Hey everyone,
WOW! It's been 3 ½ years since I last posted a chapter on this story. That was ABSOLUTELY 220% unintentional.
It pains me to say it, but that cliffhanger caused me a writer's block. Which is crazy, considering what I wrote in the bottom AN.
I just didn't really know how to put it on paper (or into words on Word, if you want to be technical). So what inspired me to start writing again?
The guilt that I left this story on a cliffhanger.
Lol,

Venquine1990


Chapter 14
Reunion And Writing

3rd of August 1995
Potter Manor, Portsmouth
Harry's POV

The whole time that Professor Sprout was gone, Cho and I needed Neville and Susan both.

Cho herself didn't really catch on with what had scared me and worried the Head of Hufflepuff, but she is in Ravenclaw, so it didn't take her long.

Thankfully, while the girl had actually snapped at Susan to leave her alone and that she wanted the right Badger, Professor Flitwick had gone to sit with her while we waited.

And while she had sat down, Susan had wanted to apologize to me. But I hadn't been willing to hear any of it and had complimented her on her caring heart.

"You really are exactly what I'd want for a wife and a Lady for my House." I had whispered at her, while making sure that Cho didn't hear me.

Susan had tried just as hard to hide her blush.

Then, after almost ten minutes, two things happened almost at the same time.

I had expected Cedric and Professor Sprout to arrive by House Elf.

I had not expected to see my grandmother storming past the open doorway, a look of raging fury on her face.

And the pages of a newspaper floating down behind her.

I turn to Cedric and his Head of House. And the state of the slightly older teen has me deeply worried and also confirms my worst fears from earlier.

Yet then dad walks in and he seems to want to say something, but his eyes widen as he takes in the scene between us.

"This – is not what I expected. I thought you were confronting Heiress Abbott."

I shrug and tell him:

"I already did earlier. Sirius is keeping her in my room. I wouldn't have asked it of him, but she refused to take responsibility.

Then Mitsy came to tell me that Cho had come to visit and because I knew that you and grandmother were busy, I decided to meet her.

One thing led to another and I had Mitsy go with Professor Sprout to see if Cedric was still stuck somewhere in or near the Graveyard.

I think his appearance speaks for itself."

"Cedric, why are you so shocked and confused? You're back. You're alive. And you're going to be okay. We can be together again and continue where we left off. Are you listening?"

Cho's ramblings make me cringe.

Cedric shakes his head and Professor Sprout makes me cringe again as she explains: "You'll have to forgive my Badger and be patient with him, Miss Chang.

I spoke with him after I found him in the Mannor Heir Potter mentioned and he seems to not have known what spell he had been hit with.

The poor dear thought he had simply been knocked out cold.

I only just told him that he's been dead for the last few weeks."

Cedric shakes his head, which makes me wince again as it allows me to notice how there is a lot of dried blood stuck in his hair just above his right temple.

"I'm sorry, Professor. Those – those – whoever they were – they did a real number on me. They already had me in chains by the time I woke up.

And then, only a – a few days ago, I think – they started screaming and – well, you saw what happened to them.

Some of them thought it had been my work, somehow, and they cursed me. I – I suppose I was lucky that they were so weakened by their pain as their curses didn't hurt as much that time."

By now dad walks in and says: "That's quite enough, Heir Diggory. No one here expects you to report your experiences to us so shortly after escaping them.

Mitsy, take the Professors, Heiress Chang and Heir Diggory to the Hospital Wing of our home and inform my wife.

She'll take care of Heir Diggory."

All of us send the man a grateful smile before Mitsy pops the group of four out of the room. I take a deep breath to regain myself after seeing the state Cedric was in.

It reminded me a bit too much of how I felt when I escaped Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters only a few weeks ago.

"I'm sorry, son. Your mother, grandmother and I really wanted to give you more time to get used to your role by birth and to just share time with us.

But it seems that, while mother got through to Fudge, the same can't be said for his Under Secretary or that brat of a –."

And just when I wonder if dad is still trying to keep up his role as Lord of the House, something happens that I really didn't see coming.

Even though I should have.

A pop is heard that is so loud that it actually makes my ears ring and a really old elf appears in the room – together with Mrs. Weasley.

"Harry, you listen to me, young man. You are to –."

"Who do you think you are, Lady Prewett?"

Needless to say, to see my grandfather, who tries to hide that he is somewhat leaning on the doorway, standing in the doorway is by far the biggest shock to my system.

"WHAT? YOU'RE ALIVE?"

Apparently I'm not alone. Yet her words make me raise an eyebrow in disbelief. Dad walks over and whispers something.

Yet grandfather seems to ignore him and states: "Like so many others, as you can clearly see. Now, prove your heritage, prove that your manners exceed your temper and answer my question.

Oh, and Kreacher, what makes you think that my wife will accept you allowing an uninvited guest into her home?"

Instantly I wonder what happened between this old-looking elf and my family. Yet the elf is apparently both old – and going senile.

He glares at grandfather, apparently caring nothing about the weakened state of the man, and mutters, more to himself than to those in the room.

"Why should Kreacher care? All these filthy Blood-Traitors and other vermin are getting back their unworthy ones back.

But what about poor Kreacher? Where is Kreacher's poor master Regulus? Why has Kreacher not been allowed to reunite with his beloved master?"

Mrs. Weasley glares at the elf, who keeps mumbling to himself, his voice now too low to be audible. At the same time, grandfather turns to dad.

The man shrugs and says: "I don't get this either, father. As far as I know –."

But then grandfather turns back to Mrs. Weasley and snaps: "SHUT UP! I just told you to mind your manners. Adhere and respect the Lord and Regent of the House you visit, woman. I will not accept otherwise. Mark my words, the wards will banish you if you inconvenience us.

Now let my son speak."

The fact that the man is able to sound so authoritative and strong while he is still recovering from his own, harrowing, return astounds me and makes me truly understand why Voldemort sent Death Eaters abroad to take him out.

"But how could the ravings –."

"That is not for you to decide."

This silences the woman.

"As far as I know, Regulus became a Death Eater, but then decided to defect and this got him killed. I don't know how he died, but his circumstances should make him fall within the wording of the wish.

Kreacher is right to worry.

Regulus really should be back."

Grandfather nods and then, for a moment, I notice something worrying. It might be slight, but I notice it nonetheless.

And thankfully I'm not alone as father rushes for his own paternal parent and gently guides his father into the room.

Susan and I leave the couch we were on and father guides grandfather there with a grateful smile aimed our way.

And when grandfather breaths out in relief upon sitting down, it seems to really hit Mrs. Weasley that he's not fully healthy, unlike everyone else who came back.

Her eyes widen, yet before she can question him, he asks Kreacher what happened the night this Regulus person died and if Kreacher knows anything.

The elf seems to hesitate and so grandfather tells him: "We can't help you if you don't tell us, Kreacher.

We all want the same, answers as to the whereabouts of Regulus. You know that, regardless of her bond with Walburga, that my wife cared for Regulus dearly.

You can agree with her on that, so in her name, help me understand so I can help you understand. Tell me what you know, Kreacher.

And the story that Kreacher tells us, after another moment of hesitation, horrifies me.

The first shock is learning that this Regulus person is actually Sirius' younger brother. The next is hearing that, without anyone knowing, Voldemort made himself immortal.

Yet while I suddenly remember the monster himself declaring this and Shen Ron talking about the soul parts, Kreacher's tale makes me feel even worse.

And by the end, the Elf sounds as horrified and pained as I feel as he explains how he, being forced through his orders, left the area right as he saw his master being pulled under.

Dad and grandfather share a grimace and dad just utterly horrifies.

"Kreacher, I – I'm sorry, but – I think – I think I know why Regulus hasn't come back yet."

We all look at the man, yet grandfather speaks up:

"The beings you describe, Kreacher, are Inferi. They're part of the undead, but – they are different from those who resides in the Afterlife. Their souls never even made it to the check-in station.

They're stuck in those forms and, if enchanted right – which Voldemort obviously did – they can turn their victims –

Into their kin."

Kreacher wails.

Yet then a thought hits me and I say: "Kreacher, there might still be a solution. It's long term, but it might be possible."

Kreacher stops his wailing to look at me. And while I ignore Mrs. Weasley trying to admonish me for giving the poor dear false hope, I explain:

"When I first reached the Look-Out, I met a person who had already been brought back to life by the Dragon Balls years ago.

That means that they can be used at certain moments in time. Now I don't know how long it takes before they become available again, but next time they are, I might be able to wish back Regulus.

I – I'll just have to find out and adjust the wording of my wish."

Kreacher – and Mrs. Weasley – stare at me slack-jawed with awe.

I rub the back of my head and mutter that it's worth a shot to find out.

Dad nods and then I decide to just change topics, if only to find out a few other things that peak my curiosity.

"You mentioned Fudge and his people, dad. Does this have to do with grandmother rushing out of the house like I saw her do earlier?"

The man sighs and while he aims his wand at Mrs. Weasley to silence her, he rocks my world yet again, in only a short amount of time:

"Yeah, those two runts published an article accusing you of necromancy.

They, unofficially by the looks of things, sentenced you to death by the Veil."


THEY WHAT?
Yep, I started writing this chapter, because of a cliffhanger – and I'm ending it on another cliffhanger.
But trust me, while the next chapter might not be in Harry's POV – or Dorea's for that matter – it is going to be GLORIOUS!
You'll see,

Venquine1990
PS. Thanks for your patience, everyone. And a special thank you to all those who kept reminding me that this story even exists.