Looks like I pissed off some of the hardcore Harry/Hermione crowd with the break up. I apologize to you guys, since apparently some of you take that pairing extremely seriously and feel mislead in regards to it. If you had taken anytime to read my profile or the A/N's that I had written before several of the chapters, then you would have been aware that not only am I not too big of a fan of Harry/Hermione but I also don't like it when Harry has just one girlfriend his entire life. I'm trying to make Harry's life a lot like your typical teenager (minus the magic and war thing) and having several relationships, some of which only last a few months, is your typical teenage life. I don't know who I'm having Harry end up with yet. Could it be Hermione? It's possible but that's still a while away.
All ages listed are how old the people are in August, 1996. It is Dumbledore's family, and yes that means I made him straight.
Dumbledore is 115 years old.
Brother Aberforth is 110 years old. Bartender at Hog's Head. Never married.
Wife Alicia was killed in 1944 by Grindelwald's forces after 42 years of marriage. They married in 1902, when Dumbledore was 21.
Son Wulfric was killed in 1945 by Grindelwald at the age of 37, he wasn't married at the time.
Son Nicholas, 75, wanted out of the U.K. after the war with Grindelwald in 1945. Was originally an Ambassador to the U.S. for Great Britain for thirty years before retiring there.
Daughter Rowena, 68, married Charles Dempsey and moved to France. She was a Spell Crafter for a private company before retiring in 1962.
Grandson and Nicholas' son Wulfric, 44, is an ambassador to Japan for the U.S.
Grandson and Rowena's son Brad, 37, is a French Unspeakable.
Granddaughter and Rowena's daughter Ariana, 34, is a Charms professor at Beauxbatons. She married Francis Delacour, Fleur's uncle.
Great grandson and Wulfric's son Edward, 18, just graduated from the Academy of Wizardry in Central Park.
Great granddaughter and Brad's daughter Alexis Dempsey, 15, is a student at Beauxbatons.
Great grandson and Brad's son Landon Dempsey, 14, is a student at Beauxbatons.
Great granddaughter and Brad's daughter Avery Dempsey, 12, is a student at Beauxbatons.
Great granddaughter and Ariana's daughter Olympe Delacour, 13, is a student at Beauxbatons.
Chapter 4 The Dumbledore Family
"Harry! It is good to see you again!" Idalia Ortego exclaimed, placing a kiss on both his cheeks. Harry was grateful he had cast a translation charm on both his mouth and ears before he had knocked, so as to understand everything Idalia was saying right off the bat. He knew a few simple words of Spanish but there was no way he would have been able to understand even those few words in her fast paced talking.
The 19-year old Spanish pureblood heiress looked beautiful in her sundress, the muggle fashion an uncommon sight on rich purebloods. She led him through her manor, glimpses of richly furnished rooms filling his peripherals. She told him about how her family came to be so wealthy as she steered him through the house.
"My great-grandfather opened up Ortego Potions in 1879 when he was twenty-eight years old. He started off by brewing potions himself and then distributing them to local apothecaries. By the time my father took over as head of the company when my grandfather died in a Manticore rampage in Greece, Ortego Potions had over two hundred brewers and twenty Potions Masters working for them. We distribute potions to dozens of apothecaries, general stores and even hospitals. Ortego Potions is responsible for the creation of the Blood-Replenishing Potion, a project headed by my grandfather and the Draught of Peace, a project headed by my father. Any time a book wishes to publish the recipe for creating one of the potions they must seek the approval of my father and give him a small percentage of the book's sales. It isn't a large percentage, most of the time not even being a tenth of a percent, but it adds up after a few years of sales. It's why potion textbooks are so expensive, since rights to potion recipes are in the hand of the creators for two hundred years and can be passed down to family members."
Right as she was done explaining they came out onto a large patio surrounded by a beautiful backyard decorated with trees covered in pink flowers. He counted almost a dozen abraxans grazing on the beautiful lawn. When she had responded positively to his letter, he had been a little surprised based on what he knew about the witch from that one dinner back in Finland. He had never expected the rich pureblood heiress to want to help in the fight against Voldemort.
Idalia sat down on one of the wicker patio chairs and motioned for Harry to do the same. "Fleur told me you got a new girlfriend, after you broke up with that pretty Indian girl in Madrid."
"Had a girlfriend," Harry stated as he sat down, "for three and a half months. She broke up with me almost six weeks ago."
"Oh no! What happened?"
Harry scratched the back of his head, wondering how the conversation started off about his personal life. "Well she was my best friend before hand. It was kind of easy to just start dating but there was nothing romantic between us. She saw it first and pointed it out to me. I didn't see it right away but now I do."
"Are you still friends?" Idalia asked.
"Of course."
Idalia patted his leg. "Then the breakup was for the best I'm sure. Now, we can discuss our personal lives later. You came asking for my help against You-Know-Who, yes?"
"Harry Potter, it is a pleasure to meet you not on the dueling platform."
Harry stared at the 1995 Junior European Dueling Champion, the man who had beaten him in the final round. He was surprised Andre Peeters had answered back positively, but then again it wasn't like he knew the young man too well, other then the fact that he was Belgium, 20 years old and a great duelist.
They were sitting in a muggle cafe, privacy wards erected over their area. Harry had insisted on meeting somewhere in the open, since he didn't know Andre at all. Andre had agreed, as long as he got to pick the public location. Once Harry found out it was a muggle cafe, he bowed to Andre's demand.
"You as well Andre, I'm glad you could meet with me." Translation charms really were a handy bit of magic.
Andre nodded his head. "Of course. Death Eaters killed my mother during an attack on the Quidditch World Cup in Brussels, 1978. They never proved who killed her and now that they are back, I want to make them all pay."
Harry nodded his head. While during the first war Death Eater attacks had been largely kept to the United Kingdom and Ireland, there were still a few dozen reported attacks in France, Belgium and the Netherlands. Moody had told him about the attack on the QWC in Brussels, how almost a hundred-thousand witches and wizards had run around in a panic because of only forty Death Eaters and the Dark Lord himself. How if only two hundred people had stopped running and started fighting, the Death Eaters would have been beaten easily, since even Voldemort couldn't do much against such superior numbers, and three-quarters of the casualties suffered that day could have been avoided.
"We're trying to do everything we can to stop the spread of Voldemort to the continent but its hard. He's stronger than he was last time, and he has more followers. We need all the help we can get, which is why I contacted you."
"This organization you mentioned, does it work for the Ministry?"
Harry shook his head. "The Ministry is aware of its existence but it has no control over the group. It is full of those of people who don't work for the Ministry but want to make a difference against Voldemort."
"Not every day we get a celebrity of your status here," Thyra Nyhus stated as she pulled Harry into a hug. The Danish witch, though small in stature, had a toughness about her that Harry admired.
"Not every day I get away from the United Kingdom," Harry answered, returning her hug.
"Come on, let me show you some of the magical animals I look after."
Harry saw hippogriffs, griffins, manticores, graphorns, hellhounds (gigantic dogs with red eyes that breath fire) and even a lethifold. He knew that Thyra would be perfect for the job of taking care of Hogwarts' new guard beast that Professor McGonagall had told him about. He didn't know every stop McGonagall was pulling out, but he knew there were going to be several powerful beast living on Hogwarts' grounds this year.
After some small talk and a tour around the facility, Harry decided to get right to the point. "So you don't like Voldemort either, huh?"
Thyra shuddered at the name. "Why must you say his name?"
"Mostly because it gets on people's nerves," Harry answered with a shrug. He was rewarded with a smack to his shoulder and a shake of Thyra's head.
"Of course I don't like him. I'm a muggle-born after all. I am everything he and his followers stand against."
"So you'd be willing to help fight him?" Harry asked.
"Of course but I don't know what good I'd be all the way out in Belgium."
Harry was silent for a second. "What if I told you I had a job offer for you?"
Thyra looked at Harry curiously, before slowly nodding her head. "I'm listening."
Harry Potter was teaching himself to be ready for anything. With a psychopathic Dark Lord and his equally insane followers wanting him dead, it was best to never be caught off guard. Still, the one thing he didn't expect while exiting the animal reserve where Thyra worked, in Belgium, was Albus Dumbledore. This was the Minister of Magic for the United Kingdom, what was he doing in Belgium of all places?
"Hello Harry!" Dumbledore greeted brightly.
"Profes...er Minister, what are you doing here?" Harry asked, a little dumbfounded.
"It is my great-granddaughter's birthday tomorrow. She'll be turning 13, and I was just on my way to her party. I was wondering if you would care to accompany me? And please Harry, call me Albus."
"One normally doesn't go through western Belgium to get to the south of France from Britain, Minister, er ... Albus. How did you know I'd be here? Not even Ron and Neville know where I am."
Dumbledore inclined his head in acknowledgment. "While they didn't know the specifics of where you would be, they did know you were visiting Spain and Belgium on Order business. From there it was easy to piece together that you were helping Moody recruit members, and learning of your friendship with Thyra Nyhus from Fleur, it just made sense that this is where you might be. I've been waiting for almost an hour for you to finish your talk, just spending time observing the animals."
Harry frowned at the simplicity of it all. He would have to caution his friends to be more careful with his plans and friendships. While Dumbledore was a very intelligent person and able to make connections where most wouldn't be able to, the same could be said for Voldemort.
"I find it odd that you spent so much energy looking for me, just to invite me to your great-granddaughter's birthday."
Dumbledore straightened his half-moon glasses and smiled at Harry. "I admit I have another motive for asking you to accompany me. It involves Horcruxes and some information I'd like to share with you regarding my search for them."
Harry sighed and ran his hand through his hair, making it stick up even worse. "I guess I'll accept your invitation. Could always go for some cake."
"Splendid!" Dumbledore held out a metal ring several inches in diameter. "One of the perks of being Minister is I can get portkeys that travel through countries and not have to arrive at specific portkey stations."
Harry grabbed hold of the portkey and felt the familiar tug on his naval. When they finally landed, Harry on his ass, they were in front of a large, two story house. Beautiful flowers littered the sides of the walkway they had appeared on, flanking the stone path until it reached the front door.
"Today is just a family event. The party for friends will be tomorrow," Dumbledore stated as they strolled up the lawn to the large house. Lifting a wrinkled hand, the Minister knocked on the door.
It was several seconds before the door opened. A girl around Harry's age answered the door. She had curly strawberry-blond hair that fell to her shoulders and twinkling blue eyes. She had a dusting of light freckles across the bridge of her nose and her cheeks. Her body was still in the process of growing into a woman but she still had nice curves. Upon spotting Dumbledore standing on her doorstep, her face lit up with a beautiful smile.
"Gee-Gee!" the girl cried out in delight, throwing her arms around Dumbledore.
"Alexis, c'est génial de tu voir!" Dumbledore responded returning the hug. As soon as the girl pulled away from Dumbledore, the former Headmaster motion to Harry with his hand. "This is a former student of mine, Harry Potter."
The girl turned toward Harry quickly, her eyes widening in awe. She regained her composure quickly though and held out her hand. "It is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Alexis Dempsey." Her English was with a slight French accent, showing her skill and great use of the English language. Harry realized his translation charms must have been overwhelmed by the magic of the portkey and failed.
Harry took her hand and shook it, smiling at her. "It's nice to meet you as well."
Alexis stepped back and allowed the two to enter the house. Harry looked around the main room, noticing that it was filled with photos of a happy family. He quickly recast the translation charms on himself. He didn't know if everyone's English was as good as Alexis'.
"Gee-Gee talks about you all the time. You are his protege right?"
Harry turned toward Dumbledore and mouthed 'Gee-Gee?' Dumbledore merely smiled in response before moving further into the house. Harry turned back toward Alexis. "I guess you could say that. He has taught me a lot over the past five years."
"Come, you must meet my siblings and cousins. Avery is a big fan of dueling and loved your performance at the European Junior Dueling Tournament. She's the birthday girl."
Alexis grabbed Harry's hand and he found himself unconsciously blushing at the action. Great, he thought to himself, he was crushing on Dumbledore great-granddaughter.
She led him into a room where it looked like ll of the family had gathered. Harry saw Dumbledore talking to younger version of himself. This younger man had ginger hair littered with grays and brown eyes, as well as half the wrinkles. If Harry was to guess, based on the aging process of wizards, this man was Nicholas Dumbledore, son of Albus Dumbledore.
Before Harry could make an observation of any of the other adults in the room he found himself being tugged toward a group of teenagers who were all standing around. Harry found himself being pulled to a stop by Alexis, who finally let go of his hand. He found himself missing the contact.
"Everyone this is Harry Potter."
Harry gave a small wave as he gauged their reactions. The two girls silently squealed to themselves. The younger male had an indifferent look to him while the older male had a sour look on his face. Not exactly the kind of reaction he was hoping to get from Albus Dumbledore's great-grandchildren. She gestured to the oldest one in the group, a tall, auburn hair, brown eyed teenager a few years older than Harry.
"Harry, this is my cousin Edward. He's American."
Harry held out his hand, which Edward shook. The American squeezed harder than necessary and seemed to try to stare Harry down. Harry didn't return the favor. Obviously Edward Dumbledore had a problem with Harry over something and Harry didn't care to find out about it. Hundreds of people had problems with him he didn't know about, what was the difference in one more?
"This is my brother Landon."
The stocky teen who Harry knew was only a year and a half younger then him crossed his arms over his chest as he observed Harry.
"Gee-Gee says you play Quidditch; youngest seeker in Hogwarts history. You look a little bulky to be playing seeker, unless you're a freak like Krum."
Harry assumed Landon meant freak in a good way. "Used to play seeker. I was a runt until last summer. I'm fast, but not nearly as fast as Krum. Krum might look big, but he's actually pretty thin and wiry. He is definitely a freak on a broom, I'll give him that. I outweigh him by a stone, at least. Though that difference might be more since the last time he and I spoke. I switched to keeper last year. I'm pretty good at it but I was definitely a better seeker."
"I play beater myself. Scouts at our school games for the graduating players have already told me if I keep it up, I'll be the next Lacroix!" Landon's tone was full of bragging. Lacroix was the famous beater in the history of the French National Quidditch team and had helped them win the cup in 1966. To be compared to him, since France hadn't seen anyone nearly as good in so long, was a very high compliment. He now knew why the teen was bragging.
"Ludo Bagman was once compared to Lacroix," Harry pointed out.
Landon snorted. "As if that windbag could ever compare to Lacroix."
Alexis cleared her throat. "Getting back on topic here, these two are my cousin. Olympe and my sister, as well as birthday girl, Avery."
Olympe had straight black hair that reached her waist. She had brown eyes and rosy cheeks with a slender frame. She was Fleur's cousin and thirteen years old. There was no physical resemblance between her and the two quarter-Veela Delacour sisters. Avery, like her sister, had strawberry-blond hair but her eyes were brown. She was almost as tall as Alexis, despite being three years younger. Since today was her birthday that meant she would be turning 13.
"Happy birthday Avery," Harry said after exchanging greetings.
"You were the runner up in the European Junior Dueling Tournament!" Avery pointed out. "We were there in Italy. You were so good!"
"Thank you, I appreciate the praise," Harry stated. He had hoped with Albus Dumbledore as their great-grandfather, these kids wouldn't be like everyone else when running into the Boy-Who-Lived. "Even if I didn't win."
"You were fifteen taking on twenty year olds! You did amazing!" Olympe gushed.
Harry rubbed the back of his head, feeling a little uncomfortable. Alexis gave him a sympathetic grin as the two younger girls started going over his duels from Italy in detail.
Harry approached Albus, who was again talking with the man he had confirmed was Nicholas Dumbledore. He had been introduced to everyone else in the family. He had spent a good amount of time talking to Brad Dempsey, one of Albus' grandchildren, and a French Unspeakable. Ariana Delacour, who was a Charms Professor at Beauxbatons, was also a dueling enthusiast and talked with him about the previous tournament.
He had answered numerous questions from Avery and Olympe. He had talked Quidditch, both maneuvers and possible match-ups for the Quidditch World Cup in two years, with Landon. Edward seemed to be in a competition with Harry, though over what Harry wasn't sure. If he was to guess it might be for Albus' attention, which Edward seemed to crave. With Alexis he just talked about life in general.
Still he had been invited by Dumbledore for a specific reason and four hours later, he still had no idea what that reason was.
"Enjoying yourself Harry?" Albus asked at his approach.
"Yes sir. Your family has been very kind to me," Harry responded.
"The Dumbledores and Potters have always been friendly," Nicholas stated. "Why I remember helping your grandfather on an Auror case that led to the States. Great man, very honorable."
Harry gave a small smile, always interested in hearing information about his family. "I'd like to here more about that sometime but..." he trailed off.
"If you'll excuse us Nicholas, Harry and I have something to discuss."
Nicholas nodded his head. "Of course dad."
Dumbledore moved Harry over into a corner and cast a privacy ward around them. Harry noticed that Edward was glaring over at them. He wondered what the teen's problem was. It seemed Dumbledore saw it as well.
"Don't mind Edward. He wanted me to take him on as my apprentice in the art of Transfiguration but I haven't taken one since my first apprentice went dark. He thought being my great-grandson would change my mind, but it did not. Now he thinks I have taken you on as an apprentice, despite my constant reassurances that I have not."
Harry looked at his mentor curiously. "Who was your first apprentice?"
Dumbledore sighed and patted down his beard. "Gellert Grindelwald." If Harry had been drinking something he would have spit it out. "I had achieved my masters three years earlier when he approached me, two years after his graduation from Durmstrang, in 1903. I had just married my wife, Alicia, when he begged me to accept him. Apprenticeships are a minimum of a year but can last longer if the master thinks the apprentice isn't ready. Throughout the apprenticeship he had always voiced his distrust in governments but it wasn't until we were nearing the end of our year together that he started going off on these violent rants against the Ministries. I knew then I couldn't keep passing my knowledge to someone so angry at the world. I severed our master-apprentice bond and told him to leave. He did and after two decades had passed I heard rumors of assassinations in governments throughout Eastern Europe. In my gut I knew it was him, and I was right. His anger had manifested into hatred, and with his power, he was easily able to gather followers and start his war on the Ministries."
Harry was silent for a few moments. "I can see how that would sour you on taking anyone else."
"Indeed. Now, my history with Grindelwald is not what I wanted to talk to you about. I have spent time researching items Tom would find worthy enough to be his Horcruxes. There are many items of the four founders kept in museums but I inspected them all personally and none of them are fakes, nor are any of them a Horcrux.
"So I did some digging and I found items to the founders that weren't kept in the museum. Hufflepuff's Cup was passed down as a family heirloom in the Hoffel family until it was stolen in 1953. Slytherin's locket was kept by the Gaunt family until Merope sold it to Burke before she died during childbirth. The item was stolen from Borgin and Burke in 1947. The sheath to Gryffindor's sword was in the Gryffindor family vault when I first claimed head of the family. I hadn't been in the vault since the early 1900's until the other day when I went to look. The sheath is gone and I know for a fact it has not been reunited with the sword. I am still looking for an artifact from Ravenclaw.
"Then I started looking at other items Tom might find worthy. I looked at several dozen items so far and believe I found two possible choices. The Gaunt family ring had been confiscated from Morfin Gaunt when he was arrested the second time, for the deaths of the Riddle family. It had been placed in a Ministry storage locker and forgotten about, and now it is missing. As for the other item; the other day I asked my friend at the Ardennes' War Memorial, located on the spot Grindelwald and I had our final duel, to check out Grindelwald's items there. He told me that the wand was a fake, that the real one had been stolen."
Harry absorbed everything he was being told. Hufflepuff's cup, Slytherin's locket, Gryffindor's sheath, the Gaunt family ring and Grindelwald's wand. Five out of eleven items...wait no, out of ten. He had completely forgotten about it what with the whole Forbidden Forest incident but Sirius and Remus had gone to India to retrieve a Horcrux.
"What about the one Sirius and Remus went to get in India? What was it? Was it destroyed?"
Dumbledore reached into his robe and pulled out a warped looking pair of gold half-moon spectacles. The frame was twisted, one of the lenses was missing while the other was cracked and there was black burn marks on it. Harry took the item and examined it carefully. The letters APWBD were carved into both sides of the frame. It took Harry a moment to realize this was a similar pair to the one Dumbledore was wearing right now.
"Your glasses?"
"After I was made Headmaster, a young Tom Riddle had approached me about taking the open Defense post. I declined his offer, thinking him too inexperienced. It was shortly after that I realized my glasses were missing. Back then my vision wasn't nearly as bad as it is now and I didn't need to wear them all the time. I didn't think anything of it, so imagine my surprise when Sirius hands me a pair of my own spectacles!"
Dumbledore's beard twitched as his face broke out into a small smile. Harry let a small grin make its way onto his own face. "So what do we do, now that we know half of the items?"
"I have several places that are potential locations. Bill Weasley is checking out the locations for strong wards, as I doubt Voldemort would leave something so precious to him unprotected."
Harry had always wondered why Voldemort would make it so well known where his Horcruxes were. Wouldn't it make sense to be more discreet with something so important to him?
"Wouldn't it be wiser to use something inconspicuous, like a piece of garbage, and to leave it in a place that would make it hard to find, like a dump? Or drop whatever it is in the bottom of the ocean?"
"That would be true, if no one was to ever become aware of the Horcruxes or someone who could sense magic never walked within a mile of one. Horcruxes give off a powerful pulse of dark magic. Horcruxes are also so vile they do affect the areas around it. Water would become poisoned, animal life near it would die, as would any plant life. These are all signs of powerful dark magic that would eventually lead to investigation into the area by the Ministry. The smartest thing to do would be to hide it somewhere magical people never visited and cast a ward that stifles magic around it. However, Voldemort has too big of an ego to do something so simple."
Harry nodded his head. He had met the Dark Lord on several occasions and without a doubt, the man was an egomaniac. Voldemort would never settle with using something ordinary as a receptacle for his soul, and he would never leave it in a place so muggle as a dump. Tom Riddle would need something extravagant for a Horcrux and he would need some place, either equally as extravagant or some place that showed off his power, to hide it.
"Now if you are willing to accompany back to the United Kingdom Harry, I have much to do tomorrow. We're beginning an investigation into Ministry workers, trying to weed out those who are spies for Voldemort."
"Of course sir," Harry stated. He had wondered when Dumbledore would start sniffing out the spies in his Ministry.
"Let us say our goodbyes and then we can be off."
"Back to Hogwarts in three weeks," Neville pointed out.
"Which means Hogwarts' feast," Ron muttered, a dreamy look appearing on his face.
Harry folded his arms across his chest and gave an indignant sniff. "Good to know my cooking isn't appreciated."
"Sorry mate. You're cooking is decent but you're no mum or Hogwarts house elves."
"Then you can cook tonight's meal."
Neville gasped and threw a hand to his mouth in mock horror. "No! Last time he tried to cook he burnt the entire pot of pasta. How do you burn pasta? It's in boiling water!"
Ron scratched his neck in embarrassment as Harry and Neville laughed at his expense. Even Ron wasn't exactly sure how he had burnt the pasta.
"Anything in the prophet?" Ron asked, changing the subject and nodding his head toward the paper that sat on the coffee table in front of Harry.
"Ministry uncovered almost two dozen spies," Harry stated. Ron didn't read the Prophet, Neville rarely did. Harry was the only one who browsed through it every morning, looking for any interesting tidbit on the war. "Another seventeen workers went missing before the investigation teams could reach their offices."
"Blimey," Ron muttered. "41 Ministry workers? You take away the Aurors, Hit-Wizards and Auxiliaries, and that's a good ten percent that is."
Harry nodded his head in agreement. "A Hit-Wizard and an Auxiliary are two of the seventeen that went missing. Other then that, the Department of Magical Law Enforcement was clean, which I think is a big relief for the country."
"You-Know-Who's numbers are already triple what they were last war." Neville was pale at the thought, having heard the stories from his gran about the atrocities Voldemort and only fifty Death Eaters had been able to commit. Their high amount of assassinations on Aurors and Hit-Wizards in the first few years had weakened the Ministry enough where they didn't have the man power to fight toe-to-toe, as many were too afraid to join either of the two forces.
"We know what happened in the last war. We know how they operate and with Dumbledore as Minister, I don't think we'll be so easily forced on the defensive."
"This war is depressing," Ron muttered. "And it hasn't even really started yet."
Harry stared at his hands. Ron was right. He knew things were only going to get worse and would continue to get worse as long as Voldemort lived. And Voldemort would live until Harry developed he skills to kill him. That thought just made Harry even more depressed. How many people were going to die because he was sixteen years old and no match for the greatest Dark Lord who ever lived? Sure, when you looked at the big picture, Harry shouldn't feel guilty at all but he did/ He felt responsible for every person who was going to die in this war. He needed to take his mind off of it, even for a day.
"Let's have a party."
Ron and Neville both whipped their heads toward Harry.
"What?" Ron demanded.
"Let's have a party," Harry reiterated.
Ron's face lit up. "Why have we never thought of that until now!?"