The Bonds That Tie
The meeting was well over past midnight and marking the day anew as February 8th, 1997. Harry got a chuckle out of his friends all starting to fall asleep but snapping awake to make it look like they were listening. It was probably about 1 am and the topic had been on how to make their moves as a united front. Harry was needed as the insider for the other side. While Severus was a spy for Voldemort, Dumbledore actively knew that and never gave too much away in case Snape wasn't truly with them. Harry, though, Dumbledore trusted him entirely and therefore, with Harry's vampiric abilities, could find out just about anything.
"So, we need to make a move. I've been in hiding since the end of fifth year with the ministry battle." Voldemort stated.
"We can't just raid if we're aiming to throw everyone for a loop and out Dumbledore as the bad one." Nott Senior remarked.
"There is bound to be bad blood from the past, anyone who has suffered or been killed because of you, my lord. Not everyone will see the difference and agree with the notion of you ruling." Walden Macnair added.
"Just an idea, but how about you try reversing some of the damage?" Harry told Voldemort. "I'm not saying bring back the dead, but what about righting some wrongs?"
"Such as?" Voldemort questioned.
"Is it possible to reverse the effects of the cruciatus curse where Bellatrix tortured the Longbottom's to insanity?" Harry asked. "Or at least repair some of the damage so that they could function in society?"
"It's never been done, but I suppose that makes it possible if a way is discovered to reverse the damage…" Voldemort considered.
"If the damage could be repaired, showing people you're not truly trying to just dominate them or do whatever to get your way…It might bring more people to your side as Dumbledore's actions come to light and show everyone that he's not as innocent as he portrays himself. You've at least never hid your intentions while Dumbledore is playing people like marionets."
"Marionets?" Goyle Senior asked.
"Puppets," Harry clarified.
"I could bring back the dead…" Voldemort informed.
"So could I, Tom, but those who return from the dead are never who they were before death. Have you never heard the tale of three brothers from the Tales of Beedle Bard? How the second brother used an enchanted stone to bring back his lover from the dead, but she wasn't the same. Cold and sad. Her soul longed for the peace of death." Harry remarked.
"Why can you bring back the dead?" Draco blinked.
"Vampires have Necromancy abilities," Harry told him.
"I've never heard that tale…" Voldemort said.
"You should probably educate yourself about certain aspects before you go suggesting an idea like that. Just because you can do it, doesn't mean you should, Tom…" Harry told him as he opened his side bag and searched around before tossing a book down the table to the dark lord. Harry used his hand to open the book and go right to the story. "Three brothers traveling a long and winding road at twilight came across a treacherous river that could not be crossed or one would meet their fate. Possessing magical ability, the brothers created a bridge with their wands. Halfway across, they were met by the enraged spirit of Death itself, who was cheated of his due in claiming the brothers' lives. Death pretended to congratulate them and promised three gifts of their choosing." Harry recited as Voldemort read along and the others just listening.
"The first brother asked for the most powerful wand in existence, so Death fashioned a wand from a nearby Elder tree on the river bank. The second brother, wanting to humiliate death further, asked for the power to bring back the dead. So Death picked up a stone from the river and gave it to him. The last brother asked for a way to go forward without being followed, even by Death himself. Death tore his own cloak of invisibility and gave it to the third brother." Harry continued. "The brothers went their separate ways. The first brother traveled to a village where he'd once quarreled with another wizard, they dueled and the brother won and boasted how powerful his wand was. Later that night, someone slit the man's throat and took the wand for their own, so Death claimed the life of the first brother. The second returned home, turning the stone three times in his hand as he called back his lover who he was going to marry and she died before such union took place."
Harry paused only a moment. "However, the woman was sad and cold, and they were separated by a veil. Though she returned to the mortal world, she did not belong and suffered. The second brother, driven mad with hopeless longing, killed himself by hanging from the balcony so that he could truly join his love. Death claimed the second brother. But for the third brother, Death could never find until the man was old and passed the cloak to his son, and that's when the third brother met Death as an old friend, going with him willingly and departing the world as equals."
"Right, so...Wow." Pansy said, surprised.
"But that's just a story, those object don't exist…" Voldemort stated firmly.
"Are you so certain about that?" Harry arched a sure brow as Voldemort hesitated to answer that he was positive.
"Alright, I'll bite…" Narcissa spoke up. "What do you know about that story not being a story, Harry?"
"It was a story based on three very real brothers that Tom, and I are descended from." Harry revealed.
"Explain…" Voldemort invited.
"We're very distant cousins," Harry stated calmly.
"Merlin…I remember now, that day at the bank…" Lucius realized. "The Peverell Brothers…"
"That's correct," Harry nodded. "The three brothers are Antioch, Cadmus, and Ignotus. It's an undefined connection, but Salazar Slytherin descends from Cadmus. Descending from Cadmus and Salazar connects the Gaunt family to them. Mind you, there are many generations from Salazar to Gaunt, but I assure you they're connected. First down were sibling pair, Rionach and Gormlaith Gaunt; sisters. Rionach marries Willian Sayre and their daughter Isolt Sayre, who is one of the founders to the American Wizarding School, Ilvermorny. Isolt married a muggle man named James Steward and they had two kids, as well as adopting two boys named Webster and Chadwick Boot."
"Boot, as in…That Ravenclaw boy in our year?" Theodore asked.
"Very good, Theo. And yes. Already, we've connected one family into the web. Terry Boot is a descendant to either Webster or Chadwick. I do not know the link. The tree is missing bits, but blood doesn't lie in these connections, so…" Harry paused. "However, Isolt never had a family over her own as her aunt, Gormilaith, killed them all and ended the Gaunt family on the American side. The connection to your family, Tom, is through Cornivus Gaunt here in England. He's the ancestor to Marvolo Gaunt, who had two kids, who I'm sure your familiar…"
"My mother, Merope and uncle, Morfin…" Voldemort replied. "My mother married a muggle, Tom Riddle Senior, and had me via love potion…" He muttered.
"My lord! You're a half-blood!?" Bellatrix gasped.
"Technically, yes…" Voldemort confirmed.
"Where's the link between your families?" Lucius asked.
"That is through the third brother in the story, Ignotus, who had a son, that isn't named. But that son had his own child, who became the granddaughter to Ignotus. Her name was Iolanthe Peverell and she married my ancestor…Hardwin Potter who was one of seven children to Linfred of Stinchcombe, also known as the Potterer, which then condensed to just Potter." Harry informed calmly. "The next link is to someone only listed as Mr. Potter, who married Miss. Fleamont and asked her son that her maiden name continue on while on her deathbed. That brings the next chain Henry having a son, who he named after his mother's maiden name, Fleamont Potter and he married Euphemia and they had my father, James Potter, who married my mom, Lily Evans, and then had me." Harry explained.
"Good Merlin, Pup…You traced your family that far back?" Sirius chimed in.
"Uncle Siri, I rarely sleep. I spend my nights researching. I wanted to look more into the family," Harry told him. "But that's not all. While Gaunt and Potter connect from the brothers…There are other family connections as well. It's not forbidden knowledge that Pureblood families marry into one another…" He said.
"I'm curious, continue…" Narcissa invited.
"Obviously, my family extends out through my mother Lily. She had one sister, my aunt, Petunia, who married my uncle Vernon Dursley and they had my cousin, Dudley." Harry stated. "The next connection is actually the Black family."
"Oh, I wanna hear this. I wanna see how much you remember off the family tree back home…" Sirius grinned.
"Better get comfortable, Sirius…" Harry chuckled. "Let's start that tree with four people named Licorus, Eduardus, Alexia and Phoebe Black. Of the four, only Licorus Black married and had kids. Licorus married Magenta Tripe and had Cygnus and Arcturus Black, both the first, and then Misapinoa Black. Misapinoa married into the Bilshwick family through Jimbo. Cygnus Black married a woman named Ella Max and they had four kids; Elladora, Sirius Black the first, Isla, and Phineas Nigellus. Isla married into the Hitchens family through Bob. However, only Phineas had kids with his marriage to Ursula Flint." He let that sink in.
"Flint as in Marcus Flint, former Slytherin Quidditch Captain?" Draco inquired.
"And Phineas, as in the portrait in the Headmaster's office at Hogwarts?" Severus questioned.
"Yes," Harry nodded to them. "The kids of Phineas and Ursula were five in total; Belvina, then Cygnus, Phineas, Sirius, and Arcturus Black all the Second." He continued. "Sirius the Second went on to marry Hesper Gamp and had three kids, Lycoris, and Regulus Black the First, and Arcturus Black the Third. Arcturus married a woman named Melania Macmillian. And yes, that connect Ernie Macmillan from school to the tree," Harry gave it a moment. "Arcturus the Third and Melania had two kids, Orion and Lucretia. Orion Black married Walburga Black, which brings us to my beloved godfather Sirius Black the Third and his brother, Regulus Black the Second as Orion and Walburga's kids."
"Atta boy, Harry!" Sirius cheered. "You remembered! I'm so proud!"
"Shut off the water works you overdramatic pain in my rear. I love you, but Merlin above…You match Draco's drama when his hair doesn't sit right." Harry said.
"HEY!" Draco whined.
"My point stands," Harry sighed. "Alright, now back peddling to Phineas again. Arcturus Black the Second married Lysandra Yaxley."
"I'm connected too now…" Corban gave a surprised face.
"Indeed. Moving on," Harry said. "Cygnus Black the second married Violetta Bulstrode, and yes, it means Millicent Bulstrode is in the tree." He mentioned before someone else decided to ask to confirm if that meant someone they currently knew alive was part of things. "Now, Cygnus and Violetta had four kids. Cassiopeia, Marius, Pollux and Dorea Black. Dorea married Charlus Potter. And no, I don't know where the connection of who Charlus is, but I'm assuming he's got to be descendant to one of Linfred's other six kids." He remarked. "Now, Pollux Black married Irma Crabbe. Ready, now here's where it gets interesting with that whole purebloods marrying into one another. Irma Crabbe, who took the Black last name, and Pollux had three kids. Cygnus Black the Third, Alphard and Walburga Black."
"T-That means there's incest in the family." Bellatrix blinked.
"Told you our family was obsessed with pureblood mania!" Sirius retorted.
"Continuing as I'm sure Bella and Narcissa have made their connection into this as Cygnus Black the Third and Druella Rosier married, having Bellatrix, Andromeda, and Narcissa Black. Narcissa married Lucius, and had Draco. Bella married Rodolphus Lestrange, who also has his brother, Rabastan Lestrange. And Andromeda married Ted Tonks, having Nymphadora…Who is currently involved with Remus Lupin. Am I right on that, Sirius?" Harry asked.
"It's not exclusive to everyone, but yes…" Sirius replied. "Now, go on…There's much more to the Black family."
Harry shook his head slightly. "Going back to Arcturus Black the Second and Lysandra Yaxley…They had three kids. Calidora, Charis and Cedrella. Ready, more connections. Calidora married Harfang Longbottom, and had two kids; Augusta and Algie Longbottom. Augusta has one son, Frank Longbottom, who married Alice and had Neville." Harry informed. "Charis married Casper Crouch, they had a son, Bartemius Crouch Sr, who fathered Bartemius Crouch Junior. Cedrella Black married Septimus Weasley, and they had three sons. One is unknown, but there was a Bilius Weasley, and then Arthur Weasley, who married Molly Prewett. Molly had two brothers, Gideon and Fabian. The mother and father's names are unknown, but the mother's sister is Muriel, who stands as current head of house for the Weasley's. I do know that Muriel's brother married Lucretia Black, making another connection between the Black's and the Weasley's."
He started again after a moment. "Now, obviously, Molly and Arthur have seven kids. William, but called Bill, Charlie, Percy, Fred, George, Ronald or Ron, and Ginerva or Ginny. Bill is involved with Fleur Delacour, yes…She was one of the Tri-Wizard competitors back in fourth year." Harry informed. "And I think Percy is dating some girl named Audrey. I believe, so far, that's all of it until more is added." He shrugged.
"That's insane…" Gregory remarked.
"It's making my head hurt…" Vincent muttered.
"I know." Harry sat back and smiled.
"Dear lord…That's…" Theodore paused to count. "Thirty-some odd families connected."
"Thirty-six if Bill marries Fleur, Percy marries this Audrey, and Remus marries Nymphadora. Right now, it's at thirty-three families in total." Harry stated.
"No, that's completely mental!" Pansy blinked. "How in the name of Merlin do you remember all that?"
"Just do." Harry replied. "I told you I spend my nights researching. It passes the time." He informed. "So there ya go, Tom…Our darling family tree."
"Well, my mind has been blown," Bellatrix sat back with a plop.
"Mine too, actually," Narcissa agreed. "I believe it's late enough, you kids need to get back to the school."
"I still need Severus." Voldemort informed. "But the other six can go."
"I'm not leaving yet," Harry remarked. "I've got more information for you on that request from back in October…"
"About the ingredients?" Severus asked and Harry nodded.
"Do you now? Very well, Harry may stay." Voldemort stated.
"What? How come Harry gets to stay?!" Draco frowned.
"I'm needed here for business. I'll be back soon, but you six are not nocturnal and need your sleep…I've been watching, you're tired. Take the portkey back, hold onto my cloak and map until tomorrow." Harry said. "Guard it with your life, Draco…" Harry warned as the teenager nodded. "Rest, we'll meet up at some point and I'll keep you up to date." He added as they went to speak again, but Harry put his hand up, "And I'll tell you how I learned how to change into a bat. Promise."
"Okay…" The six said softly.
"Wait, the tree…Is it gonna be safe to exit the passage?" Blaise wondered.
"Not likely. Before you exit, quietly cast Immobulus. It'll keep the tree still until you're out, then cast Finite Incantatem." Harry informed.
"Alright." They nodded and grouped up together again as Draco floated the marble out of the pouch and prepared to put his hand on it.
"See you soon!" Narcissa waved to Draco.
Draco wrapped his hand around the portkey and they were sucked in and gone in a flash.
"Now, Harry…What have you found out regarding the matter from a few months ago?" Voldemort asked.
"Well, I did take a visit to the bank before the first holiday break was over. It was what I was doing the day I missed the train," Harry stated.
"What were you doing the other three days?" Lucius questioned.
"Things…" Harry simply replied.
"Are you going to go into more detail than that?" Narcissa hoped.
"No. Just some things I needed to see to. Training, mostly." Harry assured her. "It's how I learned how to change forms into a bat, let's leave it at that?"
"Very well…" Lucius and Narcissa accepted the answer. "But will you tell us eventually?" Narcissa hoped.
"Eventually…" Harry nodded.
"So what did you find? Did your ancestors have any secret stores of ingredients?" Voldemort inquired calmly.
"Nothing…Yet," Harry informed. "I did learns I've got inherited properties everywhere." Harry stated. "There's one more I haven't found yet."
"You've been to these places, pup?" Sirius asked.
"I use my nights wisely," Harry informed.
"You leave the school every night?" Severus remarked. "That's dangerous! No wonder Dumbledore put up those anti-vampire apparition wards…" He sighed.
"Severus, please…Do you really think those things can stop me from leaving?" Harry asked with a grin. Severus stared at him. "I don't need apparition to leave the grounds."
"I'm scared to know how you escape…" Severus muttered.
"Go through the window and swim to Hogsmead across the Black Lake, then apparate to where I'm going." Harry shrugged. "Now, shush or I'm not gonna tell you what I have for you." Severus nodded. "Yes, Sirius…I've been to the places my family has owned and left to me. The only two I haven't gone to are Potter Cottage in Godric's Hollow and Potter Manor…Because I can't find it. The bank has it listed as a property, but no address. I'm assuming it's under the Fidelius Charm, and while I'm a secret keeper by birthright and last of the Potter line, because the information was never given to me; I don't know where it's located."
"No hints or anything?" Narcissa asked.
"Nothing other than its name, which is Potter Castle, but Griphook told me it was a manor." Harry replied. "I'm gonna try to get to it again tonight after this…I think my ring can take me there if I figure out the activation words." He added. "Griphook said that Lordship rings can sometimes be a secret portkey to ancestral homes. I haven't tried it, but I might as nothing else is working." He rolled his eyes.
"Now, you said you had something for Severus. I assume it's helpful to the cause or you wouldn't have brought it up?" Voldemort mentioned.
"Ah, yes…I do know a place you can get some rare ingredients." Harry enlightened.
"You do?" Severus looked at the teenager. "How rare, or do you not know because this is going to be another one of your sneaking around under Dumbledore's nose plans?" Severus asked.
"You doubting my ability hurts, Sev…" Harry frowned.
"Okay, okay. I'm sorry…" Severus turned towards Harry. "I trust you. But…How rare?"
Harry grinned a little. "Basilisk rare."
Severus's eyes widened. "Wh-Where? Harry, where?! No one has seen those in years, I told you this…Where did you ever come across Basilisk parts? Please tell me you did not spend a fortune on them…"
"If I tell you will you chill the hell out, Severus? Merlin's beard, you're acting like a kid in a candy story…Or a horny teenager." Harry remarked.
"This is major! Very few things in life make me happy, Potter…Let me enjoy It. I'm allowed to be excited. Any potions master would be." Severus exclaimed.
"I think you should just tell him, Harry," Lucius chuckled.
"Fine, fine…It's so fun to play with him though." Harry stated. "I didn't come across the parts, and I didn't spend anything on them. There happens to be a perfectly good Basilisk down in the Chamber of Secrets."