A/N: Hello everyone. Once again a new chapter got a good critique in my reviews, and I was a bit flat on the explanation of why the schools start at thirteen now. Shout out to Veniat. Good thing I am still in the world-building chapters and planned to expand on that point. Thanks to this review though I will be a bit more self-critical and try to make my thoughts and thought process more clear, why I think it works.
Harry and Erebos glide through the skies, it was a sunny Saturday afternoon in August. One of the last days before on the First of September a new year at Hogwarts School would start.
In the next hours, the Tonks family would arrive and have Dinner with Harry for the first time on Potter Island. In the last days, they exchanged letters by elf and Harry tried to familiarize himself with his new muscle groups. He was very thankful for the Ritual he did to rejuvenate his body. Without the shorter regeneration and improved stamina, he would not be gliding. He still could not take off or stay in the air when the ground was not warm and gave him updrafts. He learned to glide and land without face-planting. Even if he did exactly that on the first days. Harry crashed into the ground on the first three tries and changed shortly after that to practice over the water. His nature urged him to quickly learn anything he could about his form and he just wanted to fly with his new brother-like figure in Erebos.
After the Bonding, the Dragon was able to quickly absorb Harry's Knowledge of the human Language and spoke in a deep voice since yesterday.
"Well, we should try to change direction now Harry. Lordey will take them directly to the dining room. Good thing you connected to the ward stone and could allow him magical travel again. If they don't know where to go and should change allegiance they won't be able to do much."
Harry snorted, the letters he exchanged and the overall appearance of the Tonks family lead him to believe that they were the total opposite of the Dursleys. Loving, Caring, and strictly loyal to each other. "You are overdoing the Suspicion a bit brother. I know where you coming from and all, don't get me wrong. My relatives were just bad people. Some humans are good, and look out for others Even if they are not human. Andromeda had told me a story from Ted where he helped a werewolf pack after they got into some trouble. After that, he traveled to a remote part of Asia to help a group of locals support their creatures. He gets paid yeah but not enough, he just wants to help magical beings. Maybe he can learn something about dragon physiology?"
The dragon had a thoughtful look as both of them tipped their wings a bit to curve back. They would have enough height to smoothly get back to the castle he concluded so they just glided on. "You may be right, but you should be always vigilant. You can never know and you know that is not only your life you are protecting by keeping a close and tight watch on visitors around here. Even your Ancestors rarely invited people. Only after big screening processes vows and stuff they got them here. Or why would it be that only those with blood or magical relation can be entered into the wards permanently by design"
Harry relented a bit and his yellow eye looked at his wingman.
"Yeah, Okay I will be careful." Harry had to doge a Tail swipe midair as Erebos heard the eye-roll in his voice. He carefully read the whole file the Goblins had provided him with information about the Tonks family. They exchanged letters, without any problems had agreed to the vow. Even did that with Goldaxe as a witness just yesterday. Something deep inside of him was aching for more positive human interaction. The Portraits were a nice change to the elves, and his dragon friend but he had already noticed that some information was outdated he had in his books or known from the portraits. One of those things was the global entry age for magical schooling. The ICW had to change the law about the school age after some members had pressured them to leave the confederation. For some reason in some nations, they still held onto the law. Those countries were mostly controlled by a more pro-pureblooded government. Andromeda wanted to tell him more after the meal so he would have to wait.
Harry wore a green shirt and black pants as he heard the popp of the elve apparition. Andromeda and Nymphadora wore matching dresses with Nymphadora changing some details to make it look a bit more rebellious. For example, some chains were used to accentuate her hips, her pink hair and cuts in her skirt showed a bit more skin than the version her mother wore and added to her punkish style. Ted Tonks also decided to wear a shirt and pants combination like Harry but his looked a bit more tailored to fit.
They exchanged greetings and Harry had even to catch Nymphadora as she stumbled in her low heels. Overall the delicious feast the elves prepared consisted of a light salad, followed by slow-cooked pulled pork and a variation of watermelon straight from the grill was very well received. Harry enjoyed the chit-chat and was very entertaining. But the conversation changed after the meal. Harry did not wait long to bring up the school thing again.
"You told me that some countries like Britain still have the entry age of thirteen, could you elaborate now Andy?" Harry asked after taking a sip of water. The witch nodded and cleaned her mouth with a napkin after a sip of red wine.
"I can do that. I told you about the Dark Lord and everything around. The main concern first after the Grindelwald war was to get back up on our feet. Many good people died in the war. Some educational institutions had been burned down. Instructors had died. It was a big mess. The ICW decided to give the countries some kind of pause by pushing back their examinations for two years. That started a chain of events and discoveries, till the new law had been introduced. The main reason showed itself shortly after the war.
The kids in the following generation had problems with living through such a big war and suppressed their magic because they often heard how bad magic killed loved ones.
Subconsciously they understood that magic was kind of bad and tried to work against it. The cases of Obscurials, or late bloomers rose dramatically. After some used drastic measures to tickle the accidental magic out of them, the ICW passed the law. Covering it up with Economics and such. Just a smokescreen, Ted still had cases of adults of this generation with problems."
Andromeda made a short pause to take another sip.
"The law to get a wand had not changed. Therefore the pureblooded and most half-blooded families just did what they always do with their kids. Educate them themselves or hire tutors. So that also had some positive effects on them. Muggleborns had no problems with bad magic, though had problems catching up. Only the best of them adjusted fast enough to the magical world. Most had to drop out after the OWL's barely scratching the minimum. So with seventeen and only average scores, most of them got back into the muggle world. As always our society was not concerned about that."
Harry looked at her with a raised eyebrow causally snapping his staff into existence to summon his notebook and pencil. Nymphadora and Ted looked a bit shocked at the casual display of wordless and wandless magic. Harry had not noticed that and just looked at Andromeda. "Please continue. I would say a fine temporary aid to get over the hard times of a war but it should have been revisited?"
Ted was the person answering that question.
"Excuse me to insert myself in your conversation but I have a better view here. To make it short. Yes, it should have. Some Countries adapted. Japan for example created a Preschooling System. Before you go to Mahoutokoro the children would have to pass entry exams. Most parents had just simply worked out group lessons and that evolved into a magical Preschool with professional teachers or uppers years from Mahoutokoro earning some teaching experience. Other countries had their solutions."
Andromeda nodded and sighed.
"I can't say who still has only one school in place that starts at thirteen years old. Britain has though. The conservative block in our Wizengamot and the neutrals are still holding a majority. Unfortunately, they are the same families who can mostly just hire tutors and prepare them very well in these two years. So the progressives were not able to change that law till today. The curriculum of Hogwarts still is seven years long and covers mostly the same fields but the differences between the native magicals and muggleborn in grades won't need unfair means to see the old families on top for most of the time. Sometimes a muggleborn prodigy appears like your mother. Those disruptions have been getting less common after the second blood war against You-know-who and his followers."
She finished and Harry only shook his head
"Well, that is a big mess. I will have to wait till my OWL but maybe I can make some changes when I take up my seat in the Wizengamot." Harry finished telling them to follow him outside. The dining room they had used was on the bottom floor and had big windows to go out.
Andromeda looked a bit skeptical.
"Harry, your family is listed as a house in the second tier so no veto rights and just a simple vote how should tip that the scale in the right direction?"
Before Harry could answer Erebos was coming to him and landed before him. The Tonks all gave off a sound of surprise and even wanted to draw their wand only to see the dragon use his snout to poke Harry and speak.
"The Elves did make good foot today did they?"
Many things happened at the same time. Ted pointed and fainted. Andromeda was shocked speechless and Nymphaora yelled.
"By Merlin, did that Dragon just speak with Cousin Harry?"
Only for Erebos to turn his head to Dora.
"Grandpa knew that guy pleasant bloke to be honest."
The following "Damn" from Dora and an unbelieving "Language" from Andromeda broke Harry and Erebos and both laughed.
After they had woken up Ted, Harry and Erebos explained everything even his Hybrid form, and Erebos demonstrated his different sizes. While Harry had trained to fly he used the time to try out his shrinking. He had tried but his best was sixteen inches. After being labeled cute he quickly changed back to his ten feet version and growled at Nymphadora.
They also told them how Harry learned his magic from Onyxia. One more count to Ted's faint counter later Harry and the Tonkses had some light conversation. Later that day the raven-haired wizard agreed that it would be great if Andromeda would become his official guardian in the muggle world and in the magical one. Harry liked her, and how she dealt with him. The story about his mother and her bachelorette party also helped. Andromeda had censored it a bit but Harry liked to get to know his mother a bit more.
The next days were full of official meetings in the mundane and magical world. The mundane was surprisingly easy. The Dursleys reported him as moved out of the country with a relative, Andromeda used a hidden Confundus to step in as the relative and the move out was just a vacation that they had gotten wrong. With a bit of magic, it was very easy and Harry was now listed with Andromeda's address and as home-schooled.
On the magical side, everything went smoothly as the Goblins used the more than feeble approach of their magical liaison office to place his change of guardianship papers. After the thirteen days of waiting period it would only be changeable with a Wizengamot vote but who should motion for that? The notice got to the old guardian a day after that and was diligently sorted into the for your information stack on the desk of Albus Dumbledore, who tried to mediate an upcoming conflict between two African wizarding communities in his role as Supreme Mugwump.
It took another week to organize contact with the Vampire coven and in the middle of September with Dora back in School and Ted on his next assignment in Niger. Andromeda, Harry, and Erebos traveled by muggle means to France. The Dragon wore a Muggle-Notice-me-not charm as stylish collar-like accessories. At Paris Airport they were picked up by their contact and brought to a Chateau on the outskirts of Paris. Harry could feel all the old wards around them. Old, and very similar to those he could raise if he used his limited knowledge of blood wars Onyxia had provided them.
Main Residence of the France Vampire Coven, Paris, France
The Halls of the Chateau were much bigger on the inside. It looked like a small city as they were guided to a reception hall and looked out of the windows. On the grounds were different houses and halls as far as they could see. After a short waiting period, the double doors opened and the Entourage was motioned through. They stood in a very Barock-like audience room you would expect visiting a royal. Guards were standing at Attention in two lines facing each other. Flanking the red carpet leading to the Throne on which they see a person waiting for them. The woman with dark red hair cascading down her back had a symmetrical pale face and red eyes. Her lipstick was also of a red tone but more like the blood-red variant. She wore a black dress, a high-slitted leg with golden details. A leather corset emphasized her C-Cups and hourglass-like body. The crossed legs were encased in high-heeled leather boots and one hand held a golden Chalice. The Voice had something alluring, beguiling even.
"Excellent, you are punctual Lord Potter and you have brought a Dragon with you. Impressive"
Harry looked at Erebos who changed his size accordingly to be a bit more intimidating. Before his party stopped after they reached the end of the carpet. He bowed with respect but not without pulling out his staff sizing it to a walking stick.
"Greetings to you Vampire Queen of France." This time Harry's Voice did not hold a bit of nervousness as he finally looked up. "It is just proper to be punctual your Highness."
The Queen gave off a melodious laugh. "That it is. I, Queen Ophelia Escoffier welcome you in my domain as an honored guest as long as you follow the proper etiquette." She took a sip of the blood in her chalice and liked up the drops in the corner of her mouth making it look exceptionally sensual after handing it off to one of her maids, who wore classical French maid garb but a bit shorter than you would expect. Harry gave a short nod of thanks before the Queen continued. "Well, Well, Well to see one of the old Peverells again is something I, with my 1337 years had not expected to happen again. You had a delicate Topic had you not." Again she waited for Harry's nod and waved at her Guards. Without a word, they left the room and closed the door only one maid stayed back, who had a high grade of similarities with the Queen, she looked a bit like her younger sister and Harry's age.
Harry had raised a brow at the name Peverell giving Andromeda a short questioning look who just shrugged. Something that the Queen had not missed and addressed shortly.
"Ahh, I forget, that you had not known them of course. We can talk about them later now." She stood up by uncrossing her legs and accompanied by the clacks of the heel on the marble steps and her maid she made her way to the group. Her hips swayed with a hypnotic grace that Harry saw but could easily ignore thanks to his age.
"It is most curious to see Onyxia introducing me to a human, even more you Lord Potter. Am I allowed to do a diagnostic of the problem in your scar?"
"Pardon your highness but how do you plan to do that? If it is not evasive and dangerous I am all for it though" Ophelia chuckled showing her fangs her tone changing to a motherly one.
"You are still just a Boy it is refreshing that you are brave enough to step before me and question me. But I digress. Like this" She waved her hand while still chuckling and Harry could feel his Scar heating up. She concentrated for just a second only to sigh disapprovingly. "Those self-styled Dark Lord Wannabes and their playthings. Well Lord Potter it seems to me that you carry around a shard of your enemy." Was her plain answer. Andromeda paled, and Erebos and Harry looked confused.
"Yeah, that sounds like something I really could do without right?" Came his youthful answer only for Andromeda to pale more. The Queen blinked for a second and had to laugh again.
"As I said most refreshing. You see Liilith dearest. There are funny wizards" She said to her little Maid behind her only for her to huff. Before she looked back to Harry.
"Yes, you could and should not be the reason that your enemy still whiles on this living plane. Looking at the sizes the one in your scar is not the only one, and judging the size, one of the last. Thinking about it that he is thought dead and done for at the moment the last he made in his prime. Before you ask, no, I can't say how much he made, only that it should be much more prominent and stronger."
She made a dramatic pause seemingly enjoying that her audience was hanging on her lips.
"But yes, I know of a quite safe way to get rid of it. Good thing you brought your solicitor and guardian. I don't do things for free and you may want to have someone consulting you on my price."
Harry wanted to groan but an elbow from Andromeda helped him to hold his tongue. Now was Andromeda in her role. She had a fierce look nobody would rip off her ward.
"And that is exactly why I am here your highness."
The Queen looked at the fierce-looking woman and smiled. "I like you, Andromeda Black. Yeah, I know you were banished but for someone like me, those are minor things that don't concern me. You were raised and trained in the ways of the black so I think that counts."
She looked at them and said "I think we should take a seat" A short glance at Liltih and a minute later they had three chairs and a big table. The queen sat at her throne-like chair and motioned Harry and Andromeda to join her. Her maid placing herself to her right Erebos sized himself down to join them on Harry's shoulder.
She waited for Andromeda to take out Quill and parchment but started straight after that.
"Even as someone like me with all the time in the world, I will get straight to the point. There are three ways I know of to get rid of a Soul shard created by human magic. One of them is to destroy the vessel with something destructive like Fienfyre or Basilisk Venom, maybe the Flame of Hephaistus but I can't say if that is still a thing in this era. The next one is a relatively new ritual by the Goblins. I think it is three centuries old but only intended for non-living things. So that maybe could go wrong and then we have my way." She smiled and looked like she radiated her pride. Andromeda had taken down some notes but only for further reference.
"It is a very safe method if all safeguards are in place and everybody involved knows what they are doing. It even can siphon away at the soul shard so let us say the infested person would get something out of it." She smiled very brightly. "Oh. Now I had digressed right?" she asked with a false innocence but did not get the reactions she hoped from Andromeda and Harry, they just looked on and waited.
"You are good," she said with her normal voice as she tested them. "I created that way it's kind of a ritualistic approach with the mind arts involved. You Lord Potter would need to be trained in the Mind Arts by a qualified vampire." Andromeda just looked up with a neutral expression at that. The Queen noticed that and nodded approvingly.
"Very good Occlumency Mrs. Tonks. As I said you would have to be trained in the Mind Arts. I think that will take up some years dependent on your efforts. If you reached the level of competency needed for the ritual I would personally oversee the proceedings and establish the soul siphon. You would gain something from the siphon, I can't say what exactly is different each time, and would be very advanced in the mind arts. Without trying to sound arrogant. Vampires are one of the best practitioners of that Branch of magic. This and Bloodmagic."
Andromeda underlined one of her notes and looked up.
"Well, you listed very good profits, your highness. You did not once mention the price with what this conversation started."
The Queen looked like she wanted to hug Andromeda for a moment.
"As I said refreshing for someone to not fear me when we just hold a conversation. Right. The Price" Her gaze shifted to Harry and she looked a bit like she wanted to make a feast out of him. Harry looked uncomfortable for a moment and Erebos jumped back only to grow in size and growled threateningly.
"You will not harm Harry in a way or I will burn down everything Vampire!" Flames were dancing around his nostrils and the temperature heated up accordingly to a degree HArry and Andromeda worked up a sweat.
The Queen remained calm for the whole time.
"No, I will not turn Harry young Hatchling. Rest assured and hold your flames".
The Dragon had the Vampire crossed Eye contact and in short seconds that felt like minutes nothing happened only for the Dragon to calm himself and the Queenn to continue.
"There won't be exchanged Galleons. I have enough gold to last my coven a long time. If you can work from the shadows to influence the mundane it is just too simple. No, In an exchange that I rid you Lord Potter of this shard and give you the best Tutor for the Mind Arts known around Europe," she flipped her long hair "Me. I want you temporarily in my services." Before Andromeda could say something the Queen held up her hand in an authoritative gesture. "Let me finish. I won't hinder you to get your Education at Hogwarts but in the summer Holidays you would serve at my side and join my Granddaughter at my side." She looked over her shoulder at Lilith before turning back. "I would ensure that your identity would be safe, and if I wanted some of your blood I will swear a magical vow that I won't turn you. Lilith is learning at my heel so to speak and maybe If you are open to it and have the talent you could also learn a thing or two."
Andromeda had noted down every aspect and frowned a bit.
"You did not mention how long exactly that temporary service would last. Also, would Lord Potter get into conflict with wizarding Law?"
The Queen snapped her fingers and Lilith was off only to curtsy coming back and placing water and wine in the right glasses in front of Andromeda and Harry, and a golden chalice with blood in front of the Queen. Silently getting back into position to her right.
"The Process for the Extraction takes time it is slow but harmless as I said. I expect it to last for 2-4 years. As long as the extraction would last, additional half of the time on top but not longer than Lord Potter is in school. I am not interested to hinder his growth. What applies to your second question, Mrs. Tonks. His activities would be in full accordance with the ICW laws. Nothing would be done he would not be allowed to do at that point."
Andromeda looked at Harry who was calm. In his mind, he was conversing with Erebos the whole time. The young Dragon spoking encouraging words and sometimes throw in some wisdom. He even admitted that to learn the Mind Arts from a Vampire was regarded as an Honour, no race or creature had more Knowledge accumulated over the years than the Vampires. Harry just listened and trusted Andromeda to ask the right questions at the moment. What was exactly the former Black was about to do.
"Your wording is very open. If Harry reached his OWL I am sure you would be able to register him as a personal protection detail and enable him to kill under the right circumstances right?"
The Queen nodded. "That could be a possible thing. Or maybe he just has to help me in my nightgown, bathe me and help Lilith in dressing me?" Ophelia returned with a question. Nobody could tell what of that she meant and what was a joke.
"Is that all? Service and freely given blood for you to consume. Your Highness's commitment to not hinder Lord Potters's options after school or cause permanent changes to his physique by turning him or getting him addicted in some kind of way?" Andromeda looked up from her parchment.
The Queen put a finger to her chin and looked in thought for a moment.
"Some could get addicted to a vampire bite right? Or the blood could be used in rituals. No, I will make sure that it is only used to give me some much-needed nutrition. I will use every precaution to save him from a bite addiction I know of and there are many. One last thing at the end of his service I think Lilith should also have the possibility to get something out of it. She will be his direct contact and will have most of her lessons with him as long as Lord Potter is at the coven. I would propose that Lord Potter will be her partner in one particular ritual to ensure the survival of my line. Only if my Granddaughter is willing to take him on for that reason of course."
For some seconds there was a silence. Harry's eyes grow bigger with each one before he had to cough a bit because he choked on his water.
"Wait a minute. You mean that …"
Andromeda looked at the Queen. Lilith in the back was kind of checking out Harry at the moment as the Queen was very calm delivering the answer.
"Yes, exactly that thing what you think about Lord Potter, there would be no enforcement of upkeep or something similar. Also, no marriage bonds or vows alike are needed. We, Vampires, have very limited fertility if we want to procreate in a normal way and have some difficulties. Or why do you think my daughter needed half of the millennia to give me my granddaughter? The partner must be magical, and not any kind of magical. It must be a strong one. The species of strong magicals seem to be declining with each decade. You Lord Potter are one of those rare strong wizards, I can feel it like the bond to your Dragon."
She made a short pause and looked at them with an understanding smile.
"I have given you every information you need to know. I have to attend to a different matter and will return in about three hours. You will not be bothered and if you have final questions we can address them at that point. Make no mistake my offer is final and I am not known for concessions. Lord Potter will learn some things no wizard had learned after my mate."
She looked like she was taking a fond trip down memory lane standing up, only for Harry and Andromeda to copy her in that action.
"Ah, I miss my little Thundergod. Lilith will be accompanying me but if you need something just ring the bell" She pointed at it and with a wave was out of the room with Lilith following her both with clacks of heels but a bit more muted, thanks to the carpet.
As the door closed Harry looked at Andromeda and both sat down again.
"Well, there is that." She said exhausted.
"You can say that again. I mean we knew it would cost me something but that is a long list of things" Harry added only to look at Erebos.
The Dragon had closed his eyes seemingly sorting through his database of memories. Slowly opening his eyes again after nearly a minute.
"I am very sure, that the Queen can help Harry. I looked at every memory with her that I have and each time she traded with the Dragons she fulfilled each clause of the agreement to the last point. We know that this Dark Lord attacked you for some reason and failed. He is still alive and I am very sure that he wants revenge and will be coming after you again." The Dragon made a short pause.
"To learn at the heel of an Elder is something even Dragons regard as desirable. In the max that would say ten summers where you will be busy and don't lie to me brother you love to learn things."
Harry could only nod, he knew arguing against was fruitless, and looked at Andromeda.
"I will draw up a contract with all points and be as precise as possible Harry, but I can't rule out residual risk. The Queen looks like a person dealing with things like that daily. That is my first case including a vampire elder."
Harry took the parchment with all the benefits and duties and lost himself in it. What should he do? Hope to find something on his own to get rid of the shard. Try out the Goblin ritual maybe? He was not even ten years old and somehow found himself in his first life-defining decision. What should he choose? He looked at the two others and they began to weigh the points and discuss everything.
A/N: Yeah… what should Harry do? Do you have a recommendation for the troubled boy? Or maybe you want to put in some suggestions about what Harry if he accepts the deal, should get out of the shard in his scar? Memories? Power or maybe just the certainty that he is free of it? Let me know in Reviews or PMs, or send me an Owl perhaps.
The next chapter will possibly get us through the last years before Hogwarts in a time-lapse-like manner. Not completely outlined yet.