Chapter 19: Safe House
Neville was mortified. Harry and Hermione kept watching him pace, his frustration evident. Neville pulled at his hair. How could he even begin to explain the dynamics of his relationship –or lack thereof– with his grandmother? She had been rude, disrespectful, cold, and borderline xenophobic to his friends and their families. All of them were people who had either saved his life or helped him heal.
"Neville, please say something," Hermione frowned.
"I don't even know where to start," Neville sighed. "Everything she did... how she acted... I-"
"Neville, don't. You don't have to apologize for her," Harry smiled.
"She has never been a loving grandma... But she's usually much more polite than this, even if it is forced by good breeding and etiquette," Neville replied. "How much do you know about Houses?"
Harry shrugged, "Other than apparently mine is a big deal and so is Sirius' not much."
"Neville... let's be strategic about this. What do you need and how can Harry help you?" Hermione asked.
"I am invoking the Safe House protocol of the Potter-Longbottom alliance. I need you to help me claim my title from under my grandmother,"
Harry looked at Hermione with concern. She took a deep breath. "You are asking Harry for a Feud?"
What was that again?
A formal complaint with actionable consequences in case the other House doesn't hold up their end of a deal. Remember? Lady Chang told us all about it, Hermione reminded him gently.
Oh, right. Thank you, Harry thought back.
"No. Just for Safe House. That's more than enough for me," Neville replied. "Harry, your family and my family signed an agreement in blood during the first war... It includes many things, but one of those is that any Potter and any Longbottom can request Safe House with the other family if they feel unsafe going home. This was included mostly because there have been some bat shit crazy patriarchs and matriarchs in my family that has forced scions to flee. Your family was a lot... um... healthier."
Hermione frowned, "Neville, pardon me if this is indelicate. Is your grandmother abusing you?"
Harry tightened his hold on Hermione's waist.
"Augusta gave me the best education that can be afforded in magical families, but I was raised by our house-elf," Neville sighed. "Every nightmare I had as a kid, I would go to Augusta, and she would tell me to 'Man up.' Soon enough, I would stay in my room and cry myself to sleep because that felt better than her reaction. Our elf found out and she would come and hold my hand until I fell back asleep. When she was teaching me something and I failed during recall exercises... She would discipline me... harshly."
"Did she hit you?" Hermione asked, her voice soft.
Neville nodded with his eyes on the ground. He really didn't want to start crying right now.
"I have never been allowed to visit my parents. She says it's a waste of time. I have been barred access from the family vault. She gives me an amount per month. Anything else, I need to figure out by myself. She hasn't even tried hard to get my parents to specialists. I really think they could improve, but she refuses to take them to non-magical healers. I know that the study of the mind is ages ahead in non-magical medicine. I would hate to think she's keeping them sick on purpose, but she did that to me, so I don't know what to think anymore," Neville sighed.
"Neville, I am sorry you have gone through this. I know how it feels," Harry stood and pulled Neville into a hug. "Whatever you need, we got you. I have never asked you about your parents because it seemed indelicate. What do you mean she did that to you?"
"The other day I was doing a regression with Luna," Neville began.
"She can do that? I didn't know she was well versed in hypnosis," Hermione asked with wide eyes. Regression therapy focused on specific past events and how they influence the way people behave now. Hermione was impressed. This type of therapy was very relevant to people trying to overcome childhood abuse. The need for hypnosis is a part of the process because many professionals believe that the subconscious mind can repress trauma if it was inflicted at an age before the mind could figure out how to process it.
"Yeah. She's quite brilliant. She offered to do it and I trust her so I knew I would be safe," Neville nodded.
"And? What did you discover?" Harry asked. Maybe I should try that.
Maybe.
"Well, when I was a kid, everyone thought I was a squib because I never had any bouts of magic. I realized years later when I was about 10 years old that she had placed magic canceling cuffs on my ankles. They kept me pliant and sickly so I wouldn't rebel. She would tell me I was sick and weak and gave me many potions and draughts to make sure I stayed that way," Neville replied.
Munchausen by proxy? That bitch! Hermione though.
"What else?" Harry asked through gritted teeth. He felt it was just the beginning.
"She knew my father's wand would never work well for me. She kept me using that to keep me manageable and obedient. When I turned eleven, I could have claimed my title, but she put me under Imperius. I don't know what exactly she forced on me. One afternoon, she finally treated me like a child, you know, took me out for ice cream and for a puppet show, she even tucked me into bed. That's when she did the spell on me, and after that, I no longer wanted the burdens and responsibility of being a Lord."
"Shit."
"That is a crime that she should be processed for," Hermione replied.
"That would need a House Trial. Can I count on you for protection? I... I know she will want to force me to leave with her. The way she looked at Luna worried me."
"Let her try," Hermione replied with distaste. She squeezed Neville's shoulder. "Both you and Luna are family to us."
"She doesn't get to walk all over you. This is a Potter property. I will banish her if I have to," Harry nodded.
"Thank you. As Head of House Potter, you would need to tell Lady Dowager Longbottom that you have granted me Safe House, though," Neville looked down. No one ever wanted to face his grandmother's wrath.
Harry thought, Will you help me talk to her?
Hermione smiled and thought back, Of course. You can use the words I think to you, and we will put the fear of her maker back into that bully.
Thank you, love, Harry beamed at her. "We will."
Neville looked confused.
"Sorry. I mean, Hermione will help me talk to her... You know? In my mind. Through the bond that is," Harry clarified.
Neville smiled slightly, "Oh. Awesome! That is so cool. Just don't let my grandmother see you, Hermione."
"I won't. Neville, we have a meeting with Queen Anord soon. I think she could help you claim your Lordship and guardianship over your parents. You should attend with us," Hermione replied.
"Yes, of course. I would appreciate that. Should I go call her?"
"No. Stay out of this. We will have Dobby bring her. Go to Luna and enjoy dessert. I think it's ice cones," Hermione smiled.
Neville nodded with gratitude. "Thank you, I will."
"I will be in my room," Hermione smiled and pecked Harry's lips.
Harry took a few deep breaths. Neville's grandmother gave him the heebie-jeebies. He wandlessly summoned a butterbeer from the small fridge he had placed in the library for Hermione's long study sessions. He chugged it down. No time like the present, I guess.
I am ready, Harry, Hermione thought to him.
I am not, but we will do this anyway, he thought back.
"Dobby?"
"Master," Dobby bowed, appearing into the room with Neville's grandmother. "Lady Dowager Longbottom, as you requested."
Harry blinked but decided not to comment on the fact that he didn't request anything yet. "Thank you, Dobby."
"Lord Potter," the old woman nodded.
"Lady Dowager," Harry nodded back and motioned at the armchair in front of him. "Please take a seat."
The Lady looked at him with narrowed, suspicious eyes. "How much do I owe you, Lord Potter?"
She can't be serious, Hermione thought.
Harry took a deep breath, "Nothing, madam. I don't need your gold. Neville's friendship is essential to me. Hosting him has been a privilege and an honor. Now, I know we have only just met, Lady Longbottom. However, you strike me as the kind of person who values directness," Harry said without sitting down. That made him look more imposing.
"I do."
"Good. House Potter is taking Scion Longbottom under our protection. He has invoked the Safe House protocol of our alliance and when we- when I was made aware of his grievances, I had to help him," Harry crossed his arms. Something about this woman made his hair stand on end.
Augusta scoffed, "Grievances? As in plural? And what, pray tell, are those?"
"I am not required to disclose them to you. You know what you did," Harry frowned.
"You absolutely must tell me. The same alliance you mention has a pact of no aggression," Augusta stared him down. "You are stealing my heir from beneath me. That IS aggression."
"Stealing?"
The Lady lifted an eyebrow, daring him to deny it.
Harry chuckled. "As incredibly valuable and worthy as Neville is to me and my family-"
"What family!? You have NO family, kid!"
Harry stopped talking for a good minute as he tried to plead with Hermione to stay where she was and not come and curse the woman. He finally took a slow breath and smiled.
"My family is made up of many people and creatures that I chose and who have chosen me. According to your logic, Scion Longbottom only has you and yet... he has decided that he would feel better and safer under House Potter's protection."
The Lady's face turned red with rage. "I have never been thus insulted in my entire life."
"I have not insulted you. I have used your logic against you, and you don't like that. To you, I don't have a family. To me, I have the best family. My family is made up of people who love me, protect me, fight with me, rejoice, and mourn with me and I do the same for them. I don't care if you don't agree with my definition of family. The point here is that I am just providing Safe House for Neville. I don't want to steal him," Harry replied with a frown.
"That sort of family you speak of doesn't mean anything when your House is dying with you!"
"And yours will die with you if you don't stop this nonsense! I didn't want to embarrass you or be disrespectful, considering your age, but perhaps you need that to get your head out of your ass and look around you."
"Look around me?"
"We are in the middle of a war. Your grandson has been a champion and a hero to countless kids. He is smart, brave, loyal, and resourceful. He is a great wizard and an amazing friend. You come here after months of not seeing him, knowing that he almost died and successfully fought Death Eaters. He got hurt. You didn't ask him how he was. You didn't hug him. You looked at him as if he had done something offensive to your sensibilities," Harry said all this trying to keep his anger at bay. "You are his family and you treated him as if he was a stranger you didn't give a damn about. He could have died!"
"Excuse me!? I saw him head to toe and he was perfectly fine. You are a child! You have no right to speak to me like that!" Augusta hit the floor with her cane, making angry red sparkles fly.
Harry scowled, "Don't you dare talk to me about rights! You know full well that you have neglected Neville in every way that matters!"
The woman sputtered, "I have not neglected him at all! You will never meet a Scion more prepared to become a Lord than Neville, yourself included. Neville is well versed in etiquette, history, law, and finance. He speaks four languages. He can recite poetry from the greats as if he wrote it. He reads 4 books a month. He is politically aware, charitable, and a straight O student... for the most part."
Harry closed his eyes and took a deep breath, "You don't understand, ma'am. Neville is a wonderful person and will be a great Lord DESPITE you, not BECAUSE of you!"
"Anything he will ever amount to he OWES to me! I have dedicated my life, my time, and my resources to raising him! He is an ingrate immature pillock!" Augusta stepped toward Harry, menacingly. The taxidermized crow on her hat looked ready to attack despite being frozen in place. "His parents left me at a disadvantage! I was DONE being a mother! I did an excellent job with my son because I only wanted to do it ONCE! I raised my Frankie to be the best Lord Longbottom! He was supposed to take the mantle! Now I must settle for this ungrateful child who wasn't even man enough to tell me all about his bloody grievances to my face! Everything I did was for his own good!"
Harry felt his anger being fueled by Hermione's fury.
"How?!" Harry asked, stepping toward the woman.
She looked at him, not understanding his question.
"Explain to me how the actual fuck was it all for his own good. You have isolated him from his parents who, unlike mine, are very much ALIVE. His parents whose condition could have improved if you hadn't abandoned them in St. Mungo's to a Ward that hasn't improved or updated its methods for decades! You forced him to use his father's wand all the while knowing it wasn't right for him so that he wouldn't reach his full potential until he was no longer a minor under your thumb. And even with this obstacle, he has become an amazing wizard!"
"He should worship the ground I walk on for allowing him to use my Frankie's wand! He will never be man enough for it! He will never be worthy!" Lady Longbottom bellowed, pointing at Harry with her cane.
The door swung open with a bang. Hermione stood there, hair levitating and flaming eyes. "Shame on you!"
Augusta turned to Hermione and pointed at her with her cane, "Stay out of this! This is a private conversation that doesn't concern you, you scrubber!"*
Harry's core let out a wave of anger at the offensive remark and the lady fell on her face with a grunt. "NEVER speak ill of Hermione in my presence, you narcissistic megalomaniac psychopath! She is very much entitled to be here. Much more than you are. You are here as deference to Neville, and if you wanted this to be private, perhaps you shouldn't be screaming for the whole island to hear! I have no problem with my family hearing what I have to say because it is fair and true."
Hermione stared Augusta down as the Lady tried to get up. She made no motion to help the woman.
"You have barred Neville access to the family's vault. You even used an unforgivable curse on a minor who was under your care to stop him from taking his lordship. Do you deny it?!" Harry snapped.
"You cannot prove anything!" Augusta growled as her back complained when she tried to get up.
"So, you don't deny it," Neville, who had rushed back as decibels grew, stood next to Hermione, looking heartbroken. "I knew it. How could you stoop so low?"
"I will not speak to you until there is a House Trial. We are going back to the manor," Augusta said in a warning tone.
Neville sighed, "NO. I am staying here. I hope the House Trial is the last time I ever have to speak to you. I am done with this... whatever this sick attempt at a relationship you have forced upon me. I am DONE."
"Give it to me!" Augusta snapped as she finally stood up with difficulty.
"What?" Neville took a step back.
"Your father's wand. NOW!" Augusta pointed at the wand that was poking out of Neville's pocket.
Harry was aghast and Hermione was speechless. Dobby, get Mr. Ollivander here immediately, Harry thought forcefully. The wandmaker appeared behind Hermione holding a forkful of a meal with a look of confusion.
"GIVE ME FRANK'S WAND!" Augusta roared. "If you are so discontent with being a Longbottom, you can get your own!"
"We are in the middle of a WAR, Augusta. You want to disarm me in these circumstances?! I know you have never loved me, but I didn't know you wished me DEAD," Neville said with a shaky voice.
"GIVE IT TO ME, NOW!" the old woman insisted, taking a step toward him, angrily.
"Lord Potter," Mr. Ollivander cleared his throat as he understood why he was brought here. "It would be my honor to fit Scion Longbottom with a wand that is made just for him, at no charge, of course. I told Lady Longbottom he needed his own wand when he was eleven. This has been a long time coming."
Augusta wanted to tell the man off, but her fury wouldn't let her think straight. Her hold on her cane tightened.
"Thank you, sir," Neville looked at the man with gratitude. He took out his father's wand and caressed it, closing his eyes. He wanted to commit it to his memory. He then rolled his wand to his grandmother's feet. "My father would not forgive you for this and neither will I!"
Augusta picked up the wand and spat, "I did everything you needed! I can't believe you would go to another House for protection. That is low even for you. You are making me look like a criminal. Our House looks so weak right now."
"I can't believe that is all you care about," Hermione replied.
"You wouldn't know about the honor of a house, Miss I-shipped-my-parents-far-away-so-I-wouldn't-have-to-give-a-damn-about-them!"
Hermione gasped. "You have crossed the line! You don't get to speak of my parents! EVER!"
Before the Lady spewed any more vitriol, Harry stepped toward her menacingly, "Lady Dowager," he growled. He really wanted to attack her. "In your attempt to bash Neville to shape him into the image of his father, you forgot that he needed more than an education to be a good Lord."
The Lady scoffed as she picked up the wand, "And what would that be?"
"Neville needed a parental figure who loved and supported him for who he was, not for who you wanted him to be," Harry replied. "He needed love, care, protection, encouragement, confidence, and, at the bare minimum, respect."
"Neville needed a grandmother, not a Headmistress. He already has one of those and she thinks he's brilliant..." Hermione stepped to the side as she felt McGonagall approach.
Minerva wrapped her arm around Neville's shoulders, "He is absolutely brilliant, and I couldn't be prouder. He is a great warrior and a wonderful human being. Many families owe the lives of their heirs to his courage... I used to respect you, Augusta. Hearing all this, it is a miracle to me that this young man became such an upstanding wizard with only you to turn to. Frank and Alice would have never been okay with the way you have treated their son. They fought to keep him safe and to give him a future where he could be healthy and happy."
Augusta scowled. "I don't need child-rearing lessons from a barren woman!"
Minerva took a step back as if she had been struck. Hermione stepped behind her to steady her. Harry had never wanted to use Crucio on anyone as badly as he did now. Hermione was not faring any better.
Neville stepped toward Augusta, his body shaking, angrier than anyone present had ever seen him, "APOLOGIZE, NOW!" he bellowed at the woman.
Lady Longbottom lifted her cane to strike him, "NEVER!"
Time seemed to stand still as all elves on the island appeared and surrounded Harry, Hermione, Minerva, and Neville protectively, but in that one second, Neville forgot all his fears. He stretched himself to his full height and grabbed the cane he had feared for years, ripping it from Augusta's hands. "ENOUGH!" Neville growled as he broke the cane against his flexed knee and threw the halves down. "You will NEVER hit me or anyone else with this again!"
Before Augusta could form a reply, or anyone else could move, Harry spoke in his deepest, most menacing voice. "In my authority as Lord Potter, I hereby banish you from all Potter properties present and future. You will have the knowledge of this location taken from you and then you will be taken to London. Scion Longbottom is under the protection of my House, and I am ready to call a Blood Feud with you personally if you ever attempt to harm him or my family ever again! As I have said it, so mote it be!"
Augusta was knocked unconscious right away by Dobby. Kreacher placed his hands on her forehead with distaste. "Done. She won't remember this place or the first landing space. I will take her back to London, sir."
Down by the coral reef, a dejected Sirius Black walked towards a washed-up log. He sat and waited for Madam Bones to join him. She didn't. Her wand was still trained on him.
"You wanted to talk. Talk."
"I am sorry," Sirius sighed. "There is a lot else I could say, but I need to start by apologizing to you."
"Really? About what? Abandoning me? Chasing off that rat like the hotheaded brute that you are? Getting yourself falsely accused? Leaving your godson behind and at the mercy of Dumbledore? Never replying to my letters? Escaping Azkaban and making yourself a target all the while never contacting me? Dying? Coming back to life? Please pick one. I don't know how you convinced Lord Potter that you are Sirius Black, but you will not convince me so easily!" Amelia's eyes filled with tears as she yelled all this to Sirius.
He kept his eyes down. "All of it. Except for coming back to life. I had to come back. I needed to help Harry. Lily sent me back."
"Don't you dare! Let the dead rest in peace! You should be resting in peace now too!"
Sirius sighed, "I could never. Not with Harry's life in danger. Not when he has been so abused. Not when most people have let him down."
"Tell me something only the Sirius I knew and loved would know," Amelia pressed her wand to his throat. He didn't even try to move.
"It should be PG-rated, I assume?" Sirius chuckled despite the situation and Amelia could have believed him just from that impertinent question.
"Obviously," she narrowed her eyes.
"You despise butterbeer. You drink it in front of others, so they don't think you are weird, but you hate its sweetness. For you, alcohol must be bitter and decidedly unfun. That is also why you don't drink cocktails or champagne," Sirius replied.
"Some other people know that. It has been too many years."
"You hate magic makeup. Nothing beats the muggle stuff. You hate honey in your tea. You believe it makes everything taste like honey. You are allergic to peanuts. You hate when people gift you flowers unless they are in a pot and attached to the soil because they die," Sirius looked up. "The orchid I gave you for your 18th birthday was your favorite flower. If you aren't fed Chinese food, soda, and chocolate cake when you are in your period, there will be hell to pay."
Amelia gasped and lowered her wand as memories flooded her mind, "Identity oath by blood, Sirius."
Sirius offered his hand. She took out a dagger and sliced down his palm. The tip of her wand was coated in his blood. She handed him her wand.
Sirius felt warmth go up through his arm. The wand remembered him. He did the spell, "Sanguis meus mihi revelabit."
Golden text appeared above his head. It read: 'Lord Sirius Orion Black. Born November 3rd, 1959. Animagus form black dog. Resuscitated: 1997.'
Amelia fell to her knees, covering her face with her hands, and cried in desolation. Sirius wanted to hold her, but he didn't feel he should.
"Madam Bo- Amelia," He sighed. "Please don't cry. I am so sorry... For everything. For running after Pettigrew and leaving you behind when you needed me most. For not ever being able to pay you my part of the down payment on the flat. For letting my grief make me a sloppy Auror and allowing Pettigrew to make me look like a murderer. For Harry's sake and my role on his landing with relatives who abused him. For believing Dumbledore..."
All that could be heard were Amelia's sobs and the waves crashing against the reef.
"I will not apologize for not replying to your letters," Sirius sighed. She looked up as if she had been struck. "Amelia... My jailers would shred them and burn them unopened in front of me. I was never allowed to read them. Not even one," he offered her his hands to help her stand. She took them. Her own hands were shaky.
"Those bastards. Tampering with someone's mail is a serious crime," Amelia frowned.
"I will also not apologize for escaping Azkaban because I was finally able to reunite with Harry. I am sorry for dying. But I am never going to be sorry for coming back to life. Harry needed me. If I must die in this war, I will do so with a smile on my face knowing that I have helped my godson prepare and that I was able to apologize to him and give him all the love I should have last time. All my regrets are about you and Harry. I know I cannot expect you to forgive me right now. Maybe one day..."
Amelia looked up, blinking, "What abuse?"
"I can show you my memories... I don't expect you to forgive right away... or ever really," Sirius bowed his head down.
"Yes, you must show them to me. Sirius, I forgive you, but I don't think I can go back to... us. Not now, maybe not ever. I don't know. All I do know is that you don't get to die again. Not until you are old and grey. I don't want to mourn you once more. It almost killed me the last time," Amelia looked down to fight back tears.
"Amy, can I- No, never mind. I understand. Thank you," Sirius sighed.
Amelia took a shaky breath to try to control her emotions, but it was a losing battle. She threw herself into his arms making him topple backward. Both fell on the sand with an oomph. Sirius felt pieces of his heart come back together as his arms wrapped around Amy. He laughed with ease for the first time in too long. He felt a flicker of hope.
"I missed you," Amelia sobbed against the crook of his neck and nuzzled her nose against his skin, inhaling his cologne like a drug. Her heart was still racing, but she felt finally at peace. She could already tell she would fall head over heels for him all over again when she let go of him and this look of unadulterated adoration stared up at her as she shook the sand off her clothes.
"I missed you too."
"We should head back. My niece is waiting for me," Amelia smiled at him and walked away.
Sirius stayed on the ground and inhaled deeply. She had nuzzled his neck. There was still hope for him.
Weasley Wizard Wheezes was on fire. The twins ran to the basement as soon as they heard the Death Eaters outside before they were seen. Fred and George had barely managed to escape the biggest explosion thanks to the secret tunnels under Hogsmeade. Both had serious burns on their legs and back. They got out of the tunnels in an alley and did basic first aid on their burns. Right about when a few snatchers were about to catch them, they reached a spot that didn't prevent their apparition and they went home. Their watches were vibrating. Something was seriously wrong. They hoped everyone was still alive.
On the island, Harry and Hermione were practicing their casting with the best staffs they had used so far. They still had no gemstone, but just the staff worked much better than any of the wands they had charred. Hermione's was made of African Blackwood. The wand makers said that it had given them hell. Their hands, forearms, and faces were injured from working on both staffs, but especially hers. Apparently, African Blackwood was one of the hardest and densest woods in the world. Mr. Ollivander said that it was usually reserved for musical instruments. Gregorovitch said that most of the trouble came from making the staff resistant while not overly heavy.
Harry's staff was made of Holly wood. Mr. Ollivander was weirded out at this because it was rare that –if a witch or wizard needed a second wand or a staff- their core would link with the same type of wood as it did for the first wand. When a person's core had undergone such significant changes as Harry's had it was even stranger. When Harry had been hovering his hand over chunks of wood to see which one called out to his magic, Gregorovitch had almost dropped his cup of tea as Harry grabbed Holly and it reacted to his magic giving out sparks. Could it be? Was this young man destined to master Death?
They had worked around the clock with the help of several grateful elves and the first test staffs were ready in three days. Both wand makers were exhausted. After all, they weren't so young anymore. However, they pushed through with the additional aid of draughts and potions. Things were bound to keep getting bloodier in this war. Giving Lord Potter and Hermione a way to channel their plentiful magic was the top priority. Everything else could wait.
Harry moved the staff from one of his hands to the other. His magic seemed to be getting to know its new channeling object. Hermione was weighing her staff with her hands. It was a bit heavy, but her stronger muscles were coping alright. Harry turned to her and offered her his holly staff, just to see what would happen. Hermione felt as if the wand was greeting her. She handed hers to Harry. Everyone around them looked at them as if they were doing something inappropriate. Everyone but the wandmakers who looked at them with fascination. Both did a summoning charm successfully with the other's staff.
Interesting, Hermione thought. Let's try to produce a patronus.
Harry thought the spell and the brightest, biggest stag came out of his staff. Everyone had to look away and Harry narrowed his eyes. Hermione's otter also came out of his wand and jumped on the stag's back. Like before, the otter took hold of the antlers. However, unlike before, the otter had a sort of diadem that made her feminine traits more notorious. Neither Harry nor Hermione had ever thought of the otter as any gender. Harry's stag wore a collar of sorts. Both pieces of jewelry were still the same sparkling white, but they had some stones of different sizes. Harry and Hermione shared a look. Hermione cast a patronus with the same result.
Sirius shared a look with Ted and the lawyer followed him back into the house. Sirius had not been able to stop thinking about how Amelia didn't want to hear him when he tried to speak to her before. All she allowed him to do was prove who he was, and she turned on her heel and left with tearful eyes. He hadn't seen her since. She was probably with Susan. No, push it down. Harry and Hermione have to come first. He sat on the coffee table and turned to Ted.
"Are you thinking what I am thinking?"
Ted nodded. As the family's lawyer, he had seen all the ledgers, and the Potters had an extensive jewelry and gemstone collection.
"Lord Black," Mr. Ollivander followed the two into the house with Gregorovitch in tow. "We need to find them appropriate gemstones," Garrick said in a pensive tone.
Mykew replied, "Yes, that may prove as challenging as the wood... We also need to repurpose the rest of all those woods we had brought in."
"As for the woods, keep making wands. We have no way of knowing how many people we will receive here unarmed. We don't have to place orders for gemstones, though. The Potters have a jewelry and a gemstone collection in their main vault," Sirius nodded. "I can ask Dobby to bring them here. The Blacks also have a collection, but we would have to hire Gringotts' curse breakers to check everything before I am comfortable giving them to you. For your own safety, of course."
"Of course. We appreciate that. The purpose of gemstones in the staffs is to store residual energy and reduce the pull on their owner's core... I'm afraid the gemstone will have to be quite something to stand their power," Garret sighed.
"Have you ever seen anything like that?" Ted asked both wandmakers motioning to the gigantic patronus forms currently dancing around each other.
"No," Mr. Ollivander shook his head. "But I was tortured for it."
"Yes," Mr. Gregorovitch nodded with a frown. "I am sorry you had to take on that torture that was meant for me."
"Huh?" Sirius asked.
"The Elder Wand... I held it in my hands once. I saw the most awe-inspiring feats... and also the darkest, most horrible curses done with it."
"Whatever happened to it?"
"Do you swear secrecy? Many a man has been corrupted looking for the unbeatable wand," Mykew narrowed his eyes.
The other three men nodded and created a privacy bubble around them.
"It moved through many hands... But the latest I knew... It was buried with Albus Dumbledore...He was the last wizard to possess it. That's why Voldemort wanted to find me, so I would tell him where it was. I am afraid he just heard the wrong rumor and went to you instead," Mykew squeezed Garret's hand.
"Well, I made it out alive," he squeezed back. "When they were torturing me, they kept asking about the most powerful wand in the world. They wanted to know what its core was, what was the wood type, everything. Of course, I had read the Tale of the Three Brothers, but I thought it was a children's story, nothing more. On the second day of my torture, I even thought that while it was a story, if Riddle believed it was true, it didn't matter whether it was false."
"Perception is reality," Mykew replied.
"Exactly. So, I kept playing along that there indeed was an unbeatable wand, but that I had never seen it. They didn't like that much."
"We are sorry you had to go through that. Are you completely recovered? Anything you need, you just say the word," Sirius offered.
"I am well enough. Every ailment I have now is just a result of my age," Mr. Ollivander chuckled.
"Likewise," Mykew intertwined his fingers with Garrick's and smiled.
Sirius and Ted shared a look and left. The wandmakers needed to talk.
"AVADA KEDAVRA!"
Voldemort sneered as the lifeless body of Arthur Weasley fell to the ground, stiff as a board. His face was one of resignation and protectiveness all at once. He had died stretching himself to cover both Bill and Molly. Bill had just arrived at his parents' home when the wards were attacked. His runic bracelet showed someone was trying to break through and he rushed to them, but by the time he got home, they had fallen. Molly fell to her knees next to her husband with a broken scream while her children began attacking the Death Eaters in desperation to avenge their father. Upstairs, Ginny was blasted back into the room by a bombarda that had hit the foundations of the second floor. She pulled the P.A. coin from her pocket and pulled it down three times as hard as she could. She thought it wouldn't work, but the coin went into message transmitter mode.
"The Burrow is under attack! Dad is dead! HELP!"
Hermione took a long sip of the iced tea Neville handed her. Harry was still practicing staffless magic, making water fly in the air and chasing Dudley and Luna with it. They were already soaked. He looked so genuinely in his element, and entirely happy, that she didn't call him to have some iced tea with her. As Hermione cooled off with her drink, she felt her P.A coin vibrate three times and dread fell on the pit of her stomach like a block of lead. She pulled it out and tightened her hold on her staff. The message on it made her feel horrible pain and dread at the same time. Harry's laughter stopped dead and he turned to her.
"HARRY!" Hermione yelled. He ran to her. Ginny sent a message. They are attacking The Burrow. I am so sorry to tell you this. They've killed Mr. Weasley.
Harry felt as if a dagger had stabbed his heart, but he kept running up the beach to Hermione. His friends and Dudley ran up with him without asking any questions. They had to get there now, "Motherfuckers! Everyone healthy enough who has already been fitted with a wand and who is willing to help the Weasleys, get down to the beach now!" Harry's augmented voice resounded through the whole island.
Most people on the island were brought down by elves.
"What happened?" Lady Chang asked.
"The Weasleys are under attack. Mr. Weasley has been killed. We are going there now. Only those of you who are ready to die should come with us," Harry said cursing how his voice broke when he spoke of Arthur. "Riddle is probably there."
Nobody moved to leave.
"Master," Dobby snapped his fingers, and both Harry and Hermione were covered in protective dragonhide battle clothes. Kreacher followed his example and dressed everyone else. It was fortunate that they had received their combat wear two days ago.
"You drop us there and come straight back home, Dobby"
"But Master, I must protect you"
"I need you here to tend to the injured."
"Sir,"
"Dobby, that's an order," Harry turned to his cousin "Dudley, please go to the Infirmary and tell them what happened. They should be ready for injured people," Harry nodded at him.
Dobby nodded with a pout. He took Harry and Hermione's hands and vanished. Kreacher and the other elves took the rest of the willing warriors.
The Burrow was on fire all over. Voldemort smirked as he walked away through the fields of tall, unkempt grass. All he wanted was to take out the patriarch. He knew Harry Potter saw Mr. Weasley as a father. This was a good blow. His minions could take care of the rest of the family. Ronald walked away behind him with a dazed look. He had just helped Voldemort kill his father. Just because he didn't remember growing up, that didn't mean he didn't love Arthur.
"Was that really necessary?" Ron asked, his voice a bit louder than a whisper. He could still hear his mother's wails of despair.
"You dare question The Dark Lord?"
"He was my father," Ronald replied with gritted teeth. "You said you just wanted to destroy the house."
"Yes, I meant House with a capital H. You were just too stupid to notice."
Ronald tried to draw his wand, but Voldemort's crucio doubled him over and he fell to the ground.
"The next time you even think of drawing your wand against me, I will slit your throat with a dull blade and feed you to Grayback!" Voldemort vanished.
"Come on Weasley. Our Lord may still have use for you at some point," one of the masked minions side-apparated him.
The Weasleys were fighting back as hard as they could. They were injured, homeless, and devastated by the loss of Mr. Weasley, but his children were still fighting while covering their mother who was still screaming in grief. Seeing Ronald was the cause of Arthur's dead had been like rubbing salt in the wound.
Harry and Hermione had asked the elves to pop them in a circular formation to trap the Death Eaters in between The Burrow and their own forces. They landed and began attacking with their staffs. Both felt their magic flowing in tandem with more power than they ever had before in battle.
"Potter!" Lucius screamed turning to duel him.
Harry's face turned to fury and without a word, he started attacking the man. One of his first spells threw Lucius up in the air where Professor McGonagall threw a stunning curse at his chest, knocking him unconscious. Hermione ran to Ginny and Fleur who were battling three attackers, Harry next to her. They knew Fleur was pregnant. She shouldn't be here. Lord Chang and Longwei charged with both their wands and swords. Lady Chang moved as if in a dance, dodging curses to reach the Weasleys. She placed a dragonhide vest on Mrs. Weasley and pushed her down over her husband to keep her safe. The twins were fighting two Death Eaters their backs against each other. Both were bleeding and their clothes were partially burned. Sirius reached them and with Amelia's help, they soon began to overpower the intruders.
"Think about it, you will make a good breeder!" the Death Eater sent a curse that severed one of Ginny's pajama top straps and with it, skin and muscle.
"I would rather die! Oppugno!" Ginny yelled.
"Exsangue!" Fleur threw the curse and the Death Eater's pores let out a large burst of red mist. All his blood was gone. He fell to his face, immobile. [Bloodless]
Hermione saw with dread how one of the men jumped toward Fleur, all she could cast was a hasty spell that she knew but that she had never tried before, "Custodire utero!" [Protect the womb]
Another of the attackers tackled Fleur to the ground, Harry jumped to pull him away from her, "No, you don't get to touch her!" his staff around the man's neck, keeping him in a chokehold. Hermione motioned for Ginny to go to Fleur as she ran to help Lord Chang and Longwei who were trying to take out a giant. Out of nowhere, Bill was in front of Harry, his claws burrowing into the man's abdomen, pulling out his kidneys. The attacker fell dead. Harry stared at Bill. This was the beginning of the full moon. Bill growled as a cutting curse hit his back, he turned to the remaining attacker, and with Harry covering his back he lunged, fangs out and ripped off the man's jugular. The Death Eater vanished as he bled out. Bill checked on Fleur, willing his bloodied fangs to recede into his gums.
Harry ran after Hermione to help with the giant.
McGonagall was protecting Lady Chang, Arthur, and Molly walking around them in a circle when a crucio was sent her way. To block it, she would have to let Lady Chang die, so she prepared for the pain, but it never came. Neville had jumped to cover her, and he sent a blasting curse as he fell, every muscle in his body spasming simultaneously. Luna ran to protect him while Chyou and Anthony kept battling the troll.
Lucius who had been awakened by another Death Eater tried to cast a cruciatus on Hermione who was looking away as she threw a stunning spell toward the troll's head. Harry banged the end of his staff on the ground and apparent electricity went through the ground, avoiding everyone else, but hitting Lucius, freezing him in place. His face contorted in blinding pain. "Tell your boss that his time is coming to an end!" Harry yelled.
General Xu who had been out of Harry's line of sight until then appeared seemingly out of nowhere and with a swift move of his blade, Lucius' legs were severed above the knee. When the remaining Death Eaters saw what Bill and the General did to their colleague, they vanished. Lucius was barely able to stop his own bleeding and apparate away before the general split his torso in half.
Are you okay? Harry thought to Hermione. She nodded and replied, You? He nodded.
Mrs. Weasley was awakened by Lady Chang. An errant spell had hit her. "W-What? W-Who?" she asked disoriented. "Children?"
"They are okay, Mrs. Weasley," Lady Chang replied after a quick check that told her every one of the kids was alive if hurt.
Most Weasleys fell to their knees. Exhaustion and grief hit them like a tsunami.
Harry walked toward Molly, "Mrs. Weasley... I... We got here as fast as we could. I am so sorry about Arthur."
"H-Harry?" she asked blinking away the dust and smoke all around her.
"I'm here," Harry took her hand and helped her up.
Mrs. Weasley crushed Harry to him and cried with desperation. "Oh, my b-boy! You are safe! T-Thank you for c-coming!"
Harry's heart constricted and he returned the hug. He couldn't look at Arthur. It hurt too much. He looked around to see Sirius and Madam Bones creating new temporary wards while Bill carried his wife to rest against a tree.
The twins were on the floor resting against each other, trying to catch their breath. Chyou and Anthony were going around making sure the dead enemies would stay dead and that the injured Weasleys got first aid. Hermione was helping the general with a broken clavicle. She was also avoiding looking at Arthur. Her heart couldn't take it. Were her parents alive? Who knew.
Molly sobbed against Harry's shoulder while Lady Chang healed a slash on her arm.
"Ronald gave them his blood..."
"What?!"
"That's how they got past the blood wards," Charlie hobbled to them to wrap his arm around his mother protectively.
"What are we going to do now?" Percy asked, approaching holding a visibly broken arm.
"Percy?" Harry spoke with hesitation. Percy looked different. His hair was in a buzz cut, he had put on some pounds of muscle, and he had a full beard.
"Yeah, hello, Harry," Percy nodded.
"Hello..."
"Mrs. Weasley," Hermione walked toward them.
"My girl!" Molly crushed Hermione against her. "I am so g-glad you are both h-here!"
Hermione tried not to cry. Mothers' hugs were the best. She squeezed her back, "I am so sorry about Mr. Weasley."
"He d-died protecting us. I am sure he would do it again if he c-could," Molly said, taking shallow quick breaths as Charlie pulled her away from Hermione. He could see she was about to collapse under the weight of grief.
"Come, mom. Sit down so we can look at your wounds," Charlie gave her a small smile. His muscles protested. He really didn't want to smile next to his father's corpse.
Sirius wrapped his arms around both Harry and Hermione and pressed them to his sides, "How are you feeling?"
They nodded. Harry took a shaky breath, "We are fine... Considering. Are you hurt?"
"Nothing that Andi can't fix. What are we going to do? They lost their home. We cannot leave them here in tents," Sirius frowned.
McGonagall shook her coin to call Dobby. They needed a lot of help. After a few minutes, Dobby appeared with Kreacher and Maki.
"Professor Kitty," Dobby nodded. "How can we help?"
"Go ask Harry," Minerva replied, helping Ginevra up. "Ms. Weasley, let me check you over."
"Thank you, professor," Ginny was bleeding from a gash on the side of her head.
"Master, we are here to-" Dobby stopped talking when he saw Arthur facing down. "Oh no. Mr. Weasley!"
"Dobby, you said that as my elf you had access to all Potter properties, yes?" Harry asked.
"Yes, Master."
"We need a safe property for the Weasleys."
"Not the island, sir?" Dobby looked a bit puzzled.
"No. They have to b-bury Mr. Weasley," Harry replied, blinking quickly. His eyes were stinging again.
Bill tapped Harry's shoulder, "Harry?"
"Bill... Is she okay?" Harry motioned to Fleur.
"Thanks to Hermione," Bill pulled the girl close into a one-arm hug. "What spell did you do?"
"Custodire utero," Hermione smiled a bit. "It was the one thing I could think of."
"You have saved more than one life today. Thank you... Now, Harry... I need to find a way to keep my family safe in the next few hours. Today is a full moon and I can't be there for them. I was supposed to be joining Remus tonight, but I can't leave until I know they are safe," Bill said with a frown.
"We could bring you to where we are. It is very far away and very well protected. However, I was asking Dobby about other places because I assume you want to have a funeral and-"
Bill shook his head, "No. We will cremate him."
"Is that what he wanted?" Hermione asked as gently as she could.
"He never said what he wanted. My father is- was a practical man. He would agree with anything that would get us out of harm's way the quicker," Bill said allowing himself a quick glance at his wife to make sure she was still okay.
"Dobby, which properties are safe in England?"
"Master, Dobby has done basic protections and redecorations, but most are not entirely operational. I was hoping you would visit and decide what to do with them, sir."
Harry, they are family, and they need us, Hermione thought to him.
I know that love. I was just trying to figure out how to accommodate everyone. There are only so many rooms in the house, Harry thought back.
"Fuck. Okay. We are on an island Bill, that's all I can tell you right now. However, if you guys agree, we would love to have you," Harry attempted a smile, but it came out as a grimace.
"Let me talk to mom."
Harry began to feel uncomfortable. He felt everything was too forced. It was enough that the Weasleys had just lost everything. Now they would be uprooted from everything they knew and made to share rooms and spaces with strangers and people they potentially hated, like Draco and his mom.
"Master Harry," Kreacher began, looking doubtful.
"Yes, Kreacher?"
"I don't know if it was presumptuous of me, but I have been thinking this would eventually happen. That we would exceed the space we have, I mean," Kreacher said with a blush. "Us elves can move outside if you prefer. That would give you back one room."
"Absolutely not," Harry replied sternly. "You are part of this family, and you deserve a safe and comfortable space to be in. Kreacher, you do too much for all of us and we are very grateful for all your effort. I do not see humans as being more important than elves. Your room is yours."
"Thank you, Master... I also thought that the largest guest rooms could be turned into family rooms."
"How come?" Hermione asked.
"One large room could be for the Changs, another for the Weasleys, another for the Greengrass family, another for the Malfoys," Kreacher explained. "And each of those rooms could be subdivided into smaller spaces. Those who don't have their families with them could either join a family who wants them as guests in their space or stay in a room for singles."
Lady Chang approached them, "Sorry to interrupt, but I think it's a great idea, Kreacher. Very doable."
Harry nodded at the Lady, "Wonderful. Let's do that then."
"Harry," Fleur's particular accent whispered. She placed her hand on his shoulder. "Could we be included, please? I would feel much better knowing my baby will be born away from all this hatred."
"Of course. I was including you with all the Weasleys. Are you feeling okay?" Harry asked.
"Just tired," Fleur swayed a bit on her feet, so he wrapped his arm around her waist to steady her. He could instantly feel Bill's eyes shine amber and narrow at him. Hermione, come grab Fleur before Bill rips my head off, he pleaded. Hermione moved, but Kreacher disappeared only to come back with a partially burnt but steady chair. "Mrs. Weasley," he offered.
"Merci, Kreacher," Fleur smiled and sat down. Bill's eyes left Harry who moved to hold Hermione's hand, just in case.
Molly walked toward them, hanging onto Bill. "Are you sure we wouldn't be a bother dear?"
"Of course not, Mrs. Weasley."
"Then we are going. At least until things calm down a bit... Harry, could we... could we cremate my Arthur there? I don't want to do it... here," Molly's pained grimace almost made everyone around burst into tears.
There's a spell to do that, love, say yes, Hermione thought to him.
"Yes, now, Kreacher... could you take Mr. Weasley first?"
"Yes, Master, but someone needs to hold him for the poppings."
"Let me," Charlie nodded at Kreacher.
Lord and Lady Chang levitated Mr. Weasley and Daiyu did a sticking spell to help aid the transportation. "Let's go, Kreacher," Charlie sighed.
"Dobby, Maki," Harry turned to them. "Move the Weasley's first."
"Lord Potter," General Xu cleared his throat, "Pardon me but shouldn't they do a fealty oath first?"
Hermione turned to the man ready to bite his head off. The General realized he had hit a nerve and took a step back. He still wasn't up to date on their histories as a clan which is -to him- what they clearly were.
"We don't mind, dear," Mrs. Weasley replied, looking at Harry with honesty and certainty in her eyes.
"You may not mind, but I do. You are my family. It is not required of you," Harry replied. "If you ever want to do the oath you can, but you don't have to. You gave me the first decent Christmas and vacation I ever had. You have housed me, fed me, and cared for me without having to just because you thought it was the right thing to do. You baked me a birthday cake every year, Mrs. Weasley. All of that is a fealty oath in and on itself and you did it out of the goodness of your heart with no expectations. You and Mr. Weasley showed me more love and compassion within minutes of meeting me than the Dursleys ever did. That is the only fealty oath I require," Harry kissed Mrs. Weasley's forehead. "Let's go."
"Je te verrai dès que la pleine lune sera passée. Tout ira bien," Fleur hugged her husband. They never kissed when he was covered in blood. [I will see you when the full moon is over. Everything will be alright.]
"Remus will bring you to us, Bill. We will make sure our healer takes a look at Fleur," Hermione assured him.
"Thank you," Bill smiled briefly and apparated away.
A/N: Thank you for reading! See? No cliffhanger this time. :) Anyhow, I decided to create a profile on W-a-t-t-p-a-d (not sure if it's a taboo word in this context, lol). I haven't uploaded anything yet, but if you are interested to follow along as I learn how to use it and maybe you prefer their formatting, I am ALChabarq. I hope you are healthy and safe wherever you are. -Lux-
*Scrubber: a woman deemed sexually promiscuous. Similar to trollop but with the socio-economic class twist that implies a debasement of social standing.