Disclaimer: If you recognize it, it's probably not mine It all belongs to JK I'm just playing in her sandbox a little. I do read a lot of Fanfiction so if you see anything else you recognize I may have accidentally incorporated something.
AN: As always Read and Review.
Chapter 7 – The Joys and Woes of Family
~~~~~Power of Ancestral Magics~~~~~
Harry had mixed feelings as he shed his formal robes for more casual dress robes. This morning had been easy, he didn't care if those people liked him or not. He just wanted them to respect his house. He wanted to send the message that he may be 15, but his house was in good hands. Now was the hard part his family.
The Potters had always been big on family. The once large house of Potter numbering over a thousand in all, had once had several cadet branches and numerous vassal houses. However, during the war with Grindelwald many had been cut down to the point that the house of Potter lost all but a couple vassal houses, a single cadet line and the main branch then headed by Charlus Potter, as he was the only one of his six siblings remaining, with only five of his over a dozen cousins remaining as well. Though he had only had Fleamont Potter as a son, what he could not add to the house in children he had added in vassals, along with starting Potter Industries after the war, to aid in rebuilding the family wealth.
Harry had never really had a family that loved him for being well him. To the Dursley's he had always been the freak, the burden, etcetera, etcetera Now downstairs, he had a chance to have that. His father's older sister was here, it had been a surprise to discover. It turned out that his grandparents had been young when they had had Alexandria, Euphemia had been only 22 at the time, a far cry from the 49 she'd been when having James. As such, when James was born, Alexandria had already wedded a Russian graduate of Durmstrang and had her first son soon after James was born. As such, his aunt's grandchildren were already all Harry's age, slightly older, or slightly younger.
Sitting in the house below, was his aunt Alexandria and his Uncle Vladimir Ivanov, their children Alexi, Sofia, and Adrian. Alexi was married to Selena and had 4 children Vladimir age 16, Artemis age 14, Elena age 10, and Audrey age 8. Sofia married Demyan Abelev, they had two children, Zivan, and Vlas who are 12 and are twins. Adrian was married to Zhanna Medvedev, and they had three children. Yuri age 16, Arsenio age 14, and Donat age 12. Harry couldn't wait to meet them.
Sirius watched Harry, worriedly he remembered well the meeting between Alexandria, Vladimir, and the children when they met James. Vladimir had married Alexandria in the hopes of someday gaining the Potter wealth after the elder parents and the Grandparents of James and Alexandria had passed. With James's birth, those hopes had been shattered. Family get togethers had not gone well with James usually leaving early to crash with the rest of the marauders, or Frank Longbottom just to escape his rude Russian cousins. Sirius somehow doubted they had gotten any better. He knew Harry was excited to find blood family that may care, however as much as he didn't want to pop Harry's happy bubble, he couldn't let him go downstairs without warning as to how it might go.
"Pup, come here, please?" He asked.
"Sure, what is it, Paddy." Harry looked questioningly up at him.
"Come sit next to me. We need to talk about Alexandria's family." Harry warily came and sat next to Sirius.
"I know you're excited to have blood family that may like you, but as much as I hate to break it to you, I doubt you're going to find it in your Aunt's family. You must understand that when Alexandria married Vladimir, he thought he was marrying the Potter heiress. So, when James came along, they weren't exactly pleased by it."
"They didn't treat dad very nicely, did they? Harry asked.
"No pup and I admit they could have changed, but I believe you would have better luck looking to the American, French or Germanic cousins, I know the family distance is a couple generations larger, but they are family. I can't believe I'm going to say this, but Draco Malfoy will be far better friends than them, he at least offered a handshake, they would turn their nose up and treat you worse than he ever did for the simple fact that you are James's son. I know you don't want to hear it but masks up pup, just until we know for sure where everyone stands, who else of the cousins that you invited are here?
"My French cousins the Delacour's, the Mercier's, and the Granger's, and the American cousins the, Potters, Smiths, and Aaron's," replied Harry
"All of them, for the most part, from what I remember where better than Alexandria and her brood, you may have to enforce the fact that you are the Lord of House Potter a little bit, but once you've got that across it shouldn't be too difficult."
"Thanks for the heads up Sirius, I know that you are technically actually my dad, and that you don't actually expect me to call you dad and all that but maybe over the next few weeks we can sit and talk, I feel as if my entire world had been turned over onto its side. You're my godfather, but you blood adopted me to so you're also my dad. Perhaps you can help me in figuring out this whole bearer thing, being lord of house Potter and all the rest. Not now we have things to do now but later."
Looking at Harry and seeing his sweet innocence he had once feared destroyed by the Dursley's Surius found himself happy it had not been, He saw confusion, frustration and that Harry's nerves were starting to unravel but he also saw willpower a desire to fight and continue on. He felt more than saw that Harry was strong enough to deal with these problems, however witnessing the icy steel also set in Harry's eyes told him all he needed to know of what their fate would be if they were as bad as they once had been. "Later pup, I'll talk with you over it all you can rant and rave and get it all out but for now, let's head downstairs." He smiled, cordially at Harry. Seeing as it was past lunch time, Harry quickly asked a question on where everyone was.
"Many of masters guests be in the blue family sitting room shall Coby be taking you?"
"Yes, Coby, that would be appreciated." The house elf nodded and led the way. As they neared where Harry distinctly remembered the blue sitting room, he could hear raised voices coming through the open main doors. Quickly, asking Coby to show them to the back entrance, they promptly entered through the back door unnoticed by most in the room. In the center of the room, an older middle-aged woman had just open handed smacked the boy before her. As she moved, you could see the broken tea set on the floor between them.
"Ugh, I do not understand for one moment how either of these two are related to me. If I didn't know better, I would say your mothers lied about your paternal parent. You two are nothing more than a disgrace to the family. Clean this up heavens knows once I have control of this family again the first thing, I'm doing is casting the two of you out of it." Sneered the woman. She was dressed finely, and you could quickly tell who she was and who her children and grandchildren were. They all bore distinct similarities in the hair and in the eyes. Most were dressed in finery that did not exactly fit in with their surroundings, nor fit with their own bodies.
However, though the two in front of her bear the same markings, they were dressed in a more stylish but in far less lavish apparel. Curiosity got the better of Harry, so he stayed watching the room, those who figured out who he was nodded to him respectfully but gave no other outward evidence that they knew who he was or that he was their head of house. Watching Alexandria was angering for Harry. She was cruel and spiteful it seemed to everyone in the room except her immediate family, and even then, the two youths from earlier were exceptions to the rule. Quickly accessing the family magic, he was told that they were both strong bearers, but they though old enough to carry (A bearers carrying age was 13.) Health wise they were more akin to Harry. It told Harry that the dishonor paid went much farther than skin deep. But more than that it was how she spoke of him, her nephew she had never met calling him a shame and a disgrace to the family, consorting with mudbloods and half breeds. She spoke of many things but mostly disparaging of both his parents and grandparents' decisions, whether it be in business or the path of the House. She criticized that they had fought on the wrong side of both the war with Grindelwald and with Voldemort and how Grindelwald would have been such a better King, than the Ministries they had to deal with. This caused Harry's anger to spike thinking of his last lesson on family history.
~~~Flashback – 1 week before~~~
Michalis had taught Harry many things, but tonight was to be one of the services of the house to the King. "Cardac Potter was a strong man; at the time we defended our Welsh lands from Saxon invaders. Arthur was one such invader he brought the full might of his armies against our house. After a mere day of battle, he called off the attack, pulling his troops back. Arthur had realized as Cardac had that their armies where equals. Arthur knew, however, that he had an Ace. The Pendragons held the gift of speaking Parseltongue the language of both serpents and dragons. He called forth his Dragons but did not attack with them. This however forced Cardac to surrender and submit to Arthurs armies. However instead of stripping Cardac of both his lands, his titles, and his head as was the custom of the time. Arthur honored Cardac that even in the face of Dragons, he had shown more loyalty to his people than to his own desire's. Arthur did more than leave Cardac with his head, he left him with his pride intact, and with the honor of our house as well. Though our lands were added to Arthurs growing empire, he treated our lands and its people with respect whereas other conquerors did not. Arthur made a mistake's as all young kings do, but he owned up to them as well. He ruled honorably, to the point that the Potters knelt as we never had before any not even to Rome's Emperors. When the battle of Camhain came, and a young man sought to kill Arthur, Cardac stopped it, and though his other nobles ordered for the young man's death, the king honored Cardacs request and reprimanded the young man. Asmund Longbottom was very much a Viking and saw this as dishonourable, but after 3 years in our halls, he grew to care for and began to honor our ways along with his own. A day came when Asmund saved the Kings life at grave peril to his own. In this action Arthur offered them land and titles, Asmund at first refused stating he only wished for his family to be vassals of house Potter, Cardac however reprimanded him for this. "My young friend you have become like a brother to my son, but furthermore you have sat at the family as an equal it would dishonor you and the ways I have taught you to do as you have asked, take up our kings offer and let our families be forever allies." In many ways, it marked the change in the powers of the court. Arthurs grandchildren were raised with Cardac's Grandchildren and Asmund's children. They grew up as siblings there was no rank, no position between them when in private, they were family. Throughout the generations that status remains the house of Pendragon is family and family stay loyal together.
~~~~~End Flashback~~~~~
The words Michalis had said that night rung in his ears they were family. It was why even to this day the House of Potter and Longbottom sought a Pendragon they were incomplete without one. All the Noble's felt the call but there's was stronger worse in many ways for they were born to be three, not two.
"Enough, I have heard enough." Stated Harry as the room lapsed to silence.
One of Alexandria's older grandchildren sneered, "And what right do you have a little boy to speak to us in such a way. Go join the help; it is all your miserable common blood is good for, leave the talking to your betters."
With his words, the room dropped an uncomfortable 10 degrees. "By your address, words and attire, I assume that you are my dear Cousin Vladimir. Allow me to introduce myself so that in the future, you do not stain your honor in assuming that you are better than another. I am Haldris James Potter, Lord of the Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Potter, Heir to the Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Black. I call this meeting of the House of Potter to Order, Mopsy, please bring in extra seats and enlarge the room as necessary and make sure that we are all assembled here." The room was quiet as the house elves worked, and the rest of the family gathered. Alexandria tried to speak but was cut off by a sharp glare from Harry, he quickly softened it accepting a hug from young Gabrielle in the next instant. Once everyone had gathered, he spoke. "Some of you I very much look forward to getting to know, others of you are on shaky ground with me. At the end of this meeting, I will give you all time to speak, to bring up any issues you may have or any new developments I need to handle. I will warn you now that though I have just turned 15, I will not allow you to run roughshod over me however nor will I ignore advise you may give to me as you are my elders. Some of you I will ask to temporarily relocate here to Britain until I am of age, others I may appoint to tasks you find yourself untrained for, it will be a learning experience for all of us. If you give your respect to me, and I will give you my respect as well. Honor our house and its current needs, and in the future, you may have a boon that you may ask of me."
"Now I wish for all of you without families of your own yet to go sit your stand next to your parents. It will enable me to put names with the faces of those I see before me. Next, I would like to go around the room at this time I will permit you to present yourselves to me. Present only do not fallow this rule, and you will find yourself silenced. Fleur, your family, may begin."
"Thank you, my Lord, as you are aware, I am Fleur Delacour, I am 17 and have just graduated. This is my younger sister Gabrielle; she is 11 and about to start school. My parents are Jean and Amelle Delacour." Fleur said quickly, pointing each person out as she introduced them. After she was finished, Alexandria spoke.
"Well, I do not see why we must this, you can hand the meeting over to me, and I'll take it over from there." She said. To which Harry glared once more.
"Everyone else has now gone through proper protocol and presented themselves before there lord and head of house your line is not excluded from this. Please present yourselves." Harry stated strictly, the glare not leaving his eyes.
"Well I never, very well I will do the presenting for Mother. I am Alexi Ivanov and am the heir of the Ivanoff Family. These are my children; Vladimir he is 16 and about to start his 6th year, Elena, she is 10 and Audrey, who is 8. This is my sister Sophia, and her husband, Demyan Abelev, he is the heir of his line, and their children Zivan and Vlas who are both 12. Then my younger brother Adrian who is married to the lovely Zhanna Medvedev who is the only heiress of her house, and her children Yuri age 15, and Donat age 13, and of course this is my father Vladimir Ivanoff, and my mother your aunt, Alexandria Ivanoff nee Potter."
"Now that presentations are finished when will you be handing over the lordship to my dearest mother. We have made many plans on what to do to make the house great once more and pull it out of the squalor it has fallen into." Said, Vladimir.
"I will not be turning over my inheritance to anyone, especially not one who could fulfill the family's duty to our brothers the Pendragon house." he said, turning from Vladimir he asked the two children huddled together behind the rest of Alexandria's family. "What are your names?"
"They are just some common bloods we chose to bring along, an obvious mistake." Said Selena Ivanoff with a glare to the direction of the two of them. "I promise they will be appropriately punished for this, my lord."
"An interesting choice of words, considering it is a blatant lie, Artemis and Arsenio I assume, please come here. Sirius, will you do a health check, please?" As the two stepped forward, Harry motioned for Alrick to come to him as he also had Mimsy bring forward the book of family rules, along with the laws of Albion. After getting a grimace from Sirius, Harry took the offered papers scanning them over, quick touch to an arm a piece also informed him that they carried the Albion diamond and Lilies.
Turning to glare at both of their fathers. "You Vladamir speak of squalor, the only squalor I see is the dishonor you and your family have brought to this house. A bearer is to be treasured. For their magic is wild and connected to the land. They are at times capable of magic that not even the old magic cannot do. This marks two of the tenants of the house you have broken. First and foremost, we are protectors, we defend those who cannot help themselves. This has been the way of our house since it's founding."
"You consider the first generations and magical creatures that magic has blessed to be filth under your shoe, dear Aunt Alexandria, where you got this from I do not see for what you obviously did not know was that half the businesses gathered under the banner of Potter industries, are first gen startups. This has allowed House Potter to protect them from those that would use them but has also allowed House Potter to fill their coffers while aiding others. Ensuring as a family that we keep the first tenant of our House and can continue to do that for generations to come. The wealth may support us in maintaining our lifestyle, but even as we ensure that our wealth grows, so too does theirs. This has generated over the years almost 250 vassals worldwide that serve the house of Potter. These Vassals are in just about every industry, and we have at least one family in the courts of all the foreign magical empires and congresses. The second tenant of the house is twofold we are our king's servants we serve only the might of the crown of Albion. You Alexandria and your family have willingly bowed before others and looking into your eyes, and hearing your words you would gladly do so again. We grew and prospered as the Royal house of Pendragon grew and prospered. We were houses three, our children equal from birth. The Pendragon's our kings, we were their commanders as our brothers, the Longbottoms were head of their guard. Where one was, in times past, the others were not far off. When the Pendragon's return, the House of Potter will remain to stand and take our oaths and claim the side of the king once more."
"As such, head of house Potter, I at this moment remove from your care and reprimand into my care, your children Artemis and Arsenio Ivanoff from henceforth they shall be Potters as head of house, so I have spoken so mote it be. Furthermore, I find you Alexi, Sofia, and Adrian unfit parents and remove your remaining children from your care. As I do not see that they have been adequately trained in what it means to be a Potter, I do not take them into my house."
"As for you Alexandria and the remainders of your brood, I expel you from the Potter family. You have forgotten what it means to be a Potter and have no place within the family with your current views. If it had merely been child abuse, I would have simply summoned the Aurors and been done with it. However, you have also disavowed the very tenants of what it means to be a Potter and the sacrifices made by our ancestors in the past. As you have no love nor respect for the house of your birth, I cast you out, I take back the dowry this house once gave you, and remove the stipend we once provided you with, you have no place here. The guards will escort you out. The elves will see to your personal belongings." Harry said as the guards escorted them out, to their yells that he couldn't do this, Harry turned back to the rest of the children of Alexandria's Family.
"The seven of you are prideful, boastful and spoiled. All things that come with being entitled and you came from powerful families that was permittable, discouraged but permittable by our house. What was and is not permittable is the way in which you comport yourselves. You automatically assume that as one that is not dressed as finely as you or does not look like you is automatically beneath you. When I made myself known to you, you spoke in a manner that many lords in the Wizengamot today would have gone to blood feud with house Potter for. Because of this, I can no longer allow you to remain at Durmstrang as I cannot trust that the 7 of you to do the family proud in either word or action, as such you are to be moved to the care of a Romanian vassal of the Potter's. You will each be given a vault of half a million galleons, to care for both your schooling and other essential needs, that eill be kept I trust by your guardians until, you either petition me for revaluation, or your new guardians inform me that you have grown into a suitably behaved and respectable child of house Potter. To this end, the ages of Guardianship have hereby been extended until the age of 21 for all those over the age of 13. For those younger than 13, we will discuss both your vault and guardianship status, once you reach the age of 16. To this end, Vladimir, Yuri, and Donat will henceforth attend Salem in Macusa. The younger four have open invitations to attend Hogwarts as the twins start their second year shortly, and Elena will be 11 within the next week, they can, of course, to also go to Salem if that is there choice. Audrey may choose as well when the time comes. Now let us continue the introductions." Harry finally ended his firm lecture and explanation of his choices.
"Well it does seem that the Potter family has been blessed, my name is Aliya Mercier nee Sirencee, this is my husband Marc, my three children Lucas 16, Adrian 14, and Jean-Marc who is 12 and a bearer. Next, to me, we have my brother Alexei, and his wife Anabella, and his 5 children Catherine 13, Maria 12, Serenity 11, Marc 11, and Alexander 9. We then have my two cousins Marcus who married Andrea, and now has 1 boy Carlos 3, and Claude, who married Almería and have a little boy 2." Aliya pointed to each child and adult as she introduced them. Harry smiled and began to relax as the other to smile. He had proven himself capable, now it was time to honor him.
"I am Calix Granger, and my wife Aimee, we have 3 children Anais 16, Corentin 14, Delphine 12. My brother Etienne, his wife has recently passed, his eldest Gael, 22, and his wife Oceane, and their child Mael 1, Lucien 18, is not yet wed, and their brother Thibault 16." Calix introduced.
"My name is Raphael Aaron's, and this is my wife Lacey, and our children Cadmus 19, Ciara 17, and Antonio 15. My Brother Joseph and his wife, unfortunately, has also passed, their 3 children, Jovani 17, Silver 15, who is also a bearer, and Mason 13. My Sister Alicia, and her husband River, and their two children Sierra 19, and Joel 16."
"My name is Alexander Smith, this is my wife Alexia, our eldest Emerald 12, Grace 9, and Charles 7. My sister Alicia, and her husband Carlos, and her twins Nathan 8, and Dominic 8. My other sister Catherine and her husband Edgar, their son Jaden 6, and Aiden 3."
"We are the American Potters, my name is Charles, my wife Ashley, and our children Noah 4, and Charlotte 2. My brother Cameron and his wife Mikenzie, their children Tyler 15, Titus 13, and Audrey 11. Unfortunately, my other sibling could not attend due to a prior family obligation."
"That is understandable. I am considering having the full family of everyone over next year to have a full family reunion but understood that it could not happen yet. Any children of any of your lines I am opening the opportunity to attend Hogwarts and will stand before the board of governors if necessary, I will sponsor as I know is required for all foreign students to attend Hogwarts. I only wish to know before the end of our celebration so that I might speak to them of the rules as Albus Dumbledore has not proven himself a friend or ally to house Potter. As such, none of my house is to be alone with that man, those attending Hogwarts are to ask their head of house to summon me your their own parents. As I am now, making it a family order unless an of age member of house Potter is there, they are not to meet with the headmaster alone, and no the heads of houses do not count. As such all members of house Potter are to wear the protection amulets you will find on your beds tonight, they will protect from all influencing spells and will light up and flash if you are potioned in any way. I did an influence test this summer at Gringotts and was discovered to be under various potions and influencing spells placed by the headmaster, the amulets will also block obliviate spells." Harry stated in a no-nonsense sort of way.
"Now for business before we settle in. I am 15 as such I can not sit my seat on the Wizengamot, I would gladly have my godfather sit in the Potter seat as proxy, however, one cannot sit more than a single seat on the Wizengamot, and he must sit the Black seat. As such I would like it if Alexander would be the Potter family proxy working in tandem with Sirius. For Charles and Calix I wish for you to both jointly take up the Potter seats within Potter industries, with a 2.5% stake from the Potter shares each while you manage them over the next two years. For Raphael, I must ask that you take up managing the care and upkeep of our many estates that are rented and leased throughout the magical empires. Jean, I have been made aware of your status in the French ministry I wish for you to remain, for you Apolline, House Potter holds a seat on the ICW, please vote this seat until I am permitted to do so. Lastly, Mercier, my job for you, will be house wide, I need you to contact all the many Potter vassals within Albion and outside it, see what they need, give them help where needed, reprimand them if also needed."
Choruses of "Yes, my lord," and versions of such echoed around the room as Harry dismissed them for dinner.
Over the next two days, Alexander, and the other vassals, along with Neville and his proxy, Sirius, and Harry looked over things that would convene and be voted on in the August Wizengamot session meeting from the 14th – 18th. On their return on Monday evening, they spent about an hour discussing the educational reforms the minister desperately wanted, with a few additional ones. The other changes including exorcising Binns, and finding a real History of Magic Professor, along with the creation or return of several classes, Wizarding Culture and Society (Mandatory all years), Wizarding law, Healing, and Spell crafting for the 6th and 7th years. All new courses would have teachers chosen by the board rather than the current headmaster as he had made his opinions of the classes plain. On the 14th Harry also wrote Minerva McGonagall with the sponsorship of a total of 18 new students in the form of members of either his cadet houses or Vassals.
Dear Deputy Headmistress McGonagall
It is my pleasure to inform you that how Potter wishes to sponsor the following students to attend Hogwarts this coming year.
Serenity Mercier Hogwarts Year 1
Marc Mercier Hogwarts Year 1
Elena Ivanoff Hogwarts Year 1
Audrey Potter Hogwarts Year 1
Maria Mercier Hogwarts Year 2
Zivan Abelev Hogwarts Year 2
Emerald Smith Hogwarts Year 2
Jean-Marc Mercier Hogwarts Year 2
Delphine Granger Hogwarts Year 2
Vlas Abelev Hogwarts Year 2
Mason Aarons Hogwarts Year 3
Titus Granger Hogwarts Year 3
Artemis Potter Hogwarts Year 4
Arsenio Potter Hogwarts Year 4
Corentin Granger Hogwarts Year 4
Antonio Aarons Hogwarts Year 5
Tyler Potter Hogwarts Year 5
Silver Aarons Hogwarts Year 5
It is my pleasure to inform you that how Potter wishes to sponsor the following students to attend Hogwarts this coming year. As each of these students belongs to cadet lines of house Potter, the head of house Potter finds it necessary to place specific restrictions on all said students.
1. If any of these students are sorted into Slytherin, they have the right to request a resort at any time.
2. If any of these students are sorted into Slytherin, they have the right to choose another head of house to act as their head of house.
3. The headmaster of Hogwarts is to have no contact with these students at any time without either a direct parent, or the Potter proxy, or the Potter head of house present.
4. These students are not to be seen by Madame Pomfrey for any reason. If a situation arises and they need healing, you are to call the Potter healer Ted Tonks to look after them if it is an emergency then you may call St. Mungos.
5. At any point in time, these students are permitted to request tutors for any classes they are attending and summarily drop that class with the Hogwarts Professor.
6. At any time these students are to serve detention those students may serve them with any teacher excluding any classes they have chosen to not take or are being tutored in, Professor Snape, or Headmaster Dumbledore, and the new Defense Professor.
I feel the need to inform you that if any of the rules above are broken in any way, I will challenge it in the Wizengamot and if necessary pull all students as listed above, and myself from Hogwarts.
Please be aware that Artemis, Arsenio, Silver and myself will require the bearer's tower to be open. As all of us are above a class 4 bearer I will not permit my lines honor to be besmirched by allowing them to sleep in an all-male dormitory with non-bearers.
Sincerely
The Head of the Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Potter
Overall when September 1st came Harry and company where nervous and excited to return. They were excited for new classes, curious about a new defense teacher, but also worried about the headmaster, now that the board had changed what was he planning?
