Harry Potter and the Odd Rebellion

by VashonBeader

There was something very odd happening in Harry Potter's life. Then a gentle giant came to help him, letting him know he was a wizard. That day would change his life, but it was a meeting with the odd man Tom in the Leaky Cauldron that would set his feet on a different path. One that led him to family he didn't know he had. Harry/Hermione; Remus, Sirius, No lemons: rating violence

5. Chapter 5 Flying Happily Before a Fall

Harry Potter and the Odd Rebellion

**ODD**

A/N: Thanks to my wonderful Beta, LtsHrIt4ThBoyz.

A/N: Hey MelJ! Have you noticed a lack of vowels in the Welsh language? Do you know why that is?

B/N: Sry, hdn't ntcd…;D

**ODD**

Welcome to the fireside.

**ODD**

Scorecard of what has happened so far:

This story is AU: Dumbledore is not a nice person (A non-nice Dumbledore in one of our stories? Such a surprise! Not.). A former Nazi supporter who switched sides after seeing which way the wind was blowing. No one knows what happened to Grindelwald. Dead? Imprisoned? Charlus Potter annoyed the 'Mot with his opinions.

O.D.D. (Order Defying Dumbledore) Meetings will be held, and ex parte communications held outside those meetings. No friends of Dumbledore here. Trying to free their world from his velveted iron fist.

Alice and Frank Longbottom have been cured, and welcomed to Harry's new home. Harry will now have his dogfather, godmother, and honorary uncle in Remus to be mentors and parents. With Dan and Emma there, he now has a wealth of people who care about Harry. Since floos have to be registered, they renamed the house Black Keep. Naming it Potter Keep or any variations would have been a beacon to Dumbledore 'Harry Potter is here'.

Hagrid is still in prison. Sigh.

Harry has found a new passion. He loves to fly hippogriffs and is starting a new business. It will take time to get up and going. Not all of Harry's people support him in this, but the most important people do; Remus, Sirius and Alice. They are letting him take this risk not just to support him financially, but to support him to pursue something that gives him joy.

Arglwydd means Lord in Welsh, it's in the notes below. Arr–gul-wad. I believe this is how it's pronounced. If we have any Welsh experts reading, your help would be appreciated. It's all Greek, I mean Welsh to me.

Back to the story.

**ODD**

Chapter 5 Flying Happily Before a Fall

**ODD**

After that first week of school was when Harry's life really changed. He was always going to be small compared to others due to his malnutrition in his tender years. Well, magically, there was a way to overcome his 'care' at the hands of the Dursleys, but now, he was happy about his small stature. Rather than go through a hideously painful and hideously expensive procedure at Mount Sinai, Harry was happy he was short and would likely remain on the smaller side. He had a new dream other than to have enough to eat.

He wanted to race! He wanted to fly!

Watching Alejandro sort which hippogriffs were fast enough to be used for racing stock was amazing! The slight wizard had a firm gaze; his pride had taken a hit or two along the way, but the senior Cordero was ready to stand and bow as an equal to these amazing animals. Ricardo and Harry were ready to help where needed.

The farm had two dozen adult hippogriffs, with only two stallions. Yearly, half of the mares would be bred when they came into season around September 20th; the other half would be ready to give birth since they had a year-long gestation. Not all breedings took, and they had anywhere from six to ten new 'griffs a year.

They were organized into two barns right now with the senior stallion and his 'favorite' mare next to him, and a few others in one barn, and the junior stallion and a few mares in the other barn.

Now, they were going to be organized by racing and non-racing depending on their trials as determined by the jockey.

Hippogriffs could live up to thirty years old in the wild, with mares bearing young until they were twenty-five or so. Domesticated beasts could live up to fifty with outliers living longer than that.

The House kept fairly good records on their stock, but wild hippogriffs would occasionally choose to stop by during September, or join the flock for the steady food supply.

Just like people, for a fee, Gringotts would do a lineage test that would show their age and bloodlines. Alejandro knew a spell that could summon blood painlessly for those tests. He had actually trained with an older healer to become a veterinary healer when he was younger, but life and his meeting his future wife derailed those plans. He knew a lot of specialized spells, and was willing to teach both Harry and an interested Remus. Ricardo, of course, would be included in any lessons he chose to attend.

Some of the older people who had been doing the chores of collecting byproducts by cleaning stalls and riding to keep the animals in shape were very happy to have someone else to foist these chores on. Their arms bore the scars from proddy mares, and it was nearing the time for several of the mares to come into foal.

Having someone else in charge? And they only had to assist? It was just fine with them!

Harry was very happy to be involved with anything and everything he could do to help the feathered creatures.

Alejandro offered to take the blood to Gringotts, but Remus refused. Cordero was used to having to do everything himself!

Remus delegated the task to willing helpers, and helped move the smart hybrids to their new stalls as the flying/non-flying beasts were labeled.

**ODD**

Sirius was happy to take on the hippogriff genealogy task and tagged Harry to come along. Going to the bank with 24 vials of marked blood was definitely different. They were greeted warmly at Gringotts Salem. Results didn't take long, and Harry was very careful about labeling each one. They made three copies, one for Harry's file, one for Alejandro's, and one for the farm's files.

Researching those bloodlines might prove difficult, but that was a problem for a different day. At least that was a task that Hermione might be interested in helping with. And would likely mean a trip to the bookstore if the Potter library didn't have an updated hippogriff section. Which, with it being in stasis for so long, was unfortunately likely.

'Yay.' thought Harry without much enthusiasm.

**ODD**

Remus, along with Sirius and Alice, were wanting Harry to see a mind healer due to his treatment at the Dursleys. What for? It was a waste of gold in his opinion. He'd rather spend it on the racing saddles, banners, pennants and such they were going to need for mid-March when the racing season opened.

Only those in high school were allowed on the school racing team, but when the coach saw Alejandro out training Harry for the first time, he nearly petitioned the board for an exemption. He'd wait until the boy was at least a freshman. What talent though!

Sirius had strict rules about riding. The same rules that Charlus had held he and James to: If they rode, they had to do the grooming before and after the ride, help around the stables, and even clean out the stalls of their mount daily. That, or no flying.

Harry was in the stables before school helping. He was in the stables after school let out just as soon as he could, either flying or helping in some task. He tried to fly every single day.

Only weather, or the slowly shortening days kept him on the ground. And even then, on fine days he liked to fly. Of course, both Remus and Sirius were accomplished flyers, so this was yet another activity they could all share in. He tried to skip a school assignment once to fly, and Alice gently laid down the law. He missed flying the next day, and wouldn't procrastinate again. They had time at school to work in the library, even if he did have other lessons to attend to. He needed to fly!

One day, Harry saw Sirius leave the saddle in the walkway for one of the grooms to clean and put away.

"M'lord Black? Don't you want to set a better example for yer godson?" Harry called.

Sirius was tired, dirty and wanted a shower. He waved his wand and let magic take care of it. No fair!

"What? You told me I had to do my chores without magic!" Harry complained.

"Well, if you want to use magic, I guess it's alright with me if it's alright with Alice. But you'd better ask her first." Sirius stated, knowing full well that spending time with his godson at the upcoming weekend to teach him those spells would make yet another good memory.

And for now, it was a small painless prank on the lad.

Grumbling under his breath, Harry first wanted to know the spells he used. Maybe his godmother would teach him if Sirius wouldn't.

He begged Alejandro if he knew them, but the quiet man was honest, "I'm a jockey, Lord Harry. If I knew those spells, I would teach you. When I was very young, I did it by hand as you do."

Even now, the jockey took care of his equipment by hand. Mostly at night by the fire, while his son read aloud to him, or worked on his homework from school.

Ricardo would help Harry clean equipment surreptitiously sometimes, but he too was hired on at the manor, so had his own chores to attend to after school. He had time at night to do his homework, but like Harry, loved the 'griffs and would rather take care of them than do maths. Math.

Harry scowled. He'd learn these spells and then it would give him more time flying, and less time cleaning!

**ODD**

A newly semi-freed elf showed up in Wales, looking for Master Harry and work, and was sent on to Juniper after being warmly received into the House.

Pepper bowed to Juniper with great reverence, then begged for her story, "You's great Potter head elf who saved Master Harry's dogfather? Oh please! Tell Pepper how you is doing so?"

"You know the transport you took to get here? Portal made from the Vanishing Cabinet of Fate." Livy interjected, enunciating purposefully but she was much to excited to maintain that proper diction, "Smart-Clever Head Elf take one part to Azkabibble, and be rescuing fun Master Sirius. Leaving transfigured pig who eats, sleeps and looks like master for many weeks. They not notice yet! Silly wizards."

The whole crew listening in laughed at that, Juniper, greening, waved them back to work.

Pepper just lost his Mistress of longtime to the real and beautiful and gentle Angel of Death who kindly shared where he should go. If the Ministry had caught him…he shuddered.

"Do you be thinking we save Mistress Pepperidge's furniture with these cabinets? Pepper no like thought of them stealing from Master Harry." The gold was taken care of by honest goblins. He had no worries there. There were no living heirs, so Master Harry had been chosen to inherit the treasures of the house.

Juniper nodded. She had yet another elf to hold her in high esteem for her cleverness of getting caught on purpose in order to be thrown into prison just to set free Master Sirius. It would be a tale told to their children and grandchildren.

Jam shared, "And Master Sirius planted eight cucumber plants himself just for Juniper and marked them as hers!"

Pepper was truly impressed and said so before getting his own chore assignments. What a wonderful and happy place to be working!

**ODD**

Friday, September 20th, Heading back to the Ministry in London

Dumbledore was stumped. He was sure he wouldn't be discovered on that boat! But no, yet again he'd been thwarted trying to enter the States illegally. He'd been burning more than a few bridges and now had an arrest warrant put out on him in Niagara Falls, Canada.

Why wouldn't people just do what they were supposed to do! They threatened to complain to the ICW!

Wanting to stop the waste of money on a dozen workers to replace the Keeper of the Keys, he went to Azkaban, and got his minion out.

A couple of apologies for everything taking so long, and Hagrid was his for another dozen years at least.

Putting the half-giant to work immediately, without any sort of after-dementor-exposure care, Albus went to put on his best robes.

What should have been Potter's first year of school and possibly last was going to be so boring without the lad.

**ODD**

Same day, Black Manor

"But Nev! It's wonderful! It's great! You feel like a bird!" Harry was trying and failing to get his best mate to join him in the air. Neither girl was inclined to accept the invitation either. Hermione wouldn't fly with him on a broom or horse-bird hybrid for safety reasons. But these were different! They were low to the ground. They had helmets, pads. It was perfectly safe!

And finally, the hoverboards that had been on backorder were here! Padfoot had everyone assemble at the base of the grand stairway. The landing had hardwood floors.

Neville hadn't even used the brooms yet to go from one part of the park to the other. Dan had asked both boys to come and start working out in the home gym he was put together in the basement of the community hall.

Harry was trying to find a sport that Neville liked, since they had basketball, badminton, volleyball, jump ropes, and soft rubber balls to just bounce around. The boy with green fingers in addition to his greener thumbs swore he was pants at all sports so far. Harry was sure it was just a matter of time to find the right one.

Sirius had teased about bicycles, and did buy all of the children of the house hoverboards. They were finally here, and Sirius had gathered the children of the manor to share out this treat. Portraits of Potters past, gathered to see what the fuss was about.

Neville didn't even bother to pick his hoverboard up. Hermione eschewed hers immediately. Sally-Anne tried to look interested. For a minute. Then she thought about it; looked at her currently unblemished knees and fled to a nearby ballroom, feeling a bit guilty.

But she hadn't asked for this 'treat'!

Harry waved, "Hi Padfoot. I think these look amazing. Wanna try them out?" Lord Potter waggled a hoverboard at his godfather.

Alice commanded, "Outside, if you please, gentlemen."

Padfoot waited to say, "As if we would endanger the family portraits."

Looking at said fearful family portraits, it was clear they thought they were in danger.

Sirius raised a dramatic arm, "We shall sally forth outside to make our attempts at conquering these conveyances there." He picked up the equipment and headed for the side mudroom door, Lord Potter on his heels. They stopped outside on the grass.

"I thought they were hoverboards?" Harry asked, far too innocently.

"They are! Conveyance…"

Harry spelled it out for him, "C-O-N-V-E-Y-A-N-C-E" before shouting 'Conveyance'. Then, he put on his helmet, magical knee and arm cushioners and took off. He'd seen several kids at school with these. So cool. He only nearly fell a few times before starting to get the hang of riding it. Well, at least going just forward. It would take some time to be able to do any tricks like the older kids did after school.

After an hour, Alice came out and got him. "Neville really does miss you spending time with him. Don't you have herbology homework?"

"Yes ma'am. I didn't mean to ignore my best mate." Harry turned to Sirius who was still struggling.

"Try going a little faster, Padfoot. Easier to maintain your balance. I'll be back later to check on you. Cheers!"

Sirius looked at Alice in disgust, "You couldn't have rescued me a half-hour ago?"

"What? Then how would I get all those blackmail pictures? Come in. I've returned the other two boards and traded them in for several bicycles for the family. It's very good exercise, there are racks everywhere, and if we go beyond the wards of our town, we aren't breaking any laws."

"But I never learned how to ride one of them, either." Padfoot pouted.

Alice stopped in place. Even she knew how to bicycle, "What? But your motorcycle…"

"That was different."

Alice suddenly shuddered and nearly fell. Sirius though prevented injury by catching her.

"Livy!" Sirius called, picking the woman up and started to jog to the house. His balance might be off for the hoverboard, but Sirius Black was getting his strength back, and Alice was as petite as women came.

"How can Livy serve?" Livy jogged to keep up with them.

"Call the hospital! Ask if we can…"

Frank was suddenly there, and took his wife into his arms. "Need Healer!"

**ODD**

And that's when the house learned that Neville was going to have a little sister sometime next June. Neville had just heard the news, and needed Harry to help him process it. Alice was a bit anemic and getting treated for it. She'd be home in time for dinner.

They had a talk about it while working in the newest greenhouse. They had two that were dedicated to food production, and this one that was for finicky plants. Sarah Miller came in for a tool, shyly waving to the boys.

Neville gave her a goofy grin for a moment. The brilliant girl was only two years older than them if higher placed in school due to her work ethic. He focused on his godbrother.

"I get it. They warned me, I think. But I don't know if they expected to be successful so soon in having more children." Neville felt displaced again. "I know they love me, but I just got them back! Now, I feel jealous. How stupid is that!"

Harry awkwardly patted his godbrother's back. "I can understand it. Truly. What if Sirius or Remus got married and had kids? Or even started dating? I wouldn't be their only…person? I guess. But Nev? Speaking as someone who saw a lot of tantrums in their life. My cousin; Every time something didn't go perfectly for him? Don't be a Dudley.

"Maybe think about what you want most. An hour a day in the greenhouse with your mum. Or doing something on a regular basis with your dad. Think about what it is, and ask for it. Nicely, not that you would do anything else."

Frank was not as fully mentally recovered as Alice. His speech was still a bit slurred, and he would suffer from random aphasia and say the wrong word in a sentence.

The family was incredibly supportive of him. No one teased him about it. And physically, he was recovering well. He participated in Dan's hand to hand lessons with them all, and used the gym each day. Neville loved to exercise right there next to him.

Neville tilted his head, "That's so reasonable, it just might work. How'd you figure that out?"

Harry blushed, "Dan. He has these great miniatures on a battlefield. 'These are not toys!' Then he goes on to explain the battle, and why the troops were deployed the way they were. Fascinating. But I really wanted to touch the figurines, just to hold one."

Neville stopped adding dirt to the plant he'd just put in a larger pot. "And you didn't ask him to?"

"Not yet. But soon, I will. The worst he can say is 'no'.

Neville nodded, thinking about the advice Harry had given. "Thanks. I'll think about what it is I really want. I like time in the greenhouse with Mum. I need to figure out what Dad and I could do."

"Or, now this is a wild idea, ask him?" Harry dodged the bit of dragon dung tossed at him. He'd made Neville stick out his tongue and act his age. His work was done.

Now, where was his godfather?

**ODD**

Same day, Leaky Cauldron

Dan Black met Tom openly at the Leaky after the last ODD meeting. Sirius had come through with some of the enchanted telephones Harry wanted. They looked completely muggle, too. Which made it a perfect tool to help those from the muggle world.

If you knew what it was, ye might be in danger!

"A few friends have committed resources to help you. I know you've funded a great deal of this on your own." Dan handed over a small bag of gold that was larger on the inside than it appeared. "The grocery cart inside the alley has been told to let you charge on account. Anything you need. We'll cover the costs."

Tom nodded, "Here's yer drink, sir."

Dan was amazed at the conjuration. It looked just like whiskey, even had the right smell. But no after-effects. He sipped the beverage, overpaying.

"I'm heading home to the missus. Thank ye, Tom." Dan sketched a salute.

Information safely relayed to all parties, Dan was headed home. Escorting yet another family to safety via highly extraordinary and perfectly untraceable means if one relied solely on magic.

**ODD**

The next day, Harry took Padfoot aside. "Are you going to have a baby? Oh! Don't be silly!" Sirius had patted his belly and winked, "You know what I mean. Are you going to get married? Have kids?"

Harry was supposed to stay away from the 'griffs for the next few days until invited to see Windquill's baby. Some mares were going into season, others giving birth. Biology was clearly on the boy's mind.

His tone was so worried, Sirius dared not tease him more. New people were coming soon. And while they might not stay at the Manor long, it was a tense time for the lad. Harry needed some safety, stability in his life. And while flying and all was fun, he needed more than fun. He needed honesty.

"Harry? I was raised in a very dark home. Dark. You heard how my mother died. She killed a goblin, just because he was a goblin. There's supposed to be a hint of madness in the family. I don't know about that, but I do know that I don't always make mature decisions.

"I was never able to have a steady girlfriend for long. Most girls had heard that I was a wonderful lov…I mean. Girls in school just wanted to have some fun, and then move on. It was all a game, as most of them were betrothed already."

"Were you? Betrothed that was?" Harry made a face.

"Yes, to a girl more troll than witch. I swear, my mother just wanted me to be unhappy. But she didn't know that grandfather had transferred my guardianship to Charlus and Dorea. Legally. Magically."

"The contract was void? Wow! Whew." Harry didn't quite understand what Padfoot meant about the other. Playing with girls? He'd ask Dan questions later. He always took Harry seriously.

"Yes, 'whew'. Lord Charlus was something else. When Walburga, I never called her Mum, saw him in the Wizengamot, she tried to hit him, then me. She got pushed back by a wall of wind. Coolest spell, and no one could complain except those exposed to her ugly hairy legs. Nearly showed off other things, but he stopped it before that happened, saving the sanity of all involved."

Harry thought about his few pictures of his parents around. He didn't remember them, but he loved them. He knew that.

"So, you're worried that since you didn't have a good family growing up, you'll be a bad parent?" Harry asked. "Me too! I asked Dan about that. I would never want to hit Hermione like Petunia or Vernon hit me…I mean..."

"Harry? Have you told WCS yet? What happened with them?"

Wizarding Child Services were visiting randomly, and would continue to do so to check on both Sally-Anne and Harry. The checks right now were weekly, but would change later to be monthly, and then quarterly as the guardians proved trustworthy. Both Harry and Sally-Anne had phone cards where they could call for help from school or the library, or just about anywhere in their magical village.

Harry had broken down when he found out that he should have had such checks with Vernon and Petunia back in England. Sally-Anne would never have been protected from her parents by the Ministry –magical or muggle–, but was very happy to have a good family here.

"I explained the problem to them. Would I have loved to have had help? Have been rescued? Of course. But you know how mean Dumbledore is. They didn't want me, and he wouldn't take their no for an answer. It's mean! Forcing a magical child on people afraid of magic. They were afraid of me, because of my magic."

Harry paced, "I think something in him, Dumbles I mean, was afraid to try to kill me directly. Moldy tried. Well, all but one little piece of him is gone. We find that last piece, then boom. He's done. But Dumbledore? He's harder. He's scared of me, but supposedly only I, or maybe Neville can kill him.

"Dan says we need to study everything about him. Find his weakness and exploit it." Harry was wildly gesticulating now.

Sirius countered, "Dumbledore doesn't have weaknesses."

"Don't say that Siri. I'm only eleven. I have to have hope that he has at least one."

Padfoot forced a smile, "Maybe Neville can grow a flower he's deathly allergic to?"

There was a gentle chime meaning fifteen minutes before dinner was served.

"To answer your question, Harry. I don't know if I'm going to have children or not. It's going to take time to get over everything. It's a possibility. But even if I do manage to find a nice witch to marry, you'll always be a part of my family, my life now. That I do promise."

"Well, if you wind up having a son, he can be your heir, sir."

"Off you go. That will be decided on later. But it is very kind of you to offer, even in the abstract." Sirius knew it was actually his choice, but appreciated the boy's selflessness. "Remember, both Hermione and Sally-Anne are older than you. Wouldn't that cause chaos in the 'Mot to have a muggleborn Lady Black voting the seat."

Harry pictured people yelling and shaking fists. And yet, he could see Hermione standing up to such rabble with style and grace. "You should do that. Make Hermione your heiress. She'd be amazing. And she's already a justice warrior. Did you hear her opinions about hippogriffs?"

Sirius nodded, "How smart they are and such? Oh yes. She would do well in the 'Mot; another Charlus. Just to let you know, Remus has informed the villagers that Alejandro is in charge of collecting the feathers and natural by-products. All culling orders have stopped. But for now, we need to get ready for dinner."

"Meet you soon, godfather."

"Meet you soon, godson." Sirius hugged the lad.

Harry sighed. It was a weekend, which meant he had to put on a dress for dinner. Alice's compromise with her mother-in-law. It was Harry's house - didn't he get a vote!

**ODD**

Harry was at the bottom of the stairs but glanced up when Hermione arrived at the top. She was wearing a new formal gown. Sally-Anne was just behind her, wearing one of her dresses for dancing, but the vision in front of him, at the top of the stairs, stole his breath. The soft Eisenhower pink dress emphasized to Harry that not all girls were mean or to be avoided.

Hermione descended elegantly, and he bowed, "My lady?"

Hermione was all faux-haughty, "My lord," with a wink and curtsey.

He offered her his arm, leaving Sally-Anne standing at the bottom of the stairs, ignored.

Sirius rushed over, and offered his arm, "Shall we, my dear?"

She shyly smiled at him, "We shall."

**ODD**

After dinner, they went to work in the library. No one else was there so late.

Harry started writing in several new books. One was a personal journal - he wanted to remember this time in his life. Bullet journaling to start, just brief notes. Hermione wrote in hers for a half-hour, but she approved of his as a good start.

With Hermione's help, he made a hippogriff grimoire; it had a picture of all of the racing flyers, their parentage and progeny, and a few notes about them.

He was using it partially for himself, partially as a project for school.

They had ordered some books on famous racing hippogriffs, so were learning more about their feathered friends.

Harry didn't notice, but he and Hermione were sitting very close together in their work. Alice wasn't the only one with a camera, and Padfoot got a few sweet shots of them working together.

**ODD**

Late night, Saturday, September 21st

Fleetwing, who Alejandro thought was one of the fastest mares in the barn even under foal, woke up the House with magically enhanced calls for help. She was having a baby. Right now.

Intellectually, the man now in charge of the racing griffs knew the Seneschal was a werewolf. Calling on him two days before the full moon was not going to be possible. Lupin had excellent potions and the best of care, but the full moon won.

Terrible timing for them this year.

Fortunately, the House had an on-call healer who loved magical creatures.

Healer Marius Greengrass had been forced by his family to take the dark mark when he was fifteen. The first chance he got, he emptied his trust vault and fled to Salem where he enrolled in healing. He served House Potter as a private healer, for man and beast. He was now here to help with mother and child to make sure everything was fine.

Harry was woken immediately after the birth, and was allowed to view the new baby from a safe distance. The young would stay with their mothers for about a year. Shortly before going into season the following year, they would be put in their own stalls. Just like with Marmalade.

Fleetwing was snappish, but Harry was allowed to touch the new baby. He named her Brightwing, and there was a flash of magic as he did so. Pictures were taken, and Buckbeak, whose stall was next door, put his head through the divider to nuzzle his mare.

"Thank you, Healer Marius for coming. There's plenty of room, if you would like to stay here for a few days. Get some sleep in between mares." Harry offered.

"That sounds like a very good plan. I have pepperups should we need." the kind healer shared. Much better than the tent he'd used in years past.

Workers assigned by Alejandro collected up rare ingredients. Harry tried hard not to think about what potions the afterbirth and whatnot would wind up in. He didn't want to know!

The next few days were going to be busy most likely. And they were.

**ODD**

Monday, September 23rd

Harry and Neville decided to walk to school the next day. The air was crisp, and the fall leaves crunched beneath their booted feet in a soul-satisfying way. The smells of autumn filled their nostrils.

"So, you doing better? I mean, with the whole sibling thing." Harry asked.

"Sure. I guess. It's just…odd. I mean, first, it's mostly Gran and I alone. Then I get this huge instant extended family. And believe me, we count Hermione, Sally-Anne and their parents as part of it. But now? Everything is very different."

Remus had insisted that Frank and Alice have their own wing when moving in. He knew he wouldn't want to live in his mother's suite if he were married, and he and Alice were the same age. Cherry Hill was huge, and they planned to return there.

Neville had three different rooms of his own. One in the boy's wing, in his Gran's suite, and of course, in his parents' wing. "Mum made sure I know she doesn't expect me to help care for the baby in the middle of the night. I can stay in one of my other rooms."

"Wow Nev. I never used to have a bedroom at all. You have three. I'm jealous."

"Prat. Prat Potter. That's you." Neville stuck out his tongue before jogging off to a nearby yard they were walking by. "Oh wow, that's a…plant. You're not interested. But on the way home, I'm going to ask for a cutting."

Neville pulled out a pencil and jotted the house number and name of the plant.

An older woman came out, seeing two boys in her front garden.

"Ma'am? Is this your house? What I mean is, who do I ask about your astrolargus magenta? It's gorgeous, and I'd like a cutting please."

"Not many boys your age would ask. They'd just take, and ruin the plant in the process. Are you willing to do a bit of garden work for it?"

Neville looked around. It was a lovely front garden, but did need a bit of TLC.

"Yes ma'am. I'm Neville Longbottom. I live nearby." Neville bowed, so Harry did as well, but he kept quiet.

"Such polite boys, of course you may stop by after, but you'd best get to school now. Until later, Mr Longbottom. I'm Sylvia Grant."

"Pleasure to meet you ma'am. Until later." Neville and Harry started to jog a bit. Neither wanted to be late.

Neville's life might be topsy-turvy, but he was a great person, Harry thought. And when Neville went back to tell her how his plant was doing, he brought her an only slightly lopsided pot as a gift. AND did the work on the front garden in exchange for the cutting as he promised.

**ODD**

Harry's life was incredibly busy now. The kids there all had a set tutoring time for math on Monday afternoons (Harry was allowed to fly right afterwards), Tuesday was potions practice with one of the workers in the evening, and Hermione and Sally-Anne joined Harry and Neville for weekly pottery lessons on Wednesday evenings. Thursday was reserved for his official racing lessons after school. Buckbeak was in training, as Fleetwing would soon also be, so he rode Aquila, one of the older and more gentle mares. Harry tried to fly at least a little every day. And Fridays were the day when everyone tried to finish up any remaining homework so they could concentrate on individual projects with their families over the weekend.

On Saturdays, Harry spent part of the day going over the accounts, learning from Remus all the things he needed to know as Lord Potter. Sirius would sometimes sneak in, and make notes. Harry also dove into learning about the farm itself, and how things were done. Sirius was a great help.

No, Harry might be working as hard as he ever did at the Dursleys to be the best student and the best Arglwydd he could be, but he was very happy in all his busy-ness.

Nicholas Flamel had stopped by a few times when on holiday to talk to Sirius about something, and wound up giving them all an introduction to alchemy. It went over the sixth graders' heads, but Remus and Sirius took notes as well as preserved the memory of that night.

Right now, Narcissa was acting as Sirius' voting proxy on the Board of Governors and in the Wizengamot. But Padfoot really worked hard during the week with the animals.

Seneschal Lupin was already respected, and Sirius was slowly gaining his reputation back that he had as a youth. It was hard when others thought he might be dangerous or a Death Eater, or dark. All rumors started AFTER Sirius was thrown into gaol.

There was still resistance to Harry's racing idea, and even if it did turn out to be profitable, it would never be accepted as anything but a lark by the people working there. Padfoot was a natural flyer, just like Remus. No, it wasn't Harry's lack of skill that was the issue; Harry had impressed Alejandro greatly. The problem was with the mindset of the villagers in regards to the 'griffs themselves.

**ODD**

After school, Hermione came to sit next to Harry in their library at home. He waved the villagers at the 'lower' end of the table back to their seats. They had a huge table that had been added with comfy chairs. But it was easier than trying to do homework on a couch. Harry was pleased to see people here working.

"Dad's coming back tonight," Hermione informed him.

Harry smiled. Dan had some very expensive battle figurines he didn't want the children to play with. Or touch. Or really, even look at. They were arrayed on a green hill he had spent years building here and there.

"Good. I want to finish my work before dinner so I can talk to him. The new catalog of miniatures just arrived." Harry shared, a little loudly.

The portrait of Euphemia Potter, a certified bibliophile, hushed him.

"Ugh." Hermione was not a fan. She greeted Neville and Sally-Anne as they came in. Harry watched the villagers. They didn't stand when the others came in or left. Just him. That was alright. He was trying to get them just to stay seated. What if they lost their place?

"But Hermione! Look! They have little miniature horses and such. This will be transfiguration practice. I want to make them into hippogriffs!" Harry enthused.

Hermione smiled. She could support that at least.

The library portrait hushed him. Again. Her pointed look had him leaving.

**ODD**

So, Harry did what he does, and showed the catalog to Alice. And Frank. And Sirius and Remus. Alice rolled her eyes, and helped Harry make a rolling hills layout for his own toys. He hadn't been allowed to have them when he was younger. At least he was beyond the age he would be putting pewter figurines into his mouth.

"Wait. Harry? You aren't going to taste these? Right? Or lick them?" Alice was clearly concerned for his safety.

She didn't mean to, but there were times that she treated Harry as though he was still a very young child. Well, he had gone from toddler to eleven in the blink of an eye from her perspective.

"Yes godmother, I will be careful. No godmother, I won't lick or taste or eat them. I might stick one up Padfoot's nose the next time he pranks me, but I won't put one up my own nose."

"Well, that's a relief. Fine, you may buy them. But I thought you'd spent your quarterly allotment on your stable project?" Alice reminded.

"Spurnik looked over the financials and approved it as an investment. He even wants a ten percent share."

Frank tried to participate, "Smart goblins wanting pies."

Alice nodded, "Yes, a piece of the pie."

"Ten percent? For what? Twenty percent profit?" Remus prompted, putting his own reading down.

"That's what I asked him! He looked all affronted, saying he would never cheat a child. That's likely true. But after I'm seventeen, all bets are off. He has access to some very interesting contacts when we're ready to sell or breed more hippogriffs. I was impressed. Oh, and he's asking for 'net ten, quarterly'. He said he'd write it up and send it to you and Padfoot."

Alice nodded, "That sounds like a good plan. I'll go over it with him. Your mother was very good at this, you know. We'll go over the advantages and disadvantages of having others in the partnership."

Harry nodded and went back to the library to sit down next to Hermione and started showing her all of the new regiments, colors and so forth available.

She hid behind the tome she wasn't really reading, ignoring him, and tried to do her charms essay.

**ODD**

Sally-Anne was startled when Hermione started screeching the next day. They had been in their rooms. Dan was home. Emma and Hermione greeted him warmly; Sally-Anne came out of her bedroom to say hello.

"Sally-Anne? I am so very sorry. I have some bad news for you. Can you please come and sit down?" Dan asked gently. "I doubt it will hit the papers here, but there were some wizards that got a bit rowdy after a quidditch match. It was near where your mother and father…"

Sally-Anne interrupted, "Step-father. My birth father disappeared when I was a baby. My mum did nothing but say terrible things about him. I don't even know his name."

Dan wrote that down, and handed her a calming draught which she held instead of taking.

"Well, apparently these wizards decided to apparate right in front of that man Perks when he was getting into his car. He tried to kill them using his car as a weapon. They returned the favor. Your mother likely had nothing to do with the incident, as she was a passenger, but she was seriously hurt. I wanted to let you know in case it winds up in the newspaper."

"He's dead? He's really, really dead?" Sally-Anne demanded.

"He's truly dead. DNA confirms it's him."

She got up, handing him the draught back. "I'm not sure how to feel. I know that I feel happy, and relieved and scared that it's a trick to get me back. Mum used to pretend to be sick for attention all the time. I think I'm going to go practice for a bit."

She turned, and looked at Dan. For the first time, she came up to him and hugged him lightly as a butterfly kiss, and as brief. "Thank you for telling me this. Dad. I appreciate it."

The next morning, there was an article in the paper that talked about a small group of 'perfectly normal wizards' being attacked by an insane muggle shouting how evil magic was. A morality tale of how dangerous muggles were.

If one looked carefully, they could see BloodRage disappearing into a nearby alley just as the picture was taken.

**ODD**

Tuesday, Oct 1st

Alejandro was up early as usual. He and Ricardo enjoyed breakfast together before the boy went on to school.

One of the workers there gained his attention before heading to the stables. "Hang in here a moment. It's payday. You should be in for a bonus. Six new babies, and not a one lost. That's very good."

"But I'm…thank you." Alejandro wasn't used to actually getting his money without a lot of begging. Getting paid on the day it was promised?

How unusual!

Remus cast a privacy charm for each person he talked to. Then it was Alejandro's turn, and the Senescal shared, "Lord Greengrass has complimented us on the quality of the hippogriff products we've been sending. The others don't remove the excess straw from the scat or take time to clean the feathers collected. You have. Thank you. Most of the people here really don't like the 'griffs, and the collection chores have been rotating. No one has complained that you and your son have taken over those tasks. In fact, it's the opposite. They're glad you are here to do so.

"Here's your pay, and yes, it's been double-checked. You are collecting, cleaning, and grooming the hippogriffs. Those are the duties of a collector. You also acted in concert with Marius Greengrass for the health and welfare of our new foals. Splendid job there. You have a stipend for that. You have also been performing the racing training. Those are part of your riding duties. And you've been teaching others to fly. Thank you for your excellent work for the House. Any questions?"

Cordero just shook his head, "No sir. Thank you, sir. I'm sure it includes Ricardo's too."

"No. Here's his allotment and again, his work is appreciated. There's a note inside. Good day."

Alejandro signed the register for himself and his son. Everyone there was getting paid, and asked if they had questions. Rumor was that Lady Alice was going to be helping with the accounts as she regained her strength; taking over some of the jobs that Lady Dorea used to do.

Alejandro was shocked, opening his payment sack; he was getting paid more for collecting the orders for potions ingredients than he had made as a jockey, and he was still getting that salary as well! The family understood it was going to take time to train the intelligent beasts. He'd been paid for his healing. Remus hadn't said, but it likely included overseeing the artificial insemination of a couple of grand bloodlines. Stock he had purchased with some of his own gold that he'd been given as a signing 'bonus'.

Remus knew, from the requests for stasis space, that Alejandro had harvested eggs from several of the racing mares to be used in the non-racing stock as broodmares. The seneschal was surprised but pleased with the man's innovations.

Of course, Alejandro had been promised healing fees and other extras before; in Colorado, before Elaina was attacked. Then here with Billingsley. This time though, he felt it. They meant what they said and put gold into his pocket.

**ODD**

Thursday, Oct 24th

Alice came over and perused Harry's plan for homework for the day. "That's fine, Godson. You may go for your flying lesson, but I want you washed up and dressed by a quarter of seven, please."

"Thank you!" Harry started to dash away, but came back and gave her a warm hug.

The boy ran to the hippogriff stable at a jog, just in time to see Alejandro yelling at one of the other workers. Gower appeared to be arrogantly cleaning a magical scythe. What in the world? Had their jockey been attacked? A baby hippogriff was bawling in the barn, but Harry couldn't go comfort it right now. What was going on?

"Harry! Oh good! Maybe you can talk some sense into these people. This asesino just killed one of the mares! One of the RACING mares! Such excellent bloodlines! She could have had at least one or two more babies without risk. She was gone before I knew what was happening!" Cried the clearly distraught Alejandro.

Magic was building up; swirling around them. Alejandro grabbed the scythe from the man to hold up the evidence of his crime. There were still bits of hippogriff blood on the magical blade.

"Well, Mr Gower? I have listened to his side of the complaint. I would like to hear your side." Harry stated firmly, feeling anything but calm.

"Yer too young to sit in judgment a ME! Arglwydd or not! As for the culling, we get orders from Greengrass. Every once in a while, that fancy restaurant orders a whole hippogriff for roasting. Aye, she wasn't on the list to be culled for ingredients, but is the eldest yet still young enough to eat." The man shared arrogantly, with a bit of gloat; His tone was far from respectful.

Harry's blast of magic knocked the elder wizard off his feet. Then Harry proceeded to lose his lunch next to the downed man. Eating one of his precious hippogriffs? Killing one for the table? They were intelligent! They were gregarious people! This had to be a crime!

"Oddment! Get Mr Lupin here if he's able. If not, get Lord Black. Thank you."

Of course, this happened on a day that Remus was recovering not only from the full moon, but reactions to the potion he took for his condition. Had he been sabotaged on purpose just for this?

Wiping his mouth, and focusing on controlling his anger, Harry tried for a calm tone, "You are not the head of this farm, nor are you Seneschal. Such a decision was not yours to make, I am very sure. This was an act to show your disagreement with me racing. Well, I don't see why you would do such a thing."

Alejandro returned from the smaller hippogriff barn, cursing in his native tongue."He killed Aquila! Monster!" Just because her baby was now weaned didn't mean that she was expendable! So what if the breeding didn't take this time. She wasn't that old!"

Harry turned, and was sick again. That gentle, gentle soul! He personally agreed with Alejandro's feelings, but had to react calmly. He could tell that others were going to judge him for how he acted here.

The man got back to his feet, and looked behind the boy in front of him. Good. Adults. They'd put this upstart in his place.

Lady Alice came down, and saw the sick on the ground. She also saw the man standing there. Harry didn't babble, but spoke as calmly as he could and explained the situation.

"I'd like to see the order, please." Alice asked coldly. While the man went to go get the parchment, Alejandro filled in the adults of the happenings before Harry had arrived there.

All of them were impressed that Harry was keeping his temper in check as much as he was. Accidental magic was just that - accidental!

Gower showed up with the parchment, just as an ill-looking Remus was popped in.

"Can you please let me know what the normal procedure would be for this?" Alice asked, handing over the order to Remus. She thought all culling had been stopped, but the day-to-day farm work was not under her authority.

"In the past, we would do exactly as William here did - use the oldest 'griff still young enough. But things have changed. As I told him." Moony glared at the man with amber eyes. "There is a new policy in place to check with Alejandro and Harry before anything is done with the 'griffs anymore. Not a feather is to be plucked without checking first! And I know I told everyone there'd be no more cullings.

"Besides that, you took a mare from the flying barn. The markings are clear. If you really felt this was a legitimate action, why did you cull one of the flyers?" Remus demanded.

The man stayed silent. Other workers, attracted to the hubble-bubble, stayed out of it for now, but they were clearly watching how this situation was going to be dealt with.

Sirius stepped forward. "Mr Gower? Did you just forget? Or did you think the rules didn't apply when the Seneschal was ill?"

The man scowled, but said nothing. He was one of the ones that had told Harry to his face that he was being an idiot for racing the Potter flying potions ingredients - it was just absurd!

Remus stared at him, "You've had too much leeway in the thirteen plus years we've gone without a lord of the manor. You have two choices. Go and serve in Wales or be dismissed. You aren't staying here near Lord Harry or the hippogriffs one more day. Choose!"

Now the Welshman was angry. Alice couldn't help it; she was protective of the boy. She pulled her wand and stepped in front of Harry just as Sirius did the same.

Gower tried to appeal to Lord Black. "Yer the old Arglwydd's adopted son! Ye know he wouldn't put up with this! Ye got ta put a stop to this nonsense before all profits are flown away on the wings of the beasts!"

Lord Black stepped back to put his arm around Harry's shoulder. "Lord Potter started a new business. We have given him a five year plan - to see if this is something worthwhile or not. If you had come and talked with the Seneschal, or me or Lady Alice, we would have listened to you. Talked this out. Now? You had better make your choice. That, or I will execute justice. No one here has sworn to Lord Harry, but you swore to Lord Charlus. That is the only reason you have your magic!"

"I'm going home!" Gower turned to leave, but Sirius made the man bow to Harry. He did so very grudgingly.

Harry demanded, tears still flowing down his face, "If you think you can live in Wales on our family property, and earn the family coin without an oath to obey the rulings of the family, then you are dismissed. If you can't make that oath to me right now, give it to Lord Black. I can't give my oath to you right now. You killed my mount because you disapproved of me. All of these 'griffs are smarter than some of the people here. Can you see sending one of the workers to this so-called fancy restaurant? Do they serve Welshmen on Brochette?"

"You're lucky we're not calling the aurors." Lord Black spat.

Disgruntled and unhappy, the man knelt to Lord Black, and slowly and carefully took out his battered wand. "I, William Gower, swear to uphold the Compact with House Potter. I swear on my magic that I will do my work, not gossip or betray House business in my dealings with outsiders, and do all else to protect and serve House Potter. I so aver."

Sirius made his oath back, "I, Sirius, Lord Black, son of House Potter, swear on my magic that you will be clothed, housed and fed as well as the House permits. You will be paid your honestly earned wages on time unless tragedy strikes our House. You will face family justice before involving others unless it deals with murder or assault of another. I so aver."

The other workers pulled him away; the man lived alone, but would have plenty of help to pack. He'd be leaving via portal just as soon as possible.

**ODD**

Remus turned to Harry, "I'm truly sorry he killed one of your animals."

Sirius sent Remus back to bed after sending an elf to fetch a Healer Marius for him. He looked worse than normal. Did they get a bad batch of potions? He'd have them checked.

Alice gave Harry a hug and walked with him to pet and check on the rest of the hippogriffs. The boy was still in a bit of shock. He comforted Marmalade as best he could, going outside to summon a couple of tasty rats for the yearling. Poor baby, and her mother was killed right in front of her!

"Why would anyone be so hateful?" Harry asked, bowing to Buckbeak and then approaching him. He was a magnificent animal, and a bit of a goof. He seemed to think a ferret was hiding in Harry's hair.

"That is a good question, Harry. I think it was likely a combination of things. The change in location. Moving away from friends left behind. Having a new person, no, new people in charge."

"I think what he did was wrong, but is sending him away the right thing?" Harry asked.

Alice gently cupped his chin, and stole back the hair in Buckbeak's mouth, "His banishment is going to send a message. People are well treated here Harry. You have given them homes, income, security from babyhood to their waning years. Allowing people to violate the rules, go against the oaths they had taken to your grandsire would cause you nothing but grief."

Harry nodded, then bid her farewell. Curious, she fell back but still followed along.

Not banishing the sick from his clothes, he strode to where a clump of men were working. He found one of the others that had scowled at him about racing the 'griffs.

"Mr Gower is being sent home for killing one of my hippogriffs without authorization. If you, or any of you, would like to return to Wales, now is the time. I can't run our Potter business being worried about the next knife coming at my back. Old enough or not, I will be taking oaths of loyalty in the community hall after dinner, now that we have a place to do those ceremonies."

The young lad, clearly distraught over what happened to his 'pet bird', did not realize how powerful he looked.

Most of the group bowed to him, right then and there. Llewlyn made a choice, and bowed as well.

"No, Arglwydd, I want to stay here, thank ye." Elam stated firmly.

"Oh, and if Aquila's body hasn't been sent yet, just turn it into potions ingredients. I will be communicating with Lord Greengrass. The Potters no longer offer hippogriffs as food stock. I would just as soon serve Welsh rarebit made of my own people. And I wouldn't do that to any of you either. Not even Gower."

He turned, saw his godmother there, and offered his arm.

Together, they walked sedately back up to the manor's mudroom so Harry could clean up. Never had she been so proud to be his godmother.

**ODD**

Later, after the oath ceremony, Remus found Harry crying over a picture of a family flight. Harry was on Aquila, and the picture 'griff was leaning into the boy's stroking finger.

The werewolf sat down and mourned with the boy for a moment, saying nothing. Marius found his potion had a bit of extra aconite in it. He'd been given an antidote that made him feel much better. He was also chided for waiting! This wasn't England, and being a werewolf did not carry the same stigma here.

"Now, no one under sixteen is not sworn here, Remus. This shouldn't happen again. Now that you're better, I need you to get in contact with Lord Greengrass and his people. We can't allow this to happen again."

"It is too late to call him tonight. I will talk to him early tomorrow. Perhaps right after school, we can sit down together. There's a way to expand the mirrors. I'll get Sirius to set that up for us in the Blue formal dining room. That's a good size for a meeting room. We'll get Sirius and Alice there for sure."

Harry nodded, "That's perfect. I feel that her death was an attack against me personally. I can't explain why.

"I want Marmalade to be my racing mount for school. It's the perfect timing. She'll go under saddle in about a year."

Remus smiled at the thought of 'marmalade' winning a race. "You may want to give her a different name when we do the proper registrations. Oh, not change her barn name. But what if she's against 'Toast' sometime."

"Well then, Marmalade would be on top, wouldn't she?" Harry jested, feeling a bit of hope. Aquila might have been murdered to hurt him; he wouldn't let her baby suffer the same fate.

But Remus was right. She needed a racing name. Brightfeather? Silverwing? No, that was too close to Fleetwing's baby's name of Brightwing. Whitherwing? Something. With Buckbeak as a father, and Aquila as her mother, Marmalade was going to be fast and smart. And hopefully as sweet natured as her dam.

**ODD**

**ODD**

ODD (Order Defying Dumbledore)

A/N: Story recommended by our friend and neighbor, Odonnellzoo99 - nonjon's Brown Coat, Green Eyes. Firefly-Harry Potter crossover.

www. /s /2857962/1/ Browncoat-Green-Eyes

A/N: Your story recommendation here -

**ODD**

ƺ parseltongue
₲ galleons
₰ sickles
ķ knuts

Ɠ Goblin language
O.D.D. (Order Defying Dumbledore)