I Am Not Simply.
by ny_zed
Disclaimer: My name is not J. K. Rowling, and I do not own Wizarding World and Associates in any way.
Chapter 2
James and Lily were ecstatic. They would be bringing home two redheaded girls. Twins! That was not common in this world, well not really common, since they already had a pair of twins, but still! They both knew that Harry had been waiting for this very moment for ages. They couldn't wait to see that little happy face of his, meeting his new twin sisters at last. Accompanying them was Sirius and Remus. Moods were particularly up, when they all Apparated to Godric's Hollow and witnessed carnage.
The Potter Cottage was almost blast apart. If it wasn't for the Fidelius Charm, the Muggles would already be swarming the place. Lily started tearing up. Her babies! Her babies were in there! Shoving baby Jasmine into the arms of Remus, she ran frantically through the front door, followed by James.
James then broke down into tears. There on the ground, was his mother, dead, eyes unseeing. The sitting room was entirely wrecked. But Lily currently didn't care. She had to get to her babies.
What she certainly didn't expect was Headmaster Dumbledore to be already at the scene. Evan was on the crib, crying loudly. She sighed in relief as she embraced Evan tightly. She brushed little Evan's hair, and right there on his forehead, was a bloody scar, shaped like lightning. Next to him, was Iris, with a similar scar.
Ignoring what she saw, she looked around for Harry, and almost screamed. There was a little bloody heap, on the ground, sitting against the wall. Lily put Evan back in the crib quickly and went straight for Harry. Embracing him, she was relieved to feel a heartbeat through that tiny body of his.
James barged in with Sirius and Remus, tears still in his eyes. He collapsed in relief as he realized his sons and daughter were still alive.
Albus Dumbledore had been perplexed. While he was certain he would find a Child-Who-Lived, there were 2 children marked. This was going to be a little difficult.
But once again, he was Albus Dumbledore. This will all work out in his favor.
31 July 1982
In days past, today would have been Harry's favorite day.
However, after this morning, and the events of the past year after Halloween, he couldn't really say that was the case.
While he was initially concerned about Iris and Evan, as any big brother would be after such an incident, he'd been quite literally left alone.
Lily and James were too absorbed by Iris and Evan. And if it wasn't for the new twins, Jasmine and Rose, they'd be off in their own world.
The funeral for Grandma Euphemia was in December, a few days before Yule. It was a private affair; too many wizards and witches had wanted to attend and it would only prove to scare Iris and Evan.
Harry was the only one who had remembered Grandma Euphemia vividly. While Lily and James went to Hogwarts, he lived with his grandparents. The grandparents had absolutely adored him and acted more like his actual parents than Lily and James ever would be.
Today he silently watched from the bedroom corridor as the two year old twins were greeted by the remaining Marauders. There was no glance in his direction. There were birthday songs, birthday presents, birthday cakes. But not once was he ever called over.
He silently sighed. What did he do?
He heard footsteps and found Grandpa Fleamont looking down at him.
In the past 9 months, the only person who had actually noticed him was Grandpa Fleamont. Grandpa was apparently, the only one that loved him, saw him in these times.
Grandpa smiled, and then picked him up. He said, "I'll be taking you away."
Harry smiled. A new adventure! Besides, he'll be safe with his grandfather.
In very childish excitement, he released a burst of wandless magic that somehow levitated a trunk down from his bedroom full with his belongings already.
Fleamont Potter froze. That was very impressive. That was when he decided that he would do everything in his power to aid his young grandson.
Joyfully he hoisted Harry onto his shoulders, sent the trunk to his home, and Disapparated.
Harry James Potter was not seen again for the next four years. Not that his parents noticed, anyway.
During the next four years, Fleamont educated little Harry on the basics of being a Pureblood heir. The first thing he'd done actually, since taking Harry away from that hellhole that James had created was taking the heirship title away from James. It had been satisfying imagining James' pain while the Heir ring burned itself off of his finger.
Harry was taught history, the customs, the etiquette. He was taught Occlumency, and had mastered it rather quickly (Fleamont had boasted to Arcturus Black; "My grandson could grasp it quicker than yours!" -insert loud chortle-).
In these four years, Harry was often kept away from society. While Fleamont did take him to places, he was often kept out of the way, away from attention. It was when he was eight years old when he found out that Harry was made the Black heir. The Blacks were a notoriously Dark family, but in Fleamont's opinion, it was all bollocks. His own younger brother Charlus had married into the Black family, and nothing life-threatening happened. In fact, they were a rather friendly lot. It was here that the ailing Lord Arcturus would also come into Harry's life.
Here was a short record of Fleamont and Arcturus's first conversation regarding Harry being the Black heir:
"Could you tell me why my grandson is your Heir?"
"I deem him worthy of the Black heirship."
"That's rather vague, Artie. Kindly explain why Orion or even Sirius isn't your Heir?"
Arcturus snorted. "Orion is incompetent. He cannot control his own wife. Sirius is precisely who I wanted as Heir. Defiant, stubborn, all the Black traits."
Fleamont raised an eyebrow. "So why isn't Sirius your Heir?"
"The bloody child got himself castrated in a broom cupboard during his sixth year by some girl."
Fleamont's eyebrows went straight into his hairline. Then, he started laughing.
"So how did young Harry end up as Heir? He doesn't have Black blood, doesn't he?"
"Well, he is bloody Sirius' godson. To us, that's equal to son by blood. The only person closer is that Malfoy ponce and they are going nowhere with our family."
Now, Arcturus was included in their journeys and chats. His presence was probably a boon to Harry, as his rapid spellfire and tongue kept people well away. Even in America, the reputation of Arcturus Black was legendary.
Today, they're in Spain, enjoying the sights of Seville. Harry had particularly been interested in the Roman walls. He'd learned that Seville was originally founded as a Roman city. Wow! That is pretty old. Arcturus had been busy examining some runes engraved on the walls left behind by Roman wizards when Fleamont, not feeling well, abruptedly decided to call it a day.
Harry and Arcturus exchanged a look, both clearly irritated with the decision but decided to comply.
Fleamont Potter would not get better. The mysterious illness would escalate to something similar to Muggle malaria. At this point of time, Fleamont was brought back to the Potter Ranch. A healer from St. Mungo's was summoned. After scanning Fleamont, the healer reported that he had indeed contracted malaria. There was no cure, as this was the magical version of malaria, and the Muggle vaccines were proven to be rather ineffective.
4 October 1986
Harry James Potter woke up that day dazed. He'd just had a weird dream, where he had slain a basilisk and claimed the spoils. The basilisk was seventy feet long and he had swung a very heavy sword toward the mouth. Not knowing what the snake was anyway, he decided he'll talk to Grandpa Fleamont and see what he had to say about the mysterious dream.
Harry had been very hesitant about disturbing Fleamont, who was still suffering from magical malaria, but the healer had been in the day before and reported that he was improving. Thus, Harry decided to take the risk and talk to him.
What he found was an unresponsive Fleamont. He frantically Flooed Arcturus who came through almost immediately.
"Please be fine, please be fine!" He muttered under his breath as he watched Arcturus use some detection charms.
His mind stopped functioning as Arcturus lowered his head and shook sadly. Fleamont Henry Potter has succumbed to the disease.
9 October 1986
Diagon Alley, London, England
Harry strode confidently through the marble halls of Gringotts, as he followed a goblin to a private conference room.
Today was the day where his Grandpa Fleamont's Will would be unsealed and read. Harry knew that the Potter family would be there. He hadn't thought about them for four years now. His opinion of Lily and James have particularly soured since they've made no attempts whatsoever to contact Harry or even care about his absence. He stopped in front of the door.
He could already hear kids inside. Harry took a deep breath, and following a nod from Arcturus who was accompanying him, he strengthened his Occlumency shields, adopted a cold, neutral expression, and walked in.
The room wasn't really that big. There was a round table in the center surrounded by around ten seats. Six of those seats were already occupied by James, Lily, Iris, Evan, Jasmine, and Rose Potter.
They were a rather loud lot. Harry smirked as he made connections to how close of a stereotypical Muggle American family the Potters were. Loud, no sign of control. Obnoxious. None of the Potters seem to have noticed his entrance. An old goblin walked in and took a seat. The room quieted down.
"We will now wait for our final attendee," The goblin announced. On cue, the door opened and revealed Cyrus Greengrass. Arcturus and Cyrus shared a curt nod while James furiously glared at the Greengrass Lord.
"Good. We will now begin the unsealing of the Last Will and Testament of Fleamont Henry Potter. The late Mister Potter has recorded his message."
The goblin retrieved a little crystal and inserted it into the table. The room darkened as a illusion similar to a Pensieve appeared.
"I, Fleamont Henry Potter, do declare that this is my Last Will and Testament. All previous wills will be revoked and declared null and void. I certify that I am of sound mind and no outside influences have interfered with this process. My first course of action is officially declaring Harry James to be the sole Heir of the Potter family—"
There were loud gasps and cries of pain as the Heir ring burned itself off of James' ring finger.
"—and that James Fleamont shall be my Heir no longer. His access to the Potter family fortune shall be limited to his trust vault which should be organized accordingly. The second thing I do is leaving the Greengrass family with 150,000 Galleons. I am still deeply apologetic for the death of Euphemia and I know that money will not satisfy your loss."
Cyrus Greengrass lowered his head as he remembered his Aunt Euphemia. James steamed at the fact that Greengrass apparently got money from his own father.
"—And to Arcturus Regulus Black, I leave you 150,000 Galleons for the sake of old times, and friendship. Take care of our young one, Arcturus."
Arcturus smiled sadly as he muttered "As if we'll ever need the money..." It was at this time that the Potter family finally noticed the presence of Lord Black, and they all stared shell-shocked at his presence.
"—And lastly, to one Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, who should not attending this meeting, I leave you two words. Fuck you."
With that, the vision ended and the room exploded into chatter. The goblin silently exited the room, oblivious to everyone else, leaving themselves to deal with the pandemonium.