shout out to Joshua Toscano, Joel miller, sam, Jimmy Adams, Jo Daviz, LegendaryWasabi, Optimum Prime and Jack Schriner. I would really struggle to keep this up without the support you guys give me.
The next two chapters are already up on pat re on /Lowten
you can also join my discord there is a link on both pat re on and AO3 both under the name Lowten. I wish I could post a discord link here but FF won't let me
also please note that I have added a goal to the once we reach £100 a month I will increase the lead from 2 chapters per story to three and I will do it by posting extra chapters on not by delaying updates for everyone else
Chapter 8
Sirius had taken them out to eat after the visit to Godric's Hollow and then decided that the woman who was behind the bar was worth his attention. That it left Harry, Hermione, and Fleur alone together didn't feel like a coincidence at all. After dinner, they had seen Fleur off at the Ministry before going right back to Hogwarts, with just enough time for them to get back to the Gryffindor common room before curfew. Technically Harry and Hermione could be out a little later as prefects, but that was for patrolling the corridors, not for late night strolls through the castle, and they weren't scheduled to patrol that night. They went to bed, and Harry idly wondered if the curse of Halloween was over.
The next day, however, he cursed his thought process from the night before. The Daily Prophet came during breakfast and one glance at the headline was enough to ruin the appetite of Harry and half of the students, and the other half to stress eat.
Halloween Massacre
The article went on to explain that seven families had been attacked the day before, with twelve confirmed dead and eight more in critical care at St Mungo's. All the families that were attacked had a business with mundane clients. Tracey Davis's parents were listed among the dead. Harry had never met Tracey's parents, but his friend often spoke about them and it was clear that she loved them as much as they loved her. He looked over at the Slytherin table and couldn't see Tracey or Daphne anywhere, probably off somewhere grieving. Harry wanted to go find them and offer Tracey comfort, but he had no idea where they were and it was quite probable they weren't even in the castle.
Harry wasn't able to focus on his lessons for the rest of the day. It didn't matter what any of his professors said or did, his mind kept going back to the list of names killed last night. Some of them probably died as he was saying 'au revoir' to Fleur. They were being attacked as he sat down to dinner. And worst of all, they had been used as a point against him. Voldemort chose Halloween because that was the day Harry survived and he fell. It was a message to the whole of magical Britain that Voldemort was still around and they couldn't hide behind the Boy-Who-Lived. More personally, Harry was sure that it was the curse of Halloween that he had been suffering ever since he rejoined the magical world. As much as he hated it, it was supposed to be his burden to bear. It was supposed to target him, not everyone else.
When he told Hermione what he was thinking, she got a little annoyed with him. She reminded him that she was the one attacked by the troll, it was Ginny and Mrs. Norris that were the victims in his second year and Hermione had been with Harry for third and fourth year. The curse, if it existed, was never just Harry's burden. Hermione was right, of course, and it brought one other aspect of the curse into light. Whatever happened on Halloween, Harry usually sorted it out himself by the end of the year. A part of him was looking forward to that opportunity; maybe if he was lucky he would get Voldemort's head this time instead of just an arm.
-ϟϟϟ-
Harry was about halfway through his last lesson when the door to the classroom burst open and a dishevelled and panting Daphne was standing in the doorway. "Harry, you need to come quickly, Tracey needs help." Those words were all Harry and Hermione needed; they were both up and out of the classroom talking only their wands in seconds, ignoring the protests of Professor Babbling. They hoped that someone would collect their things for them,, but if not it was something they could deal with later.
Despite being out of breath Daphne didn't slow down as she led them through the castle. "We need to get to the Ministry now. Lucius Malfoy is trying to calm guardianship over Tracey. If he gets it, he will force her into a betrothal contract, sell off all her family assets, and pocket the gold. Not to mention he is probably the bastard in a mask that killed her parents. He's using the Ministry to pressure her while she isn't thinking straight."
"Okay, I'll do what I can, but I have no idea what I can do!" Harry half-shouted as they ran towards McGonagall's office. Daphne told him exactly what he needed to do, and they had to be quick about it. She had told Tracey to stall, but she wasn't sure how long they had. They ran through the office and availed themselves of her Floo powder and fire, not stopping to explain anything despite the headmistress demanding they do otherwise. They would explain later when they had time, and if McGonagall didn't like it they would gladly accept however many detentions she considered necessary.
The Floo spit them out in the Ministry atrium, and Daphne was bitching at the welcoming wizard to speed the fuck up as time was of the essence. They got badges that said rescue mission and their names as they had their wands scanned by the device on the welcome wizard's desk. Even the lifts felt painfully slow as they carried them to the Department of Wizarding Child Services. Though they wouldn't admit it, they were also happy for the chance to get their breath back after their sprint.
Once the lift doors opened they were sprinting again, following Daphne who seemed to know where she was going, through a small network of tunnels and eventually an office. When Daphne pointed at the door, Harry and Hermione, who were both more physically fit and had done a lot less running in the last hour, charged forward. Hermione hit the door with a charm and it swung open leaving the teens to run in without slowing down. Harry looked around the room as he stopped. Tracey was sitting in a chair on the visitors side of a large desk, and there were a number of adults all standing around her. There was one witch Harry didn't recognise, Harry guessed it was her office they were sitting in. The rest Harry knew: Lucius Malfoy, Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge, the Umbridge woman who had become the Triwizard judge to replace Bagman, and Albus Dumbledore. Considering that Fudge was holding out some parchment and a quill to Tracey, Harry was sure he was on time.
Harry spotted a tray with a jug of water in it and some glass tumblers, so he went over and helped himself, filling and draining one in one go. He did it as much to buy himself a few seconds to think as to quench his thirst. While he did that, Fudge was spluttering questions and statements of outrage at the teens barging in like they did. Harry ignored all of them and walked up to Tracey. "Hey Trace, how you holding together?" he asked as softly as he could.
Tracey apparently wasn't, she threw her arms around him and started to sob into his shoulder. Fudge seemed to sense an opportunity and handed Harry the document he had been trying to pass to Tracey "Mr. Potter, could you please get Miss Davis to sign this form for me. It's some red tape and needs clearing up as soon as possible. But understandably the girl is a little distraught over her parents."
Harry glanced at the document and saw it would grant Lucius Malfoy complete power over Tracey and her parents' estate until Tracey came of age. It was nothing but a grab for the Davis family assets like Daphne had said. Harry wanted to just tear up the offensive document but instead he turned to Fudge. "Why do you think she would sign this?"
"I don't see the girl has much choice, she is under age and can't live by herself. Warlock Malfoy here has kindly stepped up to help her," Fuge said confidently.
"That's a load of Hippogriff dung and you know it. It hasn't even been twenty-four hours and you've already decided that there is no one else to help her. You haven't even had a chance to check Gringotts for a will yet, her parents may have already made arrangements for her care. Yet you've already decided this is the only option. Tracey, do you want to sign this?" Harry asked, as hers was the only opinion that mattered right now to him.
Tracey shook her head as she fought to regain her composure, before she finally answered. "No. I'll never sign it. Malfoy was probably one of the bastards who murdered my parents, I would sooner live on the streets than give him control of my life."
"Well said," Hermione interrupted. Harry took the opportunity where everyone turned to look at the first generation witch speaking out of place to tear up the document.
At the sound of ripping parchment, heads turned back to Harry and started shouting at him, but he completely ignored them. Instead Harry made sure he had Tracey's full attention and said "Tracey Davis. I, Harry James Potter, Warlock of the House of Potter, offer you sanctuary in my house. I offer the safety of my wards, the protection of my wand, and the support of my gold until such time as you choose to surrender it. Do you accept?"
Dumbledore frowned at Harry's words, the Department of Wizarding Child Services witch beamed at him genuinely delighted, and all the other adults scowled at him like he had just relieved himself in their favourite tea cup. "Why you brat, don't go try to play at being an adult. This is a serious matter and not one for a little boy to get involved in. Step aside and let your superiors handle this." The pink toad looked close to exploding.
Daphne was about to snap at Umbridge and remind her that Harry was a Warlock and should be spoken to respectably, at least in formal situations, as Harry could hear her breathe in, but he held up a hand to hold her back and to let him take care of it. He had had enough of this woman's constant verbal attacks. "Minister Fudge, why is your helper monkey screeching at me?" He asked the question so calmly and politely that it took everyone in the room a few seconds to register what he had said.
Predictably Umbridge blew up at him again. "You disgusting brat! I am the Senior Undersecretary to the Minister for Magic! And you will address me with respect!"
Harry had trouble keeping a straight face but answered in the same calm and polite tone as he started with, "My apologies." He gave a half nod to Umbridge. "Minister, I rephrase my question. Why is your chief helper monkey trying to impersonate a banshee while complaining about being addressed properly while she has once again refused to acknowledge my title in a formal setting? While we are at it, why is she even here? Yourself as Minister and the Chief Warlock, I can understand. Even Warlock Malfoy as a potential guardian, though I consider it the height of distaste, makes sense. And a representative of the Department of Wizarding Child Services – sorry madam in my haste I was quite rude and didn't get your name?" Harry was doing all he could to be polite here, if nothing else but to contrast and show up Umbridge even more.
"It's quite understandable Warlock Potter. I am Madam Juniper Moon, case worker for the Department of Wizarding Child Services." She smiled at him. Now that she said her name Harry recognised a few similarities between her and his classmate Lily Moon. The woman across from him looked too young to be Lily's mother but a younger aunt or a cousin would fit.
"A pleasure Madam Moon. As I was saying, Madam Moon as a representative of the Department of Wizarding Child Services is required to be here. Even Miss Greengrass and Miss Granger have a reason to be here as emotional support for Tracey and as the future lady of the house offering sanctuary, respectively. Your chief helper monkey, however, has no reason to be here other than to maybe take notes for you, Minister, but I see no quill and ink so that's not why she is here."
Fudge and Umbridge couldn't seem to find the words to express how angry and on the back foot they were from Harry's words. They couldn't call out Harry's lack of respect next to Umbridge's own much worse transgressions. They were at a stalemate until a small voice from Harry's arms spoke up. "Warlock Potter, I accept your offer of sanctuary," Tracey said as she gripped tighter to Harry's robes.
Harry winced; he had gotten so caught up in smacking the toad down that he had forgotten the most important part of why he was here. He pulled the girl to her feet with him and after hugging her tighter to him for a moment said, "Then welcome to the family," before he passed her off to the two girls who instantly sandwiched Tracey between them.
With the offer given and accepted, Lucius Malfoy gave Harry an almost imperceptible nod of acknowledgement that Harry had won this round, and before striding out of the room he turned to the minister and said, "We have one more matter to discuss, I will wait for you outside your office." Harry mentally translated Malfoy's words to mean You failed to deliver. I want my bribe back, which was also corroborated by the defeated look on the minister's face.
At this point Madam Moon took over things. First, she gave Harry and Tracey some documents to sign that basically made Tracey a recognised member of the House of Potter. Harry was also given a stack of forms that would need to be filled out in the next two weeks that included choosing a responsible adult to be Tracey's guardian, as despite being a Warlock the Ministry did still require an adult to look after a minor. The difference was, now that Tracey was a member of the House of Potter it was Harry's decision as Warlock of the House who the guardian would be.
Harry had five people in mind for the job, but as two of them were married to each other Harry could really only count Dan and Emma as one. And Harry really didn't want to ask Fleur, she was old enough and would do it in a heartbeat but that would basically make Tracey his future stepdaughter and that was weird. So Harry hoped he could convince Sirius or Remus to take on the job, it was only about fifteen months until Tracey was seventeen and most of that time she would be in school, so it would be more like a total of three months if she chose to leave the castle for Christmas and Easter.
After Fudge and Umbridge had realised there was nothing left but paperwork they went off, presumably to talk with Malfoy. Dumbledore stuck around and gave Harry the standard 'I'm disappointed in you' speech for the way Harry spoke to Umbridge. Harry acted contrite, though he was far from it, and then asked if Dumbledore intended to speak to Umbridge about her bad attitude as well. The old man of course refused to answer either way.
-ϟϟϟ-
Now that everything had calmed down, Harry asked Hermione to go and explain to the headmistress what was happening and ask her to join Harry, Tracey, and Daphne at Tracey's home in Caerphilly. Hermione Floo'ed back to Hogwarts from the Ministry atrium while Harry led the other two up through the phone box to mundane London. It was a little cramped in the phone box for the three of them, and they got a few funny looks in London for their wizarding robes, but Harry summoned the Knight Bus as soon as they left the small alley that housed the phone box. Tracey gave the address and Harry paid. Stan the conductor jokingly accused them of bunking off school, but when he saw that the teens were in no laughing mood left them alone.
Tracey and Daphne were clinging together like limpets clinging to a rock, and it was only now away from the Ministry that Tracey started to ask questions. "Daphne, I thought you were going to get your grandfather to offer me sanctuary? Why did you go to Harry?"
Daphne winced and Harry listened; he was curious to hear the answer to this one. "I went to my grandparents first but they refused. They believe Harry that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is back, but their attitude is that Greengrasses are neutral. Your parents were targeted by Death Eaters so giving you shelter would be taking a side."
Harry understood straight away. "And I can't be targeted any more than I already am. I'm already on Voldemort's most wanted list, and after I cut off his arm I wouldn't be surprised to find I'm number one. So it's safe for me to offer you shelter."
Daphne made a noise of agreement and Tracey asked her next question. "Why are we going to my home?"
Harry was about to answer when the bus stopped outside Hogwarts, and Hermione and Professors McGonagall and Vector, the new Head of Slytherin, got on the bus. Professor McGonagall paid the fare for the three of them and they came and sat with Harry and the two girls.
"Miss Davis, once again you have my deepest sympathies." She then turned to Harry and said. "I have heard Miss Granger's story about why you ran out of school without permission. I want to hear your side of the story and why are we now headed to South Wales instead of you returning to the school." Harry explained everything from his point of view and told the professor and Tracey what he had planned. Professor McGonagall nodded in understanding and agreed with what he was thinking.
They stepped off the bus in Tracey's hometown and Harry wasn't surprised to see the tears that were freely falling down his friend's face. Professor Vector took the time to tell Tracey that she didn't need to do this today, but the girl was insistent that she get it done then, unsure if she would have the strength to come back. They were there to do what younger Harry never had the opportunity to do: go through the home for all items of sentimental value that Tracey wanted to keep. There was still an Auror there keeping gawkers away, but once Professor McGonagall confirmed who Tracey was they were let right in.
The bodies had been removed, probably being held to hand over to whatever the wizarding equivalent of a funeral parlour was. The room was in disarray but a lot less than Harry would have expected, and the sight brought fresh tears to Tracey, though she wasn't the only one to shed a few. Daphne had known Tracey's parents for years and was also feeling their loss. Some of what Tracey collected was obvious: family photos, her mother's jewellery things like that. Other stuff was far more random, and Harry encouraged her to tell the stories behind why she chose them. Some were mundane like her dad's favourite tea mug, and others were more special like a souvenir from a family trip.
Every time Tracey selected something, Dobby or Sassy would pop in and take it to the Potter house in Hogsmeade with their assurance that it would be waiting for her when she got there. There were other items Harry had the elves take that Tracey didn't think of. It was Harry's intention to give Tracey her own space, and that meant giving her one of the expanded wardrobes. With that in mind, Harry had the elves take the furniture needed, so this way Tracey (who had already lost so much) wouldn't have to lose sleeping in her own bed or her well worn spot on the sofa. Harry had the elves put everything else in storage. His plan (once he ran it by Tracey) was to rent it out the same way Gringotts had the property that was willed to him by… Harry suddenly remembered he couldn't remember the name of the witch that had lost her entire family to the blood war and had left him her house, and he felt a little ashamed. She had gifted Harry so much and he hadn't even gone to inspect the property. He had been through a lot in the last year, but he should have at least remembered her name.
-ϟϟϟ-
They spent three hours supporting Tracey as she walked around her parents home before they Floo'ed from her house to the Potter house in Hogsmeade. Harry showed Tracey where her room would be, and while Hermione and Daphne supported Tracey, Harry went to speak with Sirius who was talking to the professors. They saw Harry wanted to talk to Sirius and moved off a little to give them a little privacy.
"Minerva and Septima told me what is happening, how is the girl?" Sirius asked.
Harry gave a mirthless snort at how ridiculous the question was. How would any teenager who was just orphaned be? "She's alternating between being a complete emotional wreck and trying to prove to herself and everyone else that she is fine. According to Hermione and Daphne, that means she is reacting normally. Sirius, I know this is sudden, but despite Tracey being protected by House Potter, she still needs an official of-age guardian until she is seventeen. I don't suppose you feel up to the job?"
Sirius looked like a rabbit caught in the headlights of an oncoming car when Harry asked him that. It would be more responsibility than he had held since the war. "Harry, are you sure I'm the right person? I mean I'm not exactly a shining pillar of mental stability myself."
"Dad thought you were a good choice, and you have done a lot of healing since getting out of Azkaban. Tracey will be sixteen in three months, seventeen a year after that, and she will be in school most of the time. It's probably only one summer holiday. It's the second favour I need to beg of you that might be harder."
Sirius almost looked too afraid to ask but his Gryffindor tendencies showed through. "What second favour?"
"I need you to find a way to protect Hermione's parents. It looks like Voldemort is starting up a second blood war and Dan and Emma are easy targets to get to me. And let's be honest, after last year where I took his arm in front of hundreds of witnesses, there is no way he isn't coming after me, even taking everything else into account. Something needs to be done to protect the Grangers, and maybe with a little Marauder ingenuity a few surprises for any of Tom's sycophants that come sniffing around," Harry explained.
"That's not going to be easy, but I'm sure I can come up with something," Sirius reassured Harry.
Once Harry was done with Sirius, Professor Vector came over to Harry and put her foot down that it was time to go back to get school. Harry left the forms with Sirius so that he could fill them out to become Tracey's guardian, as he still had more copies. He would give Tracey the final say, but he wanted to at least have something ready to go that could be posted off at a moment's notice if Fudge or Malfoy tried something. Tracey looked nervous, but Daphne reassured her that it would be fine. Apparently, as Harry had offered Tracey protection, if any of the junior Death Eaters in Slytherin hurt Tracey, Harry had the legal right to challenge them to a duel. Harry would, too; Tracey was his friend, now a member of his house, so maybe more like family. A sister or a cousin maybe? If there was one thing Harry would do, it's protect anyone he considered family.
