared great grandparents, they were Cygnus Black II and Violetta Black née Bulstrode. They had 3 children, Pollux, Cassiopeia, and Dorea, with your grandmother as the youngest."
"Who had my father, and he married my mother, before having me." Harry interjected. "So, that means you come from the line of either Pollux or Cassiopeia."
"My grandfather was Pollux, Cassiopeia never married, and as far as I am aware, never had any children. Pollux had 3 children with his wife, Irma Crabbe."
I'm related to Vincent Crabbe?! He thought in horror. It must have shown on his face as Andromeda gave him a questioning look.
"One of my year mates in Slytherin has the last name Crabbe. I don't really like him." He explained to her. At least it isn't Draco.
Andromeda just nodded, continuing where she had left off. "Those 3 children were Walburga, Alphard, and my father, Cygnus. He married Druella Black née Rosier and other than me, had two more daughters."
Before continuing any further, she reached into the sleeve of her robes, producing a wand. With a wave towards somewhere behind his back, she slipped the wand back where it had been. Harry was about to ask what spell she had cast before a teapot and teacups floated onto the table.
"Best to have some tea on hand when having a lengthy conversation." She told him, answering the unspoken question.
"What do you know about the Black Family?" She asked him, after taking a moment to drink some of her tea.
"Just that they were pure-blood, and that they looked down on anyone that wasn't pure like them." He told her. My grandmother came from that family.
"They believed exactly that, some more fanatical than others. So, you can imagine how hard it was for a young girl like myself to grow up in such an environment. Very early on, I learned to keep any differing views to myself, lest I be punished." Andromeda had a pained look in her as she spoke.
Better to stay quiet, it's less painful that way. He learned that lesson with the Dursleys. Harry ignored the look Andromeda gave him once she caught sight of the pained look on his face.
"When I learned that my great-aunt had married into the Potter Family, I was shocked. Even more so when I learned that my family had barely contested it. I knew, even at my age, that the Potters were more accepting of half-bloods and muggleborns, the opposite of the Blacks."
Andromeda to a sip of her tea.
"I wanted to know why, so I asked, feigning disgust as to not arouse suspicion, and that led me to the Lord of our family."
Harry's forehead scrunched up in confusion. "Lord?"
"Yes, that's the proper way to address the head of house when not directly related to him, or in a formal setting. Arcturus Black III, was the Lord of our family at the time, and he demanded respect."
From her tone, it looks like they all gave it to him.
"So, if I wanted to find out more about Dorea, I needed to ask Lord Black, a terrifying task for a young girl, who had only ever seen him at large family gatherings."
A chime from the living room drew both their attention, with Andromeda once again drawing her wand before saying "Tempus". The purpose of the spell evident when 11:00:08 appeared in the air.
"Thankfully, I was saved of having to orchestrate a reason to visit him, my mother had been invited to tea with the Lady Black and took my sisters and I to visit. When we exited the Floo, only Melania greeted us at the fireplace to my dismay before the Lady Black informed us that Lord Black had simply decided not to greet us, that he had stayed in his office." She laughed at that.
"He just didn't want too?" Harry asked her, the image of a stiff and proper Lord crumbling in his mind.
Andromeda was smiling widely as she remembered. "Exactly! That's when I learned that outside of situations that called for it, he just wanted to be left alone. The only people he tolerated were his wife and daughter Lucretia, and if the mood struck him, his son Orion, but only if Walburga wasn't with him."
Harry could only shake his head at the explanation he got.
So, at best, anti-social and at worst openly hostile.
He returned his attention to Andromeda.
"Now I just had to wait for a moment I could slip away and find him. When I saw the slightest chance, I took it without hesitation, heading directly to find his office."
"How long did it take you to find it?" He couldn't help but ask.
"Oh, I found it instantly." She smirked at him. "The manor had the same general layout as my home, so I found the office near the library, around the center of everything." The smirk she wore turned into a fond smile, reminiscing the memory of the meeting.
"I opened the door of his office slowly, nervous of what lurked behind, pushing it inch by inch before a rough voice startled me, saying 'Just open the bloody door.' I swung it open in my surprise, and for the first time, I looked at the Lord Black up close."
Harry had leaned forward slightly, wanting to know more.
"I remember it vividly. He looked the very image of what a Black should be, pitch black hair, steel blue eyes, a full beard that was perfectly maintained. Even seated you could tell he would tower over anyone, despite being of a leaner frame. So, for a little girl of just 7 years of age, he was intimidating, even more so when I noticed the scar running down his cheek, all the way down the side of his neck."
Harry's hand drifted up towards his forehead.
Andromeda nodded. "A dark curse. One he was struck with during the Global Wizarding War."
"I've never heard of that war." Harry admitted.
"Which is understandable since this war was fought on continental Europe, and never reached our soil, at least not directly. In England, we tend to focus on the First Wizarding War, which in contrast, was fought here. Anything more talk of it should be left for another time, as did come here to discuss your grandmother.
Harry didn't argue against that, as he was more interested at the moment in learning about his father's mother. He could always look up the history of the war his parent's played a role in later.
One day…eventually…if I want to know everything I can about my parents, I'll need to know.
Before Andromeda could start speaking again, his stomach growled, causing heat to rise to his cheeks.
"Sorry…I haven't eaten today." He rubbed the back of his head, sheepishly.
She waved it off with a smile, before once again drawing her wand out. This time a plate full of sandwiches floated towards them.
"I thought this talk would take a while, so I prepared some light food just in case. Go ahead, eat as much as you want."
Harry reached for one and took a bite out it, letting out a sound of appreciation, earning him a smile from the woman before speaking again.
"I stood there, eyes wide and frozen stiff, as I looked at him. I don't remember how long it took to get my wits about me again, but it must have been a while since he said 'if you don't speak up and tell me why you're here, I'll banish you out if this room. Speak!'. It wasn't until he drew his wand and pointed it at me that I managed to shout 'Dorea!'.
If he had been in the same position, he doubted he would have managed any better.
"Was he really about to banish you out of the room?" He asked, surprised someone would do that to a child.
Andromeda shook her head. "I have no idea, but during the moment, I genuinely did think he would."
What a scary man.
"Anyway, when he heard me say her name, he lowered his wand, and asked me 'What about her?'. I didn't want to give him any reason to raise his wand at me again, so I started asking 'why'. Why a Black would marry a Potter, why did everyone brush it off, why did he allow it.
Why did he allow it? Harry wanted to know as well.
Andromeda continued. "Once I finished speaking, he looked at me, and just said 'because she wanted to, and it was too much of a hassle to argue with her.' He waved me away once he gave his reason, not that I was satisfied with that."
Harry grabbed another sandwich from the plate, speaking as he did so.
"The more you tell me about him, the more I think he just a grumpy old man."
She laughed. "I thought so as well. I think it was because he dealt with so many people as Lord Black, his family and those of others, that he grew tired of being the proper head of house. Either that or he was born that way, which is just as likely."
He could relate in some way, he realized. Since he stepped into this world, everyone already had an image of what he should be like.
I don't know who I am in this world, or how I should act. Maybe I should start acting like Arcturus, it would be funny if nothing else. He amused himself with the thought. Hermione would be horrified if I did.
Andromeda continued to recount the events. "I remember standing there, waiting for him to look back at me, so I could ask about Dorea herself. I waited. And waited. And waited. Until finally, he stood and walked around his desk." She had this grin on her face as she talked, producing one of his own.
"I thought he had finally reached the end of his patience and was about to kick me out before he surprised me by walking towards the wall on his right. I had begun to wonder what he had planned until I saw him grab the Floo powder before beckoning me over with a finger. Once I stood beside him, he said to me 'Ask her yourself' before shoving me towards the flames, saying the destination as he did."
He stared at her, not quite believing the actions of the man. This was beyond just being a grumpy old man.
'This man is insane. Insane and scary.'
"Next thing I know, I'm standing in front of your grandmother. She looked to have been expecting Lord Black to walk through, not a young girl, even more so when the connection closed. She paused for moment, a smile growing onto her face again.
"Dorea immediately walked towards the Floo, made the connection the other way, and went to confront Lord Black about the stunt he just pulled.
It sounded to Harry that his grandmother wasn't one to take things lying down. Everything he had heard of the Lord Black had painted an intimidating figure, and she had gone to confront him without hesitation.
"I stood at the same spot for about 5 or so minutes, before Dorea came back, a scowl on her face. I could see her muttering to herself but the I couldn't quite make out what she was saying." Harry imagined it wasn't anything flattering for the Lord Black.
"Whatever she was feeling at that moment towards Lord Black, she didn't direct it towards me, thankfully. I remember Dorea having this curious look on her face as she gazed at me, before asking me if it was true that I wanted to know about her, to which I said 'yes', not having a reason to lie to her."
Andromeda took a moment to pour herself another cup of tea, still warm with what he imagined was with the use of a charm.
"I admit I was scared. So much had happened in such a short time, I had no idea what to expect anymore. And the last thing I expected was for Dorea to kneel down, so she was eye level with me before drawing me into her arms, hugging me." She looked away towards a corner of the room, lost in the memory.
Harry didn't speak. This meeting, it looked like, was just as much for her as it was for him. He didn't comment as the woman pulled out a handkerchief, before dabbing at her eyes a bit.
"You need to understand, that amongst some of the older families, like the Blacks, affection to one another wasn't commonly expressed, and up until that point, I had only ever received hugs from my mother."
"Not even your father?"
She scoffed at that, giving him a sad smile. "My father never hid the fact that he wanted nothing to do with me, or my sisters. He had wanted a son, and instead had gotten three daughters.
"Her hug was gentle and warm, and once she realized how much it meant to me, she kept her arms around me, letting me choose how long I wanted to stay in her arms. I think I almost fell asleep, so comfortable I was."
The way she described it was brought back that feeling of longing. Harry wanted more than anything to have a memory like that, of being shown care and affection.
"Rather reluctantly I ended the hug, feeling I was taking too much time, and I still wanted to learn all I could about her. Lord Black must have told her why I was there, as she moved us to the tearoom, where she would let me ask my questions."
In a tearoom, just like right now. It must have shown on his face what he was thinking, as Andromeda smiled knowingly at him.
"It was intentional. Once I had the thought of re-creating the encounter, I had to follow through."
"All that was missing was a meeting with Lord Black." Harry remarked.
"I have no doubt that would have been an entertaining meeting, once he learned that you were a Potter. But that's a conversation for another time, we're here to talk about your grandmother."
Harry was about to ask what history Lord Black had with the Potters, before closing his mouth at her words. It could wait, her wording seemed to suggest having another meeting between them, and he was willing to wait.
Whatever it is, it must be interesting, if my last name would have provoked a reaction from him.
"She began by telling me that, growing up and during Hogwarts, she was rather arrogant. Everything came easy to her. Dorea knew the prestige of the Black family, of the power and influence it held in our world and add to that her brilliance. Gorgeous, smart, charismatic, ambitious, cunning, she had it all. Perfect, they described her. To everyone around her, they found her without flaws."
Whatever idea of his grandmother Harry had built up in his head, they were simply crushed into pieces the more Andromeda spoke.
"But then how did…" His voice trailed off, not knowing how to ask the question on his mind.
"How did she become the lady everybody remembers her by?" Andromeda had a smirk, before patting his knee. "I had the same question, and I didn't waste any time in asking her. I simply needed to know. To her, it all came down to Charlus Potter."
"My grandfather…she changed because of him?"
She nodded.
"They attended Hogwarts at the same time, well mostly, as Charlus was a year above her, so chances of them interacting were minimal. Less so when you added that he was in Gryffindor, and she was in Slytherin. When- "
"She was in Slytherin?!" Harry cut in.
Andromeda gained a confused look on her sculpted face. "Yes. All Blacks have been in Slytherin, except one."
"Even you? But…Hagrid said…" He didn't finish the question, not wanting to seem rude.
She gained a peeved look on her face, understanding what was left unsaid.
"That dark wizards and witches only come from that house? It is the house of cunning and ambition, not evil and wicked. A hero can be ambitious in his noble goals while a villain can be courageous as they challenge the order of things. I hope you have better sense than to judge people by the colors they represent." Her voiced was firm as she spoke, no trace of lightheartedness that it had before.
Harry ducked his head, not knowing what to say before settling for a nod to show he understood. He might have only known her for a few hours but being reprimanded so firmly was embarrassing. He felt shame as he thought of her words, realizing he had a biased against Slytherin.
Andromeda place a hand on his chin, making him stiffen slightly, before gently pushing it up. She withdrew her hand when he met her eyes with his own.
"Chin up Harry. Yes, you were wrong to think a certain way, but now you can do better. You do promise to do better, right?"
Harry nodded firmly. That earned him a smile.
"Good. Now, when Dorea and Charlus first met each other at Hogwarts, it was during a dueling competition, one that pitted students from each house against one another. Students could challenge anyone from opposing houses, no greater than one year apart and a higher year could not challenge below them."
"So, she challenged him?" He asked. If Dorea was younger then she could challenge Charlus, but Harry imagined that his grandmother wouldn't just pick anyone to duel. She would more than likely have a reason.
"Charlus challenged Arcturus, who he considered his rival academically as Arcturus was ranked first ahead of him in their year. Your grandfather was very competitive and saw this as another opportunity to best his rival. Arcturus refused because he didn't want to."
That's sounds about right.
"Charlus would have attempted again were it not for another Black stepping in and challenging him.
Harry gained a look of confusion at that.
"Why though? Why challenge him?"
"Think back to how I described Dorea, particularly how she felt about herself, do you remember?"
Andromeda waited for him nod before continuing.
"Dorea was very much aware of her reputation amongst pure-blood circles and at Hogwarts, and she took every opportunity to enhance the image they had of her. The chance to best a Potter, a very reputable name, was too good to pass up."
"She really believed she could beat him, even a year younger?"
"There was not a doubt in her mind that she could." Andromeda answered him.
If his grandmother was that confident, just how good at magic was she? At everything? If he was in her place, he would have never dared to challenge someone older than him. Harry felt this sensation fill his stomach, a feeling he didn't like.
"Your grandfather was hesitant to accept the challenge. Charlus was well aware of the words being said of Dorea, yet he still agreed. They dueled each other and fair to say it was lopsided. Dorea won handily."
Harry stared open mouthed at her, causing Andromeda to laugh.
"It was over so quickly that mutterings started to grow around them, the common theme being that it might have been a fluke, that Charlus wasn't ready. Dorea heard the mutterings, and was none too pleased, as had expected for people to be in awe of her abilities."
"What about my grandfather, how did he react?"
"He was still in a state of shock of course, given how easily he had been beaten. Once Charlus composed himself walked towards Dorea to offer his congratulations, ignoring the mutterings of it being a fluke, which he knew were false." Andromeda explained. "Dorea offered him a rematch instead, saying 'it might a been a fluke win, why not take the chance to soothe your pride?'. Her intention was to have a drawn-out duel this time, where she played around with him a bit before winning, amplifying her image.
Proud. Arrogant. Vain. It seemed his grandmother was all those things, and the more Harry learned about her the more he wanted to know.
"Did my grandfather accept?"
She let out a laugh at that.
"Absolutely not. Charlus was aware of her intentions, saying to her 'And give you exactly what you want, a chance to show off and quiet the mutterings? No. Why don't you just accept my congratulations for a quick win, and we can go our separate ways.", before offering his handshake to her this time.
Harry groaned.
"Let me guess, that annoyed her."
Andromeda nodded, smiling widely at his words. Of course, if his grandmother was as invested in her image as she seemed, having shadow of imperfection, no matter how insignificant, would stick in her mind. His grandfather drew the same conclusion it seemed.
"Dorea made one last attempt to get another duel, by questioning his bravery. 'Seems that you're scared of me, Potter." She told him, to which Charlus replied. 'Frightened. I consider it a mercy that it was over in an instant.' His hand was still there in front of her, waiting for a handshake."
"Did she shake his hand?" Harry really wanted to know.
"She begrudgingly shook his hand, but not before swearing to Charlus that she would get that second duel. Dorea always got what she wanted."
Andromeda looked like she was about to continue before a chime from living room stopped her. Another quick cast of 'tempus' told them it was afternoon, disappointing Harry, as it was time to head back to the Burrow.
Harry looked at the older woman in front of him with a hopeful gaze.
"Could we meet again soon…I mean…if it's alright with you…" His voice was unsure, almost expecting a refusal.
She smiled kindly at him.
"Of course, Harry. There is still so much left to talk about regarding your grandmother, I never expected a single meeting would cover it all." A thoughtful frown appeared on her face.
"There is something I need to ask you before you leave. How much do you know of your standing amongst our kind? Specifically, about the power and influence of the Potter Family in our world?"
Harry shook his head, a confused look on his face.
"Nothing, really. I mean, I have a trust vault that my parents set up, if that means anything."
The frown on her face deepened a bit further before she smiled gently at him again.
"Something else to cover next time you come visit…in fact…" Andromeda trailed off, mulling over an idea that occurred to her.
"Why don't the next time you visit, we take a trip to Gringotts and ask the goblins there some questions. Then once we finish up there, we'll come back here to keep on talking about Dorea."
Harry agreed to that, not having any reason to say no.
"Excellent. Now, I do believe it's time for you to head back, wouldn't want to worry Molly to much now." She stood up gracefully at that.
Harry mirrored her, his movements more sudden and jerkier, looking up at her, unsure of what to do.
Her eyes held no judgment to them from what he could tell, only kindness. He wanted to look away from her but held his nerve, still fidgeting slightly. Andromeda's eyes seemed to soften even further, noting his discomfort, before opening her mouth.
"Is it alright if I give you a hug?"
Harry was slightly stunned at the question, unsure if he had heard correctly, playing the words over in his head to make sure he understood them. Not feeling confident on speaking, he merely nodded his head at her.
Her movements were slow, giving him ample time to change his mind, before her arms wrapped around his skinny frame. It took Harry a moment to respond, slowly raising his own arms from his sides, before returning the embrace.
So warm.
Was all that Harry could think, before clarity returned to his mind, making him withdraw his arms. He still wasn't used to hugs, he realized. If Andromeda noticed anything, she didn't mention it, stepping back as she gave him some space.
She led him to the Floo, making the connection to the Burrow, before she spoke to him again.
"It truly was wonderful meeting you, Harry." She gave him another smile, one he was starting to enjoy seeing on her face.
"It was great meeting you as well, Mrs. Tonks." He returned the smile.
"None of that, you can call me Andi, is that understood?"
Andi smiled when Harry agreed, before watching as he stepped through the Floo.
LINE BREAK
The Burrow
Saturday
August 29, 1992
It had been almost a week since his meeting Andromeda, Andi, as Harry had taken to calling her in his mind. When he had stumbled out of the Burrow on his return, Mrs. Weasley had been sitting on the living room couch, apparently waiting for him. She hadn't ask about what they had discussed, just asking if he was hungry, leaving to fix him lunch before he could answer.
The days that followed were much of the same of the previous weeks, only this time thoughts of his family plagued his mind, the need to know more as the days passed. He was set to meet Andi tomorrow morning, Mrs. Weasley having agreed to another meeting, not that she would have denied him. The two older women had agreed to no set time limit for him to visit, only that he be back at the Burrow before they headed to bed.
With another visit to Andi already made for Sunday, Harry thought back to the first visit, and all that he learned. Having a connection, even if it was just a retelling of events, meant so much to him. He wanted to strengthen that connection by learning more, and those desires led him to think about diary. About what Tom could tell him. Harry just needed to find the time to ask what he knew, to write down his thoughts onto the parchment.
That wasn't to say Harry let those thoughts stop him from enjoying his summer break as it came to an end. He joked around with Ron, enjoyed the antics of the twins, even talked more with Ginny, who, Harry realize, had a very lively personality. Once she got past her discomfort at being around him, she was more willing to speak her mind, trading jibes with her brothers and to his surprise, even him.
With the start of the new school year only two days away, Mrs. Weasley had asked at the dinner table as they ate if they had finished their schoolwork, getting multiple nods and affirmations, save for one child of hers. Ron had finally decided to get started on his assignments, under his mother's watchful eye in the living room, leaving Harry to head upstairs alone and into the bedroom.
Alone.
With time.
This was the opportunity Harry had been waiting for all week.
He didn't run over to his trunk, not wanting to draw attention with the sound of rapid footsteps. With barely a minute having passed, Harry found himself exactly like he did last time, preparations and all.
Hello, Tom.
Hello again, Harry.
Do you remember our agreement?
Yes.
That was good, it seemed the diary kept track of conversations. Now, if they diary knew about his family, there was a chance that Tom might have interacted with someone related to him. Harry placed his quill down on the parchment and began to write. He already had a question on his mind.
Did you attend Hogwarts with any Potters?
No.
Did you meet any of my family?
No.
Did you know of any Potters while at Hogwarts, or during your life?
Yes, three of them. Henry Potter and his wife Victoria Potter, and their son, Charlus Potter.
Harry stared at words before they faded, that was his grandfather, of that, he was sure. His eyes stared at the spot where the other names had been. Where the name of his great-grandparents had been.
Henry and Victoria.
What do you know about them?
Victoria Potter, I know very little about. She remained out public eye of her own choice. They said she much preferred to tend to her garden, keeping to herself. Henry Potter never pushed her to do anything more than that.
What about Henry Potter?
Very much the opposite of his wife, Henry was a prominent member of the Wizengamot, the Potters having a seat amongst the body. Charismatic, righteous, and outspoken in his pro-muggle beliefs, which led to some controversy when he condemned the Minister for Magic.
Why did he condemn him?
It was during the muggle war, First World War I believe they called it, that Henry wanted to aid the muggles involved in the war.
I don't see what's wrong with that. Why didn't the Minister want to help?
The Minister did not want to help for fear of the Statue of Secrecy being broken, and they were backed by the International Confederation of Wizards, the ICW.
Did he have any support among the Wizengamot? There must a have been some people who wanted to help.
Some houses voiced their agreement with Henry, but many of the older houses disagreed. They felt that it was a matter for muggles to deal with themselves, without aid from wizards. His contrasting viewpoint was what ultimately led his house to be excluded from the Sacred Twenty-Eight.
Again, Harry stared at words in which he had no idea what they meant, not knowing something which involved his family. During the talk with Andi, she had asked him if he knew of the power and influence he held, and now the diary kept mentioning things as if it was supposed to be common knowledge. The Wizengamot, the ICW, and now Sacred Twenty-Eight!
Harry had never heard of any of these terms!
If Hermione was here, I would have asked her. She would have known. Harry let out huff.
I can ask the diary, at least.
What's the Sacred Twenty-Eight?
They were a list of families with influence in our world and a rich history. They had power, wealth, knowledge, prestige. Everything. The Potter should have been one of them, if not for Henry Potter. You mentioned the Malfoys as a family you want to know about, then you must know that they are a family within this list.
At the mention of the Malfoy family, Harry remembered he still wanted to know about them. He glanced at the door, making sure it was still firmly shut. About an hour, give or take, is about how much time he had left to ask the diary any questions.
The Malfoys, what do you know about them?
A substantial amount. Though, I must ask. Why?
Because I wanted to know about them. You said you would tell me.
In exchange for knowing about you, and the world around you.
Harry had forgotten about that, and immediately began writing down his reasons.
I don't like them. One of them, Draco, he's in Slytherin at Hogwarts, he insults me and my friends every chance he gets.
Did you give him a reason to?
No! The first time I saw him, he insulted the gamekeeper at Hogwarts. Then on the train, he insulted my friend before he offered to be my friend, saying some families are better than others.
And you rejected his offer of friendship. This friend of yours, what family is he from?
Weasley. And Draco insulted him just because he was a Weasley.
Another family of the Sacred Twenty-Eight.
They're apart of the list too? But…how?
The Weasley family once had a moderate amount of wealth, some influence. What they mainly had was a pure-blood line stretching back years, and the history to go along with it. History they discarded, having no pride as wizards. That is one of the reasons many of the older families, who are prideful of their history, have little to no respect towards the Weasleys.
Is that why Draco insulted him the first chance he got? Because he was proud of his history and Ron wasn't?
Then why not talk with him? Understand his point of view. Matter of fact, why not talk with all your fellow students, all those who belong to the older families.
To find out what? That they look down on people just because they have history they can be proud of and others don't?
Would you not be proud of your ancestors, they who made their family name have meaning, have power behind it. Each member of the family adding to the greatness that is their family. Greatness attracts more greatness, so why not surround yourself with other great families, surround yourself that which you hope to emulate.
Harry thought back to his sorting, on how the Sorting Hat pondered over which house to place him in.
You could be great, you know.
The diary's next words resonated with him.
I was orphan. No mother, no father, no siblings, no family. I was nobody. I wanted to be somebody, wanted to prove my existence, but I couldn't.
Until I discovered I had magic.
Suddenly, I had the means to be somebody. To be more than 'just Tom'.
I could be great.
Harry was at a loss. It was like looking at a mirror, so similar the experiences of Tom to his own, yet Tom wasn't afraid to be more.
To be great.
LINE BREAK
Tonks Residence
Sunday
August 30, 1992
"I'm really starting to hate the Floo." Harry couldn't help but say after once again stumbling upon exiting the fireplace.
"At least you didn't end up rolling towards the couches, as is the case with my daughter." A man he didn't recognize lounged on the couch in front of him, standing up once he had Harry's attention.
Harry had expected to meet Andi upon his exit and was caught slightly off guard by there being someone else.
"You're not Andi." He pointed out the obvious. The man was about a foot taller than Andromeda, and a slight belly to him that the woman did not have. Also, he was a guy.
The man just chuckled, now standing in front of him. Up close, Harry got his first clear look at him, noting his sandy blonde hair and blue eyes. He held his hand towards Harry, introducing himself.
"You must be Harry. I'm Dromeda's Husband, Edward Tonks, but you can just call me Ted." The man named Ted gave him a boyish grin.
Harry shook his hand.
"Does your daughter also hate the Floo?" He asked Ted.
The grin he had on his face grew even wider.
"My daughter, Nymphadora, hates anything that's a flat surface and you place your feet on."
Now Harry was confused.
"What my husband is trying to say, is that my daughter is clumsy." Andromeda told him as she walked into living room.
Harry gained a look of understanding at that, feeling sorry for whoever this Nymphadora was. She evidently had it harder than him.
Andromeda now stood next to her husband, dressed in witches' robes, contrasting with her husband who wore casual muggle clothing.
She turned to face Ted.
"Now, before I head off with Harry, do you remember at what time Nymphadora is expecting you to visit?" She asked her husband.
Ted nodded.
"Good." She kissed him on the cheek before turning to Harry.
"Come along then. We'll want to get to Diagon Alley before there's more people walking who can recognize you."
Harry looked at her uneasily.
"We're not taking the Floo again, are we?"
"I'd rather not have to side-along apparate with you, and the Knight Bus is a horrendous form of travel. I'll go first through the Floo and watch as you exit, alright?"
He shrugged at that. Andromeda looked like she wanted to say something at that, before stopping herself.
They waved goodbye to Ted, before stepping through.
Harry had braced himself as he traveled, ready to stop his stumbling once he exited. It turned out to be unneeded, Andromeda putting an arm out to catch him as she had told him she would.
"I'll need to teach you the proper way to use the Floo. You're to tense as you take it." She said as he steadied himself. "That's for a later occasion, perhaps on the way back. Come, lets get out the way before more people start exiting."
She led him through the building, which he immediately recognized as the Leaky Cauldron, towards the rear of the pub where the entrance of Diagon Alley was. Harry kept close to Andi, who walked with purpose and confidence.
In no time, they found themselves walking up the white marble steps of Gringotts and past the bronze doors that were guarded by goblin guards.
Andromeda wasted no walking up to a teller and Harry, who was a step behind her, noticed it was the same goblin from his first visit to the bank, Griphook.
"Mr. Potter is here to enquire about his family belongings, and if possible, visit the vaults he has ownership of." Her voice was toneless as she addressed the goblin.
Griphook, who had been looking at Andromeda, turned his head to peer around her, his slanted eyes landing on Harry.
"Does Mr. Potter have his key?"
"He does."
Harry had made sure to put it in his pocket before he left, checking every so often that the key was still there.
"Then I will show you to a meeting room. Follow me."
The goblin didn't wait for a response as he made his way towards the back of bank, only sparing a glance to make sure they were following him. Griphook led them to an area far less populated than the main hall, with no counters, only doors to rooms along the side walls.
Opening the doors to one of them, Griphook gestured for them to go in.
"A goblin will be with you shortly. Remember wizards, no funny business." With that, he closed the door.
Andromeda turned to Harry, the serious look on her face being replaced by a small smile. She guided him to the seats, letting him sit before doing the same herself.
Harry looked at her, uncertainty visible on his face.
"Best let me do the talking for now, I'll only prompt you to speak if it is required." She looked directly at him as she spoke the next part. "I know how intimidating they can be to children, just remember to show confidence as you speak, it's important you do. Can you do that for me?"
Harry nodded. Andromeda had been nothing but kind to him from the moment he met her, and if she felt it was important he do something, then he would do it.
I think I can trust her. I want to trust her.
"Good. We should be expecting a goblin to walk in any moment now."
True to her word, one walked in about half a minute later.
This goblin was dressed similarly to Griphook, though their appearance was older, having more pronounced wrinkles. They didn't spare a greeting in their direction, not that Harry expected one, before they took a seat behind the desk in front of them.
"My name is Gorgras. Now, you wanted to know about the belongings of the young Mr. Potter. Before I tell you any of that, Mr. Potter here will have to supply a blood sample, to prove he is identity."
Harry was startled at the fact he would have to give some of his blood. Andromeda noticed his reaction, giving him an apologetic look before speaking.
"That is acceptable. It only requires a drop of blood, as I recall."
Gorgras only nodded, reaching into a side drawer of the desk, and taking out a piece of parchment and a small needle. He looked towards Harry, presenting the needle to him.
"Hold out a finger over the parchment on the table, a drop of blood is all I need."
With a look towards Andromeda, who gave him an encouraging nod, Harry held out his left index finger, watching as the goblin poked at it with the needle.
A drop of blood quickly appeared, falling towards the parchment, disappearing as it made contact. Nothing happened for a second, before writing started forming from the top.
Like the diary. Harry thought to himself, reading what was appearing.
Harry James Potter.
Born on July 31st, 1980.
Father: James Potter
Mother: Lily Jane Potter nee Evans
His mother had a middle name. He hadn't even known that.
"You are indeed who you say you are." Gorgras took the parchment off the table, before laying down a medium sized tome. He slid his finger down its front cover, opening it to the first page.
"Now then, Mr. Potter, as you have not reached the wizards age of majority, you cannot access the main family vault of the Potters, nor can you visit any of the properties."
Andromeda spoke up.
"What can he access? I am aware different families have differing restrictions for those not of age."
"He already has access to his trust vault, which is replenished at the start of year. He may be presented with more detailed information in a folder if that is his wish."
"It would be appreciated if Mr. Potter was given such information, preferably before we leave Gringotts today."
Gorgras made nodded at that, making a small note of it.
He spoke once again to Andromeda.
"Is that all?"
"Are there any other vaults he can access?"
The goblin took another look over the tome, flipping pages as he read over the information, before looking at her once more.
"There are two vaults available to him other than his trust vault. Personal vaults belonging to Charlus Potter and Dorea Potter."
Harry felt his excitement grow at that, wanting to visit those vaults and look at what his grandparents had stored in there.
Andromeda had a look of confusion on her face, asking the goblin something she had on her mind.
"The older families typically absorbed the contents of personal vaults of those who have passed into their main vault. Why wasn't it the case with these?"
Gorgras seemed to be prepared for that question, answering promptly.
"That would have been the case if the next head of house, James Potter, had given his agreement. His location was unknown to Gringotts, and it was only with his passing, did we become aware of it. The decision will fall on Mr. Potter here, when he is of age."
"The decision to absorb its contents or not. You mentioned the vaults being available to him now. He would like to see them."
"If you have no other questions, I shall escort you down into the vaults."
Gorgras wasted no time in standing up, heading towards the door, expecting them to follow.
The ride down into the dimly lit caverns of the underground was just as twisting as Harry remembered it being. While the feeling didn't match up to the elation he felt while flying on his broom, a smile still worked its way onto his face.
The same couldn't be said for Andromeda, who gripped the handles of the cart for dear life.
They stopped in front of vaults 693 and 694, which meant these were his grandparent's personal vaults. As they stepped off the cart and walked behind Gorgras, the excitement he had been feeling on the ride down growing in intensity.
Only Andromeda's hand on his shoulder stopped him from bumping into the goblin in front, who had stopped just in front of the large door marked 693. Harry stepped back next to Andi, watching the goblin place a finger in the middle of the door.
The sound of locks turning filled the passageway, before the doors slowly opened up, letting him look inside. At Andromeda's urging, he walked inside, stopping briefly to look back at her, wanting her to come with him.
This vault was the same size as his own vault, but where his had piles of gold, this one contained an assortment of objects, none if which he could identify. A single trunk was what drew his eye, placed in the middle of the room, well clear of anything else.
Harry walked towards it, gazing at the initials on display on the lid.
CP
This one is my grandfathers.
He reached down to open it.
A black coat laid on top, neatly folded before Harry grabbed it and seeing it fully. To call it tattered would be an understatement, the symbols that dominated the coat were unrecognizable due to the tears and rips all over.
Andromeda, who had been waiting patiently just a bit behind him, spoke up.
"It's dragonhide. The coat belonged to Charlus, a gift from Dorea, for him to wear while he was out fighting in the war."
Harry inspected the coat closely, all the imperfections dotted around the fabric telling him a story, of the man you wore it.
"Do these symbols mean anything, or are they just for decoration?" He asked.
She walked over at his question, wanting to get a look on the symbols he mentioned. Her eyes drifted the coat, inspecting the still eligible symbols.
"These are runes, something you don't begin learning until third year, if you choose to do so, as it is an elective."
"What do they do?"
"Well…you see this symbol right here? That's Thurisaz, it symbolizes protection, and was part of a larger sequence of runes, very complex, and provided Charlus some protection."
Harry looked over the coat again.
"So, why is torn all over, if was designed to protect?"
She took a moment to answer, trying to recall what she knew about runes.
"I do believe you've learned that Enchantments are another way to refer to Charms, correct? Runes can be used to create Enchantments, a longer lasting and much more durable version, but for it to work, it needs a supply of magic. Once it runs out of that supply- "
"It no longer works."
"Exactly. It's current state is likely due to not having it repaired, as truly exceptional Enchanters are rare, and often have their services in high demand."
Harry folded the coat again, placing it beside the trunk, before seeing what else was in there. Which wasn't much, as, most of remained was various documents, their subject mainly centering around someone named Herpo The Foul.
Not finding anything other than the coat, which Harry wanted to take, the pair transferred over to the other vault.
Where as Charlus had an assortment of objects of in his vault, Dorea's contained things pertaining to potions. Cauldrons of various types lined of side, while multiple glass jars containing ingredients filled the shelves of the opposite wall.
Harry looked at it, a question already forming on his lips.
"Shouldn't this be somewhere else, like at their home?"
Andromeda also had a look of confusion, before she realized something.
"I do recall hearing about a potion mishap in Dorea's workshop, causing enough damage that they had to relocate much of what they could salvage. Perhaps, they simply forgot to take it back."
He shook at that, before walking towards a table near the corner. On it, was a journal, labeled with his grandmother's name.
"Dorea kept all her notes about potions in there, filled to the brim with her writing. She considered it her worst subject."
Harry looked back at that.
"I thought she was perfect at everything, that everything came easily to her."
Andromeda smiled at that.
"Everything did come easily to her, but if there was one subject that she lagged behind in, it was potions. It annoyed her, she admitted to me."
Looking back at the journal, he opened in to the first page that had writing. It had the instructions to the very first potion he brewed, the Cure for Boils, his grandmother adding notes below it.
Remember, again, after adding the crushed fang, the mixture should be heated at 250 for 10 seconds. Not almost 10, or 10 and a bit. 10. Exactly. Honestly, the last thing we need is for the potion to blow up in our face, disfiguring it beyond all recognition. Denying our beauty, our perfection, our brilliance to the world. Who could replace us? Who could hope to measure up to the woman that is Dorea Black?
No one.
Remember, 10 seconds.
Once he finished reading, he closed the journal, before looking at Andromeda.
"Was she really like that?"
She laughed at his question. Harry figured she must have read this exact same page before, based on her reaction.
"From how she described herself during her Hogwarts years, yes. If you want to have an outside view to her, may I suggest speaking with Professor McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey, as they were in the same year at Hogwarts.
"They were?" He asked, surprised.
"They were. I'm sure if you asked, they would be willing to tell a couple stories about her." Andromeda smiled at him. "Now, why don't you keep looking around."
Harry did after a moment, not finding anything as interesting as the journal, before telling Andromeda he was ready to go. When they exited the vault, Gorgras was waiting impatiently for them, urging them to get onto the cart before speeding away towards the top.
They exited Gringotts soon after, having been handed the documents they requested just before leaving, which Harry handed to Andromeda. The coat and journal were being carried by him. The pair of them were walking back towards the Leaky Cauldron to make use of the Floo, to Harry's dread, much to Andi's amusement.
Standing in front of the fireplace inside the tavern, the woman spoke to Harry, handing him the documents she carried.
"Keep these in a safe place alright, these are very important. Also, whenever you find an opportunity to do so, read them over. Best to know all you can about what is to be yours."
Harry nodded seriously at her words.
Andromeda seemed uncertain after moment, deciding whether she should ask him something, her eyes drifting over to the coat.
"If you would like, I can fix up that coat for you, just without any Enchantments. The runes that remain would merely be for appearances sake." She waited for him to take her words in, giving him time to decide.
Harry looked down for a moment, feeling the fabric of the coat in his hand, already knowing his answer.
"I would like that…Andi."
A brilliant smile met him when he lifted his head back up.
"I will try to have it ready before you head to Hogwarts. If I do, I'll stop by the Burrow."
Andromeda slowly enveloped him in a hug, one he was a bit quicker in returning, before stepping back.
"Take care, Harry. I'll see you soon."
Harry waved goodbye to her, before heading back to the Weasleys.
LINE BREAK
The Burrow
Tuesday
September 1st, 1992
Harry could only look on in shock as he watched the Weasley family scramble around. It was chaos. All around the house, he could hear the sounds of last minute packing, thankful for having the sense to pack the day before.
He turned to look at Hedwig, who much like him, swiveled her head from side to side.
"I'm not forgetting anything, am I?"
Hedwig let out a hoot that he took as a 'no'.
"Just making sure. Don't fancy myself coming out alive if I have to join this mad dash."
Mrs. Weasley had been by a couple times already, asking each time if he had everything packed. Each time, Harry responded with a 'yes'. The trunk had been packed yesterday, being checked over three times to make sure he had everything he owned inside. One of the first things he placed inside were the documents from Gringotts, and the diary.
Harry hadn't written in the since the last occasion, still troubled by the words of the diary, and every night after having read them were spent deep in thought.
If anyone had asked Harry to get to know some of his Slytherin classmates, he would have told them to bugger off. That he didn't want to get to know anyone from that house, thinking they were all bullies.
The words of Andromeda echoed in his head, a reminder to be more open-minded to other students.
Just because they belong to Slytherin doesn't make them bad. He thought to himself. Harry had made a decision this very morning about what to do.
He would try.
Try to get to know them.
Try to learn from them.
Try to befriend Draco.
Try to be better.
Try to be great.
Harry admitted, that a small part of him, wanted to see if the Sorting Hat's words proved to be true. That Slytherin could help him on the way to greatness.
Now he found himself waiting in the living room. Beside him were his trunks, with Hedwig inside her cage right on top of them. The time had just struck 10:15, leaving only about 45 minutes left until the train departed towards Hogwarts.
I would be surprised if we somehow made it with more than a minute to spare.
Harry almost jumped out of his seat when the face of Andromeda appeared in the flames of the fireplace.
"Ah, Hello Harry. Is Molly available?" She asked.
He was about to answer when at that moment, Mrs. Weasley came down the stairs. She scowl on her face was soon replaced by a smile once she caught sight of Andromeda.
"What can I do for you, Andromeda?"
"Would it be alright if Harry stepped through to my end for a moment. I have something I want to give him."
Harry's face lit up at that.
"The coat! You managed to fix it?" Excitement evident in his voice.
She smiled at him through the flames, turning to look at Mrs. Weasley, waiting for her approval.
Mrs. Weasley looked at the clock on the mantle, noting the time, before glancing in his direction, glancing at his trunks.
She bit her lips, hands playing with the hem of her apron.
"If it's not too much of a bother, would you be willing to take Harry to Kings Cross Station?"
Harry stared at her, surprised.
"We're running kind of late on our end, and I would hate to make Harry miss the train. He's already packed up."
Andromeda looked briefly at him, asking for his approval which she got before looking back at the other woman.
"It's not a bother at all. I'll wait for him to come through."
Her face faded from the flames.
Mrs. Weasley turned to look at him, waiting for him to stand up.
"If you can, please look after Ginny, it's the first time she's ever been away from us. I know she's a strong girl and can look after herself, but- "
"I'll look after her. I'll make sure Ron does too." He offered her a smile.
She looked at him, engulfing him into a crushing hug, whispering into his ear as she held him.
"Before you go, I want you to know that you've been a joy to have here this past month. You're such a sweet boy. No doubt your parents would be proud."
Harry let out a shaky breath at her words.
She stepped back, letting her arms hang at her sides once more.
"Why don't you let Hedwig out of her cage, let her fly to Hogwarts."
Hedwig let out a chirp of agreement, flapping her wings as she did so.
He opened her cage, letting her talons grab on to his forearm, before bringing her close to him.
"Make sure you take care of yourself, Hedwig."
She nipped on his fingers gently, before taking flight, using the kitchen window as her exit.
"Run along now. I think Andromeda has waited long enough."
Harry waved one final time at the older woman before walking through the Floo, pulling his trunks behind him.
Andromeda stood up at the sight of him, a coat neatly folded in her hands. His eyes were immediately drawn towards it.
She noticed where he was looking, holding it out in front of her for him to take.
Harry ran his fingers across the pitch black fabric, noting that what remained of the runes had no pattern to them.
"Why don't you try it on." Andromeda told him.
He did at once. The material on the inside was softer, contrasting with the leather like feel of the outer part. He let out a gasp as the coat shrunk in size, now fitting perfecting on his skinny frame.
"My knowledge on runes is lacking but I dug through some old material to find a sequence that's purpose was to adjust clothing to the wearer. You'll find it will always fit you, even as you grow bigger."
Harry let himself enjoy the feel of it before remembering they were limited on time.
He asked Andromeda what time it was.
"We have about twenty minutes, more than enough time. We'll take the Floo, which should take us directly onto Platform 9 3/4, if memory serves me right."
They stood in front of her fireplace, the destination already said.
Harry thought back to all that has happened this summer. All the things he's learned. All he still had left to learn.
He wanted to learn so much.
He wanted to be someone his grandparents would be proud of. A child his parents would be proud of. A Potter his ancestors would be proud of.
Right as he stepped into the Floo, he had another thought.
I want to be great.
LINE BREAK
A/N: I wanted to get to the start of Hogwarts, but I also had somethings I wanted to cover. It resulted in a much longer chapter than I had anticipated.
The last update was about a week ago, so I'm looking to maintain that gap between chapters.
Next chapter will continue on from the moment Harry arrives at the platform.